<@Grysar> [Date: Sunday April 25th.] <@Grysar> [Kyon is spending a chunk of the day out in the city tending to one of his vocations.] <@Grysar> [Perhaps too his surprise, perhaps not, he already has people trying to contact him on shuffle. Namely a link request from Nekotani Hiromi.] <@Grysar> [The message was rushed "Welcome fnly Wand constiuent! We should talk but next welk crazy with overtures. Can you come to Takashimaya dpt in Shinjuku? Lot to tell."] <@Grysar> [Start] * Kyon frowns at the message, taps his fingers on the pad of the phone, and then types in, "When?" * @Hiromi replies. "Shift chg @ 5. Work?" * Kyon brings up his calendar quickly, checks it, and then writes back, "Should be able to manage. Where?" * @Hiromi sends over directions to a butcher stand in the corner on B1. * Kyon furrows his brow, but then texts back, "Right. See you then." <@Hiromi> [It's a Sunday, so the press of bodies at the start of the evening in Shinjuku is not as bad as it might otherwise be. The basement food court is still bustling. The corner butcher stand appears to have some sort of partnership with a western company. A wooden sign showing a boar's head hangs over advertises the location. Hiromi herself, still with light blue hair parted down the middle, has a similar logo on her apron. She waves when Kyon approaches.] * Kyon stalks up to the booth, carrying a small blue bag in one hand. He has on a non-descript dark grey baseball cap, sunglasses, a dark blue and grey gingham button-down shirt, and black pants. He gives her a curt nod as he draws up to the booth. <@Hiromi> Hi! Let me just slip back and wash up. * Kyon nods back curtly, and looks over the booth. * @Hiromi does that, returning after a couple minutes wearing the black shirt and trouser but no longer an apron. She adjusted her makeup, including lip stick, so Kyon has a little extra time to contemplate the range of beef and pork products. * Kyon curls his lip somewhat distastefully at the pork on offer, but covers it up when she comes out again. <@Hiromi> So, want to talk here? I can think of a few quiet places. * Kyon nods curtly. "Me too. But you can pick." * @Hiromi leads you up to the twelfth floor. She leads you to a cafe that she explains is a pretty popular lunch spot, but that closes fairly early. She somewhat treads on the hostess's first choice to get an isolated table for two. The view of the windows isn't great, but you shouldn't be overheard here. * Kyon looks around the place habitually as he comes in, but as is, there's no reason to object to the table placement. * @Hiromi makes idle small talk until the drinks are ordered and arrived. Once the waiter is away she looks over at Kyon and punches him gently in the arm. "I've been waiting since March for you to join up! I wasn't supposed to contact you first because the outreach process was supposed to be impartial." She rolls her eyes. * Kyon sets the blue bag on the table between them, and frowns. "And reaching out to people is being partial?" * @Hiromi shakes her head. "Well, apparently I'm 'biased' since I got my seat by pointing out that not all the 'violent groups' are the same and that I would stand up on behalf of the good guys." She does make airquotes gestures as she speaks. * Kyon smirks slightly. "So you're partial and shouldn't have the power to do invitations. But other power is okay. Why the mismatch? What's the reason?" <@Hiromi> If everyone was invited at the start, it would fall apart. If there was not careful sequencing with the gangs, violence! Why? Blah blah reading blah blah mistakes made on multiple side blah blah Wheel of Fortune will show the way. And since I was late to the party, I can't be expected to understand the intricacies. * Kyon taps his finger next to his glass. "Who did the reading? To constrain everyone, it must be someone really solid." <@Hiromi> I'm not sure who did it first, but Hinako verified it. Some of the ground rules were set before I came in. * Kyon thins his lips, and then wraps his fingers around his drink. "By who? Isn't it weird they'd set that before people got involved? Weird terms of service. Wonder what their legal team'd say." * @Hiromi makes a face. "I never really thought about that. But Yorihisa was the insistent one and Norishige is a big believer in following what the Wheel wills. And, well, donations from Shuffle, Inc. are our main source of revenue right now so I didn't want to start a big fight about it." <@Hiromi> But whats'ername said that she did give you all a proper invitation a few weeks ago. What took so long? * @Hiromi makes a face. "She wasn't lying to me, was she?" * Kyon frowns more. "No, we did. Just that we wanted to be careful. 