[Grysar] Haruko settles in for the night on rolled out futon in her old room/her mom's new office. Seeking a mental change of topics, she slowly types out an email on her no longer proximate friend. When keeping her eyes open becomes a challenge, she locks the phone and sets it aside before drifting into sleep. Her body remembered the old high school schedule, and she arose with dawn's light. She returned to the phone and went through a few rounds of before being called down to breakfast. When leaving the house later, she fixes a typo or two and smiled at a mental image that had been dancing around in her mind as she worked on a story. She adds a second postscript and hits send. (Encrypted Email) From: Haruko Kinsha To: Taki Shimiru Date: Morning of Friday April 30th, 2004 Subject: How's settling in? Hey Taki, Hope you're doing well in your new home. Have you started classes? How's life with your roommate? On my end, Hibiki has now met my parents and learned that he's an Arcana. Not at exactly the same time, thankfully. I didn't handle that well and was called a "water witch" for my efforts. He's not mistaken there, so I guess he'll have to decide if that's something he wants in a girlfriend. So as you may have noticed from the drop off in email traffic, back in Tokyo more of the group communication has switched to need to know, rather than broadcast. With Katie and Kyon each running for separate council seats, that's not a huge surprise. Likewise, between mysterious letters about spies and Hinako-san's prying, people have gotten more cautious. Even so, I think it's important that we share the details about the box with Satoshi and Wataru, and I am content to take on the task of doing so, assuming you don't object. Longer term, as we spread around the country and world and take on different responsibilities, I do expect the group will grow apart some. I used to be a force that resists that, but distance can be a healthy thing and make it easier to respect everyone's boundaries. For example, I know you'd just as soon stay out of much of this stuff and I could learn to do a better job respecting that. That said, I do still recommend deliberately thinking through and sharing your policy about what you will and won't say to Hinako-san and what you think she knows already. That won't be a fun conversation, I suspect some people that trust her less than I are are assuming the worst and will likely be testy even if they're wrong. But I'd still urge you to do it because the truth can hurt, but it also allows moving forward. Sorry that even as a big sister I can't make these things easy for you. But it still does mean that whatever comes, even when the group stands divided, you won't be alone. Love, Haruko p.s. Kaede suggested we send more unencrypted emails. I'm going to try to do that with innocuous stuff in the future. I considered sending two today, but that seemed like a pain. p.p.s. I'm working on a craft project for you. Think jacket. May be a while, but could use your measurements. --- [RDMGryphon] (Unencrypted Email) From: Taki Shimiru To: Haruko Kinsha Date: Afternoon of Saturday May 1st, 2004 Subject: Settling Hey, My classes don't start until the week after next, so other than reading student reviews and the handbook there hasn't been much to do. It's a little different making six meals every day instead of four, but it's really nice to get feedback from somebody who usually has a strong opinion! But, when she only likes or dislikes something a little, or she's distracted by something she can get really evasive. I'm not used to that from Mikage. I don't think she's used to living on her own, but she perked up after we got chores and classes scheduled. (She's cleaning most of the common rooms, I've got the kitchen, and we're taking turns with the bedroom and paying for foodsuffs.) We're sharing a six tatami room and even just half of it feels huge. Mikage has some shelves and all kinds of stuff on her side, but mine's just my futon, a picture of Nicola, and a picture postcard of the Tokyo Skyline that Shizaru sent us tacked to the wall because Mikage said it was too empty. Do you have any cheap decorating ideas? I’m still not used to having somebody around, but she’s out more often than I thought she would be so I’m getting more privacy than I thought I would. That might change after class starts since a lot of her out of the house time is going to be the same as mine. Sewing is hard, or maybe I'm just not very good at it. I can mend a seam, but I still wind up pricking myself every time. If you need more than my three sizes, you're going to have to wait until after we buy a measuring tape or a ruler. -Taki ***** (Encrypted Email) From: Taki Shimiru To: Haruko Kinsha Date: Evening of Saturday May 1st, 2004 Subject: Re: How's settling in? And now for the hard one. I suppose it is true that no man is more foolish than when he is trying to be clever. That I even asked to do something so dumb hurts. I just want to [Orz] for the rest of time, but that’s not actually possible. I don’t know what Hinako’s actual range is, but I’m going to assume that Satoshi and I are out of it. What I wanted to tell her was that Satoshi had found a second Tower Reversed in America, and I was very confused about this because I clearly remember talking to Winston about it that night we all woke up in the World Reversed and him saying that Tokyo Tower was unique. Maybe he meant unique in Tokyo? Was there anything she knew? *But* that is not my secret to share, and I won’t. I shouldn’t have needed to ask. I don’t want to deal with Shuffle/Council stuff, but if you need my vote, and there is there no way that Kaede could set it up so that I do the part where it checks what card I am, and then give the whole account to you or Katie? I'll do my best not make things worse. The box and the letters, and the pens, and everything else are yours, but I ask that you not try to contact whoever it sent it in my name. I told Hinako about the first letter, and how mad I’d gotten over it, and that I’d asked you to burn and exorcise it. Could you give your foolish younger sister some help writing out her policies that won’t make Andrews Katie find yet another level to hate her on? -Taki --- [Grysar] Haruko spent a good chunk of the day uneasy, but throwing herself into her classes between email and text checks on her phone before heading over to an appointment at the Ozora household She'd been sufficiently Hibiki focused that Taki's response caught her by surprise. She added a quick to-do item to pick up a Tokyo Tech postcard for Taki and then put it out of her mind until that evening. Reiji was in the