Uneasy Hearts Weigh The Most [Social]

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

Pacing back and forth in her room, Yui clutched the sheet of paper tightly in her hands. With each step as the girl walked back and forth, she quickly found herself in a state of extreme contemplation. Noticing quickly the damage she was causing to the sheet, she placed it down with an exasperated sigh. Ugh, she thought, now I have to print another one! Shuffling toward her computer and sitting back down, the girl began to pout.

Clicking through her files, Yui quickly made her way through her computer's file explorer until she found the document she was inevitably looking for. Taking the opportunity once more to read through the document, her eyes darted across the screen to search for anything out of place; any typos, formatting errors, the likes. Moving her mouse with one hand, and snapping her thumb and middle together with the other, Yui took a few moments to scan fully through the rest of the page. In time, it seemed that everything added up; well, as much as it was going to.

Clicking "Print" once more, and waiting a few short moments for the document to print again, she stood up from her chair, and walked over to her full-size mirror. Making sure she looked as absolutely presentable as possible, the girl took the time to straighten out her outfit. It wasn't anything special; long-sleeved, plain white shirt, matched with a knee-length pleated skirt and a pair of stockings. Professional enough, but also rather nice all things considered. Nice enough to head out, for sure!

Collecting the paper this time around, and making sure that she didn't damage it, Yui scooped up her tightly-packaged weapon, and slung it over her shoulder. Per usual, she wasn't going to leave home without it. Never knew when she might've needed it, but if nothing else? She didn't feel comfortable leaving her house without some kind of protective measure on her. After all, she was in no rush to lose her life again. She shivered at the thought, setting it aside in her head while she continued to walk.

Eventually, the girl found herself arriving at a rather familiar teashop. Yawning softly to herself, she reached for the door, before stopping herself. Pulling her hand ever so slightly back, she froze. C'mon, Yui, she thought, you can do this! Just... be calm. Be cool. All you've got to do is open the door, and introduce yourself. It's not all that hard! Her thoughts paused once more. Staring directly at the "OPEN" sign in front of her, she felt her hesitation growing. Okay, maybe it is that hard!

Slowly forcing herself to move her hand ever closer to the door, Yui eventually worked up the courage to push it open, allowing her to walk inside. Keeping a rather calm pace, though notably unnerved, the girl took another deep breath, before reaching the front counter. Naturally not knowing anyone there, she simply made momentary eye-contact with the person there, before looking down toward her hands. "H-Hello," she spoke, "I filled out an application online, but forgot to submit a resume. So, here that is!"

Looking back up, and trying to make eye contact once more, Yui almost forced herself to hold it while turning, and sliding the sheet of paper to the other side of the counter. As soon as she did, her hands dropped to her side, immediately sounding with the familiar clicking of her fingers together as she simply stood and awaited a response from whomever stood behind the counter.

[Ailene Haschiro]

The Karakura Public Library. Just a mere ten minutes away from Rēgīna, it was the perfect place to escape from the stressors of running a Tea House. As Ailene rested comfortably in one of the chairs, her friend, Amber, would be sitting next to her. There would be a look of concern on Ailene's face. She was sweating, her hand couldn't keep still. Little did she know that she would face her greatest opponent in this inconspicuous library. In her mind echoed a single thought. "Oh why did I let her talk me into this..." Greater than any Shinigami, Hollow, or Quincy that she had ever faced during her time among the Espada. The foe? ...The wonders of modern technology!  

It was no secret to those that truly knew Ailene and her background that she was utterly inept in the use of computers and other devices. The nearly 700-year-old woman had rarely, if ever, touched a computer before in her life. Suffice to say, she was utterly inept. She was mainly here due to Amber. The young University student had convinced Ailene into looking for more staff for Rēgīna. Never once did she doubt the former Espada's capabilities and commitment, but Amber felt that Ailene could use some help during the time's that she couldn't be there. After all, Ailene had effectively dedicated the rest of her life to seeing Rēgīna flourish. She had relinquished her powers freely for that dream. That dream didn't have to be carried on her shoulders alone... at least in Ambers' mind.

The red-headed girl convinced Ailene to come to the library with her so they could set up an online application for potential applicants to apply. After all, Rēgīna showed no indication of wanting help. This would be a good first step. Navigating the intricacies of the Internet was completely foreign to Ailene. She never knew where to go and was always afraid of doing something wrong. Thankfully, Amber was there to help the former Espada. Within an hour, they began setting up an application. Being the third attempt after Ailene accidently closing the tab several times by accident as she lost sight of the mouse cursor, it took much longer than it generally needed to. 

Amber finally resorted to pointing at parts of the screen to direct Ailene. She had Ailene set up an email and finally open a Google Forms. Together they created a basic questionnaire. The bare essentials. Name, age, previous occupation, strengths and weaknesses, characteristics that the applicant felt made them suited for the position. Amber then showed Ailene how to share the link to the Google Forms. After another half hour of technical difficulties and an unsteady hand, the two of them posted the link on several message boards along with a general description of Rēgīna and its location. Upon being done, Ailene leaned back into the chair and gave a soft sigh. "That... was... hell.." Amber chuckled softly. "You can say that again, Ailene.." After a brief moment, the two women would look at each other before giggling.

---

A week had passed, and all of the applicants seemed to be dead ends thus far. Amber largely helped with correspondence, but most who showed interest didn't complete the online survey... lived on a completely different continent... or simply never showed up to actually meet with Ailene. Disappointment after disappointment came along and soon the woman was beginning to lose hope. She didn't even bother checking the responses at this point and told Amber not to bother either. She would simply hold down the fort on her own most days as usual. So, she stood behind the count, her finger gently tapping it. 

It had been a slow day. This didn't really surprise Ailene though. It was a workday. It typically slowed down around noon since people would either be at work or in classes. Occasionally, the stray customer would come in. Rēgīna was starting to become more popular, but no amount of local fame could stand against the consequences of busy schedules. She gently began to move her hand, swirling a spoon in the steaming cup of Jasmine Tea. She continued to focus on it. It had been a little since her cup of tea spontaneously broke. Ailene felt a surge of anger at the time as she reminisced her old life. Then Sylvanas claimed that she potentially had infant powers. Abilities that were slowly developing. 

Her eyes narrowed as she continued to focus. As she swirled the tea in one direction, she tried to get it to do something. Move out of the cup... to heat itself up. Nothing seemed to be working. She gave a deflated sigh. That's when a thought came to mind. "Tug. Pull." It was spontaneous, almost as though it was given to her by someone else. She quickly looked around. Nobody stood beside or behind her? The Tea House was empty. She lightly shook her head. "Great... now I'm going crazy..." She sighed and returned to focusing on her tea. A slight mutter just above the sound a whisper escaping from her. "Pull, huh?" 

Ailene took the spoon out and laid it on the saucer. She took a sip, the warmth of the tea flowing through her. As she set it down, the hot liquid had come to a standstill. Ailene focused on it and gently moved her finger in a clockwise motion along the counter. She'd envision her tea moving as she usually did with a spoon. She imagined herself pulling it in a clockwise fashion. At first, nothing would happen. Ailene shook her head but continued anyway. The motion was soothing. As she did though, she noticed subtle movement. A swirl slowly formed in the tea as it moved in the direction, she was pulling it. She couldn't believe her eyes. It actually moved as she commanded! 

