Morning After [Rabirria/Shizu]

[Smiley]

Much to Shizu’s shock, her question was met with laughter. That... was a new one... She was used to people screaming, crying and succumbing to blind panic. This, however, left her stunned. “Was it something I said...?” She mumbled quietly beneath her breath. Uh, but, laughter was good, right? Right. A happy noise. So she assured herself anyway.

Sooo, when in Hueco Mundo...

The gloomy goth tried to laugh along, at least until her friend apologized. “Eh... Heheh... Oh...” She fell quiet. Deathly quiet. With unblinking eyes, she stared at the knowledgeable trickster. Hearing that she had not just one, but ten powerful rivals in love made her stomach feel strange. If they were the king’s personal vassals, all of them had to be the cream of the crop...

After an awkwardly silent pause, the lonely ghoul nodded slowly. “...So you are telling me there is a chance...” Of course that was the most important detail for her. If her wise friend wasn’t sure about the queen, then there was hope! Dantemus... That was the name of her newest unhealthy obsession one true love!

Spacing out, the eerie Arrancar let out a wistful sigh. “Ah, I would love to eat these Espada...” A little bit of drool dripped to the floor. She quickly caught herself, hastily wiping her mouth. “Uh, meet. I m-meant... Meet...” Did she, though?

Eager to escape the slip of tongue, the creepy girl stepped back and hurriedly changed the subject. “Oh, uh, h-have you ever...” She just didn’t know how to word it. Never did. “...Met the king? O-or his Espadas? Imean, I d-don’t mean to assume, b-but you are the Immortal Jester and the king’s court usually has jesters and and-” And she really was starting to lose her train of thought. As this went on, she started rambling about how she considered jesters to be wonderful and kinda wished she could be one too, because the costumes were nice.

...She was thinking of a more traditional jester, definitely.

---

Post 8
freshstrawberries

[freshstrawberries]

Well...Rabirria had to admit technically there was a chance, she didn't know for sure which way the king swung, if he swung in any direction.  Still what Shizu wanted was probably going to take awhile to get to...although whether that would actually put the strange arrancar off was another question entirely.  "Oh I'm sure several of the Espada would love to...meet you in the same way."  Rabirria said as a half-joke half warning, before she'd straighten up, bringing one finger up to slide just under her nose in pride.

"Have I met any?  Hah, I-"  Wait...Shizu was the kind of sort that would actually believe Rabirria if she said one of the Espada was her mom.  Normally she'd happily tell someone about it knowing there was no way they'd believe her, often paired with some ridiculous actually a lie, but Shizu?  She might actually take Rabirria seriously which...she'd rather Shizu didn't. 

So in order to get out of this, she faked a sneeze, she was actually pretty good at that, you just had to be willing to look silly and make your throat hurt a bit on the coughing exhale as you whipped your head down towards the ground.  "Ah, damn excuse me."  Rabirria said straightening up suddenly.  "Yeah I've met a few of 'em, even seen the King.  Although I wouldn't say I'm on a first name basis with any of 'em, and I've never worked for the king.  Folk like us?  We don't have nearly enough power, we'd probably literally die attempting to work close to Dantemus, dude's that scary."

[Smiley]

The gloomy goth counted herself lucky that her friend was so understanding and flexible. Even while she was bumbling her way through the conversation, the clever jester never missed a beat. It was one of the things she admired the most about her... Yes, the ability to hold a conversation. In her eyes, that was a mythical skill.

Shizu tilted her head curiously, as her friend suddenly sneezed. Was it dusty here? Maybe she could offer to devour all the dust... Wait, no, what was she thinking? Sweep the dust. Yes. That’s what she meant. Wasn’t it...?

Listening to the explanation, the grim girl dropped her gaze back to the floor. “O-oh... I see...” Her entire frame seemed to deflate a little with disappointment. As much as she loved the idea of simply dying in someone’s presence, it would’ve made dating a little difficult. Not to mention it hardly sounded like the pleasant passing she so desired. The jester made his mere presence sound like something toxic or crushing...

