Skittering Hollow (Bleach/Worm)

[globalwarmth]

[X][Name] Weaver.

 

[abyssmal_kismet]

[JK] Tailor High Burt
[X][Name] Let the kids name you.

 

[Planeshunter]

Crap in a handbasket, I had to edit the chapter one to add the EE gains, but forgot to add the Powers progress. Not my day obviously.

But that got me thinking, since it's goig to be an action-packed day, it might be best to give a single Power progress report at the end of the day instead. That and I don't feel like number crunching right now.

 

[R.A.G.]

[X][Name] "TSWKaklyvhitoptrri" It's like your nonexistent mouth had a seizure, struggling to move four different ways. Was super creepy. Trying to get something intellegible out of that mess... "Uh. TSsskiwypher? No, Cypher. That's a word and it fits."

Didn't actually mean to come up with a fitting word and stuff, but when you mangle Taylor/Skitter/Weaver/Khepri you get something close enough so went with it.

 

[werdzerg13]

[X][Name] Skitter.

 

[Prama]

[X][Name] Weaver.
​

 

[Planeshunter]

Alright ladies and gents, votes are now closed!


This time's winner is:
[X][Name] Weaver.

Spoiler: Vote Tally

Vote Tally : Skittering Hollow (Bleach/Worm) | Page 10 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 275-306]
##### NetTally 2.2.3
[X] Actias Luna
No. of Votes: 2
[X] Phasehand
[X] MahoGuy

---

——————————————————————————————————————————————Task: Name
[X][Name] Weaver.
No. of Votes: 9
[X] goricnac
[X] Dragolord19d
[X] globalwarmth
[X] Iceflame55
[X] mariuswinter
[X] MysticReaper
[X] PandaVenom
[X] Prama
[X] Rock_on_5002
[X][Name] Skitter.
No. of Votes: 6
[X] Schitz
[X] Harpy81
[X] InfiniteDarkSide
[X] Ratatoskr
[X] Van der Mark
[X] werdzerg13
[X][Name] Let the kids name you.
No. of Votes: 5
[X] bobbya1
[X] abyssmal_kismet
[X] Aerrow
[X] Demetric
[X] Phasehand
[X][Name] Little Owl
No. of Votes: 2
[X] Arbitbit39
[X] Phasehand
[X][Name] Zion Scion.
No. of Votes: 2
[X] daimahou
[X] zeroneko
[X][Name] "TSWKaklyvhitoptrri" It's like your nonexistent mouth had a seizure, struggling to move four different ways. Was super creepy. Trying to get something intellegible out of that mess... "Uh. TSsskiwypher? No, Cypher. That's a word and it fits."
No. of Votes: 1
[X] R.A.G.
[X][Name] GODDESS OF BEAUTIFUL HAIR!
No. of Votes: 1
[X] Jubjub3000
[X][Name] ichigo
No. of Votes: 1
[X] casinodoug
[X][Name] Shiruku.
No. of Votes: 1
[X] Mikers99
[X][Name] Skitter. If the first is a no go.
No. of Votes: 1
[X] zeroneko
[X][Name] Tecelã
No. of Votes: 1
[X] MrMig

Total No. of Voters: 29

There's been some real nice suggestions there. I specially liked Goddess of Beautiful Hair. Sounds a bit like a name for a Sailor Moon crossover, don't you think?
... In hindsight, Little Owl really should've been along the original options too.

 

[R.A.G.]

A catterpillar named Little Owl would be pretty amusing.

 

[Planeshunter]

Spoiler: A/N

Sorry, can't think of a good title so I'm doing like a posh chef and listing the ingredients instead.

---

I chose the name Weaver. It was a good name, full of hope and promise. It wasn't my name though, not really. I simply wasn't Weaver, just like I wasn't a weaver. It would serve as a reminder of what I wanted to accomplish, though, until I could find my true one.

