Scene #2758:

Owner	Pose
Kazuo Saitou	It's evening, and it's raining, which means the temperature outside is merely "annoying and mostly liquid," rather than actual sauna or death by steaming in a city-sized pot. Fortunately, inside is air-conditioned. Unfortunately, that doesn't help the humidity so much - Kazuo and Tamaki cleared some of it earlier, at least, but the damp seeps back in no matter how well they protect. All in all, that means it's been a quiet evening. (Downstairs, Saori Saitou reaches the locked building door, opens it to fuss over an arrival, and starts a "Why didn't you ''tell'' me you were -" before the person she is speaking to pushes straight past.) Upstairs, Kazuo has been working on homework out of the way of anyone who might be weather-cranky going after the kitchen; he has a lonely light on in the Goth Security Room, and it's kept his attention off the screens. Until movement in a particular one catches his eye, and he straightens in disbelief. Less than a minute later, Kazuo is emerging from his lair, heading directly for the apartment door at a fast walk. Anyone in the living room or kitchen can see that he is very slightly disheveled, and his gray eyes are just a little wide in alarm and perhaps a trace of horror, and his face is just a little closer to the color of his hair than usual. He has a hand out toward it, but he's just too far away to reach before there is a sudden hammering knock. And there is a Voice. This week, Mamoru played Ursula at karaoke. The Voice is more as if Ursula had borrowed Nephrite's vocal power and focus. It is probably audible throughout the floor. "KAZUO SAITOU! WHERE IS YOUR GRAVE!" ... Kazuo stops just where he is, not finishing the trip to the door, and lowers his face into that formerly-outstretched hand. Shoulders ''actually sag.''
Nephrite	Masato, lingering in the kitchen with a chilled highball glass and a perfect sphere of ice inside his drink, catches the sight of Kazuo hurriedly stepping by. Looking very much like he has seen a disaster imminent, at the last possible moment, and is now unable to warn anyone to safety. And then, yes. The Voice. It reverberates through the very walls, it seems. He leans out now, loose tresses of brown tumbling from his shoulder. Intrigue and dark glee shining in his sapphire eyes, and he watches Kazuo's stalled defeat materialise. He's only casually dressed, himself, nothing too flashy given the evident guest about to be upon them-- but the athletic wear he has on his branded and tidy looking. One almost would guess he is fresh from a gym session. "Well, that's ominous." He grins. "Are you going to get that?"
Chibiusa Tsukino	Chibiusa is sitting on a couch in the living room. Luna-P is rolled against her, but she isn't playing with her right now. She has little stuffed dolls, each no more than 15 cm in length, that she's using to play out historical dramas. If anyone asked her why, it's because someone told her that this was an easier way to remember the stories from history class. She's studying! While playing, and possibly making passive aggressive comments about ancient historical figures because let's be honest some of these peeps should be more infamous than famous. The grave comment, shouted through the door, causes Small Lady to drop one of her dolls and stare wide-eyed in Kazuo's direction. She saw him, of course, and registered his presence, but she didn't really consider it a matter of concern until she heard that voice. "Is... is that a youma?" she asks, to no one in particular. Her concerned and slightly mortified red eyes stare in the direction of where she thinks the noise is coming from, silent and still and wondering if this is someone's idea of a social call or if she needs to henshin. Kazuo is sagging, not henshining. This means, likely, that he ''knows this person''. Which means it's probably not something they need to zap with heart lasers or something. As she starts to relax, she gathers up her toys and bundles them up in her arms, then leans against the couch's back. Just because it's not a youma or the Black Moon, that doesn't mean she's not inclined to run and hide. Her own outfit is a deep blue button up dress, not quite a school uniform but still a little more fancy than standard child casual wear.
Mamoru Chiba	"Holy shit," Mamoru squeaks out a disbelieving laugh and almost falls off the couch. "Hide! Jump out the window!" he hisses. "I'll get it." He pushes Kazuo toward Masato. "Hide him!" He ''zoops'' toward the door and slams his hand onto the handle. "Coming!" he calls, sounding further away from the door than he is. He waits until Kazuo has had ''time'' before he moves to actually open the door, even if Kazuo doesn't ''take'' that time. He straightens up. He puts his shoulders back. He lifts his head. And then he opens the submarine door underwater.
