letsplaysurgeon | Case 002 [Action/Written]

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Case 002 [Action/Written]

[There is a vase of snow white orchids sitting on the table. Muraki sits back with his hands folded and considers it for a long time in silence, until seconds taper into minutes, and then an indeterminable amount of time. It wasn't a Valentine's gift from someone, because he personally picked them up from the flower store to bring some grace to his apartment. Perhaps he got them because the person they would've been for wasn't in this limbo, and he was a man of habit. He needs a physical manifestation of his thoughts.

Extracting a flower from the cluster, he brings it to his nose and inhales the soft fragrance. A thoughtful expression crosses his features, and then he frowns.

Such sentimentality always leaves him feeling sticky.]

I thought some of you might be interested in the health benefits of chocolate. It contains a naturally-occurring compound known as flavonol, which acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants, by the way, assist in preventing diseases. If it hasn't been overly processed, dark chocolate in particular contains a large amount of these antioxidants, and a small bar a day can be good for your heart. It contains serotonin and stimulates the production of endorphins, which give a feeling of pleasure. Some studies have even indicated there is a link between the consumption of chocolate and the lessening of pain.

[A slow smirk forms on his lips as he rereads his post, finding his own rambling amusing as he finishes his thought.] ...To make a long story short, a little indulgence won't kill you. Just be sure to limit your intake to a reasonable amount today.

[OOC: ~~Trafalgar Law and his fantastic pimp hat get first comment, and then it's open season~~. Tag away!]

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[The question is has he met you? He certainly hasn't had a written conversation with you before, or he would've recognized the handwriting. And the medical jargon delivered with such practiced ease. He finds himself trying to imagine the voice of the person behind the pen, and hopes it's as smooth as your penmanship.

He's only met one other doctor since he arrived: a young surgeon that he encountered in the woods. But that aforementioned man told him there were other doctors in Luceti; he imagined there were scientists as well. It could've been anyone.]

Do you now? I'll have to agree with you. [With the notion that chocolate was too sweet nowadays. He doesn't really like the flavor of spices either. Perhaps some sliced ginger between bites of sushi to cleanse the palate, but nothing that overpowered his food.] Where I come from, women buy chocolates for their bosses, co-workers and other men that they have no romantic interest in--it's called 'obligation chocolate.' Unfortunately this has made me lose my taste for it, as I end up with more than I wish for.

[And he matches your mischief with a little ambiguity.] Perhaps I am.

[Oh, you're going to make this difficult, are you?] How rude of me. Muraki Kazutaka.

[Oh, not overpowering spice. That ruins things. Law likes his flavors clean for the most part, and anything added has to complement. But for chocolate... there's an exception. There needs to be some complexity. Something to chase.]

[He just imagines being surrounded by piles of the stuff. Ugh.] An obligation, huh? I certainly see why you would lose your taste for it. Things are better savoured when they are freely given. Or, [A smile plays over his own lips, just a little.] eventually won.

[We see your ambiguity there. How about a little more teasing to raise the stakes?] Perhaps one day you'll have to give out a few lessons. There are a lot of lonely bachelors in Luceti that could benefit from such advice.

[Damn straight he's going to make this difficult, Muraki. It's no fun if it's too easy.

(... and you are not what you seem. And though it's been far too long since he's felt this kind of fire and desire beginning to stir in his veins, a little part of him will never forget it... not even now... even with these seeming games about to kick off between them)]

A pleasure, Mister Muraki. You were right. We meet again, it seems.

Trafalgar Law.

[He chuckles aloud in the silence of his apartment, rich and genuine. How would that even work? It wasn’t like giving a medical lecture. Was he to stand in front of an audience of note-taking singles explaining how to corner and touch? Would he be expected to draw sensual diagrams? Bring visual aids? Was there going to be a quiz after this hypothetical seminar?] I'm afraid I'm only a man of practice. I don't give lessons.

[He taps the tip of the pen against the journal a few times, thinking.]

...Why? Are you interested?

[The realization settles in the pit of his stomach as soon as he dots the question mark: he was interested in this person, and he doesn’t know what to make of that. This entire conversation was reminiscent of being in an online chat room, which never appealed to him—the same goes for phone sex. He needs to see someone’s body before his blood boils.

