Crane Game

[rubycitymods]

Stationed along the boardwalk, the old-fashioned Crane Game is an enormous thing, large enough that it stretches from floor to ceiling. The glass is tinted, but if you peer in, you'll be able to see all kinds of small items: hair clips and chocolate coins, some bubble mix and an old pulp novel. Approach it, and the entire machine lights up, neon flashing brightly and a tinny old tune that gets stuck in your head for ages afterwards.

Settle yourself in front of it, and you'll notice it doesn't have a slot for money. There's no joystick, either. There's just a button, red and worn, next to a slot three inches wide. Press the button, and a little card will pop out of the slot. There'll be a riddle written there.

Write a somewhat acceptable answer to the riddle, and you get a prize. What it is depends entirely on the machine, but fortunately the game isn't rigged; you are guaranteed an item.

You can only use it once every two weeks. The machine simply goes dead if you try and use it sooner than that.

**

The Crane Game is a fun way for your character to win some pretty rad prizes! Comment here and get a minor item from the crane machine! Selections are random, and so long as your character provides a reasonable answer to the riddle, they'll get a prize.
✧ N A V I G A T I O N ✧

Comments

[rubycitymods]

[Correct! The machine lights up, despite the inherent sass in its customer's expression, and soon a small item is popping out. What could it be?]

84. A cross stitch pattern and thread and needle: The guide instructs you on how to stitch the timeless phrase: "Behold, my field of fucks. Look upon it and see that it is barren."

[callbacks]

[THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM!!!]

[roseblooms]

[All right, crane game, you piece of shit, you slighted him before with that eyeshadow bullshit but guess what

WE'RE BACK FOR A REMATCH]

[rubycitymods]

[Bring it, fox-man.

Out pops a little card! The paper is stiff, reminiscent of a particularly well-designed business card. Printed in black block letters is the following:]

What kind of dress can never be worn?

[roseblooms]

[oh my god

are you serious

what is with you and this ongoing Thing, crane game

cut that shit out]

An address.

[o b v i o u s l y]

[rubycitymods]

[Correct! The machine lights up, and soon a small item pops out. What could it be?]

18. Dead lil buddy: Take a hike, dogs-- there's a new Man's Best Friend on the market. Your ghost figurine is guaranteed to be loyal (he's dead! he doesn't know anybody else!), great around children (he used to be one!), and house-trained (ghosts don't poop).

[callbacks]

[JUNK TIME!

Please help, retail therapy. Dave has been having a series of no-good, very bad days, and wasting time in front of a toy-dispensing machine has always worked in the past.]

[rubycitymods]

[Do the lights flash in a particularly fond way? Is there something soothing about the usual tinny tune? Perhaps! But soon out pops a little card! The paper is stiff, reminiscent of a particularly well-designed business card. Printed in black block letters is the following:]

What flies without wings?

[callbacks]

[Oh, man. He chuckles a little helplessly. It's not that funny.]

time

[rubycitymods]

[Correct! The machine lights up, and soon a small item is popping out. What could it be?]

74. A small, functional hand-fan: For those uh-oh summer nights.

[callbacks]

[Oh no. It is small and cute and useful, though not immediately, since they are currently living in the soggiest asscrack of winter. Who invented February, seriously.

After a moment of just standing there with his prize, not because it's so mind-blowing (EYYYYY) but because the familiar jingle keeps him away from the jukeboxes for a little bit, at least, he pats the jukebox gratefully and walks away.

TY, friend. TY.]

[roseblooms]

[We meet again, Crane Game, and his life has been enriched by the Dead Lil Hiei so guess what, you get a pass on the vague personal insults thing this time around.

Maybe.

GIVE HIM THE GOOD SHIT, DEAL HIM THAT SWEET RIDDLE CARD.]

[rubycitymods]

[Out pops a little card! The paper is stiff, reminiscent of a particularly well-designed business card. Printed in black block letters is the following:]

What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?

[roseblooms]

[A COIN wait a minute no coins aren't brown

...OR ARE THEY

what about a wooden nickel

wooden nickels are brown because wood is brown

AND THEREFORE

actually hang on it could also be a snake, a snake would also have a head and a tail and no legs AND COULD THEORETICALLY BE BROWN

man this is no way to get a-head in life

but only time will tail what we're looking at here

right though what is he going to pick, it's a coinflip decision basically

...

okay parrot grass don't let him down here]

A wooden nickel.

[...but also a snake. technically.]

[rubycitymods]

[Correct! Or, well, close enough, anyway. The machine lights up, and soon a small item is popping out. What could it be?]

51. A polaroid camera: only good for ten pictures! Don't shake what comes out, that actually isn't good for the photographs.

[roseblooms]

[BUT THEN HOW IS HE GOING TO SHAKE IT

SHAKE, SHAKE IT

SHAKE IT LIKE A POLAROID PICTURE???

S'all gravy, Crane Game, he will appreciate this one this time, thank you. ♥]

[arken7]

[He'd heard about it, noted some of its prizes, even seen it a few times. And now, Julian decides he might as well press that button for himself.]

…mmh

[That jingle is really catchy, in the most annoying way possible. He almost stops himself and walks away – but then he's already pressed the big red button all the way down. Eh, what harm could it do?]

[rubycitymods]

[[Out pops a little card! The paper is stiff, reminiscent of a particularly well-designed business card. Printed in black block letters is the following:]

What is it that no man ever yet did see, which never was, but always is to be?

[arken7]

Hardly a challenge. I knew this answer even at first encounter, when I was ten.

[He smiles to himself, then grabs his pencil and scribes his answer.]

Tomorrow.

[rubycitymods]

[Correct! The machine lights up, and soon a small item is popping out. What could it be?]

19. Whalebone charm: Made of Dunwall's finest whalebone, this charm is guaranteed to be ten times as lucky as your other jewelry made of skeleton parts. Say goodbye to that annoying necklace of rabbit feet, bat wings and shriveled hands you usually wear to buy lottery tickets.

[arken7]

… Whalebone. [Okay.] Hey, at least it's a new one.

[It reminds him of an old ivory piece he once saw in an antiques shop that he never bought, in a way. He'll keep it.]

Not that I'm much of a person for luck.

[callbacks]

[MY GROCERY DELIVERY SYSTEM THREW ME OFF MY MATH I WAS TOTALLY HERE ON SATURDAY YOU SAW NOTHING]

[rubycitymods]

[YOU FOR SURE WERE, and so was the Crane Game, faithfully waiting for its favorite customer. Just as usual, out pops a little card. The paper is stiff, reminiscent of a particularly well-designed business card. Printed in black block letters is the following:]

What question can you never honestly answer yes to?

[callbacks]

"are you lying"

[rubycitymods]

[Correct! The machine lights up, and soon a small item is popping out. What could it be?]

88. A packet of instant tattoos: Get edgy, temporarily.