Miscellania 2 - for things between episodes 4-6!

[Asrana]

This happens late Saturday evening/night, long after the convention battle.

[16:40:35] <Sailor_Pluto> ---Arc 2 go!---
[16:45:04] <Sailor_Pluto> Makoto is a wonderful place to rest. But as the evening comes on, Hotaru feels better enough to go home or make a call or whats he wishes...
[16:47:26] <Hotaru-chan> Her own home is indeed nice, hopefully quiet again as she goes to the phone. Well, she's tired, but...she did want to call him, and it might be nice... Hotaru bites her lip, picking up the phone and dialing Yoshi's number. Who knows, maybe she'll get to talk to his mother or something?
[16:52:25] <Sailor_Pluto> Three and a half rings is the magic number this time. Her house is indeed quiet, as, "Hello?" It is a woman, no less. An older one, no chance of it being someone on the side, right?
[16:53:11] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru certainly HOPES so... "Ah...is Yoshi there?" she asks, a little nervously, but trying to be optimistic!
[16:57:06] <Sailor_Pluto> "Yoshi? He's with his girlfriend right now," The other voice says innocently, before you hear a loud, "MOOM!" from Yoshi, loud enough and irritated enough to carry.
[16:57:41] <Hotaru-chan> "...he...is...?" Hotaru asks, her voice going very faint very quickly.
[17:01:24] <Sailor_Pluto> There's some faint laughing from the woman, and then, "Hello...sorry, Mom's in a strange mood today, she came home from a company party a bit drunk."
[17:03:02] <Hotaru-chan> "...She scared me nearly senseless." Hotaru remembers to breathe suddenly, thumping a little as she leans into the wall.
[17:04:04] <Sailor_Pluto> "I'm sorry." Yoshi apologies breathlessly, voice angry.
[17:05:33] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru closes her eyes, deep breaths a moment. "It's fine..." she murmurs, slumping down next to the phone stand, cradling the phone against her shoulder. "How're you?"
[17:11:19] <Sailor_Pluto> "I'm fine, just woke up from a nap." A little yawn follows that, the sound of stretching mouth. "You alright?"
[17:15:23] <Hotaru-chan> "In a general sort of way?" Hotaru offers, still a touch dazed sounding from that brush with memory lane. "Tired, after helping a friend with something this afternoon, but..well, are you doing anything?"
[17:23:27] <Sailor_Pluto> "Not at all. Want to do something?" The question is fired back, "We can go to your house or mine, or to the movies..." Or a lowering of his voice, "I even researched a hotel room if you want to do that."
[17:28:49] <Hotaru-chan> "I love your body too, but I'm half-exhausted," Hotaru remarks in a similarly very quiet voice, snickering softly. "How drunk is your mom? She didn't sound bad, but well...some people are like that."
[17:29:31] <Sailor_Pluto> "Kind of bad. Anyway, what do you want to do - I'd rather not stay her ewith her like this."
[17:33:43] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmm," Hotaru agrees softly, glancing around. "Alright, movies," she murmurs, smiling a bit. "Or something, where do you want to meet?"
[17:34:50] <Sailor_Pluto> "In front of the Crown Arcade," Yoshi says after a moment of thought. "See you in an hour or so?"
[17:35:14] <Hotaru-chan> "Sure," Hotaru nods, smiling a bit and letting it go at that.
[17:41:34] <Sailor_Pluto> OOC - Skip ahead?
[17:41:46] <Hotaru-chan> OOC - Sure.
[17:42:26] <Sailor_Pluto> OOC - Set up your state and outfit
[17:47:27] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru picks more casual clothing for this meeting, at least. She's tired, it's late, she doesn't really want to lure him into testing her fatigue. Close fitting jeans and a black blouse cover the basics, with an added coat for warmth in the growing cold of the autumn evenings. Makeup likewise is simple, a little powder and lilac lipstick  as she shows at the Crown, a familiar meeting place at least.
[21:32:40] <Kotono> Yoshi is waiting - waiting for Hotaru in a green windbreaker and khakis, looking downward as Hotaru approches. He stands under a streetlight, the evening's glow around him.
[21:34:13] <Hotaru-chan> "Why so glum looking?" Hotaru asks softly as she approaches, tracing the strap of her purse and leaning down to catch Yoshi's eyes with her own. "You look straight out of a drama or something..."
[21:38:06] <Kotono> "Hm? Oh, sorry." Yoshi mutters a distant apology, before smiling nicely if hollow at Hotaru. "...yeah. Anyway, movies?"
[21:39:11] <Hotaru-chan> "...Yoshi," Hotaru sighs a little, tapping him on the nose and taking his hands. "Tell me?" she asks, biting her lip and looking at her boyfriend. "What's wrong?"
[21:41:56] <Kotono> Shoving his hands into his pocket as he starts to walk, "Got into a fight with my Mom after you hung up."
[21:43:28] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru frowns a little, one hand following his into his pockets, not letting him go as they walk. "About what?" she asks quietly, trying to worm her hands into his, and leaning into his shoulder a bit. Didn't boys...okay, Yoshi certainly didn't fit the mold, so don't even try.
[21:48:12] <Kotono> Yoshi lets his hand be taken, sighing a little. "She was drunk and stupid again. I spent a few hours talking to a girl I hadn't seen in a year and she thinks I have another girlfriend, and she won't let me hear the end of it."
[21:51:56] <Hotaru-chan> "That sounds like a familiar story," Hotaru prods gently, smiling a bit and leaning into him. "Sorry, you probably don't need me biting your heels," she snickers, humming. Would he...you know him though! Still...
[21:59:07] <Kotono> "Just...bleh. I want to forget all about that today." Yoshi looks to HOtaru, honest. "You gonna alright with that going into the theater?"
[22:00:43] <Hotaru-chan> "Sure?" Hotaru's smile is a little wry, shaking her head. "Mah, I'll bug you some other time, since I'm curious and insane," she snorts, pulling Yoshi's hand out of his pocket and dropping his arm around her. "But really, just wanted to be close tonight, y'know?"
[22:01:35] <Kotono> He does return that, pulling Hotaru close. "Let's just go," he says, leading into the movies! OOC - What sort of movie do you wanna see?
[22:04:10] <Hotaru-chan> OOC - I will...let Yoshi choose!
[22:12:18] <Kotono> It's an anime - some action/adventure thing, but Yoshi leads you to share a seat in the back. Considering how you're pretty much touching the moment the lights go down...
[22:17:36] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru doesn't fuss one way or another about the movie, really. Once the lights go down though, she takes advantage of being in back, climbing into his lap and trying to edge in close, absorbing the sensation of touching and contact, that of being with someone close to her. "So I wonder," she whispers to him, smiling a bit. "Think you can control yourself?"
[22:19:50] <Kotono> "Yeah." It's quiet, and a bit of a quiet look away, but he does answer as such.
[22:21:48] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru bites her lip, sighing a little as she leans in, brushing Yoshi's cheek, leaning her head into his. "You can tell me what you're thinking...sorry, I just like touching a lot, and...well, not always like 'that'," she murmurs, blushing.
[22:26:07] <Kotono> "...just a really bad mood. I want something to forget about it, and ylu're the best, nice thing to forget about pretty much everything for." A slight smile by Yoshi, "Just...yeah."
[22:32:41] <Hotaru-chan> "Flattery will get you many places," Hotaru snickers very quietly, lightly pecking Yoshi on the lips. "Inside my pants is not one of them," she adds in a playful whisper, hugging Yoshi and snuggling her boyfriend a little. "...If you really want to just touch, though..."
[22:47:37] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Yoshi takes that, closing his eyes, resting and just...touching. In lots of places.
[22:51:08] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru relaxes, closing her eyes to enjoy the touching and the moment, to relax after a long, harsh, painful day of combat. Just a couple hours spent in warm togetherness, near bliss for a tired Princess of Saturn.
[22:52:38] <Kotono> So it goes. The movie...who cares. Yoshi touches - all above the belt area. Often it tempts and thrills, but he falls into resting himself...
[23:01:13] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru certainly doesn't care about the movie, focusing on touching back a little, tiredly relaxed though, and enjoying it until the end. Even just quiet time spent together is wonderful.
[23:07:32] <Kotono> So it passes in a nice blur. Yoshi reacts predictably, kissing Hotaru lightly at the end. "Have fun," he murmurs, shifting his lap a bit.
[23:11:31] <Hotaru-chan> "You're really good with your hands," Hotaru compliments, smiling and kissing back, nuzzling her boyfriend's nose and smirking. "Yeah, had fun...feeling better?" she asks softly, slowly beginning to extricate herself before the lights come back on.
[23:13:51] <Kotono> "Much...do you want to...go somewhere," he asks this delicately, with just a little bit of hope. He coughs after, letting his words stand.
[23:15:07] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises an eyebrow, kissing Yoshi's nose before she stands up, stepping a little back to let him stand. "Where'd you have in mind?"
[23:18:34] <Kotono> "A restaurant...a nice walk in the dark park...or a room?" Each is delivered quietly, a little kiss back as he gets up. He turns to face the close wall for obviously reasons that Hotaru can quite clealry see.
[23:26:29] <Hotaru-chan> "Unless you're hungry...the park," Hotaru murmurs, snickering softly. "Never stop asking after getting me undressed?" she asks, her smile playful, honestly understanding in a way.
[23:27:58] <Kotono> "It's...great." Yoshi just settles on that word, taking Hotaru's hand and nodding. "Isn't it?"
[23:32:55] <Hotaru-chan> "It is," Hotaru murmurs, leaning into Yoshi again and holding his hand, beginning to walk. "I'm also nearly half exhausted, and worry what I might do if you got a little too...enthusiastic."
[23:34:54] <Kotono> "Hm?" Yoshi asks, smiling a bit more as you go on. The cloud over him is gone, as you head outside - there's a park a few blocks away. Lots of nice, quiet places there, too.
[23:37:00] <Hotaru-chan> "How much can you accept on faith, and not ask questions about?" Hotaru bites her lip, smiling worriedly at Yoshi. "Like the knife on my desk," she elaborates, watching him, heading into the park, and on a curiousity, throwing her senses out. There might be other people like them here...
[23:39:17] <Kotono> OOC - Soul check.
[23:39:23] <Hotaru-chan> roll 2d6
[23:39:26] * Hatbot --> "Hotaru-chan rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=1, 4]
[23:43:31] <Kotono> Nothing Hotaru notes is out of note. Thew orld is natural, peaceful. Down thesidewalk you go, into the park. The sun has set a fair ways ago, lots of trees and areas here very, very, very secluded. "I don't know."  Yoshi shrugs after thinking it over, "I guess it depends."
[23:48:40] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles, kissing Yoshi's cheek. "I'll leave it at...I'm very, very dangerous when I panic," she offers, blushing. "And I worry...if we got a room, well, I know what you'd want to do..."
[23:53:42] <Kotono> "Mmm." A long pause as you are lead to a little cranny, a tree and lots of bushes. It's almost like ar oom, actually. "Then..." He looks on, simply curious and waiting for more to be said.
[23:56:44] <Hotaru-chan> "And I can't," Hotaru sighs, hugging Yoshi fully and resting against him, deep breath taken. "I can't do that, and I don't want to have to bring you up short when you get going," she snickers, kissing his throat, and shrugging. "I might worry too much, I might be paranoid."
[23:58:24] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Yoshi embraces Hotaru, kissing her cheeks a few times before, "Then...how far do you want to, and...?" he just leaves it hanging, following along.
[00:07:03] <Hotaru-chan> "Whatever you feel comfortable doign for me, I'll be okay doing for you," Hotaru offers her boyfriend, smiling a little at the sound of it.
[00:09:21] <Kotono> "Then..." Yoshi merely smiles, beginning. OOC - I assume you wanna cut ahead here? Also, El PMo.
[00:18:08] <Hotaru-chan> OOC - Yeah.
[00:24:36] <Kotono> So the next half hour is very fun! One thing leads to another, and eventuall two sweaty, stained teenagers lie in the grass, holding each other as they slowly wind down.
[00:27:15] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru purrs a little, curling up tightly, almost like a cat, into her companion, closing her eyes. "You're good..." she offers tiredly, blushing at the simply meant compliment. "Nice," she breathes, kissing his jaw.
[00:30:11] <Kotono> Yoshi just rests against her, holding Hotaru close to him. "Very nice..."
[00:36:02] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmmm..." Hotaru smiles, resisting the urge to fall past just rest for the moment. "...You know," she snickers suddenly, focusing on a blonde idea that suddenly woke her with curiousity. "...Did you ever hear about Kotono from Tenma? When we first met."
[00:37:35] <Kotono> "Little bit. Crazy blonde girl?" Yoshi idly runs his hand over Hotaru's chest, seeming to just savor being there.
[00:45:16] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmm..." Hotaru jsut smiles at thatto relaxed to mind even if she would've minded in the first place. "She finally found boyfriend...but the question suddenly came to me: 'What would Yoshi think and act like if I asked him about children?'," Hotaru laughs softly, cracking an eye to look at him. "That's amazingly unfair question to pose while we're in high school..."
[00:48:52] <Kotono> "...hey!" Yoshi nearly chokes a half second, a light cough to dispel that as he recomposes. "Well, as long as we don't go that far...hmmm. No worries then?"
[00:53:14] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru bursts into giggles, unable to control herself at the immediacy of the reaction, smirking at him. "No, no worries. It's just one of the mistakes Kotono would always make, I mean..."
[00:53:14] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snickers suddenly. "What if when I called you, I started going on about what we'd name our kids, because it's so incredibly destiny that you were single when I called abck because you're really great and nice and really I sorta expected you to be dating someone but instead you weren't so it's totally fate and we must be meant to get married and have a whole baseball team, and, and, and...!!!"
[00:56:52] <Kotono> Yoshi seemsto have a good answer to this. As his eyes glaze over, he smirks a bit and instead stops Hotaru at the first and. This is a very primal solution, simply kissing her rather intently.
[01:00:22] <Hotaru-chan> Not that Hotaru really has any protests to such solutions, quite the opposite. She can't help but smile as she's interrupted, but falls into the kiss, a now more familiar than ever way to pass the time with one of the people she counts amongst her loved.

[Halbarad]

Saturday evening, after meeting with Reiko.

[16:46] <@Sailor_Pluto> ----Arc 2 go!----
[16:48] <@Sailor_Pluto> Saturday is becoming a cooling ember of a memory for Takeshi. It's past dinnertime now, and his room is his castle and respite. A real and palpable chance to rest at last...
[16:49] * Takeshi stretches out on his bed with a groan, glad that the long day's finally come to an end. School, Hotaru, getting a new job, quitting his old one... been a hell of a day so far. A chance to relax is definitely not something he minds at this point.
[17:00] <@Sailor_Pluto> It's not until there is a mild surprise - a knock on Takeshi's door. "Takeshi, you have a phone call." That's his adoptive guardian mother, sounding distant after the single knock and then going.
[17:01] <Takeshi> "Be there in a second," Takeshi replies, heaving himself off his bed and heading into the hall to answer the phone. "Hello, this is Takeshi," he answers, wondering who would be calling.
[17:10] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Takeshi?" Serenity sounds bright and calm, happy. "How do you find yourself this day?"
[17:11] * Takeshi smiles a bit at the sound of Serenity's voice. "Not too bad, I guess. Little tired - been a busy day - but not bad aside from that. Something up?"
[17:15] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Yes. There was a battle today at a technology fair." Short and to the point, "Usagi was there, as was Hotaru, Makoto and Mamoru."
[17:15] * Takeshi blows out a long breath. "What happened? Did everyone make it out okay?"
[17:20] <@Sailor_Pluto> "They did. It was a battle, but all is well now." A long pause there, "Makoto and Hotaru are resting at Makoto's apartment, while Usagi and Mamoru rest here."
[17:21] <Takeshi> "If they're resting I'm not going to bother them, but I should probably catch up with them later, see if anything important came out during the fight," Takeshi replies into the handset, shifting his weight a bit on his feet.
[17:26] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Alright. They're awake, just watching the television while they recover. If they are attacking - do be careful, Takeshi."
[17:27] <Takeshi> "I'll stay on guard," Takeshi agrees. "Wish I'd known, though - spent most of this afternoon doing a lot of nothing. I could have at least helped."
[17:32] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Yes, we do need to bear that in mind. You would have been useful." There isn't any argument from Serenity, instead a thoughtful, long spoken agreement.
[17:33] <Takeshi> "I'll try to get in touch with Usagi and the others sometime tomorrow, I guess. Anything else I need to know for now?"
[17:35] <@Sailor_Pluto> "No, just be careful," Serenity insists, but stops. "Takeshi..."
[17:36] <Takeshi> "Yes?" Takeshi says, a slight edge of curiosity in his voice. Or maybe something else.
[17:43] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Come by soon." Serenity says as such, not beating around the bush. "There are other matters to discuss as well."
[17:44] <Takeshi> "I'll stop by tomorrow morning, then," Takeshi replies. "Got the entire day free tomorrow, at least."
[17:47] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Until then," Serenity says, teh call ending.
[17:48] * Takeshi replaces the receiver on the cradle, sighing briefly before he heads upstairs. 'Wonder what exactly she has in mind...' he thinks, shaking his head slightly as he heads back up to his room.

[Asrana]

