Post by temp on May 31, 2016 19:00:28 GMT -5
___V E R B R E N N U N G___
The Burned One
On The Surface___
SEX: Female
AGE / VISUAL AGE: 390 Years / 19 Years
HEIGHT & WEIGHT: 5'4" & 128 lbs.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Verbrennung was a strange sight to behold, even for an Arrancar. Her kin were known for their humanoid appearances and, while she certainly did look like a young woman, there were enough tell-tale signs of 'wrongness' to tip off those with even the dullest of senses that this creature was no human. The first aspect any who approached Verbrennung would notice was not a physical feature, but a... smell; the smoky scent of a bonfire, ash, and burning flesh would hang about her like a cloud and often signalled her arrival before she even revealed herself. This odor was actually a part of her fiery reiatsu, allowing her to suppress the smell if she became skilled enough to dampen her signature. Besides the repugnant aroma, Verbrennung's flame-coloured reiatsu could be seen hanging about her like a hungry fire eternally trying to devour her form: withering and flitting about her shoulders and up the back of her biceps harmlessly- for her, anyways. The woman of scorched flesh carried with her heat everywhere she went that only grew hotter the closer to her one became.
With exception given to her reiatsu 'shawl' and her smell, there were physical differences that set the Arrancar woman apart from her fellow Broken-Masks. The first and most striking feature about Verbrennung was her deep grey (edging on black) skin. While humans could be dark in tone, the pigments of this Arrancar's skin were not of a deep brown hue but of a cooler grey shade; something which was quite unnatural for humankind. Verbrennung's hair, however, was quite mundane. The length of her ink black locks fell to just above her hip bones, like loose fabric whose styling went as far as the Arrancar brushing her hair back behind her pointed ears and out of her face. She had, in the past, attempted to decorate her tresses with flower crowns in some far-fetched attempt to connect with the living world only to find ashes floating down from her head. Ever since, a simple middle-part is as far as she'll go in regards to her hair. Next would come her eyes, quite noticeable and just as odd as her skin as they were a bright, ruby red colour that gave off a dull glow in dim enough lighting. Their noticeability was only aided by the fact that they were set against the dark grey canvas of her skin and equally dark grey sclera. Set just below those luminous oculars was what remained of her mask. It was of simple shape, really: a band of smooth white bone across the bridge of her nose that stretched beneath her eyes and stopped at her cheekbones. It bore upon it a zig-zagged line that went from one end of the mask all the way to the other, giving the appearance of triangles, that was only interrupted by a square set in the very center. This square had within it lines, one connected to each side and corner of the shape until they all met in the middle. All of these designs were set upon the mask via raised bone matter, allowing one to run their hand over the strip and 'feel' the designs. Either way, this biological symbol of her Hollowdom, like all masks, contoured to her features and caused her no discomfort. As for a Hollow hole, Verbrennung possessed two: one in each of the palms of her hands like some grotesque stigmata.
With those two Hollow holes came an end to the oddities that made up the woman as anything else noticed about her was not extraordinary for Arrancar or Humans. She bore an average build at 5'4" and 128 lbs, one that would normally blend in with a crowd as it was neither overweight nor fit. Not a single piece of clothing covered the Arrancar's form; her nude body completely on display for all to see, not that she seemed to care.
Behind The Eyes___
NAME IN LIFE: Catarin Gerwine Blau
NAME IN DEATH: Verbrennung
PLACE OF BIRTH: Bamberg, Germany
LANGUAGES KNOWN: German, English
DATE OF BIRTH & DEATH: May 19th, 1626 - March 1st, 1645
SEXUALITY: No
EVOLUTION: Adjuchas Arrancar
CURRENT ALLEGIANCE: Las Noches
Hello, hello!
Verbrennung is a creature who wanders the planes in search of 'exciting' things to stave off her boredom. Such things often include eavesdropping while human drama unfolds, the curious lives of animals she's come to envy, and her favourite, interacting with other spirits and aware humans. She prefers to sit down and speak to such people, to learn their names and stories and what makes them 'tick'. While she isn't one to revile combat, Verbrennung would much rather kill (and be killed) by someone who she knows the tale of and who knows hers.
