1488/Tea and Snacks in the Bar

Tea and Snacks in the Bar
Date of Scene:	04 February 2015
Location:	Bar and Grill at the Edge of the Multiverse
Synopsis:	Nozomi and Nagato have a chat
Cast of Characters:	342, Nagato

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Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of familiarity to set one at ease, when one is feeling out of sorts.

    When that familiarity is 'walking through a door and finding yourself in the middle of a completely different place', however, it's not out of order to feel wrongfooted in an entirely different way.

    Nozomi looks perplexed when she steps through the door to the Bar and Grill, having simply been stepping out to head to the corner store prior to her appearance here. However, her face quickly falls to one of comprehension, and faintly exasperated relief... only for apprehension to slip right back in when she realizes a problem.

    She doesn't have Taiga here with her.

    The mechatiger's presence has been something of a comfort these past couple of years, so suddenly realizing she's in a very public place without him at her side? That's quite enough to freeze her in her tracks at the entrance, looking around the dining area with nervous hesitation. Oh god. Is there an empty table in a corner? Please let there be an empty table in the corner...

Nagato has posed:
    That empty table, however, isn't empty. Three long glasses, filled to the brim with black tea, the way Kongou would make it, sit in front of a sullen looking Kanmusu. The Admiralship herself, Nagato. She has her admiral's jacket over her while the table in front of her has a couple water droplets on it and some dried up water. The Admiral in a sign of weakness. "How could I have let her go on her own like that. I should have sortied an escort before she left."

    Her fist hits the table gently, "How could I have not had information on the route. And it's that damn odd ship that's the cause of this and now Kongou... Kongou..." she buries her face in a hand supported by an elbow on the table, soft sounds coming from it, like she's crying. "I can't let the Daughters... I can't let Musashi see me like this. Just.. some time and I'll go get Kongou back..."

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    Someone is at every corner table. Well, looks like it's time to just turn around and walk right back out th-

    Wait, that voice, is that... that sounds like...

    Nozomi turns back around, and peers across the room.

    A few moments later, a quiet, timid voice speaks up from not far away at all. "Ah... Nagato-san, isn't it...?" Dressed in warm clothes, Nozomi looks... tired, and a little worn around the edges, so to speak. And there's no makeup anywhere on her face, of course, which means she just looks that extra bit 'recovering from a hospital stay'. "...do you mind if I sit down?" If nothing else, Nagato gives the impression of the kind of person Nozomi considers 'safe'.

Nagato has posed:
    Nagato gives a sigh, rubbing her eyes away from those tears, her face red from the act. She reaches for a glass of her tea and halts as that timid voice speaks her name. She turns her head to the side, an appraising look and a nod. "Yes, I'm Nagato." she pauses a moment, recognizing the person, "You're the one I picked up at the first encounter with those ships." she looks at the empty seat in front of her and nods, "Tea?" she responds, "I'm... sorry you have to see me in this downtrodden state, Nozomi."

    She turns her head to the side, a shamed look on her face, "I let my Daughters down, Nozomi." she lets out a heavy sigh, "Though, what brings you to visit here? I was leaving the base to head out... and I wound up here." Nagato does have this 'safe' aura of hers but right now, it's more of upset. "And how did you know I was here?"

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    "I-it's alright," Nozomi replies, sliding into her seat. "I'm... not in my best shape, either." A faint, sad little smile. "-eh? Oh, n-no, I didn't follow you here, I just... I was going to walk to the convenience store for my dinner, and..." A helpless little gesture. "...it happens, when you're hungry or thirsty." She sits forward in her seat a little, looking over the menu with a slightly pensive expression. "...I-I don't think you failed anyone, though. Whoever sent that ship... it attacked me, too. Came for me at school. I-it..." She shakes her head. "I think it was built... just to attack Rampart Mode. I... /she/," Nozomi corrects herself, "Had to turn off Taiga's safeties, just to survive, and... a-and protect my classmates."

Nagato has posed:
    "I see, what happened?" Nagato looks back at Nozomi with a glint, tilt of her head, "So this place likes to take people who.. never mind the thought, the fact you are here is a good sight to see at least." another pause, "Kongou is my responsibility to the Union, Nozomi. Her actions reflect upon me and the Daughters as a whole. If I lose her to this, it means I haven't done enough to prevent this from happening." another pause, "Something like it attacked you? At your school?" her face pulls into a small scowl, "Built to take on Taiga... what's next. Is... it attacking those who destroyed that ship on the twenty first?"

    She looks down at her tea glass, giving the contents a sip as she ponders the meaning of this, "Your classmates, are they okay? And yourself .. and Tagia? Not too worse for wear and is Taiga back into one peice? Didn't it say that they were in twenty something peices?"

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    "Ah, I'm... I'm better, now. Taiga and I, we... we got pretty beaten up during the fight, and..." She wrings her hands a little, trying to think of how to phrase it. "...ah, the way Commander Kuroyama said it was... 'safeties are there for a reason'. It... it really messes up my body, and Taiga's systems, so it makes the injuries worse." The girl finally does seem to settle on a simple bowl of ramen, before replying, "Taiga's repairs should be done Thursday. They had to replace a lot of parts, so... I-I think that's why they took him apart. Ah... a few of my classmates were hurt, but it wasn't very bad, and... well, no one was killed. So I'm thankful for that." With her order in, all there is to do is wait. "It... I think it was using them against me, though. To... to force her to get hit, or let them be hurt worse." Are her fingers curling just a little tighter?

Nagato has posed:
    Nagato hands over a few credits to cover the order, giving a nod towards Nozomi. "Your Commander is smart and I do hope that the repairs go smoothly for Taiga. The fact there are no deaths is good news to hear as well so I would not count this wrong." she picks up on the fingers and reaches out, placing a hand over Nozomi's. "We'll figure out what's going on, Nozomi. Why they are doing this. We will take them out together, okay? They took Kongou away from me. They insulted my capabilities as an Admiral by doing so. We'll get her back and we'll put a stop to these attacks, okay?"

