[Rowyn] [Encrypted e-mail - This one seems to have a new layer of encryption that needs to be downloaded though. An update?] Date: Saturday, May 22 Subject: So, About the World To: Katie Andrews, Kyon Sorata CC: Wataru Yamada, Satoshi Watanabe, Haruko Kinsha So I don't know how much Katie filled you all in. I had gone in for a meeting with Yorihisa Murimura a few days ago. The meeting was....surprisingly productive for someone as closed off as Murimura-san tends to be. But that is not why I am messaging you all. The reason I am messaging you all is that I managed to arrange a meeting with the World. Whether directly or one of their proxies, I do not know. This....surprised me. I would not think one as obfuscating as the World would wish to openly be willing to set up a meeting. And this may just be Murimura-san's vain hope that he actually carries more clout than he usually does and is actually able to arrange this meeting. That is typical behavior for him. However, if it is not.... I want to entertain the possibility that this may be something genuine. And as such, I would like to poll all of you. This may be a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity or the start of a building relationship, I do not know. Or it is fully possible it could be a trap. But if it is not.... Tell me. What specific questions do we have for the World that we wish answered? Any lingering concerns we wish to have addressed? I cannot guarantee we will get to all of them. But I would much prefer to go in prepared. So anything everyone feels is pertinent should probably be placed on the table. Let me know. Sincerest Regards, Kaede Takeuchi --- [Jihatsu] Wataru will IMMEDIATELY call Satoshi's cell phone. IMMEDIATELY. --- [Ciara] Satoshi is in the process of sending the following e-mail just as his phone rings: (Fancy New E-Mail Encryption) Date: Saturday, May 22nd Subject: Re: So, About the World To: Kaede Takeuchi, Katie Andrews, Kyon Sorata CC: Wataru Yamada, Haruko Kinsha I'm going. It may not actually end up being her, but I'm going. Satoshi And then he answers his phone. --- [Rowyn] It hadn't been long since the sending before he gets the reply back before a new message pops up. Making sure he uses the encryption, he opens it. And blinks. Then hisses inwardly. Had he really been that unclear? He'd tried not to be hasty insending it. Fingers went up to rub the bridge of his nose. It was already turning out to be a bit of a disaster. But that was the problem of putting things out there. No going back... ==================================== (Fancy New E-Mail Encryption) Date: Saturday, May 22nd Subject: Re: So, About the World To: Satoshi Watanabe, Katie Andrews, Kyon Sorata CC: Wataru Yamada, Haruko Kinsha I'm not entirely sure it was an open invitation. I believe Murimura-san is expecting solely me, although he probably has some idea of how our group operates. I could ask if another would be allowed, but it is not something I would wish to push too strongly. Murimura-san is doing me a large favor by arranging this and I would not wish to impose too much on what little sensibilities either he or the World may have. I can ask. If I were to take another, Watanabe-san, you would most definitely be my first choice. But I would not feel right in doing this without forewarning, less we push our contacts even further underground. I hope you understand. -Kaede Takeuchi --- [Ciara] (Fancy New E-Mail Encryption) Date: Saturday, May 22nd Subject: Re: So, About the World To: Kaede Takeuchi, Katie Andrews, Kyon Sorata CC: Wataru Yamada, Haruko Kinsha Ask. If the answer's no, then I'll send you questions. You don't have to say it's me. In fact, you probably shouldn't. But. Ask. --- [Grysar] Haruko installs the new encryption and plays around with it for a while to make sure she's gotten it right. She ends up getting pulled away before it works to her satisfaction and by the time she's back there's been a trio of new messages. Date: Saturday, May 22, 2019 Subject: So, About the World To: Kaede Takeuchi, Satoshi Watanabe, Katie Andrews, Kyon Sorata CC: Wataru Yamada Startling news. My perspective, I'll focus on concerns as the interests and curiosity are practically unbounded: Concerns of the group: the World's practice of secrecy <über alles>, apparent multiple instances of spying, a role in reestablishing the Arcana and Shuffle in a way that initially excluded us, some newly discovered support during the war but surrounded by ambiguity, lasting side effects to Masaru which were never properly resolved. Concerns specific to Judgment: Hideo Watanabe and Takeshi Watanabe apparently were both ended by the World (I think with Temperance's help at least in Takeshi's case, though going beyond that requires a lot of ungrounded speculation). We also know the broad outline of Satoshi's grievance, I will not rehash it here, Frankly, any group concerns do not amount to a hill of rice compared to what is at stake for Satoshi. Takeuchi-san, your getting this productive meeting with Yorihisa is another in your list of impressive diplomatic coups. But in answer to your original question, thank you for asking and for sharing, here are my two thoughts: 1) Satoshi's concerns should be our strategic objective and what gets first claim in your strategizing. 2) A rehearsal may help us prepare I have ideas on what I can do to support that. Satoshi, I would imagine this proposal appeals to you not one whit, but I would also imagine you would have not gotten to the championships without a great number of competitive practices. Haruko --- [Rowyn] Kaede looks at the reply. Looks it over a couple of times and then tilts his head. *That* is not typical Satoshi. His fingers go to the keyboard, then. Pause. No need to rush this. Especially....as he reads over Haruko's response. Right. This isn't a thread just between him and Satoshi. This is between *everyone*. And Katie and Kyon haven't had a chance to respond just yet. He sets his fingers down, gets out of his chair and thinks. Ugh. He'd hate to admit he's right there with you, Satoshi. It wasn't as if *he* was expecting this thing to just fall into his lap.... His fingers dial the number. This wasn't something that an email would do justice. He'd considered it. Just sending Satoshi a response. But it'd be far too impersonal. Best to....best to.... He squints at his phone a little. A busy signal....? That's.....he'd just typed a *response* though. He wouldn't just be *busy* with.... Something wasn't right here and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He gave up on the phone call....for now. Maybe Satoshi would call him back. But he went back to peruse the emails again to see if he could catch exactly what he was missing. --- [Ciara] After he finishes the phone call with Wataru, and while Wataru is en route to his apartment, Satoshi sees that he's got a missed call from Kaede, and sends him a text in reply: "Hey I'll call you back in a little bit if you're available? I'm doing better. We should talk." If Satoshi's writing an e-mail that's very terse and insistent and he's not even signing his name, then he's got to be pretty angry or upset. This was a fast reaction, too, which means he was probably feeling it the most strongly when he replied. However, his phone was busy when Kaede called, rather than him just not answering, and he did text back pretty quickly saying he'd like to talk later, so that means he's not so angry that he doesn't want to talk. He may also be giving himself time to calm down. [Thread End!]