2022-10-26: Unacceptable Kindness
- Log: 2022-10-26: Unacceptable Kindness
- Cast: Sayla Mass, Guy Shishioh, Renais Cardiff
- Where: Tsutsujidai High School, Tsutsujidai
- OOC - IC Date: 26 October 0096
- Summary: Guy and Sayla set out to offer Renais a retirement present.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
The trip to Tsutsujidai's PLANT colony was faster than usual, thanks to hitching a ride with 3G Green. It gave her and Guy- and Shouryu - a chance to talk and compare notes. Being brought up to speed has left something nibbling at the back of her mind.
A Kaiju weaponizing depression... helplessness maybe. What is bothering her about this? Is there something she's forgetting?
Not the priority right now. She's not here on Shuffle business- she's technically nor allowed to. No she's here as Renais' friend. And offering her help she should have offered her earlier.
Now, they walk towards the school- it's during club hours, so less likely to stand out. Asking Ramo for an idea of the schedule will hopefully have paid off. "She should just be wrapping up. I'm not sure I want to have this conversation in front of students. It's safe but..." Sayla pauses. "The more we present of the outside the world, the higher the chance those students become aware, and who knows what could happen if they perceive the nature of everything without someone to support them?" She's thinking about Algernon, though. Thinking too hard about it.
Sayla heads to the Tsutsujidai HS pool, opening the door to peek in- and then knocking with her good hand, holding it open with her shoulder.. Best to treat this as a normal visit, rather than pushing it.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
Guy has decided not to wear the 3G Green uniform he wears Basically Everywhere. It's an attempt to be unthreatening, he explains, on the way. It's eye-catching, for one, but it also might make any of the people they want to talk to turn around and walk away; or worse, bolt, thinking, in their deceived state, that he'd do something drastic.
With how much Guy solves problems by throwing himself at them face first and screaming, it's easy to forget the man knows perfectly well how the long game works.
That said, Sayla "Aunty Pennybags" Mass might disapprove of the brown suit he's pulled out of mothballs for the purpose, the same he uses for formal occasions when the Federation Council wants a piece of him. One lapel has a GGG Green pin; the other, a GGG Blue. It's like, *almost* subtle.
"Agreed," Guy says to Sayla, standing to her side. He's letting her take point. He feels like maybe it'll do her some good. "Best for everyone we play it slow, for now."
Still, if and when the door opens, he's standing there, one hand in his pocket, the left at his side - the hand he always leaves bare, marked by the power of his Evolual G-Stone. He's smiling, like it's the most natural thing in the world for him to be here.
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
Renais can be heard before they even open the doors, her voice thunderous and gruff. She stands in front of the swim club, all lined up next to the pool; she's dressed in a form-hugging black one-piece with what looks like her old cooling coat draped over her shoulders. A whistle hangs from her neck.
She looks entirely dry.
"I expect to see *improvement* across the board by the end of the week," she tells them; her intent spells encouragement, but her tone and volume come across stern and angry as she continues, "You can all do better than this!" She blows her whistle, two short tweets reverberating through the room, and points to the locker room doors. "RIGHT! Go shower, I'll see you all tomorrow."
As the students file out, quiet conversation erupts between them, and the opening door catches her eye. Alert, a little wary...
Her shoulders and mood drop visibly. "Guy, Dr. Mass..." She pulls a pair of slim, black, square-rimmed pince-nez out of a bag off to the side, and places them on her nose, bare feet splashing quietly as she crosses the pool room floor. "Guess I should've expected you sooner or later."
She hasn't exactly been looking forward to this.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
Sayla's dressed for warm weather- she's used for Tsutsujidai right now, and her arm still requires a cast but not a sling. She has a smile on her face, if not a wide one. "Renais, I'm glad to see you doing well." It seems genuine, too. "I can see Leina's going to have some real competition when she's back in the pool." A pang of guilt- she's not here to weaponize the conversation. She's here to make sure she's okay.
