Discovery

His pathing held no rhyme or reason to it. Theocelese continued moving forward just for the sake of well, moving forward. From time to time, he took a right or a left so long as it helped him get closer to the massive structure that was slowly but surely, no longer in just the distance. One thing he took note of was the fact this place could be something, if it just had the manpower and effort put into it. At first, this thoughts were of what could be salvaged here. But why bring junk parts and scrap a place that, as of right now, was almost just the same as that? Even the random carved stone bits here and there were of things he knew not of, so why bother with it? The nearly-smoked cigarette butt found itself slowly being rolled across his teeth at the thought of all of this. If there was one thing that assured him of his failures back at home, it was that at least he wasn't the first to be surrounded by something that needed work.

It was as if Fate herself made the edict that Theocelese should come to find himself at the town square, where this “lands” hostess was relaxed on a wonderful looking fountain. She spoke as soon as he came into sight, and such a thing caused the male Arrancar to stop walking and stare across the way at her. To this, his first response was to put out the current cancer stick and light up a fresh one, letting a billow of smoke rise above him before he began walking closer. His strides were the same as before, relaxed and casual, but again the very subtlety of caution was there. It was funny how there was always someone who wanted that kind of position. A queen. Well, another one at that. There used to be a king, two of them in fact. Yet the two latter weren't around anymore and the former, well, she was never around to do as a queen actually was suppose to. Maybe this one was different. Maybe not. His first impression, of course, was that maybe this one could go fuck herself. Respectfully, of course, just like all the other ones. Then again, Theocelese wasn't one to say such a thing right off the bat. Better to just have that impression and let it reside in his head like some kind of personal inside joke than to keep on moving with a roll of the eyes.

“Just wandering, Miss. Happened to find myself at your...Citadel, a place I've never seen, nor heard of before. Still, I come bearing a gift if you would have it.” Probably a decent reason for the other Arrancar not knowing him, but it was still best to see what so called Queen and her territory was all about. “You may call me Theocelese, and it would seem appropriate that you have not heard of me. However...” The Arrancar trailed off, letting the inside of his right forearm come into side. There, plain as day, a large 8 in a bold font would be open to see. He stared at Cybele, eye to eye. “There was a time when this was forced upon me, I thought that if seeing such a number invoked any emotion in you, you should know this right here and now. I am no longer affiliated with any members consorting alongside outsiders.

If seeing this number on my being does not affect you in any way, I would emplore you to make nothing of it, and to not question what it is or why I bear that number. There is more that can be accomplished, rather than dwelling on the past. Besides,” He paused for a moment take a drag off of his smoke. The exhaled result was sent out and to the side, away from Cybele. “One leader to another, we ought to get to know each other, don't you think?”

Observation, open ears and an open mind kept the male Arrancar standing where he was. His posture continued to indicate he would not make any moves one could assume to be hostile, even when the anger came apparent. He expected that, was ready for it, but like any smart person going their own way would continue to remain calm. Cybele herself regained her composure, and Theocelese found himself glad he wouldn't need to risk using his strength for the journey ahead of him. He would explain in full detail soon enough, so that this woman could understand him. Would know about him, and the things he stood for, then and now and for the rest of his time here in Hueco Mundo. “It is in my culture that as a guest, you are to expected to be allowed in another's home, and that the host should do all he or she can to accommodate you. That does not mean, as a guest, you are to take advantage of your host and as a guest, you are required to have something to offer the person. There are of course other tid bits, such as not over staying your welcome...but I don't plan to stay very long. We are not creatures we once were, we consume for power, not for complete sustenance...but that doesn't stop us from enjoying a good meal simply for pleasure, a cup of tea to relax the body or...” The Arrancar paused momentarily, motioning to his bag that his intention was to grab something from it. And something he grabbed indeed. The other bottle of wine, always handy “just in case”. Now was one of those sorts of times. “Enjoying a good glass of wine, or the whole bottle in one sitting, whatever your preference may be.” He spoke, walking beside Cybele and setting the bottle down next to her. He then found himself relaxed against the same stone creation, putting out the cigarette and keeping the butt inside his satchel. Maybe he'd flick the remnant of the inevitable one he would enjoy on his way out when that time came. But for now...Manners.

