THE SOUL PANTHEISM
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@guardeddreamweaver
THE SOUL PANTHEISM
FEATURING: ICHIGO KUROSAKI //Â @blackâsun
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THE SOUL PANTHEISM
A Bleach Roleplay Group featuring 16 members and 27 Muses
RECRUITING NOW!
Check out our masterlist to see who we have and whoâs available!Â
Agreement
continuation from here
@desk-work-expert
Shutara nods. Â There are very few people alive who have been in here. Â Some are in the guard, a couple are current captains, but pretty much everyone else is in a grave. Â
âYes,â she says.  âThisâŚis where I grew up.  Itâs why the 2nds grounds are where they are.â Â
Shutara works her best to steady Nanao. Â To edge her on just a little quicker, she puts one of Nanaoâs arms over her shoulder, and she wraps her natural arm around her waist. Not needing them, she lets her prosthetic arms disintegrate. Â This is her land. Â She does not need to battle, and she wants to show Nanao that she is allowing her more intimacy than more than most have ever known. Â She keeps her scent relatively strong, not overpowering, but enough to relax, comfort, entice. Â As much as her blood calls to take, she is trying her hardest to meet somewhere in the middle.
They cross the threshold, and even though Shutara knows that no one will be able to make it through the walls, she still locks the complex lock behind her before continuing on. Â
She is so close to being able to relieve herself; she grits her teeth as she finds herself starting to sink back into a more feral state. Â As much as she is hit with the niggling feeling that sheâd have not needed caution right now should she have taken the omega, the logical part of her thatâs been forced aside makes her vaguely aware that she owes Nanao and she clings as if to driftwood to the vestiges of her rationality that she can grasp.
They walk down the hallway, into the vestibule that houses a gigantic loom, and then through to the quarters beyond it. Â Just like her home in the royal realm, this room too has a fireplace in the wall, an easy way to stay warm when small. Â A platform bed with lush fabrics is in the center of the room, and the rest of everything is minimalistâsheâs always kept it blank so that when she rests, sheâs not visually overstimulated.
She guides Nanao to sit down, and the closeness just makes her yearn for more. Â So she starts slowly, doing the things that she knows will speak to the sensual haze that the pheromones cause. Â She kneels beside her; it makes them more equal in height, and she brushes her thumb along the side of her cheekbone. Â She presses herself against her side; possessive yes, powerful yes, but still soft as her body still has curve over top of her strength. She may be small, but right now, her presence fills the room.
âHow do you feel?â she asks. Sheâll ease in for nowâŚsince she knows that once things get to a certain point, she may not be able to hold back easily at all.
Clusterfuck
guardeddreamweaverâ:
@desk-work-expert @playkinshara
Shutara is well aware of the fact that she is not in her sharpest mind currently, but she is grasping what she needs. Â This is certainly an offer that is almost an equal one to mating the arrancar before her. Â Her own line is a current dead end of a branch family. Â Shutaraâs blood may be more noble, but unlike most families of note to choose a mate from, for the both of them, the bloodline is actually equally holy as well as high ranking.
Keep reading
Read More Now!
 @guardeddreamweaverâ @the-lewdest-concubineâ
Bit by bit, it feels like some of the immediate danger is seeping away from the situation . The troops are still on their way, Szayel and the other alpha are still at risk but Nanao can sense the difference in Shutara. The captain must see her point, she thinks, her answers suggests that at any rate.
âSo, we have an agreement?â
Keep reading
@desk-work-expert @playkinshara
âWe do,â she says. Â âI do not take saying such things lightly.â
Right now, Nanao is correct in her assessmentâShutara now, more than any other time, is truly fearless. Â She is confident that perhaps that she can do them both a favor, as far as matters of this sort of gravity are concerned. Â
Clusterfuck
guardeddreamweaverâ:
Keep reading
Read More Now!
Keep reading
@desk-work-expert @playkinshara
Shutara is well aware of the fact that she is not in her sharpest mind currently, but she is grasping what she needs. Â This is certainly an offer that is almost an equal one to mating the arrancar before her. Â Her own line is a current dead end of a branch family. Â Shutaraâs blood may be more noble, but unlike most families of note to choose a mate from, for the both of them, the bloodline is actually equally holy as well as high ranking.

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Clusterfuck
desk-work-expertâ:
@the-lewdest-concubineâ @guardeddreamweaverâ
The two of them, him and Szayel still laying limply in his arms are dragged forward with frightening speed. Despite this; the paralysis, the sudden closeness to their opponent, Rose refuses to back down. Heâs only vaguely aware of the handicap that keeping such a tight hold of the omega gives him, and the purpose driven, animal instincts governing his actions reassure him that itâs a risk worth taking. If he lets go now, then Shutara can make a grab for Szayel and he knows at this point itâd be impossible to get him back.
Read More Now!
