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[11:50] <Minaplo> Persona: A Study in Velvet, Chapter Two: The Curious Case of the Schoolboy in Space. Week Seven, May 24th
[11:52] <Minaplo> Tsunemori sat, arms-folded, at the bedroom's round dinner table, hands going clickety-clack on his laptop, which was, incidentally, the newest piece of tech in their entire inventory. A speaker blared out the dulcet tones of Kansas into the air, to which Tsunemori tapped his foot and bopped his head.-
[11:53] <Minaplo> Akira Kotsuhara lay on the bed, smartphone in hand, rereading the same four dozen posts she'd been reading all day. To her left, Tsunemori's questionable music choices wafted over her. To her right, the ongoing fucking war that was apparently going on outside.-
[11:55] <Minaplo> ("You were too stupid to catch me, Mr. Policeman!" "It's you!" "I GAVE YOU ALL THE CLUES, MR. POLICEMAN!" "You little brats! Do I have to arrest you all before you leave us alone!? This is official police business!" "Leave the official police business to us, officer. Trust me, we actually make it look fantastique!" "THAT'S IT. I'VE HAD ENOUGH!")-
[11:55] <Minaplo> The sound of footsteps as the copper stomped away, heralded by half a dozen other shouts and footsteps. Akira sighed.-
[11:56] <Minaplo> About a minute later, there was a knock at her door- followed by the sound of the lock disengaging and the handle being turned. Akira sat up.
[12:01] <Dinah> The whirlwind of action had been something of an annoyance when the reality was that it was just a door that stood between them and what they needed. But in reality, even Dinah knew it was a little more nuanced than that. Still, they'd gotten there, that was what was important. Giving Sachiko a nod, her hand went to the door handle after a customary knock, swinging it inward. Stepping in, her usual annoyed face was the first vantage visible as her arms crossed over her chest. "Hey." It's all she started with before she sniffed and glanced between them. "We gotta talk."
[12:06] <Sachiko> Sachiko was in a moment later, still in her school uniform. She'd had time to change but why ditch the signifier that might buy them a few extra seconds before the cops got called?-
[12:06] <Sachiko> On that topic, she held up the business card Akira had given Hideki earlier. "Sorry for the interruption. We were told you wanted to speak to us?"]
[12:08] <Minaplo> "You know, it's traditional to book an appointment first. Who the hell are you guys?"
[12:13] <Sachiko> "Sachiko Kurata," she said with a gesture towards herself. "And that's Dinah Schreier. We tried calling ahead, but your phone number wasn't exactly working."
[12:14] <Minaplo> Tsunemori- the dude- went pale.
"Really? Gimme that card." Said Akira, her hand out.
[12:15] <Sachiko> Sachiko turned it over.
[12:16] <Minaplo> Akira eyed the number. Then she shot Tsunemori an absolutely filthy look. "Yo, this number's got a typo in it."
[12:16] <Minaplo> "Uh…"
[12:16] <Minaplo> Akira pinched the bridge of her nose, tossed the card away then turned back to look at Sachiko and Dinah. "Okay. So you're Kurata and Schreier. And you know I'm looking for you because… Nakajima?"
[12:17] <Dinah> "Yep."
[12:17] <Sachiko> A nod.
[12:20] <Minaplo> Akira stared at them, as though not quite sure how to process the golden goose that lay in her midst. Then suddenly she swung her legs off the side of the bed, stood up and offered them her hand. "Akira Kotsuhara, Aichi Times. That over there is Kishou Tsunemori. Give us a hot minute to set up our cameras and we'll be good to go."
[12:25] <Sachiko> "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Kotsuhara, but no need to rush," Sachiko said lightly. "We had a condition. If you agree you can have your interview."
[12:26] <Minaplo> "… Ah."
[12:27] <Dinah> "Real simple. That tape of Nakajima's brother throwing a fit. We want it."
[12:29] <Minaplo> "Huh. Why?"
[12:32] <Sachiko> "Pretty simple - Nakajima doesn't want it to go public and hurt his brother," Sachiko shrugged. "We were brainstorming ways to get it back, and the simplest one was to give you the report it sounded like you wanted instead of video of a kid's tantrum."
[12:33] <Minaplo> "…" She folded her arms.
[12:34] <Sachiko> "Were we wrong?"
