The Jester meets the Queen Social (Ludwig/Kimiko) Closed

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Silence. For most it was a surprisingly rare luxury given the state of the Soul Society, even if things had been putting themselves together again. For Ludwig however it was a surprising constant given how small his squad was despite the occasional new addition. On the one hand it allowed for a relaxing environment where his work passed by quickly, even if he did still have a lot to handle and by himself at that. On the other hand it also gave way to a bored and empty feeling his chest. A hole occasionally filled with thoughts of the past and negative emotions that would not be restrained. Today however was not that day, instead for once in an eternity almost Ludwig had finished the squads paper work.

That might have come at the cost of practically no sleep BUT it did finally allow him to do something more relaxing while in the comfort of his office. In Ludwig's case it was drawing, he'd had a growing feeling of desire to show his inner world to those who wouldn't be able to see it though his time to do this had been minimal at best. With a short nod to himself and a quick reorganizing of his papers on his desk he pulled out a large drawing notebook and began the initial sketches of it. Losing himself into his drawing, Ludwig had only realized once the sun poked a few rays through his window that it was now the afternoon instead of the morning when he'd started.

He couldn't help but chuckle before reaching over to close the curtains that he'd really only gotten a short bit past the sketching stage. Currently there resided his cabin amongst a clearing of trees, some shading reminiscent of clouds and a circle either representing the sun or the moon. Ludwig himself wasn't currently certain what it would be given the weather and time in his world did change.A shrug to himself and he continued on with his drawing, determined to finish at least the next stage so that his sketch would be clean and more understood, maybe by then he'd know the weather and time of day.

However in the back of his mind he was expecting to see or rather hear a squad member bringing him yet more paperwork to do. The one who'd bring it always changed but the timing however did not so while he engrossed himself into his art again he kept at least part of his attention to hearing anyone who'd come into the barracks. It'd be easy given aside from his scratching and erasing the entire building was silent, and fairly small considering that not a lot of people were necessarily needed to man the Senkaimon. His office however was at the end of the left hall and with the door wide open. His desk obvious to see but he himself towards the window on the right wall of his office, just barely out of view.

[Kimiko Shihoin]

As Ludwig drew and the barracks for the most part remained empty something else outside the norm lurked within. The captain of the Onmitsukido had been meaning to meet the new addition to the Captains face to face for awhile now however work and training had kept her busy not to mention running her family as the new Head. She had finally found a bit of spare time and decided to meet him face to face. His ability to draw was quite remarkable she noted as she gazed at the sketch. She knew that she'd never be able to draw anything even remotely close to what he had done in what she could only assume was a short period of time. She hasn't been in long, but she watched and waited however it seemed he wouldn't pick up on the fact she was inside already. None of the Captains had much free time and Kimiko couldn't afford to waste any. "You're quite the artist I'm impressed."

Kimiko would speak yet she would be nowhere in sight. The only indication of her location had been her voice which would guide Ludwig upwards. Kimiko dropped down from above him on the ceiling and landed on the other side of his desk. "Sorry for the intrusion just figured I finally have a moment to greet the newest Captain of the Gotei Thirteen. Welcome." Kimiko although rough and not all that proper normally wasn't without being pleasant or nice and even though she has been forced to grow up much over the last few years she still wasn't above toying with others for fun.

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Ludwig heard the first comment Kimiko had given but being so engrossed in finishing the details on the circle hadn't let the realization that another he didn't recognize was in his office. Instead he just commented with an even tone that arguably could have hid the fact he hadn't known Kimiko had entered while he wasn't paying attention, however it was completely in German. Unless Kimiko had some knowledge in that language she'd have no idea what was spoken or if it was towards her. "I appreciate you saying that. It's not often my art gets acknowledged but it's good to hear another beside myself enjoys it." Ludwig had just finished making the circle out to be a moon when Kimiko had hopped down from the ceiling causing Ludwig to jump out of his chair dropping his notebook and pencil in the process. 


Once he picked up his pencil, notebook, and surprisingly his chair which had landed on it's side he looked up and finally realized Kimiko had entered his office. Shuffling to his feet he looked over the room and down the hall not seeing much anywhere that she could have entered from aside from the slight shift of a tile that rested right above him. Ludwig would only nod some to himself at that fairly impressed that in a silent building he'd been snuck up on. He'd have to do a better job listening for others next time. Looking over at his newest companion in his office he chuckled to himself again and held out his hand to her. It's a pleasure to meet you Kimiko, as well as a surprise. Your not the captain of the Onmitsukido for nothing it seems haha! I appreciate you taking the time to come out and meet me, thank you.  


Whether Kimiko accepted the handshake or not didn't matter as Ludwig would clean up his desk and move some of his art stands around. This way she could easily relax in one of the other chairs in his office while he sat at his chair. "While I'm up would you like something to drink or eat? I've a few snacks and drinks that wouldn't take long to grab, no pressure if you'd rather not. So aside from coming to visit the new fledgling captain to what do I owe the pleasure? Most captains are rather sparse for time, myself included surprisingly, so surely there must be another reason in particular?" Ludwig as he spoke, had pulled out a bag of sour candies and popped in a few before replacing the bag inside his desk. He wasn't certain she could see or had some other means of noticing but he had am ungodly amount of various candies and a few drinks stashed away in most of his desk drawers. A personal weakness of his given he couldn't help but feel it make him and his office more comfortable, especially to those who also enjoyed candies. 

