<@Ciara> [Evening of Monday, April 26th, 2004.] <@Ciara> [Haruko has made plans to come to the Soratandrews apartment to discuss things. The Council, the election, what's up with Aka, probably some other things, too.] <@Ciara> [Kyon's life being what it is, he's delayed by something coming up. Maybe it's business-related. Or writing-related. Or baseball-related. The man is non-stop.] <@Ciara> [He's texted Katie to let her know he'll be delayed. Tersely. Because he is Kyon.] <@Ciara> [Haruko is arriving now.] <@Ciara> [Session Start!] * @Haruko had buzzed up upon arrival, though knowing Katie she probably caught the distinctive sound of Haruko's diesel bike even before that. She now walks up to their door, hauling a whiteboard that's about half her height. She knocks to announce her arrival. * Katie opens the door shortly after the knock and smiles. Katie, as usual when she's inside, is barefoot. What are you going to do. "Hi," she says, holding it open and stepping aside to let Haruko in. * @Haruko smiles back while giving the ritual apology for the inconvenience of her visit. She slips inside, grateful for the held door, and carefully kicks off both of her shoes so she doesn't have to deal with the board and her bag at the same time. * Katie offers to hold board and/or bag. * @Haruko hands off the board and closes the door behind her before switching to slippers. "I hope I picked a good size. Large enough to cover the key stuff, small enough to go under a bed or behind a coach without being a nuisance." * Katie looks at the board. "What's it for? Just organizing thoughts?" * @Haruko nods. "Vote tracking in particular. Normally they use a map for this sort of thing." <@Haruko> But that doesn't matter for us. * Katie blinks once, then laughs a little. "For the election." Okay. I'll put this in the living room. Do you want something to drink? * @Haruko then begins to take stuff out of her bag. "Yup. You might be the sort of super genius that can keep this all in her head, but the rest of us - - yes, please, if it's not too much of a bother." * @Haruko removes multicolored dry-erase markers, one permanent black marker with tape over its cap, erasers, and two documents, each in transparent plastic bags. Sure, what do you want? We have tea, soda, juice, I think a couple of beers... <@Haruko> Be-- hm.. juice first. Night is young. * @Haruko glances over. "Unless you aren't abstaining." * @Haruko then leaves her bag by the door and brings her assortment of stuff over to the living room. * Katie goes to set the white board in the living room, propping up against the couch. She snerks at Haruko's request. "I don't like beer." She considers the board, then says, "I think I have an easel that can hold this." * @Haruko just takes a moment to appreciate the funny way lives and relationships work out after Katie's comment. She nods at the mention of the easel. She then adds, "When the time is right, I may have to ply you when plum wine then." Sure, I'll try it. Go ahead and get some juice; I have to get the easel out of my closet and put it together. * Katie goes to do that, then! To her room! She manages to get in and shut the door before Kumaguro can scoot inside. <@Haruko> Oh, and I've used gloves with these two letters. I've been too busy to get a second fingerprint kit setup, and given how circumspect the sender was, they've probably already took precautions. Still, couldn't hurt in case you decide to take them out of the bag. * @Haruko notices the cat moving and walks over to the hallway, trying to beckon him over while kneeling down. * Katie says something from her room, but it's hard to make out! <@Ciara> [Kumaguro is a cat, and a cat may look at a Queen. Which he does, briefly, before meowing at the door to Katie's room.] * @Haruko has dealt with cats playing hard to get before. She gently scoops him up before heading back to the couch. If he really squirms, she'll let him go. "Couldn't hear that." <@Ciara> [Kumaguro is flops, although as soon as Haruko sits down, he'll probably jump off her lap.] * Katie opens the door slightly and scoots out, collapsed easel under her arm. "I said okay." She closes the door behind her. * @Haruko is wise to his ways, and pets Kumaguro while standing for a few moments after Katie emerges. She then sits down as the cat escapes. Once Katie has setup the easel, she'll aid in placing the whiteboard. <@Ciara> [Kumaguro hustles off to somewhere else. Maybe Kyon's room.] * Katie does go about setting up the easel, in front of where the television is and so in easy view of anyone seated on the couch or at the kotatsu. It takes some work, but she's a pro at it for some reason. * @Haruko aids in finishing the setup. Once the board is up, she then moves the markers over. She actually rearranges them once or twice to fit some organizational or aestetic scheme that makes sense in her head. * @Haruko then settles back to the couch, looking