Academic Curio-Curiosity (Social Nualia, semi open)

[Arcadus]

Arcadus had walked through Karakura quite a few times, sometimes to just to clear his head, sometimes to get a change of scenery. Sometimes it was to get a hold of some food that was made here, sometimes it was to see if there were new books on electronics and mechanical engineering. Outside of that Karakura was always an interesting place, if only for the wide variety of spiritual creatures living in it, jsut under the veil of normalcy to keep non spiritual humans out of the loop. 

He was walking about and about in that gigai Kitai had made for him, or rather, Arcadus had asked him to make. It was nice to be in a gigai to match his spiritual form, height, muscles, hair. It also made picking out clothes for it a hell of a lot easier, and it let him wear whatever the hell he liked, instead of whatever he had bothered to pick up in the human world. In any case, he was happy to be here. The misty over cast of karakura always welcomed him more than the endless dark of Hueco Mundo, and for a bit, he felt at ease. 

That was all well and good, and, it was good place to pluck people for meals, there were all kinds of human world dwellers here, and even some hellions hiding out to try and stick around after their duties. It was a wonderfully rich area, and one in which there were the paranoid, the superstitious and the gullible roamed free, since there were so many new to the spiritual side of existence. tapping his dark red jacket, and feeling the cards still in their spot, Arcadus signed. He wasn't exactly exempt from that category.

Hence why he was out here tring to find a spot, he was interested in the nature of the tarot, and if it was actually real, the powers of divination it supposedly held. It was more interesting to him than horoscopes, which all read the same to him, but atleast the Tarot needed some twisting to fit any scenario, and might actually hold some use in the hands of a spiritually sensitive person. His deck was the most popular, the major arcana, he hadn't the time to memorize every minor arcana, and besides, most people didn't recognize them any way.

Looking around for a place to potentially set up this kind of stand, or would it be an attraction? A shop? in either case, Arcadus noticed a small, semi dilapidated building that despite its poorer condition, seemed to have lights on and a sign out front, though Arcadus didn't bother to see what it read as. It seemed the appropriate theme, kinda dingy, but still nice enough to not scare people way. Walking inside, it had that kind of "mystical" feeling you might find at a fantasy based attraction at an amusement park. 

Looking around, Arcadus saw two sections of the building, a series of book cases with a myriad of different books lined them, all of different sizes, make and color. On the other, a multitude of displays, each holding a wide variety of items, atha t a glace, Arcadus could tell were of a spiritual nature, and had somekind of reiatsu in them. Going through and examining each other, Arcadus landed mainly on a weapon, and on closer inspection, an Arrancar Zanpakuto. 

Puzzled, Arcadus tapped the glass. It was very unusual to find a arrancar's zanpakuto out of thier reach, and if it was here, the arrancar was either in a lot of trouble, or was very close by. Strange to see something so personal on display, like having ones severed hand pressed in glass and left in a window. Looking at it, and glancing back at his own zanpakuto, Arcadus wondered if he'd ever be seperated from his zanpakuto like this Arrancar would be. 

Turning around, and beginning to riffle through the books, Arcadus was suprised. This first one, which seemed like a book at first, was closer to a series of folders, loose pages and scriblins agournd the printed text, and more interestingly, it seemed almost encoded, the raw text that was. How curious. Looking at the notes, it was almost like someone was trying to transcribe this information, as encoded as it was, into plain text that could be read without a legend. Perhaps if he went through this library, he'd find a decoded version. The title read, "the works of John Dee" 

Moving around, Arcadus noticed that the floor boards squeaked a decent amount under his large frame, and with those squeaks, some movement upstairs had started up. Standing still Arcadus ran through his options. He could leave, but that would likely mean that he wouldn't get this oppurtunity again. He could try and hide, but with his frame and size, he didn't see anything to hide in or behind. Besides, he wasn't going to hide here, what the hell could possibly make him hide from his actions, he was as justified in coming in here as anyone else. 

Lastly, he could fight the thing coming down the stairs if it was sapient, or he could try and lie. Both options seemed appealing, and as the noise made its way down the stairs, lying was chosen. "Oh hi, sorry to barge in, I thought this place was abandoned. Guess not, hah, though, would you mind if I stayed a bit and read, this is really fascinating." Holding up the book, Arcadus was doing his best to sound bashful. He wasn't sure what was going to round the corner of the stair way, but he didn't like having to act like this, but it was his best bet to stay and read this thing. 

