[Log] 16.5
Characters: Aizen, Alyon
Summary: Alyon meets with the lord of Las Noches.
There were scarce few who could claim to have seen the private dwelling of he who would sit upon the empty throne in the sky. There were even those among his Espada who were forbidden entrance. In this way Aizen Sousuke fed the fears and worries of his lesser children. Yet it was not until today that the sanctuary of the Lord was opened to one so lowly.
From the foyer, the Lord's presence was immediately evident, though he had remained seated, the high back of his chair shielding him from view. On the small darkwood table at Aizen's right hand set a steaming teapot and a pair of cups, oddly delicate for a man who it almost seemed could crush them with only the slightest tremor of his reiatsu.
"Seika Alyon." The Lord rose, a courtesy he was loathe to offer, but manners came easily in the presence of one so unlike his other, more angry children. No. This one was not one of his children and despite a greeting so uncharacteristically polite, Aizen felt no pride for this woman. A creature of her own making, not blessed by the hand of the man who would be a god. Imperfect.
"I am pleased you would join me on such short notice."
Not willing to let this man wait, Alyon proceeds past Ulquiorra. Her steps are a practiced grace that gives her the illusion of gliding across the ground rather than walking. Her head bowing slightly, though her eyes remain open, memories slowly filtering back from a time when she held the title Espada. She approaches the door and reaches up with a gloved hand.
Pausing as she looks to the slightly trembling limb. Nervous? Excited? Perhaps she was scared? Her curiosity, and the tremble in her hand set aside as she enters the sacred place of Aizen. At his speaking his name, she bows fully and formerly, the act causing the spill of hair to grace the ground with the muted clack of bones in her hair. "Aizen-sama. You honor me with invitation and I would be loathe to disrespect you so by idling." Her voice is soft, almost soothing. Holding the bow for a moment before straightening again. Her eyes kept lowered as she remains where she is.
A swelling of...pride? This man has single handedly made her brothers and sisters great and leads them as a King. He may very well know that of the Priveron, Alyon gave up her rank with graceful pride that others had risen to power. She looks up after a moment, those ice pale eyes looking around the room.
Aizen offered no bow in return, nor even the slightest nod of his head. His rule was maintained through fear, for it was the nature of Hollows to fall in line behind he who had no fear. When in his presence, unable to defend themselves, nor even to do harm to their Lord, their confidence crumbled and left them responsive and obedient. Yet at first glance, Aizen knew this woman was far different from her peers.
"There is tea," he stated as he took his seat once more, but made no move to pour for his guest. Simply because she had been invited so politely did not mean she should expect Aizen to play the dutiful host. Gin was not there to pour. She would do in his place.
Nodding her head, she moves to the small stand of tea and with an elegant, practiced care of those long sleeves, she pours both cups full. Lifting one of the cups to place beside him, her head never rising and her eyes never daring to look. She smells of apple blossoms, some memory of her past having stayed with her. The Geisha's duties still strong, even after two hundred years, within her. Taking pride at something so simple as pouring tea.
Once done, she claims a cup for herself and returns to standing in front of him, the large desk between them. She is not put off by his cold demeanor. Quite the opposite, he is Lord and she merely Priveron. If he traded niceties with her, she would be suspicious. "Many thanks, Aizen-sama. I would not think to take up your time. I am not one of your children, yet you have greeted me well. I thank you for that. I am curious as to why you would send for a Priveron who's not stayed within Las Noches since your arrival, trusting my bold words do not offend you."
Such polite language was a thing he had not heard since he had fled Soul Society, leaving behind a society of manners and protocol for one of chaos. It was pleasant and put the Lord at ease so much as he would allow in the presence of those in his service. This was the type of company Aizen preferred to keep, yet another thing sacrificed to his great ambition. He took up his tea, eyes closing momentarily as he enjoyed first it's clean scent and then the heat that accompanied his first sip. Only once this was done did he indicate the other chair with the slightest motion of his free hand. "Sit."
Her question was answered first with a smile. Though he was quite able to wear a mask of friendliness, this smile was cold and sharp. "I wished to see if you would answer my summons. And you did so with a haste I had not expected." A second sip was taken from his cup, still elegant but very brief. "So now only one question remains."
