2025-06-30: Expense Reimbursement Form Addendum - 30 June 0100
- Log: 2025-06-30- Expense Reimbursement Form Addendum - 30 June 0100
- Cast: Akane Shinjo's mother Aoi Furuya, Rikka Takarada
- Where: Tokyo - Upscale Italian Restaurant 'Alba'
- OOC - IC Date: 0100-06-30
- Summary: In the wake of recent events, Rikka finally agrees to talk with Akane's mother about some of the things that have transpired since Akane's seeming tragic death. The conversation follows a path that gives both of them cause to be surprised.
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Aoi Furuya is acutely aware that she put herself on about as bad a foot as possible with Rikka during their first meeting. What's more, she's more than a little ashamed; even setting aside the agonizing feeling of a relationship starting to mend itself being cut hideously short in itself, it's brought up guilt about other times she failed Akane -- times that she understands better now than she did years ago.
On some level, things feel wrong. Aoi's drawn some inferences about what it is, exactly, that feels off about everything. There hasn't been a memorial service yet, and while she knows that not everyone rushes to do so within the first week, there hasn't even been a whisper about it. (She feels like bringing it up herself would be presumptuous; she's made herself the outsider.) She also knows the wedding venue is still booked. It's a very odd thing, especially seen from Rikka -- someone who doesn't strike Aoi as the type to spend other people's money or shy away from painful things.
... All the more reason to talk to Rikka.
She's booked a table for two at Alba, an incredibly nice Italian restaurant in the heart of Tokyo. She's explicitly told Rikka to order whatever she likes in whatever quantity she likes, and that until the food arrives they ought to talk about something practical -- 3G's raw-material supply chain. Aoi is surprisingly open about her intentions here; the first is that she thinks it might be easier for her to be less... abrupt, than on her first meeting, if they ease into the conversation with a less personal, more tangible topic. The second...
Yeah, this is getting expensed.
(For her own part, she's ordered bistecca alla Florentina and a bottle of wine for the table. It's not insanely expensive wine, but it's not exactly cheap either.)
In her formal capacity, Aoi's pretty forthright -- and it's obvious that she's good at her job. She's done a mildly alarming amount of research on 3G's needs -- about as much as you could get from public data and a little you'd need to have contacted the OCU's Department of Public Safety to get -- and seems open to building a strong business relationship with 3G even if it means taking a bit of a hit on raw numbers. She doesn't have full authority over the sort of scale that 3G or the SDC would need, but she's at least interested in brokering a solid deal for junk.
... Once the food arrives, though, she takes a deep breath, resolving to set all that aside for now and talk about the real reason they're here.
"So," she says, pushing her glasses up gently with her index and middle fingers; with her ring and pinky fingers splayed out to the side a little, it evokes just a bit of a certain crab-handed gesture by accident. "... I want to hear from you -- what exactly..." She trails off, here.
Then she pivots. "... If at any point you need time to collect yourself or just want me to stop talking, just raise your right hand," she says. "Akane told me that I... upset you, the first time I came over." She takes a long sip of her wine. "I'd rather not make this even worse for either of us. So just -- take your time and if you ever need me to stop for a moment, all you need to do is gesture."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Akane's mother wanted to talk to her. And the venue is... an incredibly nice restaurant. Rikka isn't sure she's really up for that kind of public appearance. A part of her wondered what she's trying to ply her for - but she shoved that thought down, quickly.
She had been trying to reach out to her, in her last text. It seemed genuine. She should at least try to give her a chance.
...And it's that thought that lead her to accept, and leads her to where she is now - sitting across from her. Since it is nice, she's worn one of her suits, her 3G Red tieclip attached to the tie. ...She's tried to hide it, but she looks notably exhausted. There will always be signs.
As for Rikka, she's ordered cheese-filled tortelloni and a side of bread.
Rikka is glad, at least, that Aoi leads off with the formal business. That's something she can handle - she asks and answers questions, and for as much as her mental and emotional energy has been tied up elsewhere, it's clear that Rikka still has the capacity for this sort of thing. The further that conversation goes, and the more clear it becomes to Rikka that Aoi is both serious about it and good at it, the more she starts supporting the idea.
...But then the food arrives, and the conversation turns toward the real reason they're here.
Her eyes are briefly drawn to that hand gesture - not the same, but close enough to be familiar. ...It's a difficult feeling.
She takes a deep breath, in and out. She doesn't confirm or deny that she upset her - instead, offering her a nod.
"...Alright." Rikka replies - and listens.
