First Impressions Matter The Most [Social]

[Celes Shindazu]

Today was a very exciting time for the Tenth Division. It was time to meet the new recruits! It marked the time when the Celes' office doors were swung wide open. While just about anyone could drop in to ask her questions, it was geared toward newcomers to the Division. This was by design. During Celes' rise through the ranks to Captaincy, she found that the upper echelons of the Division sometimes made themselves scarce. She had never met Tsukiyomi until she had become a Third Seat. Furthermore, she never got to meet the previous Captain of the Tenth before she spontaneously disappeared.

Needless to say, Celes did not want others to share that experience. She wanted to be accessible as possible. Today, Celes would find herself meeting with three new recruits. Well... one, really. She had already met with two of them. Preparing for the third and final recruit, Celes approached the boiling pot of tea. Gripping the handle, the Captain poured herself and her guest a cup of Jasmine tea, in advance. She had worked on her tea quite a bit over the years. She was far from a master, but she was at least proficient enough that it didn't taste like burned tea leaves now...

Sighing briefly, Celes returned to her desk and took a sip. Humming softly, the Shinigami opened a cabinet and glanced at quite a few files. Reports of her Officers, past and present. It never hurt to have these on hand, usually to offer commendations for outstanding performance and recommendations leadership positions. As her fingers danced from file to file, she'd mutter to herself softly, "Hmm.. where did I put it. D... E... F... G... Ah! Hiroto, Benjiro, huh?" 

Opening his file, the Captain simply wanted to get a snapshot of the Officers' life. Glancing at his academy exams, it seemed that he was particularly gifted at Kidō. Hohō, Hakuda, and Zanjutsu were all passable. As she read further, the lime-haired Shinigami noted a special note made about him. "Overly protective to the point of injury. Caution advised with deployment, huh?" She sighed and set the document down. These Academy documents certainly had uses... usually to determine whether someone was going to a problem child or not. These reports, however, treated many things like a checkbox. There was no flexibility. No room for compromise. 

Rubbing her temple, Celes called out to someone. "Nadia!" Her voice roared through the halls. After a few brief moments, a Shinigami with bright-red hair would come dashing in, panting. She clearly needed to catch her breath. "Y- Yes, Captain Celes?" Chuckling for a moment, Celes rose from her chair and crossed her arms behind her back. "It seems I have one more recruit to meet today. A Benjiro Hiroto. Please find him and forward him to my office." Nadia nodded and spoke quickly, "Yes, Captain!" before she ran off to retrieve the Officer. Celes simply sighed and turned to look out the window, tapping her hand gently. "I won't let someone else tell me what to do with my Division. I'll make that call myself." 

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro sat in his room at the barracks, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him as he reflected on the past few days. Despite not officially starting his duties assigned by Captain Celes yet, he had been extremely productive, spending his time helping lost souls find their way to the afterlife, training with a member of Squad 4, patrolling the Rukongai with a member of Squad 3, and meeting new acquaintances and friends in Karakura Town. In fact, he had just returned from Karakura Town, where he had been performing a Konso sweep, searching for any lost souls that needed guidance. Unfortunately, there were always more souls to save and he had trouble finding them, due to his lack of senses. He made a mental note to begin practicing and training his energy sensing some more, but he'd have to find the time for that another day. The week had already been long, but he had felt more accomplished than he had in years, for having been able to guide many souls to the next stage of their journey. He let out a deep sigh as he began his meditation, ready to rest, reflect, and introspect after a long week. The sense of peace and tranquility that came with helping others was something that he cherished and it brought him a sense of purpose. He closed his eyes, ready to offer up all of his experiences and gratitude to Buddha. "Namo Ami-"

Unfortunately, his door was slammed open by a familiar-looking red-haired Shinigami. This was Nadia, the same Shinigami that had told him about the training with Squad 4, which inevitably became a 1 on 1 session with Gestalt. Regardless, she seemed a bit out of breath as her eyes latched on to his with a single gaze. In between breaths, she exclaimed. "The...Captain...You...Office...Now!" Immediately, Benjiro's heart skipped a beat as he felt a small lump in his throat. Was it time already? The fateful moment he had been waiting for, the chance to meet the Captain he had been looking up to for so long? He immediately stood up, his hands still clasping together as he rushed his prayer on the go. "Namo Amitahba! Grant me guidance in what may come, Namo Amitahba!" He prayed with complete focus as he took slower steps, much to the dismay of Nadia. 

