Welcome to Gaia! ::

(( Oh, I was interested, but in character there was limited things I could see- not to mention this is not a good time for fashion advice! ))

From his new position, Charles cannot see Ophelia any longer. Only hear the rustle of her movement. Then the rather blatant disapproval of where the conversation is headed. With a heavy sigh he tries to reassure the rather taciturn Arrancar. "I would politely say he hasn't offered any information at all- merely told me what he would like to hear. If anything, he is asking for secrets from me, rather than giving them to me."

Hear it all? Is he nuts?! Horatio certainly must know some of this information, why ask for it all? Then the thought hits Charles that perhaps he is asking for other reasons. Learning what the Shimigami know about the subject? No, that doesn't make sense. After all, as they now hold the Seireitei, they have access to the libraries and everything. All the documentation kept is at their fingertips. Still, he did give his word that his answers would be accurate. Charles only hopes to keep it from being too long and boring his audience.

"Everything . . . Well, forgive me if I don't offer citations for this material, as I cannot do proper research." A soft sigh escapes him and he pauses a moment to gather his thoughts.

"When a human dies, their spirit escapes the body. Connected via a heavy chain to the body, the spirit cannot be lost until death breaks that chain. The spirit is what I would refer to as an "Alpha state", though that is for personal theory. It is from this state that a soul is able to choose paths. Like an unfocused light, there is some power depending on the strength of the soul, but rarely has any ability to do anything."

"For the path of Shimigami, a zanpaktou can offer access to the soul society. A sort of 'heaven' as it leads to the next world. From there, more powerful alpha's are allowed to train and hone their power to become shimigami. All are either given or manifest swords capable of doing damage to a soul- the soul cutter, or zanpaktou. Lower level shimigami cannot hear their swords' names or unlock any special abilities. That comes later."

"For hollows, there are two ways to become one. First is over about a month of time, an alpha state soul can become consumed with anger, hatred, or other negative emotions. This process causes the area where the remaining soul chain to fall away, leaving a characteristic hole. When complete, the body changes to a form more suitable for the soul's awakened/focused abilities, and a bonelike mask will form around the face to protect the vulnerable soul inside. This hollow will seek out high concentrations of spirit energy to consume. Those consumed of their energy will in turn become hollows as well. I think of it as the method of reproduction for Hollows."

"The oddity is that when a shimigami 'slays' a hollow, the soul is not destroyed. The zanpaktou will purify the hollow, returning it to an alpha stat at the same time as passing the soul on to the area surrounding the seireitei. The unique abilities of hollows and shimigami that manifest are . . . in my theories . . . the true extention of will. We all have a nature, a method of attack, defense, or expression. Hollow powers do this literally, whereas the zanpaktou is a physical medium for that power. Without the sword, a shimigami is without access to that ability."

Taking a moment to think, Charles feels a bit odd 'teaching' such basics to his 'enemies.' In fact, his earlier theories of the nature between shimigami and hollow are beginning to resurface again in his mind as he continues to see some compassion and intellect in the ones he was taught to fear and consider monsters. Perhaps the Arrancar are not monsters as much as predators? By nature they consume and destroy the energies of a shimigami . . . but have the ability to choose who and when to attack. Predators do not kill all in sight, only what they need to.

Charles is not sure if he is more confused, or less about the way he is being introduced into this war.

Charles listens very carefully to Horatio- almost as carefully as he is looking at the Arrancar. Some say almost three quarters of what is said is done non-verbally. There is something in his tone, faint and barely detectable. Had he not been looking Charles would likely have not caught it. Remorse?! Horatio is resentful of something. Consuming souls- he regrets the typical method of feeding for Arrancars and hollows. Interesting . . .

Not wanting to let too much time pass and seem like he is considering a fake answer, Charles continues after only a moment of hesitation. Of course, the stray thought of wishing he could take notes fervently passes his mind before he speaks again. "Memories are fickle things. Some might say that retaining them through the transformation is due to strength of the spirit. More stubborn ones being willful enough to resist the change mentally. For me, I think that it is more how strong the connection to the old life was. If there was a reason to hang on. A devout love for somebody, like family. Devotion to a place, or object. That sort of strong emotional connection can remain. Perhaps it is random chance, but it makes more sense to me to have a reason to remember. A need to keep memories. Some would just as much not care to remember and become beastial- starting over. Others were deeply involved in life, to the point of feeling connected to every aspect."

"Concerning . . . feeding . . ." Charles stammers for a moment here. Even though neither has shown any interest in feeding on him per se, he is keenly aware of being analogous to being a cheeseburger in a room with two teenagers that might have the munchies. "Hollows have been known to return to family members for comfort shortly after the change. Still, use of powers requires energy, and replenishing that power in a literal sense simply is consuming energy. The higher quality or density the energy, the better it 'tastes.' Souls are a highly efficient form of energy, and like focusing light through a lens, shimigami concentrate their power and become more 'appetizing.' In theory, any energy would do."

"In the seireitei, everything is formed out of reishi- spirit energy particles. Over time, you and your bretheren might come to realize that as long as you don't use major powers your hunger might not need abating for long periods. Perhaps not as satisfying as a meal- but life sustaining."

