none of which so dangerous as virtue

[Even though he could feel the hard edge to Lockon's voice like a knife poised at his throat, Tieria persevered. He didn't know exactly what he was trying to accomplish, only that it somehow involved making Lockon so angry that he would either leave him alone or beat the living daylights out of him.]

You know that's not true. Your scores...

[Tieria had backed up so far that he had pressed himself against the wall. He took a deep breath, and continued.]

And your. Your attitude...

[He had left both sentences trailing, but the implications were clear.]

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[If Lockon hadn't been wearing his gloves there would be deep grooves in his palms from his nails, considering how tightly clenched his fists were. He moved forward with Tieria's backing away, not intentionally looming, but everything about his expression screamed 'warning signs before the storm; imminent danger of exploding'.]

There is nothing wrong with my scores that a field mission couldn't cure. [His voice was steel. He shook his head, movement as tight as his fists, as though putting an end to that unimportant reasoning, and then he fixed Tieria with a look again. For all that Tieria was refusing to look him in the eye, Lockon appeared to have an intense enough glare for both of them. If anything, it intensified, and the steel in his voice took on an even harsher edge than before.]

And you've got a hell of a lot of nerve talking about my attitude. Going to have to explain that one a little more, Tieria.

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[It was funny, in that horrific way that made you want to throw up all over your own shoes in fear, that Lockon had asked Tieria to explain the problems with his attitude when here Lockon was, looking every bit the kind of man that was about to punch Tieria through a wall. But then maybe that was the point. Because it allowed Tieria to do nothing but leave his sentence hanging exactly where it was.

Standing in that long, featureless corridor, the way Tieria looked to be trying to push himself through the wall, all the while avoiding Lockon's glare, should have been more than enough to indicate that the evidence was right here, that Tieria didn't even need to be present for it. Here stands Lockon Stratos, the man with enough anger to argue for two.]

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[Lockon was a great many things, but he wasn't stupid. It would have been obvious even to a blind man that Tieria was threatened by him right now, outright scared of him. Maybe with reason; Lockon was fully aware that he was closer to getting violent with the other man than he had been in a long time. Logic said he should back off, should calm down before he did something he'd probably regret in the future. Normally this would be the point where he'd listen to logic, especially with the unwelcome answer hanging in the air so thickly it was almost tangible.

Now was not a normal situation, however. Now, that answer was blackened further by implication - not just that his attitude was a danger, but that it was somehow worse than his replacement. Michael, Michael of the hair-trigger temper and the fun-and-games approach to violence, was a better - a safer candidate for the battlefield. No, with that hanging in the air, with his emotions already running high, logic met the boiling blood of Lockon's fury, and logic lost.]

Answer me! Look me in the eye and say it, Tieria Erde! [One hand slammed into the wall behind Tieria, not exactly close enough to his head to be a threat, but enough to show that Tieria wasn't getting out of this with nonverbalisation.]

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[Despite flinching at the impact, Tieria still refused to meet Lockon's glare.]

Do I even need to? You're making it quite clear that you're having trouble keeping your temper under control. Do you think Setsuna would have wanted you to make any more stupid mistakes out of anger?

[It was a low blow, but it was also the truth. And if Lockon hit him now, they would both be justified in their actions. If tensions were high for a little while, so what? Things would return to normal, as they always did. It was hardly the first time that they'd fought.]

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[ A low blow that hit hard, and all the harder for Tieria still refusing to look him in the eye. By this point, it was basically the knowledge that he'd be proving Tieria's point and that alone that was stopping him hauling off and decking the other man. It didn't help to hear it pointed out, that he was already somewhat proving the point right now. There was no effective rebuttal for that. ]

I think Setsuna would have appreciated the backup on a dangerous rescue mission. I think Setsuna would have preferred to see me there over Michael, because I think Setsuna has a hell of a lot more trust in me- in my abilities as a fellow Meister than you do!

Edited Date: 2011-01-31 05:33 pm (UTC)

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[ Setsuna hadn't been planning on interrupting this argument; it was none of his business and nothing would be achieved by his getting involved. And he hadn't been deliberately listening in, mostly all he had been able to hear was the low rumble of angry voices with the occasional word sounding clearer. But he wasn't deaf, that was definitely his name getting thrown about.

Deciding that perhaps it would be best to intervene, - at least before someone like Feldt or Mileina happened across this area - he made his way down the hallway until he found his fellow Meisters. He stopped a few feet away, eyes narrowing slightly as took in Tieria and Lockon's current positions. ]

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This isn't about Michael, or which one of you I prefer, it's about...

[As he realized that their "conversation" was being observed, Tieria trailed off. If Lockon hadn't been standing so close to him, Tieria would have taken the interruption as an opportunity to escape. He straightened up a little, and cleared his throat.]

What is it, Setsuna?

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[ Lockon might not even have noticed Setsuna's presence without Tieria addressing him. Once Tieria'd drawn his attention to their audience, though - well, it wasn't enough to calm him down, not really, but it gave him incentive to rein himself in a little. He straightened slightly too, letting his hand drop away from the wall. After the shouting match that had just been and gone, his voice sounded very quiet to his ears. ]

How long have you been standing there?

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Not long.

[ He switches his attention back to Tieria ]

I heard raised voices.

[ Asking 'is something wrong?' seemed redundant, but the question, or at least, Setsuna's interest, was implied. ]

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[Despite his physically submissive behavior towards the sudden end of the argument, Setsuna's interruption had allowed Tieria to regain a little of his belligerence. With it, the ability to glare at Lockon had returned.]

It's nothing. Nothing at all.

