2469/Brownie Points

Brownie Points
Date of Scene:	13 February 2017
Location:	Earth Court Frat House
Synopsis:	Makoto and Ami made brownies at the frathouse. A few people come to investigate. There may be some minor drama. Nothing a bit of chocolate and milk can't wash away! Right?
Cast of Characters:	Ami Mizuno, Kunzite, Naru Osaka, Unmei, Mamoru Chiba

---

Ami Mizuno has posed:
The kitchen is warm and full of life. Makoto has gone off to see Nephrite, but her presence is still felt in the smell of flowers and the warmth of the oven. That warmth is slowly retreating, along with the smells, but one smell persists: someone made chocolate in the kitchen, and it's a good bet Makoto had something to do with it.

But it's not Makoto that's in there: it's Ami, leaning over on the counter in a blue skirt and striped shirt, tall socks and a bow in her hair. She's staring down at a glass pan full of brownies, licking her lips hungrily but not digging in.

To one side, two additional pans have been set aside, both labeled: 'take and enjoy.' The one Ami is in front of is labeled 'do not touch.'

And yet, that's the one she seems tempted by.

Kunzite has posed:
There are steps in a side hallway, and then there is a Kazuo, glancing over his shoulder. "This is your fair warning," he says to Ami, solemn as ever. Which at least means that, whatever he's watching for, it isn't lethal, although 'not serious' might be an understatement. "Whichever of those you want to be certain is untouched, put it away quickly."

Naru Osaka has posed:
There's the sound of the door, and of quiet steps into the apartment and a quiet thump of a school bag. Naru appears not long after Kunzite, a sniff of the air. "Mmm, smells good in here." Leggings and t-shirt, with a casual hoodie over top, Naru is barefoot as she peers into the kitchen to see if there's coffee to go with the scent of chocolate.

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama made a sound when she stood outside the kitchen. There was a thump. A very... very quiet thump. She was doing... better. Was a word. Definitely a word. It didn't hurt as much. It still felt like there was a blank, empty hollow in her stomach that longed to be filled.

But she had managed to stick out of the kitchen. For the most part. Barely. She'd clung to Kunzite like a life jacket the whole time. but then, finally, they were done. And she got permission. She gulped and. "C-can... can I have one... p-please?" she asked weakly.

She still didn't looked good. She was pale, a bit sweaty, but at least her clothes were likely clean(if a bit ill fitting). She looked mostly healthy, aside from the sweat and tears.

She stared at Ami hungrily. As if she might kiss her, again. "I..."

She gave a small gulp. "Are you... is this... ummm... a-a punishment for what I did? To... you? I'm sorry. I'm not... I don't... you?" She hten gulped. "I-I won't... kiss you again. Probably. I mean... I-I won't. S-sorry..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami's eyes widen a little at Kunzite's warning. She glances up at him, then down at the brownies she's hovering over, then back up at him. "Mako-chan said I have to wait until it cools," she complains uncertainly. "If I try to put it away now, I might ruin it. But that's why I'm here watching it; to make sure no one takes it until I can put it aw--"

The bluenette cuts off at the sight of Unmei coming up behind him. Naru, too, but Naru doesn't earn Ami's hesitation.

Sliding the untouchable brownies far away from the two pans for sharing, Ami motions, "Be my guest. I'm not in the habit of punishing people for their misbehaviour while under the influence of dark energy. Mamo-chan says you're doing better, and I trust him. Hi, Naru-chan," she says with a smile.

Kunzite has posed:
Kazuo comes forward to fetch down small plates -- several -- and forks, and a couple of glasses, and a mug. There are traditions, after all. The mug is passed to Naru without waiting for a question to be asked. "Do you think you can cut them into reasonable pieces?" he asks Unmei. "Or shall I take care of it?" Reasonable is the key word there, perhaps. But he's been doing that -- asking her questions. Giving her options, and the chance to make her own decisions as often as possible, even if he has to intervene after.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Hey Ami." Naru greets quietly, a flicker of a smile at the mention of Mako having been part of the baking procedure. Not exactly surprising. She turns as Unmei as she comes up behind Kunzite and there's a smile for her. Naru takes the mug from Kunzite, with a twist of a grin and heads further into the kitchen to make herself a coffee. Clearly she's the only one, based on the configuration of glasses and mugs that Kunzite's retrieved.

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama glanced back to the other girl and yelped. She grabbed Kun and held on, giving a fearful cry as she tried to hide from Naru behind him. "N-Naru. Is... Is Kyouko w-with you?" she asked softly. She was not in the best.... state right now. She was at least eighty percent sure she wouldn't be able to handle getting into it with the other girl at the moment. Eighty to ninety percent sure.

Of course, once she realized the other, spear wielding girl wasn't here, she'd visibly relax and nod, glancing back to the brownies. "So if... it's not a punishment, why did you make them?" She'd timidly pull away from Kun, though she didn't go far from him. He was kind of her... anchor. For now. When Mamo was asleep. Mamo was the preferred anchor, of course(when wasn't he?), but she'd shed enough tears on the tall man that she felt... slightly less anxious about clinging to him. Lucky him. On the up side, she seemed to be trying to be polite about it. She'd often ask if she was bothering him(usually after soaking his shirt) and never even tried to kiss him. Sure, she'd considered it, but she never tried it.

