Re: [Private to Konan]eternalscorpionJuly 18 2009, 23:42:50 UTC
[He's surprised that she's actually showing some backbone after all rather than running to her husband for protection. And grudgingly, he gives her a bit of credit for that.
It mollifies him somewhat, and his words are less heated this time, but still bear some bite.]
If you truly consider yourself to be a member of this organization, then act like it. You bear responsibility to it, and your actions affect the rest of us. The rest of us have risked our lives in service of Akatsuki countless times, and yes, some have made sacrifices as well for its sake. Some of us have even died in service to it.
Either you are a comrade to the rest of us or you are not. You can't earn that place among us on the status of being Leader's wife. You must work towards its goals and follow Leader's commands just like any other member, if you want to be treated with respect as an equal and not merely shown deference because of your husband.
If you have misgivings about Leader's actions, perhaps you should follow your own advice and speak to him directly, rather than jeopardize the rest of us by causing public discord.
Re: [Private to Konan]papercutroseJuly 19 2009, 00:28:25 UTC
[Before it seems pointless in exchanging words with him. She told herself that it was simply a return to the status quo. She went almost ten years in Akatsuki without saying a single word to Sasori. She could easily continue.
But it surprises her that he replies. She listens, with a mixture of annoyance and consternation.]
Sasori of Suna, you mind your loyalties and I will mind mine.
[That comes out much more sharply than she intends, she is on edge because she's angry in a directionless way. At the world. At the organization. At Konoha. At herself for being idealistic even for a moment. At the world for insisting on being as it's always been, unfair.]
Before you lecture me about heroic sacrifice to this organization, you would do well to remember that you have killed many and even spoke of this as a point of pride. I hate Konoha, but I hate liars and most of all I hate indiscriminate killers.
[She's trying to moderate her tone and be civil, but it's not working. She's mildly surprised at herself, but this outburst of temper has been building for days now.]
I am loyal to Akatsuki, not that this is any of your business. When you are in a leadership position, I will defer to you. Until then, keep your thoughts to yourself. I put no trust in a person who would fault me for being insufficiently monstrous in one breath and demand loyalty in the other. And then call both necessary virtues.
Those in treason to their villages should not lecture about loyalty.
[Pauses to calm down. She is more civil when she continues.]
If nothing else, Pain's discussion with you should have made it clear that we are all in Akatsuki for different reasons. We have a common goal but many agendas.
My inquiry to Konoha is at an end. I will take up arms against them. I still share common purpose with Akatsuki and will...
[Pauses.]
[Now that she's gone off a bit, she notices that some of what he said was actually fairly reasonable advice. She frowns. Trust is a key issue with her, and she finds it hard to trust anyone she feels threatened by.]
I am your comerade, Sasori. [Guardedly.] I will go to war with this organization. I will ignore my own conscience for this organization. I will let our leadership be the judge of my loyalty. It is your decision to see me as a comerade or not.
Re: [Private to Konan]eternalscorpionJuly 19 2009, 02:40:11 UTC
[He didn't expect this, really. After all, she's been a faceless, nameless figure to him for years, so his initial impression of her as soft and meek seemed only natural.
However, her vehement response shows that perhaps there is more to her than he had first thought. He is actually somewhat curious now.]
All shinobi are killers, Konan, including, presumably, yourself. As you saw in my dream, I had already begun training at the age of five. I see no shame in feeling pride in my lifelong profession, and my life's work. Despite what you may think of me, I have never had a particular interest in killing without purpose, although I will not deny that I have done so from time to time.
It's rather interesting you would fault me for disloyalty to my former village when your husband killed the leader of yours. Those of us in Akatsuki who turned our backs on our villages had our own reasons to do so. Leader, however, accepted us without judgment. Do you fault him for that as well?
However, despite any personal disagreements we may have, if you show as much fire on the battlefield as you do here, Konan, I think perhaps we will be able to work together.
Re: [Private to Konan]papercutroseJuly 19 2009, 03:32:40 UTC
[It's ironic, she came to him initially seeking common ground. Now the more he talks, the more she wants to slap him. It's the trace of his smirk, caught on the screen.]
I suppose I should be civil to you because my husband likes you.
[Her eyes narrow slightly.]
Though I am starting to wonder why.
I fault you for your tunnel vision.
