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Have you ever wondered what's up with that gas station attendant who sometimes shows up in Inaba's shopping district on rainy days? He's as cheery and smiley as most cognitions. You might even be forgiven for mistaking him as one of them. After all, he only really shows up around the gas station.

But you see, "Izaya Sagiri" has gotten kind of bored of just doing his usual schtick. So, remarkably, he's decided to move.

First, he can be found in the Velvet Room, where he's engaging in a staring contest with Igor. Just standing there, a gas station attendant, smirking as he tries to out-stare Igor and Igor has no choice but to watch him. He howls with laughter. "Man! No wonder your eyes are so bloodshot. Do you ever blink?"

But that's not all. Just for a little added fun, he's elected to visit Iwatodai during the Dark Hour, where he can be found splashing in puddles of blood and chatting it up with the coffins. Yes, really. He's so happy and content despite the eerie green moon above.

Oh, and as for Tokyo... he's going on and off the subways. Multiple times, in fact, as he tries to see if anyone 'real' notices him.

What a weird guy.

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"Ha. Kinda funny how our host just expects us to play around in his pretty little dollhouse and make nice. Get the feeling a lotta the people here aren't so clean. It's a wonder we've only had one explosion so far..."

Or so he's heard. Perhaps there's more juicy gossip he's missed out on. Either way, he's rather nonplussed about the whole situation.

Dove can't help but raise a brow.

"You act as though it's a bad thing there hasn't been more trouble. Why would anyone want more danger?"

The way Izaya describes the way Igor brought them here does ring true somewhere in the back of his mind though. 'Pretty little dollhouse'... Something in him stirs at that description, and he finds himself... annoyed? After all, is that how Igor views them? Just dolls filling a dollhouse? Puppets?

He catches himself, and shakes his head slightly. He has to snap out of the bitter mindset. Igor has shown no such ill will, and if anything the one in his dimension has his back against the wall. It wouldn't behoove him to just yank Dove's chain. There's surely a good, logical explanation behind his desire for the people here to craft bonds, though he doesn't know what it may be.

"Surely the reality of our circumstances isn't quite so cynical. We were brought here to create bonds, correct? Perhaps those that have less pleasant history are simply happier here, or have changed as a result."

He says that, but it doesn't change the doubt that Izaya managed to plant in his mind for a second, intentionally or otherwise.

In fact, there's a very good chance he's saying this more for assuring himself than Izaya.

Edited 2024-03-11 18:51 (UTC)

"Oh, sure, that's the goal, but people are fickle. People get bored. Sometimes even an ordinary guy will break under the pressure, decide he's gonna have some 'fun,' and kickstart a chain of events that cause two casualties and lead a bunch of plucky teens on a wild goose chase while they try to prevent any more murders."

Despite the heavy words, he plays it off with a shrug, much too nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

"All I'm saying is that it just takes one person to break. One person to decide they're gonna shake things up, and soon this whole place'll go up in smoke. Doesn't matter if there are no permanent consequences. Hell, it might even give further incentive."

`One person to break'... It's true, with no lingering consequences (At least not in regards to their surroundings), people could be tempted to do whatever they want.

The idea of himself being struck by that temptation strikes him, and just for a moment he thinks of that other life it seems he had before this. Would he have done that? Would he have been the one to 'shake things up', without concern for others? He digs a little too deeply into the hypotheticals, and finds himself cringing slightly from a headache.

No, stop thinking about that... Think about the actual words and how to respond.

"...You may be correct. In theory someone could decide that things are stale. That it would be more 'fun' to cause an explosion or set fire to something... but only a fool would do so, surrounded by multiple people with the power and good will to do something about it. Such as myself, and some of the others I've met during my time here."

Does he really count towards them, with his low level of power and his past? He's uncertain, but he's sure that Crow and others like him would be able to stand against a troublemaker.

"I would recommend you don't underestimate the 'plucky teens', especially not the ones here."

"Heard there was an explosion a while back, but it was before I got here. Too bad. Sounds like it would've been one helluva show." He snickers, as if it's the most hilarious thing to envision. "With all the Akechis hangin' around, I'm surprised nobody's done anything to the Diet yet. C'mon! It's right there, just waitin' for a little 'TLC.'"

