[Maverick Hunters Headquarters - Break Room]

Variance walks in, somewhat 'out of it', as it were, but nothing too out of the ordinary for him. It takes him a moment to muster the strength to look up, though once he does, he inexplicably gains enough vigor to stare at Seikou...

Seikou is resting on the couch, devoid of armor, which leaves him in the undersuit alone. He grins and waves at Variance. "Vari-sama! I'm out!"

"You... were released?" Obviously dripping with concern and laced with suspicion, but even those don't hide the even more clear sign of hope that alights Variance's eyes. "When did this happen?"

"Yesterday." Seikou looks a touched more depressed. "Of course, I'm under constant survilance and can't even leave the Base, but still..." He brightens again. "Better than before!"

Variance finally lets a relieved smile surface, fairly sighing as he does so. "That's true." Aura... maybe she -did- save him after all.

As if reading Vari's thoughts, Seikou's smile turns less perky and more warm for a moment as he gestures to the music box, which is lying beside him. "Believe it or not, it was this that saved me..."

Variance looks to the small, worn brass box, a warm tinge appearing on his own person, though clearly for another reason than Seikou. The expression doesn't falter as he looks back to the other. "Do you believe me now?"

Seikou sighs and shakes his head. "It just... It seemed like there was no way I could be saved..." He then smiles and picks up the box. "But you were both right..." He then grins more. "So, what should I do with my newly found partial freedom?"

Variance leans against the wall on the left side of the entrance, turning a bit thoughtful. "It's up to you, really, though I'll admit there isn't much to do here." Another thought, possibly a bit more derogatory, wisely keeps itself from being voiced.

Seikou looks at himself for a moment. "Well, would you do me a favour and buy me some -clothing- next time you're in town? I can't have my armour back, and I look bad in just a body suit..."

Variance blinks, somewhat taken aback at the request. It wasn't so much the favor itself as it was the suddenness(blah) of it. Of course, he internally admitted that things felt much more drafty in just his undersuit, and decided to nod in compliance.

You say 'Not sure it'll be your style, but I'll try.'

Seikou grins and looks slightly embarrased. "I don't mean to bug you or anything..."

"Not at all, it's just something I'm not exactly used to." Variance himself looked a little embarrassed at the thought... He honestly hadn't found much interest in civilian clothing in the first place, nor in the need to go on a shopping spree like Shima had done so many times before...

Seikou leans back again and smiles. "I'm so glad to be out. Vaisu was -scaring- me."

Variance nearly snorts in distaste, crossing his arms in a similar gesture. "I'd really like to know who's bright idea it was to have -one- cell in the entirety of the base." He soon softens, the coming statement rousing a fair spell of guilt...

You say 'If there were any way to keep him away from you, I swear we would've done it...'

Seikou nods. "I understand, Vari-sama... Low funds and all. Besides, I was... unconcious... during most of my stay, so most of what he did I didn't even notice..."

Variance doesn't look as relieved as he'd like to be from the comment, shifting uncomfortably(not that walls are that comfortable in the first place). "At least you're not forced to go back in there anymore..."

Seikou nods and smiles again. "Exactly." He then fidgets. "Although I'm still fraggin' BORED."

Variance peers off to a side embarrasedly, deciding not to repeat himself on the fact that he had no idea what there was to do besides sit and exist...

Seikou sighs and leans back again. "Ah well... You go off and do Hunter stuff if you want. I'll be fine here."

"Actually, my patrol shift just ended." Idly, Variance crosses the room to stand adjacent to the water cooler, starting to draw a serving for his own as he continues. "And I'm sure I've had my share of red tape for the day..."

Seikou sighs and stares at the music box for a moment, falling out of perky mode. "...I already miss Aura, you know..."

Variance again calls a wall his home, leaning his weight against the vertical surface just next to the cooler. His own semi-content mood falls briefly to the onset of memory. He says nothing for a few moments, following the trail of memory to the depths of Deep Thought.

You say 'I still don't know what they meant...'

Seikou looks over at Variance and blinks, eyes concerned and confused. "Who, Vari-sama...?"

Variance straightens, gaze flitting to Seikou in a mild bit of startledness. He then cursed himself for his habit of thinking aloud and offers the concerned Hunter a dismissive wave. "It's nothing to worry about..."

You say '...I'm not sure you'd believe me, even if I told you...'

Seikou shakes his head, determinded now. "I want to hear, Vari-sama. You've helped me with all my problems... The least I can do is return the favour."

Variance again shifts under the invisible weight of his rising dilemma... He hadn't been directly told to keep his contact with the elementals secret, but it was more than implied by the fact they never appeared to anyone they didn't have absolute trust in.

Seikou sighs and shakes his head. "...I understand, Vari-sama. If you ever want to talk about it..."

You say 'No, no, it's alright... It's nothing against you, or anyone else, it's just a... mutual agreement.'

Seikou nods. "Alright..."