Blood and Wine (Ken Shirogane/Daphne Devereaux)

[Ken Shirogane]

Nights in Japan were beautiful, whether that was more so now or in the past that Ken had come from he could hardly decide. He could recall seeing fireflies by the pond where his home once resided.

Coming back to Japan after several hundred years was nostalgic in the countryside. But the world had changed much in that time. The city of Tokyo was immense now, with towers that surged towards the sky reaching for the heavens, or so some might say. And even in the dead of night everything was neon bright, the noise never ceased as cars and people passed below the building that Ken was fighting on.

His opponent was a tricky thing, a hollow that was by far one the toughest he had ever faced so far. Which was not many given his limited experience, though luckily this was at least not his first encounter with one.

All the same, Ken was in a tight spot. The enemy in question looked like a large caped mosquito, a pointed mask extended from its face with a sharp point. Four arms each sharp as rapiers yet as flexible as any normal limb. Frankly speaking, Ken was outgunned here. Fighting an opponent that basically had four swords was already difficult, but the mosquito also made use of its nose to jab at him occasionally, so it was really more like five swords.

And taking it even further than that, that cape was incredibly annoying. While its body might be slim and fragile that cape was actually its wings, and surprisingly durable. It would often use those cape-like wings to deflect an attack before reposting with a jab from one or more of its swords. It could also fly of course, but it seemed content to duel Ken after realizing that it was far more lethal in close range than Ken currently was.

This thing was a step above the basic hollow for sure. Though it had yet to speak, he could see the amusement and blood lust in the creature's eyes. There was sentience in those beady black bulbs.

If not for the fact that it was toying with him Ken might have already died. It was purposefully avoiding vital spots, piercing Ken between them, puncturing his body over and over, prolonging the fight, and increasing the suffering that Ken was currently experiencing.

He bled from at least a dozen different cuts and holes punching through his body. It made him dizzy just thinking about how many times he had been cut or stabbed already. He was still on his feet, but he was slowing down. He knew eventually that this hollow would grow bored and kill him then. And if that happened the situation would only become more dangerous for everyone in the city, and the soul society too perhaps.

[Jessu]

I think that we are having a little fun now, no~?

Daphne Devereaux

I've I'd known it was an evening of strangling cats, I might have found better ways to spend an evening, no~? A soft breath seeming to escape the lips of a lass who's contrasting features only seemed to be highlighted all the more by moonlight she stepped out into after slipping free of a fire escape, Daphne Devereaux might have felt a little but rude for stepping outside from the nice little jazz club she had found in town before either the intermission or the set had been completed, but compared to the feeling in here ears it seemed to be the kinder option for everyone involved as well.
Can't even smoke in places like that… Certainly not enjoying the misplaced and tone deaf attempt to rebrand a classic and just as much seeming to loathe the craving she had for nicotine as well, as she plucked a small tube which mixed together glistening silver and blackness from her pocket and brought it to her lips she had to enjoy the fact that she was effectively slaying not one bird but two with her deed, and for that fact also managing to prevent herself from alienating any more of the friends she had been trying to create in her new venue as well. She always was efficient, right?

“Hm…?” The sensitivity of the lass also seeming to be present both in how she had found herself forced to flee the misguided warbling within and what followed as well, as Daphne sucked upon the electrically driven pipe within her grasp and allowed a fragranced breath of whiteness to fill the air the woman couldn't help but feel something prickling at her temples, and shifted her shoulders because of the tension it created.
Feels like… Perceptive in ways beyond her eyes and ears could provide and the sixth or whatever sense which lay within her catching the impression of conflict like the nose might have caught a whiff of smoke, training and experience had provided her with plenty of reason to feel concern as she felt something just as ominous as a rising plume seeming to sprout from something nearby, and for that reason seemed to furrow her brow and step forth as well.

I had better get moving! Clad in a deep pair of dark boots but certainly not so removed from the city life that she couldn't ignore the sharp heel which they carried to march forward and then break into a run as well, ill feeling seemed to prompt a worry within Miss Devereaux which she simply could not ignore, and so despite being away from her usual 'beat' she couldn't help but feel that this moment was likely ripe for intervention, or at least ready to entertain the prospect of it. After all, one couldn't always count on someone else to deal with the horrors of the world, could one~?

