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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jun 19, 2015 23:13:55 GMT
"Treasa! Would you come in here, please?" Kage paused as she heard her grandmother call for her. She stepped backwards in front of the office. Today, Treasa sported a black and red corset, which hugged her waist just so, pushing up her bust enough to give her quite a bit of cleavage. A black layered skirt with uneven sections of fishnet. She HAD been planning to go explore the shopping district, but she had the sudden feeling her grandmother was about to put a stop to that idea. "Aye..." she stopped herself. Her grandmother was giving her that look. The look she always gave when Kage started slipping into english. Kage inwardly cursed as she corrected herself. "Yes, Grandmother?" Her grandmother gave her an approving look. "Do you remember at your mother's funeral, a gentleman who introduced himself as your mother's colleague?" Kage shook her head, giving her grandmother a confused look. "He had a little girl with him," her grandmother added. "Ah....yes. I think I remember," Kage answered. "Good. Good. It just so happens that she attends the same school as you," her grandmother explained. Kage could see where this was going. Her Grandmother was trying to integrate her into high society. "So...what? Ye want me ter go and make friends?" Kage asked, crossing her arms. She lifted her chin defiantly. She did NOT like being here. What made her Grandmother think she was just going to stand down and give in? "I've invited her to tea this afternoon...and you WILL be courteous and welcoming. Her father and your mother were good friends. You'll treat her accordingly," her grandmother lectured. Kage held back a sigh. "Yes, Grandmother." Kage started to turn from the room. "And Treasa?" her grandmother called after her. "Change into something more appropriate." Kage released an exhasperated sigh and she trudged up to her room, settling on a black thigh-length, sleeveless dress that came up to her neck. The top part of it was sheer. She adjusted her mother's locket around her neck and slid a pair of moon earings into her ears, clipping the cuffs around the upper part of her ears. ( Dress, Locket, Earrings) |
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Michiko Fujiwara
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 20, 2015 3:21:34 GMT
Michiko's father had received and accepted the invitation. Michiko hadn't learnt about it until the night before. She wasn't excited to go. The funeral was all she remembered of the Nishimura family, and even that was hazy now, fogged over by time and removal. That small part of her life had been so permeated with sadness that she didn't want to remember it. It was her father who encouraged her to go with him. The daughter, the one she'd been introduced to at the funeral all those years ago, was one of the children who'd been taken in by the family. "She grew up in Scotland," Papa reminded her as she gazed with hesitance into her dinner. "It may be nice for her to meet someone familiar."It would be selfish to disagree. That girl was so sad back then; surely she was feeling lonely and sad now, at least a little. This would be like bookends. The sequel. Michiko didn't have an abundant amount of friends, but maybe this could be a way to make a new one. The estate was large, but not quite sprawling. Servants strode up to let them out of their car and walked with them to the entrance, led them inside. Michiko bent to remove her shoes, then stood to smooth the wrinkles out of her dress. She'd picked something in happier colors, since this meeting was (maybe) happier than the first one. Someone led them to an empty sitting room, the large windows unsheathed to let the sunlight pool in. Michiko quickly sat next to her father, twining a lock of her hair around her finger. What was the Nishimura Daughter like? Michiko couldn't remember a thing about her from the funeral. |
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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jun 22, 2015 16:50:49 GMT
"Treasa, why can't you wear something brighter?" Her grandmother nagged her. Kage rolled her eyes.
"I'm in mourning, Grandmother," Kage grumbled.
"What could you possibly be mourning?" Her grandmother snapped.
Kage just looked away. My old life, It wasn't something she could bring up. Her grandmother would just start going on about how her father was a deadbeat drunk who would never amount to anything. Oh, how Kage missed the farm and her father. She'd written him, but there had been no reply. She wondered if he hated her for leaving. She pushed the thoughts aside when she stepped into the sitting room. Unlike Kage, who loved the outlandish modern clothes she bought, her grandmother stuck to business attire. Kage always wondered how the woman wasn't dying of heatstroke.
"Ah, Fujiwara-san," Her grandmother greeted the man at the table. Kage vaguely remembered the man's face. It had been so many years since the funeral that the memory was hazy. And there was the daughter, prettier than Kage remembered. Then again, Kage's memories of that day were blurred by tears. She offered a smile to Michi.