@desk-work-expertâ
Shutara watches as Rose struggles under her hold, and heâs grasped what her idea is.  Heâs a decent opponent compared to some who simply have never been able to understand how her arms aid her in combat.  His body is thrust in front of the omega, and it forces her to choose between attacking him and risking damage to the prize she wants or finding a new angle to extract the fully docile man from.  She doesnât mind killing  a rival at allâŚbut she doesnât wish to damage the other man by accident.  She muses on it, the fingers on her free arms flexing as she considers what to do. Â
Houseguest
@serpiente-silenciosa
Shutara packs light. Â Most things that make her comfortable, she can recreate immediately, in a flurry of hands that moves faster than the eye can see. Her loom is really the only thing she needs; after all, without one, what can a weaver even be? Â Itâs well engineered, collapsible. Â It is engineered to be carried, and then when she finds a space, it expands tenfold. Â
She no longer dons the uniform she wore for thousands of yearsâsheâs clad in crimson. Â No, that life is gone. Â And while she still has the key in her bones and likely will for a while, she understands why her host feels the way she does about the corpse enshrined in the sky. Â
It is a tacit approval of sorts. Â Shutara gains freedom, so long as she sticks to the shifting sands. Â A few batches of uniforms, a few reports on the state of the hollow kingdom, and other than that sheâs free. Â The shark queen took her in, and for that sheâs relieved. Â Sheâll find a way to pay her back later, but for now, sheâll reside in her rooms and create a new life, worth dying and living again for.
But she unfolds her loom now in her empty white palace room. Â Itâs time to make this new house a home. Â Threads and raw materials take her little time to form and she creates her first piece of cloth for decoration. Â Itâs silken, green brocade and she hangs that over the plain bed, and looking at this little splash of color relaxes her. Â
Then she notices somethingâa beautiful pair of eyes watching her from the doorway. Â
Shutara recognizes her right away as one of the fraccion of her host, but theyâve never met properly, not when her correspondences were with Halibel herself.
âHello,â she says. Â She perches her slight body on the edge of the bed, regal, even if she feels still truly out of place. Â âI donât believe weâve been introduced.â
Awakening
@medicine-for-the-brain
The last thing that she remembers is that she canât remember a thing. Â Cold, cold eyes, feeling like nearly hundreds staring back at her, predicting every move, every possibility. Â Even she, master of illusions and strings was seen right through in the end, him humoring her for a little bit, letting her feel like sheâd scored some gastly blows, but in the end, it was a ruse and to be that thoroughly was an experience, humbling, that sheâll never forget in her life. Â
Three had fallen, one beheaded, another skewered, a third in a pool of his own blood.  Kirio was thin and would not last long with the rate that she was burning, supporting them both.  But thenâŚafter that, she canât recall.
She didnât see herself where sheâd fallen, arms disintegrated into dust, lunar crown shattered, white robes stained red with thick and viscous venous blood. Â Nor does she see how it smears behind her when sheâs unceremoniously dragged. Â Death does that to people, you know. Â She bled further onto the pallet she was hoisted on and brought into recovery, and from the time and heat sheâd lain there, the smell is rancid, noxious and somehow stale.
She certainly didnât see the body of the man lying in the cot next to her.  And given that a dead person gives off no reiatsuâŚhe probably didnât notice her either, just another one of the corpsesâŚand perhaps given his recent penchant for reanimating them, maybe that was for the best that he wasnât in good shape either.
But then, off in another room, someone else is restored, someone with a power that she now loathes, even though it will revive her in every sense of the word.
Her name is spoken. Her true one. Â Not the title of Senjumaru that sheâs masqueraded under for the past few thousand years, but the real one that nobodyâs said to her face, probably not since her parents were last alive. Â And with that, life comes flooding back, garnet eyes flash wide open as her heart restarts, and thus reiatsu begins to flow again, and without her consciousness to regulate it, it blasts in all directions.
Itâs painful, and she yells, more of a growl mixed with a scream, an unearthly sound. Â Circulation being restored to nerves that now scream from damage, lungs re-inflating against broken ribs, every bruise pulsing, along with the splitting headache from the swelling delicate tissues. Â Grasping for the side of her pallet thatâs been laid upon a cot, she weakly tilts herself just in time to vomit hours old bile and acid and blood thatâs collected into a free-flowing stomach with relaxed sphincters on either side onto the floor beside her, with a violence that she didnât realize her shaking, flimsy muscles were capable of. Â And then, when she is certain that she is several wretches past the point of having no more left to heave, she lies back to gather strength.
Itâs only then that sheâs aware of whoâs beside her. Sheâs been so distracted by the matters of her own suvival that sheâs forgotten to do the first thing that any assassin does when she enters a room--take stock of her surroundings. So, she does the only thing that is truly befitting of a moment like this.
Shutara laughs. Â
If there is anything in this world that Shutara knows, it is that though this universe is steered by an uninterested clockmakerâŚbut still, there is a sense of humor that colors everything, and to her, no matter how many times sheâs revived, the absurdity of the world she protects will never get old.
