104/Meeting of the Senshi, a Cat, and a V-chan

Meeting of the Senshi, a Cat, and a V-chan
Date of Scene:	28 June 2015
Location:	Uminari City - OSA-P Jewelers
Synopsis:	Usagi goes to the OSA-P to see to her friend Naru with the senshi! But it soon turns to a meeting about Nephrite and Mamoru! Sailor V eavesdrops for love and justice!
Cast of Characters:	Minako Aino, Makoto Kino, Ami Mizuno, Usagi Tsukino, Rei Hino

---

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
There's many things that can be said about Usagi Tsukino, but one should never doubt her love for her friends. After hearing about one of her best friends, Naru, being sick, the young woman had forsaken her usual spot at the Arcade for the evening to bring over some lunch and even thought to stop and grab some medicine for the other girl. One hour later of Nurse Usagi (for once without the disguise pen!), she's instead ushered out away from the living area and into OSA-P proper.

Usagi's eyes are more than a touch wide, a 'wahhhhh' sound of entrancement coming from her as she looks at a lovely diamond-studded necklace!

"It's so beautiful!" She comments, only to look at the price tag. Her face visibly falls. Sniffle.

"Why do the prettiest ones have to always be the most expensive!?" Laments Usagi.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"That's because of the jewel's luster, how well it was made...." And about 15 other reasons Ami Mizuno can rattle off to Usagi, few of which make sense.

Ami had heard of Naru being sick, and rather than leave Usagi alone, Ami came with her. Of course, Ami spent most of the time carrying around her computer, which is a smart phone, now an extension of Ami's computer.

Ain't technology grand?"

Rei Hino has posed:
"They're expensive /because/ they're prettier," says Rei Hino. Where did she come from? She probably heard about Usagi's antics and came to make sure things didn't get too far out of hand. Luckily, Ami is here to keep an eye on things.

Whatever fussy thing she was about to say to Usagi is forgotten as Rei is suddenly distracted by a beautiful ruby necklace. "It's gorgeous!" Yes, it's a bit too much for Rei's wallet, but that doesn't stop her from looking.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi actually seems to perk up a little bit at Ami's expected font of knowledge. She's already in a good mood, what with all of her friends having came along. It's touching, even if the young girl doesn't know how to properly express her thanks to everyone.

Even Rei is getting beaming smiles today. But Ami's words do make something click, and she's likely the only reason it even comes to mind.

"Hee hee hee..." She whispers.

"Maybe Ami-chan could turn one of the cheap ones into the expensive ones. Like those...Arkemists!" Somewhere, Luna facepaws reflexively.

A deep sigh, and then Usagi turns for the door, spinning around, and leaning in towards her friends. Her twintails flap a little with the motions.

"How about a trip to the Arcade? Naru needs her rest!" And Usagi should be studying for a math exam. There's an utterly innocent smile on her face. No, she's not trying to procrastinate, or see particular blonde arcade workers. Never.

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako's shoulder-cat panic-perks his ears at the word 'Arkemist', but Minako shakes her head at him and explains it's 'science talk'. Instead, she talks about all of her features that remind her of a diamond, murmuring into the white cat's ear. Artemis is draped unceremoniously over Minako's shoulder like a fancy movie star's stole or scarf and looks like he'd rather be sleeping.

It's not very glamorous look and only draws a single disapproving meow from her shoulderwear.

Minako mostly stands off to the side, not her usual social self today while she (probably) breaks a 'no animals allowed' rule and pretends to be looking at things well out of her price range. She's not quite comfortable initiating conversations with her future best friends, but seems just fine mumbling at a cat and occasionally giggling, looking just a -little- crazy.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I think you mean 'Alchemist', Usagi-chan." Ami corrects on the spot. Ami then sighs as Usagi suggests the arcade. Ami currently has all of the arcade's high scores and she was 'bored'. "Yes, naru needs her rest." Says ami with a giggle. "Come on Rei-chan. We've gotta keep Usagi-chan out of trouble." She then laughs to Rei.

Rei Hino has posed:
Rei glances over at the strange blonde lady with the shoulder-cat. That's probably a prop, right? ... but then why is she mumbling to her prop? Also did it just meow?

She's not quite at the right angle to see the crescent moon on Artemis's forehead, and if she were then there would be Questions from a very curious Rei-chan.

