2023-03-16 - On the Merits of Not Littering
| Title: On The Merits of Not Littering | |
|---|---|
| Summary: The Phantom Fox is moping when Mami stops to check on her. They get to talking, and Mami offers to help with her woes in exchange for a trade. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Shibuya Shopping Ward (Yamanote High City) | |
| OOC - IC Date: 3/16/2023 - Wednesday, February 24, 2016 | |
.***************************** Yamanote High City *****************************.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Shibuya Shopping Ward +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Any rural ingenue looking to come to the big city and get swept away at
first sight would be well-advised to get off at Shibuya Station, where you
could fill a high school yearbook with the people teeming over a single
crosswalk, and a legion of ten-story department stores offer a choice so
broad it resembles existential crisis. Shinjuku might administrate Tokyo,
but Shibuya is its style capital. Its densest concentration of boutiques,
retailers, and restaurants is bound together by Shibuya Crossing, a bustling
pedestrian intersection resembling an even gaudier Times Square.
Within walking distance to Harajuku, Shibuya is less whimsical, and far
grander. Its most iconic symbol is the Shibuya 109 department store, a
cylindrical grey monolith famous even outside of Japan. Each floor of 109
has about a dozen shops, and with ten flights of escalator to ascend, it
doesn't take a mathematician to realize that even this single store can be a
lot to take in. But Shibuya too has its side streets and quirks, and it's
not hard to find a chic little cafe to rest in. Those who find themselves
energized instead have recourse to the night clubs that trade on Shibuya's
stylish reptuation.
Shibuya Station has a humbler landmark as well. It was here that the loyal
dog Hachiko waited for his owner each day, even after the owner had long
since died. A bronze statue of Hachiko waits here still, a reminder that
love and loyalty never die.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It's afternoon, and Shibuya is, as always, lively and energetic. Teeming masses of people shuffle along the sidewalks and make their way in and out of the numerous stores, and the weather is chilly but bearable, with nary a cloud to threaten rain or snow, for the moment.
'Lively' and 'energetic' are not the words that would describe one woman in particular. She's found a bench for herself just a hair removed from the main flow of traffic, but still close enough that people are still too busy to stay in one place long enough to take note of just how long she's been there.
In short, she may as well be perfectly ignorable.
She has bright red hair and green eyes, a simple black dress, and--what appears to be a white lab coat? Given Shibuya's penchant for fashion, maybe she's at the head of some new fashion craze. Or maybe she's a pharmacist on an especially long lunch break.
Whatever the case, she's clearly sulking. Slumped back in her seat, eyes flicking to watch the foot traffic passing by without actually seeing any of it, and she's eating something from a bag without even seeming to regard it. The package is a bright yellow, with a chibi fox popping up from the bottom to proclaim how amazing the package's chocolate-covered potato chips are.
She reaches into the bag, finds it empty, and then crumples it up. It vanishes with a small flash of green magic, and a small green circle with runes inscribed appears for a moment so she can reach into it and pull out... another bag. Which she promptly opens and starts to consume with the same lack of enthusiasm as before.
She's got serious 'This is my fifth bag of chips and I don't care' energy.
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Mami Tomoe doesn't expect to find much today on her patrol, but there's always the possibility. She went to school as per normal, set her things down at her apartment, and went out to check for miasma. But the attitude is lively and energetic throughout Shibuya, and it's... nice. So it might as well just ba walk. Until, that is, Mami regards the crowd and sees...
Magic. Hmm.
Mami considers it for a moment, and then makes her way over, stopping at a vending machine for two milk coffees along the way. Then, she moves over to take a seat next to the woman with the fox chips.
"Care for a drink?" Mami offers, and extends an unopened can. "You seem to be having a bad day."
A beat, "But I appreciate your commitment to not littering."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
It's probably a good thing the woman's been disposing of her garbage. Who knows how long she's been sitting there?
It takes her quite a few moments to react to Mami's offer. When she finally notices the girl, she blinks in confusion. "Huh?" She then realizes Mami is talking to her, and it takes her a moment to replay what was just said in her head.
She reaches out to accept the milk coffee. "Um... sure. Thanks." She waves off the comment about the bad day, "Don't worry about it, kid, I'll be fine. You should... go shopping or whatever it is you were going to do. I appreciate the drink, though."
That last comment makes her tense a bit, and she regards Mami suspiciously for a moment. Finally, she sets the bag in her lap for a moment so she can open the drink. "Just a little slight of hand I do to amuse myself. It's nothing that impressive."
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Many bags of chips!
"You're welcome," Mami answers pleasantly, even when she's called 'kid'. She doesn't get that often, but she doesn't seem troubled by it in this case. Quite the opposite, "I am doing what I intended to do."
She notices the tension, and the suspicion. "It's a nice trick," she says, seeming to agree that it is not excessively impressive. "But when an unfamiliar mage comes around my stomping grounds in a bad mood, I like to see what's on her mind."
She opens her own drink; her hands are full, preventing her making any aggressive moves, to look at her. She is in an Ohtori uniform, but the ring on her left hand might be of more interest.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
The woman takes a sip of the coffee, makes a quiet, but appreciative noise, and then tilts the can a little so she can study the label with... at least a tiny bit more interest than she was paying to her surroundings a moment before.
