Velvet Room MUSH Wiki - User contributions [en]

Bunkamura Summer Live

2025-12-29T00:10:17Z

Stelas: /* Rough inspirations */

=== Rough inspirations ===

'''Classical'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g65oWFMSoK0&list=RDg65oWFMSoK0&start_radio=1 Mari Samuelsen: Vivaldi - "Summer" from Four Seasons]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVsVfm0jrc Mahler: Symphony 3 - Pan Awakes, Summer Marches In - Fabio Luisi & NHK Symphony Orchestra]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW-7CqxhnAQ Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 (Proms 2012)]

'''CV-01'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-fQ0Ht8p_M Taisetsu na Koto (feat. Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, KAITO, MEIKO & Kasane Teto]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0JsB_8AG9g Hoshi No Kakera (feat. Hatsune Miku & NHK Tokyo Children Chorus) (2019 Live)]

'''Nico Nico'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FisBTr8o_o&list=RD1FisBTr8o_o&start_radio=1 【☆ニコオケ☆Final】最後にもう一度『流星群』を演奏してみた【10周年】]

'''Bands'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWff60PZytQ tayori - 風のたより (Official Video)]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPeBXLAZBmI 8.32 (Acoustic Ver.) / *Luna covered by 燈明寺かぐら]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igg0iHG8MR4 *Luna - あの夏のいつかは (Someday in that Summer) feat.ねんね | 2023 Ver.]

Bunkamura Summer Live

2025-12-29T00:08:52Z

Stelas: Created page with "=== Rough inspirations === '''Classical''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g65oWFMSoK0&list=RDg65oWFMSoK0&start_radio=1 Mari Samuelsen: Vivaldi - "Summer" from Four Seasons] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVsVfm0jrc Mahler: Symphony 3 - Pan Awakes, Summer Marches In - Fabio Luisi & NHK Symphony Orchestra] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW-7CqxhnAQ Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 (Proms 2012)] '''CV-01''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-fQ0Ht8p_M (feat. Hatsune..."

=== Rough inspirations ===

'''Classical'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g65oWFMSoK0&list=RDg65oWFMSoK0&start_radio=1 Mari Samuelsen: Vivaldi - "Summer" from Four Seasons]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVsVfm0jrc Mahler: Symphony 3 - Pan Awakes, Summer Marches In - Fabio Luisi & NHK Symphony Orchestra]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW-7CqxhnAQ Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 (Proms 2012)]

'''CV-01'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-fQ0Ht8p_M (feat. Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, KAITO, MEIKO & Kasane Teto]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0JsB_8AG9g Hoshi No Kakera (feat. Hatsune Miku & NHK Tokyo Children Chorus) (2019 Live)]

'''Nico Nico'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FisBTr8o_o&list=RD1FisBTr8o_o&start_radio=1 【☆ニコオケ☆Final】最後にもう一度『流星群』を演奏してみた【10周年】]

'''Bands'''

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWff60PZytQ tayori - 風のたより (Official Video)]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPeBXLAZBmI 8.32 (Acoustic Ver.) / *Luna covered by 燈明寺かぐら]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igg0iHG8MR4 *Luna - あの夏のいつかは (Someday in that Summer) feat.ねんね | 2023 Ver.]

2025-09-26: C'est superbe.

2025-10-10T13:32:54Z

Stelas: Created page with "*'''Log: 2025-09-26: C'est superbe.''' *'''Cast:''' So-young Park, Mitsuru Kirijo *'''Where:''' Bunkamura Theatre Hall, Shibuya *'''OOC Date:''' September 25, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' July 16, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''As So-young's gallery and concert combo get underway, she takes some time to talk art shop with a particularly well-learned member of the audience.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed. <poem> The Bunkamura! A large concert hall, theatre,..."

*'''Log: 2025-09-26: C'est superbe.'''
*'''Cast:''' [[So-young Park]], [[Mitsuru Kirijo]]
*'''Where:''' Bunkamura Theatre Hall, Shibuya
*'''OOC Date:''' September 25, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 16, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''As So-young's gallery and concert combo get underway, she takes some time to talk art shop with a particularly well-learned member of the audience.''

----

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> The Bunkamura! A large concert hall, theatre, and museum sat right in the middle of Shibuya, this building currently oversees an eclectic and constant collection of performances from bands, orchestras, and theatre troupes. More importantly for So-young Park, it also holds the Shibuya Afternoon Concerts, a series of weekday performances which the Korean conductor has started running in her capacity as Guest Conductor with the Tokyo Philharmonic.

To say that So-young is driven would be underselling it. She's young by conductor standards, but has quickly made a name for herself in showbiz magazines by doing a lot of work with local idol and music groups as a producer and composer and always being willing to help out little art shows and younger talents in trying to get started. Despite the friction it's caused with more genteel-minded audiences, her performances are vivid and upbeat, often interweaving contemporary culture like arrangements of video game music into bombastic versions of classics, all for the sake of pulling in a new generation of concert-goers.

That's what she says, at least. It's possible she's just enjoying herself too much to do anything else.

Today, she's trying something new. A portion of the Bunkamura foyer has been sectioned off with ropes, leading people coming out of the concert through an art exhibit tied to the themes of the music. Space has been made for a number of works around the theme of 'Turmoil', with a collection of paintings and sketches and some small sculptures carefully laid out. Placards are dotted around them providing some background for each work. The name of the artist might be familiar as one of the disgraced Madarame's pupils, but no mention of that can be found here. It's purely focused on his work, and no-one else's.

The conductor is impossible to miss, having quickly headed up to see how well her experiment is working and to not-so-sneakily listen in to the buzz of her audience and their impressions of the concert. For one, she's tall and radiates an air of supreme confidence, practically vibrating after the rush of a performance. For two, admist everyone else she is strikingly monochrome - a black evening dress and long white hair, streaked through with black colour to make it look like the keys of a piano.

Despite the rather severe look, She pauses to chatter brightly with a couple of female students who approach her, laughing as they lift their camera and crowd in before giving it a wink and a sideways v at her eyes, but then goes right back to basking in the feeling of a performance successfully done.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Mitsuru Kirijo is, technically, the 'new generation'.

However, like most things, that technically does a lot of heavy lifting. For example: Mitsuru Kirijo could probably tell you to the last note the composition of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik.

Mitsuru Kirijo has also never played a video game in her life.

Music, however, is music, and there is a certain universality to it that the Kirijo heiress appreciates, even in its myriad of variations. Whether it's classical or j-pop, metal or babymetal -- the notes on the page follow - and bend - the same rules as every other one.

And that, to Mitsuru, is much more fascinating than a video game could ever be.

(no she doesn't even know what a drake adventure is)

So, in those increasingly rare moments where the heiress to one of the largest megacorporations in the globe actually has free time? -Personal- time? Why, why not use it for recreation, like enjoying a concert, for an orchestra your family acts as a patron for?

... Well, it's close enough to recreation for -her-.

So she's there, at the art exhibit, when So-young sneaks in to snoop on her audience (and actively chat them up!); wrapped up in a high-collared, wine-violet dress, royal red hair piled up today in an eloquent bun held in place by two exquisitely-crafted gold hairpins speared through that silken mass, she stands off to the side -- away from the throngs, away from the discussion, away from the socializing. No -- her focus is wholly on the art, her brows furrowed as she pours over the painting laid out before her. She looks absorbed in a world unto herself as she observes. Distant. Unapproachable. ... Troubled, maybe.

'Turmoil.'

The theme of the piece echoes in her mind as she stares at it. Her understanding of art has always been more of an academic thing, rather than one of feeling -- appreciation of the technique, the history -- the context of it all. So why does that theme resonate with her so much?

Lost in her thoughts, a frown presses at dark red lips. It's only then that eyes that same shade drift towards the crowds -- where she finds a woman of striking monochrome there, chatting with the others.

She blinks. Her head cants at a curious angle, bangs spilling over one eye. For now though, she says nothing, as her gaze drifts back toward the painting.

Here is one who does not naturally gravitate towards crowds, it seems.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Unfortunately (fortunately?) for Mitsuru, So-young Park has made it her life's work to bull her way towards as many points of interest as possible. 'Unapproachable' just means 'approach harder'--

--alright, she can be a little more serious than that. Truth be told, So-young is a bit nervous about this change to the proceedings, not that she'd ever admit it to anyone. Not the idea of showcasing someone new, and certainly not the idea of showcasing someone whose artistic future is suddenly in jeopardy thanks to the actions and prejudices of others - but she is forcing a risk here.

The worst outcome would be for a new, recently hurt artist to put themselves out there like this only to have everyone walk straight past their paintings. She's properly commissioning them, so money never hurts, but this is a time when they're going to need to rebuild their confidence, and you can't just teach that.

The score has already set the mood. She would have loved for the day to be rainy and dreary, but the weather hasn't cooperated - still, her setlist was stormy and thundering, with a lot of warbling violins and brass instruments fighting them. She softened it at the end with a more triumphant finale, but a lot of the performance was challenging by classical standards, and she's caught some chatter from some younger audience members for whom the theme didn't quite resonate.

So seeing someone caught by the sight of the gallery is a relief, and So-young is quick to gravitate in that direction. It takes her a little while, because she honestly loves schmoozing, but before long she's at Mitsuru's periphery, trying to remember why this young woman is faintly familiar. (She's been informed about the Philharmonic's patrons, of course, but is kind of bad at remembering names.)

Receptive to an audience's needs, she's content to wait until Mitsuru's focus hovers away again. "Striking, isn't it? I was expecting raw vengeful anger, to be honest, but something about the lines make it a lot more disquieting. And I think the brushstrokes aren't even strokes - lots of little quick dabs."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
Some children have to grow up too fast. And Mitsuru Kirijo might be their poster child.

It's hard to say just -what- it is: the impeccable posture, maybe, that never seems to allow for any moment of slack or compromise in its straight-backed regality. Or maybe it's the way she carries herself, subtly aloof and removed, like she lived in a world other people her age simple can't reach.

Maybe it is sheer, passive and relentless aura farming.

Either way -- there's just something about her that exudes the quiet authority of a (somehow) mature and responsible adult compared to the other kids her age here, a feeling that's only really built on further by the silent yet not exactly -shy- sense of reservation about her as So-young approaches. That dark gaze remains on the painting for a long time, arms folded against her abdomen, a frown settled upon her lips -- not of disapproval, but of contemplation. It's only when she feels the presence of someone nearby that that dark red gaze turns to catch sight of that familiar mane of artistically-rendered monochrome once more.

"Ah," exhales the Gekkoukan Student Council President. ''Striking, isn't it?''

Her eyes shut.

"... Yes," she concedes, after a moment. "It's somewhat like pointilism, isn't it? Creating a coherent piece of art out of small dapples of color that do not quite connect. There is a sense of coherency, and yet... the longer you look at it, the more you grow aware how precarious it all is, held aloft by a... suggestion of connection."

A small, almost amused smile drifts across those dark lips.

"The artist clearly understands the essence of turmoil. C'est superbe."

When her gaze opens up again, it returns to So-young, curious.

"It's an impressive complement to the concert," she notes, voice mild. "Unexpected, but impressive."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> In comparison, So-young's posture is much more relaxed. She certainly holds herself with poise, but it's less because she's learned to be that way and more because... she just enjoys holding herself with poise. She seems always ready to feel at home, comfortable in her own skin. It's as if she wears her heart on her sleeve, but that heart just happens to love showmanship and may just decide to act its way through something anyway.

Still, her eyebrows raise, and her smile tugs wider into something even more genuine. As much as she loves art and the way in which it can draw out a reaction, she tends to look at it through a director's lens, focusing more on the techniques and the way in which an emotion is evoked rather than the actual emotion _being_ evoked. So she brightens as she nods along.

"My personal favorite is-- well, I wasn't really sure about whether to display it, but the clay piece is fascinating," she motions towards it. An expertly turned vase, up until the point where the artist squeezed the hell out of it before putting it in the kiln, making for a very wobbly hourglass sort of shape. So-young can't help but grin at it. "It is really not what the artist intended, of course, but I ended up rather nostalgic for every time I learned I don't have the patience for pottery."

She gracefully accepts the compliment - including, it seems, the part about it being unexpected. "Thank you. I was trying to think of some ways to expand on the theme. Some people just simply react better to visuals, and there's only so much I can do on my own at the head of an orchestra." She says that, but she certainly tries her best when conducting - she's incredibly fond of huge flourishes and striking solos, lighting included.

"I suppose you could say that I got incensed at the news of Madarame - ah, but please don't think this is specifically in retribution or anything," she's quick to add and even includes a wink. "That simply lit the touchpaper for me to go wring the director's arm into giving me some space. I would love to include some street art, but they definitely won't forgive me if I let someone at the wallpaper."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
It's always good to find someone of like mind, even if in the most roundabout of ways.

Mitsuru has adjusted to not being able to relate to others on most things -- of forging a path forward for herself all on her own. One can debate the healthiness of that (it's not), but she's done it all the same. Yet -- when she gets that genuine smile from So-young in her assessment of the piece -- gets that regard from someone who seems to see things from the technical side, like her. Well.

Even Mitsuru isn't immune to affirmation.

She engages in the conversation a bit more beyond formality at that point, turning smoothly on one high heel to regard what was once the beginnings of an exquisite clay vase. She blinks, head tilting to an owlish angle as she takes it in -- but it's So-young's context that inspires the wry smile that graces her lips.

"Aah. Yes, I see," she remarks, bending one arm at the elbow, cradled in its opposite number's palm, so she can cup her chin and consider the vase more critically. "There's something relatable in fallibility, isn't there? Like Duchamp's ''The Large Glass''. Sometimes the greatest technique of all is a well-honed sense of adaptability."

She can't help but feel it's a sentiment she could learn from. The thought is there and gone in a flash -- aided by the invocation of a name that had only some months ago been the center of untold controversy and scandal.

Ichiryusai Madarame.

Mitsuru's eyes narrow. She knows these works are by his students - though it feels like it does him far too much credit to call them that. But drawing up the name itself seems to inspire a righteous reaction in the young heiress, jaw set, gaze sharper than any blade.

"Yes. What he did was repugnant." There's a steel to her tone; an edge of disgust she does not see fit to obfuscate.

"It's better to celebrate the gifts he tried to exploit, than pay even an iota of attention more to that small, sorry excuse of a man."

As if that small, sorry excuse of a man didn't deserve the energy expended on the basic cultural backbone of social niceties.

And yet...

... can she say she feels any better about the implications of what the Phantom Thieves did to him?

...

She's lost in that thought for a moment, before ''I would love to include some street art, but they definitely won't...'' stirs her from her reverie with a blink.

"--Ah! Like a graffito?"

it's -- technically correct but how can she still make it sound so inegenue

It lasts only for a precious, harrowing moment, before Mitsuru scoffs and shakes her head. "-- No, I believe the Bunkamura is quite strict about those things."

And yet -- for all she eschews social mores in condemning Madarame, she still makes sure to preserve some traditions -- like introductions. Turning to face So-young, she lifts one hand, drawing a few strands of loosed royal red away from her face and behind one ear; the other hand? Lifts in offering.

"You're the conductor -- So-young Park, yes?" she asks. "Mitsuru Kirijo. It's an honor to have opportunity to experience your work firsthand."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Ah, well. I'm sure my brass section could tell you plenty about my fallibility," So-young replies, the smile dropping away for long enough for So-young to deliver a perfect grimace - but then it comes right back, indefatigable. "Conducting is a conversation between musicians, and sometimes I do have a habit of speaking a little too loudly. Fortunately, it always seems to work out reasonably well in the end. Maybe I am not crushing a vase in my hands, but I'm sure it feels just as cathartic in the moment."

She's silent for a little while, lapsing into a rare moment of quiet thought herself. Now that she's seen what happened to Kaneshiro after his Palace, she's still not sure how the Thieves did it - but she does have a lot more context. What did Madarame's head look like, So-young wonders? What was important to him? The thought is discarded just as quickly, because Mitsuru makes an excellent point, and she tuts under her breath in return. "Quite. I thought the least I could do is offer some paid work before anyone jumped at them for 'exposure'."

"Still, I was very surprised. You know, most of the artists I approached insisted they would rather give the opportunity to one of the others. They all thought someone else was more deserving. Honestly, tortured artists," the conductor sighs. "The idea that I might be doing multiple concerts never even crossed their mind until I stopped to explain it to them."

She glosses right over Mitsuru's slight mangling of the term, because she's clearly on a roll. "Mm! There's something very vibrant and alive about it, and the way that it gets built up in layers - someone tags a wall first, then others add to it, then someone plasters all over it with something else. It is just as much a conversation as it is a bragging right. Very Shibuya," she nods like the know-it-all she wishes she could be.

Her smile is right back to dazzling as she bows her head, and lightly takes Mitsuru's hand in a bit of a flourish of a handshake.

(She absolutely has enough adrenaline running through her at the moment to consider risking a kiss on the back of the hand, but as extremely memorable and hilarious it would be, she does have some limits, and this is not really the way to push an introvert.)

"Not at all! It's an honour. Rather, I'm glad I can offer the chance. I've certainly heard how busy you are. As someone who successfully escaped their parents' line of work, all I can say is 'hang in there'," she grins playfully.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.
<poem>
"Ah. Bien sûr. I'm sure your string section could tell me a tale or two as well, then."

Mitsuru Kirijo - capable of making wry and knowing remarks on the delicate and taut interplay of orchestral dynamics.

Also Mitsuru Kirijo - believing strongly hamburgers are commonly eaten with knives and forks.

Something ''almost'' like an amused sound escapes Mitsuru Kirijo's lips as So-young laments about the self-sacrificial nature of the tortured artist. "In those circumstances, it's always better to ''not'' let them throw themselves upon the sword, I agree," she notes. "It's no different than attempting to coordinate events at school. Sometimes people need a guiding hand to bring them right up to the point they realize they're needed."

She shakes her head, admitting, "It can certainly be exhausting, sometimes. But it's rarely not worth that effort made."

Come to think of it -- one of Madarame's 'pupils' ended up in Gekkoukan, didn't he? ... Maybe she should check in on him.

Something to table for later, perhaps. For now, Mitsuru is busy mulling over the concept of vandalism as communal art. Her brows furrow, faintly. "I've seen some examples of this, yes. In Tatsumi as well. Remarkable that something ostensibly illegal has become so commonplace." Her tone betrays neither approval nor disapproval in this particular moment, just a quiet, thoughtful musing. "Some I've happened upon are rather crude in both message and execution." She's difficult to read in moments like these, but, well.

"... Some ''are'' quite striking, nonetheless, I suppose."

At least she speaks her mind, one way or the other.

Her hand taken in a flourish of eloquence and compliments, Mitsuru's head tilts, brows lifting slightly.

"Ah? ... Thank you. It's really nothing."

How would she have reacted to a kiss?

-- it might be best for all their sakes the question goes unanswered.

"It was... a bit of an indulgence on my part, I'll admit," she says in the aftermath. Coming to watch an orchestra your family patrons, an indulgence? Despite the inherent family obligation tied to such a thing, ''she'' seems to think so. After all-- "Exams are just around the corner, after all. But I was able to make some small adjustments to my schedule to accommodate this, while still meeting the academic and athletic quotas I've set for myself this week." She looks -so pleased- about this fact.

One might

''MIGHT''

get the subtle impression

that Mitsuru Kirijo is a frighteningly relentless woman

in moments like these.

"... Which is to say, it was well worth it."

''might''

Still -- So-young offers that cheeky support, and Mitsuru's response is the curious glance the other woman's way. "The gesture is appreciated, but... I'm quite content with taking on my family's legacy. My father once told me that the Kirijo name was not just one I should make proud, but a name that ''I'' should be proud of in turn. I couldn't imagine striving for anything less than that." Still... she does offer a small smile So-young's way.

"But there is something... enviable, about having the courage to strike out on your own. I'm sure your parents must be proud of what you have accomplished, too."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Though I suppose the counterpoint is that - even after everything they must have been through in the past months - it's rather heartwarming to see them looking out for one another. Now, if we could just temper that with a little self-confidence, then we would truly be in business. I'm sure they'll get there eventually," So-young snickers happily to herself. It is not a very ladylike gesture, especially against the rest of the elegant front she's putting on, but that seems to suit her entirely.

"Once upon a time, speaking out against the norm was considered sketchy at best, and yet we are all making strides. Though-- well, to be clear, I am not talking about those times when someone simply scrawls their name and is done with it. I do like a little effort and artistry put into it," So-young admits. "Sometimes you will turn a corner and someone has managed an entire mural. Those I would very much like to watch the process of how they are designed and come into being."

Her eyebrows raise ever so slightly at her concert being called an indulgence. It's flattering, but there is a little light in the back of her eyes that's sharply watching to try to pick out whether all of this familial piety is pure obligation or something that Mitsuru seems to do. Whatever it is, something about the young woman's response seems to satisfy her, and she simply chuckles. As far as she sees it, it's fine to relish what you're doing, so long as you want to be doing it.

"Ahaha... you are talking to a former arts student, I'm afraid. Suffering, ennui, angst and panic rather came as part of the curriculum. You're not called well-rounded if you don't have a little of those," she effortlessly smiles as she says it. Still, I am glad to hear that. It's all too easy to fall prey to expectations when it comes to family. For many years I was sure I was going to go into acting, and that that was simply that."

She seems to pause, a frown flickering across her face. "... I wonder about that. My mother is extremely hard to read." The phrase 'She didn't try to put two bullets in my head for doing a bad job like she did my sibling' dances on the edge of her tongue, begging to be let out just to see the reaction.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-10-02: Birds of a Feather

2025-10-03T04:08:33Z

Stelas: Created page with "*'''Log: 2025-10-02: Birds of a Feather''' *'''Cast:''' Pernelle, So-young Park *'''Where:''' Shimokitazawa - Peacock Silk *'''OOC Date:''' October 02, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' July 20, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''So-young Park meets Pernelle, and a eternal bond is forged in the span of maybe five seconds.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed. <poem> It's a slow hour at the Peacock Silk boutique, and entrance of the shop is manned only by the store's faithful masc..."

*'''Log: 2025-10-02: Birds of a Feather'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Pernelle]], [[So-young Park]]
*'''Where:''' Shimokitazawa - Peacock Silk
*'''OOC Date:''' October 02, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 20, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''So-young Park meets Pernelle, and a eternal bond is forged in the span of maybe five seconds.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
It's a slow hour at the Peacock Silk boutique, and entrance of the shop is manned only by the store's faithful mascot: Pernelle, the most perfect and pulchritudinous peacock there ever was. And today? Today Pernelle is ''helping''. An adorable assistant! A songbird of a sweeper!

