Episode 3!

[Anastasia]

Episode 3! New girl Ami-chan is here! Who is that cute masked man?

Dunenote: I'd normally clean this up by removing the join/parts and minor edit notes, but this is huge for an episode. Cope. >_>

> Ah, schoolwork. Ah, school. Ah, math and science. As you quietly read your textbook at lunch, still in your desk..."Ami," the voice of your math teacher, a younger woman, unusually bright for a math teacher, taps your book lightly. Odd, since math isn't until near the end of the day.
* Ami-chan raises her eyes from the textbook and looking up, smiles politely. "Yes, ma'am?"
> Taking a nearby empied seat and sitting, "Ami, would you like to earn some extra credit," she asks nicely, her smile inviting - rather clearly so.
* Ami-chan blinks and shifts her eyes to follow the teacher. "Extra credit, ma'am? Doing what?" Ami asked with curiosity.
> "Tutoring," she says, giving you her best smile. She has nice white teeth to go with her long black hair, it's kind of surprising that she's still a Miss. "I was hoping you'd join our peer tutoring group, since you're such a good math student."
<Ami-chan> "Oh, of course, I wouldn't mind helping out at all," Ami replies with some surprise at the offer. She hadn't been expecting extra credit for tutoring. "When would we be meeting?"
> "Twice a week after school, in room 5 D," she explains. "You'll meet your tutoree for the semester then," Smiling warmly, "Thank you, Ami."
<Ami-chan> "You're welcome," Ami replies as she reopens her textbook and tries to finish reading the solution for the problem she was reading.
> ---
* Ranma007 is now known as Ranma007|study
* Ami-chan sets mode: +o Makoto
* Usagi-work is now known as Usagi
> "Usagi," Ah, home. Such a nice feeling after school - except for a rather irate Mother standing and waiting for you, a slip of paper in one hand and her spatula in the other. Wow, she looks ticked.
> "Usagi, guess what I got in the mail today," she says, before you can even get out of your shoes.
<Usagi> "Mama?" Usagi asks innocently, glad she's still in her shoes in case a quick getaway is needed. "What did you get?"
> "A parent-teacher conference for tonight," she says, waving the sheet of paper to you. Sure enough, it's a handwritten note for just that, you think. "It seems you last math test was a 34, Usagi."
<Usagi> "Hey, isn't that over a third right?" the blonde points out. "I mean..." she stammers slightly under the disapproving stare, "It's not the worst I could get, right?"
> "U-sa-gi..." she gives you the eye of death(tm), frowning strongly. "It's a big fat F! My daughter is clearly not studying enough!"
<Usagi> "I do study, some," Usagi retorts weakly. "I mean, somebody always has to come first in every test, no matter how hard everyone else tries. It's just the same that someone else has to come last... or something..." she wilts further, her words not making much sense even to herself.
> "Then come in last with something above a 34!" she says firmly, grabbing you. "I want you to come upstairs and study all evening while I go to this," she says, the front of the house whisking by as you're draggd.
<Usagi> "Aww..." Usagi grumbles but decides against a more vitriolic protest as she's forced upstairs. It's not like she enjoys doing so badly at school. It's just... she enjoys other things more than the work required to do less badly.
> And thus, your books await you. At least you have the two cats to keep you company - in theory, but only Artemis is there for long, and he's gone within a half hour. "Sorry," he says, "But I need to go help Luna look for the enemy or the other Senshi."
<Usagi> "Sure, sure," Usagi replies distractedly as she tries to figure out how to multiply fractions. Why does math have to be so darn complicated? Whatever happened to simple stuff like the two times table?
> Later...as your stomach begins to rumble, a knock on your door. "Usagi," Mother annouces, entering. My, she still looks ticked.
<Usagi> "Yes?" the blonde asks haggardly.
> "Usagi," she begins, her nicer 'going out' clothes somehow rumpled, "You're starting tutoring after school tomorrow. If you don't bring your math grade up...:
<Usagi> "Wha?" Usagi's jaw drops. "That's like... a detention every day!" she pauses, frowning. "Hey, what if I actually do have a detention, though? How would I be able to do the tutoring thing, then?"
> "I'm sure your teachers will schedule those around it," she nods, "It's twice a week."
<Usagi> "Oh," the blonde seems somewhat mollified by that. Sighing in defeat, she nods, "I guess if that's what I have to do..." 'At least I'm not being sent to a cram school...'
> "Good," she nods. "Now keep on studying, I want to see a good grad eon the next test..." she smiles, then turns. "Or ELSE," she adds, the demon eyes making a momentary comeback.
* Usagi cringes. "Yes..." she replies weakly, going back to staring at the same set of problems she's been staring at for the past hour without progress. 'Maybe a tutor would be better than just doing this,' she reflects.
> ---
> You find yourself giggling. The latest e-mail from Nanako is just hilarious! She's going on about her adventures in martial arts, all the while asking for special help with her geometry homework...it's something fun to lose time in this evening, as..."Ami," the knock on your door is soft, your mother's voice carrying. "Would you run to the corner store and get some rice? I forgot to buy some today."
* Ami-chan quickly begins to stiffle her laughter as she nods with a smile at her mom. "Of course, mom. What are we having for dinner?"
> "Curry and rice," she calls. "Chicken curry."
* Ami-chan nods as she gets off the chair and moves towards the door. "Sounds good. I'll be back in a minute with the rice."
> "Okay, then we'll eat," she says, as you get ready and head out. It's a pleasant night, hints of warmth for the upcoming spring and summer in the air. The streetlights are on, and it's a nice walk to. Purchasing the item in question, you begin to head back when you see a pair of flashing lights atop the sidewalk fence.
* Hibernating_Panda is now known as Panda[Defrost]
<Ami-chan> 'Odd,' the blue haired girl thinks as she moves towards the fence, wondering why there'd be lights above it.
> As you get closer, you see it's the flash of feline eyes - a silky black cat leaping from the darkness, to your shoulders!
<Ami-chan> "Wah!" Ami cries out, momentarily startled.
* Ranma007|study is now known as Ranma007
<Ami-chan> Quickly regaining her composure, Ami slowly moves her hand to scratch the cat under it's chin.
> The feline lands easily enough, curling up on your neck in a surprising and vastly uncharacteristic move for a random cat. He or she seems to enjoy it, playing under your chin happily. Odd...it has a yellow scar on it's forehead, almost like an unside down c.
<Ami-chan> "What a cute kitty you are!" Ami exclaims as the cat seems to bend down for her scratching. "You startled me you know, kitty."
> "Meeoooow..." it purrs, rubbing your hand with it's soft fur. Your hand brushes it's head...huh. It's forehead is really warm. Feels nice to the touch.
* Ami-chan smiles. "Well you're warm, aren't you? I wonder where you've been sticking that head of yours that it's so warm," she muses outloud as she continues to pet the pleasant cat.
> Purring away, it settles onto your shoulders quite firmly. It doesn't look like the cat is going anywhere.
