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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2012 18:30:32 GMT -8
Set in the spring of 1965, just outside the 3rd division Back to work~ Chie's first day back to work was beginning well. The air was cool, but crisp, as the sun began to peek over the horizon. Her physical and mental health finally improved enough to allow for work, albeit light duties. But, what was different about that? Chie had always been slotted for the menial, light labor, as her slight frame and sickly nature did not allow for overly strenuous activity. Also, she was unremarkable in power or skill, so what was the lowly unseated shinigami suited for? Cleaning. Ah well, she hoped to be assigned library duties, as she could not only shelve and dust, but she could commune with the books. She missed that. Drawing a nondescript black cloak around her frame, she shivered a little as she toddled down a lonely street, heading toward her division.
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Post by zoi on Oct 18, 2012 7:30:11 GMT -8
Not sure which of the gates Chie would enter from, so I left that part vague, though the intention is for Sumie to be at that gate in this post. [bgcolor=555555] Sumie and Kiba had long since shed their early morning spars and training. Kiba had gotten harder and harder to wake up over the years. That wasn't to say that they had stopped entirely, but Sumie no longer wasted time trying to rouse the man from bed. Instead, after her morning run in the cool dark hours of the morning and washing up, Sumie reported to the Third Division nice and early. Few arrived before she did, though most were part of those who watched the division during the night and occasionally Kurisuna. Perhaps more than occasionally. Sumie wasn't quite sure. She reported to the taichou at the same time every morning, so unless Kurisuna sought Sumie out or another member of the Third was spreading a tale of tyranny or absurdity, the Fukutaichou was typically unaware of Kurisuna's presence until her visit to the woman's office.
It wasn't time for her morning check in, however, so Sumie had taken to making her usual rounds, starting with the gate guards on shift. She was a social creature after all and craved interaction with others. Gossip was her favorite pastime and these particular guards always had a new portfolio on the subject when Sumie visited them, which they eagerly dished out after making the standard reports to the Fukutaichou. Low tones and hushed laughter comprised the melody of conversation that flowed between Sumie and the pair, one a man and the other a woman. Equal rights and all that.
Sumie's frame was loose as she leaned against one of the gate columns. Even in uniform and the Fukutaichou badge around her left arm, she gave off a sense of being in a casual setting, no matter the actual environment. Of course, the effect lessened over the course of the day as each new issue piled itself onto her work plate. For now, she had no such issue and was merely enjoying the good company.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2012 19:58:36 GMT -8
I'm crap with remembering actual physical settings unless I'm intimately familiar with it or have a map, so vague is best~ Approaching the gate, Chie shivered and drew her cloak tighter. Soon she would be inside and warm...oh how she longed for that. Beneath her cloak, she had papers from the 2nd division, in case she needed to hand them in, stating her release back to work with a summation of her records and treatments for the last ten years. Ten years had gone by so strangely.. After her mother had died, things in the family went downhill drastically. Though Chie had done her best to hold onto her family and keep them together, the remaining trio were forever scarred by the loss of one woman. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she came up to the gate and halted, unsure what to do. Should she just go in? She was a mere unseated and had been gone for a decade, perhaps they wouldn't know her. Biting her lower lip in trepidation, she looked around in a nervous silence.
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Post by zoi on Oct 21, 2012 7:28:29 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] The majority of the Third Division's paperwork found its way to Sumie's desk before it ever reached Kurisuna. The papers detailing Chie's release and return were no exception. However, Sumie was innately bad at connecting names to faces of people she didn't frequently interact with. There was a moment of contemplation as Chie grew closer that wrote itself clearly across Sumie's face, but as one of the guards spoke up, the trio's conversation having disbanded upon Chie's arrival, comprehension dawned anew.
"Hail," the guard said in greeting once Chie was close enough. From inside the man's top, he withdrew a thin clipboard. Lined paper showed signatures from the various people which had come threw this gate as well as the general time of the arrival. The other guard had a similar clipboard, though her's contained departure notices. The Third Division, in charge of information and investigations, tried to keep paper trails of all the activity that went on within its walls. Sumie's own name could be found on the rosters for each gate and every day. Though she often sent those below her out on tasks, Sumie liked to get out and stretch her legs; plus, it got her away from all the paperwork.
Regardless, the procedure was far from new. Though Chie had spent ten years away, she had spent many more working within the division itself. The sign in most likely would not have slipped her mind and if it had, the clipboard being presented should have been enough to refresh her memory, so Sumie didn't feel it necessary to explain what the guard wanted to the woman. She did, however, feel it was necessary to welcome Chie back.