That is to say, he's... ''attempting'' to help, what with being a ten pound peacock with no thumbs to speak of. He fights with a push broom, squawking and kicking at it with furious flapping of his wings. "Come now, you stubborn housekeeping halberd! Must we do battle when our true foe is scattered out before us, running amok within this verifiable temple of crafting! Have at you then! Ha HA!"

By some miracle, he manages get the dust and dirt tracked into the shop by costumers neatly in a pile despite the unruly nature of his tool.

Pernelle stares at the dirt pile.

His head leans in, staring closer.

He begins to vibrate.

By the time our (un)fortunate customer enters Peacock Silk, she will arrive in time to see the store mascot rolling around in a pile of dirt, giving himself a dust bath with the ruffling of his feathers and preening of his beak while he sings cheerfully to himself.

"Wriggle and writhe in dirt so divine, behold now my feathers and see how they shine ~"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> What, exactly, is So-young Park expecting when she heads for the Peacock Silk?

Honestly, the answer is: who the hell knows. The conductor is still getting used to all this 'other side' stuff in general, and while she's remarkably adaptable and quick to take things mostly in stride so long as they're not actively trying to kill her, she is still at a complete loss as to what might be waiting for her at any given moment. This is honestly fine; she is the sort of person who is currently choosing to fly around the Dark Hour as fast and as high as she can on the back of a rickety ornithopter representing Icarus rather than do any form of research whatsoever.

('A fall from grace? Couldn't happen to me, I'm sure,' she has said without a trace of irony.)

What she does know: Myunghon has referred her here. Myunghon has said to bring along the trophies she picked up from inside a metaphysical representation of the inside of a money-obsessed mafia boss' head which somehow managed to carry over to the physical world. She genuinely trusts Myunghon when it comes to matters of Atelier-, Palace-, or Monad-diving. Most interesting of all, Myunghon has referenced 'someone she'll get along with'.

Besides, it's in Shimokitazawa, and So-young is about due for some solid fashion shopping.

After a few moments spent admiring the grand double doors, So-young bursts confidently through them with a brilliant smile and a force of personality that fills the space around her. She is strikingly monochrome - remarkably tall and dressed all in black, with long white hair with black accents running through it to evoke the keys of a piano. She's apparently feeling herself today, because in service to Shimokitazawa's bohemian style she's wearing a rather gothic black dress and has a folded fan in one hand.

"Ooh," she hums at the first sight of the interior, immediately clocking the glittering accessories and the few signature outfits on display, the wide use of space. There is an intuitive understanding here: this place is much too fancy to just have endless racks of product out in the _open_. That would just be gauche.

... ... ... and then her initial impression is somewhat interrupted by the sight of a ball of bird rolling around in a pile of dust. Her eyebrows slowly raise towards her hairline at the same time as her grin widens - she hasn't even completely registered that she can understand the singing yet, because she's basically acting on impulse as she steps closer and lowers herself to watch. "Hello!" she cheerily greets. "Why, that certainly does look like a prime patch."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle's singing turns to humming the more he combs his plumage with his beak. But as the doors fly open, his long neck pops up, stretched high as he looks left and right as if there were any other direction but the entrance itself he should be aware of. His beady eyes blink at So-young, and while Pernelle looks every bit a normal pheasant (if an alarmingly beautiful one), he gives a flick of his head up and down that suggests observation of her entire style.

His feathers ruffle gleefully. Oh, yes, this one has chosen for herself a most striking image! She'll fit right in! Provided, of course, that she has the ''something something'' needed to be a customer.

When she speaks to him, he speaks joyfully back.

"Isn't it just?!" he enthuses, lifting a talon from the dust to look over his foot. "Perfect for getting between the quills and perishing pesky little parasites! There may even be specks of silica in this dusty concoction! How exfoliating! And, between you and me, though my plumage hardly needs help in this regard, don't we all enjoy an extra touch of sparkle now and again?"

He resumes looking up at So-young expectantly after he finishes admiring himself.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Whyever would you _not_ want a little extra sparkle?" is So-young's immediate and instinctive response as her grin continues to grow. There's no way to avoid the realization that she is now holding a conversation with a bird now, but that's a lot more charming an option than some of the things that have happened to her in Mementos. It does make her pause for a moment, curious as to whether she can feel Icarus' presence inside this shop, but it's only a half-hearted attempt.

She squats easily despite her heels, resting an elbow on one knee and her chin on her elbow as she takes in the full sight of the pheasant. "Oh, you do have quite the lovely shine to you!" she almost trills, because this is someone who's had voice training, and while she's not actually that great at singing she is excellent at knowing how to schmooze a little. It doesn't take an Understanding higher than 2 to tell when someone's eagerly fishing for a compliment, but So-young still delivers it genuinely with a bright smile.

"If I'm honest," she adds in the low tone of conspiracy, "You are making me a little jealous. It's been much too long since I've had a roll around in a bath myself. Too many trains back and forth, too much hurrying, too much worrying," she makes a theatrical display of sighing behind her fan; woe is she who cannot go melt into a blob in an onsen from time to time. "A little self-care is long, long overdue."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
She grins and she responds! Pernelle's body gives a little bounce of excitement on his talons, though his head stays perfectly in place. "A question asked in wisdom! I fail to discern and appropriate answer!"

Would that So-young's Icarus could respond. It would mean Pernelle could have access to be a bit more fashion and opposable pinions. And Anqa, too! Hmm perhaps it's for the best. Pernelle's dances with Anqa are a fire hazard.

But she is on his level, and Pernelle finds his likes this. A little less of the looking all the way up up and ''up'' as he so often must. Better yet, So-young is ''praising'' him, and Pernelle cannot help but ruffle and preen, tilting and turning his head and body to show off the way the light hits his feathers and shifts in color. The trick to Pernelle, of course, is that he's always eager for compliments.

He leans his head in as they take to lower tones, joining her in this conspiratory volume, even with the theatrical gasp he makes with his wing briefly at his chest. "Such cruelty, madam! Who has you scurrying about to and fro with such urgency and fretting that you can ill afford a well deserved cleansing? Just because one such as yourself is ''clearly'' able to maintain immaculate appearances without a good bath does not mean it ought to be ''withheld!''"

Pernelle's voice lowers even further as he leans in. "Does someone need a good pecking? I am quite adept at pecking."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Paradoxically, the fact that Icarus does not respond somehow makes this interaction all the more magical. This isn't a talking bird in the Dark Hour, this is 'just' a talking bird, although never has the word 'just' felt so inadequate.

So-young rocks back on her heels a little to take in the sight of Pernelle's full preen, finding herself humming a little of Kodály's Peacock under her breath. "It's hard to tell your exact colour when you're so iridescent," she muses thoughtfully, her eyes wide. She's never really taken the time to look this close at a bird before. "But I do enjoy that gradiation a great deal. I'm more a fun of light and dark myself, but both make for excellent contrast, don't they?"

She looks terrifically pleased with herself despite her grousing, because there's something terribly fun about gossiping like this. "You might know a certain Myunghon, who was actually the one who referred me here. Truth be told, I'm learning they can be very bad at looking after themselves sometimes. What is an elder sister to do but fuss and fret over them?" she laments playfully, ignoring the fact that she and Myunghon in many ways might seem quite different.

Her mind spools back over the word 'madam', and she offers a hand forwards - not exactly to shake, but just to see how Pernelle responds. "Oh, please, there's no need for ceremony! My name is So-young Park. Should you ever want any music composed or conducted, I am at your service. And--" she barely hesitates at the offer of a good peck, delivering another brilliant smile. She doesn't quite know what it involves, but how often do you get to establish a rapport with a talking bird? "--frankly, I would be delighted."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Does Pernelle know this piece of music? Many a strange thing this bird knows. He has not yet met this song, but most assuredly in his soul, he knows it is a song for him, and he does a little tippy-tap dance on his feet. It's nothing so fancy as he might able to give in the Dark Hour, but perhaps its all the more endearing for it. He may try to talk a fancy game, but at the end of the day, he's a bird that's mostly round.

"I contain multitudes," Pernelle says proudly, his chest puffed up. If his feathers weren't sparkling, his incorrigible happiness with himself might be. He gestures with a wing at So-young's own choice in color -- or lack thereof. "It is a skill and a gift both to know one's colors. But you certainly have found yours, haven't you? Light and dark mingling against one another, panting out where shadows end and begin. And dare I say just a little bit of..."

Peafowl are not particularly known for their mimicry, yet Pernelle makes a few chirps that sound uncannily like taps upon the keys of piano.

His whole face lights up at the mention of Myunghon, and any pretense of sophistication drops in favor of Pernelle bouncing from one talon to the other. "Did they?! How splendid! Any friend of theirs is most welcome within these walls, if I've anything to say about it!" He spreads his wings in a flap. "And let me tell you, I say a good many things!"

Is that... something to be proud of...? A good word with the boutique's mascot might hold some value, at least.

But that cheer sobers with a curious twist of Pernelle's head. "Trouble caring for themselves...?" Contemplative memories consume Pernelle's avian expression, playing back the mental footage of Myunghon complaining about being scolded for putting delicious medical apparatus' in their mouth. Which they should be free to do! But there is another story there he neglected to absorb in his excitement.

... "Oh dear. Yes. I can, ah, perhaps, understand your concerns in retrospect." He looks to So-young. Sister, she says! How lovely! Family, the two of them.

So-young's hand is offered, and Pernelle bows his neck forward with a flourish of his wing, bringing it up under his palm in a sort of elegant greeting -- as much as a bird can give. "I cannot overstate what a pleasure it is to meet you, So-young Park. You may call me Pernelle. Did you say music? Fantastic! I am hopelessly infatuated with the auditory arts."

Especially at 3am on a weekday, from atop the roof, one can be sure.

As for the matter of pecking... "Marvelous choice. Then you simply name the perpetrator, and I shall have them pecked to death." Pause. "''Half'' to death. Let us not be uncouth now."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young has music running through her soul, and she is extremely quick to up her volume at the first sign of Pernelle's dance, her hands raising as if to conduct the motions. Of course, the moment that the bird mimics a piano, her hands shift to play an imaginary one in turn - despite her surprise. "Oh, very good!" she blurts, not even meaning to say it out loud but genuinely taken aback by how well the peacock replicates the sound.

A few seconds later, she lowers her hands. "Personally, I tend to enjoy playing the violin more, but it's much harder to style your hair in the shape of one," she winks. "And as much as I enjoy the look of dark wood on an instrument, not so much on my clothes. Still, I certainly would have brought it with me if I knew I'd have an appreciative audience."

That smile softens and becomes something lighter when Pernelle falls over themselves with warmth, praise and sympathy for Myunghon. For all the drama that has revolved around the Cardboard Dragon since she learned of its presence, there's something incredibly... soothing?... to watch someone just be so utterly enthused at the very mention of her sibling. Maybe this is what 'family' truly comes down to in the end?

(... So-young might forget this impulse by the time she steps out the store, but it's here now, and she can revel in it a little, right?)

Comprehension dawns - Pernelle wasn't talking about grooming, but about revenge. "Oh! Oh, there are so many possibilities," So-young's mouth supplies before her brain can engage and stop herself. "There's this one conductor who is convinced that just because my concerts don't sell out means they aren't worth doing. They are mid-afternoon shows! For students! What a boor," she grumbles, and then redoubles her smile. "Unfortunately, I would have to find a way to smuggle you into the theatre, and the doormen are very good at their jobs. Plus, I wouldn't wish his toupee to fall on anyone, least of all yourself."

"But maybe I can ease Myunghon's woes a little. They suggested I could find something fashionable and protective here, and that I should bring these--"

Shiny! Gold! Casino chips! ... from a mafia boss' head, but let's not examine that part too closely. They may even be familiar - So-young was far from the only person in there, and she's been slow to find the Peacock Silk.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
A conductor! Pernelle shall not reject the guidance of one who is an expert in their craft! He sways and moves with the motions, clumsy as they may be executed with talons for feet. The important thing, some say, is having fun. And if they are right, then Pernelle is a bird of great importance.

"A violin!" Pernelle echoes in delight. "Would you bring it along next time? I should love to hear you play it! I feel a certain kinship with such an instrument. Ah, such a lovely sound, and yet there are those who only know it for the squawking..."

Pernelle this is because you, until a practiced violin player, still squawk. Often.

But Myunghon does seem to bring a sparkle to Pernelle's eye. Such a glorious meeting of like minds. He thinks back to it, though... there was that sadness in Myunghon... not just about their 'dream' with Tsumugi, but... yes, yes, thinking on it now the whole issue with a violent world. Hm... yes, it is good there is a sister to look out for them. For all his pomp and circumstances, Pernelle does seem to be truly caught in a moment of rumination here.

"Well, then I can do a bit of fussing and fretting myself, yes?" he decides aloud.

It might surprise Pernelle to learn one would not be opposed to his efforts to groom, though he would probably go along with it. As it is, the bird, apparently, craves ''violence'' in his unattended thoughts. Peacocks aren't strict vegetarians, it turns out.

His train feathers rustle with anticipation. Who shall Pernelle do a violence to in the name of the glorious luxury that is a bath? He forgets, of course, that only a gave atrocity would warrant So-young's ire, and he gasps, aghast. "He said ''what?'' Does he not understand concert is worth conducting if it has but an audience of one! Why, that is the most worthy concert to conduct! Surely he does not spend all of his time in the theatre! I shall find him. I shall peck him!"

Pernelle flaps his wings in agitated offense. Who is this man! Who is he!

... Thankfully, he's quite easily distracted by shing objects. Pernelle's eyes sparkle, reflecting the glimmer of gold as he pecks at So-young's offered casino chips in inspection. "Tastes like dandruff!" Peck, peck. "Mm yes, and a touch of that certain something something that can be woven into proper opulence."

He raises his head back up. "Quite a find, So-young! Yes, yes, my companions ought to be able to spin these into something befitting of your beauty."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Is Pernelle's movements are sometimes clumsy, so what. So-young absolutely does not care in even the slightest way, modifying her movements quickly to match Pernelle's beat. She has always believed that music is something you have to feel and enjoy, and any rules or rhythms are mere suggestions in the face of that.

"It is ridiculous however you slice it!" she says afterwards, practically fuming as much as Pernelle. She has truly been introduced to a bird of her feather here. "Should one only get to enjoy music if 500 other people agree? What is the meaningful difference between five hundred and four hundred ninety-nine that suddenly devalues it all? Besides, I don't hear him trying anything new or upbeat. I would never disparage a piece of music on its own, but when you play the same piece of music over and over surely you can value a bit of a change from time to time."

She folds her arms, puffing her cheeks up. "... I will learn his secrets," she promises with foreboding. "And his car registration number." (Again, she might not. But in the moment, isn't it fun to think about?)

"I would be absolutely delighted to bring my violin along next time," So-young promises with an eager grin. "I cannot claim to be a master at it, but I do like to think I am rather good, and as you say, an audience of one is truly the most important show of all. Though, you know..." She pauses, and her smile breaks new ground. Doing this might get her thrown out of the Peacock Silk in the future, but she is a creature of impulse, and this is a soul of art in front of her. It is her role, her duty to encourage this. "I think I might have an instrument that I could bring along for you to play. A performance shared is even better, isn't it?"

wait is this where myunghon started the habit. do people just taste metaverse stuff on the regular-- she discards that thought when Pernelle next speaks.

"Oh, delightful! I've never really thought of gold as my colour when compared to silver, but I know well enough not to doubt a master's craft. And thank you for the compliment," she laughs as she preens in turn.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
This is because So-young is wise, Pernelle might say! But some might say Pernelle might say that because he has the body of a peacock.

As lively as Pernelle is with song and dust baths, he is too so with anger, and So-young's own frustrations feed his own. "This is a crime against art!" he declares, wings spread and train feathers threatening to take full display in intimidation against a man who is not here. "One or five hundred, the soul of the music is the same! And is a man who plays one song not admitting that his heart only one thing to say?! Fie! FIE!!"

Pernelle jabs his beak forward, now pecking at the idea of the man who is not here.

He takes a deep breath and exhales, smoothing his ruffled plumage down as he forces hismelf to calm. "Car registration..." he echoes, eyes narrowed. "Yes. Yes, teach this man fear for he clearly needs another emotion to take his soul."

But even better for soothing Pernelle's own soul is the promise of treats, and much as he loves tater tots, he also does consider performances equally delightful. And --

Oh no. Ooooh nooooo. Something dangerous is happening. Pernelle's eyes are so big. And so, so sparkly.

"An instrument... for me...?" Wonder overtakes him, and he begins to tippy-tap from one talon to the next again. "I should adore to partake in song with you! To let loose the melodies trapped in our hearts in a duet! Wonderful! Most wonderful!"

If So-young believes he can play an instrument, then he can do no less than give it his all!

Pernelle might only be people by technicality. He's still tasting the metaverse stuff though.

"I simply state what I see!" Pernelle continues on with compliments. But it is not the truth? His own compliments are not insincere things. This bird seems terribly sincere in all he does, however over the top any of it might be. "Do you have anything in mind, or shall I pass on my own notes to the experts in their craft?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young is genuinely cheered by the excitement she sees written plainly on the bird's face, and fortunately she knows just the right instrument for the job. It requires no hands, no opposable thumbs, is practically made for an inquisitive and dextrous beak, and makes a sound so strange that it can send fiends retreating into the night or provide a terrifyingly suspenseful warble of danger. It's perfect, and if So-young misses the chance to see the outcome she will never forgive herself.

Which doesn't mean she can't also puff up in raw pride as well as raw mischief. "But of course," she insists. "It is only right that I encourage a new musician if I have the chance, and I think you'll find this instrument a wonderfully novel experience," she-- alright, it's not technically lying if it's something she earnestly believes, and she really does want to give Pernelle the opportunity. It just might be a rough time for everyone in a large radius, because the instrument she has in mind is her portable theremin.

The conductor can recognize the earnestness in Pernelle's voice, because it matches her own. Myunghon wasn't kidding - this is someone who is as true to themselves as she always tries to be, not caring what others may think in the pursuit of being as So-young Park as it is possible to be. She's absolutely going to have to come back, she already decided long ago.

The last question is one that makes her pause in thought, and she lifts her head up to glance around the store for inspiration. Her gaze travels towards the pieces of metalwork and jewelry, and for a few moments she's not really quite sure why, just following her instincts - and then it clicks. "Ah!"

Reaching into her pocket, she takes out a slim object wrapped in a cloth. It looks a little like a pen - until she twists it, and it extends into a short, slim baton. Placing it across her hands for Pernelle to get a closer look, she offers it forwards. "My baton is my weapon of choice, you might say. As a conductor, I'd be delighted to receive a special one."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
The world may tremble tonight, for it senses its doom approaching. Pernelle, however, trembles with excitement. What wonder is this that So-young promises him? He will have to wait and see. After all, enigma is part of the fun, too.

And he probably wouldn't understand it even if she told him now.

"I do so adore novel experiences. You are pure-hearted, So-young, same as your sibling. And this pure heart of yours shall not be betrayed! Provide the means, and I shall pursue song with the fullest strength of my passions!"

The world may tremble further.

Pernelle waits patiently for So-young to take in the artistry around them and to gather her thoughts. It is an important question, and not one to be rushed! But then there is an answer, and Pernelle startles with a flap to be hold the object she presents. He understands immediately with a glimmer in his eye.

He inspects it closely, head moving with quick starts and jerks, as only a bird can.

"Ah, so this is the tool of ''your'' trade... The means by which your art is made manifest." He nods in understanding. "Then let it be so: a special instrument for a special art... and protection, so that dear Myunghon may woe just a little bit less."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> This might be the only point in which So-young does not agree with Pernelle. She is not so innocent as to think that her heart is pure, at least not in the moral sense. She wouldn't really call herself someone who is trying to be a good person. But pure in the literal sense, perhaps. What So-young Park cares about the most is the freedom to be the most So-young Park that ever So-young Parked.

Still, there is relief there when Pernelle gives the okay to her idea, and she bows her head in recognition of the craft. For all she knows, the peacock might be the one who actually crafts the thing. "That is wonderful... and thank you so much," she adds with a warm smile. "In that case, I shall wholeheartedly look forwards to both."

She purses her lips a little. She's not so stupid as to put it on social media, but part of her still wants to commemorate this somehow. "... would you be opposed to my taking a photo?" she wonders, and then brightens. "Ah, but maybe I should wait for your musical debut, so that you can sign it..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
<poem>
Pernelle straightens up, already coyly turning his head in picturesque perfectness.

"For you? No opposition at all. Now, later, or both."

And he will gladly sign when the time should come.

How? That is a mystery to be solved another time.

</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-09-11: For Exposure, Again!

2025-10-03T02:11:42Z

Stelas: Created page with "*'''Log: 2025-09-11''' *'''Cast:''' Masao Inaba, So-young Park *'''Where:''' Cardboard Dragon, Sumaru City *'''OOC Date:''' September 11, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' July 20, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''When trying to jump Yusuke in an art store didn't exactly work, a useful coincidence points her towards Mark instead.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed. <poem> The week has begun in early July, and Masao "Mark" Inaba is being punctual about the return of Myun..."

*'''Log: 2025-09-11'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Masao Inaba]], [[So-young Park]]
*'''Where:''' Cardboard Dragon, Sumaru City
*'''OOC Date:''' September 11, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 20, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''When trying to jump Yusuke in an art store didn't exactly work, a useful coincidence points her towards Mark instead.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
<poem> The week has begun in early July, and Masao "Mark" Inaba is being punctual
about the return of Myunghon's finished dry cleaning. (His mother showers
endless praise about how he's being responsible and good at being interested in
the family business and has been insufferable. But, you know, he loves her
anyway.)

He doesn't have a better place to go find them to deliver the laundry back,
so he's got no choice but to just make use of the spare store key and make sure
they're there. One ride in the family's car by the same aforementioned parent
later... it's late in the morning, and Masao's just navigated the outdoor fire
escape to get inside the Cardboard Dragon. Everything, up to this point,
largely goes as normal and expected. Just get this delivered, leave them the
text that their clothes are in the store, lock back up, and get on with his day.

