death_begins | Sixteenth Rebirth- [audio]

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Sixteenth Rebirth- [audio]

It feels so empty in this place, now.

Though, I understand some new people have arrived. Hello!

[Silence. It's almost awkward.]

...I don't know how much longer this can go on. [...he's really not doing so well on the whole 'inconspicuous' part anymore, is he? Cough, cough, he tries to remedy that, at least a little.] Maybe I should take up a hobby. Any recommendations?

[Filtered to Greed and Envy || Unhackable]
[And here's that little bit of evil bastard that's still got alive and kicking.]

I understand that you've gotten a new addition to your ranks? Congratulations. Perhaps we could have a discussion at some point or another- I'm still highly curious as to what, exactly, you are.

I'm pleased enough to offer up information on my end too, of course.

[ooc: in response to Rain's leaving for awhile to take care of Ukitake ;;]

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It's your own fault, you know.

[A laugh, light, and this time real.]

Most trouble is... I won't say I don't deserve this.

Then we're of the same view.

[A little pause.]

I'll drop by later today.

[A nod, sobering now.]

Do you like chicken soup?

As much as anything else, I suppose.

Okay. If you'll be here for a while, I might as well feed you.

I'll see you when you come?

...sure. I'll be there in a little.

[ooc: argh, not on AIM, but did you want to log, assume, or just actionlog it?]

All right. I'll wait up for you.

[ooc; Actionlog? Not on AIM either, I'm posting from work because it's slow. :3]

[Al doesn't have to wait long- Yuca doesn't have anything better to do. But it's definitely easier to get around, now that the snow has cleared, but he's still dressed warmly, in Break's jacket and the scarf that Al had given him all that time ago. Yuca enters the library, as quiet as a whisper, closing the door behind him as to try and conserve as much heat as possible.]

[The fire is banked down to coals, keeping the house warm is a chore, but they don't want any more burst pipes. Al's dozing in one of the chairs, a blanket over him to keep warm, hair a little loose.

He doesn't wake up as soon as Yuca's in the room. Instead, have a sleeping Al.]

[Yuca watches him for a moment or two, before turning to glance over the books, idly glancing through them patiently- Al needed his rest, he presumed, and he didn't really want to have to bother with him quite yet.]

[Let him sleep for another hour and a half, then. He finally stirs awake slowly, realizing that Yuca's there and blinking himself more awake. He scrubs his fists across his eyes with a soft, almost soundless yawn, then gets to his feet, making his way over to Yuca.

He doesn't ask, almost as if he's afraid of rejection, but he lightly leans against his back, sliding his arms around him from behind, shutting his eyes.]

... just for a minute.

[Yuca had been too lost in his thoughts to realize Al's getting up, too obsessed with the past to feel his fingers trickle across his sides until it was too late and Al was attached to him like some sort of parasite.]

Certainly.

[His voice is calm, not a trace of warmth in it- though, no distaste either.]

[Al was started to hate the way Yuca made him feel, like some sort of child, barely tolerated, but he didn't resent Yuca for it. More like he felt disgusted with himself for putting himself in this position.

Yuca was the only person who wouldn't reprimand him for doing what he'd done. But because he wouldn't say it, Al somehow heard it even more clearly. He felt helpless and hopelessly stupid, frantic and afraid. With stunning clarity, he realized that he felt exactly the way he had in the pristine silence of that first night in the armor.

He was so damned angry at himself... both because of what he'd done, but also the fact that he craved some sort of childish vindication from Yuca, some reassurance that it was all right, that he had made a mistake, he was okay and that was all that mattered. It was Yuca's bland and vaguely disgusted view on that matter that had made Alphonse realize just how much of a child he still was, and he felt ashamed of it.

People made mistakes, but it didn't matter who'd done them, or how loved they were. They were still the same stupid mistakes, still just as wrong and thoughtless... and Al had only recently realized how much he took that love and forgiveness for granted.

It came like a breath of icy air, and Al released Yuca almost abruptly, stepping back, staring hard at the fire.]

... sorry.

[Without anything further, he turned and headed towards the kitchen, gathering himself, reaching up to scrub at his eyes with his sleeve. Time to stop being an idiot. He'd feed Yuca and then let him alone.]