[That slips out before she plans to say anything. Oddly, she quite enjoys cutting him to shreds and moreover, he seems to enjoy it, as if he feels it's a symbolic victory. That too, irritates her.]
I can't stand people like you. Your view of the world is not so different from Nagato's. But yours is ugly. The more I listen to you, the more I feel like I've waded in rotting corpses.
[It's definitely the smirk, she thinks. Slicing it in half would be satisfying. Cut on just the right angle, paper has a razor edge.]
I preferred it when you stayed in your puppet.
Come to think of it, I have listened to you disrupt Akatsuki meetings for the last seven years. You are of my generation and I knew enough of your background to guess that you had suffered as I have suffered. This is what Pain has told you as well. Your suffering is his suffering. But the more I know you, the less I want to...
[She catches herself. Something about him makes it very easy to just spit bile at him. Her face takes on a deeply suspicious look.]
You do that on purpose. Provoke people. [The wheels start to turn in her head.] Of course. A puppetmaster.
[She now has a sour expression and is trying to keep her tone civil.]
There are different kinds of killing. If we are all killers, maybe this is just the fact of the world If we are all indiscriminate killers, we are no better than animals.
Re: [Private to Konan]eternalscorpionJuly 19 2009, 04:35:45 UTC
[He decides that he rather likes her after all when he sees that brief flash of violent intent in her eyes. She's quite entertaining.
He raises an eyebrow.]
Grave robbers? I certainly don't use corpses for my art, the bodies have to be living for the preservation process to be effective. And it's not indiscriminate, either. After all, the quality of the finished work will only be as good as the raw materials. Quality not quantity is what matters.
Art is a messy business at times, I won't deny that. You may consider my views ugly, but I'm honest enough with myself to be aware of it, Konan. [Unlike you, is the clear implication.]
I preferred it when I stayed within my puppet as well, but I'm afraid I don't have much of a choice in that particular matter anymore.
[He smirks again.] Although, this does provide me with the opportunity to connect with my fellow Akatsuki members in a more direct manner. I am looking forward to getting to know you better, certainly. After all, you've been quite the mystery woman for a number of years. I'm at a bit of a disadvantage, since you know more about me than I do about you.
Re: [Private to Konan]papercutroseJuly 19 2009, 05:27:49 UTC
[She exhales hotly. She does not understand him.]
Has anyone ever told you that you're a twisted person, Sasori of Suna? [A sour look.] Formally of Suna, now of violent mess of your own making.
You say that as if being a torturer is better than defiling the dead. You remind me of Madara. You dress up ugliness in pretty words and I want to take a hot shower after speaking to you.
[She pauses to collect herself. It would be too easy to say that her past is sacred in some sense, it does not belong to the entire world and certainly not to ghouls who reassemble it into morbid toys. But she's a bit troubled by her own aggression. Again, she attempts civility.]
You dwell in ugliness. And you seek it.
[It doesn't really work. His manner irritates her too much.]
I was more inclined to speak of the past when you were just a depressive psychotic stranger that my husband was speaking to.
Unless you find conscience to be ugly, I don't share your... aesthetic.. assessment of my views. Keep your bloody fingerprints off them.
You lack hope, that much is clear. I have been thinking that if war is inevitable then Nagato's choice to find joy in it is admirable. It is his salvation as well as mine, or what will pass for it for now. But you remind me of a maggot that crawls into a dead body. You get down in the blood and filth and enjoy it.
Re: [Private to Konan]eternalscorpionJuly 19 2009, 06:37:16 UTC
[He takes her in, very, very, discreetly. Her hair is disheveled, and the neckline of her top is open; she probably doesn't realize just how much of herself she is displaying. Perhaps she and Leader had been intimate together this evening.
Her face is slightly flushed, her eyes are flashing with that delicious anger, and her breathing is a little shallow. That, on the other hand, is because of him.
Oh yes, pulling her strings is definitely quite interesting.]
Oh? Speaking to me makes you feel dirty, does it? I think you simply haven't had the opportunity to appreciate my art properly. I could show you sometime, if you like.
Really, it's an honor to become one of my puppets. Only the truly worthy are afforded the privilege of spending eternity as sublime works of art, rather than decaying into dust and being forgotten. It's regrettable, but sometimes, true art requires suffering and sacrifice.
[His smirk widens.]
