Evening, and the sun is finally setting over Tokyo. Juice and soda and Mako-muffins have been brought to the roof, and chairs and a table with an umbrella were already up there. The plants overtaken or displaced by the Xenians have come back, and it's a lovely space with a beautiful view of the city, quiet and clean. Nephrite's telescope is set up over there, and trellises with climbing roses and wisteria section the roof neatly.
Mamoru's not in henshin, although it was Tuxedo Kamen that sent Nanoha the request to meet, and at the moment he's alone up there, waiting for Usagi to come back up and Nanoha to arrive, reading a book by the pink and orange sunset sky's light.
Usagi is back on the roof in short order. Necessary potty breaks have been taken, hands washed, and a couple more snack choices are brought up with her. She places a warm kiss on Mamoru's temple before setting the addes snacks with the others before going to peek through the telescope. Nothing interesting yet, darn you sun.
Usagi really, really tries to give him reading time, but... "If Nanoha or Suzuki don't work...what else is there?" She looks up at Mamoru. "Aside from locking her away, of course. Not that I haven't thought of it. With you, either, mister."
She peeks back through the telescope. "Augh, what is she like? Do you think she'll want water, instead? I can get water!"
Nanoha Takamachi is asked to the rooftop of a penthouse by someone named 'Tuxedo Kamen'. Why is someone in a tuxedo and also in a mask. Wait. is this a ball, Nanoha thinks!? Wait. no. Why would someone ask her to a ball she'd never met. Well.
She transforms somewhere on her balcony.. in tow on her shoulder is Yuuno-- a brown ferret.
She flies about the city-- wings on her feet alight with 'flier fin' as she squints.
"Raising Heart.... are we there?"
< Below. 200 feet. >
"Thank you!~" she sings as she spirals down and lands with a soft footfall to the top of the roof. "Oh.."
"Are those muffins I smell?" she asks.
"Hi!" she says. "I'm Nanoha Takamachi." she says with a curt nod. "Ummm.. I'm looking for... Tuxedo Kamen." she says and squints.
Mamoru glances up at Usagi sidelong as she kisses his temple, and he quirks a wry little grin as he closes his book and sets it down, sitting up. "If it doesn't work, we'll just keep looking. There are so many different magic users in the city, there have to be even more throughout the world. And," he says, crossing his arms on the table and leaning forward, "we'll find out, won't we? Calm down."
And there she is! Tiny girl and tinier ferret. Mamoru stands, then, and bows gravely to Nanoha. "I'm Tuxedo Kamen. We met briefly, but it was a long time ago. I've seen you a few times since then, but I tend to try to keep out of sight in fights, myself; I fight with the Sailor Senshi and the Shitennou." He gestures toward the table when she perks up at the muffin-smell, grinning crookedly. "Help yourself. My name's Mamoru Chiba; I'm with Virtue, and was surprised you weren't a member. My apologies for the method of contacting you."
Then he gestures at Usagi. "This is Usagi Tsukino, my girlfriend. We have a friend who knows about all of this, and she's constantly being attacked, and has no way to defend herself -- so we were wondering what the prerequisites were for setting her up with a barrier jacket, and possibly helping her find an Intelligent Device to work with-- or if that's not something someone can just do."
"I know. But Mamo-chan, she's..." Been my best friend since forever. Has always been there. Knew me before I was magic and took all my quirks in stride. Loved me for my quirks. "She's Naru."
Because that, hopefully, expresses how eviscerated Usagi would be if any permanent damage is done to her longest friend.
And then a Nanoha is on the roof! Usagi wrings her hands as Mamoru talks. After, she adds her own two cents! "And if you want water or milk instead, I'll get it!"
Luna, who has been napping in the sun, and as unabashedly on or near Mamoru as she could because he gives good scritches, stretches as any normal cat would after such a feat. She hops up on elevated surfaces and leans in to sniff at said ferret.
And Usagi, who is very much Usagi, launches forward to hug Nanoha. She'll back off if it's hinted the hug isn't wanted. Otherwise, SNUGGLE!!
"And even if not, thank you so much for coming! And also even if not, if you have any hints about who we could ask, I'll adore you a lot! Well, more than now, because you have a ferret, and ferrets are so cuuuuute can I pet him? Her?"
Of course, the cat wouldn't give an affronted look toward Usagi, would she?
"Ah heh...not as cute as cats, of course..."
"Ah...point of order...." speaks the ferret. "Intelligent Device comes first and that /casts/ a barrier jacket." he says. "A barrier jacket is just a protective spell that takes a preculier shape." he says.
"Oh. Right." says Nanoha. "This is Yuuno. He's a space archeologist! Also a ferret." she beams like this is the most perfectly normal thing in the world to say.
