154/Witch Business at the Midori-Ya

Witch Business at the Midori-Ya
Date of Scene:	09 July 2015
Location:	Uminari City - Midori-Ya Cafe
Synopsis:	Hannah and Kyouko discuss Witch business over lunch. Threats and bluster are traded.
Cast of Characters:	Hannah Sharpe, Kyouko Sakura

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Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Thank goodness Barrier Jackets are inherently comfy and breathable, as today is rather hot. After her fight with Kyouko, she's been heavily on the mend, a blood transfusion and an obscene amount of stitches meaning she's both alive and mostly has use of her arm. It's currently in a sling as she heals, Miss White currently occupying a table in the back of the Midori-ya. Coffee and scones are being devoured by the hungry woman, her hand running over documents in braille and typing on a laptop. Siiiip. Even wounded, her work isn't stopping.

The Cafe, in the mid-day, is somewhat empty today. School hasn't let out, and so the usual rush of students isn't here. No, it's fairly cosey and quiet today. Perfect for working! Miss White whistles a tune, a lanyard in her ear as she listens to music as she eats and works.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    One of the benefits of being The Undeads (even if you don't know you are) is that wounds heal quickly- fairly instantaneously, in fact, with the application of Grief Seeds. Of course, the flip side is that 'exhaustion' often literally means death for a Puella Magi- or a fate worse than death. Anyway, the upshot of this phenomenon is that although Kyouko was in pretty rough shape directly following her encounter with Miss White, she is currently, a few days later, displaying absolutely no ill-effects. That does not mean that she has forgotten the incident, however.
    Still, it would be wrong to say she is in any way looking for the other woman. Rather, she is doing what she does most days- wandering the city, looking for ways to entertain herself until the evening, when she will begin her daily Witch hunts. This quest for entertainment has two constants- video game arcades, and food. It's the latter desire which brings her to the cafe- not a place she's known before, simply one she happens to pass by. Some yummy-looking muffins in the window caught her eye, and so in she came.
    Unlike many other forms of Magical Person, there is nothing to hide her identity when she is not in Puella Magi form. She is clearly recognizable as the same person, merely in a different outfit. By and large, this does not concern her- she has no one she cares to hide her identity from, having little in the way of personal connections and even littler in professional ones. So anyone who happened to spot her now who has seen her as a Puella Magi would have little difficulty in making the connection. She is not paying much attention to her surroundings though- or at least not the people in them. Rather, she is beelining for the counter, fingers searching in the pocket of her hoodie for the few coins that can be found jangling around there.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Nomf! Down goes the last of her delicious pastries, and Miss White pauses. Coffee down! Gathering up her empty things, she's off towards the counter! Rather than actually use her Device, she's relying on the old fashioned cane method, and thus there's the tapping sound coming up from behind the other girl.

And might even whack into the back of Kyouko's ankles. There's a familiar voice that comes a moment later.

"Ah! Sorry about that. I did not hear you there." Comes Miss White, voice all warmth and smiles. Not the bloodthirsty ones from last night, either. Here? She seems almost like a normal person.

Which does beg some questions: why doesn't she recognize Kyouko, and what kind of Magical Girl goes around at least in part in henshin like this?

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Well, the answer to that should be made pretty obvious by the cane. It's a credit to Miss White's abilities, magical or otherwise, that Kyouko did not actually realize she was blind during that encounter. The impact of that cane onto one of her ankles causes the redhead to flinch, and begin to turn angrily to berate whoever was so careless.. though the voice that speaks gives her pause. She remains silent for a moment, processing what she sees when she turns, and the implications of it.
    Then she does respond, and likewise her voice would be quite familiar.. just as snarky and dripping with arrogance now as it was the last time Miss White heard it, though perhaps 'unwaveringly self-confident' would be a more polite way to put it. "Yeah well, watch it, will ya? Girl deserves the chance to buy a muffin without getting beat with a cane." She has paid for said muffin, and she now moves to one side and raises it to bite into, her sharp little fangs tearing a hunk from the baked good and chewing it as she regards Miss White, wondering perhaps if the blindness is an act. Or maybe she beat the other woman so severely she /went/ blind. Kyouko can't quite decide if this would please her or make her feel guilty.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
It takes her a moment, but that voice, that dripping arrogance...she briefly considers bringing her Device online, but quickly decides against it. Even the few scattered patrons are too many. She'd need to put up a barrier, and she doesn't have the magic for that right now. She's lucky she could even manage an area search after that fight.

