theperfectcrime | IC Inbox

[Beyond might have caught that again if it wasn't for the line that proceeded it. He's been dead for years. And it causes Beyond to eye Mello suspiciously. Did Mello honestly suspect that Beyond would buy that? He hasn't been dead a day, much less years. There is no way that the L that was chasing B is a step-in. He knows it's not true. His tone is almost like ice when he retorts.]

Now you really are lying, Mello. What form of a fool do you take me for? L has not died; do you hope to spare him by proclaiming such? I expected far better from you.

[Beyond's patience is clearly being tried. What manner of jest is this? You don't joke about L being dead. That's not something held lightly. Not by Wammy's House, not by Mello. What is the real reason behind this claim?

As for Sharon...]

Oh, really? How noble of you to do what was necessary. And to not want forgiveness as a result. I clearly misunderstood you.

[And for the moment, Beyond listens intently to the request, threat or otherwise. And while he takes a moment to consider it, mulling over the information that Mello has presented.

It's calm and cool when he finally answers.]

Yes, Mello, we have an understanding. I will not harm a solitary hair on Sharon's head so long as I am fully aware. You have my word.

[He's satisfied with the answer Beyond gives him about Sharon, so he considers the matter closed. As far as L is concerned, however ... not even close. Beyond is right - you don't joke about L being dead. And Mello isn't joking.]

You expected better? [His eyes narrow. Are those actual words that just came out of your mouth, B. Are they.] Did you honestly not notice that I'm taller than I was when you left the House, B? Don't I look older? [He turns his head slightly, chin tipped up, so the scarred side of his face is on display.] The year was 2010 before I was brought here. L's been dead for more than five years.

[He pauses, calculating. Maybe what he wants to say is hurtful, but he's been hurt by Beyond's accusation, and he's striking back, childish.]

For that matter, so have you.

[Go on, do the math. 2010 minus five years isn't 2002.]

Edited 2017-08-10 03:22 (UTC)

2010? Are you trying to tell me there's some sort of time conspiracy, Mello?

[Though, he certainly can't discount what Mello has said - he does look taller, older. And though it was easy to discard upon his arrival, it does add up. And that gets under Beyond's skin.

Though not quite as much as what follows. And Beyond's eyes narrow in return. If Mello is from the future he so claims to be, of course Beyond's dead. He planned it that way. But how does he know that? It was supposed to be the unsolvable crime, and if L couldn't solve it, he doubts Mello could. Which doesn't bode well for him.]

And where's your proof.

[It's practically said in a sneer, but Beyond is keeping himself in check, despite the urge to attack. He needs clarification.]

The Door plucks us from different realities, it's not a conspiracy to imagine it would bring us from different timelines as well - that's simple logic.

[There are any number of ways he could show his work, but the one that is most effective is also likely the one that is the most cutting for a Wammy's child - revealing secrets.]

My proof? [He smiles sharply, mouth closed.] I know your name. And I know that you know mine, because you can see it. And I know why.

[Simple logic. It's condescending. It's the cry of the upper hand. And Beyond despises it. And as much as he wants more information, he finds himself striking out. He has to use his left hand, but he aims a punch straight for Mello's face. To wipe that smirk straight off of it.

If Mello truly knows, then that means Beyond failed. And he's not having it.]

What would someone like you know, Mihael?

[His teeth are gritted. It's practically a hiss. And it confirms Mello's facts, that he knows the name. It's an attempt at a dig; and a question that begs an answer he doesn't want. He knows it. And he knows this is playing in the flames of his own downfall. But he wants the details. He has to know how Mello knows, what Mello's source is.]

[He more or less expects Beyond's violent reaction; despite the line of logic Mello can find in his actions, he knows the other man is not entirely stable, and the secret knowledge he's intimated is like dropping a lit match near a powder keg - likely to cause an explosion.

But it's hearing his name - his true name, the name that can kill him, the name his mother gave him - that provokes a violent reaction of his own. The memory of his mother's short appearance here and the pain of losing her a second time wash through him like adrenaline, and quick as a cat, his right hand darts forward to fist in Beyond's shirt and pull him in close, while his left hand retrieves the pistol from his back and pushes the end of the barrel underneath Beyond's jaw with the safety slid off. Teeth bared, voice low and even and hard, close enough for his breath to be felt on Beyond's face, he answers:]

What I know? [A sound that's not quite a laugh rumbles in the back of his throat.] What I know, Beyond Birthday, is that you lost. You were caught, and you died in prison, a failure. Go on - ask me how I know this.

[The fact that he's spoken Beyond's secret name, something that was intended to be discovered in the would-be corpse left behind but never linked to Wammy's House's second child, should stand as proof enough. But he'll gladly go over what he knows in gloating detail, as long as Beyond asks for it.]

[When Beyond is yanked close, his hands both shoot up to grab back at Mello's shirt, with the intention to throw Mello. But with that gun at his jaw, Beyond goes still, ists still tightly tangled in place. But his expression isn't nervous, he's not afraid of Mello. He just has no intentions of dying right here and now, and that's enough to keep him in check. Though he can't help but smirk at the baring of Mello's teeth. He struck a chord and he knows it, if the gun weren't proof enough of that.