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Aoi takes a bite of steak as Rikka nods to her, giving both of them a few seconds to mentally shift gears. There's a lot of little things, here and there, in the way Aoi moves and talks; as she chews, there's a very faint tap-tap-tap of heel on tile. This one an even more unmistakably familiar nervous tic.
"Now that it's been more than two weeks," Aoi starts, and there's a hesitancy in her tone that's no less familiar than the thoughtlessness she brought to their first meeting, "I'm... beginning to wonder if there's something else going on with my daughter, or with you."
She glances to her side salad, spearing a crouton and some lettuce and taking a bite. "I've been more than a little worried about asking, but something has seemed a little strange," she continues, once she finishes eating. "I called the venue regarding the catering arrangements for your wedding," something that Aoi is paying for, "and I expected to be told things were cancelled, and they aren't. There hasn't been a memorial service, either."
... she can make inferences and investigate the same way Akane does, too, apparently.
"... If there's something classified about her circumstances you can't tell me," and there's a certain expectation -- even hope -- in the way she lingers on the words 'her circumstances,' "that's fine." I won't ask further and we can go back to hashing things out professionally. If... something else is informing this unusual set of decisions..." Her deep breath in and out -- and her nod -- mirror Rikka's. "I'd like to know what it is."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
There's a moment of quiet. Rikka takes the time to eat some of her pasta. She focuses on the texture instead of the looming sense of dread. She's not sure what Aoi wants to talk about, and she's not sure what she'll say.
...The food is good here. They've really earned their acclaim, she'll give them that.
And then Aoi starts. Rikka swallows hard, setting down her utensils and looking up at her. Where is she going with this?
...She's beginning to wonder...
Oh.
She called the venue. Her expression sharpens, just a little, and her shoulders tense. So this is what it was all about. Her mother was the last person Rikka hoped would find out - not in the least for that feeling of hope in her words that feels like a knife in her chest.
She looks away, drawing herself in a little. This 'unusual set of decisions'... She isn't looking forward to being called delusional and selfish again. She isn't looking forward to another fight. At least last time, it was in her own home.
"...Look, I don't -" Rikka starts, her tone defensive. She crosses her hands in front of her, a thumb idly sliding across Akane's. "It's not... 'classified'. I don't have any concrete information for you. I'm sorry."
She looks back at her. She shouldn't tell her. She shouldn't, but...
"I just... I can still feel here there. Like she's still out there, somehow. And... I can't ignore that." She says. She leaves out, this time, how it feels.
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Aoi looks thoughtful for a moment, as she sees Rikka tense up. She hears the defensiveness in her tone, and she tenses up too -- but she doesn't escalate. Instead, she waits. It's not classified; that eliminates the possibility that this is secretly for some sort of operation. She takes another bite of steak, and she waits, as Rikka sorts out whether she should say anything.
When Rikka speaks again, Aoi's expression... softens. It's a subtle thing -- Aoi has struggled to show emotion for a long time -- but there's more than a little surprise, even concern, in her eyes. That feeling...
Aoi breathes in... then breathes out. "... Almost 21 years ago, in December," Aoi begins, "my older brother -- Atsunobu -- was stationed on the Eridanus. It was a Salamis-class, headed for the Revil Fleet. He was a CIC deputy officer." It seems like such an odd pivot. "He's always been someone who stayed plugged into military gossip -- that hasn't really changed since then, of course. He'd heard rumors about the White Base and its Newtype crew." She pauses long enough to take a bite of salad before getting back to it.
"He was looking at some console or another, and he noticed -- the White Base was just a little closer to the fleet rendezvous, and all at once, it stopped -- cold -- in space." She lets out a small sigh -- warm, content. This story is clearly a fond one. "So he went to the helmsman and told him to stop. The helmsman refused." ... She looks like she might start laughing, as she finishes, "Atsunobu punched him out and wrenched the wheel -- anything to slow them down a little. He got detained by MPs. Just under two minutes later, they found out the Revil Fleet had been destroyed and that they were to form up behind the White Base for an emergency final assault. They were close enough to the blast radius that the Saberfish they were using as a forward scout didn't come home." With a wry little smile, she finishes, "They went from dragging him to the brig to recommending him for a Federal Service Cross. All because he saw someone he thought might be a Newtype hold movement."
The smile remains -- though it turns a little melancholy -- as she reaches the present moment again. "... My brother is an annoying, reedy little know-it-all and I'd rather not let him outdo me in good judgment." Her gaze fixes on Rikka. "... If you're wrong, we can figure that out together when it becomes clear that it's the case. For now -- is there anything you need to... pursue that feeling, that 3G isn't giving you?"
