2023-07-27: Alto's Night
- Log: 2023-07-27 Alto's Night
- Cast: Alto Saotome, Sheryl Nome, Ranka Lee
- Where: Frontier Colony
- OOC - IC Date: July 27, UC 0097 (2023)
- Summary: Alto dislikes birthdays, including his own, so when his nineteenth comes around, he goes off somewhere to brood alone. Naturally, Sheryl and Ranka can't be having that.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto is not a big fan of birthdays.
That would have been more obvious at the recent birthday part of one little Nadesico operator, but that party never really had a chance after it turned into a Big Mess. Though if asked, Alto might be hard pressed to decide which would have been worse, an actual party or the battle.
Still, he's not a fan of birthdays. Not even his own. Perhaps especially his own. As such he has fallen into a bit of a tradition with his birthdays, where he runs off Somewhere to avoid all the usual hubbub that surrounds the 'special' days. And that somewhere happens to be as far from the city that one can get in the limited space of the Frontier Fleet's Island One.
The peak of the city's dome is a popular tourist trap. With numerous buildings hanging from the nexus of the dome's support structure. Hotels, restaurants, shopping centers. They all provide entertaining services while usually giving a great view of the city below.
But Alto's not here to take in any of those services. No, he's simply hanging near the outskirts of the aerial district, leaning against the railing of an observation deck and staring down at the city laid out beneath him. His eyes aren't really focused on the view though. It's just a backdrop to the thoughts swirling in his head. A mixture of contemplating the past, as well as questions about the future.
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
Alto's given off some pretty clear signs that he doesn't like birthdays, he especially doesn't like his own birthday, and he'd rather it go unremarked upon and forgotten. However, Sheryl attributes at least some of that to his general grouchiness. It's not like he blew off her birthday last November--he even gave her a very sweet gift. He sure didn't hate the Valentine's Day gift she gave him, either, even if he did balk at it at first. If it's just a matter of all the spectacle, well--Sheryl Nome can be anything she wants, including low-key.
That starts with the gift itself, which took her quite a while to decide on. The next part is finding Alto himself. That consists of heading to the Macross Quarter where he's... quartered... and asking around, then following the tips until she eventually makes it to the park. She might have spent quite a lot of time from there walking around on ground level fruitlessly--but fortunately, Grace has eyes on more than the Galactic Fairy, and she texts her letting her know to look up. Sheryl does so, and wouldn't you know it...
After a moment to freshen up in a bathroom, Sheryl makes her way to the observation deck, a solid package wrapped in deep blue paper patterned with fireworks and a bright red ribbon held under one arm. The ding of an elevator within the building proper--one of at least two, given its size--will signal to Alto that he's no longer alone. And then...
"Alto! I've been looking all over for you!" Sheryl declares, striding out into the hallway that separates the observation deck and the elevators. And at the same time...
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
It all starts with a simple thing, 'I want to surprise Alto for his birthday.' That Ranka sent a text to Nanase Matsuura.
-=-=-
"Artemis to Hawkeye - have you spotted him yet?"
"Not yet... my lovely goddess of the hunt." Michael told Nanase tersely over the comms, his EX Frames flying overhead.
"Hawkeye, this is Hornet, remember to use proper code names in all communications senpai-!"
"We get enough of this at work! Why do we have to do this off the job-!"
"Because it's for Ranka of course-!"
A surveillance net of two EX Frames in flight, versus the knowledge that when Alto goes off to brood - he prefers high places.
Honestly? It was only a matter of time before...
>found him
-=-=-
One wouldn't think of an international superstar idol riding a segway on over, but compared to all the set up of demanding a car and asking for security- tearing out of the hotel they had her cross town and getting on one she rented (Aha- no I'm not her why do you ask?) to the rental crew felt like the best way.
Riding through the streets, she's dressed in just that same old yellow sundress she always used to wear while singing alone, scarf flapping in the breeze.
Perhaps that's a statement in and of itself, for no matter how much she's changed herself- she has her roots.
And Alto is a part of them.
-=-=-
Carrying a small package, the elevator seems taken - and it's taking FAR TOO LONG, and thus, Ranka starts jogging up the stairs.
