Episode 2

[Anastasia]

Usagi fears needles! Doctor's offices aren't used for evil and breaking friendships!

> Ah, wow. School's back to normal - that cleaning service they mentioned seems to have been largely forgotten and life has resumed as usual. Except, that is, for the two cats now living with you. Two cats that talk and go on about your destiny, even when you're doing homework. As you very half heartidly pick at your history text, "Usagi," Luna nods as she paces your bed. "You'll need to keep up on your homework. It's not fitting for a champion of justice to let her mind go," she half lectures.  Artemis isn't around right now, leaving just you and her.  
>  "You'll need to keep up on your homework. It's not fitting for a champion of justice to let her mind go," she half lectures.  Artemis isn't around right now, leaving just you and her.  (More)
> It's after dinner and getting dark as the cat goes on. "With this threat to Earth, your mind and body will need to be in tip top shape."
<Usagi> "You'd think they'd at least give me a break on the homework after I saved everyone from becoming slaves of that general guy..." the blonde grumbles quietly. "You still haven't explained what all that was about," she adds more pointedly. "Why do I have these powers, who are the enemy, how do you know about them, how can you talk, what kind of cat names are Artemis and Luna?" she babbles, speaking faster with each question.
> "Hey!" Luna squawks with indignation. "Luna is a perfectly fine name," she pouts, licking her paw and stroking it across her forehead as if to calm herself. "Luna means moon, Usagi. It's fitting for the advisors to the Sailor Senshi." As she speaks, she puts her paw back down.
<Usagi> "I was going to call you Maya. Or maybe Kuro..." Usagi says, smiling oddly. "And either Tama or Shiro for Artemis." She suddenly holds up her hands in a placating manner, "Of course, I won't argue with a cat that can actually tell me her name, I was only saying..." she trails off with a giggle.
> "Hmph," Luna pouts, her cutesy voice riled with indignation. "Maya? Kuro? Those are nowhere as nice as Luna," she mutters, then stops as there is a soft pounding on your window.
<Usagi> "It's just unusual," Usagi shrugs, glancing over curiously at the window.
> Artemis is there, Luna hopping to the window. Fiddling with it a moment, she manages to push it open with her paw. "Chilly tonight," he comments as he enters. "Hiya, Usagi. Luna's wasn't nagging you while I was gone, was she," he asks, smiling easily as he gives her a sidelong gaze.
<Usagi> "We were just talking about names," the blonde replies easily. "She didn't like what I'd have called her if she couldn't talk."
> "Artemis..." she murmurs in a low, annoyed voice, giving him quite an annoyed glare. Artemis just smiles nicely to her, nodding to Usagi. "Anyway, nothing tonight. No signs of the enemy, and no signs fo the other Senshi."
<Usagi> "It must be nice, being a cat, though," Usagi murmurs dreamily, not paying much attention. "You can sleep all day, and do what you want. No one expects you to do tricks like a dog. Just sleep and eat... mmmm..."
> "Usagi," Luna says, turning away from her partner in crime, "It's not like that at all."
<Usagi> "I wouldn't like to eat catfood, though," the blonde decides. "I like fish, but that tinned stuff..." she wriggles her nose cutely, "No thanks."
> "There's nothing wrong with that," Luna comments. "Did you want to talk about this, Usagi?" she asks then, hopping to you.
<Usagi> "Yeah," Usagi nods, focusing more on the feline. "What's it really like?" she asks interestedly, "I mean, I can sort of imagine, but I might be wrong. I don't have your perspective, after all."
> "...gah!" Luna gahs, falling mid jump to the floor. She twitches once, before rising. "Usagi, I meant about the enemies." Frazzled, she looks up at you. "What you were just asking to hear about."
<Usagi> "Oh!" Usagi's expression lights up and she thumps a fist into her open palm. "Yeah, that too! How do I have these powers, who are the enemy, how do you know about them?" she asks quickly, leaning down to pick Luna up and settle her on her lap.
> "Right," Luna settles in your lap, as Artemis lies on your bed, watching. "The enemy is trying to invade our world, and the Sailor Senshi have to stop them," she explains.
<Usagi> "With you so far," Usagi nods quickly.
> She nods, grave as she stares and meets your eyes. "And..."
