Description: Dinner alone with Kurow <3 Though it is mostly business, Yurika discusses her plan to gain power within Seijyun in a way (unknowing to her brother?) that wouldn't harm her closest friend, as well as other issues.
To no suprise, things have been pertty quiet around Seijyun, if only the other schools could say the same thing! Of course quiet is the kind of atmosphere Yurika can always appreciate, and not only that in a complete change of pace she had contacted Kurow to meet her at a different ren dez vous (sp?) than normal. Usually school dorms have always been the perfect spot, but this time she had chosen a fine resturant for two reasons, a) she wanted a place where it was completely unlikely that Sada would show up, and b) it would be just like in the movies, a private meeting with mobsters and spaghetti. Minus the mobsters and spaghetti. Yurika's always been a bit of an odd dreamer.
Of course there were things she wanted to cover preferably without Sada's presence anyway.
When the musician walks in and is guided to a reserved table, some of the heads turn to look to perhaps one of the youngest to walk into such a place.. That and she looks quite elegant, for once not in casual gothic lolita wear, but in a nice evening dress, light blue in color and of course has frills. She can hardly wear anything that doesn't have them. It's a very tasteful ensamble with a little matching color scarf about her neck, and her hair is drawn back in a very long braid- it kind of makes her look like Lenneth Valkyrie.
"Your seat, ma'dam," the waiter offers, drawing the seat out for the woman and helps her settle in. Oh and there's already a basket of rolls there, great! But she'll hold back.
[OOC] Kurow says, "wh"
[OOC] Yurika starts log this time.
[OOC] Kurow says, "I just posed and immediately got the last thing you did, again."
[OOC] Kurow says, "-- haha"
[OOC] Kurow says, "durf."
Kurow arrives precisely five minutes early, give or take the time that's spent walking to the table; the younger Kirishima has always been big on punctuality, on having things run like a fine Swiss watch. He's dressed up a little, wearing a white dress shirt and black slacks, but hasn't gone all-out in the name of looking stunning; after all, this /is/ just Yurika, and at heart Kurow has always been somewhat lazy interpersonally.
He takes his seat across from Yurika, offering her a small smile and a matching nod. "Hello," he says, glancing briefly to the rolls; he, likewise, chooses to skip them for now. He's never been much for pre-meal appetizers. "I understand you wanted to talk about something."
"Good day, Kurow," Yurika greets back, her cheeks pinkening just a little bit in response to Kurows smile. Even if he dressed up just a little bit, and didn't even comment on how VERY NICE she looks, it still means a lot to her. On the other hand, she'll just take what she can get. The waiter walks over and offers the pair a menu each, then takes off to tend to the other tables. Opera-gloved hand taking the menu and opening it, she then gives a nod to her younger brother, "Yes, a couple of things, actually.. I had some things that might prove interesting.. And I wanted to talk about some things involving the summer. As you know, because of it school activity will be very low. Did you have any plans for that time?" she asks curiously. And obviously hoping the answer is something she was going to say, or simply 'no'.
Kurow is not one for compliments on appearances. It's not anywhere near his purview -- it's the last thing he ever worries about, save in the context of social power. As he looks Yurika over once, he takes his own menu in hand and flips through it quickly; he knows what he wants almost instantly. It's either a knack, or a flaw borne of poor imagination and a consistent meal pattern.
"Perhaps, depending on how other cards fall... presently, I think my biggest concern is making sure the Congress works well -- as a unit, and as individuals." Setting down his menu and folding his hands in his lap, he says, "Tell me -- what were you considering?" He does wonder, somewhat, why she wanted to have this meeting one-to-one, but dismisses that in relatively short order. "Not that I don't have concerns of my own."
The musician's cheeks darken again, though this time in sheepish guilt once Kurow speaks again. Really, there's plenty of reason for Yurika to like the girl, she's smart, she loves music, and she's quite talented. But this was very different than Momo's crush on Kurow. Very very different. But who knows, maybe in time it will all blow over, but Yurika wouldn't put her money on it, "Y- Yes, I understand.. I don't want things to be difficult for you, Kurow it's just. I.. I'm just being silly, I shouldn't be so bothered by your pretend relationship with Sada."
Emphasis on the word pretend.
