2139/Bento

Bento
Date of Scene:	16 November 2016
Location:	Makoto's Apartment
Synopsis:	Ami goes to tell Makoto she's going to South America. It goes about like Ami expected.
Cast of Characters:	Ami Mizuno, Makoto Kino

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Ami Mizuno has posed:
It is late on a school night; nearing midnight, even. Why, then, is there a knock at Makoto's door? Beyond the door, Ami is leaning up against the doorframe, dressed for the chillier weather in a pair of tights and a cute sweater-dress. She looks not tired, but harried nonetheless, while she waits for Makoto to answer the door. When it swings open, Ami's expression lights up just a little, before dimming to something more akin to worry. "Mako-chan," she greets. "Can I come in? I need to tell you something."

Makoto Kino has posed:
The lights were still on before Ami knocked, so at least Makoto hadn't already gone to bed despite the late hour. The door opens fairly quickly, and there is Mako, in her pajamas and looking kind of surprised to see Ami there.

The surprise quickly turns into concern as she takes in the look on Ami's face. "Sure," Makoto says, stepping back from the door to let Ami into the apartment. "What's the matter? Did something happen?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami wiggles her hand in the universal sign for 'kinda'. "Not yet," she says as she comes inside. "But I wanted to let you know something is going to happen, before it happens, so that at least if you're going to kill me for it you can get it over with." She sighs and gives Makoto a very brief hug--wanted or not--then steps past her into the apartment. "Takashi showed up after school today while Naru and I were walking out to meet Kunzite."

Makoto Kino has posed:
The hug is welcomed and returned without hesitation, despite the distraction that comes from Ami's ominous statements. Mostly Makoto just looks confused and increasingly worried... until Ami mentions Takashi. Then her expression hardens, green eyes turning opaque.

"Oh," she says as she closes the front door, before she turns to face her friend again. A sinle, flat syllable. "What'd he do?"

She doesn't actually ask if she needs to go punch him, but it's rather implied in her tone.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Nothing!" Ami is quick to reassure. "Except explain about a trip he's planning to take to South America." She sighs and leans on the edge of the couch, then looks up to Makoto. "I'm going with him," she explains. "And before you say it, I have already spent hours dwelling on the several hundred reasons why this is a terrifically bad idea. That's why I'm here," she says, then offers Makoto a small little handheld device. "This will be monitoring my vital signs. I'm intending to call every evening, Tokyo time. The monitor is also being monitored in the command center."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Blink. Bliiiiiink. Makoto is silent as she accepts the device from Ami and gives it a cursory downward glance; she's clearly still processing the information she's just been given. It takes her a few long moments to come up with a response.

"...Ami-chan," she says at last, speaking slowly and clearly trying to choose her words with care. "Why are you going to South America?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami takes a slow, steadying breath before settling in to explain, "His mother's lab was there. Or one of them was anyways." She shakes her head, just a little, in uncertainty, then continues: "Takashi thinks his mother gifted him this dark energy; that it was her dream for him to wield it in some great campaign for greatness. I think ... the truth of the matter is far more complicated than that.

"She worked for Eclipse," Ami says, "but so do a lot of people who have no idea what Eclipse is or stands for. His father's a complete ass, but I don't think his mother was. The lab is sinking--literally sinking. Supposedly there's some risidual trouble that caused them to abandon the lab in the first place. But if we can find even some of his mother's notes ... I'm worried he's either not going to know how to handle the truth about her, or that there's a trap set to send him even further into the darkness, or that Eclipse will utilize his vulnerability at finding out she isn't what he thinks to do that ..." she trails off, then looks to Makoto worriedly. "I'm terrified of this trip, Mako-chan. But I'm worried even more of what will happen if he goes there without someone who cares for him."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto listens, very still: no fidgeting or fussing. Just the slowly-deepening frown growing on her face as Ami explains.

Ami knew from the start that Mako wasn't going to like this, of course.

Eventually, after Ami is done, Makoto lifts a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose like she's trying to hold off the beginnings of a headache, and she lets out a quiet breath. "Who else is going?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
This is the part where Ami merely spreads her hands. "That's why I'm leaving a lot of contingencies in place so you can keep track of me."

Makoto Kino has posed:
If Makoto's hand wasn't already on her face, she would facepalm.

As it is, she lets out a deeply-felt inarticulate sound of disgust. "Oh my God, Ami-chan."

