White Dress [Iugo]

[Jasmine Krisp]

Somebody please tell me what I'm doing...

Down in the darkest parts of the laboratory, deep in the basement of the Wonderland palace, the littlest oldest Boogie in Wonderland was trotting about in attire that was extremely unfamiliar on her. Jasmine Krisp was know for wearing all black, for black lace and midnight blue and for deep lavenders. But today, for whatever the reason, she'd pulled something old and never-worn from her wardrobe to wear. And of all the colors this mysteriously appearing dress could be...it was a pure, bright, white lace mini-gown.

Much more innocent and lovely than her normal attire.

But that wasn't what she was so confused about.

Jazz, after watching a rather concerning fight between her closest friends (and crush) a few days ago, had decided to check on Iugo the doc after the a couple of days. But rather than just walk into one of his rooms in the lab and confront him, like confident little plum-girl normally would, she was standing nervously outside of the door where she'd seen him inside...watching him with wide golden eyes like a schoolgirl watches her crush...which was, odd enough, very much like what the situation was.

The youngest-looking Boogie woman sighed softly, almost like a mew, one hand against her white-dressed chest and the other holding the ajar door-frame.

...he's...so...

WHAT AM I DOING?! I look like a stalker!

...but I just feel like watching him...

[Doctor Nationis]

A new cane lay to the side, one that was of the darkest wood. It had a derby style to it, making it much kinder to the doctor who gripped it. It lay to the side, the silver collar matching the equipment that had been dusted off no more than two days ago. Agony was in the shadows, fiddling with whatever scarps it had been given to gnaw on. A foot? Hand? It didn't need much to be happy. A crunch could be heard as it bit through bone of sorts, the sound lessening as he ground the material in his mouth and swallowed it. Gross... Loki thought the same thing, it's tail swishing as it lay on top of a high shelf, one paw over the edge and looking lazily at the small beast. It was the prey it had yet to catch... Though, it was only a matter of time. Seeing the way Iugo treated the small thing made Loki think that it wouldn't be missed... Not one bit.

Iugo was currently sitting in a chair, hand over his face and under his glasses. The pain... He was in the process of taking medicine from the human world. Vicodin? There were many he snatched from the hospital, but this one was supposed to be pretty strong... There were empty boxes of failed medicine, ones that did not even come close to taking an edge of his torment. In his hand was the orange bottle that the humans put their drugs in. Twisting the top off with the hand that was covering his face, he threw two pills in his mouth at once, swallowing hard. Eyes closed, he put the cap on and placed the bottle in his jacket pocket.

A hand absently went to his leg, rubbing the ache. It hurt like hell to rub, but he found that it was like a massage, one needed the pain to feel better. Opening his eyes, he leaned forward, his right hand rubbing his thigh. Looking to his left, the table held a child, squirming, terror in his eyes. The doctor watched the small girl struggle, tears filling her eyes as she started crying out for help. Relief. A smirk played across his lips. She was acting how he felt about his leg... Iugo would let her use up her energy before beginning. Damn, it had been a long time...

[Jasmine Krisp]

It seemed no matter how innocent Jasmine looked, Iugo's tendencies of violence and torture offset her perfectly. Pulling her eyes from the doc and his drugs, He better be taking the right dosages, bright eyes landed on the poor human girl on the table. Oh God, she was just a child...and somebody that would be listening in if she decided to confront Iugo. She had a lot to talk about with him tonight.

To much, and to personal, to let anyone listen in.

Task one: get the girl out. Task two...

"Eh-hem..." a little cough seemed to come out of nowhere and the plum woman slipped out from the crack in the door, now hidden behind the door. She didn't knock. I'll pretend I just got here. Just passing through. Not staring. "Um, Iugo? Are you in there?" Jazz called out in her young voice, a shy smile on her face. Already in her mind she was planning how to get the girl out so she could talk about...that...with the 'good doctor.

...I wonder...I hope...what Shaehern said was right...

