Session Start: Wed Jun 08 19:02:13 2011 <@Ked> [The Hunt] <@Ked> So almost everyone's parents are on campus, there are half-a- dozen silverdarts circling overhead, there's some sort of bomb scare at the train platform, and worst of all there are LITTLE SISTERS visiting. <@Ked> It's quite understandable that there might be some tension. Did I mention the talent show tomorrow? No? But right now, this instant, the particular stressor is a very special snowflake-parent-headmistress conference. <@Ked> Everyone got to bring one parent. Except John, whose parent is AWOL. Didn't stop his EI from hounding him into attending anyway... <@Ked> The rest of the student body and their parents are strewn all over campus, so there's not much danger of discovery, at least. <@Ked> [session start] * SeiMurdon fiddles nervously with his fan, trying not to hide behind it in a manner that will shame him in front of his father. He has his back ramrod straight, though he looks like he'd prefer to be huddling down as small as his little frame will go. * Farah looks calm. She's very, very good at the whole 'calm, cool and collected' thing. * Jaimie is sitting rather stiffly on the edge of her chair, though she relaxes a bit every time she glances over at her mother sitting beside her. * LadySpoon twirls the Spoon - she's not nervous, exactly, but she's maybe not as confident as you're used to seeing - as the last of this meeting's visitors straggle in. * John is waiting, really looking like he'd rather be somewhere else. He's got a map of the zone pulled up on his EI, with a couple of dots on it. * Tasiya looks bright-eyed and twitchy with excitement and worry, casting eager glances at Sei's father at what she probably imagines to be discreet intervals * SeiSho sits back regally in his chair, his perfectly-tailored suit projecting power that his wrinkles could not. * Tasiya chokes back a high-pitched dog-whistle "eeeeeee" before it can get past the second "e". * John does a pretty good job of looking comfortable around everybody else's parents, though. * Catalina holds Jaimie's hand tightly, focused entirely on Lady Spoon. * Alan bows slightly to Lady Spoon as he saunters in. Lady Spoon bows slightly back. I don't suppose I could tempt you into a late-night spar, Alan? * Deniz raises an eyebrow. * Farah looks between the two and griiiiiins like a fiend. "Do it do it do it do it." * SeiMurdon glances at Alan, then at the student with him to confirm he's Farah's dad. Then the question makes sense to him. His face is pathetically easy to read as he runs through that mental calculation. * John raises an eyebrow, and chuckles. * Catalina manages to look vaguely shocked. * Tasiya grins. * Jaimie is still too nervous to be really anything else. I'll have to ask my wife. * Farah snorts loudly, not having fully succeeded in stifling a laugh. * SeiMurdon goes back to trying to imitate his Dad's posture. What looks powerful on Sei Sho looks adorable on Sei Murdon. He also is probably the student who looks least like his parent, being a boy with native Snowflake complexion and hair next to an obviously Asian-descent old man. * John catches one of Tasiya's glances, and gives Sei the Elder a searching glance. I'll try not to bruise you too much for her. * Deniz gives Alan a thumbs up. "Fast work, that!" * SeiMurdon looks confusedly between Deniz and Alan. No, long time coming. Mistress Spoon hasn't taken advantage of your hospitality before? She kept getting busy, or I was out managing. ...do I know you from somewhere? * Tasiya bounces in her seat a little at that. * Farah rolls her eyes a bit at Tasi's enthusiasm, but she does look like she's happy. * SeiMurdon tries hard to ignore Tasiya's bouncing because of what it implies. He is having trouble because she's, um, bouncing. I stopped in once a couple decades back. I prefer armed, but there are too few worthy masters on this world, and it was worth a couple of falls to meet you. * Catalina has finally decided that this isn't what it sounded like, and she stops crushing Jaimie's fingers. *silently mouths* oooooooooh. Wait. Waiiiit. Whoa. Seriously. * John blinks at Sei Sho. He takes a moment to digest that. Dad's REALLY good. *beaming* * Alan shrugs. "We get a lot of visitors, sorry." So if your Dad could beat him, he must be REALLY good, too! * SeiMurdon said that to Farah. I'm a bit clumsy with my hands, Murdon. Comparatively. Pops is awesome beyond words, and that's not