It's his birthday, okay.

[deifiance]

Yes, I'm aware of the day. Truly, what could I care for human convention? Perhaps to those who live a mere handful of years it matters, but do not forget who I am.

This celebration that you insist on pursuing is at best, an exercise in futility. You would do well to turn your attention toward more productive endeavours.

Ah, but perhaps you need incentive. If this is the case, then I am sure I could oblige.

Comments

[transcendens]

It's much the same with mine. Count yourself fortunate you're not made to suffer through unwanted celebrations.

[deifiance]

Fortune has little to do with it I'm afraid. It's more a matter of control. [ Smug bastard is smug. ] Tell me, have you been so unfairly subjected?

[transcendens]

[ Why does he talk to himself again? Sousuke can't remember. ]

Not recently. Last year, however, I found myself in a somewhat untenable situation quite against my will. If you would like to keep that control, I suggest you avoid such things.

[deifiance]

[ Glutton for punishment? No, it's the pretty, isn't it? HE MAKES GOOD TEA! ]

I must admit, now you've made me curious. Perhaps you could elaborate. So that I may know better how to avoid such a lapse, of course.

[transcendens]

[ Sousuke's not so secret weakness. GOOD TEA. Also he's a narcissist. ]

The details are irrelevant. Simply refrain from finding yourself thrust into one of these games they like to play so dearly and you'll be fine.

[deifiance]

[The shinigami offers himself a small, deceptively benign smile at that. ]

Details are rarely irrelevant, Sousuke. In fact the opposite is generally true. 'The devil is in the details' or so they say.

Which begs the question, why you are reluctant to share. [ Oh, it's not like he can't guess. Really, this is himself. Just. He's a douchebag. ]

[transcendens]

Not these particular details.

[ Obstinate Sousuke is obstinate. He knows himself far too well. ]

I wouldn't term it reluctance. Rather, a desire not to see the conversation get too far afield regarding matters that are no longer applicable.

[deifiance]

I see. Then it was a lesson well learned. [ No, he's not buying it. Something happened and it left an impact, to the point where his other self doesn't want to talk about it. ] Disappointing nevertheless. I suppose my curiosity will remain unsated.

[ As if. He just knows when to take the scenic route. ] This game you found yourself thrust into, what did it entail?

1/2

[transcendens]

[ Sousuke recognizes this tactic, and refuses to fall for it. ]

An approximation of a human city that forced mortality on all those who found themselves trapped within its walls.

[trollonetrollall]

Threats, huh? Now there's something you don't hear everyday here.

[CAN YOU FEEL THE SARCASM.]

[1stguardian]

Don't let him bullshit you. It was a place called Ukiyo. And being human was the least of his problems.

[deifiance]

[ Totally unruffled. ]

Hardly a threat. Think of it as a statement of fact.

[deifiance]

Hmm. Really now? This is surprising.

[ What's surprising? WATCH HOW HE DOESN'T CLARIFY. Ask him, Ichigo, go on. ]

[1stguardian]

What's surprising?

[ Is he being manipulated here? He... totally doesn't think so. ]

[trollonetrollall]

Fact, huh? So whaddya gonna do if they're defiant? Glare at 'em?

Talk more 'till they get bored an' comply?

[deifiance]

[ Not as much information as he would like. But this is a start and oh, it's golden. ] And so for a time, you were human. [ A beat. ] In as much as we could ever be human, I would imagine.

How was it?

[deifiance]

You haven't wished me a 'happy birthday' yet. Isn't it a common practise, for humans?

[ For someone who claims to not care about these things, the quirk of his eyebrow is vaguely disapproving all the same. Or maybe he's just screwing with you, Ichigo. ]

[transcendens]

Unimaginably dull.

[ He's just going to ignore Ichigo and hope he goes away. It's never worked before but hope springs eternal. ]

[1stguardian]

Huh? Oh. I didn't know it was a big deal to shinigami. Sorry.

[ What is his life right now? Ichigo doesn't know. ]

Happy Birthday.

[deifiance]

[ There's a faint chuckle right about here. ] Truly?

Yet it was untenable enough that you are unwilling to share those irrelevant details. I wonder. I have found that untenable situations are rarely a dull affair, Sousuke.

No. I should say 'we' have found. [ Those eyes are oh-so-sharp. ]

[transcendens]

Ah, but you neglect to consider the true horror of that dullness. An entire city teeming with insipid humans who cannot die and rarely ever leave.

[ He shrugs, like it's nothing. And really, at the time, it was nothing to him. ]

There were also a meager collection of shinigami, though they were so scattered and helpless that they could do little but cower in their houses.

[deifiance]

It is to some. [ A beat. ] But not to me. Still, there are times when one must show a certain amount of respect for propriety. Don't you agree?

[ Ahaha, this is Ichigo he's talking to. What is propriety? Shh. He's not trolling you kid, I swear. ]

[1stguardian]

[ Ichigo just stares for a minute, kind of baffled by the question. ]

I'm starting to think you're confusing me for someone else.

[deifiance]

[ Holy crap is that a genuine laugh? Okay, it might be. ] Hardly.

Would you lead me to believe you lack appropriate deference, Kurosaki Ichigo?

[1stguardian]

[ He heard that. And he's not forgetting it any time soon. ]

I don't lack it. I choose to ignore it. There's a difference.