Brick by Brick [Job thread]

[Maria Ashwin]

(1) The pale moonlight of Hueco Mundo would shimmer across the pale sands with an otherworldly beauty, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of iron and chilled decay wafted in the air. This was Hueco Mundo the land of eternal night, a realm of brutal and ceaseless combat and evolution the weak were fed upon and turned into stepping stones for the strong.  It mattered not how you found yourself in this hell disguised as a heaven for the repugnant you belonged to this realm, and its inhabitants a food chain of endless combat and devouring. One had to wonder if Hueco Mundo was in some grand design made to be this way the devouring of souls.

(2) The constant hunger hollows feel their need to devour not only the souls of the living but the souls of their fellow hollows as well. was this place simply some sort of glorified pig pen where the souls that shinigami couldn't save were relegated, Or was this simply part of some higher beings' design a grand cosmic joke that no one else was allowed to know about? These questions would plague the mind of those seeking greater meaning in their existence as simple hollows, often they realized they had no purpose beyond themselves upon evolving leading them to drown in their own despair. Our primera espada had long ago transcended these bestial feelings and with his now higher thinking, he now saw things through a much greater scope than before.

(3) With this higher level of thought came with it the crippling thoughts and fears of sentient life, the Espada and las noches as it stood were nothing more than a joke in the great cosmos of this reality. An issue Marik would soon see corrected, but before the great scheme could come to fruition. The neon green-haired arranacr sat atop a boulder over look at the vast stretch of desert and the Arrancar that toiled away blasting away at the sands with cero's carving a deep mighty car into the face of the desert.

(4) This would serve as the basis for the defenses that would soon come to the ivory citadel he called home, but would it be enough? would it survive long enough to halt the tide of their enemies? Only time would tell but for now, marik needed to secure his spot as not only a soldier but a resource that Kohai wished to desperately hold onto. and what better way to prove one's usefulness than to make ones self useful? "Construction is coming along nicely, the trench will be complete in two months the seki seki harvested in two more , this should at least stop people from wandering in as if our forces have no fucking spine to halt them" he would sigh that last bit out as he watched another cero go off in the distance , a gentle breeze washing over him as the shockwaves lessened residual met his current position.

(5) He had to admit despite his progress in this event , it had become rather droll as he thought back to cami and the riveting fight they had. A part of him hungered to experience battle like that once more the thrill of fighting for one's life the adrenaline of chasing down a target like the hollow he once was it was intoxicating but there where more pressing matters at hand than slating ones own bloodlust. Marik would pull out his wallet and look down at it with an extremely disappointed look upon his face , he had spent a fortune simply arming himself and having his palace constructed , he would need far more ryo to finish the construction of this wall 'im gonna need another two hundred thousand ryo....or more' he would think with a light scoff as he tucked his wallet away throwing his hands behind his head as he began walking toward the dig site he had instructed the numerous to begin clearing out in preparation for the seki seki bricks that where being carved.

[Arcadus]

Arcadus sat in his lounge, having taken his platter out onto his balcony, he over looked his floor and considered his options for it. Larger scale experiments would be nice, and a larger area for general observation. As for actually organizing his numeros, he was trying to form something like how humans were organized. He remembered his time in the guise of Gabriel, and how his word and thoughts, much of which he ripped from that book, had swayed them like insects responding to pheromones. His numeros were unruly, unorganized, and unmotivated. There had to be a unifying factor if he was going to mobilize a larger force in any kind of tactical way.

He’d been reading more of human philosophy, which much of it on the northern continents seemed to come from a drastic misunderstanding and twisting of that “bible” book and its many iterations. But interestingly, a tradition of pre-christian thought prevaded human philosophy, references to “Hellenic” and “greek” scholars who seemed to predate much of this thought by an incredibly large margin, though not geographically. Much of it centers purity and “salvation” as a concept, which while a useful tool for control, it bored him. He had other interests in studying humans and it had to do with his recent encounters with some of the human world's residents.

The interactions with Crystal slightly unnerved him how cheery she made him. It was a sort of after the fact feeling of disgust at how easily he was swayed by cheer and by positivity. He wasn’t sure what area of human study would cover that. Perhaps psychology, thought the idea of dualism being effectively solved somewhat might affect his understanding of the topic given how much of it was based in that. In either case, she concerned him and the effect of his willingness to help. Maybe it wasn’t Crystal, perhaps it was the dual interest in studying a topic to an end, that being a kind of shockwave replication technology.

If that was the case, cooperation might prove a dangerous gamble, given how easily he might be influenced by that, working in tandem with those who didn’t share his ends might then prove an issue, even if only for information security on his and the Espada’s more secretive plans. Nevertheless, he had to understanding human emotion, because he, as he understood himself, existed as a construction of three dominant human souls, it was important to understand those creature’s weaknesses if he was going to have to interact with other humans to do business. Understanding both his own and others weaknesses would ensure his dominance.

Dominance, supremacy, power. If he was going to achieve this, he needed to place himself above others. To do this, he’d need to place Arrancar over others in general first. The idea of supremacy came easily to Arrancar, but it needs a formalizing. It news a consistency that doesn’t exist within Arrancar thought and Arrancar thought needed to be collected and read. The voice of the unheard is violence, and Arrancar sure felt they were unheard. But this is why they need to bring their thoughts to page, and their voices to record. So that something about that experience, that feeling could be put in a way that others could understand, and thus, empathize with. To see another as a person weakened the resolve to destroy them.

