Spring Droplets, Evening Dew [Social w/ Albin]

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

---

It had to be a day like this, didn't it? Of all of the times I have visited the human world, in all of the instances I have trespassed to grace them with my presence - hmph! Why did it have to happen on today of all days. I'll have you know my dearest readers, this may perhaps be one of the worst days of my life - a tragedy! Well... these type of OUTRAGOUS experiences do tend to happen to me every other day, I suppose I'd better explain.

Jotting, scribbling - pen to paper. Curious eyes gaze upon the foxy woman that sat at her round table. It was an awning of a cafe she found recluse in, carelessly idling the day away as she appeared to be recording something down. Idle in their mundane lives, people had taken notice of her. Most notably, the way she stood out in a crowd of seemingly ordinary humans. In rounds did they gossip, keeping hush to themselves, unbeknownst to the individual as they spread their rumor.

"Is she a cosplayer?" One asked, another - "Perhaps she is a writer? Should we go and ask?". Followed by a far more brazen onlooker, "Is that tail real?! I want to feel it!". Shio, who lacked the situational awareness to notice just how heavily she was being gossiped about, continued to jot down in her handbook. The quasi-hollow stops, she flicks her lifelike tail back and forth, applying her pen to her lip as her countanence turns sour.

"Urhgh, the nerve of those melonheaded dolts!" - Does she mutter to herself, tuffet-muffled ears flicking a couple of times in annoyance. "If only they knew who I was... then-". Whilst her brows crease in pensive contemplation, does she recall the time back then. In the backdrop of the rain pouring down, under the shelter of the cafe awning, is she thrown back to her encounter - remembering how she had ended up in this situation.

In conjunction to her pen being applied once again to her paper, is the story told. It begins in Las Noches. Naturally, as most of her escapades do - it begun, yes, with her being kicked out. Shio furrows her eyebrow, and quickly scribbles that part out. No, it begun with one of her enthusiastic fans, asking for her to please leave Las Noches and get some air. To grace the likes of the human world with her presence. To obtain what these commonfolk oft' refer to as... 'fresh air'.

So, she did; using the Garganta the angry... subservient Arrancar had so graciously provided for her. Did she step out into the human world. Once more, this was quite unlike any of her previous outings. No, today was different. Today the self-proclaimed... ahem, strongest hollow had decided to take a stroll in a more graceful form. This was unusual of her of course, but she had decided for the activity she had in mind, it was more practical.

Shio had decided to enter the human world in an actual gigai this time, as opposed to her usual stuffed Honyopyako. Now, as much as it was nice to be able to eat - drink, and enjoy the pleasures of a vessel made of flesh. It was not without its own complications either. To begin with, everything was that much more exhausting when placed in one of these 'blasted meat coffins' - it's so much less straining to move around when made of cotton. Your feet practically bounce off of the ground. Seriously, authors note - try it some time!

Err, not that you could anyway. Right, most humans don't get to choose what form they take. Sounds very inconvenient to be honest, but I suppose not everyone can be as great as-... haha. Y'know, when I read what I write, it's as though I sound arrogant or something. Hah.. couldn't be, I'm probably just experiencing that thing that Ailene had mentioned once. Something about authors being more critical of their own writing, it must be because I'm not that great of a writer. But well, I'm only giving this a try for now anyway.

It's not much of a story I'm trying to tell in the first place. Actually in hindsight, I think I'm being a little dramatic. I came here because I wanted to see a movie in theater. "Honyopyāko, Kitsune Warrior; the return of Asachi!" It's so popular, I really wanted to go see it! But you see, ahem. In pensive contemplation, the self-proclaimed Espada flicks her tail back and forth. In similar manner, she rests one palm against her face, leaning into it heavily as she lets out an extremely audible sigh. Her pen stalling on her paper, she continues.

"I forgot... to bring any money."

Part of her face turns flushed as she, almost snapping her pen in frustration, only just barely manages to scratch those words into the pages. With such vigor and thoroughness that it is enscribed on all of the pages beneath it, too. With a grit of her teeth, she withdraws her pen on the final letter, shutting her notebook flat against the round cafe table. Placing her elbow against it, and leaning her face into her palm with a gargantuan - 'humph'. Her bespeckled azure eyes gaze around for a moment, quite fed up of this scenario.

"Whats a 'Couples Night' supposed to mean anyway?!"

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NOTES: ---

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[Deleted]

To say that Albin enjoyed spending time in the human world would've been an understatement. Truth be told, there was so much to do! From checking out shops, to socializing with humans, you name it! While his last excursion into the World of the Living was... A bit less than ideal, given the fight he'd had with that Nakabakki, this time was going to be different! He was sure of that much! As he quickly made sure everything was packed up, and he was ready to go, Albin entered his gigai and stepped through the Senkaimon.

