花天狂骨, Flower Heaven, Crazy Bone

Hearing him laugh was a lot more relaxing than he would initially think. Back then– when an enemy laughed, it was not a good sign. However, the reason for it; confidence, would be the same. Despite his former rank, Starrk wouldn’t be the first among his comrades to draw a weapon. For centuries, he didn’t need to. Call it force of habit, or whatever, realistically, he preferred to conserve his energy for when it was absolutely required. “I think you hit the nail right on the head.” Another quiet chuckle followed. Though his demeanor shifted to a more serious one– which wasn’t far off from the face he normally presented. “I’ve only heard tidbits here and there of what he had done to you guys.” His grey gaze drifted to the ground for a moment, maybe  to hide the growing smirk.  “I’m sure he would  l o v e  to know about this– well it feels like an alliance to me but, I wasn’t really one for politics.”

“Something tells me, he could very well likely sense it as it is. He always did have a knack for connecting the dots. As for politics, believe me, I’m the last guy who wanted anything to do with the subject, but here I am, right in the middle of it all. At the very least we could say we are both unlikely candidates, hm?”

There was a small chuckle to escape his lips at that. The ex-Espada wasn’t above speaking philosophically, besides.. this particular man was one of the wiser Shinigami than he had met. At the very least, he was easy to talk to. “Some don’t even walk out at all– death or, I don’t know, getting bound to a chair for a few thousand years..” A little smirk found it’s way to his expression. Sure, Starrk HAD been loyal to the self-made God. But– that was all different now. 

Never was he one to hold back his laughter, admittedly the verbal jab at Aizen was not only detected but also received for all it was meant as. The more recent shift in tides was one that had been welcomed, as far as correlations between Arrancar and shinigami were concerned. Mutual understanding of boundaries and other arranged agreements had set things up to be less hostile between the two groups. And with the coming, inevitable war on the brink, it was something of a small relief. “For some, there couldn’t be a better position than a seated one, hm? Especially those individuals fond of thrones. No, I’d say there isn’t much room to complain now in that case. He’s exactly where he belongs.” 

“You’re not that old, taichou. And don’t say you don’t wanna fight me because I’m a girl–that’s just insulting.” Yeah, she’s less than impressed right now.

“You’re taking all of my best excuses, Rei-chan~! What’s a chivalrous Taichou to do when he’s backed into a corner this way, I wonder~?” there’s a light chuckle following his comment, she really did know all of his little tactics, right down to the very reasons he was going to try next-- in order, no less.

☩        “I wouldn’t of hit you if you wouldn’t of opened your mouth the way you did! You shouldn’t be enticing people to hit you!”

“Well, that surely wasn’t what I was attempting to entice, when you put it that way. It was a simple truth and a simple comment, beauty should be celebrated! I didn’t think it would be a crime to share my thoughts but believe you me, I know otherwise after this abuse~” 

“Save you from getting hit.”

“Erza-chaaaan, that hurts, not only physically but emotionally! Yare, yare, go easy on me, my bones are older now, despite how virile I appear!” 

☩        “Perhaps you shouldn’t of spoken your mind so loudly.”

“Where would the fun in that be, Erza-chan~?”