[Nuala Byrne]

Enrico, as she called him, was a mutant. She had known since he was young, so she felt the low-pop tanks would be a better place for him to learn hunting, play, and socializing. Today he was old enough for transfer into the basement hi-pop tank. If he performed well there, without upsetting the general social and ecosystems, he would be permitted to pass on his mutation. Able to subsist on spiritual air as much as material water, Enrico was transferred from his tank to Nuala's person, latching onto her spiritual signature. His still-wet scales glinted in the airy light, shining with crimson and gold, effulgent. Nuala glanced down at her charge, noting the way he showed off his colors with pride. A tremendous eight inches long, he swam through the air around her, leering at the tinier fishes still in the tank. Nuala rolled her eyes. She knew they would have to pass by the tanks of actually large fish to reach his hi-pop tank. His pride wouldn't last long. If anything, she was afraid she'd be cheering him up by the end of the trip. For now, it was a little funny.

Today was a Day of Mourning. Seventeen times a year, Nuala held a personal holiday. She wouldn't take time off work for them, so customers who came in would see her in her Guadaña uniform. Her normal customers knew to check the info board in the tea shop front of the store to avoid these days, and she was unusually somber on these holidays. It made people feel a certain kind of discomfort as if they were in the presence of the dead. The aura surrounded her shop in an invisible miasma, the mood reacting to her spiritual presence and, ironically, keeping away the spiritually unaware, barring the occasional obstinate individual. Nuala didn't need to guess which sort was in her library now. She had sensed him coming from a distance; he was at least as spiritually active as she. He had attained what Nuala called "the bare minimum."

The mask fragment in her hair resembled a pair of devil's horns. Today she was mourning Lolilla Arrurilga, the eleventh Guadaña. She had a particular control over spiritual energy, which allowed her to control spiritual manifestations that drew too close to her. No spiritual thing was safe from her ambitious grasp: bala, doll, or even zanpakuto, she could use and twist it to her heart's content. But it wasn't her power that Nuala remembered her for. It was her kindness. Though Lolilla was mischievous, Erscheinung had curbed the more violent, less empathetic part of her. According to the Guadaña, it took him more than a hundred years to do it. Nuala, however, knew better.

Lolilla Arrurilga had a change of heart one day. Not over a hundred years, but in a flash of insight. Two other Guadaña had become intrinsically important to her. Mylnan Antute and Nimare Chahlern. Mylnan had the power of fusion: he could combine any two of his allies into more powerful, fused forms that tended to average their appearances and alloyed their strengths. Nimare had the power to blend other powers and wield them for herself. However, she was the lowest of the Guadaña. Any two powers that she blended were brought down to her level, and therefore, no matter what she tried, she was doomed to be as weak as her own self forever. Lolilla looked down on her, as any Arrancar was wont to do with weakness. She did not understand why Erscheinung kept her. She did not know.

Lolilla took shame in that it was this that tempered her; that she could not find a less violent reason to ascend to a higher state of heart. On that day, the three lowliest Guadaña-- Mylnan, Lolilla, and Nimare-- made the trek across the desert of Hueco Mundo, to the other Hive, when they were happened upon by a young Vasto Lorde. They treated with the Hollow, but he would not see reason. They offered him solace, peace, and food. He heard only food. The situation devolved quickly into fighting. Like a cat with a mouse, the Vasto Lorde played with his meal for a while. The Guadaña struggled. He was faster, he was stronger, he was smarter. He had everything... their odds looked bleak. He held all the cards in that engagement.

All the cards but the Ace of Spades, the trump card. Every once in a while, Mylnan would stumble over a prodigal pair. Two people that when combined, did not become their average and alloy. Their powers compounded, and their personage was new. That was the case that day. Mylnan, knowing that the Vasto Lorde was too much for their strengths in separation, fused Lolilla and Nimare in desperation. On that day, She was born. Suddenly, as a part of Her, Lolilla knew. Nimare was vindicated. Erscheinung had planned this all along. He had manipulated them so that it would be possible. His ace in the hole.