Already going to be tricky threading the needle getting into his online
college courses as it is...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Someone is waiting inside the store. This wouldn't be so unusual, except the
Cardboard Dragon is supposed to be closed at the moment, and she doesn't
exactly look like she's your average customer here to buy some trading cards.
Tall and in her mid-twenties the woman has an air of self-assurance to her, sat
on the couch in the living area as if it were her home with a violin at her
chin. At the sound of the door opening she looks up to deliver a megawatt smile.

"Hello! We finally meet!" she says without any preamble at all, full of cheer,
her bow still moving across the strings as she finishes whatever she was
playing. With a bit of a flourish that looks more like an ingrained behaviour
than an attempt to impress anyone, she lowers the violin to her lap. "I've
heard a lot about you."

The way her grin turns lightly mischievous suggests she knows just how
ridiculous this whole situation looks at first glance, but for whatever reason
she seems to be rolling with it anyway.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
<poem> "Huh. Is violin playing?" Masao wonders to himself as he's getting the door
open. A neighbor? He doubts Myunghon would've left a television or radio on, or
something, from when they last talked. ...It's low on the list of 'weird things
that might be dangerous,' as he turns the key and opens the door--

'Hello! We finally meet!'

"WHOA," Masao flinches at the surprise that anyone would be here right now.
No, this is the Cardboard Dragon, he didn't accidentally just break into
someone else's place...

He slumps some, hand to the back of his head. "Shit, you startled me, so
wait-- friend of Myunghon's, or somethin' like that, right?" He takes back his
composure. "Yeah, sorry for uh... interruptin', just here to deliver back their
dry cleaning and..." Check the place over to discover someone else has been in
there, playing violin and waiting for him.

Masao is a little shorter than she is, and not all that terribly imposing a
figure 'at rest,' so to speak. He tries to roll with the awkwardness of it,
much as he can in the moment. "...So, uh, you waited here for me?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young looks immensely pleased at the noise of surprise and the flinch,
which is perhaps rather mean of her in the moment. She might feel bad about it
later, but probably not. "Sorry, sorry, I couldn't resist," she says with that
bright smile. "I've been spending some time looking after the place recently,
and after all the times that someone surprised _me_ by barging in all of a
sudden thinking Myunghon was back, I wanted to get my own back."

She easily waves away Masao's worries about interrupting. "It's alright - and,
please, go right ahead. I don't know where they wanted it put, but I assume
they told you." She's carefully watching out of idle curiosity, wondering
whether Masao's been given the go-ahead to climb up to the mysterious third
floor, but otherwise seems content to leave her meddling at that as she starts
to carefully clean her bow. "I'm family, actually! It's a bit complicated, mind
you. So-young Park," she introduces herself with another smile, of which she
seems to have an endless amount.

"And, yes, actually! Coincidence is on our side, it seems, because I was
hoping to talk to you at some point. You came recommended by-- ah..." Ah.
So-young isn't terrifically great at retaining names, not least of people she's
only met once who carefully avoided giving his own out for much of their
conversation. "Probably another of Madarame's ex-students. Even taller than I
am. Short blue hair. Made up almost entirely of knees and elbows." It's not a
stretch to connect that to one Yusuke Kitagawa.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
<poem> "...Yeah, I could get that," Masao more or less lets the idea of a playful
revenge on those surprising her roll off his back as he gets the laundry - and
the spare keys, which he dropped in his surprise - back in his hands and fully
where they need to be. (Which is to say, not outside.)

"All they said was that I oughtta 'steer clear' of the third floor, but...
that's where they live, and they got a broken arm." There's really no two ways
about it, Myunghon is an incredibly unique individual and that is the most
diplomatic way to put it in the moment. If they got family(, actually, it's a
bit complicated), that makes the logistics of where and how to leave it a bit
less enigmatic and worrisome!

A bit less.

Masao lets So-young keep hold of the conversation while he hoists the laundry
further along inside. The Inaba Dry Cleaners does good work, and so does Masao,
even if it's not the kind of work he wants to pursue doing. He's an artist!!

"By..." Probably another of Madarame's ex-students. Taller, short blue hair.
Does that ring a bell...?

"Huh. I hadn't talked much to his other students," he did get one drunken guy
yell at him incoherently shortly before Madarame's confession, and that sure
was an event to walk into just coming home to Japan. "But... yeah, I'm Inaba.
Masao Inaba," he bows properly... and rises up with a more youthful smile. "But
it sounds like y'know me better as 'Mark!'"

It's good to be known and recommended for that, even as awkward as that
meeting was! Is! It's still happening.

"Wish they'd told me, we coulda coordinated 'bout makin' sure we got
everything where it needed to without them riskin' falling down stairs over
carryin' their laundry... still. Glad I'm not keepin' watch on my own, then."

"Anyway... I guess if they're interested in me I'll run into 'em sooner or
later, so... what's up?" He stands up straighter, hands in his hoodie pockets
as he sets the laundry basket down. He's not sure what this conversation's
going to be about, but, that's just adulthood, isn't it?
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young snorts in amusement as Masao sums up the situation, sinking back in
her seat as she folds her arms. "I don't have permission to head up there
either," she laments. "Hell, I don't even know where things go in the actual
store. It'll probably be fine if you leave it in the space by the stairs - so
long as they can get to it quickly."

Her eyes stray in the direction of the old building stairs and elevator,
currently partially blocked by Johnny-kun the plastic plant. "I'm beyond
curious what might be waiting up there, but even I'm not rude enough to power
my way up into someone's private space, even that of family. If someone showed
up in my apartment unannounced I'd certainly pitch a fit, so I suppose I
shouldn't be a hypocrite about it."

'Should' is doing a lot of work in that sentence. So-young has been, and will
be, a hypocrite whenever she wants to be. But even she recognizes that breaking
this particular facet of trust would be a bit beyond the pale.

"If it helps at all, I think I might have made him a bit paranoid," the woman
adds as she picks up her purse and hoists it onto her lap. She's a lot more
finely dressed than you'd expect someone hanging around the Cardboard Dragon
after hours to be - a black evening dress as if she's just come from the
theatre - but then, Myunghon wears a lot of formal monochrome clothes too.
Maybe it's a family thing. "He might have just decided to offer you up to me as
a sacrifice."

She winks, to show she's kidding, and extracts a business card to offer it
over once Mark's done with the laundry: So-young Park, Guest Conductor, Tokyo
Philharmonic. She lets silence reign for a moment, and then nods her head,
suddenly turning solemn. "When I talked about wanting to commission an artist,
your classmate said that they were feeling betrayed, and might never be able to
work in the art world again. I'm curious what you'd say to that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
<poem> Neither of them can go up to the third floor, then. That... complicates
things. All he can go by is So-young's word then, just putting it in the space
by the stairs, once he's got the opportunity to do that. He's in a middle of a
conversation now, after all.

"They're already puttin' a lotta trust in me as-is," Masao concurs. Not like
they have a reason to go barging in, unless they both heard a burglar or
something. Myunghon could afford to have one less thing to worry about than
people seeing whatever's on the third floor.

On to the subject of the ex-student...!

A morbid joke, a wink, and a business card taken. So-young Park, Guest
Conductor, Tokyo Philharmonic. That's not a small feat at all!

She relays the tail about wanting to commission an artist, but... their
feelings about being betrayed, and might not able to work in the art world
again...

Masao's expression hardens. "What? Give up on art?!" Masao quiets and thinks
about it. "...Nah, they must've known Madarame a lot longer than I did. If
everything he said in that press conference was true..."

The street artist puckers his lips at the thought of it. "What I say to that,
is that I'm not gonna take this opportunity from him," he looks up, "Madarame's
whole thing really messed up a lot of my own shit, but I ain't gonna build a
career off the back of another artist he hurt."

He shakes his head. "Hard enough to live the life of an artist these days,
y'know?" Exhibit A - still working at his family's business and having to move
back in with them.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young stares for a long moment as Mark answers, her eyebrows going up in
surprise. For all her boisterousness, she seems to be well aware of when it's
most important to shut up and listen as someones deliver a speech - after all,
she's not just a professional musician but also a professional member of the
audience when she needs to be, and she implicitly understands the importance of
a dramatic moment.

Then, she simply bursts straight into laughter.

Quick to hold up a hand in surrender, it takes some time for her to subside,
still sniggering to herself in between her replies. "Honestly! What is with
this sense of responsibility? The two of you said the exact same thing!" she
grins brightly as she folds her arms, certainly not looking as put out as she
sounds. "Quite aside from the fact that I've never met an artist that could
affort to turn down a particularly juicy commission, why are you both acting as
if there's a limited amount of art available in the world? Since when was the
pursuit of putting paint to canvas first-come first-served?"

She settles down at least a little, though she's still grinning. "First, let
me put your concerns to rest directly. I run a series of weekday orchestra
performances out of the Bunkamura in Shibuya, and my personal goal is to try to
get as much new blood involved in them as possible. Guest musicians, unusual or
more up-to-date setlists, whatever it takes. Recently, I've also been granted a
little in the way of gallery space in the foyer, and I plan to match
performances to themes - to art."

"So I can at least say you wouldn't be taking a slot away from anyone else.
It's a rotating slot: there is always next week, or the week after, and so on."

So-young looks up, a frown coming back to her face. "What worries me is that
this pupil was worried about public backlash from their association with
Madarame. Now, I can personally say I don't give a damn. Art is art, and talent
is talent. But I'm not the sort of person who can just encourage someone back
to art if their heart's not in it. That's why I asked."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
<poem> There is laughter, and there is blinking.

"Both of us? We said the same thing. You're for real on that." Exasperated,
as she goes into detail about how they really can't afford to turn down
particularly juicy commissions, and she's not wrong. Once more, that head at
the back of his head, having it bowed at the odd humbling.

Do all artists share the same braincell?

Still, he calms down as she better explains the situation as to the hows and
whys of what she's doing, and going for a rotating slot - but, more detail
about the pupil's worries.

...And why he's being reached out to.

"All right... yeah, I get you." Does he, this time? That he doesn't have this
fear of association - given the timing of Madarame's fall happened *just* as he
came back to Japan - really is a point of social privilege, isn't it? (Despite
how much of a mess *that* created too...)

"I'll reach out to 'em. Tall guy, short blue hair, really thin... do I have
that right?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Almost to the word," So-young replies flatly, though with a grin on her face.
That's probably an exaggeration on her part, but she does mean it in spirit -
if nothing else, the thrust of their argument was quite the same. She's quick
to wave Masao to the other end of the couch, pulling out a small portfolio of
photos.

"These are some of the previous artists we've had on. The photos aren't
terribly good, but hopefully you get an idea of what I'm shooting for." What
she's looking for seems... extremely freeform. Outside of a general theme, the
actual works on display seem to be more or less up to the artist, which is a
remarkable amount of freedom for So-young to give up for the sake of a
commission. But a booklet tucked in between the pages seems legit enough - it's
a programme for one of the shows, and features the artist's name and a little
bit of blurb about why they picked their theme.

"You can leave the scoring side of things up to me. If you're feeling angry
and violent, there is plenty of classical music I can use to match. If you're
feeling mellow and pastoral, we can break out the woodwinds. If a beat is what
you need, then I will not disappoint," she adds with that same iron-clad
self-confidence. "What I'm interested in is giving people a platform and seeing
what it is they want to present most."

She hesitates when Masao mentions reaching out to the other student, and you
can see her expression start to shift into another round of mild but amused
exasperation. "... while I would not mind you doing so in the least, I think I
should make it completely clear: I am trying to see if you would also be
interested in presenting something. Why only hire one of you when I can hire
both?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
<poem> Masao, waved over, takes a look at the portfolio. He blinks a few times at the
third one. "Oh, cool, you got that guy, never even heard of the stuff he did
for that--"

He's impressed! Whoever that name was he saw there, that's impressive, and
he's looking intently at the second and fifth ones too. He nods a few times as
she talks about how she tries to match to the artist's mood. That is about as
close to a blank canvas as it gets...

"All right, yeah - I'd be down," he says, setting down the photographs he's
been geeking over for the last half-minute, sure is a lot of fortuitous
circumstances falling into his lap lately! ...Maybe it's okay for good things
to just be good, even if how they're coming into his path is kinda weird.

"...Yeah, I wanna see to it you get to hire both!"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> With a pleased smile, So-young nods her head. "Hang onto that card, then. As I
said, I don't mind what theme you want to present, so long as I get some notice
about it. Old or new paintings, it's up to you what you want to showcase. If I
were you, I might consider working through your feelings about Madarame - or
that's what I would have said at first. But it doesn't seem like it's affected
you nearly as much as the other young man."

There's no judgment there. Rather, So-young can't help but feel a certain
degree of relief, because she's not lying when she says she's not suited to try
to encourage someone back into art. This is the downside of being so headstrong
about her own creativity - she's not well placed to be the voice of empathy,
and she was slightly dreading the idea of someone being so disillusioned that
they decided not to go for it.

"Well, I will leave contacting him up to you. I did, ah, kind of accost him in
an art supplies store and ask about Madarame point-blank. In retrospect, that
may not have been the most successful opener in the history of the world," she
says that, but she still doesn't look all that cut up about it...
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.
<poem> "Heh. Well... I can't say I'm completely free of the guy," Masao says as he
takes the card on his person for later. "But one way or another, still an
artist! And... I'm just gonna get out what's in my soul through that, y'know?"
He smiles to that, because of course he's going to. But the tentacles of where
Madarame had his terrible grip on the art world doing what he was doing...
that's a taller and taller task for anyone a part of the art world, isn't it?

"...I mean if it was anything like how we just met, yeah?" In a blunt 'you
think?' kind of look on his face. "But nah... I'll do what I can there."

...

Someone's got to, when everything has gotten weird and it feels more and more
like people are really fighting uphill against things that just seem impossible
to overcome by the momentum of society and its expectations and opinions, don't
they?
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-09-07: Kiss and Don't Tell

2025-10-03T02:08:29Z

Stelas: Created page with " *'''Log: 2025-09-07''' *'''Cast:''' Remi Ryuuja, So-young Park *'''Where:''' Cardboard Dragon, Sumaru City *'''OOC Date:''' September 07, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' July 07, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''On girls, and kissing.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed. <poem> It's the end of a shift, and Remi is busying hreself with closing up the store. She's ushered the last customers out, closed the door, and she's doing all the small little things like counting out..."

*'''Log: 2025-09-07'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Remi Ryuuja]], [[So-young Park]]
*'''Where:''' Cardboard Dragon, Sumaru City
*'''OOC Date:''' September 07, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 07, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''On girls, and kissing.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
It's the end of a shift, and Remi is busying hreself with closing up the store. She's ushered the last customers out, closed the door, and she's doing all the small little things like counting out the till and recording the day's sales.

It was actually an okay day, all things considered.

Remi is a half-French woman, taller than the average Japanese woman at 5'6". She's got wavy honey-blonde hair and brown eyes with green flecks. She's dressed in a black beret, turtleneck, and skirts, and a dark sea green cardigan and matching boots.

Yes, she's layered up despite the summer heat. She seems fine despite that, though.

Today in particular she's made a few trips up to the third floor to avail herself of the freezer, taking out some ice packs to occasionally ice up her arms, though her arm isn't iced at the moment.

She's humming some French tune to herself as she works, and on the counter next to her as an English copy of Carmilla, with a bookmark in it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young takes the steps up to the Cardboard Dragon-- well, not two at a time, because it's a fire escape and she's wearing heels and that's a recipe for a broken neck and all put together it would be a pretty damn humiliating way to go out after everything she's done recently. But she's clearly excited, humming something under her breath, several bars repeated as if she's trying to commit them to memory.

She's been showing up some evenings to help look after the shop, which is also an excuse for her to have a large space to herself to practice her violin and work on some composition. She's remarkably amenable to just house-sitting the place - it doesn't seem to bother her at all, and she's making some real in-roads on getting to know the local restaurants and one izakaya in particular.

Without even breaking her stride she's entered, crossed over to the living area, slung her violin case onto the couch, and is bent over it to extract some staff paper. In no time at all she's spread it out on the table, scribbling something for a moment and marking down two rows of notes in a quick and efficient hand. That done, she raises her head with a sigh of satisfaction - and finally seems to notice that someone else is there.

"--hello!" she beams brightly. She's surprisingly tall, but then so is Myunghon, so maybe there's a bit of genetics at play there. So-young carries her personality around her like a floodlight, instantly trying to take up as much space and attention as she can, and the black evening dress seems like it's part of that. "Terribly sorry. I had to get something out of my head and onto paper as soon as possible, but it never comes out right when I'm trying to write on the train."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Those fire ecape stairs are tricky--Remi navigates those by wearing boots with flatter heels.

She looks up, frowning for just a moment as So-young enters--but only just long enough to recognize her and recognize she's not a threat.

She might ''keep'' looking, for just a moment, to check out that black evening dress and heels... but she quickly looks back to her work, her cheeks maybe just a bit lightly flushed. She's been reading too much Carmilla today, it's gotten her imagination going.

She looks up and smiles when So-young takes notice of her. She doesn't go ''quite'' as big these days--though there was a time that she did. Hers is still polished and sociable, however. "It is quite alright, dear. I am not a musician but I do understand how it is when the muse strikes. How has your evening been, Park-san?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young looks terrifically pleased with herself as she more or less throws herself onto the couch, the whole motion almost ridiculous given how elegantly she strode in as she lazes against the armrest. It's a strange combination - she's clearly vain and clearly loves looking good, but then just as suddenly will act in a flurry of unrestrained motion. At least you can call her true to herself.

There's a grin on her face, but it's not really clear if she spotted that attention or if she's just soaking in the end of a good day. "I cannot complain at all! The performance went very well, so much so that even the director had to compliment me on it. The look on his face remains priceless every time," she hm-hm-hms to herself before continuing brightly: "And I got an adrenaline-filled kiss of thanks from one of the debuting violinists, too. Very cute," she nods solemnly as she folds her arms.

She does at least manage to ease off her enthusiasm a little, because when it comes down to it Sumaru's been a pretty dangerous place as of late and it's important to make sure of a few things. Still, she's smiling brightly as she unpacks her violin and tends to the strings. "How have things been here? No sign of unpleasant guests, I hope? ... honestly, I am holding my breath waiting for the next thing to happen, but no news certainly feels like good news at the moment."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, by contrast, most often seems very measured and in control of herself. She doesn't cut loose a lot, and makes an effort to be refined and graceful. 'Proper' might be a vitting adjective.

She'll certainly hope that So-young didn't notice that attention. "I'm glad it went so well. I'm sure everyone put forth a lot of effort to contribute to its success. And oh? What sort of expression did the director make?" She blinks. "Ça alors! How... ''exuberant''."

She's still working on paperwork as So-young inquires how things have been. "Not terrible. Business did well today, and I did not have any difficulty." She shakes her head. "No unpleasant guests. One hopes there will be no further unpleasantness for a while, but... such things remain out of our control."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young lifts the violin to her chin, closing her eyes as she bows a single low note, pairing it with a hum as she tunes her violin. Dissatisfaction flickers across her face as she lowers the instrument again, minutely adjusting one of the pegs at the top before repeating the process. Throughout it, she's still talking along, her expression bright.

"Oh, he has yet to believe that video games can have actual music worth listening to," So-young rather blithely says. "And here I am, pulling in the crowds with a concert focused exactly around that. Honestly, working with the arrangements was half the fun of the thing already, but the crowd we managed to pull in off the back of word-of-mouth rather proved my point. He's the sort who thinks you have to venerate anything older than he is."

She's clearly had a very good day, as she's not even grimacing or sounding particularly upset despite her gripes. A rousing success, then, especially when she brightens even further at the exclamation afterwards. "She'd been terrified ahead of the performance, but still managed to step out onto the stage regardless," she notes with genuine pride. "She was practically shaking afterwards, poor thing. We do get the occasional faint, but she held up."

To be honest, So-young doesn't know the first thing about Myunghon's actual business. She kind of just assumes it's a front for whatever Dark Hour-related things Myunghon is up to on any given day, but it's still nice to hear it's doing well, and especially pleasant to hear that no-one's showed up. The only thing that sours her mood is knowing that everything is out of their control. "Hopefully that asshole has fallen into a ditch somewhere and exploded," she mutters, just a little incoherently in that way that says she's speaking from the heart.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi listens, just a little, as So-young tunes the violin, but mostly tunes it out.

"Ahh, I see," says Remi as So-young explains. "I must admit, video games are not exactly something I am well-acquainted with." Her eyes flick over to the Baestation 3. Her attempts to play it have so far been... lackluster.

"... that being said, however, it sounds as if you are doing something rather... unconventional. And I suppose I have had my fair share of being unconventional on a stage. So I am happy to hear of your success."

'She'd' been terrified. Remi can't help but catch that detail. "The poor dear... but I am certainly glad to hear she made it through the performance. Stage fright is a dreadful thing, isn't it?"

Remi, at the very least, is determined to make sure at least the mundane part of the store performs decently well. Well, it's up to Myunghon, still, but Remi is more pleased to see more black ink on the register. "If only we should be so lucky."

IT'd certainly be neater for ''her'', at least. One less NWO problem to worry about.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> Ultimately, So-young tuning her violin just means a lot of single notes paired with a hum as she matches the tones up. It's not a process that involves screeching or pain, but it's not exactly scintillating either. It's not that long before she finishes with a little flourish of music, as if testing all the strings in ensemble to ensure they sound good together, and then lowers it to her lap.

"I dabble a little," she hums in the innocent tone of someone who absolutely doesn't have an internal drive to get as many high scores on the rhythm games at her local arcade. "But more than the games it's the music I'm interested in, of course. Some of them have the most amazing soundtracks, quite suited to a bombastic sort of performance. There's one with a whole bank of trumpets blasting. It's the perfect pick-me-up."

She sags theatrically. "That is the only problem with trying to showcase new talent whenever I can. I really have had the occasional guest performer just not show up due to nerves." So-young sounds oddly unbothered by that as she shrugs, as if that's just how it is. She can't drag someone to the stage if they don't want to play, because that's only going to make the show worse for everyone, musicians and audience. "But that just makes it all the better when someone pushes through it."

So-young snickers to herself suddenly. "Rest assured I am not about to abuse my position of power, though. Not even if I get the most starry-eyed look and a kiss along with it." Yeah, she says that, but there's that vain pride on full display. She's super puffed-up.

