oftheletter | ic inbox (aefenglom)

[The intake of breath is sharp and startled; the splitting of a shard of glass just as much, so. L's grip is enough to break the fragment of mirror in half, and it drops summarily to the floor along with several droplets of vibrant red blood.

His reaction, now that he has full agency of his thoughts and movements, is immediate. He recoils, clasps his wrist, draws back, but.

He invited this, didn't he? As good as told Near to do his worst, give him insight into the pain and fear that Myr must feel?

It roils; it pulses. L shudders.]

No... I'll wrap it.

[Later. He presses his palm against his inner thigh, letting his pant leg sop up the blood.]

Again. More...

[Pleading, harsh. In so many ways, the purity of his craft is this willingness, the one that says he will, in fact, do anything for a case or a cause.]

Edited 2021-03-04 08:07 (UTC)

No.

[Near's mouth is drawn into a thin line, his brows furrowed. The denial is low and clipped.]

I will not risk causing you any lasting mental damage. You will recover from this first.

[Delicate, scaled fingers reach for L's hand, but his gaze is clinical. He's assessing what he can see of the injury.]

I would also prefer not to make a bigger mess in my house.

[It's not that important, ultimately. Messes can be cleaned. But he wants to draw his bonded back into the present to fully take in what's transpired.]

[There's a tense moment, pulled taut to the shredding point, over their Bond. L's conflict moves between the desire to concede and desire to argue and insist that they are not finished, but...

They are finished. In some way, and Near won't budge on that. The conflict fades, and he allows Near to take his hand and look at the lacerations where glass sliced into skin.

There's sullen silence for a few moments but what's in motion must remain in motion, and this strange, uneasy energy has to go somewhere.]

Why that?

[He ignores the comment about the blood, no doubt meant to shame him into compliance.]

Of all the things you could have compelled, you chose a course that could threaten you.

[And he's angrier, the more he thinks about it, though something doesn't add up. The series of movements and choices felt spliced, like two separate quilts disassembled and woven together. At the very least, the commands mutated like a cruel game of telephone.]

Stay.

[Near gives the command to L with no hypnotic influence this time, but says it the same way he likely says it to his dog. He needs to get the items necessary to clean and bandage this.]

It was necessary to choose something you wouldn't do on your own. [He moves toward the still open door of the bathroom, and when he enters to sort around in the drawers half his tail remains outside.] And my commands seemed to work better when woven in with spoken word. [The sink runs a moment. A wet paper towel isn't the best option but it's what he has to work with. That and soap.]

You wanted a stronger command, so I gave you one. But the command to stab me with a knife from the kitchen apparently merged with the more reasonable request to get the mirror from the bathroom. [He approaches to take L's hand again.] ...It's a learning experience.

[L's response is so automatic and natural that, for a moment, he wonders if he is still being compelled, but... no, it's actually just what makes the most sense in the moment. There's no reason to be a contrarian, no reason to push back against Near's rational and measured common sense. His own sense of having lost control for a moment is upsetting, but Near is not the appropriate target for that panic.

No, he is just trying to help, isn't he?]

Mm...

[Curt and restless, it's a sound of agreement, nevertheless.]

I suppose I should be glad you're aware that isn't something I'd do of my own accord.

[He watches the naga's turned back as he goes to the bathroom sink. He tries to remember if there's glass on the floor, and finds that he can't, not totally clearly. The process was almost dreamlike, in that sense, half-lucid and strange.

When Near returns, he holds his hand out again, palm-up.]

What if this "learning experience" had merged differently?

[He's focused and fixated on the relatively gentle action of "offering" the shard of glass toward Near's shoulder. Had it been a swift stabbing motion, they could be experiencing very different fallout.]

I knew the risks of asking you to do anything violent.

[For the most part. Near takes the paper towel and dabs gently around the wound. He leans close, trying to get the best look at it he can. Before he uses anything stronger to clean it he wants to be certain that there are no miniscule glass shards remaining in L's skin.]

