<@Grysar> [Date: 5/12. It's a muggy night evening, but that won't stop you. You're standing on a crane with a vantage of the docks and a container ship. Akari has been your guide on this resuce mission and should catch up in a moment, but even with her tentacles aiding her climbing, you're still much faster. You're ready for this, nothing's going to stop you. How are you decked out, Taki?] <@Grysar> [Start!] * Taki is decked out in sneakers, a ratty pair of jeans that were black once but are fading into a sort of purple color, an over sized grey sweater, and a black Tokyo Giants hat that she's stuffed her hair into. <@Grysar> [Akari catches up, wearing a red and blue racer's outfit. By now you don't need any more guiding, you've spotted them at the stern of a ship. There's a makeshift scale set up hanging over the water. Under the left, somewhat familiar young man is chained to a palette hangs from the scale. He's checking his watch, a bit put out. Under the right, a young woman facing awaying wearing a long sleeve dress despite the heat. The balance on the scale seems precarious as the chain links both palettes.] <@Grysar> [The hostages are guarded by a canine of some sort, no familiar breed of dog there, and a simian with a staff. Just as you'd been briefed.] * Taki whispers. "We're not late are we?" * Akari shakes her head, panting. "Not as long as you can make a quick decision." She glances down. "Looks like a fight. Or you choose which one isn't going to get a bath in Osaka bay." * Taki looks back down. "Bleeeeeeh. I don't think I can get them out of the chains and trying underwater just makes everything ... weird. I think the only way to get both of them is fighting. Do you want the dog or the monkey?" * Akari scowls. "Can't you do some fancy teleporting? She's probably not even worth it. He's the cute one." She then shrugs, swayed by Taki's leadership. "I guess I can draw off that stupid monkey, Onee-san. Just so long as they don't know it was me." * Taki looks back down. "Not fancy enough to keep you and the cute guy from getting soaked, but if you're okay with that, we can get fancy." * Akari pulls up the center zipper on her racing suit, which is probably for the best. One of her tentacles holds up her hairbraid and bow. "Let's do it. But you better be able to tell me afterwards why they're worth it." * Guan draws idly on his pallete. Hard to be sure from here, but he seems to be mapping out some sort of alternate route to the evening practicum you've got after this. He seems satisfied with the approach and is a little less antsy about the time. [The girl, incidentally, has short brown hair with a middle part. She's turned her head a bit to the side and what you can see of her features is fairly plain. She's actually wearing a jacket, not a long- sleeved dress, though she's definitely got on a long skirt that's probably not the best for swimming. Akari has been grousing about her all evening, but near as you can tell she certainly doesn't deserve this.] Okay, here's the fancy plan, I'm dropping your tallness a bit above his side so I can get on hers before it's moving too fast, then, if we're lucky it mostly balances out and you get him unchained or break the platform or whatever and get off when it gets close to the water and I can teleport off the high end. Then I come back for the two of you. If we're unlucky everybody gets to go flying through the air! * Akari listens, her look skeptical. Nonetheless, she braces herself a bit, spreading her tentacles so that they'll be ready to catch her. "Let's go, Onee-san." [Akari's drop off goes just smoothly with tentacles quickly securing the chain, the palette, and the boy. However, that landing swings the scale slightly, and results in you coming in hard on the second palette, which is now spinning and cracking under your weight. The young woman, also familiar but a fainter memory, looks up at you, more surprised than afraid, "Someone came?!"] [What do you do as your platform buckles beneath you?] * Taki tries to catch her balance, and mostly manages to catch her shoulder. "Of course I came, what sort of person wouldn't?! I'll have you out of here in moment." [Akari's side is sinking down as yours rise, faster now that the lower half of the palette is now careening down to the bay below, causing your side to rise. On the upside, this seems to have loosened the chains as the woman clings to you. Precariously close, you can see the parts of tattoos at the base of her neck. "Most sorts wouldn't."] [They may extend beyond the base, but she has rather little skin exposed.] * Taki grimaces. "Well, they're not me. And I'm going to need you to trust me and do something isane. We're jumping when we get to the top." * Yuki's eyes widen. "Can you do that?" She'll trust you, but she wants a promise that you'll keep her safe. Absolutely, safe, on the ground, and not any more shaken than we are now. Just take my hand. * Akari has been tearing away at the chains without much restraint but with some success. Guan seems to have lost a fair chunk of his shirt in this process but he seems nearly free. * Yuki takes Taki's hand in hers. It's a little cool to the touch, she's been out here for a little while, and even the muggy air is disturbed some by a breeze over the bay. She hesitates for a moment and then nods. [And about now the Jackal looks back and starts yelping. The monkey takes a several loping steps back and then begins to run towards you, pole extended and preparing to vault. * Taki and Yuki have already jumped off by the time the monkey gets to them, and somehow they don't land in the water that was so far below them, but instead abruptly the pier behind some containers. "I'll be right back!" Taki