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[geassed]

[he grabs his coat from the hanger, moving towards the door.]

...Rolo. I'm going out -- I'll be back, probably past dinner time.

You'll be all right eating by yourself, won't you?

[He doesn't say where he's going as he shuts the front door behind him; it's probably for the best that he keeps it quiet. He doesn't necessarily want to be associated

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[killing_sweep]

[It's a game of clock-watching and Byakuran is doing just that. Counting the seconds of silence until the man in chains beside him decides that it's uncomfortable.

It's certainly not the first time he's played it, nor the second or third. But, unlike his officers and his playthings, the man beside him is of a more formidable breed. And it's only when Byakuran hears the knocking that he breaks it himself.]

It's open, Lelouch-kun.

[Soft, distant, congenial.]

[geassed]

[He pushes open the door, entering cautiously. The place looks fairly clean, and for a minute, he doesn't see Byakuran anywhere.

Then, his eyes widen.]

...I was under the impression [he says, frowning and somehow regaining his composure; this man in chains is a shock, but even without the blood on his face, Lelouch knows who he is. Not by name, of course -- but he is the owner of this powerful eyeball, and Lelouch is suddenly very suspicious of what Byakuran wants to talk to him about] that you had only the eye and not its owner.

[withinthemist]

[Confinement is nothing unfamiliar to Mukuro, and this crude binding of chains is mere discomfort for all that he shows for it. The signs of his exchange with Byakuran are clear, most in the dried red blood on his face, but no pain touches his expression as his lips split in a cold smile at the arrival of a visitor.]

Oya~? I should feel honoured, I wonder. Calling your friends to show off your trophy, Byakuran~? How prideful.

[Not a single(-eyed) glance is afforded to Byakuran during these words, his remaining eye focused on Lelouch.]

So surprised, you look. Kufufu~ Is it so strange a sight to comprehend?

[killing_sweep]

[Byakuran's focus is on his communicator as he closes out the last few programs he had open before Lelouch arrived. He knows well the look that most be on Lelouch's face. For all his craftiness, Lelouch was still much more a child than he was.

And that innocence seemed to taint him.]

Lelouch-kun, Rokudou-kun. Rokudou-kun, Lelouch-kun.

[Short introductions, as always.]

Lelouch-kun is here because it seems you both have something in common.

[The communicator is shut with a soft click.]

[geassed]

What is the meaning of this, Byakuran?

[He does not like how they are being lumped together, this one-eyed man and himself. It's worrying, especially as he had already used his geass on Byakuran once and thus cannot use it again if things go awry.]

[withinthemist]

Kufufu, interesting... How awkward a question, do you truly not know why he desires your presence?

[His laugh is distinct, and Mukuro raises his head to look to the man foolishly seeking to confine him.]

So secretive, Byakuran. This child has no idea why you would ever have a guest~ Or is it, Lelouch-kun, that you wonder why he would have one so liberated of an eye.

Did he not tell you who I am~? This City is filled with people who do not recognise this name, after all.

[killing_sweep]

[Byakuran leans back onto the couch, comfortable between the standing Lelouch and the talkative Mukuro some feet away. He glances over at Mukuro, meeting his gaze.]

Didn't we agree, Lelouch-kun? That two heads would be better than one in seeing what one could do with our guest's eye?

[geassed]

....Yes.

[But, Lelouch wants to say, this was before he realised that he'd be dragged into something so ridiculous, that he'd be not only looking at this disgusting, floating eyeball, but at the person to whom it had once belonged. He sighs.]

However, I'm not interested in involving myself with your home dimension's politics.

[He never thought a conversation/rendez-vous could be so revolting, awkward, and bizarre all at the same time, but he's been proved very, very wrong.]

[withinthemist]

[Mukuro laughs at this weak attempt by the visitor to distance himself when it is far too late.]

All this effort when you could simple ask~

[killing_sweep]

Ah? Was I involving you? I'm sorry.

[Byakuran's apology would sound slightly more convincing if he hadn't pulled free the container, holding it out to Lelouch.]

Would you not have been troubled if I asked you?

[A question for Mukuro, although his gaze rests now, expectantly, on Lelouch.]

[geassed]

[Byakuran's intent, of course, clearly is to get Lelouch involved. He curses himself for not being on his guard more; since Mao left, he's had no reason to worry, and he's gotten complacent. Too complacent.]

I've told you, Byakuran, that our powers are different. I know nothing about the workings of Rokudou's eye.

[He says this so he can get away with not looking at the eyeball, suspended in liquid. It's disgusting, and he feels his stomach flip. In his hand, he is holding the body part of a man in front of him, and if he didn't have better self control, he would already have emptied the contents of his stomach. He's never been very good with these kinds of things.]

[withinthemist]

Amused, I think is the reaction, hm? Disappointing though it is, that not even the terrifying Millefiore were able to reason out where the power came from, when the mafia gave them the largest clue.

[The dynamic of their conversation has Mukuro's interest and it is clear that this Lelouch has an occular ability, if Byakuran is so interested in his input.]

Lelouch-kun, don't be so hesitant~ Take a closer look, kufufu~ That will make it easier, hm?

...easier to tell what it does, perhaps.

[geassed]

[There's something sick and very twisted about this experience, and Lelouch feels strangely cornered. He still does not want to look at the eye.]

Why so eager to have your powers examined, Rokudou?

[withinthemist]

[Mukuro laughs and leans back against the increasingly familiar pressure of the chains that hold him down.]

Why so suspicious of what you could learn~?

Perhaps for a sense of camaraderie. There are not many who know the pleasures of a gifted eye, hm?

Though you will fear it, like all humans do. Your nature is pathetically predictable, kufufu~

[killing_sweep]

[Byakuran laughs at that.]

And you're so inhuman compared to him, I suppose? To speak from such a point?

[He lazily gropes for a bag of marshmallows.]

Looking it at shouldn't be dangerous, Lelouch-kun. If it's as you say, the powers won't work like that.

[geassed]

[Luckily, Lelouch is not foolish. He does not get riled by Mukuro's taunting, and ignores him instead.]

Mm. That's true. [He swallows his disgust and looks at the eyeball, studying it carefully.]

It's different than mine. [He says this finally, frowning.] Very much so. But I cannot tell anything from simply looking at it. I'm no optometrist, after all.