Shinigami Savant Quest #72

You are Kusajishi Riku, Captain of the Seireitei's Ninth Division, and you've just borne witness to what may have been the most awkward reunion in the Japanese afterlife's history. You've achieved a hard-won victory against the reigai copy of Captain Unohana that saw you essentially use the rapid-movement equivalent of dividing by zero: it required you to perform a flat thrust with shunpō while in the middle of performing iai with hirenkyaku. Though your brain wasn't fast enough to process the rapid change in position and you lost sight of the reigai just before hitting her, she never saw you coming either.

Afterwards, however, three Sternritter fell unceremoniously from the sky and crash-landed atop their former comrade Bambietta. In the ensuing argument your inner hollow lost patience, and you allowed her to manifest and share her thoughts with the quite-probably insane trio.

“I'm tired of this horseshit,” Rosa sighs, staring hard at her predecessors. “We're gonna sit down for tea and talk this over like reasonable adults for once. There a tea place near here?”

“A very nice one that I am quite fond of,” Yamamoto nods thoughtfully.

“Then we'll go there.”

Yamamoto's expression darkens. “Captain Kusajishi just destroyed it.”

Oh, the Old Man's not going to be happy about this. And he was JUST starting to get over the rash of foowear-theft incidents that began during your training of Gin and Rangiku.

“Then we'll find another one,” Rosa insists, glancing over her shoulder at a jumpy Candice before rejoining your soul. “And would you please put on a real fucking shirt!?”

Rosa de-manifests herself unceremoniously, leaving nothing by silence in her wake: a silence you're only too eager to break.

“Well,” you say with a clap of your hands, “I think we should do what the lady says. If you've never seen what happens when a personification of rage actually gets angrier you probably want to keep it that way.”
>1/3

“Head Captain, you know this part of town better than we do. Any recommendations?” Your wife joins you after stooping low to retrieve and pocket the soul pill that contains reigai-Unohana's 'pattern', the information that made her a true copy rather than just a generic mod soul piloting a body that looked like Unohana's. Thankfully it seems that the newcomers pay it no mind: you don't doubt that as quincy they can feel something is amiss, but they don't have to know the details.

Old Man Yamamoto nods slowly. You can tell that his prolonged fight against the reigai of his brightest students as well as his oldest comrade took much more out of him than he's admitting. In fact, you're willing to bet that all three of the Captains present are in similar positions of trying not to show any evidence of weakness.

“There is a Cantonese restaurant near here that has good tea. If you would be so kind as to follow me.”

With that the old man turns his back on you, walking away from the scene of your battle's brutal conclusion with his zanpakuto back to its old disguise as a walking stick. Unlike the Sternritter who follow your seemingly-unlikely party, Yamamoto actually looks every bit of his thousand-plus years of age as he moves... until he uses shunpō.

“The old coot can move when he wants,” Apacci observes with a smirk, managing to keep up easily with the pace. “Never had 'im pinned for being quick on his feet.”

“In his prime his shunpō was a match for any shinigami's,” Yoruichi explains, a hint of disappointment creeping into her voice. “It's sad, I'll never be able to see how mine stacks up.”

“Uh, hey,” the blonde Sternritter interrupts, “where're you taking us?”
>2/?

You can see what looks like a restaurant along this very street, and the Head Captain has come to a stop in front of it seemingly as if to check whether it's open despite the chaos around. After knocking at the door the proprietor sees who it is, and if he wasn't open before he certainly is now.

“Here, actually,” you reply.

The interior of the restaurant reminds you strongly of Hong Kong, circa 1970 or so: a time when the city's reformist Governor led a transformation from an industrial economy to a global financial center, but where that transformation wasn't quite completed yet. It was a golden age of Hong Kong cinema, with classics like The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, and The Private Eyes immortalizing a time of skyscrapers, Triads, and traffic. Traces of old-fashioned architecture and craftsmanship clash with fixtures and furnishings that were considered “progressive” some thirty years ago, and if there wasn't a faint trace of tobacco smoke to each breath you draw in here you could certainly be forgiven for imagining it.

