1766/A Grumpy Bunny and Ami Hugs

A Grumpy Bunny and Ami Hugs
Date of Scene:	27 July 2016
Location:	Mizuno Highrise Apartment - Uminari City - Jubaan Avenue South
Synopsis:	Usagi confronts Ami after finding out about the fight between her and Makoto. She's grumpy at first but then moves past it to cuddle her friend!
Cast of Characters:	Ami Mizuno, Usagi Tsukino

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Ami Mizuno has posed:
In the hot Japanese summer, air conditioning is a premium. Even the swankest of apartments don't always have it, and this close to the ocean, this high off the ground, Ami and her mother never saw the need for it. So the windows are open at the Mizuno residence, with the cool ocean breeze blowing in through the mostly empty apartment.

Ami's mother has gone back to work, which means the bluenette has the place all to herself. Well after midnight finds Ami already in bed, with the house cleaned up. In this heat, she's only curled up beneath a thin sheet in a sky blue camisole and white underwear. The residence is dark, but the wan light of the crescent moon and stars shines in through the windows, providing some illumination.

Out in the hallway, though, the lights are on bright, giving sneaky teenagers plenty of light to see by as they fumble with unfamiliar keys.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi left Makoto's several hours ago. She's tried to sleep, but all that came of it was tossing and turning, her emotional state ranging from Very Angry to Very Sympathetic.

Finally she gave up on the pretense of sleepy. It's an easy trek in henshin, but it's a pyjamad Usagi who greets the doorman as a familiar black kitty pads behind her.

After all, this isn't something Sailor Moon needs to address. This is more a concerned and grumpy friend wanting to knock some sense into another friend.

There is, of course, the fumbling. She whispers for Luna to wait in the living room.

Quiet as she can, she sneaks into Ami's room.

After a moment to calm down, Usagi chooses the best way to wake Ami up.

Carefully, she soon finds herself sitting cross-legged on one of her best friends, staring down at her as she wills her to wake up.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami is normally a very alert individual, but Usagi is sneaky, and she's not been getting enough sleep lately. So she doesn't notice as Usagi deliberates on how to wake her, and doesn't hear as Usagi asks Luna to wait outside. She's dead asleep, when Usagi literally sits on her, which earns a startled yelp and a sudden squirm as Ami tries to dislodge whoever's on her!

This may wind up with a bunny on the floor.

Ami sits up straight and clutches at her blanket. Instinctively she grabs the Mercury pen beside her as if it were a knife to defend herself. But she doesn't Henshin.

A few moments later and her mind has caught up. Ami blinks at Usagi confusedly, then furrows her brow. Groggily, she asks, "Usagi-chan?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
There's a flailing of limbs as Usagi manages to only fall partially off the bed. Bedding is grabbed and clutched at, and even though she understands what just happened, it doesn't help her mood much.

"Ami-chan." Her tone is grumpy as she rights herself, climbing back on the bed. Her arms fold in front of her as she gives a petulant pout.

She's quiet for a moment as she just looks at Ami.

"I'm very much Not Happy at you right now." She blinks and pauses before clarifying. "I talked with Mako-chan a few hours ago."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
This is very much not Ami's week. First Zoisite, then her mother, now Usagi. Why can't she just wait patiently in peace? The look on the bluenette's face reflects all of this with a grimace of self-loathing. She sinks a little into the bed and sighs. "I didn't want to get you involved," she mumbles quietly. "Then you'd have to feel like you're in the middle, and I didn't want you to be hurt. I'm sorry," she mumbles, lowering her eyes.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi's own face is set in a deep scowl now. "I'd rather be in the middle where I can help than floundering about without a clue." She leans forward, her eyes narrowing. "Besides, I wouldn't choose sides. I'd tell you you're a big dummy. I'd tell you why. And then I'd give you hugs and pets because it's obvious you feel like crap."

