Description: In an astonishing twist, Ingrid Hollman is the one inviting Yurika to a cafe; an appropriate locale for two elegent girls (one arguably elegent gothic, but that's another story). It's always a pleasure for Kirishima, as Ingrid is one of the very few people she can actually discuss her problems to. But this time around, Yurika also attempts to talk Ingrid into joining Seijyun part-time to participate in her student council plans.
While Chinatown has it's mix of mom and pop shops of a large variety of ethnicities, it also has it's collection of gems in the rough, places hidden away that one might not find unless one digs deep within the city streets. Ingrid does a lot of digging. In fact, she spends days at a time doing nothing more than exploring bizarre side streets and mingling with the people. By chance she found one of the aforementioned gems.
Two blocks within what is starting to get to the rougher part of Chinatown, there's a tiny street that's easily mistaken for an alleyway. It's poorly lit, though bright enough in the daytime, and has large apartment buildings on either side. Once you get to the end of the little street, however, you find one of the loveliest, and most well kept tea shops in all of Southtown. Rather than just being like a coffee shop, this place actually has separate little rooms with rice paper walls and doors to seat the guests. The owner of the shop is a little old woman with a wrinkled face and very fine taste.
Ingrid is currently sitting in one little room meant to seat two people, waiting for her guest to arrive. She'd set Yurika a note much like the one that had been sent to her, one that simply says where and when to meet for tea, though with very explicit directions on how to find the little shop.
Yurika, of course, isn't difficult to find these days. She's been keeping quite busy with preperations and speeches and preperation, and now she's feeling quite sure that she's got the position secured.
She was delightedly suprised to recieve an invitation from Ingrid, the norweigan girl is always one of the few she especially looks forward to meeting up with. She's not one to travel about Chinatown often, so she's curious to see what kind of place she's been invited to is like.
And so at that very moment Yurika appears, guided by the old woman, and after slipping off her maryjanes, she heads on in to join Ingrid. It's a force of habit. "Good day to you, Ingrid.." the pale girl greets with a bright smile. There's no doubt she's in a very good mood today. "I haven't the faintest idea how you found this place, but it really is wonderful."
It seems that Ingrid won't be kept long. She wouldn't mind a wait, but of course she's happy to see that Yurika is right on time. "Why thank you, Yurika. I was rather surprised when I found it myself, but I'm certainly glad I did." As she speaks this the woman quickly vanishes and returns, the tea preparations having started the moment Yurika was sighted at the end of the street. It's set down in front of Ingrid, the expectation that Yurika will sit down opposite her. It seems there are two pots of tea instead of one, however.
"I'm very happy that you've decided to join me, Yurika. I would simply hate it if we were to lose contact with one another again." Ingrid lifts one of the teapots and pours it into her cup. A dark, rich black tea emerges, and she places a sugar cube into it and stirs it in with a dainty spoon. "I have no taste for it, but you simply must try the white tea. I wasn't even aware there was such a thing. I've heard it has a very delicate flavor." It's also hideously expensive, though Ingrid will make no mention of that.
Yurika gives a small laugh, as she walks over to join Ingrid at the opposite end of the table, "As if I had a choice, I wouldn't miss a chance to meet with you again if I could help it at all. It's my pleasure."
She actually holds off on pouring herself a cup for a moment, she taking out her cell phone from her hand-bag to shut it off, and then place it back. She takes a glance at the white tea; she actually recognizes it by its look and scent. Still though, she plays mildly coy. "Oh really? I understand it's difficult to properly prepare as well. It doesn't come as a suprise then that a place like this would be able to sell something like this.. I'll certainly give it a try."
"So have you and Ninon had your match yet? I haven't seen her in a while myself to ask."
"It makes me very happy to hear you say that, Yurika. I'm glad to know that you consider me enough of a friend to wish to see me." Ingrid doesn't mention the cell phone being turned off, though she certainly makes mental note on it. This, too makes her happy. "Yes. I've been told that it's a very delicate flavor. I'm afraid that, being used to coffee, I must stick to the darker teas if I'm to taste them properly. The Norwegian tradition is to have friends over for coffee, you see, so I'd become quite accustomed to that."
She then gives a small shake of her head while taking a delicate sip of tea, setting the cup down noiselessly. "No, I'm afraid I haven't had that pleasure as of yet. I'm not sure when she'll decide to approach me, but I've decided not to press the issue. It simply wouldn't be polite."
"Oh is that so? I didn't know that, perhaps I'd better do a little research on said customs sometime.. Though as you probably already know, lately I have been more focused on gothic lolita culture. It was very fortunate that I had met Miss Beart then. It's really intruiging that your culture seems to focus on coffee, I can't quite grasp it. Is it a social thing or is there actually some sort of flavor appreciated from it?" Yurika asks curiously, and helps herself then to pouring her own tea.
