This is simply a collection of Watari and WatarixTatsumi vingettes. I doubt any of them are related, but if they are I will say so. If I don't, simply assume they're all different drabbles. I disclaim any rights of wonership pertaining to the wonderful goodness that is Descendents of Darkness.

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A Simple Matter of Persuasion

Watari Yutaka was skilled at getting what he wanted out of other people. It was all rather like an appalingly easy science experiment to him. He knew people, and what buttons to push, how to prod, when to tease, when to back off, and when to persevere. He knew psychology and had a fair number of twisted mind games up his sleeves for the harder cases. And his irrefutable logic was infamous to those that knew of him. Fortunately, Watari was a kind, people-liking person and used his powers of persuasion and interrogation only when nessisary. In fact, he could get what he wanted half the time by begging and making a fool out of himself. Either that or just being his usual cheerful self. Yes, the tools at his disposal were many, and underneath the lanky, absent-minded front, he had the will and the experience to use every single one to get his way. But his true trump card, was his degree.

Watari had a masters degree and had been two years into his doctarate before he died. However, he'd since finished the course, and gotten a few other unrelated degrees as well. Of course, it was somewhat difficult, and he had to take all his courses by correspondance, and under false names, but it was well worth it.

Because whenever all the aformentioned methods failed to make someone give in, Watari would lean in with his own evil, devious grin and let the command, "Doctor's orders" fall. Of course, he didn't use it all that often. In fact that was part of that manuever's power, it was so rarely used, and if Watari had actually pulled out a 'doctor's orders' it probably meant whatever it was, was important.

In fact, the number of times he let the command ring was only about half a dozen times or so--over a total of 25-26+ years.

...Tatsumi wasn't quite sure why he knew the exact number, but perhaps he'd always known it somewhere in the back of his mind. Now it resurfaced to the blank forefront of his mind as he tried desperately to think of something to destroy Watari's argument--all the while trying to buy time by rearranging the papers on his desk.

...He found nothing. The secretary glared sternly up at the blond standing on the opposite side of his desk, over the rims of his wire-rimmed glasses.

"..You know how incredibly obnoxious you are when you are right, you know that don't you?" The accusation was delivered in a shrewd tone, because it wasn't a question. Of course Watari knew he was nigh unbearable while gloating. It was all part of the man's calculations. He smiled, still radiating smugness and superiority.

"Of course!" Tatsumi sighed and shook his head. Though he could summon up his shadows and kick Watari's ass six ways from Sunday if he wanted to, though he was several years and a couple decades his superior, and that he was no intellectual slouch himself, Tatsumi would always lose the game played on the mental battlefield. He stood up grumbling,

"I think it's unfair to use your superior people skills against me. Not to mention sinking down to using your degree." That was no whine at the end, Tatsumi Seiichiro did not whine, it was a soulful lament. Watari linked his elbow with Tatsumi's, flustering the elder man wonderfully,

"Probably, but how else would I get you to take me to dinner?"