The Lord's gaze fixed itself upon her, heavy in its judgement and sharp enough to pierce even the most steadfast of souls. "Why is it you rushed to answer the summons of a man who stripped you of rank and dignity?"
She sits smoothly, though she prefers the kneeling mats and too, delicately sips the tea. Glancing up as he admits to seeing just if she would come, and how quickly. Black lips smiling a bit as the cup rests easily in silk covered fingers. "Ulquiorra-sama asked me much the same. I was proud to become Priveron, Aizen-sama." She lets that quite strange statement hang in the air before taking another sip of the tea before continuing.
"Long have the Arrancar been around, but we were of the most powerful. When you came and gave great power to others...we climbed higher. You've brought them greatness and strengthened us all by your presence alone. When other grew above us in power, I was happy. The Arrancar are my family, though I think I'm the only one who claims such a thing. To see them become great is my wish. I would give you my rank as Priveron if it meant that we grew stronger." Considering the cup in her hands before she looks up at him.
"You did not take my dignity when you created the new Espada, Aizen-sama. You gave me pride in my brothers and sisters that had attained such wonderful power."
"Such selfless humility in an arrancar is a rare thing." A thing thought impossible, if Aizen were to be perfectly honest. Hollows were the embodiment of negative emotion, the pain, longing, and suffering of a human soul driven beyond the brink of sanity. Hollows were born from fear and though this woman expressed such feelings of pride and understanding, beneath it all he was sure there must be something. A Geisha, after all, was if nothing else, a performer, her true face known only to herself.
"I wonder, then, if you would be so inclined to furthering the interests of your brothers and sisters." Of course, their interests were to pave the way for Aizen's success. The success of a man who would discard them all in a single breath should it serve him best. "A woman of your particular talents could be of some use. You seem quite willing to serve."
"It is not selfless humility. If my ambition were to only lie in me, then I would have long ago been failed by it. I know that I cannot grow in power. A child would be better in battle, if such a battle was measured by attack. My fans are incapable of such a thing, but to defend? That is where my power lies." It is known that Seika Alyon was indeed difficult to lay low in battle because of he ability to cast aside attacks. "Since my mask shattered, I've aided my brethren by defending them in combat."
She watches him a moment, "If you are asking me to offer my power to you, then you already know that I will accept. If you've use of me, then I will gladly remain under your command." She takes another slow sip of the tea, enjoying the flavor. "Such is my way, and none other." Arrancar were individuals, after all. Though their purposes seemed to point in the same direction. Alyon has simply seen that they share the same goals and is humble enough to know that she can never become truly feared. She can help the others become so, however.
Aizen says, "I'm sorry, my mom called. I'm finishing up my pose now."
Alyon says, "No worries. :)"
"Battles are not limited to those fought at the point of a sword." Those, the most crude of battles, were best left to those who lacked the ability to do battle otherwise. "Do not speak so lowly of yourself." It was difficult to speculate if this humility were something sincere or yet another manifestation of a geisha's illusions. After all, was it not their nature to offer humble replies whether they believed such or not?
With these thoughts in mind, Aizen pressed no further in his attempts to crack her impenetrable formality. Instead, he pushed forward. "But whatever the case may be, your service in Las Noches would be most welcome."
Aizen is so sorry... was totally thrown off focus. I'll get my focus back.
Alyon says, "Hey! It's not a problem at all."
"True, a clear mind and the ability to guide a battle is just as important." She considers Aizen for a moment before smiling as he mentions her speaking low of herself, "My fans are yours to guide as you see fit, Aizen-sama. You bring me honor with such invitation. I can only hope that I am able to further the goals at hand." Bowing her head before she sets the empty cup beside her, her sleeve covered hands folding demurely in her lap.
Whether her formalities were false or genuine is difficult to tell. Her eyes remain lowered, unseen, and the makeup masks any subtle change of expression. Her body gives little away, she's about as easy to read as Ulquiorra. She keeps her thoughts quiet in her mind, for now. Though she has much to think about now.
Ulquiorra he knew well. Though his trusted Espada revealed little, Aizen could read him as easily as he had once read his vulnerable former lieutenant. But it had taken time. Time he had not yet had with this new child.
