Celebrate the New Generation...PARTY?!

[chanchan05]

Kyouka Getsumaru, the very respected(?) captain of the 5th Division walked quickly towards one the great courts in Seireitei. The structure was normally used as a large function hall for various ceremonies and events. Today it would be the site of the ceremonial party for the new recruits of Seireitei. Getsumaru sighed. It has been quite some time since he started this party. He did not realized then that it would grow to be quite an annual event in Soul Society.

It began several years ago, when Getsumaru first became a captain. He had wanted to build camaraderie among his subordinates, so he decided to create a welcoming party for the new recruits. However, it had a twist. They planned together to make up several "frightening" stories about hazing and all that as ceremony to be formally accepted into the squad. Of course this wasn't true, but everyone had so much fun the first time that they decided it to have it every year. It actually gained much publicity, that other squads started to join in and have their rookies victimized as well by the joke. What first was a primarily 5th squad event had become a sort of initiation party for most of the shinigami.

As he walked, he passed by the gates of the 5th Division courts, just in time to see one of the more senior squadmen lead the pack of rookies to a supposed suveillance exercise in the woods of rukongai. He had passed some other similar groups from the other squads. He smiled and nodded at the group, who bowed as he passed. It was fun being a captain.

Walking on, he saw a huge structure on the horizon, like a pagoda, lit by the golden rays of the setting sun. It was his destination. About its foot was a great courtyard where a lot of his subordinates would be busy preparing for the party. Rubbing his hands together greedily, Getsumaru thought of all the food there tonight. He also wondered which squads joined for this year. There were some who did not join some years due to internal problems, but he never really minded. It was all for the sake of fun. And good food.

A few moments later, he had arrived at the gate of the courtyard. From within emanated the noise and bustle of a lot of men at work. He had passed by quite a number of guards from various squads on his way to this place. They were to make sure none of the rookies get an inkling of what was to happen. Getsumaru pused oped one of the gates and entered into a scene of bustling people. A multitude of chairs, tables and benches have been set, and this year, there was even a bar at one corner, and a very long buffet table. He could not have helped but to smile in anticipation. However, for now, he had to look for some of his officers and that of other squads to see how everything was going, so that they could begin immediately. The aromas of the various food available were affecting Getsumaru in a way that he felt they were asking to be devoured.

[kruzy]

Sake looked up from his office desk and stared at the clock. Seemed that it was about time to head out, it was an annual event for the soul society, and this would be the first year that Sake would be able to attend. From the past years it seemed the 3rd squad never really attended such an event, as the squads always had trust issues to clean up.

Sake draped his white robe over his shoulders and placed his zanpaktou from the back of the chair, to around his hips. Placed his sandles on and headed out. Before leaving the 3rd divisions grounds, he left a note on his office door... "Gathering at the 5th squads quarters, go. ~ Captain Kruzyama." Using flashstep Sake got there rather quickly, streamers and colored lights filled the sky as he approached the walls of the 5th squad.

Walking to the front door Kruzyama was confronted by 2 of the 5th squads members, just two low ranked guys who greeted Captain Kruzyama as he walked past them through the doors to the party.

"Hmmm, seems like a lot of work goes into this event" Sake thought upon first impression, as he looked around at other people. "Now, first things first" he said alloud, as he walked over to the bar. "Can I get two shots of Bacardi 151, and a bottle of Sam Adams....... gotta start this party with a feeling ya know..." He said smiling, it was his kind inner self now, just here to have a good time.

[GoldenKitten]

((OOC: For those who have never RP’d with Hana or read his profile everyone but his captain and VC thinks he is a girl, thus his clothing and certain comments.))

==========================

Hana sat at the base of a large stage from which speeches would be given and entertainment would be played later tonight as he observed many shinigami running to and fro preparing for later that night. Had Hana been anyone else he would have been working too but as it was he was more or less forced to just sit around and look pretty by the multitude of admirers he had who said it wasn’t his job, he had often questioned what might happen if he ever admitted to his little secret of being male but was more than a little afraid of losing his friends. Plus, not having to work wasn’t such a bad thing and plus it would have been hard as he was right now.

