I Spy

[Ume Oboro]

Finally. 

Ume's thoughts raced as she tugged a small cart overstuffed with junk behind her. She had just graduated from the academy and finally  had found her place in the Juunibantai. A little satisfied smile twitched at her dull, tired looking face. She had passed with honors in every category ... except swordsmanship. She rolled her eyes as she recalled the beratings she got for not being able to swipe a blade at a Hollow. She was not  going to run off like some brutish Juuichibantai thugs and get eaten by Hollows, that was for sure. 

Nope! If she never saw another Hollow again, it would be too soon. The fact that the entire realm was built off of exercising Hollows was of little consequence to Ume. Some people were meant to be snacks and some were meant for better things. Ume was already on her way to better things. She grunted as she stopped and looked up at the entrance to the barracks. This would be perfect. She had settled into her new lab in Squad 12 and went through the pleasantries of meeting her squadmates. Thankfully formality was never really an issue there. most seemed to be like her and weren't ones to be bothered with greetings and painfully banal small talk. 

She just hoped the rest of the squads were as dedicated to leaving people be as her own was. Once she passed through the entrance, Ume pulled her cart towards the nearest building. A spot near the entrance to the barracks would be perfect. Wheeling her cart over to the corner of the building, Ume pulled out a small ladder. With a grunt of effort, she extended it and waddled up the ladder. Her lab coat swishing behind her. Once she was on the roof, she plopped down and surveyed the area. As she sat, panting softly, she cracked open a can of en-o-drink and guzzled it down, some of it dribbling down her chin. She ignored it and aadjusted her glasses as she took in the view. It was pretty seeing the Seireitei like this. Miles, it seemed, stretching out in perfectly ordered and colored rooftops. In the distance was the massive cliff and tower that reached tot he sky.  Beyond that was the gate and the rest of Soul Society. She could even see her former place of residence when she squinted: The Palatial Shihouin Estate. 

"Nyeh..." Ume hissed, finished  the can and heaved it at the cart. It hit the side with a clunk and bounced onto the ground where it dribbled some more. "Feh." She slid down the  ladder and then grabbed her box. It was a struggle to get it up the ladder but she managed and then stared to pull out a bunch of equipment. A drill, some wires, a camera, some more devices. She spread them out all over her new work station and looked them over. It was perfect. Soon she would be able to monitor the barrack's entrance and see just what kind of activities happened in the relative area. Who came, who went. The thought made Ume's eyes twitch and she drooled a little more. 

After adjusting her glasses and scrubbing the saliva from her lips. she pulled out a drill and started prying up some of the barrack's roof tiles. The entire time she had paid no mind to whether or not any of the shinigami from this  particular squad were watching her or even noticed  her. She certainly hadn't asked for permission, but she also didn't care if someone wanted to watch her. She could never  fault someone's curiosity, as much as she disliked people. 

[Turushino Ronjiro]

Wandering the streets of the Seireitei after skipping the Academy for likely getting in trouble, Turushino noticed a curious sight at a slight glimmer coming from the survey equipment. A small cart, overloaded with what to him looked like a bunch of trinkets and knickknacks, was parked nearby. Without thinking twice, he stopped midstep and turned over in that direction.

He noticed a figure up on the rooftop, a somewhat familiar one even. While he never truly interacted with her, he vaguely remembers seeing her at the academy. Turushino squats, pondering over the situation with an audible “Hmm…”. He takes his sake bottle from his side and takes a swing. “Hmmm…” escaped him again. He then snapped his fingers with a smile.

Suddenly the man jumps to his feet. He begins stretching as he eyes the landscape around him. He mutters something under his breath as he seems to be calculating something. Once he is confident enough, he leaps up onto a nearby rooftop. Jumping from one place to another, he makes his way to the curious site. Something that could easily be noticed. He wasn't being particularly stealthy here.