<Ami-chan> After a bit more time spent distracted by the kitty, Ami gasps as she suddenly remembers her errand. "Oh dear, I forgot about dinner," she mumbles before looking at her watch to check that she didn't get distracted for too long.
> Perhaps five minutes, if that. Nothing critical.
<Ami-chan> Giving a small sigh of relief, she moves her hands to grab the cat so she can put it on the ground. "Sorry kitty, but I'm afraid I can't play with you anymore..." she says to it with a slightly sad tone.
> Another meow, as it's eyes meet yours. Seems oddly understanding as it sits on the pavement.
<Ami-chan> Moving back in the direction towards home, she turns around for a second, and with a smile and a wave, says, "Bye bye, kitty." before moving back on her way home. 'I'll have to ask mother about the possibility of getting a pet.'
> OOC - roll 2d6, Ami.
<Ami-chan> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> Heading home, as you head to the front door of your apartment building, you catch something out of the corner of your eye. A dark shape moving to the side, out of site. Some sort of small animal, dark colored.
<Ami-chan> 'Did that kitty follow me?' she thinks briefly before shaking her head. "Sorry kitty, but I can't play with you right now," she says outloud over her shoulder before entering the front door.
> Heading inside, Ami gets a nice dinner before going back to her computer. It's easy to forget about a single feline...
> ---
> After getting a room number and time from your mother that morning for the tutoring, Usagi heads to school. The day goes by slowly, perhaps with the knowledge that extra time is in the offing for sure. When it finally does end, it's almost like going from the frying pan to the frier...
* Usagi waves to her friends as they depart school for sweet blessed freedom. Well, except for the suckers who have cram school. That done, she heads over to her tutoring class...
> On arriving, you see a few people in here, as well as a single teacher overseeing it, spread out over one very large table. Young, perky and with really nice and black hair, the teacher heads over as you enter. "Hi, you're Usagi Tsukino, the new student for our tutoring group," she asks.
<Usagi> "That's me," the blonde replies, not terribly enthusiastic. Sure, the teacher seems nice, now. Miss Haruna seemed nice on her first day at Juuban, too.
> She nods, ushering you over to the table. "I heard all about you from your math teacher. You're having problems, aren't you," she asks, as she leads you over to a blue haired student sitting by herself at the moment.
<Usagi> "It's really hard," Usagi nods to the teacher, before waving to the other girl. "Hi, I'm Usagi," she smiles brightly. "You failing math, too?" she enquires.
* Ana is now known as Ana-work
* Ami-chan blinks as she's spoken to and looks away from her notes as she stares at her math teacher and a blonde girl she doesn't recognize. Smiling at what's probably her student she stands up and bows. "Ami Mizuno, Usagi-san. And as far as I know, I'm not failing math," she replies with a warm tone. Looking at her teacher, she adds, "Am I?"
> "Not at all, Ami," she smiles. "You have a 104 as it stands." With that smile, she nods. "I'm sure Ami will help you, Usagi."
<Usagi> "Oh!" Usagi blushes, ducking her head. "Sorry, Ami-chan, I shouldn't have said that." She giggles nervously, "So, you're my tutor? I put myself in your hands!" she sketches a quick bow. 'Thank God. I was worried I'd get someone like Umino...'
[20:59] <Ami-chan> The tips of Ami's smile curve up a bit higher at the -chan comment. 'Friendly girl,' she thinks as she motions to the seat besides her own. "Well, Usagi," Ami says, pausing briefly before continuing with an almost experimental tone, "...-chan, let's get started then, shall we?"
[21:07] <Usagi> "Yeah..." Usagi's bright demeanour dulls slightly at the prospect of work. Sitting down, she leans in and lowers her tone to a conspiratorial whisper, "Just between you and me, Ami-chan, I wouldn't expect too much out of this."
[21:08] <Ami-chan> "Oh, you just need to find the right attitude to get into it," Ami replies cheerfully. "Just tell me where you're currently having trouble and we'll start off from there."
[21:09] <Usagi> "All of it," the blonde replies, completely straight-faced.
[21:15] * Ami-chan pauses at that and thinking for a few seconds, before saying, "Well, I doubt it's that bad, but unless you have an idea of where to start, that makes things a bit difficult..."
[21:15] <Ami-chan> "Sorry, I'm afraid I've never really tutored anyone before," Ami says in an apologetic tone. "Give me a minute to think of something."
[21:16] <Usagi> "Uh, okay," Usagi decides to help the other girl out in her ill-fated quest to help Usagi. "I was trying to study fractions, last night, but it just didn't make any sense," she offers.
[21:20] <Ami-chan> "Well, that tells me one of your problems, but not where to start," Ami explains. "Hmm...do you by any chance keep your old homeworks?"
[21:22] * Usagi digs into her bookbag, producing a dark blue notebook after a moment. "This is all my homework for this term, at least," she offers. Opening said book reveals a good twenty pages of barely there math, copious red pen, and cute little doodles of rabbits and the words 'Usagi + Motoki' appearing all over the place.
[21:26] <Ami-chan> 'Well...I'm really gonna be earning that extra credit, aren't I?' Ami thinks to herself with a slightly amused demeanor, both a bit glad that Usagi isn't one of those people that throws away old assignments, while also a bit dismayed at the grades.
[21:29] <Ami-chan> "Hrm...well, I think what I'm going to do is quickly jot down what you seem to have a strong grasp of and what you're really weak with, so we can focus on the weaknesses," Ami says before digging into her bookbag and hunting for a blank notebook and pen. Going through the homeworks in order, she goes through them fairly quickly, the list growing rapidly on the weaknesses, though there are quite a few more strong points than Usagi would expect.
[21:30] * Usagi looks over Ami's shoulder curiously at the list. "Yeah, took me a while, but I really managed to nail those multiplication tables before getting into junior high," she observes cheerily.
[21:35] <Ami-chan> "That you did, Usagi-chan," Ami says somewhat distractedly as she ponders the situation. After a few moments thoughts, she replies, "Okay, I think what we're going to have to do is start from the basics and work our way up so you have a solid foundation. That won't help you with your current homework assignments at this very moment though, so we can devote a bit of this time to working through your homeworks so you at least get the general idea
[21:35] <Ami-chan> of what you're doing."
[21:35] <Ami-chan> "How often does your teacher hand out assignments?"
[21:37] <Usagi> "Normally on Mondays and Thursdays," Usagi half-grumbles, before brightening somewhat "Some weeks he forgets to ask for us to hand it in. Except when Umino reminds him..." she trails off, returning to a grumble.
[21:44] <Ami-chan> "Hmm...well, since we meet twice a week and he hands out assignments twice a week, I suppose we can devote enough time to get you to the point where you can at least get passing grades, before moving on to the basics. If we have time, we'll go back and see about improving your work on the homework," Ami says, guessing at a possible study schedule.
[21:44] <Ami-chan> "How does that sound to you, Usagi-chan?"
