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

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

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).

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[ he lets him speak. the hesitation doesn't fall on deaf ears. what a strange man. always at odds with himself, endlessly oscillating back and forth between his own desires and vices.

that's human nature, isn't it? to be a paradox. sha-ming, shockingly, looks to be somewhat bored; maybe it's because he's spent his entire life imagining up these scenarios, playing them out in his head, terrified...

maybe it's because for once, he's made a decision that meant something. he thinks of the kid again -- that head of blue hair, always drifting off. memories of him tugging at the tail ends of his shirt as the sun bleeds into the horizon. all fake. all fabricated. he hates this city for giving him something he could never have.

but the brain was like that, wasn't it? claimed ownership of things that weren't real, would never be real. it exists in your mind -- isn't that enough? ]

Trick question. [ he answers, unenthused. ] You'll take off the hand ya want to take off. That simple, really.

[ left. if gogol remembers which hand had grasped his, it was left. ]

Tell me somethin'.

[ a beat. ]

Is it less painful to know you're gonna get taken out -- or to live in peace up until that exact second?

[ the question isn't for himself. ]

Yeowch!! You're visualizing something pretty violent huh? It's a hammer actually.

[ One he deposits off to the side on that helpful little table for the moment. Taking off something like a hand would mean Sha-Ming would bleed out pretty quickly. In a lot of cases the swift death could serve a purpose but this time it's counterproductive for sure. ]

To answer your question... It hurts a lot less to live life unaware. But that's not the dichotomy you're posing to me, is it?

[ Taking a moment to plant a hand on a chair arm he leans down to look Sha-Ming in the eyes on the same level. Not breaking the progressively softening gaze with him Nikolai reaches down to collect his bound hands. As he allows the thought experiment to percolate in his mind he pauses, and then turns the hands so the right one is on top.

Of course a detail like which hand Sha-Ming had been using wouldn't escape his notice. But he's free to think he is. ]

Truthfully I've considered if there's a way to resist by living peacefully.

[ Let the way the light leaves his visible eye as Nikolai thumbs at the knot on the rope bounding those hands answer that one. The answer in his non-answer. ]

Now then, I'm separating your hands so don't take the opportunity to resist.

[ this guy.

somehow, this is worse — drawn out, slow and steady. it’s an attempt to chip away at his psyche. trepidation swims in his veins, eyes trained on the hammer before flickering back to gogol.

he notes the way he fiddles with his hands; right over left. he should know it was left. that was the one he’d kissed.

strange man. the knot loosens, and sha-ming’s fingers flex instinctively. ]

Live a life of peace and it’ll get cut short. Odds of survival go down. And in that final moment, you realize… that none of it ever mattered, you know?

[ a beat. ]

But when you know somethin’… [ his eyes trail over the lines of his palms, mapping out creeks of flesh. ] you can’t unknow it — it sticks with you ‘till the day you fade outta existence.

[ his hands are pliable in gogol’s, head canted. ]

Hey.

[ another moment. ]

Don’t bother lettin’ me go. Whenever you’re done torturing me, go for the kill.

[ sha-ming’s expression dulls, contemplative. ]

‘M not suicidal. I wanna live… so bad, it hurts. I’m the worst kinda guy… the type who doesn’t have a reason to to start with, but does anyways.

[ a blink of his eyes, jaw shifting. ]

But I wanna know… how they felt when they died. I wanna know if it hurt.

Edited 2024-05-01 19:31 (UTC)

That's a little naive. If none of it had meaning you'd never realize there's injustice in living in the first place.

[ The hands are pliable, and as he muses out loud. It's half in response to what's been said and half to himself. With that same mindfulness he places Sha-Ming's left hand against the chair arm to tie it in place for the time being. Muscle memory works in his favor. ]

It hurts because you want to understand and be understood. We're the same in that regard.

[ In the moment a twisted and gnarled empathy decides to fulfill that death wish his expression shifts in degrees. There's no more sign of empathy. This is the killer with no capability for remorse in his heart. ]

Ehehehe ! Oh it's gonna hurt! So let's play a game and see how fast it gets you to cry your eyes out. I ask you a question and you give me a yes or no answer! It's suuuuper simple. So, ready?

[ Better be because they're starting even before Sha-Ming can confirm. That's quite the grip strength against Sha-Ming's wrist when Nikolai slams it onto the table. Poor wooden little thing groans in protest. It's totally unnecessary to flip the hammer and catch it one handed but is it really? ]

Be honest now! Did you give a description of me?

(when gogol just dropped on him that there was a guy in his basement, it took manjiro a little while to come see. mostly because it doesn't pertain to him, so there's nothing of interest to gain him. his empathy is great either - what he cares about is much related to who he cares about caring about things, if it's not manjiro's own shit to deal with.

therefore, he first woke up, had breakfast, stretched, who gives a fuck about the poor bastard and the clown, but he can hear the talk, and, oh, right, that is definitely happening.

shaming described the brunette gay, the European gay, here is the gang leader gay who looks much like a doll, big eyes and lashes and strawberry blond hair. he arrives to hear the cracks of joints and force against muscles, and to be fair? that does nothing for him, they're recognizable noises.)

