With the Captains suffering casualties and heavy injuries on their side, all hope seemed to be lost... until Shinji Hirako appeared, along with the rest of the former Shinigami. Though the aid of the Vizards certainly helped to draw the battle in their favor, it seemed Aizen's power alone proved too much for them.
It has not changed in the least since she was last here. Nor is Vaaz surprised by how unaltered it is after her being away. As if it were indifferent to her coming and going, indifferent to the one who was indifference. An amusing thought to her. Amusement... peculiar... she definitely is changing. But what does that mean.
There was familiarity within the reiastu she felt within the halls and walls of Los Noches, and in a bit of irony the ones she knew--she knew would be nothing shy of apathetic toward her. And apathy in a further bit of irony, is not what she wanted. She had concerns and alien ruminations, and therefore sought answers to them.
Albeit, she recalled one Arrancar, an Espada who did care... at least for her own fraccion from what she observed. Vaaz wondered just how far that caring--or at least a bit of charitable sympathy could extend to be willing to provide answers to ruminations that Vaaz lacked, should the Espada being willing to provide them to her. Another bit of irony... being indifference left her little in the way of friends and allies... in fact, it left her with none at all. A lesson to be learned? Though, a distrust existed between each of the Espada and trust was only extended if even a little to their own fraccion. So whether she is turned away by the Espada she is set out to visit, Vaaz will not be surprised nor begrudge.
After all, much of their existence as Hollows was competing and destroying one another for survival and strength. A Darwinist existence is all they primarily had, or at least--that is always how Vaaz saw it. Even Aizen's heirachy instituted within Los Noches is built on much the same viewpoint, but again--that is in her eyes. But, she is the one now left a bit... uncertainty. Maybe she was seeing things the wrong way, and the aspect that once defined her--she is now beginning to question. And she does not know why.
Before she knew it she found herself standing before the quarters of the Tres Espada, Hallibel. Respectfully, she peaked in--taking a cautionary step, and standing just inside at the doorway--making her presence known, but not stepping any further in until invited.
"Hallibel...", she uttered quietly with a certain level of insecurity, she was definitely off from the utterly detached figure she was before her having left Hueco Mundo, "May I speak with you...?"
Things were slightly different it seemed, as Vaas entered the room. This room was, apparently not the main quarters. Hallibel expanded her quarters it seemed. Instead of seeing the sought after Espada she found herself looking at her Fracción who, in turn, slowly turned to look at the intruder, even if she was respectful. It seemed as if they were in the middle of an argument as Apache had Mila-Rose in a headlock, and Mila-Rose had Apache in a jiujitsu styled collar hold. They evidently sought to take each-other down, but were at a stalemate.
Of course, Sun-Sun was away from the fight, and watched with disgust … well she watched until Vaas entered, and she joined her comrades in looking at her.
There was a moment of awkward silence as they looked at her until Apache blurted out “da' hell do you want?!” rudely, obviously heated, and redirected her aggression a little, though she and her amazonian comrade were still tangled up.
Sun-Sun rolled her eyes, then walked over to the couch that the pair wrestled by, snatched up a long, black item, then pointed it at the large screen that adorned a nearby wall. The pictures on it disappeared into a black void, “Please do not be rude to our guest,” she scolded Apache.
“It's not like we just let people wander in! Might've been Ulquiorra, or Nnoitra, or some other stupid bastard!” Mila-Rose barked as she jerked Apache's collar to get an “urk” out of her diminutive comrade.
Sun-Sun sighed once more, then returned her attentions to Vaas, “What do you wish to speak to our mistress about?” she asked politely.
Those blood red eyes of Vaaz just stared for a moment at the scene transpiring before her. The three fraccion stared at her... she stared back. It was certainly an awkward moment.
“da' hell do you want?!”
"To see Hallibel.", Vaaz simply answered candidly. Her brow furrowed a little with a slight head tilt at the three fraccion's further exchange. The three girls were always a bit odd, she never understood them herself during her time among the Espada.
“What do you wish to speak to our mistress about?”
