Video )

[faileas]

Name: Nerissa Bell (andernach) & Mhairi Ainsley (fearolc) Date: Septeril 1st Format: Video The video starts focused on a familiar face, close up until a differently familiar hand comes into the shot to set the watch down. Claws click on the outside of the surface, followed by both parties leaning back - then taking a proper step back to ensure both are in view. Miss Nessie looks as chipper as always, evidently still Delighted about this whole watch business, though there's a tightness around her eyes; Mhairi looks tense and decidedly displeased. It's more emotion than she's shown to the group at large, ears back and hackles raised, arms folded with a militant discipline behind her back. "Hello, dearests! We hope today finds you well." Nessie grins a little wider, though it softens after a lengthy pause. "While we'd love for this to be purely for pleasure - believe me, we both would - we've some things to discuss today, we do. After the full moon last month, a missive arrived from Morgie - that is, Morgana Drummond, the head of the Coven over there in Dorchacht - asking about our..." She pauses again, briefer this time, her lips thinning as she continues. "Our 'lost luggage,' as she so kindly put it." At her side, Mhairi's low voice outright growls, "After much back and forth, and discussions amongst Parliament, we've come to a decision that Drummond has... agreed to." Nessie's smile continues to wane, and she leans against Mhairi. "And we're quite glad that she has, considering conflict with Dorchacht is not exactly ideal at the present moment." With a deep breath, the Turnskin pulls back her disdain and focuses on the task at hand. "The Parliament has requested that the Coven send a group of dignitaries to Dorchacht to negotiate, and hopefully deescalate the situation. While we may not be able to immediately bring change, should things be as terrible in the waking world as it was in the dreamscape that you unfortunately faced, our best attempts will be made." She pauses, and displeasure is obvious in the way she lowers her gaze and turns her head to look at Nessie. "... your best attempts. Because we don't know what may happen, or what hand Drummond and the Coven of Dorchacht might turn, I will be remaining here. Those that wish to do the same are welcome to, and I will do my utmost best to assist you and answer any questions you may have." "While my lovely Mhairi does that, I'll be attending the meeting with Morgie - though I'm sure that's not a surprise at all, is it?" Nessie pulls away slightly, stepping forward in frame just a bit to spread her arms. "The dignitary group'll be handling all the real fun stuff - talking, seeing if there isn't anything to be done about this queer little situation that's come up, apologies when necessary, so on... I'd like to ask Morgie myself about how she's running her Coven, thinking on it," she pauses, then lowers her hands and steps back again. "And I know a few of you've been worried about it all, and wanting to help, so if any of you dearies would like to come along and play diplomat - show her things are right as rain and all, that we can all get along just fine even without what laws they seem to have in place - then I won't say no." She pauses again, tilting her head. "Might help, even." "Relations between Aefenglom and Dorchacht are... tense," Mhairi adds, wryly. "Per their insistence and refusal, there's no means of direct transport between the two cities, teleportation included. We've tried to get an alternative up and running, something that has been in the Coven's possession for quite some time. The device is a little too risky for us to consider, however, as it's theoretical in execution. Perhaps a project for the more technologically inclined of the mirrorbound at a later date." "I'd appreciate it, at least. That thing's one of our seven wonders in the Coven, it is." "On the fifth, any who wish to join Ness and a handful of our finest Witches should meet at the port." Mhairi reaches and, finally unfolding her arms, curls her hand at Nessie's elbow. "My best wishes, travelers. Be safe." Nessie returns the gesture, hand settling on Mhairi's; it's a little hard to tell, but she's rubbing the side of it gently. "Take care until next we speak, dearests." NOTE This post will NOT receive any responses from Nessie and Mhairi. You can, however, use this post to interact with one another in the meantime.

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[proficience]

[Dazai is only offering to cook for two reasons. One: he doesn't want his former protege to actually die of starvation, and he's well aware of the fact that he's usually sneaking into this house anyway. He's pretty much living there. Two: any food he cooks he can offer to Oda later on.

So, there's no reason not to try and cook something.]

I can't taste a thing, save for extreme bitter. But if you tell me what you want, I can rely on memory to make it. [Stop being stubborn, Akutagawa.]

