What the hell was he doing? Why was he just waltzing over to the house of one of his major rivals? Especially when there was a lot more he could be doing right now? And while Seto was thinking about it, why the hell did he care about anything Siegfried had to say anyway? Well, the guy DID pretty much invite anyone over, being as bored as he was. Not that it answered any of his OTHER questions. A lot of things he did nowadays didn't really make much sense to him, so he supposed he should just stop worrying about it so much. Ah, yes, here it was. He still had a chance to back out of this now before he made a complete fool of himself. The doorbell rang. Too late for THAT. This would most likely lead to awkward conversations about why he was here in the first place and not having an answer for it. Oh well, Siegfried would just have to deal with it.

Siegfried, ever bored and languishing over his laptop, blinked at the sound. Oh. So someone had seen fit to answer his desperate plea for company subdued suggestion that anyone who would WANT to talk to him, could. He sipped his coffee, internally debating whether he really wanted to answer the door. What if it were Yami? He didn't have anything to dissuade the boy, who was always quite too enthusiastic for his own tastes.
Right. The door.
It can't be helped, he thought rather hopelessly, But perhaps it isn't THAT bad. Wait. Yes, it is. With absolutely no thought of anything he could use to possibly get out of a future encounter with the guy (besides a silent prayer to whatever god he didn't really believe in), he headed down the stairs and, with an effort of will (I could just pretend I'm out, and no-one will ever know), opened the door.
And froze. "...hello."

Damn, he's home. So much for hoping he wouldn't open the door. "...Hi," he said rather stupidly. This was awkward. Quite awkward. The look on Siegfried's face showed that his visit was unexpected and surprising. Join the club. If they hated each other so much, then why was he here? Stupid questions being left unanswered...
"...Look, before the obvious barrage of questions start coming, could you at least let me in?"

"...fine." Siegfried moved backwards from the door. He wasn't exactly keen on letting an enemy into his home, his castle, his fortress, his...oh, whatever you want to call it. But he HAD allowed ANYONE to come, basically -- even though he'd had absolutely no idea this could be possible -- and so he had an obligation to allow him access to the house. He practically bristled at the thought of what he was doing, but reminded himself that at this place, he was safest. Better here than somewhere else, wasn't it?
Damn it, he thought, all the same.

"...Thanks." Seto stepped inside almost nervously. Neither of them were going to like this. Perhaps he could act as a diplomat, opening up a dialogue, getting past their differences? He would've scoffed if he could've at that thought. Their 'differences' ran too far deep to just put aside. Would it be too much to forget them just for an afternoon? Or, if he felt the need to be rather sneaky, he could always get some info on Siegfried to use against him. If, of course, was the operative word. "Nice to see that you won't just slam the door in my face, or I would have walked all this way for nothing."

"And that would have been totally pointless." The fake semi-smile on his face did not disguise the total lack of trust he felt. What if this was a trick? A trap, of some sort? Oh, he shouldn't have put that post up, but really, it wasn't his fault. Who could have seen this, of all things, as the outcome? Not even the most brilliant of people, probably. He was going to have to deal with this somehow.
He twitched. He didn't like playing defence.
"I didn't expect to see you, of all people." Stating the obvious, which was the only thing he really could come up with to state.

The other CEO shrugged. "Yeah, I know, weird, huh?" Siegfried wasn't too happy about this. Well, anyone with two eyes and half a brain could have seen THAT one coming.
"So, uh...maybe I should've called or something first, but it was a rather odd decision I made just an hour ago. I realize neither of us really thought we'd be meeting like this, but I suppose it's better to now rather than never."

"Yes." If only he knew why they had to meet at ALL. Or maybe he did know. Siegfried decided to ask him, eventually, seeing as...as...well, they both bloody hated each other, didn't they? So talking just seemed rather pointless. At least, talking civilly did.
"It's fine, really. Just a little unexpected." That was probably part of his plan. Bastard. He ought to--no, no, violence never solved anything. Just caused plenty of legal problems. Oh, well, he'd let Kaiba make the first move this time.

"...Yeah."
...Well, SAY something, you idiot! You've come this far!
Except he really had nothing to say. Maybe he'd forgotten his daily cup or twelve of coffee, but he couldn't think of much to say.
"Still bored, I take it? One would think that a little boredom around here is a blessing rather than a curse."

