Miscellania 2 - for things between episodes 4-6!

[Anastasia]

Placeholder.

[Jo'ou Ranbu]

This scene happens between episodes 3 and 4.

---Arc 2 go!---
> Monday morning! A week since Michiru's world changed. 5 PM comes in perfect harmony with her awakening. Her room is so gray, so lifeless - yet one thing awakens her. A colorful hand runs through her hair, Despair sitting at her side. His eyes are hidden again, face distant. "Stagnation. Awaken."
* Michiru gets up slowly, until she can sit down on her bed, assessing the situation. Before turning to Despair, Michiru glances at the window and realizes the sun isn't up yet - although, without the aid of colour, the difference between night and day... barely existed. Even the fringe benefits of the night seemed lost since then... but nevermind. She turns to Despair, her eyes still half-closed. "... yes."
> Gently his hand goes through your hair. Each movement stills your breathing, your heartbeat, your very soul. Stills it into unmoving, perfectly frozen despair. "I come to you early, Michiru, for we have a request of you."
> Gently his hand goes through your hair. Each movement stills your breathing, your heartbeat, your very soul. Stills it into unmoving, perfectly frozen despair. "I come to you early, Stagnation, for we have a request of you."
* Michiru looks up, her face a still-nature, barely living. She felt vaguely desperate for a moment, as if she was about to embrace Despair... but her body stilted. Staring at Despair's endless void, she nodded. "What am I required for, Despair?"
> "A...mere human has gotten our attention. You are to find him for us." His hand stops, running down Michiru's cheek, raising her chin up again. "My...Stagnation. We will aid your power for this."
* Michiru rehearses a smile with difficulty, and once again it falls short before it can conclude. A bitter smirk followed by a sigh are all she musters. "Amusing. What do they have in mind for him, Despair?"
> "Find him and we will take him. You will be rewarded for accepting this, my Stagnation." He leans in, close and closer to Michiru's sad, smirking face.
* Michiru nods. "I understand, Despair. If that's the case..." She looks up the window once again, reminiscing something without words, barely a thought - which, by definition, was bound to die in obscurity. "What do I need to know about this human? Is his location pinpointed yet?"
> "No. He...stood up and defeated Pestilence by himself in one fury." A moment of...something passes over Despair's face, but it's like trying to solve an enigma in a moment's flash. "Do not engage him or any inhumans you find if you cannot help it. Merely focus on finding him. Are you ready?"
* Michiru nods. "I am ready whenever you need me, Despair. Shall we?"
> roll 2d6-2
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6-2 and gets 6."12 [2d6=6, 2]
> "Yes." With this Despair leans in, kissing Michiru! OOC - Soul check and Mind check.
<Michiru> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Michiru rolls 2d6 and gets 4."12 [2d6=1, 3]
<Michiru> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Michiru rolls 2d6 and gets 7."12 [2d6=1, 6]
> Your mind screams - for unhinged moment you see a beautiful face in your mind. You aren't sure of who, but it makes you want to cry - and then it fills your body! A coldness, an emptiness that overwhelms! You feel the heat drain from your body, perhaps never to come back! Your bloodflow stops, heart beating for it's very last time. In it's place is perfection; garish movement rejected for serene stillness.
> For a clarion moment your forehead burns against this, burns and tries to invigorate, but it is not enough. This feeling winks out of existance, and in it's place is the same cold as all over. Your eyes tickle, as if the very glassy muscles inside are shifting.
* Michiru blinks, her mind impossibly jumbled as of now. She didn't know whether she feigned shock or it was real, gaping and noisy. A perfect circle drew itself into her center, and a moment that extended itself to infinity appeared - until she grasped it within her palm, and her destiny took a no-return curve. Michiru looks away for a moment, and coughs. "... let us go."
> "Yes." As Michiru stands air leaves her lungs, no need to refill it. Humanity...it's as if the last decanters of it in her body have been stilled by her true nature. Instead energy comes from the eternal cessation she is, motions slower yet more graceful than ever before. As you stand, a pair of sunglasses is passed to Michiru. "So that the humans will not see your eyes now."
* Michiru nods in acceptance, still getting used to her new condition - but, still... the pain subsided for a moment. Her body was a petrified Degas ballerina, her mind an excerpt from Nietzsche's screams of agony. As the glasses hide her eyes, Michiru smiles. "Thank you."
> "Soon this form will not be what you clothe your spirit with," Despair smiles to you, a rarity on him. You feel the melancholy in your heart fade, as he reaches up to stroke your cheek and chin.
* Michiru reaches Despair's hand, a sad yet satisfied smile in her face. She has no words any more, only a faint desire, and a job to fulfill. "... I... should go."
> "Go. Live your life as you see fit for now." These words are the only ones he gives before he vanishes, but as he does, an image plays in your mind. A giant of a man with a long gray ponytail, face expressionless.
* Michiru sighs for a moment, the realization that she didn't breathe not quite sunken into her mind and body yet. The image of that man sat restlessly - he'd stand in a crowd in a big - awkward, even - way. Finding him wouldn't be exactly easy if he had half the mind to stay away from the masses.
* Michiru ponders a bit. Regardless, she had a farce to live. Thus, she headed for the showers to begin the morning school rituals. Now, living was a line, an indistinct blur that happened as an aside.
> In teh showers Michiru finds another thing. The flow of water down is far too fast for her tastes. It makes her head begin to ache again, offensive to her being.
* Michiru rubs her forehead in pain, grumbling. The pain wasn't new to her, but this would be a hard ritual to get used to, lest she wanted to forfeit the fringe pleasure of water - and there was so very little that could even make her yearn... nevertheless. Michiru stands aside for a moment, avoiding the water stream. "If only I could make it still..."
> OOC - Soul check.
<Michiru> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Michiru rolls 2d6 and gets 9."12 [2d6=3, 6]
> You feel a connection to the water, but it is lost in your aching head.
[15:31] * Michiru blinks. All that was left was to endure the waters a bit longer. A short headache wouldn't kill, anyhow.
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."12 [2d6=6, 4]
> So it does. The shower is soon over, the headache steady but nothing more than an irritant. You still feel off balance, however, afterwards.
* Michiru dries up and dresses up. Funny how a simple thing like the lack of breath changed the very paradigm of her life in a sudden burst. Still dizzy, but moving slowly helped. And it was still early, anyhow.
> So the school day begins! A blob of gray of no note. Michiru's sunglasses get a few looks, but none of her teachers seem to have the will to question her. In fact everyone looks anywhere BUT her. Instead they get to work, even Chitose huddles and never once looking your way.
* Michiru smirks. The unease others felt was a boon at that point, she wasn't in the mood to come up with pointless excuses. That kind of solitude, so open and hostile... it would've hurt her even yesterday, but... I am not the same creature today, indeed. She had a sudden knack for the obvious that Monday, in a musing. And, for a moment, during her Japanese notes, she wondered if she was missing anything from the old life... nah. Not worth it.
> So class goes on! But last period comes with a surprise. "Class, today we're going to have a few clubs come by and talk." Ho-hum, same old nothingness of no import.
* Michiru focuses her mind on a few exercises left in the notebook. Odd how they became a simple pasttime to her now. Regardless, it would distract her from the pointless humdrum the clubs were about to drive up - even if she was in two of them.
> Time and space, boredom and lethargy. All pass and live within Michiru for a good half hour. Who cares - hm?! Color! COLOR! As words by your teacher are drowned out, announcing a new club, Michiru's eyes are drawn up.
* Michiru raises her eyes in a swift blaze, her soul suddenly burning in sharp pain. The unnatural flare calls her, she couldn't ignore the calling... whatever that scream meant.
> Two stars - no, two supernovas. They burn brighter than the rest of the world combined. The first is a star of the brightest blonde, waving and grinning as she enters in. Over her you see a faint overimage, of something greater, but it escapes your vision. The other, coming ni a far more demanding, stronger stride? The Princess has arrived. She follows the blonde girl, casting her lazy, discriminating eyes about. Like a ball of fire
>  Like a ball of fire, so bright that it threatens to overwhelm. Your head begins to scream in torment, even as deeper parts of you yearn forthat, reach for it.
* Michiru rubs her temples, and suddenly she almost feels like air fills her lungs once again, fading, forcing her to live. The gelid fortress behind her eyes tried to resist, but the unforgettable fire would not subside. Michiru squinted her eyes, trying to endure the intensity of the light, uneasy.
> "Hi!" The blonde starshien waves to everyone, "I'm here to get you to join the Supernatural Club because it's really awesome and we need more members and it'sl cool and Rei-chan'll be there too and I know she'll be fun to be with as we look into aliens, huh?!"
* Michiru blinks. At that moment, the unease from before felt almost like an oxymoron, a joke. -Almost- mostly due to the fact the feeling hasn't subsided. But the blonde's speech was an affront to even the lowest pits of humanity. Not that it mattered - in fact, it was vaguely funny. Michiru smirked, holding a giggle within her palm.
[17:02] <Anastasia> As the class stares and a few sigh, "It'll be cool! We'll see all the secrets of the universe and find awesome things and heck I even provide free drinks, huh, so c'mon and give it a shot and I'll even give out free copies of Excalibur!?"
>  Rei sighs as Kotono goe son, the Princess casting her gaze around, stoppin g amoment on Michiru's hidden smirk.
* Michiru feels the blazing amethysts' lock-on, and quickly undoes her condescending grin. If even an amorphous fool like Chitose could recognize her truth behind the serpent's smile, the eyes of the flare would certainly find more. She lowered her head, trying to hide her true self as much as she could.
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10."12 [2d6=6, 4]
> Your head aches again, but only faintly. Rei stares at you long, before taking her merciless eyes away from you
* Michiru smiles once again - for some reason, she felt daring. But a bit less condescension wouldn't hurt, Michiru, it wouldn't. However... heh. It was so easy to mock them. To look down on their hopes and dreams. Tsk... she looked down upon her own aspirations at that point. She leered the burning beacons of hope (irony notwithstanding) a bit more. The speech was probably almost over.
> Not at all! Kotono runs on and on, as if her radience grants her great energy! "Plus we'll go to Stonehenge next year and see a real druid and then track down some ghosts and find another really cool thing, too, and we can all do this together if you join and won't it be cool, huh, and I promise you'll like it, so raise you'rehand if you're interested!!!!"
* Michiru smirks. So, that was the purpose of that invitation by the haughty princess? It was an interesting call indeed... a good opportunity to check on those strangers Despair would certainly like to hear more about, and... sincerely... she knew she craved for that breath of life, even if it pained her to admit. However, she wouldn't want to seem eager, undignified. She waited a moment to see if any hand raised. If none did, Michiru would.
> None do at all - this isn't unusual, as Kotono look son with muted, radiant hope! Rei just tries not to yawn, shaking her head in vague annoyance
* Michiru glees, somewhat, trying to hide her face. She wouldn't want to raise even more suspicions, after all. With a resigned movement, she slowly raises her hand... expecting an explosion.
> "Ooooh! Hey there!" Kotono literally leaps up and down, waving, "Come on up here, huh?"
> Rei turns to you now, a look of mild surprise turning into a measured, cautious look and narrowing of her eyes. She stands aside, not happy at this at all from the way she just glowers.
* Michiru nods silently, getting up and advancing, step by step, as if preparing herself in a dangerous, but essential ritual. She bows to the girls, and cowers a bit under the shining beacon they represent. This would certainly raise a few eyebrows... and not from the asquerous pieces of clay, but the amethyst dynamo, and she knew. "Excuse me."
> "Great!" Kotono runs forward and takes your hands, "I'm Kotono Sarashima and the Club President and Founder! We'll have a meeting Wednesday now to welcome you with everyone and I promise you're gonna have a really awesome time with us!"
* Michiru nods meekly. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Michiru Kaioh."
> "Right! Michiru, that's Rei-chan and you'll meet Hot-chan and Junki-chan and maybe even Setsuna if she's there,r ight, so you'll just love it Wednesday after school!"
> As Kotono rambles, Rei looks ove the rest of the class. She sees them look surprise, Chitose looking up in honest surprise.
* Michiru looks to the legion of clay, their pointless glances feeding her condescension coldly. As she notices Chitose, another carnivorous smile rises to her cheeks, bright, ready to eviscerate those puppet eyes in a rampage. The smirk wanes quickly, and Michiru eyes Rei for a moment, in silence.
> "...Aaaaaah!" Chitose cries out, bursting into tears and running out of the room in a panicked terror! Rei turns to Michiru, eyes burning, searing, frying her.
> "Well...um....nice to meet you?" Kotono stops at that, watching Chitose out before she nods. "So um Wednesday, right!"
* Michiru blinks, a hint of nervousness. It wouldn't be easy to bypass the princess' instincts... however, the blonde... heh. If Michiru didn't knew better, she'd consider Kotono a free target dummy. She could take that to her advantage. With that in mind, she nodded to Kotono, now with a regal, polite smile. "Of course. Thank you for the warm welcome, Sarashima-san."
> "Right! I'll see you then, and feel free to drop by if you need me fo rsomething!" With that Kotono smile san bows to you, taking off. "Come on, Rei-chan, we can get a few more if we hurry up!"
* Michiru bows gracefully to Kotono, and returns to her desk as delicately as she got up. Hmph. That would be an interesting turn of events... and she knew some juggling between the search for that human and the investigation of those burning planets would be necessary. However, this all could be planned and arranged with some thought. She would have to report to Despair... but, for now, she would focus on her school works.

[Halbarad]

Uh, goes in here somewhere... Dune can say when later?

[11:49] <@Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[11:52] <@Kotono> Sunday morning is a time of peace at Taka's dojo. For Makoto she's helping a woman's self defense course go, the events of the past day rendered moot for now. As she is absorbed in this, another comes into the dojo. A tall man with striking curly brown hair, a warrior from long past in the form ofa  normal human. His goal is Makoto, even as she leads young women through exercises...
[11:53] * @Takeshi stands to the side as Makoto gets the class started on their instructions, not wanting to interrupt the curvaceous brunette as she goes about her work.
[11:57] <@Makoto> It's fairly simple stuff, but more proficient than most people, and the women attending the class-mostly smaller, quieter types-are all fairly proficient, surprisingly enough. Enough so that the class is rather informal, Makoto approaching it as a friend, rather than a taskmaster, and it seems to work. The class is smiles and laughs during the practice, Makoto moving about, instructing...but soon enough, she has them pair off to practice, whic
[11:58] <@Makoto> but soon enough, she has them pair off to practice, which frees her up to notice and approach Takeshi. "'Sup?" She asks casually as she approaches, with a little wave.
[11:59] <@Takeshi> "Thought I'd come see about getting a bit more training," Takeshi says with a slight smile.
[11:59] <@Takeshi> "You did say to drop by whenever I had time, so..."
[12:00] <@Makoto> "Oh, good." Makoto smiles at him. "This is a good time to practice our more flamboyant stuff, too. After this class, the dojo's empty for the day."
[12:02] <@Takeshi> "Whatever you want to work on is fine with me," Takeshi replies. "You want to get started now, or wait until the class finishes up?"
[12:04] <@Makoto> "Heh." Makoto shakes her head. "Wait until it finishes. We go through a lot to raise these's women's self esteem. Having them see a guy like you in action would probably undo a fair bit of it."
[12:05] * @Takeshi chuckles a bit. "Maybe not, if I'm as accident-prone as I was the last time I was here. But point taken."
[12:08] * @Makoto gives Takeshi a sidelong look. "Well, at least you're lightening up about it." She adds, shrugging. "See the girl with the blue pageboy cut and the glasses, in the middle? That's Mei. Her boyfriend was slapping her around." Makoto explains, her voice turning serious. "The girl she's practicing with gets bullied in school because she's so small. I get a little protective of them, 'cause this is probably the most important teaching I'll
[12:09] <@Makoto> I get a little protective of them, 'cause this is probably the most important teaching I'll ever do."
[12:10] * @Takeshi nods, his face getting a bit more solemn. "I definitely understand THAT," he says quietly, watching the girls practice for a few moments. "Not being able to defend yourself is a horrible way to feel, especially when you have a need for it."
[12:12] * @Makoto nods quietly. "I worry a lot that I can't give them everything they might need, but if I can give them confidence enough that they don't panic, and a fighting chance if it comes to real trouble, that's enough." She says, watching them too.
[12:14] * @Takeshi pauses for a few moments, watching the young women as they go through their kata. "Tell you what. If you want a live practice dummy for them, let me know sometime. Might help if they have to come face to face with what they're most likely to face, at least when you think they're ready for it."
[12:16] <@Makoto> "Hmmm..." Makoto's eyebrows rise as she gives Takeshi an appraising look. "You're tough enough. Could you softball them a bit? I mean, Breaking their hands on you is probably not good. You know how to twist with a punch, right?"
[12:18] <@Takeshi> "Oh, definitely. I can't really make myself any softer, but I can give way to a punch like a normal person would." Takeshi nods. "And for throws, there's no difference between throwing me and throwing anyone else, I just land easier."
[12:21] <@Makoto> "Hmm. Let me feel them out, but it's a nice idea." Makoto smiles.
[12:23] <@Takeshi> "Sure," Takeshi replies agreeably. "Might help them if they can get used to a big guy coming at them before it's crunch time, was my main thought."
[12:24] <@Makoto> Makoto nods. "It is...though, I'll want to get them prepared. A lot of them are skittish around men, but I think even just a few sometime to tell the others might work wonders."
[12:25] <@Takeshi> "Take your time and let me know," Takeshi nods. "It's not like I'm terribly busy other than work, so I can stop in just about any time I'm not in school."
[12:26] <@Makoto> Makoto offers him a bright smile. "I'll do that. Thanks. I'll talk to Uncle Taka about it, too, and see what he thinks."
[12:29] <@Takeshi> "I will," Takeshi agrees. Most of the rest of the class' practice is spent watching the girls on the floor, noting what sorts of moves they're using and the like, until the grouped women have finished their lesson and dispersed. As the last of them departs, Takeshi turns back to Makoto. "Mmm. Had a talk with Serenity, and she mentioned that you're also a defensive fighter?"
[12:30] <@Makoto> "Defensive?" Makoto blinks, then scratches her head. "Oh, wait, she must mean that I watch the other's backs." the brunette realizes, thumping a fist in her palm.
[12:32] <@Takeshi> "I'm just going by what she had to say," Takeshi says with a slight shrug. "My style - in fighting as Nephrite, anyway - is almost purely defensive. I'm not too good at causing damage, but I can take tremendous amounts of punishment, and even have a few techniques for interrupting the enemy's attacks."
[12:35] <@Makoto> "Well...I fight to defend, but I'm pretty good at inflicting damage." Makoto replies, smiling. "The big sword isn't for show. Usually, I dive in and get in the bad guy's way so he doesn't target the others, while they hit him with their magical cannon attacks."
[12:36] * @Takeshi chuckles. "You're more versatile than I am, then, although I'm probably a bit better at taking damage just due to specialization. The real question is trying to figure out exactly what we can learn from each other, I suppose."
[12:42] <@Makoto> "Hmm." Makoto tugs on her ponytail aimlessly as she stares at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Well, Nior and I just fought. Usually beat the hell out of each other-I got pretty good at taking his hits, and he said he learned more about how to deal with someone more mobile than he was." She gives Takeshi a winsome smile. "We could just do our level best to beat each other senseless, and hope for the best." A slight giggle follows the proclaimation,
[12:42] <@Makoto> A slight giggle follows the proclaimation, but it's clear she considers it an option.
[12:45] * @Takeshi smirks at that. "I don't see a problem with that, but I'll tell you the same thing I told Usagi-san when I practiced with her this week. When it comes to fighting as Nephrite, I always go no holds barred - I'll use every trick I can lay my hands on, even in a spar. Either person can call it off any time, of course, but I'd rather go all out - that way all the tricks are fresh in mind when it comes to a real fight."
[12:49] <@Makoto> "Hmm." Makoto puts her hands on her hips. "I don't mind, I guess, but you might. You're pretty tough, but I don't know if I want to try tagging you with my sword, lightning, or any stray animals I can call."
[12:50] <@Takeshi> "Let's leave the animals out of it - no sense in getting THEM hurt. Sword... eh, up to you. You cut me up, it'll heal. And if taking shots of lightning can even just get me used to dealing with it in live combat, it's another tool I've got to work with."
[12:54] <@Makoto> "Let's start without the sword for now." Makoto ponders. "Start slow and work up. I don't mind unloading at you, but I want to see you take it with my own eyes before I really go to town. Even a light voltage blast of lightning left burns on normal people."
[12:55] <@Takeshi> "Fair enough. I don't plan on going with stone projectiles here, though, as it'd really rip the floor up in here pretty badly." So saying, he closes his eyes and changes, a slight blurring of his form concealing Takeshi and revealing Nephrite.
[12:58] <@Makoto> "You probably couldn't, anyway." Makoto smiles and stands back, fishing her pen out of her gi. "I can play around with Wood...Make it almost as hard as rock, if I concentrate." She adds, glancing at the dojo floor as she raises her pen aloft. "Jupiter Crystal Power, Make UP!"
[11:21] * +General_Nephrite drops into a fighting stance, his eyes only on his opponent. "Ready whenever you are..."
[11:24] <@Anastasia> In a flash of power Sailor Jupiter appears! Lighting rings her body as a long forgotten General appears! OOC - Initiative and good luck!
[11:24] <+General_Nephrite> 1d6+10
[11:24] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 1d6+10 and gets 11." [1d6=1]
[11:25] <@Sailor_Jupiter> "'kay!" The Senshi of Jupiter replies brightly, shifting into a loose stance herself, and...
[11:25] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 1d6+9
[11:25] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 1d6+9 and gets 14." [1d6=5]
[11:31] <@Sailor_Jupiter> ...makes a flickering gesture with one hand, sending a probing bolt of lighting across the gap from her fingertips, rather than breaching it herself!
[11:32] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[11:32] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 9." [2d6=3, 6]
[11:35] * +General_Nephrite braces for the attack, but the bolt doesn't even reach him. Crossing the gap himself, he attempts to grab Makoto's arm to pull her into a hip throw!
[11:35] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[11:35] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=4, 6]
[11:36] <+General_Nephrite> But his grip is poor, unable to even maintain a hold on her wrist.
[11:38] <@Sailor_Jupiter> Makoto frowns a little-Lightning is not responding well to her call lately. Shifting to simple tactics, she simply drives a hard punch at Nephrite's nose after slithering out of the grip!
[11:38] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[11:38] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=6, 4]
[11:42] <@Sailor_Jupiter> The swing whistles just wide, the wind tickling said nose!
[11:43] * +General_Nephrite leans back out of the way of the punch, his hand flashing up and removing the gem that fastens the front of his uniform. With it held in his hand, he thrusts a straight punch at Jupiter's midsection.
[11:43] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[11:43] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 4." [2d6=2, 2]
[11:45] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6-2
[11:45] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6-2 and gets 5." [2d6=6, 1]
[11:48] <@Sailor_Jupiter> Makoto twists out of the way, snaring the wrist as it passes, then slipping one leg out and slamming a short, hard blow to the upper chest to knock Nephrite over!
[11:48] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[11:48] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=6, 1]
[11:48] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[11:48] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=3, 5]
[11:59] <@Sailor_Jupiter> The outstretched leg prevents absorbtion of the blow, and Nerphite's legs fly out from under him as he's deposited HARD on the dojo floor!
[12:00] <@Sailor_Jupiter> *Nephrite
[12:01] * +General_Nephrite slams to the floor with a grunt, springing back to his feet with a quick backflip. "Nice shot," he says with a slight smile, taking a breath to center himself again.
[12:03] * @Sailor_Jupiter smiles back and takes her own stance. "Thanks." She replies brightly, her breathing from exertion beginning to settle. "Go again, or are you gonna try me, this time?"
[12:05] <+General_Nephrite> "I'll take a SHOT!" replies by launching himself at Makoto, a grim look on his face as he swings his foot around to connect with her gut!
[12:05] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[12:05] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=3, 2]
[12:06] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6-2
[12:06] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6-2 and gets 8." [2d6=4, 6]
[12:11] <@Sailor_Jupiter> The boot collides with her gut, though, to her credit, nary a sound save for a grunt issues from her lips as she falls backward and down-though rolls to her feet quickly enough! "Aaahh...." She manages, breathing in. "I'd forgotten what that felt like-I miss Nior." She coughs once.
[12:12] * +General_Nephrite chuckles briefly. "You're fast as hell - hard to even land a hit."
[12:14] <@Sailor_Jupiter> "It's good incentive to get faster when a giant is hitting you with fists the size of canned hams." Makoto quips, and uses the moment to dive forward, pulling thunder from her soul to blaze around her skin in a defensive corona as she jumps, a flying kick screaming straight for Nephrite, both legs extended!
[12:14] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[12:14] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=3, 5]
[12:21] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6-1
[12:21] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6-1 and gets 7." [2d6=6, 2]
[12:21] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[12:21] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=5, 6]
[12:30] * +General_Nephrite takes the full force of the kick in the center of his chest, the impact sending the general flying into a skid halfway across the dojo. He twitches a bit at the lightning traveling through his limbs, but slowly manages to regain his feet, looking rather unhappy.
[12:32] * @Sailor_Jupiter catches hersled on the ground, and rolls back to her feet, standing and looking over at him with raised eyebrows. "Nothing too difficult, was it?"
[12:32] * +General_Nephrite simply scowls. "Keep it coming."
[12:37] <@Sailor_Jupiter> "You really need to relax." Makoto sighs, and dispensing with the small talk, she gets to work. Closing the distance between them, Makoto simply gets to work, a quick, roundhouse punch coming at him!
[12:37] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[12:37] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=4, 6]
[12:42] <+General_Nephrite> Ducking under the telegraphed punch with ease, Takeshi drops the gem in his hands at Makoto's feet, concentrating as he attempts to manipulate the crystalline stone into a snare to trap Jupiter's legs.
[12:42] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6 for EC
[12:42] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 for EC and gets 5." [2d6=4, 1]
[12:45] <@Anastasia> OOC - DCV, Mako-chaaaaan.
[12:45] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6-2
[12:45] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6-2 and gets 8." [2d6=5, 5]
[12:46] <+General_Nephrite> Three streamers of red crystal expand outward from the gemstone, wrapping themselves tightly around both of Makoto's legs and pinning them together!
[12:51] <@Sailor_Jupiter> In a flash of light, Nemesis appears in Makoto's hands as she mutters crankily about people grabbing her feet, and watching Nephrite for an incoming attack.
[12:52] * +General_Nephrite circles around behind Makoto quickly, aiming a roundhouse kick at Makoto's back to knock her off balance (and hopefully away) while she's unable to move freely.
[12:52] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[12:52] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=4, 2]
[12:54] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6-1
[12:54] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6-1 and gets 2." [2d6=1, 2]
[12:57] <@Sailor_Jupiter> Makoto dives forward, and into a roll, away from the roundhouse, and rolls into a sitting position on the floor, swinging at the crystal prison with Nemesis, aiming to free her persecuted feet!
[12:58] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[12:58] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=3, 2]
[13:00] <@Sailor_Jupiter> Mystic wood meets mystic crystal, and there's a flash as the crystal shatters, freeing a pair of heeled boots! "That's REALLY annoying."
[13:02] <+General_Nephrite> "You're too fast," Takeshi replies with a slight grimace as he tries to deliver a snap kick to the sitting brunette. "Gotta slow you down somehow."
[13:02] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[13:02] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 9." [2d6=3, 6]
[13:04] <@Sailor_Jupiter> Ack! Too soon to get up and dodge! Makoto instead moves to deflect the incoming attack with her sword!
[13:04] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6-1
[13:04] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6-1 and gets 7." [2d6=6, 2]
[13:07] <@Sailor_Jupiter> That gets a hit in, Takeshi's heel slamming into Makoto's cheek and knocking her all the way down. "Ow."
[13:09] <+General_Nephrite> "You okay?" Takeshi says, stepping back a pace to allow Makoto to regain her feet. No sense in CONTINUING to kick her while she's down, after all.
[13:11] * @Sailor_Jupiter touches her cheek gingerly as she climbs to her feet, giving Nephrite a dark look. "I'd consider it a favor if you tried not to hit me there too much. Girls can't get away with bruises as easily as boys." she grumbles, raising her sword to a ready position.
[13:12] <+General_Nephrite> "Wasn't really aiming for the face, sorry," Takeshi says apologetically, dropping into a crouch as the sword comes into play.
[13:16] <@Sailor_Jupiter> "Fair enough." Makoto nods, letting it go as she braces herself, holding her sword down and to the side, and raising her hand again. She smiles at him and a soft blue glow begins to appear-before she closes her hand, and with a small thunderclap, a large, wicked looking Uru hammer made of living, Writhing lighting appears there! "Thunder Hammer." Makoto whispers, letting it fly!
[13:16] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[13:16] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=2, 4]
[13:18] * +General_Nephrite smiles faintly, thrusting his hands out ahead of him. With a sharp cry, a feeble lance of pale yellow energy emerges from his joined palms to strike the flying hammer as it approaches!
[13:18] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[13:18] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=4, 2]
[13:20] <+General_Nephrite> The energy strikes the hammer head-on, and with a muted boom both attacks explode into a shower of sparkling motes, winking out as they impact against the walls of the room!
[13:23] <@Sailor_Jupiter> "Aha." Jupiter nods to herself. "I had a feeling there was a reason you didn't seem all that intimidated when we mentioned longer range magic attacks."
[13:25] <+General_Nephrite> "You guessed right, then," Nephrite says, straightening up a bit. "Bit more draining than I'd like, but I don't use magic for much anyway. Used to drive people nuts when I'd spar with them way back in the day - forces them into getting up close and personal, which not everyone's too good at." He gives Makoto a grin. "You're definitely not one of those, though."
[13:29] * @Sailor_Jupiter gives Nephrite a coy look. "Why, thank you." She drawls. "You're not too bad yourself. Shall we get down to beating each other up in earnest, now?"
[13:30] <+General_Nephrite> "Hah, now that's the kind of sweet talking I like to hear," he retorts, giving Makoto a grin. "Let's see what you've got, then!"
[13:31] <@Sailor_Jupiter> "Most men would be intimidated when a girl has a bigger sword than they do." Makoto laughs, diving at Nephrite, and opening up with her other set of skills, a diagonal slash, with only power behind it!
[13:31] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[13:31] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 3." [2d6=2, 1]
[13:32] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[13:32] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=4, 3]
[13:33] * +General_Nephrite twists to the side, reaching out to steer Makoto by her sword hand as the slash passes through the space he was occupying mere moments ago.
[13:33] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[13:33] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=5, 6]
[13:33] <+General_Nephrite> But Jupiter moves too quickly, the general unable to get a hand on her.
[13:34] <@Sailor_Jupiter> Makoto channels the momentum of the slash into a spin, long, LONG legs ending in a heeled boot arcing for Takeshi's head in a roundhouse kick!
[13:34] <@Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6
[13:34] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=6, 1]
[13:34] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6
[13:34] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=6, 5]
[13:36] <+General_Nephrite> The kick connects with the side of Nephrite's head with an audible CRACK, the general himself sent flying across the dojo to land in a heap. "Okay, I deserved that one," he mumbles, shaking his head as he pushes himself up onto hands and knees. "Payback's a bitch."
[13:39] * @Sailor_Jupiter laughs. "And so am I?" She quirks an eyebrow. "C'mon, big boy. I've got High hopes for that stamina of yours..." Jupiter adds, diving to the attack again with glee...(Skip)...And after what seems like hours, The Two combatants sag to ground, a halt called my mutual weariness. Jupiter falls over on her back, laughing weakly. "I haven't had that much fun in ages."
[13:40] <@Sailor_Jupiter> *called by mutual weariness
[13:41] * +General_Nephrite flops back with a groan. "Man, what a workout," Nephrite moans, letting his arms splay out to his sides. "Nice change to actually fight someone that can actually make me feel a hit, though. You're damn good, Makoto."
[13:45] <@Sailor_Jupiter> "Thanks." Makoto smiles a little as she pushes herself up onto her elbows. "Right back at you."
[13:48] * +General_Nephrite lets Nephrite's form slip away before levering himself up into a sitting position. "I can't remember the last... well, no, I can remember the last time I actually had a spar like that. But it's been a few thousand years, apparently."
[13:50] * @Sailor_Jupiter lets her transformation fade as well, sighing. "Well, I can't say that...Nior was excellent for improving my overall fitness. You should meet him."
[13:51] <+Takeshi> "Yeah? What's he like, then?" Takeshi says, raising an eyebrow.
[13:54] <@Makoto> "A mountain that walks like a man." Makoto offers wryly. "Usagi purified him. No magic whatsover...and he hit Jadeite with a footbal tackle and knocked him through a gate a few feet away." She smiles. "He always comes through for us-Though he's a little more stoic than most. He can be hard to talk to if you like conversation."
[13:56] * +Takeshi whistles at that. "From everything I've heard of what Jadeite became, sounds like quite a feat," he says, shaking his head. "Stoic doesn't bother me, though - if you say what you've got to say, why waste extra words over it?"
[13:58] <@Makoto> "Exactly." Makoto nods, smiling brightly. "He's a good man. It's almost a shame he's so old-if we were the same age..." She shakes her head and shrugs. "Still, he's like my honorary uncle. I spent a lot of time with him while he was here, and got to like him a lot."
[13:59] <+Takeshi> "He's from Gaia, then?" Takeshi asks, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.
[14:01] <@Makoto> "Yep." Makoto nods. "Running the military, too." She adds, yawning.
[14:02] <+Takeshi> "Heh, not a bad job if you know what you're doing," he says, heaving himself to his feet and offering a hand to Makoto. "I should probably get home and get some rest - you look about as bushed as I feel."
[14:03] <@Makoto> "Heh...I am." She agrees, taking the hand and standing. "Gonna be by later to see uncle Taka?"
[14:04] <+Takeshi> "Yeah, I should probably get a schedule from him if I'm going to start training here," Takeshi agrees. "It'll keep until later, though." With a grin he delivers a Western-style bow to Makoto. "Until next we meet, fair lady warrior - and try to beat the living crap out of each other again, I'm sure."
[14:05] * @Makoto blushes and shakes her head. "Later, Takeshi." She murmurs, waving, and disappearing in a burst of light.

