2025-09-12: It's Not The Fall That Kills You
- Cutscene: It's Not The Fall That Kills You
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki's family, Hanzou Seki, Etsuko Seki, and Kiyoshi Seki, and President Takumi Kimpara
- Where: Kimpara Tower / Port Island - Seki Family Home
- OOC Date: 2025-09-12
- IC Date: Tuesday, July 10 2012
- Summary: Hanzou has a meeting with his company's President to discuss his next promotion, and how Tsubasa's in the way. Etsuko postpones his rage... and postpones learning why he's so angry in the process.
- Content Warning: Transphobia/misgendering, domestic violence, sexual coercion
Hanzou Seki is an executive, now, at the head of Kimpara Electronics... but there are, still, men above him.
The company's founder and president: Takumi Kimpara.
He has invited Hanzou to the top of Kimpara Tower; he stands, hands laced behind him, as he looks down at the dark streets below through a floor-to-ceiling window. He is severe, as he outlines the plans for his company: the integration of 'Social Media'.
"... our phones could be the portals through which users conduct their very lives. Imagine a trusted advisor in your pocket, which a moment later became your best friend, your girlfriend... imagine filtering the content which drove those conversations. The technology is already here... as we speak, children are sharing gossip in 'group chats', spreading links to websites they found online in glee or horror." He turns, and states: "We need only harness it. Indeed, the work has already begun."
"I appreciate the trust you've shown to tell me such a thing," Hanzou says, for at least he must mind himself here. "But do you mean to have me conduct this work, Kimpara-shacho?"
"Would that I could," Takumi sighs, heavily, as he turns to the window again. "You're my first choice, Seki-senmu... there's truly something special about you. But... your daughter," he sighs, and cares little for Tsubasa's feelings as he says it. "The way she acts out, ah... you'll forgive me if I say something indiscreet," and it's a statement, not a question, but he pauses for an answer anyway.
"Of course," Hanzou says, though his voice is tighter.
"It would have been better for the company if her madness had taken her," Takumi says, and doesn't apologise any further for saying it. "If it had been a tragic accident, we could have spun a sympathetic tale... but now she's out of control, we have real concerns she'll damage the company's reputation if we make you our face. I've been made aware that she even assaulted an officer the other day... it's very unfortunate, but if you can't impress the importance of restraint onto her... well, you understand, we need to think about how Japan views us. The way she is now..."
"I understand," Hanzou says, frowning deeply to himself. "Just give me some time, Kimpara-shacho. I'll handle it, I assure you."
"See that you do."
...---...
Dinner, that night, is late as always -- Hanzou spends long hours in the office, but of course the family still eats together. (On his schedule.) And of course Etsuko doles out his portion of rice first, and then Kiyoshi's, but... "You've been eating a lot more lately, haven't you?" Hanzou asks, casually, and it stops her from putting a second ladleful onto her own plate.
(It's not that he officially prescribes her a diet; he just notices her weight...)
It's a comment which serves to leave dinner tense, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Still, Kiyoshi dares to venture: "How was your day, father?"
"Good." His work is always 'good'. "We should get a threefold return with our newest phone on market." He takes a bite. "What did you two achieve today," more a statement than a question.
"Oh, I've been drilling down into the role of fibroblast growth factor 23, it's... er, just some new research," he settles on, apologetically, seeing Hanzou's eyes glaze over.
"I was working at the store," Etsuko volunteers, with perfect rhythm. "We got an order for six dozen roses today! It was really remarkable!"
"And you made the sale?" Hanzou presses.
"I did," and it's at least partially a lie, but Etsuko knows that Hanzou has no interest in flowerselling as a team effort.
"Then at least one of you did something useful," Hanzou says, heaving a deep sigh. And of course they can hear it -- the anger. But it simmers, as they finish up dinner, talking about safe things like the weather...
"Will we be going to the lounge after dinner?" Kiyoshi asks, because of course watching television is family time.
"Ah -- you know, I thought we could excuse Kiyoshi-kun early, today," Etsuko speaks up, before her husband can, laying a hand on his arm. "Have an early night..."
"I'm sure you can use it, boy," Hanzou grumbles, as Etsuko takes his plate. "All right, go study. It's fine."
"Thank you, father," Kiyoshi says, and of course the children aren't unaware when they dodge bullets this way.
... and a pleasant evening distracts Hanzou from what he has to do for one night, anyway.
How nice to have a wife who takes initiative to make him happy.