2024-03-27: A Cousin's Request
- Log: 2024-03-28
- Cast: Leina Ashta, Kikka Kobayashi, Mineva Lao Zabi (NPC'd by Leina Ashta)
- Where: Orbital Ring / Villa Mass (AEU Spain)
- OOC - IC Date: Early January, 0099
- Summary: Mineva Lao Zabi has a top secret mission for Magallanica intelligence Kikka Kobayashi: concerning her cousin Emilia, secret scion of Garma Zabi. While Kikka doesn't know if she'll be able to help Emmy, she promises to do her best, turning to Leina for help. By the end, they agree they should spend some non-business time together.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
It came to pass that a call between Kikka and Mineva was scheduled, arranged mostly through Kai Shiden, meant to be clandestine otherwise.
It was perhaps strange, not to just do it in person, but more likely gut instinct would tell Kikka that was part of the point...
On the day of the call, she was rang up precisely on time utilizing a secure and quite anonymous line. Mineva was not in Magallanica's audience chambers, but her office within her home, sitting there in a comfortable high necked white blouse and a comfortable and flowy purple dress, seated behind a desk.
"Ms. Kobayashi. It's good to see you again. How have you been?"
She waits for her answer, before stating, "You presence has been a great boon to people of Magallanica, in establishing our ability to protect ourselves from those that would seek to do us harm. Indeed, I owe you a great debt. I'm afraid that today I'm calling to ask you for a further favor... some assistance with a family matter actually. And for this I'll need you to act with the utmost discretion. You see... I have a cousin. Her name is Emilia Eschonbach and she was raised in the Britannian Union."
Her green eyes seem to be watching for her reaction, "And she's the daughter of Garma Zabi." Indeed, Mineva knows, Kikka was on the White Base - that her 'Uncle Garma' was specifically trying to kill her. "She was a part of the revolutionary group known as the 'Black Knights' - in part due to the anger at her... grandfather, a man who mistreated her and her mother."
One can tell at a glance, Mineva isn't fond of the Black Knights. It isn't so much that they're revolutionaries perhaps, but how they conduct themselves as revolutionaries.
"A few months back she was, gravely injured - and I had her brought here to Magallanica secretly by... Leina." She seemed hesitant to let that one go, "It was done at great risk of undermining her current position so I ask you to keep it to yourself. Ordinarily I would not say at all but it is... quite possible you would discover it on your own."
And she desires to prevent accidents.
"There are... elements out there that, would seek to exploit both me and my cousin if they could, elements currently aware of her existence. Emilia and I - disagree on a great many matters, to the point where I worry she might be... vulnerable to that exploitation." She is choosing her words delicately there. "Recently she asked for me to distance security from her while she attends school on Magallanica during her recovery. I am... concerned."
Mineva is fidgeting, very subtly, she must be extremely anxious here, she's never the fidgety sort. "...I suppose what I'm asking if if you wouldn't be willing to keep an eye on her both up close and from afar, utilizing your own resources. We have enough worries that we've already been infiltrated by elements seeking to undermine us without them being aware of what I'm asking of you."
Her eyes shutter for a moment, as she makes a quiet, vulnerable, plea. "She's the only family I have left. To see her used as a puppet... to establish another iteration of Neo-Zeon. It is... perhaps my greatest fear."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
A meeting with Mineva Lao Zabi isn't such an unusual thing for Kikka - considering she's the person she answers to in her work life. It's easy enough to just meet in person at Magallanica... so the fact they aren't... is probably telling enough that this is something extra important.
A secure call on an anonymous line in the Orbital Ring was agreed on, and Kikka waits rather anxiously for the call - what could Mineva of all people have to ask of her that's such a top secret matter? She can think of many things... but she doesn't keep Mineva waiting and just goes for it and answers.
"Lady Mineva... it's good to hear from you, too." She greets her, trying to keep cool. "Personally speaking, I think I'm doing all right. But after what happened to the Shuffle Alliance, I can't say I'm not worried... about the direction the state of the world is taking." She answers, quite honestly.
Hearing that level of praise from Mineva is a little surprising. "I... I'm glad you think so. I've really... been trying to take Sayla- Dr. Mass's message to heart. To do 'whatever you can, wherever you can'." She paraphrases, with a slightly pained smile. "If that next step is to keep helping Magallanica... then you can count on me." She adds, firmly. "I don't want another Neo-Zeon uprising just as much as you don't after all."