She glances to the side. Theyâre both vain creatures, and she wonders who looks worse now, him or her.  Her gaze is warm.  Deep care oozing from her soul for a pet project.  The one thing that will save her and let her walk free in the end. Well...if he makes it through every trial.
âFancy meeting you here,â she says, the playful music in her voice. Â She canât help her heavy-handedness. Â Itâs how she was born and itâs how she will always be. Â âThough I figured that with my standing, Iâd have been at least given the dignity of a private room.â
To Do List
On Shutara
@medicine-for-the-brain
Resurrection/healing thread Terror of the 2nd thread (if I get around to it)
@serpiente-silenciosa answer Snake thread Moving in with Halibel thread
@i-am-the-kenpachi wrap up Scared Stiff and continue in that universe canonical young Kenny thread
@hope-is-the-best-medicine Domme thread. Â Yaaaaas. Â
@desk-work-expert Post-canon thread
@the-actual-last-quincy HDM commandeering the Ishida home thread
And then thereâs the continuing stuff, but I want to do this first.
Wishlist
(Iâll find a place in her theme to put this later...but I need to put these here)
Wishlist
Widow verse Gods I want guard threads.  But considering that she is the only guard in group right nowâŚsigh.  Thereâs things that I want to learn about her that can really only be unlocked with the people whoâve been there with herâŚlike pre-Gotei before.  What I wouldnât give for an Oetsu to work with right now in figuring out her Zan bullshit.
Royal Verse TBTPish stuff I want her shenanigans with people the last time the guard came down pre TBTP and took Hikifune up with them.  People who were captains at the time.  Her checking up on where people ended up after musical captains from where she ascended previously.  YWBW stuff If you take on sternritter musesâŚ.there are things I wantâŚ. Some of these things are really fucking dark
Second Life I want people around for her resurrection. I want it to be ugly and gritty and full of nasty truths. I want people dealing with a poor tempered Shutara while she heals along with the TYBW wounded. I want people helping her deal with the fact that she literally canât permanently die while everyone else does.
Homecoming Verse HahaâŚI would low key love to see Soifonâs having to deal with the fact that sheâs residing in the 2ndâŚand probably knows more about the territory itself than she does given that she grew up there. I want to see disorder in the 1st because she careens between being a driven worker and a wild rebel with Shunsui happy to have a freewheeling spirit around and Nanao being a combination of starstruck and horrified. I want to see her exerting power because she can not because she should.  I want the shinigami of the younger generations to be in awe of herâŚuntil they realize how really freaking weird she is, trying to nope the fuck out while she pulls them along.
Unraveled Verse Shutara trying to blend into the living world and half-assing it. Shutara wandering Hueco Mundo trying to shape that world after sheâs left her post.
Crouching Tigress Lmao anything. Â I love writing her with her daemon. Â
Pack Mentality Anything with Shu pursuing a male omega. YESSSSSS. Lets write super weird stuff!!!!! And lowkey anything.
Sophomoric Anything. Â Iâm very interested to see how she unfolds in this universe.
Other stuff SOUL MATE AUS.  GIVE ME ALL OF THEM! Sexual NSFW for NSFWâs sakeâŚsheâs lowkey kind of great and Iâve only scratched the surface with her⌠NSFW Torture/gore threadingâŚbecause I know some of the shit sheâs done, but Iâd like to see it in all of its uglinessâŚlike her days in intelligenceâŚholy fuck!!!!! Whatever you have in mind for herâŚshe herself isnât super creative, but I mean, she can generally fit any situation/AU that you can come up with.

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Plotting on Shutara
OkayâŚso things are being planned and picked up. Â
@i-am-the-kenpachi We can finish the one thing since Iâve already told you how it ends. Â Iâll set that up first, and then since Iâve fully fleshed her out in that universe and am offering it as a full AU, we can continue with whatever he decides to do with her âgiftâ.
Iâm totally game for setting up something in her Black Widow verse.  I can see her gathering information on him for Yachiru/Retsu anyway given what she does.  And depending on how he handles her since sheâll probably approach him in an intelligence role rather than that of a fighter in that guise, it will either be fascinatingâŚor sheâs just going to sew himselfâŚto himselfâŚand just fucking leave him there.  XD
And I mean you know where to find me when Iâm in late-nite clinic hell. =_=
@ambivilant-quincy Itâs up to you whether or not you want to continue the bar thread or go forward in time, given that theyâre further in their relationship now. Â
And we should probably pull out something for their HDM world. Â Could actually be fun to do somewhat established relationship in this one that we can pull Uryuu into. I figure I can always write him into her entries just because I handle them both. Dysfunctional families are A+ and dysfunctional do-what-I-say-not-what-I-do asshole families are even better.
