Scene #2565: The Lunatic You're Looking For

Owner	Pose
Mamoru Chiba	It's a pleasant late afternoon at the cat cafe on the bottom floor of Mamoru's building. The black-haired boy, healed from his ordeal with Demande and Nemesis, has been anxious and somewhat clingy at his guys since they've been back, but a few days ago, Wicked Lady and New Moon attacked a KFC with a stone chicken statue youma and he's been considerably more relaxed since. His priorities are weird, maybe. Right now, he's with Ami and Masato and Anko the size-changing talking calico cat at a window table, since his favorite corner table was taken when they got out of school. Mako's special of the day is a dark chocolate raspberry ganache ''thing'' with white chocolate curlicues and little roses on top, and Mamoru's definitely eating some with his coffee. Anko is sitting on a cat tree next to their table, judging. "So the wedding-- I'm pretty sure it's still on? But I have to check with Wicked Lady, see if she's willing to okay it. And if she is, then I'll ask if I can meet with Usagi," the prince says, licking his fingers.
Nephrite	"Of course, it's still on," Masato murmurs distractedly, although perhaps not entirely approvingly, as he fingers through a magazine about cars, "The date is non-negotiable. Besides which, everything aligns just perfectly-- it's a very auspicious time." He lifts his coffee-- black, no sugar-- to his lips to sip. "The New Moon is in Gemini, as we speak. It's practically a given."
Sailor Mercury	Ami, having only recently returned from a stint of study abroad, was largely out of the loop on the general state of affairs and attempts to rectify this had not yet quite met with success. She had been sitting quietly, gaze upon sweetened coffee and confection when Mamoru spoke. His voice evoked a small hum and sapphirine eyes raised to meet his face, a gentle smile to curl her lips. Then came Masato's interjection and Ami found herself nodding slowly. "I'm sure it'll all work out." She didn't sound particularly well convinced. "But--and I'm just speaking hypothetically--what if she doesn't allow it?"
Usagi Tsukino	Into this quiet and peaceful moment, comes a fourth voice, familiar but in that vague sort of way where the Veil was at work, preventing recognition. It belonged to a girl about Ami's age, with long pink hair pulled back into a French braid under a straw hat with a mauve ribbon. "That's a really good question. What ''are'' you going to do if she doesn't allow it?" New Moon is that girl, Wicked Lady's assistant/minion/bestie/secret mom, and she's got a to go box (three of them actually), along with a plate of Makoto's treat, and she sits herself down unceremoniously at their table, carefully adjusting her black dress as she does so. Her bright blue eyes glance around the table, and she seems particularly satisfied to see Ami among the group.
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru listens to Masato and looks affectionate and amused, but not disbelieving. "It's a pretty good date. We met on that day, and I proposed on that day..." he agrees, genially missing the point. He pulls his mocha latte closer to him and sips it while Ami's talking, listening to ''her'' now, and he grins crookedly when she finishes. "I'll just--" he starts, and girl hot he takes a second to reboot and finishes his sentence differently, a teasing tone entering his voice. "--have to marry Kazuo first."
Nephrite	Masato appreciates that Mamoru has the decency not to out him, in his romanticisms, about the date being significant-- nor his insistence on it backed up by astrology, which is far more readily acceptable. Everyone knows that Masato is a man ruled by the movements of the celestial bodies, but not everyone knows that he is easily moved by weddings and particular sentiment. Sapphire eyes do rise to New Moon, however, as she makes herself comfortable. Speaking of devils, and they do appear. He's paused there, peering at her, and then Mamoru, before he slowly closes his magazine. He sits more upright, preening his cuff. "Well, if you're going to do that, I suppose I'll have to match you with Mako-chan." He adds to the teasing gambit.
Sailor Mercury	Ami let her attention wander over the new arrival, curling her hands around her coffee. The cup lifted and she sipped quietly, trying her best to keep on smiling. It wasn't as though she weren't happy for this news of weddings, but it had come as something of a shock. "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met." Ami tried to address New Moon politely as she drew beverage away from her lips and upon the heels of a swallow. "I'm Ami--" Widened eyes whipped to Masato. "Mako-chan?" Was everyone gearing to get married now?