She's observing the area around Renais. Was she actually able to swim and the water had already burnt off? Or was she a swim coach who couldn't swim. "Yes, you should have." She looks up to Guy, then back to Renais. "We wanted to make sure you were settling in okay. I'm not here to try to make you change your mind, or anything like that. No one should judge you for reaching your limit."
Sayla's body language is calm. There's no disappointing or judgement in her body language- but some concern. She's keeping a tight rein on it.
Sayla kneels, to wave her hand in the water momentarily. "There's also been some developments that Guy and I have found out about that you may be able to make use of in civilian life. I'd have liked to get you something else as a retirement present but this is probably better for you."
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
Guy says, brightly, "Oh, I was wondering how this worked," with a pure-hearted interest. Almost like he's trying to tap into Mamoru's guileless joy.
Guy is also not here to weaponize the conversation. However much like Triple Zero he's realized this is, it's different in one key aspect: With Ruin Apostles, you hit the wedge between their normal ideals and Cosmic Law as hard and often as you can, because it makes them frustrated, sloppy, and maybe even forces them to reflect on how they feel. With the nature of the G-Stone, a heart that is out of sync with one's actions will yield very poor performance. It has a true advantage to virtually every aspect of the operational goals.
Here doing that would just make people he cares about mad at him. No. The goal is to be a desirable presence. Questioning, probing, that can be later.
He tells himself. Maybe the real reason he's here is he just needed to see his cousin before he wore a hole in his office floor from pacing.
He steps in, looking around gamely. This isn't a space she could particularly customize, he thinks. Should come by her apartment later. "Yeah," he agrees. "Got some news I knew I shouldn't wait on getting to you, and it turns out Sayla's been working on a similar direction."
He gives Renais his toothy smile. "So we came together!"
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
"Oh, she swims too? I'll have to ask her about that, if I hear from her. Not sure how well she'll be able to stand up to a cyborg in the pool, though." Renais half-grins.
There's a glance toward Guy. "How what worked?" she asks, before giving a small nod to Sayla. "A little surprised about that, really, but... I appreciate the understanding. I," She looks out into the water, "I just... couldn't, anymore."
Not after what happened at Torrington. There's a lot of guilt wrapped up in there, feeling like she abandoned Sayla. But not enough to regret being here instead. Not enough to seriously contemplate being anywhere but here.
"I'm sorry."
Her eyebrow raises at the mention of news, though, and she looks back toward them. "What's the news?" she asks, looking... guarded. It's a little difficult for Sayla to tell why, but the suggestion seems to set hackles up, ready to be raised.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
"Oh yes," Sayla responds, keeping the conversation civil. "She's been on her school swim team for years. Maybe you'll see her at a meet. I figure any team you're coaching will get some people through to spherewide competition."
Sayla gives a little sigh. "There's no shame in that. It was all too much for me for a long time. If you can't fight anymore, then you shouldn't have to. Even if you don't want to. Even if you can again in the future, you don't have to. As long as this is the choice you made- whether you felt you had to or not-I'll respect it."
Something continues to gnaw at her brain. Why did she feel she had to make this choice? Probably everything with Amuro. And Renais' guilt is palpable. "Apology accepted." She a little curious as to how this will hit. "Just please keep me in the loop for the housewarming."
She notices Renais getting defensive, and decides to change tacts. "It's about your cybernetics, and the damage they've done to your body. If Akane has managed to find a way to lower the heat and start your body healing, I'm grateful to her. But if she hasn't, there are some procedures that are now available that would essentially repair and regrow the damaged areas. It's been held up by NIA Lobbyists for a while, and is still out of reach of most people. I'd happily cover costs, but your cybernetics would just keep burning the tissue, so I had thought it out of reach."
Another smile. "Fortunately, that's where Guy comes in." She's still giving Renais room, not closing her off. It's not like she touch her without suffering burns. "You don't have to accept but... I think you deserve this."
