Retrace 11 || [Voice]

[break_onthru]

Greetings again, Anatole! You know, I've realized I never speak to the Forge network unless I'm feeling partiiicularly philosophical. How nauseatingly self-indulgent of me, don't you agree?

So I won't do that tonight! Instead, I'm going to be aaaalllll business, heehee. Perhaps I'm being a touch shameless in my advertising, but I certainly wouldn

Comments

audio;

[maelstroms]

You're certain the question is hypothetical, and hypothetical alone?

audio;

[break_onthru]

Are you calling me a liar, Ukitake-san?

[His voice is so saccharine it hurts.]

audio;

[maelstroms]

No.

You did refer to yourself as such, however. I am merely seeking confirmation from a man who sees fit to answer a question with yet another question.

audio;

[break_onthru]

Iiii think there's a difference between a man declaring himself one thing, and another accusing him of it.

[Or maybe there's really not at all. He's just being difficult.]

So what if I wasn't being hypothetical? Would that change your answer?

audio; 1/2

[maelstroms]

Unfortunately, Break-san, I am not accusing you. I am agreeing with you.

[ And that is that. ]

audio;

[maelstroms]

It... would change my answer, perhaps.

audio;

[break_onthru]

[Whatever. Break doesn't want to talk about lies or liars anymore.]

Well, why don't you tell me both and I'll tell you which one is right?

[Because... open-ended philosophical questions can totally have wrong answers, apparently.]

audio;

[maelstroms]

Ah.

I'd humor you, under normal circumstance, but... something tells me you would hold bias toward a particular answer of mine.

[ That answer being 'yes'. ]

To live is to suffer, as some will say. Does it really matter where you are, in the end?

audio;

[break_onthru]

[Huh. That answer surprises him, honestly.]

Is that what you say as well, Ukitake-san? And here I thought you were such an optimist!

audio;

[maelstroms]

Yes, it is.

[ A beat. ]

But only on particularly dreary days. Though, I would also say one's salvation is finding the meaning behind their suffering and bearing it. That is how a man survives.

And I have certainly lived for quite a long time.

audio;

[break_onthru]

...

Yes. I guess you have a point, Ukitake-san.

[Which puts him on a completely different train of thought. About shinigami and their lifespan... and deaths.]

It makes me wonder just how long. Or is that a seeecret?

audio;

[maelstroms]

[ Oh yes, he sees that there subject change, but he'll graciously let it slide. For now. Call him considerate. ]

It is no secret of mine. As it is, few have asked, so few know the answer in turn.

[ He pauses then, considering. ]

Shall we make this interesting? You are welcome to guess my age, and I will provide you with feedback regarding your estimate.

audio;

[break_onthru]

All right, all riiiight. I can play a little game.

[It's better than sitting around thinking about his life, at any rate.]

I hope you will not be offended by any guesses. I know very little about real shinigami, mind you.

[So. Hmm. Once Yachiru mentioned a span of 45 years like it wasn't really long at all.]

Let's start off with a nice even number. How about a thousand years?

audio;

[maelstroms]

A thousand years? That is an excellent choice to begin with, Break-san! You flatter me, as well, I would very much like to feel that young again.

[ A chuckle. ]

You will not offend me with any mistaken guesses, rest assured. I am not so easily taken aback.

audio;

[break_onthru]

.... Young, huh?

[Good grief, a thousand years. And Break thought pushing forty was old.]

Shall I go up to twoooo thousand?

audio;

[maelstroms]

Yes, you shall.

[ And then, a thoughtful hum. ]

But raising the bar by another millennium will be far from necessary.