That gave him an idea. Sitting up in his seat, Arcadus considered it. That made more sense than he would have liked, but that brought an idea to the front of his mind. Shinigami didn’t see Arrancar, or hollows, as people. But this lent them resolve, because their souls would be in turmoil if they were committing endless murders, but instead, if they were exterminating a breed of monsters, they were justified, and galvanized to do so. But forcing them to accept Arrancar as a kind of person would remove that advantage, and leave only the most hardened and ardent reapers to the core. That would truly be a way to win the war against them.

Leaping from his seat to pace his balcony, Arcadus began to plot. Physical training could wait, and his current workout of creating sand storms in the desert. He needed something different, and something he could think about this new idea while doing it. Perhaps some old fashioned strength training would do him some good, but where to do that faded as he returned to his original point. Creating a personage of Arrancar in the minds of their opponents was truly a way to carve a path to the end of the war. Even if such a thing did not end in subjugation, peace garnered an incredible advantage.

What would be his strongest opposition to such a thing? Surely, it would be internal, wouldn’t it? Someone like Caba presented a very serious potential issue, of turning outcasts in the wake of trying to give personage to Arrancar; perhaps weak or contrarian hollows, into evangelists against him. That is a fringe issue, but his proximity of it pushed it to the front of his mind. In a way, they were subject to a different kind of dominance than martial might.

The mental battlefield of the people, something he had read as referred to as hearts and minds, was something Shinigami were seemingly gaining ground in, a battle that his kind had been absent from for some time. But how to fight such a thing. Regardless of the truth, perception dictated understanding, and the Shinigami devoted effort to turning people against him, then he would have to do the same. Perhaps Camilla could be an example. Someone who rejects the very idea of soul society, but at the same time, that kind of offense would only create distaste for traitors, and potentially even deepen their propaganda model. What was it he needed?

He needed something the shinigami had, legitimacy in ruling beyond brute force. A trick, a lie of kings is to proclaim you act on another greater power or that you have “won” your dominion. Surely something similar would work. A royal house of Arrancar amused him greatly, considering that if a king was immortal, why would he bother with a court or succession, when he alone could reign. But then again, the lure and draw of power through means easier than taking it was always attractive, and thus with power passing hands things could change hands in your favor.

Perhaps there was merit in it, if for hypothetical’s sake, Kouhai was to perish and the Espada were left as the only authority, they did not have the scope of power to control all of Los Noches personally, but an idea that the Espada were “royal” that their power was to be respected, that could create the kind of ideas they needed for stability. Royal appearances might also help with appearances to those that actually funded the reapers, those shinigami royals who had such sway and wealth.

Turning his attention away from the future and returning to the present, Arcadcus watched the numeros walking about. Well, walking towards the outer edges of the floor. Something had been happening out there, and he’d seen trenches dug out around the city, so perhaps this was that? It was strange, knowing those were all people with lives and experiences of their own, but from up here they looked as weak and pathetic as they were to him. None the less, he was interested in making sure nothing was going on.

Going out on official business, he needed of course to wear his robe, black rose designs and gold trim had been mended and cleaned after his fight with Caba, and to compliment it he decided to wear some black taichi slippers. There wasn't much variation in his work outfit, but then again, it wasn't really an outfit. A uniform was a better descriptor, and recently he'd been wearing it with pride. Strange, pride in more than just himself and his work.  

Stepping into frame of the mirror to fix his sash belt, Arcadus wondered if this was that project of marik's though he had thought they already finished his palace-fortress, which itself was incredibly impressive. He would need to invest in something like that, given of course some changes, his would likely end up more palace than fortress. The thought of employing soldiers to man a parapet amused him, llike he was king of some old human country.

Waving his hand in front of him, a familiar rattle chattered from the seam of the portal he made. Teeth rowed and ringed its edge as the Gargaounta opened to the outside of Los Noches, the sands of Hueco mundo, and its eternal night, stretching out infront of him forever. But he could see the numeros working, digging trenches and assembling scaffolding, this was clearly the worksite of some kind of great monument. Stepping through onto the sand, Arcadus looked around for a foreman of some kind he could talk to. 

[Maria Ashwin]

As Arcadus landed on the job site he would find himself standing at the top of a gradually descending slope into the darkness of the menos forest and further beyond, as the digging crew had carved a path that went beyond the primordial darkness most hollows had come to know.

A gentle breeze carrying the smell of decay and seki seki stone particles would carry on the wind blowing past Arcadus's feet, settling like the many insignificant rabble that had fallen to his might. One either side of the great man-made ditch were Arrancars working heavy machinery and setting up scaffolding, this scaffolding was being used to help the many Arrancars reach the elevation needed for them to further refine the ditches edges.

The ditch that was dug well more along the lines of a quarry was indeed fifty meters wide as for length that in itself would be as hard to scale as the depth. Wheelbarrows of sand and carved and shattered quartz where being carted up and out via the more physically able arrancar, while the less muscular where all carving a white stone that arcadus may know as seki seki.

A note to made about the Arrancar working in that sector would be each one was wearing what once could equate to a led hazmat suit , aside from that a universal trait amongst those who scrambled about the job site was thick rubber gloves and full face gas mask's. The amount of seki seki dust in the air could spell death for anyone who was fool hardy enough to not wear the ppe.

A mighty scream would echo up from the casm that sent a heavy gale force wind washing over the area , the workers all stopped for a moment to gather their bearings and hold firm. Amidst the chaos young female arrancar with a bright red gas mask stood atop a podium shooting off an air horn. "Get back to work! a kill squad is en-route to deal with the renegade hollow forces , those who have met thier quota's for the day may turn in thier gear at the primera's palace" she barked out with an air of authority. several sighs of relief would sound through the quarry as one twentyth of the thousands of arrancar present began to migrate out the quarry , several removing thier gas mask's before they even made it out the quarry.

