Scene #1992: From the oceans to love

Owner	Pose
Laura La Mer	Laura has had lots to think about ever since returning from the trip to Odaiba Island, Grand Ocean coming into the picture out of nowhere having caught her off guard. And how did it do that. That discovery had even unearthed the chilling statement the Witch of Delays had mockingly told her, one Laura had initially dismissed as just an attempt to get under her skin. She very much needs to get this out of her head, and she didn't think she was ready to talk about it with the Queen yet. If she finds out all of this was inconsequential...? No, she needs much more clarity of mind than this to make a decision. Usagi was there too, it will be much easier to explain things to her while also making sense. Not to mention that they have been definitely getting along lately, and she feels the blonde girl is someone this can be shared with. That was how she'd sent her a message asking for them to meet at the Shed, and here she is, standing inside not too far from the door, waiting for Usagi to come in.
Usagi Tsukino	It had been a couple of weeks sincce the trip to Odaiba, which had made Usagi realize that maybe she had definitely misjudged Laura. Sure, their first interaction had been contentious, but the younger girl had seemed perfectly fine on the trip, not to mention brave and considerate when acting as a hero. It was one reason why she'd swapped phone numbers with Laura after they'd finished up everything with the treasure hunt that had ended in half success, half failure. And she's been called upon, and since she ''is'' the senpai in the room, she's decided to bring treats! "Sorry to keep you waiting Laura-chan," Usagi calls as she pushes the Shed door open, "But I brought some treats, so I hope that makes up for it!" The treats are taiyaki from the stand near the school, still pipping hot and filled with two different toppings. "I brought red bean paste and pastry cream, since those are the usual flavors."
Laura La Mer	"Hello, Usagi", Laura reserves a wide smile to her when she comes in, an interested expression when she notices that it had been the blonde girl to bring with herself several delucious food this time. Guess it's her turn to explore Earth's land cuisine this time around. "No need, I came in just a few minutes ago. You do know how to make it better anyway", Laura smirks at the food she'd brought along. She'd already tasted taiyaki but not the specific flavour Usagi had wisely picked. "Thanks for coming here with just that message", Laura expresses her gratitude, taking hold of one of the sweets. "Do you remember our little adventure in the caves and the run in with Numeri? There is something that worries me, and I need to make order of my thoughts. Can we go over that together, please?" the pinkette checks with her in a serious tone.
Usagi Tsukino	"I love snacks," Usagi smiles a little, knowing full well that that's never needed to be said to anyone - if there's one thing everyone knows about Usagi, it's her love for food of all kinds. Taking one of the other sweets, she takes a bite and sits down at one of the desks in the Shed, frowning to herself. "I remember that - we almost drowned in that flood she unleashed. What did you want to go over about it? The treasure she stole?" That's just the main thing Usagi would imagine comes to mind. "I'm happy to go over it with you!"
Laura La Mer	"Yes, that is right!" Laura responds eagerly at the positivity in Usagi's number. "My Queen had sent me here with the duty to help prepare people for the fight against the Witch of Delays and her minions", the pinkette starts explaining, the sweet she has taken for now left without a bite. "They intend to suck the motivation power out of everyone they can, just like they did with Grand Ocean, in the search of a world of eternal delays." The Aqua Pot is at this point taken out of her bag and placed on the table. "You know I have been using this to take bubble photos, but it's also my house and more importantly, the only way we have to retrieve the motivation power that they are trying to steal", she finally catches themselves up to the entire scenario. "For some reason however, we have discovered that mermaid's treasure that has been concealed here in the human world, a cup of motivation power and that perfume ring", Laura says, taking the other off her finger and opening its concealed space, spreading a fragrance into the room. "This paste is made with a flower that only grows in Grand Ocean, the bubble flower. It point to one of us that stole people's motivation power some hundred years ago, and we had it. Why haven't we tried to give it back? Why keep it secret?", she frowns, finally getting to the point of her doubts.
