Forgetting what it was I came to find...

[thechillyacademic]

Even, after his discussion with Szayel early in the morning, had stepped out into the garden to experience it properly.

It was a curious place. The sky, be it projected or a magical window to somewhere far away, felt real. The temperature had risen as time progressed, but it hadn't got too hot. The height of Summer was long gone and things were cooling down. The breeze was like a breath of cool air, not the stagnant atmosphere that ordinarily lingered and loitered in caves. The grass smelled pleasant, but there was another scent there, the subtle odour of dull decay mixed with the sweet smell of fallen fruit, as though Autumn was on the horizon.

He found that he wasn't sure whether those particular notes were borne on the light wind blowing in from who knows where, or whether they came from the garden itself, the tangible expanse he could see before him. Almost everything seemed so ... normal. There was grass, both mown short and left long, there were cultivated flowerbeds close to the kitchen door, not far from the little slab-covered patio that the doors opened out directly onto. Once upon a time there must have been a canopy or veranda, he noted, for there were pillars at the corners of the brickwork that stood freely and supported nothing. Further away from the palace he could see the heads of the season's last wildflowers bobbing back and forth in the wind.

Flowers hadn't surprised him much. He was used to them, given his original home. Their beauty wasn't lost on him, but it wasn't something he cared for. Flowers carried memories best forgotten, and not all of them were of Radiant Garden.

It was the trees that had shocked him. According to what he'd heard, the garden had been discovered late, and yet trees grew tall and thick trunked. Not immense, old trees, but ones large enough to be too big to have been grown naturally in the time that was reputed to have passed between the garden's discovery and the present. He didn't doubt that Marluxia had a hand in encouraging their growth. The ivy that climbed up old ruined buildings dotted out further afield appeared, at least, to be natural.

The low hum of an insect caught his attention and made him wonder whether the miles and miles between the location he stood in and the place where the weather came from was able to be crossed by creatures coming in from the air. Perhaps they had been imported in from somewhere manually, in little boxes with tiny air-holes and kept in hives. He wouldn't put that past Marluxia -- he, of all people, would know that insects were important for pollination. Insects and birds, he had thought, and listened, in a pause between steps, to the musical posturing competition that was birdsong.

More than the garden, Even was paying attention to the palace itself. He had walked some distance, but not far enough to arouse the Malboros' ire. They were larger close up, but not the biggest he'd had the misfortune of meeting. The palace extended up to and beyond the position of the greenhouse, he'd seen. The windows were black and lightless and a layer of dust was visible on the insides thanks to the light of a faraway sun. Nothing past a peculiar glass sunhouse positioned near where a deep ditch dropped away from the palace seemed to be inhabited.

Upon returning to the building itself, he worked out that the area of the Palace that those ground-level windows corresponded to were not occupied, but he hadn't yet worked out how to reach them. It was entirely possible that they were blocked off entirely. It would make sense that the palace might not be entirely whole after sinking beneath the ground, but it would take further investigation to confirm that. He had a brief look in the general area, but found nothing of use.

Since he would need help to try and work out the route, he decided to explore already charted areas of the palace instead.

Even's first port of call was, of course, the library. He pushed open the doors and looked around from the doorway. It was ... large. Probably not as big as the one in Radiant Garden, but it spanned two floors and extended some distance under the mezzanine layer. Heavy curtains covered the windows, but the room was already lit despite the fact that it appeared to be quite unoccupied.

Comments

[thechillyacademic]

"He did," he said, wrinkling his nose. "He's either an opportunist or he has low standards."

Or both. That was always possible.

He shook his head and, impatient with his tea, blew cold breath onto it to cool it more quickly before taking a sip. Life was too short to sit about waiting for tea to cool, especially if you happened to be sitting about in Clan Khamja.

[declaregamuza]

Nel waved a hand dismissively. "You're not that bad," she said, "but he is an opportunist. As well as a tart." She smiled and shrugged. "Sometimes I think he does it just to see how people react," she told him. "Did he have anything else to say for himself, or was it all him making you feel welcome as only Szayel can?"