Should arcadus examine thier faces he would nice a fine layer of both sweat dirt and was that blood? not thier own of course it could be inffered the local hollow population wasn't exactly happy with the sudden construction. Who could truly blame them wuldnt you be pissed as well if someone walked into your house and began putting up a wall , that factor aside it was a very apparent issue thatv slowing production to damn near stand still.

[Arcadus]

Arcadus took in his surroundings, surveying the incredible trench dug a huge distance wide and incredibly deep. Watching this shift change, he noticed a distinct lack of mechanical equipment, and an interesting focus on use of Arrancar natural talents to move more efficiently and quickly with what was clearly a huge project. Looking behind him at the partially constructed wall confirmed this for him, a wall, a WALL of Seki Seki bricks was beginning to line it. 

The white dust-powder that was filling the air was, evidently, seki-seki particulate, which while he needed to consider weaponizing in the future, he needed to escape it. Covering his mouth with his robe hem, and shutting his eyes, Arcadus leapt upwards, a faint shockwave disturbing loose dust and tools where he launched off. Haning in the air, Arcadus sensed out where there might be solid, well, sandy, ground. Kicking off the air with a shockwave, he fell towards the ground, impacting with a crater. 

Getting up, and shaking off the sand, Arcadus blinked his eyes open, looking at the larger jobsite from a higher vantage point. In terms of the size of operation, this was a legendary undertaking, and if this were to finish, would be an incredible show of strength by the Espada and Arrancar as a race. Arcadus found his interest piqued. Truly something like this was worth his attention, one of the largest undertakings in Arrancar history. 

The forewoman had mentioned a group of wild hollows were heading this way, and he could sense them. He may as well deal with that, no sense in having that kind of tension going on whilst he was looking for someone to give him directions. Launching himself in the air again, Arcadus scanned the area for the pack. Spotting the black dots moving on white sand, he plunged towards them landing on one of them and spearing his foot through it. 

Twisting and shaking off the hollow, Arcadus grabbed another and crushed its mask, as two more moved to dog pile him. Freeing his leg, his turn kick collided with one, then another, sending them both flying back. The rest of the pack had turned to charge him at this point. His responce was the red glow and roar of his cero, turning them to ash to fit the sands they rose from. The stragglers scampered to safety, over a dune and away from whatever had decimated their numbers. 

Returning to the edge overseeing the channel, Arcadus traced the scaffolding down to a sort of makeshift office of the woman he'd seen earlier, a scattered arrangement of desks and a few divider walls, clearly some kind of mobile set up meant to move with the progressing work. Striding down, again covering his mouth and squinting, Arcadus was readily recognizable, several Arrancar scampering, looking busier, and one even standing to salute him, looking embarrassed in his decision as Arcadus looked him up and down. 

The woman at the desk remained relatively composed, though she was very evidently trying to not draw attention to the mess of papers currently occupying her desks. "Ser Arcadus, what do we owe the pleasure?" She was nervous, not an uncommon reaction to the Secunda. "One, I would like one of these gas masks, and second, I would like to know where Ser Marik is. I have questions for him." The woman, now looking around for a spare gas mask, blurted out. "Oh, well, he might be up in his surveyor office or he could be back at his floor, but I'll gladly point the office out to you!"

She pointed out to a spot on top of the wall, a box nested in scaffolding, a winding ramp, clearly meant to accommodate the Primera's speed. Squinting to look up at the sheet metal box, Arcadus saw what looked like a telescope poking out of the window pointed at some distant point of the trench. Arcadus turned away from her, pulling the straps of the mask back as he slid it over his face. It was hot, and his breath was certainly constricted, but it wasn't unworkable. He could see how someone could work with this on them. 

Making his way up the ramp to the office, Arcadus refrained from his great leaps, he didn't need to collapse the scaffolding and undo significant parts of the project. Boring as it might bee at least it gave him a spare moment to think. Marik must have some reason for making the walls so thick, but truly, it seemed like a potential waste of material, especially if they didn't know how much they had. Well, he'd have all the details soon.

Approaching the door, Arcadus considered what he was going to say. He wished to help and lend his knowledge to the design, but realistically he needed a rundown of the intent of the wall. If this was meant to make it impossible to enter Los Noches, that would be something nigh impossible, but as an obstacle meant to make defending easier, that would certianly be a good thing. As for how he could help, there were ways his might could also be lent to the project. 

[Maria Ashwin]

Marik Ashwin

tag@bostebin

Paragraphs: 10

Inovation

is the corner stone of being lazy

It opens doors to make life easier

(1)Yaki sat at her desk with a sigh removing her gas mask, a loud hiss filling the air as she slumped in her office chair her entire lower half painted red with the blood of hollows she had fended off before she gave that announcement.

2.) 'if we keep going like this the wall won't be completed within the granted time frame, hollows are evolving at an alarming rate the menos grande are nothing...but these adhujas are becoming an issue' she thought to her self as she gently massaged the bridge of her nose.

3.) She would begin sorting the many documents on her desk, most of which were work forms and requests for supplies. Most arrancar didn't need heavy-duty machinery to do their jobs ; drilling across the multiverse for seki seki covertly.

4.) now that cost ryo and right now marik was funneling millions if not billions into construction. One had to wonder where the hell the Primera was getting these funds when he had neither kohai's backing or the other espada's on this endeavor.

5.) Furthermore, the Primera was having his floor remodeled to serve as a layer of defense for las noches and as a training ground for the espadas and hands of his lord and master kohai. Marik had levied his position as an espada to get their following nor had he driven fear into their hearts.

