daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[tomorrow comes, and makoto's made sure he and his father are punctual to their appointment with ardyn. they're both politely dressed as they sit on some chairs by the hallway of the offices' hallway. they've been told to wait and, checking his watch, makoto can tell they've got a couple minutes before 3:15.]

[he continues reading some pamphlets on courses the university is providing, and although makoto is more attentive of his surroundings than anything else, he must admit the idea of university sounds exciting. his father keeps a leather bag over his lap, likely carrying necessary documents for the consultation.]

[at 3:15, makoto's curiosity is greater, and he leans forward to glance about at the offices, hoping to see one of the doors open and have professor izunia call them in. he wonders if the professor is still in a lecture hall? that could be a possibility, in the end...]

[Punctuality isn't just recommended, it's required for anyone who delves into the world of law. "I was stuck in traffic" or "I forgot to set my alarm" will never, ever fly in the courtroom, and therefore Ardyn's already punctual nature has been magnified twice as much. Almost the exact moment that Makoto leans out to take a glance at the office doors, one of them opens, and out comes Professor Izunia.

It only takes a few long strides for him to draw close enough to greet both of them. It's easy enough to tell who's waiting for their appointment when you've done this long enough, and so he sounds confident as he says-]

The Tachibanas, correct? My name is Ardyn Izunia, and it's good to meet the both of you in person.

[makoto stands, helping his father up and taking the leather bag from him.]

Thank you so much for making time for us, Mr. Izunia!

[while makoto's father bows to show an agreement with his son's spoken sentiment, makoto offers his hand instead for a handshake.]

This is my father, Satoshi Tachibana. I'm Makoto, his son. [CLEARLY] My father understands English pretty well but he's not too comfortable speaking it, so don't worry about directing yourself to him.

[Ardyn shakes his hand; a rather practiced motion, to be frank, but the welcome doesn't lack professionalism. Afterwards, he gives the two of them a courteous smile; its usual wryness is toned down for the sake of business, something Ardyn had to learn to do quite early in his law career.]

The pleasure's all mine. I'm glad to see you've come prepared. [Referring to the documents, he means. He's had clients that fail in even that much, even after Ardyn's mentioned it to them before.

A half-turn of a heel, motioning for the two of them to follow.] Let's continue this in my office, shall we?

[And thus he'll lead them to the office with the open door, letting them enter first and settle into two chairs situated before his desk. Only then will he close the door and take a seat in his own chair.]

Now, what can I do for you?

[makoto's father takes a moment to sit after being let in, and makoto follows suit. even if he isn't the one directly dealing with this, he feels a bit nervous about getting the message through right. this is about the book shop--their livelihood--after all; makoto doesn't want to fuck anything up.]

[a nod from makoto's father, and the teen proceeds to explain (clearly this has been discussed and rehearsed previously, at home)]

Hn, right.

[searching inside the leather bag, he brings out a folder that he hands over to ardyn. makoto also brings out his phone, which is in silence, and wonders if ardyn would mind too terribly much if he recorded their conversation instead of use pen and notepad for it...]

Would you mind if I recorded the conversation? To go back to it later.

[if he gets the okay, he'll go on with explaining the contents of the folder... otherwise, he'll put his phone away and take out pen and notepad as he had been instructed to bring anyway.]

...my father's the owner of the Tachibana Book Shop. He's been running it for about eight years now. He went through all the steps; developed a business plan and applied for a business licence at the municipality before opening shop. The, uh, license original is there [in the folder] as you can see... A few weeks ago we got a letter in the mail [also in the folder] from city hall saying there's no record of our book shop's license, and despite us sending a copy of the original approved license and the renewals throughout the years, we've been notified that since it's not notarized, it's not legal.

[er...] Or, not valid, are perhaps the best words...

Ah! But! My father was never informed that he needed to notarize the license from the start, nor later on when he renewed it. He thinks that if it had been a relevant thing to have, they shouldn't have approved it without it. Right?

[makoto sure hopes he made sense; this legal lingo is not his thing]

[Ardyn nods, allowing the conversation to be recorded, certainly not minding one way or another. He slides the folder over to his side of the desk, pulling out the original license, then the letter, and looking them both over even as Makoto speaks.

He does lift his gaze, however, when the young man begins to explain the problem at hand.]

Eight years of renewals and not a word until now? That's odd, to say the least.

[He considers this for a moment before responding again.]

I assume you argued the point with the city? What did they tell you?

[makoto glances at his father, gets something told in japanese, and in a few minutes he responds in english; a translation of what his father told him just now.]

They told us we could do the process "right" this year, but along with the renewal fee we'll have to pay a fine for all of the eight years we didn't legally license the business, along with any interest that may have accumulated over that amount of time.

[when makoto stops talking, he bites the inside of his cheek, hands balling into fists on his trousers.]

We can't afford to pay that. We'll have to sell the shop if we do. My father's honest about his dealings, and he gains nothing from having forgotten to notarise the license on purpose. We still paid the same amount of fees had we had it.

[yet he knows to bring feelings onto the table does very little to help]

...could you tell if we're fighting a losing battle?

[Ardyn slips the documents neatly back into the folder, then looks at both Makoto and his father as the situation is explained to him fully. His brow is furrowed, and it's with years of practice does he manage to quell the usual intonation of flippancy behind his words. He knows not to give the wrong impression with two individuals he's just met, much less potential clientele.]

