2022-11-16: A Smaller Fortress
- Log: 2022-11-16- A Smaller Fortress
- Cast: Kallen Kozuki, Milly Ashford
- Where: Area 11 - Stadtfeld Residence
- OOC - IC Date: 0096-11-16
- Summary: Milly and Kallen talk about some of the fine points of Kallen's life -- and discuss where things could go for them from there.
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
It wouldn't be a stretch, to say that hearing those Blue Cosmos voices has been getting Kallen more on edge, the past few days. Since they made it home from the border issues. It's been not quite OBVIOUS, unless you spend a lot of time around her, as Milly might perhaps. And as their scheduled meeting time came closer, she started to get... paranoid. Worried somebody might be trying to put Milly up to something. She doesn't think Milly herself would be Blue Cosmos, not even remotely. But there's that little fear in the back of her mind.
She's not going to let that stop her from being a gracious hostess however, to a cherished guest in her house. Though she isn't the one to answer the door. One of the few maids currently on-site is the one to open the way for Milly. A short, somewhat older woman with hair that's gone largely white at this point. She offers a friendly smile. "Please, come in dearie. You're here for Kallen, right?" She can only assume so, given Kallen had asked some of those working today to cook extra, for a guest. And nobody else is in the house.
The maid backs up slowly, so as to not obstruct the doorway. "I'll show you up to her room." Meanwhile, Kallen's getting the last of her own prep done and humming an old tune to herself to relax. The home itself is... plenty grand. More or less what you'd expect of a rich Britannian family. But it seems closed off and empty. Lifeless in many ways. Not like somewhere a family actually lives.
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Milly takes a moment to look around, meeting that older woman's greeting with a pleasant smile and a, "That's right, ma'am." There is absolutely no reason for her to be anything less than respectful to the staff -- indeed, quite the opposite. She follows along as she's shown to Kallen's room, and takes in the fact that... well...
... this is kind of familiar. More familiar than she'd like, honestly -- it's part of the reason she doesn't mind long stretches where it isn't advisable to leave the Ashford campus. Her grandfather's place is okay, but her mother's... well...
Shaking the cobwebs from her head, Milly approaches Kallen's room, escorted as she is. "I can take it from here," she says, with a small -- almost embarrassed -- smile on her face, knocking on the door gently. "Kallen? It's Milly," she says. Her tone is on the even, gentle side -- which means whatever's going on, she has to be taking it quite seriously.
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
The older lady nods at her. "I'll be in the kitchen if either of you need anything. We should have something delicious ready before too long." The promise of food. Perhaps so Milly doesn't rush out if the conversation turns awkward? Or just so she knows it's on the way.
The bedroom door opens, and Kallen practically pulls her in by the wrist. It's abrupt. Just as sudden as how the door closes behind them. But if Milly isn't too stunned by the forwardness of it all, she'll find the room is barely decorated. A few Sheryl posters and pictures of the Student Council. A music player with headphones, positioned by the head of her bed. A surprisingly modest television. This definitely isn't the room of a girl who indulges in luxuries. The most glaring is hidden in plain sight. A picture of a much younger Kallen on some kind of outdoorsy trip, with a far taller and older boy standing over her. But it's positioned exactly such that people's eyes will just... skim over it and not linger. Intentionally so, one might imagine. "It's nice to see you. Sorry I wasn't at the door when you got here."
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Nothing about this room feels lived-in; it's true of the house as a whole, honestly, but it's even starker when she thinks about it in the context of Kallen herself. The girl had been so sickly for so long -- does she just not have the energy to decorate? Or is this something deeper...?
Milly takes a few moments to look at the decorations, too -- including the picture of the younger Kallen, which is... really much to the purpose, with what they're about to talk about.
"It's good to see you too, Kallen," she says. "Listen -- with graduation coming up, my grandfather asked me to pass a few things on." She shifts to retrieve the folio, and hands it over, with a note of:
"Middle school transcripts."
That's a different Kallen -- with a different name. And Milly's seen it. ... it's best if she gets ahead of this one, rather than leave Kallen to draw her own conclusions, at a moment like this. "I thought it'd be best to have this discussion off campus. ... Do you feel safe on campus right now?"
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
Kallen could not be more happy they're at her home, when she sees what's been pulled out. What Milly is handing her. She goes wide-eyed, and almost vacantly backs away to fall into a seated position on her bed. "O... oh. You... already know that, then." She was going to talk to Milly about it. But not like this. She's had the bandage ripped away just slightly before she intended.