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
Guy's stubbornly got his 'this is a friendly interaction' face on at the moment. "Oh, I was just wondering how well you'd be able to swim, given your needs. Seemed like a logistical challenge." If anything, his smile gets wider. "GGG's all about solving problems, after all. Besides, you know I've got some of that curiosity in me. You're the one who taught me not to give up on that, remember?"
Not an attack. Definitely a poke. He does not give her a Pointed Look or anything, though.
Seeing her contrite...the hand in his pocket clenches, slowly. He knows what she's endured. He knows she wouldn't collapse so completely. He believes in her courage the way he believes water boils at a hundred Celsius; a fact, immutable. Seeing it broken this way is like a thorn.
Still, he's able to keep a smile on. He doesn't even address her apology. Sayla handles it gracefully enough for both. He picks up from where Sayla passes the conversation to him. "I had asked Shigeru to talk to his wife. You remember Angelica Akamatsu? Doktor A, they're calling her now. She works out of GGG Germany. She was part of the team that designed my Cyborg body originally, and worked with Uncle Liger on the repairs to yours, too."
He's been letting himself wander around the space, look around, etc. Now he turns to face Renais directly. "We were gone for five years. It's been more like eight since the original work, right? She hasn't been idle. She said there's definitely some improvements she can make to your quality of life."
...now, for the gamble.
"She was working on balancing the tradeoffs when you left us. But if you don't need specs capable of taking on a Metal Cyborg anymore, she says she can definitely get the output well into ranges that would let the cellular treatments work."
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
Renais half-chuckles. "I'd hope so, but these kids need to learn a bit more discipline before they're competition-ready. Working on it..."
Her eyes go a little distant again as Sayla reassures her, and she nods. The guilt eases--perhaps a little too much? "Thanks. I will. It's... honestly, I didn't think any of you would come this far to visit, and it's a mess right now, but... maybe I can whip something up, if you *really* want to make the trip again."
Part of her hopes they say it'll be too much trouble, but part of her...
She turns to Guy next. "You'd be surprised. Water's good at dissipating heat--a lot better than air is. I can't stay in for the whole meet, but it's enough for hands-on instruction."
A beat.
"Well, you know what I mean."
She shoots him a glare at the reminder.
But Sayla speaks. 'It's about your cybernetics.'
Her heart simultaneously leaps into her throat and drops into the pit of her stomach as the pair speaks. It's something she's avoided--never seriously considered, even. The possibility that she'd lose performance, be a less effective fighter, was unacceptable to her.
But she doesn't have to worry about that anymore, does she?
Renais blinks slowly. "She... hasn't. She got me a new coat, but... it's not like she's a cybernetics expert..."
Why shouldn't she? She'd have to leave to get any of this... the hospital isn't exactly outfitted for that kind of experimental treatment, after all, but sur--
She can't leave.
The impulse comes first, working backward to rationalize itself.
Why can't she leave?
She's a fighter. Even now, she's a combat cyborg, more capable at a human scale than anyone else in the city. She can't leave because there are still threats, because city isn't safe, because it isn't *sealed away*.
"Thank you, but..." She looks at Guy, then at Sayla. "I can't."
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
Sayla smile turns a little sad. "Renais, this isn't an inconvenient trip. I never mind an excuse to go into space- and while I'm recovering my collective employees have insisted I don't work, so you're not taking time from anyone. And frankly, it's time worth taking."
Renais feelings are a mix of contradiction, and Sayla can't make a clear connection- She's also suddenly distracted by something... A flash of desolate sadness followed by relief Sayla's forehead furrows for a moment, then shakes her head before turning back to Renais, warmth back in her face.
All the while, she files the fact about Akane getting her a new coat. Did Alexis make it? Or the Venora? Clearly Akane doesn't have to understand something to make it, but maybe Alexis does?
"...I see." Sayla's face is inscrutable for a moment, before shifting to sad. "I won't say I fully understand, but I can think of reasons. If the situation changes so that you can, just let us know and we'll be there as soon as possible." She puts a finger to her mouth. "In the meantime, I'll try and look for something you can use." She looks up to Guy. "3G haven't had resources to spare yet?" It's not an accusatory comment. Just her assessing matters.
