Alliance with a fallen knight. (RP thread)

[Mad_Scientist]

(OOC: This is a brief RP thread, explaining how Sir Curtis ends up as Alan's fraccion. Takes place immediately after the Espada meeting)

The Espada meeting had made something very clear to Alan. He needed more strength. He was surrounded by enemies, many far stronger than himself, and even many of his so-called allies could betray him at any moment. He was a member of the Espada and in a decent position of power and authority, but he was ranked 10, making him a target for every Espada wannabe out there. Simply training himself and increasing his own power might not be enough to survive, and so any strong allies he could get would be an advantage.

But even knowing all this, he had doubts about his current course of action. Once again, he expressed such doubts to Ninian. "Are you sure about this? I'm the reason this guy is no longer an Espada. Any normal arrancar would be expected to hate me in such a situation. The way he behaved at the meeting could easily just be an act to make me relax my guard."

"I know", she replied. "But even so, I think we can trust him. We'll have to observe him very closely while we have our little talk in order to be certain, but if this goes we'll have turned a potential enemy into an ally. And a powerful one at that. Since he just lost his position to us, it's not unreasonable to assume that he's just about the strongest non-Espada arrancar out there."

One nice thing about being an Espada was that any lower arrancar tended to do what you asked without question. As a result, it had been easy to learn the location of the living quarters of the person Alan seeked. And so, Alan found himself standing outside the room of Sir Curtis Turmoil Franker, former number 10 Espada. He knocked on the door, and then entered.

[blackluster]

Curtis was getting ready to leave. He'd resume his solitary wandering in the desert, feeding on hollows and contemplating his existance. Turmoil was letting outdeep, gutteral croaking noises as it consumed the hollow before it. The hollow in question had been unfortunate to be walking in the corrider outside of Curtis' room. Even as the large horse shaped skull protruding from his chest continued to feed, Curtis raised his own head to regard the visitor.

"What business do you have with us espada? We're to leave these halls immediately. Was the course of events not satisfactory for you.....?"

[Mad_Scientist]

Alan was a bit surprised by the horse skull sticking out of the chest of the former number 10. That must have been hidden underneath Curtis's cloak when Alan saw him at the Espada meeting. The fact that the horse was apparently chewing on something at this moment was also slightly disconcerting, but Alan pressed on with his intended plan.

"You're leaving? I do not think that is necessary. After all, many arrancar who are not Espada still serve valuable purposes here. Some serve as fraccion, for example."

Alan paused briefly, then continued. "I have a proposition that I would like you to consider. I would like you to stay here, and become my fraccion. But actually, I am suggesting something a bit more than that. Being on a similar power level as me, you must realize that the following is the truth. Both of us are strong, strong enough to attract a lot of unwanted attention, but not strong enough to easily survive alone. Even here in Las Noches, we are surrounded by potential enemies among our current 'allies'. Outside the relative safety of the dome, it is even worse. The title of Espada or even "former Espada" is not something that can easily be escaped from, regardless of what we do.

That is why we would both benefit if we form an alliance. As part of that alliance, you would become my fraccion, for the meantime at least. You are nearly as strong as an Espada, and together we would have great strength, enough to match some of the threats we may face. We'd both have a much easier time surviving.

And as my fraccion, I would be able to share information with you that you would not otherwise have access to. In the event that you ever became stronger than me, than you would become the new number 10, and I would become your fraccion, and the alliance between us would continue, simply with the roles reversed. With us working together, perhaps sometime in the future we might even both be members of the Espada, standing side by side."

And paused again, and studied the tall knight. He wasn't used to making speeches, and he wasn't certain how eloquent his words turned out. Still, he was fairly pleased with the way he presented himself. Now he had to simply wait for Curtis to consider the proposal and respond.

