Chairwoman Oomiya's Birthday Gala [Closed RP]

[Shtet]

"The next station is New Chu'o Tokai. New Chu'o Tokai Station. This station is the end of the line. Thank you for riding and we wish to see you again."

The doors slid open noiselessly, and Takashi led the group of Shtet and Wuchu delegates- minus the Wuchu delegate, of course, so it was really just the President and first lady of Shtet- out of the carriage and into the busy station.

As she exited onto the platform, Weil looked back into the carriage, almost as if she was expecting Kotera to pop out at any moment, laughing about how he had completely and utterly fooled all of them. But of course this did not happen, as Kotera had already left what seemed like ages ago back in Higashi Chu'o Tokai.

Weil let out another sigh, for the first time since arriving looking her true age.

"I suppose..." Takashi started awkwardly, before trying again after clearing her throat. "It's been a long and rather eventful journey for the two of you- magical portals, the seven seas, and the incident on the maglev. Shall I call a car so we can head directly to your hotel? The Resort Akahata has some excellent hot baths, where you can wash away your worries."

Esther's face lit up, if only slightly. She smiled at her wife, and in a cheerful tone, said, "A bath would be wonderful, don't you think?"

Hannah nodded. The three began to head in the direction of the road. Hannah was first at the stairs, weakly moving one foot before the other, placing it shakily on the concrete step. Takashi instinctively gently grabbed her arm, helping her out. Hannah looked up, and gave a nod to Takashi, mumbling a brief, "Adank."₁

The three made their way to the street-level. Takashi stood a bit to the side, and used her retinachip to ring for a car. Meanwhile, Hannah and Esther sat on a wooden bench, placed against the wall of the station's foundation.

The two spoke in Yiddish to each other, although quietly, so as not to seem intentionally exclusive. The sounds of the crowd surrounding them, combined with the general noise of the city, tuned them out.

"Tsi ir darfn tsu nemen a brekhn? Ikh kenen prubirn tsu bakumen emetser tsu kukn far Kotera,"₂ said Esther.

Hannah shook her head, raising her hand cautiously. "Es iz oukey, honik. Zal s nor bakumen tsu dem hotel."₃ She stretched slightly, and leaned into the bench. "Ikh ken nisht vartn tsu bakumen aoys fun di shikhlekh."₄

Esther laughed slightly, and looked lovingly at Hannah. It was times like these when they were rudely reminded of their ages - gone were the days of protest marching, having rocks thrown at them by British settlers of Palestine.

Takashi walked back towards them. "The automobile will be here shortly," she assured them.

---

1 - "Thank you"
2 - "Do you need to take a break? I can have someone go and look for Kotera."
3 - "It's okay, honey. Let's just get to the hotel."
4 - "I can't wait to get out of these shoes."

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross rose upright out of bed.

What had happened? A nightmare? Ari breaking down the door? Was Alastair drunk again?

Ross didn't care. He was wide awake now. No point in trying to go to sleep again.

He trudged into the kitchen. Kobayashi was staring out the window.

"I guess you're staying with me now?"

"I suppose so."

He poured a glass of water and sat down next to her.

"Nice view, huh?"

"Yes, it is."

The two stared in silence out the window.

What was next up? A heartfelt anecdote?

"Do you know that when I came to power, the UN refused to accept us as a nation? And we grew and grew, and eventually they just accepted that we were a nation."

He sighed.

"My parents died that day. Car accident, I seem to remember."

Kobayashi put her hand on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault."

"But it is, Kobayashi. They were in the US at the time. They probably killed them to try and intimidate me. I know it."

"Then it's the US' fault."

"Never good enough. Never good enough."

Ross waited in silence for a reply.

[Greatdux]

"I’d like two gyudon rice bowls, one for me, and for Kúrfermann."

The waiter nodded, before taking Ichinose and his colleague's order as well.

A while later, he soon returned with four bowls of gyudon, as well as the accompanying glasses of cold barley tea.

"Oh yeah! I lovin’ thi- oops, sorry, just displaying my Texan heritage."
Katár said.
"... this is... this is like... this is like... this is like TOO GOOD FOR MY KOREAN HERITAGE! Anywho, please get us into the maglev."
Kúrfermann said.

[Sanghyeok]

"Do you want me to continue encouraging you, telling me what you want to hear? I can do that, but in the end it's not good for you, you know, " Kobayashi snapped.

Her words had suddenly become a bit too straightforward, and Ross was surprised. Not by what she said, but by his reaction.

Am I a masochist? he thought. No, I can't be a masochist. I've murdered hundreds of people in cold blood.

"That doesn't mean you can't be one" Kobayashi said, seeming to know exactly what he was thinking. The smile on her face had changed, for it was a more wicked smile now, and Ross realised it was the same smile he gave when he was on his killing sprees.

He tried to say something, but his lips were covered, and then the last thing he remembered before being thrown onto the bed and losing consciousness was fear. Fear and excitement and passion. And the only coherent thought that ran through his mind was I was the hunter and now I am the prey, I was the hunter and now I am the prey, I was the hunter....

---

Ross woke the next morning with an immense pain in his whole body and no memory of what happened the last night. And he had to admit to himself that he liked it.

Alright, I am a masochist, but only that one time he admitted to himself.

[Sanghyeok]

Esther's face lit up, if only slightly. She smiled at her wife, and in a cheerful tone, said, "A bath would be wonderful, don't you think?"

Hannah nodded. The three began to head in the direction of the road. Hannah was first at the stairs, weakly moving one foot before the other, placing it shakily on the concrete step. Takashi instinctively gently grabbed her arm, helping her out. Hannah looked up, and gave a nod to Takashi, mumbling a brief, "Adank."₁

The three made their way to the street-level. Takashi stood a bit to the side, and used her retinachip to ring for a car. Meanwhile, Hannah and Esther sat on a wooden bench, placed against the wall of the station's foundation.

