soul_logs | Bored from lack of killing [OPEN]

After dropping her new stash of cupcakes off at her apartment, Rhode had decided to go for a walk in the park with one of her treats, nibbling on it slowly as she enjoyed the mildly more tolerable temperatures. Being in this grassy place was pleasant, really; it almost made it possible to forget that they were trapped in the middle of this awful desert in the first place.

Pausing at the sight of a vaguely familiar person across the lawn, Rhode frowned slightly-- licking a bit of frosting from her lips. Where had she seen that hair before? After a few moments of deliberation, she walked a bit closer, until she could see his face.

Oh. Kuroro had shown her this man in his mind, during that madness wave. She'd seen him arrive a while ago, or at least seen his postings on the network in passing. But, of course, that didn't allow for any real investigation. If she recalled correctly, Kuroro had told her to avoid him-- Run in the opposite direction, actually, if she happened to meet him.

But Kuroro wasn't here right now, and in a public place like this in the middle of the day, there wasn't likely to be much risk in going up to talk to him.

Finishing the last bit of her cupcake, Rhode licked the last of the frosting and crumbs from her fingers as she walked up, crouching down on the other side of the man's card tower.

"A park is a strange place to be playing with cards."

Hisoka had noticed the girl from a mile away, but hadn't paid any heed to her. Even now that she'd wandered over to apparently talk to him, Hisoka paid little attention to her, though he did notice she seemed particularly cautious of him. Interesting. He had a pretty good idea of who might have warned her about him.

He shrugged as he continued his mostly completed tower. "Perhaps. But then, I like doing thing out of the ordinary," he answered in a bored, non-committal tone, not even looking at her.

Rhode watched him for a few moments, glancing between his clever little tower and his face. Resting one elbow on her knee, she propped her chin up on her hand with a thoughtful little hum.

"Why a house of cards, though? You could play solitaire, or read a magazine, or something."

He didn't seem immensely dangerous, so far; perhaps it was a bit soon to judge, but the way Kuroro had spoken, she'd nearly expected some violence-crazed madman at the end of a leash.

Hisoka finished delicately placing the final card on top of his six-level tower before lazily raising his eyes to hers. "Card houses are fun to build, because..."

He flicked the top of the pyramid, his slitted eyes never leaving her face as the card tower crumbled and cards fluttered down around them, leaving a carpet of black, red and white on the floor. "...you can destroy them with the flick of a finger." He leaned his head back and began to laugh, not bothering to pick up the cards.

Well, there was a bit weird... But hardly something to qualify as dangerous. She watched the tower fall with a rather unimpressed expression, reaching out after a moment to pick up a card that had fallen within reach.

"Not as much fun as destroying something someone else worked to build, I wouldn't think."

The ace of spades, hm? Rhode turned it over for a moment, considering the design. Her uncle had always been fond of this suit, for some reason. She much preferred hearts.

"Of course not. However..." he leaned in close, his lips breaking into a predatory smile, "...destroying people is far more fun than either."

He noticed her pick up the Ace of Spades. "What an interesting pick," he said lazily, leaning back against the tree. "You do know that each card has a meaning?"

"They don't like it when you play that sort of game here." She didn't flinch when he leaned in, finally meeting his gaze with her own. He was the sort who liked scaring children, Rhode decided; he probably fancied himself a very frightening person.

"It's familiar," Rhode shrugged, letting it fall back into the pile. "I knew someone who fancied cards at home. He might have mentioned it, once."

Hisoka shrugged, an amused smile playing on his lips. "That doesn't mean people don't play the game," he replied smoothly. He wasn't deliberately trying to scare her - he just liked making people feel uncomfortable. The fact that she didn't flinch amused him even more. Even the more reason for Hisoka to believe that she'd been pre-warned.

"Usually the first card someone picks up from face down in a 52-card drop is the one used to tell their fortune," he said in a bored tone, leaning forward and turning over a card. The Joker. He let out a low, amused laugh, and began twirling it between his fingers. "For instance, the Joker represents eccentricity and the unknown."