---

Taking a deep breath, intaking the sweet springtime air of Karakura, Albin looked down toward himself. Everything in order? He asked himself mentally, hmm... seems like it. Rolling up his sleeves, the lad did what he could in order to make his clothes a bit more comfortable for himself. While his Shihakkusho was certainly a tighter fit than most others, these clothes were much more than he was used to. Still, though; they looked good! Anything to keep up that semi-affluent appearance, yeah?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Waist-up outfit for the thread~}

Stuffing his hands into his khaki pockets, the Shinigami walked the streets of Karakura with a smile on his face. He loved watching the people; their interactions, the smiles on peoples' faces, all of those emotions tended to radiate quite well with the boy. He couldn't quite describe it, but something about it all put him into an overall pretty great mood. Only time would tell if something like that was going to persist; though, he was pretty confident in his chances of that being the case. Especially with there being just so much to do!

"Please, keep yourself ready at a moment's notice," a rather soft voice echoed in his head, "One can never be too prepared for an imminent hollow attack." Smirking, Albin spoke softly in response. "It's gonna be all right, Hikari," he muttered, "nothing's gonna happen today. Plus, even if something did; I've got clearance to dispatch immediately. I'm pretty sure we're going to be okay." His voice was kept low enough to limit the amount of folks that might've overheard. After all, talking about 'dispatching' something wasn't exactly the greatest things to be heard out of context.

"Yeah, lighten up a bit, will you?!" Similarly to the first voice, another one echoed within his mind, this one far more... rambunctious. "If he says he's got things under control, they'll be fine!" Shaking his head ever so slightly, Albin spoke again in the same hushed tone. "Hey, Yami," he said, "the same goes for you too. No need to get antsy; just relaaaax." Hearing nothing more than a "Hmph!" echo in his head, the Shinigami couldn't help but chuckle. In truth, he loved the company of his Zanpakuto Spirits. They always had a way of making anything more interesting.

Speaking of interesting, Albin couldn't help but overhear a shout of sorts, from a café just across the street; "What's a 'Couples Night' supposed to mean anyway?!" Surely investigating wasn't a bad option? Making his way over toward the noise with a fair-paced jog, Albin found himself immediately captivated by someone currently sitting at one of the tables just outside the main entrance. Almost caught off guard from the non-human traits the girl seemed to have, Albin made his approach.

"Um, excuse me," he asked her in hopes of drawing her attention, "I couldn't help but notice you seemed a bit distressed. Is everything all right?" Giving Shio his best smile, Albin placed his hands behind his back, and simply awaited a response from her. Instead, while she did, he'd take the time to try to analyze the girl.

Like most folk in the area, he'd been drawn to her tail and ears rather quickly. "Perhaps she's a member of the Beast Clans?" Tengoku no Hikari asked, followed by a rather quippish "Beast Clans? Really!? The girl doesn't even have any freakin' fur anywhere else!" Yami's words made Albin stifle a chuckle, in fear of seeming rude in front of this potentially upset girl. Truth be told... Albin was stumped. He couldn't figure much of anything out. Truth be told, she could've been some kind of... What did Camila used to call it? 'Cosplayer'?

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

---

Shio was livid - sure, perhaps even more than she had thought; her outburst had seemed to catch the attention of a few of the other patrons. Ordinarily, the gawking eyes of this many individuals might cause a person to stammer - however, all she could manage to do was roll her eyes. It was the first time she had noticed that people were interested in her appearance. Therefore, she was a caught speechless on that reason alone. With an unmoving posture, her azure globes examined the people.

Delicate spring rain fell upon the awning, falling from the sky as though snow in liquid form - fluttering; landing softly upon the ground so as to not even produce a patter. Moments went by, as the attention she had gathered dispersed in swift fashion. Nobody had bothered to enquire, falling back into the habits of their daily lives as though nothing happened. This was the norm in mundane life - for ordinary people, it was a spectacle. Something occuring to keep themselves entertained if it escalated, and nothing more.

This self-proclaimed hollow felt her lupine ears drop, in both a mixture of pensive contemplation and in harmony with lingering frustration. Just as she was about to dismiss it, however - to resign herself to the thought that simply nobody cared to ask. That was when she noticed the presence of someone who approached her. Footfalls of this individual so precise and trained that they had gone unnoticed by her until now, it was only when he spoke did her ears perk up in perception of this unknown company.

"Um, excuse me," - at first, surprised that someone had actually approached her, does Shio remain silent. Her azure globes trace a line sideways to catch a glimpse of the figure, in habit of her usual method of detection first sensing him by other means. It is not the form of the boy that she catches a glimpse of first, but rather his essence. Easily, she identified it as something foreign from the start. Although taking note of this, simultaneously listening to his soft words. "I couldn't help but notice you seemed a bit distressed. Is everything all right?"

