softspokenlandlord | IC Inbox

[It's Atem's own fault for dating a softie. Now he has to focus around all of this nonsense.

Ryou's fingers curl around Atem's, and his smile turns a little awkward.]

Ah...haha, well. I'm actually...not very good at frightening people. But I'll follow your lead...

[Seriously, he's very bad at it. The whole fiasco with a human trying to blackmail him for his own boots is proof of that. Nevertheless...the Fog's will is that he be scary. If he's scary enough, then people don't have to die excessively, right?

So he heads to the door with his boyfriend, all the while trying to figure out how the hell to be frightening when he's not hungry or angry. That's when he's the most scary!]

[He nods, and heads for the door. Deep breaths. Get in the zone for it. Stop thinking about how cute your boyfriend is, and his big radar-dish ears, and how he's just good, every time he can be, and think about...

...think about how nice that suit was, and what a fuss was made over a fraction of the meal's cost. Think about the waiter, who Atem can't blame for not smiling at someone whose income is several times bigger, someone who came into a nice place and decided to be stingy about the staff...

Think about how that guy wouldn't have been so full of himself if the restaurant were a monster establishment.

Think of the Fog, who would have him tear away the same entitled, petty attitudes of humans who spurred on the war that, according to the lore, ravaged the world outside the peninsula, and replace it with fear.

They step out the door, and Atem pulls his hand free of Ryou's. The man in the suit and hat is about to step into the passenger side of a well-waxed car, when a long shadow, stretching out from Atem's legs, its three eyes glowing on their own against the pavement, falls over him.

This is for you, Atem thinks. And for me, and for the power I need.

The man looks up, as the shadow falls across him -- and, suddenly, Atem's a blur. Ryou will be able to follow it with his eyes: Atem taking off towards the man at a run, one hand coming out, connecting with the man's chest and wrapping around a handful of the shirt, and the momentum carrying them both a distance far enough from the car to feel unsafe, to make it difficult to get back to. The man's back slams into a brick wall, not hard enough to leave him unconscious but hard enough that, when time speeds up again, he's coughing.

Atem doesn't remove his hand. The man's pinned like a butterfly. Atem himself is a shadow-outline, all black but with glowing yellow eyes -- remarkably shadelike, only entirely solid.]

[Ryou watches, quietly, what Atem is doing, at least for the first few moments. His eyes follow all too easily, because he's a vampire too, and so it's easier to perceive Atem using his speed. But that's not what he's most interested in.

He...hasn't seen Atem's shadow do that. Atem doesn't...normally have a shadow at all, does he? Maybe...this is something he got from the Fog. Ryou doesn't have his Fog abilities expressed right now, because he's not the right monster, but Atem? He's in his element when he shoves the human against the wall, squeezing what breath remains out of his lungs.

...Even though Ryou's not a shade anymore, there's a quiet part in the back of his mind that knows this is what She wants. She wants them to frighten and harm the humans that hurt her.

So he steps forward, not at the same speed as Atem had, but in a way that...might almost look threatening?

(it doesn't. he's bad at this)]

You...you're not a very nice person, are you?

[...??? Do...better?]

[No, no, it's fine...Atem can spin off of this. As the man coughs, staring in fear and -- confusion? Definitely confusion -- at the two monsters, Atem tightens the grip on his shirt and forcibly brings the man's attention back.]

You've upset a very kind monster, you know. This vampire....usually, he's pretty patient! But you disrespected an establishment you chose to come to, and it was your bad luck we chose this place, too! Heh heh heh....

[Gold eyes cut over to Ryou.]

He "gives the Day God 10 percent," right?

[The man squirms against the wall, his feet at an awkward angle. It's hard to get them under him properly, and they scrabble awkwardly against the ground.]

How much would you say we should take, for the Fog God?

