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.
Aizen had called a meeting as soon as they had returned to Las Noches. They had lost Nnoitra in the battle. Again. But the number of times his soldiers fell made no difference, as Aizen had just brought the sexist Arrancar back to live as soon as they arrived.
He was positive the Seretei would be preparing a hunt for the other swords by now, and they would likely find a few. But none of that mattered, because as long as Aizen could take the one from right in front of their faces, their moral would be shattered.
He smiled smugly, sitting in his seat at the head of the table, and drinking the tea Gin had given him. Gin himself stood a few feet behind him, quietly smiling that sadistic smile.
Ichimaru Gin shifted his head slightly, gaze sweeping all those who had gathered in the hall of Aizen's throne. In his opinion, they weren't the best of soldiers, and he really didn't believe that the new group of Espada came anywhere near to matching up with the former group of elites.
Still, it didn't make his smile dim at all. Nothing was ever able to do that.
"Not a very lively group, eh Captain?" There was no real sarcasm in his cheerful words, but it was ironic... since some of them were undead.
To be honest, the beings that had risen from the ground did not look too much like what zombies were though to look like. Take Halibel's fraccion for example, they looked as lively as usual... yet they had been dead for some time now.
"Mmmmm... where is Ulquiorra, I wonder..." Gin tapped his chin, obviously noticing the absence of the particularly glum Espada. One would think that the man would reappear at the very sound of Aizen's return. "Oh well..."
------------------------------
Xiin shifted on his feet, exchanging weight from one of his legs to another. He bore a rather impatient look on his face as he waited for the leader to speak, knowing better than to speak out of place.
The pain-crazed freak took a moment to look about the room, looking at the others who had gathered. It was not only the 10 espada, but many of the lower class Arrancar and Adjuchas.
"Pathetic." He muttered under his breath before turning his gaze back to their messiah.
Standing not far from Aizen and Gin in silence is the veteran Vizard, Ai Kyouraku, her elder sister's killer, traitor to all of Seireitei, and betrayer of the only friend she had left - Kyra Ronin - Ai fulfilled each of these labels. Aizen was right in his words over a century ago, it is not the betrayal you see coming that hurts the most - it is the one you do not see, and no one ever really suspected hers. Dressed in the attire more in line with the rest of Aizen's followers, her hakama no longer red but white, her old worn 8th Division Captain's haori she once wore around her waist - now long discarded as she wears a plain white one with no distinguishing features draped over her shoulders as she carried her zatoichi zanpakuto at her side in her left hand.
The strength of her presence and reiatsu surpassing the newly gathered Espada, while nearly rivaling some of the higher echelons of the previous Espada before them. The veteran Vizard worried little about what opposition she had from them, even Tousen she worried little about - however, Aizen and Gin were another matter entirely. The questioning of why Ai chose to join Aizen is likely either superfluous or confusing to most, but from her perspective one may as well ask why an Espada serves Aizen. One can run down the laundry of reasoning and each in one form or another would fit Ai's reasoning and logic behind her choice. Three centuries of her soul being joined with that of a Hollow - her Hollow-self, naturally her point of view would alter from that of a Shinigami - but given the disorderly and flippant nature she adopted over the years, in time she found herself more connected and sympathizing for her Hollow-kind than Shinigami-kind. How she came to join him is another detail best left explored for another time.
Vaaz, on the other hand, took her seat amongst the current Espada forged by Gin as their 4th Espada. She held a nonchalance to the whole affair, and so long as Gin served Aizen - she in turn would serve Aizen as well, it was that linear and simple of choice. Her only reasoning for following Gin in the first place is feeling indebted to him for granting her, her current power. Outside of that her loyalty to anyone is none, as she is no zealot, nor rebel really as she simply just is. Her manner as she sat there was much like a young girl, playfully kicking her feet under her chair with a faint smile and pensive gaze staring off into nothing.
Gillroy was sitting in his current seat, as the decima espada. His grey silky hair danced as he shook it. It had grown out since it got burned off by his fraccion. Were was Jericho at that? He must be running late, Gillroy thought to himself. He wore an open jacket that revealed his muscular upper and lower body. It made up for his simpy arms. He preffered to kick anyways, it was just more painful and pleasing. Aizen had assembled the espada, but along with the espada, he had brought "other" arrancar. Jericho should have been here by now. None the less, the decima sat patiently waiting for the Lord of Hueco Mundo. The messiah, as others would say. Gillroy was trained under Master Tallinn, who had sipped tea with the Lord a few times. He decribed the "messiah" as a calm, but ferocious leader. A paradox, that only could be true.
