2022-11-14: Hibachi, Rivalry, and a Promotion

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<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke Sagara does not entirely know how he got here. Following the razOr thin defense of GGG's Orbit Base by a handful of Shuffle Alliance and Photon Power Labs personnel, Uruz 7 was directed not to return to Merida, from which he'd left, but to park his Alto with the Geotron garage currently servicing Jindai.

In other words, to return to school at once. THAT was a whole enterprise, because he needed to make sure it happened under an ECS blackout the Alto needed a modification in orbit to produce, so somewhere around 6 AM this morning he came home to a communique instructing him to prepare for an Important Meeting.

No stranger to running himself into the ground at full speed, young Sagara set about his schoolday with the power of CalorieMate and a caffeine pill to guide him along.

Now, it is after school.

He is seated at a hibachi grill between two VIPs.

One of them is his Captain, Teletha Testarossa, a young woman he looks up to tremendously.

One of them is his protectee, Kaname Chidori, who is now technically in charge of both of them via her elevation to temporary leadership of the Hearts division.

Sousuke looks like he ate a brick. He was advised to dress for a celebration, and so rather than the button-down shirt he wears for Every Other Occasion, he has pulled out the black low-neck tee shirt with a succession of necklaces that Kurz picked out for him one time and that Sousuke mistakenly trusted.

(It does kind of make him look cool, though.)

He's pretty sure he ordered a steak or something. 

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

Tessa Testarossa was slowly feeling the chill of fall. The gentle winds forecasting the turn of the planet. The slow decay of the leaves. The way the crew began turning antsy, beckoning for Christmas to come, and for some of them, for the turkeys to arrive. Indeed, there was a minute, palpable shift in the Tuatha de Dannan, one knowing that the world took a collective breath...More or less.

Which was why she had the diligent idea to take stock of her surroundings. To use these small chances at freedom, at being herself for a day or two uncontested by minute things like directing one of the largest submarines ever built. No, this was a meeting half-called by her own power, half-called by the thought of celebrating something.

Namely, Kaname's own promotion.

"Ahem. Well, ah, Sousuke, Kaname, we're here today...To celebrate the promotion!" So cheery! 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Kaname Chidori joined the Shuffle Alliance for herself only a few months ago, because she wanted to help Sousuke do what he does... and now she's (temporarily) in a leadership position, filling in for Sayla Mass, the woman who recruited her.

Even having done the job, it doesn't feel real.

Certainly not real enough for a celebration! She's a bit stunned when Tessa announces the reason for the get-together, but a promotion's a promotion, however temporary. It's a cause for celebration. There's a bit of a pink tinge on her cheeks as surprise turns into a smile. "Aw, all this for me? Tessa, you shouldn't have!" she half-heartedly downplays, even as she awaits the first of several steaks she's planning to eat tonight.

Look, she's not the one paying!

Paying Sousuke a glance, she gives him a little nudge. "You okay there? You look like you've seen a ghost. ... or maybe swallowed one." Her eyes shift to Tessa briefly, then back to Sousuke. Is it because she's here...? 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke's expression is less 'why am i here' and more, 'what thinking human with eyes thought this guy would be good at a party'. But, Kaname's nudge does bump him out of it. "Oh! Ah...I was called to respond to an emergency summons a few days ago," he admits, glancing to Tessa. They'll of course know about the emergency call to respond to Orbit Base that hit the Shuffle lines mere days ago. "The return process required a bit of extra work. Not quite as much sleep as I'd like." But, unlike last time this happened, when he persevered until he basically fell over dead, he musters a smile. "It's not a problem," he says. "I would not want to miss an occasion like this."

...it is a LITTLE because the Captain's here, as one might intuit from the way his face returns to neutral when he turns to regard her. "Thank you very much for inviting me, Captain," he adds. "It's very generous of you." 