Usagi Tsukino	The Witch of Delays, who takes motivation power... jeez, what would Usagi be like if she lost her motivation? It's funny too think about, considering her lack of ambition, but... motivation is about more than just ambition, isn't it? It's also about wanting to do something. And she ''does'' like to do stuff, just not stuff her Mama and Papa want her to do... "So Grand Ocean is drained of all it's motivation? That's your home, right?" That... is rough. Usagi - Princess Serenity - definitely knows something about a home that's.... that's ''not'' as it should be. But with that question asked, she settles into listening, and frowns, considering all of it, and the ultimate question at the end, and - "How ''do'' you return the motivation power? Do you just pour it out, and it goes back to the people it belonged too?"
Laura La Mer	When Usagi brings it up it's her home, Laura has lots of memories flash back in her mind. "It was a beautiful place, before the attack. Everyone was so happy and..." her voice falters for a second. "But Grand Ocean is not lost yet. I will get my home back to normal and become its Queen. I won't let the Witch do the same thing here either. It's a promise, Usagi", she states resolutely. Laura shakes her head at that alternative possibility Usagi is exploring. "No, pouring it randomly would mean it's lost forever. You ''could'' pour it on the person you want to make them absorb the motivation, but that's not an actual solution." Had she brought drinks with herself, she could have illustrated it directly. "That would give them everyone's motivation, rather than just their own. You can't separate it back into each person's motivation, it's a liquid." She shudders at the thought the Witch is also recklessly the one she is stockpiling all together, mixed almost irreparably. "That's where the Mermaid Aqua Pot comes in. It can absorb the motivation power and release it back to the right people, no matter how many are mixed up together. We definitely have the power to help them", she concludes. "And I don't know how it is possible that we had the cup and just didn't do anything. Putting the motivation back is our duty. Is Grand Ocean hiding something? This is crazy, maybe I just am letting the Witch in my head, but she acting like there is something about Grand Ocean I don't know", Laura grips the Aqua Pot really tightly in her tension.
Usagi Tsukino	"You know, there are a surprising number of future queens here." It's an inane thing to say, but it's the first thought to come to Usagi's mind, once she realizes what Laura is saying, and really considers it. So she's going to be a queen... no wonder she's so confident! "Aren't you a little young? You could at least become queen after you turn twenty, you know?" She's even younger than Usagi, who definitely isn't ready to be a queen, even one with just eight 'subjects' and a series of dead planets. How is she so confident about all of this? "Okay, so you can't just dump it out. you have to use the Aqua Pot... and I guess, back when that story happened, they would have had an Aqua Pot, huh? To give back the Motivation..." It's possible someone from Grand Ocean stole it. It's definitely possible something wrong, and awful happened. But... "...if someone dies, can you give back the motivation?"
Laura La Mer	"Really, how many are there?" Laura's curiosity is piqued. If it wasn't for the subject that has been troubling her, she would look a lot more involved and interested. "I did notice that Radiant Heart seems to be like a magnet for special situations, but not to that point. A little young? The question is able to make a smile appear confidently on Laura's face. "That's really not an obstacle for me. I have been working hard for this every day, it's my dream and I am going to attain it, and I don't see any reason to wait", Laura grins simply. She coughs lightly as a thought crosses her mind. "Well, there is a reason, actually. The Queen told me I was ready to start my apprenticeship, but I postponed it. I wanted to be with everyone still, experience all sort of things and fight with you here", Laura admits with a faint and happy blush. The moment turns somber again with the possibility of someone having died. "I don't see how it could, that person is not there anymore for it to return. The Witch has no interest in killing, but you are right, it would be stuck without a place", she admits, even if she is not sure that would have happened.
Usagi Tsukino	"Well, there's me, and there's Tragar-chan, she's a Device Mage, and there's Glimmer - though I guess she's already a queen, she's with Obsidian - oh, and there's also Yellow Pearl Voice, she's a mermaid princess too but I think she's already in charge, actually, but from a different ocean kingdom of course... the ocean has a lot of kingdoms doesn't it... there might be more but it's really odd that there are ''this'' many." A pause. "My boyfriend, Tuxedo Kamen, is a prince who would be king, like me, but neither of us really like to talk about it a ton. But we've been there. It's a lot of pressure, that's all. I already know you're strong - we fought together, after all! But being able to have fun with your friends and grow up, that's valuable." She smiles at Laura's happy blush, because it's good that she's not rushing to grow up just yet! And wants to stay with her friends... even if that smile fades, becoming somber. "We don't really know why this cup and treasure were here, but... before you fear that it's because of something bad, I just thought, maybe it's because of something like that. If someone's motivation was stolen, and they died... maybe it was left as a tribute, or something? Because it couldn't be returned. I could be wrong, but if you don't know for sure, why not think the best while you investigate, y'know?"