Given all of her working out lately, this is not as arduous as it seems. The one good thing about working hard to be an idol is that you reap the benefits in stamina.
(It's possible, even likely Sheryl gets on the elevator after she starts running up the stairs, and still beats her up.)
Because not long after the ding, a door suddenly is thrown open, from the stairwell, as Ranka breathlessly shouts out-
"Alto! What a- What a-"
'Surprise' never comes out of her mouth, because she takes a moment to catch her breath, and then she catches sight of Sheryl and-
"Sheryl!?" Her hair of course, leaps on either side, perhaps shocked at the timing.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Ding.
Slam.
The observation deck is not especially busy right now. In fact it's quite empty apart from Alto himself. So the sudden notification of an elevator arrival, quickly joined by the hurried opening of the stairwell door, does actually draw Alto's attention. He turns his head in time to see both Sheryl and Ranka.
Alto blinks in surprise, glancing between the two and asking, "Sheryl... Ranka... What are you two doing here?" That's definitely a stupid question and Alto realizes that a moment later as he sees Ranka is carrying something. But it's too late now as he stops leaning on the railing rubs his head a little in mild embarrassment.
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
That's why you rent everything privately and wear hats and shades to obscure your identity when you go out in public. Sheryl doesn't always abide by these rules, granted, but in her opinion, it's a good standard to follow. Especially if you're tracking someone down all by yourself.
(grace is part of her retinue therefore it's by herself, shh)
As for her outfit, she wears one of her standard outfits--in fact, the outfit she wore when she met Ranka for the first time: a red tube dress and heels, over which she wears a beige trenchcoat, a hat and shades, her iconic earring--and a red omamori charm hanging from her neck, though it isn't visible right now with the coat on. She pulls those shades up and blinks over at Ranka as she just happens to emerge from a stairwell, fully out of breath. "Ranka?!"
Then of course Alto asks that question of why they're here, even though he must know perfectly well. Given that Sheryl asked something mindless the other day that would've had an obvious answer if there weren't things she weren't trying to put out of mind, she'll let that one slide. Instead, she gives Ranka a little shrug, smiles over at Alto, and strides out to join him on the observation deck.
"Happy birthday, Alto," she says smoothly, holding out the wrapped package. By the feel and heft of it, it seems like it's two book-like objects--or maybe one book and a second package inside the package? They aren't very big either way.
He'll find out if he opens it up. One is a sample book full of all kinds of beautiful patterned paper for origami... and the second is a book on how to make over fifty different kinds of paper airplanes. No card, but there's no need for a card when you're handing a gift to someone personally, is there?
"I don't want you thinking I'm trying to buy you off or anything, so this time I got you something sweet and simple." Sheryl winks and folds her arms under her chest as she leans on the deck railing. "No need to thank me if you're embarrassed~."
'Sweet and simple,' she says, but it took her days to come up with the idea. Only a moment one night where she was staring at the omamori Alto gave her, that his mother gave him, gave her that inspiration.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Sheryl and Ranka look at each other, and it's at least obvious to both of them why the other is there - because of course it is! Ranka takes a moment to catch her breath, surprised, but also not resentful.
She might be a touch jealous, but she has no intention of losing to Sheryl in this matter either.
(She has no intention of losing Sheryl either? Feelings are complicated.)
It's in this position of breathlessness, that one can see the shell necklace, fashioned from armor, a victim of gravity, dangling down beneath the scarf she's wearing.
And thus, as Sheryl strides past, she catches her breath and strides out there too at her side. "Happy Birthday Alto!"
She just holds out one small package, smiling at him. Then she awaits him to open up Sheryl's first, and what Sheryl shows. Ranka tries not to be surprised, but her hair leaps.
A hand over her mouth. After all, paper airplanes are a very special thing to her- that Alto used to encourage her. And now Sheryl-
But part of her shrinks as Sheryl says, 'I don't want you thinking I'm trying to buy you off or anything,'
Ranka's gift looks simple at first, albeit expensive, when it's opened up. It's a phone with an aviator's design of sorts, sleek and stylish, a latest model with a lot of new features.