He could tell the ninth espada was not all too patient. He probably would have preffered to continue to invasion and kill more shinigami. Gillroy did not judge his almighty master's decision but all the arrancar chatter kind of pissed him off. They were supposed to be quiet before and during Aizen's talk. The expression is, they are digging thier own graves. Gillroy never had talked to Gin, much. Gin had appointed him the decima but the two never really exchanged words. He saw an arrancar pointing at the espada. Idiots. This was not a time to play around, this wasn't a damn game. Gillroy, truely, was just eager for the next invasion. Gillroy had seen Nnoitra in battle. More importantly, he saw the dead in battle. What the hell was going on? If Yammy was reviven, Gillroy would have the bloody job of telling him who the new tenth espada was. He would have to deal with it. He had his chance, and failed. It was time for the new espada to show thier true power.
So.... this is the Palace of Eternal Night. The heartbeats of pale princes file through here, and now I too walk her hoary corridors and cadaverous halls. I can feel the pulse of the high and mighty powers that have gathered. For the longest time have I desired to crack the secret of this monumental fortress, have I wondered just what this 'messiah' intends to do. I cannot deify him, but he brooks my brethrens dreams, and it is not every day that the doors of this stronghold are wide open.
Passing under the towering arch, Seimenk entered the collosal hall, dressed in his solemn priestly attire. As spacious as it was, he fathomed it could have verilly held all of the Arrancar in the White Dersert. That was one of the things he could not understand, except to be impressive, what was the purpose in all this space? Even with as many vassals as Aizen had, the place would always seem empty. Perhaps this was always his intention- to prepare for this night, and the night after, when all the denziens of Hueco Mundo were in his court. Before him sat only some of the Espada, their full number yet to assemble. And there on the far side of the room, in the great seat, was Sosuke Aizen, and by his side, his right and left hands Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tousen. And a woman too, a Shinigami whom he recognized from the walk with Tia Halibel and Grimmjow. What had she done to be worthy of being by his side? Did merely being a Shinigami who had joined him, make one a member of the 'master' race? Or did he just want of woman of his own kind, the females of Hollowkind but lowly creatures far beneath him?
Is this...it? Is that really him?
He was neither regal nor stately, he was neither fearsome nor terrifying, he inspired neither awe nor ardor. He was not these things, nor any of the things so many stories had made him out to be. Neither were his associates, had he not known otherwise, he would have said the whole notion of them being Lords of Las Noches was a sham or a lie. But his senses did not lie. Even at his resting reiatsu, there was no mistake, Aizen was the most powerful one in the room. He did not doubt that were the room full, he could execute all guests within by is own hand. But even admitting that, he was still no god.
He stopped, standing stock still, looking Aizen right in the eye from the other side of the room. With a thought, the solemn sable of his vestments bleached themselves not pure white, but a deliberate, muted charcoal gray. In truth they were made of no cloth, but his own weakly solidified reishi. It offered no protection, but allowed him to modify, repair, or replace his garb easily and effortlessly. He chose the color he did, because as Halibel had said, even if he had 'volunteered' to fight before, he served Aizen in no official capacity. Changing it to white, might be overstepping his bounds, as he was not accepted as a Numeros. In this way, he was like them, but indeed did not make himself out to be one of them when he was not accepted as such.
Bowing respectfully, he turned and walked to the right side of the room, the side on Aizen's left. He did not say anything, he had not traveled all this way to say anything, as if he could change Aizen's mind. He came to hear what this Shinigami 'savior' had to say. Rather than lean against a wall, he simply stood halfway between the wall and the long table where the Espada were seated -not daring to pass deeper in the room than the tables end, as if it marked an imaginary wall. That was the line of respect. He did not cross or come close to it, nor did he stand against the wall by the door and lower himself so. Those at the table would be the Espada. Those that would stand behind each of them would likely be their Fraccion. Those ahead of table and by Aizen, were more honored than the Espada.
There were no chairs, which didn't bother him. As long as he stood on earth or stone or anything like it he could stand in excess of fifteen hours. Although, he still preffered sitting. If he wanted a seat, he would normally make his own. However, he decided he did not wish to be accused of ruining Las Noches alabaster floors. Knowing the zealots in this room, he would be, even if it was obvious he could easily put the stone back.