A wistful sigh left Shizu’s lips. “That is unfortunate... If it was the old me... Then maybe I could have survived his presence...” She pondered out loud. It was another of those strange gut feelings she didn’t quite understand.

Snapping out of the thoughts, the eerie Arrancar returned her attention onto her friend. “Um, I uh... do not mean to pry, but...” But she was going to pry. “...Is that why you live, erm, here?” She fidgeted, unsure if she should elaborate. Better safe than sorry. “I-I mean, if the dude, I mean, king is so scary, a-are you trying to stay far away from him...?” There was a story here she didn’t fully get.

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Post 9
freshstrawberries

[freshstrawberries]

Given Shizu's sheer lack of knowledge about Hueco Mundo and arrancar society, Rabirria was not at all surprised to hear Shizu talk about 'how she used to be'.  She'd already clued in that the girl wasn't a 'natural-born' Arrancar, which frankly seemed less natural than the other method, but whatever, Rabirria didn't make the rules. 

Then came a much more personal question.  Why did Rabirria live out in the middle of the desert fairly far away from the big city that Dantemus ruled...or any other city his espada ruled for that matter?  "Ahhh nah.  City's just too crowded for my tastes, I mean we're talking about tons of people, thousands upon thousands, I like my space."  Rabirria replied casually.  "Besides I go into the city pretty often, I help run a business out of there, it's how I afforded all of this!"  She'd spread her arms dramatically to gesture at the room and all the stuff in it and of course the hallway the guest room and presumably her own bedroom. 

"But yeah, no big story to it, having my own little personal hideaway out in the middle of nowhere appeals to me is all."

[Smiley]

Against all Shizu’s quiet expectations, Rabirria’s answer turned out to be... Hm, pretty down-to-earth, actually. For a brief moment there, they were kindred spirits. She nodded, sharing a deep sense of connection. “Ah, I understand. Being around people can be so...” Terrifying? Horrible? Akin to torture? “...Overwhelming.” She eventually decided, diplomatically. It was accurate enough.

The gloomy goth’s gaze followed the grand gesture, taking in the lavish surroundings. “Yes, your palace and treasures are lovely.” Her tone had no hints of sarcasm or even exaggeration. Nope, she was genuinely impressed by her friend’s home. Granted, internally she was comparing it to abandoned buildings and old dumpsters again, but nevertheless she meant what she said.

Little by little, the social wreck was starting to feel like she was getting the hang of this ‘casual conversation’ thing. The jester’s seemingly infinite patience played a big role. Thanks to it, the anxious girl felt... safe. She didn’t have to fear hostility or mockery.

Lost in thought, Shizu wandered off to examine the living room portion further. She stopped in front of a strange artifact with an open lid, known to savvy as a ‘laptop’. To her though, it was just another wondorous trinket. “All these mysterious artifacts...” She muttered, while giving it tentative poke.

Soon, the ghastly ghoul’s unblinking stare turned back onto the jester. “Y-you must be most wealthy indeed. What is it that you do, exactly...?” Honestly, she had never heard of her kind having jobs. “I-if you do not mind my curiosity...” It was a fair warning. Her curiosity, much like her appetite, was bottomless. This lovely lady had caught her eye. She wanted to learn more and more...

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Post 10
freshstrawberries

[freshstrawberries]

The girl was so adorably out of touch...which felt kind of weird because there was a good chance she was multiple times older than Rabirria.  However, Rabirria did not put much stock into the concept of ages.  "Yeah, see you get it.  It's nice to have a place where you can just chill out with little chance of being bothered."

Palace?  Damn, sure Rabirria was proud of her home but it was like...four and a half bedrooms (she was still working on it).  In her opinion a palace had to be at least like...twenty plus like ballrooms and big feast halls and whatever else.  Shizu not seeming to know what a laptop was only further confirmed in Rabirria's mind that she must be quite the old soul.