She waits, then, to hear Mineva's request. A family matter... and a cousin, raised in Britannia. It doesn't take long for the pieces to connect, and it's hard to keep any visible surprise hidden. When Mineva finishes speaking, she interjects. "Hey, hang on. If you have a cousin, doesn't that make them...?" Zeon royalty, or at least some form of high nobility.
"Garma Zabi's daughter.. no way!" She shakes her head in disbelief at first. Though she wouldn't remember the details, she can now recount that he doggedly hunted down the White Base - only mudded in recent years by the revelation that Char Aznable had a hand in his demise. "...It's not that I don't believe you, it's just a bit of a shock, you know?" She adds, recognizing that this might be the only family left for Mineva.
The situation is only complicated by her relationship to her grandfather and work with the Black Knights. "It sounds like... she's been through so much, though. And I get why you'd want to keep her safe, too." The anxiety from Mineva, one of the most composed speakers she knows, is telling.
"I think... we can't let the likes of Bakaharov find out about her. Or they'll do everything in their power to use her. I can certainly use all the resources I have to make sure of that, but..." She pauses, looking around the room she's booked. "Do you want me to try and meet her personally, too? Do you think... she'd be willing? If I had to guess, you probably aren't on very good terms with her right now."
She hears Mineva's true intentions though, the pleas of a girl who just doesn't want to see her cousin used and hurt. "Yeah... even if you didn't grow up together, she's family. I don't think... I'll be able to fix such an.. emotionally complicated situation with just intelligence resources. And I might not be able to change her mind on anything, either But I'll do everything I can." She's resolute in her answer.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"Doctor Mass often knows just what to say." Is Mineva's affable response when it comes to speaking of Sayla, before relaxing minutely at what she says after. While she trusts Kikka - it certainly helps to hear it be said. And her reaction to discovering that Garma had a daughter, she... nods. "It was a shock to me as well, when I first found out. Certainly I'd come to terms with the fact that I was the last Zabi years ago - only to discover that was not the case."
She nods again, and there's a sigh at the statement of how much she wants to keep her safe. Then Kikka invokes Bakharov and Mineva - freezes, for one - two - three long moments.
She may get this subtle intuition of the depths of Mineva's dread in that moment, not answering her question at first.
"Minister Bakharov... knows of her existence. He was the one who passed me the intelligence that - her life was under threat. In retrospect, it was likely to confirm that I acknowledge her to himself - to his people." Her eyes focus in on Kikka, as her fingers clasp together, "Regardless of his intentions. What is certain is that had I not acted upon this - Emilia would be dead."
There is a prolonged pause, and... "As for meeting her, I will leave that up to your discretion. Understand that... Emilia idealizes her father. And has difficulty believing that the Principality's demise was for the best. She resents my own decision, to decide the legacy of the Zabi family would be - to work towards peace."
Her green eyes give Kikka a sad look, "It might very well be that the two of you will not get along, should you speak your mind. She has... calmed lately, but I do not believe a few months on Magallanica will change her mind on this matter."
There's a prolonged pause, as she clears her throat and- "Leina seems to understand her... feelings better than I, perhaps it is her outsider's perspective. I believe she might be able to advise on the matter. It's just - I've tried not to trouble her on the matter given all she's done and-"
She forces herself to slow down, then her eyes wander, "It's... awkward, but it is for the best if I just come out with it. The two of us mutually decided to break up, several months ago, just after - her bringing Emilia here. We did so quite amicably but..." She smiles, ruefully, "... no it's for the best if I not ask if she's said anything. We still talk as friends certainly but-""
Again she forces herself to stop, and glances towards Kikka, "Well. I wouldn't ask you to utilize her as a source if this weren't... such a grave matter. I just do not wish to send you 'unprepared' - I suppose."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"She really does... I just wish she'd take her own advice sometimes," Kikka replies with a wry smile, regarding Sayla. The dissolution of the Shuffle Alliance can't be easy for her, so Kikka just hopes she's taking care of herself.
"I can imagine it being both... relieving and worrying all at the same time, discovering you have family, and also knowing the weight of that family name," she nods, more seriously.
But when she brings up Bakharov... she instantly realizes it might've been the wrong thing to say. That when Mineva said this was her greatest fear... she truly did mean it. "I see..." She answers, quietly. "If it ended up saving her life, then I think you made the right choice. But if he's fully aware... then it's only more the reason to keep an eye on things." She sighs. This really is a complicated family matter...