Yuuno nods matter of factly. "I major in the study of Belka. and Belkan Artifacts such as Lost Logia." he says.
"Oh! Hello then!" she beams at Mamoru and bows. Then bows at Usagi. "Hello, Usagi Tsukino!" she says. Cheerful and direct. --and oh god hurricane Usagi she's getting hugs! This makes her smile and then she's just returning hugs! ^,^
She settles herself. "Right this is Raising Heart!" she says lifting her staff. "My Intelligent Device."
< Greetings. >
She looks between Mamoru and Usagi. "Oh, well. It was explained to me that an Intelligent Device has to sync up or be compatible with you , for you to use it. I mean. It's not just a thing you can boss around. 'Intelligent' Device." she nods. "It has to accept you!"
"That being said..." she taps her chin. "I'd talk to Lindy-san. She's been collecting the survivors and pieces and wreckage from the Artha, I know that much." she says. "No doubt well... there's devices without owners now." she says a little sadly.
She makes her way to the muffins and picks one up and then she begins to examine like someone might look at a glass of fine wine.
"I also know someone that might be able to make one from scratch, but...." she's hesitant. "I don't think she works with very nice people.. or people that just seem nice.. but aren't. I think she works for... um. 'Miss White's' company." she says.
Oh, Luna. Oh, Usagi. Mamoru just looks magnanimously tolerant, keeping quiet and standing steady in the middle of the hurricane. As he does. And then, "Hello, Yuuno," he says, "hello, Raising Heart. I'm sorry, I didn't know. I know very little about your magic; I only knew there were Belkan Devices and Devices that aren't Belkan, and I know about linker cores."
He takes a seat again, reaching for a can of juice and popping it open to take a sip. "I'm not sure what the prerequisites for compatibility are, but should our friend meet them, I have no doubt a Device would accept her. She's good-hearted and possessed of very strong convictions; she's displeased with the regularity with which she's attacked, and has been looking for methods to cope -- but as yet, she's expressed either disinterest in or lack of belief in her capability of becoming a magical girl. I do know she'd also have to accept the idea before it would work, but finding out about the methods is a good step. She'll only ever make informed decisions. Would it be possible to set up a meeting between her and Lindy-san?"
He gives a smaller smile. "We're not interested in getting her entangled with Miss White's company."
Usagi blinks and blinks! "Would it protect her against energy drainy attacks?"
Satisfied with her study of a ferret, Luna hops back down to curl on Mamoru's lap. He's less likely to squeeze her in exuberance, plus he gives good scritches.
Usagi is, by now, listening and nodding along with Mamoru.
"I mean, I briefly thought about Miss White, but sometimes she's a bit contracty. And Naru-chan is very much too nice for the crowd she usually associates with, so..."
She slams her hands down on the table! "And Naru-chan is the bestest of best non-magic people I know! I've know her almost my entire life! And the only time she's had close to bad thoughts was when she was put under a very heavy 'meh' curse!"
Usagi fidgets some more. "I just...even if a device is only protective and not very combative...Naru-chan deserves the peace of mind that comes with not being a burden in her mind. At the very least. Because she's awesome and amazing. And has put up with me for years and years and years."
Nanoha Takamachi smiles a little weakly, it looks for a moment like she's just trying to smile compared to the genuine smile she's given. "I was dissapointed when I found out Miss White had a device like mine... because she was always so nice... with her service dog coming in every morning. But her friend mentioned her... so I asked her. And then she turned out to just not really be like she was. Just wanted to fight... and to hire me and all she cared about was the power and money." she frowns.
"So I told her no." she hrmphs.
"...still comes in for the danish every morning though... and besides. I'm not going to give up trying to get her to change!" she says as she tilts the muffin. "Wow this is a really well made muffin!" she finally says. "Who made them?" she asks. "Oh.. my family owns the Midori-ya. Baking, I know a lot about baking." she insists.
She breaks off a piece of muffin and gives it to Yuuno and she moves it to her mouth to eat it.
"Wow this is really good, too!" she exclaims. Suddenly she doesn't care about Miss White stuff suddenly.
"Well if she's like that, a device should have no problem accepting her. Devices /want/ to help people- but some are pickier than others."
She looks to Usagi. "That's what the Barrier Jacket is for." she smiles. "It protects against hazards like that." she says. "And you know. Energy blasts and elemental blasts and stops me from turning into a pancake when I fall...."
She smiles. "I'm sure Lindy-san will meet with you about a device for your friend. I know she's over with Virtue. I've been meaning to-- talk to... Tadase-kun but.. everyone's always so busy." she says with a furrowed brow.
Then she purses her lips. "Yuuno, you don't have any more devices, right?" she asks.
Yuuno shakes his head. "Nope. Raising Heart was the only one I brought on this journey. It wasn't /supposed/ to be this long so I didn't plan properly." he says glumly.