'Cause it was strange, felt right take it slow. You know why?" <@Hiromi> Why? Because someone was blocking us. Heard other people from other groups were getting invites. And we weren't still. Even when we got them, she was surprised. So that set off some alarms. * @Hiromi listens and nods. "Man, you want me to make a complaint? It might be Yorihisa. He's a jerk, treats me like an idiot." * Kyon smirks. "Depends. I don't know how your council works. Is complaining going to make trouble for you?" * @Hiromi thinks and sighs. "It's probably not worth it. But I want you and your followers to know that the Two of Wands is on your side." * Kyon nods quickly. "You find out anything about it, without officially complaining, you let me know?" * @Hiromi smiles, "Will do. " She idly glances down at Kyon's left hand and her smile gets a little wider. "And we can talk a lot more now." * Kyon nods back to her, with a small frown. "A lot more's hard. Pretty busy, practice and school and taking meetings for the business. But more should be easy." * @Hiromi frowns and sighs. "Between this and my role as a junior hygiene specialist with Famous Nyah, I probably wouldn't have time to meet as often as I'd want either." * Kyon cocks his head slightly. "Famous Nyah?" * @Hiromi reaches into her purse and digs out a coupon for a free snack with purchase of a drink at Famous Nyah cat cafes. She holds it out to him. "They run a tight ship. Although my work is in back." * Kyon takes it and looks at the coupon. "Have to, with all the cats." <@Hiromi> I like to tell myself that my work there is good training for politics, in more ways than one. * Kyon snorts a laugh, and shakes his head quickly. "Cats are easier. Least you know what they want." * @Hiromi giggles. "So, Kyon-kun. What do you want?" * Kyon twists his lips to the side. "Really? To know how I can help. Don't know what's going on with all this yet. But I'm a quick study. And I've got experience in politics. Things're busy, but I can commit some time. Be a team player." * @Hiromi listens and lets a little more relief shine through at that answer than she necessarily intend to show. "Well, I have a three part agenda for this term." * Kyon raises his eyebrows, and takes a sip of his drink, clearly inviting an explanation. <@Hiromi> 1) Redecorating the lobby reversed. Making it a more useful space and adding a monument to those that were lost and *all* of us that stood up against that Sho-guy and the Oni. <@Hiromi> 2) Paying an hourly salary to those who are serving the common good. I mean, not just me, but also if someone has special abilities and we need their help. People talk about how they want Councilmembers to be on call, but our stipend isn't enough to let me really cut back my hours. * Kyon nods quickly. "Seems fair. You want work, you should expect some pay." * @Hiromi nods. "Exactly." * Kyon nods again. "And point 3?" * @Hiromi continues with a practiced air about her and a more serious expression. "Establishing a Benefit Society to ensure that those suffering from supernatural plights or injuries in the line of duty are properly cared for." * Kyon nods curtly, and mulls this for a beat as he takes his drink. "Smart. Definitely know people who could've used it." * @Hiromi smiles. "Thank you." She then pauses for a moment, torn whether to continue. <@Hiromi> [And there's a brief interruption as the waiter remembers you're there and checks on you. Hiromi orders a chocolate filled croissant for herself and encourages Kyon to pick something. They're served shortly thereafter and the waitstaff resumes forgetting that you are there.] * Kyon taps the side of his drink, and orders a refill, "Think I'd be good for filling the other seat? Help out that way?" He smirks. "Don't mind not getting paid much until we can work it out." * @Hiromi thinks. "We could make a great team." She smiles, putting a hand out on the table, "But I think what'shername wants to run. She was probably getting ready to declare when I made my speech back in the first round." She giggles, "Nice lady, little too polite for her own good. But I think all