[Doctor Nationis]

Agony's eyes turned from it's meal, glowing faintly in the shadows, staring at the door where the sounds came from. The little goblin growled, hopping forward and toward the door, using his feet and one hand as he held the red mush that used to be human. Loki's head lazily turned toward the sound, seeming to care very little for much at the moment. Swish swish went his tail, golden eyes watching the door and ears turning this way and that, hoping to hear anything else that came from that direction. At this point, Agony reached the stairs that led up to the door, looking back at his master before going up. Reaching the door, Agony held the mush back, as if it were a heavy hammer, ready to crush any intruder.

Iugo's mind was far, far away when Jasmine had coughed. This had brought him back to hear the rest of the request. This turned his attention away from the crying girl and to the door. Jasmine's voice...? The boogie looked at the door for a moment before turning back to the girl. "He's out right now," He called back, standing after snatching his cane. He hobbled to the child's side and looked down at her. The child whimpered seeing Iugo overcast her light, the glasses shining and hiding his eyes from the girl as the light reflected off the table. Loki did detest this sort of thing... But everyone has their flaws. Like fish. They had to live in water...

"You know why you're here?" He asked the girl, his free hand reaching for a scalpel. The blade caught the light, the girls fearful eyes darting to the blade. "N-n-no..." she stammered, tears welling up with more enthusiasm this time. "It's really simple, little one," Iugo whispered, leaning forward. "I'm very hungry." At this the girls screams redoubled and her trashing tripled. Iugo's lips split into a cruel smile as he watched her struggle in vain. The high, piercing notes were music to his ears. "Come now, it's not so bad. I use my manners and my silverware," He went on, lifting her shirt and placing the tool on her belly, pressing as hard as he could without breaking the skin.

[Jasmine Krisp]

Being ignored is one thing. Being blatantly lied to in such an obvious manner is just insulting.

With a huff, Jasmine decided not to wait for Iugo to answer the door. She opened the door quickly, just as Iugo was starting the torment of the human girl, before noticing something right in front of her. Agony the goblin...gnome thing, probably the closest thing to her height in this room. Holding a piece of human like a hammer. The sight was enough to earn a little giggle from the plum Boogie and she leaned down just a little so she was at the goblin's height. "Hello there. Looks like you're almost done with that..." she pointed at the mush of flesh.

"When you are, I have a bag of bits and pieces if you want some."

She always tried to kill an enemy with kindness. Then kick it across a room. As was her ways.

After that little tidbit with Agony, Jazz straightened her little stature and started toward the table. She was upset with Iugo for doing such a thing...to a child...why is he pulling her shirt up?! Odd enough jealousy spiked through the disgust and gave the little woman an extra stomp in her step. "Didn't you're mother ever tell you not to play with your food?" Jasmine half spoke, half hissed, reaching the side of Iugo that was closer to the humans head. She glared up at the doctor.

"Can you put your meal down for all of twelve minutes?" ...to pay attention to me... "We need to talk. And if you say no, I'll drag you out by your ear. You know I will."

The little woman failed to notice the giant cat mere feet away.

[Doctor Nationis]

Agony had raised his weapon to strike the first thing that came into the room, but he was struck by such a blinding white that he was dazed. When his eyes adjusted to the horrid color, he saw that Jasmine was before him, smiling? Blinking, he heard her offer. Blinking, he processed it for a moment as she walked on. The gears turned slowly as the small goblin's mind tried to comprehend what had happened. Jasmine had willingly offered a meal? Perhaps not a meal, but bits, pieces, and a whole bag! Agony had not owned his own bag for sometime now. Smiling at this, it plopped itself down on the stair to watch the woman go, chomping away at his bloody mess in his hand.

Iugo held his malicious grin toward the little girl until Jasmine had walked up. Looking at her, he couldn't get a word out before she told him what was needed from him. The grin disappeared as he looked at her through his new spectacles. Then he remained speechless because she was wearing a beautiful white dress. Iugo couldn't help but stare at her for a few moments before forcing himself to regain his composure."I killed my mother," Iugo said offhandedly, laying the scalpel down. He turned his attention toward his friend, acting as calm as he could. He knew what this was about and still hadn't figured it out for himself. At that thought, he glanced over Jasmine's shoulder, looking at a jar underneath Loki's paw. It held a blue ear in a green sludge, preserving the flesh for all time. A trophy never looked so good.

