As she promised before Usagi went to Paris, Homura has indeed moved all of Mamoru's things out of his apartment. The problem is that she doesn't have a place to move those things into, but that can be resolved by going apartment hunting with Usagi, which is another thing they promised.
Homura is wearing one of the purple ribbons that Usagi got her from Paris, as well as a cute purple skirt and a black blouse to go with it. Little black shoes and long black stockings cover the rest of her legs, and she wears a loose silver ring bracelet around her left hand. Her soul Gem ring is also on her left hand, but it looks like any other piece of jewelry to anyone who doesn't know what it is.
She unlocks the door to the apartment, glancing in and looking around. Purple eyes pass over the narrow hallway and storage area. "Hm. Guarded entrance," she says, with a hint of approval. She starts walking down the hall, glancing into the washroom as she passes it.
She turns to look at the girl who came with her, saying, "Not bad so far. Want to go further in?"
Apartment hunting is fun. Apartment hunting with Homura is even more fun! Usagi's studiously been ignoring numbers when they had the yen sign in front of him, not wanting to keel over from sticker shock and have anyone think she's uncouth!
She's also wearing something she got from Paris. (She did remember to shop for herself. Just.) Probably from last season, but hey, it was on sale! And cute! And pink! And green! And more pink! Though right now it's covered by her cute pink jacket, because brrrr!
Inside the apartment, Homura is thinking security and logistics. Usagi is thinking...not quite that. When she opens a door, her eyes widen in gleeful surprise. "Homura, look, look!" She points at the toilet. "This way, if you come in through the front door and really have to pee, you don't have to run through the whole place!"
She realizes Homura is continuing the tour, and she skips after.
She stops, of course, when she sees the living room. "Woah. It's probably the size of mine."
She's not sure how accurate that is. There's nothing moved in yet, and rooms always look smaller when crowded with stuff. Just look at her room!
Homura glances back at Usagi as the talks about the toilet. At first she's surprised, because that's not at all the line she was thinking on. After a moment, she smiles. It's the kind of perspective she wanted Usagi along for. This is going to be a home, after all. Hopefully at least one of those someone's is going to be Mamoru.
That's the intent, anyways.
As for the price, well, Homura already planned on taking it out of the shared 'Darien Shields' account that Mamoru and Homura are holding onto. Homura's pretty sure that Mamoru would approve of the money being spent this way. Especially if it provided a safe place for Jadeite to be.
Homura stops to glance into a closet, allowing Usagi to pass by her into the living room first. When she does enter the living room, looking at the large glass windows and the door to the balcony, she says, "Wow, nice." She walks over to the window, peeking out to get a good view of Tokyo. "View isn't bad either."
Walking around the living room, she notes, "I could live with that as a balcony."
Usagi beams back, and instead of checking out more rooms, she steps out onto the balcony. She sighs a little at the size, but then reminds her Mamo-chan's apartment won't be a No Man's Land forever. She perks up a bit at that thought, and considers jumping in as Sailor Moon. "Well, if we do let others know about this place, they'll have to be careful how they land." She goes to the far corner, close to the rails. "And look, a place for roses and they're not as likely to get trampled!"
And then, less Magical Girl Practical and more Asthetics, she hums. "Not much for sunrises or sunsets, but that's okay, right? He could go to the roof if he wanted!" She leans over and looks up. "Yup, should be fine!"
And then her nose is pressed against the doors leading to the master bedroom. "Woooooah, definitely bigger than my room." Plenty snuggle room, too, mweeheehee.
Uh oh! That devious giggle was out loud, wasn't it?!
"It is small but with a bit of precision we could land there," responds Homura, with a shrug. "Either way it's just a temporary problem."
Homura tilts her head to the side, glancing upwards. "He might actually prefer it on the roof."
The little giggle that Homura hears from Usagi is probably taken as maybe a little devilish than anything Usagi was thinking about. Or maybe about the same levels of devilishness. Homura's lips are a tight-lipped smirk as she tries not to laugh.
A small laugh is in her voice when she speaks regardless of attempts to hide it. "Well you may as well plan for that kind of thing, too."
Homura looks around, after having thought about as much tactical/practical stuff as she thinks is important. "I wonder what it would look like with Mamoru's stuff in it?" she asks, trying to visualize it. The bed here, the coffee table there, a couch in this spot.
Usagi sighs. Precision? Her? "Maybe he should keep the roses on the roof, too."
She hums in thought. She probably shouldn't...
But if he'll prefer the roof, she's got to make sure it's nice, right?
"Be right back!" A quick henshin and she checks the roof out before coming back in, perhaps slightly less precisely than Homura had in mind. "Oof. Okay, so. There's grass up there, at least. And nobody was around, so maybe it's not used...too often? Pretty sure he'd find a way to avoid people, though. He's like a cat. Very hidey and very fond of high places!"
She blushes a bit at Homura's tone of voice. And her words. "Yes...because...cuddles. Yes."
Oh good, a distraction! And she's Usagi again. "Well, maybe the bed next to the window. So when he wakes up in the middle of the night, he can look out it all broody." She gives her best impersonation of Mamo-chan's Broody Face.
She fails.
"And oh!" She slides open the door to the bedroom and peeks in the closet. Then she gives out a happy squeal. "There's room for all his clothes! Yay! Except his space shirts, because those are--" Crap. "Um. The drawer I have the least amount of stuff is...ah...forfrillyunderwear. Don't tell him that's where I'm keeping them!"
