samurai thing

[15:04] <Odin> As befits your dark and stormy mood, the sky above Seattle is a roiling black malestorm pushing great gales of wind through the neon skyscrapers along with enough rain to cause slight flooding in the Barrens.
[15:06] <Odin> The taxidriver keeps glancing back at you and your bags while he breaks ever traffic rule in the books. No raising the fare for this driver, he wants you out of his car, and he wants you out fast.
[15:06] <Odin> It might have something to do with your expression. Or he might just be slightly astrally tuned, just enough to pick up the dark resolution in your aura.
06[15:06] * Oishi ignores the man's suspicion. It's irrelevant for now. She's broadcasting her real SIN, with all of the licenses for the bags and the horse-slaying sword laying across her lap intact.
06[15:10] * Oishi checks her progress from her commlink. Sea-Tac is close, she can see the loop breaking off to go to the drop-off at the airport.
[15:10] <Odin> Eventually, and about six near-misses later, you arrive at the rental garage for the Seattle Metroplex Air/Orbital port. The massive above-ground garage is broken up by company, although the demarcation is more traffic cones and alloted space rather than ferrocrete walls and killzones. Your fathers Orbital is incoming any minute now. It's a simple, civilian panicking walk for you to make your way towards the section where Renraku
[15:10] <Odin> keeps all of it's cars and drivers...
06[15:11] * Oishi hops out, slinging her sword and her bag over her back. Ignore the civilians, she actually went out and bought a good length of rope to peace-bind her sword and everything.
[15:13] <Odin> The attendants audibly gulp when they see you. "M-Ms. Date, what can R-Renraku do for y-you?" a salaryman in his dead-end job asks. His eyes keep flicking over his AR display like he's reading something he REALLY doesn't like there.
01[15:14] <Oishi> "My father is arriving to pick me up, so I thought I'd save the driver the trouble of finding me. May I wait in the car?"
03[15:14] * Oishi is now known as Date_Satomi
[15:18] <Odin> "O-of course! Right this way ma'am!" Out of the corner of your eye you spot a PanicButton being pushed again and again and again. Just what ARE they saying about you, in Renraku-land? He leads the way at walk that's almost a jog. He tries to stay out of sword distance, without realizing he's a mere couple steps from death, if he were worth such a thing. This peon doesn't matter though.
06[15:18] * Date_Satomi walks calmly. Even if he is mashing the panic button, her dad IS trying to find her."
[15:20] <Odin> He takes you to a shiny Nippo-Car East-Wind, the Japanocorp response to the Eurocar WestWind. He gives the fastest bow of his life (Certainly not corporate approved) before opening the door for you, gripping it like a shield.
06[15:20] * Date_Satomi slips inside and takes her seat, nodding to him.
[15:23] <Odin> The interior mixes the new car smell with cherry blossoms, in a mixture that needed a couple more rounds of focus group testing. The driver nods respectfully at you in the mirror, before reading something. Then he rolls up the bulletproof seperator.
[15:24] <Odin> The car rumbles to life, slowly easing it's way towards the terminal. You've got clear visibility through the tinted windows.
06[15:24] * Date_Satomi sits alone, forcing herself to meditate a little bit. To get some perspective. To calm her rage at being in a Renraku enclave, in a Renraku car, waiting for this specific Renraku exec.
[15:27] <Odin> By the time you open yourself to your surroundings again, you're parked in front of the terminal, in clear violation of the "THE WHITE LINE IS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING PASSENGERS ONLY" voice that has been repeating here since 1973. In deference to the times, it cycles through a dozen languages, before repeating again in English. If you're going to do anything further to prepare before meeting your Father, now may be the last
[15:27] <Odin> time to do so.
01[15:29] <Date_Satomi> [To: Mother-I am awaiting father's arrival. If I do not call you again in two hours, follow your escape preparations.]
06[15:30] * Date_Satomi turns her commlink off after sending that message, nothing left to do.
[15:34] <Odin> There. You see him. The muscular figure striding out to you, flanked by two of his goons. All three carry swords, to match their business ensemble. But you know his face well. That slight grin, as if he always knows more than you. Perfectly done hair, to aid in his boardroom exploits. The scar across his cheek, which you know for a fact is surgical, not a token of battle. Your Father. The lying wretch who seeks your aid his
[15:34] <Odin> treachery.