6.) He made them feel as if they were part of something greater those who worked hard played harder as long as they followed him the cycle of bloodshed and useless violence was nothing more than an after thought ,through this they could evolve as a collective.

7.) While these types of things couldn't be imposed on his fellow Espada he could give them things to focus on that didn't conflict with his own ambitions of strengthening las noches as a whole, Now the problem was figuring how to best instruct his fellow Espada. Those thoughts where far from his mind as he could be assumed to be sleeping at his desk , as evident from the light snoring that yaki was hearing.

8.) Yaki prepared herself to stand that was until the massive stature of arcadus stood before the giant double glass doors of the trailer , she would immediately sit back down and begin fixing the items at her desk to look more presentable.

9.) 'how come i didn't sense him!?' she would think to herself , she knew the seki seki exposure was bad but to completely fry her energy sensory was a terrifying thought sadly even marik hadn't escaped this fate or else he would've woken up the moment he sensed arcadus.

10.) Luckily for the segunda espada as he hasn't been there to long he would most likely just be getting off with flu like symptoms after this whole sheband , at least till his body purged the seki seki particulants. "Lord segunda , how may i help you today" she frantically said putting her paperwork away in the filing cabinet behind her desk along with the pay stubs for this week.

11.) based off his apperance she would begin drawing context clues and begin smiling very wide , as if her job just got ten times easier. "Please tell me your here to help , it would eb such an honor to work alongside you" her eyes seemed hopeful as if begging him to say yes

···

[Arcadus]

As Arcadus walked up towards the office, the boards creaked and groaned under his weight. Falling through would not be good for anyone involved as he'd likely tear down the scaffolding to catch himself, and that was the less destructive option. Making sure to match his stride to the supporting cross strut, Arcadus carefully ascended up to the sheet metal box that was apparently Marik's on-site office.  How odd for him to be up there when he could likely just observe from his palace. 

It was harder to tell on his white robes, but he was covered in this dust, and it was honestly disgusting, worse than sand it worked its way like a dust into any fold or seam of his robe, even getting stuck on the stitching. Flexing his chest, Arcadus expelled the vast majority of it, a tiny shockwave lifting the dust off of him, settling in a ring on the landing as the ram switched back. Stepping over it, Arcadus could feel himself being a little nauseous.

That Seki-Seki dust must have gotten in somewhere, because he definetly didn't feel as good as he had when he stepped through his gargaunta. He'd have to shake it off later, a good thigh roast and a cask the partnering bloodwine would certainly help fix him, but some rest and less time spent inhaling steel dust might do him some good, so less time in the forge it was. Regardless, he needed to focus on the task at hand. He was not going to be seen to be struggling infront of someone who might attempt to exert their superiority over him. 

Putting a hand on the knob, Arcadus knocked before entering. He opened the door before he could get a response, ducking and brushing his hair on on the doorway. Standing up was not really an option, given the low ceiling. He had noticed the... secretary? Administrator? The woman behind the desk. Approaching her, Arcadus listened to her flustured explanation and or attempt to excuse the state of her office. As she asked for his help, Arcadus smiled, a kind, genuine smile, nodding his head at the request. 

"Yes, Yaki, I am here to assist with our Primera's project here. I was curious as to what exactly he was doing running around everywhere. He can certainly cover a lot of ground. As for what I plan to help with, I'd like to learn about this project from Marik himself, thank you. Where is he actually, I was told this was his office." Arcadus looked around, noticing the chairs and a line of foot prints that flowed behind the desk, but no immediate signs of the Primera."

"Oh, uh, he's sleeping in the back office, I can wa-" "That's fine, I'll wake him." Arcadus stepped around the desk, and in a pair of steps put his hand on the sliding office door. As he rested a finger on the slot of the sliding door, he thought about his approach. This wasn't an interogation, nor an attempt to bully his way into leadership. Realistically, he just wanted the project finished sooner so that things could go back to normal, and Los Noches in the process might be a little more civilized. 

Sliding open the office door, Arcadus looked down at Marik sleeping. Clearly tired, Arcadus figured that he must be pretty dedicated to the project if he was willing to sleep onsite. Still in his espada robes and needing a shower, Arcadus gently knocked on the office. "Marik, wake up. I would like to talk to you about this project of yours, and some ways I could help. I think that you certianly could need the help." Arcadus looked back to Yaki and winked with a reasuring smile. 

Offering a hand up, Arcadus would sit across from the desk as Marik situated himself. Leaning back in his chair, Arcadus considered his surroundings. It was very hot in here, an oscilating fan was fighting for its life in the corner to keep it below sweltering in the office. "Marik, I'm glad to have found you. You've got an impressive operation going here, but I think that maybe you could use some help splitting up some duties and parts of the process." Arcadus looked back into the outline of where Marik had been sleeping. 

"Part of my aid of course, includes my underlings, which" Waving his black ring clad hand, a portal of flames and sulfurous fumes swirled as a figure stepped forward, a Saika bearing the form of a large muscular cat man, clad in martial artist clothes. A ringed tail swished behind him as he looked around before "Its barely cooler in here than hell, what the heck? Glad to be out on work leave, even if you keep me around for my charming personality!" The relatively deep voice was betrayed by the additude of this Saika.

"Oh, You must be Marik! I'm Tierra, Arcadus's... friend? Servant? rent boy? Fugutive? Kinda hard to tell, but he keeps me around and out of hell so I can't complain. And I really can't, he hates it." Tierra attempted to shake Marik's hand. Arcadus's smile slid sardonic as he considered whether he regretted bringing Tierra into this. Oh well, worst to worse they'd be useful down in the trench hauling stone. "This is said help, along with my skills and knowledge." 

