Scene #2474: Cymbal-ic Conflict

Owner	Pose
Usagi Tsukino	The fight may have started at the Pikarigaoka Botanical Gardens, but for the last little while it's been in the middle of a fantastical world - the barrier space that Sailor Moon willed into being as her home was being destroyed. RThe sky above is a watercolor wash of orange to yellow, and the trees and plants around them have softened in shape, wrapped in paper and ribbon like strange gifts, some of them off-tilter, and their branches are full of cartoon flowers. The rosebushes are soft shapely bunches, with patterns of stars and moons, circling slowly through the air, sometimes disappearing over the horizon before rising from a new spot, is a great blimp, with a detailed rose and a crescent moon at its nose. The ground is softer, comfortable, padded, a bit, like being at the gym. In the very distance, large obelisks of crystal jut from the ground. Sailor Moon is leaning against one of those wrapped-up trees, hands clasped together, powering the barrier, which is currently taking everything she has - though she hopes that won't always be the case. The youma, on the other hand, is ''not'' leaning against the trees, but leaping through the air, flipping back and forth. It's a whacky monkey in a train conductor's blue and red suit, with enormous staring eyes and cymbals clutched in it's undersized hands, and every time those cymbals crash together it lashes out with a blast of sonic power. It's almost certain this hideous being started out as an unloved toy, but now it's the size of an SUV, and it had been on the rampage, before our heroes interrupted. More than likely, it was abandoned in the botanical garden by a wayward child - which would explain why it keeps shouting - "EEK EEK, OOK OOK, I SHALL DESTROY THOSE WHO OVERLOOK! MOSS IS GROSS AND MOSS IS VILE, HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT MY TRIAL!" Bang bang go the cymbals, as a sonic blast is launched at Masquerade Lapine.
Zoisite	Nothing but long legs and a pair of buns on her head, Sailor Moon was atop the wrap up tree where the ''real'' Princess of the Moon hid behind. Arms crossed, smirking a little too sharply as green eyes beamed at the rampaging youma. A boomerang in one hand, and suspiciously no Moon Rod. But that was fine, as long as she looked and sounded the part. The next step was ''acting'' like her, which deep down, Zoisite had a specific image of. "I won't let you ruin a perfect outing for all the families and couples at the Botanical Gardens! It's a place of beauty and romantic scenery, perfect for girls like me that want nothing more than a normal date with her ''boyfriend!''" Sailor Moon sticks her tongue out, indignantly. "So in the name of the Moon-" Strikes the pose, "I'll punish you!" And off she leaps, launching the boomerang to distract the youma before a flurry of cherry blossoms appearing from ''somewhere'' surrounds the creature, exploding in fire. Sailor Moon giggles, running after it.
Takashi Agera	To say that this battle has been an adventure is an understatement. Technically Hiddenite was there when Sailor Moon opened her first barrier, to protect her house and the people around it from Rubeus - but that doesn't mean being in her from of Barrier is not still strange to him. That's to not even begin to approach the other strangeness that's going on in the battle. This is not the way he wanted to meet Sailor Moon and fight alongside her - but it's also better than another Witch so he's been involved in worse. Plus, his adorable neice is here! Who he can't... say is his adorable neice or even act like he knows her. This keeping track of multiple selves things started to be troublesome enough when he was just Riventon and Takashi, but now he's added another name and form. Ugh. At least right now as Hiddenite, he doesn't have to worry if this monkey monster is a 'naturally occuring' youma or the project of some coworker of his, he can just lean in and help out his in-law and neice. When the symbols clang loudly, Hiddenite waves his hands and thrusts them out, palms open, causing a pale green half-sphere of energy to erupt between the crashing sonic blast and Masquerade Lapine. His hands are shaking from the exertion; it's hard to get a shield of appreciable strength created so distant from him, but he -can- do it, and he needs to continue pushing this form. "Don't worry, I got it, so just focus on dealing with the monkey!" The don't worry is clearly addressed to both Lapine and Sailor Moon.
