Ninth Division Headquarters

Mai gestured idly, one pale hand pointing towards a particular file. The Shinigami in front of her bowed before retrieving said file and leaving the room. Watching the door close quietly, she dropped her hand, the silk of her kimono sleeve floating in the air like a red cloud as it slowly descended. Pale purple eyes skimmed across the room before settling on the Captain's Haori that hung over the back of her chair.

Pushing off the wall Mai skirted around her desk and stood beside the chair, reaching out to run her fingers over the cold white material. She had recently been promoted to Captain, of the Ninth Division too. Mai still wasn't sure what to think about such a thing. Surely it was a glorious accomplishment. But her heart was set on another occupation entirely. She traced the black symbol on the back of the haori, delicate fingers ever so carefully etching the number into her mind. While being the Ninth Division Captain was not her ideal dream, her duties as a Shinigami overrode any right she had to dream. What justification did she have to complain or feel lackluster? None. This was a high honor, and she would act accordingly.

Carefully lifting the white material, Mai slipped the haori on, tugging lightly to get it to settle over her kimono. The weight of the symbol on her back was comforting, and yet also expecting. Mai had no plans of failing those expectations. Settling down into the now vacant chair, she began to skim through the mound of paperwork on her desk.

It was a breezy day. Particularly because a certain Captain didn't wear his Haori today but he wore his trusty sheathes for his see-through Zanpakuto around his obi sash. This little birdy of a Captain was the carefree Kenpachi Hoshi. Everything about him is just carefree. It was as if he had nothing to burden him in this world. His demeanor, his walking style, his clothing, and even his fighting style shows his inner nature. His face, worry-less. His fashion choice, liberal. His attitude, pleasant. Just the facade he puts up as an affront for his serious side that he does his best to hide. 'Tis true that he does get serious at occasions when it demands it. A side effect of this anarchistic tendencies of the anarchistic Captain.

The Kenpachi was strolling around with his hands locked behind him. Aloof. He was already checking a few of the fine details of the Kidou Corps building. It was truly unique. Artistic. A spectacle to see. The intricate designs. The luscious textures. The blow glow from the Kidou put in around the mysteriously mysterious building. All of these are art to the Kenpachi's eyes. His delicate hands, too delicate and smooth for a Kenpachi, starts tracing along the smooth wooden surface. Step by step. He was nearing the office of the venerable Captain Kuchiki Mai. Funny. He once knew a Kuchiki personally, having met and even befriended him, alas, Hoshi knows not of the fate that befall the unfortunate Kuchiki. A story perhaps for another time. A note pops up at mind. He can actually relate to the Kuchiki's since he comes from a well-respected family, but they weren't nobles, only middle-class men.

A stop. The fingers insert into the shaft of the sliding panel. A silhouette of the Hoshi was seen clearly through the backdrop. A simple pull was all it took. The panel slid back as the blue-haired, blue-eyed one steps forth.

"Ohiyo, Mai-kun." He gleamed a pleasant smile towards the new uptight, strict noble Kuchiki Captain, "Everything going well I hope?" Kindness, that was what he is showing. It was earnest, it had integrity, and he really meant that kindness. It goes as part of his character to display mercy and compassion, especially politeness to his fellow Captains, especially younger ones that recently got promoted. Shin-kun excluded.

Mai finished the line, eyes somewhat out of focus after reading so many pages of dull information and attempting to both process and remember it. She carefully marked her spot, setting the paper down on the less highly covered desk. The reiatsu signature that had steadily been making it's way through her building stopped in front of the door, shadowy form visible from the shoji screen. By the hairstyle Mai would venture that the Shinigami was male.

As the thin screen slid open and his form was fully visible she was able to see that her guess had been right. Most everyone knew the general appearance of the Gotei 13 Captains and Mai had been a Shinigami in active duty for enough years to recognize this one.

Slipping to her feet, she inclined her head decorously, hair ornaments tinkling. "Kenpachi-Taichou," she greeted softly, cool eyes assessing the man who ran the Eleventh Division. Nodding again Mai agreed, "Yes, so far everything has been fine." She didn't react to the familiar term of address, as in all realness this was the first time she had been present in a Captain/Captain meeting. She had no idea how Captain's interacted when they weren't in the face of the public. It was somewhat daunting, but she would not change her personality even if being so familiar was the norm.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face," she spoke again, the words steady. While she didn't show any real emotion, neither was she exuding disdain or coldness, there was merely no true inflection to her words.

Running a hand down the sleeves of her red kimono, Mai watched appreciatively as the silk rippled and the small black birds stylized along the edges seemed to shimmer. She was glad that being a Captain gave her a somewhat more relaxed dress code, she was allowed to wear the clothing that she enjoyed wearing provided that it didn't interfere with her duties. Mai had fought in full regalia before and she was sure that her less elaborate kimono wouldn't hinder her anymore than the Shinigami uniform had.

