View source for 2809/Planning to Feel Shit(ennou) Together

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/10/25
|Location=Mamoru's Building
|Synopsis=Usagi knows about Hiddenite. Obviously, that means Mamoru needs to know about Hiddenite! The thing is... he's not the only one who needs to know. And she doesn't really want to be the one to tell him. Luckily, Kazuo, Ami, Masato, and Izou have input on this little problem. (Even if Kazuo does get elbowed.)
|Cast of Characters=43,58,122,90,86
|Tinyplot=Brotherfight
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>The request came on a Friday afternoon - an individual text message from one Usagi Tsukino, asking their availability for a group meeting in the community room on the floor below the one that Mamoru, Kazuo, Izou, and Masato all lived on. The group were informed that she was hoping to speak with the Shitennou, but advised that Ami had been invited as well, and that she was ''hoping'' they could speak privately. <br><br>In other words, that they'd be meeting without Mamoru. <br><br>In spite of all best efforts, it's very possible that Usagi won't be the first to enter the community room - large, with several windows, comfortable furniture in an assortment of arrangements depending on the size of the group, and with some shared access equipment like board games, decks of cards, television, refrigerator, and microwave. It's a nice place, the sort that makes it easier to turn an apartment community into a true community instead of an assortment of people who might acknowledge one another in the elevator. <br><br>Usagi claims a space at a literal round table, and exhales, long and slow, before looking up to greet everyone. <br><br>"Thanks for joining me on kind of short notice," she starts. "I have some information I wanted to share with you all, and, well, I want your opinions on - everything going on with Mamochan and Riventon."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:58|Kazuo Saitou (58)}} has posed:'''<br>Kazuo is, indeed, there before Usagi. Why? Because his grandmother is ''still visiting'' and it is always possible that there might be a sudden very loud encounter en route, delaying him substantially. This means that he planned an extra forty-five minutes, some of which he spent putting an assortment of on-hand drinks together.<br><br>(Not snacks, this time. 'Speak privately' means 'do not tempt the Usagi with baked goods, this is serious.)<br><br>He's still doing his usual wall-lean when Usagi claims her spot, but his phone went away when the first other person came in. His eyebrows go up at Usagi's question, and he glances to Izou and Masato - apparently he's not inclined to be the first one to offer comment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:122|Ami Mizuno (122)}} has posed:'''<br>It wasn't as though it was a particularly long journey for Ami, either. Given the proximity to her own apartment these days, she didn't even feel the need to bring along her backpack. She was just sat beside Usagi at the round table.<br><br>Similarly to Kazuo, though, Ami isn't about to be the first to offer comment. There were thoughts floating about in her head, of course, but the blue-haired senshi hadn't been present for Mamoru and Riventon's altercation. Not that she was entirely in the dark on the subject, of course, but there were better commentators.<br><br>"Coffee or tea, anybody?"<br><br>Ami asked the question as she rose, making her way toward the refrigerator and microwave setup. It wasn't exactly going to be five-star cafe fare, but it'd be something to nurse throughout the discussion at least.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Masato Sanjouin (90)}} has posed:'''<br>Masato is, in fact, still wearing a feather boa as a result of Kazuo's delightful grandmother visiting. There's no explanation, no context for it. All anyone knew was that the Shitennou was a willing distraction when it came to entertaining the obnoxious elderly woman. <br><br>He didn't quite get the memo on the seriiousness, because it was Usagi who called them to gather, and-- nothing against her-- he just didn't assume that it would be a particularly grave matter. Speaking to the Shitennou privately could've been about any number of things. <br><br>Well, he should have guessed Riventon would be at the center of it. Bad news, then. <br><br>"Oh." It was all he said at first, sapphire eyes flitting towards Kazuo. Suddenly the boa felt inappropriate. His gaze returned to Usagi for a long moment, before he called after Ami. "Tea. ''Please''."