2023-05-09: Solace
- Cast: Kikka Kobayashi, Leina Ashta
- Where: Fujinomiya - Kobayashi Household
- Date: U.C. 0097 05 09
- Summary: Following a falling out with her guardian, Leina stays at the Kobayashi's guest room. Noticing she's been keeping to herself, Kikka checks on her.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
It's no real secret that things between Leina and Sayla are tense right now. Kikka can certainly guess why... even if Fraw still might not have any clue.
Her behaviors have been strange ever since taking the guest room not long after the two had a 'talk', but not strange for a newly twenty nothing in a mood.
Coming and going at odd hours, ostensibly to visit Banagher and Mineva at the PPL, shutting herself in the guest room for prolonged periods of time.
Then things got especially weird a few nights back, when she snuck in late after a day trip.
And Letz sort of dropped to Kikka that he saw Leina moving a little stiffly while she was en route to the bathroom and thought he saw a bad bruise on her face???
That's a little much isn't it?
It became one of those nudge nudge - 'You're the closest to her, you go talk to her.' kind of things that boys do in these circumstances.
Either way, she's currently laying on the futon in the guest room under the covers, awake and... doomscrolling on her phone. There are pill bottles on the night stand, and tissues which are all in the bin.
And that sure is a rather visible draining goose egg over her right eye, just like Letz noted, though she'll have to turn over for it to be seen...
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
Leina is never bad company to have, and normally Kikka would be psyched about having a friend stay over for a bit, but well...
Between her mood, condition, and tension with Sayla... Kikka can't help but worry. Still, she felt awkward about interfering until that little push from Letz.
But now, here she is, dedicated to be a good friend. There's a knock on the door, coupled with the fresh smell of baking. "It's Kikka. Can I come in, Leina?"
She slowly, carefully enters the room, holding a plate of rice cakes. "I made a little something for you... I noticed you weren't eating enough. We can split them if it's easier?" She offers.
And then imminently notices that painful-looking bruise on her head. "Oh gosh.. are you okay? You didn't hurt yourself while you were out?" At this point, she really is worried... she wonders if she'll need to make her visit to Doctors Bidan and Yuiry sooner.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
Leina starts, she should have sensed her coming but in this self absorbed state she tends to get monofocused in, "Uh-!" There's some momentary shifting, but other than that there's almost no delay before, "... Sure, you can come in."
The tray is looked at for a moment as she stiffly pushes herself up and the covers slide off. Kikka might swear she saw a gleam of something in her eyes, before she notes...
"Sure I could eat... something maybe." She flashes a smile, "Thanks for thinking of me."
Then she asks, the question, and there's a momentary sigh, a rueful look on her expression. And she makes a motion for Kikka to shut the door.
"I just didn't want... your mom to find out, as she might freak, and if she freaks then she'll call Sayla."
She explains, apologetically, before looking sheepish, "So this is going to sound a little..."
She trails off to change course, "... would you believe me if I told you I was the victim of some police brutality?"
The look on her face, there's pride - there's also anger in equal measures. "Already been to the hospital for it - was in the hospital while in custody, before the charges got dropped."
She eyes the tray again, "Between the pain meds and the lingering concussion I'm just a little low key nauseous all the time. And it still hurts to breathe. But I'm... okay, promise."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"I'm glad," Kikka enthuses as Leina agrees to eat a little. "And yeah.. of course." She tilts her head a little as she sees that gleam.. but it might just have something to do with the lighting of the room.
Taking the cue, she then slowly closes the door shut, giving Leina that privacy. "She probably would," Kikka admits, about her mom freaking. "I don't really want to meddle in the rift between you and Sayla. It wouldn't be right. So you can trust me with whatever's going on." Kikka affirms. "I just.. don't want you to go through this alone."
And then she hears it... police brutality. There's a few slow few seconds of silence as she processes it. "Police brutality? Like.. the manhunters? Those Knight police guys?" Her eyes reach that head bump once again, sympathetically. "I worry about them whenever I'm down on Earth. I can't believe they did that to you..."
All charges dropped, though... even without contacting Sayla she must be resourceful enough to have some damn good lawyers at her disposal.
She wants to believe Leina when she promises she's okay. Kikka knows she's such a strong and proud person... but it hurts to see her like this, too. "...Okay. Please, let us know if you need anything, though. It's really no trouble!" She does glance over to the pills and the plate of rice cakes. "Even if it's just reminders for small stuff."
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
Leina nods quickly at Kikka's admission, then seems to just sigh with relief, before looking low key touched, as she smiles at her, "Thanks Kikka. I'm... trying not to, Banagher and Mineva are in the area." A beat, "In hiding."
A wince, and a pause, and... "Yeah the Manhunters. They've been a problem for me ever since I started to live here. Once you've lived in space - they're just all 'Let me take a second look at your permit.' Every. Time."
She emphasizes, then shakes her head, "Doesn't help that I'm outspoken. Even had classmates and teachers sic them on me on the sly just for not accepting their view of politics and history."
