(no subject)

[serpente]

[ Another writer appears! This script is a neater form of chickenscratch, written slowly as if being etched into the page. ]

H E L P

M E

[ Someone, somewhere, is going to make a joke about 'ghost writing' soon. ]

Comments

[angel_of_death]

Walter had resolved that this would be the last page he looked at before he went back to driving the existence of dust from the first floor. But, as it so happened, there was a plea for help scrawled across the page. And since no one had replied yet, Walter figured he might as well. Just in case.

The handwriting of his reply was a far cry from chicken-scratch.



Is this a genuine call for help, or are you just trying to avoid chores?


((ooc: That was a great page you used! It came very much in handy.))

[serpente]

(ooc: You're welcome! :P)


I KNOW NOTHING OF CHORES

ALL I KNOW IS DUST AND INK AND ASH

[angel_of_death]

The reply prompted a great sigh from the butler. Surely he couldn't be the only one in the entire castle capable of doing domestic housework. Surely, surely there had to be someone else. As it was, given the wording of the response, Walter suspected that whoever it was that was writing was indeed one of those assigned to his room.



Do you need me to come rescue you?

I knew I forgot something, the speed he was writing...

[serpente]

[ The words are written slowly like they're being etched. He's having far too much fun with this. ]

NO FIRE, WATER, OR BRUTE FORCE CAN FREE ME FROM THIS PRISON

[angel_of_death]

Well. If that's the way the bloke wanted to play, then Walter wasn't going to bother with helping him.



Suit yourself. Don't get any dust on my things or I'll show you something about brute force.

[serpente]

THEN I WILL REMAIN HERE
WATCHING
WAITING

[angel_of_death]

You do that. I'm going to go finish up my share of the assignments. Beating something into submission will do me some good, I think.

[redfiend]

[Is this what he's going to see every day now in this weird notebook?]

How about no?

[serpente]

[ These words are written slowly, like they're being etched. ]

WHY RESPOND WHEN YOU DENY YOUR HELP

[redfiend]

Because you don't need it. You're writing too slow to be in any real trouble.

[And then a few more words are written. They are oozing with sarcasm.]

Try again later.

[serpente]

I RESIDE IN THESE PAGES
I HAVE NO CONCEPT OF TIME

[redfiend]

You must be having fun.

[That's all you're getting.]

[vipassi]

[That's...awful similar handwriting.]

If you fell down the hole near the dorms I'm not coming after you.


...Tell me what you find if you do.

[serpente]

[ Even if it's his younger self, he's not breaking character. Here come painstakingly-etched words... ]

NO LIGHT NO SOUNDS ONLY WORDS

IF IT IS A HOLE IT IS AN ENDLESS ONE

[ (Frankly, if Spade happens to be around and listening through the earring, he'll be able to tell this is all bullshit.) ]

[vipassi]

And yet you are somehow managing to write.

[Nope, not impressed.]

[serpente]

[ Point. There's a pause before he goes back to normal writing. ]

Let me have my fun.

[vipassi]

And how many are falling for this so far?

[He can see the other replies, you know...]

[serpente]

It could be one if you humour me.

[vipassi]

That wouldn't be falling for it.

That would be pretending to believe you. And I think "try to trick you into thinking I fell for it" would be a victory for me even if it is a pity trick.

[serpente]

Fine, fine. It seems horror by written word is harder to convey.

It would be a poor joke if you fell for such a transparent ploy anyway.

[vipassi]

It also raises the question of how you're writing in the first place if it's that horrible.

And while it may be a poor joke, I'm sure it could be leveraged to make an idiot out of you.

[serpente]

People are quick to disregard the idiot.

[ I.e. If people want to mock him on these pages then he is okay with this. ]

[solitarynuvola]

[ He recognizes that horrible handwriting. How could he not? He's seen it too many times on reports. ]

That's enough.

[ Mukuro would recognize his writing; he's not impressed. At all. ]

[serpente]

E N O U G H?

[ He's still doing it. ]

[solitarynuvola]

[ s t o p ]

Quite enough. I will find you if you continue this foolishness.

[serpente]

I've said it before, Kyouya: you have no sense of humour.

[ Honestly. ]

[solitarynuvola]

I have a sense of humour. You just don't understand it.

[ looong sigh. His brand of humour is too sophisticated for Mukuro, clearly. ]

[serpente]

The same way you don't understand mine?

[ Tit for tat. ]

[solitarynuvola]

[ Touché. ]

Your peculiar brand of humour is only understood by those who are as depraved as you are.

[ Mukuro can't see it, but he's smirking at the notebook. ]

[serpente]

[ Considering how many people above are unimpressed with him... Yes, Hibari may be right. ]

And yours defies mortal comprehension. Try to come down from your lofty clouds every now and again, Kyouya. Mingle with the common people.

[solitarynuvola]

[ He's always right. ]

You may consider it a Mist opportunity but I'd rather not.

[ DID HE JUST PUN AT MUKURO. YES HE DID. ]

action from here on

[serpente]

[ Sheer incredulity causes him to get to his feet, walk out the door, and head to Hibari's dorm room in order to check on the man. And upon finding him in there, he's going to level the most disbelieving look that has ever crossed a Mist's face in the history of...ever. ]

Kyouya, did you overwork yourself in the garden?

heh

[solitarynuvola]

[ Hibari smirked again at the notebook before closing it - he could hear someone coming closer, and there was no doubt that it was Mukuro, coming to investigate. He wasn't disappointed - the look the illusionist gave him was one of the most amusing he'd seen cross Mukuro's face. ]

Not at all. [ Though his hands are looking a little green, he doesn't look any more exhausted than he did when he woke this morning. ] I told you I had a sense of humour. [ Oh, he's fully aware Mukuro wasn't expecting that pun, but that's what makes the victory so sweet. He loved taking people (but Mukuro especially, because that was just how he rolled) by surprise.