If you had approached any faster I would have stopped you sooner.

[He's seen the glass as soon as L had exited the bathroom. He could have stopped him then.]

If I'd been unable to stop you then we would have known that such commands were too much for me to handle at my level of skill.

[As it is, despite the mess, he'd still been mildly successful. L had been following something inspired by his commands. The key now is figuring out how to keep them from merging together.]

[L's silent, wondering just how far Near could know of such a thing when up until today, he's never tested this particular Naga ability. Is he implying that he believed that one of them could come to significant harm as a result of this, even die?

He winces only mildly at the careful dabbing. Near's touch is delicate, and L is used to breaking his skin for magic, even if those cuts are with a very sharp, clean blade. Broken glass leaves a messier cut.]

To be clear... I'm not upset. I'm grateful you took that risk, and permitted the test to go on for that length of time.

[The result matters to him. The result is what he keeps replaying in his mind, looking for the exact point he lost control, the exact point a suggestion seeped into his grey matter, the exact point it mutated and melded with another unspoken command.]

I understand this better now. Not perfectly, but... better.

[He takes a shallow breath that quavers, holds it for a moment as Near continues to look for broken glass.]

[Near had assumed that death was a possibility, should he be unable to control things. It generally was. He assumed L knew that same risk.

Frowning at the wound, the naga produces a pair of tweezers from the small amount of supplies he'd retrieved and carefully extracts a small sliver of glass from along the edge. Thankfully there don't seem to be any others that size.]

If you want to try this again at a later date I won't be opposed to it. I would just rather not do too much in one sitting if it can be helped. I need to be aware of any potential long-term damage.

[He doesn't know the ground rules, the limitations - his limitations and L's. Caution is necessary.]

[L's eyes tense around the edges, his arm stiffening as Near pulls that bit of glass out. It stings, but relieves some of his discomfort immediately.

He swallows. Nods.]

If you're willing, and offering... I must, because...

[He takes more air into his lungs than the shallower breaths he has been.]

I don't know about long term damage. This is beyond me; I don't know that I can defend myself against it or use my own skills as a witch to head it off. At best, I might be able to realize when it's happening... and if that's the best I can do, against you, I need it, against someone like him.

You don't know that you can? Perhaps you should try.

[Not seeing anything else worth plucking free, Near dabs some watered-down soap lightly around the injured area. He'll need to run some water over it once he's finished, but not yet.]

I can't say I have much background in the fantastical, but I don't think it's unreasonable to say that magic is magic. Energy is energy. A witch relies on a monster for balance and a monster takes that energy into themselves. Whatever abilities a monster has, surely there's a way for a witch to counter it.

A shield. A bubble. A talisman stuck above a door to ward off evil spirits.

[It stings in a way it never does, when L is in full control of a blade or a means of cleaning or mending a wound. His instinct is to pull his hand away, but mind over matter; instead, he pushes it forward, just a bit.]

Magic... is magic, as language is language, but... it's more than learning a new language... it's more than eloquence in a new language. I could know a precise counterspell, but by merit of being human, I might lack something innate needed to produce or perform it.

[It almost feels anatomical, like he's missing a brain region or the type of larynx needed to create a new and otherwise impossible sound.]

At least... it's the case, now. With study, perhaps there's a workaround, but...

[He doubts that there's one that fits perfectly. The magic may be serviceable, but it won't be mated.]

Edited 2021-03-07 20:52 (UTC)

An exact counterspell might be difficult, but maybe you don't need to go that far. If you put up a concrete barrier between yourself and your enemy then it won't matter if they're shooting arrows or bullets, it's just not going to protect you against something like a missile.

[He sighs.] I prefer visual metaphors. [Where's a set of plastic finger puppets when you need them?]

