mockmurder beguiledcard byanyother_name

[cellkey]

 ~

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[byanyother_name]

You're welcome to think what you like. It just makes it more satisfying when all is said and done, if we prove you wrong.

[The blindfold stays on, yes, please and thank you. Kurama hums lightly.]

And if we're her bitches, [That word has some venom to it, damn.] what does that make you, primrose?

[beguiledcard]

[ The boop gets a confused sound from his throat. ]

Absolutely.

[ Oh, that venom is noted, if the smirk says anything about it. Though, that nickname gets a bristle. ]

Don't call me that. It's Viné.

[ He lets out a quiet sigh. ]

I'm just the one who's lying in wait.

[ Now he's smiling, his voice shifting a bit to something... deeper, practically a purr. ]

And it makes me the boss' direct hand. Frankly, I'm glad I chose this body. It'll keep you two from blabbing... Since, if you try telling any of the other playthings what I just said, you can say goodbye to this vessel forever.

[ Heart's Eye shows what looks to be Ren with his head in the lap of another... Ren? That second Ren is propping its elbow on the sleeping Ren, eyes fixed right on Akira. There's a smirk on its lips as it rests its chin on his hand. The other hand is coming up to its lips as it blows him a kiss and winks at the same time. ]

[cellkey]

[. . . hm.

He wordlessly turns off his ability again, something distinctly cold entering his own eyes.]

That so? [He smiles back at the demon, devoid of warmth.] Good to know.

[byanyother_name]

Hm. It's a pleasure to meet you, Viné. I'll call you that as long as you don't call us by any more such offensive words.

Isn't that fair? [It's sweet and yet sharp as a knife. Kurama gives a tug at the now deeply appropriate vines binding his arms.]

Concerning words from a demon king under Satan. But hardly enough to cow me.

[beguiledcard]

[ He shrugs his shoulders. ]

Honestly, I'd rather it didn't. It's more fun to tear down an entire tree than it is to rip up a mere daffodil, wouldn't you agree, kitsune?

[ With that, he's just going to curl and uncurl his fingers. ]

But... [ smirk ] Kurama and Akira, it is.

[ ... ]

For the record, I didn't reveal myself just to play around.

[cellkey]

Really? I wouldn't know since apparently you're in the habit of hiding your emotions.

[Huff, salt.]

[byanyother_name]

I tend to prefer growing things over uprooting them.

[Kurama sighs and sits down on the bed finally. And maybe looks a little guilty about that comment on hiding emotions.]

Why did you reveal yourself, then?

[beguiledcard]

Of course I'm hiding the emotions. Like hell you're gonna have me tied up, blindfolded, and read like some open book.

[ Said to the tune of: "are you stupid...?" ]

Because it's boring being stuck inside such a depressing mind. You'd think his thoughts were directed by Isao Takahata.

[ Either of you seen Grave of the Fireflies? ... Yeah. ]

[cellkey]

Someone's scared of a little vulnerability, eh?

[A snort, and then his brow creases at the words. Granted, heh, it's not by any means a surprise. He's with Ren a lot and constantly feeling his emotions, after all...]

Yeah? Weren't you just patting yourself on the back for "choosing this body"?

[byanyother_name]

You tried to trance us and threatened to go after our friends, we might be slightly justified with the tied up and blindfolded parts. It's a good look, if that's any consolation.

[And...no, it's not a surprise to Kurama, either. He's seen Ren's pain.]

I suppose it's something, at least, that you think we're not boring.

[beguiledcard]

[ There's a quiet huff at Akira's initial words, and then he's giving a small smirk at the initial thing Kurama says.

For just a split second, there's the flicker of embarrassment... before it's as though a figurative hand is slamming the figurative lid back down. ]

If you like the look so much, you're welcome to try it for yourself, Kurama~ Or on Akira, but that would be basically the same difference, right?

[ Then he shakes his head. ]

I chose someone without much will to exist. Someone like that is easy to control for longer. The bonus is in how much you two wound up caring.

[cellkey]

[He's just outright ignoring that first part.]

You say that, but Ren is strong. He's been fighting for a long time, and now he has more reason than ever to fight.

You just might be in for more than you bargained for.

[byanyother_name]

'Bonus'.

[Kurama sounds amused but it's threaded through with undertones of an entrenched and bitter anger.]

You may be able to use him against us because of it, but it also means we're only all the more determined to see he makes it through this. A double edged blade, don't you think, Viné?

[beguiledcard]

[ He just... smiles? There's something dark to it. ]

You say that now.

[ The laugh that slips out is... hm. There's something painful juuuust beneath the surface. Akira will be able to catch just a glimpse. ]

In the end, when it becomes too much, someone's always the first to give up.

[cellkey]

[He's searching the other's expression, or what he can see of it, at least. After a moment:]

Speaking from experience?

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama is quiet for more than a moment. Until:]

I did give up. I told myself I was just waiting until I could do something, but that was a lie. I had given up, and all my efforts were half hearted.

[His eyes flick to Akira for a moment before returning to Viné.]

Never again. I might fail but I will not surrender.

[beguiledcard]

[ There's just a tightening of his jawline at that question...

He's not answering.

In fact, he's going completely silent from here on out . . . His head is hanging a bit, that bitter smirk on his lips. ]

[cellkey]

[...oh... There's actually a bit of a smile at Kurama? Before he looks to Viné again.

The lack of an answer is... telling.

...

Well, Akira isn't going to push him. He still doesn't even entirely know how truthful this guy is being, after all... Not to mention, he's still pretty irritated with him.]

Either way, I stand by what I said. Ren's a lot stronger than you give him credit for.

[byanyother_name]

If we have to show you, that's fine. Watch us, Viné.

[Kurama smiles softly at Akira before shifting to his fox form and curling up between Viné and the door.]

I believe in Ren, too.

[beguiledcard]

[ Sighing and moving to draw his knees up to his chest, chin resting on said knees...

He's done talking, apparently. ]