Four Ways to Smile [Lerna, Hono]

A soft snort escaped her, and her smile widened. "Well I don't have to worry much about that myself. And thanks! I chose the look myself." She chimed, folding her arms as she seemed to take the compliment in stride. She was kinda used to those kinds of comments. They hardly came around all the time, but a fair number of them spilled in now and then. Especially cinse she started working with the Seventh Division.

"Huh, that right? Interesting way to show gratitude for someone who taught you something." She mused, thinking a bit to who she herself aspired to be like. And someone she recently had aspired to beating down one day. Though she did wonder if that was something she'd ever be able to meaningfully attain. "You're part of Squad Six.... right? I'm a little surprised you picked Realm enforcement. They don't usually see the heavier side of combat these days. It's not like anyone is stupid enough to invade soul society. What made you pick that squad?"

A pause at that and Lerna found herself folding her arms and furrowing her brows a little at Hono as she let out such a ...uh.....wacked out opinion. she was basing her improvement on if she could beat ELYSS? She couldn't help the incredulity that welled up inside of her. And she couldn't help but wonder if this was just ....indicative of the kind of perso Hono had already rpoven to be by her ...choices and such. Maybe not a bad person but definitely an odd person. "I....guess? Hm..." She trailed off a little at that and let out a bit of a sigh. "Well, I certainly wish you luck. It's a heckuva hill to climb." She pointed out.

A pause was given as Hono moved into the subject of the rukongai. Truth be told, she didn't know a lot about it. she's....heard some stuff? It didn't seem too great a place, but then again it didn't really sound as bad as some places on earth. It was lawless, and poor. But well, maybe you just had to experience it yourself. In her own mental caption of the place, she couldn't imagine it being more fucked up than say some of Asia, or portions of the americas. But she kept those thoughts to herself.

"It ....does? Is the rukongai famous for not being fond of em? I mean.... on earth yea, lots of people don't like shinigami. Or really spiritual peeps in general. Guess I never thought about how things would be over here." She murmured. a sigh escaping her as she rubbed the back of her head. It certainly was a lot to think about, and truth be told, her thirst for a good scrap had started to peter out a little.

"Well, I'm sure you'll find your way. Maybe you'll reach your goals, maybe you'll get new goals. We'll have to find out."

Lerna raised a brow and chuckled softly as Hono stated such a thing with so much certainty. And for sure, she coulnd't help but wonder if that was the case. It was something to make such a claim, but the fact of the matter was that such things might not occur. It was....strange at times, to see what it was that drove Shinigami in some regards, to to reach for such heights with such fervor, never quite to reach them. While others managed to break the clouds with even the most halfhearted of grasps. Was Hono capable of reaching her goal? Her mind wandered to the sorts of things she'd seen Elyss taking part in.

For all of the resentment she had for the woman who replaced her former captain, she would never be someone to claim that Elyss did not deserve the title of Captain. Not only that, but the woman's stout, stubborn demeanor lent itself to why it was that Elyss was what she was. That stubbornness and aggressive even in something as low stakes as their little spar certainly made it clear what drove the woman to what she was now. Could Hono match something like that? Much less catch up to it?

"That's a pretty long story. But right here in soul society actually. I'm a Mod Soul, so I was created here, a long time ago." She stated with a calm smile.

"And I suppose that's really up to you. I guess we did get a little distracted. I suppose we're pretty close to the Sixth Division barracks, if you want to get things rolling."

The peering was about what she expected, hardly minding as Hono inspected her face with a newfound incredulity. That said, she gave a soft little chuckle and sighed at the assurance that hono didn't care what she was. That was usually people's initial response to be sure. But well, they'd see if that remained the case. even so, she watched as Hono turned and promptly started leaing the way toward the Sixth division training area. She sure was a go getter wasn't she?

Hm.

That gentle smile faded out, and for just a moment, she allowed herself to drop that warm beam of hers, just a brief moment to watch the woman walking off, and glancing down at her palm as she briefly pondered, for a fraction of a second, waht she herself really looked like. A little sphere in the center of a meat puppet. With branching spiritual roots to manipulate her frame. And her thoughts wandered to the very first people to learn about that fact of her.

She missed them.

But well, she could at least, if nothing else, see about visiting Murasaki sometime. Maybe, if she had the time.

Either way, that calm smile returned to her features and she followed Hono toward the training area.