"Ulquiorra will show you to your room if you are so inclined to stay within my walls." Las Noches no longer belonged to the arrancar who had once ruled its vast halls. "Though I can only guess how your fellows might receive you." The Lord laughed, though there was little humor in his tone. He held no expectations that such simple words would unsettle her. Indeed, there seemed to be no way to crack that polished exterior.
A gentleman might have stood in order to see her out, but Aizen was not inclined to show such respect for one so far beneath him. Instead, he simply set aside his own cup, a subtle frown playing over strong features. Tea grew cold far too quickly in the eternal night of Hueco Mundo. Yet another sacrifice he had made in the pursuit of his throne.
She looks up as he sets the cup aside, smiling a bit as she thinks she knows why. She's long grown accustomed to drinking tea quickly while it was still hot rather than endure the bitterness of it being cold. "I would be honored to once more reside in Las Noches. As for my brethren...I have never been well received by them." An ghost of a sad smile on her lips as she lowers her eyes again, "Because my abilities in combat are limited to defence only, most see me as weak since they know that I can never cut them down. Aside from the fact that I do not flaunt so openly what I am, I am Priveron compared to Espada. But I am a patient woman."
She slowly rises, "I have wasted too much of your precious tim, Aizen-sama. I could not bear wasting more. Perhaps when your goals are realized you'll be able to enjoy a slower cup of tea. Here, you must drink quickly before it chills." Perceptive as she bows fully and waits for dismissal.
Those final words prompted the barest hint of a smile on the Lord's face, though it faded just as quickly. Such sentiments were well received, though he had yet to place his full trust in this mysterious woman. For that reason, he offered no reply and nearly no indication that her words pleased him, if only for the fact that she appreciated the same simple pleasure as he. So few of her fellows had taken a liking to tea, though they pretended for fear of Aizen's wrath. Indeed, Ulquiorra was the only one of his children that had managed to keep his dislike of tea quite well hidden... if it existed at all.
"If you require anything, Ulquiorra will see to it." He often wondered if his trusted servant resented the chores Aizen placed upon him. Still, there were none better suited to the task than he. So few would treat this newcomer with the indifference Ulquiorra possessed.
He did not thank her for her loyalty or her acceptance of his proposal. He did not wish her a pleasant evening. Enough words had been wasted on her for one evening. "Go."
Summary: Alyon meets with the lord of Las Noches.
There were scarce few who could claim to have seen the private dwelling of he who would sit upon the empty throne in the sky. There were even those among his Espada who were forbidden entrance. In this way Aizen Sousuke fed the fears and worries of his lesser children. Yet it was not until today that the sanctuary of the Lord was opened to one so lowly.
From the foyer, the Lord's presence was immediately evident, though he had remained seated, the high back of his chair shielding him from view. On the small darkwood table at Aizen's right hand set a steaming teapot and a pair of cups, oddly delicate for a man who it almost seemed could crush them with only the slightest tremor of his reiatsu.
"Seika Alyon." The Lord rose, a courtesy he was loathe to offer, but manners came easily in the presence of one so unlike his other, more angry children. No. This one was not one of his children and despite a greeting so uncharacteristically polite, Aizen felt no pride for this woman. A creature of her own making, not blessed by the hand of the man who would be a god. Imperfect.
"I am pleased you would join me on such short notice."
Not willing to let this man wait, Alyon proceeds past Ulquiorra. Her steps are a practiced grace that gives her the illusion of gliding across the ground rather than walking. Her head bowing slightly, though her eyes remain open, memories slowly filtering back from a time when she held the title Espada. She approaches the door and reaches up with a gloved hand.
Pausing as she looks to the slightly trembling limb. Nervous? Excited? Perhaps she was scared? Her curiosity, and the tremble in her hand set aside as she enters the sacred place of Aizen. At his speaking his name, she bows fully and formerly, the act causing the spill of hair to grace the ground with the muted clack of bones in her hair. "Aizen-sama. You honor me with invitation and I would be loathe to disrespect you so by idling." Her voice is soft, almost soothing. Holding the bow for a moment before straightening again. Her eyes kept lowered as she remains where she is.
A swelling of...pride? This man has single handedly made her brothers and sisters great and leads them as a King. He may very well know that of the Priveron, Alyon gave up her rank with graceful pride that others had risen to power. She looks up after a moment, those ice pale eyes looking around the room.
