tampered | (no subject)

Current Mood: optimistic
Current Location: Underground Lair

(no subject)

When; Jan. 05, night
Ratings; Pg-13 at the least.
Characters; Aizen

10thdiv_haineko
Summary; Aizen invites Rangiku to dinner at his dwelling place.
Log;

The interior of Aizen's place seemed almost like a copy of his Hueco Mundo home. Lots of open space, high ceilings, and sturdy architecture. A massive view screen took up a large portion of one wall, with several smaller couches in front of it. Posts from the day could be seen glowing on it.

Aizen stood in front of small, ornate table with a plethora of Italian food on it. It was circular , with two chairs on either side.

"Greetings, Rangiku," he said, using his reiatsu to lower a pedestal that would bring her up to the dining area.

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She blinked and shifted in her seat. "That isn't necessary... " If he noticed her minor discomfort, it was just a sign of how much things had been getting to her. "Everything looks wonderful."

"I just wanted you as comfortable as possible," he said, moving back to his seat.

He took several kinds of food onto his plate, along with several bread rolls, then cracked open two bottles of red wine. A glass was poured for each of them.

"So...have there been any major problems tonight?"

She followed suit, covering her plate with a decent amount of food. Her work during the day had made her quite hungry, and her stomach seemed thrilled that its needs were going to be met. The wine was just as welcome as the food.

After a sip, she shrugged a little. "I haven't been around as much today, so I haven't heard anything, really. Have there been any on your end?"

Aizen slowly buttered one of his rolls while addressing her.

"Aside from the usual petty threats? The same old thing. Cirucci said you wanted to spar with her. Byakuya and I don't get along. Unohana deeply questioned me as to my intentions with you. I spoke down to the Red God again. The normal stuff I do."

He took a long sip of his wine and took a few bites of fettucine.

"Probably a lot of what you've been getting. And of course, the situation with Gin."

The mention of Gin sent her gaze down to the plate in front of her. "You make it all sound so simple." A roll was already gone and she'd started on some salad. "It looks like you've complicated your life here by spending time with me..."

"It's alright. I've been rather inactive as of late, anyway. It doesn't bother me. I enjoy this feeling. It's very pleasant to be around you."

He enjoy the last of the chicken marsala on his plate and pours himself a new glass of wine.

"Let me ask you something, Rangiku. We all grew up in similar circumstances. I, myself, hail from the last district. We are bound, in a way, by shared experience...Do you see any aspects of Gin in me? Is that the reason you enjoy being near me?"

Her own glass was finished as well, but she didn't pay any attention to it. Lips pursed a little, she found herself thinking back to her time in some of the slums of Rukongai. Memories from then weren't something she bothered thinking about very often...

"I don't see as much of Gin in you as some might. I like being around you for many reasons... none of which have anything to do with Gin."

He smiled in way that might or might not be perceptible to her, then impaled a bit of manicotti before popping it into his mouth with a chunk of butter roll. He garnished his salad with a few ingredients and some vinegarete dressing, then turned to her.

"I see. Tell me, Rangiku. Do you wish to become the best shinigami you can be?"

Her smile twitched up a little. "Of course. I'm always striving to be more. Kuchiki-taichou told me he hopes he's around the day I become a captain..." The 'what-if' parts didn't get mentioned. "I've been getting closer and closer to breaking through the limits placed on all of us outside of Seireitei. I'm almost there..."

"Well then," he sipped the last of another glass of wine, "Would you like assistance in shattering those limits? In training far past them?"

He finished the last of his main course and reached over, bringing back a large slice of raspberry cheesecake.

"I'd be more than happy to help train you up a bit."

Her own wine glass had just been refilled, which she sipped at as she thought. The offer had been unexpected and she wasn't sure what to say. She spent a few moments finishing off some more of her dinner before speaking again.

"How would you propose doing that?"

"I would accompany you to the lowest, most dangerous area in the underground I have been able to find, where we would set up camp for two days. You see, the secret to breaking those limits is the same with all reserves of powers. It's for emergencies. Just like adrenaline in humans. You have to be put in true danger for it to be of use."

He poured another glass for himself and took a few more bites of dessert.

"Naturally, I will be there to prevent any fatal injuries."

Stomach finally sated enough to calm down, she reached for her own piece of cheesecake. She was reluctant to ask for him to do this, but it wasn't because of him. She'd always been stubborn; wanting to try her damndest to do something before asking for help.

"I know I'll never be as powerful as you are, but I want something I can rely on outside of emergencies as well."

Haineko rumbled a quiet comment into her mind.

"Once you've unlocked that door, you can call on the power more easily in a normal situation."

He nudged the cheesecake closer to her.

"You don't have to decide right away. I just wanted to throw that out for you to think about later."

"I'll think about it, but not until some things die down around here. I wouldn't go into such training with so many things on my mind." Between the wine, the wonderful food, and her companion, she was in a much better mood now than she'd been in in over a week.

"What do I need to know about your little pet before I practice on her?"

"Of course. Understandable."

"Well, you should know she doesn't like you very much. She's been a bit jealous, you see. She hates if I don't pay attention to her for too long."

"I know she doesn't like me. It's very mutual. Why do you think I asked if she wanted to spar?" The smile turned wicked. "She needs to understand a few things about me. I figured that this was the best way to teach her."

The cheesecake didn't last too long, so she opted for another glass of wine.

"Jealousy is a very base human emotion... I suppose I thought your arrancar to be beyond something like that."

"Most of the female arrancar seem to have the same problem. A bit of an idol complex seems to run among them. It's almost like in nature. They tend to gravitate toward the most powerful males in the area."

He quickly refilled her glass.

"Really? I thought you would think otherwise. After all, Hollows are the MOST base personification of human emotions. Humans are jealous, greedy, resourceful, and wish to survive at all costs. But their emotions are overridden by instinct while the mask is on."

"Hollows are corrupt souls. Nothing more." She bowed her head to him, thanking him for the wine. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to live among such people. I'm sure it drives you to distraction at times."

"That sounds like denial. You've seen for yourself that they can be more. Do you consider the young Nell in that classification, too? Just a corrupt monster like the rest?"

He finished the last of his meal and wine, placing them aside.

"The secret is to have no fear of them. Hollows thrive on fear or any other negative human emotion."

"I didn't say they were monsters, did I? Nell is a special case. She sees things so... cleanly. It's refreshing." Her smile had faded by now. "Don't put words in my mouth." The glass of wine was emptied quickly and moved out of hands reach. At times, it was far too easy for her to fall into old habits...

"I don't fear them. I haven't in over a century. I do have a healthy respect of them, though."

Aizen considering questioning her further on her view of Hollow nature, but he resisted his natural urge to get into a debate.

"In any case, now that we've had a good meal, would you care to dance?"

The subject change took her by surprise. For once, he wasn't going to try and goad her into an arguement?

With a slight shake of her head, she uncrossed her legs and stood, looking over at him. "I think I'l like that..."

He extended his arm toward the far wall and released a burst of reiatsu, unclipping several latches on the wall, which opened two doors that covered large speakers. Soft waltz music began to echo through the large room.

"My lady," he said, extending his hand for hers.

Being treated so genteely always threw her off a little. She wasn't the kind of girl that did things like this too often. She took his hand and moved closer to him.

"I'm impressed."