Sup, Butcher Boy? [Chihiro, Hitoshi]

Chihiro was perusing the shops in the Rukongai for a new grocer - the last store she frequented ended up banning her coz of something entirely out of her control. It's not her fault she got in that brawl, the guy was asking for it with that horrible attitude and the store attendant wasn't doing anything about it! It just got her steamed to think about it, but oh well. That was what she got for sticking to such a seedy place... At the same time it was all she could afford as an academy student, so she couldn't beat herself up too much.

Her travels brought her to a promising looking store, catching her attention - it looked all nice and clean, and not too expensive looking. They even had a butcher! That definitely sounded promising! Thrilled, the bright-eyed girl would enter the store, definitely in a kind of dramatic fashion for someone just trying to get groceries, before realizing her self and toning down the excitement, moving along to look about the place.

The creak of chain, swinging in the faint breeze. A wooden sign hung underneath, carved with the name 'Kurata'. Beneath, Hitoshi sat unbothered, covered in the eternal shade of his parasol. It had been much of the same, his daily activities having consisted of feeding several 'addictions' in the area, and moving forward the endlessly marching machine of paperwork. Step by step.

Still nothing from the Tokinada... The Shihoin seem amicable, the Kuchiki are yet to be met.... A calculating mind stared blankly into the distance, through a bottle that sat across the table from him. A snap back to reality as a girl approached the shop - rather excitedly, to his surprise. Not one of the regulars. Not familiar at all.

Internally, his eyebrow furrowed, thinking for a moment. Outside, his face remained still, porcelain as he barely even acknowledged her presence. "The store is open. You can enter, if you cease the... jumping."

Even in her excitement, her gaze caught that of the man standing all mysterious and elegant by the store's entrance, his appearance definitely catching her attention. Definitely didn't recall him from the Academy or in the Gotei ranks - there's no way she'd miss someone who looked like him going about the ranks. He'd easily be a high seated member with the way he carried himself, she thought.

"Oh! Sorry!" She'd quickly apologize and quit her jumping, her eyes drawing to the hanging sign, squinting as she seemed to take a moment to read what it said, mumbling out loud, "K...Kur... Kurata..? Kurata!" soon looking back to the white haired man with a smile, "Is this your store, or is it family-owned? That's really cool, either way! I've always wanted to open a flower shop, but it was way too confusing.."

She'd smile awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head, seeming a little insistent on talking with him instead of entering the store straight away, "Sooo, do you just greet people?"

"We own it." Hitoshi replied curtly.

Bimbo. A slow blink as the slurry of thoughts mixed, a combination of slurs and annoyance giving way instead to speech.

"If you're looking for flowers, there's a display." A single, marble finger lifted in deliberate motion, pointing into the storefront. "Nothing fresh. We'd recommend coming back at the end of the month if that's you're interest."

Another game to play, he supposed. Keep the face of the Kurata nice, if still not exactly 'pleasant'. The emerald of his gaze still stuck to the woman for longer than he'd planned, gears starting to turn in his head. Of course, it's never bad to have more thralls. More... Excitable than preferred. Still, considered. His parasol turning idly, the faint stretch of shadow unnoticeable by anyone but the most staunch observer, reaching to meet Chihiro.

The girl was a little visibly taken aback by the man's reaction, or well, lack thereof. Was she being too pushy? Well, that shouldn't matter as much, she was trying to be nice and strike up some conversation, there wasn't much wrong with that! What was with the cold shoulder? Maybe he's just having a bad day or a stomach ache or something... Feeling a bit under the weather definitely could put her in a bad mood.

So with that sorted in her mind, she'd shake her head, "Oh, no. I was just saying that for conversation's sake!" Her smile would return to her face, "I'm just looking for someplace else to shop, my last grocer kindaa... Things didn't work out, and I do not like shopping in the Seireitei..."

It always felt too posh and expensive in there, the Rukongai was far more her speed when it came to.. Well, everything. Sure it was a farther run but it wasn't like that was a sweat, she was still working up to getting across a whole district before the sun set five inches and all!

"Oh! I forgot to ask, my name's Sano Chihiro, what's yours?"

"Kurata Hitoshi." the man made no response to her airheaded mentions, a careful eye watching the constant shift and jump of Chihiro's rhythm. The smiling, overenergetic expression - A poorly trained dog. Surprised she hasn't tried jumping up, or humping my leg.

Having placed his cruel comparison on the woman, Hitoshi considered throwing the woman a treat. A pure guide for amusement, something he had been lacking as of late. Too crude, no?

If you believe so, Hitoshi-denka. Sanzukiko chimed, her voice soft in his ear. However, what of a trained dog?

The thought struck him odd, the relationship he'd had with those underneath him so far... Removed. Significantly lesser, more akin to slaves. Tools. Property. The apprehension was felt through the wood on his chest, a shift in the zanpakuto's tone to apprehension.

At least learn of the thing's stock, breed, before you decide?

That much, he could agree to. A shift in the parasol against his wrist as Hitoshi sat up, slightly taller now. Speaking with a cold but measured tone. "Chihiro Sano, what is it you do?"