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>>1917324
“How do you expect me to use them?” Ichigo continues, flexing his fingers as if to test their strength. “Dad told me a little about how he trained as a shinigami, it's supposed to take years, right?”

“And some people never manage to get very far,” you sigh. “You have to remember Ichigo, where you are now is the product of a lot of what some people would call 'cheating'. Aizen's experiments, Kisuke's... dubious methods, the Tenshintai.”

“You've been given in months what takes most people centuries to achieve. So-called 'prodigies' like me still take decades.”

“So you don't think I can be ready by the time Aizen comes to destroy my hometown?” Ichigo glares. “You don't think I have whatever it is you think it takes?”

“Don't get me wrong, you've put a lot on the line to make it this far,” you try to reassure him. “More than you even realize. At any number of points you should have died... that you didn't is impressive enough on its own.”

“You didn't answer my question,” Ichigo observes tersely.

“You're going to have to risk it again,” you reply calmly. “So I'll only know what 'it' was and whether you had it after the fact.”

“How will you know?”

You cock an eyebrow at him, silently insisting that he already knows the answer.

“... ah.”

>Knowing what asauchi are, and what 'hollow Zangetsu' is, you should be able to remedy one half of this situation without any outside help.
>There's only one guy who knows more than you do about how asauchi work, Ichigo will need to earn his cooperation... which could be dangerous.
>You hate to admit it, but even with Rosa your understanding of quincy powers is mediocre at best. Bambi and Masaki would know better than you.
>Other?

>>1917333
>You hate to admit it, but even with Rosa your understanding of quincy powers is mediocre at best. Bambi and Masaki would know better than you.

>>1917333
>Knowing what asauchi are, and what 'hollow Zangetsu' is, you should be able to remedy one half of this situation without any outside help.
>You hate to admit it, but even with Rosa your understanding of quincy powers is mediocre at best. Bambi and Masaki would know better than you.

>>1917333
>>Knowing what asauchi are, and what 'hollow Zangetsu' is, you should be able to remedy one half of this situation without any outside help.
>>You hate to admit it, but even with Rosa your understanding of quincy powers is mediocre at best. Bambi and Masaki would know better than you.

>>1917333
>other: Remember the time when you used Hollow Primal Instinct to cast Hado #99 using the principles of the 99 Hado cirriculum? what if Ichigo used the same idea?
>You hate to admit it, but even with Rosa your understanding of quincy powers is mediocre at best. Bambi and Masaki would know better than you.
>Other: tell Ichigo about the time you tried to cast Hado 99 and the principles of having "hollow powers" and Quincy/Shinigami Foundations in balance.

>>1917333
>>There's only one guy who knows more than you do about how asauchi work, Ichigo will need to earn his cooperation... which could be dangerous.

So we're basically finding a way to help Ichigo advance some of his powers?

>>1917374
Pretty much. Precisely how is up to you.

>>1917333
>Other: the problem I think you're facing right now is that you're afraid of "route locking". You want your "old man Zangetsu" to return, you're forced to acknowledge "hollow Zangetsu" with the same degree of respect. And that getting the two of them to work together in tandem is driving you crazy due to how you've classified each of them, keeping them "separate but equal". But at the same time having to "destroy" "old man Zangetsu" in order to progress. On top of all of that, we're on a "timer".

>>1917333
>Other: suggest Ichigo manifest both "Old Man Zangetsu" and "Hollow Zangetsu" and have the three of them get a real "heart to heart"

>writing

>>1917396

...Shit that woulda been great fun to watch.

Or to have a nice 3v3 match. Team Riku vs Team Ichigo.

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>>1917407
Despite having Rosa with you, there are still limits to what you actually know about how the quincy world works. What little you do know is also fairly limited in the same sense as what you know about anything else: you know how to make things work, but sometimes you can't actually articulate the how or the why.

For that you'd need to ask actual quincies. Thankfully, Karakura town is crawling with those.

“We're talking about some stuff I really can't explain,” you admit. “If you want to know what will happen to this 'manifestation' of your quincy powers you'll have to ask an actual quincy.”

“Well, I'm not asking Ishida if that's who you're suggesting,” Ichigo snorts.

“I'm talking about your mother for starters,” you explain, “but I'm also thinking about having you speak with someone a bit... older.”

“Older?”

“A quincy several hundred years old,” you tell him, “like the one who I asked to tutor Uryū, if not the same person.”

“Didn't Uryū come back all beaten up?” Ichigo asks nervously. “The hell kinda old fart could do that... and you want him to beat up on me next?”

“Do you wanna know how to draw out your powers together, or not?” you press, crossing your arms testily.

Ichigo's silence serves as his reply. “That's what I thought. And mind your tone around these older quincy. They tend not to have much in the way of patience.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Masaki asks after you cross town, returning Ichigo to his parents' clinic. You've explained some of your reasoning, that the lady quincies have hundreds of years of experience to draw on which any living quincy lacks as well as a perspective far different from Masaki's own.

“Never am,” you admit. “But you have to admit even you're curious.”

“Okay, you got me,” Masaki sighs.

So... who do you want to look for?

>Bambietta. She may be a bit rough around the edges, but she's the one you trust the most of the three.
>Liltotto. She can be crass, but she seems to be the most level-headed of the group at any given point.
>Candice. She's the most-changed since her treatment, and you think this would be good for her.

>>1917485
>>Candice. She's the most-changed since her treatment, and you think this would be good for her.

Normally I'm game for more Bambietta, and honestly I think she's pretty compatible with Ichigo in personality. She also has the most experience of them all.

But I kinda want to see how Ichigo deals with Candice.

>>1917485
>Candice. She's the most-changed since her treatment, and you think this would be good for her.

>>1917485
>>Liltotto. She can be crass, but she seems to be the most level-headed of the group at any given point.

>>1917485
>Candice

>>1917485
>Candice. She's the most-changed since her treatment, and you think this would be good for her.
I wanna see how the nephew reacts to the prostitute.

>>1917485
>Candice
Our efforts have to be awarded with something. I choose amusement.

>>1917485
>>Candice. She's the most-changed since her treatment, and you think this would be good for her.
A new contender enters the berrybowl

>>1917539
Actually Candice giving him genuinely good relationship advice would be amazing and wonderful.

Can you imagine Candice retiring to find work as a relationship counsellor or something?