Still, her attention shifts back to Renais. "I hope you get as much happiness as you can out here. Just remember that a lot of us want to be part of that happiness, if we can."
Sayla Mass simply can't leave well enough alone.
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
Hm, caught that one, huh? Alouette hadn't caught a similar jab. Then again, Renais worked for Chasseur, and also got harrassed by that absurd chatterbox Gimlet for like four years; the subtleties of analyzing hidden meanings is probably a well-honed skill for her.
....it's also possible Alouette just likes him more, he reflects, which makes total sense. Alouette, he nearly raised for several months. Renais, they laughed together for the first time just recently. It makes sense Alouette's guard would be down further. ...it's still a bit sad to think, though.
Still, he smiles. "Ahh, of course. That's good, that's good. I'm glad you've found something fulfilling to spend your time on." No jab, this time.
And, in fact, as she and Sayla discuss coming out, Guy shakes his head. "C'mon, Renais. I can practically se Orbit Base from here, let alone you." He grins, that hero smile that makes the world seem like it might just be OK. "Did you really think I'd let a distance of a couple hundred thousand kilometers stop me from seeing the amazing people you and Alouette will become? I'll be around, you can count on that."
He doesn't entirely catch what happened in Renais' head there, per se. That's not how their G-Stones' connection works. But he felt...something? Something. He glances to Sayla, though, and then back to Renais. "Still need that power for something?" he asks. This one's not even a particularly disguised prod, but...he does want to see what comes out.
Sayla's question gets a glance from Guy, though, and a chuckle. And a rather brazen reply! "Hah! Spare resources? If Hinoki didn't sedate Inubouzaki's coffee every day or so he'd be dead from sleep dep by now. Between the damage Alouette did to the systems and getting what we can get online tracking that kaiju, I don't have much spare for anything."
...says the Chief, while he is here, and not on Orbit Base?
Sayla will know he's misrepresenting this a bit, too. Most of their tracking resources are back up, thanks to the Photon Power Labs donating LiSA to the effort. Program Drive is the main thing that's taking Roughly Forever to fix, because it is several kinds of ridiculous as a program.
Still, he turns his eyes on Renais. "Same, Renais," he says, meeting her eyes. "I told you before, I wished we'd met sooner, and I've been glad to have you around since. I won't say goodbye easily."
If he's been playing up the charm this conversation, that, at least, he says with the total, absolute conviction of the King of Braves.
<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.
Renais' cheeks tint slightly at the assertion, from both of them, that it's time worth taking. That *she's* worth taking time for.
It's still a foreign idea to her.
She nods to Guy's comment about finding something fulfilling. "I used to be on my school's swim team... before BioNet, I mean. It's... well, it's not like it was back then." She absent-mindedly grasps her metal wrist. "But it's been good. I'm happy here."
She certainly believes that. But there's a... hollowness to the emotion. Like, perhaps, she's convinced herself that she's happy. Denial so thorough she doesn't realize she's doing it.
But perhaps not.
"I do," she replies plainly. "It's been quiet, lately... but this place still needs protection. And when it needs it, I'm the one best equipped to do so. Thank you, but... I can't."
Can't yet? Or can't ever?
She looks aside as the topic turns to 3G, and Alouette's sabotage. She was aware of it; whether she approved or not is more difficult to say. She doesn't comment.
Crossing her arms, she nods slowly, thoughtful. "...Akane might not agree. But you're welcome here, to me. I left the way I did because I thought it would hurt too much to say goodbye... and it would make me very happy if I didn't have to." A small smile touches her lips.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
That empty feeling... that's loud and clear. Clear through everything else. Sayla's eyes flit to Guy as he asks his question. It's a valuable one. But maybe a touch pointed. Sayla diplomatically chooses not to ask if she means outsiders- or Gridman.