Many shinigami still wore their regular outfits but just as many were in more casual wear while Hana was wearing a long flowing pink yukata which had white tea-leaf shapes in it along with a white obi and matching geta. He had prepared several smaller white bows in his hair creating multiple braided tails and one large pink bow about halfway down the length of his hair on the back complimented the look. He wore this not just because it was a festival and so tradition but also because he would be performing later that night.

He had been popular in rukongai as one of the most famous koto players eventually landing him a prized life in the 1st district, which was exceedingly wealthy, and even then he had drawn crowds. He rarely played in public anymore but he had been here for every one of these festivals since Getsumaru-taichou had begun the tradition and the event of him playing had become something of its own tradition ever since he accidentally began playing during the first event. Of course that would come much later as the noise from the party would be far to loud well into the night, only once things were winding down was when more traditionalist entertainment began but even so he had managed to accumulate great followings in the past few celebrations who stuck around well into their drunken-stupor’s just to hear though he of course realized the music was only half the reason. If he got lucky he might wrangle Iko-tan, as he called her, into performing something with him but he doubted it.

For now though he simply sat at the base of the stage with his koto sitting behind him strung on his back with a fine white sash with his zanpaktou similarly adorned in a white wrap clearly done for the party and not something he usually carried like that. He would occasionally get up but was immediately besieged by a dozen members of his own squad, the few who hadn’t gone to pull together their own graduates for the year and torture them a little, and they would tell him to sit down and rest, even offering to get food or drink which he had to continuously decline. Though only the third seat he was generally looked to as the organizer and leader of twelfth divisions role in this event because though Minoru-sama occasionally stopped by he rarely wanted anything serious to do with it and of course the day Kazue the vice-captain offered to do anything like a party was the day hell froze over. Hana also served as one of the main planners for entertainment of the entire event and though you might not guess it since he was just sitting around now he had spent the last several weeks planning extensively with other squads during his time off.

For now though there was nothing to do and so he simply sat around, looking for Iko-tan among others. He saw quite a few individuals he had not spoken with in quite a while but such was the nature of the giant Gotei 13, it was hard to see everyone you knew. Regardless Hana knew he would probably be spending half the night greeting them once more because Hana knew everyone, Hana was an extrovert to the extreme and over the years had befriended just about every shinigami in every squad who wasn’t a psycho…heck in the case of 9th squad he had befriended a few who even were psychos.

Hana was humming a pleasant tune (he was a damned good singer too if he did say so himself) when he looked over and happened to see Getsumaru-taichou pull out of the crowd as he arrived and Hana waved at him when the captain looked over. They were of different worlds given that they were of quite different divisions and rank but they had gotten to know each other due to meeting occasionally to plan this event if nothing else. It wasn’t to long before she spotted Kruzyama whom unlike other captains was enough of a joker that Hana could get away with nicknaming him like he did most people, Kruzyama became Koo, twelfth had to supply the third division quite often so they knew each other to an extent and Hana’s natural energy and Koo’s joking (a bit off-color) made for a natural fit. Regardless he made no attempt to get up and go to them lest he be beset by one of his numerous admirers thinking it was to hard for him to walk and think at the same time. He didn’t mind people like that since he was an outgoing people person but it could get annoying at big events like these.

[Galihan]

It was getting a bit later than she had hoped to get out the door and make her way to the festivities, but all her preparation and planning for what she would do once she got there caused her to lose track of time.

"Ah, shoot!"