It's almost a relief to know that despite the slow changes to the cultural fabric of the Seireitei you've witnessed over the last two hundred years there are still throwbacks like this, where the waiters still bring you good tea with your meal for free, without you having to ask. 'Modernity' and 'convenience' be damned, this is just how things should be done.

“Okay, this is nice,” the Sternritter who Bambi identified as Liltotto admits. “Though I feel like someone's going to gut-shot me under the table in here.”

“Oh, it's atmospheric alright,” you wife smiles, drinking the place up. Savoring it, really. “My kinda place. I didn't realize you went in for this sorta thing, Yamamoto.”
>3/4

“Call me old-fashioned, but I believe there are certain traditions which must be observed. This may not be the most widely lauded eating establishment in the Seireitei, but all praise is faint if one departs from one's roots to attain it.”

>Hit the Sternritter hard with an ultimatum: cooperate or fight.
>Ask them why they serve Aizen, try and learn their motivations.
>Explain the situation behind the shinigami/arrancar alliance.
>Ask Bambi to make her 'alliance' with your faction official.
>Other?

>Ask them why they serve Aizen, try and learn their motivations.
>Explain the situation behind the shinigami/arrancar alliance
You are all hundreds of years old and goddamn adults for most of it.
If you can't have a casual conversation with your 'enemy', get the fuck outta here.

>>Ask them why they serve Aizen, try and learn their motivations.
>>Explain the situation behind the shinigami/arrancar alliance.

>Ask them why they serve Aizen, try and learn their motivations.
So is it just because he ate your king or are you actually being paid?

>Ask them why they serve Aizen, try and learn their motivations.
>Explain the situation behind the shinigami/arrancar alliance.

>>Ask them why they serve Aizen, try and learn their motivations.
>>Explain the situation behind the shinigami/arrancar alliance.

>How do you feel about Aizen? Hate him? Love him? what's your personal opinion about the shimigami who ate Yhwach?
>What if I told you that Aizen isn't as invincible as he claims to be?
>Ask them why they serve Aizen, try and learn their motivations.
I can't help but imagine this scene play this through like in "The Godfather", where the shimigami are offering them a deal they "can't refuse" or something like that.

>writing

>What was life like in Silbern before Aizen made it his squatting grounds?
>what's your own personal opinion of your new overlord Aizen?

There are four tables inside that have been pushed together to seat all of you comfortably. Predictably the four Sternritter sit on one side, with McAllon across from the Head Captain, Liltotto across from Apacci, Candice across from Yoruichi to your immediate left, and a slightly uncomfortable-looking Bambietta across from you at the far right end. It seems you're absolutely not the only one to notice the line being drawn here.

Your tea soon arrives, and Yoruichi places orders for a few light rice and noodle dishes as a courtesy: this is a restaurant after all, and forcing them to open during a crisis only to not order any food at all would be unthinkable to most shinigami. And for a Captain's salary treating a few unexpected visitors is hardly an issue, so long as they don't all eat the way you and Yoruichi do.

“That really makes me wonder,” you begin, sipping lightly at the small cup of tea. “Why did you four keep serving Aizen anyway? Good pay, good benefits... some misplaced sense of loyalty?”

“Why would we tell you that?” McAllon counters with a frown. “We're still enemies you know. We're under no obligation to answer any questions you ask us.”

“Likewise,” Yoruichi quickly responds. “You're curious. You want answers. But we want answers too.”

As Candice waves her hand in front of her face, having immediately scalded her tongue on her tea, her two companions share a nervous glance. Bambietta sighs, holding her head in her remaining hand.

“They're right. It's not a discussion if you clam up.”

“It varies,” McAllon admits, not looking at anyone in particular. “Some of us seemed to take to his attitude immediately, others saw him as an inheritor of sorts. Others still were exposed to that damn sword of his.”

“Kyōka Suigetsu strikes again,” Apacci mutters darkly. “What a little bitch.”
>1/2

Based Apacci

“I can't agree more,” Liltotto replies calmly. “However it makes him an especially dangerous little bitch.”

