2026-09-27: An Experienced Perspective
- Log: An Experienced Perspective
- Cast: Shinobu Shimizu, Ririka Kawase
- Where: Iwatodai Station
- OOC Date: September 27, 2026
- IC Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2013
- Summary: Ririka has been thinking a lot of thoughts about her own queerness since the fight in Hana's Kingdom. She happens to run into Shinobu (who outed herself during that fight), who offers an ear and some perspective.
(|================================== +date ===================================|)
| OOC: Sun, Sep 27 2026 |
| IC: Wed, Jan 16 2013 Part 1 |
| 12h per 24h |
| IC Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent |
(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.
A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.
With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.
BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
While Shinobu primarily works in Sumaru City, she does occasionally get job offers from further out. She'll take whatever gig she can get, and wherever... and today, that brings her to Iwatodai City.
It's been a long day with a lot of running around, as the local sweet shop needed someone to take care of some emergency errands before the big afterschool rush. They were in enough of a bind that it should pay pretty well, at least.
She finishes up just in time - school has just let out, and the first wave of students should be arriving back on the train...
...which means it's going to be a little while before the next one. For now Shinobu sits back on a bench with a good view of the strip mall, a tray of Octopia's 'takoyaki' in hand.
It's decidedly weird, and it might or might not be octopus... but hey, it's something.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Ririka had a long day, too, though, her day consisted mostly of sitting through classes. Though, she did stay up a decent portion of the night thinking and going around in circles.
For a lot of reasons, she had the fight with Shadow Hana on her mind last night. She might've been a little bit tired today.
... it's fine. It's actually a little bit better than the nights she has to do SEES missions in Tartarus.
Ririka is one of those students getting off of the train, as it happens. Her dorm isn't far from here, (and she's pretty familiar with the strip mall in question regardless.)
She's in her winter Gekkokan uniform, with dark purple tights, and a purple bow, besides. She's got a pair of headphones blaring, bobbing her head along to the beat as she goes...
But then she happens to glance over and catch sight of Shinobu, and stops. She's seen Shinobu around many times for the various Persona battles, but aside from that one time at the beginning of the year, near the Tatsumi Raffles, they've never really talked.
She tries to look away again, to not look so obvious, but she's also been thinking about what Shinobu said yesterday, too.
She wrestles with herself, fingers tapping on her thigh as the music keeps blaring, but she eventually steps off the sidewalk to go approach Shinobu, pausing her music and taking her headphones off. "Uh, hey," she says, with an awkward wave. "Do you have a moment to talk?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu catches Ririka out of the corner of her eye and recognizes her but she doesn't call out to her. It's only when Ririka pauses for long enough that it's obvious she's looking does Shinobu nod a greeting her way - and then, after a moment longer, Ririka approaches her.
"Hey, Kawase." Shinobu greets back, as Ririka waves. She asks if she has a moment to talk and Shinobu considers that for a moment. The next train is coming in...
...No, that doesn't matter. Taking that awkward wave and the wave she turned her music off into account... If she misses it she can always grab the next one.
"Sure, I've got time." Shinobu assures. "C'mon, have a seat."
Once she does, Shinobu holds the tray out.
"Takoyaki?" She offers. The offering of takoyaki has a dual purpose - it's polite, but it also gives Ririka an excuse if she needs time to figure out what she wants to say.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Hey, Shimizu-san," she says back, offering a smile that's at least a little warm, but she's also feeling a little awkward.
She looks a little pensive (her fingers are still tapping away on her thigh, even with the music turned off), but she looks relieved when Shinobu invites her to take a seat. "Thanks."
There's an offer of takoyaki, and Ririka blinks, then nods. "Oh, sure, thanks." She takes it, for... pretty much the same reason Shinobu is offering it. It gives her a little buffer to get her thoughts in order.
After the first bite she says, "Oh, did you get these from Octopia?"
But after a little bit longer, she finally figures out her angle. "... so... that fight in the Kingdom last night. Kind of intense, huh?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Ririka smiles, and Shinobu smiles back. She doesn't know her well enough to get a great read on her, but she looks pleased enough. And the relief on her face is visible when she invites her to sit. She nods, as Ririka thanks her.
"Sure did. Just a moment ago, in fact. They're fresh." Shinobu confirms, taking another for herself. As they eat, Ririka brings up the Kingdom.
"Sure was." Shinobu agrees with a small laugh. "Things got pretty wild... Those places really know how to get at you. How're you doin' after all that, you holding up alright?"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
But they are, in fact, from Octopia. "Cool. I hang out around here a lot, so..." She gestures to the strip mall. "... there's a music store there that I go to all the time."
That's music store as in, a store that sells instruments.