>Candice it is
>writing

>>1917577
some how I can. But only if Candice keeps the modern-day hooker look. decent shirt & pants included.

>>1917591
Bonus points if she's the casual kind of counsellor, the one who goes, "It's a nice day, how about we go outside to talk things out? Maybe get a nice lunch, all of us together?"

Whether she's just being nice, or if she's more or less taking the couple on a date, I leave to the Rule of Funny.

Give me a 3d10, actually. Best of three. DC... let's just say higher is better.

Rolled 8, 2, 1 = 11 (3d10)

>>1917634

Rolled 10, 6, 9 = 25 (3d10)

>>1917634
SATAN

Rolled 3, 5, 6 = 14 (3d10)

>>1917634

>>1917639
Satan gives you ten, and a sixty-nine.

Yep, that's a Candice roll alright.

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>>1917634
Upon returning to the Seireitei, you seek out the trio of recovering quincies.

“The Head Captain has been looking for you,” Bambietta informs you. “I sent him off on a wild goose chase. What're you up to?”

“Helping my nephew sort out some issues with his training,” you explain. “I get the feeling we're going to need him when the time comes, so I'll file a report later. Should take a minute or two.”

“He's the half-quincy brat, right?” Bambi muses. “The one that Ishida brat's mentioned?”

“Same brat,” you nod. “Candice, I'd like to ask you for some help teaching him”

The blonde Sternritter seems totally taken aback. “Wait, you mean me?”

“You still go by Candice, don't you?”

“Wouldn't you rather take Bambi?” she asks. “And not.. you know...”

“The crazy psycho slut?” you complete the thought so she doesn't have to. “Yeah, I understand we didn't get off to a great start. But the circumstances have changed, and I think this would be good for you.”

“Just... try not to hit on him, please?”

Candice glances sidelong at Bambietta who offers a subtle nod. “Okay, I'll come along. If you're sure about this.”

“Candice,” you insist, stopping her in her tracks. “I'm never sure about anything. Not ever.”

“But I'd like to do what I can to help you three, Meninas too if she'll let me. And I think that right now this is the best way to do that.”

After a moment, Candice sighs. “I hear you... does my hair look okay?”

The responses are immediate and simultaneous.

“I think it's irrelevant.”

“Candi, please don't embarrass us...”

“One step better than sex hair.”

“Give me one moment,” Candice asks you warily, feeling the side of her hair that you'll admit is a little out of control.

After preening herself slightly to correct her image, which you'll admit again should make for a better first impression with Masaki, you open a hole in reality to return to Karakura.
>1/2

>>1917698
“This is Candice Catnipp,” you introduce your guest to the Kurosaki family. “Isshin, Masaki, and the tall carrot top is Ichigo.”

Masaki bends her spine stiffly, almost as if forcing herself. “Welcome to our home, Miss Catnipp. Please, have a seat.”

Candice for her part seems a little lost, glancing about the unfamiliar confines of a modern Japanese home as she finds her way to a couch where she bounces slightly.

“Is... this the quincy you were talking about?” Ichigo asks quietly behind his hand as Candice blinks, seemingly staring at the television like it's from outer space. The thing's not even on.

“She is,” you acknowledge.

“So, we're told you're one of the last generation of Sternritter,” Isshin begins as Masaki puts the finishing touches on the tea and snacks over his shoulder in the kitchen. “How is it you came to know my sister?”

“Your sister?” Candice asks, staring at Isshin for a few moments before it dawns on her. “Ah, you must be a Shiba!”

“I took my wife's name,” he admits sternly. “Easier to avoid notice that way, the names of the Noble Clans aren't exactly subtle.”

“Well, we had been working for Aizen,” Candice admits rather more frankly than you'd have expected. “Total jerk by the way. Anyway, we were sent after one of our friends who Riku... I mean, Captain Kusajishi captured. At first we surrendered because we were gonna break Bambi out of jail and kill everyone we could, but Bambi was... different. Changed.”

“Changed how?” Ichigo asks, clearly on edge at the rather casual admission of Candice's ties to Aizen.

“Changed, like, mentally healthy,” Candice clarifies as Masaki arrives with tea. “Thank you, miss Kurosaki. You'll be interested to know a lot of us Sternritter are still around physically, but our brains are still basically human. So we're all absolutely insane.”

Masaki seems like she's about to burst a blood vessel at the implication...

>Explain that Kisuke used your blood to heal Bambi, Candi, and Lil's brains.
>Assure Masaki that the situation is under control, but let Candice explain in a way that suits her.
>Assure Masaki that you've ensured help is available for any Sternritter who asks... and Candice was one who asked.
>Other?

>>1917751
>>Assure Masaki that the situation is under control, but let Candice explain in a way that suits her.

Okay, I'm a bit leery at how Candice has chosen to introduce herself, but I'll let her play this out. If she wanted our help for a two-person job, she'd probably have asked.

>>1917751
>Other: First and foremost clarify that Candice was one who asked for mental health treatment. Everything else Candice can explain by herself. With clarifications if needed.

>>1917751
>>Assure Masaki that you've ensured help is available for any Sternritter who asks... and Candice was one who asked.

>writing

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>>1917823
“Okay, before anyone says anything else let me just make this clear: they each asked for my help, and anyone who didn't ask I didn't force the issue.”

Masaki glares sharply in your direction. “What did you do?”

“Candice, you explain it,” you reply.

“Why do I have to do it?” Candice asks with a dismissive shrug. “I have no idea how any of it actually worked.”

“Yes, but it's your medical history,” you remind her. “I'm trying to be a professional here!”

“Riku...” Masaki growls.

“She... used her blood,” Candice finally explains, or at least tries to. “Something about her blood helped our brains heal.”

“Actually, it was my spiritual antibodies,” you correct.”

Isshin, for his part, seems curious. But at the same time he seems to not quite follow, which is understandable since he only has half the details. “Why would that help?”

“Because what actually did the healing was a serum Kisuke concocted from hollows with regenerative abilities. The antibodies corrected Bambietta's quincy anatomy, kept her from soul suicide while the serum worked.”

Masaki blinks, suspicion melting away into disbelief... but not without a trace of hope to her voice. “That's... incredible! Would a transfusion of new antibodies help quincies survive hollow attacks?”

“Kisuke hasn't said anything about that, but if you're asking me... I doubt it,” you admit reluctantly. “A transfusion is just that, I'm not sure we can say whether any of the three patients we've treated this way are producing the right antibodies on their own.”

