A High Tech Dialogue (Closed; Quenmin x Akashi)

[The Republic of Akashi]

Momoka noticed Vi's grip, and thought of the way she'd been in prison. For a moment, she feared how badly Vi had been treated there, though she was careful not to show this on her face.

She giggled at the mention of aging."<You're not the only one who sees that.>" She laughed. "<No, politics has been remarkably kind to me, it seems. I'm more like an average MNA. Though you should see our Prime Minister, you wouldn't know she's aged much in 10 years either!>"

Momoka gestured towards the queue to order - asking "<You want to order, right?>" and then took a spot in it. After all, they were in a restaurant, might as well have food while they were at it.

"<I understand, I hope your family's alright.>", she said. "<How's the kids? Any make it to university by now?>"

[Quen Minh]

"<That's good to hear>," Vi chuckled as she headed to the queue, "<And yes. I'm set on having the Hiroshima style okonomiyaki again. My family's doing well, thank you for asking. My eldest son, Cảnh, is studying political science at Trinh Lieu Han University. He hopes to work in government in the future, though, I had to warn him about its dark sides. And he takes inspiration from you, if I may add>," she chortled, "<Lệ, my daughter, just finished her first year at Ca Bí National University. She's currently pursuing food science major and agriculture minor, and we're hoping that she'd be able to start her own restaurant in the future. And Hòa's in high school, and he's liking computer science. He dreams of working at Helios one day. And with me as a computer scientist, I offer him advice and help whenever he asks for it.>"

The queue then places the pair in a position to order their food. Afterwards, Vi suggested to Momoka that they sit at a table she picked out. It was not the same spot before, but it would make do.

"<It's nice to be back here>," Vi examined the restaurant, "<Their okonomiyaki are better than how I cook it.>"

[The Republic of Akashi]

Momoka nodded at Vi's mention of the okonomiyaki. Somehow, it hadn't occurred to her that said style was so good it would bring Vi all the way to Rumoi just to try it. Either that, or she came all the way here to meet up again because it took less time than trying to agree on another place to meet up in Hirakawa. (Less journalists, too.)

"<So, you warned your son about the dark side of politics, and he didn't listen?>", she joked. "<Typical teenager, eh?>" The mention of her being an inspiration to him disarmed her,and she stumbled for a second what to say. "<I... uh... wow.>", she said. "Eto... <I don't know what to say, I had no idea... I'm honoured. I'm honoured! Your son, looking up to me for inspiration... that's amazing. Tell him I wished him the best when you get back, hehe.>"

Momoka laughed gently and added, "<So you have a family of a political scientist, a computer scientist, and a food scientist. Well, I suppose one of them had to turn out non-nerdy in some way.>"

After getting their order, they went to the table Vi picked.

"<It has a nice familiarity to it, doesn't it?>", Momoka nodded in agreement. "<I'm trying to remember if I've been here again in all that time, and I'm not sure...>"

Momoka held part of her food in her chopsticks, joking, "<Glad that at least Akashian cuisine has made you a return tourist!>", before eating the bite out of it. "<You're right, this is very good. It's better than the National Assembly canteen, that's for sure.>"

She took a moment to eat and let Vi enjoy the food before continuing the conversation.

[Quen Minh]

Vi shook her head and sighed at Momoka's comment on her eldest son. Hopefully, he won't be the one to arrest her when he becomes such.

"<Oh, I'll tell him definitely>," Vi grinned, "<Yeah...we are one intellectual family. To be honest, I'm kind of freaked out about that>," she chuckled at the thought before walking to the table she picked out.

"<It's just like we've been here yesterday>," Vi also nodded in agreement, "<Perhaps, I could perform a data recovery process on your natural hard drive>," she laughed.

Vi took her first bite, and let her chopsticks slide from her mouth as if removing a cigarette after one inhale. She hummed as she shook her head, and chewed it down. The taste of her okonomiyaki melted into memories of her last visit, and set about wrapping her in a blanket of delightfulness that made her lose track of her surroundings and her sense of time.

