The 2023 Kyotei Grand Prix [ Social | Closed ]

[Luke Clyburn]

Y’know, it was funny how things could turn out sometimes. Luke Clyburn was, without a doubt, one of the most powerful people living on the planet Earth. Not in the sense that he had political or financial power. No, but that he possessed true strength. He was the strongest Bount. The most powerful living human man. Only one woman stood beside him on the peak of power that was held high above every other living human. Between the heavens and the earth, he alone was the honored one after all. He could destroy nations. Bring great militaries to their knees beneath a hurricane of water and ice. The world was like cardboard to him. People were like paper. He had to tread through life carefully or else he could destroy everything around him. Like he did once before. Despite all this power this one man possessed, the influence he held over the various spiritual factions, and the weight he held that could tip the scales forever in favor of whatever faction he joined…

He was broke.

Luke’s finances were more or less completely tapped. During his three-year hiatus of being a frozen TV dinner, the substantial funds he had amassed in his bank account had been steadily drained by a variety of means. What’s more, he was also completely unemployed at the moment. The mercenary gig wasn’t exactly popping off quite like he had expected it would. You can have all the power in the world to solve anybody’s problems but it doesn’t mean jack shit if you didn’t know how to find people hiring. Once upon a time, Luke could have just asked Taka for help. The Mod Soul who had taken him in had given him a good variety of career opportunities while he stayed at her club. The fighting ring was the one he excelled at. He still remembered his old ring name, Blade. It was good exercise, practice for his growing abilities, and brought in a solid stream of cash. It was how he met Shizuka as well. Reflecting on those times, it was a good period of his life.

But Taka was gone now. Moved out of Karakura years ago to set up shop somewhere new. But now Luke had completely lost touch with her. Mercenaries hung out at her club and, if she were still around, it was definitely where he would go in search of work. But he was up the creek without a paddle on that one. There was always returning to Uzaki Enterprises. Now that was a line of work that paid well. But he had his reasons for not wanting to return to Kazura’s side. Foremost he didn’t want to answer prying questions about where he had been for the last three years. Secondly, he had his sights set on bigger things than what Kazura had in mind. Not that he had a problem with the man's mission statement, mind you. Luke just wanted to do things differently. He had his way of doing things. But, again, this still meant the Bount was unemployed.

He only had a few thousand ryo left in his account. So, being the entrepreneur he was he decided he was going to make money with money. Luke had the wits to get it done. Get on that sigma male grind set and hustle. How was he doing it? By gambling on speed boat racing, of course! Luke sat amongst an empty row of seats staring down at the large lake with lanes marked by buoys. It was called “kyōtei” and was one of Japan’s four public sporting events where betting and gambling were legal. Luke felt lucky. After all, right when he needed money there was a big racing event going on. The happenstance of it all brought a confident smirk to Luke’s lips. He was guaranteed a win and a big cash prize. He put all his money on racer B2. Luke had a good feeling about it. The racer was somewhat spiritually aware from what Luke could feel. This meant that he had to have heightened instincts and better senses than the other racers.

Clutching his ticket in his hand, Luke leaned forward in his seat and widened his cocky smirk a bit. The Bount was wearing his usual red hoodie alongside some normal jeans. Nothing fancy today. Not like he had amazing clothes at the moment anyhow. His whole wardrobe had gotten thrown out with the rest of his shit when he got evicted. The contestant he had bet on was doing well too. First place. As expected. Luke thought to himself with confidence. ” Even just being a little spiritually gifted puts you well ahead of normal people.” It seemed like Luke’s prediction was right. Another racer was getting close but B2 was way better at handling turns than the only person who could be considered a challenger. It let B2 gain distance and pull ahead. Luke watched on with a smugness that he normally didn’t have. Like a parent proud that their kid won an incredibly easy competition and was about to rub it in someone’s face.

