The Red Dog Pawn Shop (Private)

"You aren't another one of those damn high school kids that come in here just to take a selfie on a dare are you?"

The statement sounded goofy to Seran even after he said it. Did he really sound that much like some grumpy old man telling off the kids for coming on his lawn? He glanced around his immediate area, as if searching for something that would tell him otherwise. He was seated in the corner of a thrift store, surrounded by piles of junk no one wanted, and reading a newspaper. Yep other then his appearance he was definitely an old man. Sighing, he used his index fingers to flip the top half of the newspaper back, revealing his face from the nose up to young girl standing by the counter. He had been able to sense her since she walked in the door, but that only gave him so much information. He gave her the quick once over with his eyes, she was a remarkably plain individual, except for the hair of course, but this was Japan so even that could be classified as normal.

He glanced to the side at antique clock hung high up on the wall, it was after normal store hours, and that only meant one thing. His eyes returned to the girl. She certainly didn't seem like much, but he had designed the door to only open after hours to those with some type of spiritual affinity. He folded up the newspaper and set it aside, talking as he did so.

"Well you don't seem like one of those wannabe ghost hunter types. How did you find this place? Or maybe the better question is: What are you hoping to find IN this place?"

As if on cue, from the back of the shop came a slight fluttering. Several butterflies fluttered from somewhere within the depths of the shop, seemingly released in response to the door opening. Jet black save for several purple markings on their wings, the small insects circled the arrarcar, with one landing on the book she had picked up from the shelf. Its antennae swirled swirled around, almost as if it was scanning her. Then, rather abruptly, the entire grouping shot towards the self Eleanor was facing, landing throughout. As one their wings opened, the beautiful purple patterns fully revealed and held firmly at maximum extension.

Spiritual footprint recognized.
Designation: Lockwood, Eleanor.
Species: Sixth Tier Evolution Multisoulular Organism.
Clearance: No restrictions outside vault area.
Welcome. Please Follow.

The deep voice emanated out from the butterflies as those transmitted from numerous miniature speakers, sounding both synthetic and organic simultaneously. As the statement ended the tiny creatures resumed natural movement. The slightly larger individual situated on the cover of the book took to the air and fluttered towards the back of the store. It hovered in front of the display case for a moment as though waiting for something, and a moment later a panel slid off the back wall, revealing a strangely out of place set of elevator doors, which opened, allowing the insect to lazily drift in with Eleanor behind it. The doors would slowly close behind them and the same voice as before would echo out in the enclosed space, now emanating from actual speakers withing the walls of the enclosure.

Trans-dimensional Elevation System Activated.
State Desired Facility or System Query.

Third Level. Botanical Garden.

The elevator came to a sow stop and the door opened smoothly, letting in what appeared to be a ray of sunlight as it did so. Eleanor would emerge in a massive, brightly lit greenhouse that stretched multiple stories upward to a glass ceiling. While it initially seemed like the sun shown through the glass panels above, closer inspection would reveal a large number of artificial lights outside the glass. But that was far from the most interesting feature within. Color, every shade of the rainbow and more were represented here. Plants of every size and shape were represented, greens of all shades making up the vast majority of the backdrop. Flowers, both massive and minuscule, and strange, often multicolored fruit broke up the sea of green, and Jigokucho butterflies, both of the standard and purple colored variety floated from petal to petal, transferring pollen. Several stone lined paths led back into the jungle of organisms, from which the sound of Seran arguing with someone could be heard.

"IT DISSOLVED MY DAMN ARM!!! AND YOU DON'T THINK YOU UNDERPLAYED THE ACIDITY AT ALL?!?!"

Acidity Readings Extracted From Top Layer Of Plant Pitcher. Did Not Account For Increasing Levels Near Base. Perhaps Caution Would Be Advised In Future Before Plunging Limbs Into Untested Substances.

"IS THAT SARCASM!?! I DIDN'T TEACH YOU THAT!!!"

Negative. Statement Meant As Logical Warning To Avoid Similar Outcome In Future.

Assuming Eleanor followed the sound of the voices back into the greenhouse, she would come across Seran, arguing apparently with the disembodied voice she had heard in the upper shop and elevator. Seran right arm had been completely dissolved, the black iron that made up his vessel showing the melted stump. In front of the mod soul was a giant red pitcher plant, much larger then varieties found in the human world, whose contents bubbled as the arm concealed within was digested, much to the plant's apparent delight.

Seran paused in his ranting. He had been far to busy scolding Monitor to notice the Arrancar's approach and actions. He snatched the partially dissolved arm out of the air, his annoyance having barely toned down. The black iron rippled and flowed back into an orb above his undamaged hand. The dissolving process had done its work, and only about a third of the material remained. Grumbling, he manifested more and attached it back to the stump.

"Appreciated, but its more the principle I'm upset about."

The black writhed for a moment before forming outward into a new arm, complete with the sleeve of his jacket. The mod soul rolled his shoulder for a moment and wiggled his fingers before turning his attention back to Eleanor, still scowling.

"How is this..."

He stepped over to the large pitcher plant again and tipped its rim down so the arrancar could see inside. It seemed several jigokucho had been unfortunate enough to be caught by the plant, and a rather thick layer of half digested insect floated atop the plants liquid.