Riding that high, she beams. "Well! As a newly minted meddler in Sumaru, what should I expect next? Do we get a whole police raid at some point? Sudden earthquakes? Horrors from the sky?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"I hope it goes better for you than it does for me," Remi says of dabbling. But it's less the games and more... "I see," Remi says, thoughtfully. "I never knew video games could have such a quality to them. Perhaps I shall continue trying them..."

"Well, that must be quite dreadful for those so afflicted they cannot even show on stage. I've certainly talked my fair share of actors out of a case of stage fright. It is no mean feat."

So-young gives assurances, and Remi looks up from her work to regard her for a moment. "Mmm. If you say so, dear."

"I should certainly hope not," Remi says of police raids. "I daresay having one unsavory cop is quite enough to deal with. Still, you know how those rumors are. Some days it feels like anything might be possible."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Well, if I decide to get all lofty about it, I suppose you could say I see that as my role when it comes to planning and organizing these events. My goal is to broaden the appeal of classical music-- well, no. I just like experimenting and trying new things," she admits with a carefree smile and another shrug. "But, since one leads to the other, that is all well and good."

"It's been a long time since I've thought of my acting classes," she adds, a little wistful as she props her chin up on her hand. "For the longest time, everyone - myself included - thought I was going to follow my mother into showbusiness. Like it was just the natural outcome. I can't say I ever had stage fright myself, but at the same time it just turned out it wasn't for me." It's pretty easy to understand, looking at her now. So-young is relentlessly 'herself', with no real desire to paper over that.

A frown flickers across her face again as she folds her arms under Remi's scrutiny. "Somehow, no-one ever believes me. Even the other conductors were needling me with 'don't eat her up, So-young'. I do have some morals in here somewhere, you know!" she grumbles, but there's an amusement in her eyes as well.

"To be honest, I'm still getting the hang of it all. I mean, of course I know how fast word-of-mouth can spread, and it would be a lie to say I haven't weaponized it myself in the past when it comes to promoting myself. But it really feels a world apart from here in Sumaru."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"A little bit of loftiness never hurt anyone, I feel. But it is good to feel passion for your art." She does smile back, just a little.

"I was in Drama Club in high school..." Remi stops working for a moment, reminiscing. She has her own wistful sigh. "Mmm... I was never going to pursue it as a career, but I shall always cherish my time on stage..." She remembers, about Myunghon's (and by extension So-young's) mother.

"'Eat her up'? How evocative." She's not sure how she feels about that, or the mental image it creates. "I have no reason to doubt you, of course." Except the fact that So-young bragged about it so openly. But she doesn't take her for ''that'' sort, not really.

"Yes, well..." Remi is thinking. It won't break her 'cover' too much to share a little bit of how Sumaru works. "Rumors carry real weight in Sumaru, Park-san. Many of the ones you might hear on the street do, in fact, turn out to be true, at least here."

She looks thoughtful for a moment, as she regards So-young. There's something of a glint in her eye as she leans forward, elbows resting on the counter. "Say... would you like to hear about my Drama Club's production of Romeo and Juliet? It caused ''quite'' a stir."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Yes, well," even So-young seems a little embarrassed at how seriously Remi is taking her story, like she was expecting more of a rise that she could respond to. "I was simply enjoying someone else's bubbly joy, that's all. I'm certainly not about to do anything stupid that risks my performances or my position." There is at least a deeply serious note in her voice when it comes down to that simple truth - because she's had quite enough of people throwing their power around the last couple of weeks.

She turns glum as she sags, thinking of the rumour about Myunghon and their very blunt, matter-of-fact response to it. "No, I am starting to understand that, little by little." It's another in the list of things about Sumaru that she's just going to have to catch up on piece by piece.

"... acting simply wasn't for me," So-young adds after a wistful moment. Her smile is quieter, a little lost in nostalgia. "I enjoyed my time with it, I suppose, but when I imagined it stretching out into the future, that was when I started to have that horrible creeping feeling that it wasn't for me. Fortunately, I managed to figure out what that was before I went into university and not afterwards. Mother gave me hell for it, in her way," she snorts.

She brightens considerably when Remi dangles a story in front of her, because So-young might not be an actress anymore but she is still an avid lover of drama, a collector of stories, and an impeccable audience member with an appreciation for flair. "Oooh. How big of a stir are we talking? I have quite high expectations with a lead-in like that," she beams.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi is a bit more serious for a moment, herself, when she hears that serious tone from So-young. "... I ''do'' believe you, Park-san. I am glad the violinist was so effusive in sharing her excitement."

Sumaru rumors might be easier for Remi to accept. She's lived in Sumaru her whole life, after all. "I imagine it is quite a culture shock, to someone not from the area."

"It is certainly a wonderful thing to discover that so early, yes. I do hope your mother ws not too rough on you. I enjoyed it for many reasons, not the least of which was being able to perform some dazzling stage combat every now and again."

Remi chuckles. "Oh, it was the talk of the school, I ''assure'' you." She's feeling... oddly excited. She hasn't dished liked in quite some time, but she's judged So-young to be the perfect audience for it. "For my last year at Sevens--and you can confirm everything I am about to tell you with Myunghon--I decided tht since I was due to start college and prepare to go into business, that I wanted to end my acting career with a splash. I petitioned quite hard to make Romeo and Juliet be the play." She leans in further, mischief fully in her eyes. "Guess what part I auditioned for."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young tilts her head a little in a nod. Her feathers don't seem ruffled so much as she's just actually sticking to the convictions she's got somewhere under her skin, her arms folded as she looks momentarily imperious. That deflates pretty quickly at the thought of 'culture shock', the conductor letting out a sigh. "... the rumours aren't the half of it. I've only been in Japan two years, and I've had to very quickly become aware of how good I've had it here," she admits awkwardly. "I am still... adjusting."

That's a really prim and proper way to say it, but it's all she's got right now. She lets the thought go as she looks up. "Oh, mother dearest is always rough. It's how she shows love, allegedly," So-young snorts brightly. "If anything it wasn't her so much as the gaggle of Kind Old Aunties. 'Oh, but So-young, just think, you and your mother on the same stage...!'"

The thought of getting not just a good story but also a little piece of Myunghon's past as well is like catnip to her, and she leans back in her chair as she considers. You can just see her picturing a frame around Remi, a stage backdrop, checking her build and height, she just mentioned fencing-- "Romeo. Or Tybalt. But probably Romeo," she decides, trusting her gut instincts over everything else.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"I imagine it must be an adjustment," Remi says sympathetically. She hesitates for a moment. "It is... perhaps not the same, but of late I have been making my own adjustments. I hope you can navigate yours well."

She nods, "I see. It is an incredible freedom, to choose the path you wish. I'm glad yours seems to be working out so well for you."

Sadly the story is less about Myunghon than So-young might want--but Myunghon was certainly aware of what happened back then, at the very least. She grins broadly, laughing softly as So-young guesses it. "Got it in one. I was ''magnificent''... but we very nearly did not find a Juliet with the right chemistry. I might have resigned myself to the part of Tybalt or Mercutio. But we did, and ''that'' is when all the gossip started."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young isn't really quite sure what to do with sympathy in this situation, either. From her point of view she doesn't really need the sympathy - she's got the cool job! she's got the nice Shibuya apartment! she doesn't have a truncheon falling towards her face nearly as often-- okay, even she knows that's not helpful lines of thinking, so she lets out a slight sigh and nods in acceptance. "... thank you. I'll get there somehow," she adds, because that much she's certain about.

She nods readily along. She's not phased when Remi calls herself 'magnificent', because as far as she's concerned a little ego can go a long way towards enhancing a performance, and also because she'd be the biggest hypocrite imaginable.

"The best twist would be if you were playing both parts," So-young normally doesn't chip in but does this time, because the idea is too good not to share. "Turning back and forth as you move between them. But then?" she adds, lapsing back into the role of audience all too quickly and easily.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi will let her sympathies lay there. She doesn't know So-young ''that'' well, and... well, their situations are different. But she does nod as So-young says she'll manage.

But she does laugh at that joke. "If only t'were possible, but sadly, I am not ''such'' a talented performer that I can appear to be in two places at once. But... I did find my Juliet... and people started to talk, gossiping about the two of us. It certainly didn't help that our on-stage chemistry was undeniable. But someone even started a rumor that the two of us were ''dating''."

"But all the gossip died out eventually, and sadly, I had to move on after I graduated." She resumes her work, starting to pack up the paperwork she'd been working on.

... Of course, she never ''denied'' that they were dating, did she? At least, not in this telling of events.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> With a puff of her cheeks, So-young folds her arms again. "Gossip is terribly cheap. It's a useful tool, but other than that I prefer to ignore it as much as possible," is what she says first, with a certainty and a self-assuredness that suggests she's no stranger to it.

The rest, she hums thoughtfully about, digesting it for a little bit. So-young is not terribly good at reading people in the end - she's much better at picking out the emotions and feelings that a work of art is supposed to invoke, more coming at it from the point of view of a producer or reviewer rather than someone being directly affected themselves.

So perhaps what she says next is a bit strange or a bit off, but she rolls with it regardless, again trusting her gut as she always does. "Well! I hope you at least kept in contact with them," she decides with another bright smile. "I mean, it would be a shame not to, wouldn't it? Whether it's acting or as friends or as partners, you only get so many chances at the sort of chemistry that you can look back on fondly years later."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"It ''is'' a bit tawdry," Remi agrees. "But all the same, there ''is''. a certain delight in goading them on. It certainly did not hurt the attendance numbers, at least."

Remi stops again, as So-young hopes they've kept in touch. Her face becomes unreadable for a moment. "... sadly, I haven't." There is a distinct note of melancholy to her voice. She sighs heavily. "I left town for a fe years, so I was out of touch... I am certain she must have moved on from those times."

But she does manage a smile as she finishes packing up. "But I am at least back in touch with Myunghon and some other close friends, so I shall be glad for that."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young smirks. "Well, I'd just class that under it being a useful tool," she sniggers to herself with some relish. "Amusing yourself is still a suitable enough endeavour if you ask me, and a little infamy never hurt anyone too badly either." This is the same person that talked about their upstanding morals earlier...

She's silent for a little longer, but then shakes her head. "Nonsense. Or at least, I'm sure that other person has just the same thoughts as you from time to time. Have some faith in your own magnificence," she declares, and maybe she hasn't lost all of her acting ability the way she injects a note of imperiousness into her voice and the way she waves her hand.

Immediately, she breaks off into a grin. "In any case, thank you for the story! I hope to see your acting in person someday," So-young adds with a nod of absolute certainty.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi chuckles. "Yes, well... I certainly earned my fair share of that."

They did, in fact, date, and they also, very amicably, broke up, expecting to go different ways after graduation. And yet...

Remi's thoughts still linger on that other girl.

"... Well, I'd like to think I haven't lost all of my magnificence. So perhaps one day you all." She finishes packing up. "It was quite a delight chatting with you, Park-san. Do have a good night."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-08-20: Lento

2025-10-03T01:42:09Z

Stelas:

*'''Log: 2025-08-20'''
*'''Cast:''' [[So-young Park]], [[Ririka Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Bunkamura Halls, Shibuya
*'''OOC Date:''' August 19, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' June 28, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Even So-young has to slow down sometimes, especially when a Palace's fatigue hits in the middle of morning practice.''

----

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> The practice sessions that So-young runs for her concerts are as unorthodox as everything else about her. She's familiar enough now with the core orchestral members that she can trust them to look after themselves and put in the practice without being overwhelmed by her rather bombastic personal brand of conducting, so afternoon practice is rare, and even during morning practice she tends to focus on the soloists she picks out for each concert, ensuring that she has enough time and space to weave their part into the rest of the ensemble.

But one thing they _do_ tend to be is doggedly consistent. You can't accuse So-Young Park of not having energy even on the worst of days, which makes it all the more odd that she's almost zombied her way through today's practice. She's waved off talk of being ill, just citing a very bad night's sleep and having enough energy to at least snipe back and forth with one of the trombonists when he jokes about her being out drinking. Now she's taking a moment in the performer's lounge to look quite unusually out of place, almost curled up on one of the chairs as she sips an energy drink.

You can't just explain 'oh I was crawling around inside a mafia boss' head last night which was presented as a giant flying bank filled with people who were ATMs and I manifested my desire for artistic freedom so that it could explode things and the cathartic backlash and muscle fatigue have combined to leave me dead on my feet today', but the throbbing headache she's trying to work through is certainly making it a tempting option.

"Thank you, Noguchi-san," she offers a sympathetic smile to a younger female flutist who's been fussing over her, "I'll be alright. Just give me a few minutes." Of course, So-young immediately dramatically flops to one side once she's left and makes a noise like 'guehhhh'.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Yes, any serious and established performer will, of course, practice whatever required material on their own. A practice like this isn't for learning the material, but for learning how to work with the other performers, and to learn how the conductor wants the piece to be played...

Ririka's not part of the main ensemble, of course--she still has schooling and other things happening, of course. (Including her recent Sumaru TV appearance with her ''rock band''.) But a guest performer is something she's more than happy to do, even if if it's one more thing on her busy schedule, but she hates to disappoint anyone...

And she noticed how off So-young seemed today, of course, but... even beyond that she kept sneaking glances her way. ''Something'' seemed off, but she couldn't be sure... but either way she was concerned. So when So-young went to go sit in the longue, after a bit Ririka quietly stuck her head in. "Park-san? Are you okay?"

She's a pretty tall girl, 5'10" in all, with long brown-black hair and red eyes. And she's dressed nice, but still casual, black t-shirt and skirt, and sneakers.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young has gone full dramatic wilting goth at the moment. She tends to show up to the orchestral practices in rather rich dark dresses that wouldn't look out of place in Harajuku street fashion, and between that and the way she's laid out with a hand draped across her forehead she really looks like she's going for a full-on vogue session. Her hair - white with long black streaks running through it to emulate the keys of a piano - practically falls over her face, and her face is hidden behind her jacket to block out the light.

"Gueh," she repeats again out loud - but at least she's polite enough to immediately lift up and offer a bright smile, positively hauling herself up to vertical with a will of effort more than anything else. "Ah, Kawase-san! Good work today." She's definitely just kind of saying that automatically given how out of it she's been, but at least the smile is genuine enough. "I hope the selection isn't too eclectic this time around, but I couldn't just pass up the theme, you know?"

... that's... the other part of So-young's programmes that requires some adjustment. Sometimes you never really know what you're going to get, and whatever 'theme' the conductor has planned includes a traditional concerto grosso for strings as its opening piece before mixing - mixing! - into a lively piece taken from a recent videogame and adapted heavily for the orchestra by So-young herself.

"Oh, don't worry about me," she adds with a wave and another smile. "This is Shibuya! You have to take the good nights with the bad. Sometimes Tokyo can't help but be loud, I'm finding, and I've been spending a little time in Sumaru lately. I suppose I just got used to the quiet."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka has to admit--piano hair is ''kind'' of awesome.

She'll take the complment. She puts in the work, after all... and where others might call the themes ecclectic, Ririka finds them ''exciting''. Mixing a classical piece into a video game arrangement is exactly the kind of thing she loves, and while she would never disparage the classical, she loves seeing all of the ways music can be remixed or given a fresh context.

"Not at all, Park-san!" gushes Ririka as she steps more fully in. "I think it's brilliant! The way you took that synthesizer backbeat and translated it to a string arrangement was inspired! It's the kind of thing that makes your concerts amazing to listen to."

"Oh, I see," Ririka says as So-young speaks of it being loud in Tokyo. "I guess it can, huh...?" She might be tapping her fingers rhtyhmically on her thigh a little as she talks--the keen-eyed might notice it's in time with the melody line of her piano solo. "Oh, okay, if you're sure. I just..." She pauses a moment, glancing off to the side. "... well, I thought something might have happened, but maybe I was wrong." She looks back to So-young with a slightly awkward smile. "I'm sure you'll get used to Tokyo again in no time."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young tends to sort of self-select her team to be people who are willing to push the boundaries of classical music, mostly by annoying anyone who isn't enough that they don't want to work with her in the first place. There have been rumours of occasional shouting matches between her and some of the more crusty members of the orchestral suite... but on a more positive note, that has given her a lot of opportunity to change around the team and include many guest musicians.

She gets to preen over Ririka's gushing, which does seem to help lift her spirits a lot - not that they seem to need much lifting, though. While she might be clearly tired, she simultaneously seems remarkably energized, bursts of excitement and plans rolling around in her head. She blasted in through the doors this morning, even if that burst of energy only lasted a short time. Watch out for her in the coming days. "Oh! Well, I can't take full credit for it myself, of course. I'm simply building on some ideas someone online had - with permission, of course."

She reaches to one side for her own instrument case - she's not good enough to play in an orchestra, but she does occasionally improvize with the violin or use it to illustrate the sort of style she's going for when words and gestures won't quite get the point across. "That reminds me, I have a few student tickets prepaid for you to pass out to whoever you think would like them. I'm making it a point to try to spread some more of these around, but they wouldn't let me get my hands on the adult tickets. Here," she passes over a small sheaf of about a half-dozen of them with a smile.

"Oh, something did definitely happen, yes. My days of bouncing between Sumaru and Tokyo are not about to let us any time soon," her smile is a little crooked, and there are teeth in her smile all of a sudden. "My dearest mother decided to let me know that I have family I never knew about, and to drop an address in my lap. It has been an _exciting_ adjustment trying to figure out what to do with that information. Nothing bad, certainly, but an adjustment nonetheless."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka ''definitely'' likes pushing the boundaries and experimenting. Her band, Polychord, has the same ethos too, with all of them contributing different influences and styles.

She's honestly just happy to work with someone who's so energetic about music. Even if the idea is borrowed. "Well, collaboration is still really fun," she points out. That violin... improvisng can be fun, too, even if it doesn't make it into he performance proper. But Ririka blinks a little as the tickets come out. "Oh--thank you very much!" She grins and makes sure to keep track of them. "I'll ask around and see who'd like the concert and who can make it."

But something did happen... Ririka takes a seat to listen. "Oh! That must be quite an adjustment..." She considers for a moment. They saw each other at that Gas Chamber show... After a moment she offers, "I'm in Sumaru a lot, too. My sister goes to school there, but I'm in Tatsumi, so..." A lot of back and forth for her, too. "I hope you getting to know your family is going well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "I am hardly a family sort of person, but I would like to think that I am trying. The same goes for them, so at least I can say we are on equal footing. Honestly, the biggest part is figuring out the best line of attack I can use on my mother when I next talk to her to ask 'what the hell were you thinking'," So-young replies as she rests her forehead on her arm on her knee, looking owlish for a moment. "Ah, well. It has given me a chance to properly check Sumaru out, at the very least."

Lifting her head back up, she's lighting up again. "Aoba Park! You know, I've said many times that I should just say 'screw it' and take the actual performance outside so that everyone can listen to it without having to pay exorbitant prices. Now I have a target on where to actually do that, that won't-- well, cost as much as it would in Shibuya, for a start." She rubs her hands together, rolling the empty can of energy drink between them. "I've been putting in some enquiries and feelers. Not to mention I have a friend at Sumaru TV who may be able to help me when it comes time to promotion."

"I have a few ideas for what to do there, but honestly I suspect I'll simply be taking the same approach as I would here. Pick some local candidates, some local artists." That's something she's started incorporating into her show here at the Bunkamura - she's managed to get some space in the entrance hall set aside for a little gallery area, where she's also showcasing young artists works that match her themes. "You've heard of Madarame, yes? I'm attempting to snap up some of his pupils along the way, or at least make contact with them."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Hardly a family sort of person... Ririka, by contrast, was very close to... well, at least one sibling in particular. "Oh, I see..." But asking her mother 'what the heck.' "I guess you'd really want some explanations in that case, huh..." She doesn't think her own mother is hiding anything major like that, at least.

"Oh! Aoba Park is a nice area... I was shopping there last week, at a place nearby. An outdoor performance would be really cool, though!" She muses to herself. "It'd really change the acoustics..." Promotion is good.

But the approch... "That'd be really good. If I hear about any local artists, I'll let you know." Maybe she can ask her sister... "Oh..." Ririka nods slowly. "Yeah, I've heard of him..." It's kind of a disgrace what happened, but for his pupils...

Well, one of them goes to Gekkoukan, but she doesn't know him that well. Would he want to be involved in something like this? She's not sure. "I bet they'd like getting the recognition for their work."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Do I? Hm." So-young pauses for a moment, her eyes rolling up towards the ceiling as she taps at her chin. "I wonder. I don't think I want an explanation so much as I want to blow off steam. Maybe I'll just do something gloriously destructive instead," she adds with a glint of mischief in her eyes and a bright grin. That's... probably meant as a throwaway joke at herself, but you never really know. She went to a show in Sumaru and ended up getting taken to a gun store by a beanie-hatted maybe-student. It's just how she rolls.

"I've taken a look at it myself," she reports as she folds her arms. "It's more suited for theatre, if you ask me, but at least you're not going to get an echo when there are no walls to bounce off. If the sound is a little hollow, we'll just have to make up for it with volume. That's another reason why I'm going down there so often - to look around for whoever might be suitable to rope into the project, given that I'll be running it on my own initiative. I don't intend to move off of classical, but there's no harm in looking for accompaniments."

"Mm. I wonder about that," So-young frowns slightly to herself. "They have apparently been unofficially blacklisted for their teacher's actions. Which is nonsense, of course, in and of itself. But it's made many of them rethink their plans for the future, which I simply can't forgive. I did manage to collar one of them in Iwatodai, I think, but he was too cagey to simply say 'yes' so quickly."

She blithely glosses over the fact she apparently 'collared' a complete stranger.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
No answers, just... glorious destruction. Ririka blinks and frowns, suddenly looking concerned. "Ah...? Does... that help?" She might've missed the joke.

She remembers watching So-young and Saika leave with Shinjiro that night. She's still a tiny bit jealous.

"I guess that's true," she says of no echoes. "And think of how far the sound will carry, it's sure to draw a lot of attention, right?"

Blacklisted. "That's awful... it wasn't their fault, was it? That'd be a shame if they gave up something they loved..." She'd hate to give up her music, that's for sure.

