Soultans of Swing

[Greyson]

The night sky was dark compared to the neon lights. Bright in various colors, each trying to out do the other. Bars, Karaokes, 24/7 Onsens, Convenience stores, Fortune Telling, Pawn shops. Together they created some form of night life, people bustling about, laughing in small groups as they moved from one shop to the other. It was too early to retire and such the yellow taxis regurgitated guest after guest from various parts of the country. 

In such a place was Kunieda, dressed in an ash grey hoodie, a beanie shaped like a polar bear and green faded jeans. He towered over most of the populace. Most would have stared at him during the day but during the night where all sorts of people came about, the strange man with a strange sense of fashion was blending in.

"How am I supposed to find this person if he has no spiritual pressure?" He scowled, looking at the humans called a smart phone. He preferred good old paper. They'd explain to him it operated on a battery and that he would have to recharge it. How did one recharge such a thing? They had not explained before throwing him out the Senkaimon. 

"Ha...." He stopped, staring up into the night sky as he drew in a deep breath. It wasn't all too bad. The human world. He had come from it. There was something about it, like coming home to a stranger. He sniffed, smelling grilled skewers from a nearby street stall. He stared at it, watching the meet darken over charcoal flames, the fat popping and sizzling as the sweet marinade became charred. 

"One Please..."

[Gaz]

Orion #1

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The hum of Neon lights and the buzz of people chatting in the city was always something Orion missed. The Arrancar was an old soul, well many of the souls that constituded his form used to be old. Some, however, are young and that gave the souls flashes of memory of tall buildings and buzzing lights. It was why he made occasional trips to the world of the living, appearing out of a Garganta in some dank alleyway.

The sounds washed over him, and the edges of the artificial light licked at his dark skin, a sensation that brought a big smile to his face. While he was a soul and the people could not see him, he could still come to experience the atmosphere. He did not have a body to inhabit like the Shinigami did, he had seen some in the past clamber out of these bodies and chase down some unsuspecting hollow that was chasing a plus around.

He left the alleyway, making sure to mute his spiritual presence as best her could. This way he wouldn’t draw unnecessary attention to himself as he enjoyed the spectacle that was a night like this. He just wanted to soak in the atmosphere and imagine the fun that could be had actually interacting with this world.

Each step he took was unhindered, the crowd around him subconsciously parting for him because even with his muted spiritual pressure it was still enough to make the spiritually deaf people get a cold chill and move out of his way. Then the smell of coffee washed over him, causing the ever-present hunger to rumble in his stomach. With a soft shake of his head, he followed the scent to the source and stood behind a man making a coffee order.

“Ahh. How I long to be able to interact like this. To feel and live this spectacle that is a mortal life.” He spoke, chuckling a low rumble as he leaned in closer to see what art had been made on the coffee.

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Orion: f1cb00

[Greyson]

White, Black. Black, White. Darkness Light, Light Darkness. Kiriya moved to pay the vendor. He twirled it once, twice. A face on the one side, the denomination on the other. He stopped for a moment. Eyes unblinking. 

"Is... is there a problem sir?"
"It's just funny."
"Sir?"
"Ah... Itadakimasu."

Kiriya handed over the coin, and took the skewer. He bit into the meat, ignoring the scalding fat. He blew in and out, all the while taking biting down on the hot morsel. It was delicious, the fats the sugars, the slight chewiness of cheaper cuts. The way the smokey flavors swirled in his mouth. The way it slid down his throat and into that seemingly bottomless pit that drove him. 

He quickly took another bite, swearing under his breath from how hot it was. He wiped his mouth on the sleeve, eyes looking for something. A drink, a drink. There. What had they called it? CaBe? he had tasted it on a few occassions. Something about the bitter earthiness drew him. Something different from Tea. 

He quickly sauntered over. His natural height making people move out of the way on their own. Occasionally bumping into those distracted. "Oyaji-san, one coffee please. No sugar." Skewer in his mouth, he fished in his pockets for more money. More.. More...eh? He quickly looked back into the crowd. A vein popped in the side of his neck. 


After a moments thoughts he let out a sigh. What could he do. Interrogate the hundred odd people in the street? Most likely the snatchers had already ditched his small frog pouch and took the money. "Nevermind Oyaji.." He turned to go but his eyes caught. Among all the pale colored Japanese natives. A man, stood out much like Kiriya but differently. "Oh...Harro. You are from. America?" He said, in terrible English. 

[Gaz]

Orion #2

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The large arrancar watched as the newcomer came by and made to order a coffee, he could sense this man’s innate spiritual energy, the reiatsu that dwelled within was leaking out of his body. He would likely be a person that could perceive and hear Orion. This could be fun… if they were not a Shinigami bent on killing him.

Orion raised an eyebrow at the man who spoke in a broken language, somewhere in his soul the words translated and understanding washed over him. With a shake of his head he chuckled, a low rumble that was filled with mirth. “No, My friend.” He replied before running his right hand up and through his hair, over the remains of his hollow mask which caused it to flash some of the white horn that remained above his temples. His forehead looked to be adorned by the upper portion of a goat’s skull, albeit a very large one that fit his head.

