Video; First Snow

[vectorsnow]

[Today on the network was a blonde looking a little distracted away from the feed. She was holding the SFC, so it was clear either she had accidentally turned on the device, or it was on purpose. A beat before she turned her attention to look directly at it.]

I arrived here a few days ago and have already caught up with what is happening from those staying in the Laboratory up North. My name is Celes Chere. I’m a formal general of the Empire and a member of the Returners. I have combat skills and I can heal. If anyone would like for assistance, while the city is broken, please let me know.

You may find me in the Lab or by the wreckage of this lighthouse.

[Pausing to place a thumb over the feed. Turning the device around before removing her thumb to show the bits of the lighthouse. She didn't want to make people sick!]

I have read everything in the pamphlet and I am wearing the blue tunic as the note requested. If there is anything else, then please fill me in.

[End of transmission.]

Comments

[jagermeister]

You really can be a bitch, y'know that?

_{[He glances up at the sky for a moment while he thinks about it. Who else... Oh!]}

D'ya remember that broad two years ago who was flirting with me or some shit? She's still here.

_{[And it really did surprise him--he didn't expect Selphie of all people to still be in Vatheon.]}

[vectorsnow]

[This time, and only this time will she take that as a sort of compliment.]

And you're rather stubborn.

[Giving a curious look.]

Really? [She's running the names through her head that might have been familiar from then.]

Maybe it's fate. [Teasing. She still remembers telling him that it might be his own shot at those kinds of affections.]

You never told me who she was.

[She might have to shake her hand for being brave and tolerant, especially if she still is trying to hit on him.]

[jagermeister]

_{[Best compliment.]}

You like it.

_{[He thinks about it a bit more, then he's just deciding to take a seat in the sand and scratch the back of his head.]}

Selphie or some shit like that--S'a weird name.

_{[Grimmjow you're not really one to talk.]}

Why, you jealous?

[usedrunic]

I'd like it better without the name calling.

[Did he have to think that hard for what it was?

She balked at hearing the name.

Oh gosh now she feels terrible about the things said long ago. She knew Selphie crushed on a number of people if the thought bubble curse was anything to go by. It also meant Selphie was a lot braver than she looked.]

Surprised actually. Selphie, huh? I'm glad to hear she's fine.

[How many people did she lose while here?]

I'll have to visit her when I get the chance.

[jagermeister]

I get that a lot. _{[A beat.]} Celes.

<sub>[See? See? He's getting there!

Maybe she's just into the dangerous type :3 Meow.]</sub>

Last I saw, she was in a hospital bed or some shit without her eyesight. Dunno how she is now, honestly.

_{[But blind or not she still seemed fine to him!]}

[formalgeneral]

[That wasn't so hard, right?

Giving a smile.]

Much better, Grimmjow.

[She doesn't have any kitty treats to give him. And maybe.

OH dear though. Frowning as she heard that bit of news. Maybe a blind spell? Maybe she was injured gravely? Celes will have to find out.]

I see.

[jagermeister]

_{[Shhh, he's not admitting anything.]}

...Y'know, hearing my name outta you isn't that bad.

_{[He might have to find excuses to get her to say it more often.]}

'sides, a little blindness never killed anybody. Believe me, I've had my arm lopped off by a blind man.

[vectorsnow]

I'll consider using it more often if you return the favor.

[And that will get a raised brow.]

You must lead an interesting life.

[She's still worried! She liked Selphie when they spoke in the past.]

[jagermeister]

...It's been two years since we've seen each other. I think I can do that.

_{[Just for a little while, anyway.]}

If you knew the half of it might actually worry you for once.

<sub>[Humans and their friendships, man. It's so...




weird.]</sub>

[vectorsnow]

I don't think I'll ever get used to time jumping like that. Even back in my own world.

[Long story.]

You're still in one piece. How bad can it be?

[Hey. This was still new for her. She had traveling companions who wound up friends, especially Terra, but with how things ended with the thief of the Returners, she isn't even sure how that will go.]

[jagermeister]

Try living in a place where you don't have a very good concept of time due to the lack of seasons.

_{[Campfire stories, aww yis.]}

Layman's terms? You're talking to a damn ghost.

_{[He ate his c: sort of.]}

[vectorsnow]

[But he's used to that!]

What did you world look like?

[She decided to gracefully squat down to be on his level.]

You don't look like any ghost I've seen.

[jagermeister]

...Honestly? Before Aizen showed up it was mostly just desert. White sand, white trees, rocks and all that shit. Bunch of smaller Hollows, too--smaller than what I used to be.

_{[He lightly taps the mask fragments on his cheek.]}

I died fuck only knows how long ago. ...When I was human, anyway. I can't remember shit. Thing is, when someone dies and they ain't bailed out by shinigami? They turn into Hollow 'n go around devouring souls of the living 'n dead. S'what happened to me.

