Miscellania 2 - for things between episodes 4-6!

[Laggy]

This takes place after the meeting on Thursday evening, later during that night.

<Kotono> The walk home is a long one in the rain for Asher. After that Reclaimer is quiet, only the heavy pitter patter of rain to disturb Asher...
<Asher> Melancholy would snugly fit into the glove of his mind right now. The weather, though it soaks into his clothes and leaves him thoroughly cold in the evening air, isn't one of particularly new circumstance; walks in the rain weren't too uncommon for him as of the past few months. Asher takes his time, pacing slowly and taking care not to step into large puddles as he weaves through the streets.
<Asher> On occasion, Asher's head angles upwards to view the ominously dark clouds above; gray, black, forbidding, but the steady descent of rain is an odd comfort amidst everything. His grip tightens on the mundane kendo stick in his hand, stopping as a car whizzes by - the resulting splash of water lands just inches away from his shoes.
<Asher> It's thoroughly cold; his attire isn't suited for this at all, but it's a numbness that takes his form rather than a biting chill. With a brief pause, and glancing in both directions, he crosses the street slowly, seeing no headlights coming.
<Kotono> As the water splashes on the busy, wet Tokoy street, the soft beeping of a new toy from his pack sounds. The sound of a communicator, perhaps, Venus' heritage given to him? There's a few shops around, nearing the end of the storeareas and into the long residential zone walk to home.
<Asher> *Uranus's
<Asher> The hell? His mind, vacant and ambling with very little to hold it up right now, snaps rudely back to attention at the sound. The almost hypnotizing sound of the rain's descent shatters as he turns around, trying to find a good place for cover. It wouldn't do to get the thing soaked, after all; it was electronic, wasn't it? Quickly jogging over and taking shelter beneath a roof of a closed shop, Asher fetches it from his pack.
<Kotono> Flipping it open, Asehr finds that the symbol of Pluto ist he one lit. That means it's Kotono calling, perhaps? It's insistent and steady, a contrast to the more constant rain.
<Asher> His eyes wearily adjust as he leans back against the (thankfully dry) cement wall of the store, wondering if something had happened back at the meeting. With a resigned sigh, Asher pushes the button to receive the incoming call, looking, most likely, for all the world like a drowned rat - his hair disheveled and matted with moisture.
<Kotono> It's a match! Kotono's ashy hair is a few shades darker, wet and heavy! It ruins her normal looks, making her looks sad and a little pathetic. "Heya, Asher," she smiles, behind her parts of her room seen.
<Asher> He blinks the droplets of water running down from his own hair out of his eyes as he speaks up slowly. If it weren't obvious enough to her, his appearance and the sound of the downpour in the background should be factors in telling her his current situation. "Yes, Kotono? Something happen...?" His voice is slow, and tinges with a hint of inquiry.
<Kotono> "Well um," Kotono begins, sounding a little unsteady as she brushes aside her soaked bangs, which hide her eyes entirely. "I just...I just wanted to let you know it's usually not like that, right, and it was just a misunderstanding or Hot-chan got too mean, okay? It's not like we're always like that!"
<Asher> "Kotono, don't worry about it," Asher speaks up pretty abruptly, his face tensing but then growing into an expressionless look. "You're not supposed to apologize for something you weren't involved in. I don't need reassurance about it." His words sound... off. Not unsincere, but as though they were weighted down with something else. He pauses momentarily, the cold starting to creep into his senses due to his body no longer actively moving.
<Asher> --actively moving. "Anything else...?" It's evident that Asher doesn't care to pursue that particular train of thought, but he looks at Kotono's features with a bit of concern. She wasn't normally like this.
<Kotono> "Um...it was just a fluke, really..." she whimpers, sounding entirely vulnerable. "I mean...we're really friends! Really! Um...just...do you...would you like to come over, huh?"
<Asher> "...Kotono, it's downpouring like crazy. And I just passed the bend a while back..." And more to the point, his parents were already tolerating plenty of late arrivals and unexpected absences as of late. He knew them well enough to know they didn't suspect anything actually foul, but it was creating that air of unanswered questions he had went out of his way to avoid his entire life.
<Asher> This was making it excessively harder, every passing day. "Is there something important we need to address, or...?"
<Kotono> "Um...nevermind." Kotono looks away, voice just al ittle whisper, "I'll see you later then, okay?"
<Asher> Asher sucks in a breath for a moment, looking down at her again. His eyes waver for a moment as he speaks quietly. "You sure?" Something... just something was tugging at him... "If there's something really bothering you, just say it... please?"
<Kotono> "...." Kotono is silent for a bit, before words come tumbling out in a mass! "It's just that Rei-chan's angry and Hot-chan isn't here and Sis is angry and I just don't wanna be alone! Not after that, okay?" A moment later Kotono blushes, looking away entirely again.
<Asher> "...are either of them over there right now?" Asher asks quietly. More curiosity than anything else, but his face doesn't change expression.
<Kotono> "No." Kotono's voice is a tiny little thing, a lonely little girl speaking.
<Asher> "Alright. I'll be there in a bit," he says abruptly. Not without the normal feeling of surrender, but it doesn't show as he flips off the communicator, not really eager to see her response. The sudden track change of mentality has an unexpected side effect: he feels -wet- and -cold-, excessively so, as he knees down to put the communicator back in. A shiver punctuates every movement of a limb as he stands back up.
<Asher> Kotono's house... it wasn't terribly too much backtracking, and it'd do to get some running in to fight off this damned cold. Gritting his teeth, he plunges back into the streets and the half-flooded intersections, breaking into a steady jog with Reclaimer shakily at his side.
<Asher> The chilly breeze gives him an idea as he closes his eyes, fighting off all other senses to will the air about him to push away the untiring assault of the rain.
<Kotono> OOC - Soul check.
<Asher> roll 2d6 burn 10 EP
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 burn 10 EP and gets 10." [2d6=5, 5]
<Kotono> The rain does not halt, the wind doing little to slow the heavy downfall! Asher is soaked as he rushes to Kotono's, shivering by the time her house comes into sight.
<Asher> He bites down on his lips. Hard. Getting indoors would be a really, really good thing right about now, and he prays like hell that the water hadn't soaked into his folders or books that he'd inadvertently forgotten to take out of his backpack - like usual. The extra weight he used to justify for just better exercise, but now it served as nothing but a back breaker. Raising one hand, he knocks on the door sharply - twice, then waits.
<Asher> --waits.
<Kotono> It opens almos tinstantly! Kotono is inside, a pot of tea seen on the stove behind her. She's wearing a loose purple shirt that's a size too big and a pair of short jean shorts. Her eyes light up at Asher, not energy but open relief instead. "Heya, I got some tea going and I raided my Dad's closet for some clothes since I think yours need to go into the dryer."
<Asher> "Uh..." Well, probably. These were soaked beyond any hope of salvation unless he wanted the cold to cling to his skin for the rest of the night. He manages a nod and a bit of a grateful look as he steps in carefully, taking off his shoes despite the aforementioned style of the house. They were, after all, drenched as well. "Do you have a towel or something handy...?" This comes with an overt glance to the kitchen.
<Kotono> "Yeah." Kotono grabs a waiting white towel from the counter nearby, passing it over. There is also a what will probably be a baggy black shirt for Asher to wear and a pair of sweats as well, but at least they have a drawstring. "Go ahead and change - I won't peek." Kotono's smile is tiny at that, as she turns her back to go to the kettle, which is just starting to steam. "Hot cocoa coming up."
<Asher> "Thanks," Asher answers a bit numbly, the very welcoming warmth of the house seeping into him. Not quite eliminating the water that clung to his clothes, and the contrast makes it pretty uncomfortable to just stand there - but it helps. He takes the towel and thoroughly dries out his hair with it with one hand, picking up the spare set of clothes with the other and heading out to the living room.
<Asher> Heading around to the corner and the hallway, he tries to remember what the room arrangement was... Rei had told him, and looks around for an empty room, or the bathroom, to get out of this attire.
<Kotono> "I'll be there in a minute," Kotono calls as you head in. As she works, you find a few blankets and quilts have been laid on the living room couch, obviously left there. The bathroom is under the stairs, a little nook for this sort of thing. There's also one or two upstairs from what you remember.
<Asher> The nearest one will do. He passes over the couch and heads straight there, utilizing the towel to get every last bit of lingering rain out and closes the door to change quickly. The soaked clothes are folded up, and after that's done, the towel with them as he steps back out, feeling distinctly better.
<Asher> Asher pokes his head out, not seeing Kotono immediately, and calls over the distance. "Where should I toss these clothes in the dryer?"
<Kotono> "I'll take them!" Kotono is walking past as you come out, a tray with a few mugs of cocoa on it. "Trade you?" Her smile picks up as she offers the tray, "I'll meet you at the couch?"
<Asher> Asher carefully takes the burden of the tray and steps back against the wall, letting her pass. "Sure thing." Its aroma is powerful, the heat from them even more so. He offers a smile at Kotono, head slightly inclined. "Thanks."
<Kotono> "THanks..." Kotono lightly blushes at that, taking Asher's clothes and scurrying off!
<Asher> Standing there for a moment, he shakes the light, cold-induced haze out of his head and makes his way over to the couch. Setting the tray down on the table with impeccably slow care, Asher glances around to see if... well, Kotono's dad is the only other one who lives here, right? He'd never even met him. His eyes peer out into the backyard, instead, at the presumably still downpouring rain.
<Kotono> There aren't many signs of life here or signs of another living here. What is here tends to be dusty and forgotten, as if someone hasn't redecorated in entirely too long. The scent of oranges permeats the house, a pleasant counterpoint. Kotono isn't too long, coming back to the couch and getting the blankets. "...thanks," she murmurs again, looking away as she slowly unfolds noe.
<Asher> He almost speaks up to her to not worry about it, but thinks better as he takes a seat on the edge, watching the steam rise from the cups. Breathing the air in slowly, wondering how much history lay in the house. Probably not a whole lot... thinking back to his own house and its humble but ever-maintained upkeep, Asher leans down a bit, chin on hand.
<Asher> Kotono's movements catch his attention for a moment as he holds up a hand and pokes her, finally speaking up. "Don't worry about that so much, just sit down."
<Kotono> Oh, Kotono does. She sits right next to Asher, spreading the blanket over both of them, up to their chests. "...okay." Without any more words she hugs onto him, "Just you aren't gonna go anywhere or get angry or anything, right?"
<Asher> "Not without reason," Asher replies mildly as he reaches over to pick up both of the cups with his hands. Slowly, of course... an early childhood spill of a similar object had driven the point into him for a long time. He passes one over to Kotono, the other caressing his hand for its warmth.
<Kotono> Kotono puts it aside, instead just clinging to Asher and closing her eyes. "Thanks...just...It scared me, okay?! I don't want anyone else to go away!"
<Asher> "...Kotono." Asher looks back over his shoulder and at her directly, questioning pointedly. "What is this about... people going away? Who went away...?"
<Kotono> "...Just don't go away!" Kotono insists, burying her face into Asher's warm chest, creating more warmth therein! "Just say you won't, okay?"
<Asher> Eeek. Kotono isn't making it easy for Asher to keep a steady grip on his cocoa, and he winces momentarily, stilling himself and putting it back on the table. "Kotono..." A sigh, a bit of sinking back into the couch, a look downwards at the tossle of her hair. "I'm not going anywhere. But ... would tell me why it worries you so much...?"
<Kotono> Kotono sure isn't going anywhere right now, at least, either! Instead she just stays put, face rubbing against Asher! "...good...good. ...Momma. I...I don't wanna be alone again. You won't let me be alone, will you? You won't or Sis won't or Usagi won't or Rei-chan won't or Hotaru won't or..."
<Asher> "No, we won't," he concludes quietly enough, taking a firmer hold on her to calm her down. "And you don't have to worry about it so much. You've never done anything that would ever make any of us leave." Okay, so that was a LITTLE generous... but in the end it was true. That was what friends were for, or so he'd been inadvertently taught. Who knew? He'd never really had any real, committed people he'd call friends.
<Asher> Except, he had to admit, the persistent, hyperactive ball of blonde that he'd grown all too used to attaching herself like she was right now. With a light shaking of his head, Asher tugs her to a more upright position. "Kotono, you don't need to hide and be so afraid, either."
<Kotono> "You won't?" A pair of words as lonely as can be, a soft little whimper from her as she looks up. Tears shimmer in her eyes, face calm and heartrendingly beautiful, open and pained.
<Asher> If he had a ten-yen piece for every time he sighed... "Kotono, let me explain to you something." Asher's eyes move down to meet hers, directly, his expression becoming much more serious. He holds one finger up. "Just listen to this for a bit. Okay?"
<Kotono> "Okay..." Kotono looks on openly, her entire soul bared on her face. "A-Asher...?"
<Asher> Asher leans back, drawing away the obvious anxiety on her face as he speaks up. "Look." His words don't waver, enough of this having been implanted in his mind that it all came out easily enough. He'd just never had any chance to voice it all to someone.
<Asher> "People tend to do two things. One, they're afraid to commit, afraid to draw close to someone because of the chance of getting hurt. Two, they commit too fast, eager for the chance to get to know someone out of need or want. The former means you don't get anywhere. The latter's a bit stupid and hasty."
<Asher> "Everyone's lonely and feels vulnerable at some point or another. We're all different, but for most of us, I think, there's some need to have a kind of companionship. Or company. Doesn't even have to be someone else.. could be a hobby, or a career, or just about anything." He looks down at her with a hint of a smile. "I think you have a similar interest there. But anyhow."
<Asher> "You need to stop being afraid of people 'leaving'. If someone is really your friend... you should also be confident enough to know that they wouldn't desert you if you needed them. And if they do... then in all honesty, were they really worthy friends in the first place, worthy of your commitment? If this is the case for either situation, then why should you wreck yourself with fear over it?"
<Asher> "That's the first thing. The second thing is to realize that life's a gradual process like everything else. Things turn out much for the better when you're willing to give time to progress it... after all, you've known everyone for how long, now? Rei, Hotaru, Makoto, the others...?" He gives her a brief nod. "If they've been around you for this long, it means something, Kotono."
<Asher> "And anyone who's a worthy friend isn't going to just toss away the years as meaningless. And if they ever did, then you shouldn't worry yourself about such people at all. That's all there is to it."
<Kotono> Kotono doesn't stop clinging throughout! "Just...I don't want to rush, but I think I get what you're saying. But...Asher, I...I..." She looks up again, sniffling. "Do you want me to say it, huh? I just...I know, but I just...You're...the first one that doesn't run away from me, and I really like you! I mean really!"
<Asher> "I know," Asher says quietly in response, looking down and holding up a finger to Kotono's mouth. "I'm not completely blind and dense, Kotono, even if I seem like that at times." There isn't any sign of surprise or weariness on his face. This might as well have come from a mile away.
<Kotono> "..t.hen...do you lo...like me too?" Kotono asks, staring on hopefully, lovingly, sadly, hurtly, everywayly.
<Asher> Oh, shit. That's about the most piquant phrase that drifts to Asher's mind - so apparently some of that just went right over Kotono's head. Stuck in a thoroughly uncomfortable situation, Asher... he... well... oh to hell with it. Pushing aside all thoughts of indecisiveness, he shakes his head wryly and looks down at the blonde. "That's not something I can just answer, Kotono."
<Asher> What the hell. When pressed to desperate times, the truth was always an acceptable resorts, he remarks halfheartedly to himself. But even as these words escape his mouth, Asher takes an arm around Kotono and pulls her closer. "Time. It's a good thing to use. Okay?"
<Kotono> "Asher...I...if you want me..." Kotono leaves it open, "I'm not kidding, okay? I really l-l...like you. I just wanna be with you...it's like Sis except we're not both girls since I'm not into girls, but...okay. Just...okay."
<Asher> "Kotono," Asher remarks, a bit firmly. "Seriously. You know perfectly well at this point I like being around you. There's no need to rush things along; that's exactly what I just said is going to hurt more than help. Trust me on that." His words are a bit wary, even as he holds closer to the... conservatively distressed Kotono.
<Kotono> "...ookay." Kotono just buries her head in Asher's chest, going quiet and clinging. "Just don't go away...okay?"
<Asher> ... sigh. Asher casts one weary thought into his head before sinking back entirely, shoulders slumping, and feeling completely exhausted of all resources. "I already said I won't..." His words have a dying strength to them.
<Kotono> Kotono justpurrs lightly, clinging to Asher and slowly falling asleep. She seems content to just say here.
<Asher> It occurs to Asher that fighting off evil villains may have been a less taxing course of action then what he's gotten himself into as he, too, pretty much gives up and lets his eyelids shut. The constant pitter-patter of rain outside works its soothing melody into his ears again, as bereft of vision they become the only sensation left in his mind. That and the warm objects of note against him.
<Kotono> As Asher drifts off, resting, 'Two warm objects?' Reclaimer continues his laugh from before, vastly amused again. 'I'm saying that you're getting something some would kill for, appreciate it regardless of what you do.'
<Asher> 'Not everyone wants the same thing, dammit!' Asher bites this back not without some degree of vehemence.
<Kotono> 'Oh, I know. I do wonder...do you want her and this?' Reclaimer's dry amusement fades into a entirely colorless tone. 'Magical powers are one thing, a girl's heart is another from all I've observed lately.'
<Asher> 'I think you forgot about her tendency to put them in the same category.'
<Kotono> '....I concede the point." Reclaimer's answer is after a pause, before it sighs as well. '...I pray you never consider wind power with a certain part of you, that's all I'll say.' A pause before Reclaimer's laugh fills Asher's mind, then a peaceful silence.
<Asher> The urge to his open his eyes again becomes somewhat stronger, but he wills them shut. He wants nothing more but to drift off right about now...
<Asher> Not without a last warning shot off the bow of a certain intelligent sword, though. 'Yeah, you say something like that again and I'll see if Kotono isn't adverse to using magical weapons in practices not intended. Do you understand me?' There's a dry, very implicit threat in Asher's threatening voice.
<Kotono> 'Oh yes, what was the human rebut to that! Oh, yes! At least I'll be getting some!' Reclaimer just retorts with that.
<Asher> 'You obviously need to consider the situation more thoroughly,' Asher bites off, as sleep looms on its onset, demanding attention. His heated remark soon fades into a more groggy feeling, laying back against the couch. '...mmf... seriously... just let me sleep...'
<Kotono> "Rest well, Asher.' With that Reclaimer goes silent and Asher dozes into more peaceful realms. Realms that come when a blonde is clinging to you?

[Halbarad]

A very short snippet, occuring right at the end of the meeting on Thursday.

