Day 12 - 1st of Boar

[Boogiepop]

(December 8th to December 10th)

Weather Advisory
Heavy rains begin the day and taper off by the start of the early afternoon. There is a pervasive and uncomfortable heat that takes the rain's place for the remainder of the afternoon. However, some are unfazed by this and go on their way as normal with the bright sun in the sky. This heat softens by the evening, and there are some brief cloud sightings in the night sky, but that doesn't deter people from seeing clear stars in rural parts of Shiawase Island. It almost feels like this is the brightest that stars have ever been.

Kujira is currently at waning gibbous.
Haya is currently at waxing gibbous.

Events
None, today is the last day of IC.

Informator
Voice Over: "Tonight's workplace entertainment, Pride of the Ronin! Tune in for the first episode! Fish and Line Incorporate are graced with their newest temporary employee!"

Clips of the show depict a whirlwind of chaos with several Yasuki and suited samurai going about their duties in an office environment. The main character of the show is a stoic-looking ronin dressed in black. A grouchy and mean section manager catches the ronin walking by.

Mean Section Manager: "Stupid market department, I believe they're so damn slow...Hey, you, ronin! Get me some tea!"



Ronin: "The director didn't assign me to you. I only do what I'm assigned to do. Nothing more, nothing less."

Mean Section Manager: "What?! Why, you?! You're useless!"

Another clip shows a different section manager picking up a complete report in shock, all while the mean section manager is looking over his shoulder.

Other Section Manager: "She finished it already?! All in a day?! She's amazing!"

Mean Section Manager: "Oh, really? She can't be all that! Absolutely useless! I'll show her..."

Voice Over: "Tune in for Pride of the Ronin!"

--- ---



Kisha's Comments
screen-in-screen, with Kisha's well-lit face, uncommonly somber, inset into the larger screen showing selected footage
Today's a sad one, folks.

larger screen features an image of Moto Shiwahime

I found out that a friend of mine died recently. Her name was Moto Shiwahime. She was a doshin for the Unicorn, and she was a good woman
the larger screen turns to

...she was already a well-over six foot tall tank of a woman with a purple mohawk wearing heavy leather boots and jacket bearing the unicorn mon.

Most people gave her berth naturally, they just had one more incentive to do so now.

She was the first person I met in my adventures in Tango, and from the beginning, she had the most interesting stories to tell!

the screen interpolates

''I believe they called the case 'The Habcom Slasher'. Hell of a thing to get involved in, especially considering I was on vacation, but in the end I am glad I was.''

she frowned, searching the details in her mind.

''Several people had gone missing or found brutally murdered in the narrow alleys of the habcom 39, one of the poorest areas of the upper city, for weeks before I arrived on the scene. From what I could see the habitation complex, or the habcom, was hardly better than a disorderly slum with the crime and violence that seems to always tag along in such places. The law enforcement there was usually sparce in the area...I'll let you figure out why...but the raw violence of the murders could not be ignored.''

She took a sip of her beer

''The [redacted] yoriki had scourged the complex but it seemed that there were no witnesses willing to talk with any member of the local law enforcement or those few willing to had never seen the mysterious ‘slasher’ or anything actually useful. The fear was palpable though. So, as a last resort, the magistrate in charge sought outside contractors to help and I could not say no when I got the call. I think we were three in total: Doji Kona...'' she paused ''...a lion, Kitsu...Kitsu Tenryu...I think? And myself'.'

A [redacted] that dangerous needed to be brought down and It's what I do: bring [redacted] down...anyway...''

She made herself more comfortable by taking a seat

''When finally hit the ground, I understood why the [redacted] lawmen had a hard time: The place was a damp and dark urban maze that had a perpetual stank of something fishy.'' she grimaced at the memory. ''We split up to edge our bets and work our angles I think Doji-sama went to interrogate the locals, Kitsu-sama...sketched the place like it was a [redacted] warzone...lions be lions...while I was checking the street layout. I have to give to Kitsu-sama...his thing worked and helped us bring our pieces together.''

