Is There a Bunny Constellation?

Is There a Bunny Constellation?
Date of Scene:	29 February 2016
Location:	Nephrite's Palace
Synopsis:	Usagi delivers gifts to Nephrite. Important questions are asked, hugs are distributed, and underwear passes scrutiny.
Cast of Characters:	Nephrite, Usagi Tsukino

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'Nephrite has posed:
In the middle of a very small island filled with very big trees, Nephrite is... bored. Not that being bored is such a bad thing. He would take safe boredom over most of the available alternatives. It is hardly a reason to complain, with everything that is happening.

Still. For someone who thrives on social contact as much as he does, the isolation is numbing. He can only pace the confines of his palace so many times, only watch the stars drift overhead for so long. He visits Mamoru and Zoisite, of course, but everyone needs time apart too.

So when he senses a friendly presence at Jadeite's door, even one that is not immediately recognizable, he can hardly contain himself. A person! A break from the monotony! Someone to talk to! He's up the now-familiar rope bridges, strung between the enormous cedar trees, as fast as he can go. Within record time, he makes it to the high platform that Jadeite's door opens onto, to meet his new guest.

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It hasn't been long since Usagi received Nephrite's requests through Mamoru. Oddly, she wasn't annoyed by it, but instead was insanely pleased. She could do something useful for someone! (Never mind she's technically being useful already, bringing food and whatnot. To her, it's the obvious and given thing to do.)

She had fun shopping, trying to figure out measurements into workable sizes, deciding what was both to his taste yet affordable, finding unexpected sales and nearly vibrating in her giddy. The...ahem...male underclothes was perhaps her only trouble spot, as she spent most of the time in the aisle blushing and flailing until finally just throwing a few random pack in. (Yes, Nephrite, your underwear are those six-in-a-pack things. Sorry!)

Of course, as payback, she found a few pairs of interestingly designed and questionable colored boxer shorts. (She did not get him a pair of the ones with bunnies, though! That may or may not have been added to a mental list of Things To Get Mamo-chan Someday.)

She's humming when she enters Jadeite's. Arms full of reusable bags, most with clothes, some with food, and that other thing she bought a while back in Paris. Some of the food and many smoochies are delivered to the cutest sweetest awesomest boy ever, and after a moment of talking to him she delivers another bag of food to Zoisite's.

Her head pokes into the first palace she went to and sets a bag down. "Zoi-kun~! I brought food~! I have to go deliver things to Nephrite, I'll talk to you later!"

And last but not least!

She opens the door to Nephrite's, and if there was a ceiling, she'd need to be peeled from it! "Goodness, you scared the bajeebers out of me!!"

It's not you, Nephrite, honest! Usagi's very easy to scare!

But then she's grinning. "I brought you food! And clothes! Mamo-chan said you were wanting some, so I got them for you! I hope you like them! And thank you for the measurements! I would have been very confused without them. Boy clothes are sized so weird!"

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite pauses like a cat caught mid-pounce. The palace let her in. She is obviously friendly. She passed through Jadeite's place. She's got food. And yet he has no idea who on earth this girl is.

"Ummmmm?" He stands awkwardly, hand on one of the railings that line the platform. "Thhhhank you?"

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
She blinks at him in confusion, and in a rare moment the tornado that is Usagi stills. "Didn't you ask Mamo-chan for stuff?"

She blinks some more and stares down at the bags, and catches her very much not senshi clothes. Oh. Oh!

Usagi looks up and trundles toward him, grinning wide. "Sorry! I'm Usagi! I'm sorry the cleansing hurt, I wish it didn't! Do you feel better now?"

Ug, forget this noise. She shifts into Sailor Moon, because there's more strength in Senshi Noodly Arms than there is Usagi Noodly Arms! "Oh! I'm also me! Hi!"

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite's blink matches hers. And then it all finally clicks. "Oh! You're Usagi!"