"Welcome back, Chie-chan! It's good to see you." Sumie's voice was genuinely excited as she spoke. The energy it caused made both guards shift slightly in surprise, though perhaps part of it was the way she had addressed Chie. It was common knowledge that Sumie applied the most familiar of titles to those beneath her rank. For the most part, it came off as friendly, but to those with rather large egos or solitary complexes, it often came off as annoying or condescending, though it was usually far from how she meant it. However, Chie was the eldest of the Soutaichou and there was some surprise in the guards at the Fukutaichou's casual approach. Sumie didn't seem to notice as she exclaimed, "You're looking quite well!" Perhaps that part was a lie. Chie, to Sumie, often looked like she was about to break. Still, she didn't look like she needed to be confined to a hospital room, which Sumie thought was a good sign.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2012 20:10:09 GMT -8
Taking the clipboard presented to her, Chie wrote her name neatly. Such an interaction had taken her aback for a moment, but this was a normal activity, one of many she would have to resume now that she had returned. Having finished her quick signature, she was addressed by none other than the fukutaicho.
Chie had met Natsukoi Sumie before, interacted with her briefly but she still found such an informal, friendly greeting to be a surprise. She blushed at the warmth in Sumie's voice, perhaps pleased to see someone had remembered her, maybe even missed her?
Not neglecting her manners, Chie bowed deeply to her superior after having moved away from the clipboard carrier slightly to properly face Sumie.
"Thank you Fukutaicho-sama. It is a pleasure to see you as well," she spoke softly, her voice wavering with the tender timidness that she carried throughout her life. "I am feeling much better, and hope to serve the division well upon my return." Her bangs, at this point, had spilled over her eyes, shielding them slightly. She reached up, brushing them aside to look at Sumie before giving a bashful smile to the other members in the vicinity.
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Post by zoi on Oct 22, 2012 10:06:46 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] "Ahaha," Sumie chuckled almost uncomfortably as she scratched her left cheek absently. "No need to be so formal, Chie-chan." Sumie gingerly pushed herself off the stone surface she had been leaning against. It had held her weight so that her right leg didn't have to. Now as she stepped toward the gates which were being swung open by the guards, a limp revealed itself in the Fukutaichou's formerly relaxed posture.
It was a mild injury, a tweaked knee from a spar with Kiba days ago, but her morning run had aggravated it more than the woman had expected. As she walked, Sumie gestured to Chie to follow her. "We're just happy to have you back. I'll help you get settled in." Sumie could always report to Kurisuna a little late. However, she would need to send word to the Taichou so that the woman didn't start to think that something might have happened to Sumie. The latter was unsure how her captain's mind fully worked these days, so Sumie didn't take chances if she could help it.
The path which Sumie took led, initially, in the direction of the library, though someone she knew caught her eye and she said, "One moment," to Chie, if the younger woman had followed, if not, the pause was voiced to the air. She tread off path and into the soft ground. Her limp seemed less pronounced here, the weight sinking her steps more gently into the dirt, but if one examined the light tracks which she left and would soon be erased by wind or water, they would be able to tell that her left foot left a deeper imprint as it bore her weight with a hard step compared to the right, which barely had the heel dusted in the track though the ball and toes made a decent impression.
"Hey," Sumie called to a member equal of Chie's rank and waved the man to meet her half wave. He loped over to the Fukutaichou, an easy grin plastered on his face. "Will you head over to Saikokui-taichou's office and tell her I'll be a little late reporting in because I need to assign..." Chie's last name slipped Sumie's mind for a moment. "Tanaka Chie a new job since she returned?" The grin which had been on the man's face disappeared in an instant and his tan skin seemed to pale ever so slightly. It didn't go unnoticed by Sumie who placed her right hand on his left shoulder to brace him. Only mildly comforted by the act, the man nodded before taking a deep breath and turning on heel to set off toward Kurisuna's office.
"Thanks," Sumie called out after him, waving her right arm merrily. It wasn't as if she had signed his death warrant. Last she knew of, Kurisuna hadn't killed anyone yet. Granted, Sumie tried to deliver as many messages to Kurisuna herself to decrease the chances of an incident. As Sumie turned back to hobble on over to the path she had been on initially, she withdrew parchment from under the indigo obi belt wrapped around her waist and pulled forth an ink brush from her hair to make a note to check on the man later. If she didn't write the words down where she could see them, she might forget her intention, unless rumors of an incident spread before that.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2012 20:23:19 GMT -8
Smiling shyly at Sumie's admonistion toward Chie's formality, she took note of the woman's gait once she began to walk. Taking the hint, Chie followed after her, bowing to the guards quickly before leaving. A concerned frown formed on her face, creasing her smooth face as she watched the female walk.
