Meeting On The Cliffs [Rita/Vanyel]

The morning sun was a beauty in Rita's eyes. Standing upon a cliff overlooking the forest, she moved her gaze to the sight of the massive, sprawling depths of Karakura Central in the distance. Getting away from all that noise and into the bounty of nature was enough to make one get loose, yeah?

As the winds blew, her long, teal blue hair flowed down her back, catching the light breeze. Dressed in a sporty ensemble, she wore an oversized blue jacket with orange accents, open to reveal a cropped orange top with the word "Meme" printed on it. A pair of low-rise jeans hugged her hips, secured by a red belt. The green choker around her neck and various ear piercings added a rebellious touch to her look.

Closing her eyes, she folded her arms and listened to the rustling leaves and distant bird calls, letting nature's symphony drown out the residual noise of the city as she waited for Vanyel to arrive. It had been a few days since the two's schedules overlapped, so a part of her was even excited to see him. Tingly in feeling in her chest, she pondered what she was really feeling before her eyes opened again.

"This should be interesting."

She muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. Standing resolute, Rita waited, wondering how the day would unfold.

Rita eyed Vanyel up and down; not used to seeing him in such casual attire. Her face soon cracked into a smile and she gave him a big ol' hug when she saw him; her chest smother up against his own as she rubbed his hair.

"I guess we both are out of character today, huh?"

She said, her voice lively and bright, a large grin lighting up her face.

"Hmmmmmmm, I guess I tried this outfit because I wanted to look different? I don't know what to tell ya Vanny, sometimes you have to shake things up and try something new."

As she eased up her hug, Rita glanced down at herself, a cheesy smirk spreading across her lips as she admired her fit.

"What about you?"

With her tone sounding more intrigued, she looked back up at Vanyel.

"Any reason you changed your get-up? You still look cute even with something basic like that. So whatever your workout routine is seems to be working, dude."

"Well I'm glad you like it! If ya got cash like me, you better be able to find decent fashion."

Rita’s laugh was light, but her eyes danced with a spark of life that seemed absent the last time they crossed paths. Yet, beneath the casual banter, a subtle tension lingered. With a soft sigh, she found a nearby rock and lowered herself onto it, her gaze lifting to meet Vanyel’s. She let the silence stretch for a moment, allowing the weight of her thoughts to settle between them.

"Hm, I was just curious as to what you think of things in the state of the world and Gracen Arms."

Her tone was direct yet held layers of softness infused within it. A small reflection of the value she held in his opinion of matters.

"There has been so much shit happening in the news that I figured talking with someone I trust and who is out in the field constantly to get your point of view on things."

Rita’s gaze drifted, fingers absently tracing the rough surface of the rock beneath her. She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before grounding herself back to reality with a peering glance upward at Vanyel with a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Honestly, after that whole Sabre shit, it fucked with my confidence a bit when it came to being in my the field myself; but I think I need to focus more on my strengths, the people around me and try to avoid that from happening. I feel alright now, but I didn't for a while there."

Hearing Vanyel's feedback gradually made Rita's face more contemplative. It was clear that the Vandenreich were making massive moves throughout Earth to control the balance of conflicts. So it was almost a no-brainer for her not to seek out some type of alliance, but there was the passing thought of that Lukas fellow's incident.

Rita's hands drifted beneath her chin, propping her head up as she sighed, her thoughts weighing on her. Her teal eyes, sharp with focus, settled on Vanyel.

"Yeah, you aren't wrong. Let's make moves to get some support from them. But do you think the shitshow that happened with Lukas would dampen any relations?"

The thought of his execution was a bitter reminder of the delicate line they walked. Her gaze lingered on Vanyel, searching for reassurance or perhaps an answer she hadn’t yet considered.

"It's not as if we condoned his actions."

Her words carried a subtle mix of regret and frustration, as if trying to reconcile the past with the path ahead.

Rita's face grew further contemplative as Vanyel talked. With an accepting nod, it seemed reasonable that he was, in the end, a fucking nutjob. It's not like there should be much argument there from anyone.

"Right. The guy was clearly off his rocker. Nothing we can do about that."

Although her tone was serious, she still managed to crack a small nervous chuckle before she closed her eyes.

"Yeah, let's go ahead, be decisive, and have you work and help them out you think you can manage it. I trust you on that front."

With her eyes opened again, there was a resolute glance behind them. She made up her mind and it was better to execute on it than being lost in a land of what-if's and maybe's. It leads to nothing but anxiety, stress, and drain.

"But how do you plan to work with the city? What's your whole plan on that front?"

Her question was loaded with curiosity and a desire to understand his strategy, showing that while she trusted him, she still wanted to be fully informed and involved in the process.

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