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	Event A Event B Event C

[Ken Shirogane]

Sparks flew as Ken swung his katana, the tip of the blade shrieking off the face of the mask as it jabbed at him.

He'd been waiting for this opportunity. It was his best chance to end the battle. Steadily the monster had been growing relaxed and confidant all the while trying to bleed Ken out. But this was the first mistake the monster had made.

Jabbing at Ken with the nose of that mask, he'd partially deflected the blow, only lightly cutting at his hip before shifting the blade until he got the tip into the eyehole of the monster, making a single quick efficient cut that took out the left eye of the hollow.

In a flash it was gone, standing back ten feet from where Ken was, one hand covering the now bleeding eye that had been taken from it. "Damn you, my eye!" It cried in a high screeching voice, but it sounded masculine. Clearly pissed off at the loss of its eyes, but frankly, it was less than Ken had hoped to do. He'd been hoping to drive the tip of his blade deeper into the face beneath the mask, or perhaps to give that mask a proper cut, but both had failed. Instead only taking the eye. Which could prove vital, but likely had only just shortened the amount of time this creature was willing to keep Ken alive.

His breathing was ragged, and he slumped to the ground, on one knee with his blade sinking into the roof. "Damn, you are annoyingly fast." He grunted simply, not having a whole lot of breath to spare right now. Ken had always been pretty quick himself, but this thing was on another level.

"Well you won't have to deal with me too much longer, little shinigami." It replied with hatred in it's voice, lifting all four arms up once more, and making a casual yet cautious final approach towards Ken. It intended to end things now, it intended to barrage Ken with an endless barrage of stabs until he was good and dead.

[Jessu]

I think that we are having a little fun now, no~?

Daphne Devereaux

Good grace, the air is thick with… Needing little in the way of signposting as she approached the area which seemed to be exuding animosity just as thickly as any kind of spiritual pressure, though she was already beginning to pant from her run Daphne couldn’t help but break more and more into a sprint the closer that she could, and ignored the head tilting looks she seemed to draw from the people she passed as the looked toward her and the worry she wore so plainly upon her face.
Death? No one other than her and whatever or whomever was giving off this hostility even being aware of the way in which the air was being poisoned by it, the nearer she got the more the blue eyed beauty seemed to sense the desire for devastation inherent in whatever mess which was causing this reaction, and as she neared one bend and then another it wasn't all that difficult for her to realise what was causing it either.

A hollow? Habit seeming to mean that the quincy slowed her gait as soon as she locked eyes upon the monster which birthed this malevolence and coercing her to seek the shelter of a nearby nook, without even a single clue of what was occurring here Miss Devereaux made sure to ease the strength of her reishi down until it was practically non-existent, though given the scene which unfolded before her it seemed almost unnecessary really.
Feels a nasty one…? Able to size up the more sinister of the entities before her quickly and guess that its focus seemed to be concentrated almost entirely upon foe it seemed to battle, it was only too easy to observe the thirst it had for violence and villainy even from this position, as well as a distinct implication of nobility in whomever seemed to have worked up the nerve to oppose it.

A sword and robes? Shinigami…? Not that such an act wasn't natural for one with an appearance which Daphne had read about in a book more than a decade ago, even in this situation she couldn't help but feel a little tingle run up from the bottom of her belly as she spied an agent of the renowned soul society as this was the first occasion to her mind that she had managed to spot one of the legendary spirit samurai who battled evil like herself and her forebears, and might just have been the reason as well she had agreed to her assignment as well.
Looks like he isn't doing so well, is he? The feeling of fascination which she felt toward the mystique of an institution which many of her fellows seemed to view with suspicion seeming to need to wait however given what was occurring before her however, though she wasn't sure if the cause was wounding or fatigue or some combination therein the silky siren could see that the enemy of her enemy seemed to be weakening, and so drew a small, cross-like charm into her hand as a result. After all, there seemed a bigger threat right now than politics, right~?

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	Post Summary
	Racing to the battleground, she can sense the bloodlust of the hollow easily. Arriving, for the moment she ducks from view, suppressing the presence of her reiatsu as she sizes up the scene. Noting the presence of the shinigami, and his condition, she pushes aside her excitement at encountering her first and prepares to summon her bow.