But look behind it and one will see a claim ticket for a package at a store. A package of latest model of non-military EX Frame gear. Probably the kind that'd be the envy of Michael and Luca.
"I um- didn't have any money last year so I... thought I'd go a little bigger this year?"
The gifts, are thus opposite in a sense, from an idol who is used to having money and offering something sweet and simple... and one who isn't used to it, and is offering something expensive.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Of course they're here for his birthday. And the downside to his chosen place of refuge is there's only one avenue of escape and the two are blocking it.
Not that he wants to escape, or anything. Really, if there's anyone he's OK with spending his birthday with, it's these two.
Sheryl is over first, probably due to a lack of need to catch her breath. So Alto takes the offered present. Of course, not likely to fall far behind, Ranka is soon over too. Alto takes hers as well. He then gives both of them a smile, saying, "Thank you..."
There's a slight awkward pause, before he realizes he should probably open them. So he starts with Sheryl's.
The more obvious thing to catch Alto's eyes first is the book. He lets out a brief chuckle in appreciation, before teasing, "Is this your way of saying my usual paper airplanes are getting too boring?" It's true that he generally doesn't waver from his usual design. So it's unlikely he has a lot of experience with other ones. Thus this definitely seems like a useful gift. Opening the second half of the gift though causes Alto to muse appreciatively, "This is some nice paper... Can't have been easy to find." Paper is probably a bit of a dying art in the age of Space Exploration and mass manufacturing.
Next is Ranka's gift. Which is a new phone! Appropriate, given the first birthday gift Alto gave to Ranka. Alto admires the sleek edges of the design, remarking, "Nice..." But it's while he's doing so that he notices the ticket behind it. Initially curious, Alto's eyes go a little wide as he realizes what it is.
Alto looks up at Ranka, "An EX-Gear!?" It's true that he'd not had access to one for recreational use since he graduated. The ones he used before were property of the academy, after all. And SMS isn't fond of you just taking one of the military models out for a spin. Alto murmurs, "I thought I was going to have to save up and buy one myself..." Not an easy feat for a pilot given their complexity and thus price.
Sheryl said that he didn't have to say thanks if he was embarrassed. But he is clearly not as he looks between the two, before smiling and saying, "Thank you. Both of you."
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
It's very obvious. It's almost astonishly obvious--of course they'd both chase after Alto to wish him a happy birthday, so why didn't Sheryl consider something like this might happen?
...She's not mad about it, though. She's got a touch of jealousy herself, but at the same time, she's happy to see Ranka here too. Both Alto and she make sure to wish Ranka a happy birthday on her special day.
Both gifts are handed over; Also seems pleased despite his hiding to receive them. Sheryl smiles back at him, a chuckle on her breath, before she looks over at Ranka and her gift in curiosity. She seems a little embarrassed herself; what did she get him?
They all find out soon enough. First, Alto opens her gift. Sheryl laughs back and winks. "I'll leave it up to your interpretation~! Just remember your usual was still good enough to make it into one of my music videos. <3" He and Ranka will no doubt both remember the filming of Diamond Crevasse--how one of Alto's paper airplanes soars through the air and down into the water at the end.
His observation on the paper widens her smile with pride. "Basically impossible to find on the Frontier! But I did find a tip on some ancient stationery stores still in business down in Japan." (Not ancient ancient, but a hundred years may as well be ancient to a teenager.) "Lucky for both of us, I found what I was looking for there." Her gaze and smile both soften. "I'm glad you like it."
The next gift... a phone is pretty standard--so standard that even if it does have a nice design, Sheryl wonders if that's really it. And it isn't--Alto seems fully taken aback to be gifted an EX-Gear. Sheryl shoots her a glance. So that's why she seemed embarrassed earlier... She was giving him something like that right after Sheryl talked about not buying Alto off. That was after her own expensive gift to him... Sheryl certainly understands wanting to plurge on someone you care about once you finally have the money to do so.
So she doesn't remark on it. She just smiles back at Alto, brushing back her long, strawberry blonde hair as it tousles in the breeze. "You're very welcome. Next year, try to be easier to track down, though." She winks again and leans in, smile turning sultry. "Or are you scared we'll bite? <3"
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
"I'm sure it's not that." Ranka says of Sheryl thinking Alto's paper airplanes are too boring. "She probably just wants to see what you can do with better material!"
