#misc. characters: experimentation plot

He was still getting used to operating these things from a distance. Before the prison break, the last time he had used proxies like this was before he died... And to use so many so frequently for non-combat reasons... Was weird. And draining. 

He just had to get used to it, though. And walking around wearing a corpse’s skin would be good for that, right? It’d let him brush up on his acting, too... He couldn’t go around pretending to be a diplomat when his tells were so obvious. 

So he had chosen the corpse of a young woman, and decided to do... Whatever it was that young women did. Go to a cat cafe and look at cats? He guessed. That’s what Hana did...

And who else would be there but an old not so friendly face? Oh, Jemand. This was going to fun. 

As the two entered, Damian ‘accidentally’ bumped into him.

“Oh- sorry, sir!” he started, adjusting his glasses on his face. “Are you alright?”

"... I just thought our meeting would be a little more ... climactic."

Now that she was actually there, face to face with him, she had to admit he.. didn't exactly look like the force to be reckoned with that both Todlich and the news articles made him out to be.

"I was under the impression that your new friend told you to... attack me, and, well." Though her eyes are still not visible under her bangs, she gives a tight, irritated -- anxious smile. "This wasn't how I was expecting us to meet, is all. ..."

Well, if he was going to hit her with the unexpected, she might as well deck him even harder.

"-- Would you like to come in for tea? My office has been empty for a while now and I love having company."

It was always fun, charming the uncharmable. All it took, usually, was a flash of a smile, and some awkward attempts at jokes. 

“I mean, he did,” Damian replied with a shrug. “But I typically only kill someone people tell me to if I get paid. And there’s no money down here.” He pauses, stretching one of his arms behind his head and yawning. “I can’t fault him, though, he seems terrified of ya. Honestly, I thought you’d be a bit more intimidating, myself.”

It seemed they were both disappointed. Or, perhaps, relieved?

"... Y'know, Henri, I know what I am and I still don't expect to live long."

He inhales sharply.

"And the more you ask this kind of bullshit the more I can feel whatever life I have draining from me like I'm a vampire victim or something. A vampire victim of fucking chocolate bugs."

Henri waited. They listened to him speak. They waited for him to finish. The exasperation in his voice made the entire spiel worth it. They grin, looking Coda straight in the eyes as they speak again.

“But wasn’t she talking about someone else, anyway? He grins, cheeky, and pokes her nose.

Nullie emerged from the shadows nearby Damian, a sad look pester on her face, "forgive my intrusion, if you wish me to leave I shall, but I must ask, are you feeling well?" Nullie already had somewhat of an answer simply from watching Damian's actions and mannerisms, so lying wouldn't do Damian any good, but that's if he's even aware it's a lie. 

He knew all too well what his predicament was. In fact, just the other day, Sylvester tried to visit and Damian had simply... teleported to where he still was. He hadn’t left the country, hadn’t even left Harajuku, just... went to a far more secluded part of it where no one would think to look. 

Except apparently Nullie.

He probably looked homeless, camping out in a dumpster alley these past few days. That was fine, it kept people away from him. He really didn’t want to deal with them right now.

"Hey, hey -- let yourself start it, man. Feel what you need to feel. Bottling that stuff up just makes it explode. I mean, you're talking to me to let out that steam, right? You can't let out the steam if you don't open the lid."

Well, maybe that wasn't the best metaphor for it. He was trying to be helpful, but that could be interpreted several ways, and not all of them helpful, depending on the person or problem.

"Well -- I mean, if you don't want to talk about it, I get it, but at least let yourself be pissed. C'mon, we're friends. You can get angry around me."

Sylvester wasn’t used to this. He wasn’t used to being so... angry. But he couldn’t stop thinking about Henri had hit him. Right in front of Ivanka, too...

How embarrassing. 

“...Talking might help, but... I just... It’s complicated.” A voice that was usually so monotone had taken a much more sorrowful turn. His voice cracking under the dam of emotions that had been kept locked tight for years. 

“There’s this... person. This person who was terrible and awful and just... the most evil bastard you could ever meet.And I thought they were out of my life for good.” His voice wavered, but he wasn’t going to cry. Not to Jemand. Not over the phone. “And I was wrong. They came to Ivanka’s apartment while I was with her and they...” 

He paused, his voice quiet as he spoke next.

"Nope, none of us... hell, the only reason me and Todd understand any of it now is because I 'borrowed' so many of those cartoons from up top. I mean... I guess in a way, we're family? Some of us. Like, some of us did grow together, and learn together, but we're still not family in the blood sense. None of us are related that way."

He laughed nervously.

"Would you believe we don't even have kids down here? We're all just made as adults and stay that way. ... I hope me not being able to have them doesn't make Flora even more uncertain about me."

“Have you seen kids? Why would anyone want one?” He snorts, amusement filling his features. in the absence of Siraakaash, Sylvester could only estimate emotion. Act. But damn, was he good at it. “If anything, i would consider that a plus.” 

Coda genuinely couldn't tell if they were being sarcastic or not. This was just... confusing in too many ways to comprehend. For one thing, he couldn't remember the last time he recited any poetry, except maybe around two decades back under really bright lights and in front of dozens of eyes of judgmental kids.

Still, the lack of experience wouldn't be what he focused on.

"For- For what? Helping with Jinx? I mean, it was a hell of a favor, but... I don't think I wanna do that..."

“And why not?” they ask, almost scoffing. “Should I not get a proper reward for subjugating a demon?” As if they did that themself... Coda did all the work, they just hid the poor thing in the basement. 

Of course... They were joking at first, but they couldn’t help but be offended at the refusal!