Learnin' with a Lion [JT]

[Raion Souretsu]

“Yaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwn… why did I agree to such an early lesson?”

The groan of complaint came from a large figure who sat across a large bench, slumped over the wooden table before him as if it were the only thing holding him up. Raion felt the dull headache and the weight of his eyelids equally as he leaned into his desk, the early sun shining through the windows of the tavern. Though many would consider it to be late in the morning by now, to the former Captain, it was far too early. Part of it was the hangover, though he’d never admit to having one, but it was also the fact that the Shinigami was often late to sleep, and even later to rise. Being up before noon required either extraordinary discipline on his part, or else an exceedingly important event.

Teaching was not considered an exceedingly important event.

As a teacher at the Shinigami Academy, Raion was the unusual one in a crowd. Standing around two feet taller than most Shinigami and being probably three times as wide did little to mute the impression he could make on a room, but even that didn’t draw as many eyes as his leonine appearance did. While most Shinigami took on a human form to match the soul, Raion was one of the few who was not explicitly human, and had somehow obtained a hybrid state between the lion he had been in the World of the Living and the humans around him. While his years in Squad 9—including several years of Captaincy—had made the sight of him more familiar to many, there were still plenty of new students fresh to the Academy who gaped and stared at the sight of the massive feline. Raion expected much of the same today, grabbing the ceramic jug of sake that sat on the table next to him. Though it was generally frowned upon for one of the teachers to imbibe before a lesson, Raion needed something to perk himself up before his tutoring began.

The lion had agreed to a personal tutoring lesson for a student who was struggling in Kido, one of Raion’s personal strengths. Though the young man didn’t need to be a genius climbing the ranks of the Kido Corps after day one, it was expected that he show enough improvement to pass the basic competency tests. Some Shinigami were able to forego them based on exceptional talent in other areas, but it seemed that this student had not met any of the qualifications that allowed him to bypass the basic requirements. This left Raion in the position of serving as a remedial tutor of sorts, a position someone with his experience should be suited for, but someone of his disposition was not usually recommended for.

Today’s lesson would be held outside of the Academy, as Raion had no intention of waiting in a stuffy classroom for his student to show up. Instead, the former Captain had set their meeting place to one of the many taverns he owned in the Rukongai, this one going by the name of “Roaring Drunk.” A legacy of his time as a Captain—and a gross misuse of his squad’s funds—the building was one of the more recent additions to the list, relatively speaking. It was only a single level, but it was a large building with a sizable common room for folks to mingle in. As the owner, Raion was, as always, treated to as much booze as he could drink, and so he’d taken the time to fill up his personal stash to tide him through the lesson.

Lifting the clay jug up, Raion as usual forewent the need for a cup and just popped the cork free before bringing the neck of the container to his mouth. The first swallow burned as it always did and the second wasn’t much better, but before long the lion could feel the onset of inebriation shoving the ache from his joints and leaving his mind foggy. Soon he was feeling much, much better, and sitting up straight once more. Undoing the second button on his shirt to let his mane and neck breathe out a bit more and shoving up one of the sleeves that had slid down his arm, Raion let out another long sigh, this one far more contented than his initial yawn.

“Ahhh, much better! Can’t start a day without a sip o’ the good stuff! In fact, while I’m waitin’… I think a few more swallows won’t hurt anyone!” And indeed, Raion was happy to take another pull from his jug as he waited, his long tail swishing slightly behind him. “An’ if they dun want me to be too drunk, they’d better hurry on up, heh heh...”

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

It was a Saturday. For most students this was a day off. For Zatoshi, it was remedial kido tutoring. It was probably some measure of arrogance on the young student's part but this seemed further confirmation to him that the priorities of his teachers were askew. Yes he failed to perform the tasks the rest of the class seemed to have little trouble with - but what good was it?

Yes, he had bore witness to the demonstration done by his kido teacher during his first class, but what they were being instructed to do on a daily basis seemed far less practical. So what if he couldn't form little balls of light and energy? So what if he couldn't sense someone by their spiritual pressure? Even if he had to admit that the last example would have large ramifications on his situation awareness it didn't have any bearing on his ability to actually defeat an opponent.

Fighting was his great fixation, for he had great need to develop an aptitude for it, and an even greater impatience to do so. He had his reasons for it, even compelling ones. So compelling in fact, that the very notion that he should be wasting hours of his day on things that did not directly and immediately make him a sharper combatant made his stomach roil with agitation and listlessness.

