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( there's the barest of pauses after that very blunt declaration, takasugi doing his best not to bump his shoulder back into hugo as the disappointed corners of his mouth immediately tug into childish excitement. but just enough excitement. if too much rushes through him right now, he's bound to alert the whole neighborhood. )

That thing with your eyes, though? Consider me impressed. I'm into it. If I didn't have an ability like that of my own, ( that he can't use right now... thanks, anklet ) I would be begging Patho-Gen to embed something that cool in me, torture be damned.

( he's not going to ask how hugo acquired it though, because... well. it's a touch-and-go topic, right? )

[ Hugo takes a sip of his drink with a neutral hum. He could get into his background, since at this point, he doesn’t keep it that much of a secret, but. As he mulls over how to start, Takasugi points out that his glamor had faltered, and that’s more distracting. ]

Ah… Well, sorry to disappoint, then. The eyes are unrelated.

[ More or less, anyways. He doesn’t miss the irony that he’s more hesitant to explain the nature of his Soul than he is to admit that he’s a professional thief. ]

It’s just my glamor slipping. It’s a bit harder to keep up the concentration for it when I’m… using another Spectral power, I suppose is how to put it.

[ And then, pointedly: ]

And please don’t submit yourself to Patho-Gen, for what it’s worth. Whatever they’d give you isn’t trustworthy, you know that, right?

Edited 2025-11-22 20:15 (UTC)

( just a little disappointing to hear. a little.

but what hugo says next gets that stupid smile of his to acquiesce into something more genuine, the bloom of it a soft shape on canvas. )

You're right. Maybe I'm just used to being expendable in a sense, but. With all those who are counting on me in this world, I shouldn't be trying to throw myself in harm's way quite so easily anymore.

( he should've kept their arms locked for the hell of it and swung them. an opportunity lost. he adjusts the )

Though whether they're trustworthy or not doesn't really matter at this point. Being thrown into this world and experimented on from the start didn’t exactly build faith in anyone, I'm sure, and sometimes you just have to grin and bear it and collaborate with those you normally wouldn't give the time of day, right? That's just strategy.

Well, I can’t disagree on that concept of strategy… But I also think it’s rather different to collaborate with people who are personally distasteful compared to those that would readily gut you. Or worse.

[ Even if he dips into the extremes of the scale by the end, it’s clear from his tone that he’s at least used to the former. Takasugi’s guess that Hugo has led an interesting life is spot-on. However, before he gets a moment to maybe ask about that, Hugo looks down to check out that anklet. ]

This is new, though. Is this Karteria’s version of an ankle monitor? It’s cuter than the what I'd see at home. [ He’s just saying, ] I take it this is part of your punishment for that little riot?

Mmh. When my adrenaline spikes, it should start beeping. A full minute will render me unconscious. I'm surprised it didn't go off the minute you pressed lips to me. Maybe because you're not my type?

( just a funny joke. a funny joke where takasugi is glancing away, seemingly distracted by his own thoughts. )

Killing someone can be done in cold blood, of course, so I don't see the point. But the rise a riot got out of me could certainly make it spike again out of nowhere. Now you've got me curious, though. How would they render you useless where you're from?

[ …This guy is such a little shit, he swears??? But two can play at this game, since Hugo hums appraisingly and nods. ]

No, that’s fair, since I could say the same. I prefer bigger men, honestly.

[ He says, just to be a little shit too… It’s not exactly true, but it’s not like it matters. He hadn’t missed that Takasugi had half-said that he was taken, so! ]

[ So, he doesn’t exactly like that explanation of how this works. It’s another thing to keep in mind about how Patho-Gen is keeping them under their thumb. He does wonder if it would even work for Spectrals, considering, but… He’s not planning on finding out. ]

How long do you have it for? Indefinitely?

[ He asks, but he does pause to turn to a server as they come by. He asks for another round, buying a drink for Takasugi too if he’s so inclined. After the interruption, he gets back to the question. ]

…And with how you phrased that, I feel like you’ll be disappointed by my answer. It’s just handcuffs back home?

