Apr 28 08:13:29 105 PA

From Chronicles

Tue Apr 28 08:13:29 105 PA (9.23C, 48.62F):

There is a small road off of the Agricultural Center that winds it was along the rows of trees to prevent the wind from eroding the ground on either side. They are some newly planted, and some that have been there for years, but it looks more like the road was chosen to pass through the trees, and then others planted along it. It leads down to a house that looks like there has been an attempt to recreate a sense of ancient japan here, using more american materials. not tech stuff, since the whole house is simple wood.

Clad in full environmental body armor, with a rock pick on one side, a neural mace on the other hip, an energy pistol on the right thigh and an energy rifle thrown over his shoulder, Dr. Kelley comes whistling down the street. You can tell that he's whistling because it's being transmitted through the suit's speakers, and you can tell who it is because no one else in the city wears a rock pick around town. Stopping at a crossroads, he looks around and finally spots the Japanese-looking structure, and angles toward it.

As one passes along the road, or the drive for a cart, the house comes into view. A bit of oak, less paper, and more warmer materials, because of the colder weather. In a few fields, there are people working them, and none of them is Hamamoto. Just locals paid to work the fields. Good food, good shelter, no danger beyond being outside the walls. However, there is, near the house, a tower that rises about 100 feet, and seems to glint with a shiny object in the sun.

Approaching the home, Kelley surveys the environment, more pastoral that most of the farms in this part of Kingsdale's pervue. As he reaches the door, he pops his helmet off with a hiss of escaping positive pressure. Hooking it on a nubbin at his waist, Kelley knocks on the door three times, then turns and surveys the fields some more, and examines the forty-foot tower, wondering as to what its purpose is.

The door is covered with canvas, instead of paper, but its still white. Canvas holds in the heat better. "Come!" Hamamoto barks out, as if he is used to the farm hands coming in with one worry or another. A bell on top of the tower, as well as a old type spyglass attached to it. And a ladder leading up and down out of the basket at the top. ONce the door is opened, there is the foyer, which rises into a more traditional looking Japanese home. A shoe rack and slippers are there for those to take off their shoes, and put on the slippers.

Kelley walks in and sees the shoe rack, exactly as at his apartment, but being clad in a suit of armor, it's rather difficult to remove the boots at the moment, so he simply stands in the boot-removal area. "Hola, Hamamoto," he says, intentionally mixing his languages for comedic effect. "How are you doing today, Mr. Hamamoto? I see that your farm goes well."

There is a bit of a pause as a man comes walking down the hallway. He is not wearing his swords, after all this is his home, and he expected no one. "Ah!" He then bows. "Many apologies, Kelley-san. I have not instructed the watch to ring for guests, so I had no idea that you were coming. Um...everything fine here. No problems as of yet. Would you care to enter my home?"

"I would be most honored to enter your home, Mr. Hamamoto, but I cannot currently discard my muddy boots without the whole process of removing my armor, so for now, if it please you, I shall simply remain in your doorway." Kelley looks around, and comments, "From what I can see, you have a beautiful home, Mr. Hamamoto. Perhaps some day you can come visit my home in the city. They are similar, and very different at the same time." Kelley smiles at the short man.

"I will have some workers come, if you wish to remove your armor. But yes, I do agree. I cannot fault your respect for my home." He then bows slightly. "There are...um...circumstances. Rules of behavior." He then smilse slightly. "Thank you for the kind words. It is as close to my home in Nihon, but could not match all details. It...warmer there."

Deciding that he is being an insulting guest, after all, he would have insisted that a guest in his home was safe, Kelley agrees to disrobe himself of his armor, on the condition that the serfs place it where it should properly go. After climbing out, he puts on slippers and leans his weapons against the wall, near the door. "I attempted to recreate my original home at my condominium in Kingsdale. It is much smaller, of course, but it is homey. May I be so bold as to ask you to show me around?" Kelley asks.

Watching as the man takes off his armor, the littler man nods. "You should know that, as rules of repsect go, when in ones home, and welcmoe there, you are under his protection. It is his duty to protect all guests who have been welcomed. Any insult or injury is a shame upon the owner. As you know, my honor is my life. I will protct yours with my own, if necessary." He then smiles. "Of course, this way." He then walks through another screen and into the main house, which is laid out with minimal corridors. "This is the greeting room. Where guests come, and lounge, and look at the garden in the back. And next to it is the dining area, then the kitchen." All done in japanese tradition.

"It's quite lovely, Mr. Hamamoto. You should be very proud of what you've accomplished here. You've really captured the feeling of Japan - but I suppose you already know that," Kelley says with a smile. "What is the purpose of the sight-house outside? Is it simply that? A sight-house to survey the land and look for Oni?"

"In times, it was put on outposts to search for enemies and Oni. However, here, there is little Oni. So, I have them search for other dangers. Dangers they would recognize more than I would here. Hence why I don't take a turn at the watch."

Dr. Kelley nods nods. "I see. So the serfs take watch for you? That's very efficient. But what do you spend most of your day doing, if you're not on watch - and most days don't have anything to defend against."

