Application for Scorched

[ladieslikepink]

Out of Character Information

Player name: Mawb
Player livejournal: llamaramauk
Playing here: Nope
Where did you find us? From Batty!
Are you 16 years of age or older?: Yep

In Character Information

Character name: Shunsui Kyouraku
Fandom: Tite Kubo's Bleach. (I take him from the manga canon and supplementary official fanbooks, though due to scarcity of appearances in the manga and the tendency to elaborate some scenes in the anime, I also take elements from there. This includes movies and filler arcs - though I do NOT use any plot/skill/history specifics from those latter two - just personality cues and snippets of information about Soul Society's structure and politics).
Timeline: Between issues 355 and 359 of the manga, during the fight with Coyote Starrk.
Character's age: Hahaha. OLD. Canon clues suggest he is approaching the 2000 mark, though it has never been outright stated - it's based on what we know of the Shinigami Academy and a brief statement about his history there. I choose to go with 2000, though it is possibly subject to change if the mangaka suddenly forgets internal consistency (quite likely). Appearance-wise he looks somewhere around his forties.

Powers, skills, pets and equipment: Bleach as a story takes place largely in three places - The Living World (our world), Soul Society (heaven, which contains both the souls of the dead from the Living World and those spirit beings who are native to Soul Society - ie. are born there) and Hueco Mundo (a version of what appears to be limbo).

Kyouraku is a shinigami - literally a "death god" although in Bleach this does not give him powers over life/death. But, it means he is a spirit being - his body comprised of spirit particles called reishi - but really, since shinigami demonstrably bleed and get wounded and even die from what would be fatal blows to a human, this is sort of by-the-by. Technically he can't be seen save for by other spirit beings or the highly gifted, but for convenience I am going to assume that the Mist in Anatole would make him visible to all.

As a shinigami, he is a career soldier in Soul Society's military force - the Gotei Thirteen. This comprises thirteen fighting divisions each of several hundred shinigami (soul reapers) whose job it is to protect Seireitei - the governing heart of Soul Society - from attack and concurrently to retrieve the souls of the dead and send them on to Soul Society. As a captain in the Gotei Thirteen - and one of the oldest captains, to boot - it can be inferred that Kyouraku is extremely powerful, and this is backed up by the combat statistics that are assigned to him in the official fan book. His ratings are as follows: Offence (90), Defence (90), Mobility (90), Kidou/Reiatsu (100), Intelligence (90), Physical Strength (70). In each case the score is out of 100. His total is 530/600.

All captain-level shinigami are demonstrated to have a high level of reiryoku (spiritual power) that they normally keep in check but which when unleashed as reiatsu (spiritual pressure) can cause those with less/no power to feel pinned down or unable to breathe. Reiryoku can be considered as similar to things such as The Force in Star Wars canon or chakra in Naruto. In Bleach it comes in handy for many things, such as allowing a character to take a lot of physical damage with minimal effect (though not to resist overtly fatal wounds), slow-ageing, being employed to create defence/offence effects which look similar to magical attacks, and being focused into "killing intent" which makes attacks more powerful.

We also know from the fan book that shinigami at the Academy are trained in four specialisms, each of which they have to master to some degree. Thus it is reasonable to assume (despite sadly few canon appearances in the manga) that Kyouraku has decent levels of skill in all areas:

1. Hakuda (hand to hand) and
2. Zanjutsu (kendo/sword fighting) are the two areas of specialist combat in which shinigami are trained. In canon, we only see Kyouraku's sword skills on display (see below for specifics on his sword itself) but he must have achieved a reasonable level of proficiency in both. His sword skills are certainly impressive - he is able to take on an opponent of a level that would challenge that of most captains - and given his preference for this form of fighting, it's probable that they exceed his hand-to-hand prowess.
3. Kidou or "demon arts" is the use of reiryoku to create physical effects that appear to be similar to magic and can be used for offence and defence. The higher the level of spiritual power, the more natural ability one should have in kidou. Kyouraku is rated at 100 for his combined wealth of spiritual power and his ability with kidou, despite the fact that we do not see this in action much. Nevertheless, in his fight against one of Ichigo's friends early in the manga, he was able to use only the light tap of two fingers to knock his opponent several hundred yards away (this move is similar to the "finger flick" that Kurosaki Isshin uses later against Aizen). In the same scene Kyouraku is able to use one (bare) hand to deflect a powerful attack without even spilling his drink. It's fair to assume therefore that he can use both reiatsu and kidou offensively to a reasonably high level if he has the need to do so, but that he clearly prefers to use his blades, and where possible in their sealed (normal) form. This makes him a lot more reliant on skill and combat experience and less on special powers when compared to many shinigami, especially of captain level.
4. Hohou is basically "agility". The most common use of this skill in Bleach is for shunpo (flash steps) which is moving from A to B using the fewest steps possible and covering a lot of ground in the minimum of time. Flash-stepping is so fast that it cannot be seen by the naked eye until the user reappears in a new location. Kyouraku is shown to be a master of the technique in canon - his speed and minimal use of steps being complimented by General Yamamoto in the manga, and his ability to use it for evasion and attack in combat is also clearly demonstrated. Houhou is also used by shinigami to gather reishi under their feet and walk/stand on air as though it were solid.

Zanpakutou - this is the special weapon of the shinigami, and is a blade (sword or dagger) which has a normal appearance most of the time (in what is called its "sealed state") but which exists as a reflection of its owner's soul and is named after the "spirit" of the sword. No two zanpakutou are the same, and usually (there are one or two exceptions in canon) a zanpakutou is "born" when its owner is skilful enough to use it and "dies" when its owner dies. Zanpakutou seem to have their own reiatsu, separate to their owners, and once their owner has enough power to awaken the "spirit" in the sword they can communicate with that spirit to varying degrees.

If a shinigami has sufficient power and the dedication to pursue his or her relationship with their zanpakutou, s/he can draw out two more stages of being and power from it, by "releasing" it from its sealed form. This is accomplished by reciting a unique command and calling the name of the zanpakutou. More experienced shinigami only need to call the name, though they may also choose to use the command for effect.

The first released form is called "shikai". In this form, the zanpakutou takes on a new physical appearance entirely - sometimes still sword-like, other times not. There will be an increase of fighting power and zanpakutou begin to demonstrate their own unique powers in this stage - such as the ability to control elements, or to change shape and mass. These are known as "shikai special abilities."

