Mercury Blues(Ami thread)

[Anastasia]

"Until then," Professor Tomoe smiles, as Ami leaves. Once she does, he turns his gaze inward, thinking.

Do be careful, Ami. I know far too well how hard it is to be alone like that ....and to die like that?

Frowning now, he picks up his phone, to call two certain twins.

---

On exiting and going back to the elevator, "It's not too far a walk from here, Ami, and the bus route passes Tokyo Mall. Shouldn't take us more than a half hour to get there." At that, Artemis pauses a moment, then leaps off your shoulders. One blurring of his body later, you have a elevator mate.

"Suppose I shouldn't try going outside as a cat agian," he offers with a tilted smile, still a bit embarrassed - his white hair makes a tiny blush all the more visible.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods and smiles warmly at the white haired man. "Please." she agrees pleasantly, but with a serious undertone, preparing to retrieve her jacket, scarf and gloves.

"I just about panicked when Hotaru-chan told me how they found you..." she admits. "With all we've been through, losing you to hypothermia from a snowdrift would be too cruel..."

[Anastasia]

"Hey," he smiles back quickly, waving his hand in front of himself, "It's not like I was in any danger. I just was a bit cold and I was taking a break to catch my breath, yeah?" Nodding, "A bit of snow won't do me in - we made it through Metallia and everything else, after all," he says with a bit of pride.

"I'd never hear the end of it from old Queen Serenity if I died that way," he finishes, laughing warmly now. "Or Luna when she caught up to me."

[Bean Bandit]

What is it Usagi used to say? 'Oooh, men!' Ami smiles and shakes her head. "And me." Ami adds with a flicker of amusement. " But...Just so long as you're being careful." Ami allows, waiting for the elevator to reach the ground floor, and flashing him a warm smile.

[Anastasia]

Matching it easily with his own smile,

Reminds me of my own warnings to Sailor V...dammit, cat. Don't start getting into that again. Not today.

and surpressing a momentary falter, he steps out of the elevator. "At least the bus stop isn't far from here. If it's still snowing, it's likely to be even nastier to walk in than it was before."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods, smiling more ruefully now. "Best to be Prepared." she agrees. "My coat and clothes are near the door...Will you be allright?" she wonders, eyeing Artemis speculatively. "We can stop to buy you a jacket quickly, if you need it."

[Anastasia]

Artemis shakes his head, despite his rather revealing clothes. "I'm fine, Ami-chan. It shouldn't be a long wait for the bus, and humans are better at staying warm than cats.

Funny, isn't it?" he muses after a moment, idly tapping a finger against his side as he thinks. "You think all that fur would be good for something besides looking fine, but....

[Bean Bandit]

Ami smiles. "It's better than being bald?" She suggests impishly, heading off to retrieve her coat, scarf and gloves. Inwardly, she starts paying closer attention the the white-haired man, not knowing exactly why, but feeling a slight oddity in the Mau's mood.

[Anastasia]

"Ami-chan!" Artemis complains lightly, smiling back at you. Waiting as you don your hat and coat, "Don't even joke about something like that!"

As he speaks, one of his hands goes to his head, almost protectively, over his hair.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami giggles, making short work of getting preapared for the weather, and smiles up at him. "Well, it wouldn't be too bad in your human form, but I can understand why you might be distressed to be a hairless cat..." she agrees.

"Shall we go?"

[Anastasia]

Supressing rightous grumbling, Artemis nods. "Let's go, Ami-chan."

At that, you get to the bus stop nearest Mugen. It's a short wait, only ten or so minutes before the bus comes. Just quickly enough to prevent a Mau popsicle, as the two of you warm up on the nicely heated ride to the mall. This goes without incident.

On getting off the bus, you're right at the main entryway. Nothing of note, save a sign advertising a ice scupting exhibition this week.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods to herself as they get off the bus, biting her lip as she looks around. Why don't threats ever just put up a sign with big, flashing lights? It would save me time, and trouble. She glances at Artemis, checking him for signs of discomfort from the weather.

"Was there anything else specific that you can tell me, or will we need to search the area?" She asks thoughfully.

[Anastasia]

Artemis looks fine to you after that bus ride. It's only a minute or so to make the walk inside, it's not really that far.

It feels even worse now...something is really wrong here.

"Let's search the area," he says after a moment. "And scan. I feel something wrong here, Ami-chan." Staring ahead at the doors to go inside, he steps forward, taking the plunge to inside of the mall.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods, sighing inwardly. Why aren't 'feelings' ever good news? I have to remember to ask Usagi, some time. She takes out the Mercury computer as they walk, and sets to to passive scan, enabling a beeping function when it locates the source of the anamoly found earlier.

"Alright...Until my scan turns something up, you're all I have to go on." Ami says to Artemis, switching over to 'Problem-solving' mode. "Can you feel anything else?"

[Anastasia]

"Just that something is off," Artemis says. As you step inside...

The floor setup is pretty simple - underneath the shadow of the upper walkways are the stores, each advertising great deals and bargains in glittering glass windows. Past that is the guts of the floor area, the open areas with benches, trees, and such, leading to the center area with the fountain and exhibit. Esclators dot here and there, leading to higher floors.

The roof of the fourth floor is a giant skyroof. Gray light comes down from it, but not enough. Due to the snowy weather, it leaves a certain lack of light in the majority of the mall. A special, almost dusk like shadowness, only banished in small pools of yellow light in intervals.

Some people are about, all dressed in warm sweaters, scarves, coats, trench jackets - the familiar wear of the winter months. A high number of school uniforms are hidden underneath the jackets, showing that Mugen wasn't the only school with low attendance today. Everyone seems cheery and relaxed despite the gloominess as you head to the ice scuptures. It's a strange contrast.

"Nice feeling to the place," Artemis mutters, glancing around and then upward.