FIVE ♦ VIDEO | Day 20, Evening

[toxicinvestment]

[He's playing with a kitchen knife. It might be familiar -- it's the same one he used to murder someone onscreen way back when, after all. He sits for a moment, thinking of exactly what he wants to say.]Every batch of new arrivals, and it's the same thing. He's never one of them

Comments

[video]

[magerights]

You actually want your brother to turn up here?

[magerights]

[At the sound of a knock, there's a sudden loud meow from the other side of the door, followed by someone moving around before the door eventually opens to reveal Anders in his own outlandish (compared to most) outfit, feathered shoulders and all, and a struggling, dark tabby kitten tucked under one arm.

Mao is leaner than Anders expected (much like himself in that respect, though at least he wears enough to hide it), and the clothing seems more like it would fit someone trying to get work at a local brothel than anything else, but he keeps quiet on that judgement.]

I wasn't certain you'd actually turn up. [He admits before stepping aside to give the younger man room to enter if he wants.] I'd prefer not to keep the door open; Trouble keeps trying to get outside.

[toxicinvestment]

[He doesn't like the idea of going into someone else's space. Certainly not a someone he dislikes, especially. He does, though, simply because he isn't sure what else he's supposed to do. He's very uncomfortable, though -- events in EV have been enough to make him very wary of being in a closed room with another person and no back-up.]

I have to leave. You shouldn't be surprised.

[magerights]

[Anders bites back something catty and simply rolls his eyes as he quickly sets the kitten down and ducks outside again before he can be followed, which leaves them both standing in the hallway with faint meowing coming from the room.]

So much for being polite... I suppose you'll want this so you can leave?

[He produces the token from his pouch, holding it out to Mao totally unaware how he may come to regret this when he speaks with the merchants later.

Sucks to be you, Anders.]

It's not a trick or going to explode or anything, if you're worried about that.

[toxicinvestment]

I have a very good reason not to want to be alone with you.

[At home, he was never nervous. No matter who he spoke to, Mao was always confident and relaxed, and frequently in other people's personal space. Now, he's a little jumpy in person compared to over the network.

But being kidnapped to a monster island and then tortured by the man who effectively killed his father via the same treatment would make any teenage boy wary. He's still trying to look laid back, but it takes all of his effort to be graceful when he takes that token, rather than just snatching it. He doesn't like Anders, and Anders doesn't like him, and as much as he'd deny that anything in any world could scare him, there's a small part of him that's half-expecting the man to suddenly turn violent. Hatred is such an easy reason to hurt someone. Mao would know, from both ends.]

...I suppose I owe you now. Foolish as you are to give this up, it does help me in the end.

[magerights]

Why? [The question is sharp, and Anders' eyes narrow.] Do you distrust me that much? Think that I might turn you into a frog or something?

[While Mao doesn't seem to have had any problems with Anders that are related to his magic thus far, it's difficult not to see it as being linked to the one thing that's gotten him singled out his entire life.]

I suppose you wouldn't have come at all if you hadn't been getting something out of me. Wouldn't want to be alone with a mage.

[toxicinvestment]

I don't care about your magic, idiot.

[And he's ever-so-slightly backing away at that show of anger. Mao can take care of himself in a fight. It's not his forte, but he can do it -- but the thin knife in his belt is almost forgotten for a moment. Honestly, he's spent the last weeks (months?) here mostly in his room. He isn't used to being around people anymore, and he can't help if suddenly being in a confrontational situation right to start is making his heart race a little.

Internally, he curses himself for that weakness. He can't protect anyone if he can't control his reactions. Being bitter about it doesn't make it go away, though. He's not afraid Anders will turn him into anything. He's afraid Anders will drag him into that room and break every bit of his body til he dies from shock. It's something he's going to have to learn to get over, but for now it's still raw, and it's pure willpower that keeps it from showing on his face.]

Make as many fireworks as you want. You're not special. I don't trust anyone.

[magerights]

[He's still glaring at the young man - boy, in some ways - though there's no move to do anything else in response to the perceived slight.]

Well if you don't trust people that much, why did you even come here in the first place?

[toxicinvestment]

Because I needed this [He holds up the token.] more than I want nothing to do with you.

Affordable risks, as I said before.

[magerights]

Fine. Then you've gotten what you came for, haven't you?

[toxicinvestment]

You're right, I have. So if you want no payment or favor in exchange, I'll be leaving.

[magerights]

I said I didn't want anything for it, and I meant that. So don't let me keep you here. You've got two more of those to try and get, after all.

[toxicinvestment]

You're a foolish man, and you couldn't keep me if you wanted to.

[He pockets that token, and turns to go.]

I'll be seeing you, I'm sure.

[magerights]

[He shouldn't let it get to him. Mao's just a boy, cocky and stubborn, after all. But that attitude. It gets under his skin to be dismissed like that, pooling with some of the frustration he's been keeping at bay all this time, and before Anders really thinks about it, his staff is in hand and the base of it thumps heavily against the floor.

At once, a glowing, green glyph blossoms beneath Mao's feet. The Glyph of Paralysis, one of the other things Creation magics could be used for, that all who were within its bounds would find movement difficult or even impossible entirely.]

Don't underestimate me.

[toxicinvestment]

[Yes, that is exactly how to prove that magic can be trusted, Anders.

The moment Mao sees that light and feels his body freeze, he goes white as a sheet. It brings back the worst of memories, being restrained. It doesn't matter that it's a spell instead of ropes, it's still being held against his will, and no matter how much he hates the idea of being weak enough to react, it's terrifying. He'd recoil if he could, but as he can't, he just tries to control his breathing, so it isn't so obvious. Maybe it would earn more sympathy to show how much this upsets him, but he's stubborn.]

...Release me. Now.

[magerights]

[Anders folds his arms, the spell still glowing in place.]

Why? I thought I was a foolish man that couldn't keep you here if I wanted to? Shouldn't that mean you can leave on your own without my help?