At loose ends ((Open RP, Mello, Halls))

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

So, that samurai has canceled our lessons without explaining anything as to why. I know damn well it's not because he's satisfied with my progress. Something's going on here. I have a couple of hunches, but without sufficient evidence, none of them is any more likely than any other.

Whatever. Now, I have three hours a day that aren't scheduled. I could practice, but I already spend more than enough time practicing already and he's already bitched at me about practicing wrong when I practice on my own.

So, for now, I have decided to examine the paintings along the walls. It's not like I have anything else to do and maybe some of them will be at least mildly diverting.

Comments

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Occasionally Kuronue could be a pretty nice guy. He placed a hand over where a heart should have been. "I promise I will not jump you while we are in my room, Mello." He grinned.

"It's this way," he said, leading Mello down the hall towards his room. He was curious as all shit about just what exactly Mello wanted to talk about, though the feeling in his gut said he already knew, just wouldn't admit it.

He opened the door for Mello when he reached his room, left it open for him. Miyako fluttered down to his side from the top of his four poster bed. He kicked the box that was poking out from beneath the bed a little further under until it was out of sight.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

Figures this guy's room would have a bat. "Thank you," I say dryly. I look around for a place to sit and start toward the chests under the window. He may say he's not going to do anything, but I'd rather not sit on the bed. I hike up my leg, catching the heel of my boot on the edge and wrap my arms around my leg. "You do realize that avoiding my questions will result in delay as will false information."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He petted Miyako's head as she crawled up to his shoulder and lounged there, sniffing in Mello's general direction and watching him with glassy eyes. "Just what do you want to know, then I will see about your answers." He was making Kuronue nervous, after all.

He moved around to the bed, sat on the side closest to the window, facing Mello. "He should know better than to try and trap a thief, hm, Miyako?"

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

Also figures he can talk to the bat. "I'm not trying to trap a thief," I reply blandly. "Though, in this case, it would be easier than figuring out who's cheating in a mafia card game."

I look at him. "How aware of dying were you?" I ask. Why not start off easy?

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Kuronue blinked and looked to Mello.

He stared at him for a moment, flicking back through memories. "Very aware. I remember every bit of it. And all of my time between dying and appearing here."

His actions while dead had been no more great than in life. Fucking the enemy had always been something he managed to walk right into. "It takes a long time for a person to bleed out," he added sombrely, keeping his eyes on Miyako.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Makes a heart attack look simple," I say flatly. "Do you remember exactly the moment you left your body, how it felt, everything about it?"

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He looked up. "Yes, why?" A subtle evasion.

Miyako crawled under the collar of his jacket. His wings twitched every time she shifted and made noises at him.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I frown at him. "I told you what I want to do and you're asking stupid questions."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He tilted his head. "No, you haven't told me anything. You're just asking me weird questions about dying. Floating isn't as fun as it seems by the way, especially when you're trying to run from fairy girl who want your soul." Ayame hadn't been all that bad though, not really. Kept him company.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I scowl at him. "Let's put the pieces together for you, then, since you can't add." I hold up a finger. "Wards are capable of trapping a demon as well as enforcing certain states," so Kusu says, anyways. I hold up a second finger. "We have an idiot we want to trap in a state that will allow him to experience a fate worse than death." I hold up a third finger. "Said idiot is a demon." I hold up a fourth. "We need to be sure we're designing the ward to elicit the proper state."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

His head went further to the side. "You want to make a ward that creates...pain while he's unconscious? Eternal pain kind of thing that he can't wriggle out of?"

He thought on it. It was too dangerous. Any of his allies could simply come along and remove the wards. There was no end to troublemakers at the school, not to mention the school itself. It was a good idea, however.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

Why do I bother, I wonder sometimes. "No, I want to create a ward that simulates death of the body without allowing his soul to leave his body. I think, maybe, if he doesn't fully die, the no kill spell may allow him to be trapped that way. But, without fully knowing the limits of the no kill spell and exactly what we're trying to recreate, it can't be done. I think we'll have to just work around the first."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He waved a hand. "If he has allies they can easily be removed, the wards I mean. That's the only concern I have. Sleeping beauty has to be hidden."

He sighed and rested his hands in his lap.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"That we can deal with once we have the ward properly constructed," I say, waving my hand. It is a valid concern, but there has to be a way, some how.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Do you remember dying?" he asked, looking up and over to Mello. Since they had the opportunity he thought it was worth asking.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I frown. "I died of a heart attack. I remember feeling a heavy weight on my chest and pain. The next thing I remember is being here." I shrug.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

He chuckled. "No afterlife for you, eh? It's not all that bad." He flopped back on the bed, rested his hands behind his head.

He was silent for a moment. "Karasu took him off school grounds, you know. It took Kusuriyuri two days to heal him, and his mind....well, we'll see." He'd been concentrating on keeping him safe, he hadn't really had the time to talk with Yukimura just yet.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"You do intend to tell him?" I say. "He tends to...disapprove of not telling him things." A fact he's made very cogent to me in a few of our lessons.

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"I know that all too well, Mello." Kuronue said it blandly, with regret.

"But he won't like me going after Karasu, being alone with him for so long, long enough to get my revenge and to get that ward to work..." He sighed deeply.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"So, you're going to go on the principle 'it's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission'?" I ask. "And just how will you justify hiding from him until you're recovered enough to face him? Or do you plan on not getting hurt?"

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Oh no, I'm well aware I'm going to get my ass handed to me. It's why I'm going and no one else is, after all." He raised his head and winked at Mello, then went back to staring at the canopy above his bed.


"If I tell him I'm going to do so...then I also have to tell him that I may have fucked Karasu a few times. When we were dead." He winced a little. "I...honestly don't know how he will react to that."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

I frown at him. "You said Karasu took him. What makes you think he doesn't know already?" I ask. "And, I told you not to do that, you idiot."

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

"Telling me not to flit is like telling me not to breathe," he complained, wanting to avoid answering or even thinking about whether Yukimura knew already or not.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Right, whatever. You didn't answer the question, though," I point out. "Explain to me why you think he doesn't know?"

[prettypendulum.livejournal.com]

Urgh. He thought about it for a moment.

"He hasn't brought it up. We would have talked about it if he knew. He would have been furious I didn't tell him." He winced. All the more reason to tell him. Yukimura's anger wasn't something he liked being on the receiving end of.