It is true that I enjoy the thrill of battle. I simply can't resist the lure of engaging a challenging opponent. There really is nothing like the excitement that comes from meeting a foe that's on even footing with you, exchanging move and countermove in perfect synchronization for hours on end until, at last, one finally gains the upper hand. After all, the longer and more challenging a battle is, the sweeter victory is once you finally achieve it, don't you agree?
I think your husband has a deep understanding of this as well.
Re: [Private to Konan]papercutroseJuly 21 2009, 03:40:17 UTC
[He may think he's being discrete, but she knows when she's being ogled. It's the feeling of being a shank of meat hung on a hook for inspection. It doesn't improve her mood. She has to keep her voice down because Nagato is asleep beside her. But, Sasori is making it difficult.]
Being in the same organization as you makes me feel dirty, Sasori.
I think I have more stomach for Deidara's 'art' than yours. [And that's really saying something, in fact.]
Frankly, it's nonsense. You simply enjoy handling the pieces of your own dead. You cannot lie to me about these things, I have seen too much myself. The difference between us is that I don't prefer to spend all my time rolling in corpses. It reminds me. The few times I have seen you in person, your disgusting little toys have smelled like the mass grave in Amegakure. Maybe you should share your 'art' [she says it in a way that makes the quotes audible] with my husband. Maybe you should repeat what you've just said to me. Given how clever you feel you are, I'm sure my husband would love to hear your plans.
[Somehow that comes out as an unintentional, but satisfying insult. She waves her hand.]
And as for my husband, I'd imagine you wish you could find out first hand. I have watched your conversations. You think you can hide your feelings behind that shell of yours. But it is not lost on me.
[She knows flirting when she sees it, she thinks. But she leaves it at that.]
Re: [Private to Konan]eternalscorpionJuly 21 2009, 05:32:25 UTC
[Her slight against his art does actually hit the mark somewhat, and he does commend her for that. Arguing with her is certainly more entertaining than it is with the brat.
He's also rather surprised she hasn't realized her indecent display of herself yet, not that he's complaining. He can't help but chuckle at how annoyed she must be for something like that to escape her notice.]
I do think you're misjudging my statements, Konan. Trust me, I certainly have no interest in making you one of my puppets. [You already are quite an agreeable one, right now.] You are one of my comrades, after all. You said so yourself.
If you've watched our conversations, then you would have seen that Leader has already expressed his appreciation for my art. It seems, in fact, as though we share similar opinions on a considerable number of topics.
[He sighs, and frowns slightly.]
I'm rather disappointed that you seem to have little in the way of appreciation for true art, however, if you consider the mindless destruction that my partner delights in art. I honestly thought you had more refined tastes than that. I can only imagine that this must be due to ignorance, as you seem to be quite an intelligent woman otherwise.
It's quite all right, though. I'd be more than happy to educate you about the true nature of art. After all, we are comrades, and I think it would be beneficial to cultivate our bonds as such by learning more about each other and our interests, both in person as well as through these devices.
It seems as though I've made a rather poor impression on you the few times we have met. I do wonder if you'd be charitable enough to give me another chance. I, for one, would certainly like to see more of you in person.
[That hint of a smirk plays at his lips once again.]
It mollifies him somewhat, and his words are less heated this time, but still bear some bite.]
If you truly consider yourself to be a member of this organization, then act like it. You bear responsibility to it, and your actions affect the rest of us. The rest of us have risked our lives in service of Akatsuki countless times, and yes, some have made sacrifices as well for its sake. Some of us have even died in service to it.
Either you are a comrade to the rest of us or you are not. You can't earn that place among us on the status of being Leader's wife. You must work towards its goals and follow Leader's commands just like any other member, if you want to be treated with respect as an equal and not merely shown deference because of your husband.
If you have misgivings about Leader's actions, perhaps you should follow your own advice and speak to him directly, rather than jeopardize the rest of us by causing public discord.
Reply
But it surprises her that he replies. She listens, with a mixture of annoyance and consternation.]
Sasori of Suna, you mind your loyalties and I will mind mine.
[That comes out much more sharply than she intends, she is on edge because she's angry in a directionless way. At the world. At the organization. At Konoha. At herself for being idealistic even for a moment. At the world for insisting on being as it's always been, unfair.]
Before you lecture me about heroic sacrifice to this organization, you would do well to remember that you have killed many and even spoke of this as a point of pride. I hate Konoha, but I hate liars and most of all I hate indiscriminate killers.