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    Nozomi looks at the credits with faint surprise as they're passed to the waiter. That, she didn't expect. Nor does she expect the hand resting over hers - it causes her to start a little, but she doesn't pull away. And when she looks up to meet Nagato's eyes...

    For such a mousy, shy girl, it's probably surprising to see such quiet determination in her eyes. "Yeah... yeah. We will. I-I... Taiga and I. We'll help." After a moment's consideration, though, she bites her lip. "...but I still probably shouldn't... I don't think I can transform, i-if we have to fight Kongou."

Nagato has posed:
    The determination is a sight that she didn't expect, the Admiralship's face giving a soft smile in return. "Do not hold back, please. Kongou would want it this way and..." she gives a light nod, a soft sigh coming from her... "It's the only way to turn an Abyssal ship into a Daughter." she grips Nozomi's hand a bit tighter, the next three words out of her mouth coming out pointed. "Is sinking them." and with a turn of her head, "As... was done to me."

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    Nozomi blinks in faint surprise... and then, of all things, a look of sadness sinks in. Faint but noticeable. "...oh... I..." Once again, she bites her lip. "...th-that's... really sad. But if it will help, then..." The girl nods her head faintly. "...alright. Kongou... we were attacked by the same thing, so... I-I'll help save her. Whatever it takes." A bowl of steaming ramen chooses that moment to be set in front of Nozomi, and she sits up a bit straighter in her seat. "Ah... this smells good," she murmurs.

Nagato has posed:
    "I've not told anyone this. The only Daughter who knows is Musashi..." Nagato finishes, giving a nod at the girl "It will be okay, we'll get Kongou back, we'll make sure that they can't do this again." a nod, and a light, if forced, smile "That ramen smells good, perhaps I should get a bowl." she flags the waiter down and gives her order and credits before turning back to Nozomi. "I'll be glad to have you sortie with the Northern Fleet, once we can place a point to get her back with. More than likely, she's joined up with the Wo-Class and Princess."

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    Nozomi smiles faintly. "The ramen here is pretty good. I-I don't think... a lot of places that aren't Japan get it wrong, it seems like." The schoolgirl turns her bowl around and takes up her chopsticks, listening to Nagato speak about...

    The Princess. That's the one that Nozomi remembers running into at the harbor defense as well. "Ah..." She seems to be thinking about what she's saying... and, of course, also getting a bite of food ready. "...so, if... i-if Kongou is like that, does that mean that the others are, too...?" Something about the Seaport Princess seems to stick with her.

Nagato has posed:
    Nagato returns the smile, "I haven't had ramen in a while, so it will be a treat for me. Perhaps I should sample the cuisine of other places one day, not too much lest I become a unfit admiral." she gives a light laugh, something to try and improve the mood around the table.

    "Yes. The other ships of the Abyssal fleet are like that as well. Fallen ships who do not remember the love they once had from the ones who made us." she leans back, looking up at the roof of the bar and grill, "It's Musashi's and my goal to return the ships back to the ones they were, to show them that people still care and remember them. Even if we have to sink the Abyssals to get them to come around. Odd, I know, but it's the only effective method we've seen to work."

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    Nozomi nods once again. "I see, I think..." She works on her meal quietly for a short while, before saying, "...she seems so... I-I don't know. The... harbor princess, I mean," she clarifies. "...s-something about her..." Another few moments of silence. "...I-I... spent a long time, being lonely. I... my parents died, when I was little. M-my aunt and uncle... they're really distant. My classmates... w-well..." A sad little smile. "'Gloomy Houken'. That's what they called me. Now that they've seen... me and Taiga, ah... I don't know what they'll say. But... something about her... reminds me of me, I guess."

Nagato has posed:
    "I wonder if the Abyssal leader actually treats them well..." she shakes her head, "They were so willing to assist us, despite being enemies." she shakes her head once more, turning to Nozomi. "You don't have to worry about being lonely. You have the Union, you have the Daughters. After that event, I do not believe your classmates will ever call you 'Gloomy' again." a pause, "Brave Houken sounds much better, would you not agree?" she tries to muster a bright smile, to cheer up her table companion for the evening, "Your aunt and uncle, perhaps they will not be so distant now with how you've shown yourself."

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    "'Brave Houken'..." Nozomi looks dubious.

    "Ah, th-thanks, though," she adds, bowing her head gratefully. "I-I've... I think Taiga is the best thing that's happened to me. I-I've been scared a lot, working for the JSDF, but... I-I have a lot of friends in the Union, now, and... well, Commander Kuroyama keeps an eye on me... and... I-I did meet Kotoha..." Does she seem a little flustered with that last name, there? "...a-and it's given me a way to protect people. Even if it's... really scary, I'm happy for that." ...her bowl of ramen is empty. Huh. Quiet she may be, but Nozomi is still a teenager.

Nagato has posed:
    Nagato nods, "It was an attempt to try and cheer you up." she gives a light nod, "You don't have to worry though, since you're with everyone now. And I do hope no one will call you 'Gloomy' again, you're beyond that kind of title now." she eyes the empty bowl as her own comes to the table. She pushes it towards Nozomi with a smile. "Here, eat up. I have dinner waiting at Hikari for me, Atago cooked up something special for me as of late..."

Nozomi Houken (342) has posed:
    Nozomi looks between the bowl and Nagato a few times, before lowering her head a little and going beet-red in the cheeks.

    "Thank you," she mumbles, sliding the bowl over. After being in the hospital for a good five days, it's not all that surprising she'd be especially hungry.