a rare occurrence [carmen]

So this was she? Gaze transferring from whatever far off land he'd been staring for previously,he took her into account- whether it be her attire, or rather, her in general. Showing not the least bit of emotion in this action, he allowed himself rise from wall, standing himself tall and straight- another thing that seemed to be unusual for the day. How to respond? Head upon slight tilt to right as he allowed his arms a moment to cross, he nodded in her direction, light smile placed upon lips. "No problem. I'm just glad you acknowledged me and showed up. Sorry for inviting you on such short notice." Thus, it had been confirmed. He actually had sent out the letter previously, and he wasn't just standing here all day to wait for someone that would never come- very good news in itself. Just.. What was he to do now?

Contemplating such thoughts as he allowed attire to speak for itself, one would notice that he'd chosen to go without zanpaktou- for obvious reasons. Looking average in general and without much of a place to be in, he tried not to draw any attention to himself as per usual- as most didn't know him by looks, but merely skill in blade. Sparing glance in her direction still and afterwards, he voiced a question unto her, holding left hand out in her direction- mayhaps for her to take it into her own, or perhaps for some other reason in itself. "Hungry, or have you already eaten? I'm not one for plans, so.. bear with me this day." Truth, in itself.

Was he supposed to have a reason in particular? A slight gauze of confusion passing over his features for a brief spell, he kept his gaze upon her squarely, pursing his lips. What exactly was his reason for such an invitation? It wasn't just any day that a man called a woman out, correct? Did she take it the wrong way? Should he rectify things and come up with a reason on the spot? Contemplating these things all the same before allowing words to meet air, he responded accordingly. "I'unno. I guess I just wanted to spend some time with you, or something. Don't think much of it- I've had some free time lately, and I need some good people to spend it with. Can't sleep all day, after all." Nodding as though that were the best choice in itself, he spared a glance around, ignoring the bakery in itself. No, he didn't want anything so light early on in the day.

Rather, setting sights upon a stand across the cobblestone, he pointed henceforth and over. "Alright then.. how about some takoyaki? I can pay, so get whatever." Heading on over with little interruption, he kept his eyes on the prize at hand. He was hungry, yeah.. but, he could wait a bit.

Had to admit, that smile was something. Better than the ones the guys back at the squad gave 'im at least- a nice change of pace for once. Sighing with an apparent distress- though rolling his eyes next for her to see as he over-exaggerated his next movement to feign sticking his right index down his throat, he responded almost with a certain edge to his tone. "Ugh. We're not at work right now, or training or anything. Don't call me 'sir' or anything like that, dang. Too stiff. Call me like.. Seta. Or Seiji. Se-chan. Anything aside from sir works, though." Serious nonetheless- though expression in itself might've betrayed such an emotion, he spared one more glance at the takoyaki in itself, reaching into his kosode to pull out a tied bag of change- coins, even. Tossing them in her direction- enough to pay for whatever they wanted for the day and even then some, he tried to think of a response to her question all the same.


"Things've been kinda hectic, actually. So much work to deal with, plus problems in the human world and everything else. I get the feeling something's off.. but I can't point in on what. All we can do is wait for results though, I guess. Be on guard at all times, be prepared to be deployed behind the Third Division, and above all else, stay calm. Enough of that though- how've things been on your end? I'm sure you didn't attain your position in itself just from good looks and smiles." Answering, while at the same time dodging the question and pushing it onto her. A very old tactic, yet effective nonetheless. He didn't feel like talking much about work, after all.

"No need," he replied softly to her own apology, shrugging lightly at it. He hadn't meant to offend her in a way- rather, he just found it somewhat annoying or irritating when people used terms he didn't deserve or need at the time. Wasn't as though he asked to be a captain or anything like that- it was just handed to him whenever he'd been recommended the first time. Aside from such, he knew a bit about her- though not a lot. Whatever her past was, it wasn't any of his business to indulge himself in it, though she had full right to question him whenever she rightfully felt like it. Still.. she was an extremely formidable opponent- one that he would have to use all of his strength upon to defeat.

