1814/Cuddles at the Shrine

Cuddles at the Shrine
Date of Scene:	09 August 2016
Location:	Pikarigaoka/Uminari City - Hikawa Shrine
Synopsis:	When Ami and Makoto are still fighting, Usagi goes to her girlfriend for comfort. Love confessions are made.
Cast of Characters:	Rei Hino, Usagi Tsukino

---

Rei Hino has posed:
    It's a quiet day at the shrine, as it often is. No terrible youma have attacked the place recently, and there aren't a lot of magical events that would demand Rei's attention. Aside from fighting between friends, which Rei is somewhat keeping her distance from, there isn't a whole lot that would disturb the peace of this shrine.

    Rei is out front, in the courtyard, sweeping up leaves and generally keeping the stone pathway clear. She isn't expecting Usagi to show up, but this wouldn't really be a shrine if it wasn't prepared for the occasional visitor.

    Rei walks over to a cherry blossom tree and sits underneath it, cooling off in the shade for a moment.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's very much been One Of Those Days.

Actually, more like one of those...years. But today very much fits in the category with all the other days lumped in that year.

The Dark Kingdom's been destroyed. Fiore's death asteroid and flowers dealt with. Everyone is safe and sound and everyone but Minako are close by.

What lumps this day with all the other days of the year?

Well, Ami and Makoto fighting.

Of course, they've been fighting for a month now, and she's known about half that time, so it's been a series of days almost lumpable with the others, but today it just...tipped.

Mostly because she doesn't have the distractions of other things to keep her mind off it (and possibly her failure as a person omg two friends fighting can't do anything fail fail fail), but also because it's gone on for so long.

She's wandered aimlessly around for awhile now. Mamoru's busy, her parents are out for the day, and Shingo is a brother.

Somehow, she finds herself trudging up the steps to the Hikawa shrine, odango all but drooping with her mood.

When she reaches the top, there's a moment of Warm Fuzzy at the pretty sight of a pretty Rei beneath a pretty cherry blossom tree.

Her odango aren't as droopy when she reaches Rei, but she does plop heavily next to her girlfriend and leans against her with a long, drawn out 'Uuuuuuuuuuuuug.'

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei notices Usagi pretty quickly. Something about her just... draws Rei's attention. Something about the way she seems to glow, even outside of her Princess henshin.

    It doesn't take Rei long to figure out that something is wrong, either. Usagi isn't panicking so it doesn't seem like an emergency, but those droopy odangos don't exactly indicate joy either.

    Usagi isn't really one who gets discouraged easily. She almost wonders if she's gotten into a fight with a friend, but considering how things are with Ami and Makoto it probably isn't that hard to guess. She doubts she'd be this down over grades and school's out anyways, and she hasn't really heard anything negative happening to Usagi's family recently. Various possibilities swim through Rei's mind as Usagi notices her and comes closer.

    The miko wears a concerned frown, and when Usagi leans against her she puts an arm around her back. Well, she can take guesses all day as to what the problem is, but the best thing to do is probably to ask anyways.

    "What's wrong, Bunny-chan?" She props her broom up against the tree, and her other arm wraps around Usagi's stomach. "Is everything okay?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Ahhh, warm snuggly. Usagi takes a moment to just bask, because warm snugglies are the best.

When she sighs again, it's without dramatic flair. Her lip is wibbly, but she's very much Not Crying.

Which, really, is about a billion times worse than dramatic tantrums and crocodile tears.

Her voice is small, close to a whine. "Mako-chan and Ami-chan are still fighting and I dunno what to do."

This is something she can tell Girlfriend Rei, right?

Complaining to Mamoru is not the best idea, since both he and Usagi are flailing about the same thing.

Rei Hino has posed:
    It affects the senshi, so it's something she could tell Rei, and it upsets Usagi, so it's something she could tell her girlfriend. When Rei hears what it is, her expression falls. She turns her head away, only to lean it against Usagi's. Warm snugglies are the best, and Rei isn't sure what she has to offer aside from that and someone to listen.

    "Over Agera-san? Still?"

