[X] Interview with Korosh Manta.
- [X] Day, at Long Arch.
Ten days pass. You had hoped to simply get Korosh's interview over with immediately, but you do understand when Fate explains that they can't just let him get what he wants, when he wants it. Even if your interests align this time, they have to keep dealing with him. In her case, Fate seems to be holding up fairly well; she invited you to the funeral, which you naturally refused graciously - which seemed to please her, so perhaps it was something she simply felt had to be done, rather than something she wanted to do. The only source of distractions before the interview are a constant stream of visitors for Fate; almost every day, someone she knows comes to see her for an hour or two. Lindy, Hayate, Nanoha, Erio and Caro, Signum, people you don't know. Sometimes she comes to see you, asking if you'll play something for her, and you always oblige.
The day of the interview arrives, and all the background work that Fate has been helping with finally starts adjusting things. Cinque, Wendi, and Nove are all forced to wear Bureau uniforms - no sense giving him any more ammunition than he already has - and a unit's training schedule is adjusted to put them there today, in case you want a distraction. Of course, you could use it as a demonstration of your talents, too …. You aren't entirely sure about a daytime interview, but it does mean that Satsuki won't have to put up with him; despite her significant improvements, she still flusters easily, and you aren't sure how she would deal with someone completely new to her. It also gives you a relatively easy out if you want to shoo him away - you may be able to function during the day with ease, but you're still a lady of the night.
"Why, exactly, do we have to use different names?" Cinque hides a smile and shakes her head, and you sigh.
"Because being named after numbers when it's well-known that a group of criminals were named after numbers is a little too easy for someone like Korosh. Now, he might know who you guys are already, in which case we can go back to your normal names, but for now, Cinque is 'Laura,' because she looks like a Laura, and you're 'Nova,' for 'Star.' And Wendi doesn't need a name change because Wendy is already a name." Nove grumbles as Wendi preens.
"It's only for today, Nove, and only if Miss Flandre has to introduce us," Cinque says, and her sister sighs and nods. You grin and walk out of their office. They were easier to convince than Fate, at least … but it's almost time for Korosh to get here. You almost wish that you'd made Fate get Lutecia's unit here for training, but considering Korosh and how he seems to operate, it would be much better if she never gets mentioned at all. Is she going to watch this …?
"He's here, Flandre. A little early." Fate's disgruntlement is noticeable even through her telepathy, and you grin. You do have a nice pot of green tea going, and a lot of sugar cubes. It's not exactly something you're fond of, but you can easily stomach it for a little while, especially if it throws off Korosh's rhythm. You hurry to the main entrance, glad that you don't have to wear your uniform. Nice as it is, it's just not as comfortable as your own clothes … and, of course, it's entirely the wrong color. You pause at the end of the hallway, watching Korosh for a moment as he tries to bluster his way past Fate and Alph. Three Devices float around the man. Certainly, his jet-black hair and bright green eyes, combined with his energetic, almost driven, personality creates an aura of charisma that can fool a great many people. Auris Gaiz, scowling, stands behind him - and nods minutely a moment later when she sees you.
"Hello, Korosh Manta," you say as you walk into the entry hall, a confident smile on your face. Two of the Devices swoop around you, camera lenses glinting. When one flies far too close to your face, you simply swat it out of the way - gently, of course, but making it clear that you do have boundaries. The reporter himself abandons his dialogue with Fate and hurries over to you.
"Miss Flandre Scarlet! I am overjoyed, to finally meet you face to face! This is such an honor." He goes down to one knee and bows over it. He sounds excited, but not nervous.
"Of course it is," you say, and his head bobs in agreement. "Shall we go somewhere we can sit?" You turn without waiting for his response, but you hear him rise and he easily catches up to you.
"Of course, of course! A shame the Bureau wouldn't let you come to my office - I have several chairs that are quite comfortable -"
"I requested that the interview be held here, actually. Easier to keep the crowds away, you see." Yes, even though you shouldn't see them, the Bureau did cordon off Long Arch, so his fans shouldn't be able to reach you - today, at least.