She passed a hand through her hair

''That brought us to a derelict warehouse near to the maintenance tunnels that connected habcom 39 to habcom 38. The building was pitch black since the power has been cut years, if not decades, ago. From what we could see initially a small door at the side of the building served as the only entrance since the main cargo bay door had rusted shut. Doji-sama and I went in though that entrance with our cone lanterns while Kitsu-sama double checked the rear of the building to make sure we didn't miss a way our perp could get out.''

''The warehouse had been closed but not emptied. Our lights played over stacks of solid crates with vintage logos stacked high, creating something like corridors in the place. Then we saw the stains of dried blood all over the concrete when we delved deeper...but that was when the crates fell around us, blocking the exit. The perp was not a who but an it.. and it had spotted us first.''

"The thing we faced was monstruous...it was a humanoid hybrid of some sort: It's body was the size of an ogre and it had all the extra features of a hammerhead shark. Aside from the fins and tail that means a large maw filled with three rows of razor sharp teeth and a pair of wicked clawed hands.''

She took a swig.

''But we were quick enough not to be caught unaware but not enough to get the first hit. The Slasher lunged at me and made a solid gash on my midriff. Still, we were lucky: I had armor on and that took some of the damage...Doji-sama was not so equipped but she got the time to un-holstered her weapon and take cover. Since I had the weapon-grade twonk of a fishman's attention I decided to keep it and rushed in closer to take him over in grapple with my chains giving my partner a chance to land a few direct shots. Thankfully Kitsu-sama also had found a way inside by then and was getting ready to join the melee. ''

''Things got good at first: I held control over the thing and raked it's skin with my chain's blade but...it thrashed and got loose. The sharkman chomped down on me and ripped my arm away from my body in a single bite.''

''Heh, it's okay. I got better.'' Shiwahime removed her jacket to fully expose her Kaiu crafted cybernetic arm. ''It's not the same as the original put I admit it's pretty damn good.''

She grinned viciously.

''You should feel sorry for the sharkman, though, because that little snack of his ended up pissing me off. I jumped back into the fray and strangled it with my remaining hand while Doji-sama took shot after shot. Kitsu-sama finally arrived and dealt the killing blow by slicing the [redacted] in half.''

''All in all I succeeded in keeping the thing in check or busy enough for it not to have the opportunity to act against them in any meaningful way.''

A note appears: "'Them' is Doji Kona and Kitsu Tenryu."

The report I received is that she died in the line of duty, working to save people who were in danger here. I'm told it was a good death, but even so, it is a sad one. The Empire is less for not having her in it.

the larger screen depicts

''If they enjoy the story then I am glad...but I only did what should have been done. If anything should be learned is when there is a need for action then action must be taken.''

Kisha, out.

screen goes dark

Rumours

Yasuki 1: "So... the governor..."
Yasuki 2: "Yeah, I guess she's pretty cool."
Yasuki 1: "Yeah, she really did a good job with stuff."
Yasuki 2: "Yeah, everyone knows that."
Yasuki 1: "..."
Yasuki 2: "No one was saying otherwise."
Yasuki 1: "... right. Well as long as everyone agrees, then, she's pretty great."

Kuni 1: "There is no escape..."
Kuni 2: "Nowhere to hide."
Kuni 1: "He's doomed. Doomed!"
Kuni 2: "She can track him anywhere. Through rain, through snow... I bet she could track him through space."
Kuni 1: "Yeah... well, goodbye Bayushi Hinata..."
Kuni 2: "Kuni Sumie always gets her man..."

Kuni 3: "So... that Junpei..."
Kuni 4: "What about him?"
Kuni 3: "Is it just me or is he kinda..."
Kuni 4: "Mean?"
Kuni 3: "HOT!"
Kuni 4: "What?"
Kuni 3: "And NICE?"
Kuni 4: "Junpei?"
Kuni 3: "And FUN AT FESTIVALS?"
Kuni 4: "I mean, I guess..."
Kuni 3: "And SINGLE I SECRETLY HOPE!"
Kuni 4: "I... think so?"
Kuni 3: "And HOT!"
Kuni 4: "You already said that one..."