"What do you want to talk about, dear Jasmine?" He asked calmly, turning and leaning on the table, the girl still wriggling in her restrains. "Oh, how rude of me. Would you like to join me for a meal?" He asked, both hands on the cane's handle as he spoke. She would not make this easy on him, would she? No, she wasn't the sort of person to accept vague, half-answers. Hopefully a meal would offset her need for knowledge. The chances were slim, but he was cornered.

Even as he spoke he couldn't help but glance at the dress and her overall figure. It was... a change for sure. The Doctor did not hate it, though.

[Jasmine Krisp]

Even at the offhand comment of killing his own mother, the littlest Boogie in Wonderland didn't bat an eye. There were more pressing matters at hand than digging through the past of either her or Iugo...though she did happen to notice him eying her. For a little too long to be an accident. That not only upped her confidence in Shaehern's parting words the other night, but it made her cheeks heat just a little. Maybe she should wear dresses like this more often, if it got that sort of response from the doctor.

She didn't follow his gaze. She didn't notice Loki.

"You know very well what I want to talk about," Jazz said in a statement rather than an answer. At the offer of a meal she looked down at the little girl...the horror in her eyes at even the idea was plain to see...her, eat a hman child? That would her so...she turned to look back up at Iugo. "I'm not one for sashimi. Can we talk in the halls? Please? I'd rather nobody hear this." She started back towards the door with a little hop in her step.

Even one that might be dead within the hour.

[Doctor Nationis]

Iugo's gaze fell away from her completely when he was caught avoiding the topic. His gaze turned up to the dark ceiling as she made her request. This would mean leaving his meal and not eating for... who knew how long. More importantly, he felt that this was going to be one of the worst conversations he'd ever have. At least counting his young years. He hesitated a moment, watching Jasmine skip away. She was much too happy for a talk that would bring up these sort of things... Frowning, he pushed off the table and followed after Jasmine, cane clicking softly.

Iugo paused only a few steps away. Turning on his heels, he returned to whisper in the child's ear. The poor thing gasped in fright, eyes darting this way and that as if she could see what Iugo had just said floating above her. With a sense of satisfaction, Iugo then followed his purple haired partner up the steps. "Agony!" Iugo called, just as he reached the bottom of the steps and Jasmine the middle. The goblin started, dropping the stringy remains of his food as his master called. Nodding toward the door, he was? The familiar turned to the closed door, then to the two. Ah... leaving... Agony scrambled to his feet and to the door, his spindly fingers grasping the handle and pulling the door open, hiding behind the door as he watched first Jasmine go through, then his master, limping behind her at a pace that would not keep her waiting long.

Agony had started to join them, but Iugo closed the door after himself, leaving the goblin alone with the child and...

...where was Loki? This caused the goblin to gasped himself, cowering as he looked left and right, unable to find this hunter. Why, oh why, did Iugo insist on befriending that beast?!

[Jasmine Krisp]

Jasmine watched curiously as Agony moved when ordered, in with just a subtle nod. He was much better behaved than her Hades, even if the bird did have some hundred levels above him in the looks department. Plus, he was a bird who had healing powers out of a fantasy and could fly her around...when they were getting along. Still, it must be nice to have a familiar that was smaller than you. One that didn't knock you over or push you.

In otherwords...Hades.

Once they were in the hall with the door closed, the plum woman found her breathing caught. She'd gotten this far. Gotten him and her alone, without Shae spying one them or Hades or any other living beings, 'cept a rat that skittered past. But now what? A little more color brightened her child-like face, still turned away from the doctor. "...um...well then..." she was hesitating, as if the confidence had been stuck back in the room with the goblin and the girl. Oh God, what should she say? What could she say?

She wasn't like Shae, who could just cut into the bone of the problem with just one precise question...

Wait! Maybe I could!

With a deep breath, the littlest Boogie turned back to face Iugo, eyes piercing and confident, though her hands were shaking a little. "Iugo..." ...Come on! Stay strong!... "D-Did you get in that fight with Shaehern b-because he said that...that..." she had to take another breath. Dammit this was harder than it looked. Maybe if she'd had a cup of scotch before coming down here she'd feel better...