[14:08] <@Usagi> ---------
[14:10] * @Takeshi heads out to his bicycle in a cold fury, heedless of the chilly rain that's coming down - the drizzle of earlier that afternoon has changed into a more steady, soaking rain. The young man takes a towel out of his bookbag, wiping off the seat of his bicycle briefly as he prepares to leave.
[14:12] <@Usagi> "Takeshi, wait!" Usagi calls as she hurries out after him, promptly getting soaked in the dramatically appropriate but still inconvenient rain!
[14:13] <@Takeshi> "I don't have anything else to say," Takeshi says levelly as he mounts his bicycle, not even turning to look at Usagi. "I have to get to work."
[14:16] <@Usagi> "Please!" the drenched blonde tries as she catches up to him, already starting to look pretty bedraggled by the sheets of rain pouring down on them. "I'm sorry about Hotaru, just... I don't want you leaving like this! We're supposed to be friends!"
[14:18] <@Takeshi> "I'll see you at school tomorrow, Tsukino-san," Takeshi says tonelessly, pedaling off before anything further can be said. Stupid rain... he's going to have to go home for a towel and a raincoat at this rate. Stupid work.
[14:23] <@Usagi> "Wait!" Usagi tries fruitlessly, chasing after Takeshi against the driving rain... but yet, she trails off to a slow halt as he cycles away, the blonde deciding that this battle is lost, for the moment. "Dammit..." she curses uncharacteristically, fists bunching up as she watches their new 'friend' depart with a melancholy expression.
[14:26] <@Usagi> ----------

[Anastasia]

This happens right after the meeting.

> ---More Arc 2 Go!---
> So the others leave into the rain. Hotaru stays put, however, on command. Serenity's face is grave as she waits for the last one out to go, standing tall. "Hotaru." Her voice is like iron bars, unyielding.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru looks back, not yielding or challenging even, drawn back and into herself. "Your majesty," she addresses in return, the glow of her violet eyes muted.
> "Destruction is one of the most dread powers in all the universe. It can wipe away reality itself in it's rawest form, and range from a blade ruining a life to a careless word shattering a soul. It needs the utmost responsibility and caring to use properly." Her eyes focus on those dimmed eyes, stepping forward to be right in front of her. "I entrust you with very much indeed with this, Sailor Saturn."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru lets out a long breath, eyees simmering perhaps a little, flickers of light again in the amethysts. "The proper use is in ensuring the safety of my...loved ones, over whoo all of that extends," she murmurs quietly, a slight shiver. "Whatever may be necessary, whatever that may entail, whatever threaten cannot be left standing as anything but ruins," she murmurs, swaying just a bit, before forcing herself straight, jaw tight.
> "Without empathy to that...you destroy those that are your friends and allies as easily as a monster." Reaching up, Serenity's hand gently goes forth! The slap is silk soft, only barely touching Hotaru's cheek. But Serenity's eyes - oh her eyes. They burn with a moment of uncharactristic anger fading into honest dissapointment. Serenity's hand falls to her side, as she never takes her eyes off Hotaru's. "There are times when such measures are needed. When not? Have you made your loved ones happy here, Hotaru?"
> "There are times when such measures are needed. When not? Have you made your loved ones happy here, Hotaru?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's smile is rather sad, not honestly a smile either. "I've never been good at that part," she murmurs, eyes closed and deep rbeaths taken for the moment. "Yes, I went well overboard saying that torture does not prepare you to retain your sanity the moment the next torturer comes along. I panic. I'm imperfect and humanly susceptible," she shrugs a little, finally opening her eyes. "Do you want me to be more than human, Serenity?"
> "I want you to be human." Serenity's eyes don't change, ever so sad. Just...sad, so let down. "I want you to live to the standards of caring and hope I wish for you to. I wish for you to be human, nothing more. That there..." Again Serenity raises her hand, but this time it takes Hotaru's chin and holds it up. "Was not. The greatest powers hold the most peril and most need for vigilence; destruction most of all."
<Hotaru-chan> "Maybe I should've been born a Nightmare," Hotaru breathes, jaw barely moving in Serenity's hand. "Mako-chan would kill me for that snetiment..." she snorts softly. "It's an ill-made thought anyway," she murmurs, tugging ehr face back from Serenity. "Your desires as I interpret and am able are mine. My interpretation clearly was off, or uncontrolled. For this reason, I am subject to your review. You wish something other than my current iron
<Hotaru-chan> (her
<Hotaru-chan> *her
<Hotaru-chan> You wish something other than my current iron fist, What would you have it be?"
> Serenity gently leads Hotaru to the couch, sitting her down with her and staying close. "Saturn, I ask of you - why? Why this pain?" Her eyes are still sad, firm but achingly sad. "You have potential, so much potential. You are only a Nightmare if you wish to make yourself one."
<Hotaru-chan> "Pain is what I've lived by, pain or joy, balancing on extreme ends of the scale. Pain has kept me alive, pain pervades evertyhing, even my mother," Hotaru answers softly, shivering again. "More pain is simply the signal that life is going on. Solace is found in moments of escape, the joy of another warding away pain, or sometimes inviting it," she smiles tensely. "Mars is such a conundrum to me. Such doesn't really matter here, but..." she
<Hotaru-chan> Such doesn't really matter here, but..." she shrugs.
> The silence after these words is not long, but it hangs with the gravity of the situation. Serenity sighs, an exhalation of quiet melancholy. "Does...does the pain of rejection still hurt," she murmurs. "...witch?"
<Hotaru-chan> "That pain died a long time ago," Hotaru murmurs, her lips twisting a bit. "A wound long healed may still ache, and Mars and I, and my mother and I, hardly get along in such a manner as to be considered anything less than tumultuous," she murmurs. "Though I know she would have likely been more clear on her reaction when I told Mars something, it still bites silently from the shadows, 'What if?'. The pain isn't strange to me, nor pain in gene
<Hotaru-chan> The pain isn't strange to me, nor pain in general because of it and the Nightmare."
> This time it comes suddenly, a lance of pain across Hotaru's cheek! (4 damage) Serenity's hand lowers after being a blur, Hotaru's vision sent to the side in a powerful open handed slap.  "That is the pain you inflicted onto the others today. A small symbol of what you did to them, Hotaru. In this regard today...you failed. The pain of the past and the present cannot excuse the mistakes of destruction. You have people that love you very much, myself included. You do not fail just yourself...but all of us. Usagi, Ami, Rei, Kotono, Asher, Takeshi, Michiru, Nior...myself...Makoto. This pain..." (More)
> You have people that love you very much, myself included. You do not fail just yourself...but all of us. Usagi, Ami, Rei, Kotono, Asher, Takeshi, Michiru, Nior...myself...Makoto. This pain..." (More)
> "I entrust destruction to you because you understand this. But with destruction must come restraint, caring, empthaty and love. Lose those and you are another Beast wailing in the Void."
* Hotaru-chan rubs softly at her cheek, shaking her head a little. "That's one way to consider it," she agrees softly, more lost on thought as she traces the red mark of impact, suddenly raiusing an eyebrow. "Destruction as an act of love rather than a duty of pain?" she asks, curious almost.
> "We destroyed - killed Jadeite - because we loved the Earth and Gaia too much to allow him to ruin it. You killed the Beast Lord...because you love your friends too much to become him." A pause again at that, Serenity looking on into Hotaru's eyes. "It is always love, Hotaru. What lies in the other direction by the Nightmares? The nightmares, deaths and..." Finally closing her eyes, Serenity's voice lowers. "All of you killed to save this world you love and all that live on it. Not to destroy or to spread pain to others."
> "All of you killed to save this world you love and all that live on it. Not to destroy or to spread pain to others." (More)
> "There are times when the purest love and hope needs the most primal destruction.  In this imperfect world of humans, there is no other reality.  Even then...it is that which saves us from being the nightmare - from being an inhuman as it is put now."
<Hotaru-chan> "That is only partly true," Hotaru whsipers, biting her lip. "The final destruction of the beast lord...yes, that was conscious, that was my decision. That was my love. Other times though...it's been terror, Setsuna was an act of fear, even if I lucked into it being a necessary test," Hotaru shrugs very slightly, her smile twisted.
<Hotaru-chan> "Fear of what I'd nearly been killed for being torn down, of some small speck of joy I was treasuring being removed. Terror, pain, nightmares, are all a part of my magic, and who I am. At your behest, though, I'll subject them to second looks," Hotaru offers, her expression forlorn, wearied down in so short a time.
> "Hotaru. Sailor Saturn." Serenity says both names, slowly pronoucning both with the utmost gravity in her words. "I love you, as do we all. I ask you to look at yourself, to find that love within you, accept what you have done and improve. Do not forget that you are not alone, Hotaru, even when your terror is at it's highest."
<Hotaru-chan> "Iknow," Hotaru sighs, slumping finally a little into Serenity. "I just examine the apst reality to contrast it to the current," she snickers softly, still slow as she closes her eyes. "So much has gone on of late...moreso than even during the war with Jadeite. I feel like I'm on Gaia again."
> "Then...do you what you need to do, to end your war on Gaia again?" Serenity pursues quietly.
> *do you know what you need to do
<Hotaru-chan> "Too many ideas, none of them entirely pleasent, some wholly ludicrous, others jsut fanciful," Hotaru snickers. "Settle things with my mother? That seems impossible for all that things get more and more complicated as time passes."'
> "Tell me them." Serenity's voice hardens ever so slightly, a shake of her head.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath, sitting up with a blush. "My mind is too imaginitive...that's what I'll warn," she offers, chewing on her lip nervously a moment. "Get my boyfriend to commit totally is one...to try and cover all the sore points forever in my life. I'm only fourteen though, I can hardly ask, nor should I hardly ask such..." Hotaru's smile is shakey as she considers it. "Rei-chan...is practically speaking settled. She's simply up a
<Hotaru-chan> "Mom? I don't even know...she goes from barbing and stabbing to a sort of regination about me growing up, neither seems a good place to stop for the next many years. She won't answer though, and admitting to her..."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru frowns. "I admitted to Rei something I've been thinking about for a while, and it wanders back, though I don't know how it might play in. More a wondering I suppose, but it distracts me, and I wonder if its recognition or consideration further pulls on me as I worry and consider. or simply...I worry about others, and how they might consider it."
> "Hotaru." Serenity says at the end of that, not looking -quite- so happy. Well, she wasn't in the first place, anyway, so now she's notably UNhappy. "What of the more salient and current matters?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Hah?" Hotaru blinks, blushing. "Sorry, I thought you were...nevermind," she shakes her head. "The current unhappiness...do you mean that which I feel, or those of others?" she asks softly, blinking. "Those have all been the most pressing things upon my mind of late."
> "All. Go on." Serenity lightly waves a hand, encouraging Hotaru to do just as she says.
<Hotaru-chan> "All," Hotaru blows at her bangs, closing her eyes. "Honestly, I havne't a clue with some others. Michiru needs work, Asher needs experience, Takeshi...I havent' the faintest clue. Myself? I've meandered too long on it. I'm unaware if Kotono is unhappy herself, Rei-chan is an immense mystery, as she takes not much at all other than time and patience well. Mako-chan, I have a very stilted view of."
> "I mean to them." Serenity's head shakes, "You hurt him and them today, Saturn."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru has the good grace to blush, giggling softly.. "THe vagaries of human interpretation?" she offers, shaking ehr head. "What would you like me to address, stated again and completely then?"
<Hotaru-chan> *her
> Serenity closes her eyes, tone saddened and hurt. "No. This is not a matter to laugh at, and further...you owe him an apology at the least."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru takes a deep breath. "Laughing makes it easier to speak, it's not meant as a disregard," she answers back more clearly. "Though I do find it sadly interesting how susceptible communication is to misinterpretation," she offers, shrugging just a little. "So I may, I didn't understand that such was your direction of thought thus far."
> "Saturn." For once Serenity thunders, opening her eyes to a tight, unhappy expression. "I asked of you to take responsibility for your actions. Blaming the vagaries of communcations is NOT that."
<Hotaru-chan> "...Serenity, I'm not, simply asking forgiveness for the meandering of my thoughts thus far," Hotaru replies softly, blinking in surprise. Yes, I owe him an apology, I admitted such already, what more would you have me say?"
<Hotaru-chan> *"Yes
> Serenity exhales a very long breath, "Good. I want you to find your love and heal this damage. Do you understand, Saturn?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru nearly melts against the back of the couch, a small whimper at Serenity's first word. "I swear mom ruined me..." she whispers, pulling herself back up. "I believe I understand the direction," she agrees softly, closing her eyes a moment.
> "Good. I trust you Saturn. Go spend the rest of this day resting, crying, thinking, what have you. Tomorrow, begin." Serenity rises at last.
<Hotaru-chan> "This is where Setsu-chan turns out to be awake for the last ten minutes," Hotaru murmurs, shaking her head. "I'll stop bothering you," she agrees quietly, getting up to go and lightly shake the green haired girl, to see if she'll awaken.
> "Hotaru, if you need to bother me..." Serenity shakes her head at that, as Hotaru finds Setsuna is still out. "She's just a normal girl now - it may be several more hours for all I know. Especially fi she has...regrets at all, if I understand Despair's power."
<Hotaru-chan> "Hence why I wanted to walk her home," Hotaru snickers quietly. "No, honestly, there's only regurgitation for me to do at this point. I'm still discovering some things, and they tint everything I look at heavily. It's a bother and a wondrance, wishing I could be normal or perhaps simply less maze like in mental landscape."
> "Just go home. She'll wait and I'll tell her you wish to talk to her. Go home, think and rest." Serenity says, "There will be another day.":
<Hotaru-chan> "Thinking and resting, two things I hardly feel capable of some days," Hotaru snickers, shaking her head and standing. "May I spend time resting with others, your majesty?" she asks, a bare hint of amusement in her voice.
> "No. Go home and rest - the internal aspect is the most important of them all. As I said, tomorrow is the day to begin. Tonight is just rest and introspection."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises an eyebrow, before disappearing in a flash of violet.

[Anastasia]

<Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
<Kotono> Wednesday night - a chance after incidents to rest and to catch a parent. Dad's eating dinner, Mom in her room up to something or another. Really, it's the best chance Hotaru'll get for awhile.
<Hotaru-chan> Given the current pace and schedule of things? Quite prbobably. So Hotaru heads up to her parents' bedroom, knocking. Mom's the hurdle here. Dad's taken this stuff with a smile before.
<Kotono> It takes a few knocks before there's a call of, "Enter!" Reiko calls, smooth and calm.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru opens the door, slipping just inside and glancing around. "Said I needed to talk, and well..you wer eout cold Sunday night," Hotaru offers, her smile wry.
<Kotono> Mom's wearing a terrycloth bathrobe and has her hair down. Barefoot as she sits at her vanity, green cream over her face. "Yes?" Mother says, quiet neutral about it as she puts down a jar of facial cleanser.
<Hotaru-chan> "There's another war going on," Hotaru offers softly, a small shrug. "Another group of nightmares from some other plane out in the void," she murmrus, her smile definitely sad.
<Kotono> "What?" That gets Mom's attention, jar tosses aside as she spins on her little plush chair to turn to her daughter.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru offers a small shrug. "There isn't really more to it unless you want to know about hte battles so far...some kind of nightmare is attacking again, one we haven't seen or heard of before. "I killed one of them this afternoon, I';ve been in one other battle...but, yeah. Another war."
<Kotono> "...not again." Reiko bows her head, forehead planted into her hands! A deep, heartrending sigh again, "More fighting again?"
<Hotaru-chan> "More fighting," Hotaru agrees quietly. "My ribs got broken last week...well, they were fine by the end of the day, but...yeah. Despair, Hatred, Pestilence, Temptation are our enemies right now, I sent Despair into oblivion this afternoon without getting hurt...jsut exhausted," Hotaru offers with a smalll sigh, shaking her head.
<Kotono> "...Why?" Reiko's posture breaks, tired.
<Hotaru-chan> "We hardly know. They're looking for something called the 'lightbringer', and seem to despise us as 'inhumans taking human form'," Hotaru sighs, slumping against the door. "They've tried to recruit us even...but I saw Despair underneath his disguise...it's like the Beast Lord, black as the void, inhuman, with mouths everywhere..." Hotaru shivers.
<Kotono> ".....Oh...Hotaru." Reiko sounds lost for words, biting her lip as she looks away. "...I can't say anything but to be careful, can I?"
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru shakes her head. "Honestly not, well...and watch out for a really pretty blonde in a red dress," Hotaru snorts. "Just...well, you didn't react well to not knowing last time," she offers, smiling wryly.
<Kotono> "Thank you. Just...be careful." Reiko reaches out to touch Hotaru's shoulder once, patting her. "Don't you dare come back in more than one piece."
<Hotaru-chan> "There's a black joke about coming back in no pieces at all, that I won't make," Hotaru sighs, hugging her mother. "Really, I'm sorry about Yoshi...mah, I keep wondering, because you get odd looks...and I don't WANT to make you angry..." Hotaru jumps subjects, blushing.
<Kotono> "Hotaru-chan, let it lie." Reik ogently hugs her daughter back, enfolding her with her arms. "Just...not right now."
<Hotaru-chan> "Sorry, I don't like letting things lie..." Hotaru laughs softly, taking deep breaths as she holds her parent. "They come up behind me and whisper in my ear."  Deep breaths a moment before pulling back. "I should probably go tell dad...even if all he'll say is 'that's nice, be safe, princess'," Hotaru parodies, snickering.
<Kotono> "Go on. Be gentle." Mother just shakes her head, turning back to her vanity quietly, mutedly.
<Hotaru-chan> "Oh...one bit of better news," Hotaru offers at the last minute. "I learned transmutation magic...I turned a piece of brick into an amethyst plate," she snicker sosftly. "It's stitting on my desk, just...yeah," she offers, before departing to do the easier half of this.
<Kotono> So you go to Dad! HE's eating a TV dinner, one of those extra large ones they market at guys. Along with that and chips he's kinda pigging out, actually, skimming a small sheaf of papers as he eats.
<Hotaru-chan> "So, dad!" Hotaru pipes up, pouring herself a glass of juice from the fridge, sitting down across from her father. "How much should I not trust my boyfriend's control of his hormones?" Hotaru starts off with a curveball.
<Kotono> "Do you want to make us grandparents?" Dad fires back between a bite of food, glancing up at Hotaru.
<Hotaru-chan> "...While I'm fourteen? No," Hotaru snickers, suddenly raising an eyebrow. "...Do you want to be a grandparent this early?" she asks after a moment.
<Kotono> "Not in particular." Dad takes a few more bites of dinner, "But go on."
<Hotaru-chan> "Anyway, that was just a starter," Hotaru waves her hand, the matter dropped away. "The more important thing? There's another magical war going on," she informs her father softly, shrugging. "Started a week or two ago, I've had my ribs broken, I tore a nightmare creature to pieces with magic..." Hotaru ticks off. "No casualties, one recruit, very little information."
<Kotono> "Again?" Dad goes back to his food, eating more. "Well, if you did it once you should be fine again.  Just be careful, Hotaru-chan. You have a brother to think of now, too."
<Hotaru-chan> "I know, I know," Hotaru murmurs, smiling a little sadly. "But yeah, again. Just...well, warning, in case you see me in bad shape or something," she sighs, standing. "I already told mom, so...yeah."
<Kotono> "Good, then be safe." Dad gets a sip from his drink, swallowing down. A small smile on his face, "Alright, Hotaru?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Alright, daddy," Hotaru agrees, smiling and departing back to her bedroom.

[Anastasia]

Placeholder for a moment.