And of course, it's impossible not to think about his stuff going here or there without thinking about him. And she hasn't told anyone. And Homura...may understand? "...We sort of ran into each other in Paris while I was shopping."
"Sure, sure. Cuddles! Cuddles are important," says Homura. She never intentionally clarifies if she means anything by that. "You two have fallen in love over and over, so cuddling is certainly warranted."
Homura is suddenly glad that she decided to just move entire drawers at a time instead of pulling all of the clothes out and looking at them. Actually sneaking in and taking all of his stuff was enough of a privacy invasion already. She really didn't want to pry more than what was necessary.
She shifts her feet a little as Usagi talks about the frilly underwear, and then clears her throat. "A-ah, I see. Well, I mean... we can probably find room for his clothes somewhere. Don't worry I wont tell him."
Then she closes her eyes starts smirking uncontrollably because she's imagining Mamoru finding that out on his own.
Fortunately for both of them, Usagi brings up something else. A meeting in Paris? Homura is quiet for a moment, and she certainly isn't smirking. Her eyes are actually a bit melancholy, and her lip is a thin line. She glances away and says, "Yeah... I've seen him a few times, too."
"So... He was in Paris? That's quite a place to meet him." For multiple reasons.
She closes the doors to the closet. "I'mma cuddle his brains out, I think." Double meaning? Nope. She's content cuddling him foreeeever.
She turns and catches sight of that smirk, and her blush is bright. "H-hey, it was either there or boxes in the attic. I mean, we have things up there we haven't seen in years!" Oh speaking of. No, she'll show the picture later!
Because yeah. Paris.
"I think...I accidentally brought him there. I poked...something, and could actually -- I didn't know he'd actually feel it. Or be curious enough to investigate!" She throws up her hands.
And Homura has her thinking. "Did he seem...sad? Or was that just me?"
Ug. Jealous girlfriend.
(She's the one who's supposed to be his jealous girlfriend! And even she's not as jealous as she'd imagine that woman being!)
Homura listens as Usagi relates the story, pausing before she answers. "Poked at something? What, like that thing you were telling me about a month ago? The sandpaper and the... feeling that something broke?"
Homura considers Mamoru's feelings. Was he sad? Was that what she saw in his eyes? She thinks back. He certainly had enough to be sad about.
'Consort' indeed.
"A lot of times when I see him it's mostly businiess, but he does seem sad sometimes. I think the worst I saw him at was when he figured out who gave you his number. He was worried then. Maybe that was a mistake..."
Yet, it's not a mistake that Homura really regrets making. In fact, she went right ahead and made the exact same mistake, with a small change.
"He did indicate that it'd be okay if Sailor Moon texted him, presumably for planning purposes with regards to Walpurgisnacht. It's only Usagi Tsukino who shouldn't have his number."
Homura hesitates before she says the next bit. It's the kind of thing that will make Usagi upset... but it's also the kind of thing that Homura would want to know about if it was happening to her loved one.
"He said you might be seen as a threat to his Queen's 'ownership'."
Her shoulders droop. "Yeah...but I don't...regret it? Texting him as Usagi? Okay, I regret making him worried. But other than that?" She shrugs. "I texted him a few more times after he said he was going to throw it in the bay. Catharsis there. He doesn't see it, I get some weight off, win, win!"
The blood in her veins freezes, though, at Homura's last sentence. She just stands there, stock still, until she calmly (albeit icily) excuses herself from the room. When she comes back, the last sounds of a toilet being flushed can still be heard.
And her veins are still frosty and her stomach's still roiling. "'Ownership'? Like...some sort of...animal?" She doesn't look at Homura, because she doesn't want her friend thinking she's mad at her. "That's a bit more descriptive than jealous girlfriend."
Homura doesn't breathe a word as Usagi leaves the room. She stands still, looking at a point in the wall, wearing her stone cold face. She says still, right there, as she hears the toilet flushing, and not making a single comment until Usagi enters the room again.
Homura hears the ice in Usagi's voice. She sympathizes, really. Still, she thinks it's important for Usagi to understand the situation, so she can handle it with the... proper weight.
"Yeah, like an animal, or an object. Some manner of possession," says Homura. Her tone does nothing to hide the tense undercurrent of hatred she feels. "That's my brother who's being treated that way, and I have very strong opinions about that. I can only imagine that you have similar feelings.."
She still avoids the word 'consort', but that idea has been more or less communicated anyways. Homura turns to face Usagi, her stone cold eyes meeting Usagi's. "It would be one thing if he was happy. If she actually treated him with a shred of respect I wouldn't... be this angry. I'd still want to see him get better, him and his brothers, but I wouldn't be as worried about him as I am."
She glances away, breaking eye contact, "... He's done so much, out nothing but of kindess and generousity, to help people, to help me... I can't stand it. He deserves better."
She wants to plug her ears and 'lalala' everything away, but she also really doesn't.
She clears her throat, feeling something new begin to set root. Or, not new rather, but at an intensity she doesn't quite understand yet. "Similar. Probably." She wants to throw things. Even if her knowledge on things are limited, she knows odds are the whole ownership thing goes beyond it. He probably won't wanna be cuddled for awhile. That's okay, she'll wait.
Usagi nods, barely. "If he really wanted to be there, if he were him and happy..."
