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 Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:08 pm
Wraith had not let her out for so long. Shee breathed in the smoky smell of incense as she stood on the edge of the real Japan, looking up at the towering, multi-tiered Takugawa Shogunate. The calmness was unsettling; it clashed in her mind with what Japan was really like. That Japan was as far removed from "calm" as she could think of; it was all at once turbulent, poverty mingled with opulence, officials chatting up Geisha while most Japanese wasted away in squalor. She knew the scene well; why, she could not remember. Nor did she want to.
She'd had plenty of time to wander inside her own mind when she was shut away at the LOTUS base. There were some things she didn't think she'd ever want to remember. Not like she'd be able to. And Faustus-- he'd just made things worse.
Happy to be out again, she looked again at the building. Japan's people were bursting out of the country's borders. The country was at its breaking point-- and that's why they were there.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:31 pm
Asmadai had never been to Japan, and had not the references that Shee possessed. He found the incense soothing, and the calm was pleasant, but he didn't feel one way or another about the rest of this place. Of course he thought poverty was horrible, and it was his duty as a representative of God to aid those in such a state. But he never looked forward to doing so; the pathetic way they lived had a way of rending new holes in his heart.
He approached the tall building that the map labeled the Tokugawa Shogunate, keeping a sharp eye out for the one he'd been told to meet. Dark hair- but then, everyone had dark hair. Perhaps it'd be better to just look for someone with an Indian look.
There! Asmadai worked his way over to Shee, then bowed slightly. "Miss Shee?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:21 pm
Judging by his light hair, and by that alone, the man that now stood in front of her was Asmadai Riffael.
"So you're our resident priest? Estrelas was right; you don't really look the part." Shee had press her lips together to keep herself from giggling at the scene of Estrelas and Asmadai that was playing in her head. Knowing Estrelas, and from what Wraith had told her of Asmadai, that would have been something to watch. Too bad she'd missed it, and had to rely on her imagination to fill the gaps between the little bits Estrelas had made public knowledge.
"I'm sorry; that was not a good way to start our mission. Mr. Riffael, do you know anything of Japan or the Shogunate?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:38 pm
He flushed, pursing his lips. Did everyone think that you had to be an elderly man to be a man of God? People didn't just run around, pretending to be priests. Maybe they did in television movies, but not in real life. Not so close to the Vatican- but then, he had to remember, he was across the world from the Vatican on the best of days.
"What I learned in school, miss, but I think that would be awfully out-of-date... or long before the time when it was proper knowledge. When I graduated from school, it was a democracy." The Japan Asmadai remembered from his classes was not as harshly regimented as this place seemed to be. It had been a democracy- an awfully honor-bound democracy, but a democracy nonetheless. "I have heard that it's since returned to the feudalist system?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:54 pm
Shee winced; he looked a bit upset.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean anything by it; just making a small joke." Hurriedly, she answered his question. "Yes, it is a country run by numerous shogunates, the most important and powerful being the Tokugawa Shogunate, which we are standing in front of now. Tokugawa Ieyasu is the most powerful man in Japan; he has refused to meet personally with LOTUS at the moment, instead leaving things in the hands of a subordinate, Hisanori Yamane. We have to attempt to convince them to play nice with their neighbours," Shee sighed, "not an easy task in Japan. But don't tell them I said that!"
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:28 pm
"My lips are sealed," he said, a bit shortly, but he seemed to be returning to a happier medium with the apology. Asmadai did know how to keep a secret; he had taken confession for years now, and had never told a soul the words he'd heard. "Hisanori Yamane. Does he speak English?" It would be difficult if he didn't, because Asmadai only knew rudimentary words in that language- hurriedly studied when he heard he was coming here, and not at all proficient.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:44 pm
"Yes, luckily he does. We really should have brought Hana..." Shee frowned; she had thought it strange that Wraith had not assigned Hana to this mission instead of her, but quickly shook the thought out of her head.