Then, spurred on by his enthusiasm, he took in a deep, meditative breath. Allowing the air to fully incorporate itself into his body, his reiatsu flowing along with it. Learning from his race with Gestalt, he knew how to make it flow like a torrent as opposed to a gentle river, focusing the overlap of reiatsu to crash into the soles of his feet as his eyes focused on the closest spot to the Captain's office. He crouched in a single moment, pushing off with another, using the reiatsu to boost his speed as he flash stepped forward. Shunpo, it was extremely helpful in moments like these. It didn't take long for Nadia to Shunpo after him, with her skill easily being able to catch up to him. She would quickly push the doors open and gesture towards him. "Captain! Unseated Officer Benjiro Hiroto is here!" With that, she stepped to the side for Benjiro to take over. 

With a gulp and a bead of cold sweat dripping from the top of his forehead, Benjiro would bring his hands together and bow deeply...very deeply. It was almost comically so, as his 7 foot 3 tall frame seemingly folded in half, his head peeking through in between his legs as he shouted in reply. "Greetings, Captain! It is an endless honor to meet you! I am Unseated Officer Benjiro Hiroto, at your service, Captain!" Until he was allowed to raise his head, he would remain in this deeply respectful, comical, and... compromising position. Upon raising his head, Captain Celes would notice a couple things of note, the first being his uniform. Aside from the traditional Shihakusho, he wore a Green haori with multiple Buddhist prayers written on them. Next, were his eyes, or his lack of eyes? No, his eyes were actually completely clear white, as if he had no irises at all. Finally, he had a perfectly horizontal scar across the top of his head. In addition to that, he seemed very tense, and his stance spoke to his meekness, as he seemed small despite his unnaturally large size. 

[Celes Shindazu]

Several minutes after sending one of her officers for Benjiro, that very same officer arrived once more. Her breathing was fast-paced, her posture was slightly hunched over and she held onto the door frame. Despite that, she still managed to choke up the words she was looking for. "Captain! Unseated Officer Benjiro Hiroto is here!" Celes smiled and waved her hand. "Excellent work, Nadia. Dismissed." The woman nodded and stepped out of the office. As she did, however, another Shinigami took her place. No doubt Benjiro.

Celes gazed up at the giant who stood before her. The juxtaposition in size between Nadia and Benjiro was dumbfounding. The Shinigami, however, swiftly bent over in greeting to Celes. The Captain chuckled at the deep bow. Accompanying this, the Shinigami finally spoke, "Greetings, Captain! It is an endless honor to meet you! I am Unseated Officer Benjiro Hiroto, at your service, Captain!" Celes simply placed her hand in front of her lips to hide a chuckle. "An endless honor, huh? That's a new one."

This response wasn't uncommon among her new recruits. Hell, Celes briefly recounted her days as an Unseated Officer within the Eleventh Division. She wasn't that much different back in those days. Despite her title and position, however, Celes did not relish holding it above people. Quite the opposite, actually. She really disliked the way it changed the way others communicated with her. She'd simply raise her hand and smile at the Unseated Officer before her. "At ease, Benjiro. Your service is noted but for now, sit." She motioned to the chair that sat opposite of her at the desk.

As Benjiro lifted his head, Celes took note of his appearance. Presentation could say a lot about a person. Her eyes briefly glanced over his clothing and her eyes suddenly gleamed with interest. Not unlike herself, Benjiro wore a haori. Unlike hers, however, it was adorned with several phrases and text. As she locked eyes with him, she briefly took note of their unique appearance. They were a pure white. The Captain couldn't help, but hum. Already he was presenting himself as an interesting individual. She would look forward to learning more about him.