That's when she heard the ring of the front door. She stopped moving her hand and looked up. With her concentration broken, the tea slowed to a crawl before it stopped moving. It was as if nothing had happened. Ailene would find herself looking upon a woman. She had a casual formal look about her clothing. She wore glasses and Ailene could see purple orbits not unlike her own. Her hair was a cute bubblegum pink. She looked like a young adolescent. No older than 18? 19? Ailene wasn't sure. Everything seemed quite normal... until Ailene had a look at her shoulder. Something was slung across it. Perhaps a bag? She wasn't sure. She couldn't really see anything. 

Soon, the young girl approached the counter. "H-Hello," There was a brief stammer to her voice, and she didn't do much to make eye contact with Ailene. Ailene was expecting her to be just another customer, a new face. She'd find herself proven quite mistaken. "I filled out an application online, but forgot to submit a resume. So, here that is!" Ailene's eyes widened for a moment. It looked as though she had seen a ghost. She'd do her best to remain calm and yet her mind screamed. "Holy shit! Someone actually showed!" She cleared her throat for a moment as she composed herself. The young girl had laid a neatly typed out onto the counter. As she turned to slide it, Ailene caught a glimpse of what was over her shoulder. 

It was tightly wrapped in what almost seemed to be paper? Was it cloth? Regardless, Ailene was no fool. She recognized its shape. A sword! There wouldn't be too much shock to Ailene's expression. After all, she had occasionally taken to carrying blades with her. Still... carrying a sword in broad daylight took some moxie. Yet it was strange. She did not seem to be a Shinigami... nor an Arrancar? Did she just carry a large blade around for protection? A longer period of silence had passed as she returned her attention to the woman before her. "Oh... Y-yes! Of course. Please have a seat while I umm... review your resume.." It would be clear by the woman's tone that she had not been expecting anyone to show. She was caught completely unprepared. Regardless, Ailene would give her a chance. After all, this girl was the only one that actually bothered to come. 

Before reviewing the resume, Ailene spoke up again. "Oh! Where are my manners?!" She seemed almost shocked with herself. "My name is Ailene Haschiro. I'm the Head Barista and owner of Rēgīna. Can I get you anything Miss..." Ailene looked down at the resume before looking back up. "Miss Tsumugi?" She gave a brief smile, waiting to make a mental note of an order if she made one. In that time, Ailene had a brief look through the resume. It seemed to have all the essentials. Previous education, work experience... things that didn't interest Ailene as much. After a few moments, she briefly set down the resume and smiled brightly. "Well Miss Tsumugi. Tell me a bit about yourself. Where are you from? Any interests and hobbies?" Despite her formality, the "interview" would seem to be anything, but formal. Ailene merely wanted to see what kind of character Yui was. There was so much to a person other than credentials after all. 

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

As she slid the sheet of paper to the other side of the counter, Yui forced herself to maintain eye contact with the woman in front of her. She gave Ailene a soft smile, having wanted to make a solid first impression. Though, she noticed the older woman's expression rather quickly. She seemed panicked; almost distressed. As one could expect, this quickly distressed Yui. She did what she could in order to keep her cool, holding that same smile as best she could while the information seemed to set in.

As the woman's eyes seemed to wander, it seemed Ailene had something she wanted to say. "Oh... Y-yes! Of course. Please have a seat while I umm... review your resume.." As she listened to Ailene's words, Yui's smile became something a bit more genuine. She'd felt... relieved. Glad that Ailene wasn't directly upset with her or anything. She wasn't sure she could take something like that, all things considered. Regardless, Yui listened to Ailene's asks, and sat herself down at one of the nearby tables, patiently awaiting further instruction.

Quietly snapping her fingers, and doing what she could in order to keep the noise down, Yui allowed her attention to wander while she waited for he Head Barista. Her mind raced with quite a plethora of different ideas; what's Miss Ailene like? What's working here going to be like? Hopefully there wouldn't be too many mean customers. Trying her very best to keep herself calm and awaiting Ailene's own response, she watched as the older woman sat down at the table across from her, and stoked conversation.

"Oh! Where are my manners?! My name is Ailene Haschiro. I'm the Head Barista and owner of Rēgīna. Can I get you anything Miss... Miss Tsumugi?"

Giving Ailene a continued smile, Yui spoke up once more. "O-Oh! I'm okay, thank you though~!" She spoke softly, not quite full of energy, but enough to warrant her being there. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Haschiro! I really appreciate your kindness on the matter. I... I'm really appreciative of you taking the time of day for this interview!" Yui bowed her head toward Ailene for a short moment, before moving back up. She wanted to show a level of respect toward the older woman where she could.

As she rose her head once more, Ailene asked a question; one she in truth wasn't expecting, but was going to answer regardless. "Well Miss Tsumugi. Tell me a bit about yourself. Where are you from? Any interests and hobbies?" Placing her hands in her lap, Yui spoke up. "A few," she said softly, giggling as she continued, "I'm quite a big fan of Iaido. I take classes a little closer to Tokyo, actually! Aside from that, I really enjoy spending time designing outfits! It's such a relaxing pastime, I'll be the first to admit I love it~"

[Ailene Haschiro]

tStanding behind the counter patiently, Ailene eager waited to hear if the younger girl wanted anything. In some ways, Ailene was very excited. There was a palpable passion in her voice as she offered Yui a drink. She always had a similar reaction with other customers when they first met. One's preference in tea or their selection of deserts was fascinating to Ailene. After all, everyone was different. Did they like their tea in any specific way? Sweeter? Savory perhaps? For dessert. Did they prefer pastries? Ice cream? All these selections were typically unique from customer to customer. Ailene especially liked patrons who sought recommendations. It gave her an opportunity to help expand their horizons. 

Unfortunately, though, the girl didn't seem to want much. "O-Oh! I'm okay, thank you though~!" Ailene paused for a moment. It admittedly caught her off guard. She had been so excited to see another unique set of preferences. She was so caught up in the moment that she had been left staring. Thankfully it seemed that Yui would shift gears. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Haschiro! I really appreciate your kindness on the matter. I... I'm really appreciative of you taking the time of day for this interview!" This caused Ailene to grin for a moment. Her energy was infections. Ailene felt a radiance from the woman before her as she practically glowed. 

Regardless, Ailene briefly raised her hand as if the stop the girl. "I appreciate the sentiment, but just Ailene will suffice..." She chuckled lightly. "... also I'm the one who should be thanking you for taking the time to come here. You're... actually the first to show up." It really didn't bother Ailene that much. She'd rather have a handful of capable applicants to choose form compared to a swathe of people who didn't take the time to think before saying things. This girl before her. She was respectful. She was attentive. She certainly had a positive energy to her. Ailene certainly felt that it could be very beneficial to Rēgīna. Hopefully she would continue to seem promising.

For now, it was time to move on to the formal part of the interview. Compared to other interviews though, Ailene would continue to appear laid back. After all, the one thing she actively disliked about the traditional interviewing structure. It felt so stressful. Designed to build up anxiety and see who cracks under the pressure. The former Espada swore to herself that Rēgīna would serve as a safe space. A Tea House that promoted having an open mind. As such, Ailene's process would appear very lax by comparison. She believed that character and social skills could tell much more about a person than fancy credentials and titles.