There's a slight tremble in her lower lip, but she bites it. "I'm angry and hurt, but why do you think I'd stop loving you?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I don't think you'd stop loving me!" Ami proests, raising her voice concernedly as she looks back up at Usagi. "That's not fair. I already know I screwed up, and I hate myself for it. But I don't think you'd stop loving me for it. I just ... I just thought Mako-chan and I could work it out ourselves, by now. But we haven't and it's been weeks and I feel awful. I don't know what to do, anymore."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
She knows she's not being fair. But in order to get past this, Usagi needs to let out her own hurt before she can comfort. Because this isn't just a mild sting. "So instead, you chose to ignore everyone while you licked your wounds." She reaches up and lightly shoves at Ami's shoulder. "Did you know I thought you were mad at me? Especially when the only time you've really talked to me was to ask to borrow the pen?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I didn't ..." Ami says quietly, tears welling in her eyes. "I didn't ignore you," she squeaks out, sinking even further down onto the bed until she's curled up in a little ball.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi wilts. She shifts and reaches over to pull a ball of sad Ami up for cuddles and hugs. "I'm sorry. That was mean."

She sighs and pets Ami's hair, and now that her own hurt's been eked away, all of her focus can now be on the sad little girl she's holding.

"Poor Ami-chan. I won't choose sides. I told Mako-chan as much. But I will hug and love on you both for as long as you want."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I don't even know why there are sides to choose," Ami admits quietly as she leans into Usagi, still curled upt ight. "I really didn't mean to ignore you," she whimpers. "I just thought I was giving everyone space. I thought ... I thought everyone knew what had happened, and was mad at me. But I didn't know what else to do. I don't feel like I have any choices and I feel like I've lost one of the only good friends I've ever had because I want to save him and want to stop him from being evil. I don't know what to do, Usagi-chan. And I feel so alone right now."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
She sighs and continues to pet and hug. "I know you didn't." She starts to gently rock, a throw back to when she was a baby and rocking meant comfort.

"I didn't know. Mako-chan didn't tell me until last night."

She sighs and pets some more. "I don't think you've lost her. Not for good. It's just...gonna take time."

And then she's hugging Ami tight. "And it may feel like it, but you aren't! I'm here to hug."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami lets Usagi rock her for a little bit, then sighs and unfolds enough to hug her friend back. The hugging is good. It's something she's been missing and needing for weeks, and for a little while, Ami just lets herself be hugged.

Evenutally, though, she decides that if Usagi's going to be involved, she should hear the whole story. So she takes a deep breath and starts to tell it, "When the asteroid was coming ... when I thought the world was going to end ... I went to him for help again. I didn't know he'd kidnapped her. We met and ... well you saw. You watched. It's like that," she says quietly. "Every time we discuss things, it's like he really understands me. It's like together we can solve every problem if we just have the time and resources. But then when I found out he'd done that to her ..."

Ami swallows, then continues the disjointed story, "And when it was Kunzite, I know I trusted him too much. But if I hadn't trusted, would we have gotten him back? I know. I know I was stupid and it nearly got me killed. But it's worth it if we can save him. It was worth it for Kunzite. I'd do it again. It's not his fault," she explains. "He's had dark energy in him since he was born. He's dependent on it. And it warps him so much. But he has a good heart, Usagi-chan. He wants to save the world. He just ... he does'nt have the same moral compass to guide him, so he does stupid things.

"And I know he's going to hurt me," Ami explains softly, "just like Kunzite did. But I love what he could be. And if I don't give him at least as much as I gave Kunzite, then I don't think I can save him."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi's quiet while Ami talks. On the one hand, she gets it. She gets it more than most people do.

On the other hand, she also gets the opposite side of Ami's arguments.

She breaths out a soft sigh through her nose.

And it's that last one she's most afraid of.

"I know. And seeing the good is important! It's what I do all the time! It's just..." He hurt Makoto already.

She's quiet for a moment longer. "If he hurts you, if it...comes down to it, I can't hesitate in...taking care of things. Even if it means you end up hating me, I have to look after you. I have to look after all of you."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami is quiet for a moment, then she shrugs just faintly. "Maybe it's not worth saving him," she says quietly. "He kidnapped Makoto. But ... Kunzite kidnapped Naru," she reasons with herself uncertainly.

"Would it make you happier if I just did it?" Ami asks very quietly. "If I just ... ended all of this, and made sure he could never hurt anyone again? Would it make Makoto happier?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"What? No, I-- No! Don't kill him!" Usagi is horrified at the idea. More for what it would do to Ami than anything else. "What would make me happy is you being happy. I'm not saying it will come to that. I just think...you should be prepared?"

Usagi flops back on the bed with an 'ug' and rubs her eyes. "I know what I meeeean!"

