The Magical Moment A Witch Meets A Knight

[avidelmv2]

Still clinching her freshly sheared locks in her hand, Babette turned the corner to lock eyes with an unfamiliar face. She blinked, her confusion setting in slowly. A sibling of parent of Kin's? They shared the same black hair, but she couldn't place this face to any she'd seen in the portraits hanging on the wall. What's more, this person was aware of the existence of Shinigami. Babette turned to Kin, waiting for an introduction to come before she made another move. Her openly confused expression soured into a frown at the development. The worst future had come to pass.

"What's she doing here?" Babette couldn't stop herself from saying, huffing as she crossed the room to a trash can to dump her hair in. She didn't take a seat, pushing the chair back under the table from its sides. Her glare never left Shinobou, that natural pout of hers a deep depression now. It only softened with the confirmation that this person had known the Quincy in this area. Key word, had. Her expression hardened again. Maybe they'd moved, or had all died off. That wasn't important right now, though.

"Kin brought me here because she said you were a healer. My arm is injured." She lifted the arm but continued right after. "But she also told me that you're 500 years old, with a broomstick that turns into a sword. You're not human. I don't care how strong your spiritual pressure is, the flesh isn't so impermeant. So you're a Shinigami. Which means you know about the concord, and shouldn't be here. If you're anything else, explain yourself."

[Gaz]

Kin #9

---

Kin saw the look on Babette’s face and then looked to Shinobou who had a very amused look on hers. There was a tension in the air as Babette exploded into words and reasonings, demanding that the shrine maiden explain herself. It all made Kin confused, she had no idea that Shinigami and Quincy had concords or prior history… but then again, she barely knew Quincy were a thing until just this afternoon. Shinigami weren’t talked about much either.

“Babette… you don’t need to be so forceful…” Kin spoke as she tried to parse all of this new knowledge. She placed a fresh mug with the green tea bags still in them on the table by each of the guests and kept her own on the counter.

The amused look on Shinobou’s face remained, a smile growing. “Oh, I like the fire in you little star warrior.” She spoke before raising her tea to the lips and taking a sip. “I know about it, and the clan chiefs of the area and I made an addendum when the Gotei thirteen exiled me one hundred years ago.” She explained before placing the mug down and shaking her head. “The sweet berry tea, Kin?” She asked with a raised brow to the witch that stood off to the side.

“Yeah, my mother doesn’t like me using her special tea.” Kin said with a shrug.

“The deal we made, girl, was for me to act as a neutral party. A safe space for all spirits and humans regardless of affiliation. Naturally I exterminate the average hollows, but I’ve got Kin doing that now as part of her training. I act as a place to train, shop for spiritually inclined items and mediator between the Quincy clans when they have their little spats.” Shinobou explained more, letting her eyes narrow onto Babette.

Kin watched the exchange and took a sip of her own tea, it was sweet and very hot but with the right manipulation of her spiritual energy that wasn’t any concern. “See Babette, no issues. Miss Shinobou is good!”

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[avidelmv2]

Shinobou's smiling made Babette frowned even harder. If they liked her fire now, they'd love what they were brewing up with those backhanded remarks. The Quincy tilted her head back, eyes tracking up to follow the thoughts racing on the ceiling of her mind.

"Exiled for 100 hundred years." She scoffed through her teeth, her gaze snapping back to Shinobou with all of the animosity that had been there before. "You Shinigami simply don't respect us. Our realm isn't a wasteland or prison to dump your undesirables in. If they didn't think burying you under their worst prison was enough, they should have lobbed your head off." She jabbed her finger across the table at Kin next. "And you. Don't tell me what and who is okay or not. You're a pawn in a game you hardly know the rules of. If you understood the history of this world in the slightest, you'd be ashamed to call her your teacher." The finger swept back to Shinobou's side of the room, Babette staring down its length as intently as she did with the shaft of a knocked arrow. The preparation of the kill shot. "If living here for these hundred years has taught you even an ounce of decency or honor, go back to Soul Society and beg for you execution."  

Babette noticed her voice ringing in her ears again and took a deep breath to control it. She played with her tea cup, tilting it in circles around its bottom edges to whip the contents into a spiral. Just from clenching the lip rim with the pads of her fingers, it was too hot, even if she had wanted tea When she continued, she sounded calmer if only a bit. But the moment did nothing for her mood. "Regardless of what crime you committed, whatever deal you made wasn't made with me or my sect. In fact, it goes against everything we stand for." She paused for another moment to collect her thoughts.

