2375/Still Friends

Still Friends
Date of Scene:	20 January 2017
Location:	Tsukino Household
Synopsis:	Ami gently nudges Rei into actually resolving things between her and Usagi.
Cast of Characters:	Rei Hino, Ami Mizuno, Usagi Tsukino

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Rei Hino has posed:
~Last Time~

"Grandpa, I'm going out!" Rei all but flies out the door, dragging a certain bluenette with her. She's in a red sweater, jeans, and has a big, big serious look on her face.

~Now~

Her text to Usagi was simple. 'Coming over. Need to talk. Studying'.

And then she's right at Usagi's front door. She pauses. There's a single glance to Ami. She looks, for the moment, utterly afraid. Then she closes her eyes, suck in a breath, and out.

"Thanks Ami-chan. I can do this."

Knock knock knock.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno is bundled extra warm for the weather, in a sweater-dress, heavy coat, thick furry boots, and earmuffs! She looks cold, despite it being a relatively normal winter in Japan. Seriously, she has ice for powers. And here she is shivering, huddling up against Rei to steal the miko's warmth.

"You can," she agrees quietly with Rei, silently encouraging her. "And it's going to be hard, but we're all still friends. We'll get through it together. I promise."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
The text...is unexpected. Unfortunately, it's not that pleasant unexpected of 'oh, I just found money I forgot I had!' or even 'I woke up too early and have another hour of sleep left!'

It's closer to 'I am accidentally watching a scary movie and there was an unexpected jump scare.'

Then again jump scares don't usually see Usagi running around, brushing her hair, trying to make sure she looks okay. She's not even sure how she feels by the unexpected visit. Nervous of course. Anxious? Angry? Sad? Hurt? Maybe a bit of all of these.

She's just really glad no one else is home as she opens the door.

The flutter is annoying, so is the impulzive bright smile that dies as soon as it's made. "Hey, um, come in, guys. We can do cookies or something. In the kitchen."

And normally, it would be her room. It's where they all go when things aren't Good. But this time, things aren't Good in a way they haven't really been before. And she hates she needs a safe place to run to from someone who is still one of her best friends, but. Crushed hearts and all that!

Rei Hino has posed:
Rei gives a swift nod. There's silence. The terror grips her heart. And that's before the door opens.

'The Kitchen'. Rei blinks. Her passion, commitment wavers with those simple words. When Usagi goes to the kitchen, Rei stands frozen in the doorway. She's scared.

For just one moment, she grips Ami's hand in a squeeze. Then she strides in, composed, her face that of a Miko. A mask she puts on quickly just to keep from breaking down inside Usagi's home.

Her eyes are still misty. "Usagi-chan, I..." Starts Rei once they're in the kitchen. Her throat's dry as a desert. A long sigh. "I hurt you. I was cruel. And scared, and stupid, and..."

"I'm sorry. You deserve to know why. Why I ran away from you."

Her smile is a sad one. "I love you, Usagi. And not just as a friend. But my heart isn't like yours. You're amazing. I'm selfish. I'd want you for myself, alone. And I don't want to do that to you. To Mamoru. To everyone."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami doesn't just squeeze Rei's hand, she also very gently nudges her into the house. "Just tell her," she murmurs to the Miko, as the girl finally starts inside. Ami herself hesitates one more instant on the doorstep, takes a deep breath, then follows Rei inside, closing the door behind her.

Shoes are doffed by the door, and then she's heading to the kitchen. While Rei jumps right into things, Ami stands in the doorway, very delicately preventing either girl from running away without at least having to push through her. She'll definitely move if it's full on tears and fears, but she doesn't want to let either of them leave frivolously.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi blinks a bit, taken back by the admission. Not so much at the selfish part, but at...the assumption that she isn't.

"I...want Mamo-chan for myself. I want Rei-chan for myself. Even if Taka-baka weren't a butt, a part of me wouldn't like him because I want Ami-chan for myself. I'm the...most selfish person I know." She shrugs a little. "I just...want people to be happy more than I wanna be selfish. Even if I hafta fight it every day."

And then her lips tremble. "But it's okay if you weren't-- But you just-- and you were there last year but not this and I--"

Rei Hino has posed:
Ami, lovely Ami, gives her the nudge she needs. It's the only reason she hasn't ran off. But now, she's committed. A glance back. Ami the door guardian!

Hands clench the countertop. Rei is making a drink. Orange juice. She pauses, and uses the excuse to have time to think. And keep her composure.

The small frown that Rei regards Usagi with might clue her in on just how much she disagrees. But she doesn't push. She can't, not now. "And you win that fight every time, Usagi-chan. That's why you're so amazing. You...you don't deserve to have your heart stepped on. I did that. And then I ran." She looks away. A tear slips and she tries to wipe it away discretely. She's crumbling.

A sharp breath. She has to be strong for the girl she's hurt. "I'm scared, Usagi. I don't want to lose you. But I hurt you and...if you want me to go then..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami lets out a very soft sigh and mumbles, "Rei-chan, leaving won't help this. That's what got you both into this state."

