[So it's evening on Tuesday, February 3, 2004. At the shooting range, where Leena and Rinada have been spending Tuesdays learning their new weapons. It's rather private, too, so that's handy. Start!] * LadyMallet transformed and changed before she came in, and is in position to start blowing shit up. * Lord_Darkmoon checks over his weapon, just like Sakura showed him, making sure it's safe to use. He still looks a bit tentative about it, but the awkwardness is more as if he's used to doing this, just to something different than a gun. Hey, Leena... you doing alright? ... yeah. Could be better. * Lord_Darkmoon nods as he finishes putting the now-thoroughly checked gun back together, and rises to his feet. "Anything I can do to help?" * LadyMallet holds her aim, just continuing to eye the target. ... you too? "Too?" ... Taki wanted to talk to me earlier. I met her after school today. So, yeah. Oh. ...sorry. I was just...a little worried. After what you said when we rescued Junko. So...if there's anything I can do to help *he raises his own pistol, taking aim* just ask. * LadyMallet lets off a few shots, critically eyeing where the bullets impacted. ... so was Taki. Really worried. * Lord_Darkmoon fires, thrice, managing to hit the target respectably twice. "Too fast." He shakes his head. "It is worth worrying about. ...did you really mean it?" ... yeah. And I still do... she's back there, someone else, but... ... I'm not gonna let her separate. I'm not gonna let Mallet do all the changing. * Lord_Darkmoon lowers the gun, pointing it at the floor, as he turns to watch Leena. "...good. Though you really need to stop referring to 'her' as 'Mallet'. Or you'll let it happen - cause it to happen. But it won't last...the more you are someone you aren't...the more you become them. And the more it hurts to change back." * LadyMallet lets loose a single shot, then shoots a few inches down from there. * Lord_Darkmoon tries smiling encouragingly. "After all, you are Lady Mallet. And you are Leena. And you're my friend. And you're a member of the Team. You're not all of them separately. They're all you. ... ...sorry, I'm rambling." He turns and takes aim again. ... that's what Taki said, too. Almost the exact same thing. ... so I might as well tell you what I told her. * Lord_Darkmoon chuckles. "Sorry to bother you with it again, then." ... I've been fighting changing ever since I joined this team. * Lord_Darkmoon nods, just listening. I've been trying to stay me, no matter what happened. Just... be able to brush off this whole thing once it's over. And be untouched. * Lord_Darkmoon nods, again. But... it's not really working. At least not the way I want it to, ya know? ... Mallet's gotten scary. And she... she's changed. When I'm Mallet. And me... I've been getting the worst of it. Mallet brushes everything off, because she has to to fight, so it all comes back to me. It hurts me. But not Mallet. ...I...see. So she really is someone different. ... but, after talking with Taki, I decided I'm gonna quit doing that. ... resisting changing. I dunno. It's kinda hard to explain. Good. It's not too late; you CAN stop it. Don't pretend you're two different people, that's the first step. I ... have some idea what you mean. I've made that mistake...in the past...too. ...? * Lord_Darkmoon takes a deep breath, and fires at the target again. * LadyMallet makes a quick three-shot attack, and looks over at Darkmoon. I ... you know I don't like being what we are. I'm sure I've said as much. And then there's the Beast. See? Even now, I can't refer to the Feral Beast as 'me'. *heh* ... it's this job, that got me to hate transforming. Hate it enough to ... well. To hate Mallet. ... me. Ironically, it's this job - or this Team - that's made me stop hating it. But...that's where the pain starts. Because...if you are not the same person, then can you really...BE that person, when it suits you? Isn't that hypocritical? Don't hate yourself, Leena...you are strong. You just need to accept that strength in yourself. As yourself. But...if you aren't...you...then you can't claim the strength without claiming the pain. And then you lose something...because in separating, you've changed too much. And...