❝ Well, that's a shame, ❞ Shinji drawls listlessly, balanced on one foot to scratch that ankle with the talons of the other. It sounds like bone scraping against bone. ❝ Was kinda hopin' ya could solve a li'l riddle fer me. ❞
" Arguing with those who see your kind as lesser, as discardable, as worth of destruction leads to nought but sadness on your side, Celeste. Heed it, as much as you do not want for it. "
❝ THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAS TRIED TO EAT ME. Something about reiatsu and rambling that mine was ODD but STRONG. It was such a pain to get rid of... IT. ❞
❝ You need not worry for Ulquiorra. I’m certain he will return soon. ❞ Ashitaka told Celeste, calmly and reassuringly. Once again, Ulquiorra and Yammy had left Hueco Mundo and gone to the World of the Living, as per Aizen’s orders. He knew very well that she was not Ulquiorra’s Fraccion. The Quatro claimed none. However, Ashitaka was a keen observer, and he would be blind to not see that she had a special sort of devotion to him. This fascinated Ashitaka, who had taken a great interest in studying how Hollow interacted with each other. Celeste was one of his favorites, because of how non-violent she was. She was proof that Hollow were not monsters.
What a needless thing to say to him. Interactions flowing left and right, engagements between soldiers of 'different kinds', little does he feel like interfering in their quarrels, little does he indulge in the mental reproach of what people want to hold for their evening strive, trying to figure out which barriers and boundaries should never be crossed. Nevertheless, Jugram knows just about the whispers and murmurs that fill the grandness of the castle, and yet?
As long as no orders had been issued, he would not indulge nor include himself in it all. " I am supposed to acknowledge that. " [ why? ] In a sense, he had not any thought towards the Arrancar. Had not brought her here, had only permitted existence inside the fortress of Silbern and would continue to permit so if she behaved - like he had told her before. Engagements with those Ritter he called closer comrades to his person all was known, yet felt and meant little to nothing if they did not search for their Grandmaster's aid in matters of personal value.
Yet if approached directly? He could at the very least - indulge.
" You call yourself an Oracle, do you not? " Of course, he was aware. " Now then, I am willing to listen. What is it then, that makes you say that our sacred grounds are filled with dread? "
Made of bone is a small boar charm, intended to protect ; she had spent hours in the night whittling it down to resemble such a beast, mighty but noble. It's presented to him with the same, sunny warmth she gives nearly all.
❝ M... Merry Christ- Mas, Tesla! ❞
"Oh! Celeste, you didn't have to...!"
Excited, he takes the charm, unaware of its protective properties, simply admiring her craftsmanship. Smile is kind, and he offers a bow to the young woman.
"Thank you so much, Dollface. Should I carry it around with me? Or keep it at home? Oh! I should give you your gift now, too huh?"
❝ I only caught the tail end of things, ❞ She sighs, claws scratching through wild hair, ❝ But Kira - Sama is ... certainly treating us differently. Like we haven't done what we can to make him feel welcome ... ❞
❝ -- then it seems as if I must have a conversation to get to the bottom of this to try to determine what, specifically, is the issue. ❞
Speaking with Izuru could potentially be a gamble all its own. Gin had made certain things clear, and he was well aware of the simple fact that his partner may indeed take it in the wrong way if he were to be too firm about it. But it must have been significant for Celeste to come speak with him about this.
❝ Is there anything else, Celeste? Or shall I simply go speak with Tesla and Kira-kun alike? I rather imagine there must be something else going on; I had thought that you three were growing close to one another. ❞
HER FEATHERS , ALMOST DROOPED AND PATHETIC . a dim light as a dying star's , distant and lusterless , her eyes . the jailer could break even the strongest , the wholesome , the noble , it seemed . he keeps anything so further demoralizing to himself , however . she has taken so much . and what he could say would shatter her , no doubt . for what he had given her , well , many others within the palace would have considered it a mercy . to this day , he hadn't laid a single finger , nor a weapon's blade upon her . and that was more to say for others .
" perhaps . " he says with a click of his tongue . " the quincy have aimed their sights elsewhere than your kind , for the time being . what our ranks have been bolstered with now , the invasion of your home realm isn't as high as a priority . of course , it has been conquered , in pieces . given more time , it won't be long for the rest of it to fall beneath my majesty's banners .
what say you , then ? my proposition always stands : swear fealty , and you will be spared , as i have spared you . "
@fenixias replied: ❝ No! No, that is not at all what I am trying to do!!! I just mean, like ... Tesla is a big pig, and Ulquiorra is a bat, but you are just ... a guy, I think. ❞
Oh, he's thinking really, really hard about this one. After a hot minute, he realizes that he'd never exactly looked at himself in a mirror while he was a Vasto Lorde, and he shrugs at her.
❝ Guess 'm just a guy! But ask Aizen────he's a pair'a smarty pants, maybe he'll know...an', uh. If ya find out, come back an' tell me. ❞ He's not about to make himself look stupid by asking Aizen what the hell he's supposed to be.