[the seireitei]

[yanagiissui]

It's been hectic lately. Issui's glad it's time for lunch and that Shinobu's back from her assignment. It's a relief to get out of her squad even for a little while. Issui shuffles along towards the Eleventh Division and hopes no one between there and here remembers she's in 13. She's going to be answering enough questions over lunch without stopping to please gossipmongers on the way.

Even with the distance between the two divisions, Issui travels this path often enough that it doesn't take her long. She doesn't even get much of a response from the men out in the training yard, which she has to walk around to get to the offices. Hopefully Shinobu is actually done enough with her post-mission paperwork load to leave. Maybe she should have brought takeout instead. Hmm.

On her way in, she passes... what was his name? One of the tenth seats, she thinks. He stammers a greeting at her and she nods. He's always struck her as a little weird. She knocks on the door, but enters without waiting. Issui shuffles to Shinobu's desk and bows deeply. Almost too deeply, actually. Don't overbalance and fall, Yanagi. That's ridiculous. "Good afternoon, Akiyama," she says gravely. "I hope you're well today."

Comments

[akiyamashinobu]

"All of them?" Shinobu frowns dubiously, marching both of them forward. "Even the cactus?"

The unseated officers they pass don't get a second look from her - she can't even recall their names - but she doesn't get much of a chance to ask any questions once the two men are out of earshot. Their way is blocked by none other than the cueball 3rd seat. Napping, apparently.

"Couldn't find a better place than this, Ikkaku?" Shinobu sighs loudly. "Get outta the way."

...Madarame responds by propping his leg up to block her. "That's no way to talk to your superior officer." He lounges a little less - like he needed that formal greeting to puff him up any more, ugh - and nods in Issui's direction. "Maybe she can give you tips on manners."

Shinobu actually groans and knocks his leg down with her foot. "Manners, really. From the man dozing off in the hallway."

Madarame doesn't seem the least bit bothered by that, or the kicking. Instead, he's squinting up at Issui curiously. "Hey, you're in 13, right? Same squad as the Kuchiki that got arrested?"

[yanagiissui]

Issui tilts her head at Ikkaku's comment about manners. But because she's her, it ends up as more of a strange list to the side. "Of course," she says solemnly. "I would be honored to assist Akiyama in any way I can."

It's hard not to react to Shinobu kicking him, but Issui has practice. Instead of snorting or laughing she just stares, wide-eyed. She blinks finally and looks back to Ikkaku. She had hoped to get out of here without answering any questions like this, but really. She knew better. Smothering a sigh she says, "Yes. I'm in the Thirteenth with Rukia."

[madarameikkaku]

"Good, because she could use some etiquette lessons." And then Ikkaku oozes down into even more of a sprawl across their path more or less out of spite; he ends up at least partially atop Akiyama's feet. Dignity? What dignity? This is the man who has several Lucky Dances prepared for special occasions.

Akiyama tries to shove Ikkaku away, to little avail. "Get off my feet, shithead."

"That's 'get off my feet, Third Seat Shithead'," He corrects before moving on. Yanagi's answer is... not quite what he was going for. He narrows his eyes more. "What'd she do? Yachiru told me she stole 40 pies or something, but that doesn't sound legitimate."

[yanagiissui]

Issui squints slightly as she looks down at Madarame. Since she's behind Shinobu she is fortunately out of the path of his sprawling. "I don't know, sir." She tilts her head the other way, complete with awkward lurching. "You've already heard more than I have."

Which is even true. It's also true that she probably wouldn't share any details even if she had them. Issui doesn't know Kuchiki well, but she's always been polite and easy to work with. That's good enough for her where her squad mates are concerned.

[akiyamashinobu]

Madarame looks distinctly disappointed at the general lack of details on the Kuchiki scandal. Shinobu would be, too.... but that would just fuel the Third Seat further.

"Fine," He relents, after a moment, folding his arms across his chest and actually moves so that they can pass. "You can go to lunch, Akiyama. But don't be late coming back - you're still on duty."

"Sure, sure," Shinobu replies with a dismissive wave, taking the moment to drag Issui along with her, past Madarame.

She doesn't bother to talk again until Ikkaku is well out of earshot. "Did you really not hear anything?"

[yanagiissui]

Issui lets Shinobu drag her along, even going slightly boneless as she's dragged past Madarame. She almost catches his hand with her foot, not that he's likely to notice. There's also a close call where she almost trips-- she'd really rather not fall and drag Shinobu down with her. Fortunately, she recovers well enough to just trip awkwardly and flail a little.

"Not much," she replies finally. "There are a lot of rumors going around, but none of them sound likely to me. The only thing anyone can agree on is that Kuchiki is apparently facing a death sentence." Issui shrugs. She can't imagine Rukia doing anything to deserve that, but this is the Soul Society. The standards here are... strange.

[akiyamashinobu]

"Execute a noble? A Kuchiki?Yeah, I think Madarame's pie stealing sounds more realistic." Shinobu scoffs louder than she meant to, crossing her arms over her chest. "Weird that you don't know much. You'd think that her squad would at least get some wind of what's going on."

[yanagiissui]

Issui snorts. "I agree." She folds her arms behind her back and keeps even with Shinobu. "Captain Ukitake has been ill recently," she adds after a moment. "That's probably why we haven't heard anything."

She's actually not even sure if he knows what happened. The third seats are... very protective. Issui wouldn't put it past them to keep news from him if they thought it would make him sicker.