Lastly, with one final leap, he uses Shunpo to make his way up there. He didn't consider if he should or shouldn't be trespassing on one of the division’s rooftops, but indeed how bad could it be? Stranger things happen all the time. Not being incredibly familiar with most technologies, Turushino places his eye up to one of the camera lenses “Yo! What's all this?” he exclaimed trying to make sense of all the trinkets in front of him

[Ume Oboro]

Ume was well aware that what she was doing was not sanctioned by the division that she was in. So, she was keeping an acute eye out for those passersby. Not entirely because she thought she was going to get chased off, but because she was worried about someone coming to hassle her. The time she took to explain herself was time that she was not finishing her work. However, when the new person approached, Ume paused her work to watch the young man rather carefully. That was, until, with a quick and fast step, Turushino was up where Ume was and was grabbing at all of her equipment. Her eyes widened, almost in horror as his fingers touched all of her stuff!

Taking a moment to hold back her impending hyperventilation, Ume reached out and gently clasped the side of Turushiro's hand and then firmly grabbed the camera with the other hand and eased it off of him. She quickly cradled it against her chest like a child. "All of it?" She asked. "I don't have that kind of time." She said and held up a camera. "This is a camera. I expect you to know what that  is, yes?" Ume said and used her free hand to adjust her glasses. She remembered why his face looked familiar. They had shared the Academy for a little while before Ume graduated. His name popped into her head as she regarded him. "You're an academy student. Mr. Ronjiro. You do not belong here." She said as firmly as her tired voice could make. 

Ume adjusted her glasses and glanced up at the sky. "In fact, I believe the academy is still in session, Yet here you are." Ume's words may have sounded accusatory, but her tone lacked any maliciousness or judgement. She was merely stating a fact. Once Turushiro was aware of all the obvious facts Ume had reminded him of, she carefully slithered around him and began to go right back to work like he wasn't there. 

[Turushino Ronjiro]

Turushino listened to her words and listened well, in life he did not live in a time or place that had much technology so he was not the most knowledgeable when it came to such topics. He crossed his arms letting out a long drawn out hum "Camera...Camera..." trying his absolute best to remember where he had heard about those before, and suddenly with a snap of his fingers and a wide smile he remembered. In his minds eye he envisioned a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail, a Chimera. "Oh yeah! I have heard of these of course! I listened to some impressive tales from travelers that mentioned them...these do not look a whole lot like what I imagined though...maybe they changed quite a bit in these hundred or so years."

Very carefully stepping about the rooftop, as to not mess with any of the equipment, he then wags his finger and lets out a soft tut-tut "Oh you wound me! Surely you must think that I am nothing but a...troublemaker perhaps? Skipping class out of boredom...but NAY!" He says in an incredibly dramatic tone, striking a pose as he does "What kind of Shinigami would I be if I did not scout out the different divisions properly huh? To see which one I would fit in the best, where my abilities may be used at its fullest, THAT is my responsibility as a future Shinigami! To put effort into possibly the first important decision I shall make in my career!" his dramatic tone continued on and on as he spoke, but in reality he was pulling this all out of his ass. He had in fact skipped class in hopes to do something more exciting, he did not have long until he graduated so he figured he could afford a bit of down time.

Gently placing a finger on top of one of the devices he chuckles "So in short, you have been blessed by the presence of a potential recruit, congratulations. Your work was cool looking enough that it attracted this humble wanderer's eye." In truth the more he looked at everything around him the more confused he got, but he was at the very least trying to make it seem like he knew what was going on, he even pulled out a magnifying glass out of seemingly nowhere.

[Ume Oboro]

Ume blinked. She scrubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating from lack of sleep, then she regarded Turushiro with a tilt of her head. "That would make sense." She explained. "Three hundred years ago a camera  did not exist. This digital. It doesn't take a single picture, it takes one continuous picture." Apparently this man needed the fundamentals explained to him, which was tiring in and of itself, not to mention all the work Ume was not  getting done. Ume's whole body seemed to pivot as Turushiro stepped around Ume's equipment, like she was an observational turret, or a camera herself. 

She had to watch him proclaim this and that, as an excuse for Ume catching him. Her mouth opened, as if to speak, but Turushiro continued and Ume's eyes drooped. As he declared this and that in the name of his future, Ume's head dipped at least twice and by the end of it, she couldn't help herself and her mouth opened wide. She yawned and then covered her mouth to wipe off some of the collected saliva. "Uh huh..." She managed. "I don't..." She muttered, but Turushiro felt the need for a summation. 

