<@Grysar> [Date: Wednesday April 7th, 2004.] <@Grysar> [The Tokyo Metropolitian Government Building is made up of two cojoined towers that stand prominent even amongst the skyscrapers of Shinjuku. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metropolitan_Government_Building] <@Grysar> [The approach is bustling, it's sunny outside and everyone seems to be attending to various errands or business. There's even tourists going to the observation decks on the top of the towers.] <@Grysar> [A slightly overenthusiastic security guard verified your appointment, had you sign in, and waved you through metal detectors. They looked like they might have been installed or upgraded in the past few years.] <@Grysar> [The elevators are fairly spacious, stairs are also an option, but it's thirteen stories up.] <@Grysar> [Either way, Kazuko awaits you in a conference room where she sits at the far end of an oval table with another five chairs surrounding it.] <@Grysar> [There's a view of the city behind her with long shadows cast over the city by a sun sinking in the horizon. There's tea and coffee apparatus in a corner of room and a fairly modern teleconferencing mic/speaker/dialer thing in the middle of the table. No screens or projectors though.] <@Grysar> [Katie prepared a dossier on this youth representative to the school board in the time it took between the graduation and the meeting. Her branch of the Yamagatas are a prominent political family. While not constantly used as a prop, she's made various appearances with her father through much of her life, even after she went off to college. These were dramatically reduced after spring of 2002.] <@Grysar> [She went to undergraduate school at Handai, Osaka University, and graduated a few years back. There were some stories in the scandal sheets about the politician's daughter that was a bit of a wild child now that she was out of daddy's view, but those had mostly disappeared by 2001.] <@Grysar> [Some extremely cautious tailing revealed that she is not living with her parents, instead at not particularly grand apartment that's a bit of a commute. A letter from them was tossed out with the recycling, unopenned. That said, the location of the apartment was actually fairly secure, security cameras on the approaches, high quality locks, and a conceirge with an attentive look in his eye. <@Grysar> [She also carries mace on her person and is very attentive to her surroundings when walking alone on the street. If she seemed a wounded pushover when rescued in 2002, those days are long gone.] <@Grysar> [Start] * Katie gets it; she carries mace, too. And other things. She scooped up the letter and took it home with her, reading it when she got there. <@Grysar> [The letter is fairly formal and congratulates her on the favor she's foudn with the mayor. It notes her wisdom in taking the course she did in terms of preserving her privacy and avoiding the depraved press and inept police. It was actually sent to her office, she must have carried it home with her.] <@Grysar> [The congratulations seem a bit passive aggressive, noting that they learned of her latest accomplishments some months later through a friend.] * Katie noted these things. * Katie now is with Taki! And they're going up to the thirteenth floor. That would be pretty unlucky in America, but she doesn't mention it to anyone. Instead, she makes for the stairs. <@Grysar> [Katie, being a wise Katie, and knowing the building location in advance gave herself some time for the stares. So the two of you arrive a bit winded but on time.] * Katie is dressed pretty nicely today, in a mint green scoop-neck shirt, black slacks and flats, and a white and green-swirled decorative scarf around her neck. She has a bag, of course, but it's also one of her nicer ones. * Taki climbs stairs, it's not even a question. Might be questionable if they were going up into the towers, but it's only a bakers dozen of floors. She's wearing a navy blue sweater over grey shirt, and a light blue skirt over leggings. The sneakers kinda ruin the effect a bit. She's also carrying a weatherd messanger bag. * Katie approaches the room they were directed to. "This looks like the place," she says to Taki. * Taki nods and takes a deep breath. "As long as it's just her in there I'll be fine." <@Grysar> [The door is solid, but there's frosted windows on each side. It does appear to be just her, to Katie's eyes.] Looks like it. There might be electronics but if there's a field, that shouldn't be a problem. * Taki starts to reach for the door. "Okay, let's d- Uhm... do we just go in or knock first?" * Katie shrugs. She knocks. * Kazuko calls out from the inside. "Come in, please." * Katie opens the door! * Kazuko is wearing a black jacket over a cream blouse with a somewhat old fashioned ruffled neckpiece. She also wears a long black skirt and flats as well, which is slightly surprising at least some heels would be a more common match with that attire. She does wear make up, but if anything it slightly downplays her features rather than accentuating them, but it may not be a bad way to avoid highlighting her youth. * Kazuko stands up to bow now that she sees the two of you. " and Shimiru-san. I'm honored