If Benjiro took the seat that Celes offered, the Captain grabbed the handle of the teapot and poured herself a cup of tea. The steam rose, touching her face with a soothing warmth. Once more, she'd look at Benjiro. "Could I interest you in a cup of tea, Benjiro?" If the Unseated Shinigami accepted, Celes would grab a second cup which sat on her side and poured the tea. Setting the pot down, she'd slide the cup of tea over to Benjiro. "Enjoy. It's jasmine tea. A favorite of mine. I find it calms the nerves." She shot Benjiro a brief sly smile. She knew that he'd likely be sweating bullets just like anyone else in his position and prepared in advance.

"Now then. Why do you think I summoned you here, Benjiro?" 

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Benjiro arrived at Captain Celes's office, his heart pounding with anticipation. As he entered, she told him to be at ease, causing the gentle giant to stand up straight with the brightest smile on his face. He felt a sense of awe wash over him, as he stood before one of the youngest Captains in all of the Gotei 13. He could not believe he was there, in her presence, and he felt a great sense of honor to have been called upon by her. Of course, he understood that he was summoned because he was the newest recruit to the Jubantai, but he had not expected to be granted the honor of a one on one meeting so early on! This meeting was truly a blessing!

She motioned for him to sit down, and he did so, his demeanor similar to a giant golden retriever with how happy he looked. He tried his best to contain his excitement, but it was difficult. Even as she told him to relax, his excitement and his nervousness caused him to sit at the edge of his seat for even the most mundane of things. He watched his Captain with optimistic anticipation as she slowly poured herself a cup of tea, before offering tea to Benjiro. He immediately nodded, feeling a sense of reverence at being served a cup of tea by the prodigious Captain Celes. She even served her favorite jasmine tea, meant to calm the nerves.

As he sipped on the tea, he savored the delicate flavor and the calming effect it had on him. He could feel his nerves begin to settle, and he felt more at ease in her presence. The feeling of warmth that began from his lips before working its way down to his core had only brightened Benjiro's mood. Tea was such a wonderful thing after all. Benjiro was not used to such a luxury, but he knew that this was one of the privileges he earned now as an Officer in the Gotei 13. His life in the Rukongai had taught him about the luxury of food and drink, though he was used to long fasts as a former monk since his birth in his other life.

After a few moments of silence, Benjiro spoke the nembutsu to thank her for the tea. "Namu Amidha Butsu!" He felt that this was appropriate, as it was a way to show his appreciation for the small but meaningful gesture. As he finished the short expression of gratitude, he looked up at Captain Celes, feeling a sense of pride and admiration for the young Captain who had accepted him into her squad and allowed him to serve the Soul Society to his fullest. He hoped that he would be able to learn from her, and that he would be able to make her proud.

That was when the meeting begun in earnest, with Captain Celes asking him why he thought he was there. The gentle giant just furrowed his brow, unsure as to what to answer. He had not expected anything in particular from this meeting, as her summons were quite abrupt. He did not wish to say that though, instead he searched his thoughts and developed an answer based on how he had felt. "I presume that this meeting is an assessment of sorts, Captain? Perhaps to determine my duties and the best way I can defend and honor the Soul Society?" 

[Celes Shindazu]

Celes was quite happy to see her subordinate sit and accept the offer of tea. After handing him the cup, she could practically see some of his anxiety and fear melt away. The Captain couldn't help but smile brightly. "Namu Amidha Butsu!" Benjiro's voice suddenly filled the silence with a unique phrase that Celes hadn't really heard before. Though she did not understand its meaning, she had an inkling that it was positive. On the bright side, now that nerves were settled, their meeting could begin. 