Edited 2022-02-10 17:16 (UTC)

[Ryou has one job here. They're clearly already stressing this man out, but the point is to scare him, isn't it? Atem's even setting him up for it...he can't mess it up. If he just thinks about it as a game...maybe it'll come easier.

Just play a role...right?

Ryou's red eyes flick over to the man, and he crosses his arms. It should look more intimidating, but actually it looks a bit like a nervous gesture. The words though...a little more damning.]

If he gives the Day God 10 percent...then it would only seem fair to take that extra 5 from him, for the waiter who was only doing his job.

But then again...he owes me 15 for doing that for him already, doesn't he?

[One hand reaches up, and Ryou taps his cheek in faux thoughtfulness. The more he plays, the less awkward it looks.]

20 percent.

[His eyes flick over to Atem's, or rather...the shadow that Atem had become.]

Seems fair, yes? I'm not even taxing him for ruining the atmosphere.

[Good...he's picked up on the secondary purpose of this little show. Very good, Ryou. But Atem doesn't give away his approval.]

You hear that?

[Atem's grin isn't visible on his face, but it's possible to hear it, as the man trembles, his mouth moving without any sound, his throat working uselessly.]

He's cutting you a break!

[A shadowy hand slips into a pocket, and a pocketknife flips out. Now, what the man is desperately trying to whisper can be heard, but barely: "pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease"]

But, that's not the only thing being cut today...

[The knife drifts down the man's shirt, splitting expensive fabric. However, it doesn't break skin...

...and, for a moment, Atem's grip loosens.

This guy's got once chance to make a break for it.]

[Something about the begging tugs at Ryou's heartstrings. Probably not surprising...but he tries not to slip. Instead, when he sees Atem's grip loosen, he moves in a little closer, as if he's expecting Atem to draw blood, and he makes a show of inhaling deeply.]

Hmm. You shouldn't cut him too deeply. I'm not certain if I could control myself like this...do you suppose he tastes like what he ate? That would be interesting...

[Run, coward. Ryou knows all about running.

He wouldn't even blame the guy at this point. Ryou's not sure if Atem intends to leave a mark this time, but even if he does...it's all part of the path towards power. He can't shy away from it either. Not if he wants to be able to protect others.]

[Atem lets out a breath of air, coming out like a hiss, and Ryou leans closer--

--and the sweating, trembling man makes a break for it. He finds his feet, pushes off the wall, and takes off running.]

Heh heh! That's right, run! Run!

[He doesn't even run for the car, the poor fool, he takes off down the street in a blind panic.

Atem glances over to Ryou, and since he's not trying to intimidate anymore, the shadows melt down off of his face, leaving a normal-looking vampire.]

You wanna chase him, or do you think we've made our point?

[He's feeling very soft about his boyfriend, and it's hard to get really worked up about a guy who's begging for his life.]

[Ryou takes a few steps back, giving the man more space to run away. Part of him wants to give chase, just because he knows that he could catch the human, and maybe it'd be fun. They're having fun, right?

...Right?

He shakes his head when Atem asks him the very thing he's pondering about, and awkwardly starts fussing with a bit of his hair.]

H-hahaha...perhaps not. But I won't lie and say that wasn't an interesting game.

[After saying that, Ryou immediately realizes how weird it might sound coming from him.]

I mean--that we could see...how long he could tolerate being threatened. We didn't hurt him or anything, but we could have. Fear, it's what the Fog values, right? I'd rather scare a human, maybe rough them up a bit, than kill them outright.

[Maybe...that's how he gets through this. Maybe he can raise himself up by scaring people, rather than killing them. Would the Fog allow it? He's...not sure.]

That occurred to me, too. Heh...I'm glad you picked up on it!

[Atem's head turns, his arms folded in front of him, to look down the alley after the scrambling, scrabbling man, his face and voice thoughtful.]

When she spoke to me, the Fog said she wanted the humans to be afraid...killing them would mean they stop feeling fear. That guy can tell others...doing something like this should fulfill her requirements, even if we don't kill them.

