Miscellania 3, for things between episodes 7-9!

[Anastasia]

Just after the press conference and associated matters.

[15:51] <@Sailor_Pluto> ---Arc 2 go!---
[15:54] <@Sailor_Pluto> The evening passes in a rush of good chatter, good food and good times. As the evening rolls on Serenity finds herself in a very good mood. A wineglass is in hand, the Queen having sipped down a few as she spends long, long minutes lost in thought. She sits in the living room, Takeshi the only other person in there at the moment.
[15:55] * +Takeshi smiles, having enjoyed good company and good food at dinner as he relaxes in an armchair, a glass of iced tea from dinner his companion.
[15:58] <@Sailor_Pluto> Long are Serenity's supposed thoughts, looking at the wall as she thinks. "...Nephrite," Serenity's call is just a gentle beckoning, faraway and peaceful.
[16:04] <+Takeshi> "Hmm?" Takeshi is a bit startled out of his own thoughts. "Yes?"
[16:07] <@Sailor_Pluto> "How often do you wonder - why? Why did it happen, all of it?" Her voice is faraway like a star shining down on the Earth, lost in it's own worries.
[16:09] * +Takeshi blows out a long breath at that, leaning back in his chair. "Often, I have to admit," Takeshi replies after a few moments. "Honestly? All of it seems so pointless now, having heard what I have. Metallia died for it, Zoicite and then Jadeite ended up dead for it - hell, even I died for it, even if I was brought back. And what did it really gain ANYONE?"
[16:13] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Nothing at all. That's the greatest tragedy of all, is it not?" Long is Serenity's look out, sipping down more ruby red wine. "There is no easy answer here - all we could do is put Jadeite to rest and save what exists now."
[16:14] * +Takeshi closes his eyes at that, leaning back in his chair. His voice is somewhat distant when he finally speaks. "Yeah, I guess that's all that could be done," he says, setting his tea on a coaster as he leans back in the chair. "At least it sounds like Gaia's a decent enough place now."
[16:18] <@Sailor_Pluto> "It's a world at peace, one that I know Jun will allow to grow tall, and that my daughter will encourage with every breath she has left in herl ife." Long doe sthe Queen speak, her words thoughtfully spoken. "If there is a victory, the world of Gaia is it."
[16:19] <+Takeshi> "Mmm... I'd like to see it someday," Takeshi muses, then chuckles. "Especially since it seems that's where I was supposed to end up."
[16:21] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Perhaps fate knew you would be more useful here. If you ahd been born on Gaia...who knows?" Serenity is dim and silent over that, sipping again. "Yes, when this is over, let us go to Gaia. There are many matters there, and I know Jun would wish tos ee you."
[16:23] <+Takeshi> "Yeah - I'll be honest, he's the main reason I want to see Gaia. Mostly surprised to know he's still around, even if he's got a few thousand years on me at this point." He grins wryly at that. "But yeah - after hearing about Jadeite, I can't help but wonder if... if there would have been something I could do for him, if I'd been there."
[16:29] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Over 10,000 years," Serenity absently corrects, but, "No. His fate was ...his fate was his fate.  Perhaps it could change, perhaps not, but endless ruminations on what may have been will only lead into paralysation."
[16:31] <+Takeshi> "Yeah, I know," Takeshi sighs. "For good or ill, what's happened has happened - no amount of 'what ifs' or 'could have beens' is going to change it."
[16:39] <@Sailor_Pluto> "So we make the best of the current time and life." Now Serenity smiles, faintly, "I had a dream a few nights ago. Jun, if nothing else, has learned a lot in his time. It was brief, but Jun knows you're here now. He said he'd send a letter soon, and perhaps more help."
[16:41] <+Takeshi> "Heh, I'd imagine he has," Takeshi chuckles. "Sending a letter, huh?" His voice trails off a bit at that, wondering what Kunzite would have to say to him after all these years apart. Where would he even START?
[16:45] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Yes, and I may request help in particular. Of allt hat are left, I'm not sure Jun can afford to come to Earth, but Balder...I would like to see how he's grown, too." Serenity leans back as she thinks, smiling. "Very much so.
[16:47] <+Takeshi> "Mmm," Takeshi says, still somewhat lost in thought himself. The arrival of someone he's never met before doesn't mean all THAT much to him, but a letter from Kunzite is something else entirely.
[16:49] <@Sailor_Pluto> "You'd relate to him - a force beyond his reckoning turned him into a monster," Serenity murmurs, thinking. "The two of you may understand each other entirely too well."
[16:50] <+Takeshi> "Really," Takeshi says, raising an eyebrow. "Jadeite, I'm assuming, since he's from Gaia?"
[16:51] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Yes. When Balder was a child, Jadeite captured him and his mother, Princess Serenity. While my daughter was locked into a cage of darkness, my grandson was taken and molded, twisted, abused by him. INto...he was the only other one that wore a uniform like his or yours."
[16:53] * +Takeshi sighs a bit at that. "Half starting to wonder if I shouldn't burn the damn thing and try to come up with something else," he mutters, barely on the edge of hearing, a slight scowl on his face.
[16:53] <@Sailor_Pluto> "The uniform doesn't matter, it is thec haracter of the man that wears it." Serenity gently comments, putting aside her wineglass and reaching out to gently touch Takeshi's shoulder. "Is it not?"
[16:56] <+Takeshi> "Yes, that's true," Takeshi says, shaking his head. "It's just... before Metallia, it was something I could be proud of. Now, after the sack of the Moon Kingdom and everything I keep hearing about Jadeite, I almost feel ashamed to wear it."
[16:58] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Takeshi...then make deeds that make you proud to wear it again," Serenity's words are simple and to the point, her smile soothing.
[17:02] * +Takeshi leans his forehead on his hand. "I know, it's just... bah, I don't even know WHAT I think anymore, my head's so turned around lately. Feels like I want to go in about six different directions at once."
[17:05] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Heh...I understand too well." Serenity soothes again, giong back and leaning on the couch, falling into giggles. "Excuse me, I think that last half glass was too much."
[17:07] <+Takeshi> "It's all right," Takeshi says, leaning back in the chair again. "Just wish I could decide what I need to do the most right now."
[17:08] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Live. Live, Takeshi, live, live, live, live. As long as you are alive you can improve, change and simply...live." Serenity finishes that with a smile, long and pleasing as she blinks. "But yes, I fear I should go to bed now."
[17:10] <+Takeshi> "I'll leave you to your rest then, Serenity," Takeshi says, rising. "I should be ready to move in by next weekend, if that's all right."
[17:11] <@Sailor_Pluto> "Come here in a day or two so we can set it up," A giggle from the Queen as she rises, slowly hobbling to bed. She's ab it unsteady
[17:12] <+Takeshi> "Do you need any help?" Takeshi says, pausing as he sees the monarch unsteady on her feet.
[17:12] <@Sailor_Pluto> "I'm fine...I just have not drank in a long time, but today seemed very fitting." To the steps she goes, making long, wobbling moves towards them.
[17:13] <+Takeshi> "If you're sure," Takeshi says somewhat doubtfully, waiting to make sure she makes it up the stairs before he goes.
[17:14] <@Sailor_Pluto> roll 2d6-4
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Sailor_Pluto rolls 2d6-4 and gets 4." [2d6=6, 2]
[17:15] <@Sailor_Pluto> Serenity just makes it up the stairs, safely getting to her room.
[17:17] * +Takeshi shakes his head a bit, his steps rather heavy as he leaves the house and heads for home.

[Ebiris]

This likewise happens just after the government conference

[22:12] <Sailor_Pluto> After dinner Usagi is taken upstairs by Rei as the others get dessert - but the miko was adamant in it. In the bathroom they go, a place of privacy. Rei sits on the edge of the empty tub, "So, Usagi," she begins, clearing her throat.
[22:13] * Usagi smiles innocently at the other girl. "Feeling better after some time to think things over, Rei-chan?" she asks sweetly, herself sitting on the toilet with the lid down over it.
[22:14] <Sailor_Pluto> "Yeah...so...what about you first?" Rei arches an eyebrow, "How'd you end up on all this?"
[22:14] <Sailor_Pluto> She sounds calm and in control, just a hair nervous but masking it almost entirely. She idly kciks her feet, claning against the side of the tub.
[22:16] <Usagi> "Oooh," the blonde grins. "Want me to go first so you'll know if it's safe to speak of your forbidden feelings?" she teases, before giggling. "It's funny, really. Right after that scene on Saturday, the first thing my dad did was set me up on a blind date with a girl the next day. One of your T*A schoolmates, shockingly enough," she begins, sounding quite relaxed and chipper.
[22:17] <Sailor_Pluto> "Heh...figures," Rei roll sher eyes, a relieved snort coming out. "Who was it, anyway, and keep going." Rei waves her hand, motioning for Usagi to hurry up. "Did you tell her?"
[22:25] <Usagi> "Girl called Chitose. Turned out she had a crush on Michiru, if you can believe it," the blonde smiles. "Anyway, talking to her kinda helped me put things in perspective, and now... it's like a big weight off," she shrugs happily. "I'd like to make out with you, and do other stuff," so admitting blandly, she continues, "But it's no longer this exciting forbidden pleasure, y'know?"
[22:25] <Usagi> "Now that I just appreciate that I would enjoy it, it's far less of a big deal. I don't know if I'm really bi, since you're the only girl I've really thought of this way - I've had a dream or two about others since then, but nothing I'd really consider when I'm awake - it's just... I'm comfortable," she concludes at last.
[22:25] <Usagi> "I know we could have a lot of fun together, Rei-chan, but... I can control myself, because I know it would just be senseless for us to get together." Giving the other girl a coquettish smile, "If you wanted to, I could go for it, but it'd just be a bit of fun, nothing more. It's not something I could devote myself to fully."
[22:29] <Sailor_Pluto> "So...you're admitting you're bi," Rei says after closing her eyes, a little tense. "Usagi-chan, just...tell me, okay? Say I need to know it like that one way or another."
[22:29] <Sailor_Pluto> Her hands tighten on thet ub, knuckles going white.
[22:32] <Usagi> "I might be a little bi," the blonde shrugs. "But honestly? I can't see myself ever acting on it. I don't *want* to get together with a girl, even if the idea doesn't seem as bad as it once did. I just can't see myself in that sort of relationship."
[22:32] <Sailor_Pluto> "Thanks," Rei smiles, exhaling massively, "Alright, just let me talk...and I'm gonna owe you an apology, too." There's a pause as Rei begins...(More)
[22:33] * Usagi falls silent, listening attentively to her friend.
[22:34] <Sailor_Pluto> "I've never been so worked up in my life. I...Idon't know. Usagi...I guess I can tell you this. You're my best friend now, just you get it. The others don't, you do. It shook me up so bad! If nothing else, I've always been so pretty, and the men, I can just wrap them around my finger with a little teasing. I...I'm the best of us at that. I'm the cutest, and I have every guy I want. All this here shot that in the foot. I've never
[22:35] <Sailor_Pluto> I've never wanted a girl! Lesbians are either mannish or those girls who can't get a guy or just weird. I'm not that...! I know I'm not, but I couldn't deny what I felt, either!" (More)
[22:35] * Usagi frowns slightly at Rei's assertation of being the cutest, but doesn't interrupt.
[22:36] <Sailor_Pluto> Rei is looking down during this entire speech at first, only slowly raising her head as she continues. "I just...I'd talk to you or Kotono normally about this, but you're in the same boat I am, and Kotono...just no. Not this. So...I told Hotaru everything. I needed to tell someone it, just to be there. I found out...well, she's gay too, first off, but like that's a shock. Secondly, she finally got it through my head. Hotaru's pre
[22:37] <Sailor_Pluto>  Hotaru's pretty...okay, she's weird relatively, but she's not some stupid ugly girl who can't get a man. We talked about it a lot, and she finally got me to understand that." (More)
[22:37] * Usagi starts to twitch. "YOU TOLD HER?!" she cries, horrified. The bit about Hotaru being gay just doesn't register at all, since really... yeah, who didn't know that?
[22:38] <Sailor_Pluto> "She just about killed me, but she made a point. She's not that, even if she's...hell, she's a dyke." Rei shrugs at the course words, an unsteady smile. "So maybe...I feel like that. It tempts me, Usagi, but if she can be that way and not be-hey!" REi blushes hotly, "I said I'm sorry, but I just had to tell someone or I'd have gone crazy!"
[22:39] <Usagi> "Well, geez, why don't you go make out with her if you're so eager to blab all our secrets like that!" the blonde huffs. "God, you even said not to tell her or Kotono especially, and then you go and do that?"
[22:40] <Sailor_Pluto> "Look, I was confused! Kotono I stand by, but Hotaru..." Rei shrugs, "I'm sorry. ...and don't make me repeat that. It's hard enough apologizing twice," Rei grumbles. "Anyway...look, since I got interrupted, I did kiss her once. You know what? It wasn't so bad."
[22:42] * Usagi pauses, eyeing Rei for a long moment. Such an obvious question... "But wasn't it 'not so bad' kissing me?" she temporises rather than directly asking who was better.
[22:43] <Sailor_Pluto> "No shit. It means I'm gay and straight," Rei just shrugs, blushing but defeated. "I'm into both, at least sort of. Guess Temptation pulled all the temptation out, or whatever. That's where I stand now. If you wanna do something, I'm willing to try, but damn it, I want a date. I'm not letting some blonde girl take advantage of me." A faint little smile from Rei, paling now. (More
[22:43] <Sailor_Pluto> )
[22:44] <Sailor_Pluto> "If I'm going with a girl or a guy? I'm gonna be treated right. That includes you, Hotaru, Makoto - say, would you believe Hotaru's into girls and they're not doing it? I'm not sure I buy t hat, but whatever - or another of you?
[22:44] <Sailor_Pluto> OOC - Ack.
[22:45] <Sailor_Pluto> "If I'm going with a girl or a guy? I'm gonna be treated right. That includes you, Hotaru, Makoto - say, would you believe Hotaru's into girls and they're not doing it? I'm not sure I buy t hat, but whatever - or another of you? Rei-chan is gonna be taken care of right." With that she exhales, "So...yeah, I guess."
[22:47] * Usagi shrugs. "Like I said, I can't see myself in a relationship with a girl," she admits, not getting sidetracked by Hotaru's love life or lack thereof. "I'm kind of too annoyed with you for telling her to want to make out with you right now, anyway," she adds with a pout.
[22:48] <Sailor_Pluto> "Sorry." Rei admits one last time, wincing. "But...yeah. I guess I'll be okay with it now, but like hell if I'm going to tell anyone else. Speaking of...I need to talk to Hotaru and you some more - I was going to invite you two to walk home with me." Rei leaves that open ended, "I just kinda wanna talk about things, and well...Hotaru's the other one that knows now."
[22:49] * Usagi gives Rei a suspicious look. "If you want to do lesbian stuff with Hotaru, that's your business - aside from hoping Makoto doesn't kill you, I'll be happy to stay out of it."
[22:50] <Sailor_Pluto> "Hey! I'm not even dating her." Rei puts her hands on her hips, glaring back. "I just want to talk! I'm not even sure I'm going to date her! Heck, I'm looking for a male date next unless something works out here, since I'd still dearly like to reinforce that!" Now her tongue is stuck out at Usagi, too!
[22:51] <Sailor_Pluto> "Oh, speaking of!" Rei smirks a little, "Going to have fun with Takeshi? I heard."
[22:52] * Usagi pauses, caught off guard by that. "It's nothing serious... he's just... he doesn't know many other people," she temporises, distracted from their previous topic.
[22:52] <Sailor_Pluto> "So hey, we're still both dating men. You beat me to him, actually," A little smirk at that again, "So. I'm going to have to scavenge out, since Asher may as well have Pluto's Bitch written on him at this rate."
[22:54] <Usagi> "No kidding," the blonde nods slowly. "Still, Takeshi... he's nice, but he's not really my type. And honestly, I'd rather not be dating someone mixed up in all the senshi stuff - more's the pity for you as well, I guess," she sticks out her tongue back at Rei.
[22:55] <Sailor_Pluto> "Bah," Rei crosses her arms, smirking, "So, let's see! WE find out that Uasgi's a little bi, Hotaru's finally officially gay, and I'm gay and straight. Lovely." Rei stands up and stretches, "I am serious about that walk - I'd just like to talk to both of you about things."
[22:57] <Usagi> "And then we can maybe go to the flowershop and admire the lilies?" the blonde retorts, sighing. "I still can't believe you told her, of all people..."
[22:58] <Sailor_Pluto> "Sure, why theh ell not?" REi even laughs a bit, but sighs. "She's my friend, and I guess I knew she'd get it in her own way. Yeah, I eman, we've all know she's a lesbian for how long now? I felt like I needed to talk to someone that was that."
[22:59] <Usagi> "You were just hoping she'd hit on you, weren't you?" the blonde accuses. "I bet you didn't even have to suggest kissing her, yourself."
[23:00] <Sailor_Pluto> "Oh come on! I was not! She came onto me like her boyfriend onto her face!" Rei sticks her tongue out again, "As I said, we both know how gay she is! She's just the best talk to-er about this because of that!"
[23:00] <Sailor_Pluto> "I mean, if you're that desperate...I can get naked," Rei smirks at Usagi, idly coming forward and poking at ehr chest.
[23:02] <Usagi> "And nothing at all to do with the fact that you just love to hear someone going on about how desirable you are - now it doesn't even matter if it's a guy or a girl, does it?" accuses Usagi with a smirk of her own, standing firm against the poking.
[23:03] <Sailor_Pluto> "Oh really! You're the one who didn't need Temptation to say you wanted to do things with me? I have to admit it's flattering with how much she's into me...and all of us. She did say she'd break up with Yoshi if any of us wanted her." Smirking back and poking again, "So, Usagi-chan!"
[23:06] * Usagi sniffs haughtily. "Sure, I'd do things with you," she admits, turning her head a moment before abruptly whirling on Rei, jabbing her chest with her own index finger, "But there'd be no love, there! I'd just use you for the fun of it!" she crows, laughing merrily.
[23:07] <Sailor_Pluto> A pause as Rei thinks, "You know, she'd probably make out with you if you asked now, no strings attached." Rei pokes again, scowling. "Since you're frigid except when you get a nice woman to rev you up, hm?..." Rei grins, going to the door, opening it and calling, "Hotaru-chan, come up here!"
[23:09] <Usagi> "Not interested," the blonde replies, frowning a bit and stepping away from Rei. She's comfortable teasing Rei like this, but not anyone else.
[23:09] <Sailor_Pluto> Rei turns after calling, smirking. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe I watn to watch you and her do that, huh?" Hands on her hips again, Rei glares back playfully. "C'mon, relax. You'realmost sounding like normal again."
[23:11] <Usagi> "That's kinda the point I was getting at, earlier," Usagi looks upwards in a tired gesture. "Just because I'm okay with it doesn't mean I want to revel in it."
[23:12] <Sailor_Pluto> "Hold that a mometn!" REi calls back out, closing the door. "I don't, but...what better way to kill it than joke about it, or find out it's for us. Besides...look, you're my friend adn Hotaru's my friend. Both of you understand this, so..."
[23:14] <Usagi> "Just so long as I don't have to listen to ten minutes of 'I sleep with Makoto! But we're not really a couple, tee hee!'" Usagi replies wearily, briefly mimicking Hotaru's voice except for the silly giggle at the end which is really something Hotaru would never do.
[23:15] <Sailor_Pluto> "That's on my agenda, with twenty doses of 'JUST FUCK HER ALREADY!'" Rei giggles at the end as well, mimicking Usagi mimicking Hotaru.
[23:18] <Usagi> "Oh, if only they would..." Usagi sighs softly, leaning against the wall. "Oh, well. If you want to walk her home, we could get going? Or are we going to make people wonder even more as the three of us hog the bathroom?"
[23:18] <Sailor_Pluto> "To be honest...I'll never understand what's going on in there if they aren't. I mean, damn, you see them kissing and hugging each other and claiming they aren't doing it?" Rei rolls her eyes. "Yeah, let's take this outside." Out Rei goes, and...soon enough the three are indeed walking in the evening scape! "So, Hotaru!" Rei beigns abruptly once you head away from Serenity's
[23:19] <Sailor_Pluto> .
[23:20] <Hotaru-chan> "...Yes?" Hotaru asks softly, glancing from Usagi to Rei, focusing on Rei with a neutrally soft expression. Prepare to be rejected.
[23:22] <Sailor_Pluto> "So!" Rei takes a breath, looking to Usagi and then Hotaru. "We were both wondering - why aren't you doing Makoto regular again," she chirps lightly.
[23:22] <Sailor_Pluto> OOC - Gah.
[23:23] <Sailor_Pluto> "So!" Rei takes a breath, looking to Usagi and then Hotaru. "We were both wondering - why aren't you doing Makoto regular again," she chirps lightly. Turning her head back to Usagi and then to Hotaru once more, "Since well...look, we both understand and we know you understand now."
[23:23] * Usagi rolls her eyes. "Always the mistress of tact and subtlty, eh, Rei-chan?" she asks wearily. Oh, well, doesn't Hotaru always go on about how she gets off on Yoshi's bluntness? This'll probably make her even wilder about Rei...
[23:25] <Hotaru-chan> "Um..." Hotaru sweatdrops, her cheeks lighting up like Rei's uniform. "Because we like being close friends?" she offers, shaking her head a moment. "Just...-I- don't know if she's bi or not, and we like being able to relax with each other as friends."
[23:26] <Usagi> "Friends that can never take their hands off each other," Usagi notes blandly. Eh, no need to beat around the bush after that, she supposes.
[23:26] <Sailor_Pluto> "Look, after talking it over with Usagi, I think we both agree - Just do Makoto already. Kami, just do it!" Rei rolls her eyes, nodding to Usagi even as she glares back lightly.
[23:26] <Sailor_Pluto> "That said!" REi nods a second later, "So, yeah, I'm gay and straight, and Usagi's a bit bi but not strongly. So...yeah."
[23:28] <Usagi> "So glad we cleared that up," the blonde sighs, shaking her head. Deadpan as she goes on, "Really, it's like a huge weight off my shoulders."
[23:29] <Hotaru-chan> "...Ah?" Hotaru nearly trips, a loud yelp of totally stunned surprise as she stumbles into a lamp. Several deep breaths are taken, turning around to look at Rei and Usagi. "...Right. Um...how'bout I play it safe and just stay friends with her for now if you don't mind?" she offers weakly. "Jeez..."
[23:30] <Usagi> "You won't get anywhere if you play it safe - one of you has to make the first move!" Usagi encourages, a bit more lively. "Or you could just hope Temptation catches the two of you alone, if that's what it'll take."
[23:32] * Hotaru-chan rolls her eyes. "Yeah, sure," she sighs, straightening herself to walk alongside Rei and Usagi. "If she wants me..." Hotaru just shrugs. "I'm content where I am, though."
[23:33] <Sailor_Pluto> "It's just annoying that you cling to her but won't seal the deal. I mean, hell...what if I wanted to date you," Rei asks bluntly, "Do you think I'm gonna while you're there?"
[23:33] <Usagi> "Well, I guess you two do basically act like lovers, even if you don't admit it or go all the way," Usagi admits thoughtfully. "If that's what makes you happy..."
[23:34] * Hotaru-chan focuses on Rei a bit more sharply, violet eyes curious and probing. "Think you're going to what, Rei-chan?"
[23:35] <Usagi> "She means she wouldn't date you while you're 'sleeping with Mako-chan'," Usagi explains. "You can't have your cake and eat it, Hotaru-chan."
[23:35] <Sailor_Pluto> ":If I was gonna date you in theory," Rei tosses her head back as you walk along, starting to come to the main paths and more people in the twilight, "I wouldn't date you like that. Pretty much. You're all but having sex with Mako as it is, so...yeah."
[23:39] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru actually pauses, chewing on her lip nervously as she follows along, violet eyes rather distant. "I'd have to ask what you feel would be over the line," she admits softly, a little nervously. "I don't...really know where to draw the line with any of us six, unless they tell me or show me."
[23:45] <Sailor_Pluto> "Mmm." Rei ponders that as she walks, looking to Usagi. "I don't know - what do you think?"
[23:46] <Usagi> "Wouldn't it be easier to just hook up with Makoto than work out how much you can still play around with her while you're supposed to be with someone else?" Usagi asks the obvious question. "It seems dishonest, otherwise."
[23:48] <Hotaru-chan> "...I'm not 'playing around' with her," Hotaru growls softly, a knife like glare shot Usagi's way. "I like to be close to my friends. As far as the senshi go, I just don't have feelings on HOW close. Rei can tell you aaallll about the last time she and I fought over that.""
[23:49] <Sailor_Pluto> "oh. That's what you meant," Rei sighs, "That. Alright, in that case?"
[23:49] <Sailor_Pluto> "If you want to hug me, touch me and all of that you're gonna have to date me. Treat me right, you know," Rei raises an eyebrow to Hotaru, "What about you, Usa-chan?"
[23:51] <Usagi> "Uh... I don't really want to date another girl," Usagi temporises, waving her hands in a placating gesture towards Hotaru. "All I can say is, if I was dating someone and they acted towards someone else the way you act around Mako-chan? I'd dump them in a heartbeat."
[23:53] <Sailor_Pluto> "Yeah, look. Hotaru - If I date someone I don't stand for them to play around. It's that simple." Rei smiles a little, "That's something you have to accept if you are really interested in me, or heck, if you have some crazy scheme to get into Usagi's panties."
[23:54] <Sailor_Pluto> "For Kami's sake you two kiss often. That's just...what if Yoshi was kissing his best friend?" Rei asks, addign that on.
[00:00] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks a few times, shaking her head and laughing softly. "You two just...don't get it, at all," she murmurs, hands sliding onto her hips. "This isn't...mah, if Rei-chan says 'I want this, but I'll only be happy if it includes this, this, and this', I'll do my best to make Rei-chan as happy as I can."
[00:00] <Hotaru-chan> "It's just...it's not a matter of what -I- want, it's about what my friends want, and if one of them has a desire to be my girlfriend, then that becomes yet more important. I won't pretend to know what level of toning down will make Rei-chan happy, I gave up trying to understand fully what makes Rei happy a long time ago other than 'What Rei asks for, she wants'."
[00:00] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath, a slight shiver. "It just...it's like prioritizing. If Rei wanted to date me, I'd want to know what would make her UNhappy, and then avoid it like the plague, while trying to make everyone else as happy as I can without breaking that in spirit."
[00:00] <Hotaru-chan> "And yes, this makes me an utter doormat to most of you, but...things as they are or how they're being suggested are so much better than how they were I just can't bring myself to care that I'm at everyone else's mercies."
[00:02] <Hotaru-chan> "If it came down to that much of a conflict in practice, maybe I'd give in and, as you put it 'Just go fuck Mako-chan'," Hotaru snorts.
[00:04] <Usagi> "It might be best to just get it out in the open," Usagi opines innocently. "Makoto's obviously as crazy about you as you are about her. I really can't see how it could fail."
[00:06] <Sailor_Pluto> "Ditto. You two are soulmates ro close to it," Rei nods emphatically.
[00:12] <Hotaru-chan> "...You two are so incredibly clueless about her," Hotaru sighs, hugging herself. "She wouldn't be happy with that. She'd be unsure, insecure...god knows what else, you've never seen her really crumble down," Hotaru winces sharply. "I simply...can't right now. I'd enjoy it, but I don't think she'd take it very well so off the bat," she sighs.
[00:12] <Hotaru-chan> "And that, in the end, is why I really don't do anything - not only does she not express interest past just being close friends, but I don't think she'd be happy with it as is."
[00:14] * Usagi shrugs. "Call me clueless, then. All I know is you two are closer than any 'friends' have any right to be," she concludes. "I guess I could be wrong about Makoto, like I was wrong about y- oh, wait..." she trails off, smiling knowingly.
[00:14] <Sailor_Pluto> "Point for Usagi," Rei matches that smile, "YUou're right, I'm not close to Makoto, but dammit, I can't believe that she would be unhappy with you. I mean...no, I can't believe that for half a second."
[00:15] <Sailor_Pluto> A long shake of her head, "Besides, you're my friend and so is she. Maybe I want you two to be happy together like you seem to be drawn towards?"
[00:17] <Hotaru-chan> "I don't see you cleaning up her emotional breakdowns, actually, I tend to see you on the other side of the fence," Hotaru remarks sharply, her tone flat and searing. "I don't think she can handle it, the uncertainties...she isn't even sure if I'm in a phase or not. I'm not putting her through the wringer of wondering if I'll wake up the next day and want to go find Yoshi."
[00:19] <Sailor_Pluto> "Then why not have someone else bring it up and ask? Get to the heart of what she wants," Rei proposes, thoughtful.
[00:20] * Usagi sighs. "Forget it, then. Obviously you're happy just having her for platonic hugs and kisses while you fantasise about Rei or Yoshi or whomever. But did you ever consider that she might be happier to be in a real relationship with the person who - from everything I've seen - is the single most important thing in her life?" she presses.
[00:23] <Hotaru-chan> "I DID consider it, I could've pressed it the night I admitted to her that I was bisexual, but seeing her, listening to her, and knowing her, I just don't think she'd be able to accept it right now," Hotaru sighs, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I'm happy with what makes her happy, and I don't think turning lesbian on her right now is going to do that as well as being her friend."
[00:27] <Sailor_Pluto> Rei rolls her eyes, "If you say so. I just don't understand it. I think you're really making something out of nothing, Hotaru."
[00:28] <Usagi> "What about later?" Usagi asks, "Is it ever going to be time, or are you two just going to stay in this limbo of 'almost lovers but not quite' for the rest of your lives? I think it's sad that you're not willing to take a risk over something that could make both of you really happy."
[00:29] <Sailor_Pluto> "Exactly. You and Makoto...come on. The gay jokes didn't come from nowhere," Rei adds in, quietly.
[00:31] <Hotaru-chan> "A while form now?" Hotaru shrugs. "You've never listened to Mako-chan's paranoia, Rei. You think I'm making something out of nothing? You'd explode listening to her on a bad day" she sighs, shaking her head. "If she could really accept I was permanently gay, sure, then it could work out maybe. Just not until I can clear all our doubts."
[00:31] <Hotaru-chan> *from now
[00:33] <Usagi> "If she can't accept it, then she really can't know you very well. Two years is not a phase, Hotaru," Usagi states flatly.
[00:33] <Usagi> "And really, if you've got some plan to convince her you're gay that doesn't involve confessing to her while still leaving the option open of getting together with her later, I'd love to hear it. What, would you hook up with Rei for a year just to make sure Makoto knows you're serious about being gay, then dump her for Makoto?"
[00:35] <Hotaru-chan> "She didn't know I was bisexual until after I told you and Rei," Hotaru returns just as flatly. "She thought of it as just friends too...and good GOD NO," she snaps, nearly snarling on the last point as she turns on Usagi, livid and practically glowing violet.
[00:37] <Sailor_Pluto> "I don't think you'd do that, but...oh come on. You've been sowing this for two years. You're full of bullshit," Rei sighs long and hard, as ou walk through Tokyo, a heated conversation letting you forget most else.
[00:37] <Sailor_Pluto> "Friends don't kiss, hug and sleep together," she adds as a casual appendix.
[00:37] * Usagi seems unaffected by Hotaru's ire, keeping her calm demeanour as they stroll along. "Well, what? Really, I can't see any other solution besides... keeping things as they are. And that's not a solution at all, is it?" she replies plainly.
[00:44] <Hotaru-chan> "Sowing WHAT? Makoto's wanted the same thing for two years, unflinching, and without bump - she wants a friend. She's had countless opportunities to just take me if she wanted to, I admitted to her that I'd even thought about her sexually, and you know what she said? That it didn't change a thing,"
[00:44] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru just sighs softly in tiredness. "It's what she herself has indicated she wants. I'm not going to cross the line she's drawn, much as I don't cross the line Rei drew two years ago."
[00:46] <Sailor_Pluto> "Sowing being so close to Makoto that you're de facto lovers," Rei elaborates on further, throwing her arms up into the air. "I was serious - you and her are an item even if you want to deny it, and you know it. There are friends, and you two are so far past it that it's...just...stupid!"
[00:47] <Usagi> "Then she's just as much in denial as you are," the blonde shakes her head wearily. "Rei's right - friends don't do half the things you two do. But y'know what, I tried - if you're both so insistent on living in your happy halfway house without taking any risks of making it something greater, go ahead!" she goes on, voice rising as it gains feeling and passion, before she looks down.
[00:47] <Usagi> "But I feel sorry for the both of you that you can't even take the chance when it would obviously make both of you so happy."
[00:47] <Sailor_Pluto> "It's like you'v been working on this but you're all like now, 'Oh hey I don' twant this! Why don't I date another one of us instead?'" Rei lightly raises her voice, a bit of sarcasm dripping off each letter. "I like you Hotaru, but Kami t hat's just...just...Usagi, what's the word?"
[00:48] <Sailor_Pluto> "No wait, I have it. Unbelieveable. Utterly unbelievable," Rei finishes with aplomb.
[00:48] <Usagi> "I was going to go with greedy," the rabbit supplies.
[00:49] <Sailor_Pluto> "No, just...Not greedy. I think it's more just unbelievable." Rei crosses her arms back over her chest, head shaking. "You two are the living SOURCE of 99% of our gay jokes! It's like Usagi's Mom and Dad suddenly dating teenagers out of the blue! It makes no sense!"
[00:58] <Hotaru-chan> "Then you just don't know us so well," Hotaru looks sadly at Usagi and Rei, shaking her head. "We're idiots, yes, we're unbelieveable, yes, we're broken, cracked, paranoid, paralyzed idiots that can't or won't control their own lives, much less decide for themselves if they can be with each other permanently. And that's more than my quota of self-pity for the week."
[00:58] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs, collecting herself slowly. "If you think Makoto and I are such a hot item that need to jump into bed and solve all our problems, then just don't date me. Call it Makoto's territory and step around it if you want. I think even with just this argument I'm proving I'm not ready for her, but y'know, that doesn't seem to be my judgement to make anymore."
[01:03] <Usagi> "Hotaru-chan, anyone who sees you and Makoto together for any length of time will learn to step around," Usagi shakes her head, sighing. "Has Yoshi even met her, out of interest?"
[01:04] <Sailor_Pluto> Reis norts another time, sighing as well. "I can't believe this argument, by the by," she mutters to herself, walking along.
[01:06] <Hotaru-chan> "Yoshi's got enough suspicions about my professional life without meeting my coworkers," Hotaru answers dryly, rubbing at her eyes and following. "I stopped believing it was happening about time you kissed me, Rei."
[01:06] <Usagi> "It was your idea," Usagi gives the taller dark-haired girl a wan smile. "Funnily enough, I really didn't expect so much resistance."
[01:10] <Sailor_Pluto> "Ditto. It's just...yeah. Unbeilevable,' Rei settles ont hat again.
[01:14] <Hotaru-chan> "That I love her too much to trap her into a relationship for fear of hurting me by saying no while she shakes her own head apart wondering when I'll leave her, die, or lose interest like everyone else in her life? I don't know what to say," Hotaru murmurs, her entire posture slumped and tired. "I don't believe everyone thinks we should screw each other so fiercely."
[01:14] <Sailor_Pluto> "Let's take a strawpoll sometime...but I'm going home." Rei gose to the corner, waving, "See ya guys." With a shake of her head she departs, heading on away.
[01:15] <Usagi> "It's not so much about the screwing as just being honest about your feelings," Usagi sighs as they reach the intersection. "And this is where I head off as well... later," she waves tiredly, heading down her own street.