    Rei closes her eyes, annoyed for once at someone other than Usagi. Then again, it's not as if it's been particularly easy to be mad at her cuddly bunny girlfriend lately.

    "I honestly don't even know what Ami-chan sees in him, and I can't really blame Mako-chan for being upset considering what he did..."

    After a moment, she adds, "Then again, I do want to have faith in Ami-chan, because I'm sure she has her reasons. It's just so complicated."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi nods, and that is definitely not a sniffle. And really, sometimes warm snugglies and listening is the best anyone could do.

(And don't worry, give it time! Though those annoyances may be accompanied by fierce blushes and spluttering.)

"I think she sees his potential. And when he isn't being a Megabutt, his jerkness isn't that bad. I mean, he's not Mamo-chan's jerkness, but it's still better than when he's being a Megabutt."

There's a pause followed by a beat. "And I wanna punch him so hard for what he did to Mako-chan."

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei isn't going to call Usagi out on Totally Not Crying, but she still notices the Totally Not Crying.

    "He might not be that bad, but he's... like... I've never actually seen him be genuinely nice? Maybe he is and I've just never seen it. Maybe he only shows that side to Ami-chan or something."

    She shrugs at the comparison to Mamoru. "It really isn't the same, no. Mamo-kun at least gives you the sense that he's playful, or that he cares. I don't really... feel like there's anything like that below the surface with Agera-san. He always seems like he puts his own self first."

    She scrunches her eyes closed, "Still... none of that really answers the question of what to do, does it? I've been staying out of it, thinking that they could sort things out between them, but maybe that isn't happening."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
There's more Not Sniffling going on. She nods along with Rei, especially at the observation about Mamoru.

"I was hoping they would, too. I don't think either wanna be fighting, but Mako-chan's so protective and Ami-chan won't talk to Mako-chan if she were on fire and Mako-chan had the only bucket of water while they're fighting!"

A sigh, long and hard. "And sorry. It's just...this really, really bugs me and I've really, really tried not to let it show."

And there's one question, and Rei's always been truthful. She picks at some lint on her skirt. "Does it make me a bad person? Not knowing how to fix it? Because it's what I do, isn't it?"

Rei Hino has posed:
    One of Rei's hands moves up to softly stroke Usagi's shoulder. She might not point out Usagi's sniffles, but she still feels a desire to comfort her. Poor Usa.

    "So Ami-chan doesn't want to talk to her now? It's gotten that bad?" Now Rei feels a little bad for not interfering before it got to this point, but even so she knows that it isn't that simple.

    "It's okay, Usagi-chan. It hurts to see them fight, and there's nothing wrong with being sad about that." Well, there isn't. Of all the things that she's seen Usagi be upset about, this is one of the ones that makes perfect sense.

    Then Usagi asks a question, and Rei blinks. She turns to Usagi, moving to look her directly in the eyes, and shakes her head. "No! No, Usagi-chan. It doesn't make you a bad person, and it doesn't make you a failure, and it isn't your fault at all. I know you want to do something to help them get along, but it's not... there isn't always anything you can do about it."

    She looks away, past Usagi and at some branches on the ground. "Don't get me wrong. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but I don't think you should beat yourself up just because you can't find a solution. I don't know what to do about it, either. I feel like if I take a side, I'll just be driving away whoever I side against."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"She wants to give Mako-chan space. Even if she's a CrispyAmi." She Not Sniffles into her arm.

"It's kinda like when there were plants everywhere but I couldn't do anything about them. I mean, I knew I could, but it woulda ended badly or something."

When Rei says it doesn't make her a bad person, her face lights up! If Rei says it, it must be true!

And her mind starts spinning even as Rei continues.

"Oh, I'm bad at choosing sides. I'm like swiss cheese and didn't take them."

She tilts her head and strokes her chin. "Handcuffing them together until they make nice is a bad idea, isn't it."

Rei Hino has posed:
    Giving Makoto space is better than the alternative that Rei was thinking of, that Ami was mad at her. Well, there's some hope there at least.

    Wait... like swiss cheese? Does she mean Switzerland? She almost wants to facepalm at her girlfriend. Oh my god, Usagi!

