2078/Insufficient Number of Punches

Insufficient Number of Punches
Date of Scene:	29 October 2016
Location:	Uminari City - Seishou Public School
Synopsis:	Kazuo checks in with Makoto about Sailor Earth and the resulting rumors. Mako catches him up on Ail, too.
Cast of Characters:	Kunzite, Makoto Kino

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Kunzite has posed:
It's a pleasant afternon for this late in the year -- about seventeen degrees, or the low sixties for those who haven't adopted a more reasonable temperature scale, sunny and dry. The wind threatens stray papers, but not so hard as to make it actually annoying to anyone with the sense to put those papers away. And leaning against a low stone wall opposite the school's entrance is a tall figure waiting for someone to come out.

Usually, that place is taken by Mamoru waiting for Usagi. This time, well. That white hair's largely grown back by this time. Which means that the wind makes it pretty near a banner.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Oftentimes Makoto will linger at school to wait for Usagi on the days when Usagi has detention, or at least to chat with Mamoru until detention lets out. Lately, though, it's seemed better not to stick around school grounds more than she needs to. She feels a little guilty about it, even though it's hardly likely that Usagi's holding anything against her.

Her strides are long and brisk as she heads out from the entrance, until the flash of that long white hair blowing in the wind catches her eye. Her steps slow then, for a moment, before Makoto changes her path to come meet him. "Hey. Standing in for Mamoru-niisan today?"

Kunzite has posed:
Kazuo inclines his head to Makoto as she approaches; he leaves himself angled as if to keep watching for someone else, but his attention follows her. "I wouldn't dare," he says, typically solemn. "Whether Usagi-chan met the attempt with hugs or with tears, I doubt I'd survive her reaction."

There's a moment's pause as he studies her a little more plainly at that closer range. When he asks, "How are you holding up?", his eyes dart for a moment toward the school.

Makoto Kino has posed:
The fond smile that talking about Usagi brought to Makoto's face fades a little as she follows Kunzite's glance toward the school, turns into a wry little twist of her mouth. Her shoulders lift, a quiet breath chuffing out of her as they drop. "I'd feel better if he'd let me hit that chick at least once."

Almost as soon as the words are out of her mouth, she's shaking her head. "I'm all right," she amends, "really. It's not like it's anything I haven't heard before. People will forget sooner or later." A little wave of her hand, and she's turning a look of faint concern up toward him. "What about you guys? Neph seemed kind of stressed the last time I stopped by."

Kunzite has posed:
"It seems likely that you'll get that once, with interest." Kazuo doesn't venture comment on precisely how or why she might - that part's not his to speculate on where the senshi are concerned. There's no overt commentary on the collective memory of gossip circles, either, though something in the way he looks back to her suggests that he might have shared experience on the subject, if not actual sympathy...

Then Makoto asks the other question, and one corner of his mouth pulls down. "We've been on edge for a little while," he says. "Now at least we have a sense of why. Granted, one that left Mamoru fretting, Izumi sour for days, and me off the active list for half a week from an unfortunate reaction to her energy. Not the most auspicious start. You're not the only one who's looking forward to your getting to land a punch."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Hey, he and Usagi-chan could talk her down without any more fighting," Makoto points out. "It could happen." A beat, and then another wry half-smile. "I mean, it hasn't so far, but with those two..."

She crosses her arms behind her head, letting her school bag rest against her shoulder blades. "Still no idea what's really up with her yet, huh? And now there's that guy who looks like Fiore, because we needed more to deal with--" Mako catches herself there, eyes darting back towards Kunzite. "Did you hear about that one yet? Ami-chan's pretty sure there's no xenians this time, at least."

Kunzite has posed:
"Several theories. No more information than we had already, except that -- mn." Eyes flicker around, but nobody's come close enough to overhear, just as before. "Mercury knows this, I suspect, but it may not have occurred to her to mention it yet. The energy she's using is innately unstable, difficult to channel or control, and slightly tainted. If she weren't half-mad to begin with, I still wouldn't be surprised that she is by now."

The catch-and-requestion receives another bow all of its very own. "We're lending a hand keeping an eye on Naru's mother while she recovers. The gem connection worries me, given what other parties have been up to lately. Eclipse. Madison Perry. It may of course be coincidence."

Makoto Kino has posed:
There is a very expressive eyeroll from Makoto at this information. "...of course," she says heavily. "I shouldn't even be surprised. She thinks it's okay to go around mugging people for their energy, why wouldn't she use crazy-making power?" She cuts a sidelong look towards Kunzite as she unfolds her arms and brings her bag back down to her side. "Rhetorical question, don't answer that."

A quiet moment or two passes while Mako contemplates what he's said. "I didn't see everything that happened," she muses, "but it didn't seem like that guy or his monster were interested in the gems at all. They both seemed pretty focused on energy. What's his face was talking like a survival thing." As she thinks back, she pulls a face. "Of course, he also said stuff about being royalty of the galaxy and the planet being his birthright, so, y'know."

Kunzite has posed:
Kazuo half-spreads his hands; he's hardly in a position to say anything about either mugging people for their energy or about crazy-making power. (Never mind that he did, rather sharply, to Earth's face. That one was warranted.)

"We'll see," he says instead. "Naru's going to keep an eye on the inventory." There's a lingering moment of consideration before he adds, dry, "If we're keeping a second prince on the balcony, it's news to me."