- Playful - Whether it's a cheeky comment or bad joke, Verbrennung is not an Arrancar who lacks a sense of humour and camaraderie. She picked up such habits over her years of interacting with various beings; the Broken-Mask finding that she could get more interesting details of people if they were at ease. How do you accomplish that? By making them laugh or, at least, feel amused!
- Attentive - Secrets and tears shared between three siblings was what Verbrennung's human life consisted of. With a timid sister and a silently scorned brother, she learned quickly to act as the 'strong' one to not only her family but to others as well. Sometimes people needed a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen and Catarin was happy to be that person. In death, Verbrennung naturally feels the need to listen if only to sate her curiosity of 'how are you different from everyone else'.
- Protective & Loyal - Those Verbrennung has grown fond of fall under the burning woman's protection as she considers them precious. She has lived with a deep-seated loneliness for as long as she can remember and will talk, comfort, and manipulate to keep this feeling eased, even if it means being loyal to a fault. All she wants for these beings is for them to be safe and happy with her.
- Curious - The whole world is like a big backyard to Verbrennung; one she has explored little of even after almost four hundred years. With a youthful curiosity in her mind, this Arrancar often gets herself into trouble getting into places or situations she shouldn't.
- Sociable - Verbrennung loves to talk to people, to hear their stories, their struggles and their who-what-when-where-why's. Chatting with others eases the pit of loneliness in her stomach and keeps her sense of aimlessness at bay, at least for a while.
- Intuitive - Being an attentive creature, Verbrennung is quick to pick up on subtle differences in body language, facial expressions, tones and mood in others. She uses this when talking with others to try to adapt on the fly to keep the conversation flowing and everyone at ease. Tries to, anyways. This quality of hers also translates into battle as the Arrancar is able to use her abilities, physiology and movements for quick and unorthodox decisions.
- Reflective - Verbrennung is a deeply reflective creature, often mulling extensively on the actions, tones, and words of those she interacts with as well as her own reactions to stimuli. She also likes to pose thought-provoking questions towards her social partners if only to see if she can invoke some reflection in them as well.
- Adventurous - There's so much to see, so much hear, and so many people to meet in the many worlds available to a spirit and Verbrennung wants to explore as much of that which is offered to her. What new landscapes has she yet to see? Is there new music out there she has yet to hear? Perhaps there's someone out there just like her or her polar opposite? She won't know until she's gone out to look!
… Where are you going?
While Verbrennung can be an invaluable friend in the best of times, at her worst she can be dejected stalker looking for revenge against those she 'thought' were her loved ones. Anything or anyone that takes those she cares for away from her become recipients of her jealousy and rage. Even if everything is going fine, a reminder of a bad memory can still ruin her mood. If Verbrennung's human life etched anything into her soul it is to hold onto those she cares for with an unflinching vice and to always be on the lookout for signs of... fading loyalty.
- Pyromaniac - A soul who's living and dead existences have been wreathed in flames has naturally gained an obsessive love with the element. Whether it's a bonfire, a human fire or a city fire, Verbrennung loves to simply watch fire dance and spread. For once in her existence, she has control of where the fire goes and who it burns. It also gives her an outlet for her frustrations of going almost entirely unnoticed in the human world. They may not be able to see or hear her, but they can certainly feel her wrathful fire.
- Envious & Possessive - This red-eyed monster has quite the green-eyed monster within her. When it comes to people Verbrennung is even platonically fond of, jealousy is an emotion that springs up easily within her: a feeling she may act out violently upon if it wells up enough. She wants to be involved in her friends' lives even if it is inappropriate or dangerous for everyone.
- Thrill-Seeker - Since becoming an Arrancar, Verbrennung has found herself lost and without a goal to pursue. So used to the drive of instinctual Hollow hunger and the need for survival was she that, with that primal feature torn away from her, the former bird Hollow found herself simply drifting through Arrancar life seeking interesting things to curb her boredom.