Sunday Morning

[13:06:39] <Hotaru-chan> ---Arc 2 Asher-chan Go!---
[13:13:28] <Hotaru-chan> Sunday! Day of rest! ...One wishes. It's not so early, fortunately, Hotaru having some modicum of sense...and her own fatigues from the day and night before to think of. So it's an hour or two before lunch that the senshi of Saturn finds her way to the Shinsei home, ringing the doorbell. On thinking, she hadn't met his aprents, yes. Had anyone? An excellent question, but hey, she wanted to try and find the place at a normal time of day.
[13:15:02] <Laggy> There was nothing normal about Sundays - the family's sole and shaky grasp on all members being present. With Asher's father not currently traveling and his mother having oddly taken the day off due to a mounting exhaustion, which continues to draw Asher concern, it somehow falls to him anyway to answer the door. Breakfast just ended and they're both up in the bedroom discussing something.
[13:15:25] <Laggy> Asher, having planned to take off in a bit, walks over and answers the door with a bit of puzzlement. It's rare that they get visitors aside from salesmen or the mailsman.
[13:18:41] <Hotaru-chan> And lo is the surprise a Saturnian Princess, or a decent reincarnation thereof. Hotaru stands on the doorstep, long raven hair held back by violet ribbons, clingy violet sweater and a black skirt over black stockings completeing the very 'Saturn' look. "Asher?" she quirks her head, smiling.
[13:20:26] <Asher> "...Hotaru?" Asher blinks several times to make sure he's fully awake. Oh yes, he is. The sight of her startles him noticeably for a moment as he fails to realize the potential grave consequences of this, instead asking what comes to mind. "What're you doing here, and this early?"
[13:29:43] <Hotaru-chan> "It's not that early..." Hotaru notes lightly, blushing. "I thought I woke up pretty late...well, anyway. I wanted to check with you about some stuff, and maybe get some practice in if you're free."
[13:31:37] <Asher> "It's early for a Sunday," the young man grouses a bit, then falters for a moment. "Uh, sure. Give me a minute or two to gather my stuff and we can meet up somewhere? My house doesn't exactly have the most available amount of room." Or preferred company. His parents were fine people, but this was something he'd really not want to even try to explain to them. Asher flashes Hotaru a nervous smile, trying to get that message across!
[13:34:05] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises a bit of an eyebrow, a slight playful smile reaching her lips. "Alright, I guess. I just wanted to find the place again in case I have to bring you home," she adds, shaking her head and stepping back. "I'll meet you...hmm. I need to show you the practice grounds and everywhere, anyway. Where's the nearest park?"
[13:35:27] <Asher> "Down that way a few blocks, left turn at the third," Asher points down the street. "It's pretty small, but there isn't any other park in this neighborhood. See you there, okay?" Hearing the sound of footsteps on the stairway, Asher nods to Hotaru and quickly closes the door - not fast enough to be impolite, but not without some sense of urgency! Hotaru can hear voices behind it.
[13:36:27] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snorts softly, grinning a little to herself. Oh well. So she heads off. OOC - Set yourself up entering the park?
[13:39:10] <Asher> It's not a bad day, a bit overcast but the morning fog no longer lingers in the air as Asher makes his way into the park at a brisk pace - jogging, backpack and Reclaimer accompanying him. Not a casual entrance, in any case. He turns his head around over the small area that spans the park, looking for Hotaru's distinct raven hair as he slows down and enters, the sand and gravel crunching beneath his shoes.
[13:41:59] <Hotaru-chan> She's quite easy to find, yes. There are only a few mothers about, talking to each other as they watch a group of children pay on the playground equipment. Hotaru watches the children as well, leaning into a tree with a gray backpack at her feet. She doesn't seem very interested in the rest of the world right at the moment.
[13:43:32] <Asher> Asher walks past the others, who dutifully ignore him - even said mothers don't spare him a fleeting glance as he traverses across the park, waving a bit to Hotaru. As he approaches, his voice speaks up. "You know, you could just call me on the communicator if you had wanted to meet up and saved yourself the trouble of coming here."
[13:45:37] <Hotaru-chan> HOtaru's expression flickers, anxiety, wondering, and a slight blush for a very small instant as she's torn from the children she's watching. "Needed to get a better hold of where you live, it's useful if you ever end up as broken as I tend to get," she offers, her smile more wan. "Besides, having a girl show up on your front step isn't entirely more conspicuous than a sudden beeping from inside your bag, is it?"
[13:47:12] <Asher> "I don't know about THAT," Asher mumbles, a bit darkly as he takes his own spot leaning against another tree. "My parents tend to be very unobservant about certain things and keenly aware on others. I'm surprised that I've been getting off the hook for staying out as late as I have been lately." He lets out a sigh, a puff of gray mist springing forth from his breath. "Anyway, what did you have in mind?"
[13:51:38] <Hotaru-chan> "It won't last, trust me," Hotaru snorts. "Mom found out before anyone else did because of noticing how strange my schedule looked," she murmurs, shaking her head. "Maybe some sparring, magic practice, and I have a couple things to give you."
[13:53:22] <Asher> Asher spread open his hands, looking non-commital. His face is expressionless. "Whatever fits. I don't think here's the best spot, though."
[13:54:11] <Hotaru-chan> "It isn't," Hotaru agrees, smiling a bit, and taking Asher's hand. "Want to see the old, old practice ground, or the place I got myself in really, really deep trouble?"
[13:55:57] <Asher> Asher throws Hotaru a look, shrugging a bit to lighten the burden of the weight of his pack. "You're asking preference from me? Just pick and go, whichever's more convenient."
[13:57:59] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru rolls her eyes a bit, picking up her own bag and pulling Asher behind the tree. "Campground Voyeur it is," she laughs, the pair disappearing in a flash of violet. They reappear next to a small lake, almost picturesque in its isolation, the roar of a waterfall before them, and the placid waters undisturbed.
[14:00:33] <Asher> Asher shakes off the fuzz that comes from teleportation, adjusting to his new surroundings quickly as he loosens his grip on Hotaru's hand and steps forward for a moment, gazing over at the waterfall. The slight moisture in the air is a nice touch after the morning's cool breeze. Breeze... he closes his eyes, feeling the strings and eddies of wind flowing past him again. "This is a nice place..."
[14:05:04] <Hotaru-chan> "Why we keep coming back," Hotaru agrees, setting her backpack aside, scuffing the ground lightly. "Mmmm...how are you doing with magic? We haven't talked about since the day you met Serenity," she hazards, hopping onto a boulder, watching Asher in the breeze.
[14:07:16] <Asher> "Mundane things here and there and not much else," Asher admits, raising one hand and letting the wind caress through it. He flexes his fingers, eyes still trailing the ever-descending flow of the waterfall. "I've been focusing a lot more on my swordplay, but truth be told time scheduling's been not kind on flat out training."
[14:10:16] <Hotaru-chan> "Bloodshed's usually a better teacher than practice, anyway," Hotaru remarks, a slight hint of bitterness there, hardly detectable. "Tried mixing the two yet?"
[14:12:22] <Asher> "Not consciously," Asher remarks, not missing that telltale hint as he sits back down on a nearby convenient rock, the tip of the kendo stick scraping across its surface. "It's difficult enough to try to concentrate on something you don't fully understand, let alone integrate it into a physical activity at the same time." He closes his eyes again, willing the wind about them to pick up in strength.
[14:12:26] <Asher> roll 2d6 soul check
[14:12:27] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 soul check and gets 8." [2d6=2, 6]
[14:12:36] <Asher> And nothing happens. A stir here and there, but that's it.
[14:19:26] <Hotaru-chan> "Sometimes..." Hotaru shakes her head, smiling a bit. "You just have to push at it incessently. That's how I learned to teleport. Throw your whole self into it, exhaust your spirit, and keep trying."
[14:20:15] <Asher> "And only get results a sliver of the time." Asher sighs, willing himself to try again to jar the winds into doing -something-.
[14:20:18] <Asher> roll 2d6
[14:20:19] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 4." [2d6=2, 2]
[14:21:00] <Asher> With a bit of a hiss in the air, the breezes start to slowly accelerate themselves, ruffling up his hair and billowing Hotaru's own as they swirl around in a rhythmetic dance.
[14:22:17] <Hotaru-chan> "Practice makes perfect," Hotaru notes lightly, beginning to weave a shield in the air, a square of violet energy coalescing to stop some of the wind behind her.
[14:22:20] <Hotaru-chan> roll 2d6
[14:22:21] * Hatbot --> "Hotaru-chan rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=4, 2]
[14:22:53] <Hotaru-chan> And it does, a glowing shield of energy coming into existence at her command. "Like these, I didn't used to be able to make them at will."
[14:23:26] <Asher> "My lippy friend here seems to have certain ideas against that, too," Asher mutters, holding up Reclaimer with a vaguely annoyed look. "Anytime I feel like I'm about to make some progress, he tells me I'll burn myself out. What exactly does he mean by that?"
[14:24:54] <Hotaru-chan> "That you're using energy, most likely," Hotaru smiles a bit, floating the shield over towards Asher. "Reclaimer talks to you much?" she asks curiously, hovering wall nearing him. "I tend to have an easier time--I have a lot of energy in me, and I throw myself into everything."
[14:27:34] <Asher> "Always to make a snappy remark on something or another that I do, so you can imagine how much of an earful I get from him," Asher replies, throwing a rueful glance at the sword. He looks back over at Hotaru with a bit of an envious look. "I don't know, I've never felt -too- tired when I'm trying to experiment with this... but he always warns me about limits and sane things to do. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry."
[14:28:41] <Hotaru-chan> "You can try pushing yourself, there's an eventual limit, but it's ahrd to tell until you've really gone, Hotaru snickers, rotating the shield and lowering it, or trying to.
[14:28:43] <Hotaru-chan> roll 2d6
[14:28:43] * Hatbot --> "Hotaru-chan rolls 2d6 and gets 2." [2d6=1, 1]
[14:30:54] <Hotaru-chan> Thye shield...rotates? Perfect unison and control, even expanding a little in size. "Try standing on it? I'm trying to work these out without using the actual spell. Silence Wall is draining."
[14:31:34] <Asher> "..." Asher eyes Hotaru warily, stepping over for a moment. That doesn't LOOK healthy.
[14:32:40] <Hotaru-chan> "I'll keep it low to the ground," Hotaru offers, blushing. "I've used it like this before, with Junki, and I used the Silence Wall like this during Gaia..."
[14:33:05] <Asher> Stepping over to the shield, a thought occurs to him as he takes a step up to it, willing the air around him to .. move... and carry...
[14:33:59] <Hotaru-chan> The shield takes the weight for the moment. A very solid shield! Perfectly rotated and level at that!
[14:34:22] <Asher> A bit of a focus here and there, as Asher tries to strenghten the bonds around the current, lifting him entirely up from the shield itself.
[14:34:51] <Kotono> OOC - Soul check...mmm. What's your eC level?
[14:35:01] <Asher> OOC - ...1. Duh.
[14:35:37] <Kotono> OOC - Oh, civvie form. Dur.
[14:35:47] <Asher> OOC - It's 1 transformed or civvie form.
[14:35:54] <Kotono> OOC - Oh. Dur. I suck.
[14:35:58] <Asher> OOC - Yes.
[14:36:07] <Kotono> OOC - Soul check +2
[14:36:10] <Asher> roll 2d6+2
[14:36:11] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6+2 and gets 8." [2d6=5, 1]
[14:36:37] <Asher> And it doesn't happen. Asher's foot lodges itself plainly on the shield and the expectation of something otherwise makes him nearly lose his balance as he unsteadily positions himself.
[14:37:04] <Asher> "...oi." That's all that he manages out as he stands back on the thing again.
[14:43:05] <Hotaru-chan> "Like I said, try pushing at it. Focus your entire will into doing what you want to happen, and  command the energy to do it," Hotaru shakes her head. "If you can't bend your will to it, you won't survive the worst moments."
[15:38:48] <Asher> Asher grits his teeth, not responding to Hotaru's words by mouth but by mind instead. Still standing on the shield, he clenches his fists and wills, -wills- the air around him to react again, imagining the streams converging and uplifting upwards.
[15:38:52] <Asher> roll 2d6+2 burn 20 ep
[15:38:52] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6+2 burn 20 ep and gets 9." [2d6=3, 4]
[15:39:41] <Asher> And it barely edges out at first... he feels his clothes fluttering a bit in the sharp uptake of wind, but then there is the feeling of feet leaving surface and he opens his eyes, realizing that he's now slowly levitating from the air an inch at a time.
[15:40:51] <Asher> This takes concentration, though! And opening his eyes have provided a not entirely unexpected jolt back to the so called reality.
[15:40:52] <Asher> roll 2d6
[15:40:52] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 3." [2d6=2, 1]
[15:41:26] <Asher> But somehow, the flow continues freely and he continues to rise into the air, before willing himself to halt for a moment and maintain his lofty spot. Which he does. The drunken feeling of mid-airness overwhelms him momentarily. "...well."
[15:44:35] <Hotaru-chan> "See?" Hotaru offers with a small smirk, dismissing her shield for the moment and glancing up at Asher. "Put the force of your will behind it, and you will succeed," she offers, as with a sudden burst, black fingered and violet webbed batwings of pure energy erupt from her back, soft beats made as she brings herself up to level with Asher. "It's not impossible to fly. You just have to find your way."
[15:46:06] <Asher> "I'm well aware it's possible. Just getting there is the issue." Asher levels a look over at Hotaru, looking a little hurt. "It's not like I ever said I couldn't eventually get it - it's just frustrating without any sense of direction whatsoever." He experiments a little more, allowing the wind to glide him back horizontally instead of vertically.
[15:46:08] <Asher> roll 2d6
[15:46:10] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 2." [2d6=1, 1]
[15:49:00] <Kowork> OOC - 1d6
[15:49:04] <Asher> roll 1d6
[15:49:06] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 1d6 and gets 4." [1d6=4]
[22:21:11] <Kotono> Asher begins to float along! Wooshes of air propel him as he moves to the side and up a bit, trying to fly! He feels a strain - it's a good start and good practice! He can feel that he's flying with the wind, but it's also a very good effort!
[22:22:56] <Hotaru-chan> "The way you were going about it? Aside," Hotaru shakes her head, frowning suddenly, and crossing her arms. "Saturn Power, Make Up," she says, transforming. Okay, flying without a bodysuit under her skirt was a bad idea. At least this isn't the city.
[22:24:14] <Asher> Holy... Asher's head is almost dizzy for a moment, but he wills himself not to panic. No! He was actually flying! Dancing with the wind in the air, and letting his arms hang freely, he moves slowly at first, trying to adjust to the amount of resistance to movement in the air - if any! - and flowing along with the current.
[22:25:07] <Asher> For now, one axis at a time. Asher navigates back, letting the breeze carry him, and then with a pointed look up he directs the wind to uplift his form to a higher elevation. All in the meanwhile, his head cranes and turns, taking in the view.
[22:27:09] <Kotono> OOC - Soul check -2, Asher.
[22:27:16] <Asher> roll 2d6-2 burn 10 EP
[22:27:18] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6-2 burn 10 EP and gets 7." [2d6=3, 6]
[22:29:59] <Kotono> Asher keeps it up. He can feel it's a strain - his neck muscles cramp, his head gets a bit dizzy. But by the kami, he's -doing- it! 'Careful...you're still not that talented!' Reclaimer stirs, voice coming into Asher's mind. 'Don't burn yourself out!'
[22:30:57] <Asher> 'Will you let me enjoy this for a moment?' Asher pipes back. But it's not so vindicative as it is genuinely enthused. He closes his eyes, focusing on maintaining his current position midair, letting the process gradually grow into a more intuitive feeling than requiring intense focus.
[22:32:05] <Asher> Staying in midair, anyway. With that settled, he snaps his eyes open again, picks a spot a good fifty meters away or so, and then wills the wind to move him there - keeping still a somewhat safe height from the ground. After all, you never know!
[22:32:52] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru just smiles, watching Asher and letting him go for now as long as he's got a hold of it. Speaking of... She reaches out to the glaive with her mind. If Reclaimer talks, she once got a reaction from the glaive...so she tries to reach out to the weapon, touching her mind to the purified but still black polearm.
[22:34:10] <Kotono> OOC - Soul chec, 'taru creature.
[22:34:17] <Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
[22:34:19] * Hatbot --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=4, 2]
[22:34:29] <Kotono> Asher manages to do it! He is carried on the wind, even as the strain gets to wear on him!
[22:34:51] <Kotono> The Glaive is dark and dreadful but little else.
[22:35:32] <Asher> Oh, to hell with it. Asher halts his movement once he's arrived at the destination and turns around, doing a return pass to where he came from - but at a slightly faster velocity at this time. Did I say slightly? I meant a lot faster. Yeah, he's into it, be it for bad or good.
[22:35:53] * Sailor_Saturn frowns, trying to cast her thought at the weapon. 'I know you're there...speak to me?' she questions her weapon, chewing on her lip.
[22:38:12] <Kotono> OOC - Oh Asher. Soul check again.
[22:38:24] <Kotono> Hotaru gets no reaction.
[22:38:25] <Asher> roll 2d6 lolololol overconfident!
[22:38:25] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 lolololol overconfident! and gets 7." [2d6=3, 4]
[22:38:49] <Kotono> Asher zooms by, picking up speed! It hurts a bit - it really feels like he's drianing himself!( 10 EP spend via stress.)
[22:40:21] <Asher> The pain and strain aside, the caressing feel of the wind against his cheek as he takes full flight across the park is just too thrilling to give up. Asher slows down the momentum a bit, but still he wills himself to continue flying about, this time gliding and hovering closer to the serene view of the lake and waterfall!
[22:40:57] * Sailor_Saturn sighs a little, reaching into the blade itself with her mind, into the cloak of darkness that hid her the first day on Gaia, and trying to call out with her soul, a beacon of intertwined destruction and darkness in the depths of her weapon, to try and bring whatever it might, maybe have to its mistress.
[22:44:19] <Kotono> Asher manages this, close to the glittering water below! But he does feel the strain of it, body and spirit protesting. (5 more EP) Asher is feeling lightheaded, dazed.
[22:46:21] <Kotono> Hotaru again feels nothing to the Glaive in reply.
[22:46:58] <Asher> It was like a dream or a vision, one that Asher numbly doesn't even try to fight off, instead fully embracing his dulled senses as he approaches closer to the waterfall itself. The droplets and sprinkling of cold but pure water covering across his form is strangely intoxicating. He hovers closer, slowly rising from the air parallel to the waterfall, enjoying its touch.
[22:48:53] * Sailor_Saturn quirks her head, sighing a little. Talk to Serenity, it might not have something to it, who knew. It was loyal, or linked to her somehow. Abandoning her project, Saturn floats down on her wings of energy, closer to Asher to ah...supervise him. She dropped herself the first time she flew!
[22:51:36] <Asher> Asher is in no state to catch the closer-approaching Saturn and continues to flt around and ascend next to the waterfall, increasing dangerously in height second by second! But it doesn't matter; the water's feel is ever so gentle, the sky above a lure and appeal to him... he continues regardless!
[22:52:15] <Kotono> OOC - Soul check +1, Asher.
[22:52:39] <Asher> roll 2d6+1 burn 10 EP
[22:52:40] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6+1 burn 10 EP and gets 9." [2d6=2, 6]
[22:53:53] <Kotono> Asher reaches the top of the waterfall before he just feels it. An exhaution within, a give - and then he's falling!
[22:54:42] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru was expecting that part, and with a flicker of her hand, she extends the silence wall between them, trying to force it out in time to catch Asher before he gets a real fall going!
[22:55:05] <Asher> And yet panic does not overtake Asher's mind, the euphoria of the movement still gripping his mindset with a casual tenure. He closes his eyes, allowing vision to sweep away as he calls for the breeze about him to come forth and slow his descent to a halt!
[22:56:04] <Kotono> OOC - Soul checks for Asher and Saturn each.
[22:56:07] <Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
[22:56:09] * Hatbot --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 3." [2d6=2, 1]
[22:56:11] <Asher> roll 2d6
[22:56:11] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 9." [2d6=4, 5]
[22:58:56] <Kotono> Woomp! Asher fails, but he lands on a wall of silence just before he falls too far!
[22:59:38] <Sailor_Saturn> Saturn floats down, touching boots on her own spell near Asher. "You alive?" she asks, trying to not snicker TOO much.
[22:59:54] <Asher> Ow. Though it was undoubtedly better than falling the much more lengthier distance to the water below, the impact still leaves Asher with a sore back. More importantly, the jolt it provides to his head as he tries to get back up, grumbling a little bit, clears out the mist that in his head.
[23:01:08] <Asher> Glancing down at the wall, and then over at Saturn, he gives her a rueful look. "I'm alive. Worst case I would've gotten a little wet, anyway, right?" He smiles a little bit, allowing his senses to calm down from the weirdly translucent state they'd been in earlier.
[23:03:08] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru glances down through the semi-transparent wall of violet energy. "That far down?" she asks, raising an eyebrow and smiling. "Who knows." She shakes her head, walking over to him. "Well, interesting predicament regardless," she muses, taking one edge of the wall, and extending it down to the water's edge in a plane. "How long since you went on a slide?"
[23:03:57] <Asher> He gives her a 'you CAN'T be serious' look as he stares down at the makeshift, violet-hued wall. "Ladies first, they say," Asher replies back with a bit of a smirk.
[23:05:35] <Sailor_Saturn> "Full Silence Walls are immobile...so far," Hotaru explains, snickering and sitting at the edge. "Here we go!" she adds, hopping off the edge to slide down to the bank!
[23:06:22] <Asher> The young man follows suit right behind her, easing down and flowing right into the slope of the 'wall' to a water-filled environ below!
[23:16:14] <Kotono> OOC - Soul check.
[23:16:20] <Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
[23:16:23] * Hatbot --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=4, 2]
[23:16:36] <Kotono> OOC - Not you.
[23:16:38] <Asher> roll 2d6 Taru steals all the good rolls
[23:16:39] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 Taru steals all the good rolls and gets 8." [2d6=3, 5]
[23:19:11] <Asher> As the two of them land safely on the shore, Asher glances longingly over at the water in the lake and then the sky above, then chuckles, more to himself than anything else. "That was fun." Such a simple statement, such a childish statement, but it fit the bill so well. He turns back over to Saturn, bringing Reclaimer about and idly poking the ground with it.
[23:19:11] <Sailor_Saturn> So Hotaru reaches the lakeshore, stopping herself with a glaive butt against the bank, hauling herself up from the wall with her polearm and turning to wait for Asher before dismissing it.
[23:20:15] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru smiles wryly, dismissing the wall as she looks back. "I guess so, I didn't do much flying...though that is fun, yeah," she laughs. "How're you doing it?"
[23:21:36] <Asher> "I ask nicely," Asher explains with a perfectly straight face. "It's usually cordial." He takes the moment to stretch out quite a bit, getting out all of those kinks, especially that wretch in his neck.
[23:24:40] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru raises an eyebrow, snickering. "That's an odd way of explaining flight."
[23:28:30] <Asher> "Not really," Asher offers blandly, turning back after that with a bit of a twinkle in his eyes. "It's not magic is really explainable, anyway, is it? You could see it as someone you ask to do things for you. In this case," he waves vaguely, to all around them, "the air around us."
[23:28:59] <Asher> OOC - ...strike.. .that... relining so I don't sound drunk...
[23:29:10] <Asher>  "Not really," Asher offers blandly, turning back after that with a bit of a twinkle in his eyes. "It's not like magic is really explainable, anyway, is it? You could see it as someone you ask to do things for you. In this case," he waves vaguely, to all around them, "the air around us."
[23:31:24] <Sailor_Saturn> "Usually, personal methodology is explainable, adopting methodology is difficult. It's like any other metaphor," Hotaru shrugs, a slight twist to her smile. "That's still an interesting manner to go about it...Mako-chan imitates birds, you float on the wind like a piece of tissue paper, and I claw my way through the universe," she snickers.
[23:35:15] <Asher> "I guess," Asher nods easily enough, considering the metaphor but not looking terribly into it more. It would be a mistake to try to confuse himself by adapting other people's outlooks on the matter rather than stickin got his own. "That really did wear me out, though, I just didn't feel it until now." He yawns, briefly.
[23:36:32] <Sailor_Saturn> "Well, it's something fairly concrete, practice wise," Hotaru nods, releasing Saturn. "Productive morning, at least. Want to go back home?"
[23:38:39] <Asher> "Up to you." Asher raises Reclaimer with a bit of a frown, the light from the sun glinting across its currently wooden surface, but says nothing more. "I didn't have any concrete plans for today yet aside from just getting out of the house."
[23:41:16] <Hotaru-chan> "We could get called on for combat at any point, if you're tired..." Hotaru shakes her head. "Best to just rest...oh,seen Kochan much lately?" she asks suddenly. "She said she was doing research, but never called me about looking into armageddon and void creatures like Beasty."
[23:44:14] <Asher> "Not since the meeting at Serenity's house," Asher speaks up quietly, the memory of it not entirely a comfort as he glances away for a moment, chewing on his lip. "I haven't really talked to anyone besides Takeshi-san since then, actually."
[23:53:10] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmm," Hotaru shakes her head a little, blowing at her bangs. "Mah," she snorts, shaking her head. "Just wish...mmm. Anyway. I have a few other people to get in touch with later, and we've done enough for a day," she nods, almost to herself as she takes Asher's hand. "Oh for the days when you could take yourself into exhaustion with magic," she smiles, willing them away, back into a secluded part of the park they left in.
[00:02:58] <Hotaru-chan> ---

[Ebiris]