"I wouldn't. But then, I don't really see very many exciting things here. It's always boring, for me." He shifted, somewhat self-consciously. "I take it YOU'D want to be bored. I don't quite understand that. One would think you'd just want some other form of excitement..." He paused, mid-statement, considering what to say next. He's wasting the exciting things in his life. Oh, well. He'll regret it later in his life. Siegfried found a cruel delight in the thought, but made sure not to show any expression of it on his face. That could lead to some strange questions, doubtless.
"But then, to each his own," he finished almost lazily.

"Yes, well, when the most exciting things in your life involve near death situations..." Really, did Siegfried have a deathwish or something? "At least you're involved in a love triangle or hexagon or whatever size it is with Yami's affection for you, so you're not COMPLETELY left out."
Not that HE wanted to be in the bizzare love...polygons he was in, either. Well, now was as good a time as any to make up a reason why he was even here in the first place, he supposed.
"Listen, I was hoping we could talk some. Not be at each other's throats, not making threats, not boasting about our companies and intellect and such--just talk, like two civilized people."

"Triangle? More like pure and rather unrequited love on his part. But..." Siegfried shrugged. "...I still don't understand why you want to talk to me. And what there is to talk about, if you take the subjects you did out of the equation." What's he playing at? "It's a strange motivation for you, of all people," he said, his suspicion fairly evident. "Didn't know you were that sort."

"Hn. Well, how much do you really know about me, anyway? We all keep things hidden, away so nobody else can see. Same goes for me." He decided to walk farther in and take a seat, relaxing his posture. "And while I don't normally find it in my best interest to merely talk with people that I've thought of as enemies...well, I'm just in a generous mood, I guess, to grace you with my presence." And there went the ego. So much for not boasting.

"Mmmm, I believe you broke the rules of engagement there, but then, that just gives me the ability to do the same." Siegfried smirked. "You are an ever-humble person, aren't you, Kaiba?" Siegfried followed him carefully, his distrust showing with every step, and took a seat opposite. "It's supposed to be a virtue, but I really can't see the great things about it that everyone claims are evident."

"Never was good at following rules, I suppose. And really, who in this day of age really gives a damn about virtues? What with all these wars and drugs and sex and violence and..." He waved about a hand. "All of this utter idiocy... Nobody really has a shred of decency anymore anyway."

"It's a pity, I suppose." Siegfried's tone of voice made it totally clear he only partially believed his words. "But with such fine paragons of upstanding virtue as ourselves placed on this earth, they surely have no excuse. They ought to behave like us, and just be nasty to each other through words and such things." He cocked his head, considering it. "Who with any brain these days considers the human race as a whole worthwhile?"

He shrugged and leaned back. "No idea. These past few years have shown everyone what a poor state the world is in. World leaders are nothing more than devolved primates, and the truely intelligent people are finding themselves getting poor with gas prices and taxes and expenses of all sorts." A scoff. "Absolutely deplorable."

"The world IS deplorable, but then, I wonder that we find ourselves accepting this and doing nothing. Being passive is little help." He shifted in his seat. "It seems we can be to blame too, but...it's no matter to me. Everyone gets to split the blame equally. Isn't it wonderful?"

"Hm," was his only response to this. There was a round of silence, only broken by a clock ticking time away.
"...So, had anymore of those strange dreams lately? They seemed to be bothering you quite a bit."

"...no. They're...back to normal." Siegfried looked at the ground, then back up. "I need to get those analysed one of these days," he said, with false optimism. "I'll have to find a professional, or something." He shifted again. "One of these days."

Seto smirked. "What, feel like you need yourself a psychiatrist? Oh, but don't we all around here, we lead such hectic lives... You've already heard my opinion on what they mean, but it's not like I'm an expert in dream analysis." He crossed his legs and looked around a little. "And nor do I happen to think dreams ever mean much, but you never know."

"That is exactly my thought." Siegfried nodded. Of course, he had already SAID this, but little matter, he would say it again -- and again, if he wanted to. He carefully watched his enemy's face, attempting to discern whatever he could about Kaiba's thoughts. Hopefully, he would discover that he really wasn't planning anything that could be a detriment. This discussion was all far too uncomfortable and...awkward...for his tastes.

"I don't like to dwell on them, not that they're ever that good anyway. Even when I DO get sleep." He chuckled. "I should probably lay off the caffiene." And then back to the silence.
Tick. Tock. Would someone shoot that damn clock?
"Why does it feel like there's no time for anything anymore?"
Damn, I didn't mean to say that...
"I mean, it just seems like things are going by so fast, that we're merely wasting our lives away. Don't you think? Maybe it's just me."

