[Grysar] [Both Satoshi and Taki get a note that while she knows they likely won't be in Tokyo for this, she wanted them to have the new address.] From: Haruko Kinsha To: Haruko Bcc: Chidori, Suzume and Maki; the PCs; Friends from Automotive Club, School, and a few Dance People (include Ken and Takumi, excluding Kenta and new Tokyo Tech freshmen Hirokazu); the remainder of the bookclub: Tsubame and Izumi. Akemi and Matthias but not any of the former bandmates. Date: April 21, 2004 (morning) Subject: Change of address and open house (Unencrypted email) Hello friends, I'm moving! Tokyo Tech would have preferred I left the nest sophomore year, and now that Maki is also no longer a freshwoman we are departing the dorms. Our new abode is at a group house. While it is distinguished by having a crafting room, it also has a critical mass of my book club. We were invited by Chidori-san and Suzume-san will be moving in alongside us. There's another four women sharing the space room for one more. So if you have any female friends you'd recommend, the management company would love for us to make that connection. Our individual rooms are intimate, but the shared lounge space isn't bad and prime seemed open to the idea of a DDR setup as long as it can be nicely stowed when not in use. We also have a lovely garden courtyard, but that only fits a few people. Male guests are allowed, as long as they don't stay the night or *annoy any of our housemates to the extent they invoke their veto power.* Maki notes that at least a quarter of the population is immune to even college Haruko charms, so don't count on my ability to get bans lifted, regardless of how inexplicably fond I am of you. We'll have a housewarming open house on [a date late in April our early May, left vague for game purposes]. Incidentally, the event will be after I gain the rights and responsibilities inherent in reaching the the age of legal majority. Regardless, there will probably be a pretty eclectic group of guests given the number of housemates. If you can't make it our are just busy that week, there will be other chances, as I should be able to host a bit more often. Although I will be limited to events not disrupted by other residents walking into common spaces. [Haruko includes the address, directions by transit or road, and her phone number, which is unchanged. Only motorcycle and bike parking is available on site. OOC, nailing down the neighborhood is a research project for another day, but it's one with some traditional low-rise housing.] Haruko P.S. I'm going to move my electronics tools here, so loaners back please. If you can't remember, those that aren't labeled by name look have cyan stickers on the handles. No garage, so don't worry, my grease monkeying will still be with my beloved clubmates. --- [Capfox] To: Haruko Kinsha From: Kyon Sorata Subject: Re: Change of address and open house Date: (About 15 minutes after the previous email) (Unencrypted email) Tell me how important it is that I show up. I can clear my schedule for part of it if you want me there. --- [Grysar] To: Kyon Sorata From: Haruko Kinsha Subject: Re: Change of address and open house Date: April 21, Noon. (Encrypted email) Valuable, but not vital. Both Maki and Suzume are fans of yours, baseball and writing respectively, although in the later case she doesn't know you by name of course. Aside from valuing it myself, a stop by might help cultivate the sense of mystique I rely on to avoid explaining odd hours, last minute chore duty swaps, and, Kami forfend, attention gaining injuries or disappearances. I hope Hibiki will be there much of the day, and while I'd still love a double date someday, in the meantime it would mean a lot for me if you could say hi, engage in some manly sports talk or whatnot (his is collegiate football, box-to-box midfielder), and maybe just observe our interactions. I'm of discombobulated around him, which can come with the territory, but it means my instincts are sending conflicting signals. In terms of valuable contacts, I've invited Matthias. (On that note, I forgot to invite Kyoko, I'll fix that and try to make allowance if she can't make it). I'm on a track to be able to maintain that information flow and relationship independently, although our favorite Keio pre-law keeps me on my toes. If I'm ever going to get anywhere career wise, I need to be able to manage power dynamics without overly relying on my wiles. However, if you want something from him (e.g. seeking his electoral support, encouraging/discouraging him to run or even join shuffle, etc.), I can try to lay the groundwork. Just let me know your intention if I can be helpful. Thanks for asking, Haruko ***** To: Kyoko Ozora From: Haruko Kinsha Subject: Change of address and open house Date: April 21, Early Afternoon (Unencrypted email) Hi Kyoko, How are you doing? I