Through The Veil Of Envy And Sin [Veralia/Sabriel]

Standing alone under the glow of the moon, Veralia began her descent into the kingdom that Sabriel ruled over. Curious as to how the woman maintained her subjects, the envious arrancar decided to follow her whims and set up a time for her to venture into this unknown territory of Hueco Mundo. She prepared to unleash her fiery prowess at any second, as this realm was fraught with danger at every turn and demanded vigilance and readiness to confront any threat. Despite that fact, such peril was part and parcel of her existence, another day's challenge in the vast, unpredictable expanse of their world.

So while waiting, she'd reflect on her previous encounter with Sabriel. Veralia wondered how things would go about in a more sober state of mind. While she had her booze to numb the thoughts of envy that go awry in her conscious and soul, that was not here today and it would be a test for herself to see where their relationship goes from here.

Lifting her gaze to the moon, Veralia's eyes, deep and red as blood, mirrored the complexity of her thoughts, a blend of determination and contemplation. The serene moment, however, was abruptly interrupted by the approach of another Arrancar, the sound of footsteps on the barren ground snapping her back to the present.

Stance still alert, Veralia tilted her body to meet the new person and waved out to whoever was stepping out of the darkness in a casual, lax tone.

"Yo~"

Veralia remained silent for a moment, opting to put her hands in her pocket after waving at the tall Arrancar before her. With the smaller arrancar reflecting a cool, calm demeanor; she had her lips curl into a smirk after hearing everything. Veralia appeared to nod her head along to the hum of Liarel's voice before her scarlet gaze locked with the devious emerald stare of the other hollow before her.

"The name's Veralia, pleasure to meet ya. And you can say I have business with Sabriel."

As she introduced herself, Veralia's voice carried the ease of someone who's navigated countless interactions, both friendly and fraught. Stepping closer to the other Arrancar, her scarlet gaze never wavered from the devious emerald stare that met hers.

"And nah, I ain't here to conquer shit. I came here see how she lived since we've met before. So I guess you can call it a bit of tourism."

Her words, delivered with a blend of bluntness and casual curiosity, framed her visit in a light devoid of malice or ambition. It was a simple desire to understand, perhaps to connect on a deeper level. With a chuckle that resonated with genuine amusement, Veralia let the sentiment linger in the air, watching the other Arrancar closely for any hint of reaction.

Not being one to miss physical cues, Veralia caught that knowing smirk from the redhead's gaze. In response, she chuckled and moved on to boop the nose of the taller Arrancar.

"You pick up on things quickly. I can see Sabriel's influence on ya."

The remarks coming from her voice carried a hint of respect and camaraderie. This simple act, from the perception of Veralia, served to lighten the moment, bridging any gaps with the ease of shared understanding.

As Liirael pointed towards the north, outlining the path Veralia needed to take, Veralia's gaze trailed in the direction indicated, absorbing the details with keen interest. Nodding her along in understanding, her movements reflected a sense of anticipation. She wasn't sure what to expect, but perhaps that's the spice of life when you walk into the unknown and indulge in a new experience.

"Makes no difference. You don't seem that bad of a girl yourself, so I'm sure you can lead the way and indulge in my tourism."

And with that, the smaller Arrancar laughed briefly before following Lirael. Taking in the immense aura of Sabriel's kingdom, Veralia could see how others could get drunk off the sensation of relaxation and care. Taking a glance at the tall hollow before her, she even pondered if she was brainwashed or following Sabriel of her own will.

"Got anything interesting tidbits to share about this kingdom of you alls? A lot of the people here seemed stoned out of their ass, so it's safe to say she wasn't kidding about her influence having a reach."

Veralia was no fool and could tell the other woman was flattered. It made her curious as the gears in the little arrancar's head started to churn; briefly recalling words Sabriel spoke of getting what she desired through less blunt and violent means. The raw strength Veralia possessed was an asset, but perhaps using a bit of charm could save her headache and achieve the praise she desired.

"Well, you are doing a wonderful job at being a guide."

The Envious Arrancar chose to keep things casual despite the feelings she was dealing with internally. Liarel seemed like a nice woman, so there was no reason to be upset with her. Rather, there was more of an intrigued gaze behind Veralia as she listened in to her describing the kingdom and how it functioned.

For a moment, Veralia allowed her eyes to close and wrestled internally with a growing sense of envy. This wasn't just about her capabilities or her reliance on sheer power; it was about what she hadn't built, the relationships and alliances that seemed beyond her reach or interest. She couldn't help but feel a pang of envy towards Sabriel's intricate network, a complex web of loyalty and influence she had yet to weave for herself.

Opening her eyes, Veralia's gaze lingered on the shifting sands beneath them, the envy she felt tinged with an unusual hint of guilt. Despite her formidable strength, the realization that there were realms of power and connection she had neglected made her question her path. Yet, acknowledging the genuine kindness and respect Lirael showed, Veralia felt a twinge of remorse. Here was a world, a kingdom built on something other than fear and force, and the thought that she might not fully deserve their openness weighed on her more than she cared to admit.

Rather than dwell on these thoughts, Veralia's blood gaze turned to her guide through this kingdom of lust and decided to ask a more intricate question.

"I'm learning a lot more about this place, thank you for that. But tell me, what brought you to Sabriel's side? Was it the power, attraction, or something more?"

Her question was pointed, a direct probe into the nature of Lirael's allegiance to Sabriel. It was more than mere curiosity; it was an attempt to understand the fabric of connections that wove this society together, to see beyond the surface of power dynamics and explore the personal stories that bound these beings to one another.

Enemies to lovers, huh? Well, sometimes your greatest lover can be the person you hate the most. Hate can be as potent as love after all.

When Lirael had finished the initial part of her story of how she and Sabriel had met, Veralia rubbed her chin; lost in thought as the gears were turning in her head regarding their connection. She then recognized the redhead was now staring at her, so her gaze turned back to the woman as the last bits of her sentence talking about the emptiness within her resonated with Veralia.

"Turning your rival into your lover isn't an easy feat."

Veralia's words floated between them, tinged with humor and a relaxed ease that belied the depth of the conversation they were veering into. Her chuckle, light and seemingly carefree, served as a prelude to the more serious questions she wished to explore.

"But tell me, what was the source of that emptiness before you came across Sabriel? Given we are hollows, don't you think it's rather poetic we deal with such empty feelings?"

Although the subject was more morbid, Veralia seemed amused by the bit of dark humor. The morbidity of the subject didn't dampen her spirits; instead, it sparked a genuine curiosity within her. She was intrigued, eager to peel back the layers of Lirael's past, to understand the genesis of the void that had once plagued her.