[Ebiris]

Still more after the conference!

[18:26] <Kotono> Oh, coming home! Resting, relaxing - not!  It's a mess! Mom's on the phone, talking rapidly with someone, Dad and Shingo are glued to the TV!
[18:27] <Usagi> "Oh, good, I don't need to tell you to turn on the TV," Usagi notes brightly as she enters, putting the weirdness of her and Rei's conversation with Hotaru out of mind.
[19:08] <Kotono> "You're on TV," Dad says, mixed shock and awe together. He points at it, a replay of your discussion with the Prime Minister Yoshimori showing.
[19:08] <Kotono> Mom peeks out, gabbing on the phone. "Usagi, you'er back!" she calls, hand on the phone.
[19:10] <Usagi> "Do I look good?" the blonde asks, smiling as she leans over the back of the couch to watch with her family.
[19:17] <Kotono> Usagi does, as she shakes hands with the Prime Minister. "Yes, and you've been over the news all day! Everyone's going insane about this," Dad adds, as the TV goes on and on and on.
[19:17] <Kotono> "Usagi, ahve you seen Hotaru," Mom calls out, "I'm on the phone with Reiko-chan."
[19:21] <Usagi> "Huh? Yeah, I was just walking her home," Usagi supplies to her mother. Kinda wishes she hadn't, mind you, but so it goes. "Anyway, there's kinda good news and bad news about all this," she gestures at the television, pausing just a moment to appreciate the scene. Look at her, all smiling for the cameras and shaking hands with the Prime Minister! Who could have ever guessed that would be Usagi Tsukino?
[19:26] <Kotono> "Her mother's worried about her," Ikkuko frowns darkly at that, but goes back to talking on the phone. Dad nods as you watch, clasping his daughter on the shoulder.
[19:26] <Kotono> "I never thought you'd be shaking hands with the Prime Minister!"
[19:27] <Usagi> "Well, she's not the one who's had her identity unmasked by the government, so her mother doesn't need to worry," Usagi deadpans, before smiling innocently at her family. "At least they don't want to arrest or dissect me, though!"
[19:29] <Kotono> "Usagi?!" Mom jerks her head right back in, phoen cord straining as her eyes bug out. "They know who you are?!"
[19:29] <Kotono> "Does this mean you'll be a secret agent?" Shingo follows up with, whistling.
[19:30] * Usagi nods meekly. "They figured it out from when I stopped that riot at the expo without being transformed," she admits. "They don't know about anyone else, but they'll probably figure it out just by seeing who I hang out with. So, um... if any government people call, you'll know why at, least?"
[19:31] <Kotono> "Oh Usagi..." Mother sighs and goes back tothe phone.
[19:32] <Kotono> "Got it," Dad says, patting his daughter again. "They're going absolutely crazy about it. If people find out who you are..."
[19:33] <Usagi> "I didn't do any magic! They shouldn't have figured it out!" the blonde protests indignantly. "I was only acting as a concerned citizen, not a magical girl!"
[19:33] <Kotono> "They're the government elected by the people. That just proves we didn't elect idiots." Dad nods again at this, "I don't know how magic works - could they have some of their own?"
[19:34] <Usagi> "I dunno about magic, but did you see how they had pictures of Gaia?" Usagi asks, perking up. "How cool is that?! Who imagined we'd have that kind of technology?"
[19:37] <Kotono> "That was Gaia?" Mom ducks in yet again, "That big tower? That was it?"
[19:37] <Kotono> "That was awesome!" Shingo nods, grinning to his sister, "That'sw ehre you went to save the day last time?"
[19:39] <Usagi> "Yeah," the blonde nods. "Right at the very top of that huge tower was where Jadeite's office was - where we broke in to rescue Serenity's daughter," she explains for her attentive family. "You should've seen the explosion, there..."
[19:43] <Kotono> "They do good repairs, then," Mom notes, giving into the phone cord and falling back.
[19:43] <Kotono> "Woooow!" Dad's jaw hangs open, looking at his daughter with even more respect.
[19:46] <Usagi> "Yeah, Jadeite pretty much blew the roof - literally - when he found us there," Usagi smiles blithely as if it's nothing at all for her. Walking around to the front of the couch, she sits down next to her little brother.
[19:46] <Usagi> "And that's basically today's big news. It was pretty cool, really - after that," she gestures towards the TV showing herself addressing the cameras, "We had a meeting with just the Prime Minister and told him stuff about the new enemy, and he said that they'd contact us through me in the future."
[19:49] <Kotono> "Oh, so we should be expecting calls?" Dad asks as the TV goes to commercial.
[19:49] <Kotono> "Oh, Usagi! Naru's on the other line," Mom calls back.
[19:50] <Usagi> "Oooh!" Usagi bounces up off the couch and starts into the hallway to join her mother. "Can I talk to her or are you busy with Hotaru's mom?" she asks.
[19:51] <Kotono> "Here," Mom holds out the phone, "I just finished with her, go ahead."
[19:52] * Usagi accepts the handset and leans on the bannister. "Hi, Naru-chan?"
[19:53] <Kotono> "Ohmygod! Usagi, did you...of course you did, you were there! That was incredible! I know it had been starting again, but I didn't expect that to happen!" Naru's voice is excited, hyper, heady.
[19:54] <Usagi> "I know! Who'd have expected the government to actually come out and ask for help like that? It's a huge surprise!" Usagi nods rapidly. "What'd you think of me on TV? Did I look good?" she adds hopefully, seeking praise.
[20:00] <Kotono> "You looked perfect! I just don't believe it! You're like a superidol now!" Naru squeals at the end of it, excited. "You, Makoto Kino, Ami even if she's in Germany and those other girls at T*A!"
[20:01] * Usagi beams happily at the praise before one little niggling memory surfaces. "Yeah... not bad for the girl you compared to Lassie a few years ago, huh?" she enquires smugly.
[20:03] <Kotono> "...You still remember that! I'm soooo sorry!" Naru blurts this out, blushign, "You're even getting a new boyfriend by the sounds of it, so things are perfect! You're soooo lucky!"
[20:05] <Usagi> "It only just came to me now," Usagi giggles merrily, waving it aside, "You're forgiven! Wait - new boyfriend?" she pauses on that.
[20:06] <Kotono> "You know, Eiryo! The guy you're hanging around with so much now! You've been spending lunches with him!" Naru giggles at this, nodding. "
[20:06] <Kotono> "I know you haven't told me yet, but I know how it looks!"
[20:07] <Usagi> "We're just friends, that's all," Usagi insists. "Really!"
[20:10] <Kotono> "Oh don't lie, Usagi!" Naru laughs, "You can hang out with another girl and not be dating them, but a cutie like that?" Naru prods, "You're seriously not dating him?"
[20:11] <Usagi> "Well..." the blonde blushes, "He did ask me out on Sunday," she's forced to admit, "But really, it's not like that! He just doesn't know many other people!"
[20:13] <Kotono> "Ooooh-ho! It's not liket hat my foot! H ow is he," Naru purrs into the phone, but as she does, a beep. Call waiting AGAIN?
[20:16] <Usagi> "Uh, hang on a second - call waiting," Usagi tells Naru, before switching to the other line - saved! "Hello?"
[20:18] <Kotono> "Usagi?" Oh, another one - it's Mamoru. "I saw the TV," he says simply, by way of explination.
[20:20] <Usagi> "Oh, hi, Mamoru - can you hang on a second? I need to get rid of Naru." With that, she switches back to the first line, "Sorry, Naru-chan, I'll call you back in a minute? I've got Mamoru on the other line." Switching once again! "Okay, I'm back. Uh, yeah, we were all watching it at Serenity's so we decided to take them up on their invitation," she explains.
[20:21] <Kotono> "Oka-" Naru is cruelly cuto ff, denied a circuit to Usagi! Instead Mamoru is there, "I meant stop by, but stuff came up," A little bit of disgust even now carries in his voice, too.  "Sorry. How're things going now?"
[20:23] <Usagi> "Oh, well, we told the Prime Minister a bit about what's going on - and it turns out they know who I am because of when I stopped that riot at the expo," the blonde admits. "What've you been up to?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "Ugh. Is that going to be safe?" Mamoru follows up instead, voice clearly worried. "But I'm fine. Settling back in, getting my car up to date, been meaning to spend some more time with Makoto after we broke up a robbery at my apartment."
[20:30] <Usagi> "If you can't trust your own government, who can you trust? I pay taxes like everyone else!" Usagi retorts quickly. "But you were robbed? Did you stop them before they got anything?" she adds, focusing on the second part.
[20:32] <Kotono> "Yeah, Makoto did. They got there about two minutes before I got home by pure chance - Makoto and Serenity, I mean. She noticed the door was open and found him. Terrified him half to death. Said he wasn't going to cross a Juuban Angel." Mamoru's voice lightens a bit, "He's in jail, and I filled out a report. It's his first offense from what they said, so...who knows?"
[20:33] <Usagi> "What are the odds, though?" the blonde shakes her head a bit. "Two years of it being abandoned and nobody touches it, then the minute you get back...?" she snaps her fingers.
[20:33] <Kotono> "Same odds as the Juuban Angels all being born in the same city?" Oh, that's a good deadpan, right to the point. "It might be, it might not be, but either way I'm fine and it was stopped. If he was motivated by anything he didn't show any signs of it."
[20:37] * Usagi nods, curling the phone cord around her fingers. "Anyway, that's basically it. When the government wants to speak to us again, they'll be in contact through me."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Good to know. But yeah...I really hope they're trustworthy. After Gaia...meh." Mamoru sounds less than thrilled, "I trust Jun, and I'm not sure I'd want him knowing who we are if he was ruling here instead."
[20:41] <Usagi> "It's not what I would've chosen to do," the blonde admits, "But we can only deal with it and move on. Anyway, talk to you later? I should get back to Naru-chan."
[20:42] <Kotono> "Alright. I'll see you later...Usagi-chan." Mamoru tries to raise his voice, cheerier has he hangs up.
[20:42] * Usagi hangs up herself before promptly picking the phone up again and dialing Naru's house.
[20:47] <Kotono> Two rings before Naru picks it up! "Usagi?" Naru asks right out, then with an eeek and a, "Sorry Mom!", Naru then speaks, "Osaka household."
[20:48] <Usagi> "You're lucky it's me!" the blonde announces her presence cheerfully. "Where were we, before?"
[20:52] <Kotono> "We were talking about your boytoy!" Naru chirps and blushes, "You're just so lucky, too! All of you are drop dead gorgeous now!"
[20:54] <Usagi> "Hey, I've always been pretty!" Usagi protests. "But so are you, Naru-chan! You could probably date Takeshi if you like him so much!"
[20:59] <Kotono> "Oh, yeah right..." Naru sighs dramatically, going on in a high falsetto. "I'm nothing compared to my magical friend Usagi now! I should just go date a nice ugly girl who would be grateful for the attention!"
[21:01] <Usagi> "I'm sure you could get a pretty girl if you tried hard enough!" Usagi teases, deciding that sympathy isn't the way forward, right now.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Proposing a date," Naru archly inquires, laughing after, "I know, I know -" Oh, another beep? Usagi's popular after bein gon TV!
[21:02] <Usagi> "Oh, not again!" Usagi complains. "Sorry, Naru-chan, another call - I'll be right back!" she promises before switching. "Hello?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "Hello, Usagi?" To your great surprise it's Ami's mother. "Are all of you alright? I've been trying to get in touch, but no one's home at Hotaru's yet."
[21:06] <Usagi> "Oh! Hi, Dr Mizuno! Mrs Tomoe was just on the phone a minute ago, so I thought she'd be home - do you want to talk to Mama?" Usagi answers rapidly, getting a bit frazzled by all the rapid phone switching.
[21:07] <Kotono> "No, no. I just wnat to make sure all ofy ou are fine. I saw the news today." Clicking her tongue after, "How far does it go now?"
[21:08] <Usagi> "Well, Ami-chan shouldn't have any trouble while she's in Germany, at least?" the blonde offers. "The government figured out who I am, so I guess we'll have to see how things go."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Alright. I needed to know - you're safe and all that? I'll call Ami-chan tonight." Chikako seems serene about that, relaxed now.
[21:11] <Usagi> "Oh, yes, we're all fine," Usagi nods earnestly. "Don't you worry about us, Dr Mizuno - we'll keep Tokyo safe!"
[21:15] <Kotono> "I certainly hope so. I have enough to do with peacetime for healing. Be careful, Usagi." Past that it's only a click, Ami's Mom getting back to her life.
[21:17] <Usagi> That done, Usagi switches back to Naru! "Sorry, Naru-chan, that was Ami's mom. Anyway, where were we... Oh, yeah! You were trying to ask me out on date, weren't you?" she chirps.
[21:18] <Kotono> "Stuff it," Naru cheerily replies, "Anyway, it was just too cool!"
[21:20] <Usagi> "Wasn't it?" Usagi giggles. "I wonder how many boys tomorrow will be fantasising over the beautiful and heroic Sailor Moon...?" she sighs happily, swooning against the wall.
[21:21] <Kotono> Now Naru's giggle turns even to naughiness, the next part whispered, "Your image'll be making a lot of boys happy tonight?"
[21:23] * Usagi giggles, scandalised but amused. "I guess it's flattering... y'know, that was probably broadcast over the whole world." She fans her face a bit with her hand, "I think I feel a bit faint..."
[21:25] <Kotono> "That's just too much!" Naru agrees, "I have to just..ooooooooh! Usagi-chan, I'll talk to you later, I just had a great idea!" With that Naru hangs up - and moments later the phone starts to ring.
[21:28] * Usagi eyes the reciever oddly for a moment, wondering what mischief her friend has in mi- Good God, does it ever stop?! Usagi's hand lashes out, picking up the phone before it even completes one ring. "Hello?" yet in spite of it all, she still sounds polite and personable!
[21:29] <Kotono> "Hello, is this the Tsukino household?" This voice you don't know, sounding professional and appealing.
[21:30] <Usagi> "It is, Usagi speaking," Usagi responds. Probably a salesperson, but a part of her can't help wonder if it's a government contact...
[21:32] <Kotono> "Hello Usagi. I'd like to interest you in our new, interest free service. We now authorize loans based on your incoming paycheck for those times where you nee dmoney but you can't wait 'till payday!"
[21:33] <Usagi> "Sorry, we already have a... that," the blonde replies, her first impulse turning out to be the correct one!
[21:35] <Kotono> "But we offer new adjustable ratew, Miss Tsukino, and I'm sure you'll be interested. You see, we offer a flat rate of 17 percent interest per week after the first week is over!"
[21:35] <Usagi> "Yeah, the one we have is better," Usagi lies before hanging up and then fleeing back to the living room. Someone else can get it the next time it rings!
[21:39] <Kotono> Luna's sitting in Mom's lap now, talking to allt hree, "...careful, but I'm sure Usagi will handle it. Oh, Usagi!" Luna smiles, "I saw."
[21:40] <Usagi> "What'd you think?" the blonde asks, taking an armchair now that the couch is full.
[21:41] <Kotono> "That all of you are amazingly photogenic, and you have a lot of responsibility to live up to," Luna nods solemnly, "Don't let everyone down."
[21:42] * Usagi beams at the photogenic part, before nodding to the second. "Haven't so far, right?"
[21:44] <Kotono> "You haven't," Shingo nods the quickest, smiling ear to ear. "So you ever now, right?":
[21:45] <Usagi> "You guys can count on me!" the blonde swears earnestly, gesturing at herself.

[Halbarad]

Sunday comes, and with it a hot date! Well, maybe...