That smile, however, doesn't waver. Her brows rise. Recognition finally dawns as connections are made. Or at least, hypothesis.

That cane is held to her body, hugging it a little, and she offers a tiny little bow. Sincere or mocking? It might be hard to tell.

"You have me on that one! My apologies, Miss...?" Time to confirm, and start playing the social game.

"Could I buy you lunch, then, as an apology? You sound hungry." A chuckle here at the sound of muffin being torn into like a rabid animal.

Then, there's a hand offered in her general direction.

"Kasagami White. Charmed." Should she accept? Kyouko will get just about whatever she wants. A minor show of wealth, just in case this is the girl she fought.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    "Miss Doesn't Like Being Patronized." is Kyouko's dry response, refusing to play the game, at least for the moment, still standing just a few feet away, hip cocked to one side, hand resting on it while the other holds the muffin up for more bites. But then Miss White offers to buy her lunch! This is a conundrum. Generally, Kyouko makes a habit of not spending time in the company of people who (from her perspective) attempted to murder her unprovoked. On the other hand, free lunch. They say food is the way to a man's heart, but that adage applies equally across genders in many cases, and especially with Kyouko- especially since she seldom has the money to afford a full meal, and generally subsists on what she can grab, which is more likely to be piecemeal food items than anything that could be called a 'meal'.
    And so, despite perhaps her better judgement, after a moment of silence, she agrees with a forced nonchalance. "Sure. I guess I could allow that." As if she wasn't salivating at the thought. "But no funny business, right?" This last confirming more or less that she is who she is thought to be, indirectly.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Miss White sighs a bit at Kyouko's response, then there's a finger pointed at her.

"You should really gain a sense of social standards. It would do you well."

Then she's smiling again towards the current employee.

"Two Midori-ya specials for my hungry friend here! On me!"

Then she's waving Kyouko over to a table, soon packing up the laptop and documents. She might be able to catch a brief glimpse of the screen: a ton of graphs, formulas, and other data attached to a file: Kyouko Sakura.

Then, when they sit, she nods. Her voice lowers.

"Absolutely. Too many people around, and frankly, I am in no position to actually fight you right now." She motions to the arm.

"...I take it you are still not ready to accept my offer?" Comes the woman as she too starts sipping and eating on lunch. Despite how hard she got hit, if anything, it only makes her want to hire Kyouko more.

Then she's chuckling. "I mean, you already are likely to leave me something to remember you by. A nice plush office building on the top floor would be great repayment, right?" Grin. Yes, another sale's pitch.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    "Why? Society doesn't do anything for me." Kyouko replies carelessly, in a perhaps poignant reveal if one were to think about it a little. Still, she has no compunctions about walking over to the table, her gait a loose, confident stride (not that Miss White can really appreciate that, though). She glances at the laptop, but one gets the sense that 'reading', especially reading quickly, is not something she does often- not that she can't, she did attend school for most of her early life, but rather that she's not in the habit of doing so, her life the past few years requiring little in the scope of literacy.
    She sits, not seeming at all intimidated, though to say she was 'at ease' would be a bit of a misapprehension as well. She actually smirks a bit when Miss White admits to not being in a condition to fight- even though the last encounter was a close thing, in the aftermath Kyouko has the unchallenged advantage due to Magic Healing Properties, which makes her feel a bit more confident than she already had been. Less threatened, anyway. "The only thing I'm interested in is tribute.. not payment." Is the reply. She will be Queen, or she will be nothing. Such is her position.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Miss White just shakes her head.

