2025-12-17: A Calmer Meeting

From Velvet Room MUSH Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search 


<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.

    Le Blanc has been closed, and despite some coming and going of a certain high schooler and their cat, the foot traffic of the shop has been non existent. The open sign has remained off, and the sign explaining that explanation Sojiro is out of town is still taped in the window. Even now the state of LeBlanc remains the same.

     That is except for the man sitting at the counter, a cigarette in his mouth and a drink that is definitely not coffee sitting in front of him. Off to the side is a plate of curry and rice, not his curry, but he had a craving and needed to check in with certain people around here. So he was simply sitting and thinking and staring at 'Sayuri'. "You know, you left me in one hell of a situation. What should I do? They won't let me just up and leave, if I could have I would have dropped us somewhere in the states and never looked back." Sojiro sighs as he looks at the untouched drink. "Let's see them find us in the middle of Kansas." The word Kansas said in english trying to imitate a cowboy's accent.

     Sojiro runs his hand across his face, he had been sleeping, but only just, especially after some bad nightmares he had a few weeks ago. He knew he should just pretend none of this happened, that he should just go back to the quiet life. At the same time he felt he had to protect his family. His brain had been having that argument for weeks now. Looking back at Sayuri, "So do you got anything?" 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

Ayame Watanabe has not been back to Leblanc in the intervening period since her encounter with Sojiro Sakura. But Ayame has been working hard to find a better solution... so it's finally time. They've identified where he'll be, and come as a group, this time.

So Ayame is dressed normally--she decided that pretending to be a professional anything. So she's in an ordinary red blouse and skirt, with an ordinary purse, backed up by... a detective, a private investigator, etc. She approaches in the evening at Leblanc, and--

Knock, knock.

"Sakura-san?" Ayame says.

"We really need to talk." 

<Pose Tracker> Ulala Serizawa has posed.

Ulala brought Maya along for the meetup. "You think he'll try to bolt?" she asked her roommate on the way in, and as such, while she's standing with Ayame, she's also looking out to the street, in case there's a side exit.

Ulala's in her usual green spider-web dress, boxing wraps on her hands, and hands at her sides. She's the most likely besides Katsuya to be able to 'actually defend them', even if Sojiro pulling out a gun will end that fantasy in seconds.

"Let's hope he's willing to be friendly today," Ulala sighs. 

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    Maya is garbed in her normal outfit -- the same brown-and-beige two-piece she wears most of the time, completed with a loose-fitting indigo tie. It's unusual (particularly the two hearts seated in front of her chest), but somehow Editor-in-Chief Mizuno (the only person who would care about it) hadn't complained about it yet.

    "Mm-hmmm!" Maya agrees, but she's feeling optimistic. She usually is, though. "Let's think positive!" she says solidly, like a mantra -- as if speaking the words will manifest a positive outcome.

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    Tamaki is sweating bullets with this little field trip, given how her own encounter with Sojiro went, but it's probably overdue.

    As to whether or not he'll bolt, she gives a shrug in Ulala's direction. "Your guess is as good as mine." About whether or not he'll be friendly today, she holds a palm to her forehead. "I don't think he'll be too happy to see me, of all people. I hope he is, but I'm not willing to bet on it."

    She's dressed in her usual brown-and-beige pinstripe business attire, and her practice sabre's in the sports bag she carries at her side, but that's not going to do anything against a gun. Still ...

    "Right behind you, Suou-san." She takes position behind the detective -- she'll be second in line in case something goes south.

    'Let's think positive!' Tamaki quietly stares at Maya for a few seconds, but that does honestly help calm her shaky nerves. "Yeah. Doomsaying won't do us much good."

    Tamaki gives Eriko a glance, then nods at her. "... Thanks for coming along. I'm not exactly sure how this is going to go." 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    There's a risk, Katsuya has decided, of coming in to pay Sakura a visit as a group. If he feels he's in danger, the whole thing could itself become dangerous. But the same could be said if he pays a visit solo -- especially if he pays a visit solo. And if one of the others, especially Ayame, comes by here alone again...