[21:47] <Usagi> "I put myself in your hands!" the blonde chirps brightly, bowing in her seat. Inwardly she feels slightly bad for the brutal disillusionment she's sure to force on this kind and well intentioned girl.
[21:48] * Ami-chan smiles, happy that the blonde doesn't have any objections and can remain so excited. "Well then, let's start. Do you have your latest homework, or do you want to get right into the basics?"
[21:50] <Usagi> "The basics sounds..." Usagi begins before momentarily picturing a small devil-Usagi on her shoulder. 'If I get her to walk me right through the homework, I can get a good score and prove to mama I don't need to bother with tutoring anymore!' "Actually, why don't we see what we can do about the homework, hmm?" she goes on smoothly, a strange smile on her face.
[21:57] * Ami-chan nods, as she lets Usagi bring out her homework. "Just work on them as best you can, and I'll explain where you went wrong and then show you examples in the textbook so you can get the basic idea of what to do."
[21:58] * Usagi nods, producing her assignment and getting to work! After a moment, she looks up. "Ami-chan," she begins in a wheedling tone, "Can you explain this one to me?" She pushes over her notebook showing that she's faithfully copied down the first line of a simplification problem and done nothing else with it.
[22:01] <Ami-chan> '...She'd better not be expecting me to do the work for her,' Ami thinks with a raised eyebrow. "Start simplifying in small terms, don't look at the big picture yet." Grabbing her own pen, she underlines the spots where Usagi should start, without actually doing the work.
[22:05] * Usagi looks clearly disappointed, but after staring at her book for a moment, a spark of recognition appears in her eyes. Her tongue sticking slightly out the side of her mouth, she leans down and begins scribbling away. "Ami-chan," she holds up the book, "Is this right?" she asks, displaying several lines of garbled equations... well, actually lines two and three look like she was on the right track, but it all goes horribly wrong from there.
[22:07] <Ami-chan> "You were on the right track up to this point," Ami explains, as she shows what she did wrong, and why she shouldn't do that. Since she did go a couple of steps in the right direction though, Ami decides to do the very next step for her, explaining why she did that before letting Usagi tackle the problem again.
[22:11] <Usagi> "I see," Usagi nods, her eyes glazed, slightly. "So now I need to..." she stares at the problem intently for several long seconds, and one can almost hear the gears whirring in her brain. At least until they're drowned out by the rumbling of her stomach. "Oooh..." she looks up at the clock, "I've only been here ten minutes? Dinner's ages away..." she laments.
[22:16] * Ami-chan giggles a bit before remembering she's supposed to be serious here. Smiling though, she offers, "Well, if we finish your homework to my satisfaction before our session is up, I'll not only waive off the review today, but I'll even treat you to some ice cream if you'd like."
[22:18] <Usagi> Usagi turns to face Ami so fast she's in danger of whiplash. "Really? Truly? No joke?" she asks quickly.
[22:19] * Ami-chan blinks at the reaction and stumbles a bit. "Uh...yeah, but just this one time...." she mumbles off.
[22:20] <Usagi> "Alright!" Usagi declares exultantly, rolling up her sleeve and getting to work with a vengeance! Wow, she's really tearing through that assignment now, No hesitation whatsoever!
[22:22] <Ami-chan> "Whoah! Calm down!" Ami says slightly desperately as she finds that Usagi's actually working through it faster than she can check it. "Give me a little time to make sure you're doing it right!"
[22:24] <Usagi> "Aheheh," the blonde rubs the back of her head, giggling. "Sorry. Got a little carried away, there," she admits, letting Ami see. The first five questions are all... hmm, well, she wrote the... actually, she didn't even copy the first lines down correctly from the assignment for three of them. And all her equations are nonsense.
[22:26] <Ami-chan> "Right then," Ami says with a pause and a straight face as she starts to erase what Usagi did wrong. "This is why you do it calmly, Usagi-chan."
[22:28] <Ami-chan> "We have plenty of time, and if there's even one second left to the session, I promise you'll get your ice cream," she adds as her straight face threatens to break at Usagi's horrified face at how much is getting erased.
[22:28] <Ami-chan> 'Didn't expect her to like ice cream -that- much,' she thinks with some amusement.
[22:28] * Usagi sighs softly. That ice cream is looking pretty far away, now... "Right..." she goes back to finishing the first question, holding it up after a moment to reveal the correctly simplified format. "Is this right?" she asks, not sounding very sure.
[22:30] * Ami-chan smiles brightly as it is indeed right. "Absolutely! See Usagi-chan? You can do it, just apply the same principles at a calm rate to all the other problems."
[22:33] <Usagi> "That's right?" Usagi curls her lips slightly as she examines her answer. "Huh..." shaking her head, she goes onto the next question, working intently for several minutes. "How about this one?" she holds up her book. The first few lines look okay, but then it just seems to lose the plot as the rabbit makes numbers do unnatural things in order to get the same answer as the first question had.
[22:35] <Ami-chan> "They're not all going to have the same answer, Usagi-chan," Ami replies as she uses her pencil to show where she started to go wrong. "Same principle doesn't mean same solution."
[22:35] * C-Rat (Bill@c211-28-166-230.eburwd2.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #dunes
[22:35] * ChanServ sets mode: +o C-Rat
[22:36] <Usagi> "Ah..." Usagi nods, some comprehension showing in her eyes. "So, I just..." she stares at the page, her expression slowly but surely settling back onto blankness.
[22:39] <Ami-chan> "So you just add this and this..." Ami starts her off, pointing at what Usagi should look at next.
[22:42] <Usagi> "Right, right," the blonde nods quickly, performing the simple addition without problem. "So that leaves..." she furrows her brow cutely for a moment. "Do I divide x by four?" she asks, the equation looking pretty simple as x being half of four. "I'm no good at division. Wish they'd let us use calculators..."
[22:43] * Ranma007 is now known as Ranma007|Xmas_Dinner
[22:44] <Ami-chan> "You're pretty good at multiplication, right, Usagi-chan?" Ami says, remembering her success with that. "Just multiply by the inverse then."
[22:44] <Ami-chan> Putting a dash above the number and a 1 above the dash, Ami tells Usagi, "Here, multiply by that. It's the same thing."
[22:44] * Usagi looks at Ami uncomprehendingly. "Whuzzle? Inverse?" she blinks and gestures vaguely, her confusion very apparent.
[22:45] <Ami-chan> ooc: switch lines
[22:46] <Usagi> "Waah!" the blonde cries, aghast at Ami's change to the equation. "I can't do fractions!"
[22:46] <Ami-chan> "Calm down Usagi-chan, I'll see if I can explain better..." Ami says in a calming tone.
[22:47] * Usagi settles down, although she still seems fairly worked up, in a more restrained fashion.
[22:48] <Ami-chan> "Okay, if you divide eight by two, you're gonna get half of eight, or four, right?" Ami says. "So basically, you're multiplying eight by one half when you divide by two."
[22:49] <Ami-chan> "One half, or rather one over two is what we'd call the inverse of two. Just like One over three is what we'd call the inverse of three."