A deep breath, before she lets her hand drop and looks at her friend again, still frowning. "When are you guys supposed to leave?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
A grimace shows that even Ami knows this answer is only going to piss off Makoto more. "Sixteen hours," she says quietly. "I just need to talk to my professors about letting Naru transmit the homework and tests to me, like when I was sick."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Oh, for--" Makoto's voice breaks off in a sound of exasperation. "He couldn't give you a little more warning? Of all the self-centered..." Now abruptly she's moving, still grumbling to herself as she strides off across the room to the kitchenette and begins rattling around throwing open cabinets and pulling out plastic containers.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"He didn't have more warning," Ami replies, following Makoto towards--but not into--the kitchen. "He found out less than twenty-four hours ago. And if the lab weren't literally sinking into the ground and rapidly becoming unstable, he would have given me all the time I needed. The fact that he's even waiting twenty-four hours for me is a big deal; he wanted to leave immediately."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Yeah, well." Makoto is clearly not interested in considering whatever valid reasons Takashi might or might not have had for the short notice. It is probably for the best that Ami doesn't come all the way into the kitchen area; Mako moves briskly back and forth with the kind of purpose that says anybody unlucky enough to get in her way would be at risk of being run over, quickly and efficiently raiding the ever-present cookie jar and the rest of the on-hand snacks she happens to have made up and packing the goodies into a travel box.

On the bright side, Chibiusa staying over means that she's got a fair assortment on hand.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Yeah," Ami says, echoing Makoto, "Well ... I honestly was about to tell him no," she explains quietly. "It's crazy. This whole plan is crazy. But Kunzite reminded me what's at stake. And unless Takashi isn't the person I think he is, the worst that's likely to happen is I wind up losing out on my chances at starting college next year. I can handle being in class like everyone else, if it means I got to do something good."

Makoto Kino has posed:
This time, Makoto's response is inarticulate and barely verbal. She snaps the lid securely down onto the full box, then goes to the fridge. The bento she retrieves, already wrapped up and ready for tomorrow's lunch, gets plunked down on the counter next to the other container.

Only then does Makoto face Ami again, mouth tight and eyes sharp. "Just so you realize, if you come back from this thing all full of dark energy kool-aid, I'm gonna snap that guy in half."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami watches from the safety of the other side of the countertop, not daring enter Makoto's private sanctuary at this moment. When the threat comes, Ami meets it with a nod of approval, then adds, "If you keep that monitor close, you will know well before I come back whether he has attacked me with dark energy. If that happens, you will not hear a single complaint from me if you get the other Senshi together, Sailor Teleport down, and Jupiter Punch him into outer space. I have no delusions about his character, Mako-chan. I know he's an arrogant, self-aggrandizing narcisist with visions of despotism, all dramatically influenced by a core of darkness. And if for even an instant I didn't think I could save him from all of that ... I'd probably try to kill him myself. But I can save him, Mako. I just ... need time, and the knowledge that you've got my back."

Makoto Kino has posed:
The description brings a very emphatic stinkface to Makoto's expression, but then she sighs and pushes the bento and the box of snacks across the counter. "Here," she says. "It's not a lot, but since there's nothing else I can do about all this I can at least give you something to eat to take with you." A beat. "Try not to lose my bento."

She folds her arms against the surface of the counter and leans onto it, shoulders slumping. "I really, really don't like this," she says quietly, after a moment. "But you've already thought it all through this much, so there's not really anything I can say about it, is there?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
The bento comes as a surprise. It shouldn't, but Ami just stares at it in confusion for several moments before reaching up to touch it, almost reverently. She looks to Makoto uncertainly, then finally dares cross the threshhold to hug her friend again. "I'll bring it back," she promises quietly. "And if for even an instant I think something's going on, I'll get out of there right away. I promise."

Makoto Kino has posed:
As Ami hugs her, Makoto straightens and turns around to wrap her own arm around the other girl for an answering squeeze. "Okay," she says, soft and heavy with resignation - grudging acceptance, but acceptance nonetheless. "And call if you need anything, no matter what time it is. Even if it's just to talk. Being around him that much with nobody else there, you might need some perspective now and then."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
The acceptance seems to break down all of Ami's tension and she squeezes Makoto back tightly. "I will," she promises. "I'm going to need it. I can't do this without you guys; even if having you just means the ability to call. I'm terrified of this, Mako. Even my mom hesitated this time. But ... I have to do it," she reiterates to herself, more than for Makoto's sake. "I have to find out what's there, with him."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"I get it," Makoto tells her. "I don't like it, but I get it. Just..." she hesitates for a long moment, trying to find something more to say than what eventually comes out. "...be careful, all right?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"I promise," Ami replies with a nod. "I'll be as careful as I can. And I'll make him be careful, too." At least as careful as one can be when investigating a collapsing laboratory in its last throes before sinking beneath the surface. Finally, she disengages from the hug and steps away, then picks up the bento and snack box. "I've got to get going. I have a lot of preparing to do, still. But I'll call you tomorrow night after we get there."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Okay." Makoto nods, and does not protest as Ami steps back and begins gathering up the things Mako packed for her. She just rests her hands on the edge of the counter and tries, not very successfully, not to look as worried as she feels. "I'll be expecting your call, then."

There doesn't seem to be much lese she can say.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
And because drama deserves a dramatic exit, Ami takes a step back, holds up her hand as if to wave ... and a bead of light forms there. It expands outwards into a subspace tunnel dividing the room in half. When it's gone, so too is Ami.