2025-09-23: Congratulations
- Log: Congratulations
- Cast: Yua Ooshiro, Remi Ryuuja
- Where: Yua and Miho's Apartment, Aoba Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: September 23, 2025
- IC Date: Sunday, July 15, 2012 (Eearly Evening)
- Summary: Yua invites Remi over to help prepare a Sunday roast for dinner, and after the roast is in the oven she has exciting news to share about the development of her and Miho's family. Remi also finds a moment to share something about herself.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua wasn't feeling particularly safe, after Shiryuu's meeting, despite being physically quite healthy... but she and Miho find a solution, that night. And Miho can see that Yua is unsettled, and so recommends she call Remi, the next day, while she is occupied with training.
And so we come to Sunday, and Yua does, in fact, call Remi!! She's in brighter spirits when she welcomes her into the house, and the first thing she does is wrap her up in helping Yua prepare a Sunday roast for the oven. (Of course, Remi's invited to partake in it. She generally is!) Her conversation is quite roast-focused, to start with, henceforth; and her apron, of course, declares her to be the WORLD'S CUTEST CHEF.
There's a little kitty on it.
It's only once the aprons are off, hands washed, and roast in the oven that Yua sits them down with some biscuits and sweet tea -- she fetches them herself, of course, because Sunday is a day off for Eiko, which means that even if she transits through the penthouse she is not on duty -- and turns her attention to other topics. "Recchiiiiii," she elongates her name, singsong, as her legs swing beneath the dining table, "guess what!"
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi, of course, was delighted to come up to visit her friend, and she was also delighted to help with the roast. It was a chance to practice her culinary skills, after all, and there was something satisfying at the thought of a meal that would be shared.
There is a soft chuckle at Yua's apron, and Remi will get underway, and when she gets into the swing of cooking she removes her cardigan and rolls up her sleeves--though her left forearm is still a rather nasty-looking color.
And afterwards, when the hard work is done, she joins Yua for tea and biscuits (with her cardigan back on.) She herself is composed, as she normally is, but she smiles at Yua as she asks her to guess. "Mmm... Have you learned of some new form of dance you wish to learn?" It's probably not that, but it could be!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua has of course been fussing over Remi's arm, though she has little skill with which to do so. And that explains why she's not telling him about Shiryuu. Instead --
"That, too! I've been learning a new swing dance!" Because of course 'what is Yua doing in the dance world' is a gimme; she's always got something. "But no, it's not that... Mimi's father gave us his blessing to be a family!" She covers her mouth, as she explains: "Oh, but right now, that's still a secret... he needs time to work out how we can be wed. But with his influence, we were able to start visiting the clinic, and... and I got my blood tests back, and they said they'd do it!! So now... now Mimi's given them her eggs, we're just preparing me!"
Yua says, quite seriously: "Of course, this means I can't be drinking any wine at dinner any more. Non non non, not for a while!"
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi will tolerate being fussed over, though she will insist it is not that bad, that it doesn't hurt that much (which is a generally true statement but is also a sign of her recovery in this instance.)
She would be distressed to learn of Shiryuu.
"Swing, how delightful!" That /is/ a gimme, but she listens to the real news. Her eyes grow wide, and she leans forward, smiling. "Dear, that's /wonderful news!" She might not understand all of the legal hurdles, but she /can/ be excited for her friend. "Ah, trust that I will not say a word of it until the time is right, non?"
"Clinic... Oh! I see. Yua, dear... that is phenomenal news! I am so happy for you and Miho both." She chuckles quietly, "I imagine not. Still, I shall offer a toast to your health the next time I am able. Have they said how long tthese... preparations will take?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
There are so many legal hurdles, which, presently, they're escaping by simply assuring the clinic they Don't Need To Know.
... now, most of the rich and powerful clients who insist that someone Doesn't Need To Know why a young, seemingly single woman is receiving treatment is more because they need to manage the media around a straight wedding, but surely that's just a convenient thing for them to use.
"Eee!!" Yua echoes, kicking her feets under the table in excitement once more. And, when Remi realises, she affirms, "mm-hmm, mm-hmm!"
Luckily, she'll have the opportunity this very night, because of course wine is usually had alongside their roast. Yua will just be having juice, instead. Pomegranate juice! Fancy.
"They need to culture the embryos with the donor we picked," Yua explains, "since they grow them outside for a few days, to make sure they're, viable. Then they'll implant it inside me... and they said I have a thirty to forty percent chance of it working the first time. If it doesn't, then... we'll try again!"