[22:51] * Usagi looks as if she was carved out of stone as she stares at Ami, imagining animated little numbers dancing around her head and taunting her stupidity. "I don't understand!" she blurts out after a long moment.
[22:54] * Ami-chan scratches her head as she ponders how else to explain inverses to Usagi that's simpler.
[22:56] <Ami-chan> "Well, why don't you move on to the next problem?" Ami says after a while. "You've done most of the work, so you can at least get partial credit here, and we're not going for a perfect homework today. Sometimes it's best to move on and come back once you're done with the rest."
[22:59] * Usagi breathes a sigh of relief. That takes a lot of the pressure off. "Okay," she nods, starting in on the next problem. It takes her a good five minutes before she finally leans back with a triumphant breath of relief. "Okay! I know I got that one right," she smiles confidently. Sadly it looks like the rabbit's poor handwriting worked against her, and a 2 that should have been a 7 in the first line threw off all her hard work.
[23:01] <Ami-chan> "It would have been right except for this 7 here, that somehow became a two. Since you did it right though, I'll rework it with the two for you this time. You go ahead and go on to the next problem, and watch that handwriting, alright?"
[23:02] <Usagi> "Oh," the blonde looks rather put out at all her work being for naught. "Okay..." she gets to work on the next problem, swiftly becoming bored. "Hey, Ami-chan," she tries to turn the conversation to something more fun than math. "Do you have anyone that you like?"
[23:04] * Ami-chan digs her pencil a -bit- too deeply into the paper at the random question from out of nowhere. "Ack!" she says before grabbing for the eraser to clean the splatter of lead on the paper before turning to Usagi with a surprised expression. "Where'd the question come from?"
[23:05] <Usagi> "Is it a secret?" Usagi perks up, smiling innocently.
[23:07] <Ami-chan> "Huh? No, I don't really have anyone I like, I was just curious where the question came from," Ami explains.
[23:07] <Ami-chan> "I think the only man that holds my respect at the moment is Albert Eistein."
[23:07] <Usagi> "Is he cute?" the blonde presses interestedly.
[23:09] <Ami-chan> "Well, it's my understanding he was very cute when he was young, but he's a bit on the dead side now," Ami says amused. "You know, if you keep asking questions, instead of answering them, time's gonna run out."
[23:12] * Usagi nods, pegging Mr Einstein for some cult idol figure who lived fast and died young. "We can talk and work at the same time, right?" she asks reasonably, proving her point by finishing off her current question (wrongly) and moving onto the next.
[23:14] * Ami-chan idly points at Usagi's errors in the last problem with a smile. "Not if we want to finish to my satisfaction, which if you recall, was the main requirement besides finishing early."
[23:16] * Usagi frowns, erasing her mistakes and starting over. "Do it right or do it quick. Both is too hard, that's my motto," she mutters, her tone indicating she leans far more towards one of those alternatives than the other.
[23:17] <Ami-chan> "But if you do it right, you get ice cream. If you do it quick, you don't and your teacher will yell at you. I'd say doing it right is better, wouldn't you?" Ami replies.
[23:19] <Usagi> "You learn to tune out the yelling, after a while," the blonde chirps innocently, even as she finishes her current problem correctly and moves onto the next.
[23:23] * Ami-chan makes a small snort in amusement as she continues to watch Usagi's work diligently, correcting her as needed, and trying her best from letting the blonde get distracted.
[23:25] <Usagi> Under Ami's dilligent tutelage, Usagi is kept mostly on track. But as time draws to a close, she has three questions left and only five minutes. Fortunately, she hasn't looked at the clock lately, and is still working carefully and methodically.
[23:27] <Ami-chan> Deciding not to let Usagi know how much time is left, Ami continues to encourage Usagi, figuring she'll buy the blonde some ice cream regardless of how much she finishes. She's definitely passing -this- homework assignment, and hopefully she'll get faster as they keep meeting.
<Usagi> Her head down into the books, Usagi is oblivious to the passage of time, finally setting her pencil aside with a satisfied sigh and giving the book a light slap as she straightens up. "Finished," she begins triumphantly, her expression slowly turning to one of horror as she notices everyone else already leaving. Whipping her head around to look at the clock, her big blue eyes begin to tear up. "My choco banana split..." she mumbles forlornly.
<Ami-chan> "Oh? Is that what you're going to order, Usagi-chan?" Ami asks as she gets up, feeling fairly satisfied with the blonde's progress. "You did very well, so I think I'll still treat you to some ice cream."
<Usagi> Usagi's head whips back around to Ami, lightning fast. "Really?" she asks in a small voice, before getting to her feet and hugging the other girl. "You're the best tutor ever, Ami-chan!"
* Ami-chan blushes a bit. "Uhm, thanks, Usagi-chan..."
* Usagi disengages the glomp and haphazardly gathers her educational materials into her bag. "Alright, I know this great ice cream place near the school. You ever been to the Crown, Ami-chan?" the blonde asks cheerily.
<Ami-chan> "Not really, I don't go out that much to be honest," Ami replies. "You'll have to lead the way."
<Usagi> "Sure," Usagi nods agreeably, slinging her bookbag over her back as she stretches and starts out of the classroom. "Whew, I'm sure glad all that work's over, though."
> As you head out, you find it's getting dark. The moon is already rising, nearly full. Heading to the Crown, you notice the air is pleasant, even despite the falling of the sun.
<Usagi> "Be nice when it's Summer and stays light longer," Usagi comments, covering a yawn with her hand. "Makes me sleepy..."
* Retrieving #dunes modes...
<Ami-chan> "Really? I think it's too pleasant an evening to be getting sleepy," Ami replies. "And there are some benefits to this time of the year as opposed to summer."
<Usagi> "Hmm?" Usagi cocks an eye at Ami curiously, waiting for her to elaborate.
<Ami-chan> "Well, when else can you look upwards at the sky and enjoy the shining brilliance of the stars and moon for as long as during this time of the year?" Ami replies.
* Usagi dutifully looks up. "Can't see many stars," she observes, squinting against the neon city glare. "The Moon is pretty, though," she agrees, smiling a bit. 'And I'm Sailor Moon, heh...' She can't help but giggle softly at the thought.
<Ami-chan> "Well, I suppose the stars would be a bit harder to enjoy around here," Ami admits. "But like you said, there's still the moon."
* Usagi nods. After walking along a little bit more, she pipes up again, "Ami-chan, you said you don't go out much? So what do you do for fun?"
<Ami-chan> "Well, I mostly enjoy reading and learning about new things," Ami answers to Usagi's question.
<Usagi> "I like to read, too," the blonde nods happily. "Which manga do you like? I've been reading this new one called Love Hina lately. It's so cute!" she giggles, thinking of the wacky antics of Naru (always more amusing as it reminds her of her friend) and Keitaro. "And funny!"