“Either way it feels like it's worked,” Candice concludes. “I haven't felt quite this... normal. Not in a long time, at least since I was recruited as a Sternritter.”

“You were recruited you say?” Masaki asks. “How so?”

“By Bambi,” Candice explains. “A... friend of mine. The one we were sent to recover. She recruited a few of us, all from kinda desperate situations. I think she was ordered to find quincies or people with quincy ancestors who were desperate enough to accept... well... I guess you could call it a deal with the devil.”
>1/2

>>1917841
“In exchange for a second chance at a new life, we drank the blood of our King,” Candice recounts, “and swore loyalty. But we bought that second chance at a cost most people wouldn't pay. We weren't told about it up front... the slow loss of sanity, the backlash from our Schrift.”

“What are you talking about?” Isshin asks, seeming to have settled down more and more as he's gotten a better feel for Candice's personality.

“Certain things grew more pronounced,” Candice explains, her expression darkening a little. “I was an Oiran when I was alive, so you can guess what effect that had in my case.”

“I'll tell you when you're older,” Isshin says, interrupting Ichigo before he can ask the question.

“Eventually, it even robbed us of our sense of right and wrong,” Candice concludes, sipping at her tea rather thoughtfully.

“You seem rather... open about your checkered past,” Masaki observes, still on the defensive at what must seem now an unwelcome guest. “Why is that?”

“Would hiding it change any of it?” Candice shrugs. “Then why make it a surprise? I've seen and done a lot that I'm not especially proud of, but I'm not going to try and pretend it never happened, and I don't expect anyone else to either.”

>Move the conversation along, try and get Ichigo to explain his problem in a little greater detail.
>Offer some defense for Candice. Nobody's past is a perfect story, what matters is the future.
>Stay out of it, let things run their course.

>>1917841

Huh. Hadn't considered that Bambi didn't understand enough of what's going on to explain it.

>>1917907
>Offer some defense for Candice. Nobody's past is a perfect story, what matters is the future.

I'm starting to get worried about Candice sabotaging her own intro and not bothering to defend herself.

>>1917907
>Candice's first reaction once she was in her right mind was a great deal of disgust and a desire to take a very long cold shower. She's not who she was before the treatment.

>>1917907
>Offer some defense for Candice. Nobody's past is a perfect story, what matters is the future.

>>1917907
>>Move the conversation along, try and get Ichigo to explain his problem in a little greater detail.

>>1917907
>>Move the conversation along, try and get Ichigo to explain his problem in a little greater detail.

>3d10, best of three, bare minimum pass is a 17.
>higher would be better

Rolled 2, 9, 8 = 19 (3d10)

YHWH

Rolled 1, 7, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>1917993

Rolled 4, 2, 7 = 13 (3d10)

>>1917993

>>1918002
>>1918006
>>1918011
Bah, I shoulda stuck with good ol' scratch.

>>1917993
“Candice,” you motion quietly to get her attention. She sees the look on your face and winces slightly.

“Okay... fair enough,” she sighs. “Look, I'm trying. I really am... but it's not easy to distance yourself from something without denying it outright, and that's the line I'm trying to walk here. I'm not aiming for perfect... just 'better'. And if some quincies could benefit from what I know, what I've learned? I don't want to be the kind of person who wouldn't offer.”

“If you don't want me here I won't stay.”

“Nobody's past is a perfect story,” you observe carefully. “What matters is what we do in the now, what sort of future we're working to build. And if you don't trust Candice trust me, we're all working for the same thing here.”

“And just what does that mean for us?” Masaki asks quietly. “I may not be particularly proud of it, but as a current Sternritter the future of my people is my responsibility. I've put off asking because you're my husband's family, my family, but I have to know what the Seireitei plans regarding the quincy clan.”

>Aizen's defeat and a return to the status quo. Nothing more, nothing less.
>I don't know what the Seireitei intends to do, and I can't make any promise other than to try and do right by the remaining quincy.
>My policy towards the quincy would be the de facto official policy. As for what that is... what would you like to see happen?
>Other?

>>1918060
>Other?
Well first off i'd say the future of the Quincy should be one out from under Aizen, if only because he doesn't seem to particularly care about them. After that, that might be a discussion the survivors need to have.

>>1918060
>My policy towards the quincy would be the de facto official policy. As for what that is... what would you like to see happen?

>>1918060
>My policy towards the quincy would be the de facto official policy. As for what that is... what would you like to see happen?
>I'd probably try to find a way to fit Quincys within the spiritual cycle, or correct their influence on it, so that the old problems don't reappear.

>>1918060
>My policy towards the quincy would be the de facto official policy. As for what that is... what would you like to see happen?

I don't really expect C46 to have any real sway on this when we spearhead Aizen's defeat. Or, well... Anything, for that matter. Especially not on the genocide of other spiritual races.

>>1918060
“If we're being honest the Central 46 is losing a lot of its pull,” you explain, “so if things go well that means my own personal policy towards the quincy will largely become the de facto official policy, which is good for you. Basically, whatever you decide needs to happen, I'd be willing to help.”

“And if things go poorly?” Masaki asks.

“Then I can't make any promises,” you admit. “Because that would mean assuming I'll be among the survivors... and that there would be survivors.”

“Man, you really know how to brighten things up,” Ichigo grumbles.

“It's the honest truth.”

Masaki seems to ponder this for a few moments, before sighing. “I guess I knew that was going to be the answer I got.”

Then she smiles slightly. “Then that's another reason to hope you survive, sis.”

“Oh, I don't need another reason,” you chuckle. “And besides, I've already got so much diplomatic work to look forward to. What's one more bit of complexity to negotiate?”

“They've got you pulling diplomatic duty?” Isshin mutters. “God help us all.”

“Anyway, I think it's about time we got down to business,” you declare. “Ichigo, tell us about your 'problem'.”
>dice+3d10

Rolled 4, 6, 6 = 16 (3d10)

BEELZEBUB

Rolled 9, 8, 10 = 27 (3d10)

>>1918232

Rolled 10, 1, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>1918232

Rolled 4, 8, 7 = 19 (3d10)

>>1918232

>>1918246
Looks like Strawberry doesn't have too much difficulty talking about it...

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>>1918246

>with a cameo appearance from...
Making something quick for a late dinner, will be back in a few.

>>1918315
Enjoy your meal.

