COMPLETE.
Who: Komamura Sajin(bucketed), Hinamori Momo (pseudolatry)
What: idk my bff komamura??
Where: Momo's place, which might or might not be Hitsugaya's place from time to time.
When: Right after this thread.
( She didn't want to be a burden. )
What: idk my bff komamura??
Where: Momo's place, which might or might not be Hitsugaya's place from time to time.
When: Right after this thread.
( She didn't want to be a burden. )
Komamura minded little.
The slightest inclination of his head down, in respect or some such, was all he granted the vice captain for a moment. But she was not Tetsuzaemon-- She did not know him. It made him pause, expression forever unreadable behind iron-reinforced comfort.
They were on unequal ground, and Komamura was aware of that. He did the only thing he could do; he removed his helmet. "It is fine," doors were obstacles easily brushed aside. He had mastered the art of ducking, if nothing else.
Komamura did not smile, but his expression was not cold. It was simply how he normally looked, thoughtful, distanced. An animal aiding humans.
His silence does not benefit the smaller shinigami, however, and he is aware of it. It was with reluctance, then, that he explained himself, "I thought you would appreciate a friendly face, though we do not know each other well." But that's what makes it better that it's her he's talking to, isn't it? There is no familiarity as there is with Hisagi. He does not need to leave aside his reasons, his path. He does not need to simply say he will do as he promises. He has to try, and it is something Komamura is willing to do.
He does not mind at all.
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It was intimidating, but she wouldn't let it get to her. Taking several tiny little steps back as he maneuvered past the doorframe, Momo quickly shook her head in response, offering her tiny hands to receive Komamura's helmet because it was the only thing she could think of doing. She'd never received a captain's presence before, despite her duties as a lieutenant that seemed so relevant just a couple of months past.
And his face-it was the first time she'd seen his face. Ever since she had gotten out of the fourth divisional wards, there had been rumors here and there, and she had caught glimpses of the exiting form of one Captain Komamura, but...
... this was a lot closer than she had ever imagined, dealing with him. The silence sets in, and while it's uneasy, it allows her to loosen up her bundled shoulders a bit.
It's not like she's judging. Just shocked that he'd remove his helmet so easily, when before she had never seen him without one.
"You..." She thought about this for a moment's worth, furrowing her brows and biting her lower lip as she paused momentarily, crossing her arms in an idle movement. Uncertainty, on her end.
"Captain Komamura didn't have to, really. I'm sure you have much better to do during your time-" (-like talking to Hitsugaya-kun and Captain Kuchiki about how much of a threat I am-) "-than to visit."
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He was quiet for a moment, not at all unhappy or awkward in doing so. He enjoyed the silence. Words were so often used when they could do nothing, and that was something Komamura tried to avoid as much as he could.
When he spoke, it was always with intent, or so he hoped. Golden eyes rested on Hinamori, taking in how small she was (always looking smaller than the last time he'd seen her, even now that she was up close), how she naturally shied from him (as many did), her expression. To be honest, he should have approached the captains first, or obtained more information, but he had not waltzed blindly in. "I felt," his voice a low rumble containing a growl that had been present ever since Tousen's betrayal, "That this was the best use of my time."
Blunt, to the point, no dancing around the subject or sugarcoating. It was more than he would say normally, but Tetsuzaemon was not here to fill in his pauses with tactful, glossed over words. "No one should be alone if they do not want to be, and company is the least I can offer to someone who has suffered much like I have."
It was so very blunt, and he paused once more, watching her reaction.
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They should have known, but they chose not to see it. Even Momo was guilty of such a charge; here, she was slowly, if not grudgingly, learning that Aizen was not the man she knew once before. Or rather, she had never known Aizen to begin with. Who she had learned to admire was a lie in its entirety.
But even so, there was a twisted sense of trust between them. Her trust in Aizen was infinite still, despite all the lies, and in turn, Aizen's trust was in Momo's gullibility in his character.
Staring wide-eyed back at the giant captain, Momo quietly twiddled her thumbs and listened to the low voice, her gaze settled on the floor. "Ah," she started, her voice coming out more of a squeak than an actual statement. Being alone and suffering-
-Momo couldn't help but to put up a worn out smile at the thought.
Hospitality. It was what the fifth division was known for, and she would exercise it. Partially because she didn't know what else to do, but also at the same time knew that it was the right course of action. Be normal. Be calm.
"Ah, we got a lot of fruits from the stock area. Hitsugaya-kun," there was a bit of a wince in the back of her mind at that thought, "brought back a lot, before the atmosphere changed." The truth was, she just didn't know what did giant puppy-people like Komamura would eat, normally.
Fruit would do, right?
