[ open ]

[transcendens]

DATE: July 18
INVOLVED: transcendens and anyone who wants to run into him
ACTIVITY: After being struck blind for no reason, Aizen goes to Ten-ji to get away from Iki.
RATING: TBD

Comments

[chemeia]

[ Getting used to the new style of clothes that Kiyoha has seemed determine to keep him in while he's stuck in a girl's body has been as difficult as he'd imagined. The kimonos are too constrictive, the shoes are a pain in the ass to walk in, and if some guy makes one more comment about his hair, he's going to punch them in the face. He's beginning to really look forward to things going back to normal, especially since every passing day means his tattoo growing even more. And he's not looking forward to dealing with that while he's stuck like this

[transcendens]

[ His eyes open automatically, and for a moment Sousuke feels panic rising within him when he fails to see anything but darkness. It’s only for an instant, the instinctive recoil giving way to the memory that yes, he’s blind but no, he’s still in Ukiyo. And then it subsides, and he turns his head in the direction of the voice.

Ed’s voice, he realizes a second later. He tries to feign looking at him, tries to determine where he is based on the angle from which he heard his voice, but he knows he isn’t entirely successful. ]

Edward Elric.

[ It comes out a little more formally than he would otherwise speak, and he lifts a hand from where it’s been resting on his knee. He doesn’t beckon with it, not when he doesn’t know precisely where Ed’s standing, but he allows it to serve as a gesture of greeting. ]

Please. Sit down.

[chemeia]

[ Even with his eyes open, it seems evident that he doesn't notice the vigorous wave of Ed's hand, but Ed knows better than to make assumptions. So he approaches, geta clacking against stones, and as he does, it becomes clearer that Aizen isn't looking at him. Looking towards him, certainly. But the direction he's gazing in is a bit off center, a bit unfocused. Is he... Recalling his conversations earlier with Sakura and Ishida, it seems to make a bit of sense. A loss of sight, like the other loss of senses (or, in his case, the loss of gender).

It takes a bit of an effort to settle down on the bench next to Aizen, the sound of silk crinkling and the ties of an obi clacking against the edge. But once he's settled, he turns a bit to better face Aizen, finally voicing what he's suspecting. ]

You can't see... Can you?

[transcendens]

[ Listening to the clack of shoes - geta, his mind informs him after a moment - Sousuke marks Ed's progress as he approaches. He suspects his eyes are trying to follow him, it feels like they are, but he can't be certain. Still, wary tension coils in him briefly as the alchemist gets closer, old habits refusing to die, and it isn't until he's sitting beside him that it recedes. It sounds like quite the production, more fabric shifting than normally necessary, and pointless though he knows it is, he can't prevent himself from turning toward him curiously.

Just like he can't prevent the sigh of resignation when Ed remarks of his inability to see. ]

It's that obvious, is it?

[ He shakes his head. There's no sense in pretending otherwise. Not and still retain his dignity. ]

Not at all. I woke up blind yesterday morning.

[likeahurricane]

[ Today is a good day. At least it's a good day insofar as it's better than recent days. Which wouldn't be hard to be fair, but today Naruto has more positive things to consider than he's had in a while, he feels like maybe he's getting back on track. He slept last night, not for long, but it's amazing what a little in itself can do. The nightmares that were loud in his head sit more quietly today, muted by reassurances and a resurgence of old confidence given a new lease on life

[transcendens]

[ He feels the presence of another approaching him. Who it is, Sousuke cannot tell. There are only a tiny handful of people in Ukiyo that he could recognize without full possession of his senses, and this person is not one of them. Which means what, exactly? A stranger? Someone who’s only met him in passing? Someone who does know him and means him harm? These days, as the number of shinigami and their associates grow, he wouldn’t be surprised if it is

[likeahurricane]

[ Naruto's content to chomp on his dango in silence, unaware of the thoughts running through Sousuke's head. While he might know that the man has more reason than most to be wary and paranoid, he's not aware that right now he can't see. So he chews on, oblivious and enjoying the silent company for once.

One dango down, then onto the second. He's just finishing that when the silence is interrupted. Licking his fingers, Naruto considers the comment, nods and glances skyward. ] Yeah.

S'a good day to be alive. [ Probably sounds a little odd, but considering everything recently, he thinks it is a good day to be breathing. The day is fresh and warm, he's not dead and he's glad for it. It's strange how things can shift, something small to alter someone's perception. In his case, it was something simple; those who have faith in him and who will stand with him, and if needed help him. As long as he dares to ask.

Which is probably another unspoken reason for why he decided to sit next to Sousuke in the first place. ]

[transcendens]

Uzumaki Naruto.

[ He doesn’t need to say his name to confirm his identity, the sound of his voice is enough for that. But it surprises him, the shinobi’s turning out to be rather good at that, and the muted exclamation slips out before he can stop it. ]

I hadn’t realized it was you.

[ Perhaps he shouldn’t admit it so freely, but a person would have to be horribly unobservant to continue not to notice forever. If he’s pretending not to notice. Maybe he has and simply hasn’t wanted to call attention to it. Sousuke doesn’t know. He doesn’t know a lot of things these days.

But he remembers a voice on the fansuwoth, and he hasn’t forgotten what it said.

Trying to retain some semblance of grace, he reaches out a hand and uncertainly touches the young man sitting next to him. He aims for his arm, where he thinks his arm should be. The brush of his fingers isn’t enough to tell him if he succeeds. ]

You’re feeling better, I take it?

[toxicodendrons]

[It's not long after he's there that someone else enters the gardens. She's merely on a small outing, checking up on the various little projects she's tending to in the gardens, but the man on the bench grabs her attention. If it had been anyone else, she would have passed by without a word, much more interested in her babies than someone lounging in the gardens, but he had her respect. Of course, her respect was earned easily with a genuine respect towards plants and nature, but that wasn't the point.

