Under The Sacred Briars[Solomon, Cala]

Mon Oct 10, 2022 7:58 pm

SOLOMON RICHTER | STERNRITTER

Solomon had grown unreasonably irritable since his discharge from the hospital. He was thankful to be alive, but that did little to lessen the sour taste of defeat. Every corner he crossed, he caught glimpses of the fear and anxiety in the expressions of the civilians. There were those who remained level-headed, viewing it as a situation that no one could have possibly foretold. Thus, there was no reason for immediate panic. They would be prepared next time, seurity would be strengthened, and such an event hopefully would never come to pass again.

Those of lesser mettle defaulted to conversing about moving elsewhere, expressing their terror and the fear that ate away at their mind. They were, rightfully, terrified right now. Solomon could sympathize with them if he placed himself within their shoes. He could only be a voice of support to anyone that approached him, ease their worries by reminding them that the Vandenreich would grow stronger from this and ensure that another situation never came to be again.

Of course, there was no way he could make such a bright declaration. He had seen two arrancar on earth within the span of a month. No shot things were going to end there. After all, what stopped another one of them from marching in and finishing the job? No... that was a defeatist mindset. He had resolved to grow strong enough to be his peer's equals, to wager his entire life so that no one would dare aim to hurt his companions or this city again. So what if they were strong? He would not simply allow himself to stray from that optimistic frame of mind. He lived for a reason, he was saved for a reason... All he could do was simply move forward. Grow stronger. Grow a little wiser. Continue to evolve from hereon. That was the strategy.

At the moment, Solomon was currently assisting with efforts on rebuilding parts of the city that had been caught within the whirlwind of that chaos. Rebuilding a certain piece of construction here, speaking with the civilians to encourage them there, Solomon spared no effort. There was plenty to distract himself with. Taking a small break, the thunderous warrior would turn a corner in search of a meal and drink. There was a nice restaurant in the distance, but it'd be a bit of a walk before he got there.

The Oncoming Storm| End Post

Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:13 pm

Under The Sacred Briars[Solomon, Cala] 8818b2cfb54c03d9b56a46b54c4ae166

While it was maybe not the brightest idea to be an Arrancar wandering a city that, from what Cala heard the people that lived here say, had just been attacked by one of Cala's own kind. That being, who or whatever they were, had been very intriguing but also powerful and violent enough to make it obvious to Cala that approaching was.... not a good idea. Thus after their lesson with Lukas they had hid, stayed safe, and emerged now unto a grieving city.

In stark contrast to what likely every other soul in the city was feeling Cala was wandering around, wide-eyed and breathless, and while someone viewing them from the outside could interpret their awe-struck expression as the dazed, unfocused terror of someone unused to seeing such destruction in truth Cala was.... absolutely enraptured. Maintaining their Sealed Form as a high-spec human Cala walked around as if in a daze, their pale tongue darting out to taste their lips as the air was thick with LOSS. So much so Cala's knees almost shook and they could still hear the echoes of dying screams in their ears.

A tiny tremble of something close to ecstasy and exhilaration arced up Cala's spine and their footsteps halted. Their glassy-eyed stare carrying up to the sky where they could feel the lingering essence of that Arrancar had hovered, the streets were littered with rubble, the buildings shattered like child's toys subjected to the tender affection of a sledgehammer and much like a creature of habit and obsession Cala inhaled deeply. Just being here, in this place, at this time, felt absolutely electrifying.

Cala was, without a doubt, caught up in an awed stupor. A few straggling people also assisting with the rebuilding effort muttered in pity of the 'poor boy' or 'poor girl' obviously so overwhelmed with the death all around them. Somewhere deep inside, coming out as a whimper at the back of their throat, Cala felt sorrow for these people. True, absolute empathy only someone who could drink, eat, supp and thrive on every detail of their loss as completely as they could could give them. So enraptured, so caught up in the thrill of this place was Cala that they did not sense a powerful Quincy nearby and, even more pressing, they did not hear the building they had stopped beside crack, groan and begin to topple towards them until all they could do was turn their wide lavender eyes and stare at it.

While it was true that it was not at all likely to kill Cala it would, in fact, hurt severely if it did succeed in landing on them.....

Mon Oct 10, 2022 11:41 pm

SOLOMON RICHTER | STERNRITTER

Solomon continued to walk at a leisurely place, azure eyes gazing at his mobile device to confirm he was moving in the right direction. However, his attention would quickly be drawn elsewhere the moment he heard people screaming. Alerted, his feet darted forward to rush toward the source of the commotion. There, in the distance, his eyes registered the image of a woman(from his point of view), who seemed to be moments away from being crushed under the weight of a toppling building. Hirenkyaku propelled his body forward, allowing him to quickly grab Cala by the hand, evading the building by a hair's breadth.