The once narrow eyes of the girl soften, in spite of the fact that they had only been tense for an instant. Shio raised her head to take in the figure of who had approached her. He seemed to be well-dressed, she could very much at least compliment his sense of fashion. And whilst her bespeckled, sky blue eyes gaze upward at him, does her recollection of how she had felt when she had first sensed him probe its way into the forefront of her mind. Whilst contemplating it within her mind and in silence, her tail flicks back and forth rapidly.

It was unusual, something was not quite right. Albeit she could not put a reason to why, only that the person in front of her felt different from any of the others around the cafe. It wasn't quite the reaction she expected to get from a human, though, and that had put her on edge initially. However, whilst getting a good look at him - he did not appear to be any sort of threat. On the contrary, he appeared quite mild; handsome features on a fair face. Furthermore, his tone of voice did not characterize any sort of malice within him.

Shio had an intuition for people she trusted wholeheartedly, and this person did not set off any of her danger signals. So at the very least, she'd humor him and see what else he might have to respond with. Placing her pen beside her notebook in a swift organized movement - neat and composed, does that same hand run its way over her scarf. With composure and confidence it is flung over her shoulder to wrap, all the whilst she crosses her legs and throws one idle palm out to address the boy, the other arm folded and crossed under her chest.

"Hah! Yeah, I'm just a little frustrated is all." Initial words of her own laced with such apparent vexation, does she in tandem swiftly withdraw her idle palm back into her chest whilst leaning back on her chair. "My plans for the day are ruined. I can't believe the nerve of that clerk-person anyhow! 'Couples only' pffft- how about he catches a 'couple' of these hands!!" With much enthusiasm, Shio balls up one of her fists and pumps it partly skyward.

"That's... that's what I said anyway - but err, haha~" Averting her eyes to a side as though to attempting to avoid witnessing any potential reaction from Albin, "They- they kicked me out...".

Quite distinctly pouting, but evidently flustered by it - moreso not by having confessed that fact to someone she did not know to any degree, than simply the memory of being physically dragged out of the place with an audience to witness the whole thing. It made her simmer with hot-temper and embarassment, but in her mind, only by virtue that she had been overpowered; and not that she had done something that could be considered publically humiliating.

"Tell me - calm down ma'am, one more time. I swear..." Such words are muttered by the Mod Soul beneath her breath, as though she had almost entirely disregarded that Albin was still standing right beside her. It takes her a moment- a long moment. Her indignation melts into what appears to be resignation over this time. But just as without explanation and in silence, does Shio rise to her feet, practically whipping the chair off its feet with her tail as she scrambles for her notebook and pen - then, abruptly grips Albin by the wrist. "If you're going to listen then at least sit down!".

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NOTES: ---

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[Deleted]

Watching the girl as she seemed to adjust her scarf, then the way she was sitting, Albin continued to smile toward her in a level of interest he wasn't exactly looking to hide. To say Shio was simply fascinating was an understatement. He had a feeling that something spiritual was going on here, but wasn't quite sure what it was. He'd find out in time, though. Instead of trying to put forth all of his brainpower into investigating, he wanted to see if he couldn't get to know her, first.

"Hah! Yeah, I'm just a little frustrated is all. My plans for the day are ruined. I can't believe the nerve of that clerk-person anyhow! 'Couples only' pffft- how about he catches a 'couple' of these hands!!" He couldn't help but laugh at her jest. He didn't quite understand the joke, but given her little fist pump at the end, there were inferences to be made as to what she meant. Putting his left hand toward his mouth with a chuckle, Albin nodded toward the girl.

"That's... that's what I said anyway - but err, haha~ They- they kicked me out..." Almost immediately, he found himself with a saddened look on his face. He felt bad for the girl. "The just kicked you out like that??" He'd heard of some folks in the human world (and Shinigami for that matter, thanks Wycliff) taking out their frustration on others that just happened to be nearby. If he could help it, he wasn't just going to sit idly by while something like this happened!

"Gosh, I'm really sorry to hear that," he said, "that sounds awful. If you don't mind, I'd be glad to help where I can." Placing his hand to his chin in deep concentration, Albin once again began to speak. "Hmm, we might be able to- whoa!" As cut himself off, Albin noticed Shio standing up, turning on a heel, and grabbing hold of his waist. "Whoa, what're you-?!" "If you're going to listen then at least sit down!"

And just like that, he found himself sitting down. Taking a short moment to get himself situated, Albin huffed. "Certainly a bit rougher there than I was expecting," he said, "but fair enough." And with that, Albin chuckled, a slight rose rising to his cheeks. "If you don't mind my asking, before we tackle that whole thing, could I get your name?" As he finished, he held his hand out to the girl as a gesture of good faith.