    So together it was.

    Ayame, rightfully, hadn't mentioned the gun to Katsuya.

    Did you know that police homicide detectives as a whole are known for a preference for fancy suits? If you didn't, now you do, and Katsuya is no different. Today is a working day for him, so he's dressed the same as he usually does on the beat: nice suit, good shoes, black tie. Red sunglasses.

    "Hopefully this will go well," Katsuya remarks to the others, frowning as he regards the storefront. He's partial to coffee: it's a shame in a way. A small place like this would be nice to visit on his day off, but as it stands... He glances at Tamaki and nods. Of the people here, which is not to gainsay the others, she might be best equipped if things go poorly. He's not thinking about violence. Not yet, anyway.

    Is there a side entrance as Ulala wonders? He tries to check to see if there could be one, though there's not enough time to explore the perimeter here as it were.

    Maya, though, is positive as always. "'Think positive', huh..." he muses.
Umie Akabane has arrived from Historia: The White Chronicle. 

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.

    Sometimes, you catch wind of something interesting through a friend- and after the mess that was Eiji Kamiya's palace, Eriko Kirishima has a desire for something both 'interesting' and 'that she can do something about'.

    The fact that it's possibly relevant to her main investigation is an added bonus. "Yongen-Jaya, a cafe named Leblanc. I believe his name is Sojiro Sakura, a lead from an old friend at Kuzunoha. I'm not sure if it's anything yet, but it might be a link in the chain. It should be fine, but I wanted him to know just in case." A faint, if slightly grim smile, plays upon Eriko's lips. "Yes, Mr Matsuoka, I'm taking precautions." Still, it's hard to bulletproof a jumpsuit, and her Persona won't help her this time. "Mmhm. Yes. I'll keep you informed. I can tell Kei the rest when I see him in person. Do take care!"

    The conversation ended, Eriko slips her Nanjo Corporation make flipphone into her purse, adjusts the sports bag that is definitely not holding a functional epee over her shoulder, and steps out of an alcove to meet Tamaki's friends.

    "Good day, everyone! Eriko announces, far enough down the street to make sure she's not sneaking up on then but hopefully quietly enough to not tip off the man in the cafe, in her perfect American English. Tamaki's friends that include a cop, a reporter, Miss Serizawa from that incident with Joker and...

    Eriko blinks, for a second. It's been three years, but...

    "Oh my, are you... Mrs Watanabe? Watanabe-sensei's wife?" What a surprise, and a concern. How many people ho were involved in the SEBEC incident were awakening now...?

Hersh, but now is not the time for reunions. "Of course, Tamaki. Happy to be of help! Besides, I can't say I'm comfortable with someone threatening my friends at gunpoint."

    It looks like the Police Detective is taking up the lead. "Well, on your cue, detective!"

    No, the fashion model who just walked up has not fully introduced herself. She's a little too caught up in getting to the interesting part. 

<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.

    Sojiro hears the chime of the entrance and Sojiro moves a hand into his jacket, and an audible click can be heard. Those familiar with fire arms would know that is the hammer being drawn back, as if Sojiro was a rattler warning those who approach him that he was dangerous and prepared to strike.

     The voice of Ayame causes Sojiro to hesitate for a moment, he had pieced enough information together to understand that Ayame was not the villain he had initially claimed. He admits there might have been a slight over-reaction on his part, a very minor over-reaction. Still his hand doesn't move from his jacket as he watches the others strangers enter his cafe and he takes a deep breath. A glance to Sayuri is given as if to request that she come up with a different solution. Slowly he gives each person a glance, judging them with the eyes one gets when they turn the age of a grumpy old man.

     "Watanabe-San." Sojiro says before he turns to the others, the detective he knew, the others he didn't, though Katsuya Suou gets the longest look, the guy carried himself like a cop. Finally he turns his head back to Ayame, "Did you bring them or did they bring you and Detective Uchida? " For all he knew this was a cleaning crew dressed in sheep's clothing.

