(the devil is all in the details of his wording. he never said that atsushi wasn't here, he never said they didn't disappear, he never said atsushi didn't whisper whatever to him - all he said is that this specific event has never happened.
it's great to see that stumped face and the fact that he answered the pop quiz correctly, he looks cutely smug, eyes closing like this wasn't painfully calculated - it was natural, of course he would know!
that tension does not escape him. if gogol can play, so can he? a little hop over the shatters allow him to be right behind the other, hands massaging the man's shoulders perhaps a bit too strongly.)
[ Confusion makes for slower reactions. That's the more palatable reason for it at least. Just as Gogol is going to cut his losses and Overcoat away he's getting grounded by that touch that's got to be strategic— there is it! No Longer Human. He didn't miss it.
The massage is kind of painful. Naturally he's going to start shifting away from it, right? Also away from No Longer Human if he can. One really big step to the side in an attempt to get out of reach. ]
Have you beaten my game? Hmmm? Did you get first place? What did you have to do to survive, Dazai Osamu.
What is this world that you expect me to simply hand you information, so easy, so-- willing! Why don't we exchange? Wanna know what I know? Maybe some crime and some punishment?! Ah, but then, for free?
(of course nikolai wouldn't be so fond of something so restraining, so limiting of what he wishes to do wholly. it doesn't surprise him - but then again, he did give the man a little excuse with how hard he squeezed those muscles.
a little nugget, though? just for funsies? just to see what gogol says? that face was so good to look at.)
[ A chilling cold sweat breaks out under the ruffled collar. A while back the powers that be "gifted" him with the inexact awareness that something would happen that would break his heart more than he would ever want it to. Something that he was actively seeking out before his own arrival here.
There are very few things in the universe that can manage it—so it's truly for that reason alone that Gogol looks apprehensive until he reels it back in. All thanks to the unsubtle ability name drop. What a mess!—he makes the corners of his mouth curl upwards.]
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
[ He bends at the slightly waist and inclines his head to the side. A plainly inquisitive bearing. That's better. ]
You never wanted to give that information up before. What's changed? More importantly— what will you want in return?
(he has to wonder what has happened to nikolai at this place. at home, his gaze so vacant with an arm in hands, and here, that face bounces from apprehensive, nervous, surprised -- to all naturally creepy, as one does. he's into it!
so, he creates the exact same pose, except mirrored.)
Oh, I still really don't! I just want you to know that I have it, and I wanted to see what you'd give for it, for the sake of it!
Oh my, what a offer! What's that? I should offer to tell you anything you'd like to know?
[ It's like hearing the confirmation that Dazai doesn't want to say it is enough to know there would be some lying to his face involved. Gogol straightens back up and produces a loud snap with his fingers.
Ever hear about not negotiating with terrorists? Now, ever heard about not negotiating with terrorists who are really anti-manipulation? Even worse: anti-manipulation terrorist who knows Dazai is a bullshitter? He starts counting it out on his fingers when he says "first of all," kinda implying there's more to say--but he pauses to look at Dazai with lifted eyebrows and a cheeky smile. ]
First of all, that sounds like it doesn't benefit me at all.
(ever heard of " i have a permit i can do what i want"? the smile he gives is so awfully innocent, simply because there's a bit of enjoyment here to be had - gogol did give him the coolest challenge ever that ended up in catastrophe, he's entitled to some fun with it, it's the end of the world, etc.
not that he wants gogol to know at all, with that last part. he might also be in the know - who knows? not him. better idea is to bullshit, a little game of cat and mouse for whatever information the other might spill.)
Oh-kay! Considering how it ended, I thought you'd be more interested, but alright, it can totally die with me, fufufuuuu~ are you widowed or aren't you widowed, what do you think?!
Second of all, huh— ? Oh, I see. You must mean that as a metaphor.
[ I mean, yes, he kind of is the most widow(er)'d person known to man now. If only it was as simple as Dazai thinks it is. Dear Dazai, he is making direct unfaltering eye contact as he so obviously dodges that question in real time. ]
That's a great question. Well! Anyways, I don't want to go along with it unless you're going to be honest and you don't want to tell me. So, here's a totally different game we should play instead. Are you ready? You should ask me what the rules are before I forget to give them to you.
(his fingers dance in the air, up, down, as if he was conducting a melody only them get to hear until he boops gogol on the nose. just a brief taste of the so hated no longer human, with a sprinkle of playfulness to subdue the seriousness of the matter.)
Oh, do tell me the rules! Is it in the rules that I must follow them, though?
