kinslayer | 6 - [Voice]

[Al's still-feminine voice is detached and polite, though somewhat colder than normal.]

Best to wait until you turn back to normal so they'll be able to make it to your height, strength and balance.

My apologies if I'm telling you something you already know.

[Itachi turns on the video feed for a moment and he's... Male. And exactly like he looked before the event. Even his voice is back to normal.]

Thank you for the concern, Alphonse-kun, but I can give them a... very good idea of what I will need.

[The video is turned off and when he speaks again it's in the female voice.]

Apologies? How formal.

[Al blinks and frowns, the shock of it seeming to suddenly snap him back to his former "amiability" with Itachi.]

Oh, not fair. You've already changed back?!

Y-

... oh, great. You know the same jutsu as Naruto? Why aren't you using it more often?

[There is a pause and then the vid switches back on, Itachi giving the camera an arch look.]

Not the same, there are many transformation and illusion techniques, but similar I suppose.

[Itachi brings two fingers in front of his face, switching from female to male, and then turning into an old man, and then turning into Alphonse's male form, before returning to his female look. Each illusion is flawlessly accurate.]

I don't care that much about my looks or form, Alphonse-kun. They mean little to me--appearance is too easily altered or imitated for it to hold much relevance.

[Al's eyes widen, and he visibly gasps and looks disturbed by the fact that Itachi has imitated him, of all people.]

... I suppose it is not the same, but I hope you're careful with that ability. It's too easily misused...

[Itachi's expression does not change at all. But his voice does, first it is perfectlu imitating Lee's, the inflections and enthusiasm.]

Misuse this? I wouldn't dream of it Alphonse-kun! My youthful spirit longs only to bring happiness to the world with all the power I possess!

[The voice switches to Oliver without a hitch.]

I-it en't like I haven't thought on it before, right? It's just, well... I dun want to go and upset people...

Er.

Still it en't like anyone'd notice if I used it now and then.

[Another abrupt switch and Itachi's expression still hasn't changed. He goes through Lelouch and Mao's voice and speech patterns before returning to his own.]

I think I know the applications of my own abilities, Alphonse-kun.

[[...now that you've shown he will do a henge no jutsu to show off for Al-cutie, Ita-chan should maybe use his skillz for EVIL, or at least a little mayhem...Y/Y?]]

[[WHAT KIND OF MAYHEM ARE WE THINKING SWEETIE?

Evil is always fun! <333

Ita likes to show off. Remember when he showed off just for Kakashi?]]

[[EPIC MAYHEM. Pick your poison. Anything and everything you can think of/want to try, I'm game. Disguise yourself as someone present and get them in trouble; as someone not present and cause chaos or turmoil. Ita's welcome to cause all sorts of trouble, because evil in rp is always fun...even for those who evil is done to! <333

Oh how could ever I forget? Will Kakashi get his own private session with Itachi again, in person and not over these fancy walkie-talkies?]]

...

....... stop it.

[Itachi's tone changes again, this time to Kamui's voice, imitating the vampire's terse mannerisms, still without a change in expression.]

You okay?

[At this point, Al actually hurts the PCD across the room, where it crashes into the wall with a deafening clatter, falling under the bed.]

[The feed times out for a while, almost a half-hour before Al comes back, flicking it back on. His eyes are blazing, but the fire is controlled now.]

There is a creature in my world. His name is Envy. He has the power to change his appearance and voice. He used this ability to murder a man that was like a father to me.

Envy also used this ability to kill my brother.

Don't use it to fuck around with me.

[Itachi is lounging on his bed when the feed comes back on, he looks half asleep. Or she does, since she's not using any illusions. Her eyes slide sideways to regard the PCD but she hardly moves, voice cool and lazy.]

You are easier to like when you are like this, Alphonse-kun.

Henge no jutsu is a fairly common skill among shinobi. I just happen to be exceptional at it.

... Envy.

[He turns his head slowly to really look at Al, eyes hooded and distant, hard to read.]

That's a good look in your eyes. I wonder why you let me push you instead of just confronting me like this to begin with? I have no respect for your weakness Alphonse-kun, but I will listen when you are being strong.

[Al's eyes dart away, and he bites his lower lip, more viciously than normal, hard enough that it leaves lingering red marks.]

As if I care right now whether you like me.

Don't go all life-lessons on me. I know very well that I'm too soft-hearted for my own good, I don't need you to mess with my head to know that.

But fine. I'll keep that in mind for the next time you try to screw around. I'm fine with games, Itachi, but I do not appreciate you jerking me around.

[Itachi remains still and distant, eyes almost closed. He looks half asleep, except for the glint of dark eyes watching the screen through thick lashes.]

You really should not hold back what you want to say, at least not to me, Alphonse-kun. If for no other reason than I am unlikely to take you seriously otherwise.

Obviously you know it, if you've chosen not to change it why should I interfere? It is what you have decided on.

Games? Do not mistake me for your friends the Joker or Miho-san. I do not like to play. But you only stop holding back after the games begin around you. I can play if I need to, and well.

Frankly I'd rather forgo the entire opening act and skip straight to having you stop hiding when you deal with me. In turn I won't play these ridiculous ploys.