[Which means...if they do this together...they might be able to unlock the next tier of powers. Atem looks back at Ryou, a corner of his mouth pulling upwards.]

"Twenty percent"...that wasn't bad! Although, come to think of it, I could have used this a little better...

[Atem holds up the pocketknife, his expression dropping into something shamefaced and regretful.]

Maybe taken twenty percent of his fingers! Oh, well...it's too late now.

[Oof. Cutting off fingers, huh? Well, as a matter of fact, Ryou had expected Atem might have wanted to take twenty percent of the man's blood, but...Ryou was still a bit nervous about that level of control. And he's not a vampire much longer anyway, so testing his resolve on a human might be way too unfair.]

Fingers? Ah...w-well, he'd still be able to do things if we took only two fingers, I...I suppose...

[But he still sounds a little nervous about it. All of this makes him nervous.

And yet....]

I think maybe we should try this some more. For...practice. Unless you think it's a poor use of date night time. We don't have to! We could just go home.

[The only reason he's giving the scenario any credence is because 1, he's a little bit tipsy, enough to take the edge off of his inhibitions, and 2, it also occurs to him that he could trade inducing fear for a power upgrade.]

[At least it's not twenty percent of his limbs. If just fingers makes Ryou nervous...Atem can hear that nervousness. He puts a hand on Ryou's upper arm, solid if not warm.]

It doesn't have to involve mutilation if you don't want it to.

[A ?sweet? thing to say? Anyway. He flicks the knife back in its handle and pockets it.]

But, if you want some practice being scary...

[He thinks, this is a game.]

...then, I'd be happy to help. Tonight, or another time!

[He thinks, the humans are being put in our way so we can play right.]

We could walk home, and see where what we see takes us.

[He thinks, if this is a viable way to tier up, then we'll come across something we can use.]

[Absolutely a sweet thing to say. Ryou reads it as such, he knows his boyfriend isn't a pacifist. Actually...uh. The trap thing makes it very clear that his boyfriend is the opposite of a pacifist, but he's hunted with Atem before. It would be unfair to judge him on anything but the traps. Just keep the shade-dismemberment cuffs away from him, yeah?

At any rate, Ryou reaches for Atem's hand once there's not a knife in it, lacing their not-warm fingers together because it is a comfort.]

I said I'd do what I have to in order to be able to help my friends. I intend to hold myself to it.

[He pauses, considering Atem's suggestion.]

...We can take a scenic route, so to speak. After all, we're having a nice night!

[Nice night and also scaring the piss out of an absolute douchebag who don't respect the services that were rendered to him. But it's all perspectives, right?]

A scenic route...!

[His fingers wrap around Ryou's, too. This is a date night, or at least was...he'd like to walk somewhere nice, and leave the fear-hunt up to chance.]

Yes, I'd like that.

[He'll start off down the street, towards the park that they can make a loop around in order to get to the 38-8 apartments, at a relaxed, easy pace, hand in hand with Ryou.

Ryou really makes it hard to work up the will to be scary.]

Look out, though. If I'm having too nice a time, it'll be hard to get in the mood to scare somebody...

[This is flirting.]

[Ryou smiles way too fondly for someone who's supposed to be expected to scare humans, then leans down to kiss his boyfriend's cheek. Just a quick peck, from the side.]

Are you saying I'm distracting? If that's the case, I could pick the next target out and try my hand at frightening them.

Then maybe you could pull down those rose-tinted glasses, hm?

[He's teasing, but he knows they're on a date and he finds it exceedingly flattering that Atem is having a nice time with him. It works unwittingly in his favor, since once Ryou's been complimented or otherwise flattered, his immediate reaction is to go to any ends to please whoever had paid him the compliment.

...The vampire arrogance stick sure did hit him sideways and get it a little wrong.

The next human that passes them by is in serious trouble.]

