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Post by Lt. Nanao Ise on Sept 26, 2024 19:59:36 GMT -6
A new voice joined them. “I think it’s about time luck favored us for something, so I’m not going to question it,” Nanao huffed as she entered the room, carrying a tray of food. She glared at her captain. “And you’re not going to either or I’ll have Isane give you the pox if something goes wrong.”
Shunsui laughed as he tilted his hat down. “Someone’s got her priorities a little skewed this afternoon. I’ll agree to enjoying lady luck’s little favor but why would you pick on me if it goes wrong? I don’t control the realms.”
“Oh, so you admit it?” Nanao demanded. She set the tray down and pushed her glasses up. “Congratulations on your new decision.”
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Sept 26, 2024 20:04:46 GMT -6
Juushiro lowered his head to hide a smile as his old friend muttered what sounded like a clumsy excuse below his breath. It seemed something had shifted between his old friend and his lieutenant after that return from Hueco Mundo three days ago. The two weren’t talking much, but the tension between them didn’t seem antagonistic. And to make matters more interesting, it seemed the balance had shifted.
Juushiro calmed his expression as Nanao turned to him.
Her severe face gentled into a welcoming smile, the same one she had used when he entered the office earlier. “Please try to eat it all. You’re still recovering. And if he doesn’t eat,” she jabbed a finger at her captain, “please let me know.”
Juushiro chuckled. “Don’t worry about that while I’m here, Nanao. I, of all people, know the importance of nutrition especially at these times."
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Sept 26, 2024 23:03:11 GMT -6
Shunsui cleared his throat and rose from his chair. “A moment before you go, Nanao-chan. I have some books I need to return to the archives.”
“Alright,” she stated, twisting her body to avoid his attempt to grab her arm, “where are they?”
Shunsui put the hand on his hat. “Well, they're over here, but let me double check them.” He walked to the other side of the room, pushing a stack of papers on a cabinet to one side.
Nanao leaned over him. “Should I file those?” she asked, looking at the reports he’d set to one side.
He shook his head. “Not yet. I’m using them for something else.” She nodded and he opened the first book, pulling out a couple sheets of paper, before holding it out to her. “That's the first one empty of all my dirty notes. Let's see what's in the next one." He picked it up.
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Post by Lt. Nanao Ise on Oct 10, 2024 18:43:52 GMT -6
She snatched the book from his hands to stop his antics. Really, she was torn between her usual exasperation and growing amusement that he continued to do this even after all the complications thrown their way.
After nearly giving up.
“Quit stalling, idiot. We don’t have time for this, as you love to point out.”
Shunsui chuckled and lowered his hat. “Then did you solve the problem you took off my hands?”
Nanao pushed her glasses up to hide a small smile. “I told you that I could take on something like this, and I meant it. I didn’t leave your side when you took on this role and I won’t now when it’s gotten this difficult.”
“You can still ask for help, I hope you know.”
Nanao grabbed the next book from him. “Unlike the idiot before me, I know that, and if I need it, I’ll let you know. I told you it would be done before the deadline, now give me the rest of the books you’re holding.”
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Oct 10, 2024 20:46:51 GMT -6
Juushiro turned back to his friend as Nanao exited the room with another demand to eat their meals. Something had happened between them in the recent days, but he wondered if he should ask. It became all the more apparent when Shunsui remained by the cabinet for a few more moments, tapping his fingers all the while.
Maybe a hint would help.
He set his document down. “You know, whatever it is that you have Nanao working on, will go smoothly, so don’t worry about it.”
Shunsui chuckled as he returned to his seat. “What I have her working on? More like what she took out from under me when I returned from that debacle in Las Noches. She was a woman on a mission and I was the fool in her way. It’s simple as that.” He leaned on his steepled hands. “No, the question is if I can keep up with her.”
Juushiro shook his head. “Is it really a competition?”
“Only the best one I could be a part of, if she allows it,” Shunsui murmured, eyes hidden behind his hat.
Juushiro blinked, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him. It seemed that Shunsui, the man who had been chasing skirts since they’d joined the academy, was acting unsure of himself. Yes, in the past, until recently, Nanao had always spurned his affections, but his old friend had never let that phase him for long. And he certainly wouldn’t have hesitated like this.
He smiled and lifted his teacup, keeping the tentative conclusion to himself. He didn’t want to ruin it, and the change seemed to ease the care on his friend’s shoulders.
“Well, you won’t get anywhere if you don’t eat like she asked and neither will we with this proofreading. I thought you wanted this draft finished before the next captains meeting.”