Kazuo Saitou	Even in this circumstance, Kazuo manages to gather himself enough to give Mamoru the 'you owe Chibiusa now' look. Modified, in this case, by 'but honestly I might pay it myself.' This means that he has not taken the time to ''dodge'' when Mamoru pushes him toward Masato. Kitchen is not the window! ... Masato is also not a window. Hm. Maybe he can lurk behind Masato and ''then'' escape out a window. On the other hand, that would just delay the inevitable. "KAZUO SAITOU, I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE HIDING!" There is a more normal human voice outside for a few syllables. It is almost inaudible in contrast. On the bright side? Still no tendrils of dark energy, and no sign of the door turning into a youma and attempting to open Mamoru. Chibiusa continues not to need to zap with heart lasers! And then the door is opened. The woman on the other side ''is'' an Ursula-sized woman-mountain - nearly Mamoru's height, and probably the mass of him and his Shitennou combined. She's not Japanese: West Asian, olive-skinned, with white hair worn up in a construct of braids and fluff that adds more inches to her height. In her case, though, the white is due to age: she's probably in her seventies. It doesn't seem to be slowing her down. It's ''certainly'' not causing any trouble for her projection. Which drops out of 'yell' to merely 'resonantly loud' as the door opens. She takes a half-step forward, not enough quite to loom, but enough to get a (large, well-shod) foot in the way of the door. "Hello," she says, as if she hasn't been shouting, and as if she were not dressed in bright purple with practically fluorescent magenta highlights, several varicolored scarves, and a literal white feather boa. Somehow she is dry. Perhaps she dropped an umbrella on her way. "I am looking for my little grandson, Kazuo Saitou. Can you tell me where his corpse is lying?" "''Mother,''" comes a despairing hiss from someone unseen behind her.
Mamoru Chiba	"I've never met anyone ''little'' named Kazuo Saitou," Mamoru says truthfully and with a perfectly serious expression as he does ''not'' step back yet, he does not give immediately and gracefully, this is his home ground. "Saori-mama, Grandmother, welcome to my home," he says dryly, and ''then'' steps back, but it's hospitality, not a concession. "Please, come in. Chibiusa-chan, have you met Kazuo's mama? This is ''her'' mama."
Nephrite	Masato at least has the decency to step out and provide at least another barrier between Kazuo and the door. It doesn't quite count as hiding him, but it is an opportunity for Kazuo to abscond into the kitchen for at least a few more moments of bracing. Somewhere between the magenta and the feather boa, Masato is completely sold on this woman. He steps out with a bright and charming grin, his most handsome smile, and appears like a guardrail to the living room with his arms wide. "What a lovely surprise!" He's jovial. Ruthless bastard. "I can see where Kazuo gets his good looks from."
Chibiusa Tsukino	Small Lady has concerns about Large Lady. At least, that's what she decides when her curious, young self with her arms full of dolls decides to take a peek at the door just beyond her papa. Luna-P hovers behind and above her head, also taking a looksee. Who are these people? What do they want? Does Kazuo owe them money or something? She hears the word 'grandson' and somehow that's actually less reassuring than whatever she was thinking. Debtors can be paid off. Grandmas tend to stick around. Well, Chibiusa's do anyways. Lady, to her credit, does not snitch or give away Kazuo's position. She does not even look in his direction. Instead she just stares at the exchange and waits for something to happen. Papa invites her to meet the strange woman. She gives him exactly 0.25 seconds of a 'are you serious?' look before cautiously stepping forward and looking ''all the way up'' at Kazuo's grandma. The future princess curtseys slightly and says, "Hi."
Usagi Tsukino	Usagi Tsukino has decided that she ''loves'' Kazuo's grandmother. Just based on this loud entrance and the horror in incredibly cool Kazuo's face. She just likes her. She thinks she's neat. She ''had'' been napping in Mamoru's room, but she doubts the Buddha in his meditations could have missed that voice, and she leans out from Mamoru's room to observe. "Hello!" And of course, to greet. "Tsukino Usagi, it's good to meet you! Did Saitou-kun miss an appointment with you?"