[Yuca is simply content to sit there and let Alphonse keep him close. To say he cared about the other's mental process would be a bit of an overstatement, but he wasn't completely alien to what that look in Al's eyes meant. Yuca is patient, though (he's forced to be, patience, always patience, it's probably one of his most admirable traits by now), and lets Alphonse cling for as long as he needs to.

Which, ironically, seems to not be that long at all. Yuca glances back as he's released with a certain suddenness, slightly confused as to the reason for being let go like that. He hadn't said anything, had he? It was hard to remember.]

Al- wait.

[What was this new reaction for? Unless Alphonse had discovered an unfortunate truth in his musings, Yuca wasn't quite sure why he suddenly seemed to be so intent on leaving.]

[That was a surprise. Al stopped in his tracks, feeling the distant burn of the fire on one side of his face, back towards Yuca. Slowly, he set a hand on the back of one of the couches, trying to reason out why Yuca would want him to come back.

Damn it, he'd already come to the conclusion he needed to, it would be much easier if Yuca would let him alone to have a good cry and then get over it. But... he let his breath out, not quite a sigh, more like he realized he'd been holding it and was trying to relax. He looked back over his shoulder, thankful that the irregular light would make his expression a little harder to read.]

Yeah?

[He sees the flicker of emotion cross Al's face as the firelight glows up along his skin. Yuca watches Alphonse for a moment, trying to discern whether or not the other's new revelation was through any fault of his own. It didn't seem like it could have been, but... well, this child was a rather irksome one.]

Why the sudden change? I thought you wanted me to come over.

[Al faltered, just a bit, hesitating visibly, eyes darting to one side before coming back up to rest on Yuca's face.]

I did -- I do. I just don't want to bother you.

[A little smile.]

I know you wouldn't say anything, even if you were annoyed. But I don't...

[He trailed off. Bother him? Annoy him? Was he capable of it? ... but if he was really bothered or annoyed, would he have come over at all? It made Al's head hurt. He'd grown up around people who were always very straightforward about their feelings. Indifference meant indifference, right? But the logic...]

...

Did you want to see me?

Alphonse, [His tone is very businesslike, matter-of-fact,] you asked to see me. I came over to see you.

[There. That's all there is to it, isn't it? That's all he thinks. His face is an outward calm, maybe tinged with a little confusion, but ultimately he just looks tired.

He always looks tired.]

I don't understand why you're being so reclusive now that I'm here. Should I leave?

[Al frowned, the longer strands of his hair falling in his eyes. He had to cut it soon, or he wouldn't be able to see. The edge of his lips twisting a bit, and he made a low noise.]

... no, don't leave.

[Have a gusty sigh, and he took a few hesitant steps towards Yuca, watching him curiously. Finally, a couple of steps from him, he reached out for a book on the shelf, running his thumb along the pages, though his eyes barely left Yuca.]

It would be so much easier if I could read minds. [A soft chuckle.]

I don't think you'd find anything, reading mine.

[He sits down again, sighing and tilting his head back.]

Or maybe you'd find too much. Somehow both, I guess. [Yuca's crimson eyes follow Al's fingers for a moment, calculating and empty all at once. With that cold lack of emotion that made him almost seem inhuman.]

I'd say I know the feeling, but when it comes to you, I'm sure I don't.

You're not as empty-headed as you like to pretend. I know that, at least. But I imagine it's something like a lot of white noise, loud enough to block out other sounds.

[Al shifts to his side, sitting on the armrest of the seat, reaching back to brush Yuca's hair back from his face, then lean in with an almost playful frown.]

Maybe I'd find a lot of dust and cobwebs.

Maybe you would.

[He doesn't smile at him, but doesn't push him away either, just lets Al do what he will. Yuca doesn't mind too much- he's never minded too much.]

I'm very... nonchalant, Alphonse. I'll jump if you say so, but expecting me to enjoy it is asking too much. But it would be no different than if I hadn't jumped at all. Do you understand now?

[Al's fingers stay where they are, and he works through it thoughtfully. He touches his brother the same way when he's having a bad headache.]

A little bit. You don't do things because you want to, but because it enables you to get along with others better.

Something like that.

[After a moment, he closes his eyes. The movements are almost relaxing- if he were a weaker man, he could be coaxed to falling asleep, just like this. He's so tired.]

Sixteenth Rebirth- [audio]

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[Action] - internet is down, school is crazy, sorry ;;

[Action] School first, I know~

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