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

---

To state that Shio had caught the attention of a few of the people who frequented the cafe would be an understatement, especially as the woman - who was already of quite the outlandish sort, leapt from her seat to grip ahold of this man. To each of those witness to such a scene, were a stranger, being wrangled into the seat in front of her. However, the person in question did not appear to make a scene out of it.

In fact, he was so compliant with her that it did not raise any alarm bells for anyone who were watching in covert. Shio had always been of the forward sort, and it certainly showed to each of her spectators - it may even cause a few of the more crass or imaginitive individuals to blush; perhaps even to gossip further, though in a much more quiet and mild manner. Between all of these murmurs does Shio take her seat again, with a stern composure.

It may even seem bewildering to Albin, who was now placed in the seat adjacent to this bespeckled lady. Both of her arms that had been folded seemed to belie her impatience with him, one index finger tapped along in irritable rhythm upon her upper arm. Eyebrows scrunched into bundles as it were, it appeared as though it weren't only her composure that gave away a stern aura - but also her pensive expression.

In her mind, it appeared as though she were contemplating with much gravity - their situation, conceivably. Or it may be that she was not thrilled by the treatment she had mentioned earlier. In actuality, it was neither of these reasonable scenarios. Despite only having just pulled Albin - quite literally - into her midst, it would appear that she was anticipating some sort of introduction from him first.

Raven-black tail whipping from side-to-side, agitated, its white tip like the gleam of a mesmerizing pendulum. Hyponotic in its rhythm to those who might gaze upon it, she waited. When Albin saw fit to raise his calm voice to her again, do her lupine ears perk up for a brief moment. However, when it was not quite what she had been waiting for - they do falter. Her brows ease up on their crease a little, and Shio sighs.

"It seems you are unaware of whose presence has gracefully granted unto you an audience." Does the lady announce proudly. "Very well, I will forgive your ignorance in-my-benevolence AND, I will deign to enlighten you~". In motion to those same haughty words does her right palm rise to her chest, resting upon it in a very lady-like manner showing dignity. However, it is somewhat peculiar. As her demeanour is betrayed by a youthful and vain, smug expression.

"Shio Kyrou, that is my name." Spoken thus with excess eminence in her tone. "I am also, without a doubt, one of the absolute strongest Hollows in Hueco Mundo!" Does the woman continue without resistance, clutching the palm on her chest into a bundle whilst puffing it outright. Radiant smile so either arrogant or confident that it were difficult to verify if what she was saying were the truth, and curl ones toes. "Perhaps you've heard the name, hah! Don't worry, I won't pick on you for it. Today is a day for relaxation after all, you have my pardon~!".

Just like that, raising her opposing hand high into the air, the one free from her bust, do her fingers entwine with one another until a click is produced. There is silence accompanied to bask in her hubris, an aura of self-importance produced from the woman as impressive as an actor on stage. Few still moments pass by following directly this action, then another few... then a whole ten seconds in stage tension. The once conceitful guise of her face begins to crumple into frustration and worry over this time... and then for another whole five seconds after.

In annoyance, those fingers raised into the air snap another two... seven... thirteen times in rapid succession before in exasperation she blurts out - "WAITER-!!". Her undignified and shrill cry rings throughout the cafe, leaving it just as silent as it were from her last outburst. However, as loud as she might have yelled, it only served to foster concern from the other customers. Otherwise, the lupine woman receives no response spare for the judgemental stares of its patrons. Shio picks up on this, and her face turns a flushed cherry red.

In acknolwdgement of being ignored, the embarassed steam-like fume bursting from her face appears to blast out of her ears - followed by distressed whimpering. That same noise accompanies her forward faceplant into the table in front of her, countenance tearful but just too proud to actually cry. "Indeed. Las Noches? That's my playground, haha, neat little place I know..." Sniffle. "Much better than this-... this, stupid backwater town! I hate it here! I HATE IT-!" In very tame fashion, her balled fist slams into the table in wake of those words. Raising her glaring eyes up to Albin, her tone shifts entirely to something more demanding.

"What's your name anyway kid?"

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NOTES: ---

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[Deleted]

Watching the girl's tail swish back and forth, and those lupine ears eventually poking upright brought a soft smile to Albin's face. There was something he couldn't quite explain, but watching her visibly react the way she did almost... calmed him. There was something about being able to get a feel for someone else's emotions like he could with this girl - granted, that's taking very basic information from what he knew about dogs and the like - that put him at ease. He felt he didn't need to try to read as deeply into the girl just to understand her thoughts.

"It seems you are unaware of whose presence has gracefully granted unto you an audience." Taken from his thoughts, Albin stared blankly at Shio. To say he was confused about what she meant was an understatement. But, he was willing to hear her out. "Shio Kyrou, that is my name. I am also, without a doubt, one of the absolute strongest Hollows in Hueco Mundo!" Albin's eyebrows shot up almost immediately. This girl was a hollow? Not only that, but one of the strongest in Hueco Mundo? He let her say her peace before speaking himself.