"This must be your daughter, Michiko. Hello, dear," her grandmother greeted. Kage couldn't remember ever seeing the woman so friendly. "I believe you remember my granddaughter, Treasa."
Kage wasn't sure what to do. Curtsy? Bow? She ended up performing some combination of the two that almost had her falling face first onto the floor. Her grandmother cleared her throat as Kage regained her balance. That was a habit Kage had noticed shortly after their arrival. When the woman was displeased, her grandmother would clear her throat. Kage had to bite back a comment.
"It's nice to see you again," Kage greeted the two. She walked over to the table. Kouta, the butler, pulled out her grandmother's chair and helped the aging woman to sit. Kage slid into her seat on her own.
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Michiko Fujiwara
Mod Second Year
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Joined - January 1970
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 22, 2015 22:00:34 GMT
Michiko yanked her fingers from her hair, scrambling to follow her father's lead, stand and bow. She managed a small smile for the elder woman, finding her nerves already starting to unravel from their knots.
"It's good to see you, Nishimura-san," Seiji smiled warmly, easing back into his seat. "Both of you. How have you been?"
Michiko, already occupied with looking Treasa over, took longer to follow suit. Such a strange coord -- not 'strange' like unusual, because she'd seen all kinds of clothing before, but this was… oh, what was the word? 'Clumsy?' She wished she could have taken an eraser to Treasa's clothes and put her in something that fit together better. It didn't occur to Michiko that she was staring until Treasa turned. Their eyes met, and Treasa smiled. Michiko ripped her gaze away, turning it toward the table. Aaaa, how long had she been looking at her like that? She must have seemed rude!
Seiji kept speaking. "Keiko sends her apologies for not being able to attend. She's just begun filming her new project. It's very intensive." He looked to Treasa. "So, Treasa-san, I've heard you've transferred into Ouran Academy! How are you adjusting? I'm sure it must be different compared to life in Scotland."
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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jun 22, 2015 22:11:46 GMT
Right. Fujiwara-san and his wife were both in film. Kage vaguely remembered Seiji introducing himself as her mother's old colleague. She also remembered her father being fairly cold to him, though she didn't quite understand why.
"Keiko-san works herself to death," Makoto commented. The elderly woman adjusted her glasses. "I do hope she'll be able to come by next time. I'd love to hear about this project."
Kage had noticed the staring, but she was used to it. The kids at school often stared at her for her strange hairstyle and her accent. Still, she tried not to let it bother her. She knew her choice of dress was strange. Kage didn't pretend to understand much about fashion. She wore what she liked and the outlandish styles often pissed her grandmother off, which was a plus. Kage didn't HATE the woman exactly. How could she? This woman was family...but Kage always felt like the woman disapproved of her. And Kage held a grudge. The woman tore her away from her father and her home.
Fujiwara-san was speaking to her. Kage had only just caught Michi's eyes with her own then. She tore her gaze back to Michi's father and her smile faltered. He spoke quickly. It took her a moment to decipher what he was asking. "Aye, it certainly is different from the farm," she explained, "...I never really saw the city much back home, except in the summer when I stayed with me aunt and uncle." She noticed the look her grandmother was giving her. Disapproval. She quickly added, "...b-but it's really nice. I just wish I spoke Japanese better. I always feel like I'm about to say something..." Oh, what was the word? "...apple? No, that's not it...." She looked to her grandmother for the right word. "Wrong. I always feel like I'm about to say something wrong."
Kage's cheeks flushed as she hung her head. She really needed to get better at this language.
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 23, 2015 19:50:52 GMT
Seiji chuckled, giving a nod. "That's understandable. I think you've made progress." His mind drifted back to the funeral, back when Treasa was very young and seemed to have trouble understanding him. "The last time we met, you only knew simple words."
Seiji spared a glance at Michiko. She was being awfully quiet. In truth, she still wasn't comfortable looking at Treasa after she'd been caught the first time. She was sure Treasa thought she was rude. Maybe she should have stayed home after all. She wouldn't have embarrassed herself there. Moreover, what was she supposed to talk about with Treasa? And when? Papa seemed to be doing all of the talking, as usual.
Seiji picked up the conversation again. "I'm glad to see you're doing well. Natsumi and I were good friends, so naturally I worried about you once she was gone." He paused, watching a small army of servants arrive with tea and various trays of food.