This occurs right after the big battle of episode 4 at the convention centre

[22:38] <Sailor_Pluto> Lots of rest. Usagi finds a place on the couch that is just so! Dinner is even brought out to her - Janna gets her hand fixed by Mamoru, so she even throws together some instant dinners - and plenty of time for rest is had. Most of the afternoon passes in a blazing blur, only interrupted when the 7 PM news is caught. Mamoru is in here and that's it - the two of you eat dinner together in relative peace.
[22:40] <Usagi> Not like she needed much rest, anyway... Usagi is her usual bright eyed and lively self as she sits on the couch, vaguely recalling days when she'd sleep on Mamoru's couch but not overly dwelling on it - it was a long time ago and she's quite over him. Besides, the news provides a welcome focus for her attention, the blonde quite curious as to what the spin on today's events will be.
[22:45] <Sailor_Pluto> Mamoru smiles at her once or twice, but silence is the order of the day as the news comes on. The first story is pretty dry - some big international hoohah over Russian and Japanese territorial disputes for the northern islands again.
[22:46] <Usagi> "Well... I guess that's important," Usagi mutters as she dines, not sounding all that convinced. Exciting monster attack with hundreds of witnesses should be more important!
[22:49] <Sailor_Pluto> "Not really, no. Politics...bleh." Mamo-chan makes an amused face as he picks at his vegetables idly, watching the dry reports. "I got enough watching Jun work.":
[22:50] <Usagi> "I have a bit of an interest," Usagi shrugs, "Just... I'd expect something huge like what happened earlier, especially with so many people there, to be bigger news. Haven't heard a peep all day, though."
[22:53] <Sailor_Pluto> "Give it time. Besides, who knows?" Mamoru just shrugs eloquently, smiling a bit after. "At least we got out of there in one piece. Hatred...I haven't seen someone take that much abuse...well, besides Jadeite."
[22:54] <Usagi> "Beast Lord did as well," Usagi notes, tapping her chopsticks idly against the side of her plate. "Scary, since Hatred sure doesn't seem like a leader - who knows what his boss is like?"
[22:58] <Sailor_Pluto> "Mmmm." Mamoru considers that, but the second story comes on! A picture of the convention center appears on TV. "Today's main local story - an unexplained incident at the Tokyo New Age Technology fair, and sightings and tape of the Juuban Angels!"
[23:01] <Usagi> "Y'know, I never did like that name, 'Juuban Angels'," the blonde gripes idly as she watches. "It didn't really affect me, since they only started using it after Gaia, and Mako-chan's the only one that's been in the news since then, but I hope they don't start calling Sailor Moon that as well - I always try to introduce myself properly before a battle when I can!"
[23:10] <Sailor_Pluto> "It's charming," Mamoru grins at Usagi's griping, even laughing at her ferver. But as he goes on, you see reports - a still picture of Sailor Jupiter slashing into Hatred. "The source of these strange image are unknown. The police and government have released this still image - they claim they will have a press conference soon on the Juuban Angels. This is likely to put an official face on what is a long going local story."
[23:11] <Usagi> "Guess no one thought to take a picture before I transformed," Usagi notes as she watches. "Probably for the best..." Still, a little recognition would have been nice! 'Beautiful schoolgirl averts riot' or something like that...
[23:14] <Sailor_Pluto> "Hopefully." Mamoru intently watches on, amusement gone as the screen shifts to another image - this of Hatred's larger form, towering. The angle is an odd one, a bit behind the Sailor girls. Another still shot, just as he's about to spew fire. "With a rash of new Juuban Angel photos interest is again rising in the group..."
[23:16] <Usagi> "Wonder if they'll have any witness interviews?" Usagi muses, popping some grilled pork and rice into her mouth and slowly chewing. This news isn't very informative...
[23:19] <Sailor_Pluto> "Witnesses say that a 'radiant young woman' was seen there as well. While no picture of her has been relased, she is described has having long blonde hair and pigtails, and somehow getting atop a tall podium." More shuffling of papers, "The government expects to ahve a press conference Monday or Tuesday on these matters."
[23:21] <Usagi> "Somehow getting atop a tall podium," Usagi repeats drolly. "Wow, I almost feel like I'm reliving the moment, with such stirring testimony." Shrugging as she demolishes the rest of her meal, "Wonder what the press conference'll say about us?"
[23:24] <Sailor_Pluto> "Dunno." Mamoru just shrugs again, as it goes on into the next unrelated story. "Should pay attention to it, just in case."
[23:26] * Usagi nods. "I hope they at least get the names right... even if half the time all the witnesses have fainted by the time I make a dramatic entrance," she grouses. Setting her empty plate on the coffee table, the blonde stretches out for a moment, briefly rubbing her neck. "Mmm, anyway, enough talk about work," she turns to regard Mamoru fully, a smile on her lips. "How you adjusting to life back on Earth?"
[23:32] <Sailor_Pluto> "Fairly well. I owe Makoto a lot for her apartment upkeep." Turning as well and matching that smile with one of his own, "What about you? How're things here?
[23:33] <Usagi> "Quiet, ever since Gaia - until now, but you knew that," Usagi notes amusedly. "Caught up with Motoki, yet?"
[23:42] <Sailor_Pluto> "Briefly. Heh, he wants to take me out and tell me about how Reika fell apart." That does get him to frown, "I'd never have imagined it." Looking to Usagi in surprise, "I thought they'd get married for sure."
[23:44] * Usagi gives Mamoru a melancholy and all too understanding smile. "Sometimes things just... don't work out. From what I heard off him and Unazuki-chan, they just kinda drifted apart."
[23:46] <Sailor_Pluto> "Still sad." Mamoru looks upa t Usagi now, matching that smile with one of his as he offers a hand out. "Hey, Usagi..."
[23:47] <Usagi> "Hmm?" the blonde raises an eyebrow, her own hand accepting his and wondering what he has in mind.
[19:10] <Kotono> "Just...hey. I don't know if it would b ea good idea or if it would even work, but if you're ever interested again?" Smiling as he stands, stretching up and out, "Give me a call. "
[19:14] <Usagi> Usagi's eyes widen, honestly surprised at that invitation. "I..." she murmurs, shaking her head slightly to clear it. "I don't know, Mamoru..." Not sure how to respond, the blonde gets up herself. "Um... I'd better go home," she decides, starting for the door. Yet, a nostalgic impulse makes her stop, one hand on the doorframe as she half turns back. "I don't like guys with long hair," she tells him with a flirtatious smile, before fleeing.
[19:14] <Kotono> Mamoru flashes back an easy grin, reaching up to touch his slightly longer hair. "I know - thanks, Usagi. Just...if you ever wnat to, the door's open." With that Usagi takes off! OOC - Wanna get yourself home?
[19:15] <Usagi> OOC: that's where I'm going!
[19:15] <Kotono> OOC - I'll set you up , then.
[19:16] <Kotono> It's past nine. Usagi's in her room and relaxing. Luna's sleeping on her bed, lightly dreaming of Artemis and fresh salmon. So it's a nice scene, until, "Usa..." Mom's voice calls, but is stopped. "Ack! Rei's here, and she's in a hurry!"
[19:18] <Usagi> "Huh?" Usagi gets up from her homework, already going to the door. "Tell her to come up?" she calls as she opens said doorway. Maybe Rei saw the news and wanted to find out what happened? But why wouldn't she just call? Or ask someone else...
[19:18] <Kotono> Oh, Rei is coming up! She's wearin ga nice red tank top and black jeans, her belly visible. A nice look for her, but she stops and gulps when she sees you from the top of the stairs. "Usa..."
[19:19] <Usagi> "Rei-chan?" Usagi replies, her own cheeks starting to tinge a bit pink. She's been distracted lately, but now all the confused feelings from earlier in the week come flooding back. "Uh... what's wrong?"
[19:20] <Kotono> Another long gulp when she sees Usagi, approaching slower. To her room she goes, close. Her eyes are watery, shaking. "Oh...Oh...Usa-chan..." sh ewhimpers, "How did I ever..." With that she pulls you into an embrace, attempting liplock!
[19:21] * Usagi squeaks in surprise, only barely having the presence of mind to pull back, taking Rei by the shoulders and using her foot to nudge the door closed. "Rei-chan, wh-what are you doing?" she asks, panicking.
[19:23] <Kotono> "I...I can't deny it any more. I love you." Rei says with heartshattering earnestness, looking on. "Usagi...I'm gay for you."
[19:25] <Usagi> "But... but Rei-chan... you're just confused!" the blonde tries to convince her, really hoping Luna doesn't wake up anytime soon. "We both like guys, remember? We have to be strong!" she continues, feeling her own resolve weaken in the face of Rei's surrender to their forbidden feelings.
[19:26] <Kotono> "I want to be strong...for you." Rei says this as she stares into Usagi's eyes, shaking her head. "Guys...don't matter when I'm with you."
[19:27] <Usagi> "Y-you don't mean that, R-Rei-chan," Usagi blushes, looking to the side. "I mean, I know I'm good," she can't help but puff up a little, there, "And so were you, but... But it's something we can't ever act on!" she concludes, whipping her head around to stare at Rei dead on as she holds the amorous miko at arm's distance.
[19:28] <Kotono> "I love you." Rei answers with only that, going ina nd passionately kissing Usagi as her main focus of reply, even sliding her tongue in!
[19:31] * Usagi is caught by surprise, stiff and unresponsive to Rei's affections... for a second. Then her resolve breaks as all her confused frustrations of the past week come crashing down, the blonde meeting the kiss with equal aggression as she wraps her arms around Rei, holding her tight and kissing back for all she's worth!
[19:33] <Kotono> Oh, Rei matches that - and she's feeling and touching and all that, too! She's into it!
[19:37] * Usagi emits a blissful groan into Rei's mouth as their tongues duel, pressing her body into the miko's talented hands as they're given license to roam freely. Oh, God, why did she resist? Rei's so good at this! It doesn't matter that she's a girl, not when she's so skilled and... eager. Letting go of her inhibitions feels so wonderful, right now!
[19:39] <Kotono> It does indeed! Rei's even in a hurry - Usagi notes her shirt somehow is off her, and Rei soon enough even gets her bra down! She's really not stopping, going for...oooh! Her mouth on thoset wo lovely...oooh!  But amid such fun..." USagi?" Mom's voice accompanies her knock, "Do you and Rei want some snacks?"
[19:41] <Usagi> HOW THE HELL DID HER CLOTHES COME OFF?! That realisation, along with Ikkuko's interruption, does wonders to bring Usagi back to Earth. Nearly shoving Rei off her, the blonde's eyes widen in panicked alarm as she quickly puts a foot by the door to prevent it being opened. "N-no th-thanks, Mama!" she squeaks out, ardour dampened in an instant!
[19:43] <Kotono> "Oh...Usagi..." Rei breaths, cheeks aflame as she looks on happily.
[19:43] <Kotono> "You sure...?" Mom frowns a little bit, or sounds like it. "I have some lemon squares and brownies."
[19:46] <Usagi> "Uh, well, uh..." Usagi tries to think quickly. Refusal is suspicious, after all! Quickly bending down, the blonde grabs her shirt and swiftly dons it, only managing to button it up about halfway before she decides that further delay will only incriminate her more.
[19:46] <Usagi> Pushing Rei to the side so the door will hide her when opened, and kicking the other discarded garments in that direction as well, the blonde opens the door slightly, leaning out and hoping she isn't too flushed. "Okay, M-Mama. Th-thanks," she chirps as she accepts the tray of snacks.
[19:47] <Kotono> Mo doesn't have a tray is the problem! She's just standing there, "Um," she says eloquently, blinking. "Oh, are you alright?" Coming forward a hare, she tries to put a hand on Usagi's forehead. "You look feverish."
[19:49] <Usagi> "Oh, I'm f-fine," Usagi demurs, ducking her head backwards slightly. "Are the snacks downstairs? Wait here a second, p-please, Rei-chan," she sends into the room before stepping out and closing the door behind her, a guileless and innocent smile for Ikkuko on her lips.
[19:50] <Kotono> Mom stops at that, seeing Usagi's half buttoned shirt and flushed cheeks. She blinks loooooooooong and hard at Usagi...
[19:51] <Usagi> "So, let's go get those snacks!" Usagi blurts out, stepping past her far too observant mother and starting down the stairs.
[19:52] <Kotono> OOc - I'm having Ikkuko make a mind check, since I'm jus tnot sure here.
[19:52] <Kotono> roll 2d6
[19:52] <Kotono> roll 2d6
[19:52] <Reikobot> Kotono rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{5}
[19:54] <Kotono> Mother blinks very slowly at this, but follows Usagi along. Down in the kitchen there are plehty of snacks indeed!
[19:54] * Usagi grabs up a tray of snacks before retreating once more. "Thanks, Mama!" she smiles nicely at the blue-haired woman as she passes hurriedly.
[19:56] <Kotono> Oh my! USagi heads back upstairs....oh my! Rei is up there, very very very veyr...naked. Not a scrap of clothing on her as she stands just inside Usagi's room, grinning with lovestricken eyes. "Usa-chan...I'm yours."
[19:57] * Usagi twitches, quickly closing the door behind her in case any of her family happen to pass by. "D-don't you th-think you're going a l-little too fast, R-Rei-chan?" she whimpers. "I... I'm s-still not sure a-about th-this..."
[19:58] <Kotono> "No." Rei shakes her head, blushing horribly but nodding. "If you want...I'll knee down first and..." she looks very pointedly to Usagi's skirt! "Or take me...oh god, how did I ever miss you all these years?!"
[20:01] <Usagi> OOC: as an aside, I'm wearing jeans at the moment
[20:01] <Usagi> "N-no!" Usagi shakes her head wildly. Setting the tray down on her desk, she looks at Rei, shivering slightly. All those times she joked about being really cruel to her if she ever did confess to her, but now... seeing her so vulnerable and needy just melts Usagi's heart. Plus her libido is loudly proclaiming that Rei happens to be very good at this sort of stuff. "C-can't we t-take it more sl-slowly, Rei-chan?" she pleads.
[20:11] <Kotono> "I want you," Rei insists, coming forward. "Oh Usagi...I want you so bad! Now! Now!" Rei gets clsoer, as Usagi dimly hears a feline yawn...?
[20:14] <Usagi> Not now! Stay asleep, you stupid cat! Deciding to at least do this without an audience, Usagi grabs the miko, heedless of the opening it presents, and teleports the pair to Rei's own bedroom. Hopefully Luna will just assume the discarded garments on the floor belong to Usagi...
[20:15] <Kotono> Rei starts to go along with Usagi, hugging her as the two vanish! Rei's room is bright and lit, nearly making Usagi blink. With good reason - her Grandfather carries a load of laundry, whistling quietly as he restocks socks into Rei's dresser drawer. His back is to you, at least for th emoment!
[20:16] <Usagi> Screw you, world! At least having some small mercy that he didn't spot their arrival, the blonde decides to teleport back to her house before Rei or her grandfather can react, only this time to the bathroom!
[20:17] <Kotono> The bathroom is EMPTY! EMPTY! FREE! No Shingo or Dad or Mom in here, nope!
[20:18] * Usagi darts over to the door so she can lock it and make sure it stays that way, before she turns on the light. Assuming she's able to do so without being grabbed, anyway.
[20:19] <Kotono> She is. Rei's just a little stunned. Dazed, even. "Usa...?" she asks, blinking.
[20:21] <Usagi> "Okay!" Usagi takes a deep breath after that little adventure, at least now a bit more together, now. "Rei-chan, I... I like you too. I don't know if its love, but... what we did back then and just now was really fun. But I'm not sure if I'm ready to go as far as you seem to be..." she gets out, blushing horribly. She's honestly pretty sure its not love, but she can't crush the poor girl's heart so casually!
[20:23] <Kotono> "Usagi...I can't stop thinking about you. Ever since this evening, I realised it again so much. She was so helpful, and now I know your'e the one for me." Coming to Usagi and smiling, breathing heavily, Rei drapes her arms around the rabbit girl. "It's fun...and Iw ant to do it to you."
[20:25] * Usagi blushes deeply, not resisting Rei. "I know, Rei-chan, I... wait," one phrase stops her short. "Rei-chan... did you run into Temptation again?" she asks, horror dawning. Oh, God, Rei will never let her live this down after she purifies her!
[20:25] <Kotono> Rei nuzzles into Usagi's neck, kissing away with passion. "Mmhmm. She's so wonderful!" Kissing and feeling, trying to unbutton Usagi's shirt again!
[20:27] <Usagi> "Oh, God!" Usagi wilts, not responding at all to the foreplay. "I hate you, Rei-chan!" she pouts, weakly banging a fist against the other girl's bare shoulder. "You made me say all that, and it's just... I hate you!" she sniffles, even as she begins to glow softly, trying to disperse the foreign influences clouding Rei's mind.
[20:28] <Kotono> OOc - Soul check.
[20:28] <Usagi> roll 2d6
[20:28] <Reikobot> Usagi rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
[20:29] <Kotono> "You ha..." Rei begins, tearing up. Or she would if Usagi's magic didn't affect her! She goes stone rigid in her nakedness, bolting away from Usagi! Covering her chest with her arms, "OH MY GOD! I'M NOT GAY! EVEN IF WE MADE OUt AGAIN!" Rei squawks, "THAT FUCKING BITCH, I'M GONIG TO KILL HER!"
[20:31] * Usagi just looks at Rei with a wounded and hurt look. "I can't believe I let you do that to me..." she sniffles. "I thought you really meant all that..."
[20:32] <Kotono> Sputtering comes from Rei, incoherent as she stumbles back - and to the tub, falling right in! The poor girl needs a few to get upright, soaked as she meets Usagi's own look. "It wasn't my fault! We're still not gay, even if we..." A few more twitches rack her body, as she looks down at her chest, which is, ah, betraying her. "Oh God."
[20:33] <Usagi> "I'm not gay, either!" Usagi protests, bunching up her little fists cutely. "But when you kissed me I just... I hate you, Rei!" she wails. "And I hate that Temptation for making me so... so tempted!" she grinds out.
[20:35] <Kotono> "No shit!" Rei mutters, blushing, "Oh Kami...we shouldn't be enjoying this - hell, you said you were!...not like I did any better." A dark muttering there, Rei angry.
[20:36] <Usagi> "We're just too sexy and good at this stuff for our own good!" Usagi complains bitterly. "Oh, God, at least put a towel around yourself?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "I should..." Rei stands up, shaking off lightly. But she stops just out of the tub..."Do you want me to put one on, huh?" she asks, parroting Kotono.
[20:38] <Usagi> "I just asked, didn-" Usagi snaps but cuts herself off, a calculating look at the miko. "Do you not want to?"
[20:38] <Kotono> Rei blushes at that, turning away quickly, but half looking at Usagi. "I don't know - do you want me still naked...or are you wanting to be naked too?"
[20:39] <Kotono> OOC - Body check +3, Usa.
[20:39] <Usagi> roll 2d6+3
[20:39] <Reikobot> Usagi rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
[20:41] <Usagi> "I don't know!" Usagi throws up her hands in exasparation. "You're pretty, but it's not your looks that do it for me - I guess that shows I'm still straight, even if..." she trails off, unable to conclude that statement.
[20:41] <Kotono> "Oh, you're at LEAST bi." Rei snorts...then slumps. "Hell, I guess we both are." An admission that makes her just slink to her knees, utterly looking moritified. "...Usagi...no matter what...we kill Temptation. Overkill."
[20:43] <Usagi> "I dunno..." Usagi leans against the door. "At least she's not psychotically violent, if nothing else." Sighing forlornly, she looks down at the raven-haired girl's nude form. "What are we gonna do about this, Rei-chan?" she nearly whimpers.
[20:43] <Kotono> At this point you here a knock on the door, discreet. "You're going to get out of the bathroom so I can go?" Dad adds in, feather kind and nice. "Screaming in the house isn't...polite, Rei."
[20:46] <Kotono> "...kill me." Rei just goes slack and limp, falling to the floor in a head and twitching
[20:46] * Usagi twitches horribly. "Papa..." she moans, utterly and truly mortified. "It's not what it sounds like!" she protests, going to take Rei's hand. "I'll unlock the door and teleport to my room..." she tells him, slumping in defeat as she pushes the lock aside before promptly vanishing with Rei to cross the dozen or so yards to reach her bedroom. God, any normal parent would just slink away and pretend they heard nothing, but not hers!
[20:51] <Kotono> Back to Usagi's room in a blink! Back, as Rei sighs. "Great, now what?" she says, dejected as she goes to garner her clothes.
[20:51] <Kotono> "...Usagi?" Luna asks, curious and yawning. "Rei?"
[20:52] <Usagi> "Luna, can you wait outside, please?" Usagi tells her cat, managing to sound amazingly sweet and pleasant considering the circumstances. "I need to chat with Rei-chan for a bit."
[20:52] <Kotono> "...alright, but why is...Rei naked?" Luna asks this as she hurries along, trotting out of the room at a good clip.
[20:52] <Usagi> "Just out of the bath," Usagi replies blandly. It's the truth!
[20:54] <Kotono> "...okaaaaaaay." Perhaps Luna is intelligent, for she hurries on out of the room!
[20:54] <Kotono> "Just go," Rei hangs her head, shivering as she puts back on her undergarments.
[20:55] * Usagi closes the door behind the cat before she goes to sit heavily on her bed. "Now what? I've no idea..." she shakes her head forlornly. "Considering how badly Mama freaked out a few years ago just because I made some innocent lesbian jokes, though, I think I'm in for a rough few days."
[20:57] <Kotono> "...look. I think we can do this one or two ways." Rei takes a very long breath, stoppin guntil she's fully dressed, plopping down in Usagi's desk chair. Her head rests in her hands, smothered. "WE can pretend this never happened again, and pray your family doesn't spread gossip. Or..." A shrug, "Oh god, Michiru saw me talking about you after, too. Urk." Rei stops at that, al ittle wail. "Or...well....do we confront it?"
[21:00] * Usagi sighs heavily. "We already tried pretending it never happened. Hasn't gotten us far, has it?" she asks, looking at Rei somewhat intently for a few moments before she goes on. "Just looking at you doesn't affect me the same way looking at a cute guy does," she observes. "But thinking about those kisses...?" she shudders, albeit in a good way. "Is it the same for you?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "Kinda. Look...oh hell." REi sighs yet again, lamenting her fate. "It's nice kissing you. Really nice, and touching and all of that. So...what do you want to do?" Rei looks up, "Come out? Suppress? Admit to it to our friends? What...oh man, I haven't even talked about running into Temptation in thef irst place"
[21:05] <Usagi> "Speaking of... Hotaru and Makoto were making some awfully suspicious comments lately..." Usagi can't help but note as the subject of 'coming out' arises. "Have we been acting that suspicious, already?"
[21:06] <Kotono> "..urk..." Rei colors at that, but just buries her head even father. "Heh, guess so..."
[21:09] * Usagi frowns slightly, but decides not to press it. "I don't want to come out," she states finally, "We're both straight and want boyfriends, right? But..." she takes a deep, shuddering breath, "How about... if we both like it and it doesn't affect anyone else... does it really matter if we, ah, do stuff?"
[21:09] <Kotono> "..well, yes, it means we're at least bi. I mean, shit!" Rei finally looks up, face drawn and wet, "I'm straight...except when I make out with Usagi!"
[21:13] <Usagi> "I don't know!" Usagi wails quietly. "I don't think I'm bi for anyone else, but I haven't kissed any other girls, either!" Standing up, she begins to pace with nervous energy, "I don't want to be this way, but... I can't deny it! I didn't have Temptation messing with my head when I kissed you back, just now, that was all me!"
[21:14] <Kotono> "....great. So now what?" Rei sighs again, leaning back..."Look. Then there is one way to find out?"
[21:14] <Usagi> "What, make out again?" Usagi snaps, turning to Rei. "I have to admit, I kinda like the idea!"
[21:17] <Kotono> "...no. Not quite." Rei glares back, returning that look with one of her own. "Kiss another girl. If it curls your toes, ding ding ding, we're gay. If not...mabye it is just stupid magic messing with us."
[21:20] <Usagi> "Okay, go kiss Kotono and let me know how that works out for you," Usagi sighs heavily, sitting back down on her bed. "I don't want to kiss any other girls, I just... dammit, it's bad enough like this! I don't want to explore it further!"
[21:21] <Kotono> "....GHASDKJFKLSDF!" Rei blurts out unintelligable words as she twitches, convulsing from head to toenail! "No, no, no! I don't knwo about you, but I need to know - and Kotono isn't on the exploratory list! So you just wanna swap spit with me?"
[21:21] <Kotono> Rei juts her face forward, "Then come and take it, if you're that gay for me!"
[21:24] <Usagi> "I don't want to if you're going to be like that!" Usagi pouts in reply, crossing her arms huffily and incidentally (and unintentionally!) pushing up the cleavage showing through her unbuttoned shirt. "Just... it's fun, okay?!" she adds, looking away and blushing. "Can you blame me for wanting to do something if it feels good?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "...no, so that means we're gay." Rei just shrugs in defeat, "If I'm having fun kissing a girl I'm that way. Or do you have some other dazzling feat of logic, hm? Like shoving your tits up another few inches?" Rei eyes Usagi's chest, accusing.
[21:28] * Usagi promptly plants her palms on the mattress, making a face. "Fine! Fine, you win!" she snaps. "I'm gay for Rei! You happy? I said it," continuing to gripe. "I wanna kiss you and let you touch me and touch you back and... do you want me to talk dirty as well?" she demands, flashing blue eyes focusing on the raven-tressed girl as she pouts.
[21:30] <Kotono> "If you want!" Rei snaps back, blsuhing, "I'm gay for Usagi! I want her to get her figners and other objects like that and just shove'em in! Touch me all over...!!!" Rei stops at that, sighing, "...fuck. I almost feels good to say that. Goddamit."
[21:33] <Usagi> "We're so gay!" Usagi laments, slumping in abject defeat. "Screw it. Why not just give in and have some fun instead of beating ourselves up over it? Unless you're into the kinky stuff like that as well..." she concludes, blushing terribly.
[21:34] <Kotono> "...urk. Look...sometime this week...we'll go on a ...date?" Rei says in defeat as well.
[19:12] <Usagi> "Y-no!" Usagi begins to agree before shaking her head wildly. "Listen to us! We can't go gay!" she shoots to her feet, pointing dramatically upwards, "It would be a crime against mankind! Even if we want to do naughty stuff with each other, do you really think we could actually have a real relationship with romantic candlelit dinners and stuff?"
[19:15] <Varul> "...." Rei just gently slams her palm into her forehead, "Usagi. Look." Rei gives the rabbit a very long look. "I'm not going to try and bullshit it both ways. Uh uh! If we're gonna do stuff like that, we're gay. If not, we're not. It is a crime and all that, but if I'm kissing you there's no way I'm just doing it for -that-!"
[19:21] <Usagi> "But..." Usagi falters, looking dreadfully lost and confused. "Can't we just... have our cake and eat it, too?" she asks hopefully. "I don't think I'm... ah, ready... I mean, it's a big step!"
[19:24] <Varul> Rei gives Usagi another withering look...before she just sighs as well. Falling back into the chair she was sitting in, "Like hell I am! I'm straight...I think, but...oh damn it. I just don't know what I am now, and I hate it!"
[19:27] <Usagi> "Likewise!" Usagi echoes, nodding her head rapidly. "I mean, I don't want to be like this, but at the same time it feels too good to stop!" Sitting back down heavily on her bed, she falls backwards, arms splayed out beside her as she looks at the ceiling. "I guess you should at least be happy I'm finally admitting that you're sexy, if nothing else," she pouts bitterly.
[19:28] <Varul> "Gee, that would be better if it wasn't after I found out you taste good!" That comes out of Rei's mouth in an angered tide, before she visibly winces at that. "...argh."
[19:31] * Usagi props herself up slightly on her elbows, eyeing Rei. "You did get my clothes off awfully fast... I never even noticed you were doing it until you started sucking them," she blushes right down to her half exposed chest. "Never knew you'd be so good at that, either," she barbs back.
[19:37] <Varul> "....too...way too much..." Rei twitches again, slumping and sliding down the seat. Her face is a mask of annoyance..."Oh, of course!" In a moment she's vital again, "That's it! We've been so obssessed over this lately we've forgotten about men! Solution - I'm gonna go find a decent boyfriend WITHOUT Temptation showing up. This is just some confusion and once we have a good boyfriend for a bit we'll be back to normal!"
[19:38] <Usagi> "You really think so?" Usagi asks, her own voice obtaining a hopeful lilt to it.
[19:40] <Varul> "Yes." Rei quickly stands, adjusting her clothes. "I'm going to do that first thing after school tomorrow. Ciao!" Taking the initiative Rei goes, proudly puffing her chest out as she strides on out.
[19:40] <Usagi> "Remember - we tell no one about this!" Usagi insists as Rei leaves.
[19:42] <Varul> "...heh..." Rei for some reason coughs at that, but doesn't slow down as she flees!
[19:43] <Usagi> Left to her own devices, Usagi sighs and puts the light out, stripping off once more and changing into her pajamas before going to bed - maybe her family will have forgotten about this by tomorrow? A girl can dream...

[Halbarad]

Monday, after the tech expo attack.

[13:17] <@Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[13:18] <@Kotono> Aaaaah, the joys of afterschool. Today is special - a new job looms and beckons for Takeshi. Just enough time to go home and get a snack if he wants, then change. Casual clothes for today, at least, until they settle in. That's all the instruction he's been given, too.
[13:19] * @Takeshi rides home to change, thankful at least for a slow afternoon. No telling exactly what this new job is going to entail, though - he does dress casually, but with an eye towards possibly doing heavy lifting, at least until he's got a better grasp of his duties.
[13:24] <@Takeshi> So attired, he heads out to the address provided, still not quite sure what to make of the rapid job offer and opportunity.
[13:38] <@Kotono> So on you go! Into the modern heart of Tokyo, the old ways left behind and a new age built in the ashes of bombs and defeat. A gleaming city skyscraper is the destination, the Morimoto Healthcare Advocate group occupying floors 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38. Floor 34 if your destination, where all the mundane work happens. From the outside you can tell it's call, at least 70 stories of highrising excitement.
[13:45] * @Takeshi whistles as he looks up... and up... and further up at the site of his new job. It's a far cry from slinging boxes in the back of a supermarket, that's for sure. An uncharacteristic twinge of nervousness strikes as he heads inside, punching the button for the 34th floor as per his instructions.
[13:47] <@Kotono> Up and up and up and up! On exiting you find a very simple floor - it's just a starting room without decoration that leads into what looks to be basic office meeting areas, a large mail room off to the back, and janitorial services. Pretty compact and to the point, but signs point you to an orientation room. Inside are about two dozen people of varying ages, all grabbing seats. The design is rows in front of a podium like school, a few seats s
[13:48] <@Kotono> The design is rows in front of a podium like school, a few seats still open.
[13:48] * @Takeshi isn't particularly choosy, and simply grabs the nearest unoccupied seat - doesn't really matter which one.
[13:51] <@Kotono> This is one in the middle sections. A younger woman with scarlet red hair and too much makeup on one side and a young man with a limp on the other. A man in a brown suit comes in, a bit tubby and very short. Almost like a dwarf, but he has a clipboard from him. "Okay, before we begin...Takeshi Eiryo and Koizumi Furushi? You've been hired as assissants so your boss will orient you directly. Go ahead and go to them now. That's floor 35 for Furus
[13:52] <@Kotono> That's floor 35 for Furushi and floor 37 for Eiryo."
[13:53] <@Takeshi> "Thanks," Takeshi says with a nod, rising from his seat and heading back to the elevator. At least he didn't have to sit through the entire orientation to find out it'd be unnecessary.
[13:56] <@Kotono> The 37th floor is much nicer. Glass lined offices are the norm, shuttered or not but all are big and spacious. One in the back is your destination - Mrs. Tomoe's office.
[13:58] * @Takeshi takes a few minutes to find the office in question, feeling rather out of place. A stop at the reception desk gives him the directions to Reiko's office, and a short walk sees him arriving at the office door, where a short knock announces his presence.
[13:59] <@Kotono> A pause - you can hear Reiko's voice just leaking outside. "Enter!" A quick call, then a, "I'll call you back."
[14:00] * @Takeshi opens the door and steps inside. "Ah... Tomoe-san? The guy at the orientation said I should come up and talk to you directly."
[14:01] <@Kotono> "Oh yes, come in." Reiko sits behind a large desk. A computer is set up there, as well as a few stacks of paper. Behind her is a little back table, pictures of child and husband seen. A few nondescript scenery photos line the walls, and ther eis a coffee maker and fridge on the side of the room. IT's rather nice, a window in back that gives a good view of the city.
[14:03] * @Takeshi blinks in surprise. "Wow... nice view you've got here," he comments, that being the first thing to command his attention. That out of the way, he shakes his head a bit. "Er, sorry. What exactly do I need to do for you?"
[14:04] <@Kotono> Reiko takes a moment to hang up the phone, standing up to greet Takeshi. She wears a professional business suit, hair up in a bun, only a few long strands let dangle. Just the faintest bit of demure but teasing makeup is worn. "It's simple - besides being a gopher, you'll need to do a bit of typing, make coffee and things like that."
[14:09] <@Takeshi> "Sounds simple enough," Takeshi nods. "Anything I should do to get started, then?"
[14:12] <@Kotono> "Make the coff-" Reiko begins, but her phone gets ringing. "Hold on...hello? Oh, Soiuchi...oh, that's a good idea. 9 PM? Alright...mmm, how's your day?" Reiko holds up a finger, lost in chat.
[14:13] * @Takeshi simply waits, unconsciously taking an at-ease position as he lets Reiko finish her conversation.
[14:14] <@Kotono> As Reiko goes on, she points at the coffee machine a few times. "Yes...oh, that's good, dear. I'll call Hotaru at some point to let her know to get her own dinner. Alright..mmmm. That's fine."
[14:15] * @Takeshi nods, taking the hint and heading over to start the coffeemaker. At least this is easy - he's done it a few times before in breakrooms at other jobs he's had.
[14:18] <@Kotono> The beans are a few degrees better than what you'd find in most other break rooms, but otherwise it's the same. Reiko goes on, but then, "Hold on, I have another call -t alk to you tonight. ...Hello? Yes...yes...we should be ready for the meeting on the 25th. Yes..."
[14:19] * @Takeshi raises an eyebrow - Hotaru's mom is pretty busy if she's getting calls faster than she can hang up on them. Seeing as she's not going to be in a position to give him many other instructions for the moment, he pays attention to the coffee, making sure that it's going okay and glancing back at Reiko to see when she's finished.
[14:30] <@Kotono> It's just about finished when Reiko finally gets off the phone. She sighs, "Bring me some coffee, then here. Take these to the mail room, then try typing this up? There's some free offices down the hall for that."
[14:34] * @Takeshi nods, pouring Reiko a cup of coffee wordlessly and taking the mail offered. "Mail room is down on the 34th floor where the orientation was?" he asks as he accepts the paperwork.
[14:35] <@Kotono> "Yes. Have it done in 45 minutes. Single spaced." So it's all passed off, Reiko going to her computer and starting to work withi t.
[14:36] * @Takeshi nods quickly, striding out of the room to deliver the mail as instructed before heading back up to find an empty office for typing up the last of the papers. Hopefully he can get it done in 45 minutes...
[14:38] <@Kotono> 55 minutes is more like it. It goes without incident, it's just time consuming. Reiko awaits you when you get back, a look at her clock but no comment at first. "Not bad for a first day."
[14:39] <@Takeshi> "Sorry, not all that used to typing yet," Takeshi admits, handing over the finished work. "I'm sure I'll improve with more practice."
[14:43] <@Kotono> "That's fine. Practice is here - I doubt you'll be done with these before I leave in an hour and a half, so just put them in my mailbox when youf inish." Reiko hands over several documents, "Make copies of the last one for me, too. Oh, and here." A bit of rustling, a little silver key handed voer. "For petty cash. Refill my refridgerator with yogurt, bottled water, and milk."
[14:46] <@Takeshi> "Petty cash?" Takeshi looks rather blank.
[14:47] <@Kotono> "Oh, office defrayment costs. In other words, the money we use for minor expenses like this. If you ever get asked to go out for food, supplies or whatnot related to the job, you get money from there. Just don't abuse it - they'll fire you for taking more than a dollar out and stealing it."
[14:48] * @Takeshi frowns slightly at that, not quite liking the implication. "I understand. Do you have any preferences for the yogurt?" he asks.
[14:51] <@Kotono> "Whatever is fine." Reiko waves her hand distantly, setting back down nito her work. "Just keep your hands clean and you'll do fine here. We had to fire someone a few weeks ago because he got caught stealing."
[14:52] <@Kotono> *yen
[14:55] <@Takeshi> "Got it. I take it I'm free to go as soon as I finish up, just to be sure?" Takeshi says, taking up the papers to be typed.
[14:58] <@Kotono> "Sure." Reiko waves dismissively, "See you tomorrow, Takeshi."
[14:59] * @Takeshi bows slightly. "Have a good evening, Tomoe-san," the long-haired youth replies, heading off to the same office to work on the typing.
[15:02] <@Kotono> So the next two hours pass. It's a lot of work and then a store trip - it's dark by the time Takeshi is done. Notably, while Reiko is gone, a lot of the office is still going strong. Takeshi also notes the petty cash has about 100,000 yen in it for the taking if one were of a mind. It seems to get used pretty often - you see someone going in to get some more when you pass by.
[15:03] <@Kotono> On getting allt hat done and preparing to go? In the halls Takeshi walks, into the elevator - but she shares it with a dimly familiar blonde woman. She smiles at you knowingly, "How's working for Mrs. Tomoe?"
[15:04] * @Takeshi shrugs. "It's not too bad," Takeshi replies. "First time working in an office for me, so there's a lot to get used to yet."
[15:08] <@Kotono> "Mmmm. I'm sure you'll have a good time," she chuckles, looking Takeshi over.
[15:09] * @Takeshi raises an eyebrow at that - slightly - but doesn't offer any further comment along those lines. "I'm just glad for the opportunity. I've got some kind of odd schedule concerns, and Tomoe-san's been very flexible on that."
[15:10] <@Kotono> "I'm glad to hear Mrs. Tomoe's so flexible," she blandly agrees, as the first floor is reached. "I work with her a fair deal, so I'm sure we'll get to know each other. Sachi, by th eway," she smiles slowly, heading off and out.
[15:11] <@Takeshi> "A pleasure to meet you," Takeshi replies automatically, stepping out himself. "I'll talk to you later then, Sachi-san," the boy concludes, heading out of the building himself.
[15:16] <@Kotono> ----