Collar?? Ririka smiles a bit awkwardly. "Eh heh... well... hopefully he'll come around? Maybe they're just shy to work with someone again so quickly, considering what happened..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> The smile on So-young's face is completely radiant. "Oh, you'll understand in time," she says with an angelic lilt, but also a shit-eating grin. "When adults get too stressed at their idiot family members, sometimes the only course of action is to annihilate something. Whether it's a plate of the finest steak, that beloved instrument you promised you'd learn someday, your leg muscles as you blast around half of Tokyo, or just that little asshole who keeps ever so slightly topping your score at the arcade. This all goes double if you're a musician, it's the whole 'tortured' aesthetic."

These are all suspiciously specific examples, though something in her gaze suggests they shouldn't be taken seriously. Possibly.

"The prosecution would no doubt claim that, even if Madarame pressured them into it, they still accepted it in the end. Nonsense, of course," she shrugs her shoulders with a sigh. "But I'm not interested in trying to argue the point. All I can do is provide them a venue on which to display their work. I'm not the sort of person who can provide a rousing speech to entice them back to the world of art or be the sort of kind, gentle persuasion they'd need."

She hums for a moment, letting that hang in the air. "--though on that front, what about yourself? I've heard about a band. Do you think you would go that route, rather than classical, in the end? 'Both' is a valid answer, of course, but I'm curious which side you fall on."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
They ''are'' suspiciously specific... and Ririka may or may not be picking up that tone. It's hard to tell sometimes. "I... see. I'll try to keep that in mind?" She gets along okay with most of her family members, though, so maybe she won't need to follow any of that...

... is it advice, even?

But that framing... Ririka lets out a swift, frustrated huff, her mood suddenly dampening. "... Yeah, that sounds right," she says with far too much dourness for a teenage girl to have. Something must've touched a nerve.

But she does smile at the mention of her band. "You mean Polychord?" She shrugs a little. "I don't see why it can't be both. We blend different styles all the time, even... I use my classical piano training for some of our songs sometimes, so..." She sits back a little, giving it some more thought. "They're both fun in their own ways, you know?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> The conductor is still smiling with a glint in her eye following her questionable lessons in adult life, but she laughs and waves a hand. "In any case. From what I know of Madarame's pupils, some of them have come a very long way to pursue their passion. That at least is a good sign, and I'm sure they won't need much coaxing, if any at all. I shall simply have to see what I can do."

She leans back a little in her seat, folding her arms. She's still got her bolero jacket kind of wrapped around her the wrong way, because napping on a couch is a good way to feel a little oold and it was as good a cover for her shoulders and arms as any, like a small blanket. "Well, at least bear in mind that it may be worth choosing one to be your focus. I am the _last_ person who should ever tell anyone this, but it is fair to note that if you truly want to dig down into something, it can be of use."

"On the other hand, music is one of those fields that lets you be a jack-of-all-trades remarkably well. They just give it a fancy name and call you a virtuoso, which means you can get either a reliable pay check or a nice little burst of infamy. Don't do conducting," she adds, and lets that hang in the air. "You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get started without a little nepotism."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Well, good luck... they deserve to have some of their own success after going through all taht."

"Chosing a focus, huh...?" She gives that a thought. "Well, if I only had to choose one... I'd probably choose Polychord. At least, if everyone else wanted to make it their focus, too. It's kind of fun getting to collaborate with my friends, you know? Buuuuut I don't think I'd give up piano, even if I did that." A beat. "I could do a classical piano piece during a show. There's no rule saying I can't, right?"

"Eh heh... I mean, people have been applying different titles to me for a while, but... I just find it fun, you know? No matter what form it tkaes. There's always something new and different to discover about it." She blnks a little. "... really? Is that so..." She considers that for a moment. "Well, I do like song writing, but I think I'd rather play than conduct..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Don't read too much into it, or consider it too seriously. It's just a thought to bear in mind. See, I can be a mentor some of the time," So-young sniggers to herself. "It is also one of those questions whose answers can change from day to day, month to month. So long as you find it fulfilling, I suppose that's enough." ... she pauses, and slowly makes a face. "... no, I'm really not cut out for mentoring after all."

She dissolves into a solid yawn, and then hangs her head to one side. "Urgh. I apologize, but assuming nothing is about to burst into flames on-stage, maybe I will simply walk past home and eat some truly awful junk food on the way. Technically, I have a train I wish to catch in--" she checks an silver watch on the back of her wrist. "--two hours or so. Maybe I can set aside the familial obligation for a day."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
So-young decides to get into mentoring and leave it in quick succession, but Ririka smiles. "It's actually something useful to think about. I should think about what I want to do after I graduate next year... I'll probably go keep studying music, but... maybe some of the band members want to do different things. That's something we should talk about."

She gets up and stretches. "I think as long as we don't put any fireworks in trash cans, we should be okay." She's referencing the Gast Chamber show, of course. "Well, either way, I hope you have a good day, Park-san."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-08-14: For Exposure

2025-10-03T01:41:50Z

Stelas:

*'''Log: 2025-08-14'''
*'''Cast:''' [[So-young Park]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa]]
*'''Where:''' Iwatodai Station
*'''OOC Date:''' August 13, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' June 25, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''How does one go track down a bunch of traumatized art students? One goes to stalk art stores near the school.''

----

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> As far as So-Young Park is involved, the advantage of being an orchestral conductor is that you get some pretty sweet work hours at times, and the list of things that you can expense gets enjoyably nebulous. As the saying goes, if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life - and if you can comp train tickets to Sumaru in order to plan an Aoba Park outdoor concert or spend a 'working' day looking around Iwatodai in search of a hunch to augment the next arc of Shibuya's afternoon concerts, all the better.

There is a rather striking woman visiting the Iwatodai strip today - she looks like she's stepped right out of Harajuku given the dark gothic dress she's wearing, and her long hair is a block of white-grey with dark strips running vertically downwards within it. The overall effect is that she looks like she's trying to cosplay a grand piano, and absolutely soaking in the attention she's getting as she does so given that she's even gone so far as to have a folding fan in one hand, apparently just for show.

Despite the dour colours, her eyes are bright and her face is alive as she leans forwards over the countertop of the poor woman manning the counter at the art shop, who wasn't quite prepared for this tornado of energy to hit her today. At least So-Young is not actively trying to flirt with her - probably? Yet???

"Please, here's my card," the woman positively beams as she resolutely refuses to even listen, let alone take 'no' for an answer, sliding the laminated card across the wood. "I represent the Tokyo Philharmonic, and I'd be eager to get in contact with any of the students who got cut adrift. I can absolutely guarantee I'm not out to be a paparazzi at them. Quite the opposite, I'd like to push money towards them, you know?" she adds with a winning beam.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Since moving out of Madarame's shack and back into the Gekkoukan dorms, Yusuke Kitagawa has found it much simpler to purchase art supplies at the Iwatodai Strip rather than take the train into Shibuya. While he is well aware of the quality of the implements available at Art Off, the premium cost attached to most of the services in the high-class Iwatodai City has made it... difficult to maintain his supplies as he would like.

Still, he has budgeted for this particular trip today, and is in the middle of selecting some watercolours when he overhears the commotion at the counter, and glances over.

... That woman has an abundance of energy. He finds it somewhat intimidating.

Oh no, it's an extrovert. Run, Yusuke --
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Non, non! It really has to be one of Madarame's students. I won't budge on this," is So-young's confident response to something the woman asks, her fan snapping open in front of her mouth as she looks from behind it. (She practiced that in the mirror a whole lot before she finally got it, and then practiced more until she could make it look effortless. It's an important skill, really.) "After all, they're the ones who got left out in the cold. Hopefully not literally," she adds with a quick grimace off to one side.

She rallies extremely quickly, because her own personal brand of charm usually involves running the other person over with momentum. "In any case, if I'm going to showcase rising talent, what better than those who have been overlooked so far? Surely you can at least keep some of my cards in stock so they can contact me for the commission." It's not even presented as a question. "I'm even offering to pay them in actual money rather than exposure. Up-front! And they'll retain control of the themes! I'm basically the dream client."

She glances in Yusuke's direction, but-- her eyes don't seem to register recognition. Whatever tidbits she might have learned from the accumulated news and gossip, his face doesn't seem to be one of them - but then she hones in on him with another bright smile, because 'in an art shop' and 'about the right age group' is still enough for her. "I don't suppose you would happen to know how to contact any of them, perhaps?" she picks up right where she left off.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>-- it is too late to flee. She has found him.

Yusuke can only do his best to stand his ground, watercolours tragically forgotten, as the woman who seems to fill up the entire shop with her personality demands if he knows where she can contact other students of Ichiryusai Madarame. ''How ironic'', he thinks.

"I do not think you are likely to find much interest," he says, cautiously. "Many of his former pupils had their names blacklisted in the art community; to offer them patronage would surely blacken your own name in turn."

She mentioned something, though... "If I might inquire - what commission are you proposing?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young blinks twice, and then huffs out a cheery breath as she holds out her card. True enough: it reads 'So-Young Park, Guest Conductor, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra' and certainly looks official. There is still the possibility she's a madwoman, of course, but this is the world of art and performance. It kind of comes with the territory.

"It's simple enough in concept, but the execution would be largely up to the artist. I run a series of weekday concerts in the Bunkamura, and as part of that I've managed to snap myself a bit of gallery space in the foyer. Since the whole series is about promoting young artists, the idea would be to pair some themes together - they do a few pieces of art around a theme of their choice, and I'll provide a suite to match." The pitch is rattled off quickly - this is clearly a plan that's been on her mind for a while.

She does at least slow down a little as she slowly folds her arms. "... I don't particularly believe in punishing a student for their teacher's actions. Nor do I care what 'the art community' thinks if all they're concerned about is saving face after a scandal. Art that moves you is art that moves you, no more and no less," she adds, almost solemn as she snorts. "Besides, half of them can't even remember where they put their glasses, let alone a list of names of art students they might have once met."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Yusuke takes the proffered business card in the proper way - both hands, with a slight bow. He considers the information on it carefully, before gingerly tucking it into his wallet. "I see. That is indeed a prestigious appointment. Weekly concerts at the Bunkamura..."

He considers it.

"So you are holding concerts in order to bring more eyes on the work of people who have had their future in the arts stolen from them?"

He snorts as So-young makes her feelings on the art establishment trying to save face rather than reach out to those Madarame's actions ruined plain. "Many of those students have had to find new paths after Madarame destroyed those futures. Is your intention to attempt to rebuild those burned bridges?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young watches as that card disappears into Yusuke's wallet, though she doesn't say anything out loud about the way he keeps it or the clue that possibly gives her in regards to this young man's identity. This isn't because she's being tactful or anything, it's just that her face is busy lighting up all over again with a smile.

"You may be thinking too much of me. I am holding concerts because I love holding concerts," she proclaims with a rather grandiose air to it. "And I am hosting young artists because I would much rather work with and showcase young artists. Besides, it's Shibuya!" she adds brightly. "Dour and staid isn't really going to cut it there."

She folds her fan up, tapping it against her arm as she pauses. There's a faint, sympathetic smile on her face. "... I can't be the one to rebuild any burned bridges. Frankly, I'm not really that sort of person. If someone else decides to burn their bridge, then let them burn. _My_ bridges are still intact, and itching to know how angrily I can make an orchestra belt out Liszt in righteous fury." She's already picturing an etude in her mind's eye, the way her eyes close slightly.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>... So there is an anger there, Yusuke thinks to himself.

He thinks, carefully. This represents an opportunity, but... If ''he'' were to seize it, would he not be stealing opportunities himself?

"I may have a name you can look into," he says, hesitantly. "Someone who was studying in America but was offered Madarame's patronage prior to his recent confession. Masao Inaba is a potential victim who narrowly escaped, but his life was still upended, and I would like to see him get an opportunity that would otherwise have been denied him."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Oh! How noble of you," the woman sniggers to herself, then beams as she claps her hand around her fan in lieu of, well, actually clapping. "I'd be delighted if you could pass on my card to him! And feel free to-- er. I suppose I shouldn't say 'make a copy for yourself', should I? One moment--" she fishes in the purse slung over one shoulder that's been tucked neatly under her arm, extracting another as she natters. "For Madarame to reach out across the Atlantic, he must be quite a talent."

"There!" she adds as she hands another card, identical to the first, over with a flourish. "In case you know of any others." It's said so casually. "I've recently been spending some significant amount of time out in Sumaru, so I may not always be available, but it's easy to find me around the concert hall most practice days. Ah, please don't ask me to paint anything in return," she adds out of nowhere. "I will thoroughly disappoint. Modern art at best over here."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>As So-young chuckles to herself, Yusuke's hackles raise in that way. ''Is she laughing at me?'' he wonders, and it's an effort to force himself to relax and retain his stoic affect. "If I meet him first, I will pass on your details," he agrees - and then a second business card is proffered, and he has to accept it.

He nods, as she explains where she can be found. "Sumaru has a fascinating art scene," he agrees, "I myself occasionally take the train there."

He chuckles as So-young admits she herself has little talent with a brush. "Then I will, if you permit, avail myself to a rehearsal or a practice session in exchange. Conducting is an impressive skill indeed, and I would like to see your approach, Park-sama."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "... just to be completely clear, you are aware that we are not actually going to ritualistically burn down the concert hall after each performance?" So-young asks with a grin tugging from behind her suddenly-open-again fan. "As impressive a show as that would be, I have to content myself with a series of concerts instead. And a series of artists to go with them."

The humour in her eyes is good-natured, at least, especially when Yusuke suggests actually watching a show. "I'd be delighted! If I had any of the guest tickets, I'd hand you one, but they got rather upset at the amount I was giving away. If they lessen my allowance any more I'll have to start sneaking in a tape recorder. And thank you for doing this for me, of course. I am aware that there might be some bad feeling, but I'm not the sort of person to let that stop me."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>"Alas, while that would be spectacular," Yusuke remarks drily, "the expense and public ill-will would make it... troublesome."

... This woman's passion for her art makes her a kindred spirit, he realises. "In that case, I suppose I had better make sure your security knows I have permission to be there - I am Yusuke Kitagawa."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "A pleasure! I shall do my best to let them know, but people are getting very good at ignoring me," she pouts, but there's clearly no seriousness to the gripe. It still isn't completely certain if she recognizes Yusuke's name or is just incredibly used to rolling with life as it goes and working off raw assumptions, and it doesn't look like an answer will be forthcoming as she glances at the watch on the back of her wrist. "And with that, I can call this trip a rousing success. I'll look forward to favorable results!"

And just like that, she's gone in a flurry of--

--no, wait, she's prowled over to hand another of her cards to the shop staff, this one presented with a delighted and confident wink--

--okay, now she's gone in a flurry of motion.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-08-20: Lento

2025-10-03T01:37:32Z

Stelas: Created page with " *'''Log: 2025-08-20''' *'''Cast:''' So-young Park, Ririka Kawase *'''Where:''' *'''OOC Date:''' August 19, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' June 28, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Even So-young has to slow down sometimes, especially when a Palace's fatigue hits in the middle of morning practice.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed. <poem> The practice sessions that So-young runs for her concerts are as unorthodox as everything else about her. She's familiar enough..."

*'''Log: 2025-08-20'''
*'''Cast:''' [[So-young Park]], [[Ririka Kawase]]
*'''Where:'''
*'''OOC Date:''' August 19, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' June 28, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Even So-young has to slow down sometimes, especially when a Palace's fatigue hits in the middle of morning practice.''

----

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> The practice sessions that So-young runs for her concerts are as unorthodox as everything else about her. She's familiar enough now with the core orchestral members that she can trust them to look after themselves and put in the practice without being overwhelmed by her rather bombastic personal brand of conducting, so afternoon practice is rare, and even during morning practice she tends to focus on the soloists she picks out for each concert, ensuring that she has enough time and space to weave their part into the rest of the ensemble.

But one thing they _do_ tend to be is doggedly consistent. You can't accuse So-Young Park of not having energy even on the worst of days, which makes it all the more odd that she's almost zombied her way through today's practice. She's waved off talk of being ill, just citing a very bad night's sleep and having enough energy to at least snipe back and forth with one of the trombonists when he jokes about her being out drinking. Now she's taking a moment in the performer's lounge to look quite unusually out of place, almost curled up on one of the chairs as she sips an energy drink.

You can't just explain 'oh I was crawling around inside a mafia boss' head last night which was presented as a giant flying bank filled with people who were ATMs and I manifested my desire for artistic freedom so that it could explode things and the cathartic backlash and muscle fatigue have combined to leave me dead on my feet today', but the throbbing headache she's trying to work through is certainly making it a tempting option.

"Thank you, Noguchi-san," she offers a sympathetic smile to a younger female flutist who's been fussing over her, "I'll be alright. Just give me a few minutes." Of course, So-young immediately dramatically flops to one side once she's left and makes a noise like 'guehhhh'.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Yes, any serious and established performer will, of course, practice whatever required material on their own. A practice like this isn't for learning the material, but for learning how to work with the other performers, and to learn how the conductor wants the piece to be played...

Ririka's not part of the main ensemble, of course--she still has schooling and other things happening, of course. (Including her recent Sumaru TV appearance with her ''rock band''.) But a guest performer is something she's more than happy to do, even if if it's one more thing on her busy schedule, but she hates to disappoint anyone...

And she noticed how off So-young seemed today, of course, but... even beyond that she kept sneaking glances her way. ''Something'' seemed off, but she couldn't be sure... but either way she was concerned. So when So-young went to go sit in the longue, after a bit Ririka quietly stuck her head in. "Park-san? Are you okay?"

She's a pretty tall girl, 5'10" in all, with long brown-black hair and red eyes. And she's dressed nice, but still casual, black t-shirt and skirt, and sneakers.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young has gone full dramatic wilting goth at the moment. She tends to show up to the orchestral practices in rather rich dark dresses that wouldn't look out of place in Harajuku street fashion, and between that and the way she's laid out with a hand draped across her forehead she really looks like she's going for a full-on vogue session. Her hair - white with long black streaks running through it to emulate the keys of a piano - practically falls over her face, and her face is hidden behind her jacket to block out the light.

"Gueh," she repeats again out loud - but at least she's polite enough to immediately lift up and offer a bright smile, positively hauling herself up to vertical with a will of effort more than anything else. "Ah, Kawase-san! Good work today." She's definitely just kind of saying that automatically given how out of it she's been, but at least the smile is genuine enough. "I hope the selection isn't too eclectic this time around, but I couldn't just pass up the theme, you know?"

... that's... the other part of So-young's programmes that requires some adjustment. Sometimes you never really know what you're going to get, and whatever 'theme' the conductor has planned includes a traditional concerto grosso for strings as its opening piece before mixing - mixing! - into a lively piece taken from a recent videogame and adapted heavily for the orchestra by So-young herself.

"Oh, don't worry about me," she adds with a wave and another smile. "This is Shibuya! You have to take the good nights with the bad. Sometimes Tokyo can't help but be loud, I'm finding, and I've been spending a little time in Sumaru lately. I suppose I just got used to the quiet."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka has to admit--piano hair is ''kind'' of awesome.

She'll take the complment. She puts in the work, after all... and where others might call the themes ecclectic, Ririka finds them ''exciting''. Mixing a classical piece into a video game arrangement is exactly the kind of thing she loves, and while she would never disparage the classical, she loves seeing all of the ways music can be remixed or given a fresh context.

"Not at all, Park-san!" gushes Ririka as she steps more fully in. "I think it's brilliant! The way you took that synthesizer backbeat and translated it to a string arrangement was inspired! It's the kind of thing that makes your concerts amazing to listen to."

"Oh, I see," Ririka says as So-young speaks of it being loud in Tokyo. "I guess it can, huh...?" She might be tapping her fingers rhtyhmically on her thigh a little as she talks--the keen-eyed might notice it's in time with the melody line of her piano solo. "Oh, okay, if you're sure. I just..." She pauses a moment, glancing off to the side. "... well, I thought something might have happened, but maybe I was wrong." She looks back to So-young with a slightly awkward smile. "I'm sure you'll get used to Tokyo again in no time."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young tends to sort of self-select her team to be people who are willing to push the boundaries of classical music, mostly by annoying anyone who isn't enough that they don't want to work with her in the first place. There have been rumours of occasional shouting matches between her and some of the more crusty members of the orchestral suite... but on a more positive note, that has given her a lot of opportunity to change around the team and include many guest musicians.

She gets to preen over Ririka's gushing, which does seem to help lift her spirits a lot - not that they seem to need much lifting, though. While she might be clearly tired, she simultaneously seems remarkably energized, bursts of excitement and plans rolling around in her head. She blasted in through the doors this morning, even if that burst of energy only lasted a short time. Watch out for her in the coming days. "Oh! Well, I can't take full credit for it myself, of course. I'm simply building on some ideas someone online had - with permission, of course."

She reaches to one side for her own instrument case - she's not good enough to play in an orchestra, but she does occasionally improvize with the violin or use it to illustrate the sort of style she's going for when words and gestures won't quite get the point across. "That reminds me, I have a few student tickets prepaid for you to pass out to whoever you think would like them. I'm making it a point to try to spread some more of these around, but they wouldn't let me get my hands on the adult tickets. Here," she passes over a small sheaf of about a half-dozen of them with a smile.

"Oh, something did definitely happen, yes. My days of bouncing between Sumaru and Tokyo are not about to let us any time soon," her smile is a little crooked, and there are teeth in her smile all of a sudden. "My dearest mother decided to let me know that I have family I never knew about, and to drop an address in my lap. It has been an _exciting_ adjustment trying to figure out what to do with that information. Nothing bad, certainly, but an adjustment nonetheless."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka ''definitely'' likes pushing the boundaries and experimenting. Her band, Polychord, has the same ethos too, with all of them contributing different influences and styles.

She's honestly just happy to work with someone who's so energetic about music. Even if the idea is borrowed. "Well, collaboration is still really fun," she points out. That violin... improvisng can be fun, too, even if it doesn't make it into he performance proper. But Ririka blinks a little as the tickets come out. "Oh--thank you very much!" She grins and makes sure to keep track of them. "I'll ask around and see who'd like the concert and who can make it."

But something did happen... Ririka takes a seat to listen. "Oh! That must be quite an adjustment..." She considers for a moment. They saw each other at that Gas Chamber show... After a moment she offers, "I'm in Sumaru a lot, too. My sister goes to school there, but I'm in Tatsumi, so..." A lot of back and forth for her, too. "I hope you getting to know your family is going well."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "I am hardly a family sort of person, but I would like to think that I am trying. The same goes for them, so at least I can say we are on equal footing. Honestly, the biggest part is figuring out the best line of attack I can use on my mother when I next talk to her to ask 'what the hell were you thinking'," So-young replies as she rests her forehead on her arm on her knee, looking owlish for a moment. "Ah, well. It has given me a chance to properly check Sumaru out, at the very least."