[Ken Shirogane]

---

Ken wasn't willing to go down so easily. Growling as he got back to his feet and lifted his sword to sheath it, getting into a proper draw stance. The foundation of his style, Iai.

"Come at me then fowl wretch, but I'll sooner destroy myself and smash my sword than allow you to have it! If I am going down I will take you with me you damned monster!" And he didn't mean monster in the sense that this was just any hollow either. No, this one was foul beyond words. A predator of the highest revolting order.

"You sullied yourself in life and refused your just punishment. Creatures like you deserve to burn in the lowest pits of hell. The souls of those you have tortured and claimed in life will not rest until your sins are cleansed by the evil consuming flames!" He shouted making it clear that the creature he was fighting now was one sick piece of work, and the next words of the hollow all but confirmed it.

The creature paused at the last part of Ken's speech, having continued its approach until that point. "Oh~" The creature started a shiver running through its body in obvious pleasure. A tongue flicked out drooling beneath the mask as a flood of horrid memories suddenly flooded its putrid sinful mind. "All those sweet little peaches... So juicy and sweet~ You could not imagine the taste of their young flesh, the feeling as I held them in my hands, and the sensations they caused as I-"

The hollow was interrupted as Ken shouted something. Ken had hardly been listening, though he heard enough to leave his boiling with righteous rage. As the creature spoke Ken mumbled to himself gradually lifting a hand away from the grip of his katana to extend an index finger.

"-run mine enemies through!" He had been preparing a chant before suddenly unleashing it with the last few words. A white line of energy bright as a lightning bolt shot through the air before crashing into the hollow, interrupting its disgusting thoughts, and its approach as it was sent sliding back along the rooftop, smoking and shrieking in pain and rage before charging at Ken. The bolt highlighted the battle all the more, the white-haired man with bright golden eyes, the grimace of pain and frustration on his face caught in a seemingly hopeless battle, and yet fire burned in his eyes to make this creature pay before his life and energy could entirely fade, his hair and black-robed shifting in the midst of the unleashed energy creating a gust of wind around him.

However before it could actually reach Ken he jumped back off the roof, forcing the creature to jump after him if it wished to reach him. His hand was already back on the grip of his sword, ready to perform a drawing cut the moment the hallow was in range.

But this was the do-or-die moment for Ken. The hollow was done playing, and he'd already taken advantage of the distraction once, it would not allow it to happen a second time. His Byakurai had done decent damage, taking off one of the creature's arms, the top left one, but that would not be enough to alter the tide of battle. He was at his limit and had played his cards, he might well be dead before he hit the ground. A four-story tall fall onto a parked car below the building where he had just been fighting this abomination.

---

Post Summary:

- Ken yells at the hollow

- The hollow recalls its foul deeds and basks in the memory.

- Ken fires a Byakurai at the hollow, taking of it's upper left arm. Though it still has three more.
- The hollow charges Ken in rage.
- Ken jumps off the building forcing the hollow to jump after him, preparing to make what will likely be his final attack.

[Jessu]

I think that we are having a little fun now, no~?

Daphne Devereaux

Disgusting…! The vision of the vixen seeming to tighten as she heard the worlds of the monster carry across the air to their ears, while Miss Devereaux was typically the type who tended to be supportive and considerate of the viewpoints of others she found her sympathies seeming somewhat limited when it came to the beastly beings known as hollows, and from the sound of things this one seemed a particular abhorrent aberration as well for that matter.
Truly a vile creature! It seeming that such sickening discourse was only serving to reduce any remaining impulse within her to treat this thing as anything more than a fiend, there were times when she tried to remind herself that even these wretched creatures were driven by measures beyond their control, but in this example it seemed there was no need to excuse what it bragged about. There was hunting for need, and then there was simple barbarism, and this seemed to gleefully follow the latter.

Is he going to make it? Using the moment of conversational calm to assess the situation that little bit better as well for that matter, though many of her breed might have shot first and asked questions later either on account of the menace she had spied or the simple feeling or rivalry which seemed to be held between those of her breed and the folk who wore their dark robes, Daphne showed herself something of a black sheep as she looked to the young looking man with as much concern about him as she did curiosity, and felt her worry only growing as she inspected the state of him.
Looks like he's on his last legs…? It plain for any to see that he was flagging now and if she had to guess holding on in the fight either from some matter of pride or duty, or a combination therein, she reasoned that the scene was one which was better placed safe rather than sorry, and so she focused the reishi in her system both to her hands and her feet as well.