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
With enough money you can reassure anyone of anything, can't you? Still, if it helps them achieve their aims, Remi is not going to disapprove of a little bit of deception.
Then Remi will toast her health this very night!
"I see, I see..." Culturing, that makes some sense, if they're using Miho's eggs. "Do you know anything of the donor, or did you decide to keep that anonymous?" Remi nods. "I suppose in a matter like this that seems a decent chance... and if there is no risk to your health for the attempt..." Remi gets up and walks over to offer Yua a hug. "Darling, I have no doubt you will be a fantastic mother. Truly, I could not be more happy for you and your new family! Que cest magnifique!"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"We found an Okinawan man in the donor banks," Yua says, "though all we know of him is the profile the clinic gave us. But that's fine," she shakes her head, "I shouldn't like a man to be too involved in the process."
She stands, to embrace Remi. "I'm so excited!" She bubbles, happily. "And don't worry about the risks, all right? They'll be monitoring me very closely... Mimi would never let anything happen to me just because I had this dream." Because of course there is inherent risk to carrying a child, even beyond Yua's family history; but with the medical care afforded the rich and famous, surely she'll be well. "We even got a machine to keep an eye on me between appointments!"
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
"Ahh, I see," Remi says of the donor. "And yes, I suppose you wouldn't, that is fair." She thinks she sees the logic behind going with an Okinawan man, though she's not sure how to ask.
Remi gives Yua a fierce hug. "Of course, dear. I shall endeavor not to worry, I am certain you and Miho have everything in hand. But she lifts her eyebrows in surprise. "A machine? Well, they certainly have thought of everything, then." She sits down again, crossing one leg over the other. "Well, dear. I imagine Miho must also be quite excited about all these new developments. I shall have to congratulate her when next I see her."
"I magine you must be awash in preparations. Tell me dear, is there anything I can do to help?"
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua, in turn, thinks the logic is obvious! Of course she'd want their child to be Okinawan, too.
(They are their own kingdom, she insists, as ever they were.)
"We're fighting hard!" Yua chirps, brightly. "It's really going to happen!" And she bustles out to the living room, to retrieve... a machine!! An inflatable cuff which feeds into a machine with a button, and a little pamphlet taped to the top instructing them on proper use and what values ought prompt them to seek help. "They said it's called a blood pressure machine," Yua explains, "though it doesn't draw my blood or anything. It just straps around the outside of my arm!"
She all but sparkles, as she adds, "Mimi's been really excited! She's been really happy it's going forward... she's eager to let me begin as soon as possible, too!" Yua smiles, broadly, as she says: "I'm praying for a boy. Yuken-kun always looked up to Mimi more aspirationally than Yume-chan ever did," those being Yua's younger siblings, "so I'm sure a boy would be more eager to follow in her footsteps and learn to fence just as well. Actually, I even have a name in mind... 'Hiroki'. As in 'Ooshiro', right? Since I'm to become an Ijuuin."
(Same kanji. She means the names use the same kanji.)
"You'll be a big help being our friend!" Yua insists. "Since it's bound to be challenging sometimes... especially when the child is born. We'll be relying on you, Recchi!" Oh no. Is this... the era of babysitting?
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi looks over the machine with interest. "Oh yes, I see. Interesting, dear, I was not aware that they made a version that was portable like this." She's never needed to have her blood pressure checked outside of a setting that would just have the machine there. "I believe they only need to draw your blood if they wish to test it, though I will admit I'm not exactly clear on how this machine actually works."
"I am sure Miho will be just as fastidiously dedicated to your child as she is to you, dear," says Remi with a smile. "But a boy... yes, I cannot fault your logic. Though I do remind you that I have known some girls who took up fencing," she says with a playful tone. "Hiroki..." Remi mulls the name for a moment and then nods. "Oh, yes. I see. That is quite clever. It will; be a splendid name."
"Well of course, dear, I just meant, do not be afraid to call upon me for anything out of the ordinary." Once the child is born.
Oh no. Remi was an only child. She didn't grow up around infants.
She does not have the first idea of how to change a diaper. Will she have to learn???
Very carefully, Remi clears her throat. "And you shall, of course, continue to have my support after the little darling comes."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"It's not that scary," Yua assures Remi, because of course anything healthcare-related is a little scary. "Here, I'll show you, okay?" And so she slips the cuff over her arm, and rests her hand on her lap as she hits the button... and the cuff inflates! "It's okay, it doesn't really hurt," Yua assures her, as the cuff deflates, and reports... a perfectly normal blood pressure!