Now that the magical block is down, it makes absolute sense. He even heard someone refer to her as Usagi once. Of course it's her. Could not be anybody but her. His confusion is replaced by a grin, incredulous but once again excited. "Yes! Hi! Please don't apologize. You helped me. I'm loads better now."

He looks down at the not insubstantial amount of bags. "Thank you for bringing me stuff! It's great of you to offer. Do you want to come sit with me for a while? If you don't need to run off again? Either way, you should dump those bags right now and let me carry them. You've hauled them so far already."

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Her own grin only broadens as he talks. "I know! But I still don't like that it hurts people. But I'm glad you're better!"

And he's inviting her in! Without her asking! Very much yay! "Of course! I was actually gonna try to weasel my way into a visit, anyway!" She fidgets a bit as she starts to hand bags over. "Wait no, not this one, gotta get up the nerve to give this to you!" When he has all but one of the bags, she continues where she left off. "And if that failed, I was gonna just say what I was gonna say and leave, which is..."

Usagi tilts her head back and hums a bit. "I'm very glad you're back, I know Mamo-chan missed you all very, very much, and he loves you all, so I love you all. Very much. And oh! It's okay if you don't love me back." She nods.

Now that she's not laden down with bags, she's back to Usagi. Her coat and three sweaters are in the abandoned house, tucked securely in the broken fridge. She did not, however, take off the two pink slouchy beanies on her odangoes. Whether it's a fashion statement or she just forgot she was wearing them is anyone's guess. (Hint: She forgot she was wearing them.)

"How's Mr. Thunderbird? Can I give him a hug sometime? What have you been doing? Do you want me to bring you any books? Is there anything you've missed while you were gone that you wanna know about? If I don't know it, I can look it up for you!"

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite takes the armload of bags, his smile growing bigger as she speaks. Usagi is quite a change from Mamoru and Zoisite. "Well we love him too. And I don't know you that well yet, but I hear an awful lot about what you mean to Mamoru and what you do for him. And you healed Zoisite and Jadeite and me. So I look forward to totally loving you back once we've had some bonding time."

He leads the way down the rope bridge. It's a good thing he took her bags, in case she is uncertain on the swinging planks. "Well, the Thunderbird isn't really the hugging sort. I'm not sure even touching him is wise. I've been watching the stars, mostly."

At the question about whether there is anything he wants to know, Nephrite pauses in the middle of the bridge and turns back. "Yeah, actually, I have a really important question. Who made it to the top ten on American Idol? Is Olivia there? Please tell me she made it."

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"I'm so glad you do! Mamo-chan deserves all the love. He's very loving and cuddly!" Usagi blushes and gives a happy little wiggle. "He means a lot to me, too!" To put it mildly! "He's so cute! Even when he gets his thinking eyebrows. Or when he gets all exasperated and sighs and goes 'Usako.'" And yes, she totally mimics his sigh and tries to lower her voice to his level. It...fails beautifully. "And even when we didn't get along, he never makes me feel stupid, even when I beaned him with my test! He just told me to study harder. And he tries to show me ways that I'll understand. It's how I learned about pi! I still remember it, too! And I know there are things I can't help him with right now, because he's such a guy, but can you be there for him, since I can't for that?"

She really hopes she's not asking too much!

She pouts. No hugging the Thunderbird? "But he's so sweet!" Although she wonders, for a moment, if Nephrite thinks she's talking about Jupiter. Which is totally silly! Mako-chan is in her top five list of best huggers ever! "Will he get cranky if I try? Or will it just be a...heh...shocking encounter?"

Heeheehee, she's so funny!

She gasps in delight. "Oh, good! You do still like the stars! I don't know why I was worried. Jadeite still likes sculpting." She peeks in her bag and considers the old wooden box. Hmmm. Nope, not yet! But there is something that she's been wondering about since she had the dream. "Did I ever show you the stars on the moon? I remember wanting to! And I remember wanting to bring some of the moon...shine or whatever for you to try. Did I?"