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>He had been the last to arrive, head pulled away from studying and research of his own when the proper picked time was approaching. And once in the community environment, he greeted Usagi and Ami with a nod of his head before beelining towards Kazuo with full intention of taking over one side and making his presence physically known.<br><br>Especially because, as he noted, he would not be the one catering tea as normal. It felt almost like it was his duty to do it, but since it wasn't Mamoru's or Masato's apartment, it was anyone's call to pick up the mantle.<br><br>"Coffee, black, please." It would taste bitter, along with the subject matter. That was a sign of what he partially felt already.<br><br>The rest would follow. He hardly had any reservations at the moment. "I have a list of opinions on the matter, but I'm mostly curious on what it is that you're wanting to share with us. Depending on what it is, it could change opinions, or make them worse." Izou cautioned, but his green eyes were locked onto the Moon Princess with expectation.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>Kazuo, waiting for them to arrive. Ami, walking in shortly after Usagi, offering to share a wealth of drinks. Masato, with a boa that made her smile briefly. Izou, seeking a drink as bitter as the conversation could very well be. Usagi meets each of their eyes briefly, before asking Ami for tea. "If they have ''any'' that are fruity, I'll be happy." <br><br>Kazuo had been silent, Masato disappointed, and Izou - well, Izou asks her to share, and she nods to him. <br><br>"I haven't told Mamoru yet, because I wanted to talk to you all first. It matters to all of you anyway, since he was so - you remember Hiddenite? He was Riventon. Riventon was him?" <br><br>And now that she's ''said it'', the Veil will drop on even their memories, the pieces readily apparent. <br><br>"Mamochan's about as torn up over Riventon as anyone could expect. I didn't think -" she breathes out through her nose, calming herself. "When we talked, I kind of broke him a little bit. I didn't think he hadn't realized that it was - that things between them ''are'' as bad as they are, what it means, but now he does, and I don't know how he'll react to finding out the lying liar who tried to claim he was a Shitennou is actually the dumb brother who nearly killed him ''and'' you, Masato-kun."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:58|Kazuo Saitou (58)}} has posed:'''<br>"Also coffee, black, please," Kazuo adds to Ami after Izou's request. His arm settles easily around Izou, helping secure his place there. Warmer than the topic of conversation, at least.<br><br>... or at least than the topic ''was''. Because Kazuo stares at Usagi when she explains Riventon's identity. And then lets his head rock lightly back against the wall, and looks ceilingward for a moment, and then begins, of all things, to ''laugh.'' Honestly; ruefully, but openly. "Of ''course'' he was," he manages in the way of words. "Of ''course''. Who else doubles down on the most stupid things like that?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:122|Ami Mizuno (122)}} has posed:'''<br>Ami hadn't been present for Hiddenite, so the news probably didn't hit her nearly as heavily as it would for the others. There did emanate a faintly disapproving tut, however. As much as she wanted to like Riventon, she couldn't help but feel as though he was definitely getting in his own way.<br><br>It was a good thing that she was on drink duty, then. A few minutes of fussing about--thank goodness there was an electric kettle handy, because heating water in a microwave was always a pain--and she was making her way back. Well, for the first time, at least.<br><br>The first trip saw her deliver tea to Masato and Usagi. Pretty straight and unsweetened for the former, while decidedly sweetened--with hints of honey and lemon in the blend--for the latter. On the second, black coffees for Izou and Kazuo. Then, finally, one last trip to gather up her own pale, sweetened coffee before she could settle in beside Usagi once more.<br><br>"He has a skill for it." Ami said of Riventon over her mug before settling in for a sip.