Beyond this stage is "bankai", the ultimate release of the zanpakutou's power under the control of the shinigami. This takes years of work and dedication to achieve and requires the shinigami to be able to forcibly materialise their zanpakutou spirit and defeat it in combat. In bankai state, zanpakutous have been seen to command great power - either in an amplified form of shikai or by possessing a new and devastating form of attack.

As one of the most senior captains in the Gotei Thirteen, Kyouraku has full mastery of his zanpakutou.... which is a double edged sword for him, in more ways than one! His zanpakutou is named Katen Kyokotsu - "Flower Heaven, Crazy Bone". In her sealed state (Kyouraku seems to refer to her in feminine terms in the manga and in anime filler she takes on the physical form of two women), Katen Kyokotsu is - uniquely for shinigami, who in every other case thus far only carry a single blade in sealed form - a daisho sword pair of the type usually worn by samurai.

The longer blade is referred to as either a katana or a tachi in subs (it could be either - they are both curved, single-bladed weapons of the type that one generally thinks of as a "samurai sword" - the only difference is in length and manner of carrying them. Frankly, both these factors in the manga make it look like a katana, though if it's a tachi it brings in the interesting question of whether Kyouraku can ride a horse, as tachis are technically cavalry weapons). It moves slowly compared to the other blade and is used for power attacks. The other half of the pair is unequivocally a wakizashi - a short sword that is used for close combat and is designed for speed attacks. The tsuba (hand guards) of both have a stylised cherry blossom pattern and the hilts are wrapped in indigo silk thread. Usually he wears them both sheathed and pushed through his obi over his left hip, but in battle, he sometimes shifts them such that he has one on each hip (in this case the katana/tachi would usually remain on his left).

Kyouraku appears to be ambidextrous, in that he is seen to use the longer blade alone and wield it in either hand with little conscious difference in speed or power - and when any difference is pointed out, he can correct it in a heartbeat. He is also skilled at using both blades together, though when he does he tends to default to using his right hand for the katana and his left hand for the wakizashi. In the canon appearances in which he actually does fight (and in the anime filler scenes where he fights) he seems to be highly skilled at using his zanpakutou in its basic sealed state, showing considerable ability in both offence and defence with one or both blades - enough that his skill is commented on by his opponents, for which he thanks them. He claims that he rarely fights with both together, but this claim is belied by the fact that he does exactly that in most appearances.

To achieve shikai, Kyouraku brings the blades up to eye level and crosses them in front of his face, the wakizashi forming the upright of the cross and the katana pointing horizontally forwards at the target. His release command, though he does not have to use it to achieve this state, is "Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer", which is one of the longest commands in the entire Gotei 13 thus far - the only other with a similarly poetic release command is Ukitake.

In its shikai form, Katen Kyokotsu takes on the appearance of two large, curved Chinese scimitars . The tsubas remain the same, as do the hilts, though now there is the additional decoration of red tassels on the ends. (I am advised that these are also a Chinese-originated tradition and originally were worn on weapons to signify "loyalty". This may or may not be significant). Though the two blades are now much closer in size to one another, Kyouraku has stated that even in this state they still perform the same functions as in their sealed form - the wakizashi being used for quick and fast attacks and the katana/tachi for power hits. Thus they still move at different speeds and in fact there seems to be a slight size difference in some views of them in the anime which is not immediately obvious in the manga.

Other than an obvious "power-up" in terms of the ferocity of his attacks, the blades in this form also have a shikai special skill. However, it is not one that Kyouraku can call on at will - it seems that rather, his zanpakutou must be in the mood for it, otherwise she will not let him "play with her". When she IS in the mood, Kyouraku explains her skill as "the power to make children's games real". He goes on to explain further that she chooses the game to be played, and anyone within the bounds of her spiritual pressure (himself included) are subject to the same rules. He also expresses that while it is "all for the sake of my lovely sword" it can be a pain to keep her happy and this is why he rarely uses her in shikai form or beyond.

In canon he demonstrates four of her "games". First, he calls the name of the game and then he attacks, letting his opponent try to guess the rules, with or without a hint. It should be noted that if his opponent does guess and successfully counter-attacks, Kyouraku could be killed or severely wounded, as he is subject to the rules himself. As far as I am aware, his is the only zanpakutou that requires its master to gamble his/her life in order to win a fight.

1. Bushogoma ("Lazy Spinning Top") - this is the first "game" that Kyouraku demonstrates. By turning quickly with the blades extended, like rotors, Kyouraku can create a whirlwind effect that engulfs his opponent. As well as being powerful, it temporarily blinds his opponent and can be used to deflect energy blasts.
2. Takaoni ("Mountain Demon") - in this game, whoever attacks (and presumably scores a hit) from the higher-up position wins and whoever is lower, loses. To make this more explicit in the anime (in regard to this and to Kageoni), Kyouraku explains that "the loser dies."
3. Kageoni ("Shadow Demon") - whoever gets their shadow stepped on loses. This game allows Kyouraku to use shadows in frankly spooky ways - namely to warp space and distance. He can seemingly melt into the dark, as can his blade, then materialise elsewhere, still using shadow. In addition, he can thrust his blade point first into an opponent's shadow on the ground/wall several feet away, and it will emerge right beneath their feet or near any other part of their body that is adjacent to their shadow. If they don't move fast enough, it will impale them.
4. Irooni ("Colourful Demon") - This one is a real doozy. Kyouraku or the person(s) he is fighting take it in turns to call out the name of a colour. Once called out, that is the only colour on their opponent that they can land an attack on. For example, if their opponent is wearing a red top and red is the colour called, only areas of the body covered by that top could be cut. Landing a blow elsewhere will result in no damage.

There is, however, an additional rule for Irooni, and that is that in order to get a maximum hit on his opponent, Kyouraku must call out a colour that he himself is wearing. The more of that colour he is wearing, the more damage he can inflict. However, his opponent is able to fight back, and thus can try to dodge or land a hit in return. Obviously since both are subject to the same rules, there is the potential for Kyouraku to be the one more severely injured by a counter attack if his opponent has figured out the rules. Basically, Irooni forces Kyouraku to risk taking the same damage as his opponent in order to cause any. It's tantamount to a rule of equivalent exchange. Also, I will stress that this appears to be a turn-based game, so if the opponent HAS figured out the rules, Kyouraku has to take an attack and defend it as best he can until it is his turn again. Understandably therefore, he is seemingly not given to explaining any of the rules of this particular game from the start.