When he stops and asks that question, she blinks at him for a moment. "The pretty blonde, right? Rox? Yep! Sorry, usually Mama watches that, so I haven't since...awhile, but she tells me! I think the lady with a car name did, too. I can't remember who else, though! But before I go, I'll look it up on my phone and tell you."

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite nods seriously at the news about his favorite contestant. "Good. At least there's some justice left in the world."

He resumes leading her down to the ground, snickering to himself. "Mamo-chan, eh? I'll have to remember that one. Yes, hugging the Thunderbird might be an electrifying experience. And he is pretty cranky. He doesn't at all share my captivating personality."

Nephrite is thoughtful as they make it down onto the forest floor. The sun is high overhead, filtered through autumn leaves. The ground is thick with ferns and other foliage. "I remember the stars on the moon. Almost invisible when you could see the sun, but in the shade... there were so many, it was like looking at a cloud of stardust. And--wait, moonshine? Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?"

He sets the bags against a tree and turns to face her. "Because if you are, then I really hope I remember that one soon. What would moonshine from the moon taste like, anyway?"

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi nods. "I prefer 'The Voice,' though. The judges are a lot less mean! And when they don't turn their chair, they have nice things to say!"

She gasps! Shaking one of his laden down arms, she almost whines even as she's grinning. She's only sort of serious! "Noooo, that's my name for him! I'll pout at you if you call him that!"

But then she really does pout. "Aww. But do you think if I ask him first, he'll let me try? I give good hugs." She nods at this! Her greatest skills include hugs and cuddling both. The she gives him a sly look out of the corner of her eyes. "I'm already captivated by another, sorry."

She stares around in awe at the forest floor. So pretty! "Wow. Hey, are there other animals here, or just Mr. Thunderbird? If he's alone in a place like this, it could be why he's grumpy! Hey, do you think Jadeite's place would make a nice place for cats? Mamo-chan loves cats. But, no, what if they don't get along?" She waves a hand. "Nevermind."

It takes her a moment more to look around before focusing her attention back on Nephrite. "Oh, good! I'm glad you got to see them from the moon! When we went a few weeks ago, they were really pretty!"

She leans against the tree as he sets down the backs, smelling the earthy scent of foliage and moss around her. "I don't know if that's what it's called, but I think it was very strong. From what I gather, people on the Moon had a higher tolerance. Serenity was sure she could drink you under the table!" A blush and a fluster. "Er, me. I mean I was sure. Heh. Not sure if she could now, but if my increase from two spiked punch glasses as Usagi to two spiked punch bowls as Sailor Moon is a clue." She shrugs!

And suddenly, Usagi isn't leaning against the tree anymore. Her hands wring nervously around the bag's handles as she looks at it for a moment. "I, um. Back in January when we went to Paris? I got something for you. It was in the same store I bought Jadeite something! But it's okay if you don't want it! Or if you do, if you don't like it! You probably don't even need it, but it's pretty and made me think of you!"

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite cackles at her protests. "Alright, alright. I will not call him Mamo-chan. That privilege is for you alone." He says nothing of trolling Mamoru with it, however.

"Look, if anybody can convince the grouchy god-bird to receive a hug, it will probably be you. But keep in mind that giant predatory birds just love to hunt rabbits."

He muses her animal question over, looking around at the trees. "I haven't seen any other animals, but I guess it depends on what this place is, you know? Is it a sort of sub-dimension branching off from a real place, or is it its own pocket dimension with firm borders? If animals could get in, I guess I'd wonder what else could sneak in here. Still, I would love to see you introduce cats to Jadeite's palace. They could use the rock garden as a litter box."

The idea of her drinking him under a table has him grinning again. "Tell you what. I will be happy to stage a drinking competition to see if you've still got it."

He raises his eyebrows at the bag. "You got me something? All the way back in January? But that was before..." he waves an arm expansively, "you know."

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi preens her victory! "Darn skippy it is!" And, were she privy to such trolling, at the very least she would inwardly be twirling her invisible handlebar mustache. She may protest on the outside, but really, she grew up with a younger brat. Mamoru has years of it to make up for!