She tries to look up and meet Milly's eyes. Tries... but can't quite manage it. "...I've always been able to pass as a pure-blooded Britannian. I got more of my father's features after all. But... I won't say it doesn't scare me. Doesn't... make me angry, to hear what they say." There's a lot of emotions in her voice. Complicated ones. But there's nothing stopped Milly from sitting down with her. She probably needs that, if anything.
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Taking a moment to straighten herself out, Milly moves to sit down with Kallen, sure enough. The taller girl doesn't put an arm around her or anything -- she's just doing her best to be a stable presence in an awkward conversation. (... that she initiated, admittedly. But it was going to come sooner or later.)
"It's upsetting," Milly says. "I was hoping that GUTS would change things... and it's not like it hasn't. Seeing more students from other blocs is having an effect, but..." She lets out a sigh, hanging her head. "It's made the ones who hate that kind of thing a lot louder, too. I don't like the way things are going."
Looking off at the picture again, she thinks about it a little harder -- in context, now. A lot begins to make sense -- which leads her to a question. Not a direct one yet, but... "... now, if you want to throw a few punches, I can look the other way," she starts, "but is there a better way for me to make sure you feel safe?"
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
That's all for the best really. Too much at once might make her panic after all. She's hearing Milly out. She deserves that and more, really. She's been great, and even supportive. She's never judged any of Kallen's seemingly oddball interest and knowledge of Japanese culture and skills. Though of course, the source is obvious now. "Most of us have made friends with people in the other blocs. The hope is always there, that people will come around and make their own changes... But some people are deep in that mindset." It's not like it's entirely their fault. Kallen knows it's at least partly what they've been taught. At home, in some classes... That kind of deeply rooted brainwashing is hard to break.
"...It won't help to punch them. No matter how much I want to. ...Well, maybe one or two. No promises if I hear something particularly vile where there aren't witnesses." She's PROBABLY kidding. But she's able to make and hold eye contact now. That's a big deal. "Let's just... talk a while for now, and see what we come up with. I'm sure you've got questions too, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Kallen's enthusiasm for Japanese culture hasn't been lost on Milly; the truth is that she's known or at least suspected this was the case for ages, but it's another thing entirely to have it out in the open. "... Yeah," Milly agrees, and it's hard to miss the drop in her voice. (She's thinking about Nina. That girl carries so much fear around... it's painful to watch.)
She closes her eyes and scoots a little closer to Kallen, taking a deep breath. "Honestly, I don't have a lot of questions. I try not to think -- no, it's not that I try not to think about that kind of thing." She struggles to find the phrasing. "... I know this might come as a surprise, but I don't trust people easily. People will say anything..."
... a wry smile crosses her face as she finishes, "but they won't do anything. If you watch the way people act, they tell you a lot more than they could with words. You haven't done anything different, so I don't see you any differently, and there's nothing it's raised that I think is a big deal. You're still Kallen." A few seconds pass --
-- and then she starts laughing at herself. "Too serious? People will talk if they learn I have speeds other than Miss Prez and Fantasy Seduction Club Member Emeritus."
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
They're both probably thinking it, as a matter of fact. Kallen doesn't hate the girl, fearful as she is, and quick with... hurtful words. Fear is a powerful, insidious monster. One that's hard to escape, once it gets a claw on you. Some people weaponize that fear. "You're right you know. I'm just Kallen, whether it's followed up by Kozuki, Stadtfeld, or both. I've always been me, and that's... kind of what my performance on stage was about. Britannian, or Japanese... why do I have to choose between the two? Both are part of me, no matter what anyone says."
She reaches out, to grab Milly's closer hand. Trying to reassure her as well, maybe? "Though some people told me afterward, apparently they thought I was trying to seduce the whole judging panel! Can you imagine that?" She can't help a little laugh as well. There's a grin there too, though it passes quickly enough. "The secrets of your speeds are safe in my hands, promise. So once we get this out of the way, let's just be teenagers for a while."
She looks away for a second, before meeting Milly's eyes. Looking both somber and determined. "I... do want to tell you a few things first though. I think it's important you know about it, even if it's kind of heavy. Do you... err, do you know what Refrain is?" She's probably not leading into this as well as she could be. But it's something she thinks Milly has to know.
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
"You wouldn't be the first," Milly points out, at the comment on trying to seduce the whole judging panel... and that smile gets bigger as she notes, "And I can't say I'd mind, actually. If you think Shirley's having a good time, I can certainly show you a better one." It's firmly in the 'joking -- unless?' category -- but then, Milly is rarely serious out loud.