Minako Aino	"Don't let that thing smash again!" Sailor Venus calls out in warning as the youma becomes airborne. The Love-Me-Chain was already out and caught between her hands in a warm glow of linked heart chains that spun around with the move of her wrist only to snap out sending the length lashing upward. She couldn't stab it while it was that high, but she could try to trip it up. "Sailor Moon can you--" Wait wait wait wait. No. HER Princess was in another tree! Not that fakey-faker! Who was, admitedly, doing a decent job other than the taunting and tongue-sticking-out. Someone else might mistake that for Sailor Moon but not her actual body double that had learned her mannerisms and motions as if they were second nature. Venus fixes her attention back on the monkey as she works to try and ensare it so it can't clash those cymbals together. "Someone just shoot it already!"
Chibiusa Tsukino	The Magician of Mystery, Masquerade Lapine, is covering for her momma mostly by trying to keep the youma's attention away from the one currently sustaining the barrier. She does this by firing sprays of Rose Barrets at the monsterfied toy monkey, staying in motion, and channeling her sheer terror into alertness and urgency. Which honestly works out a lot better than just being outright helpless. The sonic wave comes at her, but Hiddenite blocks it with a timely shield. Lapine transmits, <<Thanks!>> and decides to use the protection as an opening. She doesn't question the fact that she's being protected. Fights are team efforts. Small Lady is used to people just looking out for each other as a matter of course, and between everyone else here she's kindof the newbie. More rose barrets rain down around the youmonkey, exploding into bright pink energy petals upon impact. She drops down closer to the ground behind Hiddenite and wraps her cape around herself to hide the magical power she's gathering within.
Usagi Tsukino	The Cymbal Monkey's attack was blocked by Hiddenite's shield - and attacking an innocent mysteriously masked bun left it open to being wrapped in Sailor Venus' chain, one arm dragged to lie smoothly against it's body, even as Rose Barrets and Fire attack it viciously! "BOYFRIENDS ARE LAME, AND LOVE IS TO BLAME! EEEEK, HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME SHRIEEEEEEEK!" These rhymes have been getting progressively worse, the entire fight, but it's honestly impressive how the Cymbal Monkey youma can still rhyme even as it dances around to put the fire out. Sailor Moon, behind the tree, sweat drops - honestly that speech was pretty spot on, except for the fact her boyfriend is her ''fiance''! Everyone... you can definitely defeat this monster! But she knows better than to call out and reveal her position. Maintaining the barrier doesn't feel as desperately draining as it had against Rubeus, but it's far from easy, and if she gets attacked directly, she can't be sure she won't lose her focus and send the world even more wibbly-wobbly. Struggling to clap it's cymbals, the youma shrieks once more - but it's trapped! "HOW DARE YOU HOW DARE YOU HOW DARE YOU! THE CHILDREN I WILL DESTROY, FOR IT IS THEY WHO RUINED MY JOY!"
Zoisite	"Come on everyone! I believe in you! Let's show them not to harm innocent children and the people we love ever again!" Sailor Moon encouraged loudly, the boomerang returning to her outstretched hand only to be tossed again and hitting the Cymbal Monkey's head point blank. "Big dummy youma! I was even trying to look at the Botanical Garden as a venue for my future wedding! Which you know, no one else can ''ever'' get married before I do. ''Hmph!"'' Jumping back a few meters, another violent wave of cherry blossoms ignited around the youma.
Takashi Agera	Hiddenite frowns. He doesn't sense anyone nearby right now, no Dark Generals looming, and none have made their appearance, which means this youma was an organic, free roam youma. If it was someone's responsibility he could have at least been mad at them about the puns. But there's something that's extra disconcering, to him, about any youma that comes forward to fight and openly states a goal to destroy children, that was created without even the tiniest leash on it. Uncontrolled Dark Energy - always the most dangerous, at least to him. "You need to go back to the world you came from, and leave this one alone, creature." Hiddenite says, as he generates two of his pale-green orbs, one in each hand, and lobs them towards the youma, the cymbals specifically. He's not the right choice to finish off a youma, but maybe he can continue to contribute. The small orbs sail towards the youma's weapons of sonic annoyance at the same time as 'Sailor Moon' gives her speech, and Hiddenite turns to regard her with a moment of curiosity, perhaps, while the orbs head on and the cherry blossoms ignite.