She stared at it and reached out. Then she pulled back and moved away as if the brownies were a viper ready to strike. "Please. Please don't have me... I... I don't think I can." She had to reach out and squeeze his arm, eying the tray. They all looked so good. She finally buried her head in the nook of his arm. "Just... g-give me what I can have." There was a soft whimper and she held onto him as tight as she could.

Granted, the main reason she was so scared to upset him was because she knew if they kicked her out, she'd never survive. Even as it was, now, she knew it would only take the smallest hint towards her getting food and she'd break down. That's why she had to cling to him so, because she knew he'd stop him. It made it easier that way. All she had to do was say to stop her, and then he'd take care of it.

Also, she might have left bite marks into his shirt a few times. Teething was an experience right now. "Is... is there a party... happening? Soon?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Hm?" Ami asks of Unmei's question confusedly. "We made them for the house," she explains, motioning to the two pans for sharing. "And this one is a gift for my boyfriend. But it's not done cooling, so I can't quite yet put it away. Maybe another ten mintues and then I'll do that."

There's a moment's pause, then Ami can't resist reaching up to touch the trio of blue studded earings on her left ear. Out comes the visor, so that Ami can evaluate Unmei's present state.

Kunzite has posed:
Normally, Kunzite's reaction to being grabbed and held on to is to detach the grabber -- gently in some cases, violently in others. There are some people with privilege on the subject. Unmei is, generally, Very Not One Of Them. In this instance, though, he puts up with it, and waits till Unmei eases away to fetch things. Including milk, which is poured into one of the glasses -- a smaller one -- and then left for anyone else involved.

"Not yet, then." His free hand rests on top of Unmei's head for a moment, and then is let go. "Though I'll need both hands for it. And enough freedom to move to get to the sink." Because Makoto will, if he does not observe proper standards in her kitchen, notice from wherever she and Nephrite are off to and manage to hit him with lightning. Without bothering to henshin first.

Once he has the chance to wash hands, granted, cutting half of one of the trays isn't something that takes terribly long. One is transferred onto a plate; fork and napkin are added; and that small plate, and the glass of milk, are presented to Unmei. A perfectly normal brownie, of unremarkable size. A traditional-for-the-West accompaniment for it.

Whether this is a distraction to keep Unmei from peering at the visor, or a demonstration for Ami of exactly what's going on, or both... well. Why do anything for only one reason?

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Just me." Naru shakes her head with a little smile at the question about if Kyouko is with her. "I'd hoped to get a little further on a video game. Well.. drawing, I suppose, but brownies are a good reason to pause." She gets water into kettle and kettle on while staying out of both Kunzite and Ami's way, her movements just quietly certain and comfortable in this kitchen.

Naru seems content to wait to claim her brownie until after she's got coffee. "Kunzite? Coffee?"

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama nodded. "Y-your boyfriend sounds... nice," she said. If she was listening or not? Who knew. Right now her eyes were so focused on Kunzite and the brownies she could have been shot and she likely wouldn't have noticed. She let out a whimper as he slowly cut into it. A soft whine as he took his time. Then the fork, napkin, all of it taking too long. Even as Ami scanned her, she didn't take notice.

The darkness within her seemed to be... burning away. As her vices were controlled, the magic was no longer fed and it was fading. Not fast enough, though. But she was already back to about the point where she kissed Ami. It would probably take weeks to completely burn out. But still, it shoud be to a managable level in a few days.

Then he gave her the brownie. She opened her mouth and looked like she might devour it whole. Instead she made her way to the table. Her hands shaking the entire time. She put it down and then, slowly, sa down. She glanced to Kun, as if awaiting his approval, before taking the fork and slowly cutting off a bite, putting it in her mouth.

"Oh by the stars yes..." She gave a moan that might bring another blush to the poor blue haired sailor senshi. Unmei X Brownie, OTP. She quivered and stared at it, struggling to not just shove it in her mouth. "What is... everyone up to? Today? Then?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami studies Unmei closely, then banishes the visor again. "Weird," she mumbles quietly to herself, then banishes the thought, whatever it is.

More important is the talk of Takashi, to Unmei, "Well I'm glad you think so. He's not, though," Ami notes. "At least not always. He's also dealing with Dark Energy influences on his life, and sometimes they get the better of him. But he tries to be compassionate despite that. Also, you really ought to call him, since he's technically your boss? Or are you planning to leave Eclipse?"

Kunzite has posed:
"Not tonight, thank you, Naru." Three more brownies are set on plates, and forks and napkins added. If anyone isn't inclined to one, well, someone will take care of it soon enough. Kunzite pours a second glass of milk, then, meticulous about allowing it not so much as a drop more than Unmei's, and takes both to sit by her. One bite of chocolate: check. More words: somehow, this does not strike him as a good time for them. He's careful to make certain that his fork is in the hand away from Unmei. Just in case of any further grabbings at Ami's question.

Naru Osaka has posed:
Kettle goes click and Naru nods to Kunzite's answer on the coffee. Making herself a coffee is a familiar set of dance steps, with water and coffee and filters and truthfully, it doesn't take all that long. She is, perhaps, not in the best position to speak on vices when she's making herself a coffee.