Then she preens again. But gasp! "He wouldn't! Would you hunt a rabbit who made this face at you?" Her eyes grow impossibly large inside of her eyebrows rise high, and through years of practice on Papa, she affects just the right amount of lip wobble. "I've gotten my Papa to not ground me with this face when he was cranky. I think it may stop a hunting birdy."

As he wonders about exactly what this place is, she listens for sounds beyond. Currently, all she can hear is the rustling of the wind through the leaves. "I think animals are different though, aren't they? They're not good or bad, they're just...animals. So if they can get in, that has to be taken into consideration, too! ...am I right?" Curiosity!

For a moment, she perks at the idea of inviting a bunch of homeless kitties into Jadeite's palace! Then her shoulders slump. "But if I did that, I'd hafta make sure they all have food, and I can't bring mice for them, because I know why I'd be bringing the mice, and that would just make me too sad! I'd cry at every feeding time! Woe." Oh the dilemma!

Then she perks again! "Oh, yay!" Happy hand claps! And her grin turns smug and sly! "And if I'm too much to handle as Serenity, I could always start as Moon. You know. Even the playing field a bit." Oh hoh! Such bravado! And on top of that, she pats his shoulder and shakes her head a bit! (This, of course, is done with the belief she has no hope of winning!)

Usagi's shy as she holds the bag up for him to take. She shrugs lightly with one shoulder, scuffing her shoe in some fallen leaves. "Well, yeah, but it was after we knew you all were really ours. Heck, I got something for Mamo-chan, and this was around the time I threw a punch bowl at his head!" Wait that sounds bad! "Er, it wasn't him! It was the scary red eyes! Hmph. Tried to make a deal for the crystal. Like I can be bribed by evil! The nerve!"

Hmph, hmph, hmph!!

But yes. In the same shop of older items she found old sculpting tools for Jadeite, she also found an old sextant in a nice if not aged wooden box for Nephrite.

Now, technically they're antiques, in age and quality both. But to Usagi, antiques usually cost lots!

And suddenly, she's more nervous than anything. "Okay, you probably don't need it, or won't like it much, and I know its usually used by sailors, or was, but I just thought it might be something you'd...like?"

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite scrutinizes her innocent face for a moment. "Hmm. Yes, I think you have a point. No predator could possibly eat somebody with a look like that."

He grins at her challenge. "Oh, it is on. If you want to bring your princess A game, you'd better do it. I'll even let you pick the alcohol."

Upon seeing the sextant, Nephrite pauses. He carefully handles the box as he accepts it from her, peering down at the aged device. "This is... wow. This is so cool!" He smiles earnestly at her. "This made you think of me?" Something about navigation, about boating, prods at old memories. Happy memories, childhood memories. "This is amazing! Thank you, Usagi!" And then he preempts any plans that Usagi had for hugging him, by getting to it first. He sweeps her up into a huge bear hug that fully envelopes her.

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi gives Nephrite a very smug look. She knows she's adorable! (Well, on her good days she knows this!) "Seeee? And if he does hunt me, it will be for hugs!"

She makes a show of puffing out her chest and flexing her arms. "Then it's a challenge!" Oh. But wait. She deflates a little in confusion. "I don't know what's good. I've only had spiked punch. What's tasty that won't burn out my nose hairs?"

She beams at his reaction to the sextant, joy and relief brimming all the way to her odangoes. She opens her mouth, only to squeal when she's hugged! And hugged first! Which is even better!

She idly swings her feet as she hugs him back, happily humming against his shoulder. "I'm glad you like it! And you're welcome!" She pulled back so she could look at him, feet still adangle. "I had to look it up to make sure it was what I thought it was, and I thought 'Hey! Nephrite would probably like this!' And if you ever get lost, you can find yourself again!"

And then! A Very Serious Question. "Is there a bunny constellation?"