     Finally Sojiro turns back to his meal, puts his cigarette out in the tray and slides the majority away from him, before bringing his untouched drink forward contemplating if it he should drink it now. He barks to group, "If you aren't here to kill me then have a seat, I feel we will all be less jumpy if we all remain seated." A gesture is given towards Ayame as if he was giving her the floor, his left hand is never removed from his jacket. 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

Maybe there's a side exit. That's better than firing guns at them! But still, "I hope so," she agrees with Ulala. Ayame is taking point to knock, but is definitely not someone to stand up to firearms. She's an ordinary housewife! ...Save fot the Persona, which is not... currently available. She smiles at Maya, at least. Think positive...

"It's a nice idea, isn't it?" she asks Katsuya.

"Hello!" Ayame says to Eriko, and then--a blink? "Oh! Yes, I am," Ayame says warmly. "Youi were at St. Hermelin, weren't you?" she asks. She doesn't elaborate on the Incident, of course--but Elly might be able to see in her eyes that that's what she was talking about.

"I brought them," Ayame confirms. "Suou-san is very reliable, and involved in things like this--it's not official police business." She looks to Katsuya so that he can confirm this.

But then she moves to take a seat... in one of the booths, with her back to the door, because she's just not that paranoid fundamentally.

"So, for starters; we're not here in any government capacity. I don't work for anybody but my family! We really did just stumble on these ideas..."

"And we don't need you to elaborate on them at this point."

"However..."

"The reason we thought about them is that things like that--the idea of 'the mind affecting the world'--those things are happening."

"I know it may be difficult to believe, but we're just a number of concerned citizens trying to address things like the Joker Killer--things the ordinary police can't handle."

"...We want to talk with you. If possible, help. But we definitely aren't here to hurt you or destroy your life."

"But maybe the others can explain better than I can. I'm... somewhat new to all of this." 

<Pose Tracker> Ulala Serizawa has posed.

Ulala enters with the others, smiling cracking open at Maya's 'think positive'. Once they're inside, she does take a seat facing Sojiro, letting Ayame speak first.

"My name's Ulala Serizawa. I'm just a lingerie saleswoman," she admits, because it might show they're just normal people.

"Sakura-san, what if we told you there were basically two worlds? The mundane... and the one that lies behind it." She's trying to be cool! But she's definitely a lingerie saleswoman.

"The Joker Killer is supernatural. There's conspiracies that are supernatural, too. There's no other way to put it. ...and so are we, though if you ask us to prove it, we can't, really. Not in Tokyo. In Sumaru... probably."

(Never let Ulala go first.)

"We're trying to save people from getting killed. We might be able to help with what's going on." 

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    Maya offers a reassuring smile back to Ayame.

    Maya follows in after Ayame, settling down at the counter. It's easier to turn in the appropriate directions here than in a booth. The smell of Sojiro's curry wafts over and Maya feels (and hears!) her stomach growl. She and Ulala should grab something to eat on the way home.

    "I'm covering the Joker Killer for Coolest Magazine," Maya pipes in. "I have a ton of notes and articles I can send your way." Maya wasn't sure how much he was following the case. It was big news, but the news didn't catch all of it. "We're going to use our powers to stop him, but we can still use all the help we can to stop him." 

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    Tamaki exhales a long, loud sigh of relief and slumps into a booth seat. "Oh thank goodness."

    The exchange between Eriko and Ayame causes Tamaki to nod. "Er -- yes, you remember the one I had mentioned who had helped with matters, Watanabe-san? Kirishima-san here is one of the people from that crew." Tamaki was just on the sidelines during the SEBEC scandal, but Eriko was part of the main group.

    " -- Investigator's probably a better word for my profession. Private eye, not law enforcement." She jerks a thumb over at Katsuya. "If anyone's going to be called 'Detective' here, it's him. Or at least prefix it with 'private' if you're using it to refer to me."

