A clash of past and present [Saera, Arianda]

Saera grunted with frustration as she kicked the dissolving remains of the hollow that she'd been called in to take care of. It had been a bit too tenacious for the normal earth liaisons to take care of, so they'd called for support from the fourth, which was why Saera was here now. One thing that hadn't been mentioned however, is that the entire damn city of New Orleans was dripping with Demonic presence! Saera gritted her teeth as she stomped on the fractured mask of the hollow that had been extremely unsatisfying to fight compared to the anger she was attempting to keep down. She was well aware that Shadowfall had been broken and the demons banished or culled to the last, or so she had thought, but the lack of active carnage or alarm from Soul Society told her that there was something she didn't know, so she was keeping an iron leash on her fury, but dammit she was going to get answers!

The level of saturation implied that the Demon was powerful, powerful enough to have conquered if it wanted to, and definitely strong enough to find a Shinigami deliberately making herself known. So with that in mind Saera began flashing from rooftop to rooftop, flaring her spiritual presence in an obvious attempt to get the attention of anything powerful enough to respond.

"I can keep this up as long as it takes Demon! Come out damn it!"

Saera didn't have to keep searching long, and soon identified the source of the demonic presence as it had so kindly decided to stick to one place. Less than three minutes after the demonic woman had created her seat Saera flashed in front of her, a frown on her face as she looked her over the demon. The pressure she felt from her left no mistake in her mind that this woman could easily turn her into paste (not that it would stop her from trying to take her on), but the fact that she hadn't, that she wasn't displaying any of the pure unadulterated lust for carnage she'd learned to expect during the wars held her hand. That and the fact that this woman had clearly been here often enough or long enough and was apparently considered enough of a non-threat that she hadn't been informed of her presence when being dispatched to the city.

"I was unaware there were any demons left. I was even more unaware that there were ever any peaceful demons, but based on the lack of alarm, that's apparently what you are."

Saera's grip was white-knuckle tight on the hilt of her zanpakutou, and her pupils were practically pinpricks as she spoke, "If this were even two years ago I'd be coming at you swinging regardless of any evidence or the obvious gap between us. As it is I'm barely holding back now, and I can't allow myself to ignore your presence without at least finding out what's going on. So. Who are you? What are your intentions? Why do the local Shinigami seem to not care about your presence?"

Saera's gaze bored into the woman, though after a pause she added one more thing, "My name is Saera. I suppose I should at least give that to you if I'm going to be demanding answers from you"

"You should probably listen to her. You know I didn't teach you to judge an individual by the actions of a group."

Saera ignored the floating hallucination of her father that seemed to be standing just behind Arianda, but it had a point. Damn-it she knew it had a point because it was just a figment of her own imagination, and despite knowing that she still couldn't get him to stop appearing to her when she was stressed!

She still couldn't stop the heartache every time she saw him like this.

Still, she needed to calm down. This wasn't the war, this woman hadn't been in the camp in the war before that, and the evidence did point towards her words being the truth, as much as a part of her raged against the bars of the cell she'd thrown it into deep in the prison of her inner world. Kusari no Kanshi-Sha was of course being no help, not that she ever was, merely chuckling from within her sarcophagus, entertained at Saera's use of the prison complex.

Saera met the woman's eyes, and didn't flinch. She didn't know the woman's story, though she recognized the expression. They'd both seen their own shares of hell, and regardless of who'd suffered more, longer, or more intensely trauma like that couldn't and shouldn't be compared, and had to be at least acknowledged.

She closed her eyes and forced herself to let go of the hilt of her blade one finger at a time, taking deep breaths as she brought herself further under control. The rage still wanted to break free, still wanted to throw everything to the wind, descend into the bloodlust that had consumed her during the last war, and attempt to take this being down, collateral damage and her own safety be damned. But she had to be better than that. She couldn't allow herself to become someone who, as the figment of her father had said, judged the person by the group.

Hell, it was even possible that the woman had been involved in the previous wars and that still wouldn't justify pointless, blind violence against the woman. She and her father had granted lessons, and occasionally shelter and food, to more than one person that had been condemned as an irredeemable monster better off dead and helped them find discipline and a way to move forward and become better, granting them a chance to even become at peace with their pasts.

That didn't mean Saera liked it, or that she wouldn't be watching for signs of aggression, but she was not a hypocrite, and she couldn't bring herself to deny the woman the same chance she'd helped give others.