[12:04] <@Usagi> ---------
[12:09] <@Usagi> And so, Sunday arrives, Usagi Tsukino departing her house in the late afternoon to meet Takeshi for their date. It's a short bus ride to the cinema before the blonde steps off in the already dimming Autumn twilight, attired in a pale blue dress that reaches past her knees and with a white woolen pullover on to ward off the chill.
[12:09] <@Usagi> A pair of matching blue ribbons around the base of her pigtails and a little makeup are the only differences from how she'd usually look outside of school, the girl peering around for Takeshi as she checks the time - she's a few minutes late, but that's a girl's prerogative!
[12:11] * @Takeshi is waiting near the entrance to the theater, looking... rather different. His formerly shoulder-length wavy hair has been cropped much closer, the young man looking as solemn as usual as he keeps an eye out for Usagi - although it doesn't seem that he's spotted her just yet.
[12:12] * @Usagi sure has trouble spotting Takeshi, having been counting on recognising his hair to pick him out! It takes another minute before she happens to wander close enough to actually recognise the boy, starting in surprise. "Takeshi! Ah! You cut your hair!" she observes intelligently.
[12:15] <@Takeshi> "Oh, hey," Takeshi says, a bit startled at having been surprised - he'd been expecting Usagi from the other way, although in hindsight he probably shouldn't have expected her from a particular direction at all. "Yeah... Hotaru said she thought I'd look better with short hair, and after I thought about it I figured 'why the hell not?'" He chuckles a bit. "Start a new year with a new look."
[12:16] <@Usagi> "It looks nice," Usagi smiles nicely, inwardly wondering a bit. Surely he can't be trying to impress Hotaru, can he? "We're still a few months from new year, though," she adds in a gently chiding tone.
[12:18] * @Takeshi chuckles. "The normal new year, yeah. Birthday today, though, so it's sort of a new year for me. Maybe a new start, too." He smiles a bit at that.
[12:19] * @Usagi takes a step back, looking stricken. "It's your birthday?!" she cries, mortified. "Why didn't you say anything! We could have had a party or I at least could have gotten a present!"
[12:20] <@Takeshi> "Eh, it's never been a big deal for me - don't worry about it. Just another day, as far as it goes," Takeshi shrugs. "Just thought of the timing when I got my haircut yesterday."
[12:22] <@Usagi> "That's sad..." the blonde looks downcast for a moment, but resolves not to dwell on it. "Um, anyway, should we go get our tickets?"
[12:23] <@Takeshi> "Sure, sounds good," Takeshi replies easily. "Picked out what you want to go see, yet?"
[12:26] * @Usagi nods brightly. "Jurassic Park!" she informs him as they head inside.
[12:29] <@Takeshi> "Sounds good," Takeshi says with a chuckle, heading up to the box office to get tickets for the next showing.
[12:31] <@Usagi> As Takeshi handles the transaction at the kiosk, Usagi glances around a moment before tapping his shoulder. "Can you wait here for a minute? I have to use the ladies room," she excuses herself before hurrying off.
[12:31] <@Takeshi> "No problem, I'll get in line for some popcorn after I get the tickets," Takeshi nods.
[12:33] * @Usagi is already gone!
[12:35] * @Takeshi simply shakes his head and does as indicated, getting two tickets for the next show in about half an hour before heading inside the theater to wait in the concessions line. It'll be a few minutes here at least, it seems.
[12:37] <@Usagi> roll 2d6
[12:37] * +Hatbot --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=6, 4]
[12:37] <@Usagi> A few minutes pass, and still no sign of Usagi. Maybe she ate something bad?
[12:38] * @Takeshi gets through the concession line, having purchased the largest tub of popcorn and a couple of sodas. Purchases in hand as best he can manage, he steps out into a clear space in the theater, looking around for the blonde and wondering what's taking so long. "Hope she's feeling okay..."
[12:40] <@Usagi> roll 2d6
[12:40] * +Hatbot --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=5, 1]
[12:41] <@Usagi> It's another minute or two before Usagi returns, hands clasped behind her back and looking vaguely embarrassed. "Oooh, you got snacks!" she beams appreciatively as she catches sight of Takeshi.
[12:42] <@Takeshi> "Yeah, said I was going to - guess you didn't hear me," Takeshi says, offering one of the sodas to Usagi -  his hands are rather full trying to juggle everything at the moment. "Think the theater's over on the left side," he says, nodding in that direction.
[12:44] <@Usagi> "Eh heh..." Usagi chuckles a bit lamely at how full his hands are. "Happy birthday?" she tries, bringing her hands around and presenting a small plush monkey holding a banana to him. It looks cute, if somewhat cheap.
[12:46] * @Takeshi chuckles. "Thanks, but it's really not that big a deal," Takeshi says, taking the monkey in his one free hand. "I appreciate the thought, though."
[12:47] <@Usagi> "Couldn't just not get you anything..." the blonde murmurs, abashed as she accepts the soda and starts towards the theater itself.
[12:50] <@Takeshi> "Heh," Takeshi answers as the two step inside the theater, letting Usagi choose the seats as he continues the slight juggling act of keeping a plush monkey, a large tub of popcorn, and a soda from meeting each other or the floor too closely.
[12:52] <@Usagi> Spotting Takeshi having trouble, Usagi offers her free hand, "Here, I'll take the popcorn," she offers, before leading Takeshi to a pair of aisle seats near the middle. She hates sitting at the front since it strains her neck, but she sure doesn't want to encourage any wrong ideas about the back!
[12:54] <@Takeshi> "Thanks, running out of hands here," Takeshi says, taking his seat on the aisle itself. "Didn't know if you wanted candy or what you'd like, so figured I'd just stick with popcorn for now."
[12:55] <@Usagi> "It's fine," Usagi smiles, putting the tub in the armrest between them and grabbing a handful to munch on. "I saw an advert for this movie the other day - it's amazing how lifelike the dinosaurs look!" she goes on conversationally.
[12:59] <@Takeshi> "Yeah, I overheard a couple of people at school talking about it," Takeshi agrees. "Don't watch much TV, though, so I haven't seen much about it other than posters at the theater. Hope it's as good as it sounded, though."
[13:02] * @Usagi nods, taking a drink of her soda. "Guess you do work a lot, don't you? With that and school and your martial arts practice, there wouldn't be much time for TV."
[13:04] <@Takeshi> "Yeah - mostly work, though. Had a lot of different jobs, but I usually try to get as many hours as I can get away with no matter what I'm doing. Usually pretty wiped out by the time I get home, though, so I just read for an hour or so and then go to bed."
[13:05] <@Usagi> "Oh. What do you like to read?" Usagi asks as the commercials and previews roll on.
[13:07] <@Takeshi> "Little bit of everything, really - regular novels, mystery, some sci-fi, that kind of stuff. Some non-fiction stuff too, mostly about astronomy." He nods towards the movie screen, still showing ads before the previews start. "Even read a couple of books by the guy who did Jurassic Park, although I haven't read that one itself."
[13:09] <@Usagi> "Any good?" Usagi enquires curiously. "Naoko-chan said they cut out a lot of this book for the movie," she adds offhandedly.
[13:10] <@Takeshi> "Yeah, they're really good," Takeshi says with a nod. "There's one called 'The Andromeda Strain' about a virus from space that kills everyone in this little Western town where the satellite that picked it up came down, and they take it to a research lab and try to figure out what it is."
[13:13] <@Usagi> "Oooh," Usagi nods in return. "Do they?"
[13:15] <@Takeshi> "Yeah - except that at the end it mutates and escapes from the lab, but it's not harmful to humans. Then." He grins. "He kind of makes it sound like it'll mutate again and who knows what it'll do from that point, but the book ends right after that."
[13:17] <@Usagi> "Always got to leave room for a sequel..." the blonde nods knowingly to herself, turning her attention back to the screen and grabbing another handful of popcorn.
[13:18] * @Takeshi chuckles. "Yeah, guess so," Takeshi agrees. "Heard they made a movie about that one a long time ago, but I've never seen it myself."
[13:21] <@Usagi> "Probably never got dubbed," Usagi observes.
[13:26] <@Takeshi> "Probably," Takeshi nods. "Never really went looking for it, though."
[13:29] <@Usagi> At this, the lights dim, Usagi promptly shutting up as the movie starts up... and half an hour later, the effects laden extravaganza ends, the 'good' characters escaping and the 'bad' characters getting eaten. And some heavy handed message about life finding a way. "Ahh... that was pretty good," Usagi smiles, stretching at the end, her simplistic desires for excitement and special effects satisfied.
[13:30] <@Takeshi> "Yeah, not too bad," Takeshi agrees, arching his back as the credits roll. He doesn't seem inclined to get up just yet as the credits roll, letting the main mass of people move out of the theater before he gets up and heads for the exit.
[13:32] * @Usagi naturally has to wait on Takeshi since he has the aisle seat, but she gets up and follows once he does. "So, what's the plan for dinner, then?" she chirps as they stroll outside, the sky now completely dark.
[13:33] <@Takeshi> "You can make the call on that," Takeshi offers. "I'm the one that asked for your time, so the least I can do is let you pick where to go."
[13:38] <@Usagi> "Ah," the blonde stops short, not having been prepared for that. Well... that makes it easier, in a way. She can avoid somewhere classy and hopefully avoid any expectations of this being more than a friendly outing? "Let's go to Noibe's?" she suggests, "It's a sushi bar and grill not far from here. They're pretty good."
[13:39] <@Takeshi> "Sure, sounds fine," Takeshi says. "Lead the way, I still don't know Juuban all THAT well yet. Getting there, but... yeah."
[13:42] <@Usagi> "You'll get the hang of it," Usagi encourages, giving Takeshi a pat on the back before they start into the streets of Juuban, not as active as Shibuya or Akihabara, perhaps, but still fairly crowded with people, including a few in the same line of work as Usagi. The blonde makes a point of stopping to accept flyers and say hello to all the poor souls dispensing them as the pair stroll along.
[13:44] * @Takeshi remains fairly quiet as they walk, simply glancing over at Usagi and chuckling as she takes the time to greet her fellow workers. After passing the third of these, he finally pipes up. "I don't think I've ever met anyone as... hmm. Open and friendly as you, Usagi," Takeshi finally settles on.
[13:48] <@Usagi> "Oh, well..." the blonde blushes a bit, "It's kind of a depressing job at times, so it's nice to have people actually recognise you as a person." She glances down at a flyer advertising a golf sale in her hand and giggles. "Not like I'm getting much use out of these, mind..."
[13:49] <@Takeshi> "Yeah, I don't see you as much of a golf fanatic," Takeshi says with a chuckle. "Not that I'm much of one, either, to be fair, but yeah. But... thanks for taking time out to spend the evening with me. I really do appreciate it."
[13:53] <@Usagi> "We're friends, aren't we?" Usagi smiles up at the brown haired boy. "Besides, it'd be really sad if you were alone on your birthday..." she adds more thoughtfully.
[13:59] <@Takeshi> "Eh, wouldn't really be that big a deal," Takeshi says with a shrug. "Hardly the first time if it was, and you didn't even know before you said yes anyway." He looks ahead somewhat absently, an open smile on his face. "Just... you're easy to talk to, and I feel like I can relax more with you than with anyone else I've met so far. Even Serenity seems to be mostly interested in the past, as far as I'm concerned, and... while it sometimes helps to talk
[14:01] <@Takeshi> while it sometimes helps to talk about it a little, I'm starting to think it's just for the best if I let go of it completely."
[14:04] <@Usagi> "Mmm... it's a bit hard for her, since she doesn't really have many other people she can talk about it with," Usagi notes sympathetically. "She's adjusted to twentieth century Tokyo, but I know she misses what she once had. She hasn't had the same sort of clean slate you and the other girls had by being born again."
[14:06] <@Takeshi> "I kind of gathered that, yeah," Takeshi nods. "It's just... awkward, since the only time we ever crossed paths isn't something that either one of us really wants to talk about much, and for good reason." He sighs a bit. "It's even worse since almost all of my PLEASANT memories of back then involve Jadeite, and I seriously doubt she or any of the rest of you really want to hear much about him, either."
[14:09] <@Usagi> "Mmm..." Usagi bites on her lip a little, before noticing the signage of their destination. "Oh, hey, here we are!" she blurts out, leading Takeshi into the bar. "I dunno... From all Jun told me, he really was a good man, once. Just... that's not what any of us got to see," she resumes the conversation as if it hadn't been interrupted.
[14:12] <@Takeshi> "Nice place," Takeshi says as the two step inside, looking around to see what they need to do to seat themselves. "But yeah, he was a really cool guy way back when - used to hang out a lot, when we weren't training. Remembering those times helped a lot."
[14:15] <@Usagi> While there is a bar with a few people sitting along it eating sushi and drinking sake while the news plays on a big TV over the grill, Usagi has a quick word with a waitress before the pair have a booth to themselves, the blonde ignoring the menu for a moment as she talks, "If you want to talk I don't mind listening," she offers, looking down. "It's important to remember he wasn't just a monster, even if those thoughts make it easier."
[14:18] <@Takeshi> "It's okay," Takeshi says quietly, shaking his head. "If it makes you uncomfortable I can just keep quiet about it, not like it's something you need to have dredged up for you I'm sure. Keeping silent isn't going to kill me."
[14:22] <@Usagi> "Mmm..." the blonde purses her lips a moment, before nodding and studying her menu. "It's still not fair to condemn him completely for the last few centuries, since he lived for thousands of years as a good man," she admits.
[14:25] * @Takeshi shakes his head. "I can't really claim to know what it is he turned into, but it must have been pretty... vile, given some of the reactions I've seen," Takeshi says with a sigh. "More so after getting to know you and Serenity - I can't imagine you'd have taken that harsh a... solution, if there was any other possibility left."
[14:28] * @Usagi peers over the top of her menu at Takeshi for a long moment. "A lot of the time there's no choice as to what solution you have in a serious fight, unless you don't mind dying," she observes with uncommon seriousness. "Having said that? There's only two people... if people is even the right word, I've ever calmly thought about outside of the battle and come to that conclusion for."
[14:32] * @Takeshi snorts. "Jadeite didn't sound like someone you'd just run into on the spur of the moment, if he was in control of as much as he was, so I figured there had to be some thought about that before you actually ran into him," Takeshi says, opening his own menu. "Same as I heard in the meeting last week - you're interested in saving any of the new enemies that can be saved, if possible. Yeah, the possible part is a big hinge, but it'll make a diffe
[14:33] <@Takeshi> it'll make a difference in how you treat a fight when it comes down to it."
[14:35] <@Usagi> "You'd be surprised," the blonde remarks. "He wanted us dead just as badly - most of the time we did what we could to slow him down and counted ourselves lucky to escape alive." Shaking her head slowly, she blows out a long breath. "Anyway, I can hope with these new ones, but... well, I dunno. Need to learn what makes them tick, first." Settling on her dish, she looks up and adds, "You decided yet, by the way?" while gesturing at the menu.
[14:39] <@Takeshi> "Grilled salmon, I think," Takeshi says, having decided rather quickly after scanning for only a few moments, folding the menu up and placing it on the table. "My treat, so get whatever you like."
[14:40] <@Usagi> "Pork ramen for me," Usagi decides, flagging down a waitress to take their orders.
[14:47] * @Takeshi gives his order to the waitress as she arrives, ordering iced tea to go with it before letting the blonde place her own order before the waitress departs. "Wish I knew what made them tick myself - this whole 'recruitment' angle really bugs me for some reason."
[14:49] <@Usagi> "I still hope we'll be able to recruit one of them and find out more ourselves," Usagi smiles hopefully. "I remember getting Nior on our side really answered so many questions, back then."
[14:52] <@Takeshi> "Yeah, that'd certainly make our life a lot simpler. All that stuff Asher found is a big step in the right direction, but there are still too many holes there to really draw any solid conclusions from it." He blows out a long breath. "Been thinking about trying to take another look at their world, but no idea how well it'll work - the first time I tried it I got bounced pretty hard."
[14:55] <@Usagi> "If at first you don't succeed," Usagi smiles, shrugging a moment. "Anyway, let's not talk about that stuff when we're meant to be relaxing?" she suggests before changing the subject. "How's working for Mrs Tomoe?"
[14:58] <@Takeshi> "Fair enough," Takeshi agrees, smiling a bit. "It's not too bad when she's not in a bad mood, but if she is? Wow. I might take hits like a brick wall does, but I STILL don't want to be on her bad side. She was about ready to fry Hotaru on the spot earlier this week, I think - everyone in the office was treading lightly around her all day."
[15:03] <@Usagi> "Yeah, but she's nice enough if you can keep on her good side," Usagi smiles. "What about the rest of the workplace - is it any fun or is it just a big mega stressed corporate type place?"
[15:05] <@Takeshi> "Seems pretty laid-back, actually," Takeshi says. "Reiko-san's totally focused on her work, but some of the other folks there seem pretty easygoing. Haven't seen a lot, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the office politics in there are a lot less fun, though.
[15:05] <@Takeshi> ""
[15:07] <@Usagi> "Oh? Had any hints of that?" the blonde enquires as their plates are set down. "Ooh, that was fast! Thanks!" she beams at the waitress before starting on her ramen.
[15:09] <@Takeshi> "Just some really minor stuff, but... heh. Being one of the 'quiet' ones you learn how to watch people, and so yeah - wouldn't surprise me at all."
[15:12] <@Usagi> "Well, good luck," Usagi smiles as she takes a break from slurping her ramen. "At least my job's got no pressure like that. I hardly ever even see my boss or co-workers."
[15:15] <@Takeshi> "Yeah, I wouldn't think it'd be much fun to stand out there and pass out those flyers - from what I've seen, a lot of people act like the people handing them out aren't even there. Not something I'd enjoy much, I know that for sure." Takeshi shakes his head.
[15:19] <@Usagi> "It's not that bad," the blonde shrugs. "It'll be worse as the weather gets colder, but... it's kinda nice just watching the world go by. And I don't really get ignored *that* much. It's all about engaging people - if you just stand there with a flyer in your hand, of course you'll get ignored. But you can't be too pushy either - it's all about balance," she concludes, nodding smugly.
[15:21] <@Takeshi> "I shall bow to your superior expertise in dealing with people then," Takeshi says wryly, with a mock bow of his shoulders to the blonde rabbit as he works on his salmon. "I did have one question, though, if you don't mind answering. It's maybe a little personal, but nothing earth-shattering."
[15:22] <@Usagi> "Hm?" Usagi raises an eyebrow. "Go ahead."
[15:24] <@Takeshi> "What's your family like?" Takeshi says simply, giving Usagi a rather... odd look. There's a lot mixed in there - pain,  hopefulness, regret - although his face itself remains with the same slight smile he wore before he asked.
[15:26] <@Usagi> "Huh," Usagi pauses a bit, not having expected that. "I guess it's pretty normal?" she concludes. "There's me, my little brother - he's in junior high. Papa works as a photographer, Mama looks after the house... we all get along fairly well, so it's... it's normal, I guess," she repeats, shrugging.
[15:29] <@Takeshi> "Just curious," Takeshi says, the moment passing quickly enough. "I... kind of like hearing about normal families, a bit," he says haltingly after a moment, then shakes his head, turning back to his food. "Sorry, didn't mean to intrude."
[15:32] <@Usagi> "Mmm... Well, I don't mind," the blonde shakes her head. "It's just there's really not a lot to say unless you ask a specific question - to me they're just 'family' and that's that. I don't really think about it much." She cocks her head, giving him a wan smile, "You probably think I'm taking them for granted, right?"
[15:35] * @Takeshi shakes his head quickly. "It's not so much that, really, it's just... well, I can't say I don't KNOW about families, since I've been in more different ones than I can count and heard about a lot more besides. Just that almost all of them have really, badly been screwed up. I've only been in one where I was really happy, and even that one ended. It's... nice to get reminders, every now and then, that they're not all like that."
[15:39] <@Usagi> "Heh, me and Hotaru are the only ones with what you'd call traditional families in the group... well, I don't know what Asher's situation is," she admits, "But considering the hell Reiko and Hotaru put each other through, I'm not sure if they escape the 'screwed up' definition." Pausing to slurp up some more ramen, she continues, "Well, my family's a happy one, mostly. We sometimes argue, but it's normally in good fun with no real hurt feeling
[15:40] <@Usagi> feelings."
[15:44] * @Takeshi snorts. "Even with what I've seen of Hotaru's mom and how the two of them get along, that's still better than a lot of the other shit I've seen out there - er, pardon my language there," Takeshi says, taking a quick bite of his salmon to hide a slightly embarrassed look. "Not that I can really claim to judge very well on that, but..." He shakes his head. "It's kind of weird right now, especially - I'm moving into Serenity's house next weekend
[15:46] <@Takeshi>  This will be the first - well, I guess more the second - time I'll have gotten myself a real home. Kind of a weird feeling."
[15:48] <@Usagi> "Wow, got that set up already?" Usagi asks, ignoring the profanity. Sadly, she hears far worse out of her sweet and girlish friends on a consistent basis. "That was fast. How'd your current foster parents take it?"
[15:51] <@Takeshi> "Haven't really talked with them about it," Takeshi shakes his head. "We've talked maybe three times since I moved in, so I doubt they're going to be too bothered by it." He snorts a bit. "Probably glad in the end to get a headcase off their hands."
[15:52] * @Usagi frowns a bit. "Why would they even bother if they're like that? I always thought you'd have to be really nice to become a foster parent..."
[15:55] <@Takeshi> "Hah!" Takeshi barks a short laugh. "Maybe when they first get started they are, but a lot of them are pretty uncaring - they get a stipend from the government for taking in foster kids, and I've been in one or two houses that aren't much more than orphanages themselves - pack as many kids into a house as you can to get the biggest payoff," Takeshi shakes his head. "Some of them are even abusive of the kids they take in, as if the kids didn't come OU
[15:56] <@Takeshi> the kids didn't come OUT of situations like that to begin with in a lot of cases."
[15:57] * @Usagi flinches, looking away. "Oh... I had no idea..." she admits numbly.
[15:58] <@Takeshi> "I've been kind of lucky on that count," Takeshi says, sighing a bit. "Only been in one home where the dad was abusive, and that was after I learned about Nephrite, so I was already starting to get a pretty thick skin. Did what I could to shield the other two that were there, but... yeah. It's not pretty at all."
[16:01] <@Usagi> "It wouldn't be... couldn't you go to a teacher or the police?" the blonde asks quietly, at least recalling those information films they'd sometimes show in school about dealing with these situations.
[16:04] <@Takeshi> "Honestly? You could, but then what? You get pulled out of the home again and sent to another, and who knows what you end up in next? Might be better, might be worse. Know of a fair number of kids that just flat run away to escape the system - their odds are probably a lot worse, but it beats staying where they were." He chuckles. "I'm running away myself, although I'm taking the legal route."
[16:08] <@Usagi> "I guess..." Usagi agrees slowly, pushing away her nearly empty plate, appetite now lost. "I couldn't really imagine what it's like. How did you deal with the one," she hesitates slightly, "The one where you were abused?"
[16:22] <@Takeshi> "That one? Honestly, it wasn't all that bad," Takeshi replies, his own meal finished as well. "Not for me at least. Like I said, I'd already started to get some of Nephrite's abilities back, so taking a few belts with a strap didn't really affect me much. I was more worried about the other two that were there at the same time - one little girl who was about eight, and a boy who was ten. The old man didn't spare it on any of us,
[16:22] <@Takeshi> but I did what I could to take it for them whenever I could. Didn't last in that one very long - I get the feeling the old man didn't like being stood up to like that, so he turned the wheels and got me transferred on again."
[16:24] <@Usagi> "So the other two are still there?" Usagi asks weakly. This conversation sure took a turn for the heartbreaking...
[16:24] <@Takeshi> "Hard to say," Takeshi says, shaking his head. "They were there when I left, but that was about three years ago - no telling where they are now."
[16:26] <@Usagi> "Guess not..." the blonde sighs softly. "I hope they're okay..."
[16:27] <@Takeshi> "Same," Takeshi says. "Just so you know, though, it's not ALL that bad - yeah, there are ugly spots, but those are less common. Most of it's just what I'm in right now - they just don't care much. A few, like the Takadas, really do care and want to help. Just sucks that it's all a crapshoot as to where and who you end up with."
[16:29] * @Usagi nods slowly, taking a moment to come out of her funk before she takes the opening presented. "The Takadas?" she prompts, hoping for a more pleasant discussion.
[16:30] <@Takeshi> "Yeah - remember that I said this was my second time getting a home?" Takeshi smiles a bit. "They were the first. Got taken in by them when I was eight, stayed with them almost a year and a half. They were actually planning on adopting me, but things didn't work out that way."
[16:31] <@Usagi> Oh, God, this is going to go sour again, isn't it? "What happened?" the blonde asks, morbidly curious.
[16:35] <@Takeshi> "Sayuri - that was 'mom' - her parents were in a car wreck up in Hokkaido where they lived. Her dad was kind of in bad shape before that and didn't make it, and her mom was pretty badly hurt. They ended up bringing Sayuri's mom in to live with them, and unfortunately that put the squeeze on their finances a little too much - couldn't take care of both her and me at the same time, so they ended up having to let me go," Takeshi says a bit wistfully. "It was a friendly parting on both sides - I couldn't really blame them, and they didn't want to see me go - so we kept up with letters for about a year after that. THAT ran into a brick wall when my dreams started, though - lost touch then and never picked it back up again."
[16:36] <@Takeshi> Takeshi says a bit wistfully. "It was a friendly parting on both sides - I couldn't really blame them, and they didn't want to see me go - so we kept up with letters for about a year after that. THAT ran into a brick wall when my dreams started, though - lost touch then and never picked it back up again."
[16:37] * @Usagi resists the impulse to cringe. It's just one thing after another! "Have you thought about maybe trying to resume contact with them?" she suggests supportively. "I bet they'd be surprised and pleased to hear from you again if it's been a while."
[16:38] <@Takeshi> "I did once I got my head back together, but by that point they'd moved and I didn't have a chance to find out where," Takeshi says with a shrug. "It's been almost ten years now, so I don't even know if they even remember me at this point."
[16:40] <@Usagi> Oh, it's a hard fight not to bang her head on the table! "I guess if they didn't leave a forwarding address then there's nothing you can do..." she admits weakly.
[16:46] <@Takeshi> "I wasn't exactly staying in one place myself for very long," Takeshi says with a slight frown. "Maybe I could look into it now, but up to this point there's no guarantee they'd be able to reach ME at the right address, either."
[16:49] <@Usagi> "If it's important to you then that's what you should do," Usagi states succinctly. "But since you don't seem to have many happy memories, I think it'd be sad to let this one slip away."
[16:51] <@Takeshi> "Might be something to do after I move into Serenity's place," Takeshi says, shaking his head. "Sorry, I really doubt you wanted me to drag you into that whole mess. Some 'first date', huh?" He smirks at that.
[16:55] <@Usagi> "Uh, yeah... about that..." Usagi looks slightly uncomfortable. She'd been hoping to keep this casual! "Listen, Takeshi, you're a nice guy, but I'm not really looking for a relationship. I mean, it's just... it complicates things too much, considering what we, ah... do."
[16:57] <@Takeshi> "Bah, you didn't even have to say it," Takeshi says dismissively. "I'm not under any illusions of you being interested in me romantically, so don't even worry about it. Was Hotaru's suggestion in the first place, and I figured it'd at least be a chance to spend some time with a friend, if nothing else. That's all."
[16:57] <@Usagi> "Hotaru suggested it?" Usagi blinks in surprise. "Wow, never saw that coming..." shaking her head, "Anyway, yeah - friends is good," she smiles.
[16:59] <@Takeshi> "If you even want to do that much with a basket case like myself, after tonight," Takeshi says with a self-deprecating smirk. "Plenty of other folks you could spend your time with that have a lot fewer problems, after all."
[17:02] <@Usagi> "It's alright," Usagi waves the matter aside. "I admit, I kinda got more than I bargained for, just now, but you're not bad company."
[17:04] <@Takeshi> "Heh," Takeshi chuckles. "I figure it's not worth whitewashing what happened, but it's not worth stewing over either. Neither one of them does me any favors - I got dealt a crappy hand to start with, but I might as well do the best with it that I can."

[Halbarad]

Sunday evening, after Takeshi's 'date'.

[21:41] <@Anastasia> ---Arc 2 go!---
[21:42] <@Anastasia> Takeshi has time Sunday night - the perfect time. His room is secure, his chances to call on the stars flawless. It's time for him to do as he does, to see if he can divine more.
[21:44] * @Takeshi changes, feeling rather relaxed after his talk with Usagi that evening - even if most of it wasn't pretty, it was nice to at least get a lot of that out in the open air for the first time. "All right, guys, let's see what you're up to," he murmurs.
[21:46] <@General_Nephrite> As he feels rather calm at the moment, Nephrite decides to remain in that vein - perhaps some of the 'gentler' constellations will show him things that the more direct ones couldn't. "I call upon the power of the stars..." he intones quietly. "Aquarius, the bearer of water! Let your flowing streams lead me to the being known as Death, to see what he's doing now!"
[21:47] <@Anastasia> OOC - Soul check +1
[21:47] <@General_Nephrite> roll 2d6+1 burning 10 EP
[21:47] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6+1 burning 10 EP and gets 10." [2d6=3, 6]
[21:48] <@Anastasia> Nephrite feels a tad chilled, but nothing else of note happens.
[21:49] <@General_Nephrite> Undaunted - it wasn't easy the last time, either - Nephrite makes his supplication again. "I call upon the power of the stars... Gemini, the twin brothers! Let your concerted efforts show me Death, the one I seek!"
[21:50] <@Anastasia> OOC - Soul check +1
[21:50] <@General_Nephrite> roll 2d6+1 burning 10 EP
[21:50] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6+1 burning 10 EP and gets 12." [2d6=5, 6]
[21:50] <@Anastasia> The stars swirla round Nephrite, but his command comes to nothing! Only a chilly funeral wind blows in his rooms, the power of the twins brought to nothing!
[21:51] * @General_Nephrite frowns and shakes his head, giving it one more try. "I call upon the power of the stars..." he mutters, a little less mellow this time. "Virgo, the pure virgin! Let your pure heart show the way to the place where Death is now!"
[21:53] <@Anastasia> OOC - Soul check +1
[21:53] <@General_Nephrite> roll 2d6+1 burning 20 EP
[21:53] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6+1 burning 20 EP and gets 13." [2d6=6, 6]
[21:55] <@Anastasia> Ugh! Nephrite is chilled to the bone, a frosted wind ripping into him! (2 points of damage.) The backlash of freezingness is heavy, like something horrible is touched.
[21:56] * @General_Nephrite grits his teeth, shivering slightly at the bone-deep cold. "Got to break through this..." he mutters, putting his will behind the efforts of the stars!
[21:57] <@Anastasia> OOC - Soul check +3 . G'luck!"
[21:57] <@General_Nephrite> roll 2d6+3 burning 10 EP
[21:57] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6+3 burning 10 EP and gets 9." [2d6=4, 2]
[21:57] <@Anastasia> Close! Nephrite gets a glimpse, the barest glimpse. It's so..so...empty. Forsaken, and then he is in his room. Missed, but only a glance of something no human normally ever sees.
[22:00] * @General_Nephrite shivers, charcoal grey slipping away as he returns to his own normal form. "Dammit," he mutters. "Too damned hard to break through that stupid resistance." With a tired sigh he flops down on his bed, his eyes closing quickly. "What the hell is wrong with me lately?" he asks no one in particular. "Can't seem to get anything to go right."

[Asrana]

This happens friday night, after the argument on the way home from Serenity's.