Ume was definitely  not interested in a recap. She had just  heard everything! 

"Hnnnghhh..." Ume groaned as Turushiro explained that she should be grateful for what he was doing. She was not. He was wasting her time with all this... polite conversation and doublespeak. However, she did perk up ever so slightly  when Turushiro mentioned her work was cool. "You... want to join the Juunibantai?" She asked. "This isn't the Squad 12 Barracks, though." She looked at the camera she was holding. "And you don't know what a camera is." Ume adjusted her glasses. "Do you know what we even do in Squad Twelve?" She asked. 

"A-Anyway..." Ume said and took a step around Turushiro to bend over and pick up a spanner. "I'm not the recruiter. I only  recently joined the Squad." Ume glanced around. "I'm not really on the clock right now. This isn't official Nijuubantai business." Ume then sighed. "But, I won't tell that you're playing hooky if you don't tell that I'm." Ume paused. The paused became pregnant and then her head bobbed forward. Suddenly, her head shot up and she briefly looked around, bewildered. "What I mean is, I'm not doing anything wrong anyway, soooo," She flapped her fingers at Turushiro like he would get the hint to go.

[Turushino Ronjiro]

As Turushino noticed Ume's slight exasperation and the hint that he should leave, he couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Alright, alright, no need to chase me off." He leaned against a nearby wall, watching as Ume tinkered with her equipment. "You've got this incredible talent, and I'm just a wanderer, searching for excitement and trouble wherever I go, so my apologies for interrupting your work."

As Turushino observed Ume's array of equipment with a curious expression, he adopted an almost studious demeanor that contrasted with his mischievous nature. He didn't want to interrupt her work or tamper with anything, so he resorted to relying on his observational skills. His eyes darted from one contraption to another, trying to decipher their purpose and functionality. His gaze lingered on the camera, which Ume had explained was digital and continuously capturing images. While the concept was a bit foreign to him, he found it intriguing nonetheless. He tried to grasp the idea of capturing an ongoing stream of pictures, as if painting a moving image in a series of frozen moments.

As he scanned the other devices spread across the work station, he mentally cataloged each one, trying to make connections and understand the potential uses of the gadgets. He was genuinely interested in learning about Squad Twelve's inventions, even if he might not fully comprehend the intricate details. His lips pursed slightly as he absorbed the information, not wanting to ask too many questions and disrupt Ume's concentration. He believed in the value of independent exploration and learning...and the value of not annoying someone that he had just met too much.

As he stood there, a playful glimmer returned to his eyes, and he couldn't help but wonder what sort of mind blowing new technologies the Juunibantai had in store for him to exploit. Clearing his throat he spoke once more, "I may look it, and most of the times I may act like it, but I am not a hopeless idiot you know. I know very well what the Twelve does, as a matter of fact to say that you all are the future of the Gotei 13 would be no exaggeration. Every day you all work to push us forward in ways simple minded people like me wouldn't even dream of."

Dodging her finger gesture, almost as if dodging a bullet he whistled and walked around as carefully as before "I respect that, by the way." Turushino said with a nod, acknowledging her stance on not revealing anything that might cause trouble. "Sometimes, in the pursuit of progress and innovation, we have to think outside the box, push boundaries, and yes, even bend a rule or two," he added with a sly grin.

"Of course, I'm not advocating for outright chaos or recklessness," he continued, his tone more serious. "But every now and then, taking a calculated risk can lead to remarkable breakthroughs. It's all about finding that delicate balance between responsibility and creativity. But, I am merely rambling, my apologies, I would offer a hand with your project but unless you need an extra pair of hands and not another mind, I doubt I will be of much use."

[Ume Oboro]

Ume stiffened up at Turushino's observation. The polite thing to say was that it was no big deal and he wasn't interrupting anything, but Ume wasn't want for pleasantries and he was  interrupting her work. However, her cheeks flushed slightly at the  compliment. She pursed her lips. "We are not complimentary. I am as sedentary as it gets. Mossy, even, to you, the rolling stone. That is a metaphor, by the way." Ume added, in case he thought they were rocks. I have nothing against you, but the last thing I want is trouble." Ume stated. There, that should be enough to get Turushino to leave without sounding like a jerk. 