Cerlette Mundowen. She was strong. She was fast. She was smart. She wielded all the powers of Lolilla and Nimare, but not individually. Nimare's blending melded with Lolilla's control. The result was explosive in its growth. Sudden, overwhelming, and everywhere. The Vasto Lorde twitched, and Cerlette was there. When he struck Her, his arm to the shoulder was simply obliterated. Without trying, She had found his weakness. It wasn't cutback. That was not Cerlette's power. It was not, however, Cerlette's power that swayed Lolilla. It was her kindness. Even as the Vasto Lorde lay dying, she tried to save him. To give him an opportunity that was immune to his pride. Though in the end, she failed, Cerlette's dedication was the same. She was happy, upbeat, and compassionate. All that nigh-infinite power and she was still a decent person. That was what Lolilla had known in her heart for a single day. It was an ideal she strived for every day since.

Though Lolilla could not see it, Nuala could. She fell short in many ways, but the thrust of it was that she was trying. After all her experiences, she treasured her time as Cerlette with Nimare, and found all the parts of Nimare in her endearing. She loved that about Nimare; all her condescension and dispassion toward the weaker Guadaña dissolved. With time, she learned to apply this kindness to others. Even Nuala.

That was the Lolilla that Nuala remembered today. With a heavy heart, she remembered that kindness. She wore her unnumbered ajirogasa so that it adorned her back, its cord tied across the front of her neck so that it would not fall off. White jacket, kimono sleeves, shawl lapel. An exceedingly formal ensemble. Over her chest was armor, angled so that it would deflect blows away from her core. Not that it was much more than ornamental. Around her neck were the prayer beads. Despite its rigid appearance, the uniform allowed her to move with ease; she could as easily fight in this as in her casual wear. With any fortunate, however, today would be a day she could mourn, not fight. Enrico in tow, she descended the spiraling stairs to the main floor.

He was a tall and statuesque man, blonde and unnecessarily skittish for his actions. Surface thoughts bubbled across his awareness in schools. Nuala stopped at the base of the stairs and smiled as he lied to her. She shook her head, steel jewelry jangling in her hair. The Quincy bangle on her left upper arm sparkled quietly. Other than he, the shop was empty. "Welcome to Nonessentia," she told him, by way of greeting. "This is both my personal abode and-- on this floor-- my place of business in the Mortal World. Please avoid the stairs without my accompaniment, as they lead to private spaces. Can I make some tea or a tisane for you while you read? Would you like a scone or cupcake?" Enrico circled around her slowly, shimmering red eyes trained on the stranger with curiosity.

She made no attempt to hide her meager spiritual energy.

[Arcadus]

At the almost amusement park level greeting, Arcadus shifted his demeanor significantly. There wasn't a real threat here, nor did there need to have significant layers of deception. He wasn't going to state his name and rank, but there wasn't as much of a need to act like he'd stumbled into here looking for the bathroom, or like a student looking for a place to hide while skipping school. This, it seemed like, and judging by the weak reiatsu signature, and slight physical build of the person in front of him. 

"This is both my personal abode and-- on this floor-- my place of business in the Mortal World. Please avoid the stairs without my accompaniment, as they lead to private spaces. Can I make some tea or a tisane for you while you read? Would you like a scone or cupcake?"  Well, at least they were welcoming. Looking back, Arcadus could see a sort of lobby, chairs, a front desk and register. In his haste, he'd passed over that, zooming straight into the room with the Zanpakuto. Shrugging, Arcadus set the book on a nearby stand, and moving into better view of the human.. no, fulbringer, that was standing on the stairs. 

"Well, in any case, I would love some tea, though I'd just as much like to learn about some of these exhibits you have here, I find them very interesting, as well as the mystical readings you have here. I was actually looking to do tarot for someone else, so if you'd like to, I can do that for you while we wait." There was a lot he had to figure out, but currently, this was just a museum owner making note of his presence and offering a nice bit of hospitality.  This could be a respite from all the running around fighting others, trying to manage humans, hollows and the akki breathing down his neck. Taking a seat at a table in the front room, Arcadus took the chair with its back to the wall. 

Setting down his cards, and holding his fingers to his temples, he tried to relax. Like when he was faced with misbehaving soldering or welding sticks refused to actually behave themselves, he needed to calm down and take a second to focus on the here and now. As for now, Aradus tried to relax his shoulders and neck, where most of his tension was stored. Shuffling his cards, his mind wandered over to the fulbringer. What were they doing here? A museum? Maybe they were one of those "betterment of humanity" types, but it didn't make sense to have all this actual spiritual paraphenalia and effects just where normal humans could see them. As his eyebrows sank with his relaxing posture, he figured it would be revealed eventually. "Green tea, if you have it."

