A Unique Note [Rose, Nanashi]

There were far more Vizards in the Gotei United than there had ever been in the Gotei 13, but they were still quite the minority. Rose was not exactly an advocate for his kind, he was not fond of this affliction that had been forced upon him and yet that was a burden he would always have to bear so he had come to master it. He was counted amongst the oldest of them, being of the first generation as he was. His trials and tribulations paved the way for the Vizards of today and all the advancements that had come with such, so now many of them now handled their relationships with their Inner Hollows in vastly different ways.

As Rose's division was still in its infancy, he was also spending more time at the Academy than he had done in all the centuries prior. Not only was he found looking for prospective recruits, but he was also observing the upcoming Vizards and watching their development. He didn't want the 8th to become known as 'the Vizard Division', which felt rather constricting, but that did not mean he could ignore them. So he had sent invitations to many prospective candidates in their final years of study, inviting them for meetings to discuss potential internships as they headed towards graduation. Not all of them would accept the offer, and, amongst them, some would no doubt fail to make the cut, but he was interested to see what would come of it.

He was expecting several over the coming days, though today was certainly one of the more interesting ones. Nanashi Gombei. What exactly would she be like? Either they would resonate well or grind against each other, he could feel it. Like chalk or cheese. They would be shown through to his office when they arrived, the Captain was not one to worry with many formalities and such.

"Ah, Miss Gombei, please make yourself comfortable."

A hand leisurely waved in the direction of seats in front of his desk, but she could remain standing if she wanted to. That did sound like a lot of unnecessary effort on her part, though. That same hand returned, sweeping some of the blonde hair from Rose's face as he offered Nanashi a polite smile. He was a little different from his fellow Captains, so they would do things a little differently here at the 8th.

"Now, to summarise. If I am not mistaken, you're coming to the end of your studies at the Academy. In these final months, it is possible for capable students to serve as interns within divisions of the Gotei United to better colour their choices after graduation. The Eighth Division may not be the most prestigious, but there are opportunities for growth and learning here that are simply unrivalled by the other squads."

They were not the Combat Division, the Stealth Force, or even Command. That had upsides and downsides, but it certainly meant they weren't tied down by those labels either. Rose loved that freedom, it was a part of the charm.

"So, tell me a little about yourself. Goals and aspirations if you like, or a little about the journey to where we are today."

The greatest reality of this line of work was that you would always have to think on your feet. Those that handled it well could see progress, and those that struggled would find themselves constantly on the back foot. That was why Rose was quick to put his candidates on the spot and see if they faltered. An easy grin came to rest on his lips as Nanashi explained herself, enjoying her over-the-top attitude just a little.

"A Vizard for the best part of a year and already using advanced techniques. Interesting."

He liked prodigies, they had a tendency for the dramatic and naturally strived to push themselves beyond normal limitations. He wasn't the type to always be motivating those around him, after all, so they needed to be able to drive themselves forwards.

"There will be plenty of opportunity to prove your abilities, to hone your 'Doom Blasts' and such, but I am also interested in the person behind those powers. We're a tight-knit bunch, you see, so I do mean to pry just a little."

"Ah, that's good to hear. We try not to take ourselves too seriously here, not when we don't have to anyway. It's hard to produce your best work when you're not in the best environment."

Checking more boxes, it seemed. This was certainly turning out in the more positive of the two ways that Rose had predicted. Ah, it was so soothing when things went as he wanted. It made him want to compose, but now wasn't quite the time for that.

"Earth fashion is certainly an interesting hobby, with so much variety and room for expression. That is good energy for your soul. Myself, I like Earth music. Though that may come as little surprise, call it a poorly kept secret. Either way, I am not above taking trips down to the Realm of the Living. For work or pleasure. Now, I suppose I should ask if you have any questions for me. I sprung all this on you, but we'll try to keep that energy going."

That question did draw a laugh from the Captain, a single amused note though it was a rather serious matter. Rose did not want to always be serious, his squad was a place where you did not need to specialise to thrive and it did not seem right to pigeonhole everyone to dealing with this one issue. Still, it was the question on everyone’s lips. No doubt that was the same for recruits at the academy as it was veteran Shinigami in the ranks. So, for a brief moment, his tone grew a shade more somber. There was briefly a certain gravitas to his voice that made it a little more intense.

“Obviously I cannot give you specifics, nor even really any details at all of overarching strategy concerning the recent uptick in Arrancar activity. Though I appreciate your enthusiasm, so I will address it in the broadest possible manner. The Eighth Division is one that does not serve a specific purpose, and yet can be expected to get involved in any and all business of the Gotei. So, by following that train, it can be expected that the Eighth will be involved in any such plans in some capacity.”

And then, as quickly as it had come, it was already leaving. His posture shifted a little, lounging in his chair as his gaze wandered again from Nanashi and to their surroundings.

“It is a unique opportunity that I am presenting. A chance to get a taster for many different aspects of a Shinigami’s duty. So, are you interested? Or is there more that you would need to see?”