After taking in the news about Ninon, however, she gives another nod of her head, "I'm sure her new surroundings are keeping her very busy. I never tire of watching foreigners wander about Southtown their first couple of months. It will happen soon enough in fact.. I'm thinking we may be due for another match soon; I've been practicing a lot more lately, having recieved a bit of inspiration."
A soft laugh comes from Ingrid. Certainly not the mocking kind, but one of honest amusement. "Why both, of course. I find the taste of coffee very enjoyable. There are man subtleties to the different kinds, once you grow accustomed to the strong flavor. And asking a friend over for coffee is an excellent reason to get together and chat, don't you think?" The Norwegian's head tilts a bit, "Gothic Lolita culture? Why would you be researching that, Yurika?"
Instead of a laugh, Ingrid simply smiles in a quietly amused look when Yurika mentions foreigners wandering around the big city. "I must admit that's how I was when I first moved here. Of course I still wander about; that's how I found this lovely tea house." And the subject shifts inexorably to fighting. "Oh yes, I do agree. I believe I've learned quite a bit since the last time we fought as well. I would enjoy such a match, were it to happen, though I'm not sure anything could top our previous one."
Yurika takes a light sip from her cup, and when she lowers it a bit, she closes her dark eyes. Moments after is an approving nod, after a small shiver of delight. She shouldn't be suprised that this would be better than anything she had prepared, her forte is japanese teas after all.
She gives a pleased sigh, and opens them once more to look to her company. "Oh I agree completely, in fact that is more or less an important part of the japanese tea ceremony. However it isn't entirely conversation, there's quite a bit of silence. As for the culture well.. A couple of reasons really. For one, I adore their attire, I find their clothing fascinating. And the other is.. Well. My attitude, really. Maybe you can tell, maybe you can't but I don't have much self-confidence. Running for student council is one of my first steps for overcoming this 'fault'. Not all of them are like Ninon, of course, but a trait they all have in common is very high confidence. And I admire that most of all."
She didn't have anything to say about Ingrid's wandering. She would have liked to have been around for that, she's a sucker for cute things sometimes, but the bottom line was they had met regardless. "Hmn I see.." in regards to combat. "Top? Well, they say that we're our own harshest critics. I believe a better performance on my part would be a good start."
Ingrid seems glad that Yurika is enjoying her tea. Not really because it means it was worth her money, but because she was glad to be able to make one of her friends happy. The cost doesn't so much as enter her mind. "I had thought as much, yes. Tea seems to be a very important tradition here, so it's nice to be able to participate."
When Yurika begins speaking about why she likes the gothic lolita culture, she becomes very interested. "Is that so? I must say that I'm rather surprised, Yurika. You have so much going for you that I'd have thought you'd be very confident. You are, after all, a brilliant musician, a skilled fighter, and incredibly beautiful, if everything else wasn't enough."
She remains quiet for a rather long time to allow that to sink in, covering up the intent of it by lifting her tea cup with it's saucer and taking a prolonged sip. Once she sets it back down she replies. "Perhaps your performance wasn't your best, but the elegance of it all is something that could hardly be surpassed. I am simply glad to be able to say I was a part of it."
The musician's attention doesn't drift, even as she takes another sip of her own cup.. But she can't hide the expression of satisfaction when said cup is drawn away from her lips!
"Well, it's appreciated by some more than others, today's youth isn't much about it.. Many Seijyun students included." Yurika says with a small shake of her head. As for Ingrid's thoughts that follow though, the musician's cheeks pinken slightly, a flattered smile on her lips, "That's how I got by in life in the past. I am this way because if I'm not.. Someone important to me will go away. Not to say that I do not enjoy music, and I keep my fighting ability as low profile as I can. As for my looks.. The person I am interested in does not like me for my looks. But the bottom line is, I am deathly afraid of being a failure in the eyes of that person. That scares me more than anything else in life."
Yurika stares at her cup then for a moment, her lips drawing into a small frown. "And so I worry. And I am constantly uncertain of my decisions. Not that I appear to be troubled, I let people see what I want them to see."
Ingrid nods her head to Yurika, "It is easy for people to get swept up in modern time and forget their roots. How easy would it be for me, for example, to give up coffee completely so that I could better enjoy drinking tea? But that's why it's so important for people like you to keep up those traditions not only so that they're remembered, but so that when the younger generation finally does become interested, they'll have you to teach them."