"I...", Vaaz paused for a moment thinking on how exactly to answer the question, she was quiet for a trice before finally mustering the words, "It's... personal... I guess... I just have questions... and I'm hoping she knows the answers. That's all." Hope. Such a peculiar word for death's aspect of Indifference to use. And that is perhaps at the very core of her confusion.
“And here I was about to break out the makeup, tea, and cookies,” Sun-Sun said dryly, as she watched Vaaz over her sleeve with her poker-face on, “Apache, please fetch our mistress?” she asked kindly, likely so they didn't break anything in the roughhousing.
Apache was starting to turn blue from the collar choke, but Mila-Rose relented, then shoved Apache's face to the couch cushions, and taunted her hetero-chromatic companion. “Yeah! Before I beat ya more!”
Apache was about to boil over, but she collected herself before going berserk. She dusted herself off, then walked by the haughty Mila-Rose only to deliver a wedgie, then a bra snap which made Mila-Rose's hair nearly go on end before she vanished in a sonido.
Sun-Sun watched this, then face-palmed, “It'll only be a moment. Have a seat. Relax, and enjoy the hospitality we rarely show others,” she said simply. Fact of the matter was, their quarters were something of a women's club. They definitely favored female visitors over males. Likely due to the, usually, vast differences between male and female temperament … even though it didn't always show.
Mila-Rose plopped down on the couch after she shook her fist at the long gone Apache, and wriggled a bit. She muttered under her breath angrily as she did so.
Sun-Sun seemed to think better of it, then bowed softly, “Pardon me while I get the refreshments?” she spoke softly, then wandered out of the room. She didn't so much walk, rather glide across the floor with her long dress that obscured her feet.
Mila-Rose watched Sun-Sun go, then looked over to Vaaz … She flashed a smile that looked more like Vaaz was game than a guest, yet, still, weirdly, felt inviting.
It would be a lie to say that Vaaz did not felt quite awkward and a little uneasy with the situation. For the Tres Espada's fraccion were ideosyncratic in their own right, and while that can be said about any Arrancar--a trio of them as interwoven as the three of them were--can be disconcerting; especially for one in Vaaz's disposition. She had a vulnerability, and sought clarity.
These three odd girls in their peculiar mannerisms were a little unsettling to the former Cuatro. Then again, she had always been a complete social retard. Nothing was exactly feeling right to her.
“It'll only be a moment. Have a seat. Relax, and enjoy the hospitality we rarely show others,”
Vaaz was not sure what to really do with herself. So she stood there for a second looking quite blank in her uncertainty. But eventually she pushed herself to take a step forward entering further into the Tres Espada's den as it were.
“Pardon me while I get the refreshments?”
"I...", she uttered soft-spokenly, "...okay."
The former Cuatro stood there unsure if she should remain standing or sit, and if to sit--where? This is why she avoided social situations normally. She never knew what the hell to do with herself.
Though she furrowed her brow a little in reaction to the mocha complexioned fraccion gazing upon her as though she were prey to be toyed with... in the mischievous sense from what Vaaz could tell--though she is quite socially inept so her perceptions could be a bit skewed. Albeit... it would not be too much to say that Vaaz found that curious.
Feeling more than little socially awkward at the moment, Vaaz simply stood quiet as a mouse awaiting for the Tres Espada.
“tch, Siddown!” Mila-Rose said gruffly, then pointed to a spot on the couch, “Mistress Halibel might be a bit, so re-fucking-lax,” she said, and she still wore that predatory smile.
Mila-Rose wasn't sure what to make of this one. This Vaaz who wanted to speak with their mistress. Everyone seemed to want to speak with their mistress sooner or later, and it occurred to her that her mistress was popular, and probably a contender to rule Hueco Mundo if it ever came down to it, but she never really knew -why-... well, she knew why in general, but there was more to it, and she never really knew that more to it part. She wanted to know, maybe. Perhaps be protective of the kinship they have?
On the other hand, this Vaaz was nice to look at, so she was tolerable. As much as she'd never admit it, staring at her companions tended to get boring since their level of endowment kinda sucked. Well, save her mistress' own, and her own. In any event, she figured the company couldn't hurt. Maybe she could get some intel on this Arrancar.
