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capeandcowllogs2010-04-21 03:01 am
prodigitalson.livejournal.com) wrote in capeandcowllogs2010-04-21 03:01 am
Entry tags:
you might call him cruel
WHO: Keith Anyan (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
motherloaded) and Jonah Matsuka (coffeematsuka).
WHERE: Near the M.A.C.
WHEN: April 20th, late night.
WARNINGS: Standard "Keith is an abusive bastard to Matsuka" disclaimer.
SUMMARY: Keith makes sure he's the first to greet Matsuka in the City.
FORMAT: Prose (finished).
It's dark out by now, but even so, Keith's form outside the elegant white building that is the Metahuman Apartment Complex--sorry, "the M.A.C."--is clearly visible. He's put his military jacket back on, noticeability be damned. He's not going to greet Matsuka out of uniform, looking that vulnerable. For now, he stands straight and tall just outside the building's entrance, a dark form silhouetted in the lamplight against its pale walls.
It's definitely him. He isn't smiling, either, so it's really him.
* * *
It's not hard to notice Matsuka coming, even in this light - he of course is wearing his own uniform, since that's what he arrived in, and even if he weren't the pale hair and that anxious gait are unmistakable. With the communicator still in his hand from using it to pull up the directions, he hurries along, pausing for a moment as he comes within sight of the building to look around briefly, and then breaking into a jog when he catches sight of Keith.
* * *
Naturally, Keith waits until Matsuka has almost reached him to so much as lift a finger. Until Matsuka reaches the pool of light cast by the lamp that illuminates the M.A.C., Keith stands still as a statue. Only once Matsuka has made it that far does Keith move, falling into step beside him--and still walking, heading toward the nearby park. In the middle of the night. He's not particularly worried, mind you. But still, how nice to know he hasn't changed. "There's something to see before you go to your apartment."
* * *
He looks a little confused at the change of direction, but Matsuka keeps pace with Keith without complaint, following his lead toward the park. He steals a few worried glances sidelong as he goes, trying almost reflexively to read any hints as to Keith's state of mind - never an easy task.
"What is it?" he ventures to ask, presently, with a quick glance around him as though in search of some landmark that Keith is leading the way towards.
* * *
Keith seems as calm and reserved as ever. In fact, he's more so--Matsuka's arrival is actually reassuring to him, although the idea of admitting it is absurd. It would encourage the wrong sort of response in Matsuka, encourage closeness and sympathy rather than fear and adoration. That's not what he wants.
He stops in the shadow of a tree and glances around to make sure no one is watching. Lamplight and moonlight filters down through the leaves golden and faintly silver. "The 'Porter may have changed your powers," he says by way of explanation. "I need to see them in action to be sure you'll still be useful."
A beat. "We'll wait for later to test out my power on you. There are still unanswered questions about it." Besides, inflicting a wave of terror on Matsuka in the dark when he's just arrived in a new place? A little much. But only a little.
* * *
Matsuka goes, abruptly, very still, looking at Keith with a wide-eyed and faintly trapped expression. "I..." he begins, and hesitates, flicking another quick, helpless look around him. Whatever he's looking for, it's nowhere in evidence. "...don't know," Matsuka finishes lamely, already well aware that this is not going to suffice as an answer.
* * *
Keith's expression doesn't change for a moment. It doesn't change even as he lashes out one hand, terribly fast, and grabs Matsuka by the arm (above the wrist, where there's fabric, where there will be no skin on skin contact and no slipping into his mind, if the powers still are there). It does change when he pulls Matsuka up and leans down so that their faces are level. He has that unkind and piercing smile on. "Which are you afraid of more? Whoever might be watching you here, or me?"
He lowers Matsuka and releases his grip. "Show me. Now."
* * *
Matsuka flinches reflexively as Keith's hand grips his arm, dragging him up. "That isn't--" he begins, only to bite down on the protest; it won't help anything, although that isn't it. For all that he fears Keith, the fear of death is the fear of death, and at least at Keith's hands he could hope for a quick and clean one. Matsuka has no such hopes from the SD system's psychological exams.
If that's what this is. He's been less and less sure the more he's talked to the others.
But in any case, though it's fear that has Matsuka hesitating a moment longer after Keith releases him - gingerly closing his own hand over his arm where he was grabbed - when he closes his eyes to focus his thoughts and do as he's been ordered, it's not because he fears Keith more. It's simply because it's Keith's order.
The psion shield comes into being the same as it always does, a telekinetic barrier around Keith and, for a few moments, a distinct feeling of pressure not quite strong enough to be uncomfortable but strong enough to keep him from moving if he tries. Then the pressure releases and the barrier dissipates again, while Matsuka keeps his eyes squeezed shut, half waiting for a computer's alarm to go off somewhere: Mu factor detected.