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Kimiko was quite surprised with the lack of response to her suddenly remarks on the drawing that the new Captain was working on so intently. After a moment though although she couldn't understand what he had said she could tell that he didn't realize she was above him. He didn't once move his body in anyway that would allow him to see what was around him so it stood to reason that he would believe that a subordinate from within the barracks had just spoken to him. It didn't matter though what did was that they got to know one another. The reaction that Kimiko had been expecting and still somewhat hoping for was what she got when she dropped down on to his desk.

Ludwig the new Captain went crazy with freight for a moment or rather perhaps it was just his muscles reacting to the sudden appearance of another. Either way he fell down on to the floor and Kimiko couldn't help, but giggle at him. Over the next few moments both shifted themselves. Ludwig picked up everything that had just been scattered across the floor while Kimiko sat down her legs crossed. She accepted the handshake matching his physical strength so as to not harm the tools of an artist. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well Ludwig and my I be one of the first to welcome you as a Captain." it seemed that Ludwig wished to get his table back to himself. Lifting herself up by uncrossing her legs and then simply standing. She'd walk backwards off his desk into the floor of the office and then finally sit in one of the opposing chairs on the opposite side.

Although it could be seen as rude to not accept a gift from another Kimiko held up her left hand with the palm facing Ludwig. Offering him a smile Kimiko shook her hand from left to right. "No thank you I can't have much outside of a specific diet." she wasn't just making up so weird excuse as the Captain in all actually did stick to a very specific regiment of food and liquids in order to keep her body going and stay strong. "I've come hoping to speak with you about strengthening a bond between our divisions. You're not the Captain of one of the most prevalent not to mention essential Divisions in all of Soul Society. I'm here to make sure that we can work together in the future effectively in order to bring down those that would seek to do us harm." Kimiko the blunt princess didn't sugar coat anything as she informed Ludwig as to why she had come to speak with him.

[Ludwig Verrlicht]

Ludwig just sat in thought for a moment as he let Kimiko's words settle into his mind. Strengthen the bonds between our squads eh? What bonds would the Onmitsukido want to forge with Squad 13? We are entirely on different realms of existence with our jobs. The closest we interact is through sending them to the correct area in the case of them daring to go to the human world. Even then that's an order from Squad 1 and we are told of when the people will be leaving. Perhaps she has something in particular then? Ludwig though he was more modest or down to earth, however one would take it had a subtle shift. The only noticeable part was in his eyes as they became more analyzing showing that he was listening at least and that the gears in his head were turning. 


He took another minute to mull things over before he had to come right out and ask the question. Correct me if I'm wrong Kimiko but our squads do not interact. Not normally anyway. What exactly did you have in mind that would strengthen our squads bonds? And what do you seek to achieve by strengthening bonds with Squad 13? I'm not saying we are worthless, else we wouldn't exist, but I am saying the Onmitsukido tend to have the ability to handle things on their own. In most areas at that. So what are you seeking and why?"


Ludwig though he gave a hard look wasn't meant to be intimidating he was just showing the seriousness of this. Given Kimiko's tone prior it wasn't just going to be "Lets be friends" and end there. She'd want something substantive and picking what could be argued as the weakest squad currently wouldn't normally stand to reason as the squad you'd want to deal with. Still Ludwig could not deny there were some things he could use help on both for himself personally and the squad. And if Kimiko had been willing to come to him then perhaps she would be able to help with the problems the squad faced as well. Kimiko's response though was the only thing that'd tell him however so he remained quiet in the meantime for her answer. 

[Kimiko Shihoin]

Sitting in one of the chairs opposite the Captain of the Thirteen Division Kimiko smiled at him as she watched the shift in his eyes. It was obvious that he was thinking steadily over what she had just said to him. Such a thing wouldn't be a secret though as Kimiko could tell based on his gaze that this shinigami was definitely a smart one that would know he was giving away such things about his thought process.

Just like she had been expecting Ludwig questioned what Kimiko meant by strengthening the bonds between the Thirteen Division and the Onmitsukido as normally neither Division of Soul Society spent much time with one another definitely not as allies. Ludwig was smart and simply wished to know what Kimiko was after when she sought to try and strength the bonds between these two sections of Soul Society. "What I want is simple. I want to keep Soul Society and everyone in it as safe as possible. In order to do that I must know everything that goes on within our walls."

"While you're right in most regards me and my subordinates don't require any sort of aid to accomplish our tasks. Yet there's only so much we can accomplish from foot work alone. This is why I've sought you out. You possible the position where you're aware of when and where every shinigami chooses to go through the Senkimon. I simply want to be informed if any Shinigami do anything outside the norm or anything suspect. I could acquire the details through the Central Forty Six instead, but I believe it'll be easier to simply work together."

Kimiko was now waiting to hear back from Ludwig on her proposal. She was sure that he wasn't be on board right away nor would he be completely alright with what she was suggesting. She had heard so much of the comments prior about how it was mistrusting of the shinigami themselves yet such a thing was needed in order to uphold the safety of Soul Society. She was always excited to heard what Ludwig would want in return from her own Division.

[Kitai Yoru]

10 paragraphs for Ludwig, 10% Bonus to next thread with Kimiko
8 paragraphs for Kimiko, no Bonus granted