Instead, Rei just assumes she's using one of those Google Glass things or something and she just can't see it. Whatever it is, the girl doesn't /seem/ all that crazy.

"Right, right. We can go to the arcade. Assuming Usagi-chan's already done her homework."

Rei glances at Usagi for a moment, suspiciously.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Meow! At first, fuzzy, fluffy shoulderwear goes utterly ignored by the rather oblivious Usagi, as does the giggling of the girl looking at the various bits of jewelry. No, she's focused on the duo in front of her for the moment.

"Why would I get in trouble Ami-chan?" A classic Usagi pout! Then, she looks to Rei just as she's backing out of the jewelry store.

There's a pause, a peer at Rei, and then she leans up and gives an all-too-nervous laugh. Giggle. Giggle giggle. Smiiiile.

Usagi's gaze desperately looks for a distraction! Oh, how to escape from the devilry that is homework!?

KITTY!!!!

Usagi rushes over to Minako and her shoulder-kitton. She smiiiles widely.

"Hello! Uhm, can I pet your cat?" Giggle. Distraction acquired.

Minako Aino has posed:
There's an awkward moment where Minako shakes her head, eyes bright like shiny truck headlights, while her cat nods his head yes, stretching himself out to maximize his body-to-petting area.

"Oh, you're welcome to it, but... he has ticks. And... rabies? Scabies? You know, the highly contiguous skin disease," Minako tries to explain, claws subtly digging into her skin as she puts on her war face and refuses to stop listing fanciful sounding diseases (some of which are neither animal diseases nor real).

Artemis, for his part, completely consents to pets in a purry purry fashion.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami peeeeers at usagi, mere inches from her face, as if trying to divine whether usagi did her homework. "Usagi-chan you know you're supposed to...."

KITTY!

*ZOOM*

Usagi zooms by so ridiculously fast that Ami is caught compeltely off-guard, and is spinning in place for a few seconds, before she falls over with swirly eyes.

Rei Hino has posed:
"U sa gi," says Rei, leaning in further with each syllable. The Rei Hino Interrogation comes to an abrupt end as Usagi runs away to look at a kitty.

Rei lets out a sigh, then turns to look at her fallen friend. She takes a moment to help Ami get back up on her feet before turning around to look at the strange blonde girl talking to the other strange blonde girl.

"Contiguous? Wait, don't you mean contagious?"

Makoto Kino has posed:
It is at this moment, in the midst of the confusion caused by Artemis, Minako, and Usagi's sudden rush to pet the kitty, that the door of the jewelry store is very abruptly flung open with the force of someone very strong and in a great hurry. Makoto, who was supposed to be attending a study session this evening, bursts into Osa-P in enough of a rush that it's probably pure luck that Mrs. Osaka isn't going to have to replace any glass.

"Usagi-chan!" Mako's voice is too urgent to keep to indoor volumes. For a moment she doesn't see anyone except her teammates, eyes moving quickly from one to the next: "Ami-chan, Rei-chan! I need to talk to you guys! Ma--"

She cuts herself off in the middle of the next breath as she belatedly remembers that they're all in public and she shouldn't actually just blurt out Senshi business in front of this blonde girl she doesn't think she's ever met before. Makoto shuts her mouth tight instead, looking thoroughly aggrieved.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi is trapped! Each Rei Hinto syllabel is a knife to the soul, and Ami's look seeks to peel back the intrigue of dreaded arithmatic! Her smile is almost comical, as her friends double-team her, but the call of the fluffy wins out!

Minako's words fall on deaf ears, as soon Artemis is being treated to double-handed, long petpetpets across the body, and ear-scritches! She even makes little cute baby noises at the kitty, utterly engrossed!

The moon cat may be in heaven by the time she finally pulls away, cheerily smiling. At no point does she even notice the symbol on Artemis' head. Observant she is not, Usagi Tsukino.

"I'm Usagi Tsukino. Nice to meet you! Say, my friends and I were about to go to the Arcade! Do you want to come along?" She leans in conspiratorially towards Minako.

"They're pet friendly!" Unlike the Osa-P. Then she turns around, and starts for the door!

"Come on everyone!"

Only for Usagi to tumble onto her duff not unlike Ami when the force of tall home-making nature known as Makoto Kino goes bursting into the room like Kool-Aide Man.

