#abyssli

[fatedevour]

continued from here with @abyssli

Ajax is staring, and Dottore stares back like a crocodile with its jaws around the throat of its prey. If it had been a subordinate that had done such an audacious act of barging into his office and caught him without his signature, they would be dead already for the infraction. But they are not and the rules of the Harbingers are few but steady. Dottore won't risk expulsion for breaking a rule over something as small as this when overall, his position offers him far more benefits than drawbacks.

This logic does not make handling the present matter easier. There's a cacophony of violence that surges to the surface under his skin and it has little outlet when Dottore doesn't know what to do with his own discomfort besides CONCEAL IT. Turn this situation into something about power, make it an act of intimidation. ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE VULNERABILITY THAT IT IS. He will not let that show, and he will not be the first one to look away.

Dottore has no idea what might be running through their head. If the same horrified words like those from the people in his home village now run in Ajax's head or not. Sure, they've seen his other segments, and the youngers masks who reveals red eyes, but none of the segments show their full face. ALWAYS AN INCOMPLETE PICTURE. At least until now, where there is no longer any reason to put the mask back on when the damage is done.

His head already aches like there's a nail embedded in his skull and this has not made it any easier.

To his surprise, they meet his gaze again. He barely blinks, taking note of the familiar nervousness. ( Is it at being in trouble once again, or is it the demon red eyes and sharp teeth painting a familiar unease in people? ) Dottore snorts at the comment. " How well-informed of you to recognize that fact. That is correct. " He confirms as his gaze remains steadily on the other Harbinger. It's not often another calls him out. " Unfortunately, not even I can avoid headaches. " He acknowledges the facts carefully, though what follows earns a moment of heavy silence. Like the heaviness of the wind gently blowing at the ropes of the gallows before an execution. " Is that your way of offering? " His tone lacks any impressment, but he considers it nonetheless. " Don't think this gets you off the hook. " He warns before beckoning the other in. " Fine. Hurry up and step in. And close that door. "

[teddaby]

venti is a firm believer in "no such thing as a stupid question" until childe shows his face in the inbox,

[fatedevour]

♢  — @abyssli said: " i actually quite like listening to your breakthroughs, you know. " their voice is quiet, muffled by the coat that they are currently using as a pillow atop one of one of the many tables located in his lab. normally when they would appear in his lab like this, they would hide out in a corner somewhere. staying out of his way as to not be to much of a bother -- today though they find themself sitting closer to watch as the doctor worked. they're not sure when they begun to find the lab so soothing .. " you get very .. what is the word -- passionate? i suppose. there may be a better one to use, but .. i fear my brain has already decided to shut down for the evening. " as if it's any different than usual. " keep talking, you were in the middle of explaining something -- i swear i am paying attention to every word. " EXPERIMENT IN PROGRESS: UNPROMPTED ASKS - ALWAYS ACCEPTING !

He knows every sound that his lab makes ; the hum of machinery, the gentle sound of air flow from of the ventilation system ; him - both in this segment and his other segments moving around with the sounds of glassware and tools or this and that. In some ways, his lab is merely another extension of himself. There's a new sound in the environment, albeit one that has grown CURIOUSLY MORE FREQUENT in recent times. That makes two harbingers that are willing to brave the dark path to his labs. ( The coat is not a bad idea ; his labs are kept at a cooler temperature to ensure stability of various chemicals and decrease the risk of bacteria even with his thorough cleaning procedures. ) But Ajax is usually pretty QUIET when they're like this. The commentary shatters familiarity like a glass dropped on tile, but it earns his attention.

The words have more weight than Ajax likely knows. Dottore doesn't NEED anyone's approval nor interest ; long has he realized that THIS WORLD AND ITS INHABITANTS WILL DESPISE HIM. It makes no difference to him anymore what people think of him or his work. ( Naively he had once thought that leaving the desert for the rainforests and the Akademiya would allow him to find a place where he could be ACCEPTED and welcomed. He had been grievously mistaken. ) At least being with the Fatui grants him the luxury of pursuing his research without it mattering who cares, so long as he does a few missions and offers a set amount of research every so often. Caring is not anything Dottore expects from the others unless it benefits them or the grand scheme.