"The test on the liquid was only taken from the top portion and the dissolving biological material interfered with the acidity assessment. I reached in below the top layer to get a sample and it dissolved my vial and hand. I sliced off the upper part of my arm to be safe, but it splashed up and melted another few inches off along with..."

He motioned to his clothing that had several missing patches not yet repaired.

"It doesn't matter though. I see you brought what I requested, but you never did say exactly what you wanted in return."

"That should not be a problem. But it would be simpler if we head down to the workshop."

Seran led the way back along the stone path to the elevator, leaving the still smugly gurgling pitcher plant to its devices. The doors slid open and then both stepped inside, Seran issuing a command to be take them deeper into the structure's depths. As the doors closed on the green of the botanical garden, the mod soul seemed to slump slightly, his appearance haggard as though the light from the greenhouse was all that had been sustaining him. He shifted uncomfortably as the elevator began to sink,  before reaching out and quickly pressing a button that caused the speed of their decent to slow considerably.

"Apologies, but I feel..."

He paused, struggling with his words. Conversations, especially those involving sensitive information were always difficult for Seran. Words were so crude and limited, for him it was far easier to communicate though making or, more often then not, destroying. The communication between two opponents, bound in the clashing of steel, or the intricate hammer marks on a blade before it was polished; that was the language he understood. He grimaced slightly as he gathered his thoughts.

"You were informed previously that Theocelese had returned from his absence. I believe I passed along the message shortly after he contacted me."

He did not make eye contact, appearing as someone who hated public speaking being forced to address a crowd.

"I... There really are so few of us left now. Ryka, Matrium, Cross, Cyril, Wasu, Hidane. I've heard nothing from them since we went our separate ways after Theo's disappearance. And now he returns and...."

He looked up, his face more serious then it had been. He stared forward at the doors of the elevator, almost as if he was looking at something far away.

"In this moment, at this time, I feel the only person I truly trust is you Eleanor. Even back when the Alliance was together you were the one who thought most like me. Perhaps it is something about those who create, as though we look at the world through a similar lens....  Theo has changed, and I am unsure of both the cause and consequences of it."

Seran considered for a moment the arrancar's statement. She was right of course, change was the ultimate undeniable force, one which he had experienced much in his life. But he was still not completely convinced.

"He called me, and we returned to Las Noches to see what remained of the bar and our old living space. But it wasn't that which concerned me. His attitude had changed from whatever had occurred during his absence, he was more straightforward and....  'Someone has to remind them of their own mortality, whether they know it is me or not.' That's what he said when his arrival frightened the humans nearby with his arrival, and it wasn't joking. He was legitimately looking down on them."

The elevator finally came to a stop on the workshop level and doors slowly opened.

"And when we arrived at the bar it was occupied by several arrancar who had taken refuge in Las Noches, likely followers of Aizen by their garb, and Theo just killed them... just like that. No warning, no hesitation, it was brutal beyond what I normally expected from him."

Seran looked up, his face somewhat twisted like he had just remembered something distasteful.

"It reminded me of myself from.... before. Cold, calculated, efficient...... and lesser in every way to what and who I am now. It takes nothing to kill someone weaker then yourself, and they didn't even attack or have time to explain who they were or run away. What purpose is served from killing in such a way?........ I ask but I know the answer: Pleasure. That isn't what we stood for."

"There is wisdom in that of course. It would greatly increase our understand of his situation to know what transpired during his absence. Your friend's powers may indeed to needed in the near future, but until then I wish to proceed under the assumption that he is the same person, and our friend. I wont force him to share his experience unless it becomes clear that do not do so would be to lose who he was completely."

Seran tried to lighten his expression, with only slight success.

"But enough of this, there is no point in worrying about a future that may never actually come. Despite his change Theo is back, and on his suggestion the time will soon be right for us to return to Las Noches, hopefully this time permanently. Perhaps your new friend could help with that."

He stepped out of the elevator and into the workshop. A large room containing just about everything needed for more physical creation. A hard counter top ran along most of the room's walls, above which cabinets, shelves and open hooks were located, holding a variety of tools. In the center of the space was a medium sized smokeless forge, which warmed the room considerably. Bits and pieces of material were scattered throughout, Hueco Acero ingots, permanently forged black iron, long unprocessed pieces of iron wood, and various other materials Seran had acquired. He  led the way to a corner on the right, away from the heat of the forge, and motioned for Eleanor to sit on a clean chair while he went wiping off wood and metal shavings from one for himself.

"Now then, if you would allow me...."

He held out his hand in the direction of the weapon at her side, gesturing for her to hand it to him.

"As always, this substance is enthralling. You asked earlier what my plans were for this orichalcum. It is, as you described it the first time you ever showed it too me: perfected gold. And it is this perfected state that interests me. You'll recall in the greenhouse the plants I collected from Las Noches before they withered away without my care. I have been studying their genetic and soul composition and they are, as you would expect, all very similar. This suggests that the seeds we originally grew them from were generational seeds, and it is possible that they all came from one original ancestor. I'm hoping by studying your orichalcum and modifying the plant's souls I can develop a way to grow this ancestor. Such a life form would surely be magnificent if it had in the past survived in such a harsh environment as Hueco Mundo as a plant."