"I am running the farm. Overseeing which crops to plant, and what works, while what doesn't and where. I keep records, and notes. I go to town with the vegetables to sell them. I don't really bargain, though. I can't. In some ways, I am very restricted acting on my own, while keeping my honor intact. But I have to oversee any agreements made in my name, which include sales."

Kelley nods again. "I understand, Mr. Hamamoto. In some ways, our two peoples are very much alike. Very different in others, but very similar in some. My people hold personal honor in very high regard. Perhaps not as high as yours - or at least, I should say, in different ways than you. My people are great dimensional travelers, and hold freedom above honor."

Hamamoto then moves into the entertaining area, with the view of the garden, and moves to sit down on a pillow. "Yes, I can tell you regard honor very highly. And yet, you were a bit baffled by my willingness to die for it." He then smiles a little. "I note your reactions." He then gestures to a pillow. "We are gifted...with family name...by father...who is gifted by his father, and so on. Hence, our name is lent to us. To that name we attach our deeds, and misdeeds. I will die some day. I can not fear it. So, when I die, I must be able to look my ancestors in the eyes, and return what they have gifted to me in the same condition. Of course, mine is better due to the fact my ancestors were peasants."

"My people share a common name within a clan. Every member of Clan Kelley is Kelley. Only our given names are different. Thus we share a name to which we assign honor, from day to day. And thus we share our given names only with those whom we hold in most highest personal regard. A wife, or a very close friend. I understand your need for honor, Mr. Hamamoto, and I respect your traditions for it."

"Perhaps the difference is simply a matter of how long you live. When we first met, and you told me you weren't human, you said you lived quite a bit longer. You take the longer view of things. WE, as humans, cannot do that. We cannot afford to. If we stop to think about what we could do, we aren't doing what we should be doing. Hence, we are taught not to fear death, but to welcome it. and let the gods and kami decide when our time has come. Or our daimyo."

You are correct, Mr. Hamamoto, I am not human, though I would appreciate your keeping that information to yourself. I only share it with people whom I trust to keep a secret. But yes, you are correct, my people take a long view of things. We do not fear death, but neither do we welcome it, fighting it off for as long as possible, for clans are relatively small family units, and it is a tragedy when one dies," Kelley says.

"Yes, a tragedy, but when one of us dies, it is a celebration, and a honor. For we do not give our lives frivilously. Yet, when we do, its for something worthwhile." He then smiles, "I have some tea, if you wish. It is brown, and not the green tea I am used to, but not bad either."

Kelley is a little disappointed that there's no coffee, but absolutely doesn't show it, instead saying, "Tea would be delightful, Mr. Hamamoto. We get very little green tea around these parts, so I am not surprised that you do not have any. Kelley follows Hamamoto into the next room, having to duck his head and practically bend at the waist to fit inside the home.

There is a smile as he starts to pour it into the cups. "I have...um...additional things to put inside your tea, if you wish." He then takes a bit of lemon and squeezes it into the tea. "I found the brown tea to be a bit bitter. And, you might not know it, but as guest, you have right to ask anything that is reasonable. BUt in return, it might be requested of you when I visit your home." HE then smiles a little.

"I'd be happy to accommodate you when you visit my home, Mr. Hamamoto. Do you perhaps have some sugar? Maybe some cream? I realize that cream is a bit of an odd addition to tea, but I happen to like it a bit strangely," Kelley says with a warm smile. "I like you, Mr. Hamamoto," Kelley says, "I feel that I understand you, and that you understand me. I hope that we can become good friends." He offers a short bow to Hamamoto.

There is a bit of a puzzled glance to the man. "I would...I thought that we were friends, Kelley-san. You have gifted me with special and presonal knowledge, and I did the same of you. That shows the true trust of friends." He then looks a bit puzzled, but then nods. "No...cream...as I have not heard of it. But I do have milk, and this sugar stuff." He then rises. "I shall return shortly."

Kelley looks around and the Japanese architecture and smiles at the low height of the ceilings. His people would *never* fit into a home such as this. Still, it does have a homey feeling, and it smells great, like, well, clean paper.

Returning shortly with the small tray, he then sets it down almost with grace and precision of one who served the Samurai. "It is, a bit strange. But I find this land has merits. I was hesitant at first. Becuase of the worship of tech, adn the dependence on ruining the body to achieve power. A really short-sighted goal, and a hampering of true warriors."

"Again, we agree, Mr. Hamamoto. I am thoroughly opposed to cybernetics and bionics, though I do use technology to defend myself. I am no wonderful melee fighter, though I am capable of defending myself, I prefer to eliminate threats at range, rather than up close. For instance, these robots that have been accosting Kingsdale, I would quite simply die if I tried to engage them at close range, so I use my rifle and my pistol to eliminate them. We have a certain element with the VCF, however, that is into clear melee combat - and that is part of why I am visiting you today," Kelley says in one long statement.

There is a small pause as he moevs to sit back down. "There is, perhaps, something I can do with these robots? As I said, my swords will have a tough time trying to pierce the hard metal. Will need something else if I am to fight them." He then frowns softly. "I can use spear, bow, and sword." He then bows.