06[15:35] * Date_Satomi waits patiently
[15:36] <Odin> One of his attendants opens the doors of the Eastwind on the other side from you. The second goon steps in first, sitting next to you while the seat opposite you rotates around. Your father, and then the second goon steps in and sits down. None of them seem surprised to see you.
01[15:36] <Date_Satomi> <Welcome to Seattle, father.>
[15:37] <Odin> <Ahh. My daughter. How did you know I was coming? I was quite negligent in not informing you.>
01[15:37] <Date_Satomi> <I had a tip from outside Renraku.>
[15:38] <Odin> He carefully nods, not taking his eyes off you for a second. <Thank you for your welcome. I assume the UCAS has treated you... well?>
[15:38] <Odin> His apalling attempt to act like a normal father is obvious, yet still, he continues.
01[15:39] <Date_Satomi> <Well enough. I've found a new teacher and some work honing my blade. Nishimura-sensei isn't as skilled as Matsuo-sensei, but he does have a stronger grasp of philosophy.>
[15:40] <Odin> <That is good. How is your mother?>
[15:41] <Odin> The car drives away, rumbling off into the distance. Away from prying eyes, and non-Renraku personel.
01[15:43] <Date_Satomi> <She is adjusting but resilient. I am surprised to hear you ask of her.>
[15:45] <Odin> <One should be aware of the influences acting on one's child.> He glances at the sword on your lap. <I see you have not forgotten your heritage.>
01[15:47] <Date_Satomi> <Of all the things I have done or may do in this world, that is one that will never occur. I wish it was true for everyone.>
[15:50] <Odin> If he sees what you are saying, he doesn't react on it. <Are you not curious of my presence here?>
01[15:53] <Date_Satomi> <I know why you are here, if not specifics. Before you say it, I want to say this. There is still time for you. Walk away from this life that has poisoned your soul. Live with me and mother, and find the man you once were.>
[16:00] <Odin> <The man I once was? We all change with the passing of the seasons, and cannot go back to what we once were. Were I able, I would gladly once again sit blindly by while the executives who have never held a bokkun nor fired a shot in anger waste the lives of their men for a fraction of a percent. The Red Samurai are defensive and offensive, yes, but I have committed too many dishonorable actions in the name of following my honor
[16:00] <Odin> and my liege. No, just as the tree with grown roots cannot tumble through the air as a seed, I cannot watch as honorable men stain and throw away their lives on the orders of dishonorable dogs.>
01[16:02] <Date_Satomi> <The system is corrupt in and of itself father. Your own actions show this. It has stained you, as it has stained the ones you seek to replace. I can respect your intentions, but your actions to reach that are little better than what they have done to pursue their own agendas.>
[16:05] <Odin> <And if I am so stained, it is better for the sickened hand to carry out the plague-victims, so more are not exposed to their disease. When the fire burns through the old, dead forest, it must consume all that it can before dying in turn, so that new life can take root. Would you be that new life, Date Satomi?>
01[16:06] <Date_Satomi> <I will be new life, but not the new life you wish of me.> She closes her eyes. <But I see you are set on your course, and I will not disrespect your resolve by pushing it further. There is only one more thing to be done.>
[16:09] <Odin> <And what is that?>
01[16:09] <Date_Satomi> <Battle between the two of us.>
[16:10] <Odin> <Must it really come to that?>
01[16:12] <Date_Satomi> <I cannot stand by and allow you, my own father, to taint himself further. Even the diseased can become healed, but you choose to wallow in that disease, for the freedom it gives you. And so we come to this. But if you are hesitant, I will say this. Should you defeat me in combat, I will submit to your wishes and follow your schemes.>
[16:14] <Odin> <Ahh, you were always so head strong. One of my favorite qualities. If only I had a son who carried his honor as strongly as you do.>
06[16:16] * Date_Satomi smiles. <There are none quite like me.>
[16:19] <Odin> <Of that I am certain.> You travel in silence, until you reach the nearest Renraku faciliy. The usual checkpoint formalities are undertaken, and then you're waiting in the parking lot. <If your heart is so set on this, how shall we conduct ourselves?>
01[16:20] <Date_Satomi> <Me, you, and our blades. What else is necessary?>
[16:22] <Odin> He glances at your bags. <If you wished to be armored for battle, or if it would be conducted as it would be on the street.>
01[16:23] <Date_Satomi> <I do not need armor if we are going to handle it this way.>
[16:24] <Odin> <As you wish.> He steps out onto the asphalt, stretching his limbs.