She takes a moment and- "Mineva and me were clothes shopping - and I guess she looked, a little familiar to one of them as they decided to give her papers a closer look." A beat, "If she gets caught, it'd be bad - so we ran. And well-"
She makes a weak gesture, "-I kinda offered myself up as a distraction so she could get away. Let's just say they took me up on that a little too well."
At least, if her ribs and face are any evidence of that, "Honestly I got off light, if a few of them hadn't known who I was and had gotten in trouble for harassing me in the past... well..."
Who knows, what could have happened... she lets hang?
After a moment, she takes one of the rice cakes, allowing a small nibble, and a swallow, "Alright. I appreciate that. Ah..."
Her tone becomes sheepish again, perhaps because she does have her pride, "... I have some broken ribs, so I'm not supposed to do any heavy lifting right now... so do you mind if I just, text you, if I need something like that?"
Her seagreen eyes blink a few times at a certain realization, "Oh. How are you holding up by the way Kikka? It's... almost midterm week for you, right?"
Now she sounds a little worried about asking for things...
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
Banagher and Mineva have to stay in hiding... even if she hasn't known them for long, Kikka feels for them, that they deserve that level of freedom, too.
Unfortunately, the Manhunters are in full force, clearly evident by Leina's story. "I know. It's ridiculous! The way they look down on you just for where you're born, or having the nerve to move." Kikka shakes her head.. it's a strong subject for her. "And your schoolmates are jerks." She adds.
Leina also adds the context that she willingly offered herself up, and Kikka frowns. "You know how risky that is... did it really have to take putting yourself in so much danger?" She chides Leina just a little bit, before ceding, "...I guess I can't say I might do the exact same thing if it came to it, though." Her instincts have gotten her in trouble time and time again.
"Heavy lifting? Yeah, no problem. I'll just make Letz do it!" A sibling joke, before her expression turns serious again. "Of course we can handle that for you."
"Oh, me? I guess I've been okay... it's been a little quiet honestly." She looks down and back up at Leina. "Yeah, midterms are pretty soon. And not long after that I have to submit a project proposal." A short sigh. "I'm really nervous about it... but at least I managed to snag a very good investigative journalist for a mentor. I... don't know where he gets all his info honestly, but it's been trustworthy so far." If Leina knows who Sayla knows, it's not hard to narrow down who that man might be. And for Kikka... he was her father's best friend.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
Kikka going off on them actually kinda amps her up a little, "Yep. Plain and simple fascist police. We've got them before on 'harassment' a few times but that just makes them worse. They hate being held accountable - they're not used to it."
A beat, and... "Some of them! Most of them are on my side now just... doesn't matter if they're in the minority. Even NIA worshipping losers can place anonymous calls."
She always figures out who it was though, always. Sometimes it sucks being a Newtype this powerful to find out who secretly hates you.
On the other hand - sometimes it's real useful.
Kikka chides her a bit, and Leina has the good grace to look a little chagrined for a moment, "Well uh you're right just- options kinda disappeared after I kinda sorta..." There's a prolonged pause and... "Threw a flashbang at them?"
She just lets that hang for a long moment, as she rubs the back of her head, "I get what you're saying - it's just, couldn't let her get caught. If she did then - may never see her again. That's how badly the Federation wants her in custody."
When she says it's no problem, she goes- "Thanks-" Until she mentions Letz. And Leina caught off guard, just laughs for a moment, before her face spasms and, "Ooo-ow-ah-ah-ah..." As she hugs her ribs, rice cracker still in hand.
Older brother jokes apparently caught her off guard.
"Dangit - I miss laughing. Banagher and Mineva are having to watch themselves until I recover." She shakes her head, and smiles at Kikka, "Thanks. I'd appreciate the hand."
Leina listens along, "Oh yeah? What were you thinking of for your proposal?" Though she mentions that she managed to snag a mentor and...
"Wait... Kai? Do you mean Kai?" She grins, "Hey that's great news! Can't imagine anyone who would look out for you better - and show you the ins and outs of the field?"
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"It sucks," Kikka concludes on the state of the manhunters and their inability to be held accountable. "But I'm glad you have people on your side, too. I mean, siding with the cops that harass spacenoids is pretty unreasonable." But those who do still have enough power to call them anonymously...
"That'd do it." Kikka nods, about the escalation to flashbang. "Yeah, I understand. You really do care about her... I can't blame you for that, as long as you're looking out for yourself too." What Kikka doesn't voice is her concerns about how even if it turned out okay this time, what if Leina's luck runs out next time? She always worries about people who put themselves in harm's way for other people so often, and she lets the silence linger for a few long seconds.
"Ah-" she reaches her hand out when Leina's face spasms briefly, realizing it's because she tries to laugh. Dang - she'll have to try to be less funny then, too.
"I think I've committed to writing about Amuro Ray and the White Base." Kikka explains. "It's really important to me... but it's kind of a difficult job because most of the people stationed on it are all scattered... they don't keep in contact anymore." It's evident with Sayla at least. "But mom told me it's a good idea."
"Yeah!" She smiles. "Kai Shiden's been a great help. He's been in the business for a long time, and especially helped document the Gryps War. And he's a total freelancer too!" Smirking, she adds, "It's almost surprising how much and how little he's changed at the same time."