Rhode tilted her head slightly as he picked up a card, eyes narrowing slightly. She'd heard something like this before, a long time ago, but not with any amount of specificity. Tyki was a gambler, and preferred a game over a fortune.

"So it's supposed to be some kind of fate. That's a bit silly." Reaching out again, she picked up a second card, not turning it over just yet. "Every pick would have a different answer every time."

"Naturally," he replied coolly. "Of course, it's only for people who believe in such things."

He continued absently twirling the card between his fingers. "Though usually people who do it regularly want reassurance of their pathetic lives." He smiled, amused. "I, however, am only interested in the first card anyone ever picks in my deck. Call it a passing amusement."

"Not very passing, if you do it every time you meet someone."

She watched the card he held, following its movements as she decided whether or not she wanted to bite for his rather obvious bait. Ace of spades... Had Tyki ever mentioned something about what it had meant? She'd simply noticed the way he always stacked his deck, with that card's face as the only one showing.

"I suppose you're going to tell me what the ace of spades means, then." A nice compromise, Rhode thought; not quite asking, but certainly not refusing.

He let out a rare, genuine grin. She was sharp. He acknowledged that in someone. He could read the unasked question in her eyes, wondering whether she'd ask it.

Apparently, not quite. He wasn't going to make it that easy for her. He shrugged. "Only if you want to know. I'm quite happy to keep myself amused with the information. There's no point sharing if the person isn't interested." An amused smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

For a moment, she had the bratty temptation to rip the card in her hand in two-- Really, just to see his reaction. Curiosity wasn't quite strong enough to overpower her sense of caution, however, and instead she ran a finger over the edge, letting the hand dangle over the mess of cards on the grass.

"I never said I wasn't interested," Rhode replied, raising a brow in a half-hearted effort at an innocent expression. "Being so presumptuous is very rude, you know."

Hisoka hid an amused smile as he ruffled her feathers. "I never said I was referring to you. Perhaps you should keep your ego in check before you accuse people of being presumptuous," he replied offhandedly. "I was actually referring to people in general."

"Since you seem curious, I'll tell you what the Ace of Spades represents. It's meaning in general is sinister. However, if you take it in a fortune-telling sense, it means that the holder will have the opportunity to acquire great power, but at a price."

He smirked, flicking the Joker card back into the messy pile in front of him. "Interesting. hnn?

"My ego is perfect the way it is," she replied, smiling with a distinctly nasty edge. Just like everything else about me, she almost added, but she bit back the correction just once. She could make her point in other ways.

Rhode listened to him without any real shift in her expression, though her eyes narrowed slightly. She didn't put much stock in fortunes, but it was amusing to hear something so obviously wrong.

"Interesting. Pity it's completely unrealistic." Playing with the card in her hands, still, this time toying with it between both hands. "If I stay here, the only power I can gain is more of those stupid souls. And if I do return home, I'm already as powerful as can be. Either way--"

She paused, almost thoughtful; but then her smile became a rather cocky little grin. Watching his face, rather than her hands, she neatly tore the card she was holding in half, letting the pieces fall back into the pile.

"Your fortune-telling is nothing but a useless and silly game."

Hisoka began to laugh. It started as a low chuckle and developed into full blown laughter. After a minute or so it died down. "You are more naive than I thought," he replied with a smirk. He magically produced another card from thin air, slowly rotating it with two fingers to reveal to Rhode another Ace of Spades.

"Tearing up the card doesn't remove it's meaning. But, since you don't believe any of this, it really doesn't matter then, does it?" he said smoothly. Hisoka didn't care whether she believed the fortune or not - her reaction was far more entertaining.

His reaction was rather unexpected; Rhode tilted her head ever so slightly to the side as he began laughing, watching him like he was some odd but fascinating creature. When the card appeared, she lifted a brow, though it was certainly more from interest than anything else.

"I don't need a card to tell me I'm sinister," Rhode sighed, sounding almost bored. "The rest is rubbish. And I didn't tear up the card for the meaning."

Ah, her legs were starting to get sore from crouching. Pushing off of her knees, Rhode got to her feet, adjusting her hair so the mess was at least out of her face.

