(Untitled)

[der_geliebte]

[You've got yet another Seimei here, folks. And the tension in the air is palpable.]

I wasn't aware they could do something of this nature...

Nisei. Come.

[A pause, as he sends that signal out at full blast. He grimaces and sends it again.]

Nisei.

...Tch. Soubi will probably pick that up.

Comments

A bit of a placeholder, because mun is out of the country

[infernal_rival]

yours enough to be unreasoningly pleased at your presence. The mild, neutral smile is a lie. It nearly always is, with Nisei. The way his whole self seems to be aligning with you, though, invisibly and inevitably, is perfectly geniune.>

You called?

:>

[der_geliebte]

[The response eases Seimei from mild panic into decent caution, and a bitter smile crossed his face.]

Hmm. Did you just finish your fight with Soubi?

[infernal_rival]

[Well, that puts Nisei on edge, immediately. Is there a right way to answer this? A trap he hasn't seen? This Seimei is probably new to the dressing room, because he doesn't seem entirely sure that Nisei would come to him. So he would be referring to the fight in Goura. If that's so - Nisei's response is carefully worded.]

... yes. Why is your brother opposing us, Seimei?

[der_geliebte]

Mm. Ritsuka was always gentle. I had you attack those close to him to test him.

[excoriatedsoul]

[Soubi nearly misses a step. It's Seimei, but it's not Seimei. But, unmistakably, it's still Seimei. The other one Nisei mentioned? He wonders. He glances over at his master. It wasn't his Seimei. Yet... yet... how could it not be Seimei? For the first time he has first-hand experience with how confused Nisei must feel.

He puts a hand on his Seimei's shoulder, anchoring himself as much as reminding his master that he's present and attending to him. Whether every Beloved in this building is vibrating with the call, or just the fighters, he doesn't know. But he knows who his master is, and he reminds himself: My Seimei wants me here. He will call for me, and he will want me here by his side.]

[der_geliebte]

[Seimei isn't comforted by that voice, having arrived from just shortly before their first confrontation since Seimei's "death".

He whirls around, taking steps back and firing a lethal warning glare at Soubi.]

Soubi.

[excoriatedsoul]

[Soubi backs up a few steps. He's confused. He thought you were his Seimei, the one he arrived with; but he can see in your cold dispassionate look that you're not, because that Seimei has changed and you have not. The two have been in near-continuous contact, and nonetheless, somehow you have gotten switched. The thought of not being able to tell you apart scares him. The thought that the Seimei he arrived with might be gone scares him even more.

He knows that if you're not the Seimei he arrived with, you're not the same as his master, but he's compelled anyway, and confused, and knows only that he's made an awful mistake; of what kind, he does not know. He drops to his knees, his eyes fixed on the ground.]

Please forgive my indiscretion.

[He doesn't know whether he's awaiting punishment from you, from his own Seimei for making the mistake of confusing someone else with his sacrifice, or-- worst of all-- the punishment of living in a universe that just doesn't care whether his master can be consistent with him or not.]

[der_geliebte]

Where is Ritsuka?

[The mere thought that Soubi was not with Ritsuka, as he had ordered, shot rage throughout Seimei's body, which he restrained in all but the low, dark tone in his voice.]

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[Why yes, Soubi has picked that up. The emotional call resonates as a sweet ringing in the back of his mind, a warm but urgent glow at the corners of his vision. The call feels strongly like Seimei, the essences of his mind and power signature. The rational part of his mind tells him fearfully that this call must not be for him; it is for Nisei and if he answers it, Seimei will only show him disappointment and anger. But that part of his mind is easily drowned out by the urgent need to answer a master's call and to please him. He is immediately racing off towards Seimei. He appears before him within seconds. He bows his head reverently.]

[der_geliebte]

[Soubi's instincts were very accurate. Soubi was greeted with nothing but maliciousness.]

...Where is Ritsuka, Soubi? Why aren't you with him?

[pinnd_buttrfly]

[Head still bowed in submission, Soubi answers in a quiet voice.]

There are... several versions of Ritsuka here, Seimei. They come and go. I have been with all of them when they are here.

[der_geliebte]

Don't take me for a fool, Soubi. I won't believe such nonsense.

[dierolfnaqo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMzgVshG6CI