Employing his electrified reishi, he would manipulate it into the form of a hand large enough to keep it from toppling completely. This allowed supporting architects to arrive quickly, utilizing their own reishi to hold it in place. Sighing softly, Solomon turned towards Cala, sheepishly smiling as he rubbed the back of his head. If this was their first time here... It was certainly one hell of an impression. Well, at least he could distract them from the fact they were nearly crushed.

"Sorry about that. I am not particularly sure you are aware of this, but there are some parts of the city that are currently undergoing construction, which means exploration might prove troublesome in some areas. Might I serve as a guide to help navigate you elsewhere, miss?"

The Oncoming Storm| End Post

Wed Oct 12, 2022 12:08 pm

Cala hardly seemed capable of movement as the building began to topple, and as Solomon approached and took their hand Cala stumbled like a clumsily handled puppet along with the motion of his pulling. With the immediate danger mitigated Cala sunk back into a very oblivious, wide-eyed stupor and looked around blankly, only to stare at Solomon with saucer-sized, awed eyes as he rubbed the back of his head and offered his explanation.

Cala, for their part, was not in a state of mind to really......process what seemed like a half lie. Instead they nodded, slowly, something very off about their demeanor as they were all but intoxicated with the Loss permeating the City of Lights. The sheer, delicious, sorrow-sewn regret of the city of Quincy had all but pulled Cala from their senses. At the very least from feeling anything but a light, airy sense of tingling familiarity that made them pliant, aloof and oddly carefree.

Staring up at Solomon for a long, awkwardly quiet moment Cala would hum a soft, pretty noise and use their free hand to reach up and feel his cheek. A slow frown forming on their features as their lavender eyes seemed to brighten, twinkling gently as they murmured.

"You are..... hurt...."

Despite what one may have thought Cala was not referring to Solomon physically and that gentle touch to the cheek would lower to rest on his chest over his heart through his clothing.

"......inside. I am...... sorry."

Genuine, quiet remorse painted Cala's tone as the hand in Solomon's gave his hand a soft, reassuring squeeze. The gentle, disguised sensation of Cala's Pesquisa would wash softly over Solomon, probing him, studying him spiritually and emotionally in a focused manner of concern completely too familiar for a stranger.

Wed Oct 12, 2022 3:08 pm

SOLOMON RICHTER | STERNRITTER

Solomon was at a loss of words here. He had rescued the person Cala from harm. A simple act he would've did for anyone if he repeated it all over again. A hand reached up to feel his cheek, fingers tracing downward until the hand rested at his chest. Solomon remained curiously silent for a moment, wondering why this stranger chose to touch him with such gentle care, with a warm demeanor seemed decidedly genuine.

He tilted his head. Was this something from a culture he had yet to learn about, was this how this person thanked people that saved them? Several of these questions and more held his mind until he listened to their words. He was hurt, and Cala apologized for that. What did she mean by that?

"Rest assured, there is nothing wrong with me, miss. I was involved in a fight... but I certainly didn't incur any internal damage. If you're going to touch me like this, may I know your name at the very least?"

He felt somewhat awkward, but nevertheless maintained some form of composure. This form of intimate contact was not something he was all that familiar with. Well, there were the occasional women who tried to do so and complimented him on his looks, but he didn't pay that any mind.

The Oncoming Storm| End Post

Wed Oct 12, 2022 5:43 pm

Cala simply stared at Solomon for another short, yet long, quiet moment. Their shimmering lavender eyes full of emotion that bubbled quietly on the still, placid surface of the ocean that was their mind. Their pupils moved in short, rapid jerking motions left to right over and over again briefly before they hummed a tiny noise, their hand leaving Solomon's chest as they craned their head back and stared up in the air toward the place Ichigo had hovered initially. Then, slowly, their head would turn to look off toward a section of the city that had bore the fierce brunt of one of his more intense Getsuga Tensho and Cala's lips pursed. Softly taking a step in that direction Cala would only stop when their hand in Solomon's grasp stopped them from advancing and they turned, looking back at their joined hands, having forgotten them in their own stupor, Cala followed Solomon's arm back up his face before murmuring their answer in a soft, distracted manner.

"I am Cala."

Glancing back at that devastate part of the city their eyes dimmed and their posture slackened, their expression seeming like someone who was on the verge of passing out from exhaustion mixed with someone who had just heard their long-time pet had died as they drew in a shudder breathe. Their voice taking on a hitching tenor as they all but gasped.

