[closed] celestial being congregate!!! sort of...

[encourage]

Sakura sat in one of the chairs at the table in the Atori Teahouse, holding her own mug of tea between her hands and leeching the warmth out of it. She really didn't need to, not with how generally warm and humid the atmosphere was, but it held some sort of simple comfort that the rest of the environment lacked.

The place was looking tidy, tidier than it ever did with Phillip and Ren both in residence. (Not for a lack of Ren trying.)

A pot of tea stood in the middle, next to a journal and hardcover book. The book was an older volume on medicine from out of some Earth-like culture around the turn of a century, far from relevant or up to date with most all medical issues. She had a certain wicked fondness for it nonetheless, if she never got a chance to tell the one who'd given it to her why it was amusing.

She probably never would, now. Yet those weren't the thoughts she wanted to linger in, so they were brushed aside, sitting with her worries about teammates she hadn't seen for so long, for her sleeping shishou, and all the rest that she couldn't directly help. Sakura blew on the surface of her tea, focusing her mind back to what she wanted to communicate to Setsuna and his comrade. Lockon? Yes, Lockon.

She was expecting them any time now.

Comments

[jesus_is_gundam]

They had found the place easily enough, and Setsuna himself was tempted to just waltz right in. After all, they were invited. But Lockon would probably complain and say something about manners; inconsequential formalities to Setsuna, but important enough to Lockon that he was willing to defer.

Which is a long way of saying that they arrived and knocked on her door.

[encourage]

Sakura looked to the door, tilting her head to the side. Should she be the proactive, good hostess? Glancing at the tea, she told herself yes. It didn't take long to move to the door and open it with a smile, stepping back and to the side to allow them in.

"Welcome! Glad you made it on time."

Her smile was self-amused, since time was such a loose concept when operating from the Bleed.

[neraiutsu]

Thanks, Setsuna. You're making us all proud.

"Not at all," Lockon grinned and saluted her carelessly. "Thanks for inviting us."

[jesus_is_gundam]

"Haruno Sakura." She even got a slight nod of acknowledgment as he enters, casually glancing around the house as he waits to be shown further in.

[encourage]

She closed the door, walking past the both of them to the table. "Take a seat, if you wish," she said, picking up the teapot and pouring tea with proper grace into the waiting mugs. Her own sat closer to where she'd been sitting earlier.

"It's striking to me how similar Japanese architecture is to the architecture of my own world. Not universally, but I see hints of it here and there. Especially in the older style buildings."

The Teahouse didn't qualify for older style, if it did have a certain Japanese flavor.

[neraiutsu]

Lockon casually pulled out a chair and sank into it, leaning back a little. "Seemed like a really nice place, Japan. Must be nice to look at, your home."

[jesus_is_gundam]

If Setsuna were better socially trained, he might've pointed out that he lived in Japan for a little while. But he still has only the social grace of a turnip, so rather than mention that, he simply asks "Is that what you asked us here to discuss?"

Not that he'd be offended if it were. He'd find it a little strange, though. He's fairly certain this isn't some kind of 'date' (Wasn't she involved with someone anyway?), but he figured Sakura would know better than to invite him over for tea and idle conversation alone.

[encourage]

"It's beautiful. Much less... developed than most worlds we've been to."

Sakura sipped her tea before responding to Setsuna. She didn't expect differently from Setsuna than what he gave. It was simply interesting to see someone who reminded her of Sai, in a few ways, with absolutely none of his interest in integration.

"Cultural similarities and how homesick I am? No, if at least one of the two topics is probably worth talking about." She held her mug between both hands. "There were three things I wanted by you before I take at least two of them to the crew at large. Were you aware we took one of the Ohm taken down during the battle at Lirath on ship?"

In which Lockon's mun FAILS

[neraiutsu]

Less casual and more alert now, Lockon shifted slightly and pulled his legs close. His eyes narrowed slightly and the lines of his mouth set. His glance flicked over to Setsuna.

[jesus_is_gundam]

"The one you and Howard named Abby." At least, he assumes that's the one she's referring to.

[encourage]

"Howard's doing, not mine." Not that it mattered. "Neuropathy still hasn't gotten back to us on tracing any signal activity, but it's apparent that the control and feedback comes from a relatively small portion of the Shrike's brain. If we can find some way to distort the signal..."

She trailed off, shaking her head. "Dealing with attacks relying on telekinesis and telepathy aren't areas I've got experience in outside of this ship, and a few limited instances back home. Ones that largely aren't relevant."

Which was a different sort of problem.

"On another note, more ship related, Sta'c has taken to acting on her own initiative in putting people back in pods. The running theory that it's to keep our... avia? Intact seems to only apply if she can't find some other reason. Which can lead into point three, regarding the failed rebellion of the earlier pod-popped crew. The one that the daligig dealt with originally, before any of the stuff that gets talked about here on ship these days. Or what doesn't."

She sipped her tea. "We've plenty of assumptions that fly around on what people know, and very little that we all do."

[neraiutsu]

Lockon nodded quickly and smartly. "I can attest to that. A lot of information that isn't well organized, which makes it hard to keep any newcomers in the loop. Is that what's bothering you?"