[She's trying to moderate her tone and be civil, but it's not working. She's mildly surprised at herself, but this outburst of temper has been building for days now.]
I am loyal to Akatsuki, not that this is any of your business. When you are in a leadership position, I will defer to you. Until then, keep your thoughts to yourself. I put no trust in a person who would fault me for being insufficiently monstrous in one breath and demand loyalty in the other. And then call both necessary virtues.
Those in treason to their villages should not lecture about loyalty.
[Pauses to calm down. She is more civil when she continues.]
If nothing else, Pain's discussion with you should have made it clear that we are all in Akatsuki for different reasons. We have a common goal but many agendas.
My inquiry to Konoha is at an end. I will take up arms against them. I still share common purpose with Akatsuki and will...
[Pauses.]
[Now that she's gone off a bit, she notices that some of what he said was actually fairly reasonable advice. She frowns. Trust is a key issue with her, and she finds it hard to trust anyone she feels threatened by.]
I am your comerade, Sasori. [Guardedly.] I will go to war with this organization. I will ignore my own conscience for this organization. I will let our leadership be the judge of my loyalty. It is your decision to see me as a comerade or not.
Reply
However, her vehement response shows that perhaps there is more to her than he had first thought. He is actually somewhat curious now.]
All shinobi are killers, Konan, including, presumably, yourself. As you saw in my dream, I had already begun training at the age of five. I see no shame in feeling pride in my lifelong profession, and my life's work. Despite what you may think of me, I have never had a particular interest in killing without purpose, although I will not deny that I have done so from time to time.
It's rather interesting you would fault me for disloyalty to my former village when your husband killed the leader of yours. Those of us in Akatsuki who turned our backs on our villages had our own reasons to do so. Leader, however, accepted us without judgment. Do you fault him for that as well?
However, despite any personal disagreements we may have, if you show as much fire on the battlefield as you do here, Konan, I think perhaps we will be able to work together.
[He smirks, slightly.]
Reply
I suppose I should be civil to you because my husband likes you.
[Her eyes narrow slightly.]
Though I am starting to wonder why.
I fault you for your tunnel vision.
[That slips out before she plans to say anything. Oddly, she quite enjoys cutting him to shreds and moreover, he seems to enjoy it, as if he feels it's a symbolic victory. That too, irritates her.]
I can't stand people like you. Your view of the world is not so different from Nagato's. But yours is ugly. The more I listen to you, the more I feel like I've waded in rotting corpses.
[It's definitely the smirk, she thinks. Slicing it in half would be satisfying. Cut on just the right angle, paper has a razor edge.]
I preferred it when you stayed in your puppet.
Come to think of it, I have listened to you disrupt Akatsuki meetings for the last seven years. You are of my generation and I knew enough of your background to guess that you had suffered as I have suffered. This is what Pain has told you as well. Your suffering is his suffering. But the more I know you, the less I want to...
[She catches herself. Something about him makes it very easy to just spit bile at him. Her face takes on a deeply suspicious look.]
You do that on purpose. Provoke people. [The wheels start to turn in her head.] Of course. A puppetmaster.
[She now has a sour expression and is trying to keep her tone civil.]
There are different kinds of killing. If we are all killers, maybe this is just the fact of the world If we are all indiscriminate killers, we are no better than animals.
Or grave robbers, for that matter.
Reply
He raises an eyebrow.]
Grave robbers? I certainly don't use corpses for my art, the bodies have to be living for the preservation process to be effective. And it's not indiscriminate, either. After all, the quality of the finished work will only be as good as the raw materials. Quality not quantity is what matters.
Art is a messy business at times, I won't deny that. You may consider my views ugly, but I'm honest enough with myself to be aware of it, Konan. [Unlike you, is the clear implication.]
I preferred it when I stayed within my puppet as well, but I'm afraid I don't have much of a choice in that particular matter anymore.
[He smirks again.]
Although, this does provide me with the opportunity to connect with my fellow Akatsuki members in a more direct manner. I am looking forward to getting to know you better, certainly. After all, you've been quite the mystery woman for a number of years. I'm at a bit of a disadvantage, since you know more about me than I do about you.
Reply
Has anyone ever told you that you're a twisted person, Sasori of Suna? [A sour look.] Formally of Suna, now of violent mess of your own making.
