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[youngtimer]

NeverAcorned - Standard UN || HoratioV - Fog/Lighthouse UN || 5ofDiamonds - Casino Business || Odyssean - Anonymous/Sock UN

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Comments

[gothicgambit]

[How unexpected, she thought that Five would be more experienced with making other people act a certain way. Not that she minded actually knowing something he didn't for once.]

What we will do at first is observe, to make sure we aren't wrong.

[She puts two sugar cubes about an inch apart on the table in front of them.]

Jealousy was a poor tactic. I had thought Atem might fall into the right type for it, but it turns out they're both martyrs. [Her nose wrinkles in a momentarily childish sort-of pout.] Fools. They'll just end up pouting and offering sickening support instead of confessing.

Once we're sure of an approach, we just keep -[she taps on the end of one sugar cube with the end of her spoon.]

prodding them [tap]
closer. [tap. The cubes are near touching now.]

Watching them will make it easier to make a plan, at first.

[knifemonopoly]

Heh!

[True enough! What's the good of being a monster if you can't laugh at the parts that aren't too horrible for laughter? This game didn't end in anyone dying -- Atem hopes, feels strongly, that Celeste will wake up feeling more like herself. So, it's a laughing matter, that he's drunk her blood.]

I told you, it was a penalty game...

[Horatio might have heard of these, if he's familiar with Japanese comedy and variety shows. A batsu game is when the loser of a bet or contest has to do something unpleasant, though not particularly deadly.]

...she lost a bet, and being fed on was what we agreed would happen to the loser!

[A beat. Then, a touch more soberly:]

She hadn't been around lately. I hadn't seen her since we got her out of the tree...

[He doesn't have to say anything about the state Celeste was in when they got her out. They both saw. Her disappearing from the 8th floor and not showing up for work after that was worrying.]

...so, I figured a contest with supernatural stakes would be the best way to draw her out.

<NeverAcorned>

[youngtimer]

I alternate between asking questions to get to know people, and teasing the living hell out of them. If you hadn't noticed. ;) I think it's why Atem and I get along so well.

<WhiteWizard>

[softspokenlandlord]

Tease? You? Oh no I never noticed.

[Laying it on a little thick, isn't he? Look, don't you winky face at him, you...small man.]

Anyway, I could see that. I suppose it's not terrible, to feel so comfortable with someone that you could tease them, while simultaneously wanting to learn about them because you care.

I'm sure you and Atem will have a murder game sorted out any day now, right?

[youngtimer]

[if she wants that sort of manipulation, she should look to Handler. Five is better at the predicting: at knowing people and how they'll react. Handler was always the other half of the equation, the one who set them up to give the reactions she wanted. He's a precise tactician, and emotions are anything but precise]

That, I understand. You need more data. What is it you emotional blackmail types call it? Dirt.

[he grins]

That much I can do.

[youngtimer]

[he's not familiar with them in the least, but Atem's explanation does the trick quite nicely, and he nods, not only in understanding but assent. he listens to the justification, keeping his expression neutral, almost bordering on a scowl.]

That was an asshole move, Atem.

[a smirk]

And a good one. She needed a kick in the ass.

[gothicgambit]

[She taps the tip of her finger against her bottom lip in thought. If this was a serious matter, yes. But-]

You make it sound so sinister! [It kind of is, Celeste]

Data would be a more accurate term. The more we know about what strings to pull, the easier it will be to drag them into realizing how foolish they're both acting.

If I wanted to actually manipulate them, I would be trying far harder.

<NeverAcorned>

[youngtimer]

[supposing it's not terrible is probably the best feedback he's gotten on his friendship technique so far. he'll take it]

He hasn't actually told me too much about them. I do love a good game of wits though.

[youngtimer]

[at her mild accusation, he simply raises an eyebrow as if to say '...yes, and?'. he enjoys her little quirks and mannerisms when she's away from the game table - she has so many tells, and every single one of them is deliberately chosen, a choreography meant to broadcast just what she wants everyone to see. it's impressive as hell]

Ryou's been messaging me privately about having trouble sleeping. That seems like it could be useful.

[gothicgambit]

Perhaps...

[Atem was very obviously protective where Ryou was concerned, but was that enough.]

I think we can push things a bit more though. They're rather comfortable at home, maybe observe them somewhere outside of their preferred environment?

[There's something she's forgetting, she can feel it. The shittiest part of recovering from an injury, it made everything harder to do.]

<WhiteWizard>

[softspokenlandlord]

Well firstly, calling them 'murder games' is perhaps a bit gratuitous. It's just that the last one I was present to did end in death. Because we needed to feed.

I know this sounds awful, but...Atem's really creative and makes up a compelling game. The only shame is that people generally don't realize their shortcomings in time to win.

I wouldn't want to be on the other side of a penalty game though. If you're interested I can tell you the one I was party to though.

[youngtimer]

[he's preoccupied with savoring the last of his coffee before it gets cold for a moment, and as he abandons the empty mug, his gaze lands on his laptop, sitting closed on the couch nearby.

lightbulb.]

Dr. Pierce's grand opening dance for the school. He just put something up about it... hang on.

[he gets up and retrieves the laptop, cracking it open and logging back in. if she's quick she might catch the tail end of his password: ______4r@de. once he's in, he turns it around so she can have a look]

Might be a bit cliche, I don't know. Thoughts?

