IC Contact

[kissofthewhip]

[I guess there's really no way to leave a sassy welcome message in one's brain to greet those trying to get in touch with him with.

So just leave a message.

Mavros shall attend to each promptly.]

Comments

[frog_mouth]

[No, he wants to say, and he wants to say it furiously, powerfully, but instead:]

What I want is of no consequence. A criminal has no say in his sentencing.

[kissofthewhip]

And here we are, criminals both. Ah, and I a heretic on top.

I have deferred to your laws in the past, messire. Perhaps this time you should take on mine.

[frog_mouth]

[He closes his eyes - squeezes them shut - and says:]

I'll pay the penance you want me to pay, Mr. Shahrizai. But I do not see the justice in that penance being making you suffer.

[kissofthewhip]

Kushiel's justice ends with his mercy.

And with it forgiveness. [Which he desperately needs to have so he does not go mad.] You cannot earn it without suffering.

...you might find it goes both ways.

[frog_mouth]

[He looks up, and, eternal pessimist, assumes that what goes both ways is - ]

Suffering?

[kissofthewhip]

[Oh, Edgeworth.

Mavros laughs and there's a flicker of amusement not so trodden in there.]

Forgiveness, messire.

Though the suffering is there no matter what.

[frog_mouth]

[He looks up, then. There's not much comfort taken in the man's amusement, but...It's observed.]

But as I've said, I see nothing to forgive in your acts.

[Still...]

So what will it consist of? Am I to strike you, then?

[kissofthewhip]

Aside from those violations. [Or not even those?]

[Mavros' amusement fades. Here, he's pushed for this but he has no stomach to dictate or even suggest more whips and more chains.

He cannot dictate that anyway. His amusement is fleeting.]

That is for you to decide however you wish, in whatever way that you think just punishment for the injury I placed on you.

[frog_mouth]

[He closes his eyes and takes a breath. Perhaps this is penance indeed, then: he'll do this, go forward with this, make himself feel a monster again. If it will bring Mavros some comfort.]

What form does it usually take?

[kissofthewhip]

[His lips thin and he has to take a breath of his own.] I can only speak to what goes on in Kushiel's temples for those seeking atonement.

And that is scourging.

Tied to a post and lashed with a flogger of braided leather and tipped with metal. Then follows confession and then salt water is poured over one's flesh to give one last wash of pain to end it all.

[frog_mouth]

[His eyes widen just a touch; his lips turn down further still. His voice is harsh.]

I am not doing that. I am sorry if it does not - But I am not going to do that.

[kissofthewhip]

You did ask, messire. [Mavros shrugs. He'll happily live without having his back ruined again. He's finally healed from the first time.]

[frog_mouth]

[He runs his hand over his mouth, closes his eyes - a small acknowledgment that he did indeed. After a moment:]

For your peace of mind, do you want something that brutal? Or would you be content if I do...not?

[kissofthewhip]

I cannot simply tell you how you should extract retribution. [Unhelpful but honestly...]

What do you want to do? [He challenges.] Something's crossed your mind, I know it.

[frog_mouth]

[What he wants to do? Nothing, he says to himself, strongly, fiercely, and yet -

He remembers going home, both times, and standing in the shower, eyes closed, breathing hard, his back pressed against the wall of the stall. He'd gripped at his arms, and thought of the shamelessness - the whorishness he'd shown, the way he'd then been pushed down into the couch having uttered his call for freedom twice, ignored both times. He'd just thought - God, if Mavros had just listened to him, had just listened, and what sort of man claimed something "sacred" but then ignored it merely because of his -

No. He bears no grudge against him. There's no desire for any retribution. No.]

I wish to convince you of your lack of culpability.

[But he looks away. Doesn't meet his eyes.]

[kissofthewhip]

[If he must push, he will push.]

Let us not add 'liar' to your litany, Miles Edgeworth.

[frog_mouth]

[He looks up, and there's the slightest flash of anger amidst his sorrow and guilt. He shoves it down, considers it unworthy.]

What would you have me say? That I envisioned doing the opposite? Ignoring your safeword? I am a man of the law, sir, and do not hold to committing transgressions to punish transgressions.

[kissofthewhip]

[There the thread of red to tug on and keep.]

