Don't Talk to Me or My Daughter Ever Again [Private, Nozomi, Hana, Hakai]

She had to snort comically when Hana mistook the act of letting her hold Ahmt Alles for relinquishing the weapon altogether. Not that such a big deal for someone with nigh unlimited resources—including time—but there were a few mechanical complications with simply allowing her to take it. The biggest one was how closely intertwined with Nozomi's own energies it was, as once Ahmt Alles was drained of its reserves there was nobody else but the Quincy herself who could replenish it; it would eventually dissipate. Furthermore, despite being an almost-perfect replication of Hana's Zanpakuto, it would fail to respond to her as its master. Again, only Nozomi could properly use this version of the spear as anything more than a mundane pointed staff. Should Hana attempt to communicate with the false Zanpakuto, she'd sense a presence akin to a spirit residing inside, but it would not respond to her hails. She wouldn't be able to tell just how well Nozomi had managed to copy it, and perhaps that was for the best. Regardless, if she was going to permit Hana to keep it, it would be nothing more than an overembellished trinket that would fade away in due time. She was better off creating a hollow replica in that case.

So she nodded as she accepted the spear back, gripping her hand around the grooved red shaft and resting the butt end against the ground. Admittedly, while the spear did not fit her as well as it did Hana, she found herself taking a liking to it already. For one, it was her favorite color. Another thing, somewhat more importantly, is that the spirit within already achieved the level of Bankai. Nozomi had not shown the surprise on her face but the emotion was certainly present. For a Vizard having been born only so long ago to be considered a toddler, she already possessed a spiritual presence bearing against most Captains in the Gotei. To suggest she also already reached this much of a level of mastery was astonishing. Hakai, what exactly did you do to get her to this level? her thoughts to herself went. Or perhaps this was also a result of the singularity she sensed with Hana? Despite all of Nozomi's capability in gathering information, analyzing people, breaking them into little pieces within her mind... she still found herself hungry for more regarding this youth before her, disappointed her own abilities weren't faster. There were still many secrets to be unlocked here.

While one thought process struggled with such deliberations on the inside, however, the more sociable Ernst frame of mind was handling the proceedings outwardly. She watched the two Chikaras play off each other, speaking with body language and expressions moreso than words. Still, even without hearing them speak aloud, she could very much guess what conversation was being held. She even tried to assist Hana in pressuring Hakai, giving an equally pleading look towards him from behind his daughter. She may have been an overbearing figure in terms of significance and power... but when it came down to it she was in the body of a cute young woman, somewhat less mature than even Hana's. She could get away with a puppy dog face quite well if she put her mind to it. It must have worked, for eventually the man buckled under the pressure, as Nozomi could spot the exact moment his mind shifted.

It was somewhat ironic, hearing him use a quote from that man. She'd had the opportunity to meet him herself in her own lifetime on this world, not too long after he struck fame with his work. She'd always liked to meet the great innovators of the world back then, at a time when she was much more whimsical of a person... to simply act on her impulsive desires had brought a lot of goodness to her life, no matter the consequences that accompanied them. The quote had an effect on her, but not the one he was expecting; it reminded her of a past in which she was much more cheerful because of the way she chose to act. Now, as she was trying to return to that lifestyle, it was refreshing to hear a token phrase from that time again; it was encouraging.

The sharp gaze he had on her might have turned any other man or woman cold in the veins as it struck them, and yet Nozomi found herself laughing. Not a mocking, insulting snicker but a genuine, feel-good giggling. There was no way he could understand just how elated the Quincy felt in that moment as she devolved into hilarity on the spot; it was way too coincidental. As a character who had spent the last few centuries of her life suppressing a lot of her emotions, she felt the dam give way and break down as the most extreme of an emotion—joy—flooded out. It got to a point where Nozomi lost control... she, epitome of order, losing control. Her legs gave way and she fell to the ground clutching her stomach, tearing up from the amount of laughter escaping her. For a while, it was just this, with no seeming explanation to it. She might even be mistaken to be delirious.

She would finally manage to catch her breath, eventually, after her laughter broke up and ceased. By that point she was lying sideways on the ground in a crumpled state, her blue hair splayed out in a messy fan, and her hat having been knocked off by the collapse. The spear was on its side next to her, having clattered to the ground along with her. "Sorry, sorry~... it's just that I'm a little bit excited. I imagine that was your way of saying yes, and it was quite an interesting way to do so." Said she, who broke down in a humiliating fashion in front of the two of them. Even stranger, that she didn't bother to pick herself up from the ground as she continued speaking. She remained lazily sprawled out, her muscles relaxed and not looking to pick herself up any time soon.

A part of her wondered why they were still taking her seriously.

"It seems like you see right through me, hmhmm... While making friends with the Chikara's is pleasant notion, my main interest lies in its newest member. That is where my intuition has brought me." She rolled over onto her stomach, propping her head up with her arms as she looked up at Hana. Nozomi possessed a gaze that wasn't quite the desirous stare one would expect (or at least not yet), but something of extreme curiosity and interest. "I wish I could explain exactly what it was that makes you so special, but even I don't know the details myself just yet. That's the exciting part!"

She was content to just stare, up until the point Hana brought up an interesting proposal that caused her to blink. A spar? What an odd inquiry... Nozomi had used a wide variety of weaponry from swords, knives, shields, bows, guns, and even unorthodox equipment such as fans and steel wire... but a spear had never yet been a part of her arsenal until this day when she replicated Hana's Zanpakuto. There was an infinitesimal pause in which Nozomi consulted the W.C.I. network she was connected to: She downloaded and assimilated a couple different styles on the spot, to the point of mastery by imitation. It'd do for a quick skirmish. "...Sure, I suppose I can try,"
she finally replied, grabbing her copy of Funka Utsukushi-sa and using it to pull herself up to her feet. After a brief deliberation, she decided to begin with the Irish fighting style, adopting a stance perpendicular to Hana and pointing the tip of the weapon at her neck. With knees and arms slightly bent, she was prepared to receive her attack.

And yet she faltered, as her Arius was able to read the lips of the man overseeing them. Seriously, if he didn't stop spouting cheesy quotes of people she'd encountered in the past, she severely doubted her odds of keeping it together.