[Ebiris]

This occurs a few hours after the fun filled Thursday meeting

[18:27] <Koaway> Evening and rain is in full swing. Under the bleak and black night sky Usagi returns, raindrops a chorus of wettening and saddening around her. The house is quiet but bright when she arrives, several lights providing lovely illumation from the outside temptest.
[18:29] * Usagi fortunately has an umbrella and raincoat, this time, now kept more sheltered from the elements than she was upon leaving this same place earlier... Walking up to the doorway, the blonde raps her knuckles on the wood.
[18:31] <Koaway> "Coming!" Janna sounds bright and cheerful as she calls, and confirms this on opening the door. Wearing a warm blue sweater with hearts all over it, she steps aside. "Hey. Something up - I can't imagine you'd be walking in this weather without a good reason."
[18:35] <Usagi> "Hi, Janna," Usagi smiles at her older friend. "We had a meeting earlier that kinda broke up, so I wanted to talk to Serenity," she explains, folding up her umbrella and giving it a shake outside as she steps in.
[18:37] <Koaway> "She's bathing, it looks like she had a long day." Her eyes narrow into a suspicious, knowing look as she takes that umbrella and puts it aside. "She's been in there a good twenty minutes already, too."
[18:38] * Usagi sighs softly. "Yeah, kinda ended on a sour note... you remember Takeshi?" Usagi asks as she takes her coat and shoes off, storing them in the entryway and closing the door behind her to block out the inclement weather.
[18:39] <Kotono> "Yep. Kinda cute, longer hair than...ugh! Nevermind that!" Janna puts on a sugary sweet smile, "I do, so go on."
[18:40] * Usagi smiles a bit at Janna's faux pas. "Yeah, it was at the meeting today, he had a pretty dumb idea for getting info on the new enemy," she explains, stepping inside. "Thought that joining up with them like Michiru had would be a great way to learn all about them - you heard about Michiru-san, right?" she clarifies.
[18:41] <Kotono> "Yep, I keep up on things. So right, yeah, I don't think anyone was too happy about it. Serenity called it a very flawed plan, an dcoming from her? Kaboom." Stopping at the entryway, "Want me to go tell her you're up or want to go yourself or just wait? Just as lon gas I can sit down, I was on my feet all day. Stupid technology expo setup."
[18:42] <Kotono> Janna makes an 'ick' face, stopping after and bending down to massage her calf.
[18:43] <Usagi> "Haven't even got to the worst part," Usagi shakes her head, sighing a bit. "Anyway, just go relax, Janna - I'll go see her myself." Giving the former youma a slight wave, the blond makes her way upstairs to knock on the bathroom door.
[18:43] <Usagi> blonde*
[18:44] <Kotono> "Thank goodness..." Janna limps back over to the couch, plopping down and sighing. So upstairs you go! You see a room's door open as well - you get a glimpse of Nior, standing in the middle of the room and slowly going through the motions of a careful stance. The bathroom door is obviously closed beyond that.
[18:45] * Usagi knocks softly on the doorframe. "Serenity?"
[18:47] <Kotono> "Mmmm. Usagi?" Serenity's voice needsa few seconds to reach you, sounding sleepy. "Aaaah. Yes?"
[18:50] <Usagi> "Ah, didn't mean to wake you..." Usagi sounds apologetic. "Just... wanted to talk. Can I come in? Or wait for you to come out?" she asks, today having knocked her lesbian worries far enough to the wayside that she feels no embarrassment at her offer - Japanese bathe together all the time, after all.0
[18:51] <Kotono> The door is older style - a keyhole for a key and a turning metal knob. Westernish but very elegant, little whirls of gold painted metal in decoration. "You can home in."
[18:51] <Kotono> *Come
[18:53] * Usagi opens the door and slips inside, closing it behind her before she focuses on Serenity. "Mind if I join you? Been a long day..." she says, some weariness in her tone.
[18:54] <Kotono> The bathroom is nice. White is the color, the floor tiled in pearly shades and the walls a more muted, delicate white. Past a long medicine cabinet/sink combination and the toilet is the tub. This is the grand attraction here - it's large enough to share indeed, white with golden accents on the edges. It's filled with bubbly water, keeping Serenity clad and decent from the neck down. She does look tired herself, as, "By all means. A very...lon
[18:55] <Kotono> "By all means. A very...long day."
[18:57] * Usagi nods as she strips out of her own damp clothes, undoing her odangoes as her attire pools around her feet and blonde hair spools down her back. "Not quite the same as that fountain," she essays a smile as she clambers into the tub opposite Serenity, toned young figure on display for a moment before she settles in, recalling the first time they bathed together.
[18:58] <Kotono> "Times come and pass." Serenity smiles in fond rememberance, eyes shut in peaceful rest once Usagi is in. "How does this day find you, Usagi?"
[18:59] * Usagi sighs softly. "I tried to catch up with Takeshi... he wasn't interested in talking, though," she admits, unfortunately getting to business.
[19:03] <Kotono> "...I'm not surprised. He was clearly upset." Serenity restrains any further comment or reaction there instead, "I am...the intentions all around were good. The executions were...faulty, were they not?"
[19:04] <Usagi> "We all agreed it was a bad idea, just..." the blonde shakes her head briefly, "I dunno, was this some sort of 'rattle the new guys' thing? I can't imagine Asher and Michiru were any more impressed with how that went."
[19:07] <Kotono> "It was...a mistake that I hope to be corrected. I talked to Hotaru afterwards." There isn't any further comment on that right away.
[19:10] * Usagi decides not to mention the vicious look Makoto gave her as she left after questioning Hotaru. Serenity's surely as aware as everyone else of what the score is, there. "Great first impression..." she murmurs disconsolately.
[19:13] <Kotono> "Not the best hour. I talked long with Hotaru...would you talk to Takeshi tomorrow?" Serenity sighs at last, slipping deeper into the bath. Her foot idly grazes Usagi's leg, thet iniest bit of contact.
[19:16] <Usagi> "He said he'd see me at school, yeah," the blonde agrees, her foot shifting slightly against the older woman's. "Just... why did she even say all that?" she asks helplessly, slumping down further herself into the water and brushing the top of her foot against Serenity's ankle. "It just makes a complete mockery of everything we said to him about leaving the past in the past."
[19:20] <Kotono> Serenity's foot finally settles near Usagi's knee, recovering after it's own long day. "She went too far." Another pause, before, "I slapped her for that."
[19:21] * Usagi starts slightly, half-lidded eyes flying open. "You slapped her?" she asks in disbelief. She can't even remember Serenity so much as raising her voice to anyone except Jadeite and the Beast Lord...
[19:23] <Kotono> "Destruction is one of the heaviest powers there is. It requires responsibility...and this day she failed that." Another sigh as Serenity sits up, this time out of the water up to her waist.  Beautiful and bubbly, one part of Usagi's mind could note.
[19:33] * Usagi resists the urge to say it's hardly the first time. Fact is, she'd be terrified to ever raise a hand against Hotaru... Such thoughts distract her from Serenity's more prominent attributes, though she does mirror the gesture, sitting up more straight herself. "Well, hopefully we won't have an ugly scene like earlier again... if I can even convince Takeshi to give us the time of day, after that."
[19:36] <Kotono> "I wish you well there." Serenity doesn't belabor it at all, instead just resting in th warm water.

[Jo'ou Ranbu]

Timespan of this log to be added.

---Arc 2 go!---
> Home. Home is where the heart is said to be. If this is true or not is open to much debate, but Michiru would be hard pressed to care at this point. Coming home after a long day of being entirely too human again, she finds her father in the living room. A nicely decorated place, elegant and muted.
* Michiru appears in subdued steps, glancing at her father's back expectantly, torn between wanting to be seen and hoping to disappear. It felt like there was an ocean between them, even moreso than usual. Which made the known signals even more necessary. For a second, Michiru waited right behind him, wondering who would have to take the initiative tonight.
> His face is quiet, bowed and goateed head downward. His muted black suit fits right in with the stately, well maintained room. Masato stands besides a small indented shelf, where in a few delicate musical instruments rest, including a flute.
* Michiru nods to herself. The flute, huh... that meant it was her turn that day, after all - he wouldn't notice so easily. Michiru slowly approaches Masato from the back, and, a few steps away, taps her sole on the wooden floor three times. As the sound of poorly built rythm resonates through the room, Michiru fixates her eyes to her father, sternly.
> This sound is allowed to echo, carrying like the rapping of drumsticks on a great tribal bass. "Michiru?" Father only answers after another long stop, reaching out to take the flute into his hands, slowly carress it.
<Michiru> "Hello, father." Michiru politely answers, and rehearses a smile. The sincerity almost hurts for a moment, and her heart suddenly aches for a split-second. Michiru walks a bit stiltedly, holding her violin case tight and managing difficult, small steps. She approaches the desk almost rituallisticaly, as she notices Masato's attention on the flute and nods. "Mother. Am I right?"  
> "Yes." There isn't any attempt at denial or doublespeak, instead just a confession as she slowly holds the flute up to his heat, clasping it.
* Michiru nods silently, her heart still a bit heavy. She avoided the memories of Shizuka in a steely, almost violent manner. However, the same way Masato didn't force Michiru to know, she couldn't force him to avoid the pain of remembrance. At least, she had the solace of never having to do anything but merely respect her own mother. What about him, who was inevitably bound by the ties of love? It was a sad spectacle to watch.
> The respite is melancholy, father putting the flute back with a careful reverence. "...Michiru?"
* Michiru suddenly awakens from her inner turmoil with a surprised, vaguely unsettled expression. "... uh? Yes, father?"
> Looking away and to a curtained, silent window of yellow drapes, "There is something different on the...wind, isn't there?" His voice is quiet after, letting those words sink in.
* Michiru looks up the window, eyes wide and a suddenly serene smile sinking in. That felt a bit like a crossroad question, one that, personally, Michiru would have to agree to, no matter what meaning Masato had in mind. Because, intimately, she knew it was true. Even now, she could feel it, quiet, tense. "Indeed, there is", she nodded.
> The silence thereafter is the silence of mediation and meditation, Father thoughtful. "How is...your music now, Michiru?"
* Michiru looks up to Masato with confessional eyes, in shame. "It needs work, I'm afraid. I have been neglecting practice for some time."
> "Show me." Two words as he goes back to an overstuffed chair of soft recovery, looking on in expectation at Michiru's violin case.
* Michiru nods respectfully, and reaches for the violin case. As she opens it, her heartstrings chime in a sharp tug. It felt like years since she had any contact with music, and only now she realized how sorely she missed it. With arc and violin in hand, Michiru looks to Masato, nodding. "Any preferred song today, father?"
> "Something with energy and flow." Sitting down now Father reaches over, a small vial of brandy taken and poured into a small glass. Sipping this he watches, watches and waits.
* Michiru quickly moves to get her music notebook and take a look at partitures before starting. As she glances through the pages, she nods. Something from Schubert would probably work - Allegro Vivace, then. She nodded to herself, left the partiture at the right pages, and focused, as the notes began resounding, the fingers delicately weaving a melody...
> The notes of music fill the room! Melodies forgotten into the the rythym of life are borne again, transforming this mere room into a place of lyrical worship. However, early on - something is off. Something is wrong with all this. The notes are solid, but the underpinnings are not whole.
* Michiru feels a chill down her spine, realizing the incompleteness of the music's body. Her own flesh tenses up. As a result, the music's flow becomes harsher for a moment, to which Michiru responds with a bite to her lower lips.
> This causes even more chaos, the flowing tune becoming a disconcerting concherto of broken notes and discoordinated sounds. Masato frowns deeply at this, , putting aside his brandy.
* Michiru shivers, gritting her teeth in near-despair at this point. Her fingers can barely hold the violin's arc, and the melody devolves quickly to a banshee's screech in the midnight. This... this is wrong. This is terribly wrong! Michiru trembles, her eyes now clearly desperate, and she visibly sweats. Suddenly, her fingers falter... and she drops the violin to the floor, losing the grip in its handle.
> The cracking of wood on wood is a sound of calamity. Michiru's violen makes such a sound as it lands, her song ending on a note of despair. Father frowns even more at this, standing up and coming over. He picks up the violen, a nasty gash on it's botton of cracked wood. He looks down at it a very long time indeed, before, "...have you lost your music right now?"
* Michiru kneels over the cracked violin, her eyes now wide, verging tears. Her mind freezes in disbelief and terror. It... couldn't be... it couldn't be happening. Michiru could lose anything, she could give up every single breath of her life if asked. But her music? That was irreplaceable. She needed the melody to be her north. Michiru covers her face with both hands, barely controlling a faint cry. "Father... I..."
> The broken violen is held as if it is a corpse, offered with the utmost delicacy to Michiru. Masato says nothing, he merely presents what was wrought to his daughter. "...it can be repaired."
* Michiru winces a bit, feeling as if she had just swallowed her own heart. Trying to avoid her father's eyes so he wouldn't see her crying, she replies in a faint voice. "I know. But what if I can't, father?"
> A shuffling of feet, a long, weighted pause. "...you will," Masato manages to say at last, licking his lips before he speaks.
* Michiru raises, still trembling, her complexion in a state of extraordinary vulnerability. Michiru looks down once again, and... a sudden burst - she lunges forward, breaking into tears as she hugs her father. "Sorry... I'm really sorry, father... I'm sorry for everything..." In a truly uncharacteristic display of emotion, she finally purges the unsaid words in a torrent, with a single, powerful - if vaguely pathetic - gesture.
> A stiff board in a summer hurricane. Masato stays there as Michiru sobs, the pitterpattering rains of eyedrops wetting his suit.
* Michiru storms all her sorrow over him. It didn't matter if he didn't respond, it didn't matter if he wouldn't say anything else. She just needed him there. Nothing else.
> It is all Michiru gets - a place to cry, a broken violen between them.
* Michiru squints her eyes, slowly moving away from Masato and taking the broken violin to her hands. Drying her tears with the T*A uniform's sleeve, she stands up and coughs, still embarassed. "I... am sorry for this outburst, father. I should go to my room."
> "...yes, go rest." Masato says as Michiru disengages, going back to sit. He looks downcastand silent, at anything but hisd aughter.
* Michiru silently leaves the room and heads for the bedroom upstairs. Her steps are now desolate and empty, as she moves like a phantom towards her haven. The realization of her lost musicality would still take a while to sink in a less brutal manner, and, while it didn't, Michiru's heart practically bled. After finally reaching the second floor, Michiru opens the door and enters her room.
* Michiru puts the broken violin over her desk, and crumbles over her bed. Of all things she could have lost, the hollow space left by the absence of music hurt the most. Fooling herself to sleep with the idea of sending the violin to a craftsman in the morning, Michiru curled up in bed, her tears not quite drying until sleep.

[Ebiris]

This occurs Friday afternoon, the day after the ill fated meeting

[19:57] <Usagi> Friday lunchtime at Juuban High... the weather at least has improved on yesterday, though it's still noticably chilly out. But that's of minor import to the blonde who's been surreptitiously observing Takeshi ever since he arrived in class barely half an hour ago. Heedless of the rumours which her behaviour may engender, the blonde rises as soon as class is dismissed, making her way over to the reincarnated general's desk.
[19:57] <Usagi> "Um... Takeshi-kun?" she tries bravely. "Can we talk? Please."
[19:59] <Takeshi> "All right," Takeshi replies tiredly. There are noticeable bags under his eyes, and his nose is a bit red, Usagi can note, the long-haired youth shuffling papers into his bookbag.
[20:01] * Usagi looks incredibly guilty at the state Takeshi appears to be in, ducking her head in a bow. "Thanks... we can talk in the literature club room - there shouldn't be anyone in there, just now."
[20:02] * Takeshi simply nods, letting the blonde lead the way in silence.
[20:03] * Usagi leads Takeshi out of the classroom and along the corridor, glancing back every now and then to make sure he's following until they reach the small room used by the literature club, the blonde poking her head in to make sure it's empty.
[20:06] * Takeshi follows along quietly enough, his face distinctly neutral.
[20:06] <Kotono> The clubroom is indeed empty. Well, ther ewas one girl with light purple hair, but she leaves silently when you enter.
[20:09] * Usagi blushes slightly, hoping the girl doesn't get the wrong idea... half her classmates already think she's moving in on Takeshi. Once inside, she takes a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. "Okay... first of all, I want to say I'm sorry for what happened yesterday," she begins earnestly. "We often disagree, but... what was said yesterday was completely out of line!"
[20:11] <Takeshi> "You don't have anything to apologize for," Takeshi replies levelly. "I appreciate the sentiment, but you weren't the one that said it. I'm not angry at you at all."
[20:17] <Usagi> Shaking her head, Usagi looks up to meet Takeshi's eyes. "Even so, I want to! You'd probably never guess it, but... I'm meant to be the leader," her expression shifts downwards, disconsolate. "I should at least take responsibility, since I can't change her attitude..." If only she actually could, then Serenity wouldn't be the one put in such a harsh position...
[20:23] * Takeshi sighs slightly, a few memories filtering back at that. "Then I accept your apology on behalf of your group, Tsukino-san," he says more quietly. "I don't mind at all that you disagreed with what I had to suggest, but..." He closes his eyes, breathing deeply for a moment. "What's done is done now. If you're worried about me leaving, don't be. I did tell Serenity that I was in her service, and I'll take that as binding as an oath w
[20:23] <Takeshi> as an oath would be."
[20:26] <Usagi> "I'll have to accept that," the blonde murmurs quietly. "I'm glad you won't leave, but... will you be happy? Are you really okay fighting alongside us after hearing that?" she asks probingly, clear blue eyes meeting his.
[20:27] <Takeshi> "Whether I'm happy or not is irrelevant," Takeshi replies, still in that same level voice. "I have a duty to do, and whether I enjoy it or not is beside the point."
[20:31] <Usagi> "To hell with duty!" the blonde snaps abruptly, eyes flashing. "Anyone can do a half-assed job in the name of 'duty'. You're a human being, not a robot!" she pokes her dainty index finger against his chest, trying not to wince at the resistance it gets as she withdraws and curls up the digit, flexing it.
[20:31] <Usagi> "I'm not going to turn you away if that's all your reason to hang around, but I'm sick of turning a blind eye to all these problems - if I hadn't then we might not have had such a stupid scene, yesterday!"
[20:38] * Takeshi falls into the nearest chair with a long sigh. "What do you want from me, then?" he says tonelessly.
[20:40] <Usagi> "Just... give us a chance," Usagi asks more meekly, coming down from her righteous indignation. "I don't have the right to demand anything from you, but... I want us all to be friends, not just fellow soldiers or whatever."
[20:43] * Takeshi snorts. "I don't know how to..." Takeshi is sadly interrupted by an explosive sneeze, then continues. "I don't know how to be anyone's friend anymore, Tsukino-san," he says, shaking his head. "And in some ways, I'm not entirely sure I want to anymore," he adds far more quietly, his gaze turning to the wall.
[20:48] * Usagi walks over to Takeshi and presents a handkerchief to him. Embroidered with her initials and a cute little rabbit design, as per the shoujo manga stereotype. Of course, the mysterious attractive male character normally doesn't proceed to blow his nose on it, but such is life. "Just give us a chance?" she tries hopefully. "I can't speak for Hotaru, but the rest of us still want to be your friends."
[20:48] <Usagi> Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration, but no need to scare him off with the whole Makoto bit just yet...
[20:53] <Takeshi> "You don't need to speak for Hotaru, she made her intentions quite clear last night," Takeshi scowls. "I'll... try, Tsukino-san," he says with an effort, passing a hand over his face. "I appreciate what you and Serenity have done for me, but it's pretty clear that there are people in your group that don't trust me, and I guess that't something I'll have to accept."
[20:58] <Usagi> Oooh, people, not person... guess he picked up on it, anyway? "Give it time?" she suggests, pocketing her hankie as its ignored. "And please, just call me Usagi? I hate being addressed so formally."
[21:06] <Takeshi> That at least gets a crooked smile out of Takeshi. "All right, fair enough. I suppose if I can do so for Serenity I can for you as well, Usagi." He finally stands, giving the blonde rabbit a slight bow. "I do appreciate the fact that you came to apologize, Usagi. It wasn't something you needed to do."
[21:07] <Usagi> "No," the blonde shakes her head. "I really did." Sighing softly, "And... if you've got a cold, at least let me do you a favour, there?" she offers, extending her hand.
[21:08] <Takeshi> "Hmm?" Takeshi says, a bit taken off-guard. "Uh... go ahead, I guess."
[21:09] <Usagi> "Just something I can do," the blonde smiles weakly as she clasps his hand, a barely noticable light percieved around her arm as she focuses for a moment on purging the virus from Takeshi's system.
[21:09] <Usagi> roll 2d6
[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Usagi rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=2, 3]
[21:10] <Kotono> Amazingly, Takeshi does begin to feel better...
[21:10] <Usagi> "You won't feel better right away or anything, but you should be fine in a few hours, I hope," she explains, keeping their fingers clasped for a moment before she withdraws. "Least I can do, I guess."
[21:12] * Takeshi blinks a bit in surprise. "That's... cool. Thanks." He does give Usagi a slight smile at that, but it doesn't last long. "Um... was there anything else you wanted? I had some stuff I was planning to get to work on during lunch today, so..."
[21:13] <Usagi> "I guess I won't keep you any longer," the blonde shakes her head, relenting. Baby steps, and all that...
[21:14] * Takeshi nods. "Time for the fun to start," he grumbles, shaking his head as he heads out of the room. "Damned paperwork..."