The two spoke in Yiddish to each other, although quietly, so as not to seem intentionally exclusive. The sounds of the crowd surrounding them, combined with the general noise of the city, tuned them out.

"Tsi ir darfn tsu nemen a brekhn? Ikh kenen prubirn tsu bakumen emetser tsu kukn far Kotera,"₂ said Esther.

Hannah shook her head, raising her hand cautiously. "Es iz oukey, honik. Zal s nor bakumen tsu dem hotel."₃ She stretched slightly, and leaned into the bench. "Ikh ken nisht vartn tsu bakumen aoys fun di shikhlekh."₄

Esther laughed slightly, and looked lovingly at Hannah. It was times like these when they were rudely reminded of their ages - gone were the days of protest marching, having rocks thrown at them by British settlers of Palestine.

Takashi walked back towards them. "The automobile will be here shortly," she assured them.

---

1 - "Thank you"
2 - "Do you need to take a break? I can have someone go and look for Kotera."
3 - "It's okay, honey. Let's just get to the hotel."
4 - "I can't wait to get out of these shoes."

Takashi listened to the light rhythms of the Yiddish language as they waited for their car. It was a language that even as someone who didn't speak the language at all, she could tell it was radically different the from Japanese or English she knew. There were intonations here and there, and some almost-cognates she thought she realised, but nothing really concrete until the first time "Kotera" was brought up. She rose her eyebrows and paid more attention afterwards, but they didn't repeat his name until the car pulled up to them and they got in.

The drive to the hotel itself was short enough- again, almost free of any traffic on the roads- and soon the car arrived at the Hotel Rakuen. To describe the hotel would be a challenge, but it was a hotel that did everything it could to present an image fitting of it's name as Rakuen- paradise- starting from the exterior. A sleek and modern yet welcoming entrance gave way to a lobby filled with golden-coloured chandeliers and elevator banks trimmed in silver, marble check-in desks and a lobby that seemed to have been designed by a luxury hotel architect with a fetish for minimalism and the latest technological advancements. At the same time, there were also a few oil paintings of strawberries on the wall, along with a sample of the Chairwoman's calligraphy reading " An overflowing harmonious atmosphere" hanging just behind the check in desk.

It was in every sense quintessentially Chu'o Tokai- champagne socialism realised, but this time the liberals were gone, and the result was socialism where everyone could afford high-quality wines.

"Your room is on the seventeenth floor, overlooking the River Central" Takashi explained as she took Weil and her wife up to the room. "The view here from night is beautiful, as you can see both sides of the bank from here. Oh, and as for your nighttime meal- please feel free to call the room service or enter the dining halls at any time. They've already been instructed to use kosher ingredients, so please eat without worry."

[Sanghyeok]

"Oh yeah! I lovin’ thi- oops, sorry, just displaying my Texan heritage."
Katár said.
"... this is... this is like... this is like... this is like TOO GOOD FOR MY KOREAN HERITAGE! Anywho, please get us into the maglev."
Kúrfermann said.[/quote]

The scenery passing by the windows was almost hypnotising for Kúrfermann. From Shinkai City to now almost thirty minutes had passed, and it had been buildings after buildings, a sea of civilisation the whole way. He wondered if there was even such a thing as forests here- there had to be, of course, since he had seen great expanses of blue and green before his spacecraft had crashed. Looking more closely, he saw that there was indeed quite a bit of greenery in the landscape- trees as those in the roads parallel to the maglev and in plenty of bushes and flowers in the city streets that they were passing.

Some time later, the maglev finally entered New Chu'o Tokai Station, and finally stopped. The doors opened, and the fresh air of the Sanghyeokian capital reached Kúrfermann's nose. Refreshing, he thought. Almost sweet and pure in a way- unusual for such an industrialised country.

[Rhim Flavezztowland]

October 7 - 15:00 Amagi Province time
As I (Jonathan Skyes) went out of the entrance of the Sunshine Resort with a katsu-sando-for-lunch-filled-belly, tour guide Takeshi took me to the place where a Magical Girl was waiting to teleport the two of us to Amagi Province for a final tour of somewhere in Sanghyeok before Chairwoman Oomiya's birthday gala.

After the Magical Girl teleported me and tour guide Takeshi to Amagi Province, however, I was met with a drone that greeted both of us with a konnichiwa using a male voice before we were even allowed to visit any factory within the province. Some time later, the same drone told us using the same male voice that we were invited to take a tour of a smartphone factory producing smartphones for the Sanghyeokian people - soon after that, we entered the factory and were met with some robots (which must've replaced the human laborers at that factory, to be honest).

As soon as I noticed a strangely-acting robot in the factory, however, I asked tour guide Takeshi what was going on, who in turn asked the talking drone the same question. In response, the drone lamented, "That robot's really acting strange... Most of this factory's robots don't appear to have any technical problems. I assume that robot's having a moderate coding error that's preventing it from assembling smartphones to the best quality..."

As the afternoon continued during our tour of Amagi Province, me and tour guide Takeshi, aided by a talking drone with a male voice and the ability to respond to questions asked by humans, traveled around the various consumer electronics factories, professional research laboratories, and technological universities that I couldn't find in Chu'o Tokai. One of the professors at a technological university within this tech- and science-focused part of Sanghyeok (read: Amagi Province) even told us that most of his students end up graduating with professional degrees in tech! By the time the clock struck 17:00, a Magical Girl appeared in front of us, waiting to teleport us. While me and tour guide Takeshi got teleported back to the Sunshine Resort in Chu'o Tokai, the talking drone was left behind in Amagi Province.

Once I said my final goodbyes to tour guide Takeshi inside the Sunshine Resort's lobby, it was time for me to chillax, eat dinner, check my inbox, and then go to bed in my presidential suite for the evening and night preceding Chairwoman Oomiya's birthday gala!...