'Nephrite has posed:
If he ever gets lost. Nephrite's smile wavers a moment, the reality of that statement resonating. He will always have a way to find himself again. "Thank you, Usagi. It really... it means a lot."

The sudden topic switch throws him off. But Nephrite does not laugh at Usagi's Very Serious Question. After all, it is related to one of his favorite subjects. "There is, in fact. It's called Lepus. Here, let me show you." He turns to look up into a break in the trees, where the sky is visible. There, the bright clear blue suddenly darkens into night, and the stars begin to shine. They shift, rotating as though the two of them are standing on the inside of a starry globe. When the sky pauses in place, three bright stars are lined up neatly in a row. "That's Orion's Belt. It's one of the easiest things to find in the sky, so you can always find Lepus if you know where that is."

The stars move upwards, like Orion is ascending, and Nephrite points to a cluster of stars below his feet. "There. See it? Those are the two ears, sticking up. There aren't a lot of stories about Lepus. I think people just all agree that it looks like a rabbit."

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi notices the small waver and pats his shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. If you do get lost, you have nine other people who will look for you this time." She considers that for a moment. "Well, almost nine. I'd probably have to find a way to convince Venus."

She watches with awe as the sky darkens and the stars shine. Then she clutches Nephrite's arm as everything but the earth spins, feeling like she's suddenly on a rollercoaster. "Whew! What a ride!" She pants for a moment as she regains her equilibrium.

She perks up as he points out Orion and shakes his arm. "Hey, I know that one! I always see him dancing around!"

Then she shakes his arm in excitement! "I see them! Eeeee!" This time she hugs his arm tightly! "Thank you! I'll be able to find him real easily! Look! He's dancing with Orion!"

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite laughs. He decides to refrain from telling her that some think Orion is hunting the rabbit. "I suppose they do look like they're dancing. Must be a good time." He smiles down at her and her twin odango hats. "I can see why you and Endy are so good together. I'm glad you've got things figured out in this life. How about instead of a drink-off we start with a taste test? We'll make them little samples so your boyfriend can't complain about what a terrible influence I am on you."

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's probably wise not to tell her. They'd likely end up in a debate on whether its hunting or dancing. "The very best!"

Her cheeks warm happily at his comment and she beams up at him. "Not everything, but it should be a bit easier to do so this time around, right?"

She taps her chin in thought. "Well, I do like tasting new things. Would there be lots of different kinds?" She nudges him with her elbow. "Who knows. He may be afraid I'm a bad influence on you!"

'Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite grins. "Lots and lots of different kinds. We'll have a smorgasbord of liquor." This is surely not the worst idea he's ever had. He couldn't possibly get in trouble for encouraging underage drinking if he's there as a chaperon, right? Besides, she'll almost certainly avoid the more burny alcohols. Probably.

He lays a hand on her head, between the odangos. One step away from ruffling her hair, except her hair is tied up and that would not work. "Yes, you are the worst kind of influence. I can tell that you're an absolute ruffian. You brought me supplies and a present, too. The worst."

He shifts the sky back to daylight, just after dawn, when the sky is all pink and gold. "Speaking of supplies. Thank you again for picking up some clothes for me. I have so much need to rid myself of this outfit." He gestures down at the thoroughly worn-in red suit trousers and formerly white shirt that he is still wearing. "I hope it wasn't too much trouble. As soon as I'm out of here, I promise to repay you."

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
If her twintails were ears, they'd perk up. "I do like smorgasbords!" If Nephrite were to include both lifetime, this probably only ranks at the bottom of the top ten of Worst Ideas Ever. Especially if one of the samples is a sweet wine like moscato. (This, of course, totally negates any and all ideas he had while on a job for the Dark Kingdom. After all, it's not his fault his former boss was a downright bitch!) For Usagi, as far as Worst Ideas Ever, this at least makes the top one-hundred charts. "Do cookies cleanse the palate? Or would we have to have something boring like crackers made out of grass or something?"

Usagi leans into the hand and almost purrs, very much against her so obvious devious nature! "I am a verticle juvenile delinquent." She blinks. "Varying? Something."