Brownie is collected as Naru brings mug and plate to join Kunzite and Unmei at the table, tucking herself into the chair. She settles quiet as Ami asks a relevant question of Unmei, taking a sip of coffee before lifting her fork to spear her chocolatey treat.

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama blinked a few times. "He's... not nice. and yet he's your boy friend. You sound like Yuzu," she mumbled. She was about to say more, then cringed. "I... can't. I kind of... broke. My phone. Into pieces. And no! Leaving Eclipse really isn't an option. I mean I... literally don't even exist without them. Leaving isn't really a... choice."

Her eyes were focused on that brownie, the rest of her on auto pilot. Shakily, her hand reached out and she took another bite of it. "Oh yessssss..." she moaned, shaking. She wanted to just stuff the whole thing in her mouth. But she tried. She tried so hard. Slowly she dropped the fork from her shaking hand and gave a weak little whimper, giving Kun a pleading look. Some kind of distraction. Anything. She leaned forward and slowly pulled the milk towards her, sipping from it. Just a single mouth full, before pulling back. She wasn't breathing as heavy anymore, at least. Still sweating pretty bad, though. "T-thank you. they're very good," she managed to say weakly, her hands clasped together in front of her, her eyes focused on Kun.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Thank Makoto," Ami replies of the brownies with a smile. "I only made this batch. She made the other two to prevent everyone here from stealing mine." She grins a little, then says, "Anyways, just because he's my boyfriend doesn't mean I am blind to the effects that dark energy has on his emotional state. I think he will be nice, once he is freed of dark energy. But freeing him is much more complicated than it is with you.

"As for not existing," Ami says, "I assure you that if you want out of there, we can find a way. We are somewhat specialized in ensuring the existence of those who are troubled, and giving them a life of free will."

Kunzite has posed:
Unmei has dropped her fork and glanced his way. Kunzite does not necessarily read that glance correctly. What he does is put down his own fork, reach for hers, and cut her brownie into bite-sized pieces -- pieces that can reasonably be stuffed in the mouth, if she needs to. But one at a time. And staying, if she can keep to one at a time, within the bounds of 'normal human intake.'

The fork is laid down where it was, then. If he knows what happened to Eilam, he's not worried about it here. Then again, hey, he works for a healer.

"Our thanks to Makoto indeed," Kunzite says. He's postponed his own second bite, and takes it now, keeping more or less on pace with Unmei. It occupies the time it takes him to turn so that he can see all three of the girls, Ami included. "Apparently," he says, "Eclipse is holding something over her, something she would rather die than lose. And something she's been largely disinclined to tell others about. She admitted it to Mamoru, but swore him to secrecy on the subject; all I know about it is that whatever it is, it inclined him to be gentler with her."

Naru Osaka has posed:
Naru isn't making any sort of deliberate attempt to not work her way steadily through her brownie, and even still is taking her time. "Blackmail is inherently messy business." she comments thoughtfully, quietly. "Generally whatever it is not only is easier to just have out and deal with, than cope with the shame and stress." She shakes her head a little with a soft mmm. "Blackmail just sloppy, really."

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama blinked a few times. Wait, what? She opened her mouth. Then stopped. Then... "I... don't exist. I... I mean that literally," she said softly. "Unmei... doesn't... exist."

She wanted to think of a new excuse, but frankly, she was too hurt and tired and everything was just miserable. She didn't have the energy to lie. "They... made... me up. When they... took me in. It was the price. My price." She gulped and reached up, touching the gem. "It was... the only way I could be me. I didn't..." She chewed on her lower lip.

"There's no... saving me. From them. I-I mean you're... you're all so... nice..." Tears were starting to well up in her eyes. "So much nicer than... than anyone back where I was... from was. So, so much nicer. But there's no... helping... me. I'm... theirs. There's no where else for me to go and I can't just... escape."

She took a slow, deep breath. "They have... power. Money. Lawyers. People who can... do things. Like that. There's no... fighting that. At all. But... thank you. So much. For your help."

She stared a few moments later. "And Mamo didn't... I didn't... tell him. I was... I was hurting. Bad. I let the wrong words slip. I never... I'd never tell anyone that. Never ever ever. If Yuzu found out... if people found out... I'm not... I'm barely even a... person..." She stared at her brownie with such an intensity it could almost burst into flame. For once seeming distracted. "And this... isn't the kind of thing you can just... tell people." She seemed to deflate even more. "I... tried that once." Her hand moved up to touch her cheek. "... People don't... even... good people don't..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami snorts indignantly at Unmei's claims. "You're very, very wrong about whether or not Eclipse can be fought. But I'm not going to force that fight on you. Suffice to say, we've literally raised the dead, created lifespans that span millenia, and reversed time, around here. Eclipse is a more a mountain than a speedbump, but every mountain can be climbed."

With that, Ami turns back to her brownies. A brief touch, then she smiles and starts hunting for a knife to cut with, and a bento to put it all in.

"Some day," Ami notes as she very carefully, meticulously separates the brownie cake into brownie pieces, "maybe you will learn some of those stories, and understand why I'm not afraid of Eclipse. But they're not really my story to tell, so you'll just have to find the right people to ask of them."

Kunzite has posed:
Power. Money. Lawyers.