[12:36] <Minaplo> "Kid's tantrums can be important, depending on the kid. Dunno how much Nakajima told you about what went down in there, but that kid was tapping into something." Said Akira. "Was he the leader? I dunno. But I kinda feel like he might be eventually. Regardless, he moved this whole situation into a higher gear altogether, and I have footage of ground zero."
[12:38] <Dinah> "Only if something happens." She shrugged. "If not, it's just a kid throwing a fit at his brother. Every day someone's said something's happened to push it along and everyday it's pretty much just…this." She gestured out the window. "It's a gamble."
[12:39] <Minaplo> "True. I suppose the school could defuse the situation." Said Akira, her mouth twitching slightly.
[12:45] <Sachiko> "There's a whole lot of people not helping the situation, that's for sure."
[12:51] <Minaplo> "You understand that this is my job, right?" Said Akira, tightening her armfold. "Handing the tape over to you guys is pretty much the kind of thing that'd lose me my job if I don't deliver the goods. I get that the situation is…" She waved a hand at the window… "But this could break bad for me in a lot of ways, folks. So if you're really serious about giving me an interview in exchange for the tape, I'm gonna have a condition of my own."
[12:52] <Dinah> Narrowing her eyes a little, Dinah kept quiet for a few moments. "What is it?"
[12:53] <Minaplo> "You answer all my questions honestly, and you let me ask as many questions as I see fit." Said Akira. "Even if they seem tangential or not at all relevant."
[12:56] <Sachiko> Sachiko tapped her foot thoughtfully and glanced at Dinah to see what she thought.
[12:59] <Dinah> "Deal."
[01:02] <Minaplo> Akira nodded, and looked back at Sachiko. "She speak for you too?"
[01:06] <Sachiko> "No, but I'll still say deal," she said with a shrug.
[01:07] <Minaplo> "Neat."
[01:07] <Minaplo> They set up their microphones and cameras, which took about ten minutes.
[01:07] <Minaplo> "Alright. State your names?"
[01:09] <Dinah> "Dinah Sarah Schreier."
[01:11] <Sachiko> "Sachiko Kurata." While the cameras were getting set up she'd shifted her posture and expression in subtle ways to look a little more friendly and composed.
[01:11] <Minaplo> "Good. Just to repeat, I'm Akira Kotsuhara, Aichi Times." Said Akira.
[01:11] <Minaplo> "A question for both of you first. From what I can hear, you were both involved with the Asaka situation from the start. What was your involvement in how that situation came to be?"
[01:17] <Sachiko> "I argued with him over a uniform compliance violation during a class," she said simply.
[01:24] <Dinah> "About the same with me. We both got thrown into detention. People took it to mean a lot more than it was."
[01:25] <Minaplo> "Alright, so he put you both into detention because of uniforms. What then?"
[01:31] <Sachiko> "Our spats were pretty public. The gossip about them started circulating through the school, and gradually people began talking about fights or abuses they'd suffered around Asaka," she said. "Things kept snowballing on from there."
[01:31] <Minaplo> "Okay. What kind of abuses?"
[01:37] <Sachiko> "I'm not going to get into details without running it by a lawyer. What I'm willing to say is that many of the accusations involved racism, either directly or indirectly."
[01:39] <Minaplo> "Right. So he was going after foreign students? But you're Japanese."
[01:40] <Dinah> "He was also just going after girls in general, too."
[01:41] <Dinah> "…Not like that."
[01:42] <Minaplo> "So… Sexism and racism?"
[01:45] <Sachiko> "Basically."-
[01:45] <Sachiko> "… And for the record my mum's Korean, but I doubt he knew that."
[01:50] <Minaplo> "Hm."-
[01:51] <Minaplo> "So the events around the two of you became a lightning rod, letting people reveal all their various mishaps at his hands. Correct? At this point it started to become an official issue?"
[01:53] <Dinah> "Yeah. We didn't really appreciate being a scapegoat for the whole thing to blow up." Glaring at her meaningfully, she cinched her arms across her chest again.
[01:55] <Sachiko> "Mm. I'm glad people had the opportunity to discuss their experiences, at least."
[02:03] <Minaplo> "What was the school's response?"
[02:12] <Sachiko> "The school wasn't very communicative with us. The student council had to try and fill the gaps," Sachiko said. "I'm sure the school must have been working behind the scenes given the severity of the accusations, but we don't know when or how."
