Variance remains contently seated on 'his' bench(the same one he'd been using for quite a while now), idly checking the blade of his glaive for minor damages and whatnot. Many troubling thoughts pervaded his conscious mind, and making himself a little less idle seemed to push them back, if only slightly.

Seikou is sitting on the roof, staring at the sky, eyes filled with (angst) emotion. His thoughts are in turmoil, with all the strange things that have happened recently... and because of the possibility of Aura.

Channel has arrived from the south. (omgmultiplayT_T)

Channel stops just at the edge of the square, eyes widening considerably as he catches sight of a peculiar, white-clad being... He takes another step towards him. "You!"

Variance pauses in his routine weapon maintenance, peering over his shoulder at the call. "Pardon?"

Seikou blinks and looks down from his rooftop perch at this. Perhaps the odd Reploid knows Vari-kun...? But then again, Vari-kun seems as confused as Seikou is...

Channel approaches the white-armored reploid further, his intentions solidifying at the sight of a large, circular crystal embedded in his chest. "What are you still doing here?! All of us have been called to the New World; you've no right to slack off!"

Variance quirks a brow, turning a bit more to face the inquirer. "Come again?"

Seikou is merely watching, the confusion rising rapidly as the conversation progresses...

Channel towers over Variance now(not much of a feat, considering the other's sitting down), dark eyes staring accusingly into perplexed amethysts. "Don't play dumb with me, 'brother', you know full well what I speak of. Lumine needs all of us to make Elysium reality!" He pauses, scanning Variance's form quickly, then speaks again. "And what kind of base old-model did you copy -that- from? It's hideous."

Variance adopts his own slight glare, standing to tower over Channel now, arms crossed. "I honestly don't know what you're talking about, and I -know- I'm no relative of yours." He'd dealt with persistance before, but not to this extent...

Channel's glare intensifies nearly three-fold, an inverse relationship to his patience. "How -dare- you feign ignorance!" Suddenly and viciously, he snaps up your forearm, still glaring as intently as ever.

Channel says 'Let's see what Master Lumine has to say about this, shall we?'

Seikou finally leaps to action by literally leaping off of the roof, landing near the two. "Stay away from Vari-kun!"

Variance pulls his arm free of Channel's grasp quite easily, taking a step back. "Who is this 'Lumine' you keep talking about? And why are you so insistent on something that isn't true?" His tone is raised, though not without a hint of worry...

Channel ignores Seikou's existance entirely, still focused on Variance. His glare softens, however, turning into a sideways glance of amusement. "It's no wonder you're still here... You were probably left behind on purpose!"

Variance fights back a growl as he raises his glaive, looking quite irritated. "What are you talking about? Who -are- you?!"

Seikou finally steps in fully, walking until he's in front of Variance. "I don't think you heard me. Leave Vari-kun -alone-."

Channel finally decides to accept Seikou's being there, now that he's standing between him and his intentions. His glare returns as quickly as it faded, one hand secretly reaching behind his back. "You don't even have the right to -look- at me, old-model."

Variance tenses, his grip on his polearm intensifying greatly. He gently places a hand on Seikou's shoulder. "I'll take care of this."

Seikou is glaring at Channel now, and he shakes his head as a reply to Variance's statement. "I can handle this, Vari-kun." he seems to have forgotten that he's -unarmed-.

Channel takes a half-step towards Seikou, scowling furiously. "You -dare- defy my will..." His hand slips from behind his back as deathly quiet as his words come, the object within barely visible before it plunges towards Seikou's midsection. "BEGONE!"

Seikou doesn't have time to dodge and is caught in the stomach, reeling backwards and probably into Variance. "AGH!"

Variance moves his glaive's shaft out of the way just soon enough to prevent -another- hole as Seikou backs into him uncontrollably. Without a moment's notice, he focuses his gaze intently on Channel, three faint rings of light appearing around his target..