just my blood talkin'. But... yeah, I know, humility. Hee. *grins some more before glancing at his Dad and remembering he's trying to be formal and stuff* * Jaimie gives her mother a reassuring smile, then turns back to blink at the various glances and bouncing and comments and whatnotall around Sei Senior. She gives him a curious look before making an effort to shut it off. Yes! Well. Welcome to Takeuchi Third Memorial, on behalf of the entire Hierarchy I want to thank you for giving us such interesting and talented students! I'd prefer to think of it as a loan, myself. * Tasiya grins over at her Da. Did you get a receipt? * John glances down at the map again, the returns his attention to the meeting. * SeiMurdon hides his expression behind his fan until he's sure he's not blushing at the praise he's fairly sure he doesn't deserve. All of the snowflakes have met each other, of course, and I'd like to encourage their parents to socialize as well... except that I can't. So you'll do it by saying you can't? *guessing* * John looks askance and up. ...no, it just wouldn't be a good idea. It's a shame, since what I know about you all says you'd fit together better than most of the elitist parents that are visiting. Sorry, John. You don't need to apologize for him. Oh. *looks down, hiding his expression briefly behind the fan again before he lowers that and has a practiced blank look on his face once more* * Tasiya dimples, but also looks slightly disappointed. It is what it is, I suppose. * SeiSho nods sagely. "Even here, things are tense, and hiding is the best option. There was a good reason for the weirdness at the train station today, yes?" Was the bomb threat a cover for something? I can't believe that you can't keep this school safe! * LadySpoon blinks. "Cover? Surely we could do better than that." So a legit threat then. Yay. Masako-san was sure it was just to shut down her protest. *delivered flatly, matter-of-factly...at least he hopes so* That wasn't really a yes, I notice. * SeiMurdon is not all that good at delivering flatly, though, and clearly thinks Masako-san is probably wrong. At least mostly. Mmm. Masako was wrong. Though you might ask why she chose that train to meet. If somebody was gonna blow it up, why would they send the SDS lead rep for the school there, too? *puzzled* It's not like we're the most important parents attending, as you said. Assuming that she could make a loud noise at a critical time? Or whoever's backing her put her up to it, at least. And hell if I know. Nobody'd be able to sell that the Ladies bombed their own station just to hurt a SDS student. That'd be nuts. That depends on your point of view, but... yeah. Anyway, there was no bomb. Thank Magics. Yeah, thank goodness. Was it just a threat, then? * SeiMurdon is getting less tense as conversation starts to flow. Even if it's on somewhat rough subjects. Lady Spoon, is Jaimie in danger here? She's fighting evil Magic - all of them are in danger, aren't they? Pretty much. * Jaimie nods unhappily. * SeiMurdon looks to his Dad to see what he might be thinking before answering that one. * Catalina waves her free hand, dismissing concern. "And the closest any of them have come to getting killed was due to the terrorists. That's the real danger, isn't it." * John eyes darken momentarily. Humans are not always the scariest things in heaven and earth. Though they surely do try. Your daughter doesn't have to worry about them, Miss Robinson. They will get what's coming to them. A little less sugar-coating, John. But yeah, karma is indeed the proverbial bitch. I think I want a little more assurance than just fate if I'm going to let Jaimie stay here. * Jaimie winces, then turns to her mom in sudden alarm. "Mom, you can't make me leave!" B-but Mrs. Robinson, if she stays here we can all help each other, but if she has to go away she'll be all by herself! Okay. I'll give you one very good reason. The darts are coming after *us*! * LadySpoon blinks. "I don't think you get to make that decision, Mrs. Robinson." Fate will follow her back to your house. In your city. And all the weird shit that happens, it will happen to her, alone, with no team around for backup. People will get hurt if we don't stop them, and if one of them comes after me and I'm on my own, it'll probably kill me anyway! Wait, WHAT? *looks horrified at Spoon* And it might hurt you, or Papa! We're sticking together, because it's the best way for