“I’m not a local either.” His reply came back in perfect unaccented Japanese. “I’ve come to enjoy the atmosphere and explore a bit before heading back to my boring life.” He explained before pointing to the remains of his skewer, the hot meats and still bubbling fats smelled amazing. “May I try a small bite? I am ever so curious.”

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Orion: f1cb00

[Greyson]

His reaction was trained, his hand moved towards his pocket. Finger inches away from releasing himself from the Gigai. Kiriya stopped, hesitation. He stared at the goat like skull, half covering his face. This was what they called an Arrancar. Supposedly an evolved hollow of sorts. Kiriya had seen some from reports and documents but... they were awfully... human like. His hand left his pocket. 

What was he doing? Didn't an Arrancar mean a death of a shinigami? Their powers stolen in order to achieve this.. form. Kiriya raised his skewer, handing it over to the man before him. "It's hot." Curiosity wasn't quite the word here but something inside made him want to just... let things be. He wasn't in a particularly fowl mood nor did this Arrancar seem to want to cause havoc. Besides, in this crowded alley way, a fight could lead to causalities. He would justify his actions... for now. 

"So... you're an Arrancar."

Kiriya would say, intentionally looking sideways and exposing himself for a brief moment. Hollows he had experience with. Most Shinigami with a few years did. Animalistic, close to brain dead and relying mostly on their primal instincts. How were Arrancar? Was their appearance the only thing that changed? 

He turned to look back at the Arrancar. He appeared human... infact, he appeared more like a Shinigami. He understood the situation, the possible volatility of it. The man had defused it, explaining himself, telling Kiriya he was not there to cause harm. The man could think, sense emotions, convey his own.... of course... he could be lying as well.

[Gaz]

Orion #3

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Orion carefully reached closer and took the proffered skewer between his thumb and forefinger, be brought it close and gently breathed on the piece that was closes to the tip to help it cool down. With a thankful smile he used his teeth to grab that one piece and in a swift motion pulled it off of the wooden spike. His grin only grew as he started to chew on the meat, the bubbling fat and other juices harassing his tastebuds. This stuff you just didn’t get in Hueco Mundo.

“Very hot!” The Arrancar acknowledge as he offered the stick with the remaining chunks of meat on it to the Shinigami in his artificial body. “But my! The flavours!” He added, chewing to savour it all. “It’s an explosion!” As he swallowed he chuckled and nodded to answer the mans question.

“Yes, I am an arrancar, Friend.” He answered the statement. “And you are a Shinigami? A quincy would have shot me on sight.” He spoke, remembering tales of other Arrancar who had ventured to this world for a quick jaunt. He had heard tales of the average human unlocking strange powers but he had never seen one for himself.

“Come! Why don’t we walk and talk? I’d love to experience the night with someone I can talk to! Maybe a friend?“ Orion offered as he gestured out into the crowded street with his hand, his spiritual pressure rising just enough to make the average human uncomfortable around him and move away a few steps to clear a space.

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Orion: f1cb00

[Greyson]

His eyes watched calmly, the arm slowly extending for the benefit of both parties. Remain calm he told himself. Tension was something too volatile in this situation. The skewer left his fingers, exchanging ownership. Was this how a shinigami lost his powers? Or was this something akin to what the Greeks called an olive branch?

The man blew on the skewer. It was odd, the Arrancars actions were so... human like. Worried about burning his tongue, using the tips of his fingers to avoid getting his hands dirty. Was that truly the behavior of a soul grubbing monster? Kiriya himself had stuffed his face with stale bread as a young soul. Ha. A mental image of Arrancars spit roasting a Shinigami came to mind.

It was humorous to him. Open fire cooking was in a way... barbaric yet the notion of them getting together to cook the food, waiting for the meat to be seasoned and safe to eat. Did these Arrancar gather on weekends with family? Did they even have family.

"Perhaps friend is a strong term." He gave a light hearted chuckle. Reporting to his superiors of an Arrancar he did not engage was one issue, telling them it was a friend would be a big issue. One that could get him incarcerated or executed."Two individuals who wish no harm on the humans and their festivities. Can we be that?"

Kiriya needed to know the man would cause no problems.

[Gaz]

Orion #4

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This one was quite skittish, had he seen a ghost? No matter Orion would make him a friend by the end of this night. He nodded and with a smile stepped back to start taking a walk down the busy street. As he did, he exerted enough spiritual pressure to make the normal people around him slightly uncomfortable and move away, giving him and his new companion a bubble of space.

“Then amigos with the same ideal it is.“ He replied with a hearty chuckle of his own, looking away from the Shinigami for a moment and inhaling a big breath. It had been a long while since he had spent time getting to know a complete stranger with no ulterior motive other than just his own enjoyment. It rumbled that old thrill inside of him he always longed to satisfy.

“Call me Orion, Orion Nebulae the shining star of the western wastes and lover of a good time.” He said, returning his gaze to the man and offering a handout to shake it. “I know our races shaky peace does not extend to the land of the living, but I would much rather make friends than enemies.” The arrancar explained, waiting for the handshake that would turn these people from acquaintances with a similar goal for the night to amigos.

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Orion: f1cb00