She looks up and meets Homura's eyes. "Kunzite's plan needs to go faster before I do something rash." Screw the damn crystal, she wants to say. But she doesn't, because Zoicite proved she's not strong enough without it. And she's just been...moping. At least before Paris. She can count the number of times she's been Sailor Moon since it happened on one hand. (There's more than that, though, but anger usually doesn't lead to straight thinking.)
Then she deflates. "He does. Much more." She sighs. Sometimes she thinks she's too young for this job. Right now, she just wishes she had more experience. "I'd already made my mind up in Paris. But this just confirmed it. I think I'm going to try harder to be closer to who he thinks I am."
Homura wasn't really thinking about this before she said it... but... the fact that Usagi can hear bad news and take it, standing, even if it enrages her... just the fact that she can face it...
Well, Homura gains a bit more respect for her, knowing that. Usagi already had an amount of Homura's respect, but she's just gained a bit more on top of that.
"I think... you're the only one who can really fix this. It's really up to you. I don't really like to rely on other people, but I guess it's just that..." Homura looks at Usagi again, looking her in the eyes, "I have faith in you."
Seeing her deflate, Homura tilts her head to the side. She reaches out to touch Usagi's upper arm. "I don't know if there's much I can do to help, but if there is, please let me know. I know he has a lot of friends, and they'll feel the same way. I know Kunzite wants to save the others, but he's in a very precarious position. It'll only get worse as time goes on."
Homura's faith brings a flush to her cheeks, and if she were in a happier place she would feel pleased. Still, she does manage a small smile.
She leans, just abit, against the hand on her arm. And she realizes she's grateful it's Homura here. For the first time in her recollection, she really does not want to be hugged.
"It wasn't fair of me to say that about Kunzite. I know he's trying hard to do what he can." The roof helped prove that. She glances at Homura's shoulder. "There's...possibly something. Can I tell you? Like I did today? It's just...Mercury's stressed out enough as it is and...I just don't want them to worry about me more than they already do.
Then her eyes meet Homura's, determined. "And I will get him back, even if it kills me."
"He is..." Homura quickly nods, not taking her eyes off of Usagi. "... but I also understand, it's hard to be patient in times like these."
Homura is looking directly into Usagi's eyes when she says she'll get him back, even if it kills her. The Puella Magi doesn't need any explaination other than that. She's seen, and made, enough sacrifices to know the feelings that go along with it.
"Yeah... I thought so. Well, I'd prefer if you didn't get killed, but I understand your dedication."
Homura's hand squeezes Usagi's arm before the Puella retracts it, thoughtfully placing a curled finger on her chin, while the other arm suppors her elbow from below.
"Sure... you can tell me. Is this the kind of thing I should be keeping to myself? It wouldn't be the only secret I keep." Believe it or not, Homura actually does keep secrets sometimes. She doesn't always give away boy's phone numbers!
Another small smile for Homura. "It's hard to be patient as it is. This isn't quite impossible to be patient for, though." Even if every cell in her body screams to get him back, even when she's being cheerful.
Usagi ducks her head and shrugs a bit. "I'd like it not to come down to it, but." He'd disagree, but he's the most important, she thinks.
And then she's actually grinning. "Yeaaaah, it would probably be best if you didn't. It may get back to the girls, and I'd rather not be blind sided with an intervention." Not that she'd need one.
Maybe.
She sighs. She doesn't like this feeling roiling about her gut. It's heavy and dark and tastes like copper.
And what cheers her up faster than anything?
"Anyway." She roots around in her purse for a quick moment. "My brother found this picture in the attic. He needed to do an assignment on an important day in history, and the twerp chose the day he was born."
She hands the picture over. "Is that who I think it is?"
The picture is shot from a doorway, and though the young girl's face is turned, it's clearly her in a hospital with the signature odangos and short little twintails who's handing a rose to a boy a few years older than her.
Homura is more than happy to let the topic go as Usagi shifts to something else. When she hears that yes, this is a secret, then she nods. Then she chuckles. "The day he was born? Really?"
Homura takes the picture between her thumb and index figure and takes a moment to look at it. "In the hospital... how old is your little brother again?"
That would be an amazing coincidence. Ridiculous, really. Or maybe the word she should start using is 'miraculous'?
Homura takes a good long considering look before she decides. She flips the picture around, holding it flat between her index and middle finger as she hands the picture back to Usagi, she says, "I can't believe it. You two are like magnets, aren't you? Just drawn to each other over and over again. Two halves of each other, really."
Homura long knew that whatever existed between them was serious. This? This a completely different level.
"I wonder... if that's really Mamo-kun, then I wonder if he remembers that day."
Usagi thinks for a moment. Then another. "Ummm. He's...teeeeeleve...n? Eleven. Born...Juuu...August?" She knows these answers, of course. Her shoulders droop. "Ug, fine. He's an eleven year old twerp born on August sixth, and even though I wanna strangle him I still got something really cool for him from Paris because I'm the only person ever allowed to strangle him."
She peers over Homura's shoulder, and then she's grinning. "Well, if it is, now I know Papa's stories were true. Apparently, I kept saying I was going to marry the boy from the hospital, and then cried for days when I was told I didn't know his name." A harrumph. "He kept telling that story every time family visited."
She gasps a little. "What if he does? Or what if he doesn't?" Which would be worse?!