The lively Vice-captain of Squad Seven, Iko, cursed aloud as she scrambled around the messy room she called home. While not necessarily disheveled herself, quite the contrary, in fact, she needed to quickly change into a clean outfit if she was going to be at Getsumaru-taichou's party. She began to undo her sash when she had a case of consciousness and with the wave of her fingers, cast a simple binding spell, Bakudo # 9: Strike, engulfing the door in red light, locking it in place so nobody could accidentally walk in on her as she undressed and swapped her wrinkly, lounge-all-day robes with clean and freshly pressed ones, and of course her favorite, rather expensive kimono adorned with white flowers. The badge signifying her as the vice-captain wrapped around her thin waist was used to carry the fans she often brought to these events, and she left her zanpakuto hung on the wall as she would have no need for it.

Ready to go and have fun, she released the spell flung open the sliding door, spinning out of her room with grace and liveliness as was often expected of her. As she exited her room, she cast another basic spell on the turntable responsible for the ambiance coming from behind her. The spell was # 1, Restain, normally used to lock one's arm behind his or her back, when cast on the music player caused its arm to lift off the vinyl record and stop spinning.

She suddenly hurried down the corridor towards Daichi's quarters and in a fit of miffed anger shouted aloud, rather ungracefully,

"There'd better be a damn good reason nobody reminded me of the time, dammit!"

She passed right by the 3rd-Seat's room, not bothering to try and find him in person, if he was still nearby, he'd just know that she wasn't in a bad mood seeing as she'd insisted that somebody remind her when it was time to go, which nobody seemed bothered to do. She hurried quickly down the stone streets of Seireitei and exited the compound of Squad Seven, leading towards the domain of Squad Five. The distance wasn't too far, considering there was only Squad Six between them, and she knew the fastest routes from traveling this road many times to attend the annual festivities hosted by Squad Five.

She arrived a bit earlier than she expected given her late departure, and was surprised when not as many people had showed up yet as she had thought there would be, but then again the party itself hadn't even started yet and not everyone was there for the lots of people would only show up for the food and drinks and more drinks.

God, why did everyone need to drink so much at these places, what's so amazing about getting hung over, honestly? If more people could have fun while staying sober, then the clean up for these parties would be so much easier...

Iko's thought trail quickly took another pace when within the the crowds of people setting up she spotted the girl she was looking for, sitting prettily as usual as a flock of admirers ran about doing all sorts of tasks. Iko ran over to Hana and held out her open arms for a hug.

"Who is that pretty girl?" Iko began to sing with a smile on her face, "I swear that's Hana-chan, but I didn't think there was any way she could have possibly gotten any cuter than usual!"

[Jukuma]

OOC.: Sorry if I’m coming outta nowhere, since I didn’t say anything when the project was being discussed. I thought you wouldn't mind since Chanchan said "feel free to join" and Yasuo is part of the host division.
___________________________________

The fact that people were starting to show up was a sign that the party was about to begin and time was running short for those who hadn’t finished their part in helping with the preparations. When Yasuo concluded the area was getting too crowded, he called the rest of the 5th Division members that were in the room. Since the last three years, it had been his duty to direct the work of the rest of the factions; although he hadn’t had any part in planning the actual celebration, he was in charge of making sure everything was ready before the festivity officially started, which for some reason was proving to be a consistent challenge every year. When all of the squad members had formed a circle around him, Yasuo took out a small piece of paper containing a list of words written over it.

“Alright, we have already started the party, but let’s go over the list to make sure everything is fine” the Vice-Captain said with a tone that didn’t bother to hide his anxiety. “Decoration and stuff is up as I can see, though either way it’s kinda late to fix it so it doesn’t really matter how that is going. Who were the ones in charge of entertainment?”

Entertainment had been taken care of by a group of people leaded by a seated officer, so it had most likely have been directed with responsibility and either way that didn’t have time to be fixed neither. The buffet had already been served and there were a couple of Shinigami preparing everything for the next round in the case it ended quicker than they expected. The whole thing was apparently under control except for one crucial detail: bar supplies. Since the bar was a new feature this year, the room did not have any storerooms implanted and the drinks had to be kept in a different place to remain cold and in good condition. Three Shinigami had been sent out to look for them, but after half an hour they still hadn’t showed up even with the first round, and it was doubtful they would make it in time given the situation. Luckily, there were still some supplies in the bar to keep people entertained but, as Yasuo pointed out, they were extremely limited and, having in mind there was already some people drinking, they would probably last very little time.

