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Post by Vespera on Aug 22, 2008 20:48:00 GMT -6
She had to, for lack of more noble wording, run away. There was no actual running involved, Vessi took her time to dress and pack and announce herself to her family, but in the back of her mind she was counting the number of minutes until her escape would be pointless, qualifying it as running. She left the squad in the uncaring but rather capable hands of Roorik for a few days, leaving her time to unwind and be with her thoughts.
“Welcome home sweetie.” With the usual big kiss and hug that would have forced someone to mistake that the Shinigami was gone for years, Vespera was greeted at the door by her shorter mother, also having a small treat shoved into her grasp. “I’m so glad to see you home, I swear as the months go by you visit less and less.”
“Not on purpose Mom, sometimes work really gets to me.” The woman admitted with a sigh, taking the wafer like treat and munching on it slowly while walking behind the woman, who was announcing to her sisters and brothers that she was home. In reply she got many male whatevers and shrill female ‘hellos’, and a few, newer feet padding over to her to greet Vespera with hugs to the legs, nuzzling their faces into her kimono.
“How so darling?” The stout woman turned quickly to look at her daughter, hearing the obvious discomfort in her voice that others would have simply let pass by without notice. The woman just shook her head, smiling down at her little sisters who were jabbering on at a mile a minute, trying to get across all of the events that happened in her little life before Vespera sat down and made herself comfortable.
“Nothing but the usual Mom, it’s nothing for you to go super mommy about.” Vespera broke away from her little sisters, shooing them into the living room and waiting with her mother by the stove, receiving a powerful glare at the back of her head. ‘What mom--”
“You can’t lie to me Vessi, I don’t know why you and your sisters try.” The village doctor said, hands placed on her hips. “So now you can either tell me what’s wrong, or just say you don’t want to tell me.”
“I don’t want to tell you.” Vespera relented quickly, knowing where the battle could go if she took it further and refused to back down.
“Is it that damn boy again?” It was always that conclusion, forever that conclusion, even if this time she was right on the money.
“For the umpteenth time Mom, it is not him. I could say that I caught rabies for a bite and the first thing you would say is ‘that boy went and gave you rabies.” Vespera counted in frustration to her mother that flailed her hands and let the topic go, once again catching the lie.
“Maybe you would feel more comfortable talking to your sisters about it, I understand.” There was no fooling a wise old woman and Vessi’s mother was one of an infamous nature. So she let her mother have the last words, kissing her once again on the cheek before wandering away, outside and to the familiar hunt under the large elder tree in her yard, the home of her own her and her sister’s little practice many years ago, now under the care of careful Yole, one of her younger brothers.
Rather than going inside she settled into the branches of the tree, looking down at the few people walking around and into the small cabin to seek aid from her brother, the sight calming her in a nostalgic way.
“Hey big sister. Mom said that ‘that man’ went and did something.” Her sister and fellow ‘shinigami’ Nurse Elinda appeared behind her in a well practiced ninja like way, grinning while she sat down. “I know it’s not him, so what’s the deelio?” It took only a moment for Vespera head to rest against her shoulder, sighing out quietly.
“I just don’t know what to do… if I should say something to somebody… I just can’t…” Vespera feared someone reading her and finding out her problem, so out of habit she covered her face, muttering to herself.
“Can’t what Ves?” Elinda looked down at the woman in worry, forcing her hands down so she could get a good look at her face. “What’s really going on here?” Her older sister looked up at her with helpless eyes, a pair that reminded her of many days without their mother in the village hospital and not knowing just what to do.
“I can’t talk about it.” Vespera said, shutting the opening to her feelings, biting her nails. “I want to, I need to, I just can’t.” Elinda frowned, petting her hair comfortingly while she fought to say something to her sister. It wasn’t just what he brought to her, it was her own rambling for better medicine that led her to some heavy feeling things causing her to run momentarily from her post like she did.
“I’m a horrible Shinigami, I can’t even say with confidence where my loyalty lies.” Vespera whispered to Elinda, who rubbed her back a bit. “What should I do Elinda?”
“I wouldn’t know sister, I have no idea where the problem lies.” She smiled softy, getting to her feet. “But if it’s a question of loyalty, I say look how good the Soul Society’s been to you and all of the family over the years. The Seireitei deserves your loyalty above all.” Vespera nodded at the answer, that was what she was feeling like anyway, but there was an equally strong tug in another direction, preventing her from going to where she would have normally gone. “I’ll get you some tea, don’t go anywhere.”
