2nd Turn: [Video/Action]

[redjacketthief]

[The video feed opens to a slightly manic grin on the face of the (in)famous thief, Arsene Lupin III. He is dressed in his usual attire of a brilliant red suit jacket and--mysteriously--is carrying a jitte that definitely does not belong to him. The only other thing that seems out of order is his hair which, although hastily shoved into place with the aid of water, appears intent on not staying in its usual slicked back style. That is not what draws the viewer's attention--it's the high energy, mischievous look in his eyes.

The camera wobbles slightly. He's at the fountain, and very obviously walking circles around the perimeter of it. He starts to speak, brandishing the jitte around as he makes his points.]

Good Morning, People of Luceti!! I've been here for a couple of weeks now, and I thought it was high time I made my official introduction to the rest of you. You may have heard mentions of me from a certain Sassy Little Kitten, Mine Fujiko, or from a certain determined Old Man, Inspector Zenigata Koichi--rest assured. I am here now. Any complaints you may have heard about me from them is now, from this day forward, thus alleviated.

Oh, but you'll be wanting my name, won't you? I am the One, the Only, Arsene Lupin III--international man of mischief and connoisseur of fine art and wine!  Ladies, ladies. Take your time. You'll get your turn soon enough!

Now, now. Since we're all trapped in this place, and since I'm sure my reputation has preceeded me, feel free to contact me if you need a partner for a job or just someone to ease your lonliness. I may be a rogue, but I don't bite.

Hard.

[His tone hardens at this point, taking on an edge of knife-like severity. Underneath the mischief in his eyes lies a bold determination and aura of command.]

And, to any unseen and unheard audiences out there who may be listening in, I warn you: I won't stop at anything, I won't be quiet, and I won't make your job easy. I don't know what you were thinking in bringing me here, and I don't think I want to know. Keep in mind, though, that I'm very capable of making your lives miserable.

[He lets the words hang in the air for a lengthy beat, staring hard into the camera. Then, as quickly as it came, the mood vanished.]

Oh. Pops. I think I kinda grabbed your Jitte there. You can have it back when you want it--but I can see why you bring it around some times. It's pretty fun to wave around! [He grins like an idiot as he ends his announcement.]

Comments

[menial]

['Oy, keep it in your pants, you two.']

"Difficult"? But not impossible?

[doubleppk]

We'll see~ Are you going to comfort me if I cry?

Mm... well... so far impossible for anyone but the Malnosso. I don't think the people they sent home were actually trying to escape. Or they would have left a message of what they were trying. Catherine just says certain people had to be sent back to restore equilibrium in the universe or some weird thing like that.

[redjacketthief.livejournal.com]

Of course I will, Fujiko! [As if there was any doubt...]

And...that doesn't bode well. The sending back as suddenly as the being brought here. They really are using our lives as playthings, aren't they?

[menial]

['Ah, yes, equilibrium of the universe. Wasn't it that matter can neither be created nor destroyed? Sounds like a whole load of BS to me.']

Wouldn't be anything new.

[doubleppk]

One hundred percent playthings. We could never figure out what their Shifts were about. As far as experiments go, I've seen plenty, but these don't seem to achieve anything, other than amusement. And even the Drafts seem more like toy soldiers going to war than for any actual purpose. I mean, if you have the power to remove people from space and time and attach wings and keep an enclosure like the barrier here, what would you need them to help you in a war for?

[redjacketthief.livejournal.com]

Don't look at us for theories; we're both new around here!

[Lupin's tone darkens at this, his thoughts on the situation plain.]

From what I've heard and read, it looks like the only thing we can do is sit pretty and try to maintain our sanity when our Handlers get bored or something.

[If his announcement hadn't made it clear, he wasn't about to do that. Hopeless causes are a specialty of his, after all.]

[menial]

...Yeah. Well, if that's it...

['At least I've had practice. But let's be discreet about this.']

[doubleppk]

It could be worse... but some of the individual experiments are just cruel. They beat people up just to see how much punishment their bodies could take.

The other malnosso claim to be against it of course, that it's just rogue individuals within the organization, but it seems... doubtful.

[redjacketthief.livejournal.com]

That's torture, Fujiko. Don't they have ethics?!

[He frowned as he absorbed this, feeling the steel chord of his determination tighten. Thief or no, he had no tolerance for anyone of questionable honor.]

[menial]

['I can't say I didn't have to repress a shudder at that part.']

...I suppose playing possum would be the best choice there, huh.

[doubleppk]

No. "Ethics?" Come on Lupin. Since when have any mad scientist types? [Just rolls her eyes and shakes her head.]

In... a sense. But dying... you can die... and they'll bring you back... but there's a penalty for it. Forgetting important things or losing strengths or skills. So not even death is an escape.