* * *
But Keith sees only the fear, and he assumes only that the fear of him has won out over the fear of the system. That's how it's supposed to work. For a moment, as the psion shield dissipates, Keith just looks at Matsuka standing there with his eyes shut in terror, and for that moment, he lets him fear some more.
Then he reaches out to place a hand briefly on Matsuka's shoulder, the touch much gentler than his words. "Good work. You're still a useful monster." No alarm, only Keith's touch and his voice: reward and punishment at the same time.
* * *
Monster. The word stings like it always does, even through the slow wash of relief that takes some of the tension out of Matsuka in a shakily exhaled breath. He stands for a moment longer, head bowed in a hopelessly tangled mixture of relief and lingering fear and gratitude and shame for being grateful for a reassuring gesture that comes, inevitably, with a sting attached.
But soon enough, he straightens himself up, looking up towards Keith with his brows drawing together in vague worry. "What will happen now?"
* * *
The hand pulls away and falls back to Keith's side again. He's once more serious and largely expressionless. "I need to learn more about the machine they call the 'Porter. If anything here is connected to our world...that's it. Until then, we do as we're intended. We help maintain the security of this city. It is a part of some Terra. It's my responsibility to protect it."
There is just the slightest pause, and he adds, "I'm a monster now myself, so there's nothing to be done about that. Most likely the 'Porter will strip the power from me before returning me to our world, and there's no need to worry." He starts back for the M.A.C., not looking behind him to make sure that Matsuka is following. He assumes he will. It's only natural.
* * *
Natural and automatic. Matsuka follows without even thinking about it, falling into a flanking position out of habit. It's simply the order of things.
As he does, he dares to ask, in a quiet and slightly hesitant voice: "What will you do if it doesn't?"
No exceptions, Keith had said before - not that long ago, from Matsuka's perspective. The lone exception is still trying to understand what he really meant.
* * *
"I'll finish the fight against the Mu, because humanity needs me to. Then I'll turn myself in."
Neither his voice nor his expression changes as he speaks. Keith gives no hint as to just how much the words say about him as a person--nor does it occur to him that Matsuka can tell, at least some of it.
He stops at the entrance to the apartment complex. "Research on the network, then get some sleep. I have more to explain, and we have a great deal to do." Matsuka doesn't need to know just yet, he decides, that there is at least one other Mu here. Let him spend the night thinking Keith is his only support from their world. It's better that way.
* * *
Matsuka says nothing at first, just looks up at Keith with an expression that is still vaguely worried and a little bit pained as well.
Soon, though, he catches himself, and bows his head in meek acquiescence. "Yes," he says, acknowledging the instructions, and nothing more.
motherloaded) and Jonah Matsuka (coffeematsuka).WHERE: Near the M.A.C.
WHEN: April 20th, late night.
WARNINGS: Standard "Keith is an abusive bastard to Matsuka" disclaimer.
SUMMARY: Keith makes sure he's the first to greet Matsuka in the City.
FORMAT: Prose (finished).
It's dark out by now, but even so, Keith's form outside the elegant white building that is the Metahuman Apartment Complex--sorry, "the M.A.C."--is clearly visible. He's put his military jacket back on, noticeability be damned. He's not going to greet Matsuka out of uniform, looking that vulnerable. For now, he stands straight and tall just outside the building's entrance, a dark form silhouetted in the lamplight against its pale walls.
It's definitely him. He isn't smiling, either, so it's really him.
* * *
It's not hard to notice Matsuka coming, even in this light - he of course is wearing his own uniform, since that's what he arrived in, and even if he weren't the pale hair and that anxious gait are unmistakable. With the communicator still in his hand from using it to pull up the directions, he hurries along, pausing for a moment as he comes within sight of the building to look around briefly, and then breaking into a jog when he catches sight of Keith.
* * *
Naturally, Keith waits until Matsuka has almost reached him to so much as lift a finger. Until Matsuka reaches the pool of light cast by the lamp that illuminates the M.A.C., Keith stands still as a statue. Only once Matsuka has made it that far does Keith move, falling into step beside him--and still walking, heading toward the nearby park. In the middle of the night. He's not particularly worried, mind you. But still, how nice to know he hasn't changed. "There's something to see before you go to your apartment."
* * *
He looks a little confused at the change of direction, but Matsuka keeps pace with Keith without complaint, following his lead toward the park. He steals a few worried glances sidelong as he goes, trying almost reflexively to read any hints as to Keith's state of mind - never an easy task.
"What is it?" he ventures to ask, presently, with a quick glance around him as though in search of some landmark that Keith is leading the way towards.
* * *
Keith seems as calm and reserved as ever. In fact, he's more so--Matsuka's arrival is actually reassuring to him, although the idea of admitting it is absurd. It would encourage the wrong sort of response in Matsuka, encourage closeness and sympathy rather than fear and adoration. That's not what he wants.