"Fukutaicho-sama, can I assist you in some way? I do not wish to trouble you, as you appear to be injured." Chie bit her lip, able to speak bravely out of the kindness of her own heart. Worry was the catalyst to prod such frankness. She grew quiet once the female called over another member of their division, giving him instructions before the pair returned on the merry adventure.
Chie, of course, smiled bashfully at the male, eyes cast at the ground as a small blush bloomed on her cheeks. Such attention and thoughtfulness from the lieutenant warmed the meek girl.
While she waited for a response, she looked fondly at the division, noting small differences and changes. 10 years had gone by so fast, but yet so slow, and she felt a great disconnect with her previous life. After having spent a decade in essential isolation, save for the medical staff, she was quite unused to these day to day moments.
The change was a bit refreshing, though she had a nagging down in the back of her mind: Was she really ready to come back? Her heart and thoughts were still plagued, as if a corrosive acid were eating at the happy thoughts.
But no, she wouldn't think of that now, that was her problem to deal with, alone.
Years of practice would not fail her now, practice at concealing her feelings and thoughts. So, naturally, they did not show now, only a vague curiosity in her surroundings appeared on her face.
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Post by zoi on Oct 26, 2012 8:24:48 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] The matter of Kurisuna's notice taken care of, at least for now, Sumie could devote her time to answering Chie's inquiry. Again she chuckled almost uncomfortably, partly because of Chie's continued formality, before saying, "It's fine, really! Just a little sore from my morning jog." It was truthful for the most part. No need to let anyone think Kiba had gotten the best of her at some point. He might find out himself and start to get a bigger head than he already had. Sumie was good, but she wasn't a miracle worker; keeping him inline at that point would just be a nightmare.
Still, Sumie wasn't truly thinking about such things. It was reflexive by nature because she had focused on Chie now. The Fukutaichou noticed the woman looking about the Division and took it at face value. Things hadn't changed much to one who was used to see the Division everyday, Sumie not included as she had taken many a trip just to look at the Division and compare it to earlier versions she had focused on, but to someone who had been gone ten years, there were surely plenty of things that were different or new altogether. Flora would be most noticeable. The Third Division was highly landscaped. A veritable garden world. Plants were constantly being added or trimmed and shaped. The Kinugasasō, or canopy plants, rare flowers of soft white petals that formed an eight point star were the most recent addition. The seeds had been hard to find out in the Rukongai, but the plant had been easy enough to cultivate.
Sumie could have assigned Chie to tend to the various greenery to give the unseated member a chance to explore the new wonders the offbeat paths held, but given her stint in the hospital and her still frail appearance, Sumie was not inclined to force manual labor upon her. Which meant cleaning was out of the question too. That was why as Sumie resumed her unequal steps, they were still in the direction of the library. There was plenty to do there. So much in fact, that it wasn't out of the question for Sumie to take Chie's preferences into account.
"Chie-chan, are there any specific jobs you enjoy?"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2012 16:33:08 GMT -8
After questioning Chie about her preferences, the girl returned her gaze to Sumie. As the woman dismissed Chie's worry about her condition, Chie dismissed it from her mind.
"Well.." she paused, breathlessly, daring to hope. "I do enjoy libraries...but do not let me influence you!" she squeaked, blushing a little bit. "I-I would just like to be useful." Her gaze fluttered to the ground. No one really ever asked Chie what she wanted, after all. She always did what others wanted, for the most part.
They were walking towards the library though, dare she dream?
She loved to read, books were her companions throughout the many lonely years. Though she would never admit it, Chie was very lonely deep down, never really connecting with anyone. Her time in the division, before her medical leave, was spent studying, training, and working. She had always been private and reserved, but after her mother passed, her introversion went even further.
So far, in fact, that her remaining family members were almost like strangers, it seemed.
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Post by zoi on Oct 29, 2012 8:27:24 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] Sumie looked back at Chie from over her shoulder as they made their way forward. She caught the latter of the younger woman's expression and felt that despite her true age, Chie seemed much like a child. A refined child, but a child nonetheless. Easily influenced or flustered. At least that was the impression Chie was giving Sumie. The Fukutaichou smiled gently at Chie before returning her own gaze back to their end goal.
