[Thankfully, Ryou breaks eye contact and therefore breaks the hypnotic hold as he glances back at the young man's victim.]
You found these after the copies died, didn't you?
[He asks it calmly, but pays attention for shifts in grip on the jacket. He doesn't want either of them to run, not yet.
"I did! I did, and I washed them up, like I said! I just wanted something warm, and something to trade. I promise you I didn't steal it!"
The sincerity of those words, the desperation in them, they sway Ryou. It's been a while since he's focused in on people close enough to tell if they're lying, but...he can still do it. As kind as he is, he knows how to tell the difference between pretty words and honesty.]
I believe you. Atem...would you be so kind as to help him up? I'm going to collect his belongings.
["Oh, you don't need to--"
The homeless man is cut off immediately by the indignant kid, who tugs back at the jacket in an attempt to get Ryou's attention. He clearly has something to say, so Ryou angles one ear towards him, but doesn't look at him yet.]
Yes?
["It's not true! This is my brother's jacket, I'd know it anywhere! And the other stuff, he definitely took it! He doesn't deserve to take things that belong to other people!"
...And that gets Ryou to turn back towards him, eyes wide and pupils slitted to barely nothing.
He's lying...but his lie is complex, isn't it?]
I see...it must be very important, yes? If you're this adamant about facing two vampires over it. Show me, then. Where's the proof?
[He releases the jacket. And so the human does show him, revealing the inner lining behind the breast pocket, where it says "Gunnar"
"See, that's my brother!! I'm not lying!!"
Ryou is silent, as if he's mulling that over. Part lie, part truth. Interesting.]
no subject
You found these after the copies died, didn't you?
[He asks it calmly, but pays attention for shifts in grip on the jacket. He doesn't want either of them to run, not yet.
"I did! I did, and I washed them up, like I said! I just wanted something warm, and something to trade. I promise you I didn't steal it!"
The sincerity of those words, the desperation in them, they sway Ryou. It's been a while since he's focused in on people close enough to tell if they're lying, but...he can still do it. As kind as he is, he knows how to tell the difference between pretty words and honesty.]
I believe you. Atem...would you be so kind as to help him up? I'm going to collect his belongings.
["Oh, you don't need to--"
The homeless man is cut off immediately by the indignant kid, who tugs back at the jacket in an attempt to get Ryou's attention. He clearly has something to say, so Ryou angles one ear towards him, but doesn't look at him yet.]
Yes?
["It's not true! This is my brother's jacket, I'd know it anywhere! And the other stuff, he definitely took it! He doesn't deserve to take things that belong to other people!"
...And that gets Ryou to turn back towards him, eyes wide and pupils slitted to barely nothing.
He's lying...but his lie is complex, isn't it?]
I see...it must be very important, yes? If you're this adamant about facing two vampires over it. Show me, then. Where's the proof?
[He releases the jacket. And so the human does show him, revealing the inner lining behind the breast pocket, where it says "Gunnar"
"See, that's my brother!! I'm not lying!!"
Ryou is silent, as if he's mulling that over. Part lie, part truth. Interesting.]