oftheletter | ic inbox (aefenglom)

Do you want it or not

I'm sure I do, but it would help to know what it is.

Suffice to say that if it were anything that would harm you, I would only be hurting myself at this point.

It's beneficial.

I can drop it off with you at your stupid toy store.

I will always welcome your company if you want to come by.

Don't be weird.

An hour, then.

[Because Mello is nearby, and he's got other things to do today.]

I'll be here.

[No one insults him quite the same way Mello does. This shouldn't be as oddly refreshing as it is.

The 'CLOSED' sign will be up on the shop before he arrives, but the door is unlocked.]

[Mello arrives in a bit less than an hour, not surprised at the sign. One thing he will never doubt when it comes to N: he's discreet. Even if their interactions won't always require such measures, it's refreshing.]

[He tests the door, pushes it open. The object is in his hand, and if Near is observant at all right now, he'll notice that Mello isn't wearing his rosary. Dark shades cover his eyes because — well — he's been working the closing shift over at the club, and he's fucking tired.]

[He glances around for his Bonded, immediately approaches the counter without a word. Whether or not this 'gift' will be effective at all remains to be seen.]

[Mello wearing shades in places that shades don't need to be worn is par for the course. The lack of rosary is noted only after a few moments of thinking that something is off. His memory of his rival has always been a clear, distinct image in his mind - but it has been over ten years.

The naga slithers around the counter to greet him, tongue darting out of his mouth in curiosity. They might be bonded now, but any sort of 'gift' from this man is still something to be wary about.]

Hello. I do hope you're not about to do something rash.

[Fucking hell, does everyone with whom he's interacted his last time here think Mello is incapable of being anything aside from absolutely volatile? He frowns in response, but when isn't he frowning, where Near is involved?]

[Though there's a slight difference, now. M can feel a slight edge of pensiveness tugging at the edge of his nerves, and it's not his own.]

[It's been no time at all, and he doesn't like it already. But on to other things — ]

That — [He starkly points at the bottom half of Near's body.] — is fucked up. And even someone like you doesn't deserve it. I've an idea.

[As he slightly unzips his coat, reaches into an inner pocket.] I've been dabbling in different sorts of magicks, yea. Spoken to a few people. Thought I could help you do something about it.

[Even if he's actively abandoned his initial plans to go full offensive with his power for this, alone. If it works, Near should thank him, at length.]

Besides, if you're to be my Bonded, I can't have you going around like that.

[Perhaps a little bitter. He withdraws the rosary, hangs it from his hand as he offers it to the other.]

Here.

[It might not work, but. Well. They'll see, won't they?]

Used the last bit of energy I had this morning to charge it up, so it better work out.

[Near stares at the rosary. He doesn't make the slightest move to take it.

It's not that he doesn't trust Mello's intentions - quite the opposite. He's sure that everything the blond has said is true. He has no doubt that a lot of effort went into enchanting that item. It will probably even work as intended.

But he can't just accept it.]

Mello...

[The naga straightens up, eyes not leaving the object. Both hands are slipped into the pockets of his jacket.]

Do you want to transform me for the sake of your own vanity?

[If there was a good reason for it, he'd understand. If his tail was going to get in the way of some important mission they'd found themselves on, some important case, then he wouldn't have any trouble accepting the offering.

But this is something that has to be maintained, recharged regularly. Does Mello truly expect him to wear it all the time?]

[Yes.]

What?

No.

[And honestly, he feels offended. Even if Near has touched the edges of the truth. While Mello does pity in his own way, it's just something that he doesn't want to see. He steps forward, continues to hold out the item. With all of the work he's put into this, Near had better fucking take it. Else, what was it all for?]

Are you really all right with slithering around like that? I'm trying to help you.

[Both selfish and not.]

You got a shit deal when you came here. [At least, that's how Mello sees it.] We made an agreement. Part of that agreement is that I don't revel in your suffering.

[A pause; he cocks his head.]

Unless you prefer it.

I don't prefer it. But I'm also not suffering.

[Not anymore, anyway. If Mello had asked several months prior he might have said differently. Learning how to use this body properly had been a pain and a half. Now that he's used to it, however, maneuvering around has become second nature.

He would also prefer that his rival didn't think this form was too much for him to handle. He can adapt as well as anyone else.

The naga stares at the dangling cross.]

I'm not catholic, you know. This might be considered offensive.

[Of course he's also offending its owner by not accepting it, and ultimately Mello's opinion matters more than the general masses. Near closes the distance between them and reaches out slowly to take the rosary.]