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>>1918315
“Well, apparently my quincy powers manifest as a person,” Ichigo explains succinctly. “They were pretending to be my shinigami powers the whole time, and the thing I thought was my 'inner hollow' was my real shinigami power, Zangetsu.”

“Huh,” you muse playfully. “Couldn't have said it simpler myself.”

“And you're an expert on simplicity,” Isshin quickly jabs.

“Hey,” you frown, searching for a counter-response. “Shut up.”

“That's not possible,” Masaki sighs, shaking her head. “Ichigo, I know I haven't explained everything to you in great detail, but I know I explained to you that a quincy's powers don't manifest with their own personality. You can't speak to them, you can't reason with them, and they certainly can't lie to you.”

“Your mother's right,” Candice quickly agrees. “Some families were said to have had the ability to have visions, which is how a lot of our old lore came to be, but even that stuff's kind of bunk. Like the old story of Yhwach's revival. Should be happening this year, but it's not going to for obvious reasons.”

“What obvious reasons?” Masaki demands.

“Aizen ate Yhwach's soul using this... glowing purple rock?” Candice tries to explain. “You'll have to forgive my lack of specificity, I was insane at the time.”

“It checks out with Kisuke's understanding of things,” you quickly explain. “Go on.”

“Look, I can only tell you what actually happened,” Ichigo explains testily. “Riku and Yoruichi have both seen me manifest the guy, back when I was training for Bankai... which I guess was another lie.”

“Can you have that being manifest again?” Isshin asks curiously. “I mean, if you learned how to do it once you should still be able to.”

“Can you do that too, hon?” Masaki asks quietly. “You never said anything about that.”

“I'm a little too rusty to do it,” Isshin admits just as quietly. “Domestic life and all.”

“Ah.”

>I can walk you through it if you'd like.
>No need for that. Let's just move forward based on our assumptions.

>>1918389
>>I can walk you through it if you'd like.

>>1918389
>>I can walk you through it if you'd like.

Ichigo was using Urahara's shortcut but what the hell, give it a shot. Riku certainly has no reason to think Ichigo won't cough up another miracle of training on demand.

...Seriously Berry boy's rolls have been insane.

>>1918389
>>I can walk you through it if you'd like.

>>1918389
>I can walk you through it if you'd like.
"Or we can stab one of Urahara's things"

>>1918389
>>I can walk you through it if you'd like.

>>1918409
"Or just stab Urahara. It's very theraputic, and he owes you some therapy for the shit he's put you through."

>>1918389
>“And you're an expert on simplicity,” Isshin quickly jabs.

When I found out I was going to become your sister, I knew I’d have to practice.

>>1918389
“Well, unless you wanna stab Urahara's thing again,” you muse, before sparing a quick glance at Candice.

She shakes her head. “That's beneath me.”

You raise an eyebrow.

“... dammit.”

“I think I can walk you through how to manifest,” you continue. “And if I can't I guess someone else around here should be able to.”

You swiftly call on Tenkotsuki, who manifests at your side in a dramatic swirl of tails and kimono. “It really is quite simple, you see. So long as you can communicate well with the being in question, it is simply a matter of will and focus.”

“Come on, Rosa,” you chide your other sword's spirit playfully. “You know you wanna help out, make this three generations.”

“Ugh, fine,” Rosa's voice echos as she too manifests, a pale doppelganger of your own self. “I'm here, yaaay. You happy now?”

“Very,” you smile. “Any pointers?”

Rosa glares at you for a moment, knowing that you're thinking the same thing she is and understanding clearly that you're waiting for her to say it.

“Respect that it's a part of you that isn't you,” Rosa explains carefully. “Sometimes you have to know how to work together, what your partner expects and wants.”

“Can I go home now?” Rosa grumbles.

“In a moment,” you reply. “Ichigo, now you have to do it. You know this being even if you don't know its true name, you've spoken with it. And even if a lot of the specifics were lies, I'd be willing to guess you know its mind better than you think.”

“Call on it.”

Ichigo shuts his eyes, and in a moment the atmosphere changes as a familiar face appears at his side. There's a momentary silence before you hear a crackle of electricity.
>3d10, DC 17, Crit 21, best of four

Rolled 6, 4, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>1918465

Rolled 8, 6, 9 = 23 (3d10)

>>1918465

Rolled 7, 10, 2 = 19 (3d10)

>>1918465

Rolled 4, 8, 7 = 19 (3d10)

>>1918465

>>1918474
I see Candice and/or Satan have blessed this roll.

Now we just need one more roll to see if we can do better.

>>1918483
Candice seems to be a pretty good luck charm

>>1918493

Rub the Candice for good luck?

>>1918474
>berry-boy still berry-boying it up
I'm not sure what i expected when i came home, but nothing feels wrong about this

>>1918465
You immediately reach out and grab Candice by one arm, while in a flash Tenkotsuki has grabbed the other, forcing her forward and off balance until she collapses to her knees. Meanwhile Rosa has moved just as quickly, grabbing Masaki by her wrist and forcing her to point the hand bow she's produced from thin air towards the floor, careful to keep it pointed as far away from the room upstairs where the girls have retreated to since you left with Ichigo as possible.

“Now let's... all hold up here for a moment,” you begin, holding Candice in place. “Nobody here's gonna kill anyone, we're all friends, friends love each other.”

“That thing,” Candice snarls angrily, “I know its face. That's his face.”

Across the room, Rosa's expression darkens in an instant. “I had my suspicions. Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Candice practically spits. “That's the face of our so-called King... Yhwach. I could never forget it. Younger... but nearly identical in spite of it.”

“Hold on, how is that even possible?” Masaki demands. “No quincy power manifests this way in the first place, and on top of it you expect me to believe my son's power is the Silver King? It's ridiculous.”

“Is it true old man?” Ichigo asks, his tone low but surprisingly firm.

“I do not know,” 'Zangetsu' replies. “And if any of you can claim to be aware of your own 'true nature', I would suggest that makes you aberrant.”

“Is that another one of your lies?” Ichigo demands.

“Of course now. Now that the truth that I am not Zangetsu is revealed, I have no further need to lie.”

“Am I good to let go of you now?” you ask Candice sharply.

The old Sternritter spares a glance at Masaki, who despite complying with Rosa for now still seems ready to spring at a moment's notice.