[Ebiris]

This happens between episodes 3 and 4

[22:45] <Usagi> Tuesday finds Usagi back at school after taking a day to come to terms with the horrible acts she had participated in with Sailor Mars over the weekend. Perhaps its not enough, since she still seems somewhat out of sorts, but one must go through the motions!
[22:45] <Usagi> Nonetheless, the blonde brushes off the lunch invitations of her female friends with mostly concealed discomfort, picking up her bento and going for a wander in hopes of finding some place more solitary to enjoy her lunch and wallow in her lesbian shame.
[22:48] <Usagi> Leaving the school building itself and breathing in the crisp Autumn air, Usagi wanders somewhat aimlessly, eventually winding up between the main building and the gym - a somewhat isolated spot that would be perfect for delinquents if it wasn't immediately overlooked by the staff room.
[22:50] <Asher> Unfortunately for her, the one person who happened to be in that immediate area had little expertise, or experience much at all for that matter, in... lesbian-related manners. He did, however, possess an exemplary talent of being very easily passed over. The blonde literally brushes right past him without noticing him being there, before Asher jerks his head up and blinks, leaning back and sitting against the wall. "Usagi?"
[22:52] <Asher> He's dressed the same as always - Asher is nothing if not predictable - and a bit half englossed within a textbook, which he puts down. Backpack and magical sword in disguise are, as always, safely tucked away next to him.
[22:52] * Usagi turns to Asher with a somewhat subdued look, although she quickly plasters a smile on. "Hi, Asher-kun," she greets him demurely, deciding this is as good a place as any to stop, safe with a comforting masculine presence! "What's up?"
[22:54] <Asher> He taps the top of the textbook he was reading - eh? Some math course; Usagi doesn't even recognize the equations splattered across the cover, so probably not something that would draw her much interest! "Just catching up on work. I've been letting myself fall behind a bit due to.... um, impeding circumstances." Little question about what THAT means. "What about you, isn't it lunchtime?"
[22:56] * Usagi smiles lamely, holding up her bento box. "Needed some space," she replies, going to lean against the wall next to Asher, clearly not needing too much space around him. "You already eaten?" she asks, beginning to open it up.
[23:03] <Asher> "Mm," Asher offers noncommittally, looking back over at her and idly flicking a bit of hair that had gotten in his eyes. Returning to the textbook and opening it back up with a sigh, he shakes his head. "Not feeling hungry today, and other priorities come first. I can always eat later at home anyway..." The sound of pages flipping, as he leans comfortably back. The sun's out nicely today with minimal clouds, giving them both a warm
[23:05] <Asher> --glow out here.
[23:05] <Usagi> Nodding as she begins to pick at her lunch, Usagi lets silence settle for a moment or two before she deigns to break it. "So... haven't really seen you since that thing at the Crown," she begins conversationally. "How you coping?"
[23:10] <Asher> "I'm alive," comes the matter-of-fact reply as he keeps his eyes onto the pages, half-mouthing something to himself in the midst of talking. He manages to keep talking without breaking concentration, though, crossing his feet. "A bit of a tussle last weekend when I got caught out by ... them - " It was still in school, after all - "alone at the supermarket. Nior and Mamoru came by, then."
[23:12] * Usagi smiles at that, tilting her neck to look up at Asher. "Yeah, I heard they were back - I can't wait to see both of them again," she begins, sounding more honestly happy. "Wait... you fought them again?" she catches herself on that, "Which one? How'd it go?" Oooh, she sounds a little bit stressed, now.
[23:12] <Asher> "And it was a hell of a time getting past my parents because I passed out at Serenity's," he adds with a bit of a whimper, putting his textbook down with a brief look of annoyance.
[23:13] * Usagi nods sympathetically at that last bit. "I can relate to that, at least."
[23:13] <Asher> "How'd it go? Like hell." Nice and blunt, not at all the Asher that she recalls from the Crown! His face looks vaguely disgusted, looking back at her. "It was Pestilence, and he basically toyed with me till Nior came by and broke some walls."
[23:15] <Usagi> "Don't feel too bad," Usagi sets her chopsticks in her lunchbox and reaches up to pat Asher's shoulder with her free hand. "Pestilence took me down pretty badly, you might remember. And that Temptation was even worse..." the petite blonde's cute face turns into a severely pissed scowl for a brief moment, hand dropping and clenching into a white-knuckled fist as she looks away.
[23:16] <Asher> "I'm actually pretty fortunate I got out of there with only a bit of roughing up and nothing else, but heaven help me, I've never felt so incompetent in something for the longest time." Asher punctuates this with a withering glare at the ground and looks away, sighing.
[23:17] <Usagi> "Believe me, I know..." Usagi mutters darkly. "These guys seem to specialise in humiliation..."
[23:17] <Asher> As such, he misses the brief flicker of anger on Usagi's face! But the tension is still rather evident there as he turns his head back, his gaze puzzled, and her words ringing dead on. "What happened with -you-?"
[23:24] <Usagi> "Urgh!" Usagi makes a disgusted sounding noise of frustration and rage. "Just trying to have a nice pleasant evening out with a friend - maybe meet a nice guy, maybe not, who cares? The important thing is getting out there so I can stop wallowing in self pity just because my last boyfriend got a stupid arranged marriage!" she begins to rant, setting her lunchbox on the windowsill so she can gesticulate freely.
[23:24] <Usagi> Said gestures seem to come close to mimicking the act of strangling someone, right now. "But no! Clearly Usagi Tsukino is not allowed to do anything fun and romantic when evil exists in the world! Of course the bad guys have to show up! But now they're too good to just drain everyone's energy and get in a simple fight. No! They've got to use their stupid mind tricks on innocent girls!"
[23:24] <Usagi> Building up a good head of steam, Usagi whirls on Asher, showing no signs of slowing down. "And then two years of stupid lesbian jokes get brought to life in an instant! It's not even like I would look at her twice even if I was gay - which I so am not! I don't care what her stupid magic was making me say and do and think!"
[23:24] <Usagi> "There's no way I'd ever-" All of a sudden Usagi's eyes widen, the blonde clapping her hands over her mouth and looking *mortified*.
[23:30] <Asher> Asher looks... shall we momentarily overwhelmed? He actually backs up a bit, pressing into the wall as the blonde starts her furious tirade, staring up in consternation. The words, though they pass over quickly, slowly click as he raises a shaking hand. No, that won't do. Steady it. "...Usagi, it's... not... that bad... it's still only a joke."
[23:31] <Asher> "You're letting it get the better of you," he adds with a bit of a wince. Straightening back up against the wall with a somewhat unsure look, he shuffles his feet back together. "And I think Rei would understand the difference between monster-induced temptation and reality... wouldn't she?"
[23:32] <Asher> OOC - strike that.
[23:33] <Asher> "You're letting it get the better of you," he adds with a bit of a wince. Straightening back up against the wall with a somewhat unsure look, he shuffles his feet back together. "And I think one would understand the difference between monster-induced temptation and reality... unless the person in question really DOES look at you that way," he asks, a bit pointedly. That would be bad.
[23:35] * Usagi twitches. "Oh, God..." she moans, shaking her head in despair. "No... I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. But it's just so... argh!" she clenches her fists in a manner that could be cute if she wasn't so palpably raging. "I just want to forget it ever happened!" Heaving an enormous sigh, the blonde visibly starts to calm down, though she still seems agitated.
[23:35] <Usagi> "Really, I shouldn't have said anything - you have to promise you'll keep it secret, Asher!" she insists, stepping right into his personal bubble and piercing him with her dreadfully earnest blue eyes. "Please, I'll do anything!"
[23:37] <Asher> ...WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. Not this situation again. Asher's face blanches considerably as he backs up even more! But there's no room to back up to. Ow. That wall's a bit hard. Why was it that he ALWAYS got pinned down in these kind of situations?! "...if you want it quiet, Usagi, I'll keep it quiet. Not like I have any reason to say anything..." These words utter cautiously, as he looks a bit flabbergasted.
[23:39] * Usagi nods her head quickly. "Please! I'd never live it down if this got out!" she insists, before relenting and stepping back. "God, I can't believe I said all that! Two days and I'm already blurting it out? What's wrong with me?" she laments, sagging weakly.
[23:42] <Asher> "The human capacity to keep dark secrets hidden appears to be extrarordinarily low, in my experience." Asher says this with an utterly straight face as he exhales, frees himself from the position of pressing his form against the wall, and looks over at Usagi sympathetically. Of course, he leaves unmentioned is that the ratio is astonishingly even lower in the feminine gender... somehow, that just seems like pushing it.
[23:43] <Asher> "But, seriously, Usagi. I'll keep my mouth shut, but you really can't let this get you down this much." He sighs lamentedly, sitting down next to her. "If you make a big deal out of something, others will follow suit. That's the best way to get attention, not detract it."
[23:45] <Usagi> "I don't know..." the blonde mutters, going to lean against the wall once more. "I did a really good job of keeping the Sailor Moon thing secret - no one had a clue, and then even when I told them they didn't believe me." Nodding firmly and jutting out her chin in a defiant expression, Usagi clenches her dainty fist.
[23:45] <Usagi> "You're right, though - I've been making such a big deal of this, it has to look suspicious! I've got to just bury it deep inside and forget all about it so it'll stop bothering me!"
[23:47] <Asher> That provokes an audible wince. "Um.. I wouldn't exactly recommend that..." Asher throws up his hands, looking a bit lost as to how to word this. "You just need to let it go. Not bury it and let it gnaw at you forever but to move on. So long as the.... other person..." Whom, admittedly, he was vaguely curious to identity! But it wouldn't be appropriate to ask! "...can do the same, then it's like it never happened anyway. You see wh
[23:47] <Asher> -- what I'm saying?"
[23:49] * Usagi nods, grabbing her lunchbox and kneeling down next to Asher. "Yeah - we both agreed to forget about it, so..." she shrugs. "I dunno, though. The other senshi all like to make gay jokes, so this could be hard to keep down. But stewing and moping over it sure won't do me any good. We've just got to be mature and put it behind us," she smiles bravely.
[23:51] <Asher> "They're still just jokes, Usagi," Asher presses, maybe futilely! But this was a point that people didn't seem to get! And probably why most people didn't understand his complete apathetic outlook. Oh well. "If you leave them as that, it's nothing. If you let them bother you, then they're not just jokes anymore... so just bear with it. I mean, you ARE confident about things, right?" He ends that with an disarming smile.
[23:55] <Usagi> "I guess?" the blonde shrugs, starting to once more pick at her meal. "They are just jokes, but I have suspicions about some of them... and now any suspicions anyone has about me are kinda justified, since I've done all that. Even though I'd never do it again!" she blurts out that last bit emphatically.
[23:56] <Asher> "Only if you let it show and let it really shake your confidence in the first place," he tries again, feeling a little frustration build up. She just wasn't letting the issue die. "Eh, just look at it this way... eat lunch, finish classes and carry on. If it really didn't bother you, it has no reason to now." He leans back against the wall again, letting his eyes cast up to the sun above.
[00:01] * Usagi pouts slightly. It did bother her. Surely she couldn't have been compelled to do that if there hadn't been something in her to spark it? To say nothing of how she can still vividly recall the love she felt for Rei, and how real it felt. That couldn't have come out of nothingness. But even if she's capable of admitting what happened, she'll never give away those feelings to anyone. "One day at a time, huh?" she concludes.
[00:02] <Asher> "One day's enough to worry about," Asher says in way of reply as his hand reaches for the textbook again... ohfugit, like he could concentrate at this rate. He just slides it back into his pack and seals it up, yanking the kendo stick over and idly waving it in the air.
[00:03] <Usagi> "How's that coming along, what with the magic and all?" Usagi asks curiously as Asher practices his swordplay, happy to change the subject.
[00:05] <Asher> Well, if "practicing his swordplay" defines waving the damn thing around like a kid. Asher stops at that, placing it back down on the ground carefully and shrugs. "I can do a .. little bit. Still slow to get any progress, though, and this -stick- here seems to have a hissy fit everytime I even think about trying something broader. I guess it's for the better, though. It's gradual."
[00:06] <Asher> His tone of voice seems to imply, unsaid, that gradual progress wasn't something he was used to... and he wasn't! Throwing his head back over to look at her, he smiles a bit haphazardly. "Nothing to write home about. Aside from.... that, anything else new with you?"
[00:07] <Usagi> It does to Usagi's untrained eye! "Mmm... I guess. A lot of it's like sudden inspiration or whatever," she notes before responding to Asher's question. "Aside from the big secret I just blurted out? Not really... hmm, have you met Takeshi, yet?" she asks. She really has been out of the loop on this sort of stuff, lately!
[00:08] <Asher> The name doesn't ring a bell. "Takeshi? Um...." Scrambling through his memory to make sure this wasn't something he just overlooked.. but nope. "No, don't think so. Is he a Gaian too that came along with Nior and Mamoru?"
[00:11] * Usagi shakes her head. "He's kinda like you in that he only just joined us. He's in my class - bit taller than you and has long brown hair," she gives a brief description. "Reincarnated magical warrior," she then gives a very brief summary, sparing Asher pointless details he wouldn't get anyway. "We really should get everyone together for proper introductions - everything's been so scattered, lately..."
[00:13] <Asher> True to her presumptions, much of it just sails right over his head. "There really needs to be a course called Moon Kingdom History 101 or something," Asher remarks in exasperation. "Well, I haven't run into him yet, and everything does seem sort of.... haphazard and splintered at the moment, yeah. Heck, I haven't even seen Kotono for a few days now." Count your blessings, boy! That last statement seems to bring a certain measure o
[00:14] <Asher> "Queen Serenity hasn't said much, either, even those these enemies could hit at any time. It's a constant feeling of anxiety, even if sometimes I can almost forget it." And Asher looks apologetic at that, while sheepish at the same time, standing up now and holding zee stick fully.
[00:15] <Asher> --measure of embarassment." (earlier line)
[00:15] <Usagi> "I guess we're just out of practice - everything used to be so much more organised," the blonde laments with a slight sigh, setting her now empty lunchbox aside. "It doesn't help with how clueless we are - at least last time we had some idea of what was going on with our enemies. These new guys are a complete mystery as well as being a royal pain in the backside."
[00:17] <Asher> "And we still don't have a clue about who they are or what they want." Asher quietly paces back and forth, subconsciously, and with pauses here and there as he gathers his thoughts. "Was it like this when you fought Jadeite, too?"
[00:19] * Usagi shakes her head. "Even if we turned out to be wrong on a lot of stuff, we always *thought* we knew what we were up against and why, right from the start," she replies, leaving aside that 'we' means her cat, since she sure didn't have a clue why she was turning people into dust with thrown headgear. "It's funny, really. Now we're a lot stronger and more confident, but we're still more off balance."
[00:23] <Asher> "Tch." He pauses in his tracks, seeming to trace something along the ground with the end of the kendo stick, as he comments on that. "Organization's a lot more important than just show of force... in this or even in any conflict. Maybe you could start organizing all of the senshi, along with Takeshi and the others, so we can meet at least a few times a week to reconvene?"
[00:24] <Asher> He throws her a meaningful look. "Assuming you haven't already done that? I know that it was quiet for the past two years before I showed up, but now that there's danger again..."
[00:27] <Usagi> "You're right!" Usagi declares, springing to her feet. "Those meetings used to be fun and productive - we should start doing that again!" Taking a pen out of her pocket as well as some bubblegum, Usagi unwraps the confection and prepares to write on the wrapper. "What's your phone number?" she asks.
[00:32] <Asher> "..." You know, it was bad enough that he had to explain to his parents about disappearing that night. Now a girl starts calling? Well, this'll be swell. Asher gives it out reluctantly, shifting his feet. "Just.. uh, don't call unless it's important. Please." He remarks lamely. His parents were being suspicious enough.
[00:35] * Usagi nods, before scribbling her own number on the paper and tearing it in half, presenting hers to Asher. "It'd be a lot easier if we could get you a magic communicator like we've got, but I don't think anyone knows how to make them anymore..." she murmurs apologetically. "Anyway, better get back to class. I'll try and get something set up for maybe tomorrow or Thursday for us all to get together."
[00:36] <Asher> "..actually, I still have Kotono's," Asher brings up wryly, with a bit of a grin on his face. "I should really get back to giving it back to her, but... yeah, something to consider." As if on cue, the bell rings overhead, signaling the end to lunch and their need to return to classes! "Kay, then. If you need me during lunchtime I'll make a point to hang around here. See you later?"
[00:36] <Usagi> "Later!" Usagi smiles and waves, fleeing off back to her own class.
[00:37] <Asher> Packing up and starting to walk off towards the direction of his classes, he throws the blonde a wave before breaking into a full sprint for the classroom.

[Halbarad]

Between episodes 3 and 4 somewhere.