<Usagi> "And...?" Usagi leans closer.
> "And...well, I can't remember," she replies with aplomb.
* Usagi falls out of her chair as the tension is released, depositing Luna on the ground with her rather ungracefully. "Oww..." she moans, pushing herself up on her stomach to look at Artemis. "What about you?" she asks, idly rubbing her hip.
> "I don't remember, either," he admits. "Sorry. It's really blurry right now."
> Luna yelps as she lands, picking herself up slowly. "Ow...Usagi, could you not drop me like that? Please?"
<Usagi> "Well..." Usagi clambers up onto her bed, mumbling a distracted apology to Luna, "You knew that woman at the school was going to drain peoples' energy, and you knew how I could transform and use that tiara, right? Isn't there anything more?"
> "Well..." Artemis begins, as, "Usagi, telephone. It's Naru," Mom calls from downstairs.
<Usagi> "Coming!" Usagi calls, standing up. "Try and remember something before I get back?" she asks hopefully, before rushing downstairs to take the call.
> It's Naru, who is out of school with the flu. She chatters and coughs away, asking you to get her assignments for her and going on about the gossip she's missed. This goes on for a little bit, your mind slipping away from the Mau as you chat.
* Usagi enjoys blathering away to her friend, filling her in on the goings on at school and her two new feline houseguests. She decides not to tell Naru about the whole Sailor Moon thing, though. It's hardly the kind of thing you'd tell someone over the phone. 'Hey, maybe Naru's one of the other senshi?' she thinks. It tends to work that way in manga, right?
> Thus, Usagi chats away, her mind fluttering off to far more pleasing things than Sailor Moon. Like boys.
> ---
> The next morning...Late again! This time badly, as you race off, leaving your house behind in a complete blur. You zoom out, as you run past the streets in your normal morning panic.
* Usagi huffs and puffs, her bookbag flailing dangerously in her hand as she bolts through the streets of Juuban in a desperate race against the clock!
> OOC - Body check, rabbit.
<Usagi> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
> As you run, your foot slips over your other one, causing you to go flying forward! CRUNCH! You land against something firm, then fall down as it falls back. "Ow! HEy, watch where you're going!" a male voice, irritated, calls as your eyes are full of dazed stars and tears.
<Usagi> "Waah!" Usagi wails, squeezing her eyes shut against the pain. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she babbles, attempting to stand up and finding it rather difficult with the searing pain in her buttocks. Groping blindly, she attempts to find a nearby wall or streetlight or something she can use to pull herself up.
> "Oh...oh, Usagi," Motoki's voice greets you. "Morning...you okay?" he asks, as you see him coming over to help you up after he rises.  As you glance around, you see you're near the Crown, how distance flies when you're running for dear on timeedness.
* Usagi somehow manages to get to her feet, leaning on dear Motoki for support. "It hurts, and I'm late, and waah!" she cries, attempting to dash at her tears with her free hand, her bookbag now forgotten on the pavement.
> "C'mon, Usagi..." he says nicely enough, supporting you. "You still have a few minutes," he soothes, as, "Hey, Motoki," another guy calls. This one is dark, tall and wearing a greenish suit with sunglasses. Rather young and sharp looking. "Who's the klutz?"
* Usagi sniffles, shooting a hurt look at the stranger, but holding her tongue.
> "She's Usagi, a friend of mine from work," he replies, his apron dampening in spots thanks to your tears. The other man shrugs, going over and picking up your schoolbag. "Sure can't run like one..." he comments, handing you your dropped school bag.
* Usagi snatches her bag back. "You know him, big brother?" she asks unhappily.
> "Yeah, he's a friend from college," is the reply. "Usagi, meet Mamoru Chiba." To that, Mamoru just gives you a, "Yo!"
<Usagi> "Nice to meet you," Usagi replies, not sounding especially pleased. Forcing down her tears as much as she can, though she still emits a distressed hiccup, the blonde disengages herself from Motoki. "Thanks for helping me, big brother, but I'm really late," she bows, before walking away from the pair with as much dignity as she can manage.
> "Come by after school," Motoki calls as you go, then after you leave, turns to Mamoru. "What was that about,"  he asks, showing a tiny bit of pique. Watching the fleeing girl, Mamoru just shrugs. "Dunno."
