CONTACT | Call me, maybe

[intercalaryninja]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, HAZYREFLECTION FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 011.04.151.01 *** HAZYREFLECTION has joined 011.04.151.01 <HAZYREFLECTION> Only contact me if it is necessary. <HAZYREFLECTION> Report to me immediately if it's regarding Reira-dono. <HAZYREFLECTION> I will be checking this nightly when possible.

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[intercalaryninja]

[Good on you, L. At least you have enough of a spine to actually do it without even attempting an excuse.]

We do one prominent infliction today to see how it is fresh and then we can do a period of one, three, seven and ten days. That should give us a good idea of the half life of the venom and the decay of the truth properties. We can plot it out properly too for good measure.

Unless you have prisoners readily available for it, I'll have to ask for you to do it.

I will ask you first though, what incident spawned the need for truth-telling within the prison?

[hearthebell]

[To his credit, L knows when something is expected of someone in his position, and that it would be nothing short of dishonorable and disrespectful to attempt to shirk his duties.]

It wouldn't be ethical. Provided that you can supply extra, to overcome that single dose immunity, then I'm glad to volunteer.

[A pause, because, really...]

There's been no incident, exactly. Just talk that it could be necessary in the future, and it would be better to have and not need than need and not have.

[intercalaryninja]

We can only distribute truth venom once per day. Unless you know of other arachne then, I'll have to do it tomorrow. I'll extract the venom now.

[Immunity does make things a tad more complicated but they'll manage.]

Necessary? How so? In what way? [Because there are... a few things he can think of that could warrant 'ethical' interrogations.]

[hearthebell]

You're certainly the only one I feel comfortable enough to work with, on this level.

[Actually true.]

You know that there are challenges and threats we face from other monsters. It's not always battle of a physical nature, or a struggle that can be resolved on the spot.

[intercalaryninja]

Thank you. That is an honour and a privilege.

[He means that as well.]

Yes, I'm aware. I was just wondering if you were focused on anything specific. But if it's general concerns, I understand.

[hearthebell]

You're too generous.

[Also true. They're just being so truthful, today, but L is completely humbled by just how easy this was. It could have been much more difficult.]

Several days from now, we should begin preliminary testing. Would that be alright with you? If so, you should begin collecting venom immediately.

[intercalaryninja]

[It could have, but when has Tsukikage ever really asked for anything in return. If it's for something be believes is good and useful, he gives generously. It's both one of his greatest strengths and his greatest weaknesses.]

Of course. I don't use my venom at all, since I don't particularly enjoy using it on others, so I have today's batch ready.

[Should he do it here? Would L mind? Or do it from home?]

[hearthebell]

Excellent. Once there are a few more doses ready to go, I'm ready to run some tests. Until then... thank you, Tsukikage.

[If the ninja did want to ask for anything in return, well... now would probably be a good time.]

<dlm> | during the Firewall event

[alphaophiuchi]

[ the following seems to be typed hastily, for some reason. It also might go past Tsukikage's notice, depending on what he's doing. Such is the nature of timing. ]

tsukiake

tsu

i needy ou

can i come oerv

[intercalaryninja]

[Tsukikage's in a weird mood, but he's being lazy today. He occasionally checks the network and he's surprised when he gets the message...

Though the contents... He can't find himself to be worried

Sure. If you want. Go ahead.

[alphaophiuchi]

[ well, that...

[ that’s not at all what he hoped to hear. Just his luck. There’s none of the usual concern, none of the compassion or warmth he normally gets from his boyfriend. It’s a realization that has his heart flipping uncomfortably, and if he weren’t in such dire need of medical care, he might have brushed it off and told him later instead. Just to save a bit of face. ]

ill be therr soon

[ and...honestly, he just hopes this strange mood passes.

[ it barely occurs to him that this might be the music’s doing: he wasn’t around long enough to see the results on that front. All he knows is Judai’s reaction, and as narration suggested, he would have done most of that all on his own. No, most of Draco’s brain instead leaps to the only natural conclusion: Tsukikage is finally sick of him.

