un: 46692

[escardos]

it's almost christmas! how does it feel to be approaching the holidays when nightfall is approaching so quickly? make sure to spend your time wisely, because you might not be here next year you might be three meters underground!

juuuuuuust kidding! but it's a fun thought, isn't it? people celebrating and putting their holiday lights up, almost as if trying to make us unaware of what is coming. they might as well be trying to brainwash us, huh?

i really hope i can buy some new video games-- what are you guys planning?

Comments

[escardos]

Eh?

[ flat can't help but feel a bit uncomfortable when the anger from moriarty fades away, leaving behind something softer that he wasn't used to handling.

he doesn't let that show, however--or at least he thinks so. ]

You're the Professor here, so go ahead!

[escardos]

oh!!! get her pastries!! french sweets are the best, after all-- no one can say no to some!

[strings_theory]

... I dunno if that would stay good on the trip, but that's actually not a fuckin' awful idea.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

...Using magic to force a smile is a bit crude. Those who know what to look for will notice it immediately, after all.

[It's said kindly enough, as he begins to move towards the kitchen.]

[escardos]

oh that's a classic! so basically you're hiding out here before someone finishes the job, huh? that's pretty exciting, in a way!

[ yikes ]

i'm flat! nice to meet you, lia!

1/2

[escardos]

--!

[ no way.

when moriarty says that, the spell breaks with an ease that frightens even flat himself, who covers his face with one of his hands. he's shocked, confused, unable to understand where he went wrong. he had hidden all signs of his magic, no? moriarty was strong, certainly, but there had been no way that he could have picked up on the magic.

so, how?

how? ]

[escardos]

[ like a computer rebooting, it takes a while for flat to get his composure back, with moriarty probably well in the kitchen now. and even then, he's at a loss for what to do.

does he leave? not go to his class unless absolutely necessary? a possible solution, and one that flat wants to entertain the more that he looks at the door he had come from.

however...

he wanted to know how.

how did moriarty see through it?

with none of the feigned energy and confidence that he had before, flat timidly approaches the kitchen. he's no longer smiling of course--it's been so long since his muscles have made a smile on their own, that he has practically forgotten how to do so without his crutch. ]

Sir...?

[escardos]

yep, it'd be a shame if she didn't get to know what it was like. although my experience will probably be different than miach's, so we wouldn't be able to really know until she died as well.

still, i'd prefer if it were just the two of us that did the initial part. you can come in after if miach can't revive me. like i said, i just need my heart to start and we'll be good to go.

[inflictwounds]

I'm afraid I can't allow that. We actually do take the lives of our students seriously, and I'd rather not one have to have blood on their hands because of human curiosity.

[escardos]

what difference does it make? the same blood will be spilled no matter if it's you, her, or i that does it. that's a really weird thing to be hung up over lol!

[inflictwounds]

Killing someone can be surprisingly difficult, and I'd rather you not feel more pain than you need to.

[escardos]

thank you! i did my best to make it interesting!

[escardos]

hahaha

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He's in there, placing cookies and tea on a tray like a good british host - until he sees Flat come in at the corner of his eye, and smiles.]

Yes? Oh, I forgot to ask - is tea fine with you?

[He's casual and light, back to the pleasant professor.]

[escardos]

Tea?

[ flat says it like the gesture is absolutely foreign to him--and it is, somewhat. it's been a long time since someone has even done this much. part of him wonders if it's just out of formality.

he feels bare without his spell. it's uncomfortable, and what he'd like to actually do is turn around and leave, but he pushes on.

he nods. ]

Sure.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Good.

[He notes the way the boy is grasping - that he's uncomfortable and off-kilter, but still staying around.

Admirable.]

Then let's go and sit on the couch, hm?

[escardos]

Mhm.

[ flat feels like he’s walking on thin ice as he makes his way back to the couch. he sits down with his hands neatly placed on top of the other, his eyes looking around the room they were in.

his mouth feels dry and his chest feels short of breath, but he brings himself to ask the question that has plagued him for the past few minutes. ]

I hid all the signs of magic back then. So how... how did you see it, sir? What did I do wrong?

[imitationsoul]

Doubting my ability to kill efficiently is somehow more insulting than doubting my abilities to resurrect.

I do my research.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Ah. So he's asking about that, is he?

Quietly, Moriarty watches him for just a moment before placing his index fingers on his cheeks near his mouth.]

It was the muscles in your face, my dear student. The magic you were using forced them in unnatural ways if you know what to look for - and your smile was perfect in all respects, when that's impossible when naturally smiling.

[He smiles again himself, as if to give an example.]

With how long you were keeping it up, you would expect to see the tiny movements of your facial muscles twitching. And yet - there was nothing.

[Taking a sip of his tea, he laughs.]

It was quite the good effort, however! I'm certain most wouldn't have noticed it.

[escardos]

So I got caught because it was too perfect...?

[ well, that’s a surprise. flat takes the tea in his hands, staring at his own reflection on it. what a strange turn of events, to be seen through so easily. although he’s uncomfortable, there’s a small sense of relief, too.

he takes a sip of his tea, followed by a sigh. ]

What are you going to do now?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

What am I going to do?

[He repeats it with a bit of surprise, before laughing again.]

Nothing, of course. You found a secret of mine, and I found a secret of yours. Thus, we're even!

All I wish to do from here on is teach you.

[escardos]

Oh.

[ that is.... a pleasant surprise, actually. his muscles loosen a tad, letting himself relax just a little in front of the professor. ]

Well, I guess that’s your job as a professor. [ he drinks from his tea again, shrugging. he’s a little surprised that moriarty would take this so seriously, considering all that has to do with the impending doom but otherwise uninterested. school hasn’t been interesting to him in years. ]

So why are you disguised?

[escardos]

you’d think he’d be more concerned about the resurrection part ahahaha☆

[imitationsoul]

People are weird about pain... Avoiding it may be an instinct, but it's been taken to the point where there is basically a social stigma on the experience of pain at all.

Not that I think you'd be in a lot of pain, as stated.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

It is! I've read a bit - it seems you're quite advanced, so I'll have to figure out which class would be the best for you.

[He perks up, looking quite excited at the thought - though he pauses when Flat asks him about the disguise.

....Hm...]

...Ha. Actually, I suppose it just feels...'normal?' Since you've already seen my true face, I suppose I may as well be truthful with you. I am almost 200 years old, and a man living that long in the human world...well, it's impossible. ...Especially if that man doesn't age.

So, the spell that covers me is a way of being able to form a new identity, if need be. I am able to change my face, height, and voice - though my hair and eye color are always unaffected, no matter what I try.

...And since it's turned gray, older disguises seem to fit more readily...along with it matching a bit of my own mental state, I suppose? I've never quite given much thought to it.