So uptight. So strict! Just like the Kuchiki. Nobles, all of them, aristocratic, proud, boastful. Emphasis on patriarchy, so unlike the Kasumiojii lesser noble family. Matriarchy in their stead instead! A noble family that Hoshi very well recalls. An incident he learnt in the academy back in the times of the great Captain Commander Yamamoto before another Captain Commander took over, followed by another until Captain Commander Shin. A fellow Captain, took over as the newest Captain Commander!

Step. Step. Step. He walked all over the room. Admiring the way it was made. His inner artist speaking forth to him as he inspects the finely detailed oaken wooden shafts all over the wall, all interlocked in unity to strengthen the entire wall. Just like the Gotei 13. A unit. A strong one too that works together to aid the entire populace and make their lives better. Course, there is always those weak links, but thank goodness that there aren't many, for their very existence would trouble the balance.

"Please..." Hoshi reduced his grin to a subtle smile, all of this strictness would make even a simple greeting a huge professional work, "You can just call me Hoshi, we are equals now as Captains, Mai-kun." Strictness. Never appealing to Hoshi. Even in a public meeting, he'd chat in a friendly and yet so familiar manner. What better way to enforce civility?

She was too uptight anyways. Maybe a friendlier speech or a friendly pat on a back from a friendly chap will do a lot in the world to lift a boulder of uptightness off of her shoulders.

"You should lighten up a bit, a drink or two of sake would do wonders to get that Kuchiki attitude off of your shoulders." He daftly said. Smiling as wide as he can do at the young Kuchiki before him. Offering to go to the sake parlor, or maybe even pull out a sake out of his olive drabbed haori!

Mai inclined her head a bit, eyes staring down at the delicately carved patterns in her desk as the other Captain spoke. They were polar opposites most likely, and while she needed to meet and form her own opinions about the other Captain's, she still felt the hesitation of being a lower ranked Shinigami. As if even now she couldn't drop the respect or formality. Perhaps that was just a part of her character, something that would cling no matter how high she rose.

Looking back up, Mai mulled over her words before uttering them. She had the overwhelming urge to go along with the Captain's prompt, but her inner sensibilities fought back. "Hoshi-Taichou," she finally said, the compromise as much of one as she could manage. Hopefully the Kenpachi would understand. If he pressed further what was she to say? That such informality put her on edge? That it was something reserved for only a very few and not someone she had just met?

She drew her attention back to Hoshi as he spoke again, the friendly air hard to ignore. She could understand friendly overtures, even appreciate them to some extent and understand the kindness behind such actions, but Mai was also vain enough to take umbrage at his words.

"I thank you for the offer but I must decline. I do not drink," which was true enough, she didn't. There was always the chance of something happening. It was a bit of a point of contention between her and the Elders, for they thought that she should drink during the ceremonial times and Mai always refused politely. Why take the chance? It was one of those things.

Gracefully turning her neck so that she could glance at one of the various ornaments on the wall, she listened to the familiar tinkle as the kanzashi hit together in her hair. It was soothing, and while parts of this conversation were drawing her closer to an edged wariness she was also enjoying it too. It had been awhile since she had spoken so much with another Shinigami. After her Oniisama left, conversation seemed to take a second seat to other things.

(OOC:Sorry. >.< Not really wordy today. .___.)

So, it seemed she really was going to stick to the Kuchiki traditions of being so formal, so uptight. Not so surprising that she refused an offer for a cold, cool drink of the sweet relaxing alcohol! Oh well, it's her choice. She has a right to choose what she pleases. That Hoshi will honour since he's an honourable Captain. "My-my, that's a bit uptight, don't you think? Well Mai-kun, I hope you'd enjoy your days as a Captain, because it'll be a life of hard work combined with luxury, not that there is anything wrong with that, am I right, or what?" He smiled pleasantly once more to her. Lightening his atmosphere once more.

Mai smiled, a rare occurrence by anyone's judging. Lips curling up, as if she was laughing at a private joke. And perhaps she was, as the other Captain's words rang true to her ear. Inclining her head ever so slightly, Mai nodded, "I will Captain, thank you for the sentiments."

Before she could comment further a small black butterfly floated in through an open window. Gossamer wings beating to keep it afloat the hell butterfly flew towards them, landing on Mai's outstretched hand. She blinked down at the butterfly, receiving the message it came with.

Mai lifted her head to look back at the Kenpachi, "Hoshi-Taichou, it appears that Kageoni-Soutaichou is calling a meeting for the Captains. I apologize for cutting this visit short, but we should not make him wait." Inclining her head once more, Mai lifted her hand so that the hell butterfly would ascend and lead them to wherever the meeting was to take place. Exiting the room in a swirl of crimson silk, she finally calmed the smile that had settled over her face.

---> Topic Exit

(OOC: Will edit this later, exit now. >.< )

Hoshi follows suit and goes along with Kuchiki Mai.

----------> EXIT