She also listens closely to the state of Orbit Base, but gives away nothing. For now. But it's useful. The Shuffle Alliance had to have noticed if Renais did the same to them, but... It's a real big organization now.
"Thank you. I'll be back to visit when I can. Hopefully Leina can come with me- she wants to see you again too." Remind her that she's wanted, without pressuring her to leave. She pauses. "Renais, may I?" She's endured the heat before, a little longer. She motions to give Renais a small squeeze on the less cybernetic arm, through the cooling coat, just a few moments, long enough to be uncomfortable for Sayla but not to do damage. "We should let you finish packing up. Maybe dinner next time?" Her eyes look to Guy to see if he objects to leaving- for now. They've been invited, after all.
----
Now outside the Gym, Sayla will insist on walking and talking. "...She's definitely not happy, she just thinks she is," she confirms as they leave. "I can also feel her a bit more vividly now." Sayla's keeping calm as she walks toward where Shouryu is waiting. "Hopefully that means once we deal with this Kaiju, we'll get her back."
She seems to be mulling over something. "...If any more from my group go missing, I'll contact you. Yuta sent me a photo of new students, I'll pass it on the relevant people." This is surprisingly uncagey for Sayla, but... she already implied the truth to Guy. "Can you keep an eye on the situation for me? With Leina's injuries, Judau and Roux moving in and-" The sudden sinking of her heart could perhaps be felt and she falters. "With Amuro, I..." Why is this so hard?
"...I need your help. With all of this. Amuro, Renais, Akane." She's struggling, forcing herself to do this. "Will you?"
<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.
"OK," Guy says, and smiles...maybe toleratingly is the word for that not entirely convinced expression. He's not sure WHAT they hit, but it's obvious enough they found a shackle point. Well...that was the goal, after all. Still feels a bit like hitting his face on a sliding door, though.
"I know what that's like. Hard to imagine what I'd've ended up doing if the miracle at Zonuda left me with a normal body," Guy says, accepting the excuse.
He wants to poke it more. Why not Gridman? Why not the *armies of kaiju* Akane can *demonstrably create*? Why not Ouka, the young woman who hit an entire ship like a hurricane of death? It reminds him of when Alouette told him they'd stopped fighting Akane: Something he could disprove conclusively without moving from where he's standing.
But he doesn't. Maybe he'll jab at it later. Sayla's moving them out, for now. He favors Renais still with that smile. He decides not to mention that Akane fully told him to kick rocks or have an entire kaiju dropped directly onto his head. That might...do, something. Instead, he says: "You won't, Renais. Promise. I told you I'd have your back, remember? That includes if any 10th graders get too sassy." Just for a flex, he makes his G-Stone keen.
Not that Guy Shishioh knows THE FIRST THING about dealing with uppity teenagers.
----
Guy nods to Sayla's assessment. "Hm, I thought something felt wrong. Probably about how Alouette feels, too. Satisfied, sort of. Getting something out of trying something new. But it's not enough. It's not right."
"I have a suspicion about how all this works. I'll go into it on the way back. But I think it means we will get them back after we find that thing and take it down."
"Alright, understood. We've confirmed some others from within NERV. I'm planning to drop in on them, later. One of them's..." He quirks his lips. "...well, I might need to bring my armor." PARDON? "But I think I'd rather make sure they're alright. Yeah, don't worry, GGG is making this one top priority."
...now that smile falls to fully a grimace. "I can't stand to see them this way," he says. "...but it's better than I was afraid of, at least. It'll be alright for this to last a little while more."
She asks him for his help. "Of course, Sayla," he says, and recovers more toward a grin. "I want to help all of them, too."
...but he does stop walking, just as they round the corner into the extremely convenient vacant lot containing the Entire Jet Fighter that is Vehicle Mode ShouRyu. "But..I think I do think I need to know, by now. I understand secret organizations, trust me. The whole Gutsy Geoid Guard was one, remember? But it's become big enough I should ask."
He meets her gaze.
"Who," he asks, "is Heart-2?"