[ Like, despite appearances, Hugo is a Normal Dude™, and most residents of New Eridu are equally normal. Though after a thoughtful noise, he adds: ]

And a muzzle if you’re the type of Thiren that bites, I suppose.

[ Something that he pointedly doesn’t think too hard on, but the way he finishes off the last swig of his wine isn’t a coincidence. ]

( bigger in what way... but, their tastes run similar. duly noted. )

( (un?)fortunately, it doesn't seem like the quip back affects him at all; any contention just slides off him like water might off a duck's back, takasugi almost seeming to sigh at his apparent misfortune before the examples hugo gives brings a dim light back into the hollow of those salmon-pinks of his. he taps a claw lightly against the glass, smirking. )

A muzzle, what... for beasts? There's beastpeople in your world and you never told me?

( he never asked. )

But until my behavior improves, surely. Maybe it'll take a week, or two weeks, and... well, I wasn't exactly doing anything "wrong" before I ran into you. It's just principle and my past actions that have them keeping an eye on me more carefully, I'm sure. More importantly, it's made me really start to realize just how much of this city is staffed by Patho-Gen. The roots of their network run so deeply that it might not even be feasible to rip them out of the ground, and...

( there's a pause, because ah... this isn't the sort of thing he should talk about in public on this restaurant corner. on the takasugi breathes out through his nose, knowing that taking these precautions can make life a bit dull, even if he gets why they're necessary. there were plenty of times in life when he was on the run from authorities trying to throw him behind wooden bars again. hmm. what to do, then... is a thought he has until he raises a soot-black hand, palm up. )

Hold my hand to make this more authentic. I didn't forget me saying I'd imprint with you to help you, by the way.

Edited (i lost track of where they are wtf. improvises) 2025-11-25 21:02 (UTC)

There are. I didn’t mention it because it hasn’t really come up. New Eridu is just more diverse in the types of people that exist, I suppose? It’s just as ordinary to see a human as it is to see someone like me— [ He gestures to his ears to signal what he means, then towards Takasugi. ] —and like you.

[ So, no wonder Hugo doesn’t seem to be terribly bothered. Most of the Augmented fall into categories that he’d readily call “Thiren”, so it’s nothing he so much bats an eye at. It’s why he’d flicked his ear, since being familiar with Thiren also means uniquely knowing how to annoy them.

(Well, mostly. The last person he’d pulled that on had been a wolf, but it’s still similarly irritating enough.)

As Takasugi explains his own situation, Hugo mutters an “ah” that sounds a little apologetic. Maybe he’d made it worse without meaning to, but hopefully the men he sent on their way won’t remember too much about this… He hasn’t exactly tested those limits. Perhaps he should. ]

I see. I’d offer to take a look at it, but I imagine that would just get you in more trouble. It probably doesn’t have a lock I can pick anyways, I assume, but still.

[ There’s a tiny twinge of hesitation, since who Hugo actually is versus an act he can put on is starkly different, but he still puts his hand in Takasugi’s, even if it comes with a little apology. ]

…Apologies about the cold.

[ Since, indeed, Hugo’s skin is too-cool to the touch. His glamor can only create visual illusions, so it doesn’t hide the temperature or the strange feeling of his ethereal skin. Even beyond the Spectrals’ lack of warmth because of their deaths, Hugo runs a smidge cooler than even that. It’s not so extreme that it’s unpleasant, but it’s probably unexpected. ]

( it is. all the hands he's held up to this point have been warmer than his, where takasugi tends to run cold despite his obnoxiously friendly behavior. even now, the cool air lingers on his fingertips, providing little warmth to a companion whose life had been brought back in such a harsh and sudden way. as if to show approval, he squeezes lightly.

but really, all the cold might do is make takasugi seem smaller. the wide shoulders of his jacket aren't actually as filled when up close, his body thin and skin paper-smooth. )

It's no problem.

