[Log] 18 - Drive
Date: 09-10-08
Characters: Alyon, Ulquiorra
Summary: Ulquiorra comes across Alyon as she is preparing tea by her own methods.
The days she'd spent in Las Noches had been as secluded as her time spent in the White Desert. There was tension in the air and either the other Arrancar were too preoccupied, or they simply didn't approach out of distrust. In either event, the serene geisha kneels on the ground of the room. Her makeup is left off, leaving only pale skin and her own features so previously hidden. Her hair pulled back from her face, though stands have slipped forward. She's grinding u some sort of root in a shallow dish. Her sleeves pulled away from her arms to keep them from interfering. Slender fingers and arms bare as she hums to herself.
It's a mundane task, but she seems to find pleasure in preparing...whatever it is she's preparing. Those startlingly pale eyes focused on the task at hand. The fan removed from her obi and placed beside her on the floor.
It isn't too hard to find the woman. If not by her reiatsu, then by that foreign sound of a mortar and pestle. No one around this place did any work of their own work, or at least, nothing so mundane as grinding herbs. That is probably a foreign concept in itself since most arrancar don't make tea.
As usual, there is nothing to herald his arrival, but at the same time Ulquiorra does not mean to intentionally be so silent that he would be accused of sneaking about. He pauses some ways from the woman, watching, perhaps waiting for her acknowledgment rather than outright disturbing her task.
There's a pause in the grind as she looks over her shoulder and smiles a bit, "It seems that only you have any inclination to even approach, Ulquiorra-sama." She reaches up and releases the holds on her sleeves and takes a quick care to cover her wrists and hands before she continues. Her smile widening some, "Would you like to sample? I've never tried to make tea of black root, I'm not sure how it will turn out. I've also looked into procuring a plate to hold the heat of a fire so that Aizen-sama may enjoy tea longer." She lifts the bowl and inhales the aroma slowly before smiling some and looking back to him for a moment.
She sets the bowl aside and brushes off a few crumbled leaves into the mix, "Why have you come? I would not think Las Noches so dull that you seek my company for pleasure." Chuckling softly as she leans back and scents the bowl again, "Aroma is perfect, now I must see if the taste will hold." Glancing to him in curiosity to his answering her question. If he will at all.
Once acknowledged, he gives a nod in turn, making no immediate move to draw nearer, but after a moment he steps around to the side, just enough that he can glance at her work. He remains in his usual posture, appearing both stiff and yet at complete ease, his hands burrowed away in the deep pockets of his hakama, hardly a contrast to the whites of the room. Those green eyes are always intense though, and they settle upon Alyon for a moment before looking elsewhere.
"...I was curious as to how you were settling in. It does not appear that anyone's bothered you, at least," he notes, as there are no lingering presences that would have indicated otherwise.
She's well aware when Ulquiorra is looking at her. A blind man would know when the Arrancar fixes that piercing gaze upon him. It's not so terrifying, but it can be daunting. "I have settled well enough, and no...none have bothered to make themselves known to me, aside you and Aizen-sama. I cannot say I am surprised, however. I am merely Priveron..I doubt any think my presence will be long here."
She takes a fresh, clean cloth and carefully portions the ground root and leaves within it. Then carefully folding the cloth, "I have felt their presences, however. Some barbaric...others meek. It is quite a strange family gathered here beneath Aizen-sama's rule. But none can say that it is not powerful."
Ulquiorra inclines his head at the woman's observations. He closes his eyes, opening them again as he turns his head towards Alyon again, watching her silently. The female Privaron carries with her a presence that while not outright imposing, had quite a different feel to it. It had been the same way up upon the sandy hill where he had found her. A calm, one that could be soothing, but possibly just as deadly if one were not aware of what they were getting themselves into.
"It is quite a variety," the half-helmeted Espada agrees. "...but that none have come to harass a new face so far may be a good thing. They are always restless within these walls..."