[vectorsnow]

What did it look like after this Aizen?

[It sounded a lot like where Edgar lived, but lacking color.

She thinks she heard of shinigamis when they were here previously. She wasn't sure if they were the same from his whole though. He also devoured souls.]

What would have happened if a shinigami bailed you out?

[jagermeister]

_{[Give him a few seconds to do a crude drawing of Los Noches before and after Aizen in the sand. It... doesn't really last too long though thanks to the waves trying to erase it every time.]}

Basically he turned it into some fortress. I never went too close to it before him, but he took control of it from the old king--how, I have no idea.

_{[Then he scowls slightly.]}

I wouldn't be who I am today, for one. For all I know I could've been reincarnated or some shit. I fought to get where I am now.

[vectorsnow]

[Gold star for trying. And a fortress would make sense if one was preparing for an attack on the home front.

Celes isn't sure what to say to the next part either. She did enjoy some of their interesting conversations and actually liked having him as an ally, but he did consume souls to get to what he was. And it sounds normal for his world. Who was she to judge if it was normal? But it was still wrong.

As long as he doesn't try here, then she won't say or do anything about it.]

Do all Hollows have a bone fragment on their head?

[jagermeister]

Yeah--Actually, it's a mask. Whenever you get a Hollow, a mask forms outta what's left of the hearts they had as humans. It protects 'em. Hides their real faces--sometimes you can see who they were if you're lucky enough to break their mask, but it usually grows right back.

_{[He grabs the edge of his mask, but he doesn't pull on it. That'd just end up hurting like a bitch >:]}

Then you got Arrancar like me. They're Hollow that had their masks removed either willingly or by force.

_{[...He's not even sure why he's telling her all of this. Maybe it's just nice to have someone to talk to? Maybe it's because it's her. Who knows?]}

When you're a Hollow, sometimes you get to the point where human souls ain't enough and you start eatin' your own kind. Once you get there, you gotta eat or be eaten. Sometimes you get lucky and once you eat enough of 'em, you evolve from a Gillian to an Adjuchas, 'n if you're even luckier, you become a Vasto Lorde. 'Course if you get a chunk taken outta you by another guy, bam. You're stuck the way you are.

_[Nomnomnom.]

[vectorsnow]

[What's on his face is what was left of his heart, then?

It seems...almost sad.]

It sounds lonely.

[She stretched out her arm as if she was considering touching the stone fragment on his face, but settling on just giving him a nudge against his shoulder.]

You aren't normally this talkative. It's not bad.

[Trying to give a smile as she stored the information he gave. There were a billion questions already bubbling up, but she didn't want to intrude. This was personal, and he wasn't really so sharing. If she pushed, he might just shut down.]

Is that why you're stuck the way you are? [Teasing a little bit. She has a feeling all of that pride was because he didn't have a chunk bit out of him.]

Do all Hollows have a hole?

[jagermeister]

Lonely? Nah. I was happier than a clam. I'm still gonna be the king someday.

_{[But that shoulder nudge... Yeah, he's going to give one right back with a grin.]}

You'd rather sit around with a giant cat and have people question your sanity? _{[He took the chunks out of everyone else. He's still not really sorry about that, Di-roy. At least he got a badass scar out of it.]}

Yup. Right smack in the middle of their chests. It just moves when you become an Arrancar.

[vectorsnow]

I think they would question my patience first.

[Anyone who is willing to put up with him must have a large amount of it!

And still...not touching it. The closest she ever have gotten was when she pulled out that prehistoric critter out of it. Standing up and stretching out before offering her hand to help him up.]

Do they serve a purpose?

[jagermeister]

Blessing of a goddamn saint.

<sub>[Gosh Celes, it's not like it'll your hand off.

Well.

Grimmjow would probably bitch and throw a hissy fit, but yeah.]</sub>

As far as I know s'just a way of showing that we lost the heart. I ain't a biologist. _{[A beat, then after a thought;]} I can eat just fine, so s'not really hindering anything.

[vectorsnow]

[It's weird. How is it even clean in there?]

Don't you still have one?

[A point to his mask.] At least a fragment of one.

[And she's not going to question body parts and logic with that hole. She was in a coma for a year and was able to walk around perfectly normal mere moments after waking up.]

[jagermeister]

<sub>[Magic.

That next question gets some hesitation.]</sub>

...Gimme your hand.

[vectorsnow]

[Was he shutting down already?

She is just thinking that he wanted a hand up. Offering her hand.]

Here.

[jagermeister]

_{[And now he's going to just sort of take it by the wrist and put it over where his heart is.]}

You tell me.

_{[He's never really paid attention >: he just knows he has blood pumping otherwise he'd look like Ulquiorra and he doesn't want that.]}