up to Katie with almost a curious expression with just a hint of fear. "So, I assume Kyon's doing his Kyon things, and we might want to wait for him for the reading. Beyond that we can go in any order you like." * Katie is still standing. She glances at Haruko's expression. Huh - and they haven't even gotten juice yet. "What's wrong?" * @Haruko closes her eyes for a moment, organizing her thoughts. * Katie sits on a chair at an angle from the couch. Apparently juice can wait. * @Haruko reopens them and looks up at Katie. "I've been trying to balance a lot of things, I wish Taki hadn't come down with a fever right before her move, and I shouldn't send emails after 1 am." * Katie's fingers tighten into the fabric of the chair, then they relax. "Yeah." She looks at the whiteboard. * @Haruko's eyes flit to Katie's fingers but she doesn't comment. "So, what first?" * Katie then glances down at the letters on the kotatsu and leans forward to slide them towards her. "Kyon is going to run for the Wand seat." * @Haruko nods. "And you?" I'm not running for the Wand seat. * @Haruko laughs. * @Haruko also relaxes slightly in the chair. "That would have been awkward, though I wouldn't bet against you. What about the Sword seat?" * Katie grins at Haruko. "Yeah, I'm going to. I think *one* of us should end up on this Council, and chances are probably better for me. I mean..." She pulls the letters to her lap. "Who'd be my competition? Ryuji? Sumire?" She shrugs. * @Haruko nods and thinks for a moment. "I don't see Ryuji running for it, unprompted." It wouldn't have been like him. But people change, right? My point is, Swords in our experience have been... relatively unstable and unpopular. Not that I'm the most stable *or* popular, but. * @Haruko doesn't laugh at that. "I think you're the best choice for a Council seat that I know. Regardless of suit. Doesn't mean it will be easy, but I'm glad you want to do it." * Katie raises both eyebrows. "We've disagreed a lot," she points out. <@Haruko> Still do. Primarily about methods. But I think we do agree on what should be a last resort. * Katie nods. "Okay. And Kyon?" * @Haruko grins. "My number two, but." She glances at her watch theatrically. "His attention is split." * Katie rolls her eyes. "Yeah." <@Haruko> I plan to work my rear off for both of your campaigns, and politics is complicated so who can predict what will happen. But I suspect that even outside, Kyon could manage things well. But if you're in those Council chambers that changes the game. That's the idea. They want us out, so the only thing that makes sense is get in. And it sounds like a number of people already involved had no idea we were being blocked. * @Haruko nods. "I'm planning to email my network after tonight. Let them know what's going on, ask to talk with them about next steps, hint that we'll want their support and state outright that I want to hear what's on their minds. Hirokazu might even be a few steps ahead of me by now." Yeah. Can you give me a list of people you contact so I don't accidentally do it, too? * @Haruko nods. "I'll star them on the board once we're adding names." She glances at the letters in Katie's lap. * Katie follows Haruko's attention down to the letters, and she shifts them on her lap, actually reading them now. <@Ciara> [For reference, the letters are:] <@Ciara> [http://bacon.sandwich.net/ardweden/neoarcana/other/ShimiruPackage1_ITmemo.ht ml] <@Ciara> [http://bacon.sandwich.net/ardweden/neoarcana/other/ShimiruPackage1_Kokusensh aDinner.html] * @Haruko stands up. She figures Katie inspection might take a little time. "Can I get you anything to drink? I have a pretty good idea where things are." Coke, thanks. * Katie puts her finger up at an e-mail address. "I wonder if Kaede's tracked that yet." <@Haruko> Hasn't told me if he has. I'm not good at predicting what he'll do and what he won't. * @Haruko pours a cup of juice and a Coke and carries them back to the living room table, making sure everything is properly coastered. * Katie gets a glass of Coke, and she sips it. "Yeah, it's almost definitely for Aka, but still." She sets the glass back and sighs, flipping to the IT one. "I'll get Wataru to look at these; see if he finds any connections." The author thing's probably worth going over again with Kyon. Now that he went to the dinner, he can probably make some more connections, too. * @Haruko glances up at that, "Oh, there as a dinner? Good. That might help us figure out if these are authentic." * @Haruko thinks for a moment. "I don't really understand Wataru's connection process. It probably works here. The only thing I'll add is that the terms under which Taki was offered these was that she'd get no more if we tried to track down the source." Haruko shrugs, "But she's trying to figure that out via email, so she probably doesn't object." Yup. And it looks like Yorihisa was on to Kaede, but we already know