* Usagi continues walking until she turns the next corner, at which point she breaks into a run to resume her madcap dash towards school.
> ---
> That afternoon, after a detention period due to your lack of timliness. As you finally escape, the words and obligations of your friends stick in the back of your mind...
* Usagi stretches as she leaves school, glad to put another mind-numbing day of education behind her. Of course, the extra weight in her bookbag reminds her that she still has to dispense said education to one more unlucky victim...
> As you travel there, you glimpse a familiar face on the other side of the street, perhaps halfway there.  Motoki's sister, Unazui, walks in the opposite direction. DRessed in her T*A uniform, she travels on and doesn't wave to you.
* Usagi does wave, however. "Unazuki-chan!" she calls, quickly checking the street before crossing.
> She stops as you cross, getting an opportune gap in the traffic to cross. "Little sis!" she calls, grinning.
<Usagi> "Hi, Unazuki-chan!" Usagi grins as she gets closer. "Did you just get out of school, too?" she asks, a little concerned. Detentions are unusual for most other people, after all. Although it could easily have been something else that kept Unazuki late.
> "No, I stopped by to see my brother," she nods. "And I'm going to the doctor's for a checkup." With that, she takes your arm. "Why don't you come along? I'd love the company."
<Usagi> "Are you sick?" Usagi asks in a concerned voice, quickly falling in step with the older girl. "It's not a fever, is it?" she reaches up for her forehead.
> "No," she bats the hand away. "Just a yearly check up - new doctor, though. "I'm fine."
* Usagi nods, breathing a sigh of relief. "That's good," she says. "Naru-chan's been off school for a few days with the flu. Oh!" she brightens, "I should pick up one of those flu masks at the doctor's, since I need to drop off her homework."
> A nod, "Sure! In the meantime...how's your dream romance going," she smiles, waving a finger and leaning forward.
* Usagi pouts. "Dream is the right word," she comments with a touch of pique.
> "Aw...Big sis'll help you get a boyfriend soon," she nods. 'Just as soon as I get a boyfriend of my own. Heh heh...'
<Usagi> "Thanks, Unazuki-chan!" Usagi beams up at the older girl. After a moment of walking along in companionable silence, she adds, "Hey, do you know a friend of your brother's called Chiba... something?"
> "Um...oh, you mean that cute guy who hangs around with my brother, Mamoru Chiba," s he smiles knowingly. "Oh...is that who you have your eye on now," she smiles even more knowingly.
<Usagi> "No!" Usagi retorts quickly. "I bumped into him this morning," she says, frowning cutely as she rubs the bridge of her nose. "He was really rude!"
> "He was," she stops, slightly surprised. "He's always been nice when I've talked to him."
* Usagi stops as well, her arm still linked with the other girl's. "Even if I am a little bit clumsy, the way he said it so bluntly like that..." she goes on, sounding rather put out.
> "Oh," she pats your shoulder. "He can be a little blunt. It was probably just a misunderstanding," she smiles as you gon on. "He can be really nice, and he's soooo handsome..." she trails off, eyes going starry as she stares ahead. "Dark, tall...and that face, wow!"
<Usagi> "I never really got a proper look..." Usagi says, a touch of regret, there. "But you're right, it must have been a misunderstanding. Maybe he was having a bad morning?"
> "That was probably it," she murmurs, still staring off. "Though, with those dreamy eyes...who would give him trouble," she says absently, not really paying attention.
<Usagi> "I should've gotten a better look..." Usagi grumbles, now intrigued. Oh, well, if he's a friend of Motoki and Unazuki, she'll surely run into him again.
> Heading along, you reach a nice, new building soon. Juuban Medical Plaza, and you enter the main doors of the three story building. Painted white outside, it's warm and dark inside. Very warm, in fact, almost hot. A redhead with a hairbun is at the reception desk, giving you a somehow unsettling eye. Unazui goes over, talking to her...
* Usagi hangs back a little, enough to make it clear she's not here for anything herself. Although she'll ask about flu-masks while Unazuki's actually in for her checkup.
> Looking after she gets some information from your friend, she nods. "Have a seat, Miss," she says, her voice normal enough...but then, why are you jittery and sweaty? It's really warm, yeah, but...the waiting room has a few other quiet people in it.