Channel retrieves his blade from his victim's midriff, grinning maliciously for all but a second before he notices the rings materializing. He whips about himself cautiously, trying to find their source...

Seikou, meanwhile, is now on the ground, eyes barely open. "...Vari-kun... gomen..."

Variance keeps staring straight at Channel, inwardly begging for forgiveness from the prostrate Hunter at his feet. His right hand raises level to Channel, a surge of violet light coursing through the grooves in his armor briefly as a clear sign of his focus...

Channel keeps frantically checking his flanks, then his feet as they mysteriously lift off the ground. Needless to say, he's a -bit- bewildered as a cylindrical field of force holds him steadfast a foot in the air. "What...what's happening...?!"

You say 'I don't know who you are, and that's the only thing keeping me from completely rendering you useless. I'm going to make this quick; I will release you, and you will walk away, and if you -ever- threaten Seikou or another living being on my watch, you will -not- enjoy the consequences."

Variance maintains direct eye contact with Channel, gaze deep and piercing. "Do I make myself clear?"

Channel struggles against the invisibly tightening grip of the warped gravity field, settling just long enough to spit out a reply. "Heh... You're a fool for defecting... And I can assure you that the New World won't miss you when it comes."

Variance remains stoic, slowly guiding the gravity beam away from him. "You can do what you wish with this 'New World' business of yours..." His raised arm falls to his side, Channel meeting the ground in the same instant.

You say 'But I -will- become involved if your or your organization brings even the slightest harm to the world. You have my word.'

Channel straightens from the sudden fall, taking a few more steps back in the same manner the beam had taken him. A short, mocking laugh escapes him. "You really don't have a grasp of the situation, do you?" (Oh yeah, direct quote!)

Variance narrows his glare further, leveling his glaive at Channel with authority. "Leave."

Channel huffs disdainfully and suddenly sprints from the area around the fountain. /What a fool... 'Get involved'. Ha! It won't do him any good, he'll see!/

Seikou's condition has gotten worse in the meantime, the crimson blood soaking the grey undersuit...

Variance lets his gaze linger until Channel falls out of sight, then immediately holsters his weapon and kneels by Seikou's side. "Can you stand?"

Seikou nods and manages to climb to his feet, using the wall of a building for support. "...I'll be fine. I think my autorepair system can handle it... I just need to rest..."

Variance nods, standing himself. He takes a quick scan of the horizon, coming to some sort of conclusion. "It should be safe enough to rest here for a while, but we should get back to base..."

Seikou says '...Who was that man?'

Variance looks back south, the same direction 'that man' had escaped to. "I honestly have no idea." He regains a shadow of his former distaste, gaze narrowing slightly. "But he obviously isn't the most savory of types."

Seikou shakes his head. "I agree with that... But he seemed to know you..."

Variance lets out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head. "Must be a case of mistaken identity. I've never seen him, myself. Not even before I fell here, though that isn't saying much."

Seikou sighs and looks at the undersuit of his armor, which is still stained. "My undersuit is ruined..."

Variance takes a quick look at the wound himself, wincing just -slightly-. "Something can be done about that, I'm sure..."

Seikou grins a little. "Odd that I turn to the suit before I get to the wound itself. Things like that have less impact on Reploids, I guess..."

Variance nods in agreeance, politely averting his gaze from the open wound before he could be considered staring at it. "Reploids tend to be able to take a lot more than humans, yes." Suddenly, only for the slightest of moments, a wave of regret flashes across his features at a certain memory making itself known to him.

Seikou looks concerned again. "Is something wrong, Vari-kun?"

Variance straightens his subconsciously fallen gaze to Seikou, snapping himself from whatever little trance he'd incited. "Oh! I'm fine, I just... remembered something, that's all."

Seikou says '...Mind telling me what it is?'

Variance drifts aimlessly for a moment, then sighs and drops himself against the edge of the fountain. "I suppose it's best to get it out instead of dwelling on it..."

Seikou settles on a bench and waits for Vari to speak.