Kazuo Saitou	The Grandmountain steps in and to the side, revealing that there are not one but ''two'' people behind her: one in her forties, tall and dark-haired and casually businesslike and with a strained but bright smile and an apologetic look directed to Mamoru; one a man in his seventies or early eighties, only a few inches taller than Usagi, slight and bespectacled and besuited and with a serene and somehow generally platonically affectionate smile. There is a moment of polite shifts to slippers. The Grandmountain continues to talk through it, her voice echoing in the hall till the door is closed. "You must be Mamoru-kun! You ''do'' look like the pictures. And Usagi-chan!" Usagi is already Usagi-chan, to this woman that has literally never seen her before. "Your hair is beautiful! Spun gold! Amazing! And no, my grandson did not miss an appointment with me. My grandson ''vanished'' for ''a week at a time'', and left his poor mother --" "Mother," hisses Saori, the businesslike woman, "''please'' don't bring me into this --" The Grandmountain talks straight over her without a break. "Searching the roadsides for his dead body! Through the bushes and brambles in the ditches!" "-- mother, ''we live in Tokyo.''" "Through the discards and the abandoned bicycles in the gutters! Surrendering all hope of finding the light of her life alive. ''Again!'' And when he reappeared, not a ''word'' to his grandmother about where he'd been! As if he'd returned to the death that embraced him! You!" The Grandmountain gestures, turning to Masato. "Surely if you know his looks, you know his behavior! You know what an abominable scoundrel he's been, toward his own dear mother!" ... there is pink in the edge of her vision, and movement. She blinks, and looks down and back the direction she'd been facing, and for a blissful second there is quiet. Long enough for Chibiusa to say 'Hi.' The Grandmountain's dark, warm eyes widen. "Oh, aren't you ''adorable!''" And somehow she manages to settle creakily to one knee without there being a thunderous impact on the floor. "So darling! A little flower of the household!" Saori mouths silently over the Grandmountain's head, 'I'm so sorry. So very sorry.' And then ventures aloud, "Mamoru-kun, everyone, please allow me to introduce my mother and father. Rogaia and Kunihiro Hasegawa." Kunihiro bows politely, still smiling, and never attempting to get a word in edgewise. Possibly that is their recipe for domestic bliss.
Nephrite	Yes. Masato enjoys the Grandmountain, immensely. He's nodding along emphatically, empathetically even, as this grandiose woman lists in grave detail the terrible search that has gone on. Abominable scoundrel. Yes, indeed. "And who can manage him? He's a wildcard, really. Completely out of control, living in the fast lane like he does," Masato fans the flames, bowing politely enough to poor quiet Grandfather and apologising Mother, and waves his arm in an inwards ushering motion. "Can I fix you a drink for your nerves? You must be exhausted by the antics."
Chibiusa Tsukino	The smallest, pinkest senshi watches the Grandmountain tower over her, as tall as Chibiusa is small. Her little red eyes dart towards each of the teenagers in the room, searching for social cues. Eventually she decides that this person is Probably Okay and Not Likely To Be a Youma, so when Rogaia drops to one knee in front of her, Chibiusa puts on her best surprised-but-pleasant smile and says, "My name's Usagi Small Lady Tsukino. I'm Usagi-chan's cousin, so people call me Chibiusa. Even if I'm not as chibi as I used to be." She stands on her tippie toes, as if to boast about how tall she's gotten. Look, she's very proud of herself, okay? Luna-P stays silently curious, hovering behind Small Lady like a guardian. Mute catballs don't tend to make for thrilling conversationalists. She hears the descriptions of Kazuo and wonders for a moment if she wound up in the wrong timeline again. Gosh that would be embarrassing, if she took them all back to the wrong home. Fortunately it looks like they're just teasing. Right?
Mamoru Chiba	"The ''problem'' is that I keep getting in trouble in other dimensions where we don't get a cell signal, and then what are we going to say, sorry Kazuo was rescuing my adventure-prone self from a nameless evil from the edge of the solar system?" Mamoru complains, then winks at Saori. But she introduces her father, and Mamoru looks very slightly sheepish as he bows a respectful greeting. "Hasegawa-san--" he talks ''past'' Rogaia since he refuses to talk over her and he's ''facing'' Kunihiro when he asks hopefully, "may I call you Grandfather?" And then Purple is meeting Pink, and Mamoru smiles encouragingly at Chibiusa, and he looks delighted at the way she's introducing herself now. He says in the hopes that it will divert attention further off Kazuo, oh no, he says, "Chibiusa-chan's been a great help with giving us all practice in parenting. So don't worry, Grandmother, I will make sure that Kazuo is only allowed to die ''after'' you have met any great-grandchildren."
Usagi Tsukino	"Rogaia-obachan, you're so lovely! Kazuo-kun never said you were so beautiful, and I'm so, so sorry about Kazuo-kun disappearing, it wasn't really his fault at all," Usagi is the most earnest and well-meaning teenager in the room, truly, and she crosses the room and clasps both of Rogaia's hands. "My family home was damaged in an unexpected disaster, and my Mama and Papa and brother won a trip and of course I made them go on it, but I was alone and had to do summer school, and Kazuo-kun and Mamochan and everyone decided to cheer me up with a trip, and ''I'' dropped both of our phones in the ocean." She is full of such shame, such sorrow, ''such'' sheepish apology. "We should have made sure Saori-mama knew what was going on and what happened, and we should have contacted you right away, so you'd know it was no trouble." The fact that Mamoru is giving the truth in a way he knows will be read as a lie and Masato is just outright lying just goes fully ignored, her blue eyes apologetic. "I'm so sorry. Saori-mama is good friends with my Mama and Papa because we're all such good friends, and Saitou-kun has been such a good friend and meanwhile helping me neglected you. Please forgive us?" Saitou-kun, it is clear, is with much affection rather than any kind of reasonable distance.
