[CLOSED] Misplaced

[bufudine]

Who: Angelo, Marcello, Serph
When: Backdated to the beginning of curse week
Where: IN PLACES. (Angelo's apartment, a clothing store, grocery store, the island)
Style: I'll match!


[When Serph wakes and finds the ever present hunger in the back of his mind missing, he knows there's something wrong.

The fact he's waking up in Angelo's bed is definitely wrong.

It only takes a quick look in the mirror for him to realise he's in Angelo's body, in his apartment, and likely suffering one of Vatheon's curses. He supposes it was only a matter of time, given how he'd managed to skip so many of Vatheon's curses lately.

Still, his first priority is to find his body, so after speaking briefly to Angelo, Serph ties up his now unwieldy hair and silently slips out of the apartment before he encounters Marcello.

...while still in Angelo's red silk pyjamas.]

Comments

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo wasn't suffering a bit being inside of Serph, except for the fact he had this feeling of constant hunger on his mind. Perhaps he should find something to eat once he's done in the store or so he thinks. But first, he's going to keep trying trying on different suits and attempt to pierce his ears with various earrings in front of a mirror. And that is what Serph will see when he arrives at the clothing store.]

[bufudine]

[What Angelo gets, instead, is Serph-in-Angelo's body approaching him at a jog. Angelo's body has a different physique to his own, but given that he rapidly adapted to his demon when Serph had first received it, it isn't difficult to adjust the amount of strain he places on this new body. It doesn't take Serph terribly long to find Angelo-in-his-body, though.

Instead of greeting Angelo with his usual nod, though...]

Angelo. Come with me.

[beauchevalier]

[When Angelo hears Serph's words come from his lips, his mind directly goes to a few places. Was Serph interested in a romantic date or perhaps he was asking for something more? But they were in different bodies, unless Serph found that kinky. Well, Angelo will gladly go with Serph.]

Of course Serph, lead the way.

[But of course when he turns to look at Serph, his eyes widen in horror.]

By the Goddess Serph! What are you doing in my night clothes?! My hair looks awful and you're not wearing earrings! My ears are practically naked!

[bufudine]

[Serph has absolutely no idea what's going through Angelo's mind right now. And maybe Angelo is just going to have to be sorely disappointed when Serph doesn't lead him back to his apartment, or even to the casino.

Nope.

Serph leads the way to a grocery store, speaking as he walks; he doesn't have time to stand around and bicker with Angelo.]

They're what you were wearing when I woke.

[See, he's taking good care of your body by not changing a thing about it--]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo grabs Serph's arm and starts heading back to the clothing store first. This is a crime against his appearance!]

No no, we're going back to the clothing shop! I am not have you parading in my body looking like this! It's humiliating and embarrassing, especially if any ladies from the host club see us!

[bufudine]

[Serph digs his heels in and gives Angelo an actual glare.]

This is important.

[Serph shakes off Angelo's grip on his arm.]

I have no desire to be killed by my own demon.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo growls a little and appears frustrated.]

I don't even know how your demon works, so I don't see how I could kill you with it.

[bufudine]

[Serph stops to look at Angelo properly.]

When the demon is hungry enough, it takes over.

[It has been quite some time since he's last witnessed someone lose control of their demon, but he still remembers those moments vividly. Angelo won't have a choice over whether he'll kill Serph with his demon or not.]

I will teach you how to use my demon. [Insistent.] After you eat.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo concedes to Serph's persistence and sighs.]

Fine you win. But once we're done, I'm taking you back to the clothing store and getting you something better than what you're wearing.

[bufudine]

[Serph nods in agreement -- he'll allow himself to be dragged to a clothing store if that's what it takes to get Angelo moving now -- before returning to his single-minded purpose of getting Angelo to a grocery store.

In fact, Serph will be leading him directly to the uncooked meat part of the store.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo shows a look of confusion when Serph brings him to the uncooked meat section of the store. What were they doing here?]

Are we buying some meat and taking it back to my apartment for cooking?

[bufudine]

[Serph shakes his head. Or rather, shakes Angelo's head? It must be strange, seeing someone with Angelo's face look so expressionless.]

It must be uncooked.

[ Take your pick, Angelo. There's chicken, beef, pork, fish, prawns... :|b ]

[beauchevalier]

[Indeed it is. Angelo doesn't appreciate Serph making him look so expressionless, but he'll let it go. However he's not eating uncooked meat. Nope. Not happening.]

What? By the Goddess no, I'm not eating it uncooked. That's disgusting and unhealthy, I'll get sick.

[bufudine]

[Serph levels an even stare at Angelo. For once, he has the height advantage, here. But whatever intimidation factor he might have gained is probably lost due to the fact he's still wearing Angelo's pyjamas.]

Eat it raw, or eat a person.

[Your choice, man. And the person can't be cooked, either.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo is not intimidated by Serph at all, in fact he finds it amusing slightly. Though he's not going to eat a person, so he'll take the raw meat.]