[blackluster]

The proposal certainly surprised Curtis. His mind was linked with Turmoil's, and the beast stopped its messy eating, as if also considering what was said. A long drawn out croaking noise emanated from Curtis' mask as he pondered the possibility. He never cared much for the halls of Las Noches. He cared even less for its inhabitants, and would have gladly wondered into he dangerous desert, perhaps seeking the depths of solitude, the place where the pinnacles of this world, the Vasto lords reside.....

Certainly to go before them as I am now would be suicide. I feel compelled to seek them out. To learn the truths of this place....

Curtis certainly lacked the knowledge of the Vasto Lords. He felt however that he had to find them. The oldest of their kind who have walked the deserts for eternity, never revealing themselves, seeking only nothingness. As depressing as it may have sounded to others, such a life was one Curtis deeply desired, and would devote his strength to acquiring. To stride in the stillness, as the stars stride through the silent black of the void.

Unbeknownst to him, Curtis' eyes had strayed to the window, regarding the fake sky outside. Turning to his guest, he rose slowly from his seat. Even as he stood up, Turmoil quickly snapped up the remains of the hollow carcass before it got too far out of reach. This offer may well serve his purpose. If he could gain knowledge of the Vasto Lords, and the paths they took to their personal emptiness, then a road may appear for him as well. To survive in the land of his dreams, Curtis would need strength, and though he was no longer the number 10, this new espada's proposal might be exactly the vessel he needed to carry himself toward his goal.

Curtis approached the espada awkwardly, having to stoop due to his immense height. Sensing his master's renewed intent seemed to please Turmoil. It made for a macabre scene, the massive cloaked figure, stooping in the low room, obscuring the light from the window with his massive form, and the massive horse head in his chest, with a limp body dangling from its jaws. Curtis' armour rattled as he moved, the sound complemented by the crunching, crackling noise of the dead hollow's body being chewed into oblivion, bones and all, by Turmoil.

Curtis stooped lower to better meet the espada's gaze.

"We will agree to your proposal. For strength and knowledge, let us combine our powers. We shall be fraccion of the 10th. Where would you have us impose our might...?"

[Mad_Scientist]

After hearing Alan's proposal, the giant arrancar had at first seemed lost in thought. After a moment he stood up, and as he did so the skull in his chest snatched the remains of the thing it had been chewing on, a dead Hollow. Curtis stood before Alan, towering over him, and then stooped a bit in order to meet his eyes. "This man certainly has an intimidating presence.", Alan thought.

"We will agree to your proposal. For strength and knowledge, let us combine our powers. We shall be fraccion of the 10th. Where would you have us impose our might...?"

"See. Told you it would go well." Ninian's voice sounded rather cheerful, but Alan was still a bit uncertain. Exactly what sort of ally had he just acquired? He managed to force a smile that was actually partially genuine, and then answered his new fraccion.

"Excellent. I am glad you see things that way.

Now, for the promised information. It seems there is a bigger threat to us than just the Shinigami. There is an extremely powerful Vasto Lorde, Dios de Diablo, who desires the supremacy of what he feels to be 'pure' Hollows. Which does not include us arrancar. He is trying to destroy us all, and I was told that he is stronger than even the number 1."

Alan thought he saw something flicker in Curtis's eyes at the mention of the words "Vasto Lorde." Maybe it was just his imagination, though.

"Somehow, the higher-ups intend to manipulate the Shinigami, as part of their plans. They have other things in motion as well. Unfortunately, I myself know little of the overall plan, but I will soon be sent on a mission as part of it. And I would like your strength for that mission."

Almost on cue, there was a knock on the door. An attendant entered, bowed politely, and said "Alan-sama, I was informed that you were here. I have a mission for you, from her excellency Mircalla-sama. The details are included in this letter." Handing Alan the note, he bowed again and left, rather quickly actually. Alan realized it was the same attendant he had smashed into the wall earlier in the day. He'd have to learn his sometime, probably.

"Well, that is convenient timing, is it not?"

(OOC: to be continued in mission 1A (http://www.bleachasylum.com/showthread.php?t=4764))