the walls have eyes ;

[exarticulated]

Who: barebacking & exarticulated.
When: Afternoon.
Where: The library.
Summary: Yaha's been stalking Destiny. Malik's been observing Yaha. It's like some sort of messed-up ouroboros of spying.
Warnings: Let's start with PG-13.

Comments

[barebacking]

[Phoenix brought up an unfortunate point to him -- Jarvis may return from the dead just as he did. His little pet may be returned to how he was before Yaha charmed him. There are just a few too many things that the man knows that he cannot allow others to know.

He lets out a few sighs from time to time as he walks up the steps into the library. It is time to talk to Destiny about what is to happen in the history of Jarvis. Truly, the elf believes that the Endless would not tell others of how his darling died which is why it is so easy to talk to him on such news.

Yaha hums softly as he remembers that there are a few other books that he needs to get while he is in the library. One on Stockholm's Syndrome and one on how to preserve organs. He has heard of the former and there is much that he needs to still understand before his plans all come to fruit. The latter is just that he wants to keep a trinket properly. To always have it near him.

Chewing on his bottom lip, he wonders which he should look for first.]

Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

[Feeling someone staring at him, he turns his head in the direction of where he feels the looks. His eyes still red from irritating them earlier int he day so it appears like he has been crying -- has to put on a proper show for those who do not believe that he is upset about Jarvis. Even if they know the truth, what can they do to prove it?]

Hello?

[exarticulated]

[ though he usually keeps his peaked hood up while studying people, it would be too eye-catching to have it up inside. the last thing he wants at the moment is to attract attention to himself. all in all, this isn't exactly the best place to be tailing someone. not many people around that he can hide himself amongst, his clothes stand out too much, and there's no chatter to mask the sound of his footsteps. still, he can't be too picky.

eyes narrowed, he simply watches the other walks between the shelves, narrowing his eyes -- he can't tell what exactly the blonde man is looking for. for the briefest moment, he can't help wondering if 'destiny' really does reside in this library. (he tries not to think about it much, though. he wouldn't know how to handle it, if he found out that such an abstract construct were to actually have a physical form.)

his movements are silent, and he leans against a bookshelf to watch the other wander about the walls of books -- flinching, when the other suddenly turns. (he'd intended to make a completely unnoticed getaway. but the odds had been stacked against him here.)

best to just play the role of the innocent passerby. stepping away from the shelf, as if he had merely been walking past, he shrugged, instantly noting the reddened eyes. ]

I was just walking by. -- You seem upset.

[ he held himself cautiously, but his words were blunt. as if pointing out, 'the library isn't a place for crying.' ]

[barebacking]

Do I?

[His index finger slips into his mouth, biting lightly on the side. It is his own childish way of trying to appear innocent before the digit slips out to rest at his side. Yaha allows his gaze to slip to the missing arm -- his head tilts as he thinks of Jarvis. An arm is all that he left for people to find. To know that the man even died. It is a sweet reminder of the time that he spent with his pet.

Drawing his eyes back up to the man's face, his smile widens just a little more as he opens his hands in a helpless manner.]

It's more the idea that I'm not sure which book I should try to find first.

[His hands move next to slip behind his back, holding them lightly by the wrists. Like if they were free, he would try to reach and grab as many books as he would like. Really, if he tries to search for Destiny and finds him, he'll forget everything else simply for being so in enamored with the Endless.

He knows himself well enough to know that he should pace himself just a little.]

But I don't suppose that you could help me, could you?

[exarticulated]

[ throughout the coy act, malik remains firmly where he stands, his expression changing very little. the more he hears of the man's voice, the more he dislikes it. the rumors he's found floating around the NV network don't help, either. yaha, was that the name? just bits and pieces he'd heard, none of which he liked.

and, of course, the gaze directed at his missing arm doesn't go amiss. for a moment, he can't help shifting his weight so his empty sleeve is more hidden from view.

brows furrowed, lips pressed into a hard slash, malik only stares at yaha's acting. (it's probably acting, isn't it?) but still -- now that he's shown his face, might as well carry out the facade.

(he'll excuse himself the moment things take a wrong turn.) ]

What are you looking for.

[ his voice is almost a deadpan, more a statement than a question, and he only nods at the shelves instead of drawing any closer. this pretense at weakness was almost nauseating, but he kept his words indifferent. ]

You must have some idea of what you're looking for.