us, and for everybody else. It might be better for other people if we were all off on a farm somewhere... * SeiSho smiles mirthlessly. "No, I didn't think the Hierarchy would let any of them go." Of course not, we're prime property. Ugh. We've homesteaded before. We can do it again. * SeiMurdon looks...upset. * Deniz shrugs. "And you didn't think a snowflake would belong to anyone except Snowflake? That is the way it should be." * Farah looks a bit ill. "I can understand why, and I know they're trying to keep us alive until we've grown into our power and position, but shit still feels bad." I mean, I'm at terms with it. I know what I hafta do, but that doesn't make it easy or fun. ... vital, but not fun. ...seems to me that if they want to have any good fights, they ought to be where the action is. * Jaimie grimaces. "The action seems to follow us." The action pretty much comes to us, yeah. The darts are getting more curious and more bold. Um...about that...what're we going to do about the ones that're here now? ...yeah. John, dear, are they still maintaining distance, by the way? Hope to God and Queen they pass on? I'd like to just have a nice weekend without having to worry about more third-degree burns. Holding steady so far. At least we heal... * Jaimie winces, then nods. * SeiSho sighs. "Not from everything." ...? * Tasiya turns wide eyes on Sei Sho. Look, if you hold Jaimie here, I'll get a lawyer! Mom! You can't! ...and that would do what good when the Duchess makes her decision? Um, please, Ms. Jaimie's Mom? Maybe decide if you want to take her before making a big deal about whether you can or not? * Jaimie looks panicked. A publicist then! Ma'am? I'll just say that even if you do get Jaimie outta here, stuff follows MGs. I'd rather she not be alone when it does. Yeah... Mom - ! Can we talk about this later?! And...I really don't want to have to fight over this... Which would let the world know who and what she is. So the terrorists would know who else to come for. Like what happened to John. * John sighs. * SeiMurdon stands up and shouts, "STOP IT! ALL OF YOU! STOP THREATENING EACH OTHER!" And maybe they would be right, if this is what the Hierarchy does to chil- Ow! * Jaimie freezes at Lady Spoon's words. "No! You're not getting attacked because of me." * SeiSho grins, then hides it. * Farah winces. "Man, it's not threats... it's reality. She needs to know the reality of this." * SeiMurdon is holding out his Tessen like the weapon it is. Sei, quit. Nobody's threatening anybody. Well, I'm not threatening, anyway. Lady Spoon and your mom are threatening each other. * Catalina has her mad on now. It's going to make things WORSE. I'm not threatening anyone. And neither is she. We're having a disagreement about the nature of reality. Problem is? I think the Hierarchy *will* go to some pretty stupid lengths to keep us here and together and alive. Mrs. Robinson, I don't think Jaimie *wants* to go. Regardless of what we want. * Jaimie grabs her mom's arm. "Mom, stop. Really. Please. Can we please talk about this later?" They're lucky I *want* to stay. Look, I know you're freaking out. But trust us, this will make more sense when you've calmed down. I just want you safe, Jaimie. Let's just table it for now and come back to it later. Safe's over, ma'am. She's a Lady now. * Jaimie is ignoring most of the rest of the room at this point. "I...you can't really have that. Not any more." Nobody can promise I'll be safe. Not and be telling the truth. Not with silverdarts following Snowflakes. * SeiMurdon turns and bows deeply at the waist to Jaimie's mom. "Robinson-san, Jaimie-san is a dear friend of ours. We don't want her to go. I don't think she wants to go. We'll keep each other safe. I promise. Safe as we can, safe as we'd be anywhere else, if not safer. Please...don't make her leave." * Catalina tears up. "Jaimes... I don't care. If you want to come home, I don't care if it's safe or not." * SeiMurdon looks up, still bowing, but looking at Robinson-san's face. "And I'll help, if it comes to it, with that, I promise." * SeiMurdon slowly straightens. "I just...don't want it to come to that." * Jaimie is still ignoring the rest of the room. "I...I couldn't go home, and leave everyone. Even if it was safe. I couldn't leave them in danger." * Farah reacts poorly to the tears, and shuts up pretty promptly. * John checks the map again, having figured out they're in their own little world for two