"It's fine really. Trust me, there are plenty of things that need done in the library!" Sumie knew as much from first hand experience. Her own office was within the library so she could better keep an eye on what went on within the archive of tomes. Knowledge and information were what the Division thrived on, so the library had to be maintained precisely and that included a lot of work that one not of the Third Division wouldn't expect. Especially when you had people like Kiba who always put books back on the wrong shelf.
Though the division was large and Sumie's gait slowed by her injury, it wasn't long before the pair reached the library. There awaited another set of guards, though they weren't called as such. Even with being outside, they were called librarians. All who had work to do regarding the library were referred to as such. Even Chie during her stint in the library would be addressed with such a title in the files. Still, these librarians had sign in and sign out sheets like the guards at the gate. Sumie wrote her name on the sign in chart and passed it to Chie as the library doors were opened for them. Even from the doorway, rows and rows of towering shelves filled to burst with books could be seen. Though no noise came from within, a flurry of motion could be seen in between rows, like a disturbed ant hill; Third Division members were hard at work getting the morning chores done.
"Here we are," Sumie said as she waited for Chie to take the chart and sign in. The Fukutaichou would also stand off to the side and allow Chie to enter first. Like the gardens of the grounds, the inner sanctum of the library had undergone changes. Rearrangement of furniture mostly, but new shelves had been added in as well, their tomes boasting brighter covers; a sign that they were of newer make. Sumie wasn't aware of Chie's full medical state yet, so she asked, "How are you feeling?" It would do no good if Chie got overwhelmed by the change or the idea of being immersed back into such a populated area.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2012 16:25:39 GMT -8
Reassured by Sumie's kind words, Chie shuffled after her quietly. When the pair finally entered to sign in, Chie absentmindedly took the chart when handed to her. Penning her name quickly, she looked about with a small, glowing smile that light up her pale face.
Oh how she loved the library!
Here rested shelf upon shelf of mystery and adventure. Having grown up with substandard health, Chie herself rarely got many adventures, so books provided said events. Of course, there were more than just stories, oh yes. There was history, science, mythology, and much much more. Being enamored with the written word, Chie wanted to absorb it all, like a thirsty sponge.
Having been peering about with a blissful expression, she was reminded that her superior was still present, and presently talking to her! Blushing a bit at her own rudeness, as she did not respond immediately (it took a couple of moments to process that Sumie spoke), she responded in turn. "I'm quite well, and eager to return to work, Fukutaicho-sama!" She beamed, returning her gaze to the wonderland before her. Yet again, she could not bring herself to drop the formality, but such polite mannerisms she could not allow herself to neglect. They were, after all, not on too familiar of terms.
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Post by zoi on Nov 1, 2012 10:20:45 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] The woman's words seemed to carry the appropriate emotional weight they implied to Sumie who smiled at Chie's enthusiasm. She remembered her own days of youth, when things had been better and her own emotions ranged across the more pleasant spectrum with a higher frequency; back before that day anyways. If Sumie remembered correctly, Chie had gone through her own trauma in the form of her mother dying. Given it was Malik's wife, the news was fairly well known.
It appeared she had handled the event better than Kurisuna had handled the news of her children, but the word was that Chiyoko had been ill for a few years whereas Kurisuna's children were healthy hardy boys. The suddenness of it all was probably what created such a state of despair in Kurisuna. Or so Sumie thought. She was certainly no expert in the matter, but she could still make observations on what information was there; it was her job after all.
The Fukutaichou gestured toward the open doors with her left arm in a sweeping motion. "After you, Chie-chan! We'll head to my office first." Sumie's office had been in the same place for almost a thousand years, from the time the Third Division had been established and she had been appointed as the Vice Captain. She was fairly confident Chie would know which direction to head.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2012 15:59:46 GMT -8
Nodding at Sumie's direction, Chie trotted forward, padding towards the Fukutaicho's office. Now Chie hadn't spent much time in said office, and she had been gone for quite some time. She trusted (mostly hoped) that the office was still located in the same place as it once was. After all, a general member of the division would know its layout, particularly the offices of their leaders.
Each step through the building pulsed a warm, relaxing familiarity through her core. The dust, the smell of parchment, the quiet murmurs and pen scratches. A warm rush of feeling like home swept through her, and she allowed a small shy smile to remain plastered on her face. Taking a direct route, they reached the door that Chie remembered to be Sumie's office. Taking care to open the door for her superior, she stepped out of the way to let Sumie enter first.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2012 8:48:11 GMT -8
The raven screeched, its protests ringing high and shrill from an iron beak. It was a heavy bird, plump, murky and disheveled, its sleek head bobbing at Sumie naughtily; the dark messenger’s plumage, a shimmering blue-grey, was blotched with patches of ink, and a few of its feathers jutted at an awkward angle from the adhesive properties of honey, whose jar it had cleverly knocked off the desk.