[Asrana]

[13:50:08] <Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[13:51:48] <Hotaru-chan> A time at home for Hotaru, relaxation and rest after a tiresome weekend. But her own mind interrupts! Plans! Yes, plans she had, hopes and dreams of the most humble sort one can have in her place. Really. This isn't a plot to cop more feels of Rei-chan... So pushing that delightful thought from her mind, she opens her communicator, paging the princess of Mars!
[13:53:14] <Kotono> Rei's hair is in a towel, a white bathrobe worn. Her face is covered with a green gel, only her eye area uncovered.
[13:53:17] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[13:53:29] <Kotono> Rei's hair is in a towel, a white bathrobe worn. Her face is covered with a green gel, only her eye area uncovered.  "Hey," Rei says faintly ,relaxing back onto her bed. "Something up?"
[13:55:26] <Hotaru-chan> "Nothing at all," Hotaru snickers, smiling easily back at Rei, relaxed onto her side on her bed. "Which is why I'm calling," she added, blushing a bit. "Since everything's been so busy, I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight."
[13:58:46] <Kotono> "No. I need a personal day." Rei shakes her head quite firmly, putting aside the communicator am oment. When it's brought back she's cleaned her face off, restored to normal. "Stuff on my mind that I'm trying to forget. Not doing a great job, either."
[14:03:38] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmm," Hotaru agrees, holding back her spontaneous reacions, taking a deep breath in that moment the communicator is pointed away. "Alright," she adds quietly, biting her lip. "Mah, I want to ask about a different day, but I don't wqant to pressure you..." she laughs nervously. "Sorry."
[14:07:58] <Kotono> "Yeah...oh damn it." Rei crumples visibly, words tumbling out in a storm. "Usagi and I made out again and worst...and the worst part? I was hit by Temptation again, but Usagi wasn't! Now I just don't know!" A near wail at teh end, the poor girl shaken.
[14:12:25] <Hotaru-chan> "..." Hotaru sweatdrops, taking a deep breath. "That's...ow..." she whimpers sympathetically, hugging a pillow and eyeing Rei. "So you don't know?" she asks, deep breaths. "I mean..." she frowns suddenly. "This is projecting but...it feels THAT way, and it's so much like the other feelings with...well, guys?"
[14:15:51] <Kotono> "No. I'd try it's the fact that I madeout with Usagi and a little more and I liked it. Call me crazy, but taht kinda says I may have sugar in my tank." Rei snaps that, before just sighing again.
[14:18:23] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's smile twists a little. "That's kind of...well, Temptation's involved, isn't she? You can't be really sure that way," Hotaru shrugs, snorting a little.
[14:19:16] <Kotono> "Not a clue now. I don't know if I like guys, girls or both!" Rei just shivers bodily, wincing.
[14:21:05] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru twitches slightly, taking a deep breath. "Just...okay, telling you to calm down is stupid, but...well, how do you think you can figure it out?"
[14:33:11] <Kotono> "Let's see. I'm going to get aboyfriend and see if I can forget about this. Barring that..." Rei take sa breath, "I was thinking about finding a girl kissing dummy besides Usagi and seeing."
[14:36:59] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru audibly whimpers slightly. "I'm not sure whether to be nervous or happy that you're such a temptress," Hotaru snorts, smiling weakly. She quirks her head. "If you want a kissing dummy, I won't cling afterwards," she finally offers, blushing furiously. "Gah, just...well, yeah," she sighs.
[14:37:41] <Kotono> "...see. The idea is to use someone who I at least mildly dislike, so to make sure it's not just mixed feelings. I was thinking about Makoto, actually." Rei slowly taps her chin, thinking.
[14:41:27] <Hotaru-chan> "...That my first instinct is jealousy in two directions doesn't help," Hotaru sighs weakly, turning onto her stomach and settling the communicator down on her bed. "I guess I should take that as a reason to feel better, though..."
[14:44:31] <Kotono> Rei half closes her eyes, shaking her head back and forth. "Do you really want to make out with me that bad," she also plantatively.
[21:46:54] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles wryly, and a touch sadly. "Rei..." she snickers, "Bluntly, well...you're beautiful, you're willful, independent, still wonderful when you feel like it...you know practically everything I've been through...just..." Hotaru shrugs. "It's not all roses or anything, you get angry a lot, even if I'm not one to talk about explosive outbursts, but...I love you, I love all of you, but...still.
[21:46:54] <Hotaru-chan> If I was going to open myself up about girls and go kiss one, give me a BETTER option than you, and Mako-chan's an unfair reply," she murmurs, smiling a bit. "If I can be close to you, or any of oyu, I guess, and help, for however long?" Hotaru shrugs. "...And admittedly, yes, I just WANT to if I let my mind go and wander...I mean, who do you think was grabbing your butt at Ami's going away party?" she asks, cattishly grinning at her classmate.
[21:48:02] <Hotaru-chan> she asks, cattishly grinning at her classmate.
[21:54:21] <Kotono> Rei listens to all of t hat, soaking up the praise with half a wince - until the end, sweatdropping and slumping. "...I'd managed to suppress that grope. Look, all that aside, it begs one question - why NOT Makoto? You nearly broke Usagi's gaydar with her."
[22:01:01] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru quirks her head, smiling weakly. "I'm scared half to death about how it might go...and, well, she's a little too nice for her own good. What if she thought I need it, and decided to stay with me because of that rather than turn me down? You at least I know are more than willing to set the terms of whatever sort of relationship we have, be it friendly, casual, or romantic," she snorts.
[22:04:16] <Kotono> "Oh for..." Rei sighs again, rubbing her temples. "Yeah, but just do her already.  You're so deep end for her it's sickening, and if you're admitting you're gay, just do it. That said!" REi clears her throat, "Anyway. I dunno." The miko flops back again, brushing aside her bangs.
[22:06:05] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles a bit, shrugging. "I've watched her feel obligated and worry about guys that come on to her...how mcuh worse could it be if it was a senshi?" she murmurs, smiling wryly. "Besides, I don't even really KNOW. I haven't made out or anything with a girl, it jsut sorta...feels right, but I havent' really had opportunities, y'know?"
[22:09:36] <Kotono> "Right. I'm not even going to get into THAT denial," A soft roll of Rei's eyes, hand resting on her forehead. "I'll figure something out, I guess."
[22:15:13] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru laughs softly. "I'm not denying it...but it's not something I want to say and then go 'oops, not really, just my need for attention acting up'," she shrugs, blowing at her bangs. "Mmmm," she just sighs a little, smile waning a bit. "Well, if you want anything either way, my doo's open," she adds, shrugging helplessly.
[22:15:20] <Hotaru-chan> *door's
[22:19:24] <Kotono> "Bear that in mind." For a few moments the communicator is put down, Rei's arm seen going up to her face. So she rubs a few times before the call resumes. SHe looks a little more composed now. "We'll see. Who knows...maybe we'll end up making out?" There's a half sad, half tempting, and half just sadly confused look to it as Rei signs off.
[22:22:58] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru gives a long sigh, rolling over onto her back. "Rei-chan Rei-chan..." she sighs, biting her lip and glancing at her dresser. That dayspa was still a fresh memory...
[22:30:10] <Hotaru-chan> ----

[Ebiris]

This takes place the Sunday after Rei and Usagi are given reason once more to question their sexuality

[18:48] <Kotono> Morning comes to Usagi in the Tsukino household. Or it should -b ut Usagi is lost in the land of dreams! It's an innocent place, where Usagi can run and giggle through the fields of flowers, play in elementary school again and just have fun! It's so nice here..mmmm! Oh, Queen Serenity! It's so nice that she hugs you, and they're so soft, and mmmm! Oh, she took her top off just so you could...!!! How nice! They're so...ACK! Usagi's world re
[18:49] <Kotono> They're so...ACK! Usagi's world returns to normal as she rolls out fo her bed, a feline cry of distress piercing her ears, not to mention claws raking her feet.
[18:50] <Usagi> "Kyaa!" Usagi cries, landing most awkwardly on the floor from having her hand jammed between her legs as she slept. At least the blanket rolled around her so no one can see... "Oh, God..." she moans piteously, face turning bright scarlet as cognizance brings shame of her nocturnal thoughts and actions.
[18:51] <Kotono> "USAGI!" Luna yelps, besides you and knocked hard. The poor feline whimpers, getting to her feet and starting to bathe her side. "Did you have a nightmare? You woke me up moaning and then started rolling around."
[18:53] <Usagi> "Not a nightmare," Usagi shakes her head slowly, wiping her somewhat sticky fingers on the inside of the blanket before she emerges and tosses it back on the bed, taking a moment to smooth out her pajamas. "Oh, God, it's not just Rei..." she mutters under her breath, utterly horrified.
[18:54] <Kotono> "Um..." Luna stops her side cleaning, giving Usagi a weirded out look. "...oh, at least breakfast is ready!" Luna perks up as she sniffs the air, "Something smells like fish..mmmm! Let's just go eat breakfast, Usagi-chan!" With that your friend gets up, trotting out of your room.
[18:55] * Usagi cringes, letting Luna leave first and giving herself a moment to calm down - a futile hope - before she creeps out herself and to the bathroom so she can clean herself up a bit before facing the new day.
[18:56] <Kotono> This goes without incident unless Usagi wishes to make something more of it! Once she is cleaned and ready for a new day, she finds her family downstairs. Shingo's head is down on the table, snoozing next to his warm oatmeal. Dad's reading the paper, using it as a total barrier between him and everything else. Mom's at the microwave, taking out a bowl. Smells like strawberries!
[18:57] <Kotono> Luna trots along, getting onto the table. "Just a moment, Luna, and good morning, sleepy head." Mom smiles at you as she brings the bowl over, piping hot. "Strawberry oatmeal sound good?"
[18:58] <Usagi> "G-good morning, everyone!" Usagi chirps cheerfully, a slight stutter the only evidence of her worries. "That sounds great, Mama!" she nods as she sits down gingerly at the table. So far so normal!
[18:59] <Kotono> So it's brought over along with a big glass of fresh milk! Putting both in front of her young rabbit daughter, "Eat up before it gets cold - you have time this morning."
[18:59] <Kotono> Shingo mutters something aboutthat, but just plops his head back down and yawns. "'noring, Usagi."
[19:00] <Kotono> "...Good morning, Usagi." Dad adds in last, voice quiet normal sounding except for a long pause. He shuffles pages in the paper, reading on.
[19:02] <Usagi> "It's Sunday, after all," Usagi nods brightly, a little bit forced. "Morning, Shingo, Papa," she gives her brother a smile as she starts in on her breakfast... But only a few seconds pass before she feels the silent accusation roiling off everyone present. They *know*.
[19:02] * Usagi shrinks back slightly under the weight of their imagined stares... it's too much! Quick, distract them! "Anything interesting in the paper today, Papa?" she enquires, a faint trace of desperation in her voice.
[19:04] <Kotono> "Mmm hmm!" Dad looks up and smiles at Usagi, an entire faceful of innocently happy Dad. "I'm just reading about the news. Oh, Usagi-chan. That reminds me!" Dad snaps his fingers, nodding. "I have a friend from work who has someone who's looking for a blind date. Interested?"
[19:04] <Kotono> Luna gets a plateful of old leftover tuna, wolfed down by her with a happy wave fo her tail.
[19:05] <Kotono> "Oh that sounds wonderful, dear." Mother smiles serenly at that, getting her own bowl before joining everyone else at the table. "The last one was that...Ataru boy, I think?"
[19:06] <Usagi> "Uh... I'm not so much into blind dates, Papa..." Usagi replies warily, trying to meld herself into the backrest of her chair. "Y-yeah," she nods weakly to her mother, "You remember him..." She'd hated him just like everyone else Usagi knew... although perhaps justifiably in hindsight.
[19:07] <Kotono> "I don't know. You could use a good time." Dad smiles a bit, before raisinghis paper back up. "Give it a shot, Pumpkin?"
[19:07] <Kotono> "Oh, I remember him," Ikkuko mutters, a moment of vicious darkness directed at no one in particular that's here. "So yes - I don't know. There are worse things than a blind date, I suppose."
[19:08] <Usagi> "I guess... I just prefer to know what I'm getting myself in for, y'know?" the blonde hazards. "Besides, I'm so busy lately with... stuff," she waves her hand airily.
[19:09] <Kotono> "About that..." Dad coughs strongly, "Usagi-chan, I think you'll enjoy this blind date especially since you've been busy."
[19:10] <Kotono> "Mmmm. Usagi's responsibile enough now to have a date and not forget her duties, so if you want, go have fun," Luna quietly nods between mouthfuls of fish. "I'll even do an extra sweep for you if you want...mmm. I should pick those up with this new threat going."
[19:10] <Kotono> "...yes." Mom looks down and away at that, a moment of introversion.
[19:10] <Kotono> 'Usagi'll beat'em up," Shingo yawns vastly, "Sailor Moon's awesome."
[19:11] <Usagi> "Aww, thanks, Shingo!" Usagi beams at her little brother for a moment, worries forgotten. "Did you see the news about yesterday?" she enquires, deciding to stick with a topic that's far easier for her to discuss. Maybe if she ignores the blind date thing they'll forget about it?
[19:12] <Kotono> "Yes. The attack at the New Age Technology expo? The press conference is in a few days - they described you, Usagi!" Mom looks on worriedly, "With things like that girl I met around...be careful!"
[19:13] <Kotono> "All the more reason to go out and have some fun now. Besides..." A cough now, delicate, "I already said you accepted, heh, heh, heh."
[19:13] <Kotono> Dad blushes at this, hiding deeper behind his printed newspaper.
[19:14] <Usagi> "Yeah, I kinda had to calm everyone down before I transformed, otherwise there'd have been a riot," the blonde admits, rubbing the back of her head. "It was pretty terrible." Her father's next statement gets her attention, though. "WHAT?!" the blonde squawks, promptly standing up and pushing the paper downwards so she can glare at Kenji. "Papa, how could you?!" she wails, mortified.
[19:16] <Kotono> "Aaah..." Dad laughs nervously, "It seemed like a goodi dea last night! Besides...ah...I'm just looking out for you, because..." Dad leans in, whispering, "Old Fukushima has been looking for a date for his daughter for awhile now. Shhh." Dad retreats after that softly spoken murmur, speaking normally again. "It can even be a lunch date today if you want."...say, that's not
[19:17] <Kotono> OOC - Ignore the ...say bit at the end, forgot to delete.
[19:18] * Usagi twitches severely. "I think you misunderstood," she tells her father coldly, in full blown denial of what she was doing and thinking right before waking up this morning.
[19:19] <Kotono> "Mmmmm?" Luna's ears perk up at that, before just shaking her head. "...oh...oh."
[19:19] <Kotono> As Mom blinks and looks between husband and child, Dad just smiles. "It's okay, Usagi-chan. I understand.  You don't have to deny it. Just go and have fun."
[19:20] <Kotono> "Understand what?" Mom grapples with this, spoon full of oatmeal hanging in her hands and forgotten midway up to her face
[19:22] * Usagi glares at Kenji for a very long moment. "He understands nothing!" she snaps abruptly, her head whipping to the side as she sits back down, clearly huffy.
[19:23] <Kotono> "Usagi-chan...I understand completely. You can tell everyone else when you're ready, but you're my daughter and I love you, and you also have a lunch date now. Go and have fun." So rising up and folding his paper, Dad goes off and away.
[19:24] <Kotono> "Um..." Mom just stares at both Tsukinos, looking as lost as old Usagi in a  math test.
[19:24] * Usagi frowns. Clearly she's some sort of pawn in Kenji's office politics... Well, fine. She can play along. "You're gonna owe me big for this, Papa!" she calls as he departs.
[19:25] <Kotono> "Oh Usagi..." Luna murmurs again, burying her ehad under her paws.
[19:25] <Kotono> "...alright." Mom goes back to her oatmeal, a mystified expression all over her face.
[19:25] <Kotono> "At least Usagi has ad ate?" Shingo tries, before going face down and maybe even back to sleep on the spot!
[19:26] <Usagi> "Papa's confused, that's all," the blonde grinds out, also returning to her breakfast.
[19:27] <Kotono> So about twenty minutes pass. Just as Usagi finishes breakfast, Dad peeks in. "It's at noon today. Meet at the entrance to T*A - you know where that is, I think. Your friends go there?"
[19:28] <Usagi> "Today?!" Usagi squawks. "Geez, throw your only daughter to the wolves with a little warning, at least!" she cries, aggrieved.
[19:29] <Kotono> "It's almost nine," Mom looks to the kitchen clock, "You need to get ready, Usagi - and dear, yes, you are rushing it a bit."
[19:30] * Usagi grumbles as she stalks into the living room to confront her father. "So where am I going on this stupid date, then?" she demands of her paternal figure.
[19:32] <Kotono> "Just a walk and ice cream," Dad smiles even more nicely, reaching out to pat Usagi. "Seriously, just have fun and I lvoe you no matter who you love." With a pat Dad goes to the couch, getting the remote control.
[19:33] * Usagi leans over the couch, a terse whisper into her father's ear, "You're misunderstanding the whole thing!" she tries once more to convince him, perhaps in futility.
[19:33] <Kotono> "Usagi..." Dad smiles even more, "You don't have to pretend any more."
[19:36] <Usagi> "Gaaah!" Usagi groans, "You're not listening at all, are you?!" she complains bitterly. "Fine! If that's the way you want it, I'll be the best damn blind date anyone ever had, but that's it! We'll never speak of it again!" And with that, she whirls and stalks on upstairs to get ready.
[19:39] <Kotono> OOC _ Since you left Daddykins in a huff, go ahead and describe your prep?
[19:43] * Usagi cleans herself up and gets dressed - nothing too fancy for a lunch date, though. A soft white turtleneck sweater that barely hints at her curves and a knee length purple skirt over black leggings is today's attire, the blonde seeing no reason to dispense with her usual hairstyle and applying just a respectable touch of makeup. More or less ready, she grabs her purse and heads downstairs about quarter past eleven to find her father.
[19:44] <Kotono> Dad's watching soccer - USA is getting utterly obliterated by the English, apparently. He's not too into it, finishing off the paper as he watches.
[19:45] * Usagi waves a hand by Kenji's face as she leans over the back of the couch. "Any last words before sending your firstborn to the wolves?"
[19:47] <Kotono> "Hi. It'll be a good date - she's a sweet girl from all he says...mmm. Unless you like them with more energy like that Rei..." Dad ponders that, rubbing his chin.
[19:48] <Usagi> "I don't like girls at all!" the blonde hisses. "What happened with Rei was an accident! We weren't feeling ourselves!"
[19:49] <Kotono> "That's strange - then why did you make out with one?" Dad replies with the utmost seriousness, pushing his glasses upward with a spare finger.
[19:50] * Usagi twitches. A few times. "It's not a habit I want to get into!" she finally manages the best retort she can.
[19:52] <Kotono> "It's okay, dear.  I love you even if you love men, women or both." With a pat to Usagi's cheek, "Even if you need to experiment to figure it out, too."
[19:53] * Usagi makes an incoherent noise of fury before forcing herself to calm down and schooling her expression. "I'm going now," she announces flatly. "Can you at least tell me her name and something to recognise her by when I see her?"
[19:54] <Kotono> "Oh yes of course. Her name is Chitose Fukushima. Brown hair in ponytails fi I remember right. She said she'd wear her school uniform." A nod to Usagi, "So go have fun."
[19:54] * Usagi twitches again. "School uniform? Oh, God, I so don't want to know..." groaning, the blonde waves it aside before pushing off the couch and fleeing.
[19:57] <Kotono> So off Usagi goes! The gates to getting into T*A awaits Usagi and so does her date. She's there when Usagi gets there - a rather normal, almost plain girl with brown hair in ponytails with blue beads. She's maybe a year older than you, wearing a T*A uniform. As you approach she blushes, calling, "Aaah...Miss Tsukino?"
[20:01] * Usagi takes a deep breath to steel herself - she's going to show this stupid girl the lesbian time of her life, and then forget the whole sordid experience! Smiling pleasantly, the beautiful young blonde approaches with a confident yet demure step, only a slight sway in her hips swishing her skirt below her knees. "That's right. You're Chitose?" she confirms, looking over her 'date'.
[20:02] <Kotono> "Y-yes." A deep bow by her, delicately flaming up. "It's an honor to meet you - Father said that we may get along well...?"
[20:03] <Usagi> "Please, call me Usagi," said blonde replies easily, waving the matter aside. "There's no need to be so formal - we're both doing this just to have fun, right?" she notes, cocking her head slightly and favouring Chitose with her most brilliant and sunny smile.
[20:04] <Kotono> "Oh...y-yes..." Chitose bows again at that, "Usagi, I...My father insisted, and..."
[20:07] <Usagi> "Ah..." Usagi nods slowly, understanding dawning. "So yours forced you into it as well?" she asks. That makes things easier!
[20:08] <Kotono> "...yes!" Now Chitose perks up a bit, turning to T*A's spire and letting her eyes glimmer. "Oh...I'm sorry, I just have my heart on another. My violen Goddess, so graceful, so perfect, so aloof. She can even be terrifying, but I can't stopt hinking about her!"
[20:10] * Usagi smiles more naturally as she relaxes. "Looks like we're both on the same page, then," she notes with some relief. "Wanna go get some ice cream so we can tell our dads that at least we tried and hopefully they'll never bring it up again?"
[20:13] <Kotono> "Alright...just...My heart his her no matter even if she gives me nightmares," Chitose sighs longingly, starting to walk.
[20:14] <Usagi> "Yeah, my dreams about other girls are like nightmares as well," Usagi agrees sympathetically as she falls in step with Chitose. "Uh... but I haven't given my heart to one, though!"
[20:16] <Kotono> "Oh! You know another girl like Miss Kaioh?" Chitose speaks respectfully as you walk along - you know there are a few cafes across the street, as well as a few ice cream places a block or so down. "I've given my heart to her so much, even when she rejected me..."
[20:17] <Usagi> "Kaioh?" Usagi blinks as they stroll along, deciding to go to one of the nicer cafes - lots of upmarket places in this neighbourhood, at least. "You mean Michiru Kaioh?" she asks in surprise. Small world!
[20:18] <Kotono> "You know her?" Chitose stops dead, eyes going agape. "You know Michiru?"
[20:19] <Usagi> "Uh... not very well," the blonde temporises, also halting. "Only met recently and haven't talked that much, yet."
[20:32] <Kotono> "Oooooh." A nod as you go to the nearest cafe - very very nice, simple and stereotypical, but you suspect the menu prices will makey our wallet wince. "She just captivates me sooooo much. The way she moves, the way she smiles once in awhile, the way she's so above ita ll."
[20:35] <Usagi> "Mmm... she was pretty cute," Usagi shrugs, not overly worried about the prices. She'll take it out of her father, later... "So, you like the aloof type, huh?" she asks, heading for a table away from the windows.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Mmmmmm. Not always, but her...mmmm! You're cute, too, I mean, just..." A fumble by Chitose, coughing as you get a nicely hidden table by the bathrooms. Once you settle in and get menus, "How long have you been?"
[20:36] * Usagi smiles at the compliment before gesturing in a somewhat vague manner. "I'm more, ah... confused, than 'out'," she admits. "Speaking of, if you don't mind my asking... how did you first realise?"
[20:41] <Kotono> "Oh. There was my best friend..." Chitose play swith her menu, running a finger over it's plastic surface. "We'd been best friends since 1st grade, and we got closer...and closer...until we ended up kissing at a sleepover and doing a lot of stuff. From there? She couldn't go through with it, but I knew why it was always the girls that made me a little lightheaded."
[20:42] <Usagi> "Hmm..." Usagi nods slowly. "So, just something that suddenly clicked and you realised you'd always been that way?" she asks, pondering. That bodes well for her not being gay!
[20:43] <Kotono> "More like...well, when I kissed her, it just felt so good! I couldn't resist," Chitose nods in agreement.
[20:44] <Kotono> "It all fell into place after. I hadn't really realised it, but when I stopped being upset? I'm a lot happier now."
[20:44] * Usagi twitches. "Oh..." she murmurs, deflating in on herself.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Oh...is that where you are?" Chitose smiles a little bit, putting down her menu. "Um, do you want advice?"
[20:45] <Usagi> "Ah... I guess?" the blonde smiles lamely, pressing her index fingers together.
[20:46] <Kotono> "I'm happier now that I accepted it. Do you think choosing to be gay would make you feel better?" A blush as she retreats, picking up her menu. "I read that somewhere and it helped me."
[20:49] <Usagi> "I'm not sure..." Usagi sighs, looking down at her menu but not really reading. "I've had lots of dates with boys and I liked them, y'know? Just... things got out of hand with a friend and now I'm confused since I liked that as well. I just... I guess I really am bi?" she concludes plaintatively. "I dreamt about another girl last night, so it's not even just her..."
[20:53] <Kotono> Oh, now THAT gets Chitose to blush even harder. "Dreams..heh. Something like that? Whatever you are, just try to be happy about it? Now that I realise I want Michiru instead of just a guy...I'm happy with that. Even if Michiru doesn't work out, there will be otehr girls, too."
[20:56] * Hotaru (~dragomirs@225-52-77-204.sptc.mnscu.edu) has joined #evildunes
[20:56] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Hotaru Hotaru
[20:56] <Usagi> "Mmm... I guess I shouldn't bore you with my problems if this is supposed to be a date, should I?" Usagi notes, forcing herself to perk up and flagging a waitress so she can order a hot apple pie to eat. "So what do you like to do for fun, Chitose-chan?"
[20:56] * Hotaru-chan (~dragomirs@225-52-77-204.sptc.mnscu.edu) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:58] <Kotono> "I've been studying the violin a little bit, but I like  movies." Chitose stops when the waitress comes, ordering a glass of water with mint syrup in it.
[20:59] * Hotaru (~dragomirs@225-52-77-204.sptc.mnscu.edu) Quit (Off I go.)
[20:59] <Usagi> "Want to go watch a movie after this, then?" Usagi asks. "I haven't been in a while, myself," she admits.
[21:05] <Kotono> "Mmmm. Sure - say, do you know what movies Michiru likes?" A question there as the waitress is gone, pondering it carefully.
[21:07] * Usagi shakes her head. "I kinda only just met her, so I don't know much about what she likes," she admits. "I take it you're admiring her from afar, for the moment?" is asked with a sympathetic smile.
[21:08] <Kotono> "Yes..." Chitose bows her head, blushing, "I asked her out a few weeks ago, but when she finally accepted...she was so scary!"
[21:09] <Usagi> "Hmmm..." Usagi frowns slightly, mentally going over the timing in her head. "Yeah, she was... a bit out there, when I first met her. She perked right up not long after, though!"
[21:12] <Kotono> "She's looked better," Chitose agrees cheerfully, as your food comes. A pause to get into that, and then, "So what about you? Do you know which way you're going to fall at all? It's not something you can rush, but...you are cute." This last part is tagged on with her own blush.
[21:16] * Usagi considers slowly, recalling what Rei said last night about trying with another girl. "I... don't know," she admits at last, leaning forward and resting her chin on her clasped fingers as she peers at Chitose through coyly half-lidded eyes. "Still... feeling, out my options, I suppose." Holding the other girl's gaze for a long moment, she slowly relents and turns her attention to her dessert.
[17:46] <Blonde|AFK> "...oh!" Chitose eeps, burying her face in her flavored water!
[17:48] <Usagi> "Oh!" Usagi starts, chagrinned. "Was that coming on too strong?" she asks innocently, waving a hand in front of her. "Sorry, I've never tried flirting with a girl, before!"
[17:50] <Blonde|AFK> "Well, um..." Chitose's stammers are cute and little yips of embarrassment. "You have the right idea! That was just..."
[17:52] <Usagi> "Sorry," me smiles reassuringly, reaching across the table to pat Chitose's hand. "Don't take me too seriously, okay? This is just... I really am just trying to figure things out in my own head. I guess I'm half just practicing to see if I even *can* flirt with a girl."
[17:53] <Usagi> *she smiles reassuringly
[17:54] <Blonde|AFK> "You can! That was really good...mmmm?" Chitose bats her own eyelids back, reaching across the table to touch Usagi's hand. The moment she does however, she breaks and retreats back. "...I tried?" It's all she says, starting to blush again.
[17:56] * Takeshi is now known as Hal-work
[17:57] <Usagi> "Don't worry, I won't try and steal you away from Michiru," the blonde reassures, before her smile turns a bit racier. "Unless you want me to?"
[18:00] <Blonde|AFK> "
[18:01] <Blonde|AFK> "She's my...I wish she was my Michiru." A soft little sigh of desire there, "Sorry, you really are pretty, though. You...mmmm." Looking away, "It's funny. Michiru scared me when we went out for drinks. But you make me feel just the opposite. Your face reminds me of the opposite of how she looked then."
[18:04] * Hal-lunch is now known as Takeshi
[18:05] <Usagi> "I guess I'll take that as a compliment," Usagi beams, taking a few bites out of her pie before continuing. "Still don't know what I'm going to do about the whole lesbian thing, but at least this isn't so bad."
[18:07] <Blonde|AFK> "It isn't. Once you get used to it...heh." Chitose lightly scratches the back of her head, looking down. "I relate to it a little bit. A girl you like - it's appealing to hold them again. It just feels really peaceful. Almost motherly. That's what helps do it for me."
[18:09] <Usagi> "Mmm..." Usagi considers that, blushing a bit as she remembers what she was doing to Serenity in last night's dream. "I guess I can see that..." she squeaks out.
[18:11] <Blonde|AFK> "Mmmm!" A blush as Chitose sips her drink, a longing, sad smile. "Would Michiru...would she be like that?"
[18:12] <Usagi> "I dunno," the blonde admits, putting those thoughts aside and slamming the door on them. "You probably know her better than me, after all. What do you think?"
[18:14] <Blonde|AFK> "I don't know. She's so strong and distant, but I like to dream that there is a tender, loving woman inside." Another deep sigh from Chitose, felt from her soul out.
[18:16] * Blonde|AFK is now known as Kotono
[18:16] <Usagi> "Only one way to find out..." Usagi reasons. "Do you have any idea if she's... well, is she gay?" she asks, about to blush over the phrasing but deciding to just be blunt about it.
[18:17] <Kotono> "Oh! I think she...I hope she is. She's so aloof and majestic! The way she holds herself up, and yet..." Chitose shrugs lightly. "I think she is. I really do, and I've never heard of her having a boyfriend."
[18:18] <Usagi> "Hmm... maybe, then," Usagi nods slowly. She could just be keeping any boyfriends secret. Or she could be like Kotono... still, no need to trample the poor girl's hopes.
[18:19] <Kotono> "I hope so too!" Finishing up her water and lightly cleaning her face with a napkin, "Thank you very much, Usagi."
[18:19] <Kotono> "Oh wait!" A moment later Chitose blushes, "Um...who pays? I'm really not the man type..."
[18:20] * Usagi waves it aside. "Don't worry about it," she says to the first, before blinking at the second. "Uh... I figured we'd go dutch?" she hazards, having thought the actual confirmed lesbian would know for sure.
[18:23] <Kotono> "That's fine!" Oh, that is so squeaked out! "Now that I think about it Michiru's not the man type either, so I guess this is good practice!"
[18:24] <Usagi> "So you normally do date the man type?" Usagi asks as she finishes off her pie. "It seems a bit unfair for only one to pay if we're both girls, though, unless it's like a special treat for one or one doesn't have any money," she observes.
[18:28] <Kotono> "Not really, I just hadn't ever thought about it like that. You're probably right." Now Chitose is cleaned up and ready, a smile, "Usagi? Can I do something before I go?"
[18:28] <Usagi> "Hm?" Usagi gives the other girl a curious and expectant look, wondering what she wants to do.
[18:29] <Kotono> Taking a napkin and a b it of lipstick from her pocket, Chitose scribbles her number down. "In case you want to call, since I really had fun talking to you."
[18:30] <Kotono> "Also!" A moment later, as Chitose pushes the napkni forawrd?
[18:32] <Usagi> "There's more?" Usagi asks, blushing a bit at the lipstick scribbled note as she accepts it.
[18:33] <Kotono> "This!" With bravery Chitose leans forward! Her lips touch Usagi's, a momentary meeting before she retreats and bows over and over! "Thank you ver much for the date, Usagi."
[18:34] <Usagi> "Ah..." Usagi blushes, touching her lips briefly... can't really compare with Rei, but it's not a fair comparison putting a chaste peck against what the miko was doing, really... "Thank you as well, Chitose - I hope things work out with Michiru!"
[18:36] <Kotono> "Thanks!" With that Chitose goes, off and out of Usagi's view and life - perhaps forever, perhaps just for now?
[18:37] <Usagi> Who can say? Still, Usagi is no closer to sorting out her own muddled feelings, even if a fresh perspective was nice to get. Paying for her own food, the blonde likewise departs...