Yet here he came. He would not miss this tutoring session. Not when his ability to continue training hakuda, hoho, and zanjutsu rest upon him passing the retest for his kido. He would not be happy about it however; to bend the knee to what might be only a small injustice came unnaturally for Zatoshi. It might have been some amount of defiance then that lead him to don non-uniform attire. A pale green yukata with a dark green orchid blossom print, a brown obi, and a maroon sageo binding his asauchi to it were his choices for the day. A small rebellion to order, perhaps made larger by his wearing of his issued sword outside of academy grounds while out of uniform.

As he came to the outside of the Roaring Drunk he eyed the place with some amount of skepticism. It seemed an odd choice of venue for this. It was an easy leap of faith to assume that the tutor would be just as unconventional. He hoped that meant effective as well; it was clear that traditional methods of learning were pointless to him.

He stepped in quietly and took note of the room without stopping -- checking the near most corners as he entered with a slight turn of his head. It was impossible not to notice the anthropomorphic lion sitting at one of the tables. Zatoshi had encountered the rare beastman during his time in the Rukongai. It seemed to him that they became even scarcer in the central districts, which made it a surprise to see one here.

He still passed him over without much of a thought, approaching the bar. From where he sat, Raion could undoubtedly hear Zatoshi speak, even though his voice was quiet, even and dull. Almost monotone. "I'm looking for Master Souretsu. Has he arrived yet?"
It was fair to describe Zatoshi as surprised when the bartender pointed towards the lion. He didn't show much, but the way his eyebrows raised from the flat expression he wore was telling enough.

The emotion was sequestered as quickly as it had appeared. Zatoshi approached the table and bowed at the waist so that his bangs hung from his head towards the floor. "Master Souretsu, I am Zatoshi Kizukara. I was told to seek you here for remedial kido lessons." There was not the gawping that Raion expected. The man that stood in front of him was young, but it was clear that a great deal of the innocence that came with youth had already been viciously stamped out of him. The scars on his face were fresh, but old enough that he'd certainly received the wounds prior to attending the academy.

[Kaminari Cinco]

*WHHHWWHMAMMM*CRASH*MOAN* "Are ya really a masochist or som'tin?" That last mutter that came from the rekted burglar was something that caught the Shinigami off guard as she completely flopped him into the wooden wall that made up the side of the shack. Goin' around and stealin' shit like the people of Rukongai didn't have enough troubles as they were already. Time off these days were typical spent as she has beein doin' now, kicking ass and takin' names on the dirt roads of the slums. A place that the girl grew up in, livin' it up in the festered wastes that many of her fellow poverty members were havin' to make a livin' in. This was the norm that went on around these areas when no one was lookin' or patrolling, so Kami uses what time she got, aside from pervin around, to actually do some good. "Geez, nun'yall evah gonna learn ain't cha'?" The gloom was obviously there, and surely ain't no pocket monster that she could keep as a pet or anything like that. But, at the very least whom ever lost their belongings was definitely gonna get it back now.

Just trash takin' out other trash so to speak, considering that Kami was as low as they come to Shinigami standards. She did stick to the uniforms that was handed to her, but often keeping it to the bare minimum. Top half was barely there as they were dropped down to her skivvies, meaning her undergarment. A black lace lining that covered, or rather supported her bust was overtaken by the immense amount of bandages that Kaminari used to bind her chest. What remained of her Shihakuosho was that of her knee torn grieves that she kept, reflecting the off white leggings that she wore beneath them. Cotton for comfort. But that comfort wouldn't do shit against people who didn't learn their lesson after ass kicking after ass kicking, repeating her patrol in the same area again and again against different people. ""Fuck, nun'yall learn don'cha?" she sighed while dragging the unconscious body by the ankle.

Her mood was only as sour as it was now because more punks entered the area to replace the ones that she took out a few weeks ago. Same shit just a different day, which was all the more reason why she went a bit further than before on this one. Killing was something that the Shinigami was considering heavily, but she wasn't that short sighted as everyong believed her to be. Yeah yeah she was a muscle brain at times, though at the very least Kami did consider the reprecussions of what would happen, even as to being part of Squad 6. "Way to choose the damn Diplomacy corp." she let out a heavy sigh. Rather than beating the criminals to a bloody pulp and leavin' em there, what Kami did with this one was putting him up as her new Scarecrow. Left to hang against the tallest building in the area, and letting the folks there deal with him as they saw fit, this was the next best thing that the Shinigami could do rather than turnin' him in to the Seireitei. The ghettos fended for themselves, and served out justice as they saw fit, regardless of how brutal the results were. "I need ah drink."

