brother_nature | Golden Peacock

you fucking froze me and pruned me, freak! i'll thank you by chopping your damn head off next time. [he remembers that much. stopping him is one thing, but plucking him?? like a daisy? how dare.]

i'm only playing along with this game to shut up my watch, so don't give yourself any credit. you're still trying to figure out what makes me tick, aint you?

I was helping those sad children that were dying on you from the cold. There are so many varieties... how could I resist?

( he calls plants his children I'm so sorry )

Maybe I am, though. Can't we trade a few things, here or there? Some secrets, some information, some cards? Hehe.

You can't have my head, though, sorry.

[cringe, Esi!! He almost hopes the prince can feel him rolling his eye.]

As if you have anything worth my time. Freeze off my hand, poison me, then freeze my whole damn body.

What have you given me in return, huh?

Oh, are you feeling neglected? I have plenty I could give you, but how should I know what you want?

A potion? A charm? Some chips?

Though, you seemed pretty into it when I froze your arm off, you know. And if I recall correctly, you had most of those things coming with your own behavior.

what are you, a witch now? Don't try to barter with your petty trinkets.

Though if that's what you think, you could say you deserve whatever I have planned for you, right?

That ice felt real, didn't it? So do my wares. But fine.

You started all this, I'll have you know. I was acting in self defense. I'd say I even saved others, after watching how you threw some man across the room. You don't get to start planning anything when it was you sticking your hand in a snake's burrow to begin with.

if ice is the only trick up your sleeve I'll be sure to cut thru it next time, bastard!

I don't give a shit about any random bastards you might have "saved" incidentally. You wanna talk about starting shit, you're the one that poisoned me back in that coffee shop! maybe you're the more dangerous one here that needs to be pruned, ever consider that?? the fuck are you even after?

It sounds like you're just angry a weak prince didn't stay under your thumb, little bandit king. I poisoned you in self defense after a threat, you know?

Your regeneration intrigues me, but don't flatter yourself any further than that. You threatened me, right? I seem to recall something sharp at my back when you urged me to that table.

Next time, watch where you stick your hand.

oh!

so you're saying you did it cuz you were scared?

tsk tsk what thin skin. guess you wouldn't be strong enough to take a proper offer anyway.

[He makes a deliberately exaggerated loud yawning sound on his end, making sure esi can hear it, petty man he is.]

( —urgh, why does baiting him like that work when he knows he's just trying to piss him off!!!

saying "I wasn't SCARED" just makes him sound scared, so he skips that and focuses, instead, on that last part. ...he's annoyed enough that he's done pretending to talk like a perfect little prince, though. )

What the hell do you mean, offer?

[A cackle at the tone shift. this was worth the annoyance, he decides.]

finding your voice there, little prince? don't strain yourself now. I only discuss such matters........

in person.

Oh, shut up.

You want to see me face to face so badly? Aren't you just going to kill me, like that? At least give me some reason to stick my neck out.

( he says, as if he's not tempted anyway. being unable to use magic for a week for a dare makes it a little hard, though... he guesses he could have backup around the corner? )

I'm more than enough reason for you to come, and we both know that.

[He hasn't really put it together why Esi is so damn intrigued about Chobe's ability and why he's insistent that Chobe must have consumed something for the power, but regardless, he knows leverage when he sees it.]

that said! we're still playing a game, aint we? no reason for me to kill ya just yet.

nah, I gotta make sure you really squirm when it's time.

( this pisses him off so bad... so of course he can't back down from it, right? especially not when some deranged part of his brain has him excited about it.

he hates that. but he's been so antsy lately, anyway... and feeling more than a little reckless. today's little game certainly didn't help anywhere. )

You're so annoying.

Fine, since you're so desperate for my attention, we can meet in person whenever. Don't try anything funny if you'd like to avoid poison, this time.

you won't get a chance. whats that saying? fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice your face i slice?

i might be misremembering

anyway! get your ass down to the basement. you won't have to sully your princely shoes in our quarters, I'll meet you at the stairs.

( Irritating, irritating... Esikko takes the time to gather what he feels he could end up needing— a vial or two of a potion made to explode on harsh impacts, mainly, not that he's sure he'll have to (or even be able to) use them. )

Don't keep me waiting.