"I tore it up because you were condescending... And because I just felt like it."

Edited 2011-02-23 23:45 (UTC)

Hisoka raised an amused eyebrow as she stood. Her words didn't affect him at all - he'd always been condescending to people he considered insignificant. He shrugged, and began casually collecting the cards into a neat pile, a small smile still playing on his lips.

Rhode sighed quietly, stretching her arms above her head as she watched him. Really, he wasn't all that exciting; Kuroro might as well not have bothered warning her in the first place. He was strange, certainly; a little off in the head, perhaps. But dangerous?

Momentarily entertaining, at best. She'd ask Kuroro what the big deal was later-- Or not, since she didn't really want him to know that she'd ignored his warning entirely.

She started to step away, but then she paused-- Bending down to pick up the pieces of the card she'd torn up, without so much as a glance in Hisoka's direction. It wasn't as if he'd have a use for them, and she liked collecting such broken things.

Hisoka began absently flicking the cards from one hand to another as she started to leave. He wasn't surprised that she picked up the torn pieces, and made no indication that he cared.

As she walked away, he called out in a smooth voice, "Give the boss my regards," and began laughing. It was an educated guess, but Hisoka was pretty confident Rhode knew Kuroro.

Turning over the top card in his pile, he inwardly smiled, before flicking the Ace of Spades to the bottom of the deck. He was going to enjoy killing Rhode.

The tour had been…helpful. Honestly it had been overwhelming and disconcerting but Allen knew that the information from the tour had been necessary even if he still didn’t know where to start. Fight, that was what he had done for so long of course but in a war that was not his own for reasons that he didn’t understand, that wasn’t the same.

There was a different war he should have been fighting and the only way to get back to it was to fight someone else’s war. He supposed life had never been about fairness. Ironically in this place his injuries seemed to hurt less, without that sense of something stirring inside him. Now that he was gone he had to wonder what happened to get rid of it, was it this place?

Allen wasn’t good at sitting around for answers, so he’d walked. And while they had thoughtfully provided a map—of course he got lost, it was the rule of the universe or something. He stopped, looking around, for being in the middle of the dessert this place still had a lot of greenery.

Maybe it was the somewhat clownish appearance or maybe it was the cards, carefully stacked into a house. Allen approached, if nothing else maybe he could get some directions back to that place he was staying.

Hisoka paid little attention to the man wandering through the park, even when he eventually headed towards him. Hisoka barely had any interest in anyone unless they posed a challenge, and this one certainly did not. He continued casually building his card pyramid.

It had been a while since he'd seen Hisoka, wasn't it? Kuroro had been at the park to have his usual session with Sora -- she'd lasted longer, he supposed, but he didn't really time these things -- and was on his way out when he'd seen Hisoka. Kuroro had never run away from the clown before, and he wasn't about to start now, and with a smile on his face approached the wayward Ryodan.

How interesting could this meeting be, he wondered? Plausible a lot.

"It's been a while, Hisoka."

Hisoka wasn't surprised that Kuroro zeroed in on him as soon as he'd seen him in the park - it was a typical Kuroro move, and one of the few reasons Hisoka made himself visible in public.

"Kuroro, how nice to see you're still alive and here," Hisoka said smoothly as he finished his pyramid. Collapsing it, he leaned back against the tree. "It would have been a pity if you'd been killed during that 'rescue' operation."

After all, what kind of good leader would Kuroro be if he didn't even give his most ardent of members a hello? He leaned down on a hand against his thigh to peer down at Hisoka, his other hand blocking the sunlight from his eyes in a perfect picture of a boy next door.

"As if such a small thing could. I heard you killed Crane. Did he scream when he died?" Ah, Crane. One of his favorites in Death City.

Hisoka crossed both hands behind his head, as his lips broke out into a predatory smile, a gleam in his eye. He raised an eyebrow at Kuroro's silly question. "He was...fun...to play with," he replied in an amused tone. "Would you have expected anything else from me?"