* Usagi rubs her slightly clammy palms. "Why is it hospitals always make you feel ill?" she asks Unazuki with a trace of annoyance as the pair go to take their seats.
> "They have the heat on too high," she notes as you sit. "Really too high...and did you see that girl up there? She could use a few smiles."
<Usagi> "Yeah. Wouldn't be very inspiring if you really were sick," Usagi nods, glancing around at the others in the waiting room.
> Most of the people are unremarkable, if bored and waiting. There is a short pause, then, "Miss Furuhata," the door to the back opens, the nurse calling for her. "Wait here, Usagi," she smiles. "I hope this won't be long."
* Usagi nods cheerily, trying to ignore her slightly jittery feeling.
> And thus, you wait. After about ten mintues and half reading an old teen magazine, another spry teenager comes out. From yous chool, though you don't reconize the face as much as the uniform, she scowls as she exits out promptly.
<Usagi> 'Bad news?' Usagi wonders. The girl looked more annoyed than sad/frightened, at least. Setting aside her magazine, the blonde heads over to the receptionist. "Excuse me?" she asks, "Can I buy a flu-mask, here?"
> She pauses, before reaching down and smirking. "You can have one for free," she smiles, bringing a flu mask box out. "Just be sure to use it."
<Usagi> "Free?" Usagi smiles, "Thanks!" she takes a mask from the box and pockets it. "A friend of mine has the flu, and I don't want to get it myself when I visit... even though it would be nice to get time off school..." she trails off a bit wistfully.
> "Why don't you tell her to come here," the nurse says, smiling and unnerving you. "We'll even give her a free appointment."
<Usagi> "I'm pretty sure her mom would've already had her checked out," Usagi shrugs, it not really being her place to give medical advice to her friends.
> "By all means, though, tell her to come," she insists, as the door to the back opens. Seemingly annoyed, your friend comes out, going right past you like you don't exist.
<Usagi> "I'll.. hey!" Usagi abruptly cuts off her conversation, hurrying after Unazuki. "Unazuki-chan!" she calls.
> Turning with an icy glare that drives the warmth right out of you, "Yes, Tsukino?" she replies.
* Usagi recoils, her hair toinging out slightly. "Ts-tsukino?" she repeats in a small voice, before composing herself and putting a hand on her friend's arm, "Are you okay, Unazuki-chan?" she asks gently, "What did the doctor tell you?"
> "I'm FINE," she says coldly, jerking out of your grasp. "Go away, I'm going home." With that, she turns away and begins walking.
<Usagi> "So cold..." Usagi whispers, shivering as the other girl departs.
> Leaving you behind, she doesn't even turn back to you.
<Usagi> Somewhat... no, extremely, despondent, Usagi follows at a very slow pace, dragging her feet as she watches Unazuki walk further away. "I don't understand..." she says softly, too fearful to approach Unazuki again and brave that icy glare. At the first opportunity, she turns off and heads for Osa-P, hoping Unazuki doesn't really hate her...
> As you head there, in your own thoughts..."Psssst! Usagi!" a voice calls, from a little nook at the side of a building.
* Usagi looks up, distracted from her gloomy thoughts. "Hmm?"
> From it, you see Artemis emerge. He leaps nimbly to your shoulder. "Hey...mind if I catch a ride," he asks, settling in.
<Usagi> "I guess," Usagi mumbles, reaching up to idly pet the feline as she resumes her depressed march.
> "Thanks," he says, before settling in. "Something wrong, Usagi-chan?"
<Usagi> "Unazuki-chan hates me," the blonde replies glumly.
> "Unazuki-chan," he asks, warm on your s houlder. "Usagi," he says softly. "Why?"
<Usagi> "I don't know!" Usagi replies, sniffling slightly as tears threaten. "I went with her to the doctor's, and we were talking like normal, then after her appointment she brushed me off like I was a fleck of dirt on her shoe!"
> "Ow," Artemis observers, pausing a moment to stare to the other side of the street. He seems to eye a green haired girl a moment before shaking his head, turning back to you. "Sorry, what was that," he says. "Something caught my eye."
* Usagi sighs softly, lowering her gaze to the pavement as she walks along. "Never mind."