that. * Katie turns the letters over to see if there's anything on the back. <@Ciara> [There isn't anything on the back.] * @Haruko nods. "Sounds like Kaede got a lot at least, so probably worth it." Yeah. * Katie stacks the letters again. "Is this it? Wasn't there a key and another one?" * @Haruko nods. "The key is in my bag." She stands up to get it and then thinks better of it and sits down continuing in a very measured tone. "There was a cover letter, the other part of the terms was to burn that without showing it to anyone. I did that part, it burned purple." * Katie blinks at Haruko. "What?" * @Haruko lets out a breath. "The terms for receiving more information was to destroy the cover letter, not look into the anonymous source, and to specify requests via an elaborate procedure..." <@Haruko> No other favors were requested, though Taki suspects that there will be one eventually. * Katie tilts her head. "So she's going to get more information?" * @Haruko thinks. "I don't think she's decided yet. She hasn't responded, and is probably too sick to manage it right now even if she intended to. I think she should, but I think if I try to make that choice for her, she may have a tougher time handling future steps on her own." Wait, you burned it *before* she decided if she wants to get more information? * @Haruko doesn't flinch and doesn't seem surprised by the question. "Taki's first instinct was flight. Her second was to take the letter up on its rejection terms and burn everything in sacred flame and avoid a chain of bad consequence. Her third instinct was to share these two letters, as allowed, and to go further to try to figure out the source. Burning just the cover letter helped her get * @Haruko from two to three." So I'm guessing she's *not* going to get more information. Fine. But you burned it before anyone could see - did you make a copy? * @Haruko shakes her head. "No copy, I read it myself because she left it when she followed her first instinct. And I don't think the window of opportunity for more has closed yet." * Katie throws the letters onto the table. "I'm not going to make her ask for more," she says, her voice tight, "and *you* know she doesn't want more. Why didn't you keep the original, or at least make a copy?" <@Haruko> I am trying to built a relationship with her based on support and trust. It might be working. I'm not going to be in her apartment, holding her hand, the next time she gets thrown for a loop. My attempts in the past to get more by being clever about what my words mean have backfired. Badly. So, what! You go and set fire to the only lead we have! People who know who and what Taki is, people who chose *her* to be their contact - which, by the way, is alarming by itself. Would you trust Taki with shit like this? With *anything*? I'm pretty sure the reason Hinako asked her if there's "something she missed" is exactly what Taki almost did and maybe *actually* did. * @Haruko takes a moment to process that last sentence. * @Haruko lets a slow breath in and out before looking up to Katie. "That's a flurry of questions with different answers. Can we take them one at a time?" * Katie glares at Haruko and folds her arms. * @Haruko walks over to the board. "So, first, "Why did I trust her with handling of the leaked information?"" Not *you*. * Katie manages to add enough to that 'you' to make it sound vaguely insulting. * @Haruko revises the text to refer to the leaker. <@Haruko> So, I'd say 1) It's not a real leak. 2) They only have a relationship with her, among the people being spied on. And/Or 3) They think she's the one least likely to investigate. * @Haruko writes those in blue. * Katie watches. She doesn't add anything. * @Haruko revises the second to be "strongest relationship" rather than only. * @Haruko stares at the list for a moment. * Katie lets her, glaring at her back. * @Haruko looks back to Katie. "4) In H's assessment, Taki tends to be a greater risk for shutting down than for oversharing." <@Haruko> Anything else to add? * @Haruko also notes at the top "Pick one or more." * Katie is watching, her eyes hard and her body still. When Haruko asks that, she says, "No." <@Haruko> So, there's a second issue. "Did Taki share more than she mentioned in the email." * Katie rolls her eyes. * @Haruko thinks that through. "She gets things wrong, even in her memories when she's trying to be honest." She adds "Bad memory." She then frowns, "I'm try to walk her through her rules there. But I believe her that if she said she didn't share a thing, she probably didn't. Sharing isn't a thing she does naturally." Haruko adds another note. * @Haruko adds that the biggest risk is Taki sharing stuff that she didn't realize was secret. She then stares at the board again. * @Haruko glances over at Katie again. Looks like the silent mental model is doing a pretty good representation. So? * @Haruko raps her knuckle on the second