But he seemed to have more to say. Ume sighed. "I never questioned your intelligence. Appearance and ability are not usually mutually inclusive either." Ume, though, did find some relief int he fact that Turushino understood the goals of the Squad. "That is right. Proliferation of technology will be beneficial to all  of the Soul Society." She replied with a nod. As he continued, Ume couldn't help herself. She even smiled a little bit, her apathetic heart swelling with a little pride of duty. "Yes. Yes. Yes." She said, nodding to all of his words. "But I am not doing anything wrong." She made sure to reiterate. 

She then paused. "Chaos is bad. I don't like things I can't control. It makes work difficult. Burdensome. It's a hassle when there's uncalculated interference." Ume said, adjusting her glasses and trying not to leer at Turushino. He was definitely  an uncalculated occurrence. Fine. Ume thought. "If you would like to help, then, yes, I could increase completion much more efficiently. Come up here on the roof and hold this camera in place while I screw it in place. Then I can work on it from the underside." Ume informed as she pointed to the camera and then nodded. 

While she waited, she regarded the man again. "I feel like I should reiterate. If you are overcome with wanderlust, then the Juunibantai is most certainly  not for you. Our adventures are inside a laboratory. Our wandering is only for resource collection. We are not Quixotic in the least." Ume then groaned. "I don't like that you're right, though, about calculated risks. We calculate to avoid  risk, but creativity, invention, progress, it's all born out of necessity and that is the ugliest truth I have ever known." Ume wrinkled her brow distastefully and it turned into a long, mewl of a yawn, which she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. There was a sucking sound behind her mouth and then, when she pulled her hand away, she flapped her hand and some saliva flicked off it. The rest, she wiped on the edge of her lab coat. 

"I bet you're excited to fill up the asauchi with a real zanpakutou spirit." Ume said, almost casually, almost flippantly. She didn't know why  the words came out, honestly. Maybe if Turushino was going to be around, she might as well observe him. Thankfully, her own zanpkautou was quite  silent. As curious as she was to see it manifest, she knew that meant she had  been put in danger. Probably having to avoid getting eaten by Hollows. She shivered at the thought. That someone would gleefully throw themselves at such terrifying beats was unfathomable to Ume. 

[Turushino Ronjiro]

Ume's reaction to Turushino's presence didn't go unnoticed; her subtle shift, a barely perceptible stiffening, and the blush adorning her cheeks spoke volumes. Turushino, attuned to nuance, absorbed these details with a knowing smile playing upon his lips. As Ume began to speak, her words became a symphony that Turushino was all too eager to immerse himself in. His interest was genuine, yet there was also a playful twinkle in his eyes that hinted at the interplay between them.

Her analogy of moss and a rolling stone earned a chuckle from Turushino, a melodic note that danced upon the air. The imagery resonated with him, a testament to her eloquence in capturing the essence of their dynamic.

As Ume responded to his compliment, Turushino perceived the mixture of practicality and pride underlying her words. He nodded in appreciative agreement as she outlined the Squad's objectives and principles. "You've hit the nail on the head," he interjected with an affirming smile."Absolutely. Progress and innovation are the lifeblood of any society worth its salt, and it seems like you're steering the ship in the right direction."

Her musings on chaos and control captured Turushino's attention. Her straightforwardness and dedication to her work were refreshingly honest. As she laid out her plan for assistance, a playful grin spread across Turushino's face. "I have to disagree there, everything is built on Chaos, without Chaos there would be no progress. It is nothing more than lose strands to be weaved into the future we ourselves build. The settlements we built are built upon the once untamed lands that give us lives. The medicine we take to save our lives brewed from an amalgam of chemicals and ingredients that together can make miracles. The swordsman, no matter how much training he has cannot properly improve unless thrown into the chaos of battle. Kido, woven together with unknown incantations and a power we will never truly fully comprehend. We need chaos."