... She does give Kallen's hand a squeeze back, though. And when she brings up a new topic --
"Refrain? That's... that new-ish drug, right?" That's a sudden serious topic -- and she gives Kallen time to fully spool it out rather than leaping at guesses. Whatever Kallen's carrying with her is worth treating kindly.
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
It's a bit comforting actually, to note that she isn't the first to try it. Even if it wasn't exactly intended on her part. "I just might have to remember that." The expression on her face makes it hard to judge seriousness, really. But she's obviously not pushing. Just making a statement that she doesn't mind it.
She needs that after all, to build up her courage. As best she can.
"My real mother is in a rehab facility recovering from it. Under a fake name, thanks to my dad helping to get her in. ...She used to work here as a maid. Took the job after I became dad's legal and, so far as the paperwork shows, fully legitimate heir. Mrs. Stadtfeld is... not exactly happy about any of that." She leaves a little space, so Milly can gather what she's saying without putting it into words. "I'd be lying if I told you I know without a doubt my stepmother is Blue Cosmos. ...But I don't doubt she supports them at least." She's definitely painting a certain picture. About why this house is the way it is. "She's part of why my mother started injecting it. I know that much at least."
A home life she wants no part of. One that's actively hostile and detrimental to her health. That's a... very close topic. Familiar. Also, maybe a little funny, that the three of them all have a similar shape of problem. "You, the whole initiative, the council. You've given me a lot more hope in making the world a kinder place. Eventually. ...And also something I can throw myself into. To stay out of the house more when dad's off on business." Yeah, that's DEFINITELY a familiar shape.
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Milly's eyes widen a little as Kallen mentions her real mother -- and her stepmother. "... The whole family under one roof," she reflects -- and she does mean the whole family. "Or at least it would've been."
Kallen mentions the hope GUTS has given her in her final year of high school -- but Milly's still stuck back a little bit at their family issues. "Hmm... if things don't blow up in my face by the end of the year," Milly reflects, "Maybe we should get an apartment? With Emilia, too." It's not lost on her that none of them are happy with their living arrangements. "I don't know how long I could commit to that, though. My mother is getting a little more insistent... but if we all need a better place to live, we can at least start there!"
... She'll need to make arrangements to get that going -- if Kallen even bites on it. "I had no idea things were so hard for you," Milly admits. "Don't worry -- I won't tell anyone about this."
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
Of course, that hits on the part she doesn't mention. The obvious elephant in the room is the boy in the picture. Probably an older brother. Definitely in his early twenties at this point. She hasn't said a word about him though. Milly could guess on why, if she wanted.
The offer catches Kallen entirely by surprise. It's clear she wasn't really considering it possible... but the way her eyes light up. It's obvious she likes the idea. "If you're serious? I'd love to. Sort of our own little fortress, hmm?" The apartment itself wouldn't be so unassailable, sure. But the three of them together have already been proven to take on all challengers. That's the power that makes it a castle all its own.
When she winds up fully committing to turning this into a hug, it can't be remotely shocking. "She can't be as insistent if you're not under the same roof. It cuts into her options and ammunition." And she wouldn't have to face it on her own, either. Though that goes unsaid.
"It's a little funny. I was originally just bringing it up to not shock you when I go to visit her. But..." She chokes back a few tears. "I don't really have the right words, to how much this means to me. Thanking you definitely isn't enough."
<Pose Tracker> Milly Ashford has posed.
Milly sees no upside in pressing. There are a few options -- disowned, dead, on the other side of the border. None of them are particularly motivating thoughts to press on. She's already given Kallen one curveball.
She returns the embrace -- it's warm and gentle, as Milly... well, it's unfair to say Milly is always that. She's a bit of a bully. ... but the fun kind, at this point.
"I spend most of my time in the Ashford dorms... but that's still in the family, I guess," Milly reflects, at Kallen pointing out that this would cut into her mother's options. "It'd definitely give me a little bit more of a remove." Of course, there's the question of what she'd do if the money weren't there, but... she can think of something.
Milly stays in the hug, letting Kallen say what she needs to say. Milly considers what she's doing right now the bare minimum, honestly; anyone who didn't give Kallen this kind of care isn't someone she wants to validate. "It's plenty," Milly says, in response to the thanks. "Now, I actually budgeted the rest of the day for this. ... want to check up on the Gundam Fight or something?"