"We should get going. No point in standing around here, unless you've got any more questions?" Yamane was a small, nervous man from what she knew. Hopefully they'd be able to diffuse the situation quickly-- she could feel their time running out. Shee started walking towards the door, and as she placed her hand on the heavy wooden handle, she looked back at Asmadai.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:19 pm
"No, I am sure I'll catch on." Who Hana was, he didn't know; he'd have to ask later. For now, it would be more important to concentrate on the matter at hand. Asmadai had little experience with any Japanese, but he had spent much time dealing with very honor-bound men who tended to order him around. That would help here, he hoped.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:26 pm
"Good." Shee smiled as the heavy door creaked and swung open slowly to reveal a corridor bathed in red with small gold filigree adorning its walls and a small figure clad in black standing at its end. Shee walked towards the man slowly, stopping to let Asmadai fall into step with her.
"Hisanori-sama. I trust you were expecting us?"
The little man took a few steps and stopped in front of Asmadai and Shee. "I was expecting one. Who is this?" Hisanori glanced at Asmadai, his eyes fixing onto the man's light hair.
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Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:29 pm
He kept pace beside Shee, clasping his arms behind his back, standing half a step behind her when they did come to a stop. "I am Asmadai Riffael," he said, ducking his head in a solid bow at the waist, straightened. Personally, the fact that Hisanori's glance had seemed to center on his hair was a little unnerving. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:58 pm
Hisanori's eyes narrowed as Asmadai spoke. He shrugged. "It is no matter. What is it you wish to discuss with the Shogunate?"
Shee kept her gaze fixated on Hisanori, resisting the urge to look back at Asmadai. "We would like to speak of the place of Japan in the global community, Hisanori-sama. I believe it would be best if we were to find a suitable place for discussions of such a sensitive matter?"
"Ah, yes. This way."
Hisanori opened the rich, cherry wood door at his end of the corridor and walked into a room in which sat a large, circular table and numerous cushions flanking it.
"Sit so we may discuss what it is you wish to discuss. I don't quite understand why this meeting is necessary. Would you like to enlighten me?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 4:46 pm
Asmadai stood just inside the door, keeping an eye on Shee for cues as to what to do. He felt rather like the proverbial fish out of water, waiting for Shee to give him a hint as to what would be the appropriate course of action. At the same time, though, it seemed like she was waiting for him. "We have heard," he said slowly- not in an insulting way, or as if he thought Hisanori were stupid, just as if he were measuring his words before putting them into speech- "that Japan is..." He paused, and thought this one over. "Under duress from her neighbors."
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:51 pm
Hisanori straightened as he, for the first time, took real notice of the blonde man.
"This one speaks the truth; I am surprised that he shows such understanding. Japan's neighbors have never respected her as they should. They do not see the pressures we are under! Especially that... that Russia. So much land, and yet there is nothing there! I am heartened to see that you are not fools."
Looking at Hisanori's much relaxed manner, Shee pursed her lips to hide her smile. Well, Asmadai had certainly said the right thing.
Hisanori was almost smiling now.
"And your organization... what are its plans? What are your plans here in Japan?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:23 pm
He was heartened that he hadn't offended the Japanese man. The first overture, he hoped, would be a good clue as to the progression of all the others. "A tragedy indeed," he said, very seriously. (Asmadai had not a sarcastic bone in his body, except by accident, and sometimes this caused problems. He thought Hisanori might understand, though, that he was being very serious.) "We simply hope to aid in easing communications..." With a glance at Shee- wouldn't she explain some of it? He wasn't quite sure he understood the entire problem, as it were, but if she expected Asmadai to keep going then of course he would.
The fact that they weren't only approaching Japan might help here, or it might hurt. "It is certainly true that Japan is not in the wrong here," he continued, fiddling nervously with the cuffs of his cassock.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:11 am
"Of course Japan is not wrong! We simply wish to find a place for our people to live. It is difficult, as Japan is so advanced, but has not enough land to contain its glory."
"Hisanori-sama," Shee began, "as Asmadai has mentioned, we hope that we may help facilitate talks between Japan and neighboring countries, especially--" she faltered, hoping that the man would not get angry, "Russia."
Hisanori started. "Russia wishes to talk? I doubt that. They'd rather coerce than talk."
"I assure you that Russia is open to negotiations involving living space and natural resources. We have members in Russia right now."
"What do you want of Japan?"
Shee took a breath. "We simply wish to avoid any form of violence. We would like to organize a meeting between officials from Japan and from Russi to discuss the pertinent issues. Would that suit you?"
"Why should Japan agree to this?"
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