(Untitled)

[tono_twerp]

Characters:Kurotsuchi Mayuri law_of_reason, Suoh Tamaki tono_twerp
When: June 13th, after this conversation.
Where: In Mayuri's lab
Rating: PG, unless flirting offends you
Summary: Body modification is fun! Though first, Tamaki has to get certain duties out of the way.

Comments

[law_of_reason]

The laboratory - though it wasn't close to the set up that he had back in his old Research Department - was not bad, considering that he'd constructed it from scraps of objects that he'd collected piecemeal and reassembled to function in ways that were familiar to him. Even working alone for the majority of the time, he'd had months to get it to a respectable state, and in his efficiency none of the room went to waste.

Every bit of space held function, machines embedded into the walls, any irregular space had stranger implements hanging from it, to free up room in the cupboard for more traditional gear. A long operating table was in the center of the room, nothing on it but a tray with a few weirdly-shaped blades, clamps, and thin tubes. The main light came from the ceiling, though most of the machines flickered at regular intervals, and some stray Erlenmeyer flasks held clear fluid that somehow glowed just faintly.

Kurotsuchi was already considering what he would start with - the typical battery of tests, probably, to ascertain the boy's health, to know what condition his new material was in.

[tono_twerp]

He looked around, a slow, happy blush warming his cheeks as he took in the different objects in the room. The place looked exactly as an alien laboratory should - well, he admitted, mentally, the absence of a faster-than-light cyber jump warp drive cylinder thing was a bit disappointing, but he was willing to let that pass.

"How nice of you to invite me here!" he said, beaming at Mayuri. He wanted to ask a barrage of questions about what all the different implements did, what sort of projects the man was working on, and what sort of things he could expect when they began. But one overwhelming fact was demanding his attention: the lab was empty of people.

"Don't you get lonely?" he asked, tentatively.

[law_of_reason]

He looked up at the question; Kurotsuchi was not used to conversing with his subjects. The Captain did notice that Tamaki didn't appear as if he were about to bolt from the room in a burst of fear, which was another nice surprise. He did so hate to chase after things.

"Not at all," he said simply, while gathering together a new tray, setting a couple clean needles on it before getting distracted by one of the concoctions he'd left out; the indicators he'd placed in the glass hadn't shown any change yet. Strange.

"It's inconvenient to not have the more competent people from my department here, but I manage," he added, not really paying attention to the chatter.

[tono_twerp]

"But what about outside of work?" he asked, straightening up and walking closer to Mayuri, his steps slow and measured, his gaze on the man's back. Like a tiger on the prowl, he thought to himself: elegant yet purposeful. And his purpose - nay, his duty! - was clear. Mayuri had very kindly promised to put his professional skills to good use; it made sense that Tamaki should do the same in return.

"Don't you wish you had congenial company?" he spoke in a very low voice, and not just because he was so near the man he could touch him.

[law_of_reason]

Though he was aware of the boy's approach (he hadn't survived as long as he had by being careless, especially around things he was going to operate on), he didn't give it much thought beyond making sure it didn't start looking like an attack.

Tamaki's propensity to conversation didn't phase him, though he considered it unusual. Still, the scientist was in a reasonably decent mood. His lab had held up in the storm, and no one had gone out of their way to annoy him as of late, so he was a degree more tolerant than usual. "There is no outside of work. And company's a waste of time."

[tono_twerp]

"Ah, you are selfless, my dear ali- Mayuri!" he said, touched. "To think you have devoted yourself to your noble cause, to the advancement of science, to the extent that you allow yourself no pleasures!"

He leaned closer, watching the man's face, fascinated. He reached out a hand, very slowly, so Mayuri would see it coming and not be startled when his fingertips touched him.

"You said earlier that beauty was irrelevant," he breathed, "yet you take such pains over your make-up. You look wonderful."

[law_of_reason]

"Kurotsuchi," he snapped automatically, though with more irritation than anger. He was used to correcting people who didn't use his surname, though by now it was a familiar annoyance. But when Tamaki leaned closer and actually touched his face, he completely forgot the more minor assumption of familiarity.

If Tamaki had moved any faster, he would've been, if not dead, in a state not far from it. As it was, Kurotsuchi stopped where he was - completely and absolutely confused. That hadn't been on his list of predicted actions. The rest of the boy's words didn't make anything any clearer, and the scientist drew back with slow caution, regarding Tamaki as if he couldn't decide whether to classify him as a new threat or not. He didn't like being surprised.

"What?" seemed like the most pertinent question.

[tono_twerp]

"My apologies, Kurotsuchi," he said, gently. He allowed the man a moment to collect himself (he was obviously shy, or at least bashful) before he took a step closer.