The more she thought of it, she wondered when was the last time a female ever approached their lil' clique? 'bout damn time someone did. Not that they were seeking new members, or anything, but hey, more female companionship kicks ass! Yeah!
Of course she knew that Vaaz was an Espada once. Primavaron, or however the hell you spelled it now? New 004? Shit, ever since the winter war, ranks were all screwed up. Familiarity, and solidarity became a lot nicer to have. That dumbass human, Orihime helped put that into perspective when she saved their collective asses. It kinda put humans less on the shit-list.
As these thoughts rolled about in her head, she simply kept a watch over Vaaz as if she looked like something good to eat. Generally pretty cool.
“tch, Siddown! Mistress Halibel might be a bit, so re-fucking-lax,”
The former Cuatro tilted her head a little with a furrowed brow once again in response to the mocha complexedion fraccion. Vaaz glanced about for a moment trying to decide where to find a stop to sit, and finding an open comfort chair, she wandered on over and took a seat nice and proper like.
Naturally being socially awkward Vaaz did not know how to carry herself, and even while she had an upright posture as she sat, she wondered if she should maintain it. As Mila-Rose gazed at her with her as though Vaaz were prey, Vaaz in return stared right back at her with her unblinking eyes--though with a perplexed look in them.
A thought occurred to her though, and while it was not one of the questions she had for Hallibel, perhaps one of the two present fraccion may have the answer. With her soft-spoken tone of voice, the former Espada inquired, "What kept all of you together...?"
She clarified a little by stating further as she pensively stared off, "For a long time I watched groups of Hollows deconstruct into struggles for who would devour the other last for the sake of power in hopes to evolve. I even took advantage of several such groups as a lowly Hollow desperately seeking to achieve the same thing as they did... But there was a line the three of your did not cross while in the company of your mistress... Why...? What stopped you?... Was it in the sense that more can be achieved together than alone? Or was it something else?"
By the time Vaaz sat down, Sun-Sun slid in it seemed, absurdly graceful in her movements, carrying a tray with a tea pot, and sweet cakes on it. She sat it down on the table that every seat in the room could easily access, as if it were some equivalent to a human living room … which it was, frankly.
“Help yourself,” Sun-Sun said kindly to Vaaz, mostly, but Mila-Rose was included. She poured them drinks, then settled into a chair opposite to Vaaz with a cake. She had heard the question, and took it upon herself to provide the information.
“As to your question,” Sun-Sun added, “You are partly correct. It was a pack mentality that lead us to become a group, but it was not the only reason,” she sipped her tea gently, and daintily, the cup supported with both sleeve covered hands before she continued, “Unlike many of the brutish Arrancar, our mistress wanted to protect us, and teach us to protect each-other as we were women, and few and far in between. It goes without saying that life in Hueco Mundo is not necessarily kind to women due to the nature of most males,” she said frankly. “It was that goal that helped shape us into whom we are,” she sipped her tea softly, “Further, not only did she have the drive to see us as mutual protectors, she had the charisma, and most importantly, the power to accomplish this. Short of a strong arrancar, she, as one of the rare Vasto Lorde, had few rivals. Such a beautiful altruism, and the means to see it through made it difficult to see it through,” she spoke from the heart, frankly, then chewed down a snack cake.
“Mhm,” Mila-Rose added, while she abstained from the rather froo-froo meal, “She wanted to cultivate us, and see us become stronger. I kinda liked that, not that I needed the help, ” she smiled a bit. The smile, this time, was more nostalgic, and sweeter. The smile didn't last, though, as she coughed into her fist, then decided to chew on a snack cake in the hopes no one noticed.
Mila-Rose cleared her throat, then continued, “Mistress Halibel even set the example, having saved some of us before. Especially Apache, though she loathes it brought up,” she smirks a bit, “She's a rare gem in these harsh sands. Or was, before she, and Nel showed arrancar, and hollows it was alright to truly give a damn about more than yourself.”
Sun-Sun interjected, “Though I loathe to admit it, Apache saved us, and our mistress towards the end of the battle in Karakura with Aizen. She found the human healing specialist, and convinced her to aid us as we were dying thanks to the Captain Commander of the Shinigami. The cohesion we have is unbreakable, and I can't imagine anything better.”