Chibiusa Tsukino	"Keep it trapped!" shouts out Masquerade Lapine. A pink glow emits from underneath her cape as she witnesses the chaos before her. At least for now, the monster is contained and they have a chance to finish it. Masquerade shoots a glance at the Totally Not Zoisite and wonders if Nise Moon has some kind of grudge about weddings. Well, that's a problem for future-Chibs. Wait, Chibiusa is already from the future. Shoot. Masquerade Lapine flies high into the air again, floating directly above the abandoned toy youma. She flourishes her cape, spreading it wide to her left side, and the arc of its motion glows with pink magic that turns into a crescent moon wider than Chibiusa is tall. Which, granted, isn't ''very'' but she's gotta work with what she's got. "Moonlight Message!" The crescent moon energy curves and spins through the air, arcing downward until it impacts either the youma or the ground, though preferable the former. She then wraps her cape around herself once again, watching the enemy to make sure it's gone down.
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus keeps her hold on the youma tight while the roses rain down exploding around it. When yet more cherry blossoms bloom into fire around it however, she releases the Love-Me-Chain allowing it to fizzle into a smattering of hearts that float off only to reform around her waist in that chain belt which often became her weapon. Just in time for Masquerade Lapine's attack to hit without any issue from her own getting in the way. A glance is shot over toward Hiddenite with eyebrows drawn together as she mutters, "Castlevania?" Only to shake it off quickly. Instead she leaps forward to land near Nise Moon, ready to go on the attack again if the final attacks didn't do their job. Once it's assured that the youma is down though? She whirls toward Nise Moon, POINTING accusingly at 'her' chest. "You better not be gunning for the job of body double! That's MY job!"
Usagi Tsukino	The Cymbal Monkey Youma really doesn't stand a chance - trapped as it is, the bonk of the boomerang is a small indignity compared to the real impact of Nise Sailor Moon, as its held in place while cherry blossoms go up in flames around it, causing its fur and clothes to ignite once more in a flashfire of pain. It tries in vain to clap the cymbals and blast away the flames, but two orbs from Hiddenite strike a cymbal each, breaking them in half, after all the other attacks that had been used. The metal splinters into small pieces, and the youma shrieks in rage... Only to take Moonlight Message dead on, the finisher enough to finish the creature off for good. "NOT LIKE THIS, IT'S SUCH A DISSSSSS -!" It shrieks as darkness is blasted into the air around it, dissipating as the monster shrinks down until all that remains is a now thoroughly melted and broken cymbal monkey toy, covered in dingy spots and burnt moss. Sailor Moon steps out from behind the tree with a distinct hmph as she crosses her arms. "You know, that impression was ''pretty'' good until the end," she pouts. "I might give justice speeches, but I totally not trying to stop anyone from getting married before me. If ''you'' want to get teen married in a rushed wedding just so it's done before mine, you totally can." She has not dropped the barrier, so as she's saying this, a blimp is sloooooowly rising in the air behind her.
Takashi Agera	Hiddenite pauses, looking between the two Sailor Moons, before Sailor Venus' comment about body doubles registers, just slightly after his brain handles the dichotomy of the two of them. Makes sense, though. With the Black Moon after Usagi and Little Usagi, some kind of disruption to that situation seemed logical. Hiddenite moves over to look at the toy, inspecting it. Both because it seemed like a reasonable thing for Hiddenite to do, and because Takashi was genuinely curious what caused it to link to the Dusk Zone, to see if anything was special about it. He also resists the urge to compliment the fake's performance just to annoy the real one, though the thought does cross his mind. "...so I'm going to guess everyone's alright, then?" Hiddenite says, turning the toy over in his hands as he inspects it.
Chibiusa Tsukino	A part of Chibiusa is relieved to see that Moonlight Message still works. That its magic wasn't just a one-off fluke. An assertion that her magic, once again, is still real. Still something she can use. It's... nice, actually. Being able to actually do something. Being able to fight. Lapine sees Sailor Moon stepping out from hiding to argue with Sailor Moon, and while she can ''clearly'' tell the difference between them it's hard not to imagine this as her mom arguing with herself. No fair. Small Lady wants to bicker with Moon-chan, and now someone else is beating her to it. She crosses her arms and opens her mouth to try and argue but like... what is she going to say here exactly? Chibiusa is at the tender age of 900ish. She's too young to be concerned about marriage. Instead, she goes for the troll angle. "I don't know. I thought it was pretty spot on." To Hiddenite's question, Lapine responds. "I'm okay! Thanks for the shield."