One of the better places to get a good brew around the area was one that Kami frequented, "Roaring Drunk." Not many people around this time of day as it was early on, and the free folk don't believe in morin' drinkin'. The thought of her visiting did put a bit more pepp in her step, with a bit of bounce as she did push onward through the doorway. Dipping down beneath the doorframe Kami went ahead to enter the establishment with a bit of eagerness to her say so, "The biggest fuckin' jug ya got Pops." she boasted. Although she was undaunted with the desire to publicly drink, aside from her station, Kami did feel taken aback when seeing someone who was poised in the same manner as she was in a green blossom print, "...girly..." and a much larger person that she definitely let out "....furry..." between each other. Kami's eyes had to adjust with the difference in lighting and shade to recognize bits of their attire matching the design of the Gotei....shit.

The cloth woven Zanpakutou that the Shinigami heaved over her shoulder came to be planted heavily by the doorway, leaning against the wall before proceeding onward. What caught her attention between the two individuals was not only their astounding difference between the other Shinigami, but the big FUCKING JUG! "Now that is a drink." Kami nearly drooled through the corner of her mouth. Eyes focused on it. Narrowing down of what possible flavors there could be hidden inside that ceramic piece from Heaven. All Kami knew was that she wanted it. Had to have it. Taste it. "Well fuck me, oye, mind a drink?" she gestured with a drinking motion.

[Raion Souretsu]

Despite being several drinks in already, Raion was aware of his pupil’s entry into the tavern. The young man stood out, and already the lion could see a hint of defiance in the young man’s attitude. The teacher had never been one for social conventions himself, however, and thus this attempt at rebellion was brushed off and instead replaced with a raised eyebrow at his choice of clothing. Floral print would not have been his first choice in Kido tutoring, nor would anything in light colors, but hey, he wasn’t going to be the one cleaning scorched-on stains out of the fabric later. Fortunately, thoughts on situationally ineffective fashion were interrupted by Zatoshi’s approach after he was finally directed towards the table.

Raion found himself almost disappointed at the lack of surprise or shock from the student—who in their right mind took a giant, seven-hundred-pound lion in stride, and without batting an eyelash? No one, that’s who! It was almost fun to see how strongly some people took the news. But not this one, nope. How boring. Hopefully his attitude was a little more entertaining—

“Master Souretsu—”

“Nope.” That was about as far as Zatoshi would be allowed to get before Raion would immediately raise a large paw with surprising alacrity, given his increasingly intoxicated state. Putting his jug aside for the moment, Raion’s stare—despite being slightly cloudy already—locked directly onto the student’s, and there was something between amusement and admonishment in that look. “First off, y’don’t just call people ‘Master’ on first meetin’. That sorta formality don’t sit right with me. The name’s Raion, and I’d much prefer it if you’d use that instead.” The former Captain’s tone had a hint of a drawl to it, but that was his normal mode of speaking, inebriated or not.

“Second off, y’don’t come into a tavern without payin’ respects to the establishment. A table free o’ drink is a table that could seat a payin’ customer instead, y’see?” Raion’s statement came in defiance of the fact that he had brought his own beverage rather than buying one at the establishment, but the feline somehow had a way of skirting around obvious logic when he was making a point. Reaching into a pocket of his vest, the lion tossed a small bag of coin onto the table, and raised his voice to a volume that would echo throughout the entire tavern. “Oi, barkeep! Give us a bottle of the good stuff, over here!” Eyes would turn towards the loud shout, but most recognized Raion on sight and immediately dismissed him, used to the feline’s antics.

Indeed, in only moments a barkeep had made their way over bearing a large bottle of a very potent-smelling sake as well as two large cups. Naturally, Raion forewent the cups and just stuck to the large jug he always kept on him, taking another large swallow and enjoying the burn of it going down. He motioned to the bottle that had been left out. “Now drink up! Part o’ using Kido well is bein’ relaxed and calm, and ya seem far too stiff n’ formal for that sorta thing.” Another long draw from his own jug, and Raion let out a contented sigh, leaning heavily on the table and starting to show the effects of his inebriation more severely. “Now, as ya know, Kido is th’ art of manipulatin’ spiritual energy in lots o’ ways. Most people see big fireballs, lightnin’, big booms and explosions. Which it is all o’ that! But ya also get things like—”

This time it was Raion who was interrupted, this time by a new arrival. He eyed the young woman thoroughly—and admittedly his gaze might have lingered on a certain area more than the others, though he managed to avert his eyes after only a slight ogling—feeling as though he recognized her, at least in passing. A Shinigami, maybe? Or someone from the Academy? Either way, something about the way the woman carried herself suggested she was something more than just your average Plus. And, besides that, she had good taste, immediately asking for a hit out of Raion’s own personal stash! How could he refuse such a classy lady?