This was the last lap too. Once B2 crossed that finish line it would be over and Luke would be walking away with enough money to hold him over for a while if he managed it correctly. ” I feel like… eel and sake tonight. Yeah, that’ll work.” The Bount said to himself, resting his chin on his hand and whimsically looking off to the side as he imagined the dinner he was going to have in celebration. But as the Bount dreamed of unagi don something pinged on Luke’s inner radar. His reiatsu detecting capabilities picked up something. But from where? He zoned in on it and realized it was coming from the lake where the race was happening. A reiatsu signature Luke didn’t recognize.

The water next to B2 suddenly exploded. His boat suddenly toppled with a huge chunk taken out of its side. ” Oooh and a sudden malfunction takes racer B2, Shinsato Ken, out! It looks like his boat exploded!” Luke heard the announcer declare over the intercom. Luke watched as oversized trilobite emerged from the surface of the manmade lake and let out that signature roar that all Hollows had. He just sat there. Luke sat there, staring, wide-eyed and mouth agape. He watched as B2’s rival sped right past the wrecked boat. ” A… Hollow?” he asked the universe. Everyone started cheering when the racer who Luke didn’t bet on crossed the finish line. ” A… Hollow… just…” his eyebrow started twitching.

Contestant B2 surfaced and splashed around a bit. The Hollow, who had just been lurking under the water and probably awoken after detecting a tasty meal above it, leaned towards him with its mouth open. ” God-” Luke suddenly vanished from his seat. The row of seats exploded from the force of his step. Speeding faster than the speedboats could, Luke suddenly reappeared in front of the Hollow with the same hand holding his betting ticket clenched into a tight fist. ” -DAMNIT!” Luke shouted in forehead-vein-popping rage as he slammed his fist into the Hollow. The force behind the blow caused its entire upper body to explode into a messy, purple-blooded, display of gore. Before anyone could notice him, he was gone again. Reappearing on top of the massive metal awning that covered the rows of seats. He immediately began pacing back and forth, rubbing his hands through his hair, and slinging a slew of swear words that would lay a curse on a bloodline.

” Fuck!” he shouted one last time.

[Arcadus]

He was feeling like some kind of seafood tonight. Arcadus sat in his forge, working on his latest commission. Bored out of his mind, his commissioner was almost certianly a human world dweller, someone who wanted to "cosplay" some character from a manga. Apparently that's passed for mantling the spirits and gods these days. Well, regardless, it was a huge, ultra thick sword. It was easier to cast the damn thing then start forging an edge, but that would be shoddy work, and he did not do shoddy work. 

He'd made the decision to layer steel plates upon steel plates, each face engraved with specific runic scripts to make the sword light enought to weild, at least for the weilder. They were made to sync up with a pair of gloves he had fashioned to work with the weilder. So that it was still a sword that could be swung by normal hands, but still retained its weight and momentum. Otherwise, he may as well have made it out of would if he was just making it lighter in general. 

It was time for a break, and he didn't have any aquatic fare in his kennels or in his store. Welp, time to head to the human world to catch some. As he opened his gate, Arcadus worried. The ritual to transform was tommorow, and while everything was in order, and he'd pacified the others in his head for now, it was still something that made him pause. Well, dinner was not going to catch itself, and stepping through the Gargaunta, Arcadus began sensing out a hollow. 

He had decided not to throw on a Gigai, something like this it was better if the mortals weren't going to see him. He'd decided on more casual wear, Red turtle neck and black pants covered his statuesque build and imposing frame, and he'd decided on black dress shoes with red socks and soem black aviators. There was one close by, something aquatic to be sure, and in line with the shrimp dish that he was craving, though it might be closer to a crab as he flew closer to it. 

See the hollow, trilobite looking fucker. Perfect for the meal he wanted made. Butchering might be hard, but at least it was going to be an interesting flavor. Chasing it throught the city, Arcadus wtached it leap over the walls of some kind of arena. Shrugging and following it, the Arrancar would look over the edge of the stadium to see it dive into the water. Leaping down to settle into one of the seats and scan for it, Arcadus took in his surroundings.
  