[Libertalonia]

As Lilith sat in the car, she wonders if she'll be ready to meet the chairwoman. After all, She can't meet Oomiya as a PTSD riddled woman, she needs to look the best and act the best.
Lisa on the other hand is writing down notes that taichiro is telling her about. Chuck decides he's going to be straight forward.

"Listen commies, It's great and all buut... How in the loving hell did you manage to have this prosperity? if this is the standard across this world.. How did your people manage with a corrupt system?!" Chuck asked in a loudmouth manner, He was the loudest senator in the government, Karen had a look of disappointment on her face as she quickly apologizes.

"what my republican megaphone is saying is that, how did such a federation create all this? will we find out in the museum?" Karen asked politely with a grin.

Lilith sighed as she wrote down things.

[Sanghyeok]

October 7 - 15:00 Amagi Province time
As I (Jonathan Skyes) went out of the entrance of the Sunshine Resort with a katsu-sando-for-lunch-filled-belly, tour guide Takeshi took me to the place where a Magical Girl was waiting to teleport the two of us to Amagi Province for a final tour of somewhere in Sanghyeok before Chairwoman Oomiya's birthday gala.

After the Magical Girl teleported me and tour guide Takeshi to Amagi Province, however, I was met with a drone that greeted both of us with a konnichiwa using a male voice before we were even allowed to visit any factory within the province. Some time later, the same drone told us using the same male voice that we were invited to take a tour of a smartphone factory producing smartphones for the Sanghyeokian people - soon after that, we entered the factory and were met with some robots (which must've replaced the human laborers at that factory, to be honest).

As soon as I noticed a strangely-acting robot in the factory, however, I asked tour guide Takeshi what was going on, who in turn asked the talking drone the same question. In response, the drone lamented, "That robot's really acting strange... Most of this factory's robots don't appear to have any technical problems. I assume that robot's having a moderate coding error that's preventing it from assembling smartphones to the best quality..."

As the afternoon continued during our tour of Amagi Province, me and tour guide Takeshi, aided by a talking drone with a male voice and the ability to respond to questions asked by humans, traveled around the various consumer electronics factories, professional research laboratories, and technological universities that I couldn't find in Chu'o Tokai. One of the professors at a technological university within this tech- and science-focused part of Sanghyeok (read: Amagi Province) even told us that most of his students end up graduating with professional degrees in tech! By the time the clock struck 17:00, a Magical Girl appeared in front of us, waiting to teleport us. While me and tour guide Takeshi got teleported back to the Sunshine Resort in Chu'o Tokai, the talking drone was left behind in Amagi Province.

Once I said my final goodbyes to tour guide Takeshi inside the Sunshine Resort's lobby, it was time for me to chillax, eat dinner, check my inbox, and then go to bed in my presidential suite for the evening and night preceding Chairwoman Oomiya's birthday gala!...

They returned to the hotel, and Takeshi smiled before waving goodbye to Skyes. Before leaving, she told him to be up early the next morning for their journey to the Chairwoman's Residence. He nodded, returning the wave, and then left through the lobby towards his room for the night.

With a soft chime, the elevator arrived at his floor, and he entered his room, and ordered some food through the arm-chip he had installed earlier in the day after his tour of the Amagi Province factories. It's rather convenient, though also a bit strange, he thought. The service was fast enough though, and in a few minutes he was opening up a delivery container with plenty of creamy pasta, a small salad, gochujang fried chicken and a small cup of mint soda.

The chicken was crispy, and incredibly tender inside, and the pasta too was cooked almost perfectly. The mint soda- despite the weird looking can- was also not bad at all, leaving a slight tingle on his tongue as he contemplated the sweet yet refreshing flavour. His only real complaint was that there wasn't enough quantity, but there were no issues with the taste of the meal at all. Not a bad value for 1,000 Units was his final conclusion as he finished the meal.

Having eaten, he looked at his computer one more time. Prepare to arrive in your hotels' lobby early morning tomorrow, read one message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There will be a chartered car that will take you to the eastern side of the Chairwoman's Residence, where you will be able to enter through the Gate of Daybreak.

[Sanghyeok]

As Lilith sat in the car, she wonders if she'll be ready to meet the chairwoman. After all, She can't meet Oomiya as a PTSD riddled woman, she needs to look the best and act the best.
Lisa on the other hand is writing down notes that taichiro is telling her about. Chuck decides he's going to be straight forward.

"Listen commies, It's great and all buut... How in the loving hell did you manage to have this prosperity? if this is the standard across this world.. How did your people manage with a corrupt system?!" Chuck asked in a loudmouth manner, He was the loudest senator in the government, Karen had a look of disappointment on her face as she quickly apologizes.

"what my republican megaphone is saying is that, how did such a federation create all this? will we find out in the museum?" Karen asked politely with a grin.

Lilith sighed as she wrote down things.

If Taichiro was off-put by the senator's rude phrasing, he did not show it on his face. Instead, he quickly started an explanation of the economy and political systems. It was a democratic system, he noted, with the citizens having the right to elect officials. Private enterprise was banned under the economic system, but there was a balancing the various industries under the distribution model. He also brought up how there was still a degree of choice under the economic system. Essentials as healthcare, housing and food were guaranteed, but people still received a salary, and could use it to buy consumer goods such as electronics or delicacy foods, if they wished. This and many other details were shared by Taichiro as they continued their tour of the capital's many districts.

Lilith continued to write down notes on the structure of the Sanghyeokian system, though she didn't speak again. Seeing Lilith was absorbed in her thoughts, her bodyguards came up to Taichiro and pulled him aside again to ask the question about mental health treatments.

Taichiro, in a hushed voice, answered their question. "While we do not yet have a cure for PTSD, we have found several effective treatments both magical and chemical for it and depression, and would be willing to share that technology with your country."

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross woke up.

The first thing he noticed was... well, damn. Had he...

"Kobayashi?"

She slowly woke.

For a second, there was a look of mortification on her face, which quickly turned to a grin.