But he already knows you, Trafalgar Law.

He rethinks the conversation with this new sensory information to make it seem less anonymous. At least he was right about your voice.

But he also remembers your eyes, and the distrust that lurked behind them. Normally he didn’t encounter such cold eyes until after he revealed himself. It was almost discouraging.

But suspicion was better than hatred. Though he decides vaguely that he can work with both.]

What a surprise, I wasn’t expecting our paths to cross so soon. It's good to speak with you again, Mr. Law. How have you been?

Edited 2011-02-17 05:36 (UTC)

[Oh there are other ways to teach, and have been so since time immemorial. Not from the lecture hall, no... some things can't be taught so clinically. Starting with leading by example. Doing - with the knowing hand of someone more experienced guiding every step.

He frowns at the thought of some of the people who had been his mentors in this way. Smiles at one or two. He's learned how to teach quite well.]

What makes you think so? [He smirks.] Besides, as you said, you don't teach. Makes the point moot, no?

[Things like gender and physicality don't particularly matter to him. Law's figured he's interest-sexual... that there has to be a particular intriguing combination of traits present to engage him before other things click... before he begins to burn. But here? Such a sudden onset? With you?

(... he remembers the woods well... this doesn't happen like this... few times that it has... this is surprising... his reactions are surprising... but he can't deny them... and he remember how you looked at him when he was examining that kimono... and he wonders...)

He needs to probe this. He needs to figure this out. He needs to know you a bit more before he proceeds to try and win you. And he knows just how to go about it.]

Quite well, Mister Muraki. [Well enough physically, anyway. Bepo is still missing, and he will not admit the ever mounting worry that comes with each day the Malnosso have him in their clutches. Nakama is not a concept people here well understand for the most part.] I've been keeping busy.

And yourself?

[He shuts his eyes for a second, wearing a lazy smile as he shifts to get more comfortable in his seat.]

I suppose it does. [He could’ve said a variety of things to keep the intriguing banter going. That he would make an exception to his rule just this once—or what he had in mind wasn’t a lesson. Not a traditional lesson anyway, with notebooks and endless tedium, but rather something a little more demonstrational and amusing. He wonders how you might’ve reacted to a blatant proposition, and he’s a little sorry to cut his prospects short...

But it was far too early in the relationship for that.] I wouldn't want to contradict myself, would I?

[Muraki had the same amount of interest in sexual brackets as he did for the universal definitions of wrong and right and how they applied to him. He was above orientation. This natural fluidity fascinated him, ran through him, and helped him understand something precious to his nature. Biological sex, gender, sexuality, none of it mattered. All he saw was beauty and appealing character points.

Besides, all blood tastes the same to a vampire, doesn’t it?

It happened that way with Tsuzuki, who isn’t even human and captured his heart as a young boy. Funny, that was how he felt now: seized. It wasn’t completely sudden, since he noticed you before in the clothing shop. But that spark of interest seems to have been put under a microscope and magnified.

He might have to find you just to ask you what you did, Law. Methylxanthine wasn’t that exciting.]

I’ve been well, thank you. I’ve settled into an apartment and have obtained some semblance of a normal life. For the most part.

Edited 2011-02-17 08:58 (UTC)

[Aaa... but can't you tell already? That he won't just 'put out'. That he won't 'submit'. He's a far different beast than the folk you usually pursue, and what was it they say about things like tigers? Be careful hunting them, because they might hunt you in turn.

Sex is not an idle thing and not lightly given, no matter how his blood burns.

... but it's far, far too early to discuss such things, yes.]

No. No, I would suppose not. [But, ohoho, you're thinking it. Law knows. He lounges, sprawled over his couch comfortably and considers what he's going to say. He taps his pen against his lips thoughtfully.] Well, those lonely suitors will have to make do somehow.

[Does it? Law wouldn't know. He is not a vampire... not a predator of that nature. He may be inclined to hunt in certain cases, but he also takes only what is truly willingly offered. Because anything else isn't winning. Anything else isn't honorable. Anything else isn't... right.

Force is not an option.

But seized is a good word for it. A very good word for what he's feeling.

Oh? And what does he get to find out about you in turn?]

I hope the building's nice. You can get a lot of variety here, especially with your potential neighbours. Have you met any of them?

