inseine | Ryslig IC Inbox

Not exactly. They kept insistin' it had to stay in the hive. [ Tunnels. Whatever. ] Long story, it involves Bug Jail.

[ Garlic? Was it okay for Javert to eat garlic? Probably it was, probably Majima was just overthinking it. After all, he was fine eating chocolate and onions, right? ]

Anyway. I ended up havin' the most luck trying to get the bugs under the mistletoe. It was mostly a grab bag, but I did get a secondhand gander at that contraption they use to make those disguises.

That and a lot of weird bug shit.

[Oh... Oh. Javert straightens at that, his chin emerging from his high collar.]

The machine, you know the means to build it? [he asks sharply.] Why didn't you say so sooner? Well! I would be remiss if I did not say I got something from them as well. Likely they thought they were being festive, the nitwits.

Edited 2019-12-29 03:52 (UTC)

No. I saw how to use it. Tim knows how to build it, although I can't say it ain't a little bit concernin'.

So what was it you got from 'em? I assume it was a little tastier than their deep fried batter recipe. Which still needs some work, if ya ask me.

[ And speaking of food, this was about the point at which the waitress came by with their plates, setting each dish in front of them before beaming and telling them to call her if they needed anything else. Yes, even the degenerate vampire with the bloody steak, when everyone knew that steak was to be eaten well done*.

*citation needed ]

[Oh, hey, it's actual food. It smells... Well, Javert's nose twitches like a bull mastiff's as he attempts to discern how he feels about his plate. For now, he does not touch it, instead shooting the waitress's retreating back a tilted-brow glance. Degenerate!

Once the waitress is completely out of earshot again, he bends over the table with a serious, thoughtful look to Majima.]

You got how to use it, your Tim knows how to build it. I saw what must go in for a disguise to pop out. Cooking up lifelike skins does not come without cost.

[Emphasis absolutely intentional.]

[ Completely deadpan. ]

It's people, isn't it. Or monsters.

[ Deadass this was why Majima didn't speak up sooner, because everything in Ryslig had some kind of damn cost and he suspected this was more damned than most. Look Javert, at least tell him no one was grinding up little kids. ]

[ His Tim. He had no idea if Javert meant that the way it sounded, but it had a nice ring to it. ]

[Javert grins thinly and makes a flourishing gesture with his wrist.]

As you say. There was a deer carcass as well. Two bodies were tossed in, only one was human. I cannot be certain that animals alone would be enough to create a fully human or monster skin. [He picks up a fry.] It is worth a try. After the thing is built.

[Yes, after. Because there is no question that they are going to build this damn thing. Tim can do this shit, right? He pops the fry into his mouth.

And immediately regrets it. Stinging blood rims his eyes and he scrambles for his glass to wash the whole burning garlicky mess all the way down his throat. Christ! He splutters and struggles to mop the blood-tears away.]

[ Majima didn't even bother to try and hide his relief at this news; those wolfish ears of his went from slightly laid back to relaxed and alert. Hey. He loved venison, he could sacrifice some deer to the cause. ]

If that's the case, I bet other animals'd do just fine, too. I should call up a few slaughter --

[ Javert.

What the fuck. ]

Javert, what the fuck? Are you...

[ He grabbed a handkerchief out of his pocket, probably the nice one Thea had sewn for him, and offered it to the man. ]

Here, use this.

[No, no, Majima, he does not wish to soil your things, for the love of--

Just let him take a breath and steel himself. Right. He's fine. He stubbornly waves the kerchief away.]

Put that away. It is nothing.

[Okay, the initial shock of how, uh, strong garlic tastes to Javert is dying down, and now he just has a bloody damn massacre on his face. Exceptional.

He grabs a wad of those paper napkins they keep at the tables and starts dabbing at his face blindly. They have water glasses, right? He dips a corner of the paper napkins in the water and haphazardly wipes his cheeks.]

Damn, what the devil is in these fried sticks? [he mutters testily, understanding nothing. He wipes at his matted whiskers.] There, I can see.

How fresh off a kill do I look? On the scale of a single thrashing to a mass massacre?

Edited 2019-12-29 13:41 (UTC)

Y'know that movie where the psychic girl gets covered in blood at prom?

[ A beat. Yeah, why would Javert know about Carrie? ]

Okay, forget that. You're lookin' a little bloodshot, but I don't think people outside're gonna notice. Nighttime, and all.

Maybe it was the garlic in those fries. They're supposed to be vampire repellent, ain't they?

[ Majima had always had the impression that vampires simply didn't like garlic, like they hated the smell or something. It wasn't like holy water or crosses, right? They put up their capes and hissed like angry cats, right? ]

Garlic! Of all the ridiculous things, it must be something commonly found in food. What a damn farce. Nothing is sacred.