    Tamaki straightens up, but sheepishly runs a hand over the back of her neck. To Sojiro, she says, "Uh -- yeah. You and I already had a talk about what I think is relevant to the Joker Killer case." Cognitive psience, she means, even if she doesn't refer to it by name. If it's anything for Sojiro to worry about word getting out, she figures it's best that she doesn't go blabbing her mouth to anyone else about it until he's okay with it.

    Indicating Ayame and Eriko with a hand, she adds, "I had incidents at both of my high schools. Both of them were at the second one, too. More things of that nature are happening today, too. There's a good chance that whatever's going on has a good chance to do with ... that." 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    Katsuya nods, as if to agree: he might be the rational-to-a-fault sort himself but it doesn't mean he wouldn't rather things go over smoothly and without incident. It's nice to dream, sometimes.

    The door opens.

    There is, amidst everything, the sound of what seems as if it were a rather loud handgun's hammer. Katsuya hesitates as Ayame steps in. Perhaps he imagined it? Or, given the state of things in Sumaru-- perhaps not. Retaliate like for like, though, and he will certainly escalate things here to a violent extent--

    And the issue is over as soon as it started.
    Or at least, he hopes. In a place like there, there is no possibility of 'intervention' until midnight.

    Asking after it, though, will cause more problems than it will solve. Instead, he tries to catch Tamaki's eye. If it comes to it, then he'll--

    But he also can't forget that while Sojiro is carrying a weapon capable of deadly force, so is he. Act rashly, and everyone here will suffer.

    Indeed, Katsuya does carry himself like a cop. And to that point--

    "I am Sergeant Katsuya Suou, homicide detective with the Sumaru Police Department. ...As Watanabe-san says, however, I am not here as an 'officer'. I am here because she asked me to be here, and because there were concerns about your absence," Katsuya both introduces himself with and explains his presence here. He glances over at Tamaki. "That is true, but..."

    He hasn't taken a seat yet. Even if he is trying to play it 'cool' here, as it were, that sound he'd heard before is troubling.

    "It is as they say," he confirms. "I had been assigned to the Joker Killer investigation, but after encountering him myself... this is no normal serial murder case. Without question, there is a supernatural aspect to the killings," he concludes.

    ... .....
    ...His nose itches. Why--
    TQuite without warning otherwise, Katsuya sneezes.

    "I am-- very sorry!"

    And then he sneezes again. There's been a cat in here, and without sufficient cleaning, the dander still lingers. 

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.

    ...So Ayame remembers it, or some of it at least. That's... a conversation for later. Tamaki was there too, indeed, she spent more time at St Hermelin than Eriko did back then, so her eyes flit to her fellow fencer.

    Erikoi is, fortunately, glad that Sojiro is not using that revolver. (She did grow up around guns, after all, but it's hard to carry a rifle in the middle of Tokyo. But she should consider getting one again...)

    When the all clear is given to come in, though, Eriko is all cheer. "Hello, Mr Sakura! I apologize for intruding, but Tamaki told me that I might be of help with your situation. My name is Eriko Kirishima, you could call me an occult hobbyist!"

    An occult hobbyist that is often on daytime TV or Magazine Covers. She is just like this. It's fine.

    "It's my first time meeting most of the people here, admittedly, but Tamaki vouching for them is good enough for me."

    When invited to sit, Eriko slips onto one of the stools at the counter, setting her purse on the counter and her sports bag next to her. "By the way, Mr Sakura, I don't suppose I could convince you to slip the safety on your revolver? I understand your unease, but I assure you we're not here to kill you. Indeed, it's possible we might have some problems in common."

    And then the sneezing starts, and Eriko blinks. "Oh my, are you alright, Detective Suou?" She opens her purse, and reaches for a handkerchief, offering it to Katsuya. That's an awfully calm manner for the sort of person who might come to kill Sojiro. Easy evidence to leave behind too.

