I don't need to read the papers, or the tea leaves to understand [CLOSED]

[hearthebell]

Who: L, Niles, Jin Guangyao
When: Late February
Where: Outskirts of the Harbor District
What: A Naga hypnotized Myr, and his witch isn't too thrilled about it. Time for some good old-fashioned unregulated Mirrorbound justice.
Warnings: Forcible magic tattoos



[L had known, perhaps, that Niles was unlikely to say no. That after everything they'd been through, and all that the chimera believed and had born witness to, he would agree with the necessity for this.

They're an unlikely team, considering their history, but their understanding of one another has evolved. That can make all the difference.]

He'll be coming this way, in two minutes.

[Surely Niles, of anyone, can appreciate just how detail-oriented L is when he sets his mind on stalking someone.]

Comments

[hearthebell]

[L's focusing intently on the anchoring process, scratching several runes superficially and lightly around the edges of the still-glowing flower.

The focus is broken, for just a moment, when L glances at Niles going through the naga's clothing and possessions.]

I appreciate your attention to detail, but I did offer to pay you.

[Dryly...and quickly diverted before he can comment on the possibility of repeating this, because the potion, it seems, wasn't quite concentrated enough or in a large enough dose. When L's glance starts to return to the dahlia, and the runes he's putting the finishing touches on, the scan of his gaze is tripped by a flash of gold, and his hand lingers close to the gag.

He's practiced with Near. They're different nagas, but it works similarly, twists similarly through the turns of the detective's quick mind. It's not without effect... but he's seen a beast like this before.

His fingers curl around the edges of the gag, an action he doesn't want to take until the runes are anchored and the spell sealed, but he has control over his mind and its connection to his tongue. The dangerous experiment with his Bonded paid off, at least in allowing him to resist this far.]

Niles...!

[cyclopticsadist]

I'm just looking for anything of interest. I'll put it all back.

[The only runes on the sword he could parse are the simple ones about directing the magic itself, not anything about its functions. So, true to his word, he returns it to the belt. At the shuffle and the groan Niles' ears prick up and his tail begins to swipe side to side. He shifts to brace one foot on the ground, and kneel on Jin's chest with his other leg, anticipating some more thrashing to start in a few minutes.

But then L is reaching for the gag, panic in his voice, and Niles swats L's hand away. He swings his tail around, placing the bulb on the prone man's neck, the sharpened hook of the stinger hovering menacingly over his face. He's not out of venom, but he's close. The cultists had milked him daily while there, and it's soon enough after that his body hasn't produced much more. He could kill a fox, with what he's got, (he could probably kill L, the man is a whole 90 pounds), but it's certainly not enough to do anything to Jin other than perhaps give him heart palpitations and a raging erection. But he's the only one who knows that for now.]

No games, worm, you won't win here.

[turmoiling]

[With that imminent threat, Jin Guangyao's baleful yellow glare flicks over to Niles. Even if whatever Linden is doing is enough to almost make his eyes water and hands clench in their bindings, it's not killing him. They haven't moved him either, which is one of the few good signs.

He can't respond properly, but lies still and docile, though the tension is still obvious in his body and one unrepressed breath through his nose comes out in a long hiss like water hitting a hot stovetop. He won't risk his life, and he's been through worse pain than this before. Whatever is happening to him will have to end at some point, or they'll have to try to move him; he can wait.]

[hearthebell]

[L won't soon forget how dearly he almost paid for disapproving of petty theft, taking his eyes away from his work for just a moment. Niles swatting his hand away is enough of a diversion, puts enough distance and distraction between them for him to recover control over his hands.]

Hold...!

[Addressed tensely to Niles. He grips the delicate blade in his right hand, and this time he is far less shallow in his rune tracings. Some of them aren't purely superficial scratches anymore, but actually draw blood, and it's absolutely out of pure spite. He's also prioritizing speed in finishing this, and Jin Guangyao forewent his chance for a gentle touch, as far as he's concerned.

He pulls back, slightly breathless, lowering the blade at his side, cleaning it with a touch.]

...done. Sloppy at the end, but serviceable...

[He looks Jin Guangyao dead in the eyes, his own dark ones narrowing in disdain.]

