#goreburdened || dellinger

[medicus-mortem]

@goreburdened asked: "hey, hey, big bro law? you look like shit!" dellinger cackles in glee, pupils dilated as he takes in the older male's ragged appearance. the half breed had been enticed by the smell of blood to this spot, but to think it was the family's long lost grumpy child all grown up instead of a random person. how wild! the blond could barely remember him, but his expression was virtually the same in hazy, barely there memories. broody & spiteful. dellinger excitedly clicks his shoes on the crackled pavement like a bull about to charge, dark heels already soaked in blood. "eek, you're lucky doffy wants to gut you himself!" he titters & giggles. "otherwise I'd do it!" Unprompted

Everything aches but that's nothing new to the Surgeon of Death. What really has him irritated is the heavy exhaustion weighing him down. Chained to the Heart Seat, that throne he never truly wanted but, by the way Doflamingo spoke, this very chair has been waiting for him. Kept empty in preparation of his return. Who knew Doffy could be so fucking obsessive. It might add to Law's ego if it wasn't so damn creepy.

Footsteps herald someone's approach and Law tenses, expecting the pink bastard to walk through those double doors once again. Preparing himself to be drawn back into that exhausting battle of words and wit that is talking to the manipulative bastard. Instead, he sees a vaguely unfamiliar face stroll in. Oh, yes, Law knows who Dellinger is. He did his research, but this kid has certainly grown since Law last saw him. He was just a baby when Law left, a poor defenceless child about to grow up in this fucked up family.

The doctor slouches and sighs in annoyance. This is not ideal but he does feel some sympathy for the kid. It's not his fault he's been turned into a feral monster by Doflamingo. Not his fault that bastard's strings wrap so tightly around his throat. He's nothing but a tool to be used and he doesn't know it.

"Ah, it's the feral fish. Excellent," Law drawls, features as grim as his current circumstances demand them to be. "This day can't get any better."

Part of him wishes he was talking to Baby 5 right now. He could manipulate her into turning on Doflamingo. Not likely to do that with this kid. He's too indoctrinated. Probably has some inferiority complex and a real need to please Doffy. Wonder if that has anything to do with Joker's disappointment with losing his preferred and chosen protege. Maybe Law can use that to manipulate the kid into accidentally setting him free.

"Sounds like you got a real poor grasp on what your beloved boss man wants to do with me," Law continues, deciding to poke at the kid.

[mingos]

@goreburdened (vergo) said: "good evening, young master." vergo greets his king as he quietly slips inside the other's personal chambers, briefly eyeing the wide spread of half-plundered alcohol on the polished wood table before focusing back on doflamingo's hunched form; otherwise flat expression pinched with an inkling of guilt behind his shades. "I deeply apologize for missing dinner, doffy. some unexpected complications occurred right before I could return in the time expected." he continues to report, thinking back to dellinger blurting out to him about the blond's sour mood earlier, that definitely still remained, even hours later into the night. a helpful heads up indeed, but sometimes that child needed to be more subtle. there was no need to broadcast such information like it was juicy gossip. "... would you like to be left alone for the night?" vergo adds, a little quieter now. "or may I keep you company?"

　　 ❝ no, it's fine, just... long day. come in, shut the door. ❞

　had this interaction occurred several hours before, the king's reply may have been more bitingーbut that energy had been spent by the time vergo entered the room. or perhaps the alcohol had loosened him up to the point he sounded more dejected than angry.

loosened him up enough that he jumped at the opportunity to have some company, despite, in a fit hours earlier, demanding to be left alone until he called for something. but vergo was always welcome companyーwhether he was angry, or elated. whether we wanted to use him as a pin cushion, or have a drink with.

　　fortunately, today, it was the latter.

　❝ you want a drink?