@desk-work-expert Furtive Glances I just reread from beginning to end and Iâm 100% all about this since weâre fast speeding into that holiday anyway. Â Full-speed ahead ship captain!
Minded of course is a go now that Iâve written more about the universe for the verse page.  And Iâm 100% amused that my education in cognitive science and animal behavior is being used for A/B/O dynamic RPâŚoh if Dr. Kay Holekamp could see her hyena research nowâŚ. Â
@playkinshara We will get to She-wolf.  Iâm genuinely curious to see what sheâll do with him, lol. Especially since she can exert power that Szayel never would because of the savagery thatâs inherent to that side of him.
@hope-is-the-best-medicine UghâŚwe need to figure out where we want to go. Thereâs just soooooo much stuff and universes upon universes. Like...itâs both exciting and overwhelming. WOWOWOWOW.
Perhaps a thread on Shun would be a good idea with her too? Â
Maybe one day she and Shinji will be able to be in the same room without World War III eruptingâŚprobably with Szayel there to start with.
@reign-over-the-frosted-heavens
I know we had a thread at one point, but itâs been your turn for a while. Â I donât know if you wanted to do something else since both of our character concepts have evolved since then.
@lying-prophet âŚwe need to plan something, Iâll look and see if we had any random ideas.  Sorry Iâve been out of touch
Other stuff I am tentatively dropping though I can be convinced otherwise on pretty much anything. Iâd love to write with her with anyone on pretty much any topic. Especially now that I know her so much better than I did when I originally picked her up.
And I should make some sort of wishlist.
All right.
Updated Verses page. Finally. After like 5 years...nearly 6 of having her.
https://guardeddreamweaver.tumblr.com/verses
11,12,2,14 (Ambivalent-Quincy/Ryuken)
11Â how long does your muse have to know someone before they decide to ask them out?
Haha. Like 5 seconds. But sheâs subtle about it. She casts her marks very deliberately, but always always always she decides early on whether or not sheâs interested.
12  what is your museâs love language?Gifts! As someone whoâs been isolated in the royal realm for most of her life, a lot of what she clings to is momentos that are well chosen. She likes to carry around things that remind her of people who are important to her. If someone gives her something truly insightful, she tends to feel deeply humbled that someone took the time to understand her, and if she can keep it on her person...its a plus. Quality time is probably second, as she so rarely got it in the guard. Time is sacred to her.
2  what sort of things does your muse look for in a partner?Most of all she likes people who are true to themselves. She likes people who are honest and donât suck up to her. She likes people who arenât afraid to be who they want to be, even if its unpopular.
14 does your muse usually plan out dates or go with the flow?Kind of a mixture of both? Like she enjoys having something to start from (a place, an activity etc) and then if it branches out from there, she will go with the flow for whatever makes her and her partner happy.
SHIPPING MEME.
are you open to on-the-fly shipping with your muse?
what sort of things does your muse look for in a partner?
what sort of things does your muse AVOID in a partner?
what is the lowest and highest age person youâll ship with your muse?
how easily does your muse fall in love?
has your muse dated before? if so, how long did those relationships usually last?
would your muse ever get married?
does your muse usually take the lead in relationships?
who are some characters you ship your muse with?
do you tend to write more romantic ships, or more platonic and familial ships?
how long does your muse have to know someone before they decide to ask them out?
what is your museâs love language?
how easily would your muse get over a bad breakup?
does your muse usually plan out dates or go with the flow?
if your muse is uncomfortable in a relationship, will they address the problem or keep quiet?
does your muse believe in soulmates?
would your muse forgive their partner for cheating on them?
how many ships do you currently have with your muse?
is there someone your muse has a crush on, but who you donât actually have a ship with?
what would push you to drop a ship?
đŞ
Send đŞ to pick up / carry my muse || Keep âem coming!
ââŚyo! No disrespect or anythinâ, but where the hell are you takinâ me?!â
âIf youâre going to complain like that...straight to the trash.â
Shutaraâs eyes are flat.
âShut up and enjoy the ride.â

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ambivilant-quincyâ:
If sheâs noticed his reaction to her explanation then sheâs impressively discreet about it. Ryuekn assumes that she has regardless of outward expression; sheâs sharp and he knows, itâs the kind of thing heâd noticed if he hadnât had so much to drink. Â Her face remains pleasantly neutral, never hinting at what might be going through her head. Ryuken tries to follow suit; she doesnât get more than the slight widening of the eyes from him. Although that doesnât mean heâs without thought. Far from it in fact; these latest pieces of her puzzle, give him even more to wonder and speculate over. He sticks to his guns though; the long game seems to be playing off and Ryuken is loath to deviate when heâs given little in return and information continues, slowly but surely, to come his way.
He reaches for a second cigarette, flicking the lighterâs mechanism; once, twice, thrice, until flame rears up  and the rich familiar scent of his brand begins to mix with her peach smoke. He sees her watching again and tries to stare her down a little. He wonders why she finds this so interesting; what element of this mundanity could be so fascinating she feels compelled to observe. Most other people wouldnât even give it a glance, let alone watch it play out like some form of entertainment.