No, I'll make it. I can't eat much of anything anymore. [He looks down at the counter and sighs.] I don't need your help. [A pause.] How about a burger?

[clothes]

[ akutagawa is skeptical about the sincerity or kindness behind dazai's offer. he knows better by now, and that aside-- dazai already knows what he wants. ]

And I don't need your help either! Stop pretending you suddenly care about what I want!

[ his answer comes out in the same enraged snarl a kicked dog would give. his ears even fold back, a canine's gesture of aggression, its willingness to fight. it's another reason akutagawa hates dogs so damned much, the stupid creatures are so expressive. they frightened him as a child in the slums, and now he hates them even more.

a creature desperate to please, whose only purpose is to serve-- only to be beaten and denied the one thing its biology craves. akutagawa is definitely a dog, and there's never any telling what lessons stay with a beaten animal. ]

You have never cared. You wouldn't dare start now.

[ a huff, and he looks away, gaze hard and piercing. ]

Why am I wasting my time here? I was a fool for coming, and an even bigger fool for not leaving by now.

[proficience]

[Most would probably yell back if given a response akin to what Akutagawa had just said, but Dazai's lips just curve into a grin, almost a smirk even, and he shrugs.]

Akutagawa-kun.

[He turns to face him, noting those ridiculous ears. He hates dogs, just like his former protege does, and seeing Akutagawa with the ears of one is -- well, it's very silly. But those ears also add to his expressions, driving the point home that Dazai really bothered him with his words. His insistence that he didn't need help in the kitchen.]

You're living in this house. [Not a lie.] So I should make sure you're fed, at least. [Past that, though... he doesn't care about the other man that much. Not yet, anyway. If he'd witnessed him in serious trouble, then he might.]

[clothes]

[ it's hard to tell with his coat in the way, but akutagawa's tail is straight and bristling; it's taking all the willpower in the world to not throw himself at dazai and have at his face with his fists. that snide grin makes his blood boil, his chest ache. akutagawa wonders if he can possibly do anything right in dazai's eyes, why he's such a joke, if this emptiness will ever end.

he just wanted to help him look for books on this goddamned trip. ]

I am not hungry.

[ the words come out through gnashed teeth, a sharp hiss in time with his stomach growling softly. he's been too distracted to eat a thing all day. ]

I can take care of myself, so you can stop pretending you care about me. I am no fool, Dazai-san.

[ a chuff. ]

If not for Oda-san, I'm certain you would have forcefully evicted me by now.

[proficience]

[Having stronger emotions, and less time to adjust to when they change, is one of the more recent differences in Dazai's personality. Becoming a vampire so quickly after his initial arrival makes everything difficult, admittedly, so when he hears the way Akutagawa insists he's not hungry --

He scowls.]

You will eat.

[And he takes a few deep, slow breaths to calm himself, as the last thing he needs to do is stoop to the other man's level and say anything drastic.

But he still says something drastic, thanks to his poor mood.]

You know nothing.

[clothes]

[ he growls, really and truly growls, his entire body feeling feverish, no doubt equal parts rage and the effects of his transformation, because he swears he can feel his skin prickling along his back and shoulders-- and there's no doubt that if he were a dog, his hackles would be raised.

even if akutagawa is as wild as it gets right now, he wonders if he could ever possibly turn on his master like this, if he even wants to. he's so sick of being cut down, of being hurt, but all that pent-up resentment and anger and sorrow are all superseded by fear as well. even if the wounds have healed, the scars and the memories don't fade so easily. he'll never forget how horrifying it feels to have someone you look up to, your savior, aim a gun at your head and talk to you as if you were a disgusting dog needing to be taken out back. ]

If you want me to eat that desperately,

[ akutagawa doesn't step forward, but he does stand his ground. ]

then you're going to have to make me. If I know nothing, you only have yourself to blame for it.

[ his words are heavy and acrid, goading. akutagawa knows a fight would be a horrid idea, neither of them have their heads about them, but right now he doesn't care. he's never pulled his punches a single day in his life, and in spite of the brand new changes ravaging his body, his mind and emotions, he refuses to start now.