Bottoms up, as they say~? Using the latter to bring herself into the 'playground' as it were as she looked toward the smooth surface of a wall which almost seemed to reach as loftily as the combatants were conducting their contest, with a burst of spiritual energy the leggy lass launched herself upward as if she were a rocket, and all too quickly did the ground she had come from become a rather distant memory as the manner of her move and the momentum therein seemed to kick her into inversion as well.
“Allo~?” Not that she had too much time to worry about such a fact for the moment however and instead the black beauty ignoring the way in which her coat and mane seemed to ruffle as a result of her action to conjure something from her hands, the flow of the world around Miss Devereaux appeared to ebb as she drew back a bow and string which seemed to be made of pure light and created an arrow to go with it, the latter of which she aimed to send straight through the skull of her enemy but a moment later. Though, right now, a second might have just seemed as long as an eternity…

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Post Summary

Pausing as the monster seems to gloat, all prospect of pity seems to be cast out of contention thanks to its bragging. Readying herself for action as a result, she maintains a relatively low profile as she tries to decide if the Shinigami has this handled, though can't help but feel worry in that regard. For that reason using her 'Blitzkrieg' technique to launch herself into the air as Ken swings for the Hollow, she too readies her attack as well in the hopes of exploiting her element of surprise to dish out a headshot.

[Ken Shirogane]

Time almost seemed to slow as Ken and the hollow fell through the air. He wondered if he would be dead before he hit the ground. But he would do his best to struggle and survive just a little bit longer. Even so, the drop itself would not be much longer or shorter than a second. The exact measurement was beyond Ken as he fell three stories down.

The hollow closed in, and with a flash of movement, Ken drew his sword. He maintained his stance even as he felt somehow, but without ground, under his feet, his blade did lose just a bit of its power. Even so, at the moment the draw itself was nearly perfect in his opinion. Performing his best Chiheisen. A technique, though simple, dedicated to the art of the flawless draw, to take the head from an enemy in one swift motion.

His blade flowed like water from the sheath, as smooth as air in his hand, towards the head of the hollow while all three sharp arms shifted through the air in Ken's direction, each arm aiming for a different vital point in Ken's body. But it seemed that in this regard at least, Ken's draw speed was superior to the hollows attack speed. Ken could only perform a single swift attack like this between sheathes of his sword, but it was enough to make some difference it seems. A life dedicated to the art of drawing his sword to fell his enemies.

His sword cut across the mask of the hollow, however, it was not deep enough to perform the task it was meant to and kill the hollow. It left a deep cut across the mask and nearly took the other eye of the hollow, but sadly missed. Even so, the blade traveled from left to right in a perfect horizontal line. Leaving a grove in the mask, weakening it. If Ken had time and the skill to land a second strike, perhaps even a light tap might have been enough to break the mask and kill the creature, but his time was up.

Two of the arms were thrown off by Ken's attack, altering the trajectories enough that they would be rendered harmless. But the third arm was aimed directly at Ken's heart, though two attacks would fail, the third would end him if it landed. Inches away from hitting the car and being pinned there by the sharp arm of the hollow.

---

- Kens delivers a Chiheisen to the mask of the hollow. But it is not enough to kill it, only weakening the mask rather than destroying it and killing the hollow.
- Two of the hollows arms will miss, the third will kill him, hitting his heart if it is not stopped before they hit the ground.

[Jessu]

I think that we are having a little fun now, no~?

Daphne Devereaux

Still not enough…! The arrow of the femme restrained as she watched her involuntary ally let loose a strike aimed to finish the bout once and for all, Daphne had to admit that she held out hope that this contest might just be settled without much need for her intervention, yet as she watched the stroke seem to scar the mask of the monster but not split it she knew that greater effort would be necessary from here on out. Yet, it seemed suddenly there were higher priorities right now.

Merde! The vantage with which the vixen was provided seeming to allow her to spot the threat which was presented by the third claw of the hollow as well as the obvious inability of the swordsman to defend himself from it, though it would have been oh so easy for her to follow up on his cut and perhaps finish the beast for good, Miss Devereaux knew she would only have time for one shot and sensed the risk wouldn't be worth it. For that reason switching her aim just enough to send a blinding burst of reishi light across the chest of the Shinigami, while she guessed it might give this samurai stranger a shock to see she hoped it would warn their enemy off from committing to its act, and perhaps even better, give it something to remember if it did so.