Itâs another puzzle that will go unanswered for now however. He takes a draw, exhales and answers her question. He says his piece and she listens; taking a moment to think before offering her retort. It almost surprises him to learn she doesnât seek control. Almost. Heâs quickly learning that to assume anything about her probably isnât the wisest idea. Besides, she has a point; defiance makes a statement but only if used occasionally and well. She smiles, he remains neutral; prepared to absorb for now, while she continues to talk. He can understand the need for subtly. Heâs always thought that itâs far better to stay silent and win the day, than it is to show your hand early and wind up at a disadvantage. It appears itâs an approach she favours too.
âItâs the quiet ones you have to watch. Isnât that what they say?â
She falls quiet, then ploughs on, suggesting in being here; bowing to the convention of not being a lone woman drinking by herself, sheâs doing every one a favour. He hadnât thought about it like that before; that breaking the mould causes a butterfly effect that neither of them could put a stop to. Itâs a level of concern for others that surpasses even his and again he wonders why. Sheâs a Shinigami, there is nothing for her to gain in taking an interest in the living. Although, he considers, if she intends to make this realm her home for the time being, perhaps she has more reason than most of her kind to ensure those around her arenât affected by her actions.
âSo, for the sake of unintended consequences, you make the sacrifice and spend your time with the likes of meâ
He brings his hand away from his pocket, giving her the freedom to do as she will with her card while he watches. For some it might have felt emasculating to suddenly have the tab picked up by a near stranger, but not for him. Heâs proud beyond a shadow of a doubt, but not when it comes to such standards like these. She has money and itâs not as if heâs unable to pay should she change her mind. Does it really matter who picks up what? His silence at the card seems to relax her. She sits back as she hears him laugh, but part of him thinks he picks up a slight edge of tension at the question. Eloquence has never been his strongest suite when it comes to conversation, though heâs gotten better over the years and it wouldnât be the first time heâd ploughed unwittingly into difficult territory. Heâs blunt and knows she wouldnât be the first to comment on it; if heâs genuinely offended her. Â She, however, laughs. Itâs a sweet sound; lilting and feminine, suspiciously polite compared to the edge of tension she holds, he thinks. With someone he knows so little about, itâs hard to tell whether this is a show of politeness or not.
âYou approached meâ he counters, on the backfoot again as, deep down, he realises sheâs probably right âthe responsibility lies with you to introduce yourself.â
He glances at her hair as she speaks, casually wondering what it might look like up and why, if this woman is a seamstress in peacetime, just what happened to warrant semi-retirement. She seems fearless in the face of injury and accident too. That much is clear as she speaks of her work and just what happens to the careless who donât take proper precautions when quick work is required. Maybe thatâs the reason, he thinks, her talk of battle certainly suggests a women whoâs more than familiar with the art of combat and the ugliness of conflict. The up close and personal method she speaks of is a far cry from the rare spates of combat heâs experienced.
âThe Quincy way tends to ensure you donât get close enough to the opponent to risk being stuck with the pointy end of their bladeâ he replies, drily, drawing on knowledge heâd rather forget âItâs the advantage of ranged weaponryâ
She raises a hand, calls the bar tender and orders. Ryuken recognises the brand. Not cheap but then again, sheâs not exactly short of money. The instructions heâs given seems to imply he should order something of similar quality. Whiskey he knows well, in fact he prides himself on being a consignor; thereâs little he hasnât tried. It is his drink of choice though and with the more expensive blends clearly on offer right now, he decides to pick strategically; making the most of whatâs offered while fulfilling her criteria and not taking advantage. Itâs a delicate balance but all in all, Ryuken thinks he does well.
âA Yamazaki as well, please. On the rocks. If not, some of the Akashi will sufficeâ
He shoots her a look, half expecting a comment, then offers a nod of thanks. His eyes follow the bartender; waits for them to get to work before he turns his attention back to her and addresses an earlier point.
âSo, if we wish to adhere to convention, I believe you owe me your nameâ
She nods with understanding in her eyes as he mentions the aphorism. Â They are both the same here. Â It is why sheâs drawn to him, as few people have the same qualities that she prizes about herself and seeks to surround herself with.
âYes.  If I remember right, and it could be wrong, as itâs not my expertiseâŚbut there is some bit of scripture out there in the living world. âThe meek shall inherit the earth,â I believe it is.â  Her smile is relaxed, slight now.  âGiven that it seems to be a general truth, strange that more people donât harness its elegance.â
He listens to her talk, walking through the gates of hitsuzen. Â She doesnât need him to be impressed. Â She doesnât need to impress anyone as nobody needs to validate her but herself. Â She does, however, want understanding of her deep concern and careful, methodical nature. Heâs an intelligent man, and she can see him breaking apart everything. Â Even though heâs hard edged and puts forward his ideas bluntly, heâs still receptive in character, willing to learn, and to her amazement, under the harsh exterior, extremely slow to truly judge.