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

The 'innocent' schoolgirl couldn't help but nod, opening the menu proper. "Ah, don't worry about the meal expenses, you two. Since I can mark it down as a formal event, we can charge it to Shuffle proper." ...Mostly. She can deal with...some expenses, especially considering the care of a Whispered and the maintenance of one of the more important soldiers in her retinue.

"But really, to imagine Sayla Mass delegating her position...She must have a lot on her plate." As does everyone. "It's an important celebration! Technically, that means you're higher than me, Kaname! Should I start calling you by your official designation now?" 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Ah, right. Kaname nods sympathetically to Sousuke... she'd already done her worrying about that, of course. It's harder to freak out when you've got access to the complete operational feed and after-action report. "Well, all the more reason to get something hearty in you now," she grins, giving him a pat on the back. "And it means a lot to me to have you here with me, Sousuke!"

She grips at his shoulder, too--perhaps a little bit possessively, as Sousuke addresses Tessa. It's painful.

"Hmm. Y'know, if I knew this was supposed to be formal, I'd have dressed a little bit nicer..." She looks down at herself, wearing a fairly simple blouse and skirt, grinning a bit. "Well, accounting doesn't have to know... anyway, uh, opsec aside, I don't really wanna be that formal? Off-duty, I'm still just Kaname... and we're all friends here, right?"

Her grip tightens a bit.

"No reason to be all formal about it when we don't need to be~" 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

"Understood, Ma'am," Sousuke says, because even here the thought of referring to this woman just by her name like he would do with a normal human being composed of matter feels wrong. "That's very much appreciated."

The pat from Kaname...does not make him jump in the slightest. In fact, it makes him look at her with that small but utterly sincere smile he has. "Not a problem," he says, though it sounds like another phrase is twining through his brain. "Once I understood, I made haste."

She does grip his shoulder. Sousuke is a human brick and so actually when she manages to get it past 'oh, human contact' into something he recognizes as a bit painful, even then his first response is to blink and comment, "Kaname, your grip exercises are paying dividends," with a congratulatory smile.

"I'll take this opportunity to eat well, then." Previously, when Sayla tried to feed him the fanciest food she had available, he was practically lost at sea. Here, with the Captain he respects so much on one side and Kaname on the other, he feels more comfortable and willing to eat as he would have with comrades long before.

Kaname's grip tightens fractionally more. That's actually getting uncomfortable! How unusual! He says, "I believe Kaname can live up to the faith the Doctor has shown in her," with a firm, confident nod. Then, in a move that will definitely improve the condition of Kaname's grasp on his shoulder, he says, "I will have to redouble my efforts to ensure no harm comes to such an important person." 

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

"Mhm, it's quite the normal thing nowadays, but it still is something to celebrate. Congratulations on going to space?" The light question of whether that's really celebrating, considering how many people go to space and back daily. Granted, traveling by missile is less common, but it was still a semi-accepted method for rapid-response deployments...when the Minovsky particles were confirmed to be minimally interfering, an increasing rarity in this world. "Though, it's still a celebration for Kaname, rather than you! Congratulations on getting back safely, then."

The instinct between two predators fighting for prey (read: their companion) flared up, the casually dressed commander only sidling in the smallest bit. Hip against hip, deliberately reaching over to the far side menu...A menu filled with special drinks (non-alcoholic)! It was only the most brazen of coincidences that her arm brushed along Sousuke's chest. Completely accidental, especially as she pulled her hand back.

"That being said, its been...a wild year, hasn't it?" Prying open that same menu and perusing its contents, internally sighing. A blink, and so much. "If Sayla can believe in Kaname doing the job, I have no problem with it. I can only hope you're getting paid well for the position!" 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Kaname tilts her head a bit at Tessa, removing her hand from Sousuke's shoulder at his remark. "No, not that... I meant coming back safe! An attack from the Ruin Apostles is no joke," she explains, ducking her voice for the last sentence. They're not exactly public knowledge. "You really kicked some ass up there, y'know~"

An affable elbow to the arm turns into a jab as Tessa's arm touches Sousuke's chest. "Urk. Sorry," she tells him, leaning to peer over her shoulder at the menu, and rather overtly pressing her chest into Sousuke's shoulder in the process. "Oooh, that prickly-pear lemonade sounds good..."