"Hold a camera steady while you work from below? That sounds like a fair trade for a touch of chaos, wouldn't you agree?" He paused, then added with a wink, and a snap of his fingers "Fear not, I'm usually rather coordinated."

Turushino's attention shifted to the camera as she indicated it. When she brought up the concept of calculated risks and the birth of innovation from necessity, he nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, it's that delicate balance that often sparks the most creative flames. An intricate dance between the comfort of caution and the daring push of necessity."

A gentle chuckle escaped Turushino at her yawn, appreciating the candidness of the moment. As the topic shifted to the asauchi and the imminent awakening of their zanpakuto spirits, his expression transitioned to one of deep reflection. "There's an undeniable mix of excitement, curiosity, and a dash of apprehension. It's akin to turning the page to a new chapter of one's story. But yes, a certain level of excitement does course through me. After all, who wouldn't be curious to witness the awakening of their zanpakuto spirit?"

[Ume Oboro]

"Nnnn..." A low hum esxaped Ume's lips as Turushino complemented her. Her cheeks lightened up but she turned her head. "I'm not steering anything." She admitted. "I only just joined the Gotei Thirteen. I'm a lackey, just fodder right now." She paused. "Or, I would be in another squad. Nnnnyehhh." Her lip curled into a distasteful sneer. She hated the idea of being sent out to go get eaten by Hollows. She looked back at Turushino. "Maybe someday, though. I don't know." Ume's shoulders rose under her bulky lab coat and then dropped into a deep shrug, followed by a sigh. 

"Nnnnnnnnnnnnn...." Another low hum, this time one with a subtle undertone of annoyance slithered from Ume's lips. "It exists to be exterminated. It is there in spite  of our best efforts, not because  of it." Ume answered. "It's not a chicken and egg scenario. Chaos exists, fine." She said, raising her hand. 'If you want to say that we, as a people, universe or collective thing spawned from  Chaos, well, I don't know if I agree  with that, but I'm willing to entertain the hypothesis for the sake of some kind of esoteric argument." Ume paused, inhaled and exhaledc deliberately, like she was running out of breath, and then resumed. "But there's been order in all  of it. It just hasn't been obseccccccrved properly. That's where a lot of our mistakes  come from. Improper observation. That's what I am trying to fix. That is why I am here. Not doing anything wrong." She repeated. 

"Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn....." Ume's groan was guttural and she just looked at Turushino with heaby, lidded eyes as though his words were driving her to sleep. "Just hold the camera while I attach the wires." She said finallyy and took her time descaling the roof and readjusting the ladder so she could begin drilling a hole and working on the wires she needed to work on. "I certainly don't want to be around anything involving the word daring." She muttered. 

"I'm not interested." Ume said flatly as the drill whirred to life. It was a lie, but also one she believed because of hoer justification of it. "I can't believe there is a spirit who would actually be helpful to me. Zanpakutou are swords. These... spirits inhabit them. How could they be anything but ruthless killers of Hollows?" Ume explained. "If i never see another Hollow, it will be too soon. That is not why I am here, so, weight I have to carry around on my hip for some reason is not something I am interested in prodding into waking up enough for it to constantly yell at me about slaking its thirst for violence." 

[Turushino Ronjiro]

Turushino's laughter rang through the air, a warm and genuine sound that resonated with the joy of discovery and connection. "Ah-hah you've got me there!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with mirth and admiration. "Your insights into chaos and order, the way you see the world, it's truly remarkable...If all Chaos is exterminated, and we have nothing but order and progress then we would live a perfect life, can't say I see anything wrong with that! I must admit though, I'm more drawn to the poetic side of things, the beauty in the chaos, the dance of uncertainty, the melody of life's unpredictability. But that is merely a flaw of mine I believe."