Usagi Tsukino	"You'd die first, Mamoruru," New Moon responds with a bright smile and a teasing tone, digging a forkful of chocolate raspberry something from the plate and popping it into her mouth with a soft moan of chocolate-loving-delight. She's about to compliment the cooking when Masato makes his remark, and she snaps her head in his direction, eyes very focused on him. "What was that about Mako-chan?" There was an intent, ''sharp'' aspect to her gaze as she looked upon Masato, a weight to her stare that recalled to mind that while the three of them were in civilian form, ''she'' was still very much a dark general. Her attention drifts, very slowly, to Ami, and she ''smiles'' at her, warm and generous and loving. "You're Ami Mizuno, genius girl, loyal friend, romance enthusiast. I'm New Moon - Wicked Lady's most prized possession, assistant, and also, the cutest Dark General around!"
Mamoru Chiba	"Yikes, I think I do prefer Mamorin," grimaces Mamoru, eyes locked on New Moon, drinking her face in like he wants to drown in the middle of the desert. Or maybe he's staring at the little bit of icing at the corner of her mouth. Or maybe he's just staring at her mouth for a second before his gaze flickers back up to meet her eyes. And he reaches up to touch the side of New Moon's face, his thumb brushing that corner of her mouth and (he loves her so much, he loves Wicked Lady so much, no matter what names they're wearing, he wants to come with them, he will come with them, and don't worry he's going to make sure Neph isn't going to break Mako's heart, and by the way he has so much love and also girl hot) takes his hand back. And licks his thumb.
Nephrite	Brows rose as Masato feigned innocence, weathering the looks from both girls. He held up his hands in something of a point of saying it couldn't be helped. Sure, he was bluffing ahead of himself by a very long margin, mostly for distraction's sake. One day, in a few years, Makoto could make him a fantastic wife. He would not risk saying it aloud, however, in any sort of seriousness. (He was terrifically smitten with the thought, though.) "I'm just saying. It's a fantastic time for a wedding." He sipped his coffee nonchalantly. "It's..." He trailed off as Mamoru did... what Mamoru did. Because, of course he did. Stars, help them. He cleared his throat.
Sailor Mercury	Romance enthusiast. Well, that wasn't the sort of thing you just bandied about. Ami's cheeks were a fiery hue as her smile drew tense at the corners. She sighed perhaps a little dramatically. "Well, its very nice to meet you New Moon." Ami replied with a specific flavour of pleasant. "I have a friend Moon. I was looking forward to seeing her when I got back. I sure hope she's alright." She was still watching New Moon as Mamoru set about his cleaning routine and by the time he'd finished, Ami's eyes were yet wider still. Once again, she lifted coffee to sip. And perhaps hide that persistent blush.
Usagi Tsukino	"Mmm, I thought you'd say that," New Moon says, all unrepentant amusement and satisfaction. "It's not my fault Wicked Lady took the best one." Mamochan. That's the best name, but Wicked Lady uses that name, and that means it's ''hers'', because what Wicked Lady claims is only ever for Wicked Lady. That's how it should be. She gets the first and best choice. Masato is subject to that ''look'', that threatening ''look'', only, he's clearly not threatened, but also, clearly not...serious? Perhaps she should do a little kidnapping of her ''own'', to be sure of that. Makochan wouldn't mind. Who could ever mind spending time with Wicked Lady? Ami is still the subject of that warm smile, even when her face flushes, even when her smile goes tense. There's an affection in New Moon's eyes, like watching a beloved friend and a well-loved toy and a much desired new purchase, all at once. "She's fine. She belongs to Wicked Lady, and our Lady would never let anything happen to her things." She might say more, on the subject, but there's Mamoru, there's his thumb, brushing the corner of his cheek, and (oh but she loves him, oh but she ''loves'' their daughter, oh but she is filled with love for their daughter and warmth that's gone twisted and turbulent and oh, there is the darkness and it makes her sick and she is bloated with power and ''strong'' but it makes her ''sick'', but the chocolate is nice and sitting here is nice, and there is her Mamochan and why won't he join her and Wicked Lady and doesn't he know that their daughter ''needs'' him, something gone wrong and sad and pink eyes gleaming bright as she asked for help that Usagi could never turn down -) She scowls at him, lips pursed in a pout. "That was cheating," she scolds, but there's no heat at all, and her eyes dance with amusement.