Lifting her head back up, she's lighting up again. "Aoba Park! You know, I've said many times that I should just say 'screw it' and take the actual performance outside so that everyone can listen to it without having to pay exorbitant prices. Now I have a target on where to actually do that, that won't-- well, cost as much as it would in Shibuya, for a start." She rubs her hands together, rolling the empty can of energy drink between them. "I've been putting in some enquiries and feelers. Not to mention I have a friend at Sumaru TV who may be able to help me when it comes time to promotion."

"I have a few ideas for what to do there, but honestly I suspect I'll simply be taking the same approach as I would here. Pick some local candidates, some local artists." That's something she's started incorporating into her show here at the Bunkamura - she's managed to get some space in the entrance hall set aside for a little gallery area, where she's also showcasing young artists works that match her themes. "You've heard of Madarame, yes? I'm attempting to snap up some of his pupils along the way, or at least make contact with them."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Hardly a family sort of person... Ririka, by contrast, was very close to... well, at least one sibling in particular. "Oh, I see..." But asking her mother 'what the heck.' "I guess you'd really want some explanations in that case, huh..." She doesn't think her own mother is hiding anything major like that, at least.

"Oh! Aoba Park is a nice area... I was shopping there last week, at a place nearby. An outdoor performance would be really cool, though!" She muses to herself. "It'd really change the acoustics..." Promotion is good.

But the approch... "That'd be really good. If I hear about any local artists, I'll let you know." Maybe she can ask her sister... "Oh..." Ririka nods slowly. "Yeah, I've heard of him..." It's kind of a disgrace what happened, but for his pupils...

Well, one of them goes to Gekkoukan, but she doesn't know him that well. Would he want to be involved in something like this? She's not sure. "I bet they'd like getting the recognition for their work."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Do I? Hm." So-young pauses for a moment, her eyes rolling up towards the ceiling as she taps at her chin. "I wonder. I don't think I want an explanation so much as I want to blow off steam. Maybe I'll just do something gloriously destructive instead," she adds with a glint of mischief in her eyes and a bright grin. That's... probably meant as a throwaway joke at herself, but you never really know. She went to a show in Sumaru and ended up getting taken to a gun store by a beanie-hatted maybe-student. It's just how she rolls.

"I've taken a look at it myself," she reports as she folds her arms. "It's more suited for theatre, if you ask me, but at least you're not going to get an echo when there are no walls to bounce off. If the sound is a little hollow, we'll just have to make up for it with volume. That's another reason why I'm going down there so often - to look around for whoever might be suitable to rope into the project, given that I'll be running it on my own initiative. I don't intend to move off of classical, but there's no harm in looking for accompaniments."

"Mm. I wonder about that," So-young frowns slightly to herself. "They have apparently been unofficially blacklisted for their teacher's actions. Which is nonsense, of course, in and of itself. But it's made many of them rethink their plans for the future, which I simply can't forgive. I did manage to collar one of them in Iwatodai, I think, but he was too cagey to simply say 'yes' so quickly."

She blithely glosses over the fact she apparently 'collared' a complete stranger.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
No answers, just... glorious destruction. Ririka blinks and frowns, suddenly looking concerned. "Ah...? Does... that help?" She might've missed the joke.

She remembers watching So-young and Saika leave with Shinjiro that night. She's still a tiny bit jealous.

"I guess that's true," she says of no echoes. "And think of how far the sound will carry, it's sure to draw a lot of attention, right?"

Blacklisted. "That's awful... it wasn't their fault, was it? That'd be a shame if they gave up something they loved..." She'd hate to give up her music, that's for sure.

Collar?? Ririka smiles a bit awkwardly. "Eh heh... well... hopefully he'll come around? Maybe they're just shy to work with someone again so quickly, considering what happened..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> The smile on So-young's face is completely radiant. "Oh, you'll understand in time," she says with an angelic lilt, but also a shit-eating grin. "When adults get too stressed at their idiot family members, sometimes the only course of action is to annihilate something. Whether it's a plate of the finest steak, that beloved instrument you promised you'd learn someday, your leg muscles as you blast around half of Tokyo, or just that little asshole who keeps ever so slightly topping your score at the arcade. This all goes double if you're a musician, it's the whole 'tortured' aesthetic."

These are all suspiciously specific examples, though something in her gaze suggests they shouldn't be taken seriously. Possibly.

"The prosecution would no doubt claim that, even if Madarame pressured them into it, they still accepted it in the end. Nonsense, of course," she shrugs her shoulders with a sigh. "But I'm not interested in trying to argue the point. All I can do is provide them a venue on which to display their work. I'm not the sort of person who can provide a rousing speech to entice them back to the world of art or be the sort of kind, gentle persuasion they'd need."

She hums for a moment, letting that hang in the air. "--though on that front, what about yourself? I've heard about a band. Do you think you would go that route, rather than classical, in the end? 'Both' is a valid answer, of course, but I'm curious which side you fall on."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
They ''are'' suspiciously specific... and Ririka may or may not be picking up that tone. It's hard to tell sometimes. "I... see. I'll try to keep that in mind?" She gets along okay with most of her family members, though, so maybe she won't need to follow any of that...

... is it advice, even?

But that framing... Ririka lets out a swift, frustrated huff, her mood suddenly dampening. "... Yeah, that sounds right," she says with far too much dourness for a teenage girl to have. Something must've touched a nerve.

But she does smile at the mention of her band. "You mean Polychord?" She shrugs a little. "I don't see why it can't be both. We blend different styles all the time, even... I use my classical piano training for some of our songs sometimes, so..." She sits back a little, giving it some more thought. "They're both fun in their own ways, you know?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> The conductor is still smiling with a glint in her eye following her questionable lessons in adult life, but she laughs and waves a hand. "In any case. From what I know of Madarame's pupils, some of them have come a very long way to pursue their passion. That at least is a good sign, and I'm sure they won't need much coaxing, if any at all. I shall simply have to see what I can do."

She leans back a little in her seat, folding her arms. She's still got her bolero jacket kind of wrapped around her the wrong way, because napping on a couch is a good way to feel a little oold and it was as good a cover for her shoulders and arms as any, like a small blanket. "Well, at least bear in mind that it may be worth choosing one to be your focus. I am the _last_ person who should ever tell anyone this, but it is fair to note that if you truly want to dig down into something, it can be of use."

"On the other hand, music is one of those fields that lets you be a jack-of-all-trades remarkably well. They just give it a fancy name and call you a virtuoso, which means you can get either a reliable pay check or a nice little burst of infamy. Don't do conducting," she adds, and lets that hang in the air. "You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get started without a little nepotism."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Well, good luck... they deserve to have some of their own success after going through all taht."

"Chosing a focus, huh...?" She gives that a thought. "Well, if I only had to choose one... I'd probably choose Polychord. At least, if everyone else wanted to make it their focus, too. It's kind of fun getting to collaborate with my friends, you know? Buuuuut I don't think I'd give up piano, even if I did that." A beat. "I could do a classical piano piece during a show. There's no rule saying I can't, right?"

"Eh heh... I mean, people have been applying different titles to me for a while, but... I just find it fun, you know? No matter what form it tkaes. There's always something new and different to discover about it." She blnks a little. "... really? Is that so..." She considers that for a moment. "Well, I do like song writing, but I think I'd rather play than conduct..."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Don't read too much into it, or consider it too seriously. It's just a thought to bear in mind. See, I can be a mentor some of the time," So-young sniggers to herself. "It is also one of those questions whose answers can change from day to day, month to month. So long as you find it fulfilling, I suppose that's enough." ... she pauses, and slowly makes a face. "... no, I'm really not cut out for mentoring after all."

She dissolves into a solid yawn, and then hangs her head to one side. "Urgh. I apologize, but assuming nothing is about to burst into flames on-stage, maybe I will simply walk past home and eat some truly awful junk food on the way. Technically, I have a train I wish to catch in--" she checks an silver watch on the back of her wrist. "--two hours or so. Maybe I can set aside the familial obligation for a day."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
So-young decides to get into mentoring and leave it in quick succession, but Ririka smiles. "It's actually something useful to think about. I should think about what I want to do after I graduate next year... I'll probably go keep studying music, but... maybe some of the band members want to do different things. That's something we should talk about."

She gets up and stretches. "I think as long as we don't put any fireworks in trash cans, we should be okay." She's referencing the Gast Chamber show, of course. "Well, either way, I hope you have a good day, Park-san."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-08-14: For Exposure

2025-10-03T01:35:09Z

Stelas: Created page with "*'''Log: 2025-08-14''' *'''Cast:''' So-young Park, Yusuke Kitagawa *'''Where:''' *'''OOC Date:''' August 13, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' June 25, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''How does one go track down a bunch of traumatized art students? One goes to stalk art stores near the school.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed. <poem> As far as So-Young Park is involved, the advantage of being an orchestral conductor is that you get some pretty sweet work hours at t..."

*'''Log: 2025-08-14'''
*'''Cast:''' [[So-young Park]], [[Yusuke Kitagawa]]
*'''Where:'''
*'''OOC Date:''' August 13, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' June 25, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''How does one go track down a bunch of traumatized art students? One goes to stalk art stores near the school.''

----

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> As far as So-Young Park is involved, the advantage of being an orchestral conductor is that you get some pretty sweet work hours at times, and the list of things that you can expense gets enjoyably nebulous. As the saying goes, if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life - and if you can comp train tickets to Sumaru in order to plan an Aoba Park outdoor concert or spend a 'working' day looking around Iwatodai in search of a hunch to augment the next arc of Shibuya's afternoon concerts, all the better.

There is a rather striking woman visiting the Iwatodai strip today - she looks like she's stepped right out of Harajuku given the dark gothic dress she's wearing, and her long hair is a block of white-grey with dark strips running vertically downwards within it. The overall effect is that she looks like she's trying to cosplay a grand piano, and absolutely soaking in the attention she's getting as she does so given that she's even gone so far as to have a folding fan in one hand, apparently just for show.

Despite the dour colours, her eyes are bright and her face is alive as she leans forwards over the countertop of the poor woman manning the counter at the art shop, who wasn't quite prepared for this tornado of energy to hit her today. At least So-Young is not actively trying to flirt with her - probably? Yet???

"Please, here's my card," the woman positively beams as she resolutely refuses to even listen, let alone take 'no' for an answer, sliding the laminated card across the wood. "I represent the Tokyo Philharmonic, and I'd be eager to get in contact with any of the students who got cut adrift. I can absolutely guarantee I'm not out to be a paparazzi at them. Quite the opposite, I'd like to push money towards them, you know?" she adds with a winning beam.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Since moving out of Madarame's shack and back into the Gekkoukan dorms, Yusuke Kitagawa has found it much simpler to purchase art supplies at the Iwatodai Strip rather than take the train into Shibuya. While he is well aware of the quality of the implements available at Art Off, the premium cost attached to most of the services in the high-class Iwatodai City has made it... difficult to maintain his supplies as he would like.

Still, he has budgeted for this particular trip today, and is in the middle of selecting some watercolours when he overhears the commotion at the counter, and glances over.

... That woman has an abundance of energy. He finds it somewhat intimidating.

Oh no, it's an extrovert. Run, Yusuke --
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Non, non! It really has to be one of Madarame's students. I won't budge on this," is So-young's confident response to something the woman asks, her fan snapping open in front of her mouth as she looks from behind it. (She practiced that in the mirror a whole lot before she finally got it, and then practiced more until she could make it look effortless. It's an important skill, really.) "After all, they're the ones who got left out in the cold. Hopefully not literally," she adds with a quick grimace off to one side.

She rallies extremely quickly, because her own personal brand of charm usually involves running the other person over with momentum. "In any case, if I'm going to showcase rising talent, what better than those who have been overlooked so far? Surely you can at least keep some of my cards in stock so they can contact me for the commission." It's not even presented as a question. "I'm even offering to pay them in actual money rather than exposure. Up-front! And they'll retain control of the themes! I'm basically the dream client."

She glances in Yusuke's direction, but-- her eyes don't seem to register recognition. Whatever tidbits she might have learned from the accumulated news and gossip, his face doesn't seem to be one of them - but then she hones in on him with another bright smile, because 'in an art shop' and 'about the right age group' is still enough for her. "I don't suppose you would happen to know how to contact any of them, perhaps?" she picks up right where she left off.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>-- it is too late to flee. She has found him.

Yusuke can only do his best to stand his ground, watercolours tragically forgotten, as the woman who seems to fill up the entire shop with her personality demands if he knows where she can contact other students of Ichiryusai Madarame. ''How ironic'', he thinks.

"I do not think you are likely to find much interest," he says, cautiously. "Many of his former pupils had their names blacklisted in the art community; to offer them patronage would surely blacken your own name in turn."

She mentioned something, though... "If I might inquire - what commission are you proposing?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young blinks twice, and then huffs out a cheery breath as she holds out her card. True enough: it reads 'So-Young Park, Guest Conductor, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra' and certainly looks official. There is still the possibility she's a madwoman, of course, but this is the world of art and performance. It kind of comes with the territory.

"It's simple enough in concept, but the execution would be largely up to the artist. I run a series of weekday concerts in the Bunkamura, and as part of that I've managed to snap myself a bit of gallery space in the foyer. Since the whole series is about promoting young artists, the idea would be to pair some themes together - they do a few pieces of art around a theme of their choice, and I'll provide a suite to match." The pitch is rattled off quickly - this is clearly a plan that's been on her mind for a while.

She does at least slow down a little as she slowly folds her arms. "... I don't particularly believe in punishing a student for their teacher's actions. Nor do I care what 'the art community' thinks if all they're concerned about is saving face after a scandal. Art that moves you is art that moves you, no more and no less," she adds, almost solemn as she snorts. "Besides, half of them can't even remember where they put their glasses, let alone a list of names of art students they might have once met."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>Yusuke takes the proffered business card in the proper way - both hands, with a slight bow. He considers the information on it carefully, before gingerly tucking it into his wallet. "I see. That is indeed a prestigious appointment. Weekly concerts at the Bunkamura..."

He considers it.

"So you are holding concerts in order to bring more eyes on the work of people who have had their future in the arts stolen from them?"

He snorts as So-young makes her feelings on the art establishment trying to save face rather than reach out to those Madarame's actions ruined plain. "Many of those students have had to find new paths after Madarame destroyed those futures. Is your intention to attempt to rebuild those burned bridges?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young watches as that card disappears into Yusuke's wallet, though she doesn't say anything out loud about the way he keeps it or the clue that possibly gives her in regards to this young man's identity. This isn't because she's being tactful or anything, it's just that her face is busy lighting up all over again with a smile.

"You may be thinking too much of me. I am holding concerts because I love holding concerts," she proclaims with a rather grandiose air to it. "And I am hosting young artists because I would much rather work with and showcase young artists. Besides, it's Shibuya!" she adds brightly. "Dour and staid isn't really going to cut it there."

She folds her fan up, tapping it against her arm as she pauses. There's a faint, sympathetic smile on her face. "... I can't be the one to rebuild any burned bridges. Frankly, I'm not really that sort of person. If someone else decides to burn their bridge, then let them burn. _My_ bridges are still intact, and itching to know how angrily I can make an orchestra belt out Liszt in righteous fury." She's already picturing an etude in her mind's eye, the way her eyes close slightly.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>... So there is an anger there, Yusuke thinks to himself.

He thinks, carefully. This represents an opportunity, but... If ''he'' were to seize it, would he not be stealing opportunities himself?

"I may have a name you can look into," he says, hesitantly. "Someone who was studying in America but was offered Madarame's patronage prior to his recent confession. Masao Inaba is a potential victim who narrowly escaped, but his life was still upended, and I would like to see him get an opportunity that would otherwise have been denied him."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Oh! How noble of you," the woman sniggers to herself, then beams as she claps her hand around her fan in lieu of, well, actually clapping. "I'd be delighted if you could pass on my card to him! And feel free to-- er. I suppose I shouldn't say 'make a copy for yourself', should I? One moment--" she fishes in the purse slung over one shoulder that's been tucked neatly under her arm, extracting another as she natters. "For Madarame to reach out across the Atlantic, he must be quite a talent."

"There!" she adds as she hands another card, identical to the first, over with a flourish. "In case you know of any others." It's said so casually. "I've recently been spending some significant amount of time out in Sumaru, so I may not always be available, but it's easy to find me around the concert hall most practice days. Ah, please don't ask me to paint anything in return," she adds out of nowhere. "I will thoroughly disappoint. Modern art at best over here."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>As So-young chuckles to herself, Yusuke's hackles raise in that way. ''Is she laughing at me?'' he wonders, and it's an effort to force himself to relax and retain his stoic affect. "If I meet him first, I will pass on your details," he agrees - and then a second business card is proffered, and he has to accept it.

He nods, as she explains where she can be found. "Sumaru has a fascinating art scene," he agrees, "I myself occasionally take the train there."

He chuckles as So-young admits she herself has little talent with a brush. "Then I will, if you permit, avail myself to a rehearsal or a practice session in exchange. Conducting is an impressive skill indeed, and I would like to see your approach, Park-sama."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "... just to be completely clear, you are aware that we are not actually going to ritualistically burn down the concert hall after each performance?" So-young asks with a grin tugging from behind her suddenly-open-again fan. "As impressive a show as that would be, I have to content myself with a series of concerts instead. And a series of artists to go with them."

The humour in her eyes is good-natured, at least, especially when Yusuke suggests actually watching a show. "I'd be delighted! If I had any of the guest tickets, I'd hand you one, but they got rather upset at the amount I was giving away. If they lessen my allowance any more I'll have to start sneaking in a tape recorder. And thank you for doing this for me, of course. I am aware that there might be some bad feeling, but I'm not the sort of person to let that stop me."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
<poem>"Alas, while that would be spectacular," Yusuke remarks drily, "the expense and public ill-will would make it... troublesome."

... This woman's passion for her art makes her a kindred spirit, he realises. "In that case, I suppose I had better make sure your security knows I have permission to be there - I am Yusuke Kitagawa."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "A pleasure! I shall do my best to let them know, but people are getting very good at ignoring me," she pouts, but there's clearly no seriousness to the gripe. It still isn't completely certain if she recognizes Yusuke's name or is just incredibly used to rolling with life as it goes and working off raw assumptions, and it doesn't look like an answer will be forthcoming as she glances at the watch on the back of her wrist. "And with that, I can call this trip a rousing success. I'll look forward to favorable results!"

And just like that, she's gone in a flurry of--

--no, wait, she's prowled over to hand another of her cards to the shop staff, this one presented with a delighted and confident wink--

--okay, now she's gone in a flurry of motion.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-09-10: Is The Gun Absolutely Necessary?

2025-09-11T02:44:54Z

Stelas:

*'''Log: 2025-09-10'''
*'''Cast:''' [[So-young Park]], [[Yukari Takeba]]
*'''Where:''' Shibuya Ward, Tokyo
*'''OOC Date:''' September 09, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 08, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Sometimes it's important to ask the question. Sometimes it's important to take some time for yourself. Sometimes it's important to stuff your face with sweets.''

----

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young is not, thankfully, in the Big Bang Burger. This is not to say she's never been in there - she has certainly had days where she's mildly tipsy at 11pm and the nearby convenience stores have sold out of half-price bento. But this is not that day. With Myunghon on the mend and things seemingly settled in Sumaru for the time being, and with her being between performances, she's allowing herself a lazy day off, and for So-young that means 'elegantly lounging some place I can be seen'.

The cafe she's picked is very pretty - airy and open, with light furnishings and a very large window overlooking Shibuya some few stories below. There's gentle birdsong playing over the speakers, together with a soft piano that So-young is gently drumming her fingers along to. She's seated at one of the window tables, alternating between gazing out over the city for inspiration and down at the things on her table. She's not actually looking for inspiration, she just wants to look the part and draw as much attention as possible her way.

Her two-tone and mostly white hair tends to draw the eye regardless, but just in case she's decided to be extra vain today, wearing a particularly gothic dress straight out of Harajuku fashion with possibly a bit more frill than a twenty-seven year old ought to be wearing. A cup of hot chocolate is in one hand, and a slice of something darkly sweet and peppermint laid out in front of her.

Honestly, So-young is actually pretty bad at lazy days off. For her, it's just a chance to direct her endless attention towards something else instead, so she's already worked through a bunch of enquiries for her next string of performances, she has a few sheets of staff paper laid out on the table in front of her, and she's just waved goodbye to a local newbie idol who's commissioned her for a composition. She's making kind of a name for herself by offering quite the discount to solo performers who need to get a start.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
It's a Sunday in Shibuya, and Yukari Takeba is here in Tokyo. The reason is ostensibly to shop, and shop she has. Just... not as much as one might think for a day trip to Tokyo ''to'' shop.

The real reason?

Well. That's why she has her an evoker with her. Not that she wouldn't bring it anyway with knowing there are Persona wielding lunatics out there. Just - she wants to make sure that feeling is gone from Shibuya.

That buzz of wrongness, the glimpses of another world beyond the veil in her mind's eye. A piece of trash remains a piece of trash, and not a yen bill. A man selling jewelry at the front of the alley doesn't become an ATM.

That weird static...? It's not there. The true test comes when she places an Evoker to her forehead in a restroom stall as she focused on Kaneshiro's smug face and his weird UFO bank and...

Click

Nothing happens.

Part of her slumps with relief, but a nagging suspicion remains. "Why did that world collapse after he vanished? What exactly did they do there?"

Well there she is, thinking of grabbing a meal before the train ride back to Tatsumi Port Island and, checking reviews, before she finally picks, "Okay. That one. And I'm making today a cheat day. I'll just... avoid Azuki Arai the rest of the week. It'll be fineeeee."

Several stories later, she's entering and- catches a glimpse of So-Young in profile.

"Wait... don't I know her?" Then... "Ohhhh... right." The context with ''which'' she knows her is pretty embarrassing right? Someone saw her weakness. Someone talked straight to that vulnerability, and talked it down.

Furthermore...

She can't even remember what her name is! Were they not ever introduced!?

Mortified, she was torn between her sense of gratitude versus that teenager embarrassment, before she sighs, "I really should try to thank her at least."

