2025-08-28: Who Watches The Watchmen?
- Log: Who Watches The Watchmen?
- Cast: Miho Ijuuin, Yua Ooshiro
- Where: Aoba - Penthouse
- OOC Date: 2025-08-28
- IC Date: Monday, July 02 2012
- Summary: Miho is 'generously' granted a day off work in order to prepare another man's sentence. Yua comes home to find her health suffering, for it, and cares for her fiancee as best she can. In the end, it's Yua who'll mete out the punishment...
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Today is a rest day for Miho's muscles; it's important to build those in now and then, to allow the training to take effect without harming the body. However... It is not a day of rest for her mind, as she has been given another 'opportunity' for the New World Order.
They were good enough to give her the day off of work to handle this business. She's been working on that, and...
Grumbling.
It is the afternoon now; Yua should be back soon. Miho is at her desk with paperwork, and Eiko has been listening to her grumble.
Eiko might have some things to say about that when Yua returns. Otheriwse, though, the apartment is quiet, the lights dim, the temperature comfortable.
Miho notes the time, however.... and after locking her documents in the drawer, steps outside the office, and begins to walk towards the living area.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
The sign at Studio Chura remains turned to 'closed', this afternoon; as soon as Yua's done with her paperwork, attending to Kasugayama, she goes home today. She was not given the day off; she is not someone who needs to organise anything. She's simply not at that level.
Miho is, though... and she's worried.
(She'll feel it, if she doesn't practice for a day. Miho's more important.)
For once, it's Yua who calls out, "I'm home!", as she steps inside; she sits on the chair by the door, to unlace her pointe shoes and slip into her house slippers. It's a strange feeling.
Shouldn't she be welcoming Miho home?
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Welcome home," Miho's voice answers Yua as she steps into the living area, looking at Yua moving to put on her house slippers.
"The watchers watch," Miho says. "They are close behind, now."
"...But you are back, and we are safe."
"For now."
A smile. "I'm glad to see you. How was work?"
Miho is in a nice dress shirt and slacks, nothing especially special today--just work attire.
"Mine has been... tedious."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
The watchers watch, Miho says, and Yua looks to her with concern. The way she says it, it's...
Once she's safely in her house slippers, she stands, gliding over the space to throw her arms around Miho. "Safe!" She declares, as she streetches up onto her toes, tugging Miho down to kiss her in reunion.
Her arms stay loosely looped, around Miho's neck and shoulders, as she comes back down to rest on her heels again. "The children worked hard today," she smiles, reassuringly. "They were very... lively!" Which is one way to describe the discord of Kasugayama, certainly. "But they're really enjoying modern dance..."
She moves back, a little, to place a hand at Miho's back and steer her towards the couch. "I know," she frowns, sympathetic and concerned in the same breath. "I'm sorry I had to leave you to talk to all those horrid men alone... tell me about it?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho doesn't notice the concern at the moment. She does notice the kiss, because she participates in it, and smiles despite her earlier dour language.
"Did they?" Miho asks of the children. "Good. It is important to work hard at things that are important. ...And nice, to be lively."
They're enjoying it. "Good. And you?" she asks, of enjoying her work. "You seem to be."
Miho will allow herself to be steered. But the men... "That is all right," Miho says. "But..."
"There is a mission," she says. "To gather Shadows, and bring the darkness within them back. And to punish a rogue agent."
A pause. "...I checked; he is not rogue in the sense that you or I would like to be, but enriching himself at the conspiracy's expense. I see no moral issue..."
"Which is what they're counting on. They see. They are looking to maneuver. But I, too, will maneuver..."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"It is!" Yua chirps, of the importance of hard work. And... "This part of the work is wonderful," Yua smiles, though her expression grows a touch complicated. "I'm just troubled, that... the things I learn about them..."
She sighs, glancing away. "... you know." If they take an interest in those children, Yua will have questions to answer, from the Powers that Be.
Yua sits herself and Miho down, and clasps her hand in both of hers, as she listens to her. A mission...
"... I suppose he hasn't the Power," Yua connects the pieces, her own tone growing dour. "So he'll be serving to attract those Shadows... won't he?" Yua knows they're not populous, outside of Tartarus. She's performed enough in the Dark Hour to know. "Though, how they plan to keep him from his coffin..."
Her gut twists, as she works through it, mentally.
She shouldn't be able to do that... so easily.
"... Mimi," she focuses on her, instead, "what are you planning?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"I understand," Miho says of the trouble. "But I am glad that you can do this much."
Miho sits as directed, and lets her hand be taken by Yua. It is warm. And the mission...
"He does not," Miho confirms, "And thus he will. They have some contrivance to awaken him during the Dark Hour."
"I am planning," Miho says, "To undermine them, as usual. You see..."
