finer food, but no music

[promittere]

[Well that was...unpleasant, to say the least. Two more deaths, but this time there's the matter of whatever's happening to Seteth as well.

Ignis is trying not to think about it, which means he's thinking about it a lot, which means he spends a few moments pacing and trying to figure out what to do. He thinks back to the party - for as much as you could call it that - that Olivert hosted, and, well... He's not sure how much morale can be boosted, but it's worth a shot, isn't it?

The decorations of the opera house are much simpler this time around, but the food is noticeably better, between the actual operational kitchen and the fact Ignis is much more skilled than Olivert. The food is well made and it even looks delicious from where it's set up, and there's a sign outside the opera house that reads:]

A not as grand feast, for all of us to enjoy.
Attendance is not mandatory, but it might be better than staying alone.

Catered by Ignis Scientia.

[At least there are less rose petals this time.]

Comments

[p_q]

[It's probably going to become some kind of tradition, as much as two weeks can be a tradition and provided he doesn't kick it immediately afterwards, but Ulquiorra hasn't bothered to present himself at the afterparty. He did watch the execution itself intently, perhaps more intently than he did the trial; but the sign put up predictably after simply makes him seek greener and more solitary pastures.

It's not like he'd bother to eat the food anyway, no matter who's cooking it.

So: he can be found -- deadeyeing the afterparty logo before he heads out, prowling about the edges of the city by the fogbank (who needs umbrellas or garbage ponchos in the downpour, not this Hollow; maybe the half-helmet is enough??), or perched up in the clock tower without any particular fanfare.

The latter location peeps might walk into him examining his newly-acquired kitchen knife?? Just FYI. It's a very nice kitchen knife.]

[moonfang]

[speaking of garbage ponchos.....]

Oi, you. Look what I got!

[he holds up a weird pair of... binoculars?]

[p_q]

[Ah, it's the OG garbage poncho. Has he brushed his teeth by now or is Ulquiorra going to have to move upwind.

In the meantime he's just going to stare blankly at the ridiculous not-quite-binoculars Zangetsu is now waving around.]

They don't look like they've come from this city. What have you done now?

[I guess he's just talking to him like the cat that dragged something up on the doorstep now. Considering his antics so far it kind of fits.....]

[moonfang]

[he has!! THANK GOODNESS.]

I got 'em from the shooo---ooop. They're nightvision goggles. With these babies, you can see in the dark.

[p_q]

[That might actually be more shocking than the fact that they once again found the culprit. Extraordinary. Ulquiorra actually pauses for an entire moment to note it.]

The shop... I see. It seems to be filled with so much useless junk.

[He's heard some details about the store inside the post office and its currency, even if he hasn't interacted with it beyond the leftovers. Case in point, here...]

A Hollow needing human technology to navigate the night is ridiculous enough.

[moonfang]

Yeah, yeah. It's dumb as hell, but bitchin' about it isn't gonna change anything. So if I gotta use tech to give me back what I should have anyway, then so be it. [he puts them away] When this rain quits I'm gonna see if I can't find some more of those things and see if I can get a better look at 'em. Wanna come?

[p_q]

It lacks peripheral vision, and leaves one open to being ambushed in several directions. It's much easier to use other senses to make up some of the lack.

[Less than he'd want either way, because everything is nerfed, but he's both stubborn and leery of something so bulky. He might also just be a sight snob.

Anyway, Ulquiorra pauses and considers. Thus far, the creatures seem to be their best shot at uncovering the underbelly of this damned city. And Zangetsu has proven to be a very useful guinea pig-slash-Leroy Jenkins. That being said--]

Why ask me? There's no lack of humans here just as eager as you to jump in headfirst.

[moonfang]

It'd be different if we had some damn flashlights, but we gotta make due with what we have. If you wait fer perfection, you'll be waiting forever.

[Zangetsu is quiet for a moment, thinking. Why DID he ask Ulquiorra....?]

'Cause I don't know 'em. I know you. I don't trust you, but I know how you react to things. [or, rather, how he doesn't] When yer doin' an experiment, you want as few variables as possible. Yer also the only person who didn't freak the fuck out when I pulled that stunt at the trial. I can't stand Aizen, but he made you his scout fer a reason.