((ooc; *slides off to bed, slides GMT and EST closer together*))
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He was slow to respond, not to think about fruit but rather to think about his approach. It was clear Hinamori was uneasy in his presence (and he doubted it was just because of his size) but she was trying. It was admirable, and he would not fault her that. "Would you like some help in preparing them?" If she had the right fruit, he'd suggest an Asian green fruit salad, sugar and green tea syrup on top. He could never eat more than a few bites, but there was something calming and rhythmic in cutting the fruit, preparing everything, the peeling and washing. Komamura enjoyed slow and thoughtful tasks like that.
The smile was still present as he removed his zanpakuto, to lean it against the wall with his helmet. He did not need it, did not need the additional size it granted him. He was not here to comfort himself.
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Scurrying back towards the small kitchen area, it only took a couple of seconds to finish slicing up the last remaining peaches. Coming out with a platter of fruits-peaches, kiwis, apples-Momo scurried right back into place, holding out the plate in a mildly dazed fashion.
Maybe she cut too much. Or did she cut too little? Momo didn't even know anymore.
Despite all of the worrisome awkwardness on her part, she was glad to have company. It kept her from thinking, something that she had been doing too much of for the past couple of days.
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Relieving her of an apple slice (it's not like he was such an animal that he only ate raw meat, to his credit) he chewed in thoughtful silence for a moment before growling out a "Thank you," before clearing his throat. He didn't mean to sound so gruff, but it was simply the way he talked.
Lapsing back into his normal silence, golden eyes watched the smaller shinigami. Like an animal backed into a corner, confused, or... Something. It was a bad habit, this never getting to know others more than he felt he needed to. "Hinamori Momo."
Ah, too formal. He paused, turned the words over in his mind - Tetsuzaemon would have interjected something here, but he didn't have that option currently. Hopefully wouldn't for the duration of his stay. "If something troubles you, I would hope you did not seek to hold it to yourself. We should not seek to alienate ourselves for our differences-" we should not be afraid to turn to others, but he did not finish with those words.
He did not mind being a shield to stand in front of others, but he refused to stand behind them in turn. To say such a hypocritical thing would go against his nature. Komamura would weather the wounds, his large hands good for little else than defending.
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Eyes downcast, the usual these days, Momo mumbled a quiet "you're welcome," staying by the captain's side. If he needed anything, the least she could do was just. Be there to relieve him of his burden, in some way or another. But how?
Sometimes, she wondered just how she got into the Gotei, much less become a lieutenant.
Listening quietly, Momo twiddled her thumbs and continued staring down at the floor, wondering just how she got herself into this situation. It was clear that Aizen was a traitor to Soul Society, but somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that there was a better purpose he was trying to serve. Something more noble. Something that would help everyone. And yet, that thought troubled her. And to express that thought would be treason against everything that the Gotei stood for.
She was afraid. Even if Komamura was reassuring her, she was afraid for what they would do to her. To Aizen.
"I'll..."
She couldn't find the words, initially. Taking a deep breath, Momo shook her head furiously, acknowledging the captain's worry. He had a right to worry, because she was so close to following Kira's steps, so close to being a traitor-
"... probably get everyone mad at me again."
People were already mad-and probably disappointed-at her.
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His hands -- paws -- were large, but so was all of him. He was aware of this, but still it was his, gloved and large, and he rested it on her head, un-offending, less than a weight. Physical contact calmed most animals, why not Hinamori?
"You and Tetsuzaemon do not speak often, I am aware. But it is understood between us that so long as I stand, he does not retreat for any reason. Should you like-" and he paused, unsure and decision wavering. It was not that he was offering more than he could deliver, and he was not offering more than he would do. But to offer Hinamori, when she was so clearly still fragile, seemed- Not quite unfair, but certainly something that was not his place.
His division followed him, and Tetsuzaemon had said it was for his compassion, his lack of mercy on the battlefield, even for his silence. More than that, he hoped they followed him because he could protect them. Hesitant for a second, Komamura sighed, lowering his gaze to the floor. "Take your time, and stand behind me if you need. I will ask nothing you will not answer, nor demand anything in return. You don't have to answer to me, and while I am here, you will never receive my anger." Those betrayed are stronger together, again unvoiced. He's said too much already, and the gloved hand at his waist is a fist. Komamura was never Aizen -- rather, who Aizen pretended to be -- but he always listened to his division. He always stood beside and in front of them, no matter their reasons for following him.
He let his hand -- paw -- fall from her head with a gentle pat, reassuring. "You'll find your path."
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She didn't expect a soft pat on the head. The weight was heavy, but not unmanageable. Momo looked up at the captain with a glance of uncertainty; a look quickly replaced by a quick shake of her head. "It's-it's not-"
Pat.
Pat.
To say she was surprised was an understatement. And in turn, she looked almost helpless, just staring up at the captain with wide eyes, mouth slightly open at his compassion. Even if it was someone other than Aizen, this feeling of protection was something Momo had not felt in a long time. And despite her inability to say or do anything useful and her penchant for staring at Komamura as he said those words, she was grateful.
"I'll... try."
Reassurance was something she had not experienced in a long, long time.
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