âPartly,â she answers. âAs much as I do think about those things, unfortunately I cannot claim to be wholly altruistic. Â Anyone who claims otherwise about their own actions is either a liar or naĂŻve.â Â
She plays with her pipe.
âI serve myself when I follow my curiosity. Â I step on your wishes for the sake of myself and all of those other possible lives I touch when I disturb your solitude. Â But I also attempt to offer you something in return rather than being truly forceful. Â If company tires you, perhaps a drink will do. Â If a drink is mundane, perhaps conversation and new knowledge is a good enough payment for any discomfort Iâve caused. Â And if there is something else in my power, within reason, that I can give to soothe any irritation, Iâm not so hung up in myself that I wonât listen to what you need. Â If Iâm to stay in this world, I figure that I might as well get to know the famous figures who dwell within it. Â So itâs true that itâs all deeply meaningful, as well as a whim, but most things are dual in character.â Â
There are other things on the table that she can exchange, but she doesnât mention them. Â She doesnât know exactly what kind of man he is, nor does she want to insinuate, lest it cast an unsavory light on her instead. In the Royal Realm, sheâs spent centuries alone, and yet coming here, surrounded by far more people than the other four captains with whom she shared her world, sheâs far more lonely than she ever thought sheâd be. Â
She canât exactly tell him that in seeing him and knowing what she does about him, he represents her best chance for someone understanding what sheâs been through and why after all of this time and all of this responsibility, this is her final decision. Â Thatâs far too much pressure, both for him, and for her too. Â And truly, she didnât even realize that that was her heartâs desire until sheâd walked downstairs for a drink and noticed the quality of his soul, completely by surprise, without planning, and without any idea that deep down, she felt this way. Â He doesnât know this, and even if they became the best of friends after a night of sharing drinks, she doubts that she would let on just what heâs shouldering for her tonight. Perhaps a man like him is stronger than her. Â Maybe feeling a sense of kindred isnât something he needs. Â But maybe, just maybe he seeks it too, and heâs been denied so long that at the mere thought of it, he cuts it off and pushes it aside before it wounds him as well.
Card on the counter and far more relaxed, she tenses slightly again as she can hear the slightly defensive tone in his voice about asking her name. Â That wasnât what sheâd intended, even if she was correct. Â Sheâs caught him unaware and not in the way she meant to, sheâd meant to be good natured and not threatening at all. Â She waves a hand in apology, but she refuses to show regret. Â âAh, I suppose youâre right about that,â she says. Â âAnd the fact that I already knew yours perhaps is a little unfair, rude and disconcerting. Â It was not my intention.â
He looks her up and down and heâs thinking again. Â He makes an enjoyable companion for the fact that he does quietly sift through thoughts. She canât help a wry smile as he mentions the key difference between fighting as an archer and as she does.
âThat is very true,â she says. Â âIâve trained with a regular bow as was tradition in my family, but the shape of my soul takes bladed form. Â Though I am a lucky one who lives a bit between the two worlds of combat. Â I am a polearm specialist, naginata in particular, so while I do fight hand to hand, there is usually a meter or more of space between me and any opponent.â Â She looks down at herself for a moment. Â âAs you can tell, Iâm very small, so a good part of what keeps me alive is staying out of rage and relying on a weapon with more reach and force, as opposed to inviting someone truly close.â
Bartender summoned, she gives her order and he gives his. Â She can see him looking at her, almost expectantly, but she waits until the bartender is busy before she says anything.
âGood taste,â she says. âThough I hope that by the end of the night that I can offer you something truly exquisite.â Â She knows that itâs not always easy to accept gifts, from someone you know, or someone you donât. Â But with more alcohol comes loosened tongues and feelings and the conventions are easier, so when itâs that time, heâll simply appreciate a gift and not fret.
Then he asks the question.
âYes, I do,â she says. âI am Senjumaru Shutara.  In official documentation, I am also referred to as the 4th Officer General of the North and the Oorigamiâthe Great Weave Guard.  But just Shutara is fine.  I gave up my first name long ago, and if Iâm to drink with you, Iâm not going to have you use my title.  It would be a little more apt if I wasnât sealedâŚas like this, you will only see me possesses two hands, though I can still sew almost as quickly as when I have them all.â
She knows very well that sheâs just told him everythingâŚand absolutely nothing at all.  But Ryuken is good at this, or at least has been so far. Sheâs left even more clues if he can pick them up, and if he wants to ask, she will answer.  But now he can call her something, which is only polite for her to give him the wording.  She looks back at the bartender working his trade, and brightens as her drink is finished being created.
ambivilant-quincyâ:
Heâs mis-stepping more than a little, not that he really realises that. The workings of soul society are not really his forte. Despite his dislike of both quincy and soul society, heâs been smart enough to keep up where he can over the years â leaning on Kisuke from time to time when it seemed beneficial, and picking up other snatches here and there. He knows more than most, but even that just skims the surface compared to someone who may well have lived that life for many, many centuries. Thereâs an advantage at play here and it certainly isnât his.