When the branches rustled away, Vespera stuck her head in her hands once again, chanting and cursing in annoyance, wondering what the hell she was going to with herself. These are times I wish I was still a human. She hummed in her mind, hunching over and waiting for Elinda to return with the tea.
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Post by GM Koz on Aug 23, 2008 1:34:31 GMT -6
Man, this week had really been a bitch. Too much of one, of course. As par usual, his slave-like training only harbored injuries which he was sent to the Fourth Squad to get patched up. A couple days had passed, but his wounds had not full healed. Taking it upon himself to do some sparring back in the village he actually called home, the most typical of things happened. His wounds re-opened to some extent, and he needed to be re-bandaged again.
His strange habit of just continuing to fight even though he was hurt astounded alot of people. Rumors spread he was almost as crazy as the previous 11th Squad Captain. Some even said he was. Though it crossed Konstantine's mind alot of times if he should take that as a compliment or if he should take that of an insult. He had always been told the previous way Soul Society was run was inferior, and alot of bad choices were made. Things were good here, and he liked it. So it was only natural that he believed so.
He walked around with his left arm, forehead, right leg and his torso covered in bandages. Granted they were bloody, it didn't stop him from going to the one place he always seemed welcomed and hated. "Man, Vespera is going to hurt me even more for this." He sighed, walking towards his both favorite and least favorite of all places.
He walked around, finally seeing the 4th squad member in a tree, hands in her face. That stopped him in his tracks for a moment--maybe he shouldn't bother her right now. His steps continued, until he was underneath the tree."Hi there. Mind if you get one of your sisters or your mother to do a re-bandaging session for me?" He asked, always seeming to go to her for this sort of medical aid. He knew something was up.
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Post by Vespera on Aug 23, 2008 1:59:59 GMT -6
Vespera’s hands opened up slightly when she heard a voice, looking down at him with a titled head and eyes suddenly wide in curiosity. For a moment she did nothing but stare through the small opening in her hands blinking a few times in blank thought. Then she pushed away from the tree, landing in front of the man with a raised eyebrow.
“Why see one of them instead of me?” Smug curiosity filled her voice as she gazed at Konstantine and his reawakened wounds. “Is it because I don’t do a good job? Or maybe because you know I’m going to kick your ass for letting your wounds reopen?” She said the last line with a bit more force, poking him in his good arm.
“The phrase ‘take it easy’ is not something doctors throw around. You need to sit for a while after we patch you up Konstantine so you can fully heal.” Vespera fussed as she usually did when anything involved him, leading him back into the hut she use to work in.
“Yole, scat.” Seeing her little brother with no patients, she forced him from the hut, giving him an unofficial break while she went around back to go get more bandages. She was actually thankful that he came along, it provided her with brief distraction with her other thoughts. “Sometimes I don’t know how you manage getting yourself in the hospital so much.”
Elinda stuck her head in the door, looking at her sister and Konstantine. “Hey guy.” She greeted him with a half wave with flashing the tea to Vespera.
“Pour some for Konstantine please.” The older one instructed, sitting on a mat across from another one, undoing the tie of bandages. The man was there often enough to know what to do, park himself on the opposite mat and wait for the woman to fuss a bit more.
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Post by GM Koz on Aug 23, 2008 2:10:15 GMT -6
He stared back, resting his arms on his hips for a moment as the staring contest insued for a little bit. When she jumped down, he just kept staring. His opposite eyebrow raised in a form of subtle retaliation.
"No, you do a terrific job. Just you seemed like you wanted to relax and have some time to yourself. Sides, I doubt I could lose to you in a fight. Though I am sure you could definetely slip something in me while you--I dont know, sew my arms back on when they get cut off?" He spoke, though he wasn't quite too fond of being a guy who openly showed compassion for others. That seemed to be beat out of his head, for the most part.
"You know...being tossed around in such fun stuff alot of the time leads this to happen. I just really don't care, cuz I know you will be here for me when I need to be patched up. Some of the guys wanted to fight, so I politely asked to do a Tri-battle, even though there were four of us. I basically got to sit in the middle of them and fight each of em off until well...this happened. I insisted on staying, but they said to go to the Fourth Squad. I told em I would do that, but one step better." He shrugged, letting out a grin.