He paused, his eyes thoughtful as he considered her words, her passion for technology, her unique perspective on the world. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he looked at the equipment around them, the tangible manifestation of her intellect and ambition. He was one that respected people's dreams, a person that wished to see just how far others could go when they put effort into their ambitions. He could respect everything that now surrounded

"You know..." he said, his voice softening, filled with sincerity, a snap of his fingers followed, "perhaps your Zanpakuto is not merely a tool to slay Hollows. Perhaps it's something more, something deeper, a reflection of your true self, a helpful aid in furthering your goals and ambitions. Zanpakutos are an extension of who we are, after all. They mirror our souls, our essence." He whistled a tune as he held the camera giving plenty of time for her to do her work. "Leave the Hollow hunting to the likes of me if you so desire. I am a hunter, and a hunter must hunt for those who cannot, or for those who have better things to do, those who should not waste their time with such things. So if you ever get a mission you don't wanna do I am not scared of doing some overtime." He says with a joking tone towards the end.

"Now here comes the poetic nonsense, so be warned." he let out a chuckle before he continued talking, his gaze fixed on the task at hand. "Your path is your own," he continued, his voice filled with conviction and encouragement. "Embrace it, follow it, let it guide you to greatness. Explore the unknown, push the boundaries, innovate, create. If your Zanpakuto ends up being a tool for violence then do not let it force you down a needless path, the Seiretei has plenty of people willing to throw themselves at danger, not enough improving it. If it isn't, then use it! Prove to the world that our swords are not a catalyst for destruction, but much more, bend the norm!" Finally he waved his free hand "But that is all boring inspiration nonsense. Apologies if you must puke after it all"

[Ume Oboro]

Ume looked up at Turushino's words and a raspy, sweaty breath escaped her lips. Her cheeks flushed again, but she shuffled to a spot where she could look at him and when she saw him, she cleared her throat. "Poetry is, intrinsically, about order and uniformity." Ume corrected. She then looked away. "Dance as well. Without coordination, it would just be people falling over." Ume huffed and ran her fingers through her messy, gnarled purple hair. "I understand what you're trying  to say. You want to go where life takes you, rather than lead life by the nose. You should just stop trying to speak metaphorically and say what you mean plainly. I think it suits you better, not that that matters." Ume said and pushed her finger into her glasses. 

Once she had finished stating her peace, Ume went back and finished up what she had to do. She nestled wires and screwed in a plate. Then, she gathered her things and put them on her cart. Thanks to Turushino, everything seemed to actually go pretty swimmingly. Once everything was back on the cart, Ume grabbed a small tablet and then hopped up onto the roof and sat down next to Turushino and turned on the tablet and then reached over and turned on the camera. Although it seemed like she hadn't heard a word Turushino said, she had and while she was waiting for things to connect, she glanced up at him. 

"If it doesn't, then I will be highly  disappointed. It's not that I have failed to consider that a possibility. It's more that, well, battle is how a shinigami gets stronger and, well..." Ume sighed. "I hate that. I'll never find out what this thing's function actually  is." Ume muttered as she patted the hilt of her sword. "What about you?" Ume asked. "Is your going to write beautiful poetry for the enemy?" She asked, her face not changing despite her cheeky words. "All of that is very noble, by the way, but it rings a bit...nnnyhnn...hollow, when it's your job. The only reason it isn't my job as well is because I have a skill." Ume said and then looked at the tablet, which showed what the camera was looking at. She started messing with it, letting it turn here and there and even zooming in. She then spun it around so it was looking at herself and Turushino. 

'I think the number of Shinigami who use the roofs for expedient travel is much larger than most would guess. Putting a three-hundred and sixty degree rotation should allow me to gather better data on that. That is, partially, why, it is closer to the barrack's entrance." Ume said to no onw in particular, as she made an audible mental note. 

Ume hopped up with a grunt and looked up at Turushino. "I won't. But if I ever need to do field research and I am worried I might need a bodyguard, well, maybe I will send a message and you can come get eaten in my place." Once again, it was difficult to tell if Ume was joking or not. "As far as the rest of it goes, well..." Ume paused and pulled out a can of what appeared to be energy drink from inside her lab coat. She cracked it open, slurping what was left on the rim and letting some of it dribble down her cheek before offering what was left to Turushino. "This will keep you awake for whatever exams you have. Even if it goes flat. Take it." She said and wiggled the can so it sloshed around. "Anyway, you're right. If I don't like it, then maybe I can just change  it to be what I want it to be." 