"Should I even ask?"

"Nope!"

He felt a sharp pain on his back. Which quickly translated to a pain everywhere.

"Oh, God. I wonder if Nate knows..."

Kobayashi held his hand. "I won't. But that will."

A four inch scar was on his face, across his cheek.

"How did that even happen?"

---

"Whoa, John, did you get stabbed AGAIN?"

Ross, a master of not making direct eye contact, was doing all he could to not look at Kobayashi.

"Yep. Must be the multitool."

"I told you not to bring it! Anyway, we have an art gallery tour today."

"That sounds... Immensely boring."

"Welcome to being an actual diplomat, Ross."

Ross shot a glance at Kobayashi when Nate wasn't looking. He'd... A civil servant? It was something. But more importantly, he was trying to figure out a way to not randomly sing "Short Skirt, Long Jacket."

I want a girl with a smooth liquidation...
I want a girl with good...
...dividends

[Sanghyeok]

I might want to put my multitool back in the room, Ross thought. Better go back quickly before the tour departs. He stood up, and caught Kobayashi's eyes.

"Something wrong?" Kobayashi asked.

"I think Nate was right, it would probably go back and return something to my room." he said.

"I'll go with you, just in case you get lost in the hotel. You took long enough this morning, and I was worried," Kobayashi replied.

Ross didn't understand why Kobayashi felt the urge to take him back to the room, but he wasn't complaining.

---

Ross carefully opened a drawer, placing the multitool inside at an angle that he hoped Kobayashi couldn't see. But alas, her eyes were too sharp.

"Why the hell did you even smuggle a damn knife in here?" Kobayashi questioned. "Didn't your government sign an agreement?"

"They signed it, I break it."

"You're truly something else. A very, very naughty child. And naughty children must feel pain to correct their mistakes." Kobayashi turned on the speakers with her retinachip- to a safe level, of course- and suddenly swung into action once more.

Ross felt himself losing his balance, and he vaguely felt himself being trampled with love. Or was it being kindly smothered in pain? He couldn't tell, and his senses were overwhelmed. All he knew was that the speakers were playing that same song from two nights ago-

悪女になるなら　月夜はお止しよ
If I'm going to be an evil woman, don't let it be on an moonlight night
素直になりすぎる
For I might become too straightforward
隠しておいた言葉　ホロリこぼれてしまう
Those words I tried to hide from you might come spilling out as I say
(行かないで）
(Please don't go)

I am a masochist, was his last realisation before losing consciousness.

---

With a smooth electrical whir, the bus departed Resort Akahata, with only the Kiu Ghesik and WF representatives and their guides on board.

That Ross is a damn fool! He probably left me by myself to suffer from looking at contemporary art, Nate thought.

[Kiu Ghesik]

Ari stepped forward in front of Oomiya, before beginning her self introduction. Well she tried to anyways, although the success of that was questionable at best as she found herself at a loss for words. Perhaps it was the pressure of the situation, or the rather shocking reality of it all, but she floundered rather epically.

The corners of Oomiya's mouth rose in a slight smile as she saw Ari's error-filled, incomplete, and rather chaotic self introduction, but it was more out of empathy than anything else. Exactly like I once did during my first appearance before the Great Chancellor many centuries ago, she thought. Evidently the same amusement was not being felt by the others however, as Ari's place had been taken by the same weaver who had paid tribute to them earlier on. Vhiari seemed rather embarrassed by the whole proceedings, and restarted the self introductions. Person by person, she introduced each of their members, giving name only except for Ari, who she identified as Caller.

And then there was a small silence that followed, before Ari spoke again.

"Well, um... is there something you want us to do? Someplace to go?" Ari asked unsurely. She continued her speech, but from her questioning intonation it was clear that she was speaking more for self assurance than anything else.

"Though your sentiment is appreciated, for tonight, it would be best to rest yourselves." Oomiya said. Hearing Oomiya's voice again, Ari's mind was filled with the image of flower petals falling in concert- for it was too delicate to be a sound a human could make, and yet it commanded a degree of power she could feel. Another thought flashed through her head- it was a contradiction- the Chairwoman loves contradictions. She was wondering if she could redeem herself in the Chairwoman's eyes by saying something along those lines, but there would be no time for that now, for the Chairwoman spoke again.

"I am pleased to have met with all of you today, friends from Kiu Ghesik. You will be in the care of my assistants for now, as I will be returning to my residence," Oomiya said. "I look forward to welcoming all of you to my Birthday Gala in two days." Oomiya turned as if to leave, but not before saying one more thing before she was out of sight. "Do not be embarrassed, Ari. You are young, but have already learned much that that the old and wise do not know." And with that, she walked away with one of the Magical Girls by her side, leaving Ari and her attendants in the company of two of the remaining uniformed girls.

"I am Seto" one of the girls dressed in pink volunteered.

"And I am Nohara" the other said, introducing herself as well.

"Please follow me, to your living area," Seto and Nohara said together.

And so they followed them to through the streets of Chu'o Tokai towards the Resort Akahata. If it had been a normal day- whatever that meant- perhaps Ari and her fellow Kiu Ghesites would have found themselves much more shocked by the sight before them- streams of people, buildings that seemed to reach higher than the clouds, and the immense illumination that turned this nighttime sky into daylight. As it was, however, they were not quite processing all of it, and they arrived at the Resort Akahata without incident.

"Your rooms are on the second level" Seto explained, before guiding them to their rooms. "Please let me know if there is anything that you need assistance for." She and Nohara bowed, and left. Now Ari and her attendants were by themselves again, as they had been a few hours ago. Except now of course, they had crossed realms and were in a new world.