Ingrid sips more of her tea, and listens to the rest of Yurika's story. A look of deep empathy comes over her face, and she gives Yurika a comforting smile as well as reaching out to try and place a gloved hand atop one of Yurika's. "It can be one of the hardest things in life, to try and cope with our feelings towards others. That you acknowledge them at all puts you ahead of many in that respect. If I were to offer you any advice, it would be to take those feelings to heart, but rather then letting them create doubt turn them into the purpose behind your actions, a drive to become better than you are, rather than living in fear that you aren't good enough." Her smile brightens, "Because I can assure you that you are."
Yurika? As a teacher? The thought never actually crossed her mind, though it wasn't really far from the future she had pictured herself in. And Ingrid's words, they're just so warm that the student smiles brighter.. Yet is mildly ashamed as well. Ashamed by the fact that she knows in the future they will become enemies.
Her touched gloved hand doesn't go moved. Which is actually mildly unusual, not that Ingrid has really known her long enough to know she avoids being touched. "Also I think.. I think that is very good advice. I believe you are correct, and.. Well, let us see what the future brings. Thank you very much, Ingrid."
There's a mild pause, then, and after a moment of thought, she murmurs, "You know, you're quite an advisor, very good with people. I am making plans to organize a new kind of Student Council at Seijyun, once it has become official that I've been elected this years president." Yurika's silver brows then raise slightly, "I would like you to become part of it, if you allow me to enroll you into a part-time position at the school."
Ingrid's hand retracts after she stops speaking. "It is my pleasure as your friend to be able to help you if you need helped, Yurika. Though I've never been in your position, I can understand how it must be for you. If there's anything more you think I could do to help you, please don't ever hesitate to ask."
Her head tilts slightly when Yurika begins speaking of her student council idea. A look of deep thought and contemplation comes over her, and she nods slightly. "Well... I suppose I could be persuaded into that. My only reservations would be classes that I would be required to attend. My tutor Edvard does a very good job of teaching me, and I'd hate to offend him. Perhaps if you could arrange a simple language class? His Japanese skills are rather rusty, even he'll admit." She then smiles to the hopeful student body president, "As for the student council itself, I'd be honored."
Yurika's hand draws back as well, her smile a bit more nervous. Friendship. She's pretty sure she learned her lesson about that, and she shakes her head 'no' without really clarifying why. Ingrid was simply a closer companion, and nothing more, nothing less, she thinks to herself.
Though it's difficult to believe ones own thoughts when their heart says otherwise- Yurika's absolutly ecstatic that Ingrid seems to approve of her idea. The musician thinks a moment about the academic situation, and nods in approval herself, "I see. Setting up something like that should be no trouble at all, really, I will try to arrange things as soon as I can. However, before I have you fully commit to my project, I admit I still need to iron out it's overall purpose, and how to ensure that this purpose would be agreed upon by all students of Seijyun." Talking about the council puts her back into a better mood right away. "It's not going to be something as simple as 'Protecting Tradition'. It will be something.. 'Cooler' than that, that's all I know so far."
Ingrid "One Chang" Holmann smiles warmly to Yurika. She of course can't know that Yurika doesn't consider her a friend, but even if she did she'd simply consider the musician to be deluding herself. Especially at the obvious happiness her approval brings. "I'm glad to hear that then, Yurika. I suppose I can suffer through one class a day, and joining the public school system might be a fun change, for a while." And it's not as if she's going to attend full time; she'd have to say no to that.
But then she's suddenly forced to think once more. "I suppose you would probably like some suggestions then..." She taps her cheek a few moments, "Perhaps you could give if the mission of 'Defending the Pride and Honor of Seijyun High'? It would certainly appeal to the emotions of the students, and is just vague enough to let you do nearly anything you want with it once it is established."
Yurika is satisfied with the bare minimum in this case. It may take a bit of time for the students of Seijyun to accept, but even if it's just one class, it wouldn't make Ingrid any less a student. So it should work out, she thinks. "Just let me know what time would least intrude on your schedule. We do have a couple of classes that meet three days a week. And.. Hmmnn."
"Hmmn.. I certainly didn't think of anything like that, and.. I must say I most certainly agree, that is a wonderful sounding mission." Yurika claps her hands togeather, her pleased smile refusing to waver. "I believe I will use that then, with your permission of course."
Ingrid smiles to Yurika and quickly replies, "I would much prefer it if I could attend three days a week with longer classes. I tend to enjoy being able to roam about whenever the mood strikes, and that would allow it much more easily than if I had to attend daily." The young woman then smiles warmly, "By all means, do. I wouldn't have suggested it if I had a problem with you using it. After all, I'm to be a member of this council, correct?"