“I won't ask forgiveness,” Candice declares, relaxing her shoulders. “But please try to understand... if the Devil came for your son, wouldn't you strike first? The sudden appearance of Yhwach, alive and well, would mean something similar for me.”

“You really have betrayed the old order, haven't you?” Masaki asks, her spiritual weapon vanishing.

Candice shakes her head. “There's nothing left to betray.”
>1/2

>>1918602
“Now then,” you sigh, finally releasing Candice as Tenkotsuki helps her to her feet. You motion for Rosa to release Masaki as well before your two zanpakuto disappear. One with a courteous bow, the other slouching her shoulders in a gesture of emotional exhaustion.

>Clearly he's here... so what IS he? That's the question you two are here to answer.
>How did you come to be a discrete individual, or do you not know that either?
>So, the million yen question... why'd you do it, old man? Why the act?
>Other?

>>1918602
As an aside THIS is what the first crit was for: to see how clearly Candice remembers the details regarding the Quincy King before it came time for Zangetsu to reveal himself.

>>1918626
>>Clearly he's here... so what IS he? That's the question you two are here to answer.
>
>So, the million yen question... why'd you do it, old man? Why the act?

What and why

>>1918626
>>So, the million yen question... why'd you do it, old man? Why the act?
>Clearly he's here... so what IS he? That's the question you two are here to answer.

>>1918602
>So, the million yen question... why'd you do it, old man? Why the act?
>Tell us everything you know, everything you're hiding. I know people, important people that can fuck your day up and rip the information right out of your head if need be.
>And if you try and give us any sort of roundabout bullshit, i'll kick you right in the dick.

>>1918626
>>So, the million yen question... why'd you do it, old man? Why the act?

All he wanted was to protect Ichigo.

If zanpakuto reflect the nature of their wielders, then this is Not-Zangetsu's. It's Ichigo's desire to protect his loved ones, but Zangetsu's only loved on is Ichigo. All others are protected by association to Ichigo.

This is something Ichigo needs to understand. And Not-Zangetsu will let himself be reabsorbed if it means Ichigo is better protected.

>>1918626
>>Clearly he's here... so what IS he? That's the question you two are here to answer.

>3d10, best of three
>you're rolling for Isshin actually

Rolled 9, 4, 3 = 16 (3d10)

>>1918725

Rolling Can-dice!

Rolled 2, 5, 4 = 11 (3d10)

>>1918725

Rolled 2, 6, 1 = 9 (3d10)

>>1918725
STRAWBERRY POP-SICLE

>>1918725
“Well, he's clearly here,” you assert the obvious. “So what is he? That's a question for the two of you, but I want to know something even simpler.”

“Why,” the mass of quincy power guesses correctly.

“Bingo,” you reply, tapping the tip of your nose for emphasis. “Why the long con?”

“Ichigo treats protecting others as his purpose,” the old man explains. “In turn, I exist to protect one thing. I have been aware of this purpose since my earliest independent thoughts. It is something I simply know to be true.”

“The one thing is me,” Ichigo realizes.

His own quincy power turns to face him. “Correct.”

“Then White's appearance...” Isshin begins to put the pieces together aloud. “That would have been the trigger.”

“I can't imagine quincy power coexisting with hollow, sharing the same soul,” Masaki agrees. “The power he got from you was probably where the... infection chose to reside, probably from the moment that power began to develop.”

“To be fair, there were few other options,” the old man admits. “While I cannot abide his existence, I cannot deny that his choice was the rational one.”

“So that means the 'real Zangetsu' never existed,” Ichigo guesses. “The hollow that infected my mom passed into me at conception, right? So in place of a zanpakuto, I have a hollow?”

“More or less,” you tell him. “It's not purely hollow power, more like... a perversion of what might have been.”

Isshin... remains oddly silent.

>Ichigo, we need to hear from Zangetsu as well.
>So, anyone have any ideas on why Ichigo's power would manifest as Yhwach?
>So, any suggestions for resolving this impasse?
>Other?

>>1918743
>>So, anyone have any ideas on why Ichigo's power would manifest as Yhwach?
>Ichigo, we need to hear from Zangetsu as well.

>>1918743
>So, anyone have any ideas on why Ichigo's power would manifest as Yhwach?
>Ichigo, we need to hear from Zangetsu as well.

Alright, guess we're rolling with what we've got.
>3d10, best of three

Rolled 5, 8, 9 = 22 (3d10)

>>1918806

Rolled 1, 9, 7 = 17 (3d10)

>>1918806

Rolled 2, 5, 8 = 15 (3d10)

>>1918806

Rolled 4, 3, 1 = 8 (3d10)

>>1918806

>>1918806
“So why would Ichigo's power manifest in this way?”

“I have my own thoughts about that,” Candice admits with a slight frown. “But to just throw out an idea like that... it'd be irresponsible to suggest it without more information. I have to ask Bambi.”

“You could just...” Masaki begins, but Candice immediately shakes her head in disagreement.

“I'm sorry, but my mind is made up on this,” she apologizes. “I hope that I'm wrong, and when I can get back to you about it I hope you'll understand my hesitation.”

“Well, if you won't even entertain it,” Masaki sighs. “Just don't leave me wondering for long.”

“I promise I'll get back to you as soon as I can,” Candice nods. “Even I know there's a line between teasing and cruelty.”

“Anyway,” you cough. “I think it might be a good idea to speak with Zangetsu as well.”

“Yes,” the old man agrees a little too quickly for your comfort. “I would be interested in hearing from him as well.”

“Alright,” Ichigo shrugs. “Let's see if I can do it twice in a row...”

The appearance of Ichigo's inner hollow comes as a surprise to you. This... isn't a perfect copy, even overlooking the color palate. His reiatsu is noticeably different, his facial features are somewhat older than Ichigo's. And his voice is different as well, even with the distortion.

“Hi there,” the hollow sneers. “You called, Ichigo?”

“That's...” Isshin frowns. “There's no way.”

“See something you like, old man?” Zangetsu demands with a mad grin.

“Masaki, have you ever noticed that Ichigo looks much more like you than he does like me?” Isshin asks.

His wife nods. “I have. I mostly chalk it up to the hair color, but even if he dyed it... what are you getting at?”

“You don't recognize me, do you?” Isshin asks, staring Zangetsu down.

“You're the brat's old man,” Zangetsu replies cautiously. “The hell's going on here? Ichigo, don't tell me you brought me out to play twenty questions with this guy?”