“I shouldn’t have trusted those three!” he exclaimed in desperation when he received the news, placing his heads on both sides of the head and trying with all his might not to go berserk. “I can picture them now; they must be drinking all of the alcohol! They probably took everything, even the water! To ignore responsibilities given by me at a time like this…I’ll kill all of them!”

Yasuo tended to be a little bit more temperamental than usual when it came to supervising events involving so many people like in this ceremony. It was mostly the fear of screwing up and looking like an incompetent idiot in front of a crowd like that and, as true as it was that he wanted to gain fame in Sereitei, that wasn’t the kind of reputation he was looking for.

The groups had a hard time trying to decide if the best option was keeping the issue a secret and try to fix it without anyone realizing or just come out and tell what happened to their Captain, Getsumaru. In the end, Yasuo decided to go himself to look for the bar supplies while the rest of the group tried to cover his absence; even if it ended up being true that the other three Shinigami had taken the alcohol, there HAD to be some left.

[kruzy]

Sake grinned as Hana basically introduced herself to him. The nickname... 'Koo' was definitly a weird one, but he was grown used to it. Sake waved at her with a bottle of beer in his hand, and continued to pound it down before he went on his way over to say hi. He began to walk over an a vice captain walked over and starting conversation with Hana, vice captain Iko.

"Great afternoon, ladies......" Sake said, with an ever so dumbfounded look. Damn, somthing just ain't right about this girl...jeeze... he thought to himself, but didn't have enough of a care in the world to ask or think about it anymore.

"And Iko, how're things goin, wheres all the other freaking captains?..." He asked her while his eyes wandered the semi unoccupied area. He wasn't expecting her to know this, but was just somthing to start conversation with.

Within another instant Saka reached into his robe and grabbed a polished flask, filled with potent and bitter alcohol, taking a small swig and making a scrunched face. "hmmm" he murmured while swallowing, offering the drink to the two of them, once again already thinking they wouldn't, especially infront of another captain, as odd as it would already feel seeing one drinking already, though it was just who he was.

"Soooo.... this is my first time to one of these things.... what the hell is it for again?"

[chanchan05]

Getsumaru walked around, seemingly aimlessly and thoughtlessly. He was looking for his vice-captain, whom he had left in charge when he had to leave a while ago. Not that there was any problem that he could see anyway, as everything seemed to be in order, however, he should know better than to judge everything by superficial means. Something was always under the surface. Then he remembered movies he had seen during his old days as a patrol in the Human World. Bartenders were good people to get information from. Almost every single film had the protagonist talk to a bartender at some point. Therefore he turned about and made his way to the bar.

On his way, he could see some people from the other squads already arrived, which means that once Yasuo comes back, they may call all the rookies back and have it started. He was actually snickering at the thought. He did not know what they did at the other squads, but for some reason, the 5th squad agreed on making the rookies think they'd get raped. The young boys were already having goosebumps every single time Seiichi looked at them. Seiichi was the squadman who lost the draw on who would protray a sex-crazed homosexual. It was all fun and games and everybody seemed cool for it.

Weaving his way among the tables and the people rushing about, he could see the band just enter the stage. They were supposedly a band once famous on earth, but have died since. Somebody managed to locate all the members in Seireitei, and this was going to be a sort of reunion concert for them. I wonder if Yasuo managed to locate Elvis Presley? I'll have to check on him when he gets back. Looking around, he grabbed a shinigami by the arm, and told him to have Getsumaru informed when Yasuo arrives. He'll be at the bar. Letting go of the young fellow, Getsumaru made his way to the bar. He had already completely forgotten what he was going to ask the bartender, but he knew he had something new to ask of him. "Some beer my good man."