[barebacking]

[Such a serious looking man. Yaha wonders what he looks like when he is at rest, when he is content. It is the sort of thought that breeds in the back of his mind along with others.]

I do know what it is that I'm looking for. [His hand lightly touches his chest, fingertips lightly pressing over where his heart is.] I need one book that is on Stockholm's Syndrome, and another on how to preserve organs.

[He laughs softly as he realizes how it must sound.] They are mutually exclusive from one another, dear one. I just am curious on them, because well, I just am curious. This world is so interesting. We did not have such syndromes or ways to preserve the insides of another where I come from.

[Yes, he does have the problem of talking just a little too much. He worries too much after the idea that people may be aware of what it is that he is planning, but he never truly is lying. He is curious. The two are not related. Nothing in his world was like what he has seen.]

[exarticulated]

[ malik isn't a mind-reader, he can't tell what this blonde lunatic is thinking -- but he does feel a distinct chill down his spine at the way the other is looking at him.

and while he isn't familiar with the term 'stockholm syndrome,' he does narrow his eyes at the mention of preserving corpses. silent throughout yaha's rambling explanation, he only gives a small nod. (garnier, is who he is reminded of now. treating people and their body with no respect.) ]

I am not familiar with any books on Stockholm Syndrome. But if you are looking for books on embalming, they will most likely be with other materials on medical practices.

[ though he keeps his voice flat and even, it's evident enough from the way he holds himself that he doesn't really trust that this 'research' is innocuous. a shift of his weight, further shielding his crippled side from the other. increasingly, he's feeling the need to be wary. ]

[barebacking]

Pity.

[His shoulders drop a little at his new friend not able to know where that particular book is, but he did help to decide which one that they should be looking for first.]

Very well. Then will you be willing to take me to those books?

[Opening his hand, he gestures wide for the other to lead him. He does not know how long the heart will remain. The thought comes to him about what else that he could preserve. What else that he could hold of the kills that he has. Keep them so that he can look at them always and forever.

Everything has to be forever, because Urick is immortal. But the Corinthian told him unfortunate stories of how his beloved may fade. How could he fade? His head jerks violently to the side as though struck. He should not let his mind wander so but he does become just a little more disturbed -- even Yaha is willing to admit as much -- when Urick is in the city. When Urick is near.

Urick, Urick, Urick, Urick.]

Please?

[exarticulated]

[ he's been anticipating this request, really. his brief study of the other has been enough for malik to make some assumptions about yaha -- coy, persuasive, most likely the type to manipulate others as he liked. malik feels no need to stick around, and has already set his mind on refusing.

but what changes his mind is the way that yaha suddenly jerks his head away -- in mid-thought, apparently. of course, it supports his assumption that yaha is completely insane, regardless of whether he admitted to it or not. but it also makes him somewhat curious about what exactly this man is hiding.

(at the back of his mind, he's sizing yaha up somewhat. yaha doesn't look that powerful. and though malik's left his sword at his apartment, his short blade remains hidden underneath the folds of his robes. if he finds a good reason to, he might simply end yaha's life here.) ]

-- very well. This way.

[ there's still nothing even resembling kindness in his voice -- ironed flat and devoid of emotion. turning on his heel, he simply walks down the lines of shelves. the days he's spent here have been enough for him to roughly memorize the layout of the materials, and the walk to the medical section isn't very far. ]

[barebacking]

[He claps his hands together a few times to express his joy -- the applause are soft, brief. The thought does occur to him briefly to keep clapping his hands together until they make it to the area with the books that he is seeking, but he feels that his companion would not appreciate it.

His gaze once more settles upon the limb that is missing rather than where his thoughts are. It is lucky that Urick did not lose any limb while defending the District of Shining Life. So very lucky. He lets out a soft sigh as he gazes at the books that are around before quickening his steps -- difficult to do as he is limping still.

He reaches to lightly touch that which was lost from the other, just wanting to feel it beneath his fingertips. There is too much of a temptation not to, really.]