Apparently, it only rises for her when she's seeing the doctor.
Yua divests herself of the cuff, and laughs, smiling to Remi. "I can think of two! Why, three, in fact -- the Student President at Gekkoukan is quite renouned for her presence in Fencing Club." Yua knows about Mitsuru! "But I want Mimi to have the best possible chance of having the proper heir... and neither could I bear to force my baby to practice something they didn't love."
She's all smiles, when Remi realises the trick of her chosen name. "Mm-hmm! So it'll be like he has a connection to our family, too, even though I'll be adopted!" Because of course Yua still thinks she'll be adopted; what other path forward is there?
"Don't worry," Yua assures her, as well. "I know we can rely on you, Recchi." For things out of the ordinary, too. But then...
Yua giggles, reaching out to grasp Remi's hand. "Don't be scared!" She encourages her, brightly, because she knows about Remi's lack of siblings and there are some things she can read between the lines about. "We'll teach you all about how to baby!"
H...how to baby...?
Yua...
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi observes the machine at work, and seems at ease. "If I am reading this note correctly, dear, it appears your blood pressure is quite normal."
Remi doesn't blame Yua one bit. She isn't that fond of the doctor these days herself.
Remi chuckles. "I should certainly hope so!" she says of 'two', but at the mention of three she takes an interesting. "N'est ce pas? How interesting. I must say, it is always good to hear of young talents."
Remi smiles, "Darling, I'm sure your child will be dazzling no matter what they decide to do. But yes, if they should take an interest in fencing... then I shall simply have to help Miho demonstrate the proper technique to the little one, yes?"
"Dear, that is a lovely sentiment. I do not know the workings of these matters, but it makes me glad to see that you are doing all that you can to... how to say... to make your presence felt, I suppose."
Remi lets her hands be taken. "H-how to..." She stares at Yua in bewilderment and then laughs, softly, shaking her head. "I suppose you have found me out. No matter, it will be... another skill to learn under your learned tutelage."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"Mm-hmm! It's okay when I'm at home." Yua looks quite pleased about that! Perhaps it's a similar feeling to Miho...
"Mitsuru Kirijo-kun," Yua explains, off the third young talent. "She's an excellent student, so I wouldn't expect to see her in my class, but she's very well-known in her school. A very responsible young woman." Does she have more power than the teachers? This is a mystery Yua has not had to reckon with, because she's never done anything to anger the dread Mitsuru.
Yet.
"I know they'll be in good hands," Yua smiles, when Remi promises to help them with what she hopes they'll want to do. "And I'm glad you like the name...! It's important to me."
Yua laughs, squeezing Remi's hand. "It's okay," she assures her. "Mimi's the baby of her family, so she's never taken care of one either. But don't worry! I know what I'm getting into!" Yua does not, in fact, entirely know what she's getting into... but she does know how to change a diaper.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
"Wonderful, dear," Remi says of the blood pressure. She doesn't ask where else it might not be fine. She already knows.
"Mitsuru Kirijo... I see. Then I have seen her prowess in combat. I believe she was one of those fighting the two Shadows at Tartarus."
All those students using Evokers... it's very interesting, isn't it?
"Then Miho and I shall learn together. It shall be... a grand adventure!" She will actually take Yua at her word that she knows what she's doing. After all, she's been doing all this research, right? She comes from a larger family...
You might excuse Remi some naivete.
Remi picks up her tea and takes a long sip from it, then stares down into the cup as she swirls it around. "Mmm. Speaking of... secrets. There is something I have not been very forthcoming about. But I want to be more open with those dearest to me."
She looks to Yua next, brushing some hair behind an ear. Anotehr small breath to steady herself. "... I enjoy the romantic attentions of both men and women."
There was that time she flirted with Yua under the cover of being Oberon to her Titania, or the in her 3rd year where she played Romeo opposite Honoka Wasa as Juliet, and their chemistry on stage prompted rumors... all of which were flatly denied. But those moments been been sitting with Remi a long time.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"The poor girl," Yua sighs, because of course it's a tragedy that children have to fight Shadows.
She's brighter when she perks up for, "Mm-hmm, the grandest!!" ... and Yua certainly knows some things about what she's getting into, at least. But certain things... you just don't tell your young daughter about.
She'll learn from experience.
But Remi's experience comes out, now, and Yua tilts her head as she nibbles on another biscuit. "Oh?" She asks, a simple prompt to usher her forward.