A moment later, she looks up at Ami. "Mako-chan needs time. She needs..." Usagi trails off for a moment. "She doesn't need excuses for what he did. She doesn't need justification. I know that you two can work through this, because I believe in you both, but this will probably be a long term issue, you and Agera."

A beat and a pause. "And I want to punch him. Just once."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I won't stop you punching him," Ami notes gently as she watches Usagi. She slowly pulls herself to sit back up and crosses her bare legs. Drawing the thin sheet over her skin, she clutches her stomach and sighs.

"If it does have to happen, I should be the one to do it," Ami notes to Usagi quietly. "I owe it to him to be the one to do it, because I understand why he is the way he is, better than anyone. And if we decide he can't be saved ... just ... unless I can't do it, please don't do it for me.

"There's no excusing what he did," Ami says quietly, "and I don't and won't forgive him. But I don't have to forgive him to save him. I still haven't forgiven Zoisite, either," she points out. "But with Takashi, I can't just let him live in this miserable existence. I have to try, Usagi-chan. Even if it means Makoto's upset with me. Unless we give up on him entirely ... unless you tell me it's time for me to kill him ... I have to try."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Mweeheehee." Here, Usagi tries to crack her knuckles. It fails, and she has to shake it off! "I'mma punch him good!"

For a moment she stares up at the ceiling, trying to figure out how to say what she knows she wants to say. "It won't be something I actively seek to do. It's not something I want to actively seek to do. And I think...if one of us has to do it, I understand you wanting to be the one. I was prepared to be the one...a few months ago."

She looks up at Ami. "Did you tell her that? That you haven't forgiven him for what he did? That this isn't black and white to you, but shades of grey?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I did," Ami says quietly of Makoto. "I told her, but I don't think she was willing to hear me at the time." The bluenette shifts again, this time drawing her knees up to her chest and hugging them. "I tried texting her and offered to break up with him. She's more important to me than he is, even now. I hate this," she tells Usagi. "But she didn't ask me to do that, either. So I'm just ... waiting. And hating myself. And wishing I didn't feel the need to save everyone I come across who's a victim of the darkness."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi hums. "I think we need to schedule a get together. Maybe a very uncomfy one." She ponders for a moment and her cheeks turn pink. "We could all get together. Safety in numbers. If you guys want Rei along, too." More blushing.

She clears her throat. "Hating yourself...can be hard to do." She wiggles and squirms around until she's curled against Ami. "I think wanting to save people is part of the job. It comes with the territory. If we didn't, we'd probably be dictators."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I don't think that's a good idea,' Ami says with a grimace. "I don't thi nk making Makoto confront this in front of everyone is good for her. It's okay, I can handle her hating me until she's ready to be friends again. It hurts, but it's my fault, anyways, so I can't be upset with her."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi sighs, and it's a sad sound. "I know. I just...wish there was something I could do."

So she does, which is to worm around Ami and cuddle onto her, about as clingy as a lamprey. "If I have Things, I'm inviting you both. And will pout if one of you doesn't come. Just so you're aware~!"

Not that she'd, you know, plan a party just to get her two friends talking again.

Heh.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami leans into Usagi's embrace, allowing herself to melt a little in her friend's arms. "I'll come," Ami replies very truthfully. "I think we're still team mates, Makoto and I. She just doesn't want to be my friend right now. But we both still want the same things: to keep everyone safe, and especially to keep you and each other safe. It's just ... I don't now. It's complicated. But I'll come, if you need me, Usagi-chan. I promise."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
UShe blinks for a moment. Such a serious vow for something so--

And then she's giggling. "Well, I know that! Of course you would! I meant like parties or something!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"O--oh," Ami replies, then blinks and lets her head droop a little. She lets out a heavy sigh, then closes her eyes. "I will come if it isn't going to ruin everyone's fun," she says; not much of a commitment. "But if it's just going to make Mako-chan unhapy I don't think it'd be a good idea, right now. She wants time, so I'm just ... trying to give her that."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
For that, Ami gets a nudge to the ribs with an elbow. "What if I throw a birthday party for myself, hmmm?"

She blinks. "Okay, so my birthday was like a month ago that's beside the point!"