The rooms they found themselves in were, well, not excessive by any standard in this world, but by Ari's? These were palaces. There was a bed in each room, carpeted floors, fans, lights, everything one could wish for. It was incredible. And they each had one of these rooms to themselves- all alone. That would be calming. And it provided an opportunity to- well, in all honesty, collect herself. Some alone-time was desperately needed in this place. It was just so massive, and confusing, and beyond what even she had anticipated. Nothing made sense, except that everything did, and that everything had a place and an order to it that felt incredibly out-of-place to someone used to a life of roaming.

But that was the Chairwoman's nature. She did one thing in pursuit of another, something that should not, could not lead to her goals, and yet nonetheless by her wisdom it did. Contradiction, that was the word. It was a sign of her wisdom, that she could make anything her own, and it was the reason Ari was here. There was much to be learned from the Chairwoman, too much to ignore her. And too much for Ari to be overshadowed by the other dignitaries here.

Speaking of overshadowed...

Gently stepping out into the hall, Ari tip-toed her way to the room Vhiari was staying in and gave her door a single sharp knock. In a few seconds the weaver was at the door, staring out at Ari with groggy eyes. "Meh?" she said, not entirely aware of her surroundings, "whaddaya want?"

"Vhiari, I'd like to speak with you. In private?"

It took her a few seconds more to process the request. When she did, though, her eyes widened, and she quickly pulled the door open. "Uh, yes, please, come in, uh-"

Ari shook her head. "No. My room."

"Uh, okay, then." Vhiari stepped out into the hall. Surprisingly, she was wearing a soft cotton novelty shirt that had something written on it in a language neither of them knew. If Ari could read, she would've known it said "I ♥ Shinkai City", a reference it would've taken some time to explain, and one that Ari would've likely found quite tacky if she understood. As it was, though, she merely gave Vhiari an askew look until the weaver recognized her attention.

"Oh, what, this?" She flashed the Caller a tired cheeky grin. "I, uh, took it from the gift shop. It's actually really comfortable, you know. Feels like you're wearing a blanket."

"Whatever. Just follow me."

They made the short three-room journey as quickly and quietly as they could, Ari shutting the door behind her as they entered. As soon as it was closed she spoke.

"Alright. This doesn't leave the room, Vhi. You understand that?" Ari's face was deadly still now. "I need you to understand something important about this place. About the Chairwoman. I don't think you... get it."

Cautiously, Vhiari nodded. "Well, um, of course I don't. I've never been here before."

"That's the point." Ari sat down on the bed, feeling it sink under her weight. That was something that a sleeping roll never did. "She is wise beyond her years, Vhi, and she knows far more about the world than we do. She has given me good counsel. And I want to repay her. I want to prove to her that it's worth her time to associate with me. Because I don't think she wholly... respects?... our way of life, you know?"

"Of course she doesn't. People who live like-" Vhi gestured at the walls around them, at the plush carpet, at the city lights streaming into the darkened room through the open window. "-this don't like people who live like us. That's just how it is."

"Yeah, I know, but that's besides the point. I'm trying to... show her, you know? Show her that we've got some merit of our own. And I feel like if I can impress her with our own ways, while proving that I can still practice what she's taught me, she might take me a little more seriously."

Vhiari leaned against the wall, absentmindedly running a hand through her tangled curly hair. "She doesn't take you seriously at all, though."

Ari nodded at that, vigorously. "That's the point, Vhi. She treats me like a child. And-" She flicked an errant lock of hair from her face, dislodged by the aforementioned head-banging, and paused to collect herself. "-and you're not exactly helping, you know? Like, you interrupted me, yeah? And that threw me off. And I made myself into a fucking fool. You- you heard her! She treated me like I was a girl just weaned off her mum's teat! 'Oh, don't be embarrassed you just ruined an introduction with the single most important person in this world, no big deal! You did better than you could've done! You're learning!" She felt a heat in her face now, a bloody rage that despite her best efforts would not subside. This was the Chairwoman, what was she thinking!?

Evidently, Vhi felt the same way. "You're too hard on yourself, you know that? You did nothing wrong. You did exactly what she asked you to do, and it's not like you had a script to go off of. I was just following protocol."

"Well, you shouldn't have done that, either! If you'd just left it to me I would've- I wouldn't- I- I wouldn't have fucked up. I don't know what else to call that."

"Yeah, well, no one's perfect." Vhiari laughed again. If either of then had known what a seal sounded like, they might've pegged the short, sharp noise as sounding almost like one's bark. "I guess we both need some work."

"You- you're not mad?" Ari liked at the weaver with disbelief. "I just said all of that, and you're not... angry or anything?"

"You're asking me that?" Vhiari rolled her eyes at the assertion. "Ari, you're the Caller. It's not my place to be mad at you. 'Sides, it's not your place to grovel at my feet, either. Which is of course exactly what you're doing. You know that, right?"

"You... what?"

"You're asking me to excuse your actions, Ari. I get you need a shoulder to cry on, but. Seriously. Love yourself. Like, you deserve it. Just... you don't need to excuse yourself to anyone, least of all a bloody weaver who thinks she's good at public speaking. I make fucking tunics for a living. You run an empire. You starting to get how absurd that sounds?"

Ari could only respond with a dumbfounded nod.

"Good. Now, am I done here?"

Ari opened her mouth.

Ari closed her mouth.

As Vhiari was moving to open the door, though, a thought struck the Caller. "Um- ah-" she said, the words not wanting to leave her mouth.

The weaver stopped, one foot out the door, and turned to look at Ari. "Yeh?"

"Um... so, there's a tour tomorrow. I think, um. I'd rather Patyu not go, you know? He's too... easily impressed. So, um, would you mind taking his place?"

Vhiari opened her mouth to respond. However, Ari could not hear her response, as at that moment the air about her exploded with noise. Noise that sounded suspiciously like music. Suspiciously like Irish music. Of course, Ari had no idea as to its origins, but it was rather surprising to one moment be asking herself if she was no more than dirt and the next being forced to ponder at high volume what was to be done with a drunken sailor. For a moment, that thought made itself very, very apparent within her mind, in fact gathering up all her other thoughts and making them face the wall, until graciously some omnipotent, external force seemed to reach out and silence whatever was making that godawful noise.

