Chillin' in the Cat Cafe [Private/Yugiri]

Well, there it was. Micah's eyes were able to discern and differentiate different living beings, from plants to animals, and spirits to humans. So, especially in a cat cafe, it was very plain to see that this kitten was different from the rest, like a black sheep. The cat was just about the same as a shinigami in spiritual make-up, and there also happens to be a group of people in Soul Society who can turn into felines. Though he didn't know specifically who this was, it was immediately apparent that the cat was a Shihouin. Knowing it was a girl was just a guess, though; given that he only knew of female Shihoin turning into cats, Micah just assumed; whether males could do the same or not, the 3rd seat genuinely didn't know.

"Ah, very fitting; only a Shihouin could be such a graceful cat. I'm deeply honoured that you have come to me for matters concerning the Gotei."

As if to reward the cat, Micah scratched just behind her ears.

"Yes, I am the third seat, and I often take care of the duties of the Vice Captain as well, so I am very acquainted with the duties and statuses of the 5th Division. But, I am curious, what do you mean by the reestablishment of the Onmitsukido, and the separation of the Gotei? I am not so brilliant, so I need you to clarify for me. Is the Onmitsukido not currently still established within the Stealth Force? Or do you mean to separate the Stealth Force from the Onmitsukido like before the Gotei United?"

Micah was curious about why being the Third Seat was relevant; usually, he assumes people approach him with important manners because he was the de facto Vice Captain. Never because he was specifically not the official Vice Captain. This day certainly got a lot more interesting. Very much so.

Micah continued listening intentfully, no longer just entertaining the conversation, but genuinely invested in what Yugiri wanted to discuss, only interjecting to give information Yugiri was evidently looking for, but only in brief and concise messages so as to not completely interrupt her. That would be rude.

"Currently the Onmitsukido definitively answers to and is led by Kuro Okami."

"Yes, by Chain of Command the Onmitsukido now effectively answers to the Captain Commander."

Once Yugiri mentioned that a responsibility of the sub-division was internal operations and investigations, Micah started to pick up what she was putting down, and his interest in the topic only multiplied. He would've forgot to tend to the cat if it wasn't for her nudge. Micah attentively responded with more ear and chin scratches, and occasionally slowly running his hand through her back from neck to tail.

"You referenced the 'government of Soul Society', but currently the government is definitely the Gotei itself. In its present state, the Onmitsukido is already answering to the government. I don't see how the separation of the divisions will mean they answer to anyone new--unless...?"

Unless the end-goal was to also remove the Gotei from being the government itself. At least, that's where Micah's mind went to upon thinking about it, but he didn't want to say it aloud--not for fear of saying anything insubordinate in a shinigami-dominated setting, but moreso because he didn't want to speak for Yugiri. That would be rude.

"What you're saying does make sense, though. You typically don't want a group of people meant to investigate a larger group to be working for the same group. That's how corruption is typically enabled."

Micah was already well aware of this conflict of interest, especially as someone who often carried out injustices in the name of justice. WW4 was a splendid example of this. The reason he never did anything about it was largely because he simply didn't care. Micah had, by some degree, a moral code to live by, but it was nothing close to most ethics, and as such he was often indifferent to them. Indifferent until something of interest came about it, and currently that was something Yugiri was bringing to the table.

"I see, but I'm afraid, Miss Shihouin, that though I understand what you are saying and agree with you on these points, I am still in the shadows on what you mean to say about these things--or do about them, if that is what you are trying to get at."

"Sui Feng is, in name, a leader of the Onmitsukido, but only in name. She may have some duty or mission that I'm not aware of as a reason for her absence, but I wouldn't know."

Micah did more or less know, specifically that she did not in fact have a duty or mission occupying her or anything, but he wasn't going to just blurt out everything he knew. That, and when Yugiri seemed worried or disappointed, he felt a little bad and wanted to give her at least a bit of hope. He maintained the scratching and patting so as to comfort her. Odd. Micah has felt bad for other people before, most often in the form of pity, but it's been a long while since. The shinigami had grown numb to empathy for a great deal of time by now. Curious, truly truly curious.

"You're not wrong; the aristocracy has indeed been the primary ruling force over Soul Society for quite a long time. I don't know if the Gotei did a predatorial usurpation of that authority, but I wouldn't be surprised."