[knifemonopoly]

[Do you know, Atem actually sweats a second. For a moment, Horatio gets him, and Atem wonders if this is going to turn into a fight, if Horatio won't agree with what he did until Celeste wakes up, he figured hiding it would imply shame and guilt that wasn't there and would arouse suspicion but if announcing that he lured Celeste out and drank her blood isn't a reasonable and understandable thing to do, faeries might be a tricky type to fight--

--and then, nope. Ha! The relief in Atem's face is part oh, good, no very-late-night fights in someone else's home territory and part you got me!]

She's been much too careless with her own wellbeing lately. Ever since I died, when that parasite was pulled out...

...but I think I got through to her. I expect she'll wake up feeling more like herself than she has in a while.

[gothicgambit]

[Celeste, being an unfortunately terrible snoop, does note the back half of his password. Never know when you might need something like that. But she leans over slightly so he does not have to turn the screen quite so far, and even scoots her drink out of the way in case of errant elbows.]

I think it's perfectly suitable. Cliches exist for good reason, after all.

[Her nail-claws tap a quick staccato on the tabletop, and she turns to him-]

Are you asking?

<NeverAcorned>

[youngtimer]

Color me intrigued. Yeah, please do.

[he really does like it when he can prove he's intellectually superior to people, and idiots who don't know what the shape of the world is get what's coming to them. it's kind of what he subsisted on to make it through his time at the Commission.]

think we're close to a wrap?

[youngtimer]

[maybe it's the fact that he's a fae, maybe it's just his old asshole streak from the Commission, but the sight of that flash of fear on Atem's face is immensely gratifying. it means that he values his opinion, and that's ... pretty nice, really, once he drills right down to the bottom of it. Horatio grins at Atem, and for once there's nothing feral or sarcastic about it. just two dudes being friends]

Yeah. I noticed that, too. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't do anything particularly idiotic. ... Thanks for bringing her here.

yyy I believe we are

[knifemonopoly]

[...huh, this relaxed atmosphere...it is nice.]

Thank you for looking after her. And out for her! But I've imposed on your hospitality long enough...I'd better get going!

hint hint: it's an MCR reference XD

[youngtimer]

[he doesn't even hesitate. at this point it's just two pals scheming, nothing else at all. right? totally.]

Seems like the best way to keep an eye on them, don't you think? Besides. Pretty sure with how much we both like to dress for an occasion, we'd make a nice pair.

/thumbs up <3 TY for being awesome as always!

[youngtimer]

Atem, if you were an imposition? Trust me, you'd know. But if you've got other places to be, I won't stop you.

[he gets to his feet with the stiffness of his true age and a roll of his neck, his posture bowed for the first few steps as he means to see him to the door like a proper host]

lmao

[gothicgambit]

[She thinks about it. They might actually, Five seemed to have better fashion sense than most people their age. Her age? Whatever. Obviously this is just as friends, since he's her boss and also probably considers himself a grown man no matter how much he talks about 'second puberty.' They're coworkers. It's fine.

That security that there couldn't possibly be another motive is what helps her answer.]

Hm, I suppose you wouldn't embarrass me. With your permission, Dolores.

[She can't help but be a little sarcastic, and directs her attention to the mannequin silently sitting with them.]

<WhiteWizard>

[softspokenlandlord]

Alright well. It was after Atem came back from the dead, you know. After the whole parasite thing.

I couldn't be trusted with moral decisions so he took charge of the hunt, and we went after a cameraman who was trying to extort his coworker with compromising footage. It was convenient, I suppose.

[Eugh. He hated saying that.]

Anyway. I'm not even sure how Atem pulled this one off, I should ask him sometime, but he had two vials with him. One with sedative and the other with soda water. He offered the guy full access to whatever he wanted to record us doing, on request.

If he picked the right vial. But if he picked wrong then he'd just fall asleep and we'd both feed off of him. And Atem told the woman who was being extorted which vial was the spiked one, so that she could tell her coworker.

I'm sure you can figure out how it turned out?

XD

[youngtimer]

[he glances over at her]

Finally, someone with some goddamned manners. Yes, you can take him. He's not mine anymore, anyway. Someone might as well give him a good time.

[that earns a little choked noise from Horatio before he frowns at her]

Doloreeesss...! [ahem] She says you have it. She's just in a mood today, I guess. Thinking she knows what's best for me, as always, when she only knows what she sees happen in here.

I see more than enough, Five. You like her, don't you. It's fine. I'm not jealous. Okay, maybe a little.

[he just purses his lips and gives Dolores the tiniest raise of his eyebrows, the universal frustrated teenager expression for 'oh my god shut UP']

<NeverAcorned>

[youngtimer]

I know he volunteers at the clinic - that's probably how he got the sedative. There are also some monsters who can produce venom or powder with similar effects. There are a few ways.

Either way, though, that's a good con. Relying on other people's natures to get them to take the path that would benefit you the most... I get the feeling he would have been right up there with me in the ranks if he'd been at the Temps Commission. ... What did you do with the woman? Just let her go?

look she's done weirder shit lmao

[gothicgambit]

[Well, whatever Dolores' response is, Five doesn't seem to think it's very funny. Part of her almost wonders what he thought was said.

But at least he doesn't act like she can hear her too.]

Somehow I think there's more to it then that.

[obviously, with how out of sorts he suddenly is. so far Celeste hasn't managed to throw him like that, but this mannequin can apparently accomplish it with ease. Interesting. It does not make her feel inadequate.]

So she 'thinks' she knows what's best. Does she not? Since you obviously seem to disagree.

[youngtimer]

[he coughs]

Let's just say her comment wasn't age-appropriate.