"Ah Aki..."
Saigo turns towards her and bows slightly in respect for her friend
" It has indeed been some time, no doubt you watched me smash my glass by accident... You've always been one to not draw attention and observe carefully... i wish more of our sisters was subtle..."
She nods slight in the direction of the younger pilots.
" It comes in time i suppose. Nothing can be done for the time being for me, though i wouldn't mind having the ability to carry my Katana in here again, you know what im like. Anyway how have you been sister?"
Aki glances over towards the small gathering of younger Sisters whom are relaxing in the tea House, obviously they are enjoying themselves with their shared drinks, some small nibbles of food and the other variaty of entertainment being offered ranging from the personal gaming computers that a few had brought with them to the truely massive Holo Entertainment Center installed by Iron some time ago.
"Indeed. Time and unfortunately some will die before others learn it. But those who do, they always serve us well. How ever, Sister, you are who you are. There is no reason why your not allowed your blade. I have mine as you can obviously see..."
She glances over to one of the Security members and nods slightly to the younger sister, a subtle single and the Sister vanished outside the Tea House for a moment before returning in short order with all of Saigo's weapons in hand and brought them over. The young Sister bows respectfully as she hands them over before returning to her post.
"Always something can be done for an Honored Sister. One saw the 'accident' with the glass, but one will not assume it was anything more than that and no one else here will question it or you either. Anyhow, one has been doing as well as possible given the lack of the Elders having approriate tasks for this one in her position. Otherwise, little else of worth to say unless its about possible shared lack of intamate relations with anyone."
She half smiles to Sai at the veiled reference in her last comment then gestures to a different corner booth, the one normally reserved for Honored members or the most high ranking ones of the Sisterhood. "Please Sister, join me. The bot will take care of the broken glass for you. We can discuss old days, missed loves and oppertunities, what eve you desire Sister. Or we can go some where else if you prefer?"
She bows towards the sister who handed her weapon to her, it was engraved and decorated extravagantly. Showing slight glimpses into who she used to be, and to a small degree- still is.
"Arigato... You have no idea how much that means to me, but i didn't think i'd still have the right. I have been gone for a while after-all.
I'm glad that you have been going well, not many that i know around here anymore. However i would like to spend some time catching up, i'm willing to go where-ever you want sister."
Saigo subtly smiles back, while placing her Katana in its place.
We can sit here for a few minutes, get something to drink, or at least replace the one you spilled. Talk a little about anything you like Sister. You are the Elder, what do you feel like?
She gestures to the corner table she normally has reserved for herself and those she invites over, which honestly are very few indeed. A quick glance around the Tea House she takes note of everything happening including the people who are trying to remain not so obvious. Because of the black shades she is wearing, its hard to tell if she actually looked at any one in particular or not. With smooth grace, she slips into the booth and waits for Saigo to join her even as she taps into the built in menu in the table for a small selection of food and drink to share.
"Get a replacement would be nice, but Elder or not, we are friends... it is both of our choices."
Saigo silently moves over to the table Aki gestured to.
"I know i am hard to deal with sometimes sister, but in time i shall be back to my old self, i just need a few reminders why i am here and the such. Some things and feelings you can't replace nor chance. "
In Saigo's head, nothing seemed quite right for her. The choices she had made in the past had been hard to choose, to make sure they was right. However the friends she had picked, always made her feel at home, had something about them that made her feel whole.
Aki was no different, and had been the first person she wanted to talk to, she knew Aki would know pretty much everything that had gone on while her absence, but she had missed her too.
One understands that very well. Impossible to replace ones loved and lost, those who gave everything for you and gone. But we stand and fight for them to honor them and sacrifice made to ensure others may not have to when the Samura and their lapdogs come calling.
She smiled slightly and after settling down a bit, even placing her own swords on the table to her right, she gestures towards the food and drink brought quickly to the table for them to share. Tea Sister, or something stronger? Might one suggest the Tempura, cook been excellent with them lately.
"Indeed, i very much plan on honouring them, but currently i am unsure on how i am going to. i just wish i could be clear of mind again, however i think i need to relax... so something stronger is most definitely in order. You seem to have relaxed well anyway, im glad you can... never seen you relaxed truly."
Saigo relaxes slightly, knowing that she is in company of someone she is used to.
Unaware of many things, her mind unclear.
Few do who pay attention know when one does and does not relax, and even then, not often when and where others can see this one relaxing. How ever, the need to socialise is still there, so one's fortune to be here and find you Sister, and perhaps help you achieve what you need.
She reaches over, and with one hand holding up the sleeve of her kimono, poured a full shot glass of something dark amber in color into a small cup. Setting down the unmarked bottle she picked up the cup and held it over the table to Saigo to take, One suggest try this, old drink from liberty called mead. One believes this is the California Pear, so should be good and suit your request, Sister.
No doubt you can help me... you are skilled in many area's that i am not, the elders do not truly understand, nor me i must confess. However i have always been ashamed that i do not have the willpower to keep going at what i have been, its hard... i find it hard to watch sisters die everyday...
Saigo takes the cup and sips it gently, she feels the warmth go down her throat and she lets out a sigh of relief.
Part of me wishes i had stayed on New Tokyo and didn't rally our sisters on there. I caused their deaths and i was the only one who got away... was it worth it?
If your asking for the quick and easy answer, Yes. It was and will be worth it. Even *I* would have done the same for you there if one had known you were there in need. Do not delude yourself for a moment on its worth. You were there to guide us when we needed it, and are here again to help in the ways you know how.
My skills are easily and always available to you for the asking. You know what they were and why as well as any Elder, they remain unchanged little with the passing of time. Ask and one will do what she can for you in any way possible.
Aki sat back in the booth after she answered, maybe a little more bluntly than her norm, but this was Saigo and flowered words obviously were not what Saigo needed at this time, nor a lack of support either. She glances to the Tea House at large then slid from the booth and gestured to a younger sister, Sei Osugi, that she saw to come join them a moment, whom at the moment was the only other Sister known to Aki in the Tea House at this moment, Sister, come here a moment and help this one with something...