Sweet dreams are made of ...

[infernal_rival]

Nisei is unconscious. He took four steps into a room he's never seen before, and sank to the ground, for no apparent reason. He's sleeping, but in his mind, he's re-living something in great detail.

Comments

SO EPIC I COULD NOT RESIST. <3

[pinnd_buttrfly]

Soubi had caught a glimpse of the well-lit room, with a kotatsu facing bright windows, but only for a fraction of a second. Before he could even put up his defenses, his strength had flooded out of him and he had ended up on the floor, fast asleep.

Oh god. The difference that might have made...

[infernal_rival]

[Nisei is sitting bolt-upright, with his hands on the ground to keep from losing his balance. His breathing is disturbed, and it's several long moments before he so much as sees you. He draws his legs up into a more protected position, but he's not sure when he'll be able to stand. When he closes his eyes, there are flames; spreading, dancing, vivid and ephemeral. Seimei was of the opinion that fire purified. Nisei ... had little use for symbolism. But there was something mesmerizing about watching a life end that way. Something dangerous and yearning, that almost made him want to let the fire reach him. The significance of the rest of what he saw is almost too much for his mind to touch.

Crosscurrents of it rustle other memories, in free association, in no particular order. Sensei telling him to stop looking for information, because there were things he had no right to know. Ritsuka, asking him the other day what breaking meant. (Was there really anyone alive who didn't know that?) Himself, aged six, holding a huge, industrial

It would be a really good difference, but then we wouldn't have the effed-up creature that is Soubi!

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[Soubi too wakes up with a start. For a moment he doesn't move, eyes glassy and unfocused. He had barely remembered that day until now; fourteen years of systematic brainwashing has left him with very few full memories of more mundane times in his life. Remembering the scene so vividly is a shock like being plunged into an icy sea. He now knows what his mother had said that time, what she had truly meant... Had she honestly cared? Had she not wanted to leave him to Ritsu-sensei, had she not simply been a careless and stupid woman? It's too much for him to bear. He sits up shakily. In a moment he catches sight of Nisei, also on the ground and vulnerable. But he doesn't have the energy to fight him or run from him. Not now. He can only rest his head against the wall and, detached, watch Nisei regain full awareness.]

Mm. Conflicting values of 'good' ftw.

[infernal_rival]

[Somewhere, in the back of his mind, Nisei is feeling watched. Unless something triggers his threat response, though, it isn't commanding his attention. Processing what he's seen is like being ripped in two. A part of him is reacting the way he did at the time, with a razor-alertness and a sense of power, exultance, and fulfillment. He'd done something on Seimei's orders, on his sacrifice's behalf, that could not be undone, and he'd done well. The newness of it was sharp and present. But the death made him tingle and ache inside. How was it possible that his sacrifice was like him, in so many, many ways? How had he known that when it came to killing, all Nisei really needed was permission? He felt so close to Seimei, like a reflection that finally caught a glimpse of the person casting it. He made sense in relation to his sacrifice, in a way that he never had before. The experience was overpowering; as if by killing for him, Nisei's soul had knelt at Seimei's feet. It almost made him wish that his sacrifice would touch him, so that he

Oh, and thank you for the message. I'm glad you're liking this thread as much as I am! <3

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[Soubi does in fact have very good hearing. He can hear the whimpers and, somewhere in the back of his thoughts, is amazed. A Fighter who cries? Who shows pain? How can Seimei have chosen that over him? Is he really that horrible, that Seimei would prefer such a weak Fighter to him?

But, of course, maybe it's the purity factor. Nisei may not have his ears, but he also hasn't been soiled by Ritsu-sensei. If that's it, if that's why...

He's not sure whether he wants to kill Ritsu-sensei or Nisei more right now. Or maybe he wants to kill his mother for leaving him as she did. This wouldn't be the first time he's had those thoughts.

He stands up, quite calmly and without shaking in the least. He brushes the dust off of his shirt and jeans, and then walks over to Nisei. With deliberate slowness he places a foot over Nisei's exposed wrist. He puts just enough weight on his foot to make it hurt.]

You. We hadn't finished our conversation the last time we met. You never told me your name.