Turning again to his spiritual senses, Arcadus felt himself nearly blinded by the spiritual beacon that was a bount near by. Corvus? no, far far far to strong to be Corvus. Either case, it was a matter of if he'd seen him they'd likely seen him. Keeping an eye on the bount, Arcadus sensed out the aquatic creature. It was in the water, hiding there at the bottom of the arena. Arcadus prepared to dive after it, timing out the boats and their movements to make sure he wouldn't disrupt the event.  

Suddenly, it moved, darting up towards one of the boats to eat one of the occupants. Arcadus started to move, but the bount rushed to kill it and blipped back to his seat before most mortals even blinked. He looked pissed, if Arcadus had to guess, the boat that exploded was the one he had bet on. Still, quite the temper to move like that in front of everyone like that. Well, if his lunch was now destroyed, he may as well talk to the person who just turned it to spirit dust. 

Walking out from behind a pillar, Arcadus found a seat behind the Bount. If the bount had spiritual senses they'd  notice him behind them, but if they didn't react, Arcadus would reach forward to tap him on the shoulder. "Tough luck huh? Hey, tell ya what, I'll get ya a beer, and we can go in on the next round. Plus, I'm sure there's some lawsuit for fraud you could have put in after the shinigami erase people's memories and it gets chalked up to racketeering."

[Luke Clyburn]

Luke had a great idea. A wonderful idea. I’ll just go shake down some Yakuza! Yeah, that’s a great idea! They walk around carrying all the money they steal and extort from other people. It’ll be fine, right? Luke was on the verge of beginning his villain arc thanks to the universe fucking him in the ass. But before Luke could go off and become the Dragon of Karakura and get a dragon fish tattooed on his back, somehow approached him. With a rather foul expression on his face, the Bount looked up from his seat at the person who had the audacity to approach him and show him pity. A second round? Shinigami mind erasure? Just who the hell did this guy think he was? ”Oy? Are you fucking with me?” Luke asked, glowering at the Arrancar.

”I’ve got two orders of takoyaki and beer! the server shouted as Luke raised a hand. The server dropped one cardboard food tray in front of Luke and, with a rather confused expression, put one in the seemingly empty seat across from the Bount. Along with two beers. ”It’s fine, leave it.” Luke said to him as he snapped a pair of chopsticks. The server shrugged and wandered off. ”Ain’t it funny how things happen? A Hollow of all things ruining my chances at a big score. The universe can be a real bitch sometimes.” Luke complained to the person he was seated with. The Bount had, annoyingly, dragged Arcadus to a nearby restaurant to take him up on his offer for free drinks. Food hadn’t been included in the offer but something to snack on while they had a drink wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

Squishing one of the balls of dumpling with octopus inside it between the two sticks and raising it to his mouth, Luke plopped it in his mouth and chewed for a few moments. He opened his eyes to look at Arcadus and get an actual good look at him. Maybe he had been too mad in the moment to understand what he had been interacting with before, but now Luke had a better understanding. ”We don’t see your kind around here often.” Luke commented after swallowing, leaning back in his chair and eyeing Arcadus. It was a pretty dingy restaurant. Thick ventilation equipment on the ceiling. The walls and ceiling were an ugly yellow color that was probably cigarette residue rather than actual paint. Some balding businessman in the corner smoking. ”Normally you’d expect the Seireitei to sound the alarm and send the whole hive down to run you out. Guess it’s your lucky day, ain’t it?” Luke asked with a bit of bitterness that wasn’t directed at his new acquaintance.