"Owww...M...Mako-chan?" She's up with a bit of scrambling, graceless but ignoring the fall easily enough. There's concern in her eyes, all thoughts of Arcades or fun wiped out. She reaches out, to clasp the other girl's hand. Squeeze.

A small, warm smile.

"It's okay, Mako-chan." She whispers, before turning back around to the becatted form of Minako.

"Uhm, sorry! My friend has an issue that we need to talk about! Next time?" A nervous, slightly awkward giggle, then she's out the door. Likely still holding Mako's hand!

Perhaps to Minako, and especially Artemis, there may just be a certain spark in the girls present. Especially the twintailed blonde. Maybe even something oddly familiar.

In either case, Usa's path is pretty clear, like a stampede of elephants. By tthe time they're in a nearby park, nicely buffeted with hide-behind-able trees for the convenient easvesdropper, Usagi is out of breath. She is /not/ athletic.

"Wh...what's the matter, Mako-chan?" She gets out in between breaths.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
*BAM*

Not only was Ami bowled over by Usagi when she goes to pet the cat, but when she's helped up by Rei, the door slams into her forehead and she's subesquently bowled over by Makoto.

This is not Ami's day.

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino gasps at Rei's attention, quickly shaping up and trying to look like an innocent, non-suspicious schoolgirl, mumbling as quietly as possible while pretending to nuzzle her cat like a responsible pet owner. "Artsy, between clumsy blunette and blondie here, I'm gonna guess that dark-haired girl is the brains of this outfit."

Artemis says nothing but purrs and basks in pettings.

Then, louder to Rei: "Oh no, you're contagious too? You should be wearing one of those face gas masks and resting."


Eventually, Minako takes being uninvited to her own arcade and instead having to lay down in bushes and trees with unusual grace and decorum, but only because she wants to shout 'Bride-chan' at Makoto. Artemis dissuades this with neck-scratches and chewing on her hair ribbon. He doesn't know what she's going to say, but he knows roughly the flavor.

Rei Hino has posed:
Rei Hino looks over at the door as it flings open. The noise concerns her. The rush further concerns her. The fact that it's Makoto /making/ that noise and /doing/ the rushing makes Rei Hino /very/ concerned.

Then Usagi runs right into the mighty wall of Mako and lands on her butt. "Oh geeze. Usagi-chan..." she says, resigned. Ami also get smacked. "Ami-chan?!"

She tries helping Ami back up again, but the little miko isn't quite strong enough to lift and carry her by herself with ease. Bless her heart, Rei tries anyways.

Looking up to Makoto, asking before thinking, "What's wrong, Makoto-chan?" It's only after she asks that she comes to the realization that maybe Makoto can't really answer, due to them being in a public place. Well, there will probably be time to talk about it later. Usagi mentions leaving, and Rei nods, "Right, yeah, let's go."

Rei stares at Minako as she responds to her, "Wh- no, I'm not contagious! I mean..." she's a bit flustered by the sudden strangeness. Eventually she gives up and just says, "Come on guys let's go."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Oh geez - Ami-chan, I'm sorry!"

Makoto ends up piggybacking poor Ami to the park, after rushing to help Rei pick their friend up off the floor of the jewelry store. The violent urgency that sent her rushing into the store in the first place is, thus, somewhat subdued as they settle in at the relatively private spot that Usagi has chosen... though her expression is still very serious as she looks at her teammates.

"I think Mamoru chiba is Nephrite," she says, bluntly and without further preamble.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami rubs her forehead and listens to Makoto as she's set down on a bench. It takes her a few seconds before she reaches into her pocket and tugs out her phone, which is connected to her computer at home. There...she brings up a picture and makes a bit of a face. "I...don't think so, Mako-chan. But then, Nephrite could be using heavy magic to change his face."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
The pair of Ami and Rei arrive, and Usagi pauses to look at them sheepishly. Usagi is over to Ami in particular for a moment, offering a water bottle.

Then Makoto Kino has her full attention. Usagi's eyes go wide, and she lets out a little cry of amazement. There's pure disbelief in her eyes.

"Chiba-kun is..." It slips out. In some weird way, the high schooler that she so often bumps into and fights with holds a place in her heart.