"Well of course not. Society only does things for you when you /make/ it do things for you. How do you think I climed to where I am on the social ladder?" Chides the girl, before chomping on a donut.

She answers her own question like a jerk.

"Hard work!"

She can all but feel that confidence in Kyouko. It's deserved, even she could admit. The woman barely took any wounds, and definitely heals faster than she does. But Miss White isn't one to show fear in the face of a predator like Kyouko.

"Really? Ahhh, well, you will come around in time. It must get lonely. Working all alone like that. Even if you /do/ have the power to outcompete with us on your lonesome, well...no person is an island, or so they say. I wonder if you will get eaten by a Witch, or go insane first from lack of contact with others. Mmm." A shrug.

"Offer still stands whenever it becomes too much for you." She ends.

Then, she pauses, going on to less relevent matters. "...So do you go to school? You sound young. Or are you just a delinquent?"

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    "More like society only does things for you when it can profit from you." Kyouko counters, full of cynicism. She's practically overflowing with 'rebel girl, nonconformist' attitude, although how much of it is the way she really feels and how much of it is simply a defense mechanism is hard to determine. Miss White strikes straight for the weak point though, with her talk about being lonely and 'no person is an island' and stuff. Way to identify Kyouko's single greatest armor-chink, even if it was by accident. Miss White likely can't see Kyouko grow a bit pale and look a bit haunted, but she might catch the slightly rushed tone of the denial. "I have plenty of contact with others. I'm having contact with you right now, although I'm starting to think it was a bad idea."
    When the topic of school is raised, Kyouko can return to being her snarky, arrogant self. "What do I need to go to school for? They ain't gonna teach me about hunting Witches, and I don't think I have a future in the business world to look forward to. I'm a Puella Magi, I hunt Witches. Nothin' else really matters." Unlike most Magical Girls, who balance a 'normal' life and a magical life, Kyouko seems to have more or less abandoned the former.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"That /is/ the ticket! Profit profit profit! People above you profit from you, you profit from people below you. Just have to be smarter and stronger and more apt." She replies, so sure of herself and clearly riding the capitalist mindset. She'd have to, in order to set up a business around Witch hunting.

She might not notice that paling of skin, but she sure catches the denial.

"Do you now? Well, I do suppose I am being rude. Sorry, sorry! Being hurt puts me in a sour mood! Let me buy you lunch again another time. You have an attitude, but you are fun to talk to when we are not trying to kill each other." Comes the woman non-chalantly.

Hannah mmm's at the new information. "So not even bothering with the facade? Ahh, that explains a lot about your ways. Well, knowing what I know, I cannot exactly say you are wrong. No wonder you are so efficient at your job." It seems to be the only thing that exists for her.

Then she closes a single eye.

"Is that really all you think about though? No dreams? No desires other than just staying alive?" She digs.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko scoffs slightly at Miss White's thoroughly corporate attitude. "I am smarter, stronger, and more apt." She insists. "And I do profit from it.. 'cause I can do whatever I want, and if anybody tries to stop me, I just kill 'em." She shows a feral little grin. This is an exaggeration- she's never /killed/ anybody unless forced into it (as she might have with Miss White herself the other night), certainly never out of maliciousness. But she has been known to run people off of her perceived territory, often in bloody shambles, and it never hurts to talk a big game, does it?
    The insistance of talk about dreams and stuff makes her a little uncomfortable though. As noted previously, Kyouko is nearly unequalled when it comes to instincts, reactions, and snap decisions. But she is not a strategist, she doesn't deal well with subtlety and long-term manuvering. She shifts in her seat, as if trying to come up with some kind of effective reply, and finally settles on, "My dream is for everyone to stop gettin' in my way. And it's to never have to kneel to anybody ever again. If I can have those two things, then I'd be happy forever."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Unfortunately, Miss White is quick to call her bluff, or at least throw some salt back at Kyouko.

"Really? Were you simply feeling generous last time, then?" Posits Miss White, a corner of her mouth curled up in a smirk.