> As he protests and apologies, you head to the Osa-P. On arriving, you find it busy, Naru's mother working away. "Hi, Usagi," she takes a moment to wave. "Naru's upstairs, the door's open."
<Usagi> "I'll go right up," Usagi smiles, brightening. "Ah, you don't mind if I bring my cat, do you?" she indicates Artemis. "He's housetrained and everything!"
> "That's fine," she waves, quickly going back to an inquiring customer.
* Usagi heads on up, pausing to don her flu-mask before knocking on Naru's bedroom door.
> As you open the box and take it, Artemis stops and eyes it. "Usagi," he says, slow at first but voice going sharp. "Where did you get that?"
<Usagi> "Huh?" Usagi pauses, "At the health clinic," she replies, keeping her voice low - Naru doesn't need to know she's talking to her cat, after all.
> "I feel the enemies' energy from it," he says. "Don't p ut it on!"
* Usagi brightens. "That must be why...! We'll go get them in a minute, ok?" she asks, before putting a finger over her lips and knocking on the door. 'Just hope I don't get the flu, now...'
> HE nods. "Be quick...if the enemy is there, we need to stop them as soon as possible."
* Usagi nods, knocking again. "Naru-chan!"
> "Usagi-ch*cough*chan?" Naru calls, voice tired.
* Usagi opens the door and comes inside. "Hi, Naru-chan," she smiles at her friend. "How're you feeling?"
> The girl in question looks miserable, pale and generally bad. Artemis eyes her, then whispers, "Hurry, Usagi." "Bad. My throat hurts," she croaks.
* Usagi gives Artemis a slightly impatient look. Surely she can spare a few minutes for her suffering friend? "I brought your homework," she says, depositing said assignments on Naru's desk. "Although if I were you I wouldn't bother with them - gotta concentrate on getting better, after all!" she nods quickly.
> "Muh...yeah," Naru says, coughing again twice. My, she looks bad. "I haven't been this sick since I was seven...hope you don't catch it, Usagi.""
<Usagi> "Sure doesn't look fun," the blonde agrees, keeping a respectable distance. "I'd better get going, but I'll call you later, okay?"
> Another cough, then, "Okay. Don't let Umino get you w hile I'm away...*cough*
<Usagi> "That's a thought to make someone sick," Usagi giggles. "Anyway, I'll speak to you later. Rest up, Naru-chan!" she calls, making her exit.
> "Okay, Usagi!" As you exit out, Artemis whispers again. "Com eon, Usagi. Let's go, Sailor Moon!"
* Usagi nods determinedly, exiting at a quick pace, only pausing to wave to Naru's mother on the way out. "So, what's our plan, this time?" she asks the cat once they're underway.
> "Hmmm...it's a doctor's office,"  he asks, curious. "A clinic..hmm. Maybe you s hould sneak inside and see what they're doing."
<Usagi> "Seemed they were keen to get more patients," Usagi nods, "But what if they get me like they did everyone else?"
> "We'll have to be careful," he notes, as you head through the pre dusk streets. "I'll have something special for you when we get there.:
<Usagi> "Haven't steered me wrong yet, I suppose," Usagi says agreeably, marching along at a quick trot towards the clinic.
> As you approach, Artemis hops off. "Okay, Usagi. I'm going to give you a special pen - but promise you won't use it for anything but Sailor business, okay?" he asks, a bit more serious now.
<Usagi> "Like this one?" Usagi asks, rooting around in her bookbag before producing the pen she recieved when this all started. "I used it in school, today," she notes. "Do I have other transformations besides Sailor Moon?"
> "Not that I know of," he shakes his head, before staring. "It actually works as a pen," he asks, s urprised. "And you used it as one?"
<Usagi> "Well, yeah..." Usagi replies, fidgeting with it in her fingers. "I mean, it's so pretty, and it fits my hand a lot better than any other pens."
> 'Uh....well, anyway," he bounces back, doing a half hearted filp. This time, a pink pen appears, the cap pleasantly golden. "The Moon Disguise Pen. Hold it aloft and call, "Moon Disguise Power, Transform me into -" and it will change you into that. I think you can use it to sneak inside of here."
<Usagi> "Oooh, this one's pretty, too!" Usagi enthuses, picking it up in her free hand and alternately bringing each pen closer for inspection. "Which one do I like best, though...?" she muses, concentrating intently.