[Jo'ou Ranbu]

This happens in the day after Michiru's violin breaks. Whatever that means. <_<

---Arc 2 go!---
> Amid the melancholy of a failed life of song comes school.  The humdrum that never ends, passing and pulsing. The early periods are dead quiet - normal studies. You do notice a few people looking your way, including Chitose. The gossip is flowing, easy enough to tap into if Michiru chooses to find out.
* Michiru looks around, in a bit of a sleepwalking daze. The broken violin... it still felt brutally impossible, hurting like a nightmare. Her mind waned way too much for her to focus in a single point, but she couldn't avoid listening to the whispers of her class. If anything, it'd help her think about something else - although far from the illusion of forgetting it happened.
> The looks - the fog of first period is parted by that first. Chitose's gaze - it's still afraid but less so, more curious and hesitant. She slips you looks here and there, discreet gauges of fear. The whispers are more varied. "That Kaioh...she's so stuck up now! You saw her the past few days? She thinks she's so much better than us!" "I heard she really went to that crazy club of Sarashima's! Something's clearly wrong with her if she thinks she's better than us and going to that!"
* Michiru sighs in a mixture of resignation and bitterness. The seeds of what she sowed during her short stint as an inhuman were beginning to sprout, and she would have to cope with the weeds of unlife even so. Simple action-reaction connundrum, and not really a new one. She had never seen anyone capable of reading her motivations, regardless - arguing with the nests of baby hydras wouldn't be any good.
> In this blossoming of a bitter harvest lunch comes to pass. A chance for Michiru to go out into the world or stay put, a period of freedom and bliss.
* Michiru leaves the classroom and halts, in the sudden realization that she didn't know what she wanted to do. The explosion of last day completely depleted her desires - she wasn't even hungry, despite barely partaking of breakfast. Which translated, ultimately, to Michiru walking alongside the walls in a tranced ritual towards the music room, without even noticing.
> It's at the end of a quiet hall, a few soundproof musical rooms (Known occasionally for certain other uses for certain types of girls!) before the real practice rooms. They beckon, sounds of a piano, a trumpet, a violen all being practiced. It drifts out to get your attention.  Yet there is a draw behind you - you can hear a familiar voice call, "Miiichiru!" as well, competing against the lull of musical bliss, so denied.
* Michiru winces a bit, her safe haven shattered by a screeching rat - or the closest thing she could associate with that kind of annoyance. She slowly tilts her head, turning around, a vaguely annoyed expression (which translated mostly to an apathetic imagery in Michiru's face). "... yes?"
> "Hiya!" LIke a hummingbird that has found her flower to get sweet nectar from, Kotono dashes up, coming to a stop right in front of you! She carries a long a backpack, swinging backwards and nearly making her fall over on stopping! Only an epic arm waving feat of balance keeps her upright. "Heya, this is great since I was gonna go look for you in your class and I see you jsut turning the corner which is cool since I wanted to talk to you, huh?
* Michiru raises her eyebrow. "Oh, it's you, Sarashima-san. Impeccable timing, I must say." Indeed, it was impeccable. Few people would know exactly -the worst time- to barge into Michiru like a tidal wave, breaking her delicate strings with a snap like that. However, she kept composture, her expression slowly waning to a sort of unmemorable ease.
> "Isn't it? So now that you're well...you know, I figure you can join Rei-chan and me in the clock tower and I left a message for Hotaru to join us later if she's up to it-" A very slight downcast of Kotono's eyes, but she's over it so fast that it doesn't linger, "-and we'll talk about all the cool stuff like this and see how you're doing, since it is so interesting and how does it feel now since that other stuff was really bad?"
* Michiru nods with a faint smile, blinking a bit, while she sorts out the impossible jumble Kotono sent her way. "It's okay. I normally practice in the music club today, but an accident happened, so I will be available after class. Just give me a few extra minutes to communicate the incident to the club, and I'll meet you there."
> "Sure! I'll meet you by the access door, okay?" Kotono beams, smiling, "Oh, I'll get some drinks too and we'll have a mini meeting up ther - no Junki since she still doesn't really like the clock tower thatm uch since she was kinda shoved off it, do you remember that but anyway it's not important!" With a wave Kotono takes off, "See you soon!"
* Michiru watches the blonde beam of light zap through the halls, somewhat surprised. "Well... that was... intriguing." Michiru takes a look at her watch, wondering if there was much time left. Spending some more minutes in the music room wouldn't hurt.
> There's plenty of time in lunch left. About 45 minutes at the minimum.
* Michiru nods to the watch and smiles faintly. She approaches the rooms a bit further, in order to listen to the instruments in their full splendor.
> It's a hypnotic sound, but an imperfect one. Being practice there are missteps, start overs and little experimentations that go nowhere. Still, heartbreakingly beautiful music issues out...
* Michiru weaves along the sounds with a delicate perception for these little bumps. For a moment, she could almost believe in a lie, that yesterday's screeches were but the result of interrupted practice, just a little misstep that would be fixed with time. But she'd tear that belief with the snap of a finger - she knew that wasn't true. As soon as she were to touch another violin, it would happen again, and again, and again.
> So the music plays on...
> So Michiru makes her apologies. It only takes a few minutes, and on leaving Kotono awaits. The door to the clock tower is a little off the main way, in theory closed off but never locked. Simple T*A knowledge there, and the door currently has a blonde guardian awaiting you...
<Michiru> Time goes on as a blur. Lunch break over, a justification to the music club (speaking about the broken violin in such a deadpan tone was still a bit painful. Sigh). And then, the clock tower. Michiru still vaguely remembers the stories about the girl who fell off the tower, and she took the notice with a strange sort of acceptance. Maybe she just wanted peace? After all, nobody -chooses- to live, Michiru knew. And she walked.
* Michiru looks up to Kotono, just nodding as she approachs.
> "Hi, let's go!" Kotono opens the door as you approach, her backpack gone for now and sprightly heading up the stairs. Old stone steps, no hand rails to help you up. Just a twisting, winding stair, ascending up the spire of the clock tower.
* Michiru follows silently, slightly tense. She had never been to the tower, actually, and that was a... novel experience, to say the least.
> The flights of stairs would be enough to wind most, but Kotono isn't botherered. She keeps up ehr pace, and as you slowly see the top approach, "Rei-chan, she's coming with me, okay?" Kotono's echo repeats several times, caught in the vagaries of the design.
* Michiru nods, trying to not look down. "I see..."
> So you reach the top! The view is awesome! You can see most of T*A's yard and a several streets past it, a good bird's eye view of the area. A soft, chilly breeze from fall blows in, keeping the air fresh. There isn't much space up here, Rei sitting at the edge and idly dangling her legs off. "Hey," Rei says simply, face covered by a long pull from her drink.
* Michiru looks up the sky and lets go a smile. Indeed, it was an astounding view, worthy of a canvas. For a moment, Michiru ponders over the sky itself, quickly moving her eyes back to the human life around her. "Good afternoon."
> "Right!" Kotono shatters that moment of pristine, windblown calm as she goes to the edge as well, rooting into her pack, "So you have magic now, huh, and how much can you do?I mean, even not transformed we can do some stuff like this!" Out of her bag comes a paperclip, tosses into the air!
> roll 2d6-2
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6-2 and gets 5."12 [2d6=2, 5]
> It stops midair, just floating loosely like a astronaut in space "See? That's really cool and I bet you can do some stuff like that now with other stuff?"
* Michiru raises an eyebrow, sighing. "I barely even know I can use magic, Sarashima-san. I can't really do much as of now. Although that is an amusing parlor trick."
> "Well yeah, it's cooler when you make a bad guy go up and down like reversed gravity and make'em take a concrete sandwich...ack, I sorta sound like Sis now, you know? But that's the idea, can you do some stuff at all?" Kotono stops when Rei sighs, just sliding a hand over the blonde's mouth.
> "I think she means do you know how to do anything at all?"
* Michiru nods to Rei and Kotono with a gentle expression, a bit blank. "As I said, I barely learned I even have this power. I haven't learned to do anything with it yet."
> "Then do you know what sort of power it is?" Rei follows up as Kotono shoots dagger eyes at Rei, slowly removing Rei's hand frmo her mouth.
* Michiru shakes her head. "All I know is that it would be called 'magic'. Its intrincacies are beyond me as of now."
> "In that case transform!" Kotono finally pries Rei's hand off, blurting that out. "Work from there, huh?"
* Michiru nods, holding her transformation pen. "Neptune Power, Make Up!"
* Michiru is now known as Sailor_Neptune
> Waves of water cloak Sailor Neptune! The guise of Michiru Kaioh dies once more, replaced by the shining, dynamically flowing Sailor of Neptune! Power flows in her body, reality changing and conforming to her energy!  Her arms are wrapped around herself as she finishes! "Oooooh, right, Neptune!" Kotono nods rapidifre, half embraced by REi as she tries to clamp Kotono's mouth shut again.
* Sailor_Neptune blinks rapidly, a bit confused. "Are you two... always this... um..." Michiru coughs, considering it wasn't the best idea to put more fuel to the fire. "Anyhow."
> "That wha...whaaaaa?!" Rei darts off Kotono, a blur of ravenred as she finds herself behind Sailor Neptune! "ANYWAY. It should come naturally,but this isn't the place for a Senshi attack. So try osmething else - most of us have some sphere of influence we can control. I can do fire and Kotono has space."
> Hiding behind Michiru Rei blushes, shooting a confused deathglare to Kotono!
* Sailor_Neptune nods and sighs. 'I would also question if this is the ideal place for three underaged girls to prance around in sailor attire in the first place, but that's not here nor there', she mused to herself with a soft snicker. Then, she looks back to Rei. "I see."
> "So focus - you have any idea what your elemental focus is?" Kotono looks back at Rei quizzically, but just smiles to MIchiru after. "Ami-chan's water and ice, Usagi's purity, Hotaru's destruction. Stuff like that!"
* Sailor_Neptune nods, silently. Considering elemental affinities... for a moment, it even felt a bit too natural. Michiru closed her eyes, and started to remember a rainy day, looking at the window as the water poured down, flowing errantly from air to ground, mosaics and droplets forming on the ground, the sound always soothing... like a stream. Yes, a stream.
> OOC - Soul check.
<Sailor_Neptune> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Sailor_Neptune rolls 2d6 and gets 6."12 [2d6=3, 3]
> Michiru's eyes are closed. In this darkness of the vision she feels the crystalline forms of raindrops. They come to her call, forming in front of her. As she does, "Hey, there we go!" Kotono calls out in happy surprise. She feels water, a part of her understanding with no words. The call of water, answered to her summons. "Look at that on the ground, Rei-chan!"
* Sailor_Neptune opens her eyes, and the glimpse provokes a surprise. Yet, it all felt intuitive, natural as breathing. The limpid waterwaves felt almost like her blood, recognizing Michiru as a kindred. She keeps the focus on the feeling itself, following the trail by instinct.
> In the air in front of her raindrops form to cascade down to the floor! There they shatter into tiny streams of water, forming basic squares and circles to her command. Always flowing, always moving in it's lines, even if the lines are preset and looping.
* Sailor_Neptune nods, focus set on the water droplets and patterns. Slowly closing her eyes, she instinctively begins to reproduce the patterns of playing her violin, as if trying to remember music and life, her fingers and arms delicately mimicing the string pattern she has been used to.
> "That's pretty good," Rei murmurs, "Goo dfirst effort. It gets easier as you go, and the trick is finding useful things to do with it."
* Sailor_Neptune breathes deeply, and lets the focus go. As soon as she does, the patterns and streams disappear - expectedly. Michiru then opens her eyes, nodding. "Useful things?"
> "We do fight a lot." Rei bats her eyelashes coyly, darkly amused. "Fire's easy enough, almost everything burns. From there it's a matter of finding practical applications of your power."
> "Right! Like Ic an remove gravity fromt hings, and impractically ti's really coolt o just float around in zero gravity!" Kotono grins at that, peeirng down at the water streams.
* Sailor_Neptune is now known as Michiru
* Michiru nods, as she returns to her human form. "Water isn't exactly the most obviously offensive element around, intuitively."
> "If we fight a fire elemen-ack!" Kotono goes silent as Rei shoots her a look that probably left a Kotono shaped scorch mark on the nearest wall behind her!
> "Just work with it. Hey, at worst?" Rei smirks a little, "You can just snub'em and see if that pisses them off enough to go puddle sliding?"
* Michiru smiles. "Indeed. But I think I can manage. Water's flexibility is incomparable, and... if nothing else, it's a relaxing sight for me, assuming I decide to use it for less brutal purposes."
> "Right! Hey, you know we could do some cool things like a zero gravity water slide together?" Kotono taps her chin and thinks, "That would be really cool, too!"
> "Yeah. Watching a burning fire can be...oh hush, Kotono." Rei hangs her head at that, slumping over.
* Michiru nods and looks back at the gorgeous sight the T*A clock tower provides for a moment, as a short ritual to pay a sort of respect. Then, she returns her glance to the dynamic duo. "This was quite enlightening."
> "Mmm." Rei looks to Michiru thoughtfully, "C'mon, I'll walk you back to class. Stay here, Kotono." There's a note of fiery command and rage filling her voice, promising bonfires of pain if disobeyed.
> Kotono steps back, giving Rei a veeeery cautious look. "Um, okay, Rei-chan, if you really want but I can catch Michiru-chan later, okay?"
* Michiru nods in agreement, and follows Rei's command with a respectful, almost meek, gaze. She turns back for a wave to Kotono before resuming, however. "I'll see you later, Sarashima-san. Thank you."
> "Call me Kotono-chan or even Kot-chan or Kochan or something! That sounds so formal and we're friends so call me something nicer!" Kotono finishes in a rush as the two of you head down the stairs. Halfway down Rei turns, a tiny littie smirk on her face. "I'll get to the point. Are you always a bitch, or was that just the entire being an inhuman monster thing talking before?"
* Michiru blushes for a moment, and halts for a moment, her serene expression waning from her thoughts and body. Her eyes, now opaque, fixate on Rei with a faint vibration of disapproval. "I have been taught to be proper and polite at all times if possible, Hino-san. I believe you should know that yourself. Our upbringing has its own set of rules and protocols, which I do my best to follow."
> "Oh, go stuff that up Kotono's ass." With a flippant wave she dismisses all of that, starting to walk again. "You're coming off like the stick up your ass is the size of Mako-chan's sword. Show some life to yourself, or are you just stuck up?"
* Michiru shakes her head, clearly unimpressed by Rei's manners. "That's simply how I learned to interact, Hino-san. While you may well view it as inappropriate, it is a perfectly valid social approach." Michiru retains pace with Rei, now.
> "It also makes you sound like you sip tea and watch paint dry at home." Now Rei rolls her eyes, stopping at the bottom of the stairs, just before the door to returnto the normal halls. "See, I'm debating if you're really that far up on yourself or if you're just shy or if it was all those nasty inhumans doing that to you."
* Michiru snickers for a moment, sounding almost condescending, but stops short. It was a delicate situation, after all - at least, Michiru inferred so. "Actually, no, when I was inhuman, I made little girls cry. As you may well remember from the day when I offered to join the Supernatural Club", she says with a bitter smile. "But, if we are going to be blunt at this point, you are probably right. I'm probably stuck up, if you say so."
> "Then let's work on this, hmmm? I have to admit...mmmm." Rei taps her chin even more thoughtfully, looking Michiru over. "Got plans this weekend?"
* Michiru ponders. "Well, I have a huge backlog of books to read, and my violin should be fixed by then, so I need to practice. However, those activities shouldn't be mutually exclusive to -" She stops for a moment and blushes a bit. "... I guess I don't have any plans, then."
> "Good. Here." Rei takes a bit of paper out from her blouse, wigging out from her paradise within. Kneeling down and grabbnig a pen from her bag she works briefly, numbers enscribed. "My phone number, in case your communicator hasn't been given or whatever. Just get in touch with me either Saturday or Sunday before six."
* Michiru nods and bites her lips for a moment. "I will. And what in heavens you will do after six, I think it's best left in secret", she snickers with a cynical undertone.
> "Oh, I was just getting to that." Rei smirks back, heating up in her own amusement. "We're gonna go boy teasing and hunting." A toss of her lovely black hair, a wave of black overcoming Michiru's eyes. "After all...that's when you need to be a bit of a teasing bitch, hm?" Her smile is silkysnakelike, until she blushes and looks away. "Tried it with Usagi last week, didn't take due to bad luck. It normally goes a lot better."
* Michiru blushes heavily and coughs. "I... see. Understood. In that case, I will bring a book and try to stay out of your way. Once you return, I can offer a snarky comment or a silent nod to complaints. That works?"
> "Oh no, no, no, no." Rei stomps forward, taking Michiru's hand. "See, if you can be this haughty casually, you'll drive the boys MAD." Now Rei just leans in, purring away as her blush fades. "Don't you want to see them get driven wild? Maybe even find a boyfriend?"
* Michiru laughs disorientedly, her eyes now a bit blurry. "I... erm... I never really paid much attention to my hormones, so to speak. It's..." Michiru stops for a moment, perfectly aware that she wouldn't be able to go any further than a couple of poorly constructed grunts or hiccups. Her face is blood-red from blushing.
> "Ooooh! Then all the more reason tog et you out. You'll turn into a polite old maid otherwise." Rei's smirk grows even more, leaning in to whisper, "Don't you ever daydream what a man's like? Anything like that, that makes you feel all tingy and damp inside?"
* Michiru blushes so heavily that she is nearly steaming at this point. Michiru looks down, a disoriented expression and her eyes nearly bugged out. Her silence is terribly awkward, and says everything Rei needs to know. I.e. Michiru probably had less of a lust drive than the sisters in T*A.
> "...wait." Suddenly Rei turns red, backing away and rubbing ehr hands against the hem of her skirt! "You aren't gay, are you?"
* Michiru halts, and, for a moment, her entire world turns gray. Her face becomes serious, steely - maybe even a bit frightening. She turns to Rei slowly, her eyes now sharp and brilliant, her gaze ferociously serious. She fixates her glance over Rei's shining amethysts, her voice now coming off as icicle edges. "Negative. I said I never paid attention to my hormones, and that goes both ways. And let us never speak of this again."
> Rei freezes cold at that, eyes turning into little violet pools of fiery countering rage. ".....oh? Hit a nerve?" Rei banters back, voice unsteady.
* Michiru coughs, and now she returns to her normal demeanor, letting go a faint smile. "Maybe. Or I just needed to note, in some way, that you don't accost a subject as personal as that during banter in a hallway. Regardless - I can accompany you in boy hunting, yes. Just don't expect me to go into the hunting range with you", she snickers.
> "Hmph. We'll see." With that Rei smirks and turns to teh door - but does make a little sigh of relief. "Thank goodness she probably isn't or...it would be like that stupid fate stuff Kotono's talking about..." Rei mutters this very quietly, absently, but a vagary of echos lets it reach Michiru's ears.
* Michiru picks up the last mumbling of Rei, and snickers to herself. In the midst of all that, though, she realizes that it effectively distracted her from what happened last night. Which was... odd. Michiru didn't let go of those things easily. She looks up, and raises her voice. "Hey! Rei?"
> Rei stops just as she heads into the hall, a canvas of serene, beautiful Rei-chan against the normal rush of humdrum school behind her. "Yeah?"
* Michiru smiles brightly, and nods. "Thanks. You've been more helpful than you'd think." With that, Michiru waves and goes on ahead to her room, now light-hearted, oddly free. It was almost like seeing a different person in Michiru's body.
> "...huh." Rei watches Michiru go, curiously watching on before she just shakes her head. With that she heads off, back to her own classes.
---