I'll eat the meat raw as I'm not about to eat a person.

[bufudine]

[Good.

Well then...]

Take your pick.

[There's quite a lot of choice. Chicken (and various parts of it), beef, pork... but of course, the type that dominates the area most is fish, fish, and more fish.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo picks up a rack of lamb and begins munching on it. To him, the taste is awful. Even the look on his face clearly shows he's about to puke from doing this.]

[bufudine]

[Oh come on, it's not that bad, surely? A pause, before.]

We can eat something else once you finish.

[beauchevalier]

[It's awful!! Terrible!!]

Something that isn't uncooked I hope.

[bufudine]

[Too bad B)]

What would you like?

[beauchevalier]

[He frowns.]

Something that's edible.

[bufudine]

[... :| Way to be specific, Angelo. What is something that doesn't require preparation and is edible...?

A headtilt.]

A peach?

[beauchevalier]

[...A peach? Was he serious? Serph can be so unpredictable sometimes.]

A peach is not very filling, Serph. I was hoping for something more like cooked chicken or meat.

[bufudine]

[Well... it doesn't really matter whether Angelo eats a peach or cooked meat; it won't fill him.

A nod.]

We can have that.

[But after he finishes his raw meat :>]

[beauchevalier]

[Groan groan groan.]

All right, let's go.

[Because no more raw meat.]

[bufudine]

[Stop grousing, Angelo :T Serph nods, before leading the way out of the grocery store, the locals not terribly bothered by the fact they just ate some of the food before leaving.

In fact, there's a yakitori stall just outside, and the local in charge of it has just finished grilling the first sticks of the day, the smell of delicious grilled chicken wafting in their direction. Serph pauses, and gestures towards the stall with one hand. Angelo asked for cooked chicken, so here it is!

But will Angelo's desire for decent food outweigh his desire to put Serph (while wearing Angelo's body) into clothes that aren't his pyjamas??]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo stares at the yakitori for a long while, unsure if he wants to eat this stuff. It does look like cooked chicken, but how good does it taste?]

You want me to eat this? Are you quite serious? I don't even know what this food is, I could get sick from it.

[bufudine]

[:|

Serph just reaches over and plucks one of the sticks and holds it out for Angelo to take.]

My stomach can handle demon carapace.

[Cooked food is like, nothing, to his stomach. In fact, his body doesn't even get sustenance from it.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo takes it and munches on the yakitori, it's actually not that bad after all. Perhaps he can bring it back home to his world with him.]

If we ever find a way back to my world, I'll have to bring these back.

LATER

[bufudine]

[At some point, much later in the day, and definitely wearing something much nicer than sleeping clothes, Serph returns to Angelo's apartment. He has absolutely no intention of staying in Angelo's apartment for the week, but it would be best to inform Marcello of the situation before anything unfortunate happens because of a 'stranger' barging into the apartment.

After Serph enters, he shuts the door behind him, eyes searching out for signs of Marcello.]

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello heard the door come off the latch as his brother pushed it open and walked into the apartment, where he pushed it closed - and he could hear the lock click. His hearing was still as sharp as he could remember, which was one of the few things to make him smile these days.]

[He was sitting on one of the lounge chairs when his brother came further inside, leaning forward slightly. A thought seemed to cross his face. It might have been about anything.]

You have been out again.

[Angelo would have known exactly what he meant. Pubs. Fights. Women. Serph? Perhaps not.]

[bufudine]

[The significance of those words simply fly over Serph's head, his gaze immediately darting to Marcello. Serph considers Marcello for a long moment.

His response comes in a calm and matter-of-fact tone.]

I'm not Angelo.

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello interrupted disbelievingly with a sharp short laugh. Whatever magic he had come into contact with, he simply had not experienced the sort the other man was suffering. There was no question of being able to understand who he was.]

Yes, and I'm not blind.

[Though Marcello's glimpse of the city lights through the window showed he was aware his sarcastic pretense was a lie.]

Regardless, you sound sober. Perhaps I should thank the Goddess for such a small mercy.

[bufudine]

[It's fairly obvious Marcello doesn't believe him (not terribly surprising, really), but rather than insist he's not Angelo, Serph decides that showing Marcello is the better approach. After all, his personality and his body language is far different to Angelo's.

Serph wanders over and takes a seat -- but doesn't cross his legs -- in one of the lounge chairs across from Marcello.]

I've lacked fondness for drink when I once woke without recalling when I fell asleep.

[Serph has terrible friends who wanted to test whether Serph could actually get drunk. Spoilers: Serph just passes out.]

[powerandstatus]

[This difference, although he was not quite sure if it was the magic of this place, caught Marcello's attention. He was not quite sure what made this image remarkable - the awkward body language, or the way Angelo was speaking]

He sat tall. Better to show the truth than to spin it out any longer, he thought. He stared at the man he thought was his brother and proceeded to open his eyes. When he spoke, he sounded... disappointed?]

When and where, I presume?