"I'm already here searching for other Quincy clans. If I find any who are willing to honor your deal, then count yourself lucky. But seeing as I've already exhausted my register of known Quincy owned properties and am just grasping at straws at this point, it looks like your residence here is tentative at best. You'll likely be brokering a new peace with my people." She got a smile on her face as she got a mouthful of her next words. "And as their current ambassador, I say you provide no service more valuable than what the Quincy could."

[Gaz]

Kin #10

---

Kin finally frowned with the final outburst from Babette and the spell she had coating her skin in a fine layer of protective fire flared around her as her emotions surged. This had turned from a potential new friend and ally to a bigoted aggressive idiot thinking they were right and ruled the world. Shinobou noticed this and lifted her tea to her lips to take a drink, watching with a subdued smile, finding all of this just a cute outburst.

“Shut. Up.” Kin growled through clenched teeth, slamming the mug of tea down so hard that it spilled out and covered her hand, steaming away due to the protective fire spell. Her other hand pointed to the door that Shinobou had come through and her eyes locked on to the Quincy. “Who are you to talk about accords and peace deals like you own the world?!” She barked her spiritual pressure flickering around her, causing the air to warble in ways it normally shouldn’t. “Before today I didn’t know Quincies existed! Let alone what they did! Hell! I still don’t know that.”

The exiled Shinigami placed her mug down and watched, an inquisitive eye scanning her student and neighbour. Seeing Kin react like this was new, even to her and it was interesting to see humans with this much spiritual pressure stop holding it back. She did however shift her position to be prepared to intercept any rough housing.

“Stop acting like you’re a queen that owns everything because you are not! And you’re in no position to go around acting like this.” The hand that pointed swiped and a flash of fire flared in the empty space between the trio… this made her eyes widen as her own temper became apparent to herself. That moment flashed away as she focussed on Babette. “As far as I see it the only person Shinobou should be making deals with is me and Millie, because we are the only people here that do anything to keep people safe.”

“Kin.” Shinobou spoke, causing the young woman to snap her gaze to her. “It’s fine, Babette is injured and tired. I’ll heal her arm and let her sleep above the shop. If she feels this way in the morning then she can challenge me to a duel or whatever she sees as fit.” The shrine maiden spoke, looking at the injured Bambi. “Deal?”

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[avidelmv2]

Babette received Kin's own outburst with bemused pucker to her lips. Their fire and fury didn't move her, and though they stood eye to eye, Babbete was looking down the bridge of her nose at them. What she saw was little more than a tantrum, the childish hostility of someone who felt their exciting little world was now being threatened. And she wouldn't stand for it.

"You admit your ignorance to my cause, but damn me and my peoples efforts at the same time? Their history, their sacrifices, and their eternal mission, all meaningless, because this traitor Shinigami is being faced with their kinds longstanding disregard for tradition and human lives? And then you have the gall to say you, and you alone, are the protector of this town?" Blue pearls glinted in the air around Babette, flying to her hands to coalesce into the shape of a sword. She dropped its point onto the ground where it steamed reishi, kicking up a small wind at her feet. "I am Babette of clan Ringneck, youngest of six and the only warrior among them! Embassy of the Shinkoku South School Sect and slayer of Hollows. A classically trained swordsman, a homesick daughter, and also tired of being underestimated. I am many things, but if I am a 'queen', then my right to rule is in the scars on my body. My broken bones, my torn muscles, and every drop of blood I have EVER shed! I've been a warrior for a long time. You'll find my reign to be quite unshakeable, IF that is what you're looking for. Otherwise, I expect you to trust I know what I'm saying when I tell you that what you call 'doing anything' is my entire reason for being."

She flicked the tip of her sword up at Shinobu, but held her place. There was no hostility in the gesture, only foreboding warning. "I don't want to 'challenge' you, Shinigami. If you were even listening to me, you would know that there's nothing here to challenge. You're not even a Soul Reaper anymore, but you think you have the authority to amend an age-old doctrine to accommodate your own exile? I will keep searching for the Quincy clans you bartered with, and if they still draw breath, then it is they who will answer to me."

[Gaz]

Kin #11

---

This chick was so full of herself…. Injured and in no fit state to do half the things she claimed she could. Kin was balking at the gall Babette had to say any of this, and then spitting in Shinobou’s face despite the ex-shinigami offering to help her. She ground her teeth as the skin of fire around her body flared in a predominantly red shade, showing the emotions that were rattling around the witch’s head.

“I can point you to the local clan.” Shinobou said as a matter of fact, a sly smile on her face as her eyes looked past the point of the blade to the injured girl that stood before her. “Kaito Ren, a world renown spinal surgeon that lives not too far from here.” She explained, softly putting her fingers on the side of the weapon and pushing it to the side and down as she stood up herself.