    Rei briefly sticks out her tongue at Usagi, and then shakes her head. "Mako-chan would probably break the handcuffs, if Ami didn't analyze them and pick the locks first. I don't really think that pushing them together is such a great idea, no."

    Rei doesn't like to say it, but... "In the end, their fight is between them. It sucks for us, but we can't really do anything to force a decision onto either of them. It's not about our choices, it's about theirs. They aren't going to work it out unless they work it out on their own, and the best you could really hope to do is mediate between them."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Facepalm away, Rei!

Usagi has a tongue ofher own to stick out at Rei! Bleeee!

"Well, it's better than the lightning or deep freezes I was thinking."

Still, there's a bit of sulk in Usagi again. Not near as bad as it was when she first arrived, but there's telltale signs of a sullen pout.

Until...

Usagi perks up a little. "Mediate? Like get 'em in the same room and have them talk things out? Or is mediate the one where you go 'oooooohm'?"

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei can't facepalm because her arms are busy hugging Usagi, but she does bury her face in Usagi's shoulder and groan, which is basically the same thing.

    Rei glances at Usagi's tongue thoughtfully, but she doesn't betray whatever it is she's thinking.

    "Ehehe... I wonder if it would get that bad between them. I'd hope not."

    Usagi doesn't seem to like what she's saying, and Rei can't blame her, but then she blinks as Usagi suddenly perks up. "Um... it's the first one. I don't think that meditating between them would help that much."

    She wonders, a bit too late, if she just made the confusion worse or not.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
(It's probably similar to Thoughts Usagi had just before!)

Usagi wiggles a bit, and there's a certain glint in her eyes. "So what you're saying is I just gotta get them in a room together and make them talk. But preparing ahead of time! Like reading up on mediation!"

Rei Hino has posed:
    Yes they're both so very thoughtful today~.

    Rei considers, and then nods. "Yeah. I mean like... you know... kinda like marriage counseling? I admit I've never done anything like that before but like... get them to really express how they feel, and maybe try to get them to phrase things as... non-hostile?"

    Rei actually doesn't know that much about mediation, aside from what she's seen on TV which is totally a valid source, right?

    "Reading up on it is probably a good idea. That almost seems like something Mamo-kun could help you with, at least in regards to picking out a good book."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Oh yes. Thoughtful indeed~.

There's another excited little wiggle. "Yes! And, since I'll be impartial and professional, I could wear something professional so they know I'm being professional!"

Usagi taps her chin in thought. "Probably the library, but I think they're closed right now." It's more having memorized Mamoru's schedule that she knows this. "I could go tomorrow! And internet search tonight!"

But for now, though, she's gonna procrastinate a bit!

Starting with!

She knocks hard into Rei, hugging her warm and tight. "Thank yoooou. I've been feeling like bleh and that's not a fun feeling!"

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei has a wiggly bunny in her arms! Eee, so cute!

    She thinks about Usagi wearing something professional... and just pretends that the slight red of her cheeks isn't there!

    "I agree! You should send me a picture of whatever you pick out and I'll tell you if it looks professional enough." There's no ulterior motive there, no. "Oh, you should probably send it to Mamo-kun too to get his opinion." Trolling Mamoru doesn't always have to be mean!

    Rei goes 'oof' when Usagi knocks into her, then leans against her to keep balance. She smiles warmly and says, "Of course, Usa-chan. I'm always happy to help, and I'm glad I could help you feel better."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi is,of course, oblivious to anything ulterior!

She hums in thought. "Yes, you're right. I don't wanna look unprofessional! And between you and Mamo-chan, I'd look good!"

Huzzah!

Usagi snuggles some more. "Lots better!"

She does, of course, want to give Rei a smooch, but she's not sure if they're at that awkward stage of 'can we smooch or would it be awkward!'

Rei Hino has posed:
    "Yes I-- we-- tend to have a good eye for that sort of thing. I'll help you out, and I'm sure Mamo-kun will, too!" Is it weird to gush about your girlfriend to her boyfriend? Maybe to some, but Rei feels like maybe Mamoru wouldn't be bothered.