To begin, Benjiro would answer the question that she offered. Why had he been summoned here? "I presume that this meeting is an assessment of sorts, Captain? Perhaps to determine my duties and the best way I can defend and honor the Soul Society?" Celes gently tapped her fingers on the desk before speaking. "Well, you're half right. This is an assessment, but not of your skills nor your duties. We can always talk about that later." Gently pushing away from her desk, the Captain turned to look out the window. 

"What do you think makes a great Division among the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Benjiro?" She'd give him a moment to answer before offering her own thoughts on the matter. "Is it power? Ability? Perhaps loyalty to our superiors? Conviction? All of these are good answers, but I like to think that there is something more crucial." Celes turned back to Benjiro and smiled brightly at him. "Trust. Without trust in one another, a Division falls apart. They can't organize effectively. They can't fulfill their duties. Without it, you may question my judgment and I may question your ability to carry out my orders."

Celes leaned in a little. "I used to the Third Seat of the Eleventh Division. We were leaderless. Our Captain was nowhere to be found and our Vice-Captain was hard to track down. When I became Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division, our Captain spontaneously disappeared. There was little guidance. I had to rely on my own strengths, and mine alone." Her facial expression became a little stern as if to emphasize the importance of what she was trying to convey. "This is why I organize these initial meetings. This is the time to get to know, one another. To build a bond."

Her features softened once more. Leaning back into her seat, she'd relax and take a sip of her tea. "So Benjiro. Tell me about yourself. Hobbies. Dreams for the future. Really anything you can think of. There is, however, one question I ask you indulge me with first." She'd continue smiling at the Unseated Officer before asking inquisitively, "Why the Tenth Division? What drew you to our doors? What drove you to want to swear yourself to defending every man, woman and child in Soul Society?" 

[Benjiro Hiroto]

"What do you think makes a great Division among the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Benjiro?"

"Is it not purpose, Captain?" The gentle giant's answer was short, but filled with meaning. Individually, every Shinigami's potential was related to their purpose, or their goal. At the very least, that was how Benjiro saw it. This was not limited to Shinigami, as even people in his life as a monk had been directed by their own purpose, the end point of their journeys to Enlightenment. Potential and success was directly related to this belief, this drive and reason for being. Therefore, as a group of individuals, the greatness of a Division was determined by its purpose.

It made sense in the young Shinigami's mind, as the purpose of the Division served to inspire the purposes of each of its members. It was thus that the grander the purpose, the better. The Tenth Division, whose sole purpose was the defense of the Soul Society, seemed perfectly aligned with the role of Shinigami in the first place, guardians of the Cycle of Souls. Would it not be right to assume that the Tenth Division was the most noble, with each member more inspired to do above and beyond what was expected? Benjiro certainly thought so. The Tenth was the greatest Division in the reborn monk. 

After allowing the rookie to speak, the Captain replied, each word falling unto Benjiro's ears and stirring more thoughts in his curious mind. "Is it power? Ability? Perhaps loyalty to our superiors? Conviction? All of these are good answers, but I like to think that there is something more crucial." Each of her answers only seemed to confirm the giant man's previous answer, as all of these could be related back to one's purpose, one's singular drive to achieve something greater than themselves. He set his cup of tea down as he felt the confidence building in his chest, only for it to be broken with a single utterance of a word.

"Trust."  What? Trust? Benjiro's brow furrowed, as if he did not understand what he had just heard. How could greatness have been related to trust? Before he could ask his questions, the Captain continued. "Without trust in one another, a Division falls apart. They can't organize effectively. They can't fulfill their duties. Without it, you may question my judgment and I may question your ability to carry out my orders." The gentle giant had a hard time grasping the answer the Captain had given him, but he could not deny the wisdom of her words. After all, wisdom was the translation of experience and understanding. 

Still, could trust truly have been more important than a purpose? Did one need only trust in others to succeed? He wanted to put it into question, but her words could not be denied. Without trust, purpose is directionless... No, it was even worse than that. Benjiro had thought that the purpose of the individual and the group would be complementary, with guardians serving to protect, but what of conflicting purposes? What if a guardian was called to attack? To invade? What would one follow? What would he follow? 