"Perhaps it is boon that the Espada are so different. Were they all alike, there would be no contrast to power for the others. It is only in the presence of the Fifth Espada that you are seen as powerful, after all." She carefully ties the cloth. "For some, their purpose is only to show others their true power. For others it is to simply be powerful and give the rest a goal to try to attain. Were we all so similar, we'd have long died out." She sets the wrapped cloth into a pot with steam drifting from it's opening before she closes it again. She pauses for a moment and looks at him, meeting his gaze. "I trouble you, don't I, Ulquiorra-sama."
As expected, he meets her pale eyes unblinking. "You are different from most of the others here." Trouble him, she does not. She is a curious matter, however. "No, you do not trouble me," he says, sounding every bit certain of this. The only trouble she would be causing him would be his current task in watching her, really. He offers no more than that, and eventually he lets his eyes drift down to the tea that Alyon has set to prepare.
She smiles a bit and nods her head, "Yes, I am that. The Espada...have a wild sense to them, even you. Unpredictable and uncertain. Without Aizen-sama...you would scatter to the four winds with no real goal in your mind. He is your driving force. I have no such deep seated force. I am different because if tomorrow comes and Las Noches is in ruins with no leader...I would be able to easily recover." She pours out two cups carefully and sets one in Ulquiorra's direction. "Not to say I would not mourn him, but then, he is Father to all of you. Your creator. Without him none of you would exist. I wonder...with that in mind, how so many can only serve him because he is more powerful. I was grateful to my creator, when I lived...and showed her the beauty of death and took her into myself when I was made into a Hollow by her."
Talk of becoming, talk of being. The current Espada and most of the arrancar within Las Noches would have never been without Aizen. It is he that stepped up, that taught them to be fearless, he who said that if they followed him, they would never know fear nor pain again. Ulquiorra says nothing once again, only listens- one of the few of the fortress that would be accounted as a good listener. With the tea served, he stoops down to accept it, carefully holding the cup between his black-nailed fingers. At least their lord has taught them how to drink tea.
"He is a man who demands perfect loyalty, but not all give it. I think perhaps you do. You have a refined way of yourself, Ulquiorra-sama. I...am different, but not so much as you would think." She lifts the cup and closes her eyes as she sips and nods at the flavor, "I was bound to service in life and am so now in death. Only the environ has changed. That is what will always separate the Espada from the Priveron. We can adapt and have known much in our new lives. You have not. Of course, it is your strength as well." She falls a bit silent after speaking. Enjoying the tea, and enjoying having someone who is so skilled at listening. "It is a wonder...would Aizen-sama be able to mold something greater from the Priveron?"
Tea is taken silently, subtle sipping after lightly blowing off the steaming liquid. The Cuarta Espada makes no comment on the tea, but then he hardly makes any comment on things to begin with that it's probably expected.
It seems like a good several moments before Ulquiorra lifts his gaze from the cup in his hand to look back over at Alyon. He does not indulge her with an answer immediately, taking another sip before his black-rimmed lips part to speak. "...that is not only something to be decided by Aizen-sama himself, but would need the cooperation of the Privaron were he to consider such things," he says before resuming with sipping his tea.
It is a glimmer into perhaps her true purpose as she looks sidelong at him before smiling, "You must learn much from listening. Your silence craves the other speak. Then tell your Lord this; I've come to add my power to his and yours. Power draws all of our kind like moth to flame. Even those who cannot attain power hold a secret hope that it can be given...if we offer everything we are. Aizen-sama will have loyalty in me, even if it mean my death. But I would like to see if power can be obtained by a Priveron. Even if it is impossible...one must try. The day our kind stop evolving is when we turn back to what we were. I have lived for a long time, Ulquiorra...devolving back into a Hollow is the one thing I truly fear."
It is a fear that many had possessed, the most basic fear of an evolved Hollow, overcome by breaking their mask. This many have achieved by Aizen's power and the Hougyoku. Ulquiorra lowers the teacup, having emptied it. The look he casts at Alyon is that one that while remaining for the most part neutral, would almost appear to convey a smirk, but one would have to look for it in his eyes rather than his lips. It could easily be a trick of the light.
The raven-haired Espada sets the cup down and then straightens, his hand sliding into his pocket again. A nod, that is all he offers her in response; nods offer a broad response that can promise everything and nothing at the same time. There is the soft fluttering of coattails as Ulquiorra turns, and just as quietly as he had arrived, he leaves.