Shifting through the cards, he  pulled himself a set of tarot cards. He was most fond of the "Past, Present, Future" tarot, since it was very easy, and a very good way to explain it to people unfamiliar. It also happened to be the only one he was confident enough with to actually perform it with some degree of satisfaction on the end of the person asking for it. He didn't like services for other people, but doing the tarot on himself wasn't always a good measure on the efficacy of it as a spiritual tool. 

First, Past. The moon. Uncertainty, pain, and reflection. Well, he was a hollow for a long time, and that time is shrouded from him. He isn't entirely sure what or who happened during that time, or how long or terrible it was. As for what he had to reflect on in "his" past, it was, his rise to the espada, and now, him dealing with a largely absentee ruler and few if any allies inside or outside. That might be cause for consideration, and definitely something to remedy. 

Second, the Hierophant, or in some versions a pope. Ironic, that he would draw this for his present circumstances, especially considering the events that would be transpiring. Being a religious leader always intrigued him, but he always felt it was based on a facade. The voices in his head that shook its hand and smelled of garlic and old cigars reminded him that all power was based on "smoke and mirrors kid" and that there wasn't much difference in priests and generals.

Begging to differ, Arcadus focused on the actual meaning of the card. A healer, but more so, a culmination of masculine energy, especially in the ideas of institutions and collectivism. Well, again, with the current circumstances one could say that was the case, but even more so, beyond his experiments, he was trying to fill out the Espada's ranks, form an actual organization instead of a bunch of deadbeats dying to try and find a target but don't want to leave their little castle. In anycase, that worked out as well. 

Third, the future. Gods, 00. The Fool.  While a good sign to have, it always annoyed Arcadus that the embodiment of potential and opportunity was portrayed by such a character. Though, reflecting as he decided he should, that was more his view of those seen as "foolish" rather than the true nature of the card. Since it was full of opportunity, it could be anything in the future, so it appeared as a fool in the present. Perhaps this refered to an invasion, or to the idea that he, Arcadus could become anything in time, as long as he stayed on his course. 

Musing to himself, he had almost forgotten his host, and, turning to them "I am so grateful to be here, I'm sorry for earlier. I got wrapped up in the zanpakuto over in the case, its really interesting to see an Arrancar's Zanpakuto away from them. I hope I didn't disturb anything." Reaching across the table with an open hand "Where are my manners, I'm A. What's your name?" A kind, but small msille had fitted itslef on the Arrancar's face, if he had this place to study, a nice, cozy little place in Karakura, this would be a good place to hang around for a bit longer. 

[Nuala Byrne]

Green tea, if she had it. Half-smiling, half grimacing, Nuala went to her laboratory behind the counter and put herself to work. Yes, she had green tea. A deceptively complex, sweet-profiled fresh tea. The preparation was the source of its complexity, it was the choices that went into the pot.

Camellia sinensis, also known as green tea, was a small shrub native to East Asia and India that has spread to much of the known world. It gets its name from the rich green color created by brewing the unprocessed, unfermented leaves. Most tea shop-goers don't know the full and storied history of tea but you can believe that wars have been fought over this gold that grows from the ground.

The benefits of green tea are numerous and backed thoroughly by both science and folklore. Chemically, it is high in protective polyphenols and antioxidants, which themselves have a variety of health benefits. The levels of these compounds are affected by the tea used, the temperature of the water, and the time it is left to steep. Contrary to popular belief, it is not best to use boiling water in the preparation of green tea. To do so would burn the tea, setting the flavor off and reducing the efficacy of the bioactive compounds.

One of the most common mistakes when drinking green tea is the belief that matcha and green tea are the same thing. Both come from Camellia sinensis, but matcha has been grown in the shade for three weeks before it is harvested, thus increasing the chlorophyll levels in matcha's leaves. There are numerous other differences as well, but the end result is that matcha and green tea are two different things. They are consumed for different reasons.

Since they were located in Japan, it only seemed natural to Nuala to use a Japanese green tea for her guest. These are commonly the most delicate and taste best when brewed at just 160° Fahrenheit. Most Japanese green teas brew best with just one minute of steeping time, and when attempting to create a stronger beverage, it is better to use more leaves than to allow the tea to brew longer.

Nuala observed that her guest was suffering from a slight headache, so it was reasonable that his choice of tea was medicinal as well as preferential. She chose to use a goosenecked glass teapot, selected a 'medium' amount of tea leaves, and poured well water over the loose leaves in a deep, silver-plated strainer so that the leaves would sit in the water without mingling. She waited 60 seconds, and then pulled the strainer up from the pot. The result was an emerald green elixir that some would say contains the essence of life itself.