Perhaps the way they spoke of their mistress, there was something else to it, but they didn't speak further of it. For them to do so might require more prying.
Mila-Rose muttered something, barely audible about the cakes being too dry as she took up the tea for a sip.
Sun-Sun shot a barely audible “gorilla” at Mila-Rose then sipped her tea as she seemed offended.
Vaaz listened intentively to the lovely, serpentine fraccion of Halibel's, and much of it was contrary to what were Vaaz's conclusions within the same situations. As her own name implies, Vaaz's own methods for survival in Hueco Mundo was much like that of a crow. Being that of a trickster, scavanger--taking advantage of situations that played out before her, or picking off that which she knew she could defeat. Though, contrary to her own name--she was solitary, she was always worried that she too would be picked off as she has done with others while her back was turned.
Perhaps that was a larger part of the problem than she realized... A crow without a flock is a pitiful thing. It may have made her strong to a point, but these days... she feels deminished. She could not help but feel that maybe part of her systemic problem, part of her losing her sense of self.
"So it's true... she's a Vasto Lorde, too...", Vaaz mumbled aloud to herself, "And she did it by doing everything opposite to what I believed...", this only made Vaaz's inward doubts grow in response to what she believed were the essential maxims of survival and growing in strength as a Hollow, "The shark was able to reach these conclusions... but the crow never did... extraordinary... The former Tres Espada has also reached the same understanding, too..."
As Vaaz accepted the tea offered to her, she simply held it cupped in both her hands resting them on her lap. She simply stared at it pensively as she softly spoke, "Why couldn't I see what they did...?"
Turning her gaze back to the two fraccion with her, she remarked with a measure of observation, "From the way you each speak of her... and each other... it sounds like love.", Maybe her observation is way off base, maybe her social retardation saw more than what was actually there--or maybe the social fool managed some genuine insight from watching their interactions and spoken words.
Vaaz glanced off again back to her inward ruminations as she mumbled quietly, "Maybe Halibel really does have the answers I'm looking--... and hoping for..."
Post by Rebel Raven on May 9, 2012 16:44:46 GMT -5
“Was,” Mila-Rose interjected, “She became an arrancar afterwards,” she corrected Vaaz. Vasto Lordes, as powerful as they were, weren't capable of wielding Zanpakutō.
“Mhmmm, Neliel,” Sun-Sun cooed out, “I would not mind it if she were to bend a knee to Halibel,” she couldn't help but say it with a predatory glimmer, and a slight lick of her lips. As refined as these women were compared to other arrancar, they, apparently, hadn't completely weeded out their darker sides. Of course she tried to hide this with a sip of her tea, and shove it aside so she didn't have to deal with it, then she cleared her throat, “Not everyone decides to share the burdens of battle, or seek long term companionship in Hueco Mundo. It's not easy to do, after all. Situations guide trains of thought differently,” she spoke calmly, then chewed a bite of cake.
“Love? …” Mila-Rose raised a brow, then snickered, restraining laughter, “I don't know if we have that sort of emotion in us,” she spoke frankly, “But lets just say that we all have something the others want, and exchange regularly,” she said, then laughed, “What that is is none of anyone's business but our own,” she added, punctuating that it shouldn't be delved into. At least not at this time.
About that time the door to the room opened, and Apache sauntered in, smiling a bit. She waltzed over to the couch, then hopped over it to plop down unceremoniously, guzzled some tea, and shoved a cake into her mouth. All of this made Sun-Sun flinch a bit, and Mila-Rose shake her head silently.
Just after, the moment Vaaz sought came, and Halibel walked in calmly, with her arms crossed just under her breasts. Her eyes went to Vaaz as she approached calmly, and cooly. “You wanted to speak to me?” She asked flatly. Despite the wisdom, and nicety she supposedly had, she didn't offer it in the tone of her voice. While she didn't offer any real respect, either, she didn't offer disrespect at the same time. If ever there were a neutral tone, she had it. Of course she knew of Vaaz, and her history, but it didn't seem to offer much impact in things.