    "Anyway, I'm afraid I'm rather a hanger on today, so I'm not fully familiar with your situation." Still... if Tamaki said he's ex-public security, maybe she can let slip something as an offer of good will. Just like negotiating with demons. "But, well, even before my high school days in Mikage-cho, I've had an interest in these things."

    And if Sojiro knows anything about the SEBEC incident, even with the cover up, well... that confirms Eriko was right to tag along. 

<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.

    Sojiro listens to Ayame and relaxes as she talks, perhaps if she had just been allowed to explain he wouldn't have freaked out as much. Silly what a little communication can do. Still when he thinks about helping them or answer questions, which depending there is no harm in doing he has a painful ache in his wrist and shoulder.

     Still he listens, he doesn't even laugh at the concept of two worlds. It wasn't the first time someone had rambled something like that to him. The focus on the Joker Killer from them all does make Sojiro realize one thing. They were all on some sort of fox hunt, and had missed the viper den they had walked into. For most of them that makes sense, but he glances to the Sergeant still standing. His eyes remain on him, while he listens to the rest, as he found the real threat in the room.

     The mention of Mikage-cho brings up a flash of memory but all this started by someone mentioning things they shouldn't right away.

     Reaching over to the ashtray, Sojiro looks at his half smoked cigarette and uses it to calm his nerves for a moment. "Before we go any further, do any of you realize that the research you brought to me was wiped from the internet by those in charge of the research? That the lead scientist died in a way that didn't sit right with her loved ones? That the people who you may have brought attention to are the people you don't want attention from? " A heavy sigh, "All because of some supernatural fantasy hope that you guys can stop a serial killer. " The mere thought of the so called Joker Killer having a body count higher then whatever was intertwined with public security makes him set the cigarette down and take a drink. 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

They are normal people! Well, some of them are normal people. Some of them are more debatable. For instance Eriko, who Tamaki confirms the matter of SEBEC for. "Yes," Ayame says. "i recognize her. Thank you for back then," she says, and bows slightly. Maya is covering it for the magazine, and mentions their powers; Ayame is still reassured by her presence. And Ulala explains, too...

Katsuya, luckily, does not seem to have to escalate for now. When he explains, Ayame nods again. "but--Oh! Bless you," Ayame says.

SHe'll be happy to discuss that other matter with Eriko more, later. She considers the matter of the revolver...

"You're a very curious sort, aren't you Kirishima-san?"

But she looks back at Sojiro, and it is not so light a subject.

"...Some of it," she says. "I didn't know all the things you said, but we guessed that someone powerful had an interest in keeping it quiet, once we realized after talking to you."

"...It's risky," she says, "Dealing in such things. But if we don't, then things like the Joker Killer will continue; that's a risk to my family, too."

"We believe there is... something big, behind the scenes here. But I don't have a head for the details..." She looks to the others. 

<Pose Tracker> Ulala Serizawa has posed.

Everyone handles this better than Ulala does, in her opinion. She's kicking herself over how she started that.

Though Katsuya's sneezing gets a small, sneaky smile... allergic to cats, huh? (Why is there a cat in a cafe???) It fades once Eriko mentions the revolver, though... is he armed???

"...Are you familiar with the Foreign Minister Tatsuzou Sudou?" Ulala asks Sojiro as Ayame says she doesn't have a head for details. "We know there's people up there pulling the strings. We know we could have our lives ruined, we could die. But if we don't do this... there's no chance at hope for a better future. We could die either goddamn way, so... better risk it all doing *something*." 

<Pose Tracker> Maya Amano has posed.

    Maya smiles at Katsuya's sneezes; he's really cute when he's flustered! In any other situation she might have teased him, but... things are serious right now.

    Maya returns her attention to the conversation at hand. She nods in agreement to what Ayame said... and then nods in agreement when Ulala speaks her piece. Maya can't speak for everyone here, but... "I'd rather bring attention to myself than to have that attention directed to someone who doesn't have any way of protecting themselves." Maya presses the heel of one of her boots against the chair's footrest. "There are people you want to protect too, aren't there?" 

<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.