[Maria Ashwin]

Marik Ashwin

tag@bostebin

Paragraphs: 6

Inovation

is the corner stone of being lazy

It opens doors to make life easier

(1) A gentle breeze wafted through a cherry blossom field , pain shot through mariks body as he lay impaled on a pale branch stained crimson his entrails displayed like a crude christmas display. There marik lay cherry blossom’s falling upon his face like the gentle tears of the mother he lost , a deep sadness filled his soul as the image of his mother began to coalesce amongst the falling pink petals above. His emerald eyes would begin to water , as the pain in his gaping wound and heart doubled over ten fold , as the first tears began to fall he would reach upward wishing only to hold the only person who had ever shown him love. With each passing moment the world around him would begin to crumble and decay , a reflection that was felt in his body as his flesh began to grow paler his visage becoming that of a desiccated corpse.

2.) A single black tear flowing down his face as his amaciated hand made contact with the velvety soft skin of his mother , she would open her mouth to speak and for a moment his heart fluttered with joy how long had it been since he last heard her melodic voice. A smile would slowly spread across his face the world around him would begin shaking as they both began to free fall through a void , a deep voice echoing through all of reality. "Marik, wake up. I would like to talk to you about this project of yours, and some ways I could help. I think that you certianly could need the help." the voice of arcadus would ring true as the world was flooded with an unforgiving burning light.

3.) As the primera would wake he would groan lightly as the pain of yesterdays events set in , the light from the hanging over head fixture further added to his pain as his dry eyes began to sting. As his office door was pushed open he would take a deep breath as he sat up in his office chair , he would reach down popping open a side drawr and pulled out a bottle of dasani water that was in a plastic zip lock bag. This may look weird but it was meant to keep the seki seki dust off his drink getting that shit in your body was like death sentence , especially for beings such as themselves who could die from being near such a hazerdious item. Arcadus and his servant would soon notice that every surface in this office was santized and clean of seki seki dust say for marik himself.

4.) On his arms where open wounds and a flurry of scabbed over scars lining his arms , some of which looked like bite marks from a much larger hollow. As arcadus and his hellion began talking he would take a sip of his water and then pull a roll of bandages out of his drawer and begin wrapping his arms. This was done with expert precision as he wrapped each digit and the proceeded up his arm just past his elbow , he would do this again for the other arm finishing as arcadus’s lackey wrapped up. He would give his right arm a test squeeze the muscles in then tensing and untensing. Giving a light sigh he would look the two over and stand up his back popping multiple places , with a loud audible pop.

5.) “You had me at splitting up duties , between that pesky vasto lordez pack in the menos forest , procuring seki seki and procuring the fund for this project are driving me to my grave but a job half assed is a job that should have never been attempted” he would yawn out as he sat atop his desk , looking up at arcadus dark circles under his red blood shot eyes.

6.) “but my worker could use the extra muscle we might need to get you a sanitization shower and a hazmat suit , so the seki seki we’ve been using doesnt interfere with your ability shape and harness riatsu” leaning back and reaching into the drawr he tosses arcadus two key cards from his seated position on the desk. “Go hit the sanitation zone , and we’ll get you started with helping around the site ill meet you there” he was egar to see just what aracdus had to offer in terms of defenses for las noches defenses.

···

[Arcadus]

Listening to marik suggest they bring their hands to bear in hauling material as soon of possible, Arcadus rolled his eyes and waved him off. "Marik, I would prefer to look at the designs of the wall and plans first, if you don't mind. I've got some suggestions, and if I'm going to lend my help and expertise, I'd like to see them, if you don't mind." He wasn't going to lend his might to just replace a dozen Arrancar on a hoist line without at least knowing where the bricks are going and what the ideas behind it are.


"If I had to make a few suggestions, I'd reccomend perhaps thinning the walls. If the design is to have some extra layer to resist attacks and that can be manned, then I would encourage thinner wall, considering at your current length it will take a thousand years and billions of ryo to make, not counting labor costs which would end up in the thousands of dead Arrancar. I think currently, its maybe five times as thick as it needs to be." 


"As well, I'd like to introduce the idea of finding a way to remove more of the seki seki dust from just coating everything on the site. Suction fans or some kind of wind release and/or technique would work to  contain it from leaving everyone drained of energy and stamina. It would certainly improve worker health and morale. Besides that, I think that some changes and regulations in how to make for a more efficient work and construction environment. Handrails for one."


Arcadus looked away before clasping his hands together before looking back at Marik. "You're clearly driving yourself crazy marik, and working yourself to the bone isn't going to make the bricks move faster. You work slaves to the bone, there is a lot more of them than there are of you. And we don't have slaves, we have numeros. You, and anyone you're designating to help work with you, need to focus on problem solving while the laborers handle their part, the actual pick swinging and brick stacking."


Arcadus laced his fingers into a steeple as he laid back in the office chair. "YOu are right that a job should not be half assed, but we can't rush quality. For example, this vasto lorde, we need to organize to take it down even if any of the upper espada could theoretically beat it themselves, it is better we subdue it with ease rather than forcing a great stand off battle where there is risk or danger. That way we can continue to operate and plan past that, rather than it being a potential end point."


"For example, if you or I were to go alone to subdue it, we may win, likely, but the chance exists that we might die, however unlikely. If we both, or one of us was to take Astrid or Camilla, were to go, we would have no issue handling it. Same goes for other issues. Remember that wars are won by applied force and strategy, not numbers or individual might. And you may as well be waging war on the Hollows outside the City with this wall."