boasts as she frees her hand and vanishes midstride. The other half of the rescue operation isn't so clean as she appears to walking on water for just a split second before falling in and joining the others in the drink. "Ghack! Hands! Something!" [Akari wraps a tentacle around your right arm. She already has Guan caught by a different one and is trying to keep him high and dry, securing two other tentacles on the ship. "I would have had this." She pouts, but that might just be the dampness talking.] * Taki deposits the three of them on dry land next to Yuki, with Guan still being held in the air. "Sorry, it seemed like a good idea at the time!" [You do hear more Jackal yelping from above, as well as a simian cry of frustration arcing above you. Not long after you port away there's a distant splash. That's followed by rain and a few more splashes or perhaps knocks.] * Taki tries to stiffle the grin, really really tries to stifle the grin. It's not working. * Yuki smiles. "I'd been afraid to believe you." * Akari faces away from Guan and lowers her central zipper with a free hand while ringing the water out of her her braid with a free tentacle. * Guan works to adjust his shirt. "Your friend is kinda scary. Hey, Taki!" She's nice, when you get to know her better, and you're safe and dry, which is the important part, and let's get out of here before they track us down by scent or something. * Guan nods. There's one more set of knocks. His voice is a little muffled. "Just wanted to let you know that the festival practicum was cancelled by the rain. And you've got a package." * Yuki takes your hand again and leans in to whisper something that you don't quite hear because you're waking up. Haa? [The sound of the rain does persist in the waking world. The time on the clock is early evening.] * Taki blinks into awakenessish and lifts her head off the textbook she'd been using as a pillow. The table was definatly not the right place to fall asleep, no matter how soft and soothing the sound of rain is. She calls out, "Somebody there?" [Guan had been slipping a delivery slip under the door so his voice is from a fairly low height and still muffled. "Oh, sorry! It's Guan. Just wanted to let you know the festival was cancelled." * Taki goes and opens the door, she's wearing the sweater and pants from the dream, but instead of the treasonous hat, she's the imprint from the edge of the book and some ink on the visable side of her face. She covers a yawn. "Aww, I was looking forward to that." * Guan looks slightly chagrinned as he stands up. "Me too. I was thinking of hitting the kitchenwares store as a consolation. It's having a sale and the post office is near by." He gestures over down to the package note by Taki's feet." * Taki crouches to pick it up and looks at the label. "Mhmm, that's tempting, but the budget's a little..." [The sender is apparently Garmin International, Japanese office.] * Guan nods, slightly disappointed. "I hear you. It's a nice covered arcade, but window shopping can be a drag sometimes." * Taki has no idea who that is. "All those things you want, but you don't actually need a pasta machine or new knives." [The slip announces that you can pick up your package at your local, aforementioned, post office, but you'll have to be there to sign for it.] turns the slip over like she's half expecting some sort of explination on the back. Just let me get my shoes and an umbrella and I'll at least go with you to the post office to find out what this is about. * Guan nods. "This one does have a good whetstone too, which they'll let you use for a lot less than a new knife." * Taki laughs nerviously. "There was actually an old man at a market near where I used to live who had really good rates..." * Guan glances a little more directly at Taki, overcoming his initial embarrassment at having awoken her. "An important relationship." He then blinks, "Oh, do you want to hit the bathroom before we head out?" He rubs at one his cheeks, matching Taki's inkstained one. Eh? Uh, right. Just a moment. * Taki closes the door, but that doesn't keep Guan from hearing her eep from the bathroom. [With that out of the way, the journey isn't a bad one, there's some puddles to avoid but with your umbrellas the two of you manage just fine. Apparently Guan had access to, and duties in, a commercial kitchen growing up, so he's having to find some connections in the community now that everything isn't at hand.] [The arcade is not too crowded, with some people who didn't plan ahead hanging out near the entrance. The kitchenware shop is not that large but from what you can see of its crowded shelves it is wisely stocked. The post office is a little further in on the right.] * Taki is actually facinated by this since she's only worked in one once for her school festival and learning to deligate and the differences between it and her tiny kitchen at home were so big. So facinated that unless it's pointed out she's going to keep having this conversation right into the store. * Guan reaches the store. "Yeah. Not much opportunity for experimentation during working hours, but the scale of just the pots make me feel cramped when I'm cooking for the roommates. Oh, here we are. Want company at the post office?" Sure, and it's the opposite for me, when I'm at the school I sometimes feel a little overwhelmed and just pick the pots that are closest in size to the ones I'm used too. [A few other establishments also catch your eye. There's an Italian Tomato, a few different clothing shops, and one selling manga, figurines, and also merch more aimed at younger kids. Over at the other end of the arcade there's a Tully's coffee.] * Guan walks over and holds the door. There's a someone