Aizen offered no bow in return, nor even the slightest nod of his head. His rule was maintained through fear, for it was the nature of Hollows to fall in line behind he who had no fear. When in his presence, unable to defend themselves, nor even to do harm to their Lord, their confidence crumbled and left them responsive and obedient. Yet at first glance, Aizen knew this woman was far different from her peers.
"There is tea," he stated as he took his seat once more, but made no move to pour for his guest. Simply because she had been invited so politely did not mean she should expect Aizen to play the dutiful host. Gin was not there to pour. She would do in his place.
Nodding her head, she moves to the small stand of tea and with an elegant, practiced care of those long sleeves, she pours both cups full. Lifting one of the cups to place beside him, her head never rising and her eyes never daring to look. She smells of apple blossoms, some memory of her past having stayed with her. The Geisha's duties still strong, even after two hundred years, within her. Taking pride at something so simple as pouring tea.
Once done, she claims a cup for herself and returns to standing in front of him, the large desk between them. She is not put off by his cold demeanor. Quite the opposite, he is Lord and she merely Priveron. If he traded niceties with her, she would be suspicious. "Many thanks, Aizen-sama. I would not think to take up your time. I am not one of your children, yet you have greeted me well. I thank you for that. I am curious as to why you would send for a Priveron who's not stayed within Las Noches since your arrival, trusting my bold words do not offend you."
Such polite language was a thing he had not heard since he had fled Soul Society, leaving behind a society of manners and protocol for one of chaos. It was pleasant and put the Lord at ease so much as he would allow in the presence of those in his service. This was the type of company Aizen preferred to keep, yet another thing sacrificed to his great ambition. He took up his tea, eyes closing momentarily as he enjoyed first it's clean scent and then the heat that accompanied his first sip. Only once this was done did he indicate the other chair with the slightest motion of his free hand. "Sit."
Her question was answered first with a smile. Though he was quite able to wear a mask of friendliness, this smile was cold and sharp. "I wished to see if you would answer my summons. And you did so with a haste I had not expected." A second sip was taken from his cup, still elegant but very brief. "So now only one question remains."
The Lord's gaze fixed itself upon her, heavy in its judgement and sharp enough to pierce even the most steadfast of souls. "Why is it you rushed to answer the summons of a man who stripped you of rank and dignity?"
She sits smoothly, though she prefers the kneeling mats and too, delicately sips the tea. Glancing up as he admits to seeing just if she would come, and how quickly. Black lips smiling a bit as the cup rests easily in silk covered fingers. "Ulquiorra-sama asked me much the same. I was proud to become Priveron, Aizen-sama." She lets that quite strange statement hang in the air before taking another sip of the tea before continuing.
"Long have the Arrancar been around, but we were of the most powerful. When you came and gave great power to others...we climbed higher. You've brought them greatness and strengthened us all by your presence alone. When other grew above us in power, I was happy. The Arrancar are my family, though I think I'm the only one who claims such a thing. To see them become great is my wish. I would give you my rank as Priveron if it meant that we grew stronger." Considering the cup in her hands before she looks up at him.
"You did not take my dignity when you created the new Espada, Aizen-sama. You gave me pride in my brothers and sisters that had attained such wonderful power."
"Such selfless humility in an arrancar is a rare thing." A thing thought impossible, if Aizen were to be perfectly honest. Hollows were the embodiment of negative emotion, the pain, longing, and suffering of a human soul driven beyond the brink of sanity. Hollows were born from fear and though this woman expressed such feelings of pride and understanding, beneath it all he was sure there must be something. A Geisha, after all, was if nothing else, a performer, her true face known only to herself.
"I wonder, then, if you would be so inclined to furthering the interests of your brothers and sisters." Of course, their interests were to pave the way for Aizen's success. The success of a man who would discard them all in a single breath should it serve him best. "A woman of your particular talents could be of some use. You seem quite willing to serve."
"It is not selfless humility. If my ambition were to only lie in me, then I would have long ago been failed by it. I know that I cannot grow in power. A child would be better in battle, if such a battle was measured by attack. My fans are incapable of such a thing, but to defend? That is where my power lies." It is known that Seika Alyon was indeed difficult to lay low in battle because of he ability to cast aside attacks. "Since my mask shattered, I've aided my brethren by defending them in combat."