She has the good grace to explain, leaving Ryuken even more certain heâs dealing with a captain and a high ranking one at that. He doubts that a mere lieutenant would be able to bring people to their knees by simply removing this so-called seal. He frowns, Â a show of understanding even if he doesnât quite know what to say to this claim of immense power. Heâs known since he was little that the power levels of some ranks would outstrip those held by the most powerful of the Quincies he was raised with. Itâs a power that even the most logical person would struggle to contemplate â and his drink soaked, smoke soothed brain isnât sure it can process it right now. His eyes widen, although itâs a change in expression only noticeable by the observant. Ryuken suspects she could be counted among them from what heâs observed so far. Thereâs a certain class to the way she speaks and he rather likes that.
Their glasses drain while Ryukenâs cigarette burns slowly down to the filter. He savours what he can of it, bringing it to his lips and sucking down whatâs left before itâs too late. She follows suite and, usually, he has to fight the urge to light another and chain smoke. He may have his vices but normally in moderation. But then again, he doesnât normally allow himself into situations where drinks with others, let alone smokes. His hands fidget discreetly, humming and harring over the choice, until craving wins over and he draws another from the packet, brings it to his lips and picks up the lighter, still listening closely to the talk.
He notices their glasses are both dry at round about the same time as he accepts sheâs here for the long haul. Itâs then she speaks as if she feels the need to defend her presence and actions now that she has his attention. Itâs a fairly defensive question despite her consistent show of quiet confidence, but one he can understand. If the situation was reversed no-one would bat an eyelid. Now, even though, no-oneâs looking, this could cause a raised eyebrow or two, even if Ryuken would necessarily describe her as at his mercy.
âPerhaps soâ he answers, watching a fresh plume of smoke swirl through the air into the already smoky atmosphere âbut, if you truly cared, do you think youâd actually still be here talking to me? Convention only holds power over you if you choose to let itâ
The aforementioned social conventions kick in, and he makes to summon the bartender, reaching into his pocket for his wallet, when she acts again, the click of the clasp and whatâs drawn out, masking that slight moment of hesitation. A card is procured then pushed across the wood of the bar. Ryuken simply nods, never once taking his eyes from it; putting two and two together in an instant. He knows what it means. Anyone who doesnât live under a rock knows what it means; deep down knowing what heâs letting himself in for, even if he wonât realise it until a lot later on. This is a woman with more money than him to throw around, perhaps infinitely more. He goes to raise his hand and summon the bar tender but holds back, without even realising heâs doing it. Heâs not the one paying now, even if heâs more than capable of doing so. Right now, she holds the better hand though, and Ryukenâs content to go with it, even if itâs just to see if this is no empty gesture.
He lets out a dry bark of sound at her next words. Not quite a laugh, but definitely not a sound of disapproval either.
âIs that so? And just what have you faced thatâs more risky than unknown encounters with the kinds of people who like to drink alone in bars?â
Shutara knows that heâs likely still not going to understand the depth and breadth of her powers. Â But this is still closer. Â Sheâs easing him into things. Â There is no desire to scare or threaten. Â She merely is what she is and she will never apologize for it. Â She can see his eyes widen as the little tasty tidbit of information hits its mark, but she only looks at him neutrally in return. If he is smart he will know that she noticed, but that she tends not to draw attention to anything unless it really is necessary to be commented upon. Â Or at least, until they know one another better and he can handle the more biting side of her humor.
Glasses empty, now his cigarette is burned down too. Â Her pipe is a much slower burn than his choice of smoke. Â She is a reader of many things, a skill that has kept her alive more times than she can count. Â He wants another, she can recognize that tension between the lizard brain and the human one that duke it out in following a vice. Â She watches it play out, and to her amusement vice wins. Â This is the first of one. Â It is a game and sheâll keep score. Â She keeps that to herself, though perhaps later, not today though, sheâll tell him about it, and heâll be quietly amused.