Ume looked at her sword. "Maybe I should already be beginning the process?" She asked rhetorically. "I'm sire there's a zanpakutou division inside our division. I should take a peek in there and see what options I have." Ume said as she sucked up some of the drink lingering at the corners of her mouth and then rubbed her chin. 

[Turushino Ronjiro]

Turushino's gaze met Ume's, their exchange a mix of candid conversation and unspoken understanding. He inclined his head slightly at her clarification, her correction of his metaphorical words. Her perceptiveness, however sharp-edged, resonated with him, as he appreciated directness as much as she did. He listened intently, his fingers tracing idle patterns on the rooftop's surface as she expressed her thoughts.

Her assertion about battle being a means of growth struck a chord. He comprehended her sentiments, for combat was indeed the crucible in which strength was forged, though it carried with it an undertone of distaste. Yet, his own experiences had ingrained in him the invaluable lessons that adversity brought forth, regardless of his personal inclinations. Turushino's lips curved into a semblance of a wry smile, his tone earnest as he responded to her query.

"The world isn't always kind enough to offer us a choice between what we want and what we must do, I mean look at me! I died fightin' and here I am" he acknowledged, the weight of experience evident in his words. "But you know, your skills—your talents—are your armor against the inevitable battles. They grant you choices, even if they don't erase the necessity for conflict. But yes, let us hope it does not get to that any time soon" His gaze shifted to her sword, the symbol of her unique abilities.

Ume's quip about using him as a potential bodyguard elicited a chuckle from Turushino. "Well, if I must be a sacrificial lamb to further your research, I suppose that's a worthy cause," he remarked with a wry grin, his tone light yet sincere. As she extended the can of energy drink, Turushino accepted it with a nod of gratitude. "Much appreciated. Exams are relentless, and this might just be the pick-me-up I need. But I will soon be out of this nightmare"

Her musings on altering her sword's nature prompted a thoughtful expression on Turushino's face. "Exploring the possibilities within the Zanpakuto division sounds like a wise choice. Sometimes, it's in the realms we're not familiar with that we discover the paths we truly wish to tread," he mused, his gaze distant for a moment as if contemplating his own journey.

Ume's energy drink was cool against his skin as he held it, a tangible connection between their disparate worlds. Turushino's eyes met hers, his smile tinged with a newfound camaraderie. "We each find our way," he said, his voice a blend of conviction and encouragement. "Whether through battle, research, every step shapes our existence." As he spoke, he looked at the can, squinting his eyes. Surely an energy drink would have no side effects on an already energetic man.

[Ume Oboro]

"I was born in Rukongai..."

Ume muttered the words as Turushino mentioned he had died. She was not like most of Seireitei, who had come here as part of the cycle of death and rebirth. No, she was created the old fashioned way, whatever that  meant. She didn't mean  to sound like she was trying to make some point or show him up, but she also couldn't be bothered to add anything else. Turushino seemed to have much more to say on the matters at hand anyway. She listened, as much as her attention span would let her. Her cheeks reddened at his chivalrous declaration. She would note that if she needed someone to do something dangerous, she had a sucker she could drag along with her. 

Unfortunately, she couldn't hold in a yawn. Even though she hadn't done much, it had been a while since she had slept, so when the yawn came, she reached into her labcoat and pulled out another can of energy drink and cracked it. She nodded along, just to keep things respectful on her end and then tilted the can back and guzzled the contents, as much as she could in a few drinks, even as a bit of it dribbled down the side of her chin. "Uh-huh." She said, as she wiped off the excess drink dribble and then adjusted her glasses. 

She blinked again as Turushino wrapped things up with a bright smile and, no doubt a sense of comradery and a newfound sense of connection with Ume. She glanced up at the camera. Then, she looked at her cart and tossed the empty can in it. She looked awkwardly at Turushino again and then shuffled to her cart. She opened her mouth as if to respond to all of the poignant topics of philosophical discussion. She really shouldn't leave him hanging. What came out, though, was as deep as a puddle and as awkward as a piece of food stuck in someone's teeth. 

"Ok, well, bye." Ume said and started pushing the cart towards her next destination. 