[Anastasia]

> ---Arc 2 go!---
> The morning rush Friday isn't much of a rush. Hotaru happens to waken early, but in a cruel twist of fate both Mom and Dad are already gone. So breakfast is a muted and silent affair, until you hear the doorbell ring twice over, as if pounded.
<Hotaru-chan> "...Wonder what this could be," Hotaru sighs, softly, hand passing over her eyes. "Mah, the day begins," she murmurs setting her bowl in the sink, heading to the door to answer it, she has a few minutes. So Hotaru opens opens the doo, looking curiously upon who might be visiting.
> The tapping of her foot is impatient. Her lovely bosom is covered by crossed arms.  Her school uniform is freshly washed and pressed, immaculate. Rei's face is vaguely annoyed but not furious as she watches H otaru open the door.
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises an eyebrow as she opens the door, stepping back. "Rei," she greets softly, gesturing an invitation to follow as she heads back towards the kitchen.
> Rei follows without comment, waiting until the kitchen is found. "Idiot..." she sighs in annoyance. "Takeshi's a fatalistic twit who has delusions of being posssessed, but damn it." Her voice picks up rapidly into annoyance. "Did you HAVE to throw it in his face like that? As if it wasn't enough you probably made that idiot Kotono cry most of the day yesterday. Just..."
> *posseessed again
<Hotaru-chan> "I overreacted and panicked," Hotaru agrees softly, glancing back at Rei with icy amethyst eyes. "Go ahead and scream, Serenity's beratement last night makes this feel like sweet talk."
> "Glad to ...wait." Rei doesn't simmer down in the least, but she does hesitate, lingering by the table at those words. "Serenity chewed you out? I didn't think she had it in her."
<Hotaru-chan> "Serenity slapped me, twice," Hotaru snorts, checking her satchel for everything, burying Misuki's knife under her books, buckling it closed.
> "Slapped? Wow." Rei even softens the slightest bit at that, "Okay, damn. She really slapped you?"
<Hotaru-chan> "Harder than you did," Hotaru murmurs, taking her satchel and standing. "Ready to go?" she asks her dark haired classmate, a mask of neutrality covering her face.
> "So now what? Gonna talk to anyone else about it? Takeshi was pissed." Rei rises as well, staying more quiet and defensive for the mometn.
<Hotaru-chan> "I'll ask Usagi to test the waters around him after school," Hotaru shrugs, heading to the door and out, towards school. "I have to apologize, but I can't exactly just walk up to him at that point," she shrugs, voice almost mechanical at the moment.
> "You have to or you want to?" Rei focuses on that point as she follows, mood mellowed into a mere soft simmer.
<Hotaru-chan> "It's a necessity, under that context, I want to," Hotaru shrugs, ehr smile wry and perhaps dark as she glances back at Rei. "Professionally, then. Personally, I don't know him well enough  to want to."
> "Mm." Rei doesn't comment ont hat much at all, "Oh, I dunno, maybe because you kinda hurt him pretty bad?" This is drawled out as you walk down the brisk fall streets.
> "Mm." Rei doesn't comment ont hat much at all, "Oh, I dunno, maybe because you kinda hurt him pretty bad?" This is drawled out as you walk down the brisk fall streets.
<Hotaru-chan> "That's certianly a basic reason," Hotaru agrees, toying with the handle of her satchel, glancing up at Rei and shrugging. "You've heard it befre, you probably don't want to hear it again," she snorts lightly.
> "Try it." Rei crosses her arms over her chest again, waiting.
<Hotaru-chan> "The desire to not let someone else inside stabbing range," Hotaru shrugs, ehr smile twisting a little. "It lingers, hell, it's hard enough to not just curl up during Your bad moods," she shakes her head, blowing at her bangs. ""Bad impulse, but one I feel anyway."
> "Don't you feel bad for doing it?" Rei inquires quietly, walking along at a slow simmer. "I'm just curious now since you're so...hmph, about this."
<Hotaru-chan> "Surely..." Hotaru turns to Rei with her twisted sad smile, eyes weary. "You of everyone should know the number of knots I've tied myself in," she sighs a little. "My exterior can be a judge of my interior, but never a reflection."
> "Heh," Rei does lessen a little bit at that, looking away. "Fine, fine."
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru jsut shakes her head, one deep breath as she turns back to the walk to school. Wearying? Well, not entirely. Just long. "So how's your battle with Usa-chan and the great evil?" she asks, snorting.
> "...that." Rei's mood sours almost instantly, looking even FURTHER away as she colors. "I'd half forgotten about it in the rush, but you just had to bring it up. I don't know. Just...oh wait." Suddenly Rei's cheeks turn absolutely crimson, spreading with heated vitality. "We didn't kiss, but she uses a good brand of toothpaste - that's what I can tell now." Scowling, "I went to chase after her, and...let's just say we're still confused."
> "
<Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises an eyebrow, shaking her head. "Of course I did, you told me and I told you, and for that reason, I'm probably the least reasonable person to offer advice," she snorts, eyes cast forward and distant. "Mah."
> "..yeah." Rei picks up her pace as you get closer andc loser to T*A, "Let's just go."
<Hotaru-chan> "So the world spins round, spinning away and away," Hotaru murmurs, half to herself as they walk on towards T*A.

[Anastasia]

[23:06:17] <Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[23:06:53] <Kotono> Aaah, home in the evening. The time for Asher to see Mom and Dad in theory. Well, except for the fact that you haven't kinda seen them much in a fairly longer timethan usual...
[23:08:11] <Asher> Oh yeah. No kidding about that. With the creak of the front door and a bit of tiptoeing at a ... not very normal hour - that is, like sometime near midnight - Asher creeps into the house, not daring to make a sound.
[23:09:49] <Kotono> This is good in theory. IN reality, however, you find that Dad's looking from the couch right at his view of the door. He's quite tired but waiting, oh is he waiting. He doesn't say a word, just casting his eyes on Asher.
[23:13:32] <Asher> This is where Asher is very, very glad that the darkness of night obscures his face from view as he reflexively flinches back. He busies himself with closing the door and locking it tight, as per usual. He takes his jolly time doing this before turning around and waiting for Dad to speak. He doesn't stay up lightly. Oh no, he doesn't.
[23:15:20] <Kotono> "Come here, Asher." Oh, he doesn't and he doesn't speak lightly. You notice his tie and belt have been tossed onto the couch, his work clothes rumpled. He looks tired, too.
[23:17:08] <Asher> Eep. Yes. Asher finds himself forcibly coming over with every bit of respect and a twinge of fear. Well, he couldn't say that he hadn't seen this coming given his 'schedule' lately. He doesn't speak back; doesn't need to. Dad's like that.
[23:20:03] <Kotono> "Where have you been?" It's a very simple and unguarded question! It's the nicest in the world and a breeze to answer truthfully - IN THEORY. IN realty Dad awaits a reply, rubbing his tired eyes. "Your mother's worried."
[23:21:41] <Asher> Well. He'd thought about when this would come up many, many times at night in bed but never seriously came up with any plan to deal with it. So goes the time-honored tradition of telling just enough, and nothing more. Besides, the answer might be interesting enough to them to let him off the hook. "Mainly I've been just... hanging out with friends. I moved up my practice regimen to one of their houses."
[23:22:03] <Asher> This was true enough; Mokou probably would've noticed that Asher didn't practice in the parking lot after work anymore.
[23:27:29] <Kotono> "Friends. Mmmmm." Father closes his eyes and thinks that over a goodly time. "Friends? ...good for you, Asher. Just...let your mother know and call home ifyou're going to be late. You aren't neglecting your studies either, are you?"
[23:28:39] <Asher> "No, Dad, of course not. I'll get my term report next week, anyway, so you can see it then." And if nothing else, yes, school HAD been a constant upkeep - thankfully the classes this year were mediocre in requirements at best. It was next year with its chockful of AP courses that he had to worry about. Asher relaxes a bit.
[23:34:41] <Kotono> "Then good." Dad takes your word on face value or at least seems to, instead closing his eyes as he settles back. "...is one of them cute?" he asks quietly.
[23:36:12] <Asher> Even in the darkness it's hard to hide a momentarily blush - but that would've happened blonde involvement present or not. "Why do you presume -that-?" he inquires, putting back on his poker face, and turning to regard Dad seriously. He'd never broached any subject like this before!
[23:38:58] <Kotono> "..your blood is still hot." Dad says that from his place of rest, sighign as he indulges in the recovery of the couch. "Isn't it?"
[23:45:35] <Asher> "...wha?" Asher looks totally lost on what Dad's referring to.
[23:49:24] <Kotono> "Mmm." Father doesn't pursue it, instead falling into the embrace of loving, resting sleep.
[23:50:05] <Asher> "..." Asher waits for a minute. Then two. He's really asleep?
[23:50:40] <Asher> If he's really asleep then that went much more easily than expected! Asher starts slooowly going up the stairs to his room, where sanctuary and a ticket to the next day waits.
[23:55:41] <Kotono> Oh, he's out. Asher gets up..up...up. Mom's just coming out ofher room as she gets up, a little bleary eyed but stopping as Asher passes.
[23:56:27] <Asher> Out of the frying pan into the fire, they say. Asher offers a very meek smile at Mom, but puts a full apology on it. He pauses, too.
[00:00:55] <Kotono> "Asher...did you talk to your father?" She asks this as she quickly waves up, rubbing at her eyes.
[00:01:24] <Asher> "Yes, Mom." Automatic reply. He doesn't move.
[00:02:56] <Kotono> "Mmmm. Morning." She says this and stumbles off downstairs, sleepy and leaving Asher alone again. A shot for freedom!?
[00:03:39] <Asher> "...." Um. Wait, no. What the heck. Asher turns around, almost reaching out to touch her shoulder, but thinks better of it. He does speak up, though. "Uh, Mom? It's midnight..."
[00:14:54] <Kotono> "...I know. I meant in the morning." Mom yawns again as she struggles down the stair.s
[00:21:23] <Asher> This... is definitely off. Asher even brushes away his normal inclination to go escape to bed and heads downstairs with her, concern on his face.
[00:26:23] <Kotono> Mom toddles down to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. "Asher?" she asks as you follow her down, drinking down her refreshment.
[00:27:11] <Asher> "What're you doing up at this hour still, Mom?" Not exactly a non-hypocrital inquiry, but he's honestly concerned! She usually is pretty good on her sleeping schedules as well, and he'd seen her far more tired than usual lately.
[00:27:54] <Kotono> "...I woke up thirsty." Mother gives you a long tired, suffering look.
[00:28:32] <Asher> "Oh." Well, if looks could kill... this one was withering at the very best. He decides discreetly not to pursue it further, hiding a brief sigh. "I'll be going to bed, then."
[00:43:21] <Kotono> "Goodnight, Asher." With that Mom turns, giving Asher his long delayed chance to go rest!

[Ebiris]