FOCUS!!

"...b-because he said...he loved me...?"

[Doctor Nationis]

Iugo's mind had wandered when they entered the hallway. It was thinking between the meal that would no doubt be ruined by at least one, if not both, of the beasts still within the lab. Scratching on the door made him wonder if Loki would start gaining weight. A poor habit. The other thought was his own... emotions. Most of his days were filled with anger, rage, lust for pain in others and general evil thoughts that caused most living beings to cry. On that day Iugo recalled other thoughts... ones that did not involve someone bleeding.

It was an impulse to throw a chair, lunge at Shaehern, pull at his hair, and bite his ear off. Those words... Those damned words... For days Iugo asked himself why he had done that. Shae certainly was one of the most annoying boogies he ever met but that did not justify him assaulting the man. He didn't feel honor bound for the surgery, though he did appreciate it (not verbally). And yet... He took half his ear. And why he did this? He didn't know! Mysteries came up in his line of work often. What sort of rash does this kid have before he eats it? How much force to slowly tear the tendons? This one he couldn't answer.

And then Jasmine asked. Directly. And with a blush that he couldn't help but find that...

Iugo's on face flushed. Turning his face, he avoided eye contact. Feeling his face become warm, Iugo became frustrated. "I..." Sighing, Iugo ran a hand through his hair, trying to formulate words. "...I'm not apologizing," He finally said, turning back to Jasmine, admiring the new confidence in her golden eyes. This time when he looked at her it seemed less silly to acknowledge her attractiveness. With this thought, Iugo turned around, trying to hide his blush and move to the wall. Once close enough he leaned against it, half facing Jasmine.

[Jasmine Krisp]

Did...did I just make him...blush?

The moment the color on the doctor's faced changed, Jasmine's suspicions were confirmed. Shae had been right! That night, Iugo attacked Shaehern because...Iugo had feelings!! Feelings for her!! Real, positive feelings...he is pretty damn cute when he was that shade. Gold eyes that already glowed seemed to double in their brightness, the smallest of sly smiles starting to show, even with her own pink hue in the way.

All fine and dandy, but he doesn't know I...

...he's so cute...

...pay attention!! Jazz shook her head quickly, not caring if Iugo saw it or not, before she took a tentative step closer to the man. He was still kind of missing the point. But could she cut the bone twice? How many times could she cut before it broke? Or before the bone cut back...? "I'm not asking for you to apologize to him...I just wanted to know for myself..." her voice still sounded confident, but it was gentler now.

"...I'm...glad."

She took another breath, again, longing for a drink she should have had. Jasmine didn't get drunk despite her size, but it might have helped her nerves. It felt like she had bugs in her tummy.

"...Iugo..." a little pale hand reached for the man's arm, aiming just to touch him gently. And she would, if he didn't phase. She prayed he wouldn't phase away.

Anything but that.

[Doctor Nationis]

The pale man was far from missing the point. He just never had to express such feelings. Ever. A hand slid into his pocket, reaching for the rusty blade that was his comfort... Cursing, he remembered he had let it remain in Piper's side. He was sure he got his message across, but that didn't make him feel any better to be without his security weapon. The hand flexed in rage for a moment, before forcing it to relax and keep his cool. He watched the smaller boogie step closer, his eyes searching hers for some motive.

Even being Iugo-blivious he knew that look in those perfect gold eyes..

Iugo continued to watch her in her goregous white dress, her hand getting closer to his arm. "...To know that I wouldn't allow my friend to be with such a perverted individual?" Iugo asked, feebly trying to safeguard himself from the uncomfortable feeling of these... good thoughts. He did not phase if she continued to reach for him, his eyes locked on hers, the red tint steady in it's color.