"They want him to die, and to gather the information on his death. But I intend to protect him, though he deserves it not. Yes..."
"I will safeguard this man. They will accomplish their mission, but they will have to kill him another way if they wish him dead."
"Yes..."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I think... the children at Kasugayama do notice when adults don't dismiss them out of hand," Yua sighs, and perhaps, if it were up to her, she'd just teach at Kasugayama full time!
... she could never do that, though. There are too many Awakened youth at Gekkoukan alone for the Powers that Be to want it neglected.
She squeezes Miho's hand, as she voices her plan, smiling to her. "It would send a message to the others if he died, wouldn't it?" She wonders, putting it together in her mind. "There must be more people around him, who see how he's failed... they would destroy one to shape the rest."
She nods, thoughtfully. "But if he survives his punishment, the message sent then becomes... yes, I see! You're so clever, Mimi!"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"I am not surprised," Miho says of Kasugayama's children. "The youth are more perceptive than the credit afforded them. ...Yes. This is true."
"And it would," Miho confirms. "That is their plan, I think. They combine it with others for efficiency's sake, but I will deny them their parsimony. Yes..."
A smile. "Thank you. ...I think it will work."
"They watch, but I am more watchful still."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"They're very perceptive," Yua agrees.
And, their plans... plans in plans, wrapped up in another, and how much of it is the madness of the New World Order, and how much of it is --
"It will definitely work," Yua encourages Miho, squeezing her hand. "I'll make sure he's safe, I promise."
She pauses, here, as her fingers rub up and down the back of Miho's hand. "Mm... but, Mimi..." She hums, as she tries to think of how to broach it, biting lightly at the inside of her lip. "... you don't feel safe right now," she settles on, a moment later, looking up to her with concern. "Do you?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Plans in plans. Perhaps some of it is indeed Miho, this time.
Miho closes her fingers within Yua's hands. "Good," she says. "But you?" she wonders. "It is true that they want you on the mission..." But she wasn't planning to bring her, goes the implication. Instead, however:
Yua pauses, and Miho tilts her head, listening. And then she turns it, looking away. "...I do not," she says.
"They are watching, always watching." And she is agitated. "And I am prepared to strike back. Yes, I will fight."
"...But my fortress is large. There are many entrances. I can only watch the one..."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I'm with you, Mimi," Yua insists, squeezing her hand again. "You're not fighting on your own. I know we can't ask Recchi to come if they don't insist on it, after what they did to her... but that doesn't mean you're alone, either!"
Yua hums, though her lips, looking over Miho. "Do you want a hug?" She asks, instead of just scooching over to crowd her without asking. Most of the time, acting impulsively is fine, but...
When Miho gets like this, she likes to give her advance warning, one way or another.
"It sounds really scary," she says, whether Miho goes one way or the other on her offer. "And really, really tense. But you're not alone," Yua repeats, again. "I'm here, Mimi."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"All right," Miho answers. "If you wish. ...Yes, it would be best not to involve her in this," Miho says, "But I will not oppose your joining."
Hmm. A hug... "Yes," Miho agrees. "I would like that."
But scary. Hmm. "True," Miho says. "I am not."
"I have you."
"...But I'm tired, Yua..." She sighs. She's fatigued.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua scooches closer, when Miho assents to her hug, wrapping her arms about her and pulling her in. "I'm with you," she repeats, softly, at the side of her head.
She pulls her head back just far enough to gaze at Miho, as one hand comes up to stroke at her short hair. "I can tell," she says, sympathetically. "You have so much to take care of, Mimi... and they ask for such unreasonable things..."
It's not fair, she thinks, the way they treat Miho. Even if it's the way they talk to people they acknowledge as playing the game... they put so much more on her plate, just to dare her to complain.
(And if she complains, Yua supposes, they'll just say that proves a woman can't hack it in a man's world.)
"Mm..." She pouts, as she thinks of those wretched thoughts, before she looks back to Miho. "... do you want a shoulder massage? You always say those make you feel better when you're worn out..."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho puts an arm around Yua's waist in return, leaning on her fiancee. She closes her eyes for a few moments, gazes at nothing in particular in the process. She can tell... "They do," Miho agrees. "And while I can of course stand up to these unreasonable demands... It is still tiring occasionally."
All of what Yua thinks is true.
"I do," Miho says. "...Let me slide down, so that you can reach my shoulders," she suggests. The floor is clean, thanks to Eiko and the fact that they wear slippers. It's fine.
"Thank you, Yua."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"You're really strong," Yua affirms, "but they're really, really awful."
Miho slides down, though, and Yua giggles faintly, for just a moment. "It's like when I need to pull up a crate..." Her voice softens, though, as she tucks herself in around Miho. "Thanks. I can reach just fine, now."