Then she turns to Usagi and observes, "You're not as selfish as you think, Usagi-chan. I've seen you so happy for your friends, because of their relationships. You've even been happy for me, with Takashi-kun, on an occasion or two. That was before we decided he's an evil jerk," she notes. "Your heart is so big. Big enough to love everyone. And I know you wish you could have everyone to yourself, but that's not the same as what Rei-chan feels. Nor what I would feel, in her position. It's not just selfishness, it's a feeling of inadequacy. And it's not something you did wrong, Usagi-chan. Rei told me how much she loves you. But it hurts her to be in that sort of relationship with someone she loves, and watch them with someone else. With Mamo-chan. And we, all of us, know how important Mamo-chan is to you. None of us ever wants to come between that. So ... for Rei-chan's sake, at least, it is just easier--less painful--to be happy for you, than to feel sorry for herself."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's a good thing Ami speaks up, because Usagi's about as helpful as a gaping fish when Rei makes the offer to leave.

And she listens to Ami before she speaks. And at the end she's a bit more jumbled than usual. "But I don't want--!" She doesn't want Rei to feel sorry for herself.

And she gets it, she really does! But...

Hands over her heart, she looks up at Rei fully for the first time. "Can I just..." She pauses and breathes. "I get why you didn't say why. I do. But you didn't say why. And I get why. I do! But...not all of me. Can I...is it okay if..."

And she's hovering almost too close, eyes large and seeking approval, permission, to be hurt even if the logic behind everything is sound. "I love you, I do, and I always will, and I get why, but if I'm hurt for a little bit more is that okay?" Large and sparkling eyes look at Rei for permission. "If it takes me a little bit to not...be sad, is that okay?"

Because, really, if this had been discussed right away, that would have been one thing. But it hadn't been. And then, nearly immediatley after, there'd been Anniversaries to deal with. Anniversaries that Rei had been there for in the beginning, when she'd been a fledgling princess and terrified of being left alone in case history repeated itself.

Rei Hino has posed:
And then, Ami saves Rei. Saves Usagi. The both of them. The bluenette lays out everything. The sting remains, but a massive pressure in her chest fades. She's smiling, and not bothering to hide the tears.

That beautiful, innocent girl looks Rei in the eyes looking for approval. It's a little too much. She's so close. Arms wrap gently around Usagi.

"Usagi-chan. As long as you need. I just want you to be happy!"

And then she's crying as she just lets go. She clings to Usagi for the first time in a long time. To be here, even through the fear and the pain, is something she'd missed more than she thought. Most of Rei's words are lost in sobs. But she repeats two over and over again.

'I'm sorry'.

'I love you'.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami doesn't open her mouth again. She's said what needs said, and now they're back on the right track. Of course Usagi-chan can be hurt. She has every reason to be. And of course Rei will forgive her: that's what love is.

Which is why she still loves her father, even though she's so hurt by him.

Damnit, now Ami's starting to cry, too. And the best solution for that is to step forward and wrap both girls in a hug, turning their affection into a full on standing cuddle pile. "You two," she mumbles quietly.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
And then there's something a part of her was certain would never happen again. Something a part of her was planning for, even as the more cognizant and hopeful part held off against.

Usagi gasps, clutching back at Rei with a ferocity that may have dumbfounded most outsiders. After all, hadn't Rei broken up with her at the time with little to no explanation? Hadn't Usagi suffered through the annicersary of what had been the most traumatic experience of many people's lives?

None of this are what matters. What Usagi feels for Rei transcends time. What she feels for all her transcends time. Platonic or otherwise, Usagi loves them all. And the heart may ache now, but if she can't believe that time will heal the cracks, well. She'd just be a pretty chess piece sitting alongside the King on the chessboard, wouldn't she.

Rei Hino has posed:
Rei cries, lets out the hurt. Here with two of her best friends, she feels nothing but love. Her tears of pain, of loss, of guilt, and of joy. It will heal. You hasn't lost her friend. The one that stood up for her so long ago. That she died for, and who brought her back.

"I love you both." Rei finally adds before words finally lose all meaning. She clings back, just as hard. As if she's afraid one or both of them will be snatched away.

Her crushed heart beats just a little bit once again.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami rubs a tear on Rei's shoulder, gently, trying to hide them entirely. She squeezes them both, then observes, "You're both going to be just fine. It's okay to hurt, Usagi-chan. We're still going to all be okay, with time. You're both so important to me." She sighs and leans away from the hug, just a little. "This is the part where I offer to take you both out for milkshakes. On me. So that we can all go remember that we love each other very much. Can we do that?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi just holds onto Rei, the reflexive response to proclamations of love sticking in her throat. It's true. Of course its true, that she loves Rei. But those hurt feelings keeps the words locked up tight, at least for now.

Ami speaks the magic words, then. Milkshakes. Ice Cream Smoothies. Whatever name they go by, still delicous.

For her part, still hugging Rei, she nods. "Even if it has walnuts?"

Rei Hino has posed:
Sniffle. Wiped tears, and finally, she lets go. It takes her an absurd amount of effort, but it happens.

She reaches out for hands. And then she's pulling the pair along. "Every single walnut. And if someone says no, I'm going to Ofuda them!" Fist clench! Pump! Passionate Rei is a whirlwind, a burning one. Those long legs, as it turns out, can more pretty quick when she's motivated. And Ami and Usagi have relit a very, very important fire.