Mamoru jumps a little when Usagi slams the table, and he inches Luna away from her slightly, putting his juice down to gather her into his arms instead of just having her on his lap. And he scritches. And he listens. There's another quirk of the older teenager's mouth when there's dissatisfaction with Hannah, and a more broad smile when the muffins are complimented. And complimented by someone who knows so much about baking, no less! "Our friend Makoto Kino. She's very proud of her work, and rightly so. I'll tell her you said so."
He's quiet again, listening to Yuuno and Nanoha talk, and then he nods. "Tadase's had a full plate lately, up to his ears in paperwork and putting out metaphorical fires left, right, and sideways. I'll see if one of his lieutenants can hook you up," he adds, shifting Luna carefully so that the purring Lunar guardian cat is in one arm, then fishing his phone out with the other and sending a couple of texts. Kukai, Nagihiko... and Tadase as well, just for good measure, in case he hadn't gotten any of the prior requests. "And the Senshi will definitely vouch for Naru to Lindy-- and if you need it, I'll vouch for you with Virtue. I doubt you'll need it, though."
She winces a bit at Mamoru's jump. But she doesn't apologize because this is important! (She'll apologize to him later, though.)
Luna settles and purrs against Mamoru's throat.
Her eyes widen and suddenly there are stars afloat in them! "Midori-ya? Oh that place is so yummy! But yes! Mako-chan! Hers are the bestest. And I know food." A serious nod!
And then the stars in her eyes grow and grow! "And if there's a senshi who's vouch will be super noticed, I bet I could flutter my eyelashes at them!" She's not, of course, taking her own alter ego into this.
And then!! Oh, poor Yuuno-kun! "No, no, cute ferret-san! Don't feel bad! I bet even if you did bring a couple extra, you'd have found good homes for them already! I'm not grumpy at you at all, honest!"
Nanoha Takamachi beams. "Mmhmmm. Midori-ya! Best cafe in Tokyo." she insists with a smile.
Yuuno shakes his head. "I'm on a mission to collect the Jewel Seeds. I was transporting them to Mid-Childa when my ship blew up near this planet. I dunno if you know this, but the dimensional 'weather' around this planet is like a whirlpool. Things get in but they can't get out." he frowns. "Nanoha is helping me with that. Dangerous artifacts. Don't touch them if you see one." he says. "They... turn... animals and people into monsters that touch them and 'magical folk' don't seem as immune as I was hoping. They look like black gems." he says.
Nanoha nods matter of factly. "I know all about things like that. I mean. Being up to your eyeballs busy!" she says hunching to her tiptoes a bit.
She smiles. "Thanks for doing that, then. Lindy-san says it isn't her department so I can only ask so many people! I know Storm Knight has connections but I haven't seen her around very often...." she says a bit sadly. "I hope she's okay..." she says.
Phone pocketed, and Mamoru's gone back to scritching Luna, purring against his throat. "I've seen the effects of some of the Lost Logia on people," he says quietly. "And of Jewel Seeds, too. Saw a youma eat one once, thinking it was the Ginzuishou. It was a really dumb youma. I guess the world was lucky that day."
He gives another little smile, tilting his head a bit. "It's no problem. And Storm-chan is all right. I haven't seen much of her, but I've seen her recently, at least, and she was in fine fighting form. Came to visit me after talking to Usa, here."
"Black gems..." She makes a note of this. At least now she won't be wondering if someone were pulling Dark Kingdom tricks!
She beams a bit at Nanoha. "I'm sure she is!" She's not one-hundred percent sure on who Storm Knight is, but context clues!
She reaches into her purse. Scribble scribble. Paper rip! She hands the scrap over with her phone number. "And if you can think of things, or something, here's my number!"
And then, because she's been very good at not doing it until now, she just randomly hugs and snuggles Mamoru for a second.
"Oh! If your family ever needs a taster for new stuff! I like food!"
Nanoha Takamachi smiles. "Well, Momma's working on some new pastry ideas so maybe they'll be a chance soon." she says. She nods matter of factly. Yuuno nods. "I'm an expert on Lost Logia and Belka in general. That's my field of study. If you have any questions about anything you find, just ask Nanoha to get in touch with me." he says.
Nanoha says. "Talking of Momma. I should get going. Um. Thanks for your help! But yes! Get into contact with Lindy-san. I'm sure she'll figure something out!" she beams.
"See you soon, I hope, Tuxedo Kamen, Usagi-chan!" she says with a smile as she purses her lips and raises Raising Heart. "Flier Fin."
< Flier Fin. >
She has wings on her feet again and up she goes. "Bye, again, thank you!" she says cheerfully with a bow before she takes off again toward's the direction of Midori-ya.