Bankai - we know that Kyouraku has bankai as it has been stated that all captains have achieved bankai (except Kenpachi, who is an exception to most rules) but it has yet to be seen in either manga or anime canon. The only reference to it has been from Ukitake who cautioned him not to use it "where other people might see/where there are other people" (exact translation varies). Unfortunately for us, Kyouraku paid attention to this warning so we have been left hanging. The nature of it could be MORE OF THE SAME BUT AMPED UP or it could be something tangential, since there is little clue in the name or command of his zanpakutou. The best that can be surmised is that it is either something extremely messed-up, something that has wide-area effects, or something that if seen by anyone else than the opponent is risky to Kyouraku himself. Humorists have suggested that it involves Kyouraku getting naked and resulting mass suicide :-) For the purposes of play, I would rather avoid situations that would lead to him having no option but to use bankai unless it can be done "off-screen" because it is so hard to even make a guess at what Kubo has in mind.

Konso - this is the ability to perform a "soul burial", which is to say, sending on the souls of humans and hollows (souls that have fallen into despair and begun to consume other souls) to Soul Society (heaven) - or occasionally to hell. It's pretty much a given that Kyouraku can do this as a graduate of the shinigami academy, though he is not seen to do it in canon. The one kill he has made "on screen" did not involve konso and was exactly that - a kill.

Outside of the above standard shinigami skills, Kyouraku has a few other abilities that are listed or demonstrated in canon. Firstly he seems to be uncommonly sensitive to other people's reiatsu - possibly even just to their reiryoku - so much so that he senses the arrival of another shinigami well before anyone else (Ukitake included) during a pivotal scene in canon - and also senses that a messenger has visited Eighth while he himself was otherwise engaged in combat. This may also feed into his apparent sensitivity to other people's moods or situations - which is also shown in canon, specifically in the "Pendulum" flashback arc. In panfandom I presume this means that there's a possibility he can sense/be sensed by other beings with similar "energy forces" in their canons. I am cool with this if so, and happy to figure it out with other players in both directions (in my other game, I have given permission for my Naruto character's chakra to be noticeable, even though he lacks sensing abilities at all).

It is shown and stated both in the manga canon, and in filler/movies, that he is highly intelligent, but that he also hides his intelligence behind a "trivial exterior" (quote taken from The Diamond Dust Rebellion movie). It should be no surprise that a captain has intelligence but Kyouraku seems notably adept at reading his opponents skills and moves and spotting a deception. His teacher, Yamamoto, states that even as a woman-chasing student Kyouraku was able to "see the true character of anyone he meets". It is suggested in the filler (Bount Arc, conversation with another captain) that he has an ear to the ground for rumours and gossip - this may explain some of his more insightful moments, such as his apparent suspicion of Aizen a hundred years before current canon.

On a more light-hearted note, Kyouraku is also stated as having the special skill of "napping" and indeed does seem fond of sleeping - and especially on rooftops - in canon. He's fond of - and appears to have remarkable levels of tolerance for - alcohol and especially sake. He also apparently fancies himself as a writer of romances, though his monthly serialised story - The Rose-Coloured Path - in the Seireitei Bulletin is not at all popular. Arguably he also has some level of skill at womanising, though does seem to like pursuing the unattainable.

All of the above stated abilities and powers are canon and I don't think he needs any additions at this time - he's quite enough to handle as is :| I am quite happy for the mist to mess with any and all of his abilities as necessary/useful. Possibly in the future I might be interested in extending his sensitivity to spirit energy somehow, but not at the start.

Apart from his zanpakutou - and it's arguable in that relationship exactly which of them is wearing the hakama, frankly - Kyouraku has no pets.

In terms of equipment, he usually appears wearing a standard shihakushou (shinigami uniform) and the Eighth Division Captain's haori. But to this basic dress he has brought his own sense of (questionable) style in the form of a pink, floral women's kimono that he wears thrown over his shoulders, a sakkat (reed hat), an ankle bracelet, a blue hair tie with red flower pins and a turquoise obi (sash). He wears his uniform crossed over low in front to expose his chest and prefers to wear his waraji (sandals) without tabi (socks), which is a very low-class thing to do. His zanpakutou is almost always on or near him and he always seems to be able to produce a flask of sake and two drinking bowls from somewhere on his person (I dread to think where exactly, since it seems to come from inside his clothing). This, essentially, is what I would expect him to be wearing/carrying most of the time and so it is likely it would arrive with him. He probably also has a "soul pager" - a communications device that shinigami use to stay in touch and track hollows. I assume this will not work outside of his canon world.

In addition, due to the canon point from which I am taking him, it's likely that he has a Jigokuchou (Hell Butterfly) about his person, since the senkaimon (kind of a gateway between worlds) is apparently how they got from Seireitei to the Fake Living World and we know that shinigami must be accompanied by one to travel that way (unless they are Transvestite!Hogyoku!Aizen obvs XD) But, I am happy for him to a) not have it at all since canon skims over the issue b) have it or c) have it be somehow missing - lost to the mist maybe, where it can mutate into something nasty for the bestiary.

Canon history: Canon history for Kyouraku is unfortunately vague, as despite being a captain in the Gotei Thirteen he is, nevertheless, a minor character. However, I will run through what I can piece together from things directly written about him and things he actually does, plus one or two things that are LIKELY to be the case, assuming internal consistency of the canon itself.

Kyouraku as a character is first introduced during the “Rescue Rukia” arc of the manga and in the present day canon time line, but he also appears in flashback arcs or his history is mentioned in passing. I will attempt to arrange it in chronological order and not canon order, because flashbacks are confusing. Where I have mentioned any head-canon or canon I cannot cite, I will make a note.

Kyouraku is a native of Soul Society - he was born there and has always resided there. I cannot cite the source, but it seems to be canon and not fanon (possibly from supplementary material that I have yet to read) that he is the second son of a relatively high ranking noble family, and that for some reason he was compelled to attend the newly formed shinigami academy by his family some thousand-plus years before the present canon time line.

While a (relative, given shinigami ageing) teenager at the academy, he was (as cited above) noted for chasing girls and behaving in a frivolous manner, but paradoxically for being incredibly intelligent and insightful. Fanon tends to like to portray Shunsui as lazy and a shirker of all forms of physical activity, though actual canon differs. Yamamoto (their teacher and the Captain-Commander of the entire Gotei Thirteen) also notes during the conversation about his intelligence that Ukitake and Kyouraku both "never lacked training", that their power when they fought together was "unrivalled by their peers or anyone since" and that they went on to be the first two captains to be created from the graduates of the shinigami academy. I presume that this is stated as an important distinction from those who may have gained their positions through invitation, noble influence or status.