"Heh, well I wouldn't call us the top dogs, but we make a tidy profit."  She started to take dishes off of the table and move them to the kitchen area.  She'd wash them later, but she could at least clear the table.  "You know how physical matter, kishi can't enter Hueco Mundo?  Well there's a way around that, it's possible to build a 'converter' that converts kishi into reishi.  For that reason there's also a number of businesses that go to the human world, gather up things people want and sell them.  Some big fancy Fraccion is throwing a party and wants some fancy champagne?  They come to someone like us and we go get it from the human world and bring it back.  Oh uh...Fraccion are essentially the trusted subordinates of the Espada...think of it like..Espada are Lords, and Fraccion would be...barons, mayors, governors appointed by said lords."

She moved to the cleared table and hopped up to sit on it, crossing her legs.  "As to the obvious question of why people don't get their own converters, there's a tax for every item you bring through.  Plus you know, going to the human world risks getting attacked by shinigami and then you add in the convenience of getting someone else to get your items, plus the time it might take you to do so by yourself and you've got a thriving business."

Probably best not to mention the smuggling she did.  She liked Shizu but there was no telling what the girl would think of Rabirria being a criminal defying the king's tax.

[Smiley]

Meeting someone so knowledgeable -and patient- was a gift from the heavens for the ignorant Arrancar. She had encountered the phenomenon, but lacked a name for it until now. As she listened, her features lit up with a sense of understanding. “Ohhh... So that is why all my earthly mementos kept, um, disintegrating...” Suddenly, several puzzle pieces fell into place. “So many treasures lost...” She lamented quietly.

Falling silent, the creepy girl drifted around aimlessly. Seeming lost in thought, she occasionally nodded to show she was still listening. Barons and mayors, businesses and parties... My, my, it all sounded so very exciting. Like one of the many books she liked to spend her unlife reading.

The gloomy ghoul found the entire explanation most fascinating, especially the part about converting. “I thought it was a divine rule... Um, y-you know the one, yes?” She glanced elsewhere, as if looking at something far, far away. “Bury not wealth, for you cannot take it with you.” She recited carefully. For a brief moment, she stopped to mull it over. “S-so... It can be, um... B-bypassed, then...” A small, but eerie smile visited her features.

Returning to reality, Shizu shifted her focus back onto her wise friend. “Um, erm, h-how... much would it cost...? To bring something over...?” She asked ever so carefully. Squirming and fidgeting, she struggled to put her thoughts into words. “I-I do not have any money, b-but... Perhaps I can offer s-something else...?” Her tone carried a distinct hint of desperation.

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Post 11
freshstrawberries

[freshstrawberries]

"Yeah, alas, the rules of reality are fickle and...quite frankly kinda arbitrary."  Rabirria said, although that arbitrary comment might take a keener person off guard.  It had a certain connotation, especially with Rabirria's cheerfully weary tone.

"But yep, there are no absolutes, which...I guess technically means there are absolutes, because if there aren't absolutes, then the absolute 'there are no absolutes' can't be true either...eh, whatever, too early for that." 

Rabirria would lay back on the table, hands behind her head as she turned it to look at Shizu.  "Got something you want from the human world eh?  Well the tax is based on the size and weight of the object.  So you know, a car is considerably more expensive than a bowling ball.  However, I'm also happy to do favors for friends, or alternatively you could try this kind of work out for yourself?  Come with me out on a collecting trip and we can stop and grab whatever you're after, call it a trial run."

She shrugged, "Don't gotta though, I'm not exactly the miserly type."

[Smiley]

When it came to the fickle and arbitrary rules of reality, Shizu could only nod with a sense of sad understanding. She had never asked to become a monstrosity. It had simply happened. Similarly, she had lost her true form simply because she had picked up a sword out of curiosity. It felt odd. Kind of unfair even. She had to persist in this small and feeble form, because some unwritten rules dictated so.

Fortunately, the clever jester didn’t pursue the thought much further. The novice Arrancar’s eyes were beginning to swirl already. ...Although, they were always swirls. But, to be fair, she was also always a little confused as well.