"Huh," he spoke softly, trying to mask his emotions on the matter as best as possible, "I'll be the first to admit you had me fooled." Smiling and crossing his arms, Albin continued. "That's a very impressive guise you've got there, Miss Kyrou. If you hadn't shared your secret with me, I likely would've never guessed." And, truthfully, he wouldn't have. Given Albin's distinct lack of sensory capabilities, he would've never been any wiser.

"If nothing else, I do very much appreciate your lenience," he said, a nervous chuckle making itself rather prominent in his voice, "I've met my fair share of Arrancar and the like; if you're anything at all like those I've met..." A quick shiver flew down the boy's spine as he relived Camila's fights with the Espada. He'd assisted in each of them, and even then the two of them were defeated almost every single time. Given what he'd just learned, he just had to ask. "Are... you by chance also an Espada? Regardless, I'll be committing your name to memory! Truly, it's a pleasure to be able to meet you!"

Watching the girl as she snapped her fingers, and eventually let loose a shout, Albin felt himself tense up. He wasn't too fond of the shouting, but seeing as she'd been quite kind to him thus far - even if only out of virtue of sparing him a fight he felt he was not going to win - he wasn't going to question her. Truth be told, he found himself rather enamored by this Hollow. Soul Society be damned for the time being, he was glad to be able to keep things civil for the time being. Even if he'd get his ear talked off by Captain Ludwig, yet again.

As Shio found herself quickly facedown toward the table the two of them had been sitting at, Albin gave the girl a soft smile. "Everything'll be all right," he spoke softly, "I'm sure they'll be around shortly~!" As he finished speaking, he held a hand out toward her, gently placing it palm-down on the table in front of him. Not quite in her personal space, but close enough to try to get his message across that everything was going to hopefully be all right on the matter.

"Indeed. Las Noches? That's my playground, haha, neat little place I know... Much better than this-... this, stupid backwater town! I hate it here! I HATE IT-!"

Once again finding himself tensing at her volume, Albin gave her another smile. "Hey now," he said, "sure, it's got its ups and downs, but Karakura isn't all that bad! The occasional straggler might not be the nicest, but all-in-all the community around here is pretty accepting of most anyone that decides to take up residence here. I promise you everything's gonna be okay!"

Widening his expression, Albin did what he could to cheer the girl up. If nothing else, he felt he knew what she was going through. To be so far from her comfort zone, especially while not knowing anyone around the area. Both him and Camila had felt the same way when they first took up a home in Karakura; a feeling he knew far too well, all things considered. Perhaps he saw a bit of himself in her? He couldn't quite identify it. That aside, it seemed she had another question she wanted to ask.

"What's your name anyway kid?"

Oh no. Taking a deep breath, Albin tried to quickly think about how to approach the question. He wanted to share something about himself, but was that really the safest option? Given her position as such a powerful Hollow. Though, did he have a choice, given he'd spoken of Espada not long ago? "I'm Albin Landry," he spoke, making up his mind, "Shinigami of the Thirteenth Court Guard Squad, seated Third amongst my peers. It's a pleasure to get to know you!"

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

---

Keen lupine ears with equally surveying eyes study Albin. As he introduces himself, her face turns from one expression to another. Foremost, an accepting ideal of 'all is right' overcomes her face when he replies; as though to say, "Yup, that's exactly what I thought - you certainly look like a man who does his own laundry!".

In response to this, a wide smile spreads its way across her lips. Genuine and almost innocent in countenance. Mixed in with some sort of unbenownst smug satisfaction from having her demand for his name met. In fact, now that she thought about it that much more, the conversation thus far had been incredibly pleasant.

That is to say, Shio did not find the presence of this individual to be unacceptable. Human though she believed him to be, although... what exactly had he meant by 'guise'? This was the very next expression to almost creep its way onto her features. Furthermore, whilst she was contemplating it, was the exact moment Albin continued his introduction.

"Shinigami of the Thirteenth Court Guard Squad, seated Third amongst my peers. It's a pleasure to get to know you!"... He's, a- a what now? Surely I must have misheard, haha. There's no way that boy is a-.. uhm, that is to say that he does certainly not appear to be the type. Absolutely no way that he's a... a Shinigami?!

Natural to say, these thoughts struck her expression like a fright train; not an ounce of naunce or deception written on the face of the woman, as her draw drops onto the table. After a swift moment of contemplation and shock, with clenched fists turning to flat palms along its surface, the table almost shudders with the ambient spiritual pressure.