"Yeaaaah... I'm..." Ririka sighs. "... getting really tired of being in places like that that are fucked up towards women, you know?" She shrugs a little. "I'm... fine, I guess. We saved Fukami-san, so... it's all good, right?"
But is it though?
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Oh yeah? Cool." Shinobu remarks as Ririka explains that she hangs out here a lot. That makes sense. The music store... Shinobu looks over the strip mall. "...Oh yeah? I've been there once or twice..."
She'd like to claim she plays the guitar. ...She still needs work, though.
Ririka sighs, and Shinobu cracks a wry grin.
"...Yeah, I hear that." She agrees sympathetically. "I mean... I'm never gonna get tired of beating down sexist assholes, but it doesn't make it feel any better that it keeps having to happen, y'know?"
Ririka insists that she's fine, though, and Shinobu considers her for a moment.
"...Yeah. We did. I'm sure she's gonna have a lot to work through, though. I dunno how much she remembers, but..." Shinobu agrees, and shrugs. "Well, that's how it goes in this business, I guess."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Oh, cool! One of my band members works there part time, I usually take my stuff there to get it fixed." Ririka can definitely claim to be a guitarist. "... what do you play?"
"Yeaaah..." Considering that Eiji's Palace was one of the first supernatural spaces she explored, well... it's a significant source of worry.
... she doesn't feel terribly sorry babout what happened to Eiji, though.
"... there's a lot of sexist assholes out there, aren't there?" Ririka reflects, after a moment. "We take down a Palace or a Kingdom, but..."
"... Yeah. I wanna call her and see how she's doing, but if she doesn't remember then me being all concerned might be weird?" After a moment she adds, "I, uh, have her business card." After another beat she adds, "... she gave it to me. It's..." She waves a hand for a moment. "... kind of a whole thing."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Ririka mentions that one of her band members works at that store.
"Hey, that's cool." Shinobu remarks, with interest. As for what she plays. "Guitar." She pauses for a moment to clarify, "Acoustic."
She laughs a little.
"...It's still, uh, a work in progress." She admits. "I do most of my practicing after midnight. Sound quality can be a little strange sometimes, but it means I don't have to worry about anyone complaining about the noise."
'After midnight', in this instance, is slang for 'the Dark Hour'. ...That's also why she went with acoustic guitar, specifically, even if electric is more her vibe.
Ririka agrees with her and she nods... and her expression softens as Ririka continues.
"...Yeah. There are." Shinobu agrees with a quiet nod. "You can knock a few of 'em down, but... there's always more where that came from. Some things can't be solved with the supernatural alone."
Ririka says she wants to call Hana, and worries that it might be weird...
"A 'whole thing', huh?" Shinobu asks, as Ririka waves it off. She considers her for a moment - but decides that if she won't elaborate, she won't press her to. "Well... Yeah, usually it might be a little awkward, but... She is a public face, so she's probably used to people calling her up. Long as you aren't too overbearing, I don't think she'd mind a little worry from a concerned fan."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Hey, cool!" Ririka says enthusiastically. "It's a really good instrument. And really versatile." Yes, she has opinions on this why do you ask?
She pauses a little at 'after midnight'. "After-- oh! Yeaaah that'd... that'd do it." She means of it sounding weird. "But still, that's cool."
"Yeah..." Ririka frowns a little, tapping her fingers still. "...sometimes I wonder if there's anything that can be done about them. Out in the real world, I mean."
"It's..." Ririka frowns, as she considers. Her kind of natural insintct was to sort of elide the story. But she looks over at Shinobu thoughtfully. "I guess you could call me a fan. I'm, maybe more a fan of her and not her TV show specifically?"
"Maybe I'll give it a day or two, and reach out," Ririak decides. Hana probably has enough on her plate getting back into the swing of things after being taken out of her life.
"... but the reason I have her card is, uh..." Deep breath. "She saved me and my girlfriend from someone trying to cause a scene, and then... I asked her for her advice."
She goes silent for a moment after that, feeling her heart pounding a little. Shinobu isn't exactly a stranger, but she's not exactly a close friend, either. But after what she heard last night...
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Ririka's enthusiasm gets a genuine smile out of Shinobu.
"Yeah, I like it. It's got a good sound - you can really get a lot of emotion out of it." She agrees. She smirks as Ririka realises what she meant - and then nods.
Ririka agrees with her, too, about the state of the world... and offers her a small smile.
"There is. But... it's not gonna be quick or easy." She replies. "It's just... somethin' we've all gotta work on. Bit by bit. 'Til then, well... we keep each other safe how we can."
She watches then as Ririka struggles with herself. She explains that she's a fan - but of her, and not her show. Shinobu laughs.
"Heh. Yeah. I get that. It's not really my thing, either." Shinobu replies. "Frankly, I'm more looking forward to whatever she plans to do after all this."