question. "So on this one, we're waiting on Taki. I'll follow up if I'm not sure about her answers and you have other people that can do that too." She raps her knuckle on the first question, "Kyon's dinner info helps here. I am willing to encourage Taki to get more info even though, you're right, she doesn't want to. We all do things we'd prefer to avoid." * @Haruko then proceeds to write a third question on the board, "Is Haruko handling Taki all wrong?" * @Haruko takes another long breath in and out and looks to Katie. "I am being honest with you. I think things are getting better, but I'm sure I'm still making mistakes. I'm not asking you to try to help her or even talk to her. But I want your help in not hurting you." *Haruko*. * Katie throws her hands in the air and stands. "You go through all of this *work* and you can't even answer my question!" * @Haruko does flinch a little now and looks at the ground, slowly looking back at Katie as she speaks. "Look, we both know you work just as hard, you just don't show it like I do and you started younger. But which question? I've had your voice in my head throwing questions at me into the wee hours of the morning, but it matters which one you care most about." I don't even know what- my voice in your head? What? * @Haruko takes a moment to drink juice, so that the next thing she says doesn't make her sound crazier. "When you know you have an argument, or even a difficult talk coming, don't you ever play it out in your head before?" Oh, so you *knew* I'd be pissed about the letter thing. * Kyon turns the key in the lock, and shoulders the door open. He's carrying a small bag, which he sets down just inside the doorway in the hall as he steps in, and closes the door. "Tadaima," he calls. * Katie snaps, "Hi," back at him, without looking away from Haruko and her whiteboard. * @Haruko finishes her drink like she regrets not asking for a beer earlier. "Well, when the Taki email blew up, I put it together. I mean, I had one argument about how she should have already been asking for more information, but..." * Kyon gets his shoes off, tucks them appropriately away, and drops the bag quickly off in his room, before making his way into the kitchen, still wearing what he was wearing earlier that day. <@Ciara> [Kyon, whenever it is that you go into the living room, you see a Katie and a Haruko and a white board.] * Katie is closer to Kyon, with her back to him and her arms folded. She's glaring at Haruko. She has a great glare, as he knows. "No. You didn't. You *burned the letter*." * Kyon picks up a glass of water from the kitchen, and then heads in, leaning against the doorway and taking in the scene. Starting with reading over the whiteboard. [There are also two plastic-sleeved letters on the low table in the room, and a glass of Coke on a coaster nearby, which is almost certainly Katie's.] <@Haruko> I chose to give her some autonomy in handling something that as her business. Yes, I followed her request. I could have just taken it or lied to her. She could have just given it to Kyon and asked him to burn it all and we know how that would turn out, you'd have all three with Taki maybe the wise, maybe not. Maybe I could have just browbeat her into doing the right thing. Clearly. Look. * @Haruko looks over to Kyon and just gives a quick emotionless bow. She looks back to Katie. <@Haruko> Look? * Katie walks over to the whiteboard, putting her hand on the edge of it (it's propped on Katie's easel). "This? ALL OF THIS is BAD. Whatever reason they're contacting Taki and not someone else. BAD. They know she's not going to follow up on this. That's not what Taki DOES. Ever." * Kyon nods back to her, and just listens for now, trying to take in where they are in the conversation. So you? Playing by her rules, *their* rules? Why the hell, Haruko. <@Haruko> I played be her rules. Because this wasn't a top priority, it was something that fell into her lap and I thought I could get most of the value if I helped her through it. I followed her rules because it gave me a chance to alter her rules. * Katie looks at Haruko, her hand still on the edge of the whiteboard, then at Kyon. What do you even make of something like that. <@Haruko> And she doesn't never follow through. She's a somewhat different person with her friends. There's no way she's dating Nicola without following through. She was busy for weeks doing things to high school cherry blossom viewing happen for her school. She's bad at following through with Arcana stuff because it's genuinely hard and she's just a teenager dealing with a lot of stuff. She's a fuckup, but that's not the same as never learning. * Kyon raises his eyebrows, and speaks up, finally. "Doesn't mean that this is the right time to try teaching her. If whoever it is picks her for this, there's a reason for it. And even if it turns out to be for an innocuous reason, still have to assume that it's a