There are many more places within the Dark Kingdom than Beryl's throne room. Some of them, the youma have learned to avoid. There's no escaping the Queen's surveillance, if she's of a mind to look, but -- it's not the most likely she'll be watching the two of them now.
Also, as a bonus, this particular chamber does /not/ have disturbing things growing over it. The stream flowing through it is safely contained within almost decorative walls, and there's a ledge at convenient seating height that gives a fine view of the little rock bridge arching over it, and the shadows beneath it, and the shadows beneath the waters.
"So," Kunzite says, leaning back against the wall at one side of that ledge. It does something to even the difference in height, to encourage conversation. "You've had a few weeks. It sounds like you've been making use of it. Any interesting insights? Or do you find the human as irritatingly difficult to pin down as I do?"
This place is more comforting than the last place Jadeite and Kunzite met. Not that any place in the Dark Kingdom is particularly *rich* with comfort, but this is still *better*. He's even feeling comfortable enough to sit on the ledge rather than insist he stand, but *that* might be that it's *Kunzite* he's with. He makes a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat as Kunzite talks, turning his attention from the stream to instead look at the senior general.
"I suppose that depends on how you mean 'pin down'. I find it quite easy to access him in terms of time and company. He seems to like Saburo. But to be able to tell why he stands out so much amongst other humans, where his energy comes from..." Jadeite shakes his head, eyebrows lifting. "I have no answers. I can tell you he seems to know about it enough to harnass it, but I feel that's not new information."
There are a few places that are even aesthetically alien, but enough of those are Zoisite's work that ... well. No, they're not going to go looking at the unnervingly floral glowing fungi, just now. Not for this conversation. And Kunzite -- when Jadeite turns to look at him, Kunzite, no matter how relaxed he looks, is watching him steadily.
"I have no answers on that yet, either," he admits. "He can harness it, yes. He repaired Sailor Moon. He has a connection to her; he can locate her from a distance, at least under some circumstances. So perhaps he may draw power from whatever those annoying girls do. Whether the connection is two-way, I don't know. If it is, it will complicate things. It's a pity our best sorcerer is missing."
There is a pause the length of a breath. It's clear Kunzite hasn't finished; he hasn't blinked.
"Is there anything you've been waiting to tell me, Jadeite?"
And just like that, Jadeite stiffens, whatever relaxation and comfort he had found all whisked away by that seemingly-casual question at the end of speculation. He turns his eyes to search Kunzite's face, but as always, it gives nothing away. So what ends up /happening/ is Jadeite saying, a little too cageily, "You already know, don't you?"
The question is mostly rhetorical. Jadeite finds himself showing too much again, but this isn't Beryl and it isn't Nephrite, so there's a chance he may survive it. He looks back to the stream and tries to look more stoic than he feels. "I can say with authority that he does not *require* Sailor Moon to use that energy, regardless of whether he has a connection to her. It is not restricted to working for her benefit." There's clearly more *Jadeite* could be saying, too, but unlike Kunzite, he doesn't volunteer it in a carefully timed riposte.
And Kunzite opted not to ask that question in front of Beryl. That might indicate the chance of Jadeite's survival is higher again. Neither does he straighten up or lean in when Jadeite stiffens. The wall is comfortable. Well. No, it's the opposite of comfortable. But it's at least solid, and hard, and cold.
"Good. That may make it more difficult to bring him over, but it will make it less likely that he'll be killed by accident in the process. Presuming that he can use it for his own benefit, at least. As for what I know ... I know that Nephrite is missing, and not on Beryl-sama's orders after all. I know that Chiba's been shifting the attitudes of people around him. I know that you've been exposed to him for some time, long enough to have something in mind for bringing him in."
"I have no doubt that, if I asked him as Saburo for help, he would respond." Jadeite allows, almost slowly, eyes tracing over the features of the room without apparently seeing any of them at all. "Getting *his* attention is not the problem. He is surprisingly compliant. But he is also constantly surrounded. The real matter is how to get him away from the *herd* of young women who are constantly just..." The blond general gestures uselessly with one hand, in an attempt to indicate that Mamoru is forever being flocked, maybe by tiny ducks.
He looks back to Kunzite eventually, expression more resolute. "He seems to genuinely believe in the goodness of people, or *want* to believe in it, at least. He lacks what you might call an appropriate fear of those who would be his enemies. His heart can be used against him." And then *turned* against him, as Jadeite knows all, /all/ too well.
"There are possibilities," Kunzite says, lazy and even, his hands folding loosely in his lap. "There was a young woman at a dance last night, whom he paid attention to, and whom he's likely to feel guilty about. I don't know if she's a safe target - at least one of that herd of young women is capable of detecting our activity, and that's discounting Sailor Moon and her associates - but she might be able to lure him away. There are certain people that he tutors, some of whom are both predictably locatable and predictably neglected. So far, the herd has not seemed to accompany him to all of them, though that of course may change. Or, for a less adversarial approach ... he makes a habit of going running very early in the mornings. Teenagers are notorious for wanting to sleep in."