Kazuo Saitou	Utterly abominable scoundrel. Obviously Masato Understands These Things. (And probably also understands and enjoys that Kazuo is glaring daggers at his back, possibly through walls.) "It is true!" Grandmountain Rogaia exclaims, in regards to the antics. "Tea would be so very welcome, and soothing, if you would have it in you to be so kind." She does not move further inward, because she is on the floor. Saori takes a couple of steps, but her mother is ''staying there'', and she pauses in the visible temptation to move sidewise behind Rogaia, put hands on shoulders, and literally push her across the floor. Kunihiro, on the other hand, bows again to Masato, and makes his way around the edge of Grandmother Central to find himself a seat where he can beam at all of them with a good view. Apparently this is the best show ever and he doesn't even mind the lack of popcorn. Mamoru's question receives a particularly focused smile, and he nods delightedly in response. Then Chibiusa's standing on her tippie toes, and Rogaia puts a hand out just above the tips of her pointed buns. Her face is ''very'' good at impressed looks. "My, indeed you're not! You're going to be taller than your cousin soon if you're not careful, and what ever will she do then?" She looks up to Usagi, in the earnestness and well-meaningness, and willingly clasps hands. "Ah, that sounds as if you've had a terrible summer! Of course you are forgiven! And summer school! However will you stay taller than your cousin if you're not out and about in the fresh air? You need the sun to help your bones grow and your hair stay golden! Shall I have to write a note to your school? Is your mother writing one already? Or is she ''delinquent in her duties''?" Saori groans ''absolutely silently.'' Apparently this line of questioning from her mother gets a reaction, where the other dimensions and edge of the solar system from Mamoru get not so much as a blink. She must be used to him. And then. And then. "Great-grandchildren?" Oh no. Rogaia levers herself back to her feet and turns toward Mamoru. There is a frown. It is a very large frown. "Are you not too ''young'' to adopt?" Saori stares at her mother, and then makes her way to Masato. "Might I help you with that tea?" she asks. "Or escape?" Lower-toned, "Possibly to the edge of the solar system?"
Chibiusa Tsukino	Chibiusa is pointedly silent on the topic of great-grandchildren. Especially when it comes to Mamoru adopting. She also, intentionally, keeps her face very very straight when Usagi starts spinning her tale of woe. Usagi is taking the full blame for everything in what is, in Small Lady's estimation, the least probable story they'd ever be tempted to believe, but also one that at least covers for Kazuo. She glances towards Saori's plea to escape and Chibiusa is also pointedly silent on the topic of why one should be careful about what one wishes for. Pluto is pretty far out there, and the edge of the heliosphere even moreso. Chibiusa instead shuffles closer to Mamoru and say, "Well I think Mamochan will be a great papa one day!" Which is something that she gets to do when she's small enough to weave between a crowd of people.
Nephrite	The knowledge that Kazuo is plotting his murder brings Masato peace in a way that is very hard to describe. The solidarity he finds in this bellowing woman, the gentle harrowing that Kazuo must endure in the wake of her, is truly rejuvinating. "Of course," he smiles at Grandfather on his humble way in, understanding silently traded between them, "It's my pleasure." Saori's turmoil is radiating is palpable waves, and for her alone, he is sympathetic. He is still fighting the urge to grin maniacally, of course, but he does his best to school himself for her sake. He takes to bringing her along, gently with an arm behind her as if to shield the radioactive levels of ROGAIA behind her. "There's a door through the back," Masato whispers to her, in that concealed way you do when your back is turned to others, and laughs loudly to cover it. "You're so funny, Saori-san..." Masato disappears with the poor woman into the kitchen, at least.