> As you walk by, you pass one of the many small buildings on the Juuban streets. It's pretty much part of the block long block of rent outs, though you notice that a colorful banner proclaiming GRAND OPENING is there,a long with some balloons. A crier is getting your attention as you approach, "Come one, come all! The Numa is now open for business! Free coffee today with any paying customer!"
* Usagi briefly stops to eye the spectacle, but as a non-coffee drinker, it doesn't hold her interest for long.
<Ami-chan> "I didn't mean manga, Usagi-chan, I meant books on subjects such as newtonian physics, complex systems, and such," Ami explains, not paying much mind to the new place either.
* Usagi looks slightly dizzy at the terms Ami throws around so casually. "Isn't that like schoolwork?" she can't help but ask.
> As you pass by, "We have coffee, tea, and any other drink under the sun! Come now for our grand opening sale," she goes on, a bass toned and loud young adult. Can't be more than a 20 year old fresh out of school earning a buck, you'd think. "Hey, you two," she calls, dashing over and pointing.
<Usagi> "Huh?" Usagi turns, startled at the sudden interruption.
* Ami-chan was about to respond to Usagi when she notices that she and Usagi are being called at.
> "Come on in," she waves, standing in front of you and blocking your way. "Once you come in, you'll never want to go back! Free samples, great drinks and good prices!" she goes on, waving her business suit clad arms about. She has the energy of a redhead, at least, as her long red hair shows.
<Usagi> "Ah, we were..." Usagi begins, but trails off, looking at Ami expectantly. She's the one paying, after all.
<Ami-chan> "I'm sorry, but I was treating my friend to some ice cream, not drinks," Ami replies politely. "Maybe some other time?"
> Still looming ahead and doing a pretty good job at blocking the sidewalk, "But this is the grand opening," she insists. "We have all sorts of wonderful things inside. It's the perfect place to take a friend," she nods rapidly.
<Usagi> "It can't hurt to try if it's free," Usagi shrugs. "We can go to the Crown afterwards?"
<Ami-chan> "I suppose..." Ami says as her doubt wavers with Usagi's consent.
> Nodding up and down like a machine, the saleswoman grabs both of your arms. "Right this way," she chirps, leading you two the modest, one story building ahead.
* Usagi allows herself to be pulled in. "It's easiest to just get a quick drink then we can be on our way," she adds to Ami. "No harm if it's free."
* Ami-chan nods as she's pulled as well.
> Inside, you see a rather trendy area, decor of shiny metals and chrome. It looks very new and stylish, as people sit in booths and chat quietly.  At the center is a square bar, with a single man running everything. Dressed in a tuxedo, you can't quite see his face - the dim light around there is annoying in that. You do see a flash of green, perhaps. "This way," th egirl leads you in amid all the servers, to a booth in the corner.
* Usagi obediently sits down, looking around for a menu.
* Ami-chan also sits down, and looks at the menu, curious to see what drinks besides tea and coffee they offer.
> There are two places there by a server moments later - advertising all sorts of drinks. There is even a booze section, along with a supply of all sorts of non booze drinks. It's quite a list...
<Usagi> "I'll have a glass of iced tea," the blonde asks after a moment of consideration.
<Ami-chan> "I'll just have a glass of lemonade," Ami states, requesting something simple yet sweet.
* NeremWorld (Nerem@ip70-185-56-46.ma.dl.cox.net) Quit (Kill by NickServ!conference@room (GHOST command used by Hashmulan))
* NeremWorld (Nerem@ip70-185-56-46.ma.dl.cox.net) has joined #dunes
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> She nods quickly, taking the menus and going. OOC - Soul checks for both of you.
<Ami-chan> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Ami-chan rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
<Usagi> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 3."
> You are left with a bit of time to kill after she leaves. It's quiet, as people seem to chat very quietly. Almost too quietly to Usagi's ears...
* Midnight (midnight_s@dialup-4.234.132.145.dial1.miami1.level3.net) has joined #dunes
<Usagi> "Wow, these booths are pretty private," the blonde remarks after a moment, noting how quiet the rest of the shop sounds. "Be a nice place to go on a date..." she sighs wistfully.
<Ami-chan> "Not a bad place to study either," Ami muses in addition to Usagi's statement.
* Usagi slumps slightly. "Yeah..." she agrees lamely. "But why would you even need to study, Ami-chan?" she asks after a moment, "You're already so smart!"
* Ami-chan shakes her head. "It's only because I work so hard at it that I do well in school, Usagi-chan," Ami says. "I hope to be a doctor someday, and help others like my mother, but to do that I have to work hard."
<Usagi> "Ehh, a doctor?" Usagi looks at the blue-haired girl approvingly. "That's really nice. I bet you could do it, no problem."
<Ami-chan> "Thank you." Ami smiles and adds, "So what about you Usagi-chan? Do you know what you want to do with your life?"
* Usagi giggles. "I'm not smart enough to do anything impressive like you, Ami-chan. But..." she blushes slightly and leans closer, "I want to..." abruptly she shakes her head rapidly, putting her hands over her heated cheeks, "Ahh, I can't say it!"
<Ami-chan> "Can't say what?" Ami asks, now a bit more curious.
> "Here you go," the serveress returns with your drinks on a tray in solid metal cups, almost like what you'd get a milkshake in to keep it cold. Usagi - Glancing at it, your iced tea looks awfully dark for some reason.
<Usagi> "Well..." Usagi continues blushing as she presses her index fingers together, "I want to... find a nice man and be a wonderful wife," she blurts out quickly. "Ahh! I said it!" She cries, quickly leaning down to begin drinking her tea without a second glance at it, just to do something besides sit there blushing.
<Ami-chan> "Thank you," Ami thanks the waitress as she turns to Usagi. "Why are you embarassed over that? It's not a bad dream you know."
> OOC - Usagi, another soul check.
<Usagi> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> It tastes funny to you, making your mouth pucker. It's not very good, and it makes your head swim.
<Usagi> "Bleah!" the blonde sits up and pushes the glass away, briefly hacking. "Oooh..." she sways slightly at the dizziness. "What was that, Ami-chan?" she asks, somewhat blearily.
<Ami-chan> "Uhm, I was just saying that wanting to marry isn't really a bad dream..." Ami replies as she takes a sip from her lemonade. "Did your ice tea come out a little sour, Usagi-chan?"
<Usagi> "It's nasty!" the blonde agrees, pushing the glass even further away. "Anyway, I'm just... embarrassed. It's not really that popular with girls our age, today..."
<Ami-chan> "Mmmhmmm..." Ami replies distractedly as Usagi talks in front of her, as she drinks some more lemonade.
<Usagi> "Anyway," Usagi goes on, "Just leaves more room for ice cream."
<Ami-chan> "Whatever..." Ami replies disinterestedly as she finishes her lemonade. Frowning, she stands up and shouts, "Hey, a little service here? I want a refill on this lemonade!"
> "Right this way," the same waitress as before comes back rather quickly with another one, giving Ami a slightly off smile. "Glad to see you're enjoying it."