Charles pauses again, looking down and losing focus for a moment, gathering his thoughts. For a moment he considered not telling them his theories in full, but he did give his word. Even if the other shimigami are currently proven marginally honorless, he will keep his word. Looking back at Horatio, he continues. "The Vaizard are an anomaly. Records said that they used forbidden techniques to access their hollow powers, but did not list what those techniques were. If anything they are the focal point for my latest theory."

"Shimigami and Hollows are the same damn thing."

Charles watches Horatio very carefully now. More than willing to continue, his pause was to gauge the reaction from his words. He had outlined his flowchart earlier to Marco, but the shimigami was less interested in that than the weaponized reishi refractor. How will this situation fare when he places the crux of his new theory on the proverbial table. They could be angry by the assumption, and hurt him. Hell, they could kill him or eat him and Charles would not be able to put up much of a fight. Still, Horatio is not acting like a monster. He is acting like one searching for answers. Searching for knowledge. With a deep hunger for understanding of the world, Charles knows this and senses for the moment . . . a kindred spirit. Then again, he has been wrong before.

(( I swear that isn't my intention! ))

Hearing Ophelia again pipe up, Charles wants to sigh. She is always so negative and down. Perhaps half of her imposing nature is her aggression. Still, best not to suggest she lighten up. That would likely get him killed. "It doesn't have to be love . . . hatred is not the opposite of love. Just as powerful, only with a different outcome. Love something and it is always on your mind. You seek it out, you want it in your life, to hold it and be around it. Hate something and it is always on your mind. You seek it out, you want to destroy it, to ruin it's life, to maim and scar it."

(( I was under the impression that I was laying down, but yes, I continue to be immobile. ))

Charles takes the jibe in stride. He is a philosopher, a thinker and dreamer. Besides, aggravating her at this point serves no purpose. What makes his eyes widen a bit in surprise is what she says after the jibe. He can't help a mumbled thought as it goes out his lips. "You . . . eat hollows?!" The comment is more to himself than to her, the shock of that statement sending his mind into a spin. Never in his studies had there been any mention of pseudo-cannibalism. Despite his mild relief at her desire to leave, he can't help but ask a little louder to Ophelia:

"If I may ask you a question? Do your subordinates 'taste' any different than low-level shimigami?" This is neither said as an insult or jibe . . . only a honest question. Charles' mind races with wonder at how her answer might fit into his theory.

Positive now that Ophelia is gone, Charles quietly flexes his muscles as Horatio talks. Feeling all the major muscle groups respond naturally and quickly to his mental commands, he realizes that he is fully mobile again. What is more, now he is alone with the Arrancar that has been polite to him- even kind. Getting up like one would from a relaxing nap, he even goes as far as to stretch, then rise from the ground. With a guilty smile he mumbles "Thought she'd never leave . . ." and bows to Horatio.

"Feral nature does not eliminate strong will. It is a base to which personality is formed. It is a layer beneath cognition, and is just as powerful as rational thought- if not more so. As per memories, in my opinion it is not a very good chance. The transformation is massive and difficult. In the body, the brain would have the memories and only risk some fuzziness to the details. In the spirit form, specially when the form radically changes several times from alpha, to delta hollow and again to echo Arrancar, I have no idea if any vestige of memory remains."

"If anybody were to know, it might be the Vaizard. They are the key to all this. Being both shimigami and hollow, they would have the best understanding of all beings. I find that the more I discover . . . the more I admire them." A shy look crosses his face, but he presses on hoping to continue chatting.

"I have no idea who this 'him' is you speak of, or why you would be drawn to him. All I know is that in a savage world, the likes of which both our societies have become, strength trumps all. The drive to get stronger is both for protection and survival . . . a homeostatic imperative." Smirking slightly, he dares to look Horatio in the eye with a piercing stare.

"I have learned much here . . . my friend. Much more than you may realize. The questions come later, when I have learned more from those that I was abandoned by. Your reactions are both intriguing and exhilarating. Still . . . Your questions have been few. Certainly there is more I can tell you, more use I might be?" Somehow it doesn't feel odd at all anymore. Horatio is on the same emotional level as Marco now- an intellectual sparring partner for the moment. Charles holds no illusions that he is anything more than a snack to an Arrancar- but this one seems more. Standing here like equals on an empty plain, he doesn't feel arrogance or fear. Only cautious ease. If he dies here, at least he dies with a few good experiences.

"Vizard? Well... Are you suggesting we got and snag one of them next so that we can discover more? I Wouldn't mind to give that a go!" A peak of interest and light rang in Horatio's voice, as if something new had caught his curiousity. Horatio paused for a moment still reciting most of what Charles had said, how everything pretty much originated from the same source.

"Charles... This is more of a question to your opinion, is there ever a possibility that all the diffrent races can co-exist togather? Why is it that we all carry arms to each other instead of words? What sparked this whole conflict?... And more so, about yourself, what would the soul society, your squad say or do if you possessed an... alliance or some how aided an arrancar in whatever way that might be... or even mutually befriended one?"

Horatio seemed to pause at the word 'friendship', as if something about saying the word as unnatural to him and unreal, an uncomfortable word.