"Ahem but anyway it's about Seijyun. I found out something very.. Unsettling about the school. And it's the fact that it's not completely as moralistic as I had originally thought. There are, in fact, plenty of 'bad seeds' within the administration that is focused completely on the true meaning of Seijyun. Profit. And so I've decided to take a different approach on the matter, something that I think would really really benefit us." as for what she wants? Well, she didn't like to eat a lot of meat. But she'll go ahead and order the chicken and alfredo. Just half a chicken breast.
That first part from Yurika meets with a reasonably forceful, "You're right, you shouldn't. It's a tactical decision and little else -- if anything, I'd say you worry too much." He's using her, certainly -- but that's how people rise to the top, that's how they eventually put things together properly. They use people.
Moving right along, Kurow listens to Yurika's explanation of the situation; it's little he doesn't already know from his own extensive research into the school, but he humors her, hanging on every word. Eventually, when she finishes -- and after he orders himself a medium steak -- he finally inquires, "And just what approach is that?"
Yurika, on the other hand, believe she's interested Kurow with this 'new' news. She looks mildly proud of herself then, her sitting posture just a little straighter just then, "Well.. I believe if I can get myself involved within the administration, we'll be able to have access to some very powerful financial allies. While money isn't a problem for us, having the cover of a very well known institution would give us minimal problem with getting involved in other large corporations. While this doesn't give us soldiers by number, we could effect a lot of things indirectly."
Yurika then clears her throat, "I plan to do this by running for Council president this year. There's no doubt that the institution would see me as an invaluable selling point and would support this completely. I could then boost the power of the council from within, and it'd be even easier for us to create an army within to deal with the other schools; I could have practically every higher power under my command." And her menu is set down. She seems quite proud of her plan, cunning, with as little deceit as possible. As for the Sada thing? Well, no use droning about that.
A little complicated, but clean, with low failure cost (in raw numbers; Yurika's emotional state is irrelevant) and much higher potential reward. This isn't a bad plan, Kurow thinks, as he drums his fingers on the table once after listening to her full story. "... not a bad plan," he says, with a tone that shows interest but also keeps Yurika at arms' length... as always.
As he goes through it in his head again, he notices a certain lack of humility involved, but that's okay -- self-confidence never hurt anyone. (Hubris might have, but hubris is only what you call it when the person isn't on your side.) "You're in charge of this, then. I'm putting my faith in you -- and there are, you'll remember, consequences for failure." That grave warning is followed shortly by a somewhat warmer, "But that's a plan for next year. You were saying something about summer, too."
Well it's very very rare that Yurika actually -wants- to do something that would otherwise prove harmful to her closer friends, that comes to no suprise to Kurow. She'd never felt this confident or willing before, so with Kurow's approval, comes fully bloomed pride. But even then, it's rather subtle, at least one unfamiliar with the girl on a personal level, "Thank you, and I would never even think of failing you, or shaming the Kirishima name. Ever." She picks up her glass of water then, taking a small sip, the pauses in reflective thought.
"Oh, yes well.. I know it's rather selfish to ask, but.. I need more training, Kurow. Respect is easier to earn within many in Seijyun when one proves themselves to be powerful not in just spirit, but physically as well. And I think that what you've taught me so far it.. It isn't quite enough, so I was wondering.. I mean, if it wouldn't be any trouble to you.." and that's when she starts to look nervous, her dark eyes shifting.
Finally taking a roll, Kurow takes a small bite of it (plain; no butter, no salt and pepper, nothing) as Yurika starts to talk of shaming the Kirishima name, and of training. Part of hin wants to be dismissive about it, but part of him knows the value of physical power in attaining social power, which is exactly what Yurika's talking about... and so, he decides it'd be best to go with it.
"... I taught you what I thought you'd need to know," he begins, "but it appears I was mistaken. I'd be glad to take your training a step further." He delivers this with little passion, but then, training is always sort of a passionless, mechanical thing -- at least, when your entire outlook is one focused on power. "What do you feel you're lacking in -- or what would you like to excel more at?"
There's a moment of silence from the elder Kirishima as she looks to Kurow.. And wouldn't you know it, the moment he picks up and bites into the roll and there's silence, the food arrives, and everything looks so very well prepared! Yurika had never been here before so she's pleased to see the quality. However she then claps her hands togeather and shakes her head, "N- No, it wasn't that you were mistaken, Kurow. I think I did not prove myself worthy or capable of taking in more. But I know that I am ready now."
