Session Start: Mon Jan 02 14:47:04 2006 Session Ident: #MH3prologue [15:03:48] * It's a slow August afternoon, and you're sitting at home. The day's been dragging on, and Sayako is scheduled to come home any minute now. [15:05:09] * In fact, that's probably her now. You hear the tumblers in the lock turn over, and the door scrapes open. Her AIBO precedes her into the house, and she follows soon after. [15:05:50] * Hisame_Y brightens up. "Welcome back, older sister." [15:10:21] * She nods, and holds out a manilla envelope. "Afternoon, younger sister. How was your day?" She drops the envelope on the couch and sits down on the floor, scratching at her AIBO [15:10:51] It was good... [15:11:10] * Hisame_Y picks up the envolope curiously, and looks over the address. [15:12:55] * It's from America. The return address is for the Winthrop Academy. You've never heard of it before, though they've clearly heard of you. [15:15:49] * Hisame_Y blinks. [15:16:24] * Hisame_Y opens it curiously. "What's this...?" [15:19:23] * It's a glossy magazine-sized pamphlet. It's in English, though someone translated it into Japanese in the margins, though they didn't do a terrific job of it. [15:21:23] * The envelope also holds a return envelope with postage paid and a application, though most of it's already been filled out. The pamphlet's cover reads "Winthop Academy for Gifted Students", and shows a brick building, vaguely castle-shaped, with a tall clocktower and granite front steps. [15:22:30] * Hisame_Y reads over the margins, confused and curious. [15:23:15] Oneechan... have you heard of the Win... throp academy? [15:25:17] ( I'm going going with "oneechan" instead of "Older sister". They both mean the same thing, but oneechan's much less clunky. ) [15:25:23] * Charles nods [15:25:49] * She shakes her head. "Not really. Sounds English." [15:25:51] * Hisame_Y looks at the pictures too, curious about the architecture. [15:26:37] * You don't know much about American architecture, but it looks pretty old. The pamphlet says that it's a new school, so they must have bought the buildings from a previous owner. [15:30:16] * It looks pretty comprehensive. The campus stretches over nearly a dozen buildings, though only half of them are labelled. [15:35:03] * Sayako looks up from her AIBO. "What is it, anyways?" [15:36:47] It's a pamphlet for talented students or something... it's addressed to me. I think they probably meant you. I mean, we're both smart, but if anyone got one of these, it would have to be you... [15:37:58] But if they did mean me,... ah... um... [15:38:06] * Hisame_Y keeps reading over the pamphlet. [15:41:20] * "'Academy' makes it sound like a high school. Otherwise, they'd say 'University'. It's probably for you." [15:41:57] * Hisame_Y is suddenly a great deal more anxious now that she's pretty sure this is meant for her. [15:43:06] * Hisame_Y reads over some more. "It looks fancy..." [15:45:35] * Sayako looks over. "It's not bad, no. Would you go?" [15:48:43] Eh? Well... it's far away. I'm not sure how I'd do all the way over there... but it looks like a good school. I guess I can kinda speak the language well enough... [15:51:39] * She shrugs. "It might be good for you to get some experience elsewhere. I mean, it's up to you, but I might go for it." [15:51:50] * Hisame_Y nods. [15:52:06] I guess I'll try asking mother and father about it. [15:54:12] * She nods. [16:00:10] * Eventually, dinnertime rolls around. You're gathered around the table. Your mother's prepared... Not much, actually, but she was kind enough to pick up a box of fried chicken on the way back from work. [16:02:45] * Hisame_Y sits at the table happily. [16:04:43] * Your father looks up as he reaches for a wing. "How was your day?" [16:05:43] It was okay... I got a letter in the mail, though. It came from a school in America... [16:07:00] * "What was it about?" Your father seems genuinely interested. Your mother seems to be paying a little attention, but is mostly working on cutting meat off of a leg bone [16:08:41] I think it's inviting me to their school. FOr gifted children, I think... [16:10:48] * Your mother looks up. "That's excellent! Are you interested? It sounds exciting." [16:12:39] Ah.... it looks like it could be good for me... [16:14:52] * She nods. "It's your choice. I don't know how we could get on without you, but I'm sure we could buy a puppy or something." She smiles toothily, while Sayako looks down at her AIBO indignantly. [16:16:08] I guess I'll go... but I'll try to write to you as often as I can. [16:19:02] * Hisame_Y smiles softly. "Are you sure you'll be okay with this? It seems so dangerous there... though I guess the school would be in a good palce.... or something. [16:21:38] * She nods. "I'm sure they'd keep the school safe, at least. And it's for the best, if it's a school for the gifted. I imagine you'd learn more there than here." She pauses. "Just keep in touch, okay? It's going to be a long trip, and I'm going to miss you." Your father nods. "Just stay alert and don't trust anybody, dear." [16:21:45] * Hisame_Y nods... [16:21:48] Okay... [16:31:06] * It's been a few weeks since you decided to head to America, and you're finally there. Your family took the plane over with you, and said their goodbyes before heading for the return flight's gate. Now you're in Logan Airport, in Boston, just a little ways from Winthrop. Though the airport is crowded, you notice a handsome blonde man a white suit, carrying a hand-written sign that says "Yamada" in Japanese. [16:32:34] * Hisame_Y walks over uneasily, already missing her family somewhat. [16:34:39] * Hisame_Y tries to struggle with some English. "Ah... hello..." [16:35:48] * The man looks down and extends a hand. "Walter Simons. Are you Hisame Yamada?" He's smiling