Jadeite's head shakes again, as if he's dismissing something that Kunzite is saying. "I can play the bait easily enough. I don't think he would suspect a thing. The matter is getting just /him/ and not one of the girls as well. There always seems to be one of them around. But, I suppose if there are places he does *not* have them with him, we should start there. I *also* suppose being able to direct the youma ahead of time is also significant." There's a part of Jadeite, worming its way through the shell of ice he'd encased it in earlier, that feels disquiet at the idea of betraying Mamoru's trust like that. He takes the course of a long breath to remind himself that this is his purpose, that his loyalties lie with the Dark Kingdom and aside from how abnormal Mamoru and his impact on others is, he's of no consequence.
"How would you recommend approaching this?" Kunzite asks, steady. "Simply ambush him at a time when he has a minimal amount of support with him? Use your other identity as bait? Approach him directly, and reserve the youma for backup if he does not cooperate?" His hands are still laced, so he doesn't gesture, per se; he extends one fingertip, then draws it back into place. "Some combination, or something else altogether? You're the one who's been studying him most ably. And we only need to bring him here. Even if he's surrounded by a flock of magical girls, if we can distract them long enough to render him unconscious, then the rest is done."
"Do we want my identity as Saburo to remain useful afterwards? It seems possible to me that if I can get close to Mamoru, I may be able to get close to his magical girl friends as well. We could set up an ambush when I am alone with him, or we have a minimal support from the flock. Apatite could cause a distraction across town to reinforce it. If it appears that Saburo is also taken, then when he somehow breaks free later and promises to help them /find/ Chiba..." Jadeite spreads his hands, there, as if to indicate a conclusion Kunzite can ultimately come to on his own. "If we don't care to plant a mole, the most straightforward answer may simply be for me to take him the first moment he and I are alone. I do not think if I came to him as myself and simply asked him to come with me to the Dark Kingdom that we would actually *get* anywhere. He has already expressed to me his resolution not to join or help us."
"A pity. It had sounded for a moment as if we might have had some chance, if you'd had enough time, simply to convince him; it would've saved energy. But the energy will still be a good investment." Kunzite turns his head, considering the bridge. "It seems wisest to me to maintain your identity as Saburo as long as possible. There's still the Crystal to find; if Chiba's been exposed to it, then the people around him may have traces. I'd prefer to maintain mine as Saito as well, but if it's one or the other, Saburo is probably the more useful to keep. Mm. The illusion of Saburo breaking free might be only partially useful. Some of them would want information, above all else; useful for baiting a trap, perhaps, but ... one of the girls around him could detect the shadow I placed on Chiba within seconds of his entering her presence. I'm not certain that it's useful to risk that one studying Saburo too intently. Unless you're sure you can mask yourself from her scrutiny."
Jadeite considers Kunzite's words carefully, indicating his understanding with a sharp nod and a quiet 'hn!' of sound. "So Saburo must not be abducted when Chiba is. Incapacitated. The less they think I know, the better. The less reason this girl has *to* scrutinize me, the better." He takes a long breath in, rubbing at the bottom of his chin in thought. "I am not sure. I haven't been given chance or cause to test my magics against hers. I will have to run experiments." Which generally means sculpting a lot of brainless little youma and draping them with illusions to see how well it works.
"I had no time to identify her," Kunzite admits. "Very dark hair, very long, and female; there are thousands of humans who match those qualifications. But we know the area. Uminari City, near the arcade. We can set traps, and use her own perceptions to separate her from the crowd."
Near /the/ arcade, as if there were only one. Near the arcade where Jadeite fought a giant robot, not so long ago.
How much does Kunzite know, again?
Jadeite isn't pressing, because *Kunzite* isn't pressing, and Jadeite already suspects he knows *exactly* what happened in front of that arcade. He doesn't supply any more information, or admit to how /warm and comfortable/ he feels when Mamoru is around. Instead, he inclines his head again. "I know the arcade. I can set up some traps."
"Good. If we can remove her as a factor, that will help considerably; but with Chiba's healing powers still in play, that's unlikely. So any information or energy we can bring back will be worthwhile, instead. If you'd prefer assistance, tell me." Pale eyes flicker back to Jadeite, still unnervingly steady. "And of course, if you encounter any better opportunities -- take them as you see fit. Is there anything that you need from me?"
There's been enough time for Jadeite to become almost used to that steadiness from Kunzite. He'd probably be more unnerved if the older General *blinked* more. He stands from the ledge after a moment, using both hands to tug his shirt back into the smooth, clean lines it *should* fall into. "I will let you know if I need your help, Kunzite. Unless *you* feel you have further need of *me*...no. I may as well start working on the problem."
"Good. Just remember -" Kunzite unfolds as well, brushing at his clothing with a hand. Less of the smooth, clean lines for him. Mostly because of that damn button. "Be careful, when Saburo is near him. Remember Nephrite. Our Queen would make it ... uncomfortable for me, if I were put in the position of having to choose between losing you and killing Chiba."
And of *course* he fades out in that moment, gone in a darkening shadow and a glimmer of faintly colored light. Of course he does.