- Thematic Obsessions / Monstrous Self-Image - Certain ideas have burrowed deeply into Verbrennung's psyche: residual muck from when she was human. She thinks of herself as a monster, specifically, as a demon and witch whilst simultaneously hating these thoughts. Due to these beliefs, she often refers to Hueco Mundo as 'Hell', the Soul Society as 'Heaven', and Shinigami as 'Angels'. While she doesn't seem to actually believe these things, Verbrennung feels she must reinforce these ideas or else she will have to accept the fact that she isn't a monster or a demon. When you've used that excuse to dismiss terrible acts you've committed, such a view simply must remain intact, for your own sanity's sake.
- Interpersonally Insecure & Obsessive - Always wondering after her friends and acquaintances is, at best, Verbrennung being thoughtful and caring. At its worse, this 'wondering' edges more into the territory of obsessing whether those she calls allies and loved ones are having wandering loyalties. Will they betray her? Are they planning to be betray her? What should she say to keep them around and what should she... omit?
Strength Of The World___
ASPECT OF DEATH: If you were to weep, would anyone come to comfort you? If you were to struggle, would anyone listen to your worries? If you were to die, would anyone mourn? Even with the Earth overflowing with people, loneliness still finds a way to creep into human hearts and drip down their faces. The crushing realization that no matter what happens to you no one would give a damn. Loneliness was a pervasive emotion throughout Catarin's life. She was a girl who felt she had to take on the burden of her loved one's pain and she did such silently despite how crushing it could be. Catarin's need to be needed eventually led her to die a painful death at the hands of the one she craved for the most. This feeling of crushing isolation prevails into her life-in-death, causing her to live a conflicted existence of "I want to be loved but I don't want to be hurt".
HOLLOW POWER: Like a cruel reminder of her life's end, Verbrennung possesses the supernatural ability to generate and control fire as well as certain aspects related to such (i.e. smoke and ash). The ambient heat radiating from her soul is such that touching the Arrancar is akin to touching a heated stove. Even when Verbrennung's blood is drawn it would appear as glowing, molten material to onlookers. With every aspect of her being reflecting the power of flames, she is naturally resistant to fire and burns, however, in return, Verbrennung is not a fan of water in the slightest.
Quemarlos todos, Bruja Emplumada.Burn them all away, Feathered Witch.
RESURRECCIÓN: Landing upon Verbrennung's back, the Raven sinks its claws into her flesh to initiate the resurrection of their former Hollow self. The familiar melds into her flesh with exception of its wings which grow to a massive enough size that the Arrancar can use for flight if she so wishes, though they tend to drag against the ground near the bottom. In a true display of her demonic self-identification, Verbrennung sprouts a pair of black horns from the edge of her hairline that curve outward and then back in near their ends in a circular manner. Meanwhile, where her humanoid ears once sat, long, narrow, animal-like ears form to mimic those that she possessed as a Full-Mask Hollow. Also mimicking her prior evolution, that strip of Hollow mask that sits across Verbrennung's face grows a point that runs down her nose and curves over it like a beak.
The heat and smell of burning flesh remain in this state but now extend as far as her aura of fire does with increased intensity. The flames that once sat upon her shoulders now extend down her biceps and spine down to her tailbone and fire is constantly licking up from within her mouth as if trying to escape. Finally, those red-on-black eyes are never seen in this form, instead remaining as orange orbs of liquid fire constantly.
The full force of Verbrennung's contained fire is unleashed, extending her passive, searing heat from radiating just slightly off her skin to engulfing a wide area around her. This is even enough to cause fires to spark to life up to five arms-lengths away from her with the distance extending as she gains more synergy and experience with her Resurrección. Her control and generation of fire and its related elements (smoke and ash) remain in this state with the amount generated and their intensity increased. Additionally, the Arrancar is able to dissolve her form into pure fire or black smoke should the need arise.
