[Outside. People are angry.] [Subsession start. <.<] * Leena lets go of Haruko, releasing her from the shuffled draggage. * Haruko pouts She has no concern for anyone else's problems. This is...a mess. But probably salvageable. * LadyRoyal sighs. "I'm sure she would if she weren't so stressed out now as it is, Haruko. It's hard to remember to care for other people in that kind of situation." ... I told you so... shoulda let them had their own time in the first place. *I'm* still trying to help. The ones who are most likely to be the ringleaders of the opposition to Mr. Kurosaki is most likely not here, as they would be the kidnappers. It's bad to mix things like that ... when we're all ready to rip each other apart. It doesn't help! If he can talk to those still here, he can reclaim the leadership of his village. * LadyRoyal makes a face. "It depends on how much influence Kurosaki-san's opponents have garnered. Those absent may just be loyal minions." Who gives a damn about him?! He's on the list of people to beat up, but Junko's more important right now! He is Taki's father, Leena. You can't just hurt her father! ....Leena. He-- He can be swayed to our views, and he can retrieve Junko without further bloodshed. Maybe. * LadyRoyal breaks off. He has to be on our side, he's the father of a warrior of justice! Wait a second. In there...what did you mean when you said you were sure they took Junko? ...You may get-- *turns cold, unemotional* you may get the opportunity to beat up a father who is on the wrong side, if you're patient. No need to harm Taki's. * Leena immediately becomes noticeably more defensive. "Just that." Darkmoon, I'm sure we can turn your father around too! Well, how do you know for sure? Kurosaki-san may have been right, for all we know. ...turning my father will destroy him as surely as fighting him. Unless... *shakes his head* Not important now. We are here for Junko. * Leena narrows her eyes dangerously at Darkmoon. "Darkmoon, don't you -ever- tell me to beat up your father." You're human. If you ever tell me to do that again, or even suggest it, I'll treat you like a Ningyo. And yet you put Taki's father on the "beat up" list. Taki didn't tell me to do it. That doesn't make it--we're straying from the issue. Clan politics aside, we need to figure out what *we* can do to help. * Lord_Darkmoon turns empty eyes on Leena. "I could never tell you to do such a thing, Leena. But you may get the excuse, and a better one that for Taki's. Do not be so...anxious to do so." Um, this may sound strange coming from me, but aren't we getting off topic? ...we should contact Sakura. If we can offer more...honorable employment for the clan... Yeah, that's why we're out here! * LadyRoyal sighs. Rrrggghnnnhhh. * Haruko whistles for Norcliff Yo! * Norcliff pops up, almost magically! The corruption of this clan's honor is being done with money. If the Queen can be persuaded to use her money to rebuild the foundations of the clan...to sway those with weaker honor with that which weakens them now... I just hope we aren't sending Taki's father to destruction. I wish we knew for sure who took her. That's stupid. Money broke it, money's not gonna fix it! So your my advisor, what do you think about this? In any case, that's beside the point. That's a long-term strategy, which...may not have an opportunity to be implemented. Depending on what's gonna go down here. Even if you got rid of the corruption of the person, there's still the ... satellite dishes. Money is the power of this modern world. It is what has replaced the power of Clan Name of the old days. Our enemies have seen this; we must see it and use it as well. That is why we must give them money to uphold their honor, rather than destroy it. This battle will be won with purity of spirit! Not money. You can't expect to fight money with money. That's absurd. And they are greedy, but I do not believe they are stupid. Sooner or later, the money chain *will* break. It's too weak to be the backbone for anything. ... you know about honor, right? Honor has nothing to do with money. It's about your values, sticking with them, taking responsibility. Just giving the other side more money isn't gonna make a difference. Of course. * Haruko nods vigorously in agreement with Leena It is easier to uphold you honor when you are offered as much to do what you feel is right as you are offered to do what you feel is wrong. Her dad's a dumbass chicken. He was right before, that was honorable. But this isn't, and he needs to be reminded of that! Appeal to their honor, and appease their greed. Make the choice no choice at all. * LadyRoyal just shakes her head and sinks down on a nearby log, head in her hands. * Norcliff pokes Haruko in the face with a single claw. "You should let her calm down and get sorted out. You don't have seniority in this group, so you'll just have to wait your turn." 'm sorry. It pains me that the old clans have fallen to this. But you cannot shore up rotten wood with mere remonstration. You must replace it with good. Besides, things have been quiet recently, so a little lost time won't hurt us yet. * LadyRoyal mutters from her seat without raising her head, "It's all right, Haruko. She just deals with things in a different way than you do." ...money is that which makes the clans, now. That is...what the -- what my family has come to. What Taki's people have been tricked into. ... you won't find the cure in the poison. But you will kill the patient if you force them into withdrawal. Only if you're dependent on it. Look how long they've gone without it? If they go flat broke, they'll be fine. Regardless, we must assist Kurosaki-san in convincing his clan, and reinstate him as true leader. Then we will retrieve Junko. If we can garner new allies, so much the better. ... yeah. A friend of mine from my old school quit smoking cold turkey. It was hard at first but she got over it. The less the clan is involved at all, either side, the better. * LadyRoyal mumbles something incoherent about "meddling." Speak up, Minami. ... they're just tools aimed at us, and they don't know it. * LadyRoyal fehs. "Nothing." ...you do not approve. But, if you will not speak, we cannot consider your approval or none. Very well. Yeah! We've been yelling at the top of our lungs, you might as well get in your piece. Ha. Like it matters. You're correct. It cannot matter if you do not share it. * LadyRoyal just GLARES. Not a thing I said matters. No one listened to me. That's not gonna stop me from trying until they do! It doesn't matter if it doesn't matter! * Lord_Darkmoon returns Royal's glare with an emotionless, almost empty gaze. * Haruko says to no one in particular "No one ever listens to me..." Hey! * Lord_Darkmoon seems not to have heard Haruko. * LadyRoyal speaks quietly and slowly. "Don't you fucking pretend to know how to listen. You never listen to anything unless it's what your perfect little ears want to hear. Anything else and you act like a spoiled child. Don't you dare patronize me." * Haruko pats Norcliff. Except you. * LadyRoyal gets up and brushes off her pants slowly, then leans down to pick up her and Maya's bags again. "Forget it. I'm no better than the rest of you right now. I'm taking a walk." As you wish. ... * LadyRoyal pauses as she passes by Haruko, and pats her on the shoulder. "Sorry about all this." * LadyRoyal then wanders off down the path. It was all so much simpler when we were fighting the Wicked Witch. ... maybe this is all some devious plan to get us all to hate each other. * Leena sighs, watching Royal leave. * LadyRoyal seems to be much quieter than usual; even her sniping was done half- heartedly, as if she's exhausted, in contrast to her usual behavior. we do not hate each other, Leena. we're just...stressed. It wouldn't be the first. Evil always tries to turn good against itself. * Leena mutters. "I'm gonna do some stretches." * Leena takes off running. Somewhere. * Taki heads out of the house to greet her friends, tears carefully wiped clean from her face. * Haruko approaches Taki cautiously. Good idea, Leena. I believe I will try to regain composure, as well. Find me when we're to pursue our goal once more. Um... I'm sorry about earlier... Guys, I just wanted to apologize for earl-- Where's everyone going? * Lord_Darkmoon walks off, to a hilltop or a clearing, suddenly in full Lord uniform. He turns, almost visibly disappointed that he won't get the time, when Taki returns. "...nowhere." * Taki looks down at Haruko, and tries not to grumble about being left alone with the girl. I'm uh... sorry, Haruko. [end?] [Yeah, that works] [MALLETTIME]