> > Yeah probably, but Yuki will still be happy the bluff worked because it saved her some time.
>
> Also it has more style.
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> > > > Poor Violet.  She's so loyal yet so passive.  Hopefully her one act of rebellion will pay off for her.
> > > We'll see next time.
> > I have a bad feeling about this.
>
> Excellent.
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> > Afraid and worried are two different things, I believe, for Mumph.  Fear is paralyzing.  Worrying means he makes preparations in case it happens.  It's less about him and more about his granddaughter though.  If asked, Chiaki would probably gladly volunteer.
>
> I really don't think Mumph fears those kinds of reprisals, and if such attempts were made I don't think he'd seek a bodyguard. And Mumph's from an age where he'd feel obliged to protect a female bodyguard anyhow, even if she was far more capable than him!
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That's where Chiaki becomes truly clever.  She would pretend to allow him to protect her but then she'd suddenly spring into motion.  It would be over before he has a chance to protest.
| > However, since this story's taking place a couple of days after Chiaki took a poisoned sword through her chest she's probably still convalescing somewhere.
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Even if she's hurting she's unlikely to let that stop her completely.  Of course that's relative - she's unlikely to lie around in pajamas or in the infirmary.  She is likely to be fully dressed, going about her daily business as if nothing is wrong.  But she also may be taking it easy.  She knows and respects her own limitations.
> I'm deliberately forcing myself not to start too many sub-plots running that would immediately develop, but if I had been I'd have considered Chiaki getting a job offer from GMY Mayor Klein, some kind of pardon or prison deal, just for the fun of seeing Chiaki handle it.
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That wouldn't go over too well for several reasons.  First, Chiaki would actually go to jail before she works for someone she considers to be without honor.  Second, because of her relationship to Akiko something like that would likely launch a massive gang war.  Third, being in the position she's in, Chiaki has quite a few lawyers willing to work for her (and even more because she can pay for it).  And fourth, Velma Klein really doesn't want Yuki visting her office without an appointment again.
> Instead of that, there's a different opportunity about to come Chiaki's way.
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I have a small yet interesting story plot involving Chiaki, Jack and Vicky, and Liu Xi.  Just started it though so not sure when I'll finish it.
> > For Chiaki, protecting someone who can't defend themselves as well as she can is the highest honor.  So if she's confronted she would likely be stubborn to the point of being unreasonable.  Even situations like "give up the old man and we'll leave you with the kid peacefully" would be violently resisted by her, because her honor depends on the promise of returning them both home safely.
>
> Mumph doesn't see himself as being unable to defend himself. He's managed to survive for 150+ years so far.
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That's one reason I suggested the Psychic Samurai and not someone like Yuki.  Chiaki is very good at respecting other people's dignity.  She wouldn't intervene if, say, Mumph was fist-fighting a pickpocket in Hell's Bathroom or verbally tearing down Velma Klein.  But if an armed force came after him she would step in.
> > Even Yuki knows both of her suggestions are unlikely to be followed, but they could still show up at a meeting, or long enough to be tossed in the round file.
>
> We'll see what Liu Xi is up to later in this chapter. I intend to address the LL membership issue in a future storyline after a break, when the LL decide on a recruitment drive when it becomes clear that their "happy ending" missing members won't be reappearing any time soon.
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Liu Xi will have a lot of work to do soon.  She's rather tired of being a victim, so she's going to start to work her way up to being much more clever and powerful.  Whether that will concern the Lair Legion remains to be seen.  They might not want her to be independent and powerful because of the possibility of misuse.