06[16:25] * Date_Satomi steps out as well, cutting the peace binding from her sword and drawing it.
[16:25] <Odin> He takes position opposite you, bows, and draws.
06[16:25] * Date_Satomi bows in return.
01[16:26] <Date_Satomi> <I love you, father.>
06[16:26] * Date_Satomi takes up her stance.
[16:27] <Odin> <And I you. It pains a father to raise his hand against his children, but if this is what it takes you to join me....>
[16:31] <Odin> He breaks forward with a lunge, his own magical reflexes kicking him forward, drawing and striking at the same moment in true iajiustsu fashion.
06[16:32] * Date_Satomi blocks both strikes, but has to expend the majority of her focus on this defense
[16:34] <Odin> He presses the attack relentlessly, the promise of you following him back to Japan ensuring that any his whole focus is on this battle.
06[16:34] * Date_Satomi continues her defense, but rushes on the last parry, making strikes of her own
06[16:38] * Date_Satomi delivers the first strike heavily, battering the defense aside to strike grievously with the second hit.
[16:43] <Odin> The suit barely blocks any of the strike, kevlar fibers parting like grass under the scythe as the blade strikes home. The very tip of your blade is caught on your fathers ribs and the sheer force of your swing torques him to the ground, wrenching the blade out of your grasp. It's a bad, BAD injury, but the medics are already running... Oddly enough, he's smiling. <Ah.... You weren't joking about keeping up with your training.>
06[16:44] * Date_Satomi flicks the blood off her blade and sheathes it, before walking up to him and kneeling alongside him. <You always encouraged me to surpass you. It seems that this day finally came.> She picks up two things from him, his sword and his commlink.
06[16:45] * Date_Satomi quickly puts her comm number into her dad's commlink and replaces it, and slips the sheath of the family sword over her back. <If you ever wish to have your disease purified, call me anytime. If you do not, then consider this our last goodbye.> She kisses her father on his cheek.
06[16:46] * Date_Satomi stands and begins walking away, leaving her old sword laying where it fell.
[16:47] <Odin> He bleeds even more freely when you take your sword out of him. A medic literally slides to his side, packing clotting agents onto the wound. As you kiss his cheek, he murmors. <Perhaps. In any case, give your mother... My regards. Farewell, Daughter.>
06[16:48] * Date_Satomi pauses. <She is afraid of you, after what you did, but she still loves you. If you showed her you were sorry, I believe she would take you back.>
06[16:48] * Date_Satomi keeps walking.
06[16:49] * Date_Satomi also turns her comm on, to send her mother the message that she's fine and coming home sono.
01[16:49] <Date_Satomi> soon*
[16:50] <Odin> Nobody stops you when you walk away, and the gate is opened for you since it's VERY clear that you are officially above their paygrade. <Will you be needing a vehicle?> some considerate gate-guard asks.
[16:51] <Odin> Your comm has also exploded with a dozen messages from your mother, and two from sensei.
01[16:51] <Date_Satomi> <I will call a cab. Thank you though. I wouldn't want to inconvenience Renraku personnel further today.>
06[16:51] * Date_Satomi calls the cab company that brought her up here to pick her up.
[16:55] <Odin> To your relief you have not been blacklisted. Someone is there in five minutes, and out of there the moment you're inside.
06[16:57] * Date_Satomi reads through the messages while she's on her way back home.
[16:57] <Odin> You turn the blade over in your hands. It's not the nodachi you are accustumed to, but it feels... warm. And spiritual. You are meant to hold it, you realize. Perhaps the ancestors will know more.
[16:58] <Odin> They begin with "Good luck, daughter of mine" before gradually inquiring about your status, while slowly increasing in general hysteria hidden under a mask of japanese politeness. Sensei reminds you to bend your knees, and follow through.
06[16:58] * Date_Satomi smiles. It's like her mother to worry so greatly. She'll be happy to see her again, even if there's one more thing she must say to resolve all of this. Sensei's message is practical, of course, and something she already knew to do.