[Turushino Ronjiro]

As Ume set off with her cart, Turushino was stunned then quickly matched her pace with his own unique mid-air stroll. His tone took on a slightly more serious note as he tried to make his case. "W-wait now! Hold on a second!" he interjected, his words carrying a touch of earnestness. His steps in the air were determined, as if he was putting extra effort into his mid-air movement. The scene around them seemed to shimmer with anticipation, as if even the world itself was listening to his plea.

"I know this might sound like a bit of a stretch, but hear me out. Going back to the academy is the last thing I'm looking forward to right now," he continued, his voice gaining a hint of urgency. "And, well, I might have a proposal that could benefit both of us." He paused briefly, gauging her reaction before continuing, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation that was now more apparent than before. "You see, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of classroom lectures and assignments, but I understand they're a necessary evil to some extent. So, what if we made a deal? I help you out with your tech setup and whatever other task you see fit, and you let me tag along."

His gaze was steady, his expression sincere, the desperation becoming more palpable with every word he spoke. "I'm not saying I'm an expert at your gadgets, gizmos, and whatnot, but I'm strong and I can handle some heavy lifting. Plus, with a little creativity, I can get stuff to those high places without you having to climb all over the place, look!" With that, he demonstrated his words by leaping into the air and using Advanced Air Ground to essentially double jump, his form agile and confident.

Turushino's voice carried a touch of enthusiasm as he continued, his desperation pushing through even stronger now. "Think about it. You get some extra hands and a potential solution to your equipment transportation headache, and I get a way out of the classroom grind and a chance to actually learn something practical. I mean, who knows what kind of unexpected things we might stumble upon? There's so much more to the Soul Society than lectures and books."

He paused again, his words hanging in the air like a charged energy, waiting for Ume's response. Turushino's eyes held a mix of hope and desperation, a plea to seize this chance and turn it into an exhilarating journey beyond the walls of the classroom. His words were earnest, carrying the weight of someone who truly wanted to break free from the confines of routine and grasp the opportunity for something more. The world around them seemed to echo his sentiment, as if nature itself was urging Ume to take that step into the unknown.

[Ume Oboro]

A soft groan leaked out of Ume as Turushino asked her to wait up. Now he wasn't, exactly, being efficient with her time. She wasn't really curious about anything else he had to say, but she listened. Though, she did begin to nod off as he made his offer. When she was finished, she sighed heavily. "Hnnnnnnnngh...." With a forced blink, Ume looked up at Turushino and opened her mouth. "You're not joining Squad Twelve." She stated, as though it were a fact as she watched him hang in the air. "And... just because I am not tall doesn't mean I can't get to high places. The ladder is for stability." She corrected. 

"You're not. You don't even know what a camera is." Ume added. "You know." She began and then stopped. "I don't think you know how deals work. It would be easier if I just did your homework for you. Then you could do whatever you wanted." Maybe Ume was coming across as a bit mean, but she didn't think so. She just didn't understand what was in Turushino's head. She guessed she was curious enough to ask, though she wondered about possibly regretting the decision to do so. 

"Why?" Ume asked. "Really, if you want to cut class, then cut class. Do you need me  ask an excuse?" She asked. "I barely attended swordsmanship class." Ume paused and frowned. "I mean, sure, that almost got me kicked out, but my grades were impeccable in every other situation. What do , I, a scientist, need a sword for?" Ume shook her head. "I think you're under the impression that this will be fun. I assure you my work is as tedious  as it gets. You will get bored." Ume lifted up her finger and pointed it at Turushino. "You don't have the patience or attention span for menial tasks. You already admitted you have the wanderlust." 

Ume sighed. "But, if you really  want to lug around big, heavy machinery, I guess I could think of something for you to carry." Ume said, pondering the idea of it as she tugged along her cart. "Ideally, I would like as many of these cameras installed as possible, but right now one test camera will suffice." She began muttering to herself. "The question is, how long before someone breaks  it... nyeeeh..." She had a distasteful sneer at the corner of her lip as she thought about some ruffian breaking her equipment. She'd almost forgotten about Turushino as she pushed her cart along.