sirenspull_logs | a lady doesn't wander all over the room [POKER GAME]

Who: Tonegawa and anyone who wants to come play poker or just mingle!
When: Evening of June 5th, from around 6-9pm (travel home included, etc)
Where: Ukyou's teahouse
Summary: Tonegawa's hosting a poker evening (see here); hope you've got a good hand, because not everyone is going to play fairly. It should make for an interesting game.
Warnings: Probably language.

[Rather than nominating his own apartment as the spot for their game, Tonegawa has chosen to opt for more of an open house- in more ways than one, now that he’s allowing most people in provided they don’t make any trouble for him. The late Ukyou’s teahouse, while not quite in line with his usual sleek, modern affairs, seems a fair compromise, and better than renting something so serious as a conference room in a hotel- this is, after all, to be a casual game.

That said, he’s still had Western tables and chairs moved into the room- not perfectly in keeping with the décor, but to hell with having to sit on the floor for the entire evening- and made sure it opens onto a small private courtyard for the smokers. Drinks are served by a couple of the house’s geisha. Casual doesn’t have to mean sloppy, after all. He takes care of his guests.

They’re due to start at around seven, but there’s plenty of time to take in the spring rains with a cold drink and a little pre-competition conversation. Chat. Doubtless, the company will be varied- not too varied, if Laforet-kun is doing her job properly, but certainly worth a word or two.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, really? [The smile broadens, this time utterly genuine.] Then I'm glad you came. It's always a pleasure to meet others in the industry. What did you do, exactly?

I worked for Her Majesty of the United Kingdom in preventing money from falling into terrorists' hands. [She tilts her head slightly.]

Not an easy or safe job, as you can imagine.

[He can't quite stop the look from crossing his face, surprised and interested and, yes, impressed- though they're unmistakeably working on two separate sides. Tonegawa's no terrorist, but he doubts Her Majesty has much tolerance for gangsters either.]

Working for the Queen? My goodness. I'm honoured to make your acquaintance, then. It must be quite stressful for you to have been so suddenly removed from your post.

[Of course no one here knows that she actually drowned in her world. She was as good as dead over there. So she merely smiles at his statement.]

I can't remember what it was like to start from the bottom up. It's a bit of a struggle, especially in those flats.

Believe me, I can sympathise. I was the CEO of the largest financial firm in Japan until last year. [a pause] You know, if you'd like a little boost, affiliation is the best route; I can personally recommend AGI.

[Her head tilts slightly at the sound of affiliation and one of the companies.]

I've been advised to stay away from the companies by other Newcomers, but what they've told me are all things I've faced within government.

[She smirks.]

Why should I go with Afterglow, who seems to be interested in the sex trade, than SERO who developed the cure for that horrible flu that went around?

[Tonegawa's expression remains neutral, but he doesn't stop the hint of disapproval from sneaking into his tone- not disapproval at Lynd, but those 'Newcomers'.]

You've been advised that way because no one around here can bear the thought of picking a side and sticking with it; they'd rather live an unremarkable life here than get off of their perch on the fence and make a decision. The fact of the matter is that Newcomers are a minority here- to get anywhere, one has to make larger allies.

[a pause] As for AGI, well. I don't suppose I need to mention word of SERO's human experimentation- but I don't need to lower myself to insulting the other team. If it's success you want- money, power, influence- unless you're some sort of technological wizard, Afterglow are far more conducive to one's efforts.

[Vesper did wonder about that. What was their purpose here? Why had they been pulled from whatever world they lived in and dropped in the middle of an island in Canada?

If this was hell, then she certainly deserved it. But there were people here who didn't and obviously it was a growing, thriving population with births and deaths.

So what was the point?]

You make an excellent argument. I do wonder why we've all been taken from our lives somewhere else and dropped here. It makes no sense if we're just going to live day-to-day, the only exciting thing being to avoid the Darkness.

[Tonegawa hadn't been thinking along quite such a philosophical line- his own personal philosophy dictates against such an abstract idea of 'destiny'- but if he's hooked her interest he won't question it. It's more than a good enough avenue to traverse if he wants to convince her.]

Exactly. Even if it isn't home, the Port is nonetheless a place of possibility- a chance to start over and traverse new territories. It would be foolish to cut any of them off too rashly.

[The message of starting over hit home. So much so that she stopped drinking her martini abruptly and glanced at Tonegawa.]

Exactly what I'm looking for.

[Her serious expression melted away into a confident smile.]

Then, welcome home. [He smiles back- Tonegawa knows that desire intimately, the need for something new. An escape hatch.] I've found this place to be very accommodating to new beginnings, personally.

a lady doesn't wander all over the room [POKER GAME]

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