Kazuo takes a long moment to glance wordlessly around Mamoru's apartment, and by implication the three other penthouse apartments beyond it. Owned by a boy still a year and a half shy of legal age.

Japan doesn't have emancipation of minors.

"A year ago," Kazuo notes aloud, absent and clinical, "I didn't have a human body. The body I lived in was a monstrosity created and controlled by a sorceress and the demon she served. I was, at the time, theirs."

He shrugs. "People fixed that." As if, as ever, he were commenting that it was likely to rain later.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"What sort of flavour of 'doesn't exist?'" Naru asks curiously, with a thoughtful tone that doens't sound unduly distraught. "Like not a legal identity sort of doesn't exist? Or a lack of physical body without dark energy?" Neither sound like they are distressing, she's just gathering tidbits.

Naru quirks her head at the mention of 'barely even a person', her expression frankly skeptical. She doesn't ask, however, but she does note absently. "Well, you're not a rose bush. I'm voting with person."

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama nodded. "I-I... I guess. But I mean..." She then sighed. "Ideal situation. The Clotho's Fate Gem is theirs." She looked around a little nervously. "Pin... isn't here, is he? I mean, he can't... hear me, can he? No one brought him inside?" Once she got confirmation, she sighed.

"I mean, no legal... identity. Aside from what they made. And if they wanted they could just take that away and I'd, at best, sent back home to--" And then froze, shuddering. ".... At best, I just... die. At worst, I get sent to some... other... country. I don't know. I'm a minor, I don't know what they do to people here. And...and the gem isn't... mine. It's theirs. Trust me. I... need it."

She shuddered. "They'd try to take it back. I don't have anything they'd want more than it. Back. And I... I need it. And if I lost it..." She chewed on her lower lip.

"... I don't... think you'd... want to help me any more, anyway. I don't know... why Mamo does. He just seems to be very... special." She hadn't eaten any more of the brownie, so it was a successful distraction at least.

"I... I really appreciate what you're trying. I really do. H-helping me. But... I-I knew what I was getting into. I used to read a ton of magical girl stories and stuff. Two things always happen to the bad guys. Redemption or death. Well, or they lose their powers and... either way. Redemption... I can't... be me. Otherwise. So... that's not... an option. And I'm NOT giving up my powers. And besides! You're all really nice. I'm... sure when the time comes, it'll at least be fast, right?" See, it was talk like this that got Yuzu so mad at her.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami shakes her head fervently. "At best, we would provide you with a new legal identity," she corrects Unmei firmly. "And you would have a chance to start over. Maybe you wouldn't be able to keep the gem--if it's theirs, you shouldn't steal it, obviously.

"As for whether I'd want to help you," Ami replies, "that's my decision, I should think. Believe me, the things you have done to me are not even on par with the things Takashi has done to those I care about. And yet," she notes, "I am still with him. Kunzite," Ami notes, motioning to him, "actually tried to kill me. And yet," she notes, "I still care for him deeply. So please do not make assumptions about whether I would want to help you. Thwarting the darkness is what I do. And thwarting Eclipse is part of that."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Who or what is Pin?" Naru asks thoughtfully and then mmms and nods. "Legal is much easier." Contrary, clearly, to what Unmei thinks.

Naru nudges her empty plate away, curling both of her hands around her cup and nods along with Ami's words. Clearly they resonate with her as well, other than perhaps the bits about dating Takashi. Not so much with those bits.

Kunzite has posed:
Unmei might want to watch carefully: Kazuo shifting uncomfortably is not something that happens terribly often. Neither is the apologetic glance he gives Ami. Or the one he gives Naru afterward. That might be eight or ten entire seconds of actually looking like a normal twenty-year-old. Pity nobody got video.

He breathes out, then, and runs a hand through his hair. "Pin," he says to Naru, "is her abusive and controlling mascot. I'd say manipulative but it's generally too busy being aggravating and self-righteous to get that far. If I'm correct about what was left in the elevator when she and Mamoru came up, then Pin was last seen locked in a closet in another segment of the apartment; if it's a tenth as survival-oriented as it's appeared, it will stay there, because if it decides to pester Unmei at the moment, I'm inclined to take it apart."

He considers Unmei for a moment, and then inquires, "How old are you? And is there any difference between your present age, and the age ... applicable ... before Eclipse got involved? I ask for legal reasons; please feel free not to answer if you're disinclined, but I prefer to know all options in case unexpected ones become necessary."

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama blinked a few times. "Wait. You can DO that? How? Why? When? I mean... well, HOW? Isn't something like that expensive? And don't you need like... wait, aren't you people the good guys? Isn't that... illegal?" Oh yes. Because Unmei has a leg to stand on to complain about that. She lowered her eyes and took a single piece of the brownie, tossing it in her mouth.

"... Wait, legal is... easier?" She just stared, her mouth open. Not even a trace of the brownie in her mouth, though she might not have even swallowed yet. Gluttony was a heck of a pain in the butt. Then her hand went up to the gem. "N-no. No no. I need this. I really, really do. M-Mamo promised me no one would take it. It's the only way I can be me. It's the only reason I can... I can exist," she whimpered, shaking her head. "It's worth more than my life." She then took another slow breath.