"Many people..... are hurt. Dead...... Lost."

Cala knew one thing, given Solomon had protected them when others had simply watched, and how he had mentioned he had fought.... whomever it was who had done this. The logic, in their current mental state, came to them simply and plainly. Like a polaroid picture slowly and steadily clearing itself for view Cala would turn back to Solomon,

"This.... is what hurts you. You are a protector... and you lost."

Cala's voice was too quiet, too neutral, to come across as an accusation or insult. Stepping back to Solomon there was a short, contemplative pause on Cala's part before they took a deep, slow breathe and began to feel a bit of their usual nervous nature return. While this place was still as an ocean of loss and emotion Cala simply could not take in any more. They were, for the first time in along time, something similar to 'full' and they shivered softly.

"Ummm.... but it's alright, everyone loses sometimes, even gods. Even time."

Wed Oct 12, 2022 10:10 pm

SOLOMON RICHTER | STERNRITTER

Solomon followed the alternating movements of Cala's face, observing their expression with a gnawing measure of curiosity that did not exist at the outset. Following those eyes, Solomon cast his azure gaze towards the ruptured battlefield Ichigo had left on his destructive path. A simple view had roused the quietly kept agitation lying dormant his soul, the burnt remnants a cruel reminder of his failure, of his inability to overcome the monstrous threat that stood before him and his companions in the Vandenreich.

He made several attempts, of course, to remind himself that not a single one of them possessed the ability necessary to defeat such a ruthlessly determined warrior. He was of an entirely different nature, composed from an ilk unlike anything Solomon had stepped across in his entire life. He did not fear him, and yet that did little to prevent their inevitable defeat.

What angered him most is that the power he sought was not currently within his grasp. The terror of the civilians ate away at his soul. They deserved to live carefree lives, to walk with radiant expressions of joy, proud to live in this remarkably innovative city of lights. His azure hues returned toward Cala whose expressions and mannerisms appeared odd to him.

Cala's next set of words cut him so sharply that it robbed him of any ability to contest them. They were right. He didn't possess any heroic principle from his point of view, but he clearly desired to protect the innocent, to shield them from harm. No one deserved to die that way.

He was establishing himself within the eyes of his peers and the civilians of this city, and all of it was nearly taken away from him at the whims of a merciless arrancar. Of course, it angered him! His grip would tighten around Cala's hand. To a certain degree, his fury had never truly washed away completely, it seemed.

"It's not okay... dammit. I... nearly lost everyone I cared for because I couldn't hold my own. I was... I was a liability... Of course, I lost... but what hurts more is the aftermath. I.. failed and this is the result. Picking up the pieces of a city that was nearly left in ruin."

The Oncoming Storm| End Post

Thu Oct 13, 2022 6:16 pm

Cala could feel Solomon slipping through their Pesquisa as anger took hold of him, his control beginning to be lost, he was slipping. The all-too-familiar sensations of sorrow, regret and frustration whirling around Solomon made Cala rouse from their induced stupor a tiny bit more, but it was finally Solomon's words that struck a chord with the torpor stricken Arrancar. Their mind jolted at an unknown memory, more a feeling than fact, as what Solomon said made Cala blink, much faster now, and they returned more wholly to their senses. Enough, in fact, to realize just how energized and full they had fed from the City of Lights, and this was also a very strange sensation for Cala.

Now back in their current self's proper state of mind Cala bit their lip gently, feeling guilty for inciting these emotions in Solomon, and would timidly approach him. Their lavender eyes now flush and full of life and emotion as well and Cala leaned down to gently pick up a piece of rubble from the ground. They looked at it for a long moment, still feeling the heavy weight of Loss attached to it, and gingerly took one of Solomon's hands in their free hand before placing the rubble in his palm. Cala looked up at him, their eyes wide and earnest, as their smaller hands softly closed Solomon's hand around the rough-hewn rock. Their voice a soft, hopeful and somewhat uncertain murmur.

"I-I..... I know it hurts... I-I..... I do...."

Cala pulled back their hands to clutch at their clothes on their chest, pursing their lips fitfully as that unknown emotion pierced into their chest like the jagged end of vicious, merciless spear. Their eyes fell from Solomon for a moment before they shook their head, putting aside their emotions after a serious effort and would look back up at Solomon.

".... but! But.... e-ermm.... I-I mean.... it does hurt, losing things you love, Loss...... but I think w-well.... from the people I've met that losing... l-losing isn;t just the act of losing. D-Defeat, real, absolute defeat and L-Loss is.... isn't falling down.... but staying down."

