asgardeventide | Audio; Day 400

Entry tags:

Audio; Day 400

[Four months have passed since his arrival, and reaching that landmark has made him realise that he isn't going anywhere, anytime soon.

Things are changing, slowly, but right now his plans all come down to one problem- a lack of income.]

I'm looking for employment, what do people have on offer?

I'd give a resume, though I doubt it would be relevant unless there is a pressing need to hire those with combat training.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Outside the welcome hall.

6 pm.

No.

[Didn't he tell you to get lost a while ago, anon person?]

Edited 2014-02-10 08:32 (UTC)

I extended an invitation out of courtesy.

I could simply break into your room instead.

Just try it, see how far that gets you.

[Whoever you are, you're really starting to piss him off today.]

[There's no immediate response. Having been given his room number earlier, it's a simple matter to get to it.

Rather than break in, however, Itachi knocks a couple times instead.]

[He's not expecting any visitors out of the two or three that actually visit him, which means it must be one of his neighbours or something, here to complain about fuck knows what.

There's a turning of the lock as he pulls his door open, a harsh, annoyed 'what?' being heard before it's even fully open.]

[That annoyance soon turns to surprise however as he finds himself starting at a younger version of his brother. He can't help it- the flash of memories it provokes seeing Itachi at that age again. He only hopes it didn't show in his expression, though it probably did, just for a second before being masked over by that frown once again.]

Why are you here. [A beat.] Like that? [Young.]

Because I told you I would be.

[Calm. Collected. He's still wearing the same clothes from before. The same ones he'd murdered their family in.

Despite all the warning he'd been given, it's still surreal to see his younger brother aged to the point of being his elder. He's the same age as the other two, making it even more likely that they really are teammates.

And then there's the second part of his response. Sasuke is surprised by his age - expecting his older self. The one he wants to believe is an impostor.

This isn't going to be easy, but he'd decided to walk straight up to the doorway regardless.]

That was you, just now..

[And not the sender of those first anon messages, he is assuming. He couldn't care less about those right now- not when his brother is standing here in this way.]

What happened? People don't usually wake up a decade younger than they were the day before. Did the gods do this?

[He's seen people 'cursed' before on the network, with memories altered and even their physical ages affected.]

Why didn't you just say it was you, in the message? [Something else here isn't making any sense.]

These 'gods' have brought us all here, correct? So I don't assume it would be anyone else.

[He moves to step inside, wondering how Sasuke will react to this. The attitude is right for someone who's been in his situation, but he's still too alright with Itachi's overall presence.]

I am not any younger today than I was yesterday.

[Woah woah woah, hang on. He steps aside to let Itachi past, but his expression darkens as things begin to fall into place in his mind. ]

You don't remember being here. [It's not a question. And if the statement is correct, then his brother was sent home and returned like this, which is twice as worse than the prospect of a curse had been.]

I saw you a couple days ago, here, and you were definitely older.

Edited 2014-02-10 22:54 (UTC)

So I hear.

[He looks around, taking in the boy's room and what little furnishings it has. Comparing it to his own.

This mask has to stay in place, no matter what he's heard.]

Did it relieve you, this false image? Was I so kind?

Quit it.

[He can see where this is going, and no. He'd fallen for it for so many years and with that memory comes everything else tied to it, the hatred and anger- at himself, his brother, this place for making this happen.]

That might have worked on me as a child, but it's not going to now.

[Itachi is silent. He turns then, and takes a seat on the edge of Sasuke's bed, just watching him. So strong his resolve was, so easy Sasuke tears at it.

Is it really so pointless?]

What would you have me say instead?

[Sasuke stands with his back against the wall, staring at his brother.

His elder brother, who is now younger than him.]

I know the truth. I was shown it by you yourself, so no amount of lying is going to change my perception of you.

[That has him narrowing his eyes.]

Why would I tell you?

[Why would he violate his own principles like that?]

[Sasuke's own eyes narrow in return.]

Why do you think?

[He could explain it all, sure. But faced with this image from his past, he'd rather hear Itachi's explanations.]

It seems I cannot guess at what are supposed to be my own actions.

A lack of answer from you only adds to the theory that this is all some grand illusion trying to rip my secrets from me.

[It's too soon. He's been too close to a breaking point for a while now, but he reigns it in as he always does - keeps himself from looking to shaken, keeps his voice steady.]

[Itachi may think this is an illusion aimed at him, meanwhile Sasuke thinks this is a trick aimed at unsettling him. It must have been done for a reason.]

[But he knows arguing back and forth like this wont achieve anything, not matter how much he feels like he wants to.]

An illusion like that would be pointless, I already know your secrets. I know, what really happened that night. And why. About our clan, the village elders, the fact that you should've killed me, but didn't. That's why you went through with it, right?

[Itachi shuts his eyes. He's already been told this, that his brother knows. What he knows. But it's painful to hear. They all seem so casual about it, but to him it reeks of failure.

What reason did he have to tell Sasuke? Had everything fallen apart? Had Danzo gone back on his word?]

You know my secrets, do you?

[What is he supposed to do? The hard edges of his expression soften, and he sighs.]

[Silence fills the room again as Sasuke stares at his brother, eventually moving slightly to perch on the edge of the desk in there. How in the hell is he meant to deal with this?]

If you have questions, I'll answer them. [What a strange role reversal this is.]

Did I fail so badly?

[It's all he can think to say. He leans forward to lace his fingers into his bangs, eyes down at his feet.]

...You didn't fail.

[He didn't fail at all. Far from it.]

...I believed everything you wanted me to. For years I hated you, despised you, threw everything into getting revenge for what you did to our family. I killed you.

And then I found out the truth.

[He lets out an amused snort, though nothing about this is funny. Everything he had worked towards was achieved an then shattered within the same day.]

[He raises his head a little as Sasuke speaks, watching his brother carefully, monitoring body language out of habit.

Everything seems honest enough. Though...]

You said I told you.

[The obvious question being 'How did I do that if I was dead?']

[Right. That part was coming.]

You did. That happened later- via Edo Tensei. Kabuto resurrected you, alongside plenty other shinobi. There's a war going on.

[Dammit, things were a lot simpler when his brother was here the last time. At least then, he already knew everything.]

[The name "Kabuto" doesn't ring any bells, but the term Edo Tensei does. So he had succeeded, but been denied a permanent death.]

A war... And they needed dead fighters for this war. Controlled, no doubt.

...But even then. I would have needed good reason to tell you. I...

[He lowers his head again.] I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Sasuke. Everything is so confusing right now.

[text-anon]

[text]

[text-anon]

[text]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]