[ even with that, he makes relatively good time, considering how sluggishly he’s moving. ]

[intercalaryninja]

[Sorry, Draco. He's just super out of it. It might be obvious when he get there, with the door open and the house being a lot messier than the pristine state Tsukikage usually keeps it in, but it might not.

The man in question is in the living room, sort of lazing there but not really. When he hears Draco, he doesn't get up straight away but when he does, he blinks.]

Woah... What happened to you? Are you okay?

[alphaophiuchi]

[ when he sees his boyfriend, he only feels slightly reassured. A frown still mars his brow, though one might also think it was due to the whole...definitely in pain thing. Draco is, after all, still bleeding, albeit sluggishly. ]

...erm. I got in a bit of a scuffle, shall we say.

[intercalaryninja]

"... let's fix you up then. Go sit down. Bleeding is inconvenient," he said, moving off to go get his med kit, leaving Draco to his own devices.

[alphaophiuchi]

Bleeding was most certainly inconvenient, and as Tsukikage left, Draco released a soft sigh, frowning slightly to himself. He rubbed at one brow with his fingertips, slumping down on himself. Something had happened; Tsukikage wasn't acting like his usual self. It was bizarre. But how did he bring that up? Did he even bother? Should he opt instead for silence and hope it passed?

After a second, he remembered what his boyfriend told him, and went to slump into a heap of coils somewhere soft.

[intercalaryninja]

After Draco makes himself comfortable, Tsukikage returns with their little medkit. He sits in front of Draco and looks him over. He gently runs his hands over the blood, quietly using his blood magic instead of asking Draco for permission like he usually would.

"You're not too bad off. I'm surprised. You could be in much poorer conditions, given your injuries."

[alphaophiuchi]

In this situation - and perhaps this one alone - Draco didn't really mind the blood magic. He was, after all, used to magic being used on and around him, and as disconcerting as it was at times, he couldn't complain with being made a bit more whole now.

"I...probably could. I escaped as quickly as I could." Mostly, it was stab wounds, the odd bullethole, and lots of gashes and scratches. He really did get off quite lucky this time.

[intercalaryninja]

He gets the read on Draco's mind and body and begins to work on him since he has a good read on his health. He sets to cleaning and bandaging the wounds, ninja training kicking in despite his calm and lazy state.

"What happened? Who attacked you with a gun?" he asked as he picks out the dirt from the bullet wound.

[alphaophiuchi]

"...a Fog Follower. One of the more determinedly psychotic ones," he murmured, wincing slightly. The injuries were still fresh, still raw; even a careful brushing away of dirt still stung and twinged.

[intercalaryninja]

"Why were you fighting a fog follower? I thought you knew better." Tsukikage does sound mighty unsympathetic but he is working at the wounds neatly and efficiently. Soon he's wrapping bandages around for Draco.

[alphaophiuchi]

He just...wrinkled his nose, glancing aside slightly. Mighty unsympathetic indeed.

"We had...something to do. Rosch and I." He raised his eyebrows pointedly as he looked back at Tsukikage. Obviously, those involved ought to tip the ninja off to the fact that it was sensitive Neutral business.

[intercalaryninja]

"Ah... so that's how it is. Alright." He accepts that simply, either missing or ignoring the sharp look. The man pulls away now Draco's clean and bandaged.

"Anything else you need?"

[alphaophiuchi]

That look faltered into a frown, followed by a steady slump of Draco's shoulders when Tsukikage pulled away entirely. He swallowed, shaking his head a little.

For a moment, he was entirely silent, debating whether or not to say anything. On one hand, he was briefly willing to just slither home; on the other, he didn't like the idea. Therefore: "Did I do something? If you're sick of me, just say so."

[intercalaryninja]

Tsukikage was putting the things away when he hears the simple question. He tilts his head curiously and looks up when Draco asks his question.

"No? You didn't do anything. Why would you assume I was sick of you?"

[alphaophiuchi]

"You're right," he started, keeping his voice as mild and even as possible, despite looking a bit like a petulant child right that moment. "I didn't do anything. But you're...distant. And I don't like it."

Especially not when he really, really wanted some comfort. Not that he was willing to ask for it.