So, this is the guy. What he do again?

Edited 2024-05-01 21:21 (UTC)

[ he knows it’s coming, but he doesn’t know when — to be understood, and to understand… was that truly what he wanted? he had forfeited his investment in those concepts long ago.

the stranger’s grip is unforgiving (also, he’s really strong, which is a little hot?) and sha-ming’s glasses slide off, the fringes of his hair spilling around his face. the weight of his goggles grounds him.

he looks up to gogol and grins. ]

Yeah.

[ a beat. ]

Told them all about those thunder thighs of yours. Careful, now everyone’s gonna be ogling yer legs when you go out now.

[ ah, there’s someone else here — how funny. he doesn’t even have the energy to plead with the new gay that entered through the door. ]

Edited 2024-05-01 21:33 (UTC)

Eh. I've seen better thighs.

(just a comment, proceed.)

Edited 2024-05-01 21:35 (UTC)

Me too, pal.

[ ?????????? ]

[ ????????????????????????????? ]

[ Gogol looks at the both of them like this for a hot second, hammer still sitting casually in his hand. Following every godless comment about his thighs that fluffy head of platinum hair mechanically turns to look at the person who said it. By the end of it all he's looking down at his own legs.

The most ominous sign of all is the little giggle he releases belatedly. ]

...Anywho, did you come down because you were bored~? Oooh, did you want to help? That's a good accomplice.

[ A point at Mikey with the hammer. It kind of feels accusatory for some reason? He's not going to forget the subpar rating of his thighs you little binch. Then Gogol moves on to half-heartedly tap-tap-taping the flat of the hammer against the table by Sha-Ming's fingers. ]

Next question! Are you trying to protect the person you sent that description to?

Edited (forget remembering,,,) 2024-05-02 01:58 (UTC)

[ sha-ming's eyes flit back from gogol and back to mikey, a brow quirking up. ]

What, you guys got a circus down here?

[ a GAY circus?

nonetheless, there's an undeniable sigh of relief that pushes past his lips. he'd expected to get the hammer for that. maybe he has more time than he thinks before the pain train rolls in. ]

Yeah, obviously. [ thoroughly unamused. ] Thought you'd ask me some harder questions like... no shit buddy.

Said the guy strapped to a chair like an animal. What are you, main attraction? Not interesting enough.

(woooooow look at those comebacks.

now, he does know who got the text. he also knows what was told. does he want to say it? that's the question.)

I got some answers to that, but you can keep torturing him or whatever your plan is. I just want him out by morning.

[ ... ]

[ This is not the vibe for a murder. It's a little too friendly. It confuses and obfuscates what's happening here. That's worse than just getting to it; when Sha-Ming has asked to die and Gogol has quietly agreed to it despite not really having a reason nor even wanting to do it. ]

[ The hammer is flipped over so the back end is facing forward. The part that's often referred to as the claw. Nikolai uses that end to smash down on and break Sha-Ming's pinky finger at the second knuckle just because.

Then without giving anyone much time to recover: ]

We're switching up the rules! You better start answering my questions before Mikey can or you lose.

[ He locks eyes with Mikey here, actually. There's a cruel smile on his face and no light in his eyes. ]

Who'd he text?

Edited (slapping that CW in there real quick) 2024-05-02 22:28 (UTC)

[ that had been the goal -- to obfuscate. the tension comes to a head, and suddenly the hammer clatters against the table, pain slinking up his hand. it's strange -- how human nerves work, how every bit of you feels what begins and ends at your fingers.

he fails to suppress a yelp, eyes alight with panic. more agonizing than the pain is the realization that somebody knows -- how did he know? had minato told somebody, put out a notice, sent a message...?

fuck. his blood is freezing over, and he feels it: fear. raw, primal fear. heartbeat in his ears now. think, think. ]

My little brother!

[ he finally admits. a half lie, a half truth. a reality only in his own mind, but a falsehood to everyone else. an attempt at obfuscation, at muddling the situation. ]

He's just a kid, and he's the only family I got. He's not gonna do anything. [ breath shuddering now: ] So just-- leave him the fuck alone.

(you know? this isn't half bad. it's not the first hard beatdown he has partaken in, although to be fair, most of them have been for the sake of it. manjiro has a whole division that deals with traitors and whatever at home, this is a little below his paygrade. it must mean something that he doesn't even flinch with how that finger is smashed, or the pain that sha-ming sings out.

instead, he comes closer to sit on the floor.)

Bullshit. No one likes a liar. He told a friend of mine, and that friend posted it out of concern.

(he's also uninterested in giving minato's name, if sha-ming pays attention to that.)

Ohh I see~

[ Ironically, if it had been left at the information about the brother he might've let the obfuscation lead them to somewhere else. It's because additional details are offered without further prompting that it becomes complicated enough for Nikolai to take a moment to give it all a good think.

A contemplative gaze lifts up at the ceiling. He passively observes the rotting beams and thinks but it only takes a moment before he smiles again. ]

If someone has already put the description out there it's a lot more suspicious to eliminate that person afterwards. This is actually something anyone could infer. It's also common for family to feel so desperate that they go ahead and ask for help without thinking about consequences.