She nods as Ririka says she'll wait a day or two before reaching out.
"Good plan." She replies - and then goes quiet as Ririka starts to explain why she has her card. She hears that deep breath and waits, giving her the time she needs to work up to it.
Her 'girlfriend', she says... and, given the effort she needed to be able to say that, and the things she said last night, she's pretty sure she doesn't mean it in the casual 'friends that happen to be girls' way.
"Shit. That sucks. Sorry that happened to you, Kawase..." Shinobu apologises, massaging the back of her neck. "Glad Fukami-san was there for the both of you, though. Were you both okay afterwards?"
She pauses for a moment, then, before adding...
"How long've you two been dating?" She asks, just to make it clear she understands.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yeah, for sure," Ririka agrees about the emotion. "And there's so many ways to change the sound to match your mood... it's, eh heh, one of the easier ways for me to express what I'm feeling, sometimes..."
'We keep each other safe.' Ririka looks to Shinobu and nods, smiling faintly at that. "... yeah. We're all in this together, right?"
"Yeah. My mom watches her show, nad it's not bad, but... I definitely wanna keep track of what Fukam-san gets up to."
Rrka defntely doesn't mean t in that way. Hence, shy she's thnking so much about what happened the ngiht before.
"Thanks. It started with this woman yelling at me for being a delinquent just for carrying my skateboard around, even though we were going to a skate park and just..." Rirka shakes her head. "But Fukami-san stepped n, talked her down, and gave us some advice for next tmie."
She shrugs a little. "We were mostly okay. It just kind of... soured the mood, I guess."
But at the last questioni, there's a shy but warm smile, as a flush spreads across her cheeks. Bingo. "Our first date was in November. We ended up going to a MUSES concert together." Ririka looks over to Shinobu. "She's the first girl I've ever dated. And, well, I'm the first girl she's ever dated, too."
"But even after what you and Joker said last night, I..." Ririka sighs. "... I kinda chickened out about speaking up. How lame is that?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Right? It's kind of impressive how complex they are." Shinobu replies with a nod, and grins. "Hey, nothing's wrong with that. Music's good for things like that. Me, I'm still working at it... so right now, my main outlet's woodcarving."
She nods, then, smiling back at her.
"Damn right we are." She agrees. Ririka says that she wants to keep track of what Hana gets up to, and Shinobu nods. "Same here."
She hopes she does get into acting, like she knows she wants to.
Shinobu listens as Ririka explains what happens and she grimaces sympathetically when she explains how someone was yelling at her.
"Asshole. She was looking for something to complain about." She replies, shaking her head. She's familiar with the type, because she was a delinquent in her youth. "I see... That's good."
Ririka explains that it just kind of soured the mood, and Shinobu nods.
"Yeah... Yeah, that'd do it." She comments.
Thankfully, the talk of dating is a brighter topic. Shinobu can't help but grin as she sees Ririka expression shift, and her face begin to flush. Ah, young love. It's nice to see someone so smitten.
"Oh, a concert. Good pick." Shinobu comments with an approving nod. "So, a few months, now? Not bad."
Her girlfriend is the first girl's she's dated - and it's the same way for the girl she's dating, too. Shinobu nods in understanding.
"It's a pretty wild time, isn't it? Exciting and scary at the same time." Shinobu comments.
Ririka continues, though, and Shinobu watches her sympathetically. She says she chickened out... Shinobu frowns. Has this been weighing on her ever since the fight?
"Hey, listen, Kawase..." She starts. "You don't owe it to anyone. Not me, not Joker, or even Fukami-san. Just 'cause other people are doing it don't mean you have to. Not before you're ready. This's still new to you, so I don't blame you for not speaking up."
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Yep. I'mmm also a musician. And I have a band, but I kind of said that last night, eh heh." Ririka rubs at the back of her neck. "But hey, woodcarving, that's really cool."
It's nice to have solidarity with someone--especially given what they have in common, too.
Ririka doesn't know about the acting hopes yet, but maybe she'll find out eventually.
"Yeah, that's what Fukami-san said, too." There's some other details she won't bother bringing up--like being mistaken for a guy. (Her height isn't exactly a secret, here. She's a tad over 5'7".)
"Thanks. And yeah, it was a really good time. And we've been on a few more dates since... It's, uh, going well, I think." Ririka laughs a little. "Scary and exciting is... yeah. Like, I had guys ask me out on dates before, but... she blows all of them out of the water. Easy."
It's definitely been weighing on her. Her fingers haven't stopped tapping on her thigh this whole conversation. But she doesn't owe anybody anything. Ririka nods. "... yeah, I know. But thanks. It helps a lot to hear that."
She looks to Shinobu. "I just... I figured it out two and a half years ago, but it took me two whole years to tell anybody. It's... awkward trying to avoid it, sometimes, and I just... hate having to pretend, you know?"