Felt that one, didn't you~? Fortune seeming to favour the femme in that regard and some combination of her element of surprise and the focus that their foe had on his target allowing for her attack to make good on the potential it had, the brute was left to howl as the toxicity of something tainted by the spiritual energy of a quincy blasted its mitt, and prompted the airborne archer to launch a follow up whilst she could.

As slippery as a weasel…! Twisting herself about and shooting a second round toward its skull once she had returned to more of a typical inclination, once more did she activate what reishi she had in her heels in order to skirt across the skies as she let loose a volley of arrows, though none seemed to have the same impact as the first. The creature now aware of both her and the threat which she possessed and using a combination of its wings and wits to evade her follow up, instead it seemed to jerk and twist about the air as it made for a rather hasty exit, and allowed for our flying fox to find stability on the ground next to her impromptu ally.

“Seems we have beaten him into retreat, hm…?” The lass left to let loose a breath once she returned to something solid and holding her gaze on the path through which their adversary had seemed to make its escape, that teal colour narrowed as she made sure that it wasn't about to lurch back on top of them before turning toward the vehicle onto which her new acquaintance had seemed to crash, and spoke to offer a moment of reassurance and respite as she mused over whether this robed figure could respond to her.
“Are you still with us, Monsieur Shinigami~?” Unsure after all just how much the fall and the fight which preceded it had taken out of him after all, Daphne allowed her expression to soften as she scrutinized his 'landing pad' and hoped that he might be able to answer her, and meanwhile began to weigh up her options if not as well. I mean, the natural thing would have been to take him somewhere to recuperate, but then she might garner something of a reputation if she was bringing a stranger home with her without even knowing his name, right~?

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Post Summary

Hoping the Shinigami's attack will finish the beast, she notes its failure, as well as the response it seems to earn. Making a snap judgement to protect him rather than try for her own coup de grace, she sends an arrow into the hand of the Hollow, making it howl as it notices her. Firing off a few more arrows, it skillfully seems to dodge the follow up and retreats, leaving Daphne to assess the condition of the new man in her life...

[Ken Shirogane]

It was unfortunate that he had been unable to deal a deadly blow, but while his form was as perfect as could be performed mid-air and falling, he didn't have the momentum the blow would have otherwise required to finish the fight at that moment. Feeling his blade slide off the mask rather than cutting it left his heart sinking in his chest as he realized he was about to die... again. And this time he would not be going to the soul society. It hurt his pride to consider that he'd die once more in a way that he did not find satisfactory. The least this hollow could have done was die with him, but it seemed he would not get to enjoy even that.

The surprise and relief he felt as a white bolt passed between him and the hollow was immense. Especially once it used its wings to shift in the air before landing to shift and dodge the next arrows that were sent its way before it escaped.

However, Ken did still slam into the car below, crashing into the roof and caving it in under his weight combined with the force of his impact from the three-story jump. He gave a low groan of pain as the hollow was chased away before the woman who had saved him approached.

Considering her attacks, he was pretty confident that she was a Quincy. Frankly, he was more grateful and curious than suspicious of her. Though perhaps that was unwise. Quincy and Shinigami had a rather strained relationship given how they dealt with Hollow more than anything else, and while he didn't like the fact that their actions could affect the balance of the spirit world, he didn't entirely believe their existence to be a negative one. Not yet at least.

When she approached him to ask how he was doing he coughed and gestured lightly with his hand before taking a deep breath. "Mmf, I'm feeling pretty ragged, but alive." He said before slowly sitting up and rolling off the car, stumbling a few steps before kneeling and sheathing his sword.

He was in no condition to fight at the moment, his body riddled with dozens of bleeding holes, and while none of them were vital, he was steadily losing strength. He was already well beyond his limit. If he were a normal human he would have almost certainly bled out by now. Luckily he was a Shinigami.

He looked the woman over, at first giving her a quick scan, and then a slower examination to really drink in her features. Between her voice and her looks, he had no doubt she was a woman who could get whatever she wanted. But he cleared his mind along with his throat, tasting blood in the back of it.