Zoisite	A frown on twinned face, Nise Moon crosses her arms with a pout on her lips, voice echoing back the same ''hmph'' as a rebuttal. "Well don't get angry at me. I got that nugget of information from one of your besties here." And jutting her chin towards the culprit, only to turn on her heel and address Venus as well. "And you could've joined in whenever you wanted to, I don't mind sharing ''this."'' A little smirk and a twitch of brow. "I don't see why the Princess of the Moon couldn't have two body doubles when in the end it's not really a competition, but the protection of ''Her Highness."'' A hand adjusts one of the long trails of blonde hair over his shoulder, sighing almost dramatically before green eyes sparkle like fireflies over Chibiusa's compliment--even if it was to tease the future mother to be. "Thank you, Small Lady. I do my best." Gaze returns to Sailor Moon. "Critique was noted, Sailor Moon. I shan't mention you being so guarded about the wedding next time, hm? Word of a Knight." Finally, there was a ''flicker'' of acknowledgement towards Hiddenite. Disdain clear to see, sharp as a knife and just as fresh. It had not been but a few days since the Labyrinth and the reopening of wounds. Zoisite wondered if the lying Knight knew it was him under this get-up at all.
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus stiffens where she stands at the dig shot back at her from Nise even as the blonde is flipping her hair. A single breath is drawn, and let out in a slow hiss as she crosses her own arms over her chest. "That's low," she utters beneath her breath but still easily heard by the one she was fairly certain was disguised as Sailor Moon. With all the references tossed around she could definitely make a guess. Even if she didn't have a pretty solid guess, the 'word of a knight' certainly would have made it crystal clear. Venus remains silent for a long moment before muttering, "I get why you don't like me, but why're you shooting knives at him?" She'd still not been filled in on who the heck Hiddenite was, and had only met him once before. Toward Masquerade Lapine she flashes a quick smile, "You did great, by the way!"
Usagi Tsukino	Sailor Moon is ''not'' surprised that her future daughter has joined the war on Sailor Moon on the side of those ''against'' Sailor Moon. She is, however, offended. "Lapine-chan, would it kill you to side with me for once?" She is pouting - not ''quite'' a perfect match for Nise Sailor Moon's pout, but certainly very similar. R"One of my besties... VENUS!" She does not flail her arms around like a whacky inflatable arm guy, but she kind of wants to, whipping around to pout before deflating. "Well... the rules are different for Venus and the others. But naturally you can decide to get married whenever you want to." Would Usagi actually stand in the way if one of her girls wanted to get married before her? Not really. Would she pout about it tremendously and disapprove? Absolutely. For one thing, none of them should be getting teen married without plenty of extenuating circumstances! "It ''was'' actually a pretty good job though. You managed my voice really well, and using that boomerang before the fiery explosions was a great touch too! I really appreciate you going to the effort to practice a disguise as me." Hopefully, he won't find the praise condescending - because it's all honest. Of course she had a natural flare up of annoyance at that little cast shade, but she really ''does'' appreciate this sign of assistance, this effort that no one had ever required Zoisite go through to help her. With all that decided, she turns towards Hiddenite, that mysterious and probably lying Knight who had royally ticked off the Shitennou at their last encounter. She doesn't know ''why'' he'd have done that, and especially why he decided to stab ''himself'', but now that they've run into each other...why not feel him out? "It looks like it," she says cheerfully, "Thanks for helping us out again." That said... she winces Venus cuts into Zoisite a little, if only because she thought they were doing better?
Takashi Agera	Hiddenite looks up to see one of the two Sailor Moons regarding him with more distaste than the other. He's not sure what to make of it until 'word of a Knight' happens. That gives him at least enough to make an educated guess. "Ah, he's being cold to me because I answered their challenge of my past self's competence like-for-like, and that appears to have hit a nerve." He explains. As though that explains anything. "Right now I'm more concerned with trying to figure out what caused a seemingly normal toy to rampage through a botanical garden and threaten children, though." he says, having decided for now to treat them as not worth his time - another like-for-like considering how they vacated the scene after he impaled himself. "Always happy to help, Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, Masquerade Lapine." he says with a smile that's as honest as he can muster, since to him, two of those are effectively related to him. And Venus once helped Chrono hold him off in an impressive way so he does have some respect for her as well, at least as a warrior. And of course, Sailor Moon is only mentioned once there. "Did anyone see any villain-types lurking around before this thing grew to the size of a small house?"