"<Indeed>," she grabs another bite, "<And certainly better than the meals at the Penitentiary.>"

[The Republic of Akashi]

Vi's statement prompted Momoka to reflect on her family. It was the exact opposite by comparison. Both her parents had been working class — even taken early retirement, in fact. She was the one who found an interest in computers at an early age. Her relatives liked to joke that she was the first Nishimura to go to university, which was a slight exaggeration. (That she was the first Nishimura to end up leading a party was beyond doubt, however.)

"<I can't say I would know>", she said with a laugh. "<My family is the exact opposite. I'm the only nerd in it, more or less.>"

Momoka laughed at Vi's joke. "<Hey now, are you a computer scientist or a brain surgeon?>", she quipped.

She took another bite out of her food, and drank some water from her glass.

The mention of the penitentiary made her turn away from a moment and quietly go "ghhhhhh" to herself. She was sure Quenminese penitentiaries were worse than Akashian ones.

"<Well...>" She paused to think how to ask, without bringing up the penitentiary. "<Do you have anything planned next? I assume the struggle against the state is for life, really.>"

[Quen Minh]

Vi pondered at the question. Sparring against the government is something that she has experience in. But, there was her family, and her new job.

"<Probably, so>," she answered candidly, "<With details of a scandal involving the Prime Minister emerging in the spotlight recently, they would certainly give me cause to take the banner again. But, I have to be careful, lest I get painted as a lunatic again.>"

She sighs. Vi gazed at her food as she reflected back to the times when she was in cuffs, in and out of trials that led to her second incarceration. She could recall the bad press laid on her, and the jeers that followed. It was so effective that not even TERACON considered interviewing her from her cell.

"<Aside from that, I have a family to attend to, and a new job to keep. I'm now working as an Information Security Specialist for a medium-sized engineering firm, so I have to keep that in my hands.>"

She takes in another bite.

[The Republic of Akashi]

Momoka ate and took a while to think over what to say next.

"<That's true.>", she said, playing with her okonomiyaki slightly. "<That's always been the state's playbook. Isolate, ostracise, destroy lives. Power doesn't give up without a fight.>"

It was all rather depressing to contemplate. She ate another bite and drank some water.

"<Yeah, you gotta do what you gotta do, especially when you have a family relying on you. Congratulations on the new job, by the way. I assume they have to be a decent company since they've hired you after all you've been through...>"

[Quen Minh]

Vi listened to Momoka's remark about the state. All she could do was shake her head slowly before consuming another bite.

<Thank you>," she formed a little smile, "<Yeah, they're nice overall, and my coworkers got along with me well. Save for some, though>," she cuts up a slice and holds it up as if presenting a pen, "<They remain suspicious of me, even going so far as to taunt me behind my back. Not even the president was spared the rancor>," she eats it and drinks her water, "<I mean, he still thinks that I'm going to steal company secrets when he's not looking. He even insinuated that in his acceptance email and at the beginning of my interview>," a tint of anger slipped under her tongue, "<Unbelievable some people are...>"

[The Republic of Akashi]

"<I know,>" Momoka said, shaking her head. "<It's just outrageous, what monsters corporate workplaces can turn people into...>"

At that moment, Momoka's phone happened to ring. She noticed the name on the display, and said to Vi, "<I'm sorry, I have to go out for a bit and answer. It's party-related.>"

Momoka did so, walking out of the restaurant and going into a back alley to make sure there wasn't too much background noise. She talked with one of her party colleagues — primarily about the matter of the upcoming party communications. As she happened to mention she was meeting with Vi, her colleague suggested that perhaps Vi could be invited for a podcast interview. Who better to discuss E-democracy and protecting civil rights in a digital era than the famous Quenminese whistleblower, after all?

It was an idea that made a lot of sense, and Momoka said she would ask now. After finishing the phone call, she went back to her table.