Does it need to be worn to function?

[And Mello takes Near's words in silence. Honestly? He doesn't think he's Catholic anymore, either. Maybe never was. Maybe he was just always looking for something to save him and justify his bullshit. Being here, alone, eradicates the possibility of a God for him.]

[So many factors. God doesn't exist. L isn't God. Never was, really.]

[He impatiently shakes the rosary in Near's direction, brows drawn tightly.]

It's magic, [he presses, and if Near doesn't want it: good, then. It'll save him a lot of fucking energy. Still, it's insulting.]

I figured a personal item would make it more effective. Wear it under your fucking shirt, if you have to. I'm not trying to convert you. But you've gotta wear it; from what I understand, that's how it works.

[Shrug]

Needs to be in contact with your skin. I don't make the rules.

[He's never cared what Near believed.]

I'm trying to help you.

Edited 2021-04-11 03:44 (UTC)

[Would Mello have told him if he hadn't asked? It could have been quite a shock to his system, changing right there the moment his hand had made contact. Pausing mid-reach, the naga pulls the sleeve of his jacket down over his hand so that he can take the rosary without making immediate contact.]

Excuse me the precaution...

[He's sure his bonded wants to see the results of his work sooner rather than later, but Near would prefer having a moment to prepare.]

I assume you want me to test it?

[Of course he does. Why bring it over simply for the smaller man to tuck it into his pocket and not do anything with it? But Near still has so many questions, and he knows that if he asks them all the blond will start to get fed up with him.]

I don't suppose you have any idea of how it will feel or how long it will last? As your guinea pig, it would be nice to know whatever you can tell me.

[And Mello narrows his eyes at the sleeve. Of course he would rather see it sooner; he's going on pure instinct and mild education, here. But if it hurts, he'll feel it too, and to force Near to experiment with it right now might be Hell for both of them.]

[Besides, if it is painful, Mello is sure he'll feel it, no matter where they are.]

Yea, [He relents, taking a step back after handing his rosary over. Yes, he's curious. No, he has nothing in him to recharge the thing right now. Near is a cautious thing, as he should be. He was — is — L, after all, while Mello has always been so indulgent and reckless. Two sides to a coin, a perfect balance, though he would never admit it aloud.]

I suspect discomfort. [That goes on pure instinct. It's body transformation, after all.] But no, I don't know if it will hurt. I know it's short lived. I haven't the power to make it anything close to permanent.

[Yet. He eyes the other. Looks for any sign of reservation.]

The Witches I've spoken to at the Coven guess something close to an hour, but no one can tell for sure. Depends on how strong I am, and I've no basis for comparison. I only know that I can do shit, yea. And there are different types of magic involved in this.

[And Mello has given away pure offense to make it happen, though he won't admit that.]

We're playing with fire, but I'm willing to risk it. Just remember that if you're in pain, it will also hurt me, so.

[So.]

Take that into account when you decide whether to use it.

[A frown. Also.]

And don't lose my fucking rosary.

[Near looks from the item now dangling from his covered wrist and then back to its owner. He can't feel as if he's doing anything other than borrowing this for now. It will always be Mello's.]

I do think... [He sighs, pulling his arm in closer to himself.] It would be best to test this when we're both present.

[If he does it alone in his house or anywhere else he won't have a witch around to help if anything goes wrong. He would have to contact the blond and then wait. All of this is an unnecessary risk when they can simply try it here.]

Are you alright with that?

[As if Mello isn't impatient this. As if he's not about to wear something that will morph the shape of his body if it works correctly.]

Yeah.

[And here they are: agreeing on something, even if it's minor. Well, as minor as Near putting enough trust in Mello not to fuck him over can be. As minor as the same being true in reverse.]

Though. [And the blonde crosses his arms, exhales.] I'm no healer if shit goes downhill. I don't know any that I would trust enough to get involved.

You know any?

[Do not say Kira.]

Edited 2021-04-18 00:40 (UTC)

Only Mr. Yagami.

[Sorry, Mello.]

But there is an actual hospital here. We can always fall back on that if necessary. I haven't tried, but we might be able to call someone over here.

Though. [He gives the other man a serious look.] If my lower half explodes or detaches itself from my body, please do me the favor of killing me. Healing will be easier that way. [If that sort of damage doesn't kill him outright on its own.]

Now for this.

[And he takes the rosary in his uncovered hand. Nothing happens immediately. He starts to bring it closer to his face to get a better look, only to then crumple to the floor.]