[16:53:38] <Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[16:54:06] <Kotono> So Hotaru takes her time - lost in her own whirlwind of thoughts, eventually teleporting to Rei's bedroom door. No one is around, only a solitude ofs ilence, but you can see the light is on in there.
[16:56:53] <Hotaru-chan> Keep breathing, Hotaru thinks to herself, staring at the door as the cold, creeping hand of confusion, anxiety, regret circles around her. It feels monumentous to bring her hand up, and at the smae time pitifully weak as she lets it fall on the door twice. Is she....well it's not like...should...oh SHUT UP. ...You sound like her.
[16:59:30] <Kotono> The knocks are weak little things, best used by a scared child to request Mommy to come and save her? Are they heard as such by Rei? Another mystery to one day be solved, as, "I told you I don't want do it tonight, Grandfather! Please, I'll help you with it tomorrow."
[17:01:26] <Hotaru-chan> "Your kouhai would like to talk to you, though," Hotaru's voice is softer than she wants it to be, hesitating and trembling an instant. That sounded...would you please shut up?
[17:02:12] <Kotono> "...Hey, Hotaru." There a pause before Rei calls out, sounding a bit snippy but confident, "Yeah, c'mon in. Door's open."
[17:05:46] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru swallows, two breaths that seem like far too long a pause in her mind before she opens the door, stepping inside and closing it behind her.Her shoulders are slumped, amethyst eyes muted from their previous glow as she looks towards Rei.
[17:06:43] <Kotono> Rei's sitting on her bed, wearing unflattering clothes - a superbaggy sweatshirt with the word 'Delicious' on the front and matching gray sweat pants. She's on her bed, hair down and loose. Lying straigh down the middle, head pillow resting. "Yeah?" Rei cranes her head towards Hotaru.
[17:09:50] <Hotaru-chan> "Just...sorry," Hotaru murmurs softly, hugging herself and looking straight at Rei, her expression fragile and torn. "All this..." she murmurs, pausing to breathe, looking down before going back up to Rei's eyes and resuming. "I...with all the talking, I pinned hopes on you..." she admits, blush coloring the otherwise pallid tone of her cheeks.
[17:09:51] <Hotaru-chan> "And...yeah, I flipped out a lot more than I should've...sorry," she offers, broken looking almost before Rei.
[17:10:35] <Kotono> Rei looksa way, up to the ceiling, "You know, before any of that? Why the sudden about face?" Rei asks bluntly.
[17:11:22] <Hotaru-chan> "On what?" Hotaru asks, pulling herself together a bit, enough to look up to Rei.
[17:11:44] <Kotono> "All of it," Rei stays where she is, waiting. "You're whistling a different tune than you were not too long ago."
[17:15:52] <Hotaru-chan> "Being left alone..." Hotaru shakes her head. "I guess I always try to dominate by will, but just...if there's no one around you, all the will doesn't matter, and all that will just pushes anyone else farther away," she murmurs softly, a shakier, deeper breath drawn. "You just...left, that's been my worst fear for years and you just...did it, and I couldn't blame you at all. Even if it was just leaving the argument."
[17:17:31] <Kotono> "So in short you realised you were being a drama queen over something really stupid?" Rei gets right to things, looking at her. "Hotaru, you know full well you and Makoto are desperately in love. If you don't your blinder than a bat."
[17:26:57] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's smile is wry and a little broken still as she leans back against the doorframe. "Okay, we may very well be. But...just because that's true, doesn't really make us right for each other right now," Hotaru shrugs a bit, her smile weak. "Just...mah, I don't want to work myself up again, but..." she sighs a little.
[17:26:57] <Hotaru-chan> "And slap me, please, if you really think I'm being horribly stupid, I can barely keep track of my feelings between you and talking about her," Hotaru gripes softly. "I just...don't WANT Mako-chan to be more than a friend right now."
[17:29:12] <Kotono> "So realising that made you more shaken than a milkshake?" Rei presses even more, sitting up on her bed now and brushing back her hair. "What about that back there?"
[17:32:32] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru gives Rei a wry smile. "To return the favor of bluntness..." she snickers. "Rei-chan! Rei-chan! Rei-chan!" she chants, smiling wryly across. "No Rei-chan? REI-CHAN! I've been in love with you for about as long as I've been in love with Makoto, you're just...not as indulging. So I panicked like a complete idiot."
[17:33:40] <Kotono> "Stop saying tha twith a smile. It would be nice to see you keep regret on your face for more than three seconds." Harshness flows into Rei's words, looking away to the wall. "Yeah...you're pretty and hell, if I was ...oh wait, I am gay." Rei wince s alittle, "And if you weren't with Makoto I'd be tempted...oh, and if you hadn't made yet another drama storm."
[17:41:03] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's expression crumbles in moments, a softly deeper sighs, not very loud, more noticeable by the movement of her arms over her bust. "I guess that's what I expected in the back of my head," she agrees quietly, looking away and blinking back at tears, failing in that respect and pushing them away.
[17:41:03] <Hotaru-chan> "I just...I don't know, I keep wanting to put the happy face back on to hide from it...and that's really stupid of me when I say it and hear it," she murmurs with a weak, pained laugh. "But...I dunno, THIS, this...is why I don't want to be with Makoto right now. I'd just...well, I'd just get to be more and more like this, wouldn't I?" she answers, face crackign a little.
[17:41:03] <Hotaru-chan> "There's alter...but later is later, and I don't know what will be going on then, for either of us. So is it just hopeless? Or am I being an idiot again? God I don't know..."
[17:41:38] <Hotaru-chan> *later
[17:43:20] <Kotono> "You're at least showing you aren't some remorseless bitch," Rei lightly observes, yet her voice is heavy with...with...Hotaru isn't sure. It's just heavy with something, weighed. "Nice to see you aren't an uncaring little Beast Lord in human clothing, hm? Just smile and snicker it away, that's you?" Now Rei looks dead on at Hotaru, eye to eye. "You're not quite so bad when you're not trying to be too cheerful like that. You know, if you s
[17:44:31] <Kotono> You know, if you start crying...it might even show the regret it would be nice to see!" Rei smiels at that, a bitter and vicious little smirk, but her eyes soften to mismatch.
[17:52:15] <Hotaru-chan> The words hit like Hatred's mace, weighted and crushing, burning hotter than even Rei's temper would as that silken, purring, beautiful voice hammers viciously and mercileslly. The tears come before Rei can even summon them, walls of feeling and violet beaten to rubble too low in the ground to stop the flood.
[17:52:15] <Hotaru-chan> Rei's desire for her pain only makes them come faster, another knife buried in her, another hook sunk in, of the sorts she can't stand, that just keep burning deeper and deeper as Hotaru can't even locate the breath to respond.
[17:54:10] <Kotono> "Good." Rei's eyes show a moment of pain but she looks away, "Why can't you do that like a normal girl instead of just being...so damn vicious? Dramatic? Hurtful?  For God's sake, Makoto even game me a 1-2 punch about that years ago but you still haven't gotten it, have you?"
[17:54:35] <Kotono> Going on a moment later, voice still strong, "I think all we want to see is H otaru Tomoe, our friend, not Hotaru Tomoe, bitchlordess."
[17:55:34] <Kotono> *gave
[18:05:42] <Hotaru-chan> The first affirmation cuts Hotaru's feet out from under her, the crushed and beaten yet perfectly intact sneshi of saturn sliding down to the floor in front of Rei's door, almost huddling away from the miko's assault. "I'm sorry," she finally manages, voice just a pained, desperate whimper. "I'm sorry...please," she gasps, not quite sobbing, but trembling and strugglign even for the composure to speak.
[18:07:54] <Kotono> "Don't apologise. Hotaru, the proof's in the actions, not in the apologies. It's accepted, conditional you do better." The look on Rei's face shows some pain indeed, but the flicker of emotion is mercilessly quashed.  "Stop resisting it, too. Just sob your eyes out if that's what you feel like - let yourself go."
[18:12:32] <Hotaru-chan> It's the final reprimand and relent, freedom its own sort of pain as Hotaru's entire reality collapses, crumbling into a screaming blaze of anguish that tears at her throat, drawing her inwards and tighter with each moment, collapsing in a ball of sobbing, fiery pain that is all which exists in any direction for the Princess of Saturn.
[18:13:43] <Kotono> Rei watches this with a growing detached calmness, arms crosses as Hotaru sobs her eyes out. She waits for the storm to pass, waiting and waiting for Hotaru to pull herself up.
[18:17:48] <Hotaru-chan> It lasts for a time that Hotaru herself can't truly comprehend, but in her nearly exhausted state, she does reach a point where her body refuses, the tears stop coming, leaving only the shudder of lancing pain, burning welts like red coals  inscribed across her soul, memories and even passing thoughts bringing each new torturous instant, even if her phsyical body shows none of the abuses.
[18:19:59] <Kotono> Finally Rei comes over, looking the quieter girl over. "Go take a bath - bathroom's down the hall, you know where it is. Clean yourself up."
[18:25:17] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru looks up, eyes red rimmed from tears, pale skin streaked as she sniffles softly. "She just nods, not trusting herself to spak yet  as she drags herself up, and off at Rei's direction.
[18:26:41] <Hotaru-chan> *She
[18:29:43] <Kotono> "Towels are in the closet, and I'll be in here when you're done." So Rei goes back to her bed, letting Hotaru do her thing. OOC - Feel free to do your thing in there as you wish and then come back.
[18:33:23] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru goes about a quick bath, achingly tired body and mind moving through the motions and eventually finishing cleaning herself up. So it's with a still severely shaken expression that she returns to Rei's room, digging in her satchel almost aimlessly as she sits again, near the door. "Thank you," she offers, soft and quiet, honest and worn down if still grateful.
[18:34:23] <Kotono> "Come in," Rei replies with that, sitting in oen of her beanbag chairs. She gestures at her bed or at a chair near her, vague and easy.
[18:38:35] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru follows the command, almost collapsing into one of the chairs. She pauses in her digging, biting her lip and shoving the satchell away, taking a deep breath. "Thanks," she repeats softly, shaking her head.
[18:43:12] <Kotono> "Thank me when it works," Rei leans back, poofy and well covered by her sweatsuit. Blowing at one long bang over her lips, "It had better."
[18:47:49] <Hotaru-chan> "I didn't...just, the bath..." Hotaru explains haltingly, face coloring slightly as she curls her legs up to herself. Rubbing the pale, bare limbs, she sighs softly. Better to not disturb the small moment she has here.
[18:52:40] <Kotono> "Hm?" Rei inquires, looking on without mercy at the moment, "What didn't?"
[18:54:34] <Hotaru-chan> "I just meant...for the bath, not..." Hotaru gestures vaguely, her expression a touch fearful as she looks at Rei. "Thanks for letting me clean up."
[18:55:26] <Kotono> "You're welcome." Rei ponders, slowly looking away to Hotaru, eyes lidded shut. "What's going on in your head now, Hotaru?"
[18:59:06] <Hotaru-chan> "Wishing I wasn't about to hurt my boyfriend kind of badly, figuring that no matter what, I kind of have to," Hotaru murmurs quietly, watching Rei, voice subdued. "Mmmm...the next part sounds stupidly dramatic," she admits softly, glancing out to the windows. "But...wishing it didn't feel like I went in and carved a chunk of my own heart out alienating you. Or that I had half a chance with you?"
[19:03:29] <Kotono> "As long as you're in love with Makoto? Not gonna happen. I'm not giong to be some toy or runner up prize while you snuggle with her. That said!" Rei goes on, lidden eyes turning to face Hotaru now. "Then do better.'
[19:06:49] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru quirks her head at Rei, resting her ear on her knees as she looks across at the miko. "You think you'd be less than everything?" she challenges softly, very softly. "I might as well say...I can't go out with Makoto, because I love you."
[19:08:39] <Kotono> "Please." Rei fiercly rolls her eyes, sarcasm flowing over like a waterfall. "You probably mean well there, but I'm not going to be second in anyone's heart, no matter how prettily they say it. You're so far gone for Makoto...there's no doubt at all."
[19:15:55] <Hotaru-chan> "It's not..." Hotaru sighs in sheer and honest frustration, hugging her knees. "It bugs me more that you -believe- that than not..." she sighs again, chewing on her lip ad taking a deep breath. "IIf Usagi had any point I needed to lsiten to its that...whoever you take dedicate yourself entirely," she murmurs, tryng to still her heart. "Would you believe me if I said you wouldn't be?"
[19:16:35] <Hotaru-chan> *take, dedicate
[19:16:47] <Kotono> "If Usagi had a point?" Rei raises her eyebrow, but doesn't comment past that. "Go on."
[19:26:34] <Hotaru-chan> "She asked me...did Yoshi know about Makoto? The answer is no. Yoshi doesn't know about anyone he didn't meet the first time around...and...she had that point, but it was bigger than she intended, I think. I don't...I like him, I might, maybe, love him. I'm betraying him though...so often, so constantly. He doesn't know who I am...he only very indirectly knows anything about -why- I'm me.
[19:26:34] <Hotaru-chan> Even just...a little glance at you if I'm feeling like -that-, waking up with Makoto, it all feels...like I'm stabbing him behind his back. And he...no one deserves that,"
[19:26:34] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head firmly, a smile tugging at her lips, but quickly crushed for a softer expression of tentative openness. "And I understand, after all that meandering...that's why you don't want to consider me, because you think I'd be doing just that with Makoto, right?"
[19:28:53] <Kotono> Rei's smile is one of faint relief, words coming quickly. "That's exactly it. I know you can't let Makoto go, and that rules anything out. Don't even try to lie about it Hotaru - we both know that you can't."
[19:39:27] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head with a soft sigh. "I don't think I'd...I'm NOT lying, I hope...I'd face the same thing with Makoto and you," she murmurs, looking a touch more frustrated and forlorn at Rei. "I FEEL like you're equal -that- way. And I might just be arguing, but...that's how I feel right now."
[19:40:18] <Kotono> "Then let me ask you something simple - can you entirely let Makoto go - and can she be alright with that?" Rei raises an eyebrow, "Can she? At all?"
[19:49:42] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath, her body relaxing a little. "Can she...that's...the possible stumbling block," she agrees softly, shaking her head. "And is...could we still be friends?" she asks, her expressing twisting slightly. "I know, kissing isn't friends," she murmurs, dryly. "I just...I'm lost here, I don't do anything with her I haven't -wanted- without romantic feelings with you. I don't want to just rush it and have regrets."
[19:51:51] <Kotono> "Then think it over. If you can sincerely say you're over Makoto and done there, and prove it? We'll see. Otherwise, I'm not going to abuse myself getting into as hitty relationship while your'e still mooning over her." Rei idly cracks her knuckles at that, "If you do love me...you're going to be mine. All mine, I don't share. Ever." The last is said with as linky smile, hungry. "I guess that goes for my women affairs now, too."
[19:54:49] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru returns the expression with a slight smile that lasts for a moment. "I know...I'm just...'friends' is still kind of a new thing, so I don't know where to go, and since...well, you're the person deepest into this, I guess your opinion matters the most right now?" she asks gently. "I'd like advice, because...it's a choice, and I don't know where the line is," she admits helplessly.
[19:55:05] <Hotaru-chan> (More)
[19:56:10] <Hotaru-chan> "I just..." Hotaru suddenly snorts, shaking her head. "I want and want and want...and I don't -know- where to stop, and it's hurting people, like Yoshi, and I don't want to keep doing that."
[19:59:31] <Hotaru-chan> "So I guess, even just outside this 'maybe if you choose me' mess, I want your help, Rei?" Hotaru asks, looking back at the miko. "Makoto and I aren't in control...but I think it's better for us if we were, and chose where to go from there. Even if it's too much for her, and necessity dictates how I choose between equals, it would be better that way."
[21:46:31] <Anastasia> "Then get control. If you're stringing him alone, let that poor boy go." Rei shrugs a little, "No one deserves to be dicked around with like that, do they? "
[21:49:04] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru stumbles a little. "I know that part..." she murmurs, shaking her head. "I meant about Makoto and I...I don't know what the border between friendship and relationship is," she sighs, shaking her head. "Was hugging Kotono when Asher first tried to run off from her and she figured out she'd done it -again- weirdly romantic in some way? I mean...I dunno."
[21:51:54] <Anastasia> The sigh from Rei is like someone long suffering, "You mean you have no idea of interpersonal relationships and relative personal space?"
[21:54:20] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blushes. "You experienced it first hand..." she points out softly. "I like to be in physical contact...and I mean, I get the difference between 'going out' and just friends, but..." Hotaru shrugs. "Everyone I call my close friends, I also love to my best estimate."
[21:58:53] <Anastasia> "...oi." Rei rubs at her temple, voice low. "Alright, quick and dirty - you can touch friends a bit, talk to thiem, maybe hug another girl if you're close. Holding hands, kissing, sleeping together? Gay, gay, gay. No touching with another boy unless you're about to put an orifice against his thing or his mouth."
[22:08:43] <Hotaru-chan> "Holding hands?" Hotaru sweatdrops at that one, shaking her head a little. "That just seems...I dunno, I guess in some situations just touching shoulders or something would be more appropriate..." she hesitatnly agrees. "I guess holding hands with Yoshi was a kind of oddly big thing, but...wait, we slept together on Gaia, when we had a lot of beds..." Hotaru points out. "I know, I know...just..." she snickers, eyeing Rei.
[22:12:23] <Anastasia> "Shut it," Rei agrees with a streak of vicious cheer, clearing her throat. "From there, just wing it - you should get the idea pretty soon."
[22:18:46] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sticks out her tongue a moment, shaking her head. "I think I get it..." she agrees, a more softly contented and focused expression rather than the amused one. "Mah...I'll talk to her, we'll see how things turn out," she murmurs, playing with a lock of hair. "Just...Yoshi and Mom to deal with, honestly."
[22:20:21] <Anastasia> "Good luck, then," Rei nods at those words, "...what are you waiting for? They're not going to wait for you forever, are they?"
[22:21:18] <Hotaru-chan> "I like being in your bedroom, especially when it involves looking at you, late at night, when I'm still slightly wet," Hotaru remarks plainly, smirking softly at Rei.
[22:21:42] <Anastasia> "....oi." Rei rubs her temples again, sighing. "Right."
[22:22:29] <Hotaru-chan> "...Sorry, but it was an opportunity," Hotaru murmurs, blushing and standing. "Does not teasing you come with the package?" she asks, a little dryly.
[22:26:22] <Anastasia> "Timing...but just go ahead. Talk toyou in a few?" Rei says, getting upa s well. "Think i'm gonna crash early.
[22:26:23] <Anastasia> "
[22:29:48] <Hotaru-chan> "I suppose I'm supposed to refrain from hugging you..." Hotaru sighs, a little theatrically. "But yeah, cya in class probably..." she nods, getting her satchel and slipping the thigh high stockings that help (or are supposed to help) ward off the chill. "Wish me luck surviving 'Hi mom! I'm bi! And I'm trying to figure out which girl I'm spending the rest of my life with!'"
[22:29:48] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snorts, going to Rei's door. Unless she's interrupted. Which would be really, really nice.
[22:33:16] <Anastasia> Rei just watches, a little smile as Hotaru goes. "Good luck." It's alls he says, getting up and plopping down onto her bed.
[22:34:46] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru wiggles her hips at Rei, snickering softly before departing. It's going to be a walk home in her current state!

[Asrana]

This happens the same night as the press conference, though much later.

[22:36:30] <Anastasia> ----
[22:39:31] <Anastasia> It's dark and chilly when Hotaru finally gets home. Mom and Dad's cars are both here, looming in promise of what awaits Hotaru...
[22:45:32] <Hotaru-chan> Deep breaths. Really. You just survived worse. Much worse. You won that! You'll live, somehow. So Hotaru goes, into her home. "I'm home," she calls softly, closing the door behind her. She's either about to face the maw of hell, or something possibly even more frightening.
[22:47:28] <Anastasia> It's not the former. Mother comes out from the living room, eyes flashing in anger. Raw, ungiving anger, face like a stone carved out of granite with oynx rills atop. "You," she says wearily, distant. "So nice of you to come home after being on TV. There's food in the refridgerator if you'r ehungry." WIth that Mom storms off, heading upstairs.
[22:52:09] <Hotaru-chan> Yes, like another bejeweled knife of black and violet. Was it something in their hair? "...Mom..." Hotaru sighs, confidence crumbling again as she drops her satchel, moving after her mother up the stairs. "Mom...this is just...I feel stupid tryign to even offer it, but I'm sory," she murmurs, a long and deep breath.
[23:01:27] <Anastasia> "Why bother? You make yourself clear - you're dancing around on TV with the Prime Minister, anyway," This is added casually, Mom at least stopping but still with her back to you.
[23:15:57] <Hotaru-chan> "Make myself clear at -what-?" Hotaru asks, hurt sounding as she stops behind her mother. "Just...mom, the thing with Yoshi HURT, and the rest of this.." she gestures, just tired sounding. "I'm just...sorry. The Prime Minister was a surprise, we had meetings, arguments...all sorts of stuff afterwards."
[23:17:46] <Anastasia> "That you're clearly past us," Mother starts to walk again, harsh and brutal. "I'm sure you'll be busy with your other things."
[23:21:01] <Hotaru-chan> "Then why did I come back?" Hotaru asks softly, following her mother up at a set pace. "Why would I bother coming back at a time I know you'll be awake, just so I could talk to you, if I was moving past?"
[23:24:44] <Anastasia> "Roll around init," Mom answers tensely, upstairs now and heading for her room.
[23:28:18] <Hotaru-chan> "Then I guess you don't care that I'm breaking up with Yoshi?" Hotaru asks sadly, still following her mother. "You don't care at all that I came back home because I actually missed my family after just two days?" she adds, hugging herself. "Or to really sit down and talk to you about the one thing I've been hiding?"
[23:33:00] <Anastasia> Mom stops at her door, the words reaching her at last. "Why?""
[23:36:00] <Hotaru-chan> "Because of the secret..." Hotaru murmurs, chewing on her lip. "You're not going to stop being angry until I tell you though, so..." Hotaru takes a deep breath. "...This might not be a surprise, but...I'm pretty positive I'm bisexual."
[23:45:30] <Anastasia> "Oh, so you're going to go boink Makoto instead," Reiko says dryly, sighing. "Shock."
[23:51:37] <Hotaru-chan> "Actually, no. I'm not sure," Hotaru murmurs, her expression shakier. "It could be Rei, it could be Makoto, none of us are really..." Hotaru lets out a long breath. "Just...I don't know, okay! I hate all this viciousness and I hate all the screaming, and I wish we could stop, and I wish you'd help me with it!" Hotaru finally bursts out, pain echoing in her voice as she tears out, eyes beginning to wet for the second time tonight.
[23:57:13] <Kochan> "Why...don't you want to just run around as you like," Mom's voice catches as she speaks, pained as well. "That's all you want to do, isn't it?"
[00:01:39] <Hotaru-chan> "No!" Hotaru snaps, will and iron behind that one word as she begins to pick up some anger. "I wanted to try and be HAPPY, and I WAS with my boyfriend that respected what I did and didn't want to do, didn't hdie things from me, and...and it's jsut pointless now," she sighs, leaning against a wall. "I jsut...I just want everyone around me as happy as I can make them, but I can't just destroy myself in the process!"
[00:07:55] <Kochan> "You're too good at tearing...things up." Mom's voice catches again midway, her last few words strangled and achingly weak. Her shoulders slump, defeated. "Destroy...sometimes I wonder if you live upt o your title too much."
[00:10:59] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes the opportunity presented, her own body nearly acheing between exhaustion and emotional collapse after collapse, hugging onto her mother's waste and slumping into her. "Yeah, I think there's a club.,.." she sighs, shuddering slightly.
[00:10:59] <Hotaru-chan> "Sorry, I just...we had to save somebody, and Death put a bomb inside them, and I'm just...nearly falling asleep here after breaking down at Rei's and arguing with her and Usagi..." she murmrus, weak voiced and desperate as she holds onto her mother, tightly clinging.
[00:14:07] <Hotaru-chan> *waist @_@
[00:20:05] <Kochan> Hotaru's hands around Mom's waist are taken, clasped into her. You feel her shoulders shake a few times, tiredly. "...stop it, damn you. You're tearing us apart!"
[00:25:00] <Hotaru-chan> "I'm trying!" Hotaru snaps, voice softer and tired, sighing and leaning into her mother's back. "Rei and I talked about it a lot...god we kept talking and talking..." she grumbles, closing her eyes. "I dunno...can you live with your daughter being forever attached to a girl?"
[00:31:41] <Kochan> "I don't know." It's all Reiko says, turning around to Hotaru and enfolding her.
[00:36:11] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs softly, hugging her mother tightly, nearly collapsing in her parent's hold, warmth and comfort rarely felt wrapping around her. "I don't...there isn't anyone that can even compete with them...it's hard to even think about them competeing with each other, and I still have to figure out..." Hotaru sighs. "Poor Yoshi."
[22:48:32] <Kotono> "At least you're actually thinking about him," Reiko says quietly, "Do you ever...when youd o all that? Think of anyone else?
[22:48:32] <Kotono> "
[22:54:58] <Hotaru-chan> "We don't do much at all," Hotaru gripes softly. "Not when I'm with him; alone..." her voice begins to get edgey, blushing.
[22:55:42] <Kotono> "...I didn't mean...that." Reiko stutters over that, utterly thrown off. "I meant...like your..like a few days ago, when we fought."
[22:57:26] <Hotaru-chan> "...I'm utterly confused," Hotaru admits, shaking her head sharply.
[22:58:29] <Kotono> "I mean..." Reiko breathes again, "Do you ever think that you're hurting someone else or anything past you like that?"
[23:04:56] <Hotaru-chan> "Not until I calm down," Hotaru sighs softly, closing her eyes and relaxing again. "It's just...reflex, mostly. Begins to hurt more afterwards."
[23:09:26] <Kotono> Mom closes her eyes, tears starting to leak out, "...try it...do you want to see your mother crying?"
[23:12:35] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head a bit, sighing softly as her arms tighten around her parent. "Just...sorry," she murmurs, biting her lip. "At least you don't have to worry about me getting pregnant?"
[23:15:10] <Kotono> "Hah." There's no humor in that voice, only rattled and weak.
[23:18:38] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath, offering a very dry smile up to her mother. "Mah...just out of curiosuity, did you have any inkling...?"
[23:21:23] <Kotono> "Yes, I knew...you don't hide it well..." Mother says quietly, eyes still closed. "Even when you're striking out.:
[23:23:51] <Hotaru-chan> "Mrgh," Hotaru grumps softly, quieting and enjoying the embrace. "Think I need to tell dad before it blindisdes him?" she asks softly.
[23:30:12] <Kotono> "Not right now, just...I'm serious, Hotaru." Mother murmurs again after that.
[23:32:37] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath, sighing quietly. "I know," she murmurs, glancing up at her mother. "You could stand to make it a little easier, too," she points out softly, resting against her mother. "But I know."
[23:38:13] <Kotono> "Mmm." Mother goes quiet after that, slowly patting Hotaru.
[23:42:51] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru settles as well, for now at least just enjoying the contact she so rarely gets with her mother. She can ask who she preffers later.

[Asrana]

This happens the Saturday after the press conference.

[10:24:59] <Kowork> ---Arc 2 go!---
[10:26:33] <Kowork> Saturday comes up and running, and after school a phone number and phone is had at home, should Hotaru wish to do it.
[10:41:19] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs softly, eyeing the phone. Really, the longer she lets this go on... If you like him, do it. So she blows at ehr bangs, picking up the phone and calling Yoshi's number. Please don't be his mom...
[10:41:56] <Kotono> Three rings before, "Hello?" It's a woman, too, same older one as before. That sounds like his Mom, alright.
[10:46:45] <Hotaru-chan> Figures. "Ah...is Yoshi there?" Hotaru asks, a little nervously. She's going to...well, she probably SHOULD, shouldn't she? Yeah, probably.
[10:47:44] <Kotono> "He's on a da-Yoshi!" His mother calls, faint sounds of protests heard on the other end of the line. A few pauses and shuffled noises, and then, "Hello?" Yoshi's voice comes over the other line.
[10:51:27] <Hotaru-chan> If only. But using that wouldn't be entirely honest to him either, would it? "Hi," she greets softly, chewing on her lip. "How're you? Besides being the victim of your mother..."
[10:52:40] <Kotono> "I'm fine. Just got home." Yoshi sounds relaxed, easy. "I was going to call - do you want to go out tonight?"
[10:56:18] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmm..." Hotaru hedges a moment. "Actually, I needed to talk to you about something...when would be best for you?" she asks quietly. Breathe, he won't explode over the phone, even if he probably has good reason to even by NOW.
[10:56:43] <Kotono> "I'm good now," Yoshi goes on, a little more serious already. "Is something wrong? Right?"
[10:58:55] <Hotaru-chan> Maybe you're just being paranoid. Are Rei-chans available in shoulder mounted whispery models? "Um..." Hotaru sighs. "Wrong, I guess. But...well, where do you want to meet?"
[10:59:48] <Kotono> "I can come over to your house," Yoshi gets right down to it, "That fine?"
[11:02:18] <Hotaru-chan> "Sure, if you'd rather," Hotaru agrees quietly, a small sigh given.
[11:03:16] <Kotono> "...I'll be over," There is decided uneasiness there as he hangs up, leaving Hotaru some time to prepare and wait. (Go ahead and set yourself up if you like.)
[11:07:18] <Hotaru-chan> No makeup, no...maybe she's overthinking what her appearance will give off, but it's the occupation of an idle and fretting mind. Leading him on would be...ugh. So she waits on the couch, jeans and a black sweater worn. Okay, it's nothing like Rei's very aptly decorated sweatshirt, but who knows.
[11:09:19] <Kotono> After about 20 minutes the door is knocked on, steady and slow knocks revealing that someone is finally here.
[11:13:42] <Hotaru-chan> Up, don't rush, rush, oh screw you. ...No, don't go there. Deep breaths, calming, sort of. Nervous...and what reason to not be? She's about to break up with him after only two weeks because...because she was selfish and wanted way too much. A long deflating sigh there, opening the door, looking out.
[11:14:46] <Kotono> Yoshi's waiting, still wearing his school uniform. His hands are in his pockets, face careful, "Hi. Can I come in?" He asks poltiely, looking Hotaru over very carefully.
[11:16:37] <Hotaru-chan> "Yeah," Hotaru murmurs gently, stepping back to let Yoshi in. She offers a nervous, almost shy half-smile as she does, one that doesn't quite reach her eyes and is slowly disappearing in the wake of ehr own thoughts.
[11:17:01] <Kotono> "It's about what was on the news lately," he goes on, looking at Hotaru dead on. "Isn't it?"
[11:17:13] <Kotono> Yoshi heads inside, stopping just inside once the doori s closed.
[11:18:08] <Hotaru-chan> "...Partly," Hotaru admits, blinking sharply. "Only very partly. Though I guess I gave enough hints," she admits, breaking out of that pseudo-melancholy with sheer surprise.
[11:18:58] <Kotono> "Yeah. I didn't know what it was, but it wasn't...it wasn't normal. Something I don't understand in the least, and when I saw you on the TV, I knew."
[11:19:21] <Kotono> Yoshi leans against the wall, thoughtful. "I really don't know...just...hell. How far does it go, and how much have you been not telling me?"
[11:24:44] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head a little, leaning against the opposite wall. "What you saw is mostly it, minus the flavor...it's not like I'm 'really' Saturn, even if she makes up a lot of what I am...mah. If you want to know alls, want to sit down?"
[11:26:25] <Kotono> Yoshi follows to the living room, "Mind if I get a drink? Think I'll need one," he asks, pausing and looknig kitchenward.
[11:27:57] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head, relaxing slightly. "What do you want?" she asks softly, her expression more serious, though softly so.
[11:32:09] <Kotono> "Soda." Yoshi heads into the kitchen, "I can get it myself."
[11:33:39] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru quirks her head, biting back a small retort. Well, she should've expected him to be angry...she didn't expect him to put all THAT together, though. So she sits and waits for her...well, he's not technically her ex again, yet, but he might see it coming already.
[11:35:25] <Kotono> He comes back with a red and white can of Coke, sitting on the couch. "So..what's going on, why, and how is it going to affect us? Leaving me," he says, a sad little look for a moment. "I really like you, but you have something a lot bigger going on, don't you?"
[11:39:16] <Hotaru-chan> "This is so round about it's frightening..." Hotaru murmurs lightly, sitting next to Yoshi, but not leaning into him, instead turning to look at him. "The war never really affected Us too much, I mean..." her expression twists a little. "Last Saturday? I was too tired to do much because I'd just had my ribs shattered and used enough destructive energy to take out a city block," she sighs, shaking her head. (More)
[11:42:15] <Hotaru-chan> "I...yeah, I hid about half of my whole world from you...and I'm sorry," Hotaru sighs, looking directly at Yoshi. "It's not the worst yet, but I'm sorry."
[11:44:17] <Kotono> "Go on...it's accepted," Yoshi smiles ever so faintly. "When I saw you, I knew...I just knew that something was going to happen. You're a part of something way past all of this."
[11:49:27] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles very slightly, leaning over to kiss Yoshi softly on the cheek. "Thanks. It'd be so much easier and less...painful if it was just the war. For both of us, I'm guessing," she murmurs, chewing on her lip. "But...jsut to put what's about to come in perspective...I'm bisexual. I like both girls and guys, and I've been that way...I don't know, since a year ago? Year and a half?"
[11:51:43] <Kotono> "...I'm getting dumped for another of those cute girls on TV?" Yoshi asks outright, blowing out a breath. "My worst idea last night - I wondered if since you just didn't want to go that far but everything else was okay, and..."
[12:01:36] <Hotaru-chan> "...The sex part has nothing to do with them," Hotaru insists, blushing furiously. "Please don't overthink this...even if that's what I've been doing all afternoon," she snorts, sighing. "In very blunt terms, kind of, yes. I'm not WITH one of them, but...Rei just turned out to be bi, and I've been in love with her since before I met you."
[12:01:36] <Hotaru-chan> Another deep breath, Hotaru continuing on as she looks down. "She and Usagi think Makoto - the tall one - and I have been a couple for years even if we think we're friends...and we haven't been doing anything like -that-, we're just...okay, we'd look like a couple from the outside," she admits, quietly eeking that out.
[12:01:36] <Hotaru-chan> "Just...I love you, Yoshi, but it's not...fair, honest, a LOT of things, to lead you on if my feelings are so obviously set on them," Hotaru sighs. "I'm sorry, really just...sorry," she slumps, shoulders dropping a bit.
[12:03:41] <Kotono> ""You'
[12:05:04] <Kotono> "You're right, it's not fair. ...but thank you for at least telling me and being honest about it." Yoshi sighs, tiredly, "I wondered if I loved you. Thank you for that, Hotaru. I'm curious about the rest...but maybe another time? Get back together to talk down the line, but not right now." Yoshi silently drains his soda, putting the can down on a coaster. "Thanks for the good times again."
[12:05:17] <Kotono> His face is stony and quiet, voice carefully moderated.
[12:15:28] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's returning expression is shakily held together, nodding a bit. "Whenever you feel like it," she agrees softly, leaning into the couch. sideways to watch him. "Just...sorry doesn't feel like enough, to be dumping this on you, but...I don't know that there's anything else I can offer."
[12:16:25] <Kotono> "Your virginity?" Yoshi says, a bit flippantly. "I know, just...yeah. Later." Yoshi turns, a sad, tired and hurt smile, but a smile nonetheless as he goes out, gently closing the door behind him.
[12:20:28] <Hotaru-chan> "...You tempt me," Hotaru sighs quietly once Yoshi's gone, falling over onto the couch and hugging a pillow. The least she could do, she supposes.
[12:20:44] <Hotaru-chan> ---

[Anastasia]

Saturday go!