[Holding tight to L's wrist, he begins moving both of them back in the direction of the bathroom so that he can use the sink. The rug on the bathroom floor has been rolled aside, with most of the broken glass going with it. Whatever's left isn't going to do much harm to Near's scales, and he purposefully takes up the floorspace where any of it might be. Still holding L's wrist, he turns on the water.]

What I'm saying is... don't think about guarding from invasive naga hypnosis. Think about finding a way to protect someone against any sort of mental intrusion and work from there.

[L pauses; he doesn't mind shifting metaphors, but this one isn't flawless, either. He thinks of a way to frame it as he follows, mindful of any glass though Near seems to have swept it aside, staring at the running tap as his Bonded guides him by the wrist.]

I understand. My concerns are along the lines of a screen that effectively keeps out insects while still letting in germs, or... a glass partition that blocks sound, but not light. With barriers... something usually gets through, even if it's not something you anticipated could pose a problem related to its intended purpose. Consider that a truly complete barrier is just as much an impediment to a caster as it is to what they're defending against.

[Over the Bond, L tries to communicate this visually, without words. The result is lightless, soundless, stifling. Nothing gets in or out; it's a sensory-deprivation prison, and would be maddening to inhabit for more than a few minutes.]

[Near doesn't like to tell L he's overthinking things, because it's part of their job description, but...] I think you're overthinking this. [No, that's a lie. He somewhat enjoys saying that to him.]

A condom might not be a hundred percent effective in stopping sexually transmitted diseases or even pregnancies, but you're still going to use it if you have no other options. Hopefully, anyway.

[He runs a gentle stream of water over the injured hand for close to a minute, peering as he does so to once again make certain there's no glass left inside.]

It doesn't have to be a wall. It could be a repellant. A deterrent. But you should try something. The more this other naga can get away with, the further he might push his commands.

[He's drying the hand off carefully as he's said this, and as soon as he's done he has gauze and bandages to wrap it up in.] You should have a healer deal with that properly later.

[L gives Near a withering glance to hear it. Near does enjoy saying that, doesn't he? He can feel it over the Bond, to some degree, and resists the urge to roll his eyes. Near's helping him, after all, cleaning up a mess that he might have catalyzed but L asked for, in the first place.

He does raise a brow at Near's choice of a metaphor. It's not a poor one, but it's surprising, considering the source.

Why should it be? He's an adult; he knows what a prophylactic is and how it works, even if the topic likely bored him before he even became curious about it. Like you, before you came here, but you made all kinds of strange choices trying to figure out who Linden Tailor was, and what he liked, and what he existed for when all his case files were left behind in another world.]

I agree that he has to be stopped.

[There's no question in L's mind, no real length he considers it unreasonable to go to, short of murdering him.]

I have some ideas that involve shutting it down at the source. You know about the tattoo I fashioned for Niles...

[The dagger that slices through illusions. Gorgeous work, actually, some of L's finest. L's exploration in Aefenglom has gone many directions, suggested brilliance and potential on levels that he would need many more lifetimes to properly cultivate.

He nods absently. There's a chance he'll get a healer to look at it; more likely, Light will notice it, pull it with muttered chastisement across the table at dinner, and mend it for him.]

[L's mental image of Near really must be that small child carefully stacking items in the corner of the room. He has some idea that what he's said has thrown his mentor off momentarily and it does amuse him.

He's very well read. There are many things he knows about that no one would associate with him. Being prudish won't get the more unsavory jobs done, not that he's taken on many of those. It does come up.

The finishing touches to L's bandage are done gently and Near finally pulls his hands away.]

Try not to use that hand for too much until it's healed. That includes magic.

[He looks at L thoughtfully, considering the available options and what L seems to be willing to do. Action of some sort will be taken, of course. His hope is that it isn't any more dangerous than it has to be.]

There are always other non-magical options, of course. You could address him and come to an agreement.

[Propose an ultimatum. Threaten him, perhaps. Magic could be a last resort.]

Unless you're determined not to let him know you know.

