[closed] catfight lunch hour

[deontology]

Who: Sousei and Shirasu
When: Pre-event, ooc: January 13 | ic: November 2
Where: The Gym, break room
What: It's really hard when people who hate each other work in the same place and have the same lunch break.
Rating/Warning: Hopefully it won't be violent but I make no promises. Mean Girls' level catfighting.

--

[Another day, another lunch break. Sousei doesn't particularly care much for them, but admittedly Milla had forced this soup on him, so he supposes he should eat it. And Tenka and Soramaru both would be irritated if he didn't eat his lunches as well (there is way too much food here for him, what is he supposed to do with all of this), and...

Well, as much as he'd prefer to focus on his work, it's not really an option.

Focusing on work lets him push out of his mind the talk he had with Tenka about their parents' murderer, though thankfully time has finally started to dull that ache. Everything will be fine, Sousei thinks as he settles himself at the uncomfortably western table and prepares to eat his meal.

Everything will be fine so long as he doesn't have to deal with Shirasu.

Of course.]

Comments

[deontology]

[The gall of it is a little breathtaking, honestly. But then, Tenka had said that Shirasu had confessed, as simple as that. The bit about sharing a meal is unimportant, as is the oh-so-generous offer to leave.

(For one thing, Sousei was here first. He has no intentions of allowing the ninja to drive him out). But he...really can't believe, for a moment, that he'd accept it so simply as that. The deaths of their parents, Tenka's injury--it had all basically been the worst thing to ever happen to Sousei too.

And it was all this man's fault.

He's too disgusted to eat anyway, now.]

You deserve nothing more than to be locked up and forced to serve penance for your crimes for the remainder of your life.

[His tone is flat, cold.]

Simply because you are free here does not mean that is what you deserve.

[allfortheclan]

[ One white eyebrow lifts at that, and Shirasu's expression is distinctly unimpressed. ]

Then I'm glad you're not the person who determines what I "deserve", here.

[ Though there's more than one person here who seems to believe prosecuting another's crimes from their home world. Best hope Sousei never meets the man. ]

[deontology]

[...Disgusting, really. Disgustingly flippant, and Sousei clings to his composure with the tightest grasp he can muster.]

Do you believe otherwise?

[Do you really think you don't deserve exactly that?]

[allfortheclan]

[ His expression takes on a colder edge. ]

What I believe isn't relevant.

[ When the price he's paying is a lifetime of directionless hell, permanent separation from his only reason for living, and the daily confusion of existing in the same place as Tenka Kumou? Prison would almost be a luxury. ]

[deontology]

[Ha.

Sousei got a reaction out of that, and he's somehow not surprised. He thinks he's starting to get the picture now, and...well, Tenka wouldn't approve, and it might be cruel, but he's much too furious to care.]

It is relevant. [.........but.] Your own failure is punishment, but not punishment enough.

[Not for all of those lives....not for any of it.]

[allfortheclan]

[ Shirasu's eyes narrow. That this man thinks he knows more than he possibly can is starting to get on his nerves. ]

You assume far too much.

[deontology]

[Please. He doesn't care about Shirasu's feelings, or if he's assuming too much here. If anything, he hasn't assumed enough.

Should he assume Shirasu doesn't feel a shred of guilt?

Because that might just be too much after all--for Sousei.]

I don't care what you think. [And never has he meant it more honestly.]

It is obvious enough by how you can't let Tenka go. You are not even resolved enough to choose one side or the other.

[Pathetic, really, after all of the crimes he's committed.]

[allfortheclan]

[ There is a flash of indignation across his face, before he clenches his jaw, painfully, and forces down his anger. ]

He was the one who refused to be let go.

[ Go to hell, Yamainu. You know Tenka as well as he does. ]

[deontology]

[no you

Sousei scoffs at that. Yes, he does know Tenka as well as Shirasu does. But that doesn't mean Tenka always makes the best life decisions.]

Pitiful. You are constantly blaming others, and making excuses for your actions.

[... He hates it, he really does. He hates the fact that Shirasu murdered their parents, does not feel a shred of guilt, and still has the gall to care for Tenka.]

You have taken everything from him, and you will continue to do so.

