2023-05-26 - To the Point
| Title: To the Point | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Mami reaches out to Kyouka to ask for a meeting, only to reveal that she is acting as The Phantom Fox's representative. They arrange a meeting to discuss Strike Wolf. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Yamanote High City (Yamanote High City) | |
| OOC - IC Date: 5/26/2023 - Sunday, March 13, 2016 | |
.***************************** Yamanote High City *****************************.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Yamanote High City +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Tokyo is so large that it has no real "downtown," as it sustains a great
number of such areas. Yamanote taken as a whole, however, has many of the
traits one associates with that term, with dense commercial zoning, prices
as steep as the skyscrapers, and a vibrant mix of subcultures. Yamanote
represents the most Westernized part of Tokyo, and its people are considered
fashionable, sophisticated, and worldly. Their educated dialect forms the
basis of standard Japanese, and their area contains Tokyo's municipal
government, as well as the lion's share of its corporate headquarters. This
area's frantic capitalism keeps Japan on the world stage, but in losing
touch with traditional culture, the people here have gained a reputation for
cynicism, arrogance, and lack of empathy. Yamanote is surely to blame for
Tokyo's reputation as a place where one can purchase a tube instead of a
motel room, or experience the joy of being gently compressed into a crowded
subway car by white-gloved attendants.
The Yamanote area is large enough that it is difficult to generalize its
visual appearance. Western influence is, of course, generally stronger than
anywhere else in Japan, and this is reflected in the architecture,
especially the many corporate towers. High-rise apartment buildings are
common in the residential areas, both the glossy expensive type and the
distinctively Asian raw grey tower blocks favored by lower income citizens.
Parks are less common here than elsewhere, but their greenery crops up
surprisingly often nonetheless, especially where Yamanote borders the bay.
Reclaimed land and the natural Southern Cross Island are considered part of
the district as well, and the Ohtori campus that dominates the latter is
strongly influenced by Yamanote culture.
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka was contemplative as she jumped and leapt across the rooftops on Yamanote, clad in her barrier jacket, a trail of quickly fading violet spell circles flickering into life behind her with each leap. She'd been enjoying the convention with Yumi--despite the interruption--when she got a text from Mami that was short on details. It just asked for a meeting and provided a location. It sounded important, and given the late hour, she wasn't about to waste the time on public transit--it was a school night, after all.
"What do you think this is about, Strike Wolf?" asked Kyouka as she crashed into a landing, bent her knees, and then sprang forward propelled by magic.
<Inconclusive. Not enough data to form a hypothesis.>
"Fair enough. Do you think that fox is going to have someone get in touch with us? For someone who wants you back so badly she's been kind of hard to find..."
<Uncertain.>
Kyouka took a moment to admire the view of the cityscape as she soared throughy the air to the next rooftop. The moon was up, and the cityscape was a sea of twinkling lights. Cold wind whipped through her hair as she started to descend towards her target.
"Sure is a lovely view up here, buddy."
<Affirmative.>
Kyouka came hurdling down and into a crouch, a midchildan circle appearing at her feet to brace the rooftop from her impact, and the force of the landing travelling upwards into her barrier jacket to be absorbed. She stood up and shook her legs out. "Hey, Tomoe-san. What's up?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Mami Tomoe's chemistry grades are on their way up... and so the deal is on.
Mami didn't give a ton of information in her text because that would rather defeat the purpose, but she doesn't expect trouble from what Kyouka told her. You don't get to be Mami's age among Puella Magi without preparing just in case, but this should be a fairly easy meeting, and maybe even pleasant.
She'll see.
Mami Tomoe is standing on the rooftop, awaiting Kyouka. She is likewise transformed, though it's mostly a formality. "Okazaki-san," she greets, and it's a nice greeting, warm and friendly.
It is indeed a lovely view.
"So I'll come straight to the point, since you probably don't want to be out all night. The one you were looking for, the 'Fox'..."
"I've been in contact with her, and she'd like to meet you on neutral ground. Consider me her representative in this matter."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Akari did not half-ass that study guide for Mami's chemistry class.
Kyouka is likewise warm and friendly in greeting Mami, though a bit perplexed over what this could be about. Mami mentions the fox. "Yeah, we saw her at the fair earlier. Saved her butt from an Ogre but she took off saying something about having someone get in touch. Did you run into her?"