> ---Arc 2 go!---
> The weekend passes in a restful blurry wake for Makoto Kino. But during her period of rest, an obligation comes ringing - telephone wise, no less. Disturbing Iori as he sleeps on the counter, disturbing Makoto in her apartment.
<Makoto> "Argh..." Makoto pouts as she lifts herself up from her repose, imitating her kitten as he napped, Makoto sighs as she rolls to her feet, standing up on the couch and walk off, and into the kitchen to answer the phone. "Hello?"
> "Hey." It's Uncle Taka, sounding good. "I just got a special offer, and it's one you're going to want to come down here for," he elaborates slightly.
<Makoto> "I...What?" Makoto blink-blinks. "Special offer? We're taking another trip out to the Rural parts of Tokyo?"
> "No. Nior and Serenity - they want to use my dojo for something related to your other side." There's a pause there, sounds of conversation just distantly heard. "Nior wants you here first."
<Makoto> "Oh. Uh, Okay..." Makoto blinks, wondering what's going on -this- time. "I guess I'll be down in a half hour." Makoto shakes her head and laughs uncertainly. "Sorry, this is just a surprise-I was napping. See you there?" She asks more brightly.
> "I will," Taka agrees, the phone calle nding. OOC - Do you want to describe an outfit or anything as you arrive, Mako?
<Makoto> OOC-I guess? I've been slacking off with the clothes parts.
> OOC - Knock yerself out then!~
<Makoto> Off to the Dojo! It's hard to decide what to wear...Casual is definitely the order of the day, but...well, with everyone there, she should make some attempt at being presentable, so, after some dithering, Makoto pulls on some clean jeans, a clingy pink t-shirt with 'Angel' written across her breasts, a denim bolero jacket, and pink and white hi-top sneakers as she heads out on the town to see what's going on at the dojo...
> The dojo is quiet today - only Uncle Taka, Nior and her Majesty await just inside. The latter is smiling, a plain but complimentary white housedress worn. But it's not her that speaks firs,t indeed, it's the least likely. "I need your help, Makoto," Nior speaks.
> Uncle Taka smiles a bit, gi rumpled, as if he's been sparring. "Nior wants to use our dojo to help train all of you - he says ...well, he didn't say, but the impression is that he knows that he should help you. But he wants your help."
* Makoto smiles and waves in greeting to the three adults, blinking and pulling up short at that. "My help? I'll help if I can, but I don't know how much use I can be in training the others-" She demurs. "Only Hotaru's really shown interest in learning to fight..."
> "I've fought several of you now..." Nior begins, standing...well, he barely needs to stand to loom over Makoto, wearing a simple gray T-shirt and pants. Working clothes, really. "Serenity and Jun have both asked me to help ensure that those of you that focus on martial arts recieve strong, coordinated training. We're going to rent out Taka's dojo, but I need an assisstant teacher."
<Makoto> "Oh." Makoto looks up at Nior, bobbing her head in a shy nod. "Sure. I'll do whatever I can."
> "This isn't a light responsibility," Queen Serenity adds, quietly. "With a new threat we need to be at our strongest possible. I need you to be strong and capable for this, Makoto."
> OOC - Gah.
> "This isn't a light responsibility," Queen Serenity adds, quietly. "With a new threat we need to be at our strongest possible. I need you to be strong and capable for this, Makoto." Serenity gently smiles at her, caring and peaceful despite her weighted words. "I have confidence in you, but it is not a light task to be undertaken. A good teacher is nary an easy accomplishment, and requires work and dedication."
<Makoto> "I understand." Makoto nods and smiles cheerfully. "I'm not sure what I can do to assist Nior yet, but when we figure it out, I'll give it my all, just like the dojo's regular students."
> "Thank you," Serenity bows and smiles to her.
> "Very much so...the rent they're offering..." A snort from Uncle Taka. "This Jun fellow is rich, leader of a world or not. He's sending over pure gems and salable minerals just liket hat?"
> "That said," Serenity coughs a little bit, "I need you to be ablet o work with everyone, train everyone, bring out more in them and yourself. You understand what it is to be a teacher...but lives are on the line, and perhaps very much more."
<Makoto> Makoto boggles. "He paid you in gold and diamonds?" She shakes her head at Taka and laughs a little. *Well, at least we won't go broke-Geez...* "I -do- understand what a teacher needs to do, Serenity-sama." She adds, in response to the Queen. "It's just...Like I said, only Hotaru's shown an interest in bettering her physical skills. I think I might be of some use to the boys-" A shadow flits briefly across her face, but clears almost insta
> "I saw them, but they're going to have them converted and then pay me. I don't need those, just the money." Taka does laugh at that, even nearly blushing. "Something they called unicorn's teardrops, too. I think it's some white gemstone, but I'm not an expert."
> "Hotaru and the boys are the ones I'm thinking of. Usagi is not a fighter, nor is Kotono much. Rei may be..mmmm." Serenity nods thoughtfully, "If you would call them for me? Takeshi first, I wish to talk to him about other matters as well."
<Makoto> *almost instantly. "It's the others I'm uncertain about."
* Makoto tries not to let her eyes pop out of her head, nodding to her Uncle, and giving him a curious look. He's a handsome man, he must have saved ONE or two, just in case...That reminds her, it's about time he dated again-but no, probing for another time. "Call...him?" Makoto grimaces lightly, but doesn't complain, nodding and fishing her communicator from her jacket. "Hotaru, Asher and Takeshi only?"
> "For now," Serenity nods, "We'll see from there. Is something the matter?" So the Queen presses on, a nice and curious smile on her face
> .
<Makoto> "Not at all." Makoto lies, somewhat effectively as she retreats a little. "I'll be right back."
> "Go ahead," Serenity allows, smiling all the time. "If there is anything you wish to tell me...?"
<Makoto> "...Nope, I'm fine." Makoto assures hastily, scurrying just outside the doors for relative privacy, and takes a few deep breaths, focusing on schooling herself as much as possible. Picking a fight at this particular moment in time would be disasterous. *You don't have to like him, but you DO have to give him the benefit of the doubt, Makoto. Calm...* Finally, after settling her nerves, Makoto hits the button for...Venus. Yes, That.  
* Takeshi answers after about half a minute, looking rather... different. Notably with hair cropped much closer than the shoulder-length appearance Makoto saw him with last. "Sorry, took me a minute to dig this out of my bag. What's up?"
* Makoto blinks a little, glad of the haircut-It does look nice, but more importantly, it's distracting. "Oh...Uh, Hi. Serenity's gathering some of us at the dojo. Training's beginning in earnest. Can you make it?"
<Takeshi> "Not a problem. When?" Takeshi answers, a slight smile on his face.
<Makoto> "Now." Makoto replies. Not unkindly, but there's an oddly curt note in her voice.
<Hal-lunch> "On my way, then," Takeshi replies simply, clicking off the communicator.
* Makoto leans into the open doorway. "Takeshi's on his way, Serenity-sama. Do you want to wait on the others until you talk to him?" she calls into the open dojo.
> "Mmm, I think so, thinking on it," Serenity nods. "Thank you, Makoto. We'll start with him for now."
<Makoto> "Alright." Makoto nods, entering the dojo, schooling her expression. *I gave my word, so I have to make this work. Oh well. If he behaves, I certainly can.*
> "There is a letter for him...All the ones still on Gaia send their regards, b y the way," Serenity adds in, "Balder said that he's happy not to struggle through another letter, doubly so with his 'Mother's ancient writing style'."
* Makoto laughs softly. "He does sound like he's lightening up, even if he's back to being a bit bratty." Makoto grins approvingly.
> "He's changed from what I've heard. For the better," Serenity smiles proudly, "I don't know if he'll be able to visit soon, but...yes. Hope for the future."
<Makoto> "I think he didn't need to change much." Makoto agrees. "He's always been a good man, he just needed polishing." the ponytailed girl leans back against the wall and sighs a little.
> "Hm?" Serenity asks quietly, as the time flows by. She comes over to Makoto, "I would wish to hear the continuation of your thoughts, if you would?"
<Makoto> "What, about Balder?" Makoto blinks, cocking her head to the side curiously, her ponytail sliding over her shoulder with the motion. "There really isn't much more..."
> "I see." Serenityconsiders a moment, before letting it go and going back. It isn't long until Takeshi gets here...Serenity awaits him, asmile to him. "How do you find yourself this day?" Nior has gone in back with Taka a moment, leaving it to just the women.
<Takeshi> "Actually, pretty well," Takeshi says with a slight smile, giving Serenity a quick nod as she greets him. "Although feeling the breeze on the back of my neck again is going to take some getting used to," he says with a chuckle.
* Makoto waves politely as Takeshi gets in, but leaves the talking to Serenity for the moment.
> "Go first, Makoto," Serenity demurs, "You are the assisstant teacherhere, I merely watch."
* Makoto blinks at that. "Oh. Well, if we're getting right down to things, shouldn't we have Nior here?" Makoto wonders. "I have a good idea of Eiryo-kun's style already, and Nior might have different ideas than I do."
> Nior returns a moment later, "Hm?" he quietly asks, entering in.
* Takeshi blinks at the appearance of Nior, giving the giant a bow. "Good to see you again, Nior," he says, then smiles slightly. "Hopefully our business today won't end up with me stuck three inches into the mud this time."
* Makoto gives Nior an amused look. "Is making senshi-shaped craters a new hobby?" She quips, then casts a glance over to the teenage boy. "Did you have ideas on how to start, Nior? I'll follow your lead..."
> "Simply fight first - no holding back within the bounds of safety..." Nior crosses his arms, looking them over. "None of us are normal humans. Display that in your combat practice."
* Takeshi shrugs. "Been doing quite a bit of sparring lately, but I guess a bit more won't hurt," Takeshi says, looking to Makoto for confirmation.
<Makoto> "Powers on, beat the tar out of each other." Makoto nods, taking out her pen. "Works for me. Should we involve our other forms, or just use what we can in Civilian form?"
> "Normal, but use all the powers you can," Nior says after another moment. "Transformed later."
<Takeshi> "Fair enough," Takeshi says, slipping off his shoes and stepping out into the open portion of the dojo to wait for Makoto.
<Makoto> "Gotcha." Makoto nods, putting her pen away and slipping off her jacket, and dropping it in the corner, walking out into the middle of the floor and bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, causing interesting bouncing in other places, too. The tall girl takes up a stance, then smiles a little. "I know, I know...Attack you." She gives Takeshi a cold smile. "Or are you ready to make the first move?"
<Takeshi> "I can if you want, but I prefer to play to my strengths," Takeshi says with a shrug. "If you'd rather me come at you first, it can happen."
<Makoto> "Ah, consistency." Makoto replies dryly, taking the initiative and launching an attack!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6 for general ACV
<Reikobot> Takeshi rolled : 2d6 for general ACV --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Takeshi> roll 2d6 for general DCV
<Reikobot> Takeshi rolled : 2d6 for general DCV --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
<Makoto> roll 2d6 For General ACV
<Reikobot> Makoto rolled : 2d6 For General ACV --> [ 2d6=3 ]{3}
<Makoto> roll 2d6 for general DCV
<Reikobot> Makoto rolled : 2d6 for general DCV --> [ 2d6=12 ]{12}
<Makoto> Mayhem ensues! Unlike the previous fights, both go at it in earnest, and the sounds of violence echo through the dojo! Takeshi's performance is solid as his elemental affinity-and it needs to be, as Makoto rains down a shocking amount of violence onto his person! His shots are fewer in number, but they count, as Makoto's dodging is just not up to her usual standards, and Takeshi's final (More)
<Makoto> blow heralds a sickeningly wet crack of ribs, and Makoto collapses like a marrionette with her strings cut.
* Takeshi straightens up, panting - a bit concerned by the sound of that last hit, too. "You okay, Makoto?" he says, offering a hand to the brunette to help her to her feet.
> "Finished," Nior calls quietly, Serenity watching on in concern, but concern well moderated.
* Makoto shakes off Takeshi's hand, curling around her injured side, breathing shallowly as stabs of pain echo up her side. "My turn....hahhhh....to have an off day." She gasps.
> "It's good for these that you heal fast," Queen Serenity adds in quietly, coming over with Nior. Nior offers Takeshi a ahnd, Serenity doing the same for Makoto.
<Takeshi> "Thanks," Takeshi says to Nior, rubbing his own side a bit - Makoto landed some pretty solid hits there herself. "Little rough, but not too bad."
> "It is somewhat...barbaric, but warriors learn by doing such acts." The Queen gently clicks her tongue, "Let's get you lying down and with ice, Makoto. You as well, Takeshi. There is a locker room in back?"
<Makoto> Makoto nods reluctantly, finally managing the pain sandblasting her nerves enough to accept the help from Serenity, though not straighting up fully. "Definitely broken." She mumbles. "Need to practice defense more."
<Makoto> "Yeah...Through the rear hall.." She adds, grimacing.
> "I see this idea is not ill spent, then," Serenity agrees as she helps Makoto along. With help the two are lead back, a locker room with a few benches. Taka is there with icepacks and heatpacks already prepared, as well as aspirin.
> "You beat the hell out of teach other," he opines as he passes the needed goods out, "Strip down as far as modesty allows the two of you - you both need these for awhile."
<Takeshi> "I'm okay," Takeshi says dismissively. "Bit more worried about Makoto - that last hit sounded pretty bad."
> "Don't overdo it," Serenity gently chides, "There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, too." Taka already has an ice pack ready, heading for Makoto.
<Makoto> "..." *Oh, whatever.* Makoto dismisses any other thoughts and begins fumbling with her t-shirt.
> Once it's done TAka applies the ice, "Brace," he murmurs, ribs soothes and frozen!
* Takeshi shakes his head, accepting one of the icepacks for his side. "Mmm," is all he says in reply, keeping an eye on Makoto as she receives treatment. 'Didn't mean to hit her QUITE that hard...'
> "The both of you are entirely too tough..." Serenity murmurs, looking them over as she gets aspirin and passing it around. "Don't push yourself too hard, rest and take care of your bodies, too." So she says, passing out cups of water and the happy little pills.
* Makoto hisses softly as they ice hits her side, the ugly black and purple mark contrasting even more sharply with the snow white bra as the skin around it reddens in response to the cold.
<Takeshi> "Heh," Takeshi chuckles a bit, rubbing his arm where Makoto landed a rather solid hit. "It's about all I'm good at, so I might as well push and make it better still," he says quietly.
> "Just be cautious - within reason." Serenity chides as packs and medicine is given out. "This is a good start - I want all of you to be well trained and prepared...and Takeshi." Serenity pauses, going into her inner pocket and taking out a folded piece of paper. "This is for you."
<Takeshi> "Hmm?" Takeshi takes the piece of paper, unfolding it to take a look at it.
> The handwriting is flowing and elegant - someone who knows all too well how to write skillfully. It beings simply, a little letter. (PM)
* Takeshi closes his eyes for a few moments, the handwriting very familiar - if a hand he hasn't seen in this lifetime. "Yeah, I know," he says quietly. "If nothing else, I think I'm sure of that now."
* Retrieving #evildunes modes...
> "Yes..." Serenity shakes her head, but doesn't press. Instead, "Good work both of you. Rest up and be prepared." With a bow she goes, Nior starting to go. He stops at Makoto, clasping her shoulder once. Then he turns to Takeshi, nodding to him before following Serenity out.
* Makoto smiles up at Nior apologetically as he leaves, and sets her mind to simply breathing slowly, waiting for the sparkles to ebb.
* Takeshi stands to go as well, pausing before he goes. "Sorry - didn't mean to hit quite that hard," he offers. "Anything I can get for you?"
<Makoto> "Ah...It's fine." Makoto wheezes. "It's not like I've never had my ribs cracked before. Go on."
<Takeshi> "Take it easy then," Takeshi says, giving Makoto a small wave as he heads out of the locker room.
<Makoto> "See you." Makoto frowns at his back as he leaves, sighing and turning her attention back to the ceiling...

[Ebiris]

Occurs the day after the government conference

[21:17] <Hotaru-chan> Saturday evening comes, the end of the school week and rest finally. Usagi cna find time to relax... Or not! The telephone rings, ominously cheery. With her parents and Shingo upstairs, the duty of answering falls on a blonde's slender shoulders!
[21:19] <Usagi> Hah, rest? With the way the phone was ringing off the hook yesterday, Usagi isn't so sure... Breezing into the hallway, Usagi sweeps up the phone and brings it to her ear. "Hello?"
[21:20] <Hotaru-chan> "Hey...Usagi?" It's Hotaru's voice, tinged with nerves and a bit of hesitation, Hotaru curling the phone cord around her finger.
[21:21] <Usagi> "Hi, Hotaru. What's up?" the blonde asks lightly, curling the cord around her fingers and leaning on the bannister.
[21:23] <Hotaru-chan> "I..." There's a pause, Hotaru taking a deep breath. "Ah...bleh, I hate the telephone. Can we meet somewhere to talk?" the Princess of Saturn asks, somewhat calmer on that.
[21:24] <Usagi> "Sure," Usagi chirps. "Anywhere in particular?"
[21:27] <Hotaru-chan> There's a faintly audible exhale. "That park near your house where we fought Nior and the posessed cats?"
[21:30] * Usagi is glad she only knows of one park near her house, since she really can't remember that specific battle! "Okay, see you in half an hour, then?" she asks, allowing time for Hotaru to get there from her house. "Meet by the takoyaki stand?" she suggests.
[21:36] <Hotaru-chan> "Sure,thanks," Hotaru agrees, some relief there. So they part, to meet again in an isoalted place on a quiet night. OOC - Set yourself up entering the park?
[21:38] <Usagi> It's about twenty minutes later when Usagi arrives, deciding to grab something to eat while she waits and dressed in a white turtleneck and purple knee length skirt with black stockings underneath, having decided the weather is just passable enough to skip on her coat.
[21:42] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru arrives about five minutes later, black coat over blue skirt and black stocking in the weather, her hands stuffed in her pockets as she enters the park. Zeroing in the only set of odangos in the whole place isn't horribly difficult, and so she locates Usagi in short. "Hey," she greets, smiling a little as she comes over to the blonde Lunar princess.
[21:44] <Usagi> "Hi, Hotaru-chan," Usagi returns the greeting, patting the bench next to her as she pops a Takoyaki into her mouth before wordlessly offering one to the other girl as she chews with a contented expression as the hot food wards off the cold.
[21:49] <Hotaru-chan> "No thanks," Hotaru replies softly, smiling and sitting next to Usagi, just breathing a moment. "So this is where I confess my undying love and devotion, but I'm not that crazy, and that's the emtnal distraction for the night," Hotaru sickers quietly. "Just...sorry about blowing up last night, and thanks for pointing a few things out," she offers as she turns to the rabbit.
[21:51] <Usagi> Swallowing her treat, Usagi blinks. "Wow, so it actually did sink in after all? Better late than never, I guess," she smiles. "So what're you gonna do, now?"
[21:55] <Hotaru-chan> "It sank in minutes after you and Rei left," Hotaru murmurs, shaking her head. "I broke up with Yoshi this afternoon...I spent a lot of time talking to Rei last night afterwards, actually," she sighs, humming quietly. "And...well, now, I have to figure out, between Makoto and Rei, who I can settle it to 'just friends' with, and who I want to pursue..." she admits, biting her lip. "Only way to be fair to either of them."
[21:56] * Usagi stares at Hotaru for a long moment. "You're kidding, right?" she asks dumbly.
[21:57] <Hotaru-chan> "...Hah?" Hotaru asks, quirking her head at Usagi, and looking rather nervous now. "What about?"
[21:58] <Usagi> "Hotaru-chan... do you think Rei-chan *wants* you to pursue her?" she asks slowly, tone gentle but carrying a slight edge of disbelief.
[22:03] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blink blinks. "She seemed completely fine with the idea when I said I had the same feelings romantically for her as I do Makoto..." she answers slowly, blushing. "Just...as long as it was clear who was a friend and who was more, she didn't object past that."
[22:04] <Usagi> "Oh..." Usagi deflates a bit, looking rather stunned. "She... wow," the blonde shakes her head. "I had no idea..." Guess you never can tell with some people...
[22:07] <Hotaru-chan> "Is something wrong?" Hotaru asks, nervously turning more of her body towards Uasgi, looking at the blonde curiously and shakenly.
[22:07] <Usagi> "Just, ah... I never saw that coming," she admits plainly, rubbing the back of her head.
[22:08] <Hotaru-chan> "...Me or Rei?" Hotaru asks after a moment, with a slight embarrassed snicker. "Or both, I guess...that was all together kind of outside our expectations..."
[22:12] <Usagi> "Well, I guess hearing you talk about 'deciding' is pretty weird as well, just... yeah. Never figured Rei would be interested," the blonde shrugs, honestly quite lost, now.
[22:15] <Hotaru-chan> "Neither did I," Hotaru agrees, shaking her head a bit. "Just...yeah, I didn't expect that much either, honestly. Rei-chan being Rei-chan, and the mess I made being as vast as it was."
[22:17] <Usagi> "Still..." Usagi peers at Hotaru intently, deciding to focus on something she can deal with rather than Rei's complete unpredictability. "What do you mean by decide? You don't already know?"
[22:26] <Hotaru-chan> Hotarus hakes her head. "Rei-chan...the only reason I don't act around her the way I act around Makoto is she doesn't want me to," she admits, shrugging with a slight blush. "Thinking about them romantically...they're...I can't really compare them, they're something of a par to each other, so it comes down to a bevy of unkowns and worries to be talked about and decided on."
[22:26] <Hotaru-chan> "Would it be even more unfair to simmer down my relationship, whatever it is, with Makoto? Would that hurt Her too much, and thus decide it? In talking about it, will I find I can't stand the idea myself?"
[22:26] <Hotaru-chan> "I just...don't know which way to go. Makoto worries me, but I know even just as friends she won't keep me out like Rei does, Rei is...Rei, alluring, forbidden, and absolutely wonderful ina   good mood," Hotaru hums, shrugging. "So I need to talk to them, to figure out where I can draw my own lines, and see where there's are in the end...and decide on who."
[22:32] * Usagi shrugs. "I wish I could give you advice, but, ah... Makoto and I aren't that close, and it now seems I have absolutely no clue what goes on in Rei's head, so, uh... good luck?" the blonde replies dazedly. "I guess I still stand by what I said about you and Makoto yesterday, if nothing else."
[22:36] <Hotaru-chan> "The 'you're a couple, you just don't have sex'?" Hotaru hazards, relaxing slightly and closing her eyes.
[22:39] <Usagi> "Pretty much," the blonde nods. "Honestly, it amazes me to hear you even consider anyone else considering you've done everything but stick your fingers inside each other over the past few years," she concludes bluntly, before adding in a perhaps misguided attempt at lightness, "As far as I know."
[22:41] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru gives Usagi a sideways glance. "We've never inspected each other's tonsils...I think I've kissed Rei more seriously," she shakes her head. "Still, I get the idea," she admits, sighing softly.
[22:42] <Hotaru-chan> "And it's perfectly accurate, I guess..." Hotaru nods, looking up to the sky. "Just...mah, it doesn't matter what we thought then, we are where we are."
[22:44] * Usagi shrugs again. "I'm just a neutral observer, but that's what I see when I look at you two - a couple in denial." Her expression turns a bit more flat, "And really, Hotaru, the denial gets a bit tiring the fiftieth time you hear 'I slept with Makoto last night!' regardless of whether you tired yourselves out before falling asleep."
[22:50] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru winces. "Sorry," she takes that with a blush, her face composing neutrally. "ANything else that grinds you the wrong way?" she asks, honest and soft interest there, with a slight tinge of fear.
[22:55] <Usagi> "It's really just the way you guys constantly act so lovey dovey," Usagi admits, deciding there's no harm in getting it off her chest. "It reminds me of when I was in junior high and seeing people constantly holding hands, trading 'shy' little smiles, sitting in each other's laps, whispering and giggling to each other when you're trying to talk to them..."
[22:55] <Usagi> "Really, you guys are a totally stereotypical new couple when you get right down to it. I guess I hope that if you made it official you might at least calm down around everyone else if you're getting more fun in private."
[23:03] <Hotaru-chan> "...Maybe we should start cooing," Hotaru remarks lightly after that, shaking her head after that. "Sorry, but...yeah, I can see that," she hums, expression twisting a bit. "Well, one way or another, your hope will probably come true? Or people will start yelling at us to just get a room, but at least you'll be able to yell it out?"
[23:06] <Usagi> "Exactly," the blonde smiles sweetly in reply.
[23:10] <Hotaru-chan> "...I'm vaguely afraid I hit a nerve somewhere by accident," Hotaru admits, looking back at Usagi a bit nervously, if smiling slightly. "Sorry, I'm just nervous and kind of...I dunno," she gestures, sighing.
[23:14] <Usagi> "Let's just say you and Makoto have not made things easy for me over the years," Usagi concludes, idly brushing some crumbs off her skirt. "Can't fault you for being in love, but you should at least be honest about it instead of pretending it's less than it is."
[23:24] <Hotaru-chan> "Mm, yeah, sorry," Hotaru sighs, leaning against the back of the bench. "Well, things should settle more in the next couple of weeks or so," she offers finally, a shakey smile. "Just...sorry about all this."
[23:27] <Usagi> "Just don't make the wrong decision, please?" the blonde requests earnestly. "There's too much at stake for all of us for romantic drama between ourselves to screw us over. I learned that lesson myself, even if it was an amicable breakup."
[23:33] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, hugging her knees as she looks at Usagi. "Serenity stressed that earlier...I know. Whatever I choose, it's permanent," she agrees softly, shaking her head. "Or...well, no, that doesn't matter," she shakes her head. "Mmm."
[23:35] * Usagi winces, a little strained laugh coming out. "Staying in a relationship you're not happy with could be even worse in our line of work. If it doesn't work it doesn't work - just try and take the choice that minimises those chances?" How it could even be called a choice she's not sure, but she's not psychic, after all!
[23:39] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks, shaking her head. "Erk, I was...talking in context of what I didn't say, but yeah, forcing it would be worse," she agrees, nodding.
[23:40] <Usagi> "Context of what you didn't say?" the blonde repeats dumbly.
[23:43] <Hotaru-chan> "I...when I was talking to Serenity, we talked about what I still needed to figure out, and one think on my mind is if Rei was tyhinking of this permanently," Hotaru shrugs. "I've always been sort of 'take what I can get' with Rei-chan, so...I wanted to know if I should keep that, so I don't have a breakdown if she broke up with me, or assume it was complete and forever. Serenity said to let all that go."
[23:43] <Hotaru-chan> *thing on my mind
[23:43] <Hotaru-chan> *thinking, sigh
[23:48] * Usagi shrugs. "Nothing useful I could say about Rei's feelings, sorry," she apologises. "I guess I would say she dates a lot but doesn't seem too big on long term relationships, but if she's seriously interested in you then I guess anything I say is probably completely wrong." It's still somewhat vexing to find out she's so clueless about that...
[23:53] <Hotaru-chan> "And anything I might think for that matter," Hotaru agrees softly, shaking her head. "Just...gah, who knows, I haven't talked to either about it all any more yet, so we'll see," Hotaru sighs, leaning over to hug Usagi. "Anything else you want to get off your chest while I'm managing to be non-psychotic?" she invites, smiling wryly.
[23:55] <Usagi> "I think we're good," the blonde replies, patting Hotaru's shoulder. "What prompted the change in attitude, anyway?" she asks curiously.
[00:01] <Hotaru-chan> "Watching you and Rei just give up and walk off," Hotaru murmurs softly, sighing and releasing Usagi to stand back. "With a slight dose of 'I just failed miserably'."
[00:03] <Usagi> "You didn't convince either of us at all," Usagi shakes her head, smiling a little. "Although to be fair, that really was where our streets turned off."
[00:04] <Hotaru-chan> "I've accomplished everything I could've hoped for by now though, so that's that," Hotaru agrees, smiling a bit back. "And we could've stood on the corner and screamed until someone called the police. Maybe we'd even end up in a brawl."
[00:06] <Usagi> "You were being amazingly stubborn," Usagi admits as she rises up from the bench as well, leaning over a moment to discard her now empty Takoyaki box in the litterbin. "Honestly, I didn't understand it at all - especially since you're now admitting we basically nailed it on the head."
[00:11] <Hotaru-chan> "Given a week of hoping 'Rei-chan might be gay!' and one painfully wonderful if incredibly brief kiss, and yeah, I'll turn myself into a bullet train," she sighs. "So...yeah, sorry, was only letting myself think about one thing."
[00:13] <Usagi> "Yeah, she is pretty good at that," Usagi admits reluctantly. "Oh, well, at least we cleared the air. I kinda need to get ready for work, though - think I'll need my coat tonight, after all."
[00:15] <Hotaru-chan> "I'm also very, very biased," Hotaru nods, blowing at an errant lock of hair. "Anyway, see you sometime that is probably sooner than we wish it was because it happened to be due to combat!"
[00:16] <Usagi> "They do like to have stuff happen on the weekend," the blonde smiles thinly, waving as she strolls off back to home.