Laura La Mer	"They do things differently in the kingdoms of the open oceans. They are expected to take on the full range of their duties at 13 years old", Laura says in confirmation. Coincidentally it's how old Laura is now, even if her saying yes didn't mean the Mermaid Queen was going to turn her position over, it was an apprenticeship for a reason. "I will keep enjoying this with you all while there is still time for me. All the experiences I am having with everyone, they are memories I really cherish", Laura gives Usagi a smile. "Marriage for love, or political marriage?" is the next question at hearing Tuxedo Kamen is a prince, and her boyfriend. Though given the direction of this conversation, she really doesn't see any way Usagi would just let the latter be, so it has to be the first one. "I see, I really hope you are right. As odd as the whole thing is, I don't want. I will certainly keep thinking the best, Thanks a lot, Usagi", Laura gives a bright smile. She feels much better with that opinion, and the pressure of her doubts is much less stronger.
Usagi Tsukino	"Thirteen? But that's so young! You haven't even gotten to experience love at thirteen! Or gotten to be independent, or finished school... I mean, I guess you can have Pokémon journey at ten but a queen at thirteen..." That just feels like so young! Sure, it's only two years younger than her, but she certainly isn't ready to be a queen! But... that's not the point. "Sorry. I shouldn't be trying to discourage you, when you've already made your choice. You're going to be great, I'm sure." Reassurance, that's what she should be offer. Especially when Laura's taking an interest. "Love, definitely," Usagi sighs, that love-sick sigh that only the truly obnoxiously in love can manage. "If you can, you could ask the current queen, maybe? But, if you can't, you might as well think of the best, you know? Don't get down. I'm glad you reached out to me, Laura-chan."
Laura La Mer	"Pokemon journey? What's that?" Laura tilts her head quizzically. "I don't know how to experience love though, there isn't anyone special like that in my life", she replies. "If there were, I am not even sure how it would feel. How would you describe it?" "I don't think your choice is wrong, either", Laura feels the need to specify at Usagi's apology. "But thank you, I will be the best queen Grand Ocean has ever had." "I am really happy to hear you and Tuxedo Kamen are actually in love with each other, I am sure both of you will make an adorable couple", Laura grins at that sigh of love and longing. "I think I will ask her, now that I have a clearer view. You could even come with me on a leisure trip, the Queen is really nice, she would treat all of you well."
Usagi Tsukino	"Oh, Pokémon is a video game series, sorry. It takes place in a world with magical creatures that you can befriend and fight alongside, right, and kids can go out on an adventure when they turn ten." The explanation comes easy, and then Usagi hums, slowly, thinking about how to answer it.... "Love is like... being warm, all the time. It's knowing that there's someone who wants to walk through life with you - more than one, even, sometimes, when you're lucky. It's knowing that even when you're by yourself, you're never alone, and it's... it's seeing a future ahead of you." Even if the worst happened - even if they Faded - they would be together. She's sure of it. She'd always have him, and he'd always have her, and between them they'd have their extended spiral of loves and friends. R Her expression is ''very'' sappy. "I think you'll be a great queen, too. You really care, and that's the most important thing. And... I would love to see your kingdom with you, sometime. I've only been underwater for an adventure once - it was this whole thing, not very fun ''at'' all, so a leisure trip sounds fun. Thank you."
Laura La Mer	Would it be rude to capture Usagi's expression in a photo? Well, yes, yes, it would, Laura thinks as the blonde girl's face takes on that sappy glow that would make everyone feel just how profoundly in love she is. "You really look so radiantly in love now, Usagi-chan. You are making me think I should hope to look like that if I get that special someone", Laura smirks. "I will start collecting all of today's ideas, then, and I will definitely invite you", the pinkette says getting up from the chair. "Try not to lose yourself in the eyes of your Tuxedo, and see you soon", she winks, saying that just as she exits the Shed.