And then Mami clarifies she's actually been in contact with her. Kyouka blinks a little, stunned as she tries to process that tidbit. "Wha-- Wait, what?" Confusion quickly gives way to irritation. "That makes it sound like you've seen her around before today. Why haven't you said anything?!"
She frowns. "And why are you representing her? I'm glad she's finally willing to talk, but how'd you get wrapped up in this mess?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
She was at the fair, then? Mami takes that data thoughtfully. "That might explain why she's suddenly willing to meet," Mami reflects. But that's all the info she plans to give for a freebie. For this time, anyway.
"I have," Mami explains. "She was skulking around in my territory and I looked in on her. She proved that she wasn't of hostile intent, and we got to talking."
"I didn't say anything because she agreed to let me mediate when you did see her again."
"It's just a business deal," Mami assures Kyouka. "Because she's mostly alone in the city, she's afraid to meet with magical girls without someone 'on her side'. I can be that person, and ensure you actually get the chance to talk."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka snorts. "'Wasn't of hostile intent', like when she came to my house and attacked everyone in my party with a sleeping spell?" The sarcasm is dripping from her voice.
Then she pinches the bridge of her nose, trying to stave off a headache. "Did you at least tell her I was actually looking for her and that I wanted to look? Strike Wolf and I have been trying everything we could think of to locate her, and to think she'd just run into you by accident..."
"Maybe she was avoiding us," mutters Kyouka after a moment's contemplation.
But Mami explains that she was afraid to meet with a magical girl by herself, and some of Kyouka's ire fades as her shoulders sag. "Okay, fine, I guess we didn't exactly get off on the right foot and I miiight have..." she glances off to the side and mumbles a bit. "... triedtoattackherbecauseIwasupset."
She sighs again. "Alright, well... then yeah. Let's... set up a meeting. I'd rather get this done as quickly as possible. Where and when?"
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Point," Mami says, and doesn't bother arguing the matter; she wasn't going to hurt the people of Shibuya, and that's what mattered in the moment. Still, "Yes, I did. She didn't believe me. But I thought it was better to maintain a relationship with her, both for your sake and for the sake of not having an unknown mage in our territory." Hold habits die hard.
"She was definitely avoiding you," Mami concludes.
"...Hmmm. Not ideal," she says, "But surmountable."
Mami hands over a card, walking closer to do so. "Here," she says. "I'll be there as well. I suggest you bring someone, too."
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Well, thanks for at least trying to tell her, I guess. We appreciate it, right Strike Wolf?"
Strike Wolf chimes, <Affirmative.>
"And I guess it was better that someone had contact with her, even if it wasn't us. At least this way she had someone to turn to, eventually. So, for that... Thanks. I mean it."
Mami confirms the fox was avoiding them. "Geeze. Who would've thought trying to return a magical alien supercomputer would be so complicated."
And who would have imagined she would've gotten so damn involved in things, too?
'Not ideal.' Kyouka at least has the good graces to look embarassed. "I know, I know. I lost my temper a bit. Just... you know, the whole thing was so sudden, and it was at my home, but... That doesn't excuse how I reacted."
Kyouka takes the card and looks over the details. "That soon, huh? Well, we have been wanting to get this settled one way or another, so... we'll be there." Mami mentions to bring someone, and she nods. "Right. I'll start making some calls, see who's free."
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"I know it's a little underhanded," Mami admits. "But that was my thinking, too--better she have someone to turn to, than that she disappear into the city, or worse." She doesn't apologize for it--but she does admit how it might look. And they do appreciate it...
"But in that case, you're welcome."
A laugh, then, at the matter of complication. But Mami shakes her head at Kyouka's answer. "It's fine. I'd have done the same thing, most likely. But what's done is done. Now here we are."
"All right then. ...I'd like to catch up," she says, "But it's a school night. I think we should both be getting home, soon. And I have another stop to make."
"Maybe tea, after the meetup?"
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Kyouka waves off the 'underhanded' comment. "Nah, don't worry about it. You tried to tell her, and at least you kept in touch. I guess telling me before now wouldn't have done any good if she wasn't ready to talk, so... I get it, I guess."
She smiles and nods at the comment about catching up. "Sure! I'd like that. I'll give you a call after we get this meetup out of the way, however it turns out. Have a good night, Tomoe-san. Thanks again for helping arrange this. I'll go make some calls to see who's free."
She turns and springs from the rooftop, sailing away into the night.