to meet you under more favorable circumstances." * Katie raises her eyebrows slightly, then she bows. "" * Taki bows. "I'm sorry for my behaviour during our previous meetings, you took me by surprise." * Kazuko shrugs her shoulders a little and smiles slightly. * Katie nods, with a little smile. "" She steps in more, looking around, and noting the teleconfrence device. Does it look on? <@Grysar> [No lights are on, but Katie can hear a slight electronic buzz. She can't rule out that it's on.] * Kazuko looks over to Taki, glances at the door that stands open before picking her words. "The circumstances were fairly surprising. There are too many young people in Tokyo that have very bad associations with such surprises. Think nothing of it." * Taki steps a bit forward and gives the door a gentle nudge to close it. * Kazuko gestures to the chairs. "Please, take a seat. There's tea, coffee, or water if you like though nothing impressive I fear." Oh, thanks. Tea? * Katie goes to sit down, picking one closer to the door. * Taki takes a seat next to Katie. "Yes, please." * Kazuko nods and prepares three cups on a small tray. She sits one by her end of the table then places the tray next to the two of you. Those duties concluded, she sits. * Katie fiddles with her cup for a moment, letting extra nervousness show, before she says, "I'm sorry, would it be possible for a field...?" * Kazuko holds up a hand and as she unfurls it with a flourish the electronic lights in the room go out and the quiet electronic buzz ends. "I really should bring in a metal tea pot to allow for a warm second cup under such circumstance." Her voice is even. * Katie smiles sheepishly. "Does it happen often?" <@Kazuko> I wouldn't say often, but you are not the only one to request that courtesy. I'm sorry. It's just... bad experiences. * @Kazuko holds up her hand. "Think nothing of it. I'd ask that we keep this meeting to perhaps a half hour, lest I risk falling asleep on the train, but shorter than that can be managed with this." She gestures down to the tea cup. * Taki blinks. "That's n- I mean, let's not have that happen." I don't think it'll be problem? If it is, maybe we can find another way. * @Kazuko expression shows a hint of amusement at Taki's reply. She then looks to Katie. "Very good. So, as I'm sure Shimiru-san relayed, I am quite grateful to your group for what you have done." Yeah, I'm... sorry we didn't keep tabs on any of you guys. We were so overwhelmed with everything that it was hard to keep track of what was going on with us. But you seem to be doing okay. I'm really glad for that. * @Kazuko nods. "Thank you. And honestly, I think your one friend was trying, but most of us were really in no position or temperment to exchange cell phone numbers for future reference." * Taki nods. "There were so many bad things that happened, I sometimes wonder how anything good at all came from it." Survival can be... good. * @Kazuko looks over to Taki, slightly surprised. "We survived. The Oni have not nor has the Magician. I'd have prefered neither existed, but that wasn't on offer." * Katie nods. "We did the best we could. And still do." She plays with her teacup briefly, not having sipped it yet. "So which one are you?" * @Kazuko grins slightly. "So you trust the question and don't demand we all get out our decks? Nine of Wands." * Katie smiles back. "Would it make you feel better? Page of Swords." And I'm the Knight of Cups. * @Kazuko looks at each of you somewhat intently as you say the card. "There are some that are fanatic about it, but it wasn't as I knew your group by your cards to begin with. We can skip the formalities." * Taki nods. "There is at least one formality I'd like to go through." She digs Kazuko's letter out of her messanger bag -it's been folded and unfolded enough times that it's starting to tear across the crease and is developing finger marks- and sets it on the table in front of her. * @Kazuko looks over to Taki, curious. As kind as your offer is, I'm the last of us who is going to graduate, and while there is another school that I'm interested in attending, I don't think there is a way to change my grades during my first year in a way that will get me in. They're more interested in my abilities as chef rather than as a student, and I don't seem to have made the cut. So, while I'm thankfull that you offered, I must decline. * Taki uses both hands to push the letter across. * @Kazuko watches this with initial bemusement before realizing that she should adopt a more formal expression. She reaches over with one hand and slowly draws back the letter. "In my official capacity, I would advise that you not forget the option of a ronin year, based on what you've told me of your circumstance." * @Kazuko ponders for a moment. "So, , Shimiru-san." She gives you both an appraising look before focusing her attention on Katie. "What do you want?" * Katie considers for a moment, then says, "To get to know you, I think. Maybe offer to help if bad things come your way again. And to ask you what you think about some things. I... wasn't in that group you were in. I helped save it. But I-" She hesitates for a second, then continues. "I know what that was like." * Taki takes