"Anyway. Honestly, it's kinda rough. I picked up on things pretty fast, but there's a LOT of administrative crap. Had to draw myself a chart of departmental dependencies, and I swear there's a recursive loop somewhere in there... I dunno how she does it, really." 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke nods to the Captain's encouragement. "It wasn't my first mission, of course," he says. Even before Mithril, he'd flown for the Federation. Briefly. When their desperation was at its peak...not the point of the evening. "Nonetheless. Any successful re-entry procedure is worth acknowledging." Ah, but...the praise from Kaname does make him break into that thin smile he gets when he's pleased. "It was a difficult mission," he says, cupping his chin and nodding in the way he does when he wants to look unassuming but is feeling proud of himself. "And a closely fought battle, as well. It was fortunate we received that emergency signal. I suppose someone up there must be part of the organization."

And then he feels the Captain's hip slip against his, leaning into his space at the shared menu. A thrill he identifies as PROFOUND ALARM runs up his spine and his face curls like he'd eaten an entire lemon. Which, as it happens, the Captain would know what he looks like when he does that! His face only turns into an even further Kermitian frump of alarm as her arm brushes across his chest, whisper delicate.

Then Kaname pokes him hard with her elbow and he makes a quiet "hnk!" as he is returned to the world of solidity and form. That, however, only lasts a moment, because no sooner has the Colonel returned to her own seat than Kaname has now leaned into HIS personal space with HER personal spacers.

He finds himself briefly recalling a time Kurz attempted to regale him with the wonders of the female body. Kurz, you fool. This isn't what a sandbag feels like at all. His jaw set and his eyes a bit bugged, he nonetheless manages to squeeze out, "Yes it does sound excellent."

She's talking about administration and it is going DIRECTLY through his head without activating a SINGLE neuron. They are busy. With other things. 

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

"Have they not briefed you on how to properly sort information, Kaname? Even I have to take a refresher on proper classification evey year..." Even in the high up places the two were, bureaucracy and standarization was paramount. Such was the price for proper management of, well, everything. "But good job, Sagara! Not that I could do much to help, but I'm glad we could send you over."

Her eyes finish on the menu, setting it down. A good (non-alcoholic) cocktail sounded about right at this moment, especially in a rare moment of calm. "To my knowledge, everyone in high places has people helping them out. Lieutenant Commander keeps abreast of movements, and the XO helps keep track of internal affairs. They have people below them, and people below them, and everything...usually gets done."

After all, it's not like she's the one always sending orders to Uruz 7. Only the important ones.

"For now...A prickly-pear lemonade, something fruity for Sagara, and maybe a cocktail?" What to order, what to order... 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

"Well, they *have*, but I don't think they expected things to be so..." Kaname lets out an exasperated sigh, "Sudden. Honestly, even now that I'm in the swing of things, I don't know how Heart-2 does it..."

Drinks arrive, and she eases off of Sousuke's side, takes a sip. "Ooh. Anyway, I'll have to pester staff to give me a better onboarding. Honestly, I just sorta assumed this was how it worked." It's not like she's had a job like this before, after all.

"I should probably be delegating more, too." Though from what she's heard, she wouldn't be surprised to learn that Sayla handles far too much on her own, and manages to make it look smooth... 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke returns to the material as his Colonel and his Kaname return to their own spaces. Blink. Blink blink. Slow breath. "Ah, yes. A lemonade sounds good, actually." Something sweet. Yes. Sugars. That must be what he's missing.

"Yes. A large organization is a succession of responsibility," he says, nodding firmly. "Those at the bottom can work with confidence that they don't need to think about the large-scale issues, because matters of logistics, responsibility, ethics, et cetera, are managed before it ever reaches them. That faith allows them to operate even under supreme pressure without fear."