    Tamaki raises her hand at Sojiro's admonishment. "I only know about the scrubbing now, but only because of the nature of our earlier meeting. I haven't peeked into it since. Best I knew before that, it was just thought to be a discredited pseudoscience." She glances at Ayame. "Watanabe-san's the only other one I've told thus far."

    Her face falters as she comes to respond about the next part, pointedly avoiding eye contact with Sojiro. " -- I think I'm the only one here that knows about the lead scientist."

    About the people they might be getting unwanted attention from ... Her resolve returns. "We're entirely aware. It's affecting Sumaru in particular in a way that doesn't sit right with me." She shakes her head. "I apologize for being less-than-gentle before, but some of us are are doing this to protect people we care about." She nods at Maya. "And others, such as her and myself, are doing it because we know it would cause people to suffer who don't deserve it."

    Ayame calls Eriko a curious sort. A wide, terribly earnest grin breaks out on Tamaki's face. "Isn't she great?!"

    She slides her sports bag over to Sojiro. "Here. There should be a sword in there. It's strictly for sport, and is blunt in most circumstances, incapable of cutting or puncturing anything -- provided it's not snapped in half, of course. And yet, in particular supernatural circumstances which may relate to the scientific topic of study in question, it can cut through metal like a hot knife through butter." 

<Pose Tracker> Katsuya Suou has posed.

    All he knows about Eriko is that she's a friend of Tamaki's (and apparently another graduate of St. Hermelin). Oh, and that she's a model. He doesn't read a lot of fashion magazines, but he knows her face and thus, her name was already familiar when Tamaki brought her up. Given that she's also in the know about a few things of a certain persuasion, it seems, it's also fair to say that it's likely (though he can't get a bead on her resonance just yet) that she has a Persona, too.
    ...he's a detective. He can very well make inductions.

    He can draw a few more conclusions about Eriko Kirishima as well, as she sits down at the counter and makes a particular request of Sojiro Sakura that even Katsuya had hestitated to make, and it, he decides, must have something to do with her choices of address.

    His gaze turns Eriko's way and lingers there for a moment. Then he looks at Sojiro. "...If she is correct, I would appreciate this as well, Sakura-san. I assure you, we do not intend to do anything untoward. We simply have questions, and you may be able to help us." For all that Suou can fly off the handle sometimes, he is being nothing but calm now. Of course, calm is the most important thing to be at a time like this...

    That is, of course, before he has a sneezing fit. If he ever learns that Maya thinks he's cute like this -- or cute at all, really -- it might destroy him.

    "T, thank you," he says to Eriko, accepting the handkerchief though he doesn't blow his nose here because that would be horribly rude.

    But Sojiro has a thing or two to say about the research they were asking about, and...

    Pulling himself together, Katsuya says to him, "Sakura-san. Surely you are not meaning to say that you would prefer to allow these deaths to continue?" He glances away for just a moment, then continues, "It pains me to admit it, but my colleagues on the force cannot handle this themselves. But if this is beyond the law, then..." He shakes his head. "I cannot permit this to continue. Not when so many innocent people have been targetted, or continue to be targetted. I can see no other solution in sight, even if there are forces like that arrayed against us."

    Ulala speaks of the Foreign Minister, and indeed, he's likely one more piece of the puzzle. He nods. "The evidence we have suggests he has a hand in this."

    He watches Tamaki as she hands over her sword as a sort of demonstration to Sojiro. "...As Amano-kun says," he adds, joining in an attempt to appeal to Sojiro's better nature, "there surely must be someone you want to protect. We cannot know who the Joker Killer will target next, and as such, we cannot be sure we can protect them. 

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.

    "Very much so, Mrs Watanabe!" She sounds weirdly cheerful, awfully casual about the fact that Sojiro is very much armed.

    Still, as she listens to Sojiro's grief and frustration, Eriko's face turns serious. "The Joker Killer is a symptom, Mr Sakura. A very deadly one, capable of ignoring the rules of reality as we know it, but a symptom."