...Stupid weaving is hard, okay? Maybe I can get a book somewhere around here?

I'm also starting to suspect we Hollows aren't actually supposed to hunt each other and that's more of a last resort thing. Because humans feel absurdly tasty to my senses. Even more so spiritually strong ones like Karin and Yuzu. They're twins, by the way. Fraternal and with a big brother whose hair is bright orange. Their family tree must be really colourful.

But I digress. My hunger senses are going crazy, and I hesitate to blame it on whatever brought me to the mortal world. Every single human we pass near I can feel with painful clarity, a mass of light and warmth that makes me salivate in anticipation. That's without mentioning Karin and Yuzu themselves, whose spiritually strong souls are particularly hard to ignore.

My point is, it would make sense if we Hollows were supposed to prey on humans. Half an hour in the mortal world and I'm already learning new things about myself. Not that I have any intention of doing anything of the sort anytime soon, so to distract myself from the frankly maddening impulse to munch the stuffing out of my new friends bar charges, we chat.

Talking to someone is nice after spending so long alone, even if my height makes it annoying to constantly have to look downwards.

… I'm walking over street fences and jumping through lampposts and wirelines, of course. The option is having to look upwards, and being constantly reminded I'm barely tall enough to reach a kid's waist. For some reason I never considered my size wouldn't match a human. Which is stupid, cuz a caterpillar tall enough to look a human to the eye would need to be the size of a tank. Cool as that would be, I'm in no hurry to get that fat.

… Moving on.

The talking thing worked for a while, kept us all relaxed and distracted from our respective troubles as they told me about their hobbies and I talked about myself, Hueco Mundo and Hollows in general. Until I mentioned my theories about Hollows hungering for spiritually strong humans and they panicked. Apparently their big brother is spiritually stronger than even them, so he would be in grave danger.

Amazing how useless I can be at that 'keeping the children calm' thing, yes? In hindsight probably mentioning there's an entire species of invisible monsters wanting to munch their souls was a bad idea altogether. Should've kept the conversation about soccer and teddy bears.

Sh-Shut up! I'm new at this socializing thing, okay? Live and learn and all that. Next time I'll do better.

In any case, that's how we find ourselves hurriedly looking for the highest Hollow density we can find. It only makes sense they would swarm towards someone even tastier than the twins. It's not easy though. Because Hollows are still showing up all around the place and they charge towards the first thing that catches their attention.

Namely us.

Judicious usage of my offensive Powers keep them at bay. And with judicious I mean spamming Punto Veneno and Chupavidas like there's no tomorrow and shooting down with Disparo Demora anything that rethinks the plan and tries to leave.

… What? If I'm going to stay around this mouth-watering twins without doing anything I'll later regret, it's in everyone's best interests that I am well fed.

"You mentioned you like soccer, right Karin?" See? I can have a casual conversation too, I can learn! "Don't the boys give you trouble about playing one of their precious manly sports?"

"Sometimes, but then I kick them in the shins and they shut up. Or cry." She answers with a weird look. "The idiots think Ichi-nii's a delinquent anyway, so most of the time they're too scared of him to try anything."

"Karin-chan?" Yuzu has been mostly quiet all the time. Poor girl is missing half the conversation. This not being visible thing kinda sucks. "Shouldn't we let Miss Weaver focus on the monsters?"

"Oh, don't worry too much about it" I answer while turning another idiot into a pincushion. So that's why she was looking at me weirdly? "These are small fries and I really missed someone to talk with. Thank Yuzu on my behalf though, she's a sweet girl, isn't she?"

"Yep," Then she smiles evilly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "My little sister is the cutest, brithest, sweetest girl in the world!"

"K-Karin-chan!" The blonde twin, still unaware of half the conversation, blushes like a ripe tomato. "What are you doing, suddenly saying something like that? And we're twins, you're only older by five minutes, geez..."