[Halbarad]

Takeshi's second day on the job!

[11:54] <@Blonde|AFK> ---Arc 2 go!---
[12:00] <@Blonde|AFK> Another fine day of work in the neighborhood for Takeshi. As he labors away typing up an entirely dry report about prescription drugs and coverage thereof, Reiko works away in her office. She frowns a moment, checking her drawers and her purse before picking up the phone. Rings in the Tomoe household, disturbing Hotaru's homework.
[12:01] <@Hotaru-chan> Boks, aside, phone up, Hotaru's dry neutral voice for answering the always expected politician, lawyer, or coworker of her parents'. "Tomoe household, Hotaru speaking."
[12:04] <@Hotaru-chan> *Books, sigh
[12:06] <@Blonde|AFK> "Hotaru-chan, do me a favor?" It's Mom, there's no mistaking her voice, "Go into my room and on my dresser should be a manila folder. I need you to bring that to me now."
[12:08] <@Hotaru-chan> "No one's in your office, right?" Hotaru asks curiously, pausing. "Or would you rather I not use magic that close to your boss?" she snickers a little. "Sorry."
[12:12] <@Blonde|AFK> "Oh, just get over here." Reiko sighs deeply, "Hurry. I need it now."
[12:13] <@Hotaru-chan> "Two minutes," Hotaru agrees, hanging up and heading on ot her parents' bedroom, looking for such a folder!
[12:14] <@Blonde|AFK> As this happens and Hotaru scurries to find a folder, Takeshi's typing finishes. Time to bring it to the boss and get his next funfilled assignment.
[12:15] * @Takeshi sighs, clenching his free hand a bit as he heads back to deliver the finished document to Reiko. Typing's not so bad, but his fingers definitely aren't used to it yet.
[12:16] <@Kotono> Reiko's office door is closed - a few people buzz past it, but it's mostly quiet this afternoon.
[12:17] * @Takeshi raps lightly on the door before opening it. "I have that report ready for you, Reiko-san," he announces.
[12:17] <@Kotono> "Oh, Takeshi! Come in and close the door behind you. Lock it." Reiko calls as you enter, just shutting off her computer.
[12:18] <@Takeshi> "Uh... sure," Takeshi agrees, stepping inside and doing just that - unusual as the request seems. Heading over to Reiko's desk, he delivers the finished report. "Sorry it took so long."
[12:20] <@Hotaru-chan> And in a violet flash, the locked room inhabited by two is joined by a third, Hotaru Tomoe in her T*A unfirom appearing from nowhere with a manila folder in hand. "It was under a few things, sorry it took so long," she echoes unconsciously, proffering it to her parent.
[12:21] * @Takeshi blinks in surprise at the sudden appearance of Hotaru, but doesn't comment any further on it, simply waiting on Reiko for now.
[12:22] <@Kotono> "Thanks, both of you. Paid and unpaid gophers." A slight smile to both as documents are passed over and put away. "Quiet day, Hotaru-chan?"
[12:25] * @Hotaru-chan snorts softly, shrugging. "Homework, that's about it, yeah," she nods, smiling easily enough and glancing over.. "Takeshi," she greets, bowing to her companion.
[12:26] <@Takeshi> "Hotaru-san," Takeshi says, returning the gesture with a slight bow of his own.
[12:27] <@Kotono> "Mmmm." Reiko lightly smiles, tapping a finger to her lips. "Oh, Takeshi! I think you're mostly done for the day. You're doing good at this."
[12:28] <@Takeshi> "Thank you very much, Reiko-san," Takeshi replies with a slight smile. "Going to take me a while to really get used to typing, I think."
[12:28] <@Takeshi> "If you don't need me for anything else, then, I guess I'll head home for today."
[12:29] <@Kotono> "Well, there is one thing, but it's not quite work." Reiko hums, idly smiling. She goes to her purse, taking out what looks to be a fair bit of money. "Hotaru hasn't eaten dinner yet, probably and you're doing well. Here. Why don't the two of you go get some dinner somewhere?"
[12:29] * @Hotaru-chan just shakes her head a little, digesting the presence of another...well he's not a senshi, but he's close. Hotaru smiles none the less...wait a moment, what?
[12:30] * @Takeshi simply raises an eyebrow at that. "Ah... if you insist, I could do that, yes," Takeshi agrees. "It's up to Hotaru-san, though."
[12:32] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises a very sharp eyebrow at her mother, a probing and even barbing look given. "That might be alright...Takeshi and I are coworkers after all," she adds, smiling sweetly at her parent.
[12:33] <@Kotono> "I insist," Reiko smiles back with the exact same sweetness. The money is pushed forward at both of them - it's a fair bit, too! 8,000 yen to be precise! "Go and have fun."
[12:34] * @Takeshi shakes his head very slightly, accepting the money from Reiko. "I suppose I'll meet you outside the building then, Hotaru-san?" Takeshi asks.
[12:36] <@Hotaru-chan> '...Yeah, I'll meet you in the lobby," Hotaru nods, biting back a sigh of exasperation at her mother's...shenanigans.
[12:38] <@Hotaru-chan> *"...Yeah
[12:43] <@Kotono> "Well then?" Reiko crosses her arms, "Why don't you to get giong?"
[12:44] <@Takeshi> "Ah... I was waiting on Hotaru-san, since she's technically not supposed to be in here," Takeshi explains.
[12:44] <@Hotaru-chan> After a long moment, Hotaru sighs, a flickering dagger look shot Reiko's away. "Tonight," she murmurs, disappearing again.
[12:44] * @Takeshi shakes his head again at that, pocketing the money before opening the door and heading out to the elevators.
[12:46] <@Kotono> So down Takeshi goes. To the lobby and receptionist area, finding Hotaru waiting...
[12:47] * @Takeshi gives Hotaru a nod as he joins her at the exit to the building. A few moments of silence pass as the two step outside, before a slight smile twists his lips. "I can see where you get your gift for subtlety," he says dryly.
[12:47] <@Hotaru-chan> She's waiting, looking a little out of sorts as she stands around near the front entrance, watching people go.
[12:50] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snorts, following Takeshi out with a slight sigh. "Oh, you haven't seen the half of it," she murmurs,tossing her hair. "Ask Usagi soemtime, she's seen mom and I get into verbal knife fights. That was actually surprisingly subdued."
[12:52] <@Takeshi> "Somehow I can just imagine," Takeshi says, shaking his head a bit as he takes the money out and passes it over to Hotaru. "You're the one being 'taken' to dinner, so you make the call where to go."
[12:55] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru does take the money, folding it into her pocket and raising an eyebrow at Takeshi. "Any way to treat a date?" she asks, smiling a bit and shaking her head. "I know a few places around here," she adds, snickering.
[12:56] * @Takeshi snorts at that. "I've been on a grand total of four dates in my life, and none of them are experiences I'd care to go through again - even if I was dumb enough to go through it the first time."
[12:58] <@Hotaru-chan> "It's not that bad, you just have to be careful about who," Hotaru objects, more softly as she gives Takeshi's arm a little nudge, directing them towards a slightly upscale chinese restaurant. "You just have to know what you want from it, primarily."
[13:00] <@Takeshi> "That was the problem in both cases, yeah," Takeshi agrees, shaking his head. "They knew what THEY wanted and I got dragged along for the ride."
[13:01] <@Hotaru-chan> "Agreeing with your date on what you want is step number two," Hotaru laughs softly.
[13:02] <@Hotaru-chan> "Agreeing with your date on what you want is step number two," Hotaru laughs softly, offering Takeshi a simple shrug. "What do you want tonight?" she asks pointedly, quirking her head at him.
[13:03] <@Takeshi> "Honestly? I have no idea, if this is even technnically a date," Takeshi replies, shaking his head a bit. "Even if your mother would like it to be one."
[13:05] <@Hotaru-chan> "Technically? It isn't, I have a boyfriend," Hotaru murmurs, shrugging. "Might as well try to make a decent experience of it though, hm?"
[13:07] <@Kotono> The restaurant is a nice place - the decorations look more or less authetic for Chinese, and there is both a buffet and tables to get orders at. Cute girls in Chinese dresses don't hurt, either.
[13:08] <@Takeshi> "Nice dinner is about all I'm looking for then, even if your mother gave me enough to feed myself alone for a couple of weeks," Takeshi answers.
[13:10] <@Hotaru-chan> "Mom's odd, these places can be expensive," Hotaru explains, shrugging and smiling, her eyes following the waitresses perhaps more than they really should. "She once gave me more to take Kotono and Rei to lunch..." she snorts, waiting to be seated.
[13:11] <@Kotono> A sign says to seat yourselves or go to the register and pay for the buffet first.
[13:12] <@Takeshi> "Think I'll do the buffet," Takeshi says, waiting for Hotaru to make her decision - she's the one with the money at this point, after all.
[13:12] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru does that, the seating part. No need for the buffet with this much money in hand. So they go, finding a more isolated booth. Image be damned.
[13:12] <@Hotaru-chan> OOC - Strike
[13:14] <@Hotaru-chan> "Mmmm, mah, might as well," Hotaru shrugs, decision tipped as she heads up to the register to get two pases for the buffet.
[13:17] <@Kotono> This goes without incident, save for a cute girl with long purple hair and an accent taking your order. "Have a good good time!" she bades, bowing and showing off a smashingly good body.
[13:18] * @Takeshi chuckles slightly at the waitress' accent, taking a moment to give her a discreet once-over only briefly before heading over to the buffet. And proceeding to load up with quite a decent-sized heap of food, looking over the selections carefully for the spiciest creations he can find.
[13:19] <@Kotono> There are plenty of more southern themed spicy foods for Takeshi to find. There's a fair bit of everything, so selection isn't difficult.
[13:19] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs a little, one open look of definite interest at the girl's body caught by anyone that bothers watching before she turns. "Wish she was serving..." she snorts lightly, following Takeshi afterwards, picking out her own milder collection of constant favorites.
[13:21] * @Takeshi raises an eyebrow at that, but doesn't comment as he heads back to his seat, the buffet damaged enough for now. "Sorry, you didn't have to do the buffet if you'd rather have had a waitress," he says with a very slight hint of humor. "I'm just used to going for the best value I can get."
[13:23] <@Hotaru-chan> "It's fine, I honeslty shouldn't be doing that..." Hotaru sighs a little, taking a bit longer on decision, but following Takeshi to their seats. "I flirt enough at work, besides being surrounded by eye candy my own age."
[13:27] <@Takeshi> "Interested in more than just guys, then?" Takeshi quirks an eyebrow at that.
[13:29] <@Hotaru-chan> "If you'd known me for more than the last few weeks, you wouldn't even be raising an eyebrow," Hotaru laughs. "Interested, yes. Confirmed, no. Though Rei-chan would tell you I'm just in denial."
[13:32] * @Takeshi chuckles briefly at that. "Does that have anything to do with why your mother seems to be throwing me at you - or maybe the other way around, I'm not quite sure which it is yet."
[13:42] <@Hotaru-chan> "Mom doesn't have a clue, other than the fact I preffer sleeping with a girl in my bed, platonically," Hotaru shakes her head. "It has more to do with my boyfriend, really. She didn't take it extremely well that we were quick on the uptake when I was twelve...I broke us up, but two weeks ago..." Hotaru smiles a bit.
[13:42] <@Hotaru-chan> "She took it worse when she walked in on us in my bedroom when we got back together...even if we still had all our clothes on," she snorts.
[13:45] <@Takeshi> "I can just imagine," Takeshi says, shaking his head. "Sounds like you're pretty serious with him, then."
[13:49] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru makes a bit of a face. "Sort of? I don't really know how to gauge 'serious'," she admits, blushing. "He's the standard by which I judged most other guys so...well, he doesn't honestly have competition. Most guys want to be charming. I preffer openness, and Yoshi's...open to a fault some days."
[13:57] <@Takeshi> "Sounds like you do like him quite a bit then, if you've been judging all the rest by him," Takeshi chuckles. "Oh well, not really my business, I suppose. At least any further than these 'dates' go, at least - I get the feeling this won't be the last time Reiko-san does this."
[14:01] <@Hotaru-chan> "Mah, talking's nice enough, though," Hotaru snickers, shrugging. "And if you're working for mom? Probably not, no. Mmm...so considered asking Usagi out?" Hotaru asks suddenly, a wry smile on her lips.
[14:04] <@Takeshi> "Me?" Takeshi seems rather surprised at that. "I'll admit that I wouldn't mind it, but we barely know each other yet. Talked a couple of times - she's really easy to talk to, which is nice - but I have no reason to think she'd give me a second thought as dating material."
[14:05] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru coughs. "Mind if I speak bluntly, in a complimentary manner?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
[14:06] <@Takeshi> "Go ahead," Takeshi shrugs.
[14:08] <@Hotaru-chan> "The reason I really wonder at why mom pushes you at me is that if you cut your hair, Takeshi, you'd be...I don't know, 'sex meat' is a term that comes to mind," Hotaru snorts, smiling. "Even more, if she can get you to talk, that makes things easier, so there's at least communication, there isn't a disparity in attractiveness, and ah...Usagi could use a boyfriend right about now."
[14:14] <@Takeshi> "My hair?" Takeshi seems a bit surprised at that. "Uh... if you say so. I'm just a little leery of getting into a relationship based on looks alone again, though - both of the 'girlfriends' I've had so far went after me just because of my looks, and neither one ended well. Not that I'd see that happening with Usagi, but call me overly cautious."
[14:17] <@Hotaru-chan> "It's incentive," Hotaru snickers. "Really, if you two can communicate, it might be a good idea. Even just for the...personal contact right now. Even if it's just casually at first."
[14:23] <@Takeshi> "Hmm..." Takeshi looks thoughtful for a moment. "Suppose it couldn't hurt to ask her if she'd like to hit the movies after school sometime later this week," he finally says after a few moments. "Worst she could do is say no."
[14:25] <@Hotaru-chan> "And I don't really expect she would," Hotaru nods, smiling a little. "Try it, yous et off most of my 'has too much packaged up in his head' vibes, and I'm horrible at getting people to talk," she laughs.
[14:28] * @Takeshi snorts. "All I'll say is count yourself lucky that you don't remember any of the past, and leave it at that," the young man retorts. "Not worth rehashing past that."
[14:34] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shrugs slightly. "I'm curious regardless. Waking nightmares..." she shakes her head. "Nevermind, the Beast Lord just wasn't kind in that regard."
[14:35] * @Takeshi chuckles humorlessly. "Let me know if you're ever in the mood sometime and we can trade horror stories, then," he says dryly, shaking his head. "Metallia wasn't much of a picnic, either." He deflates a bit at that.
[14:41] <@Hotaru-chan> "From what we saw of her, I don't doubt it," Hotaru agrees, sighing softly. "She was more...I pity her," she murmurs, smile twisting sadly. "Jadeite was absorbing her very existence, or what was left of it."
[14:45] <@Takeshi> "...yeah," Takeshi says quietly, looking away for a few moments before concentrating back on his nearly-finished meal.
[14:46] <@Hotaru-chan> "Mah, Gaia," Hotaru sighs, working on finishing her own meal.
[14:48] * @Takeshi finishes the rest of the meal in relative silence, working steadily on the ever-diminishing pile of food. As the last of it is cleared up, he finally stands. "Think I'm going to head off for now," he says rather tonelessly. "Sorry to eat and run."
[14:50] <@Hotaru-chan> Hotaru stops, eyeing Takeshi a moment. "Sorry for bringing up bad memories," she adds softly, leaning on one arm.
[14:51] <@Takeshi> "Don't worry about it," Takeshi says, shaking his head. "Hardly the first time, and it won't be the last." He gives the dark-haired senshi a half-hearted smile. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, Hotaru-san."
[14:53] <@Hotaru-chan> "Worrying is my job," Hotaru snickers quietly. "Whatever will be necessary...mmm. Try to have a decent one yourself, call Usagi, or something," she adds, her grin turning playful.
[14:54] * @Takeshi snorts. "Maybe." He pauses for a moment before heading out of speaking range. "And I'll think about the hair."
[14:57] <@Hotaru-chan> ----

[Halbarad]

The day after talking with Hotaru....

[16:16] <@Takeshi> ---- Arc 2 go! ----
[16:17] <@Takeshi> Ah, the middle of the week. It's a day to look forward to in some ways - it's all downhill from here, after all! Wednesday afternoon ticks by slowly for Usagi and Takeshi, a rather long and boring lecture about geography making the hours tick away like years.... until at last the bell rings, announcing release for the inmates.
[16:18] <@Takeshi> As the class breaks up, Takeshi heads over to Usagi's desk as she's getting her books together. "God, felt like today was never going to end," he grouses to the blonde.
[16:20] * @Usagi blinks a little. Normally she's the one that initiates their conversations... maybe he's starting to mellow out? "Yeah," she agrees as she puts her books into her schoolbag. "Always seems to take twice as long when the teacher just reads from the textbook at us."
[16:22] <@Takeshi> "Tell me about it," Takeshi shakes his head a bit, seeming slightly hesitant. "And then there's work to look forward to after school's out, but at least my new job's not so bad."
[16:23] <@Usagi> "Mmm, I'm not working today," Usagi smiles, showing some relief, albeit short lived. "Unless you count homework... Anyway, what's your new job?" she asks as she gets up and puts her chair under the desk, getting ready to leave.
[16:25] <@Takeshi> "I'm working in an office for Hotaru's mom, actually," Takeshi replies, his bookbag already over his shoulder. "Stopped in at a temp agency last weekend to see if they had anything good and she was there hiring a bunch of people for the mailroom. She ended up taking me on as a gopher, part-time."
[16:26] <@Usagi> "You're working for Mrs Tomoe?" Usagi raises an eyebrow as she starts to leave, assuming Takeshi will keep up. "What's the pay like?"
[16:27] <@Takeshi> "A lot better than what I was making at the grocery," Takeshi replies with a slight smile. "She's willing to be flexible on the hours too, for my 'other job', if I need it. Learning to type is a pain, though."
[16:30] <@Usagi> "You've never learned to type?" Usagi asks in surprise as they start out into the halls. "I remember Serenity had to learn from Mama, but I picked it up in school... I guess that's different than typing for a living, though," she decides, flexing her elegant long fingers. "Don't wind up getting arthritis!"
[16:31] <@Takeshi> "Heh, I'm a little young for that yet. And I've had a typing class once, but it wasn't ever really something I focused on much," Takeshi admits. "Figured I was better suited to more physical jobs."
[16:33] <@Usagi> "Yeah, that's what I said about Serenity, as well," Usagi remarks with a slight frown at that first part. "Anyway, sounds like a good job, and at least Mrs Tomoe will be understanding. I'm alright with mine since it's late at night, and for some reason stuff always happens during the day, so it doesn't affect work unless it's something huge or I get really hurt."
[16:34] <@Takeshi> "Hope that doesn't happen," Takeshi says with a slight frown. "Definitely won't if I have anything to say about it." Shaking his head a bit, he goes on. "Anyway, when do you have to work next?"
[16:36] <@Usagi> "Friday night," Usagi replies, sighing a little. "Busiest night of the week, since that's when people that don't work will be going out to have fun..."
[16:38] <@Takeshi> A slight expression of disappointment flickers over Takeshi's face, but he hides it quickly. "Mmm. Was thinking about seeing if you wanted to catch a movie or something this weekend - I keep getting hints that I need to relax a little, and it's not much fun to go out by myself."
[16:42] <@Usagi> "Sure," Usagi nods easily, not reading anything into it besides an activity for friends. "I work Saturday as well, but I'm free all afternoon. Or Sunday if that works better?"
[16:45] <@Takeshi> "Sunday would probably be better - I should check with Reiko-san to see if she'll need me on the weekends at all. Wouldn't surprise me at all if she did," a slight shake of his head accompanies that. "Might pick up dinner or something afterwards if you want, too."
[16:47] <@Usagi> That manages to ping Usagi's radar, the blonde hesitating for a second before she smiles brightly and nods. "Dinner and a movie sounds great!" she agrees perkily, masking her inner worries with friendly good cheer. This is unexpected!
[16:49] * @Takeshi smiles a bit at the positive reaction. "Cool - just pick out a movie you want to see, I'm not too terribly picky. All I ask is that it's NOT a martial arts flick, although I doubt that'd be at the top of your list anyway," he replies with a smirk. "Where do you want to meet for it?"
[16:53] <@Usagi> "I'll check the listings tonight," Usagi offers. "Ah, how about we just meet at the cinema - I normally go to the one down the road from Tokyo Tower since it's the closest and normally has a good selection."
[16:54] <@Takeshi> "Sounds good to me," Takeshi agrees. "Just let me know what time tomorrow after you've picked out the movie, and we should be set."
[16:54] <@Usagi> "Okay, see you tomorrow!" Usagi nods before waving and picking up her pace so she can flee homeward.
[16:56] <@Takeshi> "Later!" Takeshi waves as the blonde makes a rapid departure.

[Asrana]

This happens the night of Takeshi's second day at work, after he and Hotaru go out for dinner.