Taking a sip of tea to calm his racing mind, the Captain began to speak of her story. She told him her story as a member of the Eleventh Division, completely leaderless. She relied solely on herself as the acting member of the highest authority, but her expression told a different story. He could feel the significance of her words, as if she was doing her best to make up for her lack of engagement and guidance in her life. True enough, she said that this meeting was meant to build a bond, to learn and know of one another.

"Well, the reason I joined the Tenth was because of my answer earlier, my purpose. Even in life, before I was reborn in the Soul Society, I had a singular drive and purpose. I want to bring peace to everyone. I want to protect and remove the need for harm or strife... I know it's not the most realistic of goals, but every step is a step that wasn't taken before." The earnest tone of his voice was matched only by his impassioned expression. "Worst of all is when innocents are burned by the flames of conflict. That is why I wish to defend, to fight so that others do not."

War was devastating. His life in the Kiyomizudera temple had been a direct result of war, with his parents being unable to care for him in times of battle. Many monks came from tragedy. Some were torn from their lives, running from remnants of a home turned to ashes. Others came from families, broken by battle, by death. Others still came for atonement, for the atrocities they committed while afflicted by the sickness that was violence. Benjiro abhorred violence, the infection that killed more than any other illness. It turned innocents into killers, after all. "I will defend every man, woman and child, not just in the Soul Society, but in all the worlds."

The Unseated Officer held an intense look despite his lack of irises, but that intensity only faded as he returned to this moment, this present. He looked up at his Captain, still awaiting his answers about who he was. "Apologies, Captain. This idealistic dream tends to get the better of me," He bowed ever so slightly as he shook the thought away. "I spend the rest of my time in reflection when I can, learning and meditating. I am a Buddhist, after all. Living in the Soul Society has been a wonder to my search of Enlightenment, as my faith suggests. I'm also quite interested in all manner of Kido, though after the initial lessons in the Academy, I've been mostly self-taught."

After giving her a moment to respond to his answers, the Unseated Officer sought to learn more about his Captain in turn. There was one point of her story that had interested him quite a bit, especially coupled with the emotions she felt. "Captain, if you were already the Third Seat and Vice Captain of the Eleventh Division, leaderless as it was, why did you take command of the Tenth? From the way you speak of it, being an Officer of the Eleventh Division without guidance had been difficult, so would it not make more sense to stay for the Juniors that joined after you?"

[Celes Shindazu]

An officer's reason for joining the Tenth was among the most important questions that Celes asked. Over the years, Celes felt like she had heard it all, but this was truly a first. "Well, the reason I joined the Tenth was because of my answer earlier, my purpose. Even in life, before I was reborn in the Soul Society, I had a singular drive and purpose. I want to bring peace to everyone. I want to protect and remove the need for harm or strife... I know it's not the most realistic of goals, but every step is a step that wasn't taken before." Passion and conviction radiate from their voice as they spoke.

"Worst of all is when innocents are burned by the flames of conflict. That is why I wish to defend, to fight so that others do not." Celes nodded and smiled a little. "On that we can agree on.", she thought to herself. The Hell invasion had taught her that lesson as countless Plus were slaughtered in the ensuing chaos. The Shinigami had enemies, not even Celes could deny that, but even in war there were rules. Civilians and innocents were bystanders and should be left out of the conflict.

All of Benjiro's passions and purpose led to the most surprising declaration that Celes had heard in some time. "I will defend every man, woman, and child, not just in the Soul Society, but in all the worlds." Needless to say, it was a noble goal. Was it realistic though? Debatable. Nevertheless, it told Celes one thing. The man before her had a fire that would likely never extinguish as long as he remained in pursuit of this task.