the races are going to be contested this time." * Kyon nods back quickly. "Don't see someone else running as a reason for me not to. Good for competition." He smirks. "Makes things lively." * @Hiromi nods. "It does, and there's no harm in running. But she's got a lot of support and has been hustling for more for two months. I can round up at least four votes for you, including myself, and be your eyes and ears on the Council between now and then. But if you real shot at wining, we're going to need to be partners in this." Her hand remains on the table, pointedly. * Kyon nods curtly, and then lays his hand splayed out similarly, fingers between hers, not quite actually touching. "Can work with that." * @Hiromi is not really a thread the needle sort of girl. She looks into Kyon's eyes. "And remember, if you think someone's plotting against you, I can do my part to help in my sleep." She slowly pushes her hand forward, aiming to join palms and lock your fingers together. * Kyon looks back at her with a small smirk. and lets her, although his hand does tense slightly. "Right. Good to know it's not just pretty words." * @Hiromi nods and giggles. "Those too." She then sombers slightly. "After Golden week, I should introduce you to my best supporters. Masami-kun and Chiaki-chan were both in captive in Osaka. I don't know if you've met beyond that but the Benefit Society was mostly Chiaki's idea." Hiromi is actively restraining herself from stealing credit, but there's something about this moment that's bringing out the honesty in her. <@Hiromi> And Ijima-san, she's quiet, but she thought it was crazy that bullying and defending people would be treated as equal offenses. I guess with all those tattoos, she was on the receiving end a lot. * @Hiromi looks down, "I..." * Kyon nods quickly. "Right. It'd be good to meet them." He watches her curiously, cocking his head slightly. <@Hiromi> When I found out who I was, who my people were, and I told them how I helped in Osaka, they treated me like a hero. Like, I've done a lot of cool stuff, but I think that was the proudest moment of my life. * Kyon nods quickly. "Couldn't have gotten people out alive without your help." * @Hiromi looks Kyon in the eyes for another long moment and then lets go. "Thank you." * Kyon nods once more, and withdraws his hand from hers, using it to nudge the blue bag on the table towards her. "Brought you a present." * @Hiromi smiles, delighted. "Oh?" * Kyon nods quickly. "Look. I know being a leader is hard. And keeping belief is hard. Not going to make that any harder for you, with your supporters. But, this could help too." * @Hiromi looks like she might be tearing up, but she keeps it under control. "That means a lot, coming from you." She looks in the bag. Got it for you after you messaged earlier. [It is a small, matte light blue agenda and notebook from Tokyu Hands, with a matching pen. A classic, simple design, but very nice quality.] * @Hiromi squees softly and gestures over to her tiny spiral notebook. "Mine is mostly full now. This should hold together a lot better." <@Hiromi> I hope you won't be offended if I pay for our humble snack here. * Kyon nods back quickly. "The sort of thing people always need." He raises his eyebrows. "If you insist. But I have to say something, too. Before we go." * @Hiromi nods. "You can treat me next time." She then looks at him, curious. "Go on." * Kyon glances at the bag, and then back up at her. "Look. It's good to see you. And I'm glad we can work together. I want to have your back, too. But I can't leave here with you thinking the wrong thing. I'm not in a position to have a public girlfriend." He smirks wryly. "The team thinks it'll be bad for our marketing." * @Hiromi looks a little disappointed, but hardly crestfallen. "I understands. The burdens of a public life." * @Hiromi then gets a bit of a twinkle in her eye. "Although, a perk of being on Council is that I can offer tours of the chambers whenever I like. So if you're curious some night, call me and I'll give you a personal tour." * Kyon nods back, still smirking. "Right. I'll keep that in mind." * @Hiromi rubs her right leg up against Kyon's, taking advantage of the fact that as the room and table are configured, that's not public at all. "See that you do." <@Hiromi> [Helpfully the waiter comes with the check and Hiromi is off to empty out kitty litter.] <@Hiromi> [End!]