[22:24:16] <Anastasia> ---Arc 2 go!---
[22:25:13] <Anastasia> Aaaah, home. Mom doesn't get home until past 11 - nor does Dad, the two laughing together. Dad picked up Hideo it seems, carrying him inside. A happy family?
[22:28:06] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's on the couch, reading it seems, and waiting. She didn't honestly have much to do tonight, and her homework is long done. It's LATE. But so she is relaxed, sweatpantsand a t-shirt under a blanket with her book. "Welcome back," she cuts in a wry smile on her face.
[22:33:51] <Anastasia> Hideo is lightly juggled a bit, Dad raising him up and down. "Evening," he says, heading upstairs with the young child.
[22:34:07] <Anastasia> "Have fun," Mother smiles that little, teasing look of hers, coming just into the room and waiting.
[22:35:58] <Hotaru-chan> "Oh, y'now, we traded introductions to what sorts of nightmare monsters have wreaked agonizing chaos and pain in our minds," Hotaru answers brightly, smiling at her mother. "I also suggested he ask Usagi-chan out."
[22:39:14] <Anastasia> "..mmmm." Crossing her arms, Mother smirks and goes into the hall and the phone. Yet her voice carries! "I'll be sure to mention that to Ikkuko-chan."
[22:40:13] <Hotaru-chan> "...Mom," Hotaru sighs, getting up to follow her mother. "You could actually listen to why, for a moment, please?" she asks, snorting.
[22:46:35] <Anastasia> A hand is on the phone, paused mid dial as Reiko waits.
[22:52:02] <Hotaru-chan> "Takeshi's not randomly involved in all this...he's Nephrite, one of the former generals. He's..." Hotaru sighs softly. "He has memories, killing us, being mentally dominated and controlled by an evil Goddess,,. And I tore him to shreds last Thursday in overreacting to something."
[22:52:02] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru took a deep breath, eyeing her mother "Just...even if I wanted to date him, we wouldn't work out, we'd keep reminding each other of everything black and dark in the past. He even makes me look perfectly social...please, just PLEASE don't pull this on him, hm? Usagi can get him to talk and relax far, far more than me, and he needs that, so just let it be?" she asks with a sigh.
[22:57:51] <Anastasia> "Oh Hotaru." Mother puts down the phone, rubbing the bridge of her nose over and over. Her eyes squint shut, irritation showing. "The one cute, manageable, decent man you stumble on and..."
[22:58:30] <Hotaru-chan> "...And which of those criteria exactly does Yoshi not fill?" Hotaru asks dryly, raising an eyebrow.
[23:00:12] <Anastasia> "That only a few milimeters prevent him from making me a grand mother?" This is said with the utmost casual nastiness, Mother eyeing Hotaru.
[23:00:27] <Anastasia> *milimeters of rubber
[23:04:27] <Hotaru-chan> "And the fact he's never even gotten my pants, much less my panties, off, and agrees instantly when I say no means nothing here?" Hotaru snorts, hands resting on her hips.
[23:06:14] <Anastasia> "Right." Reiko rolls her eyes, dramatically turning away, but her barbed voice is very sharp. "I hope he's at least getting you off while making you a teen mother to be."
[23:11:57] <Hotaru-chan> "So is this where I ask if Rei-chan's my long lost half-sister?" Hotaru fires back, an almust curious tone to her dagger like voice.
[23:11:58] <Hotaru-chan> "I'm not having sex with him. Then again, if you're going to insist that I of course must be lying to you simply because we were kissing in my bedroom, maybe you don't even want to know what's happening at any point in my life? Would you preffer I simply disappear to not bother you with inconvenient truths to be rebuffed?"
[23:19:40] <Anastasia> " I don't know!" Reiko snaps, starting to storm off, "I just don't want to see myd aughter spreading her legs to the first tomcat she gets close to!"
[23:26:09] <Hotaru-chan> "Then trust me when I say I'm NOT!" Hotaru snaps, nearly growling at her mother as she doesn't let Reiko escape, following her. "If you can't trust me with my own body, how can you trust me with the ability to kill thousands of people?" she seethes, eyes flickering violet, her own will coming to bear behind her.
[23:26:09] <Hotaru-chan> "Are you even THINKING about why I dated and date him? Because I did tell you. Or was your daughter confiding in you too inconvenient to remember?"
[23:33:36] <Anastasia> "What I remember is my daughter acting like a little whore!" Reiko freezes cold at this, whipping around to Hotaru with anger filled gazes. Her fist even balls up, "I saw it! You can't deny it, can you? You're quick to at least talk about how scared you are or were, finally, and now?"
[23:42:49] <Hotaru-chan> "I was KISSING him," Hotaru snaps back, body clenched, eyes staring straight back at Reiko with flickers of a glow behind them. "I'm growing up, faster than I want to be, but I can't help it," she snarls. "I am NOT your little girl anymore. You LEFT her years ago for work, just like dad."
[23:42:49] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes another breath, the violet glow beginning to grow slightly around her. "What you got back when you finally noticed was me, Hotaru Tomoe, who except for the small fact she's had her ribs pulverized twice in the last two weeks and nearly bled her life out countless other times while tearing dozens of people's lives from them, would LIKE to be exactly like her mother."
[00:04:16] <Anastasia> "The little girl th-" Reiko stops visibly, shaking nastily. "I noticed my daughter's a secretive little...ugh!" Throwing her arms up Reiko stomps off, heading to thestairs without another word.
[00:05:49] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru reacts in an instant, throwing up a violet wall between Reiko and going further up the stairs, or trying to with thelash of her will and energies.
[00:10:09] <Anastasia> OOC - Soul check, 'taru. +1
[00:10:20] <Hotaru-chan> roll 2d6+1 burning 10 ep
[00:10:21] * Hatbot --> "Hotaru-chan rolls 2d6+1 burning 10 ep and gets 8." [2d6=3, 4]
[00:12:08] <Anastasia> A faint glimmering of violet is summoned! It's enough to make Reiko stop, recoiling back slightly.
[00:16:45] <Hotaru-chan> "What secrets have I been keeping, mom?" Hotaru hisses sharply. "I've kept ONE secret from you in two years," she growls, advancing on her parent with glaring, fiery amethyst orbs. "Just one, and I'm willing to bet you'll never guess it. But regardles...'secretive'? I've been far, far more open with you than any parent of a teenager could DREAM of from what I see with my friends. But you still...you still stab me like this."
[00:23:55] <Anastasia> "You...lower it," Reiko's voice is tight, tense, nasty. She looks away, waiting.
[00:26:12] <Hotaru-chan> "Why?" Hotaru asks softly, finally collecting herself, drawing it back in as she stands at the foot of the steps. "Why should I indulge the desires of someone that by all appearances doesn't trust me, doesn't believe I have any worth, and is unwilling even to talk to me."
[00:31:57] <Anastasia> "Now." It's a grated out voice, Mom sounding rather angry again.
[00:37:57] <Hotaru-chan> "Give me a reason," Hotaru replies again. "It's not destruction, you can't hurt yourself on it any more than the wall. But so far, all you've done is demand everything from me, and then keep secrets and scream at what you encouraged in a delusional rampage. Give me a good reason to lower it, and I will. Command me, and you only destroy that much more of your child."
[00:40:14] <Anastasia> "Now." It's a grated out voice, Mom sounding rather angry again. Mom repeats herself, looking on with level eyes.
[00:45:08] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath, shivering from head to toe for an instant. "I'm sorry, but I suppose that's never mattered, nor will it now," she murmurs, shivering visibly and crumpling a little, the wall vanishing a moment before Hotaru herself does, off to somewhere?
[00:49:06] <Anastasia> ---

[Anastasia]

<Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
<Kotono> As the week goes on Asher's trails lead him to Serenity's. Namely on a chilly late fall afternoon, November's reign well into it's life. Ignoring a few last leaves blowing in the air he proceeds to Serenity's after school.
<Asher> It is with a solemn expression and a stare up at the sky which Asher greets the house with as he trudges through the streets, somewhat dreading what is to come. A million different emotions run through his head - anxiety, uncertainty, the feeling of intrusion, stupidity, negative thoughts and more which he all banishes with a low growl. The puff of mists that form and evaporate like a dream from his breaths take his attention (more)
<Asher> as he steps up the driveway and to the main door. With a deep breath, he pauses before knocking or ringing, glancing down at Reclaimer. 'What do you think?'
<Asher> And we flash back to...
<Asher> School. Last period. Asher's eyes are barely on the board, his ears not really picking up the audible noises that the teacher is making, although his book and notebook are open on his desk. The text scribbled there has little to do with school education, though. He purses his lips, rereading the passages written down on the paper again. 'You around?'
<Kotono> 'Yes. I'm surprised you're awake,' Reclaimer notes. The students are you are mostly uninterested, including one Makoto Kino, who is rather bored herself and not paying the least scrap of attention.
<Asher> 'No thanks to the class,' Asher agrees steadily. 'I was always curious. I do presume you're able to see what I see?'
<Kotono> 'In short, yes. Sort of. I had to adapt and I had a lot of time to do so. Jupiter's looking like she's going to fall asleep,' Reclaimer suppresses a yawn, even a distinct feeling of boredom from him.
<Asher> 'Then perhaps you could read this?' Asher views the text again, hoping the sword would at least pay some semblance of attention. Scrawled there are all of his notes, written surprisingly in legible form for a guy, complete relevant text and his own comments noted.
<Asher> Covering several books but with the largely alarming passages highlighted from that one night at Kotono's, he stares it over himself, trying to see if he missed any detail here or there, or if his entire theory could be laid bare with something.
<Kotono> 'That bit there...' Reclaimer focuses on the scrap from the monk in the Middle Ages, 'Those are the names of our foes plus a few others.'
<Asher> 'I'm glad you noticed the bright, capitalized names, yes. That part is pretty obvious. Read on about... that.' Asher points down to a few lines detailing the description of Lightbringer.
<Kotono> '...she?' Reclaimer stops on that word in particular, 'So it's a person according to this?'
<Asher> 'Yes. And the next line is even more telling about which she. Remember, their Sages are adamant about this Lightbringer being on Earth. How many people fit that particular description?'
<Kotono> 'As I don't know 99.9% of the population?' Reclaimer drawls this, making it's point. 'I believe I understand the gist of your thoughts, though.'
<Asher> 'I'm under the assumption that the rest of the world is relatively normal, and even if they weren't, compare this one particular person with the rest of us 'magical' persons,' Asher bites back, sighing.
<Kotono> 'No, I understand your point - just don't get too entrenched into it in case you're wrong. That leads to making assumptions and to faulty thinking. But...you think it's her, don't you?' As the teacher goes on, Asher s uddenly notes he's lookin gat him. "The answer to 3, Shinsei?"
<Asher> Oh, crap. Asher instantly gazes at the textbook to see what 3 is to come up with a speedy answer!
<Kotono> OOC - Mind check!
<Asher> roll 2d6 burn 10 EP eep!
<Asher> roll 2d6 burn 10 EP of sigh.
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 burn 10 EP of sigh. and gets 9." [2d6=6, 3]
<Kotono> What Asher grabs and blurts out is quick, composed and completely wrong. "Incorrect." Shaking his head, "Do questions 10, 11 and 12 for extra practice tonight."
<Kotono> What Asher grabs and blurts out is quick, composed and completely wrong. "Incorrect." Shaking his head, "Do questions 10, 11 and 12 for extra practice tonight."
<Asher> Asher grimaces and flinches back in his seat, nodding submissively, his thoughts banishing themselves to the wind for a moment. Argh. Well, it's not like he shouldn't be getting in some more extra work anyway. With a resigned sigh, he turns his focus innerself again. 'You're right, it's what I think. But whether I'm right or not, I think it deserves mention.'
<Kotono> 'It does - to her, probably. But...' Reclaimer pauses, 'What if it's a state someone is in as well? Serenity as Her Majesty Queen Serenity, or one of the Princesses as a Princess and not just a Sailor, for example? Alter egos add more mud to the situation.'
<Asher> Asher closes his eyes for a moment, letting the words sink in. 'That's a valid point. I just assumed that everyone was being considered from their .. normal selves, I guess. But what do you mean by that? Are Makoto - ' He glances over for a moment '- and Jupiter two different people, or no?'
<Kotono> 'They're both Makoto Kino, but...Jupiter has powers in that form she doesn't have normally. So do you when you aren't transformed.' Reclaimer pauses asy ou see Makoto. She's beautiful - ponytail just a bit askew, beautiful front denied but she idly drums a pencil onto her desk. 'It's worth remembering that if you start pondering on who the Lightbringer could be.'
<Asher> 'Powers from an old world...' Asher mouths off the words, glossing it over as he averts his eyes away from the chestnut-haired girl and back to his notebook. 'But that doesn't make the person. Makoto is Makoto, Princess of Jupiter or not. She's from here.'
<Kotono> 'That's true as well - but she's also from the Moon in the past. With the exception of Sailor Pluto and yourself now, all of them are. You're special, as is Kotono, in unique circumstances. Even then, in Kotono's case, she's still Her Highness of Pluto.'
<Asher> 'And I guess if you were to additionally question the sanity of the person writing the whole thing, details can be muddied in explanation.' Asher punctuates this with a sigh. 'I'm just trying to make do with what I have here. But you know my guess, and it's enough to validate at least bringing it up, I think.'
<Asher> 'If nothing else, it narrows down the field significantly and we can know what to expect from there. Also, consider.' Asher pauses, another thought coming into his head. 'They've interacted with all of us! Usagi, Kotono, Hotaru, Makoto, Rei... they all were seeking the Lightbringer and yet they didn't identify any of the senshi as her. How can they be looking for her if they don't even know how to?'
<Asher> 'And Michiru flat out was on their side for a moment, so it definitely can't be her, either.'
<Kotono> 'Michiru is out, and you raise a point about the other girls. So...mmmmmm. What about Venus or Uranus? They're still unaccounted for, and if they were it...'
<Asher> 'If they were it, then we need to look for them too. But we're always doing that, regardless - it's an unknown variable we can't control. It leaves only one person left that fits, and she fits the bill the most.' With that the bell goes off, signaling the end of class. 'I'm not saying I'm absolutely sure... but.' He breaths in, slowly. 'It'd make too much sense, wouldn't it?'
<Kotono> 'Indeed. Indeed, so...let's take this to her.' After that Reclaimer is silent - doubly so since the period ends at last!
<Asher> And we fade back in...
<Asher> The chill of the wind is noticeable as a young man in front of a door shifts his feet. 'Well?' Asher speaks again quietly, staring at the door. 'Just go in and let it all out?'
<Kotono> 'Go for it,' Reclaimer stops, however, with good reason. "Just a minute!" You hear someone rushing to the door - JAnna has a towel wrapped around hre body, faintly seen as she cracks the door open. "Oh, ASher. Go ahead and let yourself in as soon as I run back upstairs. Be down in a few, make yourself comfortable." Water and a few bubbly suds drip from her hair and body, a shiver from her as she retreats away, barely seen.
<Asher> "...oi." Asher rubs his eyes for a moment and waits for the footsteps before he pushes open the door with one hand, stepping in quickly for warmth.
<Kotono> It's warm in here! The living room is very warm but empty - no one else is home, but you can distantly hear what you presume to be Janna rustling upstairs loudly.
<Asher> Asher shuffles around for a moment again, taking off his shoes and tiptoeing his way into the living room. Parking himself at one of the chairs, he lounges around idly for a few moments, still pondering over details. Something seems graspable, but at the same time he heeded Reclaimer's words - it was too easy to fall into one train of thought and never get off...
<Kotono> You have to wait a mere five minutes for Janna to come down. She's thrown on a heavy white and pink sweater with sweat pants, curling up with a blanket on the couch. "Sorry about that - was trying to moisturise to keep up with J-nevermind! ANYWAY! What's up? Social call or business?"
<Asher> "With--" Asher cuts himself off, bringing himself back to attention! He smiles a bit nervously, shaking his head. "It's kinda important, but it can wait. I need to speak with Queen Serenity. Is she not home yet, or...?"
<Kotono> "She's just coming home, I think. Should be home any time." Leaning back and putting her bare feet up onto the table, "Wanna watch me paint my nails or help? Well, probably not, but...it may be a bit if you wanna go fix yourself a snack or whatever or take a nap. She could be ten minutes, she coudl be two hours."
<Asher> "...I... see." Asher continues smiling, feeling a bit put off. "I'll just work on homework, then, not like I don't have anything to do." Haha. Right, Asher, right. But it was as good a chance and excuse as any, as he props his backpack up on the table and takes out the appropriate material.
<Kotono> As this goes on, Janna gets out a few shades and bottles of nail polish. She frowns over it as she holds a tiny little brush, debating a fe bottles. "Oh, Asher! Since you're a guy - and you're not gay, right - which looks better and sexier on me? Heartstopper red or delicate pink rose?"
<Asher> "....I..." Asher looks utterly out of his field for a moment, and shows it, trying to stammer out something successfully. "Uh.. I... I really don't know, Janna," he blurts out, blushing. "It depends on the person, though, wouldn't.. it?"
<Asher> What an abysmal failure, he was!
<Kotono> "Oh come on! What sort of wimpy answer is that!" JAnna puts down the bottles and brush, hands on her hips as she glares. "Have some backbone! You're a man, you're suppposed to!"
<Asher> This only makes Asher flinch back for a moment, his pencil easing down as he looks back up with a grimace. "It's nowhere remotely near my field or knowledge! What do you want me to do, lie? That'd be even worse!"
<Kotono> "It's COLORS!" Janna throws her arms up in exasperation, "Which color looks nicer on me? IT's not rocket science!"
<Asher> He sighs and glances over at the said hues anyway, trying to come up with an answer to her demands. And he really didn't know. He'd never known anyone who DID paint their toenails, at least certainly not in front of him.
<Asher> "...alright, fine." He glances back up at Janna for a moment, chewing his lip and considering. "Pink."
<Kotono> "...red." Janna nods a moment later, humming a merry note as she takes the bottle. "Somehow I got the idea that your opinion was probably best 180'ed since you're rather, ah, clueless on that. But thanks, that's what I thought, too!"  So she begins, the smell of chemicals tickling ASher's nose.
<Kotono> '...Women.' Reclaimer merely sighs.
<Asher> 'You've had your share of experience with the battle of the genders? That's somewhat surprising.' Asher lets off a barbed remark. 'Incidentally, I'd hate to imagine a female counterpart of you.'
<Asher> With a low sigh himself, he turns himself back to homework!
<Kotono> 'Asher? Just imagine yourself as a girl. Imagine you synching up mentally with Kotono.' It's all Reclaimer says, before it laughs VERY darkly.
<Asher> '....' That is enough to shut Asher up completely and utterly from even thinking about a response, or the subject Reclaimer brings up, by busying himself with said work.
<Kotono> About a half hour passes. Janna seems thrilled with her nails, smiling as she watches them dry. "Mmm." She just purrs away - she keeps murmuring something about a 'Jun' while her eyebrows twitch. (More)
<Kotono> But eventually Asher hears the front door open. Someone is here, a quiet sound of a door delicately closed.
<Asher> Asher slowly turns his eyes up from his work to regard the newcoming person, preemptively knowing who it is.
<Kotono> Jaws music. The sound of terror! A glimpse of blonde hair as someone enters, pale blon-oh. No. It's Serenity, mearly wearing a light yellow skirt today. "Janna...Oh, Asher! How do you find yourself today?"
<Asher> As soon as his heart stops jackhammering against his chest, Asher gathers himself to speak. "Queen Serenity. I was just dropping by in hopes of talking about something with you." He smiles nervously again. "But it doesn't have to be right now, just call me up when you're free."
<Kotono> "Now is fine." Serenity sits next to Janna, idly rubbing her hands. "Mmmm. Now is excellent, for I need to change clothes because I need to go out later."
<Kotono> "Your hands again," A deep sigh from Janna, patting Serenity's shoulder as she gets up. "I'll go get the aspirin again."
<Asher> Asher frowns at that, rising from his seat as he tucks away his stuff back into the pack, except for the requisite notebook. "Your hands are troubling you that much, Queen Serenity?"
<Kotono> "Typing does not agree with me." Slowly she works her hands, bringing relief to one and the other. "It's a neglectably small concern. What troubles you, Asher?"
<Asher> "The main situation at hand." Asher raises his notebook, looking weary for a moment, but continues on. "I did some extensive research with Kotono a little bit back and came upon some... interesting relevations. I thought they were serious enough to warrant bringing them to your attention."
<Kotono> "Go on." As Serenity speaks Janna returns, a glass of water and blue aspirin pills brought. A swallow later and the Queen's attention is yours, awaiting.
<Asher> "It's... a lot," Asher admits hesitantly, seeming a little off balance. "We should sit down, at least. And a lot of it is conjecture, but the text itself is the important part." He takes a seat back down across the table and opens the notebook, awaiting Serenity to come over for a look.
<Kotono> Serenity comes over slowly, kneeling next to Asher to read. "Is this it?" she asks simply, turning her eyes to the age.
<Asher> "The parts that are highlighted are text passages that I copied out of several books and passages, particularly this one here..." Asher points to one specific section. "From a sect of monks in the Middle Ages. It seems nonsensical at first, but the first line's listing of names is too straight-on for coincidence."
<Kotono> "PESTILENCE HATRED DEATH DEATH DEATH TEMPTATION DESPAIR HUNGER STAGNATION HUNGER HUNGER SAGES SAGES BEAST HUNGER." Serenity recites the passages solemnly, each name given respect. "Our enemies, plus Michiru's name as one of them was Stagnation. That leaves...Death and Hunger, as well as the Beast."
<Asher> Asher blinks rapidly. He'd almost forgotten that detail. "The Beast is dead, if it's referencing to the Beast Lord that the senshi fought. And... I..." He hesitates, not really sure how to say this. "I spoke with Death earlier this week on a school morning."
<Kotono> "Tell me," Serenity latches onto that with a quickness, "What did he say and why?"
<Asher> "He ventured out to speak with me, and try to recruit me, like all the others have been, I gathered," Asher replies slowly, gathering the conversation in his head again. Every minute detail. The chill, the sudden drawing away of life from everyone else in that ice cream parlor - Death's touch... it makes him involuntarily shudder even now.
<Asher> "He started out.... saying that he was looking for any inhuman, and that I was the first one he'd run across.." Asher licks his lips, concentrating. "That he was not unfamiliar with Earth, but the others were. The usual Lightbringer objective. Asked us, us being those of magical talent, why we were here, that magic should have died off long ago..."
<Asher> "Then I asked him for more detail about their side of the story, and he pressed on me accepting an offer to 'see it for myself'. I wasn't very keen on that." Asher closes his eyes, remembering the bone-numbing sensations of that conversation. "About the Sages.. the signs being in place... the fall of a long forgotten Beast..."
<Anastasia> "A prophecy? Signs? The Beast Lord?" Serenity considers these word with the utmost solemnness, pondering it all. "Magic...this is not a world where magic florishes. LIke the past it has been forgotten, has it not?"
<Ran|GM> Asher remains silent, awaiting Serenity to deign on her words further. Surely the implications of the rest of the passage would not be lost on her, as well.
<Anastasia> "They want you...then want us...do they want me?" she murmurs, thoughtfully looking away with a few fingers propping up her chin. "Creatures calling themselves inhuman, wielding magic that 'died out on this world long ago'. Creatures that know of the Beast Lord, and..."
<Ran|GM> "And seek a Lightbringer, she from an old world, who will bring this world into the age of eternal void." Asher finishes the statement solemnly, his eyes downcast.
<Anastasia> "...if that is myself...then I would lose myself in the process." Serenity concludes darkly, reaching out to touch Asher's shoulder, to lay a hand there. "This is good work. I hope and pray that this is merely a coincidence, but I am not sure. But then, Michiru. Stagnation...what would I...?" Now the Queen bites her lip thoughtfully, "No. No matter. True or not, we must prepare for this and be aware of it."
<Ran|GM> "If it is only a coincidence, then we still do not know what to guard against, Queen Serenity." Asher relaxes ever so slightly against her touch, finding a little more strength in his voice. "The more we glimpse into their intents, the more we can take measures to protect against it... their objectives will not change regardless of what we think. But as you said... we have to prepare."
<Ran|GM> "I felt that... given the description of what was written here..." He raises his head up to meet the serene monarch's gaze in the eyes. "That you yourself should know first, and decide how to interpret it."
<Anastasia> "I believe that..." CLosing her eyes, Serenity stops and smiles. "Asher. Stop that - I'm no Queen, not any more, am I not? I lead only because others willingly defer to me out of love and respect." Smiling to Asher at that, "Go call them and tell them this."
<Anastasia> A pause, Serenity considering, "Make sure they hear the exact words, not merely a summary. Allow them to make their own conclusions first."
<Ran|GM> "But you are Queen Serenity," Asher replies back, with both a little surprise and hesitance. "A queen of a kingdom past, but a queen nonetheless. Whether your 'subjects' follow you out of love and respect or out of other reasons only affects the stature of your position, not the position itself. It's.. it's how we make of it which is important, but it's there nonetheless."
<Ran|GM> The young man seems to pick up a lot more conviction in his voice, but it's undertoned quietly in his words. "Just as I am a knight now, and so long as I hold this power I will continue to be so. It matters not why or how I serve as a knight, others will treat me as such because it is who I am. For better, or for worse..."
<Anastasia> "Queen Serenity is dead. She died holding the Silver Crystal, passing on her legacy to others. All that is left is a woman named Serenity, Asher, who occasionally remembers the past to ensure it rests in harmony with the present." Serenity smiles, shimmering a moment. The guise of the Queen of the Moon is here, her beautiful gown out of place in the mundane house. "I am no more a Lightbringer than Queen Serenity now. If anyone is the Qu
<Anastasia> If anyone is the Queen...let it be my daughter or Usagi."
<Ran|GM> Asher lowers his head, accepting the correction dutifully. "I hope they know that, then." He says it with a hint of a smile, before raising his eyes up again. "My apologies... I just..." He stops, seemingly at a loss for words.
<Anastasia> "No apology." Serenity's smile picks up, brighter again. "Go on."
<Anastasia> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=6, 5]
<Anastasia> Asher feels a feeling of peace and serenity flow through him, a faint twinkle from Serenity's forehead moon. "Shh. Just go on, Asher."
<Asher> "Ah..." Asher closes his eyes, relaxing again considerably as he takes in a slow breath to consider his words. "I still feel... lost sometimes, where I am, what I'm supposed to do. What I've stepped into here... with everyone feels like another world entirely, and I've been treating it like that. It makes it... easier to accept..."
<Anastasia> "I note someone attached themselves to you, on feeling lost." Serenity's smile is a teasting thing, soft and teasing.
<Asher> His face flushes for a moment as he leans back against her hand, biting down on his lips and trying to stay composed. "I don't see how that has to do with anything at all..."
<Anastasia> The warm laughter that follows is muted and pleasant. "Oh, I merely could not resist one comment. The Princess of Pluto is courted by a knight errant? Are you alright with it?"
<Asher> "You would be amazed at how little my own position has anything to do with it in practice, Queen Serenity," he mumbles quietly, biting down on his lips and chewing. This wasn't exactly how he planned the conversation to go!
<Anastasia> "I see...too easily." Serenity pats Asher again, "Now go spread the word. I won't trouble you with my own curiosity."
<Asher> Asher nods slowly in response, speaking only to clarify the command. "And what about you, Queen Serenity... what do you make of all of this?"
<Anastasia> "I wish to think it over a little more." Rising up, Serenity stands. "I will go bathe and ponder this. Do you wish to jo-aaah!" Wow. That gets Serenity blush horribly, quickly amending. "Ah, I'm still used to most of our allies being fellow women!"
<Asher> Blushing intensely beneath her again, Asher quickly slides away, finding the pommel of Reclaimer and steadying himself upwards again with a tiny bit of a nod. "Alright. ...would.. a meeting be entirely wise, though... or should I seek them out one by one?"
<Anastasia> "You have a communicator now," Serenity says with a delicate note, getting up and going.
<Asher> "...what's -that- supposed to mean..." Asher says this beneath his breath, to himself more than anything else, as he gathers up with a sigh.