That being said, Ailene liked to get to know her staff and customers alike. And so came the first question. Surprisingly, Yui would neglect to answer where she was from. Was this by choice? Or did she simply focus on her interests? Already, the pink-haired girl was shrouded in some mystery. That alone peaked Ailene's interest. She would not dig into it since this was simply an interview. There was no ceremony to stand on. Nobody to impress. Ailene just wanted to get to know the girl a little better. "I'm quite a big fan of Iaido. I take classes a little closer to Tokyo, actually! Aside from that, I really enjoy spending time designing outfits! It's such a relaxing pastime, I'll be the first to admit I love it~" One thing was for sure. She certainly was passionate about her hobbies.

Among them, however, the mention of Iaido did much to peak Ailene's interest. After all, Kimiko Nakajima offered to teach her some basic swordsmanship a few months ago. More interestingly though... was this the reason that the girl carried a wrapped blade within her? Ailene kept two daggers under the counter. One was for emergency purposes. The other was a Purification Blade that she would occasionally use on Hollows and Plus. By comparison, this girl carried a whole sword with her. Ailene was not familiar with the legality of it, but she was definitely curious. As the girl sat at one of the tables, Ailene finished going over the resume. 

Setting it down, Ailene picked up her cup and drank some more tea. As the warmth spread through her body, she'd find it empty. She hummed softly. Before she moved to join Yui, she'd need to prepare more tea. Grabbing a tray from the cupboard, Ailene took the lid off of her gaiwan. Filling it with steaming hot water from her kettle, she topped the porcelain container with a lid once more. Letting it stew for a moment, Ailene hummed briefly as she produced another teacup. Setting both cups and her gaiwan onto the tray, Ailene was almost ready to go. Pulling out another bowl, she used a scoop to shovel some mochi ice cream into the bowel. It had become a guilty pleasure of hers after some time. She'd finish by setting it on the tray and moving over to the table where Yui sat. 

Her next movements seemed rather practiced. Months of working at Rēgīna had done her well. She set out the bowl of mochi ice cream between herself and Yui. Her mental timer ticked until she felt that the tea was ready. Shifting the lid so that it was slightly tilted, the woman created a seal with a small opening. Raising it with a steady, Ailene expertly poured the tea into one cup. Then finally she filled the other. Feeling the gaiwan empty, she smiled briefly and set the cup of tea before Yui. "I know you said that you didn't want anything, but... I guess I made enough for two people." She was playing a little coy. "Anyway, it's Jasmine Tea. My personal favorite. You can also help yourself to the mochi ice cream if you wish." 

There was a gentleness to her voice. It was clear that Ailene tried to make people who entered her quaint little Tea House as comfortable as possible. Even if Yui wouldn't take the cup, Ailene would certainly indulge in her own cup. Taking another sip, she almost immediately felt at peace. As if all of her worries just melted away. Taking her spoon from earlier, Ailene placed it into her cup and absentmindedly swirled it. Her attention would clearly be elsewhere for a moment. If Yui did choose to partake, she'd find the tea expertly crafted. Using a gaiwan drew far more of the natural flavor out. Plus Ailene used fresh loose tea leaves which enhanced the health benefits even more.

By comparison, the mochi ice cream would create a lovely counterbalance to the warm and soothing tea. All the while, Ailene would continue to swirl the tea. She focused on it again, being reminded of just a moment ago... when she had made the tea swirl on its own. She smiled for a moment as she allowed her hand to rest on the table. Gently tapping her fingers rhythmically, Ailene spoke. "So then... Iaido and designing outfits. Clearly you are a woman of many talents." She gave a slight wink. "Iaido. If I understand correctly... its the art of the quick-draw isn't it? That technique shown in old black-n-white Samurai movies?" She grinned for a moment. She would show some basic knowledge. "I assume your interest is the reason why you carry a sword on you?" Ailene briefly motioned at the wrapped blade that was slung over her shoulder. She would not appear disturbed by its presence at all. In fact, her voice rang more with curiosity. It would become clear that Ailene was trying to get to know her. 

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

Yui watched as Ailene had prepared something to drink for the two of them, almost caught off-guard when she was offered a drink. "Oh, thank you so much~!" She beamed, happily accepting the beverage unintentionally made for her, "you really didn't have to. It's not unappreciated, though!" Yui gave Ailene a positively widened smile as she finished speaking, making absolutely no effort to hide her appreciation over Ailene's actions. She'd been so nice thus far! Even if she didn't get the job, she'd have to come back at some point!

As the two went on to converse about Yui's habits, her interests, and her passions, she continued to explain her likes. While Iaido was certainly something she had a level of familiarity over, given her time spent in Shinō Academy, she still felt that she hadn't even a grasp on the basics. If nothing else, it was something she wanted to look into getting better with. And, who knew? Perhaps all that practice was going to help her down the line when it came to taking care of Hollows. Only time would tell with that one, however.

As Ailene spoke, Yui couldn't help but giggle. She wasn't quite sure how to take such a compliment, so instead she kindly brushed it off.
"I wouldn't say that," she said, smiling all the while, "I do very much enjoy my hobbies, though!" As she wrapped up her thoughts, and Ailene went on to speak about Iaido, Yui couldn't help but continue to smile. Seemed someone knew her stuff! Waiting for Ailene to finish her thoughts, she simply maintained that same smile, chiming in shortly thereafter.

"Yep yep~! That'd be accurate!" She chimed, "I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most the most... skilled, when it comes to the courses, but it's a lot of fun! If nothing else, it's a huge help in keeping me calm n' happy where I can be, y'know~?" She smiled, listening to Ailene continue her thoughts. As she did, a surprised look rose to Yui's face. She took the weapon slung over her shoulder, and gently sat it down next to her, leaning it against the table. Thanks to the wrapping, it shouldn't've damaged anything, but she much preferred being safe than sorry.

"I can't exactly refute that," she explained, "ever since I started taking my courses a couple of months back, I've found myself carrying it around more often than not. At that point, I just figured 'why not carry it around wherever I go?' Makes everything a whole lot easier, and also help to make sure I don't forget it when heading to my classes again!" Almost rocking in her seat, Yui found herself almost at ease. Like most of the stress from the conversation thus far had pretty much faded. Even if she'd only told a half-truth regarding her weapon, such a story wasn't exactly needed to be shared.

After all, she found it hard to believe that Ailene would believe her if she'd shared the truth. People don't exactly welcome the idea of 'being a dead spirit sent from the afterlife to purge evil spirits' all too much. She had no reason to believe Ailene would be very different from that. If nothing else, she was going to try to stay as truthful as possible with the girl, only really leaving out anything that might've been found as "unbelievable" to the average person. She didn't want to come off any more odd than she felt she already was, after all!

[Ailene Haschiro]

Ailene was glad to see that Yui was happily accepting the tea she made brewed. Even though she had to play a little coy, passing it off as making too much. As usual, the girls' energy was positively infectious. As she spoke, Ailene felt a warmth rise from her. The former Espada was naturally empathetic and simply felt a surge of good will and positivity arise from the girl. Quite frankly, she seemed like a truly good person. So far, she'd been making a fairly good impression. She was understanding, cooperative and unnaturally peppy. 

However, Ailene was looking for more than just that. She truly had to dig deep. Understand this girl. As such, Ailene began to shift gears and move on into the girls' hobbies. Not only would this reveal much about her interests, but also of her character. For one, she'd show herself to be quite modest. While passionate, she saw herself as little more than a beginner. A greenhorn who had much to learn. This was a trait that Ailene had much respect for. After all, some people had too big an ego to properly acknowledge themselves as anything other than number one. Ailene's time among the Espada certainly showed her that. Some of them always felt the need to make an impression no matter the context. 