Cala was no philosopher and what they had said, what they offered to Solomon, was more from their intrinsic understanding of their aspect of death than any true wisdom. Indeed the small Arrancar shuffled their feet shyly, lacing their hands in front of them, and blushed softly as they shrugged their thin shoulders, brushing their raven hair back over one ear as they let out a shaky sigh.

"I-I was lost too.... r-recently. Something... h-happened.... something changed not just about me o-or a person or a place and... and I wandered Hu-.... ehh.... umm.... w-well.... a-a lot. For a long time a-and so long I don't even know how long, just..... surviving."

Cala shook their head, softly causing their bangs to sway as they looked around.

"B-But I can say that i-if you fought to keep these people safe... this place safe.... then i-if you stop now umm.... then you've lost e-every battle you would have had to fight for them. That... That's what loss is to a protector I-I think....."

Cala, now breathing a little heavily, let their voice trail of shyly. They weren't used to being so insistent or, for that matter, cheering someone else up like this. In a way they were depriving themselves of power and energy from Solomon but some part of Cala, the Cala they were now, could not stand to see someone else subjected to this, especially when it had been their words to cause it.

Sat Oct 15, 2022 7:46 am

SOLOMON RICHTER | STERNRITTER

Solomon's attention was slowly drawn out of his angered state by that gentle touch. There was no mock sympathy in their expression. No perceived sense of false sympathy to quell his anger. Azure hues observed how Cala struggled with their words, each sentence a stutter trailing off into the next. Those blue eyes trailed towards the piece of rubble in his palm, small hands closing his own. The meek stranger gazed up at him with an earnest expression. He supposed the oddness of the action itself rendered any attempt at fury meaningless right now. After all, he would he use as an outlet for his rage? Speechless, his eyes remained observant, noting every movement, his ears entirely surrendered towards their words.

He acknowledged that they were not entirely incorrect. In fact, if he were to look at it from an outsider's point of view, could he not say that it was a feat in and of itself to stand face to face with someone leagues above him in strength? His peers still lived. There were causalities, but the city had not been decimated. Indeed, a true loss would be if he lived and none of his peers survived, if this city had been eliminated entirely with no promise of it ever being rebuilt. Perhaps, those final words were all he needed to slowly come to grips with this reality. Cala was right in a sense. Letting this irritable anger consume him would achieve nothing. It would only dull his blade, dull his ambition, his will to keep moving forward. To him, that was worse than defeat, an unforgivable act.

Each word that set into his spirit had slowly caused his shoulders to relax. A soft exhale followed, a more relaxed sigh escaping his lips now. A warmer expression followed, the male nodding his head as he squeezed the piece of rock within his palm. Turning his eyes towards Cala, Solomon smiled somewhat sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. He was honestly at a loss of words, unable to read them at all. Even so, he was grateful for their effort in offering him some modicum of closure.

"Well, when you put it that way... I can't really argue. You can't lose if you're still standing and to let that linger would only hold me back from protecting those around me. I get it. Sorry for the outburst. I was so lost in my anger that I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Solomon. Solomon Richter."

The Oncoming Storm | End Post

Sun Oct 16, 2022 4:21 am

Under The Sacred Briars[Solomon, Cala] 829293e1ab765f8856de53e9ab938351

Cala took a moment to steady their breathing, trying their best to hide their surprise as someone else actually seemed.... sheepish to look at them. That made Cala blink, once, twice, before flushing gently as Solomon rubbed the back of his head and began to apologize. Cala... froze for a moment, simply staring at him, before bowing their head low as if bowing to royalty. Their eyes squeezing shut and hands folding in front of them respectfully near their thighs. Their raven hair hung down on either side of their head, helping hide their growing blush as they stammered.

"M-My name is Cala! Umm... I'm sorry... Solomon... I didn't... didn't mean to seem weird!"

Raising their head from their bow Cala gently clasped their face in their hands, averting their eyes and shuffling their feet anxiously as they tried to physically suppress the growing cherry hue coloring their face. Their absolute embarrassment very evident to see as they splayed their fingers out to cover their dusky cheeks. It was really all Cala could do to bring themselves to look at Solomon directly again and bite their lip, their voice a quiet mumble of anxiousness as they attempted to further explain themselves.

"I-I just didn't.... want you to feel bad a-and I'm sure you did the best you could. You even look like a hero so I-I'm you'll get strong enough to be one!"

Cala tried to be further supportive to Solomon, partly to help him feel better and also partly to take the focus of the conversation off of themselves. Their hands were still clasped to their face after all and neither of Cala's selves want to make even more of a fool of themselves!

Under The Sacred Briars[Solomon, Cala]

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