( That's what he finally sends before changing his direction to go there. At the top of the stairs, a section of the House he's far more used to seeing and visiting than he wants to share, he crosses his arms and waits. His hair is braided to one side with little lilies of the valley laced in, thanks to another dare, but that's the only difference in his usual appearance. )

[There's no reply from Chobe, just snorting at the message as he heads out to the stairs. He's about to ascend, before he suddenly stops, considering. Hm. Why not make an impression!

Where ever Esikko is chilling at the top of the stairs, he'll suddenly hear a faint crack, just before a vine zips out to grab him and pull him down the stairs. Get yoinked, bitch!! It's fast and abrupt, but notably, the vine lacks anything deadly this time--no thorns, no bristles or sharp branches. It does squeeze him a bit so it might leave a light bruise, but just as quickly as he's nabbed, he's released, dropped in front of Chobe. As the vine retracts, he gives a shit eating grin.]

I said I'd meet ya at the stairs, not whether that'd be at the top or bottom. But you get points for not running away this time!

( That cracking sound is familiar— but he doesn't have the time to react to it before he's grabbed. With an undignified yelp, he's dropped at Chobe's feet, stunned and completely pissed.

Ow?? His heart is racing now, which kind of feels like an outdated little pump being made to run in overdrive, and being on the floor is such a shock that it takes him a moment before he's pressing his palms to the floor to push himself up. )

You have some nerve...

( Glowering at Chobe as he picks himself up, he huffs out his outrage, dusting himself off as he stands. )

Points for not running, you say, as you criticized my work the last times. What is your problem? Some of us have delicate bodies, you know? I'll have you torched for that, you...

( His desire for vile insults mixes with the more princely habits of his tongue, leaving him to just make this sort of frustrated little tense noise as he finishes his dusting off with a little stomp of his foot. Like an angry rabbit... )

Whatever! Just tell me what you were talking about so I can move on.

Anyone ever tell ya you've got a real dirty mouth for someone who tries to look squeaky clean?

[It's familiar in a way, but also lowkey irritating. For now though he remains amused, getting in his face and letting that one good eye lock on, almost threatening to stare so hard it'd burn a hole right through that so called delicate skin.]

You're what they call a hit and run--ya get some good jabs in, but never stick around long enough for the aftermath. Afraid of repercussions? Not wanting to take credit? No follow through at all! But sure, torch me if you want, you know I'll come back like a cockroach.

But anyway! [He takes a step back, clapping his hands.]

Why I called ya here. . .hm. Oh yeah, I was lying! [A WINK.] Mostly just wanted to see if you were gullible enough to think I'd actually tell you anything.

Though, I'm not totally clear on what you even want, anyway.

( It's strange, the way fear mixes with anger at all of Chobe's actions and words. As he's stared at (or through?), as he's made fun of, taunted and played with— Esikko's fingers curl tighter into his palms, trying to keep a lid on the rage that's threatening to overflow.

After all, he's in no position to be aggressive. The vials he'd slipped into his pockets to take here just in case had already proven useless with how quickly he'd been grabbed, and this whole meetup was just to toy with him, to string him along? He's seeing red, he's so angry, and logic falls further away as he struggles to ground himself and focus on the actual words coming from Chobe's mouth. )

You're cocky— ( But the words seethe out like steam, even if his body is frigid from his own icy blood, and he reaches out foolishly to grab a fistful of whatever cloth Chobe has as a top right now. As if he could be threatening himself, as if he could do anything more than a pathetic push or slap. )

Because you're cheating, right? With a body like that. One you weren't born with.

It pisses me off. ( His glare is sharp enough to kill, even if he has nothing to back it up with. Pure anger, deep rooted and projected onto an easy target, enough to make his hands tremble with each breath. )

I'd love nothing more than to rip that power right out of your chest.

( Bottle it for someone else. Wipe that stupid smirk off that stupid face. )

[He doesn't flinch, letting Esi take hold of a piece of his jacket...or what's left of it. It's charred, tattered, and Chobe just hasn't bothered to buy another shirt or garment. It makes Chobe's cocky, toothy grin all the more baffling that he can stand with such confidence looking the way he does. A torn and ragged self assured brick of a thug, a stark contrast to Esikko's polished, princely stature.

His eye narrows slightly, considering him, before he takes a step closer, spreading his arms, exposing his bare chest.]

Aaah, so that's it. Kind of a boring answer--the weak willed prince, envious of those with power! I've seen it time and time again. You're right, I'm definitely cheating. But the world doesn't give a shit if you play fair, as long as you win, right?