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"Yep. Like, most Earthnoid kids just don't think about it?" She explains to her, "Being exposed to one like me just - who's willing to tell them what it's like, a lot come around eventually. Quite a few even joined Sayla's foundation as volunteers."
There's also just that Leina's just very very stubborn in telling people when they're wrong.
Leina does get it, after all, one day she was a high school student. And gradually more and more someone who tried to stay out of harm's way put herself into harm's way more and more.
"I promise I try not to make a habit of doing things like that." She tells her, with a sheepish look, "Like - I prefer to stand my ground and use my words. Just situations like that..."
She shakes her head, words would be useless.
Kikka reaches a hand out, she smiles apologetically, she knows how tough it is to abstain from funny comments as she takes another nibble of a rice cracker.
There's a thoughtful nod as she says she's committed to Amuro Ray and the White Base. She gets it. Kikka being on the White Base - and she'd explained her rationale about Amuro before.
Growing up, with their life on the line - depending on him like that. How could she not form such an attachment to him?
"I getcha. Yeah. Well..." Her eyes slide to the side, and... "... may be able to help. Not sure if it's anything you can actually put in the paper, but Sayla's sure told me some... secrets about certain events that are... put into perspective by Char being..." She trails off, even now she's hesitant to say it.
"... well, let's just say it puts Amuro into a lot of perspective too, I can ask her, since now you know. And maybe knowing the truth will at least lead you to the answers you're looking for."
She grins at Kikka's description of Kai, "Man, I've heard a little from Sayla about what he used to be like on the White Base. I wouldn't know it was the same guy. I've met him a few times."
Taking a nibble of the rice cracker, "One day I'll have to ask you to spill on that part about how little he's changed."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"Yeah, I don't think... the average person is really malicious about it." Kikka nods. "It's good they were able to understand eventually... and the Yumi Foundation could always use more volunteers too." She smiles. She's sure the stubbornness helps too, of course.
"Jerks like that make it pretty hard." She finishes, understanding Leina's perspective. "Hopefully one day you won't be expected to defend yourself just for going shopping with your girlfriend, right?"
Kikka's eyes light up when Leina offers that she might be able to help. "Anything helps, really." Her eyes meet Leina's after they slide. "I mean.. it's definitely going to be a more candid book. There's plenty of books on the subject, but they're mostly about being war heroes for the Federation." A beat. "Propaganda."
"Some secrets..." Kikka repeats. "Yeah, I'd really appreciate, if you're both okay with it. And..." She frowns. "Now that Char's alive and he's one of those... Apostles, I almost doubt it can just stay a secret forever."
She grins when Leina mentions the stories of Kai on the White Base, and then takes a bite of her own rice cake. "He's way more professional now for sure. And as for that..." She snickers. "It will probably have to wait until you're allowed to laugh again."
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"Yeah nah it's just, the people in power making apathy a feature of the status quo."
She says with a shake of the head, and a sigh, "People are just, numb you know? Information overload on the number of fires that need putting out. Need to be pulled out of their echo chambers for kindness to take over."
There's a smile, and a thoughtful nod, "Be nice. One day, for them both to live like that where their whole life isn't being... harassed as fugitives. Where they can just, you know, be."
When Kikka meets her eyes, she listens, and there's a thoughtful nod, "Then, I think you should ask her. There's plenty you can write about. And... there's a few things that happened only Amuro, Char, and her really know."
Others may have known Sayla was Artesia but...
"Probably?" She asks with a flat tone, this... edge of anger, "I kinda hope he'd be more discreet. Least he can do after not even checking if she was Earthside before trying to drop Axis on it - then pretending to be brotherly after."
She's obviously, not very happy with Char Aznable right now, then again, most people are not! She's just, more than most, on maybe an order of magnitude. Maybe.
"Damn." Is Leina's short, simple curse to the idea of having to wait, "That's something I don't want to have to be patient about."
She grins at her, "But, it'll keep. Can't wait to hear all the dirt you have on him." She takes a sloowww bite from the rice cracker, crunch. Chew chew.
"Feels like having that on one of the best journalists on the field already means you're well on your way."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
The way Leina puts it is pretty apt, there's so much going on... most people probably need that little nudge to see past their own immediate front view. "I really do believe that eventually that day will come. They deserve it as much as anyone... Princess and Key or not." She agrees, firmly.
Things that only Amuro, Char, and Sayla know... "Like that Lalah lady. People barely seem to know anything about her... but the fact it was the majority of Char's motivation during the Axis Shock?" She wonders how Amuro felt, having to overcome that grief despite Char bringing it to the forefront. "I'll set up a meeting with her soon."
"And that was even before he had Triple Zero for an excuse." Kikka looks down. "I'm a little worried what he'll do next, especially when he gets desperate." As if dropping Palau was only the beginning. He's still out there. It must be, right?
"Hee hee." Kikka grins, about both keeping Leina on the edge of her seat and being able to one-up one of the best journalists. "Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long."
Her phone buzzes with another text, not long after. "Ah, I think Mom wants me to help out around the house since we have a guest. Chores..." She groans. "I'll see you later! Just text me if you need something."