The Zarpa and the Sarro (Closed Social, Zegram/Col)

[Zegram]

Zegram lounged around the main area of the base. He laced his fingers behind his head. His fedora was pushed over his face. His green hair was more exposed than usual, but he did not care. He wore his two piece suit and dress shirt. He wore a pair of black dress pants and a pair of dress shoes. He was as handsome as he was well dressed at least as far as he was concerned. He normally didn't laze around, but there hasn't been that much to do for the Escudo lately.

Zegram was hoping that finally he might find something to do before boredom makes him want to try and find another place of work. hat was of course an exaggeration. He still needed to rise though the ranks and see what he could learn about the Escudo's inner workings. He yawned and pushed his fedora back on his head. He stretched watching the other hollows go about their own business. He still wished that he was able to do something.

[Col Arana]

The Escudo were extremely few in number now. They had never been a massive organization, and after the first great purge of the Escudo. Las Noches and Soul Society had banded together to fight them, two unlikely allies with a common foe. The Escudo were in shambles after the battle concluded, their organization smaller than ever. And with the departure of Allen, Axis and Lucien, it had shrunk and diminished once more. Few walked these halls. Fortunately, there were still excellent cooks here. Unfortunately, Col still had to prepare his own drinks. Even now he was enjoying a goblet filled with vintage wine, as he stalked the halls. One individual caught his eye and he approached him, savoring a draught from his cup. "One does not live long, in either the halls of Las Noches, nor anywhere in Hueco Mundo, lazing about in the open." He criticized. "Your power is not grown nearly enough to allow yourself that luxury." Col's crimson eyes took in Zegram at a glance, and his face was turned into an expression of disapproval. Slovenly. Ungentlemanly. And not even possessing strength enough to justify it. Disappointing. Col was strongly tempted to eradicate him on sight, just for this.

But Col stayed his hand. Certainly there were more civil ways of going about it. He would allow Zegram to at least answer for himself. Gentlemen allotted others a second chance at least. Col merely slipped one hand into the pocket of the large black trenchcoat in which he adorned himself, the other still holding his wine goblet. A fedora. The hat of those trying to look impressive or "cool", but in truth merely coming off as one wanting to look that way. A farce.

[Zegram]

Zegram jumped to his feet when Col addressed him. He kept his left hand placed on his hat to keep in place. He knew that he needed to be careful when speaking with a Zarpa. He had found out a while ago that his usual mannerisms don't tend to result in favorable results. He still has a slight smile on his face, but it was more to try and hide his nervousness than anything else. "Off course not, I completely agree. I was just trying to contemplate how I would best serve Escudo while we have fewer allies." 

It was true enough, though really he would have settled for just venturing out into the human world for a day or two just to have a way of breaking the boredom. He bowed slightly in apology hoping that the Zarpa would not kill him for this. "If there is anything that requires some assistance I would gladly do my part." His eyes darted around for the nearest exit just in case things get dicey. He doubted he would get far, but at least he would try.

[Col Arana]

Zegram's mannerisms may have passed with Allen or Axis. Neither of them had been nearly as intent on proper mannerisms as Col. Lucian was also obsessed with beauty and his appearance, but while he had chided other members of the Escudo for their lack of following his example, he did not hold them to the same standard. Thus Zegram may have passed unharmed by him as well. Col was not so forgiving, or generous, though he often played himself off as such. Col held others to the standards he held himself. Slovenly behavior was simply intolerable, and so Zegram's hurried motion to straighten himself out as Col spoke to him was approvable in Col's eyes. He'd been mollified. For the moment.

As he requested a task, Col merely gave a lazy shrug of the shoulders. "Though I myself may have intent to cause some chaos in the neighboring factions, that is little you need concern yourself with." He stated. "Thus far, our enemies have not become aware of our location. And Allen has been suitably... punished, for revealing our returned existence at all." He added. "Seeing as you have not yet revealed us to our enemies, you may continue doing exactly that." He said, and took a deep draught of his wine.

[Zegram]

Zegram bowed again taking his hat of and putting it to his chest. "My lord is generous. Of course I will keep our existence hidden covert operations, secrecy, and information are my specialties. He straightened slowly looking at the Zarpa before him. He feared him as much as he respected him maybe even more so, but then again who in their right mind wouldn't. That was something that he wished to obtain. A status people would fear and respect.

'If there is nothing else I can do for you, I will gladly see if I can't find some information on the Soul Society or Las Noches that might be useful to us." He bowed again as he started to make his way to the exit. Something about the Zarpa was unsettling to say the least. He just wanted to be off this barbed hook and back to doing something that would not likely get him killed. Sometimes he envies the free roaming hollows and Arrancar out there for not having to deal with this.

[Col Arana]

Col gave an approving nod at Zegram's comments, about espionage. Yes. Espionage was a valuable skill to have in the shadow war which the Zarpa waged. Col had done his part to try and ensure any hatred that occurred as a result of Escudo actions was deflected to Hueco Mundo. He himself went about, posturing as a mere Fraccion-- Fraccion 36. It had worked when he had faced the Vice Captain of Squad.... oh which was it? Hmm... Col honestly could no longer remember. Some Vice Captain or another. He'd used mirrors. An irritating adversary, though not particularly powerful, Col had been disappointed to note. Though he had eluded Col, he had not been able to do more than frustrate the Zarpa in their battle, as he constantly slipped out of reach, every time Col had tried to near, bombarding him from afar as best he could. In the end he had not succeeded in so much as scratching Col, but it seemed that he had nonetheless believed the lie that Col was an arrancar of Las Noches.

Then Allen had gone and nearly spoiled the entire thing, by outing the return of the Escudo. Col very much wished he could have settled that affair. Preferably with Allen's head on a pike. But no. Allen was gone now. And good riddance. Allen had been powerful-- yes, but infuriating, and for one who proclaimed military expertise, unpleasantly blunt and ineffective at the very idea of tactics or subtlety. All the Zarpa had been powerful. That didn't make the others smart. Col was intelligent. Col was refined. He knew that the Escudo must win the shadow war, if they were to ultimately triumph. His mind returned to Zegram.

"Good. See that you do." Col said approvingly. "Oh. And one more thing." At this moment Zegram, if he were particularly attuned to such things might feel the slightest touch of intrusion upon his mind. Col possessed highly advanced energy sensory abilities. To such a level that he could detect the surface thoughts of those around him, if he truly stretched his senses out. As he was doing now, examining the surface thoughts of Zegram's mind. "Failure is not tolerated." He informed him rather sharply.