know Takeuchi is still working the plan, and I stand ready when he completes it. I've been busying myself with a range of thing, including some unexpected high school carryover issues. I don't think it's yet anything that immediately affects your interests, but if you want me to catch you up, I'd be glad to come over to your place or work, whatever is easier for you. Also, below I've attached an invite to an upcoming party I'm hosting. Kyon will probably be there, not sure about Takeuchi or Wataru. If you think it sounds fun and have the time, i'd love for you attend. If you think it sounds lame or it's just too far out of your way or you've got a double shift or the like, no worries. Also, to emphasize, this is an invite from me, not from him. That said, if you can't come or are feeling especially generous, I do have one favor to ask. I tend to buy too many ingredients when hosting parties, probably because I overestimate my popularity. My parents always emphasized that it's not enough just to finish your meal, you have to make sure all the fresh groceries get consumed before they go bad. "Even if it means having the same meal for several days because you thought a half dozen more people would come to your party than actually did, young lady." So ever since then, I try to ask a few friends in advance if they'd be willing to be subjected to my cooking to help make up for my planning deficiencies. So, if you're in a position to help me out, just let me know a few favorite party dishes or related ingredients, and I can run them over the next day once I've sobered up. Just nothing too fancy please, as my cooking abilities are shamed by both my Mom and Taki, and probably a half dozen other friends who are better chefs than I realize. Sorry for bothering you this request. Haruko ==Open House Invite Follows== --- [Rowyn] From: Kaede Takeuchi To: Haruko Kinsha Subject: Change of address and open house Date: April 21, Early Afternoon Congratulations on your independence. It's strange. I mostly think of most people as already independent already. So I suppose it is a major step. I should be able to free it. Cannot be certain of Akemi's schedule that week. We have a lot of catchup to be doing. Let me know if there is anything I should bring. -Kaede --- [Grysar] [From: Haruko Kinsha To: Kaede Takeuchi Subject: Change of address and open house Date: April 21, Mid Afternoon (Encrypted email) Thank you. When it comes to our group, I've certainly had an unusual amount of leisure in reaching adulthood and a range of resources when faced with adversity or facing the consequences of my own mistakes. Honored to have you and if Shiraishi-chan can attend it would be an unexpected delight. It isn't necessary that you bring anything, but a dish would certainly be welcome and I'm grateful for your offer. We're still early in the organizing, so I'd say aim to provide a serving for four to eight. The timing of arrival will likely be staggered and hard to predict, so perhaps something cold or that won't suffer if it's eaten over a few hours. Finally, given you won't likely have the time to stay to the end, be sure to mark your dish, and I'll wash it and bring it back to you in the following days. We do have much to catch up on. I've invited Kyoko and even if she can't attend asked for her help if I end up with extra ingredients and she is willing to suffer my pedestrian cooking. I'll let you know if she RSVPs. Otherwise I think the only possible guest of note might be Matthias, If memory serves, he'd worked with Shiraishi-chan back in the bad old days, but he seems to be more of a solo operator now. Finally, there is one specific matter on which I request your guided acquiescence. I would like to sign on to Shuffle using rules of engagement of your choosing. I understand that Wataru-san is your scout of choice and that you do not want my activities to reveal the what you've already discovered or your methods for doing so. Likewise, I do not seek to speak for more than myself and you are not the only one that would object were I to so presume. However, I have been invited to this arena and for mine own ends and to maintain mine own network, I wish to enter it. Already, admittedly for multiple reasons, I've put off some Hirokazu correspondence because I'm unclear about what I can release to him in return and I feel guilt that he has chosen to venture in without my guarding his back. I propose the following rules: 1) Treat all communications on Shuffle as monitored. Even searching to see if someone is already has an account may reveal their name or their connection to me. Even so, I'd probably use my current phone as I've already widely distributed my number. 2) I will join with a code Yamagata-san provided. I can act on information received from her and otherwise reveal my status as an Arcana in appropriately private settings, My status is no secret from Yorihisa and Yamagata-san requested no confidentiality. 