Oh, the office, how it had defiled it from sacrosanct. Ink pots had been spilled strategically over case reports, into other jars of honey and capsized bottles of milk. Brushes and irretrievable parchment lay scattered about the bureau, congealing in the swarthy infusion of so many flasks. And somehow, it had managed—managed to stain a tableau of sashimi atop a bowl of rice, requested by none other than Kiba, whose sheer allegorical genius transcended the pragmatic realism of an entire art style, possibly to inspire the movement of symbolism.
Squawk.
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Post by zoi on Nov 5, 2012 9:55:47 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] Mood music for the bird. [link]
It was the little things that Sumie took true pleasure in, so as she limped after Chie, she took in the ambiance much like the other woman though Sumie had been in the library nearly every day for the last ten years. Perhaps, most of all, Sumie enjoyed the peacefulness of it. There was a certain lack of tension in the library that the Fukutaichou rarely found elsewhere during the workday; her office being another exception, or so she thought to herself as Chie opened the door for her to enter as the reached the room.
That was before Sumie saw it.
Now when it came to work, Sumie rarely forgot things. Oh, sure, she might have trouble remembering the name of some unseated member who approached her, but she remembered all the important things; the filing system for books, which reports had to be out when, washing her hands after using the bathroom; all the big stuff. When it came to shutting her office window after letting the room air out when she first got to work in the morning however, that was a different story and every time she left that window up, it showed up.
In a normal case, Sumie liked birds quite a lot. They were elegant creatures who she envied as they spent their days simply, but it was a vile creature and Sumie did not lump it together with the other birds, nor did she find it to be a mere trickster that some lore passed it off as, and Sumie had read all the lore on this particular monster. She was certain it was a specimen of those who were omens of war and death. A nasty thing to be sure. Sumie hated it. This of course had absolutely nothing to do with the fact it destroyed her office time and time again. Nothing at all. Nope. Nada.
Sumie's brow furrowed, making the tired lines on her face seem deeper and harsher. Had she been a cat, her eyes would have narrowed to thin slits, but alas, she was not, so she had to be content with her expression settling into the plain, but oh so appropriate, glower. Both her temples pulsed in time to the beat of her quickened heart rate, causing her blood pressure to soar through the roof. Perhaps it was here to herald Sumie having a heart attack or stroke. That would be befitting of it.
In one quick motion, Sumie pulled her sword, still in its sheath, from the back of her obi. She handed it to Chie as she said in a quiet tone, "Hold this and shut the door." Sumie didn't want the monster to get out. Hoping that the ink and honey would prevent it from having an easy take off, Sumie pushed past her injury hobble-sprinted to the opened window (which almost resulted in disaster for she nearly slipped over ink soaked papers and faceplanted) and slammed it shut before reaching for her true weapons. At least for this particular brand of battle, because even if Sumie forgot to shut the window, she was prepared for the worst case scenario. Butterfly net in hand, Sumie turned back to where she had last seen it, an almost wild look taking residence in her eyes though the rest of her face was still set in a scowl.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2012 14:11:48 GMT -8
Eyes widening in surprise and slight horror, Chie took in the scene before her. Such disaster! And what was the cause?
Her gaze flicked about for a few moments before landing on the perpetrator, a bird, a raven to be more precise. Taking note of the open window, Chie surmised that the bird had ventured into the office, and from the look of it, had a bit of a rough time. Taking Sumie's offered sword slowly, Chie made to step into the room completely and closed the door behind her. No sudden movements, just smooth fluidity and control. She did not wish the startle the bird, after all.
Though, judging by the look on Sumie's face, Chie wasn't sure what manner of fate awaited the bird. Chie remained still and silent, had her attempt to shut the door and cut off that escape route had succeeded. Considering the state the bird was in, besotted by honey and ink, and her proximity to the door, Chie would probably get the door shut before the bird made it through, should it decide to attempt it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2012 7:35:55 GMT -8
It came to the dismay of more than just Sumie, but it was a recurring phenomenon in the Third, the unbridled factor that had, beyond the shadow of a doubt, absolutely nothing to do in the division. Unbidden, it had driven men mad in their hatred of it, had postponed more than a single investigation and ruined many duplicates of crucial intelligence reports; back when she'd been more obliging, Kurisuna had been given the ultimatum of either getting rid of it, or keeping it confined securely in her office (she rarely saw it at work, and had once blamed the absolute mess in Sumie's office on a 'milk and honey induced fever-craze' to lighten the mood, which it hadn't). This resulted in the inception of man's greatest contrivance, for Kurisuna was not particularly fond of bolting her windows shut: the cage.