“His son recently returned from France; I am expecting a visit from him any day now. Don’t fool yourself Babette of Clan Ringneck, the Quincy are a ghost of what they used to be. You yourself are a testament to that fact.” She said with that same smile but a harsh tone. “Battered and bruised, you are looking for other Quincy, correct? Your clan must be more traditionalist, which explains your poor attitude and over inflated self-importance. The next time you accept a friend of mines aid and then spit at them I will dig your grave myself.”

Kin stopped shaking in anger as she watched the exchange, she had never seen the shrine maiden act this way. It snapped her into a better state of mind as her eyes darted between the two. “Wait Kaito… does that mean Ken is coming round!? HE’S A QUINCY?!” She exclaimed with eyes wide as things from when she was a kid clicked into place as making much more sense now. Her old best friend was a member of a secret society of monster hunters. She knew he had moved to France with his mother but not that he had just come home.

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Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[avidelmv2]

Babette held Shinobu's gaze, unmoved and unphased by their hostility. She meant what she said, she didn't want to challenge this Shinigami, because all their bluster was unimportant to her. They were just a criminal from a callous war machine, showing who they were and what they cared about: Themself. The only thing that really bit Babette was the mention of the Quincy clans' current power, or lack thereof. It was true, they were more or less just a scattering of clans, absorbed by the modern institutions they'd tried to build to hide their true selves from the ignorant and fearful mortal world. Who could have known that a simple effort to curb mass panic would be the death of them? Babette didn't resent the maneuver. Just those that had lost sight of their purpose and mission. She puckered, the thought bitter and heavy in her mouth.

"Good," was her curt response to Shinobu's final offer of aid. "But do not talk to me about 'friends', Shinigami. If this girl was really your friend, she would know who you are, right? At the very least, you would tell her more about the spiritual powers that be. But instead you keep her in the dark, a pawn to make yourself look the hero. All the better to keep safe and cozy in the mortal realm, right? You want her to be able to render proper aid? To make smart promises? Educate her. The longer you keep her in the dark, the more dangerous this becomes for her. Today is a learning moment - you can threaten violence all you want, until you realize this is not a fight, but a war."

Babette dropped her sword from her hand. It scattered into a million blue lights before it touched the floor. "There. All is said and done. If there is not any further business between us, Kin, your hospitality was greatly appreciated. Do not mistake that as for regret for anything I have said here today."

[Gaz]

Kin #12

---

The young witch stood there, her eye twitching with every word spoken by this self-important Quincy. She was still acting superior, high and mighty as if it was her that owned the very tiles her feet were standing on, the air that they all breathed and the time they all existed in. The protective skin of magical spiritual flame that licked around Kin’s skin flared and riled a deep angry red colour.

“I don’t see the need to know about an almost extinct race of idiots that don’t know when to stop fighting a war they have clearly already lost.” She hissed through clenched teeth, her eyes on the still injured Babette. With a forced sigh her eyes shifted to Shinobou. “When I’ve cooled down teach me everything, what the Quincy are and why they are like this… then anything else I should know.” Her voice sounded as if she was still forcing back a rage but at least now the flames had settled down.

The Shrine maiden nodded with a shrug. “There’s not much else to teach, the current quincy clans dedicate themselves to hiding the spiritual world from humans, covering up Hollow attacks and fighting hollows that target humans.” She said before rolling her head on her shoulders to loosen any annoying tension she had gained. Shinobou was letting her fingers rest on the backdoor ready to push it open.

“The Kaito family have cared for this district for generations. If you want to meet them Babette, I have a meeting with their heir on Saturday at eleven pm. You’re welcome to join.” Her hand worked the handle, and it clicked open. “You’ll likely be seeing him around more, Kin. Ken is taking over as the patrolman.”

Kin nodded as she shifted her posture and crossed her arms, flexing the muscles the make them bulge under her T-shirt. “I’d love to catch up with him. And Babette too when she behaves.”

---

Kin: e68819
Shinobou: bbecff

[avidelmv2]

Babette tsked her frustration at Kin, frown deepening by the second. Whatever she had to say, she held it back. There was nothing she could say that they would want to hear anyways it seemed. But to see someone so steeped in this ignorance... Frustrating was an understatement. Babette marched to the open back door, standing by it to hear out Shinobu's invitation. She was quick to answer. "I'll sit in, as a representative from my clan." Once any hanging details about the meeting had been hashed out, she bowed her last goodbyes and sauntered out the door. No spare glance back at Kin or words over her shoulder. Whatever moment there was to reach a compromise between them had passed, unfulfilled. Babette plotted a course back to her headquarters, nursing her still aching arm all the way.

This meeting was a success as reconnaissance still - there were still no allies to be seen in this new land.