Well, at least she knew one other person who would be on the tour tomorrow. When Vhiari had picked herself up from the floor and Ari's thoughts had tended to the wounds that... thing... had given them, she felt even more strongly that she would need certain accompaniment on this trip.

"Uh, actually, don't bother responding. You're coming. It's just... it's a whole thing. You weren't there, you wouldn't understand."

Vhiari gave Ari a crooked grin. "See? You're learning already."

---

When morning came, Ari found herself laying on the floor watching the ceiling with a sickening feeling in her stomach. Part of that was anxiety, of course, at whatever was going to happen on that tour or at the gala, at the thought that she would fail in her duty, fail to impress. But it was also at the fact that the roof above her had been rhythmically flexing and bowing, or so she thought, for the past hour and a half. And if she had guessed right as to who inhabited the room above, she knew exactly why.

Goddammit, Ross.

[Wuchu]

Kotera paused just after passing the state dedicated to the Magical Girls, for there was a faint sound from far away. It was coming from just past the ridge before him- that green ridge, covered with impeccably trimmed grass and tall trees that swayed gently in the wind.

He trained his ears, trying to distinguish the sound. Music, he realised. And then, all of a sudden, he identified it. It was the opening theme of Sailor Moon, that show from the late 20th century with the theme of magical girls fighting darkness.

Rather fitting for it to be played here, of all nations, he thought. Might as well see what is the source of the song. Having made this decision, he started walking parallel to the small stream, which bubbled and flowed towards him in its journey downhill. He headed the opposite way, away from the statues and the spring and civilisation, and deeper into depths of the park.

---

Fighting evil by moonlight
Winning love by daylight
Never running from a real fight
She is the one named Sailor Moon!

The last few lines of the chorus of Sailor Moon ended, and Kotera was standing there with a frown on his face. There was nothing before him, but the sound had certainly not been an illusion.

Well, whatever. It was time to put those liberal drug policies of the Federation to good use. Esther had checked his pockets before their arrival- twice- but if there was one thing Kotera knew it was that false-bottomed shoes were good friends for terrorists and happy philosophers alike.

I awoke, struggling to open my eyes. They were as dry as the Sahara. A dull but consistent pain was located right behind my eyeballs, like a scratch you can't reach or a sneeze that never comes.
I found myself snuggled in a hammock which I apparently put up at... some point before now, clutching one of the smaller statues like a body pillow. I looked into its bronze eyes.

"Don't judge me," I said. "You're not even real."

"Look who's judging now."

I was startled, before realising that the voice wasn't coming from my faux-lover. Standing next to me was a woman with bronze hair, and bright green, wide eyes. She had a great big smile on her face, her eyes as happy as her mouth.

"Who the hell are you?" I said, using my hand to block the blinding sun of the morning.

"Well, aren't you a rude fellow?" she said, putting on a fake frown, although you could still very easily tell she was struggling to hide her smile. "I'm Yamaha. I tend to the statues here." She pointed to my sweetheart. "Like the one right there."

"Yamaha?" I let out a brief laugh, "like the motorbike company?"

She furrowed her brows. "What? What are you talking about?"

Oh, right. Socialism. Other universe. Silly, silly Kotera.

I waved my hand at her, before giving up the love of my life. She clutched the statue like a teddy bear, looking at it with love and care I thought only I could provide to my bronze Galatea. Using the sleeve of her reddish-pink sweater, she rubbed the statue's forehead, whispering in a foreign tongue. The tone was melodious, almost like a prayer.

She looked back at me, and then onto my hammock. "Do you want to... take this down?"

I moved around, and the hammock began to sway left-to-right everso gently. A crinkling sound. I suddenly realised I was sleeping on top of a number of pages from my notebook.

Yamaha leaned down, and picked up one of the pages that fell to the ground. Her eyes skimmed over the words, and her face scrunched up.

"What does 'gevorf-', 'geuorff-', 'geworft-'" she gave up, and violently pushed the page into my face, pointing to one of the words. Her fingernails were painted, decorated with little flower blossoms. "What does this word mean?"

"Geworfenheit," I said. "It sort of translates into 'throwness'." I took the page from her hand, scanning its contents for myself. Seems like past-Kotera decided to have a little Heidegger party.

Yamaha stared at me with a puzzled expression.

"Who are you?" she asked, shaking her head, as if still in disbelief that she was talking to a random man in the middle of a park who was caught sleeping around with possibly religious ornaments and was now explaining Heideggerian terminology to her.

"Who are you?" I repeated.

"I told you: I'm Yamaha. I tend to the statues," she was getting a little uppity. One might call it a... tsundere quality. "Who are you?"

"I'm Kotera," I said with a slight chuckle. "I tend to the... me."

She sighed in frustration, and rolled her eyes.

"Just... take this down, okay?" she said, waving her left hand sporadically at my hammock. "You can't sleep here."

"Why not?"

"What- you-" she said. "You just can't!"

"Says who?"

"I do!"

"And who are you?"

She turned around and began to walk away at a fast pace in the direction of the park's main river. I quickly jumped out, and with only a few moves, the hammock was neatly packed up. I held it under my armpit, and began to ran after the motorbike girl.

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross was never really sure what was happening to him at the time when he said it.

"Alright, let's hurry this up. I'm going clubbing tonight, and I--"

Kobayashi hissed. "NEVER." She punched him.

Great, she's gone insane. Time for Plan B.

Plan B. As in belt.

Ross was still wearing his belt.

He removed it, and swung. The effect was more psychological than physical, but it delayed her reaction just long enough for Ross to slam into her with all his strength, smashing her against the wall.

"James Bond is back in town!"

Kobayashi tilted her head. "Who's that?"