[He has no idea that that compliment landed so hard. Atem deliberately flatters sometimes, but this time wasn't one of them!]

Hmph! Implying I don't know you perfectly well, Ryou!

[He brings Ryou's hand up to his mouth, kisses the back of it.]

Even when you are scary, it still makes me happy sometimes. I like seeing you willing to fight for yourself...and, it means a lot that you'd fight for me.

[Not just against Dr. Morgenstern, but also against AM...he trusts Ryou most out of anyone to have his back no matter what.]

Ah, I can't keep talking like this...it's entirely the wrong energy for scaring humans...

[Oh...

It's a very good thing that Ryou can't blush right now because sir?? SIR??? What are you doing?! And even if he can't blush, he still looks absolutely, thoroughly flustered anyway. And his ears are wiggling as well, just to add to the whole look.]

S...stop it, that's ridiculous! Of course I'd fight for you, Atem, I love you!

[If Atem didn't want a proper kiss on the lips, he's going about this all wrong, because Ryou absolutely can't help himself. No cheek kisses, he's going to show his proper appreciation.

...And shortly thereafter, his left ear rotates a quarter turn as he catches the sound of some sort of altercation to their right. Because of course someone's causing trouble nearby. He only got 10 seconds out of that kiss, max!

But he pulls away with a sigh anyway.]

I think someone's getting mugged. I know it's late at night, but...honestly.

[The game's atmosphere, Atem thinks drily, as he unwinds his arms from Ryou's neck in significant buzzed disappointment, can't decide what it wants to be. The sounds of someone being mugged are enough to drive the purr out of his throat, replacing his contented expression with a frown.]

Son of a...

[It looks like he'll have to be scary whether he wants to or not!!]

...okay. You take the next one. Show me what you've got.

[Ryou nods, turning to face the sounds and completely rotating his massive ears forward to catch any specific sounds. He had assumed mugging correctly, because he could hear scuffling, amongst other things.

"Please, you can't!! I need this!"

He starts walking, eyes narrowed. He slips completely away from Atem, but he's pretty sure that he'll be followed anyway. From the way he walks, it's clear that Ryou's irritated at the abrupt interruption, as much as Atem is.

The closer they get, the clearer the picture becomes. There's a young man, probably some university grade kid. This has to be the "mugger", though he clearly isn't a career thief--his clothing bespeaks affluence. That's what makes the next part much more aggravating.

Now that they're close enough, Ryou can see that he's trying to wrestle some surprisingly nice items from a more poorly-dressed individual.

"You obviously lifted these things off of someone, they're way too good for you!"

"No, no. I promise, I found them after the trouble last month, I even washed them up. Please, sir...at least spare the jacket for the cold nights."

Ryou doesn't really need to hear more, he gets the idea. Some rich kid thinks he's entitled to something that someone of lower means found. It's really that unbelievable, to think that someone poor could find good fortune?

The icing on the awful cake is that the kid yanks the jacket he's trying to take forward, just to make the homeless man staggers forward and falls into the half-melted slush coating the ground. That's about all Ryou can take.

Now it's his turn to dart forward, as quick as he can, and put himself between the two. He grips the jacket that the rich kid is trying to wrestle from the homeless man, then glares directly into his eyes.]

You know, it's terribly cold outside. It would be pretty awful to let someone freeze to death, wouldn't it?

[As he says that, his eyes seem to glow. The homeless human doesn't move because he's frightened, but the other one doesn't move because Ryou's not allowing it.

Accidental hypnotism...sounds about right for Ryou.]

[...Atem couldn't have picked a better target himself.

If the man who rightfully scavenged the coat makes a break for it, Atem will slip a fat roll of solars into a pocket at nearly-indetectible speed. Otherwise, he's content to watch, unless Ryou calls on him to tag in.

He does wonder if Ryou did that on purpose -- if he's really all right with hypnotism. Will doing that to someone else hurt Ryou, in the long run? Only time will tell. It's up to Ryou to find his own path to power, and up to Atem to support him, rather than shield him.

