Am Strand (Ulquiorra, Eliane)

Her endeavors had yet to bear much fruit. At least nothing substantial. As she had begun her foray into learning to grow closer, she had managed to accrue some acquaintances. Shopkeepers, a few friendly faces in the Vandenreich, and the occassiona smitten human that she'd noticed watching her from afar. But still, she hadn't quite managed anything significant. It was terribly.....strange.

She could not see any of them as friends. Not in the same way that the Princessa had so declared her bond with her own friends. But still, there was something. A familiarity in meeting them. The faintest inklings of connection. But nothing like what she'd felt on the canopy. Not yet.

And so, she took some advice from a shopkeep and decided to visit one of the social hubs humans enjoyed. A beach.

It certainly was a unique place. She was more than aware that it was a space for mingling and such. The usual cultural restrictions on appropriate wear became somewhat looser. IN some cases considerably looser, based on some of the swimsuits she'd seen. And at this junction, humans came to have a good time. Any number of little games and activities. Tanning. Swimming. Building structures from sand. And so on.

It was here that Ulquiorra found herself settled on a beach towel, watching the rest of the beach. Her own swimsuit had been something she'd gotten advice on from one of the shopkeeps. Certainly not something she would usually wear. A snug two piece swimsuit, the actual top was something akin to a floral yellow tube top, fastened together with a circular metal ring, the colors, she'd been assured, would help make her seem less gloomy. A side-tied skirt made from thin material kept the little ensemble from showing too much leg, and she'd also been directed to see about some sort of hat, something to make her mask fragment not so obvious. And so she was currently sporting a straw cowboy hat, from which a cascade of dark locks ran down to the center of her back. Seemingly let down, but a close observer would note that the very end was tied off into a little ponytail at the tips.

Was this truly something that would help her? She wasn't sure, but for the time being, she simply kept her wits about her. Those already engaged with the activities didn't hold her interest. No, she'd found that many humans were shy or a bit more reclusive. If she could find them, then perhaps she could get them to come out of their shell a little and make a fast friend. According to the manga she'd gotten her hands on, the shy types were easier to befriend.

She did not have to search particularly long. Especially not when her pesquisa snared on the sensation of mottled conglomerate amidst the sea of smooth igneous around them. A soul which seemed of a… familiar mixed nature. The reflection of Eliane’s form in those dark green eyes was all that was needed to affirm her intent. The lure and sway that Eliane’s form might hold over some other human or hollow was all but ignored.

She was far more interested in what was buried in her chest cavity.

With her towel in hand, Ulquiorra made her way over to the peoplewatcher. Now all she needed to do was apply what she’s learned to make a new friend.

”Is this sand taken?”

A blank slate.

No doubt Eliane was a master at reading people. The tiniest of little gestures and shifts. Adjustments of footing, weight, stance. The twitches of muscles in both motion and mere anticipation that spoke a silent narrative of thoughts and considerations. The contrast would be almost eerie. As much as she had progressed in her aims to appear more human, more amicable, she was still working in progress. The woman would seem almost robotic. Not as if she had no soul. When she did move, she did so as any normal individual was. And in fact, Eliane would catch the very smallest shifts in her frame. Rather, it simply seemed as if the woman were totally, perfectly, and utterly in control of herself.

Which was nothing to say about her stare. Eyes that missed nothing. Ironic that it was packaged in something so striking.

"Thank you." She offered a little bob of her head before settling down beside the other woman, her head shifting to glance otu towards the waves, though those eyes didn't focus on anything. A practiced emulation of brief distraction, to make herself seem less intense and not simply a piercing unending gaze. But ultimately, when she did glance back to Eliane, those eyes would be no less intense.

"Hm." She glanced down at her pale skin. She'd always been this pale. She didn't imagine that tanning was an option, but she quite frankly had no idea. "The Desert actually. Summer seems to have been kind to you." She glanced back toward Eliane before holding her hand out.

"Ulquiorra Cifer. A pleasure to meet you." An introduction, pleased with how nice and smooth this was going. No weird looks, concerned glances. She imagined that Eliane was, if nothing, familiar with her kind.

With the ....interesting soul that her pesquisa picked up. It would have been impressive if she wasn't a more worldy woman. Or perhaps just a very unlucky one. But she knew well enough not to bring up such things on a first date.