ZANPAKUTŌ: Quite the unorthodox Zanpakutō, Verbrennung's spiritual weapon has manifested in a shape reminiscent of what she once looked like as an Adjuchas: a raven. The creature would appear to be a mundane member of its species with its black feathered body and similarly coloured beak and talons. This normalcy, however, is interrupted by its beady orange eyes, the intense heat radiating off its body.
Like any raven, Verbrennung’s companion is only able to speak by mimicking the voices of other people in a rather unnatural sounding way. Unlike any raven, the Raven only needs a voice to mimic as it can formulate its own words, though it rarely chooses to speak aloud as it doesn't have much to say to others. Thankfully, this isn’t it’s only means of communication as Verbrennung and her bird are able to communicate through thought. This allows them to plan out strategies (such as who will fire Ceros where) or discuss (read: bicker) silently.
While it's unheard of for an Arrancar's Zanpakutō to have any kind of sentience or personality, the Raven does and is. It's a serious and humourless creature who simply tries to nudge Verbrennung towards efforts it sees as worthwhile; a topic that had been the center of contention between the two for their first two decades together. While the bird wanted her to focus on ventures that would make them stronger—as they’d done when they were a singular Full-Mask—Verbrennung felt that progress was impossible now that their mask was broken, and thus she focused on things she found fun or interesting. After their encounter with Obsession in the Seireitei wherein the Raven’s life was threatened, Verbrennung has shed much of her aimless lifestyle and takes her companion’s words to heart. She’s been making the Raven do what she’s wanted for twenty-two years, it’s about time she made some sacrifices and does what it wants for once.
Despite their bickering, the Raven truly wants the best for its companion in a ‘fatigued parent’ kind of way. It isn’t one to coddle Verbrennung, believing that it’s much more effective to standby and let the kid touch the stove if you’ve already told them not to. Consequences are the best teacher after all. Sadly, this cold attitude doesn't lend itself well to friendship—something which the Arrancar craves. When Verbrennung needs someone to hear out her worries or irrational fears, the Raven is likely to tell her to go eat, kill, or train than to stay at her side as a shoulder to cry on—ironic considering it was born out of the girl's need for a companionship.
Legacy Created___
Part 1 - The Death of a Girl
1626
Verbrennung's existence began in a cliffside estate in the town of Bamberg, Germany three hundred and ninety years ago on May 19th. Twin girls of fair skin, bright brown eyes and black hair were welcomed into the Blau family by their Mother, Father and Grandmother: Gerwine, Bertolt, and Adelaide. Catarin (as she was known in life) laid swaddled in her mother's arms; her twin Anna only an opposing arm away with baby Ben being cared for by a nearby maid. Bertolt stayed near Gerwine, holding each babe in turn while paying no mind to Ben. Such a scene would echo throughout their family life leaving Catarin to ponder why there was such a mysterious tension between her father and brother. To such an extent that one of her earliest memories was of Bertolt discussing with Gerwine his worries of not having a male heir despite Ben's existence. Did father, in turn, dislike Catarin and Anna for not being boys? Could his odd grudge with their sibling extend to such a degree? Such thoughts only invaded her mind during periods of quietness or loneliness causing Catarin to be a more outgoing and mischief-making child in an effort of avoidance.
1629
Just as she was born with Anna at her side, Catarin lived with Anna at her side. The quieter and more analytical of the twins (though also the pushover) Anna found herself consistently drug along on Catarin's pranks and adventures with their older brother Ben in tow. Digging in the dirt here, climbing trees there, consistently spooking the help. Catarin was a hotbed of poor behaviour with scoldings doing little to stop her antics and, with her siblings at her side, they were a triple threat to be reckoned with. As long as she was having fun she could pretend she couldn't see the stress weighing heavily on her parents, the pain in Ben's eyes every time father instinctively frowned at the sight of him, or the withdrawn sadness that hung about her grandmother. A sorrow, mixed with illness, that took Grandmother Adelaide from the family at the age of forty-eight. The Blau family hired a personal maid for the overworked Gerwine a few months after Adelaide's death. At this time, the children were all three years of age.