As he waited for his order, he saw Hana-chan wave at him, and he waved back. He grabbed his beer and walked on over to her and was just in time to get to Hana as Iko tackled her with a hug and for Sake to arrive and ask a question. "Ahoy Saki-kun! How are you doing? Good evening ladies, a bit early for alcohol is it not?" Getsumaru greeted them with the usual cheerfulness in his voice, very much as if there was nothing wrong. As far as he did know though, there was no problem.

"This is just a little celebration for the rookies of the squads Sake-kun," Getsumaru explained. "I originally intended it to further bind the 5th squad together, but it seems to have gotten bigger than expected. And congratulations for finally getting your squad involved! I've been hearing some of your younger guys describe you as too serious and grumpy to allow them to join. I guess you gave them quite an impression. They seemed afraid to ask your permission!" A wide smile spread across Getsumaru's lips as he spoke, showing everyone how much he thought about what he just said. Which was to say he did not think at all.

[GoldenKitten]

((OOC: Ok really short pathetic post made, for the next week you all need to skip me when it comes to my turn because I’m going to the hospital. Try not to leave me out completely though please as I will be back.))

----------------------

Hana looked up with his head half-cocked at Iko while smiling.

“But I did! I did get cuter!!! More modest too!”

He took a look around and judging that he wasn’t going to be mobbed the second he stood he embraced Iko in return. He had to admit if there was one time he felt a tad awkward about his ways even now hundreds of years later it was with people he was close enough to engage in two way physical contact (glomping members of his squad hardly counted), when separated he never thought about it but with people who felt close enough to him to give physical affection he felt a bit guilty. Regardless that was hardly on his mind at the moment given the circumstances and the speed with which individuals made appearances shortly after, but it was back there. Meanwhile the first new appearance, Sake, showed up before them.

“Hello Koo!” Hana said and when he offered his drink Hana shook his free hand around Iko, “You know I don’t drink…”

This was of course a blatant lie that anyone who knew him would call but the truth was Hana didn’t go to drink, the drink came to Hana… He still wasn’t sure how it happened but he always somehow eventually got his hands on some alcohol at things like this…and then he sort of forgot, most decent people tried to avoid telling him what he was like after that.

Getsumaru had walked up in the meantime and though he had begun to answer Sake’s question Hana had missed out on it as Iko had mistakenly placed her hand right near his underarm and he suddenly became very ticklish forcing him to riggle free while yelling out the answer, “Torture the novices! Who doesn’t like torturing novices, GLEE!!!” Hana actually yelled the last part.

Having gotten free of Ikos grip a bit he looked down at the ground and sighed, “Our squad voted to do the same stupid initiation lie this year, why can we never do anything different?” He sighed for a moment and then remembering that Sake had never been there gave him a glance and explained, “Their all told that they have to come up one at a time or in small do-op groups and create a song about how much they love the twelfth division, and its leadership…using all double entendres…to me…or they get kicked out. You should see them milling around for days beforehand forming singing groups and trying to think weird sayings up…funnier than the actual revealing.” Hana shook his head again, it had been funny the first time and admitted some of them got creative but he wished they could have had someone play a sex-crazed homosexual…not him of course.

[Tanaka]

Takeki was not the most socially connected of men, indeed recently he had been somewhat divorced from the community. However, he had been keeping his ear to the ground, as he always did. As such he had leant from the idle chit chat of others that something of a special occasion was happening in one of the more ornate buildings of the great courts. Furthermore, whisper on the street stated that it would be some sort of a test or initiation for the newer recruits. Whilst technically not a recent graduate of the academy he had only been serving for a very short time and thus believed the event to be aimed as much at him as anyone. Since his efforts at intelligence gathering had been kept strictly to the lower orders he had not learned the true nature of the event, however, he had guessed all was not as it seemed. Their seemed to be discrepancies and incredible elements to the rumours that abounded. Not only did he find it hard to believe that recently graduated shinigami would be subjected to rape as the murmurs and worries of fifth division men hinted but also it seemed frankly bizarre that such an event would take place next to a strange sycophantic song contest as was suggested by the fevered preparations of members of twelfth division. Thus all was not as it seemed, and who knew, perhaps finding that out was part of the test? At least this was how Takeki thought. No matter what the true nature of the event Takeki believed himself to be drastically ill informed and he had learnt all he could from the poorly educated rumours and guess work of the members of the thirteen squads. Other duties had kept him busy until tonight but for now he was as free as a bird. Thus he had shown up early to the event, only to spot from a distance that it was already guarded. As such he decided to simply watch for a little while, see who came and went and what, if anything, they were bringing with them. It was by this surveillance that he hoped to come across any more tit bits of information to help solve the mystery of what was happening in there. One thing however, was for certain, he was not just going to waltz in there, unprepared and hoping for the best with no idea what lay in store.