[02:14] <Dinah> "Probably wasn't a whole lot, considerin'."
[02:15] <Minaplo> "Mhm. And how much impact has that response had on today's current riotous situation?"
[02:19] <Sachiko> "In my opinion Asaka generated the initial anger, but the protest exists because of the failure of communication."
[02:20] <Dinah> "It's just a snowball. They didn't try to stop it, so it's just rolling and rolling."
[02:20] <Sachiko> Sachiko nodded.
[02:21] <Minaplo> "So the protests now are reacting to their poor handling of the situation, rather than Asaka himself."
[02:23] <Dinah> "Yeah, basically."
[02:24] <Minaplo> "What should the school have done?"
[02:29] <Sachiko> "Nothing complex. If they were investigating, communicate that to the people affected by it," Sachiko said. "Hell, if they decided he wasn't guilty, communicate that. I think just about any stance would've been superior to letting the situation fester and the anger grow. Now that it's taken on a life of its own they aren't really able to stop it."
[02:36] <Dinah> "Yeah. Just….anything at all would've been better. Might've still got us where we are now but it might've not."
[02:43] <Minaplo> "And at least the school'd have more of a leg to stand on, right?" Said Akira.-
[02:43] <Minaplo> "So what does the Student Council think about all of this?"
[02:46] <Dinah> Dinah shrugged, glancing to Sachiko. That was her question to answer.
[02:55] <Sachiko> "The council's obviously been under intense pressure, but we're doing our best to use this as an opportunity for the school to grow," Sachiko said. "When the anger started breaking we held an open call for anyone affected to share their stories, and we're trying to make sure those people - and the school as a whole - are taken care of going forward."
[02:57] <Minaplo> "So the Council's doing all the work whilst the faculty did nothing."
[03:00] <Sachiko> "I wouldn't say that. We're just trying to do what we can with the resources we have."
[03:01] <Minaplo> "Then what does the Council think about the faculty's response?"
[03:07] <Sachiko> "I'm barely a formal member, so I can't speak for the Council. Personally, though? Yes, I've been frustrated by it."
[03:10] <Minaplo> "You mentioned that you've been doing what you can with what you have. What extra resources has the faculty made available for you?"
[03:13] <Sachiko> "None that I'm aware of," she said.
[03:16] <Minaplo> "So you really are doing at least most of the work." Akira nodded. "Alright. Next question: just before these current riots, Asaka suddenly resigned. Any idea why?"
[03:22] <Dinah> "He could've had a change of heart." She shrugged. "Ain't likely but he could've."
[03:23] <Sachiko> "Or he saw which way the wind was blowing. Honestly the most we can do is speculate."
[03:25] <Minaplo> "A change of heart? At his age? In his position? With the things he might've done?" Said Akira. "Where does the Monster with 21 Faces come in?"
[03:26] <Dinah> "Probably some stupid kid stirring shit up."
[03:31] <Minaplo> "Any idea who that kid could be?"
[03:33] <Sachiko> "If we knew we wouldn't have much reason to keep it quiet. They threw us under the bus."
[03:33] <Minaplo> "Howso?"
[03:36] <Sachiko> "Eh, maybe less so for Schreier. But the whole school knew about that 'pants instead of a skirt' rubbish."
[03:37] <Minaplo> "Wouldn't they have known anyway? Didn't you two being given detention kind of set this whole thing off?"
[03:40] <Sachiko> "Yeah. I guess I feel differently being known for a thing I did than forcefully brought into the story of an email threatening the faculty of my school."
[03:45] <Minaplo> "Mhm." Akira nodded. "So you don't know who they are."
[03:47] <Sachiko> "I don't."
[03:48] <Dinah> "Nope."
[04:01] <Minaplo> "… Well, that's a bummer. If you do find out, who're you gonna tell?"
[04:01] <Sachiko> "Well we have your card…"-
[04:01] <Sachiko> A pause. "Maybe just write the correct number on it this time."
[04:02] <Minaplo> "So you'll tell us if you know who it is, huh."
[04:04] <Sachiko> Sachiko laughed. "We might, but in all honestly I have no idea. It'll probably never happen."
[04:04] <Minaplo> "Mhm. Okay. How are you all feeling at school right now?"
[04:07] <Dinah> "Bored. Annoyed. The usual."