While it is likely that he served in other divisions in different ranks prior to his captaincy, we have no information as yet on this. In canon he was introduced whole-cloth as the Captain of the Eighth Division in the manga and we are later informed in a flashback arc that he has been Captain of that division for over 200 years.

Chronologically, that flashback arc contains Kyouraku's next confirmed appearance in the history of the Gotei Thirteen. It details some of the events that led up to the situation in present canon, and specifically in regard to the origin of the mysterious "Visoreds", the reason that there are shinigami living in hiding in the Living World, and the true breadth and scope of the then-villain Aizen's plans. It is set around a hundred years before the current time line.

Kyouraku makes his first appearance in the flashback arriving early for a captains' meeting and making a light-hearted comment about the gossip that the other captains are engaging in. He is greeted by Captains Aikawa Love and Hirako Shinji, who remark on how it is unusual to see him on time for anything. He protests that he is always early to meetings, though this claim is undermined by his Vice Captain, Yadomaru Lisa, who advises them that he is there on time because she "dragged him by the short hairs". Kyouraku tells her that while he loves to hear her talk dirty, it is better done in private, thus suggesting a rather risqué relationship between the two of them. Captain Ukitake Jyuushiro observes this exchange without interrupting, having arrived with Kyouraku and Lisa.

At the meeting, the shinigami captains meet the latest new captain - Urahara Kisuke - to join their ranks. It is also revealed through Kyouraku's gossip with Ukitake, Aizen (then Hirako's Vice Captain) and Hirako that there is a "Zero Division" and that a number of other captains have recently retired or been killed. Kyouraku demonstrates a certain degree of flippancy over these events, and appears well-informed about them.

There is a short jump ahead by a couple of years in the timeline, and yet another captains' meeting. At this one, the assembled officers are told that there have been a number of disappearances in Soul Society, and that Captain Muguruma Kensei has been despatched to investigate. Unfortunately, he comes under attack and his reiatsu signature vanishes along with that of his Vice Captain and troops. It is decided that a team of captains and the Captain and Vice Captain of the Kidou Corps will be sent to find out what has happened while the rest of the divisions protect Seireitei.

At this point, Urahara is distressed, having unwittingly sent his Vice Captain Sarugaki Hiyori to find Mugurama and gather samples for analysis - and thus into danger. However, his request to be part of the rescue squad is refused. Kyouraku notes this, and while he does not comment on it directly, he interrupts the meeting to ask Yamamoto if it would not be better to retain the Captain of the Kidou Corps in Seireitei rather than commit both leaders of that division into danger. Yamamoto asks what he suggests instead, and Kyouraku says that his Vice Captain could go. He claims that he wants her to get some valuable combat experience and when asked to call her, reveals that she has been hiding just behind the windows into the room and eavesdropping on proceedings. This shocks Ukitake, but Kyouraku seems unconcerned.

He asks Lisa if she heard his proposal and when she says she did, he does not order her to go, but instead asks her if she will do it. She replies in the affirmative. Lisa, along with three captains and the Vice Captain of the Kidou Corps are despatched to the scene of the "crime" to investigate. Meanwhile, noting that Urahara is still standing disconsolately in the meeting room as the others leave, Kyouraku walks over and - in passing - places a hand on his shoulder. He informs Urahara that everything will be fine - that Hiyori is strong (although not as strong as Lisa, naturally) and that it is also a captain's duty to wait and have faith.

Later, we see that despite these words, Kyouraku seems to be as prone to worry as Urahara, since he ends up pacing the streets in the middle of the night. Apparently by chance, he wanders over to the Fifth Division barracks, spotting the Vice Captain of Fifth - Aizen Sousuke - while exchanging pleasantries with some passing shinigami. Commenting to himself that he "must have been over-thinking things," Kyouraku returns to Eighth.

Just inside the gates, there is a small girl waiting, who he addresses as Ise Nanao, the youngest shinigami in his division. When she expresses surprise that he remembers her he explains that he makes note of all the girls' names, and besides, she visits him every month. Nanao confirms this, saying that she has come to read with Lisa, just as she does on the first of every month, a date that he had apparently forgotten. Kyouraku apologises and says that Lisa is not here, but that she will undoubtedly be back in the morning. At the same time, we see Lisa being seriously injured during her mission - it is unclear if Kyouraku is aware of this as it occurs.

Lisa, of course, does not return - at least not as herself - and she later disappears along with the rest of the rescue squad, who have all been infected by one of Aizen's secret experiments that makes them partly transform into hollows. There is no canon information on how he responded to the fact that when Lisa did return, she was in a hollow form, nor to the accusation that Urahara was responsible or the condemnation by the Central 46 (the apparent government and court of Soul Society) that Lisa be "disposed of as a Hollow" along with the other affected captains and vice captains. However, we see a short excerpt of Urahara's trial in the manga, in which he claims that Aizen is the one who caused the "hollowfication" of the investigative team. This claim is dismissed by the Central 46 who inform him that several shinigami including a captain can vouch for the fact that Aizen was in the Fifth Division barracks at the time of the incident. I think it is fair to assume that this unnamed captain is probably Kyouraku. It is also notable that in his subsequent appearances with his new Vice Captain, he is considerably more protective and far less willing to allow her to engage in combat or to say how strong she is.

And now we move ahead by a hundred years to the present day time line and Kyouraku's first canon appearance. In this story arc, substitute soul-reaper Kurosaki Ichigo, along with three other of his school friends and two Soul Society natives infiltrate the Seireitei in a bid to rescue a shinigami called Kuchiki Rukia. Rukia is a member of Ukitake's Thirteenth Division who has been sentenced to death due to her activities in the Living World, but it is pointed out several times in canon that her sentence and the constant shifting of the execution date are highly unusual.

When the "ryoka" (intruders) invade, Yamamoto, as Captain-Commander of the Gotei Thirteen, calls an emergency meeting and it is there that we first see all the captains. They are not all named, including Kyouraku, though he does comment rather drily on the behaviour of the others, some of whom are squabbling amongst themselves. The captains receive orders that the ryoka are to be stopped at all costs and the incident treated as if it were a wartime situation, then return to their divisions.

Some time later, we see that Chad, one of Ichigo's party, has broken through the wall of Eighth Division on his way to rendezvous with the rest of the rescue party. He effortlessly defeats Kyouraku's third-in-command, Tatsufusa, and seems to be unstoppable. In Eighth, meanwhile, Kyouraku is taking a nap on the floor with a flask of sake nearby. His current Vice Captain - a grown up Ise Nanao - arrives to alert him to Chad's presence. Kyouraku does not seem enthused at the prospect of engaging Chad in a fight, but claims that it is his duty to handle it personally as ordered by Yamamoto. Further, he tells Nanao that he could not bear the thought of her getting hurt and rather exaggeratedly expresses affection for her which is returned in the form of a smack to his head with her fan. Finally, saying that it is after all just "a little show" he departs to obstruct Chad's progress.