Arcadus had clearly lost himself in the ideas and plans he'd been formulating even at his short time here, telling Marik these things with little regard to what counters or responses Marik might have. There was a zeal to what Arcadus extolled, and he seemed excited at the prospect of working with both his fellow espada, and with working with Camilla on this project. Something about seeing Arrancar working in unison perhaps, or just excited to try and be in charge of something?

Shaking his head to readjust his hair, it glinting on the sun electric light inside the camper, Arcadus looked at some of the papers on Marik's desk. "As well, if this is a war, prisoners could be turned into slaves, which might alleviate labor needs. Conversely, they could be turned against other hollows in exchange for protection, using them to ward off packs and singular powerful hollows by forcing them to patrol the outside of the job site."

"Regardless, I think you definetly deserve a few days off and a vacation. But for right now, the least I can do is talk over lunch. You can't work yourself till you die of a workplace incident, and besides, the least I can do is give you some time to relax." Arcadus waved his hand and, reaching through, ladled some clear soup into a pair of bowls and set them on the desk, splitting a fresh loaf of bread and setting half on Marik's side of the table. 


"Consumee is whats in the kitchen right now, but I can get something made and catered here if you'd like? Beef and greens would be quick but realistically anything to suit you could work." Arcadus leaned forward, trying to catch Marik's eyes with his own sapphire blues. "I'm here to help Marik, because I like what you are doing here, and not just the wall. I can see how it affects your workers, brings them together far more than any amount of living under Kouhai has. Its a rare thing to see Numeros cooperate in such large numbers."

[Kitai Yoru]

Before Marik could respond to Arcadus, the door to the office was kicked open, cracks splintering all over the small building. "MARIK! We got three more sections of the wall -Oh, hey Arcadus!" Kitai strolled into the office like he owned the place. He felt entitled to it, given he made the place. "Anyway, yeah, three more sections of the wall were finished. Would have got it done faster, but sixty three was feeling artistic." An audible 'F#%k off' could be heard in the distance from outside, along with near identical psychotic laughter.

"Anyway, we're calling it quits for the day. Err, night? There's no day/night cycle here. Whatever. We're headed down to the mess hall. Forty eight is making some mean bacon mac & cheese. Don't be late or your mooks are gonna get it all. Swing by and we can play some pool." The Kitai clone walked back towards the door, slammed it closed, and, instead of spreading more cracks across the building, the cracks vanished, returning it to perfect condition.

[Maria Ashwin]

Marik would stay quiet and sip his cold water while Arcadus spoke his eyes looking over, Marik own expression remained stoic as he looked onward. Arcadus’s words pierced his body like daggers and slithered into his ears like the words of a fork tongued devil, marik had buried himself in his work had afforded those who worked under him were thusly rewarded for their efforts only to played off as an ambitious despot who was playing soldier.

As he finished his drink he would open his mouth to speak only for kitai to burst into the office, a small smile on his face as he nodded to the silver hair saika. “Ill be back to the palace in a bit, i just have some business to wrap up here first and I’ll be following behind shortly” he would then look back to Arcadus crushing his bottle and putting the cap on it, and setting it on the right-hand corner of his desk as he hopped down and walked back around his desk.

The sound of the drawer opening would resound through the room with a click as he lifted his pseudo Zanpakto out of the drawer strapping it to his hip, “Arcadus follow me please you want to see my plans, then you shall see them but I won't be spilling over notes when i have a computer back at the palace you may leave the gas mask” He would say snapping his wrist toward a spot on the wall causing a descorer to open in the office.

Marik would begin walking through, should Arcadus follow he would be met with the majesty of a palace the size of a city, and surrounding it was a wall of seki seki manned by Arrancars of various genders ages, and sizes. “Welcome to the new palace of the Primera Arcadus” he yawned out as the descorer closed behind them both , the oppressive aura of seki seki would radiate through the area luckily it wasn’t as bad as the wall as this seki seki had been cut with various stone.

As the approached the arrancars on the wall would all salute as the wall itself began to slide open to reveal the beginnings of a city being built around the palace , thousand of arramcars bustling about far more relaxed than outside the walls. “For the record i dont push the numeros any harder than i would myself , i didnt need to force them or pull rank everyone you see here came to my aid of their own free will and may leave at any time of their choosing” he would say as the walked through the developing streets as they approached his palace .

[Arcadus]

Kitai! What the hell was he doing here? Well, Crystal did say that Marik was working with him, but on the wall? Well, someone had to be responsible for making the bricks, in design at least, and knowing Kitai was on this project at least gave him a serious sense of relief. "Kitai, friend! I didn't expect you here, but its a pleasant suprise!" Arcadus's face lit up in a way it normally did not, and he felt weirdly cheerful at Kitai's enterance, though he quickly composed himself. 

"So if you're working on the wall, I guess theres little to fear in terms of the project. But still, Marik if we cou-" Arcadus was cut off by Marik's suggestion that they go to his palace. Arcadus noted Marik's gaze boring past him like he was being tortured by Arcadus's words, so likely smaller moves were needed if this was going to go in his favor. Given Marik was clearly tired and needed rest, he should probably attend to his interest in the project with minimal drain on Marik's time. 

Walkring throught the portal, Arcadus made note to ask Marik how his internet was set up. He had to make a gargaunta infront of a broadcast disc on his floor anytime he wanted access to the human internet, and he did plan to make a trip to steal some kind of server room so that Los Noches could host its own sites and programs, or at least something with backed up sites for if or when things went down in the human world. That kind of branching out could wait though. 