[04:12] <Sachiko> She shrugged. "Pretty damn stressed, like everyone else. Just trying to do my bit to make that feeling temporary."
[04:18] <Minaplo> "Right, ok." She leaned back for a little. "So here's a question. I'm hearing reports that high schoolers and university students are stirring up the middle schoolers. What're your thoughts on that?"
[04:22] <Sachiko> Sachiko raised an eyebrow. "Really? Where did you hear that?"
[04:23] <Minaplo> "Around. Thoughts?"
[04:24] <Dinah> "Guess it's possible. I don't see what they get out of it, though."
[04:28] <Sachiko> "If that's the case I condemn it, obviously. It would mean actively making everyone a lot less safe."
[04:29] <Minaplo> "But is it happening?"
[04:37] <Sachiko> "If it is I haven't seen it."
[04:37] <Minaplo> "Hm."-
[04:40] <Minaplo> "Alright. Ms. Schreier, you asked what they'd get out of it, I'm gonna put that question to you, Ms. Kurata." Said Akira. "I've been told that there are groups fighting to protect Asaka at the school, that they're clashing with the ones who want an investigation into the school and the Council, and that these two groups are causing a great deal of trouble. What do you know about them and what is the Council going to do about the problem?"
[04:56] <Sachiko> Sachiko took a moment, tapping her fingers against her thigh.-
[04:56] <Sachiko> "Our school's pretty big. If even a small fraction of the student population agrees with Asaka's alleged perspective - or if they're empowered by them, or just willing to go along with them - that'd still be a sizeable group."-
[04:56] <Sachiko> "We can't do a lot to stop that. We can bring new facts to light, try and sway the people who are just misguided but…" She shrugged. "That's not going to be possible for the vast majority."-
[04:57] <Sachiko> "What we can do is unify the rest of the school to try and keep our vulnerable students safe. That's why I can at least understand what the people proposing investigation are trying to do. I think they're misguided in some of their targets and proposals, but at least we can work with that."-
[04:57] <Sachiko> "So what we're trying to do in the student council is to present a solution that makes those students happy as well as the students not aligned with either side. If we manage that I think we can do a lot to improve the culture of the school and avoid situations like this happening in the future."
[05:01] <Minaplo> "A solution? What've you got so far?"
[05:18] <Sachiko> "We're interested in formalising better, safer ways of bringing forth complaints about teacher or student behaviour. The loose system we put in place after the Asaka story broke seemed to empower a lot of people to talk about things they'd been suffering quietly, I think it would be good to keep that in place going forward."-
[05:18] <Sachiko> "I'd also like ways of ensuring these claims are then treated seriously by the school, but that would require some strong co-operation with the administration," she said. "We can't do that on our own."
[05:19] <Minaplo> "Any word on whether or not the school is going to co-operate or investigate or do anything?"
[05:21] <Sachiko> "Not to my knowledge."
[05:23] <Minaplo> "Why wouldn't they?"
[05:26] <Sachiko> "You'd have to ask them that, sorry to say."
[05:27] <Minaplo> "I have. They have no comment." Said Akira. "Why do you think they aren't?"
[05:32] <Sachiko> "I'm sure everyone has their own ideas, right or wrong, but if I plant my flag in any of them that's going to limit my ability to help people going forward," she said firmly. "They have their reasons, and I'm sure they'll work with us as soon as they're able."
[05:38] <Minaplo> "Right."-
[05:39] <Minaplo> "What do you know about university student Yua Tsukuda?"
[05:47] <Sachiko> She frowned. "I've seen her name on S-chat, but otherwise not a thing. Why do you ask?"
[05:48] <Minaplo> "She's been linked to one of those agitating the middle-schoolers. Doesn't matter."-
[05:48] <Minaplo> She gave Tsune a cut-hand gesture, and he turned the camera off.-
[05:53] <Minaplo> "So just to summarise. You guys kinda triggered the whole shebang with Asaka, but you can't actually confirm if he did what people say he did. He resigned, but you don't know why. You know he was threatened by Monster with 21 Faces but you don't know anything else about that, either. You know the school's done nothing but you don't know why, you know there's probably small groups causing trouble but you don't know who and don't know if they're upperclassmen or not, or what their motives are."-
[05:53] <Minaplo> "I gotta say, this is kinda losing out to the kid's tantrum. At least that had some spice."