It didn't look exactly like she wanted to fight, but it was readily apparent that her guard had been raised. Numerous scenarios were playing through her head at that moment, but for that time being she remained silent. Indeed, it appeared as though she were glaring daggers right at Albin, deadpan eyes almost murderous in a defensive sort of way.

If Albin were to observe her body posture within its entirety, he might even notice the way her tail were standing on end. It was almost cat-like in nature, despite the fact that it quite clearly was a tail belonging to some type of canine. With a flick and twitch of her ear, along with a deep breath, Shio allows her spiritual energies to simmer for a bit.

Was this his plan all along, to get me to lower my guard? It's strange, I couldn't sense any hostility from him at all! Imagine me, the strongest of all hollows, being deceived in such a way - impossible! There's no way that could be the case here, instead... could he be trying to act friendly in order to gain my favor? That has to be it, hmm.

With that outlook firmly etched within her mind going forward, the once simmering spiritual pressure eminating from her person begins to settle. Withdrawing her posture upright to sit straight with her shoulders, one cusped hand returning to her face to feign a cough - a reset of the tension within the air, Shio extends a smile to Albin.

"So, Mister Does-His-Laundry. I'm quite impressed that you've managed to sneak your way into my presence! But enough of the charades, I've sensed Shinigami before; those monkey bafoons waving around their katana at Gillian all day. I have to say, you don't exactly sense like one to me." Yes, in reference to that strange feeling Shio had felt earlier, she elaborates.

"If anything... you sensed something like a Hollow to me. Am I wrong?"

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NOTES: ---

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[Deleted]

Watching the lupine girl smile brought one of similar shape across Albin's own face. He couldn't quite place a finger on why, but her smile eased him; almost made him feel a bit on the safer side of being willing to share his name with her. Something practically told him that her intentions behind asking, and this general meeting in and of itself weren't aimed toward him with hostility, so any reservations he had about sharing who he was quickly found themselves fading away. Making note of her expressions, he continued on to share his name and position with her.

Though, as he did share his identity with her, things seemed to change. Her gaze dropped toward the table, and his followed in suit. Almost immediately thereafter, he felt... bad. Like saying what he did wasn't the greatest of ideas. Should he have lied to her? Would that save the very apparent trouble that it seemed to be giving her? Watching as her hands placed flat against the table, causing the table itself to softly hum and rattle about, he moved his feet in order to try to stop the movement.

Placing his feet against the table's stand, Albin tried to use his own physical strength to keep the table still; to prevent any kind of damage to it. Feeling her own spiritual energy almost seep from her, he took a slow, but deep breath. Gently folding his hands and placing them in front of him, Albin only continued to watch the girl. Not out of a desire of guarding himself or anything, but rather out of real, genuine concern for this girl. He wanted to bring himself to say something; that he wasn't there to hurt her, but words refused to leave his lips.

Almost feeling her staring at him, he slowly raised his gaze toward her, only to immediately lower his eyes back down toward the table. One glance seemed to be more than enough for him to realize that she was angry. Yep, he thought to himself, I knew saying something was a bad idea. Gods! Mentally sighing, Albin didn't dare raise his eyes to meet hers. Not while she was this upset; he didn't want to risk making things any worse than he already had.

Though, just as quickly as that agitation had seemed to set in, it seemed to almost plateau. Her spiritual pressure stopped rising in the area; even without noteworthy sensory capabilities, given the close proximity, and the table's shaking not a moment ago, he'd been able to analyze that at the very least. It wasn't growing in intensity anymore, rather sitting still at a simmering. And, shortly thereafter, it began to recede. Exhaling softly, as to try avoiding any attention toward himself, Albin looked back up toward Shio.

And after a quick coughing, he was met with a smile from her. Meeting her own smile back with his once again, Albin's face began to take on an almost rose color. To say he felt embarrassed for what had just happened was an understatement. As such, the moment he saw her own smile, and while keeping his own, the Shinigami returned his glance back toward the table until Shio began to speak.

"So, Mister Does-His-Laundry." Albin snickered at the pun, before looking up to maintain eye contact, his face still a light crimson. "I'm quite impressed that you've managed to sneak your way into my presence! But enough of the charades, I've sensed Shinigami before; those monkey buffoons waving around their katana at Gillian all day. I have to say, you don't exactly sense like one to me. If anything... you sensed something like a Hollow to me. Am I wrong?"

To say he found himself dumbfounded was an understatement. The only other person to say that was Wolf, but he had chalked that up to extraordinary sensory capabilities. But her, too? Either she also had some incredible talent for sensing energy, or his signature was simply just that polluted. "It's..." he started, looking away for a short moment, before turning his attention back toward Shio, "it's somewhat complex. Given your position as one of the strongest in Hueco Mundo, I suppose I don't really have a place to argue with you, so I'll share."