While she worked, her Arrancar guest spoke to her. He was talking about the Zanpakuto in the case and introducing himself as 'A'. He wasn't the first person to bring a tarot deck to Nonessentia, nor was he the first person to be a bit cagey about their name. Nuala was well-accustomed to these trappings; she smiled wryly in return. "You haven't disturbed anything," she told him. The Quincy bangle on her left arm twinkled quietly, and her mask fragment-like hair piece caught a bit of the light. "I am uncertain if Ruinnish's Zanpakuto is away from him, however." She said the Arrancar's name as if he were an old friend. "I've asked the spirit in the sword, and he seems certain that the owner is somewhere nearby." She set the teapot on the table and served 'A' one ceramic cup of tea, with a plate of six identical teacups nearby, intended for his tarot reading guests, should he choose to have any. Indeed, he had many options laid out before him.

"My name is Nuala. Nuala Byrne. And this here," she started, offering forward the tiny, red and gold shark, "is Enrico. If we can help you in any way, or perhaps illuminate any details about the objects in my collection, please don't hesitate to ask." She petted Enrico on the head, and he closed his eyes halfway, approximating a purr as close as a tiny shark could.

[Arcadus]

Arcadus shifted in his chair, getting comfortable as he took in his surroundings with a calmer mind, and nodding in appreciation as he took the tea cup. He liked green tea. It wasn't bitter to him, even without sugar and had a refreshing taste where he found other teas bland or they otherwise just didn't appeal to him. Chai was also nice but he was loathe to track down the spices to make it in Los Noches. As for the actual happenings around him, he looked at his cards. They were calling to him, but he'd ignore them for a bit more. 

The fish on the table eyed hiim and he eyed it back as he took a sip of the tea and smiled. It was good tea and he gently swayed it in its cup, stirring up the leaves slightly as he set it down. The tarot reading was still on his mind, as much as he didn't like it it was what the cards had dealt him. Moon, Magician, Fool, a recipe for potential if he'd ever seen one, and no assurances of victory. He would need to make that kind of assurances for himself. Perhaps a weapon, armor, or even an alliance could secure that. 

Arcadus looked up from the table to Nuala, brushing his hair back from his eyes, a gentle rise of his brow softening his face. "You've spoken to the spirit in the sword, and it claims its user is nearby, and I have to assume you haven't seen him anywhere around. That is certainly a conundrum. But if it's stayed in the glass for this long, its probably safe. Unless its passively affecting things in a way neither of us can percept and its user intends it to be here for one reason or another." 

He enjoyed that idea, and he wanted to spark some kind of conversation, and often times he found it was best to appeal to a person's need to correct or dismiss foolish ideas, so presenting something interesting but unlikely was a good way to start a conversation. As for if he actually believed the zanpakuto was some how maliciously place here or something otherwise supiscious was happening, that was unlikely. But he was curious about the weapon, and he'd definitely want to. 

Taking another sip of the tea, Arcadus looked back at the zanpakuto before returning his gaze to Nuala. "I do want to study it, and I'd appreciate your and..." Arcadus eyed Enrico again before looking back. "Enrico's help with it. I'm curious about it, as I am about most spiritual artifacts or items. You could call me a scholar of sorts, or a craftsman. I make things, and I'm looking for a new thing to make. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm looking for inspiration."

Arcadus looked around at the exhibits, and noticed the surprisingly consistent fish theme. Large fish, small fish, red fish, blue fish, swarms and singular fish. They certainly had an affinity for them, but it might not be good to mention it and state the obvious. Even worse, they might launch into a rant about them and he'd have to listen to that forever if he wanted to be polite which at this point in time he was still interested. Given how deep their interest ran in that it was exceedingly likely that could transpire. 

He could mention it to make an appearance of taking an interest in their work but ingratiating himself to that extent wasn't necessary for something like this. Realistically all he needed was to get a good look at the zanpakuto and preferably notes from this fullbringer. Figuring out what it does and why would let him at least log an idea in his head which might help him out of his creative block, and besides that its not like he wasn't interested in at least connecting with other occultists and crafters. 

