Downtime 5 - Emiko

>>>>> Hey, Emiko!
>>>>> MK says I should meet you on her work night.
>>>>> She has plans for us on her free night.


Pretti texts the tone and date she’ll be waiting at the Finish Line.

>>>>> PS~ Even if it’s business, I still wanna sing!

Emiko says to Setsuko, "How about if I pick up some food and wine and we stay in at your place?"

The day Emiko is to meet up with Setsuko, she finds the final game of Urban Brawl she played in. While watching sports is boring for Emiko, she wants to know why her friend is in so much pain.

((I'm not sure what happened at the game nor the severity))

That evening Emiko places an order from an Indian restaurant for a few appetizers, dishes, and naan bread. She first picks up a bottle of wine, then a get-well care package for Setsuko, and finally the Indian restaurant.

Emiko heads to Setsuko's.

“I brought Indian!”

Emiko gives Setsuko a hug but making sure to not apply pressure. “Oh wow, look at you! You’re looking much better.”

“You sure you wouldn’t want to go out dancing instead, ” Emiko asks with a smile and a wink. “Have a seat, I’ll get the table ready and you tell me how much of a jerk that troll is and all the great stuff about the game.”

Emiko hands Setsuko her get well basket containing creams, bandages, plush teddy bear, and a cute card meant to make Setsuko laugh. She then puts out dinner and pours two glasses of wine.

”How long until you’re back on your feet?”

In reply to the see-you-soon text:

>>>>> Awesome!
>>>>> When you arrive, tell Yuusuke (the owner) you’re part of the Pretti party in room 3.
>>>>> , PR3π1
>>>>> PS~ Spyder’s here. I was gonna ask her how to look up a two-year-old video. I think none of the legit sites show it.
>>>>> But she was busy, and I didn’t wanna be rude. Here’s the video suitable for the public. I’ll explain when you get here.


She then sends a link. It’s a video of costumed dancers. They’re all dressed like a bunch of fantasy amazons: feathered helms, strappy pointe shoes, chain mail biki…no. Flip sequin bikinis meant to resemble chain mail. And it’s more like a sports bra and hot pants.

The faces are obscured by the helms, which only leave a T-shaped opening. Aside from slight variations in height and skin tone, the women all look like the same girl doing the same thing in fifteen places at once. (For some moves, one or five or ten of them does a different thing, but it all matches the throbbing beat.)

They’re impressive, if you can appreciate the dancers’ skill (or their costumes, which are mostly skin, really), but a minute or so into the routine, the camera jitters and blurs, and pans a little away from the lead dancer and toward two men fighting. Once in focus, the men are two punchy silhouettes over a backdrop of lasers, colored smoke and waxed, synchronized legs. The shadowy figure on the left takes a step back from the larger opponent. He reaches by his hip and there is a bright red lens flare—

End of video.

"I'll admit I'm not the best at sports... wait, hold on..." Emiko takes out her deck from her purse and types quickly. Her eyes flutter for a few seconds and she says, "Ok, let's talk sports."  Emiko smiles, "I got some enhancements myself."

Emiko pours Setsuko wine and then a glass for herself. "It was the semi-final game. The other team lets you win, then they're out. Sure, they took out you and two others but they took themselves out.  Who wins? A few people. It could be the team you have to face. It could be someone who wants to hedge their bet.  We need to look into this!"

Emiko takes a gulp of wine and calms down. "You know that I've been in some gruesome situations but nothing like what you put yourself through. If there's anything I can do to help you, please let me know. I don't want you to give up."  Emiko thinks for a moment. "You know, there's a girl I met recently. She had her lower torso removed in an accident. She is nothing but metal from the navel down but she moves like a cat. She skates too! You're tough and you're going to be fine. Your Setsuko!"

Emiko is wary to give Setsuko Pretti’s number. She recalls the story Pretti told about losing her legs. Obviously this urban brawl is much more dangerous than dancing. But, Pretti is a big girl and can make her own decisions.

“If you’re serious about my friend subbing, I’ll have her call you.”

”Ok, let’s get your mind off this. What do you want to do tonight? Watch a movie? Go find that troll’s house and egg it?”

Emiko messages Pretti about calling Setsuko after she leaves ((will message on Pretti’s thread))

"Got it, I've got some contacts I will get in touch with and forward your way."

"Let's get your mind off this and into something more positive. I'm guessing a rom-com is out. How about an action movie where they don't even bother to write a story but the guys look incredible and the explosions are non-stop?"

Emiko heats up a bag of popcorn and then turns down the lights, starts the movie, and sits close to Setsuko.

A couple hours after karaoke, Pretti sends a text:

>>>>> Hey, Emiko!
>>>>> I’m home with MK, who’s zonked our from her late work night.
>>>>> Glad I got to meet Kin, and I’m also kinda glad I caught up to Spyder.
>>>>> She reminds me of MK, kindhearted, but an introvert.
>>>>> And Dash is a real piece of work.
>>>>> I really mean piece of .
>>>>> Next time you see Spyder, just let her know she can always hang with me if I happen to be at Finish Line.
>>>>> If she needs to get away from a creepy guy, or just have me deflect some of the attention…
>>>>> Let’s just say I’m immune to a guy’s charms too.
>>>>> Oh! And fiercely loyal to MK.
>>>>> I hope my attempt at solidarity didn’t make me look like a floozy.
>>>>> (I whipped my bra off out there on the street in attempt to cheer Spyder up!)

Emiko spends the movie laughing uncontrollably. Afterwards, she says to Setsuko, "Wow, you picked a great movie, thank you for that. I really needed that."

Emiko gets up to clean the mess from the night's meal.

If Setsuko suggests that Emiko should spend the night, she does but Emiko gets the feeling Setsuko would prefer some time of her own to heal. In that case, Emiko will say, "thank you for a fun night. I'll ask around for some substitute people. You know I would do it but..." Emiko wiggles her noodle arms. "Give me a call if you want to hang out again soon. I think I have a job coming up shortly, so I hope I see you before that."

Pretti sends a text.

>> Hey, Emiko! Hope life’s treating you well!
>> Was just at the Temple of the Heart, getting prayers of protection from Kireina, the famous miko.
>> Long story.
>> Anyway, if you got any jobs you think I can handle, let me know.
>> , Pretti

Pretti sends her location.

>> Yeah, I’d love to bum a ride!
>> I’m still around the temple, and can just hang here, if you mean you’re on your way literally like right now.

(If Emiko means to pick up Pretti later, she suggests Finish Line as the meeting place.)

At the community center, Pretti sends a text to Emiko. They’re literally standing right next to each other. Why wouldn’t she just flat out ask?

>> Are you and Setsuko close?