ASHEN GODDESS.

Head canted in sway of dark locks, lips curling as dragon prince smiled a smile more of danger than camaraderie. Sharp lines tipped about fangs, gold of pupils tight drawn against the crimson that engulfed them. “I never claimed to be otherwise in my defence, you know. I fear that is entirely your mistake.”

But oh, to watch the gears of her mind engage! “I suppose I did? I fear it’s a terminal condition.”

“Oh?”

Rangiku blinks curiously, eyes drawn to his prominent fangs (how peculiar, how sharp!) first and foremost before baby blues met gold.  Though human in form he may appear, she knew without a doubt he most certainly was not (if the energy radiating around him was anything to go by, she doubts she has ever encountered a being such as him before in her entire life) but she lacked the intel, lacked the deeper knowledge, to pinpoint exactly what he was.

(naturally, she has her guesses but--perhaps a good start would be with who he is?)

Distrust, as ever, sat heavy within breast. A cold snap of winter licking at heels, ever present reminder that no one could be trusted– that all of them, every last one, would set themselves to him if only given the opportunity.

Yet had she not proved different each opportunity? Had she not, impossibly, slipped by softly and deftly through crack of icy wall to make something of herself present where but one had managed before so very, very long ago? She was an anomaly, a frustrating one, and to any other he might have been little more than ignorant at best but instead he meets her with only quiet deflation.

“I haven’t killed anyone yet, so I suppose some would argue well enough.” Words come far from the joke they might have initially seemed, humorless as shoulders lift in almost forlorn shrug.

Head canted to the side, blonde locks flowing like rivers of gold over her shoulder, gaze soft and gentle (he’s been a tough nut to crack--like an abused feral cat, he had tensed and hissed at nearly her every move the first couple of times she tried at forming a bond with him) as she observes him.  He looks... better than the last time she saw him.  Less gaunt, lanky ever still but with just the slightest bit more meat on his bones.  Has he been eating well?  Perhaps well might not be the correct word, but better than before certainly applies and she’ll take these small victories whenever and wherever is possible.

"Well--that’s good, I suppose,” Rangiku blinks, taking his ‘joke’ in stride (that’s... something to address and deal with another time). “Have you been settling in well, though? I’ve been meaning to check in on you but--”

Her train of thought was immediately interrupted by her stomach--quite aggressively, at that--rumbling loudly.  She had been on her way to grab some food, having actually do a significant amount of work (she did three whole stacks! big ones! her captain watched her do it, so he can’t deny that she did work today!) before declaring it lunch time and storming out of the office.  Her cheeks flush a rosy pink as a gentle laugh bubbles out, her hand coming up to (only somewhat awkwardly) rub at the back of her head.

(rejected numerous times in the past, she wonders if today is the day he’ll finally accept her invitation--it never hurts to try, right?)

Soft whuff of amused breath sounds, curl of ember and ash huffed out in haughty exhale. “No one in particular! But oh, since you responded–” Laugh followed then, surely as saccharine words before it. “How quick to jump to conclusions.”

“Hey!” Rangiku pouts, ignoring Haineko’s laughter (she’s too easily amused, too eager to laugh whenever her master is flustered--she’s so rude!) in her mind as she observes the stranger before her.  “I don’t even know your name yet and you’re already teasing me! That’s mean!”

A pause.  She blinks, mind finally catching up and processing what just happened.

Pspspsps :^)

@terraforged​ / unprompted / always accepting !

“Who you pspspsp-ing at, huh?”

“Oh hey, it’s been a minute.”

        “ oh. well. whoops. ”   flippant as ever. rigid and ice and the fluid sun, two halves of an essential role to play. when her voice rang through the office, the room warmed up as though spring had come rushing in, taking him away in a careless zephyr. no wonder everyone forgot how to act around her. 

        that is, until, her bags dropped all at once in a loud thud that caused him to tense yet again — no, not by the sound or the fact she bought things, but the sheer quantity of what was bought. terrifying, actually!  “ you’re not my mo— ”

        gifts being practically shoved to him cuts off protest early, desperately quizzical as he tired to make sense of what was being thrown about. it makes the ‘composed’ captain stammer quite a bit.   “ i— this — ”   uh…   “ this is a lot … ”   then again, she had practiced restraint the last month or so, not fussing over materialistic endeavors or bringing in some glamorous thing she impulse bought at the boutiques to show him as he tried ( in vain ) to focus on ‘their’ work ( because let’s face it, even when she’s not shopping she’s still meandering doing everything except work ). the strange peacefulness had caused him slight worry, fretting on whether she was secretly carrying some quiet trouble.