[If he were worried about tigers, he wouldn't hunt shinigami. He tracked Tsuzuki down, he even cornered him after their poker game, putting his own body at risk for a chance to touch his: he never forgot that Tsuzuki was terrifying to his own kind. If his attraction had a death wish now, he was used to the feeling. Perhaps a small part of him even enjoyed it.

What was it you said earlier about there being no fun in the simple?]

They will make do. There are far worse conditions than being single.

You have such concern for the solitary men in the world. Are you merely speaking from the goodness of your heart? [Do you bleed for others?] ...Or do you have a personal stake in it?

[Which just might be his way of asking if you're single. He's sure as hell not going to degrade himself by asking obvious, pointed questions about your girlfriend/boyfriend/life partner/whatever.

And as for what you will find out about him in exchange...you'll just have to find out. But he'll try to make it fair.]

I believe a young woman lives on the same floor as me, but I haven't had the opportunity to meet her, or any of my neighbors. I suppose I've been rather antisocial. And your neighbors?

Edited 2011-02-18 05:40 (UTC)

[Now, now, he said there was no fun in the easy (of course there are exceptions - there always are).

Do you want this to be easy, Muraki?]

There certainly are.

A stake? Aa, but I'm quite content. [And really, he is right now. Good banter, and possibly better things to come. And a comfortable couch. Do note he isn't saying he's taken, however.] It's just a pity that so many men have no idea to approach the situation when it comes to such matters. Today makes it very evident.

[Bleed? Hardly. Not anymore. Risk his life? Sometimes...]

There is a man who lives below me, [By two floors.] and I know him and some of my other neighbours passably. Friendly folk for the most part and pleasant to live by.

[Not too easy, or else he might be disappointed--somewhat. After everything said and implied, he wonders if you just might be the type to make things fun.]

I'm afraid I haven't been paying much attention to the journal system this morning. I was out. [His attention briefly returns to the orchids on the table, but he doesn't miss the fact that you didn't mention being involved with anyone. That was promising, to say the least.] Have they been making fools of themselves?

That's a relief: it would be unfortunate if you had to deal with bad neighbors. And might I be so bold as to ask where you live? [It wasn't an ominous question, really. He was just making conversation. And if the conversation happens to suit his interests, then that was just the paper umbrella topping off the banana daiquiri.]

Edited 2011-02-19 00:42 (UTC)

[Oh, trust him, he'll make things fun.]

Let's just say it's been a very entertaining morning.

[Very, very entertaining. Law hasn't felt this much amusement since Bepo's disapperance.

The journals can be wonderful things sometimes.

Sometimes.]

Why so curious? [Can't you just feel the teasing?] Are you planning to drop in for a visit, Mister Muraki? I didn't realise I warranted the attention.

Besides. Such things? Are better told in person.

[Come now... not on the first date, Muraki.]

[He starts to write something to the extent of asking you what you meant by 'entertaining,' but then decides he doesn't really care. At least not enough to encourage this written conversation to continue into the lazy hours of the afternoon. It was nothing short of delightful so far, but it was still words on a page. Eventually he was going to need to switch to something more substantial.]

And I wasn't aware that you were so modest. [And that would be adorable, if it was real.] I don't believe it suits you. A man such as yourself should be more self-assured.

[Yet another carefully-concealed, genteel compliment. If you weren't worth the attention, he wouldn't bother. He has a very limited amount of patience for things that don't appeal to him.

And a slow smirk crawls up his features at the last line.] Oh? Do you want to see my face, Mr. Law? I'm afraid I don't do video. You'll understand if I don't particularly like the idea of my image being streamed from my living room for the entire world to see. Or I might've gone into television. [And probably escaped the grief and emotional torture that being a doctor brought him.]

Edited 2011-02-19 04:28 (UTC)

I see nothing wrong with a little modesty. [He is modest, in his own way. Which has nothing to do with his confidence or self assurance in his abilities.] But I'm flattered that you think so.

So I've noticed. [Again the pen taps at his lips a few times.] But. That's not quite what I meant.

[He meant meet you in person. At a time when you least expect it.]

... till later, Mister Muraki.

[Journal close.

What was it they always say?

Oh yes.

... leave them wanting more.

Do you want more?]

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