This led to her approaching, with a bag from SOLOQLO being held by a hand over her shoulder, her purse hanging off it just below. Yukari is wearing a pink halter top, with flared ankle jeans that offer a contrasting slightly vintage look.

"Hey there. I can't say I expected to see anyone from our little... trip here today, but it's a nice surprise. How are you doing?"

Okay. Fake it until you make it. You don't need askkkkk for her name. There's sure to be other ways to figure that out!!!

(She hopes)

"I uh, just wanted to thank you for... you know, with all that happened in there, and what you said. It really helped me hold it together."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> One day So-young will manage to reconcile the idea of teenagers shooting themselves in the head with guns, even ones that as far as she knows are fake, but thankfully it doesn't have to quite be today. She's still humming under her breath along with the light music as Yukari walks up to her - but she turns suspiciously quickly, like she's all but ready for someone to come up to her and offer a compliment.

Instead, her eyebrows raise on her head. There's a _very_ similar pause where So-young has to spool her memory back, has to put context to why she's being thanked, has to realize she doesn't know this young woman's name - but she's got a lot more self-assurance and overinflated poise than Yukari does, and nothing about that long pause stops the dazzling smile on her face or the way she immediately waves Yukari to the chair opposite her.

"I'm very well, thank you! I thought I'd indulge a little after spending so much time in Sumaru recently. It's a fascinating place, but sometimes nothing can beat being in familiar stomping grounds," she beams. "Plus, I've been eating far too responsibly lately. I'm not about to try doing a high tea by my own, but I can at least consume half my weight in sugar. Try a bit," she adds as she nudges the sweet Yukari's way without any reserve.

Busying herself with cleaning space on the table, she pauses at the hesitant thanks, and her eyebrows raise high on her head again. "No, no, no! You don't need to thank me at all! Truth be told, it was only my second trip," she admits with a wink as she at least shuffles the staff paper together, lines of music neatly filling each sheet though not fully, like she's bouncing between a few different ideas.

Her smile is tinged ever so slightly with that same sort of quiet understanding. "I can assure you, I'm still figuring it all out myself. I've just got a lot more practice when it comes to stage fright." A beat. "That, and being righteously furious. That does help a lot," she winks again.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
This is in a sense the difference between a teenager and an adult. As popular and adept as Yukari may seem at handling herself when say - a boy at her school is asking her out, it doesn't mean that she has it together.

Nor too does she realize that an adult is simply a teenager who is better at the whole 'fake it until you make it' part of life, being more experienced enough to perhaps - for a lucky few, earn some measure of confidence and poise.

"Oh! I'm glad to hear that..." Before she smiles, "Eating responsibly huh? Yeah, that's been me lately. So I thought I'd be a little irresponsible myself."

She blinks in surprise at the offer, "Oh! Ah- you really don't mind?" She hasn't even sat down yet, really, but taking that as an invitation, she places her purse upon the table once a space is cleaned, and loops her shopping bag over part of the chair.

And then she does try a bite, "Mmmm...! Oh geez, it tastes almost too good after a week without any sweets..." But she really doesn't have to thank her.

The wink she at least realizes is her playing along, "Well... even so, I feel like I should..." She admits to the idea she doesn't have to thank her.

Then she admits she has a lot of experience with stage fright which suddenly takes Yukari aback, "Stage fright?" Her mind tries to grasp the context of ''what kind'' of stage fright she's had to manage, only coming up with, "Oh I- didn't realize you had that much experience performing. Aha... though... I'm not sure I could think of it the same way as, getting up on stage..."

A fingertip brushes the side of her hair in a nervous gesture. It's just, the deadly context...? She can't really consider performing as her brain taking it... quite that seriously.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "A little irresponsibility is the responsible thing," So-young states as if she were some sort of sage, before puffing out a breath. "Not to make myself sound old or anything, but I'm fully aware of how easy it is to reach a breaking point if you don't treat yourself every so often."

"Of course I don't mind! I'd be delighted. I'm done with all my business for the day, and I was just taking it easy on my own. Hanging around in a pleasant cafe doing a bit of socializing is probably going to be a lot better for me than hitting the arcade." That's... hard to picture, especially the way she's dressed right now, but the confidence in her smile speaks volumes. She's probably prepared to terrorize a bunch of gamers at any given moment.

With a satisfied nod at Yukari's reaction to the peppermint slice, the conductor tilts her head. "I'm not so humble that I won't turn down thanks, of course! I suppose my point is just that I understand. I've had to do a great deal of catching up with things that I never knew about in the past few weeks, let alone the grenades!" She drops the last word in there like a keystone falling into place. "So I suppose you could say I had already had my trial by fire."

The confusion over stage fright is what truly makes her shine, though, and there's some relish in her smile. "Oh, I've met a few actors who would think it were the end of the world if a prop was ever so slightly out of place," she sniggers. "So wound up you could power a watch with them, that sort of thing. I suppose you're right that it's not really the same, but it's the closest I've got."

She does pause a little, not least because she wants to let the waitresses get well out of earshot before she continues. "I was, truthfully, rather worried. I can at least recognize that side of Sumaru is full of allegory and metaphor and fantasy, but--..." she lowers her voice with a glum frown and a huff, losing a little of its flair as it gives way to exasperated confusion. "...--is the gun quite necessary? Surely there are healthier forms of self-expression??"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"So you say, but I'm not sure if my scale will agree in the morning." Yukari replies with an awareness of what her actions will wreak. The back and forth struggle, the battle for even just a few pounds.

Not that she's an unhealthy weight or anything, really the opposite. It's just she wants to keep it that way.

"Well then I'd be happy to join you. And really, I prefer the cafe myself." There's a long-suffering sigh, "I hang around too many gamers lately who'd definitely disagree with that, but I just don't see the appeal really. Give me a good meal and some nice conversation any day."

The act of accepting it despite the attempt at humility causes her to smile, "Yeah, same really?" She says, taking another small slice of peppermint.

"Like I knew ''something'' of it I guess, it was just, very different from what I'm used to? Like verryyyyy very different."

So different you might as well change the genre in her mind? Then there's a smile at the thought, "Oh I bet, so you're an actress then?" She asks, hoping she's getting ''warmer'' on her journey to figuring out her name without her finding out.

"I mean, I get that there's pressure but... compare it to a... giant pig thing, and trying to keep everyone alive?" She realizes what she's saying, and tries to hush up before someone thinks she's being a Chuuni three years too late, "You get what I mean."

Then she brings up...

"Ah. Well..." Her expression changes to one of unease and mild embarrassment, "I can't exactly say I like it either, you know? Who wants to do that? I even had a cop think I was..." She makes a gesture that dismisses her actually saying it but it's pretty obvious what happened when someone sees a teenager putting a gun to their head, "... I didn't actually realize there was any other way until recently though?"

There's an exasperated sigh again, "It's just, the only way ''I'' can do it apparently? Since I didn't play some weird ancient game when I was a kid. Like... I'd definitely wish it looked differently, but they kinda implied if it's not that, it wouldn't work the same?"

Yukari offers a weak shrug, "I don't even know... it's not like I know how they're made. Just that... I need one."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Your scale is a philistine which only wishes to hurt you. Ignore it." Okay, that's definitely So-young being a hypocrite, given how vain she clearly is, but she presents the argument with an ironclad self-confidence that brooks no dissent as she takes a long sip of her hot chocolate.

"Oh, I don't play games _with_ anyone," she airily grins when she looks back up. "That just leads to trouble. I simply have a pair of noise cancelling headphones and a personal vendetta against every rhythm game that I haven't yet completed, or else a deep hankering to hammer on some drums until I get blisters. Don't-- do that last part," she adds quickly, catching herself. "It is not pleasant the next day, they will be between your thumb and your index finger. It is terrible. Bring gloves."

See, this was supposed to be a 'lazy' cafe trip, and here she is practically motormouthing. She settles back in her chair, and beams all over again - this time wistfully - at the idea of being an actress. "Once upon a time, maybe, or in another life. My mother dearest is an actress, actually, and I always thought I'd go the same way. Thankfully, I managed to figure out what I actually wanted to do was music."

"Well," So-young hums thoughtfully. "I will admit that I never really thought that far past the end of my nose. All I can really say is that the results speak for themselves - everyone did, in fact, stay alive. Stage fright is inevitable, and I've found the best way to deal with it is to simply accept it and look back at your performance afterwards. From that side of things, it often seems like a very minor thing."

If So-young were better at understanding, she might be able to intuit something about the Evokers representing a death of the self, or maybe a very direct facing of your fears. As it is, she simply grimaces and has to accept that for what it is. "Bleh," she even goes so far as to say. "For some reason, it doesn't phase me when Shinjiro does it, as if it perfectly suits him. But anyone else? I would like to tell the inventor how distasteful it is."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
It's simply a variant of what she said just a moment ago in a sense but- "That's easy for you to say." Yukari says, like she doesn't believe she could ignore it if she tried, "It just helps me to discipline myself I guess? Because it forces me to actually think about it."

Then So-Young reveals her form of gaming and- "Eh? O-Oh! Like... those dance games. Yeah I know some of my classmates who got really into 'Drug Dog Revolution'." Yukari does seem a little puzzled perhaps by it, but she's just not a gamer kind of person.

Drums though? She files that part away.

It's another clue, MAYBE!

"I'll keep that in mind."

Though perhaps she still seems a little confused! She's just not that much of a gamer. And part of it is that she's gender poisoned in her brain so hard in this respect.

"Oh wow! That's super impressive." She says, seeming genuine about that, "I mean I love music of course, but I've never had any real talent for playing an instrument. Though... the only one I ever tried were those dumb recorders we were required to play in music class in elementary school."

She was far, far too happy to throw that thing away at the end of the year. But jealousy does creep in, in a weird sense. Her mother being an actress, her thinking she'd go the same way...

It says something of her relationship with her mother. "Did your Mom take that pretty well? You know... I can imagine there being a lot of pressure."

Accept the fear and look back afterwards? There's a moment where Yukari looks down, like she's trying to work through it.

"Yeah... that makes a lot of sense."

Still, she doesn't try to say too much about her feelings on that matter, because it's embarrassing!!!

Then she brings up Shinjiro and she grimaces, "Honestly - it seems too on the nose even in his case. You saw what happened there on the platform that night..."

With him getting in the way, demanding the cop shoot him. "...Iiii would prefer it be anything else for him too."

A beat, as she second guesses that.

"Well not ''anything'' else- but you know what I mean."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young grins brightly. "Well, I'll dance too, but I'm mostly up for the ones you play like a piano, of course," she mimes the motion after putting her cup down, two hands following the music along as she closes her eyes to better place it. "Don't think of it as playing a game, think of it as losing yourself to the music. Or just hammering out your frustrations. Whatever helps you unwind!" she beams happily.

For a moment it looks like she might save Yukari her angst and actually reveal her business card, the way she suddenly fishes in her purse, but instead she takes out a slim case. Inside it is a small spike of metal with a handle on one end, and So-young telescopes it out into a length of about a foot - a conductor's baton.

She conducts along with the music instead, one hand marking the time and the other directing the notes. "This is my personal speciality," she admits with another wink. "But one of the things I like about the field is that any musician will end up blurring the lines. Piano players who dabble in the drums, violinists who pick up guitars, flute players who could take that recorder and make it sing, however ridiculous it might sound. I think it might be because I'm headstrong. The idea appeals a lot more than playing a role."

"Talent is helpful, but practice works too. Ultimately, though, the best thing is just to find something you like," she grins, because she's clearly puffing up as if she's an overly pompous teacher, or perhaps her mother, playing it up before she abruptly stops to add: "You are allowed to still be figuring out what exactly that is."

Her enthusiasm cannot survive a reference to That Night without having to take a backseat for a bit, and she sighs out a faint breath. "Yes. I do agree. Honestly, the biggest thing I can say is that neither of you should have to be in that situation, as far as I'm concerned, but I also understand there is sometimes not a choice. You know, I got _pulled_ into that place my first time? I was just minding my own business snooping on my newfound sibling, and suddenly a flying bank."

There's... a lot to take in in that last speech, despite So-young bulling her way straight through it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"Huh." Lose yourself to the music, huh? "I never thought of it that way." Then again, she's mostly listening to music in private, not public isn't she? Or at least with headphones at the store...

... Yukari just can't imagine herself 'letting go' like that. She's the type of person who needs to keep control over herself, all the time.

When So-Young fishes in her purse she wonders if this might be it, then-

"You're a Conductor? Wow! ... And I heard it was really difficult for a woman to be one too."

Because so many male musicians are just personalities that don't like to take direction for women.

"I didn't realize that I'd come across someone who did something as amazing as that." She said, almost apologetically, like she was taking her too lightly or something.

The idea of crossing specialties, blurring the lines in music, well, she can't imagine. After all, her Persona was especially suited towards... support. It's not like she can't do other things, it's just it's what she does best.

"Aha... well ''mostly'' I just like listening to music, more than trying to make it. Though maybe I never gave it a fair try too? I think in school we all just kind of resented it because we were forced to do it."

Allowed to still be figuring out exactly what she likes? Well... she's never heard it put that way, but at the same time, there's something that feels off about that, like shouldn't she just grasp what she likes too?

There's something frightening about putting yourself out there ''just'' to figure out what one likes.

But the conversation on Evokers, well?

"... Well. I mean, I didn't have a choice to wake up in the Dark Hour the first time." Yukari says, in agreement, "Butttt... as much as I don't like... that thing. It's my choice to put it to my head and pull the trigger."

A beat.

Then about HALF of that is processed as she recoils a little, "Wait a minute did you just say ''snooping on your newfound sibling''? What exactly happened ''there''?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "'Difficult' is not the half of it. You also have to deal with aged directors who think that anything under fifty counts as 'young and untested'," So-young points out with some amount of sharp teeth hiding in the back of her grin. "Fortunately, I am both extremely rude and extremely willing to ruffle people's feathers until I get results. Besides, they can't deny how many people I've brought in to the weekday concerts at the Bunkamura." The Bunkamura itself isn't far - just a few streets away, a large concert hall and theatre space in the middle of Shibuya.

"Still, I am only the person at the front of the audience waving a stick around. The musicians are just as much a part of the whole proceedings." So she says in a friendly, upbeat way that tries to downplay the praise... but you can see her nose threatening to lengthen to a self-important size as she drinks it in anyway. It's not very hard to spot that one.

She blinks back as Yukari relates her early experiences with music, and drums her fingers on the table again. "Ah... no, I think that's fair to say. If you turn it around, that's what happened to me and becoming an actress. Everyone was so sure I would follow in my mother's footsteps, that was all I could imagine for the longest time."

Pausing, she beams towards a waitress to flag her over to the table, taking the opportunity to order a fancy-looking sandwich from the menu. It's so small! The crusts are cut off! And yet they're calling it a club sandwich? Still, she's here for the experience.

When she looks back, she's terribly pleased to get that reaction from Yukari. "Oh! You wouldn't know, of course. That was what brought me to Sumaru in the first place. About a week before that whole business with the Palace, I learned Myunghon was my half-sibling. It is a very short story that starts and ends with 'Motherrrrr...'" she abruptly drops her voice to drag the name out like it's a cartoon villain. She doesn't elaborate on who 'Myunghon' is - it says a lot about what So-young thinks about their reach and recognition.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>"Whoa..." Yukari says, impressed at the idea of her ''rudeness'' and ''willingness'' to ruffle feathers, "...Yeah I'm pretty sure it would drive me up a wall, working in a profession that's dominated by a bunch of old men. That just only makes what you do that much more impressive!"

Bunkamura? "Oh dang, that's a pretty big deal isn't it? And... here I am taking tea at a cafe with someone who performs there pretty much daily..."

While she tries to say it's all the musicians who do the real work, "There you go being all humble again over something incredible. I guess when you do this sort of thing every day it's easy to take that part for granted, huh?"

She nods slowly, not asking who her Mother is, not because she isn't interested, it's just she wouldn't expect 'Actress' to be 'celebrity'.

Since she's taking advantage of her generosity here, she mostly just grabs another small piece of the sweets.

"Eh? Myungh- OH! You mean Merry! I'm just not used to calling her that."

Yukari isn't intentionally misgendering of course, she just doesn't know there are more than two options that exist.

"Uhhh..." That villain tone makes her wonder on the context. "... Did your Mom like..."

Pause.

"...I'm not exactly sure how to take that?"

It's like halfway through the sentence she decided, 'better not' and made it more on them to explain!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young only looks more quietly smug with every mention of 'incredible' or 'impressive' and may explode soon. This is the best cafe trip she's been on in some time, she thinks privately to herself, and the small SD So-young inside her head is giving one hell of a fistpump.

Still, something that Yukari says brings her back to the present, and she blinks slowly. "Oh, don't worry about that," she cuts in with an easy wave of her hand and a more genuine smile. "I'm certainly not about to put on airs about who I do or don't spend my time with, or else I'll end up as bad as the people I'm supposed to be pushing back against. Or-- well, if it helps you feel better--"

This time she actually does take out her business card, thank goodness, and slides it across the table: So-young Park, Guest Conductor, Tokyo Philharmonic. "--I'm always on the lookout for new guest performers to showcase, and I've just convinced the theatre to give me a bit of gallery space to go along with the shows. If you know of any up-and-coming artists at your school, feel free to pass my information along to them and I'll see if I can't give them a boost."

She looks serene at the thought - which is a shame, because she immediately hunches her shoulders, almost dropping to the table as she sags. "Yes. Neither am I," she confirms in regards to her mother. "I am _absolutely sure_ it will not be _incredibly awkward_ finding out the reasons why. Anyway, I couldn't just leave something like that alone, could I? Especially not when Kaneshiro showed up, and then they were skulking around Shibuya, and then-- well." The Palace.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
Yukari of course cannot see So-young's interiority right now swelling and swelling beyond it's normal capacity. She might only realizes it when she takes the explosion point blank.

Yukari actually takes the card with the proper etiquette, before leaning back to look upon it.

'Oh thank God'

She thinks internally, reading it, but also upon the realization of who she's been talking to is in fact - a real person.

But an offer... of up and coming artists?

"Uhhhh..."

There is someone in SEES who is a musician, Ririka but at the same time, the two of them reallyyyyy don't get along?

So she's not about to stroll up to her and offer her to So-Young. "I see! You know what? I don't know them personally but there are a few super impressive artists at Gekkoukan... I'll look into it and if I find anyone suitable, I'll pass their names your way?"

She knows there's Madarame's ex-disciple, for example? Not that that's not complicated...

... and she thinks Fuuka's in the art club but probably not ''thattttt'' impressive, her thing is more...

But the moment that their Mother is invoked again and her role, "Ah, that's gotta be..." She trails off, then there's an awkward look to the side, "... but you did say she was an actress, from what I hear they kind of..."

And then...

"... Oh! You mean she's a Persona User. Yeah, for real. I'm not sure ''what'' I'd think about that."

If her Mother turned out to be a Persona User and showed up at a Palace... well, first of all... ''she'd die''.

But also if she found out she had a half-sister out there because of all her Mom's been doing lately, she'd ''ALSO'' die... because that half-sister couldn't be older than four... yeesh.

She hopes not! But at the same time she can't rule it out.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young bobs her head encouragingly. "Of course! There's no pressure at all - just keep it in the back of your mind, and that way I can pick up the bill as thanks for the help," she looks proud of herself for that much, folding her arms like she's trapped Yukari in a devil's bargain.

So-young breaks into a sudden and amused laugh at the idea her mother might be a Persona User. "No, no, there's no chance," she beams. "I just mean that she's a terrible meddler and probably only told me now because she had some evil plan to bring us together rather than, you know, the normal family reasons. Knowing her, it's--"

She stops short because Yukari has essentially just short-circuited her brain. The idea that her mother might have ended up with two separate children thanks to a one-night stand - So-young doesn't really want to interrogate that thought _too_ closely but she's not so naive as to pretend it wouldn't ever happen. If it did, then it did. That's fine, as far as So-young is concerned. It doesn't change who either of them are.

The problem is that one sleepy little neuron has finally fired for long enough to whisper in her ear: "Yeah, but Myunghon knows their father." Oh, god, that thought's definitely going to wake her up at 4am.

Clearing her throat, she forces a helpless grin onto her face. "We will find out together. In the meantime I have gained a new sibling and a whole different understanding of the world, so that certainly made for a fun weekend," she snorts pleasantly.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]

2025-09-10: Is The Gun Absolutely Necessary?

2025-09-11T02:43:43Z

Stelas: Created page with " *'''Log: 2025-09-10''' *'''Cast:''' So-young Park, Yukari Takeba *'''Where: Shibuya Ward, Tokyo''' *'''OOC Date:''' September 09, 2025 *'''IC Date:''' July 08, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Sometimes it's important to ask the question. Sometimes it's important to take some time for yourself. Sometimes it's important to stuff your face with sweets.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed. <poem> So-young is not, thankfully, in the Big Bang Burger. This is n..."

*'''Log: 2025-09-10'''
*'''Cast:''' [[So-young Park]], [[Yukari Takeba]]
*'''Where: Shibuya Ward, Tokyo'''
*'''OOC Date:''' September 09, 2025
*'''IC Date:''' July 08, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Sometimes it's important to ask the question. Sometimes it's important to take some time for yourself. Sometimes it's important to stuff your face with sweets.''

----

<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young is not, thankfully, in the Big Bang Burger. This is not to say she's never been in there - she has certainly had days where she's mildly tipsy at 11pm and the nearby convenience stores have sold out of half-price bento. But this is not that day. With Myunghon on the mend and things seemingly settled in Sumaru for the time being, and with her being between performances, she's allowing herself a lazy day off, and for So-young that means 'elegantly lounging some place I can be seen'.

The cafe she's picked is very pretty - airy and open, with light furnishings and a very large window overlooking Shibuya some few stories below. There's gentle birdsong playing over the speakers, together with a soft piano that So-young is gently drumming her fingers along to. She's seated at one of the window tables, alternating between gazing out over the city for inspiration and down at the things on her table. She's not actually looking for inspiration, she just wants to look the part and draw as much attention as possible her way.

Her two-tone and mostly white hair tends to draw the eye regardless, but just in case she's decided to be extra vain today, wearing a particularly gothic dress straight out of Harajuku fashion with possibly a bit more frill than a twenty-seven year old ought to be wearing. A cup of hot chocolate is in one hand, and a slice of something darkly sweet and peppermint laid out in front of her.