[16:56] <@Anastasia> ---Arc 2 go!---
[16:57] <@Anastasia> Aaah! Tuesday! Sunday is GONE AND BURIED! But plans are made, nice and distracting plans after school. Usagi just has to tell Takeshi and they'll be good to go - to meet two people at Serenity's.
[16:58] <@Usagi> "Hey, Takeshi-kun!" Usagi prances over to Takeshi's desk as soon as the last class ends, not caring, or perhaps even hoping for, the rumours her behaviour could encourage. "Doing anything this afternoon?"
[16:59] <+Takeshi> "Not today, no," Takeshi replies, shaking his head as he looks up at the energetic blonde. "Was thinking about hitting the library, but it's nothing that can't wait."
[17:00] <@Usagi> "Cool! You can come with me, then!" the blonde grins, her cute and perky demeanour not giving away the slightest hint of her *raging inner turmoil*.
[17:01] <+Takeshi> "Something up?" Takeshi says, packing away his books into his bookbag as he gets ready to depart.
[17:04] <@Usagi> "Nothing bad," Usagi promises, having at least been assured when Janna called to tell her about the visitors that Rei would not be visiting today. Hopefully her asking that didn't raise any suspicions, though... "Come on," she waves for him to follow, swinging her own bookbag along.
[17:05] <+Takeshi> "Okay..." Takeshi says, raising an eyebrow as he stands to follow Usagi. "Uh... are we going anywhere in particular?"
[17:06] <@Usagi> "Serenity's," Usagi tells him, easing up a bit on the perky act once they're out of the classroom. "I get to meet some old friends, and you get to make some new ones, hopefully!"
[17:08] <+Takeshi> "Oh," Takeshi replies, his face falling towards a more thoughtful expression. "Sounds like as good a way as any to spend an afternoon, I guess."
[17:09] <@Usagi> "They're from Gaia," Usagi supplies quietly as they make their way out of the school. "Or at least one is, and the other's been living there the last few years, anyway."
[17:10] <+Takeshi> "Sounds like a lot of your friends are from Gaia... although I suppose I really shouldn't be too surprised at that, from what you told me last week," Takeshi finishes with a rueful grin. "Probably not... Jun, though, if he's as high on the food chain as he sounds like he is, though."
[17:12] <@Usagi> "It's Nior - he used to be one of Jadeite's generals, and Mamoru. You might actually know him since he's the reincarnated Prince Endymion," Usagi explains, still keeping her voice low.
[17:14] <@Anastasia> The day is clear and windy - nothing much of note, November's reign coming along nicely.
[17:14] <+Takeshi> That gets a rather flat expression from Takeshi. "...really. He was reincarnated as well?"
[17:14] <@Anastasia> The city is busy, but no one pays attentino to a high school girl and boy walking along. So you pass thruogh Juuban, not being interrupted in the least.
[17:16] <@Usagi> "Mmhmm," Usagi murmurs as they stroll along. "He actually remembers stuff from back then, as well. He stuck around on Gaia to be with the Princess, but Janna says Jun sent both of them here because he was having visions about our new enemy." She twitches just slightly on that last word.
[17:17] * +Takeshi shakes his head a bit, not noticing the slight tremor from the blonde. "Visions? That's new... anything definite, or do you know?"
[17:19] * @Usagi shakes her head. "Don't think Janna really knew, either. But maybe either of them will know more?" she smiles cheerily, "I'll just be glad to see them - it's been ages!"
[17:21] <+Takeshi> "Guess we'll have to meet them to find out," Takeshi says with a shrug, chuckling a bit at Usagi's energy. "How long HAS it been since you saw them?"
[17:24] <@Usagi> "More than two years," Usagi admits. "We keep in touch with letters, but visits are rare..." she frowns, chewing her bottom lip slightly. She really needs to rectify that - it's not like going to Gaia is that difficult.
[17:25] <+Takeshi> "So, not since you dealt with Jadeite, then?" Takeshi clarifies, only the slightest hesitation over Jadeite's name noticeable.
[17:26] * @Usagi nods. "We all went for a big trip a few months afterwards, but that's it," the blonde agrees.
[17:27] <+Takeshi> "Be curious to see it sometime, but probably not going to be a good time any time soon, at least until we get the current problem dealt with," Takeshi says, finishing with a slight frown.
[17:28] <@Usagi> "Yeah, it's kind of a big production to go to Gaia, but we really should once things settle down," Usagi nods as they near Serenity's abode.
[17:37] <@Anastasia> A place of quiet and peace, of where a cute wild rabbit runs in the front lawn. There are no signs of busy-ness or discord, only a respite from the world awaiting both of you.
[17:39] * @Usagi smiles at the little bunny, strolling up to knock on the door.
[17:40] <@Anastasia> As you do the rabbit hops off with another cute girl rabbit, the two goign to find carrots away from this happy place. Meanwhile the door is knocked on, a call of, "Coming!" From...Mamoru.
[17:41] * @Usagi smiles slightly... her first boyfriend, so many memories... A more innocent time, when thoughts of kissing Rei were the farthest from her mind...
[17:43] * +Takeshi frowns slightly, the voice vaguely familiar but one that he can't place immediately.
[17:45] <@Anastasia> So the door is opened...wow. He wears a familiar green jacket and black slacks, but it works on him. A few years have made him gain a little more muscle and perhaps another inch to his height. HIs eyes are sharper, looking over Usagi. A moment of confliction, before he steps aside. "Hey...been awhile."
[17:48] * @Usagi pauses... she had been just about to hug him, but that reaction... Oh, hell, she'll hug him anyway. Might loosen him up. "No kidding!" she blurts out, promptly leaning in to wrap her arms around Mamoru in an affectionate and friendly embrace. "It's been ages!"
[17:50] * +Takeshi simply gives Mamoru a calm inspection, the sight of the man finally putting a face - and a memory - to the voice. He gives the darker-haired man a nod as he steps inside, setting his bookbag next to the door as he removes his shoes.
[11:17] <@Kotono> "Yeah, it has been!" Mamoru returns the huge - chaste but nice - and breaks nito his own relieved smile. "Mako hasn't burned down my apartment, has she?"
[11:18] <@Kotono> Looking down at Usagi's not nearly so short stature and then Takeshi, "Hello," he murmurs respectfully enough.
[11:18] <@Usagi> "It's still there last I checked," Usagi grins, giving a little squeeze before parting. "Have Serenity or Janna told you about Takeshi?" she enquires curiously.
[11:20] <+Takeshi> "Nice to meet you," Takeshi murmurs with a nod, letting Usagi take over - this is her friend, after all.
[11:20] <@Kotono> "Just a little." Parting himself and smoothing down his jacket, Mamoru extends his hand out. "Glad to see you...again, I suppose." That's deliviered with that friendly smile again. "How much do you remember?"
[11:22] * +Takeshi chuckles slightly, taking the offered hand. "Lot of impressions, few clear memories," Takeshi replies simply. "Don't ask me what I ate for breakfast way back or anything, but I remember people and places."
[11:24] <@Kotono> "That's one up on me most of the time. C'mon." So Mamoru heads inside, leading you to the living room. It's quiet here at the moment, only Queen Serenity sitting here. She is wearing a summery dress in spite of the weather, flowing around her gorgeous form. Levelling her smile dead at Usagi and the others, "It's been too long. Come now."
[11:25] <@Usagi> "Hi, Serenity," Usagi greets, managing to blush slightly as she takes in her older friend's body, averting her eyes after a second and kicking her imagination. "Nior around?" she asks a bit lamely, throat dry.
[11:25] * +Takeshi nods to Serenity as he enters, waiting for others to take seats - if they plan on it - before doing so himself.
[11:26] <@Kotono> "Upstairs. He's bathing. Come now," Again insisting as she pats the couch - Mamoru taking one of the easy chairs instead - Serenity just smiles widely. "Jun has passed me on more news as well through Nior and Mamoru."
[11:27] * @Usagi goes to sit on the couch, but keeps herself to the far end away from Serenity, looking vaguely uncomfortable. "So what's up?" she asks, schooling her manner to try and not give away her inner turmoil.
[11:28] <+Takeshi> That gets a raised eyebrow from Takeshi, the dark-haired youth taking a seat between Usagi and Serenity. "What's he have to say?"
[11:29] <@Kotono> Queen Serenity raises an eyebrow before speaking. "He had a vision of Asher fighting at the supermarket alone - on short notice he sent Nior and Mamoru ahead faster than he anticipated. The results are good." A pause as she looks around to each of them, "He had a second vision. Earth, the Blue Planet, becoming and twisting into a mass of gray. Dreamless Twilight as he called it, emptiness."
[11:30] <@Usagi> "I don't mind twilight, but dreamless sounds bad!" Usagi asserts vehemently. "Did he find out anything about the guys who're causing trouble?"
[11:32] <+Takeshi> "Dreamless Twilight," Takeshi muses, rubbing his chin a bit. "Another piece to add to the pile, I guess," he says, mostly to himself.
[11:33] <@Kotono> "It does sound ominous. A world of gray, lacking anything but." Serenity bites her lip a moment as she looks down, but her voice never wavers. "It only makes our defenses even more clear cut."
[11:33] <@Kotono> "There was the attack at Asher," Serenity continues, "At least they are not active often that we see."
[11:33] <@Kotono> *at the supermarket with Asher
[11:33] <@Usagi> "It's funny if that's their goal, though, since haven't they been saying that they're after the Lightbringer?" Usagi asks curiously, deciding not to mention her encounter with Temptation. They'll all be far happier, that way.
[11:35] <@Kotono> "Lightbringer?" Mamoru frowns deeply at that, leaning back into his chair and idly kicking his legs. "That doesn't make sense at all, unless taking this Lightbringer turns Earth to such...they aren't going to do something so absurd as steal the sun, I assume, sow hat does that mean?"
[11:35] <@Usagi> "Oh, that could be it - maybe if they steal away this Lightbringer and take it to their own world it'll mess Earth up," Usagi smiles at Mamoru, not having considered that angle.
[11:36] <+Takeshi> "Either that or their idea of 'light' isn't the same thing we think of," Takeshi offers. "That kind of grayness COULD be their idea of it, after all."
[11:37] <@Kotono> "That's also true. We just don't know yet." Idly serenity slides just a little bit over, closer to Usagi as she naturally repositions. "We have tos top them when we see them and try to get more information."
[11:38] <@Usagi> Luckily Usagi has Takeshi to guard her from Serenity's predatory advances! "Yeah, we should try and get them talking when we run into them," she nods. "Also, we should get everyone together for a proper big meeting like we used to - a lot of the time when we put our heads together we can come up with better ideas."
[11:39] <+Takeshi> "Been trying to do that when I can - get them talking, that is," Takeshi replies, shaking his head a bit. "Both times, they've almost tried to recruit me - Temptation by controlling me directly, and Despair trying to talk both myself and Hotaru over to their side."
[11:39] <@Kotono> "That sounds like a fine idea. When and where," SErenity smiles agreeably to Usagi, beaming her beautiful face and eyes at her.
[11:39] <@Kotono> "...that is the other thing. They seem to want to use us." THat gets Mamoru to scowl, "Janna mentioned that."
[11:39] * @Usagi flinches noticably at the mention of Temptation, still having Takeshi between her and Serenity to prevent easy contact.
[11:40] <@Usagi> "Maybe here in the next day or so? Whatever time works for everyone, I guess," she replies to the pink-haired woman.
[11:41] * +Takeshi glances over at the slight movement from Usagi, but doesn't comment on it. "Suppose it'll make sure everyone's up to speed on everything we have so far," Takeshi agrees. "I'll try to get some research done before then - I was thinking of seeing if I could find any old myths or legends that referred to a Lightbringer. It's a long shot, but it's the only thing I can think of for now."
[11:41] <@Kotono> "After school sounds easiest." Turning back to Mamoru at that, "We can meet...oh. That would be right to Pluto's talents, would it not?"
[11:42] <@Usagi> "You should maybe talk to Kotono-chan?" Usagi agrees. "She's really into old legends and things."
[11:42] <@Kotono> That turn to Mamoru turns to a look to Takeshi, "She knows all of the old Earthian legends from what I understand."
[11:43] <+Takeshi> "Really...?" Takeshi seems rather pleased to hear that. "That'll save a lot of time, at least. I was figuring it'd take ages."
[11:44] <@Anastasia> "Here." Serenity rises and gets a scrap of paper and pen, writing on it briefly. Thereafter she rubs her hands in a pained, slow motion before passing the paper to Takeshi and sitting back down. "That's her phone number."
[11:45] <@Usagi> "Fingers sore again?" Usagi asks sympathetically, her natural concern for Serenity overriding her lesbian angst for the moment.
[11:46] * +Takeshi glances at the paper briefly and nods, pocketing it without comment. "I'll get in touch with her later on this evening, I guess." He looks over to Serenity at Usagi's comment, raising an eyebrow slightly.
[11:47] <@Anastasia> "I believe the name fo rit is...Carpal something?" A wince from Serenity, "Or arthritis. All the typing bothers me so."
[11:48] <@Usagi> "Eww!" Usagi looks vaguely alarmed, getting up and gently taking Serenity's hands. "You're way too young for those!" a brief blush as she amends, "Or at least you look too young... you shouldn't be doing that job if it causes serious problems like that!"
[11:50] <@Anastasia> "Yes..." But despite this Serenity turns apple red, bowing her head and looking away. "Perhaps once I have more money I can, or the circumstances are more favorable?" Her hands are warm ni yours, hands held and settling into being held by the blonde bunny.
[11:51] * +Takeshi watches Usagi fussing over Serenity with an odd, unreadable expression on his face for a few moments before turning his gaze away with a slight sigh, shaking his head a bit.
[11:53] <@Usagi> "Maybe Hotaru-chan can properly heal your fingers so they don't bother you like that?" Usagi muses, blushing a little, "But I can help a little, at least..." she murmurs, focusing and causing her hands to glow softly as they entwine with Serenity's, refreshing and rejuvenating energy flowing in to ease the pain, if nothing else.
[11:53] <@Anastasia> OOC - Mass rejuvin'
[11:53] <@Anastasia> ?
[11:54] <@Usagi> OOC: Pretty much. Some purity EC thrown in as well, since that feels pleasant for others even if its not actually doing anything.
[11:55] <@Anastasia> "Thank you." Thereafter Serenity lowers her hands down to her lap, blush rapidly fading as she looks about. She lingers on Takeshi a few moments, face ever so solemn.
[11:56] * @Usagi shrugs, her own hands falling away as she goes to sit down again. "Just don't like seeing you hurting, especially since carpal tunnel and arthiritis are really serious..." she mutters, looking down.
[11:56] <@Anastasia> "Thank you." This is repeated like a whisper, though Serenity's eyes linger on Takeshi a little longer, seeking his own out.
[11:57] * +Takeshi isn't really looking at anyone right now, staring at the floor a few feet in front of him. His expression is neutral, but the faintest hint of pain shows in his eyes.
[11:59] * @Usagi looks at Takeshi herself as the conversation seems to lull, blinking a moment at what she sees there. "Takeshi-kun... are you alright?" she asks softly, a hand tentatively going to his shoulder.
[12:00] * +Takeshi starts at the sudden contact, looking up at Usagi in surprise. "Eh? I'm fine," he says, shaking his head dismissively - his gaze is clear enough now, at least. "Just letting my mind wander a bit, I guess."
[12:01] <@Usagi> "You just seemed kinda... spaced out," the blonde observes diplomatically, her hand falling away.
[12:03] <+Takeshi> "Just thinking about something else," Takeshi says, waving his hand. His eyes flicker again momentarily, but he glances around at the others in the room before giving Usagi a slight smile. "Don't worry about it."
[12:03] <@Usagi> "If you're sure..." Usagi holds Takeshi's gaze a moment longer before relenting. "So, um... where were we, again?"
[12:04] <+Takeshi> "Meeting, I think," Takeshi replies, getting back to business.
[12:05] <@Usagi> "Oh, yeah," Usagi nods. "Um... so I was thinking maybe tomorrow or Thursday after school? I know Hotaru and Makoto work right after, but I don't know what days... Asher too, I think. So I guess we'll have to see what works for everyone."
[12:07] <@Anastasia> "We'll find something," Mamoru agrees, standing up. He heads into the kitchen a moment, coming back with some water.
[12:08] <@Anastasia> "...yes." With quiet that belies his size, Nior, stands just inside the room now, arms crossed as he looks over the assembled Usagi and Takeshi. Looming over them like a mountain...
[12:08] <@Usagi> "Nior!" Usagi squeals with girlish glee, shooting to her feet and rushing over to hug him. "How've you been?! I missed you!" she blurts out quickly.
[12:10] <+Takeshi> Takeshi's eyes widen as he takes in the massive man that just stepped into the room. 'Now HE's big,' he thinks to himself, taken off guard simply by the sheer size of the guy.
[12:11] <@Anastasia> Nior doesn't smile - but he does gently detangle Usagi off of him after a few seconds. "...grown up." This is said with his own quietness, as he nods. "I'll still protect all of you."
[12:12] <@Usagi> "Good to hear!" Usagi nods brightly as she seperates, going back to sit down. "So, I heard you two scared off that Pestilence guy when he was harassing Asher?" she asks, looking between Nior and Mamoru.
[12:13] * +Takeshi chuckles a bit at the giant's words. 'Bet he can, too,' he thinks, a slight smile on his face as he gives Nior a more critical examination, letting his business eye take in details about Nior.
[12:14] <@Anastasia> He's utterly massive - over seven feet tall and pure muscle. Despite a certain air of age and his gray hair, is face is impassive. "Yes. Pestilence is...good. He survived."
[12:15] * @Usagi nods. "Kotono and I hit him with quite a bit one time as well, but he got away. I think all of these guys are something to worry about." 'Especially Temptation...' she adds internally with a visible shudder as she remembers the feel of Rei's lips on her own...
[12:16] <@Anastasia> "Yeah. Should've seen it - the entire meat case behind Pestilence was obliterated." Mamoru's mood darkens with his eyes narrowing. "They're just too good."
[12:16] <@Anastasia> Serenity smacks her lips a little as she nods. "They are. Be careful - they're not even pretending to be human."
[12:16] <+Takeshi> "Hatred took a hell of a beating from Hotaru as well," Takeshi says with a slight frown, then blushes vaguely. "Er... beg pardon."
[12:18] <@Usagi> "Well, they are a bit," Usagi forces herself to admit, ignoring Takeshi's profanity - she hears *way* worse from the other senshi, after all. Can't keep valuable info secret. "Rei and I saw Temptation on Sunday, and she seemed to be pretending to be a singer or performer or something," she admits, fidgetting uncomfortably.
[12:18] <@Anastasia> "It's fine." Now Serenity chuckles at Takeshi. "The vernacular of this new time is...hm, Usagi? You fought Sunday? Share the details?"
[12:18] * +Takeshi scowls darkly - he doesn't have fond memories of Temptation, oh no not at all. "Where exactly was she?"
[12:19] <@Usagi> "It... it wasn't really a fight..." Usagi's cheeks begin to tinge pink, the blonde looking at her knees and avoiding everyone's gaze. "It was at this jazz club we were at. She got on the stage and said some stuff... then we confronted her and she teleported away," the blonde gives the abridged story she and Rei agreed on.
[12:20] * +Takeshi shakes his head. "Probably trying to control people again," he mutters. "She better hope I don't get my hands on her again."
[12:22] <@Anastasia> "Controlling people? ...contemptable," Mamoru hotly bites off, a bit of anger flaring on his face! "We'll have to stop her - she could do horriblet hings with that."
[12:22] <@Usagi> "Really horrible things!" Usagi offers her earnest and heartfelt agreement!
[12:24] <+Takeshi> "You don't have to tell me twice," Takeshi says quietly, his face grim. "Problem is finding her again - I've tried a couple of times, but no luck at all so far."
[12:25] <@Anastasia> "Something you could regret for the rest of your life...or worse, find out something about yourself you didn't know existed, like how Jadeite drew out seeds inside of his servants. Make a point to stop her in particular." Serenity says this with firm convinction.
[12:26] * @Usagi twitches again. "At least she isn't very violent, like the others?" she manages at least one saving grace, even with her face flushed noticably.
[12:26] <+Takeshi> "I'll try looking again tonight," Takeshi confirms. "And I wouldn't count on that, Usagi-san - she wasn't at all shy about attacking me when she couldn't control me."
[12:27] <@Usagi> "Mmm... she didn't attack me or Rei at all..." Usagi admits, before her eyes widen and she abruptly looks away. Of course, they were controlled, weren't they?
[12:27] <@Anastasia> "Do be careful," Serenity agrees, "Hotaru can heal you, but I hope and pray I don' thave to drag you into my bed for wounded rest again.:
[12:28] * @Usagi twitches, suddenly getting up. "I better get home before I'm late for dinner!" she announces, cheeks now beetroot red and avoiding anyone's gaze.
[12:29] <@Anastasia> "Aaaah? Then be well, Usagi." Serenity smiles softly, watching the rabbit go.
[12:29] * +Takeshi raises an eyebrow at that, but doesn't say anything further - looks like something's bothering Usagi, but it's not his place to butt in if she's upset. "See you tomorrow at school, Usagi-san."
[12:30] <@Usagi> "Yeah, bye!" Usagi nods a bit jerkily, before fleeing out the room as quick as she can!
[12:30] <@Anastasia> "...odd." Nior rumbles as Usagi goes past, but he makes no further note on it.
[12:31] <+Takeshi> "Can say that again," Takeshi says, shaking his head. "Wonder what got into her..."
[12:35] <@Anastasia> "I don't know, but...what about you, Takeshi?" Serenity smiles sweetly at him, and with a look to Nio rand Mamoru, but suddenly find reason to head outside.
[12:35] <@Anastasia> "Good meeting you," Mamoru says as he beats feet away.
[12:35] <+Takeshi> "What about me?" Takeshi says, nonplussed - and rather surprised at the quick exits.
[12:38] <@Anastasia> "How are you?" Serenity asks this with her own smile, looking right into Takeshi's eyes.
[12:40] <+Takeshi> That stare makes Takeshi distinctly uncomfortable, although he tries his best not to show it, with only moderate success. "Ah... fine, why do you ask?"
[12:41] <@Anastasia> Reaching out, Serenity rests her hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure? What I saw there...Did I not see it?"
[12:42] <+Takeshi> "It's nothing you need to concern yourself with," Takeshi says distantly. "I'm not going to lie and say there was nothing there, since I saw you both looking at me." He sighs a bit. "I can promise you it's not worth the trouble of worrying about, though."
[12:43] <@Anastasia> "Is it not?" Serenity's smile is still there, her eyes full of concern as she slowly rubs Takeshi's shoulders. "I have not known you long this life, Takeshi. Nor did I know the man called Nephrite well. I do know that I see someone in pain - distinct pain."
[12:48] * +Takeshi closes his eyes, actually tensing more under Serenity's touch than before, his shoulders almost rock-hard. "Serenity-san... please, don't. There's nothing either one of us can do about it, so there's no point in going over it. And it doesn't affect you at all, so you don't need to concern yourself over it. It's my problem to deal with, and I will."
[12:53] <@Anastasia> "No." This word is spoken with the authority of ten milleniums of wisdom and age, crashing down with absolutism. "Takeshi...you are one of my...children now. A soul within them a part of the past or a part of the long lost Moon Kingdom. I will not let you hurt and stand by."
[12:55] <+Takeshi> Even with that gravity, Takeshi still manages to resist - barely, his voice shaking with emotion. "You don't want to do that," he says, swallowing hard to try to regain control of his emotions. "I don't... want you to do that," he says, the words coming out slowly, as if being winched out of him. "Please, just let it go. It's already going to hurt enough when this ends."
[12:56] <@Anastasia> In reply Serenity simply folds her arms around him, drawing him to rest in her embrace. She doesn't speak anymore, instead just staying as she is.
[12:58] * +Takeshi wants to break away so much... but part of him wants to stay right where he is, too, and the war between the two shows visibly, the young man trembling with emotion. "Please... stop..." he whispers, his eyes tightly shut.
[13:03] <@Anastasia> Again no words, just holding Takeshi without mercy.
[13:07] <+Takeshi> Finally, with a supreme effort of will, Takeshi reaches up, taking Serenity by the shoulders and gently moving her away. "Don't care about me, Serenity," he finally chokes out, his face lowered to try to hide the tears that have finally started to make their appearance. "I'll be your soldier, your servant, your ally - whatever you want me to do, I'll do without a second thought. (more)
[13:08] <+Takeshi> But please, please don't care about me," he finishes thickly. 'I can't not care back, and that just hurts too much when I leave,' he thinks, his shoulders slumping.
[13:10] <@Anastasia> "...I can't do that." Serenity finally decides to speak again, resting her hands down in her lap, but her gaze is ungiving steel. "You took on responsibility when you vowed to help us...as did I when I took those words."
[13:13] * +Takeshi passes his hand over his face, hurriedly wiping away those damnable tears - he can't start crying now, or... no. No, just clamp down on it. "I did, and I'll do my absolute best to do whatever you ask of me," he replies, now sounding more tired than anything as he turns away from Serenity. "I offered you my service, and gladly - but nothing in there says you have to care about me."
[13:15] <@Anastasia> "I want to care for you. It's not just service, Takeshi, it never is. Usagi, Ami, Hotaru, Makoto, Rei, Kotono...they are all my Senshi...my children. I will do no less for you or Asher."
[13:15] <@Anastasia> OOC  - Gah.
[13:16] <@Anastasia> roll 2d6
[13:16] * +Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=6, 5]
[13:17] <@Anastasia> "I want to care for you. It's not just service, Takeshi, it never is. Usagi, Ami, Hotaru, Makoto, Rei, Kotono...they are all my Senshi...my children. I will do no less for you or Asher." Her hand reaches out, brushing away a tear. You feel a sensation of peace from her, of alluring rest and serenity. "A Queen that sits aloof on the Moon is nothing but a vain figurehead. A Queen is only as healthy and happy as her subjects are. If she do
[13:18] <@Anastasia> as her subjects are. If she does not shine her light down on them to help them..."
[13:19] <+Takeshi> "And I don't even know how much longer I'll be here, Serenity-san," Takeshi replies dully, defeat evident in his tone. "I know you want to care, and it's nothing against you at all - I wish...." he takes a deep breath. "I wish I could let you. But I honestly don't know how much longer I even have in Juuban, or how far away I'll go when I do leave. It's going to hurt enough just leaving - (more)
[13:20] <+Takeshi> I finally thought I found a place where I might have a chance of fitting for once in my life. Don't make it harder, for either one of us."
[13:21] <@Anastasia> "Then stay." The words are said with a simplicity that bespeaks long formented wisdom. "I said my house is open to any that need it."
[13:22] <+Takeshi> "...what?" That gets Takeshi to look up, looking back over his shoulder at Serenity.
[13:23] <@Anastasia> "If the worst does happen? My house is open...and even at the worst, you have other friends as well. We will not turn our back on you if you need our help, Takeshi." Now Serenity smiles once more, serene and radiant.
[13:24] <+Takeshi> "This isn't like staying over for the weekend, though," Takeshi protests, although it's somewhat half-hearted. "And the paperwork involved... that'd be a nightmare all by itself."
[13:25] <@Anastasia> "I can manage. I was a Queen, remember." This gets a laugh like a bell, ringing into the air. "Even in the fairytale past paper and parchment are the lifeblood of government."
[13:26] <+Takeshi> That earns a brief, puckered grin from Takeshi as he turns to face Serenity again. "You're sure about this? You barely even know me - hell, we only met for the first time about a week ago."
[13:32] <@Anastasia> "I'm sure. Your vow...it was not a light one, for either of us." Smiling again now, "Go now. If the day comes where you need this over, I will wait you. But...remember, you have friends that understand you mroe than you may understand yourself now. Do not forget them, either."
[13:33] <+Takeshi> "I..." Takeshi looks about like he could be knocked over by a breath of air at this point. "I don't know what to say..."
[13:36] <@Anastasia> "You don't need to say anything." So Serenity vows, a large smile over her face
[13:36] <@Anastasia> .
[13:39] * +Takeshi takes a deep breath, trying to recompose himself. "There's no way I'd ever be able to thank you enough, even just for the offer," he finally says, shaking his head. "I... to have a place I could actually call home..." he shakes his head.
[13:39] <@Anastasia> "It is a wonderful thing. Home..." Now Serenity looks faraway, eyes distant. "Yes...this place is home."
[13:43] * +Takeshi blows out the breath finally. "Thank you, Serenity," he says, bowing low in the Japanese fashion rather than the salute of Nephrite. "I..." He shakes his head. "I've got a lot to think about, now..."

[Halbarad]

This takes place the evening after the meeting at Serenity's house.

[22:58] <@Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[22:59] <@Kotono> So Takeshir eturns to his room again. A place that is impersonal and quiet, but the house is empty. Perfect timing, in other words.
[23:00] * @Takeshi doesn't bother to bar the door this time - with his foster parents out of the house, there's no need. So, simply closing his bedroom door, he shifts to the guise of Nephrite, preparing to search for the vile creature known as Temptation!
[23:00] * Takeshi is now known as General_Nephrite
[23:01] <@Kotono> OOC - As before, A soul check-o.
[23:01] <@General_Nephrite> Holding his palms out level in front of him, he intones in a steady voice. "I call upon the power of the stars... the armored Crab, Cancer! Show me the rock Temptation's hiding herself under!"
[23:02] <@General_Nephrite> roll 2d6 burning 10 EP for Soul
[23:02] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6 burning 10 EP for Soul and gets 6." [2d6=5, 1]
[23:03] <@Kotono> As the stars whirl to Nephrite's command, his vision attempts to see into the oblivion! Ahead of him is gray - endless, bleak gray. A world of it, yet a definite sense of progression as...
[23:03] <@Kotono> roll 2d6
[23:03] * +Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=3, 2]
[23:06] <@Kotono> It's cold here. Nephrite's body shivers involuntarily, quaking with cold. (1 damage.) Following this is a confusing mass of images, an onslaught with no apparent meaning! Gray masses, buildings - buildings that defy logic. Creation sof pure will and imagination, bound to no laws but the limits of the mind. Racing, racing, racing to a place there - a great circle. To Nephrite's amazement he sees EVERYTHING within it a moment that blows his mind
[23:06] <@Kotono> EVERYTHING within it a moment that blows his mind! The Earth, the stars, the Moon, the very galaxy itself! All is shown in this impossibly large yet not so vast circle before it ends! There is a moment of seeing Temptation and shadowy figures away from her, but it breaks apart like shattered glass! (More)
[23:06] <@Kotono> roll 2d6
[23:06] * +Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and gets 4." [2d6=3, 1]
[23:07] <@Kotono> Where it was Nephrite does not know, but hes tands tall after. Lingering feelings - coldness, grayness, a vast leypoint; nay, pinpoint with so much to be seen, surrounded by men or creatures unknown.
[23:07] <@Kotono> Coming last out of it is the image of a caldron, lingering in the shattered visage, a cauldron gushing out smoky gasses.
[23:08] * @General_Nephrite shudders as he comes back to himself, blinking several times as he tries to lock the images in his mind, already moving to retrieve his notebook without even bothering to lose the form of the general. "That was... what the HELL was that?"
[23:13] * @General_Nephrite bends over his desk as he begins to write, his brow furrowed as he tries to put to paper all that he just saw - from the minor to the unbelievable. Vast grayness... deep cold. Impossible buildings. A circle not large enough to contain everything inside it, and it seemed like it had EVERYTHING inside it. And the deep cauldron with smoke boiling out from within.
[23:14] <@Kotono> So scribed, Nephrite begins to feel warm and normal again by the time he's done. The touch of whatever he brushed against fades, a normalicy returning.
[23:15] <@General_Nephrite> None of it really makes any sense, but then nothing else so far has either. Hopefully he can sort out more of what it means later... but one thing sticks in his mind. He knows the limits of his ability, and so that place - what he just saw - has to be a real place somewhere. "Where the hell are they from, anyway?"
[23:15] <@General_Nephrite> Finally, his work done, he lets the uniform go, flopping back on the bed to get some rest - if his mind will let him sleep after that little brain-busting experience.

[Ebiris]

This takes place Tuesday evening after Usagi leaves Serenity's house

[05:30] <Kotono> Tuesday evening has Usagi getting home! In perhaps a tizzy - sure, Luna's in the garden and cutely chasing a bird before Usagi comes, making her blush and leap away! Sure, you can smell Mom's cooking out here, and Dad's car is parked! Sure, it's all normal...right?
[05:31] <Usagi> Having taken the opportunity to calm down on the walk home, Usagi is able to act almost normally, now. "Hi, Luna," she smiles at the feline's cute antics - hoping it stays cute and her garden doesn't turn into an avian graveyard, as she goes to the front door.
[05:32] <Kotono> "Evening, Usagi!" Luna fervently cleans herself, a feline practicing good cleanliness.  "Go see your Mom, alright? Now."
[05:33] <Usagi> That gets Usagi's attention. "Huh? What's wrong?" she asks, hoping she's not in trouble.
[05:35] <Kotono> A calmness comes over Luna via self cleaning, she sits primly. "She had...just go talk to her. She got shaken up a bit.:
[05:36] <Usagi> "Oh..." That gives Usagi pause, now less worried for herself and more about her mother. Nodding, the blonde unlocks the door and heads inside, slipping off her shoes and calling, "I'm home!"
[05:39] <Kotono> An uncomfortably long pause before, "Mom's in her room, Usagi," Shingo calls from in front of the TV.
[05:40] <Usagi> "I heard... thanks, Shingo," the blonde replies, her weird-o-meter creeping up as she ascends the stairs and goes to knock on her parents' bedroom door.
[05:41] <Kotono> The door is open! Inside you can see Mom sitting on the bed, face drawn as she looks down at her hands. "...Usagi?" No look up, but she does aska ysou approach.
[05:42] <Usagi> "Mama?" the blonde begins hesitantly, slowly approaching her mother. On the plus side, thoughts of Rei's warm embrace are the farthest thing from her mind, now!
[05:43] <Kotono> "...Usagi?" Mom finally looks up, smiling in a shaky, ragged way. "They're...they're out there again? I didn't meant to - I was walking home from getting some groceries, but I ran into it."
[05:44] * Usagi gasps, hurrying over to sit next to Ikkuko and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "What happened?" she asks, concerned.
[05:46] <Kotono> "She...cold. So cold. All I could think about...I was so afraid!" Words tumble out from Ikkuko, a torrent of emotion. "All I could think about was Jadeite and how he...she wasn't him or close, but the same feeling, the same way my palms got sweaty and my heart skipped beats just feeling that."
[05:47] <Usagi> "Oh, Mama!" Usagi shifts, hugging Ikkuko close. "It's alright, you're safe, now," she reassures, just trying to ease her mother's mind rather than worrying about the details for the moment.
[05:48] <Usagi> roll 2d6 for aura of serenity
[05:48] * Hatbot --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 for aura of serenity and gets 6." [2d6=5, 1]
[05:50] <Kotono> In this Mother finally begins to calm - she breaths quickly twice over and settles down. "I know, just...she was walking along like any other person!"
[05:51] <Usagi> "They... they try to blend in, sometimes," the blonde murmurs, stroking her mother's back as she holds her. "What happened?"
[05:53] <Kotono> "...I ran into her. I was carrying a few bags of groceries and I just walked right into her. She even helped me pick them up, but...it didn't hide it. At all."
[05:55] <Usagi> "How do you mean it didn't hide it?" Usagi prods, voice a comforting lullaby as she continues her soothing ministrations.
[05:58] <Kotono> "It stood out! Her...she wore sunglasses, and that hair. It was kind of a watery green, but..." Stopping to breathe, "She just DID. I don't know if I know what to look for now or if it...but Is aw other people avoiding her, too."
[06:00] * Usagi purses her lips slightly, considering. "She sounds different than the others we've seen... another one, then," she mutters. Giving Ikkuko a last squeeze in her embrace, Usagi parts, though leaving her arm still around the older woman's shoulder. "What happened after she helped you with your groceries?"
[06:01] <Kotono> "I...I told...I told her she wouldn't get away with it and I ran away." Another long breath, Ikkuko calming. "I just...I don't know."
[06:03] <Usagi> "Oh, Mama..." Usagi gives Ikkuko another brief hug. "You shouldn't... if you see any of them again, just don't get their attention and get away as fast as you can," she requests earnestly. "It could be really dangerous if they get an interest in you."
[06:08] <Kotono> "I know that. Just...be careful for me. That girl was..." Yet another breath as Mom gets up, "I need to finish dinner, Usagi."
[06:10] <Usagi> "I know, but..." Usagi slowly rises herself, essaying a smile, "If she helped you with your groceries, maybe she's like Janna or Nior?" she hazards before her expression firms. "I'll be careful - I know they aren't playing around. But at the same time, I have to at least give them a chance..."
[06:11] <Kotono> "Alright -b ut just be careful." With that word of accepting wisdom Mom goes out, back to the routines of her life.
[06:12] * Usagi sighs deeply, just taking a moment to process it all. So much going on, now... Bleah, stewing about it in her room won't do any good. "Want any help cooking?" she asks, following out after Ikkuko.
[06:23] <Kotono> "If you like," Mom keeps her pace up, heading downstairs without incident. "
[06:23] <Kotono> "If you like," Mom keeps her pace up, heading downstairs without incident. "It's nearly done anyway.
[06:23] <Kotono> ""
[06:26] <Usagi> "Something to do," the blonde shrugs, heading into the kitchen after her mother. Yep, cooking is nice and familiar and sufficiently distracting that she'll have no cause to start thinking about doing naughty and fun things with other girls, now that her last distraction is over!
[06:33] <Kotono> It's roasted chicke and vegetables - all but done, too. "I suppose. Have to keep your mind moving some days." Mom goes the oven, checking the chicken and then withdrawing it.
[06:34] <Usagi> "Totally!" Usagi's agreement is fervent and easily given, lingering in the kitchen even as she sees there isn't much she can actually do to assist, anyway.
[06:35] <Kotono> "Mmmm. You know, maybe you should invite some of your friends over soon. Maybe Hotaru, Makoto, A...oh wait, she's in Germany. Or that Rei girl, too." So the chicken is prepared, plates gotten.
[06:36] * Usagi flinches visibly at the mention of Rei's name, masking it with a weak giggle. "Yeah... nice to have the girls over sometime, isn't it?" she comments easily, before her face twists slightly. Why'd she have to emphasise girls?!
[06:37] <Kotono> Because it's not like the boys she brings over are just friends, right? Unlike the girls she brings over, right?! "Mmmm. IT would be nice. Oh, Serenity as well. How is she?"
[06:38] <Usagi> Now there's a nice distraction! Worries over Serenity's health far outweigh any appreciation of her feminine appeal. "Her fingers are still giving her pain from typing - she said it could be carpal tunnel or arthritis, can you believe it?!"
[06:40] <Kotono> "How horrible. She needs to get a better job." More pauses as she fixes up the chicken, aslicin' away into it. "She should just...mmmm. Find a nice man and have a family."
[06:42] * Usagi frowns a bit. "She could easily get a rich guy if she wanted, but she's not the type to marry for that - besides, she wants to be able to take care of herself," she observes. "I dunno... she really could be doing something better, but she likes her job even with the pains she gets."
[06:45] <Kotono> "Mmmm. She does, doesn't she?" T here's a faint moment where Mom smiles, before going back to slicing chicken.
[06:53] * Usagi leans easily against the kitchen counter, just relaxing. "That or she just sticks with it out of loyalty to her boss," the blonde muses. "Still, I really hope she was exaggerating. People aren't meant to get arthiritis till they're like sixty, aren't they?"
[06:57] <Kotono> "I think it can happen early, but you're right." Frowning, "...how old IS Serenity? She looks in her twenties, but that's not accurate, is it?"
[06:59] <Usagi> "Well, that's the thing - how do you judge?" Usagi asks, shrugging. "You could say she's thousands of years old, because she kinda is. You could say she's twentysomething, since that's what she looks like. Or you could say she's a little bit over two years old, because that's how long ago her new body was created."
[06:59] <Usagi> Frowning and folding her arms, the blonde looks down, "If we go by the last, she really needs to take better care of herself if her body's deteriorating so soon."
[07:03] <Kotono> "It's possible she's just not cut out to typing." Mom finishes with the chicken, getting ita ll together and going to the table. "I'm sure she'll be fine in the end, so let's just have dinner now and rest, Usagi-chan."
[07:03] * Usagi nods, poking her head out the kitchen door. "Shingo, dinner's ready!" she calls, before going to sit down and eat with her family.