As Arcadus looked around at Marik's floor, envy flooded his mind, looking at the city, the society that Marik had cultivated like a gardener forming a collection of flowering vines and spreads, his constructions lined with Arrancar; Arcadus couldn't really accept what he was seeing. Things he had accepted needed force and that would take time and planning and worse, cooperation, Marik had achieved on his own. This did not sit well in Arcadus. 

Arcadus couldn't help but look around as he walked with Marik, but he actually balked at what Marik told him. What does he fucking mean he wouldn't push the numeros harder than himself, hes cut to ribbons. Marik needs to take it easy for a bit. "Well Marik I can see they appreciate your more congenial approach, given the surroundings. But I think that maybe you shouldn't push yourself so hard as well. Clearly you've got a good handle on the project for the most part, so it seems like a matter of time and security at this point." 

Looking at this, Arcadus considered his idea for a noble house, and how best to pitch it to Marik. This fit his idea perfectly, but ultimately Marik didn't seem to want to rule Los Noches in the way he did, so there was convincing to be done, but that could wait. "I'm excited to see these plans of yours, this is a massive undertaking of yours, and..." Arcadus loaded the words in his mouth like bullets in a gun, and these were not bullets to be fired at Marik, but rather himself. "I have to say I'm impressed with all this."

[Maria Ashwin]

Marik would take a deep breath of fresh air as they passed the gates to the city around his palace, the sights and the sounds that filled the air brought him a great deal of joy. Not the sounds of building and machinery but the sounds of chatter and laughter amongst the local arrancar populous, there was no conflict nor sounds of bloodshed in the streets. One could almost say Marik had built a haven a nest if you will, within the maelstrom of chaos and never-ending cycle of destruction within the heart of the storm. The neon green-haired arrancar would lead his much larger companion along a scenic route, He felt Arcadus would appreciate the shopping district. It was its own bustling mix of sights and smells tailors, food merchants, salons, ice cream parlor, a candy store and so on and so forth, “It cost me a small fortune, and many covert raids on the human world but eventually i had the city built, we’re finishing up the housing units soon and then we’-” marik would find himself cut short mid-sentence as he felt an impact on his lower legs the sound of a light thud happening in front of them.

Marik would look down in front of him a small blonde haired blue eyed child-like male arrancar, sat on his rear looking up at him and Arcadus. “Hey watch where you go-” the boy's voice seemed to catch in his throat, as the color drained from his face true fear was etched in his face at the sight of the two Espada. Marik would sigh as he knelt to eye level with the boy holding out a bandaged hand “C’mon if you're ok stand up” he would say as the boy took his hand a minute wince would arc through his body once that only Arcadus would be able to notice as he helped the boy up and dusted him off. “Watch where you’re headed, and stay outta trouble kid the other Espada might not be as nice as me” he would say with a warm smile ruffling the boy's hair as he stood up “Now get going kid…” he would say as he removed his hand watching the kid run toward one of the houses where a female arrancar sat on the patio in a rocking chair doing what appeared to be…knitting?!.

As the two Espada began making their way out of the end of the district a voice would piece through the crowd calling out to them, “MY NAME IS YATOOOO!!” the boy's voice from earlier would just barely hit Marik’s ears as he kept walking. The boy waved to the two as they vanished back into the crowd making their way toward the palace winding through the streets , passing through a neighborhood full of lovely shaded trees “i am sorry we’re working on getting public transit in the city , but as things are we are still busy establishing the necessities first” he would say letting out a light yawn as they walked. The closer the drew to marik’s palace the more the grand scale of it came into view , as his palace was to the city what las noches was to hueco mundo an ivory citadel and a testament to his power and authority.

As they reached his palace his earrings would glow a light neon green as the grand doors began to shift the ground shaking as they approached, once inside they would be greeted by two rather muscular arrancar who would salute the two. Standing stoically blades at their hips , as they passed marik would dismissively wave them off  “At ease, as you were boys” he would once again yawn out a popping sound coming from his neck as they passed.

The primera would his company down a system of hallways the floors made of black marble with gold accents with a layer of diluted seki seki beneath. The walls were the standard white with light gold accents near the thatched patterned windows that allowed for light and air but prevented entry or exit , patrolling the halls on the ground where various arrancars of all shapes and sizes each walking with a militaristic discipline and above near the extremely high ceiling where flying hollows lurking in the darkness above.

Every once in a while, they would pass someone using a cell phone or sitting in the hall playing on an iPad. These Arrancrs in question had the lax attitudes of those within the city and given the amount of dirt on them one could tell they were workers, Marik didn’t find a need to say anything to them as the guards ushered them toward their designated areas. Marik would throw a passing glance into the cafeteria as they passed the mess hall, a small smile passed over his face as he saw kitai dividing up loaded mac and cheese to the workers. “We’re going to be taking a detour arcadus , i need my wounds attended to if you dont mind i’ll answer your questions as my medical team works” he would say as he began walking again revealing another faculties of his palace.

“You flatter me arcadus but this is only the beginning , there is much more work to do sadly koh-” he would stop speaking as he broke into a coughing fit covering his mouth with his right hand the smell of iron filling the air as he removed his hand from his mouth. The bandages that where wrapped around it now held a crimson blotchy crimson stain. “I guess that bastard got my right lung after all, here i thought id get off with a few broken ribs” he sighs wiping his mouth with the back of his hand a look of calm on his face. “Lets walk and talk then…just no complex questions till im getting looked at”

[Arcadus]

Arcadus listened to Marik as they strolled through his model city. Fortune, raids on the human world. Sounded like him and how he managed to decorate his palace, but on a significantly larger scale. Turning to look through the stalls and wave to the he shopping district was nice, he'd have to visit here again on less important business. Maybe give Maximillian a break from fitting all his clothes again whenever he shredded his robes fighting someone. 