[Javert's lip curls deeply. He pokes at his food much more cautiously and suspiciously now, tentatively plucking a piece of nearly-raw meat from the bread. He gives it a very tender taste, and graduates to a nibble. If he just braces himself for an heinously overpowering flavor, it cannot be so bad, right?]

Do not look at me so, [he says tightly.] I am incapable of bleeding out. They are just tears. Let us get back on task. You have contacts in the slaughter-houses?

I might. My business is investin' in other businesses. And if this place's anything like Earth, then there're probably slaughterhouses tossing out parts of animals that don't make it into prime cuts.

I bet I could offer to take those off of someone's hands at a fair price, and they'd be happy for the favor.

[ Majima said, as he took a spoonful of beef stew. Delicious, and so tender it fell apart in the mouth. ]

Make it easier on ourselves, right?

Failing that, it is simple for a pack of monsters to hunt a handful of wild beasts. But first, the machine, courtesy of Monsieur Tim. Or should I be calling that clever scamp Monsieur Beau?

[He picks up his entire sandwich, carefully taking small bites and trying to contain any violent responses. It's delicious, certainly, but something about the taste of garlic is both addictive and repellent. He ignores any watering in his eyes.]

Here is another difficulty. [Javert's lips part in a rueful, toothy grin.] Who else got ahold of the machine plans?

Hell, anyone who was at the party could've gotten a hold of them. I think it's safe to say the cat's outta the bag. Bad news for us, considerin' some of the whackjobs around here.

[ How was that for paranoia? ]

What exactly is gonna be our plan with this thing? If we knew what was goin' down, it'd be a lot easier to stop it.

Suppose it's worth avoiding photographs, but we'll spend the advantage of surprise as soon as the first monster in disguise attacks someone.

Edited 2019-12-30 17:55 (UTC)

[Exaaaactly Javert's thoughts. Like we need some of the psychotic monsters on the peninsula building and using a carcass-fed skin-machine.]

We use it to find out what we must stop, [he says blandly.] Don't forget we have a month, a two-numeral date, and a three-numeral address. How better to investigate than with a human skin?

Even if our surprise-advantage is spoilt, they will not know at a glance which of the crowd belongs to us.

Okay, love the optimism. But let's have a plan on the backend so all our dreams come true.

[ He took out a small map of a number of city blocks of Bavan. ]

Ya know anything about building code? Turns out you gotta sort out all kindsa shit -- permits, easements, that kinda thing. No one wants to break ground and find out they hit a power line.

I'm looking into blueprints. We know Bavan's got tunnels under at least part of the city; there might be more. Unfortunately, the poachers probably know more about this place than we do, but that can change.

I am unfamiliar with Bavan city building code, but I am intimate with general building regulations. It was part of my less thrilling duties to inspect permits at construction sites. Is the machine of a scale that it would need one if built by conventional means? Assuming these scoundrels allow themselves to get caught up in the legality of their workings, [he snorts.] Not likely.

[Javert pores over the map. Yes, he knows this -- he used a larger one when he marked poacher attacks and monster reappearances. His mouth is a thin, stubborn line, but something in his gaze sharpens.]

Yet I agree it is worthwhile to assemble a trusted team to scout the underground tunnels, the sewers, whatever we can unearth. Never fewer than two or three of us at a time. We have got plenty of time to do it, a little over a month. Shall I speak to Monsieur Steel and Monsieur Allgood about this?

The original wasn't that big, but I wouldn't rule out anythin'. Who knows what else the bugs got their hands on? That goes for the poachers, too, now that they got all those parts. Anyway, ya know how guys in hard hats like to jaw -- there's a couple of construction sites around, so they might see something even if we come up empty on the rest.

[ They could find some good spots to post a sniper, while they were at it. Eyyyy. ]

Let's do it. They got a vested interest in stopping these clowns, no point turnin' away good help.

[Javert is still looking at the map while he gingerly masticates another bite of his sandwich. It'd be super nice if he could enjoy it without the prospect of a garlic bomb hanging over his head.]

I would not mind plying a few chatterboxes about their favored projects.

[Did you know that Javert recently discovered that he has special vampiric influence over certain weak-willed humans? The bug party helped him figure that out, as well as a chat with Cuthbert. Maybe a few strongly-worded questions and some intense stares will work in his favor. He breaks his reverie, glancing back up to Majima.]

By day I shall keep a watch on the network for any whispers of another machine. The fewer there are, the better. I am not fool enough to think the lot of us will leave our grievances at the door and band together on a singular effort, but I want a pulse on who else is doing it.

Edited 2019-12-31 04:15 (UTC)

Great. Then I'll focus on digging up any info I can on the area, and get a couple balls rolling on sourcing some parts. We can always reach out to the labs, too, if Tim needs any help.

