Like a Fop [Ulquiorra, Mikhail]

A soft sigh escaped the Arrancar as she walked out into the street, her shoulders relaxing so very slightly as the cool are collided with her sweaty frame. As much as it required restraint, she had acclimated to partaking in her training in the faciliaites offered in the city of lights. Some days, she used the training rooms. Others, she focused on her release control, partially releasing herself with the intention of further exploring the altered bounds of her body. But today had been the former. Reaching up, she gently peeled the hairtie from her dark locks and ler her ponytail come undone, letting that dark mane fall over her shoulders as she began walking down the street toward her apartment.

Not normally the time that she would do so, but she had noticed something interesting the other day. Her landlord had begun renting out some of the apartments nearby. A lot of refugees from africa had been moving to the city, whether thinking it safe, or holding some gratitude or endearment with the acts of the vandenreich, transients had become much more common, and so some people new to the city had wound up becoming her neighbors. She'd sensed one such unfamiliar soul this morning. However she had been on a schedule.

Her research indicated that this was a prime opportunity. A new neighbor, even a temporary one, was an opportunity to form a bond. Her endeavors thus far had been... mixed. And so she did not intend on letting this one slip by. Making her way into her complex, she halted just shy of her own door. Pausing as she considered changing. But no, she did not want to seem too formal. Showing up in her gym clothes would appear more casual, and make the approach seem natural and spur of the moment. She would stay as she was.

Gently, she knocked on the door.

She gently nodded her head and dipped her frame. She was not wearing a skirt, but the general sensation of a little curtsy was still in evidence as she offered him a reciprocal theme in greeting. Where someone else might have faltered, Ulquiorra simply thought to herself that this man was some sort of "Dork" as they say, and thus adjusted her approach accordingly.

"I hope this evening finds you well. I had noticed that someone had moved in nearby, and I wished to say hello. Welcome you to the building. However, if this is a bad time, I can return later." The only real aknowledgement of his state of dress. He seemed fresh from the shower, and so she offered him the opportunity to finish getting himself dressed before pressing him for introductions. But, if nothing else, this seemed to have gone well.

He was mentally stunted, for whatever reason, he had chosen to engage with her in this bizarre fashion. Which was perfect for her purposes. She still was struggling to interact with other ... normal individuals. However, a man such as this, similar to his own bizarre disregard for normal speech patterns, would be more amicable to her own failures in casual interaction. A fellow social handicap, as it were.

Things were looking up.

So he was aware, at least. Though certainly his reasonings were questionable. Innocence. Was that something she exuded? Between her estigma, her pale complexion, and the hole in her throat, she would have imagined that would be far from the impression she gave. But she had no intention of contradicting him, and simply watched as he walked off to go change.

She'd been invited inside.

She stepped into the threshold and took a moment to survey the man's quarters. She didn't imagine there would be too much, he had only just moved in. But all the same, surely there would be something to be gleaned from his abode. When he finally returned, she looked over her shoulder. He dressed insomuch as she would have expected given how he spoke. Interesting. Those cole green eyes simply seemed to bore into his own as she considered why asking her her name would be considered a kindness.

"My name is Ulquiorra Cifer. I wished to welcome you to the building. Again, I apologize for the timing of my visit. What brings you to the city? If you don't mind my asking." She tilted her head ever so slightly to the side. To show that she cared about his response.

So he was here to look into the vandenreich? She supposed that was a common sentiment these days. The organization's reach had expanded considerably, and now with a tendency to show up whenever trouble happened. It was no shock that a number of individuals around the world might fgind themselves drawn out of curiosity.

"The Sternritter is just one of three Branches of the Vandenreich. The combat Regiment specifically. You've already made mention that you're a warrior. Do you intend to join their ranks?" She asked calmly. It made the most sense. No doubt fighters that found themselves operating solo would be drawn to join and have a sense of safety in numbers. But there was more to it than that.

"If you've come here loooking for the Sternritter, then that means you must have met some already. If that's the case, what did you think of them? And what do you know about their Purpose throughout the world of the living?" She ventured. NAturally, this seemed to be the crux of why he was here. All of the social instructive material pointed that showing mutual interest was important for social relationships. Naturally, that meant asking him about his current fixation.

A princess? Ulquiorra's mind was briefly shifted inward, her attentions drifting toward a particular captive in her past. However, it seemed that unlike that instance. This Princess' peril was not one capable of physical action. "Do you feel that the Vandenreich would be able to offer no help to the princess's condition? Or perhaps, do you think that the goals and aspirations of the Vandenreich would contradict your capacity to serve as this Sleeping Beauty's Knight?" She ventured. Certainly, it was a solid reason to be swayed in his decisions. But what specifically about his duties to this princess excluded participation?

He was here. In the City of Lights. And so at the very least, it was not as if he would be torn from a station at her literal side. At the very least, he seemed capable of moving about.

Even so, the assessment of the Vandenreich was certainly an interesting one. Authority, hm? Certainly, The Vandenreich seemed to operate without exerting command over their spheres of influence. They seemed a regulatory body, not one intending to govern that which it oversaw.

"And so what else have you been occupying yourself with? When you are not learning about the City's Knights." she asked, deciding to shift the conversation a little. She did not want to dig too hard, after all, while she too had some interest in the vandenreich's activities, that was hardly something they could do together. Common interests with actionable potential were more important in the pursuit of comradery.