being helped at the counter, but otherwise no line. "Yeah, there are sometimes where going bigger means you don't have to worry quite as much about spillover. That said, no busy kitchen is ever truly uncrowded." * Taki thanks him as she walks in and into line. " I don't mind the crowd: it's fun to have so many people around who are interested in the same things, I didn't exactly share any hobbies with my Tokyo friends. Well, they all enjoyed eating the results, but not so much with the making, you know?" * Guan chuckles and hangs back. "My roommates resemble that remark." * Taki laughs. [Taki gets counter service fairly quickly and gets handed a package a little bigger than a breadbox. Not too heavy, and it doesn't shake or rattle so probably some packing material inside.] * Taki finds that she can hold it under one arm and still hold her umbrella. "Okay, was a little worried, but it looks like I can get it home like this." * Guan glances down but doesn't recognize the name Garmin. "Let me know if you need any help there." He leads you back towards the kitchenwares shop. It's not very heavy, just kind of awkward. [Guan nods at that and heads in, right after he steps in Taki hears a different voice from behind her.] Shimiru-san, fancy meeting you here. * Taki freezes for a second and doesn't turn around. "Kashiwagi-san... if I wanted to talk to you, I would have called. And if you wanted to talk, you could have. I suppose I must thank you for not showing up at my door though, so thank you." * Guan does have some of his knives with him and is removing them from his bag. Kei was a bit quiet with his greeting and Guan doesn't seem to have heard it yet. That he does glance over at hearing your voice. * Kei gives a crooked smile. "I'd texted you earlier today. Just wanted to let you know you have a classmate in town. She might have some insights on that problem we discussed." * Kei is again in an oxford shirt and slacks. "And you're welcome." * Taki raises a finger and to both boys says. "Just a moment." * Taki digs out her phone and checks. <@Grysar> [Sure enough, message came through while she was napping. "ijima yuki-san has moved to Osaka | she knew more about the b.c.s than she said | better if you are the one to go talk? y/n"] * Guan looks a little puzzled but respects the finger. * Kei looks a bit smug, but is closely watching for Taki's reaction. * Taki stares at her phone blankly for a moment and then suddenly starts. "Oh, that's who that was!" Then she looks sheepish and turns around. "Uh, can I call you later tonight, I'm kinda in the middle of something right now." * Kei digs out his phone. "Oh, you've seen her too? Great." He presses a button and sends a photo. It's not the best quality, but you can see her working at Light Speed Tattoo at the counter. Her hair is more closely trimmed than Taki remembers her expression is a tad gloomy. "Tonight is fine. Although To asked me if I could deliver something as well." He has the decency to look a little sheepish as he holds out a caligraphied envelope with a strange circular bulge, a few centermeters thick within. * Taki rearranges things so she has a free hand. "Please tell me this isn't a letter of challenge." * Guan walks back out to the entrance, as this gentleman might be failing to take a hint. His posture isn't aggressive by anymeans, but he doesn't have the easy going smile at the moment. * Kei shrugs. "He says he'll respect your earlier choice." Kei also gives a quick introduction, saying name but not context, to Guan, who bows and does the same. * Kei does appear ready to extradite himself, now that call assurances are received and the envelope is delivered. * Taki waves him off. "Thanks again for that then." Then she goes to Guan and sighs. "Tokyo problems need to stay in Tokyo and not follow people all the way down here. Please show me many shiny machines and stones that I cannot afford to distract me." <@Grysar> [Guan obliges and Kei heads off.] <@Grysar> [After some looking and chatter, plus an errand or two easily handled in the plaza, the two of you head back to the apartment. Only once he's back on the hall does Guan inquire, "That a guy I should keep a lookout for?" * Taki nods. "He was part of a gang at my first high school, he's kinda sorta grown up, but he's still a jerk. He probably won't start anything though. Mostly he's just been warning me about another jerk from back then. * Guan nods, a little uncertain but sympathetic. "Man, sorry to hear that." * Guan takes a step back once he reaches your door. "So, catch you later. And let Mikage-chan know I'm sorry I missed her." Sure thing, I had fun for most of today, too bad about the festival. * Guan nods sadly. "Maybe we'll get another chance." He gives a quick bow and heads off. <@Grysar> [End!] --- The box is a Garmin GPS meant for being carried around by people rather than vehicle mounted. It's not top of the line, but certainly quite reliable. It comes with Japan and Russia map packs in an attached envelope. It's straight from factory and in the original wrapping. It comes with a short typed note, apparently made as part of the order with limited characters available to the one placing it. "Thank you for the treat! Help for finding your way, despite the distance. -H" The other envelope contains a hockey puck, branded with one of the local arenas. It is in fact a call out in formal Japanese, elegantly written. "Knight of Cups, you are called upon to defend your frigid sanctuary against three discs such as these. The rules of your sport shall apply, but no other, and they say nothing against the use of abilities. Secluded nocturnal access has been secured. Please grant me the honor of accepting my challenge." - Toshiki.