"I said you look wonderful," he added, smiling at him, hoping his sincerity was obvious. Sometimes, people who used thick make-up did so to hide who they were, to keep others at bay. He suspected Mayuri might be the same: a lonely, gentle, timid being, whose frozen soul needed to be thawed by the warm, if temporary, love of a good host. "The black make-up really brings out the gold of your eyes."

[law_of_reason]

Kurotsuchi was generally not a bad judge of sincerity, actually. But while he had received compliments on occasion, they were always directed towards his abilities, and were a mixture of honest (usually from his division), and mocking flattery (anyone not in his division).

That he was getting the impression that Tamaki was being sincere did not illuminate much of anything, and Kurotsuchi settled for staring at him impassively for a long moment. Though he recognized that he should've been annoyed that a human had managed to catch him off guard - if not in the way he expected - his typical curiosity finally worked its way through his startle.

"Yes, it does," he agreed carefully while trying to figure out what Tamaki was planning. Not being able to predict someone's motivation was a little disconcerting, but it was different - which was potentially interesting. "What are you doing?"

[tono_twerp]

"You asked me about my abilities earlier," he whispered, stepping closer, maintaining eye contact. It was important to let the man get used to and comfortable with physical proximity; that was crucial to a job well done. "So I thought I should show them to you."

He smiled, lifting his hand again, in the same slow-motion as before. Hopefully, this time he'd be able to touch Mayuri's face without having him jump backwards like a nervous horse.

"Will you let me show you, Kurotsuchi?" he asked, his tone warm.

[law_of_reason]

Alright, now he was just baffled.

"Explain these skills of yours first," he said, stepping back again without even realizing he'd done so, taking refuge in what logic he still recognized. He had no idea what Tamaki was talking about; nothing he was doing looked like any sort of talent he was familiar with. And while new things did interest him, this was decidedly suspect.

What was odd though, was that it didn't seem particularly threatening.

[tono_twerp]

Very, very briefly, he allowed himself to look pained: the most severe reproof he ever indulged in, with clients. Technically, of course, Mayuri wasn't a customer, but so far, there was no reason to suppose the familiar techniques should not be effective on him.

"You're a scientist," he said, giving him another smile, and stepping closer yet again. "You know that some things are better understood through observation and participation, rather than theoretical discussion! Don't be afraid, all I want is to please you."

[law_of_reason]

This time he stayed where he was; about half of what Tamaki was saying was recognizable, though his manner still didn't make any amount of sense to him. Curiosity finally won out again; he did hate not knowing what was going on, and since it didn't seem like Tamaki was exactly mocking him...

"Go on," he said, still cautious, still utterly uncomprehending, but deciding that there didn't seem to be much risk involved. He doubted that the human could try anything that he couldn't defend against.

[tono_twerp]

Oh, good. The shyness was giving way to a willingness to be loved; all was well. Keeping all his movements slow, since Mayuri was so clearly easily scared, he stepped up to him, lifting his hand and letting it rest against the side of the man's face, his fingers splayed along his jawline, his thumb resting on his cheekbone.

The make-up was slick under his fingers, and he made sure not to move his hand, since that would mean he was at risk of ruining it. Messing up a flirtee's make-up was never a good idea.

"You wear such voluminous clothes," he breathed, staring down into Mayuri's eyes. "Why do you do it? Why do you hide? I am sure your body is as beautiful as the rest of you."

[law_of_reason]

Nearness on its own didn't bother him. Kurotsuchi wasn't too aware of things like personal boundaries, and modesty wasn't something he cared about either. Being touched was a neutral concept; the other's weird deliberate closeness was inexplicable rather than offensive, and if it was interesting at all, it was not in the way that the host intended.

It was flattery, but not of any kind he recognized, and Tamaki's motivation was still a complete mystery. The boy had nothing to gain.

Pretending that he wasn't a touch disturbed, he stared back up at him, analyzing the other's expression. Kurotsuchi's tone was soft, though for an entirely different reason than Tamaki, and the lightness in his voice could only be described as dangerous. "Do you understand what you're doing?"

He hoped so, because he sure as hell didn't.

[tono_twerp]

"Oh, that's a scary voice!" he exclaimed, beaming at him. Then he sobered up, and fixed Mayuri with a grave glance, to show that he was being Very Serious™. If a girl got angry with him, it was usually because he hadn't been showing her enough attention. That could not be the case here, so he was fairly certain he knew what the trouble was.

"Don't be ashamed," he said, earnestly. After a moment's thought, he decided to risk letting his thumb move slowly along Mayuri's cheekbone, the touch very light indeed, so the chance of make-up-smudging was minimal. "I know some cultures and time periods are unaccepting of love between men. But there is nothing wrong with it! Just let it happen."

He considered, briefly, telling Mayuri that in some cultures, love between men had been considered more worthwhile than the heterosexual kind, but decided against it. The man was a scientist and might already know, and since he was an alien, earth cultures might be considered irrelevant anyway.