“I will explain to you why I bear this, so you may know of me. I feel this is something that must be done, and you must listen before we are to continue any further in talks of relations.” He kept his gaze on the “scenery” ahead of them, golden hues scanning at another place that was simply “once was”, like his own home. “I was never bound willfully to that pathetic excuse of a man. I came to him, to Las Noches, under the pretenses he was benevolent and sought to aid our kind. The only good thing I will ever say when speaking of Aizen, is that he made true on the promise of giving me what I desired. The orb he coveted, it gave me the answers I looked for when I became a Hollow. I was a very adamant fighter when my worries were the politics and affairs of mortals, but I fell prey to vengeance. I killed what I am now, and it led to my undoing. That was not so long ago, less than a decade. When I reached the point of our evolution that we think beyond our own constant growth, I questioned who I was and where I came from. That was what returned to me, and in turn I was forced to “serve” in the ex-Shinigami's forces. My culture, now you know something about it, will learn another thing from it. We live by the creed: Freedom or Death, and while I knew I could not take Aizen head on.

So I did what we Hollow do best, I challenged one of his “elite”, dispatched him and in one fell swoop, inherited all the former Eighth called his own. Szayel Aporro Grantz, was his name. I used my position to garner forces and wait for a good time to take back a home that had no place for a Shinigami...” Theocelese paused again, his upper lip curling up as he spoke the next word with extreme distaste. “..ruler...” Theocelese's arms crossed over his chest, letting out a slow sigh. He hated to think of those days, it reminded him of all the others he hadn't seen since he left for his most recent times of peril. He'd probably never see them again, but he hoped one day he would.

“As for his slaves, you needn't worry yourself about them. They're all dead. Well, most of them. There are a few camps that I haven't found yet, but all in due time I suppose. Before you turn to me and look at me with malice of any kind, know that long ago they were offered a chance to realize the brittle thing they saw as reality. I gave all of the Arrancar in Las Noches those years ago an ultimatum: They could stay there, but must realize Aizen was only using us and renounce that piece of shit. Or they could leave, serve whoever or whatever they wanted, do as they pleased and would not get trouble from us. Many stayed, insisting they do so with their weapons drawn and even more took the path of exile. It wasn't long before those I felt horrible for making leave soon turned around and began attacking us. I never pursued them, until now. I forgave them once, but no more longer will I stand in wait of potential enemies to return.” His tone when speaking of these times were harsh, almost as if the initial act of just letting go people he knew would eventually become aggressors did just so. But...a different time, a different man. No more mistakes.

“As for your folk, I won't do more than ridicule and make a fool of the first one who decides it is a good idea to lash out at me for a tattoo I never wanted in the first place. I keep that spiritual ink in my skin as a reminder to never let anyone in my home come to that kind of subjugation ever again,” Slowly, Theocelese turned his head to face Cybele. The look on his face, the upturned corners of his lips, narrowing of his brow and the intensity of his golden eyes was going to make it very clear what exactly he was all about. “That they are to never bow to anyone against their will, no matter their title; king or queen; savior or condemner; prince or princess. It doesn't matter if that title was given by another or given by self choice. I've served kings before, in a time where your conception was nothing more than a centuries of passing sun rises, good kings, friends I considered brothers who were as honorable as they were just...and I have served the kind of king that didn't care about the men he was about to send to die, or the faces or names who burned at the pyres at night because of his orders.”

The boundary was now established, and Cybele now had it made known to her that she could call herself queen, could garner as many followers who would stand in front of her to do her bidding, but never would Theocelese be one of those many broken-masked faces who was a good little soldier and did as he was told, when he was told to do so. The same could be said of Las Noches, it would never fly the banners of others.

“I hope you're not the type to see everything in front of you as yours, but rather the type to see others' already established and can respect them being there. You know what I, and who I am representing, are adverse to...but know now there are always chairs open at our table. I will be blunt now, so that you may reflect upon what I've said and choose the words you think are most appropriate. If what I have said is not welcome at your table, you will not be welcome at ours. I'll depart from here and continue towards my destination and you will not be troubled any further. The wine, of course, is yours for you taking the time to listen to me.” And now was the time for Theocelese to keep his lips sealed. Eye contact would be made as soon as possible, as he wanted to see the effects of everything said sinking in and soaking in the woman's thoughts. He felt a strange excitement in waiting to see the response, but kept that buried beneath the seriousness of what he steered the conversation toward.