[Anastasia]

> ---Arc 2 go!---
> Bleep. Jaws music - really, if there was any justice in the world Kotono would merit it! This would be useful! I mean, hell, who would expect to see her the moment you walk into Mokou's?!  She's  behind the desk with her, the two woman discussing something quietly and keeping eyes open for people coming through the door!
> Kotono's T*A uniform is cute as she waves, a blonde ball of energy awaiting Asher!
<Asher> And it just goes to say that the more things change, the more they stay the same. As Asher walks in with his usual belongings, he offers a weak "Good afternoon, Mokou-san" before looking over at Kotono briefly and giving a faint, already tired looking wave. Setting the back and Reclaimer aside, he goes ahead and looks for the first shelf to begin his routine.
> "Asssher!" Kotono bolts out, waving and even jiggling(No bra?!) as she lightly hugs him. "Hiya, what's up, I was waiting for you since I kinda cheated and teleported over, huh, and it was really cool since when I came in Miss Mokou talked to me and we had a good time and now you're here and isn't it awesome?"
<Asher> Asher throws Kotono a suddenly stunned look as, discreetly pulling her behind the shelf and thus out of Mokou's sight, he lifts a finger to his lips and glares at her. His voice in a low whisper. "Kotono, not everyone knows how to 'teleport', remember?!"
> "...oh, well, um, I didn't meant that just that I got excited, you know?" Kotono hangs her head, looking ashemed and hurt. "I just wanted to get here to surprise you and she didn't see me teleport since I went for th ealley and it's really okay, right?"
<Asher> "Except she probably listens to every word you utter in this store," Asher conspirationally whispers back in a dark tone. "Just be careful, okay?" Stepping back from the shelf and looking lamely to Mokou with that same weak smile, he puts a hand on the top of the bookshelf and looks back at her. "Um... so, what's up? I'm guessing you didn't drop here for more supernatural books..."
> Kotono nosd in a muted, whimpering fashion. "Well, um...okay, here!" Kotono thrusts some money out of her pocket, a few thousand yen easy. "Take me for ice cream, okay, please and it'll be cool and I promise I'll be good and w'ell have a good time, huh?!"
<Asher> "..." He stares at her blankly, looking completely and utterly in shock for a moment.
<Asher> Then there is a long sigh as Asher gently pushes her hand back to her pocket. "First off, if I take you out for something, you don't pay. Secondly, I'd have to do that after I got off my shift... are you really -that- bored enough to wait that long?"
> "Yep!" Kotono blurts out before she blushes yet again, slinking back. "Um, well, that's okay, really and you'll do it? Coool!"
<Asher> "I don't have anything else planned," he says in way of explanation. Besides, his regular regimen, although he still kept up with it, was growing wholly... inadequate. Flashes of that humilating night keep coming back, and he'd already looked into a few alternatives. So one evening wouldn't hurt. "... and it's a three and a half hour shift, Kotono. What the heck are you going to do?"
> "Read!" Kotono nods firmly at this, going to do just that and waving. "I'll wit for you, so just call when your'e done, okay?"
<Asher> "Mmkay." In all honesty, this was pretty tame for Kotono's standards, and he offers her a half relieved smile as he sets back down to work. Mokou, of course, would be absolutely squealing in glee right about now. But... eh, that feels far off in terms of how much he'd let it bother him. After all, he'd given that whole damn silly speech to Usagi earlier. Couldn't he follow his own advice?
<Asher> Kneeling down and beginning the dreary but well practiced process of reorganizing the stock of books, Asher commits himself dutifully to his job for the next... interdeterminate span of time until some matter decides to intrude into his attention otherwise!
> This goes without incident. Oh sure, Mokou smiles a few times and Kotono gives you a few minor...distractions...but the end of your shift looms without major incident.
<Asher> How utterly fascinating. Shelving the last book and actually having spent the end portion of the shift doing his work a second thorough-over - the day was particularly sparse about customers - Asher glances up at the clock with a wayward expression. Yep, ten minutes past the hour; he always went over to finish up whatever last task was at hand.
<Asher> With that, he looks over at Mokou-san, who for some reason hasn't made motion to get ready to close up the shop, eyeing her with a questioning look. It would be impolite to say anything, though, so he just does that and nothing else.
> Mokou just smiles and nods, saying it all without saying a word.
<Asher> ...o... kay. With a bit of a shrug, he gives her a polite bow and makes sure anyway. "Do you need me for any longer, Mokou-san?"
> "No, I think we're done. Thank you, Asher." She even winks a little, and waving to him, "Have a good evening."
<Asher> Rather than the norm expression, he graces her with a long... weary... weighted look that bespeaks of a great burden! But this, too, he only lets pass for a moment before trudging over to the little corner in the bookstore and retrieving his belongings. After doing so, he angles his head to see where Kotono went off to. Or been hiding.
> She's in a corner, reading away from a heavy looking book. She's quite content and quiet right now, turning the pages at a good clip. Her normal hyperness has given way to a silence, one that lets her face show some cuteness and not just frentic motion.
<Asher> The effect is oddly eerie and strikingly welcome at the same time. To such an extent that... with a soft smirk on his face, Asher steps quietly from behind her, leaning back against the bookshelf very casually and crosses his arms, watching her. Well, not really. You can only stare at someone's back for so long before you get bored. Instead, his eyes trace over what she's reading.
> It's something on Hinduism. It's dreadfully deep, but Kotono's absorbed in it. She reads through it at a rapid pace, surprisingly quick in comprehending the written wrod.
<Asher> That didn't actually catch him too much by surprise... though the fact that she had most likely actually gone through every single piece of material in her room at one point makes his mind boggle. Finally, after a minute of this, he leans forward quietly and speaks up in a slightly amused tone. "Kotono?"
> "Mmmmm?" Her voice is distant, as she just sits on the floor. She's really into it, you can tell.
<Asher> Wow. This could be funny. Asher maintains the same volume, not wanting to jolt her out of it. In fact, he develops a conversational tone much akin to hers. "What're you thinking about, huh?"
> "Kama Sutra." This is said quite easily, Kotono's serene face crossing into range of a discret smile as she closes her book. "Heya, Asher."
<Asher> "......" Kotono gets a very well deserved stare. Yessssss. Asher's just the perfect image of "deer caught in headlights" right about now... so well captured, one should petrify him and forever cherish the image. Kotono gets this delight as he struggles to find the words to say -anything-.
<Asher> Well, his throat is moving, his lips are ever so slightly edging to the side, but no words come out!
> "Wanna try something in this to help me?" Kotono follows up even smoother, turning a page. "It would be fun!"
<Asher> After a very, very long pause, Asher scrambling like hell to regather his wits having recovered from bodywide neural paralyzation, Asher finally manages to open his mouth. His throat is impeccably dry. "...a... are you ready to go?" My god, that sounds lame. His look is still completely blank, disbelief written across it.
> "I guess, but would you like to read with me?" A long, happy giggle follows this, Kotono putting the book down onto her lap. "I'm having fun just reading about Hinduism. Wanna join me?"
<Asher> Not with Mokou right there! Dear heaven, no. He could bear with some things but sitting down in the freaking bookstore with a girl to co-read a book would just push things beyond all tolerable limits. Shaking his head somewhat, Asher stumbles out the words. "Uh... well, it's kinda late, and Mokou will be... um.. closing soon... so we should get going... y'know...?" Was this even him talking?
<Asher> His mouth is moving. Vocal chords are being used. But his mind is at a screeching halt!
> The smile Kotono has on her face is wide and calmer. "Well, maybe we could stay a little while longer? I'd love it if you just sit here with me, okay?"
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=4, 6]
<Asher> Nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn... Asher's mind goes into a full spiral as he ... well, that was a reasonably enough phrased request. And by all means she was actually settled in. With a bit of a blush, pushing away the complete utter feeling that something was wrong, he sits down next to her. "...kay..." His voice is quiet.
> GLOMP! Kotono clings on once Asher is sat down, purring away like a giant yellow girlcat! "Thanks! Oooo, thi sis is cool and here!" For a split second one arm decurls to pass you the book, before she reglomps on.
> Knock-knock - the sound of someone knocking ont eh bookshelf at the far end of the aisle.
<Asher> WELL. Reality caught up rather blaringly fast. Asher lets out a yelp before he goes straight down against the floor, not exactly in the best of positions to deal with an energetic glomp from a girl who's probably a grand master in the art of delivering them!
> Amid a happy blonde girl latching on? "Ahem. I'm going to close up. You don't want to be locked in here the entire night alone...do you?" A soft laugh comes from Mokou, calling from the end of the aisle.
<Asher> Somehow managing to grab onto the book and pretty much clutching onto it as the only precarious grip he has on sanity right now, Asher strains to ... breathe. Normally. "Kotono..." His voice sounds a little pleading. "Could you please... just get off --" Asher's voice goes up in alarm. "Mokou-san! Just a second, please!"
> "Alright..." Chuckling Mokou retreats, off to whence she came for now.
> "But Aaassher..." Kotono does reluctantly detangle, only mildly glommed on for the moment.
<Asher> With a sigh of relief, Asher tries to gather himself back up, tugging the still somewhat-attached Kotono with him gently, still holding onto the book. Yeah, there was going to be no easy way to escape this. He calls out over the bookstore again. "Mokou-san, would you mind if I borrowed another book before I leave...? I'll return the other ones next week..."
<Kotono> "That's fine, Asher." Mokou takes the time to give you another smile before she fully shuffles off, your blonde 'girlfriend' still clinging on like a bad case of the wood ticks.
<Asher> Asher doesn't have the energy or even the presence of mind to really return the look to Mokou. At least he's back on his feet now. Sighing a bit and... realizing that just walking with Kotono like this is hard enough... he turns around and gently nudges her shoulder. "Kotono... uh, could you... loosen your grip?" What the hell, might as well be honest.
<Kotono> "Well?" Kotono does ever so slightly comply, but still hangs on Asher's arm. "Just it's nice, you know and it's so fun and I just wanna stay like this and I wonder if this is what Hot-chan means w hen she says hugging people is nice, but she usually says that around girls so I dunno if it's related or not, but it's still fun!"
<Asher> "It is nice," he says simply, walking over and picking up his backpack and the kendo stick. With her so closely attached, he leaves them hanging off his arm instead of actually putting the pack on. "But it's nice to be able to walk too, Kotono. Just... try to shy away from extremes, eh?" Asher turns back and gives her a bit of a wary look. That was really the only issue.
<Kotono> "But... Kotono even disengages a bit more - still arm bound but giving Asher a hair of flexibility, sorta. "But this is nicea nd it's not that extreme it's not like we're naked or doing anything like that so this is just fun, huh?"
<Asher> Finally managing to push themselves out of the door, Asher strains to keep his patience... and his wits.. up to par. It's not too bad - the evening's nice, and Kotono in all brutal honesty was operating under much more restrained parameters than the norm he'd come to expect. "Well, yes... but remember, Kotono, I think you just have a taaad more energy than most." A brief smile, at that, as he picks the way out to the nearest ice
<Asher> -- ice cream parlor.
<Kotono> It's a block or two away - no luck with it being that close. "Well, yes, ...but wait, I'm not that bad, am I, and besides, it's nice to hug me or are you saying I'm...unappealing?"
<Asher> "No, not like that..." Asher pauses, considering his words. "I mean that I'm not quite capable of suitably meeting your output, Kotono," Asher answers wryly, stopping for a moment and turning around to face her seriously. "Take it even as a compliment. It's rare that people get to be as ... " Ooh, what was a good word. Yeow. "...vibrant as you are." (more)
<Asher> "Let's get something straight out." Since this was a rare opportunity that he could speak sanely to her without having his head blown off from a torrent of Kotonospeak, Asher decides to take immediate advantage of the situation! "I really do like being around you, kay?" Though that's said as matter of factly as possible, it does not come unaccompanied with a flush look of embarassment.
<Asher> "But I'm not so good at handling.. so much... at once.. while you don't seem to have any problem with that," he continues mildly, "which is why I ask sometimes that you slow down. That's all. ...kay?" His face looks vaguely hopeful that she'll process all of that the way it was intended.
<Kotono> "Mmmm." Kotono even goes eerily quiet at all of that, pondering it all over before she takes a breath. "Asher-chan...a s long as you aren't going to go anywhere, it'll be okay, okay?!" With that Kotono hugs you again, happy and smiling. "So let's go have some ice cream and have some fun, huh?"
<Kotono> "Mmmm." Kotono even goes eerily quiet at all of that, pondering it all over before she takes a breath. "Asher-chan...a s long as you aren't going to go anywhere, it'll be okay, okay?!" With that Kotono hugs you again, happy and smiling. "So let's go have some ice cream and have some fun, huh?"
<Asher> "Let's," Asher agrees amiably. He represses the urge to let out a large sigh of relief as they pick up the pace again, feeling comfortable enough to let Kotono stay relatively close in a position that normally wouldn't be good implications for his health. But what the heck. Life's short.
<Asher> Wearing a genuine smile, it's not too long before they cross enough blocks to reach said parlor... probably barely before closing time. It IS evening.
<Kotono> It is still open! With his...friend? Girlfriend? Soon to be lover? Demonic horror? Asher may not be sure, but regardless he enters! Amid nice tables and lots of flavors available you find yourselfs, orders ready to be ordered.
<Asher> Asher hates thinking of labels like that anyway, and instinctually banishes them from his mind even as they come up. Looking over to Kotono, because that's who she is!, he takes a seat, setting stuff aside.
<Asher> Ice cream. He hadn't had one since the Cr... wait, no, he didn't even have one back then. It'd been a long while, in other words. Remembering the vivid image of Kotono milkshake consumption, though, it's probably safe to assume that the blonde sitting next to him has no such wait period!
<Kotono> She gets vanilla ice cream this time, eating at a slow pace. Along with that is a tall soda, this assaulted with frentic energy. Of course there isn't any respite, as Kotono curls up next to Asher and relaxes..."Oh thank you, this i really cool and it's our first official date, huh, and it's just too sweet!"
<Asher> Asher decides his safest hedged bet is to just not reply immediately, letting Kotono do as she pleases while impassively sipping at his own drink of choice, a root beer float. Hadn't had one of these for an ungodly long amount of time... and he realizes his other hand isn't free. Still holding onto that book.
<Asher> Glumly, he sets it to the side on the seat, letting the blonde lean back and harboring his own thoughts. "Mm..."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru wanders out of the back, brushing off her hands, and still wearing her own T*A uniform as she heads towards a booth not far off from Kotono and Asher's seats. She stops on sighting the pair though, giving a wry smile and waving before continuing on. Well, maybe they need their time along together? She certainly won't be the one to interrupt Kotono's ah...affections. Tantamount to suicide, don't you know?
<Asher> Fortunate enough that Hotaru waves to give Asher's eyes the signal they need to even notice her presence. His head turns ever so slightly, catching sight of the girl, as he frees a hand and waves back wordlessly. Well... he doesn't look QUITE as tormented as he normally does. The expression she's getting sure says he wouldn't mind company, though!
<Kotono> "...Hot-chan?" Kotono waves at this, clinging to Asher but using one free hand to beckon her over hopefully. "Heya, Hot-chan!"
* Hotaru-chan smiles a little more. Well if both members of the happy couple want her there... Snickering, she holds up one finger, going and retrieving her satchel and super-fudge brownie malt to head over to sit across from Asher and Kotono. "Hey, Kochan, Asher," she greets, trtying to hold back laughter.
<Kotono> "Heya!" ASher is glommed ontot for dear life as Hotaru smiles. "Heya, Hot-chan, huh?"
<Asher> Asher shoots her a dirty look at the not all too well concealed delight upon seeing his misery! But it passes quickly as he nods to her approach and smiles a bit himself, regardless. "Heya, Hotaru. Just happening by coincidence?" Kotono's sudden impulse to bodily latch onto him is met with a bit of a wince, as he leans perilously back to give her... room...
<Hotaru-chan> "Yeah, I happened to be checking on competition," Hotaru murmurs, snickering. "Well...and it's hard to eat at work. Guys still stare by the dozen," she sighs, blowing at her bangs. "What about you two?"
<Asher> "Kotono decided that she would like some ice cream and company to go along with it," Asher remarks dryly, not without a hint of exasperation. But he makes no motion against the attached blonde either. Probably because it'd go nowhere! Oh, and.. Hotaru'll probably notice the book lying on the empty seat near them...
<Kotono> Kotono just stays curled up to Asher, as if holding him answers all of life's unhappinesses!
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's returning smile, and very slight smirk, are just as dry. "Sounds like Kochan..." she agrees, glancing over at the book. "You don't seem quite as much like a deer in the headlights as usual..."
<Asher> "We all adapt, Hotaru," Asher says in way of reply, but there's a hint of a sardonic smile. Sighing a bit and trying to get at least a liiiiiiittle moving room with Kotono attached, he takes a sip of the float. Mm, it's pretty good...
<Kotono> Kotono just seems to want to focus on holding Asher and purring like a giant yellow pussycat. She rubs her face against his shoulder, before sending happy looks to Hotaru.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru just snickers after a moment. "THat we do," she agrees, trying to not just burst out laughing. "Jeez, you look as happy as I was a couple days ago," she drawls, shaking her head.
<Asher> "Oh?" Asher is quick to pick up on that, studying Hotaru as he seems oblivious to Kotono's actions. There's still that faint glimmer in his eyes of... something, though. "Elaborate."
<Kotono> "Yoshi?" Kotono asks in happiness and soul filling contentment, again rubbing her face into Asher's shoulder.
<Asher> roll 1d2
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 1d2 and gets 1." [1d2=1]
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru manages to blush, and then snicker. "Yeah, that was Sunday night...and then Mako-chan's..." Hotaru's smile is nearly blissful between the memories. "I should call one of them."
<Asher> Hotaru's visage is not lost on Asher as he studies the former carefully, pursing his lips. "Mm.. hmm." Yeah, like he had any comment to that! He had enough to deal with. With a careful grip, Asher slides a bit to the side to position himself closer to the edge of the seat, giving him -some- space. "Ah... any plans for the week? Or word from the others?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Spend more time in Mako-chan's bed," Hotaru answers with a soft snort, shaking her head. "Not much, just life as usual unless there's a blip on the radar, honestly. I haven't been getting anything, though."
<Asher> "It usually doesn't seem to work that way," Asher agrees, seeming to pass over the first comment. Somehow, somewhere, something in his mind told him to just let it go. You don't want to know, Asher. Nope, nope! Or was that Reclaimer talking to him?
<Asher> He pulls the still half-full root beer float, ice cream sinking down slowly in a melting descent, and sips, ignoring the straw that the waitress had provided - not the type to use straws. The cold, sweet taste washing down was a pleasant distraction from other... pressing matters.
<Kotono> "Mmmm." Kotono murmurs, making an effort to keep on Asher. "So it's fun, Hot-chan?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru jsut shrugs, sipping on her very, VERY chocolatey malt. So much so some might wince. "Nothing major happening around you two?" she asks softly, glancing between blonde and boy. "T*A's been clear as far as I know."
<Asher> "Not since that weekend," Asher murmurs softly, content to be guzzling his drink. Slowly.
<Kotono> "So we'll probably run into something soon, right?" Kotono chimes in with her own cheerful banter. "We'll get themt his time, huh, Asher, and it'll be too cool?"
<Asher> Wince... breathe... respond politely... with a smile.. manners, manners. The things that your 'rents drill into you from an early age and somehow they persist within the poor, tormented soul that is Asher. "...yes, Kotono... it will be, I'm sure." And that's all of the float. Mm, that was good.
* Hotaru-chan just smiles. "Hopefully it'll be cool. Hopefully. Mmmm...so are you two going anywhere after this?" she probes playfully, raising an eyebrow.
<Asher> "Home," Asher replies candidly before Kotono can speak up. "It is going to be dark pretty soon."
> <Asher> Wince... breathe... respond politely... with a smile.. manners, manners. The things that your 'rents drill into you from an early age and somehow they persist within the poor, tormented soul that is Asher. "...yes, Kotono... it will be, I'm sure." And that's all of the float. Mm, that was good.
> * Hotaru-chan just smiles. "Hopefully it'll be cool. Hopefully. Mmmm...so are you two going anywhere after this?" she probes playfully, raising an eyebrow.
> <Asher> "Home," Asher replies candidly before Kotono can speak up. "It is going to be dark pretty soon."
> "Um well...unless you wanna come to my house again and it's not like that but it could be cool and we could have a normal sleepover or something and it would be fun and I'm gonna launch a rocket tonight too, huh, and send it all the way into space!"
> Kotono rattles all that off as she blushes, looking to Hotaru and then Asher as her gaze flits around.
* Hotaru-chan just raises an eyebrow, not commenting just yet on the sleepover idea.. "How do you plan on getting it to escape velocity, Kochan?" she murmurs
<Asher> "I don't think my parents'd react well to me not showing up tonight, Kotono," Asher says with a sigh. He does not remark on the rocket.
<Asher> Ouch. Two discouraging statements at the same time...
> For just a moment Kotono opens her mouth before going wide eyed! She looks at Asher and then back at Hotaru several times back and forth, before turning 100% red and deglomming! She presses her fingers together, not saying anything.
* Hotaru-chan blinks several times at that, looking around. Did King Arthur walk in the door or something? Because that certainly isn't her normal reaction to that kind of thing...
> Nothing is afoot that Hotaru can note.
<Asher> ...yeah, um, that is weird. Asher blinks momentarily, but rather than glance about he turns to Kotono looking a little more mystified than anything else. "...Kotono? You.. okay?"
> "Oh man...Hot-chan, I'm not a pervert am I, since I just though tof using my hands to speed up the rocket and then Asherand one thing lead to another and that's just really messed up like something Rei-chan might say, you know, and I'm really not lik ethat even if I do lik erockets and I like Asher but it's not like that and I promise I'm not, okay, and it was a big miscommunication like we were all suddenly speaking really cool tongues!"
>  cool tongues!"
<Asher> THUD. The back of Asher's head hitting the booth. Nnnnnnnnnnnnn. He stays inert, motionless, and speechless for the next few seconds.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs a little. "Kochan, first thing - never talk about these things in front of boys. Second thing?" Hotaru scoots back and stands up, around the table to whisper in Kotono's ear.
> Kotono sputters once before grabbing Hotaru's shirt and whispering back into her ear!
<Asher> ....Asher gives them both a thorough lookover at this as he moves himself from faceplanted position and leans back into his seat, muttering something... though he still watches them out of the corner of his eyes. Mrf. Gossip.
<Hotaru-chan> This goes on for a bit - heart to heart whispering.
<Asher> With a bit of a defeated sigh, he finally casts his gaze away to the rest of the parlor, letting the two do their thing. One hand idly grips Reclaimer, steadying the thing against its leaning position as he... mm, maybe another float wouldn't be a bad idea...
> As this happens Kotono whispers again, then looks over to Asher andg rabs his shoulder. "Asher-chan! Um, do you want me to...aah...well..." More blushes as she comes up short, "No! I didn't meant that, just well..."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru grabs Kotono by the shoulders and yanks her back.
<Hotaru-chan> Whispering follows.
<Asher> "...." Asher directs a straight out glare at Hotaru. The statement is written clearly across his face: What the hell are you up to?
> "You're a pervert?!" Kotono recoils a moment, nearly yellin gat Hotaru, but then goes in for another whisper!~
<Asher> Well. Not that that comes across as much of a surprise. Asher's face downcasts for a moment, just looking a liiiiiiittle dejected, then he settles down for closing his eyes and sinking back against the seat. Thinking too much about it was painful and more effort than it was worth...
> More whispering between the two, but Kotono freezes cold, nearly falling away fromHotaru!
<Asher> Asher sees nothing and is blissfully unaware of this unless Kotono is intending to make a physical statement to get his attention!
> OOC - Body check, Asher.
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=2, 6]
> Asher faintly hears something from Kotono, but it's too quiet to make out.
<Asher> "...mm?" Asher looks up again, the blurry vision that comes first from banishing the darkness out of his eyes giving him a moment's pause before he turns to Kotono, face looking in askance.
> Finally Kotono retreats from Hotaru, blushing horribly and going to her ice cream. "Um...well....thanks Asher but I think I'll just go home and study my very non rocket like books tonight! Bye!" With a final bite Kotono rises, making haste away!
* Hotaru-chan blows at her bangs, falling back into her seat. "My God..." she whimpers, leaning against the table. "You are one...I don't know if you're lucky or cursed, maybe both," she whimpers at Asher, taking a long pull from her slowly melting malt.
<Asher> What the HECK. Asher stutters for a moment as he nearly starts after the suddenly retreating Kotono, then stops, implanting himself back in his seat with a low growl. "I didn't need you to run her off, Hotaru. What the hell was that all about?"
<Hotaru-chan> "I didn't, she's encountering things for the first time and ran her off. I kept her hands out of your lap," Hotaru growls back, face in her own hands.
<Hotaru-chan> *herself off
<Asher> A deep breath. Asher pushes his empty float to the side and folds his arms, resting his head on top of them and the table as he murmurs quietly. "Please. Explain, if you wouldn't mind..."
<Hotaru-chan> "Asher, you're a boy, an attractive, nice boy. The only boy in fact, Kotono's lasted longer than oh...twenty minutes with. On the outside. You're also one of 'us', meaning magical, you know what we do, she can talk around you without the threat of me or Rei exploding about what she says if it somehow gets onto Pluto. You're cute, you're nice, your magic, and Kotono just got a solid piece of phallic imagery in her head."
<Asher> Asher throws up his hands in exasperation. "I know all of this - wait, what?" His gaze discerns back down to Hotaru at the last part of her proclamation. "...uh.. huh."
<Asher> In truth, her words lead to a little more embarassment then he let on, but he still was determined to figure out what had rattled Kotono so thoroughly off. "And you said...?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru just sighs, shrugging. "She needed to be told it was firstly normal, secondly not to do anything about it until you were alright with it. She kept building it up in her own head, though. Right on up until she reached the appropriate climax of what men and women ULTIMATELY do with each other, and well...at the moment, she'd rather glomp onto you without worrying about that."
<Hotaru-chan> "So I guess she ran off to try and get it out of her head before she attaches herself again."
<Asher> Oh, the ramifications of that were Asher to incline his current thought process towards certain angles. But he doesn't, raising one hand to rub over his temples. "You're making me wonder whether it'd be healthier to stay around her or avoid her. And I mean for her sake." With a low grimace, he slides the still-idle book on the vacant seat over and starts stuffing it into the pack. It was still technically on loan, after all.
<Hotaru-chan> "Honestly? I think she's doing fairly well for getting this far," Hotaru sighs, leaning on her arms, idly sipping at her malt again. "It's improvement at least - she realized she ahd the desire, and would rather just spend time with you than do something sexual, hm? That's a valuable lesson to build on."
<Asher> "Question, though." Asher pauses for a moment, turning to focus his gaze on Hotaru with all dead seriousness. Any lingering trace of hesitation was promptly pushed away. "As a friend, and as her friend... can you honest to heaven tell me just how mature she is able to handle things? I know this sounds ridiculous coming from me, but." He purses his lips, momentarily.
<Asher> "I'm not a complete backwater recluse, Hotaru. Though I'll say the bulk of my experience came from watching friends shoot themselves in the foot." A briefly irritated look crosses over for a moment, soon to pass. "And I really don't know, sometimes. I get a glimpse of another her on occasion... and then it's gone... and it leaves me a little lost."
<Hotaru-chan> "Can't," Hotaru answers with a slight sigh. "It's very, very hard to tell with Kochan. Her mindset is nearly frozen since her mother died, and despite hanging out with the notorious date magnet and the notorious muser...well, yeah, it comes and goes. Rei and I whimper to each other about the wonders of Kotono when she has half her mind distracted...so..."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru just shrugs. "I'd say if YOU can handle working with her shell, it's a good idea...hell, talk to Mako-chan, she's the best at handling Kotono raw."
<Asher> "I'll keep that in mind, then," he nods in reply; though he hadn't even been so much as been introduced to Makoto yet. The joy of these ridiculous, whimsical time schedules. Was Usagi going to set up those communal meetings? "I guess..." A pause. "There's something to work with there... just... keeps falling in and out of grasp..." His words trail off.
<Asher> "...mmf." Standing up from the seat and slinging his pack back around, Asher looks a bit stonewalled. "I guess... best thing to do is to keep things going and hope for the best. As always."
<Hotaru-chan> "Just give it time," Hotaru murmurs, nodding. "Time and an enormous load of patience," she snickers, shrugging. "Mah, you can meet Mako-chan at work if you stop by Yohko's Sweets Shop, don't mind the uniforms, or...well, we're due for a senshi meeting or something. Barring that I'll drag you over to her place some afternoon," Hotaru waves her hand dismissively.
<Asher> "I know. ...thank you," Asher says quietly in way of parting, every bit of it sincere. He brings up a faint smile and waves back to Hotaru before stepping out of the parlor, plenty enough on his mind to chew on.
* Hotaru-chan just smiles and waves to Asher as he leaves, shaking her head a little.

[Jo'ou Ranbu]

Tuesday afternoon go!
> OOC - For general reference, roll a 2d6 for me? Mind check.
<Michiru> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Michiru rolls 2d6 and gets 6."12 [2d6=5, 1]
> So Michiru searches! High and low in Tokyo, in the city of gray eternity. Few look at the girl that does not breath, and many that do shiver and turn away in the afternoon gloom. The sun seems less radiant when it peeks out with Michiru under it. From this is born despairing emptiness within the world. 5 PM comes and nothing. Down a crowded street Michiru walks...
* Michiru wanders around in what seems to be an aimless pilgrimage. Randomly looking for a man in a human ant colony such as Tokyo was quite the thankless task - no matter how distinctive the target might be. The afternoon faded slowly, and Michiru, for a moment, felt nostalgic - the interlude between the sunset and the night's rise had always been her favourite moment due to the solemn purple that bathed the sky, but now, even that was lost...
> As Michiru pontificates on the nature of the sky and what she has lost? SMASH! Her body collides with another warm streak of gray. A woman with purple-gray hair and a house dress staggers back, amrs full of groceries. "Excuse me!" she says in surprise, an arcade named Crown just behind her. "Could you..." A frown as she looks at you, shivering, but she bites her lip. "Watch where you're going."
* Michiru shakes her head, blinking and still in slow recovery. "I'm... my apologies. Do... you need help with that?" The sudden request came almost naturally - nearly a reflex of her conciliating nature. No matter what, a degree of appearances had to be kept, and, for some reason, that concern had her at almost all times, in one way or another. She wouldn't want to be looked down upon a stranger, now, would she?
a> "Aaah...if you like?" This comes out in a blurt as she stares, stopping cold at the sight of Michiru. She looks...disturbed.
* Michiru nods and kneels, collecting the things she dropped off and repacking them, the steely responsibility of a person under duty. As soon as Michiru finishes, she stands and gives the groceries to the lady, a calculatedly polite and gentle smile in her face. "Sorry for the distress, miss. I won't bother you again."
> "...why?" The woman steps back in the crowd, defensive and tense. Her entire face is a mess of fear, confusion - and a bit of courage. "Y-you aren't wanted here! None of your type are...and...I know she'll stop you!" IN a panic she turns and flees backwards into the crowd, hastily!
* Michiru watches the woman leave in a hurry, in a catatonic state pendulating between infantile curiosity and sincere apathy. It was a reaction she would have to get used to, undoubtedly. But... that was strange. A normal human wouldn't recognize the patterns of Michiru's sorrow so easily. The worst that happened was in the vein of Chitose's emotional wreck, but... nevertheless, Michiru would have a rather lengthy report for Despair.
> You get a few looks as the unnamed blob flees. Do they matter at all? Perhaps not, but you do see a man scowling at you visibly from just outside the Crown's sliding doors. He might have blonde hair and he is tall, casual jeans and a shirt worn. He looks...unamused at you in the extreme as he first tursnt o you.
<Michiru> The tension alert trickles within Michiru. She realized she'd have to blend away from the man, who may as well be the one she was looking for. Regardless, that was an unfavourable moment - if they directly met, a confrontation would be difficult to avoid, and Michiru was to bypass that possibility at -all costs-. No matter what, she'd have to get him lost. If she couldn't kept track of the man herself, apologies. Keeping cover was a priority.
> This isn't too hard - he doesn't pursue you in the least. He stays by the Crown, keeping an eye onyou as you fade into the masses.
* Michiru disappears into the ocean of clay silently, stern and frustrated. That was definitely not a good omen. At least, it seems she could remain at low profile. Take a few turns, then watch again. She'd have to see if the description actually matched the man she was looking for. That said, Michiru wandered around a bit more, trying to keep a balance between distance and visibility.
> Once you're out of the way things return to 'normal'. While youg et a few looks most just hurry on past you. Still no sign of your obvious target, the afternoon wearing on.
* Michiru cradles back and forth, looking around the streets. That search, by now, felt like a fool's errand. She would find fairies, deranged tales of the wild, bigfoots and sylphids in her pilgrimage, but not that man. Not like that. She needed more signals. More traces. Anything. Less than enthusiasthic, Michiru stops by a red sign and waits, watching the sea of clay pointlessly move...