But that comment makes her hand tense, and her eyes narrow sharply as she looks at Mami again. This time she's really looking at the girl, and considering if she should try bluffing, fleeing, or something else, but...
Being chased down would probably be troublesome. And she's not feeling particularly energetic at the moment.
Her eyes settle on that ring for an extended moment, before sliding back up to look Mami in the eye. "Look, I'm not here to cause any trouble," she says frankly. "If you let me be, I'll continue sitting here and not littering, okay?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
The label is nice! It's a good brand. There's not a fox on it, but there are some sunglasses, and some coffee beans. It's a mostly black can.
Mami, when the woman looks at her, is utterly calm. She's amiable enough, but it shows in her eyes that she is neither afaid nor aggressive; she considers herself in control of the situation, if it's possible to read that much.
"I appreciate that," she says. "Now that I see you... 'Unfamiliar' was not entirely fair."
"I will let you be; but I want to talk with you about something. You're the one whose Device was stolen, aren't you?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
The woman was mostly looking at the ingredients, but does take a moment to appreciate the sunglasses and coffee beans.
Mami may project calm, but the mystery woman does not. She may have been sluggish and lethargic when Mami approached her initially, but now that she's been identified as a mage, she's sitting up a little straighter, paying attention to her surroundings (and looking for escape routes), and is noticably... tense. And wary.
Maybe like a trapped animal.
She's taken aback by that question, mouth opening wordlessly as she tries to formulate a response. Finally she huffs and looks back at the street, though she's looking at Mami out of the corner of her eye. "And what's it to you if I am?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
It's a nice logo! ...The ingredients are coffee and milk.
She notices the tension and the wariness, of course, but there's little Mami can do about that but remain calm and not make any sudden moves to scare her. So that question of hers, when it gets surprise, prompts Mami to say, "Devices being stolen and misused is the business of every magical protector of Tokyo."
"If you know anything more about the theft, I'd be willing to help you track down the original culprit. As for the girl who holds it now... I know her. You don't have to expect trouble if you approach her openly. Though there are girls in the city for whom that's not true."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
'Magical protector...' The woman mouths those words to herself, and then looks at the ring again. And then another look to Mami. She groans and buries her face in her free hand. "Oohhh, don't tell me you're one of those. It feels like you can't even throw a stick in this city without running into one of you do-gooder types."
To herself she mutters (but is still quite loud enough for Mami to hear), she says, "Great, I barely get any leads all this time and suddenly everyone knows about my business. Perfect, juuuuust perfect."
She snorts as Mami tries to assert that she can approach the other girl. "Yeah, well, the last time I approached her two of your do-gooder friends got in my way, and then she attacked me. No way am I risking that again, thank you."
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"I'm not 'just' one of those," Mami says, amused. "I'm something of a fixture around here on that front. I've been protecting this city for a while."
She notices the muttering. This woman is definitely having a bad time of it. But that's just how it is.
"Hmmm. The story I was given was a bit different. Then what will you do? You need to recover your property one way or another. Unless you'd rather leave it in her hands?" Mami doubts that, given her demeanor.
"Of course, if you want to just handle things on your own, provided that you don't make trouble, I suppose I can't force my assistance on you."
"But it's in all of our best interests to have this resolved sooner than later. If your Device is a target of theft, then the longer it's in my city, the more danger the people around it are in."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
That comment about Mami's status draws a confused look from the mystery woman. "Just how long have you been doing this? You don't look that old..." To herself, she says, "Then again... some of those brats are way younger than you are..."
The woman scoffs. "I'll bet she just told you a version of the story that would make her look good."
"Hmph." She turns her head away, nose up in the air. "I'm not at liberty to discuss my plans at this time." Because she seems in such control of her situation at the moment.
"Ha! Like that'll ever happen. I need to get our device back. ... Somehow."
"Well, if that girl had just given the device back when I asked, I would be on my way already and your precious city would be safe." A beat. "Well, safer. From that one particular thing. So unless you can convince her to give it back, I don't know what you can do."
She eyes Mami thoughtfully for a moment. "Though, if you've been at this so long, maybe you're stronger than her..."
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Mm," Mami says. "Six, seven years." She couldn't be older than seventeen, to look at her--well, maybe, but probably not. She pauses. "Most of them are younger. And most girls like me are taken by the Law of Cycles before my age."
But a story... "It's possible," she admits, and does not press for her plans instead. She need to get the device back...
"I think I might be able to convince her," Mami reflects, remembering that Kyouka was considering doing so already, had already made up her mind as to what she needed to do. But this grumpy woman doesn't need to know that.
"But you'll still have to meet with her in person to get it; I'm willing to help and facilitate, but not to errand girl."
"I am also unwilling to take it from her. As I said, you'll have to meet with her... though I am willing to be there to ensure no one interferes. Like your original thief."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Mami's reply actually stuns the grumpy woman into silence for a moment. She looks at Mami, studying her, and searching for any signs of deception. "... That's a long time," she finally admits.
