dear_mun | (no subject)

The more you bark about escape, the closer they will make the bars.

She's never prepared for me. [Prideful.] She can close me in all she wants. Doesn't keep me long.

By that do you mean she simply tires of you and tosses you aside, or are you actually given free reign...?

[...]

Means I come and go as I please.

[Overwhelmed and tired are two completely different things.]

She tries to shelf me. I'm never really gone, though.

[He shrugs a shoulder, coughing.]

Humans are fickle creatures. Is there really any meaning in living in such a cycle?

Everything has meaning if you give yourself purpose.

[Or if it's forced on you by someone who doesn't know the difference between drive and obstinance.]

You look pretty damn human to me. [Assessing.]

A purpose is only valid if another gives it to you. Otherwise it is worthless.

Me? No. I am just a dog who treads in Death's heels. [Yes, he is ALWAYS this melodramatic.]

Poetic.

[A tip of his head. No, he doesn't believe that at all.]

And what if another's purpose contradicts your own? Would you fight for something you don't believe in?

I simply follow orders so that my purpose might be acknowledged. There is only one thing I'm good for, so I have no reason to object.

That's what they would have you think, yeah.

[Unfortunately for his mun, he's sharper than her.]

Have you ever tried not following orders? Funny how they pay more attention to you when you do that. Keeps them on their toes.

You seem to be under the impression that you both know the orders I'm given and that I have a problem with them. But even if I am a dog, I am aware that I am hardly on the tightest leash. I'm allowed to handle things how I want without interference.

[A puppy grateful for a long leash?]

Sounds like Stockholm.

I can assure you it isn't. [Well. At least not in regards to his current boss.]

[Mello's never been the live and let live type.]

You wouldn't know if it were. That's kind of the underlying spirit of the whole thing. Uneven power structures.

[His mun would know something about that. Bitch.]

I appreciate people who follow orders, though. Makes it easier for the rest of us to get shit done.

[Akutagawa frowns a little, but doesn't argue the point more for the moment. This stranger isn't worth it.]

Mm. If someone can't follow orders then they should simply die and make room for those who stronger.

[The Port Mafia has no room for weaklings, after all.]

[Laughable, and it shows. He was groomed to be a puppet. A soldier of justice. Play by the rules; obey laws that limit your moves.

No thanks.]

The strong create the rules.

[Isn't that obvious?]

[A tilt of his head.]

Do you presume yourself to be strong?

[It the answer is yes... Then killing this person might earn him those few words he longs for.]

[There's no presumption about it. He also doesn't like the way you're looking at him.]

In every way that matters.

Then show me.

[The fuck is this guy's problem?]

I've got bigger battles to fight.

[Even so, he's reaching behind him.]

[Mello doesn't have a long enough lifetime to sit around and hear about Akutagawa's many problems.]

... A poor attempt at an excuse. Or you're a liar. Disappointing.

[It's hard to tell if he's purposefully trying to goad the other on.]

[Oh, nono, he doesn't make excuses.

He's also not stupid. He's seen enough shit to know a bit about the power imbalances he'd mentioned before. Guys walking around with swords big enough to take down buildings, average-looking people who possess the power of Gods.

It's made him a little more cautious than he used to be. Self-preservation above all else. Because, well.

He's convinced that one day he'll get back to where he's supposed to be and when that day comes, he would prefer to be alive.

But the liar thing. Why did you have to go and do that? His eyes narrow, and he knows better than to flash a weapon around the unknown. He learned that lesson a long time ago.]

You never did give me a proper response earlier. [Because really, it all rests on this.] You human?

Edited 2016-11-11 17:01 (UTC)

[Akutagawa barely seems rustled by the glare, hands still in his pockets. But he does cough again before fixing a cold look on him.]

I gave you as proper of a response as you just gave to me. I have no reason to explain myself further if you're just easy prey.

[His voice lowers with severity.]

It is not worth my energy.

[Unfortunately for him, the last time Mello ran his mouth to someone who was more than they appeared, he ended up half-dead, stripped of his weapons and pride.

He hasn't exactly come to terms with hierarchies, but he accepts them. There's brave, then there's idiocy.

And he doesn't like the dynamics of this situation, the unknown odds.]

T'ch.

[Swallowing retorts isn't something that comes easily. So he'll just scowl at you.]

[Some part of Akutagawa is vaguely disappointed that that hadn't earned him more of a response. This person clearly has a temper and he is generally quite good at exploiting those.

But no matter. Clearly this will not be the chance he's been wanting. Weak prey will earn him nothing.]

I suppose introductions would be normal at this point. I am Akutagawa of the Port Mafia.

[An even stare. Mello is still twitchy. He doesn't come down from adrenaline so easy. It runs under his skin something electric.

Still, he manages to gradually mask his demeanor with calm, hand dropping from where it remained just a breath from the butt of his gun.

At least he won't waste any bullets today.]

M.

[And that's all you get.]

Most people I know [or anyone, really] wouldn't be so quick to announce their affiliations.

Where I come from I already have something of a reputation.

[Meaning there are "wanted" posters of him in every police station and his name is already known to many other groups. And he isn't sent out when they need something done subtly so secrecy matters little to him. As long as the job is done.]

I see no reason to be misleading, least of all in this situaction.

[That is code for: "I don't consider you a threat."]

[Well aren't you just a big deal.]

Reputations can get you killed.

[Not that Mello is one to talk. And he's still standing straight-backed, cautious. He hasn't encountered someone affiliated in a long time, let alone someone who is willing to mention it openly. Either this guy is higher up than someone who should be taking orders, or he's downright stupid. Excuse him while he attempts to decipher which.]

Where I come from, caution takes priority. [But since he's willing to talk.] But it sounds like you've got your back covered, yeah? What is it you do for them?

Those who fear death only welcome it.

[Akutagawa is higher in command than he lets on, but it's hardly something he cares to flaunt since he is hardly executive-level. He gives a small, vague shrug.]</small I supposed my technical title would be "assassin".

[No. Self-preservation is the name of the game if you're out to accomplish a goal. The fact that the one who came before him failed to practice it and almost let the world get screwed is proof of that.

Assassin, huh. Mello supposes that he should be more willing to walk into the flames than most given that specific job-title. It's one thing to do what you need to do when the situation arises. Hitmen are made of different stuff than him.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Networking is more of a necessity than a preference.]

Tell your mun that they should be careful about launching you at people that way. I could've been the one to take you out. [This is him being helpful.]

If you were it would have at least been interesting. But they showed no concern and you have shown no initiative unless you simply mean to glare me to death.

[There's the briefest hint of smugness in his voice when he says that, even though that relatively stoic expression doesn't flicker. Just the briefest.]

[Assassin or no, Mello's patience isn't as vast as she'd like it to be.]

Bulletproof, then?

[No response aside from another cough, he simply meets Mello's gaze evenly.]

[They can do this shit all night. He knows what you're doing. He employs that tactic often. No words are more powerful than a million.

So he'll just stare right back. Is that a no?]

[It seems his assessment was wrong. He had figured this person would be even easier to taunt into fighting than his rival back home... No matter, he doesn't need him for anything, but a show of superiority is never something he will turn down.]

I presume you are armed? You could answer easily for yourself. You hardly seem like the kind of man to fear harming others. You understand the hunt.

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lmfao punked

This is like a contest on who can be the most passive-aggressive mafia brat

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