View source for 3131/Strats and Tats

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2018/03/27
|Location=Sakura Territory
|Synopsis=Kyouko and Naru discuss the plan to deal with Sailor Earth, tattoos, birthdays, and relationships.
|Cast of Characters=78,127
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Evening at the Sakura abode. Momo is already asleep, and Kyouko has returned from an afternoon-evening shift at the conbenie, which means the place is occupied but relatively quiet. Kyouko sits on the couch in the living area, wearing her comfy PJ pants (the black ones with the apples on them) and a white tanktop, munching on a bowl of pretzels and absently thumbing through the latest volume of whatever trashy shoujo manga she is currently devouring, probably picked up at work that very afternoon.

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Evening, and Naru's been out somewhere. Quite likely the library, based on the books in her satchel, or possibly over at her mother's based on the paint she didn't quite manage to scrub out of her fingernails. In either case, she's nudging the door open now, to step into that quiet with a deep breath and a slow exhale. Relaxing, even as she lets the door close behind her and kicks off her flats. Her satchel thumps onto the floor next to the couch, and Naru flops casually next to Kyouko, reaching for a pretzel. "Hi."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko glances up a moment before the door opens, her ever-alert senses drawing her attention to someone's approach. She seems to recognize that it is Naru by the way she opens the door, the pattern of movements familiar and welcome, so by the time Naru actually approaches the couch she is relaxed and flipping pages again. When Naru sits beside her, she adjusts her posture to lean against the other girl lightly, continuing to snack on pretzels, eyes lifting from the book to examine Naru for a moment, then look back down to the page. "Hi. Long day?"

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I think my brain is full." Naru replies as she leans into Kyouko, stretching out a bit on the couch. "But my paper is done, save for a final edit for spelling and grammar, and the painting that has been haunting my dreams is starting to spit itself out onto canvas." She reaches for another small handful of pretzels and closes her eyes, lazy for the moment. "How was your day?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Congratulations on the paper." Kyouko says, grinning. "And I think on the painting. I know neither of us particularly likes stuff haunting our dreams." She seems comfortable there as well, in no rush to alter the current situation, popping a pretzel into her mouth and chewing as she flips another page in the manga. At the question about her own day, she shrugs her shoulders, the movement as much felt as seen. "Nothing special. Worked this evening. It was fine." She pauses, then says, "Oh yeah.. Mamoru texted me earlier, so I stopped by his place. He wanted to fill me in on this plan he's working on with Kunzite and Rashmi to try and put an end to this Sailor Earth garbage once and for all."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Well, not literally haunting my dreams.. I don't think. Which is for the best." Naru feels obliged to amend, because of course their lives are such that it could be either.<br /><br />Naru opens an eye at the mention of plans. "Does it involve kicking her in the shins until she falls off the planet?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Eventually, I think." Kyouko says, nodding firmly. "But one of the big problems we've had is not knowing where she scarpers off to when she's not harassing somebody. Makes it hard to plan an assault that's on our terms and not hers. So apparently Rashmi volunteered for a little deception. It has a decent chance of working because Earth doesn't know her and hasn't talked to her. She's going to get into a public argument with Mamoru, and claim to think he's a fake, y'know buying into Earth's whole story. She seems desperate enough that hopefully she'll buy it- she wouldn't from any of us since we've all already rebuffed her in one way or another."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So anyway, Rashmi is going to try and convince Earth that she's on her side, and hopefully find out where she's hiding out. Then after that, we all go in together. I guess during this whole charade there's gonna be two teams- the Senshi are going to keep an eye on Rashmi, while me and the guys watch out for Mamoru and make sure he doesn't get jumped while fake-storming-away from the Rashmi argument. I imagine you'd be welcome to accompany either team, or just observe from a different vantage in case we miss something. I'd feel better with you watching my back while I watch Mamoru's."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Naru reaches for another pretzel as she listens, still lounging on Kyouko casually, but her eyes open for this one. "So Rashmi as a double agent, and then storm the metaphorical castle. Or possibly literal castle." She mmms a moment. "I havne't been out enough to have seen anyone, let alone Earth.. she's desperate? She's yoinked most of Endy's powers, she can't be /that/ desperate."