right now. * Alan wags his finger at Farah. "You don't get to come home until you're a properly trained Lady, young lady. Except for vacations." * SeiMurdon slowly sits down again while he still can do so semi- gracefully, since nobody's paying attention to his overly dramatic actions. * Tasiya blinks. Hey, yeah. What *about* vacations? * LadySpoon mutters "...figure something out eventually." Noted, Pops. * Tasiya bites her lip a little. "...oh, dear...." ... I'll totally be able to kick your ass one day. * SeiMurdon is avoiding looking at his dad, not wanting to see what he thinks of his little outburst. You'd damn well better be. * Farah smiles a bit, but says no more. It'll be suspicious if they never come home, you know. * Jaimie is still holding onto her mom, waiting anxiously to see if she's okay. * Catalina has managed not to start sobbing. She's still looking angrily at Spoon. Maybe...we could do some kind of summer program? Closer to home? Well, our various homes anyway... The real problem is after the secret leaks. SIB is estimating that'll happen within a year, but until then I'll probably let them off campus. You'll have some nearby Snowflake Guard protection, though. * SeiMurdon hides a snicker behind his fan. * Tasiya cringes a little at the secret-leak estimate, as usual. If we really have to, we'll move you into one of the Zones here. Bleh. Oh well. Isn't it kinda a self-fulfilling prophecy that we'll be found out if we have Guards with us wherever we go? * Jaimie looks away from her mom for a moment. "They can be careful." Not standing right next to you. We've already gone over that, Murdon. If it comes to that I'm going to oust the terrorists. I will not allow them to attack from secrecy. ...I'm not sure how yet, but I've got some ideas. Lady Spoon, ultimately all of our safety is going to depend on whether the Hierarchy can suppress the extremists. Or whether the people can suppress them, with or without the Hierarchy. It's not the Hierarchy who can do it. Absolutely they can! It's the SDS. If the Hierarchy helps, great. But they can't do it themselves. All Duchess Football needs to do is hold elections. 'cause I don't think Masako-san is with the bad guys. And people like her'd probably be the best to put the bad guys down. 'Cause then it's not magical girls vs. everyone else, the way the bad guys want it to be. * Deniz blinks hard. * SeiMurdon beams up at his dad. * Jaimie goes back to ignoring people and holding onto her mom until her mom seems to be back with the rest of the world. * LadySpoon blinks too. And then double-takes, goes cross-eyed, and chokes. The problem with that is... it can be really hard to separate people who want change from people who want change paid with blood. They mix together pretty good until you can't tell the diff, so just setting up elections could make for something... not-good if you're not careful as to who's on the ticket. * Tasiya just gives Sei a Really Weird Look. And any good extremist... the really good kind? Keeps their cards close until it's time to call. That's a truly astounding statement given your history, Sei-san. He's right. People're smart, Farah-san. They don't LIKE being fooled, and if you fool 'em...--er? *looks to Spoon, confused* What, is he some sort of legendary Hierarchist? * Tasiya makes an almost audible "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" noise. People are smart, but dreamers can be willing to swallow some pretty bitter medicine for change. And great minds can do dumb, dumb shit when they want something badly enough. * SeiMurdon squirms. "I think that's why Dad said to do elections. Then they don't need to want it 'badly,' since they got it for just bein' law-'bidin'." In a manner of speaking, maybe I am. But this colony was founded with a certain promise to its citizens. Maybe the citizens broke their side of the bargain a few decades back, but the promise still remains. I'll... uh... I'll pass along that you feel that way. You do that. * SeiMurdon looks confused again, racking his brains for the history of a couple decades back. Maybe it was the riots and the martial law? * Jaimie is looking confused, but that's an improvement over her earlier near-panic. * John gets an ... intense look. * Tasiya gazes starry-eyed at the elder Sei, seeming to have difficulty remembering what the conversation is about for a second. Well said, man, well said. Elections, I guess, really are gonna hafta