Variance takes a breath to gather himself before finally starting. "It's... about Shima. I remembered something about her when I commented on the whole 'reploids take it harder' matter." Again, his gaze drifts away from Seikou, meeting unseeingly with the ground.

Seikou looks even more worried. "What, Vari-kun?"

You say 'She has this... -affliction- of some sort. I've no idea how it works, or even how she got it, but it completely removed her ability to feel pain. One day, I saw her working on something, I can't remember for the life of me what it was, but...'

"She was bleeding. Profusely." Variance seems totally lost in the memory now, looking ever more pained as he goes on. "Naturally, I panicked, but she told me she was fine, that it happened all the time... That was about ten seconds before she lost consciousness."

Seikou shakes his head, looking even -more- concerned. "I'm so sorry, Vari-kun..."

Variance sighs again, waving a hand dismissively. "It's alright, it was all too long ago to truly worry about."

Seikou sighs and leans back. "...I miss my creator, tell truth. True, she would try to cut off my air supply occasionally, but..."

Variance nods slowly in understanding. "I know the feeling... The whole team was bit off the deep end, but they're like family..." Absently, he takes out an odd, folded-over bit of paperboard, looking it over. "But I know they're still out there..."

You say 'And I'm sure Hitomi is still around, as well.'

Seikou nods. "Right! And eventually, we'll see them again, right?"

Variance looks up at Seikou, smiling openly with hope alight in his eyes in such a way that's usually never seen this well on him. "Right!"

Seikou says '...I... I think I'd be ready to face her now. To face everyone... I think I've finally repented...'

Variance actually manages to keep smiling for more than a few moments, though it tones down as time passes. "I'll vouch for that, if you need me to."

Seikou smiles back. "Thank you, Vari-kun!"

Seikou says 'I couldn't have done it without you...'

Variance looks off to one side, the faintest hint of a rosen tinge surfacing on his face. He says nothing to aceept or deny the statement, though it's quite obvious it sparked enough emotion to actually rouse this "extreme" a response.

Seikou says '...Well, you helped me all those times, remember? Rocket Town, the time Vaisu corrupted me, the... Shrike Incident... Every time you could've destroyed me, and instead you helped me...'

Variance nods quickly. "Yes, I know... though I can't take all the credit, considering I would've been thrown out of the Hunters if they were headed by anyone else."

Seikou tilts his head slightly, looking curious. "I've always wondered why you didn't destroy me... I mean, we barely had time to -meet- before the Rocket Town thing..."

"That's the whole reason..." Again, Variance looks somewhat distant, though merely reciting wisdom doesn't whisk his mind away as far as his usual pondering does. "Everyone deserves a second chance, and I barely knew you... It was more out of instinct, actually."

Seikou smiles again. "Well, thank you for it."

You say 'There's no need to thank me for doing what's right...'

Seikou shrugs. "I'm not sure about that. Another Hunter might not have done the same thing in that situation..."

Variance looks off to one side, starting to go into ponder-mode again. "I can't say I disagree... Rules -are- sometimes meant to be bent, after all. I'll admit that it wasn't the 'right thing' by strict protocol's standards..."

You say 'But you're still here and much better off; I must've been on the right track, at the very least.'

Seikou nods, grinning. "I certianly enjoy being intact." His gaze travels to the wound on his stomach. "...Well, -mostly- intact."

Variance suddenly seems to realize the wound again, expression turning a bit concerned. "Maybe you should get something done about that..."

Seikou shakes his head. "I'll be fine, Vari-kun! The self-repair systems will take care of it, really..." He decies not to mention the fact that the selfrepair systems should be at least -mostly- done by now.

Variance peers at the wound for a moment more, then nods in resignation.

Seikou sighs and stands, still using the walls for support. "Should we get back to Base?"

Variance stands in like, obviously having a much easier time of it. "That's probably the best plan for now."

Seikou tries to step away fro the wall and falls to his knees again. "Crud... I don't think I can walk."