Moving up to a nearby roof top he removed his pack, lay down on his belly to reduce his profile and waited, not moving a single unnecessary muscle. From here he could view all the main through fairs into the building as well as look through one window on the near side, though he could not get any clear view through this window. He lay down and watched as people seemed to start arriving in a steady stream, some considerably more hastily than others. He was however, not surprised at the people showing up. If this truly was some sort of test then it was only logical that captains and other senior officials would show face none the less he wanted more detail. He silently cursed himself for not having secured the aid of a good spy glass long ago or indeed one of those strange electronic bug things he had heard about upon one of his more recent investigations of the living realm, oh to be a fly on the wall of that room. However, when saw a band show up and enter the building, presumably to play to the crowd he came rapidly to the conclusion that the worst, or more implausible elements of the tales bounding around the soul society were complete lies. After all, who gets raped to musical accompaniment? With this knowledge firmly in hand he stood up, slung his pack on his back once again, ceased his staff and leapt lightly into a back alley bellow before heading towards what would turn out to be a party. Briefly he considered trying to sneak in through an upstairs window but decided the risk posed was not worth the possible advantages and so instead walked steadily right up to the gate and the front guards. Although they did not let him pass with the same bowing respect they showed the captains his credentials as second division’s fourth seat allowed him access readily enough. Even though the guards mulled and puzzled over his identity for a few moments since he was new to the post and his face was mostly masked in shadow.

But eventually he was allowed in to the budding festivities. He arrived a few moments after Hana had stopped lamenting their choice of torment for the year. Takeki presented an unimposing figure but simultaneously a little odd, especially since he had boldly walked in through the front door when more normally he would be creeping in through a bathroom window. He seemed a little shorter than he actually was, shoulders slumped and head ever so slightly bowed. He was wearing more or less normal robes but the addition of a hood had cast his face in shadow. All that could be seen of his face was his chin, the pale flesh was covered in an untidy layer of short yet untended stubble like a man who just did not care. His right hand was gripping what appeared to be a tall oaken staff roughly the same height as him and because of this it could be seen his hands were gloved. Perhaps even more strangely was the fact he seemed to be wearing a crudely fashioned belt with what appeared to be handmade primitive pouches dangling off of it, all of which seemed full. Furthermore he was wearing a similarly constructed pack on his back all in all he seemed a little shabby and scruffy as well as unremarkable especially when compared to the elegant dress of Hana or the tougher visage of Yasuo. He stood stock still for a few moments and since most of his face was obscured it seemed impossible to tell what he was looking at. What he was actually doing was taking everything in, every person, every place, every last group or huddle and their interactions and trying to work out who knew who, how and to what degree. By now he had worked out the benign nature of the event but was not quite willing to believe it and was still half expecting someone to do something rash and very soon.

