pricelesstears | @indensity.

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[ When Chuuya comes to, the room he will wake up in is dark, without any windows. The walls are as gray as the floor, and it all seems to run together. The entire room is nondescript; it could easily be a basement anywhere. Chuuya is chained to the wall, both feet and hands shackled in heavy metal.

To counteract his powers, he's been given military grade ability nullification drugs, on top of a cocktail of other medication meant to keep him drowsy and disoriented. The Hunting Dogs had done their research; they knew Chuuya of all people wouldn't be easy to keep down. He'd be near impossible, if not completely impossible, to break, too, which is precisely the reason that Jouno wanted to be the one to interrogate him. The sound of someone strong finally shattering in front of him has always been music to his ears.

It's the subtle shift in Chuuya's breathing that lets Jouno know the mafia executive has woken up. ]

Nakahara Chuuya-san. You won't mind if I pull up a seat, do you? We have a lot to talk about.

[ Regardless of the response, Jouno takes a folding chair from beside the door and unfolds it, placing it right in front of where Chuuya is held. It's close enough that he can reach out and touch him if he wants to, though for now, it seems he has no plans to do so right away. A conversation is always a good place to start, and if Chuuya chooses not to cooperate, the taser Jouno's spinning in his hands might help loosen his lips. ]

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[Chuuya might be conscious, but he's still not fully there. His head feels like it's being suffocated by thick fog, and the pressure of it spreads into a headache as he fights to wake himself up, figure out what's going on. He doesn't immediately realize that something is wrong. He shifts, pulls on the restraints, the metal clinking.

It's a few moments. Then Chuuya stills, catching on. He tries to activate Tainted, his gut clenching when it feels like there's nothing there.

His eyes are open now, flickering around the room before settling on the man in front of him. He still isn't thinking clearly, but he can at least tell what kind of situation he's in.]

We do. [The words are a little bit slurred, and his throat is dry.] How do you want to die?

I don't think you're in the position to be making threats right now.

[ From what he'd heard about Chuuya's explosive temper, Jouno doubts they'll stop any time soon. ]

You're trying to activate your ability. Don't bother. We were sure to pump you full of enough suppressants to stop a god.

[ He flashes Chuuya a warm smile, sinister in it's own way. ]

Should I give you a little more time to wake up? I know not everyone is a morning person.

[Chuuya doesn't stop trying, doesn't stop reaching through that fog. The drugs will wear off, unless they keep injecting him, and all he needs is a second to get free and kill this man, and everyone he works with.]

I'll just crush you. You'll die quick.

[The situation really is bad, though. He has no idea how he ended up here, but kidnapping a mafia executive means the entire Port Mafia might be at risk. They shouldn't have been able to get to him, and he does need to know how, but he can't remember anything suspicious at all. He can't remember anything since leaving his apartment in the morning.

He has no idea how much time has passed.]

I don't need any time. Get on with it.

[ Keep injecting him is precisely what the Hunting Dog plans to do, though for now, he'll let Chuuya talk big. While Chuuya could easily kill Jouno, the threats are empty so long as he's restrained and drugged. For now, Jouno doesn't have to worry about anything. ]

Do you know how we caught you?

[ It seems that Jouno is going to tell him, if only because he knows how highly Chuuya holds his subordinates from the reports. ]

One of your own members betrayed and turned you in.

[Chuuya jerks within the restraints, expression changing into a glare. He'd been angry before, but not like this. He doesn't value his own safety like this. No one betrays the Port Mafia.]

I'll kill them, too, and it won't be quick.

[And he's still sounding confident. He will get out, and he's going to kill them all. Sooner or later, and he'll be fine waiting until later. He can take whatever these assholes are planning.]

Is that so? [ Jouno has no doubt that Chuuya means every word. If Tachihara was caught before returning to the Hunting Dogs, he would surely be tortured to death. The job was always a risky one. ]

I'd love to hear how.

[ He had a job to do, but that didn't stop his curiosity. Hearing how the mafia tortured traitors would surely be as beneficial as it was interesting. He wants to take a slight detour in the interrogation, just to see if he can get Chuuya to spill every terrible thing they'd do to Tachihara. If Tecchou had been there, he surely would have stabbed Jouno to get him back on track. ]

Criminals like you are truly so barbaric.

You're the one who's planning to torture me.

[Chuuya is fully aware of what's going to happen here. He's noticed the taser, and he assumes there are other tools around if that doesn't work. He's already mentally bracing himself for the pain. It's not his first time being tortured, so he knows how much it destroys you, and he knows that he can take it.

So he's not impressed.]

I'll just break every bone in their body, one by one.

What I do is justice.