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka watches Aoi carefully, as if ready for her to lash out at any moment... but she doesn't. That surprises Rikka enough that she straightens up, coming out of her defensive posture just slightly. Aoi's expression softens, in fact... and when she starts to talk again, to tell a story, not to argue with her, Rikka relaxes a little more fully.
She's quiet the whole way through, calming down enough to resume eating again as she listens. She even smiles, just slightly, when it's clear that Aoi is fond of this story.
A story about her brother, who heeded his gut when he noticed a Newtype heed theirs.
The story draws to a close, and Aoi's expression turns melancholy. That expression of trust...
Rikka is taken aback. She hadn't expected this - and if she weren't in a public place, she might tear up a little. She holds it back, albeit with some effort.
"I-I... Thank you. " Rikka replies. Is there anything she needs...? She's quiet.
"I've put everything I can spare into it, but... there isn't a lot left I can do." Rikka admits. "So just... keep an eye and ear out? If you hear or see anything suspicious, anything at all... Let me know. I'll do the same."
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Aoi's spent enough time preventing herself from showing reasonable human emotion under observation that she has a pretty decent eye for when someone else is doing the same. She looks like she might be about to press, but catches herself, taking a little more time to eat her steak instead.
"You're welcome," Aoi says, letting Rikka take her time. Back to the salad. She needs a little time to digest what's passed between them as well.
'Keep an eye and ear out.' In an Earth Sphere of some six billion people, that's a tall order. ... On the other hand, Aoi has a few advantages on this front that others don't. "I'll do my best," she says, with a small nod.
After a little while, Aoi manages to fully digest what she's been told. ... It's something that makes her want to talk about Akane -- as if she's still alive. No -- because she's still alive.
"... tell me a little about how you see her. I've been a little nervous about having opened lines of communication with her again... I don't actually know my daughter that well." She sets down her silverware, rubbing gently at her elbow with her opposite hand. "If she were to show up next week -- what would make her feel... welcomed home?"
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka nods, as Aoi says she's welcome. She's relaxed a little more fully, now - though still the slightest bit on edge. That's been normal for these past couple of weeks, though. It's unlikely to change any time soon. And in response to her request to keep an eye and ear out... she says she'll do her best.
"That's all I ask." Rikka asks. She isn't expecting a miracle. Hoping for one, maybe. Right now, though, that's all she can do.
And then, Aoi asks her how she sees her. What would make her feel welcomed home?
"Uh... Don't, like... crowd her, or anything? I think that whatever she's going through, she's probably going to need time to... rest and recover." Rikka starts. She doesn't go into that feeling. "But... I think letting you know you're there for her... genuinely, there for her, would be a good start. Ask her what she needs."
She thinks about it a bit further.
"Show an interest in her art, too. I've always thought she was great, but... she's really improved. We were-" She starts - and the words catch in her throat for a moment and she corrects herself a bit shakily. "...We're working on a project together."
She wants to believe they'll be able to finish it together, someday.
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Aoi gets back to eating, again, as she listens. Don't crowd her. That's... going to be a little difficult -- Aoi is someone who tends to gravitate toward being either too close or too far. She listens, though, just the same. "... That makes sense," Aoi agrees. She knows that her daughter works for 3G, and does so in sensitive contexts; for her to be missing and not dead after a mobile suit battle...
... suggests some things. 'Ask her what she needs,' though -- that part is easy to conceive, and Aoi says, "... right." This is confirming the things she's been learning independently about how to relate to people meaningfully. Despite everything that's happened, her daughter is still human.
Showing interest in her art, though... there's a brief microexpression across Aoi's face as she admits, "... I don't quite understand it," groping for the words. She eventually settles, "... but I'll do my best. She mentioned she made those rings, by the way. The craftsmanship is exceptional... it's a very different sort of thing from what she used to make. It's very her, though." ... It's not to her taste -- far too much color -- but she can at least conceive of the amount of work that went into it.
"I'd like to see what you two are working on," she adds. "If the two of you would have me, I mean -- when it's done." She pauses, looking off to one side, as she decides to ask something else.
"... You aren't obligated to say anything, but -- if there's something you'd like to express about the first time we met that your mother already didn't, now is a good time." ... Then, at last, she gets back to eating.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka nods. She watches and listens to Aoi's reactions - sees what jumps out at her, what seems normal, and what takes some thinking about. She catches that microexpression when she mentions her art. But Aoi admits she doesn't understand it, and Rikka nods.
"That's all anyone can ask. As long as you try, as long as you make can effort to show interests in her interests... That's a good start." Rikka replies. ...And a genuine smile crosses her face as she mentions how Akane made the rings.