Siegfried blinked, whatever train of thought was at work in his head temporarily derailed. "In my life, I find it's far too slow. Still wasteful, but..." He contemplated the thought for a few seconds, then said, "I find I have plenty of time to do nothing at all, myself."

"Well, then I guess it's just me, then. It just seems like tiime's running out to do things, to say things, to right things." He shook his head slowly. "Nah, I'm just sounding silly now, I guess..."

"Not really." Siegfried wanted to add something else onto there, but found he had absolutely nothing else to say. He searched his mind for a possible new subject he could discuss with Kaiba. Not the weather, not anything on television (what WAS on television these days? Siegfried barely tried to find out), not an endangered species...

"Despite what you may think, I'm not here for any devious reasons," he said with a roll of his eyes. "We may hate each other, but if we wanted to take each other out, we would've done so already."
Let's see, he'd pretty much made up with Noa, perhaps he could do the same with Siegfried? Highly doubtful, but perhaps worth a shot. ...Not that he was going to be the one to say 'ZOMG, let's be bestest friends' or anything...

"That's true." Siegfried relaxed a little; however, he remained rather wary.
He really didn't trust anything Kaiba said, anyways, but he would at least lend his ear to it for a few minutes.
Whatever this was leading up to, he sensed he would find it rather difficult to swallow. "So, then, what you're saying is...?"

What WAS he saying, anyway? He wasn't quite sure. Was it a bad idea to be open with one of his greatest enemies?
"...I guess what I'm saying is..."
Think of something, fool, anything!
He shrugged his shoulders and laughed at himself. "...I don't know, to be quite honest. I mean, look, we're sitting here talking about things that don't involve strangling each other, you actually let me in, which is surprising, I actually CAME, which is even MORE surprising... It's not really the end of the world if we can stop hating each other for a few minutes, at least."

"...I suppose not," Siegfried said slowly, even as every fiber in his body screamed out "Yes, it is!"
"...so, you're coming here with a peace treaty, then? I was just hoping for an interesting conversation, myself." He shrugged. "That is what you're saying, though?" He wanted to make sure he was actually hearing this, and it wasn't a misinterpretation.

Ack, no, don't take it the wrong way!
...Because this WAS the wrong way...right?
It's not like he was really here to become friends with Siegfried, right? ...Right? He was doing a lousy job convincing himself.
"No, no, no, no," he started quickly, "that's not it; I didn't say that at all. All I wanted was to talk, too. All I'm saying is that we really don't need to hate each other just to do that much. We can have a civilized conversation without making some snide remark. That's all I'm saying."
Right? Right.
"Besides...I doubt you'd even accept any offer anyway, except for a short cease-fire to take out Pegasus. Pity we never really did that."

"I had always thought you did very little along the lines of actually going after Pegasus. But then, that may be just me." Siegfried shrugged, internally snerking. "I find it rather ironic that you are the one to offer a truce -- and yes, that would be the term for it, small and termless though it may be -- when...ah, but I'm living in the past again." A quick smirk flashed across his face. "And I am almost amazed at how easy you think it would be to stop with the snide comments. I can barely contain myself as it is."
Now, if he could only decide a way to describe his innermost feelings without bashing Kaiba over the head multiple times with something large and metal! But it would be useless to try.
"I'm really just curious as to why you would even want that..."

Seto blinked a few times. "Now, didn't I just say I didn't come with a truce of any kind? I choose not to dwell in the past, of course, so this minor...whatever the hell we never even had doesn't concern me in the slightest." Well, he'd gotten himself into a rut now, didn't he? This was exactly what he didn't want to happen but was so sure would anyway. Change of subject? Change of subject.
"Question: what would you do if I were to die in this...ceremony thing? Besides rejoice for days and weeks, of course."

"Build you a shrine in my heart and memories. Take over your company. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera..." He blinked. "Why do you ask? I wouldn't think you'd really care. I mean, YOU'D be dead. That's the reason you have for leaving your company to your brother of all people, isn't it?"

"...Well, I suppose, but like I'd said earlier, I was thinking of making some changes..." This really wasn't going the direction he wanted it to. "Merely curious, just curious, that's all." Not like he expected anything different from the rival CEO anyway.

"I am inclined to ask you the same question. What if I were to die? I'd rather like to know how you would react. Just curious. You can relate, I don't doubt."