Try to hypnotize me again. Go ahead; I won't try to stop you.

[Do your worst, is the taunt that's unspoken in words, but communicated perfectly clear in L's tone and manner. It's hard not to ride high on victory, and feel a little bit drunk on it, and L is human to the last.]

[cyclopticsadist]

[Niles hisses right back at him. Felines and serpents have a long history of animosity. Two ambush predator species hunting the same prey, their feud is measured in genetic time. The snake's anger is impotent though, and once L is finished with his work and issues his challenge, Niles nods. Time to test it all. He swings his tail back around behind himself once more, then uses a claw to slice through the edge of the gag.

He doesn't release his hands though. They were testing the efficacy of the runes, not how well he and L could dodge a blade. He'd be fine probably, but L doesn't have a lot of spare blood to lose.]

[turmoiling]

[L's vindictiveness is clear enough as he finishes, and one could easily see Jin Guangyao's eyes move back and forth between the two of them as he grits his teeth through the procedure. It's times like this that gaining the hypnotic unblinking gaze of a naga seems a poor trade for being able to generate sympathy-inducing tears on a whim.

But there's no crying for a snake. With the wet feeling of blood still fresh on his forehead, he spits out the gag as soon as he's able. If it was only one or the other facing him, he might be more inclined to try something. Even if Niles wasn't so close, sitting on his chest. He's pretty sure he could throw him off, but of the two, Niles and his claws and tail are a more obvious danger than anything Linden could do. So he remains still for now.]

What did you do?

[He asks directly. Being invited to try... no, he's no fool. Something is wrong, then.]

[hearthebell]

[Even if Jin Guangyao could summon those tears, weep openly and pitifully, it's doubtful that either of the two men would pay it much heed. There's something daft and wide-eyed about L by day, an affected absentmindedness making his interactions absurd and unpredictable... but here, he's all ruthless focus, so intent on reaching a goal that no earthly force could probably stop him. That power exceeds what he can do with Aefenglom's magic; it was with him long before he stepped through his mirror.

L tucks his runetching kit back inside his coat as though he was stowing a lunchbox after a midday meal in the park, standing and stepping back. He's an uncommonly fine-boned man, with no hope of besting the naga should he choose to attack him physically. It's not the ideal range for his ice or lightning magic, but ah; he hired muscle for a reason, and Jin Guangyao's most potent weapon against them is out of commission.]

I was kind.

[Spoken low, with precise, cold diction.]

In the days ahead I suggest you don't forget it.

[It's all relative, after all. Myr and Niles have both glimpsed the actual cruelty the man is capable of.]

[cyclopticsadist]

[Once L is a few paces away Niles frees Jin's hands and hops off of him. He rolls his eye at L's dramatic phrasing. Kind ugh. This is the same 'merciful' bullshit he'd spouted when Niles was the one trapped and scarred at his feet.

Wildly different circumstances of course, but the attitude that not doing the worst he could have done was something to be praised or thanked for still gets under his skin.]

You won't be able to magically compel others any longer. You'll have to settle for manipulating your enemies the old fashioned way like the rest of us.

[turmoiling]

[Freed, Jin Guangyao pushes himself up, snake body curling up around him in loose coils instead of sprawled out across the street. He stays low, shorter. Nonthreatening.

He'd been denied the opportunity to explain himself to Lan Xichen, for the first time since he'd known the man. To be held to 'account' for something so much smaller and lighter in comparison, again denied any opportunity to respond to claims against him (even when those claims might be true) feels like just another betrayal of this 'new life' towards him.

At least the other Monster has a more straightforward explanation for him., upon which he looks back to Linden with a faintly pained expression.]

Do you truly think I wanted to do that to your Bonded? I never intended any harm to him or to you.

[To others, was a different story, but when he's well aware he's talking to someone who specializes in Divination, Jin Guangyao decides to choose his words carefully.]

[hearthebell]

[L's expression remains cold. For all that his pale features don't move much, the mask-like visage probably seems more authentic than any affectations Jin Guangyao has yet seen from him.]

I truly think that one doesn't have to intend harm to still manage a great deal of it. And you have harmed my Bonded.

