The Hand that Feeds You [Cyrus, Ulquiorra]

Working with the Todgestalen had certainly been an interesting experience. Naturally, she had made note of the ...accommodations. What had at one time been an air of steady caution and uncertainty, ahd slowly turned into ....slightly less caution and uncertainty. Despite the open arms with which the Grandmaster had welcomed her into the city, there were those that still considered her with incredulity and caution.

The participation in the Arena had certainly seemed to help in some ways. Seeing her in such an environment made her more digestible. Less mysterious and scary. But it could only do so much. But all the same, her stay in the city of lights had become just a bit more comfortable. And her exploration of the heart had continued. Television. Events. Neighbors. Admirers whom had seen her fight in the arena. A number of human interactions had slowly been cultivated.

And yet there was one presence that was a bit more consistent than the others. The grandmaster. And it was time for one of their regular meetings. And so the arrancar made her way to the Silbern, dressed formally. She'd gotten into the babit of wearing more formal wear to these little meetings. A white button up and a fitted black vest, along with. a knee-length pencil skirt. Professional. She'd even gone so far as to tie her hair up into a bun.

Humans, after all, were very visual creatures.

Speaking of Visual.

The arrancar took only a passing note of the attire of Mazda. For such a humble man, he certainly didn't dress the part. His need to explain himself for why she had been pushed to a later time slot. "I have an open schedule." She stated simply, making no more attempt to insist that he need not apologize in such a manner. After all, it seemed part of his character, and so she felt that such an insistence might be a fruitless one. He certainly seemed to be more.....consolidated. That shaky, uncertainty was notably absent. And of course, Ulquiorra ...seemed herself. That same, sterile demeanor about her. Those unmoving eyes seeming to take all of him in at once.

"I continued to acclimate to the City." She stated simply enough. After all, there had been basically no signs of Ichigo or other arrancar attacks. Perhaps they had become a bit more idle ever since the incident in Vastime. Or perhaps Kurosaki was......distracted. Certainly that may be the case since his kidnapping of the Princessa. And so, despite the purpos for which Ulquiorra was here. The real difference between their visits ultimately boiled down to the mundane. And she could not help if Cyrus simply enjoyed such a thing.

Was he intent on 'getting to know her'? Undoubtedly. The question really came down to what his ultimate motive was behind such actions. "And what of yourself? You seem animate."

The subject of the situation in Africa certainly was a topic she anticipated. That said.
"The thought had certainly occurred to me to assist in the situation. However, I understand that perception of Arrancar has been somewhat tenuous." She stated calmly enough, closing her eyes for a moment as she considered. "As I am neither a member of the Vandenreich, nor the Gotei, I feel that imposing myself upon the situation would be ill-fitting. Between the incident in africa, The Holy Roman Empire, and of course, the City. I feel that tensions are particularly high. And given some of the dispositions I have witnessed in the regular Arena matches, there is a possibility that my presence as an outsider might cause an issue." She noted calmly. Certainly the fights had been...enlightening as to the personalities behind both organizations.

The soft clack of her footsteps sounded as a buffer in the lull of her words as she made her way over toward the other side of the room, pausing to look out one of the many windows, overlooking the rest of the Silbern. "Did you have ties to Vastime?" A personal question. She had taken note that both Alex and Nel had seemed affected by the incident, and she had respectfully given the both of them some space as of late. But she remained curious. even all the way across the sea, the incident effected those who had never even set foot in the place. An interesting aspect to be sure. But a curiosity that was complicated to try and investigate with strangers.

Ulquiorra's calm stare out the window remained unwavering in the light of Cyrus's ....inspired comments. Such was certainly .... a sentiment. And indeed, such efforts may indeed bear the limited fruit so caged by the doubts and fears of humans. But all the same, she held a certain .... respect for the notion.

And Yet.

"And how do you intend to achieve this?" She ventured with a glance toward Cyrus, over her shoulder. Though it didn't ring in her voice, there was certainly a calm curiosity settled within her eyes as she looked to the grandmaster. Certainly, it was something to express such a desire, to flirt with a notion. But what steps were to be taken to that end?

All the more, as the subject of Vastime and it's King's fate came center stage, Ulquiorra turned and made her way over to the desk at the center of the room. A pause as she regarded the centerpiece of the room, resting her hand along it's edge before glancing back up to meet Cyrus' gaze. "'Ours. But not yours?" She ventured with calm curiosity, slowly walking around the desk to stop a short distance from the man. There was no more far-off stare. Those greens were firmly affixed tot he grandmaster's own, staring him down as she seemed to scry as to his intentions. There was no hostility in her eyes, but simply an intense focus, even despite the lac posture and calm expression, those eyes still managed to seem deathly alert and focused.

" Had it been within your power to prevent what had happened. Would you have done so? Even knowing that it would deprive the Vandenreich of such a victory?" An easy question, but still, there was intent behind it. "If you had had the power to have Vastime collapse, but without the loss of civilian life, would you have set such a fate in motion? " She posited as well, watching the man ever so closely as he gave his answers.

A pause, to turn to the side, and alleviate that intense stare on the grandmaster as she reminded herself to be more...polite. Likeable? Less intense. "If you would forgive a rather crude framing of a question. How many holes.... in earth or on soul society, would it take for the Vandenreich to achieve the goals that you have laid out for it? Let us say, that you could, at your command, open as many massive hollow holes as you liked, wherever they may need appear, in this realm, and in any other realm. How many would you need before the Vandenreich had a clear path to it's ideals?" She ventured calmly. It was, of course, an insane question. Such a thing was, a bit insipid to believe that, literally, opening up hollow holes in the realms would solve any issues. But the question, or so she hoped would be conveyed, was more metaphorical. One hole, had in onefell swoop, eliminated an obstacle before the Vandenreich. Ulquiorra's question was simple.

How many 'disappeared' factions did the Vandenreich stand to gain from?

How....... human.
Perhaps it was simply the contrast. But there was certainly a major difference between the 'leader' that stood before her. And the ne she had knelt before in the past. And certainly it did make her wonder a great many things. If Aizen had not been so forceful, if he had allowed himself these concessions and feelings. Would he have been the same man? Garnered the same followers? Or perhaps, had such thoughts lie deep behind a facade? Or perhaps there had been something else altogether hiding behind those eyes in the past. It was easy to presume there had been nothing, but one could never truly tell.

But certainly, the surface had never stirred with such a troubled exterior. And certainly, only recently had the faintest vestiges of what any might call emotions ever shown on the Arrancar. Even now, with all of the ....exploration she had indulged in, that visage held almost nothing in the way of traces or glimpses into what was actually occurring behind those eyes.

"A path of empathy and such sentiment is one that is full of suffering and hardship. And likely, death. I've certainly seen what it can drive others to do. I'm sure that such simple notions of peace and satisfaction exist within Kurosaki as well, perhaps even now, in their own, twisted forms. But I imagine perhaps, you might have something to say to that. " She noted, closing her eyes for a moment as she seemed to consider.

"Your fixation on seeking my employment has no doubt made you hesitant to ask favors of me. In the event that you need assistance with this incident in Vastime, you should ignore such reservations. But, since I imagine you won't. Instead I will simply offer my assistance. Should you need my assistance in Africa, or elsewhere with other matters, you should feel free to request it. Though I offer you no promises as to my answer depending on the nature of the request." She stated simply.