So why don't you try it! Right here, right now. Rip my heart out where I stand, if you can. Claw right through my chest if you're determined enough. I won't even fight back.

[Then, a darker expression, his voice lowering to a gravel.]

But if that ends up not being the answer you're searching for, not one that satisfies you? You owe me.

( He's not wrong, fully, that Esikko is searching for power, envious of power. He's restarted his lifetime more than he can remember in search for it, and no number of gods eaten seems to ever be enough— those memories blur hazily between the flashes of his rage, and Chobe's extended arms and step forward make his heart beat even harder in his own ears, tempted to pull the glass shard from his pocket and stab right into him.

There's someone else he'd like to bottle this power for, though he's sure it would be refused, anyway. Still, it's just irritating to see in the hands of some asshole flaunting it around. So his greatest motivation? He just wants to stomp it out. He wants to find some way to grab at the core of this asshole and watch fear flicker in his eyes for the first time in who knows how long. )

I don't owe you anything.

( His grip on that charred jacket slips, but just to press his cold palm into Chobe's chest for an irritated shove, ignoring the flashes of gore he can just imagine. )

What could you want, anyway? From a "weak willed prince," as you say? You're toying with me, but it's only because you don't feel threatened. You'll regret that, you know? You've made it clear that the real heart of yours I should rip out isn't in your own chest.

( Implications of brother threats before he even knows he's here, yes, but he's too angry to think, too stuck on what to do, tempted to follow up and actually start ripping at flesh, but holding himself back if only because they are literally in a public stairwell. )

[A sly grin. Esikko's catching on, but not quite there yet. He chuffs, lazily letting his arms fall to his side.]

What could I want from you, huh? You don't got much to offer. Weak, frail, temperamental, shit for conversation, probably barely a good fuck--I might freeze my dick off in ya, hah!

[Crass as ever. He casually takes a few steps around him, like the laziest of sharks circling prey, with each movement being easily misconstrued as an attack or mere curiosity. His tongue is still flapping though.]

You really don't got the guts to take any shit into your own hands directly, do you? Can't seize the day even if it might end in failure. That's why you won't ever grow, little prince. Maybe that's why yer family booted you out, who can say. Just no potential, yeah?

So what I was offering was a way out, a compromise. I don't kill my own men, ya see.

But I guess you're back on the chopping block. I don't feel like getting into it today, but I will kill you. Slowly, painfully, so much so you'll beg the fucks here not to bring you back.

I'll make sure to make the occasion special, and might even show ya something cool! All just for you.

( Today has been especially infuriating, especially exhausting. Try as he might to stand there calm and cold, Chobe's circling puts him on edge, and any movements made to look like starts at an attack could easily earn a flinch from him. He seethes with his exhaled breath, flexing his fingers into his palm before an airy laugh falls out. Here, he lifts a hand to scrub at his own eyes, the red crescent marks beneath them almost shining in their intensity. )

How personal... That sounds so personal, you know?

( His voice lifts with something like amusement as he drops his hand away in a dramatic gesture, swooping towards Chobe. )

I get it, I do. Speaking down on me, belittling me, promising a tortuous end— go ahead and try that when you want.

( There's a smile as another laugh drips out, but his eyes are just as angry, just as frustrated. Even still, he takes a step back from this circling, throwing another hand out in a gesture. )

Because I've already gotten under your skin, haven't I? Because if I'm so weak and frail... why is it that you were left so helpless, right? I saw the look in your eyes; you wanted to kill me there, not wait. You had no choice but to wait.

( With a scoff, he turns on his heels, ready to just leave. He's not getting any more out of this, he knows, and he's not ready for any sort of fight, even with his cocky words. )

You've made an enemy of more than just me. Any torture you'd like to put me through, if you can even manage, will be returned and more~ I do hope you're ready for that.

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

[He doesn't need to respond. Chobe has nothing to prove, and he's already confirmed he has something Esikko wants. Whether that be for himself, or just to rip it away from Chobe's "undeserving" hands out of spite, it doesn't matter. He's not lying, he truly doesn't feel like killing him today. Too much to catch up on, too much to plan. He wants it to be a memorable, agonizing affair for the prince--a quick bout of torture won't do. So he should let the prince walk away, cherish those last words and eat them later. Not to mention, there's a game going on! He's having a pretty good day.

Except. . .]

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brother_nature - 2025-06-16 01:04 (UTC) - Expand

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Golden Peacock - Inbox

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lmk if this works!!

LMFAO yes this is perfect, crying

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