    Rei doesn't mind kissing Usagi. They did kiss once before, and it didn't seem too awkward and it most certainly wasn't unwanted! She's been thinking about getting cuddly with Usagi since the moment she saw Usagi walk up the stairs, but she didn't want to stop her from talking if she really needed to talk.

    Kissing Usagi is still a bit new to Rei, but it's sweet and fun and sometimes she wonders why they haven't been doing this already. Distracted by apocalypses, maybe?

    Well, whatever it is that stopped her before, it's not there now. She leans forward just a bit, reading the signs and giving Usagi a soft kiss.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Mamoru wouldn't mind in the least. He'd probably be happy there's someone to UsaGush with instead of to! And the flailing and incoherent noises that may or may not result won't have to be explained.

Well, then! Usagi's more than happy to recirocate kisses given. She smiles and hums happily, tilting her head to one side as fingers dance along Rei's cheek.

Rei Hino has posed:
    The fingers on Rei's cheek bring out a happy sigh from her lips. She pulls back from the kiss, smiling at Usagi as she squeezes her in her arms, and tilts her head slightly to give her girlfriend another sweet kiss.

    There's something undeniably romantic about the two of them kissing underneath a cherry blossom tree, covered in a veil of pink overhead. Rei feels Usagi's warmth in her arms, and can't help but want to keep holding her.

    Grandpa steps out of the shrine, finds what his daughter is doing and, for once, clears his throat and heads back inside without comment. Even he wouldn't interrupt the two of them, it seems.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi is happy, eyes closed and content. It's a nice feeling to have, esecially after the near constant feeling of imagined ulcers roiling in her gut.

(It's not just Ami and Makoto. Naru's to blame for the biggest cluster of them!)

The gentle breeze adds to the image, of course. Strands of hair fluttering, blossoms dancing. Poetry has been written about just this.

Usagi doesn't notice Grandpa. If she did, she'd be a blushing bunny ball!

Rei Hino has posed:
    Poor Usagi, stressing out so much, especially over her friends. There's something that Rei finds admirable, about how Usagi cares so much. To be girlfriends with someone so loving...

    Rei presses herself against Usagi, taking the time to enjoy the feelings of lips against lips, at first holding still and merely pressing, but after a moment Rei's lips begin to move, brushing against Usagi's gently.

    A hand reaches up to scratch the back of Usagi's neck. Rei breaks from the kiss to whisper, "I love you, Usagi-chan."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's both a good thing and a bad thing. The bad, well, see aforementioned ulcers...

But right now, she isn't thinking about arguing friends. It's there, of course, in the back of her mind, but where some people can read and watch television at the same time and pay attention to both, Usagi is that way with People Dealing. (When she's not single-mindedly distracted, which she's close to!)

It is, however, Rei's warmth she's focused on. The soft skin just below her jawline. The wonderful contrasts between Rei's soft curves to Mamoru's sharper planes.

At Rei's admission, Usagi pulls back and slowly blinks. It's not the blink of someone trying to comprehend, but its the physical manifestation of her multi-tracked thoughts derailing onto one path. When she beams at Rei and kisses her with Much Enthusiasm, her mind is on one person.

"I love you, too~!"

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei doesn't mind helping Usagi with her ulcers. That willingness to support her has always been there, but being her girlfriend makes her just a bit more equipped to make Usagi feel better.

    Rei is soft, her hands a little rough from working, but most of her skin is supple and soft. Her raven hair, warmed as it is by the summer sun, falls over her shoulder and brushes against Usagi's arms.

    Usagi's blink gives Rei a moment's pause, wondering if she had said something wrong, but the expression on Usagi's face doesn't seem to be awkward or confused at all. Then Usagi speaks, kissing resumes, and the corners of Rei's lips curl into a smile.

    Rei is completely at peace right now, sharing a moment with her favorite bunny. Whatever she was doing before can wait. It's not as important as this.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
To support and be supported. For Usagi, it's sonething that feels a bit of a no brainer, especially the first part. Especially when she feels overwhelmed with the second.