Pausing for a moment, to give her an opportunity to comment if she desired, Albin simply waited and stared into her eyes. If she commented, he'd respond before continuing if necessary. Otherwise, he'd continue with his story. "Are you familiar with the Vizard? Cursed Shinigami with a hollow within their soul? Well, I'm not a Vizard, but I used to serve as a Shinigami's inner Hollow. Some of the other Espada might remember her."

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

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As Albin appeared to stumble over both his thoughts and words, Shio sat motionless within her chair with a courteous expression. It was a far cry from how she had appeared earlier, but it appeared to not be an empty gesture. Moreso, she was simply waiting for the boy to explain himself clearly. Shio might not look like it, but she was capable of being patient at times.

"It's..." - the first, stammered words to escape the lips of the person in front of her. As he appeared to lean in to the topic, Shio likewise leaned in a bit closer on her palms. Furthermore, what he had claimed she was at the start of his explanation further stroked at her ego, an incredibly wry and puff grin spreading across her features. The ears adorned upon her head also flickered with some curiosity at what he had to say.

Then, followed his explanation. Quite frankly, she was barely following any of it. Vizard? Is that some sort of off-brand cereal? To her own ears, she had never heard of them, or what exactly an 'inner hollow' was meant to be. Following her mental picture of things from before, in her mind-illustration, might that be equivalent to the prize you sometimes get in cereal boxes?

Just the image of that alone was enough to make Shio respond with a chuckle, which she almost immediately, although unapologetically, caught before it raised to her full volume. It must have sounded more like a scoff to the young man in front of her, albeit without any sort of mocking tone to it. Her tail was swiping back and forth. Whatever it was that Albin had said, she found amusing some way.

After taking some time to recompose herself, Shio settles her palms back down onto the table in front of her. Fingers entwined together as her azure globes fixate upon Albin. "Eh- haha. Sorry, didn't mean to laugh there. That sure is a funny story you have though... Shinigami that claim to be Hollows, I'll remember it." The irony was hanging heavy upon the air and it was suffocating.

"I'm not one of the Espada." - Shio states, it was practically off-handed and somewhat spiteful in the manner in which she had said it. Nonetheless, it was delivered very matter-of-fact, in a manner that conveyed she was not teasing him this time. "One of my subordin-... friends is, though." Shio may have caught her tongue a little late there, it appeared to be a genuine slip-up though.

With a pouty demeanour whilst her gaze turns to another side, do her lips part to say more on the matter. "I don't know what it is with her. Every time I'm about to put one of those damn Arrancar in their place does she try and intervene, what's the deal with that?! Does she really care so much what happens to them anyway." Striking one of her flat and open hands against the table, she continues.

"I don't need the supervision!" - Somehow, despite her words, this may have been the least genuine thing that Shio had managed to say thus far. Not to her own knowledge, though even the manner in which she said it seemed to display some sort of doubt in her own words. It was very uncharacteristic, perhaps the doubt was not placed in what she had actually said, but elsewhere.

In any case, the mod soul looks up into the sky; head hung fully back and slouched upon her chair. The awning of the cafe was obscuring some of it, but she had a vague idea of what the time was based on the position of the sun. The delicate rain had now ceased to pour down, though the cover was still dripping. That faint noise, amongst all the hustle and bustle, was mesmerizing to her.

It appeared to take her thoughts away from the situation, as Albin, and everyone else around became secondary to her musings. "I'm gonna be late..." - she says, not entirely mentally present. It appeared as though she had just uttered some idle surface thought.

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[Deleted]

As Albin spoke, sharing quite a bit of potentially sensitive information to the girl, he found himself a little disheartened when she chuckled. His mood changing rather quickly, Albin found himself feeling almost... down. Nonetheless, he'd continue to share. He didn't feel a need to cut himself off, plus that would've been rude, all things considered. So, he finished up what he was saying, and instead went on to listen to her own words.

"Eh- haha. Sorry, didn't mean to laugh there. That sure is a funny story you have though... Shinigami that claim to be Hollows, I'll remember it." Did she think he wasn't telling the truth? Looking from the outside in, it definitely did sound far-fetched, so he supposed that it made sense she wasn't exactly the most willing to just accept a story like that. Letting that get to him wasn't going to lead to anything good, so he simply shrugged it off with a chuckle and smile.

After a brief pause, Shio continued to speak. "I'm not one of the Espada." Her tone quickly caught him off-guard. She seemed more serious; not as jovial as she'd been with him thus far. Had he struck a nerve? Only time would tell, as she'd continue to share her thoughts. "One of my subordin-... friends is, though." He made nothing of the apparent slip-up in her words. Nothing really seemed... out of place with her word choice, so he felt no need to deep-dive her thoughts thus far.