[Little by little, L's beginning to see Near as the man he's grown into, whose years alive outnumber his own even after adding his time in Aefenglom. A first impression is a powerful thing, however; the association L holds is one that he'll struggle forever to shake completely.

It certainly helps that there are ways Near has adapted to their new life in Aefenglom that L hasn't quite managed. While both of them think of themselves as solitary creatures, of the two, Near has actually proven to be more self-sufficient, whereas L still relies heavily on his Bonded for many simple matters that most older children and teens have already mastered. It's strange to think of Near as more capable and independent in certain ways... but every instance like this one, is a step toward its actualization. L pulls his hand back when Near finishes wrapping it, nodding dutiful comprehension.]

He's very aware of me, as well as my connection to Myr. He has a notion of what I can do, and where my skills lie... and also that I know, surely.

[L's "testing the waters" phase had been incredibly brief, such was his conviction that the naga was messing with his Bonded's mind.]

I'm going to hire Niles for backup... between the two of us, I'm sure we can communicate a message clearly.

[With the usual tactics, and perhaps some enhanced ones.]

[Niles. That other monster who’d brought him all that meat on L’s behalf. It’s not the first time the name has come up since then, and he has to wonder how his former mentor got himself involved with such a character. But now isn’t the time to ask about stories he’s only partially interested in. This place creates unique connections by necessity.

Near returns the first-aid supplies to their place under the bathroom sink - at least the ones that belong there. He'll replace the others later.]

I shouldn't have to warn you not to get in over your head.

[But he will anyway, is the obvious unspoken follow-up here.]

You're clearly cautious, but I also know you'll take risks that I wouldn't.

[Ones that had eventually led to his death.]

[The story of how L and Niles got involved is probably crazier and more gruesome than what most people can easily imagine. The man is polarizing, though; his positive-passing relationships are more likely to have once been bitter enemies than mild, amiable, and forgettable acquaintanceships.

Niles cut off all his fingers once. L almost killed him by turning his body into a livewire and then stalking and torturing him for months afterward. Now, he actually would put enough trust in Niles to watch his back while ambushing a Naga with hypnotic powers.]

You shouldn't...

[Meaning that he probably must, in spite of the fact.]

I know the result I need, though, as well as what I have that I can spend.

[He really does think about everything, on some level, as liters of blood.]

Of course... if that's your way of expressing concern, it's very kind, and I thank you.

[If Near's expression could get any more deadpan than it already was, it would. He fixes a long look in L's direction with those unblinking red eyes. He does supposed that he's showing some form of concern here, but maybe not the kind L would hope for.]

The result that you need... [He frowns slightly, only a small shift from his previous expression.]

I would consider what you have to spend and remove about a quarter from that.

['Cautious', he'd called him. Apparently not cautious enough. He merely paid lip service to the word so it didn't seem as though he distrusted he mentor's judgement. Which he does to a degree, particularly when it comes to certain individuals.]

We can try this again in the future if necessary.

[L is often a deeply concerning person, to the point where it can be distracting and inconvenient. In general, he has no preferred or desired way for people to feel concern toward him; if anything, it's better that they don't, that he's allowed to do as he pleases and take the risks he deems necessary for the outcomes he does desire.

It's selfish; he knows, he's fully aware. He also knows that with Bonded in the equation who rely on him to persevere past some very self-destructive impulses, he has to put that aside, at least occasionally.

This, however, is for one of his Bonded. That should matter, shouldn't it?]

I'd like that.

[To try in the future, that is.]

Four days from now, I'm ready to try again if you are.

[Four days. That should be enough time for L to recover from this as long as he doesn't get himself into trouble in the meanwhile, something Near unfortunately can't bet on.

He nods, at least giving the impression that he's willing to give the other man the benefit of the doubt.]

I'll make time in my schedule for you. [It's almost a joke, given how simple a task that is for him. If he's ever disappointed a child with his absence from his shop, well... it will teach them patience. Or they'll find somewhere else to get their toys.]

Be wary about approaching your adversary before then.

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