A sigh. "Are you awake for the day? I think I need coffee or something."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami blinks and rubs her eyes, then sighs a little. "Yeah, I can make you coffee," she says, as she starts to slide out of bed. "Or cocoa. Takashi sent me some really nice cocoa," she explains on her way towards the livingroom without even bothering to pull on pants. "I still can't believe you're up this early. Did you sleep through all of yesterday, or something?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Well, say what you will about Takashi, but he tends to have good taste when it comes to chocolate.

Er, wait.

"It's...regular cocoa, right? Nothing I'm allergic to?"

She pauses for second before continuing after Ami, giving a nervous chuckle. "Well, see, I haven't actually slept yet."

The whole 'I was up and agonizing over things' is implied.

Luna stretches from her pillow on the couch before hopping down only to hop up on Ami's shoulder and purr her greeting.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami squeaks in surprise when Luna hops up onto her shoulder, but she immediately reaches up to scritch the cat behind her ears. Then, Ami pulls Luna down into her arms and snuggles her against her chest. "Should I give you cocoa, then?" Ami asks, "Or should I just drag you into my bed for sleep and cuddles?" she mumbles. But she's still on her way to the kitchen.

"The cocoa's normal," Ami says, tapping the note from Takashi, which she slides towards Usagi. "He's noticed something's wrong with me, too," she points out gently; it's almost an admonishment to Usagi. "He was hoping this would cheer me up."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi yawns, long and hard. "'m not sleepy."

Odds are she had a few hours before she could sleep. She's still all wound up, no matter how heavy her eyes are.

Usagi sticks her tongue out. "Well, it was either ask, or risk decorating your floor with ick."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I'm glad you asked," Ami replies, tapping the note once more. "You're welcome to read the letter, if you like," she prompts, then turns around to start heating up some milk on the stove. "I mean, I don't blame you for asking, either. Despite what he said in the note, I checked it myself. With the influence Dark Energy has on him, I really don't think I can trust anything he says without additional verification."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi picks up the note and reads it over, fully intending on being hard of heart!

However, she's very quick to melt...

"Awwwwww!" Vicarious twitterpation. "Well, I can verify the 'you're amazing' part."

She leans against the counter. "Is it helping?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami shrugs, just faintly, at the question. "I don't know," she replies. Which means no to anyone who can read between the lines. "The cocoa's ver y good, and the mug he sent with it was cute, but ..." she trails off, then sighs. "I can't even think about him without thinking of how upset Makoto is. I never wanted to hurt her."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi sighs. "I know." She leans against Ami, giving her a tight hug before helping her.

Well, in the way Usagi helps in the kitchen: gathering things then leaving everything alone.

"How does...how does he feel about it? About Mako-chan, I mean?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami sniffs at that question, then pulls down a pair of mugs: one is her new one from Takashi, and the other is pink and covered with bunnies and basically reserved for Usagi. "I think he hates her," she says quietly. "You, at least, he thinks he can get along with, but if she weren't my best friend he would probably consider her an enemy impeding his progress. But that's not really his fault; that's the darkness talking."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Her cheeks puff out. There is, of course, a little noise of 'yay' at her bunny mug. "Well, he needs to not go after your friends. I think that should be...something you two need to agree on?"

Because really, if Takashi goes around trying to kill all of Ami's friends, it's a doomed relationship.

And then she sighs. "It may not be his fault, but they are his actions. We don't have a base-line to compare him to. And I get that he's been infused with dark energy since birth, but it's kind of like saying 'it's the alcohol talking.'"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"If he goes after anyone again, I'm going to personally string him up by his neck and squeeze him until the stupid falls out," Ami replies to Usagi with a dark look as she adds cocoa powder from a very fancy looking carton into each mug. She chases this with milk, then pulls down the coloured marshmallows for Usagi.

"The whole point of all of this," Ami explains, "is so that he will give me ethical control of his research. A check on his wild ideas. A way for him to continue trying to help save the world, while I try to figure out how to save him, without him doing evil. If I weren't trying to get him to give me that power over him, I would never have suggested this relationship again."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi gives a surprised bark of laughter, followed by a couple seconds of giggling. "Sorry, sorry. But if it happens, I wanna see it!"

Oooo yay! Marshmallows! She steals one from the bag when Ami isn't looking.