This would allow her to segway into why she carried around a sword. Ailene certainly had her suspicions, but she wasn't going to accuse the girl of anything. Finally, Yui would seem to give Ailene right. "I can't exactly refute that," Ailene simply gave a little smile as the girl sat the wrapped blade next to her. She eyed it cautiously before looking back at Yui as she explained. "ever since I started taking my courses a couple of months back, I've found myself carrying it around more often than not. At that point, I just figured 'why not carry it around wherever I go?' Makes everything a whole lot easier, and also help to make sure I don't forget it when heading to my classes again!"

Ailene nodded briefly and continued to smile brightly. Her finger moved along the outer edge of her cup. "Well... I guess it makes sense. Even if it was a Zanpakutō, I guess I can see why she'd lie about it. After all, if I was just a regular human with an inability to sense spirits... would I truly believe that she's a spiritual warrior? Likely not..." Ailene chuckled for a moment. She'd decide to give Yui the benefit of the doubt. After all, perhaps she was just paranoid and liked to be able to protect herself. Still... a knife would be far less conspicuous. She'd decide to let it rest for now. There were other qualities about the girl that were far more important. 

"Well... it's certainly admirable. I've always had an admiration for those who know their way around a blade. How masters make it appear like an extension of their body." It certainly was no lie. The two hours that she had initially spent with Kimiko had given her a far better appreciation of sword work. It certainly pushed Ailene to develop a larger interest in weapons in general. She had been taking a few self-defense classes with knives. After all, she relinquished her life as an Arrancar when she decided to Saigo. No longer would she be able to use Cero or use a Sonido. Ailene wasn't even sure if her currently developing abilities would provide her much of an edge against others.

Taking a sip of her tea, her eyes focused on Yui again. "Well. Let's move on, shall we?" Ailene set the cup of tea down. Moving her hand to the bowl that sat between herself and Yui, Ailene gently popped a ball of mochi ice cream into her mouth. She felt herself shiver for a moment before composing herself and laughing softly. "Let's play a little game, shall we?" This would certainly give the interview a different atmosphere. After all, a game was anything other than professional. Though Ailene had already shown herself to be different from most. "I believe in fostering conversation here at Rēgīna so... I'll start by asking you a question. Then you may ask me a question. It can be anything you wish to know about me." She smirked for a moment before moving on. "Are you just visiting here in Karakura? Or do you live around here?" Ailene felt it to be a fair question. After all, commute long distances could be strenuous. 

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

"Well... it's certainly admirable. I've always had an admiration for those who know their way around a blade. How masters make it appear like an extension of their body." Yui nodded her head, quite full of energy. "I couldn't agree more!" She exclaimed, "I couldn't imagine watching a more impressive display! Watching those with more skill in the art go through the motions, practicing and displaying forms, ah~ It makes my heart sing!" Placing her hands on her chest, the girl closed her eyes and smiled as she finished her thoughts.

In truth, she wasn't lying. She very much enjoyed watching the flourishes and movements of others more skilled with a blade than her. There was something about it all that gripped her; captivated her. If nothing else, it made her want to continue her practices, to eventually hope to end up as masterful as those she learned from. Such was quite a while off, though. For now, she wanted to remain as humble as she could, learning anything and everything offered to her before considering herself as advancing in any way. Thus was just how she lived her life.

"Well. Let's move on, shall we?" As the girl almost jumped from her seat, drawn from her thoughts she tilted her head in curiosity. "Let's play a little game, shall we?" Once again, Yui found herself confused. "A game? I mean... I can't say I'm opposed!" If nothing else, she was exceedingly curious to see just where Ailene was going to take the conversation. After all, what kind of game was she looking to play? She felt fairly certain it wasn't a board game, or anything of the like. What had she meant?

"I believe in fostering conversation here at Rēgīna so... I'll start by asking you a question. Then you may ask me a question. It can be anything you wish to know about me... Are you just visiting here in Karakura? Or do you live around here?"

Finding herself almost lost in thought, Yui pondered on how she should've answered the question she was given; how much detail should she have gone into? What comments should she have made? Once again snapping her fingers, the girl started to speak. "Um," she started, almost lost in thought, "I don't live too too far from here. I recently just moved to a new apartment about ten minutes from here - walking distance of course! It's... not wonderful, but it serves for now!" Giggling softly, she tucked her hands into her lap, and smiled once more. "I hope that answers your question~?"

After she finished, if Ailene had any follow-up questions, she wouldn't hesitate to provide detail. After all, this was an interview. Ailene was here to gather information on her, and she was more than willing to provide where she could. Even if it did mean she had to be a bit... secretive on the topic. She wasn't particularly fond of hiding her past like that, but this situation more or less called upon it. As she softly yawned, followed up with a rather quiet "Excuse me," Yui went on to ask her own question; provided Ailene was willing to answer, of course.

"So now it's my turn~?" She asked, smiling softly, "I suppose I'll start off simple then! What pushed you to want to open up a place as wonderful as Rēgīna?" Truthfully, she was quite interested to hear the woman's response. She wanted to know what pushed the woman to take such an ambitious step toward putting her name out there in the Human World. After all, Yui had found herself possibly wanting to do something similar, so if nothing else? She wanted to know where Ailene had started.

[Ailene Haschiro]

"A game? I mean... I can't say I'm opposed!" Yui's response brought joy to Ailene's heart. The woman couldn't help but flash a wide grin. She was that Yui was adapting to the tone of the interview. A little game would be the perfect way to take the tensions off of things. So, what was the game? Ailene had effectively offered to Yui a game of question-and-response. Th premise was simple. Ailene would start by asking a question to which Yui would then have to respond. Then the roles would switch with Yui being able to ask Ailene a question to which the head barista then had to respond. It would be a fun little activity to spice up the interview. 

Thankfully it seemed as though Yui would find the rules agreeable. With this in mind, Ailene opened with a simple question. She asked Yui if she was merely visiting Karakura or if she lived here. A long silence formed between the two women. Yui would be lost in thought and Ailene looked at the girl with sheer curiosity. Snapping her fingers just like before, Aileen chuckled briefly as she nearly spoke. "Um," There would be another moment of silence before she continued in earnest. "I don't live too too far from here. I recently just moved to a new apartment about ten minutes from here - walking distance of course! It's... not wonderful, but it serves for now!"

Ailene nodded for a moment, chuckling a little. It seemed that Yui wasn't crazy about her own living arrangements either. Ailene understood the feeling well. After downsizing from her Espada quarters to one of the guest rooms at Rēgīna, she sorely missed her spacious quarters. Not only that, but now that she had actual needs that needed to be taken care of, she quickly found that Rēgīna didn't have all the facilities she needed. Needing to use a traditional Japanese public bathhouse was her main gripe. Not only did it lack privacy, but it just didn't possess the same convenience as an apartment with a bathroom. It became clear to Ailene in the past few months that Rēgīna had not been intended as a permanent residence. 

Before she had more time to reminisce, Yui pulled Ailene back to reality. "I hope that answers your question~?" Ailene blinked for a moment and chuckled nervously as she came to her senses. "Oh... yeah! That's great to hear that you are within walking distance." Part of her wanted to continue with a follow-up question. She was curious as to what gripes that Yui had with her living situation. Alas those were not the rules of the game. Ailene would need to be patient. Then again, perhaps it was none of her business. As a small pause developed between them, Yui would yawn before breaking the silence. "Excuse me," Ailene's eyes widened for a just a moment. Then, suddenly, she began laughing softly. 