Mamoru Chiba	Grandfather, then. There's a bit of a huge :D face, there. A ''huge'' one. And then Mamoru nods cheerfully to Rogaia, "Kazuo needs to live a long time, because we're all three of us too young for kids. Anyway, we wouldn't need to adopt." He beams! "It's ''complicated,''" he tells her conspiratorially, leaning in a little-- and then slinging an arm around Chibiusa's shoulder and hugging her to his ... hip. She's so short. He's so tall. Then his hand rests briefly warm against the top of her head as he says down toward her, grinning, "Thanks, Chibiusa-chan." He's aware of Saori being taken care of and relaxes slightly; he's aware of Kunihiro's particular expression, and thinks-- thinks-- he understands the man; he's not worried about him either way. Usagi, his eyes slide to her and he's trying to gauge ''her'' body language and expression from here--
Usagi Tsukino	"If Chibiusa-chan gets taller than me, I'll just have to insist that even if she's the bigger Usagi, she's still Small Lady in my heart," Usagi says with pious affection, even though the real answer is 'if Chibiusa gets bigger than me I'll definitely whine about it not being fair'. Kunihiro finding himself to enjoy the show is not missed, and her eyes crinkle a little in amusement - she's sorry that poor Saori-mama is embarrassed, but she really does love this delightful grandma! One can tell, because she doesn't get even a little annoyed at the potential slight to her mama, just nodding like the most woeful unloved kitten. "Thank you, Rogaia-obachan! I said the same thing! How can I be healthy and happy tucked away at school all summer? But my mama, she thinks its very important for a girl to be educated and wise, so she says its good for me to stay at school instead of getting into trouble with friends." She pouts, then, sheepish and agreeable, says, "And then I broke two phones when we did go out finally, so I can't say she was all wrong." Mamoru has been given some eye, but not a side-eye so much as a 'where are you going with this' eye, not upset or anything but curious, because he sure can't mention their marriage, and he certainly can't mention their daughter so how...? Ah. By trolling. She shakes her head, very obviously amused.
Kazuo Saitou	Oh no, the smol pink is defending her cousin's boy! Rogaia peers down at Chibiusa, past the feather boa, and nods attentively, which is even more attentive when there is that much chin involved. "I'm sure he will be! Perhaps after university." A pause. "Or anything he might decide to do instead of university! There are many options. But university itself wants a great deal of attention, and children ''need'' a great deal of attention, and neither one should have to be slighted in favor of the other!" Then again, the word ''three'' suggests that more attention might be available than usual, and Rogaia pauses to consider this. That gives Mamoru time to hug Chibiusa with an arm. Well. Practice. Yes. He ''does'' seem to be good at this. She gives him an approving nod all of his own, one that comes with less stress on her neck from height difference. "It is all very complicated," she concedes to Usagi afterward. Mamoru gets to share that word! "I hope you are getting into a ''little'' trouble with friends. A little trouble is very good for making a girl educated and wise, too, as long as it stays only a little." A beat. "And as long as -" at least she turns her head away from Usagi and Mamoru and Chibiusa so they're not caught in the blast range - "they TELL THEIR MOTHERS AND THEIR GRANDMOTHERS WHAT IS GOING ON, KAZUO SAITOU." Quietly, Kunihiro's smile broadens. Possibly, in the kitchen, so does Masato's.
Mamoru Chiba	"University," Mamoru's voice comes from offstage, decisively. Then-- "Ohhh my godddddssss," Mamoru stretches out the words in the absolute most ''complaining teenager'' tone he can muster, hand dropping from the back of Chibiusa's shoulder, "I ''always'' say what's going on, and no one ever believes me." The prince sticks his hands in his pockets and slouches right on past toward the kitchen, fluffy hair and all, and the way he's walking makes his slippers flap against the hardwood floor, announcing his approach. He sticks his head in and can be heard murmuring to Saori and Masato. Then he turns back around and gestures at the jillion places to sit in the living room, all modular in that they're things on little pieces of upside-down rug and small area rugs. Things can easily be moved around, if you're good at pushing heavy things. "You are absolutely welcome to sit down, Grandmother, but I'm psychic and I can tell you'd rather be mobile at the moment." His eyes ''lock'' on Usagi for a half second as the corner of his mouth twitches. "I swear sometimes I feel like I'm Cassandra or something," he says, shaking his head.
Chibiusa Tsukino	Mamoru's complaint causes Small Lady's polite smile to turn into a genuine smirk. She starts giggling into the pile of plushies that are gathered into her arms, leaning against Mamo for a moment. It's hilarious, actually, that he could be perfectly honest and no one would ever believe him. Chibiusa could even back him up and it wouldn't make a difference. "It's true! He can read your mind!" she says to Grandmountain with the widest smirk. As things start moving towards the living room, Chibiusa and Luna-P head back to a couch. She plops down as she was before and starts arranging her dolls in a circle as if they are holding a conference. Now that she's confident they aren't under some kind of weird magical attack she's content to watch things play out. This is, after all, a part of her family that she doesn't generally get to see, considering how things went in her timeline. Chibiusa may as well pay attention.