widely, though non-threateningly, and his voice is a deep baritone. He's almost suspiciously charming [16:36:04] Um.... yes... [16:37:57] * "I'm the vice head for the Winthrop Academy. We've chartered a taxi for you, if you'd be so kind as to follow me." [16:38:08] * Hisame_Y nods, and follows quietly. [16:40:23] * "Normally, I can't leave the school grounds for things like this, but the Headmaster is rather insistant. You're one of our most gifted students, and you came from so far that he felt I was obligated." [16:40:45] Eh? Really? [16:42:10] Ah... thank you... [16:43:36] * He nods. "Most of our students aren't aware of their gifts. Only a very few - the prize students, of course - know their talents. I wish I could speak more candidly, but given how we're still in public, we'll have to rely on innuendo for now." [16:44:25] * Hisame_Y is confused, but just dismisses it as problems in language. [16:47:44] * After a few minutes of walking, you reach the drive of the airport. Walter holds the back door of a cab open, and follows you inside once you get in. He knocks on the partition, and the driver pulls away. You go through Boston. By and large, it seems quiet. The traffic's rather loud, but the people keep to themselves. The buildings are a mix of new glass skyscrapers and old brick buildings, and it's a lot more calm than you figured. [16:49:11] * Walter looks up. "Honestly, I'm a little relieved to go back to the academy. I can hardly stand being outside Winthrop." It's the kind of statement that's in a conversational tone, but so opaque that it can't really be part of a conversation [16:49:52] * Hisame_Y watches the scenery tiredly. [16:51:21] Why is that/ [16:54:09] * He frowns slightly. "You could say that I'm defined by my work. The Headmaster and I have worked for quite some time on the school, and now that it's finally open, it's rather exciting for me." [16:54:32] * Hisame_Y nods... [17:00:28] * You leave the Boston city limits, and a sign by the side of the road announces that the Winthop Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to the town, and informs you that nearly ten thousand people live here. The houses here are large with sprawling lawns, and it's obvious that this is one of the rich suburbs. [17:04:08] * In a few more minutes, the taxi pulls through an open wrought-iron gate and up a long drive. You reach the end, by the building on the front of the brochure, and Walter opens the door and gets out. [17:05:16] * Hisame_Y steps out of the car and looks at the building, greatly impressed. [17:08:18] * "The dormatories are behind this building. I'd love to come and show you your room, but I need to finish some work before the Head decides to send me out again." He smiles slightly, and heads up the granite steps of the main building [17:09:00] * Hisame_Y blinks. "Um... what should I do?" [17:14:06] * It looks like that's up to you. The real flow of students seems to be towards where Walter said the dorms are. [17:14:50] * Hisame_Y moves towards the dorms, and looks trhough papers to see if she has her number. [17:16:13] * A short, dark-haired boy with his arms and part of his face wrapped in bandages is pulling a dolly loaded with suitcases, as a tall, freckled redheaded girl carries the front end of an antique desk, while a wiry man with a shaved head and red beard takes up the back. Most of the rest of the traffic is unremarkable. [17:16:53] * You have your room number on your acceptance letter. You live in 425 West. [17:17:44] * Hisame_Y looks for that room. [17:19:54] * It's not terribly hard to find. When you get there, a sticky note on the door says "Yamada, Hisame / Weyland, Jessica" [17:21:40] * Hisame_Y takes note it it, and enters with her stuff [17:24:38] * The room's a pretty plain square room. A radiator is against one wall, and there's a window. Jessica Weyland is already in the room, unpacking her things. She's already put up a couple posters (A Russian Ark movie poster over her dresser, and a print of Sleep of Reason over her bed) to claim her space. [17:25:28] Ah... hello... [17:27:50] * She looks up. She's a Japanese girl with a round face. She's dressed like she just woke up. "Hi. I hope you don't mind that I've already gone ahead and started setting up." [17:29:08] Ah... no, that is alright. [17:29:18] * Hisame_Y works on unpacking her things. [17:30:59] * She pauses. "You're from the old country? This is going to be an adventure." She says it in the tone of voice where it's hard to tell wether she's excited or not. [17:31:54] * Hisame_Y smiles nervously. [17:33:51] I have not left Japan before, so I am new to this place... [17:36:48] * Jessica smiles. "Welcome to America. I'm Jessica Weyland. But you probably guessed that by the note on the door." She holds out a hand. [17:37:29] * Hisame_Y takes it. She's pretty unfamiliar with the handshake, but she gets it well enough. "Hello Jessica..." [17:38:44] * "How's your stay been so far?" She sits back on her bed, pushing aside a tote bag. [17:39:33] I only just arrived at the airport today, so I have not seen much yet, but everything looks so much bigger... [17:40:48] But everyone is niec so far. [17:41:47] * "Bigger than Japan? You're kidding me. I thought you guys had, like, big freeways and zaibatsu and things there." [17:43:14] Ah... well... not quite... the roads here are much wider, and everyone seems taller... [17:44:27] * She nods. "I'll take your word for it." [17:48:15] * Jessica finishes setting up her side of the room and gets up. "I think I'm going to get dressed and meet the neighbors. See you later, Hisame." [17:48:32] * Hisame_Y nods. Good bye. [17:49:34] (And I think we can call it there.) [17:50:22] * Charles (~CHBoucher@dsl2-161.gsinet.net) has left #MH3Prologue Session Close: Mon Jan 02 17:51:49 2006