"So now it's my turn~?" Ailene simply nodded her head in response. She was curious to her what Yui planned to learn about her. The question would be surprising to say the least. "I suppose I'll start off simple then! What pushed you to want to open up a place as wonderful as Rēgīna? Once more, Ailene's eyes widened. This was the second time that she was asked such a question. Recently she had met with a Bount who went by Sylvanas. She was also curious about Ailne's motivations for opening her Tea House. She was admittedly caught off guard at first, but shortly after, Ailene cleared her throat. She gave a smile of her own. 

"Pardon me for the surprise. Just a feeling of déjà vu." She gently took her cup of tea into her hand and raised it to her lips. Closing her eyes, clearly relaxed by her brew, she tapped the rim of the cup. Accompanying it was a hum before she decided to answer the question. Her voice would be gentle and warm as she started. "Well, first of all allow me to thank you for finding Rēgīna to be wonderful." A bright smile formed on her lips. It was clear that she took much pride in the compliment. "As for why I opened Rēgīna, well..." She paused briefly, trying to collect her thoughts as she leaned back into the wooden chair.

"I come from a bit of a rough past Yui. A past that I am not very proud of.." She paused again for a moment, her hand gripping her cup a little tighter. "I may not look it, but I used to be part of a gang. We were a group of thugs. Lowlifes. Outcasts. As you can imagine, we weren't welcome just about anywhere. Strangely though... it was that which kept us all together. Eventually though, I found that I didn't fit in there either..." Her voice grew cold for a moment. As she twisted her own experiences, weaving it into a more appropriate format, she slowly grew more and more bothered by her past. Her emotions were getting the better of her. 

Ailene closed her eyes, trying to compose herself for a moment. Her hand twitched for a moment, briefly splashing some drops of tea onto the table. Soon, she'd place one hand ontop of the other. This would be enough to calm her down. As she opened her eyes, there would be a sadness within them. She lightly shook her head. "Forgive me... I sometimes lose myself thinking about it.." She said as a genuine apology. She clearly felt bad for bringing down the mood. For making a mess on the table. In a way, she'd show herself to be quite sensitive. Briefly after, Ailene continued. "Anyway. As I was saying, I didn't really fit in. Not there. Not anywhere else. It was... heart wrenching."

"Well, that would have been it. Then and there. Had I not met someone who would change everything." Her voice grew brighter again. She clearly had fond memories of them. "Maximiliano Rascon. The man was... a giant. He had a way of looking at the world with an almost timeless lens. He was the one who made me believe that I could be more than a thug." She smiled briefly before continuing. "Without him, Rēgīna would never have come to be. I would never have found the courage to leave my old life behind. To show the world that I could be more than what they labeled." She would grin for a moment, tapping the cup idly.

"You see Yui, that is what Rēgīna means to me. It is a place, not only for me to move on but also a sanctuary. A place for the rejected. The unwanted. It is a place for anyone, no matter their background. No matter their values. A place for others to feel welcome even when everyone else would turn their back on them. I see it as my gift to give to the world..." Ailene spoke with sheer passion. It would be clear that she wanted to make up for her past. That she wished to create a safe space where nobody would ever have to face rejection like she did. That was the true purpose behind Rēgīna. After speaking for what felt like an eternity, she laughed nervously. "Please forgive me Yui. This topic is very near and dear to me so I can talk about it for a while." She placed her hand behind her head and grinned. "Well. Back to the game." Her hands moved back to the table as she continued to rhythmically tap them. "Oh! Do you believe in ghosts?" She chuckled teasingly for a moment before elaborating. "Y'know, spirits... the afterlife. Stuff like that?" 

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

As Yui asked her question, she spent her time listening closely to what Ailene had to say. "I come from a bit of a rough past Yui. A past that I am not very proud of... I may not look it, but I used to be part of a gang. We were a group of thugs. Lowlifes. Outcasts. As you can imagine, we weren't welcome just about anywhere. Strangely though... it was that which kept us all together. Eventually though, I found that I didn't fit in there either..."

To put it simply, Yui knew that feeling damned well. She knew exactly what it was like to be an outcast; someone that didn't belong. Her ideals were the very reason she abandoned Seireitei, after all. Though, she might've differed from Ailene in that regard. After all, Yui didn't hold any amount of resentment toward those she'd left. Quite the opposite, actually. She still held quite an amount of respect for those still affiliated with the Gotei 13, even if she didn't agree with all of their actions. If nothing else, she was glad they still did their jobs.

Whether or not Ailene felt the same way toward her past, though, was something Yui had to keep listening to get a better idea of. As such, she continued to focus intently on the woman's words. Though, watching as Ailene spilt just a bit of tea, Yui quickly sought to aid the woman. Taking a spare shred of linen cloth from the wrappings around her sword, the girl reached across the table in order to clean up the slight drips that had hit the table. Giving Ailene a smile, she responded to the woman's words shortly thereafter. "Forgive me... I sometimes lose myself thinking about it.." "I promise you, all is well~! If it's too much to talk about, please don't hesitate to change the topic!"

As she finished speaking, it seemed Ailene was ready to continue to share her story. Smiling softly all the while, Yui listened intently to what she had to say; the mentions of how she felt that was the end, of a man named Maximiliano, and more. "Without him, Rēgīna would never have come to be. I would never have found the courage to leave my old life behind. To show the world that I could be more than what they labeled." Those words alone brought a rather wide smile across Yui's face.

If nothing else, she'd have to find that Maximiliano guy to thank him! It seemed he'd proven to be quite a help to Ailene, and ultimately brought a level of help to Yui as well because of it! If she ever had that opportunity, she was going to make sure to take it. Back to what Ailene had been saying, however, Yui found herself listening rather intently as she gave her concluding thoughts.

"You see Yui, that is what Rēgīna means to me. It is a place, not only for me to move on but also a sanctuary. A place for the rejected. The unwanted. It is a place for anyone, no matter their background. No matter their values. A place for others to feel welcome even when everyone else would turn their back on them. I see it as my gift to give to the world..." To say that these words brought a tear to Yui's eyes would be an understatement. As the woman allowed her thoughts to drift off, Yui had to do everything she could to hold herself back from crying.

Truth be told, she felt like she'd just found a new home. Even if she didn't get the job, she knew now more than ever that this was the place she was going to hang around where she could. Even if that meant leaving home at a reasonable time every day, keeping up with herself, and just generally making sure she kept herself in good condition; she'd do so. This place felt like somewhere she could be content; happy with everything that had been going on thus far.

"That's... that's really sweet," she sniffled, her voice creaky, "I'm really glad to have the opportunity to be here in that case." Yui smiled softly shortly after wiping away her tears. As she finished, Ailene asked her question. It was her turn now, after all. "Oh! Do you believe in ghosts? Y'know, spirits... the afterlife. Stuff like that?" Panic immediately set in.

She knows.

"U-um..." she started, trailing off toward the end. She needed to figure out just how she was going to address the topic. There were far too many possibilities in which she could. Should she have come clean? Should she have simply safeguarded the truth from Ailene? With such a charged question, it seemed that Ailene might've had some semblance of knowledge. Just how was she supposed to address that?? She wasn't sure. She was never sure. As her thoughts kept racing and racing-

Breathe, she told herself, just calm down for a second. You'll get through this. Taking a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds, and exhaling softly thereafter, Yui steeled herself. She consciously calmed her hands, and looked back toward Ailene. Slowly nodding her head, Yui began to speak.

