The following is a story on the lovely Stefanie Joosten, you may know her from her performance as Quiet in Metal Gear Solid V, if you are not familiar look her up, she is absolutely gorgeous.
Anyhow, spoilers for MGSV below. But this story is set in the real world.
Hope you enjoy it.
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I sat in my seat and looked out the window, resisting the urge to photograph the aircraft wing and the approaching landscape beyond it. The landscape in question was Japan, a country which revelled in its unique character and perseverance.
It literally rose from the ashes. I was keen to see a different land, far from home. I enjoyed what I was experiencing, the culture was so different and unique. I soon arrived at my hotel and settled in for a rest to shake off some jet lag.
Once I had awoken it was getting into the evening. I headed out to see the sights and sounds of Tokyo. The bright neon lights seem to shine down with an increased intensity.
Later that night I found myself, in a theatre watching a show, something I never did back home, but I was here and figured, why the fuck not? I watched intently, admittedly not understanding what was being said in Japanese.
However, then she appeared, she walked on stage with grace and a rather sexy demeanour. I knew her from videogames, a character which was unforgettable. When I first saw what she looked like in the flesh I was in awe. She looked amazing and my eyes were focussed only on her. I enjoyed the show and afterwards found myself in an atrium looking around at the people moving about.
I spotted her and thought I would complement her on her performance.
"Hi There, loved your performance," I said to the woman known as Stefanie Joosten.
"Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it," she responded in a courteous and professional manner.
She then carried on her way, it was an incredible turn of events, and just proved the notion that travel changes one's world perspective.
I headed and saw some more of the city, before I knew it, morning had come. I headed back to the hotel and slept away the night's festivities. Hours later I awoke and found myself wanting to head out of the city for a while. I headed on the bullet train and found myself far out of the city. An ancient site. It was an old temple, more than a thousand years old. Nestled away, even from the tourists.
I marvelled at the history, wondering what these walls would have seen during the time they have stood there. It seemed even this amazing site before me didn't quite match up to what I saw yesterday.
Her eyes were big, blue, and I had gotten lost in them. They shimmered like pools of moonlight. I was hypnotised, as though the words I said did not come from me. I didn't count highly the chances of seeing her ever again, this had happened before and nothing indicated that this time would be any different.
I instead decided to hold the memory of what happened, close to me, and think of it as a happy thought. It was another day and I thought I would head further north. I ended up in Hokkaido, Japan's northern most island. A place called Unkai Terrace, it literally sits above the clouds.
It was a place I saw only in pictures until that moment. I seemed to have been in luck that day, I reached the top of the terrace and looked out at the site before me, the thick clouds laid out below me. It proved a surreal experience, one I would never forget.
It seemed like I had entered another dimension. As standing close by, a few metres to my right was her. Stefanie Joosten was standing there, in all her glory. Her long dark hair cascaded down over her shoulders.
She looked at the sight before her as intensely as I was now looking at her. I had to make sure I hadn't lost my mind, but no my mind was still intact. It was her, she had on blue jeans and a fitted jacket on top and brown scarf nestled around her collar.
She was more or less in ear shot, so I spoke, "Lovely view isn't it?"
"Yes, always good to come here," Stefanie responded.
"I take it, I caught the last night of your show?" I enquired.
"Yes you did, I'm glad you enjoyed it." She answered.
I did a double take on that and found myself wondering what she meant by that until she solved the mystery with her next sentence.
"You were the only person to approach me that night, so I remember your face." Stefanie said to me.
"I'm honoured you remembered me," I responded not knowing what else to say.
"A modest man, that is very endearing to me," Stefanie responded.
"My name is Bill," I said to her.
"Stefanie, although I feel you knew that," Stefanie responded as we shook hands.
I nodded in response, and she responded with a gorgeous smile on her face. An offer came to join her; one I could not refuse. We sat and talked to one another for a few hours. I had read about her life but hearing it from her, along with the details the internet had missed was a true honour.
Her story was inspiring and simply incredible that this woman, similar in age to myself had achieved so much in such a short time. All the way from her beginnings in the Netherlands to her worldwide recognition here in Japan. A complete departure from the character I knew her for, I talked more as she switched focus to me asking me to tell her my story.
She seemed genuinely interested in my story. I didn't think it too interesting, I was born, I grew up and survived to get to this point. However, she listened to what I had to say. I was in disbelief; I tried to hide it as best I could. She sensed this and laid her hand on top of mine.
"Never doubt your story, I want to know who you are," Stefanie said to me whilst I looked into her big, blue, shimmering eyes.
"Thank you Stefanie," I responded.
For a change I felt comfortable, I opened up with a woman for the first time in a long time. I felt incredible like I could do anything.
As we left together, most of the day had passed.
A bullet train was where we found each other hurtling back towards Tokyo with the sun setting in the sky. The picturesque landscape of Japan hurtled passed at supercar speeds and Stefanie and I enjoyed the sun as it disappeared past the horizon.
Later that evening we found ourselves in my hotel room still talking. We started to discuss games and our collective passion for them. It was incredible to share this passion of mine with this gorgeous woman.
Before we knew it, midnight had rolled around. Stefanie had to leave but before she kissed me on the cheek. She smiled at me as she left. I was in awe; I had spent a day with a woman I thought I would only interact with in my fantasies. It suddenly made every single cent I had spent coming to Japan worth it.