This takes place after school on the Friday after the drama-strewn meeting

[18:09] <Kotono> So after school Friday comes! As Usagi gets up and says a few words to Takeshi, nature calls. So she pauses that to go off and answer that. As she washes up in the bathroom her communicator goes off, paging her.
[18:10] * Usagi winces, looking around to see if there's anyone else in the bathroom with her.
[18:12] <Kotono> There's a girl in one of the stalls - poor thing has some sort of stomach bug from the smells. Ick.
[18:16] * Usagi reaches into her pocket to answer the communicator and silence the beeping without actually responding, the universal sign for 'give me a minute to find somewhere private' before she ducks into the stall farthest from the occupied one, taking out her communicator and holding her finger over her lips in a 'shh' gesture. "Hello?" she whispers quietly, holding the device close to her face.
[18:20] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru's there, not looking particularly like she's about to be loud. Dull violet eyes glance back at Usagi, Tokyo's skyline in the background. "Hey, Usagi," she greets softly, only the faintest sparks showing behind her eyes now with contact.
[18:22] <Usagi> "Hotaru, what's wrong?" Usagi asks, almost hopeful. It would really be nice if someone would use her communicator to contact her at school for a genuine emergency.
[18:25] <Hotaru-chan> There's a long pause, eyes closed an instant before she opens them. They're lit again, masking control back in place. "Have you talked to Takeshi today?"
[18:29] <Usagi> "I have," the blonde replies, expectant tension giving way to an unhappy frown. "I managed to convince him to give us another chance - barely. Hopefully Michiru and Asher weren't put off by that display, themselves. What exactly were you trying to achieve with that, anyway?"
[18:36] <Hotaru-chan> "Point out that survival of torture doesn't make you qualified to undergo it again, much less retain your sanity after experiencing it in full again," Hotaru explains with deep breaths, her jaw a little tight. "That's sort of beside, though," she murmurs, "Glancing up. Could you...well, obviously, me messaging him out of nowhere...I wouldn't really expect that to be answered. Coudl you probe a little? I do need to talk to him."
[18:39] <Usagi> "Could have done it without completely alienating him," Usagi remarks, taking the chance to vent a little. Leaning back a little as she regards the other girl through the screen, "He did say that I wasn't the one who should be apologising to him. Take from that what you will."
[18:44] <Hotaru-chan> "I already know," Hotaru murmurs, closing her eyes again. "Will you help me, please? He has every right not to accept it, and I'd rather not charge in if that's what's going to be said because it's so recent, or whatever," she sighs, shrugging. "I don't want to make this worse."
[18:48] <Usagi> "Hotaru," Usagi levels a flat look at the dark-haired girl, "Takeshi's not a bad guy - if you sincerely apologise to him and mean it, I've no doubt he'll accept. You don't need anyone's help to do that... do you?" the last comes out a little warily.
[18:48] <Usagi> "But if this is all just so you can sweep everything under the carpet and make everyone stop being mad, then what's the point? It'll just flare up next time he does or says something you don't approve of."
[18:52] <Hotaru-chan> "You think I take Serenity that lightly?" Hotaru breathes, eyes opening with a bright and fiery flare of violet, burning like violet stars.
[18:57] * Usagi cocks her head, a somewhat grim smile on her lips. "You just kinda answered my question, Hotaru." Sighing softly, the blonde leans against the stall, "If you're just going to apologise to Takeshi to make nice with Serenity, you really shouldn't bother. Insincerity would just drive him further away at this point."
[19:02] <Hotaru-chan> "I'm glad you have so much faith in our queen, Usagi," Hotaru retorts, snorting. "Obviously, you've seen past what she couldn't have possibly maybe thought of before you." Shaking her head, Hotaru sighs. "No, Serenity wouldn't be satisfied with that any more than you would. Or do you propose that I'm that much of a convincing liar to her, hm? Serenity asked I re-examine myself, not that I go through the motions."
[19:07] * Usagi shrugs. "Again, you're saying that you're doing this to satisfy Serenity - do you care at all about how you upset Takeshi? I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what goes on in your head, Hotaru, but if this is what it looks like to me, how do you think Takeshi's going to take it?"
[19:15] <Hotaru-chan> "No, I'm not doing -this- to satisfy Serenity," Hotaru answers, glowering with a violet intensity across the screen. "Serenity is done for, she asked me to do something with myself, I did it already," she hisses, pausing to take a breath. "You questioned whether I cared about any of it, that, indirectly, was where Serenity joined this," she answers, shrugging.
[19:23] <Usagi> "Yeah, I'd kinda been hoping that when I asked why you wanted to apologise, you'd say something about feeling bad for being so cruel and wanting to take responsibility. Silly me," Usagi returns tiredly. "Look, I'll talk to Takeshi tomorrow and see if he wants to talk to you, okay?" she offers.
[19:27] <Hotaru-chan> "Because I'm just GREAT at pouring out my feelings to you, yes, we just have a wonderful emotional history and obviously the surface is a clear indication of the interior," Hotaru murmurs, closing her eyes again. "Don't bother, you made the minefield clear enough."
[19:33] <Usagi> "Y'know, if would be nice if I could take what you say at face value, yeah," Usagi nods irritably. "Amazingly enough, I don't feel up to playing guessing games at your deep and mysterious motivations beneath everything you say. People relate to each other by what's on the surface, Hotaru, we don't generally have much else to go on."
[19:42] <Hotaru-chan> "That's what the hope is," Hotaru answers, her voice gaining a tremor, whole body shivering a moment. "That no one will know, and because they don't know...they don't know where stabbing will hurt most," she murmurs, shuddering more, slunping. "To be a mystery, so no one can ever hurt you, even your friends."
[19:45] * Usagi hesitates at the other girl's change in demeanour. "Hotaru?" her voice catches, a note of concern in it. "Is it working right now?" she asks more gently, really wishing they could be talking face to face. This is only barely less impersonal than a telephone call.
[19:56] <Hotaru-chan> "No!" Hotaru snaps, looking aay from the communicator screen, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking, ehr hand clenching, fingernails biting into her skin against the panic, the roiling sensation in the pit of her stomach. "Everyone just keeps stabbing back, and it keeps HITTING," she whimpers, shuddering again.
[20:07] <Usagi> As the volume escalates, Usagi decides to just teleport home to her room - not like anyone saw her enter the stall, after all. Following a brief shift in locale, she resumes, "Then stop thinking of human interaction as a battle," she suggests, sympathetic but insistent. Sighing a little, she shakes her head,
[20:07] <Usagi> "Just... open up, please? I admit, I've been holding back too much myself, lately. But it's because of that that we have wretched scenes like yesterday! If people are stabbing back, it's because you've hurt them - so you can either stab back, or hunker down behind a shield - but neither of those are going to make the stabs stop, are they?"
[20:19] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru chokes softly, tears squeezing out past her eyelids as crumples down to the ground, turning to slump against the side of...a shack? Something on a rooftop. "How do you even...?" she asks, voicing tearing up the words. "I don't know, it feels like the knife is already coming if I'm not touching them, and even then...I just don't know, anything."
[20:26] * Usagi sits down heavily on her bed, mulling over her reply for a moment. "I dunno, Hotaru-chan... I've given about all the good advice I've got, since I don't know exactly where you are. But this... look, even if it hurts, isn't it more satisfying to be open like this? I feel like I can understand you better, at least," she rambles, just shooting from the hip as far as her wisdom goes,
[20:26] <Usagi> since she's not sure how to tie it into the knife metaphor. "Its easier to break down the misunderstandings and anger if you're honest, I guess that's what it boils down to."
[20:34] <Hotaru-chan> "Balder's Rooftop," Hotaru croaks, shaking her head. "I'm scared out of my mind right now," she murmurs, sniffling and rubbing at her eyes, away from the viewscreen. "More scared to be admitting it," she adds, shrugging helplessly as she leans into the wall. "How do you plan on stabbing me?" she asks, the faintest quirk of a sad, blackly amused smile tugging at her lips.
[20:34] <Hotaru-chan> "So pathetic," she adds to herself audibly, snorting. "That jest will probably just go worse places..."
[20:37] <Usagi> "I've done enough, I think..." Usagi shakes her head slowly, turning off the communicator before she takes the invitation and teleports to the top of that skyscraper where Balder briefly resided. Hopefully she won't be called on to fight anything, tonight... "Is it really that scary?" she asks softly as she appears by the shack.
[20:43] <Hotaru-chan> "It's the best I can do to not simply curl up and die during Rei's bad moods because she doesn't like to touch," Hotaru answers quietly from about two feet away, her communicator closed, the younger senshi sitting with her back straight against the shed wall. "She picks up the dodging, but...well, she does it too."
[20:44] <Usagi> "Rei?" the blonde blinks. "Where'd she come into this?" she asks, confused as she carefully sits down against the shack herself.
[20:47] <Hotaru-chan> "I open up to her, or try to. She doesn't like to touch," Hotaru clarifies, scooting over nervously, a slightly fearful, almost childish glance over at Usagi at even that movement. "She scares me, and I've known her clsoer than anyone but Mako-chan, and admitted things to her...mah. She still scares me," Hotaru breathes. "How much then, would going out on that limb with you scare me?"
[20:53] <Usagi> "So Rei doesn't like to touch?" Usagi considers briefly. So many tangents she could go off on, right now... Thinking better of it, the blonde shakes her head, not showing any reaction to the scooting, "I'm not asking you to bare your soul or treat me the way you treat Makoto," she offers.
[20:53] <Usagi> "Just... we can work on it a little, right? Since right now it seems you get scared and lash out, which only makes people act in a way that justifies being scared." Cocking her head towards the younger girl, she essays a smile, "Break the circle, right?"
[21:00] <Hotaru-chan> "Not unless she's in a very, very rare mood," Hotaru murmurs, her returning smile weak and sad. "I wish I could get away with treating most of the people I love the way I treat Makoto around them," she murmurs, hugging her legs. "I mean...the touching part. Kochan and I do sometimes, but..." she shakes ehr head, sighing. "How can that be gotten over...? I don't know," she sighs, chewing on her lip.
[21:01] <Hotaru-chan> "I can't ask, because I'm afraid of hwa...bleh, can I hug you?" she asks quietly, shivering all of a sudden.
[21:08] * Usagi replies by putting her arm around Hotaru's shoulder, letting her lean in if she chooses. "Most people don't touch all the time the way you and Makoto do," she admits with a faint trace of dry amusement. "Look... I'd be lying if I said things were all sunshine and lolipops between us. We haven't been especially great friends, even."
[21:08] <Usagi> "But, at the same time... I haven't felt this close to you in a long time. There's something to be said for openness."
[21:15] <Hotaru-chan> "So I like touching," Hotaru gripes softly, no real bite in her voice as she leans into Usagi, hugging the blonde's waist and sighing. "Openness..." she shakes her head very slightly, her swishing rather than flying as Rei is prone to do. "Mm, this is where Rei would make a crack about us secretly being gay and acting out our aggressions in denial," she offers softly. "Okay, so I'm dodgeing answering," she admits, blushing.
[22:39] * Usagi sighs tiredly, tilting her head a bit to hide her reddening cheeks. "And the gay jokes never get old..." she complains, refusing to be baited into saying something incriminating. She learned to value self control after ranting the whole sordid story to Asher.
[22:39] <Usagi> "Listen, if you apologise to Takeshi, or even just talk to him as honestly as you've been right now, I don't think he'll hold a grudge. It's honestly hard to hate someone who you can see is hurting."
[18:20] <Hotaru-chan> "Mmm," Hotaru agrees very softly, holding on firmly to Usagi's very warm and female body. "I guess so," she sighs, snuggling in a little. "You know, you really do feel good..." she adds, blushing a little.
[18:25] <Usagi> "Really, enough with the gay jokes," Usagi insists, tensing a little. "Anyway, at the risk of repeating myself," she goes on, deciding to just make one last comment before letting the matter drop, "Try not to be so prickly? Yeah, Takeshi's idea was horrible, we all saw that. But you don't need to tear a person down so much just to let them know they're on the wrong track."
[18:33] <Hotaru-chan> "You think I'm joking?" Hotaru hmphs, sighing a little and blowing at her bangs. "I know, panic reaction," she snorts, biting her lip. "Serenity covered that more explicitly than anything else," she murmurs, curling up half in Usagi's lap.
[18:37] <Usagi> "If you were hoping for a surprised reaction at coming out of the closet, we passed by that opportunity years ago," the blonde deadpans, idly patting Hotaru's dark tresses. "Anyway, I guess I've said all I have to on that subject. I guess I've got more confidence in things working out now, at least."
[18:39] <Hotaru-chan> "Wha? I didn't mean..." Hotaru shakes her head a little, laughing. "It just seems to be breaking out on its own now or something..." she mutters, pouting a little. "I'm not even sure, but that's probably even less of a surprise, hrm?" Hotaru deadpans back, though a hint of lighter energy behind her voice.
[18:43] <Usagi> "You certainly seem sure about being curious, if nothing else," Usagi mutters. "Well, how would you react if say Rei... or Makoto, suddenly kissed you out of nowhere? And I don't mean a peck on the cheek, either."
[18:46] <Hotaru-chan> "Take the opportunity to explore?" Hotaru blushes, seemingly relaxed where she is despite the topic of conversation. "And yeah, pretty much...I mean, I KNOW I like guys that way, just...the feelings aren't all that different if I try to think that way...no, I'm not thinking that way right now!" she adds hastily.
[18:47] <Usagi> "Thank God!" Usagi sags noticably in relief. "No offence, Hotaru-chan, just... I don't share your... exploratory, nature..." she murmurs, looking to the side and blushing bright scarlet.
[18:49] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru raises an eyebrow at Usagi, smiling. "Well, even when she's surpriosed, Rei-chan's a good kisser, so..." Hotaru hazards, snickering. "Like that time she fell on me in the hotspring because I went for her lips."
[18:51] <Usagi> "I, uh..." Usagi stammers, looking anywhere but at Hotaru, "Ah... I wouldn't, er... I wouldn't know about that," she gets out, coughing delicately.
[18:55] <Hotaru-chan> "Really? You got pretty nervous when I brought it up," Hotaru snorts, sitting up a little to look at Usagi. "And there's always so much tension between you two..."
[18:58] <Usagi> "That's... that's just how we relate," the blonde insists shakily, taking a second to swallow the lump in her throat and centre herself. "We both like boys," she concludes, a valiant effort at keeping her voice level. "Just boys."
[19:00] <Hotaru-chan> "Uhhuh..." Hotaru replies, the skeptic tone leaving no question as to what she REALLY thought about that. "Just remember Usa-chan...we're all aceepting and open," she pats the blonde's shoulder, smiling. "Want me to take you home since you teleported way out here?" she offers, letting the rest do its dirty business in her blonde friend's mind!
[19:02] * Usagi twitches. "This is your revenge for me going on about openness earlier, isn't it?" she asks wearily.
[19:05] * Hotaru-chan smiles innocently at Usagi. "I'm just stating the obvious, Usagi-chan. We're all accepting! If you've been thinking a certain way about Rei-chan...well, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?" she asks sweetly.
[19:08] <Usagi> "I don't know what you're talking about, Hotaru-chan," the blonde returns, her own voice filled with saccharine falseness as she disentangles herself from the younger girl and rises, dusting off her skirt. "But I'm sure I'd love to hear exactly where you got these crazy ideas about me and Rei."
[19:10] <Hotaru-chan> "Watching you two together, the gentle interplay of souls and minds," Hotaru nods rapidly, almost purring. "You two are cute together, like that married couple that argues. Anyway, I owe you a teleport, where to, your highness?"
[19:16] <Usagi> "Hmmph..." Usagi looks doubtful. "You'd think after nearly three years of the same tired gay jokes, you'd look for some new material. Oh, well, none of my business what goes on in your overactive imagination. Home is fine, if you're offering," she decides not to push her luck by pressing further. She'd likely wind up saying something incriminating...
[19:17] <Hotaru-chan> "Jokes? Whoever said anything about jokes?" Hotaru laughs softly, taking Usagi's hands and teleporting them, just inside the front entrance of the Tsukino home.
[19:18] <Kotono> It's nice and quiet here - but you can smell dinner. Mmmm, smells like baked tuna tonight.
[19:19] <Usagi> "You're acting awfully suspicious, Hotaru-chan..." the blonde opines, peering closely at the younger yet equally tall girl as she lets her hands drop away.
[19:22] <Hotaru-chan> "Oh?" Hotaru asks curiously, raising her eyebrows. "In what manner?" she asks, humming suddenly as her expression flickers. "Back on a different note...do you think it'd be a bad idea to hold until after school monday with Takeshi? Or should I try and get him Saturday morning?"
[19:25] * Usagi hmmms, leaning back and still regarding Hotaru with vague suspicion. "He seemed in a better mood after I spoke to him today. Tomorrow might be best rather than letting things stay as they are - maybe after school, though. Everyone's grumpy in the morning, after all," she comments, mind only half on this particular subject.
[19:27] <Hotaru-chan> Hotaru quirks her head a little, humming. "Alright, catch him and ask him to meet me at....bah, jsut tell him I'll be at the gate somewhere, if you might?" she hedges, biting her lip.
[19:30] * Usagi nods slowly, mentally debating something... eventually she thinks better of it. Would be too incriminating, even if Hotaru already seems far too knowing for her comfort. "I'll let him know," she agrees.
[19:32] <Hotaru-chan> "Oh, and the last thing," Hotaru's smile returns, predatory and playful. "Rei-chan's butt? Such a beautiful thing to touch and squeeze, even just once...one lost moment of passion that leaves so much unsaid..." And with that, Hotaru disappears, a giggling flash of violet leaving only words behind.
[19:34] * Usagi twitches. Oh, she so should have taken the risk... But Hotaru got the last word, this time. Bunching up her little fists in consternation, the blonde stalks off into the kitchen in search of dinner.

[Laggy]

This happens on Saturday after school.

