tampered | (no subject)

Current Mood: relaxed
Current Location: Underground Lair

(no subject)

When; May 6, evening
Rating; PG-13
Characters; Aizen

single_eyed
Summary; Aizen has some tea with Tesla, while getting him up to speed on the city goings-on.
Log;

Aizen was calmly waiting right where he said he would, when Tesla arrived. He was clad in his undershirt and slacks, the white coat laying on the back of his chair. A motion of his hand caused a teacup to slide to the other side of the small, circular table while a chair seemed to pull, out of it's own volition.

"Hello Tesla," Aizen calmly stated, eyes still closed in relaxation, "A pleasure to see you again."

He opened his eyes and focused them on the Flacion, the moonlight overheard bringing out the unnatural golden hue of his eyes.

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It had not taken long to locate the specified meeting place. Well groomed as always, Tesla paused not too far from Aizen to lower his head in a small bow, giving the reverence that he felt his creator required, no matter what news he had heard of the man's present condition.

"It is a pleasure to be reunited with you as well, sir," he replied, voice warm with a hint of hesitance. It was not often that he had the chance to speak with the overlord face-to-face. It was an honor to have been called there and one that Tesla was certain he would not waste.

Aizen motioned to the chair, then rose to pour them both some tea. He then sat once more and crossed his legs, turning to the arrancar as he approached.

"Please sit. If you don't have a taste for tea, you don't need to drink it. It just gives me a relaxed feeling to be having tea with someone. Very personal. Much better for talking, don't you think?"

He gave his usual empty smile and cut a slice of crumb cake for himself.

"I'm sure Cirucci answered some of your queries in her own way, but is there anything you wish clarification on, first off?"

"Of course, sir," Tesla settled across from the former shinigami, his back held straighter than the chair itself. He gently moved the cup to a more accessible position, letting the tea cool in front of him until it reached a more palatable temperature.

"Cirucci was both helpful and informative. There are very few questions I would bother you with," Tesla folded his gloved hands in front of him on the table, "But, I would first like to offer my thanks to you, sir. I only today learned of Noitora's actions since arriving at the city and I am grateful that he was accepted back into his rank."

"Bane's philosophy was...seductive...to one like Noitora, so prone to violence. But it self-destructive in the end. He learned his lesson. So how have you been acclimating? Well?"

Aizen took a bite of cake and a sip of tea, savoring the taste.

"And what do you have questions on?"

The way Aizen spoke was almost soothing, like a father's gentle tones. It smoothed a lot of Tesla's doubts away. He lifted his cup to his lips, sipping at the tea peacefully.

"I have found my accommodations quite comfortable. However," Tesla returned his cup to the table with little noise, "My siblings have informed me not to expect much in the way of orders to follow. I had hoped that you had something you would like me to do."

He thought for a moment, then rose with his cup and paced the veranda.

"It's been difficult here. Supplies could be much better, but we make due. As for orders, I have a few plans, but they are hampered by several things."

"One, we have no back-up. I have few Espada. This weakens our warring capability."

"Two, I am currently in a state trapped between life and death. My own power is diminished. I hope to rectify is soon, but will most likely need to secure a sacrifice of something."

"Three, I am not certain anything I gather here will apply in my own world."

"Four, there are other beings that may be on par with my power, not even counting the gods of the city."

"For these reasons it is difficult to work at full capacity, you understand? I can only ask that your come to me when needed, and be on your own recognizance at all other times. I more than likely don't need to worry about you causing trouble. You're like Ulqiorra in that regard. More logic-driven."

"Of course," Tesla nodded his assent. Aizen's explanations made sense, even if they were a bit disappointing. The overlord had been a major part of Tesla's world to see him so depreciated was unsettling to say the least. But, Tesla had served the man for too long not to appreciate his skill. Aizen had built up an army once. He could do it again. Tesla's faith quavered, but it did not break.

"Please keep me in mind when you do require anything within my reach, Aizen-sama," Tesla finally amended, bowing his head, slightly, "I will come whenever you need me."

"Of course. Do you have another question?" he said, retaking his seat, "Can I offer you a bit of cake?"

"Ah," Tesla hesitated. Eating human food was still something foreign to him at best. He shifted his cup, shaking his head, "I do not require any cake, sir."

It would be pertinent, after all, to try it alone before trying it in front of Aizen-sama, just in case Tesla was not fond of the taste. He would not want to insult the overlord's choice of food in front of him.

He shifted back in his seat, frowning slightly. Questions. He had asked so many and gotten so many different answers. He wanted, for a second to inquire about all the rumors he had heard, whether from Zael Apollo's bitter words or Cirucci's gossiping tongue, but such idle talk was not suited for Aizen-sama.

"I cannot think of any questions, sir," Tesla's eye shifted to the dark tea in his cup, "Is there anything that you wish to tell me?"

Aizen sensed his trepidation and spoke.

"You DO have questions. Could it be you're afraid of offending me? If you recall, Tesla, I am not a complete tyrant. So long as you do your duty and follow my direct orders, I tend to give some leeway. I find that giving equal parts carrot and stick tends to get better results than barking orders madly."