1640
The years were peaceful for the most part. Catarin's behaviour eased, though she still preferred to stay out of the house with her siblings as much as possible. Gerwine was relieved the girl no longer brought frogs in to show to their guests, at least. It was during this year, however, that the peace of that cliffside manor was broken; punctuated by a single word screamed at Ilse by Catarin's mother and father.
"Witch!"
"Witch!"
"Witch!"
"Witch!"
Catarin, Anna and Ben watched from a foyer window as the maid they had grown up with was drug out into the streets by their parents. They watched as a mob began to gather around them. They watched as their father was wreathed in flames and flung effortlessly into the foyer by Ilse somehow. They watched it all. The children scrambled to hide in the next room over, Catarin keeping herself in front of her terrified siblings.
Bertolt... Their father... She had done her best to hide the sight from her siblings but she had gotten a good look at that creature. The parent who once hugged her and Anna, the man who once provided for them so that they would never need or want... Was a demon. His skin was as red as blood, fire hissed from his eye sockets and onyx horns twisted grotesquely from his scalp. Catarin scarcely had time to absorb what had happened or what it all meant before a violent rumble shook the estate. She acted on pure adrenaline, bursting to her feet and grabbing a nearby chair. With a mighty toss, she hurled it through the closest window and urged her siblings to climb out while they still could. The whole building, their childhood home, came down. Catarin and Anna escaped. Ben, Gerwine, and Bertolt did not come out. The twin girls hurried away from the rubble as even the cliff itself began to crumble. Perhaps God himself wanted to entomb that monster.
With nowhere to go, the twins were taken in by the Noble Brandt family. None of them or their friends had seen what had occurred that fateful day, thus none of them truly believed the rumours of an actual witch ripping down the cliff and disfiguring Lord Blau into a 'demon'. No, the one thing on Lord Addler and Lady Clarimond Brandt's minds was the prospect of marrying one of the girls to their son Addler Jr. and taking over the Blau family's mining operations.
1645
It had been five years since Catarin and Anna's family was taken from them along with their home. Most of the townsfolk steered clear of the girls out of fear of being cursed or labelled a witch. The twins had slowly grown comfortable with the Brandt family over the years. A comfort that had begun to splinter as Anna grew closer and closer to the Brandt's son. Anna was the only 'true' family Catarin felt she had left and even prior to the disaster, the two were inseparable! Now Catarin found herself alone most of the time, alone with loud thoughts. The screams of that day still rang in her ears as if she were still in that house, staring at the creature that was once their father. She could hear her mother and brother screaming, that demon roaring, Ilse's inhuman words! The further Anna went from her, the more Catarin regressed to her poor childhood behaviour. Temper tantrums, screaming matches, stolen jewellery and broken furniture. This chaos came to a head for Catarin when Addler Jr. and Anna announced their engagement. A single thought entered her mind.
"Now... I am completely alone."
Jealousy and hate, hate and jealousy. Round and round these emotions circled in Catarin's mind like two wolves looking to lay sole claim to her mind. Hatred towards Anna for abandoning her. Jealousy towards Addler Jr. for having her sister's attention. Hatred towards Addler Jr. for stealing her sister away. Jealousy towards Anna for finding love amidst the ashes left behind by their old life. This hurricane of negativity festered within her until the eve of her sister's engagement. Anna was in bed when Catarin stood before Addler Jr. as naked as the day she was born; the nineteen year old boy's cheeks flushed from either his drink or the sight. Perhaps both. The two quickly became entangled with Catarin doing little to muffle what was going on. In a way, she wanted them to know.
Anna stared at the two, the Lord and Lady Brandt at her back. Addler Jr. scrambled to explain himself while Catarin simply sat upon the table they had conjoined upon, still naked and staring hatefully towards them all. Anna walked right past her blubbering in-laws and panicked fiancé to stand before her twin. A small hope blossomed in the seated girl's heart. Would she apologize for abandoning her? Did she finally understand? Anna croaked out a single word.
"... Witch."
Wait, what?
"Witch."
No. No, this wasn't how it was supposed to go.
"Witch!"