"So kinda like balancing his Sith with your Jedi?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"S...something like that," Ami says, uncertain of the metaphor's accuracy. She frowns a little as she actually dwells on it, then shakes her head. "I'm pretty confident he'd never agree to this if I didn't offer the relationship. But I'm also not stupidly going to just ... go cheerfully hold his hands and act like nothing's wrong, either," Ami explains as she gently nudges the marshmallow bag towards Usagi. They're for her, after all.

"It's more like a promise," she explains. "I want to date who he could be, not who he is. I think I'm in love with who he could be, and not with who he is. And so I'm okay with being his girlfriend; with him giving me gifts, and us spending time together in research and in planning ... but I'm not going to hold his hand or go on recreational dates with him. We're not going to act like a normal couple. Not so long as he continues to have this darkness in him. And I'm not going to trust anything he gives me, nor any word he says to me, until I have verified it for dark influences. And most of all, I wish I had Mako-chan to watch over my shoulder and make sure I'm not allowing my emotions to cloud my judgement in regards to any particular thing. The chocolates proved that my judgement isn't perfect. She tried to warn me it was a bad idea, and if I'd listened to her, I wouldn't have hurt Naru, and I wouldn't have been so selfish ... I need her for that, Usagi-chan. Because Rei encouraged it, and you are too much of a romantic to not be also influenced by it."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi wiggles as she happily munches on marshmallows. She nods at Ami's assessment that she's too much of a romantic.

"I think you two really do need to sit down and talk. Come to a sort of understanding if nothing else? Maybe Mamo-chan could be there to be all mediatey. Or Kunzite. Or someone completely removed from the situation."

Her eyes glaze over as she thinks. "Yeah, not Kyou-kun."

She ties off the bag of marshmallows. She's eat them all if she could!

"If you want, I could play gopher? See if Mako-chan is ready, set something up."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami shrugs and raises the cocoa to her lips. She takes a long sip, then sets it back down on the counter. "I don't know," she says quietly. "She said she wants more time. I don't want to pressure her."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi gives Ami a Look. "How long ago was that? And I could ask without pressuring."

She raises the mug and reflexively blows. Then, a delicate little sip--

And her eyes widen! "Oh yummy!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami reaches over to her phone, conveniently not too far away, then picks it up and shows Usagi the texts. "A week ago," she explains quietly. "Not that long, but ..." she shrugs faintly. "I don't know when it's pressuring and when it isn't. But I feel like talking to her about it at all is pressuring, at this point."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi looks at the texts and hums. "Yeah. Well, this is also why I could ask. She knows I love you both."

She looks up at Ami and smiles widely. "Don't worry, we'll figure it out!"

And then she clears her throat and blushes. "Well, I mean, I have one plan with someone so far. You know, with Rei, who I will be doing a planned thing with. That has been planned. And...it will be with Rei."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami shrugs again and sips her cocoa. Usagi will do what Usagi will do, and Ami won't be able to convince her otherwise. "What do you have planned with Rei?" she asks curiously.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Her cheeks are just about glow in the dark red now. "Oh, you know. There's this new age festival thing I'm taking her to. Er, that we're going to." She sips her cocoa and mumbles into the mug. "It'ssortofadate."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
The bluenette's eyes widen, and her cheeks flush, and she slowly lowers her mug to the counter. "R--really!?" she asks, then shakes her head. "Wow. I didn't think ... I mean I thought ..." she trails off, then looks back at Usagi. "Really?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Still blushing, Usagi nods! "I know! I didn't either!" She shrugs a bit. "I figured, you know, with what happened...well, that it was best to just leave things alone. But I mean, well, she brought it up you know? And...we don't know, but we're gonna see!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"She brought it up?" Ami asks, voice a little quiet. She frowns just faintly, then offers Usagi half a smile. "Well ... have fun, I guess," she says quietly. "But ... I think I should probably take a shower if I'm actually going to be worth anything today. Are you going to stick around for a while? You can borrow some clothes if you need."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi slumps a little as she nods. But then she shakes her head. "No, I should probably get home. Call me, okay?" She hugs Ami, tight! "No more hiding. I'mma come find you if you do~!"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami hugs Usagi back, then kisses her friend on the cheek. "I'm not hiding," she promises. "I'm just not pressuring her. But I'll call you," she promises.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi's smile is small but genuine. "Good. You better." She pulls back with a sigh. "Come on, Luna!"

The cat hops down from her perch to claim Usagi's shoulders.