You say that as if being a torturer is better than defiling the dead. You remind me of Madara. You dress up ugliness in pretty words and I want to take a hot shower after speaking to you.
[She pauses to collect herself. It would be too easy to say that her past is sacred in some sense, it does not belong to the entire world and certainly not to ghouls who reassemble it into morbid toys. But she's a bit troubled by her own aggression. Again, she attempts civility.]
You dwell in ugliness. And you seek it.
[It doesn't really work. His manner irritates her too much.]
I was more inclined to speak of the past when you were just a depressive psychotic stranger that my husband was speaking to.
Unless you find conscience to be ugly, I don't share your... aesthetic.. assessment of my views. Keep your bloody fingerprints off them.
You lack hope, that much is clear. I have been thinking that if war is inevitable then Nagato's choice to find joy in it is admirable. It is his salvation as well as mine, or what will pass for it for now. But you remind me of a maggot that crawls into a dead body. You get down in the blood and filth and enjoy it.
[And enjoy this she thinks, with clear distaste.]
Reply
Her face is slightly flushed, her eyes are flashing with that delicious anger, and her breathing is a little shallow. That, on the other hand, is because of him.
Oh yes, pulling her strings is definitely quite interesting.]
Oh? Speaking to me makes you feel dirty, does it? I think you simply haven't had the opportunity to appreciate my art properly. I could show you sometime, if you like.
Really, it's an honor to become one of my puppets. Only the truly worthy are afforded the privilege of spending eternity as sublime works of art, rather than decaying into dust and being forgotten. It's regrettable, but sometimes, true art requires suffering and sacrifice.
[His smirk widens.]
It is true that I enjoy the thrill of battle. I simply can't resist the lure of engaging a challenging opponent. There really is nothing like the excitement that comes from meeting a foe that's on even footing with you, exchanging move and countermove in perfect synchronization for hours on end until, at last, one finally gains the upper hand. After all, the longer and more challenging a battle is, the sweeter victory is once you finally achieve it, don't you agree?
I think your husband has a deep understanding of this as well.
Reply
Being in the same organization as you makes me feel dirty, Sasori.
I think I have more stomach for Deidara's 'art' than yours. [And that's really saying something, in fact.]
Frankly, it's nonsense. You simply enjoy handling the pieces of your own dead. You cannot lie to me about these things, I have seen too much myself. The difference between us is that I don't prefer to spend all my time rolling in corpses. It reminds me. The few times I have seen you in person, your disgusting little toys have smelled like the mass grave in Amegakure. Maybe you should share your 'art' [she says it in a way that makes the quotes audible] with my husband. Maybe you should repeat what you've just said to me. Given how clever you feel you are, I'm sure my husband would love to hear your plans.
[Somehow that comes out as an unintentional, but satisfying insult. She waves her hand.]
And as for my husband, I'd imagine you wish you could find out first hand. I have watched your conversations. You think you can hide your feelings behind that shell of yours. But it is not lost on me.
[She knows flirting when she sees it, she thinks. But she leaves it at that.]
Reply
He's also rather surprised she hasn't realized her indecent display of herself yet, not that he's complaining. He can't help but chuckle at how annoyed she must be for something like that to escape her notice.]
I do think you're misjudging my statements, Konan. Trust me, I certainly have no interest in making you one of my puppets. [You already are quite an agreeable one, right now.] You are one of my comrades, after all. You said so yourself.
If you've watched our conversations, then you would have seen that Leader has already expressed his appreciation for my art. It seems, in fact, as though we share similar opinions on a considerable number of topics.
[He sighs, and frowns slightly.]
I'm rather disappointed that you seem to have little in the way of appreciation for true art, however, if you consider the mindless destruction that my partner delights in art. I honestly thought you had more refined tastes than that. I can only imagine that this must be due to ignorance, as you seem to be quite an intelligent woman otherwise.
It's quite all right, though. I'd be more than happy to educate you about the true nature of art. After all, we are comrades, and I think it would be beneficial to cultivate our bonds as such by learning more about each other and our interests, both in person as well as through these devices.
It seems as though I've made a rather poor impression on you the few times we have met. I do wonder if you'd be charitable enough to give me another chance. I, for one, would certainly like to see more of you in person.
[That hint of a smirk plays at his lips once again.]
Reply
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