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Masato Sanjouin (90)}} has posed:'''<br>"I get it, though, it's hard to work out what to do, or how to feel, and the dynamic was always a little--" Ah, the Veil was parting, and Masato's words trailed away into a murmur. <br><br>It was settling in visibly, the superimposed weight of identies on top of one another. The fifth Beatle-- the false Shitennou who tried to get close, tried to keep Mamoru safe in his own specific, weird way. The one who never fit, who almost seemed to try to replace Nephrite's historic role, and who pointed out great lacks new and old. Quietly discrediting them, destabilising them with inflammatory remarks and bait. Masato hadn't risen to it, quite, nor had Kazuo, but Tamaki and Izou both had reacted with scathing impunity to the intrusion. He recalled the deja vu, the odd sense of familarity that lent a hint of credulity to everything. The smirk that he recognised and could not place. <br><br>And the rest, of course, blisteringly obvious now. Amongst the myriad emotions-- shock, amusement, anger, horror, nostalgia and perhaps still too-great sympathy-- Masato grew pale. <br><br>"So... You're telling me that Riv-- next to everything else he's done recently-- also impaled himself on my sword, tearfully, in the most unhinged and &lt;&lt;bromantic&gt;&gt; way possible?" He said the word in English, and sounded mired in disbelief, and yet, it was true. He squinted incredulously. Then he frowned, glancing at Ami. "That's why the Obsidian data on Hiddenite was scratched. Riv was covering his ass, son of a--"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>"--bitch." Izou muttered.<br><br>Part of him wished Tamaki was present to also hear the news. It would have felt comforting to not have been the only one that lost one's patience when the fake Shitennou had made one's presence known. And the unfortunate part was that, during that first meeting and excursion, Izou as Zoisite wanted to reach out and be, in his own point of view, kind and accepting.<br><br>The baiting however did work on him, when scathing comments were shared that highlighted much of his own wrong doings. Things that were worthy of being brought to light by his own brothers, Usagi and Mamoru.<br><br>''Not'' an known, even if dressed as one of the Tennou.<br><br>Muscles tense, jaw clenched, frown visible on his face even as he controlled whatever reaction wanted to bloom. Laughter? Or anger? Which one was it? Either would have been easy to deliver, and just as warranted as the veil was now nonexistent between two entities once seen as separate.<br><br>Instead, Izou seemed to cross his arms and remain silent for a moment. Chew on the news as he thanked Ami for the coffee and gazed into the liquid like he had a damn answer for him.<br><br>"You're worried that telling Mamoru that Riventon lied, as expected, will only add to the burden of emotions he's already carrying, correct?" Greens looked back to Usagi, as if to confirm his suspicion. "Just so you know, I promised Mamoru weeks ago that I would not hold back any more secrets from him. So he will be finding out one way or another..."<br><br>"And he is incredibly resilient, even when he should give himself a break..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>Kazuo starts laughing, which, fair. Usagi drinks the tea ''he'' had prepared while Ami is gone, finding it sweet with something raspberry-ish, and she smiles a bit reluctantly at rueful laughter. <br><br>"It ''was'' really stupid," she agrees. When Ami returns, she accepts ''her'' cup of tea, and drinks it much more slowly, trying not to burn her tongue, also trying not to do a little dance in her chair at the honeyed sweetness, the tart twinge of lemon. She's about to say something else, but Masato recovers himself, disbelief in his words, and - "Impaled himself? On your sword?" <br><br>This is a clarifying question, but also, a moment of complete baffled pause. <br><br>"I didn't think he was your type?" <br><br>She's not even joking. She's a teenaged girl who's grown up in a world that's very aware of the inherent potential homoeroticism of spearing a man with your blade. <br><br>"You've got it right," she confirms to Izou, looking at him, hands cupping her mug. "And I never dreamed anyone here would keep it from him - I've been keeping it ''just'' so I could talk to you all first - I'm really just not sure if... if ''I'm'' the best person to hear it from? ''This'' news doesn't hit me as hard as any of you, or as hard as it will hit him?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:58|Kazuo Saitou (58)}} has posed:'''<br>There is coffee; Kazuo bows his head to Ami, that being as much as he can manage at the moment, and quells his laughter enough to accept it with a steady hand.<br><br>Usagi does ''not'' make it easy to keep things that way. Kazuo turns his head aside for a moment, leaning a little toward Izou, to make sure he can keep his reactions under control. No scalding the Zoisite. ''Definitely'' no getting coffee stains on the Zoisite's clothes, which, given Mamoru is around, would be harder to remedy.