<Asher> Oh it's such a wonderful day, a wonderful day! Not. The gray clouds hanging overhead bespeak of rain threatening to fall anytime soon, an apathetic mood that suits the black-haired young man in the park just fine. With no work today, and for some reason not feeling particularly explorational, he'd decided to regulate his regimen - which was happening less and less lately - to a park in Juuban near the school.
<Asher> It's not -the- most secluded or quietest place ever, but it'll do. There aren't a whole lot of people around, and only a sparse handful from school. Asher picks a nice quiet corner in the park, whereupon there's some nice shade from the trees, and practices out in tandem without prying eyes. An occasional visitor or two, sure, but they go on their business quickly enough. His mind focuses on the exercise.
* Takeshi heads into the park, thoughtful and solemn after his short encounter with Hotaru after school. A meandering path through the trails near the lake brings him within sight of a familiar face, running through what appears to be a sword kata. A few moments of mental filing work brings back a name to match the face, and so Takeshi settles back to watch for a few minutes, looking over the routine with a critical eye.
<Asher> Asher doesn't let up in the routine, never pausing to take a break. The moves, however, are obviously well practiced and have been done many times before in the past; his precision in them tells that much, as does the pretty much dead-on footing that accompanies it. Only on rare occasions does Takeshi note a maneuver or swipe here and there that seems to be carried out with a bit of an experimental air to it.
<Asher> The time passes quickly enough - five, ten, twenty minutes, should the observer be content not to make his presence known for that long. Asher had started a bit earlier than that, and the exercise stretches on.
* Takeshi crosses his arms as he watches, nodding slightly to himself at points and frowning at others, doing his best to remain unobtrusive as he continues to observe the practiced moves flow into one another. Finally, after a long interval of watching, he shifts his weight, the gravel of the path crunching beneath his feet as he does so.
<Asher> The echo of that in the relative silence, broken before only by the light swishes of kendo stick cutting through air, is enough to give Asher pause as he whirls around, an alert look coming across his face instinctively. His eyes shoot from his backpack slung up on a tree branch to the immediate vicinity before he catches Takeshi's figure, blank at first and then recognition lighting on his face. Pausing and lowering the weapon, "Takeshi-san?"
<Asher> --weapon, "Takeshi-san?"
<Takeshi> "Asher-san," Takeshi nods to the other young man. "Just watching your moves a bit, don't mind me."
<Asher> "Uh... sure," Asher says, a bit uneasily, but he gets back into the flow of his regimen well enough. Takeshi can tell that his presence has a marked affect on the young man's performance; he doesn't move quite as fast now, seeming to take more care with every strike and blow that's made against the air. Nothing spectacularly bad - to the untrained eye, it was hardly different at all - and it fades away the longer it goes.
<Asher> It's only a bit more, not quite ten minutes, whereupon he delivers a killing stroke to the air and steps back, drawing Reclaimer away with a sudden halt.
<Takeshi> "Not too bad," Takeshi says, his eyes half-lidded as Asher winds down. "Not great, but not bad, either. Where'd you learn the sword?"
<Asher> "My grandfather," Asher replies back, walking over to pause for a break against the tree. He's taking some deep breaths, but doesn't appear to be all that winded up. "And a sensei after him. They only taught me until I was twelve, though, and then I did self-practice afterwards."
* Takeshi nods, turning to face Asher as he moves. "You're pretty fluid with that routine, from what I saw, but..." He rubs his chin a bit. "How about outside it?"
<Asher> Asher gives a vague shrug, looking a bit downcast. "Not a whole lot of experience outside of that. I've been doing this more as a routine than as a serious art of combat, and I've only started sparring with anyone recently. Not exactly good on my supernatural fighting resume, I know."
<Asher> He seems completely aware of his lacking there, raising his eyes back up to meet Takeshi's gaze with a bit of a question behind it.
<Takeshi> "It shows," Takeshi says frankly. "Being fluid with your moves is definitely something you want to aim for, but it looked like every time you tried to deviate you started to falter a bit." He shakes his head slightly. "And you could stand to be a lot more aggressive, as well."
<Asher> "Aggression isn't something that was really ever taught or emphasized," Asher says back with a bit of embarassment. "I'll keep it in mind, though. Mainly the style my sensei taught emphasized speed and making impactful blows more than an all out flurry."
<Takeshi> "It's not necessarily a flurry of blows," Takeshi retorts. "I'm guessing you learned this mostly as a sport - you've got some good strikes in that routine, but you need to remember to follow through. A sword's a good weapon, but just bear in mind what the real objective in an actual fight is."
<Asher> Again, a bit of face faltering, but Asher only nods. There seems to be some unvoiced thoughts left there, but he doesn't pursue it, his face going carefully back to a neutral expression. "You've done some kendo yourself, by any chance?"
<Takeshi> "Not kendo specifically, but I've had a little training in the sword. Hardly enough to help me much in a fight, but I know you stick the pointy end into other things until they stop moving," he says dryly. "I do know martial arts in a broader sense, though."
<Asher> "Actually, thrusting and stabbing aren't my forte of attack style," Asher remarks to himself. "Martial arts? I've learned the basics of that, but haven't kept up with it nearly as much as I have with this. Shows how much I need to catch up to get anywhere acceptable right now."
<Takeshi> "Just remember the two main things to keep in mind in any real fight - and they're about all there is to keep in mind, and a good thing too. First off, your main goal is to stay alive. Second is to stop the other guy from attacking you." He smiles very slightly. "Good thing it doesn't get a lot more complicated than that, or we'd all be in a lot of trouble in any fight."
<Asher> "Keep everyone alive," Asher corrects mildly, his face unreadable. "But... yeah, of course."
<Takeshi> "Then just remember that this isn't a kendo match," Takeshi says, his face losing a bit of its levity. "Giving the other guy a good solid hit may slow him down, but it may not necessarily stop him, either. Remember that HE'S just as focused on staying alive and putting you down as you are for yourself. You tag someone with a good shot in a kendo match and you've won, (more)
<Takeshi> since it's sort of implied in the rules that if you've gotten in a telling shot you could probably finish the other guy off. You can't assume that in a real fight - that's why I said you need to be more aggressive."
<Asher> Asher sighs, holding up a hand defensively. "I guess that's true, but it's also possible to overestimate just how much of an edge you can get in after one successful hit. Pressing on like that makes you just as vulnerable to a counter, and there are times when backing off after you've made your mark is safer. And with less lethal outcomes."
<Asher> "I just need to work on being more serious with my swordplay, I suppose." He holds up Reclaimer while talking, seeming to gauge it for a moment.
* Takeshi shrugs. "Give it a shot, then," the long-haired young man replies. "Sparring's the closest thing you'll ever get to a live fight, and frankly I could stand to burn off some energy right now."
<Asher> "Armed?" Asher blinks at Takeshi, who obviously carries no weapon. At least to his untrained eye.
<Takeshi> "Unless you're hiding an edge I don't see on that," Takeshi nods to the apparent shinai, "go for it. I'd prefer you didn't go for the face or the groin, but I'll deal with it if you do."
<Asher> "Of course not." Asher actually sounds vaguely in disbelief that Takeshi would bring up such possibilities, but he shrugs it off quickly as he leans forward from the tree and parks himself back into the main path with the overhanging trees. Mentally drawing a circle, he steps at one edge of it, Reclaimer gripped with both hands, and stands in a formal ready fighting stance.
* Takeshi simply loosens his shirt cuffs, settling into an even fighting stance. "In your own time, Asher-san," he nods to the other boy.
<Asher> A formal bow, then Asher doesn't seem to waste any time getting to the point after that; he tenses, feet pushing back, and then sprints straight at Takeshi, curving to the side momentarily and then striking first with a leap in a full blown blitzing manuever.
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=6, 4]
<Asher> His aim is off, however! The slash goes wide to the side, apparently his reflexes aren't quite up to par as he'd like them to be as he skids to a slower pace past Takeshi!
* Takeshi lunges in low with a foot sweep as Asher charges in, aiming to use the other man's misplaced momentum against him!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=5, 5]
<Takeshi> Unfortunately, he mistimes, his foot not lashing out until well after Asher has passed it.
<Asher> With a rush and intake of breath, Asher whirls around and goes straight for Takeshi's back, the kendo stick lashing out for a clipping blow as he strains to change direction and momentum quickly!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 3." [2d6=1, 2]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=6, 4]
* Takeshi takes the strike across his back with a grunt, the bamboo clacking noisily as it bounces off his ribs. To Asher, though, it feels like he just hit a tree trunk with his sword.
* Takeshi twists under the blow, his clenched fist lashing out and up towards Asher's gut!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=4, 4]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=1, 5]
<Asher> But Asher's speed works to his favor here as he spins off away from the blow and watches Takeshi's hand assault empty air! With a pause, he stops a distance away from Takeshi again. And it shows. Asher's face screws in consternation at the sheer armor-like property of Takeshi as his somewhat worn wrist attests on holding a grip after that attack.
<Asher> That pause is only temporary, though, as he leaps to the side and tries again with the same technique as before!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=5, 6]
<Asher> And also utterly futile as Takeshi predicts the movement with ease and he misjudges his own momentum yet AGAIN.
* Takeshi reaches for Asher's arm as he passes, attempting to guide that momentum into something a bit more detrimental to Asher's health.
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 11." [2d6=5, 6]
<Takeshi> Sadly, he too is caught out of position, a scowl marring his features. Echoes of another spar not all that long ago spring to mind...
<Asher> Asher, in a daring move, decides to break away from normal tactics and snaps his sword back, the arc beginning before he even turns, aiming the blow straight for Takeshi's side as it nears completion.
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=2, 3]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=3, 5]
<Takeshi> Once again the blow is received with a grunt, Takeshi grimacing slightly at the force delivered. Showing no reaction other than that, though, he brings his forearm down in a hammerblow towards Asher's own forearm, hoping to jar his opponent's grip.
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=2, 5]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 12." [2d6=6, 6]
<Asher> This time, Asher slides the impact of the blow more smoothly to prevent it from jarring his hand, but the added concentration that demands leaves him wide open for Takeshi's counterattack, which staggers him back as he braces from the blow with a wince and backs off!
<Asher> Again, though, he doesn't let up - never stopping, the retreat turns into another coiled spring as Asher leaps again, not bothering with trying to strike from the side but heading for Takeshi dead on!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 9." [2d6=4, 5]
<Asher> Dead on, unfortunately, also means "dead obvious" as the blow misses by a hair with Takeshi's expected, and successful, sidestep!
* Takeshi whirls as Asher goes past, his foot flying up to plant itself against his 'enemy's' back as he flies past.
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=4, 1]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=4, 4]
<Asher> And that sends Asher straight into the ground, his own momentum working hand in hand against him as he nearly crashes facefirst into the dirt. At the last second, though, he rolls with it, coming up some distance away and getting back up to his feet with a groan.
<Asher> Turning back around with a not terribly enthuisiastic look on his face, but gritting his teeth, Asher advances back in, more cautiously, and then the blur-move-strike starts again!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=5, 5]
<Asher> ...oh, wait, that was a tree, not Takeshi?  Shit.
* Takeshi doesn't straighten, but he doesn't press the point, as Asher seems a bit stunned at the moment. "You okay to keep going?"
<Asher> "I'm fine," Asher manages, keeping some strength in his voice as he steadies himself and braces. He steps back into the 'circle', staying defensive for now, and letting Takeshi take the initiative.
<Asher> "Just not used to really keeping up this kind of speed yet against an actually moving target..." He grouses more to himself than Takeshi.
<Takeshi> "Your call," Takeshi replies, circling a bit for an opening before lunging in with a knife-hand strike against Asher's once-abused forearm again!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=2, 3]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=3, 2]
<Asher> But Asher's fully aware of the incoming attack, and ducks just out in time, hoping to regain his momentum with a swipe at Takeshi's shoulder!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=5, 2]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=5, 1]
* Takeshi ducks under the strike, then lunges - not with a hand, but with his head, bulling towards Asher's midsection in a carefully aimed headbutt!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=6, 4]
<Asher> But even after a not so impressive display, Asher's reflexes aren't quite so subpar that he can't predict THAT. He leaps to the side and goes for the wide open Takeshi, Reclaimer lunging out!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=1, 4]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=4, 4]
<Takeshi> And unsurprisingly, Takeshi takes the blow across his back again, a grumble emerging from his lips as he straightens. "Okay, I get the point," he mutters to himself. With a quick hop, his foot flashes out at a blinding speed, aimed for the joint of Asher's shoulder!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=4, 6]
<Takeshi> But he's a bit rattled from the blow, his perception off as the kick passes mere inches from Asher's arm.
<Asher> Swish! Duck, move just a little bit to the side and Asher just goes right again for Takeshi, this time aiming below for the knee as he changes gear to quick but decisive blows!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=5, 1]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=3, 5]
<Takeshi> "Gah!" Takeshi's leg buckles at the unexpectedly low strike, and he collapses, windmilling his arms. "Dammit, that was stupid..."
<Asher> Asher's quick to his feet on that, quickly getting a hand on Takeshi and offering him help back up. "Whoa, sorry, didn't expect that. You okay?"
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 4." [2d6=1, 3]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 12." [2d6=6, 6]
<Takeshi> Without warning Takeshi hauls himself up on Asher's arm, whirling around and planting an open fist on Asher's back as he drives him to the ground in a reversal of positions!
<Asher> THAT hurt. Hitting the ground with an impressive *thump*, Asher's only saving grace is that he manages to keep his deathgrip on the hilt of the kendo stick as all of the wind is knocked out of his lungs. He looks momentarily stunned, only barely managing to roll over to the side before control returns to him, restraining the urge to yell out in pain.
<Asher> It's a few steady seconds more before the young man grits his teeth and forces himself back up, using Reclaimer as a crutch and staggers back to his feet, anger flaring in his eyes, but it disappears as he steadies himself.
<Takeshi> "Remember, follow up," Takeshi says, standing slowly. "Don't assume that just because your opponent's down, he's out. If I were in your position there, it'd be swordpoint to throat time, even in a spar."
<Asher> "I get the point," Asher manages out, a bit hoarsely. But the pain aside, his face etches into an expressionless look as he starts to edge along the imaginary circle more, eyes carefully blank. "Are you still up for continuing?"
<Asher> And no, that last hit still has left its mark - there's a slight limp to his movements, but he seems to correct it as he trails along.
<Takeshi> "If you want to, we can," Takeshi replies, stretching his neck a bit. "I'm not going to push it further if you're taking too much of a beating here, though. I can stand to have the crap beaten out of me for a long time, but that doesn't mean you have to try to match me on it."
<Asher> "Don't worry about it." And that's all Asher offers as he stances again, seeming to take a deep breath, and rushes onward for another onrush of melee!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=3, 3]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 10." [2d6=5, 5]
* Takeshi takes the strike in his side this time, his face settling into an expression of grim concentration as he drives his elbow towards Asher's stomach in reply!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 5." [2d6=1, 4]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=5, 2]
<Asher> The elbow lands just fine, Asher's speed having been hit as he fails to spin to the side in time, and he gasps back. But rather than fall back, he breaks into a drop, rolling and swinging out at Takeshi's legs again as he tries to recatch his breath!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 3." [2d6=1, 2]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 4." [2d6=3, 1]
* Takeshi hops over the low strike this time, once again aiming to plant a hand on Asher's back and drive him to the ground!
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=4, 2]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 4." [2d6=2, 2]
<Asher> Desperate or lucky, who knows - but Asher manages to scurry back up to his feet in time and dodges the blow without even realizing it, sees a wide open back on Takeshi himself, and goes for it!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=6, 2]
<Asher> But the combination of recovering and trying to strike right away is just too much for him right now to handle, and the arc misses by inches as he swerves to the side!
<Takeshi> Still low from his attempted drop, Takeshi sweeps out with his foot, trying to turn the unbalanced Asher's swing into an outright fall.
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=1, 5]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 9." [2d6=4, 5]
<Asher> And fall he does. Asher drops to his knee, looking downright frustrated now, but it doesn't stop him from trying to get a free swipe straight at Takeshi's outstretched leg as he does!
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=4, 4]
<Asher> Yet that's just trying to pull way too much, and it goes sailing in the air as he hits the ground. Ungracefully. With another thump.
* Takeshi straightens up, attempting to plant a foot on the wrist of Asher's sword arm as he lies prostrate.
<Takeshi> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=5, 1]
<Asher> roll 2d6
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 and gets 8." [2d6=4, 4]
<Asher> OOC - Go on.
<Takeshi> And down it comes, at a blurring rate of speed - but only lands with the lightest of pressure. "And I think you're out on this one," Takeshi says. "Unless you want to keep going without the sword, since I basically would have broken your wrist there."
<Asher> Asher, on the ground, hesitates for a moment at the words. He then tenses, Takeshi seeing this motion as the only thing as Asher outright abandons the sword, jerking his body back up and trying to flip-kick back into Takeshi's chest in an entirely all too risky and not wise manuever!
<Asher> roll 2d6 final go?
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 final go? and gets 7." [2d6=5, 2]
<Takeshi> roll 2d6 intercept
* Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 intercept and gets 10." [2d6=4, 6]
<Asher> Of course, he had inadvertently forgotton that hitting Takeshi was hitting like a brick wall. The blow connects squarely and just sends the young man falling right back down onto the ground again, nearly driving him to unconsciousness with the rush of blood. His eyes roll up for a moment, then return as he lets out a load groan.
<Asher> ... "Damn..." He swears under his breath with a gasp, losing any sense of trying to even move, and just lies there inert. Takeshi's looming figure blocks the sun from him, but his eyes are a bit of a haze right now anyway.
<Takeshi> "Yeah, I think you'd better call it quits for now," Takeshi says, shaking his head a bit as he goes to help Asher get his wits back about him. "Just take it easy there for a minute." He eases Asher up into a sitting position, taking a seat next to him. "You still look a little crosseyed there."
<Asher> "I'll survive," Asher manages to grit out, in no shape to really resist or protest. He tries to get back up anyway, though, reaching for Reclaimer and angling the sword downwards against the ground to drag himself back up.
<Asher> roll 2d6 body check
* Hatbot --> "Asher rolls 2d6 body check and gets 7." [2d6=3, 4]
<Asher> And -barely- does. Just barely, like a straggler, pulls himself to his own two feet as vision returns. His hair's a total mess, and his face's caked with dirt.
<Asher> With slow, heaving breaths he manages to lean back against one of the trees and stares blankly up at the sky, seemingly oblivious to Takeshi's presence.
* Takeshi shakes his head, heading to Asher's side to lend a bit more support - the sword's a bit short to use as a crutch long-term. "You look like hell - just take a minute and get yourself together. There's no rush."
<Asher> There's a bit of a pause before the man draws any response. "You've gotta be kidding me," Asher responds, finally bringing his face to look over at Takeshi. "Our enemies could hit at any time, any moment. There IS a rush. And right now I'm just not anywhere near the level of ability that's going to be needed to meet up to it."
* Retrieving #evildunes modes...
<Takeshi> "And pushing yourself so hard you grind yourself down on training alone is going to do absolutely no one any good, either," Takeshi replies, shaking his head with a frown. "Everyone's got room to improve - god knows I could have made a lot better showing of myself there - but spending every waking moment you've got worrying about measuring up is only going to burn you out."
<Asher> "Trust me, I don't have to worry about overdoing things the way my schedule impedes on me," Asher says in way of reply as he casts his gaze back up again. One hand raises to brush some of the earth off from his face, causing him to cough violently for a moment. He shakes his head to himself and juts Reclaimer back down into the ground.
* Takeshi raises an eyebrow, rebuttoning his shirt cuffs. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
<Asher> Asher rolls his eyes at the sky, away from Takeshi, the words not really so much directing themselves towards him. "I've got scant free time as it is right now, and of all things my parents are pushing me to get courses up to par again. Which I've been doing, but not as much as I should. And Mokou's bookstore is getting more customers lately, so more work shifts, too. And when I actually have free time, Kotono always wants to do SOMETHING."
<Asher> "And now that I have that --" he pauses, omitting the more colorful word he wanted to use --"communicator, she's got an easy way to reach me anytime she wants. Heaven help me."
<Takeshi> "Then tell her no, if you need to do other things," Takeshi replies, shrugging. "Obviously not ALL the time, if you care about her, but nothing wrong with saying you've got other things to do if you do."
<Asher> "It's not that simple," Asher throws back in response, and realizes just how pathetic that kind of lamenting is. He sighs, pushing himself back from the tree. "Ugh. Just never mind it. I'll try to fit in the time, anyway, I can usually spare a few hours a day at the very least."
<Takeshi> "It's not?" Takeshi says, raising an eyebrow. "What's not simple about saying 'no' every once in a while? I'm not going to claim to be an expert at that kind of thing, but I can't see it being a huge problem as long as it's not the ONLY thing you ever say."
<Asher> "...Kotono is an exception to the norm in just about every aspect you can think of. Just take my word on that." Asher draws himself back up, reaching over to snag his backpack from the tree.
<Takeshi> "She's certainly got a lot of energy, I'll grant you that," Takeshi says. "But if you need help keeping up, just ask. Even if you'd rather not work with me, there are other people who'd be willing to help - Makoto-san, for one. She uses a sword herself, so she could give you a lot more pointers there than I ever could. And I wouldn't blame you if you'd rather not work with me - I don't exactly fight 'nice'."
<Asher> Asher shakes his head a bit ruefully. "I don't... really know Makoto-san all that well. I wouldn't mind making this a regular habit to replace my regimen. That is, if you had the space for it. I've been telling myself for a while now that I need to stop swiping at the air and get some real training in anyway." He shuffles his feet, looking around idly.
<Takeshi> "I don't mind it if you don't, but keep in mind what I said - I don't believe in fighting fair, so if we do spar I'm going to use every trick I can throw at you, short of doing permanent damage," Takeshi replies. "With that in the open, though, I'd be happy to help you practice."
<Asher> "I don't mind," Asher replies without much reaction, and from his tone it's clear he doesn't - whether out of apathy or ignorance of what Takeshi's implying, though, the latter can't really tell. "We have our communicators, so we can link up easily enough should it come to it, I guess."
<Takeshi> "Then you've got a deal," Takeshi replies, offering his hand. "Just drop me a line when you've got time, and I'll see what I can arrange. I've got work myself, but if I'm not working I rarely have anything else going on."
<Asher> "Right, then." Asher blinks at Takeshi for a moment at the outstretched hand, then remembers vaguely the nuances of some world history classes and offers his own, shaking unsteadily.
<Takeshi> "You need any help getting home?" Takeshi asks as the handshake is released. "You still look a little loopy, to be honest."
<Asher> "Like I said, I'll live," he waves it off, but with a grateful nod. "I've still got a bit more time today anyway - one of those rare occasions where I don't have too much to do, so I'll probably blow it off on the books or something."
<Takeshi> "If you're sure then," Takeshi replies with a nod, letting it go at that. "I'll see you around then, Asher-san." With a nod, he steps back onto the path and heads away, his step a bit lighter than when he entered.
<Asher> Asher gives a cursory wave off as he watches Takeshi's departing figure fade from view, not moving from his position near the tree, eyes still wandering. Then, a few moments later, he too pushes himself onwards to the road home.

[Asrana]