"I... do. I do believe in ghosts, yes. The girl's attitude had changed slightly. She'd almost lost her cheery appearance, and turned to something a bit more... raw. Unchecked with emotional energy, that she frankly felt she needed to vent. "As of late, they've played a pretty big part in my life. Like I had only recently realized just what kind of things are out there, y'know? It's like my eyes have been... Opened, since I moved to Karakura. I hope that answers your question." Despite her dropping of the preppy personality she had just a moment ago, Yui still kept a tone of respect toward Ailene. That was something she wasn't going to drop.

Though, as quickly as the shift had happened, Yui's cheerful side was quickly returned to her with a few short, calming breaths she took. "So~!" she beamed, "with that little question out of the way, I'd like to ask; what about you? Do you believe, Ailene~?" Giving the same jovial tone Ailene had, Yui couldn't help but giggle.

[Ailene Haschiro]

Talking about her time among the Espada was always a sentimental topic to Ailene. Despite all the narratives she weaved... metaphors she injected... there was always the solemn truth behind it. She used to be a Hollow. A monster that parents tell their children about at night. Despite her efforts to show that she was different, there were parts of her past that she certainly was not proud of. The slaughter of a Quincy outpost for instance. Together with Camila, Ailene had effectively wiped out an entire encampment. Men... women... children. Nobody would walk away from that brutal massacre. Ailene, under the influence of her Resurrección, didn't even leave bodies to bury. They were swiftly devoured by the Septima Espada. 

Thankfully, her story would not only be filled with contempt and melancholy. As she delved into her reasoning for opening Rēgīna, it would become far more pleasant. Ailene truly believed that her Tea House welcomed everyone. After all, Ailene firmly believed that one act of kindness sparked another. If she would show others that someone was looking out for them... then perhaps they would go out and show compassion to a random stranger or a loved one. There was only one standing rule in Rēgīna. No Fighting. This was intended to be literal. From verbal altercations to physical scuffles. None would be tolerated in Rēgīna. 

After finishing her little spiel, Yui seemed to be touched by it. "That's... that's really sweet," The girl was practically trying to hold back tears. Ailene smiled briefly as Yui continued. "I'm really glad to have the opportunity to be here in that case." The purple-haired woman simply nodded her head, a big wide grin of satisfaction rising on her face. Alas, it was time to move on to the next question. Ailene pondered for a moment. Finally, a question came to mind though at first glance it would be a strange one. Ailene simply asked Yui if she believed in spirits. If she believed in an afterlife. Ailene was curious. Was Yui spiritually aware? Was there more to her?

It took Ailene a moment, but she noticed a shift in atmosphere. The nature of the conversation had changed nearly instantly. "U-um..." As Yui tried to compose her thoughts, Ailene simply peered at her. "Huh. She seems so on edge all of a sudden... The answer is practically written all over her face. The question is... will she dismiss it?" Ailene continued to have her suspicions of Yui's true nature. Shinigami often came to the Human World for a variety of reasons. Hell, Kimiko had been here some time ago on vacation. They used Gigai to appear human and to hide traces of their reiryoku, or spiritual power. It was the wrapped sword that had Ailene the most suspicious. This sudden panic added to it.

Yui began to focus her breathing. She was trying to calm herself down. Ailene met her gaze for a moment. She would not pass judgement. Instead, she simply smiled warmly. Rēgīna was a safe space after all Finally, Yui seemed to find the courage to speak. Her demeanor had changed, however. The same radiance suddenly was not there. It was almost as if she dropped the preppy attitude. "I... do. I do believe in ghosts, yes." Ailene nodded, sipping her tea as she listened intently. "As of late, they've played a pretty big part in my life. Like I had only recently realized just what kind of things are out there, y'know? It's like my eyes have been... Opened, since I moved to Karakura. I hope that answers your question." 

A slight pause formed between the two women. Ailene continued to carry herself with grace. She would not needlessly point fingers. She continued to sip her tea, a little more satisfied. Then, out of nowhere, Yui's cheerful demeanor returned. "So~!" Ailene's eyes widened for a moment. More than anything this is what shocked her the most. Even the atmosphere shifted again. It felt much brighter than a few moments ago. Well, it was once again her chance to ask a question. "with that little question out of the way, I'd like to ask; what about you? Do you believe, Ailene~?" Ailene merely hummed for a moment as her eyes met Yui's. 

In truth, she wasn't surprised to have the question turned on her. Considering the panic it instilled within Yui, it seemed only fair. Ailene sat her cup down gently. Yui had chosen honesty and so, in good faith, Ailene would oblige. "I would say so." She continued to rhythmically tap her fingers on the table. "We often assign these mystical things to things that we don't understanding." She smiled briefly. "The Ancient Greeks believed that whirlpools were due to sea monster, Charydbis. I suppose that we've taken to that line of thinking even today. After all. If you claimed that you saw a masked hulking beast roaming the streets at night... or a woman in black robes, wielding a sword, soared through the air. Well..." She gave a slight grin. "You'd be better off claiming that you saw an Oni... or simply a ghost." 

It wouldn't be particularly difficult to tell that Ailene was referring to both Hollows and Shinigami respectively with her descriptions. This alone would provide an indication that she was spiritually aware. Grabbing another ball of mochi ice cream, Ailene took a bite out of it and briefly felt herself shiver again. Shortly afterwards, she'd continue. "But yes, I've had my fair share of run ins with the realms beyond this one." She'd look up at Yui and give a slight wink. "There is something that's been on my mind, and it is my turn after all." She giggled briefly. "Karakura is a big town. Plenty of opportunities for a bright, young one such as yourself. Surely one's that are more popular and pay better. So... why Rēgīna? What drew you here?" For the first time in a while... Ailene appeared more serious. If Yui was to work here... she had to know what motivated her.

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

As Yui finally found herself somewhat able to relax, she gave Ailene a soft smile. Truth be told, she wasn't expecting a question like that for her turn. And, due to said question, Yui had the sneaking suspicion that Ailene was onto her. At the very least, partially onto her. She had no idea to what extent Ailene had extrapolated information, or how much she'd plan to do in the future, but Yui knew rather quickly that any chance she had of feigning a lack of knowledge was going to prove futile. This girl was incredibly intelligent.

As Yui went on to ask a question of her own, more or less repeating the same that Ailene had spoken not a moment before, the girl tucked her hands back into her lap. If nothing else, she prompted herself to hear out Ailene as much she could, looking to hit her back with the same analytical skills that she'd used before! There had to be a way for her to catch Ailene's thoughts before she did hers! "We often assign these mystical things to things that we don't understanding."

As Ailene went on to explain her thoughts, using that very obvious choice of example to almost perfectly describe that of Shinigami and Hollow, Yui let out a soft sigh. Her suspicions had been right; it seemed Ailene knew everything. Gods, where had she gone wrong? She hadn't the opportunity to worry about something like that at the moment. She'd address that after she'd answered Ailene's own question; such were the rules of the game, after all. "Well," she started, her voice kept hushed, "it seems you've found me out. I'll get to that in a moment, though; I'd like to answer your question first~!"

Taking a small sip of the tea Ailene had prepared for her, a smile rose to Yui's face. Quite an interesting taste! One she knew that she was going to grow to enjoy over time, even if it was a little strong for her at the moment. Gently setting the cup back down, Yui turned her attention toward Ailene once more. "So, why Rēgīna," she repeated, "I suppose it's because it checks off every box for me when it comes to what I'd like for a job, if that makes any sense." She paused, giving Ailene time to comment if she'd like, before getting into an explanation.