Mamoru Chiba	Oh such wild delight in Mamoru's eyes -- he thinks, he thinks he's figured it out. He can be ''fucking furious'' later, he can break things in his rage room later, he can cry later. Right now he's just bright at the love, she still loves him fiercely. "That's what I do, lovely," he says affectionately, "but you know I worry when I'm not near Usako. I like remembering I can stop worrying." She's so sick in there. He feels sick. He masks well. "Do you two have burner phones?" he asks, just as if That didn't just happen. "Or should I just text Luna-P?"
Nephrite	'That was cheating', New Moon says, and Masato makes a face as if to suggest that it certainly does look that way, to most. New Moon's really digging at him, eyeing him when he speaks in a way that makes him think he'll find his car keyed later. Or wake up with a cursed wedding ring on his finger. Or be chased down the street by a bouquet youma. He's genuinely unsure whether this is a good sign or not. But it does seem to hook small reactions from her. He takes a much longer sip of coffee this time, glancing at Ami.
Sailor Mercury	Oh no. Well, that didn't sound like the best news. "She would make for a very loud doll, though." Ami mused to herself more than anyone else. "And a very hungry one." And that look New Moon gave her. On the one hand, it was absolutely lovely. But, on the other, she felt a little like she were a doll herself, about to be picked off of the shelf. Which, in itself, was probably a very flattering thing. But, on the other foot, it made her feel really rather nervous. "Aren't the sweets lovely?" Ami deflected, taking an ambiguous confection for a bite.
Usagi Tsukino	"Don't worry. We got KFC a few days ago," New Moon informs Ami, like that solves ''anything''. She nods at Masato, at Mamoru. "They were there. Wicked Lady wouldn't let her mother starve." Of course she wouldn't, and of course she didn't. In fact, Wicked Lady hadn't gotten the food at all, because that's a mother's job, but there's the game to consider. "You could come with us, you know. If you want to see her. All you have to do is join our Lady." It's a sincere and genuine offer, but the look in New Moon's eyes says that if Ami accepts, she will not be ''Ami'' when the deal is done. "You should plan the wedding," she tells Mamoru. "Wicked Lady will be the maid of honor. And Luna-P doesn't really appreciate being used for texts. I'm pretty sure that thing is worse than I am." And she smiles, bright and inviting them to tease with her. "Do you think Mako-chan would make more of these if I asked?"
Mamoru Chiba	"''I'' should plan the wedding? Myself? I still need Mako-chan for so much of it, and I have ''so'' many questions for Usako-- I'll have to ferry information back and forth. And Koji said he would help too, but I don't want him to take ''over''--" Mamoru doesn't ''really'' seem distressed, but he's also not teasing anymore. "Hm. Well, I ''guess'' it's okay if Riventon walks Wicked Lady up, he looks at her affectionately as his niece and is also protective of her." He glances at Masato, knowing that the other boy does not appreciate Mamoru's choice of best man, but also willing him to see that this is a Complicated Situation, and then he looks to Ami and his face pleads with her to understand that this will be okay just neither of you start anything--!! He is not touching them, and his face is expressive when he wants it to be, but maybe not THAT expressive. "Until I come with you, how can I contact you?" he asks New Moon reasonably.
