Hey, You, Whatcha Gonna Do? (Murasaki, Stefan)

Approving of her willingness to try new things, especially a drink given how set-in-their-ways people seemed to be these days, Stefan nodded and placed both a transparent jug and half-full glass of water on the table between them. As Murasaki assembled all the things she brought, Stefan uncorked the jug and poured a clear liquid with a pungent, though not unpleasant, smell into the glass of water. Upon mixing the appearance of the glass's contents rapidly changed until it was much more opaque, almost milky in color and viscosity. Unlike the most common brews of Arak, Stefan's personal drink of choice was more than just grapes and anise in flavor due to possessing a mixture of apple and orange juice as ingredients. The end result was incredibly strong, having an alcohol content of 60% with a powerful fruity and licorice flavor. Though perhaps not wildly popular with most people, it was at the very least similar to practically no other drink in the world and thus only found in Stefan's home.

As he listened to the Captain speak across the table from him, Stefan nonchalantly grabbed a small cream-colored candy and tossed it in his mouth. It was subtle in flavor and chewy, a combination he didn't mind. Afterward he lifted and sipped from the cup of sake she'd prepared for him, and while it was decent in taste, Stefan preferred stronger beverages. Her statements implied similarities between the two swordsmen, though Stefan highly doubted the truth was so simple. From first glance she may dress as peculiarly as him, as if transported from a time long since past, and her overall demeanor was steady and confident though not arrogant. However, her tone and choice of words hinted at a person far less crude than himself. Still, compared to the recent confrontations he'd had with people from organizations like the Gotei, the fact she at least seemed somewhat normal was nice. Not some blind asshole robot or ninja.

Captain Murasaki's final words were certainly surprising to Stefan, though they wouldn't elicit much of a response on his face. If he thought about his past, having repeatedly war against both Earth and the Gotei, going so far as to invade the Seireitei and hospitalize multiple captains, it seemed a bit odd she'd go out of her way like this to invite him to the org. Perhaps Stefan's previous deduction of her not being arrogant was incorrect. Yet when he looked into her eyes, all he saw was true determination. Like a warrior on the brink, refusing to give up despite the overwhelming odds against her. Still, it was difficult for him to take such an offer seriously considering both his history and current standing. "Yanno, it takes some pretty big brass ones to come into my home and ask me of all people to work for you. Unless you planned on being my Lieutenant, which seems unlikely to say the least."

Seemingly implying an abrupt end to this meeting due to Murasaki's statements, Stefan stood suddenly and glared down at the Shinigami sitting across from him. Utter fierceness permeated from his green gaze, an intimidating sight to say the least. And then, just like that, his entire expression changed to one of friendliness. "How 'bout this, if you can prove yourself to me then I'll consider joining your division. There's even a specially built training center in this very building. Whattya say?" Assuming she agreed to his proposal, Stefan moved from the table and headed down one of the nearby hallways. As he left, hopefully with her in tow, he began speaking as he'd done when they first came in. "Don't worry about what you brought, either you can grab 'em when you leave or I'll eat 'em some time." After just a minute of walking the two would reach and enter an elevator that possessed enough space for the two and almost ten more people.

Knowing the ride would be long, Stefan broke the silence and spoke again. "For most people, particularly humans, their sword is strongest before their first swing. Everything after just tears away and blunts the blade....but for people like us, it's different. Our weapons are honed over time, through bloody battle. Much like people. That's why the sword is the ultimate companion, because when you hone yourself by pushing past your own limits, your Zanpakuto is doing the same. It's becoming sharper, more refined, stronger. People talk about blades as if they're naturally this beautiful thing, or should be put in a glass box and looked at. That's bullshit. The most beautiful sword is one that's already been damaged and rebuilt and that's grown just as much as it's wielder. Otherwise, it might as well be a paper weight."

As if to emphasize his final point, the elevator suddenly stopped and opened it's thick metal doors. Now opened up to the two was a massive empty facility larger than a football field with walls as tall as a Ferris wheel. The light emanating from ceiling fixtures bathed the room in a light that almost seemed natural, less man-made and more like from the Sun itself. Into this room walked Stefan, who approached the center and summoned a black-sheathed katana which radiated Reiatsu as potent as his own and gripped it with his left hand. "Lets see if your blade has any beauty to it."