<Usagi> "Is the lemonade better?" Usagi asks, looking at Ami. "I don't want my ice tea," she adds as the waitress arrives.
> "Really," she turns to you, her smile not really so nice at all to you.
* Ami-chan ignores the waitress and her annoying company as she goes enjoy her next lemonade.
* Usagi flinches back a bit. "Ah, that's not to say I hate it. It's just not to my taste, aheheh..." she trails off with a lame giggle.
> "Why don't I get you another one," she prods quickly. "I'll get you something you LIKE." Snapping up your drink, she goes off.
<Usagi> "Uh... okay..." Usagi nods, a little chagrinned. "At least it's free, I guess..."
<Ami-chan> "Oh do shut up. Can't a girl enjoy her drink with some peace and quiet?" Ami mouths off, very annoyed now.
<Usagi> "Wha-?!" Usagi turns to give Ami a rather stunned look. "Ami-chan?"
* Ami-chan takes another sip off her lemonade, before looking at the blonde again, still with angry eyes. "And another thing, you should shut up while we're studying too. Just because I'm stuck helping an idiot like you doesn't mean I want to be your friend or anything, okay? We wasted the whole time doing an easy homework just because you kept prattling on about like an idiot."
<Usagi> "Ami-chan..." the blonde looks stricken, before her eyes light up with realisation. 'Just like Unazuki-chan!' her mind shifting gears, she turns her attention from Ami to quickly survey the disposition of everyone else in the shop.
> Msot of the people look...off a bit. The entire place does now, as the waitress returns with another glass. Hell, she looks off, too. "Here you go," she says, her smile making your stomach twist into knots.
<Usagi> "Uh... I think I see my mama outside. I'll be back in a minute, okay?" the blonde tells Ami, avoiding eye contact with the waitress as she gets up and rushes out of the shop!
<Ami-chan> "Whatever," Ami says, not even bothering to wave the girl away. "Good riddance," she mutters.
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 4."
> The waitress stops in shock a moment, before making a grab for you as you go out, the drink and tray falling to the ground! OOC - DCV, Usagi.
<Usagi> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 4."
> But you're a hare quicker, darting past her and out!
* Usagi rushes out the shop and quickly dashes into the nearest alleyway to provide protection from prying eyes, hoping there's no pursuit.
> You don't see anyone chasing you outside, at least that you see.
<Usagi> Breathing a sigh of relief, Usagi quickly roots around her pockets for a moment before triumphantly producing the disguise pen and holding it aloft. "I aimed too low by turning into a nurse, last time. But this time... Moon Power, turn me into a member of the ministry of health!"
<Usagi> Amidst shimmering lights, Usagi is transformed from humble schoolgirl into high powered government official! Her sailor fuku gives way to a rather showy dark patterned business dress with a flared skirt at her hips and leggings down to her knees. Her odangos vanish to be replaced by a severe blonde bun on the back of the head, giving her the perfect stern official presence!
<Usagi> "Okay!" the blonde pumps a fist in triumph, "I'll defeat them with the power of the Japanese electorate at my back!" With that, she marches out of the alley and back into the shop, perfect composure etched in her every step.
> ---
> OOC - POV change to Ami.
> After Usagi leaves, Ami feels drawn to her drink, finishing it in short order. Mmmmmm...good, she thinks, as her mind goes hazy and hazier.
> Another drink comes from another woman, as that annoying brat runs off. Mmm...good...
* Ami-chan continues to drink her lemonade in the quiet solitude, glad for the disappearance of the pest that had accompanied her in.

<Usagi> [18:44] <Anastasia> OOC - POV change to Ami.
<Usagi> [18:45] <Anastasia> After Usagi leaves, Ami feels drawn to her drink, finishing it in short order. Mmmmmm...good, she thinks, as her mind goes hazy and hazier.
<Usagi> [18:49] <Anastasia> Another drink comes from another woman, as that annoying brat runs off. Mmm...good...
<Usagi> [18:51] * Ami-chan continues to drink her lemonade in the quiet solitude, glad for the disappearance of the pest that had accompanied her in.
> As you do...what's this? Something at the front door? OOC - Usagi, going to burst in and do your thing now?
<Usagi> A well dressed official looking young blonde woman abruptly bursts into the cafe! Marching right up the bar, she slaps a palm on it to get the green haired man's attention. "I'm from the department of health!" she barks, "You're in violation of section 15 of article 156 of the public drinking code!"
> What an annoying girl. As the bartender...so....so...master...."Excuse me," he asks, his eyes glinting from the shadows. "I believe we have an unneeded pest." At his words, you feel yourself rising up automatically. "Get her," he says, blinking and vanishing. From all around, Usagi sees all the patrons of the cafe rise up, a glazed look on each of their faces.
<Usagi> "Wha?" Usagi looks around in a panic as he vanishes. This wasn't in the script!
* Retrieving #dunes modes...
* Ami-chan lumbers towards Usagi with a glazed look.
> You see your friend near the front of the rapidly approaching pack, a bit of drool coming down her face as she murmurs, "Get her...get her..." They're surrounding you quickly!
<Usagi> "Stay back!" the blonde cries, looking around for any sort of escape. "It's a crime to threaten a government official!"
> They're still coming, closer and closer...guh! You see the front two knocked down face first, two cats on their backs. "Sailor Moon," Artemis cries, "This way!"
<Usagi> "Yes!" the blonde nods quickly, following the cats with all due haste.
> OOC - Body check, -2.
<Usagi> roll 2d6-2
* Queen_Serenity --> "Usagi rolls 2d6-2 and gets 8."
> As you get out, you feel something grab the back of your shirt! Ami has a grip, causing you to stumble out with her!
<Usagi> "Eeek! Let go, Ami-chan!" the blonde cries, trying to wriggle loose.
> "Us-" Luna begins, but stops as she stares a moment. She appears conflicted, then, *SCRATCH!" Claws go across Ami's face, as she lets go. "Come on, Sailor Moon! NOW! With her, too!"
<Usagi> "Hey, that was mean! Ami-chan can't help it!" Usagi protests at seeing Luna attack the blue-haired girl. Nonetheless, she continues fleeing as best she can.
* Drac-sick (WinNT@chrvlle-cad1-bdgrp5-8c-7.chvlva.adelphia.net) has joined #dunes
> Running out, you head to the door, then...! The door bursts open, the saleswoman from before there. "Hold it," she cries. "You aren't getting away," she says, her body changing! In her place is a dead white woman, her suit now showing a lot of skin and more like a short skirt and bikini instead of a dress. Dark red hair falls down her back as well, cutting a stunning figure. "I don't know who you are, but no one gets in our way and gets out."
<Usagi> "If you don't know, then I'll tell you!" Usagi replies, shaking loose of Ami and producing her transformation pen. "The beautiful guardian of justice with one thousand and twelve disguises! I could be a cute little sister, a friendly lady at the store, Japan's favourite idol, and hundreds others more! My real face is most beautiful of all, though, it could be the last you'll see! Moon Prism Power!"