[Ebiris]

This scene occurs right before episode 4

[23:23] <Takeshi> Ah, the joys of Wednesday - hump day. The middle of the week, and as of now the middle of the day. It's all downhill from here! Usagi finds her lunch period interrupted, however, as a certain tall and dark-haired boy from her class casts a shadow over the sunny spot she's found to eat her meal. "Mind some company?" Takeshi asks.
[23:24] <Usagi> "Hm?" Usagi looks up, smiling as she sees it to be a reassuring masculine presence that desires her company. "Not at all," she shakes her head, scooting over and patting the grass beside her. At least the weather's being cooperative to her desire for lunching away from class...
[23:28] * Takeshi settles down crosslegged next to Usagi, giving her a grateful nod as he unwraps his lunch. "Was hoping to get to talk to you a little more after yesterday," he says, frowning a bit. "Uh..." he hesitates for a moment, scratching the back of his head. "Um... anything else happen at that attack on Sunday with Temptation?" he finally manages, the words coming out rather quickly for him. "I've been looking for her in particular... uh.
[23:29] * Usagi twitches. "No," she shakes her head after a moment, slowly and deliberately going back to her lunch as she forces herself to be calm. Can't afford to get drawn like she did with Asher... "She showed up, we confronted her, she left," she summarises.
[23:30] <Takeshi> "Mmm," Takeshi replies none-too-helpfully. "I saw her last night, but I'm still trying to figure out exactly WHAT I saw," he says after a moment. "Kotono asked me to come to her club meeting after school today, so hopefully I can talk to her about some of it after that."
[23:31] <Usagi> "You saw her?" Usagi's head whips around. "What happened? Are you okay?" she asks quickly.
[23:32] <Takeshi> "No, I don't mean in Tokyo," Takeshi says quickly, holding up his hands. "I think I saw the place they come from - was weird as hell. I only saw her for a minute before it fell apart, but there were plenty of other things there. Just... completely surreal, that's about the only way I can describe it."
[23:33] <Usagi> "How did you see it? What happened?" Usagi presses interestedly, her own problems briefly pushed aside.
[23:34] <Takeshi> "I've got a... well, I guess an ability to see things in other places, by using the power of the stars," Nephrite explains. "I can sort of 'aim' it at a person or a place, and see whatever's going on in that place. I used it to try spying on Temptation last night - and I saw her, just not for very long."
[23:36] <Takeshi> Takeshi*
[23:38] <Usagi> "Wow," Usagi looks impressed. "No wonder you guys won..." she mutters under her breath. "So, um... what did you see?"
[23:40] * Takeshi looks a bit ill at that, but doesn't elaborate further. After a short pause, he explains further. "It was like... sort of a surreal city. Buildings that couldn't possibly exist, and everything was gray and really cold. There was a circle..." He closes his eyes, shaking his head a bit. "The circle was... it had everything in it. But it was still a circle, I could see the edges of it."
[23:42] <Usagi> "Grey... sounds like Jun's vision about what could happen to Earth..." Usagi frowns a moment, pausing to pop some rice into her mouth and chew as she considers. "What do you mean had everything in it?" she asks after a moment.
[23:43] <Takeshi> "I mean it had everything in it. Literally everything - worlds, stars, galaxies. It... I couldn't really make ANYTHING out about it, just a sense of some totally vast amount of... of stuff being there." He sighs. "Then I got a glimpse of Temptation, and then the vision ended."
[23:44] <Usagi> "What, like a model, or like an actual, ah... zoomed out universe or something?" Usagi asks, trying to wrap around the concept.
[23:45] <Takeshi> "Not even like a model - it was like the real thing, down to every possible level of detail you could want, but all fit into this circle that I could walk around in a couple of minutes." Takeshi shakes his head. "Like I said, I'm still trying to figure out what the hell it was."
[23:47] <Usagi> "Hmm... maybe it's some sort of weird space or dimension magic?" Usagi ponders. "I have an idea of how it could work, I guess... maybe. It's not very clear," she admits with a shrug. "Still, if you saw their home, any idea how to get there? Is it in space or in another dimension or what?"
[23:48] <Takeshi> "That I don't know. I don't think it was on Earth at all - maybe some other dimension, although I have no clue how to get into or out of it. I could probably find it again if I was spying, but other than that I'm clueless."
[23:51] <Usagi> "Well, it's something, at least," Usagi smiles. "And heck, if you can spy on them any time, maybe you'll get lucky and catch them when they have a strategy meeting or something?" she suggests brightly.
[23:53] <Takeshi> "Yeah, I plan on keeping at it - pretty rare to get anything really useful unless I stick with it for a long time," Takeshi agrees. He still looks rather thoughtful, although he doesn't say anything immediately. After a minute of working on his lunch, he finally looks up at Usagi with a rather odd expression. "You... have a lot of friends, right? I mean, like all the other senshi, and Nior and Janna,(more)
[23:53] <Takeshi> and you seem to have a lot of friends here at school, too."
[23:54] <Usagi> "Huh?" Usagi blinks, that not really being a question she's had directly addressed before. "Well, yeah, I guess I'm pretty popular. Want me to introduce you to someone?" she asks, speculating on the reasons for the question.
[23:55] * Takeshi doesn't reply, focusing on his lunch more as he picks up a rice ball slowly. "What... exactly, makes them your friends?" He seems pretty intently focused on his bento box as he asks, simply staring at the contents as he speaks.
[23:58] <Usagi> "Well... I like them?" the blonde answers simply, wondering a bit at that question. "They're fun to be around and like having me around as well? That's just how it works, I guess..."
[23:59] <Takeshi> "Mmm," Takeshi replies, finally eating the rice ball after Usagi's finished her answer. "And that's all there is to it?"
[00:01] <Usagi> "It's the simplest way of looking at it," Usagi shrugs in reply. "What do you want, an essay on how each one is special and dear to me in his or her own unique and wonderful way?"
[00:02] <Takeshi> "No no, not that at all," Takeshi replies hurriedly. "Man, this probably just sounds completely dumb." He shakes his head, sighing a bit. "Don't worry about it, I was just... curious, that's all."
[00:03] <Usagi> "Why?" Usagi shifts to face Takeshi. "Now you've got me curious..."
[18:54] <Takeshi> "I..." Takeshi tenses up for a moment, then seems to relax a bit. "Well, I've never really had anyone I'd consider a close friend. I just wondered how you got to know people like that - if there was some kind of trick to it or anything." He blushes a bit. "Like I said, completely stupid question, I know."
[18:56] <Usagi> "Oh..." Usagi pauses a bit. "Um... I dunno about any trick, it just kinda happens naturally - you spend time around people you like and so you want to spend more time around them and then you're friends?"
[18:56] <Usagi> Setting her lunchbox aside, she turns to face Takeshi with a bright and engaging smile on her lips. "We haven't known each other long, but you're a nice guy - if we're not friends already then I think we could be just by carrying on the way we have been."
[19:04] * Takeshi smiles a bit. "I'd like that. I..." He pauses again, then again relaxes. "Keep having to remind myself that it's okay to talk about stuff like this." He shakes his head a bit. "Just... after talking to Serenity last night..." He trails off there.
[19:05] <Usagi> "Hmm?" Usagi cocks her head slightly, still smiling in her open and friendly manner. "What'd she say?"
[19:07] <Takeshi> "She... offered me a place to live," Takeshi replies. "If it all works out, I might NOT get dragged off in another six months."
[19:09] <Usagi> "That was nice of her," Usagi agrees, nodding slowly. "But y'know, even if you have to leave, it doesn't mean forever - especially not with people that can teleport. Ami-chan - she's Sailor Mercury - lives in Germany now, but we still see her a lot."
[19:13] <Takeshi> "Maybe for you," Takeshi frowns a bit. "I can't go very far at all when I teleport - I doubt I could teleport across Tokyo if I tried."
[19:14] <Usagi> "Well, we can still come see you - I admit it's not perfect since it loses a lot of spontaneity on your end, but..." the blonde shrugs. "At the end of the day, it doesn't even matter at all, now, since Serenity offered to put you up, right?"
[19:16] <Takeshi> "Yeah," Takeshi says, a very slight smile on his face. "It's going to be weird to have a real home, finally."
[19:18] <Usagi> "Just don't give up your part time job," the blonde cautions, becoming a bit more stern. "Serenity works hard, but her job isn't the best - if it wasn't for Janna selling gold from Gaia, things would be a lot tighter around there."
[19:20] <Takeshi> "Not planning on it," Takeshi grunts. "It's the only reason I was ever working in the first place - trying to save up enough money to get a place of my own. Takes forever when you're only making a part-time salary, though."
[19:22] * Usagi smiles, relieved. "At least you're responsible. I know the feeling, though - my part time job is only for spending money, since it'd be completely impossible to live on," she commiserates. "I could probably make a fortune with magic, but... I don't want to," she frowns a little. "Kinda cheapens what I do if I put a price on it, y'know?"
[19:30] <Takeshi> "Yeah, that's why I've been saving up for a while. Hard to know when to say 'okay, I've got enough now!' since I'd have to dip into the savings just to pay for bills and stuff. I can just give Serenity whatever I make, though, and she can spend it on whatever she needs to." He shakes his head a bit. "I still don't quite get her, though."
[19:35] <Usagi> "How do you mean?" Usagi asks curiously.
[19:38] <Takeshi> "It's just..." Takeshi waves his hands aimlessly. "I can understand why she'd forgive me for what happened in the past - it really WASN'T me that did that, even if I was responsible for... a lot." That same sickly look comes over his face. "That by itself was generous. But then to let me stay in her own house on top of that?" He shakes his head.
[19:40] <Usagi> "Y'know, Takeshi-kun," Usagi begins, smiling a bit knowingly, "The fact that you're willing to put your life on the line by using your powers to help others already says a lot about you. You don't think she appreciates that?"
[19:42] <Takeshi> "How could I not, after she forgave me like that?" Takeshi shrugs. "It IS a good use to put those powers to, and it's the absolute least I could do in thanks."
[19:43] <Usagi> "Well there you go," Usagi beams. "She might not be Queen of anything anymore, but you think she won't do everything she can to protect the Earth? Since she's not much of a fighter herself, of course she's going to give any assistance she can to the people that *do* fight."
[19:48] <Takeshi> "I guess so... just seems really weird." Takeshi shakes his head again. "I'm guess I'm more used to people doing the bare minimum they have to if they have to help me for some reason."
[19:52] <Usagi> "That's pretty sad," Usagi states her honest opinion, there. "Well, hopefully you'll get used to more enthusiastic help with us!" she grins, nodding, "Seriously, if you ever need anything from me, just ask. It's what friends are for, right?"
[19:53] <Takeshi> "I'll have to take your word for that," Takeshi says with a wry smile. "Voice of experience and all that. But the same goes for you - if there's anything you need MY help with for some reason, just let me know."
[19:56] <Usagi> "It's a deal!" the blonde nods brightly, picking her lunch back up and taking a bite.

[Anastasia]

> ---Arc 2 go!---
> In all this time Makoto finally has a chance. The past few days have been busy for her, but the news has reached her doorstep. Nior has returned, staying at Queen Serenity's house. Such things beg a response, be it go over in the afternoon after school, send a card or...? So Makoto can ponder as she readies herself for this.
<Makoto> Pshyeah, right. She can just see Nior getting a card and staring at it. '...' He'd say. Yep. No, such things require a personal touch. And by touch, Makoto meant a tackle-glomp-though, without the actual tackling, as that'd be akin to tackling a house. Making excuses to the kendo club, Makoto heads off right after school, humming a little and grinning from ear to ear.
> So Makoto heads along! It's very plain and windy today, brisk to stir Makoto's senses as she heads to Serenity's house. On reaching this place she comes to a surprise! Janna is in the front yard, wearing a gray sweatsuit.  She does jumping jacks up and down, panting! "33...34...." she manages, as with his back to the street, Nior looms over her.  He wears a black uniform, cut well and probably large enough to be a tent for lesser humans.
> .
* Makoto moves onto the grass, starting to go on tiptoe, then thinking better of it. She's accidentally clocked a few people sneaking up on her innocently, and Nior would hurt if he caught her off guard. Instead, a normal gait up to the pair, vaguely amused that Nior's supervising calisthenetics.
> "35...36...37...Nior...I wasn't...that serious...that I'd gained 3 p-pounsd..." Janna pants futilely, "Be...besides, it's not fair!...not fair that Jun's naturally svelte, too!" For his part Nior says nothing, only watching on and stills eemingly unaware of Makoto.
* Retrieving #evildunes modes...
* Makoto moves carefully, not trying to be too silent, but not too loud, either, finally coming up right beside Nior before speaking. "But you're cuter than he is, Janna." She puts in cheerfully.
> Nior doesn't flinch, but Janna scowls. "H...hi! Thanks, I think...39..." Struggling as she keeps going, "Save...me, Mako-chan!"
> Nior ever so slightly turns his head, eyeing Makoto. He does this a long second, pondering...
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=4, 4]
> OOC - DCV, Mako.
<Makoto> roll 2d6-2
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6-2 and gets 4." [2d6=3, 3]
> Nior quickly swings his huge fist, but Makoto's head tingles, giving her enough warning to fall back in an emergency block and parry! The force still makes her back off a few feet, but it's stopped. "...good."
<Makoto> "Yow. I was even expecting that, but..." Makoto shakes her hand a little to ward off the tingles. "I missed that." She grins.
> "...good." Nior doesn't quite smile - but his lips do turn up a little bit. As Janna gets to fourty and keels over in al ittle heap, "...you haven't neglected your training."
* Makoto beams. "Nope! I enjoy sparring with you too much to get too soft to endure it." She giggles. "Want to really test me out?" She invites, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet.
> "Pleaaase..." Janna whimpers and tries to raise a hand up, "W-ater...take him, please. He's making up for not doing any sort of boot camp, I sweaaar!"
> "...good." Nior still doesn't smile, but he does look...happy as he turns to Makoto. Cracking his knuckles, Nior gestures wordlessly, waiting.
* Makoto grins with a slightly savage glee, and rushes Nior, adrenaline already pumping as she pivots hard on one foot, aiming a kick at...well, his diaphram. He's too tall to kick in the chest without a jump!
<Makoto> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=3, 5]
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=3, 4]
> At the last moment Nior's arm comes up, parrying away the kick and going into a vicious charge, fists comin gout to try and plummel Makoto!
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=1, 6]
> OOC - DCV
<Makoto> roll 2d6-1
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6-1 and gets 10." [2d6=6, 5]
> CRACK! The sound of Makoto's ribs being slammed into is followed by Nior's high knee raise, sending Sailor Jupiter flying up and then down! Nior looms over her after, ready to press his advantage!
<Makoto> "Ooof." Makoto's breath rushes out-that was a good hit, but even harder than before! No time to recover! Roll away, then get up, and keep going! Rolling with the momentum to put herself (And her aching ribs) out of reach, Makoto springs to her feet, coughing once and grinning as she dives back at Nior, this time swerving and dropping to the side, scissoring her legs out to try and take Nior down at the knees!
<Makoto> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=6, 5]
> The fundamental problem is that Makoto's hitting what's the equivalent of a tree trunk! The blow just doesn't even budge him, Nior presses his advantage with a leap and a massive downward shoulder tackle, looking to completely flatten Makoto!
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=6, 4]
> But this misses, his shoulder skidding on the ground as he slowly rises up, a chance for Makoto to recover!
> "Good..good..." Janna starts to crawl to the door, panting like a dog in the heat for hours on end. "You two just disfigure yourselves, okay? Gonna go bath. Oh God, warm water..."
<Makoto> Darting in, Makoto leaps at Nior--And tries something new! Leaping at the half risen giant, Makoto splays her legs again in midair, as if for a kick...but no! Retracting the first as she sails past, she snaps it back into place and attempts to snare Nior's neck in a scissor lock, twisting her hips sharply to use her full body weight to slam him down again!
<Makoto> roll 2d6+1
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6+1 and gets 3." [2d6=1, 1]
<Makoto> roll 1d6
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 1d6 and gets 2." [1d6=2]
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=1, 5]
> Makoto's legs snap on, but Nior manages to get his arms up at the last moment! With a grunt he manages to dislodge Makoto, making her land in a crouch! Retorting with his own kick, Nior rebalances in the meantime.
> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=2, 6]
> OOC - DCVism.
<Makoto> roll 2d6-2
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6-2 and gets 9." [2d6=6, 5]
> Once again Makoto isn't fast enough! Nior's kick cleanly rattles her clock, a direct hit to her head! Makoto is turned into a flying Jupiter, slamming into a side tree for her efforts. OW.
> Around Makoto browned leaves fall down, a rainstorm as Nior looks on. "...agility?" he asks simply, stretching his neck around in a circle after.
<Makoto> "Guh." Makoto gasps, pulling herself to her feet, and wobbling a bit. "You haven't lost a step either." She grins, sucking in a few gulps of air before gleefully charging back in! This time, straight and true like an arrow, full tilt running momentum channeled into a punch with everything she has!
<Makoto> * "Guh...Not enough, obviously." Makoto gasps
<Makoto> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=6, 5]
> Makoto's running charge is good, but Nior sees it coming! Without a hint of expression he sidesteps, trying to bring up his knee into Makoto's ribs as she passes!
> roll 2d6
<Reikobot> Anastasia rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{8}
> OOC - DCV
<Makoto> roll 2d6-2
<Reikobot> Makoto rolled : 2d6-2 --> [ 2d6=2 ]{0}
<Makoto> But for all her missteps, Makoto is still very, VERY swift, and Nior's knee meets air as she passes! The ponytailed teen reaches out to snag Nior's arm as she passes, pulling and using it as a pivot point to leap, the momentum carrying her around Nior's back in an arc as she lashes out with a kick at the back of his head!
<Makoto> roll 2d6
<Reikobot> Makoto rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{3}
> roll 2d6
<Reikobot> Anastasia rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
> It's a very good, powerful kick! It does strike some despite his movement - Makoto's last move was skillfull enough to ensure total defense wasn't possible. His head surges forward but he manages to roll with it, trying to catch Makoto and slam her into the ground in a giant, improvised powerbomb!
> roll 2d6
<Reikobot> Anastasia rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{8}
> OOC - DCV
<Makoto> roll 2d6-2
<Reikobot> Makoto rolled : 2d6-2 --> [ 2d6=12 ]{10}
> Perfect...for Nior, that is! A solid catch, and Makoto's correctly only plants her body in perfect position! It's a good thing no one is here to make a joke as her legs are wrapped over his shoulders - doubly so since a moment later she is thrown and slammed into the ground back first!
> Makoto lands in a wave of pain - she's dimly aware of the ground under her collasping a bit, but mainly that her entire back is screaming at her now!
<Makoto> "Aaagh!" The cry is instinctive-the blow is powerful and painful, but manageable...if she hadn't already taken two devastating hits. Stars sparkle in her vision as she's not so quick to get up, this time.
> Nior doesn't press this time, either. Instead he goes to loom over her, foot tapping the side of her head. "You're dead." It's all he says, quiet and cast well as he lightly rubs the back of his head.
<Makoto> "I feel dead." Makoto croaks, trying to get her wind back. "Gah...not fair. I haven't gained on you at all..."
> This isn't an easy task as Makoto notes she's embedded about a foot into the ground. "I realised I can't stand still." It's all Nior says as she watches impassively down.
> &he
* Makoto grunts softly, taking a deep breath and beginning to try and pry herself out of the Makoto shaped hole. Still, as the more immediate pain fades to intense aches, she smiles. "You do seem a bit more spry." she wheezes in agreement.
> "..yes." Nior's face is quieter at that, brewing a quiet expression of ...you aren't sure what, but it's not normal. His eyes tighten, "Come." With that Nior heads inside, door left open by Janna's crawling retreat.
<Makoto> Taking a few more moments to get her breath back enough to function, Makoto stands and heads into the house on Nior's heels, sore and grinning goofily. *That was fun.*
> A little later Makoto is at Serenity's living room. While Janna is bathing or curled into a fetal ball, whichever, Nior at least has the manners to get you a tall glass of water before sitting opposite you. He is silent for several long seconds, face distant and unreadable. "...grown up."
<Makoto> Makoto gulps down the first of the water before slowing a little down to sips as she listens to the big man, blinking and beginning to blush. "Well, it has been awhile." She murmurs.
> Nior leans forward. His elbows rest in his knees, eyes unusually intense as he looks Makoto over."...good." he repeats this single word, quiet. "How are...you?" The last word has a peculiar, quiet emphasis.
* Makoto blinks, pondering over how best to answer, and trying to surpress the deep rooted warmth for Nior for the inquiry. A soft smile, grateful and happy touches her lips lightly. "I'm...better now. More..." She hesitates, the irony of the talkative one lost for appropriate words not lost on her. "..whole."
> "...good." Nior repeats, letting silence reign for a long time. "Good," he repeats at last, settling on that word. "...you'll come by often?"
* Makoto takes a deep breath, setting her water down, and standing up, moving over to glomp the giant-gingerly. She doesn't heal THAT fast. "Count on it." She replies warmly.
> Nior is silent long, long seconds in that embrace before he returns it. "Be good, Makoto. You have a very long life ahead to live, and as long as you do not dissapoint those already ahead of you..."
<Makoto> "I know." Makoto's voice is unguarded, and full of pain...but there's more spirit in the pain now than the younger girl Nior knew, wounded, but no longer broken inside. " Don't want to disappoint them. Or the people than go beside me, either."
> "...good." Nior repeats this once more, and then even more quietly, "I won't let you or the others, Makoto."
<Makoto> "I know." Makoto replies, smiling, but her voice hardens slightly with her next words. "But don't think I'll stand by if it happens like last time. I'm not letting you deliver yourself up to the enemy for our sakes if I have breath enough to fight beside you."
> "Makoto." Nior pauses as he leans back, eyes quietly steely. "My life has been long, too long. The only reason I live now...is to ensure that your generation goes on. That you, Usagi, Ami...all of you go on."
<Makoto> "And we need you." Makoto agrees, her eyes flashing slightly. "If you fall..." She grits her teeth shove back a painful spike of emotion. Two years ago, all over again- "Then you fall. But not until all other options are exhausted." She replies. "You never fail to come through for us, Nior, but even if you've lived a long time, your life is a heavy price. I might have to let it be paid someday, but don't expect me to accept it(more)
<Makoto> if I can stop it. Or to leave you at the tender mercies of someone who would torture you for sport." She grinds out, guilt flushing her face. "I understand what you mean. I really do. And I'm not childish enough to fight it if it's the only way."
> "It's a prince I give willingly. Would you not do the same for Queen Serenity?" This question is asked without followup, instead Nior nods. "I know, Makoto, and go. I understand...too well."
<Makoto> "I know." Makoto smiles as she releases her hold. "I won't let anything precious to me go without a fight. That includes you." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, the melancholy intensity seeming to slough off of her expression...or to be hidden within. "But...No, I want to say more, but it'd be too much." She murmurs. "It's enough that we understand each other's feelings."
> ""Yes." With this agreement Nior rises. "We...understand each other."

[Ebiris]

This takes place the day after episode 4

[19:44] <Takeshi> Thursday is here - the end of the week is within sight! As lunchtime rolls around, Takeshi finds himself stuck at his desk for a few minutes, finishing up an assignment - and when he looks up, someone has already left the room. Grabbing his lunch, he heads out of the room, looking for a certain blonde rabbit.
[19:49] <Makoto> And admits the ebb and flow of teenagers, a certain head and ponytail is clearly visible-not the least of which is because roughly half the students are giving Makoto Kino a wide berth as she walks down the hall-though the other half seem to be less-offended by her presence? Intimidated? As for the tall girl herself, she looks not to notice, just walking along with a bento in hand.
[19:50] * Takeshi raises a hand in greeting, smiling slightly as he spots the brunette. "Hey, Makoto. How's it going?"
[19:51] <Makoto> "Oh, hi." Makoto smiles a little. "I was wondering when I'd see you around. 'Sup?"
[19:52] <Takeshi> "Eh, not too much - was just looking for Usagi, wanted to check up on her after yesterday. Got held up getting out of class, though."
[19:53] <Makoto> "Yesterday?" Makoto echoes, completing her approach, clasping her hands together with the bento in front of her. "Something happen?"
[19:54] <Takeshi> "Yeah," Takeshi says, not really wanting to get into it in the crowded hallway. "Tell you what, join us for lunch and we can fill you in - that work?"
[19:55] <Makoto> "Sounds good to me." Makoto smiles. "Sacchin's been shanghai'd by her boyfriend, so I've got no one to eat with."
[19:57] * Takeshi chuckles at that. "Sounds good - next step is just finding her. Probably outside somewhere." With that, he heads for the door leading out onto the grounds.
[19:59] <Asher> There's a much quieter section of the school which is oft-neglected by most people in the hustle and bustle to lunch; a partially shaded area with a few benches to sit on, but empty pavement otherwise. It just so happens that Takeshi is walking around a corner and catches sight of a fistful of blonde hair out of the corner of his eye, and - as he moves closer - someone else leaning against the wall. A dark-black haired boy, kendo stick at
[20:00] <Asher> --his side, halfheartedly eating a brown-bag lunch.
[20:00] <Kotono> Makoto dimly reconizes the latter - he's in her class - the two always seeing either other but barely noting. The sort of classmates you'd forget about an hour after the last period of the year. He's quiet and generally unassuming.
[20:01] <Usagi> "Yeah, it was a real surprise, but you can meet Michiru-san after school," Usagi tells Asher as she sits on the bench near Asher, picking at her lunch. "Hopefully then we can get things straightened out."
[20:02] * Makoto blinks at the sight of the boy with Usagi, dim recognition pinging, but she doesn't say anything as they approach.
[20:02] * Takeshi gives the pair a wave as he walks up. "How's it going, Usagi?" he asks, taking a seat on the ground next to the pair and giving Asher a slight nod.
[20:02] <Kotono> Also, Asher does put a face to Makoto - she is cute and in his class, afterall, and even if perhaps wounded, his libido isn't dead. Right?
[20:02] <Asher> "That sounds like a good plan," Asher was saying in ways of reply with a brief smile. "I've felt really out of the loop lately." He pauses to take another bite into his sandwich, looking up abruptly at someone else approaching. Swallowing it down, "Takeshi-san? Good to see you."
[20:03] * Usagi looks up, somewhat lethargically. "Oh, hey guys," she nods to the pair. "Just telling Asher about what happened yesterday."
[20:04] <Asher> Libido. Dead. That was an understatement after the beating it had taken the past few weeks, a target that was ALREADY reed thin. Asher's face flickers a moment of recognition on the chestnut-haired girl, but he sets his stuff down and bows politely anyway.
[20:04] <Makoto> "What did happen?" Makoto asks, blinking as Usagi puts a name to the boy. "Oh! You're Kochan's...friend."
[20:05] * Makoto smiles a little as he bows, and bows back. "Makoto Kino. Nice t'meetcha."
[20:05] <Usagi> "You two haven't met?" Usagi boggles briefly. "I thought you were in the same class..."
[20:05] <Asher> "...that's one way to put it, yes..." Asher's face seems to screw up visibly at Makoto's proclamation. Kotono's friend. So this was how the label was going to be. "Asher Shinsei," he replies back anyway with a polite nod.
[20:05] <Takeshi> "How are you feeling today?" Takeshi asks, giving Usagi a somewhat critical going-over. "You still look kind of beat, to tell the truth."
[20:05] <Asher> "We are, actually, but no one ever bothered to tell us about each other's identity, I think," he remarks with some candidness.
[20:07] <Makoto> "Sounds about right. They told me you were in my class, but I never got the chance to go hunting for you."
[20:07] <Usagi> "Uh, well, I told Mako-chan..." Usagi looks at Asher somewhat lamely. "I just assumed..." she hangs her head. "Yeah, this meeting is way past due." Glancing briefly at Takeshi, she shakes her head, "Don't worry about it."
[20:08] * Takeshi looks slightly dubious, but doesn't press the issue. "Anyway, Makoto-san. Basically, the gist of what happened is that we stumbled across Sailor Neptune yesterday, and she was apparently being controlled by the inhumans."
[20:09] <Asher> Asher nods wordlessly to that, having been given the summary by Usagi just moments earlier as he picks up his lunch again and resumes finishing it.
[20:09] <Makoto> "..." Makoto stares at Takeshi, then shakes her head. "She's...all right?"
[20:10] <Usagi> "Seems so," Usagi shrugs, resuming her lunch. "Serenity filled her in last night, so hopefully she can tell us about the enemy today after school."
[20:11] <Makoto> "Oh. Cool." Makoto sighs. "When the enemy gets busy, they don't screw around." She sighs, frowning. "And Takeshi-san's right, Usagi-chan. You don't look so hot. Everything go okay?"
[20:12] * Usagi sighs slightly. "Rough night," she waves it off. "Between purifying Michiru - which was way harder than Eleni, I have to say - and working... slept funny, too..." she grumbles, cheeks tinging slightly.
[20:13] <Makoto> "Ohhhh." The tall girl nods, settling down beside Usagi to unfold her bento and get to lunch, too. "Nightmares'll pass."
[20:14] <Takeshi> "I'll give you a ride over Serenity's place after school if you want," Takeshi offers. "Better take it easy for now, as long as you can anyway."
[20:14] <Usagi> "God, I hope so," Usagi's heartfelt agreement comes strongly to Makoto's statement. "It's alright, Takeshi-kun, I can walk - besides, we can all head there together, right?" she glances at Makoto and Asher for confirmation.
[20:15] <Asher> Asher nods in confirmation, picking up the kendo stick at his side and leaning back against the wall with it. "Yeah, I'm off work today, thank the heavens. It's been a rough week."
[20:16] * Makoto nods hesitantly. "I'll be a bit late, I have to take the Kendo club's tournament forms to the office, but that should only take five or ten minutes."
[20:17] <Takeshi> "Yeah, I've got to work after the meeting - assuming nothing huge comes up between then and now, anyway." Takeshi shakes his head a bit. "At this rate I'm going to need to skip school for a day to get caught up on everything I need to do."
[20:20] <Asher> "You have my sympathies on that," Asher remarks with full sincerity. Time was a rapidly slipping resource against an enemy prone to strike anywhere at any time to boot. "We really need an easier way to keep us all up to date that won't completely clash against schedules..."
[20:21] <Takeshi> "Tell me about it," Takeshi grumbles. "I half want to set up a bulletin board at Serenity's house where we can leave information for each other."
[20:21] <Makoto> "Get Ami-chan to make us a newsletter." Makoto quips dryly, opening up her bento and critically eyeing the contents as she starts to eat, though the aroma is...decidedly enticing.
[20:22] <Usagi> "Be handy if we had more communicators for you guys as well," Usagi murmurs, resuming her lethargic picking at her lunchbox, monotonous stabs of her chopsticks to snare up some food which slowly makes its way into her mouth. "Those things are really handy."
[20:28] <Makoto> "Well, why don't we meet up?" Makoto suggests. "Usagi-chan and I each have communicators...could you guys arrange to talk for a few minutes with one of us each day? We could at least keep you updated on what we hear."
[20:29] <Usagi> "Or see if the cats could give you Venus and Uranus' communicators? Not like anyone's using those..." Usagi observes, taking out her communicator and showing the two unused planetary symbols she never dials.
[20:29] <Takeshi> "Should be easy enough to stay in touch with Usagi, since we're in the same class," Takeshi nods. "Could catch up for a few minutes after class every day."
[20:30] <Makoto> "Well, they might show." Makoto muses to Usagi. "It'd be nice."
[20:30] <Asher> "I actually..." Asher pauses, a look of embarassment on his face. "Heck, I forgot to give Kotono's communicator back. Go figure. But yeah, that sounds like a plan."
[20:30] <Usagi> "Yeah, but until they do we can do it this way," Usagi smiles at the taller brunette.
[20:31] * Makoto gives Asher an appraising glance, then nods to Usagi. "Well, if Luna and Artemis'll give 'em up, it's not a bad thought." She agrees, smiling back at Usagi, glad to see the blonde perking up.
[20:36] <Asher> "Makoto-san?" Asher brings up an inquiry as he turns to regard the person in question. "You said something about the kendo club?"
[20:37] <Makoto> "Hm?" Makoto perks up at the mention of her name. "Yes...?"
[20:38] <Asher> "I was actually looking into signing up for it sometime. Won't do any good for my time schedule, but I need the real-person practice. You have any idea if they're taking sign-ups this late into the term....?"
[20:38] * Takeshi finally gets down to the business of eating lunch, glancing up at Makoto and Asher at the mention of practice.
[20:39] <Makoto> "Oh, sure. As long as you don't mind practicing with girls, too." Makoto smiles. "Juuban's kendo club is too small to segragate by sex, so Sacchin and I and one other girl practice with about five boys."
[20:39] * Usagi just resumes her slow consuming of lunch, looking down at the paving as the conversation turns towards martial arts and such, mind drifting off towards other matters that she'd honestly rather not consider, but... such is life for a sexually confused girl such as herself.
[20:41] <Takeshi> "You sure you're okay, Usagi-san?" Takeshi says, leaning over and speaking quietly as not to interrupt the other two.
[20:41] <Asher> "So most of the club is girl on girl sparring?" There's a hint of a smile on Asher's face that shows some bemusement, but he doesn't sound nonplussed. "No, I don't mind, and it was Hotaru who came up against me the last time I fought anyway. Just point me in the right direction."
[20:42] <Usagi> "Mmm?" the blonde slowly looks up, flinching a second as she hears 'girl on girl' and staring at Asher, distracted. "Uh... what was that, Takeshi-kun?" she asks slowly after a long moment to recover.
[20:42] <Takeshi> "I asked if you were okay," Takeshi repeats. "You still look kind of out of it."
[20:43] <Asher> Asher throws a glance at Usagi's way at Takeshi's words, but offers no comment yet...
[20:44] <Makoto> "Not exactly girl on girl." Makoto replies dryly. "But sure...we're in the same class, so just c'mon with me after school to get the forms, and you can see the people, and maybe the captain'll be there to talk to, too."
[20:45] <Usagi> "Just distracted, I guess," the blonde shakes her head. "Don't worry about it," she smiles, the gesture transforming her face for a moment into the radiant beauty she normally presents to the world, but she soon lowers her head and goes back to her slow and methodical eating, expression slipping back to confused neutrality...
[20:46] <Asher> "Sounds like a plan." He agrees amiably enough, standing upright and turning over to Usagi again not without a hint of concern. But seeing her having withdrawn to herself, the effort feels pointless. "Well, in that case, guess I'll see you all sometime soon? Class is about to roll around."
[20:46] * Makoto gives Usagi a worried look. It's plain something is bothering her, though the others would probably be better at teasing it out of her. Still, it's worrying.
[20:46] * Makoto nods to Asher agreeably, smiling.
[20:47] <Takeshi> "I'm not going to push, but I'm around," Takeshi replies, shaking his head. With a snort he adds, "If nothing else, I'm good at listening."
[20:48] <Asher> Asher withdraws quickly, not the type who likes to be tardy, and gives them all a farewell wave before disappearing off into a hallway. Well, Makoto mostly - the other two seem to be a little occupied... but it doesn't register much on his mind as he takes off.
[20:48] <Usagi> "Oh? Lunch is over?" Usagi looks down. "Didn't even finish..." she laments quietly at her almost eaten lunch. Slowly closing the lunchbox, the blonde rises. "Really, Takeshi-kun, it's fine. Just... not feeling myself, I guess..." Essaying another, far weaker, smile, the blonde makes her way to the ladies so she can answer the call of nature before class.
[20:50] * Takeshi simply nods to Usagi as she leaves, sighing a bit. "Everyone's got something on their mind, seems like," he mutters as the blonde takes off, standing himself and dusting off his pants.
[20:50] * Makoto flashes Takeshi a quick smile, and follows Usagi. "See you both later." She adds to the boys, hurrying up to the blonde.
[20:51] <Usagi> "Hey, Mako-chan. Going to the bathroom as well?" Usagi asks her friend as she heads into the main building and towards the facilities.
[20:52] <Makoto> "Actually, I wanted to find out what's going on." Makoto replies, concerned. "You're looking really bothered. Even when you're tired, you're more bubbly than this, Leader-chan."
[20:56] <Usagi> "I guess..." Usagi smiles weakly to the brunette as they head through the halls of Juuban High. "Just..." she frowns a bit. There's no way she can tell Makoto - Asher was bad enough, but telling another senshi would surely result in Rei killing her. Oddly, the thought of Rei being that mad at her hurts more than she'd have expected. "Romance troubles," she settles on that as being plausible, and not entirely a lie, either.
[21:00] <Makoto> "Ah." Makoto frowns, following Usagi, sneaking worried glances at the shorter girl. "I guess I won't ask you for details, then-but if you want someone quietly beaten up, All you gotta do is ask." She tries, lightly. "...and, uh, it's not anything serious, is it?" Makoto whispers, leaning in close, her expression darkening. "Your boyfriend didn't try and force..." She trails off, the only explanation for the other girl looking so unhappy se
[21:00] <Makoto>  the only explanation for the other girl looking so unhappy seeming to surface in her mind.
[21:02] <Usagi> That at least gets a more lively reaction. "Oh, God no!" Usagi shakes her head quickly, pigtails whipping from side to side. "No, nothing like that, Mako-chan!" she hastily reassures the brunette. "Just... it's... it's me, really. I did something I shouldn't have..." she goes on, starting to blush and softly bite on her lip as they head into the girls' bathroom.
[21:03] * Makoto follows, her expression clearing a little as they enter the lavatory, but still frowning. "Is that so bad? Everyone makes mistakes...Especially me." the tall girl adds ruefully. "He's not too mad at you or anything, right?"
[21:05] <Usagi> "It's just a confusing mess!" Usagi laments as she goes into an empty stall, raising her voice to keep talking to Makoto. "I just did something I shouldn't with someone I shouldn't, and I really feel bad about it!"
[21:06] <Makoto> "Oh..." Makoto nods, though she doesn't really understand. "Well...why? I mean, it's over now, right? Unless you can't just apologize and forget about it?"
[21:08] <Usagi> "We both apologised and agreed to forget all about it!" Usagi nods emphatically as she does her business. "But we can't!" she squeaks out, glad at least her crimson cheeks can't be seen.
[21:10] <Makoto> "Ahh...well, at least I know about awkward." Makoto soothes, hopping up on the counter beside the sink, kicking her legs a little. "It is awkward? Or..." Makoto blinks and trails off as elightenment dawns. "...Or worse. You still have feelings for him, you mean?"
[21:12] <Usagi> "I don't know!" Usagi nearly wails as the toilet flushes, emerging a moment later and going to wash her hands. "I'm just... I'm tempted! Really really tempted, even though I don't want to be!"
[21:16] * Makoto smiles a little. "I know the feeling, believe it or not." She sighs, hopping off the counter. "My old sempai was...well, it went badly, but I saw him again with Ami-chan, and it was hard. Try not to stress too much over it, Leader-chan." Makoto moves up behind Usagi and hugs the blonde rabbit gently, a soft, warm pressure against her back. "We're still teenagers. Things get out of control. (More)
[21:17] <Makoto> If you really don't want to go for it, just sit on it, and it'll fade eventually. No boy's worth the kind of crap you're putting yourself through." She adds, releasing the hug. "I should get going, but just try and forget him. There's plenty of nicer guys." She adds, heading for the door.
[21:20] * Usagi sighs softly at the embrace... Makoto's probably a great kisser. The inadvertant thought makes her blush intensify, the blonde looking away as she washes her hands while the brunette departs. "Ah... yeah. Thanks, Mako-chan..." she squeaks out, despairing over her tangled desires.
[21:21] * Makoto pauses at the door. "I won't tell, if you don't want, but try and cheer up, 'kay?" She winks, and is gone, hoping she managed to help, at least a little. Hotaru-chan's so much better at this...