<br><br>A deep breath, and he says to Usagi, "Is there a reason you think that he will react badly to finding out that his brother came up with the world's most ridiculous plan to try to keep an eye out for his safety, and also to try to wriggle his way into Mamoru's social circle in a way that maintained plausible deniability? And that the plan failed disastrously because he needs so deeply not to be seen as making a mistake that he can't keep his ego in check in disguise, either? The only thing I can see is that this isn't the best time for 'that was adorable, by idiot standards.'"<br><br>He cannot look at Masato. He cannot even ''glance'' his way. Coffee is resorted to, to drown any hint of snicker. But quickly, because he doesn't want to risk breathing it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:122|Ami Mizuno (122)}} has posed:'''<br>Ami shook her head with a sigh, sapphirine attention drifted toward Masato with a sympathetic lift to her brows. "I almost feel bad for Agera-san. Riventon has to have doctored the data before he could have gotten it out to us precisely to keep his own involvement a secret."<br><br>Any sympathy was short-lived, however, as Usagi sought her clarification. Those same blue eyes flicked sharply to the blonde only briefly before their return trip to Masato.<br><br>"Oh dear."<br><br>Ami stared down at her own coffee for a long moment with a slight frown. She could almost see the shape of Makoto's face within the swirl of creamy coffee.<br><br>"Oh dear." She repeated herself.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Masato Sanjouin (90)}} has posed:'''<br>''Didn't think he was your type.'' Masato's brows rise, with a small shake of his head, equally as baffled as-- if not more mortified than-- Usagi. "I didn't think he was either?" <br><br>Then a small wince for Ami's sake-- Agera-san, who was also Riventon, and Hiddenite. That whole mess of Ami's secret identity getting revealed there, too. Honest mistake on her part, assuming extended circles of trust with Takashi could apply, through Masato and Mamoru's vetting. He still felt awful about that, more so for not knowing how best to even the odds out on the Sailor's side without recourse. <br><br>He pulls a face at all of it, "I second Kazuo, though... and you're right about it all, Usagi-chan. That's the sting of it," Masato settled down into setting with his tea, and in a point of idle self-comfort, stroked feath boa, "All this Hiddenite crap really just slams the point home even more forcefully."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Mostly because Riventon did this thing that's so stupid it's almost cute, because like you said, he wanted Mamochan to be safe and also to get in his social circle, and then ''months later'' which is like, now, I mean, Riventon almost killed him?" <br><br>The laughter is actually helping her destress, a bit, but her words carry some intensity as she expresses her concern, her worry - <br><br>"Riventon's worse than ever. He ''lost it'', in front of people, and he can barely offer a D-tier apology for it, and usually it would be kind of fun-cute-teasing that he was Hiddenite and instead I just feel kind of sick about it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:58|Kazuo Saitou (58)}} has posed:'''<br>Slams the point home? Did Masato ''really just say that''?<br><br>Yes, he did, and he timed it when Kazuo had no way to throw anything at him, the bastard. Ahem.<br><br>"He offered ''any'' apology. On his scale, that's remarkable." Kazuo's reply is matter-of-fact, not a defense. "He's worse than ever, yes. He'll continue to get worse, because he's convinced that that's the only way he can protect everyone else. This is unfortunately a familiar cycle."<br><br>(... smirking with superiority as he informed a city that they were going to die to help protect the prince and the world. A very, very familiar cycle.)<br><br>"Right now holding the lines open might be holding him back from falling ''faster.'' But he won't stop falling unless he chooses to. Mamoru has ideas on ways to keep him alive if he ''does'' choose to, and I have a few auxiliary ones." Kazuo shrugs with his free shoulder. "It's a contingency we can keep ready. On the off chance."<br><br>His arm around Izou is steady.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:122|Ami Mizuno (122)}} has posed:'''<br>"It mostly feels just plain old ''sad''." Ami replied, perhaps a little quietly, to Usagi. "Especially in retrospect. Riventon created Hiddenite as a way to get close to the people who'd moved on from him and Obsidian, and when it felt like that wasn't working the way he'd hoped, he undid it as best he could. The fact that this all leads to the things that happened with Mamoru-kun and Masa-nii..."