[Al sits back on his bed, and he listens, expression floating between tight-lipped anger, annoyance, and a blankness remniscent of Itachi's own expressions. However, he does seem to think it over.]

For the most part, I go with what I naturally feel. It's only when I'm angry or feeling stressed that I hold back.

You, of all people, have gotten me to show parts of myself that I never thought I had, and that more importantly, I'm not sure I honestly like. I don't mean to keep the fact that I've got a spine under wraps, but people act like they're surprised when they see it.

I'm going to be me whether you like it or not, Itachi.

But I will stop holding back, if it means that much to you.

[Itachi is still laying on his side. He crosses his arms in front of him and lays his chin on his forearms, ponytail falling forward over one shoulder and pooling over his arms and the covers.]

Admirable restraint around most, I suppose. However I am not most and I do not appreciate it. I find it somewhat insulting.

Have I? Perhaps it is better you discover them now, so they won't be so much of a surprise later on. If they are new sides of yourself to you, perhaps you are holding back more than you realize.

Yes, but will you be entirely you? I think I have seen the partial front you put on for the benefit of others, and frankly I only accept that it is real half the time; that you are genuinely entirely you...

You hold back for the sake of others, so as not to shock them with the edge underneath. I have opinions on this, but as long as you do not insult my intelligence by keeping the sword behind the velvet, I really don't care how you act with others. Keep them protected in that all too gentle way of yours, if you think it serves them or you.

I actually find it somewhat funny that you find my being nice insulting, and you'd prefer threats instead.

[Al softens up a bit, tugging his own golden ponytail over his shoulder, where it shines in the lamplight. He runs his fingers through it, almost as if he's petting a kitten, and it seems to calm him down.]

No. I knew about these sides, I simply don't have to show them because my brother's more vocal with his temper. I'm content to let him act as the violent or tempermental one of us. I hold him back when he flies off the handle. When it comes time for gentleness and someone needs protection or talking to, or we interact with strangers, he lets me do the talking and listening for him.

We both play up our natural qualities to do what we're best at. That's why we function well as a team.

We're something like two halves of the same whole, but we will compensate for each other if we're seperated.

He knows about it, but I rarely have to bring it out in front of him. Usually it's only when someone hurts him, or he doesn't immediately jump to my defense before I have a chance to do it myself.

[Al's eyes open, like he's realizing this for himself, as he explains it.]

I don't hold back so I don't shock people. I hold back because it's habit.

[Itachi listens silently. He has a way of being still and completely focused that is almost like an aura--non-motion and measured control almost radiate from him. He exists in his own private world, detached from everything, and it is more apparent than usual right now. It's almost creepy, because it is an ever present distance, a sort of background that's always there, but right now it's in the foreground.]

I was raised to be polite and soft-spoke, Alphonse-kun. I find you being nice to me insulting, when I know there is more there. I could not care less how you interact with others.

I understand the dynamics of a partnership. I have a partner back in my world who customarily handled the social interactions we encountered--I had grown used to letting him be the speaker. As he is much more eye-catching and willing to be social than I, I was content to remain background to him. I would be content to return to that if he ever appeared--but just as you and your brother are, I am more than capable of independence without him.

And we are certainly not two halves. Not any more than Sasuke and I are. Such a deep connection to another person seems a weakness, waiting to be exploited.

It only took a handful of words to cause both you and Edward-kun pain, Alphonse-kun. How much more vivid the agony if someone who truly means you harm tries it, or something more physical?

If it is a habit than keep it if you must, but I will not promise to be nice back.

Perhaps I am kind to you because I want to be, Itachi. Is that so hard for you to accept? You seem eager to place me into a category without accepting that maybe I'm just being me.

I can be polite and soft-spoken and still show you my harder side when the situation calls for it.

[Al's eyes calmly turn away for a moment, listening, then thinking over the words. There's still the feel of a storm cloud, just after a lightning strike, emotions roiling just beneath the surface.]

We know very well of our weakness, Itachi. But the strength of that connection, the benefits, far outshine any drawbacks. You simply managed to hit a very raw nerve. If you cannot behave yourself, I'd appreci-

Do not speak with him.

I'm not asking you to be nice to me. You can just be yourself. But that doesn't mean I'll respond well to intentional cruelty.

And why would you wish to be kind, Alphonse-kun? I admit that puzzles me--in nearly every other way you seem quite intelligent.

Yes, you can. As you have demonstrated.

[Itachi remains still and watchful; at the moment his emotions are so far beyond unreadable he might as well be a robot.]

Much better.

I do not think I will refrain from conversing with him just for you, Alphonse-kun, but I will not actively provoking him. I have no reason to. I learned what I wanted. If my methods were cruel, than so be it.

[Al's voice is not derisive or pitying, he just sounds a bit wistful.]

I know you're capable of being kind, yourself. You were naturally kind once. I wish I could see the way you were with Sasuke back then.

I'd love to meet the big brother he loved so much. I've seen glimpses of him, but he always disappears when you realize you're slipping.

<333 I almost wish that one had been ICly viewable to Oliver.

Very glad it wasn't. Poor thing's already freaked out enough.

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