When Elinda came out and waved to him, he waved back, sitting on the mat. Yeah, he knew the procedure."What's up kid? Aspiring to be a kick-ass doctor someday so I can come to you when your sister is too busy to deal with a meathead like me?" He laughed abit, waving his hand again."No tea for me, thanks though."
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Post by Vespera on Aug 23, 2008 2:25:19 GMT -6
Elinda smiled at him, setting down the tea pot and cup on a table near Vespera. “Of course, cause Vessi’s already making plans to pawn you off on me when I get to her level.”
“You’re very right, so can you get there a little quicker please?” Vespera looked over at her before she got started, Elinda laughing softly. “When I planned this out I expected it to move a bit quicker than what its going.”
“Sorry, I’ll try to get him out of your head sooner.” The nurse shook her head and bowed, excusing herself from the room so her sister could work. Even if it was just redressing some wounds, when Vespera got to a certain level she preferred working by herself
“Yea, I was relaxing, but you’re no bother. I rather fix you up myself and know that you managed to get fixed right than stick you with anyone else and have you back with me for a 3rd time this week.” She claimed, scooting closer so she could unravel the tape around his arm. Listening to the details of his wounds, she sighed, dabbing the cuts with a light pink liquid meant to clean it.
“You know, one of these days I might not be around to fix you up.” She said in an almost serious manner, thinking about her earlier dabbling with hollows and a very close call with a change into a Vizard. “What are you gonna do then? Elinda will be too busy flirting with you to get you fixed up right, and my mom isn’t the warmest person in the world to go to for the comforting aspect of health.”
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Post by GM Koz on Aug 23, 2008 2:36:25 GMT -6
Konstantine let the sisters have their semi-quarrel and just stayed silent the whole time. He looked around, kind of bored. He had done this one too many times, and was considering having a buddy come along to talk with him. Then it came. Yeah, the thing he despised alot. The serious talking that Vespera usually laid out for him. The man rolled his eyes and began to give his reply.
"Yeah, who knows though. Maybe one day my fooling around will get me killed and I might not be here for you to fix up." He replied, the tone as about as serious as hers."Honestly, I dont know. I have other methods that I have that don't require anyone in your squad to help. As for your sister, I don't mind if she flirts with me. Your mom, well. She honestly scares me sometimes. Always accusing me of trying to steal your or whatever." He shrugged and looked down at the pink stuff.
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Post by Vespera on Aug 23, 2008 2:58:38 GMT -6
“It’ll save us both a lot of trouble then.” Vespera said in her own reply, moving on from the arm bandage after it was cleaned to the one on his torso. She was use to the certain attitude and took it all with a smile, she would suck at her job in a social aspect if she didn’t. She was cussed at a number of times while in the middle of healing and managed not to take out her aggression on the patients--
Excluding the few ‘accidental’ misplaced stabs with her therapeutic needles that some of the more persistently attitude filled patients got from her. But she always made up for it by giving them one of her feel good pills afterwards.
“These methods? You might want to start trying them out then.” She replied simply, rubbing the pink liquid on the second wound after the blood was gone, placing the dirt cotton off to the side while she got a clean bandage to wrap him in.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to know that you don’t mind Elinda’s flirting. As for my mother, she’s just paranoid. She sees what she believes is there.” Vespera had no idea that her mom was doing that, but she didn’t put her past her in the least. “But if not them, I come from a family of healers. Only my father was in Squad 8 and my oldest brother in 11 before his death.”
She finished the second one quickly, moving onto the one on his head. That one was bleeding a bit more, so she quietly held a piece of gauze there to stop it, running back into her thoughts from earlier. “Who… who do you think your faith would belong to more Konstantine? Your captain or the Seireitei as a whole?”
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Post by GM Koz on Aug 23, 2008 11:23:49 GMT -6
"Yeah, maybe I will. Just don't be near when I do it, though. It usually sucks for people if I pick one randomly to perform my little trick. Who knows? Maybe some twisted way of fate will kill both of us so we don't have to deal with one another anymore. Wouldn't that be splendid?" He laughed quietly, letting out a soft yawn.