[Asrana]

This takes place Thursday afternoon, after Episode 4


[11:16:03] <Kowork> ---Arc 2 go!---
[11:19:18] <Kowork> Aaaah! As Makoto walks down and away from school for another day, the brisk fall wind blowing behind her. The seasons are turning in their inexorable dance, fading in and out to a new winter's breath.  But merely a block from school a loud, sharp carhorn distracts her! A tiny little Subaru in lime green parks next to her at the curb, window rolling down. "Want a ride?" Auntie Fuuko looks vaguely annoyed; no, check that. She's pissed at somethi
[11:19:41] <Kowork> She's pissed at something or someone.
[11:21:35] * Makoto blinks at the car, stopping short and staring at the car. Green is her favorite color, but that sure doesn't look right. "Sure." Makoto replies carefully, smiling as she changes direction, heading for the little vehicle. "Um, who's car?"
[11:24:56] <Kowork> "Rental. You're going to love THIS date story." Poor Auntie Fuuko sighs and deflates, as if punctured by a giant pin. "I'll be stuck with this for a few weeks now."
[11:28:15] <Makoto> "Oh, joy." Makoto deadpans, opening the door and slipping onto the seat, smoothing her skirt and folding up her legs as she closes the door. "Aren't you due a few normal dates? You just had that guy who was trying to join the Yukuza..."
[11:29:51] <Kowork> "Oh, it was mostly normal! We went to this lovely French restaurant," So Fuuko begins, driving along hunched over, the roof rather low. "I had too much wine to drinkb ut he was such a nice guy! So I had him drive me home instead she he had just water. Guess what eh did?"
[11:32:56] <Makoto> "I can't." Makoto winces a little in anticipation. Drinking stories rarely have an ending that doesn't involve peculiar odors.
[11:35:36] <Kowork> "He ran a red light - not just rushed a yellow, but RAN the LIGHT! So he slammed into the side of this van and totalled my car! Thank God we were wearing seatbelts and the side we hit of the van was empty! He was totally at fault, too, and he got about ten different citations."
[11:39:16] <Makoto> "Oh my god." Makoto straightens up sharply, banging her head on the low ceiling. "Ow!" the ponytailed girl whimpers, rubbing the sore spot and looking her Aunt over. "You're not hurt or anything, are you? I can get Hotaru-chan to-"
[11:40:41] <Kowork> "I'm fine. No one was hurt, besides my car. His insurance will cover it - I think - but the entire front end is smashed. It'll be in the shop awhile, so I'm stuck with this." Patting the steering wheel as she sighs in a broken, sad sort of way, "Anyway, where are you headed? Home? Work? Dojo?"
[11:45:45] <Makoto> "Going in to work." Makoto smiles ruefully, holding up a smaller bag that'd been hidden as she carried it beside her School satchel, a corner of folded black fabric with white ruffles peeking out.
[11:46:28] <Makoto> "And...Uh...At least it's a nice car?" She offers. *For a doll* She adds dubiously.
[11:47:10] <Kowork> "For a midget!" Fuuko wails in distress, slumping forward. "Oh well, atl east it's not a far drive. How's Yohko treating you?"
[11:50:21] <Makoto> "Well, um-I wasn't gonna say." Makoto agrees. "And she's been great. It's like she's in a permanent good mood since the expansion. Aside from insisting on the uniforms, I feel like I'm cheating her, she lets us get away with so much."
[11:52:06] <Kowork> "That's the best kind of boss! Enjoy it while it lasts, Mako-chan." Fuuko drives along; it's not far to the sweets shop and work. "Also enjoy the attention - you really can pick and choose a good guy out of all the attention you're probably getting there, you know."
[11:55:23] <Makoto> "I'd need to." Makoto grumbles, slumping a little in her seat. "I've overheard the boys talking about us, and the term 'porn star' has come up next to my name more than once." She sighs. "You'd have to pick and choose to FIND a good guy. Yohko-chan says we should just grin and bear it by teasing the hell out of them-Oh, that reminds me. What's 'blue balled'?"
[11:59:11] <Kowork> "...It means you're getting them up but they can't launch." Fuuko snickers abruptly, "It's not really nice, it's supposed to be painful."
[12:00:47] <Makoto> "Ohhhh...." Makoto begins to smirk, putting her finger to her lips. "You can do that without touching them? I think that sounds fair."
[12:02:26] <Kowork> "Mako-chan, have you ever been reading a magazine or watching a movie and you feel...funny? Same thing." Fuuko drawls out as she comes to park at front of the sweets shop. You can see people coming and going already! "Say hi to Yohko for me, and tell her we're all going to get together in a weekend or two - Me, her, Ikkuko, Reiko, Chikako and maybe someone else. Get her to call me."
[12:06:03] * Makoto blushes a little at that thought, nodding and opening the door. "I will." She replies agreeably. "Your support group seems to have turned into a social club." She teases.
[12:09:04] <Kowork> "Heh, it's fun. Now get going or I'll spread your social life around it," With that Fuuko waves, teasing back.
[12:13:20] <Makoto> "Hey!" Makoto hastily disembarks, blushing. "I told you about Tsukasa-kun's...thing in confidence!"
[12:13:43] <Kotono> "So play good!" Fuuko grins back in her small green minicar. "See you later, Mako-chan1"
[12:15:57] <Makoto> "Bye..." Makoto sticks her tongue out at her Aunt and waves.
[12:17:32] <Kotono> So inside Makoto goes! A pleasant surprise awaits her - a cute black haired girl known very well to her is already at work, cavorting around with a tray of drinks...
[12:20:08] * Makoto smiles and waves to Hotaru as she enters, veering off in the direction of the locker rooms to get changed. "Sorry I'm late."
[12:21:03] <Hotaru-chan> And it looks like more than enough work for Hotaru. The place is...well, it's usual self any afternoon. Crowded, moving, chatting, Hotaru doing much the same as she goes this way and that in the frilled uniform that shows off, but not too much. Mindless babble with customers, so painful. She does manage to flash a genuine smile at Makoto, relief and forgiveness mingled into the expression.
[12:22:07] <Kotono> There are indeed a lot of customers, from the appealing to the unattractive, mostly men and a few scattered girls watching the proceedings.
[12:26:58] * Makoto dives into the back, then heads for the locker room, sighing deeply as she drops her bags on the bench, and begins to disrobe. Ten minutes later, Makoto's dressed, fluffy petticoated skirt and stockings and white top flashing a hint of cleavage, while clinging to the rest of her bust as she tugs the short sleeves into place, and tops it off with the frilled cap, taking a deep breath. It's a waitressing heavy day, so...*Today's mission:
[12:27:35] <Makoto>  so...*Today's mission: make sure the guy who leers the most can't stand up for an hour.*
[12:31:32] <Kotono> On returning work begins! It's easy to see why Makoto gets stares and gapes - she's stunning in this!  The guys watch as always, enraptured between conversations...
[12:34:54] <Makoto> Makoto tries not to pay too close attention, hearing everything said would probably give her a breakdown. Concentrating instead on being sweet and practicing flirting-just a little-Makoto's all smiles, and bigger ones, and better service to the boys and girls who actually spare more than a thirty second glance at her face. It's not a bad job, really. It's actually kind of fun, just embarrassing.
[12:37:37] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru keeps in concert, covering the uncovered tables with her softer, almost frailer looking smiles. Pale and a little fragile looking, she floats fromt able to table, soft and kind voiced to the boys and girls that are her customers, but much more lively to the ones that offer something other than excuses to stare at her longer. It's only really worth it for the polite ones.
[12:43:57] <Kotono> As this happens a shining star enters - or not quite, but he does smile. He stands near the door, looking about. It's Makoto that happens to see him first - Mamoru Chiba, wraparound sunglasses and a casual green jacket worn.
[12:47:41] * Makoto falters a little, sweatdropping. *This is not how I would have finally liked to catch up with him-Oh, what the hell.* Waving to Mamoru, Makoto scans about for an empty booth or table to seat the long lost Prince of Earth at.
[12:49:21] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's eyes flicker over at the same moment, and that fragile act just curls up in a corner and shortly dies. There's a slight twitch at the corner of the Tomoe Princess' mouth, but she keeps going, doing her best Rei impression ever!
[12:49:47] <Kotono> There's one not far. Mamoru waves a moment, waiting on a relation from Makoto. He does smile, looking relaxed.
[12:51:00] <Makoto> Makoto inclines her head toward the empty table, smiling again and flashing a 'one moment' gesture at him, and turning back to finish serving the table of girls who are staring at her a wee bit disconcertingly.
[12:52:05] <Kotono> These girls just sigh in happiness at Makoto! Meanwhile Mamoru goes and sits, patiently awaiting.
[12:55:59] * Hotaru-chan moves over in Makoto's direction, brushing past her and pausing. "Want me to pick up two of your tables?" she asks, soft and light, though there's a definite little dark barb behind her eyes that Makoto of all people would pick up.
[12:57:49] <Makoto> *At least they're polite.* "Okay, Chocolate Silk Pie, Black Forest cake, and Cherry pie?" She repeats, saving a bigger smile for the girl who ordered her specialty. "Just hold tight, and we'll have you fixed up in a hurry." She smiles, winking and heading away, smiling at Hotaru. "Thanks. Pick up the last one and...the one with the elementary kids?" Makoto suggests, gently nudging Hotaru with her hip. "And try to smile. I'll call you if I need
[12:58:26] <Makoto> "And try to smile. I'll call you if I need a rescue from him."
[12:59:52] * Hotaru-chan sticks her tongue out a little, blushing and returning the gentle push with her hip and nodding. "Alright," she agrees softly, grabbing the order notes to memorize. "Just don't get caught up," she adds, kissing Makoto's cheek and smiling before she gets back to work.
[13:02:11] <Makoto> "I won't. I'm not that hung up on him." Makoto retorts dryly, moving off to 'take his order' Offically, anyway. She stops in front of his table, giving the older man an embarrassed grin. "What'll ya have, sugar?"
[13:08:34] <Kotono> While there are certainly reactions to all of that, it's Mamoru that has Makoto's attention!  "Just a chat. God...you look...good!" Mamoru smiles more confidently, "You've really matured."
[13:11:15] * Makoto blushes a little, leaning against the table, wondering if she should warn him about the customers here, but...no. "Well, you have been away awhile." She demurs. "You look like you finally learned to relax, too."
[13:12:36] <Kotono> "Yeah." Mamoru closes his he eyes, a smile. "I grew up some, too. Finally put a lot of stuff behind me for good."
[13:14:02] * Makoto glances at Hotaru to make sure she's not swamped. "It looks good on you. Very...settled. Did things turn out how you'd hoped?"
[13:14:29] <Kotono> She's busy but not too much so. "Yeah. But before that...Makoto?" Mamoru smiles, "I just want to say...sorry."
[13:16:54] <Makoto> "Aw. It's sweet of you to say so, Mamoru-san, but you don't need to. It stung, but I got over it...with Hotaru-chan's help."
[13:18:13] <Kotono> "It still needs to be said. I was such an immature jerk about it. I liked you but I never really took it that seriously between everything." Smiling back to Makoto, "You should hear that. I made a mess of everything here since I was so caught up in my own feelings."
[13:21:22] <Makoto> "Well, I was only thirteen." Makoto sighs softly. "I can see how it'd be hard to take it seriously when you had the other two to sort out." She pats his hand lightly. "It's never too late to mend fences, but you don't need to with me. I promise. It might have been nice, but there's something to Kochan's talks about Fate and Destiny. It just wasn't meant to be."
[13:23:46] <Kotono> "I guess, but...heh." Chuckling at that and returning the pat. "Let me know if I can do anything for you. I owe you a lot, Makoto, and the least I can do is try to protect you. I've learned a lot from Jun in these past two years."
[13:26:27] * Makoto raises an eyebrow. "I appreciate the sentiment, Mamoru-san, but maybe it'd be better if we fought together." She comments archly, then softens. "Not that it's not completely charming, but I have my own protecting to do. But I wouldn't say no to a friend and maybe even a teacher?"
[13:28:37] <Kotono> "Oh, I know. But..m.mm. Serenity gave me a gift to help mend all of you and I've worked on that, as well as being able to find you when you need help." Smiling faintly, "I requested that from Jun, and it took a lot of work, but I should be able to come help when any of you get in trouble. In theory."
[13:29:56] <Makoto> "Oh." Makoto smiles sheepishly. "Sorry, I shouldn't have-it's just, when you said protect, I..." the ponytailed waitress shakes her head, blushing. "I'm sorry."
[13:31:03] <Kotono> "...oh. Well, if I need to I can." Mamoru smiles again, lowering her hand below the table and up. A red rose is in his hand, and with a grin, "For the lady and her hair."
[13:34:18] * Makoto blinks, her eyes widening a little as she accepts the rose, her blush darkening to match it. "...thank you?" she replies, meekly.
[13:35:37] <Kotono> "It's just a gift between friends. As I said, I learned a few tricks." Smiling now, "I always wanted to give you flowers like that at least once."
[13:38:49] <Makoto> Makoto nods, blushing hard, still, but settling down a little. "It IS beautiful. Though, if you're going to give them to others, you should remember what red roses mean to a girl." She reminds, smelling the rose and lifting it up to weave into her ponytail. "But thank you. Really." Makoto smiles brightly. "You really do seem more mature now."
[13:39:55] <Kotono> "I know, but...Roses are whom I am." A ilght shrug there, "I did think about it, and thanks. I'll be setting up my apartment and paying some rent - Janna gave me some money since Jun requested it, so I won't have to get a job right this second. A month or so to settle in and get used to things. If you want to talk stop by, or just for whatever reason."
[13:41:23] <Makoto> "I will." Makoto nods, grinning as she stands as well. "I'll miss keeping the place clean. Oh, and I heard you were back. Your fridge has some leftovers until you can get really settled."
[13:42:55] <Kotono> "Thanks. I really app...no, I really do." Mamoru grins as well, reaching out to...no, he thinks better of it, instead just nodding. "Just...it's flattering on you, but this?" An eyebrow is raised, "I'd never have guessed."
[13:44:49] * Makoto smiles back. "Thank you. It's a little embarrassing, sometimes, but..." She shrugs easily. "I guess we all have to keep growing up, huh?"
[13:46:20] <Kotono> "Yeah." A moment of thought, a glance at Hotaru as she circles around. "...mmmm. Should I say hit o her too?" A simple question, discreet.
[13:47:41] <Makoto> "Um." Makoto bites her lip. "Maybe...you'd best work on mending fences there." Makoto blushes again. "I...ah, I cried on her shoulder a lot after our..." She winces. "Hotaru-chan holds a grudge."
[13:48:29] <Kotono> "..yeah, heard some speculation there." Mamoru looks on at her, thinking long and hard. "Tell you what. Let me order a drink. Ask her if she wants to come over. If not I finish my drink and go, and if so we talk. No pressure either way?"
[13:52:35] <Makoto> "Sure." Makoto nods and smiles softly. "Try not to take it personally if she doesn't. Hotaru-chan's my precious friend. I'm not sure I wouldn't feel the same way if it was her, deserved or not."
[13:53:08] <Kotono> "That's fine. If she doesn't, another time." Mamoru goes back to sitting, and then with a jaunty smile, "One coke with extra ice?"
[13:54:34] <Makoto> "Gotcha." Makoto smiles, moving off to fill the order, and take over for Hotaru, should her best friend wish to chat...though odds are against such, in her opinion.
[13:55:47] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's moving this way and that, delivering orders, and all that, though seh seems to be lingering at that one table with all the girls, a little more avid small chat than she normally engages in for some reason?
[13:56:47] * Makoto slips up next to Hotaru and slides an arm around her waist in an gentle hug. "How are you. Calm?" She inquires softly.
[14:00:34] <Hotaru-chan> "Sorry," Hotaru apologizes to the girls, pulling away from the table, but not Makoto. "Kinda," she murmurs, glancing at the rose in Makoto's hair meaningfully, questions floating in violet eyes that hardly need spoken.
[14:02:53] <Makoto> "Nothing serious. Just his thing, not a real one." Makoto soothes. "He wants to talk with you. I'm gonna get him a coke, and if you want, you can go see him. If not, don't. But he seems like he really wants to make up for being a jerk."
[14:06:35] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises one eyebrow, her own arm slipping around Makoto, rubbing her side lgihtly. "Alright...just be careful, hm?" she offers, smiling and parting. "I'll go talk to him."
[14:08:28] <Makoto> "No worries. Take him a Coke with Extra ice, and I'll take over for a bit." Makoto smiles, patting Hotaru gently, then moves away to keep waitressing! Must serve the fans-er, customers!
[14:09:22] * Hotaru-chan sticks her notepad into Makoto's pocket on the lam, heading back to get the coke, and then meet with Mamoru for the first time since Jadeite's death.
[14:09:58] <Kotono> Mamoru awaits quietly, leaning back in his booth. He does look out as Hotaru approaches, a cautious and nice smile attempted.
[14:12:11] * Hotaru-chan sets the coke down in front of Mamoru, the motions making her skirt swish slightly around decidedly grown legs, the very, very different Saturn standing before the Prince of Earth. "What's up?" she asks, a polite, more pasted smile in return that doesn't quite reach her eyes.
[14:13:21] <Kotono> "Honestly, not very much. Hotaru...how have you been?" Discreet and polite formalities as he sips at his coke, attacking it but faintly.
[14:15:24] <Hotaru-chan> "Roughly the same, learning to be an older sister," Hotaru provides back, letting the smile fade to a look of neutrality, holding the serving platter across her front.
[14:16:26] <Kotono> "Yeah." Bowing his head, "I don't know what you've been through since then, but I'm sorry. You should hear that much for me, if it was as Makoto said it was.
[14:16:26] <Kotono> "
[14:19:51] <Hotaru-chan> The smile returns, twisted, but real. "You'd understand a bit better if you were around for Setsuna," Hotaru answers softly, shrugging."Thanks, just...to threaten their happiness is an assault. Hurting them...well," she reaches out and pats Maoru's hand. "Thank Usagi-chan for making my impulses untennable immediately after."
[14:20:44] <Hotaru-chan> *Mamoru's
[14:22:30] <Kotono> Mamoru's head stays low over those words. He ponders them long, "Mmmm. I'd like to do better than that now, Hotaru."
[14:23:54] <Hotaru-chan> "Look on the bright side, you're better off than Balder," Hotaru snickers lightly, sitting for the moment, drawing back into herself, though she does smile slightly.
[14:30:52] <Kotono> "Mmm. I suppose I am. I suppose I am." Slowly repeating himself as he smiles again, "I know he sent Makoto a letter. He's doing better and calming down."
[14:32:43] <Hotaru-chan> "I know, he sent me one too," Hotaru snickers, shaking her head. "We both read them, mm," Hotaru just shrugs a little, seemingly neutral. "Things are better nowadays. Well, and unchanged. Don't act surprised when I answer her door," she snickers.
[14:34:54] <Kotono> "Then I'lls ee you around." With that Mamoru stands, pausing before offering a hand to shake. "See you around, Hotaru?"
[14:35:46] <Hotaru-chan> "What, no attempts at flirting to get the rush of adrenaline back?" Hotaru asks playfully, smiling and taking his hand lightly.
[14:36:46] <Kotono> "Then, if the lady wishes?" Mamoru takes that hand and presents it up, gently kissing the top of Hotaru's white, well groomed hand! "My compliments," In his pocket his hand goes, a rose withdrawn after. "And a flower for the lady as well?"
[14:41:21] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snickers softly, a flicker of violet razors at her fingertipes as she takes the rose, dancing lightly like they're about to do something. "I suppose if one is to be so kind..." she returns formally, violet eyes simmering. "Just one last thing...the Princess, she is well?"
[14:45:50] <Kotono> "She is." Mamoru's eyes light up, "She owes it to all of you as well."
[14:46:42] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's smile stays in place, giving Mamoru a slight bow. "Such is well then, I'll see you around," she murmurs, patting Mamoru's cheek and going back to work!

[Laggy]

This takes place on Wednesday evening after episode 4.

<Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
<Kotono> Asher's days continue on. A free day that has him at home at a reasonable hour, just before dinner. No sign of Dad as he walks in, but you cans mell and hear Mom cooking even from here. It's fried noodles and rice, the smell is exactly how it always is.
<Asher> Another day, another routine. Despite getting a bit more and more work and practice in lately, time is still vastly scarce for the young man after having mostly given up his free wandering time. Mokou's schedule suddenly burdens him with more time at the store as of late, but of course that's to be expected with the time of the month.
<Asher> Asher wordlessly enters to the kitchen table, genuinely tired that day after his new regimen after school - now with 100% more Reclaimer bitching and experimenting with the wind - and finally manages to mouth out a polite greeting to Mom before he slumps into his chair.
<Kotono> "Asher!" It's odd - you hear Mom's voice greeting you, and followed up a second later by Reclaimer mentally. But it's Mom that says more, too. "Tired? Dinner will be ready in five minutes, go wash your hands."
<Asher> Mrfle. Asher can do naught but nod in obedience and slowly drag himself from the chair he had so neatly deposited his body in a few seconds ago. Dragging Reclaimer along, he wonders what the irate sword has in mind too as he heads to the washroom. 'What now?' The creak of the door opening, the faucet turning, running water...
<Kotono> 'I was waiting for this to happen. Transform, there's a trick I want to show you.'
<Asher> ... 'In HERE?' Asher lets out a weary sigh of protest. Closing the door and locking it with a click, he dries his hands and raises the kendo stick in the somewhat cramped bathroom... he could barely raise it before it touched the tip of the ceiling. "Reclaimer Crystal Power!" Nope, not a whole lot of enthuisiasm in that voice.
<Kotono> So Knight Asher comes into being! Power flows into his body, his transformation charging him! 'Good. I don't think you're very talented at this, but let's give it a shot. You feel how tired you are?'
<Asher> 'No, I need an exemplary speaker of the obvious in the form of an intelligent weapon to tell me,' he drawls. Damn, the day had really been grueling enough to put that much of an edge into his voice. He leans back against the wall and sighs again. 'Go on with it.'
<Kotono> 'More intelligent than you,' Reclaimer bites back, and somehow, Asher gets the distinct impression of non existant eyes rolling. 'Focus inside and draw out - just try it, it's one of those magic things that's hard to explain and easy to do once you get the knack of it.'
<Asher> 'Impressive. I don't think you could get any more vague than that.' Asher closes his eyes and slumps back against the wall, letting the world around him cease to become of import - distinctly, as always, his senses when he lapses into this mindset made him particularly aware of .. the air. Of which there was little movement here - just one vent, blowing into the bathroom. He takes a deep breath, trying to search for... something... something like -what-?
<Asher> --something... something like -what-? He was having enough trouble making headway on just controlling the wind; grasping at something entirely new like this screamed against his every instinct as he tried to block away the usual sensations that were the earmarks of magic intuition he was already familiar with.
<Kotono> 'You try spending a few millenia figuring out how to describe the indescriable and get back to me.' Reclaimer again drips a retorting sarcasm, but doesn't pursue it. Instead Asher focuses, trying to draw within himself! OOC - El Soul-o check-o.
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=6, 5]
<Kotono> Asher's attempt to obtain the indescriable...fails. IT fails rather badly for the most part. He does feel a faint twinge of SOMETHING within, but it could just be a gas pain. '...right vague idea. Execution needs work.'.
<Asher> 'Duly noted.' Asher resists the urge to just snap his eyelids back open and head out to what was probably already a cooling dinner. At least he could come up with some convenient excuse in that case. Oh well. 'I suppose you want me to keep trying?'
<Kotono> 'Naturally. Your ever so biting barbs aside, do you want to be helpless when your friends are in trouble - or if SHE'S in trouble? ....I'm not sure I'm going to like that answer, though. Nevermind and just try again!'
<Asher> 'It's your own damned fault for getting that idea in your head,' he mutters, pretty testily. Asher's tone has been defensive as of late as he wills it within himself and tries again, probably in futility, to reach for that... something. The stray thoughts of his one and only complete screwup of a fight merging with other... complications are pushed away as he focuses.
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=1, 6]
<Kotono> IT's odd. Something -clicks-, something Asher hadn't been aware of before. A feeling, a drawing out. As if exhaling a long held breath and feeling better relief flows into his body. Raw energy, restoring his reserves and replenishing his spirit! He feels instantly better, rejuvenated!
<Asher> Eyes opening and widening quickly, the sudden rush of energy and subsequent air being forced into his lungs forces Asher to step back for a moment. Rather than feel dazed, though, he felt more alert, alacrity pouring into his movements as he nearly smashes Reclaimer into the door in what was supposed to be a simple gesture. Startling notably.. 'Was that you?'
<Kotono> 'No. I don't have the energy to do -that-. That was all your inner reserves being tapped on. Every powerful being has more energy than they understand, and some can draw on it to restore themselves. Just be careful - you can burn THAT energy out as well, and that's far worse than burning yourself out normally.'
<Asher> Shuddering a bit at the sensations that had jumped - tired and exhausted to battle-ready awareness - Asher lowers Reclaimer, hesitantly, and gives a brief nod. Hell, it was more learned than what he'd been trying lately. '...alright. Anything else I should know?'
<Kotono> 'More than I could say in a week, but it's either too advanced or you'll need to learn it yourself. I'm sure one of your combat wise men has said something to the effect of that. There's no better teacher than experience.'
<Kotono> 'You just saw it there - try and tell me how I'd describe how to do that to you. Go on, I'm waiting.'
<Asher> 'I concede the point,' Asher murmurs, a hint of defeat in those thoughts. 'More to the point, did you want me to do anything else, or am I going to stay here until Mom breaks down the door and finds me in this outfit?'
<Kotono> '...oh! No, go ahead and go eat. ...Good work, Asher.'
<Asher> With a shrug and one non-flashy detransformation later, he pushes open the door and steps back out, hoping that dinner hadn't turned rock-cold in that timeframe. And it was still early, glancing up at the clock... oi. What to do tonight.
<Kotono> Asher is lucky - Mom starts making ASher's plate as he comes back to the kitchen. She looks so tired and wary herself, the first hint of serious wrinkles showing on her face. "Eat up, ASher."
<Asher> Not exactly an unusual circumstance, but Asher did find it a little odd that Mom looked particularly out of it today. As far as he knew, nothing was amiss... and his mother, while a workaholic just like his father, didn't work a full shift. Normally his senses were plain too deadened at this hour to care, but the renewed surge of energy gives him pause as he digs into dinner.
<Asher> It isn't long before he finishes - that earlier experience may have woke him up but did nothing to satiate appetite.
<Kotono> Mom eats slower - she just looks wiped out. "Your father's working late. Just don't mess up the living room before he gets home."
<Asher> "It's not like I ever use it anyway, Mom," Asher says patiently, doing his part to clean up the dishes. His mind races around on what to do. Earlier hitting the bunk straight on and just having a nice, long twelve hours of sleep would've sounded great, but now that was practically out of reach. He glances over at Reclaimer, wondering if -he- had anything to say... although at this distance and given his inclination to fall 'asleep', not likely.
<Asher> --'asleep', not likely.
<Kotono> 'If you're so interested and awake,go practice. Easy solution.' Asher returns that, 'Or go chat up a friend. You have those now, even if they wear short skirts and fire magical attacks of doom.'
<Kotono> *Reclaimer
<Asher> "...right." Friends. Sort of. Asher wasn't even quite sure what to call them - friends but more than that, yet not quite friends at the same time. Oh, and one bodily-threatening disaster. With a low grunt, he approaches the living room, despite earlier words, and heads over to the phone. Goddamn, training just didn't sound appealing right now... he could use a walk or two in the city...
<Asher> ...and since when did that require company? A moment of hesitation. After all, Asher, you know what you're getting into if you actually pick that up and dial the one person who would actually answer with some degree of enthuisiasm! What a horrific understatement.
<Asher> He glares back down at the sword, as though it might provide some interesting tidbit to this. 'Think I'm masochistic?'
<Kotono> 'If you call her? Probably. If not? The magistrate is still out. Do whatever you want.'
<Asher> 'You're a load of help. Just for once, give me a straight answer.' He eyes the phone with no small amount of delicacy. 'And before you tell me I should make the decision, spare me this one particular time. If there's any ounce of mercy within you.' Though the mental image of the sword in the first place was amusing him.
<Kotono> 'Then in the name of the Moon, do you LIKE her? She's...I thought Venus in the past was bad. She's beyond any reckoning I've ever imagined for that type of girl. But she clearly likes you, so...' Another meaty pause, as if chewing over non existant meat with an imaginary mouth. 'I don't know. I don't see any female Reclaimers around, so it's not something I worry about.'
<Asher> 'That wasn't a straight answer. Even if...' HMMMMMMM. Wonder if he could cajole Kotono into researching a lot more deeply into this magical sword stuff and see if any other sentient weapons were lying around. And if... oh, the possibilities. 'Blades crossed' would have an entirely new meaning. Asher lets these thoughts fill his mind with glee for Reclaimer to pour over them!
<Asher> Or he could just give Reclaimer to Kotono for some study and analysis.
<Asher> Why, that was a splendid idea. Wonderful distraction at an opportune time, too.
<Kotono> '...Oh, just call one of them! If not her then Moon or Saturn or Jupiter!' Reclaimer huffs out, voice annoyed.
<Asher> With a low smirk, he picks up the phone and dials the number for the... wait, did he even HAVE her number?
<Asher> Wait. Right. Fishing it out from his pack, he punches in the digits in rapid succession along with a wayward glance up at the clock.
<Kotono> It's just past 6 45 now. Three rings before, "...Hiya, hold on, I'm kinda in the middle of finishin this chapter on Sages and stuff so hold on while I finish, be just a moment!" A machine gun of a voice rattling, Asher put on hold before he can react!
<Asher> Some things don't change. Asher lounges back into a chair and waits, with not a whole lot in mind.
<Kotono> It's only about 45 seconds before, "Sarashima residence, Kotono speaking, hiya, what's up?"
<Asher> Pondering between putting a heavy, and entirely fake, accent onto his voice, or making odd zombie like sounds, Asher opts for the boring way out. The clicher of that decision was due to Mom suddenly walking by. "Hey, Kotono. What're you up to?"
<Kotono> "Asher!" Wow. Her voice just became even happier, glowing with energy! "Hiya, I'm just doing some research for Takeshi since we're investingating the bad guys and the Sages and the Lightbringer and all of that and I'm working on it and it's really cool since I started with the Three Wise Men from the Bible but that didn't work out so I went to Hindu and Buddist Wisemen but that's still going and then there's Zen stuff too, you know?"
<Asher> How things don't change. "...uh, Kotono, are you entirely sure that Earth lore would be the right place to start on that anyway?" A bit of a wince as reflexively memories kicked back in. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. The drop in vigor in his voice probably registers across the phone line, too.
<Kotono> "...oh hey, that's a good idea, I should go to Gaia or talk to Jun about Gaian lore, duh, since maybe they have something on this we don't, huh, and it's technically another world and hey I can go see the DRAGONS there, too, and ooooooh that's awesome and you'll come along and save me from a flamebreathin dragon, huh?!"
<Asher> "Maybe. One day." As always, losing control of the conversation with Kotono was an everpresent feeling. Trying to salvage whatever he had in mind... what was it. Oh, right, he had nothing to do tonight. "Uh, Kotono, is the research you're doing crucial, though? I can just check in another time if you're busy..."
<Kotono> "Well, it's kinda important but I don't midn since I can talk and read if you want and besides it's doubly interestings ince I'm just starting on Abrahamic Wise Men now to brush up before 0 AD, right, and that's still interesting and we can talk about other cool things ilke DRAGONS and did you know Gaia has dragons now and I so wanna go get one for a pet? Or what did you call about, huh, and maybe it'll be something cool?"
<Asher> Nnnnnnnnnnn. Biting back everything and NOT willing to let Reclaimer get satisfaction out of this, Asher replies coolly.. well, an attempt to. It comes out pretty pathetic. "Well, I still have that book of yours lying around, and it's more your field than mine, so... and," he adds, hesitantly, "I'm somewhat out of things to do tonight. I was wondering if you were too, but seems not."
<Kotono> "Oh...oh...!" Kotono pauses, and if Asher was of a mind to be morbid, the music from that American Jaws movie might play. "Why don't you come over tonight and help me study since my Dad's not coming home tonight and it's no big and heck I'll order out for some snacks and we'll have a great time and did you know that we shared beds on Gaia for body warmth and comfort and I could show you that?!"
<Asher> "I can't stay over THAT late, Kotono," Asher corrects mildly. Outright rejection was a bad idea. Just... kind of ease it through... her excesses usually went right over her head and were forgotten within seconds anyway. "If you're rooted to your house right now, though, I guess that'll work out. Besides, I might have a topic or two to bring up." He stares levelly down at the kendo stick in his hand. Oh yes.
<Kotono> 'You can just change your mind or beg off, you know.' Reclaimer adds this in a pointed barb back. 'She did just say she wanted to SLEEP WITH YOU or close enough.'
<Asher> 'Like that's unusual?'
<Asher> 'Besides, once I present your shiny self to her for her own personal study, I'm sure she'll forget all about it.'
<Kotono> 'Point....and I'm going to kill you for this.'
<Asher> Asher actually pauses in this train of thought, wondering. '...uh, say. You wouldn't actually happen to know a good deal of the Moon Kingdom history, would you?'
<Kotono> "OOooh! Okay! Come on over then, okay?!" Kotono is happier and happier, "I'lls ee you soon!"
<Kotono> 'I do know some. Don't ask me about the last battles - I was, ah, indisposed. I probably know about as much as Queen Serenity overall, if my memory hasn't failed me. Why?'
<Asher> Asher's reply is distant, distracted as he tries to carry on the mental conversation in his head and the one on the phone. "Uh, yeah. Be there in twenty or so." He puts the phone back down with a low sigh.
<Asher> '...you know that much and you haven't even bothered trying to brief me in?!'
<Asher> 'I felt like an idiot everytime someone brought up some place or person or event that I had no clue about and right here all that I needed could've been told to me at your whim. That's... cruel!'
<Kotono> 'You never asked. Besides...most of it IS ancient history, as sad as that is. What do you want to know?'
<Asher> Man, Asher must look real weird just standing there next to the phone, looking like he's staring out into space with his face making contortions. Good thing Mom hasn't brought up any observations.
<Asher> 'Just that. Anything with this situation? Lightbringer? Sages?' The fact that Reclaimer didn't know any more than Serenity in all likelihood pretty much bars any useful information being extracted immediately, but he had to dig. And come up with excuse topics for Kotono later. 'And for that matter, you've never said much about yourself, either.'
<Asher> Asher starts half-heartedly dragging himself up from the chair at this point, collecting stuff and getting ready to take off.
<Kotono> 'If I knew what these damned things were I'd be screaming in your ear. No luck. You want to know about me...heh. Do you really want to know?'
<Asher> 'If I'm going to be attached to you in every sense of the word for what is seeming to be a very long time, then yes, some background would be good,' Asher replies dryly. 'Not like you haven't had enough time to observe me since... oh, I don't know, childhood? Evens the playing field a little.' Where was Mom, anyway?
<Kotono> You saw her going up to her room. She looked tired still, too.
<Asher> Well. Not a good idea to take off without at least telling her. Asher creeps up the stairs and glances to see if she's closed her bedroom door... was she really going to sleep this early?
<Kotono> 'One day soon - just not tonight. I'll save your mental capacity for the Terror of Pluto.' Meanwhile you go upstairs, finding Mom's door closed.
<Asher> 'Convenient excuse,' he mutters under his breath... not discounting the fact that it was probably true. Asher speaks up quietly, just to make sure. "Mom, I'm going to go out for a bit..." And waits for a few seconds in front of the door for a reply.
<Kotono> "Goa head..." Mom sounds tired indeed, only making a token call out.
<Asher> Ooookay. Asher gets a little concerned for a moment, then shrugs it off. He takes back down the stairs, grabbing the pack and the book, and out, out he goes! Into the streets to the lion's den!
<Kotono> OOC - Skip ahead sound good?
<Asher> OOC - Yes.
<Kotono> Kotono's house awaits! The sun has just set in earnest when he arrives, streetlights winking into life as he arrives.  So the edice awaits, the blonde Kotono surely waiting to pounce just inside the door like a great tiger?
<Asher> That's why Reclaimer goes first. Yes. Asher approaches with the said legendary weapon drawn, up in front and ready to take the hit for the team! ...team. Right. Actually, he IS keeping pace using it as a good ol' walking stick and hopefully at least slowing Kotono's inevitable tackle-pin-various-other-overtly-excessive-body-motions. Walking up to the door without much hesitation - bit late in the game to do that - he knocks politely, twice.
<Asher> --politely, twice, and... tenses.
<Asher> Maybe her dad will answer. Maybe. He couldn't decide whether that would be better or worse.
<Kotono> Reclaimer is silent save for a few muted grumbles. But as you knock, the door is thrown open! "Hi!" Kotono wears a cute short skirt and pink shirt with a glittery unicorn on it. "C'mon in!"
<Asher> Grumble all you want, buddy. Asher smiles - heck, not all of it forced - and gives Kotono the customary bow. "Been busy studying?" he inquires as he walks in, sifting through all the myriads of excuses he had ready at his fingertips in case of an emergency.
<Kotono> "Yep! It's really cool and come on I have some snacks already in my room so we can get right to it!" Kotono gushes and takes Asher's hand, overlapping the grip on Reclaimer.
<Kotono> 'I warned you," Reclaimer grouses angrily.
<Asher> 'Suffering is so much more tolerable when it's mutual, don't you know?' Asher hides the grin that threatens to come up... good, because Kotono wouldn't have the slightest clue about the context of it and would probably take it a radically wrong way. He lets himself get dragged along by Kotono. Nothing new here!
<Kotono> Reclaimer's reply is icy and silent as you're lead to Kotono's room! Woah! A pile of books at least ten feet tall wobbles at the far side of her bed, in the shadow of it rests a few cans of drinks and a bowl of snacks.
<Asher> ...good god, that book stack looks absolutely threatening. Asher follows without missing a beat, assuming, naturally, that Kotono will be far more interested in getting lost within the myriads of ancient lore than the other obvious use. Just to be safe, though, he stays behind, and with a healthy distance away from her!
<Kotono> Crawling onto her bed, Kotono looks back. "C'mon, Asher, it's okay and my bed is really comfy and it's nice to read on it, huh?"
<Asher> "As long as we're concentrating on -reading-, Kotono," Asher remarks carefully with a great deal of caution. Wouldn't do to just always meekly hide away from her at this rate, so might as well take a few risks here and there... besides, maybe Hotaru's warnings had taken heed. He hopes. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he perilously looks at the stack of books. "Is that... safe?"
<Kotono> "What else would...oh!" Kotono turns redder, pushing her fingers together, "It's safe and this bed is safe and I wasn't going to do it like that unless you really wanna and that's kinda embarrassing, so just grab a book and let's read!" Grabbing one off the top and making the entire stack sway, Kotonog ets to work.
<Asher> To work he gets. Even lacking bookworm status and probably a far cry from Kotono's capabilities, Asher nonetheless takes one off from the pile... carefully... and flips it open. Dense stuff as it may be, he's probably suffered far worse in English class. And this was genuine research, not just off of Kotono's whims. Right. Right? "...hey, Kotono, did you decide to look up all this stuff on your own?"
<Kotono> OOC - Mind check.
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=2, 5]
<Kotono> This is complicated and confusing! It's easy to get lost in it, and it's a bit over Asher's head! "Yep!" Kotono nods easily as she reads, making a quick pace. "Well, Takeshi asked me but it's cool tod o anyway, you know?
<Asher> Oh screw that. Asher concentrates more on the sea of words, trying to make some coherant sense and pattern in it all. After all, Kotono -lived- on this stuff. It wouldn't bode too well if he was completely unfamiliar with it, just another category to ferret energy and attention to like the myriads of others thrust by school, parents, and the senshi.
<Asher> "Yeah, I suppose," he mouths out a reply, more trying to reread the book.
<Kotono> OOC - Mind check -2.
<Asher> roll 2d6-2 burn 20 EP
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6-2 burn 20 EP and gets 3." [2d6=2, 3]
<Kotono> There you go. It's about wisemen in Israel and Palestine. It's just terribly thick and complicated, but you start to get a grip on it. "It is and all this stuff is interesting!" Kotono scoots closer to you, slowly inching towards Asher.
<Asher> "...so, what.. exactly do you start off with?" he inquires carefully, his eyes remaining on the text. "I mean, you don't just pick a couple of books at random and tear into them hoping to find references, right?" Actually, no, that sounded EXACTLY like Kotono. But he had to ask.
<Kotono> "Well, somewhat but I do know what I'm looking for so I'm narrowing it down some and besides, you're right, that's a good idea since sometimes these books go on tangents, you know and can have interesting stuff since one time I was reading a diary about a ghost and I found something really cool about  a lost magical bracelet!"
<Asher> "...Kotono." He winces for a moment, finally turning up to look over at her. "Consider what you just said a bit more carefully." Sometimes it was just necessary to point out a thing or two to her... gently, but consistently. Maybe that'd work. God knows. He turns back to his book, having gotten the gist of it and now flipping through the chapters to see if anything catches his eye. There was still a healthy amount of skepticism about
<Asher> --about Earth lore linking to this at all though...
<Kotono> "What I said?" Tapping at her lips before she speaks again, "Oh! So you're saying that a really cool magical bracelet is probably invovled int his, huh? Okay, I'll go get some more books!" Scooting off the bed and towards another pile of chaotic messiness, Kotono is off!
<Asher> "Kotono --!" Asher's breath wastes the precious air it draws as the blonde is gone. So very gone. With a loud sigh, he falls back in the bed with a low thump. Argh. Screw it. He busies himself by tossing the book aside, having offered nothing of interest, and grabbing the next one. That pile is going to take a while to trim down...
<Kotono> Kotono isn't long! She returns with at least half a dozen tomes, plopping them down on the bed before hopping up close to Asher. "How's it going this time, huh, and what did you wanna talk about also?"
<Asher> "Mmf mrfle mmph." The reply is at best subdued; nonsensical is more like it. "Actually... Kotono..." Oh, hell. Maybe being persistent might do it. "You know that thing about tangents? It might be a good idea not to fall into that trap yourself..."
<Kotono> "What do you mean?" Kotono looks on innocent, smiling as she continues Asher creeping up on. "Tangents are usually interesting and really cool, you know?"
<Asher> "But they're not that good at trying to research something specific or get down to the matter at hand, Kotono," he fires back off, albeit politely. Asher's face angles to regard her seriously now. "I mean, yes, they're fun to pursue sometimes... but when it's important, we should try to keep tabs on it, right? That goes for everything."
<Kotono> "Well, yes, but it's such a broad field we need to keep moving and researching or we'll get drowned, huh, and if we do we won't get anything so it's like keeping swimming except it's really awesome because we find out so many nice things!"
<Asher> "Maybe we should try to lower the field we have to explore instead of just diving in like this," Asher says carefully. Putting down the book, he folds his arms together and looks thoughtful. "For instance. Let's review. What do we know about these ... people? A reference to a Lightbringer, to Sages... what else?"
<Kotono> "Inhumans and nasty things and I already checked out the four horsemen and that kinda sort afits but that means it's the end fo teh world if it is, and there's no way we're gonna let it happen even if blood from the water would be really cool!"
<Kotono> Kotono takes a breath after, "Asher-chan, then what do you suggest?"
<Asher> "C'mon, Kotono, let's take this slowly and carefully. Inhumans... alright, that sounds impossibly vague. But their names. Pestilence." He pauses, trying to remember the others. "Temptation. What else. These sound a lot like sins or plagues; do we have a list? Can we link it up to something?"
<Asher> From his lying down position, he stares back up at the ceiling and leans back more, biting down on his lips. "They call their servants Empty Ones. They call us inhumans... but not Nior... even though Nior isn't actually from Earth, so it obviously isn't that. The common trait... magic? Maybe that's what distinguishes us. Did any of the others say anything else about them? Observations?"
<Kotono> "I think it' smagic too! I mean, if Nior wasn't one he's just big and powerful, so it's not that so it must be magic!" Nodding to herself, "So if it's magic then what? Are they like some sort of magical beings, huh?"
<Asher> "...I would think they'd be if they call themselves poetic names like 'Pestilence' and possess magical-like powers, Kotono," he remarks dryly. "Have you ever fought a force that WASN'T magical? That's why we're doing this and not the military, right?"
<Asher> "Keep on focus - we're trying to get a link to Earth history and lore that may pertain to them. It's a long shot, but it's something. You have any idea about the rest that I said that could pertain to something?"
<Kotono> "It sounds kinda biblical, you know...but Hotaru-chan also called them Nightmares so I'm not sure. Hmmmm." Leaning back as she thinks, "The Beast Lord was almost like the devil, you know? He tormented souls after death until we killed him. So if that follows...?"
<Asher> "...Kotono." Asher says this with a really visible wince. He feels the last ebbs of his patience threatening to snap, as he sits back up and looks over to Kotono. "Tangents. Stay away from them. Remember?"
<Kotono> "No, I'm serious this time!" Kotono looks back, smiling a little peevishly. "Dead serious."
<Asher> "..." Asher regards her for a moment, then nods. "...okay. Did you ever do any research on the Beast Lord, then? Find anything that made sense there? I'm just wondering how he pertains to the current threat..."
<Asher> Though his ignorance on that matter probably didn't help at all. And one that Reclaimer... 'Hey, are you listening?'
<Kotono> "Yeah. You see, he was this ghost thing that came into our world through ghosts and tormented them after. That's how he got his energy, you know? We went to his void to fight him and we finally killed him. All the energy released made us stronger, as well as...it was really pretty. So many souls were freed, and I bet Momma and everyone was proud of us then!" Kotono's smile turns prettier, "He wanted to turn Hotaru into something like h
<Kotono> "He wanted to turn Hotaru into something like him or consume her, too. That kinda sounds familiar, doesn't it?
<Asher> Listening to all of this not an entirely small amount of interest, Asher found himself nodding to Kotono's words. "Familiar to what? In regards to...?"
<Kotono> "Well, those things want us to help them or even transform us into them, right? They're hunting a target on Earth as well, right? I'm not sure why Hotaru called it a Nightmare, but it feels familiar and maybe she's onto something when we think about it?"
<Asher> "...wait, wait." Asher holds up a hand, backpedaling for a moment. "I've been out of the loop. They want us to help them or transform us into them?" The latter part about Hotaru's remarks could be addressed with the actual person present later - hearsay was always misinterpreted.
<Kotono> "Well look at what was said, and what they did with Michiru. You'd have to ask the others but it makes sense." Kotono smiles and nods, "It all kind of connects together, you knwo?"
<Asher> "..." Argh. He really wished Usagi would arrange that meeting sometime soon as Asher brings a hand to his forehead with a weary sigh, and proceeds to fall right back down on the bed. "Kotono, no one's even told me about this Michiru. I... maybe this should be put off until we all get together and piece what's happened so we --" I, more like "-- aren't lost on things..."
<Kotono> "...oh! Okay, yeah, it's been messy and busy." Kotono agrees, reaching out to pat Asher's chest confortingly, before lying down next to him. "Ig uess you're new at this too so it's harder to keep up?"
<Asher> Mmmf mrfle mrf. He deposits the book he was holding right over his face to bask himself in sweet, comforting darkness. "Something like that. All I've been doing is practicing crap with Reclaimer, too, so I feel kinda out of it... guess I should get around to bugging Hotaru or Usagi more." Or he could visit Serenity's residence, but he didn't want to take any visits to her lightly. She was, after all, the queen and such.
<Kotono> 'Having fun yet?' Reclaimer stirs, adding in. 'I'm not sure if she's onto something or just spinning her wheels again.'
<Asher> 'You think I know any better? But what's the point of lamenting about it? Might as well try to make progress in some form or fashion. Even if it's a dead end, it's something to learn.' He instinctively tries to repress a yawn, but it comes out anyway.
<Kotono> 'Of course not. You're right about that, but at least you're the one stuck talking to her.'
<Asher> '...-can- you talk to other people? Or have others talk back to you like the way I do?'
<Kotono> Kotono nods along, her arm snaking over Asher's chest as she lies next to him. "Yeah, catch up and work together better, huh?"
<Kotono> 'In short, kind of, in reality not really. It's not like I have a mouth attached on anywhere!'
<Asher> 'I swear I can see you just smirking and grinning sometimes, you know that? You're good at portraying that,' Asher bites off mentally. In the midst of this inner conversation, he doesn't really make any note or reaction to Kotono's movement... and it's not like she was doing anything overt, anyway. Progress. Maybe.
<Kotono> Is she? You're feeling warm breath against your shoulder as she nuzzles in! 'I so try.' You can just =feel= the sarcasm dripping off now. 'Happy hour about sword speech aside, are you paying attention to her? Ahem.'
<Asher> 'Oh.' Oh. Right. Asher tenses for a moment and straightens up for a moment, hauling himself up to a more erect - god no, that was NOT the word - uh... sitting position. Trying to lean back up against the wall to minimize Kotono's sudden intent at intrusiveness of personal space, he sighs. "You know, Kotono, it is getting pretty late..."
<Kotono> Kotono creeps along, keeping her head softly buried in Asher's chest, sprawling out next to him. "Mmm, just ten more minutes?" she asks hopefully, eyes shut.
<Asher> Nnnn. Asher scans the room for a clock, feeling decisively out of options. But... argh, okay, she had asked nicely. Removing the telltale whimper, he relents. "...alright." And slumping back down, he closes his own eyes, though every sense is on full alert.
<Kotono> As youf eel nothing but Kotono's slow, steady breathing and soft murmurs of bliss, 'I'm scared of what'll happen if she says she loves you,' Reclaimer notes with a softer level of sarcasm.
<Asher> Thoughts wander aimlessly through his mind. Images, memories. T*A at night. Standing at the bell tower. That -- DAMMIT, Reclaimer. 'I don't think I'd have an answer.'
<Asher> 'And are you always so concerned about the love lives of people around you?' he shoots back. But not all too heatedly.
<Kotono> 'I'm worried that she does - if there's anything past a schoolgirl crush. Look at it, she's using you as a pillow and happy as can be! I am when she's in bodily contact with you and I'm around. If you find a libido kindly set me out of the room before getting to business with her?'
<Asher> He rolls his eyes inwardly, despite them being closed as he answers back not without a hint of irritation. 'Has it occurred to you, maybe, that I'm here and wasting the night at this for a reason that has NOTHING to do with that?' There's a brief pause, as he lets an angry tone seep in. 'For all you may think of her, Kotono still has a good heart inside. Overbearing as it is, that's not something you see a lot... and if she wants some
<Asher> --someone around, at least that's -one- thing I can do right.' There is no small amount of bitterness at that as he catches his breath, pausing, feeling incredibly frustrated before the moment passes. Kotono's quiet breathing is the only thing that echoes in his mind for those seconds.
<Kotono> '...sorry.' A long, drawn out pause from Reclaimer itself, silent. 'But you can't ignore that side of it, either.'
<Asher> There's a pause before Asher recollects his thoughts before he replies, too. 'That's what's called a leap of faith. I'm hoping it won't turn out to be like that... for her own sake, and for mine. No one ever said I wasn't taking some risks here.' What a massive understatement. But he's calm and speaks precisely now. 'But that's hardly different from anything else. Whether it's about protecting people from these villains or protecting
<Asher> --protecting someone's feelings.'
<Asher> The minutes slip by quickly as this internal monologue goes in, Asher's eyes finally opening again to adjust to the light. He raises his head up, looking around for that clock again.
<Kotono> About 15 minutes have passed. Kotono's fast asleep, clinging to Asher happily.
<Kotono> Reclaimer is silent for now in the quiet room, seeming to have been muted by all that was said.
<Asher> Silence suits him just fine for that moment. Asher hesitates for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to not disturb the sleeping girl... with a gentle sliding off to the side, and keeping one hand on her shoulder to keep her upright, he gradually eases off to the edge of the bed, draping the blanket over her as he stands up.
<Kotono> As he does, you hear a faint noise. "Mmm...don't go away..." Kotono whimpers softly.
<Asher> That voice freezes him on his tracks as he turns back, a blank expression fixating itself on his face. No. Totally out of the question. He sets his jaw and sits back down near the bed, speaking quietly. "Just for a bit, Kotono. I'll be back to see you tomorrow, alright?"
<Kotono> "Mmmm." There isn't much reply beyond that, Kotono seemingly content just to hold Asher.
<Asher> Another minute or two... he doesn't really keep track, nor count the breaths, or really have anything in mind at all, before Asher finally lets go and starts to quietly make his way out of the room, conscious to close the door gently behind him. And to back home.
<Kotono> This time Kotono doesn't protest, Asher ablet o slip away into the silken night. 'Mmmm. If nothing else, at least she'sc ute?'
<Asher> 'Not the point,' Asher mutters under his breath on the now chilly-way home. Really cold, after the warmth indoors. He keeps up a brisk pace. 'In all seriousness, your disdain for it aside, do you think there's any possible connection between actual Earth lore and the enemy?'
<Kotono> 'On a guess, no. It's possible but from what little I've seen it's more invovled with it's own ghosts and terrors. I could be wrong, but no. Now..mmm. I don't know about that whole Beast Lord she talked about, that's outside my league.'
<Asher> 'I figured that much. And the entire thing did feel like a shot in the dark... but not like we can do much better.' He pauses. 'So looks more like we'll be operating in the dark here.'
<Asher> Business as usual, yes it is. Rounding back up into his own neighborhood, Asher's mind comes to a puttering slowdown as he pushes away most of those possibilites. 'Any suggestions, then? Or just keep the same be ready for anything perspective? I can't imagine all of these conflicts were always fought defensively...'
<Kotono> 'We'll see soon. Let's finish gathering information first.' Reclaimer's voice feels thoughtful, 'If we're good enough at defense they'll have to change plans regardless.'
<Asher> 'What plans, though? They're looking for something and we don't even know what it is. We're only a roadblock if it just happens that we're convenient enough to be in their way. You're right about us needing information, but... there's pretty much zero leads on it.' And besides, he'd probably do a better job getting info than in the front line. Oi. That thought gets left unsaid.
<Kotono> 'That's why we beat the hell out of them and pry information from their dead, cold hands.' Reclaimer says simply. 'Or interrogation.'
<Asher> 'Is that suggestion coming from prior experience?' Asher inquires politely. He isn't at all offended, albeit a little surprise shows on his face. And the question was serious.
<Kotono> 'That and common sense. Knowledge is power as much as magic is. If you know what they're going to do and why you can stop them before they even try.'
<Asher> 'That's the idea, although the process, I gather, is usually a little more complicated to execute than on paper.' Pestilence openly mocking him, after all, didn't bode well for performance record. 'Stick to the plan regardless, I guess.'
<Kotono> 'Yes. If you can't get information, dispatching demons is usually a pretty good alternative. Barring that...mmm. This is more the Queen's will, but you can always try to purify them. Easier said that done."
<Asher> 'Whatever there's left to purify against beings who label themselves plagues and sins.' Asher's doubtful tone leaves much to what he thought about that possibility; and like Reclaimer siad, it was hardly his realm. And.. oh, there's his house. Walking up the steps, he fumbles for the key and turns the knob.
<Kotono> Dad's car is home, and you can hear the TV on now already. 'Mmm, yes. I suppose we'll find out. Bah.'
<Asher> And probably snoring on the couch. Asher closes the door behind him and checks to see if his guess was true.
<Kotono> Yep! Dad's out and resting, tired from another long day of work.
<Asher> So it goes. Up the stairs. Da dump, da dump... Mom's long passed out, isn't she. Asher pushes open the door to his room, a rare sight even rarer as of late.