The mere thought that he could be that very evil man crosses far too many wires in that innocent brain of Usagi's. Her legs grow weak, and she's on the ground. Tears well up in her eyes.

"He...he's a jerk! That's true, but..." She can't even finish her sentence. She's soon shaking her head, and muttering 'No, no, no' repeatedly. Her hands weakly clench. Someone might want to help her up, she looks on the edge of a real breakdown here, rather than the childish tantrums she so often gives.

Rei Hino has posed:
Rei is all too grateful for Makoto's help in carrying Ami, and she knows full well that Mako-chan can handle it on her own. "Thanks, mighty Mako-chan~."

Rei follows Makoto and Usagi to the chosen spot, trying to hide the fact that she's out of breath. Trying. She's not really succeeding.

Makoto earns a blank stare from Rei Hino at the news. "Mamoru Chiba... is Nephrite?"

Rei takes a moment to think about it, crossing her arms and clearly getting a bit mad.

"Well the guy's such a jerk. It only makes sense that he'd be a bad guy."

Turning to Usagi, Rei looks in in concern. "Um... Usagi... I mean... Oh geeze."

She sits down on the ground next to Usagi, throwing her arms around her in comfort. "It's okay, it's okay. Nephrite had to be someone, right?"

Makoto Kino has posed:
A dismayed expression sweeps over Makoto's face as she sees Usagi crumple - she hadn't expected anything like this reaction, and she can't help feeling intensely guilty. Maybe she shouldn't have just dropped the bombshell like that. "Well--" she backpedals a little. "I don't know for sure. But I can't think of any other explanation - Usagi-chan, I'm sorry, please don't cry."

Moving to hunker down next to Usagi, on the other side from Rei, Mako places a supportive hand against her friend's shoulder. "I don't think we can judge by just how he looks," she says, meeting Ami's eyes with a worried expression. "He keeps dropping hints, like he knows more than he should. Saying how I'm good with flowers when I haven't ever talked to him about that, making comments about lightning."

She pauses there for a moment, takes a breath. "But what really makes me think it must be him is what happened the other night. Did you guys hear about it - the charity gala?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Not everyone that seems like a jerk is a bad guy, Rei-chan." Ami says very bluntly to Rei. She says as she puts her phone away. "Rather than jump to conclusions." She says looking up to Makoto meaningfully. "Let's see what else we can find out before we start treating him like a threat." She says before she gives Usagi a hug. It seems the blue haired girl is on Usagi's side, despite her propensity for logic.

"And before you decide to argue with me, since I'm pretty sure you may, Mako-chan and Rei-chan, let me state my case...."

She then looks to Makoto. "Mako-chan, you were expelled from many schools for fighting before you came here, right? Many of the students in school were afraid of you before a certain someone decided to come forward, took a chance and.....became one of your strongest friends. Even -I- was scared of you when you first came to school, Mako-chan. but looks at us now. You're one of my best friends."

She then looks to Rei. "Rei-chan....you are VERY intimidating, and not in height, but in spirit. You are VERY driven, and -I- was convinced you were one of the enemy up until you awakened and helped us." She then looks to Rei's eyes and smiles. "I'm glad to say I was wrong. You're still very intimidating, but I can see your passion now, Rei, and I'm glad to call you a friend."

She then stops as Makoto says Mamoru knows more than he lets on, about lightning and flowers....and she looks to makoto.....her attention fully on Makoto. "No...tell me everything you know, please."

Ami's gaze is creepily unblinking....and she has her phone back out....

Rei Hino has posed:
"Dropping hints...?" asks Rei. "You mean... he might know who /you/ are?"

It's a good thing they're COMPLETELY ALONE or Rei might have hinted at CRITICAL INFORMATION right there.

Ami presents her case, and Rei looks a bit embarassed. "Okay, okay, Ami-chan. You made your point. Not all of us are super approachable, even if Mamoru is still a jerk."

Rei sighs, and adds, "Still, I have to ask, Mako-chan. What makes you convinced that Mamoru is Nephrite? I'm sure you have some reason for thinking that."

"I heard something about the Charity Gala, but I haven't heard anything other than it happened. What went on?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi is bawling almost as soon as the warmth of her two friends hits her. One warm with the light of mars, another with the strength of Jupiter, and one more with the gentle waves of mercury, Sailor Moon's gently cracking little world of safety is held together by the strength and love of her friends. Her own arms grab them all, eager for somewhere warm and safe and comfortable, and there's no where better than here.