He's doing well so far.]

[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.]

[Atem does. The solars disappear into a worn pocket, and the worst of the dirt is brushed aside.

It's plenty to get another jacket, if that's the solution Ryou chooses. If he chooses peace, instead of violence, and allows the richer kid to keep the memento of his brother.

But violence, and an overthrow of the rules of humans, is what the Fog God wants. And in the end, only one of these people is sleeping outside tonight.

What will Ryou choose?]

[With one human being assisted, Ryou turns his full attention back to the problem at hand. His grip tightens on the jacket and he breathes out a sigh.]

You know...it's very kind of you to look after your brother's belongings like this, but unfortunately, I don't believe you. I can tell you're lying.

[He takes a few steps forward, closing the distance. The kid takes a few steps back, but Ryou's strides only grow longer, and his grip on the jacket is like iron.]

Your heart gives you away. Your eyes. Your breathing. All of it. Sorry, but I'm in the business of calling bluffs, it's part of one of my hobbies, you see. If I'm playing a game with people, and trying to spin a proper story, I have to know about every single one of them.

I have to learn how to read their tells, so I can keep on my toes.

You weren't lying when you said this was your brother's jacket. But you were being dishonest about something. What is that?

[The young man shakes his head, then tries to let go of the jacket and back up again. Ryou allows him for the moment. He wants that answer.

"I'm not lying! It's his jacket, I need it back--"]

Wrong. It's his jacket, but it's not the original, is it? This was found on the streets. It's a duplicate of your brother's actual jacket. So what you're really trying to do, is steal something that was found on the streets after the doubles all vanished, and claim it as your own, right?

[And as he says that, he reaches out and grabs the human's wrist, holding him fast in place.]

Don't lie to me anymore. I'm still trying to decide what to do about it.

[The threat, he hopes, is frightening. But...actually, maybe it's too frightening. The man is breathing harshly, his heart beating a mile a minute...but he's not looking at Ryou. It's almost like he's looking through him.

What...?

"Please, let me go, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, let me go, don't let it near me!!!"

Ryou freezes in place, holding the human uncertainly. This...is it some strange attempt to get Ryou off balance so he can let the guy go?]

[Atem's grin widens. There was a hole in the story, and Ryou...he's using his ability to hear heartbeats to uncover the truth.

He's doing great, as an investigator. But, the fear part...

...

...whoa, hang on a second, the fear part is actually landing way better than Atem expected. And he's talking about things that aren't here....

Atem steps forward.]

Ryou...he's hallucinating.

Are you doing something...?

I...I don't think--

[He starts to deny that he is, but there's something odd about this contact. He's starting to feel a little...tired. But he wants to know too. Atem's right, this guy must be hallucinating.]

What do you see? Tell me, what do you see??

[He tightens his grip, clarifying that he's talking to the young man in front of him, but the answer is honestly very unhelpful.

"The shadows!! The dark, please! Call them away!!"

Ryou feels a wave of dizziness and, whether the man wants him to or not, he has to let go of the wrist so he can catch himself on one knee and a hand planted on the ground. The cold seeps in between his fingers, but he hardly notices.]

Atem...wh-what did I do?

[The game is quickly forgotten, as both humans finally take the opportunity to scatter. At the very least, the homeless human does snatch up the jacket, but he seems too intimidated to express his gratitude.

Very quickly, the two monsters are alone, and Ryou's stuck trying to figure out what he did, how he did it, and why he could do it at all.]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, WhiteWizard. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 007.80.751.19 * WhiteWizard has joined 007.80.751.19 <WhiteWizard> Hello, this is Ryou Bakura! <WhiteWizard> Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything. :) <WhiteWizard>** I will get back to you as soon as possible.

IC Inbox | ryslig

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cw knife threats!

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cw reference to fingore

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cw; hypnotism

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