[ Sometimes, ever so occasionally, Nikolai knows exactly when a moment requires the gravitas that it deserves. The chuckle he gives when his nose is booped is closed-mouthed, high, and reedy like out of all the people his patience for silliness is wearing threadbare and thin. There's a good reason for it. ]
It's very simple this time. You can even decide if you want to follow it!
(it all comes in the wording. something he would only know from his time here before is broad, but there's so much he can put together, and at the same time, it's so shallow when one looks at it too close.
so, there's a moment where he stops, and just smiles.)
Oh! I don't want to answer at all! It's much more fun to leave you wondering whether I remember or not. It's my pop quiz, Nikolai! You had your own little game, now I'll have mine! It's only fair, isn't it?! Pop quiz! When did you figure out you like me best over your co-patriot?!
(he knows gogol was not the only one who was here, after all. isn't that an answer in itself, that answers nothing at all?)
Who are you talking about? Are you talking about Dos? HAHA, whoops?! Well, this a terrible misunderstanding.
[ Wow that's pretty brazen. Let him respond to it just as brazenly. Like he's an anxious person who has to deliver terrible news he tugs on his frilly collar with the index finger on one hand and fans himself with the other.
But it's clear from the unwavering tone and immediacy of his answer that the very notion that Nikolai doesn't still really like and respect that "co-patriot" kind of offends him a lot more than his question going unanswered. ]
Oh, so you do like me! Glad we are finally got that settled, good for you!
(he can be brazen, dazai won't drop the easy-going act. with someone like gogol, he's sure some of the masks had fallen over the apparently rather long stay he had here previously. he must know this is a layer of bullshit, upon another layer of bullshit, a little layer of this being particularly fun, and another layer of bullshit.)
Well, Nikoniko, who do you think will win this game?
Surely the answer is something like 'of course it's you!' since you refused to answer my totally innocuous question I have no real way to know what's real. So i'm at a disadvantage?!
[ A sneer. The thing is that Dazai can hold him off from finding out for sure if he remembers but he hasn't proven it either. ]
...Is that the answer you wanted to hear? Well, a story actually does get boring if the conclusion is decided ahead of time.
Right, right! That's exactly where I wanted you at! Ah, to the edge of uncertainty?! It's a little payback! Did you know you decided to prison-break me a day before we were going to have my favorite meal? You can't possibly do that to a man!
(the bullshit never ends, gogol. he's not at all sorry. couldn't be.)
Oh, no, I think it'd be interesting if you won. Will you try harder if I cheer you on?
Is that so? My bad~ next time I plan a marvelous plan to extract anyone from a top secret high security detention facility and make them fight to the death I'll keep the meal schedule in mind!
[ Humming and hawing like he cares but it's kind of unclear whether Gogol actually does. He pantomimes out tapping at an invisible watch on his wrist. ]
You make it sound like you don't wanna win! If that's the case go ahead and forfeit right away, 'kay?
Please! You owe me dinner now, do you want to pay now or shall we make a nicer date of it?!
(bitch???? bitch!!!!!!!)
Oh, okay! I will let you know when I decide to forfeit, but wouldn't it be fun if you forfeited first?! I'm solely trying to ignite that twisted mind of yours into working very hard!
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expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
no subject
it's great to see that stumped face and the fact that he answered the pop quiz correctly, he looks cutely smug, eyes closing like this wasn't painfully calculated - it was natural, of course he would know!
that tension does not escape him. if gogol can play, so can he? a little hop over the shatters allow him to be right behind the other, hands massaging the man's shoulders perhaps a bit too strongly.)
Why the long face, are you mad that I'm back?
no subject
[ Confusion makes for slower reactions. That's the more palatable reason for it at least. Just as Gogol is going to cut his losses and Overcoat away he's getting grounded by that touch that's got to be strategic— there is it! No Longer Human. He didn't miss it.
The massage is kind of painful. Naturally he's going to start shifting away from it, right? Also away from No Longer Human if he can. One really big step to the side in an attempt to get out of reach. ]
Have you beaten my game? Hmmm? Did you get first place? What did you have to do to survive, Dazai Osamu.
no subject
(of course nikolai wouldn't be so fond of something so restraining, so limiting of what he wishes to do wholly. it doesn't surprise him - but then again, he did give the man a little excuse with how hard he squeezed those muscles.
a little nugget, though? just for funsies? just to see what gogol says? that face was so good to look at.)