"So basically, she wants to finish the fight that her father started..." Kikka frowns. It's pretty much the opposite of what Mineva has stood for this whole time. "If that's how she feels, you might be right. And the White Base definitely had a hand in her father's death." Kikka nods, with a sad look of her own. "But we were both little more than children at the time. So... I still want to hear her out."
"Really?" Kikka asks first, at the idea that Leina has a better understanding of Emmy than Mineva. "Well, I guess it does make sense..." After all, even if it was forced into her, Leina once believed that fighting was the only way to change the world, too. She blinks, as Mineva seems to struggle to put a thought into words, and...
"Ahhh." She vocalizes. "I'm not going to say 'oh no, sorry to hear' or anything because it sounds like you're both doing just fine. I'm sure it can be a little awkward though, even if you're still friends, so..." She struggles to find the words herself, she's never started or ended a relationship, so what do you say?
Brushing her hair, she lets Mineva move on herself. "Yeah. If it's okay with you, and she's willing to talk about it, I'll ask her about Ms. Eschonbach." Kikka nods. "I want to handle this with care... and I'd rather not say or do something that only makes it worse." She frowns, eyes going distant for a moment. "I just trust her expertise on these sorts of things."
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"It is theoretically possible that she might one day. After all, the God that is possibility governs all."
That is perhaps her own sort of joke, delivered completely seriously, that it would be a miracle if Sayla actually did.
"Indeed so... it is, challenging. We were not raised together after all - and I was raised to understand thoroughly that my family was responsible for some of the greatest atrocities in the history of the Earthsphere."
She says that quite bluntly, "Often times, I feel like I am to blame, for my lack of... experience, when it comes to dealing with family." Certainly she nods, gravely at the idea that she made the correct choice, "Leina's intervention managed to deflect - responsibility somewhat. It was an action that could not be directly tied to me, and it was also the swiftest option in the time we had. But the fact that anyone acted upon that knowledge was as good as confirmation."
Her eyes move towards her hand, "It was a time of war, and the White Base was acting in self-defense against his pursuit. If anything - recent revelations show that Char Aznable holds more responsibility than anyone in that regard."
There is quiet, as Kikka sorts through the awkwardness, and Mineva seems appreciative at least that she does so with as much grace as possible given what she just umped on her.
"It can be. I certainly..." She drifts off, and perhaps decides not to finish that thought, instead smiling at Kikka, looking at her anew.
"Thank you, Ms. Kobayashi. I appreciate the care you're taking with the trust I'm offering you. I'll send you contact information where you can make regular and - emergent, updates, just as a precaution."
-=-=-
It is still early enough in January that Leina hasn't gone back to the Ring for the new school semester, but she has started to pack. Meeting with her privately is as easier as setting up going to the Villa.
Given the indication that it's a serious talk and 'business' Leina's made the venue a strange part of the house. Namely, she waves Kikka down some steps - into the wine cellar. At one of the brick walls, she leans in, and a little red light comes on to scan her open eye.
And- part of the old brick just, shifts open, to reveal another more metallic staircase, "God it feels so dramatic, like we're in some spy thriller or something to just - talk down here but..." It opens up into a wide hangar, that has a few old mobile suits covered over by tarps in bays, and some other open ones with signs that they WERE occupied recently.
Rather than head in that direction, she moves over to an old mechanic station, which has a clean table that has some food set out and drinks.
"... this is a place where I can be sure we're not being listened in on."
It's a manchego cheese pizza, primarily, with some chorizo sausage, bell peppers, onions, and sangrias. "So- you're on some hush hush mission for Magallanica, from what I understand?"
Leina seems... alright for the most part? She could at least be partially putting on a front but, when is that not the case that most people aren't putting on a LITTLE bit of one?
There are a few unusual details though, for example, Kikka would notice she's got on a denim skirt with a nice long sleeved white blouse, and she hasn't worn skirts or dresses for as long as the two have known each other.
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
Kikka actually smirks despite the completely serious delivery, understanding that this is Mineva's idea of a joke.
Though her expression turns suitably serious again, at the crimes against humanity Zeon was responsible for. "Yeah... we shouldn't be responsible for the mistakes of the generations before us, but we do need to learn from them." And she's glad that thanks to Leina's intervention, Emilia wasn't left to die, either.
"I can agree with that, and it's guilt I'm sure Char Aznable has to live with to this day. I just wonder how Ms. Eschonbach must feel about it..." She shakes her head, ruefully.
Kikka offers an assured smile back, even if Mineva decides not to express her feelings. "I appreciate having your trust on this at all. I know this is a personal matter more than anything, even if the political ramifications are definitely... heavy." She nods, seriously. "So... I'll do what I can, for both of your sakes."