3) Beyond those areas, collect information passively rather than actively. E.g. if the Council of Mystery site is pushed to me, I'll go look at it but I will not search for it. If even this is to far, I do respect your expertise and the judgment of the group to give you sole lead on this matter. If I must wait, then I must wait, although please tell me if there are any warnings I should share, beyond the risks I assume above. The challenge of independence, of course, is being cognizant of the consequences of one's actions on others. I do not seek to rush you and hope that by limiting myself, I can stay out the way of your plans. Looking forward to seeing you at the party, I'll strive to make it worth whatever time you choose to spend there. Haruko [Haruko spends her sole string on Kaede to offer him an XP to acquiesce to her joining Shuffle, under her rules or ones of his specification.] --- [Capfox] To: Haruko Kinsha From: Kyon Sorata Subject: Re: Change of address and open house Date: April 21, mid-afternoon. (Encrypted email) Understood. I'll make the time for it. For Matthias, just let him know I'll be there and that we have matters to talk about. He probably already knows. No need to go into it in the message. Your other invitations sound good. I'll be ready to deal with your boyfriend, too. I'll prepare some stories ahead of time. Kyon --- [Ciara] Date: Morning of April 21, 2004 (Orono) / Night of April 21st, 2004 (Tokyo) To: Haruko Kinsha Subject: Re: Change of Address and open house Hey, congratulations on the new place! ^_^ You're right in that it's probably unlikely that I'll be back in time for the party, but maybe I can stop by sometime after I am back and drop off a housewarming gift? Satoshi --- [Ardweden] (Unencrypted e-mail) To: Haruko Kinsha From: Kyoko Ozora Subject: Re: Change of address and open house Date: April 23, 2004 (Evening) Haruko-san, My brother and I are both doing quite well, thank you for asking. I'm glad to hear that you are still working on a plan to help him. I haven't heard from Kaede in a while, so I wasn't sure how that was coming along. He was or still is in America, right? So it's pretty understandable that things have been slow. I don't think I really expressed how much I appreciate the offer to help Reiji, so let me make that clear. I'm very grateful, and I appreciate any help you have to give. I'm just also worried about my brother. I don't question your motives, and they really don't matter that much to me, but I do want to make sure that whatever you do helps him instead of hurts him. About the open house, you're asking far enough in advance that I might be able to make it. I don't know if I can stay for the whole time, but I can probably manage some time, my brother willing. When will Kyon and Kaede be there? I'd like to go when there are more people I know. As for food, if there's leftovers, we can talk about it, but please don't make anything on my account. I'm also an okay cook, so I can bring something over or help prepare if I get there early, if you want. I hope your day is going well. Kyoko Ozora --- [Grysar] (As quick note closing this part of the thread, Haruko will respond in the affirmative. She'll note her respect for Kyoko's concerns and ultimate authority in this matter, as there are genuine unknowns regarding the attempt to help Reiji. She tries to figure out a way Kyoko could low intensity help out and have time to hang out with people. She'll also let both Kyon and Kaede know that Kyoko is confirmed, but would like to be there along with friends and will work to coordinate times. When it comes to Kaede communication, she'll treat Kyoko coordination and her attempt to get acquiescence to join Shuffle as two separate tracks.) --- [Jihatsu] Date: Morning of April 24th, Tokyo To: Haruko Kinsha Subject: change of address and open house (Encrypted email) Hey Haruko, Thanks so much for the invite and sorry for the late response! I would love to come. Should I bring anything? Take care, Wataru --- [Grysar] Date: Morning of April 24th, Tokyo To: Wataru Yamada Subject: change of address and open house (Encrypted email) Good morning Wataru, Glad you can make it! As a heads up, looks like well have a Kyon, Kyoko, and Kaede will be making it, though maybe only two out of three at the same time. I've also invited Izumi and the rest of the book club, naturally. I'll let you know what schedules look like in case you want to time your attendance with any of that in mind. Please don't feel obligated to bring anything. But since you kindly offered, I certainly would be honored to share a drink with you. Looking forward to it, Haruko --- [Wataru sends Haruko a quick reply along the lines of "Cool, sounds good; see you then."] [Thread End!]