[Anastasia]

> ---Arc 2 go!---
> Ack! THe solitude of Takeshi's room at night is shattered! Ruined! Disgraced, all by this insistent soft beeping from his school bag. The sound of communication on the fly!
* Takeshi mumbles and yawns, pushing back the sheets as he rummages through his bag for the communicator so graciously given by Serenity last week.
> The symbol of Mars is lit, waiting to be answered.
* Takeshi hits the button on the communicator to answer it, his before-bed reading disturbed. "Yes?"
> "Hey." Rei smirks a little as she's seen, hints of her school uniform just visible from her neckline. "Kotono said you were looking into the supernatural side of all of this?"
<Takeshi> "Mmm," Takeshi replies, nodding slightly. "Trying to, but I haven't heard back a lot from her yet and I haven't tried looking for Temptation or any of the others for a few days."
> "She's working on it - she said that Asher helped too, but she hasn't quite seen all of her notes so you'll need to talk to him. Anyway," Rei glances behind her, a soft little smirk, "Since she's lost in a book, what's up?"
<Takeshi> "Eh, not too much," Takeshi replies. "Just getting ready for bed - been a busy week so far. Started a new job, for one. Had a bit of a talk with Hotaru, for another. And Serenity." He shakes his head. "Lot of things with real life, not so much with 'business', though."
> "Mmmm. Say!" Rei's all smiles, curious. "Got any plans coming up?"
<Takeshi> "Headed over to check out a movie with Usagi on Sunday, and thinking about getting a haircut on Saturday," Takeshi answers. "Other than that and work, no."
> "...ooooh!" For amoment Rei looks embarrassed, but snaps out of it. 'Usagi already...damn her! Quick little...' "Well, have fun with that, then...wait, haircut?"
* Takeshi chuckles briefly. "Yeah, Hotaru said she thought I'd look better with shorter hair, and... honestly, I'm thinking about it. Not 100% sure if I want to do it yet, but..."
> From the way Rei bites her lip you'd think this was something important. "It might be. Well, mmmm. Just make sure you're sure...unless you want Jun-chan to grow it back?"
<Takeshi> "Jun-ch... oh. Didn't know he could do that, actually." Takeshi raises an eyebrow at that. "I have no idea when I'll be able to see him, though, although I'll admit it's up there on my list of priorities."
> "Heh, heh. I had to cut my hair on Gaia and he regrew it for me. I think Hotaru knows the trick as well, but it's hard." A slinky smile there, considering.
* Takeshi smirks. "Yeah, you definitely want the long-haired look." He chuckles a bit at that, then, "Anyway, was there anything else up, or just calling to chat?"
> "Eh, chatting. Kotono's busy in a book and I'm bored. So how're you adapting now?" Rei goes to sit - you can see Kotono's room behind her as she heads out, thethump of going downstairs heard.
* Takeshi smiles wryly. "Eh... not too bad. Biggest thing right now is dealing with the bureaucracy - still dealing with all the paperwork so I can get out of here and get moved in with Serenity. Shouldn't be a lot longer before it's all done, though."
> "Heh, heh. Looking to make our beloved Queen a woman again?" Rei teases, grinning as you see her sit down on what looks to be a leather couch.
* Takeshi snorts. "Right, I'm sure she looks at me as dating material," Takeshi retorts. "Despite the age difference, however you want to figure that."
> "Heh, heh. Nevermind, then. Can't deny Usa...aaah!" Rei just grins now, "Anyway, anything else going on? Your'e in Usagi's class, aren't you?"
<Takeshi> "Can't deny her what?" Takeshi says, cutting right to the more interesting of the two points.
> "Oh, nothing," Rei chirps innocently.
<Takeshi> "Uh huh," Takeshi says dubiously, letting it lie. "But to answer your other question, yes, I'm in Usagi's class."
> "Well, take good care of her Sunday!" With that Rei even winks, giggling, "Just do it. No questions." You do note a strange bit of seriousness in her voice, too1
* Takeshi raises an eyebrow at that. "Now you're starting to make me wonder if this is some sort of conspiracy," he says, frowning slightly. "Are you and Hotaru both in on this?"
> Rei nearly snorts her entire nose out, coughing viciously after. "...wait, what, has Hotaru been TALKING?"
<Takeshi> "We talked last night a bit, yeah," Takeshi says, a bit surprised at the reaction. "She was the one that suggested I ask Usagi out."
> "....and she's getting Usagi a date...." Rei twitches visibly, growling. "Okay, thanks."
<Takeshi> "Uh... sure, I guess. Did I say something wrong?"
> "No, no, Takeshi. You did great!" Rei smiles even sweeter, eyebrows twitching. "That information is useful. So Hotaru wants me that bad, eh?"
<Takeshi> "She didn't mention you at all, actually," Takeshi replies, sighing a bit. "All that happened was that her mother tried to shove the two of us out on an impromptu date, and while we were talking over dinner she suggested Usagi might enjoy going on a date. That was all."
> "..mmmm." Rei does simmer down a bit at that, and just sighs. "...yeah...erk.Do me a favor and forgetI said that last part?" Suddenly Rei is shaking her head, "Just...urgh!" In a flick she's gone, back to her own life.
<Takeshi> "That was strange," Takeshi says to no one in particular, shrugging before he puts the communicator back in his bookbag and heading back to his reading.

[Asrana]

This happens the same night as Hotaru's argument with Reiko and the battle with Death's minions.

[23:16:00] <Hotaru-chan> ----
[23:19:40] <Hotaru-chan> Wednesday night is a time of sleep! Rest! Blessed obliviousness for Makoto Kino after a long day of school and teaching. ...Except for the sound of Makoto's door clicking and creaking open. It awakens her with its noise, the clock flashing 2:12am at her in soft red letters. There are audible footsteps, soft ones, in her home.
[23:23:44] <Makoto> The sound of footsteps induces a moment of panic-very brief, but enough to kickstart the chesnut-haired teen's thought processes into gear, bypassing the ordinary sluggish crawl to wakefulness. *I'm sure I locked that. Which means it's one of three people.* The thought circles sluggishly in her mind as Makoto sits up in bed, rubbing her eyes and looking about in the darkness. "Hello?" She calls, through the bedroom door.
[23:34:02] <Hotaru-chan> It's a flicker of soft violet that greets her, Hotaru coming to Makoto's bedroom door with a globe of her own energy in hand. "Guess I woke you..." she whispers across the distance, her fac a fragile constitution of pieces, an expression that perhaps once had been shattered.
[23:37:37] <Makoto> A dissheveled Makoto, lengthy mane of brown hair unbound, and dressed only in a largish pink tee with a kitten on the front and white panties greets the smaller senshi's eyes as long legs slip over the edge of the bed, and Makoto stands up, stretching. "'S fine." Makoto yawns, padding over to Hotaru. "s'goin' on? You look all worn out...how come you're up and about this early?"
[23:43:11] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a shivery breath, falling against Makoto and trembling softly. "Fight with mom...I...disappeared, went to Balder's rooftop to be alone. Death showed up and woke me."
[23:46:54] <Makoto> "..." Makoto hugs the smaller girl on insinct as She presses against her, lightly stroking her hair. "Busy night." She murmurs. "Want to talk about it? I can make coffee. It tastes weird, but it'll help..."
[00:00:45] <Hotaru-chan> "No...just..." Hotaru sighs again, shivering and hugging Makoto tightly. Her clothes are pajama like, sweatpants and a t-shirt as she snuggles closely into her friend. "I don't...it's hard even to be here..." she whimpers. "It just...like there's a roll of barbed wire turning around inside me, I wasn't going to see anyone for a while, but I had to set off the beacon when Death's servants attacked."
[00:03:45] <Makoto> "...Oh, Firefly..." Makoto murmurs, wincing a little, and kissing the top of Hotaru's head. "I'm sorry. Do you still need to be alone? I can set up the futon in my sewing room..." She offers, worriedly looking down at the shivering form in her arms.
[00:12:13] <Hotaru-chan> "No...it's fine..." Hotaru choked, shuddering and pressing closer. "Just...everything..." she sighs, nuzzling tiredly at her companion, glancing up. "Just...go back to bed? I don't want to make school hard for you..."
[00:14:14] <Makoto> "You, too." Makoto insists, frowning and rubbing Hotaru's back before gently ushering her over to her bed. "Take off your socks and climb in-I'll go make you something to drink to relax you a little, 'kay?" Makoto offered, leaning back to look into the smaller girl's eyes.
[00:19:16] <Hotaru-chan> "Not going to school tomorrow, but okay," Hotaru agrees quietly, smiling weakly back at Makoto as she sits on the bed, and going more than her socks, taking off the sweats too.
[00:23:18] <Makoto> "You can stay here while I do, if you want." Makoto smiles over her shoulder, heading to the door. "I could call in sick if you want company, too." She adds, ducking out of the room. Within about twenty minutes, Makoto returns, carrying a gently steaming mug, and proffering it to the smaller girl.  
[00:26:04] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blows at her bangs, then sipping curiously in the darkness of the bedroom. "I don't want to make it harder for you...I've got a little leeway with this sort of thing..." she answers quietly, sighing. "Mmm...Mako-chan?" she asks, smiling a little. "Wanna know something about me that probably won't surprise you? Just...mah, it almost came up tonight with mom..." she frowns and sighs.
[00:32:00] <Makoto> The liquid is dark and sweet, with a slightly lemony tang to it-hot iced tea, sort of? It slips down the throat with a sensual thickness as Makoto crawls into the bed beside Hotaru, scooting over to sit beside the smaller girl. "Do you want to tell me?" She asks with a smile, leaning over to hug Hotaru gently. "I mean, you probably wouldn't have brought it up if you didn't, but...you seem wrung out. (More)
[00:32:45] <Makoto> I don't mind listening, but I don't want you to be all embarrassed tomorrow because you were too tired to think about what you were saying."
[00:35:43] <Hotaru-chan> "I'm, tired...it feels good to tell people things, though," Hotaru murmurs quietly, leaning into Makoto and shivering, less because of stress, a little more happy as she hums quietly. "It worries me, telling you, but...well, no, you probably wouldn't take it that way...." she snickers, turning to kiss Makoto's cheek. "It's easier because I'm exhausted, but...I think I might be bisexual," she admits, a softer sigh of relief at getting it out
[00:39:41] <Makoto> In the dark, Makoto's sudden, dark blush is hidden, and her lips part slightly as Hotaru kisses her cheek. "...Well." Makoto begins slowly, her mouth dry as she hugs Hotaru back. "Why do you think so? It's not usually the type of thing that you have to think about..." She ventures carefully, gently pulling Hotaru closer in the dark to reassure her, and avoid spilling her tea.
[00:51:23] <Hotaru-chan> "Who was in a position to make you AND Rei yelp at the same time at Ami's party?" Hotaru blushes and sips at the tea, sighing quietly. "If I think about it...or well, focus that way...girls feel the same way as boys. I...I thought about it a couple times while you were asleep...and..." Hotaru swallows, her cheeks visibly darkened even in the dim light. "I...thinking about when...Rei-chan was naked at the dayspa...gah, I can't say it."
[00:54:19] <Makoto> "I..." Makoto bit her lip, blushing and sighing a little as she hugged Hotaru tightly. "They say a lot of girls have those kinds of feelings, but grow out of them after high school." Makoto murmurs, almost...mournfully?
[00:56:41] <Hotaru-chan> "While they have boyfriends?" Hotaru remarks back, shaking her head and curling up against Makoto, closing her eyes. "I don't know. I felt closer to girls before I felt close to boys...boys were only really recent. Tsuru some, mostly Yoshi."
[01:01:10] <Makoto> "Yeah." Makoto nods, smiling a little. "Though, be fair. Yoshi and Tsuru were really the first boys you got to know, too." Makoto points out, lightly stroking Hotaru's hair. And no, Mamoru-san and Balder and Beck don't count." She teases weakly, giggling. "Mou. Sorry, Firefly-chan. I don't really know what to say. But if it helps, I still love you." She offers warmly, stroking Hotaru's head. *And...I can't tell you how much. Irony, or what?*
[01:04:02] <Hotaru-chan> "Mamoru made me smile a minute," Hotaru prods, snickering and sitting up, setting the half full mug of tea on the dresser. "I'm curious at least, just...mmm," she sighs, curling closely into Makoto's side. "I was talking to Rei-chan...she thought we should just have sex and be done with it," she snorts, hugging Makoto tightly.
[01:04:03] <Hotaru-chan> "Just...mmm. Bed? I'm exhausted, and rambling, and I might say something I shouldn't, and we'll talk about you staying home in the morning?"
[01:05:32] * Makoto flinches slightly at the mention of Rei and Hotaru having sex, but manages a soft laugh to cover up the bruise. "Mm. Finish your tea, and curl up." Makoto instructs gently.
[01:08:11] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks sharply, glancing over at the mug as her eyes open a little wider. "You're not...sorry," Hotaru blushes. "That was...I shouldn't have..." she sighs. "Gah, now I'm thinking about...you...me..." she murmurs. "And I'm just making it worse."
[01:09:11] <Makoto> "What?" Makoto frowns suddenly. "Oh no, you don't get to speak in half sentences." She warns. "What's wrong?"
[01:11:21] <Hotaru-chan> "I...you're not comfortable..." Hotaru takes a deep breath, shaking her head. "You flinched when I mentioned Rei-chan's joke about you and me..." Hotaru gestures vaguely, blushing. "I didn't want to make things so awkward..."
[01:12:05] <Makoto> "About me and you?" Makoto blinks, coughing lightly. "I thought you meant you and Rei..."
[01:17:32] <Hotaru-chan> "...No no no," Hotaru laughs softly, relaxing into Makoto, snickering a little. "No...you know how Rei isn't really physical? And Usagi doesn't exactly go for it either. Just...the way we touch, obvious joke that if I'm bi, I should just jump into bed with you and everyone will be happy!" she snickers.
[01:21:08] <Makoto> "Well, then everyone is." Makoto relaxes a little and smiles. *Sort of* She gestures to the bed and snickers.  
[01:26:29] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snickers softly, arms tightening around Makoto and pulling her down with her. "Mah...doesn't really change anything, I guess...just...well, Usagi, Rei, Takeshi found out, so you kind of needed to know. Takeshi caught me eyeing a waitress," she snerks.
[01:28:13] <Makoto> "Ugh...Takeshi." Makoto grumbles, happily falling into bed with Hotaru, blushing more in the dark than usual as they curl up together. "That meeting gave me a really bad feeling about him..."
[01:31:25] <Hotaru-chan> "He works for mom now, actually..." Hotaru murmurs, settling under the covers and curling in close to Makoto. "He's more of a headcase than I am, I think...mah, I told him to try asking Usagi out or something," she sighs, closing her eyes. "I got mom to stop trying to push us together...she even cornered us into going to dinner together, mah. She let up, Usagi can handle his...issues, better. He and I would just swap demonic stalker stories."
[01:32:57] <Hotaru-chan> He and I would just swap demonic stalker stories."
[01:35:21] <Makoto> "I believe the part about being a headcase." Makoto frowns. "I just don't understand how to trust someone who comes to Serenity-sama making a big show of being traumatized and remorseful over being possessed and controlled, and the first major plan he suggests is putting himself squarely back in that situation." Makoto murmurs to Hotaru in the dark. "Either he's criminally stupid, or in league with the inhumans already, and I'm not sure which scares me more."
[01:38:32] <Hotaru-chan> "Misguidedly psychotic. I considered joining the Beast Lord for enough power to destroy Jadeite once or twice," Hotaru snorts, shaking her head. "Relax, mah? He's not horrible in person, just more wound up than Kochan; and Serenity has a tight enough leash on him," she assures,  touching her nose to Makoto's. "Don't bother thinking about it."
[01:40:56] <Makoto> "Mmmph." Makoto grumps. "I'm not trusting the lives of my precious people to that wackjob." Makoto murmurs decisively, snuggling against Hotaru and sighing wistfully. *If you and Yoshi ever...Well, I'll try and tell you then.*
[01:44:55] <Hotaru-chan> "It'll be fine," Hotaru adds, a slightly shakier breath of words as she holds herself close to Makoto. "Whatever will be, will be."
[01:45:50] <Makoto> "In the meantime, enjoy each other." Makoto murmurs sleepily. "Love you, Hotaru-chan."
[01:46:50] <Hotaru-chan> "Don't tempt me," Hotaru giggles quietly, purring. "Love you too...go to sleep," she offers, closing her eyes and trying to relax again.
[01:47:32] <Makoto> "Mmm." Makoto smiles and cradles Hotaru as conciousness fades...
[01:47:56] <Hotaru-chan> ----

[Anastasia]

> ---Arc 2 go!---
> Aaah. Now that Makoto has some time away from battle and in the normal draw of school? Cookies! That seems like the logical thing this week, baking away as Iori purrs on her shoulders. A very peaceful place indeed, until the thrice damned doorbell is rung.
<Makoto> "How did I get this popular?" Makoto grumbles softly, nuzzling Iori and turning and slowly walking to the door, carefully wiping her hands off on her apron as she opens it. "Hello?"
> Standing there is a woman - a very nice woman. Tall with strappy black pumps worn, a red sweater and black cloth pants. Long red hair cascades down her back, front very nicely...padded. A bit unevenly, however! "Makoto...?" A bow right after, the faintest blush.
* Makoto blink-blinks staring for a brief moment-then her eyes widen, her eyebrows climbing up to meet her bangs, and she quickly steps aside, smiling in startled bemusement. "Come in, come in...Wow." Makoto smothers a little laugh. "Sorry, you surprised me."
> "...it isn't too much, is it?" she blushes, quietly coming inside. Hands are held demurely in front of her, a little purse hanging from her arm.
<Makoto> "No, no." Makoto smiles, closing the door behind her guest, and gently reaching out to adjust her bust to hang more evenly. "It's very good-the slacks are the right touch. I'm almost jealous. I don't think I could pull off a look like that."
> "Thanks!" A small, hesitant smile ashe smooths over his chest, "I couldn't get this quite right, but the rest..." Shaking his head as he goes to the couch and delicately sits down, "I just wanted help with the makeup."
* Makoto smiles a little. "I think I can manage there." She sits down beside him and examines his face critically. "You're actually lucky-you won't need a lot." She grins and leans back, bemused shock still her dominant expression. "Just...wow. How often have you been out...dressed?" She asks carefully. "Oh, and do you have your own makeup?" She giggles and shakes her head. "Sorry. I don't mean to laugh."
> "A  little." Just a little blush back as well before he nods, "I like the darker shades...mmm. Just...make me up, Mako? I'd be honored." So she even bows after, as Iori meows loudly from Makoto's shoulders.
<Makoto> "I'd be happy to." Makoto smiles and nods. "My color palette probably wouldn't suit you...red hair is much more dramatic than mine." She replies, trying to soothe 'her' with a little girl talk. "Let's see your stuff."
> Sitting down on the couch again, her purse is passed over. "Have fun...and make me gorgeous!"
<Makoto> Makoto snickers. "I'll do my best, but you're not talking to an expert, here." Makoto cautions, taking the purse and opening it to raid it for supplies. "This is so hard to get used to. You were a handsome, and a great kisser...and like this, you're even prettier than me." She grumbles, fishing out eyeshadow, and rummaging. "No foundation?"
> "Just go with it," An agreeable nod from her, waiting for Makoto to work her magic
> !
<Makoto> "Trust me, foundation is needed." Makoto interjects. "Be right back." The ponytailed girl hops up off the couch, headed to the bathroom to retrieve her own foundation, grinning. *This is too weird for words, but kinda fun!* On returning, she sits down beside Tsukasa, and gets to work. "This should work, but you should try and get some, too. It's to even out skin tone." Makoto instructs. "Hey...Tsukasa-kun. Should...Do you have a differ
<Makoto> "Hey...Tsukasa-kun. Should...Do you have a different name when you're a girl?"
> "Another name..." Tsukasa thinks it over a little bit, smiling meekly. "How about...?"
<Makoto> "Hm?" Makoto gives him an encouraging look as she spreads a thin coat of the powdered foundation on his cheeks, and reaches over to pick up the eyeshadow.
> Waiting a few for Makoto to get her latest ministration done, "Haruka?" he asks, thinking it over.
* Makoto thinks it over as she looks over the colors, looking up at him and smiling. "Sounds cute, but not too cute." Makoto agrees. "Nice to meet you, Haruka-chan." She giggles a little and goes back to the eyeshadow. "Do you want evening or afternoon makeup?" She asks suddenly. "Though, Evening makeup is only for dates, and things like that." She adds, giving Tsukasa a speculative look.
> The giggle is returned as her face is painted, "No dates yet...mmmm. We'lls ee, at least I ahve a lot of choices." As he talks Makoto's phone begins to ring.
* Makoto laughs softly. "Definitely-Crap. Hold on a minute, 'kay?" She offers to her guest, heading over to answer her phone. "I don't know how I get so popular all at once..."
> "Makoto?" Gramma! It's her voice - it's stopped after with a light cough, but she sounds pretty strong today. Into it.
<Makoto> "Gramma! Hi!" Makoto looks over at Tsukasa, mouthing 'sorry, be a few' to the feminized boy. "Wow, you sound better." She smiles happily.
> Tsukasa/Haruka spends her time fiddling with her lipstick. As this goes down, "I do. I've felt better the past few days. This new doctor gave me some good medicine." A light cough again follows, but she does sound better. "How are you, dearie?"
<Makoto> "Oh, you know..." Makoto smiles. "I've been a little busy, but I'm feeling better now."
> "Good...Makoto." Gramma's voice is strangely serious a moment, "...no. You just be good now for Gramma, and I'll talk to you again soon?"
<Makoto> "...I will. Is-Is something wrong?" Makoto asks in a small voice, the smile falling away as images of disasters pour through her head.
> "No...no. I have a guest over." Gramma's voice picks up, a little stronger. "It's someone I've been waiting to see a long time, so we're just talking. He said I should call you, though."
<Makoto> "A guest?" Makoto asks, still shaken. "No one I know?" She adds, shivering. *It could be anyone from a doctor to...No. No, they couldn't have found Gramma, could they?* "If you need me over, I can be over in a flash."
> "No, it's just someone that I've been waiting for." Gramma sounds sure of that, voice only wavering at the no. "Don't worry, I'll call you in a few days, but I shouldn't leave aguest waiting, should I?"
<Makoto> "I...right, right. Sorry." Makoto manages a smile. "I'll be by to visit you soon."
> "I love you, Makoto...granddaugther." THis is said with a smile and a rainbow in her voice, just a hint of sadness. "Gramma loves you."
<Makoto> Makoto can't help but feel a slight stab of fear at the finality of the sound of that. "I love you too..." She whispers. "Stay well..and safe." She pleads, trying not to give in to nearly paranoid worry.
> "I will. I'm not afraid." With that Gramma is gone, the phonecall over.
<Makoto> Makoto hangs up the phone, biting her lip, and turning back to her guest with a disturbed expression.
> "Mako?" Tsukasa frowns at Makoto's worry, looking on. "Bad news?"
<Makoto> "I...I don't know." Makoto admits, hugging herself as she heads back to the couch to sit by Tsukasa. "She was firm about everything being fine, but she got a guest who insisted that she call me-and she-I don't know. It sounded so final..."
> "How odd." A frown as Tsukasa considers this, "She means a lot to you, Makoto?"
<Makoto> "She's looked after me since before Mama and Papa died." Makoto replies, leaning on Tsukasa a little and shivering. "We're not related by blood, but she's my Gramma in every way that matters."
> "Oh...she's old? Oh." Tsukasa look saway, "...yeah, my Gramma died a few years ago. I still miss her."
<Makoto> Makoto nods and hugs Tsukasa suddenly. "I'm glad you're here. I would have panicked if I got that call alone." She smiles faintly, her voice small and thin.
> "Hey..." Tsukasa blushes very darkly at this, "Aah...aaah...Mako...?
> "
> "
<Makoto> "Hmm?" Makoto looks up at him, relaxing the hug. "Sorry, was that too close?" She laughs weakly. "I'm just used to hugging my friends when I feel nervous or alone. My best friend likes to hug, and I picked it up from her."
> "Y...yeah. You're still..." A cough as she turns away a bit, grabbing an afgan and draping it over his midsection. "I still like you a bit, you know. Just...aaah, Makoto, not for awhile yet?"
<Makoto> Makoto blushes and laughs again, though lighter than before. "Fair enough. I'm sorry. Take it as a compliment? You're very convincing..." She soothed, backing off a little.
> "Heh..." Just coughing in a delicate sort of way again, "Aaah...how does it look now?" Presenting his face up for inspection, "Does it work?"
<Makoto> "Hmm...The eyeshadow is a bit dark, but not in a bad way. You look ready for a lunch date." Makoto appraises thoughtfully, trying to banish the worries for now. "Hmmm..." Makoto smiles a little, and picks up an eyeliner pencil, and delicate draws a tiny mole under 'Haruka's' left eye. "There." She eases back to take the whole picture in, smiling. "You look beautiful."
> "Oh! Mirror!" Haruka blurts out and stands, blushing but grinning widely. "Am I ready to go back out now?"
<Makoto> "Bathroom." Makoto replies, smiling. "And you're ready. It's almost disturbing how good you look." She admits.
> Quickly Tsukasa goes to the bathroom and comes back out - now walking surer, hesitance gone. "It...wow. Thanks!" Bowing to Makoto and going to her purse, "Here, it's for you." A tube of lipstick, ruby red. "I'm not sure if it'll suit you, but every girl should have drop dead red lipstick."
<Makoto> Makoto smiles and nods, accepting the tube. "Thank you." She murmurs, a little impressed with how bright and bubbly Tsukasa is in drag. "I'm sure I can find something to wear that it goes with." She gives the redhead a faint smile. "Ne, Haruka-chan? I know things kind of went...poorly when we were together, but I still like to talk to you, so don't be shy about visiting me, Haruka-chan needs a girlfriend or two to go shopping with, rig
<Makoto> Haruka-chan needs a girlfriend or two to go shopping with, right?"
> "It's a shopping date!" With that she rises and takes a breath, hugging Makoto lightly before getting her purse. "See you again, Mako-chan?"
<Makoto> "Definitely." Makoto agrees, smiling. "Hell, I could learn a few things about being feminine from you, it looks like." She teases lightly. "It was really good to finally see you again."
> "It's another date for that," Haruka beams, going on with a wave. As he does Iori meows a bit, heading andc urling onto Makoto.
<Makoto> Makoto waves back, following her to the door, and watching her leave, cradling Iori in her arms, a little happier how that seems to be fixing itself.
<Makoto> Makoto hedges a little after Tsukasa leaves, pacing about her apartment, hugging Iori and petting him nervously. :I'm worried, and I don't know if I should go see her or not.: She tells her cat, mostly for someone to talk to.
> :Momma...: Iori purrs away as he gets attention. :Momma keep people safe and happy!:
<Makoto> Makoto blinks a little, then smiles at Iori, kissing the top of his head. :Thank you, sweetie. You're right, I'm going to go check on Gramma. You go have a nap, and I'll bring home a big salmon fishie for dinner, 'kay?:
> :Okay!: Iori hops off, going ot the couch and curling up there to rest.
<Makoto> Makoto smiles a little at Iori, then quickly heads to the door, snagging a coat and a purse of her own. *Tsukasa-kun's purse is nicer than mine.* she notes, wryly, putting on the coat and fleeing out the door, heading to her apartment roof.
> This goes withotu incident. It's a bit rainy today, the middle part of November bringing chills. It'll be winter time soon.
<Makoto> No time like the present. Makoto pulls out her transformation pen, calling out her phrase- "Jupiter Crystal Power, MAKE UP!"
> In a crackle of electricity Sailor Jupiter is born! Lighting comes to her commands, the shield of the Sailor Senshi activated!
<Sailor_Jupiter> Without further Adieu, Sailor Jupiter takes a Running leap off of her Apartment, willing her wings into existence as she takes to the air, swift as an arrow and just as direct as she soars toward the little house Gramma Haruna lives in...
> In the wind Makoto flies to Gramma's! A soaring eagle just seen by many of Tokyo, whistling in the air! Finding a quiet landing spot goes without incident, and Gramma's house looks like it always does as Makoto can approach...OOC - Set up how you wanna dot hat.
<Sailor_Jupiter> Makoto circles overhead, looking for cars, or anything else unusal before gliding down to alight in the back yard, looking about for witnesses before releasing the transformation.
> There isn't a thing out of place until Makoto gets to the back yard. Just outside the window from the back yard to the kitchen there is a patch of dead grass - utterly brown and lifeless, amid slowly degreening foliage. It's an odd cnotrast and new to Makoto.
<Sailor_Jupiter> Makoto shivers at the sight, leaning down to touch the grass, wondering if she can feel if the death of the plants was natural or not
> OOC - Soul check +2
<Sailor_Jupiter> roll 2d6+2
* Hatbot --> "Sailor_Jupiter rolls 2d6+2 and gets 14." [2d6=6, 6]
> Oh! It's perfectly natural - Makoto gets the resonance of a bad bit of water taken and some chemicals. A feeling that it was merely misfortune and nothing else.
<Sailor_Jupiter> Makoto lets out a shaky sigh, nodding and breathing a little easier, looking to see if anyone's watching her after she landed, intending to detransform and go to check on Gramma.
> Nope. No one is around that Makoto sees. It's just a peaceful neighborhood in November, chilly.
<Makoto> Releasing Sailor Jupiter's guise, Makoto goes up to the back door, knocking lightly. "Gramma? It's Makoto..."
> "Come in!" Gramma sounds far away, but her voice carries. "Door's open, Makoto."
<Makoto> Makoto opens the door, slipping into the house. "Gramma...Hi...I'm sorry to barge in on you so soon, but I was worried..."
> You find Gramma in the kitchen. She's cooking away - wow! She look sbetter than she has in ages. Her step has a spring, no cane needed. Her color is good, too. "I'm fine." A smile by Gramma, "What's the matter, Mako-chan?"
<Makoto> Makoto hurries up to Haruna and hugs her tightly, beginning to tear up a little as some of the tension in her chest releases. "I was...I don't know. You sounded so...It was so final sounding, I was afraid something was wrong, or the people that fight us had found you..." She sniffles. "Scared..."
> "No...I just had a guest over I'd been waiting for. There, there..." Gramma pats Makoto slowly, soothing her and putting aside a mixing bowl of dough. "I'm really fine."
<Makoto> "'Kay." Makoto shivers a little, relaxing and sighing. "I couldn't get it out of my head...If I'd accidentally endangered you somehow, or something..."
> "It's fine." Gramma just smiles again, patting Makoto. My, she even touches more firmly now. "Go sit down and let me finish cooking, dearier."
<Makoto> "'kay." Makoto says again, heading over to the table and sitting meekly, feeling vaguely silly for getting all worked up. "You look really good. Healthier than you have in awhile."
> "I'm feeling better." Gramma goes about, working at a asteady speed Makoto hasn't seen in years! "How about you...your enemies?"
<Makoto> Makoto blinks at Haruna's vigor, starting to smile, then fading a little. "They...Hotaru-chan almost died the other day when they crashed the Technology fair." Makoto sighs morosely. "I took too long to finish what I was doing, and she got stabbed in the chest."
> Gramma stops and looks down at that, stirring a bowl of batter. "...I'm sorry. What was it's name?" she asks, a little curious.
<Makoto> "He calls himself Pestilence." Makoto mumbles unhappily. "He's got a disease sword, or something, but Sailor Moon got to her in time to save her...Better than me, I guess."
> "Pestilence..." Gramma lingers there, working that word as if to savor it.  "Is she...alright?"
<Makoto> "She...heals quickly." Makoto replies uncertainly. Something feels...odd. "She's pretty much back to normal."
> "That's wonderful. A young girl should be healthy." Gramma turns and smiles, eyes watery as she looks on at Makoto. "Come here, Mako-chan."
<Makoto> Makoto nods, standing up and going to Gramma earnestly, worry coming back as she sees the watery eyes. "Gramma?" She asks, nervously.
> On coming Makoto is embraced - a warm, heavy, enveloping hug a child would be given. "I love you so much, Makoto. Just don't forget that, ever."
<Makoto> "I won't." Makoto promises, hugging back, tightly. "I love you, too..."
> "Now go sit down," Gramma whispers into Makoto's ear, steadier. "Cookies and milk are almost done."
<Makoto> Makoto nods, squeezing a little more as she heads back to the table, seating herself and watching Gramma more closely, but staying quiet.