This happens Friday afternoon/early evening

[11:42:34] <Kotono> ---Arc 2 go!---
[11:43:54] <Kotono> Aaah. After school and after dojo. After a shower to wash up and changing back into her school uniform, Uncle Taka awaits you as he closes up for the early evening. "Good classes today," he calls to Makoto, binding the front doors locked for the night.
[11:45:44] <Makoto> "Thanks!" Makoto calls back brightly, slipping into her shoes and frowning at her school skirt for what seems like the millionth time. *I miss my middle school skirt. This one is way too short on me...*
[11:46:42] <Kotono> It does flatter! Makoto's legs are long enough to be shown of magnificently. One has to admit she's a stunning young woman. "Oh, let me know if your friends will be coming back some time, alright...OH! Also, I got a telephone message for you. That Kotono girl was looking for you and she said she'd call you tonight."
[11:50:19] <Makoto> "Wha-Oh." Makoto tries to tug the skirt down a little further, with minimal success. "Hmm. Really? I wonder if I should call her now...Oh. Uncle Taka?" Makoto looks up, a brief, angry shadow lurking behind her eyes. "I...About my, um...Time out. Is there any way I can tell if I'm getting too paranoid for my own good?"
[11:54:03] <Kotono> "Paranoid?" Uncle Taka finishes closing up, dusting his hands off on his pants before turning full on to makoto. "Well, if you start talking about conspiracies?" HIs expression is far more calculating, however, stopping. "Mmm. How, Makoto?"
[12:01:09] <Makoto> "I..." Makoto bites her lip. "Something happened. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but I've been thinking and thinking about it, and it just doesn't fit. And It's important that it does, if I'm going to trust this person to watch my back." She sighs. "There's a bunch of cranky feelings on the matter, but at it's heart, that's what's bugging me."
[12:04:07] <Kotono> "Hmm. That's a good question. Have you talked to anyone or looked for balance on it?" Now that the doors are locked Taka heads over, stopping as he passes Makoto by. "It sounds like you can't find an easy solution by your own basic thoughts."
[12:06:21] <Makoto> "I can't." Makoto sighs. "I do want to be fair, and just this thing alone isn't enough to start gossiping about it." Makoto scuffs her shoe on the ground. "I mean...it might be that I just started to take a dislike to...them, and I'm inventing reasons to be unpleasant." Makoto confesses softly. "I just don't ever remember being more irritated than I was just then."
[12:07:48] <Kotono> "...heh. Makoto." Uncle Taka clasps your shoulders, a manly gesture of support. "If a warrior stands alone, he must be serene andb eyond all self doubt and consternation. If a warrior stands with many, he must share his pain and his power to draw strength."
[12:10:37] * Makoto manages a faint smile. "I...I would like to be able to talk about it, but there was a blowup shortly after." she sighs. "If I voice my concerns, everyone will just assume I'm defending Hotaru-chan. Even if they were too hard on her, that's not my worry. She's tough."
[12:15:37] <Kotono> "That's quite the conrundrum," Uncle Taka agrees. "Then meditate on it and decide. If no one else can...there's always your stepfather?"This is said with the ever so faintest smile, before Taka turns away and goes to tidy up in back.
[12:17:53] * Makoto smiles and grabs her stepfather in a quick hug. "Thank you. If it doesn't sort itself out soon, I'll take you up on that." She smiles softly, letting him go.
[12:21:16] <Kotono> "Alright." Taka's off with that, Makoto free to go home, call Kotono or whatever. OOC - Skip ahead to do what you wish?
[12:23:37] <Makoto> OOC-Just go home. I'll take Kotono at her word and wait for her to call.
[12:23:50] <Kotono> OOC - More coming then.
[12:25:29] <Kotono> It's into dinner when Makoto's communicator springs to life. That pleasant beeping, the note that something is either going down or the Sailor Social Network is in place again!
[12:27:36] <Makoto> "I wonder if I'll ever get a beep that notifies me of an emergency?" Makoto murmurs, pulling out the communicator and flipping it on. "Yo."
[12:29:56] <Kotono> "Hey, Sis!" It's Kotono, smiling as she views her adopted sibling. "What's up, huh, and have you heard about Asher?"
[12:31:46] * Makoto smiles back-with Kotono, it's hard not to. "Dinner, and no." She replies, grinning a little. "What happened? Lure him into bed?" She teases.
[12:33:34] <Kotono> "No!" Kotono blushes, but then looks down, "Well, we did kinda sleep together..."
[12:34:40] <Makoto> "Oho..." Makoto leans forward, raising an eyebrow. "Good for you. You're being careful, though, right? He seems earnest enough, but I don't want to see you hurt, even by accident."
[12:35:21] <Kotono> "Well, we did use a blanket?" Kotono giggles and blushes, "Well, I was thinking about how you say you and Hot-chan sleep together, you know?"
[12:38:29] * Makoto blushes and flicks a glance at the living room, home of the impromptu bed for many such occaisions. "Well, we can't get each other pregnant, and we're past the worries of accidentally misunderstanding each other." The taller girl coughs. "Anyway, just promise me you're being good. Oneechan'll be cheering for you if you are." She smiles.
[12:39:25] <Kotono> "We are! WE haven'te ven kissed, so you know!" Kotono coughs at that, "Just he's warm and it was really nice to rest on him and he's just so nice and cute and...!"
[12:41:06] <Makoto> "Well then, you're on the right track." Makoto nods. "Just remember, try not to get too excited-but you know that. Sorry to fuss, but I'm really happy for you. I want to help, if I can."
[12:41:48] <Kotono> "Thanks! I know that but it's just so nice and cool and all that and he's so cute that...oooho, I know know it's Destiny, huh, sis and what about you and someone?" Kotono burbles and babbles on, face a happy red blush.
[12:43:53] <Makoto> "No one since Sousuke-kun moved away." Makoto sighs and rests her head on the table grumpily. "I'm giving my vibrator a workout...thank god I don't need batteries...."
[12:45:43] <Kotono> "Heh, heh..." Kotono turns crimson red at that, looking away. "I just can't really wanna do something like that, you know? I want ...well, I want Asher to be my first of anything like that! I mean it's worth waiting, isn't it...but it's reallyfun so I have something to look forward to?"
[12:48:14] <Makoto> "Trust me, sis..." Makoto smiles lazily. "The toy is wonderful, but it's nothing like having the real thing down there." She yawns, then starts. "*Ahem* Auntie Fuuko was quite clear about that."
[12:48:29] <Makoto> She adds, blushing.
[12:49:27] <Kotono> "...oh." Kotono coughs and sputters, looking away again. "Well um you know? I'll just wait for someone...oh, it's gonna be Asher, isn it, Sis, since he's just too wonderful!"
[12:50:15] <Makoto> "Well, I'd hold off on buying the condoms just yet, Kochan. Still got work to do if you want him to enjoy it, too."
[12:50:40] <Kotono> "True, just...mmmmm. Asssssheeeer!" Kotono swoons, giggligna s she falls back onto her bed.
[12:52:17] * Makoto laughs. "He must be something special, hmm? Oh, right...you said something happened about him?"
[12:52:58] <Kotono> "Right! I mean well that we nappedtogether and he's cute and just perfeeect!" A giggle from Kotono, nodding. "I'm just so happy and excited and I almost want it to happen since he makes me feel funny in the right places, you know!?"
[12:55:06] * Makoto snickers. "You really like him, huh? Have you dug up much about him?" Makoto asks, leaning on her elbow, and smiling as she looks into the communicator. "Guys like a girl that're interested in what they like, too."
[12:57:53] <Kotono> "Well, he said he likes...me!" Kotono says that part in happiness, laughing in a nervous rush. "He really said that too, and I know he likes books and swords and training!"
[12:59:38] * Makoto beams. "That's great! What kinds of books? Planning on looking into learning a little martial arts yourself?"
[13:00:15] <Kotono> "Sure, I bet I can get into any martial arts with his swor...oh." Kotono just stops at that, turning violet/red as she burns up! "Um..you know, is matress stuff martial arts, huh?"
[13:03:08] <Makoto> "..." Makoto stares, then bursts out laughing. "Sis, GEEZ. That's 'marital arts' And those come later." She adds, absently playing with her ponytail. "Remember a few months ago, when I was collecting guns and Hotaru-chan took me to see her uncle so I could learn to shoot them a little bit? I was doing all that so I could talk to Sousuke-kun about what he liked. You should try that, too. If you can talk about his favorite books and things with
[13:04:01] <Makoto>  You should try that, too. If you can talk about his favorite books and things with him, he'll be more relaxed."
[13:05:07] <Kotono> "That'sa g reat idea, too, so I'll try that!" Kotono giggles as she leans back, her bedsheets behind her seen. "I'll find out this weekend...and heck," Kotono maages a sly grin, "Maybe we'll get to that other stage really soon at this rate, huh?"
[13:06:56] <Makoto> "Whoa, whoa." Makoto cautions, giving Kotono a serious look. "If he's not already pushing you up against the wall, you have to be patient, Kochan. Boys can get nervous if their girl is more eager than they are. But...if you want to nudge him a bit closer, I have an idea..."
[13:07:21] <Kotono> "Oh?" Kot-chan perks up even more, "Okay, sis, what is it?"
[13:10:44] <Makoto> "This will take a lot of control to do it just right, Kochan. And it might take awhile to work properly." The brunette prefaces, before giving Kotono a wink. "But if you can manage it, you might get a panting and sweaty Asher-kun pressed up against you. Clothed, but it'll be a nice preview, huh?"
[13:12:38] <Kotono> "...I'ms old, tell me more, Sis!" Kotono giggles at that again, sitting up. Behind her is a wallscroll of ATLANTIS, ruined columns under the sea. "Okay!"
[13:13:53] <Makoto> Makoto laughs softly. "Okay. Pluto has that big stick, it's time you showed an interest in learning to use it." Makoto replies authoritatively. "Now. Asher's...Is he the confident type, or a little shy?"
[13:17:10] <Kotono> "He's quiet but he's kinda...mmm, shy!" Kotono decides on that, reaching down to twirl a lock of her hair. "He's really nice but he's kinda quiet sometimes, you know?
[13:19:35] <Makoto> "Hmm. Okay, then you can't play to his ego and ask him to teach you...So here's what you do." Makoto taps her lips thoughtfully. "Be warned, Sis. Catching a quiet boy takes PATIENCE. I gathered he practices alone, is that right?" She asks suddenly, plotting.
[13:22:52] <Kotono> "Usually, but I think he might've joined the kendo club bu tI can find him anyway, huh?" Kotono nods along to that, "Or magic practice?"
[13:25:21] <Makoto> "Okay. Now, think I've got a plan, but you have to take this in stages, Kochan. PROMISE me. Jumping ahead too fast could scare him. Can you do this slowly? Like that stakeout in the forest last year!" Makoto brightens as she thinks of an example. "Remember how slow and cautious you were when we were looking for the Japanese bigfoot? That's the kind of approach this needs."
[13:26:00] <Kotono> "Oh, okay!" Kotono nods, perking up even more. "Mmm, bigfoot and Asher-chan hunting, huh?"
[13:28:29] * Makoto grins naughtily. "You'd better hope so, if the size link between his hands and feet and...manhood isn't just a myth." She grins. "So, okay. Here's what you do. First, just try and get involved in his practices. Even if it's just watching, at first. After he's used to you being there, offer to practice with him. Everything in martial...and marital arts works best with a partner." She giggles.
[13:30:33] <Kotono> "Oh, tha twould be just too cool and wow! But yeah...mmmm, Asher's big feet and big sword...mmmm..." Kotono grins stupidly, squirming abuot before she blinks. "Oh, right! Get invovled, okay!"
[13:33:42] <Makoto> "Concentrate, Sis!" Makoto replies firmly, but not without sympathy. "This isn't something you can botch and recover from easily. Now. You don't have as much melee practice as Hotaru and I, so you should be under him in general skill. Don't LET him win, but try not to beat him if you think you can. This shouldn't be hard, he could probably teach you a fair bit. Now...Here's where it gets tricky. After he wins a few times, (Con't)
[13:36:24] <Makoto> you need to ask him to teach you....but this is really important. ASK WITHOUT SAYING IT OUTRIGHT. If you ask him to teach you, his shyness will flare up, and he'll refer you to me, or someone else he thinks knows more than him. Ask him to...show you what you're doing wrong. Yeah, that should work. Let him teach you what he can...and if there's something you're having a hard time learning...milk it for all it's worth. If he's any(More)
[13:37:41] <Makoto> kind of teacher, he'll get behind you and show you how to make the forms. And that means...Asher-kun hands on your arms and legs, and...if you're REALLY lucky, pressed against your back." Makoto finishes, proud of her deviousness.
[13:42:01] <Kotono> "Okay. Right. Not Asher's sword. Okay!" Deep breaths are taken by Kotono, listening in. "So...oooooh! THat really makes a lot of sense, just kinda get him into position and maybe it'll make him feel good to lead and to help and all of that, huh? He'll be close and holding me and sweaty and we'll be feeling closer and maybe one thing will lead to another and I really like this idea, Sis!"
[13:44:52] <Makoto> "I can tell." Makoto chuckles. "Just remember. Take it slow, slow, slow." She agrees. "Just like cornering a supernatural beast that you want to make friends with before it runs away." *And hopefully, this little project will net you a lot more closeness, even if it's goal is basically a cheap thrill.*
[13:45:58] <Kotono> "Okay, I will! I promise it..." Kotono licks her lips, giggling to herself. "It's a plan, Sis!"
[13:47:07] <Makoto> "Good girl." Makoto approves, smiling. "Keep me posted."
[13:48:03] <Kotono> "I will! Also..." A blush, "Um, can I ask you something else? If well...if we do get ahead of ourselves and one thing leads to another and to another and to THAT, well...you'd still be a bridesmade, right, since I kinda wondered about that and well?"
[13:50:06] <Makoto> "Awww..." Makoto beams. "I'd be honored. All you have to do is let me know when, and I'll be there." She promises, blushing. "Still, don't let him hear you planning that far ahead. Boys don't understand girls like to think about that kind of thing, and they panic."
[13:50:38] <Kotono> "WEll, I mean more if...well...you know what happens if a guy gets a girl pregnant when they're young and the parents get into it adn well...just..." Another blush, "Youd' still be there for me, awesome!"
[13:51:43] <Makoto> "Try for a more romantic proposal, Sis." Makoto chides dryly, trying not to laugh.
[13:52:17] <Kotono> "Okay! Mmm, I'm just...well...he tempts me and when I feel like that, just...okay!" Kotono stops when her stomach rumbles, gettnig her eyes to bug out. "Hold on, okay, I kinda gotta go get some dinner so we'll talk later?"
[13:53:09] <Makoto> "Sure. Oh, and I'm going to strangle you if that dinner doesn't involve at least two of the four food groups. And none deep-fried."
[13:53:36] <Kotono> "Um, well, we have some orange juice and I was gonna have some bread and ab it of leftover pork..." Kotono nods at that, "That's three, isn't it?"
[13:56:15] <Makoto> "Kochan!" Makoto exclaims. "The orange juice is a good start, but...Gah. Either have a carrot with it, or put peanut butter on the bread." She orders.
[13:56:36] <Makoto> "The rest is fine, as is, I suppose."
[13:57:43] <Kotono> "Right! I'll find something!" With that Kotono takes off, the communicator again going silent as she is back off to her life.
[13:58:39] * Makoto shakes her head and goes back to her cooling pasta. Kotono could definitely be a ray of sunshine, at times...
[14:00:13] <Kotono> --------

[Ebiris]

This occurs Saturday, the same day as the convention centre battle

[20:06] <Kotono> It's later afternoon when Takeshi takes a walk. The streets of Tokyo are clear this brisky windy day, giving him a chance to choose his course and think...
[20:08] * Takeshi takes a deep breath as he strolls the streets of Juuban somewhat aimlessly, enjoying the crisp fall air as he simply lets his mind do the important and engrossing task of nothing at all. Or nearly nothing - he's at least nominally keeping an eye out for other job opportunities.
[20:15] <Kotono> As you walk along, you pass by a two story office building. It's in the outskirts of Juuban, around af ew empty lots and not too far from the old middle school. The wish is granted - they have a banner out. "Temp Agency 2nd floor - lookign for able young men and women today. Good rates!"
[20:16] * Takeshi raises an eyebrow, deciding to head in and take a look. Temp agencies usually want more hours than he can spare with school, but there's no harm in taking a look.
[20:18] <Kotono> Inside you find a nice waiting office. There are some old magazines and a nice receptionist. "Oh, you're here for a job." She bows, no more than twenty and button cute. She could still be in high school, actually, and she has the nicest dimples. "Hold on."
[20:19] <Takeshi> "Looking to see what you have available, yeah," Takeshi replies, smiling a bit.
[20:23] <Kotono> "Let's see...ooh. We have some reps from one of our contrators in for office work.  It's flexible since they're cleaning out their mailing room and janitorial staffs, so they're hiring anyone with a pulse."
[20:25] <Takeshi> "What kind of hours would I have to work?" Takeshi says, raising an eyebrow. He'd rather NOT do janitorial, but the mailing room might not be so bad.
[20:26] <Kotono> "It's flexible. They have some reps in right now. I can have them talkt o you in ten minutes." A little bow after that, "They're literally rehiring the entire departments, something about a management shuffle from hell.":
[20:27] <Takeshi> "Uh... sure, I guess." With a slight shrug he heads over to take a seat, grabbing a random magazine and shuffling through it while he waits.
[20:30] <Kotono> It's not long until Takeshi si called back. It's al ittle conference room, ferns in pots and a few non descript paintings. A long table with semi nice chairs, a few people here - including one at the head you know. Reiko Tomoe stands up, pacing and with her back to you. "Call in the next one already," she says in clipped, annoyed tones. "I'd like to have this finished before next week starts."
[20:32] * Takeshi blinks. Twice. "Uh... Tomoe-san?" he finally manages, remembering Hotaru's mother from that rather interesting episode at the grocery store. She'd be hard to forget after that, actually, although he probably never would have remembered her name if not for knowing Hotaru.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Yes?" Her voice is just full of bad mood and thunderclouds - that is until she turns. Her professional dress is very businesslike, but her face turns to a surprised start on seeing Takeshi. "...oh! I know yo-ahem." Clearing her throat, "Due to management and departmental shuffles we're hiring quite a bit, Mr..." A check of a paper on the table, "Eiryo. What hours can you work and what position are you interested in?"
[20:37] <Takeshi> "Uh." Takeshi's a bit off guard at this point, certainly not expecting to run into Hotaru's mom here. "After school and weekends, and I was curious about the mailroom positions, if those would work together."
[20:37] <Kotono> "Mmm. That's fine..." Reiko sits, checking over a few more papers. "Alright...Takeshi. I'll be honest - we're hiring anyone. The new CEO is very...different and wants to encourage change. That aside, name your hours."
[20:39] <Takeshi> "I'd be available... hmm. Say 4:30 until about eleven during the week, and 1 in the afternoon until midnight on the weekends?"
[20:42] <Kotono> "Sold." There isn'te ven a pause at that, scribbled down and taken. "We'll work something...mmmmmmmmm." Stopping a moment at all of this, "...are you going to need special hours?"
[20:43] <Takeshi> "Special hours in what way?" He raises an eyebrow slightly.
[20:44] <Kotono> A long cough at that, Reiko looking on as her assistants give her...odd looks as well. One of them, a young girl with a blonde bun of hair, smirks just a bit before covering it. "For serene matters?" she asks blandly.
[20:45] <Takeshi> That brings Takeshi up a bit short, but a moment's thought puts two and two together. "Uh... quite possibly. I could have to, uh, step out in a hurry at times, although I'd be back to finish out my shift afterward."
[20:47] <Kotono> "Ahem." Reiko smiles a bit, looking to her help. "Go take a lunch break."
[20:47] <Kotono> They look at each other, the blonde one trying not to shoot Takeshi an amused, almost envious look before they all file out.
[20:49] * Takeshi looks slightly uncomfortable - it's clear Reiko knows about 'serene matters', as she put it, but it's certainly news to him. And certainly not something he'd expect to have come up in a job interview.
[20:52] <Kotono> Once the room is clear, Reiko sits down again. "What hours do you need?" she asks, smiling slowly at Takeshi.
[20:54] <Takeshi> "Whatever I can get, honestly," Takeshi says, still a bit surprised. "Uh... I know I can't get enough to cover the real cost, but I basically need enough to chip in to help with bills, and pay a bit of rent besides, hopefully. Whatever hours you can give me will be fine."
[20:56] <Kotono> "Mmmm." Reiko looks Takeshi over, tapping a pen against the table. "I need an afternoon page and mail helper,e specially when I work late. Consider it a favor to all of you - pay's only okay, but I won't ask questions if you need to leave suddenly."
[20:57] <Takeshi> "I doubt it'll be worse than I make at the supermarket," Takeshi says with a slight smirk. "I appreciate it, Tomoe-san."
[20:58] <Kotono> "Mmm hmmm." Reiko smiles a little at that, slow and calculating as she licks her lips. "Takeshi, have you talked to my daughter again recently? Mmmmm. I'm just wondering, even if...that Yoshi...
[20:58] <Kotono> "
[20:59] <Takeshi> Takeshi's expression becomes a lot more solemn at that question. "Yeah, we talked for a few minutes this afternoon."
[21:00] <Kotono> "Mmmmm." Reiko looks down just a little, eyes moving as she lets her inner thoughts go.
[21:02] * Takeshi doesn't elaborate, merely waiting to see if there's anything else the dark-haired woman wants from him.
[21:02] <Kotono> "You'lld o fine. Can you type," she asks, almost an afterthought.
[21:05] <Takeshi> "Never really tried," Takeshi admits, looking a bit abashed. "I expect I can pick it up fairly quickly if it'll be important, though."
[21:05] <Kotono> "It's something that could be useful. We'll worko n it. Anyway, can you start this Monday?"
[21:06] * Takeshi nods. "That shouldn't be a problem at all. Where exactly do I need to be and when?"
[21:06] <Kotono> Details follows, then, "I'll introduce you to everyone then. It's a big place, but I'm sure you'll find your way."
[21:07] * Takeshi nods, then bows to Reiko. "Thank you very much for the opportunity, Tomoe-san. I'll do my best not to disappoint you."
[21:07] <Kotono> Chuckling at that, "Reiko's fine when no one's around. You're a family friend if you're a part of that..." Now Reiko's face goes quieter, worried. "...keep an eye on Hotaru for me. Just in case, I know it's dangerous."
[21:09] <Takeshi> "I will, Tomoe-san," Takeshi nods, and his lips twist into a slight smile. "Protection is what I'm best at, and I intend to look out for everyone to the best of my ability."
[21:12] <Kotono> "Thank you. As long as you make sure Hotaru and her friends are safe, I'm more than happy to make sure your job here is painless." Reiko even slightly bows at this!
[21:14] * Takeshi starts slightly at the show of respect. "Uh... really, it's the least I can do for them, Tomoe-san. You don't need to thank me for it at all."
[21:20] <Kotono> "Heh. Still." Reiko smiles, "Go ahead and go. I have too many ahead to do."
[21:20] <Takeshi> "All right, I'll see you on Monday then, Tomoe-san," Takeshi says, giving Reiko another quick bow before heading out. Of all the people to run into here...