When she finally quiets, she pulls away. Drying her tears on an arm and sniffling, she sits up.

Usagi manages to find it in her smart to try to smile.

But it's Ami's words she ultimately latches onto.

"Y...yeah! We don't know, right? For sure. And getting Chiba-kun hurt because we were wrong would be..." For such a silly, immature girl, even she can come to a decent conclusion or two.

She offers a hand to her friends.

"I want to find the Princess too. But I want to help the people here, like all of you, Naru, Motoki, my parents...and even jerks like Chiba-san. Anyone who's not evil!" It quite possibly be one of the most mature things she's ever said, but the way her eyes are shining, it's clearly important to Usagi. She wants to do this /right/.

It's around now that she comforts herself with a drink she's had on her, devouring it, then tossing the can behind her in the vague direction of a waste bin.

It clinks off the side, and goes nicely arcing towards Minako and Artemis!

Then she's listening again. "What happened?" About the Charity Gala, of course.

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino has eventually snuck into her grassy hiding spot, mostly urged on by Artemis. She has no enthusiasm for any of this until it becomes a little more gossipy, at which points the roles reverse and Artemis becomes disinterested.

Minako doesn't let him, providing running commentary about every comment to the point Artemis can't keep up.

"Looks like Bride-chan was a real Bride-zilla!"

"Obviously, Ami-chan is the leader right now. She's ordering everybody around AND making her friends carry her. Waaachaaaa!" Minako makes very unclear whip-snapping noises, extra spitty and right near Artemis' ear.

"Nephrite had to be someone. Mamoru Chiba. We gotta tell Tuxedo Kamen!"

"Ewww, drink. And it's all ice now," she complains, as if she would drink it. Instead, she puts ice in Artemis' ears and hunkers down for more.

"CHARITY GALA BALL MASQUE! I hope they heard about the illuminoused Sailor V's appearance there."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto shakes her head impatiently as Ami makes her arguments, but she visibly holds herself back from saying anything. Ami definitely has a point, but--

She keeps her silence until Ami's said her piece and everyone is prompting her to explain about the charity gala. "Mamoru-san and I helped set up for it the day before," Mako says. "He was the one who suggested it, which was weird to begin with - like he was trying to get an in with Sanjouin-san, or keep an eye on him, or on me or both of us together or something... I don't know." Another quick shake of her head flicks her ponytail behind her. "Anyway, he didn't say anything too odd while we were setting up, until we were done and he said that he didn't know if he was going to make it to the gala after all."

Here, again, Mako pauses, looking over each of her friends' faces one at a time. Her expression is set, grave and determined. "I was there, and I didn't see Mamoru-san show up at all. But Nephrite did. He was trying to kidnap that witch girl, Scorn - Tuxedo Kamen-san and I put him through a couple of walls to discourage him, before he ran off.

"And then today at the study group, Mamoru-san was moving like he'd been beat up. When I asked him what happened, he said something really strange - about an irresistible force and an immovable object, and that he felt like he'd been thrown through a couple of walls."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami listens to everything Makoto says and she rests her chin upon her hands, quietly sitting there and listening to every detail. In the end, however she seems to come up with a bit of insight. "Did you knock Nephrite through a couple of walls, Mako-chan?" She says a bit bluntly.

Rei Hino has posed:
Rei dosn't pull away until Usagi does, at which point she leans back, using her arms to prop her up. Listening to Usagi get serious for a moment, Rei feels a smile crossing her face. Between the irresponsibility and the immaturity, hearing something like that gives Rei faith in Usagi's ability to handle her job. "You're right. We shouldn't judge too quickly, but I'm sure Makoto has her reasons, too."

Makoto explains, and Rei listens. She considers it for a moment. "Hmm... well, I can see why that'd be suspicious, but I wouldn't call it hard proof. Still, saying that he went through several walls, it almost sounds like a confession."

Rei has to think about this for a moment. If Mamoru is Nephrite, what does that change? Have they ever seen Nephrite and Mamoru at the same place? Is there anything which contradicts this?