    Still... the uncontrolled savageness represented by the Joker Killer wasn't really Kandori's style? ...So why did she feel that dead man's presence?

    As Katsuya's eyes turn back to her, Eriko just gives him a smile- but there's something uncomfortable and a touch forced about it. But frankly, well... there's a power in being a pretty girl prepared to just walk in and say what everyone else is thinking.

    More importantly, she hears the parts about who others are up against- and when Ulala namedrops Tatsuzou Sudou, Eriko's eyes DO widen for a second... One lead, she expected. Two...? Tamaki, have you stumbled onto the same mess by accident...?

    Fortunately, Tamaki opens the door to the supernatural, and Eriko's eyes light up. That's okay to talk about now? Oh wonderful!

    "To put it bluntly, Mr Sakura, some parts of the supernatural are very, very real. And some people have a vested interest in using it. You clearly know something, and now other people know you know something." How much of this is just Eriko making inferences, and how much she knows- especially as Katsuya states that they have evidence of Tatsuzou's connection. How rewarding indeed. There's lots she has to tell her allies now. "...Clearly, you think there is a danger present to you, and also to us. And a danger to someone else, I'm guessing. And unfortunately, all of us turning up to a closed cafe to talk to you, well... I don't think Mrs Watanabe intended it, but now people know that people know, as it were."

    Eriko lets out a small sigh. "While you are not obligated to tell us anything, perhaps what you know can help stop a killer, and protect people. And... I hate to say it, people who are alone are more vulnerable than those with allies. I hope I'm not being forward but... you seem a man who could use allies. Or just to get something off his chest." Her voice and approach is soothing, and gentle- something that seems older than a woman of a mere 20 years, and yet... The kindness intended is earnest. 

<Pose Tracker> Sojiro Sakura has posed.

    The comment about Ayame's family being targeted causes Sojiro to flinch. He already knows what he would do if they came for his family. The lingerie assistant and the fashion magazine writer further come in with a 1-2 punch. At the mention of Tatsuzou Sudou he nods his head, "Yes I am aware of the foreign minister. " It wasn't his prime suspect but well people are entitled to their own conspiracy theories.

     A deep breath is taken as he stands up, leaving things on the bar. He walks slowly to the front of the shop and plugs the sign in as it flickers to LeBlanc being opened. To many plees for support, to many things reminding him of what he needs to deal with. He takes the sign off the door and finally the hammer on the gun is heard being released as he takes his left hand out of his jacket finally.

     "I...I need time to think and process. To figure out what to do next. Give me a couple of days, we can talk again. I will be easier to find..."

     Sojiro hangs his hat and jacket, the gun being in full view now on a shoulder holster. He doesn't seem to blink at showing it, perhaps it is a sign of trust. Instead he simply walks over to behind the counter and grabs his chef apron and puts it on. "Now if you excuse me I have to prep for tomorrow's curry." 

<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.

Ayame smiles at Tamaki and Eriko both. "Yes!" she agrees, Eriko is great.

The Foreign Minister, though... these things are very serious. And Maya is probably right--people he wants to protect. "We all have those," Ayame is sure. "The Joker Killer came for my husband," she explains. "But we were able to stop him, together.'"

Eriko is very helpful in getting it all out there; this is a little beyond Ayame, who even now is the friendly woman sort of awkwardly laying it all out, to her mind.

But...

"Thank you," Ayame says. To the matter of the gun being placed down. But he's aware...

"That's fine," Ayame says. "So long as you're willing to think about it... That's all I for one can ask at this point."

"Take your time. It's important, but so is your own peace of mind."

She says, "...I'll leave my own number, as well. If you decide to reach out." She drops down a small piece of paper, and starts to stand up.

"Then I think we can go for now. ...Thank you, Sakura-san. I'll levae you be for a bit. But please do reach out if you decide you want to."

She'll go!

Retrieved from "https://www.velvetroom.wiki/index.php?title=2025-12-17:_A_Calmer_Meeting&oldid=4048"