Blood like Roses

An Expedition
As the last of the Sun's light was swallowed up by the black sky, Soul Society found itself settling into the sombre routine of the night. Doors were closed, windows shut, and the citizenry shuffled their way from the streets to the small comforts of their homes. Lights were set, and torches lit, giving the world new life in the vibrant, small glows across every facet of its vistas. The same was true of the Seireitei, as much of the Gotei returned to their barracks' for the night, leaving only the rare pattering of light patrols to wander the maze-like streets of the Shinigami's headquarters. Though the bulk of the Gotei's forces would find themselves wrapped away in their sheets for the night, those of the 12th Division were not quite so lucky.

A stream of bright light buzzed from every window of their barracks, and a bustle of activity could be heard from within. Scientists, engineers and whatever else found themselves running from corner to corner as they got their final affairs in order for another of their Captain's "meetings". She was a relentlessly progressive woman. Not in the sense that she championed a cause of reform, but rather her obsessive pursuit of advancement in the fields of science. Putting the 12th Division in her hands had been a swift and quick means of turning it into an engine, one driven with the purpose of leaving no stone untouched, no avenue unpursued until all possible theory and practice could be put in place. And then improved upon. Under Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the Division became home to many of the Gotei 13's more studious individuals, and under its new Captain, they had been given ample place to put their studies to use. Motivated by looming fear of what might happen to those who disobeyed, of course.

This Captain, this woman, was none other than Jaromira Dragan. A slavedriver by all accounts. She stood in front of her desk within a large meeting hall, silently observing as one officer after another peddled their plans or constructs to her, be they contraption or concoction or something else. She spoke little, calling only the names of the next presenter and passed no immediate judgement on the individuals or their work as they shuffled through. Finally, after a demonstration of "the weapon to surpass Zanpakutō", Jaromira called for the next person to grace the hall. "[[Akira Yoshida|Yoshida, Akira".