"Hm. Well, I suppose the loss of a skilled and witty rival would no doubt make me feel SOMETHING, but then, I wouldn't have to put up with your insults and wouldn't ever have to worry about SC catching up to KC... I really don't know how I'd react until it actually happened, I suppose." This was all rather depressing. The topic of death was something he didn't actually want to discuss at a time like this, yet here they were.

"I'm complimented, I'm sure." Siegfried smirked. "I wouldn't sink so low for myself." He leaned back in his chair. "Didn't think you would~ ...but of course, I didn't expect you'd show up."

"Guess I'm just a surprising person."
...And now he's just sitting there MOCKING me...fuck, why did I even bother? I've got better things to do, anyway...
"Hn, but it's not like you take the time to get to know anyone anyway. Far too busy with yourself to do so, merely find them your enemy so you don't get so attatched, I suppose?"

"Don't say that," Siegfried said quietly, eyes narrowing. "Sometimes you just don't need to know people to be their enemy. Take you, Kaiba. It's not because of your personality I call myself your enemy -- though that would be a perfectly reasonable motivation and no-one would question that." He crossed his legs. "But I don't see why I should get to know anyone less than intelligent -- it's pointless to attempt to relate to those obsessed with far more petty things."

"Something petty like, oh, say, my little brother's wellfare? The success of my company? Just because I have a liking for things such as my dragons doesn't firstly mean I've a fetish for petty things and secondly mean that I'm any less intelligent than you." He had to keep himself from huffing after that mini-rant. "Let's be honest here. We were both homeschooled, both CEOs, both technological geniuses...it's not like you don't have a few small obsessions of your own, anyway."

"You aren't quite so bad as others...but then, you aren't the best of them. I don't like the similarities between us, but they do exist. I just don't understand your point of view at all. I must not be very good at empathising." He paused to consider that. "...but then, I never claimed to be. One of my weak spots, if you consider that a weakness."

"We've similarities, sure, but then we've also many differences in our lives. I suppose empathy is a little much to ask, though I'm certainly not asking for it anyway."
This was going absolutely nowhere. Peace, a truce, a cease-fire, whatever, it's not like any of that would ever hope to work between them. Even if he wanted them. Which he didn't.
Right?
...Perhaps.
The only real reasons he disliked Siegfried now anyway was because of his personality of barbed wire and that they owned rival companies. There had been a time, really, when they might have been able to call each other friends. But that was so long ago; even then, it was more because of their fathers and interest in technology.
A long sigh escaped him, and Seto rubbed wearily at his eyes. "Look, I don't know what the hell I was even thinking coming anyway, and this obviously isn't doing either of us much good." He stood. "So maybe I'll just go, which, I'm sure, is what you wanted me to do in the first place."

"...not really..." He shrugged. "I just wanted to know why the hell you came, and seeing as even you don't know, there isn't anything I wanted that it's in your power to deliver." He glanced up at the ceiling. "But if you want to leave, feel free. I'm not holding you hostage here."
For a brief, crazy moment, he pondered actually doing that and making it seem Kaiba had disappeared (who would guess where he'd gone? Who could he have told? Who'd really care?), but he banished the thought immediately as idle fancy in favour of waiting for another day to have whatever revenge he wanted.

"Wow, it's a wonder you're not popular around here," came the sarcastic remark accompanied by a roll of the eyes. "I just thought I'd give you some company for whatever reason possibly posessed me and have a talk or something along those lines, but it's not like we could ever talk. No, it's always going to be a large canyon between us, I suppose." Why was this all ticking him off? He shouldn't care, right? "Maybe I figured that before I die, if that happens, that I could at least pay my dues, say the things I never could say, have the guts to do things I never saw myself ever doing, and maybe making amends with people like you. I guess that can wait until I'm sure I'm about to die, or maybe those things will never happen." He was facing the door, but instead of moving toward it, he crossed his arms and stood his ground. "Whatever happened between us? We could've been friends rather than bitter enemies. We talk about enemies more than we used to. To people like us, everyone's a threat. But we could've done something. Maybe things wouldn't have turned out so badly."
Another sigh, a shake of the head. "And now, here I am, telling these kinds of things to someone who could never possibly get himself to care. Just...forget about it; forget I ever even came."