When the peculiar courier made the generous offer, the gloomy goth scrambled over to the table. “Y-yes! I-I will do it...!” She reached for the jester’s hand, wanting to squeeze it to show just how serious she was about this. “I will do a-anything...!” She emphasized. No price was too steep, no deed too depraved... As long as she could carry her treasures with her, even when fleeing her foes to this side of the veil.

Getting kind of clingy, the creepy girl stared at the expert intensely. “I promise I shall repay this kindness, especially if it kills me...” Nope, she did not mix her words there. “P-please and thank you...” By now, her entire aura reeked of desperation. Words could not describe how precious those treasures were to her.

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Post 12
freshstrawberries

[freshstrawberries]

The cute goth grabbing her hand took Rabirria off guard, but she supposed it shouldn't have.  She rolled onto her side to face Shizu, a few strands of pink hair falling across her face, eyes crinkling like when someone smirked.  "Well guess it's settled then!  I was planning on heading out in a couple of hours, but we can leave as soon as you're ready.  If you need to bathe or anything just let me know and afterwards we can head right on out to the city."  She'd squeeze Shizu's hands before abruptly sitting up to stretch.

"Ehh, probably won't kill you, hope that's not too disappointing.  Occasionally we have a run in with a shinigami or quincy but my general policy is to avoid killing and avoid dying.  Once you rack up a body count both groups give you a nickname and suddenly you've got people hunting you specifically for that reputation, makes the job a lot harder.  Sometimes you don't have a choice but..."  Rabirria shrugged.

[Smiley]

Much to Shizu’s immense relief, her generous benefactor graciously agreed to let her tag along. She mumbled nigh-incoherent thank you’s while bowing profusely. This opportunity meant more to her than she could put into words. At last, she would be able to carry her most precious treasure with her. Forever.

...Did the jester just mention bathing?

The creepy girl’s eyes positively lit up. In a blur and a faint booming sound, she was suddenly floating right in front of the pink-haired host. “Y-you have... w-warm water...?” She made it sound like some rare and expensive luxury. As soon as she got confirmation, she nodded quickly. “Bath, yes please.” To be fair though, none of the abandoned buildings she haunted had running water, let alone hot water.

Looming near the kind friend, the eerie ghost seemed to... deflate... a little, when it was clarified that she didn’t need to die. “Oh, I see... That’s okay...” Disappointment clung heavily to her tone A vivid imagination could picture a violet veil hanging over her. Life... She was not a fan of life... It was full of misfortune and worries...

One thing in particular caught the gloomy goth’s worry. “Uh... A nickname...?” She asked every so carefully. “L-like, um, The Weeping Lady...?” That was the nickname she had been given by the humans after... O-oh dear. She did have something of a, er, bodycount, didn’t she?

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Post 13
freshstrawberries

[freshstrawberries]

Given the two were already holding hands, Shizu getting closer meant either floating above Rabirria or being right next to her, as if the two were laying in bed just inches apart.  Rabirria was fine with that but hopefully Shizu's cute little brain didn't fry when she realized how close they now were.  The jester just chuckled though, patting Shizu's hand before abruptly sitting up. 

"Not just warm, hot.  I turned on the water heater this morning before I prepared breakfast.  Should be plenty enough for a bath.  C'mon I'll show you there."  Ahh what a strange girl, disappointed that she wouldn't have to die on the job.  Rabirria might need to keep a close eye on her when they headed out to the human world on the job.  Still she was always open to being surprised and as long as Shizu didn't cause any major issues it should be fine. 

Hopping off the table she'd start back down the hallway Shizu had originally exited from.  "I mean maybe?  Dunno much about how they actually assign them.  Maybe they have some weird way of just determining your actual name if they mark you down."

[Smiley]

When the gracious savior spoke the sacred words, Shizu was left stunned. She vividly saw a golden halo grace those beautiful features, while white wings spread open. From the heavens descended a blinding beam of light. An angel choir sang hallelujah. ...Okay, all of that was definitely the ghoul’s imagination, but the sentiment was still real. She was in heaven... With enough hot water for a bath~!