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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jun 29, 2015 13:52:32 GMT
Kage managed a gentle, sad smile at the mention of her mother. She missed her, even though most of her memories were vague, the memories children tend to forget. Habit let Kage to lift a hand to the amber locket around her neck. It was one of the few things her mother had left specifically to her. Her grandmother had one to match, though Kage rarely saw her wearing it around company.
"Sometimes I still wish it had been you Natsumi had married," her grandmother commented, causing Kage's eyes to go from sad to annoyed. She threw her grandmother a look. Now was not the time for this. "But my daughter was ever the one to follow her heart and not her head. Treasa certainly takes after her mother in that respect."
Kage needed to change the subject. Now. She cleared her throat and turned to Michi, a bit of back on her face. "Michi-san," she greeted, hoping being a little informal would be alright. "What clubs are you in?" Perhaps the talk of clubs would get them off the subject of her mother and who she had married. Kage missed her father and this conversation was only drawing her back into the depression.
"Emmerson-san managed to convince me to join the Drama club," Kage explained, "...and I'm looking to join the Dance Team."
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 29, 2015 21:30:37 GMT
Michiko could only duck her head even farther down as Seiji let out a laugh. He sounded almost embarrassed. She couldn't blame him. She could feel her face heating up. Papa and… Treasa's mother…? Why? Had they been together in the past, long before Michiko had ever heard about? Were they in love once? Why else would Nishimura-san have wanted or… or still wanted them to get married? Michiko couldn't imagine it, and she didn't particularly want to. Why were they talking about this? She felt like an intruder.
"Michi-san."
…Michi-san?
No one had ever called her that before. Michiko lifted her head to gaze at Treasa, confusion pushing her eyebrows together. The extra color drained from her face as she willed her composure back.
"Ah… I'm part of the Drama Club, and the Art Club…" How strange. She couldn't remember seeing Treasa at Drama Club meetings before. Maybe she'd been more immersed in her designs than she thought.
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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jun 30, 2015 3:18:32 GMT
A smiled graced Kage's face and it seemed to make it all the brighter. Someone else into theatre! This was great! Kage could talk about it all day long with her Grandmother and only come out of it feeling like she knew next to nothing. When it came to the people she'd met in Drama, she felt all the more comfortable and more like a peer.
"Are ye going out fer the next play?" she asked excitedly. "Emmerson-san told me they're going ter be holding auditions fer Wicked. I'm so excited. It's one of me favorite musicals. Do ye know what it's about?" she asked. The more excited she got, the more she realized she was slipping back into English. Her grandmother cleared her throat and Kage realized she wasn't even speaking Japanese anymore. Her cheeks flushed.
"S-sorry..."
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jun 30, 2015 5:30:49 GMT
Michiko opened her mouth to speak, but Treasa seemed to do all of the speaking for her. Sh-she really enjoyed theatre, didn't she? Michiko let her lips ease shut, watching Treasa as she chattered on. It reminded her of when someone mentioned art or costume design; and it was so strange to see someone else react the same way she did about things, with so much fervor… but it was refreshing, too. She wasn't the only one.
She stifled a giggle by cupping a hand over her mouth. Oh, she hoped she didn't seem rude again! She already felt a little guilty over having to tell Treasa the truth. She might have been disappointed with her.
"Um… I'm not an actor," Michiko admitted, lowering her gaze. "I design and sew costumes." She didn't understand the rest, but she couldn't quite admit that. Treasa seemed embarrassed enough!
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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jul 2, 2015 2:26:45 GMT
Not an actor?
"Well that's alright," she stated, tilting her head slightly, giving off that sheepish grin. "That doesnay mean ye cannay enjoy the story," she explained. "The story starts out talking about Elphaba's birth and how she was born green. It then moved on to her starting school..." Kage trailed on and on about the basic plot of the story, not wanting to give too much away. After all, if Michi wanted to know the end, she'd just have to watch the rehearsals and the performances.
"I always identify with Elphaba...a girl who's different....wanting nothing more than ter be loved and accepted. The musical is actually based on a novel by the same name. The novel's...more adult, but if yer interested in readin' it, I'd be glad ter lend it to ye."
Kage noticed eyes on her. She turned to see her grandmother staring at her. The look on the woman's face was one Kage hadn't seen before. She slowly looked away, not sure what to make of it. It almost...seemed like her grandmother had seen a ghost.