Not even the greatest invention so far conceived was exempt from the human condition, however, and the cage had since fallen in practice as people began to deem her even more unpleasant than it; now, the cage had been relegated to her Lieutenant's office, for her to utilize when she saw fit (which was always). Kurisuna just made it a point to frequently remind Sumie to shut every access point—door, windows—so she wouldn't confront it.
Its pitch-black, beady eyes glinting malignantly like vitreous gemstones, it tracked Sumie's every move as she strategically maneuvered across the room, shrilling taunts and jeers until she reached out for the butterfly net; this was where it drew the line, and launched himself into the air through heavy beats of his wings, to hopefully alight at the back of her bookcase and resume hectoring the woman, as only it could do.
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Post by zoi on Nov 16, 2012 11:34:46 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] It was not the first time Sumie had encountered the problem of difference in elevation, but Sumie's butterfly net more than made up for it. Sort of. At the very least, she could reach the top of the structure, but it was not in a manner conducive to catching it. However, the method was certainly efficient when it came to swatting things and that was good enough for Sumie. Perhaps even better than catching it. Not that she would admit the primal pleasure she had when thinking about knocking it around.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 19:28:56 GMT -8
Needless to say, Chie was a little creeped out by this bird. She'd never seen it before, so she didn't know its origin or anything in regards to Sumie's relationship with it. Planted firmly by the door, Chie watched warily to see how things would develop. She did not particular fear creatures, but she didn't like the idea of being swooped at.
After all, this was her first day back. She didn't want to be traumatized.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 5:24:23 GMT -8
Crowing the guttural, raucous call of its genus, the raven protested as Sumie all but smacked the bird silly in her age-long endeavor to be rid of it. Notwithstanding the futility of alternating between pecks and beats of its wings to stave off the abominable ringed cane, the raven did put up a valiant, albeit vain effort to avoid being guided off the ledge 'til push came to shove, and it half flew, half plummeted off the edge; it would be well within the Lieutenant's reach, primed for capture and/or several potentially lethal blows to the noggin.
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Post by zoi on Dec 5, 2012 8:24:56 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] While Sumie might have dearly loved to batter it some more, she was not an overly violent person nor did she take pleasure in killing anyone or anything, much less a bird, if it even was a bird. The swats were reduced to an open net swing as it plummeted down with the intent to cover it. Sumie's free hand moved in unison to grip the net shut above where it would be provided it had not pulled off some last minute daring escape.
The Fukutaichou's chest rose a little heavier and faster than normal and her cheeks were flushed. Moving about as she had with her injured knee was significantly more draining than if she had been at one hundred percent health. Granted, the flare of her temper, even if momentary, and the pleasing warmth of victory had also contributed to the change in her usually casual and peaceful appearance.
Her head craned back over her shoulder to see if the cage was in its typical spot as it had been for a long while now. Seeing that it was, Sumie turned her gaze back to Chie whom she had left at the door with her zanpakutou. The bird had not attacked her, which was good, so Sumie didn't bother to question the woman's condition even if the expression on her face was a little off; it had been an odd sight after all, Sumie would have been more concerned if Chie had remained impassive. Instead, what Sumie did say was, "Bring me the cage, please." If Chie had continued to watch, no doubt she would have seen where Sumie's gaze had been previously, indicating where the cage was in the back of her office, wedged between two pots of lavender plants.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2012 20:05:04 GMT -8
Just as she had begun to form the words of a plea to Sumie not to kill the bird, Chie saw that the danger had passed. Sumie had reduced her swats to an attempt to capture the creature. Shaking a little, Chie nodded at her leader's direction. This whole scenario was a bit frightening, after all!
Her gaze located the cage, and Chie scurried forward, still holding the zanpakuto in one hand while warily watching the bird.
Beaks > Eyes after all.
Grasping the cage, she picked it up and carried it over to Sumie, managing to wrangle the cage open clumsily with the hand that held the zanpakuto.