Then kunzite said that. And she burst into laughter. "Oh my gosh, yessssss. That's awesome! Dude, you're amazing!" She snickered and covered her mouth. "I actually flushed him once. Ah man, that was cathartic. Is that the right word? I think it is. And nah, I'm fifteen. Was before hand, too. The gem didn't change my age, just my body. Made me a lot more--" Then quickly covered her mouth. And stuffed it with like, three pieces of brownie.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Bento packed, Ami wraps it with a blue ribbon, and places a hand-written note (folded) atop it. These she brings with her to the table as she claims a seat opposite Unmei, between Naru and Kunzite.

"Legal is harder," Ami expresses honestly. "But also less likely to fall apart under scrutiny. Harder to take away from you. And harder to use against you. But yes," she says, "we can do it. And we can do it legally." Well, pseudo-legally.

"As for the gem," Ami trails off into silence for a moment, studying Unmei thoughtfully. When she returns to her thought process, her voice is still quiet, "whatever it is doing for you can be done in other ways." Probably. "Or perhaps it can be purchased from Eclipse on your behalf. But no, we will not take it from you. I simply, personally, am opposed to you stealing it from Eclipse. There's no sense calling ourselves the good guys if we resort to the same methods as they use."

Naru Osaka has posed:
Naru doesn't comment on those few moments of uncomfortable out of Kunzite, but her smile for him is gentle, and fond.

"Ah yes, of course, I'd forgotten about the mascot." Naru mmms on the mention of Pin, settling back in her chair and bring her coffee with her, nodding to Ami as she comes to sit down.

"I have no idea what is up with the gem, or how its relevant or anything else." Naru points out. "I'm also generally opposed to stealing it, even from Eclipse."

Kunzite has posed:
Made her a lot more --

Kunzite's attention snaps to Unmei and stays there. He doesn't say anything. He doesn't react to her laughter. He doesn't weigh in on the subject of stealing from Eclipse, or legal identities, or anything else.

He's just looking.

After a moment, he reaches across and rests a hand on her shoulder for a second or so. Then takes it back, still without speaking.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
An incredibly half-awake prince has appeared in the doorway at some point, slowly, and his hair's sticking up a little bit, and his house slippers are wearing masks. "'S true. Since I had to give up being a jewel thief, nobody else gets to do it either," he says with a yawn at the end, and reaches up to rub his eyes. And then he slowly zeroes in on the brownies.

"... um, are those," he starts, then falters, and glances at Ami and Naru, and then at Unmei's and Kunzite's plates, and he gets this look on his face like 'well even if they're not up for grabs omg it's my house and that's chocolate', and then he asks contritely, "are those up for grabs?"

Fingerpointing at brownies. For some stupid reason he's wearing a t-shirt that literally depicts a chibi Zoisite wearing a Flareon costume.

His attention gets dragged, then, almost inexorably to Unmei, and he gives her a crooked little quirk of an affectionate smile. "Hey you are doing a lot better," he says as he comes over and briefly slings an arm around her shoulders and squish-hugs her to his side-- the side opposite Kunzite leaning back back again. Then he draws away, ruffling first her hair and then dragging his hand through Kunzite's as he passes him, and he is edging toward those brownies looking pleadingly at Ami and Naru.

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama nodded. "And.... and you wouldn't need to... know who I was before. Then. To do it... legally? Because i can't... my parents can't know. They can't ever, ever find me," she said, shaking her head. "Buy it from Eclipse?" she asked. "You can... do that?" She looked down at the brownie. finally... "F-fine. If... if you want to do all that... if you want to... if you can do all that. Can find something they want and... and buy me, I guess then..." She stroked the gem. "F-fine. I'd do it. Then. I guess... okay?" she said sheepishly. "... Don't tell Pin. Please?" She took another bite of it, closing her eyes.

"... Why are you people being so nice to me? I've done nothing but caused trouble for you. Like, at all... is this because I gave that black thing to Kyouko? Cause like... was it really that important?" Heck, she'd have given them a dozen if they could help her. Then gulped. "W-what? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry!" What was the shoulder pat? Was that a good thing? Was she in trouble? She wished she was better at reading signs because she had -no idea- what an out of nowhere shoulder pat meant! She tried to think about it. Okay, he was staring at her. Then he patted her on the shoulder. That meant... "R-right, I'll tone it down, sorry." She put another brownie piece in her mouth. Gosh, she wanted to chuck the whole thing in. He might notice her hand tensing up and readying to do just that.

And then her favorite person i nthe whole world(after Yuzu) came in! She stared and... and then he HUGGED her! sure, it was a side hug, but it was a HUG! He actually HUGGED her! And he could probably feel how much that meant to her. That fear of rejection disappearing right after. "Ummm... you can have some of mine." ... It was hard to say if that was her adoration of him or... no, it was just that. If they were still measuring it, though, they might notice that her darkness took a sharp turn for the south. And she was doing a lot better. A lot less crying. Even eating slowly.

But seriously, eating some of her brownie would probably be a bad idea.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Given there is literally a sign by the brownies that says 'take and enjoy', Ami doesn't look terribly worried about Mamoru snitching. But, to appease his conscience, she says, "Mako-chan made them for the house." A smile, then she clutches her bento a little closer to her chest.