The reiatsu signature Luke felt was Arrancar. Obnoxiously Arrancar. So obnoxious it made Luke feel a little nauseous as he recalled the taste of Hollow soul. What a great guest to have for lunch. But the reiatsu that Luke felt from this chap was insane. Enormous. A spiritual presence that was dense and thick. Someone dangerous. Someone Luke didn’t know about. Leaning his left cheek on his left hand, Luke looked at Arcadus for a moment before asking, ”So, what’s got you in town? You can call me Luke, by the way. I appreciate the free lunch.” The Bount asked. Wasn’t that he thought the guy was up to anything, but, Arrancar weren’t commonly seen in Karakura Town. Like he stated earlier, Soul Society would probably flip a tit if they realized he was here. The Bount may not have worked for Uzaki Enterprises anymore but he still had an interest in keeping the city safe even if he wasn’t being paid to do it.

[Arcadus]

"No, I'm not messing with you ...." Arcadus tilted his head slightly like he was making out the words on a distant sheet of paper. "Luke, and yes, it can be really unfortunate sometimes. But it always swings around in my experience, which is why I keep coming back to Karakura." Before he courld really dig into the order luke had called over, he felt luke try and drag him into a nearby resturaunt, apparently he'd decided eating in there would be a better idea. 

Taking his seat across from Luke, Arcadus balanced himself on the chair, hooking his feet into the middle bar. "Yes, about the sereitei. They seem to be ignoring me, half on the fact I'm in town every other night and and don't cause real problems for anyone here. That, and they aren't sending anyone short of a captain to deal with me, and they won't send a captain to Karakura for... Collateral reasons. But it is my luky day for another reason I would think, finding some company who can actually see me without a gigai is nice." 

Eating the octopus dumplings as he enjoyed the almost dingy atmosphere of the stadium, Arcadus chewed for a moment. Bounts were such a rarity, and while he knew corvus for a while, and them being the only bount he'd met before, he was very young for a bount. Reading over Luke, he could tell Luke was powerful, easily in the running for top twenty in the relevant planes of existence. Something like Shizuka, though that might just be them both being humans. 

"As for what brings me into town for this particular night, I'd say, ultimately food. I was looking for either a hollow to eat, or failing that at least some good dining, but I don't mind some stadium food if its with company. Oh, get what you want, I'm buying." Arcadus folded his legs as he continued to eat this appetizer course, evidently not uncomfortable with the current venue but it wasn't his first choice for sure. Though the interesting man across from him was probably his first choice of intrigue for the night, apart from shizuka.

"So Luke, tell me about yourself, how does a bount as powerful as yourself suddenly pop up in a town I can normally sense from border to border with pesquis? You must have come into town not too long ago, or you are very good at hiding yourself." He wasn't really meaning to be inquisitorial with his questions, but it was really the only topic on his mind, given that it was the thing he wanted to get out of the way before proceeding onto more mundane topics.
 

[Luke Clyburn]

”Hmm. Is that right?” Luke asked between chews as the Arrancar he shared a table with explained the odd absence of the Seireitei’s samurai enforcers. Plopping another piece of food in his mouth and chewing at it, Luke thought about that. If a powerful enemy were to appear in Karakura Town would the Seireitei really not send anyone to deal with it because of the risk to the general populace? So they, the Shinigami, would just let the threat run amok? At what point would they step in? When was the loss of life so great that the Shinigami would finally decide to step in and put down Arcadus if he were the one running amok? Luke’s chewing had slowed as he thought about it. But no matter how many questions he asked himself in his head, the bottom line was the reality that the Seireitei were awful protectors of the living.

Arcadus would suddenly ask Luke about himself. The man would blink at the Arrancar before lifting his beer to his lips and having a drink. He thought Luke was new to town? That was funny. But it wasn’t like Luke could blame him for thinking that. He had been indisposed for a few years after all. ”It’s funny you say that actually. I’ve been here for something over five years now. I think. Somewhere in the ballpark. I’ve just been… indisposed for the last few years. Underground, y’know.” Luke answered. It was technically the truth. The best kind of truth. He was, in fact, under the ground. Under an entire lake in fact. He just wasn’t willing to divulge incredibly personal details with someone he’d just met. The whole “dying but actually half dead and needing three years to regenerate” thing was something he was going to keep to himself and a very select few of his personal friends.