strategic one." He leans against the wall. "Not a bad impulse. Even if it is her. But you have to pick your spots." * @Haruko looks over to Kyon and listens. She then thinks for a moment. * @Haruko writes a few of the Katie points and Kyon's down on the board, switching to green and then red pen. * @Haruko stares at the board again for a minute. * Katie's grip tightened on the board's edge, but when Haruko goes to write again, she lets go. She turns and walks off to look out the window. * @Haruko closes her eyes, reopens them, and then writes on the board her intention to try to get more leaks. She looks back to Kyon. "Did the information hold up? Is there value in trying for more, even if this might just be early bait before something bigger?" * Kyon shrugs quickly. "More or less. Couldn't verify everything, but what I ran into fit fine. So it was useful. Which means that there's value in it, but it's more worth it the less that we have to go through her." * Katie looks back to see the board. She reads from where she is but doesn't say anything, at least yet. * @Haruko gestures to the top left corner. "But if it's genuine, it's probably because they have a relationship with her and, also, because they are genuinely afraid of discovery and think she's safe. My read on the cover letter was that they were trying to be circumspect and did think that they might be in real risk if their identity got out. If they are actually part of a spy network, they aren't wrong." If they have a relationship with her, they should know she isn't safe. * @Haruko sighs and nods, she then amends a point. <@Haruko> Okay, so if we have a genuinely leaker, they're afraid of discovery, have a relationship with her, and have questionable judgment. Probably. All of those things don't sound very likely. Especially since they got *this*. * Katie gestures to the letters. "From Yorihisa? And Aka, too? And that key?" * @Haruko goes to grab the key from her bag. It's also in a little clear plastic bag. <@Haruko> Okay, so since there's a lot of reason to doubt, that seems like a good reason for Wataru to check it out, even if that risks losing future information. * Katie walks over to the whiteboard while Haruko does that; she picks up a green pen and crosses through the note Haruko wrote about considering manipulation. "Yeah." * Kyon thins his lips. "Right. Just as likely to me that they know she's the easiest way in. Just because this is true doesn't mean the next one is. Start a relationship, get things moving, and once there's trust, then see what you can get back from her. Since she's already putting extra info out there she shouldn't, might not be a long road." * @Haruko glances back at the board. "And we don't proceed with contact for now. Let's see what Wataru finds with these three things." * Kyon nods curtly. "Fair. So. More to discuss there, or you want to get to reading?" * @Haruko shakes her head and looks to Katie. * Katie looks at Haruko, then points out the crossed out section. "Because we can't trust her, and you wouldn't be good at it. We should cut losses unless something else happens, or she decides to act differently." * Kyon shrugs quickly. "Definitely shouldn't be giving her anything from our end. If they send her more, we have to deal with that." He shifts to stand straighter in the doorway. "Got a road trip coming soon. I'll go talk with her." * Haruko nods and walks over to the board. She erases the scratched out line and writes, "Yes. Play it honest *and* conservative." She then looks over. "I'm going to take a phone picture of it, send an encrypted copy to myself, and then delete the nonencrypted copy." She then looks over to Kyon and nods without comment. Sure. * Katie glances at Kyon. "I told her you're going to run for the second Wand seat." * Kyon nods curtly. "Tell her about the meeting with the current rep, too?" * Haruko does the picture thing and then starts erasing. "So we can go on to the reading. I'll work on the vote count white board as we go." No. You want to fill her in? * Haruko looks to Kyon. "Oh, you met the Wand? I pinged mine but haven't heard back yet." * Haruko then glances down at her cup. "Kyon, can I get you anything while you settle in?" She goes to wash out her cup and get Katie a refill. * Kyon goes over towards his desk, and opens into a drawer to get out his deck. "Got some water already. And she contacted me after I signed up. Went for coffee with her earlier. Definitely promising as an ally, but it'll take some finesse. She hit on me, but going to try to just keep it friendly and connected." * Haruko snorts. "That's an inappropriate use of her office." * Kyon smirks. "Already a sign I can do better." Got a name? And mind if I grab a beer? * Katie goes to sit at the low table in and snerks. "Yeah, Kyon's platform can be 'won't demand sexual favors.' It'll be a big hit." * Haruko lets out a long breath. "If Hirokazu runs, I'll make