Not at all. Especially if you know someone who knows how to navigate the murky swamp of bureaucracy and litigation.

[He leans back in his chair a little.] Burden of responsibility is a tricky thing; it shifts depending on the situation, and eight years later, I don't think it's you or your father's responsibility to have realized something was wrong when no one told you otherwise.

It can be argued the other way, of course. They'll claim that ignorance is not an excuse, and that you're still liable for the fees and interest. However, I would find this argument laughable. The responsibility also rests upon city hall to make certain everything is legitimate, and they've failed in this eight years straight. Rather embarrassing for them, wouldn't you say?

[A pause, letting this settle before he continues.] If you'd like, I can take this up on your behalf. I'm sure as soon as they hear a lawyer on the other line, they'll relent and let you off with little more than a warning, and the expectation to have the license notarized, of course. Which I can also provide for you.

[makoto's eyes light up with ardyn's explanation, in tandem with his shoulders seeming to relax from their stressed hold. his father insists with a tap to his arm that he translate, but makoto waits until he's done hearing what ardyn says before doing so--just to be sure he's getting the message right.]

[like most things, makoto had walked in thinking that they'd have to forfeit and accept defeat. to hear the opposite washes him over with a sense of relief he hadn't known he was expecting.]

[he translates quickly to his father, explaining with quick hand gestures to accompany his words.]

[after he's done, however, makoto stares expectantly, for satoshi tachibana considers the explanation in silence, raising his glasses over the bridge of his nose once. the considerations are simple to makoto, but for a businessman, there's quite a bit more.]

Douzo.

[is what he finally says, and makoto turns, smiling, at the professor.]

We would certainly appreciate your help, mister Izunia. This is better news than what we expected.

[he's inferring, for the most part, but it's pretty much understood.]

We'll be prepared to pay the costs of your service.

[There's something satisfying in seeing hope flicker in the eyes of the people he speaks with -- not always does it happen, because not always is Ardyn able to provide good news to all of his potential clients. But when it does happen, he can't help but feel a simple gladness in being able to help, bleeding heart that is secretly is.

And so he nods, but the tugging of a good-natured grin begins to form at the corners of his mouth.]

I am nothing but happy to assist, I assure you. [He leans back in his seat, folding his hands across his lap, and pushes away the impulse to shrug.]

And don't worry about payment. [A dismissive wave of the hand.] Consider this pro bono work; I still have several hours I need to fulfill this year, so you'll actually be doing me a favor with this.

[makoto doesn't need to translate that for his father (which is just fine, dumbfounded as makoto is by the pro-bono offer), and satoshi tachibana instead measures out a serious of words in japanese to his son. makoto replies back, clarifying, and his father nods.]

[the both of them stand, bowing deeply with their hands firm and straight at their sides]

Thank you very much!

[and although they remain standing, now with their backs straight, makoto insists.]

My father says you should at the very least allow us to invite you for dinner, once everything's settled. Please?

[His grin softens at the display of gratitude, and that satisfaction at being able to help, at all of this appreciation, is... strangely humbling, in a way he doesn't bother dwelling on. But Ardyn Izunia refuses to let warm and fuzzy feelings outwardly show except to only his closest, and thus he just nods.]

Well, who am I to turn down such a generous offer? If you'll have me over, I won't be one to decline.

[But now it's his turn to stand, motioning at the folder of documents as he does so.]

May I hold onto these for now? I'll contact you once I have word from the city. The number you used to get in touch with me initially will be satisfactory, correct?

[makoto nods, ready to reply, when he's cut short by his father's deeper voice. the accent is thick, but his english is not impossible to understand; there are certain sounds he struggles with making, of translating from japanese into english, but it becomes obvious he deems it relevant and important to express his gratitude himself.]

Of course, Izunia-san. [some habits, like honorifics, die hard] And once you call we will be ready to invite you. I hope you enjoy drinking sake.

[makoto smiles, as satoshi does the unusual and offers his hand to the lawyer.]

[still, with his hand still shaking ardyn's, he adds with humour]

We have copies, so if you think running away, we have connections in Japan that will find you.

Dad!

[but satoshi laughs, takes his hand back, and bows]

Makoto.

Ah... [the cue to leave things on makoto's capable hands] The number's the one from the bookshop, but here's my cellphone's just in case. [he hands over a piece of paper with the scribbled information--one he had prepared earlier.] Please let me know if you need any other information, I'm not much for mornings [satoshi's more flippant and disapproving stare] but I'm up late into the night.

[and a smile, again]

We'll await your call, mister Izunia.

Edited 2017-05-18 01:49 (UTC)

[During the handshake, and the comment about "running away", Ardyn can't help but graciously laugh. Whether or not the two realize it, his own brand of humor aligns well with such a comment.

Still, afterwards, he scales back his urge to say something flippant, and instead accepts Makoto's number, neatly folding the paper in half and slipping it into his coat pocket.]

Of course. I'll be certain to keep in touch.

[And after all the formalities and goodbye pleasantries have been completed, Ardyn will be courteous enough to see them out of his office, or even out of the law building itself, if they're keen on idle chatter.]

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

basically fight me everywhere..

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