happen, because the sidsers are just gonna keep up the protests and gather steam so long as they're convinced that Hierarchy rule's here to stay. Oh, this'll make politics interesting in five years. But not my call. Wrong. It's going to be our call. And we'd better make the right one. It, uh--it shouldn't be just our call. Er, yeah. Uh. This has gone a little far afield, though I admit I didn't have a really detailed agenda. I agree with you, but it's going to end up that way. * SeiMurdon takes a deep breath, refocusing on the parent-principal meeting. Yeah, it happens, y'know? Anyways. Business. What *is* on the agenda, Headmistress-sama, if I may ask? * Tasiya opens her mouth to answer John, but sees the conversation drift away from that, so contents herself with rolling her eyes at John and going back to flicking awed glances at Sei Sho. I do want to emphasize that you need to be careful. I'm sending all of you contact information for the SIB and the Guard. If you think anything at all is weird, here or when you return home, CALL. Don't wait. * Jaimie nods, eyes wide. Don't tell anyone that your children are snowflakes. If you can get away with saying they're at a different school, do it. That's almost worse than leaving her here - having to lie about it. * Jaimie reaches out and squeezes her mom's hand. "But you'll be safer. And I'll be safer." * SeiSho shrugs. "The life of a hermit has some advantages." * SeiMurdon does roll his eyes at that one. Then carefully pretends he didn't. * Catalina nods solemnly. * Farah looks calm again, idly humming something under her breath while she listens in. It's hard for those of us with more children, of course. You never know what's going to come out of Nahdinha's mouth. * John glances at the map again. She doesn't *know*, does she? Lady Composocrete said she'd be better off not knowing... Can I interest you in some lessons for her? Nothing like a martial art to build self-discipline. Oh, Magics, that would just make her even scarier. * Tasiya shudders to think of it. I think she's probably guessed, Tasi. You know how fast she is. * SeiMurdon coughs, discreetly, behind his fan. * Catalina nods. "We always wanted more children, but maybe it is a blessing now." I'm never telling Candace, as much as I wanna. She'll know, someday. But you don't have to tell her. I know, just the later the better. Welll...yeah. But if she *does* suspect, at least she's being good about not running around claiming it. She knows you'd kick her ass. Man, it's no fun kicking Candy around, I always feel bad afterwards. And well you should. Beating up on your little sister. * Farah snickers. * SeiMurdon looks puzzled. Lady Spoon, since we've already touched on the political side of things, do you mind if I ask you another question? I do, but go ahead. Why do you allow an SDS chapter on campus? Isn't that... sort of counter to the purpose of the school? * SeiMurdon peers over his fan, biting his tongue behind it. It's the right thing to do. And it lets the politically active students be political, instead of quietly dangerous. That's worked for the entire colony, until recently. Don't you think it's wearing thin, though? What part of the "right thing to do" did you not understand? * Catalina nods in agreement. Sorry, sorry, I didn't want to start another fight. Um, but, wait, why would you want to start elections if you want to not have the SDS, L--Mr.--Sei-san? It's a good enough focus for Masako. She's a good girl, really. Passionate. Needs to choose better places for protests. * Tasiya looks impressed that she got up the nerve to address Sei's father directly. I wouldn't press it too much. The SDS chapter has done a great job of managing the students for quick and orderly evacuations whenever something happens. The way I've heard it, she chooses just the right ones. It's... well, it's the fallacy of letting people get away with a little. * SeiMurdon scratches the back of his head. I think the right thing to do is to have elections. A wrong, but effective, response would be to stop the dissent firmly. This wandering down the middle path just drags things out and makes the inevitable even worse. But... I'm an old man, and my priority is a restful place to end my days. * SeiMurdon looks sharply up at him. "End your--you're not THAT old!" * SeiSho snorts explosively. "Thank you, son." Well, if Farah wants to join the SDS, I won't stop her. Not sure what I'm doing. I just