[p_q]

There is no such thing as waiting for perfection. But creating it, or something close to it, should be possible.

[OK, let's not turn literal flashlights into a philosophical discussion, why is he like this. It's something to think about, anyway. He's been loathe to rely too much on outside instruments to navigate, but maybe he'll see about improving his own lot as well. At some point.

It's honestly kind of amusing watching the Hollow think over his own impulses.]

... What a commendable attempt at experimentation. I suppose you're useful for that much. [guess why he didn't bother to stop you at trial] At the least, it seems more useful than chasing what those two would like us to chase.

[moonfang]

I never did like doin' what the people in charge want me to do.

[he gestures vaguely]

So, you in, or not?

[p_q]

Of course. That's the type of creature you are.

[That's the long and short of it, and also both the pro and the con of dealing with this particular Hollow, to an almost ridiculous extent. And of course, he'll go gallivanting off whether or not Ulquiorra agrees; but conversely, whether he goes tearing off harebrained has nothing to do with what Ulquiorra himself may or may not do.

He's been accused of being slow to move, but:]

... Only under certain conditions.

[moonfang]

[It's the kind of creature Ichigo is, after all -- he does things his own way.]

Oh? And what're those.

[p_q]

[The kind of creature that's annoying as hell -- it's only slightly less grating in Hollow form, and that only because he doesn't have to deal with the rollercoaster of his spiritual pressure, just as needlessly loud as its owner. Instead, he just has to deal with this.]

There will be no attacking nor interacting with the creatures until or unless absolutely necessary.

If I deem it necessary, I will simply leave. Is that understood?

[Notably, he doesn't bother stipulating whether Zangetsu will or will not retreat at that time. It's not an alliance they're contemplating, but simply tandem action.]

[moonfang]

[Well, Zangetsu's spiritual pressure would be equally loud and oppressive... it's just turned off for the moment]

That seems reasonable, so... deal. I mostly just want to get a better look at them. Figure out if they're corporeal enough to use one of the store's bear traps on.

[p_q]

The individual who calls himself Rembrandt Meijer seems to act as their keeper.

I have my doubts he'll allow you to lay a hand on them, whether or not they are corporeal. But before you get ahead of yourself, it will be necessary to understand the extent of his protection and jurisdiction over them.

[They've probably just been moving through the rain this whole time, Ulquiorra ignoring the ridiculous amount of water hitting them as though he's strolling through someone's living room. But of course, there's nothing particularly living here.

He picks up the pace, moving them ever closer to the clock tower, the needle on the pulse of the city.]

What else have you tried?

[moonfang]

They definitely seem scared of him, but I ain't sure if that's because he's responsible for them, or because they sense his power and fear him.

[But that's a good point. After all, they saw Rembrandt take several blades of light right into his body and keep going. Zangetsu suspects he might be a tough customer even WITH his powers...

Either way, rain sux and he'll be happy to get inside]

Aside from the ice trap at the trial? Nothin'. Oh. I did attack the one in the mail chute, but I missed. I didn't get a chance to try again before Rembrandt put the kibosh on it.

[p_q]

Both, I'd wager. He oversees this city and whatever is in it; the woman is harder to quantify.

[Certainly, the Lady is the one steering the ship, but if there's such a thing as metaphorically steering the vessel with her foot while chugging rum and forgetting to consult her navigator, she's doing an amazing impression of it.

It's quite possibly his least favorite type to deal with. Which is why he rarely does deal with her. By the time they arrive at a properly higher floor of the clock tower, Ulquiorra just settles into pacing -- that was probably his real goal here.]

He may only intervene if he sees the interaction personally, or if some kind of attack is launched. As I recall, the one named Sakaguchi Ango came into contact with them last week and yet did not mention being herded away.

By all accounts, the creatures don't move around a great deal, if at all. At least, it's rare enough for us to encounter them. Therefore--

Finding their haunts may be enough for now.

[moonfang]

[Zangetsu stands a distance from Ulquiorra and shakes off like a dog, also removing the trash-hood from his head]

I still think Rembrandt is actually runnin' the show. He just lets the Bitch think she's in charge. But that's just a theory.