As he apologized, Celes couldn't help but giggle softly. This passion wasn't a bad thing. Actually, Celes was happy to see it. The fledgling Shinigami briefly went into some of his own history as well as explaining how Soul Society helped shape him into the man he is today. Celes reached forward, bringing the cup of tea to her lips before humming softly. "Well, I've gleaned one thing. Your passion is undeniable. I'm sure you'll be a welcome influence on everyone in the Division." She truly meant every word she said. "So then, do you have any questions for me?"

He appeared to ponder for a moment before posing a most interesting question, "Captain, if you were already the Third Seat and Vice Captain of the Eleventh Division, leaderless as it was, why did you take command of the Tenth? From the way you speak of it, being an Officer of the Eleventh Division without guidance had been difficult, so would it not make more sense to stay for the Juniors that joined after you?" Admittedly, it caught Celes a little off guard.

She pondered for a moment before answering, "Well, first let me clarify. I was the Third Seat of the Eleventh Division and then moved to the Tenth as Vice-Captain. As for why..." She gave it a little more thought, "Well, I guess I never stayed with the Eleventh because I felt like I had nothing to give those under me. I was too rash and impulsive with far too little wisdom and experience to offer."

"Though, I suppose that the main reason, especially now, is that I didn't share their values. The Eleventh, much the like the Tenth, is a combat Divison but it feels more vengeful. They are the spear of Soul Society, but I realized that I didn't share the same enthusiasm for taking a life. Even now, I avoid it until it's absolutely necessary. In the Tenth, I learned patience and restraint. With those skills, I feel much more capable in mentoring those of my Division."

[Benjiro Hiroto]

As Benjiro concluded his heartfelt reflection on his strengths and weaknesses, a sense of tranquility enveloped him, as if his words had solidified his beliefs and brought him closer to his true self. In that moment, a serene smile graced his lips, and the world seemed to take on a heightened clarity, as if his aspirations were within reach, tangible and real. Many of his instructors at the Academy had shunned and berated him for his beliefs, especially at his goals of defending the innocents of other Worlds, even going as far as to say that defending innocent Hollows, should they even exist, is tantamount to betrayal. To meet someone who did not judge him for his beliefs was truly touching to the recent graduate.

Captain Celes, with her wisdom and discerning gaze, responded to Benjiro's introspection, her words resonating deeply within him. The weight of her approval filled him with an overwhelming sense of pride. She acknowledged his unwavering passion and deemed him a welcome addition to the Tenth Division, validating his dedication to his goals. In that instant, Benjiro's gratitude swelled, his heart brimming with admiration for his captain, who recognized his potential and saw value in his unwavering commitment.

"You have my thanks, Captain Celes. I can only hope that I can be of service to the Tenth."

As the conversation continued, Captain Celes extended the opportunity for Benjiro to ask questions. Intrigued by her journey and the path that led her to her current position, he inquired about her transition from another division to the Tenth. Her response only deepened his respect for her. Despite her youth, she displayed profound wisdom and self-awareness. Celes revealed that she had chosen to transfer from the Eleventh Squadron, recognizing that her impulsive nature and thirst for vengeance made her ill-suited to lead without proper guidance. The Tenth Division, with its alignment to her ideals and its focus on combat, provided the perfect home for her.

Benjiro's smile widened, an expression of genuine happiness and pride. He felt blessed to have such an extraordinary individual as his captain—a leader who harbored a deep understanding of the complexities of life and death, and who chose to defend and protect rather than succumb to the allure of revenge and bloodshed. In Captain Celes, Benjiro found a beacon of inspiration and guidance, someone whose presence would undoubtedly shape his journey within the Soul Society.

"Many of my instructors and peers have called my beliefs unrealistic. Many have called me weak-willed or soft-hearted. Thanks to you, I can see that compassion is not antithetical to one's duty as a Shinigami." Benjiro spoke, verbalizing his thoughts for his Captain to hear. He gave her a respectful bow, one filled with reverence for the enlightened mind before him. She was, to him, a Buddha herself. He hoped that he could emulate her and further her vision of the Tenth, whatever it may be.