Saera hissed out one last breath and consciously forced herself to relax, muscle by muscle before she responded, Text color: "No. I will not attack you. We aren't at war, and I need to act like it. And it is...an experience and a half to meet you I'll admit to that. I shouldn't damn well judge you based on your race, even if that's a bit fucking hard right now. Though I'll admit to curiosity, what exactly are you doing in New Orleans anyway?"

Maybe making conversation will help me let this go so I can go back to the Gotei without losing my mind.

Damn it. Of course shed immediately start proving that she's actually considerate.

Saera recognized the show of respect for what it was, and returned the bow. No matter who it was she would always at least offer the same respect she was given back.

"I don't need to actually check in until tonight, though...thank you for asking. And if you want honesty, then yes I am planning on sticking by you for the moment. What's the mortal saying...trust but verify? I am...trying to offer some level of trust despite part of me literally howling that it's not safe to believe you. But I still want to verify, and frankly observing you is the best way to do that. So you can either deal with me attempting to trail you, or let me accompany you and attempt cordial conversation. Who knows. Maybe you'll convince my instincts that my logical brain is right, I'm sure as hell failing at it."

Saera didn't doubt the woman could also leave too fast for her to trail her, but if she did then Saera would likely give into those instincts of hers and do her best to make sure this woman was taken down.

Though a part of her really hoped it didn't come to that. A very small part of her who saw the idea of a demon who was actually living in relative peace as a sign that maybe Saera could start letting go of the ward, just a little bit.

Saera found herself chuckling involuntarily. Normally she'd be able to keep a professional demeanor if the situation required it, such as when giving a report, directing rowdy recruits, or the like, but with her willpower already focused on holding back a torrent of blind fury, painful memories, and a burning need to fight she found her normal personality leaking through instead.

"Thanks for the concern, but trust me, I'm possibly the least troublesome member of my squad. I won't say no to the reminder though."

Saera made sure to nod greetings at the people they passed as well, including the shop attendant, and was content in the moment simply to observe the demon she was...well it wasn't tailing but she wasn't sure what it was. And watching her Saera had to admit that she was just being a normal woman, nothing obviously malicious involved. Her guard was certainly not going down, and it had hardly been any time at all, she didn't know what would come later after all.

Then she asked questions about the gotei.

Saera felt righteous anger build up, a determination that never left her screaming across her as she grit her teeth and tensed for pain, these bastards still thought she'd answer them? She'd be as tight lipped as every other time they'd tortured her, and when she got out, she'd show them, she'd bathe in their blood! She'd- she'd...she'd already done that...hadn't she?

"-aera! Saera! Damnit there you are! She asked an innocent question, now stick your damned flashback back in its cell, you can panic later but I DON'T like my sarcophagus shaking!"

Saera took deep breaths, she'd tensed up ramrod straight and taught as steel cable in anticipation of an 'interrogation' session, and she needed to calm her mind.

"Five things I can smell: fresh bread, cigarette smoke, the ocean, smoked boudin from the cart outside, and far too artificial air freshener. Four things I can hear: the man with the cart taking an order, the air conditioner in the building, people talking, ginny music on the speakers. Three things I can feel: My clothes, the weight of my Zanpakutō, my sandals. Two things I can taste, the boudin sellers wares on the air wafting in that I really need to try before leaving, a little bit of my breakfast caught between my teeth. One thing I can see, a...a likely concerned dem-woman who's being fat mor patient with me than I am with her despite me inviting her day like this, and who even now I still can't bring myself to leave alone."

Saera sighed as her body loosened drastically and the flashbacks finally faded and were contained back in their cell. She sent a quick apology to Kusari no Kanshi-Sha and then have a...nod to Arianda. She still couldn't bow to a demon, even if in this case an apologetic bow was deserved.

Damn it this didn't happen when she encountered demons in the last war! But, then again she had allowed herself to rather happily slip into her bloodlust back then, and that wasn't an option right now. Damn it she really did need some level of therapy didn't she?

"Sorry about that. You didn't deserve it, and it wasn't your fault. Just...bad memories. I don't know Saiko, so I couldn't tell you anything about her, but I am seated myself, fourth squad. We get pulled in when something is too much for the earth liasons to handle. I'm going to have to ask that we don't talk about the gotei right now, I can talk about my experiences in the Rukongai and my life there, I'm not so lost in myself I can't recognize that to have a conversation like I asked I have to be able to share too. How about we trade off questions and stories? If there's a topic you don't want broached then say so now. Mine are the gotei, and the wars, that's about it."