"Sorry to hear all of that, you know...family passing away. I never had family--I just kind of woke up and that it for me." He went quiet, and was about to say more, but then Vespera asked the question."That's real hard..." He looked up to her for a moment, a hint of confusion in his face.
"It depends, given the situation. I think you can be loyal both, really. Overall, you are loyal to the Sereitei--hence why we are Shinigami. We have our jobs, and we do it correctly to most extent. We follow orders, and do as we are told. We listen, complete those orders and depending on our job well done, we are either praised or scolded. Now loyalty to your Captain is a whole nother issue, my friend." He began. "Being loyal to your Captain just isnt being polite and taking orders, for me, it is taking orders to heart. I love the Captain, he is a great guy. I can honestly say I am loyal to him because he treats us well. He is a good leader, and gives us what we need. "Loyalty is something earned", he told us. He said he expected no loyalty until he earned it from us. We all stuck up for him in his decisions, no matter what anyone says. Being loyal to your Captain, for me...well, is always re-assuring him that I will always be there at his side to fight whatever comes our way. To trust and honor one another." He smiled, reaching up and putting a hand on Vespera's shoulder.
"So...why do you ask? Something wrong my girly-girl?"
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Post by Vespera on Aug 23, 2008 12:43:28 GMT -6
The answer Konstantine gave her was slightly enlightening, but in a way only confused her more. But of course he couldn’t help her with the answer she was specifically searching for, because he didn’t know exactly what was going on. She sighed, wiping her hand across her forehead before realizing that she was still holding the cotton against his face. “Oh! Well…”
She threw the used cotton into a pile with the others, exchanging it for the piece dipped in her cleaning liquid. “It’s my captain, I adore her, my loyalty should be to her but…”
Stopping in exasperation, Vespera held her head down, sighing a bit when his hand was on her shoulder. She just couldn’t talk about it, but it was killing her on the inside. “If she was… doing something that was unbeneficial to the Seireitei, my first priority should be to the Shinigami and the souls around me right? I mean, what she’s doing is just not right, we just found out way from corruption--”
Vespera shook her head madly, tossing the second piece of cotton away and bending over to retrieve the bandages. “I just don’t know what to do, sometimes I wish I just stuck around here and remained a village doctor with my mother.” She claimed, redressing Konstantine’s head wound with care and well intent, pushing his hair out of the way so none of it would be caught up. “There, how does that feel?”
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Post by GM Koz on Aug 24, 2008 1:35:32 GMT -6
Konstantine looked to Vespera, abit of suspicion and concern in his eyes."Hey, if there is something going on...you should let the higher-ups know. When your Captain is doing something wrong...you need to worry about the others around you. Especially since the squad you are in sort of dictates that. I really wouldn't know what to do if my Captain did something....I'd probably try to kill him. Infact, you know I would. But never to get rank. That is just a terrible thing to do." He spoke, and kept his eyebrow raised.
"You know, one of the few reasons I joined up was because I heard a rumor you did." He said, and let it be that by changing to another subject."Well, you have your option of just staying here. Not sure what would happen if you just didnt go back. Why dont you wait and see?" He laughed abit and shrugged."Feels all better now, Thanks. Mind patching up my leg too?"
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Post by Vespera on Aug 24, 2008 2:02:23 GMT -6
Vespera smiled softly, shaking her head. “It’s nothing, I was just thinking about the early days of Aizen my father was telling me about a while before he passed and it got me wondering about some things.” Not the best of lies, but enough of one to get the subject rolling over to something different. She would worry about what to do with her captain on her own, it was the only thing she could do.
The woman smiled and shook her head at the statement she believed to be a joke, leaning over and working on the bandages on the man’s leg. “Oh please, I bet you didn’t realize I was in your class until I walked beside you and told you that I wouldn’t fix any hand injuries you got from taking notes.” She said, taking a clean cloth and cleaning up the fresh blood.
“Abandon my post? Oh no, nothing’s ever that bad.” Vespera was brought up around an insane amount of honor that her mother, father, and 2 older siblings held, so anything like that was out of the question. “I can handle everything without getting to that point, though I am curious as to what would have happened to me if I stayed here. My mom would have married me off and sent Elinda in my place to the academy. She did tell me that she wanted to turn around and do that after she found out I turned down the chance to be in the advance classes.” She never mentioned that to Konstantine nor why she denied them, but her mother knew and that was partly the reason that she wanted to raise hell every time she saw him.