She threw a punch at his head. He took it. Ross covered his... nether region shortly before he got kicked in it. He was able to block it, lift Kobayashi up and slam her down on the floor.

She fell unconscious for a second, long enough for Ross to duct tape her to the bed, then tied it down with some ropes, chains, whatever he could find.

By the time she came to, she was firmly attached to the bed.

"Why, Ross?"

"You almost killed me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an enjoyable night planned."

He turned on the music once more. A collection of the best 80s songs.

"Maybe this'll teach you what good music is."

"No!"

He stepped out, ignoring her cries, and went down to the ground floor. Or at least what he thought was the ground floor.

Stepping out, he saw a girl peeking outside her room.

Ari.

[Sanghyeok]

There was just one problem, which Ross became rather aware of the moment he realised Ari's eyes were drifting towards his crotch.

He had forgotten to dress himself.

"Oh sh-!"

[Sanghyeok]

I awoke, struggling to open my eyes. They were as dry as the Sahara. A dull but consistent pain was located right behind my eyeballs, like a scratch you can't reach or a sneeze that never comes.
I found myself snuggled in a hammock which I apparently put up at... some point before now, clutching one of the smaller statues like a body pillow. I looked into its bronze eyes.

"Don't judge me," I said. "You're not even real."

"Look who's judging now."

I was startled, before realising that the voice wasn't coming from my faux-lover. Standing next to me was a woman with bronze hair, and bright green, wide eyes. She had a great big smile on her face, her eyes as happy as her mouth.

"Who the hell are you?" I said, using my hand to block the blinding sun of the morning.

"Well, aren't you a rude fellow?" she said, putting on a fake frown, although you could still very easily tell she was struggling to hide her smile. "I'm Yamaha. I tend to the statues here." She pointed to my sweetheart. "Like the one right there."

"Yamaha?" I let out a brief laugh, "like the motorbike company?"

She furrowed her brows. "What? What are you talking about?"

Oh, right. Socialism. Other universe. Silly, silly Kotera.

I waved my hand at her, before giving up the love of my life. She clutched the statue like a teddy bear, looking at it with love and care I thought only I could provide to my bronze Galatea. Using the sleeve of her reddish-pink sweater, she rubbed the statue's forehead, whispering in a foreign tongue. The tone was melodious, almost like a prayer.

She looked back at me, and then onto my hammock. "Do you want to... take this down?"

I moved around, and the hammock began to sway left-to-right everso gently. A crinkling sound. I suddenly realised I was sleeping on top of a number of pages from my notebook.

Yamaha leaned down, and picked up one of the pages that fell to the ground. Her eyes skimmed over the words, and her face scrunched up.

"What does 'gevorf-', 'geuorff-', 'geworft-'" she gave up, and violently pushed the page into my face, pointing to one of the words. Her fingernails were painted, decorated with little flower blossoms. "What does this word mean?"

"Geworfenheit," I said. "It sort of translates into 'throwness'." I took the page from her hand, scanning its contents for myself. Seems like past-Kotera decided to have a little Heidegger party.

Yamaha stared at me with a puzzled expression.

"Who are you?" she asked, shaking her head, as if still in disbelief that she was talking to a random man in the middle of a park who was caught sleeping around with possibly religious ornaments and was now explaining Heideggerian terminology to her.

"Who are you?" I repeated.

"I told you: I'm Yamaha. I tend to the statues," she was getting a little uppity. One might call it a... tsundere quality. "Who are you?"

"I'm Kotera," I said with a slight chuckle. "I tend to the... me."

She sighed in frustration, and rolled her eyes.

"Just... take this down, okay?" she said, waving her left hand sporadically at my hammock. "You can't sleep here."

"Why not?"

"What- you-" she said. "You just can't!"

"Says who?"

"I do!"

"And who are you?"

She turned around and began to walk away at a fast pace in the direction of the park's main river. I quickly jumped out, and with only a few moves, the hammock was neatly packed up. I held it under my armpit, and began to ran after the motorbike girl.

Yamada- for her name was actually Yamada- walked surprisingly quickly for a girl her size, and Kotera found himself at a brisk jog chasing after her, down the hill and towards the river from which he- and probably Yamada- had come from.

"Hey wait!" he called, and for a moment upon hearng his voice she turned her head around to look at him. Just a moment though, for soon enough she was back on her way to wherever she was going. Kotera didn't know where that was, but he knew it would be away from him, and he had no interest in that.

"Wait!" Kotera said again with a hint of desperation in his Slavic-and-monke-accented voice, and his request was loud enough this time to shatter the serene silence of the park. A few birds flew away from their nests, clearly afraid of this man who smelled of strange substances and had a rather powerful throat.

Yamada sighed now. Hearing it, Kotera was somehow reminded of a deflating balloon, but high pitched and extremely stressed.

"What is it?" she asked, relenting a bit. Her steps stopped, and she turned again to faced Kotera, an exasperated expression on her face.

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross hastily ran back to the room.

"Please let me go!"

"Nope!"

He threw on a pair of khakis, a white undershirt, a coat, and went back to Ari.

"So where were we?"

[Kiu Ghesik]

Ross was never really sure what was happening to him at the time when he said it.

"Alright, let's hurry this up. I'm going clubbing tonight, and I--"

Kobayashi hissed. "NEVER." She punched him.

Great, she's gone insane. Time for Plan B.

Plan B. As in belt.

Ross was still wearing his belt.

He removed it, and swung. The effect was more psychological than physical, but it delayed her reaction just long enough for Ross to slam into her with all his strength, smashing her against the wall.

"James Bond is back in town!"

Kobayashi tilted her head. "Who's that?"

She threw a punch at his head. He took it. Ross covered his... nether region shortly before he got kicked in it. He was able to block it, lift Kobayashi up and slam her down on the floor.

She fell unconscious for a second, long enough for Ross to duct tape her to the bed, then tied it down with some ropes, chains, whatever he could find.

By the time she came to, she was firmly attached to the bed.