If Nel was asked to put money on it, she'd guess that Szayel had shared some of the gossip, but since it was Szayel, he'd share a very biased version of the gossip that painted all parties other than himself in the worst possible light.

Which piece of gossip he might have chosen for this, however, was harder to discern.

[thechillyacademic]

"He mentioned some of the more ... unpleasant aspects of the palace," he said, giving a shrug of his shoulders. "Expanded upon the, ah, 'violent lunatics' you mentioned back in Luxerion."

Which was fun to know in a way that was not fun at all, but something that he undoubtedly did need to know, especially as a former associate of Grimmjow's best friend.

[declaregamuza]

Nel nodded slowly at her cup of tea. "Nnoitra and what happened to Orochimaru, by any chance?" She asked, although she knew the answer already. It was Szayel, and he'd have told Even enough to make Orochimaru seem like a victim and skipped out on explaining the extenuating circumstances.

Nel wasn't sure if that was because Szayel didn't believe the extenuating circumstances, or just because he liked to wield it over Nnoitra that he didn't believe him. Szayel took whatever weaknesses he could find in his victims.

Nnoitra and Grimmjow were the ones she'd warned Even about, she remembered. They were the Arrancar he'd have to watch, although Grimmjow more than Nnoitra. Nnoitra probably wouldn't bother with Even; he wasn't openly combative enough to catch Nnoitra's eye.

Grimmjow... Well, hopefully he considered the berserker to be his target, and not just anyone the berserker had associated with.

[thechillyacademic]

"However did you guess?" He raised his eyebrows.

Szayel was, as far as Even could work out, the sort of cretin that would do his best to rattle people while staying, at least outwardly, halfway pleasant about it.

That he'd decided to talk about the one who had murdered a scientist didn't surprise him in light of that.

[declaregamuza]

Nel's smile was crooked and humourless in response. She could almost guess at what Szayel had told Even about that one. It had probably consisted of Orochimaru being a scientist, and Kadaj and Nnoitra teaming up to take him out, but she'd put all of her money on Szayel not having told Even why.

"Well, truthfully, he's short on material, so there are only so many options to try and frighten you with." She looked away from her tea and met Even's eyes, "Even," she said, softly, "Orochimaru was a child molester, and Nnoitra was one of his victims. Kadaj too," she added, considering that Szayel probably wouldn't have left his involvement out because it'd make Szayel look like a liar if Even quickly found out Kadaj was the one people focused on where that whole business was concerned. "Not that they like to talk about it," she said, frowning and dipping her head in silent indication that Even should probably refrain from bringing it up, too, "but together they made sure he never had another."

Whether that had been the plan, or it had been opportunistic Nel didn't know, and didn't really consider it important. What they'd done hadn't been wrong, as far as she was concerned, even if it had been against the rules.

"So while it might have been a shock that they killed him, it didn't exactly come out of nowhere. None of the violence that has happened here has been unprovoked," she said, and it wasn't intended as reassurance, exactly, just reassurance that Szayel had just been trying to scare him.

[thechillyacademic]

Even listened, scowling initially, and then frowning deeper as Nel's explanation lined up with the story Szayel had given him.

In fairness, he had not lied, but his omission of that one, all-important factor in the attack, or battle, whichever it was, had made it seem much more serious a crime than it had ended up being.

He didn't know much about Orochimaru. Marluxia had given him information as to what he chose to study, and Szayel had given a few details of the fight, but it was only Nel that had provided a reason. Such a crime made Even's skin crawl. Perhaps it was the general revulsion of such a thing, though more likely it was due to the fact that he had once practically raised a child. The notion angered him.

"So he deserved it," he said, quietly. "And so long as I don't provoke anybody, there should be nothing to worry about?"

He wasn't entirely sure about that.

"Here's hoping that Saix's quarrels don't become mine in lieu of his presence," he said, referring to Grimmjow's well known quarrel with him.