> "Usagi...why don't you try it," Artemis suggests pointedly, repressing a slight sigh.
<Usagi> "This one's really cute..." Usagi holds up the disguise pen, "But I really like this one's style!" she holds up the senshi pen. "Oh, what does it matter!" she grins down at Artemis, "They're both mine, right?"
> This causes Artemis to just sigh in despair. "Usagi...yeah, they're yours," he concedes. "Could we go now? The enemy is inside of there, after all," he coughs.
<Usagi> "Right, right," Usagi nods, putting her transformation in her skirt pocket. "So... to sneak in to a clinic..." she hums for a moment before brightening, "Moon disguise power, transform me into a cute nurse!"
> You feel warm a moment, then spinning as you...change! Appearing standing on one foot, saluting from your cap with a red cross on it, pretty, short haired nurse Usagi stands there in high heels! A clipboard is in one hand, a syringe in the other!
<Usagi> "Gah!" Usagi promptly throws the syringe away. "I hate needles!" the cute nurse exclaims, hopping from foot to foot.
> As it clatters to the ground, ARtemis shakes his head. "It's time, Usagi! Get in there and inflitrate, and stop them! Turn into Sailor Moon when it's the time," he adds, hopping onto your shoulders again.
<Usagi> "They won't let me bring a cat in to the hospital," Usagi points out, having calmed herself. Moving Artemis into the crook of her left arm, she carefully positions the clipboard to obscure him from most angles. It doesn't look like a very natural way to carry a clipboard, but she'll take what she can get. That done, she marches into the building like she owns the place!
> OOC - Body check, -1.
<Usagi> roll 2d6-1
* Queen_Serenity --> "Usagi rolls 2d6-1 and gets 2."
> You march right in, your high heels clicking on the pavement as you enter! The receptionist looks up, confused for just a moment...
* Usagi doesn't even give the receptionist a look, proceeding right past the waiting area and towards the doctors' offices.
> "Hey, wait, you can't do that," she calls, as you enter. Back here is a little area, with the main desk, a weighing machine(guh), and a few dark doors leading back.
<Usagi> "Okay, now what? Can you tell where the boss is like at the school?" she quietly asks the cat, hoping that receptionist doesn't follow.
> "I'm not su-" he begins, as the receptionist, a severe, older redhead with a nasty scowl comes out. "What do you think you're doing! Only authorized personnel back here," she calls. "The Doctor does not want to be disturbed!"
> Coming so out, she blocks your way to the doors in back.
<Usagi> "I am authorised - I work here!" the cute nurse protests. "You're standing in the way of... of medicine!"
> "You do not!" she protests! "That's impossible!"
<Usagi> "I've got my authorisation... right here!" and with that the blonde tosses the clipboard at the woman's face and bolts for one of the doors leading onwards!
> OOC - ACV.
<Usagi> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> The clipboard goes wild as you race ahead! The door in back in unlocked, and you head through it! INside...woah! INstead of an office, is a great open room. Beds are about, about twenty. Straps on are on each, and three beds have bound people on them. Walking through this calmly is man in labcoat, slacks and glasses, his dark green hair long and tied back. Kinda cute, even though the shadows around his face and the room give you the creeps.
> Looking up, he smiles. "Ah, another patient," he says, beginning to walk to you. "And a cat?"
<Usagi> "Wrong!" Usagi replies, shifting Artemis off her arm. "I don't know what you're doing here, but it sure doesn't look like medicine." Producing her transformation pen, she cries out "Moon Prism Power!"
* Usagi is now known as Sailor_Moon
<Sailor_Moon> Posing dramatically as she completes her transformation, "I am Sailor Moon, defender of love and justice! Using the guise of a kind doctor to turn people against their friends is unforgivable! Even if Hippocrates will allow it, I sure won't! In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
> Artemis is still on your shoulders as you finish, feeling better already. "Oh...a problem," he says coolly, placing his hands behind his bad, his glasses glinting in the shadows and almost blinding you. "Sailor Moon, is it? Our General was most put out with you. If you defeated Astra...I'm sure your energy will be most rewarding for us," he says, still calm, as you hear the door open behind you. "Dear Mordana, would you introduce Sailor Moon to a grisly demise?"