Variance immediately darts to Seikou's side, concern making itself known once again. He kneels down shortly, lowering a shoulder. "It's alright, I'll just have to do most of the actual walking."

Seikou nods and uses the shoulder to rise again. "Thanks..."

Variance heaves himself up, releasing his glaive again, and starts to gradually make his way westward...


[Maverick Hunters Headquarters]

Seikou manages to make it to the chair without support and collapses into it. "...That was... not pleasant."

Variance takes another, more analytical look at Seikou's wound, worry still plain on his face. "I -really- think someone should have a look at that."

Seikou shakes his head. "I'll be -fine-, Vari-kun. Really." His voice contains a faint tone of worry, though...

Variance looks quite insistent, his tone changing to match this. "It doesn't look like it's healed at all... It should be dressed, at the very least!"

Seikou finally gives in. "Alright, dressing it might be a good idea..."

Variance lets out a near inaudible sigh of some amount of relief, nodding and darting off to wherever random cabinet first aid supplies would be held in...

Seikou sighs and leans back. He doesn't want to bother Vari-kun any more than he has to...

Variance returns from his little expedition, carrying a bundle of gauze, bandages, and other related items securely in his arms. It's almost like he's done this before, and more than once...

Seikou is still looking embarrased. "I can handle it from here, Vari-kun. Please don't worry about this..."

Variance sets the supplies on the desk, refusing to look anything but genuinely concerned. "It may not be as effective on reploid injuries, but covering wounds -does- help, and from the look of things, you're going to need all the help you can get."

You say '...But if you're that opposed to it, I won't force it on you.'

Seikou shakes his head. "I'm not opposed to the bandages, I just don't want to burden you..."

Variance starts sorting out gauze pads on that note, trying to find one of appropriate size. "It won't be a burden if it helps you recover."

Seikou says '...Alright. Thanks.'

Seikou looks a bit worried. "Uhm... You can do it over the undersuit, right?"

Variance nods affirmatively and finally pulls out a proper-sized square of fabric(I think gauze is fabric, anyway), pressing it gently but firmly to the wound. "Hold that."

Seikou nods and holds it to the wound, making sure to press tightly.

You say 'It's only a temporary thing, all the undressing can be left to the -actual- medics.'

Seikou nods. "That sounds good."

Variance goes for the roll of bandage, pulling a length of it from the whole beforehand. He nods and lightly places his hand on the gauze again, a sign that Seikou can release his grip.

Seikou does so, still lookng rather embarrased about having this be done...

Variance would probably look a little flushed himself, if he hadn't been used to doing similar procedures before his Fall. That aside, he mutters a little, having a small struggle in trying to pass the bandage behind Seikou's back, but it's nothing entirely devastating.

Seikou merely waits patiently for the procedure to be done...

The end comes refreshingly(for Seikou, at least) soon, seeing as there was only enough bandage left on the roll for only three passes. It's enough, however, and Variance decides to end the awkward moment by securing the loose end of the bandage with a bit of 'paper tape'.

You say 'That should do it for a while.'

Seikou nods and recovers a little bit from his embarrasment. "...Thanks."

Variance nods, standing and allowing Seikou room to breathe. He takes a few steps back, but keeps a vigilant watch on the band of white around Seikou's waist...

Alas, it soon begins to turn faintly red, but soon after Seikou carefully places his arms such to block it from sight.

Variance quickly averts his gaze, but still remains as worried as when he started dressing the still-open wound. It should have at least closed off a -little- by now...

Seikou finally decides to break down and tell Variance. "...Vari-kun, I think my autorepair's not working..."

Variance lets out a fairly suffering sigh as the truth comes out. "So it would seem." He proceeds to walk towards... er...(insert infirmary location here?), quite intently. "I'll go call a medic."

Seikou nods. "I'm sorry about this..."

You say 'It's nothing you should apologize for, it wasn't by any fault of your own.'