I will have no signale in this messire. You will break no laws acting as Kushiel would against a sinner that come to him.

[He gets up.] Think. If you need inspiration so desperately - I'll tell you that I carved that of House Shahrizai's key into my cousin's chest for his penance. And with that we were even.

I will be back. [And goes to the counter to finally get some drink. Leaving Edgeworth to percolate tends to do result in something.]

[frog_mouth]

[As soon as Mavros' back is turned, Edgeworth's expression crumples for just a moment into something resembling cold grief. He's a criminal, or as good as one - not one year before, he'd found that the crime that he'd thought he'd borne upon his shoulders was nothing. But he was no longer freed of that weight...

But never had he been blameless. Never had he been free of stain. Because even if the dark mark of that first crime had been washed away, the fact remained that he'd tarnished himself hundreds of times over since then. Men and women, deprived of freedom, some doubtless innocent. And he, coward, had run away from that crime. He'd been unable to face them.

Always a coward. Running away from Mavros, too - not staying to help him. As though running away could eradicate his sin. As though it could undo the damage that had been done. The least he can do is this. For the Demon Prosecutor always did act the evil man in order to atone, did he not?

When Mavros comes back, he has but five words for him.]

You will have a signale.

[kissofthewhip]

[The cafe does serve Mavros' newest addiction but he cannot dredge up the want for something that will leave him so intensely alert. Instead he flashes a smile lovely enough but far from his eyes to the girl behind the counter and earns the tea that she deems the best in the shop for his meager efforts.

...he has no idea what he's doing and only now does he realize he's been playing up some fantasy of how this would go. He would offer himself; Edgeworth would clearly see he deserved to be punished and then do so with minimal pause and little hesitation. It would purge the sickness in him which had rooted instead the hulking lust. It would make things even. He would no longer be so agonized over what he did because Edgeworth would have his own satisfaction that he took what he needed out on him to erase the horror of it all.

That's what he wanted.

Juggling Edgeworth's guilt, coercing him into what he needed to do wasn't in the plan. Mavros has to wonder in he's violating him again, pressing as he is even if he can see the cracks whispering everything against the words that come from Edgeworth's lips.

The man's decree stops him with his hand on the back of the chair. Mavros opens his mouth with his brow furrowing in protest and then closes it.

He seats himself and sets the cup down.]

As you wish.

[frog_mouth]

[The hesitation twists him a bit tenser, but the agreement undoes some of that. He nods once and tries to hide his relief. Because even if he hated Mavros, he couldn't do this if he felt he was harming him. He couldn't do it if he felt he was coercing him. Even if he does now bear the stain of having in essence raped the man, however unknowingly, he cannot compound that crime, even if that sort of abuse is what Mavros craves.

Which is foolish. It was always so foolish. The Demon Prosecutor was supposed to be cruel and heartless, wasn't he? It was just that he was able to be cruel when others were administering the true cruelty. If he has someone under his hand, he can't draw true suffering from them. He never could. Too squeamish.

Still. He'll do what he can.]

And you will not merely have it: you will use it. You wish me to determine how it shall go. How it shall go is this: if you want it to stop, you will say as much. If I see you allowing yourself to be pushed beyond your limits, then I'll stop at once and send you away without any possibility for further atonement. Understood?

[kissofthewhip]

[His jaw tenses but he nods -- somewhat glad there's that automatic resistance of someone ordering him about. That's still there, he's not the creature they poisoned him to be and giving himself over to Edgeworth is a completely different situation than being submissive which is not his nature.

Edgeworth is smart to knot off those loopholes.]

Yes, it's understood.

[And?]

[frog_mouth]

[He nods once.]

I will want a block of twelve hours for this. I'll want you to come fully rested, fed and hydrated, not under the influence of anything. Tell me, then, when will be the earliest opportunity for that.

[kissofthewhip]

Two days from now. I have no work and I shall clear the rest of my calling rounds.

[Fully rested...

He'll see what he can manage.]

[frog_mouth]

[Another short nod. Finally:]

In two days, then. We'll meet at my apartment. When you come, I want you to come with a written list of acts that you do not wish to do or are reluctant to do. The first few minutes will be spent reviewing this list and having a frank discussion about your expectations and desires. Understood?