"I don't really like the thought of that, no matter how much sense it makes. Whatever happens, we'll have to be careful going forward. I think we should be very careful about what we do around Mamoru, just to be safe."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi listens with unusually rapt attention, frown etched on her face, and sitting down on a bench. One hand is on her head, and she's furiously working her brain. One might expect her to overheat at this rate, but the girl is dead serious for once.

Even to Usagi, it's a little suspicious. She visibly looks amply torn, before just finally slumping a bit at Rei's words. It's the nail in the coffin for the moment.

She looks back up. "...He's a jerk anyway, so we always have to be careful!" She whines, perhaps utterly shattering Rei's newfound confidence.

Then she keeps going.

"I have a plan!" Oh god.

"What if we sent out invitations to Nephrite and Chiba-kun to an ice cream social! They'd have to come if they're different people!"

She laughs triumphantly. "I saw that on an episode of Sailor V!"

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino tells Artemis that's a great show and a great plan. "Except I don't know their addresses," she admits.

"Also, if I did, wouldn't they be the same addresses? Unless they're living together - which frankly rears more questions than answers. Yeah, I'm pretty sure there were more details on the show."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto gives Ami a momentarily puzzled look at her question, but then she shrugs. "Technically I didn't, it was more of a joint effort thing. I boosted Tuxedo Kamen, and he was the one who knocked Nephrite through the walls. But the point is, it's really suspicious that Mamoru-san is all beat up and talking about getting knocked through walls the day after that actually happened to Nephrite."

Sighing, Mako settles back a little where she's sitting, eyes turning downward toward the ground in front of her. "Anyway, I thought I should tell you guys so that at least we can be on our guard. It'd be bad to let Nephrite get one over on us. Especially since he's trying to get his hands on that girl - she's enough trouble on her own, there's no telling what could happen if the Dark Kingdom got access to Corvus's power or something."

--at Usahi's suggestion, she looks up again, once more blinking in momentary confusion and vague doubt. "...How would we send an invitation to Nephrite, though?" Mako wonders. "Would he even come to something like that?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami then sighs a bit. She's not really convinced about mamoru. Something about Usagi half-heartedness in calling mamoru a jerk.

But she shakes her head at the thought.

She looks back to Makoto. "This is going to sound like an odd question but......was Tuxedo Kamen hit by any sort of attacks that knocked him through a wall?"

Rei Hino has posed:
And then Usagi does something like that, and Rei sighs. "Usagi, Nephrite isn't going to come to an ice cream social if we invite him. Even if he did, I think he'd do something evil whle he was there. Like attack us with an ice cream youma or something."

Well, maybe he might just come and eat ice cream, but if it ever happened Rei would consider it probably the most ridiculous thing that ever happened.

Rei nods firmly at Makoto, saying, "Right! She's a big enough problem on her own. Besides, with that Corvus she probably already has at least one evil jerk using her to their own ends."

Ami asks a question, and Rei just kinda blinks at her. "Wait, what are you getting at?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi's head lowers a bit sheepishly at Makoto and Rei's words. Her arms fold, and she frowns.

"...Everyone likes ice cream!"

Pause. "I'd beat the ice cream youma instantly!" She makes biting motions!

Then she seems to sober up a bit, and turns to look at Ami and Makoto, waiting for their words.

"Did you figure something out, Ami-chan?" Comes Usagi curiously.

Makoto Kino has posed:
If Makoto looked puzzled a moment ago, this time her expression goes totally blank with incomprehension. She has to actually stop and think about it. "Not really... he kind of followed Nephrite through the walls when he hit him, but that's all. What does that have to do with anything?"

A beat passes; Makoto's eyes widen incredulously. "Wait, you're not saying you think Mamoru-san could be Tuxedo Kamen, are you? Because that's definitely impossible."

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino doesn't have anything to do but remind Artemis to memorize all of this so she doesn't have to AND throw away an empty drink cup. Sailor V never litters.

But she does eavesdrop, apparently.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami leans back a bit on the bench, and rubs the sore spot on her forehead. "it's just a thought at the moment, Mako-chan. But besides Nephrite at that dress shoppe, who else was there?" She says looking to Makoto eyes.

She then holds up her left hand. "Myself. That strong Sailor V Cosplayer.....and Tuxedo Kamen." She then tilts her head. "The guy who ran away from the dress shoppe after the alarm went off?"