[ You know... debugging the machine? DOHOHOHOHO ]

I don't want what happened last time to happen again, to put it fuckin' mildly. By the way, how're ya coming along in your vampire deal? Learn how to turn into a bat yet?

What I want is their leader and his generals in chains. Off the streets, out of society. If they are murdering humans for the sake of their false skins, I want it exposed and blasted into the ears of the local police with neatly gift-wrapped evidence so that I may drag their vicious selves to the lock-up myself.

[Javert's tone becomes chillier and chillier, his eyes narrowing to some unknown point to the left of Majima's shoulder. There is the hint of a far worse fate for the poacher leaders, if the vampire were inclined to give in completely to his darker urges. He seems to catch himself at the end, and fixes his pupils back on his acquaintance.]

The quicker we do it, the better. To keep the peace, as much as it can be kept in Ryslig.

[Javert chews his food slowly, settling back in his booth-seat.]

Going batty is an old hat. I can do it. Among other discoveries.

[ Majima was party to Javert's change in tone by virtue of like... sitting here, at this table, sure. But if he was bothered by it, or the implied threat, he was a good hand at not letting it show. In reality, maybe he just didn't have a lot of room to talk here, considering the acts of violence sat on his own plate.

There might have also been the small matter of him sharing a lot of past tables with a lot of angry dudes, but look. For now, probably the best policy was to file a little mental note that yeah, probably it was a good idea that Javert was getting people to chaperone him because no, it didn't look like he had the vampire thing on lock yet. ]

Yeah? What about charmin' the pants off people? Figuratively, I mean.

It sure as fuck would come in handy if we can make some of these guys talk.

Edited 2020-01-01 00:51 (UTC)

[Javert's lip curves into a perfect crescent.

Rather than answer Majima directly, he flags down the waitress.]

Ah! There you are, mademoiselle. [He raps a mesmerizing beat on the tabletop with his claws. It is no trouble to get her to look him in the eye when there are still remnants of blood smears rimming them.

The eye contact is her undoing.

That's when a change overcomes her. She relaxes, loosened and dreamy, her body swaying gently forward to expose the bare flesh of her plunging neckline to a completely unfazed and bored-looking Javert. He rolls his wrist in Majima's direction and issues his command.]

Monsieur Goro here is feeling chilled in this wretched weather. Be a good lass and warm him.

[The waitress plops heavily down in the booth beside Majima and drunkenly drapes herself across him in a warm embrace.]

No, don't do that, c'mon --

[ Great, thanks. The last thing Majima needed or wanted, a woman drunk on psychic vampire juice pressing her boobs into his fur, fuck's sake Javert. He did his best to square her off with one arm and peel her fingers from his shoulders. ]

What the hell're you doing?!

[ He demanded of the vampire, trying to keep his voice quiet at the same time. He was also trying not to hook his claws on her clothes, R.I.P. ]

I asked ya if you could get answers from one of those murdering fucks, not get some poor gal to flash the restaurant!

[Javert allows the charade to keep up juuuuust long enough to hammer the point home.]

All right, mademoiselle, that is enough. I shall have another of these. [She blinks, uncharacteristically doe-eyed, and pushes off Majima back to her feet. She looks downright lost until she sees Javert snapping his fingers for her attention. He raises his mostly-empty Old Fashioned glass and gives it a little shake, rattling the ice inside.]

Top off Monsieur's drink while you are at it. Go on!

[She wanders away, her gait sharpening and becoming more sure of herself the further away she walks.

Javert languidly looks back to Majima.]

A demonstration is more telling than words, hideous as it is. [He cocks his head.] Don't raise your hackles for this. I will tip the girl generously for the intrusion.

Edited 2020-01-01 04:49 (UTC)

[ Javert wasn't getting it, and the way he treated the waitress afterwards made things worse. Had he always been like this? True, Majima had never seen the man interact with women before, but -- ]

Ya think that smooths it over? Makes it all like it never happened?

[ Thanks, he hated it. Majima's ears pulled back as he spoke, grimacing with his teeth as he used to back in Japan. ]

She's a person, not a demonstration. And what ya just did was wrong.

[ Not to mention completely unnecessary. Majima had no reason to doubt Javert's word; a simple 'yes' would have sufficed.

The woman started to wobble her way back, but the werewolf shook his head and stood. ]

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cw: people ingredients

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CW: References to Suicide

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wanna wrap this one?

Finite!

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, PasUnPolicier. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 246.01.094.30 * PasUnPolicier has joined 246.01.094.30 <PasUnPolicier> This mail centre belongs to Javert. <PasUnPolicier> Be accurate and brief. <PasUnPolicier> I suggest you not test my patience with practical jokes and clowning around. <PasUnPolicier>** I will return your notice shortly.