[ It's not, but the excuse delights him. As a former criminal, he knows well how criminal organizations run. What he does here is not so different from what he did then, only this time he's on the 'correct' side of the law. His co-workers justify their actions with the flimsiest of excuses and act as though their morals are above those they punish.

Jouno sees them for what they are -- two sides of the same coin. ]

Is that what I should do to you? Somehow, I don't think that'd be quite enough.

[ He stands up, hitting a button on the taser and letting it crackle to life. ]

I know you won't break easily, Nakahara-san. Truthfully, you're my favorite kind of criminal.

Bullshit.

[It's not justice. He's not sure he believes in justice, though he knows it's a common excuse. Protecting people, that's a good cause, but even that is still selfish. Protecting someone often means hurting someone else, so you just have to pick whose side you're on.

He watches the taser, his pulse rising slightly as he prepares himself, though he's making sure his expression stays unimpressed. Although -- Can this guy even see? He hasn't opened his eyes even once.]

I won't break at all. You're not the first person to try.

[He still carries the scars from last time, though none of them are visible right now.]

[ Small as it is, the slight raise in pulse is music to Jouno's ears. What other sounds might he be able to draw out of the man? ]

I'm aware. We know quite a bit about you already. Indulge me a little. How long did they keep you? I believe our longest interrogation has been a little under six months, but I wouldn't mind going for much longer.

[ Even if this took years, Jouno didn't mind. Everyone had a breaking point eventually. ]

[Chuuya honestly isn't sure. He'd completely lost track of time, and it could have been ten minutes or it could have been hours, but the thought of going through that for months is terrifying.

It doesn't matter, he tells himself. He just has to get through it.]

I broke free pretty fast.

[That's a lie. Verlaine had freed him, but this man has no way of knowing that, because the N and the scientists helping him were all long dead.]

[ It's the slightest acceleration in Chuuya's heartbeat that tells Jouno that something about his words had scared him. It's impressive, really, that that's the only sign Chuuya gives. His words stay steady and he sounds, by all means, still to be composed.

It's exactly the type of person that makes Jouno most excited. ]

Then you have nothing to worry about here.

[ As he says it, he steps forward, placing a hand on Chuuya's stomach, only for it to snake down to lift up the fabric of his shirt. It might have been seductive were it any other situation. As it is, he just uses the opportunity to tase Chuuya, just above his hip bone. ]

I forgot to ask my question, didn't I?

Edited (we'll never speak of this) 2022-02-09 00:17 (UTC)

[Chuuya is watching Jouno approach, wary but still refusing to show it, forcing himself not to tense up. He knows that if he does tense up, any pain will only end up worse, and it's better to breathe through it.

His whole body jerks when it happens, restraints clanking as his muscles tense and spasm. It's only a second, but the pain of that moment is intense, making his breathing come out harsh and fast. There's no point in trying not to react, he knows that from experience. He just has to let it happen.]

There's no point in asking.

[He won't answer anyway. It doesn't matter what anyone does to him, because he values the Organization so much higher than his own life, his own well being.]

[ The smell of an electrical burn is the first thing that Jouno notices, followed by the loud clanking of metal. He's impressed (and pleased) that Chuuya doesn't yell, though the struggling breath is more than enough sound to tide him over. ]

As much as I'd love to torture you for the sake of it, I am legally required to ask.

[ It's supposed to be an interrogation, after all. ]

I want the Armed Detective Agency's location. We're aware that the Port Mafia is helping them remain underground.

[ He turns the taser on again, though this time, he doesn't immediately move to use it. ]

Aiding and abetting terrorists is a serious offense, but if you cooperate, we can sweep the entire thing under the rug and pretend that the Port Mafia was never involved.

Is that it?

[Chuuya is catching his breath again. A short shock like that won't do any damage, and the pain is already fading, but he knows it won't last. He blinks, refocusing his eyes, and again tries to make sure his body is relaxed.]

Then why don't you check underground?

[As if he cares about another charge, on top of the countless crimes that the Port Mafia has committed, that Chuuya has committed. As if that threat is gonna work when he doesn't trust this guy at all.]

Normally I'd say you should go where the worst of the rotten stench is, but I already found it right here.

[ Jouno shocks him again, smile ever plastered on his face. This time, the shock is for longer. The device vibrates pleasantly in his hand as the crackle of electricity fills the air.

He speaks over the buzz of the taser, even though he knows Chuuya won't be able to respond right away. ]

Why help them if you're not fond of them? Is the Port Mafia that desperate for Dazai to return?

[ Finally, he lets up on the button. ]

He won't be coming back. I made sure of that when I arrested him.

[The pain feels like being stabbed, like being ripped open from the point of the taser. His muscles spasm, wrists pulling on the shackles, hard enough that it will eventually bruise. He doesn't scream, but he knows he will soon.