”I’ve been on the down-low though, I guess. Been doing some traveling. Sometimes things get too hot in the city and, well, there’s more than just Karakura in the world.” He added with a shrug before looking at Arcadus. ”What about you though? If you’re saying that the only Shinigami that is a match for you is a Captain then that’s a pretty big claim to fame. I’m not too familiar with Arrancar aside from the, like, basics. Laser beams, hard skin, a hole somewhere on your body.” Now that he thought about it, did he even know any Arrancar? He had to run through his memory of people he had encountered while living here. There was that one weird Hollow that followed him, but, Luke couldn’t be sure he had actually met an Arrancar before.

No, wait, he did. That one guy with the weird bug power that made things turn into a soft mold. That fucker had tried to kill Luke actually and the Bount had managed to slip away. That encounter was so short that Luke had almost completely forgotten about it. ”You’ve certainly got some strength to your spirit. You wouldn’t happen to be one of those Espada folks, right?” Luke asked, his amber eyes locking onto Arcadus to see how he responded. Luke didn’t know much about Las Noches or the Espada, just that they were the enemy of the Gotei Thirteen. But there was something else Luke wanted to know.

[Arcadus]

Arcadus considered his options, being accused of being an espada was something he couldn't really dodge, and considering it wasn't something he really needed to worry about given, while he didn't like his odds of coming out of a conflict with luke smelling like roses, he didn't doubt he wouldn't triumph over the bount. But regardless, there was little to be done about the accusation than fess up. "Yes, I am one of those espada of Los Noches. I'm here on pleasure, I assure you, not business."


"Besides, a bount living here, surely they would send Shinigami after you as well if the standing orders were to be believed, so it seems like we're in a similar situation. Even more so, since it seems that despite their orders to exterminate either of our kinds, they can't, or won't. Something I'm sure about risking assets that would be better used squashing internal matters." Arcadus  rolled his chopsticks between his fingers as he considered what else to say.  

Luke seemed a nice man. Certainly attractive, and someone who despite his not so spectacular luck and meager means, sensing out his soul, he was someone who had a mind towards the greater good. Well, that was the impression. But regardless, a bount taking a nap was nothing new, it was something they practically excelled at. And a traveler. Which honestly was refreshing, so many people seemed to get stuck in Karakura like flies on glue. 

His last question really threw him, but as he thought about it it really wasn't much of a stretch. Well, considering that Luke seemed to be someone at least kind of reasonable, he figured it wouldn't hurt. "I am in fact one of those Espada. I'm not exactly here on any kind of malicious business as I've said. But I am among their ranks." Arcadus held his breath as he waited for Luke's response, hopefully he'd prove he as as level headed as he appeared.

[Luke Clyburn]

Arcadus wound up saying something interesting. He brought up how Luke was a super-powered Bount and yet was still alive. That made him pause. His encounters with Shinigami never really went like that. Most of them never actually seemed to mind what he was. Oddly enough, despite being a Bount, Luke actually got on rather well with the Shinigami he knew. Yetsuna, Aevus, Schala, Kaen. He was sure he knew a few others but couldn’t recall any of their names at the moment. There was only one time him being a Bount had ever been an issue. Aevus, his teacher and friend, had pointed his sword at Luke once he had discovered what the human was. But that issue had resolved and they were past it. The point was that most of the Shinigami Luke had met had a rather progressive outlook on what he was. Did that mean the attitude of the Seireitei was shifting or had Luke just been lucky about who he had met?

”I suppose that makes sense.” Luke replied, taking a drink from his beer. ”If the job of the Shinigami is the safeguarding of souls then getting into a massive fight in the middle of the city probably runs a bit counter to that mission statement.” Luke mentioned. ”Eh, the idea that the people of the city are basically our shields isn’t one that I like. I’m gonna choose to believe that if we stay on good behavior we won’t run into any problems.” Luke concluded with a shrug. Placing a dumpling in his mouth and chewing, Luke thought about what Arcadus said.