* Usagi is now known as Sailor_Moon
<Sailor_Moon> "Defender of love and justice, blessed by the Moon, I am Sailor Moon! And in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" she finishes, posing triumphantly.
> "Sailor Moon,
> OOC - Gah.
> "Sailor Moon," the woman steers. "Master Kensuke said you might show up," she nods, as you hear a gasp behind you! White energy flows from behind you into the monster. "But with the power of all these people, I can't be stopped! No one gets in the way our our goals!"
> OOC - Initiative.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 11."
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 1."
> OOC - Go, rabbit.
> Luna and Artemis stand back slightly, "Sailor Moon, she's taken their energy," Artemis says tensely. "If you don't defeat her, they could really be hurt!"
<Sailor_Moon> "I'll show you!" the blonde retorts, taking off her tiara and rearing back. "Moon Tiara Action!" she cries, tossing it at the youma!
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 2."
> Leaping aside of the tiara,  she smirks as it appears back on your head. "I'll do better than throwing gaudy headware," she ribs, a great metal cannon appearing in her hands. "Coffee Blast!"
> roll 2d6-1
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6-1 and gets 6."
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> Gah! You are hit by a giant stream of hot coffee! Ouch ouch ouch ouch! That burns, as you are knocked a good ways back into the crowd of fallen people. (15 damage, and your fuku needs to be decoffeestained.)
<Sailor_Moon> "Waugh! Hot! Hot! Hot!" Usagi cries, standing up and hopping around in pain.
> "Sailor Moon!" Luna calls, as you rise. "Now's not the time for that!" OOC - Initiative.
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 3."
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 10."
> OOC - Go, one of coffee smell.
* Sailor_Moon sniffles, glancing at Luna. "That's easy for you to say," she retorts quietly, wincing at the pain as she rears back once more and cries out "Moon Tiara Action!" to launch her deadly attack!
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6."
> This time, the tiara hits her right upside her head, sending her back and down! Yet she rises, rubbing a nasty swelling lump there. "Hey, that hurt!" it cries in pain. "You wanna play rough, do you?!" As she says this, a giant can of whipped cream appears in her hands, nozzle in your direction. "Eat cold cream and die!"
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> Yet it flies out, all around! It misses, but you're pelted by flecks of whipped cream. Hey, a bit lands in your mouth. It's surprisingly tasty. It seems your opposition shells out for the good stuff.
* Sailor_Moon licks her lips and smiles, even as she feels sadness inside. Wouldn't it be great if they could just be friends and eat this kind of nice stuff all day? Oh, well, not going to happen when the enemy wants everyone turned into slaves. "One more time! Moon Tiara Action!"
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> This time, you outright miss! The tiara flies back, then...
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 12."
> A hand appears to grab the tiara, but somehow misjudges! It wacks him on the hand, getting a pained yelp as the green haired man from before appears. Dressed in a green tunic and smart khaki pants, he shakes his hand. "GAH! What is that thing," he grips. (18 damage to him.) Appearing next to the minion, "For such a small girl, that tiara is most impressive," he admits, his cool rather ruined.
<Sailor_Moon> "Bad enough to steal energy, but don't touch my tiara!" Sailor Moon yells irately, before pausing. "Unless I throw it at you," she adds thoughtfully.
> "Hmph," he says, clearly angered. "This is the third time you've gotten in my way," h e sneers, extending his hand! White energy gathers around it. "I'm going to deal with you personally..."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 11."
> A rose flies out, landing right in front of the two! From above, landing between you and the baddies, "That's enough," the tuxedoed man says. "Anyone who wants to hurt Sailor Moon will have to defeat Tuxedo Kamen first," he says simply. In his hand is a formal black cane.
* Sailor_Moon looks up and clasps her hands over her chest, going slightly starry-eyed. "Tuxedo Kamen..." she murmurs.
> "Damn it," the green haired one mutters. "Finish this, Bakli," he says simply, vanishing a moment later.
> "Master, you're leaving me to fight both of them," she turns to his vanishing form, wailing. "This isn't fair!"
* Panda_Triple_Z is now known as Thepanda
> Stepping back to your side calmly, his masked face regards yours. "Are you ready, Sailor Moon," he asks.
<Sailor_Moon> "Um..." Usagi hesitates a bit at the youma's plight. "We don't have to fight if you don't want to?" she offers generously. "Actually, I hate violence."
> "No way," she turns to you, annoyance and anger showing. "I'll get yo uand get promoted," she calls.
> OOC - Initiative.
<Sailor_Moon> "Well fine, then!" Usagi stamps her foot, twirling her tiara around her index finger. "Be that way and see where it gets you!"
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 9."
> roll 1d6 baddie
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 baddie and gets 6."
> roll 1d6 not baddie
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 not baddie and gets 4."
> Tux>Baddie>Usagi
> Leaping gracefully, Tuxedo Kamen lunges at the foe, cane out!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8."
> It extends out, a great baton going to smack the monster right upside it's head! It staggers back, crying out in pain and holding it's head. "OOOOOOUCH!" As he lands merely a few steps to the monster's side, near the door, "Now, Sailor Moon!"
* Sailor_Moon nods, tossing the tiara at the youma with a cry of "Moon Tiara Action!"
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> Your tiara flies out...and misses cleanly. Letting go of it's head, "Fine! Cream Shot!" it calls, the can again appearing in it's hands and aimed at Tuxedo Kamen!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 9."
> It's a miss, the stream of dairy goodness evaded with a leap backwards.
> "Urgh," It calls. "STAND STILL SO I CAN CREAM YOU!" it screams, angry. OOC - Initiative.
<Sailor_Moon> roll 1d6+6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 1d6+6 and gets 7."
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 5."
> roll 1d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 1d6 and gets 3."
> Again, he leaps up, this time he whips back his cloak as a flurry of roses fly out!
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 5."
> roll 2d6
* Queen_Serenity --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."
> This stream hits in her in several places, white energy flying out as she twitches and squirms! "GAAAAH!" she calls in pain, dropping the strange can. "Now, Sailor Moon! Don't miss!" OOC - -2 ACV since she's a sitting duck.
* Sailor_Moon nods and throws the tiara with a slightly hoarse cry of "Moon Tiara Action!", staggering slightly as she makes the attempt. Nonetheless, the glowing disc arcs outwards...
<Sailor_Moon> roll 2d6-2
* Queen_Serenity --> "Sailor_Moon rolls 2d6-2 and gets 4."
> This time, your tiara flies out, getting it right in the chest! Another cry as it sparks, dust flying out as her body vanishes!...moments later, you see Tuxedo Kamen leap up to the roof and out a little opened roof window, sunlight now streaming in. "Good job, Sailor Moon!"
> To your side, "HEre, Ami," the cat insists. "You were attacked by the enemy and controlled for awhile, but Sailor Moon saved you."
<Sailor_Moon> "I couldn't've done it without you, Tuxedo Kamen," the blonde replies gratefully, leaning down slightly with her hands on her thighs. Darn if that didn't take a lot out of her...
