The intentions of Arrastrado have been put out into the world, and with it, choice words of criticism. He has spoken nothing but his truth. He is well aware that part of what has been said is not pleasant to hear, infuriating even. He is a coward, he is weak, but even still he gambles and chases his goal with the potential of losing his life.
"You miss the reasoning behind those 'pointless questions'." Cayo gestured loosely through the air, allowing his wrist to guide his hand back and forth dismissively. "It's not about a differing or matching desire; rather, you ought to have some... clarity when making proposals. You give us sticks and rocks and expect us to be on board for building a house whose shape exists only in your mind. I might envision a grand villa while you see nothing more than a shack."
The fainthearted Arrancar stands before Cayo as he delves deeper into the purpose of his questions. Sweat rolling down his brow. He does not yet speak, thinking only to himself.
“I told you, I want something more than this…”
If they could peer into his mind, there is a building feeling of disappointment, but he listens on, hoping things shift for the better.
"Voy a hacer de abogado del diablo. (I am going to play devil's advocate.) Maybe this is merely the genesis, and you possess no plan outside of those sueños (dreams) —ultimately expecting us to forge that future together. And perhaps we agree, and that works..."
The building tension is not only a social one, but a physical one at this point, one that Arrastrado is visibly affected by. A shift in his stance, hoping to get a better footing. Hands curl into fists, the pointed tips of his gauntlets scratching into the palms of them, another sign of trying to maintain his composure and posture.
"-But what if that honey is poisoned?" The atmosphere seemed to buckle further under the weight of the phrase. "You may find yourself to be meek, but it does not take a soldier to spike the well. What makes your future any more real than those of the ones who came before? Why should we go along with all of this? And what makes you so trusting of strangers, especially given that tail tucked between your legs? Again, it's not because I lack a similar desire, but instead that I've heard such things before."
"¡Órale! (Come on!) — He barked. — "What is the true worth of your world?"
Once more the pressure increases, a visible buckling of his knees, followed by a sluggish recovery. Nothing makes his dreams more real than the ones who came before him, it is only a dream that he strives for with his life. Why should they follow? He had hopes that at the very least, Estarossa could see why, why he should strive for something more. It is not that he is so trustful of strangers, it is simply that he cannot achieve his dream on his own. Arrastrado understands that there is no path forward alone, not for him.
Estarossa now stands and begins encircling Arrastrado, each step the man takes feels as though both Cayo and Estarossa are pounding atop his shoulders. Each step pushes the feeble Hollow to one knee, hands planted to the floor as he tries to stand himself back up. The clinking and creaking of his armour sounds out more than ever as eventually, he pushes himself back up, as Estarossa is speaking.
”Exile, that is what happens to those who break the rules. It seems like you don’t even know the rules of this place. No killing one another and no eating one another. The average desire for a Hollow are banned here. It is kept together by those who seek refuge from the sands, those who feel other urges besides the need for wanton violence. The only security or comfort I provide is that no other strong Arrancar or Hollow will attack this place so long as I live.”
The laws of La Soberanía’s is partially what Arrastrado is banking on at this point. A basis that can be built upon, not to replace this place, to accompany it. There are few figures within Hueco Mundo as known as Estarossa, and he is a man known for delving into his more human urges. He is also a prideful man, that much is proven with the very explanation he has just given. That pride too is something he is going to rely on.
”You say you are here to seek allies but all you’ve been doing is irritating us. If I’m anything like the Espada you subtly claim me to be then you better start picking out better words to say to me, punk. Of course a God King would send disposable trash to speak for them, lets them gauge just who they are dealing with.”
Both men before Arrastrado continue to harp on the potential of him being sent by a God King. Cayo is right, it doesn’t take a soldier to spike the well. Estarossa however attempts to hammer in a nail with no point.
“Gauge who they’re dealing with? Me? If I wasn’t facing down the reaper I’d laugh.”
He has stated it, as have the other two, he is weak. If he could he would laugh not at the statement, but the thought of trying to gauge the strength of Estarossa with someone like Arrastrado. He is a well known figure, old and powerful, and glued to his ideals. There is no need to gauge such a man.
”Sure, I want a better place in Hueco Mundo, why else would I carve out a small section of it for myself and others to enjoy? Your ambitions will draw ire, backstabbers, opportunists. You are trying to play a game of kings and if you haven’t noticed, here in Hueco Mundo it's a losing game, every time. Everything requires sacrifice. So, in alignment with the Old One there, what are you willing to sacrifice for this dream? Understand, your life is not a good enough answer for me.”
Standing between the two, under the pressure of both he drags his feet across the floor, not to escape, but to do his best to face the two of them. A shaky figure, soaked in his own sweat, his heart beating faster than it ever has before. A forced smile curls along his lips, wobbly but present.
“I understand the caution, I understand the irritation. I said before, I have none of the requirements to make this dream a reality.” An audible gulp can be heard from him. “You ask me what makes this dream any different than others before me? Why should you go along with it? You said it’s a losing game, and I am sure you’re right. Why am I so trusting of strangers? What can I sacrifice?”
His gaze attempts to meet that of the other two.
“This dream of mine, you both share it, those who come to La Soberanía for refuge, they too share it. That is the first step, like-minded individuals who are willing to cooperate towards a greater goal. Evolution is in our very nature, progression. Hueco Mundo has been stagnant for so long, longer than I can imagine, I’m certain. The ones that came before, they are a sign of that nature. Those who enforce this stagnation are a curse upon the Hollow as a whole. In the event that I don’t lose my life here, in the event that we do end up working together, I don’t expect or ask that you abandon your own ambitions. This place, it truly is a delight, I’m not here to ask you to abandon it for something else, I’m not here to integrate into something else. If my dreams are to ever come to fruition, I would like to accompany La Soberanía with something else.”
As he speaks of his perceived nature of Hollow-kind and Hueco Mundo, the smile he wears seems to falter bit by bit, until he catches himself, doing his best to force that smile back up.
“Somewhere where people can live a different life beyond the cruel sands. I’m certain there are those who seek a different life, but cannot find their place amongst your section of Hueco Mundo, it is not for them. Somewhere that violence is not the only option, instead they can carve out their own life.” His gaze turns specifically to Estarossa. “Imagine if there were someone out there who simply wants to become a chef, or something like that, give them a place to call home and you can have all the treats you’d like.” A creaky turn of his neck faces him towards Cayo now. “I apologise, I don’t really know you so I cannot make an apt comparison for you, but I am sure there is something. Of course I don't expect you to go along with me just because of food and such, just an example...”
Finally he comes to his closing statement, Arrastrado is almost certain that his words so far will do nothing to sway the two before him. So his final words will have to make or break the situation. The smile drops from his quivering lips entirely. A brief pause.
“I cannot sacrifice something I do not have, so if my life is not enough, fine. Instead, I’ll put your pride on the line, I will put the laws of La Soberanía on the line. Kill me here and now. Another dream to the dusts. A flash in your life that meant nothing more, or perhaps a missed opportunity. I am not so trustful of strangers as I might seem, I am simply making a foolishly hopeful gamble.”