"Underestimate? I think I should be on guard all times around you. Never know what you might do, now do I?" 

Taking the coins into hold before weighing them in his left palm, he slid them over onto the wooden table, taking a case full of eight- topped with okonomi sauce, another case in other hand topped with spicy mayo. Either or held out to her- as she could decide which she wanted, he allowed a light smile to break through the lower half of his face, it barely reaching it eyes, though reaching nonetheless. "Would that happen to be innuendo, m'dear? I take everything I hear very seriously, mind you. My bladework isn't the only thing i've worked on the past two hundred or so years." Was he being serious? Of course he was.

Oh, this was nice. He had to admit that hanging with people that weren't so tight-assed about shit was.. good, not to mention she was.. well, her. She invited him to stay on guard, meaning that she was someone to be wary of— extremely so. Even so, he knew that he probably couldn't do that, simply because he couldn't. She wouldn't hurt him, nor would he hurt her— a similar kind of mutual trust that was built between two people at first meeting. So he thought at least. Setting down his case with little sign of worry or care, his smile seemed to remain all the same, catching wind of her words.

"Oh, i've never cared enough to try really. Would you be willing to be the first, though? I think i'd like that very much." Leaning himself towards her gently, eyes locked upon her own for that moment, he stopped himself, hearing her.. question? Not only was it unexpected— as no one cared much for background nowadays or anything, it was just.. strange in a way.

"Me? What about me in particular, really? I mean, I know i'm the best swordsman in a thousand years to ever enter the academy.. and I know i'm the best when it comes to napping, but.. past-wise? My likes? Dislikes?" Contemplating this for a moment as he stroked his chin, he tried to think up something to say— after all, the past was so far behind him, and he could barely remember all of it. What would be of interest to tell her? How could he voice in his own words something that would suffice? A mental stroke of his chin made all the same, he formed words with lips a few short moments later.

"Well.. I came from 74th East Rukongai- which was pretty bad at the time at least. Fight to survive, steal to live, that kind of life. Moved on past it a few years later to 27th, met the former Captain of the 13th— Azura, Jakuchu, and he invited me to the 'cad. Graduated n' stuff, and went unseated for a good.. what, sixty or more years? We went out on a mish, he died, but recommended me for the captaincy position. Got tested by Hina- I mean, Hinaai, and a Bankai later with a few wars and fights, here we are. Generally I like napping, duels or just sitting around and eating a few, but I can do or go with whatever. I don't like nobles much.. or spiders, I guess. Did I bore you enough yet?" He couldn't say it wasn't hard to talk about the past.. but he tried to generalize it as much as possible. Long ago as it was, it still hurt him. Somewhat.

He didn't quite know if he was wrong to have made such a statement, though he couldn't take it back now.

"Not bored," he mused. "You're a strange one, love. Can't say I don't like that about you, however." Of all his years in existence, he'd yet to find one that suit his fancy in the slightest aside from a small amount. Even then, most died off on the battlefield when he'd tried to keep them off, or others rebuffed him entirely, thus leaving him to not care in the slightest. What was the point, after all.

"Who knows. Maybe my character in itself changes depending on the circumstance. I don't fancy in letting everyone know what I want or care for, so I don't dive in too deep. If you don't hold yourself back, you'll only end up disappointed in the end. Don't try to hard, and the reward seems more satisfying when you obtain it. When you have it, that's when you can show her how you do things, no?" Changing up the initial flow of his statement to her direction, he spared a glance at her, his takoyaki cooling down much more than he would've liked. Taking the case into hold before taking a single one into hold with stick, he blew upon its outer surface, biting into it.

"After a while, things get dull. That's why you rarely see anyone get married here for long. What's the point of spending all your time with a single person, or anyone at all... ?" It was one way to look at things at least, though he couldn't say it was his full opinion in general.