[A slow, creaking slide as his teeth grind; he's thinking of what he saw, that the naga's influence had peeled the edge away from like a streak of turpentine on a coat of pretty paint. So much rot, revealed.]

You're wearing a symbol that fits a what you are. It's beautiful, in spite of what it means... but if you touch his mind again, I'll know, and I'll brand you with something far cruder, and permanent.

[turmoiling]

[If this is all that's to be done to him, the unfortunate truth is that it is easier on him than it could be. Mind control, no mater what the form is, isn't well looked upon -- never mind his intentions towards certain other individuals during the Evergreen Circle's headier days.

But it still makes those black feelings of resentment roil in the pit of his stomach, to be looked at like that -- and to know that he's been marked in some way, for anyone to see. How is he going to explain that at the next Council meeting?

He'll no doubt have to bear seeing Linden at some Council meetings, as well.

Rubbing his wrist, as if trying to draw circulation back, he replies just as pitifully even against that impassive mask, not unaware that there's still Linden's compatriot watching all this unfold in front of him.]

I really didn't want to. It's just that I had no choice in the matter. How is it that you can take vengeance like this without even a moment to hear why it happened?

[hearthebell]

[L resolved, in coming tonight, that he would do no harm. That there would only be measures taken to prevent further harm, from the naga, and that he wouldn't damage or degrade him further than absolutely necessary.]

I'll not be reversing the spell.

[Firmly.]

It's as I said. You harmed my Bonded; I've seen the extent of that harm, because I don't see the goodness deep inside of people. He did; he had that comfort, and he doubts all of it now, thanks to you.

[He turns with a dark, contemptuous look over his shoulder.]

Remember that I was kind.

[cyclopticsadist]

[Niles had settled into a shadow along the wall, arms crossed, back leaning against sturdy brickwork. He's here as an outsider. He knew how Jin's actions led to his imprisonment and experimentation. Niles offered Myr help. Myr trusted Jin Guangyao and got puppeteered by him. Subsequently, Niles followed Myr's tainted information straight into an ambush. The cause and effect here is simple, and Niles trusted L's version of a solution. He hadn't agreed to help blindly but there was clearly more context he could have sought out first.

L's words are a harsh reminder to Niles that even when their goals align, even with all the hard earned progress they've made, L thinks about the world in a fundamentally flat sort of way. There's no definition of kindness he believes in that covers this. It was not kind when Niles drugged L before removing his fingers, it was convenient. It was not kind of L to brand his enemy, it was simply a more convenient solution than murder. He waits until L has vanished properly, teleported half a city away, before he speaks up from his spot against the wall.]

This isn't vengeance, it's prevention. [Or it's not solely vengeance anyway.] If you use a weapon irresponsibly and dangerously, don't be surprised when someone takes it away from you.

[turmoiling]

[And it had been his best silent weapon, in this monstrous form where he's been robbed of even the meagre power he had before.

The words interrupt his stare after the ugly resonance of Linden's words and departure, turning to Niles.]

Irresponsibly? If I did such a thing to protect my own Bonded, and Myr wasn't harmed at all, then what part of that is so irresponsible?

[He replies unhappily. No, certainly not in a direct way at all, but even if the ultimate goal of everything had been to remove a few people, it was to help ensure a peaceful and happy existence here for himself and Lan Xichen... something that seemed quite distant, to look at it now]

[cyclopticsadist]

[A snarl jumps onto his face and he stops leaning on the wall behind him. Both feet planted firmly, his head bows.]

I don't care about Myr![He cares about Myr. But not like, as much as he cares about himself.] There is no 'harmlessly' mesmerizing someone into assisting a cult! Because you compromised him I walked into an ambush. [He tosses his head angrily. The moon is waxing, and his wrists are still raw from the cuffs in that place.] I refuse to keep being...collateral damage!

[turmoiling]

I only asked that he not interfere. You have to understand that there are some things that are out of any individual's control. How would I know that you would be ambushed?

[He insists, curling a little tighter and silently wary of those horns.

Though the scenery is far different, it's all too reminiscent of accusations levelled against him, not so long before he came here. Though it didn't start in such a genuine manner, the idea of having a second chance at life had become quite appealing; why did other have to dog his steps, causing the whole train of events that led to this happening again?]