^^ You're welcome. Muse here was furious that I admitted he made a sound.

[infernal_rival]

[His focus shifts to you the moment you start moving. It's never taken this long to force down a personal conflict of this nature, or he would have been on his feet in mere instants.

That said ... have a wild, trapped-animal look and two knuckles in the back of your knee. Yes, he fights dirty, and yes, it hurts, but beyond hitting a pressure point and getting you off his hand, it's not likely to do much harm. A normal person might be on the ground, but Soubi ... a caught stagger, maybe.

Somehow, violence makes everything else work properly. Or almost so. He still isn't quite able to stand.]

Didn't I? It's Akame Nisei.

[It's brazen, even, and inwardly contemptuous. Everything's weakness to you, isn't it, Soubi? The part of him that can't believe he started deteriorating in full view of an opponent is buried deep right now. Nisei's visible self is shameless and entirely focused on you: what poor judgment you must have, to try to step on me.]

[ooc: Nisei actually fights better (if he has to fight physically) from the ground. It's

Aww, poor thing! Soubi would be really pissed-off too. Also, Nisei's fighting style is epic.

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[Soubi stumbles backwards a step before catching himself with his other leg. He gives Nisei a look of calm disdain. He knows better than to try that again just yet, but while Nisei is down he might as well get more information from him.]

Akame, tell me, how did you meet Seimei? Did he find you, or you him?

[He manages to keep his voice from shaking, though it isn't as strong as usual. Just seeing this man sets off such rage in him that he's finding it hard to keep calm. And asking this question is doing nothing to help. If Nisei had contacted Seimei, he'd have only Nisei to hate. But if Seimei had gone looking for another Fighter... he doesn't think he could live with himself.]

Poor ... *have a priceless look*. I'm glad you like it, though.

[infernal_rival]

You really are a masochist.

[There's a brief, recalcitrant silence as Nisei decides what to say. As memories go, that one ... always felt private. But after deciding that you aren't going to attack him the moment he takes his full attention off you, there's a slight, visible shift. He has to look into himself in order to answer.]

Seimei called me a few days after my name appeared. There was something he needed done; something that would have been a problem if it were traced back to him. One of the minor inconveniences of planning your own death.

[There's something delicate in the way he inflects his words, that implies things he didn't say. The fact that "planning" in this case means faking is perfectly audible. Nisei's being vague, but everything he just said is true. There's a lot he isn't telling you - like the fact that he left the academy without permission at 17, and was working alone when Seimei found him. Not to mention that "something he needed done" in no way implies Seimei entrusted me with a murderBut when and how -

Crap, I really need to stop breaking Soubi. Now I have to snap him out of it somehow...

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[Soubi does not answer Nisei's question. He doesn't move a muscle. The subtleties of Nisei's speech have escaped him for the moment. All he truly heard was, 'Seimei called me'. Nothing after that matters. Nothing in general seems to matter anymore, actually. It's a fact: Seimei abandoned him to find Nisei. It's infuriating beyond measure, but he isn't angry at Seimei. He's enraged at himself, hates himself for failing Seimei as he did, and for not even knowing why. What had he done wrong? He followed every order word-for-word, knew every subtlety in Seimei's speech and movement and expression, did everything that was ever asked of him and more, worshiped him as a god. What had he missed? What could have made his god abandon him like this? And for something like Akame Nisei. He's staring at the ground, but seeing nothing.]

FWIW, Nisei isn't in any condition to intentionally do more damage.

[infernal_rival]

[Nisei recognizes that frozen look from the first time he met you. He's coming to realize that you express strong emotion by the very understated means of letting your hair cover your eyes. But he doesn't quite fathom how someone as strong as you can also be so phenomenally fragile.]

How old were you, when he wrote his name?

[If there's anything in your past that's up to the task of pulling you through this, the memory of being claimed should be. Even if it results in a growled "none of your ****ing business, Nisei" at least he won't have to deal with this pathetic display. Which is to say, he can go back to seeing you as that blank rather than a shattered fighter. Because he exists. He's going to continue to exist. As long as Seimei wants him, he will be the BELOVED fighter, and you ... will have to be something else. But he's not in a fit state to enjoy your pain right now.]