So this is sisterly teasing, huh? It must be nice…

That's when I catch a hint of something swift and shiny flying towards them and the next thing I know the twins give out a strangled cry as I push them out of the way, and five tendrils of iridescent black are piercing my body. It… hurts. It hurts a lot.

Damnit! I just wanted to have a nice chat and maybe meet the kids' big brother. Why can I never have nice things without something ruining it?

"Hahhhhahahahaha FOOOOOOOOL!!" A… masked thing whose entire body seems to be made of a dark oily liquid coalesces from the shadows of a sidestreet to gloat at me. "I can't believe you took an attack for them! What's the point in fattening your prey if you're going to die staking your claim? Don't worry though, Pyrexia will feast on them for you!!"

And the possibility of me caring about Karin and Yuzu doesn't even cross his mind. Urk, I know we Hollow aren't exactly an example of empathy at the best of times, but it still catches me by surprise when one of them is smart enough to talk and… that trash is what comes out of their mouths.

Before I can retort (Or spill my guts on the street, not sure which), the thing retracts its finger-tentacles and takes a swipe at me with its other hand. I might've been able to dodge it, five new piercings or not, but of course the fucker angles its strike in such a way it'll hit the twins if I do that.

So I take the hit as best as I can, cursing once again my small body and stubby legs, and try very hard not to bend over when pure agony courses through my battered body at the impact. I shouldn't complain, really. No way a human would remain in fighting condition with the wounds I just took.

I counter as best as I can, which isn't as much as I would like. Because, my whole body feels on fire. This Pyrexia dude just laughs at my Punto Veneno, I think his liquid body makes my poison pointless. Same with Disparo Demora.

"Useless useless USELESS!!" The thing crows "Pyrexia has seen you fight! Pirexia can take you on!!"

Insufferable idiot… As for my Chupavidas, which would usually be my go-to attack in this situation… Well.

I'm having trouble controlling it. Because, you know, metaphysical manifestation of my hunger in front of really really appetizing kinds. Funny how so far, throwing Chupavidas around like candy helped me focus on something else, but now that I'm hurt and in real need of an energy boost it has the opposite effect. I can't put the two of them out of my mind, and I'm afraid I'll munch them dry if I try using my Power.

If I wasn't about to bend over I would call it ironic, right now I just find it a pain. Like everything else, because the world is more or less just pain. Instinct, I love you, but sometimes you're just trouble. I'm not going to kill children!

Of course, the fucker can't let me have my moment, trying to rush past me to get to the twins. Oh no, you don't!

Pulling all the threads dispersed around the ground with Thread Manipulation, I pack them together as thickly as I can to throw a barrier in front of the thing. I don't really expect it to stop a liquid creature, she can just flow through no matter how fine the net. My plan is simply to slow it enough for Karin and Yuzu to get away.

But then it dodges around my barrier, making me blink. When realization comes a second later, I feel really dumb.

Stupid stupid stupid!! I should've at least considered it sooner. If I wasn't in so much pain, and the hunger so hard to ignore, I would have. Pyrexia's body is liquid, but the mask isn't! Gritting my teeth (I don't have teeth), I jump at it, interceptackling its mask on its way to pounce the twins. Then my gorgeous hair is everywhere, rushing around and through. prodding, testing, smothering and crushing.

I find the mouth hole, then the nostrils, then the eyeshockets, and I push through. It's dirty, messy, desperate and a tad suicidal. Pyrexia doesn't go quietly either, trashing everywhere as I try my best to crush a bone mask with just hair. But I'm running out of time and complex plans are a luxury I cannot afford. It even works… eventually.

With a last, keening cry, Pyrexia's mask crumbles to dust under my assault. It's fine if I munch its essence, right? I mean, surrounded by my hair like this, not a feet away from my face… there's no way I can somehow mess this up, right? The twins are still painfully obvious to my senses, but they're far enough.

I can munch Pyrexia's remains, right?

Yeah, I can.

Heck, I'm doing it.