( it really isn't. the imprint will do its job with time, working more warmth into their hands than takasugi can provide, even if he smiles lightly and without canines. )

Picking locks, though. Hmm. Talk about a useful skill to have, and way less obvious than just blowing the door right off the hinge. Right.

( those dim pinks of his start to stir with stars, takasugi's gaze drifting off before he lifts his other hand to try tapping the bottom of hugo's glass upwards. )

Why don't we put that to use right now? Down the rest of your drink.

[ That squeeze is more reassuring than Hugo expects. He laughs a little as he looks at their hands, though it’s quiet and understated. He’s flighty and insincere when it comes to physical affection, but it’s the odd thing about his new condition. Even Takasugi’s understated warmth still feels nice.

So, he’s very much glad that Takasugi latches onto that casual comment. He can’t say he did it intentionally, but he’s certainly glad it opened up a different conversation. And trouble, clearly. ]

You’re potentially doubling down on the trouble you’re in, you know. B&E after your stunt might just make our generous benefactors more upset~.

[ That “generous” is dripping with sarcasm, though. That distaste and a little thrill-seeking curiosity is enough for Hugo to shrug as he obediently finishes off his drink, and surprisingly without complaint. He’s not a thief for purely ideological reasons, after all. It’s also just fun. ]

You’re lucky I enjoy showing off more than drinking.

[ Like, demanding much… But he picks up his familiar silver briefcase with his other hand as he heads towards the door. They’re turning some heads with how quickly Takasugi had come and then collected Hugo, even though no one knows the real reason why, but Hugo also can’t resist when it comes to making an alibi, even if it’s salacious. He tosses a coy, knowing wink to the bartender as he heads out while holding Takasugi’s hand. ]

That's right. I am lucky. Lucky enough to make the Seven Gods of Fortune in my world seethe in absolute jealousy over my sudden upswing.

( not one to dodge a compliment, takasugi takes it in stride wholeheartedly.

he gives a small tilt of head to the bartender himself as they leave, red tail swishing across cold pavement of the street once they exit. it's colder out here, and... oops. hugo's right in reminding him subtly that he ought to temper his emotions a bit better, takasugi exhaling a small puff of visible air as he works to come down from his building excitement. there's no sense in alerting everyone around them after he'd expended the effort and someone else's helping hand in ensuring he was free from scrutiny.

well. scrutiny from coated patho-gen agents, at least. a carnivora still gets pointed looks, albeit with hugo in tow, less of the populace shy away so blatantly )

Anyway. Your lock-picking skill.

( ? )

What would you say to helping me unlock the cage to the electricity meter on my street? I could use the extra charge.

( ?? )

[ Hugo huffs out a slightly disbelieving laugh at all of that, though as they step out into the chilly air, he sees that little sign of it from Takasugi. ]

Ah. Right…

[ He wouldn’t call it an advantage, exactly, but it’s true enough that the cold doesn’t bother him. So, without even really thinking about it, he pulls the scarf that’s fashionably draped over his neck and shoulders and puts it around Takasugi instead without asking. There’s not really any need, in his opinion, since it’s not like it does anything for him. He gets more warmth from Takasugi’s hand, honestly.

Hugo raises a quizzical eyebrow as he gets to his point, but it quickly becomes a genuine confusion when he gets to his request. He can’t say that he had much of a guess at what Takasugi would want, sure, but this wasn’t even a possibility. ]

…The extra charge?

[ Is he a fox that eats electricity? Is that a thing…? ]

I mean, yes, that should be trivial. But why?

The power in my row-house tends to cut out on occasion. Maybe for the fact that I'm busy...

( waves a hand casually. )

—you know, running experiments that cause it to flicker off for a few hours every couple of weeks. If we tamper with the lines, we can boost the power specifically to my house, so I won't have to rely on drying everyone out.

( a sound-proof plan, right? right. his gaze flits away... and then back. )

It might be pretty illegal.

Ah.