Ranka says, as she defends Sheryl's gift, but also just - Alto's paper airplanes are important to her, so she doesn't want Sheryl's gift to FAIL here.
Then again is it failing if Alto acts like this? Probably not, it's probably landing super well. And Sheryl is taking it in good cheer, so she relaxes.
She does ease up when Alto declares it's good paper. Ranka does beam as Alto seems to like her gift, heart unknotting as relief floods her.
She doesn't even mention what's behind it- but Alto sees it. Sheryl shoots her a glare, and she shrinks for a moment, before straightening up, "Aha. Yeah it's- I thought you might want one to use off the job again."
Ranka rubs the back of her neck, smiling, "I hope it's not too much- I just- your gifts cost you before, so I wanted to make sure it was worth it."
Still she hopes Sheryl doesn't think less of her? The first thing she did upon having money was just, to spend it and splurge! Then again Sheryl doesn't seem to have any problem with spending money.
"You're welcome." She beams, but as Sheryl teases him, Ranka says, "Yes!" And then her tone takes on that of a light scolding, very light, "It's not fair of you Alto after spending our birthdays with us to take off on your own on yours. Fortunately they found you in the nick of time-"
Ranka clears her throat as she realizes she accidentally ratted them out, "-I found you in the nick of time."
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto carries the gifts over as he sits down on a bench. Placing them in his lap, he pulls the sleeve of his jacket up, revealing his current phone wrapped around his wrist. He takes it off and, with a little fiddling, it's easy enough to transfer his service and data over to the new one. He plays around with interface for a little before putting it onto his wrist.
Alto then opens up the book of paper airplane instructions and starts flipping through it, occasionally remarking on 'interesting designs' and the 'complexity' of some of them.
At the mention of some of the cost of Alto's previous gifts, he hehs, "Pretty sure none of them amounted to the cost of this..." He picks up the ticket in question, glancing at it for a moment.
Which of course then makes him realize that Ranka has a lot money now too. Which means he's the only one of them without much. Which is going to make future gift hunting for them even more difficult. Great!
But that's a problem for future Alto. Current Alto has a different problem in the form of scolding from the two for his attempts to hide. He scratches his cheek a little as he says, "Yeah, well... Birthdays aren't exactly a... Big Thing, for my family. After my mother died, all I had was my father and he... Well..." Alto would say 'you know what he's like' but then the two have never actually met his father. Though they can probably have a rough understanding based upon things Alto's said-or NOT said-and perhaps what they've heard about the famous Ranzo Saotome, respected actor in the art of Kabuki.
Although, Ranka's slip up does cause Alto to stare at her for a moment, before he realizes which 'they' she's referring to. There can't be that many... This betrayal will not go unpunished! Though seriously, it's not a big deal...
... Provided there isn't any more to this coming. Like, say, the dreaded 'surprise party'. Which Alto is sure at least one of the 'they' would be happy to plan.
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
Sheryl certainly doesn't think less of Ranka; that 'glare' wasn't even intended to be a glare, just a knowing look. Ranka cringing in response... well, she knows why she's doing it, but that's not the reaction she was trying to get out of her.
Maybe that'll be clearer when Ranka lets it slip that she had some help, and Sheryl raises an eyebrow at her--as well as part of a smile that she otherwise holds back. For now, she sits on that bench with Alto, perched on the edge as she leans on the back of the bench and looks over his shoulder as he sets up his phone, then looks through the paper airplane designs. A couple of them, like Jupiter and Jaguar, she points out as liking in particular, but otherwise she's happy to let him take it in for himself.
The glance she gives him--that Alto likely will not see from this angle and Ranka perhaps will--is particularly warm and fond.
Even if he did shrug off her tease earlier. You can't have everything in life, such as the money to treat the two songstresses in your life to expesnive things. Oops.