Last Edit: Sept 1, 2009 20:58:32 GMT -5 by Seimenk
Stour stayed silent in his seat. There was no need for words... He didn't want to be here, he preferred places where the quiet didn't echo as it did in this room. He brought a hand up and brushed off the sand that had embedded itself on his shoulder. He stretched his arms behind him uncomfortably, and brought his chin to rest on his hand, looking bored, and staring at the table in front of him, waiting for the true discussion to begin. And knowing it would be louder than loud in here when it did..
Our bed becomes a grave before we blow ourselves away!
Scarpa followed behind Stour, dressed in his usual Espada Labcoat. Taking a standing position about 6-8ft behind his seat. He was Octava's only Fraccion and so he felt Nervous, and was visibly jitterry, his sharp teeth chattering a bit. And yet at the same time, he was excited! This was his first meeting as a Fraccion, and it was going to be a big one! The room had yet to fill, but he could feel everybody who was anybody was going to be here.
He was still kicking himself for being late to the party in Soul Society. A low growl rumbled from the Primera as he entered the meeting room. He missed out on getting rid of some Shinigami but at least he arrived in time to see the grand finale. The very thought of what he had the pleasure of witnessing caused the corners of his lips to curl.
Flanked by his two fraccion, he took his usual spot at the table. Well, usual spot when Aizen was around that is. His eyes narrowed slightly hinting at the annoyance he felt about the scheming bastard's return.
Sitting to the immediate right of Aizen, he leaned back and scanned the room. Grimmjow had to fight the sneer from forming on his face when his eyes passed Tousen. The only person he could think he hated as much as Aizen’s lacky was Ulquiorra. Or perhaps Ichigo but at least he wasn’t afraid to actually fight him.
Arja stared longingly at the mug of tea in Aizen’s hand as she stood by the wall behind Grimmjow. She was going to need that and more if she was going to stay awake through the meeting. It didn’t matter if it was about rocket science or something she was actually interested in. A formal gathering in an enclosed space with Aizen’s smooth voice telling them whatever it was he wanted to and she’d start to drift off. Perhaps Gin would talk more this time around. As creepy as she found the man, Arja couldn’t help but to find him mildly amusing. "Hrm, wonder if it’s too late to take bets on how long before Grimmjow snaps and storms out." She whispered to Lucia.
Nervousness went through Samyeru's body as he stood near the back wall. This being the first time he has ever been in Los Noches, and having the bad habit of making the worst first impressions, so he just stood as quiet as he could. It wasn't easy for him especially with all the Arrancar in one room. He had never smelled so many people at one time, it was intoxicating.
'So many smells, to much at one time.' He thought to himself. So Samyeru tried to concentrate on one smell and decided to do it with the cup of tea. His tea. The tea of the Shinigami who called us all her.He wanted to leave but knew if he made a move toward the door 'HE' would see him. Azian was by far the scariest person in this room, maybe of all of Hueco Mundo. What scared Samyeru the most about him, wasn't his reiastu, or even his mass of loyal Espada. No, it was his smile that scared Samyeru the most. That calm, causal smile that lured people in like a moth to the flame. A smile that could be trusted, cared for, or even loved. 'This was the smile he showed to Soul Society when he betrayed them. It will be the smile when he betrays us.'
Post by Shinigami Kyra on Sept 2, 2009 20:02:49 GMT -5
She entered, late as usual, licking her index finger as though she had just finished a tasty treat. She gave off a slight smile of embarrassment as she hastily made her way to her seat, her dark blue eyes traveling to the man known as Aizen. Gin had given her a seat as an Espada, but with the newly revived group of Arrancar, who knew how long her seat would last. Still, as long as she could obtain power by following he and Aizen... well, she'll just go along for the ride.
The songstress look around for a moment, then spotted a familiar face. With a rather childish smile, she made her way next to Vaaz, interlocking her arm with her as though they were the 'bestest of friends 4 life' or something like that. Those dark cobalt eyes did, however, spot a strange scene; someone whom she thought wouldn't really be making an appearance.
"Seimenk?" Kaiko's voice broke the soft silence and murmurs of the room, finding it odd that he would be here, despite the fact that he had attempted to gather a rebellion against the very man that now stood before them all. She gave a rather cocky gaze with a half-risen smirk as she leaned on the table over toward his direction. "I thought you'd be leading your own army by now..."