"No, I don't suppose so," Kuroro quipped with exact rapidity, smile still in place. Anyone looking at them wouldn't be able to guess what they were talking about, given the way they were poised. "You've always been good at that. Almost as good as Feitan."

Hisoka's grin widened. "Praise from the Ryodan boss," he said, still amused. "I'm touched you think so highly of me. Don't tell me you're getting soft, Kuroro?" he purred, knowing full well that Kuroro was anything but soft. "That would be...disappointing...to say the least."

"Was it really praise?" said Kuroro, voice taking on that lilt that indicated he was teasing -- whether it meant good or bad usually depended on his target.

"I suppose you'd have to test it if you want to know if I've gone soft or not."

Edited 2011-03-27 12:56 (UTC)

Hisoka shrugged lightly, still grinning. "If it was, you really should work on your delivery. If not, it doesn't bother me in the slightest."

Despite the teasing tone of Kuroro's voice, Hisoka wondered whether Kuroro was actually worried that he would take up that offer to test him. If so, Hisoka knew the former Ryodan leader wouldn't show it.

He sighed in mock resignation. "Unfortunately, it's no fun without our special...abilities, now is it?"

"Is it? I don't find it particularly... hampering, not having nen." Nen had never decided what was interesting for him or not. He missed it sometimes, and it was inconvenient when there was a battle ongoing, but he could live without it fairly well. Just another toy to play with or use as a tool, a means to an end.

Now what that end was...

Hisoka shrugged. "I didn't say it was hampering. I said it was less fun. After all, where's the challenge when we're not on even footing?"

"Anything less fun is hampering, after all," Kuroro answered philosophically. "But ah-ah, there are so many forms of challenges, aren't there?" Although Kuroro was fairly sure that in terms of strength, they were about even here. He would have the stronger soul, Hisoka the better technique. Who knew how one such battle would turn out?

Hisoka gave Kuroro a friendly smile. "True, but there's no need to play games. Unless you've forgotten, I made it pretty clear about the kind of challenge I'm interested in before you were left standing on a rock by yourself."

It was obvious that Hisoka wasn't interested in fighting Kuroro unless they both had their nen - after all, it was Kuroro's special ability that Hisoka was interested in fighting against.

He crossed his arms idly. "Still, at least this place has provided some entertainment in the meantime."

Kurapika very rarely ventured into the park outside of the morning training sessions, and if he wasn't helping out at the clinic he was attending classes or being dragged around on missions--or vegetating in his apartment, getting even more used to Kuroro's presence with each passing day. He didn't have a lot of free time where he could just sit somewhere by himself, and do nothing but think; the residential areas and the school were both too lively, too populated for him to get any degree of privacy, and it was the same for his shared flat with Kuroro, exactly because Kuroro was his roommate.

So it was natural for him to occasionally get hit with the urge to seek somewhere quiet and green and leafy once in a while - the city's structure meant that the park was the one place that fit his requirements the most, and that was why he was sitting under a tree off one of the many footpaths in the park now, and blankly staring at a book he'd borrowed from the library, not quite seeing the open page on his lap, though, and certainly not really reading the text at the moment.

Hisoka stretched, deciding that it was time to move. Enough people had bothered him today, though there had been a couple of interesting conversations. Making his way towards the edge of the park, he espied a familiar brush of hair from behind a tree. He grinned, a predatory gleam in his eye. Well well well...isn't this interesting.

Moving silently towards the tree, Hisoka casually leaned close to Kurapika's ear and purred softly, "Kurapika. It's been a while. Here without your handler?"

There were a few things that Kurapika swore never to let past his guard, and Hisoka getting to within an inch of his person was one of them. Unfortunately, the lack of nen and his preoccupation made it just a bit difficult to remember to keep an eye out for the older man, and--this was an open park. Just what were the chances of them running into each other in such a vast property, especially when he'd been lying low lately?

It was too late when he realized his folly; the regretfully familiar voice and warm breath ghosting against his ear jolted him out of his distracted thoughts, and he stiffened and shot to his feet, scrambling up and away from the presence he could now feel behind his back, turning around so Hisoka wouldn't be able to sneak up on him again.