She watches him a moment, "If you are asking me to offer my power to you, then you already know that I will accept. If you've use of me, then I will gladly remain under your command." She takes another slow sip of the tea, enjoying the flavor. "Such is my way, and none other." Arrancar were individuals, after all. Though their purposes seemed to point in the same direction. Alyon has simply seen that they share the same goals and is humble enough to know that she can never become truly feared. She can help the others become so, however.
Aizen says, "I'm sorry, my mom called. I'm finishing up my pose now."
Alyon says, "No worries. :)"
"Battles are not limited to those fought at the point of a sword." Those, the most crude of battles, were best left to those who lacked the ability to do battle otherwise. "Do not speak so lowly of yourself." It was difficult to speculate if this humility were something sincere or yet another manifestation of a geisha's illusions. After all, was it not their nature to offer humble replies whether they believed such or not?
With these thoughts in mind, Aizen pressed no further in his attempts to crack her impenetrable formality. Instead, he pushed forward. "But whatever the case may be, your service in Las Noches would be most welcome."
Aizen is so sorry... was totally thrown off focus. I'll get my focus back.
Alyon says, "Hey! It's not a problem at all."
"True, a clear mind and the ability to guide a battle is just as important." She considers Aizen for a moment before smiling as he mentions her speaking low of herself, "My fans are yours to guide as you see fit, Aizen-sama. You bring me honor with such invitation. I can only hope that I am able to further the goals at hand." Bowing her head before she sets the empty cup beside her, her sleeve covered hands folding demurely in her lap.
Whether her formalities were false or genuine is difficult to tell. Her eyes remain lowered, unseen, and the makeup masks any subtle change of expression. Her body gives little away, she's about as easy to read as Ulquiorra. She keeps her thoughts quiet in her mind, for now. Though she has much to think about now.
Ulquiorra he knew well. Though his trusted Espada revealed little, Aizen could read him as easily as he had once read his vulnerable former lieutenant. But it had taken time. Time he had not yet had with this new child.
"Ulquiorra will show you to your room if you are so inclined to stay within my walls." Las Noches no longer belonged to the arrancar who had once ruled its vast halls. "Though I can only guess how your fellows might receive you." The Lord laughed, though there was little humor in his tone. He held no expectations that such simple words would unsettle her. Indeed, there seemed to be no way to crack that polished exterior.
A gentleman might have stood in order to see her out, but Aizen was not inclined to show such respect for one so far beneath him. Instead, he simply set aside his own cup, a subtle frown playing over strong features. Tea grew cold far too quickly in the eternal night of Hueco Mundo. Yet another sacrifice he had made in the pursuit of his throne.
She looks up as he sets the cup aside, smiling a bit as she thinks she knows why. She's long grown accustomed to drinking tea quickly while it was still hot rather than endure the bitterness of it being cold. "I would be honored to once more reside in Las Noches. As for my brethren...I have never been well received by them." An ghost of a sad smile on her lips as she lowers her eyes again, "Because my abilities in combat are limited to defence only, most see me as weak since they know that I can never cut them down. Aside from the fact that I do not flaunt so openly what I am, I am Priveron compared to Espada. But I am a patient woman."
She slowly rises, "I have wasted too much of your precious tim, Aizen-sama. I could not bear wasting more. Perhaps when your goals are realized you'll be able to enjoy a slower cup of tea. Here, you must drink quickly before it chills." Perceptive as she bows fully and waits for dismissal.
Those final words prompted the barest hint of a smile on the Lord's face, though it faded just as quickly. Such sentiments were well received, though he had yet to place his full trust in this mysterious woman. For that reason, he offered no reply and nearly no indication that her words pleased him, if only for the fact that she appreciated the same simple pleasure as he. So few of her fellows had taken a liking to tea, though they pretended for fear of Aizen's wrath. Indeed, Ulquiorra was the only one of his children that had managed to keep his dislike of tea quite well hidden... if it existed at all.
"If you require anything, Ulquiorra will see to it." He often wondered if his trusted servant resented the chores Aizen placed upon him. Still, there were none better suited to the task than he. So few would treat this newcomer with the indifference Ulquiorra possessed.
He did not thank her for her loyalty or her acceptance of his proposal. He did not wish her a pleasant evening. Enough words had been wasted on her for one evening. "Go."