So why—

[ and a laugh escapes him. His gaze slides back down to the both of them without him righting his head back to it's original position—it remains tilted back. ]

Would he really need someone else to post on his behalf?

[ sha-ming notes it immediately -- and if mikey spares a glance at him, he'll see the relief washing over his features, body visibly relaxing in real time. "i owe you," his eyes speak into the silence. ]

...I didn't know he was gonna do that.

[ he looks down. ]

I didn't think he'd give a shit to start with.

[ a moment passes, drawn out before his mouth parts again. ]

He doesn't have any reason to, so I just...

('no, you don't' would be the answer, because, well. sha-ming is still tied up in mikey's basement, and it's not like he's lifting a single finger to make that less of a reality as of now.)

You'd be surprised about him.

(minato is... a go-with-the-flow person, laid back, disconnected, but he cares enough about his friends to do what is needed regardless if he fully knows the situation or otherwise. manjiro can hope that his talks with the boy enlightened him somehow, to make choices that align with his soul, rather than what others would need out of him. this would put a target on his back easily - god bless the kid. manjiro'll miss him.)

He told everyone what you've been looking like lately, Nikolai. It's a waste of time and resources and energy to do anything about that. Aren't we looking for the Overcoat? Ask this motherfucker about that.

[ Lips pursing, his visible eye narrows at Mikey as the teen manages to out both his first name and also that he's missing something called the Overcoat in a matter of seconds. What the hell? Now the dramatic reveal he was going to do later has less impact. Clearly this guy doesn't have a lot of experience torturing someone who'll get released later. ]

Well then, have you heard anything about that?

[ The expression evens back out to the deranged amusement. The claw of the hammer digs into the second knuckle of Sha-Ming's ring finger but there's not smashing yet. ]

[ the relief does not fade — ultimately, whatever happens to him is a drop in the pond, an echo in this place at best. if minato was fine, he would accept it.

a brow raises at the reveal of his name — nikolai. he would remember that. sha-ming rocks back into the chair. strangely, he doesn’t seem to be particularly phased by the metal digging into his knuckle, mostly because he’s at ease now. ]

All this for a coat? [ a scoff. ] No idea what you’re talkin’ about, and I mean that. You kidnapped the wrong guy. I couldn’t be less involved in whatever the hell goes on in this city. Real sad for you, isn’t it, Niko?

(oops. no fucks given about anything currently, sorry gogol... he just prefers to be direct and leave the violence as an added bonus. information first, fun later?)

Do you buy that? He already lied once, caught red-handed.

Edited 2024-05-08 23:13 (UTC)

Well? Actually, yes. In the first place that was never the reason why I brought him here. Which means—

[ If this was a movie he could've reached over and snapped Sha-Ming's neck... Alas, it takes a comical amount of effort to snap someone's neck with bare hands, actually. With all the time in the world and that thought in mind Nikolai lays that hammer back on the side table.

As Sha-Ming rocks back in the chair Gogol does end up reaching towards him after all, but it's to slip a finger underneath the tie digging into the cheek; where he'd left it to partially gag the guy. Once he has that foothold he yanks it down around his abductee's throat, and adjusts the knot so it fulfills the actual purpose of a tie in laying snug again the neck. Where that hand lands after the completion of that task is on the back of the chair. It brings Nikolai to lean over him slightly after he's nudged that table out of the way with his foot.

Belatedly— ]

...You can die now! Like you asked, riiight?

[ The end of the tie is wrapped once, and then twice around his hand to get a good grip. Aware that this will take approximately 2-3 minutes and that Mikey is in a position where he will have to watch, leave, or stop him— he pulls on the tie until it should cut off Sha-Ming's ability to breathe entirely. ]

[ it happens in a snap moment; the tie, traversing down his face, taut around his throat. nikolai pulls back -- sha-ming chokes in response, eyes watering, teeth gnashing against his tongue.

his vision is fading -- his flesh is going cold. how strange. how lonely. darkness pricks at the corners of his eyes, and he sees a glimpse of nikolai's face, gaze fixated on him. there's this keen awareness: that this could be so much worse. that it should have been, that he expected it to be.

there's a part of his mind, in the throes of panic, that wonders if he'll truly come back. in those final seconds, slow like molasses, memories whisk by -- running through the dying weeds of a barren planet, smiling alongside bonobos; small fingers wound around his hand, a blue haired boy trailing behind him; making it to civilization for the first time, roaming asphalt streets, realizing he was an outlier; all of the faceless girlfriends who stepped in and out of the arena of his life; a brunette little girl who hid in thickets of trees, precious to a version of himself that didn't exist to begin with.

in the end, he still doesn't understand what his friends went through. because this man has chosen mercy, and sha-ming has realized. his friends died under the heel of a boot. they died for having wanted to live at all. nikolai did not want to do this. as the life wheezes out of his body, sha-ming can only come to one conclusion: he's always been a selfish bastard, through and through. ]

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

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hi

welcome to chilli’s

sorry

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CW: finger trauma

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CW Strangulation

cw death