[allfortheclan]

[ No.

His tea has gone stone cold, but he still reaches for it, to drink the now-bitter brew and try and regain some internal calm. ]

As I told you before, the Kumou family is no longer in danger from me.

Everything I did was for my clan. And I don't deny any of it.

[deontology]

[He hates everything about this. He hates that this is something he has to deal with. He hates that Shirasu will not be properly punished for these crimes.

He hates that he has to abide by Tenka's decision and allow him to hold onto this ninja who is nothing more than an anchor bringing him down.][A scoff.]

Two of the Kumou family are dead because of you, and two more nearly killed. You have always been the greatest harm to that family.

[allfortheclan]

[ He acknowledges the truth of that, in some sense. Though it might be more correct to say the Orochi was, but he had been its agent. ]

That is the past.

[deontology]

[stop blaming all of your problems on a giant snake, shirasu!!!

But Sousei plants his hands on the table at that, slowly and deliberately, though he does not stand yet. If he stands, he might do something he definitely won't regret but Tenka might fuss about.]

These things cannot be left in the past.

[allfortheclan]

[ Spares a glance for Sousei's hands on the table, but then brings his gaze back to the man's face. ]

If you wish to dwell, I certainly can't stop you.

[deontology]

[.... Okay yeah. That's...that's not going to fly.

Sousei can feel the pent-up rage. That's it then. That's what the Kumou lives mean to Shirasu? Things to toss away, to leave in the past, to have no consequences for the cruel actions he's taken.

Sousei pushes himself up so he's standing.

(Lunch is obviously not being eaten), though he simply rests his weight on his hands, planted on the table.]

You're a monster--you and that brother of yours as well. You blame the Orochi, but lives mean nothing to you. It is little wonder you sided with the enemy of humanity instead.

[allfortheclan]

[ He won't deny being a monster, or that, outside of his clan, only a handful of other people's lives merit attention.

But he rises from his chair, hands at his sides and the table between them. ]

Leave my brother be. You are dealing with me alone.

[deontology]

[That gets an incredulous look out of Sousei. Leave his brother be? The same brother who murdered guards in the prison just doing their duty? The same brother who hooked hundreds of prisoners on opium?

As if.]

You did not leave the Kumou brothers be. You did not leave Soramaru be [when he came to Sousei, asking for help, and Sousei had told him it would be alright, and that he would protect him] when I know Tenka requested you look out for his brothers.

Your brother is as guilty as you are. He does not get to be protected from that.

[allfortheclan]

[ Did he have that kunai in his hand a second ago, Sousei? Because it's there now. ]

[deontology]

[Sousei's weaponless, but he sure doesn't seem bothered by it. Instead, he scoffs, straightening from the table as he stares Shirasu down.]

I am not afraid of you. [Never has been--never will be. He's much too confident in his own skills for that.] Familial bonds does not allow you to hide from the truth. He is as guilty as you are, and deserves the consequences of those actions.

[allfortheclan]

[ He embeds the blade in the table. ]

I suspect we both made him the same promise. Otherwise this would be going very differently. [ His tone is quiet and cold. ]

My brother is dead, Yamainu. Leave him be.

[deontology]

[If only they hadn't made that promise, honestly...the grandstanding is getting on his nerves. But admittedly, he did make that promise, and thus...he's going to keep it. As much as he hates the man standing in front of him... he won't hurt him and break that promise.

...Okay, but he didn't know that. He doesn't feel any twinge or regret for his words (he'd said he'd deserve the consequences, and death is one of those consequences), but he is momentarily startled.

He recovers quickly though, slowly arching an eyebrow. SHOULDN'T HAVE MESSED WITH THE KUMOUS AND THE YAMAINU, HUH...]

I see. Then he's already paid for his actions. [So. That's one Fuuma down.] Now it is only you.

...Yes, I made a promise as well. I do not break the promises I make people, nor do I break bonds of trust I have made. [UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE HERE HE COULD NAME.]

[allfortheclan]

[ GO JUMP IN FRONT OF A MOVING TRAIN.

Shirasu grinds his teeth.

But he just steps away from the table and leaves the room before he breaks his word and gives Sousei something else to be self-righteous about. ]