[ Video ]

[transcendens]

[ Judging from what can be seen in the background of the video, a sliver of white wall behind the curve of a chair, Sousuke's sitting in his room in Iki. The formality inherent in his typical appearance is absent: his hair is slightly disheveled from its usual slicked back perfection, the collar of his shirt is unbuttoned, and as becomes obvious

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[alkahestry]

[There's a knock at Aizen's door not long after this transmission. Outside Alphonse waits with a small stack of clean sheets. The life of an apprentice can be many things... today it meant seeing to clean bedding of each of the entertainers.]

Mr. Aizen ... it's Alphonse, Alphonse Elric.

[Formalities will always be his way, but he sees it as being polite.]

[transcendens]

[ Sousuke isn't one to ignore a knock, especially if his mood is moderately tolerable. And while he isn't in the best of moods, for Alphonse he will make an exception.

Crossing over to the door, he opens it and flashes Al a smile that's a touch more sincere than the one he displayed on the video. ]

Alphonse, please. Come in.

[alkahestry]

[As soon as the door is open the sheets in his hands are lifted into full view as his words follow to show one reason for his visit. The other was to apologize, at least a little for being rude the other morning. He really had not meant to be so rude, he was supposed to be trying to help that morning, however, it could wait. Work first and he steps into the room.]

Thank you, I'm here to see to your bed ... Mr. Nagi insisted things needed to be changed.

[A bit of a look crosses his eyes, mostly because Alphonse knows how often the servants tend to their beds, but who is he to question the eccentric nature of their house owner.]

[transcendens]

[ Ah, Nagi, nonsensical as always. With an understanding smile, Sousuke steps away from the doorway and beckons Al inside. ]

And woe unto we who do not fall in line and obey his every whim, hmm?

[ He rolls his eyes, a frequent recipient of the man's eccentricities. ]

Go right ahead. Having been here before, I trust you know your way around what passes for my domain. Would you like some help? Or a cup of tea when you're done, perhaps?

[alkahestry]

Well ...

[It's not his way to really talk bad about anyone, especially the person who leads their house hold.]

in this case it's a bit more equivalent exchange. The extra work lets me keep Theo in my room. It's a cat that brother found a few days after I got here.

[He nods in reply as Aizen speaks, he knows his way well enough around Aizen's room now and he makes his way to Aizen's bed side.]

I can manage just fine, changing sheets isn't exactly hard work, but thank you for offering. Mr. Nagi probably wouldn't like me taking a break when I still have other beds to change.

[He changes the subject as he sets the sheets down and works at setting aside the pillows.]

How have you been?

[transcendens]

[ As far as Sousuke's concerned, Mr. Nagi can go to hell. But if Al wants to handle it alone, it isn't his place to try and stop him.

Taking up a position leaning against the wall, Sousuke watches Al with casual curiosity, hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers. He doesn't recall hearing about Theo, and he makes a mental note to request an introduction. ]

Fine. Busy with my paintings, but otherwise unharmed and unharassed. And you? How has Ukiyo been treating you these past few days?

[alkahestry]

[Changing someone's bed sheets is nothing compared to being forced to have sex with someone, but still it's a small price to pay for some sense of comfort. A pet, a cat, no less, well, it's quite the opportunity for him. Something he's wanted since he was little and to be able to keep it, he'll change every bed, couch, curtain, and bath towel ten times over if it meant he could keep the small animal.]

Busy ... I have lessons twice a week with Kiyoha and Mr. Nagi has been having me follow some of the other entertainers lately. Then it's the library on my free time and back to my room. Ed has a new idea he wants to pursue every other day it seems.

[His brother's ideas keep him busy, he has notes complied on what must be fifty different subjects by now. He remains focused on removing each pillow from their outer covering, but becomes distracted when Aizen mentions painting. Looking up his eyes catch the monochrome picture on display. He marvels.]

You painted that?

[transcendens]

[ A typical day in Al's life sounds a great deal busier than his own daily routine, and Sousuke offers him a sympathetic smile. He continues smiling when the alchemist remarks on the painting, and he nods. ]

Yes.

[ He glances at it, briefly studies the shadowed dunes that he spent so many months looking out over from his quarters in Las Noches. ]

It's called Hueco Mundo, and for a time, that world was mine. That particular view was from the balcony of my quarters in the palace.

[alkahestry]

[Keeping busy helps to pass the time, and work was designed to pay off one's debt. Not to mention it helped to keep his mind off certain things. Neither Elric brothers were the type to sit around and do nothing.]

Palace?

[He blinks a little as he studies the view, he has to remind himself that there is still much he doesn't know about Aizen or his past. A palace does suggest certain things though, but he refrains from asking or making a comment.]

It's very ... [He pauses, trying to find the right word.] empty. [It's clear from the frown on his lips that he doesn't believe that one describes it very well.]

[transcendens]

[ He snorts, dampening the laughter that threatens to well up inside his chest. ]

It is, isn't it? There are quite a few souls that call the place home, though its so vast that it may as well be empty.

[ There's wry amusement dancing in his eyes as he looks at Al, the corner of his mouth quirking upward into the start of a half-smile. ]

Rather different from this city, hm?

[alkahestry]

Souls? You mean other people like yourself?

[With pillow still in hand he turns towards the painting to regard it a bit more.]

Doesn't seem like it would be good place to live.

[transcendens]

Not quite like me. Shinigami call them hollows, twisted, corrupted souls that are too dangerous to coexist with those that have not been broken. Often they do not even look human, though, when I arrived, I attempted to do something to rectify that problem.

[ He glances at the painting again, allows his eyes to roam over the image he knows all too well. ]

Like any place, it had its share of negative qualities. But occasionally, it had its moments, and those made it worthwhile.

[alkahestry]

[It was clear from Alphonse's silence that he was doing his best to try and keep up with Aizen's story. It wasn't that he disbelieved, after all he spent most of his life as a soul separated from his body, and now he had traveled worlds and lived on a new one.

It was just a bit hard to understand the context of what Aizen meant, though he had met Sung-Sun, he hadn't realized yet that she wasn't human - or at least had not been.

So after a moment, he focuses on another question.]

Is it always dark like in the picture? It seems so black and white.

[transcendens]

Yes. There is no sun in Hueco Mundo. No changing seasons or varied environment. Just endless desert lost in eternal night.

[ His voice remained matter-of-fact, devoid of arrogance or pride as he continued. ]

When I relocated to the world, I created a sun to shine over the palace and provide some semblance of light. Just the palace, give that it was mostly for my own sake. The hollows who resided with me were not all taken with it, though I cannot blame them. It wasn't something they knew, and after a lifetime of darkness, I suspect many of them found it to be quite uncomfortable.

[alkahestry]

Needs some color -- wait, wha--?

[His words seem to trip over his tongue as his thoughts get derailed as Aizen explains that he created a sun. Created a sun?!. He had seen that happen, he knew the kind of power it took, and Al was positively taken aback as he glances over his shoulder and towards Aizen. Give him a second, he'll recover, honestly.]

[transcendens]

Hm?

[ He arches an eyebrow, curious, as he turns over what he's just said that might cause Al such surprise. And when he discovers it, he lifts his right hand, taps a finger from his left against the bracelet. ]

Prior to being bound with this, I was quite powerful. That was the least I could do.