“I see,” Isshin nods, retrieving a small, battered packet from his back pocket and pulling a cigarette out of it. “Ichigo, I suspect you should get used to the idea of using a spear. I'm gonna step out and get some fresh air.”

>>1918806
Actually I can't believe I took this as an assumption, but will the Hollow be out at the same time as the Quincy Zangetsu? I figured they'd both get a chance to weigh in on how they want to proceed here, and figured we'd postpone it for when they're out at the same time to ask the question.

>>1918873
And this is where I have to call it for the night. Archive is up, and thanks for stopping by! Hopefully now that I can get back on a regular schedule things will pick back up.

I may continue SSQ at the same time as SoZ tomorrow, 10am PST. Depends on how up to it I feel, so expect an announcement around 8am PST where I'll declare my ultimate intentions. If it's not a 10am simultaneous run I'll do a few hours after SoZ.

>>1918873
Oh good, they are out at the same time.

But that comment from Isshin...does Isshin use a spear in this Quest or something? Did Ichigo inherit a corrupted form of Isshin's zanpakuto somehow?

This is VERY interesting...and very sad for Isshin if I'm right. A part of his soul is gone from him now, and doesn't even recognize him.

Or maybe it's just that Isshin saw White, and that's what got wiped clean? Doesn't seem lke Isshin would be driven to get some distance from the situation though.

>>1918893
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS THOUGH

>>1918899
Spoiler: There's one Shiba in canon who used a polearm

>>1918909
Oh yeah. That old dropped story idea where Ichigo was Kaien's reincarnation.

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>>1918909

You know, I think you even straight up told us this a looooooooooong time ago. Well played.

I'm confused. Did Isshin get metaphysically cucked?

>>1918811
Well, do we get water bending?

>>1918899
No, it's gonna be sad for Rukia.

Jesus christ

>>1919011

While that's a bit on the nose considering spoilers....wow I am glad she's not here.

>>1919011
She didn't really know him in SSQ-canon. It's more of a sobering thing for the other Shibas, and possibly something the Royal Guard won't be happy about.

>>1918909
Man, this must make things so awkward for Isshin now.

>>1919034
Theyre seldom happy about anything, and they probably wouldnt like ANYTHING about all the stuff going on with Ichigo. he's just as bad as Riku spiritually, just in a completely different but similar way.

>>1919034
To be frank, Oetsu is in absolutely no position to cast stones. He lives in a house of glass. Opaque glass maybe, because he lets nearly no one know what he's actually up to, but despite his intentions he is up there on the moral dubiousness scale with how he makes asauchi.

>>1919034
That makes it sound like the RG are ever happy about something. They're the type of people to go into threads clearly labeled as something they hate just to say how much they hate something.

>>1918934
Actually, it wasn’t Queen.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/47488661/#p47491563
>“His name was Shiba Kaien,” you inform Ichigo, prompting Rukia to stare at you in disbelief. “Or at least that's what your father and I have always suspected.”

>>1919069
Yeah, about oetsu...
Look, i know the truth behind asauchi is shitty in a way, but no matter how i look at it, turning oetsu in to the gods just don't feel right.
What would it really accomplish? Where would we be right now without oetsu's help? What would happen to the seireitei in future without the asauchi?

There's a reason he's a royal guard despite what he does, and i get that riku's pissed, but i can't see myself feeling good about the choice afterwards if we end up doing that.
I want to talk with the other guards, or at maybe shunsui about it before we do anything rash that we end up regretting.

Well shit. Ichigo's in a rough position now. Revelation after revelation.
Not only does he have to remake his spiritual powers from the ground up, He also has to retrain himself to use a polearm after what is likely "months" of training to use a two-handed Greatsword. And on top of that, his Dad Isshin is very hung up on his "other son".

>>1920325
Yeah hating him for it is kinda ehhhh

>>1919035
Awkward for Isshin? How about Awkward for both Father and Son. Isshin is clearly hung up on Kaien's death/hollowfication. It could easily turn into a situation where Isshin takes one look at Ichigo and sees his "other son" instead of the strawberry which strains relations between the two.

>>1920378
I think isshin needs a riku hug.
moreover, i wanna see that

>>1920378
kaien was his brother though?

>>1920395
the position of the family relation matters not, what matters is that Isshin's being haunted by the ghost of someone he cares about and the subconscious projection is harming the relationship.

>>1918873
>

“I see,” Isshin nods, retrieving a small, battered packet from his back pocket and pulling a cigarette out of it. “Ichigo, I suspect you should get used to the idea of using a spear. I'm gonna step out and get some fresh air.”
oh snap. On one hand, I'm sorta worried about Isshin and Ichigo. And How Ichigo will take to re-speccing his kit a 3rd time. On the other hand... Ichigo firing his own brand of Ceros from the tip of his spear sounds badass.

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17 KB JPG

>>1920325
Now I'm not making any judgements on your argument, but just to be clear, you are actually stating that the ends justify the means.
As it is worded, you have stated that it is okay that he knowingly committed several thousand atrocities on a regular basis, because it resulted in good things overall.
I am not saying that this is necessarily wrong, or that it is necessarily right. Just be REAL fucking careful with it, because if accepted blindly, that logic can be used to justify very nearly anything.

I will also point out that you are basing this primarily on your gut feeling. Sometimes that's all you get to go on, but I sincerely hope with the enormity of the repercussions that we put a little more thought into it than merely "it would feel wrong".

>>1920383
And also pic related.

>>1921480
That's why i want to talk with the others about it.
I don't feel like it's a decision we should make all by ourselves, given it's far-reaching repercussions.

And yes, isshin needs a stiff drink to go with his riku hug.

>>1920378
Keep in mind that Kaien's wife is still around. So yeah...

>>1920325
He literally killed one third of Okami, the greatest God of Japan, and worse, stole her power.

The killing could be forgiven as he did not so directly and our dear vixen was basically acting as an evil spirit at that point, stealing the power of a kami?

He is basically violated the Royal Guard own rules doing so.

He did what they acussed Riku of doing.

So by whatever standard you want to use, he is a criminal.

He violated Death God rules, Royal Guard rules, offended a great Kami, experimented on humans....

And he was quite aware than what he was doing was eventually gonna bite him in the ass.

>>1921601
You could basically say the same thing of aizen, kisuke and even us.
It's never as simple as that, you should know by now.