Homura smiles, even giggles as Usagi tries not to remember such a very important day in history (according to Shingo). Homura hasn't ever grown up with a little brother, so she doesn't really know what that's like, but it's still cute to witness.
"Well, you might marry him still. No matter the circumstances..."
Homura pauses for a moment, then adds, "He actually told me something once. He said it was a Winston Churchill quote. 'If you're going through hell, keep going.' I think what he was trying to say was... just because things are rough now, that doesn't mean there isn't a brighter future in store."
Homura pauses for a moment, smile falling as she considers something, and then her smile rises again. "You know... I think I like this place. I bet Mamo-kun would like it too, at least as a temporary thing."
Homura henshins for a moment, pulling something out of her shield. When she dehenshins, it's clear that she's holding a small gift bag in her hands. She lifts it towards Usagi, offering it.
"This... this is yours. I know he wanted you to have it."
Usagi blushes, a deep scarlet. "W-what? I'm too young to think about such things! I-I mean, it's not like I think spring would be good but instead of cherry blossoms there'd be roses or that, you know, red and pink would be good colors and that we'd have several flavors of cake HAHAHAHAHAHAHA the ideas you get, Homu-chan!"
Then she's considering the quote. "I think I like that...can you text it to me?"
She blinks at the henshin, and blinks some more at the box.
When she opens it, though, she gives out a gasp as a wave of nostalgia rolls over her. She picks it up and sets it in the palm of her hand. "This is so--"
And then she's craning her neck back as though looking at someone much taller.
----
''Fireworks. The moon is celebrating. There's always a celebration, but today's is so much better for Serenity. Even her grand birthday balls pale compared to this one.
Endymion is before her, finally, on the moon. She's managed to creep away from the party, and they're on a balcony, Earth hanging full and low.
She pulls the locket she's wanted to give to him for so long now, something to remember her by when she's not able to be around.
An impossibly warm hand cradles her cheek, and there's a faint brushing of lips and--
----
"...pretty." She blinks a bit and looks back down at the locket, opening the tiny compartment so the music could play. "I gave this to him."
Homura watches Usagi's reaction with no small amount of mischevious enjoyment. Watching her get flustered like that... adorable. "Well of course I don't mean today, or even anytime soon... but I find it hard to imagine either of you with anyone else."
Homura watches Usagi's reaction to the gift. She doesn't see the flashbacks, or the fireworks, or anything like that. What she does see is a gift appreciated. If Mamoru were only here to see it.
"There was also a letter with it," says Homura. Indeed if Usagi looks inside, she'll find it. It isn't sealed. Homura clears her throat, "I had to read it in order to see who the gift was for. It... um... Well maybe it'd be better if you saw it yourself."
----
Usako--
I've had this forever. It might have been my mother's; I don't really know. What I do know is that I think it's meant for you. If you turn the face of it counterclockwise, it winds it up, and the song it plays made me instantly think of you when I heard it again. It always used to make me feel strangely nostalgic when I played it before, but not anymore.
You can laugh at me when you read this, because it means I've finally remembered to give it to you. A letter and a locket from past-me to present-you, handed over by future-me! Well. Present-me to the you reading this, but future-me to me-right-now, and... right, not getting tangled up in time travel. Too many potential grammar mishaps.
Anyway, the locket and my love are both yours.
~Mamoru
The blush is still there, but it's smaller now. "Me, neither. I think I've decided it's either him or living with twenty cats. I considered bunnies, but they have bonded mates, and when one of them dies the other grieves for a really long time. So I figured cats, because they'd survive better."
She doesn't, of course, consider any reflection the bonded rabbit thing has on herself right now. Even if in this case, she's a very much bonded bunny!
She blinks at the mention of the letter, nodding because figuring out who it was for made sense. So, on goes the locket! Around her neck, clasp secure. And then she reads.
And by the second paragraph, she's smiling fondly. "Awww, he's such a nerd." This is, of course, delivered with the same affection as she would with 'Aww, he's so sweet.' Which she does at the end of the letter.
And then she looks around. "You're right. I think this place would make a good second apartment." And then a mildly cautious eye. "...you still agree we're keeping the first one, right?"
Homura looks down and away at Usagi's last statement. "That's no longer even a question, if ever it was one. I never told you what I found there, did I? In addition to the locket, I mean."
Homura's hand grabs her opposite arm, squeezing it for a moment. "I... when I was moving his furniture out, I found a door hidden behind a bookcase. It was padlocked, but I figured that if I didn't go snooping first then the Dark Kingdom would, and I wanted to make sure that everything was safe."
"You wanna know what was beyond that door?"
The time travelling Puella Magi looks up again, with eyes that are very serious, but lips still curled into a smile, like her face didn't know whether to be somber or happy and so chose something in-between.
"Three other apartments, just like his. Usagi-chan..."
Homura's hand drops to her side again, and the smile wins out. "I'm pretty sure that... he was planning on having his brothers there."
Usagi thinks about this for a moment. "Behind a bookshelf." For some reason, at this moment, it's this that gives her pause. Then she's doing a little giddy jig. "He is such a big, fluffy, huggable, nerrrrrd!"
And then, giddy out of her system, she sighs. "Think he knew they were missing, even if he didn't know who they were?"
And then. Another thing. And another blink. "Wait. Three apartments? Not rooms?" That explains how no neighbors complained. But still! "Did he have a secret job I don't know about?"