living room and pretty calm, watching a drama on television, though he ignored her and his sister. Kyoko didn't press. Haruko checked and they're pretty well stocked when it comes to first aid supplies, which came as a bit of a relief, as just refreshing her first aid training was already a bit of a financial drain. When she arrived later at the group house, she had a quick conversation with her fellow mechanic housemate and master of the good deal. Maki's recommendation satisfied her and she had her response largely finished by the time the second email arrived. (Unencrypted Email) From: Haruko Kinsha To: Taki Shimiru Date: Evening of Saturday May 1st, 2004 Subject: Re:Settling Evening, Sounds like your roommate might be homesick, or maybe something else. She's going to a big university, right? They probably have a poster store with some used options around there somewhere. Maybe take the trip with her and find a nice art print or the like. There's a ton of otaku options too of course, but unless probably nothing you care about. Although, I guess you could put up one of those explanatory posters at one of those foreign restaurants you've dragged me to. But either way, good to bring Mikage along to figure out how she feels about Hokusai or Gyros or something more specific to you. Also, hypocrite alert, maybe ask a few leading questions and then don't talk much and see if she fills in the silence. She seems like a talker. If she's anything like me you should be able to draw something out if you just watch her. If I actually followed this advice, my life would probably be easier. P.S. My turn to cook tomorrow and I'm going to try your omu-rice recipe. It seems like it scales up pretty well and can handle people arriving at different times. Haruko P.S. Let's see, full measurements valuable, but the three plus your height are enough for me to figure out roughly how much material I need. I'm a smidge taller, right? ===== Haruko glances at the second email. This is going to take some thinking. She sends off the first email and then girds herself for consulting with mental Katie who will be yelling that she's being too soft on Taki. That prospect doesn't highly appeal at the moment, so Haruko instead goes back to the email that lead to the blow up. After reading old emails and casting her memory back to emotionally charged conversations in her friends apartments, Haruko reads over the encrypted email again and sighs. "Working it out for yourself was part of the point of the exercise, sis." Haruko stretches and ponders alternate approaches. She takes a break to do problem sets for class and then do some Matlab readings. (Encrypted Email) From: Haruko Kinsha To: Taki Shimiru Date: Approaching midnight, Saturday May 1st, 2004 Subject: Re: How's settling in? Taki, Katie's a complex, wounded, human being which makes her reactions challenging to predict. What's worse, when trust is lacking, we often seek out unfavorable lights with which to interpret other's words. I'm not comfortable speculating for multiple reasons, but I can offer an alternative. Namely to be guided by principles she has impressed on me, those I think you are striving for, and those I treasure for myself. When navigating it is better to look to the stars or map yourself than to try to anticipate the route another would take. First, you are too hard on yourself. The principle of "ask first" is far more important than the framing of the question. [Haruko argues and gives a string to Taki] Second, I think it's easy to get into trouble when you try to avoid problems rather than setting boundaries and defending them. Your email to me actually demonstrates that well what you should be doing, you specify clearly what you'd rather not be involved with. I think that's a fine principle towards Hinako as well. If she's prying into someone else's affairs, you can recommend she speak with them. When that would sound weird, like with Wataru, you could just say you don't know them well enough to be comfortable talking about them. If you want to stay away from Shuffle, tell her that, it's up to her to convince you otherwise. Third, pay attention to the context and if things feel off. The Heirophant keeps secrets, that's right in my little tarot deck booklet, but it sounds like she's asking a lot of you without giving much herself. She may know a lot from being able to see the city from above, but I had the chance to go up Tokyo Sky Tower once on a date and I enjoyed the view, but it didn't enlighten me about what was happening on the streets. You've speculated some on what she might know. It's safe to assume she knows more than she's saying, but I'd guess she may also know less than she implies. Fourth, and perhaps most important, I'd say dedicate yourself to separating your facts from your analysis. I think when you try to work things through, some of your conclusions make a lot of sense and can be a big leap forward, others seem unfiltered and can undermine confidence. If you can separate what you know from what you think, it's harder for people to throw you off balance and more valuable when you share information. I feel like I should say more, but it's getting late and I don't get any wiser when I get sleepier. Love, Haruko --- [RDMGryphon] (Encrypted Email) From: Taki Shimiru To: Haruko Kinsha Date: Approaching midnight, Saturday May 1st, 2004 Subject: Re: How's settling in? Uhm... I kind of meant proofreading my email when it's done, but you've given me a whole lot to think about in a format that my memory can't push aside. So thanks. Your also tired, but also finding out that there is nothing worth watching on TV at this time of night sister, Taki --- [Grysar] (Encrypted Email) From: Haruko Kinsha To: Taki Shimiru Date: Just after midnight, Sunday May 2nd, 2004 Subject: Re: How's settling in? Ha, I meddle so habitually that I completely missed that meaning. A valuable lesson. Glad my comment were useful, happy to proof. We have a TV in the central room, so it's more computer that's a late night lure. Which I must resist! So after this sleep. But because I love, sis, I'll share something that I'll regret in the morning. Watched with the dancers. It was fun and the subs were good, there was this big fight about subs versus dubs earlier and I super don't care! But anyways, aside from being reminded the being a woman historically sucks, I think I may know a little more of what I want from a partner. And this may end of with me quoting lyrics from, uh ::Haruko does some web search:: at Hibiki and leaving him even more confused. This is probably a terrible idea, you should likely talk be out of it. But first, go to sleep!