It's fair to say that Kyouraku's arrival on the field of battle is rather unique in that he drifts down from an overhead balcony in a swirl of pink kimono while Nanao showers him with petals from above. This is followed by a rather comedic scene in which Kyouraku tries to tell "Nanao-chan" that she can stop throwing petals now, and which ends with him having all the remaining ones tipped over his head, and the basket that contained them too. Nonplussed by this, Chad does not take him seriously and says that he has no time to join in Kyouraku's "skit". There follows a protracted attempt by Kyouraku to persuade Chad to turn back and go home, or at the very least to just stay and drink sake with him rather than attempt to move further into Seireitei. At Chad's protests that he is under-age, Kyouraku admits that this is a problem, and eventually concedes that it is rude of him to expect Chad to turn back when he is obviously so determined.

Chad attacks, and Kyouraku deflects the power blast with one hand while still sipping his sake. The only victim of the attack is his pink kimono, which drifts off across the rooftops. Chad attacks again - several times - and Kyouraku keeps up his effortless deflections and dodges while still sipping his drink. He compliments Chad on his attacking power, but cautions him that he understands the nature of it and that if he uses it too much it will cause his death, underlining this with a gentle reiatsu/kidou attack using two fingers that throws Chad back a hundred yards or more. He also states that Chad will never be able to hit him. Chad is not deterred, even when Kyouraku questions his motives for sacrificing himself. When Chad says that he will keep fighting for Ichigo, Kyouraku finally draws his zanpakutou, reluctantly stating that in that case he has no choice but to kill Chad.

Chad attacks for the final time, blowing half of Eighth Division's buildings away, but Kyouraku merely sidesteps and then slashes Chad across the torso with his swords, immediately saying "I'm sorry" afterwards. Chad falls, but is not dead, and when Nanao arrives and offers to deliver the killing blow, Kyouraku prevents her, telling her that "it's not something girls should do" When she informs him that Captain Aizen has been murdered, Kyouraku looks surprised, then says that the ryoka should not be killed in case they were involved. We later find that Chad was imprisoned and given medical attention, and it is suggested in a conversation between Ichigo and Yoruichi - one of the ex-shinigami who is assisting him - that Kyouraku never intended to kill Chad in the first place, despite his orders. In fact she states that Chad was lucky to have encountered Kyouraku rather than one of the other captains.

The next time we see Kyouraku is on the morning of Rukia's execution, just after we have discovered that the date has been moved forward yet again. He is apparently napping on the roof of Eighth, and Nanao comes to remind him that they have to attend the execution. Kyouraku avoids the subject initially, instead claiming that the piece of grass he is chewing is poisoned, which causes her to lose her temper with him. Immediately afterwards he asks her, quite seriously, what he should do. She replies that he always does what he wants anyway, but that she will follow him regardless, while making sure not to get into trouble. Kyouraku accepts this, then sighs and says that as usual, he will be the one to get into trouble with Yamamoto.

Nanao and Kyouraku travel to the Execution Grounds on a precipice high over Seireitei, and are one of the few Captain/Vice Captain duos in attendance. They observe the preparations for the execution, and Kyouraku tells Nanao not make a sad face, as it will make him sad too. She replies that it is not sadness she is feeling. Just as the sentence is about to be carried out, Ichigo appears to prevent it and Kyouraku asks Nanao if that is the boy who Chad was talking about earlier. She confirms that it is, and Kyouraku remarks that "it was the ryoka who got here on time after all."

Moments later, Captain Ukitake and his two Third Seat Officers arrive, bearing an heirloom of one of the Seireitei noble families with which they intend to destroy the Soukoyoko (the oversized zanpakutou that is to be used for the execution). Kyouraku immediately joins them, along with Nanao, and he and Ukitake proceed to do exactly that, attracting the ire of Yamamoto and some of the other watching captains.

Yamamoto chides them for their actions, which he says do not befit captains, and things seem to be set for a fight, at which point Kyouraku claps a hand on Ukitake's shoulder, saying it's time to run away. He then shunpos off the edge of the cliff, dragging Ukitake with him and silencing his protests by pointing out that if they stay to fight Yamamoto there, everyone else will be injured. He also reassures Ukitake that his subordinates will be fine, despite being attacked by Captain Soi Fong, as "another friend" is approaching, to which Ukitake looks startled.

Carrying them both to some deserted ruins at the edge of Seireitei (or possibly somewhere in the Rukongai) Kyouraku comments that this is far enough, just as Nanao arrives, out of breath, behind them. He teases her for being slow, but then they notice that Yamamoto is already there and waiting.

The Captain Commander is not amused, either by their behaviour or what he perceives as Kyouraku's attempt to run away, saying that little brats have never managed to outrun him. He berates them at length for their interference in the carrying out of an order from the court of the Central 46, despite their arguments that he taught them to stand up for their own justice. Kyouraku clearly does not want to fight his teacher, and nor does Ukitake - neither of them drawing their zanpakutou despite Yamamoto deploying his spiritual pressure offensively.

The captains withstand it, despite being knocked back a ways, but Nanao is caught by the overwhelming power of his reiatsu and finds that she is unable to breathe. Before she can pass out, Kyouraku intercedes, placing himself between her and Yamamoto before apologising for involving her in his actions and shunpo-ing her to safety some distance away. When he returns, Yamamoto compliments him on his ability to go great distances in one step, for which Kyouraku thanks him.

Yamamoto now releases his zanpakutou into shikai form, causing a fiery storm to burst into flame around them. The two captains draw their own swords, but do not release them until Yamamoto chides them into it, at which point they reluctantly follow suit. Facing down their teacher, both of them are clearly awed by his power - Ukitake admitting internally to being afraid of it. Yamamoto asks if they are ready, and Ukitake replies "ready and waiting." They meet in a huge clash of spiritual pressure that is observed across Seireitei and remarked on regretfully by Captain Unohana.