Homura stands up a bit more straight, smiling as Usagi gets all giddy over his nerdiness. Homura remembers full well how Sailor Moon went up to Endymion and told him to talk nerdy to her.
Then she nods, saying, "Yeah, I think so. I think he knew that something was missing in his life, and maybe... just maybe he knew that he'd get it back one day. He was probably preparing for that moment."
"As for the cost, well... as someone who is familiar with Mamoru's finances, I can say that he comes from a rich family. We both come from rich families, actually." Homura reaches up behind her and flips her hair out, letting the locks fly up and then fall behind her.
Then she frowns. "It's too bad he doesn't remember them, but whoever they were, they certainly left a lot of money behind. That's where he got the money from. That's also why selling the apartment would never be necessary to begin with."
She sees Homura's smile and gives a little wiggle. "He's just so cute when he's being nerdy, I just wanna give him a bunch of smooches."
Eeee! "The only downside to that, of course, is it's gonna be hard working with Endymion on Vaultpurseinsnot." (Just look at his eyes! That'll work!)
She's tapping her chin. "But why only one bedroom in the first apartment? I'd think he'd want there to be options to having one of them close."
She focuses as much on Homura's words as she does the hairflip. She tries on one of her twintails, and the hair just settled on her face in a tangled mess. This has a double purpose of giving her time to process said words.
She kind of figured, because of her house, that Homura's parents had a few dollars. And Mamoru's car makes a bit of sense. "Soooo, what you're saying is...he doesn't have a job?"
Then she feels a bout of melancholy for him. "I wonder what they were like. At the very least, they'd have to have been amazing, wonderful, loving, super smart, and kind because where else would he have gotten that from?"
"Yeah, whenever Madoka-chan does something sweet or kind I just want to cuddle her, so I think I know the feeling."
Homura watches Usagi try to flip one of her twintails only to get tangled. She leans in, places her hand behind her neck, and says, "Look, see, here I'll do it slowly."
Homura slowly moves her hand against the locks of hair, and each strand of smooth, silky hair falls individually, with no tangles or mess, like individual droplets in a waterfall. "See, in order to hairflip like this, you have to brush it out so it doesn't tangle. It also helps if you use a good shampoo and conditioner so it doesn't look sloppy."
After the hairflip she stands up straight, hands falling to her sides. "Yeah... working with him is going to be weird. I... know I said I needed his firepower at the meeting but... oh you're going to think I'm selfish. I just wanted to fight by my friend's side again, even if it's just like that. Plus I know he would've wanted to be there when it happened."
Homura glances away for a moment, "Honestly, if you have a chance to save him before then, don't feel like you need to hesitate on account of Walpurgisnacht."
Homura closes her eyes and shakes her head. "I don't know why he'd want only one bedroom, but maybe he just hasn't thought that far ahead, or maybe he has other plans. I don't really know, but I do know that he doesn't have a job and doesn't really need one. Whoever his parents were, I'd like to think they'd have wanted the best for him."
Usagi hides her mweeheehee smile behind a hand. Hey, Homura's not the only shipper in the room.
She watches Madoka, carefully, and pulls out a brush from her purse. "Mama and I have had an arrangement for years. I keep my hair brushed, she won't take me in for anything more than a trim. And she'd buy me that nice stuff that salons carry." She straightens her back with pride as she begins the slow process of untangling her hair. "As you can probably tell, I've held up my end of the bargain for a few years, at least. It'd just be too much of a pain to wash it every day."
She listens to Homura as she finishes brushing out the tangled tail and begins working on the other. "Of course I think it's selfish. But you know what? I also think it's okay to be, sometimes. Especially for Walpurgisnacht." Wait, what? She knows how to say the word? "And yours is the very smartest kind of selfish for it, I think. Because he is smart. He is strong."
She sighs and wraps her arms around herself, a hug. "Mine is probably a dumb kind of selfish. Because when I kissed him on the roof? For three seconds I was kissing him. Not who he is now, but Mamo-chan. Tiny, but bright and gold and warm, and I've been trying to hold onto that. And even though who he is now isn't him, there's still that...spark of him." She sighs. "I think, on some deep, buried level, he still knows us. Because why would he care some mundane girl wants to talk to him? Even now, he's protecting me, even if he doesn't know why. So I really do think it's a truly great idea getting him on our side for Waltdisneyworld." Well, it was nice while it lasted.
Then she admits something she hasn't before. "I...I almost forgot what he feels like, before the roof. Is that bad?"
She tilts her head back and hums, and it serves the dual purpose for thinking and trying to get those stubborn tears back in her eyes. "Honestly? I can't imagine a world where Mamo-chan's parents didn't love him with everything they had."
Homura smiles as Usagi not only acknowledges the selfishness but also accepts it, saying that it's okay. The correct pronunciation of Walpurgisnacht actually makes her laugh, because it means Usagi's been joking about it this whole time."Haha, yeah. Well it's not a bad idea, anyways. You're right, I mean. He's one of the smartest guys I know, he's significantly less of a jerk than the other smart guy I know, and I've always thought that he was strong, even when he didn't think he had any powers."
Homura blinks at Usagi as she describes the kiss. Sure, Homura already inferred that there was probably kissing. The drunk texting gave it away, and even without that... why wouldn't there be? Yet... what she actually says catches her off guard.
Especially considering what Madoka told her the other day...
"I don't think it's dumb. I think it's the right kind of selfishness. When he had a choice, he chose you, and he made that choice over and over again. There's nothing wrong with respecting his decision."