As of late, Kurow had been getting her drive really going, through means that she never really liked, but that generaly was the point, right? The girl then slips off her opera gloves, setting them on her lap as well as her napkin, and after applying some hand sanitizer takes her fork.
"I think.. Well I would like to become more aggressive, more reliably. I seem to wait until it's too late. And.. I feel that I could take control of my chi to another lever.. And.." The musicians lower lip curls in slightly, "Maybe.. I could be a little faster. Or at least a little more resistant to physical strikes."
[OOC] Yurika bleh, another level, not lever.
One lesson Kurow knows quite well, and may be teaching to Yurika accidentally, is that dissatisfaction is an excellent motivating factor. Her own motivation, certainly, is an obvious illustration of that fact. Kurow looks down at his meal, takes his fork (without the extra ritual that Yurika undertakes; after all, he is a little more haphazard, at times), and begins to eat, letting Yurika speak.
He lets her run her mouth, to put it not-so-delicately, for a good while; after all, he can't teach her what she wants to know if he doesn't know what she wants. The youth swallows, saying, "Speed is always valuable... as for aggressiveness -- you need to learn, more than anything, to try to punch through what you can handle and save your bursts of speed for what you know you can't. Sometimes, you really do need to try to just rush through something -- it seems backward, but everything in a fight is slightly backward."
That wisdom given, Kurow takes another bite of his steak, this one finished more quickly. He then finally says, "As you may have guessed, I'll continue to train you. More than that, though, as I believe I said earlier -- I want to train you alongside the other members of the group. You'll learn how to use /others'/ strength as well as your own."
Yurika isn't suprised by her brothers wisdom, he's been a lot more active in the fighting world than she has, so of course he would. But she's just suprised just how much more sensible things sound when he says it. There's a slight nod of her head, as she takes a bit of food herself. She's clearly very enlightened.
As for the rest of it, Yurika has to agree, it wouldn't make sense to have seperate 'teacher time' if it could be helped. She could accept that. "That's perfectly fine. Speaking of, Kurow, it's been some time since we have spoken togeather with Miss Kai. Will she be joining us?" she asks curiously, "I.. I've had suspicions as of late that she's a little.. Well.. Crazy. I'm concerned she might backstab us as a result."
"An... associate of mine," Kurow starts, on the topic of Gabriel, "has been having issues with her of late. I admit, I share your worry that she might leave us -- but then, spending effort on that until we have something concrete is a waste. She'll be with you -- at least, initially." That's the downside of being a conspirator -- everything is so delicate that the best answer one can give is 'yes, for now'.
At this, Kurow continues to eat; he has an unusually methodical eating manner when he has knife and fork, always carving the same square little bits, always doing it as quickly as possible without losing neatness. It's like how machines would eat if they had daily nutrition values.
And the female musician nods her head once more, "All right.. I will work with it best I can, I understand she's good friends with Miss Ingrid, and I've made an effort to ally with her as well. In such a case, I'll likely know if there's a problem if Ingrid treats me differently. In the meantime, I'll similarly try to figure her out a little better." Again, Gabriel is a different case than Sada. In this case though, she needed to figure out if a plan of action was being done within himself, or she needed to do so. Or heck, even both! "Admittedly, I'd rather have her around myself. Even if her musical talent is..." and she frowns.
But that aside, she notices how Kurow eats. She's pleased by it, "Well.. Then I think that about covers that Kurow, I'm done with being selfish. How have things been going with you?"
Kurow very delicately avoids the topic of Gabriel's -- 'musical talent.' "I'd always rather have a resource than not have one," he says, taking a long drink of water. "However, depending on the situation, it may not be a possibility. I suggest simply keeping your eyes open with her -- watching her carefully." And that, it would appear, is the end of that entirely.
And Yurika puts the ball in Kurow's court. And, needless to say, he handles it as adeptly as one could imagine. "Things have been... proceeding. I've been treading water, lately -- waiting for the right opportunity." He does not say that he thinks this opportunity may well be in Thailand; that, after all, is something that he -can't- tell Yurika. "I loathe the first few weeks after school ends. It takes me some time to get my mind ready for the resultant... lull."
And a good enough end, at that, "Very well, I shall." is pretty much how she ends the conversation with Gabriel on that end. It seems they're on the same note for a change.