“And his reiatsu is incredible on top of it,” Bambi adds, draining her own cup of tea at the thought.

McAllon sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “You don't know the half of it. He's actually gotten stronger since he made his betrayal of the shinigami known. I'm not sure any of us could take him even if we somehow got him to fight fair.”

“So now it's our turn, right?” Candice asks, looking up and down the row of figures in white seated across from her. “How the hell are the shinigami working with hollows anyway?”

“We're allies,” you explain rather simply. “It's a long and complicated story, but at some point along the line a few of us decided that what you are doesn't matter as much as what you're like.”

“The hell does that mean?”

“It means,” Apacci growls in a dangerous tone, “that it doesn't matter who's a shinigami and who's an arrancar if our goals are the same.”

“And what exactly are your goals?” Liltotto presses.

>Destroy what must be destroyed.
>Protect what must be protected.
>Support those who deserve better.
>Other

As always, write-in language is encouraged.

Make sure justice is done

>Protect what must be protected.
>Support those who deserve better.
To protect are freinds and family and help them grow and prosper. To bring a better future than we currently have. Let's face despite all his strength Aizen is horrible person and a pretty shitty leader, since he'd rather throw away people than help them improve. Because to him people are no more than tools to be used and discarded. That speak of an inherent flaw in his character and mental functions.

>>Protect what must be protected.

>Protect what must be protected.
>Support those who deserve better.

To protect the world from devastation

>Protect what must be protected.
>Support those who deserve better.

>To make sure that my world, and the people I choose to share it with, remains safe.

To unite all people within our nation,

To sort shit out and look good while doing it...
To do what needs to be done...
To recklessly do what no spirit-being has done before...

To denounce the evils of truth and love.

nothing but cliche's here...

To Save those who need help.

How many times has he had subordinates commit suicide by Riku at this point anyway

To extend our reach to the stars above

anons, why. The team rocket motto sounds completely out of place for this choice.

Hmm, Bambi, Menoly, The Privaron Espada, 5 at least.

Riku!

The first part works, given that we sort of are currently in the process of forming a sub-faction consisting of members from all of the major spiritual races.

You forgot Momo and a bunch of random guys who thought Shinji's exile was bullshit
Yourichi!

It's a joke user

well there is a great divide within the Silbern Quincy and considering how a majority of the quincy population is in silbern, the idea of pitting a quincy civil war doesn't sit well with said race with a tyrant at the helm and an unlikely ally being their nemesis from a war 1000 years ago.

There was that whole rebellion thing back when Byakuya was still like a lieutenant

>writing

Team Sanity blasting off at the speed of light!

Surrender now or prepare to fight!

Apacci: No fucking way am I doing this stupid pose Lady Riku

Apacci, that's right!

Riku: That's so cute. You think you have a choice.

>Bambi: Das Vandereich!

10/10 post right here.

what about zombified by gigi?

“To protect what must be protected, and to destroy what must be destroyed,” you reply, repeating the only words of any lasting value you learned during your brief stint at the Academy. The Head Captain nods approvingly, but says nothing.

“And that means... what, exactly?” McAllon asks, trying to work out whether there's a hidden meaning to what you've said.

“They're the one saying each shinigami to go through the Academy learns,” Yoruichi explains for the benefit of those who have never heard them. “The one common thing each of them leaves with, regardless of their rank or social standing is that attitude.”

“Lady Halibel and Lady Riku share that same sentiment,” Apacci adds with a glare across the table, “so that makes them natural friends. My own loyalty is to both, because I wanna share that ideal too.”

“I helped them become arrancar because of their shared bonds, and because I respected Halibel's ideas about protecting her comrades,” you conclude. “And I oppose Aizen because he's a threat to everything I care about, and to the order of the world that helps keep what I care about safe.”

“To protect the world from devastation, is that it?” Liltotto grumbles. “How naive of you.”

“You've seen how Aizen runs things,” Bambietta counters. “You really think if he has his way any of us will live to see the results? How many of us have died...”