<br /><br />"I'd also rather watch your back, but I'm utterly biased." Naru nods. "Although I'll go wherever makes the most tactical sense."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"She's desperate for validation." Kyouko clarifies. "She's approached pretty much every one of us to make her case for being the 'real' heir of the Earth Kingdom, and been turned down pretty brutally by everybody she's talked to. It's not that she's desperate to win, she's desperate to have somebody believe her, so anybody, even someone she doesn't know like Rashmi, seeming to be on her side should be like sugar to an ant. At least, that's the idea." Kyouko shrugs.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She then grins, nudging against Naru lightly. "It is a pretty back, if I say so myself." She says smugly, but then nods. "Yeah. I dunno where that'd be at this point, but I'm sure things will get clearer when we go to put it into action."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"A very lovely back, even better when its painted. We should do that again sometime." Naru muses absently before coming back to the topic at hand. "Right. She doens't have the internal fortitude to just know that she's right, she needs that external validation, which Rashmi will bite her tongue and provide. It's a good working theory."<br /><br />Naru looks over to the table, to see if Kyouko has a drink she can just steal and then moves to sit up and go fetch her own. "What's the timeframe on putting this into action? Like.. this weekend? Or this month?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah.. I've been thinking I want to get a tattoo or something.." Kyouko muses herself, apparently seriously, before likewise returning to the plan. She nods her head. "Yeah. I mean, we don't know enough about her to be ''sure'' it will work, hence the double body-guard on both Rashmi and Mamoru, but it does seem likely.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko does not seem to have a drink in evidence. She glances over at Naru as the other girl moves to stand up. "Not entirely sure, but based on the way Mamoru was talking, 'soon'. Which could mean either of those things. I imagine someone will let us know before they actually go do it or else Mamoru wouldn't have bothered filling me in."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Of your phoenix?" Naru asks as she pads softly to the kitchen and retrieves juice from the fridge, and a glass to put it in. "Want anything while I'm up?" She asks, because clearly the entwined conversations fit just fine with basic domestic life. At least they do in this household.<br /><br />"I expect you'll be warned at the very least, and probably the expectation is that you'll warn me. Although I suppose I'm on enough communication channels that I might hear about it about at the same time." Naru returns with glass, or glasses as needed. "Soon would be good. I hate watching Endy feel quite so vulnerable."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's ''our'' phoenix." Kyouko corrects, watching Naru from over the top of her book as the fetches a drink. "I might wear it, but you create it." At the offer of something from the kitchen, she says, "Some water would be awesome, thanks."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah, you know everything before I do most of the time." Kyouko says, proudly rather than begrudingly. She nods in agreement to the statement about Mamoru, though. "Yeah. Well, it's certainly easier on the bodyguards when the guardee isn't entirely helpless, at least against magical threats."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"It's hard on the psyche, to feel that helpless." Naru offers Kyouko her water before resettlign on the couch. "I can only imagine how much worse it would be to know that you should be able to be useful and aren't currently. I know how frustrating it was to just feel helpless."<br /><br />Naru quirks a half smile. "Our phoenix." She acknowledges. "Your specifications, my art, your body. It doesn't look nearly the same on paper, it's got so much you involved."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah." Kyouko says, with a mild shrug, taking the water and drinking from it before leaning to place it on the coffee table. "Believe it or not, I've known that feeling in my life. Before I really knew you, I think, but. I know how it is, too. And it wears on us too, being concerned ''for'' him."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I hardly think I can take credit for the specs." She says, laughing, about the phoenix. "I just said 'phoenix', you're the one who designed it. But I am glad that you view me as an intrinsic piece of the art."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Before me." Naru confirms as she leans a little, sipping juice and savouring the closeness. "You've been fully kick ass the entire time I've known you."<br /><br />"You have to be an intristic part of the art." Naru protests lightly. "It requires you to give it life, make it breath, give it movement and existance. Without you? Flat paint. So yes, you are part of the art." She sips from her juice again, washing away the salty dryness of the pretzels before setting her glass down. "Is that what you are thinking of getting tattooed?