He believed him at this point. If this Espada had been up to something Luke was sure he’d have sniffed it out. If he was here to cause trouble, then Luke would have done something about it. But neither of those seemed to be the case. Swallowing the food down and clearing his throat out with some beer, Luke returned his attention to the conversation. ”I’m not trying to be nosy but I don’t get many opportunities to talk with an Arrancar. Much less an Espada of all careers. What’re things like on that side of the world? I heard the Espada have their numbers tattooed on their body. Which one are you?” Luke asked, barraging Arcadus with whatever happened to pop up in his mind.

“If I’m poking into some work secrets then by all means don’t answer. It’s just that Las Noches, the Espada, have always been really quiet compared to some of the other factions. I’ve been to Hueco Mundo a few times and I can’t really imagine wanting to stay in that gloomy desert all day every day for the rest of the afterlife, y’know?” Luke asked, offering Arcadus the opportunity to lead the conversation for a bit.

[Arcadus]

"I'd say you're right on multiple accounts, though I feel the shinigami aren't exactly focused on their purported goal. They exist more to support the regency and power base of the Gotei, though quite a few of them I'm sure are focused on helping and assisting the human world. Much of it seems, from what I can tell and what I've seen, focused on cleaning up the mistakes they make to their supposed solutions to different problems. See Mod souls and their other projects."

"And I wouldn't like to think about it as using them as a shield. I am as much a member of this town as the people who commute here for work or any other reason. Perhaps I'm not a residents, but my coin spends the same and they certianly don't mind me. And I certainly don't like to think that I'm on some kind of parole, where "bad behavior" will earn me a dance with some captain who thinks they're hot stuff." Arcadus certainly didn't have much nice to say about the shinigami, but he also hadn't been given much reason to. 

As Luke launched into a flurry of questions, Arcadus ate the food he'd ordered. It was nice to have someone actually not see him as a threat, either to others or to the person he was directly talking to. But he also didn't like that hold shinigami had over people's minds. Luke talked about the Shinigami like he was a prisoner on the yard and the shinigami his guards. But sociospiritual implications of the Gotei and their pet scythe swingers aside, Arcadus looked up from his food to answer the questions. 

"Thats a bit of a personal question. But to satisfy your curiousity, I am the second of the Espada. And we are a relatively quiet faction, given that ultimately, our leader is inactive. He hides away and does not advise us, his strongest warriors and generals, to do anything. Soul Society's desctruction is something supposedly as one of our goals, but ultimately they are diminished in power and its not as pressing a matter to the actual Espada as certian other groups. Specifically the particular breed of Quincy."

"As well, Hueco Mundo is certianly barren, but not lifeless. It is spread out across the vast desert, but there are societies out there, different groups of hollows and arrancar that exist out in the wastes of the place. I'm certian even a group of fullbringers could theoretically exist out there if they were powerful enough to subsist off of reishi, and given the incredible size of the desert, its entirely possible." Arcadus mused on that posibility for a bit. "Well, often times you as you understand yourself cease to exist and become a new being in your journey through the soul cycle, barring exceptions. As well, your afterlife is still my home. Its gloomy, but there are people in Los Noches trying to form something resembling a society."

Archadus shifted a bit as he thought about his options. He may as well help out Luke here, the guy seemed to be really down on his luck. "You know luke, do you have any experience with the betting down in Douma's section of the market? Theres a big fight thats going to happen, and my bets on someoene I've fought before." Arcadus leaned forward, looking Luke over a bit before catching his eyes. "A pair of Vizards are going to go at each other really soon, and theres a fortune to be made on betting on the right one." 