"It pains me to say that I am in no condition to chase that hollow right now. It already had me well on the ropes before I fell and that has only exacerbated my condition..." He noted in a slightly mournful tone.

If she wanted to take him to her home he would likely not resist, but he would presumably make a mess of her furniture considering the state of his body.

Luckily for her, he was shinigami and would be invisible to anyone who was not spiritually aware. So it would probably just look awkward to anyone who saw her moving around like she was supporting something invisible yet weighing on her.

He wasn't sure what the decision might end up being though. Perhaps she would chase the hollow? Though doing it alone seemed unwise considering he had nearly been killed. Now that he was in this situation he really wished he'd practiced Kaidō more, but while he was decent at Kido, he had focused on Hado and Bakudo. Something he would definately work to remedy later.

The hollow was likely hiding out and trying to heal itself after having slipped down a dark alley. Many hollows possessed regenerative abilities, but he hopes that it would take time for this one to heal. Maybe even all night if they were lucky.

---

- Ken lands on the car, it's painful, but he's not dead.
- Ken gets to his feet seeing the Hollow flee, but doesn't have the energy to chase it down let alone fight it.
- Interested in the woman, but unsure what she intends he waits to find out.

[Jessu]

I think that we are having a little fun now, no~?

Daphne Devereaux

“Well then, I suppose I shall discover the funeral rights of the Shinigami another day, hm~?” The sound of a response something which Miss Devereaux was happy to welcome with a grin as she let that shining bow fade into nothing, once more the vision of the vixen seemed to tighten but on this occasion the manner with which seeming softer and definitely more mischievous, she couldn't help but share a little grim humour with the reaper as he admitted that while worn he was still among the living, or as near as so as those of his ilk tended to be.
“Let's not rush, Mr Swiss Cheese~?” Recognising the fact that a little lightness and levity was likely what they both needed and the lass lifting her fingers and tucking her dark locks behind her ears as she looked him over more fully, though the stranger seemed to force himself to his feet it was clear for a woman like her to see that the move was perhaps ill advised, and as such she couldn't help but step forward and offer out her hand to steady him as she offered up a nickname in place of something more familiar to call him. Introductions were perhaps in order, but given his injuries, there seemed greater priorities right now, didn't there?

“He's made quite a mess of you, no~?” For her part the Frenchwoman seeming think that it was likely better to stabilize her 'patient' before they attempted to do much else in fact, once she drew near she could see the plethora of injuries with which he seemed to be struggling, and as such took another long breath as she began to focus herself on gathering the reishi around them in order to do a little something or other about that.
“Perhaps I could…? I think that my reishi should work on Shinigami?” Focusing the energy she gathered into her palm and holding it up to him in order to offer an easy implication that her own training had indeed involved the application of spiritual matter to mend wounds, the dark dish was forced to confess that this would be her first time applying such technique to the ills of one from soul society in practice but the theory seemed sound, and right now it seemed a risk that he could ill afford to avoid as well…?

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	Post Summary
	Smiling as they have the chance to become more familiar, Daphne jokes, and offers Ken a hand given his condition. Hinting that she also might have skills beyond simple benefit to his balance as well, she gathers some reishi, and offers to use it to stem his wounds as well…

[Ken Shirogane]

---

Much of what the woman said seemed to be said with a teasing or playful tone. Not that he minded, if it was a woman like her he would not complain about being teased or toyed with.

That was probably not an appropriate thought for the moment, though he did appreciate her humor even at this rather critical time. She was fairly amusing to him.

"Hm, yes, although considering that if I die no body will be left behind I am not sure if they would have a funeral for me." He mused, not recalling a funeral ever being held in the soul society.

"My name is Ken Shirogane. You can just call me Ken if you like." He was pretty sure she wasn't Japanese so he gave his given name first and his family name second. "Some friends call me Kenshi." He noted with some amusement, a joke on his father's part when he had been alive. A very old if accurate japanese dad joke. He wasn't sure she knew what Kenshi meant, but if she did he figured she might get a chuckle out of it.

"Hm, I didn't even know Quincy could heal others. I guess it makes sense though. Reishi is just another form of external energy, so not much reason it could not be used to heal." He mused before moving to open his robes enough to show his upper body and perhaps make it easier for her to heal him. Showing a slim but toned pale upper body pierced with a number of bloody holes. "Let's give it a shot then, I supposed." He said sitting and waiting patiently for her healing touch.