[Asrana]

Occurs the day after the press conference, after Hotaru breaks up with Yoshi.

[12:51:15] <Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[12:51:57] <Kotono> That afternoon comes. Amid the chill gales of fall's dying breaths Hotaru walks. Serenity's house is never close enough yet not far, a strangeness striking Hotaru as she goes. How many times has she tread this path, how many times can she could the steps? It's all the same on this walk, the variety of seasons meaningless spice to it.
[12:56:58] <Hotaru-chan> Strange it is, but maybe not surprising? The house is far from normal, all its inhabitants having some sort of magic to them for better or good. She looks around, pulling her jacket a little tighter around herself. It's cold! And no one's here to warm her up. That's a pang of guilt and worry, Yoshi floating back into her mind, and all that she just did to him. Ugh. So she continues on her way to Serenity's, though.
[13:03:38] <Kotono> It's just so...there is a chilling sameness to it. A lack of variety by the time you get there - Saturn feels muzzy. She feels muzzy and bland, shaken and the same. The door looms ahead of her...this is the same as well, is it not?"
[13:10:56] <Hotaru-chan> But what's wrong with that? Hotaru asks herself, going to the door, knocking lightly. What could possibly be wrong with consistency, similarity, her life being more...settled?
[13:12:36] <Kotono> So Saturn knocks on the door. It is answered by Janna, smiling warmly. "Hey, kiddo," she smirks a bit, "C'mon in."
[13:13:34] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles softly to Janna. Maybe it's time to invoke the triplets? "Hi, thanks," she greets, stepping in. "How've you been?" she asks the former youma turned military attache.
[13:15:26] <Kotono> "Busy, busy, busy. With that news story...but anyway! Serenity's just out at the corner for something, should be back in a couple of minutes. Nior's asleep. Looking for either?"
[13:16:27] <Hotaru-chan> "Mostly Serenity, but this isn't much more than a social call," Hotaru answers softly, smiling at Janna. "Though, you...I could use your advice on something," she admits, blushing.
[13:19:04] <Kotono> "Sure, just a sec. Sit on down," Janna passes by the living room, right into the kitchen. The TV is on - it's more stuff about the Sailor Senshi. Mostly rehash of the press conference at the moment.
[13:20:08] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru watches attentively, trying to pick anything new up. Who knows. But so she lsitens and watches, waiting patiently for Janna.
[13:29:09] <Kotono> Nothing too new - it's just gossip right now. "There are even fangroups for the Juuban Angels, and we hope to have information from them soon..."
[13:29:52] <Hotaru-chan> They're beloved fans deem to make an appearance? Hotaru shakes her head, curling up on the couch and waiting. There isn't much else to do other than to mull.
[13:31:30] <Kotono> "Hey there!" Janna comes back a few later, a pot of tea and some fresh french fries(?!) in a bowl. She nibbles on one, kicking back. "Youk now..I don't even have to diet lately since Nior's running me through the wringer," she mutters.
[13:33:50] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru pats Janna's shoulder, smiling and hugging her knees. "There there, at least you get to enjoy food like those of us that burn calories through spiritual exercise?" she jests lightly, her smile waining a bit. "Anything else happening? Besides Nior making us all feel out of shape."
[13:34:54] <Kotono> "I swear he's a freak now." Janna shoves a few fries down, salted but without anything else like soys auce. "He's been training more and more since he's found a reason or whatever. I mean, damn, I'm down to being in great shape, but I'm still no super fighter." A few c homps, "I've been eating like 3000 calories a day on training days and I'm still not gaining weight. I swear..."
[13:37:08] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru snickers very quietly, nodding to Janna. "Well that's a plus, hm? Maybe you'll match Jun's svelte figure?" she teases gently, reaching over to prod Janna's ribs. "I swear he's not human, looking like that after thousands of years..." she sighs, gripelike.
[13:38:23] <Kotono> "OW!" Janna winces, "CAREFUL! I don't heal like you, either." She shoots Hotaru a dirty look, wincing again and rubbing her side.
[13:39:11] <Kotono> "This is sadly true," Serenity annouces, entering with a few bags ni her arms. She smiles to both as she goes past, heading to the kitchen.
[13:39:48] <Hotaru-chan> "Sorry," Hotaru apologizes quickly, blushing. "...Mah, guess questions have to wait," she snickers, getting up and following after Serenity to help out with whatever.
[13:45:07] <Kotono> It's a few bags of thing - noodles, milk, cheese, soy sauce, some meat, that sort of thing. As things are put away, "How do you find yourself, Saturn," Serenity asks, quietly working.
[13:48:08] <Hotaru-chan> "Saddened, relieved, guilty, settled," Hotaru states it in not so many words, working away methodically and precisely beside Serenity. "I overstepped with Rei and Usagi last night...had a long talk with Rei afterwards, should call Usagi and apologize and thank her..." she hums quietly, looking up and about. "Nothing...I won't dismiss it as 'unserious', but I...don't think, and I hope I didn't hurt them, just...arguing impulsively."
[13:49:37] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Serenity puts things on the counter, getting a pot out as well. "Would you cut the carrots up for me," she says with a warm smile, scooting aside to give Hotaru counter space. That feeling is gone, utterly smashed, as Hotaru looks at Serenity. The world is very much..not the same. "I see. What happened?"
[13:53:55] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nods, smiling softly back at Serenity as the world brightens again, setting up the carrots, and selecting a knife, beginning to chop carefully. "Rei found a conclusion, I'd...admittedly, I'd been putting hopes there, but Usagi brought something up, and Rei agreed with her...would you think Makoto and I romantic couple from watching us?"
[13:58:40] <Kotono> "My honest opinion?" Queen Serenity pauses in her work, before washing the beef and getting it into a pan. "You two love each other very much. There is much caring between both of you."
[14:02:00] <Hotaru-chan> "The question is if it's platonic or not," Hotaru agrees quietly, focusing on the carrots for a distraction. "With my hopes romantically built and pinned on Rei over her crisis though....I flipped out, and argued far, far more than I should've, if at all," she sighs, shoulders slumping a little. "There were a few other things thrown in...mah, they just gave up and went home, and that kind of smacked me."
[14:06:43] <Kotono> "I see." Serenity gets the food cooking, Janna ducking in a moment to get a can of soda - not even diet! She just smiles and waves, a pause until she's out. "That is something I cannot answer, as I do not fully know your heart. But...such would not surprise me, Hotaru. The both of you care for each other more than I think you may understand."
[14:16:04] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles a little, shaking her head. "That was just the beginning," she murmurs, turning to lean on the counter. "After a bit, I went after Rei...well, because I'd flipped out, and..." Hotaru just shakes her head. "I guess most of it doesn't bear repeating, just that it went...well," she offers, her expression a mix of emotions, palette of Hotaru's feelings on the surface and vulnerable.
[14:16:04] <Hotaru-chan> "I love Makoto, both as my closest friend, and as a...partner, but I share an equal feeling for Rei in my heart, or such is my...instinct," she murmurs.
[14:16:04] <Hotaru-chan> "Rei, rightly, feels I should make a definitive choice to the current standing of my relationship with Makoto, and one path or the other determines if I can pursue Rei. Which is the right thing, and I'm really starting to ramble, aren't I?" she confesses, shaking her head. "Sorry, I'm just unloading in every direction today," she apologizes, going back to the carrots.
[14:17:03] <Kotono> roll 2d6
[14:17:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=3, 3]
[14:17:16] <Kotono> "Keep talking. Spill your heart out," Serenity stops to touch Makoto's head gently, a soothing peace flowing into her. "Just keep going and let it all spill out."
[14:17:36] <Kotono> *Hotaru's
[14:22:46] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru lets out a long breath, chopping away, hands precise and quick with their moviements of the blade. "So...I love them both, I honestly can't have them both, completely, obviously," she snorts, knife flashing. "It brought up something else thoug...well, that I was dating a boy up until a few hours ago," her voice softens, nearing a slight whimper.
[14:22:46] <Hotaru-chan> "And I...we got sidetracked when he figured out I was Saturn, but...I had to admit to him, that I couldn't...not with both Rei and Makoto staring me in the face about it, that's just not fair to him," she sighs, pausing again to take afew deep breaths. "And I got back together with him for only...two, three weeks? After we'd dated a few months two years ago, just...ugh. Poor Yoshi."
[14:24:10] <Kotono> "Then at elast you let him go." Serenity nods slowly, meat simmering over a nice burner, the smell stirring your stomach. "What of him?"
[14:29:03] <Hotaru-chan> "He picked up the basic part of it...he wasn't happy, in the least. Not that he should've been," Hotaru sighs, looking up to the ceiling, then down at the finished and chopped carrots, laying the knife aside. "He kept a lid on it, mostly, which is...weird for him," she slumps on that thought. She msut've really stabbed him to get Yoshi to clam. "He said maybe we'd talk about it all again later. Very later," she sighs.
[14:31:30] <Kotono> "Mmm.I see. Then to the other point..mmm. Makoto again, is it not?" Serenity flips the chopped and washed meat in the pan, a deft movement of her wrist. "You love her...as a partner, as a..a lover." Serenity turns to her, "I do not doubt this in the ibt, even if I do not know your heart?"
[14:34:02] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes ehr ehad. "That's not in doubt, no," Hotaru admits softly. "Just that...it feels as if I hold those same feelings for Rei when confronted with her, and it would be just as unfair to either of them to not put one to rest for however long before I pursue any one."
[14:35:26] <Kotono> "I don't think you need to pursue Makoto," Serenity notes candidly, a little smile as she uses a fork to plunk a tiny bite of meato ut from the cooking pan. Thoughtfully chewing it down and swallowing, "You care very much about both...but Rei is strong. Even if she cares about you the same, she is very strong. What of Makoto? What if you walked away from her?"
[14:39:37] <Hotaru-chan> "Which is the other pressing concern of the balance," Hotaru nods weakly, a drawn pause as she considers. "Rei recognized that, as well...and so I do need to speak with Makoto, and find how she would take such...I cannot think it entirely positive for her, no. But her severity may determine the issue more concisely."
[14:40:26] <Kotono> "Yes. Take a bit, and when you are ready - go to her," Serenity smiles as she takes the food off th stove, getting what Hotaru has made and starting to gently fry it as well. "When are you going to see her?"
[14:43:00] <Hotaru-chan> "Tomorrow, mayhaps," Hotaru murmurs softly. "Or after work next week...rushing such would be...ill concieved," she shakes her head. "Such a...complexity," she blows at her bangs, just lightly watching Serenity.
[14:44:07] <Kotono> "A day or two will not hurt if you need it. I bid you not to wait too long to not hurt yourself or others, but do not rush unprepared. If you truly love them, this could be a decision that..." As the veggies sizzle, Serenity merely smiles. "I need not tell you how important it is."
[14:52:28] <Hotaru-chan> "No," Hotaru agrees, a very slight, shaken smile in return. "I realize that import...and also why I have to speak with Rei again more seriously...I do not...I don't want to feel as if it is a permanent arrangement if in the future, she desires children, and other things I can't provide," Hotaru's smile is weakened further, shaking her head. "It's a concern, perhaps a foundless one, I guess."
[14:53:57] <Kotono> "If you love her...children will find a way. If nothing else, many orphans yearn for lovning mothers," Serenity add with her own little smile at Hotaru.
[14:57:11] <Hotaru-chan> "I am paranoid," Hotaru agrees softly, snorting and hugging herself.. "Mmm...a ghost I guess that is, one I'd like lain to rest or known on my shoulder. I've learned to take what I might have without ire from Rei, or I try to do such...and never expect more, I'd just like to know if I should keep thinking as such, from her."
[14:59:30] <Kotono> WIth a flourish Serenity finishes, mixing it all together and getting plates out. "Mmm. Take her gift to you, Hotaru, and apply it." It's all she says, "Do you want some?"
[15:04:08] <Hotaru-chan> "Please," Hoptaru nods a bit, blinking and taking a breath. "And it seems the week for me to be misunderstanding," she murmurs, quirking her head at Serenity. "'Gift'?" she inquires nervously.
[15:05:04] <Kotono> "She said that she...gave you the gift of forgiveness, trying to drill things 'into your thick skull' and Makoto." The bowls are made, Serenity heading back to the living room.
[15:06:43] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru helps with the bowls, following with a still -slightly- bewildered look. "You mean to say that I should let our past be our past?" she asks more curiously.
[15:09:33] <Kotono> Stopping jus tinsid ethe living room, "I said that Rei said that she forgave you - in her own words, of course. "So let the past be and work on a better future, hm?"
[15:13:07] <Hotaru-chan> "If I MUST be so reasonable..." Hotaru does manage a slight snicker at the 'in her own words'. ""This si the better outcome of talking, I guess, rather than leaving it in my head," she murmurs, sighing slightly. "Still, much to be seen."
[15:14:23] <Kotono> "Indeed." So Serenity leads on, a meal to be had...OOC - Cut here, work looms.
[15:14:32] <Hotaru-chan> ---

[Asrana]

This occurs the Sunday after the press conference.

[13:33:45] <Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[13:35:27] <Kotono> The morning of Sunday is interrupted as Makoto stirs. The insistant beep beep of her communicator is certainly an issue!
[13:39:26] * Makoto is most decidedly and assuredly still in bed! Lifting her head, unbound chestnut hair still tousled from happy sleep, Makoto fumbles beside her bed for her communicator, sleepily stabbing at the on switch...and then accidently dropping it, giving whoever's calling a close look at her cleavage! "Gah...dammt...H'lo?" Makoto mumbles, yawning as she retrieves it.
[13:40:09] <Kotono> "Sis..." Kotono looks like hell! Bags are under her eyes, she looks like she's been crying, and she's waxen pale. Her hand shakes a tiny bit, a decidely sickly tone to herwords.
[13:41:09] <Makoto> This is plenty to jar Makoto awake, sleep banished instantly as the brunette sits bolt upright in bed. "Kochan? What's wrong? Where...What???"
[13:46:33] <Kotono> "Daddy came home last night...he was kinda out of it, and...and..." sne sniffles, "That was bad and I had a vision too!" That's just thrown out there, Kotono looking shaken and teary.
[13:49:03] <Makoto> "Oh...Oh." Makoto rubs her eyes. "Do you want to come here? Or I can come to you." Makoto yawns, then winces. "Sorry, sis. That wasn't for you. C'mon over here, and I'll make some coffee, and we can talk."
[13:50:20] <Kotono> "'kay...Sis...Daddy.. It was gray everywhere! He was happy...no, he wasn't, but hewas falling into it and smiling and and and...he was so pale and weak! He was barely there, and...!"
[13:50:30] <Kotono> Kotono just rambles on even more, whimpering.
[13:52:40] <Makoto> "Oh, Sis..." Makoto winces. "Sit tight, I'm coming to you." Makoto urges, crawling out of bed and fumbling for a robe. Time to abuse the trick Hotaru taught her...Closing her eyes as she slips the robe on tightly, Makoto envisions Kotono's bedroom, and the gates...and leaves.
[13:57:11] <Kotono> So Makoto blinks on over! Kotono's bedroom is kind of a wreck - Kotono lies on her bed, balled up tisses around her. There's a strange smell in the air, too. Kotono's lying straight back, sniffling.
[13:59:15] * Makoto heads straight for the bed and gathers the blonde girl up in a hug, sniffing the air. "What happened to your room, Sis?"
[14:00:04] <Kotono>  The answer is found on the other side of her bed - a can of beer's been left there. "D-daddy brought home some drinks, and I guess...maybe I thought one would help, but it just made me feel weird..." Kotono sniffles again.
[14:02:45] <Makoto> "Drinks?" Makoto echoes, startled. "Mmm...Help what?" she asks softly, seating herself on the bed and gently pulling Kotono to lean against her as she strokes the cornsilk locks. "Start from the beginning, 'kay? And go slow...I might have questions if I don't understand."
[14:04:18] <Kotono> "Okay." Kotono sniffles, "I was just going to call Uasgi-chan since I haven't gotten to talk to her in awhile, right? But Daddy came home just before that, and...he's lost some weight, too. He doesn't look very good, though, and he wouldn't even answer me. He just had a few drinks, and...and..."
[14:06:42] * Makoto flinches a little, heat building in her eyes, only quenched with force of will. "How was he acting?" She asks, her voice wavering slightly as she tries to get it under control, a lump forming in her throat.
[14:07:35] <Kotono> "He...he got kinda drunk...he started talking then." Kotono rasps, licking her lips. "He said ...he said..." A shiver all through Kotono, "D...Death. It was coming for him and he was so happy! Then...then I got that vision and..."
[14:10:06] <Makoto> "..." Makoto shudders, grimacing-it's worse than she'd thought, as a stab of sympathy burns through her for Kotono's father. "Tell me about the vision." Makoto keeps on hugging Kotono and stroking her hair, trying to keep the blonde girl settled.
[14:11:00] <Kotono> "..okay," Kotono clings to Makoto, whimpering and crying. "It was...it was all gray! No color anywhere! He was...Daddy looked horrible! He was reachingo ut and he was so happy! I...I couldn't catch up with him no matter what I did!"
[14:14:43] <Makoto> "Kochan?" Makoto asks, very, very softly. "I need you to think back on last night carefully. "Do you think your dad was talking about 'the' Death? The one with a capital D? The one that came up with those inhumans?"
[14:15:38] <Kotono> "I...I..." Kotonof reezes up, "I didn' see anyone, but...but he said it really strongly." A tense hugging to Makoto, "I...no, no, no! That's a lie, isn't it, Sis?"
[14:19:32] <Makoto> "I Don't know." Makoto hugs Kotono tightly. "I'm probably wrong...I hope I'm wrong. But your vision makes me worried." She admits. "But wrong or not...your dad needs help. Is there anyone you can call that he'd listen to?"
[14:20:13] <Kotono> "...Momma's gone..." Kotono just starts to cry again, softly. "He just gives me money now..." Kotono looks to her dresser, a lump of yen sitting there.
[14:24:24] <Makoto> "He's that bad, huh?" Makoto sighs and almost tears up, hugging the smaller girl tightly. "I know it hurts, Kochan. More than I can probably imagine. But you need to be strong. If he's in trouble, or even just depressed, you can still fight for him. I'll help you however I can, ok?" The brunette smiles sadly at the blonde girl, pulling Kotono away to wipe her eyes gently. "C'mon now. I know it hurts, but now's the time for action, Sis.
[14:25:24] <Kotono> "..he's gone. He got drunk and..said he had a business meeting...again...on a Sunday..." Kotono just shakes her head limply. "H-he's not in his room...Sis."
[14:28:08] <Makoto> "Good. That means we have a little time." Makoto replies. "C'mon Kochan. Take deep breaths. What we need to do now is talk to someone who can help. I think you should get dressed and go talk to Serenity-sama. Give me the address where your dad works, and I'll go keep an eye on him for you until you can see if you have a better idea what happened last night, 'k?"
[14:30:01] <Kotono> "...I don't know..." Kotono shakes her head, "I've never been and he never talks about it..." YEt anotehr sniffle, the blonde looking more downcast. "Just...can I just stay here for awhile, huh? I just...don't go away yet, okay, Sis? Please?"
[14:32:09] <Makoto> Makoto hedges and nods. "Okay. I'll stick to you like glue, Sis. I promise." Makoto assures the girl gently. "We'll get through this. No matter what. You're not alone, Kochan. Even if it feels like it, you never will be."
[14:33:54] <Kotono> "Oh...Sis...Asher said that sort of, too..." She looks up with a teary smile, "I even called him by mistake...but....I didn't want him to see me like this, you know?" Nuzzling into her sister's side, "Just...he should be back in a few days knowing him, okay?"
[14:34:05] <Kotono> "Dad'll be back in a few days and then...then...maybe even Hot-chan can..."
[14:37:12] <Makoto> "Yeah." Makoto smiles back, stroking Kotono's hair. "Hotaru-chan, and we can get everyone to help." She nods decisively. "By the time he gets back, we'll be ready."
[14:38:46] <Kotono> "Okay...just today...don't go away anywhere?" Kotono clings.."No...but...I'll be okay." She wipes her eyes, "I...I'm gonna go somewhere private, okay, Sis? I...I wanna go see Momma."
[14:40:11] <Makoto> "Okay." Makoto nods. "Want me to wait here for you, or come with?" She offers gently. "Whatever you want, today."
[14:42:36] <Kotono> "..." Kotono looks away, thoughtful. "I...maybe one day we'll go see each other's...parents, but...Sis." Kotono gently wipes her eyes, "I know...I keep telling myself I have to be able to go alone sometimes, too? Okay?"
[14:44:40] <Makoto> "That's fine." Makoto smiles. "I understand. But I wanted you to know I'm there if you need me." She soothes, patting Kotono's back gently. "I don't want to leave anything to chance if you might not think to ask."
[14:47:41] <Kotono> "Thanks, Sis. I'll talk to you tomorrow or something?" Kotono says, standing up. "I...See you soon?" shes ays, before vanishing herself.
[14:52:38] * Makoto waves as Kotono disappears, looking worried, and beginning to straighten up Kotono's room. Spending awhile on the task, ordering it without reorganizing, Makoto tries to make Kotono's room as much a haven for her distraught little sister as she can, before leaving a note on the bed Telling Kotono that she'll bring a meal over a little later, and winking out, heading back home...
[14:54:28] <Kotono> ---

[Halbarad]

Monday, at school.