"Since I moved in to Karakura, Rēgīna has been a place that's caught my eye rather quickly! From what I understand, this place is fairly new~? While I was walking to my courses a couple weeks back, I noticed this plate had went up! Naturally I wanted to stop by, but I was already headed somewhere, so I couldn't really spare the time then. Since then though, I've glanced in from time to time, and really liked the atmosphere that I saw!"

"Given my current living situation is... less than idea, I realized quite quickly that I needed to find a place of employment, and almost immediately Rēgīna popped into my thoughts! Everything here is so wonderfully set up, everyone is so nice, and the atmosphere is absolutely phenomenal~! What more could someone ask for in a place to work?"

Smiling softly, Yui went on to her question. Sipping from her cup once more, and taking a small bit of mochi ice cream for herself, she started to hum to herself. Seemed it was time to address the elephant in the room. Though, how exactly was she going to go about doing so? Perhaps just being forward with it? Yeah, that seemed the best option. "My turn~! I'll keep it super easy; how'd you figure out that I was a Shinigami?"

[Ailene Haschiro]

"Well," Ailene looked up and tilted her head. Yui was seemingly keeping her voice down. "it seems you've found me out. I'll get to that in a moment, though; I'd like to answer your question first~!" Ailene chuckled for a moment. She would be very happy that Yui was so eager to answer the question. Claiming to have found her out though? This intrigued Ailene. "What could she be hiding after all?" The barista felt no malice towards Yui. There were many people that visited her shop. Students, businessmen, the elderly. Those were the more common patrons. However, Ailene had hosted Shinigami and Bounts before as well. Yui being some sort of a spiritual being wouldn't be out of the question.

She idly shook her head. Apparently, she'd find out the truth later. There wasn't any need for guesswork. As Yui seemingly took the first sip of her tea, Ailene almost immediately noticed the small smile that arose on the girls' lips. Ailene blushed a little. She was always proud of her work and the smile was compliment enough. "So, why Rēgīna," Ailene tapped her cheek as she eagerly waited to hear Yui's reasoning. "I suppose it's because it checks off every box for me when it comes to what I'd like for a job, if that makes any sense." The purple-haired woman simply nodded her head in response. It made quite a lot of sense, but Ailene had a feeling that Yui would elaborate. 

"Since I moved in to Karakura, Rēgīna has been a place that's caught my eye rather quickly! From what I understand, this place is fairly new~? While I was walking to my courses a couple weeks back, I noticed this place had went up! Naturally I wanted to stop by, but I was already headed somewhere, so I couldn't really spare the time then. Since then though, I've glanced in from time to time, and really liked the atmosphere that I saw!" This was music to Ailene. However, if this didn't win her over then the next statement would. "Given my current living situation is... less than idea, I realized quite quickly that I needed to find a place of employment, and almost immediately Rēgīna popped into my thoughts! Everything here is so wonderfully set up, everyone is so nice, and the atmosphere is absolutely phenomenal~! What more could someone ask for in a place to work?"

Ailene blushed and bashfully looked through the window. To hear Rēgīna being described in this manner was just what Ailene had hoped for. Needless to say, in Ailene's mind, she had hired Yui right then and there. However, the barista felt that it would be better to ease into it. Besides, she was busy watching Yui as the girl became far more comfortable and bolder. Taking another sip, she even decided to go for the mochi ice cream. Ailene gave a wide grin. She had been waiting for Yui to try it. Before Ailene could congratulate her, it seemed that there was a matter of business to take care of. "My turn~! I'll keep it super easy; how'd you figure out that I was a Shinigami?"

There it was! A blatant confirmation of her suspicions. "Aha! So it is a Zanpakutō!" Or... at least so Ailene thought. Regardless, she'd shoot Yui a gentle smile before taking a sip of her own tea. Clearing her throat, she'd speak clearly. "Honestly? I was more suspicious than anything. I wasn't 100% sure... well, until you just went ahead and told me." A soft chuckle arose from her. "Though I suppose I'd have to blame your sword more than anything." She briefly motioned at the wrapped blade. "You seem awfully attached to it and that is typical of a Shinigami and their Zanpakutō." Setting the cup of tea down, Ailene's fingers danced along the edge of the table, tapping it with the same rhythm as she has for the past few minutes. 

Her eyes narrowed for a moment as she sighed. "I suppose our little game has come to an end though." While it likely sounded ominous, the barista smiled brightly. "I've decided that you're more than a match for what I'm looking for. If you'd like the job, it's yours!" If there was any shock, she'd all allow it to settle before continuing. "I allow for fairly flexible schedules. Rēgīna does not need to be your primary focus." It was certainly strange, but it almost appeared as though the reveal of Yui being a Shinigami didn't bother Ailene. That was, of course, absolutely correct. She didn't care. Once persecuted and hated for being an Arrancar, she had left that life behind and had to look forward. She had no love for Soul Society, but she knew that not all Shinigami were zealous sheep like that Quincy Empire she's heard about.

[Yuki & Yui Tsumugi]

"Honestly? I was more suspicious than anything. I wasn't 100% sure... well, until you just went ahead and told me." Yui sighed softly. Well, she couldn't say she was the most surprised by that turn of events. After all, she didn't exactly do a very good job at hiding the fact; she was openly carrying around a sword, after all. Any spiritually-aware individual could reasonably make that claim and walk away with a correct answer most of the time; not just with Yui.

As Ailene continued to speak, she all but confirmed Yui's thoughts. "Though I suppose I'd have to blame your sword more than anything. You seem awfully attached to it and that is typical of a Shinigami and their Zanpakutō." …Zanpakutō? Yui cocked her head to the side. So, that ruled out sensory capabilities. If she hadn't given it away, she wasn't sure just how much Ailene would have figured out on her own. Nonetheless, it seemed it was time to explain herself.

"Oh," Yui started, this isn't actually a Zanpakutō~! …Not yet, at least. It's... a long story. If you're willing to listen, I'm more than happy to share it!" From here, Yui paused. She wanted to give Ailene the opportunity to hear the girl out, should she desire. If Ailene obliged Yui, she'd waste no time in explaining her situation to her hopefully-future-employer. After all, building that level of trust in a business relationship such as this was a phenomenal first step toward finding success occupationally.

"So, back when I was... well, alive, I lived not too far from Karakura; northern Yokohama, to be specific. My life started fairly normal, pretty much what you'd expect from someone! Well, one thing led to another, n' I found myself attacked by a rather... Odd-looking Hollow, as I learned they're called. Had some kind of paper over it's face, hopped around, kinda what you'd expect from a zombie! Well, one thing led to another, and I eventually lost my life that day. That was around six or so years ago."

Taking another small scoop of Mochi ice cream, Yui continued her story in between bites. "Turns out that Hollows devour souls, and I ended up pretty lucky to have actually survived that attack. Even now, I still get these phantom pains from where I was... split, ahaha~. After the attack had occurred, a Shinigami found me, and performed a purification ritual on me called Konso; from there, I was sent to Soul Society. Well, more specifically, the residential districts." A slight pained look rose to the girl's face as she'd remembered just what happened during her time in the Rukon.

"Well, it was from there that I learned something... rather off-putting about Shinigami. Did you know that when the balance of souls is off in either of the worlds, Soul Reapers will actively kill citizens in order to balance things out? That kind of thing... made me sick to my stomach. And yet, I still found myself joining the Shinigami anyways. I guess part of me felt like I could change that? Make it no longer a necessity. Even now, I still feel that way."

