A Song of Ice and Fire [Rukia/Chidori]

Mon Jan 25, 2021 12:56 am

It's been almost a year since Chidori's father has passed. With that being known, it's been almost the same amount of time that she has taken his place as the head of the Shihoin. It was a daunting task that would often require a lot from her, mentally and physically. On top of being a mother, it felt like she was carrying the weight of the world whenever she stepped out of bed in the morning. Though now that she was back with the Gotei, she had to.

However, Chidori has learned some new skills along the journey to make her life a bit easier. Well actually, it wasn't a skill at all but she would like to refer to it as one. The ability to just keep pushing forward while suppressing her emotions seemed to be an effective strategy up until a few days ago when she passed out from stress. It was quite embarrassing to pass out during a squad debriefing. There was always the method of dealing with her issues like her aunt did, though ultimately it brought Yoruichi to banishment so perhaps that wasn't the best course of action. A lot of people around her told her to get some help, so help is what she was getting, though not in a conventional way.

Chidori sent out an invitation to an acquaintance of hers that has been around the block a few times. Hopefully, she would accept. In the meantime, Chidori sat in the hall by herself twiddling her thumbs. It felt weird waiting on people now instead of doing everything by herself.

Mon Jan 25, 2021 2:10 am

A Song of Ice and Fire [Rukia/Chidori] GOHWRTW

Rukia Kuchiki

If she was being entirely honest, there wasn't actually anything that strictly compelled Rukia Kuchiki to accept these summons. It was an invitation, and while most people in Soul Society would have jumped at the opportunity to personally go along to the Shihoin estate... Well, Rukia couldn't say she ever really got excited at the prospect of noble meetups.

To be perfectly honest, if it hadn't been an invitation from someone in her squad, she probably would have politely declined.

Even as it was, she didn't dress up in her finest attire, didn't come with all the typical accoutrement expected when two ladies of such high standing met. She wore, instead, what she considered infinitely more defining for her role in the Soul Society; her 7th Division shihakusho, and nothing more ornate than that. Her arrival was of course treated with all the pomp that she expected, and it took a lot for her not to roll her eyes and look a little dismissive of the whole thing. It was all so...exhausting, really. Still, she was polite if nothing else, and so she entered into the hall of the Shihoin family head with a composed smile and a polite bow.

"Good evening, Lady Shihoin."

Mon Jan 25, 2021 2:51 pm

"Please, call me Chidori." She gestured for Rukia to sit. "Don't worry, this isn't some sort of formal meeting or whatever. Think of me as your colleague rather than a noble." Chidori would speak with a smile on her face though her eyes would shift downwards.

"I say that, but I've asked you here because I need some help. I know we're not awfully close but I think you would be the best person to understand the situation that I am in. As someone who has had a lot on her plate in the past, how were you able to juggle things? Between your work, your friends, and your family, how did you keep yourself from being stressed out all the time?" A sigh would escape her lips. She just stared deep into her cup, looking at her reflect staring back at her. This was a bad headspace to be in, and she wanted to be better but didn't know how.

"This is probably something really weird that you weren't expecting. But I didn't know any other noble who has worked like you have. And... if I'm being frank, your brother is scary. Plus I think our lack of knowing each other makes this a bit easier, at least I hope it will." She paused for a moment.

"Oh my, where are my manners? Would you like something to drink? Tea, water, anything?"

Tue Jan 26, 2021 3:53 am

Rukia Kuchiki

"Well, that does make things a little easier, then. But you know that's always harder to actually keep up with in practice. There'll be talk all over the Seireitei if we don't keep up polite talk."

Rukia allowed herself a small smile at that thought as she took a seat, though as she listened, it was rather difficult for her to maintain. Not necessarily out of annoyance, but rather the whole question just seemed...odd.

"Mm. This may not be what you want to hear, but I have to ask why you think I wasn't stressed all the time."

It was a quiet, simple response, but it was really the only way Rukia could think to make the situation clear. She didn't really enjoy walking on eggshells around an issue if she didn't have to.

"Between everything with Aizen and the fallout after that, the endless work with the Gotei and the nobility, I never really had much time to myself. Dealing with everyone asking me if I'd please just consider being a Captain, hearing all the talk about if I was really in love with Ichigo, and just the actual work I had to do, there wasn't a time I was ever away from stress until I finally stepped away from the Gotei all together."

Maybe that wasn't necessarily the answer Chidori was looking for, but it was also the only one that she could give. At the end of the day, her life had only improved when she'd just let go of some of her responsibilities.

"Oh, and tea sounds nice."

Tue Feb 02, 2021 10:32 am

Unfortunately, that was the one response Chidori didn't want to hear. She wanted a way to manage not to cut down. While it was a solution that she has been dancing with for the past week, it's more or less been filed into the cabinet of worst-case scenarios. To hear from someone that had experienced virtually the same issue was very troubling. She enjoyed her life before, but now it has become too much to handle all the things at once, and either she puts something down or she ends up dropping them all.

In response, Chidori nodded as she let her mind go to work on how to use this information and apply it to her current situation. Like a robot, she waved to a servant who quickly ran off to get a pot of tea ready. It was a good minute or two before she would speak again.

"Hm. Well, there are only so many things I can get rid of. And you see, I kind of have a bad record for just leaving this half-done. I don't want to do that again, but if I must I guess I will. I can't just abandon my children or my family, so it seems like I might have to part ways with the Gotei. Unfortunate, but oh well."