"It was our fate, wasn't it? Our roll of the die. You ended up with one company, I with another, and through a cruel twist of fate, we remained enemies. Business enemies, and there wasn't much reason to be friends in person. It's a vicious life, and not one that allows for you to make friends with people in charge of rival companies. Not easily, at any rate, and I don't think either of us cared to exert any effort. I know I didn't." He shrugged. "And since neither of us really cared for the other in the first place, why bother even TRYING?" Siegfried bit his lips, eyes narrowing again. "Since there is a possibility you're going to die and I will never get another chance to gaze upon your face with pure unbridled hatred again, I might as well admit the obvious. You're a better man than I'll ever be, Kaiba..." He twitched, hating himself immensely. "...and I envy you in most respects." How funny do you find being right, Kaiba? Is clear superiority good enough? Or must I grovel as well to amuse you? "...just...felt I ought to tell you..." He folded his arms and glared at the wall with all the loathing and anger he wanted to take out on himself, wondering if there was some sort of mental torture he ought to be subjecting himself to right about now. He wondered how the medical team would treat an attempt to drown one's self in their own cup of coffee. He wondered if he should see a psychiatrist.

That had to be the single most surprising thing of this whole entire day. Or of his whole entire life. Seto stood there, mouth slightly agape, doing nothing more than blinking slowly and trying to believe this. Did he just say what he thought he just said? It had to be a trick. Or a lie. Or...just not true in general. Never did he think the day would come when Siegfried admitted that Seto was the better man. Except that he was never so sure that was true in the first place.
He turned, slowly, to face Siegfried and his look of pure disgust at himself. "...Why would you ever think that?" And that was the first thing he had to say? No flattery, no...anything bordering on mushy? "That...I'm not sure I..." He seemed to have lost any of his articulation abilities, so he just settled for a good old, "...What the hell?"

"I meant what I said." He wondered if he could kill himself using his curtains, or a rose. Strangely poetic ending, that'd be. "And...it's the truth, and I know it. ...but if you don't die, I swear to God, I will deny that to the end of the days." He glanced up at the ceiling again. "But I thought it'd be the right thing to tell you, if I might not see you again. Please tell me if I was wrong in your opinion. I could take it back," he said almost hopefully, "If you think that it isn't such a great confession, and that you don't care." Siegfried really hoped he did think that way. "But I have expressed my view, as I felt was right."

"...Ah." Well, there was no way in HELL he'd make Siegfried take that back. For two reasons, one far more obvious than the other. He was totally and completely right, and if he lived, no matter how much it was denied, Seto could gloat all he wanted. And then the fact that it was a truthful confession, one that he never thought he'd ever hear or even thought possible.
"...I always thought we could be closer than enemies." He shrugged and smirked. "One of my many confessions, I suppose, though after that rant I just gave, I guess that much was all too obvious."
He stood and the other sat for quite a long time as the clock, ever-present, kept ticking valuable moments away. The former shifted uncomfortably a bit before doing one of those things he never thought he'd do. Seto stuck out his hand for a hopefully friendly handshake.
"Accept it or don't, I won't think any higher or lesser of you no matter what. But I figure...if we never see each other again..."
Don't get mushy, don't get mushy, you still hate this guy, remember?

"..." Siegfried stood up, looking from hand to face, and then back. Slowly, he offered his hand as well. "Despite the obvious...discomfort...there would be for me if you do live, I must say I hope you survive. I'd feel rather awful if you didn't." And then have a party, but that's besides the point. "It'd be a loss for everyone, really." But a gain for me, so I ought to feel good about it. I think there's something very wrong with me. "You're one of the few with any common sense left."

The two shook hands (for perhaps the first time in their lives) firmly for a moment before letting go.
I bet he's going to want to wash his hands of my filth now...
"Guess I should thank you for that one. Rarely does anyone ever hear anything resembling a compliment from you. Maybe if you start doing that a little more often, things'll start changing. Just some friendly advice." He started heading for the door but continued to call back, "Of course, I'm the hypocrite around here and never did take my own advice. Shame, really. Well, if we're to never meet again--many people around here hate my pessimism, but I call it realism--then I wish you luck." He pulled open the door, paused, and looked back for a moment. "...Another confession: I never really could decide who was the better man between us."
And with that, he left.

"...lying bastard..." Siegfried murmured to himself, and then slowly grinned. That had been far less painful than he had expected the second he set eyes on his nemesis. He folded his arms, pondering what he was going to do now. What he'd do, if Kaiba did die.
Perhaps he'd take up knitting.
He ought to write about it in his Livejournal.