Usagi herself has soft hands, from days and weeks where the most physically demanding part of her day is running to school. As Sailor Moon, her hands are protected by magic and gloves both.

And, well, her boyfriend's a healer.

Her own golden hair, ridiculously long, dances against Rei's own.

For a moment, there's no Takashi and the trouble he's caused. Right now, she's just happy to be here.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei enjoys a few more soft kisses, a few more moments of embracing and being touched by Usagi, and a few more moments of feeling that gentle breeze. With a soft smacking of lips, her head pulls away, glancing back at the shrine itself before looking back to Usagi.

    "Would you... like to go inside? We might be able to get more comfortable in there."

    As she asks, she traces a fingernail from Usagi's temple, over and behind her ear, all the way down to her neck before bringing it just underneath her chin, giving it a little scratch.

    "I mean... if you want to."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi is like a bunny in a lot of ways, but in this way she's very cat. She leans into the traces and scritches, nearly purring, because scritches are a necessity of life!

And yes, she even lifts her chin a little.

It takes a moment and a couple blinks, but finally she answers!

"Yeah! I mean, if you weren't busy when I came by."

Her eyes widen a little. "You weren't, were you? I didn't interupt things, did I?"

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei smiles as she watches Usagi enjoying the scritches. Such a good kitty, too!

    The miko shakes her head. "Nothing really. Just sweeping the grounds and waiting for a visitor... and as luck would have it, one came!" Wink!

    She glances towards the broom that she's left leaning against the tree. "I probably shouldn't leave this out, though." She pulls out of the hug, takes the broom with one hand, and takes Usagi's hand with the other, walking back a step or two to tug her along. "Come on! We can cuddle if you want. It'll be like old times except with more kissing."

    She doesn't drag Usagi, but she does lightly tug at her hand, coaxing her to follow.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Oh, phew! There's a visible sag of relief in her shoulders, followed by a giggle at the wink. "Well, good thing I came along! Otherwise who knows what sort of shady character woulda come to visit!" Serious, straight face. "Maybe even a carrot farmer."

She shudders a bit at the horrible mental image of a carrot farmer. Then she gives a little cheer! "Yay! Cuddles and kissing! I'm liking this upgrade!"

And of course,she follows!

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei blinks. What? A carrot farmer? "Carrot farmers are shady characters?"

    Oh, right. Usagi doesn't like carrots. Rei rolls her eyes. "Usagi-chan, I don't think we have any carrot farmers here."

    Rei leads Usagi towards the shrine, leaving the broom against the wall where it usually goes, kicking off her shoes as she walks past the threshold, and leading Usagi to her room by the hand.

    It's the one place where they can both be assured of their privacy, and it's not like Usagi has never been in Rei's room before, but something about inviting her girlfriend to her room sends little tingles through her skin.

    Once inside, Rei turns towards Usagi, shoves the corner of the door shut with the inside of her foot, and once closed she draws closer to Usagi, lips hovering over her girlfriend's.

    "So... where were we?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Oh, good. Because they're devious people! I bet!"

Not that she'd be mean to carrot farmers. She'd just be wary of them! Politely! Without them knowing!

Her shoes are flipped off haphazardly in the entrance and soon her thin socks scuff along the floor.

Inside Rei's room, which is the same but different now, she grins through red cheeks. "Hmm. I don't remember! Something about cuddling and kisses."

She leans forward a bit more, sloooowly...

And she steals a kiss! The fiend!

Rei Hino has posed:
    Something about cuddling and kisses? Oh yes, that's right. So maybe Rei sho--

    Gasp! Usagi just stole a kiss? From Rei?! Well, Rei will show her! She steals that kiss right back! Take that!

    Rei wraps her arms around Usagi's waist, leaning against her to nuzzle her cheek against Usagi's. She pulls Usagi further into the room, her foot finding a large pile of pillows on the ground. The same pillows she uses during sleepovers, really, except piled together while Rei was cleaning up her room. Maybe she should pick them up, but for the moment they make for a very soft place to cuddle.

    Rei releases Usagi from her embrace, sitting down on the pile of pillows and extending her arms upwards to invite her girlfriend to cuddle with her.