Unexpected Encounters [Veralia/Joli]

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

Veralia wandered around the City of Lights with a relaxed outward expression as she kept her hands in her pockets. Still, internally, she felt tense because she wasn't used to being around so many Quincy and toward the hub of a massive organization. Still, if she intended to spend more time with Stella, crossing into their territory was an inevitable necessity.

These thoughts stopped when she heard a little boy cry for help. She observed the scene of a cat hissing and running up a tree and had a small, amused chuckle leave her lips. Her eyes softened as kids and animals were a soft point for her. Patting the boy’s shoulder, she gave a reassuring nod.

"I've got it, don't worry."

Snorting playfully, she levitated toward the orange cat, peering into its wide, nervous eyes. The cat tensed at first, but Veralia made soothing noises, coaxing the creature into her arms. Once the cat had settled, she slowly descended back to the ground, placing the furry bundle into the boy’s waiting hands.

The boy, overwhelmed with gratitude, showered Veralia with praises, and despite herself, she chuckled and felt a small flush of warmth.

"Yeah, yeah, don't think too much of it. Just be more careful next time."

With that, she smiled and plopped herself down under the tree, hoping no one had witnessed the scene. Even if the boy was Quincy, in her mind, kids were still kids—innocent souls that needed care and guidance.

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

Ah, someone did see that. Fuck.

Veralia remained frozen for a second but swiftly locked in. Looking back at Joli with a friendly glow behind her eyes, she nodded her head and agreed with the woman.

"Afternoon to you, too~"

After glancing at Joli and sizing her up, she sensed no inherent threat, so her nerves were at ease for now. The tension in her muscles loosened, though a faint ripple of unease still stirred beneath the surface. But a little conversation might help keep that unwelcome feeling at bay—no point dwelling on it.

"Eh, I prefer blazing hot since fire is my thing, but I'm sure I can find hotter climates if it gets super cold here."

With a quick snap of her fingers, a small, soft emerald flame flickered to life in her right palm, casting a gentle glow between them.

"You’re a local, I take it?"

Her tone was relaxed and friendly, but her eyes narrowed slightly as she examined Joli’s reaction.

"If so, what’s the weather like when it gets cold here? I've got someone I know who lives here, and I'll be spending more time here to see them, so I wanna know what I'm getting myself into."

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

"You here for family, huh? I guess we both are in a similar situation then."

Veralia looked up the sky, smiling at the warm sun before letting her ember of fire fly up into the air and gradually fade away. When she was finished, she nodded along with Joli's words.

"Yeah, I’m an Arrancar. Probably weird seeing one of us in a city like this, huh? Guess I’m a bit out of place."

With a soft chuckle, her eyes relaxed, the tension in her posture easing as well. After a brief moment of thought, Veralia tilted her head slightly, curiosity piqued.

"So, why do you ask?"

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

"Yeah, I can sense them."

Veralia looked around, sensing a few Arrancars here and there. As she looked off in the distance, she wondered if perhaps her mind was conjuring up scenarios that were just figments of her anxiety.

"But eh, I ain't used to being in a city like this. I usually keep to myself or in Hueco Mundo. It could just be nerves."

Even in a situation like this, Veralia's blunt tone rolled off the tongue as her shoulders rolled. As she took a few moments to mull over her reasons for wanting to be around humans, Veralia thought on the fly and chuckled lowly as if the question amused her.

"Truth be told, I wasn’t interested in coming here. But you meet the right people—or person—and they tend to drag you out of your shell."

Her gaze softened slightly, as if she were thinking of someone specific, but the teasing smile that followed showed she wasn’t about to get sentimental just yet.

THE FIRE OF ENVY NEVER DIES

THE FLAME THAT BURNS THE BRIGHTEST

"I mean, you aren't wrong. The wrong person will gobble you right out of your shell: it's a high risk, high reward play."

There was a sharper gleam in her eye as Veralia spoke, although she was still just teasing Joli. After chuckling lowly, she'd tilt her head ever so slightly to the right side and look at the quincy curiously as she was interested to know if hollows hunted Arrancar or not.

"Do humans and quincy not murder each other?"

Her words came out bluntly, without a hint of hesitation, her eyes fixed on Joli, waiting for a response.

"There is no loyalty among hollows or arrancar, so we kill our own just as we kill others outside of our kind."

Veralia tilted her head to the left this time, a grin spreading across her face as she laughed softly. Her gaze, now more probing, locked onto Joli with a playful intensity.

"Why do you ask that? Do you think I'm going to hunt you?"