She stops herself short of completing the thought, and winces. You can tell by the look on her face she almost said something she didn't mean to, at least not yet.

>Finish the thought. Consider it my next question.
>It's okay. Don't say anything you think harms the people you want to protect.
>Change the topic (write-in question)?
>Other?

>>Change the topic (write-in question)?
By the way, was this rescue attempt under Aizen's orders? Judging from his last few sorties, it didn't seem like a priority to him.

Do you really expect Aizen to take care of you? To help you? To treat you well? From what I've seen he treats everyone, absolutely everyone, as tools. To be used as he wills then discarded into the trash once he's done. I mean you even said you did this without his orders, he doesn't give a crap about anyone other than himself. He'd gladly burn the whole world and everyone in it if he could be king of the ashes. That's why I oppose him.

I support.

>Finish the thought. Consider it my next question.

>It's okay. Don't say anything you think harms the people you want to protect.

I also support this notion.

This

Second.

"He could have organized a rescue mission for Bambietta if he wanted, you know. That one creepy guy, the one who looks kind of like a clown, was able to infiltrate my Division."

>writing

“I don't know exactly what you're talking about,” you nod to Bambietta, who seems to relax, “and I don't feel like I need to know. Those three do, and that's all I need.”

“Do you really think that your lives matter to Aizen?” you continue, addressing the other three Sternritter at the table. “I can tell you came here without orders, because he wouldn't bother trying to recover a tool he's already discarded.”

“What was that!?” Candice growls, rising to her feet and producing a reishi weapon shaped like a cartoonish 'thunderbolt'. But before you even need to move, Yoruichi raises her twin butterfly swords to trap the Sternritter's wrist.

“Appraise, Shōsōtō.”

By the time Candice recoils, pulling both hand and reishi weapon away, you know that it's already too late. For that matter, Yoruichi's twin swords are already sheathed and she's taking her seat once more.

“You...” Candice scowls, her reishi weapon still out and ready.

“Shut it,” Yoruichi counters. “Your power is to channel electricity, likely to move quickly as well as to strike. But to resist a powerful attack from a Captain you need to focus your blut solely on its defensive mode. Meaning that if you pick a fight with any of us at this table you'll need to use your lightning powers to move and blut's offensive mode to strike, leaving yourself vulnerable to counterattack from any of the rest of us.”

“Raise your hand to any of my comrades a second time and you die,” she concludes with a hard stare. Candice's weapon disappears and she returns to her seat, dejected. Strangely she seems more concerned with Yoruichi's assessment that she can't win and less concerned with the guarantee she made of death in the case of another attempt to attack.”

“Can I finish now?” you ask, also taking the opportunity to glare at Candice.
>1/2

Which creepy clown? There is at least two

The waiter, who had been about to deliver a series of plates to your tables but who had been cowering at the outburst just now, sets each of you a plate of noodles, steamed shellfish with ginger, and fried frog legs. From Tenkotsuki's sheath you withdraw a pair of hashi, and take a quick bite.

“Dig in,” Apacci tells the Sternritter before following her own advice.

“What I'm trying to say is that to Aizen nobody beneath him even registers as a person,” you explain, holding out your chopsticks as an example. “I may still think of you as my enemies, for the time being, but to Aizen you're no more his subordinates than these chopsticks are mine. They're just a tool to achieve my goal of eating this plate of delicious food. When I'm done they go back in the sheath, and chances are I forget they're even there for a year or two.”

“How many people died before the hollowfication incident, again?”

Yoruichi seems to think for a moment. “At least ten seated shinigami from Ninth Division, three of its Commandos, and hundreds of Rukongai locals that we know of.”

“It also seems like someone got to Mirai at some point when she was younger,” you observe, “so he was probably taking samples from sensitive spirits for decades before we even became aware of his experiments.”

“He's not horrible because he's cruel, from what I gather,” Apacci agrees, “cause being cruel implies he gives a shit. His problem is he just doesn't give a shit.”