her teacup and shrinks back into her chair. * @Kazuko listens and nods. "I hope we can be of mutual assistance should bad things come." She looks at Katie, "And I'm sorry that we share one such experience." She sounds like she believes Katie is being honest, but isn't quite sure she's convinced. * Katie nods, pushing the teacup away from her. "Being held somewhere and not knowing how you got there, not remembering things completely or... sometimes not at all. I- I read something recently that reminded me of it. I thought it was talking about *me*, it was so close to Arcana, and I just-" She takes a breath, and she doesn't keep it from shaking. "Sorry." * Taki tentitivly reaches over and hoverhands before lightly putting her hand on Katie's shoulder. * Katie stills at Taki's touch. * Taki says softly "You arn't there anymore. They arn't there anymore. It's okay now." * @Kazuko nods slightly and leans forward listening to Katie's comment and forming her thoughts. * Katie just looks at the table, for now. * @Kazuko the lets out a long breath. "I'm sorry if that reading put you back in the room." She closes her eyes. "For me, it was more a reminder that I wasn't alone there anymore." No, it wasn't- *that*. I'm glad you're not alone. * Taki nods and reluctantly lets go of Katie, folding her hands in her lap. It was... someone was asking around about me. He's writing something, about us, and it's not... okay. * @Kazuko eyes narrow slightly, surprised. "About you?" * Katie blinks up at her. "Yes?" * Taki nods. "A few of my other friends are recognisable in it, but ... I'm not sure if I should be thankful or angry that I'm not." * @Kazuko sighs. "Uehara-kun did emphasize that he used composites. I take it your reading is different?" You know about this? * @Kazuko nods. "That time with Sho. It wasn't my first. That time you saved me, you weren't my first either." * Katie winces, but she doesn't stop her from talking. * Taki can't keep the surprise off her face. * @Kazuko is losing her equianimity a bit as she spoke. There's a bitterness there. <@Kazuko> The first time was the drugs, I know I wasn't alone in that either. I was a student in Osaka at the time. <@Kazuko> I'm not sure how they realized I was an Arcana or if they were just serving them widely, informed by the cards, and seeing who they'd catch. I didn't know we extended that far. * @Kazuko finishes her tea in one swallow. "I think those of us that were isolated may have been more vulnerable. I suppose I should have listened to my father and avoided the rave scene. He was quite clear on that. Wouldn't have helped the second time." She shrugs. * Taki shivers, remembering her own bad experience with clubs. * Katie looks a little pained. "Drugs again?" * @Kazuko shrugs. "I'm not sure. That time you saved me it was like the Uehara-kun wrote but also like you said. I just woke up there that time. No connection to what happened before." * Katie nods. "Yeah. Exactly. You-" She stops, then tries again. "He was asking my classmates about me, ones who went to my school, and my friend got a copy of his second book at the signing. The cliffhanger at the end..." * @Kazuko lets out a sharp breath. "He prides himself on his investigations and commitment to a truthful depiction of the era, but changed to protect the innocent." She searches for her next words. * Katie looks at Kazuko, not really hiding her wariness. * Taki just fidgets in her seat. <@Kazuko> I don't think the book is about you. That's certainly not what he told me. I think it is about some of the things we went through, collectively. Maybe, but it's- it's close, Kazuko. A lot of it's very close. I don't like my life being on display. I don't like *our* lives being on display. * Taki sits up and nods. "A lot of us are trying to move on, and he's dragging things up." * @Kazuko winces slightly at my life but regains her look at the end. After Taki's comment she snaps, "Then I'd advise you not read the books." She shakes her head and looks at Katie. "I'm sorry, if there are things specific to your life, that crosses a line. That's a fair complaint." * Katie straightens. "But if we share things that are specific, it doesn't cross a line?" * @Kazuko straightens herself. "Your privacy should be respected. Even if it's traits we have in common. But it does end there." Her tone does not get louder but does get more confident. "A good number of us got to go through some variant of hell only to be left alone and shamed. He's not trying to repeat that shaming. It's much the opposite." Really? Because that hasn't been clear at all, at least to me or anyone I talked to about it before you. * Taki just nods again. And why him? Won't he lose his memories? * @Kazuko answers the earlier comment. "Did they think she was being shamed? Exploited for thrills? She's the heroine. She gets left in a bad spot but it's not meant to stop at book two." * Katie shoots to her feet and yells, "I was exploited for thrills!" * Taki goes from indecisive to surprised and worried. "Katie!" * Katie whirls on Taki. "Don't TOUCH ME." * Taki raises her hands and sideleans away from Katie. "I'msorry." * @Kazuko stands up as well. "There are people, girls, out there that went through this too