[a GAME theory

He listens to what the Espada has to say, and finds himself agreeing]

Yeah. Ango got outta dodge because the things were trying to get at him. As long as we don't rile them up we should be able to get a good look with the goggles. The best place to look would probably be some of the buildings that are still dark.

afterparty logo, right outside of opera house presumably;

[reanbeans]

[ Well, that was an interesting sight. ]

Ulquiorra, right? Were you planning on heading in?

opera house blues!!!

[p_q]

[He just gets a flat look, but then all of Ulquiorra's looks are flat so it's just down to a few nanodegrees of inclination in terms of difference here. That is to say: why do I have more than three icons.]

I believe I've told you that I don't require human food.

[Normally. Normally he doesn't require human food; and indeed no one's actually seen him interacting with it or actually eating anything since he got here. Is he just snacking on fog or something.]

Is it really so important to you all to gather and lick your wounds that you would want to spend even more time in this ridiculous place?

[reanbeans]

That's not why I thought you could've come. I'm really not that forgetful.

[ As expected, the man has naught but judgment for this.

But, Rean's become accustomed to the man's harsh blunt words and the way he was about things, so he'll easily answer his question. ]

No one said anything about anyone licking their wounds.

But, for some people, in order to regain their strength, they come together, and spend time with each other so that they can face what comes tomorrow. And if that's what helps us get out of here, what works works, right?

[p_q]

Oh? Then is there any circumstance under which you'd think I would join this gathering?

[His tone makes it kind of clear that he himself couldn't think of anything he'd be less likely to do -- as a general rule, he shows up occasionally for the group to note that he's still alive or for their illustrious hosts to do whatever, kind of like a perpetually displeased street cat.

In light of that, if he hadn't met even weirder humans, he would have spent much more of his time contemplating why these ones continued to try and deal with him on their own merits.]

And I will say it: attempting to stick to each other in a mass like this is simply a fool's errand in a game like this. Living things are weak in body and in mind. Offer them enough, push them far enough, and they will consume each other.

Of course, I'm sure there are many who come simply to keep an eye on their targets.

[reanbeans]

I don't know you well enough to presume that well. But the best guess I can make would be if you were tired of being around the other parts of this city and just naturally drifted here to check out what's going on here for a little bit.

[ But what did he know, really? ]

...I don't think that's true for everyone, actually. Sure, humans are susceptible to falling into doing terrible things, but they're not the only ones who are. And while we're at it, just because a living being is capable of doing something horrible doesn't mean they're destined to do that.

For some humans or living beings, they can resist even the most tempting offers, and I think it doesn't do anyone well to be blind of that fact.

[p_q]

No matter how much drifting I did, I wouldn't bother to drift into such a gathering.

[Maybe he's just being obstinate now? That being said, he didn't deny the whimsical drifter life, might as well become a gothic Polish western (that probably doesn't exist but bear with us here)-slash Victorian horror hobby anime. Sure.]

All living creatures have weaknesses; just because they haven't yet encountered the correct situation to crush their resistance says nothing about destiny or anything of the sort. True blindness is being unwilling or unable to acknowledge that the world is always bigger, crueler, and more inevitable than a single being.

But I suppose you'll continue to do so until you experience it personally. I doubt you'll have long to wait.

[reanbeans]

[ Rean just wondered if this guy was really allergic to being around people. He was like the epitome of the ultimate sourpuss...though he's sure it's only natural there were people like that.

...And no offense, but he also wondered what kind of friends he managed to make back home, if any. ]

And that's why I don't think it's necessarily a given that if you place a 'living being' into a stressful situation that everything will go to plan and that they'll end up turning on another person. Even if there's a high likelihood of that happening.

[ There's a pause though. ]

...First, I'd like to say that maybe you shouldn't really assume what people have experienced. I also don't think I've said anything to indicate that I'm not willing to acknowledge that reality could be cruel or otherwise.

There's more to life and living beings than the weakness of other people, deceit, despair, and cruelty—whether that's from the world or something else. While it's good to acknowledge that these things exist, I don't think that always should be the main focus. It'd be a mistake not to recognize that people can prove to emerge from adversity stronger, and with more powerful bonds between each other than before.

And sometimes that can be enough even in the face of what the world may throw at someone.