Weren't you used to 'No Longer Human'?
no subject
There are very few things in the universe that can manage it—so it's truly for that reason alone that Gogol looks apprehensive until he reels it back in. All thanks to the unsubtle ability name drop. What a mess!—he makes the corners of his mouth curl upwards.]
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
[ He bends at the slightly waist and inclines his head to the side. A plainly inquisitive bearing. That's better. ]
You never wanted to give that information up before. What's changed? More importantly— what will you want in return?
no subject
so, he creates the exact same pose, except mirrored.)
Oh, I still really don't! I just want you to know that I have it, and I wanted to see what you'd give for it, for the sake of it!
no subject
[ It's like hearing the confirmation that Dazai doesn't want to say it is enough to know there would be some lying to his face involved. Gogol straightens back up and produces a loud snap with his fingers.
Ever hear about not negotiating with terrorists? Now, ever heard about not negotiating with terrorists who are really anti-manipulation? Even worse: anti-manipulation terrorist who knows Dazai is a bullshitter? He starts counting it out on his fingers when he says "first of all," kinda implying there's more to say--but he pauses to look at Dazai with lifted eyebrows and a cheeky smile. ]
First of all, that sounds like it doesn't benefit me at all.
no subject
not that he wants gogol to know at all, with that last part. he might also be in the know - who knows? not him. better idea is to bullshit, a little game of cat and mouse for whatever information the other might spill.)
Oh-kay! Considering how it ended, I thought you'd be more interested, but alright, it can totally die with me, fufufuuuu~ are you widowed or aren't you widowed, what do you think?!
no subject
[ I mean, yes, he kind of is the most widow(er)'d person known to man now. If only it was as simple as Dazai thinks it is. Dear Dazai, he is making direct unfaltering eye contact as he so obviously dodges that question in real time. ]
That's a great question. Well! Anyways, I don't want to go along with it unless you're going to be honest and you don't want to tell me. So, here's a totally different game we should play instead. Are you ready? You should ask me what the rules are before I forget to give them to you.
no subject
Oh, do tell me the rules! Is it in the rules that I must follow them, though?
1/2
It's very simple this time. You can even decide if you want to follow it!
2/2
[ While he gazes on Dazai expectantly there's no light to be found in that scarred eye. This is tread very carefully territory. ]
What's something that you'd only know from your time here before?
no subject
so, there's a moment where he stops, and just smiles.)
Oh! I don't want to answer at all! It's much more fun to leave you wondering whether I remember or not. It's my pop quiz, Nikolai! You had your own little game, now I'll have mine! It's only fair, isn't it?! Pop quiz! When did you figure out you like me best over your co-patriot?!
(he knows gogol was not the only one who was here, after all. isn't that an answer in itself, that answers nothing at all?)
no subject
[ Wow that's pretty brazen. Let him respond to it just as brazenly. Like he's an anxious person who has to deliver terrible news he tugs on his frilly collar with the index finger on one hand and fans himself with the other.
But it's clear from the unwavering tone and immediacy of his answer that the very notion that Nikolai doesn't still really like and respect that "co-patriot" kind of offends him a lot more than his question going unanswered. ]
I don't like you more. That's really impossible!
no subject
(he can be brazen, dazai won't drop the easy-going act. with someone like gogol, he's sure some of the masks had fallen over the apparently rather long stay he had here previously. he must know this is a layer of bullshit, upon another layer of bullshit, a little layer of this being particularly fun, and another layer of bullshit.)
Well, Nikoniko, who do you think will win this game?
no subject
[ A sneer. The thing is that Dazai can hold him off from finding out for sure if he remembers but he hasn't proven it either. ]
...Is that the answer you wanted to hear? Well, a story actually does get boring if the conclusion is decided ahead of time.
no subject
(the bullshit never ends, gogol. he's not at all sorry. couldn't be.)
Oh, no, I think it'd be interesting if you won. Will you try harder if I cheer you on?
no subject
[ Humming and hawing like he cares but it's kind of unclear whether Gogol actually does. He pantomimes out tapping at an invisible watch on his wrist. ]
You make it sound like you don't wanna win! If that's the case go ahead and forfeit right away, 'kay?
no subject
(bitch???? bitch!!!!!!!)
Oh, okay! I will let you know when I decide to forfeit, but wouldn't it be fun if you forfeited first?! I'm solely trying to ignite that twisted mind of yours into working very hard!
no subject
[ A little finger-wag. Wow how devastating. ]
So! If you're trying to swindle me for a free lunch you should actually just ask directly instead.
no subject
(CLOWNS.)