"Alto..." she murmurs as he mentions birthdays in his family. She's never met Ranzo Saotome, but she certainly knows his reputation. "...Well, I'll forgive you, just this once, in that case," she says, tone growing bright and brisk. There might not be any surprise party planned on her end--who else would she drag into it? Grace? Brera? No, a small and intimate affair is enough, thank you--but she can at least suggest, "How about we treat you to dinner after this, then? It's been a while since the three of us went out somewhere."
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Ranka definitely misinterpreted that look, perhaps on some level she's just still insecure, self-conscious, imagining judgment. After all, now that she's made it as an idol, she's not on Sheryl's level yet.
She's new to money, and new to a lot of things.
It's easy to think Sheryl is judging her behavior, even when she's not.
As for Future Alto, he's got problems, but current Alto has some cool gifts and two girls that want to spend his birthday with him.
Ranka looks low key sheepish for a bit about accidentally giving away what the others did for her some.
As Alto mentions how birthdays aren't a thing, Ranka's gaze softens, and while she hasn't met his father-
-she met his brother, and she certainly remembers his response to the idea that Alto looks happy being a pilot.
Perhaps it's unfair of her to not like him so much, if that's his response to Alto finding happiness in his search for identity.
For a time Ranka is quiet, then she looks sideways as Sheryl forgives him, "Yeah, me too." Then she looks sideways at Sheryl, and back-
"That'd be great. I'm sure there's a place where all three of us can get away for a while and-"
Ranka's phone suddenly jumps off of her shoulder, with a chime, and she squishes it, silencing it.
"-Sorry! I'm sure that was nothing."
It wasn't nothing, Elmo is freaking out over concert prep and Ranka suddenly going MISSING, but he can wait a few hours.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto of course misses the fond look that Sheryl gives him. He is engrossed in studying the paper airplane designs after all. But then even if he wasn't, surely he'd find some other way to miss it. As if the universe, or some invisible hand, is conspiring to continue making him oblivious. Well, perhaps not oblivious given more recent events. But certainly dense.
As for Ranka's opinion on his brother. He doesn't blame her for it. While they're not actually related, Alto nonetheless appreciates his brother. For the most part. It's only where their father is concerned that the two clash.
The two bring up the possibility of dinner. And Alto doesn't see why not. The three of them are already here, "Sure. There's a number of places nearby that provide both good food and a great view of the city at night. Though..." They tend to be on the pricey side, given tourist trap. Plus getting a seat so soon... But then of course he remembers who he's with.
"... I'm sure it'll be fine." Hanging around two famous idols does have its advantages after all.
Alto repackages the gifts a little for easier carrying and then rises, asking, "Any preferences?"
<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.
The future will bring all sorts of problems to all three of them. But for right now, Alto is a year older, and life is good and still fresh.
Ranka chimes in on them going out to dinner, only to be interrupted by her phone. That gets her a genuinely askance look. Sheryl is certain it's not nothing--she would bet her last album's royalties that that was probably Ranka's manager--and she says dubiously, "Are you sure you don't want to check, just in case?"
Then again, it's a special day, and it's not like Sheryl hasn't ever gone off on her own. And while she'd hardly complain about dinner with just her and Alto... without Ranka, it'd be a little lonely.
So instead of warning her about how blowing off her manager might affect her career, she says brightly, "Then if you're sure!" She slips off the bench, giggling as Alto almost worries about how to get seating on such short notice. The question, though, gets her to set her hands on her hips in mock anger. "What do you mean, 'any preferences'? It's your birthday, dummy! You get to pick!" Sheryl leans in to give him a wink. "And that's a privilege I hardly ever hand out~!"
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Alto says he's sure it'll be fine. Sheryl however asks if she's sure she doesn't want to check just in case.
"They can do without me for a few hours, you know? This is Alto's night!"
Would she be so courageous if it were Grace on the other end of the line?
No. No she would assuredly not be.
There's a sudden rapid fire chime of text messages coming in as Ranka slowly reaches up to her Osanshoo-san phone and pulls a leg, switching it from chiming to vibrate.
It sure is vibrating a lot.
Sheryl is very much correct. "Yep! I'm sure!"
There's a small giggle though, as Sheryl points out its his birthday, "Hardly ever?" Just the mildest tease before-
"With this company?" She looks from one to the other, before saying, "I'm good with anything."