Although, Mello trades a verbal blow of his own, using Beyond's name. And the smirk fades all too quickly into a scowl. Despite his own fury, his tone is remarkably even, laced with spite if not outright ice cold.]

Go ahead, Mello. Tell me how you know this. I'm eager to know.

[The shift in beyond's expression is satisfying, and it pulls Mello's mouth into a crooked smile.]

I know this because L told me. I met him once, before he died, and he told me the whole thing - your puzzles, your work with Naomi Misora. How you planned to commit suicide, set yourself on fire and make it look like another murder. [He hums quietly in thought, tips his head slightly to the side.] Your strategy was good, but it wasn't good enough. Misora - you underestimated her, and she saw through you.

[Beyond's teeth grit tightly, forcing himself to remember the gun to his jaw, to resist that so-impulsive desire to ram Mello into the ground. He might be able to take the gun, but he's at a rather high disadvantage, with the injury on his arm and the rage coursing through his veins. Mello easily matched his speed when Beyond had moved to attack just before. He knows that if he doesn't want that gun to go off, he has to play by Mello's temper, if only briefly. And it only serves to boil his blood further.

The hands in Mello's shirt grip tighter, pull up just slightly. A so-faint test of the waters. How trigger-happy is Mello really in this moment?

The words seethe through Beyond's teeth.]

I see. So it's Misora. [A minour miscalculation that causes it all. Information that's good to know. Or... at least would be if he could do anything with it. Those days have long passed, the crime has ceased function, and he's already lost in that sense. A double strike to his ego. And it takes every ounce of himself to continue with a level tone.]

Let me go, Mello.

[His hands in Mello's shirt shove against him slightly to push him away, and his face contorts into a sneer. As if still debating with himself to continue his attack or just storm away when he's released. But being held this close to Mello right now with all of the information being given to him, the first option is becoming more and more appealing, barrel to his throat or no.]

[He's made his point, both about Sharon (the original focus of this discussion) and about what he knows of Beyond's gambit. There's no sense in drawing out this little power play any longer.]

Yeah ... sure, I think we're done here anyway.

[The gun eases from under Beyond's chin, but it stays in Mello's hand as he releases his grip on the other man and steps back.]

One last thing - don't ever call me by that name again. Got it?

Edited 2017-09-03 19:49 (UTC)

[Beyond takes a few steps back of his own, much more guarded now that he isn't at point blank.]

I've already made one promise today, isn't that enough for you? How about I do you the favour of keeping it our little secret. That should satisfy you, shouldn't it?

[He's probably still walking a thin line, but he has no intentions of making that promise to Mello. That name is a trigger point, it's leverage. And he'll willingly tread that line.]

Or I can swap the promises, if you prefer - take back the word to not attack Sharon and choose not to call you by your name.

[Try him, Mello. He's practically daring you.]

[Mello's eyes narrow.]

This isn't a game, and it's not negotiable. I've kept your story to myself for years [well, except for the document he left for Near to find after his death, and the abridged story he told Sharon when their lives were under threat from the Null], but I can just as easily broadcast it to the entire city. Think about that for a moment - do you really want everyone here to know exactly who you are and what you've done? I'm not just talking about the fact that you're the one who killed Sharon - I mean everything.

[Namely, the spectacular way in which he'd failed to best the world's greatest detective. Beyond may be feeling the sting of humilation now, privately, when it's just the two of them, but Mello is betting that having that humilation put on display for the entire city to see and no way to escape would be a compound loss, one Beyond would rather avoid. Mello flicks the pistol's safety back on, expression softening. Despite everything, he still feels an incredible amount of sympathy for Beyond. Maybe someday he'll even come to a place of trusting him with that truth, how important the story of the LABB Murders was to him, how he used it as a compass when he left Wammy's House to take on the world alone. But not today. Not here. Their understanding of each other is too tenuous for that.]

You have a choice, Ryuzaki. [A small olive branch extended, switching back to his preferred alias.] I can either be your ally, or I can be your enemy, but believe me when I say that you don't want me as your enemy.

[Of course Mello has another gaming chip. Why wouldn't he.

And, of course, he catches that bit where Mello returns to the alias. What does he hope to gain by that?

Beyond actually lets out an extremely frustrated sigh. He doesn't like this time difference at all. But that doesn't mean he can't re-level the playing field.]

Don't think you'll keep having the upper hand if you continue to use that same poker chip. I mean it. I'm not making anymore promises based on that bit of blackmail.

You have to promise not to release it to anyone else, in exchange for your name and Sharon. I should think that's more than fair. I have to get as much out of this as you do.

[Mello truly has no desire for hostility between himself and Beyond, but he's also unwilling to take chances with Sharon's safety, or with his name. It's a remote possibility that this piece of information will ever be of relevance in Hadriel, but even a slim chance is more of a chance than he's willing to risk.]

All right, [he nods] that's a reasonable bargain. I'll keep your story to myself, as long as you keep my name to yourself and no further harm comes to Sharon. You have my word.

Edited 2017-09-05 17:43 (UTC)

Sounds like we're at an agreement, then.

[A begrudging one on Beyond's behalf, but one nonetheless.

He turns to leave, tucking his left hand into his pants pocket.]

If you need nothing else, then.

[He nods again.]

We're done. See you around.

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