The servant would return with the teapot and placed a cup in front of Rukia. They would proceed to fill it up halfway before leaving once again.

"However, that's not the only reason I called you here today. How have you been? How is your brother? Anything going on?" Chidori was still trying to figure out the whole subtlety thing, so Rukia could probably see right through her plans. Whether or not she decided to entertain her would set the tone for the rest of the meeting.

Wed Feb 03, 2021 2:11 am

Rukia Kuchiki

"It might be for the best if you leave then, even if you don't really want to. Ultimately, they can't force you to stay, and I imagine the Captain-Commander will understand if you resign. She probably understands all the motherhood business more than most people."

Rukia picked up the teacup that had been offered to her, idly tracing her finger over the rim. Indeed, she saw quite plainly through Chidori's conversational choices, but at the same time, there was no reason to immediately shut her down. So, if just for her own amusement, she'd play along for now.

"There's nothing exciting to talk about for me, really. I stay busy with work and keeping an eye on the younger members of the family. My brother's doing well enough. Should I tell him you asked?"

Though she couldn't fully keep from smiling ever so slightly, the smug little grin was expertly hidden by a sip of tea.

Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:49 pm

"Yeah, you're probably right. The Captain-Commander is a reasonable woman... I think." After speaking about it, Chidori realized that she's never actually met Abalia and probably never will bar nobility reasons. If she was going to commit to this whole quitting the Gotei thing then the title of Captain-Commander would just be that, a title. At least to Chidori anyways. On the bright side though, her father acted independently of the Gotei for a good portion of his life and her aunt did the same up to this day. This probably will catch her some flack by her naysayers but besides that, it shouldn't cause her much trouble.

"Oh, no, it's fine. I haven't seen him since Papa's funeral, and haven't talked to him in years. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't remember me." The corner of her mouth would attempt to smile but fail about halfway, leaving a creepy grin on her face. Chidori loved to talk but was awful at making conversation, apparent as she was scrambling to find something else to talk about. "I was just asking because I haven't really heard to talked to anyone since the whole situation a year ago. The other noble families don't really talk much, so I don't know what I was expecting, but your brother seemed to be the most active within the community so..."

"Anyways, what do you think of Captain Murasaki? Just... in general."

Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:02 am

Rukia Kuchiki

"She's done well so far. People seem to like her."

Rukia didn't hold especially strong feelings one way or the other toward the current Captain Commander when it came to personal relationships. Other than the rare greeting at formal events, the two hadn't ever spoken. Professionally, though, she had a fairly high opinion. As someone who had grown up at least for a time in the Rukongai, she appreciated someone acknowledging their well-being. She knew Shunsui had too, but...well, she'd known him a little longer.

"Mm, my brother is always active one way or another, even if it's just around the family."

Wow, she sure was...special, wasn't she? It was difficult for Rukia to really parse just how awkward she actually was, but maybe that was for the best. Kept her from seeming too baffled.

"I think she's sweet. Maybe too sweet for her own good, but I haven't really worked with her in the field, so my assessment's not really too solid. I've heard about the work she put in, and I know she caught a lot of bad attention when she was younger."

Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:01 am

"If you think that's bad you should have met her mother." Chidori's response was quick as she was quickly reminded of Midori and her antics.

"The captain's birth itself was a pretty controversial thing in and of itself, but it was also a pretty unique occurrence. Normally something like that would come with some sort of prejudice, discrimination, or consequence but I'm glad to see that she's doing well and has made a name for herself."

"Myself on the other hand... Well, let's just say it's easier to go downhill than it is back uphill. If I'm being honest with you, if you told me three years ago that I'd become head and have two kids I would've thought you were full of shit." A weak laugh filled the room as Chidori began to reminisce on her mistakes leading up to this point "But here we are, huh? Though I guess it was about time I got a heavy dose of reality. Unfortunately, reality comes with a lot of responsibility that even my father couldn't handle at some points. Word to the wise, if your brother is planning on stepping down don't have kids. Or just don't have kids, you'll ruin your good looks and gorgeous body." The last part was more of Chidori whining about the effects childbirth has had on her body rather than a compliment to Rukia, but if the woman took it that way then that was whatever.

Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:05 pm

Rukia Kuchiki

"Oh, I remember when she was born. The whole Seireitei was in a little bit of an uproar about it."

Rukia was a little surprised by Chidori's stance on things, but she guesed she had to chalk it up to Chidori not having been around for much of what happened. Er...well, now she really wasn't sure where to go from here. SHe wasn't exactly a friend of her captain's, the two hadn't shared much more than the expected professional interactions. But it was honestly more than a little baffling to hear that Chidori's outlook on the situation seemed to mostly be 'I've had it rougher.'

"Life can come at us pretty unexpectedly, can't it? Especially when family and expectations are involved. I'll keep your advice in mind."

Was this really who'd been chosen to lead the Shihoin? A lot could have been said about the late head of the family, but Yushiro had always been respectable, and she knew he'd been one to understand people fairly well. It genuinely didn't follow for Rukia, then, that this was who'd been chosen to succeed him. This whole conversation was self-pity, listening to her talk about her problems and looking for easy solutions, no grasp on responsibility or empathy--

She was already remembering why she'd stepped away from things for so long.

A Song of Ice and Fire [Rukia/Chidori]

A Song of Ice and Fire [Rukia/Chidori]

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