Your first impulse is to tell him that Tatsuki tastes too terrible to eat, just for the hell of it, but you don't. For one thing she smells objectively delicious, and for another you couldn't keep a straight face while you do so.
Hollows . . . hollows are violent. You respect hollows that are stronger than you in the same way that a predator respects a bigger, meaner predator. But the thing about predators is that they don't fight other predators for no reason. Even an animal knows to go for easy prey instead of a tiger cub or something. So you appeal to that. "She's one of the Tercera's new fraccion, off limits unless you want to take it up with her."
Lloyd purses his lips. "I haven't heard anything about the Tercera gaining new fraccion. If a human were to join under even the most gentle of predators, well, I'm sure I would have heard the news by now."
He takes a step forward, hands spread wide. He's looking behind you at Tatsuki, not at you at all - distracted, hungry.
"Nelliel has dibs. She didn't get in here on her own, so don't try to deny that somebody helped us." Your jaw clenches as you appeal to higher authority. "Since you just got a real position why don't you wait a while and-"
"No. I am Octava, and you are rabble. If you were important you would be Espada as well." The arrancar rejects your reasoning and waits for you to reply. When you don't he sighs. "It seems I shall gorge myself instead of snacking, then."
Tatsuki's still beat up from her training, and if this guy knows that Sonido technique Shawlong did there's no point in telling her to clear the area.
Lloyd draws his sword. It's a straight two-foot blade edged on both sides. You've got longer arms, but he's still got more reach. That's a problem.
"He's got reach." Tatsuki mutters.
"I know that."
"He might have speed."
"I know that."
You think so hard that your pulse throbs in your temples, focusing like Ichigo did last Fall when his pops didn't wake him up and he missed his pre-class cram time. What do you have that he doesn't? You don't have ridiculously tough skin like Nelliel does, but he might. You don't have bankai, but you wouldn't put it past arrancar to have some kind of power up. You can't count on having raw strength on your side either. All you've got is a glorified knife, a speed technique you've used once, and nearly-untested regeneration.
"Whitey, look at his movement. You see that?"
At Tatsuki's urging you stop focusing so hard and just take in the situation. At first you don't see anything other than a hard fight walking towards you, but then it clicks. The way he walks and holds his weight, the grip of his hand on his sword- like a club that just happens to have an edge.
The Octava Espada's got less fighting skill than you had at eight years old.
"Hyaaa! Hahaha!" You laugh, confidence suddenly surging back into you as you square off with the sleazy redheaded hollow.
In response he flashes bright red, and then he turns completely invisible.
Your laughter gets caught in your throat.
Do you want to go all-out?
[] Yes, immediately escalate.
[] Escalate when Lloyd does.
[] Hold back and play for time.
How will you counter his invisibility?
[] Just look really hard.
[] Listen for his movements.
[] Try to sense his spiritual pressure.
[] Feel the air currents.
[] Let him stab you, then counter.
[] Throw Getsugas everywhere.
