Eleventh Frost -- Video

[icy_heavens]

People celebrate the coming of summer far too early. [Though celebrating summer at all is heinous to him in general, so . . .] I fail to see what appeal it holds; what precisely is wrong with spring, if being outdoors is part of this appeal?

[The words themselves might be cranky, but his tone isn't for a change. It's more contemplative than

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[Video]

[soul_scatter]

[He'd come bother you, but there are workmen at their house, laying carpet and floor in certain places. So, he's outside the house, sitting under a tree.]

Most celebrations are foolish. Yet they distract from the moment. And sometimes, that is needed.

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

I don't need distraction. [Or maybe he does. Byakuya might have noticed that Hitsugaya has been acting a little more sombre the past few days.]

[Video]

[soul_scatter]

[He's noticed. He's just been quiet, since if Hitsugaya wanted him to know, he'd say something.]

All of us do at times.

[He looks up at the house, not looking at the camera.]

Especially in time of remembrance.

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

What makes you think this is a time of remembrance? [You know, besides the fact that he's suddenly decided to be artistic. He doesn't expect Byakuya to know that Hinamori's birthday is next Friday.]

[Video]

[soul_scatter]

[Byakuya looks back at the camera and his grey eyes are cold, but slide away just as the loss begins to soften them.]

It's the spring.

[Hisana died in the spring.]

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

[He scowls at the coldness -- insensitivity ahoy! He's a little too wrapped up in being mopey himself to think there might be anything else to that look besides a scolding. And he of course wouldn't know such a detail about Hisana.] Don't give me that look. What does it being spring have to do with anything? [And thus the insensitivity continues . . .]

[Video]

[soul_scatter]

[When he glances back, the coldness is gone from his eyes and just for a moment, the blank expression breaks and he looks like a grief-stricken man still in mourning before the Kuchiki is back. He looks away again.]

Spring... is the time of both rebirth and loss. For a long time, I have equated it with only the latter. I still do.

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

[Okay, he'd have to be pretty self-absorbed to miss that. He's not apologizing, but he'll mind his tone for the rest of the conversation.

[You know, when he decides to talk again instead of just losing the harshness on his face and nodding.]

[Video]

[soul_scatter]

[He catches the nod out of the corner of his eye but is watching the construction going on at the house. He straightens once more the Kuchiki. all traces of that brief glimpse of grief are gone.]

The kitchen will be done today.

[Vulnerability? WHAT IS THAT? He knows not of which you speak.]

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

That's progres, at least.

[HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT VULNERABILITY IS EITHER. And neither one of them is avoiding deeper issues here. He's just taking a long look at his phoenix sculpture because he's checking its design. Not because it's a representation of Hinamori. Really.]

[Video]

[soul_scatter]

I have been assured that the living room will be finished tomorrow. However, it will be next week before our personal rooms can be finished. The roof is already finished.

[Of course. NO VULNERABILITY HERE. Both men, so broken, and so damned determined not to be...]

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

Of course.

[His own room is likely the worst off of them all. He . . . should probably find someplace else to put that awful giant plushie he'd gotten for his birthday. Nobody needs to see that. At least the gift he'd already gotten for Hinamori -- just in case; what with people showing up again, he's maybe a little hopeful she'll actually be here for it -- isn't embarrassing to look at.]

[Yeah, he's totally not broken and lonely for his BFF. Totally not.]

[Video]

[soul_scatter]

I have discovered a restaurant that serves food we are far more used to.

With our home in disarray, I had thought to attend it, this evening.

[That might be a gentle invitation. Ya know two NOT BROKEN men... hanging out. Also, he wouldn't even notice if the plushie ended up in his room. He might be trying to find a way to steal it and have it cleaned... Not out of the goodness of his heart, you understand.]

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

Where?

[What's this "goodness of the heart" thing? He doesn't know that either. It's not like he ever does stuff like that for anyone.]

[Video]

[soul_scatter]

Sector Six, near the Lion's Gate. I have heard many speak of their okonomiyaki and amanatto.

[Know things about other people? Not Kuchiki Byakuya. He's far too self-absorbed.]

[Video]

[icy_heavens]

[He keeps looking at the phoenix, but there's a bit of a mildly suspicious glance at the mention of amanatto. (What a paranoid kid.) Who told Kuchiki that he likes that?]

I'll consider it.