"Well, one thing led to another, and eventually I was set to graduate from the academy. Right before that happened, however, I decided to leave; go rogue, if you will. In the dead of night, I asked for a bit of help from someone in the thirteenth Squad; I think his name was something 'Laundry'? Kind of an odd name if you ask me, but I've go no place to judge~! Regardless, it was because of him that I was able to get out, with this Asauchi here. I'm still working on making it into a Zanpakuto, but that won't be coming for a little while, I feel!" Smiling softly, Yui moved her Asauchi closer to her.

"At this point though, I've evaded the eyes of Soul Society for quite a little while, and hope to continue doing so! Nobody but yourself knows I'm a Plus, though! So, if you could please keep that a secret~?" With a playful wink, Yui concluded her story. It felt... good, to have gotten that off of her chest. Like a weight had just been lifted off of her soul. She felt good.

As Ailene went on to comment about Yui's new position, the girl couldn't help but bounce out of her seat in excitement. "Really~?!" She exclaimed, "yay~! I'm so excited to start~!" And in truth, she could barely contain her excitement. In fact, that was so much the case, that she was going to offer Ailene something she hoped the woman didn't refuse. "I'd like to think this calls for celebration~! Would you be interested in joining me for lunch? My treat~!"

[Ailene Haschiro]

"This isn't actually a Zanpakutō~! …Not yet, at least. It's... a long story. If you're willing to listen, I'm more than happy to share it!" The room grew silent for a moment. Ailene was slightly perplexed. She admitted to being a Shinigami. They carried around a Zanpakutō in order to bond with it. Not only would it hold her Zanpakutō Spirit, but it was the source of Shikai and Bankai. Ailene was intrigued to say the least. Yui basically all but confirmed that there was a precursor to developing a Zanpakutō. Ailene had heard about it briefly now that she really thought about it, but it was largely a mystery to her. She was never a Shinigami. It would stand to reason that she didn't know all of their secrets. 

Given the opportunity to listen to Yui tell her story, Ailene would happily oblige. She nodded her head, lifting her cup and taking a sip. "Please, be my guest." Having given her consent, Yui would waste little time. Over the course of a few minutes, maybe even ten, the Shinigami began to explain her origins. How she grew up in Yokohama, the assault of a Hollow that led to her passing, her purification and journey to Soul Society. It was a fairly detailed account and Ailene would eagerly listen, a look of fascination on her face. She was utterly entranced by her story. However, this expression would soon turn into disgust. There were two parts of the story that stood out.

"Did you know that when the balance of souls is off in either of the worlds, Soul Reapers will actively kill citizens in order to balance things out?" Ailene's eyes widened. She had visited the Rukongai before. Her heart bled for the men, women and children who effectively lived in the slums with the outer layers of the Rukongai. In fact, it reminded her of Hueco Mundo. Citizens in these outer districts would steal from others and even kill to survive. Soul Society did not care about these people. Now to add to that, they had the right to kill citizens of the Rukongai for the sake of balancing some scale. A thought suddenly came to mind. It was raw and consumed by anger. "I knew Shinigami couldn't be trusted. They scheme. They are a threa to us all..." Ailene felt the anger rise within her though she took a deep breath, the emotion quickly dissipating. 

Focusing back on Yui's story, it seemed that the Shinigami had chosen to abandon Soul Society. To go rogue. "In the dead of night, I asked for a bit of help from someone in the thirteenth Squad; I think his name was something 'Laundry'?" Her expression immediately darkened. The happy atmosphere that surrounded Ailene briefly faded. It was as if a shadow suddenly rose over the barista. She knew that name well. It was that same bastard who assaulted Ailene for seemingly being responsible for Camila's expulsion from Soul Society. Unfortunately it only ended in conflict and forced Ailene to use her Resurrección at the time. 

Her voice would be quiet and carried a hint of dissent with it. "Albin Landry..." It would become clear, solely off of how Ailene responded, that Ailene had some history with the Gotei. She was certainly jaded by her experiences. Strangely, Ailene felt another wave of anger wash over her. This one felt far more detached and hateful. "Damn him! I should've killed him. Eviscerated him. Ate his heart..." A feeling of concern filled Ailene. She briefly turned her head and looked around. There was nothing. Nobody. Nobody, but herself and Yui. It almost felt as if someone else was feeding her these thoughts. She cleared her throat nervously. 

Hopefully Yui would overlook this sudden shift in personality from Ailene. Finishing her story, Yui used the term Asauchi. Apparently after some time, it would become a true Zanpakutō. The idea was completely foreign to Ailene. Arrancar, from the moment of their birth, manifest a Zanpakutō. The essence of their Hollow form requires a vessel. It was because of this that an Arrancar had an inherent mastery over their Resurrección. They had survived painstaking decades... sometimes even centuries to surviving the cruel life of a Hollow. It had no secrets to unlock, perhaps barring Segunda Etapa. However, it was so rare that Ailene had chalked it up to a myth. 

Her attention would be drawn back to Yui as the Shinigami spoke. "At this point though, I've evaded the eyes of Soul Society for quite a little while, and hope to continue doing so! Nobody but yourself knows I'm a Plus, though! So, if you could please keep that a secret~?" Ailene blinked for a moment. Yui had effectively entrusted the barista with her safety. Ailne blushed ever so slightly and hid her face bashfully for a moment. Taking a deep breath, Ailene nodded. "Of course, your secret is safe with me." The barista did feel a little bad though. Here she was, disguising her past and yet Yui had revealed the truth about herself. Did the Shinigami know? Could she have known? Ailene wasn't sure, but she wouldn't tackle that until the time came. After all, Shinigami and Hollows would likely always be enemies. Ailene decided to remove herself from the cycle of violence by relinquishing her powers, but she still felt guilty for her sins and atrocities as an Arrancar.

Needing to find a way to brighten Rēgīna again, Ailene would finally tell Yui that she was hired. Naturally, she was ecstatic. "Really~?!" The barista chuckled briefly, finding it rather charming and endearing. "Yay~! I'm so excited to start~!" Her positivity was downright infectious. She felt it would be good for the Tea House. To not only have help as it was likely to improve in popularity, but also to have someone so full of energy. Nothing prepared Ailene for the next question though. "I'd like to think this calls for celebration~! Would you be interested in joining me for lunch? My treat~!" A blush rising to her cheeks again, Ailene sighed. "Well. It would be rude to refuse. In fact, I'd be delighted."

Taking the last sip of her tea along with the last ball of mochi ice cream, Ailene decided to clean up before they left. After finishing, she'd rise to her feet and take the tray along with the cups, bowls and gaiwan. Ailene watched her step. After all, she didn't want to drop anything. It wouldn't take long to clean everything out. Dishes would be done in a minute, and she'd dump the charred remnants of the tea leaves. Ailene just decided to stay in her Rēgīna uniform. It was fairly comfortable and gave her some grace. Producing a key, she'd carefully herd Yui out of the Tea House and lock up. Ailene felt... happy. Not only had she found someone else to help at Rēgīna, but also made a new friend. The barista couldn't wait to see the new places they could take Rēgīna together.

[Kitai Yoru]

Yui Tsumugi: 53 paragraphs, 50% bonus awarded
Ailene Haschiro: 61 paragraphs, 50% bonus awarded