[declaregamuza]

Nel smiled softly and took a drink of her tea before she confessed, "I can't speak for Grimmjow, but" she shrugged, "I don't think he'll bother you much." If at all, to be honest, depending upon how closely Grimmjow associated Even with his prime quarry. "He might goad you into arguing, to see if you give him an excuse, or someone else in his group might, but if you don't rise to it they should get bored pretty quickly."

She sighed, and threw Even a look as if they were both the keepers of boisterous children who never stopped doing things they were advised against until they get hurt. "Grimmjow's quite single minded about," she hesitated before she said, "Saix," her instinct being to refer to him as 'the berserker'. "I was with him when they ran into each other, once. Grimmjow completely ignored what was going on around him," Saix hadn't, she remembered; he'd gone for her when she'd hurt one of his party, forgetting about Grimmjow, or wanting to go through him, "but I don't think either of them really wanted to kill each other. They'd rather get the other one to back down and admit defeat." Not that either of them would. "Hurting you wouldn't scratch that itch, for Grimmjow."

She smiled at Even, brightly, "Besides which, I outrank him, so if he starts trying to pick a fight with you, I'll give him a thick ear."

[thechillyacademic]

"I rather hope you're right," he said, sipping at his cooled tea.

He looked out of the glass panel in the kitchen door, out across the garden's expanse. The sun was high now, and occupying that transitional place between real morning and afternoon. He stared, glassy eyed, and thought about the fights that had taken place between Saix and Grimmjow with him present, and how the vicious posturing had been more teeth and claws than fists.

He was roused from his thoughts by the sight of a teetering Dreamhare waddling unsteadily across his vision.

"I won't be picking any fights with him, regardless." He looked back at Nel, then away. "I know what his Limit Break feels like."

He didn't care to repeat that experience.

[declaregamuza]

Nel stared at Even. Despite herself she looked impressed, if slightly horrified. Grimmjow was vicious and powerful in a fight, and she might have seen Even act as Sentinel in a fight but still....

"You stood against Grimmjow's limit?" She asked. "And there was me worried about you standing up to a Wyrm," she said, with a note of amusement.

It didn't even matter which Limit it was, either. None of Grimmjow's limit techniques were easy on the recipient.

[thechillyacademic]

"Barely," he admitted. "He ... caught me off guard. I attacked one of his associates, the Fire Elemental girl, and he got rather ... angry."

It wasn't a particularly fond memory, but it was a useful one. Grimmjow was a savage fighter and the limit break he had chosen to use on him consisted, to Vexen's hazy recollection, of a brutal barrage of attacks. He had barely managed to increase his defense enough to survive it, but he was nonetheless able to measure the power used in it. Grimmjow and Saix really were evenly matched.

"I won't be making that mistake again," he said, sipping at his tea. "Here's hoping that he doesn't decide to hold it against me."

[declaregamuza]

Realisation dawned, and Nel found herself nodding. "Tayuya," she said. "She's his girlfriend, or at least, she is now." Even was Ice elemental, so he'd have done some serious damage to Tayuya if he attacked her elementally.

Tayuya might hold something like that against Even. Grimmjow might, too, Nel thought. He was a dickhead, but he was protective of his group. "Just don't give him an excuse and he shouldn't try anything," she reiterated. "Our boss's patience with Grimmjow and his ongoing feud wore thin a while ago, so he's already on thin ice there."

She wondered if anyone had told Even who their boss was, yet. He may not have been told, and if he had, it may not have meant much to him anyway.

[thechillyacademic]

"I fully intend to stay out of the way," he said, finishing his tea. "Your boss seems to have a lot of unruly subordinates, doesn't he?"

He got up from the table and went back to the kettle. You could never have enough tea, in his opinion. He turned to Nel and cocked his head to the site a little. "Tea?" He asked.

[declaregamuza]

Nel murmured appreciatively. "Yes please," she answered. There was a mouthful or two left in the bottom of her cup, but it was cooling quickly during the conversation. She drained the last of it anyway, and turned to look at Even by the kettle.