Chibiusa Tsukino	Praise from the veteran leader of the Inner Senshi is high indeed, and Masquerade Lapine smiles brightly as Venus encourages her. "Thanks! That means a lot coming from you." To Sailor Moon, the real one, Masquerade points at the toy-turned-youma-turned-toy and says, "I sided with you against that thing. Now it's my turn to side against you. That's the rules." Rules she completely made up on the spot, naturally. Lapine glances towards Venus and Zoi and senses a heat or a tension between them that could potentially be a bit more earnest than her constant trolling of her alt-mom. She frowns with a bit of concern, but... well, none of this is ''news'' to her. To Hiddenite, whose sins (in the eyes of the Shitennou) are known if not fully understood, Masquerade shrugs. "My device didn't pick up on anything like that."
Zoisite	Hit a nerve? Merely hit a nerve? More like tearing open old wounds to let them fester again, bleed and ache when not everything is fully put together. Not even his own death he could remember. But there was betrayal and much more mixed with truth and lies and manipulations he was sure would take a long time to untangle. But no. This merely ''hit a nerve.'' Nise Moon's composure melted, the expression of a lad on the brink of setting someone else on fire so visible. Even Venus' comments on his cut throat reply was ignore fully for this. One step, and another, almost fronting Hiddenite. Green searching over face, like the man before him was indeed beneath him--and for all intents of purpose, Hiddenite was. Then, Zoisite side steps, the click of Nise Moon's heeled boots following crisply. "Is that what you call dragging us through the mud before stabbing yourself so thoughtfully on Nephrite's sword? More like you did your best at scratching your own nerve." Nise Moon continues to walk away, waving her hand. "I'll wait until your lot have done chattering."
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus forgets her own issues with Zoisite at the verbal parrying between her and Hiddenite over past selves. That was always a touchy subject given how the past had gone. Bringing that up again, now, was really a good way to dig deep and hard into emotions that were almost always raw just beneath the surface. Even she could tell that. As Nise Moon stalks off she hesitates momentarily allowing her gaze to flit to Sailor Moon, then the smaller Lady whom she graces with another grin and a wink to reassure her. "I'll just..." Her hand lifts gesturing helplessly before she just sighs. Her own heels click on the ground as she chases after Nise Moon. "Hey, are you okay?"
Usagi Tsukino	"...I hate that that feels fair," Sailor Moon sighs to Masquerade Lapine at her ''clearly'' made up ruleset. Perhaps she's just very aware that she can't really ''win'' with her future daughter, so she might as well try not to lose? 'Answered their challenge of my past self's competence like-for-like', huh? Her eyebrows lift at Hiddenite's explanation of events. Well, that's ''one'' way to describe going for the throat and blaming the Shitennou for everything from not stopping her and Endymion's romance to the fall of the world, while asserting his own role in determinedly stalling it all... And Sailor Moon is tentatively preparing to say as much, when Zoisite rocks up to Hiddenite, all disdain and fiery anger. She can't blame him for the rage he emanates - not when she had once been full of fire and vinegar with anger at the blame Sailor Uranus once held against her. She hadn't taken being held at fault well, and for the Shitennou that wound is so much more bitter, with the role they had played in things, thanks to Beryl and Metallia's manipulations and their own doubts. As Zoisite in Sailor Moon form stomps away, she looks at Hiddenite - not with reproach, but with the sort of 'are you thinking about what you did' concern that a teacher might have. "People ''do'' tend to take it pretty badly when they have some of their worst memories and mistakes thrown in their face," she says gently, before glancing at what's left of the monster. "But no, I didn't see anyone either. I have fought things like this before, though - there's this... jimono... that pops up sometimes, turns everyone's clothes into denim? As far as we could tell, it just popped up naturally, all because its maker hated it ''that'' much."