-=-=-
It's a pleasant familiar sort of thing, taking the trip to Spain to meet Leina at the Villa Mass. In the heart of winter, it's definitely chilly, so Kikka dresses warm, a stylish pink jacket over her grey top - though she zips it down a bit for comfort.
"Hey Leina, I'm here!" She greets, before she's let in the Villa, safe from any listeners... after taking several secret staircases to reach the hangar, of course. "God, I still can't get over that your place can just... do that," Kikka comments, definitely feeling like a spy. "But yeah, better to be safe, right?"
"So, how's it been? Dreading the next class of hot-shots looking to abuse the duel system next semester?" She asks plainly, perhaps an attempt at blunt humour about the Asticassia student body.
When she looks at Leina, it's hard not to notice she looks a little different, though. "Oh, hey, that's a new outfit, isn't it?" She asks, first. "Sorry if this sounds weird but... are you trying to change up your look or something?" She doesn't word it like it's a good or bad thing, mostly concerned with how comfortable Leina feels.
In a way it's for Magallanica..." Kikka starts, vaguely. "I'm under the impression that it's a family matter. I've been asked to look into the protection of someone named Ms. Eschonbach... Mineva's cousin." She says, cutting to the chase. "I think... she was worried about putting it all on you. But I think you'd have the best idea of where to even start with her."
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"Didn't used to! We only installed it after Judau and Roux came living here - and I started piloting." She grins, "Originally someone suggested the pool like, you know how it is in Fujinomiya outside the PPL? But that was hard no sale for me."
Her next comments get a groannnnn. "I just wish I could attend anonymously so I wouldn't have to deal with that? Then I could just pretend to be ignoring the Gundam fights going on outside my Contemporary Modern History class."
She waves a hand almost tiredly, "Unfortunately so many kids there have parents with privileged Benerit info, so that's not a possibility. I'll just have to tolerate being their 'measuring stick' until I'm done with undergrad - hurray me."
Whe does have a seat, as Kikka asks the question and Leina just is quiet for a moment, "It's... I was tired of going through the ritual where like - I see this cute dress, and I buy it and - think 'this is going to be the one' where I can look in the mirror and say 'That's me' but then every time I try - I just couldn't..."
There's this, abrupt shake of her head, like she doesn't want to describe that feeling, "It's my own form of exposure therapy in a way. I want to dress a little more femme? I have for years, just-" A wave of the hand, a smile, "-I'm getting there. This is past due."
What Kikka says though, right as she finally grips a piece of pizza, when she says family matter, Leina raises an eyebrow, like she's got suspicions but isn't sure which angle she's going to come into it.
And then her lips make an O.
Her eyes drift down, taking some time to think on it. "Yeah she would say that. ... Damnit. I told her she didn't have to hold back like this."
She takes a bite of the pizza, then another, and another... "Alright - yeah - I'm down." She smiles at her, "Okay. So... let's see. Where to 'start'. I'm gonna assume at least you've been... briefed on the basics. 'Protection' is all about understanding needs, is what I'd say. And the two are chronically bad at understanding each other. Both of them don't really know what it's like to have family that's - about the same age? Not like you or I do. They don't know it's normal for family to argue."
She leans back, on occasion taking bite of the pizza, but mostly focusing in now, "It's about arguing in bounds. But neither of them know how to do that, not really. They haven't set what in-bounds is. Emilia's not used to arguing - she's used to being yelled at. And Mineva sorta views herself as the 'elder' and the 'authority' and that rubs Emilia the wrong way whenever they're disagreeing on something... because it puts her in a similar position to when she's being yelled at."
The pizza slices is sorta gesticulated with out to the side, "And she's probably scared as hell of the idea of arguing back without thinking she's going to lose her... but it doesn't mean she doesn't resent the times when she's made to feel that way."
There's a long pause, when Leina thinks, "God - it's a mess - she's a mess. It's gonna take a while to teach both of them how to act here. What I'd say is right now - Emilia responds better in situations where - you won't find disagreement. Safe subjects."
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"Yeah, that's probably easier than renting out a hangar all the time, and it's not like your mom can't afford to get a hangar built in," Kikka nods. "Total agree on the pool thing, though. Way too dramatic." She grins.
"I don't know how you do it," Kikka sighs, thinking about all the emotional energy it would take to have to deal with all of that and not make a huge fuss about it. "After all that education about courtesy and polite society, you'd think they took at least a class or two about 'minding your damn business." She pauses, just to get a slice of pizza on a plate. "Well... good luck!"