*stops, looking up at Leena, and laughs nervously at himself* Sorry. ... ... why'd it happen with you? * Lord_Darkmoon flinches from the question, and buys time by taking a pair of shots. "A...number of reasons. The Feral Beast is one of them." Spill it. * LadyMallet matches his shots with her own, again critically eyeing the marks left, and shifting a step left. I can't control it. You know that. And...it kills things. Even when the enemy are dead, it keeps killing, and killing, and killing, until it-- until I--pass out. And it likes it. A lot. And at times, I can feel it now, too. Muted significantly, but the bloodlust is there. It's the moon. * Lord_Darkmoon fires again, actually hitting the bull's eye. Probably a fluke, though. ... Mallet's getting that way. ... do or die, fight all the way? No matter who the enemy is? Then...well, I never got along with any of the teams I worked with. The High-and-Mighty --- what? *shakes his head firmly* No. I'm almost certain you won't. See, you ARE Mallet. You can control that. You can control that, at least. Don't let me cut you off, though. Keep going... Oh, I was done, mostly. Just that *his face takes on the familiar sneer reserved for this name* Tiara made life as a Lord hell for me, and her posse did, as well. I'm not...sociable enough a Lord. And I try--tried?- -try to ... to be myself as much as possible. Which is why it feels so strange...to have a life, and friends...as ... *points to himself* well, m-- Darkm- ME. Me dammit. *mutters something at himself* ... ... so why do you only show up transformed? ... if you're worried about it... detransform around us. Because it hurts too much. * Lord_Darkmoon turns and fires at the target again. Repeatedly. With just enough pause to aim between shots, until he's emptied the clip. ... as much as I hurt, I'm not gonna run from it. Running is worse than taking it. ... you shouldn't run, either. I -don't- run! *eyes flare white, briefly* ...cursed moon. Controlling him is getting hard. *smiles self-deprecatingly at Leena* Sorry. ^^; ... what do you got to be ashamed of? Untransformed... you're still you, aren't you? I've seen Darkmoon, and I've seen Feral... but I haven't seen Rinada. * Lord_Darkmoon chuckles. And then laughs. And keeps laughing, falling to his knees and clutching his sides. He seems only a touch hysterical, and genuinely amused, laughing so hard tears stream from his eyes. * LadyMallet takes another shot. "Do you trust me?" * Lord_Darkmoon calms down after a minute or so, and sits up, catching his breath. * LadyMallet waits patiently for Darkmoon to finish. Sorry, sorry...thanks, Leena. I needed that. I trust you. You're one of Dar-- of my friends, after all. But...some things are just best kept secret. *he picks himself up, then the gun, still smiling* Sorry. * Lord_Darkmoon reloads the gun. ... screw your damned secrets! If you trust me... there shouldn't have to be any secrets! What am I gonna do, hate you? I trust you, too! ... sometimes you're lame, and a dork, but I trust you. * Lord_Darkmoon looks away. "...possibly." He straightens, and takes aim. "But... also... remember what started this discussion? You can trust me...Darkmoon. But...the other me...I think doesn't want you to know. Good grief, I almost sound like Haruko, now. What next, will Feral get a vote?" ... are you really that different under Darkmoon's mask? It's stupid. I promise, Leena. If I ever tell anyone...willingly...I'll tell you first. After all we've been through... what could possibly change if we saw you untransformed? Please...drop it? *fires at the target, winging it* Can't we just keep on as we've been? * LadyMallet sighs. "Feral, I can understand. But... what are you so afraid of when you're untransformed?" ... going on as I've been will end... poorly. I'm not gonna keep going as I've been going. ... tell me something. If not it... what would change if I did see Rinada? No, not you personally. I meant...you and me and the others. Our friendships. I just--never mind. I like you guys. You, and Maya, and Minami, and Taki, and Kyouko, and even Haruko, as strange as she is. *smiles fondly* And Sakura...she's the best leader I've ever had. And the only Princess I've ever respected. * LadyMallet has lost focus on the gun, letting it droop down, and is looking at Darkmoon squarely. ...well, okay, Princess I don't mind, either. ... I don't know, Leena. Can't you accept that...this IS Rinada? I am Rinada; I am Lord Darkmoon. Not with the way you're going on about it. If it's as simple as that, then what's the big deal? * Lord_Darkmoon grins mischievously, and winks at Leena. "Maybe it isn't one, and I just like being mysterious." He wiggles his fingers mys-TEEEER-iously. * LadyMallet puts her hands on her hips, and stares at Darkmoon flatly. "Uh- huh." ... nothing will change. At most people might be shocked for a bit, but ... enough has happened that nothing will change. * Lord_Darkmoon 's grin falters a bit under the stare, but he manages to maintain it while firing at the target again. And missing. "Oops. Been a while since I've missed that badly." ... but if you're not gonna say... I'm not gonna force it out of you. * Lord_Darkmoon doesn't respond to that, but noticeably relaxes