2023-10-20: Second Interview
- Log: 2023-10-20: Second Interview
- Cast: Sayla Mass, Kikka Kobayashi
- Where: Villa Mass, Spain
- OOC - IC Date: 20 October, 0097
- Summary: Kikka comes to pay a visit to Sayla- and Sayla has a request for her. In turn, Sayla agrees to finally follow through on something she should have done a while ago.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
The security presence at Villa Mass has been reduced in recent weeks- but it's still far more than the building once had. The days of getting by with cameras and proximity sensors are gone, likely to never return.
The obvious presence of Argyros Security has been replaced with a more subtle Cathedra security detail, with the occasional presence from the Yumi Foundation's security staff.
At least the inside of the house is still relatively free- and Sayla's study remains the secure place it has been since she renovated it.
Sayla is sat at her desk, her laptop open. "...The Riah government have given us all the permits at this point, right?" She asks, her eyes switching to a second monitor.
"Yeah," comes a woman's voice. "The commerce council were really on board. We've got a few local sponsors but... things are gonna be a little tight. Transport costs are up since we had to find a new provider. What with, y'know..."
Sayla grimaced. "Yeah. People don't want to work with Char Aznable's sister." Sayla sighs, and takes a sip of the glass of water next to her.
"...Yeah. Look, we'll bounce back, Sayla. Just... we might have to make some compromises this year."
Sayla gave a weak smile. "Thanks, Val." There was a beep as a notification came up in the corner of her screen- along with footage from the front door security camera. "...I've gotta go, my next appointment just arrived. DI'm counting on you."
"You got it. I'll make it work."
It's Maria, one of the villa staff, who opens the front door for Kikka, and who leads her to Sayla's study before knocking. "Doctora Mass? La senorita Kobayashi esta aqui."
"Gracias, Maria." Sayla calls, and Maria opens the door to let Kikka enter. "Good afternoon, Kikka. Please, take a seat. Would like something to drink before we get started?"
Right now, the study is not equipped. A single bottle of scotch whiskey sits on the sideboard, with a metered pouring lid to only allow one drink's worth at a time, and a carafe of water on the desk.
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
Between working for the intelligence division of a secret underground organization, the occasional sortie as support, and putting together her final project -- scheduling has been tight for one Kikka Kobayashi. But certainly not too fight to make time for a visit with Sayla Mass.
And so, right on time, after a flight to Spain, she arrives at the door of Villa Mass, dressed in a green coat and long pants - it starts getting chilly in the AEU at this time of year.
She's always kind of wowed by the extravagance of the Villa Mass, even with reduced security in recent days. But it's not everyday you're escorted in by your host's personal staff. "Good afternoon, Sayla," she smiles warmly, as she enters the study, taking a seat after she hangs her coat. "It's really good to see you again. Geez, how long's it been...?"
"The scotch looks kind of tempting," she admits, eyeing her options as set up in the study. "But I think water's the smart choice. At least for today." After all, for a conversation like this, it's important to use your best judgement.
"How have things been for you, Sayla?" Kikka takes the time to ask while the drinks are being served. "So much has been going on so fast, I bet it can't be easy at all... but I hope you're holding up okay. Mom's been really worried about you since she heard the news, you know." Worried, rather than angered or betrayed... is probably a good sign. "Personally? I think it makes some things from back on the White Base make a whole lot more sense in context." The gold... what she learned about Sayla's involvement with Amuro and Char's battle over Lalah... it all makes way more sense. "But it doesn't mean I see you any differently. You were still kind to me and my family... and a lot of others, too."
She taps her fingers slowly on the study desk. "Actually, I ran into Leina a few weeks ago... in the REA, in the wake of the Kafims' attack. I'm pretty sure you were there for the follow-up attack. But anyways, she wasn't flying for Shuffle for anything - her new machine's IFF read Dominicus. I guess taking a deal is better than living on the run, but what do you think? Y'know, since she's your daughter and all?"
Mother knows best, is perhaps a phrase she's put a decent amount of stock into -- but saying that makes her realize. "Oh, um... right! I totally forgot to say it, but congratulations. To both of you. "
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
Sayla smiles back in return- she looks a little tired, but not the levels of worn down she has been in recent memory. "I don't think we've sat down together since you interviewed me for your book. ...I suppose that's become a more complicated endeavour since you started writing it." The reappearance of the subject makes it a bit of a different project.