Catarin's sister grew louder until she shrieked the word, her fiancé joining in as he saw an opportunity to escape his mistake.
"WITCH!"
Lord Addler and Lady Clarimond hesitantly began to join in while their son grabbed the nude sister by her biceps and began to drag her out of the house.
"WITCH!!"
Rain battered against her naked form, eliciting shivers from Catarin as she was pulled into the streets. People seemed to gather so quickly at the heralding of a witch, like a madness whipping them all up into a frenzy. She was taken straight to the pyre, the townsfolk screaming about how they had all known something like this would happen. They would burn her, rain be damned. Dry tinder and wood was gathered as quickly as the mob could find it while Catarin was tied to the wooden post. It was all happening so fast with the chanting of 'Witch' seeming to punctuate each beat of her adrenaline-fueled heart. Torches were shoved into the gathered pile until the flames took root, despite the rain. Tears streaked the cheeks of Catarin, though it wasn't noticeable amongst the rain drops sticking to her skin. If the bubbling of her skin didn't tell the crowd the fire was hot enough than her agonized shrieks surely did, for though the cool rain gave her hope of relief she knew it was a false hope. She would die this day listening to that word that seemed to consistently mark the ruinous chapters of her life.
"Witch!"
"Burn the witch!"
Anna screamed it the loudest.
Part 2 - The Birth of a Bird
1646
A year had passed since Catarin had met with her terrible end. She could still recall her soul falling free of her body only to land in the wet, ash-laden muck at the foot of her pyre. The wails of her agony still pulling free of her lips as she hadn’t realized she was already dead. By the time the fires of her burning had died down and the townsfolk began to leave, Catarin’s shrieks had hushed to weak sobs of shock, confusion and despair. All she could do was observe as her charred corpse was taken to be disposed of elsewhere while her sister began her slow walk home. The odd chain that dangled freely from Catarin’s chest latched onto Anna. Wherever her sister went, so too would she.
Those were her thoughts at the time at least, but a dullness had grown over her mind. Spending a year as an invisible spectator took its toll, though even in her ghostly state of obsession she still held some politeness to herself. Catarin did her best to not disturb Anna’s life further as it seemed she wasn’t as unheard or unseen as she originally thought.
1647
She watched Anna give birth to her first child: a son she named Benjamin Bertolt. If Catarin had been alive, she would be an Aunt. If she were alive, perhaps she would even be a mother herself by now.
1648
Anna birthed another of Addler Jr.’s children, this time a girl she named Gerwine Adelaide. Of course she wouldn’t name the child after Catarin but some part of her had hoped Anna would want to remember her.
1649
Every year. Every month. Every day… minute… second! Catarin was always there, watching as Anna carried on with her life as if she had never even existed. Initially she was content simply being able to watch over her twin and stay close to her but time grated on her mind. She was able to watch but observing Anna’s day-to-day life only demonstrated how little Catarin’s death had affected her. The ‘politeness’ she had stuck to was gradually being replaced by resentment and loneliness.
Catarin had begun screaming out in anger or sorrow whenever the emotion crossed her, as well as breaking things to try to gain some attention from her sister. These behaviours only seemed to foster a growing fear in Anna which, while not the goal of her lashing out, pleased Catarin nonetheless. Any kind reaction from her sister made Catarin feel she still existed to some extent and was still a part of Anna’s life.
It became clear that Catarin’s haunting was weighing heavily on Anna and her husband. They fought, wept and seemed increasingly on edge until Addler Jr. actually shoved Anna to the floor during a heated arguement. Though Catarin had been tormenting the family, she still held an obsessive love for her sister. All she had wanted was Anna’s attention. Addler’s violence snipped the last vestige of sanity left in her mind and reinforced the delusion that her sister was only safe with her.
Anna watched from her spot on the floor as a nearby bottle of alcohol poured itself out over Addler’s head followed by a match being tossed at his suit. Her husband and father of her children went up in flames, shrieking in pain and panic all the while. While the spouses attempted to douse the fire, Catarin went about knocking over candles and striking matches all over the house.