Kikka takes the time to take off her own jacket, wrapping it around her chair when Leina starts to explain why the change in clothing style. "Aww, yeah..." Even if Leina doesn't describe the feeling... it's clearly difficult after all this time.
"I'm glad you're feeling better about it, really." She smiles, encouragingly. "You rock... just about every single look I've seen you pull off? But more than that, you deserve to feel comfortable in what you really want to wear I think." She doesn't push it too far, but she adds, "No pressure, but I know some pretty good places for femme fashion on Earth and in space if you ever want to go together?"
She almost starts on her own pizza, when Leina reacts to the 'family matter' she's brought up. "It's... I think she feels awkward about the whole thing. Both her difficulties with connecting to her cousin... and leaning on you for help with it." She can get why it'd feel awkward with Leina specifically, but Kikka tactfully decides not to bring up the breakup.
"Yeah. I know who she is, and how to put it... her 'values'." She nods. "I know that Mineva's desire to use the Zabi's name for peace, and Ms. Eschonbach's to keep fighting to avenge her father are totally at odds." She shakes her head. And Leina points out... it might come from a lack of knowing what it's like to have a family member their age.
"That... that really is it, huh." Kikka blinks, as Leina lays it all out. "They're approaching each other with their differences in mind, and never figured out how to adjust their relational style to suit the other." Kikka can actually understand this to an extent, having to adjust to Letz and Katz becoming family and everything that entailed. "In other words... they basically don't know anything about each other at all." Kikka considers.
"I think it's... kinda better if I approach her before Mineva does again, then." Kikka suggests, considering Emilia's fear of being yelled at, her specific type of trauma. "There's not that undertone of authority for one. And besides... I'd like to think my interview experience's made me pretty good at just letting people say what they really want to say." She actually sounds serious about that one. "...What do you think?"
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"I would kill Judau the first time he tried to take off while I was getting ready to get in the pool."
Is her easy, exaggerated answer. It's possible whoever was in the pool could die too? But she's probably Newtype enough to get an early enough warning.
But on Kikka talking about high society, with courtesy and the like, "It's because it's all theater. They're taught how to stand on a different stage. 'High Society' has really always about the exercise of power in competition. How to wield the hidden daggers against your opponents."
Leina's eyes fall upon Kikka as she smiles ruefully, "The only difference is surface level. Their culture isn't about that veneer of 'nobility' it's about the exercise of power - and force. And the ultimate exercise of force for a young heir in a mobile suit conglomerate is- proving themselves on a battlefield."
Her tone becomes a dry thing, as dry as an arid desert, "By putting an upstart young woman in her place."
She finishes polishing off one slice of pizza, before she smiles, in fact, blushing lightly at Kikka's statement, "Wow. I've ah-" It takes her a moment to recompose herself, as if genuinely taken off guard by the compliment, "-thanks. Most people just write me off as some weird tomboy or something."
She's actually smiling wide at that, "Sure. I'd like that. To go shopping together sometime. It's- I'm getting there, to feeling more comfortable - and - I like that feeling."
She takes some time letting Kikka just talk about how Mineva feels awkward about the whole thing, and Leina nods quietly, not quite dimming just - processing sort of. "Yeah I get it. I just - you know... we're..."
Friends. They're supposed to be friends. Perhaps she's just being too harsh, it makes sense that Mineva would still need to work things out.
This was her first breakup, even a mutual one.
Leina takes a sip of the sangria, before wiping her hands on a napkin. "Yeah there's also uh-" She gives Kikka a sheepish look, "-let's just say she's very keen on killing Char Aznable. I bet... Mineva didn't mention that one?"
...
...
...
"So slight complication is, Char didn't know Emilia existed..." One moment, two moments, three, "... until a couple days back?" There's this sigh, "It was, an accident. Mineva told me she was going to tell him almost a year and a half ago. And I thought she did? I'll tell her myself - don't worry on that one. The good news is, Char won't - kill her, even if she shows up to make the attempt herself."
That's a KIND of good news, but it still opens them all up to disaster. "Yeah that's the long and short of it. If they live in proximity long enough, maybe they'll figure it out? Maybe. Emilia's not a Newtype - and Mineva can lean a lot on those senses because she wasn't... socialized normally at a young age. So it's a struggle for her? Her kindness usually wins the day but - she's awkward - because everything gets weighed against duty and responsibility."
