<@Grysar> [Date: Late Evening of June 12th. Taki is in her apartment and has just finished reading Haruko's email. Mikage is in the main room, doing a reading for one of her classes. She's been home for about an hour and witnessed a dramatic flop or two. The room still pleasantly smells of a late dinner. Taki's phone sits out ominiously. Let's see what happens!] <@Grysar> [Start!] * Taki snaps her phone closed and does a quick check to see if she's accidentally frozen anything, but there doesn't seem to be any water close enough. She calls out to Mikage. "I need to get some air, I'll be back in a bit." * Mikage looks up from her book, "Are you okay? Is there something... can I, uh, help?" * Taki shakes her head. "Just my being an idiot, and I miss Nicola, and I've got to talk to other idiots." * Mikage nods. "Good luck. Be sure to let them think you know more than you do and never let them see your fear." I'll let you know how that goes. * Taki pockets her phone and goes to get her shoes. * Mikage nods at that, and doesn't quite follow her own advice as Taki can see some of her concern shine through before she looks down to her book. * Taki goes down the hall, opens the door to the stairs, and somehow doesn't arrive at any other floor of this building. <@Grysar> [Convenient, as her phone buzzes for a second and then begins to ring. Not a number in her address book. It has a Tokyo area code.] * Taki facepalms, and then digs her phone out of her pocket. Checking on the number of the missed call while her phone reconnects to the cell network. If they don't call back within a few seconds she's going to try calling them back. [There is not an immediate call back.] * Taki leans on an air conditioning duct and calls the number. Kiriya Toru. Hi? This is Shimiru Taki, you just tried to call me?" Ah, yes. Sorata sent me about your social gathering challenge. * Taki takes a deep breath. "Right, I was going to call you later this evening actually, but now is fine. Has he explained what we need?" I would be helping Arai Nicola-chan keep up appearances by escorting her to an embassy soiree. * Taki nods. "Sounds like you know what's going on. I really wanted to do this in person with all three of us together, but traveling from Osaka to Tokyo's a bit of an ordeal. All K- Sorata-san's told me is that you're trustworthy. Do you mind if I ask why you agreed to help?" Sorata is a valued colleague. I have simple tastes but I do enjoy cavier and suspect I'll get some. And as a fashion and celebrity editor, I appreciate the importance of appearances in letting people live their life in the face of unreasonable expectations. * Taki very softly "wow"s and then louder "Do you think you'll be recognized there?" Possibly. I'll be going as myself. I'm not intending to lie or spin out an elaborate story. Discretion and not always answering the question asked will do most of the work. * Taki deepens her voice "And how did you meet?" and then in a not at all passible immatation of Nicola "A friend of a friend." That sort of thing? Precisely, which has the advantage of being true. * Kiriya chuckles. "To the extent Sorata has friends." Hey, he... well, he cares more than he lets on. Sorata isn't on the call. What you say is true, and I respect him, but this will be easier for all of us if we skip euphemism. Well, I'm not here to defend him, I'm here to help Nicola keep her parents happy, and so are you. Have you ever attended as a guest instead of working the party before? I've had the chance to be a guest, but this is my first time with ths sort of situation. And at embassy parties, but not Russia. * Taki laughs neverously. "Me... I mean, I've heard Nicola talk about them before, but for some reason she hasn't been to ones that don't involve the Russian Embassy, so I don't know if they're different or not." Perhaps Arai-chan and I should chat before. I suspect there are a few more spies than your typical embassy, but I doubt it's much worse than the celebrity scene. Oh absolutely, it'd be really silly if you both show up to the party and didn't recognize each other. Wise. So beyond the avoiding lying but using discretion, I do have one other condition. Please tell me. Put simply, I've enjoyed a good number of plays with this sort of thing. I would prefer, put simply, no drama. Trust Nicola and trust me. * Taki's voice gets a bit of forced sweetness. "I trust Nicola and I trust Sorata-san's trust in you, if she does not have a problem with you than neither will I." I'll hold you to that. Then I'd suggest we're done here. Give her my number. She can choose to make the call, we can meet, and we'll go forward if she wants. What would be a good time to call you? * Kiriya gives a few times, he's pretty flexible outside his job hours. * Taki nods. "Thanks, I'll talk to her and then we'll see what happens." * Kiriya responds in a lighter tone. "Pleasure speaking with you. Good night." * Kiriya hangs up. * Taki slouches down the AC vent and wraps her arms around her knees. "Uugghhhh." [The roof has the quiet hum of AC. The air still has the smell of the recent rain.] * Taki stays there for a bit and then walks over to the edge so she can see part of the Osaka skyline. * Taki stares at that for a while until she feels ready to make another call and dials Kashiwagi. [The lights are fairly bright, ads are a bit more prominent than Tokyo and a bit more garish, but nonetheless beautiful.] Shimiru-san? Yes, I'm not in a great mood, but I did say I'd call tonight, so here we are. Is this a good time? Yes. And thank you for your punctuality. You're welcome. So, can you do it? Talk to Ijima-san? Yes. Recruit her for you, no. What do you want her for anyway? I can ask if she's willing to talk to you if you want. My sources indicate that she is our best lead for the Chemist. As I think you know from your own history, unexpected people can be key to success, even over initial resitance. I thought you already knew where he was. We know he's in Osaka. His exact location and defenses are my present challenge. I see. Your sources are a lot more vague than I'd imagined. A combination of powers and some old fashioned detective work. Aaah. Here's hoping your detectiving pays off. * Kashiwagi sighs. "What they are not clear on is what the nature of her relationships and knowledge is. I'm told that she is not a criminal herself, and I accept that. But nonetheless, she is holding something back, and I think your methods may be better suited to figuring out what." I'll ask, but if she doesn't want to help you, I want you to respect that. * Kashiwagi is quiet for a long moment. "Please make sure she understands the stakes. You know who these people are and what they did. I don't think she understands that." But agreed. I will, but for most people "Hi, do you want to catch a kidnapper and mad scientest" is not first meeting material. Ah... Akari-chan believed this was at very least not your first meeting. I've met her once and other people did most of the talking, I'll be very surprised if she remembers me as anything other than the short girl with wierd hair that was with Takeuchi-san that one time, or at all. I believe she may also have some gratitude towards your group given your handling of the Scythe-wielder. Ugh, that was an aweful mess. I never did find out who he was looking for. From what I have been told, I think it may have been her all along. Huh. Yeah, I think not being forceful when talking to her is a really good idea. I leave that to your discretion. Thank you. Any more questions? This should be enough for now. When I have more, may I text you? You may. Good hunting. And if my read of powers is correct, your role as a Knight of intuition and imagination may aid you here, there is more to the Empress than surface appearances. Good night. * Kashiwagi echoes that and hangs up. * Taki asks the sky why the gang leader is easier to deal with the allegedly trustworthy guy her girlfriend is going to spend an evening with. [Venus is the only light visible in the night sky tonight, beyond Osaka's lights. She gives no answer.] [End!]