[Video] January 14th - Morning

[steife_brise]

[Few of you might recognize the face or the voice on the video. Saleh's looking out of the window of his bedroom, enjoying the wind's caresses on his hair and slightly bruised face. Four days after he engaged in a fistfight with Ryoki, the swellings in his nose, lips and cheeks have already gone down considerably, and he looks more at ease than he

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Video;

[itaidakimasu]

Are you...God, this always aounds so strange to ask...are you any good with a whip, Saleh-san?

[itaidakimasu]

{She laces her fingers together, tilting her head to the side as if to study him. It's all she can do not to reflexively lash out or slap him, because that kind of logic--that exact desire, to see the faces of the suffering--is what cost Yako her father. Despite the anger dancing in the pit of her stomach, her tone is mild.}

So, Saleh-san is a voyeur? That's fine, I suppose. To each their own. But personally, if I'm going to be stuck here, then I'm going to do something, be it participate in the war or something else entirely. Somebody dear to me always said that allowing yourself to stagnate makes you worthless.

[steife_brise]

[He doesn't draw away, but doesn't move any closer either. After all, there is no reason to stop teasing her when it's become rather entertaining to watch for how long she can suppress her anger.]

Ah, of course, I don't intend to spend my afterlife here doing nothing. I'm not particularly interested in hunting Kishin eggs, though it doesn't mean I'm completely against it either. What I want the most is...

[A hand is slowly brought close to her chin, as if to touch her. But in truth, he's just testing her reaction.]

... to watch you all suffer.

[itaidakimasu]

Oh.

{Yako has seen daily abuse at the hands of her literal personal demon, the most common form of which being grabbed by the head or neck. It's through the grace of that painful conditioning that she doesn't flinch or lean back.}

You'll be disappointed, at least to an extent, you know. Some people are pretty happy here.

[steife_brise]

[A few inches away from touching her face, however, his hand is dropped to his side.]

I wonder about that. Some people here are not as strong as you are, Yako-chan. Destroying their happiness is not as hard as you might think.

[itaidakimasu]

Happiness is easy to destroy in any case. Some peple are able to adapt and regain it, however.

[steife_brise]

And those who succumb to their feelings of depression and helplessness are the ones I like the most. Tormenting them is my favorite pastime.

[itaidakimasu]

I never saw the appeal in that.

[steife_brise]

[Keeping the short, yet comfortable, distance between them, he stares intently at her face, studying her expression. A person's expression and body language can speak louder than their words. And given Yako's attitude so far, this could be the case.]

Are you sure you aren't in denial for some unknown reason?

[itaidakimasu]

{She doesn't look away, preferring to maintain eye-contact. Nothing good, she had learned the hard way, ever came from looking away.}

Whether that sort of reason exists or not, why should that be any of your business?

[steife_brise]

[Another bitter laugh leaves him. She's proving to be far more interesting than he initially thought, for not giving in so easily.]

So I'm right about you being in denial, Yako-chan?

[itaidakimasu]

Couldn't be more wrong.

{She smiles brightly.}

But really, I can say that all I like. You'll choose what you want to believe, though.

[steife_brise]

[In response to her bright smile, he forces a small smirk.]

You wouldn't be trying to hide anything, would you?

[itaidakimasu]

You realize there's no way for me to answer that without you thinking that I'm hiding something anyway, right?

[steife_brise]

[His grin widens and he shrugs nonchalantly.]

Oh, you're so smart, Yako-chan. Almost makes me look stupid.

[itaidakimasu]

I promise, I wasn't even trying, Saleh-san.