He needs a few moments to catch his breath before he can talk. He flexes his muscles, opens and closes his hands into fists, trying to shake the numbing sensation that's reminding him of his loss of control. He really hates it. He really wants to kill this man. At least thinking about ways to destroy him gives him something to focus on.]

Have you -- Checked on him recently?

[Dazai. He's going to kick Dazai's ass, too. He's going to kick this man's ass for arresting that piece of shit when they could use him here. He wants to know what the hell his ex-partner is up to, what he's thinking, but there's no way for Chuuya to reach him. If there's one thing he knows, though, it's that there's no prison in the world that can hold Dazai if he doesn't want to stay.

He'll get out. He'll be back.]

[ Chuuya's suffering sounds delectable, like a tasty treat, and they'd only just barely gotten started. Jouno hears every part of it -- the ragged breathing, the way his muscles stretch and contract, even the sound of Chuuya clenching his fists. It's delicious. ]

Personally? I have not. I'm a Hunting Dog, not a prison guard.

[ He doesn't care if Chuuya knows his identity. He has a feeling they'd be growing close over the next few months anyway. It's better if Chuuya understands the situation he's in, too; he'd be more likely to cooperate then -- or maybe he woudln't. Jouno doesn't care either way. ]

He's in Meursault. Escape won't be possible.

[ Meursault is made for people exactly like Dazai, after all. ]

[A Hunting Dog? Chuuya isn't surprised. Of course it would take the Hunting Dogs to capture him, even when they apparently had a traitor on their side. And he's still angry with himself because he should have been strong enough to handle it.]

Meursault? That might slow him down.

[He's heard of that prison. It's supposed to be designed to keep anyone in, no matter how strong and no matter how dangerous. Chuuya laughs, forcing the sound out in spite of the pain, leaning forwards as far as the restraints allow. He refuses to be scared. He is, but he refuses to acknowledge it, when it's so much easier to be violent.]

How long were you planning to keep me here? Six months? That gives us time to bet on his escape.

[And it's not that he expects Dazai to save him. Either the Port Mafia rescues him, or he rescues himself. But one thing he's not is worried about Dazai.]

Or should we bet on whether he gets out before I do?

[ Jouno's impressed, but not surprised, at Chuuya's ability to hold his composure. A Port Mafia executive would be tough by requirement, and he's heard rumors surrounding Chuuya's resolve. His voice is steady, confident even, but he can't control the physical responses to fear. The accelerated heartbeat and the scent of increased sweat are all Jouno needs to know that he's gotten to him, at least a little.

Jouno sets down the taser on a tray nearby, feeling the top of it until his fingers come to what he wants to use next. He wraps his fingers around the handle of a small blade before approaching Chuuya once more. ]

I plan to keep you here much longer than that if I have to. I don't care if it takes years.

[ Though he does pity accounting if that's the case. The budget to keep Chuuya sedated is already high. ]

I don't make bets with criminals.

[ His free hand is on Chuuya's stomach again, fingers ghosting over burnt skin and scars before he positions the knife where the taser had it, turning it so the point of the blade prodded but didn't puncture. ]

[Chuuya is still watching him, watching the way he moves his hands across the tray as if he can't see what's right in front of him. So he'd been right then, the man is blind. Not that it seems to make a difference.]

Coward. You're just scared you'll lose.

[His abs twitch at the touch, tensing and relaxing under Jouno's fingers as Chuuya fights to keep his body under control. He breathes out, and goes still again. He can barely see the blade at this angle, but he can easily feel it.]

It doesn't matter. You'll be dead before I can cash in on the bet.

[ Jouno is unbothered by the threat, ignoring it entirely as he rolls the blade over until it's on it's side, cutting lightly into marred flesh. He can smell the little bit of blood that wells up and marks Chuuya's hip. Licking his lips, he drags the blade upwards, cutting through fabric and slicing up skin.

He clearly doesn't care if he makes a mess of Chuuya's clothing. ]

In that case, I should have my fun with you now.

[ He pulls the blade back for a moment before his hand replaces it, fingers climbing through sticky blood. He curls them, nails digging into the scratch. The wound isn't deep enough for him to finger entirely, but he wants to feel his work if he can't see it. ]

[Chuuya really hates just having to take it. It's not deep, at least. It still hurts, but he'll take that over being electrocuted, and the way the effects build and worsen with each shock. So it's easy not to react --

Until those fingers force just a slight little hiss out of him, more surprise than real pain yet.]

So far this is pretty boring.

[The last time he was tortured, N only had so much time, so he'd used overwhelming pain to try to break Chuuya. He knows this is different. He knows a slow build-up will be worse in the long run.]

