IC Contact (Duplicity)

[detectivedwloki]

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[detectivedwloki]

Because something's in here.

[He gives Belial a very pointed look, as if silently demanding a confession.]

[varnish]

You sound so sure of it.

[The rattling stops, but a different sound picks up. It seems as if something is dragging along the ceiling.]

You don’t suppose my house is haunted, do you?

[detectivedwloki]

[Now David's attention is more focused on the sound, his eyes fixed upward and frowning.]

Maybe it is.

[He says carefully.]

[varnish]

How peculiar…

[He trails off but continues to “search” through a bookshelf for those keys.

From behind David’s head, a shadow looms, and if the detective’s reflexes are quick enough, he’ll turn to find Belial’s pet snake dangling from the rafters, her head close and her tongue flicking out… while a tiny pair of keys hang around her neck.]

[detectivedwloki]

[He does have good reflexes, especially as on alert as he is right now and he turns as he catches sight of the shadow from the corner of his eye then lets out a cry of alarm, stumbling back even as he twists around and landing on his ass with a thump on the floor.]

Fuck!

[varnish]

[Startled from the sudden reaction, Lucy twitches back and hisses in warning. Belial meanwhile observes the entire interaction out of the corner of his eye and does his best to avoid laughing out loud when the detective hits the floor. Yikes.]

Oh, Lucy-chan, was that you sneaking around? You’ve gone and startled our guest.

[He crouched down beside David and peers up at the large snake like a proud parent.]

Isn’t she stunning?

[detectivedwloki]

Ah, your fucking snake...

[David mutters, embarrassed but he'd been startled and he wasn't overly fond of snakes. He doesn't yet get up, catching his breath. His heart was beating a little too fast.]

Shouldn't that be in a cage?

[varnish]

She has free rein whenever she wants.

[he says, mildly offended. Lucy flicks her tongue out then puffs up her body so she can release yet another loud hiss. Belial gives a low whistle.]

Ooh, she doesn’t much appreciate your tone, detective. Are you scared of her or something?

[detectivedwloki]

[He winces at the hiss, looking from Lucy to Belial again. More frowning.]

It's natural to have some fear for things that can hurt you.

[varnish]

You know… serpents get such a bad rap. She’s actually quite gentle. Aren’t you, sweetheart?

[Lucy continues to stare at David with those piercing blue eyes. She sure doesn’t look gentle at the moment. Belial leans in closer in the meantime and lowers his voice to a near whisper.]

See? She even brought your keys for you.

[detectivedwloki]

You set this up, didn't you?

[David says accusingly.]

[varnish]

Lucy has complete free will. I would never make her do anything she doesn’t want to.

[She clearly decided to wear the keys around her neck and bring them over herself, silly. Speaking of which, she lifts her head again and slithers along the rafters rather than lowering herself down to their level.]

And right now it looks like she doesn’t feel like giving you the other half of your present. You might wanna try being nicer.

[detectivedwloki]

But you omitted the keys in the first place.

[He counters. His eyes follow the trail of Lucy as she moves, backing up a bit by shuffling his butt along the ground, arms behind him for support as he looks upward.]

[varnish]

They shipped separately. Not my fault they had to get to you late.

[he lies as he too watches his snake move above them.]

Come to daddy now, Lucy-chan. You really should say hello~

[It takes her a moment, but she finally slips through an opening, onto a bookshelf, and down onto the floor so she can draw close. If David stays still long enough, Lucy will make an attempt to slide between his legs and lift her head up. If not, she’ll just make her way around to Belial’s side where she’s most comfortable. Either way, she’s going to be uncomfortably close.]

[detectivedwloki]

[David twitches, freezes and stays where he is as the snake moves closer. Too close.]

Call her away.

[He speaks tensely.]

[varnish]

She’s curious though. Maybe you smell nice.

[Belial stays crouched at David’s side, his voice low while Lucy keeps moving. She huffs and flicks her tongue as she inches in toward the detective’s face.]

Come to think of it… it’s almost her feeding time. Isn’t it, sweetheart?

[detectivedwloki]

Are you threatening me with your pet snake?

[He stays frozen in place but turns his eyes toward Belial, trying to break the mood with an innuendo he hopes sounds flirty.]

I'd rather see your other snake.

[varnish]

[He tilts his head. Oh, is that the game he wants to play?]

Are you flirting with me, detective?

[detectivedwloki]

Well, I'm not flirting with Lucy.

[He answers pointedly.]

[varnish]

[Belial nods at Lucy to which she flickers her tongue out again, aiming to brush it against David’s forehead.]

You saying she’s not pretty?

[detectivedwloki]

Ah, fuck!

[He jerks away, floundering a bit.]

[varnish]

Oi, oi. You’re so jittery today. Did you already have some coffee before coming over?

[Lucy stays where she is while Belial reaches out to place his hands on David’s shoulders, holding him in place.]

[detectivedwloki]

[David scowls as Belial touches him and tenses more.]

Running into snakes isn't my favorite thing to do.

[varnish]

Does it happen often?

[Belial leans in and purrs into David’s ear. Meanwhile, he locks eyes with Lucy who finally stretches up and draped herself over one of the detective’s shoulders. She doesn’t seem keen on sticking around for long. More than anything, it seems she’s just slithering across him because he happens to be in the way.]

[detectivedwloki]

[His shoulders tense even further but he doesn't think lashing out was a wise idea right now - much as he wants to.]

Not often but it's memorable when it happens.