He speaks his piece and she admits that he has a very fair point. Â âI can see why that might be the assumption youâd make,â she says. Â âBut Iâm not seeking power over the convention.â Her thoughts are sharp and weave together intricately, one thread that pulls on another, and another, and while if someone with less practice had tried, it might form a snarl, but this is an artform. Â
âWhen you openly defy something, you are making a statement. Â And in doing so, you open some doors and shut others. Â If you continuously defy convention, it starts to lose its meaning, not only to you, but to onlookers. Â Even if itâs something strong and something that you wanted to say in a loud voice from the rooftops, every time you do it, it become a little less meaningful and then becomes normal.â Â
Shutara smiles, this time, with just a little twinge of whimsy. Â âThere is power in being able to be subtle to get what you need, let alone what you want.â Â
Pausing, but lightly, she thinks for a moment. Â
âAnd actually, if I sit alone and drink, that can be an invitation to others, as why would a woman like me be drinking alone? Â I give off context cluesâIâm not haggard and rundown like I do this every night, so Iâm safe to approach. Â But then, suddenly Iâm saddled with unwanted company, that may even be predatory in nature, as some men look at scenes like that with opportunity.â Â
There is even more in what she considers, threads upon threads, and she lets herself spin. Â
âAnd of course while I would be safe, when I turn him down at best or physically fight him at worstâŚwhatâs to say that a man with wounded pride doesnât then turn his attention to a weaker mark who will not say no or take out frustrations on someone does have power over due to the face that he was bested by me?  So in sitting here I could be defending myself against that future, in the same breath Iâve cared for someone elseâs.  Had I wanted to make a statement by being alone, the message gets muddled, and Iâve caused more problems than I have personal triumphs.  There are many futures and realities that are interconnected, and every little thing has an influence, even if it only keeps the status quo.  What you plan isnât always what you get, so it pays to have a backup, or at least think everything through the first time, and then be willing to adapt.â
She sees him go for his wallet but stop, and she realizes that he hasnât picked up on her slight hesitation. Â That makes her feel a little better. Â Sheâs not aiming for a show of strength, but she does want to be graceful in how she handles this. Â He watches her hand as she slides the card to its resting place on the bar. Â The tacit understanding in his eyes is there, in that nod, and she knows that her actions have been approved. Â
She sits back a little at the bark of amusement, now much less on edge that before, when sheâd offered the card, and she is relieved.  Though at his question, though friendly and well meaning it takes every fiber of her being to not blanche at it, millennia of training giving control over the expression of emotion kicking in.  She was a good assassin.  In fact, almost all assassins are goodâŚbecause if theyâre not, theyâre usually dead.
Yhwach, she wants to say. That is what is far more risky than unknown encounters with handsome men in bars.  Itâs something that he would know.  Itâs something that would elucidate brightly the truth that sheâs tried so skillfully to lead him towards about her level of power, that she once stood on equal footing with the Quincy Emperor, while he was far away having left that duty to his son.  Truly, itâs almost unfair what she must know to survive that he does not, even if much of it has been gleaned postmortem.  But they drew that lot in life as well.  He publicly turned his back on his sideâŚand now that the world is safe, she has finally gotten the freedom and much sought peace to do the exact same. Â
She laughs in return. Itâs beautiful, feminine, joyful, like the tinkling of bells, rather than the crashing of dishes that usually happens when sheâs found something truly hilarious.  Maybe heâll pick up on that if he shows true wit later on, though she knows that most people arenât as delicately tuned and honed to view everything as a threat just as she has and will interpret both as the same, if he even remembers the first.  Heâs just a man who wants to unwind, and for now, perhaps she ought to respect that. Maybe she needs to let this world change her a little more before she can actually find her happiness. And this...this will be a start.
âMore risky than buying a drink for a man who does not know your name?â  Theyâve spoken of convention, and yet heâs still forgotten a very important one.  âWell, perhaps thatâs just scandalous and not risky,â she jokes lightheartedly.  âBut I must sayâŚitâs a treat to wear much of my hair down while I go about my days here.  In the past I spent much of my time working at a loom.  I still do, but only for a fraction of the time now.  Wearing it loose is an invitation for an accident when you work at faster than industrial speed.  If it tangles in the warp or weft while you work and you move too fast, or tangles with the shuttle, you can end up tearing out a chunk of your scalp and it hurts like something you cannot imagine,â she says.  âAnd that devilish work is what I do during peacetime. When I have to fight..at least itâs a little more straightforward.  You know, avoid the pointy end of your opponentâs sword or projectile, point yours at the bad guy and stick it to them first.  Not so much risk as skill. Sure, itâs annoying if a little bit of hair gets out of place when youâre fighting...but if youâre weaving, itâs a much bigger problem, and thus when Iâm working itâs usually completely up and secured with combs.â
She raises a hand and calls over the bartender now. She had seen him wish to call it, but again, he cares about those conventions, so she will take care of him. She is a caretaker of all things, in the past, now, and in the future whether she wants it or not. No...she will always want it, itâs just that sometimes she needs to care at her own speed.
âPlease, a whisky highball and whatever he wants. Iâll take Yamazaki if you have it, but if you donât, surprise me--Iâd love to pay you my compliments.â The words come easy, and her charm is bright and genuine. She knows well how to order and lubricate social situations, whether itâs by buying a round or shepherding the staff for someone else. She looks at Ryuken and pushes the drink menu toward him, playful sparkle in her garnet eyes.  âI donât care what you get, so long as youâve never had a chance to try it before.â