Chupavidas!

… It's… not enough.

It's not nearly enough.

My whole body aches. I think it's trying to patch itself, but I don't need a mirror to tell I'm a mess. If only I was in Hueco Mundo, I could use Luz Lunar to take the edge out. But like this… I'm no better than Hollow bait. And that's assuming I don't just kneel over and die. Can a Hollow even bleed out?

"Miss Weaver?" Oh, look, it's the black-haired twin! How nice of her to get closer so I can… No! Bad Instincts!! No munching kids!! "Are you alright?"

"Just a flesh wound." I joke with my best Monty Python impersonation. If her deadpan is any indicator, I utterly failed. "You girls should probably get out of here. Other Hollow might've been attracted by the fight."

"We can't just abandon you here!"

"You have a better idea, kid?" I do my best to sound dismissive instead of just… groaning in pain. Results are dubious. "I didn't save you from the monkey-croc just to see you die trying to play heroes. I'll be fine."

"You have five holes in your stomach I can see through!" She protests, why can't she just take my words at face value? "You aren't fine!"

"I'm—"

"You can munch on us!" Silence follows, because that was Yuzu, and we had kind of forgotten she was there. A bit flustered by the reaction her words have caused, she elaborates. "U- Um… you mentioned you can… um... 'munch' on others to regain energy. And you just said Hollows like you eat spiritually strong humans like us! So 'munch' on us!!"

"Have you gone crazy?" Oh, wait, she cannot hear me. "Karin, tell your sister she's gone crazy."

"No, she's right." Her sister joins. Damnit Karin, I was counting on you. You're supposed to be the sensible twin! "You saved our skin back there, and all the way here too! We can't just let you die like that!"

"Don't even joke about that, kid." I growl "We Hollows are monsters that eat humans, it's something instinctive. What's to say I'll be able to stop once I start draining? I could kill you!!"

"You won't." Damn those eyes full of trust. I'm not a trustworthy caterpillar damnit! I cheat and trick and ambush and lay traps!! Stop forcing your hopes on me! "I don't know much about spirits and such, always tried to not get involved."

Smart kid.

"But you I know about you! You're not like the other Hollows" She continues, and suddenly she doesn't seem that smart anymore. "You saved our lives and you put yourself in danger for us and now you're trying to convince us to let you die so we can live. You're not a monster, you're a hero!"

And then the two of them are looking at me expectantly, with a shine in their eyes that makes me feel unworthy. While asking me to drain their essence. Damnit, am I suddenly in a bad Vampire romance novel or something?

---

On the verge of death, you're made an offer hard to refuse. Will you accept the twins trust and put their lives in danger to save your own?

Nope. You're not doing it. That's non-negotiable. There's thousands of better options, like baiting other Hollows to attack you and then somehow turn the tables on them, or run to the sewers, or somehow make a Home and weather the storm inside. Or just die already and give the twins a chance to run.
Reluctantly. It pains you to admit it, but you're out of options. Still, that doesn't mean you're taking the slightest risk with this. If you get enough energy, you're stopping. If you feel like something's going wrong, you're stopping. If the twins faint you can be damn sure you're stopping, and then smack them for not saying something sooner. You won't kill children.
Resignedly. It pains you to admit it, but you're out of options. The twins are as good as dead if you can't be there to protect them. That means you have no choice but to take some risks. You'll munch on them until you're combat ready again, or it becomes obvious they'll die if you continue. It'll probably be the end of their adventure though, no doubt they'll be to drained to walk afterwards.
Hungrily. You tried to hold it back, but the fight, the pain, the wounds… and now their offer, tantalizing and mouth-watering. You know you're going to regret it later, but can only take so much before you go insane. Maybe, with some luck, you'll snap out of it before it's too late but, for now, you can only surrender to the hunger.