Only once the house was wreathed in flames did Catarin Hollowify completely: no longer a Tsukerei. She devoured the souls of those within before traveling to Hueco Mundo for the first time.
1828
It had one hundred and seventy-nine years since she first became a Hollow. Thirty-three years since she had regained a sense of self as a Gillian. Here she stood now upon two, four-toed talons. A smaller form reminiscent of a twisted mixture between a flamingo and a vulture. Her body was covered in charcoal black feathers with exception being made only for her spindly legs from the knee down. Catarin had also been blessed with a twenty-four foot wingspan to lift her body into the eternal night skies of Hueco Mundo where she could hunt from above.
Despite her bird-like appearance, Catarin’s Adjuchas mask possessed somewhat long, pointed ears and a beak full of fangs so big she appeared to be constantly grinning. The top portion of her beak curved sharply downward into a point that she found useful for digging into Hollow flesh and bone.
With her individuality being made real with her evolution, Catarin decided to name her Verbrennung. It meant burning in her favourite human language and represented her new abilities which pleased her. The power to generate and control fire were useful tools, especially when she could fly down and surprise her prey with a flame bath.
Part 3 - A Clash of Beasts
1994
A dying Gillian laid before Verbrennung as many had throughout her lifetime, however she did not move in for the kill. On the opposing side of the toppled over giant was another Adjuchas that she had come to know as Manada: a hyena-shaped Adjuchas with six legs. This particular Hollow had become infamous for being a one-Hollow pack due to his cloning abilities making it a force to be reckoned with. The two encircled the Gillian, keeping their eyes locked on one another. Verbrennung needed every soul she could get if she wanted to evolve into an elusive Vasto Lorde, and Gillians were dense constructions of souls. So many souls to add to her family...
The battle between the two lasted for over an hour before Manada lay dying a few feet from Verbrennung. She had made use of her aerial capabilities to get outside of his reach as well as fending off his clones by bathing the sands in fire. Though she had laid Manada low with talon, tooth and flame, Verbrennung had not come out unscathed. Feathers generously decorated the battlefield after having been clawed and torn from her body. Deep gashes oozed molten blood and sizzled against the ground where she laid. Normally she could recover from such injuries however Manada had gotten the beak of her mask in his powerful jaws and damaged it irreparably. All she could do was brace for whatever would happen next all the while her mask crumbled.
Death, however, did not come to Verbrennung a second time. Lying in the sand where the sable-feathered Adjuchas once sprawled was now an ashen-skinned woman with a thin strip of mask still sitting horizontally across the bridge of her nose, cheekbone to cheekbone. She pushed herself to a seated position to consider her new form and her surroundings. A humanoid form was a telltale sign of a Vasto Lorde, though she felt not much more powerful than before. The hunger no longer ached in her gut either and… What was this at her side? An unconscious little bird?
The cycle of Hueco Mundo did not wait for her mind to catch up with it as other Hollow began to move in towards the prone Gillian and Adjuchas before her. Verbrennung called out to one of them from where she was seated.
“All of this is yours for the eating if you answer my question.”
“Ask this question then.” Replied the bison-shaped Adjuchas, its nostrils flaring with the eternal hunger of their-... 'his' kind.
“Am I a Vasto Lorde? If not, then what?”
“That is not a question, that is two.” It snorted, “No, you are an Arrancar. Regression is a thing of the past for your kind, but so is evolution.”
“An Arrancar?” She echoed, gently scooping the rune-covered bird into her arms.
“Yes, now, let me be, Broken One. Some of us still have to eat to retain ourselves.” Its word were spat towards her as if she were scum to the bison.
A frown donned her lips at the creature’s tone, though she was in no shape to take on another fight right now, nor did she want to. Curiosity resounded through her soul. There was no hunger, fear of regression, nor goal of evolution. She could wander all she wanted... but to what end?