[05:56] <Dinah> "Well, that's just how it goes. We had a deal."
[05:57] <Sachiko> "Yep."
[05:58] <Minaplo> "Sorry, but too bad."
[06:01] <Sachiko> Sachiko sighed. "Do we really have to do this?"
[06:12] <Minaplo> "Wait." Said Tsunemori. "Hold up. I can handle this." He held a hand out to Dinah and Sachiko.
[06:14] <Dinah> Dinah narrowed her eyes and sniffed, tilting her head to the side. She looked like she was ready to go off, though as Tsunemori spoke up, she looked straight at him. "Handle this how?"
[06:17] <Minaplo> "You guys want the tape, to help your friend. That's a noble goal, with good karma coming your way." Said Tsunemori. "We want something newsworthy, because that's our job. Well, I have some questions of my own, and I think, again, if you answer them honestly and openly, we can both be satisfied. Lemme tag in, boss."-
[06:17] <Minaplo> Akira eyed him suspiciously.
[06:19] <Sachiko> Sachiko actually smiled a little at that, as much from the surprise as anything. "Interesting. Tsunemori, right?"
[06:21] <Dinah> "No takebacks on this one." She stared the man down intently, arms crossed, exuding a simply violent energy as she did. "Because I'm pretty sure you've heard my name before. And I'm pretty sure you know what happens to people with cameras around me."
[06:21] <Minaplo> "Tsunemori, yeah. I'm sure you've heard my name, too."
[06:23] <Sachiko> Sachiko chuckled pulling herself up out of the slump she'd returned to once the camera went off. "Alright. So what sort of questions are we talking about?"
[06:24] <Minaplo> "Good questions. Ones that you'll wanna answer honestly. I will know." He said, patting his breast pocket.-
[06:24] <Minaplo> A few minutes later, he was the one with the microphone, whilst Akira, her expression frozen into a dubious mask, sat behind the camera.-
[06:25] <Minaplo> "Alright, Ms. Kurata, Ms. Schreier. Let's talk…"-
[06:27] <Minaplo> "About the significance of 5 Soejima."
[06:31] <Sachiko> "… Really? The dorm?"
[06:32] <Minaplo> "Not just any dorm."
[06:33] <Sachiko> "Okay. Want to run me through that?"
[06:35] <Minaplo> "Asaka went after the both of you, and as it turns out, you both live at 5 Soejima. So does your friend Nakajima, whose girlfriend apparently started some of the rumours- and whose little brother is now the focus of a lot of attention. All of you, at 5 Soejima." Said Tsunemori. "That's an interesting coincidence, isn't it?"
[06:36] <Dinah> "It's a coincidence, sure. Coincidences aren't interesting."
[06:37] <Minaplo> "But what if it's not a coincidence?"
[06:37] <Sachiko> "Why don't you tell us what you think it is and we can work from there?"
[06:38] <Minaplo> He chuckled. "How many other people live at that dorm?"
[06:40] <Dinah> "Us two, three others. A cat. And someone that….might live there? I don't really know about Box Lady." She turned to Sachiko at that, brows lifted in a question.
[06:41] <Minaplo> "'Box Lady'?"
[06:42] <Sachiko> "Pretty sure she lives in the basement," Sachiko said, answering Dinah's question rather than Tsunemori's.
[06:42] <Dinah> "That just…what?" She frowned. "I just have more questions now." Quiet for a few moments, she lifted her brows again. "We have a basement?"
[06:44] <Minaplo> "There's a basement?"
[06:48] <Sachiko> "Anyway," Sachiko said brusquely. "'Box Lady' is Miss Asahina, she's the building manager. We don't really see her much."
[06:50] <Dinah> "We don't see her at all. If she's there, she's in a little like…cubicle thing. Hence, Box Lady."
[06:50] <Minaplo> "Why is she in a cubicle…?"
[06:50] <Dinah> "We've been wonderin' the same thing."
[06:52] <Minaplo> "That's kinda weird."
[06:58] <Sachiko> "Yeah, it kind of is," she agreed with a helpless shrug. "So five people and a cat, why do you ask?"
[06:59] <Minaplo> "That's a tiny amount for a dorm. It has to be way below capacity. That's kinda unusual."