They are still fighting (though sadly we don't see it) when the news arrives of Aizen's faked death and betrayal, and Kyouraku asks Yamamoto if "we should be doing this, now". At that point Ukitake is bloodied and Kyouraku has lost his pink kimono. Later, it seems that they indeed decided to end their fight, since they are all three present for Aizen's final moments in Soul Society, before he is transported to Hueco Mundo. Kyouraku says nothing during this scene, though Ukitake seems both offended and shocked by Aizen's actions (suggestng that Kyouraku had never mentioned his apparent suspicions a hundred years before).

In the aftermath, Kyouraku is seen walking past Tenth Division's barracks while several vice captains are having a party. When he comments that they seem like they are having fun and asks if he can join in, Matsumoto - the Tenth Division Vice Captain - says no, because it would make Nanao angry. The fan book indicates that he regularly drinks with the Vice Captain of Tenth on their days off. She also seems to be very good friends with Nanao.

There is a long gap in canon before Kyouraku appears again. In the anime, he is shown to be assisting Ukitake in his research at the Daireishokairou (Great Spirit Library) where they discover Aizen's true intentions. In the manga this is not shown, and his next appearance is for the big showdown battle with Yamamoto and the captains versus Aizen and some of his specially created hollows, called the Espada.

As usual, Kyouraku is with Ukitake - Nanao is not present, presumably left safely in Seireitei. As the showdown begins, Kyouraku pulls Ukitake out of the way when Yamamoto releases a huge burst of fiery spiritual pressure at Aizen. Kyouraku later jokes about what a bad mood "Old Man Yama" is in, and states that his shoulders are stiff from the combination of Yamamoto's words and spiritual pressure. Ukitake disbelievingly tells him that he has never had stiff shoulders in his life.

When the captains break off to face the Espada, Ukitake and Kyouraku end up matching with Coyote Starrk, who unbeknown to them is the "Primera Espada" - the most powerful of the Espada present at the fight. Kyouraku comments casually that Starrk "looks powerful", but he does request that Starrk send away his companion - an espada in the form of a young girl called Lilynette - because he can't fight at full strength with a child on the battlefield. Surprisingly, Starrk says that in that case he won't fight at full strength either since it's not in his nature. This amuses Kyouraku, and he comments that usually he'd be all for it since getting all cut up is unpleasant - much to Ukitake's consternation - but then states that this time he can't do that.

While Kyouraku engages with Starrk, Ukitake tries his best NOT to fight Starrk's companion, angering her by referring to her as a child. She tells Ukitake that he should help his friend, but Ukitake advises her that two against one is unfair. When told that Starrk is strong and that Kyouraku will die, he thanks her for her concern, but answers that Kyouraku is strong too.

In fact, Starrk and Kyouraku are well-matched - they both initially fight without using powers beyond their innate skill with a blade and ability to read an opponent. Around them, the other captains are fighting desperate battles with the other Espada and their minions, and Kyouraku accuses Starrk of not fighting at his full strength, a charge which Starrk points out applies to Kyouraku in return, since he has yet to draw his second blade. Kyouraku finally asks about the various rankings of the Espada and questions Starrk about his "numero", saying that he hopes that Starrk is Number Two. Starrk apologises, pulling off his glove to reveal a tattoo of the digit "one", and admitting that he is the Primera Espada. With a sigh, Kyouraku comments that it means the fight will be tough, though he doesn't look especially unhappy about this revelation.

It is from this point in canon that I am taking him, just after Starrk manages to hack a chunk out of Kyouraku's sakkat.

Personality: If every character in Bleach represented a human/moral concept (and given the revelations about the Espada each representing an aspect of death and despair, it wouldn't surprise me), then Kyouraku, I think, represents "duality". It seems to be his theme from the moment he appears, and is reinforced in many ways, from his two-bladed zanpakutou and its odd name and command (flowers and bones, heaven and the underworld, really Kubo? REALLY?), to his partnership with Ukitake, his low-born habits despite being aristocracy, and his fad for wearing women's kimonos over his uniform despite being one of the least feminine-looking of the male captains (body hair FTW, apparently).

And this theme seems to carry itself through into characterisation, at least from what we have seen so far. On the face of it Kyouraku is flamboyant, somewhat silly, lazy, a drunk and a womaniser. And indeed, these are all aspects of his personality to varying degrees, but they are not all that defines it.

It's certainly true that he likes a drink (sake, thanks - and by the flask, apparently) and that he likes to throw a party every week at his division (to which only girls are invited, or so the rumour goes). His preference to avoid a fight is legendary - not to mention that Nanao seems to generally find him enjoying a nice lie down in various parts of Eighth, true to the fan book statement that his special skill is "napping". It's also true that his teacher openly recalls that as a student Kyouraku had an unfortunate tendency to "lose control in front of a girl", and that he displays both a suggestion of a rather (mutually) risqué relationship with his first introduced Vice Captain - Lisa - and a flirtatious (on his side, anyway) one with his second - Nanao. He even blatantly attempts to recruit only female shinigami for his Division and states that he "remembers the names of all the young ladies". All this is canon, and is accompanied by a general impression that he is known for being always late, indolent and shallow.

But actually, if you scratch the surface a little deeper, there's a great deal more to him than meets the eye. Usually it remains unstated, unless he is engaged in one-on-one conversations with opponents or the two people he seems to trust the most in Seireitei - Ukitake Jyuushiro and Ise Nanao. But pay attention to a lot of even his silent interactions in canon and it becomes obvious that he is neither as stupid nor as lazy as he seemingly likes to appear.

In fact, he's been shown several times to be remarkably observant and quick to put clues together and come to a conclusion - generally an accurate one - both tactically and personally. More than one observation is made of him that indicates he is a lot more intelligent than people give him credit for, and he has shown himself to be highly perceptive about people and their emotions/motivations in particular. "I'm not good at taking the initiative" says Kyouraku of himself in a rare moment of frankness during the Captain Amagi anime filler arc, before referring the captain in question to Ukitake, and I think this is a much truer reflection of his personality than the one he cares to project.

It is indeed rare for him to be the one to instigate things - in canon he is Ukitake's back-up man in the bid to save Rukia (notably he makes no attempt to intervene at the execution himself, even though Ukitake is late), and the one who raises a thoughtful point or question rather than charging ahead into a conflict.

He seems fonder of observing than participating, more inclined to actions than words, and fonder of listening than talking when it comes to matters of a serious nature. Canon suggests that he had suspicions about Aizen very early on, but he clearly did nothing about it - possibly did not even mention it to Ukitake, or else one would expect considerably less shock when Aizen finally revealed his hand. Once committed to a course of action however, Kyouraku is resolute and does not turn back from it at any point - the single exception being when he realises that he has brought Nanao into a dangerous situation during the confrontation with Yamamoto. Even in his attempt to avoid a fight with Chad in his first appearance, there is never any question that whatever happens, he is not going to allow Chad to pass him and enter Seireitei. And even given an open opportunity to walk away from the fight with Starrk later in the canon, he refuses - having received direct orders from Yamamoto to prevent Aizen and his troops from taking Seireitei at any cost.