[17:01] <Odin> Your driver, "Crazy Abdul" his medallion reads, delivers you home quicker than you'd think physically possible. It was kind of a crazy ride, but you can't deny how efficient his route was, especially the short cut through the deserted playground.
06[17:05] * Date_Satomi gives him a generous tip. A driver after her own heart. She hops out of the taxi feeling like a new person, without a colossal weight on her shoulder.
[17:06] <Odin> Especially since all your bags are still in the Eastwind. Oh well, you're sure they'll get back to you somehow.
06[17:07] * Date_Satomi sighs. Guess she's going to end up inconveniencing Renraku personnel anyway. Oh well. She walks up the path to her and her mother's house.
[17:08] <Odin> You are fiercely hugged, dragged inside, and then seated with a hot mug of tea in front of you. Judging by how the room smells and the tea detritus you see, she's been drinking for the last 3 hours.
06[17:10] * Date_Satomi smiles, letting her mother do what she needs to do. "It's done. He is still alive, but
01[17:10] <Date_Satomi> but I have his sword."
[17:11] <Odin> <Ah. Perhaps that is for the best then>
[17:11] <Odin> She demands the whole story from you
06[17:12] * Date_Satomi tells her everything that was said and done between them, including him asking about her and his regards at the end. <I feel like there is something of him left in there. Perhaps he'll be able to find it now, perhaps not. If not, then I've demonstrated my skill over him, so I don't think we'll have to worry about him again. And if he can find it in his heart to change...>
03[17:13] * Odin_ ([email protected]) has joined #Seattle72
02[17:15] * Odin ([email protected]) Quit (Ping timeout)
01[17:16] <Date_Satomi> [17:12] * Date_Satomi tells her everything that was said and done between them, including him asking about her and his regards at the end. <I feel like there is something of him left in there. Perhaps he'll be able to find it now, perhaps not. If not, then I've demonstrated my skill over him, so I don't think we'll have to worry about him again. And if he can find it in his heart to change...>
[17:17] <Odin_> <That is well and good, but what about the rest of the company? Your skills will surely be in high demand, after proving your victory.>
01[17:18] <Date_Satomi> <Hmph. Renraku is poison. I am not interested in job offers from them. But I am still thinking on something he said. About rejecting orders from corrupt lords who have never held a blade...I'll have to think on that more, but it's given me some ideas.>
[17:19] <Odin_> <Oh?>
01[17:22] <Date_Satomi> <A new way to follow the path of the warrior. One free from the corruption of merchants and dishonor. One where we can perfect our souls and skills under a fellow warrior. I have some things to attend to before I can even begin an idea like this though. I will tell you more as I think of it.>
06[17:26] * Date_Satomi finishes her tea. "I also need to talk to the ancestors. Both about my success and this idea. Give me a moment, please."
[17:27] <Odin_> She nods.
06[17:27] * Date_Satomi walks over to the family shrine and kneels down in front of it, closing her eyes and meditating.
[17:30] <Odin_> <You have succeeded, Samurai.>
01[17:31] <Date_Satomi> <I have. My father is not dead, but the man he used to be, the man I looked up to when I was learning the way of the sword, is not dead either. It is my hope that he finds that man once more.>
[17:32] <Odin_> <We can but hope as well, though his path is his own to walk. Present your blade.>
06[17:35] * Date_Satomi draws the blade from behind her, and places it in her lap
[17:39] <Odin_> The candles shining upon it reveal the characters etched in the blade. They leave little afterimages in your sight, appearing even though your eyes are closed. The hilt has been replaced a few times over the centuries, and the blade has been reworked once or twice as well, but this is still the same sword forged long ago. <It fits you well, Samurai. And this weapon will be more fitting for the foes you shall soon face than your
[17:39] <Odin_> old blade. Carry it well, and with honor.>
01[17:45] <Date_Satomi> <Thank you, ancestors. I will carry it with pride moving forward, and I plan to dedicate myself to finding a new path for warriors in this modern age. My father spoke of this to me. He wished to change his company to allow us to be warriors, rather than exploit us for the profit of merchants. His actions were dishonorable, but his motivation resonates with me.>