Back to Unmei, and Ami looks thoughtful for a while. She doesn't immediately answer the question of why they're being so nice. Or maybe she just thinks the answer is self-evident if given sufficient investigation. Either way, she doesn't press the issue further.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Ami and Mako were baking." Naru explains for Mamoru as he emerges and she uncurls from her chair. She collects up her plate and mug and wanders off to put them into them into the sink. It only takes a moment to wash them up before setting them in the rack and gathering up a napkin to collect a brownie to go. "Thank you, by the by, for giving the grief seed to Kyouko. They are more useful to her, and others like her, than anyone else."

Brownie wrapped up, Naru waves to the quartet. "Thanks for the brownies, Ami. Good night everyone." Naru ensures she collects up her bag before she goes off to play brownie delivery person for her girlfriend.

Kunzite has posed:
"Take two," Kazuo says, without even looking up and away from Unmei. "Or you'll have a thirteen-year-old weeping on you."

After a moment, he finally glances toward Mamoru. And sees his shirt. There is a brief, sharp tug at the corner of his mouth, one that doesn't entirely vanish when Mamoru's hand's out of his hair.

"This is because," he says to Unmei, "you've consistently made bad moral choices in small matters. But when the problem at hand is a larger one, you've consistently chosen the good. You gave Kyouko the grief seed when she was hurt. You were horrified when Pin suggested killing Mercury while she was injured. You sought help when your magic spun out of control. In small things you can convince yourself that you're not really responsible, that it's not really your fault, or not really an abuse of your victims. But in the large ones, every time, you reach to help others."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
For that expression, Kunzite gets a quick smirk. "The internet is amazing," says the prince, apropos of apparently nothing.

Mamoru's already got a hand on a brownie on the plate of take_ok when Unmei offers part of hers, and he gives her a crinkle-eyed and unutterably kind smile, clearly touched at the gesture. "Nah, there's enough for me without me dipping into your precioussssss," he teases, the smile turning into a grin. "You worked really hard for that, it's all yours."

He takes a bite of the one in his hand and comes back over to lean close by the table, expression clearing as Ami and Naru explain; he nods cheerfully. "Mako-chan is altogether too good to us," he says reverently, hand in front of his mouth so no one's subjected to see-food. "Later, Naru!"

After Kunzite gives the full recounting to Unmei, Mamoru's swallowed his mouthful finally, and he adds, "The big important thing to me was that you asked for help and meant it. And then even though it was really really hard, and it was absolutely miserable, and it's still pretty rank, you're following through on your part of it. You meant it and you still mean it. And that's really, really important. I mean-- I'm kind of an idealist, I guess? But I'm willing to go to pretty astonishing lengths to afford people the benefit of the doubt when they want out of a bad situation, even if they think it's impossible. If they're willing to work with me? Sky's the limit."

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama nodded, then glanced to Kun. Her eyes went wide and red flooded her cheeks. Then she kind of... squirmed in her seat. "I-I wasn't... I didn't... I never..." She gulped.

"I-I just... I'm just doing what I h-had to. I mean... w-we were all stuck in that place together, you know? It would have been wrong to... let her die. I mean, if I'd tried that... there'd have been real consequences. Real... people would have hurt."

She poked her fingers together and... "And Kyouko needed it. she could have died and... and I mean... I may not like her much but... she's still a good person, right? If she died... it would have hurt people. A lot of people. And... this was more... Mamo kind of... found and saved me."

She was quiet for a long moment, popping two pieces of brownie in her mouth, trying to distract herself. Then... "I try to target people I won't. Hurt. Places that have insurance. Or... should. I mean... people get a bit tired but like... what's wrong with that? People get tired all the time. A little magic drain isn't so bad." ... At least she tried to explain both the good and the bad things she did.

She squirmed in place, her eyes lowered and tried to form a distraction. Then went to something she'd been wondering a while. "... So... who owns this place? Do like... you guys have a rich uncle, or something? Or some kind of mysterious benefactor who bought the place for all the magical girls?"

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Naru's departure earns an Ami popping up from her chair. A brief, tight hug goodbye, then the bluenette is back in her seat, trying to pick up the thread of the conversation where last she heard it.

At Unmei's final set of questions, however, a thin line of amusement plays across Ami's lips. Definitely not her question to answer, so instead she just fiddles with the bow on the bento she's cradling so loviingly.

A little too much. She's going to ruin that bow if she doesn't stop.

Kunzite has posed:
There's more ribbon, if necessary. "I disagree with a little magic drain being not so bad," Kazuo says, "but that's a discussion for another time, when your condition is less volatile." He reaches to rest a hand on Mamoru's arm for a moment, a couple seconds of contact, no more. Seamlessly, he continues, "The important part for now is what he said. You did ask for help. You meant it. You've been willing to follow through."

There's a moment's pause before he says anything to her actual question. And then all it is is: "Mamoru owns this floor. Why did you think he was the one who gets to set the apartment rules?"

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
The hand on Mamoru's arm as he leans against the counter-- visibly, it gets Kunzite a glance, but little more than that; Mamoru's got brownie in his mouth again, and anyway Unmei is speaking. He almost chokes on his brownie when she says that he found and saved her, and there's stifled coughing and red eyes for a moment before he slips back across the room to get himself a glass of milk.