Sayla nods, standing up to grab a glass from the sideboard as Maria closes the door, leaving the room secure, placing it on the desk and pouring a glass for Kikka, before sitting back down. "I've got a few bottles to unload if you want to take one home for later."
"Things are finally calming down, at least." She reaches for her own water, taking a sip. "I'm not going to say it's back to normal but it's... better than it was. Leina's back in the house openly now, at least." There's a real sensation of relief as Sayla says that.
And then a pang of guilt. "...I do owe her a visit." Sayla admits. It's still hard to try and rebuild those connections she let atrophy over the years. "I'm sorry for worrying her. I really... should have come to see all of you as soon as Amuro reappeared."
She nods as Kikka talks about it making more sense. "I suppose it makes things add up. After Side 7, I stayed on the ship because I thought I might see him again- confirm that the person I saw after the attack was my brother." She pauses. "Well, in as much as we had a choice." She looks away for a moment. There's still a bit of anger there, directed at the Federation.
Kikka's response however gets a smile. "...I'm glad." Sayla says, looking back to her guest. "Is everyone doing okay? Your little sister's, what, eight now? I hope she's a little less of a firebrand than you were, for all your sakes."
That topic though get's Sayla pausing. "...Yes. She's working with Cathedra. She's still locked out of the Alliance network." Even Sayla only just got reinstated... Leina is going to take much longer. Sayla takes a little while to respond, drumming her fingers on her glass.
"...I don't like it. I know it was too much to hope for that she could have a normal life again, after everything Vist did, but... She's sacrificing herself again." Sayla sighs. "She didn't even let me in on the negotiations until after she had confirmed that she would pilot for Dominicus- because she was afraid I would have stopped her." She shakes her head. "...She was right, of course." A pause. "...Don't talk to Judau about this yet. I don't know if Leina's told him yet. She wanted to give him time to celebrate his engagement before she told him the bad news."
After a while, Sayla looks up again. "She's been like that since she was a kid. Not letting herself be happy so other people could be. Thinking she didn't deserve it." Sayla shifts in her seat a little. "When she was younger, I got her a Mark II Haro as a gift. She loved the thing- and then one day she gave it away to another child at her school, because she didn't feel she was allowed to have it. It took her a long time to convince her to keep Giovanni."
Still, Sayla does look up again as Kikka congratulates her, and smiles warmly. "Thank you. We're still working out what it's going to be like coming forward. I'm just... I'm really happy that's the relationship she wanted to have, after everything."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"That sounds about right..." She nods, about the interview. "And you're not wrong about that either! Now that Amuro's back, I've expanded the scope of the book by quite a bit, but honestly? I'm glad more than anything that he'll still be around to see it all come together. I wasn't expecting to have the chance to interview him, too." She smiles. The return of the White Comet brought many a lot of pain, including Sayla without doubt, but for Kikka, it was like the return of yet another family member she thought she lost.
Once her water is poured, she takes a nice long sip of it, before nodding at Sayla's offer. "Will do, I think. Thanks!"
"Yeah... it's hard to say things ever got back to normal. But I'm glad you two are finally getting some peace and quiet... it's long overdue, really." She smiles, sensing that relief in Sayla.
"I think she'd be really happy to see you." Kikka encourages Sayla. "Considering the mess over at Fujinomiya, it might have to wait a little... but the best way to make a visit happen is to well, make it happen. Even if it takes a little push." And well, she's happy to be that little push.
"I guess that makes sense... being able to see him on opposites sides sounded better than never seeing him again?" She considers. "You even went out in the Gundam that one time... It wasn't really just because you wanted to prove yourself after all, was it?" But the anger towards the Federation isn't unnoticed, seeing how miserable everyone seemed to be on that ship before she and her brothers could really understand it.
"Everyone's okay, thankfully. When I heard there was a massive kikaiju attack near Mt. Fuji, I was really worried, but no one got hurt or anything. They're staying outside the city for now, at least 'till the Mazinger team handles things." The OCU's split from the Federation is another matter entirely... but thankfully, they aren't skimping on disaster relief.
As for her little sister, that gets her to smile. "Yep! I swear, everytime I see her, she gets taller. And don't worry, she's a good kid. Almost too good if you ask me... but at least it means less trouble for Mom." She laughs. She just wishes Dad and Katz got to see her grow up...
She was aware Leina was still locked out of Shuffle infrastructure, which was why it was such a surprise to see her piloting a mobile suit. But Cathedra... "I can't say I'm happy about it myself. I think she thinks this is necessary, but..." She shakes her head. "Even if I can't support her through Shuffle, the least I can do is support her as a friend."