(besides, if he can finally get dazai to admit the truth of his feelings, or lackthereof, and free him from this choke chain akutagawa wants so desperately to shake away, then all the better.) ]

[proficience]

[It's bad enough that Akutagawa had mentioned Oda during this conversation. It's bad enough that, with all of his own recent, drastic changes, Dazai's mood has been unpredictable at best. It's bad enough that Akutagawa has essentially forced himself to live in this house.

But Dazai had been able to handle those problems -- until now.

Being told that he's the reason the younger man knows nothing is enough to send him over the edge, and his eyes glow crimson. He looks away, intentionally, but he can't hide everything. The tiny beginnings of wings begin to form on his shoulder blades, and he groans, clinging onto the closest counter with an iron grip.]

Hngh -- [He's turning into that dreaded bat form again, thanks to harsh emotions.]

[clothes]

[ akutagawa is about to carry on, because fuck dazai if he thinks his yammering guard dog doesn't have any bite left after all these years, but the other man suddenly looks pained-- and then his eyes begin to glow all bright and crimson, and that's when akutagawa knows something is very wrong. ]

Dazai-san...?

[ his aggressive stance eases up, akutagawa's teeth appearing dulled once again when he closes his mouth to swallow, the prickling feeling along his back fading away to something completely ignorable.

when what akutagawa can only assume are wings begin to show themselves, akutagawa can feel all that anger turn on itself as stupid, stupid concern starts eating at it. ]

Dazai-san!

[ akutagawa curses the ears on his head and the way they fold down and back, an undignified display of the fear hitting his gut. ]

[proficience]

[He can still speak, thankfully, since only a few slight changes have begun to occur. His dress shirt and vest are now torn in two small spots, due to the beginnings of wings bursting through them, but for right now --

He just wants this to end. He'll deal with his clothing issues later on, or ask Oda to help. He can probably sew some, Dazai figures.

Turning his head so he can look at Akutagawa, he speaks, though his voice is slightly deeper than usual.]

You should leave.

[clothes]

But Dazai-san...

[ he tries reaching out. his two brain cells scream at him to just do what dazai said and leave, maybe even pack his shit and move out and never come back. it's not like dazai would be this concerned over him if his transformation began taking on a life of its own. ]

Is there truly nothing I can do to help you?

[proficience]

[Clenching his eyes shut with far more force than intended, so that his vision will surely be blurry once he reopens them, Dazai sighs with the utmost drama, shifting to turn completely away from the other man.]

This is my fate, Akutagawa-- [A fate that he's not particularly fond of, but there's nothing he can do to change it.] -kun. [It's becoming increasingly difficult to speak coherently, as his voice is becoming raspier with every word.]

Leave. So you don't have to see me like this.

[Those wings sprout out a bit further, and it genuinely hurts. Dazai bites his bottom lip and slowly begins to walk out of the kitchen so he can rest on the couch.]

[clothes]

[ he glances away, ears flattening-- not because he doesn't want to look at dazai, but because he really is useless right now. maybe he always has been; what good is a disobedient dog? ]

...Alright.

[ first, akutagawa takes a few steps backwards, before turning completely. suddenly, he remembers something. ]

In your crisper-- I concocted a blood pudding for you. You looked...

[ miserable, back in that coffee shop. dazai looked like he missed all kinds of finer things. akutagawa managed to make a pudding entirely out of pig blood, layered over flavorless sponge cakes soaked deeply in even more blood.

not that it matters. akutagawa shakes his head. ]

Nevermind. I will be on my way.

[ and with that, akutagawa finally makes his way to the door to leave. he still has a lot to think about. ]

[proficience]

[Flopping down upon the couch, on his stomach, Dazai groans. The pain is becoming unbearable, but he can't admit to it. He can't appear weak in front of Akutagawa, of all people.

So, he remains as still as possible in the hopes that the pain will subside and the transformation will stop. He presumes that if he's relaxed for long enough, he'll revert.]

Hngh -- hm?

[Blood pudding? Just for him? That elicits a soft smile, but he doesn't say anything else.

He'll eat some of it later on, once he can stand again.]