Then she braces herself, just in case the sky cases vertigo again. When it doesn't, she lowers her foot and blinks. Oh! That wasn't so bad!

Then she's perking up and beaming. With all the nerves of the present and then the stars, she almost forgot! "It wasn't! I like shopping! And I got my revenge on having to go down the aisle with..." her cheeks warm as she whispers loudly. "Boy unmentionables." Then her voice is back to normal. And she shaking his arm, happy and giddy. "I brought you some of my shampoo and conditioner, too! It's the kind I brought Zoi-kun. But it makes my hair soft, see?" She puts a twintail in his other hand so he can feel how soft and silky her hair is! (Of course, she's not thinking how awkward it would be for anyone that they will be walking around Mamoru with her hair scent wafting all about...)

She shakes his arm again, happy and excited and eager. "But look at what I got you, Nephi-kun! Looklooklook!"

'Nephrite has posed:
"Cookies with alcohol sounds like a terrible idea and we should do it," Nephrite answers, guaranteeing that someone, probably Mamoru, will soon come to regret that these two ever met. Perhaps Usagi is just as bad an influence on him as he is on her, after all.

He digs through the bags, noting with approval that she picked out some basic but fashionably pleasing outfits. It's a bold departure from $6,000 suits, to be sure, but at this point his list of criteria basically amounts to "covers backside" and "not funky."

"Revenge? What do you--ohhhhh." He holds up a few pairs of boxers. The one with the rubber ducky pattern is particularly eyecatching. "Hmm, that's a lot of pink. How did you know it was my favorite color?"

He stuffs them back into the bag at Usagi's exclamation. "What did you get me? What what what?"

'Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi smiles again, pleased and humming her evil victory! "Yay! No grass crackers!" And then, proving her earlier proclamation to deviousness, she gives him a sly, evil little plotter's grin. "Mako-chan makes the tastiest cookies ever, you know." She tries to look innocent! But she fails! At least she doesn't 'huehuehue!!!' as she so desperately wants to!

Then she remembers something! And has Earnest Serious Face! "Thank you so much, speaking of, for looking after her in Walthingadoosnot." A shy twist of her toe. "I was focused on him, you know? Because he was not!him but him, and--" Then she is rambling! "Okay, I know you weren't you you, but I think part of you was still you, and if I'm wrong I'm sorry! But whenever I got worried I'd look over, you know, and see you and Kunzite looking after Jupiter and Venus, and I know its really stupid and selfish, but I was happy because not only were you guys working together I could also focus a lot on him and I'm gonna stop talking now!"

Instead, she takes comfort in watching him go through bags. And she has a devious grin at the duckies and the polka dots. "I didn't. Muahaha. Good taste?"

And then he's asking what else, and she's shaking his arm again. "Shoes! And socks! They're crazy socks, because even if you're looking all dapper you hafta have a bit of crazy! And the shoes look all stuffy and pinchy, but they really have those new insole things that are like cloud walking! So they should be super duper comfy! I have some like that, but they're for giiiiiirls!"

'Nephrite has posed:
"I am very willing to believe that," he says, imagining how amazing Makoto's cookies must be. "She made me chocolates once. They were, well, transforming."

It is still strange, thinking of Walpurgis after the change he has undergone. On one hand, it was his first time fighting alongside the good guys, albeit as part of a shaky truce. On the other, all of his memories are through the filter of darkness. "Endy ordered me to protect her." Credit where credit is due--Mamoru endured enough harsh punishment for that call that he should receive all the praise forever. "I'm glad he did. Even though I didn't really know her other than as an adversary, it felt right. And she was the real powerhouse during that fight. It couldn't have happened without her."

Nephrite inspects the rest of the shopping. "Crazy socks, eh? Ooh, dinosaurs!" The socks are possibly even more ridiculous than the boxers. And he absolutely, unashamedly approves. "I can say one thing for your taste: you sure don't go for boring."