Homura's head tilts, as she says, "... but I find it interesting, that you felt him underneath it all. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that you'd be an exception, but... when other people touch him, they don't really feel what they used to. He feels like a stone wall, like his true self is being blocked off."
The thought that Usagi might forget what Mamoru feels like does bring a frown to Homura's face. She glances away. "That's a scary thought. I can't imagine what that's like, forgetting someone that close to you."
"... I think his parents would be proud of how he turned out." Homura lets a smile return to her face, though weakly, at the thought of that.
"Right?!" Someone agreeing with her that Mamo-chan is both powerful and smart? Happy times. Her eyes are near sparkling. "And even when though he thought he wasn't, he always tried to help somehow. And even if I did take it a little badly when I saw him there, I knew it was genius to ask for his help. And I'm sorry again I took it so badly, I was just blindsided, and I'm not mad at you at all for it, even then, because you didn't even know I was coming."
Breathe, Usagi.
It's...perhaps the best reminder Usagi could get. That Mamoru chose her, and will again. And again. Because even though she knows he did, that someone else also knows it? Best thing ever. "I don't have all my memories back yet, but I'd choose him. If he weren't Endymion...it'd always be him." A firm, decisive nod.
"I felt that wall, when I tried to poke things in Paris. It's almost as though he's...hiding himself? But...I've never had that touch thing with him. The only time I ever saw any of his memories was when I was touching him when he touched Mercury. That's...also how I figured his apartment was important, and other things, because that orphanage gave me nightmares when Mama told me what it was." Okay. Too much information. "I can't even watch a lot of R-rated movies without getting nightmares." Seriously, mouth. Shut up. "I barely slept for two weeks after I accidentally watched Cujo because at first it was cute puppy then scary dog and I kept thinking he was at my window even though my room's on the second floor." Oh good grief.
Clearing of the throat.
"I...I know what he feels like. If I think, I can...put it in words. But you know how in winter, everything is cold and dead? You know spring will come, but you forget..." A sigh. "It was like seeing green leaves budding on a tree, or...I don't know, a dandelion being all adorably weedy."
She watches Homura. Her friend is sad. And Usagi isn't hug prickly right now. So Homura gets a warm Usagi hug. "I think so, too. Maybe even jealous because he's more amazing than they could ever hope to be." Yes, she is biased. Why do you ask?
Homura smirks. "Yeah honestly, I was afraid that if I warned people, they'd set up an ambush, and then no one would be prepared for the real threats that I was trying to warn people about to begin with. We're lucky to have him on our side, but honestly it happened on a whim."
"One day I'd like to hear about those memories, though it might be a strange story if they aren't complete," says Homura. She can't help but wonder what that's like, to have memories of a past life.
Homura rubs her chin as Usagi describes her own experience with that wall. "I had assumed that it was because he was being blocked... but if he was hiding himself? That would... that would be better at least. It's far less horrifying if he's doing it by some kind of personal choice." It actually makes her a little less mad, thinking about it that way. Only a little though. He's still got something he feels like he has to hide from.
When Usagi starts talking about how she gets nightmares, Homura glances off to the side. She's pretty sure if she described her nightmares to Usagi it'd also give Usagi nightmares. Instead she settles on, "Well, I mean... we're dealing with scary stuff here." Was that really the right thing to say? Homura doesn't even know.
When Usagi moves in for the hug, Homura reaches around to catch her, leaning into it. "Heh, yeah. He's someone to look up to, that's for sure." Homura might also be a bit biased in that direction.
Usagi grins. "Yeaaaah. I can kind of...see. Why." She sighs and looks up again. "I won't let Venus try to topple skyscrapers on them. Even if I have to tank them myself to prove a point."
And then she's grinning, right out. "From what I remember, Endymion was a lot more open. And Kunzite taught Serenity a lot. And Jadeite...he was just...the sweetest person. I'm really glad he's the first general we were able to get back. Because of all of those four, he's..." She sighs. She doesn't want to imply he's the weakest. Or anything like that at all. But she only has one comparison she can make. "He's almost like...me?" She hums and taps her chin. "I don't know how I feel about Serenity yet. First memory I have of her? Beryl tried to kill her and Endymion blocked the blow. Then she offed herself. So...I don't...I can't see...I'm not like that. And it's why...I had Mars stay with me after, you know? Because I was afraid she'd...I don't know." She shrugs.
"If I can't believe he's hiding himself, that he's on, some level, keeping from being found so they don't try to rip all of him away? I'd go crazy. And I do believe that's what he's doing. I felt it, I've seen it, and Kunzite told me he believed in me until...well, he knows I'm coming for him."
Usagi snorts and rolls her eyes. "I know. You'd think I have enough nightmare fodder. But, well." She shrugs. "Mama and Papa sleep with music in their room so they can't hear me scream. Especially lately, when I do manage a snooze."
And then, as though she hadn't just said that, she hums in agreement. "Yeah. And he also makes you want to be the person he sees you as, right?" Because who he sees Usagi as being? Well. Usagi only wished she were half that amazing.
Homura blinks as Usagi says she'd be willing to tank a skyscraper, just to prove the point. She closes her eyes and nods. "I see. Endymion asked me to try to make the point to the senshi that the Shitennou will be playing a defensive role in the fight. They know that Venus hates them, and they don't seem to fault her for that, but they wanted to at least stress the point that they'll have an easier time fulfilling their role in battle if they don't have to protect themselves from Sailor V in addition to Walpurgisnacht."