"She did. She was so excited about them. ...I could tell how hard it was to keep a lid on that secret for so long." She replies. "She made them to match - our colors, and our eyes..."
She looks down at the rings fondly. ...It's a little hard. She breathes in deeply, in and out. She shuts her eyes for a moment, and looks back up.
"I think... That'll be up to her, but..." Rikka replies. She doesn't mind it - but she won't speak for Akane, either.
...Anything she'd like to express...
"There is." Rikka replies. She gives her a moment to brace herself and finish eating. She does the same, as she works through her thoughts.
"...I hadn't really heard anything good about you before." Rikka admits. "And when you just kind of...showed up and forced your way in, it only reinforced that."
She shakes her head.
"I don't think you meant it, but you brought up some things I'm pretty sensitive about. I don't think you thought much about me at all - and then there was the way you treated her when you saw her, trying to force your way in even when she was uncomfortable..."
She shakes her head.
"And, doing a complete reversal on me once you found out my position... It felt like you didn't care about me. I hate when people treat me like trash, and then suddenly play nice when they find out who I am." She says. "...If you're legitimately trying... I'm not going to hold the past against you. But that's what I thought, at the time."
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
Aoi listens, still working on her steak. She's just about done, though, which means she's got to stay quiet without doing anything with her mouth or her hands while she listens to Rikka. ... It's not an area where she particularly excels.
Fortunately, she realizes she can top up her glass and keep listening. It makes it a little easier to focus.
"... this is probably deserved," she admits, chewing at her lower lip. "I don't think you're wrong in any of that. I..." She takes a breath. "I didn't realize how difficult that moment was -- but I still could have handled that part better. Everything else... is true, I think." Here, she looks a little melancholy -- a little embarrassed. "Some of this your mother said to me as well, of course, but I'm glad to have the chance to talk to you about it, too. I owe you better than our first meeting. You and my daughter chose each other, and I should have respected you for that alone."
She looks down at her food. "... I've heard some things -- from both Akane and your mother -- about Akane's..." She gestures vaguely. "... I'm not quite ready to be a grandmother yet and it's hard to think of him as a son, but... Well, anyway -- you know who I mean, I'm sure. I'm given to understand she treated him poorly, and a lot of the things she did are things she..." Aoi cringes to say it. "... clearly learned from me."
Breathing in, then out, she says, "I can't turn back the hands of time. If she's gone, there really is nothing I can do. But... if she's alive I want her to come back to somewhere happy, and if she isn't... all I can really do is honor her memory by trying to do better." Another breath, in and out. "... I'm sorry, Rikka-san. I treated you callously -- some of it accidental, some of it deliberate -- and I'm honored that you don't want to hold it against me."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka is about finished with her food, too - and Aoi working her way through her thoughts gives her time to finish up and focus her attention on her fully. She's not sure what response she expected, but... Aoi accepts it.
"Nothing can change how it went, but... I'd like to think there's still time to change how things will be from here." Rikka replies. Aoi continues - and it doesn't take long for her to guess who she's talking about.
"Knight?" She supplies for her. She doesn't bother trying to apply a label to the exact nature of things. She listens, though - and nods quietly. "...She did."
She isn't going to pretend it didn't happen, sweep it under the rug, or try to downplay it... Doing that would be a disservice to Akane and Knight both. Loving her means acknowledging her actions in the past, too.
What comes next is almost as hard as it is to hear as it must be to say... but Rikka nods quietly.
"I want that, too." Rikka agrees, and then nods, as she apologises.
"Thank you." She replies.
<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.
"I hope you're right," Aoi affirms. There's part of her that still can't quite convince herself to commit to believing in Rikka, some part of her that tells her the same thing Marusan told Rikka -- that this is selfish and delusional and mean-spirited, and that she ought to pressure Rikka to commit to a memorial service instead.
She thinks of Atsunobu and sets that aside.
"That's right," she adds, about Knight. And then -- Rikka thanks her for apologizing. It does seem to reduce the burden of the moment -- at least a bit.
"... Do you want dessert, or is there anything else you want to do tonight?" she asks, tentative about it. She doesn't want to pressure Rikka, but she also doesn't want to just unceremoniously drop her at home the instant they've paid for dinner, either. "I'll be in town for a few more days, before I have to go back to South Africa... if you think of something later, don't hesitate to ask."
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Aoi may not be able to commit fully... but the fact that she tries is enough, for now. It feels like she's been dealing with this on her own for so long that even that's more than she expected - it's certainly more than she expected going into this dinner.
Rikka nods at her addition, and as for her question...
"...Dessert might be nice." She decides, and then shakes her head. "...Other than that... I should be alright. Thank you."
It's enough, for now.