>>1921610
Difference is that Kisuke is a sociopath, Aizen is a megalomaniac and Riku just does what she needs to do she's not going out and ripping people's faces off as a gag or because she's bored y'see.

>>1921601
Inari not Okami

>>1921601
mate.... Okami means higher divinity

He stole a portion of Inari Okami, Okami is not a name it's a title. Like Amaterasu Okami

>>1922138
No, but shes prone to beating the crap out a people all the same for being bored or pissed. Its really a wonder she hasnt accidentally killed anyone yet.

In case anyone missed the announcement, instead of running again until like two or three in the morning I'll be trying to post updates around noon PST through the week, giving them plenty of time for responses. Basically drag this one out a bit.

>>1922993
Will there be time for Q&A?

>What's the current initial impression of Candice for the Kurosaki Family members: Masaki, Ichigo, Isshin, Yuzu, Karin (if they're present)

>>1922901
She has. Yoruichi will never understand why she pours that second cup.

>daily update in one hour

>>1918873
“Excuse me,” you sigh after awkwardly watching Isshin walk out of the room. “I need to go be a Shiba for a moment.”

You follow your adoptive brother out front, where you find him sitting on the low wall that separates the parking spaces for the clinic from the family's tiny front yard. His eyes seem fixed on the ground in front of him as the cherry end of his cigarette glows in the dark.

“We knew this was coming, brother.”

Shiba Isshin sighs deeply, letting the ash fall from his smoke. “Yeah, I know. It's just... I was hoping the whole time that we were wrong, you know? And so long as I never saw his... its face there was a chance it was all a misunderstanding.”

“Sometimes I hate being right.”

“You always knew you were,” you observe, taking a seat at his side. “Even if you refused to accept it, there was always going to be a day when you'd have to decide how you felt about this whole mess. So let's hear it.”

“I always assumed I'd be able to shrug it off,” Isshin admits. “But to know that he doesn't recognize me... any of us...”

“You're not sure whether to be relieved or upset.”

“Yeah...” he sighs, before taking another long drag. “Either way I'm glad the others aren't here. Kaoru was never really all that close to Kaien, and I assume you've explained hollowfication to her. So she'd be able to understand what happened. And even if Kūkaku was always pretty close to him she'd just be mad at Aizen... well, madder.”

“But you don't think Miyako could take it,” you finish his thought process.

Your brother nods. “She... was deeply in love with him. It'd be like if Masaki had died... I don't think I'd ever really get over it, you know?”

“Yeah,” you sigh, “I know the feeling. But Zangetsu... whatever it is, that's not your cousin any more than Engetsu is. Shiba Kaien is dead... has been for years.”

“You really believe that?”

>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.
>Yes. Whether it's true or not is a different issue.
>Aizen's interference changed less than you'd think.
>Other?

>>1925656
>>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.

>>1925656
>>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.
>Much like a patient that's brain dead but the body is still being kept alive. That person is gone.

>>1925656
>>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.

>>1925656
>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.

We actually have some unique experience here, i think.
We used to be rosa rosette, but now we're riku, a completely new person with new memories.
And yet rosa still exists with her old memories in the form of a hollow, so it's quite odd.

>>1925656
>>>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.
>>Much like a patient that's brain dead but the body is still being kept alive. That person is gone.

>>1925656
"I used to be someone called Rosa Rosette, but now I am Riku, a completely new person with new memories. I also have a Kami as my sword so while Ichigo situation is not identical, is close enough. While both Rosa and Tenkotsuki have their past memories, unlike Zangetsu and the fake King, they are not who they were before. A buddist might be able to explain it better maybe? Think of humans who died and are sent to soul society, are they the same as before? And in this case it involves a merging of souls so not even the soul is the same. If anything Kaien could be considered Ichigo ancestor. That doesn't mean that this isn't yet another reason to deal with Aizen. And... there is a dark positivity... ever wonder why a Quincy would have a piece of that man inside them? I am starting to think the so called blood of the King did something more siniester than we thought."

>>1925656
>>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.
Is this where we bring up ego death and how we're a distinct entity from rosa and stuff?

>>1926080
Could be. Or you could try to comfort Isshin but end up saying something that's somehow just as disconcerting as it is reassuring.

>>1925656
>Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.

>>1925750
>>1926080
Keep in mind that there are some people who would rather love it if they're kept blissfully ignorant to the eldritch truths.
>>1925656
>I've made peace with my mortal death and made peace with his death. Isn't it time for you to make peace with Kaien's death?
>

>>1925656
“Of course I believe it,” you tell your brother. “Otherwise I wouldn't have said it. We may call ourselves gods of death... but even if it sometimes takes a while to catch up, death comes for us all the same.”

Isshin glances down at his cigarette, which has burned all the way down the the filter, and puts it out against the bricks. Even after so many years away from the rarified air of the Noble Clans in their lofty mansions, he has more class than to toss his butts on the asphalt like some commoner.

“That's definitely true,” he sighs. “So this Zangetsu character, and the old man... you keep asking me what I think about them, but how about you?”

You sigh, taking a few moments to collect your thoughts. “When I say Ichigo's like me I mean it, you know. You can attach different names to the parts, but we've both been meddled with in ways that defy all conventional notions of identity.”

“Do you think that the old man's really related to that 'quincy king' people keep mentioning?” Isshin asks.

If you're being honest...

“I don't know,” you admit. “I don't doubt Candice's memory, but I also don't doubt Masaki's understanding that it's impossible. At least... it's not possible for it to literally be some aspect of Yhwach.”

“But if you take it figuratively, you think it might be possible?” Isshin presses, seizing upon your precise wording.

“A lot of things are possible,” you remind him. “My understanding is that all quincy share a common lineage that Yhwach is a part of, so why wouldn't quincy power that gained the ability to manifest like that do so in his image?”

“I suppose it makes no less sense than manifesting in the first place,” Isshin agrees, flicking his cigarette in a high arc which terminates in the ashtray out front of the clinic's doors. “Especially since such a thing apparently isn't possible.”

“Nice shot.”

“Thanks.”
>1/2
>rest of the update in a bit

>>1928412
"So where does that leave Ichigo?" Isshin asks. "How do you see this all ending for the boy? Because hard as Masaki and I tried, I can't see him having a normal life. Not after all of this."