"Here it is, miss" she answered softly, awaiting her next orders.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2012 5:54:05 GMT -8
Trapped within a web of openwork fibers, the raven, robbed of its flight, renewed its efforts to escape Sumie's oppression; it pecked, nipped and clawed for the woman's fingers with a tapered beak and wicked talons, the creature's wings testing the lattice, but ultimately failing to spread so much as a third of its wingspan. It cawed and altogether fought like a demon possessed, more so as Chie retrieved the accursed cage: this was beyond doubt a very angry bird, if one could view it the part, but Sumie would incarcerate the fiend, and its reign of terror would conclude--'til Kurisuna sets it loose, in any case.
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Post by zoi on Dec 12, 2012 8:44:03 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] Sumie grimaced rather visibly as it pecked and prodded at the fingers and soft exposed flesh of her left hand which had gripped the net closed. The contortion of her face was more comical given than the situation than a mask of pain and desperation, though internally, she was more than desperate to deposit it into the cage and bid rid of it; at least for the day. That, at the very least, was apparent as Sumie thrust the net into the open cage in a manner one might call a little less than gentle.
Savagely was a more accurate term.
Not bothering to spare her hand any more damage by gingerly extracting it, as there was no point in shutting the barn door after the cows had escaped, Sumie upended the net and vigorously shook it out of the fiber webbing before retracting the net and slamming the door shut with an audible huff of exasperation and exhaustion coming forth. The latch was checked to make sure it wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon, before Sumie placed the net on the table and reached toward Chie to take the cage from the younger woman with her uninjured hand.
"Now what should we do with you," Sumie mused out loud, her voice calm but showing traces of constraint and bitterness from the umpteenth encounter with it. Vaguely, as she imagined all kinds of wondrous scenarios of retribution upon it, Sumie wondered where the owner was. She highly doubted that her office was the first that had been hit with others already being at the division. If there had been a fuss raised and Kurisuna was on the grounds, it was likely the taichou would go to see, and quell, the disturbance. Or so Sumie assumed, thought not for the reasons any other captain would, but Sumie tried not to dwell on Kurisuna's reasoning for anything if she could help it. That luxury was few and far between these days though.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2012 22:31:53 GMT -8
After Sumie deposited the bird into the cage, rather roughly Chie had noticed, and secured it in said lodgings, she spoke aloud. Chie, having already took note of the injuries acquired by Sumie, was not surprised at the weary sort of aggravation that carried in Sumie's tone.
"Do you mean me, or...that thing, miss?" Chie spoke tremulously, eyeing the bird with much trepidation. In this situation, she felt it would be natural for a meek creature like herself to exhibit fear and dislike for the bird. Of course, at this time, Chie was not nearly as jaded as she would become in the future, but ten long years to reflect on her life left more than a bitter taste in her mouth.
Ten lonely years hardened the lesson of guarding ones true thoughts and feelings. So rather than delighting in how she would like to either drown the bird, or conspire with it to terrorize people, she merely looked at it with eyes flooded with fear.
Being curious after a few observations, chiefly what seemed to be Sumie's familiarity with it, and the ready cage, she added another question upon her previous, still carrying that whimper of a tone, "Does that bird belong to someone?" She did not recall it from her time in the division before, after all.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2012 7:28:16 GMT -8
Kurisuna had heard it all by now. Whether the raven was tantamount to the cataclysmic forces of nature, or the otherworldly embodiment of a devil, the division had long since determined that its existence was something of an act against the gods regardless—the bird was a glossy, disheveled thing, overweight and half as old as she was, paradoxically indefatigable in its devotion to spoil as many people's lives as it could. This was a thing, in the Third Division: the old and insufferable had a distinct zeal to them that seemed to make certain members tireless in their endeavors to patronize Sumie, whom such individuals tended to gravitate around nigh-exclusively. Sort of. It was mostly her.
Her hand barely stroking the surface of a fretwork balustrade flanking the long, arched corridors of the 1st floor, Kurisuna breezed down the elegant rosewood bookcases—tomes seen, and unseen immortalizing most of the world's history—and lanced past the glare beaming from the windows' gothic architecture. As silent as the subterranean antechambers stocking the Third's archives, the Captain glided down a spiral staircase, baluster stonework narrowing into intricate latticelike patterns, her fingers still caressing the rich dimensions of every render carved through the handle's cornices.
The damned raven had wrought his destruction. But not here. There was an even likelier crime scene, and as the stairway fanned open and introduced her to the ground floor, Kurisuna made for her Lieutenant's office. Normally, even she would've knocked, but the vocal cues were unmistakable to the point of forgoing any formal declaration.