> "Dear Mordana, would you introduce Sailor Moon to a grisly demise?"
> The receptionist is here, her nurse's costume fading as her body changes! Skin now deeply pale and with ruby red hair, a red bikini clads her body along with needles for fingers! For his credit, he calmly stands there and watches. "If you do well, the General may reward you richly."
* Sailor_Moon shifts her body to the side, her eyes darting between both foes... 'I sure hope the tiara works the same as last time...'
> OOC - Initiative. +1 for you due to the speech, I'll have those rules posted tonight. My bad.
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 1."
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6+7
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6+7 and gets 11."
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+7
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+7 and gets 9."
> Sailor Moon>Baddie
* Anastasia is now known as Sailor_Anastasia
* Sailor_Moon glances between both enemies, recalling how those four guys became a non-issue after she dusted their boss, last time. Since the 'doctor' was calling the shots... Taking off her tiara, she pirouettes, before facing the green-haired man and crying out "Moon Tiara Action!" as she releases the magical headgear at him!
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> Your tiara flies, yet is just inaccurate as it sails harmlessly over the head of the doctor. He watches it, nodding to the pale white nurse behind you. "Go, Mordana," he says in his soft, commanding tone. With that, she nods. "Prepare to be turned into moon kebabs, Sailor Moon," she cries, as a volley of needles come from her hand at you!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> Yet they fly off, all around you yet none hitting you! The beds around you, the floor, all are covered with needles narrowly missing you!
<Sailor_Moon> "It didn't wo-" Moon begins to berate Artemis for her failed attack, before yelping at the storm of needles around her. "Waaah! I hate needles!" she screams.
> "Gah!" Artemis half falls off you, landing in one of the few needle free places. "Hurry, Sailor Moon," he calls, glancing around.
* Midnight (midnight_s@dialup-4.231.217.128.dial1.miami1.level3.net) has joined #dunes
> OOC - Initiative.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 9."
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 2."
> Sailor Moon>Baddie
* C-Rat-Sleep (Bill@c211-28-166-230.eburwd2.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #dunes
* ChanServ sets mode: +o C-Rat-Sleep
> "Do it again, Usagi," the cat cries, back low and claws out as he keeps an eye on the needle girl.
<Sailor_Moon> "I'm trying!" Moon insists, clearly rattled as she takes hold of the magically reappearing tiara. "Moon Tiara Action!" she once more targets the green-haired man.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 11."
* C-Rat-Sleep is now known as C-Rat
> Again, our tiara flies way too high, as the man laughs lightly, raising his head up. "This is sad! Youc an't even hit a still target!" he calls, shaking his head! "Mordana! Finish her!" he calls, as she leaps high, a storm of needles appearing from her hands again!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
> Again a hail of needles fly, as...a  single rose flies out from above, parting the sea of needles into two paths around you! From above, you see a window on the far side...a man in some sort of dark suit stands there! "Sailor Moon! You must keep fighting! Do not give up hope!" Leaping down, he fires off another rose at the villianess!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
> roll 2d6+2
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Anastasia rolls 2d6+2 and gets 7."
> This one gets her across both of her hands, needles breaking apart as she cries out in pain! "Sailor Moon! Get her now!" he says as he lands. Is he wearing...a tuxedo and hat? Dark hair and a mask...but it's hard to tell from here.
<Sailor_Moon> "Hey, you're one to talk! That monster of-" Usagi begins irately before being distracted by the newcomer and blinking in surprise, his words taking a moment to register before she nods quickly.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 9."
> OOC - You automatically win initiative. First, hold on.
> "Sailor Moon! Focus and draw on your power! You must defeat him," he calls, landing well away from the other sin a crouch! (OOC - Soul check, -2.)
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6-2
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6-2 and gets 9."
> You feel energy refill your body, your spirit seeming to become stronger! (EP +20) OOC - You can act now.
<Sailor_Moon> "Yes!" Usagi nods determinedly, focusing on the needle-monster. "Moon Tiara Action!" she calls her attack, hoping for a bit more luck with the underling.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 4."
> roll 2d6+4
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Anastasia rolls 2d6+4 and gets 12."
> The tiara flies out, hitting the monster right in the forehead! With a cry, she explodes out into a fine dust!