It also stopped him being tempted to just run away. He'd never shown fear to Hisoka, and he wasn't going to start now--although that last bit sent apprehension skittering through his thoughts. Kurapika hadn't told Hisoka about his being partnered to Kuroro. Then again, it would be unbelievable if Hisoka still didn't know. The list of pairs in the guest community was public information, after all.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He was still holding on to his book, amazingly enough. The hand holding it tightened its grip, as if grabbing hold of a lifeline.

Hisoka chuckled lightly at the speed in which Kurapika scrambled to get away from him. "You're losing your touch, Kurapika," he said, standing and leaning against the tree. "Don't tell me you were too busy thinking about spiders?" Hisoka put a fair amount of emphasis on the final word, letting Kurapika know full well that he knew Kurapika and Kuroro were partnered.

He produced a card in his hand, flicking it idly between his fingers. The Ten of Spades.

"How the mighty have fallen," he continued with a light air.

[OOC: The card was chosen for a particular reason, but Kurapika probably won't know what it is or even realise it was a deliberate choice LOL! I can let you know OOC for your own interest, if you want ;D]

The flinch he couldn't completely suppress at Hisoka's question expressed itself as a twitch around his eyes, the most subtle of frowns and his stiffening back. How he regretted giving the man a hold on his motivations, even if he got the information he needed in return--the trade had been rendered useless in the end, anyway. Nothing had changed, except maybe himself, and it was obvious what was happening--like a shark drawn to blood, Hisoka was delighting in that change, and he had no real means of defense against it. Kurapika knew that his usual explanations wouldn't work here. His only comfort now was that Hisoka didn't know about the future. Not yet.

Maybe he could escape here like how he slipped himself and Leorio past Hisoka's guard back in the Hunter exam. Every second spent spent lingering in Hisoka's company increased the chances of the older man finding out more about the nature of his partnership with Kuroro, and he was determined not to give away any more details.

"What do you want?" And who the hell allowed Hisoka to get his hands on playing cards? The seemingly flimsy plastic was as good as knives in Hisoka's hands, and the blond eyed the Ten of Spades warily--but maybe for reasons other than what Hisoka intended it to be.

[ooc: I researched, and Google says it means emotional anguish, worry or grief? Is that right?]

Hisoka noticed Kurapika eyeing the card and let out a laugh. "Are you afraid I'll use my cards, Kurapika?" he drawled tauntingly, pulling out the rest of the deck and flicking it between each hand with graceful ease. "I'd be more concerned about your current situation. You're either playing a very clever game, or have become entangled in a spider's web."

Hisoka's amused eyes never left Kurapika's face. "I'm going to guess the latter."

"I do have to wonder how it happened," he continued idly. "Given your hatred of the Ryodan. Or are you hoping he's changed, and that the special bond you now share makes up for the death of all your people at his hand?" Hisoka raised an amused eyebrow.

[Ooc: yeah, that's it - it also means personal destruction ;) ]

"I don't have to explain my decisions to you," Kurapika replied, somehow managing to keep his voice level even as something at the back of his head started panicking at the words "special bond". It was a decision of convenience, practicality - the question of whether he'd forgiven Kuroro or not didn't matter, or shouldn't matter. (Didn't really matter, since all his dislike was one-sided and Kuroro refused to answer his challenges.)

"And I'm just concerned," he corrected, almost spitting the words out, anger being his default defense mechanism to interrogations regarding his relation with Kuroro. "The fact that you've been brought here means you're supposed to be an ally, but I'm not convinced that you're not going to go on a killing spree on a whim, anyway."

It wasn't just defensive anger, either - it was anger at how easily Hisoka was giving voice to doubts he'd been nursing the past few months. Fear that he was now knee-deep in an agreement he'd never get out of, personal recriminations at how docile he'd become, sudden, hot rage that Hisoka was now digging it all up again after his agonizing--and ongoing struggle with his issues.

[ooc: Kurapika's going to be furious if he ever finds out what it means. ;;;]

Hisoka gave Kurapika an annoyingly amusing smile as he flicked the cards effortlessly.