Not that /she's/ ever killed anyone that wasn't a youma. Seems they're both talking up at each other today!

That shifting, that uncomfortable sensation, Miss White finally latches onto something that she can really get her claws into the girl with.

"And do you think that a single person, by themselves, can become that strong without any kind of support whatsoever? In your own, small way, you are ambitious. Not to /my/ degree of course, but who am I to judge?" She's utterly judging, here.

"Well, we will just have to see how you turn out in this town. Lots of things are outside the norm. Kind of exciting, huh?" A chuckle, and a coffee sip. Then she crosses her legs.

"Say. Satisfy my curiousity, would you? A Puella Magi...how are you made? From what I understand, they are not born like most. Where do all of those powers come from?"

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    "No, I just couldn't bring myself to finish off someone so pathetically deluded." Kyouko responds, again with that dry tone which bespeaks such cynicism. "It's no fun once you can't fight back anymore." She tactfully decides not to include the tidbit that she was a hair's breadth from collapsing herself without the chance to cleanse her soul gem, which is tricky to do mid-combat.
    That moment of exposed weakness is past though, even as Miss White goes in for further jabs- Kyouko having sealed up the chinks in her armor with a mortar of callousness. "I'm already that strong without any support. And anyway.." Here she pauses, leaning forward on the table slightly and arching a brow. "I never said I was against having support. I just said I was against workin' /for/ anybody. So if you ever decide you get tired of bein' the boss, you just let me know and I'll give /you/ a place in /my/ organization." Not that she has one. But she might someday. Maybe.
    When Miss White then turns around and starts asking about Puella Magi, Kyouko seems a bit confused. "What, you got that scary dark-haired chick workin' for you and you don't even know that much? It's a contract, of course." She might not be willing to talk about the specifics of her own wish, but that doesn't mean she won't talk about the general system.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"...Is that how you saw things? My, my, my. So you gave me one good wound. A /real/ strong mage would have obliterated me with an opportunity like that." Pushes back Miss White. She hardly mentions the whole 'nearly passing out into Tuxedo-Guy's arms'. No, bravado seems to be the name of the game today.

Miss White work for /here/!? She snorts, snickers, and then just belts out a laugh.

"M...me, work for you!? Are you kidding me!? You...you snarky little..."

When she finally controls herself, she leans back, and just smiles.

"You are /very/ entertaining, Kyouko-san. I think I like you. Sorry, I am only going to the top, so I only need partners and subordinates in the end." A shrug.

Ahh, Homura.

"If you have not noticed, she plays the 'mysterious stranger' bit to a tee. I can get some information out of her, but when it comes to the really useful things, she loves holding back. And she is too skilled to just get the information from physically. I need her talents." A shrug.

"Besides, she is only one person. I can gather better data about Witches, Puella Magi, that kind of thing if I get multiple perspectives. You know what you are doing, and have been around a long time I presume. So your ideas, theories, experience...all valuable data points." Explains the woman.

"A contract, hmm? So you form a contract in order to obtain a wish. Do you form that contract with a person? A concept? What kind of spell gives you that kind of power?" Pause. She sighs.

"I take it no one has had the wherewithal to try to actually gather some data on the mechanics of that?" She's clearly not expecting a that to be the case.

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    "Obliterating you or not has nothin' to do with strength.. only with restraint." Kyouko counters, smirking. "Unlike less skilled Magi, I know how to control myself." Well, sort of. That's her story and she's sticking to it. As Miss White seems to find the whole concept of working for Kyouko hilarious, the redhead merely continues to smirk. "Well then, now you know how I feel, right? When you want to be at the top, you can't work for nobody. Unfortunately, there's only room for one up there. 'Course, I only want to be top of the Puella Magi.. which you aren't. So if you kindly butted the hell out of the Witch business, you could be the top of anything you wanted and it wouldn't be any of my concern."
    As to the bits about Homura, Kyouko merely shrugs. She's only met the dark-haired girl once, and it was not a meeting on the best of terms. It's not like she knows her well or anything. "I didn't say anything about a wish." Kyouko says, suddenly defensive. "I just said it was a contract. You make a deal." As to who or what that deal is with, she suddenly finds herself a bit less willing to spill all the beans. "I feel like if he wants you to know, he'll tell you himself." Is all she says.. not giving the wish-granter any greater identity than 'he', although even that is truthfully a misnomer. (Do Kyubey's have gender? An issue unexplored, though likely considered largely irrelevant by the Kyubey's themselves).