Takashi Agera	Hiddenite turns to Sailor Moon and the first word out of his mouth is one of a sort of horrified curiosity. "Jimono?" he asks. That's not something Riventon has any experience or awareness of, no. "That... okay then." he says, a little flabbergasted. He's quiet for a moment, occasionally looking down at the toy, until he thinks Shitennmoon is out of earshot, or mostly. Now his voice is quiet, a lot lower, a lot less sure of himself. Partly, because the person behind the henshin is sort of feeling his way through a process he's utterly making up each step at a time. "You know, I was kind of hoping we could work together. I was looking past all of the comments about being a fake, an imposter, the way they showed all of that disdain. I figured maybe they'd like, come around. And we fought pretty well together, against a Witch." he says. He does keep some of the specifics about the witch out of his comments, even now. "But then on the other side of it, when I tried to take the Grief Seed, suddenly it was all hostility about who I am and what I do and what I did, and what my job is, and what I remember - and all of this is crap I'm still trying to figure out, too!" he says. "...so yeah, I lashed out a little bit, after they talked shit about who I am for like. An entire Labyrnth. And then they had the bright idea to gang up on me about stuff that happened in our past lives? When I ''remember'' theirs too?" he looks down at the toy. "Yeah, I probably went too far, but I bit my tongue for a long time and got tired of it. And now it's all out there and been said anyways."
Zoisite	Deep breath. The last time they both exchanged words was through text. Her somewhere, and him in a hallway at the Academy. Both were angry, spitting venom. To him though, Minako was the one that came for him first after they ''were'' doing so much better. So hearing her shoes click, approaching him, was enough for his nerves to bristle and green eyes glance with sharpness. Not the same as with Hiddenite. No. Duller, but cautious like a creature that had already been wounded once. "Why do you care?" Clipped voice, hushed. It's a double sided question, perhaps unfair of him to ask as it had been also reserved for someone else. But of course, that someone else was probably busy listening to ''Hiddenite's'' other side of the story. How double standard, he felt. "Isn't it obvious? I'm enjoying myself, clearly. Isn't that how you see me?"
Chibiusa Tsukino	Masquerade Lapine crosses her arms and sticks her nose into the air at Sailor Moon. "Of ''course'' it's fair." Jimono? Really? "That's dumb," declares Chibiusa. "You made that up." Oh this sweet summer child who has never felt the sting of winter. Small Lady glances over at Hiddenite as he shares ''his'' side of the story, and while she remembers well the ''discussion'' that happened after the Labyrinth she only really knows the perspectives of the boys who reported to her. She also suspects, frankly, that they ''would'' have ganged up on him if they felt attacked. Hiddenite doesn't carry the kind of clout that Venus has with this group. Small Lady is reserving judgement because quite frankly this isn't something she needs to have a say in. She ''is'', however, ever watching and ever impressionable. "This is so complicated," is what she concludes instead.
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus tries to keep an ear out to the conversation behind her much as she can. A glance stolen over her shoulder makes her well aware she wasn't going to hear as much as she might like though when it becomes obvious Hiddenite had lowered his voice. The posture was of someone contrite, and unsure of themselves. She didn't know him well enough to judge if that was him faking or not. Not yet. Not like she sort-of knew the Shittenou in front of her who was bristling defensively. Blonde hair sways to a halt as she stops in front of him to regard him with a stern expression, and pursed lips. The attempted dig doesn't even land at this point -- That was weak. That was a kitten swatting at a hand offering it a treat. "I'm Venus, guardian of Love and Hope!" She blurts out matter-of-fact as her hands land on her hips defiantly. "And while I'm not great at telling how someone is feeling over text, I'd have to be blind to miss it right in front of me." A heaved sigh comes from her that causes her own shoulders to sag just a bit. "That guy's getting under your skin a lot. I know we might still be on bad terms but of course I'm going to side with you over him! You're my friend." Dummy, goes unsaid, but boy is she thinking it.