need to get a feel for the whole story, y'know? Jaimie, please don't. * Jaimie smiles at her mom. "I'm not planning to." ...not going to tell Tasi what to do. * Farah shrugs. "Just 'cause the sidsers have a strong following back home doesn't mean I follow 'em blindly. I can still think for myself." * Tasiya giggles a little. "Don't worry, Da, I'm overcommitted anyway. I've got my classes and I'm in the Lady Crystal fan club and the Lady Spitterwing fan club and that's just the start of it! In any case the local bunch seem pretty harmle- <@Ked> *THUMP* * Tasiya jumps back violently. * John jumps to his feet. * Jaimie jumps and looks around for the source of the sound. <@Ked> The shock wave doesn't really rock the Administration building, but even indoors you sense a little bit of the overpressure. * SeiMurdon looks surprised. That - that wasn't the darts, was it? ....*bomb* threat.... That didn't feel like a dart. * LadySpoon jumps to her feet, accidentally planting The Spoon in the ceiling. A half-second later, her EI manifests. But I thought they said there wasn't anything - I don't think it's a dart either. That they FOUND. Herc! What happened? * LadySpoon runs out. Lady Spoon, wait!! What should we do? <@Ked> As she busts through the door, all the snowflakes EIs light up, too. It looks like the Guard has pressed their panic button. Well... shit. * Tasiya panickedly tries to find details. * Doeschate appears in five separate holos. * Jaimie looks down at the EI going off on her belt and barely gulps back on a curse word. Sorry, conference is over. * Farah looks down, frowning. "Looks like it." Hantsuki? * Tasiya is so startled she almost drops Dakdak on the table. "Sergeant! What's going on?" * SeiMurdon looks at his wrist-thing. My Ladies, Lords - are all of you okay? We're fine. What happened? Wh-what's going on? Is--are the families all right? Traincar blew up as it was coming to the station. Don't know casualties yet. .... oh dear Magics. * Jaimie catches her breath, looking over at her mother. * Catalina grabs at Jaimie's arm. * Farah looks just a touch ill at the news. * Tasiya tears up. "Is that...is there...what can we do? What should we do?" Jaimie... let's go. Right now. Shouldn't you get to some safe location, Tasi? * Jaimie hugs her mom. She was looking at Doeschate until her mom said that. "We can't, Mom. Even if it were right for us to just run away...we don't know where would be safe." We'd prefer you don't go to the dorms. You're all... downstairs, aren't you? Why don't you come upstairs to our duty room? B-but Mama, and Nanha, and everyone else...*is* there a safe loca-- I'm heading out. I might be able to help. Sh-should we transform? You heard the man. We should move and sort things out... Herc, hook DakDak up with a live feed. We're moving. * Jaimie nods. "What about our parents?" Please don't, my Lord. Let us do the first responding. They might have a follow-up bomb. * Tasiya shudders, but gets up, holding on to her father's arm. * John pauses. "I don't care. I'm not hiding." All of you can come up. ...please, my lord, you'll make our job harder. A-all right. We're coming. John - don't be stupid. ... John, it's no use not hiding if you're just going to make things worse! Da, come on, let's go.... John, really. Pops, let's go. * SeiMurdon hops up, taking John by the hand. "Just...come on. Let the guys who do this for their job tell us how we can help!" * SeiMurdon tugs like an annoying little brother. * John shakes his head angrily. "Dammit." * SeiSho watches, a weird look of reminiscence in his eyes. * Jaimie takes her mom's hand and starts moving towards the door. "Rori...can you send Papa a message and tell him we're all safe?" <@Ked> The little EI blinks up and peeps affirmatively. * John resists the tug, and shakes his hand free. "All right. But as soon as you're sure it's clear, let me know." And... Herc. Check on dad. What a fucking day. It's not over yet. We still got six good luck charms. * Deniz looks grimmer than Tasi has ever seen him. "Are you certain this is the life you want, Tasiya?" * SeiMurdon 's brain practically steams as he tries to puzzle something out, and he finally manages: "Was there a Lady on the train?" Yeah, it's no fair if we have to leave without at least one silverdart. * Jaimie tosses John an irritated glance over her shoulder. "One thing at a time, John." It was a private car - not a Lady, but one of the industrial families. No