He looks to the Colonel, and nods at her. "Colonel Testarossa has instilled in all of us a confidence that she will account for our wellfare to the best possibility in every request, and that that will continue down through the people who work between her and us," he says. It's tough to call that face a smile, but it's one of deep respect. He turns toward Kaname, noting, "I don't understand the details. But a team like that is worth pursuing." 

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

"It took my a good while for me to understand ranks...Honestly, everyone keeps confusing Captain and Colonel, but being what it is, I think they're interchangable?" A tap of her own chin as she takes a sip; Nice and slightly more bitter than she'd like. It worked, though. "Though they're around three rank levels apart, if I'm remembering correctly!"

"That being said, I think the best onboarding is experience." Another sip. Bit better this time around. "You jumped ahead all of us, Kaname. Is this a case of nepotism~?" The slightest of barbs while setting her glass down, checking over the actual menu. Thrist sated (in one way), it was time to check on food (for one type of hunger).

Mmh, nothing much on offer that instantly rang out...

"Sayla does strike me as the type of person who can do everything because she's been in so long...She's someone worth looking up to, but I have to do my best as well. Even if I'd like to know everywhere and everything, I'm not that type of person." 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

"Well, I mean, you *are* a captain, too, so... it's not the weirdest mistake to make," Kaname shrugs. "That said, they shouldn't be assuming one because of the other." She idly stirs her drink with her straw while she sips, looking over the menu.

She gives Sousuke a grin and a nod, "You're right. It's not just about what I can do, it's about trust. People are there to do their jobs--I need to make sure they're able to do them, and trust them to handle things... that way I can get some of the weight off my shoulders."

Hmm. Yeah. She'd already decided on steak before she got here... "God, that steak looks good. I know they dress shit up for the menus, but I'm gonna *devour* that," she growls. She sets the menu aside.

There's a little glare aside at Tessa, and an annoyed smirk. "It's only a *temporary* position. And besides, doesn't nepotism usually involve family? That aside, I don't even know her all that well..." 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke does not know he is on a different menu. And his honed sense for malicious intent does not extend to being...appraised.

So instead he flips open his own menu, nodding through it thoughtfully. "Yes. Steak is also typically a low-calorie option," he muses. "Energy intake must be managed carefully in an urban environment...it's terribly easy to slip up." Hm. "...though of course, a festive meal isn't the time to worry about that overly much."

It's Sousuke, this is of course just kind of how he operates his brain. He ends up ordering it just the same, with a firm nod. "It does look delightful," he affirms.

As for his own opinion: "Doctor Mass is a woman of intense focus, I think. I recall when I worked as security for her dinner, she was quite involved on a personal level. It'd be no surprise for even a groomed replacement to struggle under what she holds up."

He has not quite noticed the needling. Partly that's because he has for many years mostly hung out with soldiers who say horrid things about each others' parents with a laugh. 

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

"Technically, I /am/ a Colonel, but Captain is the traditional moniker when you're..." A glance around. They may be in quiet waters, and the places everyone's been to has seen a few robots in trying times, but habits refused to die. "When you're piloting a ship." Ashen grey eyes gazing down with the slightest hint of wistfulness, closing the menu. "A steak for me, too."

Triple steak it was; Rare for her. "It's getting close to the end of the year, Sagara. I think everyone will let up on the operations for a bit." Only the tiniest bit; No missions on Christmas. ...That was about it, considering how terrorist attacks usually decided to be fickle around this time of year. "Still, Sayla's an impressive woman...I don't think just anyone can be her. Do try and trust other people, okay?"

Hypocrisy.