sure that's a campaign promise, even if he doesn't list it on his brochures." * Kyon nods back to her curtly. "Go for it. And yeah. It's a good approach for everyone." * Katie wrinkles her nose a little. * Katie then says to Haruko, "It's Hiromi Nekotani." * Haruko pours herself one. She's not sure if that's part of the Katie nose wrinkling, but she feels she's earned this. She refreshes Katie's glass and then comes over with her mug and coaster. She then adds Hiromi's name to the board. "Oh... right, she could astral project, right?" * Haruko refreshes Katie's glass with Coke that is. * Kyon nods curtly. "Got herself a few supporters now, too." * Haruko nods. "After the reading, make sure I get them down." * Kyon nods quickly, and settles in at the table, laying a hand on the deck, then giving it a few expert shuffles, before looking down at the space and visualizing it. * Katie takes her glass and drinks some soda. Then some more. She wasn't quite yelling, but being so emphatic takes some toll. * Kyon takes a deep breath, closes his eyes as he sets his hand to the deck again, and then opens them and starts laying them out, a simple 5 card box spread. <@Ciara> [The first card Kyon draws is the Magician Reversed. Wheras previous readings had tied Aka to the Magician - power, skill, action - now he's shifted. He's insecure and lacking self-confidence and things have been delayed.] <@Ciara> [The second card is what had brought Aka to this point. Death. Promises of change and transformation and transition, but with the possible implications of failure in that change.] * Haruko watches and nods along at the first card and hmms at the second. * Kyon continues to focus, ignoring the reactions, just staying calm and visualizing as he lays out the cards. <@Ciara> [The third card is ... well, apparently the reason why Aka made this deal was... the Devil Reversed. Breaking free. Reclaiming power.] <@Ciara> [The fourth card is the potential outcomes of this deal. The Four of Cups. Re-evaluation. Contemplation. But the potential for dissatisfaction, possibly even falling into apathy.] * Haruko frowns at the appearance of the Devil Reversed <@Ciara> [And the final card, the likely outcome should Aka be left to his own devices... Ace of Wands Reversed. Selfishness. Creative stagnation. More delays. Continuing to be weighed down by his choices.] * Kyon lets out a final breath, and taps his fingers on the top of the deck, looking over the spread, and then taking a sip of water. So do you think that's the Devil Reversed in person? That was Saki's rival, right? * Katie tilts her head. "Devil Reversed and Death Upright." <@Ciara> [It could be the person, but it's *definitely* the meaning.] * Katie reaches over to point at Death. "What does that position mean?" * Kyon taps his fingers just under the card. "How he got to this point. What got him where he is now." So is it actually changing forever, or is it maybe changing forever? * Katie points out the next card - Devil Reversed. "And that?" * Haruko listens and nods. She also works to add names as she thinks of them. Why he made the deal that he made. The present reason, where Death is the past reason. And it means... what does that mean? * Kyon twists his lips thoughtfully. "Trying to break out of old patterns and bonds. Getting power back for himself. So it fits with the death card. He was promised a change, and he went for it." Back? I wonder if he hit a rut at some point. I could ask Masaru. * Haruko nods. "That makes sense." * Kyon nods quickly. "But it doesn't have to be that he had it before. Could just be that he felt shackled. More likely, though, it's trying to get back to what he had before. What he thinks is his due." Right. He said... I remember Masaru saying that he used to share everything with Aka, until he caught on and stopped. And that Aka was disappointed that Masaru didn't show him any power. My guess is Aka wants information, or to be involved with Arcana, or to be an Arcana himself. If I was Aka, that's what I'd want - to be an Arcana myself. I'd think it's unfair that other people get to know things and do things that I can't. Like Eriko. * Haruko nods. "Although Eriko had people she wanted to protect. Although maybe Aka does too, even if that's not his top priority." * Katie shrugs slightly. "He seems to care at least a little bit about Kazuko Yamagata. I don't think that's why he took the deal, though." * Haruko nods. "I wonder if they met before or after he took the deal." * Kyon furrows his brow, and frowns. "But switching over's not possible. You can't just get changed into one. Nothing I've ever heard suggests that. Could just be getting the chance at the power - promises of getting to call on someone else. Or better powers." * Katie nods. "As close as he can get. It's a theory." She looks at Kyon. "What about the rest of it?" * Haruko nods at this, a little uncertain but she trust Kyon