[ Yet, surprising, that’s an “ah” that implies familiarity?? Now, he hadn’t exactly helped Phatheon with their energy bill besides buying out the store for a week, but. Naturally he’d done his due diligence before approaching them, and it was easy to see their frankly insane power needs. He might be wrong (hilariously and coincidentally, he isn’t), but he can easily imagine something similar. ]

It'll be very illegal, unless the laws here are drastically and very surprisingly different. Yet, luckily for you, I don’t particularly care.

[ He says it with an easy smile, like it’s just a casual conversation. It basically is, since he’s already mentioned his lockpicking prowess, so. The implication that Hugo lies on the other side of the law is clear at this point. ]

Of course, you’ll have to handle all of the electrical work. I don’t have any skill with that beyond home renovation.

Not to worry. I have a special tool that'll help us on that front.

( there's no pressure that lingers from his vagueness. it's simply more interesting to show than tell, and as they walk and the cold air gets even chillier, frost clinging to every ornate black-painted metal gate and streetlight, it makes their steps look almost sleek. takasugi doesn't show any signs of that harrowing night from months ago in his outward demeanor, a red ear flicking lightly as a white flake from above trickles down and rests upon his fur. then again...

that bangle around his ankle tells a different story in the eyes of patho-gen. )

Still, you're pretty agreeable. Are you just that bored, or are you actually starting to like me and my ideas? It's not all luck, running into you, I'll admit. I spotted you from a distance and chose to approach you on purpose. In this world where we can hardly trust each other, let alone our benefactors...

( that normally elevated voice of his evens out for a moment, serious. he swings their hands forward lightly in an attempt to be playful, watching the street far ahead. )

Well. Maybe I'm just feeling sentimental with the change in the weather.

[ Hugo makes a curious noise, a little “oh?” of interest, but he doesn’t press on it. In fact, if anything, he seems to be of a similar mind when it comes to just seeing what the trick is. After all, he’ll be showing off a bit when it comes to his lockpicking skills, so it’s only fair that Takasugi can surprise him with something similar, right?

Though as Takasugi points out how odd this is, there’s a familiar twist inside him. He feels this guilt as a heaviness in his chest—the sensation of water that won’t leave—because of course this has to be bizarre to Takasugi. Hugo is too at ease when it comes to spending time with his once-murderer. He wish he could say that this comes from some sense of atonement, like it’s an apology that he can’t admit. But it’s not like he loathes Silco for being the one to actually finish him off.

His easy smile stays in place. He even laughs at the playfulness of swinging their arms, and he relaxes to allow it. The fact that he holds Takasugi’s hand a little more tightly is just to keep it secure with the swing, surely. ]

Like I said. I like showing off~.

[ His reply is playful, and it’s perfectly true. You don’t get the moniker of “phantom thief” without being a showoff… ]

…But I do like your ideas, yes. Raiding Patho-Gen was the right move at the time, despite the consequences. And some of our recent security upgrades on the Syntrofos are thanks to you, right?

[ He doesn’t wait for an answer, though. He doesn’t need to confirm it one way or the other for his point. ]

I trust Augmented far more than our benefactors, to put it simply.

That obvious to those who know me, huh? That's fine. Fine until it becomes a problem later down the road, but that's for future Takasugi Shinsaku to deal with. I'll just have to think of a way to make it even better, one that'll wow the whole of us for how ingenious the protection methods are. ... Ah. My house is still a ways off in Gloria, by the way. We can either do this now or later.

( pointing that-a-way in the distance, the black cobblestone of the streets growing uneven the farther one gets from the haunts of the city that tend to run more middle-class. )

A bit, but I’m good at keeping secrets. Don’t worry~.

[ Granted, he doesn’t think Takasugi is too worried about that, and that’s in two respects. For one, if it was that secret, he wouldn’t have admitted it just now. But two, he’s already proven that, hasn’t he? He’s kept that terrible night a secret, even if some of those reasons were selfish and shameful.