        no … it’d just been her … deciding that good things come to those who save money. honestly, he admittedly felt a little silly about his concerns. though, ah, it was good to worry about your friends, being perceptive enough to their patterns and be at the ready for them. always. 

        setting the bags down toshiro delved into one, pulling a ‘cute’, dorky-looking dragon with a big head, little arms and wings, and a stubby ol’ tail. oh man, the blush on his face. absolutely no one should catch him with this! it was childish, mundane. however, wasn’t it sweet all the same? among the swaths of gifts, no matter what they were, they were from the heart, presents carefully thought out with him in mind.

        he couldn’t ask for better friends — a better family.

       “ matsumoto … ”   he speaks sincerely, softly ( quietly ).   “ thank you. ”

       he sets the bags neatly to the side after he pulls a box of chocolates out to pick at them, leaving the box open in case she wanted some too.    “ it’s safe to say you enjoyed yourself then, yeah? ”

“You’re welcome~! It’d be rude not to bring you back something, especially since you’re such a good captain to your dearest lieutenant.”

Her radiant smile softens, not losing a touch of warmth as it transitions to fondness at his soft tone.  Her captain was often thought of as cold (well, physically yes, emotionally no!), indifferent, rude--a whole list of things he simply was not.  Icy was the rigid moon but he glowed with such softness, the fiery sun could not help but feel her own heart glow with pride.  It had taken them some time, in the beginning, to reach this point of trust and companionship but once they did?  The bond had become irreplaceable, unbreakable, something so near and dear to Rangiku’s heart that there was nothing she wouldn’t do for him.

(she’ll fight until her last dying breath to protect him, like the loyal lieutenant she is. it is, after all, her duty.)

“You like it?” She drags a chair over to his desk, immediately shifting to get comfortable (honestly, why couldn’t they have nice chairs? why did they all have to be hard and uncomfortable? it makes focusing on all that boring paperwork near-impossible!), nimble fingers plucking out a piece of chocolate from the open (her captain’s so sweet, just like the candy!) box.  “It was the closest I could find to an ice dragon--can you believe they had every type except for ice?! Disrespectful!”

Rangiku huffs, popping the chocolate into her mouth (dark chocolate with a sweet fudge filling, how delicious) before she perks up, leaning forward with renewed enthusiasm.

“Yeah, I did! There was this incredible spa--oh my god, captain, you’ll have to come with me next trip, trust me, you’d love it--and there were so many lovely shops and boutiques I spent almost my entire savings!” She rambles on, retelling her adventures, of the sights she witnessed and anything else of interest that she could recall at the present moment.

It was a true testament to how much he had missed her with how he listened attentively to her ramblings, Rangiku catching the soft look he kept tossing towards her gifts (she knew he didn’t care about things such a gifts, which is why she loved to give so many to him just to see him smile--it was a good look on him and it made her sad she didn’t get to see it often).

       aw great; here comes trouble.    “ yeah, actually. where the hell did you run off to this time? it’s been two weeks. ”     it’s extremely possible he completely forgot about her vacation time. will he admit that? no. he spoke dryly, as if indifferent, but there’s no denying the truth : what’s the division without the other half?

       … wait.   “ did you get me anything? ”

“What do you mean ‘run off’? You’re the one who signed off on my vacation request papers!” She whines, a pout firmly taking place, fighting the smile that threatened to take over.  He could posture all he wants--Rangiku knows her captain too well to buy his indifference act, keen eyes picking up on the slightest relaxation of his shoulder, the fondness (the bond between captain and lieutenant runs deep and remains unbreakable) in his eyes.  She dumps her collection of shopping bags behind her desk, groaning with relief once she was released from the weight of it all.

“Of course I got you something! What kind of mother do you take me for?!” She immediately turns towards her pile (read: mountain) of shopping bags, rummaging through them until she found the specific bags she was searching for.

“I got you some candy--nothing too sweet, just mainly chocolates, hard candies, and some lollipops!” Rangiku’s smile is radiant (like the sun, she glows with warmth) as she hands the bags to her captain, a wink being tossed his way.

“Aww, captain--”