[bufudine]

A few months ago, at a friend's bar.

[Serph's well aware Angelo would have had some drink much more recently. Nevertheless, he presses on. He's neither here to talk about drink, nor prove or disprove his identity.

He lets his hands rest, relaxed, on his knees.]

I wish to speak to you before Angelo returns.

[powerandstatus]

[Whatever curse had been floating around, Marcello now understood the extent of it. He seemed to be troubled for once, and he was staring at nothing - he rested his chin on his right hand, worrying over whether to thank fate or be angry at her. He hid his emotions as quick as he was able.]

My brother may be an unrepentant liar and an unforgivable drunkard, but you are obviously not my brother. And I am not an unapproachable man.

[He had sounded receptive, for the most part.]

[bufudine]

[Good. Serph's glad that it hasn't taken long to convince Marcello that he isn't Angelo. Of course, that doesn't really tell him much about who he actually is, though.]

It's Serph.

[His sitting posture remains stiff and straight.]

I would like to know what you did in your world.

[powerandstatus]

[There, in the conversation from the start, lay Serph's reason for visiting.

Marcello was staring at him. A scrutinous gaze. For a while, it seemed he wouldn't say anything, but then he delivered the truth Serph wanted to hear.]

I do not wish to discuss in detail such pitiful business with you. Suffice to say, I tried to change my world. I tried to reform society for the better. I bloodied my hands with terrifying methods, and tried using everything at my disposal... to spread equality and fairness.

[He tried... and failed. Was Serph going to remind him of his failure? Or ask, as no doubt Angelo had informed him of it, what exactly he had done.]

[bufudine]

[Even if Marcello doesn't want to discuss it, Serph does, though he tries not to be forceful about it. Serph doesn't look away from Marcello as he speaks, expressionless, until he tilts his head up slightly.

The slightest of frowns furrows his brow, though his expression is more thoughtful than angry.]

What was wrong with your world?

[What had been wrong enough for Marcello to decide to change it? He mentioned equality and fairness... but just what does that mean?]

[powerandstatus]

[For a while Marcello said nothing. He stopped and waited to see if Serph would share his opinion of him. He had lost count of the times his brother had shared his thoughts. Still, no judgement came - though he was being awaited on to give information that might lead to one.

He seated himself more portentously. He tried to count himself down. It made a change to have company that he could talk to - but not have to care for.]

The law is unjust. [A deliberate present tense, and he finished his point.] Our rulers scorn excellence in men from low birth, and throw children onto the street just for being the kind of people they are. Our faith sedates us with promises us wealth in the next world, whilst ministers feather their nests and fear nothing in our own.

[His tone was quite disappointed.] ... And our whole society prostates itself at the feet of such incompetence and nobody inside it sees he has nothing to lose but his chains.

sorry for the delayed tag! I should be less busy this week!

[bufudine]

[Angelo has touched briefly on the idea of nobles, but he hadn't gone into much detail about it. Some parts of Marcello's words sound familiar -- promises of wealth, or rather, peace, in the next world -- but the use of metaphor leaves Serph having difficulty in grasping the entirety of Marcello's meaning.

He starts with, perhaps, the most important question to clarify, first.]

What do you mean by "low birth"?

No problem. Been an exhausting time here too :3

[powerandstatus]

[Marcello had been keeping an eye on Serph to gauge his reaction. He learned forward a little when the one he was given was one of interest, and he was interested himself on one point.]

People who are neither members of the nobility nor the priesthood, nor those privileged with wealth. [A pause, then an observation.] I am curious. You seem unfamiliar with the concept of social division.

[bufudine]

[There is still some division, but the divisions had been down different lines. Leader and comrades. The Karma Temple and the Tribes. Sera. That last thought stings. But aside from the lack in the worlds he'd come from, the technicalities of why social divisions hadn't really arisen would take a long time to get into -- though he supposes the Karma Society and the Lokapala would count, but he'd spent mere days in that world -- so Serph simply bottom-lines it.]

We were more concerned with killing before we were killed.

[So they didn't really have time to bother with those kinds of frivolities. Serph raises his gaze to Marcello's face, the smallest of frowns creasing his brow.]

That had been our law.

[Their purpose.]

[powerandstatus]

[The word 'had' practically leapt out at him.

And Marcello felt his curiosity spark up. For a moment, he had felt some sort of understanding. What it took to turn on an entire system...

A small frown appeared on his forehead and he leaned back, his hands linking together. With a feeling of finally grasping the issue, he was fairly sure the two of them had been through similar situations for different reasons - and he wouldn't let it go.]

I did not think you as the sort to turn your back on the law of your land. Are you labelled some sort of criminal?

[bufudine]

[Prior to his arrival in Vatheon, Serph would have had no idea what Marcello had meant by criminal. What an odd concept.

Serph shakes his head. Perhaps, in a way, he had been, when the agents of the Temple had done their best to forcibly eject him. But...]

That concept did not exist in my original world.

[Besides...]

It was destroyed.