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Oct 10, 2024 21:11:49 GMT -6
Shunsui rubbed his chin as he grinned a bit. “Well, I had thought to ask for your opinion before going so far as to correcting any errors, but you’re skipping ahead of me. I wonder, does everyone here have a case of the rushes after the war?”
“I’m not sure about that,” Juushiro replied evenly. “I know some people who wish to only stop time and slow down to catch up to everything they left behind, but sometimes running forward helps, too. And in this case,” he smiled at his friend, “I don’t think you should go pointing fingers at anyone. This proposal is going to turn the whole society on its head.”
“Well,” Shunsui murmured, looking a little sheepish now, “that is the point, and as you and I both know, as many others outside of this room know, it has been a long time coming.”
Juushiro inclined his head in agreement before taking another sip. “It won’t be easy. Even now. And even if it is necessary for this generation and the future to come.”
This time, the commander smirked. “Well then, I’m glad it’s not a proposal, Juu-chan. As the leader of society, appointed by the Soul King himself, whether or not I wanted the job, it’s a command. One of the highest order. This will happen and the new generation going into the academy will be one of the first groups to bear the brunt of that change." He looked down to his long document, sighing again. “But if I don’t do it right, Old Man Yamamoto will haunt me from his grave for destroying his new work with this nonsense.”
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Oct 10, 2024 21:36:51 GMT -6
Juushiro set his cup down. “Shunsui, no other man could actually follow through with this kind of decision, not in the careful manner you’ve set it out to be.”
“Ha!” his old friend scoffed, waving a hand as he lifted his own teacup. “Give it time, Juushiro. You would have sent something like this my way soon enough. I just got ahead of you, and you’re not the only one.”
Juushiro shook his head. “I disagree and I suspect that’s why Nanao stepped up, too. The only people who may have proposed something like this, myself included, wouldn’t have considered this many details. They are either too close to one side of the matter and would not be able to set those customs aside, no matter the harm caused by them. Or,” he paused, “they wouldn’t care to get involved with it until they were dragged into it, such as Isshin, Urahara and Yoruichi’s household, extended included.”
“Way to call me out on one of my first nominations,” his old friend chuckled, waving his hand again. “I've yet to hear your excuse."
Juushiro lowered his head. "I have grown too accustomed to balancing my efforts of change with the comfort and peace of the whole society. I have taken small steps, constantly limiting any reckless actions that would shake the foundations unless there was something dire at stake." He closed his eyes. "And I cannot blame my weakness on my illness alone."
He opened his eyes as Shunsui rose from his chair and walked to the cabinet again. "I thought Nanao took your drink away after what happened in Las Noches."
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Post by Commander Shunsui Kyoraku on Oct 10, 2024 21:50:40 GMT -6
"She left me my best because she's just that generous," Shunsui murmured. He lifted the bottle. "Don't blame yourself too much, Juu-chan. If I was the only one, I’d have passed this long ago, but I hesitated just like all of you that may have considered it because of my own weaknesses." He popped the lid and took out a couple saucers, setting one before each of them. "I never wanted to be a leader. I drew people to me like bees to honey, moths going to a flame, and I had a good knack for knowing how to push someone forward. But I didn't want to use my time like that. I was happy enjoying life in all its simple pleasures and taking up my blade and my evilness to protect that. The Soul King electing me after Yamamoto passed away was the scariest, saddest moment of my life so far. When I knew that all the things Yamamoto had taught us were true. When I knew the life I searched for would always be out of my reach. And how much of a lie it was that I even sought it when I play a fool to the world." "Shunsui...." The commander gazed into the clear liquid, watching the flowers bloom on the bottom of the saucer he had chosen, not responding... After some time, Juushiro broke it. “We all need a final push forward to greatness, your own words, my friend," he retorted gently. Forgiving him. Shunsui chuckled, closing his eyes, as he slowly drank the first cup down to the dregs. "It's not fair to use my own words against me now of all times, Juushiro." He tipped his hat up. "Let's get this done so we can shock the Gotei and then the rest of Soul Society and our friends after.” He poured his friend another glass. “There will be no revival of Central 46, and there will be no more absolute power but for the flimsy control vested in my hands to oversee it all by the Soul King." He lifted it high. "As long as I am in this seat, I will see a new balance struck and bear the consequences for disturbing the order of our ancestors.” Whether this threat from Las Noches destroyed his comrades' hope and newfound courage, or if his change or the threat created monsters of them, he would see this through. To the bitter end. - END RP - "An Unlikely Pair" |
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