"And my boss has a lot of subordinates," she said, with a smile. "They're a bit of a grab bag when it comes to temperaments."

Although she was the only one that had slapped Aizen, as far as she knew.

[thechillyacademic]

"I know what kind of environment that can lead to," he said, with only the smallest trace of humour.

He filled the kettle and switched it on, moved the milk jug and sugar to the table, and picked up Neliel's cup. There was no need to use another when she already had one.

"Are they the only group likely to cause trouble..?" He asked, swilling out her cup when he'd finished speaking. "They seem to be the only ones I hear about."

[declaregamuza]

Nel thought about the question, and how best to answer. "Grimmjow's clique are probably the biggest troublemakers," she said, after a little consideration. "They consist of him, Yylfordt, Apache now, Tayuya, and Kadaj. Nnoitra is an aggressive dickhead but he won't bother with you unless he thinks you could beat him in a fight, or you tell him you could beat him in a fight," she said, drily. "You've met Szayel," she added, "and there's Luppi, who is Szayel Lite." She smiled, then, "Other than those, Wonderweiss will only hurt you if you attack his Dreamhares, Ulquiorra will only do it if he's told to, and then there's me, Halibel, and Stark, and we're not even the kind of people that would be sent to kill someone, let alone trying it of our own volition. The only other Arrancar is Lilinette, who is more likely to hide your socks and put salt in the sugar pot," she said, cheerfully.

"Tayuya is part of the Sound Five," she paused, and corrected herself, "Four, but the others don't venture into this end of the Palace much. Honestly, your biggest problems will be the other clan members, not their subordinates."

Aizen was dangerous, or could be, when he wanted to be. Midgar had proven that, and she hoped Even wasn't taken in by the harmless but politically interested teacher facade Aizen exuded. Then there was Gin, who was a whole other kettle of fish, and Kuja who was one of the least complicated. Nel wasn't sure what she made of L, yet, because the incident with Ulquiorra had thrown her judgement, and there was someone new around that she hadn't met yet.

At least Even had the leg up of being familiar with the other Ryoka.

[thechillyacademic]

Even listened, and tried his best to commit the names to memory, for all the good it would do him. Even if he managed to remember all of them, he doubted that he'd be able to put Nel's descriptions to their names when he eventually got around to meeting them.

At least the majority didn't seem too bad. Probably.

"At least retaliating against members is less likely to cause wide friction than with the subordinates," he said, remembering the rule about dealing with the subordinates of other people.

[declaregamuza]

It was probably a lot to try and take in, Nel thought. She'd had the benefit of meeting people one by one, as they joined the Arrancar project, and the groups were whittled down, merged, and merged again. She'd seen some of the others before she'd met them, got part way through the process before meeting others. Some had been there before her, and had been, in part, why she'd joined, and others had come along after.

Even was having to try and remember them all from second hand accounts, all at once. He probably needed to take notes.

"That's true," Nel said, with false cheerfulness, "the members would just kill you and be done with it." Then she shook her head slightly, "Not that most of them actually would," she said, gently. "Don't get me wrong, they're all dangerous, but most of the ones here would probably only kill you if they had to." Such as if Even posed a threat. "I think the ones that live here have good enough impulse control to refrain from killing everyone they don't like."

[thechillyacademic]

"And that's assuming they're capable," he said, shrugging. "Power and ability can be quite subjective," and he was a good Sentinel. He shook his head and added, only slightly sarcastically: "Even so, I intend to be on my best behaviour."

Not that he was given to brawling. Nobody would look at Even and assume that he was about to join the ranks of those known for picking fights. He was clearly a mage and, even at a glance, he was obviously not going to be particularly happy in a combat situation. Capable, yes, happy ... not so much.

He poured hot water onto the teabags in the cups and took them both to the table to be milked and sugared at their leisure.

