Everything is Brand New[Igen, Rio]

Quite simply, Rio was over the moon. Finally having applied for a division, she bides her time waiting for the moment when they'll tell her she's been accepted. To be certain, it was a tough decision. Part of her genuinely wanted to join Mizu in eighth since she'd presented such a fine case the last time they met, and then there was a young man who had sort of broken her out of that noble shell in Igen.

A bright spirit. All in all, a good guy. He was in the first, but after contemplating it, she hadn't found that to be a division suited to her particular set of strengths. She wanted to be genuine, to pursue this not out of a desire to hang around peers(though that was part of it) but to be of service to the Gotei as a whole. Combat division suited her just fine, and reading through the list of members, she'd be hanging around Moe!

That would be fun. For the moment, Rio contents herself with walking through the first division barracks in search of her best bud. She had good news, and she'd wanted to check up on him after the last time. Had he gotten any stronger? How was he handling things with Ko, his constant release state Zanpakuto? So many questions. Hopefully, he wasn't too busy to hang out for a bit.

The moment Rio attempts a knock at the door, a sudden swing follows and it's open. Amber eyes see an unfamiliar woman who seems very familiar with her. Rio takes a moment to assess the blonde woman with tigerlike ears. Does she remember her? For a moment, she lets her thoughts swirl, drumming up past memories. With enough focus, she recognizes the spiritual pressure at least, and the tiger ears seem to make more sense now. Wait... was this.. Ko? Rio canted her head to the side as she stroked her chin. Had she learned to adopt a new form? It looked pretty cute, all things considered. In response to her inquiry, Rio posed a light venture herself.

"Ah... yes. I am here to see Igen again. Is... that... you, Ko? You... look different."

It was a rather awkward reply, but she certainly didn't expect to see her in this form.

The awkward air is thankfully sliced through by the person she truly desires to see as her ears register that familiar voice. A little bit of guilt sets in at her inability to recognize Ko, but even that is short-lived the moment Igen gives her a hug. A sheepish chuckle followed.

"I can tell. She was a tiger the last time we'd met. I had no idea she could shift forms. As for how I've been? Great. I've met some new people, and I have some good news to share."

Entering his abode, Rio notes the couch among most things. She catches another glimpse of the tiger girl as she rubs the back of her head, avoiding her gaze to focus on Igen as the scent of sizzling steak reaches her nostrils. There is one thing she hasn't bothered to notice yet, but he's making something right now, which makes it a little hard to tell. Was Igen sporting a new outfit?

"Well, there was this woman I'd met at the Academy before I resigned from teaching. She teaches at the academy from time to time. And she's a seated member of the realm enforcement division. Then there's Mizu! A very respectful woman, albeit overly apologetic at times. And... Moe. We fought and had a meal together. Now..."

Now that Rio can see him in full view, she finally has a more discernable glimpse of the new uniform. A curious smile lines her lips. It's interesting. She was actually curious to know what had led to the change in gear, but first - the good news! As he set the food down, on the table, Rio would look up at him with a playful pause. Normally, had this been her in the past, she would've simply come straight out with it. Now, she quite enjoyed playing the role of mischief. One. Two. Three. A deep breath, and she's pointing towards herself to make it look cool, even if it's little more than a simple piece of information, it means something to her. She'll be fighting among men and women from now on. It's a little momentous, no?

"You're looking at the future third seat of the Combat Division. Rio Shihoin!"

Flashing a flamboyant pose, Rio chuckles softly, hoping the little act might earn her a laugh from her companion, outside of excitement. She'd ran it through in her head, and everything just circles back to combat division suiting her the most, fighting style and leadership. She'll hold her division members accountable, and whip them all into shape, Moe included.

"Someone had presented a compelling case for the eighth, but I decided that this was more or less the best choice for me, you know?"

"I hope so, too. It hasn't gotten through yet, but I'm fairly confident I'll be picked. And yeah, you'll be seeing my face a lot, and so will another lady I met recently. As far as paperwork goes, I'm sure I'll be able to handle it. I think it'll at least be a lot easier than teaching students."

Igen's reaction was exactly what she was looking for. It was always nice to share good news with peers who genuinely cared for her wellbeing. Rio sat at the table, gazing down at the steak and she samples the seasoned meat, impressed with it's flavor. It was interesting. She was accustomed to fighting him or drinking with him, which made the sight of seeing him prepare a meal all the more curious. Then again, she's probably overthinking things. As she enjoys the meal, Rio curiously tilts her head, interested by his proposal. If nothing else, it would be a good opportunity to see how much he'd improved since the last time they'd fought. If Ko had adopted a different form, had Igen cultivated his abilities as well? It was worth the indulgence in curiosity, but first...

"Fine by me. I'd been meaning to see how much you've improved since the last time we met. Although, I'm curious. I notice you have a new outfit. I don't usually see first division officers wearing this. Was it just something done on a whim or was there something else in mind?"