Kelley accepts the tea with a short bow. "I'm not sure what kind of weapon you could use that wouldn't offend your non-technical sensibilities, Mr.Hamamoto. I don't suppose that you can use Vibro-Swords? Or explosive arrows?"

There is a shake of his head once more. "I cannot. For tech, though beneficial, will still be the hubris that brought the cataclysm. I have not yet made up my mind about this...techno-wizardy stuff. I would have to view some of it first, and then meditate on just what it is. But magic is fine. Hrm, any metal swords that is made of hi-tech metals will not. I don't believe. For metal is metal. You see, it is not the 'tech' itself, but the devices that led to the pride and laziness of later generations. A tale told is a man who worked on a machine. A machine that mimic;ed life. He built this...roboot...who then served him. He stopped going outside, for the roboot could go and get things. He stopped doing anything, because the roboot was better, he stopped thinking, becuase the machine thought for him. and in the end, the robot lived the man's life, while the man wasted away."

"That is a good story, Mr. Hamamoto. If I may be so bold, it is pronounced 'robot' not 'roboot' in American. Then I suppose, unfortunately, that unless you can inflict enhanced damage against a robot, you are only putting yourself in danger were you to try and fight them. Better you stay here and protect your farm - there is certainly no shame in that." Kelley sips at his tea and nods his head. "It's quite good, thank you, Mr. Hamamoto."

"I heard of shop...al...chu...mi... that can enchant things. Do not you get your flaming sword thing encahtned there? If so, I could enchant my spear. Maybe fire, maybe heaven's wrath, or something, that could be effective. I will not deny a battle if I less that equipped. But I do have magically toughened armor, and I do have my swords, which can reflect the light things of the tech."

Kelley smiles warmly at the man. "My swords are not enchanted with fire, they *are* fire. They are extension of myself, a magical one. I wouldn't know where to get alchemy done, I've not searched for such a shop. Doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, though. Just that I've never paid attention to look for one. Perhaps the next time you visit Kingsdale, you will have the opportunity to look around. The next time you go to sell vegetables, perhaps?"

"I go to city for many reason." He then nods softly. "Sometimes see people. Sometimes see...people-things. Sometimes sees machines and peopel...together. Sometimes see pure machine. Go many times, to drink and eat, to converse with people. Go see...um...Lucy. Go see...two ladies...they kiss. Very unnerving." He then shakes his head. "Loud club, techno, I believe it called. Loud, made head, eyes and ears hurt."

says, %r%t"Two ladies kissing? That is unusu.. well, actually, I guess it's not that unusual. But yes, it does seem a little odd. There are a number of loud techno clubs; the Nut and Bolt, the Nightingale, Electric Joy, Moe's Tavern.. many places for people to scramble their brains on alcohol. I personally do not see the desire in losing one's inhibitions to alcohol, but most people seem to enjoy it." Kelley pauses for a moment before saying, "I'm not into the loud music either. Here, use these when you go next; you'll save your hearing." Kelley reaches into pouch and pulls out a pair of brand-new foam-rubber earplugs. "You just stick them in your ears, and it makes the music bearable."%r

Dr. Kelley says,

There is a bit of a pause as he examines the earplugs. I see, thank you." He then smiles a little. "You can stick wax in your ears too, so it should be similar." he then moves to sit the earplugs on the table. "It was..." And he begins to descire Aimee and Kidd, or at least how they looked. "I not catch their names. They not...speak to me. Except..." The one who looked like Aimee. "...she spoke and acted with repsect towards me. They seem not to favor Lucy."

Kelley quirks an eyebrow at the mention of Aimee's name, but does nothing else, save mention, "Aimee is the one whom I love. As for Lucy, I think that she is misunderstood. She seems to have had a hard life. She doesn't like me, and some people don't like her. I have yet to pass judgment, myself. And Kid, well, she's just annoying. I don't care much for her, but I will tolerate her if Aimee considers her a friend."

Hamamoto, at the mention of love, grows a little tiny bit more defensive, a bit harder around the eyes and his lips come a bit together. "Many are the tragic tales of those who fall in love. You must watch yourself. A warrior cannot allow himself to love." He then nods softly. "I did not get to know any of these ladies. THe one, Lucy, is the only one who spoke to me. This Aimee person, she at least showed respect, but did not stay. Aimee looked...distraught. Trying a bit too hard to have fun, and not succeeding."

Kelley gives a strange smile of understanding, hope, and pleasure at the same time. "Lucy didn't show respect? What, was she too playful? She tends to be that way, from what I have seen of her."

"I must ask pardon. She didn't at first. Called my family name...'hammy'. BUt she learned quickly, and acted with a more modesty soon after I told her my family found it disrespectful." He then smiles. "She seemed to be interesting, and yet, there is something hidden too." He then looks at Kelley. "It is this...Kidd, that didn't show respect, and I nearly cut her down. But I realized I didn't want to dishonor the lords here by possibly killing a peasant. If she was eta, I wouldn't have hesitated."

"Yes, Kid is very annoying, but I think that it stems from insecurity. As for love - what is the point of fighting if you aren't fighting to protect love?" Kelley waxes introspective for a moment. Tags:hamamoto, kelley