Ettlesby: Created page with "'''Log: Someone to Look Out For''' '''Cast:''' Shinobu Shimizu, Miho Ijuuin '''Where:''' Seaside Mall '''OOC Date:''' April 22, 2026 '''IC Date:''' October 29, 2012 '''Summary''': ''Following a delivery job, Shinobu meets up with Miho at Jolly Roger. The two of them talk about personal matters, and the complications they face.'' ---- (|=============================== Seaside Mall ===============================|) -=======================================..."

2026-04-23T01:53:41Z

Created page with "*'''Log: Someone to Look Out For''' *'''Cast:''' Shinobu Shimizu, Miho Ijuuin *'''Where:''' Seaside Mall *'''OOC Date:''' April 22, 2026 *'''IC Date:''' October 29, 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Following a delivery job, Shinobu meets up with Miho at Jolly Roger. The two of them talk about personal matters, and the complications they face.'' ---- (|=============================== Seaside Mall ===============================|) -=======================================..."

New page

*'''Log: Someone to Look Out For'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Miho Ijuuin]]
*'''Where:''' Seaside Mall
*'''OOC Date:''' April 22, 2026
*'''IC Date:''' October 29, 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Following a delivery job, Shinobu meets up with Miho at Jolly Roger. The two of them talk about personal matters, and the complications they face.''

----

(|=============================== Seaside Mall ===============================|)
-================================================== Sumaru City/Konan Ward ====-
The Seaside Mall is well-named: it's directly across from Ebisu Beach, though
it's a short walk to the road that leads down to its sands. The view remains
magnificent, and outdoor tables dot the parking lot so one can take in the sea
breeze. For those sensitive to it, there is a door to the Velvet Room there. For
everyone else, there's a decent variety of stores.

Pirate-themed restaurant Jolly Roger is the place to go for drinks, desserts,
and curry; its melancholy owner, a blank-eyed man who was once a sailor, loves
to hear and share rumors. The interior brings to mind a wooden galleon ship with
a massive ship's wheel behind the counter, rope rigging overhead, and a Jolly
Roger flag draped on one wall between various paintings and a world map.

For those anxious about the future, there are two options. One is Hiiragi
Psychotherapy, where Dr. Reiko and her protégée Maki offer counseling amidst a
fairy tale forest aesthetic, complete with decorative pastel carousels; her kind
eyes and smile encourage one to get everything off one's mind and heal heart and
soul in the process. The other is the Sumaru Genie, where a dark-skinned woman
of the same name utilizes an Egyptian aesthetic to lend herself and her
fortune-telling a sense of authentic mystique. Her fortunes were garbage until
she recently switched to Wang Long style fortune-telling, though.

And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #2 runs this one; an
acoustic guitar version of the store's theme plays here. "o/` o/` o/` ..."

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>It was a pretty simple delivery job, all told. Shinobu certainly isn't going to complain about work where the most complicated aspect of it is the time involved. She went, did the hand-off, and now she's made her way to the designated meeting point after sending a message ahead to let her client know the job's done.

The meeting place, today, is Jolly Roger in Konan Ward's Seaside Mall. It's a good restaurant with a charming pirate-themed atmosphere. Shinobu approves. She likes pirates. Her black-and-green cargo bike is locked up outside, while Shinobu herself has already been seated inside. She's ordered a drink for herself while she waits - so for now, she sits back and sips at her beverage.

She hasn't been waiting long. She's barely gotten started on her drink.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho has never asked Shinobu to take illegal jobs--no poisons, drugs, weapons, nothing of the kind. Primarily she asks for courier service for packages or documents. Today, it was documents.

Miho is at least no longer wearing a sling for her arm; that injury has healed enough to no longer require it. This is clear as she walks into the Jolly Roger, dressed in her usual womens' suit in black with red beneath. She looks around and--

"Shimizu-san," she greets once she approaches the table. "Thank you for your hard work. May I sit?"

"If you have the time, I would like to buy you lunch and speak."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu looks up as Miho enters the restaurant. She's hard to miss.

"Ijuuin-san." Shinobu greets, looking up from her drink. She's usuallly pretty casual, but there are some exceptions. She's ''seen'' where Miho lives. She nods. "Go right ahead."

Miho says she'd like to buy her lunch and speak. Shinobu considers it for a moment - but only for a moment. Lunch is hard to pass up...

"I've got time, so long as it won't be a problem for you. What-" Shinobu assures, and stops herself just short of saying 'what's up'. "- did you want to talk about?"
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
Miho puts on a faint, brief smile. "Thank you."

"Order what you like," she suggests. She'll get a drink and some curry, for her part. It's a good lunch. "But no, it isn't a problem." What's up, she almost says; Miho would ''probably'' have understood that. Probably.

"...Primarily personal matters," she admits. "I have wondered, some, what it would be like to live more as you seem to--on your own terms. Instead of with the expectations of many."

"But it feels rude to inquire into your life without inquiring into the basics, first. ...So, I hope that your sisters are well."

"...With the attacks from fans lately," she finally explains, "I have been... thinking, on what I expect from the world."

"I may have less business for you, depending on what decisions I make. If so, it is no reflection on your competence."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Miho smiles, and Shinobu smiles back.

"Alright. Thanks." She replies. She orders some curry for herself, too - something with a bit of a kick. Miho explains, then, that she wants to talk about some personal matters. That's a bit of a surprise, though not an unwelcome one.