Usagi Tsukino	"I wish I made jimono up. It came back as jukata. And then it came back as jobi. And I heard about a jweater, too." She recites them with a terrible calm, looking into the middle distance for a moment. Life as a mahoujin is truly full of terrible things. But then Hiddenite is giving his side of the story that she had heard from four angles, a touch contrite, a touch hesitant, a touch aggrieved, but reasonable - not seeming like the kind of wild man who'd stab himself. She listens to his story, noting all the inflections, the feelings, the way his lips twist, the moments when his voice lifts. Usagi will be the first to admit she's not the most book smart person, but she's ''always'' been emotionally aware, and pretty savvy. Chibiusa's hesitancy to dig in too far, Zoisite's disdain and hurt, Venus' completely natural decision to go after her friend, and ''Hiddenite's'' earnestness? Sailor Moon picks up on them all. He might be lying about being from the past. He might be lying about being one of Earth's defenders. But he's not lying about ''his'' memory of how things went, and how it felt for him. And there's a clipped, hushed question, in the direction Venus and Zoisite disappeared too, and she can imagine both of these boys are wondering that. "Thank you again, for telling us all of that," she starts, and her voice is sympathetic, "Because you could have just written us off. You didn't ''have'' to tell us, but you did, even though it hurt. And like, I'm asking because it hurt - it hurt you, to get rejected by the Shitennou, it hurt them, to have you tear at those deep wounds, and it hurt ''you'' to walk into a sword, so I hope you don't ever do anything that dramatic again!" There's a hint of lightheartedness in that scolding there, at the end, before she grows serious again. "It sounds like you really, truly want to be able to work with them, and protect Kamen-kun. But it's hard to do that with people who don't really trust each other, and - I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if they were digging in on you, they can be a little rough with each other... but you know you went too far. I don't know if you can unburn all your bridges, but helping like this, that's a good way to keep going, you know?" She puts a hand on Chibiusa's shoulder, barely even thinking about it. "It really ''is'' complicated, all this past life and present life stuff."
Zoisite	The loud claim had earned a small roll of green eyes, not in the mood to entertain theatrics or dramatics of who was what and when. Goddess of Love, Guardian of Hope, the light at the end of a tunnel and the Leader of the Sailor Senshi. So many titles one could use, and yet at the moment meant so little to him. Once the bravado deflated some, that was when ''Zoisite'' regarded her a little more. When quieter words slipped out, admitting that something perhaps was wrong--being in bad terms with one another. Only to be followed with something he genuinely was not expecting to hear. Her taking his side, whatever that might be. A neutral expression was still on his face, mind only quiet for an instant before attempting to process what he heard. Feel it in his mind, taste it sound, see if he could even trust it. Arms crossed, another deep breath, gaze averting. ''Friends.'' Maybe that's why her words hurt him as much as it did. He didn't like that, even when there was a some relief in hearing her say it. How much of a sob could he be? What was he even supposed to say? Looking over his shoulder at the other three, real consideration flooding his mind just then before looking back at Venus. "...I'll tell you later, okay?" Whispers to her, even more worried that he felt fine in doing so. Gods...
Takashi Agera	Hiddenite sighs. "I know them better than they know me, that's for sure." Hell, even beyond Hiddenite he suspected that was on some level true, but that might have been his ego. "I don't just want to protect Endymion." he says, using the name specifically. "I want to protect this world and the people in it." He pauses. Okay, the next part is hard to squeeze out without looking like he's eating his least favorite vegetable. It takes him a moment to continue on. "It's the world he loves so much, after all. He'd be devastated if we set it or the people in it aside to keep him alone safe." he says, doing a pretty good job of acting in the end, bar the long pause. "It doesn't matter if those bridges are burned to the point of being dust on the wind though. As long as they want the same thing, it's fine; they don't have to be my friends, they don't even have to ''like me''. I'm still going to be managing a lot of things on my own anyways. But as long as they can work with me to protect what's important, I can deal with that." He ''is'' earnest about some of this stuff, and allows that to bubble to the surface to hide the things he's less earnest about. "Would have been nice, though." he adds. "But I'm not going to go groveling to people who started out by meeting my presence with such disdain. I am not one of their Kings, and I won't be one of their little team, and that's fine. But I still have my own duty."