Right before she would touch, Iugo slightly turned his head away, unable to keep that eye contact. "...I'm not giving his ear back, either," He mumbled under his breath, unsure whether Jasmine would actually hear it or not. It did make him feel better to say that aloud though. "Teach him to be wary of me and... what he says..." The last bit was obviously not what he had intended to say at first, his mind working quickly to replace the original statement. Hundreds of times he had felt the heart of children beat in fear when he held them by their scrawny torsos, pounding away in anxiety and fear. So why was his own heart hammering in his chest? He wasn't nervous. It must be the hunger getting to him.

That must be it.

[Jasmine Krisp]

The little hand flinched only slightly at the first comment, but only once and only a little. Even if he called her a friend now, hadn't she been doing the same thing until Shaehern had cracked her lead-dense shell? Calling him just a friend...when now she knew he was much more than that to her. But could she snap his Iugobliviousness like the flamboyant man had for her? Jazz caught the doctor's arm, pale fingers gripping him with a little shake.

I want him to notice me...notice me like that...

Jasmine's smile grew a little bigger when Iugo mention the ear. "That's not...I don't think Shae can use it anymore anyways..." she actually pictured the man begging her to use Hades' tears to fix his perfect face...which would never happen, no matter how vain Shaehern was, "He's already weary of you. A lot of people are, just from hearing about you..." the little Boogie took another step closer, "But, y'know...I'm not afraid of you..."

Bright, glowing gold had almost a pleading edge to them.

"In fact...Iugo, I..." Jazz tightened her hold on his arm just a little, suddenly lowering her own gaze to the floor since the dress kept her shoes from view, "...I...you see, I...um..." she couldn't spit it out, and she bit her lip in irritation. Bit it hard enough Jasmine wondered if it would start to bleed. Just tell him you like him in that way! I like him so much! So so so much...

"...I...lo...nn..."

...why the fuck can't I just say it?!?

[Doctor Nationis]

The hand wasn't... as bad as he thought it would be. It's grip did tighten over the course of her stuttering, but he did not hate it. Iugo's brown orbs had snapped back when Jasmine had taken another step closer. This was.... odd. Not from the situation, but ever. The only people that got this close to him were those he was torturing, eating, or fighting. His family excluded, Iugo had not felt a gentle touch in most of his life time. This snapped his eyes down to his arm, her little hand contrasted on the dark jacket. Iugo did not frown, but heavily desired a cigarette. He hadn't had any since his great escape, but the urge had been coming back, mostly while he was thinking of the big question Why from the dining hall.

Iugo couldn't help but smile when Jasmine mentioned his notoriety. "You're too kind," He replied, able to pull his eyes to hers at the moment she looked down. Hearing her words, Iugo visibly stiffened and the smile was wiped clean. The red in his face doubled as he predicted her words. The hand in his pocket clenched again, this anger toward himself for... wait, why?! It was confusing emotions like this that made him avoid being kind. "Look," He started softly, averting his own eyes again as he searched for words. "You don't have to say it," The mad doctor said, his voice growing ever gentler. "I think I know where this is going..." A small smile twitched to his lips again.

Cursing himself for being so weak, Iugo brought his eyes back down to Jasmine's, waiting for her to look back up. He'd caught on, but... damn it was still so awkward. He had skipped the entire childish stage of romance and had no clue how to continue. Was he...? Did he...? He didn't know, but the first answer that popped into mind was not disappointing.

[Jasmine Krisp]

Even when you've been alive for 8,053 years, confessing your feelings for someone is still hell. Jasmine was starting to find the hem of her mini-gown very engrossing. That, along with the interesting samba beat going on in her chest right now...dammit, she felt like such a child. But wasn't that what love did to you? It made your stomach swirl and your heart pound and she just couldn't look at him...

Oh God, he knows...? Oh God...Oh God...!

When Iugo stopped talking, Jazz lifted her head, wide eyes staring right into his. He was acting so different than normal. But she didn't hate it. She liked this new gentleness. It was so...sweet...and she was amazed he could turn that deep a red. The little Boogie blinked, more aware of the doctor's blush than her own hot face. "Y-...You do...?" Jasmine wasn't liking how timid her voice sounded.

I sound like a love struck teenager...

Jazz keep looking right in the doc's eyes. She couldn't tell what he was thinking, but her heart kicked into maximum overdrive.

Well, duh.