There's this almost sad smile on her face, "Often at the expense of her own feelings." She does pep back up right away at Kikka's plan, "I think that's a good idea. Honestly. I feel like - the right move is to just get to know her normally? Befriend her, listen to her feelings, talk about safe subjects. And if it ever does become an argument, at the very least validate the feelings behind the argument, even if you can't agree."
That phrase keeps getting repeated over and over in her head again however.
'What do you think?'
What does she think?
For a while she's just looking at Kikka, those sea green eyes on her blue ones. She takes a sip. Then puts the glass down.
"I think that's a good start. But also I guess what I'm thinking is... uhm hey Kikka..."
What does she think?
"...what are you doing next weekend?"
It's an impulsive question, that comes spilling out before her thoughts come close to answering that question.
And even as she says it, she draws herself up. "I-" It would be easy to take that and reframe it as like - an invitation to go shopping, Her thoughts however, catch up in that moment.
Not just what she thinks, but everything about what's happening now - the context of it being a mission for Mineva. To help Emilia. This is serious business and she just feels so bad. Too bad to just, "-Oh my God. Sorry!"
What she's thinking now is that Kikka is smart, funny, attractive, and that anyone would be lucky to be in a relationship with her.
Just after that she's thinking 'I cannot actually believe I did that' because everything is wrong! The context is all wrong! Why would anyone ask that NOW? When they're talking business? Business for her ex? IMPORTANT business for her Ex? When Kikka doesn't even know they broke up.
It's impulsive and stupid and...
... Kikka deserves better than that, but in this moment she seems to have trouble ARTICULATING... that. Or thoughts, words - anything really.
She's becoming an increasing shade of red underneath the inadequate shield provided by fingers and palms.
<Pose Tracker> Kikka Kobayashi has posed.
"I wonder if the people at the Photon Power Labs even use the pool for swimming anymore. Like there's no way they don't have another fancier one in the back or something?" A blink, and then a very pleasant smile. "You would still be absolutely justified in murder of course."
There's a sad smile at the idea of high society merely being a front for power. "I guess it really does explain the duels. If you can't get what you want by being polite... why not try for it with a scaled down weapon of war?" She shakes her head.
It really starts to click when Leina brings up proving oneself of the battlefield, for someone like Kikka, who can only conceive of a mobile suit as an instrument of terror. "Still, it's awfully rude of them... when you'll be the one collecting their legal fees one day."
Kikka's almost taken off guard by Leina blushing, when she was really just hoping to be kind. "What, just because you wear your hair short? Honestly, it's their loss. I mean, look at how your eyes pop out no matter what outfit you're wearing." Ahem. "Yeah... I'd look forward to that, too. I could use a wardrobe update myself." She smiles, when Leina accepts her offer.
Kikka lets Leina work out her thoughts on Mineva, taking some bites out of her pizza as she works out her own thoughts on Emilia's situation. "...I uh, can't say I'm surprised there. But she only mentioned it in the vaguest sense. That Char would have the greatest overall blame in Garma Zabi's death." But apparently, Char didn't even KNOW that Garma left behind a daughter.
"That's the good news, huh... I'm sure there's a lot of people who would love to take their shot against Char and he no longer has Shuffle protection." Kikka considers. She can't really afford to overextend her own resources on Char so she'll just have to trust he'll deal with it himself.
"It'll probably take time... lots of time." Kikka concludes, about Emilia and Mineva figuring it out - but she understands the weight of the responsibility Mineva places on herself. "But I did promise her I would help her with the things she can't do alone." And even if she's never met Emilia... she has a feeling she might need that level of care, too. "Okay, then... I'll do my best. And I'll let you know how it ends up going?"
After that, there's that awkward few moments of silence... is there something else she should be doing? "What's up..?" She can feel the building tension there, and...
"O-oh," she drops her pizza, not expecting such a.. casual question. "Next weekend? I don't have much going on." Kikka can kind of see where this is going by Leina's immediate embarassed interjection. "No, it's okay! This is important, but we don't need to always be talking about business all the time."
"So I was actually thinking... maybe we could go shopping this weekend, catch a movie and grab dinner? Not something cheap like MacDaniels, somewhere good. Have an evening to ourselves."
Was that really okay for her to ask? Kikka knows Leina just broke up with her boyfriend and girlfriend months ago and the last thing she wants to do is take advantage of that fact. "Not that there's any pressure to make it something serious or anything..." She clarifies, quickly. "But when I say I enjoy spending time with you I mean it."