Rei Hino has posed:
Rei considers Usagi's chances against an ice cream youma. She... actually could probably beat an ice cream youma, Rei has to admit. If Rei didn't melt it first, in any case.

In agreement with Makoto, Rei nods, "Yeah, that could never happen. Tuxedo Kamen is way too cool for that. I mean... I just can't see it."

Minako eavesdrops behind a bush, and Rei still doesn't pick up on her. Apparently EAVESDROPPING isn't evil enough to show up on Rei's Evilometer.

"Okay, so even if that's true, Mamoru is either Nephrite or Tuxedo Mask. Or he isn't either and we're just reading too deeply into it..." Rei shrugs, "It doesn't leave us with much. Besides, even if he /was/ Tuxedo Mask, it's no guarantee that he's an ally. We still don't know what his deal is."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi considers, quietly, all the evidence. Then she just leans back and shakes her head repeatedly.

"No way, no way no wayyyyyyy! That jerk isn't anything like Tuxedo Kamen! He's biiiig and tall and dreamy! Chiba-san is just a big, fat, jerk!" Comes Usagi cuttingly.

"...We should watch Chiba-san, though." She finally concludes. Even to her, that much makes sense.

Makoto Kino has posed:
"The bridal shop doesn't have anything to do with Mamoru Chiba, though," Makoto point out.

Her eyes slide away from Ami, turning to the side to gaze off across the park at nothing in particular in the distance. "...I'm pretty sure Tuxedo Kamen is somebody else," Mako says, the beginnings of a blush turning her cheeks pink. "But unless he says something himself, it doesn't seem right to go spreading around a guess. You know?"

Straightening up with an indrawn breath, Makoto looks back to her friends again, listening to Rei as she works to reason things out, to Usagi's indignant exclamation. And she smiles, fondly.

"I'm not saying that it's a hundred percent sure that he's Nephrite," she says, eyes earnestly finding Ami's again. "I'm just saying we should be careful about that guy."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Naturally. We'll still be careful, but Tuxedo kamen was there." Ami says with a chuckle. "I know Tuxedo Kamen is an ally, not just from the way he's been helping us." She then looks to Usagi, but you can't help but trust Usagi-chan's instincts." She then shrugs as she puts her phone away. "Sure, we need to be more careful around Mamo-chan." She then smiles to Makoto. "but lets not completely jump to conclusions, or we could be writing off a valuable ally." She then takes a deep breath. "Or we could be passing upa chance to eliminate an enemy when he's the most vulnerable." She then looks to Makoto. "To err on the side of caution is a good thing in this case. I'm sure Usagi though I was very cold, and distant when she first met me. But with all that I've been through, I didn't wish to let anyone too close. Usagi-chan has a.....way of finding the good in people, and drawing them out. So, we'll keep trusting here....even though it doesn't make much sense."

Rei Hino has posed:
"Yeah, we're not like... putting him on trial or anything." Rei leans against the back of the bench. "... we need to be careful anyways. In Mamoru-san's case we're just being /more/ careful."

Rei nods at Ami, saying, "That's right. We shouldn't be too eager to act on this. It's a hunch, but it's better to wait and see. Besides, we /do/ investigate a lot of things, and part of investigating is having suspects. Not every suspect turns out to be guilty."

Ami seems defensive of Mamoru for some reason. She also seemed to be on good terms with Tuxedo Mask when they were fighting Scorn the other day.

"I wish there was a way to see for sure, but it's not like we can just come out and ask him."

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino generally plans to slip away, but tells Artemis they'll have to wait OR he can make an exciting distraction. He chooses to exercise patience.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto listens, but from the way that her mouth tightens as she hears what Ami has to say, it's clear she's not convinced. On this, it seems, they'll have to agree to disagree for now. "Okay," Mako says, voice heavy with finality. "You can keep trusting if you want. I'm going to be cautious. Like Rei-chan says," Makoto's head tips toward Rei in a nod of acknowledgement, "it's not like we can come out and ask, so we'll just have to wait and see, until something else happens."

With this decision (such as it is) reached, Mako pushes herself up off the ground and onto her feet. "I'll keep going to the study sessions," she declares, with the air of one taking on an unpleasant burden. "It'll be a good chance to keep an eye on him."