"I cannay wait ter see the costumes ye design, though."
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jul 3, 2015 1:52:33 GMT
Michiko nodded, trying her best to hang on to Treasa's every word. There was so much to this play. She'd already started investigating on her own as soon as Wicked was announced as being the next show, but Treasa seemed to know a lot more than she did. It made sense. She'd said Wicked was one of her favorites.
"Are you going to audition for the part of Elphaba?" Seiji sent Kage a warm smile, pulling his teacup down from his lips.
Michiko pursed her own lips. Papa had beaten her to asking that question while she was trying to figure out how to word it. She mumbled a "thank you," just as the servants re-entered with more food. Cake. Her eyes ballooned, and stayed that way as one of the servants offered her a slice. Ah, she hadn't touched anything else, but… She nodded. Papa was still busy talking to Treasa about theatre things, anyway. There wasn't room for her to say anything.
It took everything in her to avoid humming out her excitement. She did manage to produce her phone from her bag and snapped a photo. There was a whole strawberry on top of her piece - so pretty that she almost didn't want to eat it! It occurred to her that she wasn't alone at the table, that the conversation had lapsed, and she felt her face heat up.
"Ah! Um… I put a lot of work into my costumes, so… so, if you end up being Elphaba, I'll need your input on what her costume should be. If you want." She glanced down. How embarrassing! "I don't know anything about Wicked, so I'm researching." Her mind wandered back to the novel Treasa mentioned. That… could be a big help on making sure she got things right. "Are you sure I can borrow your novel?"
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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jul 9, 2015 0:07:36 GMT
Kage nodded at Fujiwara-san's question. "Aye. I wouldnay mind playing Nessarose, that's Elphaba's little sister, either, but I'm going ter try me hardest fer the part of Elphaba." In truth, it was the only role she wanted. She always felt like the role had been written for her, the outcast with the large dreams. Kage wanted to make her own dreams come true.
"I've never been much fer fashion meself. Growin' up on a farm with no television'll to that ter ye, but I'll try ter help anyway I can, even if I donnay get the part." At the question of the novel, Kage nodded emphatically.
"Aye. It isnay like we don't go ter the same school. We're also in the same club. Hold onter it fer as long as ye like. I'm sure it'll help with yer costume designs as well."
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Michiko Fujiwara
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i'll flap my very own wings ｡.｡:+*
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Post by Michiko Fujiwara on Jul 11, 2015 22:30:53 GMT
Seiji nodded. "Well, I wish you the best of luck. But a word of advice…" he hesitated, gaze flickering down into his teacup. How could he say this without disheartening Treasa? He hoped this wouldn't be tough for her to hear. She seemed serious about this, like he had been when he was new to his university drama club, then the troupe from his early years. Better for her to hear it now than risk being surprised and disappointed later on. "Don't be discouraged if you end up with a small role. It happens to every newcomer. You're Natsumi's daughter, so I'm sure you'll blossom into a skilled actress, but it takes what will seem like an eternity of hard work for the spotlight to find you. I learned that over the years."
Michiko scooped a bit of cake into her mouth. Aaa, there were even more strawberries layered in the middle! Unfortunately, her mouth was too full for her to answer Treasa properly, so she sent a small nod and hurried her chewing.
She swallowed. "N-no… I can't." It was Treasa's book after all, and it seemed precious to her! What if Treasa ended up with the part she wanted and needed to use her book to get more into character? Moreover, they barely knew each other. Oh, she was imposing too much already, wasn't she? "I'll read it quickly, so you can use it if you need it."
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Post by Treasa "Kage" Munro on Jul 20, 2015 20:03:12 GMT
"Fujiwara-san is right, Treasa. Your mother spent years in the chorus before she landed a vital role," her grandmother explained.
Kage nodded. She took the advice to heart, but knew it wouldn't stop her from trying. She was determined to be Elphaba. The role was one she'd wanted since she'd read the book and heard the soundtrack. She remembered going to see the play once in Glasgow. It was the last show her father took her to. It had been just the two of them. A "date", he'd called it.
She missed those days.
Kage shook her head. "Hold onter it fer as long as ye need. I know it practically by heart now, I've read it so many times." She smiled, a bright smile.
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