[Luke Clyburn]

Arcadus wound up giving Luke a bit of juicy gossip after all. The Bount sat quietly, listening, as his Arrancar acquaintance went on to explain that the leader of the Espada was actually a rather inactive leader. That was curious to him. If it was as Arcadus said, and the Espada were the enemies of Soul Society, then why did they not act against them? What’s more, were the Shinigami forces weakened? Were they still at war with the Vandenreich? If so why didn’t Las Noches move against them? Was there another reason behind it? It was good to stay caught up on the activities and movements of the other factions. Las Noches just happened to be the one Luke knew the least about. But what Arcadus had to say piqued Luke’s interest. He wound up mentioning that a particular breed of Quincy was a more pressing matter. Luke couldn’t agree more.

The Vandenreich. An extremist faction of Quincy that served a shadowy figure known as “The Emperor”. What Luke knew about them wasn’t much, but it was enough to recognize them as an enemy on site. They were violent and powerful. They sought the extermination of the other races and to either take over the world or destroy it. While the bulk of their forces and efforts seemed much more focused on their ancient enemy, the Shinigami, it didn’t stop a few Quincy here and there from paying a visit to the human world to cause trouble. Something Luke was all too familiar with. Yes, he had had his run-ins with the Vandenreich. Those occasions were the most influential moments of his life. They were his enemies. A threat not only to himself, his friends, and his loved ones, but the city and more. Luke’s current goal was to find a way to get rid of them completely, or at least weaken them enough for Soul Society to finish the job.

When Hueco Mundo was brought up Luke, unfortunately, just wasn’t as interested as he had been. He was thinking about Las Noches and the Vandenreich. Weighing options, contemplating hypotheticals, mixing what information he had with assumptions and his imagination. Was it possible to ally with Las Noches? Was it, at all, worth it? If the leader wasn’t proactive what did that mean for the other Espada?

The sudden mention of his name brought his attention back to Arcadus. Luke blinked when he was asked about his experiences with betting. ”Douma’s what? Who’s that? Also so far my luck with bets has been pretty crap all things considered.” Luke commented as he took another drink from his beer. ”What, like, a cage match sort of deal? We used to have a spot for that in town a couple years ago but the owner moved somewhere else. But then Arcadus mentioned a word that Luke didn’t recognize. ”I’ll take your word for it and might check it out. But what’s a Vizard? Did someone stick some Mod Souls in some visors and set them up to fight like battle robots?” Luke asked with a chuckle. He genuinely had no idea what a Vizard was. The irony.

[Arcadus]

Arcadus let the bount consider his words and his position. It was all a lot to consider, and Arcadus was honestly about as interested in ordering more food. Luke seemed like a nice man, certainly handsome, if not great with his money. In either case, scanning through his mind, Arcadus figured that he was a good enough man, not quite likeing the vandenriech and certianly seeming to have his priorities in order for threat recognition. 

Clearing his throat, Arcadus leaned forward a bit. "Well, Douma used to be amajor share holder in this particular betting venue. And its not quite a cage match, more of a" Arcadus searched for the words "Open air outside of the arena kind of fight. Closer to an assassination than a fight. But, its incredible payoff if you know who is fighting, which I do." Arcadus leaned back, and, seeing an oppurtunity to impress with his spiritual knowledge, he smiled at Luke.

"Well, are you familiar with what a fullbringer is? A human with hollow powers or some kind of internal hollow spirit. A vizard is what happens when a shinigami has the same condition. It makes them incredibly powerful, and I've encountered one so far that I'm aware of, though they have met quite a few. They develop a hollow mask that takes the form of a sort of secondary release, and they see a massive increase in their power over all when using it, but it has a very limited duration without extensive training." 

"Well, Luke, I can show you where this particular venue is, and you can thank me later when it pays out. But in either case, I think that we should get some more food." Arcadus flipped throught the menu briefly, keeping it flat on the table to avoid the image of a floating menu above the table. "Something spicy, oh, Okonomiyaki, I haven't had that in a while. What about you Luke, get yourself something, I'm buying. And besides, it seems like  you've been down on your luck for a while, you deserve some luck in your life."