Nephrite	Everytime Masato thinks about Riventon's role in the Wedding, he doubles the length of the mental staircase he'd love to kick him down the flight of. It drives him up the wall. A competitive and somewhat spiteful need to compete sparks anew everytime it comes up, as he swallows his other dissatisfactions and feelings. "I can help to manage Koji," He asserts, a sudden tick of irritation about him, "I'm a fantastic party planner, I'm sure I can help pull together the last of the Wedding plans. I have to rehearse a duet with Wako-san as it is, and Mako-chan is sure to be filling my kitchen with various cake samples very soon." He's determined to pull more weight in this, if the Best Man is forfeit. Mamoru is also his brother, is also his best friend, and Masato is nothing if not a man to go the extra mile. To the Nth, to the nines. Only the best. Sapphire eyes flash with the sort of immovable determination that suggests Koji isn't the one to watch out for. "It's in hand."
Sailor Mercury	Ami almost choked on the mouthful of sweet goodness. It was enough that she sought coffee once more to gulp back a couple of solid swallows. Her breath escaped with a puff as the cup drew away and the whole little startled ordeal ended on a nervous clearing of throat. "Oh no, I couldn't." Her lips pulled tight into a very faint grimace. "There's tests coming up soon and I'm going to be deep in my books and pink is just not my colour. The commute alone..." She let herself trail off almost thoughtfully. Fortunately for Mamoru, Ami had the look of someone presently very concerned with not starting things. Veritably unstarted. Though, clearly, a little startled. At least Masato seemed very confident about things.
Usagi Tsukino	"Obviously not," New Moon says, matter of fact. "When I say you, I mean, you do what royals do best: delegate to people who know what they're doing." She nods sagely, knowing fully well that this is kind of an insult to both of them, but also pretty true too. "Mako-chan can plan the menu, Minako-chan can plan the color schemes, she knows what the happy couple likes, Rashmi-chan and Kazuo-kun can help you coordinate the travel logistics and if he's helpful ''maybe'' your new wife will let you get engaged to him." There's a tinge there, possessive and clinging and ''victorious''. "Masato-kun is going to sing? Good, he has a nice voice." She pauses, turns to him. "You have a good voice. You have a good eye, too. Don't get stuck in the kitchen helping Mako-chan just because you think you can have her, and maybe you'll get best man for his ''other'' wedding. The one the family gets invited to, and the register gets updated for, and everyone will talk about forever." Yes, that's a nice little disaster she's throwing Mamoru's way. "She favors Ami with another of those smiles. "That's alright, Ami-chan. I didn't think you would. You've always had a cool head, even when everyone's in trouble." She reaches out, and presses her hand to Ami's. Her hand is too-warm, clammy, like she's running a fever, but her expression is so soft. "I won't make you, but make sure you help with the wedding, alright? He's going to need your help planning all those tricky little traps to try and catch us." She's very pleased. And then. He asks her how to reach him, and she finishes her cake, sighing in satisfaction. She puts her fork down, pushes the plate towards the center of the table, and leans back in the chair, stretching just a bit, arching her back. New Moon reaches into her dress's neckline, fingers casually amidst her cleavage, and she pulls out a card, flicks it towards him. "Here," she purrs, eyes dark, wanting, offering. "I've got a boyfriend, but you can have my card." And then she's gone, with her boxes of dessert, in a classy dark teleport that leaves the air rippling with dark energy.
Mamoru Chiba	"Ah--" is the only choked little sound that comes out of Mamoru for a second as he takes the card, then stares after her. ... "Ah. I hope," he says eventually, dazedly, "that one or both of you caught all that."
Nephrite	A faint knit of Masato's brows let him offer a long look across the table at Mamoru. He's already gotten out his phone to start typing notes in it. "I'll send Koji and email and start organising." He glances to Ami. "CC me the details on those traps, and we'll talk shop."
Sailor Mercury	Though it took her a few good seconds to break her gaze away from her own hand, Ami's eyes found Mamoru's face again. Once more, she wore a smile. Sincere, kind. Hopefully reassuring. "Of course I did, Mamoru-kun." Still. She found her attention drifting back to the hand. New Moon wasn't well and Ami found herself feeling a little sympathetic. Masato snapped her clear of it and she blinked over to him now. "Oh, yes. Absolutely. I don't think a big net will quite do it."