And lo --
"Congratulations!" Yua chirps, that sparkling smile returning in full force. "I'm so glad you're more comfortable with yourself now!" Because of course she heard Remi insisting it was just acting, back then, and with the other relationship she had on stage, too...
And Yua never contradicted Remi on those statements, even though she knew they were lies. Miho was the one who explained it to her, in the end: women who come from powerful families aren't always allowed to be gay.
"I knew it wasn't just acting," she explains, in turn, "but Mimi told me, you know, how maybe you couldn't allow yourself to really admit it... since your family had money. So all this time, I've been waiting...! Bye-bye, plausible excuse!" She waves to it, as if it were fleeing out the nearest window.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
'Congratulations!'
Remi blinks, mouth working silently for a moment before she gets out a "... thank you?" This is not a response she really accepted.
She glances to the side, just a little, her voice quieter. "I would not say... more comfortable, simply... that I desire to be more honest."
Oh. So Yua knew. This entire time. Remi's cheeks flush with color, "I... I see." She clears her throat carefully. "Yes, well... that was certainly part of it... Still, then, I suppose I am no longer keeping you in suspense."
There is a stare for a moment as Yua says and waves good-bye to plausible deniability, as she tries to process that statement. And then she bursts out into a laugh. "Yua-chan..." She's shaking her head, but she's smiling, just a little. "In some ways it feels like I was out of the loop, rather than the other way around."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"Aww, Recchiiiii..." Yua reaches over, to pat her arm. "It's okay," she assures her. "You'll get more comfortable when you can look in the mirror and say, 'I like girls, too!'"
Her hand lifts, to cover her lips. "Eheheh... sorry, did I embarrass you? I'm just happy! It's a big, big moment!! I'll have Mimi bring out the fancy wine for you two tonight, okay?" Beat. "Oh! Mimi knows, right?"
Yua grabs another biscuit, gesturing with it for a moment before she noms. "Wellll... Myucchi has a different gender, and me and Mimi both have a different sexuality! So if you've been telling people and we already knew, that's probably because we're all the same way, right? You'd probably be way loopier if we weren't all rainbows!!"
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi actually does picture that, and the lets out an undignified snort before laughing again. "Yua-chan, I will surely not be doing that." Her tone is warm, though, if disbeliving.
Remi shakes her head, even though her cheeks are red. "You are fine, dear. Your support means the world to me, I am simply... unaccustomed to being this open about this aspect of myself. Miho was right. I am uncertain if my parents truly knew, knew, but... it was one of many things I expected to simply... put away in preparation for running my family's company."
She reaches for a biscuit herself. "Mimi knows, yes. As does Myunghon. And the fancy wine sounds lovely."
"Yes, well... I suppose that is one of the reasons I felt compelled to speak up. It began to feel as if... I was holding myself apart from you all, and I am... dissatisfied with that notion, after all we have been through."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"Don't dismiss it 'til you try it!" Yua says, cheerfully, because of course she's had plenty of mirror moments of her own.
(Yua knows that most people express that statement with 'knock', but that makes no sense. No one is knocking anything in order to not perform it. Indeed, knocking itself is an act of engagement with the thing being knocked. It makes so much more sense to just say not to dismiss it. Slang should listen to Yua more --)
"It's okay," Yua assures her. "I won't tell anyone else. Your secret's safe with me!" That slang she has no problem with, because it makes sense --
But Remi felt like she was standing apart, and Yua makes a sad noise, "mouuuu...", as she contemplates it. "That must have been tough," she says, sympathetically. "But I'm glad you're standing with us now!"
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
"I shall consider it, Yua," Remi says diplomatically.
She will, in fact, try it, and she will feel horribly embarrassed and never admit to anyone she did it, even if it did give her a weird little rush she couldn't place.
"It has apparently been safe with you, non?" Remi says with a small, wry smile.
At the sad noise, Remi frowns, and it's her turn to lean in to put a supportive hand on hers. "It was, but rest assured, I am trying to change that now. To share both the good, and the bad."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Mirror Affirmations are very versatile, after all. But Yua giggles, and remarks: "Mm-hm! It has!!" Secrets are always safe with her!
... right up until she has to betray the children she's teaching to the conspiracy.
Yua smiles, though, when Remi reassures her. "Good!" She smiles, to her. "That makes me really happy! And... I'm happy you could tell me, too."
She picks herself up, gesturing to Remi. "Come, come," she invites her, as she walks back to the kitchen. "I must teach you now the secrets of gay salad!"
She pokes her head back out of the arch to add,
"It's regular salad, but made by women who like women."
Thanks for explaining the joke, Yua.