poly_chromatic | four fallen stars

Entry tags:

darker than black - mao

four fallen stars

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[Mao dozes on the floor of Yin's apartment, loling about in a patch of sunlight. If he were still human, being trapped inside because of the snowstorm would have driven him crazy, but as a cat it's easy enough to pass the time sleeping.

He rolls over, and cracks an eye open. Notices that the device is open and on. Stands up, yawns, and strolls over. Lies down on top of it -- not to shut the device, of course. Just because he's a cat and cats do strange things.]

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[She shook her head to Mao's question. Then, without being prompted, supplied a little extra information.] There was an uninformative post on the network. [Nothing else, and other than keeping an eye on him with the camera, she had lost interest in him.]

[Nothing more than that. Good. Mao begins cleaning his left hind leg.]

[ There's a sharp look at Mao -- No grooming on the kitchen counter. Granted, it's Yin's kitchen. But whatever. Details. Hei slips the whole mess of beef and tomatoes sizzling from the pan onto two plates. Stoops to put a few strips in Mao's bowl, before setting the dishes on the table. One for Yin. One for him. Settling down, he begins to eat, ignoring the flatware, using a hand. ]

[ The first bite is hot from the grease. He sucks in air to cool his burning tongue. Focusing on Yin, he asks, ]

What about that Doll from M16? [ July ] Is he still at the Welcome Center? [ In the wrong hands, the boy could quickly become a liability. ]

[Yin, on the other hand, is using a fork, with barely anything on it, and it hasn't even reached her mouth once before Hei's question. She pauses and holds off taking that first bite until she's answered Hei. She starts with a shake of her head.]

He went with Mad Hatter. [At least, that was the name he had used on his latest post. And Yin was certain the person she had spied on had been called Hatter by nir's comrades. So, she even knew the person - the one who had bought her new coat, and the new dress she hadn't worn yet. Seemed safe enough for a young Doll like July.]

[Fuck you, Hei, he'll groom where he pleases. But Hei's just about done cooking, so he jumps off the counter and goes to munch on his food.

Mmmmmmmmm, tasty. He keeps his ears perked forward to listen to their conversation, but doesn't add anything. He has nothing to add.]

[ Mad Hatter? There's a pause in Hei's chewing, almost imperceptible. Then he swallows and pops another strip of beef into his mouth. There's no inflection in his voice, but it's notably clipped. ]

Be careful if he's with Hatter. She's too inquisitive for her own good. If she learns of his ability, it could be trouble for us. [ Considering she's seen through a large extent of 'Li's persona. But he has only his awful temper to blame for that. ]

[Yin doesn't notice the pause, but the sound of his voice is duly noted. It's also good to know Hatter is a she, finally. Information also filed away.]

[Then Hei's warning. Yin nods to it. But she also wonders something....] I have met with Mad Hatter. She bought a dress for me. [Is that going to be a problem? Since it was from this person Hei seems concerned about.]

[Mao's just here, eating and listening. Chekov restored his mind...mostly. Some pieces of information were too corrupted to be saved, though.]

[ Bought her a dress? This time, Hei pauses mid-bite. There's no visible alarm on his face. But under the kitchen lights, his complexion is slightly anemic. ]

When was this?

[ During her shopping trip? What was the extent of their interaction? He wants details. The idea of Yin hanging around that woman doesn't sit well with him. ]

When I shopped for a coat. [Which Hatter bought as well. And another dress.]

[And, unless you ask, Hei, no more details are forthcoming. Yin does give Mao a glance, then attempts to finally eat that bite of hers that's been midair for a while now.]

Problem, Hei?

[ He waits until Yin stops chewing, before interrogating her further. To Mao, he says only, ] Just an irritant. [ The City overflows with them. Some harmless, some virulent. He refocuses on Yin, eyes narrowed, ] Did Hatter say anything strange to you? Did she try anything untoward? [ He ignores the irony that he sounds partways like a concerned parent. None of this is funny. Not to him. ]

[ Hatter's tastes in entertainment are no secret. Yin fits the bill perfectly. ]

[Untoward? Hei is usually serious, but even she can comprehend he's more so than usual. Just what has Hatter done?]

[She shakes her head to Hei's question.] She only paid for things. [Which was strange enough.]

[I don't know, Hei. Mao thinks this is pretty hilarious.]

Are you concerned for her virtue?

[ He shoots Mao a frigorific stare. Oh, you got jokes. ] I've browsed the Network. The Mad Hatter is a deviant and a possible pedophile. [ Her possession of MI6's Doll is tactical disadvantage -- but that's the extent of Hei's concern. Learning she was around Yin fills him with an entirely different, entirely colder disquiet. ]

[ Irrational, yes. But he's human. He can make allowances. ]

Yin. If she speaks with you again, keep your Network device closeby. [ Easier access in case of trouble. He'll be redoubling his own surveillance, just as a precaution. ]

[At hearing this, Yin puts down her fork completely. Pedophile. There's a flicker, a brief, mere grain of discomfort thinking July was to stay with someone like that. Hei won't be the only one surveying more often.]

[To Hei's words, she nods her head. And yet:] The two times I've spoken with her nothing has been strange. [She knows Hei likely won't be soothed with her words, but they are the facts.]

[At this rate, Mao will be the only one to not care. A child staying with a pedophile -- he understands why this is a "bad" thing, that July very likely is not safe. But what does that have to do with him? It doesn't affect his safety in any way. Whatever happens or doesn't happen to July doesn't affect Mao at all. Yin's safety is of greater importance, but that's not saying much either. They're both dolls. Yin's value is in how she affects the material comfort of his life, nothing more. (That she has any affect on his life isn't a sign of affection; it's just a fact.)]

[ A few years ago, Hei would've shared Mao's mindset about Yin. Her safety often correlated directly to the safety of his whole team or operation (Her memory isn't bad, she knows all about us Huang had once said. ) To compromise her well-being was to endanger his own survival. But it's always been more than that for Hei. It doesn't show on his face, but the idea of her being harmed sparks something in him. ]

[ It's not rage, but it's close -- a cold black simmer. ]

[ He absorbs Yin's words without expression. It would be a redundancy to tell her not every monster (unlike those batshit vampires he sees on the Network) broadcasts its fangs. She should know that. They're in the business of liars. The man who cooked her lunch is living, breathing proof. ]

Next time she speaks to you, I'll decide that.

[ He doesn't know if Hatter's attentions are harmless or malicious. But he won't throw caution to the wind. Not where Yin's concerned. ]

[She knows. And while Hatter is likely not safe - Hei's tone says so - Yin is fairly certain Hatter is not a danger to her. At least not now. Still, one never knows when that might change.]

[Hei's word is the final word on the matter, this time. Yin nods her head in agreement, then, once again, picks up her fork for a small bite of food.]

[And Mao will just keep eating his food. Kitty dun care.]

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four fallen stars

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