But now, he just laughs good-naturedly. It’s like that night hadn’t happened at all. ]

But really? You already dragged me away from my drink, so I’m committed to this! It’d be silly to go wander back there, and I’m not going to hop to another, so… An evening’s walk it is.

Exactly what I want to hear.

( a brisk evening walk.

the sky continues to sprinkle with the beginnings of snow, everything coalescing and burning on the way down to form thin puddles on the pavement. the chill isn't chilly enough for it to stick, but it's just chilly enough for it to ice over, and when they arrive closer to the downtrodden area that takasugi still lives in, they had best be careful.

the electric box he mentioned is situated in a little alleyway between the rowhouses, encased in padlock and a gate to keep it secure. once they arrive, he playfully threads his fingers through the diamond-mesh wire and excitedly points at what's inside, his tail sweeping behind him with anticipation. don't worry about how tight a fit it is. )

[ As soon as they approach, Hugo makes a light, appraising noise, but it’s clearly positive. ]

Yes, that’s no problem at all.

[ But it becomes a familiar dance from older days. Hugo slips into Takasugi’s personal space to run his hand along his jawbone in a flirtatious way, but his other hand is occupied by reaching into an inner pocket of his jacket. The momentum naturally carries them so that Hugo ends up with his back against the fence, and Takasugi’s fluffy form blocks more space from onlookers. Hugo’s voice is barely a whisper, which is naturally warm and seductive, but his tone is more no-nonsense. ]

Just play along while I work. The people here are prudes enough that any passerbys won’t look.

[ And indeed, from the outside perspective, this looks like an amorous moment and very much worth averting eyes… But Hugo gets to work swiftly. His hands are behind his back as he works on the gate, but it won’t take him more than a few seconds to pop the lock.

Apparently, he is indeed as skilled as he boasted. ]

( truth be told, takasugi is the one who started it.

a seductive come-hither motion or two from his perspective is easy to blink away, and so is a hand against his jaw, but in a space that barely has any room between the two of them for as lithe as they are, it makes him wobble a hand behind him for support as he leans back. like, hold it. he's supposed to be the strikingly handsome one who intimidates people with his playful come-ons, okay? it almost makes him feel a little self-conscious for once, brows folding together briefly before they shoot right up in surprise at how deftly hugo plays him in the alley to make him move.

well. right before his fur starts to prickle visibly, a hint of something red on the curve of his cheek. )

Give someone a heads-up before you start manhandling them, would you?

( that way he can prepare his heart for next time.

he's surprisingly obedient, though, letting his tail block the way before dismissively motioning with a hand for hugo to move. )

[ Hugo’s eyebrows raise a little bit as he notices that (very cute!) little flush on Takasugi’s cheeks, but he at least resists the very strong urge to tease him. It’s still visible in his expression—an unsaid question of “oh, how the tables have turned”—but that coyness suits the act that Hugo has set up here. ]

Sure. If you expect we might be doing this again, I’ll even come up with code words~.

[ …Which probably sounds like teasing, but it isn’t. It’s exactly how he worked with any member of Mockingbird, and it’s a small part of why their operation worked so well. A single phrase was all it took to slip into a role.

Yet, impressively, that little retort is all it takes for a satisfying little click to follow. Hugo withdraws his hands from behind his back, deftly folding his tools up with one hand, and spinning the padlock ones around his index finger with the other. Even for someone with experience with picking locks, it would still be remarkably skilled and deft work.

He slips slightly to the side to give Takasugi more access, since this is where he takes over, but he still stays close. Partially because there’s not much of a choice, naturally, but also to continue to block the view in whatever way he can as they switch spots. ]

I can keep watch, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to see you work.

Like I'd let you miss out on the chance to see me work my magic, especially after everything we've been through tonight. Not to worry. What you're about to witness is more interesting than half of what this city can accomplish, let alone a feat almost no one has been witness to.

( confident, are we?

takasugi shoots a hand up dramatically to his face, two fingers angling in a 'v' spread along the one eye that always remains visible. )

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