Lord Miraculous Kohai (Social)

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

This Hollow creature was smart. Smarter than Kouhai originally thought, even. That was enough to make him give her one of his classic, soulless smiles. To anyone on the outside, he appeared perfectly pleasant, and maybe even a little touched that Teresa managed to keep her promise to Maria and see all of this through. In reality, he was weighing his options. He needed additional members, and that much was certain. His Espada were shockingly empty since the departure and expiration of several members. Was he desperate enough to take just anybody? No, definitely not. The only benefit Teresa had in this position was that she was personally recruited. With everything Maria had done for Las Noches so far, it was unlikely that she'd bring just any scoundrel here.

"Segunda, do take this young one under your wing for me. She is capable of following orders to some degree seeing as she came here with you after losing a battle. Though, I cannot possibly be surprised by the loss. You are a formidable opponent, after all. The fact that she's still alive tells me everything I need to know."

Kouhai had noticed, though much to his dislike, that there had been some non-Arrancar among his Espada. His entire goal was to create the perfect team of Arrancar to be able to take down any of the other worlds, but his generosity was mistaken for weakness. While Teresa lacked the qualifications at the moment to become one of his esteemed Espada, she had potential. She could evolve just as she wanted to. If Maria was able to properly turn her into an Arrancar worthy of sitting by Kouhai's side, then he'd have no choice but to give her a seat. These were his elites, after all. He didn't want just anyone to be a part of it if he was going to succeed at all with his goals.

"Teresa, my Segunda will help you realize your true potential. I can sense it within you. There is something waiting to burst out, just threatening to split through the seams. So take that power, cultivate it, and allow me to reevaluate you. I believe that is fair."

[Maria Ashwin]

' being  Second  best....isn't  so  bad' 5 paragraphs 48 paragraphs total so far

(1) Maria would place her right hand over her left breast , giving a curt and respectful nod to kohai. "it shall be as you command , i shall take teresa under my wing as my acting fraccion till her skill matches her power" she would raise a hand up to her mouth clearing her throat , "as for my last request before we depart , as cliche as the concept may be my lord the wall will be done in a fortnite.." she seemed hesitant in her ask.

(2) Straightening her posture, Maria forced professionalism back into her voice. "May I request the creation of some form of gate guardians, if so i can provide the souls nessacary for another few leviathan creatures?" she inquired. Walls could only buy them so much time. A figurative line of metaphorical lions guarding their doors – that was the image that flickered through her mind. "Please mull it over, my Liege," she pleaded, hoping her request wouldn't be seen as frivolous.

(3)With a final bow, she signaled the end of their business. "In the meantime," she said, voice regaining its usual strength, "I would like to be excused with Teresa. I'd like her settled into her new quarters at my palace." All that needed to be discussed, for now, was done. Now, it was time to take care of Teresa, to mentor the girl, and perhaps, to learn a thing or two from her immense power in the process.

(4) Provided kohai had nothing more he himself wished to discuss , she would turn on her heel and begin walking for the door where she would open a kumon. "Come teresa , we'll see you to your new quarters but first i wish to see a clean bill of health its the first time i've had someone stitched back together and id like to make sure you dont have nerve damage" she would say her tone calm , almost noncholant but she truly did care for teresa's well being in that moment.

(5) but there was something else that lay within a spark of warning , she had brought this hollow before lord kohai because she was impressive. Should teresa fail to prove her worth while she was here, to posses value beyond strength maria would be made a fool. Which she didn't wish to endure and thus she would do her best to ensure teresa earned her place amongst the espada just as maria herself did.

[Teresa]

“More than fair, your majesty.”

Teresa hadn’t known what was going to happen and yet somehow she was still frustrated. She wasn’t going to be sentenced to death, an obvious positive and yet the decision made by Kouhai was something that stabbed at her dread almost as much. She wasn’t just going to be serving a Shinigami on the throne, but Maria as well. The Arrancar who’d defeated her despite everything with apparent ease, the one who’d repaired her like a broken toy found on the street, she wasn’t free anymore.

She was now basically the same as she had been in her previous life. A name that followed the rules those with more power set down upon her. A horrific sensation coursed throughout her soul with the acceptance that she was starting down a truly difficult path. If what Kouhai said was true then she was going to gain strength for the sacrifice of her freedom. This wasn’t what she wanted and thus why it was only now after losing to Maria that she would follow someone else.

While Maria spoke with Kouhai, Teresa kept her head low in the kneeling position that she hadn’t shifted from once taken. They spoke of simple things although the concept of a wall around all of Las Noches was an insane thing to hear. What really caught Teresa’s attention was something called a Leviathan. Teresa possessed no knowledge yet could piece together based on the manner of speech that it was a creature of immense power. Something that she would have to obtain for herself in the future.

So Teresa was going to be staying in some sort of palace that Maria was the ruler over, she wasn’t sure how that worked when Las Noches was one large kingdom in her eyes. Either way she didn’t like what was going on now, a slave to Maria that may as well deem herself the master now. If this was the sort of thing she had to suffer through in order to achieve her real potential, then she would swallow her pride for the time being and accept the leash around her throat. Thus she would follow Maria after rising slowly and stepping backwards away from Kouhai unsure to what degree he wanted formal respect.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

"Gate guardians?"

She had a good suggestion. Kouhai could create anything if he wanted to with the use of the Hougyoku. Maria was far more invested in these things than he thought at first. This was something foreign to him. The rest of his Espada were either absentee or quite selfish, all things considered. If she was willing to put so much work in to make sure her home was safe... This was an intriguing development. Nodding at her request for him to mull this over, Kouhai felt something deep within him start to stir. He choked that feeling down as much as he could, instead choosing to redirect his attention to the Hollow who remained kneeling before him.

Yes, interesting, indeed. She showed promise, as well. Anyone who agreed to take on the Segunda Espada and survive was either out of their mind or quite a capable body. He needed more of both, so he didn't care much which way she leaned. At least she was familiar enough with showing some level of respect, and that was a good start. Kouhai glanced back at Maria and waved her off, accepting her dismissal. Teresa soon followed suit, standing and carefully walking backwards towards her new mentor while still maintaining some level of reverence for the King. Kouhai's relatively blank expression replied to her actions rather than any words he could have spoken. He was going to be patient, but he wanted to see what she could do.

Still, that feeling gnawed at him like an angry bear. He watched Maria leave, unable to realize that the blank expression he wore was slowly changing. The two of them wouldn't notice it since their backs were turned to him, and he hardly noticed it at all until he finally became more self-aware. Muscles he had trained for years to do exactly what he was doing now felt as if they were being used without any effort at all. They softened, relieving the strain he normally felt whenever he greeted anyone with his false kindness. His shoulders, originally chiseled in place as he commanded respect from the two who had just left the room, also relaxed. Though neither Maria nor Teresa would have seen, Kouhai did something he hadn't been known to do throughout his entire lifetime, and the genuine feeling behind it is what surprised him the most.

He smiled.



END

[Kitai Yoru]

Maria: 48 paragraphs, 40% bonus towards a thread with either Sana, or Teresa
Kouhai: 30 paragraphs, 30% bonus towards a thread with either Maria or Teresa
Teresa: 18 paragraphs, 10% bonus towards a thread with either Sana or Maria