[07:01] <Dinah> "It is. Me, I always just figured it was 'cause of my parents or whatever. Surrounded by less people, less chances I'll beat the shit out of them."
[07:02] <Sachiko> "The rest of us were placed there as sacrifice to Schreier's fists."
[07:03] <Dinah> "And I haven't done shit to any of you yet. Well, most of you."
[07:04] <Minaplo> "T-That's the strange thing." Said Tsunemori excitedly. "I get why they'd want to isolate a psycho like you but the truth is? All of this has happened before."
[07:05] <Dinah> Dinah would be offended if Tsunemori wasn't, well, right in a sense. Instead, she merely crooked a brow up. "All what?"
[07:05] <Minaplo> "How much do you know about the 1988 disappearances?"
[07:07] <Dinah> "Not enough, apparently."
[07:07] <Sachiko> "But it sounds like you do. Educate us?"
[07:09] <Minaplo> "Nine people in a dorm. Students, one of whom was from the university. Strange year, that one. Teacher resignations, incidents at the school, rabbles being roused… And then all of them disappeared near the end of the year and not a trace was found."
[07:10] <Dinah> "Maybe we should check that basement."
[07:12] <Minaplo> "Maybe you should." He said seriously. "Especially when you consider Sophia Academy's reputation."
[07:13] <Sachiko> "What, you mean like the old temple school and all that?"
[07:14] <Minaplo> "Yeah. They say it- and the school itself- is haunted. Ghosts and monsters. Youkai, you know. Dating back centuries. It's a place suffused with mystical energy. And I think… Your dorm has something to do with it. Something happened to those kids in 1988, and I think…"-
[07:15] <Minaplo> "You're involved in it somehow!"
[07:15] <Sachiko> "You think we're involved in the 1988 disappearances?" Sachiko asked, with utmost seriousness.
[07:16] <Minaplo> "I think whatever happened to those kids is still going on, and it's affecting you too."
[07:18] <Sachiko> "And this is because we're at the same dorm?" It didn't sound like she was mocking him, only asking.
[07:19] <Dinah> At the mention of the place being haunted, Dinah rolled her eyes and looked over at Akira, silently asking her if he was serious.
[07:21] <Minaplo> "Yes." Said Tsunemori seriously. "And the same thing is happening now! Like, I don't know, maybe there's some demons or something and they're going after your enemies, and you're all behind Asaka's change of heart-"-
[07:22] <Minaplo> Akira's expression had been dropping rapidly for the last five minutes, until now it was alternating rapidly between glassy-eyed horror and fury. She slammed the camera, turning it off. "Tsune, you- we don't have nearly enough leeway to allow even a little bit of this past EIC- good goddamn, I wanted you to improve their contribution, not tank our's!"-]
[07:24] <Minaplo> "This has all gone right to hell." Akira got out of her chair, rifled around in her bag and pulled out an old tape, marked with the date. She held it out to them. "I have standards, and giving you tickets to the Tsunemore Express to tinfoil town isn't cutting it. Just take it and go. Consider it an apology."
[07:28] <Dinah> Taking the tape, Dinah nodded, tucking it into her bag before stopping for a moment, almost annoyedly so. "Y'wanna…write the right number on that card and give it back? Just in case."
[07:29] <Minaplo> "Yeah, sure." And so she did, handing it back.]
[07:32] <Sachiko> This one Sachiko took as she got to her feet. "Thanks."-
[07:32] <Sachiko> She walked past the still-seated Tsunemori and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder.
[07:34] <Minaplo> "H-Hey." Said Tsunemori. "I'm not some crazy. If there is something wrong and you're all wrapped up in it, that's way too much for a bunch of 17 year olds to handle!"
[07:41] <Sachiko> "Thank you for the thought, really, but we're okay," Sachiko said with a smile. "Asahina's about the only weird thing we have going on."
[07:41] <Minaplo> "Alright. You all should get outta here before the cop realises what's going on." Said Akira.
[07:46] <Sachiko> "Can do," she said, quickly checking her phone. No additional alerts or status updates from Ai. "Seems like we're good. Let's go, Schreier."
[07:47] <Dinah> "Sounds good." She took a couple steps back and then turned to the door, stopping after a moment. "And hey, if the cat starts talkin' and tells us some of this stuff, who knows? We might just call you." Flashing a smirk that quickly lost its humor, she turned for the door then and made her way out.