She finishes her cup of tea, and relaxes back in her chair while pouring herself another cup, being careful not to spill even a drop. "I'm very glad I decided to invite you, Yurika. I must say I'm rather enjoying myself, even if this is a rather simple affair."
Yurika's cheeks pinken slightly again, her gaze for just a moment averting to something else. Of course she had been having a pleasent time as well, though the more she thinks about it, the more she realizes there's something 'wrong'. Her lips draw inward slightly as she looks back to Ingrid, and she replies. "That would be simple enough, certainly. And you're right, but it's a habit of mine to ask things like that.. I'll work on it. But.."
Yurika raises her cup once more, her smile this time more apologetic, "I.. Had just realized I have been talking on and on about myself, I'm very embarassed that'd I'd allow myself to do such a thing. Please, Ingrid, what have you been doing as of late?"
Ingrid waves a hand in the air, "It's nothing to worry about, I'm simply making conversation." At the sudden change of conversation however, she openly laughs, "Don't be embarrassed, Yurika. I asked you here so I could hear about how the elections were going and how you were doing. I'm afraid that as of late my life has been fairly boring. I've allowed myself to become estranged from my friends, and I've done little of interest, aside from wandering this large city, studying with my tutor, and training. Not an existence I mind by any means, but actually rather boring once I stop to think of it. That your life is so interesting is the only reason we have anything to talk about at all." That might be an exaggeration, but not by much if the topic is to be restricted to their lives.
Yurika takes another drink of her tea, that was one thing about Ingrid she didn't really understand. One the outside, she appears to be a rather extraordinary woman. Yet she has so little to talk about, at least when it comes to the present. In some ways it's suspicious, but in other ways, it's the puzzle piece that makes the whole picture.
It's weird.
But Yurika is weird too, so it's ok.
"I see, it's an unusual lifestyle. But not one that I mind being a part of at all, I hope that the Council will continuously provide interesting things. Well then, before I continue to ramble, I suppose I'd better provide for my part of the bill."
"To be perfectly honest with you, Yurika, I very much enjoy the company of other people. To me crowds are very enjoyable; watching how all the different people interact, seeing the intricate social network that forms. Even simply walking down the street you can learn a lot about people and a culture by the way they react to each other. For instance, what happens if one person bumps into another? If one of them shouts, is it out of annoyance or anger, and how many will stop to watch the shouting man?" Ingrid laughs softly, "I've allowed myself to become far too involved in people watching, to the exclusion of almost everything else. Another way to put it is that I've allowed myself to become lazy, socially." The young Norwegian then takes on a fairly stern tone, though a part of it is from humor. "Now Yurika I won't hear of that. You're my guest and I wouldn't dream of letting you pay even a single yen."
The young musician tries hard not to just stare at Ingrid, but it's very difficult not to. She doesn't look shocked, more like puzzled, that someone could take joy in such a.. Well.. Boring sounding hobby. On the other hand, it's at that moment Yurika realizes the perfect position to give Ingrid within the council, and the stunned stare returns to it's mild smile. So unusual. But it only makes Yurika more intruiged in the end.
"In a way, I.. Actually believe I can understand that, Ingrid. I'm uncertain how to explain it, but I'm quite sure I do.. Ah.. But.. But as for the bill, this particular brand it's ah.. It's most certainly not two dollar tea." Yurika then adds with uncertainty.
Ingrid shakes her head at Yurika. "Not a single yen, and I'm quite serious about that. I know how much it cost, and I assure you I can afford it. I spend very little, all told, so allow me this once to treat you, alright?" She sets that aside, considering it over and done with. "I must sound like a lunatic to you, but I assure you that I find all these things very entertaining." She feels somewhat bad keeping a secret from Yurika, but what she has to say isn't something she wants known. It may very well make Yurika look like her like a freak, and that wouldn't be fun at all.
Well it most certainly isn't the kind of thing she'll go bragging to others about, that's just how Yurika is. It's simply just too unusual to even consider sharing; and really.. On that note, Yurika has plenty of strange secret of her own- Perhaps there will be a time where she could tell Ingrid things she wouldn't even tell Akira.
Of course then, there'd be no denying that they were friends at that point, which makes Yurika faulter just slightly. But more importantly the bill, which she tries to struggle to cover herself for a moment, but she finally concedes and allows Ingrid to do so.
This doesn't go unpunished, of course. "Well then, with that said, allow me to explain to you how other expensive teas are prepared, so you know why they're so pricey. It's quite fascinating, really, it dates as far back as 2737 BC...."
Log created on 00:00:59 09/14/2007 by Yurika, and last modified on 00:46:25 02/10/2009.