“He could have had Ulquiorra mount a rescue,” you add, glancing at Bambietta to let her know where you're going with this. “But she failed, and was permanently injured in the process. So he's probably written her off: a tool that was damaged then lost isn't worth his time, and if any of you ever find yourselves in the same position you can expect the same treatment.”
>2/3

I feel like the only problem is that Yhwach was exactly the same, if not even worse, with his own subordinates.

Like maybe that's what the Quincy are used to.

“Aizen's the type of guy who'd burn the whole world and everyone in it if doing so left him the king of the ashes. That's why we have to oppose him, until our deaths if need be.”

“And you're not the same way?” Liltotto's eyes narrow as she stares at you, evaluating every aspect of your response.

“I trust my friends and subordinates to handle themselves,” you explain, “but if they needed it you're damn right I'd risk my life for them.”

“And we'd do the same,” Apacci adds. “For her and for each other.”

“Can you say that Pepe or Nianzol would do the same for us?' Bambietta asks her former comrades. “Would fucking Grimmjow or Spoon-Head?”

For the most part they appear uncertain, as if they know what they're expected to do but aren't sure they want to do it. Aside from Candice, of course, who seems to be chasing an errant noodle around her plate with her chopsticks. Does she really not know how to use them?

>If you need some time you can return to Silbern to consider things.
>We can't let you leave, but we can give you some time to think.
>You have to choose: take a gamble on us or fight to the death. Your call.
>Other?

>>Other?
While the other Sternritter are deciding, help Candice by leaning over slowly and showing her how to hold her chopsticks. It's tricky but easy when you get it.

>>We can't let you leave, but we can give you some time to think.
>Besides Aizen would probably kill you for disobeying orders if you went back. He's a dick like that.

>>We can't let you leave, but we can give you some time to think.

Seconding this

>We can't let you leave, but we can give you some time to think.

>>Other?
"I can't speak for how Aizen would respond to you upon returning to him. You might get some time to think it over in the mortal world. Just... don't ruin it while you're there. We'd be obligated to respond with extreme prejudice in that case."

this. Or send you on a suicide mission to kill me to prove your loyalty. He's done it like six times before.

>We can't let you leave, but we can give you some time to think.
>Help Candice with chopsticks tutorial.
>Should you choose the offer to cooperate, we can help with healing your brain.
>Think of this as us offering you political asylum from Aizen's rule, or in other terms "Prisoners of war".

>Writing

“God... DAMMIT,” Candice hisses, succeeding only in cutting the noodle in half on her plate.

“Watch,” you grumble, clicking your own pair of chopsticks to get her attention before showing her very clearly how to hold and maneuver them in-hand. “It's easy.”

“So where does that leave us?” Liltotto asks, her voice even despite her clear concern for the current situation. “I take it you're not just going to let us leave after discovering what we have?”

“Lil...” McAllon mutters, nudging her friend with one elbow. “Don't you think...”

“They have to realize that we noticed the weak reiatsu coming from several of their Captains,” Liltotto explains in that same deadpan voice. “So let's just skip the step where we try and hide the fact that we know they were just attacked and move on.”

“You are correct,” Yamamoto agrees sternly. “You made a mistake in coming here, for now we cannot allow you to leave. Cooperate or do not, those are your only choices in the matter.”

“You'd be prisoners of war under my jurisdiction,” you explain calmly. “Alongside a few others. That beats Aizen killing you when you return, or else sending you on a suicide mission to kill me and prove your loyalty.”

“He does seem to enjoy doing that, doesn't he?” Candice remarks, as if realizing that for the first time.

Bambietta sighs in frustration. “What, you didn't realize that when he sent me? I'm positive he's trying to thin our numbers, get us down to just the real useful 'tools' and take out anyone in the Seireitei he can while he's at it.”

“It is said that ten Vasto Lordes could destroy the Soul Society and everyone in it,” Yamamoto muses. “Even three or four arrancar who started off at that level, plus some quincy of equal power, may achieve the desired result.”