[Mister Yagami. What the fuck is N on about? The title is undeserved, especially by the one who had the final say in taking Kira down. It brings a sneer to Mello's mouth, but he thinks that either 1. Near thinks this place is bugged or 2. (most likely) he's purposely fucking with M.]

[He takes the other options into consideration, doesn't immediately respond. As far as killing N, Mello easily employed someone else to take on the task in the name of victory, but now?]

[But before he can get more than a single syllable out, his Bonded is going about it, and fuck Mello isn't ready, wasn't ready. His breath catches in his chest as he watches, waits with wide eyes. It must not be very reassuring that the one who created the charm looks so alarmed, but it is what it is.]

N.

[Eli, doesn't even occur to him enough to sit on his tongue as he lurches forward, leans down to grip the other - hard - by the shoulder, and something in his own legs feels... wrong. Like he's fucking melting or dying or something in-between.]

[Fucking shit. Impulsive bastard. Mello is the impulsive one, and he wasn't ready for this to happen right now.]

[There's far too long of a moment where he can't feel anything below his waist. Near is shaking more from the shock of it all than anything else. Is his tail gone? Is there anything there?

Feeling returns slowly, pins and needles the way one would expect a limb to wake up after having been completely numb - except it's his whole lower half. He reaches a tentative hand out, vision obscured by the long curtains of hair draped over his shoulders, and his fingers find scales. There's scales, but the shape is wrong. Does he truly have legs again?

Does he remember how to use them?

A breathless chuckle leaves his lips, slightly shock-induced and wrong sounding.]

Ha... I don't have any pants.

[His long shirt takes care of anything that might be exposed. Funnily enough he'd planned for the event of a sudden revert to his old self. This hadn't been what he'd had in mind, but it works in this situation too.

He makes no move to stand. He's not sure if he can.]

[Mello had suspected he would feel something from the way bonds work, but the result takes him completely by surprise. Aching, tingling, a complete, momentary loss of the use of his legs. He falls to his knees, slamming a hand against the floor in order to steady himself. A moment of breathlessness before he recomposes himself; Mello did not sign up for this, in any form.]

[He couldn't help Near up right now if he wanted to, and his face reflects nothing short of disgruntlement.]

I didn't mean now, cunt.

[This is all so inconvenient. But he needs to care for his bonded, doesn't he? It's with a sharp, cold tone that he asks,]

Do you need a healer? This is uncomfortable.

You agreed that it should be done when we're both present. This is as good enough of a time as any other.

[Near watches his bonded with a somewhat fascinated expression. He hadn't been sure how strongly it would affect the other man, though their proximity has to have an influence on that.]

I apologize for the discomfort... [He offers, but he doesn't seem that sorry. He's managed to shift one leg to where he can his scaled toes, and he wiggles them curiously. Even if feeling has begun to return he still needs to make the mental connection with his limbs.]

In this particular case, I don't think a healer will be able to do much good for me.

[There isn't really any pain. Otherwise the best they'd be able to do is offer a shoulder, which anyone could do.]

[Proxmity had better have something to do with it. Mello doesn't want to go through this every time Near decides to use the charm. And if N says he doesn't need a healer, so be it. If their discomfort is even close to the same, Mello believes it to be true. It's inconvenient, if nothing else.]

[It's with a forced breath that he digs his heels into the floor, pushes himself up. His legs are weak, but not useless. Besides, this was his idea, even though it's written into his skin to be irate with Near, on principle.]

Here.

[He hunches back down and offers an arm, as much as the contact will annoy him. And it shows in his expression, filters through his voice.]

Try to get up.

[Near takes the offered arm gladly. It's been so long since he used his legs that even without the weakness from this new change he thinks it would be difficult to raise himself up on them again.

It's not as if he'd spent much time walking even when he had the ability.

His legs wobble like a newborn's. With one arm he clings to Mello and with the other he grabs the edge of the counter he'd been beside. It's an effort, but he's finally able to get himself upright. Without support he wouldn't be able to stay that way yet, however.]

I think they're actual legs. Good work.

[He's not even teasing.]

[And it's so odd to see Near upright, even with assistance. A poise to which Mello has never been accustomed, seeing as the other has always preferred to be closer to the ground.]

[But he did it. Which means his magic is stronger, which means that he can accomplish things on an advanced level that he couldn't touch even a month ago. That's what this means to Mello, even if it's satisfying to see his bonded walking on two feet.]

Don't compliment me.

[Always a cantankerous thing, even as he continues to support the other until N tries to walk off on his own.]

How does it feel?

[His own legs ache. Nothing more.]

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