None of that negates the fact that even he can find something close to delight or relief in someone enjoying his work rather than only be appalled or dismissive of it.

" You do? " Try as he might, Dottore can not entirely crush the surprise in his own voice, subtle and easily missed as it may be.

He slowly lowers the current vial in hand, tearing his gaze away from the chemicals inside to look towards Ajax's form, hunched over the table. He gives a small snort, voicing a sentiment rather similar to what is unspoken. " Fear not, one can hardly tell. " If Ajax was more awake, perhaps they would process it more - right now, Dottore suspects it will fly over their head like a poorly calculated projectile.

" My research is what motivates and drives me. There's always more to discover, to learn, to experiment on. " He remarks. Centuries later and he's still pushing forward with zeal.

Though, Dottore is NOT falling for the latter remark. " You absolutely were not. If i asked you what I last said, I doubt you would recall. " Will that actually stop him? . . . No. He does love to talk when it comes to science. " Nonetheless, what I was saying is that when the cells of the vishap are exposed . . . . " And so he continues his previous tangent with enthusiasm that would be hard pressed to get from the Doctor at any other time.

[poswiecenia]

@abyssli - ( collar ) : for SENDER to kiss along RECEIVER'S collarbone. @ wifey / RANDOM SUGGESTIVE DIALOGUE + ACTION PROMPTS

( 🌙 ) STARS THEY AREN'T even all the way up the stairs yet ! exhaling sharply she tries to gently pry ajax away from her neck ( and subsequently further down ) but the desire to continue this in general was to strong for her to fully follow through upon. licking her lips she gives them a light tug --- pulling them into an alcove to fit them both 'fore dragging him overtop her ; eyes peering up at them with a warm smile.

❛ SO EAGER .. YOU could hardly wait. ❜

[fatedevour]

♢  — @abyssli said:[ 𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 ] ―sender brushes receiver’s hair ( for beta ,, ) EXPERIMENT IN PROGRESS: THE FIVE SENSES PROMPTS

" Tch. This is entirely UNNECESSARY. " Beta all but GROWLS in irritation, feeling his vocal cords vibrate with the act. Yet it seems Ajax disagrees with this assessment. Or maybe a part of Achilles. Or both. AS IF HE'D KNOW RIGHT NOW, because no part of creature 2 seconds away from ripping out people's throats decides they want to brush your hair makes any damn sense. It doesn't make any sense, but Beta cannot deny the reality that such is the exact predicament he's stuck in. No wonder Prime had told him to go check on and oversee Ajax while they heal. That bastard probably suspected this when helping tend to the injuries earlier.

Meanwhile, oblivious Beta has assumed that this would be the usual situation in these moments. Check on Ajax, ensure their injuries are properly treated and not being torn or otherwise impeded on their healing progress, and make sure they didn't tear off anyone's face if a subordinate happened to come into the space. GLORIFIED BABYSITTING. Which was why he'd dropped down with a binder of his latest research in his lap to occupy himself while they would ideally sleep. But like the rest of today, that doesn't go according to plan.

Because here he is, trying to focus on reading, and all he can focus on is the claws brushing through his hair. HE ISN'T AFRAID OF BEING HURT. Not by a tangle caught in talons nor of blood accidentally being drawn.

Dottore can't recall a time someone brushed his hair.

Not even as a kid. It is a realization that makes something squirm and flop around in his stomach, like a bug dragged out from under its safe log. It lodges in his throat, white-gloved hands clenching onto the binder with brutal intensity. And here Ajax is, making happy sounds while brushing through the more wild and fluffy mess of hair compared to that of the older segments. Like this is normal. It makes violence writhe into Beta's chest, a feeling that he can't name, WON'T NAME, that makes him want to bite like an animal.