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Post by GM Koz on Aug 24, 2008 3:09:59 GMT -6
"No, I am completely serious. The other reason is my current Captain talked to me before I joined the Academy. Remember the first time I came to ya?" He laughed and propped himself up by holding his arms behind him. He looked up to the sky for a moment, not saying anything. A few things crossed his mind and he grinned in a pretty mischevious way.
"You know, if you did go marry some guy and you didn't want to, I'd probably beat him up and save you." He didn't laugh, and though there was some sarcasm in his voice he seemed rather serious."So, why did you turn em down? I just kick too much ass and I have too many buddies to ever want to go into those. From what I hear, they are way too serious for my taste."
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Post by Vespera on Aug 24, 2008 3:27:27 GMT -6
“Yea I remember.” Vespera smiled, unraveling the bundle of clean bandages slowly. “But most of my memories from the event stem from having seen the most blood I ever saw at once in my career and not having my mother around to pick things up if I passed out from pressure. It was just a stab wound but I was really worried about fixing it without the use of medication. Luckily everything turned out okay.”
So he was serious? That was strange, but in a way they were good enough friends. Naturally they would probably want to tag along with one another when doing things with their life. Vespera took it as that, sitting down so she could wrap up his leg properly.
“Thank you Konstantine, it’s good to know someone besides me will be protesting my forced marriage. I have my own knight in shining armor, lucky me.” She laughed, unwrapping the bandages that became a bit crooked and starting over again.
Vespera looked up at him with a smile. “Well, it’s a secret, so I’ll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone.” She joked for a moment, still wrapping his leg. Since he was apparently serious, she could let one of her secrets go. “I was thinking about it, but I found that I liked staying in a class with you. Because between changing classes and my studying I probably would have never saw you.”
When she was finished she stood back up, picking up the dirty cloth laying around her mat. “Which is sort of the reason my mom kind of dislikes you, not that it was your fault at all.” Vespera walked towards the back, dumping the objects in the trash. “Are you sure you don’t want any tea?”
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Post by GM Koz on Aug 24, 2008 3:42:47 GMT -6
"Yeah, well he stabbed me nice and good too. Hurt like hell. Never knew what being stabbed felt like before that. Atleast, not by a sword." He shrugged. Seeing Vespera already seeming to be abit happier made him glad he was doing his job."Sides, now I can take alot more stab wounds and be okay. Back then I was Chump Change." He stretched out, scratching the top of his head."Yeah, well I invision myself not in shining armor, but something cool like black armor with spikes or something. Though, imagine me how you will. Whatever."
"You know, as much as I do enjoy your company...you should have taken that oppurtunity. Really. I don't want to make you feel bad or anything of that particular nature...but I'm just a guy, you know? I'm sure you would set aside studying time to sew my arm back together, only to find out I was going to go spar a day or two later and yell at me. As for your mother...well she can think what she wants. No offense." He spoke, standing up. The bandaging was something he knew he would have to take easy, or else they would come apart."You know what? Sure. I'd love some tea." He replied. shining off a smile for a brief moment.
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Post by Vespera on Aug 24, 2008 4:20:07 GMT -6
“Whatever armor you want, it doesn’t matter. You could be in boxers and combat boots; you’re a knight that’s all that matters.” Vespera said over her shoulder, washing her hands in the large sink set up in the back for after the family got done with their patients.
“I never said you were more than just a guy did I?” The woman asked him while drying her hands on a towel hanging up on the rack. “Don’t let the decision fool you, though I don’t regret it at all.” She didn’t in the least, and if it was for another reasons she doubted that she would change her mind about remaining in the normal level classes. “I liked the classes, that’s where my lieutenant first discovered me and took me under her wing.”
She went to the teapot Elinda left for her, pouring a cup for Konstantine and finding another for herself, dumping some sugar and honey in there as well. “Besides, no matter which classes I took, I would have still come out to be this awesome. Fastest rank jumping officer in 30 years, that’s me. Before you blink I’ll be captain and 400 times more efficient than if I took advance classes.” Vespera said with a bit of a thingyy brag, sipping her small cup of tea.
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