"Oh, I see. Yes, that makes sense." He sounds a little disappointed, but he gets over it by the time you turn into the meeting room. He pauses when he enters and looks around. You pick the most comfortable chair in the room - which, obnoxiously enough, is placed where other people have to sit at an angle, or farther away, in order to face it directly. Korosh takes one of the angled locations, although he doesn't sit as close as possible. One Device remains hovering over his left shoulder while the others take up positions near the ceiling. He claps his hands lightly. "Oh, my - where to start! Did you know, after I announced that an interview had finally been arranged, many of my fans sent in their own questions? Of course, I can't use them all, or even more than a small fraction - and some aren't even the proper sort of question to ask a charming young lady like yourself." He shakes his head sadly. You ignore the hook, however - his fans aren't particularly relevant.
"Well, why don't you tell me about the first time you saw me?" His face lights up.
"Ah! Turning the tables already! Well … alright. The first time I saw you was at a hospital, several months ago. There had been some kind of attack - the Bureau's first response had been defeated - and then you arrived, and in minutes had eliminated the threat. I must admit, my first thoughts on seeing you were simply utter revulsion towards the Bureau, for sending such a young lady to deal with the problem." You laugh, managing not to giggle or snort in derision.
"I'm sorry," you say when he frowns. "I asked to go. I saw it on a screen at the unit I was assigned to and asked them if I could go deal with it. Major Marino wasn't there, but Captain Balfour passed it up to General Gaiz, and he said I could go deal with it." You smile fondly at the memory. Korosh nods.
"Marino and Gaiz … did you get along with them?" You shrug.
"I did with Marino - he respected me, treated me properly, and I liked him. I wish I'd gotten to kill the person who killed him. As for the General …." Your eyes flicker to Auris, noting her increased level of self-control before flashing back to Korosh. "I don't think we got along, but I don't think that was anyone's fault. We were simply operating with different levels of information and responsibility. From what I know of him, I don't think we would have hated each other based on our viewpoints." Obviously not the response he was looking for, but he nods.
"Is there anyone in the Bureau you particularly dislike? Anyone you do like?" You lean back, creating the impression that you have to think deeply about the question.
"Well … I can't think of anyone I really don't like. If there are, they're probably people whose names I've forgotten because I don't like them. And there's one person I really like." You smile fondly as you think of Lutecia.
"Ah, that would be … Miss Lutecia Alp-!" You surge across the table as he starts saying her name, latch your hand across his mouth and pull him up so he's no longer sitting. Your eyes blaze - you can see them reflected in his own.
"Listen well, Korosh Manta. I did not speak her name for a reason, and that reason is that she is very, very dear to me, and I wish that she not be troubled for my friendship. You see, Korosh Manta, by naming her, I would be giving people - people who may not like me - a way in. And even if they don't dislike me, she may be harassed, or simply inconvenienced, by people wanting to use her to get closer to me. And I do not want that for her."
"Flandre." You turn your head just enough to look at Fate, but if she's bothered by the violence and hostility in your expression she doesn't show it. "This interview is not perfectly live, nor is it uncensored; there is a several second delay to account for secrets like that being spoken. Her name was entirely censored in the broadcast." You stare at her for a moment, then relax, smiling, and drop Korosh back into his chair before turning and walking back across the table to hop into your own chair.
"I'm sorry about that," you say, smiling cheerily. "I just really care about my friends." Korosh smiles and does his best to recover from your assault. Auris, somewhat surprisingly, isn't smiling at his discomfort.
"Of course, of course …." He trails off, momentarily at a loss. "Ah, right - your family? Ah, are any of them in the Bureau as well?" You laugh again, and can't help breaking into a giggle.
"Remilia? In the Bureau? Ahahaha!" You clap joyfully. "Oh … sorry, sorry. No, my sister wouldn't join it ever, I think." Usurp it, maybe - control it from outside somehow. But join, and chafe under its restrictions? You laugh and shake your head.
"Apart from your sister, what other family do you have?" You shake your head, no longer in disbelief.
"No one. Just my sister Remilia. She's been with me forever." Fate reacts, stiffening and looking down. Alph gently brushes her master's shoulder. Fortunately, it doesn't look like the Devices are looking at them - but maybe you should distract them ….
What do you do?
[ ] Let Korosh keep asking questions. He's fishing, but so far it's pretty harmless.
[ ] Take him on a tour of Long Arch while continuing to answer questions.
[ ] Go to the Simulator.
[ ] See how the unit's training is going.
[ ] Other?