As for Judau, she nods. "I understand. Those two are really tying the knot, huh? Good for them."
She listens to Sayla's explanation about Leina's nature. "I see.. and recent events only made that tendency worse. I hope soon, she can realize that she deserves nice things. She's constantly giving to the world, but even if she wasn't..."
She chooses to focus on Sayla and Leina becoming mother-and-daughter. "Yeah, that's great! I think the two of you make great family... even if it's gonna take some time to see what the shape of that looks like. I mean, if nothing else, you've fought like hell for her for years already."
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
At least Kikka can see something good out of it. "Hopefully you'll get the chance to have a good long conversation with him." Even Sayla hadn't had the chance to properly talk to him, after his purification.
Admittedly, a part of that was because she wasn't sure she was ready.
Sayla makes a mental note to walk Kikka out to the bar afterwards, and let her take her pick. "Yeah... Leina's been through enough. I wish she could just finish school unbothered, and start University without needing a bodyguard... This is probably as close as she's going to get to normal for a long time."
Sayla nods, slowly. "...I'll check with Sakura about making time. And I don't think Leina will let me put it off much longer." There's an air of nervousness coming from Sayla there. "...It is overdue, after all."
"It had been... four years, since he sent me away and disappeared? I wasn't even sure he was still alive, until I saw him at Side 7. I had a feeling after Loum... but it was nothing more than a feeling. I thought I could talk to him." Sayla sighs. "Well, we know how that ended up." Sayla smirks at the mention of the Gundam. "...You're right. I was hoping to make contact with a Zeon soldier to find out why Char had stopped pursuing us. It was the height of stupidity. But I couldn't tell Bright or Mirai the truth."
Sayla pauses. "They've got somewhere safe to stay, then?" There was so much chaos at the moment. Dr Hell, the collapsing Federation, the fleets that left Earth... "They'll have it handled, I hope." Still... maybe she should poke her nose in there, too.
"Too good, huh?" Sayla chuckles a little. "Well, there's still time for you to be a bad influence if you want." She notices that slight melancholy, and Sayla falls silent. She can understand why.
"...Please do, Kikka. She could use it." Sayla nods. "Seems like it. They proposed to each other in the middle of a fight. I think Leina's eager to help Roux start planning."
"...Yeah." Sayla pauses, slightly. "...She could feel that having it around was making me sad, whenever it would bring up Amuro. You know how they programmed those things." She sighs. "I wish she'd put her happiness first a bit more."
A great family, huh? "...She's fought for me too. Hell... I don't know I would have made it through the aftermath of Axis if she wasn't there for me. I put her through a lot, all because I convinced myself I had to keep secrets from her." Sayla lets out a long sigh. "And let's face it, when I first started looking after her I barely knew what I was doing. There was a while where it seemed like every day I was calling your mom or Mirai to ask for advice." Sayla looks a touched embarrassed. "It turns out being a pediatrician didn't exactly prepare me for being a parent."
Sayla leans back in her chair. "I was... really glad you were able to become friends with her. You and Letz both." There's a sad smile. It was a tough time for about everyone then... especially for the Kobayashi family.
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"I hope so, too. But even if it was short, I think I'd still be happy. I'd just like to see a smile on his face for once." But as euphoric as the Green Planet's purification can be, she knows his healing from everything, even beyond being a thrall of Triple Zero... will take a while.
"Sounds great!" Kikka exclaims, even as that hint of nervousness enters Sayla's tone. She truly is optimistic, even if that fear of connection really seems to be more prevalent than you might expect from a ship that was once called the 'Newtype Corps'.
"I don't think it was unreasonable to want to talk to him. I just wish... he didn't push you away so much. Even if he really did think he was 'protecting' you or something." Well, he has the chance to make that right now at least. As for the Gundam, though, she grins. "Well, I think everyone on that ship gets to chalk up at least one 'height of stupidity' moment at some point."
"Yeah, they're safe. I made sure of it." She nods. "I even got in touch with Shiro. Seems like he and his team are doing a good job mopping up the kikaiju. It's just that... there's a whole lot of them, and they don't seem to go away." That, among everything else going right now... it certainly is a lot.
"Hehe... plenty of time. I could show her all kinds of tricks, but I don't think she'll be running around a warship or putting out bombs anytime soon. Thank god." She grins, at the idea of being a bad influence for her little sister. "Although... I do want to be the kind of big sister she can respect, too." She adds, more seriously.