Dove frowns at the 'all of the Akechis' comment. Izaya makes it sound as though all of them would just cause chaos for no reason, which surely isn't the case.

...Surely.

Now that he thinks of it though... They're all connected to Shido, aren't they? That unfortunately includes himself. So... it would make sense of the Diet building was vandalized or some sort of thing.

"If it hasn't happened yet, then chances are that it won't. Perhaps they all have reasons for avoiding the Diet."

Honestly, he wouldn't blame them. Who out of them would want to be around that place with all the memories it has to carry for them?

"I certainly have no intent on visiting it."

"Pretty sure they had plans. They just keep gettin' put off. Too bad... it'd be one helluva show."

All that pent up rage and resentment given an outlet. Hoo boy. Just what kinda crazy stunts would they pull to get some shallow semblance of catharsis?

And something shifts within Dove as he feels a growing irritation build up in his chest.

"Perhaps you believe so, but you shouldn't be placing thoughts in peoples' heads. You don't know what any of us are thinking. You're..."

He feels a headache come on again, and he cringes as he continues.

"...You just want chaos to alleviate your own boredom. Frankly, I find that to be quite immature. I recommend finding another outlet for it."

He's not even sure why he's getting so mad, he's never felt so... so irritated and angry before. Honestly? It's kind of frightening.

And the worst part? It feels natural feeling angry. Like an old, familiar friend.

Izaya bursts out laughing. Holy shit. He's so serious about this. Then again, most of those Akechi types are. Ha... Now, that's good entertainment.

"Now there's those teeth and claws. Been wonderin' what it'd take to bring 'em out."

Dove is taken off guard briefly before the realization hits him. Izaya was fishing for his anger the whole time. Of course, he should have realized...!

He can't help but grimace a bit as the headache pulses a bit more.

"Shut up..."

He finds himself mumbling slightly. The words feel paradoxically natural and unnatural, something that feels... well, it's not a good feeling, to say the least.

"You got your reaction... Are you happy? Did it make you any less bored?"

Being played is infuriating, he feels like... He doesn't know, but he's certainly ashamed of himself, that's for sure. And angry. He feels angry, and he can't seem to keep it down. His expression is clearly conflicted between a twinge of pain and his irritation.

Izaya watches closely, almost probingly so. "Oh, I'm very entertained." Oh, look at that. He's giving more and more. Excellent. "Maybe the fog's finally starting to part around you..."

Dove forgets himself. He forgets he's the nice, polite, dependable Detective Prince, leader of the Phantom Thieves, and friend and confidant to multiple people.

Instead, he finds himself unwittingly channeling something he had long forgotten... Negativity.

The look in his eyes is bitter and fierce. He's been straining against the puppeteer's strings, and there's finally something to show for it.

Even as the migraine becomes more powerful, he glares at Izaya with that look.

"'Fog'...?"

He shakes his head, trying to process exactly what's going on. All of the negative feelings welling up inside of him.

"No, I... Damn it! What is this...?!"

"Ha! There it is. Little cracks in the foundation. You're definitely less of a lost cause than that Sparrow kid..."

It's probably not all that reassuring that Izaya's grinning about this. That he laughed.

Dove holds his head with one hand, glaring at Izaya with a sharp, burning hatred he hasn't felt in... ever, that he recalls. And yet it feels so normal, he would almost swear it was how he is meant to feel.

The grin and laughter makes his stomach curl, but something in particular irritates him even more...

"And who are you to say that Sparrow is a lost cause?!"

He's so sick and tired of people treating Sparrow badly. He doesn't deserve that kind of talk...

But after saying that, he pauses, realizing something... He can't help but chuckle darkly.

"Hahaha... Is this what hatred feels like...?"

Some part of him realizes he needs to disengage. If he keeps it up, the headache might prove too much for him...

He actually starts backing away a bit from Izaya, though not taking his eyes off of him.

"...I... I'm leaving... Don't talk about Sparrow like that again."

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