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Here, Miss White actually /blushes/.

"...Admittedly, I went a little overboard last night. I just get so excited about strong mages! You are the first in a long, long time to give me an honest thrashing! Oh, and I learned so much! We really need to do that again some time!" Grin, and a giggle. Clearly, this woman has problems.

"Oh, I completely understand how you feel there. Honestly? I would prefer that we be friends. Really, I would. But you see, not only do I have a ton of capital tied up in Witch business, but clients, lines of research, and even a few potential toys to come out of all of this. A few are actually almost finished." Siip.

"So even if I wanted to, I am already in deep. No backing out now. Besides, I am not a coward who simply runs away from a problem." That problem, of course, currently being Kyouko.

"Wish, contract, hah, /miracle/...call it what you want, I know that much." She almost gets to the juicey part, then her head hangs. Sigh.

"Really, you Puella Magi are so stingy! All I want is a name, a description, and a meeting place! Bunch of short-sighted freeloaders, I swear! Cannot even see long term benefits. Though I suppose the long view is not something you all get to take often." Probably Homura is the only one.

Then, she shrugs. "Oh well. Tell the little candyman to come by my office some time. He and I have a /lot/ to talk about."

She leans back, enjoying her drink for a moment, letting all the tension ease.

"Still, I am interested in any magical phenomenon. So if you really are not interested in that kind of thing, and you want to bring it to my attention or do some headhunting, you will get rewarded. Keep that in mind."

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko's expression grows a bit darker as Miss White talks about all the investment she has locked up in the Witch business already- not because any of it means anything to her in particular. Just because it makes it clear that the other woman has little to no interest in backing down... another thing they have in common. The rest of Miss White's comments on Puella Magi and a desire for information are largely ignored. Instead, Kyouko merely waits for her to finish.
    Then she leans forward over the table. Her brows are drawn together, and her expression is locked in a scowl, that one fang peeking over her lip dangerously. "Well, listen up, sweetie." She says, her tone low and dangerous despite the pet-name, here used in a condsecending manner. "If you have no intrest in getting out of my business, then it looks like you'll get your chance to have that re-match whether you want it or not. So lemme just drop another word of warning for ya, although I know it won't do any good. Stay the hell out of my way." Miss White can't see her, but if she could, she would definitely notice the predatory glow in Kyouko's eyes, a reddish gleam deep in their depths which suggest that despite all that's happened, Kyouko has not yet been pushed to her limit, but that limit does exist. "If you don't, I can't be held responsible for what might happen to you.. or your employees." Now /that/ is a threat. Kyouko targetting Miss White's employees might not be such a good thing.. although Homura can take care of herself, can they all?
    Abruptly, the redhead stands. "I ain't hungry anymore. Thanks for the offer though. Maybe I'll take you up on it some other time." Hands stuffed in pockets, she turns and begins to exit the cafe.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"It seems, then, we are at an impasse. A shame. I really /do/ prefer diplomacy." Comes Miss White. Odd words for one who tried to have the girl initially gunned down in an alleyway.

And then she's threatening not just herself, but her /employees/. She stiffens, and anger plays on her face openly. Every instinct tells her to beat the woman's face in, dark impulses rising. Her heart burns with anger and fury.

"...Listen. You want to hurt me, fine. I can take it. You start touching the office workers, then we are going to have serious problems. Keep it above board kiddo, or this is going to become something far more than just business. You would do well to keep it that way." Fires back Hannah, scowling.

She can't even get herself to respond as Kyouko leaves. She soon stalks out herself, kicking over a trashcan as she leaves.