Looking at the boy in the street, Arcadus felt ready to flex his aura on the child. He didn't have the patience for this, he had no idea how Marik, injured and exhausted as he was, had the patience to walk slowly through his city, and now, kneel down and help a child who was somewhat in his path. Watching Marik help the child, Arcadus resisted the urge to roll his eyes. As much as he wished to change the idea of might making right into something a little more complex, but this was revolting. 

Looking at the guards, Arcadus mused on the situation, and why the HELL DIDN'T HE HAVE GUARDS, HE HAD HIS OWN FLOOR AND well not a palace, it was something of a work in progress, but still he wanted guards. This was ridiculous. Regardless, he followed marik, barely hearing the child's screams as he marveled at the decor, which gold trim with the white and black contrast made him feel at home. That is, sans the other Arrancar of all stripes walking through the halls. 

Marik spoke about needing to detour to medical, and Arcadus raised his brow in shock and... disapointment? "Do you mean to tell me you were just not going to go to medical with those wounds and no way to heal yourself? Marik you are ridiculous. If you work your workers half as hard as you do yourself, death tolls are going to be your biggest cost, not labor." Not letting Kitai distract him, Arcadus went to say something as Marik fell to his knee. 

Watching Marik grasp his sied and tell him about his broken bones and punctured organs, Arcadus put a hand on his shoulders. "Marik, this is ridiculous. We are going to your infermary, but you aren't walking, at this pace you'll bleed out. I have no clue how you manage to walk at a snails pace while dying from internal bleeding. Or remain so calm." With a disappointed look, Arcadus took Marik by the waist, and holding him close to his muscled chest and powerful arms, took off at full speed to medical. 

Tierra, jogging backwards, kept pace with the two Espada, giving Arcadus the side eye as he did. "So are the two of you gonna be spending all sorts of time together, or is this like a one night stand kind of thing?" Arcadus eyed him back his expression souring at his little hellion. Waving his hand, a portal appeared  Tierra's path, and, walking backwards, Tierra only noticed as they found themselves back in hell. "HEY WAI-" as the portal shut behind them. 

"Now that my pesky servant is out of the way, what exactly did this to you Marik, assuming you weren't just working yourself to death to accomplish this. A vasto Lorde? A horde of Adjuchas? A shinigami Captain? Which actually is a good question for later, how is our infomation security on this. I know Los Noches is inhospitable, but realistically, who is to say that somehow a project this big doesn't reach the Soul Society?" Arcadus flicked his head to take some of his mane out of of Marik's face as he ran. 

[Kitai Yoru]

Kitai was not the most 'hinged' of people. Rather the opposite, actually. Social norms and decorum typically went out the window when it came to the man, even if he had calmed down a bit in recent years. But his clones were a different beast entirely. Take Kitai as he normally is, and add in the fact that their lives mean nothing, and that there are no consequences for their actions, and you have not just an unstable walking warhead, but a bakers dozen of them. And at least three of them noticed Marik wounded after Arcadus pointed it out.

"Oh no!" One yelled out, appearing at their sides in a burst of Hellfire. "Don't worry Arcadia, I know the way! And I just so happen to be a great driver!" There was no mistaking the grin on Kitai's face, mischievous and chaotic. The other two Kitai were standing behind them, pressing their palms against the marbled ground. Their hands glowed an ominous red, the same color of his reiatsu, and the floor swallowed them whole. Half a second later, it would be revealed that they were now surrounded by the interior of a private jet, if it were made out of glassy smooth sandstone.

Kitai, one of them anyway, was sitting at the front, wearing a pilot's uniform, with a very nice maroon colored hat. "Attention all passengers, this is your pilot speaking." He said, talking into a radio, connected to somehow functioning speakers. "Please fasten your seatbelts at this time. BECAUSE THIS ROCKET HAS NO BREAKS! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Two belts snaked around the Espada, harnessing them to the seats, as all the Kitai madly cackled, before the plane jerked forward.

All of them would be able to see through the glass windshield at the front, made much larger than the FAA would deem 'Safe' or ' Legal'. And they were going very fast, as the beauty of the palace was lost on the speed demon escorting them to their destination. Faster, faster! The sound of thrusters and rushing wind shook the rocket, threatening to tear it to pieces. Then the driver turned around to look at his passengers. "Hey!" He said, yelling to be heard. "You guy have iron skin, right?" He asked, already knowing the answer. The question hung in the air, as the smile never left his face.

Only then, would the two Espada see the wall rapidly approaching the front of their craft.

[Maria Ashwin]

Marik would sigh as he opened his mouth to speak, only to realize Kitai had trapped them in inside a fucking plane. With a heavy sigh he would he would look up at Arcadus from his cradled position. “Can you please deal with that, im not in the mood to chastise him today about his work ethic” he would say as he broke into yet another coughing fit his bandaged hand further stained red as he turns his head turned toward kitai, a look of annoyance on his face instead of his usual unimpressed look.

Looking around he would be hoping to find a way to exit this damn thing , “kitai i will say this now you fly this through my halls and break shit im getting a five finger discount and a pound of flesh when i get healed” a warning that kitai knew marik wouldnt follow through on the insane fucker had a struck a soft spot in mariks heart. But that didnt stop him from wanting to shoot the damn hellion in the fucking knee caps , or turn his cheese into ashes.