* Ami-chan blinks and taps the side of her head lightly with her palm at the sight of the cat talking. "I must be hallucinating, I think they spiked my lemonade or something..." Ami mumbles.
> "It was a mind control agent," the black cat nods, "And I'm real." As this happens, Usagi sees Artemis coming to her side. "Good job," he says. "You okay?"
<Sailor_Moon> "I'm tired, and sore, and I really hope coffee washes out well..." the blonde replies, gasping a bit. Looking up, "Hey, is Luna talking to Ami-chan?"
> He nods. "Usagi..." his voice drops. "We think Ami is one of the Senshi," he whispers. "Come on, we'll talk about it once we get out of here."
* Sailor_Moon nods, following the cat.
<Ami-chan> "If cats could talk, I'm sure scientists would have discovered this by now in studies, thus you are merely a figment of my imagination," Ami says firmly at Luna before realizing what she's doing. "Great, I'm humoring my imagination."
> "Come on, Luna. You too, Ami," Artemis calls. "There should be a back door out of here - no need to get attention," he notes to Usagi.
<Sailor_Moon> "Come on, Ami-chan," Usagi offers the blue-haired girl a hand up. "The talking cats will explain everything."
> "I'm real...so is Sailor Moon," Luna shakes her head. "We need to get out of here, and then I'll explain it. I promise," Luna notes. As you rise, you see the coffee shop you dimly remember is full of unconcious people.
> Sunlight streams in from a roof window, so much brighter than the place was before.
* Ami-chan frowns but nods as she gets up. "Al...right, I'm sure there's a reasonable -scientific- explanation for all this...."
<Sailor_Moon> "It's magic!" Usagi nods brightly.
> "Just come on," Luna nods. "This way," as the others lead you out a back door.
* Ami-chan follows after the talking cats and the blonde girl in a colorful fuku. "Magic she says..." she mutters under her breath. "Right, highly scientific right there..."
> Once you get into a little back alley, "Detransform, Sailor Moon," Luna nods. "It's okay since it's Ami."
* Sailor_Moon nods, doing just that. And hoping her school uniform doesn't get ruined be coffee...
* Sailor_Moon is now known as Usagi
> Usagi appears where Sailor Moon was, her unstained school uniform a contrast to her...stained Sailor Moon school uniform thing.
> She shimmers briefly as she transforms, then appears as the ditzy girl you helped today.
* Usagi waves perkily.
* Ami-chan blinks at the sight and rubs her eyes. "....Usagi?"
<Usagi> "Uh huh," the blonde nods.
> "Usagi is Sailor Moon, one of the Sailor Senshi whom protect this world," Luna explains. "And...I believe you are Sailor Mercury, one of her teammates, Ami."
<Usagi> "It'll be really nice to have your help, Ami-chan," Usagi nods quickly. "Artemis and Luna can't remember anything, so I have no idea what I'm doing or why!"
> Luna sweatdrops at that, "Um...yes," she admits. "Anyway, why don't we discuss it at Usagi's house," she offers.
<Usagi> "I could do with a lie down, actually," the blonde admits, leaning against the wall. "We can get ice cream tomorrow," she adds, yawning.
<Ami-chan> "...Alright," Ami says after a while trying to wrap her brain through what's going on. Exhaling a deep breath and speaking a little more calmly, she adds, "Please explain as best as you can everything once we're there."
> A nod, then...off you go!
> ---
> Usagi's room is nice, only her mother home. She also provides drinks and snacks for the famished rabbit. OOC - Set yourself up, Usagi and Ami.
* Usagi lies belly-down on her bed, her legs idly kicking up in the air. "Okay, so I'm Sailor Moon, and you're... one of the other senshi..." she begins to Ami, trailing off with a glance at Luna. "Which one, though?"
> "Sailor Mercury," Luna nods.
> Luna rests on Usagi's bed, while Artemis says near Ami, upright and curious.
* Ami-chan stops looking at the room, focusing her eyes on Usagi and Luna from her spot by Usagi's desk. At Luna's response, Ami asks, "Why do you think I'm Sailor Mercury?"
> "It feels right," Artemis shrugs. "Here, you see the moon on my head," he offers his head up to you. "Feel it. It'll feel warm, because of your link."
* Ami-chan slowly reaches out for Artemis' forehead, and touches it to see if he's right.
> It's...woah, it is warm. It feels refreshing somehow, tingly to your fingers.
<Ami-chan> "Oh, I remember!" Turning to look at Luna, she remembers that other night when touching a warm feline forehead. "So, I guess your head wasn't warm because you were sticking it somewhere weird that night..." she muses somewhat silently.
* Usagi blinks, looking quickly between Luna and Ami with her blonde pigtails flying about. "Huh?"
> "I met Ami last night," Luna explains. "Running into her again like this is most fortunate - if not for today, we were going to take you over to her house inanother day or so." Looking up, Luna doese a strange backflip. As she does, a blue with a gold cap pen appers on the bed, the astrological sign of Mercury atop it. "This is your transformation pen, Ami. Hold it up and call, Mercury Power."
* Usagi shifts up onto her elbows, looking on curiously.
* Ami-chan picks up the pen and looks at it curiously for a while, examining the feel of the pen, before taking a small breath. Thinking 'Here goes nothing....' she lifts the pen up and speaks up, two words being added instinctively in sequence. "Mercury Power! Make! Up!"
> It's smooth and cool to the touch, as hold it up....a feeling of spinning, of changing, of water...then...appearing in a uniform like Sailor Moon's with high lace up boots and a blue themed fuku, Sailor Mercury appears.  You feel good, stronger.
* Ami-chan is now known as Sailor_Mercury
<Usagi> "Ooohh!" Usagi sits up and claps. "You look cool, Ami-chan!"
> Usagi sees Ami shimmer, a few bubbles of pure water sparkling around her as she changes.
* Sailor_Mercury blinks as she looks at her changed outfit in surprise.
> Artemis leaps to your shoulders, landing easily. "Sailor Mercury is here," he annouces happily. "Welcome to the team, Ami!"
<Usagi> "This is great!" Usagi bounces up and down happily. "With both of us, those monsters won't know what hit them!"
> Artemis nods. "Ami, can I stay with you a little while," he asks. "I should search another part of the city and instruct you about being Sailor Moon. We both don't have to stay with Usagi right now," he adds easily.
* Sailor_Mercury blinks. "Uhm, I don't mind, but I'd have to check with mother and the landlord..."
> *Mercury. Sigh.
> A nod, "Okay," he agrees.
* Usagi stands up, "Alright, now that all that's done... do you want to stay for dinner, Ami-chan?"
<Sailor_Mercury> "I think mother was planning to stay late for work, so sure. One question though, Usagi-chan..."
<Sailor_Mercury> "How do I get out of this again?"

So Ami made it.  There were some fun bits this time around, from Ami's RPing and arrival to a funny bad guy screw up as well as some decent interaction. Go girls!