OVERFLOW POST!!

[tradesecret]

[ Nobody likes captcha. ]

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[syckophant]

[There are no rules here in Hell Tokyo! Unisex scrubs and tattoos in the onsen are permitted, because who is going to even kick them out???]

Mmm, you really don't have any limits, do you? Aside from not wanting a boss. Would you clean my wings for me when I shower if I asked?

[tradesecret]

I don't mind at all, if it's helpful.

As far as limits go... Not wanting a boss and staying in work-ready condition. It sounds contradictory, but even if I have no interest in working now, eventually I'll have to go back to my old job.

[syckophant]

Of course. Not that I really understand what "working condition" means, considering how we're reformed constantly, but otherwise that's reasonable.

If you're offering though... My wings could really use a helping hand.

[tradesecret]

Then it's settled.

[ and she's already stepping out of clothes, without feeling the least bit self-conscious about it. When a person considers their body a tool, it matters a lot less. It's certainly well-honed, though more she's more lean and toned, softly sculpted rather than outright ripped. There doesn't appear to be a single scar or tattoo on her, so that at least partially explains what she means by "work ready." ]

Shall I wash myself off first or start with you?

[syckophant]

[Eichi has been nude in front of her before, but that was an accident. He's not like Yvette though, and his eyes wander for a moment before he reminds himself to... not... do that.]

Ah... start with yourself. I can wash the rest of my body. I only need help with the wings.

[He turns away when he begins to undress, and he's careful with it, folding his clothing as her goes. His own body has such sickly pale skin, moreso than usual, and he's got some new scars! A foot, and the inside of both of his arms are cut- expert cuts meant to neutralize his arms, rather than injury to kill. But he's not showing anything off, despite his otherwise powerful frame.

[tradesecret]

[ she had seen the incident with Harpy and just decided not to interfere. Her eyes linger on those, but she decides to spare him the lecture. He knows what she'll say, so she'll just go to the washing area, humming that weird ghost song she heard Paloma hum in the House. ]

[syckophant]

[He does know, and he doesn't want to have to argue that this is his self-flagellation for what happened. He doesn't want to admit that he feels like he needs to.

He feels his skin crawl as Yvette hums, and he shivers and holds himself for a moment before he finishes undressing and begins to wash himself off.]

You never died then, did you? In that house?

[tradesecret]

[ iridescent pink and yellow scales surface as she rinses off her legs, bright, glistening, unavoidable. She frowns a little at that, keeps going. ]

No. Everyone protected me. And despite getting separated, I was fortunate enough to avoid running into others. I ended up getting snacks, reading a lot of books and we hit a little snag with a zrael, but Paloma and I managed.

[ they killed her. ]

[syckophant]

I see.

[That explains it. Eichi didn't mind the possession at the time, but it's hard to think back on how his thoughts were so warped.]

I was choked to death twice. I wonder why that was how they killed me.

[tradesecret]

Is that question rhetorical or would you like to hear the criminology perspective?

[syckophant]

Sure, give me the criminology perspective.

[It HAD been rhetorical but he hadn't expected her to have an answer. But he's curious enough, he'll bite.]

[tradesecret]

[ Washing her hair as she answers, nonchalant, as if this was about a grocery list ]

According one study, death by manual strangulation tends to be a crime committed where the offender knows the victim, often to exert physical and psychological control over them. As such, a history of it shows up in domestic violence cases and many instances of sexual violence. Assuming the attack happened facing the victim, the attacker wants to see their victim's face, their reaction, the life slipping from their eyes. Not to romanticize it.

[syckophant]

I see~

[He understands wanting to control him. He's a wild beast, a monster unchained, just as Leo had said. And he can't deny... his own allure to being choked... as much as he probably should.]

... Like putting on a leash that one can't escape from.

[He's finished scrubbing down by then, and he doesn't really bother hiding his body when he finally looks to Yvette.]

I could use a little help with my wings now.

[tradesecret]

Alright. Let me know if it what I'm doing hurts.

[ Extending a wing gently and scrubbing it with a light hand, humming a different tune, since the other one was unsettling. ]

[syckophant]

You're fine. They're not made of paper.

[And he's without feathers, too.] Don't be too gentle, or they won't even get cleaned.

[His wings curl a little, testing new joints that hadn't been there on his feathered wings.]

[tradesecret]

These seem a little lighter than your usual wings. How do they feel?

[ scrubbing with a little more vigor, massaging at the juncture of wing and shoulder blade ]

[syckophant]

They feel wonderful.

[He won't lie. And he melts into the touch, too. He never knew how tense he was until someone had hands on him.]

Never knew I'd be so happy to lose those feathers.

[tradesecret]

[ moving to the other shoulder blade ]

They must be especially heavy when they get wet. And not having horns must make it easier to wash your hair.

[syckophant]

It does.

[He feels freed without those horns, and that thought makes him wonder for a moment about the symbolism of that. They're a heavy weight, symbolizing his sins, painted gold to pretend they are a halo.

Eichi reaches a hand up to run a hand through his hair, over the places where his horns usually are.]

Mmmmh... I don't much care for the huge changes to my body, but I suppose that is just... [What he deserves.]

[tradesecret]

So you'd prefer to be more human, just healthier.

[ stated for clarity's sake, mostly because with all his fluttering and peacocking, it's easy to think he revels in his appearance. ]

[syckophant]

I'm no more or less human for having wings, fangs, claws, or horns. And neither am I more or less healthy.

But it's a lot. Useless wings that cannot fly. A heavy halo. Scales on my fingers, keeping even touch from my grasp. I'm not only a monster, but a malformed thing, with pieces of other things tacked on my form, offering me no advantage and no shortage of trouble.

[tradesecret]

You know... You're really not as monstrous as you think you are.

[ he's a spoiled brat, for sure, but not a monster. ]

[syckophant]

You don't really know me well enough to know that.

[He folds his wings up when she's not focusing on them, heaving a sigh.]

No matter what, I end up making these wrong choice, and I keep doing wicked things, because of how ugly I am inside.

[He just keeps doing awful things like taking Fox prisoner or blackmailing Artemis. A good person would have realized his folly and not done such a thing. A human should have course corrected before taking three days to torment a person before using them as a hostage.]

I keep a lot from you. From everyone.

[tradesecret]

Is it because you fear retribution?

[ she doubts that. Does he feel guilt? Fingers gently tease at any tension in his neck. ]

[syckophant]

Retribution? No.

[He frowns, staying there as Yvette touches his neck, where there is plenty of tension. Keeping his head held up is a lot harder than he'd like it to be.]

I already had that, didn't I? Dying, going to Hell, all of this...? Then people like Shishiou, Kanata, Itsuki-kun, Nagisa... all being here. But they're not, and it's no surprise. After all, this is a punishment.

But my sins are my own. Talking about them with uninvolved parties will not lessen them, and it doesn't change the decisions I make daily. It would just be needlessly making myself vulnerable.