"Of course you don't. But you do have to explain them to yourself. Does your excuse satisfy your actions Kurapika? Are you really happy with the decisions you've made? Are you content in knowledge that you've betrayed your own people?."

Hisoka was deliberately playing devil's advocate...and he knew he was winning.

"And as to why BREW brought me here, well that's pretty obvious, isn't it? However I choose my own fights. I'll kill who I want when I feel like it. Whether that helps or hinders in this war, well, you'll just have to wait and see."

[Good thing he probably won't XD. But it would just amuse Hisoka even more LOL]

The shuffle of cards and the sound of the stiff plastic getting flicked from hand to hand was maddening, as bad as a ticking clock, dripping water in a silent room, and Kurapika had to resist the urge to shake his head just to break away from the pace Hisoka had set for the conversation.

"It's none of your business how I deal with my issues," the blond ground out through gritted teeth. "I've been here for months, don't you dare presume to speak for me or my clan. I know what I'm doing, and it's certainly better than the flighty way you deal with things."

Hisoka smirked. It was so easy to ruffle Kurapika's feathers. Or perhaps I should say, rattle his chains, he thought to himself in amusement.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm just showing friendly concern for your wellbeing, Kurapika. I'd hate for you to fall into a situation you can't get yourself out of," he replied smoothly.

"And at least I'm honest with myself, which is more that we can both probably say about you right now." Hisoka let the 'flighty' comment slide - everything he did was for a specific reason, however there was no need to remind Kurapika of that just now.

"I don't need your concern, nor do I need to a lecture about honesty from a pathological liar such as yourself," Kurapika managed to retort--he was finding it easier to breathe now that it didn't look like he was in any danger of getting attacked, except Hisoka's taunting was just as lethal as any physical attacks he might launch.

His foot edged back, testing to see what would happen if he showed any hint of wanting to leave. He should have left earlier. It was too late to turn away now without looking exactly like he was running away from the conversation.

(The funny thing about all this was that he'd never been more honest with himself than when he finally made the decision to partner permanently with Kuroro.)

Hisoka smiled slightly. "What have I lied to you about, Kurapika?" he replied back smoothly. He waved a hand idly. "No matter. Just remember that you were warned."

He was inwardly amused as he watched Kurapika edge backwards, like a trapped animal trying to flee. Hisoka had no intention of preventing the younger man from leaving. He'd had his fun for the day. Now he was just going to wait and see how Kurapika would extract himself from the conversation.

It was true that Hisoka had never outright lied to him, but there had been instances of him not being completely truthful, either, especially when it suited him to hold back on information--such as following Pakunoda to the site of the hostage exchange because he wanted to fight Kuroro after Kurapika released him. There were other things, too, stories Gon and Killua told him, and that pervading, suspicious air that Hisoka naturally possessed, even here without his nen. He had no doubt that Hisoka would tell him a bald-faced lie now if it suited his purposes, and Kurapika showed his disagreement by narrowing his eyes--a warning, short of baring his teeth.

It was through sheer effort of will that he managed to turn away to the side and start walking normally. He kept his gaze on Hisoka for the first dozen steps, but eventually had to look forward after it became impractical to keep his vision trained on the older man.

Bored from lack of killing [OPEN]

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/)_(\ Please tell me if it's not okay for her to rip it? I'll change it ASAP if so, sorrysorry sob.

OMG that's awesome XDD believe me, thats FIIIINE ;D

Oh my god so many grammarfails. I'M DONE NOW I SWEAR.

LOL no probs ;D

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SORRY FOR MY FAILNESS >< -offers chocolate-

Welcome back! Do you have Halloween plans for Hisoka? XD

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SORRY FOR THE FAIL >< -piles flowers on-

/scream welcome back!!!

Okay! I AM BACK AGAIN TO TORMENT KURAPIKA!

I shouldn't be so excited for this lmao.

Admit it - you live for the interaction between these two XD

only because your Hisoka is amazing

You're too nice <3. sorry for the delay!

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this thread...

Lets wrap this one up? LOL!

hahaha yes