... Huh. Maybe his Mist side was showing itself. ]

[serpente]

[ Mukuro narrowed his eyes. Then with a quiet sound of derision he seemed to shift instantly from the doorway to beside Hibari's bed. The illusionist dropped on to the mattress without further ado, leaning back on his hands. ]

You aren't funny in the slightest.

[solitarynuvola]

[ Hibari let out a soft huff of amusement when Mukuro decided to come closer. Surprisingly, he didn't shove the illusionist off his bed, instead shifting slightly to make more room for Mukuro. ]

You weren't expecting it, were you. [ Can you just feel the smugness radiating from him? He's a horrible person, isn't he. Speaking of things radiating from him, there was a slight but noticeable increase in the temperature around him, bringing the cool temperature up to a more comfortable warmth. ]

[serpente]

[ Mukuro doesn't dignify that non-question with an answer. Instead he takes the liberty of bringing his knees up beside him and leans on Hibari. It's easier to soak up the warmth that way. Hibari now has one (1) illusionist draped over him.

He's going to remain like that until he's shoved off. Sorry. :') ]

[solitarynuvola]

[ He has acquired one Mukuro blanket. Given how the illusionist didn't seem like he'd be moving any time soon, Hibari blinked down at him, considered something for a second, before sighing and making himself comfortable. Of course, that meant shoving Mukuro around until he was less lying across Hibari and more nestled against his side while the Cloud flicked through the notebook, a green-tinged hand idly combing through Mukuro's silky hair.

And don't go complaining about how his hands are dirty. He washed them before he went to bed - the stains were a little persistent, that was all. ]

Which room are you in? [ he'd just realised that the notebook conversation was the first contact he'd had with Mukuro since... well. The last cycle. He hadn't gone seeking the illusionist once they'd been returned to their world; he did have a Mukuro-hating reputation to maintain, after all. ]

[serpente]

[ Making a sound in his throat much like a cat would (except more human), Mukuro sighs. He'll never admit that the fingers carding through his hair is relaxing but he doesn't have to: his body language speaks volumes.

Knowing how clean Hibari likes to be, he doesn't comment on the state of the other man's hands. His own are rough and red from mopping. ]

Next door, separated by a corridor. Lucky me. [ He turns a sly smile up. ] Or lucky you. Now I need an excuse to share your bed.

[solitarynuvola]

[ Well. It's nice to know that Mukuro actually enjoys having his hair played with. Hibari seems content to stay as he is, though he does make a face at Mukuro when the illusionist mentions sneaking into his bed. Lucky him indeed. ]

If you do that I'm going to kick you out. [ Even when he's asleep he'll instinctively protect his space. ] You just want to be warm, don't you. [ If he sounds slightly accusatory, then Mukuro knows why. Also, they are not going to get up to any funny business in his room. He actually has a dormmate he'd like to remain on cordial terms with. ]

[serpente]

Mm, so what if I do?

[ Yes, he just wants to leech warmth. If they get up to funny business then that's a nice bonus. It's too bad there aren't any nice bedrooms around they can shut themselves in but ah well. ]

I don't appreciate this physical restriction, [ he sighs. And he didn't even to make that sound like innuendo for once. ] Even if it's less binding than the chains of Vindice.

[solitarynuvola]

Even if you don't appreciate it, you're still taking full advantage of it when you can. [ By going to him for cuddles, of course. And he did notice quite a few fireplaces around the place, so it's not as if Mukuro will have to rely solely on him for a source of warmth. Though he wouldn't be opposed to it (not that he'd ever admit it).

The notebook is set to one side after he finishes flicking through the pages and he closes his eyes with a sigh - may as well take the opportunity to nap while he can before he gets back to work in the garden. ] If you wake me up, I'll bite you.

[ What, no customary 'bite to death'? He must be off his game somehow. ]

[serpente]

[ The obvious answer to why he's not making use of the fireplaces is that he doesn't want to find himself falling into the fires. It's a flimsy excuse. Truth be told, Mukuro enjoys any opportunity he gets to solicit uncharacteristic intimacy from Hibari. ]

I might anyway, [ he murmurs with a chuckle. As if biting had ever been a deterrent. ]

[ His eyes turn to the Cloud's pale neck. He's close enough that he could try... But no, Hibari would sense the movement right away. Mukuro sighs. ]

[solitarynuvola]

[ He's obviously only doing this to secure exclusive cuddling rights with Mukuro. Err, rather, cuddling and fighting rights. Yes.

The faint sigh does cause him to open his eyes in slits, though he doesn't move to do as he had threatened to. There's no change in his posture or the rhythm of his breathing as he stares at Mukuro, but he slowly closes his eyes again, and, for all intents and purposes, goes right back to sleep.

And if Mukuro is surprised when he rolls on to his side and slings an arm over the illusionist's waist? Well, that was hardly his problem now, was it. He's asleep. This is not a conscious decision. It's not as if he wants to keep Mukuro there. ]