[13:45] <@Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[13:46] <@Kotono> Aaah, school Monday morning. The weekend is behind her, completely behind her. Coming to school Usagi yawns and stretches - but there is a good thing! Naru meets up with her halfway, waving and smiling. "Usagi-chan!" she calls. Not the first attention getting thing, either. Everyone walking to school is talking about THEM - the Sailor Senshi.
[13:48] * @Usagi walks through the corridors of Juuban smile with a serene smile on her lips and a pleasant greeting for everyone she knows - she's only human, and it *is* gratifying to be the focus of so much attention. "Good morning, Naru-chan!" she chirps brightly to her oldest friend as they encounter one another.
[13:50] <@Kotono> Hey!" Naru's smile is wide, but she stops and poitns at a poster, "Before everything else, you see that?" She asks. On the wall is a promotinoal poster 'Free scholarships to qualified students. Any grade level eligible. Meeting today after school, room 6-D. "I'm thinking about that..mmm. They're all over the place today."
[13:50] <@Usagi> "Scholarships?" Usagi raises an eyebrow, stepping closer to the poster. "Isn't it a bit early for us to be worrying about university?"
[13:52] <@Kotono> "Well, look at it." Naru smiles, reading, "Full scholarships to deserving students." There's some more text after that, too, but Naru doesn't botehr to read it off. "It's out of the blue, but it wouldn't hurt to think ahead. Besides, it beats working after school with Mom."
[13:55] <@Usagi> "I guess, but... don't you have to be like Ami-chan smart to get a scholarship? Or some sort of really gifted athlete?" Usagi mulls that over, recalling her performance at the last sports festival. "I guess I could maybe get one if I seriously tried, but... that'd mean I'd have to compete and stuff."
[13:55] <@Kotono> "Well, it's worth a shot," Naru laughs at that, rubbing the back of her head. "I like the diea fo free money. Even if some old lady's giving it," she adds.
[13:56] <@Usagi> "Guess it couldn't hurt to have a look," Usagi agrees, peering over the poster to try and see which university it applies to.
[13:58] <@Kotono> No university is listed - the beneficiary seems to be one Haruna Ichiro. "Couldn't hurt!" Naru agrees, turning away. "Anyway, how is it for...Sailor Moon?" Naru leans in to wihisper, a sprightly giggle after.
[14:00] <@Usagi> "Shh!" Usagi hushes her friend. "Not a good idea to talk about it in school, now that everyone's wondering about her," she cautions.
[14:01] <@Kotono> "Sorry, sorry," Naru smirks back, turning away from the poster. "Well, I could start calling you Lassie again?"
[14:02] * @Usagi crosses her arms and gives Naru a *look*.
[14:02] <@Kotono> Naru gives Usagi a *smile*! "Sit? Shake!?" Naru reaches out, grabbing an odango to shake!
[14:04] <@Usagi> "I'm tempted to bite you, if nothing else," the blonde returns poutily, ducking her head away from Naru's grabby hands!
[14:06] <@Kotono> Naru leans in, whispering hotly into Usagi's ear. "OH! So that's how it goes! Well, if my best friend Usagi is...I suppose...oh no, it would be too shameful!" Putting a hand onto her forehead as she looks up, "I just can't!"
[14:09] <@Usagi> "Oooh, so biting's what gets you hot, huh, Naru-chan?" Usagi returns evilly, leaning in just as close and matching her friend's hot whisper. "I'll have to remember that for when you're feeling less uptight." To accent her words, she gives the other schoolgirl a light swat on the hip.
[14:10] <@Kotono> Naru yelps, returning the favor! "Oh, so Usagi's like that,": she whispers back, a little louder. A few people can see this display in the halls of Juuban High, including one Takeshi Eiryo as he heads to class.
[14:11] * +Takeshi simply raises an eyebrow as he approaches the girls. "Morning, Usagi," he says with a nod.
[14:11] <@Usagi> "Oh!" Usagi quickly retreats from Naru, assuming a very prim straight-backed pose with her hands clasped demurely before her. "Good morning, Takeshi," she nods back, smiling pleasantly.
[14:12] <@Kotono> "Eiryo," Naru smiles nicely to him, blushing horribly but saying nothing else.
[14:12] <@Kotono> Behind the girls is a poster, something about free scholarships.
[14:13] <+Takeshi> "Don't let me interrupt your conversation, it looked like you two were enjoying it," Takeshi says with a slight smirk, glancing over the poster briefly.
[14:14] <@Kotono> Free scholarships, meeting after school in room 6-D about it.
[14:14] <@Usagi> "I think we were done," Usagi nods briskly, shooting Naru a very brief glare that's more for show than anything else before she starts walking on to class.
[14:14] * +Takeshi simply chuckles, shaking his head as he follows behind Usagi.
[14:16] <@Kotono> "Let's go!" Naru picks up her pace, heading along to class as well. "How's it going, you two?"
[14:18] <@Usagi> "Did you know yesterday was Takeshi-kun's birthday, Naru-chan?" Usagi blithely informs her friend as they head into class. Classmates should know these things, after all, and it gives them something random to talk about.
[14:20] <@Kotono> The classroom is mostly full, class beginning in a few. "Oh, happy birthday! More reason to hav efun yesterday?"
[14:21] * +Takeshi chuckles. "I had a good time, yeah," Takeshi says with a smile. "Usagi's a good listener."
[14:22] <@Kotono> "Her best talent is her mouth, though!" Naru smiles back, chipper as she bows and goes to sit.
[14:23] * @Usagi eyes Naru. "Something didn't feel quite right about that..." she mutters suspiciously.
[14:24] <+Takeshi> "I think I just won't ask," Takeshi says, raising an eyebrow.
[14:24] <@Kotono> ""Coming from your mouth, that's shockign!" Naru giggles again, sitting down and getting her books out.
[14:25] <@Usagi> "The polite thing to do is pretend you never heard," the blonde informs Takeshi with a slight frown, idly whapping Naru on the back of the head before she goes to sit at her own desk.
[14:27] <@Kotono> "Hey!" Naru rubs her head, as you can overhear conversation - Sailors this and wow that! In fact, you might be the only ones not talking about it! "Sorry, I won't embarrass you front of your boyfriend again," Naru chirps, just a hair too loudly.
[14:27] <+Takeshi> "Sounds like a plan to m... eh?" Takeshi stops cold at that. "Boyfriend?" That earns a blink.
[14:30] * @Usagi sighs. "We're just friends," she reiterates across the room from her own desk as she digs out her books, getting really tired of this conversation.
[14:31] <@Kotono> "Okay." Naru smiles and lets it drop, getting to her own books.
[14:32] * +Takeshi shakes his head and heads to the back of the room and his own seat, pulling out his own books with a snort.
[14:34] <@Kotono> So class begins! Your homeroom teacher looks over her notes, nodding as she clears her throat. "Attention - I'm sure most of you saw the posters today?"
[14:34] <@Kotono> A few students nod, paying proper attention now.
[14:35] * @Usagi does much the same!
[14:35] * +Takeshi does as well, looking up at the teacher.
[14:35] <@Kotono> "The Haruna Ichiro fund was..m.mm. According to this it's all very sudden, but she wishes to meet with interested students today. If you're interested in those scholarships, it's room 6-D afterschool."
[14:38] * +Takeshi nods, privately wondering what's up to make this so sudden. Either way, a scholarship is nothing to sneeze at, so he might as well turn up and see what they're looking for.
[13:07] <@Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[13:08] <@Kotono> So classes end! Naru stretches out and trots over to Usagi, relaxing in the freedom of the day. "Going to come take a peek with me, Usa-chan," Naru asks in easy conversation, as Takeshi also rises and stirs himself. Finally, school's done for the day.
[13:09] * +Takeshi stretches a bit, stiff from sitting most of the afternoon. He packs his books into his bag, wondering whether it'll be worth the time to check out this scholarship thing.
[13:10] <@Usagi> "Eh, don't think I'll bother," the blonde replies to her friend as she gathers her books and rises. "Like anyone would give me a scholarship, anyway," she adds with a self deprecating eyeroll.
[13:11] <@Kotono> "Oh, come on! It'll be fun to see how badly we miss," Naru laughs, patting Usagi's arm. "I thought you wanted to go with Eiryo, anyway?" A raised eyebrow there, the other girl amused.
[13:13] <@Usagi> Usagi's eyeroll is now more irritated. "Naru, just stop it," she requests, keeping her voice down as she hefts her bag, about to depart. "He's not even my type."
[13:15] <@Kotono> "Alright, alright," Naru drops the smile, "You're just so touchy about it! Anyway, wanna come or not," she asks, "I am curious about all that, after all."
[13:18] <@Usagi> "Because you won't shut up about it," the blonde fires back. "Anyway, there's no point," she goes on, glad to change the subject, "I'll leave the scholarships to the people that actually have a chance of getting them."
[13:18] <@Kotono> "Alright...Eiryo?" Naru raises her voice as people file out, "I'm going to that scholarship thing. Did you want to come?"
[13:19] * @Usagi heads on out herself. "See you tomorrow!" she waves to Naru as she departs.
[13:20] * +Takeshi glances over at Naru. "Hmm? Yeah, I figured I'd poke my head in at least. Got work after school today, though, so if it's too packed I'll have to pass on it."
[13:21] <@Kotono> "Well, at least we can go together," Naru offers with a smile, starting to walk and swishing her schoolbag with her. "Shall we?"
[13:21] <+Takeshi> "Sure," Takeshi replies easily, slipping his bookbag over his arm as he heads out of the classroom behind Naru.
[13:24] <@Kotono> So out you go! SEveral students are going in the same direction, but it's not a hugely long walk. "Getting along with Usagi," she asks innocently, "You're kind of quiet otehrwise."
[13:25] <+Takeshi> "Yeah, we talk a bit at lunch," Takeshi agrees. "She's one of the easiest people to talk to I think I've ever met."
[13:26] <@Kotono> "Usagi's just really nice." Naru smiles as you head along, "It's nice to really meet you, Takeshi. You don't mind?" The question that follows is with a little shy smile of her own.
[13:28] <+Takeshi> "Nah, it's no big deal," the dark-haired boy says dismissively. "Like I said, I don't know if I'll even be able to stay long enough to talk to them - with all the posters and the teachers talking about it, I'd be surprised if half the school isn't in 6-D by the time we get there."
[13:31] <@Kotono> Indeed, you're there! About sixty people aer inside, as you also note a Sailor Senshi and a knight sitting int he rear.

[Asrana]

[11:04:07] <Kowork> ---Arc 2 go!---
[11:05:11] <Kowork> Aaaaah! Laaaaaate! This is what Makoto Kino realises as she slowly eats breakfast on Monday morning. Sure, it's a lazy morning of hearing the TV go on about the Sailor Senshi and gnawing down breakfast, but the time got away from her. If she doesn't hurry, she is going to be late with a capital L! Not like it bothers your other housemate, Iori snoozing on the couch peacefully.
[11:08:59] * Makoto grumbles to herself as she finishes pulling on her thigh high stockings to go under her school skirt to ward off the winter chill, hopping a little and sticking out her tongue at Iori. "Showoff." She growls goodnaturedly as the stockings are on to her satisfaction, and bolts for the door, grabbing her satchel and slipping on her shoes as she flees. "I think I liked it better before we suddenly got famous..." Makoto mumbles, locking the
[11:10:17] <Makoto> Makoto mumbles, locking the apartment door behind her and sprinting for the stairs. Catchup time!
[11:11:23] <Kowork> So Makoto sprints out! It's a beautiful morning, racing on outside! As you pass through the main gates you pass Mamoru, smiling easily as he yawns, holding a bag of breakfast fast food in one hand. "Hey?" he says as Makoto races by.
[11:12:32] * Makoto slows down to wave at Mamoru, flashing him a sunny smile. "Hey! Nice to finally see you around!"
[11:15:36] <Kotono> "Hi. Want one," Mamoru holds up his bag agreeably - McDonalds! - as Makoto slows. "But you're going to be late, aren't you?"
[11:18:06] <Makoto> "Nah, I run fast." Makoto grins cheerfully, examining the Mcdonalds carefully. It has zero value as food, but it sure smells good. "I would, but I'd never be able to eat and run at the same time. Thanks, though." Makoto demurs, smiling. "You don't have anything on the go in the mornings?"
[11:20:18] <Kotono> "Not really - haven't gotten a job or back to school yet." MAmoru just shrugs a little smiling as he goes to lean on the outside wall.
[11:21:59] <Makoto> "Bah, showoff." Makoto sticks out her tongue, then examines the watchface on the inside of her wrist. "Mmm, I better get going if I don't want to sprint all the way. See you around soon?"
[11:24:49] <Kotono> "See you soon," Mamoru smiles easily, laughing at that. His longer hair moves a bit, down to his shoulders. He's gained some cut and well defined muscle mass, a black T-shirt showing it off this morning. "Good luck."
[11:26:35] <Makoto> "I'll need it." Makoto smirks, turning and fleeing, ponytail trailing like the tail of a comet as she flees toward school! Might as well get it over with!
[11:38:42] <Kotono> Makoto races and runs! Past the Crown and teh shopping area she goes, hauling her fine ass as fast as it'll go! But it all nearly comes to an end in a moment! THere's a blur from an alley, a boy nearly running right into her! Asher is only able to stop in his furious sprint by the sharpest reaction possible, finishing his momentum a mere inch from MAkoto's face and side, coming up just in time!
[11:38:59] <Kotono> The impact is avoided, but Makoto suddenly has a very quickly stopped young man in her face!
[11:40:12] <Asher> "Ghghgwhatthe --" Asher nearly ducks into a roll, but manages to bring himself to a screeching still as his mind registers the face for a moment, then freezes him outright. "Makoto-san? Sorry about that!"
[11:41:20] <Makoto> "Whoa!" Makoto exclaims, skidding to a stop-really skidding, girl's loafers aren't meant for that sort of abuse-as she also stops, recognition of the boy seldom met but often in the background dawning. "It's no problem." She replies, shaking her head. "Late, huh?"
[11:42:16] <Asher> "I think we're both going to be at this rate," Asher bites out quickly. "See you at school, ne?" He flashes a brief grin and then arrows his way into the same sprint again, taking off with furious determination! Might as well make the best out of it!
[11:43:43] <Makoto> "Heh." is all Makoto replies with as she resumes her own headlong dash, racing Asher to school for fun!
[11:44:35] <Kotono> OOC - Heh, both of youb ody check if you're gonna race <_<
[11:49:40] <Asher> roll 2d6
[11:49:40] * Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=1, 4]
[11:50:50] <Makoto> roll 2d6
[11:50:51] * Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=2, 5]
[11:52:17] <Kotono> So they race and run! Makoto is ever so slightly faster and by the end she's through the gates first, just as you can see the last students filing in! Asher and Makoto might manage to make it in yet!
[11:53:48] <Makoto> "Hah!" Makoto crows delightedly, seeing she may just make it yet, and pouring on all the speed she can muster to get through the gates before they close...
[11:53:50] <Asher> Asher's heaving out of breath at this point, having spent waaaaay more energy into this haul than really was healthy but stumbles into the gate anyway, glad at least that they made it before the bell rings! He staggers his way to the appropriate hallway, feeling lightheaded.
[11:54:12] <Asher> And happily letting Mako take the lead. He's spent, at this point.
[11:57:25] <Makoto> Makoto is still rather energetic, disappearing into the school and far ahead, breathing hard, but enjoying the chance to stretch her legs.
[11:57:39] <Kotono> So Makoto races on while Asher falls behind! Makoto juuuuuust dashes into class as the bell rings! Asher's a little behind her, getting a look from the teacher as he heads in. "Just making it in, you two," he inquires.
[11:58:29] <Asher> Asher would have some kind of expression of embarassment if his cheeks weren't already flushed red. He grimly takes his seat in silence, calming down the screaming lungs and subsequently drops his backpack. Oi.
[11:59:36] <Makoto> Makoto slows and give the teacher her best smile. "Living dangerously today, sir!" She chirps, heading to her seat. *Maybe Hotaru's right. I -could- be addicted to adrenaline.*
[12:00:34] <Kotono> "Alright, but you two are off the hook today." Shaking his head at both, "As Miss Kino and Mr. Shinsei recover from racing to class today and getting all sweaty? I'm sure all of you have seen the posters around today?"
[12:01:32] * Makoto perks up a little as she takes her seat, listening intently as she fishes out her books, and the paper she practices with when class is too dull. *Posters?*
[12:01:47] <Asher> Posters. What posters. Asher jogs his memory for the remembering of such things and doesn't find any. Not like he's been PAYING GREAT ATTENTION to academia at all, though.
[12:02:19] <Kotono> The class nods, looking attentively and perfectly bored. About the same, really, as always! "According to this, the Haruna Ichiro Fund is going to be looking for scholarship applications and will be giving them away today after school in room 6-D." A pause as he reads, "The notice is sudden, isn't it?"
[12:02:48] <Kotono> "Oh, those posters up all over the place this morning," One boy yawns and nods. "Sounds like easy money for the brainheads, teach."
[12:03:08] * Makoto sits bolt upright at the mention of the name, her eyes widening. *It couldn't...could it?*
[12:05:15] <Asher> Haruna? Asher's head also snaps to attention at that, the conversation having all but passed in his memory. Now it came back into the forefront of his head with startling alacrity. His eyes go from the teacher to the back of Mako's figure. What was the link here, again...?
[12:06:20] * Makoto is leaning forward intently, her frame far more tense than usual for classtime, staring at the teacher intently as he spills details.
[12:09:03] <Kotono> "Mmm. According to this, the tagline is 'A chance to make a impact on the world'. So if you're interested, it's today in room 6-D right after school."
[12:09:19] <Kotono> "Hey, free scholarships?"A nother girl adds curiously, aloud. "That's worth trying out!"
[12:10:02] * Makoto just stares-Attaching Gramma's name to a scholarship seems so odd...definitely need to go look at what's up.
[12:10:15] <Asher> Collecting his breath, Asher wearily raises a hand for a question. "What are the primary qualifications for the scholarship?"
[12:12:56] <Kotono> "Oh, Mr. Shinsei..mmm." The teacher pushesu p his glasses as he reads. "According to this, 'making an impact on the coming world'. Take that forw hat you will."
[12:13:42] * Makoto shifts uncomfortably.
[12:15:18] <Asher> "I... see." Asher leaves it at that, narrowing his eyes as he looks down at his notebook.
[12:16:25] <Kotono> "IF that's all we'll begin..." The teacher goes on, lessons starting! OOC - Are either of you going to act on this before the end of school in any way?
[12:17:17] <Asher> OOC - I'm probably going to talk to Mako during lunch.
[12:17:32] <Makoto> OOC-Probably not. All I'll do is make up my mind to go see.
[12:18:09] <Kotono> OOC - Okay. I can set you two up talking since Asher's going ask you. We'll go from there.
[12:18:27] <Makoto> OOC= 'k
[12:18:46] <Kotono> So lunch comes. A time of very raw hunger, students getting up or sitting down to eat, plenty of chacnes to rise or not or to find someone. Even if Asher is hungry enough to kill a horse now...
[12:19:36] <Asher> ...satisfying unanswered questions still takes priority, much to his stomach's protest. Asher stands up from his desk, bringing his books to order, but at some of the students file away from the classroom, he points his voice towards Makoto. "Makoto-san, do you know this Haruna by any chance?"
[12:21:29] * Makoto gets up to go find some nice place outside, pausing as Asher speaks to her, startled slightly since the boy initiates so little contact. "Ah...Hai." She nods, hestitating as she tries to figure out how to explain their relationship so that he could understand.
[12:23:13] <Asher> "There was a Haruna that dropped by the bookstore I work at a few days back," Asher explains patiently, seeming to note Makoto's cues and bringing up his backpack himself. The classroom was just not really to his tastes, anyway. He nods to her, staying behind against his desk and letting her take the lead.
[12:24:07] <Kotono> Students pass around as you get out. You can note several posters about this scholarship now that you aren't racing dead to class. About the same message as the others, really.
[12:25:16] <Makoto> Makoto chews on her bottom lip as she fishes out her bento and a sheaf of papers and index cards, all blank, starting to walk and taking a deep breath as Asher accompanies her, beginning to speak.
[12:25:30] <Asher> "Anyway," Asher continues, keeping his voice low and following at a respectful distance from her, "She was the first visitor that I knew which Mokou-san seemed to know. My employer." He pauses for a moment, shaking his head. "And their conversation... I don't really eavesdrop, but it was odd. And she mentioned you."
[12:27:20] <Makoto> "Well...Yes." Makoto nods uncertainly. "My...Mama and Papa died a long time ago. When I was about four years old. Gramma was my babysitter before the crash, and after...well, she sort of...shared me with Uncle Taka and Auntie Fuuko. I don't have any biological family, but I call her my Gramma."
[12:30:11] <Asher> Asher only gives a bit of a nod at this. No need to prolong the story with condolences or words of sympathy that she'd probably heard endless times. His eyes remain riveted at a nearby wall with a poster before addressing her again. "Well, Mokou-san and Haruna-san seemed to be ... old friends, I guess would be the best way to put it. And they kept talking about you, and your 'friends', and how special you and they were. She knows, I imagine?
[12:32:12] <Makoto> "Yes." Makoto nods. "If anything happened to go wrong-I couldn't stand the thought of anyone precious to me getting caught in the crossfire accidentally because I hadn't told them enough." Makoto agrees, leading the boy outside the school and into the sunshine.
[12:33:40] <Asher> Asher takes a deep sigh at that. "I should really get around to doing myself instead of putting it off," he admits glumly. "In any case, though. I ... guess the rest of the conversation wasn't really that important. There'd been something between them in the past, and Haruna-san was asking Mokou-san to move on from it. And they both implied to each other about their ages... about a new generation..." He pauses, trying to not make this sound
[12:34:08] <Asher> trying to not make this sound uncomfortable. "Maybe she's just looking out for us... for you, with this scholarship?"
[12:35:52] <Kotono> The halls of Juuban High are noisy as you walk along. There are outside places that are quieter, but right now lots of happy teenagers are going and gabbing about.
[12:36:18] * Makoto gives Asher a sidelong, thoughtful look. "Maybe." She allows, doubtfully. "Gramma has been...different lately. Though, The name might be a co-incidence. I can't imagine She's the only Haruna Ichiro in Japan. Or even Tokyo, for that matter.
[12:36:21] <Makoto> "
[12:37:20] <Asher> "Could be." Asher looks at Makoto with his own doubt on his face. "But she specifically mentioned a Makoto. And her friends. And she was around the right age... she actually looked pretty well, too. Mokou-san made a comment about that."
[12:42:53] * Makoto laughs softly. "No, no. I meant on the poster, Asher-kun. I wouldn't be surprised if Gramma was friends with your boss. It's this scholarship thing that's odd to me."
[12:45:23] <Asher> "...ohhh." Well, that should've been blaringly obvious. Asher feels his cheeks flush up in embarassment - again! It'd been a swell set of days so far. "Yeah, I guess that's possible," he admits a bit meekly. "Guess we'll just have to see. I.. should really grab some lunch before I starve myself. You going to go to the meeting?"
[12:47:07] <Makoto> "Yeah." Makoto nods and smiles at him. "It might be Gramma, might not, but I'm curious what's going on, so I'll go have a look." Makoto shrugs. "Wanna come?"
[12:49:17] <Asher> A shrug in return. Why not, the look said? But his stomach growls incessantly and the expression replaces itself with a pained one, holding up a hand to excuse himself with a slight smile. "I'll see you there, then, just going to make a quick run at a snack or something."
[12:51:15] <Makoto> "I'm gonna go sit under the trees." Makoto nods agreeably. "Come see me, if you have time later. I've been meaning to ask you about Sis-er, Kotono."
[12:51:58] <Asher> "So you can plot against me more?" Asher throws back this glare as he goes, but the look is friendly, not hostile, as he takes off to the cafeteria!
[12:54:51] * Makoto blinks, cocking her head curiously as Asher goes off, a puzzled look on her face. *He seemed fine, though that was a funnily defensive reply.* "Actually, I just worry about her." Makoto calls as he heads off, shaking her head. *These new people take getting used to...*
[13:07:55] <Kotono> So lunch comes and goes! Finally afterschool comes! Some people are even talking about going to 6-D, people rising and getting ready. It's a bit of a walk but nothing too big for either Asher or Makoto if they wish to go.
[13:09:46] * Makoto gathers up her books and papers and stuffs them away, and heads for the classroom door, pausing there to look back at Asher questioningly before departing the room.
[13:13:38] <Asher> Asher follows closely behind without a word, just seeming impassive for the time being and bringing his own belongings. He glances at a few of the posters on their way to the room, but doesn't make a comment on it, having been his general quiet self throughout class.
[13:14:25] <Makoto> Makoto seems perfectly content to go without talking-in this case, her mind is more occupied with what this little mystery is all about, anyway...
[13:17:27] <Kotono> So Asher and Makoto head along! The room is a large one - about the size of three or four normal classrooms, and it's filling up quickly! At least fourty people are already here, chatting and reading as they wait. On a whiteboard is written 'Seat yourselves, we'll begin shortly.'
[13:18:04] <Kotono> A man in a dark suit leans back against the far wall, buzz cut blue hair and a gaunt face looking out. He checks his watch occasionally, a golden trinket.
[13:18:33] <Asher> Yeah, uh, guess he'll do just that, letting Mako choose the seat out first as he glances about. Asher instinctively glances at his own watch, getting used to the silly thing.
[13:20:34] <Makoto> Makoto frowns a little. She doesn't really expect to be awarded a scholarship-she's curious about other things. Best to stay unobtrusive, and sit near the back. Matching actions to thoughts, Makoto heads to the emptiest desks near the back corner of the room where everything can be observed.
[13:21:38] <Asher> Asher quietly takes a desk near Makoto, bringing out his notebook out of habit. Heck, the things they were asking for on this scholarship seemed far too vague, anyway. Might as well make some sense of it while they were here.
[13:24:15] <Makoto> Makoto smiles at Asher, and fishes a pack of...are those playing cards? from her school satchel, just idly fiddling with them as she waits.
[13:25:45] <Kotono> About five minutes pass - more people are coming in. The man up front smiles a bit as he looks around at no one in particular. His black eyes do brush over Makoto's a moment and Asher's, but he's just doing the rounds, it seems.
[13:27:18] <Asher> He seems out of place, anyway, although anyone rich enough to fund a scholarship would probably be able to hire someone like him, Asher supposes. Gnawing on the tip of his pen idly, he writes down some chicken scratch, mostly tapping the pen on the notebook and waiting.
[13:27:44] <Makoto> Makoto, pretending to be immersed in the cards, watches the man, wondering if her grandmother knows him. Taking a card from the deck, Makoto tries to feel the deceased wood within the card, and make it harden, idly practising.
[13:29:01] <Kotono> OOc - Soul check, Mako, while we wait. <_<
[13:30:54] <Makoto> roll 2d6
[13:30:56] * Hatbot --> "Makoto rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=5, 3]
[13:31:30] <Kotono> The card and wood harded stiffly to Makoto's power. It's a solid projectile ready to slice or penetrate now.
[13:32:28] * Makoto smiles to herself and taps the card lightly on the desk before looking at it. *Huh. Queen of Spades. I wonder if that means anything?*
[13:34:54] * Takeshi steps into the room, glancing around at the fairly large crowd gathered. "...yeah, about what I expected," he says to Naru, shaking his head. "Unless this is just some kind of general announcement, there's no way I've got the time to wait while they talk to everyone here."
[13:37:10] <Kotono> Naru smiles, looking about and evne waving to Makoto. "Well, I'm going to talk to Makoto - I haven't seen her in awhile. Figure it's worth a shot anwyay." There's a man in a dark suit with buzz cut blue hair against the side wall up front, watching and waiting. His eyes idly look Naru and Takeshi over, but don't seem to find anything that interesting with them.
[13:38:14] * Takeshi notes both Asher and Makoto in the crowd as well, but doesn't do anything to draw their attention in particular, simply heading out of the room and on to home - he'll need to get changed before work, after all.
[13:38:49] <Makoto> Makoto looks up from her playtime to smile and wave back at Naru, raising an eyebrow at the boy by her side, and simply watching him leave.
[13:41:25] <Asher> Asher, too, is preoccupied in his own thoughts, seemingly, although he does look around every once in a while and wonder idly when the meeting is going to start.
[13:45:06] <Kotono> As Naru coems to sit next to Makoto, "Hey," she smiles, just as the man clears his throat. "Mrs. Ichiro will be in here momentarily."
[13:46:05] <Makoto> "Hi." Makoto smiles. "Here to get a jump on university?" she asks starting a little and looking to the front as Her Gramma's name is mentioned.
[13:47:54] <Kotono> "Something like that - mostly just curious." Naru smiles winsomely, settling in. "Guess it's starting?"
[13:49:01] <Asher> Asher throws a glance over to see Naru. Does he recognize her?
[13:49:41] <Kotono> Not offhand, really. The sort you've probably seen at school once or twice but little more. A bit cute, though.
[13:50:19] <Makoto> "I guess so..." Makoto murmurs in a thoughtful tone. "Asher-kun, this is Naru-chan." She interjects hastily, before things begin. "Usagi-chan's friend. She...uh, knows."
[13:53:49] <Asher> Asher inclines his head with a gracious nod, smiling but saying little. "Good to have confidants around, at least."
[13:55:07] <Makoto> Makoto smiles. "Serious, silent type." Makoto confides to Naru in a discreet whisper, glancing at the front as she does.  
[13:55:48] <Kotono> "Oh!" Naru looks Asher over once again, curiously, as...Gramma enters. Haruna Ichiro, wearing a demure white dress and walking in on high heels. A different look, face full of eager vitality. "Hello, everyone," she says in her most friendly voice, a glance at the man in the suit before she goes on.
[13:56:26] * Makoto gasps, very softly. "It is her..." she mumbles, shocked. *What is going on?*
[13:57:45] <Asher> Yep. It is her. Asher fixates his gaze on Haruna, although for some reason he keeps one eye half-trained on the man in the business suit - not hard, given how much he stands out of place here.
[14:00:13] <Kotono> "Everyone, I'll get to the point." She sounds confident and strong, yet as loving as Makoto remembers. "When you get older you realise that when you were young, you had the best chances in your life. All your potential is in the here and now to bloom, and I want to aid those of you with the vision to make good lives."
[14:02:34] * Makoto only is partly concentrating on the words, more taken aback by the change in the maternal older woman-not a trace of illness shows, and she looks younger than ever...
[14:03:56] <Kotono> Naru nods, watching on as Haruna speaks.
[14:04:39] <Kotono> Her hair is even a bit grayer and less white, her steps firm. "You never know how much time you have left," she goes on, "The old know that most of all. That's why - 5 scholarships. It's part of the money my departed husband left me. I only want to see it go to people who can ensure a good future for themselves and others."
[14:06:59] <Kotono> Students talk amid themselves at this, quiet whisperings. "Five? Not as many as I'd hoped, but maybe we'll have as hot?" Naru asks quietly.
[14:08:23] * Makoto ponders that, momentary jealousy fading as she examines the concept-knowing Gramma certainly doesn't entitle her to her money, and there are lots of kids like Ami-chan who could make it. "I dunno about me-I kinda struggle without Ami-chan to tutor me. Hotaru-chan's all that keeps me above failing." Makoto admits. "But Usagi says you're pretty bright, Naru-chan. I bet you've got a shot." She agrees warmly.
[14:10:16] <Kotono> "I might," Naru blushes, "If Ami was here she'd get all 5 without trying, though!"
[14:10:58] <Asher> Asher looks mildly surprised, but more at internal thoughts than anything else. Why had there been so much exposure to this particularl scholarshipprogram if Haruna-san was only planning to give out five scholarships? The standard programs ran a lot more than that. He crosses his arms, pen tapping, waiting to hear more.
[14:10:59] <Kotono> "Now..." Gramma smiles out, Haruna looking around. "No essay, no quiz. I'm going to ask each and every one of you why you want this and why you're going for it." A pause as Haruna settles on Makoto and then Asher, seeming to smile to both. "You there -" A point at Asher, "Could you start?"
[14:11:06] <Asher> ...oh, well, shit,.
[14:11:20] <Kotono> The man in the suit looks to Aser at this, smiling. Not really a pleasant smile, but there doesn't seem to be much to it.
[14:12:46] <Asher> Asher's face screws up in consternation before collecting the brainfreeze that hits and straightening out his thoughts. Ah, hell hell hell. This was the last thing he wanted to be dealing with. Quizzes and essays were so much better. Taking a deep breath and a covert glance to Makoto, he begins slowly.
[14:14:18] * Makoto stiffens slightly as They're picked, and she has doubts about the randomness. Hastily, Makoto tries to throw together an answer that doesn't sound indifferent while Asher speaks. It'd be bad form to disdain it, even if she's convinced she's not getting it.
[14:15:23] <Asher> "Well..." The pause is quickly killed as Asher presses on, drawing from memory the words he'd used from essays before on similar topics. "Like everyone, I'm sure, I want to make it to college. Not just for the education and the employment prospects, even though these are important in society." A slow breath, trying to gain momentum. "There are a lot of people out there with dreams and goals, with things they really, really want. Well, to be
[14:18:00] <Asher> completely honest, I'm not one of them." The brutal honesty of this statement makes himself even feel a little awkward. But it'd worked before, and no need to resort to lying. "I feel like stepping ahead to college is the way for me to find some direction. I may not know exactly what I want to do yet, or how I'm going to go about doing it, but I do know that I -want- to find something to fit that. Something to strive for. It's so easy for a
[14:19:45] <Asher> "And direction in life's more important than anything else, because no matter how good you are or how hard you work, what does it matter if you can't see something come out of it in the end? Right now it's still early and I still have time to figure that all out. But before I can even do that, I want the opportunity to do so - more than anything else." He catches his breath again, this part of his words not entirely comfortable. "There are..
[14:20:18] <Asher> OOC - Just strike that last one, reformatting that.
[14:21:20] <Asher> "It's so easy for a lot of people, but not for me. And direction in life's more important than anything else, because no matter how good you are or how hard you work, what does it matter if you can't see something come out of it in the end? Right now it's still early and I still have time to figure that all out. But before I can even do that, I want the opportunity to do so -"
[14:21:30] <Asher> "- more than anything else." He catches his breath again, this part of his words not entirely comfortable. "There are... restraints on everyone. We all have our situations that can sometimes hold us back from doing what we aim for. And I suppose it doesn't hurt to ask for help in that regard, to find out that direction I'm looking for," he finishes up with a brief smile.
[14:24:03] <Asher> Restraining the urge to take a shuddering breath, Asher takes his seat back down, eyes wanting to look down but focusing themselves on Haruna. Words be damned, it'd be no good if he couldn't even put up a proper polite posture.
[14:26:44] <Kotono> Naruna smiles at the end, nodding to Asher. "Well said, young man." But it's not Haruna that speaks! It's the gentleman in a suit, watching him as he sits back down. HE even smiles as well - but it's not a nice smile. There's something dimly predatory about it, or perhaps animalistic.
[14:27:27] <Kotono> "Thank you," Haruna smiles, "Oh, and your name before we're done?" She picks up a clipboard, pen at teh ready.
[14:27:48] * Makoto frowns a little at the man in the suit, her eyes narrowing.
[14:27:50] <Asher> Oh. Really. This chills Asher to some extent, hiding it with a semi-embarassed smile but more looking out of the corner of his eye at the man. What the hell were the dynamics here? "Asher Shinsei, ma'am," he calls out instinctively.
[14:33:25] <Kotono> "Thank you, I liked your speech. You read a lot," she asks, looking now to MAkoto and pointing. "Aaah...we know each other so would you go next, Makoto dear?"
[14:38:58] * Makoto colors instantly, standing and nodding with a nervous smile, her face hot. "I don't have anything as grand to say as Asher-kun. All I know is that people I respect and care about expect big things from me, and I don't want to disappoint any of them." She murmurs, dropping her eyes a little bit as she's the brief focal point of attention. "My parents especially." She adds quietly, reddening more and sitting down.
[14:42:48] <Kotono> "Not too bad," Naru murmurs to both as they're done, nodding.
[14:43:26] <Kotono> "Mmmm, very nice, dear." Haruna smiles as the eyes of the entire room are on Makoto. The man in thes uit smiles silkly at Makoto at her words, speaking up, "Your parents passed?" he asks.
[14:44:32] <Makoto> "...yes." Makoto grinds out, unhappily. She didn't go out of her way to advertise that, but now a whole lot of people know...
[14:45:27] <Kotono> "So they're peacefully asleep, but you want to impress them anyway? A common motivation," he notes, looking right on at Makoto.
[14:46:05] <Asher> Asher turns to look with a somewhat not-too-friendly glare at the man. This definitely was not something that sat well in his book, especially to a fello friend.
[14:47:48] <Makoto> "..." Makoto's eyes narrow at the man. "I don't understand much-but I can tell you don't understand." Makoto replies with forced calm. "It's not a literal desire."
[14:48:30] <Kotono> "Mmmm." But  any further words by him are cut off, Haruna's eyes flashing shame and apology. "That's enough...next," she asks, as a boy just behind you is called on.
[14:49:40] <Asher> Downcasting his gaze again, Asher bites on his lower lip, staying quiet again.
[14:49:49] * Makoto smiles weakly at Gramma, containing emotion-badly, but managing-the pain is not so raw as it once was, but still the callous picking at an old wound hurt.
[14:57:23] <Kotono> So the next boy goes on. The suited man watches Makoto a little more, but soon turns his attention to the next speech and the next. Most of them are pretty plain, giving Makoto and Asher time to think.
[14:59:22] <Asher> Time to think, indeed. Asher is seated deep back in a somewhat relaxed posture, mostly drowning out the words of the students and continuing to keep a lingering gaze on the man and Haruna out of the corner of his eye, his arms crossed. He turns whenever either looks toward their direction to avoid discretion, glancing at Makoto occasionally but otherwise offering no comment.
[14:59:54] * Makoto doesn't bother to think, spacing out and concentrating on breathing in spaces-later tonight, she'll let it hurt. For now, though...no one is allowed to watch her bleed, especially not figuratively, where she's not so tough.
[15:04:59] <Kotono> So it goes on. For about an hour, Naru even going. When it's done..."Mmmm..." Haruna clears her throat, pausing a moment to put a hand to her chest. "Those wer eall good."
[15:06:40] * Makoto fixes her attention on Gramma curiously as she speaks, wondering again if any clues will be given.
[15:11:01] <Kotono> "I'll get back to all of you soon, thank you," Haruna bows, the figure in a suit smiling to all and going out before her, holding the door open.
[15:12:17] <Asher> Asher stands up at that quietly, gathering his stuff and packing up the notebook, which in the end turns out to have not required that much note-taking after all. Snagging Reclaimer, and holding it over his shoulder, he glances at Makoto in askance.
[15:13:56] * Makoto sighs a little, giving a rather disquieted look at the door and standing up and pursing her lips. "Well, I guess I can just ask her-" Makoto mumbles, wishing she'd thought to do that instead of coming to the meeting itself.
[15:15:10] <Kotono> As they go, you also can note the man checking his watch again, before following Haruna out...
[15:15:26] <Asher> A brief nod as he steps across from her, heading for the door himself. He speaks up in a quieter, but more urgent tone. "And who is that man? He really... just struck me the wrong way..."
[15:17:15] <Makoto> "Yeah-I'll call her and ask tonight." Makoto nods. *This is all too disconcerting. I'd hoped it was nothing...but this is...really odd.*
[15:19:02] <Asher> "Alright," Asher acknowledges, stepping towards the doorframe and giving a brief smile, and a side glance at Naru. "If anything comes up, just give me a heads up at school or on the phone. I'll see you tomorrow?"
[15:19:21] <Kotono> Naru smiles as well, lingering but waving to both as they go.
[15:20:52] <Makoto> "Yeah." Makoto gives him a smile enough to acknowledge before turning to Naru, and waving. "See you soon, I hope." She gives the auburn haired girl a wry smile.
[15:21:25] <Makoto> With that, the tall girl turns and goes her own way, feeling more alone than she has in a long time...
[15:23:21] <Kotono> ----