"Mhm, that's true...Maybe she sees something in you? It takes a special kind of person to keep managing Sagara off the field." A hum, thinking of each and every report. "Is that why she thought you could handle her workload? Special conditions, quick adjustments to changing situations, ability to look past faults and determine the best course of action..." 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

Kaname gives Sousuke a Look as his brain goes analytical, but it turns into a smile as he comes around. "Exactly," she nods, "You've gotta take the time to relax, y'know? Sure, you've gotta be ready for emergencies, but..."

She shifts her focus to Tessa, snarking, "Do you think he's found his off switch?"

With a nod to the assertion for trust, Kaname's expression turns to one of surprise at Tessa's speculations. "Managing?" A blank-eyed stare, a blink. "I don't know if I'm really any good at *managing*... I didn't really have a choice at first." She laughs.

"... not that I'd want anyone else on the job." Her cheeks go pink.

"Well... I guess maybe getting this far is worth putting on my resume," she remarks to Sousuke, grinning. 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

Sousuke notes, "Anything that can render a person unconscious rapidly is capable of causing severe damage," like the party pooper he is.

Managing...him?? Sousuke looks between the Colonel and Kaname like he's not quite sure he's understanding their conversation. ..."The change in our circumstances has been...unusual," he says, going off in not quite the right direction. "But Kaname has undertaken it quite well."

Resume... ...hm. He cups his chin, in that way he has of thinking too seriously about offhand remarks. "Yes, it's certainly a feather in your cap. I suppose given circumstances, you'd need to speak with Dr. Mass about any history you'd need fabricated to use it outside this circle...but it could be done." 

<Pose Tracker> Teletha Testarossa has posed.

"Sagara's off switch..." She cast her gaze over to the man (un)fortunately sandwiched in-between them, only slightly nudging in to press hip against hip. Those ashen grey eyes staring at the soldier, staring, staring, staring... "It has to be when he goes to sleep, isn't it?" The obvious answer.

She broke that stare only moments later, a refreshed smile on her face. "So just apply what you know about management to your job, Kaname. With less violence." She can't pull those two apart. Not after so much.

"Considering it's temporary, you could put it as an internship of sorts? Anything signed by her is worth its weight in gold, so just having you be a secreterial intern or something should give you paths to...anything." Speculation, more or less. But who wouldn't turn down someone mentored by one of the heroes of the One Year War? 

<Pose Tracker> Kaname Chidori has posed.

"You'd think so, but no!" Kaname points vaguely in Tessa's direction with her straw as she continues, "I've seen his lights turn on after I wake up from nightmares." She leans her chin on her palm. "First few times that happened I went over there with my baseball bat. And it's *still* weird."

She doesn't elaborate on what she did with the baseball bat those first few times. It's probably fine. He's still here.

"But I mean you need to learn how to turn off the soldier a bit, Sousuke. Like you did just there, you decided not to worry too much about your 'energy intake'." She gives him a nudge.

Ah, right... most of the work she's doing isn't exactly the resume kind. She nods, though. "Yeah... if she liked me enough to name me her stand-in, I'm sure she'd be more than happy to say it was a Yumi Foundation internship, or something like that."

She deposits her straw back in her drink, taking a loooong sip. "Pretty much a golden ticket, huh?" she says aloud, thoughtfully.

Of course, the question remains of what sort of work she'd even want to do, if not what she's doing now. It's worryingly easy to imagine herself sticking with the Alliance... 

<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.

"The landlord was concerned," Sousuke adds, which does not add clarity to the fate of the baseball bat.

"Turn it off, huh," Sousuke says, and seems to take it as seriously as ever, head tipping down. "It can be difficult to understand...but, as a request from a superior, I shall give it serious work."

was. was that a joke. was--he's sipping his drink completely seriously but that felt like a joke?

"A reasonable approach," he supplies to Kaname's speculation, and the Colonel's. "It is, though. With matters with Gauron resolved, and now your elevation, you're safe with a future secured, Kaname."

He gives her a soft, sincere smile. "It's a state soldiers of fortune can hardly fathom. Congratulations, truly."

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