To all outside viewers he seemed to just carry on standing there like a rock, or perhaps more like a lemon but in his own mind he was wondering just what to do next, he had not come here expecting this, even after he saw the band show up, poor judgement on his part he now realised. But having satisfied his curiosity he was at something of a loss. He could not just leave, that would be rude plus he had the strange feeling he was meant to be here. However, this was not the sort of situation he was used to either. But whilst others may have paced around or generally looked uncomfortable Takeki just stood still. Eventually he settled on a course of action and began moving over to the huddle of people which had formed, a huddle consisting of numerous high powered individuals. His actual foot fall was soft but the sound of his staff gently thudding against the floor as he walked gave his approach away to even those who may have had their back turned. He moved slowly, clearly in no hurry what so ever to get anywhere indeed even when he arrived at the little huddle he was still slow to act. He seemed to bow his head slightly as if in acknowledgment of the captains around him but since his head was slight lowered any way it was hard to tell. His attention then turned towards Hana and Iko before stating “Charmed I am sure.” He spoke as slowly as he moved and he seemed to have an odd permanently underlying throaty exhale when he spoke which was just ever so slightly off putting to most people. He paused for a moment after the courtesies and made his right hand, griping his staff lightly, do a single slow ripple in a vertical version of someone rapping their fingers on a desk before giving a small semi amused snort which sounded more like an unenthusiastic snort of derision than anything else. “But of course. I am for getting myself.” He then left a pause as if he had finished speaking before carrying on. “Quite literally. I am Takeki. Takeki Tanaka. You may call me what combination of those you will.”

He then gave another unusually long pause during which he seemed to draw almost hissing breath in through his nose before making an understated and easily missed gesture. He extended the top two fingers of his right hand as a method of gesturing to the entire room whilst asking. “Am I to assume that all of this has been laid on for the benefit of your more junior or green colleagues?” The answer was obvious and he gave a slight nod to himself. “A fine idea. Fine. After all, the man you dine with tonight is more willing to come to your aid tomorrow. Though I cannot help but think the rather extreme stories that have been abounding were a little rash. Many of my more cautious colleagues will not turn up at all and those who do may suffer from something of a sense of humour failure. None the less this is your.” He then took a brief pause to mull over the right word but seemed to keep his sentence going by continuing the odd exhale before coming to the word. “Jurisdiction.” Once again he left a long, almost pregnant pause before continuing. “I have take the liberty of assuming I am to benefit from this. Though not strictly a recent graduate I have only recently entered active service. I most likely know everyone even less than the new boys. You will have to excuse my repeat ignorance. I have only had time to reacquaint myself with the upper echelons of our society. None the less...” He then took a slight step back and made a deeper bow than before, but it was s till very shallow his shoulders barely moved. “I am your humble servant.” He meant this purely within the boundaries of politeness but it was clear to see he was a man who would take orders. Rising back up to his slouching height he looked around the group but being unable to see his eyes made this a little off putting. Not knowing anyone here made conversation starters beyond this point a little problematic but, then again that was the entire point of the occasion. Looking at all those who were not in strictly regulation outfit in the huddle, that being Hana and Iko, he decided to keep the metaphorical ball rolling by stating. “May I compliment the pair of you on your taste, my regards to the tailor.” He was, of course merely being polite but it was a way of moving things on. “My own attire is somewhat less ornamental. I came here expecting a fight, not a social occasion. Though even had I been well informed I would still appear dishevelled by comparison, my wardrobe is rather limited.”

((Apologies for possibly arriving a little late in the thread but provided I have understood things correctly this is rather the point.))

[Galihan]

Iko was taken back when she sudden was aware of the presence of the captain of another squad in their presence. Being adressed by Captain Kruzyama of Squad Three was intimidating as always, moreso than the other captains seeing as how hard it could be to tell his sarcasm from his sincerity at times, and the usually outwards Vice-captain of Squad Seven was always unsure how to act around her superiors if Captain Arashi wasn't nearby.

"Umm, g-good evening K-Kruzyama-taicho... I ehh,"

Luckily for her, Hana stepped in for her and took over the conversation.

If only I could be that honest with myself, Iko thought to herself, only to bite her tongue on that when Hana made a blatantly obvious lie regarding her and alcohol. Then again, maybe not.