"I don't know what it is with her. Every time I'm about to put one of those damn Arrancar in their place does she try and intervene, what's the deal with that?! Does she really care so much what happens to them anyway." As she spoke, and seemed to grow more excited, Albin focused almost intently on her words. Given her use of specific pronouns, Albin had been able to piece a few things together. Though, with the slamming of her hand against the table, he was caught quite off-guard.

"I don't need the supervision!" Lord if he didn't know how that felt. Though, something seemed a bit off; she seemed to falter a bit in her words. A notably concerned look rose to his face upon hearing that; he felt absolutely awful that she felt the way she did, even if it wasn't something that concerned him. To see a new friend with struggles like that, it didn't sit well with him. Once again placing his hand out toward Shio on the table as if to say 'I'm here for you', he gave her a gentle smile. He wanted to do what he could to help; this meant starting trying to figure out what he could about her situation.

From the time that Camila had spent around each and every one of the Espada, Albin had known that only two Espada had used those pronouns; those two being Ailene Haschiro and Lagos Oscuras. Assuming that a rank-shuffle hadn't happened within the few years that he'd been away from Las Noches, it had to be one of those two. And, given the frankly atrocious temperament of the Noveno? He'd assumed her qualms rested with the Pacifist of the Espada. Regardless, he wasn't going to bring that up, lest he come off as a bit of a creep to someone he'd just met.

As she leaned back in her chair, staring up toward the sky, Albin sighed softly, and watched as the girl found herself lost in thought, from the looks of it. Lounging back in his own chair, Albin contemplated just what to do in this circumstance. She didn't seem to be doing the greatest at the moment; it wasn't too difficult for him to figure that out given his natural inclination toward the more positive side of things. Though, the question remained; what on earth could he have done in order to help her?

As if on queue, Shio spoke once more. "I'm gonna be late..." Being pulled from his own thoughts, Albin remembered the initial reason behind their meeting! "Oh, shoot," he said, "you were looking to see a movie, right? Today's an off-day for me, so if you're still looking for a solution to that 'Couples Night' conundrum, I wouldn't mind going to see that movie with you!" His face practically lit up with excitement, aiming to cheer the girl up as much as he could.

"I'm pretty sure I've got enough here to cover the day's expenses, if you're willing to have me accompany you, Miss Strongest Hollow!" Giving Shio his best smile, Albin tried to get one from her in turn. If nothing else, he hoped to make the day just the slightest bit better for her, given things seemed to not be going her way. If one good day was going to help contribute toward fixing that? He'd be willing to do most anything to get a positive reaction from her.

[Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou]

Shio "Mod Soul" Kyrou

---

Watching those skies clear, innocuous and distanced azure globes gazed upon the parting clouds. Refracted within those eyes was something of a distant memory. Beyond the veil of their conversation, it was quite clear that whichever thought had been stirred within her, this was not something that she were willing to share. Rather, all she had wanted were some silence to contemplate upon. When Albin begins to speak up, she blinks slowly.

Taking a guilt-free moment to process his words, leisurely granting him the ability to finish, it is not a moment longer that the contemplative glance of the woman lets out a gentle sigh. "That wasn't what I meant..." - are the words that faintly escape her lips, mellow upon her features and voice. Shio appeared to be disappointed, perhaps a little mournful even, but it was not with Albin.

At a glance, one could tell that it was unrelated to the situation or conversation. Just as Albin may go to enquire just what that may be though, does the lupine ear of the girl twitch, a grin spreads its way across her expression. Not only does she appear to perk up, leaning further back into her chair, but so does the aura itself around her change back to as it were before. That of a playful, smug though perhaps overly proud trickster.

"Doesn't matter, the movie doesn't matter!-" With a dismissive wave of her hand. "-Unfortunately I can't stick around, things are about to get busy." On that note, Shio rises to her feet. Whilst that may ordinarily be all well and normal, so does the chair she was sitting on begin to contort. It loses its form, melts, and swirls around not unlike water trapped in a bottle. This conglomerate mass of churning material alerts the customers, one even letting out an abrupt shriek in stupor. A few others clamor to their feet in a panic.

Shio cannot help but click her tongue. "So noisy... anyway, catch you later - Shinigami." Upon those words, the material that had appeared to have been caught up in her spiritual energies coalesces around her feet, it reshapes itself into... roller-skates? Quite a strong and metallic pair, that she clanks together, bounces up and down in place on, then takes off from the scene with in haste.

With a wide and genuine smile, the girl turns towards Albin, and offers him a casual wave as she skates away. It is not long before she is away and out of sight from the cafe, leaving many of the customers shocked into silence. Such a carefree girl, that was Shio explained in a word.

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[Kitai Yoru]

Kyrou: 56 paragraphs, 50% bonus awarded

Albin Lan: 40 paragraphs, 40% bonus awarded