---

-Ken makes a little small talk before agreeing to let her heal him. Unsure if being healed with Reishi will have any negative effect, but willing to try it.

[Jessu]

I think that we are having a little fun now, no~?

Daphne Devereaux

“No? Well this is a shame, it always occurred to me that you and your fellows would be dressed for it~?” The brow of the brunette seeming to peak for a moment as her new friend admitted that he had never known those of soul society hold a funeral for anyone, though such a fact seemed rather sad and callous she couldn't help but remark on a certain fact which she had noted ever since seeing a picture of his breed in a book when she was little, and did so with the intention of skirting them away from the grimmest avenues that their conversation could take.
“Daphne, nice to meet you, Kenshi?” Continuing to look him over as he offered up something to call her, while certain aspects of her tradecraft seemed to mean that the Quincy felt an inclination of habit which guided her toward guarding much of her identity she at least offered him something accurate to address her with and did so with a smile, though one had to note that the latter was not fuelled by recognition of the attempt at humour but rather politeness. After all, she had only just learned basic communication in Japanese thus far, hadn't she?

“Unfortunately, I think there are not many of my kin who would want our rivals from the world beyond realising everything we can do?” The observation which he made next about how he too was being treated to the freshness of unfamiliarity when it came to her skill in healing, it was no secret that there was no shortage of mistrust and in some cases hostility in the gulf which separated those who wore black and those who wore white, which she was happy to acknowledge and hint that she was far from a typical example of her own culture.
“Now, let's see, tell me if it gets too much? This might tingle…” Guessing that in some of the more extreme cases that some might see the tension between their people as reason enough to refuse to share any art between them so as not to tip off a potential enemy, she had never much gone in for the greater politics at hand between their tribes, and so she opted for a more simplistic and honest approach. Here she was with someone who needed her help, and so with a gentle touch to his wound, she was intent on offering it regardless of conviction or creed…

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	Post Summary
	Joking about the robes of the Shinigami, she offers her name politely, though misses the joke due to cultural unfamiliarity. Focusing on his wounds meanwhile, she addresses the elephant in the room regarding the tensions between their branches honestly, and then begins to tend to the injury Ken shows her…

[Ken Shirogane]

Shinigami certainly were dressed to deal with the dead, just not usually the death of a Shinigami. At least not as far as he knew. Maybe it was because Shinigami deaths were rare compared to the deaths of normal humans. "Daphne, lovely name." He replied with a little nod once he had her name.

It was possible that when he had learned about Quincy the topic of their abilities had been brought up but he'd not been paying super close attention. He was aware of their primary abilities like shooting a summoned bow and using Reishi. Those were the main features in his mind at least. But it made sense they could heal. Reiastu wasn't the inverse of Reishi, just another form of a similar energy, or the same energy. Internal and external sources. Although using Reishi in great amounts could have an effect on certain environments from what he understood.

"Probably. And my people are likely just as suspicious and hostile as your own if not more so. We have some pretty fundamental differences that make it difficult to work together under most circumstances." He noted simply but without much passion about it. It wasn't exactly ideal how Quincy dealt with Hollow, but Ken understood at least that such methods were developed for protection. Shinigami worked hard to protect and maintain the balance, but they were not perfect, and could not be everywhere at once. The Hollow were an ever-expanding group, perhaps smaller than the pool of souls that existed that would eventually be reincarnated. But larger than the Shinigami and the Quincy in number for sure. Powerful but extremely limited resources. And Shinigami tended to guard key area's rather than the entire world, which was just too much ground to cover. So Souls and Hollow were bound to slip through the cracks.

When he felt her touch and the tingle of energy she used to begin healing him, he relaxed. If she wanted to kill him now probably would have been a good time, or she could have just let the Hollow handle it. So he had held some faith that she truly was here to assist him however she could. And it seemed like her ability to heal was doing just fine even on someone like him. The holes punched through his body gradually closing and some of his strength returning as the healing she gave him set in. "Hm, feels just fine to me. Doesn't feel that much different from Kaidō." He noted simply, Kaidō being the Shinigami term for healing spells.

---

- Ken talks a little about the rift between their factions. He's mostly indifferent to it, understanding why, but not terribly concerned by it.
- He relaxes and accepts the healing.