It's also noteworthy that when he does fight, he's extremely fast and skilled. This does not speak to someone who has done nothing but nap and get drunk for 2000 years, whatever he may choose to show the world. My suspicion is that while he has an aversion to paperwork that is real and persistent, when it comes to training, his attitude has remained the same as the one recounted by Yamamoto in regard to his Academy days. This is borne out in the fan book where the Shinigami Women's Association says that to be a member of Eighth “remember to put training before panache.” Although that could be Nanao's annotation, I find it difficult to believe she would serve so loyally under a captain she did not ultimately trust and respect, despite his eccentricities. It should also be noted that despite the throwaway nature of the information, he writes a serialised romance story for the Seireitei Bulletin. Yes, it's funny - but it also speaks to a willingness to apply himself to paperwork in certain circumstances.

He displays a polite and honourable approach to combat, though there is a very real question of whether some of that is skin-deep. While certainly humble about his own skills, and always verbally polite to opponents - his actions do not always bear out his words. For example, he follows Ukitake in his apparent dislike of fighting children, but it is worth remembering that he seriously injured Chad despite knowing his age, then later goes on to attack Wonderweiss in the heat of battle and more coldly to eliminate Lilynette - both of whom have a childlike appearance. His suggested aversion to two-on-one in a fight also disappears in the showdown with Aizen, when he teams up openly with Hitsugaya. And it should also be noted that Kyouraku excels in surprise/sneak attacks, often from an opponent's blind spot. He displays absolutely no regrets about this tactic and nor does he apologise for it, save for to Chad.

Taking all this into account, and combining it with his words to one of the two people he saves during the final fight with Starrk - "Getting caught up in style and throwing away victory is something for the lower ranks to do. Captains can't even think about doing such a carefree thing. Don't try to be a good guy. It doesn't matter who owes who. From the instant they enter into a war, both sides are evil." - my tendency is to view him as a man who is not lazy, but who avoids fights from a general aversion to violence and killing. But still, once a conflict has been entered into, he takes the approach that it's best to get it over with as fast as possible, even if that means "fighting dirty" or displaying a shockingly cold ruthlessness of approach. If zanpakutou spirits are a reflection of their wielder's soul, then I think it's fair to say that Kyouraku has issues - making fighting and killing into a children's game in which he is forced to gamble his own life speaks to a very complicated attitude towards his life as a shinigami. Even Starrk, an Espada, remarks on how twisted his zanpakutou abilities are.

Even given the apparent silliness of his conversation and behaviour at times, and the occasional tendency to flowery speech, there's a sense that this is half-teasing, covering up his true opinions or used as a means of avoiding having to address an issue head-on. He's very good, it seems, at talking around a subject, or simply acting rather than "talking it out". He seems to be, at heart, a very private - even secretive - man, which is extremely frustrating when attempting to pin him down and define him, and I suspect that he likes it that way. The way he dealt with Urahara in the Pendulum arc is very illuminating in this regard - he clearly recognised Urahara's conflict over having sent his Vice Captain into danger, but instead of verbally sympathising or telling Urahara that he had done nothing wrong or terrible, he stepped forward and placed himself in exactly the same situation.

His schizophrenic conversations with Nanao are another indicator of this - trivial nonsense punctuated by serious remarks or actions. "Not having a characteristic behaviour is characteristic of me," he says to Starrk later in the manga, and I think that neatly illustrates his smoke-and-mirrors approach to what he allows others to see of himself.

His drinking habits are equally confusing, if the fight with Chad is anything to go by. Certainly the imbibing of alcohol does not seem to impact on either his resolve or his ability to fight. It does beg the question of just how much he must have gotten through over the centuries to be able to sober up so fast, or avoid being drunk in the first place. Even possibly whether the drinking is yet another exaggerated facet of his personality. My inclination is to guess that he can handle his alcohol very well indeed; that he is rarely as inebriated as he may appear and that it suits him to be seen as a harmless drunk. Taken in conjunction with the fact that he seems to play up to his reputation as "that amusing guy in the pink kimono", one has to wonder how much of it comes from an awareness that it's to his advantage to be disregarded and assumed to be just a stupid, lazy drunk. It's an effective way to keep people off their guard, after all.

The same duality appears to apply even to his dealings with women - there is certainly a lot of silly flirting with Nanao and suggestions (apparently to tease her) that he is a hardened womaniser. But there's no sign of this behaviour being on display with other females in the series - even though he counts Matsumoto as one of his regular drinking partners and hello... MATSUMOTO?! It's also possible that a lot of the flirting with Nanao, at least in their first appearance together, is intended to cover up a desire to keep her out of harms way - an instinct that would be understandable, considering what happened to Lisa, who he believed to be strong enough to go on a mission with unknown hazards. By contrast, he won't even let Nanao deal with Chad inside their own barracks, and employs an impressive display of exaggerated care for her well being that cleverly dodges around any suggestion that Kyouraku considers her weak. All in all I'm inclined to think that while he does like to flirt, and he finds women utterly fascinating - and that as a student he was canonly noted as liking to chase ladies (and being weak to them) - as with many other things in his life, it's a tendency that is more reputation than reality by the point in canon that he appears. And I am certain it's a reputation that he's quite happy to have and probably encourages, because REALLY. (It may also be telling that his romantic novel is highly unpopular and one wonders if that is a sure sign of reputation versus reality right there)!

Outside of all these contradictory aspects, there are other parts to his character that he does not seem so shy about hiding - one being his extreme loyalty, particularly in the case of Ukitake. It seems quite likely that he knew what the outcome of his choosing to support Ukitake in destroying the Soukoyoko would be, and equally likely that he was very aware that a fight with Yamamoto would not end well for him or for Ukitake. For a man whose raison d'etre seems to be to play down his skills and live a quiet life it was quite a choice to make - he certainly has no canon connection to Rukia, and expresses doubts about what to do to Nanao only hours before the execution. And yet, he does it anyway, despite the knowledge that at the least it will drive a wedge between his mentor and himself and at worst, that neither he nor Ukitake will survive the consequences. Ultimately, he voluntarily walked to what could easily have been his own doom rather than allow his friend to go it alone.