Homura reaches up under her hair to scratch the back of her neck, saying, "I know Sailor Venus doesn't like me that much. She's not... entirely wrong but... I don't think I'm the threat she sees me as."
Homura takes interest in what Usagi has to say about the past life. It's odd, hearing about it, as if it were real to them. As if the other life was just like... a place they used to live in before they moved here, though clearly some things have changed. "I see. I wonder if that was what they were like, before the..." Homura makes a circle motion with her finger around her ear, "...brainwashing."
The Puella can only guess what Usagi means by 'like me'. Sensitive, maybe? Kind? Before she comes to a conclusion, Usagi gets to the part about Serenity, and her eyes widen. "I... I see. I'm glad you had friends around to look out for you then."
Was that the difference? Friends who knew what would happen and could stop it? Or was Usagi just a different person from what she was? People do change.
Homura considers the nightmares, thinking out loud, "I guess that wouldn't be a problem for me. I don't live with my parents. Well I mean, you saw my apartment. It's just room for me, and if I have a guest they have to sleep on the couch." Well, unless they're the kind of guest that's willing to cuddle.
Homura smiles for a moment, nodding, "Yeah, I think he really sees the best in people. I don't think I'm quite as nice as he thinks I am, but... I do kindof wish I was. There's something about him that really makes you want to do your best."
"... but I don't know, Usagi-chan. I think you're pretty cool in a lot of ways. You remind me of Madoka-chan, sometimes."
Usagi sighs. "I'm going to try to do what I can to make sure that doesn't happen from our end. And I get they just want to save it so they can have it, but...one step, right?"
Then she glances around, and her voice likely indicates this is probably on that secret list. "Sometimes I'm not even sure she likes me. I mean, the princess? Sure? But..." She shrugs before she sighs. "But I also think...even if she denied it, or acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. I think she blames herself from what happened back then and she just may not know...how to deal? I don't know."
She shrugs again, for a different reason. "At their core, maybe? But Mamo-chan's different from Endymion, even if they're also sort of the same. But, like I said, I have a bias over one than the other."
Her eyes widen a little. "I didn't want to! But I wasn't sure -- I mean, I was stuck as her for a few days before I figured how to go back. So I just -- " Augh. Having a princess getup was complicated. "I'm still me, when I'm her. But she's still there, just...underneath the waves. And I didn't want her to jump up like a shark."
"I think...I want to envy you, having your own place, but I also don't. Plus, I think I'd make a bad sleep over guest, because I'd want to snuggle. And Ami-chan tells me I'm wiggly or something. But she still lets me!"
Usagi is in complete agreement. "Well, I think you're nice! For what that's worth!" She does a little spin in the room, to demonstrate. "And...he wants...It's like, I'm not an academic. And even though he wants me to pass, I know he doesn't want me to be a Brainy, Smart Me. He wants me to be a completely Usagi me. So yeah, he sees your best, and wiggles his clever fingers about, and tries to pull that out until poof! there you are. The best you."
Her head dips down a bit, a sheepish but pleased grin on her face. "High praise indeed, comparing someone to...someone you care about."
"It's a common strategy to team up with a more reasonable enemy in order to take out one that can't be reasoned with," says Homura. "As much as Beryl disgusts me, the Shitennou aren't... well, they're enemies, for now, but I hope one day they'll be friends."
Homura hms at the thought of Sailor Venus blaming herself for what happened during the Silver Millennium. She still isn't sure what to think. "I guess she has a heavy burden to bear. I have some idea what that's like, blaming yourself I mean. I know that Kunzite, of all people, spoke to her defense. I guess I just don't like people who are too eager to fight. Then again I come from a vastly different world than you. For me, pointless fighting is like wasting my lifeblood. Even if I win the fight I still lost way more than I could ever gain."
Homura nods as Usagi explains her concerns with Serenity, and then adds, "I think I have some idea what that's like... maybe not from your perspective but maybe from your friends. That's a little hard for me to explain, though."
Homura smirks as Usagi mentions almost envying Homura and yet not. "I think you'd like having your family around, honestly. I mean, you seem like the kind of person who would. I'm just guessing that." At the mention of snuggling, Homura glances off to the side, "I actually snuggle too sometimes, but not all the time."
She actually blushes slightly as Usagi says she's nice. She smiles and says, "Thanks... and yeah. I kindof feel like he was trying to... get me together with Madoka so that she'd show me how to be a better person. I kindof... shied away from her at the time. Now I wish I hadn't."
Homura clears her throat and says, "Well I mean... you're not quite the same but you both have... a certain quality. She's unfailingly kind, and I guess... I see that in you, too. I don't think I could ever emulate that, but it's a good quality to have."
"Oh, I think I want to throw the entire moon at that woman and watch her fingers twitch." She didn't really expect to say anything about her, and wonders why such a violent thought is spoken out loud. "Ahhh...Heh heh..."
Fortunately, she has other things to keep her mind occupied. Namely Venus. "I think if I can get her to trust that I know what I'm doing, she won't place such a burden on herself. After all, I was reborn as Sailor Moon for a reason. There wasn't one before." She turns to look at Homura. "Back then, you said you've fought this Walthingy before. And just now. How many times?" And there'd been mention of familiar faces and... "Did you know me in other times?"