Chug chug chug. Chug. Straight from the carton. Notably the carton has 'Mamoru' sharpied on it, so at least he's not being a complete jerkwaffle. He pounds his chest and coughs slightly, but this time it's safe to because he won't spray brownie everywhere.

Then Ami thinks the question's funny -- and it kind of is, yes -- and Kunzite's answering it, and Mamoru's stuck on, "You found me. I mean you came here, didn't you? And Kunzite did just as much saving, Unmei-chan. And if you can believe us-- if you can believe us about alternate ways of doing things, if you can trust us when we say there are other ways to have what you need, then there'll be a lot more saving -- and it'll be just as much you saving yourself. You're really strong, and I don't think you've been allowed to know that, and that's not something I can let stand."

His voice is really, really firm; his face is absurdly earnest, despite the cough-tears he's rubbing at after his inhalation of crumbs. And then he shifts slightly embarrassedly, glancing down and away. "And, uh, yeah. Actually I bought it when I was fourteen. I knew I'd need the space, even if I didn't know why. The space for my guys. It's just that -- there's enough room to help people out, too."

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama turned even redder. "... The only reason I've been able to... f-follow through is because you've helped me. So much. I... I would have... broken. Down. Before. If... if not for you. But you've been there for me. So... much," she mumbled, putting more brownies into her mouth. "Its been nice. Very... nice. I... I wouldn't... mind... being here more. If you guys are... able to..." And then.... "Wait, what?"

She then looked around. "Owns this... you mean like... he OWNS owns it? Like, not some rich guy he works for owns it? He owns it PERSONALLY?" She stared at him, her mouth falling open.

"But you're... Nice! To me! Even though I... and you're rich? I mean... I..." There were no words. She just stared. Then... "Maybe it's... not as impossible as I thought, then. I guess. I mean, rich people are always able to do things that normal people can't. And oh wow that sounded so rude after I said it, I'm sorry."

She poked her fingers together and then put the last piece of brownie into her mouth, then drinking down the last of her milk as well.

Mamo could probably feel it. She was still starving, still longing for more food. But they were helping her. A lot. Though she was getting a bit worried she'd over stepped some boundaries with that comment. "Do you guys think there might... really be a way to... get the gem from Eclipse, though? Without uhhh..." She glanced to Mamo. "Anyone... knowing? About.... you know?"

And then mamo said that. And she, well, looked like she'd been slapped almost. And kind of... shrunk into her chair. "I-I'm not strong," she whispered softly. "If I was strong I never would have... needed any of this. I would have just... accepted what I was..." she mumbled softly, huddled up tightly in the chair. She definitely needed a hug now.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
This is the part where Ami runs away.

She squeezes the bento ribbon just a bit too tight, then hisses at herself and rises suddenly from her chair. Eyeing the mangled bow, she mumbles, "Bother," and goes back into the kitchen to cut a new ribbon.

"I should probably get going," Ami calls over her shoulder as she carefully makes a second bow. At least this is simple geometry in practice. Origami is not difficult.

With her bow repaired, Ami takes up both, then offers a wave to all three. "Call me if you need me. Or if Unmei-chan needs me," Ami says, smiling at Unmei ... but not offering the desired hug.

"And Mamo-kun ... thank you." Again.

Kunzite has posed:
"Thank you," Kunzite says steadily to Ami, "for taking the risk of using our kitchen." Even if Maze is behaving itself now, there's a lot of Boy around here. And an Unmei. He doesn't wave back to her, but he inclines his head, deep.

Give it another moment or two, and he can --

-- nn. Unmei trying to hide in her chair doesn't bode well.

He hesitates, then ... doesn't hug, per se, but reaches over again. This time his hand stays on Unmei's shoulder. Words almost come. He almost says something; lips move, for a moment. But not quite. Not quite.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru looks dismayed all of a sudden-- just as quick as Unmei's mood tanked, the good cheer's wiped off his face. He glances up distractedly at Ami and manages to hazard her a quick smile, which quirks upwards in one corner before he just nods to her, affection and empathy all behind his eyes. "Any time you need," he tells her, but then his attention's got to go back to Unmei, and he puts the rest of his brownie down and comes back over, and he crouches down next to Unmei's chair.

A quick glance up over her at Kunzite, and then back at Unmei. "Accepting what you were? No. Accepted the lies people were trying to force on you because it'd've been easier than fighting for what you know is the truth. You're still alive, Unmei. You're still alive and you've known who you are for a really long time."

His hands come up to take hers, and there's the gold, skin to skin, contact with the empath that has a living connection to the earth turning beneath them. There's all the calm and all the confidence he's offered before, though right now, that's all it is-- there's no transfer of energy. And again it's just an offer, an offer of solidity and grounding, of someplace to stand that won't be whisked out from under her.

"Even if you didn't think you knew it, you knew it well enough to keep fighting for it, and believe me, I know what that's like. You are a strong person, to have kept trying instead of letting everything completely break you, do you see? It's not your fault you got tricked into thinking Eclipse was the only way. When you want something bad enough-- when you need something bad enough, as badly as you need air to breathe-- you're a prime target for the kind of people that use other people. Getting tricked doesn't make you weak. It took other people to get you into the mess with Eclipse, so it also stands to reason it'll take other people to help you get out. It balances. It'll be okay."