She might not have the rumoured healing hands of some of the wonders hidden in Hirasaka, but perhaps Yua's fingers have healing properties known only to Miho; she is, at least, surprisingly good at finding and releasing tension, in wound-up muscles. She had to learn how to take care of her soft tissue after a lifetime of putting her legs through hell.
... her grip strength in her right hand is noticeably worse than her left, but never mind that.
"Mimi, I'm guessing... the man they're mad at, you didn't know he was one of us before, right?" Yua advances, uncertainly, as she works. "It seems like you're really worried about how many eyes they have... something startled you, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Yes. But this is a little simpler than a crate..."
Miho lets out a breath, closing her eyes again. She focuses on the release of tension in her shoulders, on the motions of Yua's hands. Yua is good at this, Miho would say; perhaps she's biased, but she thinks it's true regardless.
...Nevermind the difference in hands.
"I did not," Miho confirms. "There is much they hide from me. Not forever; I can learn the truth. But I must be aware that a truth exists, in order to search for it..."
"They messaged me differently," she says. "Sent a courier. I did not recognize her."
"There could be many more eyes. But I will find them."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua can work and listen at the same time; she might natively focus on one task to the exclusion of all others, but she's learned a thing or two about multitasking, as she's moved into adult life. "Oh," she sighs, as she does, "you're all knotted up... let me know if it hurts too much, okay?"
Of course she knows Miho would simply bear the discomfort of unlocking her muscles, but it's important she knows Yua cares about how it feels. It just means she has to be extra-careful in that spot!
"It's scary to me, too," she says, sympathetically. "I realised one of the boys I'd seen, when the world shifted, was one of ours... even though he was fighting us when we did their wretched bidding. You remember? The boy with the 'No Entry' sign? He said something to me, and I realised he must have come from one of those wretched labs, just the same... I truly felt for him, but I felt frightened, too. Their reach is... really encompassing."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Multitasking is important! And, "I will," Miho says. "It is my rest day, so it is best to go easy. ...But I appreciate it. It is already starting to feel better..."
She cares! And Yua will be good.
But scary? Hmm. "Ah..." Miho nods absently. "I see. Yes, their control is incomplete, imperfect, but their reach is great."
"But remember that much. He still fought us; Remi still wanted to fight against that man, Kaneshiro, to protect Myunghon."
"We still fight."
"...They see. They watch. But no, we are not done. We are no bystanders."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"That's great," Yua smiles, when Miho says it's feeling better. Knead, knead, knead... it's a good thing she doesn't have claws, Yua thinks, or else Tiger might get mad she was muscling in on his territory!
"That's right," Yua encourages Miho. She hums, as she thinks of how to say, "... actually, I'm going to visit the police station, soon, too. I just need to finish looking up their policies... but I heard an officer was profiling Myucchi, so of course I'm going to make a complaint."
She smiles, kneading at Miho's shoulders, considering the back of her head for a moment. (She is, quite literally, watching her back.) "Mimi..." She starts, thoughtfully.
And pauses, for a long moment, before she puts the words in order. "You're worried about how they're watching us, right? Mm... what if I did what they wanted, and you kept watch?" She advances the proposition slowly, a touch unsure of herself. "That way, if there's someone lurking around, you can catch them... right?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Tiger is probably napping at the moment. But he knows. Oh, he knows.
Miho listens. "Be careful," Miho says. "The police have their own games to play. Wheels within wheels. Many are unaware."
Knead, knead.
"...Mm," Miho says. "Would you...? It would help to reassure me, if I knew you were handling it..."
She considers. "...I am tired," she admits. "If I could watch at a distance..."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"I know they're no good," Yua sighs, "but... surely they don't mean to be as evil as what is done to Myucchi." She's always been so optimistic. It's a darling trait. "They must do something, when they're made aware of it. There must be a law!"
Yua is, if nothing else, very stubborn about this sort of thing. ... it's how she managed to bring an entire coherent marriage strategy to her fiancee, after all.
She smiles, though, as she works on Miho's shoulders. "I will," she says, gently. "Just leave it to me, Mimi. I know a thing or two about... scaring normal people and keeping them alive."
(If only Yanagi... had been able to survive everything else.)
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"...it is possible," Miho admits. "I do not know. Perhaps that is one of their wheels. But then, there are some who would do good..." Like that one that they fought. Maybe there's a way. Her optimism is indeed darling and adorable. Miho doesn't quite have it in her at the moment to quash that optimism.
Especially given how stubborn Yua is.
For this though, "All right," Miho says. "I... will."
"Yes, you know how to survive..."
She closes her eyes.
Miho might end up napping, at this rate, and that might be best.
She does not recognize the hope for Yanagi, not now.