So, she calls out lightly, not yet approaching.]

Good morning, Sousuke. It looks like you're enjoying the weather.

[transcendens]

[ Though they have not spoken as often as he would like, Sousuke recognizes her by that greeting and straightens from his slight slump against the bench. Smiling, genuinely pleased to encounter her, even if he knows he’ll make a rather poor showing of himself in his current state, he turns his head in the direction of her voice. ]

Pamela Isley.

[ He pronounces it carefully, not wanting to cause offense by improperly slurring the syllables. And he hopes that he’s facing her properly, not rudely looking too far beyond her. ]

You’ll have to forgive me my improper greeting. I’ve been having a bit of trouble with my eyes lately.

[toxicodendrons]

[That care brings a smile to her lips, not that he can see.]

Is that so? Could it be related to all of this complaining I've heard on our little network? [Her voice is rather devoid of sympathy, largely because if that's the case, she assumes it'll wear off. Or even if it doesn't, she could always make something to fix the problem.]

[Ivy looks toward the garden briefly, but then approaches]

I don't mind how proper or improper your greeting is, darling. It seems like you have a good excuse.

[transcendens]

Perhaps it is.

[ He concedes the point easily, hoping that it turns out to be truth. Strange things have happened in the city before that he remembers, and if others are similarly afflicted, there's a high chance that the incapacity will be temporary. Of course, with the way his luck has been running lately, he would not be surprised to learn that that is not the case. ]

Allow me then to simply say that you sound quite lovely today, though I'm certain that you're radiant enough to outshine such pale terminology.

[how_i_tease]

A beautiful day, isn't it?

[ Tyki's been sick of the indoors. Whether in her house or someone else's. The opportunity seemed right for taking a walk through the districts, on the rounded routes they provided, and this little detour had been well worth it. Even more so, now that she felt a little less uneasy about being seen out and about, wearing a yukata that actually fit for the time being, her long curly hair tied back in a braid courtesy of Zuko.

Of course, with the pretty scenery came the view of Aizen sitting there, soaking up the sun's rays like some regal big cat, and Tyki's lips twitched upwards at the sight. Like recognized like. Something about him seemed familiar as well, on the network or some such... ]

[transcendens]

[ The woman’s voice is not one he recognizes, and for a moment, Sousuke is silent, trying to decipher if it’s one he ought to know. It’s not. Even if she’s suffering from whatever affliction is currently plaguing the city, there’s nothing in the tone or the timbre of that voice he knows.

He turns in her direction, trying his level best to provide the appearance of looking at her face. Having only that one question to guide him, he knows that he fails, but he tries all the same. And he offers her a smile, friendly and welcoming. ]

It certainly feels as though it is. There are not nearly enough days of this caliber in Ukiyo, I’m afraid.

[how_i_tease]

I agree. A good day to step out of the house.

[ That he doesn't catch her eyes entirely doesn't bother her, or doesn't appear to. Instead she stretches languidly, eyes cast upwards towards the beautiful blue sky overhead. Her hand lifts, fingers fanning over gold eyes in shade. ]

Do you mind if I sit? My feet are starting to feel all the walking I've done already.

[transcendens]

No, of course not.

[ It's true. He doesn't mind. Why should he? It's a public place and she seems quite pleasant. ]

Please.

[ He doesn't need to see the rest of the bench to know where it is. With a flick of his wrist, he gestures to it, inclining his head in a brief nod. ]

Sit down.

[alkahestry]

[Since Edward left to speak with Kiyoha and Aya he's lost track of time. He spent a few hours trying to scour the library for any information he can on how to possibly reverse the strange condition that was plaguing his brother and so many others.

It wasn't until his stomach had begun to make it's need of food known that he packed up the books he was reading and left the library and out into the district. He's got a small allowance to work with now, enough he figures to find himself something to eat lunch with now that the morning hours have come to an end.

When he spots Aizen, Alphonse stops in his tracks and stares for a moment. They had only spoken on the network the devices shared so far, and needing to meet in person eventually, Al saw no reason to not walk his way up towards the bench to do so.]

Good afternoon, Mr. Aizen.

[transcendens]

[ The sound of his name being spoken by a familiar voice arrests Sousuke’s attention, and he straightens from his slouch, turning sightless eyes in the direction of the young man’s voice. Elric. Alphonse Elric. Iki’s new apprentice and one of the few individuals he meant to seek out after his arrival in Ukiyo. ]

Good afternoon to you, too, Alphonse.

[ It feels like a good afternoon. He could not have asked for a better day to spend outdoors, and if he must be blind, he’s grateful for the weather that allowed him a reprieve from the household. Smiling at Al, he hopes that he’s smiling at him and not slightly to the side of him, Sousuke lifts a hand and beckons him closer. ]

What brings you out here? Are you also a fan of the gardens?

[alkahestry]

[Lucky for Aizen the bench he was still resting upon was directly in front of Alphonse, so it would have been a bit hard for Aizen to not look directly at him. When Aizen mentions the gardens he pauses to take a brief look around at the gardens in question.]

They are nice... but I was just passing through on my way to find something to eat outside of Iki. I saw you and thought it would be a good time to stop and say hi in person.

[transcendens]

[ The irony provokes a chuckle, and for a moment, Sousuke indulges himself in a bout of amusement. ]

While I'm pleased to have the opportunity to speak with you in person, I'm afraid our timing is just a bit off.

[ He aims a smile in Al's direction as best he can. ]

It's my eyes, you see. I've gone blind.