And then Mamoru ducks his head a little so he can grin up at her, trying to meet her eyes. "And you're totally right about rich people being able to do things normal people can't. For instance, I can get away with wearing a tuxedo in the afternoon."

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama stared up at him. Kun touched her, a touch of solidarity. And then mamo talked.

And my gosh, he said everything -right-. The tears began to form, once again. Not because of the pain, this time. No, because he just chipped away at ever single block holding the dam in. And suddenly she moved in, hugging him so tight that, were she at full power she likely would have snapped his spine. As it was, she still might even leave a bruise.

And then she cried. "I-I tried s-so hard, I-I tried e-every day b-but they just s-said I was confused or stupid a-and crazy a-and mom always yelled at me a-and the other kids w-would beat me up a-and they told me I-I couldn't be that way, t-that I was a freak a-and a monster a-and... and..."

She held so tightly, sobbing into his shirt. "T-they said b-boys had to be s-strong and t-tough a-and couldn't l-like dresses o-or make up a-and having t-thoughts like that w-was making me weak a-and I-I had a d-disease a-and that I-I needed help and I..." And once again her knees fell out.

"I-I tried to fake it, I-I tried so hard to m-make myself believe they were right a-and that... that if I-I just tried hard enough the feelings w-would go away and then I'd be better a-and everything would be okay and right and I-I'd be normal b-but I was never normal and and and nothing I did was ever right it all just felt awful a-and I just wanted to be this b-b-but but but but but but..." And then more sobbing.

And then giggling because, yes, the tuxedo line was too golden. "Hee hee hee hee. Y-yeah. W-w-wearing a tux during t-the day is pretty w-w-weird... hee hee..."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
As the tears begin to form, Ami forms a tear of her own--not of liquid but of energy. It begins as nothing more than a bed in the palm of her hand, which she stretches out before her. Moments later, that bead expands outwards into a doorway leading into a shapeless and formless void.

A brief glance over her shoulder as Unmei begins to lose control of her emotions--a pitying, but grateful look to Mamoru--and then she steps through the portal to nowhere. Mamoru isn't along for the ride, this time, and so the portal closes as soon as the princess of Mercury is through the door.

She doesn't have the cope for these kinds of emotions, right now.

Kunzite has posed:
Mercury's out. That's all right. This isn't her kind of problem. It isn't really Kunzite's, either, except where two people are concerned ...

... but one of those two people is Zoisite.

Which means that Unmei's weeping deathgrip on Mamoru is answered by another person catching her from behind, leaving Unmei sandwiched reasonably gently between two people who are both too damn tall. But she won't collapse. Since there's no way for her to.

Kunzite doesn't touch Mamoru's skin this time; if Mamoru thinks his contribution to the connection would help, he can arrange it, but he doesn't intrude. Mostly because Wrath is a vice, too. He does speak, after a moment.

"The smartest boy I know," he says, "likes dresses, and make-up, and jewelry, and looks like he'd blow away in a strong wind. The strongest and toughest boy I know -- he doesn't care about those things, but when he sends part of himself out in spirit to do things where he can't, she's wearing heels more often than not. Be who you are. We'll find a way. The people who yelled at you are fools." Mamoru is the only one listening who knows that the sentence was rewritten as it was being spoken, and that the first version ended in 'have too many teeth' or 'need to be set on fire.'

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"And that first boy Kazuo's talking about-- sometimes she's not a boy. I think you'd like him," Mamoru murmurs quietly, smiling into Unmei's hair as she cries into him, and then giggles into him. "But strength also has nothing to do with gender, or what you like, or what you wear, or how you were born. The strongest person I know is Sailor Moon. Strength also isn't an all the time thing-- everyone needs times where they don't have to be strong, times when other people take care of them. So don't worry. It's like Kunzite says-- be who you are, and don't worry if parts of who you are are different from day to day."

One of Mamoru's hands slips out from between Unmei's back and Kunzite's front, and he lifts it to touch the closest part of Kunzite's skin he can reach -- undoubtedly fingers land lightly on the taller boy's neck, hand supported on his shoulder. The wrath is filtered, but Mamoru lets the cold fiery protectiveness through as clear as day. "We've got your back. And we'll find a way to make things right for you, no matter what."

It's a long moment like that, and then Mamoru slowly starts to disentangle. "And," he says wryly, "will you please let us get you purified of the last of the dark energy? It really is so bad for you, and you don't need it to be who you are."

Unmei has posed:
Unmei Tama sniffled and then realized what she said. And... then he was behind her and didn't hurt her. She was... it was like being hugged between two giant, warm, comforting poles. Before long the tears dried up and she rested against him, thouroughly exhausted and yet... comforted at the same time.

Then... finally... "... I... I think I'm r-ready to be saved now. If... if you can... save me... please save me..." She sniffled and little and then nodded.

"O-okay. If it won't... alter me any. If I can still be me... t-then sure. Go ahead... p-purify me. And ummmm.... get me... out? If you can? Please?"

She then, for a second, looked around. He'd probably feel it. That flash of expecting Pin to come out and ell 'gotcha', and that it was all a prank, that no one was going to save her. But... it didn't happen. She buried her head in mamo's chest. "and.... and c-can... you tell Yuzu... I'm ready to ask for help... now... please?"