The world forgetting, by the world forgot

[arcanus_doctor]

[Oh, yes, he's been waiting for this, and he finally has permission to proceed with his experiments. Just a trifle, to begin with, to test the waters, as it were. The procedure really is elementary, when you're brilliant. The subjects won't even know anything's been done to them. But hewill. Oh, yes, he will. And he'll get to see how they react

Comments

[down_to_nowhere]

[Mello has a vague sense of something being off, when he walks into the room that smells like the best dark chocolate, but that feeling fades quickly, and he feels... almost relaxed.

That enormous cake clearly has his name all over it, and he finds a silver serving knife laid out beside it, and gets to work cutting a big slice.]

[ooc: Surly has forgotten Matt's existence.]

[logical_red]

[He pops his neck a little as he follows Mello inside, fully expecting to find a kitchen... though it looks more like a party setup. And not a dodgy one; there're actually some decent snacks set out for them. A grin as he comes up close behind Mello; no wonder the blond was so set on this room in particular. The scent of chocolate was too strong to ignore, and Matt was in a good enough mood that he might have some himself, for once.

As soon as he steps through the door, though, something feels strange - but he brushes it off. Things are always feeling strange now, so he discards the feeling.]

Heh. Have to feed your addiction, eh? [Yes, Mello, he sees you grabbing that huge piece of cake. And, yes, he's totally snickering at you.

Coming up especially close behind him, Matt presses against his boyfriend's back, wrapping his arms loosely around his waist.] Watch it, or you might get fat, [he mumbles against his lover's shoulder, his tone teasing

[down_to_nowhere]

[Mello is not a fan of being touched, particularly by strangers, and his reaction is immediate and instinctive; he slams his elbow back without regard for where it's going to strike, and spins, glaring. The bullshit this guy's spouting just made him hit harder. Where the hell does he get off teasing him?]

What the fuck?

[logical_red]

[He certainly isn't expecting that sharp elbow to the gut, and it hits him right in his stomach, forcing Matt to stumble backward a few steps; he falls, his knees hitting the hard floor as he coughs and chokes, trying to regain the breath Mello knocked out of him.

For a few moments, he just kneels there, staring at the floor, eyes wide and chest aching like fuck all.]

What the- [He drags in as deep a breath as he can, the sound ragged and slightly sickening, even to himself.] What the fuck, Mello?!

[Then he looks up. Into Mello's face.

...and blinks.]

Wha- [He blinks again.] Where'd that come from? [The scar is something entirely new to him, and he's somewhat horrified by it. He doesn't remember at all when or where his lover could have come by it, or even how - and a shudder rips through him at all the possibilities.]

Jesus, Mello- What happened to you?

[down_to_nowhere]

How do you know my name?

[He'd take a step back, but he's hemmed in by the table, the cake all but forgotten by now. He reaches behind him and curls his fingers around the handle of the serving knife, with no plans to use it except to intimidate, but damn, it's good to have a weapon handy.]

Where did what come from?

[He thinks he knows, from how the guy's staring at him, but it doesn't make any sense, and really? It just pisses him off more.]

[logical_red]

[...wait, what?]

I'm Matt. [He stares up at Mello, puzzled and slightly horrified.] We've- We've been together for. I don't even know anymore. A long-ass time.

And- [He lifts his hand, starting to get to his feet; once there, Matt starts to reach out for the damaged side of his lover's face, still bewildered as to when or how it got there.] And that-

[down_to_nowhere]

Don't touch me!

[He swings the knife up and holds it between them, and now he's the one staring, thinking fast. The mansion liked to fuck with him, and clearly this place does, too, putting shit in people's minds. That's all. This guy, Matt, whatever, wandered into a room that fucked up his brain.]

The hell makes you think that? I just got here.

[logical_red]

[Matt flies back, at least a foot; that knife coming out of nowhere is definitely not what he expected. He maintains most of his ground, though, bristling at the weapon and glaring right back at Mello.]

What the fuck is your deal, you crazy prick! I met you years ago! I've loved you for years!

[Angry as ever, he slams his fist down on the nearby table, disturbing millions of poor, innocent snack food items.] What the hell is wrong with you? How can you not remember anything?

[down_to_nowhere]

[Mello lets the hand holding the knife drop to his side, utterly speechless for once. Matt loves him? It can't be possible. It wouldn't be possible even if they did know each other.]

Look. Either this place has done something to you, or I'm not the Mello you know.

[The latter seems just as impossible, given that he looks different from most, and the only other version he knows of here hardly seems like a better candidate for a relationship.

He puts the knife on the table, still watching Matt as if he might have another outburst.]

So calm down, and we'll figure out what the fuck happened.

[logical_red]

[He stopped yelling, backing off; it seemed like the only way to get down to the bottom of this. Holding his face in his hands, he turns and steps around the table, collapsing into the sunk-in sofa cushions.

Leaning back, Matt's mind races. He glances around, making sure they're alone before saying,]

You're my Mello. I can prove it.

[down_to_nowhere]

[Mello follows him over and stands in front of him, still wary, but undeniably curious.]

Prove it, then.

[logical_red]

[It's obvious that Matt's uneasy. He doesn't like doing this to Mello - personal matters were meant to be kept personal - but it needs to be done, he knows. Still, he takes a deep breath, closing his eyes a moment before murmuring,]

...your mere- your mum. You look like her. [He watches Mello closely.] You have her eyes.

[down_to_nowhere]

[Mello blinks. But he told other-Mello that, and though no one was in sight, in retrospect, who knows who could've been behind those doors?]

If you've known me for years, you know more than that.

[logical_red]

Fine! [he snaps in reply, groaning in frustration. He doesn't like pressing on such personal issues, but... it needs to be done...]

You have nightmares- right? About fire? And- the dark? [He looks away.] You don't know what happens. I do. I- I'm not sure if I told you, after I died. [His eyes refuse to leave the floor.]

[down_to_nowhere]

[That earns a lot more than a blink. Mello looks stricken for a moment before he masters his expression, doing his best to wipe his face blank.]

No one knows that but me.

[So how the fuck could he not remember, if he knows Matt well enough to tell him that?]

...You died?

[logical_red]

[Oh, Matt catches that look. It fills him with warm hope for a minute - before Mello's next question sinks in. He hates this subject, with a burning, but... apparently Mello doesn't know him anymore. He pales at the thought.]

I, uh- Yeah. [The flush sets in soon after, overcompensating for the pale. He still feels ashamed for letting himself fall so far the way he did, when he was still in his original world.] My world's version of you finished the mission without me; we got into a huge argument the night before, because he knew what was going to happen. He knew I'd die.

[His fists clench at his sides.] So he yelled and hit me and pushed me out the fucking door, so he could go off and die alone.

...I died two years later. In Italy. [He still can't look Mello in the eye as he says it.] An enforcer for the mafia stabbed me in the back.