"Well, Nuala, what can you tell me about this zanpakuto, about its wielder and its release? And, how exactly Enrico would be helping out with research, is he a dousing rod of sorts?" Arcadus turned his chair towards Nuala, focusing a little more on the conversation at hand. "You seem to know a bit about it and if I'm going to study it briefly, I wouldn't be a scholar if I didn't address any previous research conducted, especially by and of someone with proximity."

[Nuala Byrne]

Swarms of fish. There was a strange turn of phrase. The edges of Nuala's lips turned up into a wry smile. Swarms. Heh. 'A' was talking again, and said he was looking for inspiration, and taking a look around Nuala's museum. She looked down at Enrico, near her hands, and whispered into his tiny ear. He swam away, through the air, and joined a tank in the main room. Sensing great danger, the other fish in the tank swam away from him and hid themselves. Enrico was feeling like the big fish in the little pond, now. Not unlike someone else.

"Enrico is sensitive to spiritual energies. If something starts to go wrong, he'll start accumulating his little cero. I shall stop him, of course, but that's his instinct. See a problem, and shoot it down with force." She went to the zanpakuto's case and opened it with a key. While other customers went about their business, she sheathed the blade, took it up with its silk wrapping, and set it down in front of A. Her eyes were downcast, and a dozen tragic images flickered through her memories.

Nuala, in the aftermath of the assault. Erscheinung had exceeded all his limits to meet her request, the only one for which she had ever said "please" to an Arrancar. What was left of his body was shriveled in a heap near the body of a Quincy.

Ruinnish. She had found him still clutching his sword, yet unreleased into his true form. Ruinnish was an unusual Arrancar. He claimed that he was stronger in his sealed form than in his Resurrección. Nuala knew better. As a Hollow, he had for the most part resembled a sea star. Despite his mean and crass behavior, he was always one of her favorites for that. Ruinnish felt differently about throwing back to his previous form, however. It wasn't that he despised or feared his true form, but that it embarrassed him. It ruined what he felt were his good looks.

Ruinnish wasn't looking so good right now. A Quincy had glassed the desert with a storm of pfeils, pelting Ruinnish hundreds of times while he shielded Iazkyll. According to the strategy, Ruinnish and Uintornn were supposed to shield Iazkyll, while the latter charged up spiritual energy. On Stelleshi's command, Iazkyll would release his healing quake, giving the Guadaña another wind under their sails.

Nuala wasn't around for that. Lazarus had sealed her inside his isolation zone for most of the encounter. When she returned, the Guadaña had been nearly annihilated.

What was left of Ruinnish's body was still clutching his sword, the image of his Hierro Proyectado scorhed into the desert in a wide arc. Glass formed an outline on one side of it, and a glass shell had formed on the side of Ruinnish's body facing what was his Quincy opponent. In the end, his defense failed; a hole passed through the shell and his body and through the body of Iazkyll behind him.

Nuala smiled gently. "The zanpakuto's wielder was named Ruinnish. Ruinnish Rurillin. He was one of the Guadaña, the Arrancar warrior-monks at the Hive where I lived in Hueco Mundo for a small handful of years. He was boastful, rude, vulgar, and low-brow. The kind of guy who would, if he were human, shotgun down a half dozen Blue Ribbons in a solid go at a belching contest, in the after-hours of your hometown's cheapest bar... for an Arrancar, he was downright kind." As she spoke, a certain glow of nostalgia dominated her face.

"As a part of the Guadaña, Ruinnish was the fourth most powerful. He represented the "Importunity" of death; its terrible habit of always showing up where it is least wanted, and then never going away. When I found his body, it was a ghost of itself trapped in glass, but he was still holding this sword, still defending his sect brother, even as he passed." Nuala wet her lips, looking down. "The release's power most certainly has something to do with that. He was in the process of unleashing it when a Blut Arterie-enhanced heilig pfeil pierced through him, Uintornn, and his charge.

"Unfortunately, that's all I can tell you. The sword's spirit won't tell me what it was capable of. He's always answered me with a certain kind of smile, like he knows something I don't, and kicks me out of his inner world." Nuala went about the business of the shop as she explained Ruinnish to A, putting out a selection of labeled 'free samples' at the front of the tea house, beside a collation of feedback and suggestion cards, and then finally sitting across from him to finish her explanation.

[Arcadus]

A fish that can create a cero. What a strange concept. He'd  never considered cultivating living creatures as weapons or ammunition, but th idea intrigued him enough to look over the fish again as the fish swam thought the air into his tank. Arcadus resisted the urge to chase after it to see what allowed it to swim through air, and simply raised an eye brow at the swim-flight. Besides, a creature after his own heart was worth at least not dissecting at this moment. 