It was the truth. Though he genuinely didn't know the exact intents of the progressive degradation of aristocratic power in Soul Society and the rise of the martial state--mostly because he also simply didn't care--but if it was done in greed, ambition, and malice, nothing about the Gotei historically would deny it. He also refrained from commenting on how the aristocracy has in the past been observed having similar behaviors. Normally he would, but Micah didn't want this conversation to be cut so short--they had a nice thing going on right now. Like the headpats.

Micah didn't respond immediately to Yugiri's following plea. Wanting to re-establish Central 46 itself, wanting to return some power to the aristocracy, wanting to return to them their fangs--none of these were things Micah cared about. The changes at the top would likely hold little bearing over his duties, his status, or his position. At the end of the day, he'd still be a shinigami carrying out shinigami duties, and that was always his highest concern and priority. His investment in this conversation at all was entirely out of personal interest, and so far maybe a bit of fondness for the young Shihouin.

Yugiri only elicited a response out of him when she stared deep into his eye, like a threat. Yes, Micah was fond of this kitten, but this was the first day they met. Micah was first and foremost a shinigami, a 3rd Seat of the Stealth Force, and the possessor of a zanpakuto encompassing death. The officer's hands stopped their motions while he returned the stare, his eyes turned soulless without a hint of hostility or intent in them. They were so empty and apathetic that they exuded a draining aura, chipping away at any expression of will of anything in his sight. And, given Micah's ocular birth defect, in the most literal sense not a single thing in his sight eluded him--such that the entire room and everyone in it was affected.

He had respect for the Shihouin clan and its members, largely for embodying what he himself strove to be, but keeping your fangs often meant you had to bare them when threatened. Of course, once he felt he conveyed himself appropriately, Micah released his gripping stare, and the cafe returned to normal. Well, not quite normal, but by now people surely knew better than to pry. In fact, Micah and Yugiri's previous onlookers were sure to not rear their heads again.

Micah reached for his cream tea and took a sip before happily resuming the petting with a pleasant smile.

"Admittedly, I'm somewhat indifferent to the separation of the Onmitsukido and the Stealth Force."

Micah let a dramatic pause instill itself in the air, waiting to see what Yugiri's immediate response was. But, before he let her too far down, the shinigami continued with an amused, maybe slightly sly smile.

"However, I would be more than happy to help you improve as a shinigami. If, in that process, you are more than capable of assuming the role as the captain of the division, I would be more than willing to support you in assuming captaincy. I will do whatever is best for the division and my duties, and I don't believe Captain Okami to be the best means to do so. If you are willing, I would be absolutely honoured to aid you, m'Lady Shihouin."

What a shame, Micah hadn't taken a hat with him today. A fedora wouldn't look bad with these clothes.

What Yugiri said was completely reasonable, mostly because it was objectively true, but also because she was biased. This was a given, and Micah wouldn't hold it against her given she herself was an aristocrat. At the same time, he had to take her perspective in with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, he gave her his attention and listened astutely. Once their threatening back and forth was cleared out, it was all back to pleasantries, what with Micah petting and Yugiri purring. he didn't say anything about it, but it was pretty funny, in a cute way, how she turned away. To him, it looked like the girl faced away and feigned ignorance about what she just did. What a cute kitten.

Yugiri's thoughts were right on the mark; Micah was a bit disappointed in her lack of reaction, but he still stood by his own words. If the Shihouin needed help or training, he was certain to attend. Micah wasn't sure if she had anything more to say for the topic, but it felt she got what she came for. Just a bit, he hoped that didn't mean she was going to leave, and to reflect that, Micah invited her to stay and enjoy the day off.

"Hm, I'll be sure to hold onto that offer and let you know if I'd like to take you up on it. In the mean-time, please feel free to stay a bit. This cafe is one of my favourite places to decompress, I'm sure the rigors of life as nobility can be stressful at times."

If she were to accept, Micah would go back to alternating between petting the kitten on his lap, reading his book, and drinking his tea. In the back of his mind, he wondered what response Yugiri would give if he started petting the other cats, but that was an experiment for another day. They had a nice thing going on right now, after all. Like the headpats.