"<Sorry about that, it was from the communications team.>", she explained. "<They gave me a suggestion to share, though. We're preparing a podcast for this month. Would you like to take part? Discussing e-democracy, civil rights, that sorta thing.>"

[Quen Minh]

Vi excused her to take the call, and she was left to herself to finish her meal. As she consumed another bite, she took out her Vermillion phone and tapped on the Chatbox app to check on her family. As it so happened with a ding of a bell, her husband sent her a greeting through the family group chatroom. She responded with a soft smile on her visage, and discussed with him her favorite dish, and her conversation with Momoka. Her children joined in, and with their stories and humor, they gave her a chuckle, one that needed a hand to cover up. After noticing Momoka return to her table, she parted with them with one final text, and turned to face her friend.

She listened intently at what Momoka had to say, and let out a soft exclamation when she mentioned the offer to join her party's podcast. For certain, it had topics that resonated within her, and being an activist for privacy, Internet freedom, and freedom of information, it would be pleasing to offer her thoughts and opinions to individuals having common ground.

"<Sure. I would love to join>," Vi delightfully replied, "<When are you going to stream it?>"

[The Republic of Akashi]

Momoka was happy to see Vi's excitement at the proposal. She would make a valuable guest on the podcast, for sure. She certainly knew a lot about activism and the authoritarian state.

"<Glad to hear!>", said Momoka and high-fived Vi. "<We try to keep a regular schedule for the end of the month. So that would mean around the 30th or 31st.>"

Momoka took a big bite of her meal, trying to both catch up and not let it go cold. "<We've had some good luck with guests before. We've gotten pirate party leaders from Delkora and Gylias on it.>" She laughed. "<Sometimes I get the impression the Common Sphere people are more open to it than outside. It's a joke around the office that we haven't had an Ossorian guest. 'It's as likely as an Ossorian guest', that sort of thing.>"

[Quen Minh]

Vi high-fived Momoka back, leaving a large grin to appreciate her enthusiasm. As she nodded at the aforementioned date, she managed to finish her meal and the last of the water in her cup. And it was without worry.

"<An interesting idiom>," Vi pointed out, "<I'm looking forward to being such a guest>," she chuckled.

[The Republic of Akashi]

"<Awesome!>", Momoka said, pumping her fist in the air. Sometimes, it was hard to forget she was one of Akashi's youngest party leaders. "<And we are looking forward to having you as well!>"

She ate more of her meal. "<So, it won't be a problem to make it for you, would it? You'd mind traveling to Hirakawa, or you'd prefer to do it here? I can get a> shinkansen <ticket regardless, haha!>"

[Quen Minh]

"<Awesome!>", Momoka said, pumping her fist in the air. Sometimes, it was hard to forget she was one of Akashi's youngest party leaders. "<And we are looking forward to having you as well!>"

She ate more of her meal. "<So, it won't be a problem to make it for you, would it? You'd mind traveling to Hirakawa, or you'd prefer to do it here? I can get a> shinkansen <ticket regardless, haha!>"

Vi smiled and pumped her first in the air, though with a lesser thrust than her lively partner. It was to be compensated, however, with her eyes widening at Momoka's suggested means of transportation.

"<Oh, I would love to ride on the bullet train>," she replied, "<I didn't get the chance with my family last time we were here on. And thank you for the offer. I'll gladly take it.>"

Her smile was at her widest, that even her past memories in the penitentiary could not erase it in a heartbeat.

[The Republic of Akashi]

Momoka giggled a bit. "<I knew you'd be excited for it!>", she joked. "<You have no idea how much that seems to be an attraction to visitors. There's probably something about the comfort and speed, right?>"

She took another bite of her food, which was nearing its end. "<I mean, we live here, we take it for granted, I guess.>"

She was thinking ahead to visiting Hirakawa. A good host would need to at least show their guest around the city a bit and not just drag them into the office and then see ya later. Momoka might've known Hirakawa's parks and good places to eat pretty well, but she was less sure about the places where... people did things for fun.

And from the looks of it, neither her nor Vi would be up for going to some place with loud dance music stupidly late at night for... well, she never really knew exactly.