Only the gentle pat snapped the daydreaming ghost back to reality. She glanced down at the hand, then at her friend’s features... Very, very close features... Her cheeks promptly flared bright pink. Withdrawing her hand, she scurried shyly backwards. Even without a bath, she was feeling plenty warm already.

The shy specter drifted after her friend, floating three steps behind like a stalking shadow. Hearing the tentative confirmation made her fidget even more. “Ah, w-well... I uh... kind of... Have a nickname a-already...” And that meant people would be hunting for her, as the jester had explained.

Shizu hesitated. On one hand, her friend deserved to know the truth. On the other hand, the truth was embarrassing. “T-the humans call me The Weeping Lady, b-because I cry... A lot...” She admitted quietly. There was a brief, awkward pause. “A-and also because I... um... u-used to eat people...” She confessed with a heavy heart.

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Post 14
freshstrawberries

[freshstrawberries]

"Hmm, well the humans aren't the Shinigami, so I'm not sure if the shinigami would call you that...got any cool powers?  Fancy tricks?  Far as I know they base nicknames off of that more than behavior."  Down past the guest room, past another doorway with a curtain of beads over it, and then one more with an actual plastic curtain like a shower, fully colored and not even remotely opaque. 

Rabirria would casually pull it aside, and while there were the amenities one would expect, it was...not as neat as a real house.  This was due to simple logistics.  Rabirria did not have the ability or time to carve out the stone, build piping, and then put stone back over where she'd put the piping.  The sink was up against one wall, and looked fine with the counter and mirror/cabinet hiding the piping work going down beneath the floor, but the bathtub?  It was up against a corner, one of those old fashioned ones that stood on legs, with 'shelves' carved into the stone wall to hold things like soap and shampoo, but it wasn't flush against the wall at the faucet's end.  That ran down past the tub the piping exposed where it went down through holes drilled into the floor.  There were also towels set into a carved out shelf on the opposite wall from the bathtub. 

"Here we go.  We got towels there, water is a simple, straightforward system, got all the bathing products you could want on that shelf there.  I'll be waiting outside for when you're done, I'll put a sign up directing you."

[Smiley]

For seemingly idle conversation, the topic caught Shizu completely off-guard. “C-cool... powers...?” She repeated meekly. Her mind immediately drifted onto the things she had seen others do. Herculean displays of strength, magnificent elemental attacks, riding motorcycles... Those were cool, yes?

However, Shizu admittedly had zero confidence in her own cool factor. Her current repertoire started and ended with shooting beams from her mouth. Awkwardly, she twiddled her fingers. “Uh... I... used to? I think? B-but now I can only... shoot beams...” In her previous form, however, she had been able to do... Something. What was it, now...? ...No, she just couldn’t recall. It felt like someone had taken a portion of her and locked it away.

Fortunately, the gloomy goth didn’t have to linger on the depressing thoughts. The mere sight of the beautiful bath distracted her completely. Warm water and luxurious products? Such as actual soap? “Oh, praise the spirits...” She muttered beneath her breath. Her violet dress promptly dropped to the floor and vanished like morning mist in the wind. Lost in the anticipation of imminent bliss, she completely forgot to have any shame.

Humming an eerie tune, the pale ghost ran herself a steaming hot bath. Softly splashing water washed all her worries away. She slipped into the warmth, letting it flow through her. Briefly, she contemplated simply sinking beneath the surface and drifting away... But resisted the urge. Today, she had something important to do, after all. For a long, lovely while, she simply enjoyed the small piece of heaven.

Eventually, the stringy-haired ghost girl rose like a zombie from her watery grave. A fluffy towel completed the experience. Sure, her squirming hair flared into its usual tangled shape immediately, but at least it was clean now. Her violet dress coalesced around her again, a memory given form. Continuing her haunting humming, she stepped out to follow the sign.

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Post 15
freshstrawberries