Hey who the hell is this guy? (Open & Closed)

[quizpersona]

Who: A man who isn't going by "Gogol" right now
Where: Aldrip (now with better accuracy!) The Inn, an abandoned house at the edges of town, at a diner.
What: The assorted shenanigans related to a certain local murder clown who has faked his own perma-death to assume a different identity. There will be various toplevels in the comments. This is "closed-ish" because it's not 100% closed but there's a lot of ooc plotting and scheming going on so please come join in on the plotting scheming instead of blitzing in with a "hey you guys that's obviously Gogol" when other people are investigating.

Getting short-lived CR with the nice, helpful, and well-mannered salaryman is 100% open though because frankly that's funny.

Edit: now including a top level for his sentencing failure.

Warnings: Kidnapping, nsfw dialogue, law advice for the dubious, torture (includes finger trauma).

Comments

2/2

[quizpersona]

[ All of the sincerity previously worn on the sleeve evaporates in an instant. There's the sound of senseless mirth in his tone now. ]

That's why it's so tragic I might have to kill you later! Like seriously, I wasn't planning on it 'cause I'm really preoccupied with something else right now. But what are the chances you're not going to get all chatty about this to someone else as soon as I leave, riiight?

[ He chirps. In a furthered act of defiance to the vulnerable feelings a moment ago he also winks in a way that comes off as pretty malevolent given the words coming out of his mouth. ]

1/3

[bonobos]

[ to be trapped by biology — the fundamentals of the body and psyche, the very things that have written you into existence. it’s a compelling dilemma, an eternal question even amongst academics. he’s caught in the past for a fraction of a moment, the hushed murmurs of his parents weaving through the leaves of the forest. ]

You’re limitin’ yourself. [ he counters calmly — and he realizes how much he sounds like them. ] Those chemicals exist ‘cause somebody told ya they did. Yer awareness of how they work all comes down to that. Science was created ‘cause people took the risk of wantin’ to understand what it means to be alive.

…But there are things we can’t put into words. Things we can’t test or quantify. The brain’s one of ‘em.

[ “so lighten up — there’s more to it all than you think.” is on the tip of his tongue before it dies. good and bad were subjective standards, constructs created by people who wanted to control human behavior to their benefit.

but the heart acts of it’s own accord. fights reaction responses and instinct. will forfeit survival and reason, drive you to things that make no sense even within the realm of your own mind. doesn’t that mean something? ]

2/3

[bonobos]

[ what happens next — supersedes any expectation that might have been roiling in his mind. his fingers are wound around his, and he lets him have his way, morbidly before lips press into the hollows of his knuckles.

sha-ming opens his mouth like he wants to say something. it closes promptly. his tongue dries, and his cheeks flush hot, red dappling his skin. ok. this is fine. what the fuck. ]

…H-huh.

[ ??????? ]

3/3

[bonobos]

[ THAT he expected. alright. this makes sense. it‘s fine! it’s fine. he’s definitely not still flustered. sha-ming heaves out a sigh before leaning in again, expression muted and calm. ]

Wouldn’t be any point in tellin’ someone. This was a risk for me too, yanno?

[ what in the world he has gotten himself into… whatever. ]

Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re the predator and I’m the prey. I’m not gonna make it easy for you, ‘kay?

[ there’s a flash of a grin there, sharp around its edges. ]

Why don’t we smooch on it? Keep whatever came out of these mouths in between ‘em.

[quizpersona]

Haha WOW. No one, uh,

[ They're taking turns being flustered it seems. Although he is a bit of a professional so the stutter that's allowed to come out is pretty calculated. The warmth fanning across the tips of his ears is really the only thing giving him away in a more sincere way. ]

...this is usually where people stop the flirting if they even were in the first place! Guess you really were telling the truth earlier huh?

[ Problem is it's a lot of trust to let this guy off because he's being cute about it? Realistically he should kill him. ]

[ ... ]

[ or something...? ]

[ ... ]

[ The salary man slips his arm through Sha-ming's and inclines his head towards the exit. Then meekly: ]

Not here, okay?

[ Because the dark alleyway right outside is the perfect spot clearly. It's exactly where he's going to lead Sha-ming to if he doesn't resist. ]

[bonobos]

[ for a man capable of scientific breakthrough, he sure is stupid! and that’s precisely why despite every instinct in his body telling him this was undeniably a bad idea, the prospect of getting a kiss is just too tantalizing.

so he smiles — his sharpened canines poke out proudly, and he cants his head, leaning in even closer. ]

If it’ll help ya save face, Mister.

[ an alleyway, huh? this would be an opportune time to kill him. or maim him and leave him to rot on the concrete jungle.

oh well. he’s here regardless, shadows bleeding long and jaundiced, enshrouding the two of them. ]

Well? Not gonna chicken out, are you?

[quizpersona]

[ For a time Nikolai actually commits to the idea that they might make out in this dirty alleyway. Wears a matching grin as he plays along. He presses in close enough to start counting the hairs found in an eyelash. ]

Chicken out? No. But I am so very sorry Sir,

[ Until the very moment he twists the younger around to face the wall violently. With some of the other methods of knocking people out being quite violent indeed he resorts to a rear-naked choke to... gently... persuade Sha-Ming to pass out. ]

...but you shouldn't walk down dark alleyways with strangers.

[ Did you know? This exists for whenever you might want it! The more u kno ]