Suddenly the appearance of Captain Getsumaru threw her way off and she wanted to curl up in a corner and hide. Once captain was usually enough to make her uneasy, but two right in teh same conversation as her was downright frightening to Iko. She wasn't sure if anyone was noticing her skittishness, but she didn't want Hana to think she abandoned her so she stayed put until someone else showed up. A tall, shady-looking fellow who was addressing her. She didn't really even notice him until he was introducing his name.

"I am Takeki. Takeki Tanaka. You may call me what combination of those you will.”

What an odd person, he must have not been very socially experienced given his unusually long pauses as if unsure of what to say. He admitted that he was pretty new to the service but more than a fresh recruit, and also pretty conscious of the situational hyperbole within the rumors of the evening, a bit of a mood-killer but it almost complimented his shabby appearance. It was once he started complimenting her and Hana's and comparing to his own lack of elegance that she actually felt like she had something to say to this Tanaka fellow.

"Why thank you, Tanaka-san," she began. "The hair is nothing, but this really is my favorite yakuta, it was given to me by someone very special to me and to anyone who knew him..." She trailed off with a bit of a blush on her pale cheeks thinking of the day Keigo gave her the yakuta she was wearing right now.

"I'm sorry, did you happen to mention what Squad you were in? From that hood you're wearing, I'd have to guess Second, did you know if Azuka-Kun was in charge of the food this year again? I haven't seen him around yet, but I guess I've just arrived myself."

Elsewhere, in the far end of the courtyard where the festivities were being held, a large series of tents were being raised above dozens of hibachi grills, a half-dozen teppan tables, and twice as many members of Squad Four scurrying about trying to organize ingredients and prepare for the feast that always accompanied this annual event. It truly was a miracle of inter-squad cooperation every year, the majority of the meals being cooked and prepared by Squad Four as was one of their regular duties, but in charge of them all was Tsuno Azuka, the Vice-captain of Squad Two famous for his legendary skills as a master chef in the kitchen, which often sprouted mixed reactions seeing as he was also one of the Soul Society's most feared assassins within the Secret Mobile Corp and would have probably poisoned many dishes to eliminate dangerous foes, of course they were all mostly unfounded as food was something he would never dare taint with foul poison unless he had a personal grudge against a victim, and even then he'd prefer to sink a blade into their throats while they sleep than ruin a perfectly good meal.

"GET THOSE TABLES READY! PUT THOSE IN THE ICE FOR LATER! MAKE SURE THOSE ARE ALL SHARPENED! DID I SAY YOU CAN BREAK? NO? GET BACK TO WORK BEFORE I BREAK YOU'RE SPINE! WHO THE HELL LEFT THIS BOTTLE OF OIL ON THE STOVE-TOP, ARE WE TRYING TO KILL SOMEBODY HERE?!"

Clad in an indigo-colored happi outfit with a tall white chef's hat than his usual form-fitting attire worn by the Executive Militia, Tsuno was nearly unrecognizable save for the dark shades on his face that very few saw him without who were still alive today. In one hand, a large spatula featuring a sharpened edge that doubled as a cleaver, in the other hand, a long two-pronged fork, both looked especially deadly being waved around in the air by a shouting ninja. The unusually-clad vice-captain blurted out loud, fast orders to the scurrying Squad Four members, members of his own Squad Two appearing and disappearing every minute or so with more bundles of supplies and ingredients to be prepared later.

"AND MAKE SURE YOU INFORM THIRD-SEAT TAYTE IF SHE DECIDES TO SHOW UP SHE WONT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY MEAT UNTIL SHE AT LEAST TRIES A FEW VEGETABLES!"

Yeah, He was a bit of a tight-ass at the moment, but he really wanted to get the dinner done and over with so he could get involved in the torture of the new-recruits. It just wasn't the same when he had to wait until afterwards and only have his own rookies to whip into shape, here there was every fresh new joiner to the Gotei 13 in the vicinity, and there was too much opportunity to make a lasting impression on all the new generation of the Shinigami. The fact that his Third-Seat was such so carnivorous also irked him to no end, as if she chose to intentionally refuse to eat a balanced and healthy diet just to torment him.