Characters: Alyon, Ulquiorra
Summary: Ulquiorra comes across Alyon as she is preparing tea by her own methods.
The days she'd spent in Las Noches had been as secluded as her time spent in the White Desert. There was tension in the air and either the other Arrancar were too preoccupied, or they simply didn't approach out of distrust. In either event, the serene geisha kneels on the ground of the room. Her makeup is left off, leaving only pale skin and her own features so previously hidden. Her hair pulled back from her face, though stands have slipped forward. She's grinding u some sort of root in a shallow dish. Her sleeves pulled away from her arms to keep them from interfering. Slender fingers and arms bare as she hums to herself.
It's a mundane task, but she seems to find pleasure in preparing...whatever it is she's preparing. Those startlingly pale eyes focused on the task at hand. The fan removed from her obi and placed beside her on the floor.
It isn't too hard to find the woman. If not by her reiatsu, then by that foreign sound of a mortar and pestle. No one around this place did any work of their own work, or at least, nothing so mundane as grinding herbs. That is probably a foreign concept in itself since most arrancar don't make tea.
As usual, there is nothing to herald his arrival, but at the same time Ulquiorra does not mean to intentionally be so silent that he would be accused of sneaking about. He pauses some ways from the woman, watching, perhaps waiting for her acknowledgment rather than outright disturbing her task.
There's a pause in the grind as she looks over her shoulder and smiles a bit, "It seems that only you have any inclination to even approach, Ulquiorra-sama." She reaches up and releases the holds on her sleeves and takes a quick care to cover her wrists and hands before she continues. Her smile widening some, "Would you like to sample? I've never tried to make tea of black root, I'm not sure how it will turn out. I've also looked into procuring a plate to hold the heat of a fire so that Aizen-sama may enjoy tea longer." She lifts the bowl and inhales the aroma slowly before smiling some and looking back to him for a moment.
She sets the bowl aside and brushes off a few crumbled leaves into the mix, "Why have you come? I would not think Las Noches so dull that you seek my company for pleasure." Chuckling softly as she leans back and scents the bowl again, "Aroma is perfect, now I must see if the taste will hold." Glancing to him in curiosity to his answering her question. If he will at all.
Once acknowledged, he gives a nod in turn, making no immediate move to draw nearer, but after a moment he steps around to the side, just enough that he can glance at her work. He remains in his usual posture, appearing both stiff and yet at complete ease, his hands burrowed away in the deep pockets of his hakama, hardly a contrast to the whites of the room. Those green eyes are always intense though, and they settle upon Alyon for a moment before looking elsewhere.
"...I was curious as to how you were settling in. It does not appear that anyone's bothered you, at least," he notes, as there are no lingering presences that would have indicated otherwise.
She's well aware when Ulquiorra is looking at her. A blind man would know when the Arrancar fixes that piercing gaze upon him. It's not so terrifying, but it can be daunting. "I have settled well enough, and no...none have bothered to make themselves known to me, aside you and Aizen-sama. I cannot say I am surprised, however. I am merely Priveron..I doubt any think my presence will be long here."
She takes a fresh, clean cloth and carefully portions the ground root and leaves within it. Then carefully folding the cloth, "I have felt their presences, however. Some barbaric...others meek. It is quite a strange family gathered here beneath Aizen-sama's rule. But none can say that it is not powerful."
Ulquiorra inclines his head at the woman's observations. He closes his eyes, opening them again as he turns his head towards Alyon again, watching her silently. The female Privaron carries with her a presence that while not outright imposing, had quite a different feel to it. It had been the same way up upon the sandy hill where he had found her. A calm, one that could be soothing, but possibly just as deadly if one were not aware of what they were getting themselves into.
"It is quite a variety," the half-helmeted Espada agrees. "...but that none have come to harass a new face so far may be a good thing. They are always restless within these walls..."
"Perhaps it is boon that the Espada are so different. Were they all alike, there would be no contrast to power for the others. It is only in the presence of the Fifth Espada that you are seen as powerful, after all." She carefully ties the cloth. "For some, their purpose is only to show others their true power. For others it is to simply be powerful and give the rest a goal to try to attain. Were we all so similar, we'd have long died out." She sets the wrapped cloth into a pot with steam drifting from it's opening before she closes it again. She pauses for a moment and looks at him, meeting his gaze. "I trouble you, don't I, Ulquiorra-sama."
