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[theperfectcrime]

You have reached Ryuzaki. I am currently not available. Leave a message and I will get back to you.

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[torrefied]

[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.

[theperfectcrime]

[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.]

[torrefied]

[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?

[theperfectcrime]

[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.]

[torrefied]

[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.

[theperfectcrime]

[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.

[torrefied]

[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.

[theperfectcrime]

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.

[torrefied]

[He nods again.]

We're done. See you around.