Bite Down on Happiness [Shaoling, Tatsuki]

Tatsuki really didn't expect visitors. Not like she had a whole lot of people outside of the division who even KNEW where her office was, and she checked in with her direct subordinates often enough that they seldom had reason to come see her in her office. So it was peculiar when she noticed someone nearby. A few blinks as she raised her head before she saw what she almost surmised was a ghost. But well, there wasn't really a whole lot of time to go making presumptions. Sui was never the type to really give a lot of time to make presumptions.

"Ah, hey there Feng. I've been doing pretty good actually, how about yourself?" She asked with a calm, pleased smile in the woman's direction, responding to what she presumed to be the intent of the woman's words rather than the letter of them, as she was wont to do. She set aside what she'd been pretending to review. THANKFULLY the division was DEFINITELY not the type that let paperwork build up, no matter whom their Captain was. As such, unlike perhaps the sight many would see in some ...OTHER divisions, there were no piles of paperwork on her desk. Standing up, she circled around her desk and gave the woman a fond smile, eyes briefly snaring on the faint line on the woman's arm. No surprise.

"You here to speak to the Commander? Seems like she's been digging a lot of retired members to bolster ranks. Don't suppose that included you?" She asked with a sly smile. She paid attention to these sort of things, even when it wasn't her job.

She blinked at that, staring for a moment. "After like.... the Martial Arts Schools?" She asked, briefly perplexed. Huh, she didn't know the woman was that big a fan of kung fu. Guess the world of the living has all kinds of effects on people. "Well alright, Shaoling it is." She noted with a light smile.

Tatsuki gave an appreciative whistle when Shao mentioned WHO had come to speak to her. "Guess that explains the arm. Not exactly the woman I'd want handing me a job offer." She grinned from ear to ear, doing nothing to hide her pleasure at the Captain considering her return. "You act like I've been picky about how things go down in the Gotei." She paused... and her expression grew serious for just a moment, seriousness etching into her eyes. "It's.....interesting. A lot of stuff is happening, but well. We'll have to see how things turn out. I'm not exactly the kinda gal to solidify her first impressions. But Commander Murasaki has certainly seemed to have a lot in mind. But well, can you Blame her?" She asked softly. More than aware that both she and Shaoling knew VERY well the kind of past that drove Murasaki to be how she was.

"I think it certainly speaks to her resolve that she even reached out to you. She values getting what she wants done over any potential grudges. I think so far as your standards go, she certainly has that going for her." She pointed out, that serious expression then evaporating with a light sigh. "Damn, I always hoped the next time I ran into you I could just say a nice hello and see if you wanted to go out for a drink and catch up." A faint little rueful smile took that scowl's place.

"Still. Kinda flattered you came to see me, Shaoling. Didn't know you held my opinion in such high regard." A white lie, if nothing else Tatsuki had a vicious resolve that neared Shaoling's own from time to time. IF Tatsuki wanted something, she made sure it happened.

Tatsuki quirked a brow ever so slightly at that and put on a casual smile. "Oh really? My my my, that's the Shaoling version of gushing. She musta really put on a good show." She snickered, sighing just a little before she paused, offering a slight raised brow.

"The first real challenge huh? I guess we ARE kinda due for one of those. Kinda been wondering when all this quiet will finally end. What do you think? The nobles? The Hollows? Maybe one of those big britches on earth." She murmured, almost sounding tired as she thought back to the last hundred years. "I'm never gonna get used to how fuckin old I am." She murmured.

A slight smirk crossed her features as she glanced Shaoling's way. "Cmon, we BOTH know that Tenure and what RANK you manage to snag in the Gotei can mean a whole lot less than most people think." She noted playfully. Even so... she itched her cheek. "Still, guess you always did have much higher standards for all that." ....She frowned, sticking her tongue out.

"I always feel like I'm talking too much around you. Well, anywho. I guess we'll find out eventually about that challenge stuff. That said, got a pretty good feeling thats not gonna happen TOO soon. So in a more immediate sense: How do you plan on sniffin out if she has any stank to her?" She ventured, folding her arms just a little as she eyed the much shorter woman.

Tatsuki's brows raised ever so slightly, when she heard THAT of all things. "Hollows huh. I guess suffering is always gonna breed conflict." She murmured quietly. Truth be told, what things they DID teach about hollow life was pretty damn bleak. There was certainly a lot of stuff from a lot of the new recruits about the stuff. Probably connected to that new teacher.

That smile snapped right back though. "I should hope so. There's quite a few people that were upset when you decided to leave. Well.... maybe a couple with some very questionable reasons for being upset. But still, it's the thought that matters I think. As for fondness....well...she DID send her Vice Captain to get you. Probably knowing how that was going to go down. So she DOES at least want you, though at the very least it seems the Hazing has already started." She smirked just a little at that. It WAS kinda interesting that the Captain Commander had facilitated such an encounter. But well, on the other hand, She could only imagine Shaoling having enjoyed that.

She paused, furrowing her brows for a moment as she eyed the smaller woman. "It kinda feels a little unreal. Barely out the door and they're asking for you back already. Well.... I mean...understandable all the shit that's been going down but still. I keep half expecting to find out I just passed out at my desk or something. Makes me a little worried about Soul society. Kinda wish that was UNUSUAL but ...you know." She shrugged.

Tatsuki snorted softly and gave a little chuckle at that, IMAGINING such a situation. "I mean yea good point. Still." She insisted casually, thinking back to that particular instance. She DID smile a little at the idea of Shaoling squaring down Murasaki with her demands. Definitely an amusing mental picture if there ever was one.

"Well I certainly hope it goes well when you do. I'd certainly be pleased to get to work under you again." She smiled, glancing at the clock in her office and canting her head to the side for a moment. "Don't suppose I can talk you into gettin lunch before you head off?" She ventured, because well why not? May as well see if she could sneak in a bit of quality time before Shaoling wither A: became her boss again. Or B: Vanished off to earth for another year. She was happy to see the woman. She'd understood her reasonings for leaving, but that certainly didn't mean she hadn't felt the weight of the woman's absence. ESPECIALLY with ...well....some of the things that happened after she left. Maybe it was lingering Nostalgia, but she'd just flat out missed the woman. But well, she also half expected that Shaoling was gonna decline. She WAS here on business after all.