Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2019 23:48:40 GMT -5
Rin couldn’t help but smile sweetly at the Lieutenant was in awe of her Squad. She was proud. Hard work and tantrums always paid off. As always, when the Empress didn’t get her way, it was the highway and she wanted Squad 7’s appearance to be surreal and pristine. It had to be perfect and this was perfect in her eyes. It also reminded her of a much different time. A time when she was once human. Although her humanity was technically gone, she wanted to keep the best parts of it around. It wasn’t the exact same but it was reminiscent and that was all the Empress desired. That and luxury of course.
He’d gotten more talkative. Much more in comparison to when she’d first met that stuttering, blushing mess. Not by much but it was the beginning of him fitting into his role as lieutenant. Rin normally didn’t care about others or sheep but she found herself caring about him and his dreams. It was peculiar and she didn’t know how to explain it. So, she would go with it rather than fight it. Of course, an Empress would never divulge such a secret. What would he say? What would she say? She would silently root for him instead.
"I guess I'll just have to visit more often if nobody else is going to. Someone needs to come and appreciate the beauty of squad 7 after all, right?"
“…Me or the gardens?”
She wanted it to be in reference to her. Sure, their surroundings were picturesque but Rin wanted that beauty of Squad 7 that he desired to return to be her. Could she admit that? Not out loud. Heavens, no. Aside from the fact that she knew she was practically the Soul King’s gift to all of Soul Society, none of it truly mattered. Not when it felt like Ranth’s words held more weight. His compliments and praises were something she found herself yearning for. Something she found herself having to talk herself out of. It was just a comment. Nothing more, nothing less. What was so special about it? Her thoughts were in an especially dangerous place.
Before her thoughts started to spiral out of control, she’d notice Ranth’s sudden shock and with her cat like reflexes, her hand snapped out to keep his bowl of curry balanced until he found his bearings. Her hand over his, helping him keep the bowl up as he’d protest. She’d smirk, looking at him initially. “Careful, lieutenant.” Rin cocked her head and her eyes fell to his robe, where she’d remove her hand and carefully adjust the golden chains that adorned the front, her fingers slipping down each link as she spoke. “Wouldn’t want to get curry on that oh, so pretty white robe of yours, ne~?” She looked at him amusedly before pulling away, returning back to her own lunch.
“..Would that mean he gets to take his robe off again..?” Rin’s eyes looked to her bento but she’d steal a glance and her memories rolled back to the time in the cave. It just wouldn’t be the same if he wasn’t we— God, what the hell was she thinking? She’d place on piece of spicy tuna in her mouth and decided to look else where as she’d been in utter disbelief in her current thought pattern. Where were her thoughts going? One piece turned into two and she’d turn her face away from him, cheeks bright red, overlooking the scenery and the leaves falling. Would he notice? She could easily recover from this. She was an Empress! He couldn’t see her falter now! She had to say something witty. Something clever.
“If you do not return, I might just arrest you.”
“What.”
“Rin.. What?”
Rin certainly kept up quite a poker face as she looked at him with a mock stern look and a smile but she’d stuff a piece of sushi into her mouth as she heard Hiretsuna’s howling laughter in the back of her mind and all that was keeping her from breaking her facade was the food in her mouth. Goodness, this was bloody embarrassing. It was like she’d never flirted before. N-Not that she was trying to! W-Was she? “What are you gonna do, take him to your prison and tickle him to death in the pretty garden!? Hahaha!” Hiretsuna teased her relentlessly as he hurled insults in the back of her mind and she couldn’t help but look to her nodachi, irritated as ever as she continued to eat, silently wishing he’d shut up before she lost it.
When Rin found her bearings and finished the last of her sushi, she’d noticed Ranth and his expression. He wore a look she knew all too well and she’d lean against the pillars keeping up the gazebo as she’d glance out to the water where he seemed to be looking and then back at him. “You are here yet your mind seems to be a million miles away.” She commented with a small smile as she continued to look at him. “What is on your mind, Ranth?” She placed a hand on his arm as if to get his attention, interested in what was going on behind those golden eyes of his.
He’d asked her an interesting questions and Rin sat up and seemed to think for a long minute. Come to think of it, she hadn’t told anyone any of this. No one knew of this peculiar phenomenon she was about to reveal to the Kido Corps Commander. “Family?” She repeated, as if wondering how to answer his question. “Does my human life count? It’s odd but I still remember parts of it. I was an only child I think.” She stared at the ceiling as she tried to recall certain memories. “It was fairly exciting but I wouldn’t say my family situation there was ideal..” Her voice lingered on. “I suppose it’s a moot point as in death, I have no family.” It was over two centuries ago and it mattered little to her. All Rin knew was that she would be an entirely different woman if things happened differently.
“How I came to Soul Society was a blur. All I knew was that I was alone.”
“I’ve got my Squad and… That’s about it.” But even then, she wasn’t truly close to anyone. You can’t be a superior and a friend simultaneously. A division of the Gotei 13 couldn’t be run properly like that. Someone had to run Squad 7 and Rin rose to the occasion. She wanted leadership but as she climbed she learned that it only got lonelier and lonelier. Was that what a captain felt most times? It wasn’t something that was at the forefront of her mind until she spoke to F’lock. When Rin looked at it… Truly looked at it, to an extent she was alone. Now especially due to the mixups with timelines.
“What about you, Ranth?”