I think I'll use gravity on you so you can't move, then set you on fire. Then I'll smash whatver is left into dust.

[ The hiss is small, but it brings a smile to Jouno's face nonetheless. Whether it's from pain or surprise, he doesn't care. It's a reaction, one that Chuuya hadn't been able to hold back. ]

Moderation is key.

[ He pulls his finger back from the wound, smearing a long line of blood from Chuuya's chest down to his stomach. It's warm and sticky on his fingers. ]

If I were to throw everything we have at you, you might break early. It'd be effective, but it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable.

[ He's a sadist, after all. He hadn't joined this line of work out of any real desire for justice. Whether the Armed Detective Agency succeeded or not, morally, he didn't particularly care. Nor does he seem to care about Chuuya's threats. In a way, it'd be poetic, to be set on fire after all the times he's burned other people. ]

[Chuuya's abs twitch again, like he wants to pull himself away from that touch, but there's nowhere for him to go. This person can touch him as much as he likes. But Chuuya really will have his revenge, sooner or later.]

Worse torture doesn't mean someone breaks faster.

[The intense pain he went through when N tortured him didn't make him want to do anything but fight. And while it's never been Chuuya's job to torture people for the Port Mafia, he works with those who do, he's heard their stories.]

But aren't you in a rush to find out what information I know? Or is that just an excuse to do this?

It'd be beneficial to the mission if you told me early on. We could find the Armed Detective Agency and arrest them before they caused any more trouble.

[ Something about the way he says it is a little too nonchalant. It'd be beneficial, yes, but he's only invested in how the mission goes from a professional standpoint, not a moral one.

If they don't learn anything from Chuuya, they'll learn it from someone else. ]

I just want to hear the beat of your heart when you realize that holding out is hopeless.

[ Even if it took months, or years. It'd be expensive, but they were military. They had the resources.

Jouno's hand drifts slightly lower, to the zipper on Chuuya's pants. He says nothing, as if he's silently considering something. Chuuya wouldn't break easily and violence alone wouldn't be enough.

There was a reason they'd chosen Jouno for this particular interrogation over Teruko. ]

But you wouldn't stop torturing me if I did tell you.

[He states it as fact, because he knows that it is. He's not an idiot. Chuuya has other valuable information, enough to give someone a chance at taking down the Port Mafia even, if he did end up spilling it. But that information dies with him.

He also has information on himself. He's a criminal. Of course they're not letting him off easy.

This is... too slow, though. He won't keep pushing for the man to hurry it along, since that would make him seem weak, but waiting is definitely keeping him tense. And the way Jouno keeps touching him is uncomfortable.]

Can't make up your mind on what to do?

I give you my word that I would let you go if you gave us information that led to their arrest.

[ Jouno isn't lying. As corrupt as he is, he does still stand for some form of justice. ]

You are Port Mafia, but our evidence on you is hardly enough for an arrest at this moment. Besides, I'm here to shut down a greater evil.

[ Chuuya's taunt -- because that's what it comes across as -- simply makes Jouno smile. ]

Am I going too slow for you?

[He's not sure he believes it. Letting him go would be a stupid move considering they'll never be able to capture him again. Not that it matters, because he has no intention of giving this asshole any information about anything, no matter what he does.]

I bet you hate that. You're so sure I'm one of the worst criminals around, but you can't prove it.

[The Port Mafia is good at hiding its tracks. Even Chuuya, one of its most openly violent members, doesn't have a single warrant out for his arrest, and never has. They've paid off all the right people to make sure of it.

That doesn't get him out of this situation, but it's at least a satisfying thought to hold on to. Especially since he really doesn't like where this is going.]

Go ahead. Take your time. Mind if I take a nap?

I don't care about that. You could be the most guilty man or completely innocent and it would all be the same to me.

[ Jouno would be doing this regardless. ]

I'd enjoy breaking you either way.

[ The hand that was lingering by Chuuya's zipper unfastens the button of his pants. Chuuya may not break from physical torture, but there was always more that Jouno could do.

Humiliation was always a good start. ]

Go on and take your nap. I'm sure you'll wake up soon enough.

[ The zipper is next, though he leaves it there for now, moving to grab his knife once more. ]

It can get cold in here. I hope you don't mind.

[Chuuya tenses. He's not surprised. He was half naked the last time he was tortured, and this Hunting Dog seems like he wouldn't hesitate to make it worse. But he still can't let it get to him. He'll get through this.

He tries to reach for his ability again, but it just makes his head full fuzzy.]

I never liked being cold.

[He so wishes he could just break these chains and kick the guy's head off his shoulders. It would be so easy if it wasn't for these drugs.]

Is someone like you really pretending to be one of the good guys?

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