week 3 ( tuesday )

[subordinacy]

[Yo, Izaya. On this fine, sushi-less day (so, probably not all that fine for Izaya), Setz decides it's time to have a talk with him, so here they are.

As Setz approaches him, he'll be nice enough to speak so that Izaya knows who it is. The monotone, to be honest, also probably helps give him away.]

Izaya Orihara.

Comments

[voyeur]

He reminded me a lot of the people I used to work for, back at home. Like I said, I was an information broker, you know? So I like to think I have a good sense for who to pick out to be used by.

[he could just say 'to work for'

he will not]

[subordinacy]

[WHY DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE THIS WEIRD, IZAYA.]

That, ah, sounds... ["like something I didn't need to know after all"] ... rather one-sided.

[voyeur]

Not at all. Rather, it's my pleasure to be used by him for as long as possible. I find my position with relation to him really fulfilling, so I'm completely happy with it.

[im sorry im so sorry]

[subordinacy]

[Something about this conversation feels distinctly inappropriate but Setz can't quite put his finger on what.........]

And what would happen if you, um, no longer found your... position with relation to him fulfilling?

[voyeur]

I'd betray him, of course. Jacopo already knows that.

[Obviously]

However, I have no doubts that I'll be completely content with him for the rest of this Game. That's simply the kind of human being that Jacopo is.

[subordinacy]

[...]

Then, what kind of human being do you think he is, exactly?

[PLEASE DON'T MAKE THIS WEIRD AGAIN, setz internally begs.]

[voyeur]

Haven't you noticed? You're his partner, so I think it would be obvious to you above anyone else.

Jacopo is a fanatic.

[subordinacy]

... Which is to say...?

[voyeur]

“Fanaticism” in Japanese is the character for “heat” followed by the character for “insanity.” Did you know that? People can be rendered insane by heat, or they can be insane about the heat itself. Or, heat can rage inside them, making them insane. That happens, too. A heated passion for humans can rage inside someone.

Jacopo has that heat. Loving fanatically, hating fanatically: he's someone who is driven insane by the extremes of passions. In other words, he's someone who's like a tempest. Haha, or maybe I should say like an Othello? Fuelling the flames of his own fire, he won't burn out.

That's why I don't doubt that I want to stick with him. He'll keep this storm going until the end.

[subordinacy]

[Okay, this got weird again.]

So, you're with him because you think he can make an impact? Or because you find him entertaining?

[voyeur]

[setz is lying to himself if he think it ever stopped]

They're the same thing. Not to say that I don't love humans who have no impact on the world and live their ordinary lives. Yeah, they, too, are beloved to me. However, what I like best, and what I will trust in to protect my existence in this game, is someone who can make an impact in this game.

[subordinacy]

[HE WANTED TO BELIEVE.

Izaya's profession of love towards humans is, uh, more than a little bizarre, especially to someone who's secretly not one.]

Well, if there's anyone who can do that, it's definitely Jacopo... I don't think even erasure could stop him.

[voyeur]

Hahah, probably not. He's someone with that kind of resolve, right? I love that about him, too.

[subordinacy]

[...]

Do you have to keep using that choice of words?

[voyeur]

What's wrong with it? It's the truth of how I feel, so isn't it how I should say it?

[subordinacy]

You're... rather open about how you feel.

[voyeur]

I don't know if that's a totally fair criticism to level. After all, aren't you the one who came here to ask me about my relationship with Jacopo? Rather than inappropriate, I think instead it was a sign of courtesy that I've been so open and honest about exactly what you've asked.

[subordinacy]

[he didn't!! want to know!! about your ust!!]

Considering he's my partner, I have a certain investment in knowing what others think of him. But... [awkward pause, and then, as if it's killing him to say this,] ... thank you, I suppose.

[voyeur]

[Setz. You didn't have to. Please don't.]

Of course. Ah... We didn't have time to be close, but even so, I regret the loss of my first partner. [The smile turns bitter, not quite melancholy] I think Lion would have been someone who I could have really grown attached to.

At any rate, Jacopo is very dear to me, and I know you're very dear to him. That's why I'll do my best to support and protect you, too.

[subordinacy]

... I'm sorry.

[That's for Lion. Then Izaya continues, and, uh. Not that Izaya can see it because he's fucking blind, but Izaya putting Jacopo's sentiments so bluntly kind of breaks Setz's brain.

(Also, what the hell has Jacopo been saying about him, or did everyone see/"see" him try and beat up Shinssin?)

So, yeah. Izaya just gets dead silence.]

[voyeur]

[Hm. Well, dead silence sure is a problem for him, a blind man.

Let's see if his phone can help.]

PAPA'S DISGRUNTLED TEENAGED CHILD FAILING TO PROCESS BLUNT STATEMENT OF AFFECTION.

Oh, thanks, phone! Haha, yeah, it's really like that. I know this can't be a surprise to you, but I think that his affection for you should be obvious to anyone else, too.

[subordinacy]

[This, uh, is still a bit of a surprise to him, actually.]

I... what?

[He and Jacopo have mostly just argued in public?? (Amidst Jacopo's random protective fits, which still weird him out?) How???]

[voyeur]

Haven't you heard about his fight with Assassin? On top of that, there's how protective he gets of you when we talk in private. I think he'd be willing to be Erased if it meant you made it to the end. He really likes you that much. To put it in terms that would be appropriate to him, I'd say that for him, you're "part of the family."

[Or rather, Family, because he is damn sure Jacopo is a mafioso. Izaya hasn't spent his adult life working with yakuza not to be able to spot them.]

[subordinacy]

Please don't remind me of that fight.

[He prefers to pretend... it didn't exist... Anyhow, he has no idea how to process half of what Izaya's saying, so:]

... I'm surprised he doesn't just complain about my behaviour in private.

[voyeur]

He does that, too. But it's affectionate, you know? Like when you can tell that someone really cares about someone because they wouldn't complain that way if they didn't.