[Asrana]

This happens the day after the fight with Death.

[11:40:57] <Blonde|AFK> ---Arc 2 go!---
[11:43:55] <Blonde|AFK> A day of solitude and aloneness. It is only interrupted around lunchtime by a communicator beep... (Go ahead and set yourself up and where you are, 'taru creature.)
[11:46:31] <Hotaru-chan> Having already broken said solitude, Hotaru doesn't return to a place of loneliness. Rather she is in Makoto's bedroom, a book in hand and buried amidst her friend's scent and comfort. Blinking a little, she reaches over onto the dresser, taking the commuicator and opening it. "Hello?"
[11:51:14] <Kotono> It's Mars - Rei-chan, the fiery, tempestous, angry, stunning Sailor of Mars. Her face appears - oddly you can see her bedpost behind her. "Hey." She looks angry, sullen and just a little...happy anyway.
[11:53:50] <Hotaru-chan> "...Heh, guess I'm not the only person taking a sanity day," Hotaru murmurs, smiling weakly back at Rei. "So hi, what's up?"
[11:55:10] <Kotono> "You getting the other conflicted possible lesbian a male date?" Rei fires this back with carnal, vicious ease. "So Takeshi's rather tied up and Asher'sg ot Kotono's scent all over him. Who have thought?!" The last is dripping with sarcasm, Rei rolling her eyes.
[11:58:22] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises an eyebrow, her lips twisting a bit. "My my, Rei-chan, so engrossed are you?" she snorts, settling back. "He needs someone to talk to, not someone to blow his mind. And he and I don't need to be dragging each other into the depths of our self-pity. Name a candidate other than Usagi."
[12:00:06] <Kotono> "How about me?" Reichallenges right back, "Gee, I'm in the middle of a sexual crisis? Think a boy might help! Send 'em to Usagi instead!" A growl comes from deep in Rei's throat, deepthroated out. "I assume you're hoping I ask you to come over and make out next?" Oh, Rei's eyebrows are twitching, head bowed so her hands can rub her temple. "C'mon, Hotaru-chan! Give me some support here!"
[12:03:01] <Hotaru-chan> "You're proving me right again and again," Hotaru sighs, honestly forlorn. "I'm sorry, okay? I honestly don't think you'd be suited to handling him. I'm not going to ask for anything, I'm not hoping for anything. I gave up 'hoping' with you years ago. You set the terms between us, and that's that. If I knew a boy I thought would fit against you? Yes, I'd send him. But I don't know all that many boys in the first place, much less ones
[12:03:36] <Hotaru-chan>  much less ones lacking in a headcase of issues that make my explosion at Junki's first supernatural club meeting look DOCILE."
[12:09:12] <Kotono> "Oh, how nice," Rei drawls out, snapping. "I don't know what the hell and you're...just...urgh!" Rei literally tosses her communicator up in fury, a picture of Rei's room up and down, before it lands picture down on her stomach! It's picked up after, a real look of fury on the miko's face! "Well, at least be honest? You want me to be gay, don't you?"
[12:13:13] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath, closing her eyes a moment, actually looking thoughtful. "Part of me wishes you were bi or gay, yes," she admits, a small shrug given. "Honestly, it's not that important. I wish Mako-chan was, I told her I was bi last night, nothing happened, oh well, we still slept together, life went on. I wish at least ONE senshi was, if only to find out what my exact feelings are, but they aren't, and I'm happy with wha
[12:14:14] <Hotaru-chan> and I'm happy with what I have. Do you want me to go out and HELP you find a boyfriend? Becuase if that's what YOU want, then I'm happy to help!" she snaps a little as she finishes, sighing.
[12:15:43] <Kotono> "Your help would be nice!" Rei growls back at first, before sighing herself. "Just come over here if you want o help. ...and Mako asn't interested?"
[12:19:07] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snorts softly, smiling just a bit more. "She didn't really say anything either way. She said it might just be a phase, but that it didn't change things between us...mah, I was talking about Yoshi at the time too," Hotaru shrugs. "Last night could mean a lot of things, or nothing at all. So...you want me to come over right now?" she asks, curious.
[12:21:59] <Kotono> "You're kidding..." Rei closes hier eyes, sighing yet again. "Have got to be in denial...like me, I wonder?" That gets the miko to deflate even further, "Yeah, c'mon." A moment later the communicator is tossed aside, turned off as she does.
[12:25:13] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles a bit. At least she can DO something now. So she gets up, having bathed with Makoto in the morning, and changes into some of the clothes she keeps at Makoto's. Black hoody and plain jeans, casual attire to not impinge on Rei's beauty as she grabs her things and teleports to Rei's outside bedroom door, knocking lightly.
[13:02:47] <Kotono> "Come in." Rei gets to the point, inviting the Hotaru inward.
[13:03:45] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru heads in, past the door and into Rei's bedroom! Such a nice place, somewhere she'd like to visit with a lot less clothes maybe? Bad mind!
[13:04:53] <Kotono> Rei sits on her bed, school uniform on. Once she sees Hotaru she lies back, "Yeah, couldn't get myself to really wanna go today. I expect a worried or confused blodne to call, doubly so if it turns out she was planning a meeting today. That's...just Junki and Setsuna now today, isn't it?"
[13:08:12] <Hotaru-chan> "Yeah," Hotaru nods, smiling sadly. "I got in a...mah, nasty fight with mom," she shrugs, blowing at her bangs. "I didn't even want to see anyone last night, but...well, battle last night, so that kind of got shot."
[13:10:00] <Kotono> "Huh?" Rei sits up at all of that, "Damn it, I missed anotehr one? What happened?"
[13:13:10] <Hotaru-chan> "I went off to feel bad for myself," Hotaru snorts quietly, smiling. "Balder's rooftop and all, but Death showed up to talk with me. And then decided I needed some 'entertainment' with his minions, so I hit the beacon, and Usagi and Takeshi. We killed eight of them, Takeshi disrupted some attack of Death's, I left for Mako-chan's. Death's offering us immortality, by the way."
[13:19:27] <Kotono> "...that's new," Rei drawls, plopping back down. "I'm surprised he didn't offer beautiful lesbians at the rate we're giong!"
[13:24:06] <Hotaru-chan> "The market's already flooded," Hotaru drawls back, dropping into a beanbag  chair near Rei's bed. "Besides, I tempted him into it, I told him the oh so melodramatic reasons behind my continued existence," she snickers.
[13:25:34] <Kotono> 'To get into our pants?" Rei half snaps, half laughs back.
[13:28:11] <Hotaru-chan> "Close!" Hotaru snickers, smirking back at Rei. "Because I'm deathly in love with you all," she breathes out, mock wistfully.
[13:29:45] <Kotono> :Hmph." Rei just looks away, sighing, "The worst part? I'm still more concerned about that than what happened otherwise in that battle. Damn it1"
[13:30:51] <Hotaru-chan> "Why are you WORRYING?" Hotaru shakes her head, sighing a little as she leans back, slitting her eyes at Rei. "Is it really that horrible to like girls?"
[13:35:29] <Kotono> "I ...don't know." Rei begins to bitch, but instead finds her voice, weak, uncertain. She just falls back.
[13:41:37] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs softly, hugging her knees and watching Rei. "Just...I don't know. I don't really know why it's such a huge problem."
[13:42:21] <Kotono> "...." Rei just goes silent, sighing. "Hey, Hot-chan?"
[13:43:09] <Hotaru-chan> "Hm?" Hotaru asks, glancing back at Rei with a neutral expression.
[13:44:08] <Kotono> "You really, really, really don't get it, do you?" So Rei sighs another time.
[13:44:45] <Hotaru-chan> "...Am I about to get screamed at about how you don't want to do anything with me?" Hotaru asks curiously, smiling and quirking her head.
[13:48:42] <Kotono> "No. The worst part is...I almost want you to." With that admission Rei flops onto her stomach, nearly crying. "Damn it! I just can't be gay for Usagi oryou or Makoto or Kotono or any girl!"
[13:56:18] <Hotaru-chan> "..." Hotaru doesn't answer at first, chewing on her lip and pausing as she draws back into herself. "Guh...I want to try and hug you just because you're upset, but you wouldn't take it well," she sighs, eyeing the miko. "I don't know what to do, honestly...I'm obviously biased, but...even if I want You, I'd rather you be happy, so..." she sighs, shaking her head. "I just don't see why it's so HORRIBLE."
[13:57:15] <Kotono> "Because I don't wanna be a dyke, damn it!" Rei stands up, a flashing moment of anger as she presses up towards Hotaru. "I don't want to be some stupid bitch that's into girls since she can't get a man to satistfy her!"
[14:02:44] <Hotaru-chan> "What the HELL does any of that have to do with it?" Hotaru snaps, flaring up at Rei, bolting into a standing position. "Take a look at WHO is in front of you," she practically snarls amethyst eyes flaring back at her companion. "It is NOT mutually exclusive. You seem to IGNORE the fact that DESPITE having a boyfriend who IS good enough to get me off, I'm STILL willing to give that up for you, for Makoto, or any one of you that wants
[14:16:21] <Hotaru-chan> or any one of you that wants me!" she growls, glaring down Rei. "Am I that stupid bitch, Rei? The one that can't get a guy so she turns on girls?"
[14:22:56] <Kotono> "You're the stupid bitch, one of many, that makes me wanna be a lesbian!" Rei returns that glare with one of fury, face livid! "I just don't want this! I don't want to start thinking about you and feeling that way! It's bad enough that I lvoe Usagi now! It's bad enough that you, Kotono, Makoto, AMi, hell, even Michiru tempt me a bit! It's just-" Rei's fury finally stops, going into reeling embarrassment as she looks away, aflame!
[14:26:43] <Hotaru-chan> "Why?" Hotaru asks more softly, sighing and glancing down. "What is so HORRIBLY wrong about it?" she asks, resting back onto her heels. "God, this is blatantly giving in to my own desires, but why NOT? If it's SO incredibly tempting, why not just give in? It might be a phase, it might be nothing and just Temptation, it might be something that's going to rip you apart for the next twenty years! There's only one way to really find out.
[14:27:26] <Hotaru-chan> "
[14:32:32] <Kotono> "Because I don't want to be gay! Don't you get that?" Rei snaps up, looking on at Hotaru with embarrassed puzzlement. "It's just...so...so..."
[14:36:08] <Hotaru-chan> "I GET that, I just don't get WHY," Hotaru sighs, hugging herself. "That's what I want to know if it's really what you want," she murmurs, sahking her head.
[14:37:47] <Hotaru-chan> *shaking
[14:39:06] <Kotono> "It's not right!" Rei finally gets that out, "It's not right that I wanna make out with my best friends!"
[14:41:13] <Hotaru-chan> "Why is it not right?" Hotaru asks reasonably, not following the impulse to step closer, just watching Rei. "What is basically wrong with it, in exact?"
[14:43:39] <Kotono> ""Oh, I don't know, the entire kissing another girl part?" Rei sardonically snaps.
[14:44:57] <Hotaru-chan> "And what's wrong with kissing another girl?" Hotaru challenges again, snorting. "You're running in circles."
[14:47:30] <Kotono> "It just..." Rei begins, before sighing vastly, closing her eyes and lying down.
[14:51:24] <Hotaru-chan> "The only thing that CAN be wrong with it is if you really, personally, feel that you don't want to...but here you go on about how tempting it is," Hotaru shrugs, dropping down back to her beanbag chair. "If you want to kiss a girl, I don't see what's wrong there. If you find it physically wrong feeling for YOURSELF, then you shouldn't be. And I'm holding back the desire to tell you to just kiss me and find out."
[22:06:01] <Anastasia> "Oh for..." Rei hisses that, "You don't get it in the least, do you? It's not natural for women to do this! It's not right! I'm not some dirty dy..." Rei at least has the sense of mind to cut off there, glaring up at the ceiling. "I want to have children, not be walking around in gay pride parades!"
[22:10:46] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snorts, falling back into her chair. "SO glad I actually tried being open, really," she notes with enough sarcasm to leave a bitter taste even in her mother's mouth afterwards. "Want to count the number of ways you can insult and mispresent me in five minutes? I think we're on a roll."
[22:13:52] <Anastasia> "Well, what do you call yourself?" Rei sits up, curiously vicious. "When you're making out with a girl?"
[22:18:31] <Hotaru-chan> "Bisexual? Amazingly enough, Rei-chan, you can dabble in both sides!" Hotaru offers, feigning shock. "It's an AMAZING concept for your mind, I know, but it's really awesome! You should consider that, maybe, I don't know, the girl in front of you offering herself at your behest is happily situated with a boyfriend that's got her mother tearing her hair out."
[22:21:41] <Anastasia> "Nevermind. Seriously." Rei looks up at the ceiling, voice losing it's anger into just vague, distant annoyance. "Guess you aren't the right one to ask about this, eh?" Rei idly flops her arms out, idly back and forth.
[22:26:43] <Hotaru-chan> "Depends," Hotaru sighs, leaning back in her chair. "Do you want a 'Hey! Rei-chan! You're totally not into girls because of X, Y, Z!'?" she shakes her head. "I'm perfectly willing to help you get over it, but that doesn't really inlcude listening to you insult me because you lack a vocabulary."
[22:33:32] <Anastasia> "So you wanna kiss and make up," Rei drawls out, rubbing a hand to her forehead, soothing herself slowly.
[22:42:59] <Hotaru-chan> "Not particularly," Hotaru sighs, watching Rei. "Attraction isn't mindless, most of the time."
[22:48:17] <Anastasia> "I should be glad," Rei mutters to no one in particular, kicking her leg up and down. "I should."
[22:51:39] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snorts lightly. "Look on the bright side, it doesn't mean I'm not attracted to you, just that saying 'yes' to wanting to do anything more than pat your shoulder seems to be a trap of screaming and pain."
[22:55:17] <Anastasia> "So I can ask you to make out and you'll say no," Rei queries as she looks up and waits.
[22:58:41] <Hotaru-chan> "...Mmmm, no, I won't lie to you," Hotaru shakes her head. "If you actually asked in serious, I'd answer honestly."
[23:05:31] <Anastasia> "Which is," Rei follows up, waiting.
[23:09:01] <Hotaru-chan> "If you want me, I'm yours," Hotaru answers softly, shrugging and hugging her knees. "I got used to you setting every term in how we're friends two years ago, if that includes or doesn't include romantic or some form of sexual end to it? Up to you. When it ends is up to you."
[23:12:49] <Anastasia> "...look. I just don't know!" Rei whimpers at last, "You don't get it, either! What do you want me to do? Do you want me to be a lesbian with you? Should I be? I just...ugh!"
[23:18:13] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head. "What do I want you to do? I want you to calm down and try to find a way to be happy," she sighs, watching Rei. "I WISH you were bisexual, but that hardly effects the more pressing desire to see you just HAPPY, Rei-chan. Caveat being I won't simply lie about it if I'm asked directly."
[23:29:19] <Anastasia> "Great. I don't know...can you make me happy? Can Usagi? Can any of you? Even if so...will I be happy wiht myself?" Rei muses aloud, tiredly thoughtful, drained and honest.
[23:34:35] <Hotaru-chan> "Obvious reply that'll get me in deep water: Want to find out?" Hotaru snickers, shaking her head and sighing. "Really? That IS something you have to find out for yourself. I had the same debate of 'will I really want to bother with guys?' a couple years ago."
[23:39:45] <Anastasia> "Bleh." Rei idly lets her leg fall, kicking against the side of her bed. "Damn it."
[23:40:41] <Hotaru-chan> "I'll refrain my personal advertisments," Hotaru snickers quietly, reaching out and gently nudging Rei's stocking foot with her own, but leaving the contact at that before just waiting on her friend.
[23:55:33] <Anastasia> Rei doesn't respond to the nudge in any way Hotaru sees. Instead she stays quiet, almost thoughtfully silent. "...yeah."
[23:57:35] <Hotaru-chan> "Mm?" Hotaru inquires gently, turning to look at Rei fully. There's some hope there, but such isn't something she wants to foster here.
[00:04:24] <Anastasia> "...got an idea, at least. Or a renewed one," Rei sits up at last, pondering. "When's Mako free next?"
[00:11:23] <Hotaru-chan> "Depends," Hotaru shrugs. "How much do you want to step on my toes, and how far do you think you can get stepping on my toes?" she asks playfully, burying the instant, dagger like stab of jealousy. Best not to confront that right now.
[00:13:24] <Anastasia> "Well," Rei sits up, batting her eyelashes cattishly, "If you aren't tapping her, maybe she needs someone to do so?" This is said baldly, a thin smile on Rei's face before it breaks. "Seriously, out of all of you she's the least attached relatively. Kotono's not even ag host of a chance and you know it."
[00:19:18] <Hotaru-chan> "I wasn't even considering suggesting her, you'd tear each other apart," Hotaru snorts. "Mako-chan's also the most emotionally fragile, Rei-chan," she murmurs, eyes hardening. "She might be unattached, but she comes with baggage, and me looking over your shoulder."
[00:21:45] <Anastasia> "I meant to just try kissing," Rei sighs exasperatedly, "But i fyou aren't getting the job done where you should?" Rei purrs as she smirks at Hotaru, giving her a challenging look. "But as I said? Just...she's the only one I feel like I could try with no strings or worries just to try that."
[00:23:34] <Hotaru-chan> "...Funny, I was refraining from trying to advertise myself because I'd let it go," Hotaru snorts, smiling wryly. "My point stands, Rei-chan. She might not take 'just kissing' so well. Take it fromt he person who gets pillow talk with ehr," she shoots back, smiling a little.
[00:25:57] <Anastasia> "We'll see." Rei says at that, thinking long - before she finally sighs. "...just...Usagi's the only other person I can talk to about this, and she's as messed up as I am."
[00:30:17] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs, leaning on her arm, looking at Rei. "Just...try to put my whole clingy tuchy complex aside a moment, Rei-chan?" she offers, biting her lip. "...Well, okay, it's BASEDon that, but...really, if you're worried about me getting permanently stuck on you after something..." she shakes her head. "Just...gah, no strings attached, you decide how long, how much...whatever," she sighs, smiling wryly.
[00:30:17] <Hotaru-chan> "I'll take whatever I can get, and live with it when it comes to you."
[00:39:58] <Anastasia> "...thanks." Rei somehow has the grace to say that, distant words coming after a long pause. "For what it's worth, it's not that. Just...come here."
[00:43:17] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks, standing up and going over to Rei. What now? She isn't sure what even to do, just standing near her expectantly. It could be a slap, it could be a kiss coming...
[00:50:15] <Anastasia> Rei's violet eyes are gently shut, as if waiting to pass into a restful sleep. Her face is starting to relax, tense, but relaxed. "I just don't know, Hotaru. I've lost total control of myself."
[00:53:21] <Hotaru-chan> Come on...trust her. "So take it back?" she offers softly, biting her lip. "I don't really know either...but if it runs off with you, you have to grab it, stare it in the face, and learn to survive it one way or another. Like I did with you, hm?" she offers, more gently, and a little nervously.
[00:55:49] <Anastasia> "Yeah, take it back no matter which way it goes. Yeah...." Rei opens her eyes, a hesitant, shaking, very unReilike smile on her face. "Yeah. Gotta believe that, hm?"
[00:58:54] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru offers a gentle, assuring smile back. "I'm still here, offering whatever you want for all that I never got as many hugs as I wanted, aren't I?" she snickers softly, her cheeks reddening a little. "Just...that's pretty much it, learn to live your life, however it goes, and try to make the best of it."
[01:01:49] <Anastasia> Rei sits up, shaking her head. "I don't know how I want to live my life right now, but..." (More)
[01:02:34] <Anastasia> Leaning in, it's like a burst of fire. A moment of raw heat on your lips, Rei's speed amazing, only the barest sensation on lip to lip contact. Then she's up, "Yeah. I don't know, just...going to go take a walk and take control. Whichever way it goes, I'm gonna dominate this damn thing." Then she's off, leaving Hotaru behind!
[01:05:29] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's breath catches half a moment, shivering from head to toe wtih Rei's fire, the soft tingling on her lips nearly paralyzing in its own right. Her eyes are wide, tongue tracing where lips met for a wondrous seocnd moment in eternity. "Do you want me to wait?" she calls softly after Rei, wondering that little.
[01:05:48] <Anastasia> Hotaru doesn't get a reply, Rei's already gone and leaving Hotaru in her wake.
[01:09:51] <Hotaru-chan> Breathe. That simple reminder is sadly necessary, Hotaru watching where Rei had left, touching her lips. Maybe it was just...no, don't think about it. Either way it goes, you'll keep living. Taking a deep breath, she goes and finds a book. She'll wait for Rei, and if she isn't back when Hino-dono comes looking, she'll help out.