"Yeah, I bet. I don't think she'll be finding all too many in Dominicus, unfortunately." She heard how... dismissive and rude her co-pilots treated her during that mission, and she wasn't happy about it."
She is happy to hear about Judau and Roux's engagement, bewildering as the circumstances are. "A battle, really? Geez... that sure does sound like them, though! And gosh, knowing the Ashta family, that's about to be the most glamorous wedding reception the world has ever seen."
Sayla points out that Leina's always fought for her, too, and received kept secrets in return. "Well.. in the end, it worked out the best it possibly could. Good times, bad times, ups, downs... guess that's part of being family, too."
"I'm really glad, too." She takes another sip of water. "She's definitely come out of her shell lots since we were first introduced. Letz and I were pretty lonely too, after Katz joined the AEUG went up to space," without even yet knowing what became of him. "So it was good for us to get to know someone new. Not to mention Shiro and Mamoru too! I hope once things slow down a bit for us, the five of us can hang out like old times again."
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
It's a small hope, but maybe it's possible. "It'd be nice." It'd had been a long time since Sayla had seen Amuro smile either.
Sayla's smile doesn't change, as Kikka moves the topic to Char. "Leina said the same thing." Sayla shakes her head. "It's a trait that runs in the family, I guess. Keeping people at a distance seems a Deikun specialty. I did the exact same thing to Leina, after all- and we both know how that ended up."
Sayla nods slowly. "I wonder how Dr Hell built up such a big Army in secret... I heard he even showed up at a Yumi Foundation event Leina ran while I was in Tsutsujidai... He must have been biding his time for years."
That gets a laugh out of Sayla. "I should hope not!" The fact that the Kobayashi children thwarted a plot that would fell Jaburo at that age was impressive- but also a severe failing of Federation intelligence. "...I don't think you'll have anything to worry about there, Kikka. Just keep that goal in mind, and you'll be fine."
"We'll see. Someone with special circumstances like hers is going to draw attention regardless. Hopefully it'll get easier for her." Sayla takes another sip. "...Or she'll get sick of it and we go on the run from the Federation." Could Sayla really be hoping for that? "I certainly think it will be a hell of a party, at least."
Sayla's eyes look away from Kikka when she talks about it turning out as well as it could. "...Maybe." She says, finally. "But I still wish Leina hadn't been put through all that. I wish she hadn't had to get in a cockpit at all. But... what's happened has happened. I'll just have to do the best I can for her."
Sayla nods. "All of you have grown up so much, haven't you? It's kind of hard to believe. Still... maybe things will finally ease up and you can."
Sayla shifts again, leaning forward a bit over her desk. "By the way, Kikka, there was something I wanted to discuss with you. Shuffle business. Are you up for it?"
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"Yeah... I think it's good that you're working on it, though. Even getting back in touch with people is a huge step." She'd like to hope the same for Char... even if it's a much bigger ask for the man who tried to drop Axis over a years-long feud.
"Honestly, I'm surprised the Doctor's even still alive. Last I heard, they killed him not once, but twice." She sips. "I guess we just have to hope third time's the charm, or so they say. I can't believe he pulled a stunt like that with the Foundation, though..."
Sayla's vote of confidence at least, gets a big smile out of Kikka. "Between Letz and Katz, I was the youngest, so it is nice getting to be the older sister for once." Even if she's older by over a decade, rather than just a few years.
On the run from the Federation... Sayla might just thinks that's preferable to this, and Kikka can't really blame her. "If there's even a Federation to run from by the time the year's over.
"I wish it didn't have to be that way either. I remember we both agreed, we don't have to pilot a Mobile Suit to make a difference. And then..." She shakes her head. "I know you will, Sayla."
"Yeah, no kidding... Shiro and Mamoru are both squadron captains, and Letz.. well, he doesn't have any fancy military title but helping out Mom deserves its own medal of honour. We'll definitely all have a ton to catch up on."
She shifts her attention, though, when Sayla brings up something important to discuss. "Shuffle business, huh? Sure, no problem. What's is it?"
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
"Mm." Sayla responds. Getting back in touch is a huge step, huh? Maybe that's been why it's been so hard. "Yeah. Once we're done here I'll... try and organize things." And make sure Sakura doesn't let her wriggle out of it.
"We can but hope." There's an air of tiredness to her words. "He seemed to be trying to rehabilitate his image, and came in with a huge donation. Whether it was part of his plan for Fujinomiya... I don't know." Maybe it's too late to really be theorizing.