as he aims again. ... so I'll tell you a secret. One that I haven't told anyone else. ... *looks nervous again, but nods, listening* Because nothing will change if I tell you. ... you know gypsies, and fortune tellers, and those hotline psychics, and those old ladies with the crystal balls? * Lord_Darkmoon nods. "Yeah?" I'm afraid of them. I'm afraid that if I even let them talk to me, their words are gonna set my future in stone, not me. ... I won't even read a fortune cookie. That's why I freaked out back in Disneyland. * Lord_Darkmoon snickers, briefly. "Wow. I don't believe in that stuff, myself. But I can see how it could be scary, if you knew your future. ...back in Disneyland? What ha--oh. Princess's dream." Well, it must have just been a nightmare. No need for you to fear it, Leena. I mean, can you imagine any of us joining the assassins in this war? I can't. * LadyMallet hisses. And don't tell me now! ...sorry. ^^; * Lord_Darkmoon looks REALLY ashamed of himself. *gets an evil, but joking, look on his face* I suppose this means you don't want me to tell you that she saw the Queen in a Penguin Suit at a huge ball in that dream, either? * Lord_Darkmoon winks, to show he's joking. * LadyMallet glowers, and starts to point the gun at him, before stopping herself. "Don't. Even. Joke. About. It." * LadyMallet looks to the ground. "Please." ...sorry. Really, I am. I didn't think. ... accepted. * LadyMallet wipes back a stray tear, then smiles. "Now you owe me a secret. And it's gotta be a good one." ...that...is a dirty trick. *turns, and goes back to shooting* * LadyMallet vees. ^__^ Did it work? * LadyMallet resumes her attention on the target, carefully lining up another shot. * Lord_Darkmoon pauses to reload. "Did what work?" ... mou. You're no fun. Of course not. I'm a dork, remember? ;P *shoots again* Hmph. ... so, what did that change? Besides the fact that I'll kick your ass if you ever tell anyone else that? That! Now I'm in danger of my life if I talk in my sleep! *clutches heart in mock-fear* * LadyMallet blinks. *beat* Blink. ... Little. Though I managed to hurt you immediately after you told me. For which I'm sorry. And that... will pass. Water under the bridge. ... I'll never join the assassins. Now I know not to take you to the fortune-teller's hut on Halloween, too. ;) Though she'd probably see the Mallet coming and be gone before we could get there. I know you wouldn't. No more than any of us would. ...though if I could make the Queen wear a penguin suit... No, no visions involved that, I'm just being mean. ;P * LadyMallet giggles. * Lord_Darkmoon fires again, emptying his clip. "So, do you think we're almost ready enough for Sakura to let us take these out?" ... I dunno. I'll ask her when I see her again. As will I. Though...I hope it's not for a while. I'm behind in my club practicing. Kenta was furious. Even if he pretended to be patient. ...he beat me four times out of five this afternoon. First time that's ever happened... I kept pulling my strikes. I didn't want to...cut him. Even though I had only a practice sword. Weird of me, huh? ... Kenta. Does he see Rinada, or Darkmoon? He's not a Lord. He doesn't know that I am. He is one of the reasons I tried so hard to separate my lives. This is just the first time that the second has interfered with the first. * LadyMallet takes a few more shots. You met him, even. At the ice cream place. * Lord_Darkmoon reloads, and fires one shot, carefully. It hits somewhere in the lower torso. ... what's the difference between us and Kenta? Why does he get to see Rinada, and only Darkmoon to us? Yeah. He didn't recognize you. * Lord_Darkmoon chuckles. "Yeah. That was mean of me. But funny. Have you ever done that? Used the anonymity to play a joke on your friends?" ... I know I said I'm not gonna force you, but ... I don't understand at all why you won't allow us to see Rinada. * LadyMallet shakes her head. "Nope." I hadn't before, either. Probably won't again, either. But it - was- funny. * Lord_Darkmoon shoots some more. * LadyMallet sighs, and takes more shots, in silence. * Lord_Darkmoon empties the clip again, and then puts the gun down to begin cleaning it. * LadyMallet looks softly at Darkmoon for a moment, just looking, for a long moment, then sighs, and looks away. Mallet. I like Leena. So if you need ... anything ... I can help with, ask. Don't let it drive you apart. Sorry to end it on a downer. But I think I'm done for the day. * Lord_Darkmoon finishes cleaning and re-assembling the pistol. "See you later, Leena." He smiles as he waves and leaves. ... I guess. I'd like to like Rinada, too. ... but I gotta meet him first. * LadyMallet waves, then sighs, and starts gun maintenance herself.