Besides, more important things were transpiring. Arcadus could sense a flood of memories pouring from this smaller woman. Of this place in Hueco Mundo, of this zanpakuto's weilder and of his life and death. It was always nice when someone broadcasted their thoughts and memories so clearly, it saved so much time and effort trying to weigh out that person's words from the events they were trying to tell. Paying closer attention, Arcadus furrowed his brow as he looked at the weapon, his attention elsewhere.

He had known people lived out in the sands of Hueco Mundo and the Menos Forest, he'd lived their for a time, both as a hollow and Arrancar. He'd not met any actual societies or communities, but it was likely they would hide from even just his aura, much less his uniform. As for his time there, he'd spent time making his tower and thinking on his potential lapse in judgement at the invasion of soul society. But tuning back in to the broadcast happening to his side. 

Hive monk warriors? What an interesting little organization. He'd have to pay them a visit if they still existed, though judging from what he was seeing, likely not. What a strange idea. Ruinnish took center stage in the memories and he could see this Arrancar evolve and be described by their charge. A starfish Arrancar, no wonder Nuala has developed this theme if this was her mentor. Putting a hand on the weapon, Arcadus made looked closer at this Ruinnish.

She claimed he was weaker in his sealed form, but he'd never met an arrancar who was weaker in their ressureccion, different maybe, but always stronger. That must be what it was, and might be the secret to what and why this was here and now. Ruining his good looks, clearly something was off. A release like this had to have some kind of catch, a sort of back up? Or some kind of contingent power that wasn't directly related to combat. 

Arcadus turned more of his attention now to the scene unfolding. He released at the moment of a climactic clash. That had to be it. Some kind of contingent, or some kind of ability to preserve something. But what was it? Himself? Nuala here? Something that was being guarded there, that might explain the monastic order. But as for the continued existence of their zanpakuto, perhaps some quirk of the release and the nature of their death. 

"You clearly appreciated his sacrifice. As for what is going on here, Clearly something has preserved some part of his soul. Whether his release or how he died, he still exists somewhere. Perhaps if you had some kind of sensory specialist, you could hone in on their location." While he wasn't exactly getting the inspiration he was expecting, he wasn't disappointed. Ruinish was an interesting mystery, and one that if he didn't have other things he wanted to attend to, he'd pursue with more fervor.


"If it knows something you don't, perhaps something is still in motion. All warfare is based on deception afterall, perhaps it, and he, still live in some capacity. If the sword says that he is somehow still around in some capacity, then I would take it's word for it. As if they were still alive in some fashion, I could see two options. Either some part of his soul still survives in that glass, or in this sword." Arcadus Turned the sword over in his hands, looking it up and down. "Thank you for allowing me to look at this."

[Nuala Byrne]

Still alive in some capacity... Nuala hmmed out loud. She mused on the subject for a while. "Appreciated his sacrifice?" she repeated, but as a question she obviously intended to answer. "I was not a part of the Guadaña, more of a kind of librarian for them. At the Hive, everyone had a job to do, as the undertaking was as vast as it was doomed... it's hard to not appreciate what they did for me. Even from the start, when they took us in. Escarabajo, Saltamontes and myself."

Her memories wandered onto the strange pair of Adjuchas she had met out in the deserts of Hueco Mundo, scant days after she had first arrived when the hunger began to set in. They had taught her how to suppress her beacon of spiritual pressure so that she could hunt Hollows without first announcing her presence to them. She was never quite sure why the two of them chose to shepherd her.

They lived for months in the endless desert. Saltamontes and Escarabajo regaled Nuala with many stories of a distant place called Las Noches, so massive that it touched the sky, and yet so far away from them that it was not even visible on the horizon. Not even if you jump, said Saltamontes, leaping a hundred feet into the air with his powerful legs and making a show of looking for this mysterious location.

As Hollows, they were all but consumed by their hunger. Nuala could sense, both in instinct and in observation, that they hungered for her, too, but something held them back. Rather than hunt Nuala, they cared for her. Escarabajo sang songs of ages past and battles fought valorously, lulling Nuala to sleep with the sweet sounds of his voice.

She paused for a moment.

"I was not ready to fight them when the Quincy knocked down our doors. I learned their names and their histories when I spoke with their spirits after the battle. They were a true Vandenreich Quincy kill-cell. They didn't bother with formalities or introductions. They attacked from far enough away that even Stelleshi, our sensor, could not detect them.

