softspokenlandlord | IC Inbox

[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.]

[Both humans run, frightened out of their minds, and he's left alone, with a frightened Ryou.

What had happened? What had Atem seen?]

I'm not sure.

It began when you touched him...and it stopped when you let go.

I've not seen a vampire that can induce hallucinations through touch. Which means, it might be a different power...

It has to be something I did. It feels like I've tried running at full tilt for a mile...

[Which is probably really reductive, he's a vampire and they're the fastest monster...but Atem can probably figure out what he means.]

I think I need to...try it again? To confirm.

[They'll need to find another human, because there's absolutely no way he'll try anything like this on Atem.]

[Atem nods. His hands go to Ryou's shoulders.

(No hallucinations? No hallucinations.)]

We can test it out later. First, if you're that tired, you need to rest! Watch your energy levels...even monsters are vulnerable if they're tired, or hungry.

[No hallucinations...but Ryou immediately flinches. He's afraid that he'll accidentally activate the power, so he shies away a bit.]

B-be careful! I don't want to hurt you, Atem...

[He's not even sure what triggered the power usage, but he's pretty sure he isn't doing it now. That's for the best. Atem doesn't need something else to worry about in his life.]

...I'm sorry. I just need a moment.

I'm fine. I didn't see what he saw.

Whatever you did...either it's turned off right now, or it doesn't affect monsters.

[It was a gamble, but with Ryou's energy this low, it was one Atem was confident enough to make. But, he gives Ryou space, room to breathe...it's all right for him to take his time.]

I'm glad. I don't want to frighten people I care about, not like that. He looked so upset, and I don't want to spread that to people I care about.

[Ryou glances down at his hands, as if he might actually see something there, some secret. Maybe the Fog had given him more than the tail, and he'd just never noticed before this point. It's possible...and if it's true, then he's grateful for it.

If he can induce fear through touch...then it'd be easier to enact Her will without hurting people. And it would be a good deterrent if it did work on monsters...but again, he doesn't want to really use it on friends. Not even as an experiment.]

...I'll need to figure out if it does affect monsters. But...not now. Another time.

[Right now, he needs to sit and recuperate...and possibly feed. He's looking more gaunt than usual, just from the single expenditure of that energy. Though to be fair, it had been a bit of time since he'd drank properly anyway. It would...probably help to hunt for more than just fear sport.]

[Atem's thinking something similar. If Ryou expended a lot of energy with that, he'll need to eat.]

Come on. Let's sit down.

[Atem's pretty sure there was a bench back there...that'd do, for a place to recuperate.

He'll reach for Ryou's shoulder -- slower, this time, plenty of time to pull away, a question in it: is this all right? -- and guide him back toward the main park.]

[Ryou's not scared of being touched anymore, he's sure he won't affect Atem so long as he's aware of it, just like a few moments before. So he lets the hand settle on his shoulder, and he allows himself to be guided to whatever bench is nearest. It doesn't stop him from talking though, because now his mind is full of thoughts.

About what he was doing. What he could do now.]

I know I'm doing this for strength, but it's still weird, knowing that I have done enough to warrant such a boon. I wonder...if I should ask Her for something specific. Does it, uhm. Work that way? Or is She in charge?

[He's mostly murmuring it to himself, but Atem is also a good listener, and a calculating mind. He'd probably have thoughts about it as well.]

[They settle down, letting Ryou rest. Atem's glad he's got an answer for this question.]

You can ask for a particular power. Not everybody does, but you can choose what you want to be able to do next.

[Atem keeps his shoulder against Ryou's, sitting close, maintaining points of contact. He doesn't want to break it, doesn't want to be separated. Maybe it's the wine, maybe it's the soul-deep loyalty Ryou's earned from him, but Atem doesn't feel like doing anything besides sit close.]

If you could have any kind of monster power, what would it be?

Any power...? Hmm.

[Ryou has to think about that one. And as he does, a hand seeks out one of Atem's, pulling it close onto his lap, They're still on a date, aren't they? Why not be close?]

I haven't really thought much about it I suppose. There's not too much that I can think of working for me as, um. As a shade. I know it's what I am, and that I should feel more comfortable in my own skin, but it's still not easy.

I'm just a shadow...the only thing I can do is build on being a shadow.

[He holds his opposite hand up, imagining it as it truly would be, not how it looks now while he's a vampire.]

It would be much easier if I was working off of an inherently powerful monster type, like vampire. Or werewolf. That's just not my base though.

[Sometimes, Ryou really could do to be more creative, but it's hard when he's in his own head about being a shade--a personal trigger is baked into his powerset already.]

...What about you? Do you have ideas?

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

cw; hypnotism

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject