Lord Miraculous Kohai (Social)

[Maria Ashwin]

' being  Second  best....isn't  so  bad' 5 paragraphs 5 paragraphs total so far

(1)  Exhaustion had set in ninety seven hours ago , that was the last time she had taken nap. Running a city hunting for hollows to fill the ranks of the espada and fending off would be challengers , Maria was at her wits end the only telling feature of her mental state where the dark circles under her eyes. She would find herself arriving four hours early to her scheduled meeting with kohai , not to be punctual but to catch a big fat fucking break.

2) With a sigh she would slump in her seat , a cup of steaming tea sat Infront of her 'this meeting will either go extremly well or ill find myself exacuted' the neon green haired espada would think to herself as she sat up , gently blowing over the rim of the grass as she nrought it to her lips taking a ginger sip of the bland brew she had come to know as a staple in las noches '...i should see if kohai will allow me to set up a farm we need more variety in our diet' 

3) She would take her time thinking of how she would approach this situation , kohai was the most powerful being in all of hueco mundo the finale step atop the endless ziggurat. What would he say, how would he react , it honestly made maria worry for her life but in the end she was truly to tired to give a damn in the moment 'i can probably take a nap...before he arrives'

4) In a few moments she would blink once, then twice , and her eyes slowly began to close as darkness took her. she would drift off into a dreamless sleep, a light snoring soon echoing through the meeting room almost inaudible to most of all ears , when she next opened her eyes the muffled sound of shoes was coming from the adjacent throne room. 

5.) Taking out her soul phone she would check the time '8:45....kohai isn't set to be here for another three hours' she contemplated to herself as she silently stood wiping the imaginary dust off her outfit . As she walked over to the meeting room door sliding it open stepping into the hall a light yawn would escape her lips , and walking over to the next set of doors , 'i guess he wanted to get the meeting started early , and if its an assasin i can kill them and maybe get some brownie points' the thought bouncing around her skull as to who the hell was in here!

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

How long had it been since one of his Espada requested an audience with the King? He could think of one time that was particularly unpleasant. In fact, he preferred not thinking about it at all. Rizer was truly a disappointment. After his entire invasion failed, the last thing Kouhai ever wanted out of that insignificant flea was to see him again. If their paths ever crossed, it would mean the utter destruction of Rizer's soul. Kouhai would see to that personally. Admittedly, the plan was promising. It could have worked. But the one thing that was asked of Rizer never even happened. Kouhai was never given a path to the Soul Society. Therefore, it was a failure.

Yet this Espada was different. Since his original Primera had sought to further strengthen himself, this individual stepped up to the plate only to step down shortly afterward. Evidently, staying as Segunda was more important than properly leading the Espada with the deserved title. If Kouhai had any heart, he might care to ask why. Unfortunately, he didn't, and he wouldn't. That wasn't any of his concern. He had a Kingdom to rule, and he wasn't about to get himself carried away with the interpersonal workings of someone like that.

Despite that, however, Marik did something shocking. The loyalty towards Kouhai and Las Noches was truly refreshing. It was as if he'd heard the King's threat, properly took the order, and acted without question all because that was all he felt he was born to do. Whether this was true or not, Kouhai cared very little. The fact remained that Rizer was dead, and the King had to hope there was no chance he would ever come back. The soul cycle could be a strange and confusing thing, indeed. It is because of this action, and only this action, that Kouhai agreed to meet with him.

Or so he thought.

Pacing his throne room, Kouhai found himself in a daze. This wasn't a typical daze, though. No, he was doing his best to perform the only version of escapism he felt comfortable with - cosplay. It was a very little-known secret that Kouhai was a fan of Miraculous. It was one of those strange human shows from the world of the living that managed to draw his attention more than he ever admitted to anyone. Since his throne room was strictly off-limits to any and all people unless he specifically allowed them, he felt it was safe to explore his hobbies there. Well, one specific hobby.

One specific episode was on in the background, and this episode was actually the season five finale. Ladybug had merged her Miraculous with that of the black cat and became Bug Noir. This episode was showing on a huge, digital screen that projected perfectly against absolutely nothing but air, as if Tony Stark had designed it, himself. Actually, that man's Hollow was wandering somewhere around Las Noches, and Kouhai was anxious to get a hold of him. His genius, though it could never be on the same level as the King, could prove useful.

Nevertheless, he watched his show, making an attempt to copy some of the fighting moves that Bug Noire was performing. Her agility, flexibility, and talent for getting out of any and all binds was admirable. She had very unique ideas and that was part of why Kouhai was so enamored with this media. Plus, she was cute. He didn't think about that much, but she was. He could easily see why the world of the living would enjoy something like this, along with many of their anime. He seemed to recall one was called Jujutsu Kaisen. He'd have to pay more attention to that show.

Before he had a chance to notice, Kouhai heard the throne room's doors open and he immediately stopped moving, waved the projection away, and fixed his blazer. He opted for black dress pants with no dress shirt under the matching blazer since he preferred to embrace the heat of the desert around them. It was too early for anyone to be here, so he cursed himself for not paying more attention. He had never been this negligent in his life, and he would never be again. He geared himself up to tear apart whoever dared disturb him, turned around, raised his hands to release one of his strongest attacks with such fiery wrath, and-

"Segunda. You are early." Kouhai paused and called off his powers for the moment. "Punctuality is a virtue, but even this could be considered a flaw of yours. We were not meant to meet for several hours."

He didn't want to bring attention to what he'd been doing. His entire aura had changed from how he'd been mere moments ago into the cold, unforgiving tyrant he knew himself to be. He slowly approached the Segunda, eyes as blue as ice and just as cold. If he were going to dare to enter this room unannounced, he was going to experience the punishment he was now doomed to receive as Kouhai flexed just enough to send an inevitable chill down the Segunda's spine. It would be incredibly clear what was going to happen. In just a few steps, this meeting would adjourn.

But he stopped yet again. Something caught his attention that he'd never thought much about before. "Segunda, you look quite different. I cannot seem to put my finger on it."

Perhaps he'd acted hastily. The right thing for him to do would have been to wipe the Segunda's existence from this world, but that would be postponed. There was no need to rush to such things. They had all eternity.

[Maria Ashwin]

' being  Second  best....isn't  so  bad' 6 paragraphs 11 paragraphs total so far

(1) Maria was confused at the scene before her as she watched kohai mimic who maria had come to know marinette , from the popular show known as miraculous ladybug. She had heard rumors and whispers of kohai’s obsesion with show but she never thought in a million years did she think she would see kohai doing something so silly , it would almost humorous if not for the fcat maria was so damn tired he simply couldnt must anything other than a neutral expression as kohai halted his movements to see her step into the room.

(2) A light chill ran down maria’s spine as kohai let loose a flux of his power , in most cases she might have been registering a great deal of fear but she had come to this meeting resigned and tired as evident in her apperance , her taking in a small breath and letting out a small huff as kohai grew closer to her current position then sudenly halting eyeing her commenting that maria looked different which in turn prompted her to lock eyes with kohai.

(3) In the most serious dead pan tone one could ever master laced with groggyness and undertones of what could only be constrained as ‘sounding exhausted’ she would give him a rather simple response , “it’s the tits lord kohai” she would announce giving him the answer to his query. Aside from her now much more soft and feminine facial features and long hair she still could be identified as the man she once was provided you had the analytical skill to even put two and two together.

(4) “as for my early arrival my lord i must beg your forgiveness on the matter , i have been working non-stop for the past ninety seven hours on various projects for the betterment of las noches and have had three back to back battles in searching for suitable espada replacements” which was the absolute truth as maria had halted several of her own major operations when reports of suitable beings reached her desk , which at this point had caused quite the mountain of backlogged paperwork to develop.

(5) “In addition to this i arrived early and was sleeping in the adjacent espada meeting room trying to gather myself , as to not come before you as a totally disheveled mess my lord….i awoke to the sound of foot steps in your throne room and had decided to take it upon myself to see if we had intruders in need of exterminating” she would finish. internally resisting the urge to ask why he was flexing riatsu at her.

(6) noting that the only chair in the room was kahai’s meaning she’d either have to do the rest of this meeting standing , kneeling or risk pissing him off by flopping down on her butt. “I will say though i do regrett walking in , spoilers for a show your three seasons behind on aren’t fun” this would be said in passing not going back to touch on the subject unless kaohai yanked it back. “Shall we begin our meeting or do you wish me to return to the espada meeting room and await the scheduled time”

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

“It’s the tits, Lord Kouhai.”

She answered him in the most passive, matter-of-fact way he could have ever experienced. She was very serious. She was not trying to be funny. Despite this, something welled up inside Kouhai that felt almost too foreign for him to admit - a laugh. He was able to choke it down with not even a hint on his face to show what was going on underneath his typical icy demeanor. She had no intention of being humorous, so he didn't dare insult her by making this matter anything other than straight to the point. With a deep breath to clear his mind, Kouhai cupped his chin between his thumb and index finger and raised a brow.

"Ah, yes. Quite." He turned back to his throne. "Anyway, explain why you are here, Segunda."

Maria told her story, though brief, but she need not explain any further. Kouhai had extensive reports on her dealings with this world and Las Noches. Arguably, though he refrained from saying so to her face, she was the most loyal of his Espada. He did not have the same worries with her that he experienced with others, especially others such as Rizer. He had been a stain on the organization's bill of health. The fact that he was somehow allowed to remain for so long caused Kouhai plenty of frustration even now despite his execution via Maria's hand. That, alone, was enough to make Kouhai much more amiable towards her. Yet, here she was, proving to have contributed more than anyone for several years.

“I will say, though. I do regret walking in. Spoilers for a show you're three seasons behind on aren’t fun.”

Kouhai's brows furrowed, but not in anger. Instead, it was because an odd feeling surfaced when she spoke that made him start to wonder about himself. It was a strange sensation. His stomach felt a bit tight, and he suddenly had the strange urge to apologize to the woman for ever having the show projected the way he did since the risk involved did mean anyone could walk in at any moment. So this must have been... guilt. Kouhai did not feel guilt. Ever. He acted without regard for years, only caring about his own personal growth and goals. He did not need to amuse himself with such petty feelings. No one deserved it.

"Forgive me then, Segunda. I, too, have been subjected to spoilers with certain things I enjoy."

Did he just apologize? What a strange, unfamiliar thing to do. Kouhai never apologized to anyone for anything he did. He felt all of his actions had just consequences for other people. He cared so little about the feelings of others that when Maria showed disappointment in learning of something that happened in a show that they both evidently liked, it shocked him to realize that bothered him. The King was not one to focus on such trivial matters, but it appeared this situation was different. That was interesting. He made a mental note to explore that further at a later date.

"You may proceed with your meeting agenda, Segunda. Do remember that you are the one who requested an audience with me." Kouhai made a small effort to go back to being the proper overseer that he was. He didn't need to waste his time on any other nonsense.

[Maria Ashwin]

' being  Second  best....isn't  so  bad' 14 paragraphs 25 paragraphs total so far

(1) “Thank you my lord, your words humble me. I shall first start with my successful projects” she would say picking up what kohai was putting down , getting things back to serious topic matters as she slid the back pack she had brought with her from her back , to her front in one fluid motion. She would look down as she began rifling through it the sound of papers shifting around would fill the throne room , her cat noir bell key chain that hung from one of the zippers jingling ever so lightly with each motion.

(2) Maria would the pull out six cream colored envelops “As you know we didn’t exactly have a semblance of structure amongst myself and my fellow arrancar , many believing the weak would only serve as stepping stools for the strong on their way challenging an espada or you then dieing an unceramonious death” she would say handing him the first folder having a red stamp across the front labled [Classified] in big bold blood red letter. “Through my pain staking efforts i have mobilized 89% of the numeros within my section of las noches you appointed me” her tone still neutral as she waited for kaohai to flip through the document.

(3) “Useing Las Noches’s tardis like nature i have constructed a new segunda’a palace , i did in fact have to destroy the old primera’s palace to do so as i found a peep hole in my shower….and three male exquias members hiding in the wall behind that hole” there was a fat moment of silence , her neutral shell cracking for a moment as something akin to disgust washed over her , never having their privacy invaded to such a degree before. Her arms would rise to embrace herself but quickly fall back to her sides , as she didn’t wish to appear to disturbed infront of her master.

(4) “...my apologies…i zoned out there…but around my palace i have built for the  numeros cities, towns, thriving entertainment, food and industrial district’s, by giving them a quality of life that far surpasses that of soul society they have become zelot like in the idea of defending las noches and rooting out those among them who would ever think to depose or go against your rule…” as she said this kohai would see photos within the file that depict a statue of himself, several arrancar squads training , and few of the luxurious looking apartment and house structures.

(5) “Which brings me to my first request my lord , that remaining 11% have been a thorn in my side i would like permission to root out the rouge forces as this group believes we should return to ways of ‘self devastation’ and more ignorant drivel about how a hollow must sit on the throne of las noches” their was clear contempt in her voice with this way of thinking , it mattered not who sat on the throne but that they where strong and las noches would be stronger for it.

(6) Maria had already explained this train of thought to rio previously maria truly didn’t know kohai as a person but as of yet he had given her no reason to plot his downfall and would have her loyalty. “If your lordship has use for such arrancar i shall stay my hand , as it beyond me to question your foresight” fishing out another folder this one was pitch black with a picture of rizer stapled to the inside , with what little information she could gather from him before she stabbed him through the heart.

(7) “Then thier is the matter of the fool who thought he was king , due to invasion of soul society and attack of central forty six rizer’s dieing wish may come true” her eyes focused as she watched kohai “in his finale moments he confessed his sole reason for invading was gain the ire of soul society drawing their forces here with the express purpose of killing the espada and watching las noches crumble” the neon green haired espada would sigh as she thought back on rizer’s words , how she had sent him on his way wishing him nothing but death.

(8) “I have gone to great lengths to prepare for such an event , while he was scheming unbeknownst to me i was trying to unite the espada to make your elite fighting force something greater sadly as of recently we lost a vast majority of our espada fighting force , which i am attempting to rectify by gathering hand picked hollows and training up our forces” this above all else saddened her the most she had given so much to las noches , worked so hard to unify them and in the end they chose to leave other simply fading into the background static exiting quietly.

(9) “In response to our lack of espada and the rarity of the average hollow being able to contend with an espada position , i have begun digging a trench around las noches that reches beyond the depths of the menos forest in which a seki seki wall will be place granting us a level security against most invaders and rendering devices like the worm useless for further invasion” she would then pull out one more cream colored folder and hand it to kohai.

(10) The schematics for such a project would eclipse the united states of america in terms of size let alone the labor this would entail , and yet maria was making progress “this shall stand as a testament to our strength , originally my lord i was hoping to present these walls to you as a gift and a declaration of where my loyalties lie but given our dire situation i felt i no longer had the room for showmanship” should kohai notice she would seem a little sad she didn’t get the chance to surprise kohai with such a spectacle.

(11) Lastly she would pull out a scrap of black cloth “i also did as you asked , and exacuted the hellion who invaded out in the desert i must admit he was quite the stubborn foe but in the end i did watch the gates of hell open and claim what remained of his corpse after my assault” She would say as she released the scrap of cloth as it burst into black flame the hell fire reclaiming what rightfully belonged to it , she would face kohai backpack now empty.

(12) Taking a moment to zip it up and slide it back upon her back she would continue onward “my lord i am doing all i can to keep las noches afloat , to make us both strong without and within , i have considered our enemies shinigami, vandenreich, the humans alike despite that all i have sought time and time again to prove that i am your most useful blade……and yet somehow i feel i have failed you” this was maria’s truth she had confided in no one how she felt despite her achievements.

(13) No matter how successful she was or how much results she got with her work until kohai could confirm it she felt as if she would always be just short of a job well done. “I’ve done much in your name , much for both your glory and the glory of las noches , stood where the other espada left, and succeeded where two espada and the left hand failed but i am only one person…..please lord kohai…i need your help” She didn't yell or scream , this was no demmand but a plea a cry for help , any help lord kohai could offer her.

(14) It was laid out all on the table , sweat gathered on maria’s hand she didn’t know how pleaing to kohai would go. As the last she heard of anyone doing such a thing was rizer and well he’s dead in one of maria’s storage scrolls but what did it matter anymore kohai could in truth kill her , it would take him less than a single stroke of his blade she had no armor on. But he would lose one of his most valuable assets in the process , for who among the espada before her had ever done as much as she for the sake of not a throne but the orginzation as a whole.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

The bell keychain didn't go unnoticed. Kouhai's eyes darted immediately to Maria's bag as he examined it thoughtfully. It appeared she wasn't just talking about disliking spoilers for no reason. In fact, she may have even enjoyed the show. This both surprised and intrigued the man because he never thought anyone else could appreciate such a thing. Actually, the fact that he had an interest in common with someone else was what really threw him for a loop. That was not what he was here for, though. This wasn't meant to be a discussion of all things Miraculous. No, this was a formal meeting. Maria had a purpose for being here, so the least he could do was respect that.

As she spoke, he nodded along and returned to his throne. He flared the blazer that he had been wearing out in order to make sitting more comfortable, and the action exposed his bare torso underneath. Kouhai was in the habit of not wearing a shirt under his blazer, after all. Years of sculpting himself like the god he was meant he was quite vain. It need not matter who his audience was. He had every intention of showing exactly how strong he could be. So as he rested his chin against the outside of his fisted hand, he listened carefully and considered what she was saying, well-aware of how he looked.

As she gave her report, one thing made his brows furrow. The fact that she'd had any need to rebuild her palace due to the perverted nature of others under his reign made him highly irritated. He saw her reaction to the recount of the events, as well, and took note of how uncomfortable it clearly made her. While he was peeved at her momentary weakness, as no member of the Espada should ever show such behavior in front of anyone, he understood where her feelings were coming from. This sympathy was also quite foreign to him. He never thought he'd see the day when he felt such emotions again, and especially not for anyone in Las Noches.

But she continued. The mention of anyone aside from himself atop this throne made his anger flare, but he kept it hidden beneath the calm exterior. He did not wish to show such a loss of control over himself and he had only ever done so once. Maria dared speak the name of the man who caused his emotions to flare the first time. Rizer. A true thorn in the side of Las Noches whose only true purpose was to serve as Maria's training dummy the day she killed him. When Kouhai had gotten word of that event, he envisioned himself dancing for joy at the erasure of such an imbecile. Rizer didn't know how to speak to his King and had the audacity to assume he could kill the Espada. Such a joke.

Despite all of this, he was able to calm himself as Maria kept giving her report. She handed him a folder which he took with grace. When she mentioned wanting to surprise him with the defenses she had been crafting, it didn't take long before he saw a bit of disappointment in her eyes. Was she upset because she genuinely wanted to gift this to him? Her loyalty wasn't an act the way he knew the others' loyalties to be. She genuinely wanted to do something to make him proud of her. Not only that, but because of some other things that happened that were difficult on her, she felt as if she failed him. She was his most successful Espada and she felt like a failure. That was insanity.

Once Maria had ceased with her pleas, Kouhai watched her all but fold in on herself. Any other day, this would be expected. He wouldn't have had any problem with someone groveling before him because that was just the way things were. He was the King for a reason. If he felt like he wanted to end someone's life without a care in the world, he'd do exactly that and never think twice about it. But this time, as he watched her, Kouhai rose from his throne, walked over to Maria, and stood before her. He looked down at her, the difference in their height making this possible, and lifted his hand.

Then he patted her head.

"Segunda," he began, rubbing the top of her head with his hand. "You need not worry yourself over such things. I can help you. Out of every person in Las Noches, excluding me, you have shown yourself to be the most capable. You carry out my requests without question. Your loyalty can be felt across all worlds. You are strong. You must behave when standing before your Kind and carry yourself like the Espada you are."

Removing his hand, Kouhai simply stepped backward and returned to his throne once again, settling in the impressive piece. He found it odd that he was behaving this way but didn't question it more than that. His top Espada was asking for his help, and he had done the same for someone who was significantly less established. She deserved a pat on the back for his efforts even if he didn't normally hand such things out to others. He didn't want her to think he hadn't paid attention to everything she'd done for him and for Las Noches, so it was clear this was valiant and he wanted to watch her see it through. Perhaps later he could get out of her what Rizer failed to give.

"Now. What do you need from me?"

[Maria Ashwin]

' being  Second  best....isn't  so  bad' 8 paragraphs 33 paragraphs total so far

(1) Maria's breath would catch in her throat as she felt kohai's grasp upon her skull a small 'eep' escaping her lips , her body was rigid and tense but feeling his hand gently caress her head she would relax. A feeling of joy washing over her as she was given praise for all her effort , As kohai walked back to his throne she would stand tall a small smile upon her face.

(2) The dark circles under her eyes ever present yet hints of a feint smile where upon her features , although what came next took maria by great surprise as kohai actually wished to here her out in all truth she was prepared to be laughed out the throne room but here he was giving her a chance. She would take a moment to clear her throat not wishing her voice to crack , "well....my lord starting small..." she would begin trying to effectively word what she wanted from him.

(3) "The defenses we have thus far , are not adequate...yes we have numbers a hoard of bodies at our beck and call but to be frank my lord people have waltzed into your domain several times in the past year...when i first became Primera Camilla simply waltzed in like she owned the establishment and reports say the hellion drilled his way in" she would take a moment to think back on reading that report , and the details of the fight.

(4) " albiet he could've blow a hole in the dome and gotten inside much easier but you see my point my lord , if at all possible i would like to request a separate meeting for the planning of a new palaces construction and with your permission i would like to dip into las noche's treasury to do so" she would say her tone even as she attempted to maintain the stoice face kohai had commanded of her.

(5) "I would attempt to gather the funds myself lord kohai , but even with my 72 minimum wage jobs i am incapable of gathering the funds needed" She would pause a few small beads of sweat forming upon her back as she prepared her next line to the lord of las noches , one that may prove as the boldest request of them all. "While the construction is being tended to , i would like to receive your tutelage in the art of combat ..if permitted of course...i know there are beings stronger than myself and thus i must train for inevitable day i face them in your name" she would add , determination in her eyes as she was dead set on them training together.

(6) "i would also like to introduce a prospective hollow i came across , the reports told of a vasto lordez or so i assumed when the report made mention of her humanoid form , after fighting her my guess is high adhuja at best ; she has raw power in spades...id vouch for a seat amongst the espada when she's stronger...i know not if she has the loyalty to stand with us..or vanish like the rest" she would say that last part openly mulling it over

(7) Teresa had agreed to maria's terms , without question yet maria herself wasn't truly convinced of her standing almost all the hollows and arrancar in existance either wanted kohai dead or deposed. "with your permission i would like to summon her here , all it would take is a quick fluctuation of my spirit energy and my doctors shall bring her from my medical wing" a simple signal she had trained into her medical team for this exact meeting "...i had to chop her in half but she should be recovered enough to atleast be in our presence my lord one should meet those they serve"

(8) "as for manners not pertaining to my duties.....if aloud to speak freely i would like to graciously thank you for hearing my plea kohai-sama i was afraid the espada as a whole had displeased you" she would say giving a kurt and respectful bow as she was done speaking for the time being.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

He'd be lying if he said the fact that Maria still acted frightened around him didn't excite him. During this conversation with his Segunda, Kouhai started feeling emotions he hadn't felt in years. Lifetimes, even. He began to realize that some people would describe it as 'turning soft' or something similar. Fortunately, that was not possible for this man. What he had instead told himself in order to bring reason back into his extraordinary life was that he clearly wanted to reward someone for having such unwavering dedication to him. Indeed, no one had shown such a thing for as long as he could remember. And, frankly, he never cared to understand why. They were beneath him and that was that.

But now, as he engaged with Maria, he found that there was something more. Someone who was so dedicated to the cause and the success of Las Noches. It excited him and made him crack even the faintest of smiles, which would be easily missed if Maria weren't paying supremely close attention. Unfortunately, that smile disappeared as quickly as it came once Maria mentioned working something absolutely ludicrous like seventy-two minimum wage jobs. Had she no pride? Was she truly trying to financially support these projects on her own? She was an Espada. She was one of his top weapons. She had no reason to dirty her hands this much. Kouhai did not want to allow her to do this any further.

Though he wished to comment on the matter initially, he did not interrupt the woman and instead allowed her to finish. Another act of kindness that he did not normally partake in. His thoughts were clearly the most important and he allowed himself to speak over anyone. It was his right, after all. But for whatever the reason, Kouhai found himself being utterly patient. He assumed it was because he was too tired to care to speak at the time, but he knew deep down that was not the case. In fact, Kouhai was strangely emotionally intelligent despite any rumors anyone may have heard. He understands himself quite well even if he denies himself the ability to feel common emotions otherwise. He already knew that he was being polite because he wanted to.

Before long, Maria finished. She explained her financial position, some goals, a new prospect that may end up helping somehow... Yes, that last bit was perfect. Kouhai had been looking to flesh out his Espada once again. How many years had it been since he had a full team? The lack of interest was appalling. He used to be one of the most fearsome leaders in the world, and now he had the likes of Soul Society's Captain Commander and even the Emperor who could rival him if they tried hard enough. That just wouldn't do. If this Hollow had any potential, then Maria could cultivate it and that would make her a very valuable addition.

"Alright, Segunda. You have my attention. In terms of money, I can allow you access to the treasury. I will monitor every purchase, project, and plan you make. I want you to be fully transparent with me in absolutely everything. I do not want there to be even a chance of treason, because you and I both know what I will do to people who cross me." He crossed his right ankle over his left knee and leaned back in his throne, folding his hands and laying them against his lower abdomen. "As for this new prospect of yours... Let us see what she can do."

Then, with only but a second of thought, Kouhai added, "I will also train you. Frankly, no one has ever asked for such a thing before. Call me intrigued, Segunda. I am curious as to what someone in your position could possibly need help with." Then, finally, he spoke a phrase he hadn't heard from himself in quite some time. Shocked at how genuine he sounded, Kouhai simply said, "And, of course, you're welcome."

[Maria Ashwin]

' being  Second  best....isn't  so  bad' 5 paragraphs 38 paragraphs total so far

(1) Satisfied, Maria straightened after her bow, a hint of a ever so tiny smile playing on her lips. "Consider it done, my lord" A glint of pride bounced around in her eyes , she was happy to finally recieve help! to finally have her efforts recognized and she would show kohai all she was worth.  "well my lord i believe anything you have to teach me will be of service , i feel as if i've hit a wall with my own training but that may be discussed later" she would finish as she wished to grant his request.

(2) The smile swiftly vanished as she pivoted her head, eyes narrowing in concentration. Her brow furrowed as she activated her ES, a faint hum resonating from within her. A moment passed, then a satisfied huff escaped her lips. Luckily for Maria, Teresa wasn't built for quick recoveries. While the woman wouldn't be at peak performance, she should be well enough to handle the Descor transfer.

(3) With a decisive nod, Maria flexed her riatsu, the air crackling with unseen energy. A swirling vortex of neon green light materialized beside her, its form solidifying into a shimmering portal. The Garganta pulsed faintly, a gateway directly linking the throne room to Teresa's medical bay. Maria gestured towards the portal, a wry smile playing on her lips. "my lord i introduce to you Teresa"

(4) Maria would now be standing to the side , as she herself was curious how these two would interact. 'one can only wonder if teresa will even stick around' she would think to herself with a small huff. she had seen so many of her fellow espada simply walk off and vanish into the night never to return. but maybe teresa was diffrent maybe she would stay....

(5) 'as for cultivating her....she's going to be one scary monster when she learns to proeprly use all that power at her disposal' she would think a imperceptable shudder coming to mind as maria though back to teresa'a brazen move of trying to nuke her , part of her wondered if she would even survive taking somthing like that point blank to the face.

[Teresa]

As if losing hadn’t been bad enough, Teresa had to deal with so much humiliation now. Getting cut in half wasn’t bad enough no, Maria had to go and get her patched up. Not only was her body back to normal now, but the symbol she’d been keeping in order to remind herself to not underestimate anyone again was now gone. For the first time in . . . the time wasn’t important, it was the fact that her arm was now back. Teresa had kept it gone until she gained a servant who could regenerate it for her. Obviously though Maria already had that option and chose to use it on Teresa.

The slender Hollow sneered beneath her mask at the thought of owing anyone anything. Her pride was trampled on after it had been raised to a new height. She’d brought down several Hollows that were also at the stage of Adhucha without any real trouble. Then out of nowhere Maria comes along and handles most of her powerful attacks without problem. Now she could curse herself for believing that she was starting to approach the level of a Vasto Lordes. If only to keep what little pride was still intact she would keep her word.

No longer was she a Hollow was freedom, no she’d lost to a slave and now possessed that same title. For the time being at least that was what she’d have to accept while continuing to grow in strength. Her goals remained the same, her ambition unshaken. Having only awakened a short time ago Teresa had been told about an hour ago to get up by an Arrancar who was acting as her guard while in Las Noches. Teresa could easily tell though that this Arrancar wasn’t very strong, but killing him wouldn’t get her anything. She was different from the ferals and would continue to prove that fact.

The guard informed her while she was getting up that Maria was at the moment speaking with Lord Kouhai the ruler of Las Noches and King of Hueco Mundo. Teresa had been told about him before by other Hollows and some Arrancar. How a Shinigami had taken over and now sat on the throne of all Hollows. It wasn’t something that Teresa liked knowing, but it wasn’t due to him being a Shinigami, no she believed that true strength should lead. One day though it would be her on that throne!

Getting up Teresa could immediately tell that her body wasn’t in perfect condition. Maria had definitely caused her quite a substantial degree of damage that would take her some time to recover completely from. One moment she was just standing in the room and the next a portal opened only a couple feet from her. Teresa stepped forward through the portal and heard Maria announce her the moment after. Immediately after Teresa could see not just Maria, but Kouhai himself sitting upon what could only be the throne of Hueco Mundo.

Although it was hard to stomach and difficult to accept, Teresa walked forward to Maria and then kneeled down beside her. She wanted to be here, as a conqueror not a servant. She had to swallow her pride now so it could grow once again to reach an absolute height. “Greetings Lord Kouhai.” Beyond the simple greeting Teresa had no clue what to say or even why she was being brought before the ruler of the desert world.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

This was interesting, to say the least. Maria, confidence more apparent than any other emotion Kouhai had seen from her this evening, introduced him to a Hollow he'd never seen before. Teresa stepped through the Garganta and managed to get an eyebrow raise from the King, himself. He smirked in entertainment as he realized that Maria's loyalty truly knew no bounds. That had become evident throughout their entire conversation, but he found himself feeling rather proud of her. That was a bit of a confusing feeling on its own, but he felt it nonetheless.

"Teresa, was it?" Kouhai uncrossed his legs and sat up straight on his throne, fixing the bottom of his blazer so that it framed either side of his body. "A pleasure to be meeting your acquaintance. My Segunda has already shared some details about you, but feel free to introduce yourself further."

His tone, sweet to the ears but venomous at heart, rang throughout the room the three of them currently occupied. He had to remind himself that, despite the odd similarities he had with Maria that made it strangely easy to speak with her, he was still a formidable person. As King, he had to be sure that everyone understood the power he held, regardless of who they were or what rank they held in society. All of his years taught him that it is much simpler to subjugate people than be a friend, though something about that green-haired woman was making him pause.

Nevertheless, he offered Teresa a chance to speak. Should Maria be honest about Teresa's potential, then it was entirely likely that another Espada position could potentially be taken. It fascinated him. The devotion he was presented with was truly remarkable, and it made him briefly wonder how far she'd be willing to go for his causes. This, along with the possibility of fleshing out his team more thoroughly, excited Kouhai. It had been a very long time since he felt such a thing, which only cemented the fact that this meeting held many firsts for him.

[Teresa]

Kouhai a Shinigami that ruled over all of Las Noches, didn't appear to be one to flaunt his power physically. A savage that would boast about his body wasn’t someone that Teresa believed could make for an absolute ruler. What she saw though was someone reserved, a thinker more than likely with an intellect to match his power. Of course Teresa was only assuming based on the appearance of Kouhai and nothing else for the moment. She wasn’t sure what she could tell Kouhai about herself that Maria wouldn’t have already, but she could at least show him she wasn’t a savage like so many others.

Thus Teresa in her kneeling position focused on her bone body, her antlers, her mask. All aspects that made her a Hollow and then like the sensation of her servants going back within her, she pushed everything deep within herself. The result was Teresa’s physical body glowing with her golden reiatsu as each aspect seemed to dissipate with light revealing a human woman. A slender, pale form with pale blonde hair that now fell to the white stone below her. Teresa after a moment looked almost completely human.

There wasn’t anything that she could do about clothing though as she hadn’t been wearing anything over herself. Instead she’d channel her reiatsu for a moment only to hold her right hand out almost like she was giving Kouhai something. A cero the moment after would appear in the form of a golden orb. “Conceal my figure from below my neck.” Teresa said aloud although she didn’t like that all she could do was showcase her ability like a damn pet.

The cero didn’t fire off like a typical beam, instead spreading out and then almost washing over her body from her neck down, almost like a cloak of gold. The normal hum was present for a moment and then would diminish to the point it would barely be heard as Teresa now knelt in a golden attire of reiatsu. “Beyond what Maria has seen and what I’ve just shown, I have managed to make some other techniques during my time as a Hollow, Lord Kouhai.”

Although Teresa wanted to keep as many things to herself as possible this wasn’t a situation that she could mess up. Although she was keeping calm her emotions would now be much easier to view. She wasn’t a Hollow clad in a bone body right now. She looked as she once did over a century ago. A natural beauty with long blonde hair and thick eye lashes. The only differences were her attitude, nails and eyes. Her nails were no longer clear like a humans, but pitch black while her eyes were much like her reiatsu, a brilliant gold that seemed to pop against her pale snow skin.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Fascinating. To say that Kouhai was bored would be a complete lie. He watched in silence as Teresa completely shifted her form, transforming from her Hollow appearance to that of a normal girl. This figure had very light-colored hair, golden eyes, and quite a pretty face. This caused Kouhai to crack a slight smile since he was impressed with her ability to hide her true identity, though masking her Reiatsu signature would be another feat in and of itself. She hadn't been able to do that yet, and he became curious as to whether or not she'd ever be able to. Still, to be able to do something like this was somewhat noteworthy.

Before he could make a comment, Teresa formed a glowing orb within her hand that caused the man to raise a brow. He assumed for a moment that she was going to fire this off at him, in which case he'd simply end her in that moment. There was no room for such action within his palace, and no one should even consider doing such a dimwitted act right in front of his face. Kouhai almost scoffed but stopped himself as soon as he realized that she was using the orb to coat her body. This was an interesting way to cover oneself since, while he didn't care to acknowledge it, he did realize she wasn't dressed appropriately. Or at all.

"Yes, custom techniques such as these are truly remarkable," he replied to Teresa, giving the inflection in his tone a proper flex so she would hear how enthusiastic he was. In reality, any old Hollow could create such things. Making herself look human was interesting and useful, but not difficult.

Despite the truth within his mind, Teresa would not know his real thoughts. He wouldn't share them. He wouldn't show any signs of having them at all. Instead, knowing that Maria had brought Teresa here for a reason, he decided to trust his Segundo's judgment and give Teresa a chance. Though it would only be a single chance, of course. He couldn't be seen wasting his time on such fruitless endeavors, and there was no way he would ever give someone any time of day if they were going to burn his time to the ground. He had been generous so far with accepting Maria's request to meet with him, and he realized he was lucky that she was proving to be useful to him.

"I see that you have opportunities here for growth. So tell me, Teresa. What is it you want?"

[Maria Ashwin]

' being  Second  best....isn't  so  bad' 5 paragraphs 43 paragraphs total so far

(1)Time itself seem to slow to a halt for maria as she watched the cero form , her hand resting on the hilt of her blade a ‘click’ would echo through the room. Maria had slightly unsheathed her blade her intent known , she would liberate the hollows head from her body for such a brazen assasination attempt. That was until she saw it forming into a mass around teres ‘did she just make clothes?!’ the neon green haired woman would ponder to herself.



(2) Sliding her blade back into it’s sheath her hand would rest at her side once more “yes unique techniques like that are rather impressive , but it is advised you explain before doing such things they can beinterpreted as hostile” her tone flat , she sounded tired as that little ordeal had just drained her by a great sum.

(3) Though her words where lax she was now watching teresa like a hawk 'i'll have to be extra careful with this one' the question that now hung in maria's own mind was simply 'how much was she holding back in our bout' to openly speak of these abilities maria had not seen inferred some sort of hidden power.

(4) While at present maria was confident in her ability to overcome teresa , she was now slowly wondering what was going on in this womans skull. What was she hiding and most importantly of all , whats her angle here? was she just going to leave once she got what she came for or was she another despot aiming for kohai's throne.

(5) A small smile would play on her lips as she stood silently off to the side , watching and listening. Kohai's question had sparked maria's own curiosity what exactly did teresa want? power? fame? glory? a seat at the table? or just the chance see what lies ahead like maria , "i'm curious as well she's shown herself to be diffrent than most dregs"

[Teresa]

Teresa had a moment to think, she kept her head bowed like she was being addressed by a noble when she’d been human. She had to really think about the question. Kouhai had asked what she wanted, a simple question and yet one that Teresa had to dive towards in order to find the response. Obviously she couldn’t say that the throne was her goal, in truth though she had to question why? She didn’t want to be killed like an insect again, her life snuffed out in the background without even getting a chance to save herself.

“I want to reach the absolute height of my soul. While I may be lacking in the current events, I do know that following you is the best option I have. Maria defeated me in combat. I gave my word beforehand that I would follow her should she succeed.” Teresa wasn’t sure what else to really say. Bragging to a King wasn’t wise. Anything that she could claim to have done wouldn’t gain her any favor. Showing that she was more intelligent than most Hollows was her best option still.

While she wasn’t able to tell anything about Kouhai based on his voice, tone or words she knew he was strong. Powerful enough that Maria served under him which meant just like Maria, he could handle her strongest attack without any sort of problem. Although she wasn’t thrilled about serving anyone again she was telling the truth about honoring her word. What sort of role she’d have to do now didn’t matter so long as she could continue to evolve.