"Ha!" is her reply to Mami's claim that she could convince the girl holding the stolen device. "I'd like to see you try. That girl and that device both seem stubborn. And obstinate. I doubt you could convince them to do anything they didn't want to."
But she does listen as Mami describes what she's willing to do. It seems too good to e true, but if it were that easy... But she's not going to trust it blindly, either. "You'd be willing to do all for a stranger? For what, in the name of keeping the city safe? What's the catch? I wasn't born yesterday, you know. You must want something in exchange for all this help."
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
It is a long time. Especially for a Puella Magi. There is no deception in Mami on this; she simply states the truth. ...And that's that.
"True," Mami agrees, and that might be a surprise, too. "She and the Device both do seem to be quite stubborn."
However... Mami gives her offer, and the woman has her suspicions. What's the catch, she asks? Mami, hands on her drink, takes another sip before she turns back to the woman there to answer her.
"In the name of keeping the city safe," Mami agrees. "I patrol near-daily as it stands. A problem that doesn't require violence is very welcome. But if you do want to make it more 'even', I would accept a trade."
"Are you any good at science? In particular, chemistry?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
The woman is... surprisingly inclined to believe her on how long she's been at this. She honestly wasn't expecting that.
She blinks as Mami actually agrees with her... and a moment later she lets out a short laugh. A real one, this time. There's a bit of a smirk twisting her lips as she takes another sip of her coffee, then replies, "Well, I wasn't expecting that." Unstated in her voice is a 'Maybe you're not so bad after all' sentiment.
She does perk up when Mami offers a trade. Seems like Mami might be speaking her language. "I do know a fair bit of science. Making devices is quite a complicated discipline, as you might imagine. Why? What do you have in mind?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Being a stubborn girl myself, I find it easy to recognize in others," she offers, amiably. She sips her drink. She does notice that unstated idea, and she approves. It's nice. And so, Mami's blonde hair catches some of the light as she tilts her head a moment to regard the woman.
"Well," Mami says, "As you can imagine, spending so much time on patrolling the city and dealing with magical business leaves me relatively little time for my studies."
Beat, "So I'm terrible at chemistry. Especially the matter of acids and bases. I can't keep them straight. If you could prepare me a brief study guide, that would save me some time, and help me improve my grades. That would be a fair trade, I think, for simple guard duty."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Hmm," is all the woman offers to Mami's explaination about recognizing stubbornness. She'd have to be, to be in the magical girl racket for so long.
She listens to what Mami wants... and looks the girl over, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "You're talking to an expert in one of the most complicated fields known to two worlds, and what you're asking for... is a study guide for school. And in exchange, you're offering to help me get my device back--sorry, to 'facilitate' getting my device back."
She eats another potato chip, and makes a face. "Your world has some truly... 'creative' ideas about food, you know." But she's contemplative as she sips at her coffee some more, silent for a bit.
"Okay, tell you what. While I don't know if you can really convice that girl to give me back what was stolen from me, I will admit it would be useful to be owed a favor. So how about I make you your study guide, and if I need you to facilitate the deal, I'll call you, but if not, maybe I can get your help with something else. What do you think?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
That skeptical eyebrow receives an amused smile from Mami. "I don't need a Device," she says simply. "I don't know enough about Midchildan magic to make much use of even a Storage Device. But I do need to pass Chemistry if I want to graduate. And I would like to graduate."
Potato chip... "It does," she agrees. "I'm quite fond of Earth's cuisines."
Then, hmmm. "That sounds fair to me," Mami says. She finally thinks she's able to speak this woman's language a bit. And that means she can get more of a feel for her--and help Kyouka make the decision that's best for her. ...Which she already made, but it's never bad to have more information.
"Very well. It's a deal."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Just as well. If I had a device to spare, I wouldn't need to get this one back. The materials to build such a thing are... not easy to come by, to say the least."
Mami may be out for more information, but meanwhile, the woman is thinking more of what Mami's getting out of the deal. If her need to graduate is so great, then... that makes the production of a study guide all the more valuable for her. Which only increses the value of the favor she's owed, doesn't it?
She holds out a hand to shake. "When do you need the study guide by?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"I imagine not," Mami agrees. "But you see what I mean, all the same." She just doesn't need much of what she could ask for. But she does have a use for this. And the woman there is thinking about it... while Mami herself is thinking this seems to be a fairly mutually beneficial arrangement.
Mami will reach out and shake the mage's hand nodding to her. "By next week would be most ideal. ...And," she says, "My name is Mami. Mami Tomoe. If you need to find me, you can ask around... or I can find you again."
"What should I call you?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Yes, yes, I do understand. I suppose you have your own source of magical power, being what you are."
The woman's handshake is firm, but she doesn't let the handshake linger overly long. "Next week," she repeats. She seems to be evauating a few things in her head, but shortly nods. "Yes, I think I can do that... it will be handy if I could have access to a textbook? I'm not exactly familiar with Earth's curriculum in these matters."
There's a moment's hestaition as Mami asks for her name, but she seems to recover quickly enough. "Call me Akari." She doesn't give a last name, and leaves it at the first name only.
