06-17-2018, 05:56 PM
17.06.825 A.S. 16:06 SST.
"Yōkoso, joō-sama."
Two young females bowed slightly as soon as they have noticed their self-appointed leader approaching from the Wyvern that had just landed and killed it's engines. It was too unusual to see someone except engineers and hangar bay personel at this area, especially the two of 'that' kind: the first one wore a strict suit and looked more like a business women, and the second one have been adorned into something that looked like a maid dress, apparently serving as a reference to modern Kusari otaku culture.
Homura approached them, and smiled.
"Yoshino, Haruki. I almost felt like i was going to meet you there. Is everything finally completed as i have requested it, like... three days ago?"
Akemi exhaled, the expression of her face have changed, it was obvious that she finally expected to hear some good news.
"Hai, joō-sama. We have arranged everything in the accordance to your guidelines. The supplies have been slightly delayed, but, when they have finally arrived - your request was processed in no time. Would you like to see the result with your very own eyes, or would you prefer to rather hear a detailed report?"
"Detailed reports are sure a good thing, but i would prefer to evaluate your performance in person. You should understand, the probability of our neighbors visiting Sekigane is high, demonstration of the lack of hospitality is unaffordable. Moreover, we have to ensure that our own people experience no lack of comfort on Sekigane. This is very important."
Homura, accompanied with her 'administrative personel', as they would be called in a strict language. In fact - those two have been discovered during the process of 'recruitment' on Kyoto: Yoshino - the one wearing the strict suit - appeared to possess decent skills in organisation of everything she could reach out to. Haruki, meanwhile, appeared to be unmatched in hospitality and courtesy and, aside from being blatantly uncovered otaku (which is the main reason why she is wearing the maid dress during her work) - fitted her current position perfectly.
They have walked towards - or, rather, up to - the living quarters as they spoke. Most of the rooms were still empty, with only three of them occupied by actual Ando members, they were prepared to accept a formidable amount of guests anytime soon. The quarters module have been completed and repressurised only recenty, until that moment most of the Clan resigned aboard Kirishima, and now, when they finally could descend to the station's decks - this place seemed more than fitting for them to stay at, previously deprieved from any permanent place of residence for almost two months.
"Joō-sama, anata wa manzoku shiite imasu ka?"
Haruki asked, not holding back the feelings that overwhelmed her. Considering the amount of effort she was putting into the interiors since the beginnig of Sekigane construction, her concern was understandable.
"Anata wa dochira mo subarashī shigoto o shimashiita."
Allowing herself a brief smile, Akemi in a few moments turned back to serious again, mostly due to the simple realisation of the exhaust that was building up during the recent months of tireless work, the results of which have been showed off just now, with Sekigane completed, Clan and it's initial connections established, and Sekigane is serving as a reliable safe haven for those seeking to rebuild Kusari into something better compared to what it is now and what it could become.
But there was still a huge amount of work ahead.
"Dai yokujō wa yōi sa rete imasu ka? Watashitachi wa sukoshi kyūkei ni ataisuru to omou..."
17.05.825 A.S. 16:55 SST.
"Hai, joō-sama. Please, follow me."
Haruki took the lead from here, given the question asked by Akemi, both of her companions have seen where it was coming. They have walked past all the unoccupied rooms of the living quarters, to the specifically decorated blast door in the far end of the coridor. The maid gestured at the door, obviously it was automated.
"Sā, joō-sama."
"Haruki, you know you're too strict with me, do you? It almost feels like we are not even Sisters..."
The maid exhaled, and stepped aside, patiently waiting until Akemi passes by, still wondering if it's Haruki who lacks the understanding of Homura and her odds, or is it the mistress of Ando lacking the understanding of her courtesy and ethics she is sticking to? Perhaps, one day in the foreseeable future they will discuss this in private. Perhaps - not, it's not what really matters, and might only be useful as a lyrical digression - to get to know each other better...
... twenty minutes after, as all three young ladies accomplished the sequence necessary to get to the bath, Akemi were the first one to step into pleasantly warm water, with Haruki and Yoshino following her moments after. Homura leaned back to the edge of the huge bath fit perfectly in the middle of a room covered with bright white ceramic tiles with large mirrors in the middle.
"Sore wa subarashī hōhōdesu... but where all this water comes from? We certainly don't get enough supplies from the neighboring Freeport to maintain such establishment! How?"
Yoshino smiled, taking off and putting her glasses aside, as she sat down into the water.
"It was Haruki's idea. Sumatra Cloud is mostly composed of microscopic crystallised ice particles. Using nanomembrane filters, we gather, process those particles, and fill the baths with the melted water. After the basic chemical purification, of course. Unfortunately, we haven't yet came up with the ways to distill the melted ice, but when we do - we could become pretty much self-sufficient on water, all thanks to Sumatra Cloud."
"Anata wa hontōni subarashī shigoto o shimashiita... Kyūkei. Watashitachi wa sore ni ataisuru."