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[ If Setsuna's presence had reined him in, the return of Tieria's belligerence raised Lockon's hackles in turn. He momentarily returning the glare with narrowed eyes and a low voice. ] Nothing at all, huh.

[ He turned to Setsuna with something akin to forced joviality, fierce and edged. ]

You know, Setsuna, I don't think I ever apologised for not being there to pick you up from the desert. It wasn't that I didn't want to be, but, well, you're better off asking Tieria to explain his reasoning on that one.

[ Setsuna would agree with him. Setsuna hadn't jumped on the We Love the Trinitys bandwagon, Setsuna still thought Michael was crazy. It probably wasn't fair to bring Setsuna into his and Tieria's argument like that, but right then, he couldn't quite care. ]

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[ Setsuna's expression remained blank as Lockon talked; he recognised the fakeness in Lockon's tone but wasn't sure how he was meant to respond to it. He glanced over at Tieria, one eyebrow just barely raised slightly ]

It was your choice?

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Yes.

[Tieria adjusted his glasses as we went on to explain, as much to shield himself from the look on Lockon's face as to seem intelligent and controlled.]

In the joint absence of both Veda and Sumeragi Lee Noriega, the responsibilities of selecting and tactically forecasting missions have fallen to me. Ergo, selecting which Meisters would be present to assist in your return was up to me. As the mission was a success, I hardly see the problem.

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It's not the end result that's the issue, and you know it. [ Lockon folded his arms. ] It's the choice itself and your reasons for it.

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His reasons were understandable.

[ Setsuna was starting to understand what was going on here; he was slightly concerned about Lockon's apparent reaction, but figured it was just because Lockon didn't feel that Tieria's feelings were a valid reason for keeping him away from a battle ]

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[Setsuna's response caught Tieria off-guard. "His reasons were understandable." What did that mean? Setsuna had said that he hadn't been standing there long, and yet he claimed to know the reasons behind Tieria's decision. And considering that he hadn't even known it was Tieria's decision until just now...

Tieria was thoroughly confused, but he wasn't about to argue with somebody who was on his side.]

There, you see?

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[ If Setsuna's response had pulled the metaphorical rug from under Tieria, it pulled the whole damn floor out from under Lockon. Such a small sentence, and yet there was so much wrong with it. Lockon could only stare at him in disbelief, and then the first and clearly most important question jumped out. ]

You agree with him!?

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[ Setsuna shrugged one shoulder, not really understanding Lockon's attitude. ]

I didn't say that, just that you could argue that his reasons make sense. On a personal level, at least.

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[It was starting to dawn on Tieria that there was a way that Setsuna could still "understand" his reasons for any action taken involving Lockon despite being absent for most of the conversation. The idea that Setsuna somehow knew about how Tieria really felt about Lockon was a slightly absurd one, but in the context, was the only one that made sense. A feeling of dread slowly crept over him, and Tieria realized that if he didn't want all of this coming to the surface in the next five minutes, he was going to have to stop Setsuna from explaining just why Tieria might have been justified in his choices.]

Can we just drop this? Lockon Stratos, like it or not, I am responsible for deciding who will be doing what at this point in time, and Setsuna agrees with me. This needs to be discussed no further.

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[ Lockon had just been staring at Setsuna in utter lostitude. On a personal level, Tieria thinking he was less stable than Michael made sense? What? How did- what?! He'd been so sure that Setsuna would be on his side on this.

Tieria's attempt to shut down the conversation brought his attention back long enough to glare at the other man, before his gaze swung back to Setsuna. ]

I don't get it, Setsuna. Why-- how can his reasons make sense, personal level or not? You don't even like Michael!

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Michael Trinity's involvement is irrelevant.

[Setsuna paused; Tieria clearly wasn't happy discussing this, - due to embarrassment? - but why begin to explain something if you then wouldn't clear everything up? It was obvious that Lockon still didn't understand, although how he could be quite so oblivious was lost on Setsuna. After a brief moment of silence while he collected his thoughts, he explained- ]

It makes sense, because people try to protect those they care about, those they love.

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[Suddenly, there was no possibly or maybe about it. It was quite clear to Tieria that Setsuna knew exactly what was going on. The situation was still just about salvageable as long as Setsuna stopped his idiotic explanation right now. Tieria's eyes narrowed to blood-red slits, directing such a murderous look at Setsuna that if the saying was true, the imbecile would be slamming into an early grave at a thousand miles per hour. If Setsuna had a shred of self-preservation, he'd shut up right now, or else face Tieria's wrath.

The fact that Setsuna was rarely intimidated by Tieria was not a comforting one at this point in time.]

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Those they-- what? What are you talking about? That's got nothing to do with this!

[ Of all the things Lockon had expected from Setsuna, that was the absolute last. Admittedly, this whole conversation had been an exercise in '101 Confusing and Surprising Things Setsuna Can Say', but this took the cake. To hear something like that from the kid was - surprising was far too mild a word. Setsuna hadn't ever been part of Michael and Nena's Tieria's-In-Love bandwagon, he hadn't ever been the type to get - confused and matchmakery, too serious for that, but - but equally he wasn't a poetic enough type to mean that in any other way than the obvious, was he? But that made no sense - when exactly did Lockon's world topple wildly out of the realms of sanity it had been sort of inhabiting the past year or so?

He spared Tieria the quickest of glances between staring in utter confusion at Setsuna. The sheer venom of the look the other man was shooting was almost surprising in itself. Lockon didn't exactly have many thoughts to spare towards working that out, especially considering that, what with how venomous their argument had been before, Tieria giving a death glare didn't exactly seem too far out of the normal, but it did seem...weirdly disproportionate, for a wrong judgement of reasoning. ]

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