"Me to you? Hm...You do not have questions about myself and Shinigami Matsumoto Rangiku? The others did."

Tesla nodded slowly at that. As much as he respected Aizen, he would rather not offend the man by asking about things so long ago that were truly little of his business, despite the fact that they gnawed at the back of his mind.

"Yes, I would like to hear your reasoning behind that, sir," he admitted, softly.

"Very well. We agreed to talk one night," he began refilling his tea, "Because she wanted to know why I was doing what I was. My dislike of Soul Society, things like that. A curse had made us human, though we both to engaged to notice. We began to drink. Normally, our constitution is stronger, but humans have much lower tolerance for such things. One thing led to another, and...well, I doubt I need to describe any more."

He took a sip and added some cream, the took another slice of cake.

"Some people have lingering bonds from making love. It's the sense of connection. One I have avoided for most of my existence. My resolved was weakened and I found myself feeling affection for her. A detestable weakness. It became a distraction to the point where I took final action and erased my memories of her. I know this, and of my relationship with her, because I record every day's activities in my journals. I was able to put things together. In any case, I feel nothing but disgust at her. Even more so that she has relegated herself to the status of breeding chamber for the Xulchibara's spawn."

Tesla held his grip on the tea cup, not drinking as Aizen continued his speech. The occurrence was not how he had imagined it, but the story satisfied Tesla's curiosity as to the matter. Of course Aizen-sama was not invulnerable in the city and he had overcome it, both important factors.

"A unfortunate circumstance," Tesla commented, taking another slow sip of his drink, "But a fortuitous ending. Are the other arrancar aware of the circumstances of this event?"

He nodded and crossed his arm, leaning back in his chair.

"Yes, but they each view it in their own way. Cirucci was disgusted, of course. Ulqiorra knew he didn't have any room to talk, given his relation to Nemu. I am not a hollow, and though I am capable of whatever I need to do to accomplish my goals, I am not without emotion. Even your kind feel admiration and camaraderie amongst peers, so long as personalities don't clash. Love is a rather uncomfortable subject amongst arrancar, it would seem."

All these things clicked well with what Tesla knew and understood about his peers, as well as what he had heard from them. However the words Aizen-sama spoke of love were the most poignant.

"I fear love is something we are not comfortable with, as you have likely observed. Obsession, yes. Possession as well. All the negative qualities of the human nature of affection we are capable of," Tesla closed his eye, shaking his head, "But, love is an alien concept. Merely hearing of you under its sway was... disconcerting at best."

"I was no less disconcerted by it, I admit."

Tesla finished the contents of his cup, shifting forward in his chair, "Since you have mentioned it, may I also ask your opinion of Ulquiorra's relationship with the shinigami Kurotsuchi Nemu?"

"My opinion? He gives her no information about us, and will still kill her if ordered to, so I trust him. I believe a leader must be willing to place a certain amount of trust in his subordinates."

He put his fist againt the side of his face and leaned on his elbow, looking off away from Tesla.

"Another things you should know is that I may not be your Aizen. What is the last thing you remember?"

Tesla frowned at the thought. It made sense, though. Others seemed to believe things had changed greatly from their appearance in this world and Aizen-sama likely felt the same.

"The last events I recall were the deaths of the Novena Espada and the shinigami Kuchiki Rukia," Tesla remarked, "Noitora-sama and I had defeated the intruder Yasutora Sado. Do you recall any of this?"

"Ah, you see?"

He took another sip and cracked his neck fitfully. The news of Arroniro's death seemed to have no real impact on him.

"I was teleported here when the Kurosaki boy and his cohorts first arrived. Just after the girl had been settled in her cell. Do you see the difference there?"

Aizen took out a napking and pen, drawing a few diagrams.

"See here...We have a time period. The beginning is the taking of the girl, the end is the death of Arroniro."

--#-------------------

"The # is where I was taken here. My 'timeline'."

----------------------*

"In this timeline of the same period, however, I was not taken. YOU were the one taken later, you being the *. As you can see, the same world, but at different points in time. I believe that for any world, there may in fact be an infinite number of timelines. Just as the others in this city prove an almost infinite plethora of worlds. Worlds without Soul Society, Hollows, or Shinigami. A truly vast "multiverse" with no end."

Tesla frowned at the diagrams. While it made sense to a point, it made little sense that the man sitting across from him was a different Aizen-sama than the one he had served, no matter how distantly, in Hueco Mundo.

"But, you are still Aizen-sama and the only one in this world."

"Yes, merely informing you that events here will probably have little impact on your world. I would, for all purposes, be exactly the same in all timelines. I am still Aizen Sousuke."

Tesla nodded, slowly, "I understand to a point, sir. And, although my actions here may have little effect on the war in my own world, I would still prefer to continue serving here."

"Of course. I expect no less. I was glad we could have this talk, as a speak so little to non-espada. By the way, try to keep an eye or Rori. She's been rather upset as of late."

"Thank you for your time, sir," Tesla bowed his head, rising from the table at the subtle suggestion that the meeting had come to an end, "It was both reassuring and fascinating. I will look out for my fellow arrancar."

"Have a pleasant evening. There shouldn't be any trouble tonight."

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