Chibiusa Tsukino	Masquerade Lapine looks at (the real) Sailor Moon with suspicion, only for her to see the look in her eyes and know with certainty that she is telling the truth. Daughter knows when Mother is being ''serious''. She is, for the moment, being quiet and out of the way as she listens to Sailor Moon's words to Hiddenite. Venus and Zoi are out of earshot, at least for her, but she's ''aware'' that there is beef between them. Mom's hand on shoulder. Chibiusa glances sideways towards Sailor Moon and says, "Honestly, the time travel and reincarnation is the ''simple'' part for me." Chibiusa watches Hiddenite's response and considers it closely. She crosses her arms and asks, "Do you want to save the world purely out of loyalty to Endymion?" She pauses, and then reconsiders. "Or... is your hesitation because maybe you're more eager to save some people than others?" She asks with her usual habit of being incredibly direct to a fault.
Minako Aino	Later, she's told. Yet it's with such honesty that even Venus has to take it as absolute truth in this case and not just a brush off. It was ... rare to see him like this. Her? Right now in this guise it was just a bit weird to be honest, but she could see past the disguise well enough if only because the mannerisms just did not fit the knowledge she had of Sailor Moon. "Okay. Later." Venus' quiet agreement seems to be the end of it. Seems to, but as she takes a half-step to the side about to move away she stops again. "... You need to show me how you did the hair. I can never get it right," she adds grudgingly admitting that Zoisite's 'Sailor Moon' guise was perhaps a bit more spot on in looks than her own. Even if the color was totally wrong. She does step away after that to slowly return to the others leaving Nise Moon time to cool off a bit.
Usagi Tsukino	Zoisite and Venus are quietly conversing, focused on one another. Chibiusa is with her, listening, learning - interjecting, with her usual total bluntness, that kind of thing that's super charming in a child but also super annoying to deal with, and a smile comes to her lips, though not a mocking one. He knows them better than they know him... He calls Mamoru Endymion and he recognized him as such before, too - not that that's special, they don't hide their names and plenty of people saw plenty of things, thanks to Beryl, and - "He really would be devastated," she says with a nod, "But you know, you don't ''have'' to want to protect the world, just for Endymion. You live here too. You can want to protect it because of that." Is that hesitation because he's trying too hard to seem loyal and true to Endymion? Is it because he's already been rejected once? It matters, she thinks, that the bridges are burnt - because there's no way he dresses like a Shitennou and gives himself a role like one, if he doesn't ''care'' about being accepted by them, at least a little. Or maybe he wants to be accepted by Mamoru, and that's why he styled himself after some of his favorite people? She considers that thought, then says, bluntly, "We've worked with people who have made way worse mistakes. I'm personally friends with people who have done a lot worse than stab themselves and use cruel words. It doesn't mean you should do it again, but I'm happy to keep working with you. It takes all kinds to protect the world."
Zoisite	Turns to look back at her as she steps away, and nods. "Sure." A pause. "Text me when you're available." An invitation. Not ignoring the last few texts they had, but an opening for discussions to be had over brushing hairs and typing locks--like her having brushed his hair once, after one of the many battles they've shared so far. Just this time, it would be in his--and Nephrite's--apartment. Nise Moon still stands away from the rest of the group, arms crossed, yet more relaxed than before. The disdain was gone for now as he waited.
Takashi Agera	Hiddenite looks at Chibiusa, then at Sailor Moon. "Trying to figure out how to word things, actually. And... sifting through a lot of memories. That don't entirely feel like they're mine." he says, simpl, tapping the side of his head and shrugging. "It's both, really. The person behind the transformation obviously cares about his city, too. The person who has memories in this time?" he says, trying to explain. "I dunno. It'd be easier if I could share that." he admits. He's been considering if a certain someone can learn about the connection between himself and his non-business self. Certainly couldn't be the Shitennou, though - they know him too well as Riventon. Would have to be someone he could trust to keep things secret. "Sorry, I didn't mean to show up and make things tense." he says, after deciding not to do it again. "Also I don't intend to get stabbed again if I can avoid it." he adds. "At least I didn't get stuck with the wound for long." he says cryptically. "But I should probably... not overstay my welcome. Maybe I should go work on something like an apology for the next time I run into one of them, though." he says.
Usagi Tsukino	"Sometimes the only way to make things less tense is to commit to the awkward," Sailor Moon says earnestly. "Don't be sorry for this. Just... keep coming around, be honest, and let's fight together. That's all anyone can ask for - well, Nephrite might ask for your birthdate and location too, fair warning." This is with a smile, and a farewell wave. "See you next time."