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though not normally the type, Kyouko can't help but blush just a little at the praise from someone who's opinion she values so highly. She grins, and then says with a mild shrug, "Let's hope you never have to see whiny, pathetic Kyouko then.. maybe you wouldn't like her as much."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I didn't say I wasn't part of the art, just that you came up with the design." She corrects, prodding her girlfriend lightly. "I think it looks better on me than on paper, too." She shrugs. "Maybe? I mean, I want to, but that seems like a big first step. Maybe something smaller first."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I expect I might not like her as much, but I'd love her just as much." Naru comments as she loops an arm out to give her girlfriend a quick hug in the momentary diversion into utter sappy.<br /><br />"Well, whatever you want, I'd be glad to draw. Even if the tattoo artist wants to redo it as their own work, they can have something to work from." Naru offers as she resettles, still close. "And where?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So you say now." Kyouko responds, sticking her tongue out, but seems happy enough to accept the reassurance in hug-form, returning the half-embrace before settling into a comfortable lean again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Kyouko says, making a bit of a face. "You know how I am with words. I don't really trust myself to describe what I want and then have it turn out anything like I see it in my head. At least by now you know how to interpret me."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shrugs slightly at the question. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe something on my arm? That seems like a good place for a first tattoo. Easy to cover up."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I speak moderately fluent Kyouko." Naru grins, lightly teasing. "Even the much more challenging 'very early morning' dialect, although that contains very limited number of phrases. Mostly 'turn off the light' and 'go away'."<br /><br />"Depends, I suppose, on how easily you want to be able to show it to people." Naru muses. "Because there's plenty of you that is easy to hide a tattoo, but is rather more challenging to show to say.. the guys upstairs without a lot of blushing."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko scoffs faintly. "Turn off the light, maybe. But I'd never tell you to 'go away'. You need to work on your translations a bit more, it seems." She grins, teasing back without malice.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko rolls her eyes. "I'm not going to get like a tramp stamp or something." She says. "I wear tanktops and stuff enough that I think anything on an arm would be pretty easy to show off, yet also easy to cover up if I need to. I mean, my Shitennou uniform is long-sleeved, so I won't ruin the motif, or whatever."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You'd better not get a tramp stamp, cause it would mess with the phoenix." Naru points out pramatically. "But I fully expect something on a hip would also make the boys blush. And you blush trying to show them." She does nod at the mention of showing or hiding an arm tattoo. "That would work well, it's true." She mmms. "Can also start with painting whatever you want, and see if you like it. Like the phoenix, on a smaller scale."<br /><br />Naru smirks a little. "I'm pretty sure that rumbly little grunt sound translates pretty well as 'go away' when I'm up to go running and you're trying to pretend like you're sleeping through me leaving."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Me, maybe. Possibly Mamoru. I think you are giving Nephrite and Zoisite far too much credit. And I'm not sure Kunzite is capable of blushing." Kyouko says, snorting. "But still, point taken. I'm not really all that into the idea of a tattoo that most people will never see, anyway. Kinda defeats the point, I think."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nods her head to the idea of painting first, before making it permenant. "Also probably a good idea." She then smirks. "I think it's more like "Come back to bed, you maniac". But I can see how you'd make that mistake."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Kunzite blushes. It just doesn't turn red, but it's there, in his own special Kunzite way." Naru grins. "Zoi.. fair point. Neph? I think Neph'd blush. Endy absolutely would blush, Jadeite I'm pretty sure is also in the blush category."<br /><br />Naru considers and then shakes her head. "Naw. I can totally see getting a tattoo that no one but a very select few would see. That makes perfect sense to my mind." She snickers softly and leans in to kiss Kyouko's cheek with a grin. "Be grateful I make time for the run, I don't expect you'd like the non-running Naru much."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Mamoru has seen his fair share of girl-hips, at least to hear Usagi tell it." Kyouko smirks. "You might be underestimating him. But maybe. Anyway, I don't intend to find out so it's a moot point."