What a scene it was. Kurisuna was seldom treated to the sight of Sumie this flustered. ''I had a feeling this is where it'd gone,'' the Taichou confessed with a triumphant smirk that belied her apparent distaste of Chie's presence. Stepping in, she shut the door and straightened her posture, regressing to an icy temperament—she'd known the Soutaichou's daughter had been due to make a reappearance, but hadn't expected, or hoped, to see her (or anyone) in Sumie's company. ''Tanaka Chie. I see you've been returned to us.''
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Post by zoi on Dec 18, 2012 9:19:22 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] The Third Division was known for being, and was expected to be, quiet. This of course was due in large part to the fact that the majority of the Division was composed on the imposing library, but also because of the work the Third Division was known for. Sensitive information was best not shouted to the air after all. Still, there was always a certain hum of life outside Sumie's door. Pages flipping, people shuffling, lowly spoken conversations, sounds of file boxes being moved and set down; the list of individual sounds went on, but it all added up to the warm ambiance of the Division being inhabited.
That was why when the sounds abruptly stopped before Sumie could answer Chie's questions she turned to the door. It was almost as if a chill had settled throughout the building despite the pleasant spring atmosphere outside. The latter didn't effect Sumie as it would others, but that didn't mean she was unaware of the mood just outside her door seconds before she heard the sound of footsteps and the door slid open with Kurisuna revealed on the other side.
The Taichou and Fukutaichou were polar opposites in many ways and that even included the contrast of interior design; not that one would notice how Sumie's office was more traditional in the light of the gothic architecture of the rest of the division now that it had accomplished it's evil deed for the day. Regardless, the difference of worlds was blocked out of sight as Kurisuna closed the door behind her. The absence of sound was soon abolished with the lack of a view into the library, though it was more muted than it had been prior to the captain's arrival.
"It belongs to her, Chie-chan," Sumie answered after the redhead addressed Chie, complete with a gesture towards the taller woman with her injured hand. To Kurisuna, she said, "Good morning Saikokui-taichou. I was going to give Chie-chan her new task list then report to you, but I was delayed." Sumie's usual smile, cheerful, wan, or otherwise, was replaced by tightly pursed lips and a slow but noticeable pulsing in her left temple as she looked at the cage she held in her right hand. She had gotten a pretty good idea of what she wanted to do to the bird now.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2012 19:56:25 GMT -8
Shrinking back away from Sumie, the bird, and her Taicho, Chie masked (or attempted to) her intimidation of Kurisuna by bowing deeply as the woman made her presence known.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Taicho-sama," she said simply, coming back up to face both women with a shy smile. She admired both of them, sure, but she didn't particularly want this much one on one time with either of them. They were both strong, influential women, and the less they noticed Chie, the better. At least for now.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2013 11:32:38 GMT -8
''... Good morning, Natsukoi-san.'' The honorific roiled bitterly on her tongue. Kurisuna did not like addressing Sumie by anything other than her given name. ''The messenger you dispatched to my office a short while ago told me as much; wracked with anxiety, for whatever reason. Mercifully, now that I'm here...'' The Taichou swept her gaze to the Tanaka—Chie-chan, she realized, had been an expression of endearment to help extricate the girl from unfamiliar waters—and appraised her for a moment longer than she knew the timorous child would be comfortable with.
Her lopsided smirk parting in surrender, Kurisuna suspended the duality between them (where Chie was soft, she was sharp) and strode up to the pair with an unaffected grace, arm outstretched to accept the devil bird. ''You can assign Chie-chan her task list and give me your report. I'll be taking this back.''
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Post by zoi on Jan 2, 2013 8:49:19 GMT -8
[bgcolor=555555] Sumie's face had yet to relax and remained stiffened into her less than usual countenance as Kurisuna reached for the it. It wasn't that Sumie thought that Kurisuna was going to do anything to it; it hadn't bothered her personally after all, otherwise Kurisuna would probably be significantly less calm. It was just that Sumie really liked her own plan for it and felt that it wouldn't be so eager to venture out and destroy personal property after a day of being used as a moving target for the newer Third Division members' kidou practice.
Still, when a taichou wanted something, regardless of whether it was Kurisuna, subordinates were usually better off giving them what they wanted, so Sumie relinquished it into her care. Besides, Sumie's name wouldn't be tarnished if it suffered some terrible accident involving an accurate Byakurai now. Even the simple act of passing it off to someone else lightened Sumie's mood enough for her face to relax and her lips to curve out of the frown. "As you wish, Saikokui-taichou," Sumie replied, her voice still harboring traces of tension as she avoided eye contact with it, mostly due to the fact her gaze was sweeping across her office in search of clean paper and an ink pot yet upturned so that she could list Chie's starting duties for now.
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