Sixteenth Frost -- (Video)

[icy_heavens]

[Hey, Siren’s Port. Look who’s back. Hitsugaya doesn’t look much different, save for the new haircut and the scarf he’s got on with his captain’s uniform. You might not assume he’s been gone for more than a few days in his world. Though that assumption would be wrong.

[He waves his free hand dismissively to someone off screen, speaking to them dispassionately.] Unnecessary. I’ve been here before; I know how things work. Talk to someone who needs it.

[That being said, he addresses the network directly.] The time loop has been corrected, I hope?

For those that know me, I’m fine. And I do remember this place.

[[OOC: Forward-dated to about 8:30AM of the 7th – which lo and behold is actually the 7th! Here’s the tiny taichou, gone since what should have been Saturday, all nicely canon-updated for you.]]

Comments

[Action]

[icy_heavens]

Tousen and Ichimaru are dead. [He's not put out at either of these, though the latter had affected Matsumoto for a while.]

[He takes a sip of the tea, his voice somewhat bitter at this next part. Damned bastard deserves to die, but apparently he can't.] Aizen . . . seems to have become immortal due to the Hyougoku. But his reiatsu is sealed and he's been sentenced to a minimum of 20,000 years in Muken.

[Action]

[soul_scatter]

[If he was anyone else, he'd be so angry about that that he'd crush his tea cup in his hands. However, he's Kuchiki and will be that until it kills him.]

A light punishment for a traitor.

[His tone is flat, but... yeah, he's more than a little bitter about that.]

[Action]

[icy_heavens]

[Cold, distant, and so, so angry underneath it all:] If I had the power to give him a worse one, I would. [He'd administer it himself. He'd be more than happy to.]

In any case, Kugo got into contact with Kurosaki not long ago, along with a group of Fullbringers he'd assembled. We took care of the rest of them -- most of them we let go, due to the regulations on killing mortals. Without their leader, I don't expect them to become an issue again in the future.

[Action]

[soul_scatter]

[Just the smallest incline of the head. Were there a chance, he would help you, Hitsugaya. Without question, without argument. Just slaughter Aizen without a second thought.

He lost Hisana, and to almost lose Rukia... more than once... No, Aizen deserves to die and the only reason he would stay his hand is because he does follow orders.]

Indeed.

[Utter disbelief. He doesn't believe that for a moment. There's rules against killing mortals, but dammit nothing says they can't seal them!]

[Action]

[icy_heavens]

We'll be keeping an eye on them, of course.

[Okay, he's hating this line of conversation. It's really doing nothing for his mood. Perhaps it's time to spring the news on Kuchiki.]

By the way, should your sister ever appear here from my point in time, you may want to congratulate her on her promotion; it's not every day someone becomes fukutaichou of the Thirteenth.

[Action]

[soul_scatter]

[He took a sip of his tea. He doesn't do a spittake. He's got too much control for that. However, he just stares across the table at Hitsugaya. See icon for expression.]

[Action]

[icy_heavens]

[Normally, Kuchiki would at least muster up an "Indeed?" when something surprised him. That he appears to be speechless is actually rather satisfying.

[He takes a sip of his own tea. It's relaxing, to have it right after a battle.] Didn't think you could hold back her advancement forever, did you?

[Action]

[soul_scatter]

[Just the smallest tick in his jaw.]

I have my reasons.

[Action]

[icy_heavens]

Relax, Kuchiki. I never said I begrudge those reasons. But it was unrealistic to think it could go on forever.

[From personnel and mission reports alone, he had wondered at first why Kuchiki Rukia hadn't held a seated position despite her obvious qualification for it. In the end, he'd pieced together that only Gotei respect and serious political clout could have blocked her. That had ruled out a lot of people.]

[Action]

[soul_scatter]

[Relax? He'll tick up his eyebrow at that. He's perfectly relaxed... for him anyway. It was his way of protecting her... an odd way, perhaps, but his way. He had her put under the kindest taichou, under an understanding, but firm fukutaichou... And, keeping her out of a seated officer's position protected her from the politics. He didn't want her destroyed the way he was.]

Indeed.