As expected, he meets her pale eyes unblinking. "You are different from most of the others here." Trouble him, she does not. She is a curious matter, however. "No, you do not trouble me," he says, sounding every bit certain of this. The only trouble she would be causing him would be his current task in watching her, really. He offers no more than that, and eventually he lets his eyes drift down to the tea that Alyon has set to prepare.
She smiles a bit and nods her head, "Yes, I am that. The Espada...have a wild sense to them, even you. Unpredictable and uncertain. Without Aizen-sama...you would scatter to the four winds with no real goal in your mind. He is your driving force. I have no such deep seated force. I am different because if tomorrow comes and Las Noches is in ruins with no leader...I would be able to easily recover." She pours out two cups carefully and sets one in Ulquiorra's direction. "Not to say I would not mourn him, but then, he is Father to all of you. Your creator. Without him none of you would exist. I wonder...with that in mind, how so many can only serve him because he is more powerful. I was grateful to my creator, when I lived...and showed her the beauty of death and took her into myself when I was made into a Hollow by her."
Talk of becoming, talk of being. The current Espada and most of the arrancar within Las Noches would have never been without Aizen. It is he that stepped up, that taught them to be fearless, he who said that if they followed him, they would never know fear nor pain again. Ulquiorra says nothing once again, only listens- one of the few of the fortress that would be accounted as a good listener. With the tea served, he stoops down to accept it, carefully holding the cup between his black-nailed fingers. At least their lord has taught them how to drink tea.
"He is a man who demands perfect loyalty, but not all give it. I think perhaps you do. You have a refined way of yourself, Ulquiorra-sama. I...am different, but not so much as you would think." She lifts the cup and closes her eyes as she sips and nods at the flavor, "I was bound to service in life and am so now in death. Only the environ has changed. That is what will always separate the Espada from the Priveron. We can adapt and have known much in our new lives. You have not. Of course, it is your strength as well." She falls a bit silent after speaking. Enjoying the tea, and enjoying having someone who is so skilled at listening. "It is a wonder...would Aizen-sama be able to mold something greater from the Priveron?"
Tea is taken silently, subtle sipping after lightly blowing off the steaming liquid. The Cuarta Espada makes no comment on the tea, but then he hardly makes any comment on things to begin with that it's probably expected.
It seems like a good several moments before Ulquiorra lifts his gaze from the cup in his hand to look back over at Alyon. He does not indulge her with an answer immediately, taking another sip before his black-rimmed lips part to speak. "...that is not only something to be decided by Aizen-sama himself, but would need the cooperation of the Privaron were he to consider such things," he says before resuming with sipping his tea.
It is a glimmer into perhaps her true purpose as she looks sidelong at him before smiling, "You must learn much from listening. Your silence craves the other speak. Then tell your Lord this; I've come to add my power to his and yours. Power draws all of our kind like moth to flame. Even those who cannot attain power hold a secret hope that it can be given...if we offer everything we are. Aizen-sama will have loyalty in me, even if it mean my death. But I would like to see if power can be obtained by a Priveron. Even if it is impossible...one must try. The day our kind stop evolving is when we turn back to what we were. I have lived for a long time, Ulquiorra...devolving back into a Hollow is the one thing I truly fear."
It is a fear that many had possessed, the most basic fear of an evolved Hollow, overcome by breaking their mask. This many have achieved by Aizen's power and the Hougyoku. Ulquiorra lowers the teacup, having emptied it. The look he casts at Alyon is that one that while remaining for the most part neutral, would almost appear to convey a smirk, but one would have to look for it in his eyes rather than his lips. It could easily be a trick of the light.
The raven-haired Espada sets the cup down and then straightens, his hand sliding into his pocket again. A nod, that is all he offers her in response; nods offer a broad response that can promise everything and nothing at the same time. There is the soft fluttering of coattails as Ulquiorra turns, and just as quietly as he had arrived, he leaves.