that don't have groups to turn to and may not even know what they are." * Katie spins back to focus her glare on Kazuko, not quite yelling at first but getting steadily louder. "Do you actually think. Did you actually THINK. That he ever, *ever* asked permission from *any of us*, that he even *wanted* us to know his book existed, that any of you gave a shit about any of us?! This isn't for you, if it was for you you'd be writing it, you'd be giving it to us and to *us* not to a bunch of people in *public* so they can act like they know what they're talking about and know what this is like-!" And then at Kazuko's words she laughs, an ugly sound, right on the edge of hysteria, and she switches straight into English. * Katie's voice completely snaps into nothing right about there, and she starts coughing violently, tugging at her scarf and scrambling almost blindly for that stupid tea she pushed away before. * Taki pushes it into her hand. * Katie grabs it as she pulls the scarf away and drinks her goddamn tea. Or throws it into her face. It almost looks like the same thing. * Taki slides her own, untouched, cup closer to Katie in case she needs more. * @Kazuko listens to all of that with an expression of increasing sympathy until she actually starts crying. "I'm not a writer, I'm not an artist, I was just told by my parents that it was shameful enough what happened to me and that if I told anyone else it would ruin them. But..." * Katie tries to breathe while she listens. Breathing is good. And tears are in her eyes; whatever. Her hands are shaking. That's definitely more annoying. She tries gripping the table. * Taki looks between the two. It's clear that somebody needs to say something here, but she has no idea what won't get both of them mad(er) at her. * @Kazuko looks up and grabs a water bottle. "In addressing my pain, I compounded yours." She looks down and rolls it down the table. "Even if I was right, you've been through enough. You don't need more. I haven't read the next book, but it won't be about that rape-monster cup or any dopplegangers. I promise. I don't know your story but I know mine." * Katie reaches over to stop the bottle with her hand. She looks at it, swallows, and nods. * Katie turns it right side up and twists off the cap. * @Kazuko collapses in her chair. "And if I'm wrong and he's just completely playing me out of some weird obsession with you, I'll raise it to the Council. He's not, but it's not like you have any reason to believe that." * Katie looks at Kazuko for a second. She opens her mouth and tries to talk, but just manages a dry, raspy sound, and she looks pained before she drinks more water. * @Kazuko's make up has actually dripped off some thanks to tears. The girl you rescued some time ago is now a bit more visible. "All that's free. I clean up my own messes. We can talk about other things some other time." * Katie shakes her head, and she scrambles for her bag, opening and pulling out a notebook. She opens it to a blank page, takes a sharp and thin mechanical pencil, and writes, "COUNCIL?" * Katie slides it to Kazuko. I think tha... * Taki gives up and just sits down. * @Kazuko glances over it over and gets a brief 'oh crap' look and then just looks weary. "Some of us have been trying to reorganize for the past several months. The choice was to start with the non-aligned, pick the first four representatives, and then incorporate some of the rival gangs once we had people to help mediate." * @Kazuko sighs. "Have they gotten the Shuffle invites to you yet?" * Katie shakes her head. * Taki s only response is to take her tea back and stare into it. * @Kazuko takes a paper out of a notebook. "Here's some of the invites. THe 'friend finder' is just a cover for a card based security system because apparently most passwords aren't any good for complex technical reasons involving a lot of acronyms." * Katie's eyes are on the paper in Kazuko's hand. She nods. * @Kazuko looks over to Taki. "You need five or six? It was a confusing night." Uh, let's go with six, but I don't think everybody will accept. <@Kazuko> That's fine, but we're using it to run elections so no vote if you aren't on. I'm going for second Wand seat for the record, in case that matters-- Sorry. That's not important. * @Kazuko slides them over to your side of the table. They spread a bit as she does. She's not really at the top of her physical game right now. * Taki starts to gather them up, glancing at Katie as she does so. * Katie nods, watching them slide. She makes another ugly, rasping cough before reaching in her bag and pulling out a business card. On its back, in small print, she writes in English, "" And she gets up and walks over, handing it to Kazuko. * @Kazuko takes it and looks it over with a slight nod. "Thank you." She returns her own * Katie takes it with an almost-smile, holding it up in with a finger and her thumb, and waves with it. She takes her notebook back, retrieves her bag and newfound water bottle, and leaves. Not a word or motion to Taki. * Taki puts the invites into her bag and stands up. She starts to say something and then shakes her head, finally going with. "Until we meet again." Then she follows Katie out. <@Grysar> [End!]