<br><br>She shrugged faintly with a heavy sigh. "I ''can'' see how he might find himself feeling separated from the people he does actually care about. The things he's doing about it aren't right, of course... I don't know."<br><br>Ami took a moment's pause, lifting her mug to drink slowly. Just enough break to gather her thoughts before saying anything further.<br><br>So, as the coffee drew clear again, she nodded in agreement with Kazuo.<br><br>"If you need any help with those contingencies, Kazuo-kun, I'll gladly help."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Masato Sanjouin (90)}} has posed:'''<br>Masato nods a little solemnly, letting tea warm his mouth while Usagi speaks. It flows down his throat with a slight burn that he welcomes. "Yeah. Feeling sick about it... that's about where I am, too. Sad, maybe. I think what I mostly feel is dread and grief." <br><br>That was honest enough, though maybe an understatement. "I am happy to have the shard's of Beryl's gem out of his hands... but then again, I know he's studied the thing back to front and there's no telling what he may do with that data." He deflated some with a sigh from his nose. "And there's a lot of layers to that. I keep running over what he said... Mamoru's dismissing a lot of it as 'in the moment', but I'm more interested in listening to where his head is at when the Dark Energy flows. It's like saying something drunk-- there's a root of truth." <br><br>A glance around at the others, then. "I remember he said this wasn't how letting us get loose of Beryl was supposed to turn out. Something about that's staying with me."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>"Is it the self entitlement of his statement, to think we would fall into whatever template he had for us when he ''set us loose from Beryl?'' Because that's what it sounds like. Anything dealing with Dark Energy is just amplifying what we already felt before we were on it. Just worse. So consider--he cares deeply for Mamoru to a point that it is now laughable how inverted that care became. Jealousy, inadequacy, not being part of our side or in Mamoru's circle, and unwilling to let go of the only comforting power he has had. Perhaps that's the only way he feels Mamoru will ''see'' him." Izou snips that out there, his tone carrying a shrug that he did not physically manifest.<br><br>"All I remember about Riventon is his ability to get under people's skin with witty remarks, inflating his ego so he seems bigger than what he is. Whatever..." He could roll his eyes, remembering some of the back and forth they shared, but neither of those were important to him at that moment.<br><br>"Now he's dangerous as a ''director'' and by the sounds of what Mamoru told us, unwilling to take accountability for almost killing the person he apparently cared for the most, along with his homoerotic crush." One hand gestured towards Masato, but his focus remained on his coffee. He hasn't made eye contact with anyone for a moment. "He's blind, emotional, and more than likely will make any excuse to ignore proof of truth even if it stares him in the face."<br><br>Deep breath. "But... He hasn't gone too far. Not yet, at least. All we need is someone with enough strength to punch sense back into him."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Maybe," Usagi concedes, begrudging, to Kazuo's acknowledgement of Riventon's scale. It's not like he's wrong. Dark Energy makes things harder, makes things worse, and Riventon is ''full'' of the stuff. He hasn't gone so far as to devour cities for power, as to broil the planet, as to delight in murder and suffering, ''and yet'' - <br><br>Even without that, he'd still lost it, and himself, and over something he couldn't even fix in his memory. It's a sticking point for Usagi. <br><br>"You might not be wrong... and it's not like I'd ever call for his head, but... he disowned Mamochan, at least for a while. Told his minion he didn't have family. And the way Mamoru's felt about him, how twisted up it all is... I just... worry what it will do to him, to keep holding the door open, when what's probably going to happen is he just keeps getting worse, and he keeps being a bit better than the next worst bad guy, and meanwhile he's expecting apologies because Mamochan told him he can't have a piece of the torment nexus." <br><br>She leans back in her chair, chewing on her lower lip. <br><br>"I feel sorry for him. That he's still there, that you all left, that he can't see that that place is ruinous to everyone, especially him. He thinks he's the only that can fix everything, that we're all just getting in his way, and that means he can't see how much we need ''everyone'', and I bet there's a part of him that would love to not be like this..." <br><br>And her lips twist. And she looks up at them. <br><br>"But we've talked contingencies too, and how much it would take to rebuild him if he keeps falling apart during purification and now all I can wander is if he'd rather kill Mamochan than endure it. Someone's got to tell Mamochan... but I might not be the right choice. I kind of hate his brother a little right now."