Then she grins. "Yeah. I like them. Mama cooks nice food. Papa spoils me when he can. Even my bratty brother is...occasionally nice to have around." And then she looks up, and she's grinning. "If you ever need a snuggle buddy! It could be easier, when both parties are spoken for! Lowers the awkward!"
She sighs and leans against the wall. "What about now? Can you get together with her now?" She tilts her head at Homura. "I don't think he wants her to show you how to be a better person. I think he'd want her to show you the person you already are, you just don't know it."
Usagi gives a giggle. "Good. I mean, I don't want to be completely like her. Mamo-chan thinks of her as a friend. I wouldn't want the competition~!"
Homura laughs at the mental image of Queen Beryl having the entire moon thrown at her. "Well that'd just be what she gets." The entire moon, huh?
"Maybe. I don't know. I don't know what her exact burden is, so I can't give much insight. I know when someone's putting on a brave face, but what's hiding behind that face? I don't know. I know she's very protective of you, though. To a fault."
Homura considers how to answer the question of Usagi being in previous timelines. It takes her a moment to formulate an answer. "This will be my 99th time facing that monster. I've seen it defeated before, but I've never beaten it on my own. I don't... know if it's the kind of Witch that can be beaten without a team effort."
Homura glances away, stating, "No, I never knew you. The Sailor Senshi didn't exist in other timelines. Device users, Chara users, Runealy's crew... none of them existed. Infinitity didn't either. Mitakihara Middle was the school I went to. There was no Dark Kingdom, either. It was just the Puella Magi and a very different Tokyo. This timeline is the first one in which I met you or Mamo-kun."
"Imagine my surprise to wake up in this timeline and find Sailor V posters everywhere. She didn't exist either."
Homura considers Usagi as a snuggle buddy, "Haha, sure. I mean, as long as that's established. I mean, a significant part of it is trust, and knowing what to expect."
Homura looks up at Usagi and says, "I intend to. She's... a little oblivious, and I don't want to move in right now because she just had a break up. I want to give her time, to be considerate of her feelings, but... after that, I do want to... at least tell her how I feel."
The person she already is? "If that's true, then I'm not sure I'm seeing what he sees, but I'm flattered anyways."
Homura giggles in response to Usagi's giggle, saying, "Oh he wont get the chance. I want to keep her for myself! I guess I'm just too greedy."
Usagi crosses her arms, gives a firm nod, and tilts her nose. "And the least of what she deserves." The roiling in her stomach whispers exactly what Beryl deserves, but Usagi refuses, for the moment, to listen.
Her bravado deflates a little. "I know. I think I just...need to show her I'm not exactly like the person she lost. And that things won't happen the same way again. Maybe then, she won't be so burdened!" A plan!
Usagi stares at Homura for a moment as she details how many times she's been here. And then she extends a hand for a shake. "Well, Homu-chan, I'm very happy to meet you this time around. And I hope to help make this one of the better time thingies for you! And hopefully this will be the last, if it's what you want!" She blinks again, then smiles and tilts her head. "But if not, look me up anyway! If I exist, even if I'm not Sailor Moon, I can't imagine a time line where I don't like you and don't wanna be your friend!"
And then, a serious, grave nod. "Trust, yes. Important for snuggles. And even if you didn't doki over Madoka-chan, I doubt you'd want to face Sad Mamo-eyes for coping feels on his lady. Just like, even though I find you completely beautiful, Mamo-chan's the only being in the whoooooooooooole galaxy I want to be with that way! So yes! Platonic snuggles." Nod, nod!
But then...she's blinking, because didn't she just have a conversation with Takashi about break-ups? (Nah, couldn't be!) She tilts her head. "If you ever want to talk about that, I can listen. I don't have lots of romantic experience, but I can still probably hopefully help!"
And then she's giggling. "Good! I'm very greedy, too. I mean, I want Mamo-chan to have all the friends, of course! Everyone should see how amazing he is! But the other stuff? I want that all for me. Mweeheehee!"
Homura considers, "I think that's a good plan. Maybe. There's clearly a logic behind her actions. I just don't know what it is yet. I think... it might also help if she saw that her burden wasn't as heavy as she thought, or that she didn't have to bear it alone. Of course, in order for either of those to be provable, they'd have to first be true."
Homura looks at the hand, and reaches out to take it and shake. "I'm happy to meet you too, Usa-chan. This is one of the better timelines. I'm hoping that things will turn out okay, both with Walpurgisnacht and the Dark Kingdom. I still... can't help but worry though."
Homura wonders... would there be an Usagi Tsukino in other timelines? It seems like a stretch, but she doesn't know that there isn't one. "If I do have to reset, then sure I'll look you up. Even if I have to become your friend all over again, I'd still like to know you."
Homura winces at the thought of the Sad Mamo-eyes. Then at the mention of Homura being beautiful she flips her hair again. "No, I wouldn't do that to him... or you. I know how much you mean to him. Even if I were chasing you, which I'm not, I would never do something so crass as to cop a feel. Unless I had permisison." Homura nods in turn with Usagi. "Right, platonic snuggles. Just as friends."
Looking away as Usagi offers romantic advice, Homura shrugs. "I guess if I felt a need to ask, but I think my path is pretty clear. My only regret is that I waited." Then she chuckles, before saying, "I suppose this means we've staked our claims."