Honestly, So-young is actually pretty bad at lazy days off. For her, it's just a chance to direct her endless attention towards something else instead, so she's already worked through a bunch of enquiries for her next string of performances, she has a few sheets of staff paper laid out on the table in front of her, and she's just waved goodbye to a local newbie idol who's commissioned her for a composition. She's making kind of a name for herself by offering quite the discount to solo performers who need to get a start.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
It's a Sunday in Shibuya, and Yukari Takeba is here in Tokyo. The reason is ostensibly to shop, and shop she has. Just... not as much as one might think for a day trip to Tokyo ''to'' shop.

The real reason?

Well. That's why she has her an evoker with her. Not that she wouldn't bring it anyway with knowing there are Persona wielding lunatics out there. Just - she wants to make sure that feeling is gone from Shibuya.

That buzz of wrongness, the glimpses of another world beyond the veil in her mind's eye. A piece of trash remains a piece of trash, and not a yen bill. A man selling jewelry at the front of the alley doesn't become an ATM.

That weird static...? It's not there. The true test comes when she places an Evoker to her forehead in a restroom stall as she focused on Kaneshiro's smug face and his weird UFO bank and...

Click

Nothing happens.

Part of her slumps with relief, but a nagging suspicion remains. "Why did that world collapse after he vanished? What exactly did they do there?"

Well there she is, thinking of grabbing a meal before the train ride back to Tatsumi Port Island and, checking reviews, before she finally picks, "Okay. That one. And I'm making today a cheat day. I'll just... avoid Azuki Arai the rest of the week. It'll be fineeeee."

Several stories later, she's entering and- catches a glimpse of So-Young in profile.

"Wait... don't I know her?" Then... "Ohhhh... right." The context with ''which'' she knows her is pretty embarrassing right? Someone saw her weakness. Someone talked straight to that vulnerability, and talked it down.

Furthermore...

She can't even remember what her name is! Were they not ever introduced!?

Mortified, she was torn between her sense of gratitude versus that teenager embarrassment, before she sighs, "I really should try to thank her at least."

This led to her approaching, with a bag from SOLOQLO being held by a hand over her shoulder, her purse hanging off it just below. Yukari is wearing a pink halter top, with flared ankle jeans that offer a contrasting slightly vintage look.

"Hey there. I can't say I expected to see anyone from our little... trip here today, but it's a nice surprise. How are you doing?"

Okay. Fake it until you make it. You don't need askkkkk for her name. There's sure to be other ways to figure that out!!!

(She hopes)

"I uh, just wanted to thank you for... you know, with all that happened in there, and what you said. It really helped me hold it together."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> One day So-young will manage to reconcile the idea of teenagers shooting themselves in the head with guns, even ones that as far as she knows are fake, but thankfully it doesn't have to quite be today. She's still humming under her breath along with the light music as Yukari walks up to her - but she turns suspiciously quickly, like she's all but ready for someone to come up to her and offer a compliment.

Instead, her eyebrows raise on her head. There's a _very_ similar pause where So-young has to spool her memory back, has to put context to why she's being thanked, has to realize she doesn't know this young woman's name - but she's got a lot more self-assurance and overinflated poise than Yukari does, and nothing about that long pause stops the dazzling smile on her face or the way she immediately waves Yukari to the chair opposite her.

"I'm very well, thank you! I thought I'd indulge a little after spending so much time in Sumaru recently. It's a fascinating place, but sometimes nothing can beat being in familiar stomping grounds," she beams. "Plus, I've been eating far too responsibly lately. I'm not about to try doing a high tea by my own, but I can at least consume half my weight in sugar. Try a bit," she adds as she nudges the sweet Yukari's way without any reserve.

Busying herself with cleaning space on the table, she pauses at the hesitant thanks, and her eyebrows raise high on her head again. "No, no, no! You don't need to thank me at all! Truth be told, it was only my second trip," she admits with a wink as she at least shuffles the staff paper together, lines of music neatly filling each sheet though not fully, like she's bouncing between a few different ideas.

Her smile is tinged ever so slightly with that same sort of quiet understanding. "I can assure you, I'm still figuring it all out myself. I've just got a lot more practice when it comes to stage fright." A beat. "That, and being righteously furious. That does help a lot," she winks again.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
This is in a sense the difference between a teenager and an adult. As popular and adept as Yukari may seem at handling herself when say - a boy at her school is asking her out, it doesn't mean that she has it together.

Nor too does she realize that an adult is simply a teenager who is better at the whole 'fake it until you make it' part of life, being more experienced enough to perhaps - for a lucky few, earn some measure of confidence and poise.

"Oh! I'm glad to hear that..." Before she smiles, "Eating responsibly huh? Yeah, that's been me lately. So I thought I'd be a little irresponsible myself."

She blinks in surprise at the offer, "Oh! Ah- you really don't mind?" She hasn't even sat down yet, really, but taking that as an invitation, she places her purse upon the table once a space is cleaned, and loops her shopping bag over part of the chair.

And then she does try a bite, "Mmmm...! Oh geez, it tastes almost too good after a week without any sweets..." But she really doesn't have to thank her.

The wink she at least realizes is her playing along, "Well... even so, I feel like I should..." She admits to the idea she doesn't have to thank her.

Then she admits she has a lot of experience with stage fright which suddenly takes Yukari aback, "Stage fright?" Her mind tries to grasp the context of ''what kind'' of stage fright she's had to manage, only coming up with, "Oh I- didn't realize you had that much experience performing. Aha... though... I'm not sure I could think of it the same way as, getting up on stage..."

A fingertip brushes the side of her hair in a nervous gesture. It's just, the deadly context...? She can't really consider performing as her brain taking it... quite that seriously.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "A little irresponsibility is the responsible thing," So-young states as if she were some sort of sage, before puffing out a breath. "Not to make myself sound old or anything, but I'm fully aware of how easy it is to reach a breaking point if you don't treat yourself every so often."

"Of course I don't mind! I'd be delighted. I'm done with all my business for the day, and I was just taking it easy on my own. Hanging around in a pleasant cafe doing a bit of socializing is probably going to be a lot better for me than hitting the arcade." That's... hard to picture, especially the way she's dressed right now, but the confidence in her smile speaks volumes. She's probably prepared to terrorize a bunch of gamers at any given moment.

With a satisfied nod at Yukari's reaction to the peppermint slice, the conductor tilts her head. "I'm not so humble that I won't turn down thanks, of course! I suppose my point is just that I understand. I've had to do a great deal of catching up with things that I never knew about in the past few weeks, let alone the grenades!" She drops the last word in there like a keystone falling into place. "So I suppose you could say I had already had my trial by fire."

The confusion over stage fright is what truly makes her shine, though, and there's some relish in her smile. "Oh, I've met a few actors who would think it were the end of the world if a prop was ever so slightly out of place," she sniggers. "So wound up you could power a watch with them, that sort of thing. I suppose you're right that it's not really the same, but it's the closest I've got."

She does pause a little, not least because she wants to let the waitresses get well out of earshot before she continues. "I was, truthfully, rather worried. I can at least recognize that side of Sumaru is full of allegory and metaphor and fantasy, but--..." she lowers her voice with a glum frown and a huff, losing a little of its flair as it gives way to exasperated confusion. "...--is the gun quite necessary? Surely there are healthier forms of self-expression??"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"So you say, but I'm not sure if my scale will agree in the morning." Yukari replies with an awareness of what her actions will wreak. The back and forth struggle, the battle for even just a few pounds.

Not that she's an unhealthy weight or anything, really the opposite. It's just she wants to keep it that way.

"Well then I'd be happy to join you. And really, I prefer the cafe myself." There's a long-suffering sigh, "I hang around too many gamers lately who'd definitely disagree with that, but I just don't see the appeal really. Give me a good meal and some nice conversation any day."

The act of accepting it despite the attempt at humility causes her to smile, "Yeah, same really?" She says, taking another small slice of peppermint.

"Like I knew ''something'' of it I guess, it was just, very different from what I'm used to? Like verryyyyy very different."

So different you might as well change the genre in her mind? Then there's a smile at the thought, "Oh I bet, so you're an actress then?" She asks, hoping she's getting ''warmer'' on her journey to figuring out her name without her finding out.

"I mean, I get that there's pressure but... compare it to a... giant pig thing, and trying to keep everyone alive?" She realizes what she's saying, and tries to hush up before someone thinks she's being a Chuuni three years too late, "You get what I mean."

Then she brings up...

"Ah. Well..." Her expression changes to one of unease and mild embarrassment, "I can't exactly say I like it either, you know? Who wants to do that? I even had a cop think I was..." She makes a gesture that dismisses her actually saying it but it's pretty obvious what happened when someone sees a teenager putting a gun to their head, "... I didn't actually realize there was any other way until recently though?"

There's an exasperated sigh again, "It's just, the only way ''I'' can do it apparently? Since I didn't play some weird ancient game when I was a kid. Like... I'd definitely wish it looked differently, but they kinda implied if it's not that, it wouldn't work the same?"

Yukari offers a weak shrug, "I don't even know... it's not like I know how they're made. Just that... I need one."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "Your scale is a philistine which only wishes to hurt you. Ignore it." Okay, that's definitely So-young being a hypocrite, given how vain she clearly is, but she presents the argument with an ironclad self-confidence that brooks no dissent as she takes a long sip of her hot chocolate.

"Oh, I don't play games _with_ anyone," she airily grins when she looks back up. "That just leads to trouble. I simply have a pair of noise cancelling headphones and a personal vendetta against every rhythm game that I haven't yet completed, or else a deep hankering to hammer on some drums until I get blisters. Don't-- do that last part," she adds quickly, catching herself. "It is not pleasant the next day, they will be between your thumb and your index finger. It is terrible. Bring gloves."

See, this was supposed to be a 'lazy' cafe trip, and here she is practically motormouthing. She settles back in her chair, and beams all over again - this time wistfully - at the idea of being an actress. "Once upon a time, maybe, or in another life. My mother dearest is an actress, actually, and I always thought I'd go the same way. Thankfully, I managed to figure out what I actually wanted to do was music."

"Well," So-young hums thoughtfully. "I will admit that I never really thought that far past the end of my nose. All I can really say is that the results speak for themselves - everyone did, in fact, stay alive. Stage fright is inevitable, and I've found the best way to deal with it is to simply accept it and look back at your performance afterwards. From that side of things, it often seems like a very minor thing."

If So-young were better at understanding, she might be able to intuit something about the Evokers representing a death of the self, or maybe a very direct facing of your fears. As it is, she simply grimaces and has to accept that for what it is. "Bleh," she even goes so far as to say. "For some reason, it doesn't phase me when Shinjiro does it, as if it perfectly suits him. But anyone else? I would like to tell the inventor how distasteful it is."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
It's simply a variant of what she said just a moment ago in a sense but- "That's easy for you to say." Yukari says, like she doesn't believe she could ignore it if she tried, "It just helps me to discipline myself I guess? Because it forces me to actually think about it."

Then So-Young reveals her form of gaming and- "Eh? O-Oh! Like... those dance games. Yeah I know some of my classmates who got really into 'Drug Dog Revolution'." Yukari does seem a little puzzled perhaps by it, but she's just not a gamer kind of person.

Drums though? She files that part away.

It's another clue, MAYBE!

"I'll keep that in mind."

Though perhaps she still seems a little confused! She's just not that much of a gamer. And part of it is that she's gender poisoned in her brain so hard in this respect.

"Oh wow! That's super impressive." She says, seeming genuine about that, "I mean I love music of course, but I've never had any real talent for playing an instrument. Though... the only one I ever tried were those dumb recorders we were required to play in music class in elementary school."

She was far, far too happy to throw that thing away at the end of the year. But jealousy does creep in, in a weird sense. Her mother being an actress, her thinking she'd go the same way...

It says something of her relationship with her mother. "Did your Mom take that pretty well? You know... I can imagine there being a lot of pressure."

Accept the fear and look back afterwards? There's a moment where Yukari looks down, like she's trying to work through it.

"Yeah... that makes a lot of sense."

Still, she doesn't try to say too much about her feelings on that matter, because it's embarrassing!!!

Then she brings up Shinjiro and she grimaces, "Honestly - it seems too on the nose even in his case. You saw what happened there on the platform that night..."

With him getting in the way, demanding the cop shoot him. "...Iiii would prefer it be anything else for him too."

A beat, as she second guesses that.

"Well not ''anything'' else- but you know what I mean."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young grins brightly. "Well, I'll dance too, but I'm mostly up for the ones you play like a piano, of course," she mimes the motion after putting her cup down, two hands following the music along as she closes her eyes to better place it. "Don't think of it as playing a game, think of it as losing yourself to the music. Or just hammering out your frustrations. Whatever helps you unwind!" she beams happily.

For a moment it looks like she might save Yukari her angst and actually reveal her business card, the way she suddenly fishes in her purse, but instead she takes out a slim case. Inside it is a small spike of metal with a handle on one end, and So-young telescopes it out into a length of about a foot - a conductor's baton.

She conducts along with the music instead, one hand marking the time and the other directing the notes. "This is my personal speciality," she admits with another wink. "But one of the things I like about the field is that any musician will end up blurring the lines. Piano players who dabble in the drums, violinists who pick up guitars, flute players who could take that recorder and make it sing, however ridiculous it might sound. I think it might be because I'm headstrong. The idea appeals a lot more than playing a role."

"Talent is helpful, but practice works too. Ultimately, though, the best thing is just to find something you like," she grins, because she's clearly puffing up as if she's an overly pompous teacher, or perhaps her mother, playing it up before she abruptly stops to add: "You are allowed to still be figuring out what exactly that is."

Her enthusiasm cannot survive a reference to That Night without having to take a backseat for a bit, and she sighs out a faint breath. "Yes. I do agree. Honestly, the biggest thing I can say is that neither of you should have to be in that situation, as far as I'm concerned, but I also understand there is sometimes not a choice. You know, I got _pulled_ into that place my first time? I was just minding my own business snooping on my newfound sibling, and suddenly a flying bank."

There's... a lot to take in in that last speech, despite So-young bulling her way straight through it.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
"Huh." Lose yourself to the music, huh? "I never thought of it that way." Then again, she's mostly listening to music in private, not public isn't she? Or at least with headphones at the store...

... Yukari just can't imagine herself 'letting go' like that. She's the type of person who needs to keep control over herself, all the time.

When So-Young fishes in her purse she wonders if this might be it, then-

"You're a Conductor? Wow! ... And I heard it was really difficult for a woman to be one too."

Because so many male musicians are just personalities that don't like to take direction for women.

"I didn't realize that I'd come across someone who did something as amazing as that." She said, almost apologetically, like she was taking her too lightly or something.

The idea of crossing specialties, blurring the lines in music, well, she can't imagine. After all, her Persona was especially suited towards... support. It's not like she can't do other things, it's just it's what she does best.

"Aha... well ''mostly'' I just like listening to music, more than trying to make it. Though maybe I never gave it a fair try too? I think in school we all just kind of resented it because we were forced to do it."

Allowed to still be figuring out exactly what she likes? Well... she's never heard it put that way, but at the same time, there's something that feels off about that, like shouldn't she just grasp what she likes too?

There's something frightening about putting yourself out there ''just'' to figure out what one likes.

But the conversation on Evokers, well?

"... Well. I mean, I didn't have a choice to wake up in the Dark Hour the first time." Yukari says, in agreement, "Butttt... as much as I don't like... that thing. It's my choice to put it to my head and pull the trigger."

A beat.

Then about HALF of that is processed as she recoils a little, "Wait a minute did you just say ''snooping on your newfound sibling''? What exactly happened ''there''?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> "'Difficult' is not the half of it. You also have to deal with aged directors who think that anything under fifty counts as 'young and untested'," So-young points out with some amount of sharp teeth hiding in the back of her grin. "Fortunately, I am both extremely rude and extremely willing to ruffle people's feathers until I get results. Besides, they can't deny how many people I've brought in to the weekday concerts at the Bunkamura." The Bunkamura itself isn't far - just a few streets away, a large concert hall and theatre space in the middle of Shibuya.

"Still, I am only the person at the front of the audience waving a stick around. The musicians are just as much a part of the whole proceedings." So she says in a friendly, upbeat way that tries to downplay the praise... but you can see her nose threatening to lengthen to a self-important size as she drinks it in anyway. It's not very hard to spot that one.

She blinks back as Yukari relates her early experiences with music, and drums her fingers on the table again. "Ah... no, I think that's fair to say. If you turn it around, that's what happened to me and becoming an actress. Everyone was so sure I would follow in my mother's footsteps, that was all I could imagine for the longest time."

Pausing, she beams towards a waitress to flag her over to the table, taking the opportunity to order a fancy-looking sandwich from the menu. It's so small! The crusts are cut off! And yet they're calling it a club sandwich? Still, she's here for the experience.

When she looks back, she's terribly pleased to get that reaction from Yukari. "Oh! You wouldn't know, of course. That was what brought me to Sumaru in the first place. About a week before that whole business with the Palace, I learned Myunghon was my half-sibling. It is a very short story that starts and ends with 'Motherrrrr...'" she abruptly drops her voice to drag the name out like it's a cartoon villain. She doesn't elaborate on who 'Myunghon' is - it says a lot about what So-young thinks about their reach and recognition.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>"Whoa..." Yukari says, impressed at the idea of her ''rudeness'' and ''willingness'' to ruffle feathers, "...Yeah I'm pretty sure it would drive me up a wall, working in a profession that's dominated by a bunch of old men. That just only makes what you do that much more impressive!"

Bunkamura? "Oh dang, that's a pretty big deal isn't it? And... here I am taking tea at a cafe with someone who performs there pretty much daily..."

While she tries to say it's all the musicians who do the real work, "There you go being all humble again over something incredible. I guess when you do this sort of thing every day it's easy to take that part for granted, huh?"

She nods slowly, not asking who her Mother is, not because she isn't interested, it's just she wouldn't expect 'Actress' to be 'celebrity'.

Since she's taking advantage of her generosity here, she mostly just grabs another small piece of the sweets.

"Eh? Myungh- OH! You mean Merry! I'm just not used to calling her that."

Yukari isn't intentionally misgendering of course, she just doesn't know there are more than two options that exist.

"Uhhh..." That villain tone makes her wonder on the context. "... Did your Mom like..."

Pause.

"...I'm not exactly sure how to take that?"

It's like halfway through the sentence she decided, 'better not' and made it more on them to explain!

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young only looks more quietly smug with every mention of 'incredible' or 'impressive' and may explode soon. This is the best cafe trip she's been on in some time, she thinks privately to herself, and the small SD So-young inside her head is giving one hell of a fistpump.

Still, something that Yukari says brings her back to the present, and she blinks slowly. "Oh, don't worry about that," she cuts in with an easy wave of her hand and a more genuine smile. "I'm certainly not about to put on airs about who I do or don't spend my time with, or else I'll end up as bad as the people I'm supposed to be pushing back against. Or-- well, if it helps you feel better--"

This time she actually does take out her business card, thank goodness, and slides it across the table: So-young Park, Guest Conductor, Tokyo Philharmonic. "--I'm always on the lookout for new guest performers to showcase, and I've just convinced the theatre to give me a bit of gallery space to go along with the shows. If you know of any up-and-coming artists at your school, feel free to pass my information along to them and I'll see if I can't give them a boost."

She looks serene at the thought - which is a shame, because she immediately hunches her shoulders, almost dropping to the table as she sags. "Yes. Neither am I," she confirms in regards to her mother. "I am _absolutely sure_ it will not be _incredibly awkward_ finding out the reasons why. Anyway, I couldn't just leave something like that alone, could I? Especially not when Kaneshiro showed up, and then they were skulking around Shibuya, and then-- well." The Palace.
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.
<poem>
Yukari of course cannot see So-young's interiority right now swelling and swelling beyond it's normal capacity. She might only realizes it when she takes the explosion point blank.

Yukari actually takes the card with the proper etiquette, before leaning back to look upon it.

'Oh thank God'

She thinks internally, reading it, but also upon the realization of who she's been talking to is in fact - a real person.

But an offer... of up and coming artists?

"Uhhhh..."

There is someone in SEES who is a musician, Ririka but at the same time, the two of them reallyyyyy don't get along?

So she's not about to stroll up to her and offer her to So-Young. "I see! You know what? I don't know them personally but there are a few super impressive artists at Gekkoukan... I'll look into it and if I find anyone suitable, I'll pass their names your way?"

She knows there's Madarame's ex-disciple, for example? Not that that's not complicated...

... and she thinks Fuuka's in the art club but probably not ''thattttt'' impressive, her thing is more...

But the moment that their Mother is invoked again and her role, "Ah, that's gotta be..." She trails off, then there's an awkward look to the side, "... but you did say she was an actress, from what I hear they kind of..."

And then...

"... Oh! You mean she's a Persona User. Yeah, for real. I'm not sure ''what'' I'd think about that."

If her Mother turned out to be a Persona User and showed up at a Palace... well, first of all... ''she'd die''.

But also if she found out she had a half-sister out there because of all her Mom's been doing lately, she'd ''ALSO'' die... because that half-sister couldn't be older than four... yeesh.

She hopes not! But at the same time she can't rule it out.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
<poem> So-young bobs her head encouragingly. "Of course! There's no pressure at all - just keep it in the back of your mind, and that way I can pick up the bill as thanks for the help," she looks proud of herself for that much, folding her arms like she's trapped Yukari in a devil's bargain.

So-young breaks into a sudden and amused laugh at the idea her mother might be a Persona User. "No, no, there's no chance," she beams. "I just mean that she's a terrible meddler and probably only told me now because she had some evil plan to bring us together rather than, you know, the normal family reasons. Knowing her, it's--"

She stops short because Yukari has essentially just short-circuited her brain. The idea that her mother might have ended up with two separate children thanks to a one-night stand - So-young doesn't really want to interrogate that thought _too_ closely but she's not so naive as to pretend it wouldn't ever happen. If it did, then it did. That's fine, as far as So-young is concerned. It doesn't change who either of them are.

The problem is that one sleepy little neuron has finally fired for long enough to whisper in her ear: "Yeah, but Myunghon knows their father." Oh, god, that thought's definitely going to wake her up at 4am.

Clearing her throat, she forces a helpless grin onto her face. "We will find out together. In the meantime I have gained a new sibling and a whole different understanding of the world, so that certainly made for a fun weekend," she snorts pleasantly.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 1]]