"I guess... there's a difference between what I want and what I'm actually ready for, huh?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"You did. Still pretty cool." Shinobu replies with a smirk. "And, thanks. Sometimes it's nice to just take my emotions out on the wood and see what comes out."
She nods, as Ririka says Hana said the same thing... and when she recounts how she's been on a few more dates with her girlfriend, Shinobu grins.
"Glad to hear it." She replies - and then laughs. "Yeah, I can imagine that'd feel pretty different."
Ririka knows she doesn't owe anyone anything... but she still thanks her, and Shinobu nods.
"No problem." She says, and goes quiet so she can continue. Two and a half years ago, huh? The awkwardness, and hating having to pretend...
...She can definitely understand that. It's a familiar feeling.
"...Yeah. That's what it comes down to. It's, uh. A big change, and you don't know how people are going to react to it." Shinobu replies. "It feels like it eats you up inside, but then you're not sure if it's going to feel any better when it actually gets out..."
She shrugs.
"And then thinking about doing it in a high-intensity situation like that, even around people who know what it's like? ...Yeah, if I thought about doing that at your age, I don't think I could've gone through with it, either." She comments. That's what it comes down to, in the end - a difference in experience. She massages the back of her neck. "...But I do hope you've got someone you feel like you can tell. It does get easier, Kawase. Even if it don't feel like it."
She cracks a smirk, then.
"...Besides me, I mean. And thanks, for trusting me with that." She adds.
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
"Thanks!" Ririka grins a little.
"Deeefinitely different," Ririka says with a small laugh. "Some of the guys were nice, but..." She shrugs.
Eating you up inside, but then coming out still feels uncertain."Oh my god exactly! Right? Like, even when you know there's know way to know about everybody else..."
But in that situation, even Shinobu might not have been able to do it. Ririka looks at her and nods. "Wow, really...? Okay, that really helps, then..." Just knowing she's not alone, that is. "Thanks."
She smiles. "I've told a few people. My family knows, there's a few friends who know... Fukami-san knows, too. And now, you."
She smiles. "You're welcome. And... thanks for listening. I wasn't really ready to just tell everyone in that fight, but... I didn't want to miss the chance to connect with someone else like me, you know?"
"And... I've been thinking about telling a few more people... like my band, for starters."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Ririka agrees, and Shinobu grins. She definitely gets it.
...And it sounds like she's voiced Ririka's own fears.
"Right??" Shinobu agrees. She smiles, then, as Ririka considers how she might not have been able to do it. "Yeah, definitely. It's difficult." She nods. "No problem."
She listens, then, as Ririka recounts the people she knows - her family, a few friends, Hana... and now her. Shinobu nods thoughtfully. It's good to know she can tell her family. Having supportive family helps a lot.
"Hey, that's pretty good." Shinobu comments, her expression thoughtful. And then she smiles, as Ririka does.
"No problem." She assures. "And... yeah, I get it. Sometimes you just need to talk with someone who knows what you're going through."
Ririka explains that she's been thinking about telling a few more people, like her band. Shinobu considers that.
"I think... if you trust 'em, that's a good idea." She decides with a nod. "They've been hearin' you bare your heart through music, so they've probably got a good picture of you."
She grins.
"Whoever you tell, here's hoping it goes well, alright?" She offers. "...Oh, and - if you need to talk to someone about it, feel free to reach out to me again, yeah?"
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
Shinobu defnitely did. This is the power of finding those who have traveled the same paths you have.
"Thanks. And I know I'm... kind of lucky to have supportive family, so... I'm grateful for that."
Ririka takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly. She's looking more relaxed. "Yeah, definitely. I caht online a little, but... it's different knowing people in person, you know?"
"I do. I mean, it doesn't make it any less terrifying, but... I've known them for years. And if I ever wanna put more of that part of myself in my music, well..."
But there's an offer, and Ririka grins. "Thanks. I really appreciate that, Shimizu-san. I'll catch you around." She starts to get up.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Yeah. Be sure to cherish 'em." Shinobu replies with a nod. "If I didn't have my sisters... I don't know what I'd do."
Ririka breathes in and out, and it looks like she's starting to relax. That's good.
"Definitely. I mean, that's a good outlet too, but you're right. It's different, talking face to face." She agrees. Being able to actual see someone makes it all the more real.
"Oh yeah, totally." Shinobu agrees, as Ririka says it doesn't make it any less terrifying. "And, yeah... That's important. If you do, I'd like to hear it, yeah?"
Ririka grins, and Shinobu grins back.
"No problem, Kawase." She replies. "Yeah, you too. Take care out there."
With that, Shinobu starts to stand, as well. She should probably get herself a ticket back home before too long.