"Why, Ross?"

"You almost killed me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an enjoyable night planned."

He turned on the music once more. A collection of the best 80s songs.

"Maybe this'll teach you what good music is."

"No!"

He stepped out, ignoring her cries, and went down to the ground floor. Or at least what he thought was the ground floor.

Stepping out, he saw a girl peeking outside her room.

Ari.

Ari had to admit, Vhiari was right. Those shirts were incredibly comfortable, she thought, standing in front of her room's mirror and inspecting herself in another illicitly-borrowed gift store tee, which admittedly clashed with the fur pants but, well, what can you do? She was dressing on a budget, after all. And the imitation aviators did look rather excellent when taken together with this whole... look. It was for lack of a better term grungy. And in all honesty perfectly suited for a tour that, if Alastair was on it, would likely end up in some dive on the bad side of town with their escorts stowed in a trunk and half the party blackout drunk. Perfect.

Well, maybe not. Vhiari hadn't ever touched drink, as far as Ari knew, and if Ari had her way the weaver wouldn't break that streak. Someone needed to be kept conscious and alert, especially if Ross was coming. And he owed her a drink.

And, potentially, he needed to be on the receiving end of several good beatings, especially if he had been responsible for that goddamn noise. And the, ugh, the... thing. The thing that really didn't need to be mentioned at the moment. It could be brought up later. For now it would spoil the fun.

She opened the bedside drawer, dug around in it for a moment, and pulled out the last of her, well, completely improperly acquired items, a hefty flashlight attached to a carabiner, already clipped to a belt, and looped it loosely around her waist. Yeah, that looked... even more trashy, in all honesty. It was great. And she was ready. Now she had something to bash Ross over the head with if he decided to do something stupid. Which in all likelihood he would.

And Ari would capitalize on that as well as she could. He owed her a drink, after all. Well, maybe several. And she always felt... better about him when she wasn't alert enough to judge him too harshly. And this tour would provide that. In full.

And then she opened the door, peeked out at the empty hall, saw a blur of very pale skin covered in welts, and closed it again, gripping the flashlight tightly, her eyes wide with incredulity. She sank against the door laughing and then reopened it.

Damnit. He was back.

Goddammit, Ross.

[Socialist Macronesia]

A significantly more dressed Ross came back.

"Hey, I uhh, brought beer!"

Ari was laughing.

"Anyway, we're going clubbing when the tour bus gets back. You in? I'm buying."

"Did something stab you? You got a uhh..."

"You mean the scar?"

"Yes, the scar."

"Not important. Get ready to leave or some..."

I have an idea.

He flopped over on his face.

"...what?"

[Sanghyeok]

Meanwhile, Kehrer was fast asleep on the bus that had only himself, Nate, and a rather stressed looking Kaitaro.

He was still sleeping when the bus reached the National Museum of Art - 3 members fewer than planned, of course.

[Kiu Ghesik]

A significantly more dressed Ross came back.

"Hey, I uhh, brought beer!"

Ari was laughing.

"Anyway, we're going clubbing when the tour bus gets back. You in? I'm buying."

"Did something stab you? You got a uhh..."

"You mean the scar?"

"Yes, the scar."

"Not important. Get ready to leave or some..."

I have an idea.

He flopped over on his face.

"...what?"

Ross made some strange gesture, probably thinking about something stupid as he always did.

"...what? Did you, uh, you're looking, uh, kinda red. Did you go for a, uh, run or something? Stamina workout? Uh, Ross, you're still looking at me like..."

Ari trailed off, genuinely unsure about how to continue. Ross smelled of... something. Something that tended to accompany those nights when one idiot would keep the whole camp up into the morning. Of course he did. Because he'd been in the room above last night.

Goddammit, Ross. Well, whatever he was planning, best to get on with it. It might be fun.

[Socialist Macronesia]

Meanwhile, Nate was glancing at a bunch of paintings.

It was terrible. No doubt Ross was getting in trouble right about now. Was he shooting someone? Drugs? Sex?

Nate just wanted to go back to the hotel as quick as he could.

---

"It was Mr. Green in the hall with the revolver!"

"He wins again. Damn it, Ross, how did you win?"

"Basic trigonometry."

"That's not even a word!"

"Doesn't matter. Take a shot."

"I'll go for the other punishment instead.
Die Kleine hatte diese Apple Bottom Jeans
Stiefel mit dem Fell..."

[Sanghyeok]

Kehrer looked at the painting titled "Untitled #5".

It was the fifth painting in the museum that had some form of "Untitled" or "No Title" in its name. In this gallery alone. In a row. And what was more, the painting was an uneven spiral, so his still hungover brain was almost being drawn into it and Kehrer felt himself swaying side to side as his mind threatened to melt into an ooze.

Nate patted his shoulder sympathetically. He understood Kehrer's hatred of modern art, and usually had the perfect answer to that: shooting it until the canvas was shredded into a million pieces of paint and paper. But alas, he had left his weapons at home, and so was forced to stand by the WF King at stare at the atrocity.

"Hey, maybe the next one will be better?" Nate said, trying to cheer Kehrer up. With some effort, he pulled Kehrer to the side with him, to the painting immediately opposite the black and white coloured whirlpool.

Unfortunately for them, its title was "Untitled #6, Artist Unknown."

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Alastair blinked at the shifting plane of two-dimensional shapes called, ironically, "Untitled #6, Artist Unknown." If it's called Untitled #6, well, then that is its title, he mused.

He turned to the man who was dragging him by the arm for some reason. Ross's...deputy. Nate? "I think we could...eh...head to the more historical parts next. For variety." Surely, older pieces would not make his eyes strain and his head spin. But his head had been spinning the entire time, so the art was not the reason for that.

"Why art thou still holding my arm?" Alastair peeled his eyes away from the moving painting and tried to tug his arm away from Nate's. He found that he could not. "Seriously. I can handle myself."