Kikka's enthusiasm is a little heartening. The topic afterwards... "...That's true. Who knows what the shape of the Earth Sphere will be by then. Whatever happens, it's going to be messy."
Sayla's quiet again. "...I hope you're right about that Kikka. I really do." At least one of them should be able to keep a normal life, right? Well... As normal as you get for being in a clandestine paramilitary organization.
"I'm sure Leina will have all sorts of gossip for me once you do. The stuff she's allowed to share, at least. ...She'll probably be trying to hook your or Letz up with *someone* though. She's back at that, at least."
But on to business. "It's about Magallanica. It's currently aligned with the Three Ships Alliance, but their intelligence capabilities are limited- and with taking in refugees, it's almost certain the people behind the Sleeves are going to be trying to infiltrate it." Sayla looks serious. "I'm not suggesting a formal alliance, but Mineva could use support with helping them get in. You're good with people, and I know Kai's given you advice on digging up information. Would you be willing to work with Magallanica's intelligence for a while? I know this is an ask, but I don't expect much over enemy action and Magallanica is secure for the moment." Sayla pauses. "I won't say this isn't selfish in a way. I'd like someone I trust with eyes on the situation given how often Leina and I will be there- but it will still be useful for us to know what's going on out there." She looks more seriously to Kikka now. "I'm not going to make it an order, but it is a request. Are you willing, Kikka?"
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"I'm glad. I really do think it won't just be good for them... but for you, too." She smiles, as Sayla promises to try and organize things again.
"And people were willing to believe that from a two-time supervillain." Kikka shakes her head. "Well, a donation is a donation no matter whose hands it left." A donation can still do good, even if the intentions behind the donor weren't.
"...If even the Federation's at risk of going, I wonder where the Shuffle Alliance will stand in a few months." Its remit was to watch over the warfare of the Federation and beyond after all. Whatever happens, working for its intelligence has been quite the rewarding experience, though.
Kikka probably left behind the idea of "normal" once she decided to stay on the White Base instead of go to the orphanage. But she will always hold that there's ways to follow the heart of people's footsteps without climbing into a mobile suit. She hopes one day the same can be true for Leina.
The idea of Leina trying to hook her and Letz with someone does get a laugh. "That wouldn't be such a surprise... one time we were talking, she was shocked I was still single." Might be nice, she considers, to find someone. "Well, at least Mamoru doesn't have to worry about that. He's 'married'."
Back to business... she considers the request. It's a pretty lofty sounding one - going to Magallanica and helping the Princess herself. But she can get behind making sure refugees have a place to stay. She nods slowly. "So I'd be digging up information on Sleeves remnants to pass on to the Three Ships Alliance, to make sure Mineva's faction can get refugees to where they need to go." She relays, drumming her fingers on the desk. She understands the more selfish side of the request too; they just spent the conversation going over how Leina's situation kind of sucked. She'd feel better being closer to it, too.
"I'm willing." She decides. "It means I'm going to have to go far deeper out in space than the Moon far more often. And I'll probably want to at least establish myself to the Ra Mari II and the other ships, even if I'm mostly working in the shadows there." She mulls over the logistics. "But whether we call it a new assignment or just a favour... it's nothing I can't handle." She smiles.
<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.
"Oh sure, if the money's legitimate it. But I'm already embroiled in enough scandals that the funds are quarantined for now. Even if we could use them." Sayla frowns as she speaks. The funding issues *are* a real problem right now...
"I mean... it's been around for more than four thousand years, Kikka. I'm sure the organization will adapt." There's a tinge of frustration there. "Certainly it would be easier if any of our illustrious crest holders would lead, but..." Sayla exhales sharply. "Don't mind me. I'm just tired."
Sayla laughs. "I'm afraid my daughter can be a menace like that." There's a sense of pride there, and happiness, as Sayla uses the term. "She's had time to refine her craft at least, Kikka. And GUTS gave her a whole extended pool to add to her conspiracy board."
Sayla nods. "That's it exactly. Things that an average background check might not catch, or looking for contradictions and inconsistencies. Making sure Magallanica stays safe. I'll provide the resources to make a team, if need be, and we can probably get a little cooperation from Mithril intelligence."
There's another of those bursts of relief as Kikka says yes. "...Thank you, Kikka. We're spread thin as things are, but I'll feel better for knowing you're there." She smiles. "I don't know if we can get you a full team together, but I'll do what I can. Security, too. I'll be counting on you, Spade-8."