[Jessu]

I think that we are having a little fun now, no~?

Daphne Devereaux

“My, my, are you looking to see if le Quincy blush~?” The compliment about her name seeming enough to curl the lips of the lass and call forth the friskier side to the french fox, Miss Devereaux was more than happy enough to open a little devilish diplomacy with the 'other side' on account of a charming comment, and that was without even mentioning the other notes of appeal she had spied when he had opened his robes to show her his wounds. I mean, she was a fan of the visual arts, right~?

“Lucky for me then I ran into someone a little more open in his mind, no~?” Only too able to sense from his tone as well that Kenshi seemed to feel rather similarly to herself in regard to the dogma which divided their groups, while she had stepped into this fight simply as a measure of compassion and means to rid the world of another evil, ultimately the raven was glad that she had done so to protect someone who was a little more accepting in his thinking. After all, with all that had passed, wasn't it about damn time that particular piece of proverbial beef be squashed?

“Well then, I think that it is clear you are not some Hollow playing the long game then~?” The smile of the sable siren seeming to continue as she noted the fact that his body did not seem to deny or degenerate thanks to the gentle influence of her reishi either, with the flash of a wink Daphne offered yet another little joke to ease the tension between them, and then began to allow her spiritual energies to flow more generously as well.
“So, tell me Kenshi, what's a nice boy like you like to do when he isn't battling monsters~?” Guessing that the longer they lingered the more chance that they would be discovered or worse ambushed, in the meanwhile she had to reveal that when it came to making acquaintance there was nothing she loathed more than awkward silences, and so she offered a little small talk in order to drive away the quiet and perhaps allow them to get to know one another better as well…

### words

Fine Wine

@tag

	Post Summary
	Certainly one who doesn't need much encouragement to be flirtatious, she becomes more kittenish, not wishing to linger on 'tribal tension' anymore than they need to. Continuing her playful tone as she tends to his wounds, she jokingly asks about his business, if nothing more than to fill what could be an empty silence…

[Ken Shirogane]

He smirked at just how playful this Quincy woman was. He had to wonder how genuine her attention was in this regard. He was confident in his looks, but this vixen was certainly a top-tier lady in his mind. Her vivacious energy was very enticing, and he could imagine talking like this easily under less stressful circumstances. "You're certainly tempting me to try." He admitted with a chuckle.

"I like to think that even if I were a little more set in my ways I might have opened up to one such as yourself. At the very least I would say that I owe you for saving my life in that key moment, lest I experience my second death and discover what that entails. Personally, I'd like to keep living, more so now." He noted lightly as he relaxed under her soothing touch.

He snorted at the possibility that he might be some hollow in disguise. "Is the touch of a Quincy so potent to Hollow? Perhaps I was lacking in my study of your people. It seems like a rather useful trait if that is a common feature of your powers. Not that Hollow usually disguises themselves with a human guise." That made him wonder if they ever did at all. There were some tricky ones out there, perhaps even like the one he had just been fighting, although they would see just how tricky it could truly be later.

She was making him smirk again when the last question came, not that he had ever really lost it, but it widened a bit perhaps. "Practicing with me sword, and trying to learn more Kido." He noted lightly rubbing his chin as he tried to think about what else he did. "Hm, it seems that I have not done much besides that in a time. A shame then, perhaps something I could have you remedy later if you are free? Perhaps I could beg to enjoy a bit more of your company on a picnic?" He suggested, figuring there was no harm in taking a shot and asking to plan something they could enjoy later.

He wondered how long her healing might take. Her company was hardly something he would wish to rush from, but the hollow was still in the back of his mind, and he could not be sure it would not be fully recovered by the time he found it again. Or by the time they found it if Daphne intended to stick with him in hunting it down. Having been beaten by it once he would welcome the help, especially considering just how tainted this soul was. Of course the hollow had been injured at least three times between Kenshi and Daphne, so perhaps he had a chance to beat it alone? He'd take it on by himself if he had to, but it would not be his preference to do so.

---

- Enjoying the small talk Ken is more than happy to be playful back with the lovely woman. Quincy or not he can't help but be intrigued by her.
- He suggests a picnic at a later time to talk and get to know each other better, and give him something to do other than train. Ken might need to find a hobby or two after tonight.