...That's not too good for Nisei, 'cause he's just snapped Soubi out of his emo.

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[As soon as Nisei speaks, Soubi finds himself launched back into reality. He hears Nisei's question and Nisei's voice, the voice of the one who took his master from him. Nope, he's not telling him about that sacred time. He's not telling him anything except what he expects him to do next. With a cold smile, he crouches down close to Nisei's head, face to face with him. He's moving slowly and carefully, as if Nisei is a wild animal. Then, without warning, he grabs him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him up into a sitting position, and then slams him into the wall. In the same movement he uses his other hand to punch Nisei hard in the solar plexus. If Nisei doubles up, he can't lean too far because of Soubi's hand at his throat. When Soubi speaks, his voice is neither breathless nor shaking.]

Akame, you don't get to ask questions. You're weak and you can't fight. Is it because you saw what I saw? Were you dreaming about the past? Tell me what you saw, Akame, tell me everything.

That's alright. Nisei is ... relatively skilled at fighting from a position of weakness.

[infernal_rival]

[You get a thick wheeze from the blow, and a momentary flash of irritation. But only that. He's keeping his head as best he can. The why do you keep touching me? I'll kill you. may surface properly when he senses his strength return. For now, he can manipulate.]

What I saw was an execution. There was ... something about it was new.

[Really, your lack of discipline is appalling. But it puts him in an interesting position. You sound so threatened, so brittle. He has just enough self-control to feign quiescence, if it'll get you to poke around and ask more questions. Without meaning to, you're telling him a lot.]

Gaah, I'm sorry this took so long.

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[He grips harder around his throat, not enough to impede breathing but certainly hard enough to bruise. He gets close to Nisei's face. All he wants right now is to see Nisei in pain. He can't kill him, not if he is Seimei's, but... he has not been ordered to leave this hateful man unharmed.]

Execution? Whose? Tell me about it.

Yay, you're back? :3

[infernal_rival]

[Nisei swallows, for no particular reason beyond provoking you with the feel of his throat under your hand. This can either be interpreted as teasing ... or an understated, nonverbal submission. But his facial expression is nudging it towards the latter.]

So sorry. That is for Seimei to know and everyone else to wonder. It's his secret, not mine.

[He's perfectly capable, at this point, of seizing your hand and twisting it counter-clockwise, freeing his neck and locking every joint from your wrist to your shoulder. But he won't unless you force the issue. Even through the constriction, magic is coiling reassuringly in his chest.]

When you woke up, you remembered something. Didn't you. You may hate me, Agatsuma-san, but who else can you tell?

Indeed! Isn't that icon from when Soubi is menacing Nisei? >_>

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[He makes a disgusted face.]

If I'm telling anyone, it won't be you.

[He knows better than to ask anything that is Seimei's business, but his hand tightens convulsively on Nisei's throat. What could Seimei possibly ask this man to do that he couldn't do? What could Nisei be trusted with that he couldn't? The utter pain of being abandoned for this, this creature... he takes a moment to steady himself.]

I don't want to talk about myself or about Seimei, Akame. I want to hurt you. Why were you so upset when you woke up?

Exactly.

[infernal_rival]

[Well. Nisei could have been more subtle about asking, but it was worth a try. The fact that you've dropped the I forbid you to ask questions, at least for now, has not gone unnoticed.]

Fair enough.

[He wants to ask Who else have you found? but he's going to let it slide, for now. And ... Nisei's working with you, oddly enough. There's no trace of his sadism or the mocking, dark humor that animates his expression so often. Instead, you get a long, slightly shuddering deep breath that slides by under your fingers, and the muscles in his neck shift as the balance of tension throughout his body changes.]

Why? [He almost says didn't I just say that I can't give you specifics? but he understands. You're looking for mental anguish, not information.] I don't imagine a well trained fighter knows what it feels like; to think that maybe your sacrifice is setting you up.

[He shouldn't have to say any more than that. It's unthinkable, but for the same reason, it's agony.] For me, though? I know what happened to you. What I don't know is why