" Are you done yet? " He snaps instead, tongue pressed to the roof of his mouth as he tries to swallow all the mud and tar bubbling up in his chest. He doesn't like this. He's just . . . entertaining it for the sake of anyone else that might wander in the area, even his own segments.

[poswiecenia]

@abyssli - " mama .. " the ( soon to be appointed ) harbinger speaks softly, slowly making their way over to climb up -- and finally sit down beside her. they rest their head against her arm, looking up towards her with a small pout. " mama .. can you take me shopping? sir pantalone informed me that I can use my mora for whatever I please .. " a strange concept to a boy who's family grew up poor, most of their food being hated and clothes passed down.. " i .. do not have my own clothes -- none that are new .. and I would like to send some back home to my younger siblings, maybe a few toys as well .. ? " \ unprompted ask.

( 🦢 )   SILENCE SAT BETWEEN them comfortably as the witch waited for her kleiner Fuchs to get situated beside her , lone eye watching closely --- try as she might to push the boy away she could only have done so much in doing so. like an ugly duckling chasing after those it belongs too it had ended that la signora had been chosen by the boy who was far to young to be so engrained within the tsaritsa's harbingers ------ but it was not her place to question just what her highness was up to.

FINGERS RAISE TO brush ginger hair away from their eyes and nodded once while she hummed in thought , the witch thinking about just where to take the boy to choose what they desired to wear. before words could pass her lips the too - young boy spoke of their siblings. ah .. so it was minute manipulation or something deeper. a child wouldn't choose to be here.

     ❛   YES , FINE. I'D rather not have my time wasted so we can go but for ONLY four hours --- and you can get whatever you wish .. for yourself or your siblings. as it is YOUR mora , my opinion matters none in what you use it for , kleiner Fuchs   ❜  

[fatedevour]

@abyssli replied to your post “♢  — @abyssli said: "it’s gonna be a long night, ...”:

ajax. who has little to no impulse control: ...I am. very. tempted. me, and everyone else: NO!!!!!!

​ajax is this except its with whatever weird vials dottore's holding up like forbidden juice

[fatedevour]

♢  — @abyssli said: "it’s gonna be a long night,  might as well make it fun." EXPERIMENT IN PROGRESS: SEALED WITH A LEAD KISS PROMPTS

" You and I possess two very different versions of fun. " Dottore replies without looking towards the younger harbinger beside him, his own cheek pressed against the palm of his hand as he rests his elbow against the table. Oh how he loathes these meetings. More often than not, he sends the DELTA SEGMENT to be the one participating just as he does when there are events requiring his appearance. But every now and then, Prime himself opts to attend - either by his own whim or PIERRO requesting it. ( It makes no difference as far as he's concerned, but people seem to have their own strange assumptions about his other segments as if he is not one too. )

Yet, Ajax's remark does raise a question. They uttered it so casually that it makes him wonder if Delta DOES do something. His eyes narrow ever so slightly beneath the mask as the sifts through the words like a machine scanning over input code. There's something in that phrasing that implies this is not abnormal. In that case - " . . . Is that what happened to some of the mora? " He turns abruptly to look towards Ajax. Of course Prime had HEARD there was a bet and that Pantalone and Pulcinella had gotten into a particularly barbed arguement decorated with fake smiles at the last meeting. He hadn't thought too much on the matter however given the well known rivalry of sorts between the two.

As much as Dottore would like to CLAIM he wouldn't participate, evidently Delta had, and Prime himself would be tempted at the idea as well. One mystery solved.

He pauses and then pulls out a vial of purple shimmering liquid, flashing a shark-grin at the other while Arlecchino yaps about something he couldn't care less about. ( He finds himself wishing it had been Crucabena - at least compared to her successor, Dottore had held a FAR more pleasant relationship. ) He holds it up towards them, though low enough to not draw any of the others' eyes.

" If you want fun, how about you drink this and see what happens? " Dottore suggests in a whisper, shifting in his seat to avoid those to his right observing what he was doing.