use borrowing trouble if they haven't done anything yet. Yet is the operational word there. * Tasiya looks up, confused, as she leads her father to the duty room. "Am I--Da, you heard Lady Spoon. It's....it's going to be the life I have..." * Farah is up and ready to move. She's not going to drag her dad along with her, but it looks like she really wants to for once in her tomboyish life. * Alan lets himself be dragged! * John trails behind, making sure that everyone gets going who's supposed to be going. * Deniz leans close to Tasi and whispers. "I'm not going to be as... forthright about it as Mrs. Robinson. But if you decide against it, we'll do anything - everything, even. No matter the cost." Come on, son. Let's go meet the Guard! * SeiMurdon shakes himself. "Uh, right!" Sergeant Doeschate's a nice guy. I think you'll like him. * Tasiya stops dead in her tracks for a second, looking at her father, almost falling over. Then she continues, taking his hand and squeezing it hard. * SeiMurdon forces himself to be formal and calm as he walks with his father. * Farah chuckles a little, the sickening mood fading as good old- fashioned adrenaline kicks in. * Doeschate is there to meet the snowflakes and their parents at a discreet side door to the office suite. Someone has already set out some light refreshments, and most of the staff has been herded into the front rooms and away from their protectees. * Doeschate looks relatively intimidating in full battle dress, but his rifle is slung on his back and munches cookies politely with the rest of you. * John nods to Doeschate as he enters. "Most of us can help with clearing and evac if there's anybody who needs to be extracted, once it's clear." * SeiMurdon bows to Doeschate. "I wish it were under better circumstances, Sergeant Doeschatte, but I am pleased to introduce my father, Sei Sho. Father? This is the Sergeant in charge near campus, here." You look pretty damned awesome there, Sergeant. How big was the explosion? * SeiSho bows respectfully. "Thank you for protecting our children." * Tasiya doesn't say anything yet, just nods to him vaguely. She looks like she's still digesting something. * Jaimie is just shy of bouncing on her feet with tension. She fastens her eyes on Doeschate, waiting to find out more about what's going on. It wrecked the train car, but I wouldn't quite say it really blew up. If it had been at the platform there might have been some casualties, but what I'm getting is it looks like more of an assassination than a terror attack. * Doeschate frowns sourly. "Not that it couldn't be both." * SeiMurdon frowns. "Were the people inside killed, or....did they miraculously survive?" He sounds like he's hoping he can hope. * Tasiya pales at that bit. "Who was...what family was on that train?" Bombs are definitely just plain terrifying. * Jaimie bites her lip. "Why...would anyone want to assassinate those people?" Same reason Valve got what she did back then. Fear's a good weapon to make people rethink their positions. It's called terrorism for a reason. Uh... you aren't officially supposed to know this yet, but it was the Yamaguchis. Sadao's parents and sister. . . . Oh no... Oh, no... Someone you know? * SeiMurdon looks like he's trying hard not to cry. * John looks at the ground, pursing his lips. ...it's a small school. Sadao-san is a really nice person. He's-- he's doing geneology for the talent show. * Jaimie looks like she's having trouble talking. "Everyone knows everyone here." * SeiMurdon swallows. ... oh man. * Farah clenches her jaw a little. * Tasiya chokes back a small sob into a gulp. * SeiMurdon hides behind his fan. His whole face this time. Choked little sobs can be heard behind it, though he's trying not to. Not fucking fair. Not fucking *fair*. * Tasiya brushes her eyes with the back of one hand, and hugs her arms above the elbow. * Jaimie reaches over and gives Sei a one-armed hug. Her other hand is still holding onto her mother. * John just looks pissed off. * SeiMurdon buries his face in the taller girl's shoulder. The... Yamaguchis? Shit, they make our excavation sensor kits. * SeiSho finds a chair and sits down creakingly. It's all connected, really... man, this is utter.. ngh. * Catalina pulls both Sei and Jaimie into a group hug. It is, after all, a small world. * Tasiya backs into her dad's arm, still hugging herself and shivering a bit. <@Ked> [end session] Session Close: Wed Jun 08 23:36:44 2011