He stops in the shadow of a tree and glances around to make sure no one is watching. Lamplight and moonlight filters down through the leaves golden and faintly silver. "The 'Porter may have changed your powers," he says by way of explanation. "I need to see them in action to be sure you'll still be useful."
A beat. "We'll wait for later to test out my power on you. There are still unanswered questions about it." Besides, inflicting a wave of terror on Matsuka in the dark when he's just arrived in a new place? A little much. But only a little.
* * *
Matsuka goes, abruptly, very still, looking at Keith with a wide-eyed and faintly trapped expression. "I..." he begins, and hesitates, flicking another quick, helpless look around him. Whatever he's looking for, it's nowhere in evidence. "...don't know," Matsuka finishes lamely, already well aware that this is not going to suffice as an answer.
* * *
Keith's expression doesn't change for a moment. It doesn't change even as he lashes out one hand, terribly fast, and grabs Matsuka by the arm (above the wrist, where there's fabric, where there will be no skin on skin contact and no slipping into his mind, if the powers still are there). It does change when he pulls Matsuka up and leans down so that their faces are level. He has that unkind and piercing smile on. "Which are you afraid of more? Whoever might be watching you here, or me?"
He lowers Matsuka and releases his grip. "Show me. Now."
* * *
Matsuka flinches reflexively as Keith's hand grips his arm, dragging him up. "That isn't--" he begins, only to bite down on the protest; it won't help anything, although that isn't it. For all that he fears Keith, the fear of death is the fear of death, and at least at Keith's hands he could hope for a quick and clean one. Matsuka has no such hopes from the SD system's psychological exams.
If that's what this is. He's been less and less sure the more he's talked to the others.
But in any case, though it's fear that has Matsuka hesitating a moment longer after Keith releases him - gingerly closing his own hand over his arm where he was grabbed - when he closes his eyes to focus his thoughts and do as he's been ordered, it's not because he fears Keith more. It's simply because it's Keith's order.
The psion shield comes into being the same as it always does, a telekinetic barrier around Keith and, for a few moments, a distinct feeling of pressure not quite strong enough to be uncomfortable but strong enough to keep him from moving if he tries. Then the pressure releases and the barrier dissipates again, while Matsuka keeps his eyes squeezed shut, half waiting for a computer's alarm to go off somewhere: Mu factor detected.
* * *
But Keith sees only the fear, and he assumes only that the fear of him has won out over the fear of the system. That's how it's supposed to work. For a moment, as the psion shield dissipates, Keith just looks at Matsuka standing there with his eyes shut in terror, and for that moment, he lets him fear some more.
Then he reaches out to place a hand briefly on Matsuka's shoulder, the touch much gentler than his words. "Good work. You're still a useful monster." No alarm, only Keith's touch and his voice: reward and punishment at the same time.
* * *
Monster. The word stings like it always does, even through the slow wash of relief that takes some of the tension out of Matsuka in a shakily exhaled breath. He stands for a moment longer, head bowed in a hopelessly tangled mixture of relief and lingering fear and gratitude and shame for being grateful for a reassuring gesture that comes, inevitably, with a sting attached.
But soon enough, he straightens himself up, looking up towards Keith with his brows drawing together in vague worry. "What will happen now?"
* * *
The hand pulls away and falls back to Keith's side again. He's once more serious and largely expressionless. "I need to learn more about the machine they call the 'Porter. If anything here is connected to our world...that's it. Until then, we do as we're intended. We help maintain the security of this city. It is a part of some Terra. It's my responsibility to protect it."
There is just the slightest pause, and he adds, "I'm a monster now myself, so there's nothing to be done about that. Most likely the 'Porter will strip the power from me before returning me to our world, and there's no need to worry." He starts back for the M.A.C., not looking behind him to make sure that Matsuka is following. He assumes he will. It's only natural.
* * *
Natural and automatic. Matsuka follows without even thinking about it, falling into a flanking position out of habit. It's simply the order of things.
As he does, he dares to ask, in a quiet and slightly hesitant voice: "What will you do if it doesn't?"
No exceptions, Keith had said before - not that long ago, from Matsuka's perspective. The lone exception is still trying to understand what he really meant.
* * *
"I'll finish the fight against the Mu, because humanity needs me to. Then I'll turn myself in."
Neither his voice nor his expression changes as he speaks. Keith gives no hint as to just how much the words say about him as a person--nor does it occur to him that Matsuka can tell, at least some of it.
He stops at the entrance to the apartment complex. "Research on the network, then get some sleep. I have more to explain, and we have a great deal to do." Matsuka doesn't need to know just yet, he decides, that there is at least one other Mu here. Let him spend the night thinking Keith is his only support from their world. It's better that way.
* * *
Matsuka says nothing at first, just looks up at Keith with an expression that is still vaguely worried and a little bit pained as well.
Soon, though, he catches himself, and bows his head in meek acquiescence. "Yes," he says, acknowledging the instructions, and nothing more.