softspokenlandlord | IC Inbox

I see...so you're going to try and cross classes then.

I guess my tail was the first step in that direction as well...and this fear power, that just falls in line with being a shade, but...if I could just come up with something that adheres to my wishes...yes. I think that would be good.

[Ryou really does look like he's thinking it over pretty hard, and his ears flick back as he seems to concentrate on any errant ideas.]

If you can do it...so can I. Now that I've experienced other things and seen the powers others have earned, I think...I w-would like to incorporate the strengths of other monsters into my powerset.

[He doesn't quite agree with Atem that he can be any more than a shadow without the Fog's influence, but that's a wholly personal opinion. He's just glad that Atem had given him a very important piece of information, one that could change everything.

Ryou leans against Atem, closing his eyes and smiling. He's still buzzed, and it makes him fonder of his boyfriend.]

You're smart. I love you.

[Though the simplicity of his words is also affected by his energy loss. It shows in the paleness of his skin, the way his eyes seem a little more sunken. That ability, whatever it was, had taken a fair toll on him.]

I love you, too.

[He does, with all of his heart. Atem rubs his cheek against Ryou's, confident enough that no one is close enough to gawk.

Ryou definitely needs to eat, though.]

I know we were going to frighten, not kill...

...but it looks like what you just did drained a lot of energy. If we don't encounter anyone suitable on the way, you'll definitely need blood when we get home.

[At this point, let them gawk. Especially if they're a human, gives Ryou an excuse to sink his fangs into their--

--no. Wow, no. That is very inappropriate, and it lends weight to what Atem had just said.]

Ah...well, there's...bound to be someone out here. Bavan doesn't always have criminals out and about, but if there's one, we could do something about them.

[And if there's not...that is also fine. They do have blood at home. Ryou's just singularly greedy and enjoys it fresh. Being able to eat anything other than souls really is nice...it's easier on him, morally. Even if it is still murder.

He's certain...the Fog would like it.]

...We could do it for Her. Feed in Her name. She's bound to enjoy it.

[Ryou doesn't like to think of it as a sacrifice though. It fills a need, and that need was given to him by the Fog. It simply is what it is.

He does seem hesitant all the same.]

That is one of the things she told me she wants. To feed on humans in ways that are sacred to her...it might boost the value of the offering, if a feeding is dedicated.

Especially if we have blood at home.

[The implication here being, they are choosing this, for power, rather than starving themselves and scraping by.]

If the time's right, and it's meant to be...we'll encounter someone. We can let chance, or fate, decide it. Besides, she said to me that every feeding on a living human was for her, whether a monster did it respectfully or not. It's the same result for the human either way...

Well...maybe if it's Her will, we can just sit here for a minute or two and someone will show up.

[Ryou means it as a joke, of course. But he wouldn't complain about sitting a little longer, and the way he remains leaned close to Atem makes it very clear he's happy here. Even if he is hungry. He's not ravenous, after all. Just...peckish.

For now.]

This is a weird date, isn't it...? But if it means we're stronger, together, then...at least we're giving each other some kind of gift as well.

Heh heh!

[No seriously, Atem believes much less in coincidence while he's in Ryslig than he used to. Good, or bad...

But that's an extremely weird thing to say, so he just holds Ryou's hand, and laughs it off.]

Don't worry. We'll have another date soon, without anything to do with the Fog, or tiering up...it'll be just for us, without any work involved!

I'd like that. But...the dinner was nice, you know. I think I'd like to go there again sometime, whenever I'm back to normal.

[By now, they're both probably equally aware that Ryou eats because he wants to. So that's probably expected, that he'd want to go back.]

Next time, perhaps we won't have to deal with rude, awful people. That's what started this...

There's awful people everywhere...but, hopefully, at least one's been discouraged from--

[Speaking of "everywhere," there's a little bit of a scene starting to be made a little ways away, down one of the park paths.

"Don't sell it back," one woman is pleading with another. "You're giving up right as you're about to make it! You're giving up control over your life, making your own money, running your own business!"