The question is one you can't answer, at least not immediately. You know what Isshin and Masaki would want, but it seems increasingly unrealistic. You know what you would want in Ichigo's place, but it's not exactly something you'd really want for him when you think about it from your own perspective. It practically defeats the purpose of being a shinigami to have humans out there fighting the kind of battles that shinigami exist to fight. It's not his place, and it's not something he should have to do, but you do get the impression he wants to do it.

Because ultimately, you don't think he can help it.

At the same time, when you stop to think about how truly bizarre Ichigo's situation is... if you were a member of the Central 46, loathe as you are to place yourself in that mindset, you know how you'd expect this to end. And it's definitely not in Ichigo's best interests.

>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.
>He needs to reach his full potential, and I think the best thing you or I can do now is to help him do that.
>At the end of this, I'm not sure he'll be able to stay in the Living World. Not with the kind of power he's tapping into.
>Other?

>>1928555
>>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.

>>1928555
>>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.

>>1928555
>>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.

>>1928555
>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.

>>1928555
>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.

>>1928555
>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.

>>1928555
>At the end of this, I'm not sure he'll be able to stay in the Living World. Not with the kind of power he's tapping into.

>>1928555
>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.

Dudes going to have an interesting life regardless. Not to mention we dont even know if this shit is inheritable.

>>1928555
>>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.
He can likely be the best chance for an ambassador we have in the future, if the new Central 46 can get it together.

>>1928555
>>Nobody can stop him, but if we give him a few pointers and the right advice maybe we can do right by him.
Because fuck forcing him to leave the living world or else give up his powers. We ain't teaching some guppy that'd roll over for some old dead people.

>will start writing in a bit, making dinner

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>>1931012
It's a little difficult even for you to accept, because a part of you understands how the Central 46 will probably view the situation. Ichigo is in a treacherous position right now, one where to your knowledge no living human has found themselves... Inari help you all if he ever manages to reproduce. But you also know enough about your nephew, through his actions rather than his words, to know what he would say to that.

“I don't think we can stop him,” you admit, “because I don't think he'll accept being stopped. Only way you can do right by a guy like that is a helping hand, give him a few pointers based on your own experience, and hope for the best.”

“I hate it when you're right, too,” Isshin grumbles.

“So do I,” you grumble back, getting to your feet. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends?”

“Once more,” Isshin agrees as he follows your lead.

Inside you find a similar scene to the one you left, though one obvious change has taken place. While Masaki and Candice aren't quite sitting in positions you'd call “next to each other”, they've clearly taken one side of the room while Zangetsu and the old man on the opposite side, with Ichigo in the middle. Masaki's clearly staying close to her son while Candice's priority seems to be not even getting close to Zangetsu or his quincy equivalent.

“Well, this is a cozy scene,” Isshin frowns, turning to Zangetsu. “I see you're still here.”

“You got a problem with that old man?” Zangetsu sneers.

“No, but I'd appreciate it if you'd shut your damn mouth,” your brother sighs, taking a seat next to Masaki.

>Isshin, why don't you go catch your wife up on our... conversation.
>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?
>Masaki, I'd like your permission to train Ichigo in the Seireitei for a few days.
>Other.

>>1931161
>>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?

>>1931161
>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?

>>1931161
>>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?
>>Other.
You need to make a decision on what your end goal is. Sadly, there is no middle path for you. You have too much strength to be ignored, and you are too headstrong to be a pet or tool of another.

>>1931161
>Isshin, why don't you go catch your wife up on our... conversation.
>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?

>>1931161
>Isshin, why don't you go catch your wife up on our... conversation.
>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?

>>1931161
>Isshin, why don't you go catch your wife up on our... conversation.
>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?

>>1931161
>>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?

>>1931161
>So, Ichigo. I assume you know why I've taken a personal interest in you?

>>1931161
>Other: You need to make a decision on what your end goal is. Sadly, there is no middle path for you. You have too much strength to be ignored, and you are too headstrong to be a pet or tool of another.

>apologies for the delay, I'm only just now getting back into position to write

I know this is rather sudden, but
>3d10, best of four

Rolled 3, 8, 10 = 21 (3d10)

>>1933576
boi

Rolled 8, 9, 7 = 24 (3d10)

>>1933576

Rolled 5, 9, 6 = 20 (3d10)

>>1933576

Rolled 2, 6, 7 = 15 (3d10)

>>1933576
Rolling

>>1933589
24 it is.

>>1933693
“So, Ichigo, I assume you're starting to understand why I've taken such an interest in you?”

Ichigo sighs, but does nothing to deny it.

“You've grown strong Ichigo, much stronger than anyone could possibly expect,” you tell him calmly. “And with that comes both possibilities and risks.”

“The hell do you mean, bi...”

Yeah, you're not about to stand around and get bitched at by this uppity hollow-zanpakuto... thing. You just don't have the patience. So instead you turn to him and glare in a way that you rarely have to anyone.

“Kneel.”

It's not a request.

Zangetsu, with eyes full of shock and dismay, immediately does as you order.

“What are you...”

“Shut your mouth,” you order.

Lo and behold, Zangetsu remains silent.

“How did you manage that?” Ichigo asks. “I can never get him to shut up.”

You shrug. “Hollows respond to strength. My own inner hollow, Rosa, recognizes that I have raw power and will that I can afford to treat her with civility. The arrancars who choose to fight at my side have similarly acknowledged my skill, as I have theirs.”

“This is why I'm interested,” you continue to explain. “Admittedly we Shiba, even those of us who have been adopted, share a certain closeness. But the real reason I'm so interested is more... selfish.”

“How so?” Ichigo asks suspiciously.

“It's because I had help getting to this point... so call this 'paying it forward' if it suits you.”

>>1933797
And that's where I call it for now. Time to get ready for Saturday, thanks for sticking it out and hope to see you then.

>>1933804
excellent, thank you queen.

>>1933797
Thank you Queen, this is the first thread I managed to catch live after archive reading. Will you be accepting omake ideas later?

>>1933797
That reminds me, considering hollows respect strength, what'd it do for apacci's loyalty when she saw us push in the privaron's shit with the utmost brutality?

>>1935517
Probably not too much.
I don’t think Apacci's loyalty to us is based on our strength.

>>1935517
There may have been a slight loyalty boner, but >>1935553 also has a point. Apacci's sense of loyalty isn't strictly based on her perceptions of Riku's strength.

>>1934300
I will be accepting omake ideas, but not until after the thread Saturday.