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's because you, my love, have an unhealthy fascination with secrets." Kyouko says, but not in a judgemental way, more just stating a fact that she has come to accept. She also accepts the cheek kiss. "I suppose that's true. And you put up with all my crap so it's really only fair."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I wouldn't call it a fascination." Naru protests lightly. "I just can appreciate that not everything requires a public audience. Some things are better with a select set of permissions, and I can utterly relate to the idea of a tattoo being personal enough not to be somewhere easily shown to others."<br /><br />"Y'know, your crap is pretty damn easy to put up with." Naru points out. "It feels pretty nice to put up with you."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Meanwhile," Kyouko says, "I revel in the attention." She winks. "But you should know that about me by now."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she rolls her eyes again. "Only you would say that, knowing the sort of crap I can put out." She says, but hugs her arm around her girlfriend again and squeezes. "But I'm not going to complain about it, since I'm pretty sure putting up with each other's crap is pretty much requirement number one for a successful relationship."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"All the attention on you? Suits me just fine." Naru grins at Kyouko and then reaches for her juice again, leaning into that hug.<br /><br />"I'm pretty sure it's a big requirement. Not finding it unduly onerous.. also super helpful in a successful relationship." She hunhs softly. "And we've been together long enough that we're starting to be the good example of relationships. Which is kinda bizarre to think about."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko rolls her eyes slightly. "I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call us a good ''example'', other than the fact that we're somehow still together after a year and a half. But I'd hate to see someone else try to use our methods to make their own relationship work, I feel like we're kind of.. unique. Whiich I guess is true of everyone, but."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She lightly taps her fingers on Naru's leg, thinking. "My birthday is soon. But it's just seventeen. I feel like that's not nearly as exciting as sixteen or eighteen."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"We're unique.. just like everyone else." Naru quips in reply with a soft laugh. "It's true.. what works for us wouldnt for others, I suppose. Other than not being a jerk to one's partner. That kinda works for everyone, I should hope."<br /><br />"I kinda felt that too, about seventeen." Naru wrinkles up her nose. "It just sort of /is/. Sixteen feels like a step, and eighteen absolutely is, and seventeen is mostly just not quite anything." She mmms softly. "Still, we should do something."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And yet we still manage to screw that up from time to time." Kyouko says, elbowing Naru in the ribs playfully. "It's the recovery that's equally important."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nods her head. "Other than the feeling of "I can't believe I lived through another year" that I've had every birthday for the last couple, it doesn't feel particularly significant. But.. I guess I'd be happy if we did something. Even if it's just a little something."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Usually cause I'm being dumb about secrets." Naru squirms away from the poke in her ribs with a soft laugh. "Amazing how this all seems to be interconnected."<br /><br />"I feel like we should do something with the boys. Maybe invade them with cake? Or would you like to go out somewhere?"

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I feel like we've both had our equal shares of dumb.. but then again, I suppose that's ''also'' true of pretty much everybody." Kyouko says, shaking her head. "But you're right.. it somehow seems like relationships are complicated. Fancy that."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouko grins. "Invading the boys with cake is a fairly everyday occurance. Well, maybe not every day, but weekly, certainly. It'd be fun to go out somewhere as a group. We should invite Mako-chan and Usagi, too." Them being the only two of the Senshi Kyouko considers friends, as opposed to colleagues/acquiantances. "I mean, I imagine they would just come as Nephrite and Mamoru's dates, respectively, but that's also fine."

:'''{{#var:127|Naru Osaka| (127)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"We could make the invite easy and just declare it to be a senshi and shitennou and Naru outing." Naru points out. "Whoever of that crew that can make it, awesome. I dont expect we'll have the full crew invade anywhere, we'd probably get ourselves kicked out if with did."

:'''{{#var:78|Kyouko Sakura| (78)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I suppose." Kyouko says. "It's probably mean to invite Usagi and Mako-chan but not the other Senshi even though I'm not really close friends with them." She shrugs her shoulders. "Luckily there's enough Kyouko-bration to go around." And she reaches for some more pretzels.
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