And then she can't help but smile to Kurow's concerns. It might even explain a part of Kurow's willingness to help her when she thinks about it, but in the end.. What is there for the DSC to do once the Summer arrives. Personally she'd love to go on some sort of vacation with Kurow, but she knows that just isn't his style at all. Maybe she could sneak it in somehow, "I see. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to do some research togeather and explore some opporunities outside of Japan. Maybe?"
Oh shit, Kurow! Have you been found out!? "Well..." Kurow says, looking down at his meal, then up at Yurika, "Perhaps -- and I know you're going to call me crazy -- we should go carve something out in Southeast Asia amid the chaos. After all... everything there -is- seemingly up for grabs, isn't it?" Never mind that he might have ulterior motives here -- the important part is the opportunity.
He grins a little at the older girl, adding, "It does seem as though that Lord Vega is hard up for soldiers -- considering that he's hemhorraging lieutenants left and right, if Bison's recent public renunciation is any indication."
Yurika pales slightly.. She had been keeping up on the Thailand issue, but she's clearly uncertain what it is exactly her younger brother is up to. Her fork is set down for a moment, it's not an 'are you crazy' look but more of a 'that's not exactly what I meant' thing. So much for beaches, islands and coconuts!
"A- All right.." she replies in obvious guilt, "Things don't seem to be going his way currently, I could see.. Maybe being able to gain something of use to ourselves if that's what you mean. When did we want to, um.. Persue this?"
This prompts a little thought from Kurow; eventually, however, the best answer seems to be the simplest one. "As soon as possible... though we may want to avoid putting our true identities at risk. After all, this is a volatile situation -- it's just as likely to explode in his face as it is to solidify his control over the region."
Shrewd to the last. Kurow downs a long drink of water, before saying, "You're not having second thoughts, are you? The situation is bad there, but only because it's unstable. If stability is restored, it'll fix itself -- and Lord Vega seems to be the more rewarding side." He keeps quiet about his previous ties to the man -- Yurika doesn't need to know about those yet, after all.
Yurika honestly doesn't fully understand what it is Kurow is trying to point out, at least not detail-wise. But Kurow does seem to have a plan, and that alone is enough to put her in some mild ease, "Very well," Yurika then adds, and quickly shakes her head at the suggestion she'd be having second thoughts. It was scary, yes, but she'd have to face the music, not everything is lollypops and cotton candy, she had learned almost on her own, "You are right, I.. He makes me nervous, but I'm certain in your abilities. I of course will gladly help in this then. I'll have to ponder then how I'll go about this, and we can go by weeks end."
Though on the other hand, she'd probably need a little bit of pre-travel training then. There had been an 'alternate' style and uniform she had been working with, Kurow has seen it before.
Kurow, of course, is a master of disguise, and will no doubt come up with some new identity by that time. Hopefully it will not involve turtles in any way.
"Thank you," Kurow says, with a smile -- this one warmer than before, in hopes of eliciting a more positive response -- and the usual small nod; he has a very limited set of 'inherent' gestures. Perhaps it's why he steals them from other people so much. "I look forward to it -- it'll be difficult, but I think in the chaos we may be able to carve out something of our own."
Yurika takes in the smile-bait hook, line, and sinker. Limited or no, Yurika is always susceptable to such things! But Kurow is right, it sounds difficult, but then again, very few worthwhile things are attainable without hard work and she understands that. It should prove interesting, on top of all that. But really it's the 'of our own' that really does it for the musician.
Yurika takes another forkful of her food, finding herself able to eat again, "Think nothing of it, Kurow. Let's just do our best." and she smiles a little brighter than usual in turn. Again, hardly your normal family dinner, but it makes the elder Kirishima happy still. "It's very delicious," she then notes off hand.
[OOC] Yurika is leaning toward an FTB here or after your next pose. ^^;
[OOC] Kurow says, "This, I think, is a good place -- it's a nice endpoint."
[OOC] Kurow says, "Thank you! Sorry I started to decay a little there, I have a bit of a headache."
[OOC] Yurika says, "Oh don't worry about it, I was starting to get tired, too. ^^;"
[OOC] Kurow nods!
[OOC] Yurika says, "ALl right then, I'll see you tomorrow as usual!"
[OOC] Kurow says, "Indeed!"
Log created on 01:55:38 06/06/2007 by Yurika, and last modified on 03:05:19 02/09/2009.