Part 4 - Ever Onward
1998
Four years. Four long years had passed since the hunger had abandoned her, since her mask was shattered and her title was changed from Full-Mask to Broken-Mask. Everyday since the incident Verbrennung had spent scolding herself for being too greedy, too eager to soothe the loneliness that had burned in her soul for as long as she could remember. When she wasn't beating herself up, she spent time with the Raven she had found post-mask break. It seemed to possess all the memories she did and was just as confused at her appearing as she was towards it, though, it recalled things a bit differently. The bird scolded itself aloud for being too greedy for souls to achieve evolution, NOT for easing the sorrow. The sable woman didn't comment on it at first, unsure if the creature was an ally or foe. With four years under their belt, however, the Raven and the woman had come to realize they were connected like a plate cracked right down the middle.
Tumultuous was the relationship between humanoid and beast as the girl felt lost without the drive of the monstrous Hollow Hunger all the while the beast simply wanted to continue progressing as if nothing had happened. The Raven followed after the aimlessly wandering girl as it worried the death of her would be the death of it. If the bird did get fed up and flew off anyways, Verbrennung was not far behind: she couldn't handle being alone and separated from her 'other half'.
The pair went from one intrigue to another, from one argument to reconciliation... and that is how they continue to exist to this day.
SNAPSHOTS:
1626 - Catarin Blau is born in Bamberg, Germany.
1640 - After being accused of witchcraft, Ilse the Maid disfigures Bertolt into a demon before bringing down the whole estate. Bertolt, Ben and Gerwine are presumed dead.
1645 - Anna and Addler Brandt Jr. become engaged. Catarin and Addler Jr. are caught together. Catarin is burned at the stake as a witch and becomes a Tsukirei Demi-Hollow.
1649 - Catarin kills Anna and fully Hollowifies afterwards.
1709 - The Basic Hollow formerly known as Catarin melds with hundreds of other Base Hollow-Breeds to form a Gillian.
1828 - Verbrennung becomes an Adjuchas Hollow.
1994 - Verbrennung gets into a fight with (and barely defeats) another Adjuchas Hollow. Her mask is broken in the tussle but instead of ceasing to be, she becomes an Arrancar.
2016 - Verbrennung wanders Hueco Mundo and Earth in search of a way to quell her loneliness.
ROLEPLAY SAMPLE: "Even after three hundred years this place looks exactly the same..."
Cruising through the sky of eternal night was a nude, ashen figure upon a broomstick: the ends of the twigs hissing with moderately-sized flames. Verbrennung let a sigh escape her as she observed the endless white sands of Hueco Mundo, occasionally catching the sight of Hollow fighting one another. She was bored of this place and yet she always found herself returning to lazily soar through the skies to observe it. The Arrancar pondered whether being here so long had caused a sense of fondness to grow within her. She snorted at the thought.
"I think there's a better term for this. What is it? Stockholm Syndrome?"
Verbrennung found most Hollow to be poor company. Eat, eat, eat, that's all they wanted. Well. Less wanted and more needed. She knew, she had been one once. On the flip side, however, she was wary of the other beings like her. 'Arrancar' as she had been told by the calmer of the Hollow-breeds. All she knew of 'Arrancar' was what she had learned by being one. It was triggered by getting one's mask broken, the aching hunger was gone and she now looked more like a humanoid. Initially Verbrennung had been excited and thought she had ascended to the legendary stage of Vasto Lorde, but the other Hollow-breeds corrected her after much laughter. Regardless, many of the other Arrancar seemed to congregate in the White City where the 'King' of Hueco Mundo resided. Could a place such as Hueco Mundo even have a King? As curious as she was, she wasn't about to waltz inside to find out.
"Who would want to rule over such a drab landscape anyways?" She mumbled under her breath to herself.
The flames upon the broom's end kicked up to a roar as Verbrennung directed the zanpakutō to ascend and accelerate higher into the dark sky. Flying always brought a small curve to her lips, a tiny piece of joy.
"I doubt a ruler of monsters and sand would make for a good friend anyways!"
OOC ___
PLAYER ALIAS: Temp
GRADE?: Yes, please! I'm trying to improve.
REFERRAL?: Yep, Freylief.
OTHER CHARACTERS: Soyo-Soyo Jugan