Hida 1: "Well. It's over."
Hida 2: "Yep. All over."
Hida 1: "Guess we'll be back to normal duties tomorrow."
Hida 2: "Yep..."
Hida 1: "So..."
Hida 2: "You wanna make out?"
Hida 1: "Yep."
Hida 2: "Yep."
/ftb

[Boogiepop]

Yuta Records, Harbourfront

Before opening hours, the employees of Yuta Records work quickly to rearrange the fixtures of the store in preparation for a new day of business. There is a sudden new flood of 'new' products, mostly content that has either seen transfers to ancestral media formats such as records, discs and tapes, or merely ones that have finally been given clearance for distribution in Crab Clan territory.

There is an unfortunate finite amount of space in the store, and the employees work quickly to box a number of discs and tapes. Discs of Aoi48 of a previous generation, taped holiday special concerts, the Blessed Sky album, the entire series of Inferno House...

The large hanging sign reading "YASUKI UMIKO" is soon taken down in short order and promptly replaced with one listing "KITSUNE KYOSHI/MYSTERY 5".

Run-it-Back, Golden Shotengai

Routine shoppers at the used clothing store are surprised to see a sudden influx of new stock as well! There is enough stock to fill a rotating rack on its own, almost seeming like someone just offloaded their entire wardrobe. This only gives the shoppers a momentary pause before items are taken off the racks, clearing the store of its temporary overstock in short order as the articles find new owners. Sweaters, long coats, full-length skirts, boots, wool hats...

These items might need a temperator to be wearable on this island...

Public Works Office, Ebisu Tower, Harbourfront


Yasuki Ayame

On the 40th floor of the Ebisu Tower, the governor's new karo throughout goes through a whole list of the day's agenda and schedule. There were already a few groundbreaking ceremonies scheduled by the province's newest investors and partners. Some delayed matters of businesses on other islands have been put off. Grand openings of a few businesses in the province. The head magistrate's more recent investigation findings and his request for an office expansion. Bylaw redefinitions. Revised flooding plans...and those are the exciting items.

Naturally, it is too much to take in with one reading, and the karo merely asks, "Can you please sign off on this, governor?"

Ayame instead has her attention at the waterfront below, namely the spherical Sango Station below just as a ferry was pulling in. She crossed her arms and looked at the ferry contemplatively, almost tuning out the daily proceedings...at first.

"...actually, let's go over that again," she would say finally, turning her full attention on the long list of items that required her attention.

Sango Station, Harbourfront


Umiko

Hoo-OOOONNNNK

The ferry huffs a laboured horn as it slowly inched forward to dock before finally landing to offload a stream of passengers and is ready to receive new ones as it is destined to return to Kai Island.

Umiko, for now, eyes the upper levels of the Ebisu Tower curiously. However, she soon reminds herself that's a habit that she needs to let go of. Her gaze wavers, and she looks to the surrounding city instead. The nearby Nakaham Coin. The Hanei Tower sharing the same shore. A certain penthouse in the distance. The peaks of the arches that signify the start of the Golden Shotengai. The unmissable Mountain Nakahama in the background. If she looked hard enough, maybe she could even see the houses on the hill and the residential parks, just past the tall buildings of Lower Nakahama City.

She then turns and looks beyond the island instead. The waves, clear skies, and the sunny limitless horizon before her. A tapestry where the sun, sky and sea meet. Her first destination will be Kai Island, but then...uncertain. Wherever the waves take her.

Umiko gave a few small nods to make peace with herself and her decision, having mulled over them enough to be sure of them. Securing the straps of her heavy bag, she boards the ferry leaving Shiawase Island...

/end