"I just want you to buy them back," the other woman insists, her jaw set. "You said you would, if it didn't work out."

"Because I didn't think you'd let me down like this! You're not just letting me down, you're letting down yourself!"]

What the...?

[As before, Ryou's ear casually rotates towards the sound of the conversation as it begins.

...It's pretty confusing, so he's of the same opinion as Atem. What the heck is this?]

I wonder what they're discussing? It can't be all bad, can it?

[Except...as Atem had just said, there are awful people everywhere. So Ryou's not discounting that scenario quite yet. They need more conclusive data here. And...maybe he's already trying to weigh out whether this is a meal or not. It could be.

Or maybe that's just his low energy trying to make a big deal of it and give him an excuse.]

["I can't," the second woman says. "I'm not good at selling them...I can't get rid of them. You do it. You're better at it..."

"Listen, Lonnie, I need you on my team. If you can't sell them, then find someone who DOES wanna be a boss. Tell them about the kind of opportunity it is, and have them buy the starter pack from you. I can't take them back. I'm depending on you. Like my team leader's depending on me..."]

Is this some kind of business...?

[Both women sound nervous, he's noting. One of them clearly misled the other, but it sounds like there's pressure on them both...]

If it is...it sounds like one that doesn't treat its employees very well.

[Ryou doesn't like the sound of it. It seems as if one of the women had strung along the second, but...actually there was someone who had strung her along as well. They both sound a little...desperate? He doesn't like it.

Who'd started this mess, he wonders, before glancing at Atem with a frown.]

Is it...something we should interfere in, you think?

[Atem gets to his feet, pushing himself off the bench.]

Hey!

[He calls, loud enough to carry over the distance to the arguing women. His back is straight, one hand on his hip, his feet planted on the ground.]

Tell me more about this "opportunity"!

[Oh, boy. Here they go.

Both women look more than a little nervous, suddenly confronted with two monsters...there's fear, guilt, and anxiety on both their faces.

"Well..." Lonnie begins. "It's, um...it's called LarSveKat...you buy inventory from the company, then sell it and keep the profit. Except that part of it," she adds, looking at her companion, "5% of everything you buy goes to the mentor of your team."

"It's only five percent, Lonnie, I can't take it back, I've still got stock of my own I need to sell," the other woman murmurs. "I don't have the capital lying around, I was counting on you..."]

Edited 2022-03-09 00:20 (UTC)

[Ryou scrambles up himself, wanting to look as attentive, but he stumbles a bit because he's still a bit worn from using his new power. He lets Atem take the lead, listening to what the women have to say with more than a mild curiosity.

...From what they're describing, it seems as if they've joined a venture which...might be taking advantage of them.

Ryou doesn't like it. He doesn't like it at all.]

It sounds very much as if the company makes most of the money here. You pay them a set price for the stock...then you are left with the responsibility of selling, and if you don't...then your investment isn't repaid, and the company...they have no responsibility to make you whole.

[He only explains it out of concern, but part of him is angry, writhing just beneath his own skin, because it seems it trickles down, and the other woman...the one who had given Lonnie inventory, had done so in bad faith.

Ryou won't accuse her yet. But he's clearly irate, as evidenced by the way his ears rotate back and lay down close to his head.]

So then...what's this with mentoring? You sell your stock to someone else and tell them to sell it in turn...?

[Both women look like they want to crawl out of their skins.

"No...if you get someone to buy stock from the company, then they become part of your team. You get part of what they make, and they get...um...support."

Lonnie is silent as the other woman explains. Support, the other woman says.

Both of them sit in their discomfort for a long moment. Until, Atem says--]

Don't worry. I'll buy what both of you have -- that should cover any outstanding debts! But I won't do it for nothing. In exchange, I want information!

There's got to be someone who owns the company, isn't there? Someone whose idea all of this was...do you know who that is?

IC Inbox | ryslig

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

do you cw for lederhosen mlms

we do now. also CARROT ACHIEVED!! WOO!!

no subject

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.