sirenspull | 01 [video]

[About half an hour before this feed goes live, the more spiritually sensitive inhabitants may have felt the arrival of a very, very potent source of spiritual energy interrupting their senses. Sorry about that, he can't help it.

The NV feed being broadcast is video, it’s after dark and someone seems to have accidentally pressed the video function while trying to get to grips with their newly acquired piece of tech. And now he’s picking a fight with it.]

Send- damn it what the hell kind of piece of crap are you?! Don’t give me that ‘number is not in service’ bullshit I know that damn number’s right!

[There’s a beep and apparently this is enough to make the orange haired boy on the other end of the line growl in frustration.]

What the hell kind of phone are you supposed to be you piece of junk!

[It looks suspiciously like the NV is about to be hurtled at the nearest wall, and now viewers can very plainly see an annoyed teenage face scowling at the screen as it is held at arm’s length, before he seems to notice that the red light next to the camera is on and…]

Crap is this thing on? Hello? Anyone there?

[And then he sighs, moving the NV back down to a more user friendly distance and glowering at the camera.]

Okay, if anyone’s paying attention then I need to know how the hell to get to the asshole who thought dragging me here was a good idea. Or you can point me in the direction of someone who can help.

And, uh, anyone know what the international code to dial Japan is? I need to call home and let 'em know I'm gonna be late for dinner.

[There’s a pause… and then he seems to be mulling something over. What he is considering is whether or not to explicitly call out the familiar sources of reiatsu he can feel in this strange new city he’s found himself in, thus a) exposing his Shinigami allies where they may not want to be exposed or b) making him sound like a crazy person if they’re not here and he’s just imagining it all through displacement induced wishful thinking. He opts for a happy medium, scowl still etched on his face.]

Oi. I can feel that you’re here, y’ know. Anyone feel like saying hi or am I on my own out here?

[But that scowl's still not gone. He really looks like he's weighing up his options here, and then, with a rub of his neck and a sigh (because he knows in advance he's going to regret asking this but he doesn't have a choice), he adds this little beauty to the end of his transmission. Desperate times call for desperate measures.]

And I'm kinda missing a corpse. I had it before I got here and now it's gone. Anybody seen one?

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[And he'll meet that glance dead on, not sure he likes the implications there.]

Don't give me that Byakuya, you know damn well that I wouldn't do anything to put anyone else in danger. I'm not about to stand around waiting for some cop to get off his ass and tell me when I'm allowed to step in and save someone. Screw politics.

[He stops walking and turns to look at Ichigo. Why are you so like him? Why?]

Defense of yourself or someone else is fine. I give you the reason I, and the other taichous, tolerate the Espada in the city.

[No, he doesn't like it and if he had his way, it'd be all out war. However, he cannot risk the mortal souls.]

[Ichigo bites his tongue, holding back exactly how he feels about this situation but he supposes that there's a point there. Fighting without cause would be pointless and stupid.]

Fine. At least they're not going out looking for trouble and putting people in danger.

Who else do I need to watch out for?

[Now? He's impressed. He remembers you as running off to get into more trouble than he could even comprehend. The fact that you're willing to listen? He might have just the tiniest flare of respect for that.

So, he just starts walking again.]

The companies. There are two of them. AGI and SERO. AGI was recently defeated in a lawsuit against slavery. SERO... is even less scrupulous than -

[He stops for a moment.]

They have declared themselves scientists. But have no morals.

[You're looking at a slightly more grown up Ichigo here, Byakuya. Only slightly. Don't expect him to be completely cured of his acts of brainless heroism just yet.

He listens attentively, making a note of the names. AGI and SERO. Got it.]

Sounds great. A rock and a hard place. What do they want from us?

[What do they want? Anything they can get. But he doesn't say that.]

They care not if you volunteer or not, Kurosaki Ichigo.

[Another glance.]

They have corrupted the law. They will remove criminals from the system, in exchange for servitude.

[Ichigo's smirk at that is sardonic. He knows how much value Byakuya places in laws; the fact that the laws of this place are so easily corrupted must be killing him.]

And what about the people who aren't criminals? They just pick them off too or something?

[It really is. Especially since he can't get at the Espada. He hates that.]

It is not unusual for people to go missing for a period of time, and to be in their hands. I do not know how.

[Yet.]

[...Ichigo likes this less and less the more he hears about it.]

And the cops just do nothing about it. This place just keeps sounding better and better.

[Byakuya inclines his head.]

They are not always incompetent. But there is a cultural permissiveness that allows the companies to do as they wish.

So they're just mostly incompetent and we're better off doing things for ourselves. Got it.

Work within the law, not outside of it.

[He feels you need reminded of this, because you're Kurosaki Ichigo.]

[...how well you know him, Byakuya.]

I'm not about to go breaking any laws, I'm just not waiting for any cops if something's happening that I can put a stop to.

That is an admirable stance.

[And one he won't fault you for. Even as he's dragging you out of jail for assault.]

Do you wish to continue your education or work?

[Yes, he's asking, not telling.]

Your shinigami training will, of course, continue.

I'm gonna need to do both if I wanna keep up my grades and afford rent for an apartment. Doesn't seem much point in not going to school if I'm only one year off graduation.

[Not that he's given a thought to what he wants to do after school's out; maybe he'll follow his father's example and go into medicine, maybe he'll find something else. It all depends on where he is.]

...what Shinigami training? Was I getting training when I was here before?

[An eyebrow tick.]

You will be staying with Hitsugaya-taichou and myself.

[He nods.]

Yes. But I had thought to begin at the beginning again. With kidou.

Uh... not that I don't appreciate the offer or anything Byakuya, I think I'd be better off in my own place.

[Somehow, Ichigo just can't picture himself living under the same roof as Byakuya without one or other of them trying to kill each other at some point. Likewise Toushirou. He likes them both, but he can't imagine living with them.

Plus the fact that it's issued as an order instead of an invitation really rubs him the wrong way.]

Am I really gonna need to know that stuff? I'm just a substitute shinigami.

[Byakuya's actually impressed with the rather mature response.]

Then you will stay until you have procured another place.

[Byakuya stops and looks at Ichigo.]

Substitute or not, the knowledge is valuable.

And you're gonna be the one teaching me?

[Definitely, definitely a good thing he's going to stick resiliently to the idea of keeping his own place.]

You don't have to worry about making up a bed or anything, they already got me an apartment when I arrived. It'll do until I get a job.

[He ticks up an eyebrow. Who else would teach you, Kurosaki Ichigo?]

A room filled with vermin and vulnerable to any that wish to attack it.

It's not like I showed up here with anything worth stealing. And if anyone attacks it then I'll defend it.

[You make him tired, Kurosaki Ichigo.]

The Towers were destroyed and have just recently become available again. The security is suspect, as the companies helped rebuild them. Your safety would be compromised with the companies. We cannot allow them to obtain a shinigami to experiment with.

[A glance out of the corner of his eye.]

After they remove your powers with beings called Voids.

01 [video]

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