TLDR - outwardly Kyouraku presents a carefree, casual approach to life that is reflected in his manner of address, and his way of calling the Captain-Commander of the Gotei - "Yama-jii" (basically "Old man Yama") even in official meetings. He seemingly sails through life in a swirl of flamboyant pink, doing as little as possible save for drinking, napping and making kissy-faces at his Vice Captain. But underneath it seems that he has a serious side, and that in fact he does very little without reason or forethought. As for his reason to fight despite apparently not liking violence - the indications are that he has a desire to protect, above all else. Most of his canon responses to other people in danger are to either step in himself or take a fight elsewhere, though at the same time, he never does it in a manner that would dishonour them by blatantly suggesting they are weak. But really until Kubo chooses to tell us, it remains mostly in the realms of headcanon.

Kubo describes him as a leader of men, despite his foibles, while also noting that Nanao may be the one who really manages the division. I don't think these two points are at odds with each other in the least. The two complement each other, as all the best Captain and Vice Captain duos should.

His hobby, according to Kubo in the fan book, is either "visiting his bookie" or "doing the rounds of the pubs" - the official translation seems to vary from the original fan translation on this point - either he likes to gamble as well as drink, or just drink more. I am inclined to go with the original fan translation and believe that he gambles, simply because that makes sense given the nature of his zanpakutou (and also the theme song chosen for him by Kubo), but either works.

Eighth is apparently noted for being a division that cherishes sophistication and elegance, so I tend to assume that Kyouraku generally is fond of the arts and has an artistic bent in general. The division insignia is the Bird of Paradise, which means “obtain everything” and again, I think this speaks to a general outlook of living life to the fullest and a certain degree of extravagance. I like to think of Eighth as a division that works hard and plays harder, guided by a Captain who knows his troops inside out and manages them with a guiding hand that is light but when needed, can be ruthless.

Kubo's choice of a saying for Kyouraku is "If it's me, it would be a waste not to dance no matter what". This is presumably a play on the Japanese proverb "We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance," and it seems to me that this applies to him both in an obvious sense of his flamboyant approach to life, but also as a note on his approach to fighting once a situation has reached the point of no return.

Why do you feel this character would be appropriate to the setting? Kyouraku is a seasoned shinigami in the Gotei Thirteen. Even if Kubo decides he is somehow NOT 2000 years old, he clearly has a few centuries under his belt when compared to the young 'uns in canon. In that time I suspect that there is little he has not seen, both good and bad. References throughout Bleach suggest that Soul Society, in its earlier days, was a far more savage place - tales of putting shinigami into death pits to be killed by hollows spring to mind - and that despite the fact that it is still hidebound by honour and status and tradition, it is now far better than it USED to be. He has probably seen - and maybe had a quiet hand in changing - a lot in his lifetime.

There's also no doubt that skills must have evolved over the centuries and so it's likely that when he began his career the fighting of hollows was a much more desperate affair - with less troops to back up those who did so. It's probably notable that of all the captains, Kyouraku and Ukitake have a tendency to fight together and seem to be known for doing so. I have to guess that this was as much born of necessity and survival as it was of preference. Thus the loss of his division should not paralyse his fighting abilities.

He has proven himself durable against attack and injury in canon and also capable of fast decisions and remarkable perspicacity in the heat of battle. But, he is also very much the pacifist among the captains - despite the early misdirection suggesting that Tousen filled that role. And yet he is not so much of a pacifist that if conflict is unavoidable he will shirk it - to the contrary he will do what needs to be done efficiently, ruthlessly and with resolve when required.

I do think that makes him well-suited to being plunged into unknown dangers among strangers. He is not, for the most part, given to hasty judgements or actions, and nor is he easy to provoke except for in specific circumstances. The chances of him doing something dumb are considerably smaller than with many shounen characters.

As a shinigami, Kyouraku is not human. And being a spiritual being whose job it is to fight "evil spirits" in the form of monsters and to send their souls to the "other side", added to the distinctly "magical" feel of shinigami powers and weapons means that he is fairly conversant with the supernatural AND with horrific monsters, so the appearance of either should not be unduly shocking for him. Likewise there are some distinctly odd-looking shinigami so he's not likely to be disturbed by meeting inhuman inhabitants either.

And on top of all that, I tend to head-canon that he has a juicy past and a fairly dark inner life, so the Mist makes that something very appealing to play with!

Writing Samples

Network Post Sample: [The Forge clicks on - sound only at first. There's the distinct sound of fumbling at the keys and a soft, muttered curse before it suddenly switches to video. Someone is only half-familiar with the wonders of modern communications technology and most of what he does know was gleaned over too much sake and from too pretty a girl in too few clothes for his attention to be fully on the explanation at the time.

The picture jerks about for a few moments, settling on nothing and providing just a disjointed impression of broad, pink-clad shoulders, grey eyes, and a firm but unshaven jawline. Finally it rights itself, propped securely against something unseen and affording a full view of the man sitting at the table.

His face is smudged with dust and what might be blood. There's a healing cut just visible below the hairline of his left temple which isn't quite obscured by the curl of hair hanging loosely over his cheek, and the hand that moves away from the Forge is large and heavily calloused. He's dressed in a way that might be recognisable to anyone familiar with the others from his world who have arrived before him in Anatole. Recognisable, that is, apart from the pink, flowered kimono that is draped incongruously around his shoulders. He doesn't say anything for a moment, just looks into the Forge through half-lidded eyes; expression neutral and left hand tapping idly on the surface of the table.

He knows you're here, shinigami - all of you. Well - the ones who aren't suppressing their reiryoku completely, that is - and at least one who shouldn't be here at all, were this real. And he's familiar enough with the nature of Aizen's shikai to know better than to trust his senses entirely, especially when his last memory is of a sword fight seventy meters above Karakura Town. But showing your entire hand to your opponent too soon is never a wise move, so have a broad but sleepy smile and a lazy gesture that might be a greeting.]

Yare yare, this is quite a change of scene.

[He shifts slightly, seemingly reaching for something outside the frame of the video. It's a casual movement - unhurried - but enough to reveal the two sheathed and well-worn swords that are leaning against the wall behind him. They're only visible for a few moments before he returns his attention to the Forge, broad shoulders filling the frame again. In his hand now is a small wooden bowl, which he raises to his lips as he speaks.]

I don't suppose anyone wants to join me for a drink?

Third Person Sample: Shunsui gets involved in the affairs of a Ukitake from another universe. Unohana disapproves. Scroll down for the two threads started by "ladieslikepink" - I picked this as it has talk and actioney elements.