[declaregamuza]

Nel wanted to tell Even that some of the members would be more than capable of killing him. That he was powerful, yes, and a better sentinel than she'd ever met before, certainly, but some of the members of Khamja were still whole leagues ahead of him in terms of power and ability.

She wouldn't fancy his chances against Aizen, for example. Or Gin, who was probably closer to Aizen's level than either of them let on. He might be able to hold Kuja off, but Kuja was a summoner and could give himself the elemental advantage if he wanted, making any match up with him harder to predict.

"Best behaviour sounds like a good plan to start with," she said, with a cheery smile, and a, "thanks," as she took the tea from him and proceeded to stir and remove the teabag before adding milk.

"So," she said, changing the subject slightly, "is it a day of exploration today?" He was a scientist, she knew, and they'd promised him the opportunity to have his own laboratory; they'd talked about that on the first day back in Luxerion. She wondered how long it'd take him to try and scout a location for that. After meeting Szayel, he probably wouldn't want to share facilities with him.

[thechillyacademic]

"It is," he said, giving a nod as he made his own tea up. A drop of milk, a small amount of sugar. "Marluxia has showed me the gardens and I've had a small look around inside, but nothing much, yet. I want to make sure I don't accidentally wander into any areas where I'm not wanted."

It was a risk, but he didn't know how small or big of one. Khamja's HQ was probably full of rooms dedicated to members and, even if it wasn't, it would probably pay to be careful about where he goes poking his nose. Looking into empty rooms was one thing, walking into already occupied rooms was something else entirely. Even intended to be careful. He didn't know how temperamental some of the thus far unknown members might be.

"I've already seen the library as well," he added. "I met Professor Hojo there."

[declaregamuza]

Nel sipped at her scalding tea, ready to reassure Even that if he wanted a guide, or a map, she'd gladly oblige, but she stopped and pulled her cup away from her lips, and looked at Even as if he'd just sprouted a second head when he mentioned that name.

"Professor Hojo?" She repeated. "Are you sure?" 'Professor' wasn't that popular a title among scientists who made a name for themselves. There was one Professor Hojo who had made a name for himself, but there was no way it could be him.

Hojo couldn't be that common a name, though, let alone Professors among them.

[thechillyacademic]

"Indeed," he said, curling his lip and wrinkling his nose. "He made sure to introduce himself with his title instead of a first name and didn't fail to make mention of the fact that he is a scientist. He then," Even said, pausing to stir his tea, "proceeded to call me a specimen and treat me like a future experimental subject for the rest of the conversation."

He was an odd man. Even thought so after just one meeting and there had definitely been an open invitation open for others. He wasn't entirely sure that he would be taking him up on that.

"Why?" He raised his eyebrows.

[declaregamuza]

Nel had never met Hojo, but he was high profile scientist in Midgar, or had been. He'd been the head of Shinra's science department, and there were all sorts of rumours and stories about the monsters Shinra made, including their SOLDIERs.

But surely.... But this was Khamja, wasn't it?

"He's supposed to be dead," Nel said, surprise and disbelief still tainting her voice. "He was the head of Shinra's science department, but he died in a laboratory accident in Midgar years ago." She paused, and decided to make an adjustment to that statement, "Or everyone thought he did, anyway."

So his death had been faked. She wondered who'd done it, and why.

"He'll be why Szayel was told he can't have Orochimaru's labs," she said, putting her chin on her hand as she thought about it. As far where he'd been hiding until now, and why he'd moved into the Palace, she couldn't hazard a guess. It was a big world out there, and much bigger if you had Khamja's backing to hide in it.

[thechillyacademic]

Well didn't that just top everything off? Khamja was home not only to crime lords, regular criminals, weapons suppliers, those blessed with an over-abundance of power and a severe shortage of morals and their minions, but also dead men.

"He seemed alive enough to me," Even said, shrugging his shoulders once more. "Though after speaking to him, I'm not surprised he was squirrelled away by a Clan like this."

Human experiments weren't looked upon kindly in most societies and he definitely dabbled in those. He had certainly made no secret of it.