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:58|Kazuo Saitou (58)}} has posed:'''<br>"We all worry about that." Kazuo's matter-of-fact, still. "Our advantage in coping is that, ultimately, we can argue with Mamoru, but we work with his decisions. So while he's choosing to hold the door open, we work with that. And plan for the possibility it succeeds - and plan for his changing his mind - but mostly, for the time being, think of ways to support him. I opened another line to Riventon, a backup method; I won't say I'm not emotionally involved, but it's in a different way than Mamoru and Masato are, and I have a chance of catching signs of things going worse." A beat. "Things ''are'' going worse. But as far as I can guess right now, it's only in the way we're already expecting from 'director' - he's up to something, and hoping he'll be able to skate around our being involved with it."<br><br>He risks a glance toward Masato. That might be a bad plan. "Do you want to be the one to tell Mamoru about Hiddenite? You have first refusal; if you don't want to, I'll do it, unless Izou has something in mind."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:122|Ami Mizuno (122)}} has posed:'''<br>The way that one of Ami's hands drifted away from her mug to seek out Usagi's was very subtle. At first, she hardly even looked up from her drink as her thoughts continued to tumble over all of the things she might be able to concoct. Within her own mind, though, she couldn't help but see Riventon shielding her bodily from Wiseman's crystal exploding aboard the ship. It was difficult for her to wrap her mind around how quickly they'd gone from that to this and it manifested as a quiet nibble at her lower lip.<br><br>She did eventually turn her attention to Usagi more fully, even though she really didn't have anything further to say just now. It was enough to just be there for Usagi while Usagi was busy being there for Mamoru.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Masato Sanjouin (90)}} has posed:'''<br>"I can see that, to Riventon, it probably feels like there is no other choice, and we're all just... stuck in wishful thinking or got dealt a better hand. I could even see how he might feel like we owe him something, and that he should be able to call in that debt on his own terms--" Masato grants, carefully, "Even if that's just 'stay out of my way', for now. But that could easily change. If he's willing to use Beryl's toys, I have to assume that part of him is willing to play her games." <br><br>Sapphire eyes were downcast into the tea, dark brows furrowed still. "From where Riv is sitting, with Obsidian, I imagine it must feel a bit like a gilded cage. Making the best of it, doing whatever 'good' he thinks he can. Maintaining his own code, his own balance..." <br><br>He lifts his head towards Kazuo, next, and grimaces. "I can't say I'm not a little compromised, but I'm not letting any of this go. If we intervene in his business, I expect the attempts to manipulate us will only increase-- especially now that I know he was Hiddenite. That seals it." <br><br>Brown waves tussled as he shook his head. "If I have to be the one to tell Mamoru that, to his face? I will."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Izou looks up finally and lifts a hand, index finger pointed up as though he had a small point to make. "Do we really just want to send only one of us to tell Mamoru, when all of us Shitennou could go? All of us are compromised in one way or another. Masato was almost killed, Kazuo wants to break Riventon's skull, and I personally don't care if Riventon ever showed his face again and fell off the closest cliff."<br><br>"And Mamoru is aware about how most of us feel right now. We can't hide that. But we can still put that aside to be there for him as his friends and his knights."<br><br>A small shrug then. "...Also sometimes it feels better to know you're not the only one that feels like shit in the room."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:58|Kazuo Saitou (58)}} has posed:'''<br>Kazuo takes a moment to resort to coffee, considering. "Yes," he says to Izou, then. "We can all feel like shit together. It'll be a bonding experience."<br><br>If Izou elbows him for that one, Kazuo will consider it well deserved.<br> <br>
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