“It makes sense that he would try to reduce his own forces to just the most promising individuals. It would be simpler for one man to manage.”
>1/2

“So, what do you say?” you ask, finishing off your tea. “Be our guests?”

“Will Bambi be stuck in there with us?” McAllon asks, glancing at her friend.

>She will, for now.
>It's up to her whether she's a prisoner or an ally.
>Actually, I need her to do something for me.
>Other?

>It's up to her whether she's a prisoner or an ally.

I wonder who the really useful ones are. Like with the Arrancar, I think he's down to Ulquiorra and maybe Wonderweiss as ones that are worth anything. As for the Quincy, I'm not really sure if Pernida and Gerald are still around or if Aizen ate them for more power.

>Actually, I need her to do something for me.
Poor Uryuu, he'll wish he asked daddy soon enough.

>>It's up to her whether she's a prisoner or an ally.
>She's put her time in, she gets some wiggle room. Regardless of her choice she can visit you provided she follows the rules.

>Actually, I need her to do something for me.

Barrangan is useful too, if only for his breath weapon.

>It's up to her whether she's a prisoner or an ally.
If she is an ally then its up to her but,
>>Actually, I need her to do something for me.
Assuming this is training Uryuu till he begs for daddy.

Oh right, King Spooky. Actually he's probably really powerful especially if he doesn't get complacent and lazy just because he's borderline invincible.

>Riku's god-juice makes his old-man breath useless

>King Spooky starts crying in a corner as scrub tier dudes start to beat him up

>Technically yes, I would lock you lot up and be done with the day but a certain living Quincy boy is desperate for new mentors and Bambietta volunteered to put him through the wringer. You're welcome to spectate. Beats staying confined in a prison cell don't you think?
>Ultimately, It's up to her whether she declares herself a prisoner or an ally.

Second.

more like
>sees Riku in her kimono princess getup
>her presence renders king spooky's aura useless.
>tries to diplomance his way out
>Riku has none of his bs and starts beating his ass like the way a woman would do to a whipped husband.

>writan

“She's done her time,” Yoruichi observes.

You nod in agreement. “It's up to her whether she remains a prisoner or not. But in the short term I have a favor to ask.”

“That's a matter of what the favor is,” Bambietta replies with a frown.

“I'd like you to train a kinda pathetic living quincy,” you explain. “The son of the current Ishida family patriarch.”

“Guess I can give him a few pointers,” she agrees quietly. “I can do that.”

“So that's the deal,” you conclude. “You three go directly to jail, and remain there for now.”

>dice+3d10, DC 6

Rolled 7, 1, 8 = 16 (3d10)

Rolled 10, 4, 2 = 16 (3d10)

Rolled 2, 5, 4 = 11 (3d10)

Rolled 6, 7, 9 = 22 (3d10)

dammit sleepy

Nobody seemed to roll! I apologize for blocking a crit.

"I agree," McAllon responds quietly.

Liltotto frowns to herself for a moment, but eventually nods. "I'll go along with it for now."

"Fuck no," Candice spits. "I don't care about your security or whatever, I'm going home. You weirdos can play with the reapers all you want."

>Try and convince her that this is in the quincy's best interests?
>Just knock her the fuck out.
>Let her leave, someone else will handle this.
>Other?

>>Try and convince her that this is in the quincy's best interests?
When that inevitably fails.
>>Just knock her the fuck out.

>>Just knock her the fuck out.

>>Try and convince her that this is in the quincy's best interests?
If it fails go to Plan Violence

>>Try and convince her that this is in the quincy's best interests?

>Other?
"Uryuu can sew, just so you know. Your apparel is out of fashion."

>>*long suffering sigh*
>>*side glane to OMG*
>>Just knock her the fuck out.

So your going home to serve the reaper we kicked out for being an asshole because you don't want to work with us?

Supporting.
Also,
>Try and convince her that this is in the quincy's best interests?
Ask Bambietta to please let her know how good 'prisoners' tend to have it compared to how a Quincy prisoner would. As well, if she leaves, she's abandoning family and tossing her life to the wastes if she goes back to Aizen.