---

[X][Choice] Nope
[X][Choice] Reluctantly
[X][Choice] Resignedly
[X][Choice] Hungrily


Munching that Pyrexia fella granted you a lot of EE! Oh, and the small fries provided a bit too, I guess. You earn 2000700 EE!!
Power Level Up! You're now Level 51!!

 

[Minion #Q]

[X][Choice] Reluctantly

 

[daimahou]

"You have a better idea, kid?"

Click to shrink...

How much were you tempted to put "kiddo" there?

 

[Harpy81]

[X][Choice] Nope

 

[InfiniteDarkSide]

[X][Choice] Reluctantly

 

[Arbitbit39]

Power Level Up! You're now Level 51!!

Click to shrink...

how many lvls does taylor need to evolve into a metapod... gosh darn it I confuse as a pokemon again!

 

[Jubjub3000]

[X][Choice] Reluctantly (drain the one who can't see you and make the one that can see you slap you or something if you're draining too much)

Something tells me ichi and Co are gonna show up at some point soon, it would be best to heal your wounds.

 

[Jubjub3000]

how many lvls does taylor need to evolve into a metapod... gosh darn it I confuse as a pokemon again!

Click to shrink...

I think it was 59?

 

[zarabg]

[X][Choice] Reluctantly

 

[R.A.G.]

>Taylor hears the word hero
MUST HERO

Also really curious what happens when the spiritual energy is willingly given. Especially since they're both mutants (though just Quincygamibringers not Hollowquincygamibringers like Ichigo)

[X][Choice] Reluctantly

 

[werdzerg13]

[X][Choice] Nope

 

[daimahou]

[X][Choice] Nope

 

[LokKi]

[X][Choice] Nope

 

[Rock_on_5002]

[X][Choice] Reluctantly

 

[Ratatoskr]

[X][Choice] Reluctantly.

 

[CatOnFire]

[×] Nope

Also for some reason I wasn't in your 'Name Vote' tally.

 

[Jraven89]

[X][Choice] Nope

 

[Planeshunter]

Also for some reason I wasn't in your 'Name Vote' tally.

Click to shrink...

I see. Thankfully it wasn't a deciding vote. I can think of a couple of possible explanations. Either Net Tally doesn't recognise your '[×]' as a valid vote (we use the letter 'X', while you used the multiplication sign) or using italics somehow messed it. I would recommend edit this most recent vote in case its the former. Because something tells me this time it could be deciding.

>Taylor hears the word hero
MUST HERO

Also really curious what happens when the spiritual energy is willingly given. Especially since they're both mutants (though just Quincygamibringers not Hollowquincygamibringers like Ichigo)

[X][Choice] Reluctantly

Click to shrink...

Must admit, my intentions weren't completelly pure when I chose that particular word. Does emotionally manipulating my own characters make me a bad person?

... Nah.

Random thought. Can you really mix Fullbringer and Hollow? I mean, Fullbringer are already Hollow-touched humans. Wouldn't adding more Hollow-stuff to the mix just make them... Hybrider? Fullerbringer? Fullbringest? Ugh... I need an aspirin, making up words is hard.

 

[Arbitbit39]

[X][Choice] Nope

then a third party will see two girls screaming
"eat me mrs.Weaver/Eat! me you overgrown BUG!!!"
"Nyet! Nada! Bo be! No means NO!!!"

also how does she know japanese? or is this talking and hearing with one souls thing?

 

[Planeshunter]

also how does she know japanese? or is this talking and hearing with one souls thing?

Click to shrink...

She just gets the meaning because soul magic, doesn't actually understand Japanese. Wouldn't it be a real shame if she managed to get some books on weaving only to be incapable of reading them?

 

[daimahou]

She just gets the meaning because soul magic, doesn't actually understand Japanese. Wouldn't it be a real shame if she managed to get some books on weaving only to be incapable of reading them?

Click to shrink...

... What you are saying is that if she goes around eating people she will be able to read their language?

 

[Phasehand]

[X][Choice] Reluctantly