Seikou is settled on a bench, looking rather annoyed at the world today. Occasionally he'll muble something about bloody Hylians in cowboy hats, but he's mostly silent.

Variance approaches numbly from the north, a direction he isn't known for coming from most of the time, his deeply thoughtful expression breaking as he catches sight of Seikou. At least he'd get -one- thing off his mind...

Seikou looks up, noticing Variance and managing to surface a little from his anger/depression. "Hi, Vari-kun!"

Variance nods in recognition and takes a bit of a lean against the side of the fountain. Again, he adopts a look of consideration, possibly trying to find words for something as of yet unmentioned.

Seikou falls into concerned mode. "Is something up, Vari-kun?"

Variance starts to do his usual routine of assurance, but second thinks his habits and voices another thought instead. "The elementals... They spoke to me again just recently," he begins, trying not to sound too distant.

Seikou looks rather confused, knowing little about the elementals in general... "What did they say?"

You say '...I'm sure you remember how that 'tree-woman' held you back when you went to approach Aura after her return... They explained to me why, and specifically asked me to relay the message to you, hence this discussion.'

Seikou nods, now looking far more interested. "What did they say? When can I talk to her?"

Variance goes into his traditional 'thinking pose', arms crossed about himself and failing to make eye contact with anything. "They noticed your reaction to -something-, and possibly also that it intensified when you got closer to Aura. They were simply trying to protect both her and you from being hurt; you for not-quite-obvious reasons and Aura because of exhaustion."

Seikou sighs. "...So, I can't see her because I'm allergic to Mana. That... sucks."

You say 'And it's because they don't know why mana affects you so that they're keeping the both of you separate. They would have told you themselves, as well, had they the ability to contact you.'

Seikou shakes his head. "I need to fix this problem somehow, and soon... I can't stand being far away from Aura-chan. And, also, they did contact me once, if just to sing. Why can't they now?" Seikou looks both confused and worried,

You say 'It may be somewhat cryptic an answer, but if I'm interpreting their reason accurately, it's because you don't have any real connection with mana. I'm not so sure I have one myself, but I must be doing -something- right...'

Seikou grins slightly. "Vari-kun, I've seen you use mana more times than I can count. If that doesn't count as a connection with mana, I don't know what does..."

Variance ponders the statement for a moment, then nods in agreeance. "It's a valid point... Anyway," His gaze reconnects with Seikou's, holding a detectable quantity of reassurance, "It's not all bad; if we can either rectify whatever incites your reaction to mana or find a logical way to explain it, I'm sure you could at let get a little closer to her next time."

Seikou pauses to think for a moment. "Hmn... Well, we could have one of the Shrike engineers..." He then stops again as he remembers exactly what -happened- to the Shrike engineers. Namely, stabitizing. "Nevermind."

"I strongly doubt that all the Cleft's engineers live..." Variance takes a pause of his own to rethink his sentence. "-Lived- in Shrike. I'm certain there's at least one person around we could ask a favor of."

Seikou says 'Well, the medical technicians presumably know -something- about how Reploids work, right? Maybe we could have them check it out...'

Variance nods, still firmly planted on the side of the fountain where someone could easily complain about him being there. "Well, it wouldn't make much sense if they -didn't-."

Seikou nods. "Alright then. As soon as I'm off-duty, I'll go ask them to scan me."

Variance nods again in affirmation and finally stands. "Sounds good. I'm actually off-shift myself, so I'll most likely be there when you get back."


(Later...)

[Maverick Hunters Headquarters]

Fortissimo yells 'I'm in jail!'

Variance stops in his casual stroll into the headquarters, peering oddly at the door to his right. Following his intrigue, he steps into said door, keeping a hand cautiously upon his weapon upon entering.


[Maverick Hunters Headquarters - Holding Cell]

Fortissimo is settled on the bed, looking actually rather calm... although the illusion is dispelled with just a glance into his eyes.

Variance does a modest double-take at the sight of the most recent Hunter recruit sitting behind the plasma bars of the cell. The words 'I'm surprised you didn't get there sooner' and accompanying sarcastic tone die before they're voiced, instead replaced with a quizzical look in Forte's direction.

Fortissimo looks up and notices Variance standing there, a faint grin playing on his face. "Why, what a pleasant suprise, senior..."

Variance crosses his arms, shifting his weight more to one side as he perks a brow in like. "I can't say I'm surprised, but I -am- wondering what got you here."

Fortissimo grins still further. "Quite simply, I realized how to become the best. But noone else liked my plan very much..."

You say 'Really, now? And how exactly did you plan to 'become the best', pray tell?'

"Kill everyone else. Then I'd be the best by default." Fortissimo's words are spoken with deadly seriousness...

Variance nods expectantly, his suspicions confirmed. "Again, I'm not that surprised." He pauses briefly, amethyst eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he looks over the jailed Forte analytically.

Fortissimo sighs and leans back again. "I'm getting bored, senior. My only companion never -moves-..."

Variance glances to Vice, then quickly back to Forte before his irrational side can get the better of him. "Just be thankful he's so still; you'd probably be a lifeless spot on the wall if he had any intention of moving." It didn't sound as threatening as he might have liked, but it got his point across easily enough.

Fortissimo shakes his head. "I can beat him. I can beat -anyone-." Despite being insane, some things about Forte never change...

Variance again thinks about saying something not unlike a taunt, but logic overrides his latent need to be a bastard. Besides, there was something about Forte that belied most things he knew about Mavericks, and thinking about it occupied him enough to distract him from listening to his inner Zero.

You say 'I'm sure.'

Fortissimo climbs off the cot and walks over to the bars, leaning forward as far as he can without burning his face off. "I'll be happy to demonstrate that to you..."

Variance finally gives in and smirks knowingly, arms crossed in front of him. "You already did. I distinctly recall pinning you in less than ten seconds."

Fortissimo's eyes narrow slightly. "I've improved since then."

You say 'Really, now? I'm sure that's well and good, but you'll have to excuse me. I have more important things to attend to than taking a psychopath's challenge.'

Fortissimo looks even angrier than he usually does, almost to the point of scariness. "You will -fight me-. Or when I break free I will kill you in the most painful way I can think of."

Variance looks to the ceiling, letting an exasperated sigh audibly escape him before regarding Forte again. "You can certainly try, but don't expect to succeed."

Fortissimo says ' No matter how long it takes... no matter what I have to do... I -will- be the best. You'll see... you'll -all- see...'

Variance makes with a short, sardonic 'mm-hmm' before walking through the open portal(door) to his side and leaving Forte to fume and plot on his own. He -did- have more important things to do...