Living on her own terms, instead of with the expectations of many... It isn't something she's thought about often. She supposes she's been in situations where she hasn't had to.

"They're doing well, thanks. Life's been busy, but... that's life." Shinobu replies with a shrug. Miho mentions the attacks from the fans... She frowns sympathetically.

"...Yeah. I heard about that." Shinobu murmurs. She does keep an eye on the Aoba news, since her older sister lives there too. "Scary stuff. You both alright? How's Yua-san holding up?"

She's been thinking on what she expects from the world, and may have less business for her depending on what decisions she makes... Shinobu thinks that over, and then nods.

"Well, you two are some of my best customers so I'll miss your business, but you gotta do what's best for you, yeah? If that's what happens, I get it." She replies. "I, uh, appreciate the reassurance, though."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"So it is," Miho agrees. Life is busy. "I'm glad to hear that." Miho doesn't know much about Shinobu's sisters, beyond what she has occasionally discussed in small talk or learned as part of her pursuits in the NWO. For some reason, they just haven't been a big priority for Miho.

But, "I am," Miho says. "Yua is... stressed," she decides to say. "And stress can be bad for a baby. I'm trying to see what I cn do to ensure she isn't subjected to such things again."

But it is indeed 'scary stuff'.

"It's only a maybe," Miho says. "So long as I work in the industry I do, I will have need for a courier. ...And I'm aware of my good fortune in general, which has led to my opportunites to perform for the nation."

"But sometimes I wonder whether continuing to attempt 'ordinary' business is worth it, in light of that." A shake of her head.

"I had assumed, previously, that such things as crazyed fans were simply one of the pitfalls of fame; that with opportunity came danger. But now that it is not only me who is involved and endangered..."

"Well. I was the youngest in my family, so I never had to look out for my siblings. But looking out for Yua.."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Shinobu offers a nod as Miho says she's glad to hear it about her sisters. She frowns, though, when she explains.

"...Can hardly blame her." Shinobu replies, with a shake of her head. "Here's hoping that's the last time you have to worry about that."

She nods as Miho says it's only a maybe, then goes quiet and listens as Miho explains her situation. Performing for the nation, and whether or not ordinary business is worth it... But what she says, though - not only her being involved and endangered...

...That's something Shinobu can sympathise with. The Black Mask's threat still lurks in the back of her mind.

"...It's hard when you've got someone else to think about, whether it's sisters or a close friend." Shinobu comments. "You get to thinking whether or not it's worth it, keeping going if it's going to put them in danger. It... really gets in your head."

She leans back in her seat a bit.

"Eventually, you gotta figure out... How important is that part of you? Is that something you're willing to fight for? And if it is, what're you gonna do to keep the people close to you safe?" She says... and then shrugs. "...That's my view, anyway."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you," Miho answers, still a little still and formal--but that may be 'just how she is', rather than a discomfort with Shinobu in particular. "Yes," Miho agrees. "For a while, I didn't. I was on my own, looking for Yua while she waa missing; I had a boyfriend or two over the years, but..." She gestures; whether she thinks men need less protecting or she ''cared'' less is an exercise to the reader. There is an answer.

"As you say, it does. But at the same time, disentanglilng yourself is not easy."

How important...?

A 'close friend', too. Miho wishes she could be more outspoken about ''that''. "I suppose that is what it comes down to, isn't it?" she wonders.

"...I will fight then. For what is important to me." She nods, thoughtful. "Thank you."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>Miho thanks her, and Shinobu nods. She doesn't mind still and formal, even if it may not be her own way. She gets that it's probably just Miho's. She listens as she continues, explaining how she's had a boyfriend or two, but...

She doesn't elaborate. Shinobu has her own thoughts, but she doesn't voice them.

"''That's'' for sure." Shinobu agrees. "...And even if it were, you try to disentangle yourself ''completely'', and a part of you's gonna go with it."

If Shinobu knew, she'd be sympathetic about ''that'', too. She nods, though, as Miho comments that's what it comes down to... and, it seems like she's found her answer.

"Cool." Shinobu comments with a nod, and then shakes her head. "No problem. Glad I could help."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"...Hm. Yes, I suppose that's true, too. We leave parts of ourselves, in the things that are important to us." That's not precisely what Shinobu said, but it's the conclusion Miho draws thinking about it.

But if Miho could tell Shinobu, she might not be doing all the ''less'' sympathetic things. Well, not as many. But don't worry about that.

"I appreciate the insight," Miho says. "...is there... anything I can clarify for you?" she asks. "Any questions, or matters you want to discuss."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>It may not be what she meant, but Miho's comment gets Shinobu thinking. She rolls it over in her head for a moment, and then nods.

"...Yeah, that's a good way of putting it." Shinobu agrees with a smile. Is there anything she can clarify for her, or matters to discuss... Her expression turns thoughtful for a moment as she thinks about it. Ultimately, though...

"Not off the top of my head." Shinobu replies, with a shake of her head. "Still, good talk."
</poem>

<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
<poem>
"Thank you." Pause. Shinobu is thoughtful, but...

"Very well," Miho says. "Yes. 'Good talk'," she agrees.

"It's just as well," she says as the server arrives. "It's bad for digestion to have serious conversation over a meal."

And Miho is true to her word! Food happens.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-04-22: Someone to Look Out For - Revision history