“Ah, hullo there, missy!” Raion was more than eager to switch the target of his attentions, grinning broadly with a smile that looked almost comical on his feline muzzle. “I see that yer a woman o’ culture, knowin’ where to find the good stuff, so why dun ya come and sit with us, share a drink or two?” He smirked and poured out a significant amount of sake from his jug into one of the two cups that had been left behind, letting it overflow slightly to ensure that the cup was filled to the absolute brim. “We’re just gettin’ to do some remedial Kido, an’ we’re getting a start by loosenin’ up a bit. Ya seem to be a Shinigami yerself, so why don’t ya join us? Drinks are on me if ya want in!”

[Zatoshi Kizukara]

Zatoshi picked his head up in surprise at being interrupted. And at the words that left the lion. Zatoshi was not willing to pretend they were on a first name basis without knowing anything about this lion, instructor or not, he could not be commanded to play along with such informality. He continued to stand up straight and stare with an unamused expression as Raion shouted up a call for yet more alcohol to be delivered to the table, despite having enough in his paws that were Zatoshi to drink it, it would probably kill him.

An agitation grew in him as these shenanigans grew to new heights with Kaminari's entrance. His eyes locked on Raion's, he knew exactly where the lion's eyes wandered and why his attention might be fixed onto the female shinigami. Zatoshi himself had barely spared her a glance -- annoyance had welled within him at her description of him -- but he was here for a singular reason. As much of a waste of time as his regular kido instruction might be, lessons from a drunkard with his snout halfway into the bottle seemed like it wasn't going to be the remedy to any problem any time soon.

When Raion invited her to the table he'd had about enough. His hands suddenly collided with the table's surface, hard enough to knock over the cup that still remained empty and roll it off of the table. "Souretsu!" it left him in a growl, icy blue eyes staring into the lion's golden visage. "I am not here to be your drinking buddy, your friend, or your wingman. Is it too much to ask you to take this seriously? Because I can assure you it's quite serious to me."

[Kaminari Cinco]

Free drinks?! Culture? Remedial lessons? Kami was definitely gonna have to get in on this action if it meant taking a swig of the large ceramic hug that the furry had on him. Lessons and schooling weren't really this particular Shinigami's forte, let alone that being magic and shit like that. Most of her memories revolving around the repeated lessons were those involving Kido, and lots and lots of smokey faced mornings; meaning that she always blew herself up. Kido was one of the particular areas that Kami couldn't get a grasp on, so she naturally dismissed the whole area due to her lack of ability. The amount of damage that she did in those classes were by no means of low cost. Chairs blow away. Walls with holes in them. A fellow student flying through a window to take cover. That was the norm for the girl when Kido came into the picture. From what was said was either her lack of focus, or lack of control being the main issue of it all. So, the mention of remedial lessons was definitely going to need some liquid courage to go through the whole dilemma all over again.

"Aye, sur'thing. Pour me a--"

"Souretsu! I am not here to be your drinking buddy, your friend, or your wingman. Is it too much to ask you to take this seriously? Because I can assure you it's quite serious to me." The growl that came from the guy whose chair that Kami found herself leaning on spurted out right that caught her by utter suprise. For the moments that she entered the Pub Kaminari did really think of the guy to be a girl, considering the gaudy flashy robes that he was wearing. But.."Nice lung ya got 'ere Sweet Pea. Moxy is what we need 'ere with da drinks to really git this party started." Kami cheered despite the rouse from Zatoshi. "Can't be doin' da lessons all tense like that~" the girl murmurred with smirking lips as she practically caressed the man's head with a leaning figure. Fingers stroking the fluff of hair she couldn't help herself "Got ta ease up or ya'll blow a nerve or sometin', see."

A cupping gesture reflected off of the Lion's eyes as she continued to press into Zatoshi, looking for that nice swig that she was picturin' of in her mind. She could feel her own reiatsu swirm, gallop with excitement as it was roused with the fleeting imagination that was going to be overtaken by reality. Of course she had to keep it in check, but oh boy would it be wonderful to let it all go out with the swig. "Besides, if ya wanna be focus'in on sometin' here then why not on meh?" Kami chuckled with a sly grin. "If ya gonna focus all that energy when doing these lessons, then direct it all at me, pretty boy. Fluffy here can help ya picture it or whatevah, and you can shoot it all out at me along with ya tension too." she smiled with licked lips.

Poking, and full of muse, the Shinigami wanted nothing more than to keeping poking the man that she was leaning over. And while Kami had no use for Kido training, what did come to mind was how one of her Proctors mentioned on other ways that she could use her reiatsu if she has a large storage of it. In on honesty, Kaminari could use some extension training rather than pummeling things and people into the ground. Sure, the thought didn't have the same satisifcatory sensation to it, but it would certainly cover more ground than having to run towards what she wanted to beat down. If the lesson could do something in that department for her, then Hell, why not?