[Laggy]

This scene happens on Thursday evening post Episode 4.

[21:09] <Kotono> Serenity's house is the location today. In the rainy drizzle of fall several girls and a few boys approach, braving the weather after school for their mission. Usagi, Hotaru, Makoto, Takeshi, Asher, Michiru, Kotono and Rei. The Juubanites make it first, Queen Serenity's living room having it's couches and chairs pushed back for more room. Steaming warm tea nad a few premade cakes and snacks await. "The others should be along shortly," Queen Se
[21:09] <Kotono>  shortly," Queen Serenity smiles to Asher, Takeshi, Makoto and Usagi.
[21:10] * Takeshi nods in thanks, taking up a station on the loveseat again to wait for the others to arrive, and starting to poke at the snacks lightly.
[21:10] * Makoto smiles back, playing with what appears to be an old homework assignment, with oddly intense concentration.
[21:11] * Usagi gets herself settled, grabbing a cake and plopping down on the couch. If nothing else, she seems a bit more relaxed now, the distraction of their meeting taking her mind off other concerns.
[21:15] <Kotono> It's perhaps fifteen minutes before the others come. The storm is just picking up in earnest as they arrive, driving rain beginning and thunder crashing distantly away. But it's warm in here as Hotaru leads the way, Rei following and then Kotono, Michiru last.
[21:16] <Kotono> Rei lightly shakes her hair, a tiny bit of power to aid it's drying as she goes to sit on the other side of the roomf rom Usagi. She just nods vaguely to most, settling in.
[21:16] <Kotono> "Hiya, Asher!" Kotono waves cheerfully, approaching him as she enters in, stopping only to grab af ew cups of tea.
[21:16] * Takeshi nods absently to the others as they come in, flipping through his notebook as he goes over all the notes he's taken about the enemy attacks so far and his own visions.
[21:16] * Hotaru-chan mutters softly about rain, closing her umbrella and slipping her shoes off. "Autumn..." she hmphs, crossing the living room to settle next to Makoto.
[21:17] * Usagi looks vaguely relieved as Rei keeps a safe distance, giving a general greeting to the new arrivals. "Hey, guys."
[21:17] * Michiru hums as she arrives, closing the umbrella and smiling for no real reason. "Good afternoon."
[21:18] * Makoto grins to Hotaru, rapping on the homework sheet as a demonstration, and giving the new arrival a blink and curious examination.
[21:20] <Asher> Asher's long since consigned himself to a comfortable couch, the same one he passed out on before! He waves merrily to the people who come in and throws a somewhat concerned but friendly glance at Kotono. "Afternoon, everyone. Lovely weather today."
[21:21] * Hotaru-chan leans into Makoto's shoulder, taking a closer look at the sheet. "Anyone else coming?" she asks the rest of the group curiously, snuggling a little into Makoto's side to warm up.
[21:21] <Kotono> Serenity smiles to all, "Welcome, all. We have a lot to discuss. New people as well. Nior and Mamoru are out, just in case anything happens in the city."
[21:21] <Kotono> Kotono sits right next to ASher, smiling broadly to him and trying to slip an arm around him!
[21:22] <Makoto> Kotono's movements are not lost on Makoto, who tries to stifle a snicker as she sees.
[21:22] * Usagi budges herself a bit further along the couch to give Asher and Kotono room.
[21:22] <Kotono> From the kitchen Luna trots in, "Hello, all," she smiles, before hopping to Makoto's lap and lying down there.
[21:22] <Asher> Asher's demeanor is deceptively calm as he leans over and whispers something into Kotono's ear before leaning back with a bit of a shrug, looking about, and throwing Usagi a dirty look.
[21:22] <Hotaru-chan> "Hey, that's my spot," Hotaru gripes at Luna.
[21:23] <Kotono> "Ahem." Queen Serenity gently clears her throat, letting the sound carry.
[21:23] * Michiru sits on a pillow at the ground, between couches, apparently not terribly concerned about the lack of space, and focuses sight over Queen Serenity.
[21:23] <Kotono> Kotono smiles innocently to Asher, but turns to Serenity as she gets attention.
[21:23] <Asher> Likewise, the young man's head snaps around at the queen's words, folding his arms.
[21:23] * Usagi misses Asher's dirty look, focusing attentively and quietly on Serenity's face as she gets things started.
[21:24] * Takeshi turns his attention to Serenity, waiting for her to set the tone for the meeting.
[21:24] * Hotaru-chan turns her attention back on the monarch, settled against Makoto regardless.
[21:24] <Kotono> "Much has happened these past few weeks, but to the good new sfirst. Asher, Takeshi? If you would introduce yourselves?  I have something to give you after this."
[21:24] * Makoto leans back, scanning the group as the meeting starts, still playing with the paper, though quietly.
[21:25] <Asher> There's a still pause for a moment as Asher hesitates to see whether Takeshi goes first. But he plunges headlong, glancing around to see any unfamiliar faces. ... mm, only that one aqua-haired girl in the back, whom he presumed was the Michiru everyone had been talking about.
[21:27] <Asher> He doesn't stand up; somehow, it didn't seem all that appropriate. Not like no one here didn't know him for the most part. "Asher Shinsei, here." He gives a polite nod to the general vicinity. "I'm a student at Juuban High, and Kotono and Hotaru - " gesturing to the two "- were fortunate enough to snatch me and drag me into this midst." Asher smiles sheepishly, the same kind you'd expect on the kid being ousted out in an unfamiliar setting.
[21:27] <Asher> --setting.
[21:28] * Takeshi stands, his posture a bit stiff. "Uh... I think I've met pretty much everyone here, but... anyway. My name's Takeshi Eiryo, and I'm also the reincarnation of Nephrite," the young man explains. "I'm also at Juuban High, in Usagi-san's class, and I've been working on finding out as much as I can about these enemies."
[21:29] <Kotono> "Yes. With two more fighters we will be more than adequate for what lies ahead of us. But for that...first of all. Takeshi, I've asked you to gather information on them. If you would?"
[21:31] <Takeshi> "Of course," Takeshi nods, relaxing a bit as he takes out his notebook. "I wish I had more to go on, but the information we've gotten so far is still pretty sketchy. The enemies we're fighting are 'inhumans', and they're looking for something they call the Lightbringer. They report to a group they call the Sages, and they've been rather surprised to see us - who they also consider to be inhumans of some kind - living among normal humans.
[21:33] <Takeshi> "There have been a total of four inhumans - not counting Michiru-san here - that have been encountered so far - Pestilence, Temptation, Despair, and Hatred. Almost every sighting of them has been in a place with a lot of people around - Pestilence at the Fruits Parlor, Despair and Hatred at Yohko's cafe, and Temptation at a fancy club."
[21:33] <Kotono> Rei scowls at the mention of Temptation, like a storm passes over her face. It's almost possible with how it's raining outside, too, just gushing now and thundering.
[21:34] * Usagi frowns and blushes, looking down at her knees at the mention of Temptation at the club.
[21:34] * Makoto frowns. "Of course. Just once, it'd be nice to face off with a bad guy without an overblown sense of self importance." Makoto sighs, her expression darkening at the mention of her job. "What about where we found temptation, Takeshi?"
[21:35] * Michiru wanders off in thought a little upon the mention of Despair, as if something bothered her. With a nod, however, she trails off from that line of thought... it doesn't matter now.
[21:35] <Kotono> "LIke four horsemen except the names don't quite fit?" Kotono adds in herself. "That's true, Sis, but at least it makes them easy to tell apart with names like t hat and they're up front about it and if Despair is anything it means they fight like their name, huh?"
[21:36] <Usagi> "Pestilence and Temptation sure did," Usagi agrees quietly, wincing.
[21:36] <Kotono> "Speaking of," Serenity clears her throata gain, "Our new third, Sailor Neptune - knows the most of these new threats than any other."
[21:36] <Hotaru-chan> "That's a thought, we might look into armageddon myths, Kochan," Hotaru points out, humming softly.
[21:36] <Kotono> "Right!" Kotono beams to Hotaru, nodding along.
[21:36] <Kotono> "Yeah, the stupid bitch," Rei mutters, "Temptaiton this...hah!"
[21:36] * Takeshi looks up from his notebook at Makoto. "I first ran into Temptation in the crowd outside the Fruits Parlor after the attack, which still fits. She just ended up following me to the street where you found the two of us fighting."
[21:36] <Asher> Asher frowns momentarily, focusing his gaze on both Takeshi and the newly singled out Michiru.
[21:37] <Makoto> "Oh, that's right." Makoto nods, then glancing at 'Neptune'.
[21:38] * Takeshi glances over at Michiru briefly, then goes on. "Anyway. The other common theme seems to be that they're trying to recruit the 'inhumans' they're finding among normal humans - Michiru-san, for example. Temptation also tried to talk me over the first time I ran into her, and Despair tried it again with myself and Hotaru-san at Yohko's cafe."
[21:39] <Kotono> "Despair isn'tan issue anymore," Rei smirks just a little at that, eyes drifting to Usagi before she colors and look saway. "One down, couple more to go. Quickly."
[21:40] <Hotaru-chan> "They're void creatures, of some sort," Hotaru adds softly, shaking her head. "Four eyes, myraid mouths, vaguely humanoid figure--I don't know for certain that they have any relation to the Beast Lord, but they seem like they'd fit in generally the same category by what Despair looked like underneath his disguise."
[21:41] * Takeshi blows out a short breath at that. "Anyway, the only other real information I have at the moment is a bit about the place they apparently come from. I'm not going to go into it in-depth, since I'm still trying to make sense of what I saw myself, but I'll just say that they must be in some sort of alternate dimension for now - most of the things I saw there couldn't exist in this one. I'm hoping Kotono-san (more)
[21:41] <Takeshi> might find more information among myth or legend that might explain that a bit better, but I don't know what she's found so far?" Takeshi looks over to Kotono with the question.
[21:42] <Usagi> "Even if Despair was like that, there might be more that are like Michiru-san was," Usagi points out to Hotaru. "Transformed humans or something."
[21:42] <Kotono> "Not much yet but we're just starting, but tell them about what you saw since it's sitll cool and interesting!" Kotono creeps even closer to ASher at that, smiling away and letting her arm again creep up to his shoulder, wrapping...
[21:43] <Kotono> "Or Michiru was gonna end up like that," Rei adds with her own quiet prompting, giving the new Sailor a cautious, level look.
[21:43] <Michiru> "Possibly", Michiru follows somewhat bitterly.
[21:44] <Hotaru-chan> "The gray part of her aura actually reminded me of Jun's ward over the silver crystal. She was giving off only faint signs of supernatural activity, fainter than Misuki ever did. It felt more like a lock than the void, but I didn't get the cold feelings from Despair, either," Hotaru provides with a shrug.
[21:44] * Takeshi grumbles slightly at that, having been trying to avoid that specific thing. "Take more time to explain what I saw and it STILL wouldn't make any sense," he mutters under his breath, then goes on. "Basically, I tried to spy on Temptation, and I think I saw their world. I only got a few vague impressions, but it was... really weird. Gray and cold are the two things that stand out the most."
[21:45] <Hotaru-chan> "Cold was something that came with the beast lord, like cold, hard, black vacuum..." Hotaru frowns a bit more.
[21:45] * Makoto frowns a little. "Asher saw something?" She asks Kotono, seeing that get lost in the speculation about an enemy she really doesn't think much of anyway.
[21:46] <Asher> Asher seems to be totally oblivious to Kotono's movements, looking for all in the world like he was deep in concentration without paying much to the surroundings.
[21:47] <Kotono> Taking advantageof this Kotono's arm snakes aorund fully, the blonde using Asher as a rest as the conversation flies on around.
[21:47] <Makoto> OOC- Strike my line
[21:47] <Takeshi> "Most of the rest was just glimpses of things like impossible buildings and a circle with an inside that was bigger than the outside, and the last thing was a big cauldron that was smoking." Takeshi concludes. "Like I said, I'm still trying to make sense of most of it myself."
[21:48] <Kotono> "Yes, we don't understand what it is. Which is why...Michiru." Serenity stands tall, looking at Neptune with caring but hardenedly resolute eyes. "We have to ask - what can ou add to this?"
[21:48] <Usagi> "Well, we've got someone here who was actually part of their group," Usagi points out the obvious, looking towards Michiru. "Anything you can tell us, Michiru-san?"
[21:48] <Takeshi> "That would be my next question as well, yes," Takeshi says, taking a seat and getting out a pencil. "Anything you can tell us about them would help."
[21:50] * Michiru gets up, politely bowing and glancing over the group. "Well... I haven't spent much time with the nucleus of the inhumans. So, the core information I know is pretty much the same as yours. I'm not sure what I can add over that, but I'll try."
[21:52] <Takeshi> "Like I said, with as little as we have right now anything will help," Takeshi repeats, giving Michiru a slight smile. "Even small details that might have stuck in your mind for some reason."
[21:53] <Usagi> "Even something that seems insignificant could be useful when we link it to what we know already," Usagi encourages with a friendly smile.
[21:54] * Makoto leans back on the couch and watches through hooded eyes. Contributing much when she's not been heavily involved to date would be kind of pompous. Best to listen closely for now.
[21:55] * Michiru nods firmly, and proceeds. "Well, then. The first thing that comes to mind, objectively, is what Temptation said to me when we met for the first time. She said that the Lightbringer would wash away the cold and despair of their lives. They seem to anticipate its coming very firmly, as... if it was their savior."
[21:56] <Usagi> "It?" Usagi interrupts. "You mean i
[21:56] <Usagi> OOC: gah
[21:56] <Usagi> "It?" Usagi interrupts. "You mean it as in a thing or it as in you don't know if it's a man or a woman?"
[21:57] <Kotono> "That makes sense with a name like LIghtbringer, but you know, that kinda fits in with that armageddons tuff, you know, since a savior's usually tied to something lik ethat, huh?" Kotono rattles that off as she thinks.
[21:57] * Michiru nods to Usagi. "I don't know what the Lightbringer is. I think it's best if I refer to it as... "it", really."
[21:58] <Makoto> "That sounds like it could be a thing, too." Makoto agrees. "The first thing that popped into my head when you said that was a sword of some kind."
[21:58] * Usagi nods. "So it could be either for all we know right now," she murmurs, settling back to let Michiru continue.
[21:58] <Hotaru-chan> "Washing away could mean death or paradise, yes," Hotaru agrees, frowning a little. "Find your salvation in your end, falling into the arms of your savior? Something like that."
[21:58] * Takeshi frowns slightly, turning his attention to his notebook as he scribbles down a note. "Possibly," he muses absently. "I've been trying to keep in mind that their idea of 'light' may not be the same positive thing that most of us see it as - it's just too hard to say what exactly it means to them."
[21:59] <Michiru> "But, anyway." Michiru breaths deeply, and follows up. "Also, I must say that their interest on recruiting inhumans is... high. It's quite a notable priority, from what I've noticed in their talks, and even the way they treated me."
[21:59] <Kotono> "How'd they treat you, anyway," Rei mutters, raising her voice enough for it to carry. She gives of an aura of crabbiness, arms crossed over her chest.
[22:00] <Usagi> "Maybe, but from what Michiru said, it'll wash away the cold and despair from their lives, right? And you said it was cold and grey, there... I think whatever it is, it probably will bring Light to them in the way we think of it," Usagi points out to Takeshi.
[22:01] * Makoto rubs her temples a little. "Maybe we could get the whole story before we theorize? I guess that makes me a hypocrite, but this is getting confusing to follow."
[22:01] <Takeshi> "Possibly, I'm just trying to work from assumptions as little as I can," Takeshi replies. "You could very well be right, but I'd rather not treat that as fact when we don't know it's true for sure yet."
[22:01] <Kotono> "Or they just need a nightlight and are looking for Balder for that, huh?!" Kotono says, giggling at that, "I dunno what they're looking for, honestly, but was I the only one that just thought of that?"
[22:02] <Hotaru-chan> "That could just as easily be taking them from this reality into their 'paradise', or to have the world overwhelmed in blackness. The Beast Lord revered 'the Nightmare' as glorious as well," Hotaru murmurs, shaking her head.
[22:03] * Usagi shrugs. "Probably right," she nods in Makoto's direction, abashed. "Most of our theories about Jadeite were way off, too..."
[22:03] * Takeshi leans back in his seat, eyes closed as he considers. "I almost want to..." His brow creases a bit as he goes over the possibilities.
[22:04] * Makoto looks to Serenity and Michiru hopefully.
[22:05] <Kotono> "We don't know right now, so that offers us a simple plan of action. If they attack, we protect whomever they attack and stop them. If we can, get information however possible. Why they are doing this - that's as important as the fact they're doing it." So nodding, "I'll want all of yu to keep in touch. Related to that..."
[22:06] <Asher> Asher's eyes seem to finally come about, but he still offers no comment, seeming to sense the stillness in the room. He angles his head ever so slightly to catch a view of full blonde hair, looking over at Serenity.
[22:06] * Takeshi raises his head from the back of the loveseat, looking over at Serenity with an unspoken question on his face.
[22:07] <Kotono> Luna hops up from Makoto's lap, trotting up to in front of Takeshi. "Uranus or Venus," she smiles coyly.
[22:08] <Takeshi> "Communicators, right?" Takeshi says, smiling slightly. "I'll go with Venus, I suppose."
[22:08] * Makoto chokes at the question, beginning to giggle.
[22:08] <Kotono> With a backflip Luna drops Venus' communicator! It's a nice orange color, fresh and unused! "In lieu of Venus I hope you use it well." Trotting up to Asher there after, "I'm afraid you'll have to settle for Uranus, Asher."
[22:09] <Kotono> Kotono just clings tighter to Asher, blushing at that and sputtering. "He's not settling for Uranus..." she mutters darkly.
[22:09] * Makoto slips a hand over her mouth to smother laughter, not entirely successfully.
[22:09] * Hotaru-chan buries her face in Makoto's shoulder, snickering.
[22:09] * Usagi echoes Makoto's gesture, having kept control up until Kotono's comment, but that was too much...
[22:10] <Kotono> "...idiot..." Rei chuckles herself, shaking her head. "You...idiot..."
[22:10] <Takeshi> Orange fits... sort of. His own colors are red and gold, so... bah. Does it matter what color it is? "Thanks, this should make things a lot easier," he nods to Serenity, then looks over at Asher and Kotono in confusion. "Did I miss something?"
[22:10] <Asher> Asher takes the communicator without preamble, almost recoiling at Kotono's comment before letting it pass. He nods gratefully to Luna, his face tinging with the slightest bit of red as he refuses to look at Kotono.
[22:10] <Kotono> Kotono just clings to Asher tighter, whispering to him!
[22:11] <Asher> "That's fine, thank y --" Breath LOST. Unable to SPEAK.
[22:11] * Makoto watches the sudden entertainment with a wide grin.
[22:11] * Usagi edges a bit further from the couple, now right against the far end of the couch.
[22:12] <Asher> With not a small amount of effort, Asher manages to break out an entirely and utterly fake smile that often preludes nervous breakdown as he .. very subtly... tries to loosen Kotono's grip.
[22:12] * Michiru looks at the couple, a bit confused.
[22:12] <Kotono> Kotono tries to whisper this, but her voice is a bit upset. "Even if it was right now in front oe veryone?! I mean...Asher...just...."
[22:12] <Kotono> Kotono's clinging pretty hard, unfortunetly for ASher.
[22:12] <Hotaru-chan> Being ever the Prussian, Hotaru takes this opportunity between bouts of snickering to exploit Luna's absence and enacts a militant takeover of Makoto's lap.
[22:13] <Asher> With a low sigh. "Kotono. If you could let go of me for one moment, I just remembered something..."
[22:13] <Kotono> "...ahem." Queen Serenity clears her throat.
[22:13] <Kotono> "What did you remember, Asher?" Serenity smiles more purely, as if a paragon of light and love in the world.
[22:13] * Takeshi puts a hand over his face briefly, shaking his head. He clears his throat noisily - almost in time with Serenity, prompting an embarrassed look over at the monarch.
[22:14] <Kotono> Kotono relucatantly retreats, only clinging partly to Asher at that scolding.
[22:14] <Asher> He jerks his head up, now suddenly meek again and offers the queen a nervous smile. "Nothing important, Queen Serenity. Just that I'd borrowed a little something and forgot to ever return it properly." Reaching into his backpack and fiddling around, he produces an identical communicator - this one with the astrological symbol of Pluto engraved on it.
[22:14] * Makoto hugs Hotaru absently, as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened.
[22:15] <Asher> With a wary look, he presents it back to Kotono, with a "happy now?" look, although it's not quite as harsh as it could be.
[22:15] <Kotono> "...ooooh!" Kotono eeeps, taking it back and s hoving it into her bag thereafter! This finally breaks the glomp, giving Asher a few moments of glorious FREEDOM if he wishes to use it.
[22:15] * Hotaru-chan smiles mysteriously and snuggles backwards into Makoto, all the more happy and willing to let the world go on now.
[22:15] <Takeshi> "Er... anyway. The only thing I'd like for now is that if anyone runs into an attack or the inhumans, just let me know about it as soon as you can. Since I've already gotten most of the information we have in one place anyway, it'll help if we have one central place we can go to see everything we have. I don't mind passing it over to someone else if they'd rather do it, but I think someone should regardless."
[22:15] <Asher> Freedom Asher relents wholly in by leaning back and stuffing his new commuciator in before waving invisibly to everyone else off with a wince and a sigh.
[22:17] * Usagi gives Asher a brief sympathetic smile before turning her attention back to Takeshi. "I can do that," she agrees.
[22:17] * Michiru sits down and observes the entire room in silence. Juggling her attention between Rei and Hotaru, sometimes glancing at Usagi and Serenity. Her complexion seems drifting, composed and focused wholly towards her inner self...
[22:17] <Kotono> "That is wise," Serenity shakes her head at Kotono, frowning before she continues on. "Now, to the matter at hand again. Do any of you have anything else to add about the threat and how they operate or ideas related to that?"
[22:18] * Hotaru-chan glances over at Michiru, curious about the teal haired girl's looks, but not interrupting Serenity. "Nothing that isn't wild theory making better done in a library."
[22:19] <Usagi> "I'd like to try purifying them if I can," Usagi pipes up. "Michiru-san proved it can be done, even if it's really difficult, and, well... I'd rather do things that way if possible." Sure beats killing. "Not asking anyone to take any stupid risks or anything, but at least keep the option in mind?"
[22:19] <Asher> "I'm somewhat curious as to we have any clue that these people would be connected or mentioned in Earth lore at all... has there been anything, aside from the somewhat inconsistent name usage, to point towards that direction?"
[22:21] <Takeshi> "The fact that they're here, is why I asked Kotono-san to look into it," Takeshi explains, looking a bit uncomfortable. "If they're looking for something that they've lost or went missing here on Earth, it's a fairly logical step to think they may have had a connection to Earth before."
[22:21] <Hotaru-chan> "If youcan convince the glaive...well, if you can actually get it to talk, that's your business," Hotaru offers Usagi a smile, snickering. "And it's very possible...the Beast Lord was connected here, so we know creatures of that sort can be here, and we managed to find mentionings of him in...I think it was Mongolia."
[22:23] * Makoto leans back, leaving the speculation that's making her head hurt to the others, and going back to playing with her homework sheet.
[22:24] <Usagi> "I think the phrase about guns not killing people should apply equally to glaives," Usagi replies uncomfortably. "I'm not asking anyone to hold back and put themselves in danger when fighting for their lives, but if you're winning and have things under control, at least remember we have another option."
[22:25] <Hotaru-chan> "I'll work on silence walls, but I don't usually have options other than utter annihilation," Hotaru murmurs softly, sighing.
[22:25] <Asher> "I have to agree with that," Asher brings up, albeit reluctantly, seeming to glance down to the ground for a moment. "From everything I've seen and heard, these ... people don't seem to be dead intent on going out and killing or draining people. They're looking for something, and we stand out because we're particularly in the way."
[22:26] <Asher> "Not that we shouldn't ever step in to stop them, but it may not be necessary to immediately conclude everything with violence. If nothing else, we could try to learn a little more from their motives if we just outright asked it."
[22:26] * Takeshi leans back on the loveseat as Usagi speaks, closing his eyes. A rather conflicted expression is on his face as he thinks, weighing possibilities before... "I do have one other idea, but it's risky as hell," he finally says.
[22:27] * Usagi nods in agreement, giving Asher a warm and grateful smile for a second before she looks up at Takeshi. "What's your idea, Takeshi-kun?"
[22:28] * Takeshi stares at a spot on the floor in front of him as he speaks. "I let them recruit me, or at least try to get them to talk terms about recruiting me."
[22:29] <Makoto> "What?" Makoto sits up suddenly, staring at Takeshi like he's grown a third eye. "No."
[22:29] <Asher> Asher stares over at Takeshi, his face suddenly looking a lot more serious.
[22:29] <Hotaru-chan> "Absolutely not," Hotaru agrees resolutely, eyes solid violet gems.
[22:29] * Michiru eyes Takeshi, particularly concerned, and gets up. "No."
[22:29] <Kotono> "...no. Not again, not for you." Queen Serenity's voice is like stone cast into shapes of rock. "I can't bear that in good faith."
[22:30] <Usagi> "Totally," Usagi agrees with everyone else. "Maybe ask them what they'd do if you did join, get information out of them that way, but no way should you actually surrender to them and be taken off who knows where to be changed like Michiru was - you think that stuff is easy to fix afterwards?"
[22:30] <Makoto> "What the hell is wrong with you all?" Makoto bursts out unhappily. "True, we don't know enough to conclude that they're not entirely evil, but that cuts both ways! We can't take them lightly either!"
[22:31] <Usagi> "Huh?" Usagi blinks at Makoto's outburst. "Uh... no one said that, Mako-chan..."
[22:31] <Takeshi> "The possibility at least needs to be talked about," Takeshi goes on, not looking at anyone. "I'd set terms before I'd walk into it - no sort of control whatsoever, and I could probably justify that if their intentions AREN'T all bad - I think my history with Metallia would be enough justification for that. And if we want to find out their real motives, how better are we going to do it, short of capturing and interrogating one of them?"
[22:32] <Asher> "Makoto-san, all that was needed to be said was that responding instantly with conflict is never going to let us even attempt to find some kind of even ground or learn more about them. We'll only learn how well we can hurt them and how well they can hurt us."
[22:32] <Asher> "And we just don't know enough right now..." His words trail off as Takeshi speaks up.
[22:32] <Usagi> "Capturing and interrogating works way better than letting them capture *you*!" Usagi fires back at Takeshi, head whipping around again. "What guarantee do you have of them keeping any word about not controlling you?"
[22:32] <Makoto> "It sure sounded like it." Makoto gripes. "All this talk about motives is getting to me. We don't know enough to assume that we have the luxury of being kind, either." She replies irritably. "Look what the Beast Lord did to Hotaru!"
[22:33] <Kotono> "Or what Jadeite did," Rei says this quietly, "Look at Nior, Balder or Princess Serenity! I'm all for talking to them if they'll talk, but I'm just -thrilled- at the idea of one of us going into the lion's den like that."
[22:33] <Hotaru-chan> "How much experience do you have actually succeeding at fighting off mental attacks, Takeshi?" Hotaru asks sharply, ehr eyes narrowed. "Do you have a mental defense system, have you actually resisted temptation and posession by such things before?" she asks closely.
[22:34] <Asher> Asher folds his arms, looking solemn and seeming to tune out again from the conversation.
[22:34] <Makoto> "We need to look after ourselves first and foremost." Makoto adds. "If they give us an opening to be nice and accept it, great. If not, they are DANGEROUS."
[22:34] * Michiru frowns, sighing. "The main issue is what will happen to Takeshi. As someone who sided with them, I can say securely that they would accept their offer. But I have my doubts on whether would he be able to stand unlife. I know I couldn't."
[22:34] <Michiru> *accept his offer
[22:35] <Hotaru-chan> "And the question whether they might be so lenient with someone they know to be on the other side previously. They may very well take deeper precautions," Hotaru adds darkly.
[22:35] * Takeshi shoots Hotaru a look that's a cold and hard as stone, his face just shutting down entirely. "I'd say I have enough experience with possession to know exactly what to expect," he grates out. "I'm finished talking, Serenity. I won't act yet, but I'm going to consider the possibility further for now." He stands at that. "By your leave."
[22:36] <Usagi> "Look, if we want information, the best way to do it is to convert one of them to our side, not to go to their side and hope for a chance to escape later," Usagi states firmly. "Otherwise you're just giving them the same chance to get information out of you."
[22:37] * Makoto makes a slightly disgusted noise and simply shuts down, holding Hotaru tightly and stewing.
[22:37] * Waiting 9 seconds for previous request
[22:38] <Hotaru-chan> "Yes, Nephrite. You have experience being posessed, how much experience retaining your soul and sanity during the posession, though?" Hotaru replies.
[22:39] <Kotono> "Takeshi." Serenity's eyes close, tired and sad. "No. They are right,a nd further...I would never forgive myself if you fell into darkness again if I had anything to say about it. It's not a risk I can live with under these circumstances.....and enough, Saturn." Serenity does raise her voice. "Metallia...was more than enough on that count."
[22:39] * Hotaru-chan makes a clicking sound with her tongue, just once before settling back into Makoto, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths.
[22:40] <Takeshi> "As you wish," Takeshi says, bowing in a sharp salute to Serenity before storming out of the room completely.
[22:40] * Usagi stands up as well. "Not saying he had a good idea, Hotaru, but that was over the line," she tells the younger girl, before following after Takeshi.
[22:42] <Makoto> "Oh for god's sake." Makoto mutters, glaring at Usagi as she leaves. "We've learned nothing from Jadeite and Beast Lord at all."
[22:42] <Asher> Asher stands up quietly as well, his eyes downcast as he throws one glance over at Serenity, a question in his eyes. Something bothering them. Before long, though, he too bows politely and murmurs something quietly. "If that is all, then, Queen Serenity..." Kotono along with him or not, he picks up his backpack and takes the way out.
[22:42] * Michiru sighs deeply, and stares at the floor in silence, her expression a bit tense.
[22:44] <Kotono> "Go ahead." Serenity sighs once more, looking tired and weary.
[22:45] * Makoto fumes a moment, then nudges Hotaru gently. "Let's go?" She inquires softly, and tightly.
[22:46] <Kotono> "Wait, Hotaru. I will talk with you privately." Serenity doesn't sound happy -at all-, but solemn instead.
[22:48] <Makoto> "Serenity-sama...With respect. I don't think she was wrong." Makoto interjects defensively. "He of all people should have realized how moronic that idea was."
[22:48] * Hotaru-chan raises an eyebrow, standing and offering a slight shrug to Makoto. "Tonight," she offers the senshi of Jupiter.
[22:48] <Kotono> "The idea was flawed." Serenity doesn't argue that point at all to Jupiter, but says nothing more as she quietly waits.
[22:48] <Kotono> Kotono just lingers a bit, letting Asher go before quietly going herself.
[22:49] <Makoto> "As you say." Makoto sighs, her expression regretful and nodding to Hotaru before simply disappearing in a burst of electrical light.
[22:51] * Michiru watches the entourage leave the room one by one, as she remains, slowly sitting down on the floor. She seems a bit bothered.
[22:51] <Kotono> "Michiru, if you would go rest upstairs for a short time," Serenity says semi kindly.
[22:53] * Michiru nods in agreement, and heads to the stairs silently.