"Marinis Baumach threw her first spear at the Hive. It split the towering building into a dozen pieces and killed Nakaan before we knew what was happening. Stelleshi announced who they were here for, and the next thing I felt was Lazarus, pushing me into a void." Lazarus's isolation void gave her time to start her Engine Core and prepare to enter the fray, but when she emerged, the battle was all but over. Erscheinung von Geister and his warrior-monks were losing the battle. Nuala had not been strong enough to become a Guadaña herself, but from her time with Erscheinung, she had learned a sliver of what he was capable of.

At the end of it, she was all but alone. Ironically, the sole real survivor of the Quincy's Hive Assault. Still alive in some capacity... a thought occurred to her, and she looked more directly at A. "Say, you're an Arrancar," she told him. "That means you have a Zanpakuto. Tell me about your sword. Does it have an inner spirit, or are you the spirit?"

[Arcadus]

Arrancar living in a commune, that gave some credence to living without a fight for dominance. What a novel idea for Arrancar. Arcadus himself had never really encountered hollows living this way, though he'd managed to sate the blood lust in humans with his presence to form them into a similar, albiet authoritarian, commune dedicated to his worship. There wasn't supposed to be something that allowed arrancar to live in such a way without overwhelming force.


Arcadus again could sense memories of hers and upon looking into them, saw things from Nuala's perspective. How idealized a view others had of los noches, and what an interesting way to view the great labyrinth-city, something so beyond your reach and scope as an individual that even if one was to try, there was no assailing it. Arcadus knew this was not the case for greater creatures, having seen it done, and himself laying waste to Shiki's floor before his ascension to being an Espada. 

"Its a great tragedy that the Vandenriech target people, even if Hollows and Arrancar might prove unsavory at the best of times, I think the Vandenriech aren't going to ever see hollows, me, as a person. And I think that you've done well to continue your role and trade as a librarian and keeper of knowledge. I knew an Arrancar who you would enjoy talking to, they had stories and stories of books, more than you could fit in this shop."


Returning to that view point, that idea. What a shining idea of Los Noches. This perspective on it was new, he had no memories of living as a hollow outside of it. It gave him a grand idea, a shining castle out in the sand, walls that towered into the sky, so thick and twisting in its paths that one could never assail it, where Arrancar could become a people, and in turn, a society. With live and homes and perhaps even communities. The flicker of the word Family whisked across his mind. 

But a kingdom Los Noches was not. And its king, though a king without lords or armies was one man, no matter how strong. The Espada weren’t really warlords, nobody questioned their authority, but they didn’t really demand anything from their numeros. There had to be something to want, resources, land, ryo, power. Constestation is what created structures and for that there would need to be well, a need. Something would need to change there. 


But they did have someone to repel, vandenriech devils. The Quincy captains and soldiers were someone that hated him and his kind, and that, in turn, Hollows hated. There was potential there, for a united front, and for an appeal to the other races to create an idea that the Vandenriech squelched beneath their jackboots. That Arrancar were people. Not human, not shinigami, but persons and individuals nonetheless. That said, such a thing would require an open attack against Hueco Mundo. 


As an idea floated up into his mind, arcadus turned his attention to the sword, feeding it rieatsu and listening for anything it might say or do in response. Hollow essence flowed from his touch on the pommel. "I wonder if it will respond to me. A fellow Arrancar might be more receptive. Or perhaps it is just hungry?" It couldn't hurt for Arcadus to float the potential and see if his idea was true, that some part of this person's soul was simply sealed, waiting to reform themselves. 


This idea became clear in his mind as he did this. Potential, to galvanize the Numeros and the Espada, Los Noches as a whole, through baiting in an attack by the Quincy. As well the idea of a release that preserves the user after death if killed in it. A starfish after all could regrow itself, who is to say this release wasn't the same? And further, a release like that could be very, very useful for him personally, if what he had in mind would transpire. 


Turning his gaze to meet Nuala's “I thank you for your permission to access to your research and to this artifact. I’m glad I’ve come by, and I think I’d like to visit again.” Arcadus would continue to handle the object, trying to pry into it with spiritual senses, hoping for some kind of response, some kind of whisper that his hunch was correct. "How did you get them to talk to you? I wonder if it might be a personal connection to you." 

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

78 paragraphs = 23,400 ryo