[Asrana]

This happens monday-ish, the week after the press conference.

[13:44:01] <Kotono> On getting home from school, Hotaru finds Mom at home - she's in the living room, carrying a box in her arms and still dressed in her work clothes. "Move," she grunts as she walks by Hotaru, her load seemingly heavy.
[13:45:09] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru slips to the side quickly, getting out of the way of her parent. "Want any help?" she asks, blinking a little at the box. What could this be?
[13:49:12] <Kotono> "Yeah," Reiko stops and looks back, "Other box is in the kitchen, it's lighter. Just food in there - office potluck tonight." She pauses a moment, and almost idly, "Want to come? It's informal and your Dad'll be there too."
[13:54:21] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru blinks once or twice, nodding. "Sure?" she snickers a little, shaking her head. "I was about to ask if you minded me showing up at work as a helper more often..." she murmurs, beginning to move towards the kitchen. No reason to press, she guesses.
[13:59:03] <Kotono> "We'll see," Mom goes out to the car, waiting on Hotaru to join her perhaps?
[13:59:49] * Hotaru-chan shakes her head a little, going for the next box and to go join her mother. Something not to push too hard.
[14:02:03] <Kotono> The passenger door is open, the boxes put in the back. "Come on, I'll drive you there." Reiko offers, waiting.
[14:04:43] <Hotaru-chan> "Thanks," Hotaru offers softly, glancing at her uniform. "Informal?" she asks curiously, wondering at that point.
[14:05:11] <Kotono> "Casual and with family." Reiko smiles just a little bit, starting to drive. There's a pause after, "Takeshi'll probably bet here...and speaking of?"
[14:07:18] <Hotaru-chan> "Speaking of?" Hotaru asks, glancing over at her mother and smiling a bit. Takeshi...nice to hang out with, but...safely distant? Hardly baseless.
[14:11:51] <Kotono> "Hotaru, I'm tired of all this," Mom goes on without preamble, eyes on the road but yet not really paying attention.
[14:17:31] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shifts to lean into the door a little and turn, looking more driectly at her mother. "Mmm?" she asks softly, biting her lip. "The fighting?" she hazards.
[14:20:44] <Kotono> "I want a daughter...I want a real daughter. Not someone I hate." Reiko sounds tired, hurt all over again. Her hands weakly clutch the steering wheel, driving going on automatic. "
[14:26:07] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a soft and deep breath, her arms folding over each other as she watches her mother. "How?" she asks softly, chewing on her lip. "I just...well, I don't know," she admits, shaking her head. "I'm still...I just don't know anything else, and I -agree-, so...how can we?"
[14:32:58] <Kotono> Reiko drives through the light idly, nearly running a yellow as she goes on, looking entirely at Hotaru. "I want to love you," Reiko says, sounding tired and even scared. "Ever since you've gotten distant it's never been like that again, has it?"
[14:36:54] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru sighs a little, closing her eyes. "It hasn't been like before that, no," she sighs quietly. "Well, before I discovered magic," she nods, her legs beginning to pull up to herself, and then letting them go.
[14:39:12] <Kotono> "I want it to be like that...Hotaru..." Mother slowly lets a tear escape her eyes, "I want my daughter."
[14:39:41] <Kotono> Coming to another yellow light Mom drives on, face mostly downcast. "I want her...not this Saturn I see more and more."
[14:43:30] <Hotaru-chan> "Park, before you hit something," Hotaru suggests softly, reaching over to touch her mother's arm, sighing as she moves over in her her seat, closer and brushign Reiko's arm, burshing across it. "I wish I knew the line between them...or that there wasn't one, just...I want to talk, but stop the car first?"
[14:43:39] <Kotono> roll 2d6
[14:43:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=4, 1]
[14:44:11] <Kotono> Reiko begins to react, but the SLAM of metal on metal disturbs everything! The intersection becomes a rough meeting, Hotaru slammed roughly into her door!
[14:44:53] <Kotono> The world spins around as the car is knocked back, Mother's cry one of agony and wind knocked from her!
[14:45:32] * Hotaru-chan curses under her breath, pain and shock ignored as she focuses sharply on what's around her, violence becoming the question, suddenly overruled by the sound of her mother's voice, and tearing her attention that way.
[14:46:30] <Kotono> It takes a few moments to steady - Mom's door is pushing in a good ways! Her eyes are squeezed shut, airbag popping around her! "Aaaaaaah!" Reiko cries, as ou see another compact car has side impacted you dead on via Reiko's side.  There is a sickening crack as she moves, from her midsection.
[14:46:49] <Kotono> All around you horns blare after a moment of silence, your own head hurting on th side - you feel something warm trickling down.
[14:48:59] <Hotaru-chan> "Stay still," Hotaru hisses sharply at her parent, unbuckling herself and getting out, hand into her henshin pen. "Saturn Power, Make Up," she growls, moving around to her mother's side of the car. She'll have to cut the door away.
[14:51:56] <Kotono> "Htoaru...help..now.." Mom feebly reaches out, blood coming from her mouth in a coughing spurt.
[14:52:33] <Kotono> The intersection is busy, a few people watching on as Sailor Saturn appears. Cars stop at the intersection, but at least not to omany people are around.
[14:54:12] <Sailor_Saturn> It's a lash of pure destruction, her will tearing out at metal and anything with finite energies, delicately, carefully avoiding any living beings as she lashes out with her entire spirit at the front end of the other car and door of her mother's, shivering in a mix of panic, rage, and anguish at the...she can't even think about it, tears breaking out on their own.
[14:58:12] <Kotono> OOC - Soul check -2
[14:58:32] <Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6-2
[14:58:34] * Hatbot --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6-2 and gets 0." [2d6=1, 1]
[14:59:17] <Sailor_Saturn> roll 1d6
[14:59:18] * Hatbot --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 1d6 and gets 4." [1d6=4]
[14:59:27] <Kotono> The metal around Reiko merely vanishes into nothingness! The entire door and side of the car is vaporised, , giving you full access to her!
[15:01:57] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru doesn't hesitate, going to her mother with her energy already switching forms. She hugs her parent loosely, letting all the energy she can manage flood into Reiko. "You can't, you can't..." she whimpers, tears streaming down her cheeks as her whole universe narrows down to just her parent.
[15:03:18] <Kotono> Blood flows from Reiko's mouth, staning Hotaru's fuku as healing light enters her! You feel weakness in her ribs, but you also feel her breath. "I'm...not going to die...Hotaru-chan," Mom manages to get out breathlessly. "Ribs...screaming. Leg...think my leg's broken.."
[15:07:21] <Sailor_Saturn> "And I'm making sure of that," Hotaru hisses softly, her senses flickering down, checking Reiko's entire form for injuries and intrusions. THe leg break might've been shock, or there might be something that needs cutting away. "Your ribs might be in your lungs, too," she whispers, voice cracking on that realization.
[15:11:20] <Kotono> "Barely breathe..." Mom agrees weakly to that, as Hotaru's healing light happens.
[15:12:25] <Kotono> "Hey!" A man runs from the street corner, traffic stopped. Nior is there, covering the ground quickly with his huge frame. He approaches rapidly! OOC - soul check.
[15:12:36] <Sailor_Saturn> roll 2d6
[15:12:37] * Hatbot --> "Sailor_Saturn rolls 2d6 and gets 4." [2d6=1, 3]
[15:13:54] <Sailor_Saturn> "Try not to speak," Hotaru whispers, just flooding more and more of her energy into her parent.
[15:16:10] <Kotono> You can tell - there's a lot of damage and brekaing, things destroyed within Reiko, even as you heal her. "Mmm..."
[15:16:38] <Kotono> Nior trots up from the corner, others watching thes pectacle. "Saturn," he says under his breath, looking on impassively at Reiko. "Do you need an ambulance?"
[15:17:25] <Sailor_Saturn> "God..." Hotaru nearly whimpers, jsut keeping her hold on her mother. "I'll be fixing mom, check the other car, call one for them," she offers Nior, not even looking up as she tries to do this faster, faster. She can't do it fast ENOUGH.
[15:19:38] <Kotono> roll 2d6
[15:19:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 and gets 3." [2d6=1, 2]
[15:20:53] <Kotono> Energy pours into mother as Nior races off! You see Janna at the streetcorner, arleady moving herself. Bags of groceries are dropped as she races to a payphone! "Keep...going.." Mom's voice is a little better. (20 EP of healing so far.)
[15:22:54] <Sailor_Saturn> "Just...wait, don't hurt yourself by moving..." Hotaru insists, voice shaking with emotion as she holds her mother, glowing brightly with white-violet energy around both as she tries to mend her mother's body.
[15:30:25] <Kotono> Reiko's body does mend to her ministrations, bones and blood replenished! "It's one of the Sailor Senshi!" You hear a voice call dimly, as Reiko opens her eyes. "Hey...hotaru-chan..." she whispers.
[15:36:07] <Sailor_Saturn> "Hm?" Hotaru sks softly, calming very slightly, if not particularly looking any better for the tear streaks and shaking in her body, as she flagrantly releases energy.
[15:40:16] <Kotono> "...thank you..." she murmurs, face slowly recoloring as her body knits itself back up.
[15:41:38] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru blinks at that, a little struck and shaking her head. "Just try to relax yourself, mom..." she whispers, sighing and kissing Reiko's hair. "Love you."
[15:46:18] <Kotono> "Love you..." Mother closes her eyes, going restful and silent against Hotaru, as her body continues to heal. Hotaru can hear the wail of sirens in the distance...
[15:48:35] <Sailor_Saturn> At least she won't have to run this time. So Hotaru stays with her mother, awaiting sirens and personnel, and eltting her magic work. At least she hasn't been teleporting or anything.
[15:58:47] <Kotono> Hotaru heals most of her mother's wounds during this time. Her breathing is steady nwo, even as the sirens approach. People gather on the streets, calls about the Sailor Senshi echoing throughout!
[16:01:58] <Sailor_Saturn> Her most...admittedly selfishly pressing concern over for the moment, Hotaru releases her mother, standing. "I have to...well, go do my job, now," she offers, turning to look for the occupants of the other car.
[16:10:42] <Kotono> Nior is there - there's one person out of it, the front smashed but said person looking unhurt. The ambulance is just pulling up now, rushing out.
[16:15:15] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru slumps against the cleared frame of her mother's car, glancing back at Reiko to make sure she's alright. "Guess that's it..." she breathes, closing her eyes for an instant. "Anyone else injured?" she asks, opening again to look around.
[21:35:03] <Kotono> Hotaru doesn't see anyone else that is hurt. Only a whole lot of onlookers now! Janna's back amid the crowd, looking on in worry! Medics come, racing to Reiko and checking her out. "Amazing..." one murmurs, looking to Saturn as you get a lot of respect and attention.
[21:38:51] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru really wishes she DIDN'T get the attention. Actually, it could be damned near impossible to walk away from this unidentified. Eegh. "It's just..." she waves her hand a little. "My second job," she sighs, slumping down to sit against the back seat, her mother close enough for now. So maybe she's a little paranoid for her mother's safety. Everyone else would be too.
[21:42:56] <Kotono> OOC - The back seat of your mom's car to be clear?
[21:43:13] <Sailor_Saturn> OOC - Yeah.
[21:43:43] <Sailor_Saturn> OOC - Sitting with my legs out the side, since I pretty much sheared that whole side off. >_>;
[21:44:34] <Kotono> As Mother is taken away on a stretcher, one grizzled old medic stops, "You saved that woman's life, didn't you," he asks, in utter awe.
[21:47:49] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru's jaw clenches a little, shivering. "Her ribs punctured her lungs...probably," she struggles out taking a deep, almost shuddering breath and rubbing at her face. Hell, it could be put together just by witnesses, but she might as well try to not be TOO obvious, though her eyes track Reiko carefully. "She might've survived without me. Who knows," she sighs, leaning against the exposed frame.
[21:50:40] <Kotono> They're fast and good - having her on a breathing pump quickly, hauling her into the back. AT least  a hundred people have gathered to watch now, flocking together.
[21:50:58] <Kotono> "Thanks. Glad we don't have another DOA," he says gruffly, tipping a worn cap he wears before rushing back off.
[21:51:52] <Sailor_Saturn> "Hey!" Hotaru calls after the man, standing up. "What hospital are you taking her to?" she asks, suddenly aware that dad would likely strangle her for that information. If she didn't strangle herself first.
[21:55:02] <Kotono> "...Tokyo General," he calls back, ambulence up and out! The people are still staring, in utter shock.
[21:57:24] <Sailor_Saturn> ...Well, unfortunately for them, or maybe her, they're going to get a few more shocks. She can't detransform in the middle of the crowd, certainly, so she spreads her wings with a flare of energy, black and violet energy pulling her into the sky.
[22:03:30] <Kotono> Taking to the air Saturn hears the cries of Juuban Angel and Sailor Senshi below her, but the skies are safe and aloft.
[22:07:00] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru sighs, shaking her head. Tell dad, or follow mom? Does she even know where exactly her father is? No. Clear answer, then. So Hotaru heads in the direction of Tokyo general, where she should be able to detransform, and wait for Reiko. Who knows, maybe there'll be a Mizuno there. That thought, though, is a faint whisper in the back of her mind, Reiko more directly occupying most of it.
[22:10:28] <Kotono> OOC - Detransform and head inside to aska bout Reiko Tomoe?
[22:10:49] <Sailor_Saturn> OOC - Yeah.
[22:12:54] <Kotono> This takes about a half hour. On arriving and getting in you find out she's being admitted in 'serious but very stable' condition. You'll have to wait awhile in the lobby to be called up, though.
[22:14:00] <Sailor_Saturn> Hotaru sits down to wait, relaxing into the chair. She feels more exhausted than she should, honestly. Not so much the energy drain, but just...her mom. Why did it have to happen like this?
[22:15:39] <Kotono> The chairs are soft and warm, at least. It's a small lobby, stuffed soft chairs and magazines, along with a TV showing reruns of old US shows.
[22:16:42] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nearly melts. Or rather, just tries to, drained and strung out feeling, not perhaps unnatural for the current situation. She needed to talk to her, at least, and maybe check for other injuries.
[22:20:06] <Kotono> "Hey." It's a single word spoken kindly. It's the sort of word that gets attention, hope, love. It's also not a voice Hotaru's heard in quite some time. Chikako Mizuno sits next to Hotaru, gravely smiling at her.
[22:20:13] <Kotono> "Saw your Mom coming in - she's going to be fine."
[22:21:40] <Hotaru-chan> "I know, I wouldn't have let the paramedics touch her if she wasn't going to be," Hotaru offers softly back, glancing up to look at the blue haired doctor. "Thanks, though," she adds, sighing and taking a deep breath. "How've you been?" she asks, looking up to the mother of Mercury.
[22:25:24] <Kotono> ""Busy." Chikako merely shrugs, patting Hotaru's arm. "Knowing how fast I told them to get her room ready, you should be called up any minute. She has cracked ribs and a small leg fracture - I'm guessing she was a lot worse off before you got to her."
[22:30:24] <Hotaru-chan> "Punctured lungs, I didn't pay close enough attention to the leg with what else was going on," Hotaru murmur softly, slumping a bit. "All because she was getting upset over me...ugh."
[22:42:49] <Anastasia> "Don't." Chikako smiles at Hotaru, patting her -but stopping as a page comes, "Will MIss Hotaru Tomoe come to room 534?"
[22:44:19] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru makes a face, but smiles at Chikako. "My various offers still stand, if you need help here or at home with anything," she assuresgiving Chikako a loose hug before she ahs to depart.
[22:54:05] <Anastasia> Chikako just smiles and lets Hotaru go. Up to the fifth floor she goes - a quiet place of rooms and nurses, room 534 ahead. IN it you find Mom, connected to machines and scanned, but awake. Awake and waiting, bandaged and blanketed.
[22:56:55] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru just shakes her head a little, pulling up a chair next to her mother. "How's it feel?" she asks quietly, reaching out and touching her mother's hand to let her senses move in, trying to find any remaining injuries.
[23:05:05] <Anastasia> "Hurts," Reiko smiles faintly. "Thanks..." OOC - Soul check -1.
[23:05:16] <Hotaru-chan> roll 2d6-1
[23:05:17] * Hatbot --> "Hotaru-chan rolls 2d6-1 and gets 2." [2d6=1, 2]
[23:12:01] <Anastasia> You don't notice any major injuries, but there is some black around her leg and it's also in a soft cast and brace.
[23:14:56] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru offers a bit of a smile, her hand moving down to touch her mother's knee, letting more energy go. "I could do less for my mom?" she asks softly, shaking her head. "Scared me senseless..." she sighs softly.
[23:25:46] <Anastasia> "Hurt me more," Reiko laughs weakly, sighing as the healing engulfs her broken leg. "Stupid...but we made it."
[23:32:33] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru just flashes her mother a weak smile, leaning over to hug Reiko, letting the energy keep flowing, but take its own courses. "We made it," she agrees, sighing.
[23:35:40] <Anastasia> "...does your Dad know yet," Mom asks suddenly, shifting.
[23:37:40] <Hotaru-chan> "I didn't have a clue where he was to call him, and he doesn't have a pager," Hotaru shakes her head, drawing back a bit. "So no."
[23:40:10] <Anastasia> "He's probably at work...just call him there..." Mom shakes her head, "GEt Souichi here."
[23:41:08] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmm," Hotaru agree,s looking for a phone to use.
[23:43:07] <Anastasia> There's a phone on a table by the bed.
[23:43:45] <Hotaru-chan> Picked up, Hotaru dialing her dad's work number.
[23:49:17] <Anastasia> "Hello?" Young and female sounding - secratary?
[23:49:44] <Hotaru-chan> One hopes. "Is Souichi Tomoe in?" Hotaru asks politely.
[12:12:14] <Kotono> "Yes he is. Please hold." About a minute of elevator music lulls Hotaru, until at last there is a pickup. "Tomoe," Dad's voice is on the end, businesslike and sounding busy.
[12:13:27] <Hotaru-chan> "Dad, I've got good news and I've got bad news. Which do you want first?" Hotaru asks, a little tense-nervous in her voice.
[12:14:09] <Kotono> "...I'm a grandfather now?" Dad asks with a slight chuckle. "You're getting shotgunned married in the bad news?"
[12:16:46] <Hotaru-chan> "...No, that subject is for later," Hotaru answers, blushing and wincing. Well, she HAD been tempted... "The good news! Mom is totally safe and okay and--now--relatively uninjured. The bad news, we were in a car crash."
[12:19:56] <Kotono> "What happened?" Dad's voice focuses marvelously, demanding niformation in tone quickly! "Where is she?"
[12:21:35] <Hotaru-chan> "Tokyo General Hospital, room 534, I'm in the room with her," Hotaru provides with relative calm. "The other car hit her door straight on, but I was in the car, so...creaky ribs and a bit of a leg fracure are all that's left, those'll probably be gone by the time you get here, okay?"
[12:22:25] <Kotono> "I'll be there in a half hour." Click. Dad's done, phone call over in a few tense words.
[12:23:57] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru just shakes her head, hanging the phone up and going back to her mother's bedside. "Dad'll be here in a half hour," she offers, smiling wryly as shye takes her mother's hand, offering more of her energy to remove the injuries.
[12:26:52] <Kotono> As Mother heals to your touch, "Good...mmm." Reiko closes her eyes tiredly, "They put morphine in my IV...I'm not going to be up much longer anyway."
[12:28:20] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head, just sighing softly and holding her mother's hand. "Just rest, hm? You could probably use it after all that," she murmurs, watching Reiko.
[12:29:06] <Kotono> "Yes." Mom agrees, and soon enough, she indeed falls asleep under her own injuries and medical drugging.
[12:30:19] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru smiles a bit, waiting until the injuries are completely gone in her senses to let up with her magic, and then just waiting. Dad'll be here pretty soon, and things are better with mom, at least.
[12:31:34] <Kotono> This takes another 10 EP to mop up. Once it's done Hotaru falls into her chair - it's not comfortable, but she does feel rather tired on reflection.
[12:32:46] <Hotaru-chan> She curls her legs up to herself, just sighing qietly. It'll be a bit. So she just rests and watches, quietly vigil over her mother.
[12:34:57] <Kotono> A nurse comes to check on Reiko during this, but otherwise it's quiet. Not untilDad comes in, suit and tie a mess as he rushes over to Reiko. He looks down in rapt concern, stroking her face as he kneels at her side
[12:36:25] <Hotaru-chan> "All the injuries are done for," Hotaru provides softly from where she sits, smiling weakly. "I checked her magically."
[12:37:40] <Kotono> "Reiko..." Dad closes his eyes as he looks onto her, and then, "Good work, Hotaru-chan."
[12:39:12] <Hotaru-chan> "Mom's mom," Hotaru shakes her head, taking a deep rbeath. "Thanks, though," she sighs quietly, rubbing at her face.
[12:41:03] <Kotono> Dad leans ni to kiss Mom's cheek, and thenafter turns to Hotaru. "I can watch her - you look like you need a nap or some coffee."
[12:45:15] <Hotaru-chan> "Just stress, I'll live. We weren't arguing, but...same general topic when it hit," Hotaru murmurs, shaking her head. "Mom started crying, and couldn't keep her eyes on the road..." she just sighs. "I asked her to park, and that's about exactly when we got hit."
[12:49:11] <Kotono> "Go ahead and rest a bit. I'll have to leave soon to pick up Hideo. You'll need to watch your mother when I do." Dad gets on the opposite side of the bed, getting another chair and holding Reiko's hand.
[12:50:20] <Hotaru-chan> "Alright," Hotaru yawns, pulling a second chair up to ease curling in them, closing her eyes. "If anyone shows up, wake me," she offers softly, before giving in to the urge to rest.