[exarticulated]

[ he'd mostly intended to retreat back into the rows of shelves after leading yaha to the medical section. planning on resuming his observation from a distance, where he wouldn't have to deal with this madman's requests and those coy, manipulative words.

this all changes, the moment he feels fingers brush against his empty, pinned-up sleeve.

immediately malik reels back, half-turning to hide his amputated arm from the other -- good shoulder squared defensively, like a bristling animal. (he hates it. hates anyone even getting close to his one weak area.) ] And here, I had thought your manners were tolerable thus far. [ his voice is quiet, but thick with distaste, harsh and acerbic. eyes narrowed with disdain as he growls past gritted teeth, ] Or is this your way of asking for a fight?

[barebacking]

[His hands are held up in a submissive manner as he takes a step back, bowing at the waist but does not allow his eyes to leave the man's face.]

It is not may way of asking anything other than to wonder what has happened to you, my good sir. You are helping me in ways that you cannot fathom at this moment and for that I am grateful. My heart goes out to you and I wish to know what it is that brings you so much anger.

[It is a shame that he cannot make his words sound any different than how they do -- cheerful, soft, calm. Only when he truly enters a role can he ruin his words with the sounds of fake tears and ruin, but at the moment, he is too elated to wish for his words to sound anything but.]

I know I cannot offer any solace, but I feel that this good turn in my direction deserves an answer on my behalf.

[exarticulated]

[ in a way, malik would prefer someone who spoke more harshly. more to-the-point. he's an assassin, not a negotiator, and even though he is a bureau leader, that does not mean he enjoys dealing with people like yaha who mask their every intent with honeyed words. ]

-- my arm was lost under circumstances that are of no importance to you. As the wound no longer poses any danger to my life, or to you, I see no reason why you would inquire after it.

[ his voice is a low snarl by now, and his fingers are itching to be gripping at the handle of his short blade. how he'd love to kill this man for daring to pry about his one vulnerability? (he hates to even think back to solomon's temple, where he lost so much.) ]

I have no obligation to answer your questions.

[barebacking]

I suppose that it is not important to me as it is a curiosity to me. As it would be to anyone else.

[He hums softly to himself as though he is bored with the conversation. Looking off toward the side, he returns his gaze to the one before him -- focusing in on how his eyes look.]

You are quite sensitive about your arm, about its loss. Do you blame yourself or do you blame others? Such a wonderful fire that you have inside of you, though. You did not lose anything in that incident, but gained more than you could hope, don't you see?

[His smile widens that much more.]

You are a strong and willful person, but you do still ache from the loss. It may not be a danger to your body, but it may be a danger to your soul.

[exarticulated]

[ teeth gritted and eyes narrowed, malik fought against the urge to back away a step from this lunatic. what he felt was not fear, but instead, a powerful anger. he felt like he'd snap, unable to contain his irritation any further, if yaha spoke too much. ]

You know nothing of me, and yet you would spout such baseless assumptions? You've stepped well beyond your boundaries.

[ his voice was a low rumble, each word vicious. (it was all the more painful, because some of what yaha said hit uncomfortably close to the truth. a truth that he didn't wish to think of.) he was attracting the attention of some of the other library patrons though, and he quickly stepped back to place himself between a pair of high shelves, at least partially hidden from curious eyes -- though keeping his hard glare fixed on yaha. ]

Watch your tongue. I will not stand to hear any more of your babbling.

[barebacking]

They are not baseless assumptions, my dear friend.

[His gaze slips toward the ones that are onlooking their argument. He smiles kindly to them in turn but offers nothing else so that he can return his gaze to his companion.]

I can tell as much by how your eyes look upon me, by how you present yourself before me.

[He continues his calm and friendly tone, gesturing slightly with his hands to show that it is an obvious thing to anyone who should gaze upon the other.]

I do speak in disrespect, though you may see it as such. I speak only in the highest esteem of you.

[exarticulated]

[ it was just too much, trying to tolerate this insistent rambling. yaha's unflappable, tranquil attitude wasn't helping, either. just barely keeping his hand from straying to his blade, he spoke brusquely, ]

I am hardly your friend. You have done nothing to merit such a word.

[ a slow exhale as he forced his temper to settle. (it was unsightly, for him to flare up like this. he shouldn't have shown such anger.) ]

One who judges others so quickly is hardly the one who comes out the wiser in the end. Do not think this injury is what defines em.

[ a low growl. ] And regardless of what you may say, your words sound like little more than mockery. Sweetened words will earn you no favor.