<Sailor_Moon> "Yes!" Usagi jumps up and down in delight, turning to stick her tongue out at the green-haired man.
> *Clap, clap, clap* Clapping his bare hands, "Well played, even if you had help," he notes, alternating his gaze between the two of you. "Next time, I suppose...I don't have time to be wasting on a little girl like you." With that, he is simply _gone_.
<Sailor_Moon> "Uwah!" the blonde recoils slightly at the abrupt exit. "How did he...?" she gasps, before turning to her helper to take a proper look at him without distractions.
> As you turn, you just see him leap up and out, his last words hanging in the air. "Well done, Sailor Moon," he says, turning once to to you over his shoulder. Masked, but...wow, he's cute from what you can see! Really cute, as he hops out the window.
<Sailor_Moon> "Hey, wait!" Sailor Moon calls, "Thanks for the help, whoever you are!" she finishes, a little disappointed as he vanishes.
> "That was something...but who was he," Artemis asks, eyeing the now brightening clinic, as lights come on.
<Sailor_Moon> "My hero..." Usagi sighs dreamily, leaning against a bedpost and staring up at where the mysterious figure vanished.
> ---
> The next day: Heading to the Crown, you find yourself heading in..."Hi, Usagi," Motoki waves as you come in, turning away from the task of mopping up a puddle - looks like a spilled drink of some sort.
<Usagi> "Hiya, big brother," Usagi replies cheerfully, her usual adoration slightly dampened by thoughts of the mysterious stranger who helped her, yesterday. "Is Unazuki-chan working upstairs, today?"
> He nods once, putting the mop back in it's accompanying bucket. "Yes, and I saw her go up about ten minutes ago. She should be getting started now," he informs you.
<Usagi> "Did she seem... upset, yesterday?" the blonde goes on carefully.
> He shakes his head at that. "I don't know, I didn't really see her much yesterday."
* Usagi nods. "Okay. I'll see you later, big brother," she waves, heading up to the parlour above the arcade.
> Heading up, you find it to be full of school escapees of all ages from ten to eighteen, gossip flowing as much as ice cream and sweet juice amid the students. A small staff bustles about, including your friend, whom is current chatting with a gaggle of high school girls and taking their order.
* Usagi takes a seat among Unazuki's cluster of tables, not doing anything to attract the older girl's attention. 'She looks her usual self... must have definitely been that monster that made her short tempered,' she decides.
> Cheerful indeed, as she turns and goes back to get their order, she takes a moment to wave as she goes back.
* Usagi brightens considerably as she waves back.
> After bringing back a tray laden with sweets to that table, she comes back to yours. "Hi, Usagi-chan," she beams and giggles, seeming in fine spirits.  "What can I get you?"
<Usagi> "I'll have a peach sundae," the blonde replies happily. "Are you feeling better, today?" she asks, unsure exactly how Unazuki is rationalising yesterday's events, or if she even remembers what was done to her. "You were a little out of it after the doctor's."
> "Oh...yeah..." she nods, still cheerful as she holds her tray up to her chest. "I must have been tired, I barely even remember coming home. Sorry...I left you behind, didn't I?"
* Ami-shopping is now known as Ami-chan
<Usagi> "That's alright," Usagi blitheley waves it off. "You looked like you needed a break. At least you're fine, now."
* Ana-brb is now known as Anastasia
> "Yeah," she grins, mood returning quickly. "So, one peace sundae, coming right up!"
<Usagi> "Mmhmm!" Usagi nods quickly. Ah, life is good, once more...
> As it returns, you find yourself to have been given quite a large sundae - bigger than usual, too. "Enjoy, Usagi-chan," Unazuki grins. "Just..." she pauses as she puts it down, beginning to walk away, "Just don't let any boys see you eating that much," she winks, giggling.
<Usagi> "Unazuki-chaan!" the blonde wails indignantly. Still, she takes a cursory look around, before shrugging and digging in with gusto. What are the odds her mysterious hero would be here to see it, anyway?

--

Episode two is finished. I though it dragged slightly in setup, though that may have just been me. Beyond that, it was a general setup episode, getting Usagi's friends and life in more order before things pick up.

Next episode: A mysterous genius girl?