here. * Kyon taps the fourth card. "The potential outcome. He could re-evaluate. Work out what he wants differently. Which could mean, from what he said before, that he's winnable. Already seeing that he's not getting what he wants, so he could take a new look at the situation." * Kyon looks at the middle card in the box. "Because if he's just left to his own..." He taps the card lightly. "This really is stuck. Selfishness and getting bogged down. Not the way forward for him that he'd want." * Haruko looks. "And if I understand you right, that can't become literal as far as we know." * Kyon nods quickly. "Fits with what we saw with him at the meeting. He already feels stuck. Only going to get more stuck. If we give him a way through, we could work with him. Find out more. Because his deal's not turning out how he wanted." That all works with him being the chink in the World's armor, right. This reading doesn't tell us who the 'devil' is to him? * Haruko spends some time looking at her encrypted email logs between staring at the reading. "I think if it is an Arcana, we'd expect him or her to be present." * Kyon shakes his head curtly. "If it is, then it's whoever's that card. And I don't know who that'd be now. Otherwise, it's just telling us about his situation." Okay. * Haruko nods. "Well, Devil Reversed and Death Upright are both present. Four of Cups is Hirokazu and he didn't know about this. Ace of Wands reversed could be a factor, but we're thinking figurative there. Magician Reversed could theoretically be involved, but we know that's in the subject slot so I think we can exclude that. So if there's an Arcana that made this deal, we have a pretty solid lead. If it wasn't an Arcana, we might just be getting clarity on the metaphor. * Kyon taps the first card again. "It fits with what we know about him. And we can follow on the people, too. But if he's not Arcana himself, could put us more on just the reading on the situation overall." He shrugs quickly. "But, could be a mix, too." * Haruko nods and goes back to work at the white board. I don't *think* it's people? But I'm not as good at reading tarot, and we should probably consider it anyway. Regardless, it looks like trying to turn him into an ally sounds like a good idea. * Kyon nods quickly. "Can't say I think it's just people, either. Something to be aware of. But if this is his motivation," and he taps the second and third cards, "And he's not getting out what he wants. And he knows it. Then we have something to offer. * Haruko stares at the Cups suit for a bit as she works. "Oh drat." It's hard to offer him anything if we don't know exactly what he's trying for- what? * Haruko raps the Cup suit. "I may actually have to end up backing Hirokazu, if we assume Remi is in the World's Party." ... What? Current known Cups. Reiji who we're trying to help, but not at the election time table. Myself, Taki, Remi, and Hirokazu. * Katie wrinkles her nose. "Ugh." Maybe we'll meet some more and they'll be a credit to the suit. Oh, and the Two of Cups, whoever that is. But they're in office already. * Haruko shakes her head. "Doesn't matter, but I think two candidates from our group is probably enough." She looks back to the spread and then back at her phone. * Kyon blows out a breath. "If it comes to it, we can worry about it then. But there're probably more." * Haruko goes cross-eyed at her phone for a moment before setting it down and taking a drink. "Okay, so we have a better understanding of Aka. Masaru is the next step there, and worth talking to as a voter anyways. I've listed all of my vote contacts. You to should think of platforms and whether you want to announce that yet." * Kyon nods curtly. "Now that we know what he's up against, can also take another go through the publisher side. Particularly if the artist doesn't pan out." * Haruko nods, looking a little curious, but not asking for now. * Katie nods at Kyon. "Let me know if you want me there?" and then, to Haruko: "I'm going to talk to Kazuko before I announce anything. I want to see what she has to say." * Haruko nods and looks to Kyon. "Should I announce you yet?" * Kyon thinks for a beat. "The current rep is backing me so far. Probably worth it. Even if she drops it once she hears we're not dating, probably should put myself out there anyway." * Katie looks at Kyon. "She thinks you're dating her?" * Haruko glances between the two of them. She takes another drink. She thinks we could. Left it open. Should close it down before she goes too far. As your presumptive campaign manager, I strongly agree. * Kyon smirks, and nods back quickly. You should. So who's writing the e-mail about this reading, to send to everyone but Taki? I can. If I get anything wrong you can correct me. * Kyon nods quickly. "I can follow up if I need to." Sounds good. So you have a voter chart, Haruko? * Haruko gestures at the board. "Dang, we're complicated." [End!]