Session Start: Wed Oct 27 19:43:18 2004

<Ked> And so the week passed quickly and normally enough.  School was school, 
though with plenty of paperwork to catch up on.  The Hunters heard exactly 
nothing from Sakura, though the other Princesses were missing from Tea Club as 
well.
<Ked> Junko didn't show up either, though news did filter through the school 
that she had been found.
<Ked> So things got back around to the weekend again, and half the team found 
themselves hanging out back at the Agency with virtually nothing to do.
<Ked> [Sunday, February 8, 2004 - 1250 local time]
<Ked> [mini start]
* Taki is at the agency chatting with Maya about... girl stuff.
* Kyouko peeks her head around the door, she's dressed especially warmly in 
pants, two shirts, as well as her swimteam hoodie. She's upgraded to an iPod by 
now, but the old headphones are still intact. She had tissues stuffed in her 
hoodie pockets, which can be easily linked to her runny nose and light coughing.
<Kyouko> ...Hello?
<Maya> ... and then.... ah? Whoa, Kyouko!
<Taki> Wow, uh, Kyouko, are you feeling alright now?
<Kyouko> ....Hi. I kinda got sick again.
* Maya perks her head up and puts on a dazzling little smile. "Lookie who showed 
up!"
<Kyouko> Uhm....but be careful, I might sneeze on you accidentally...
* Maya makes a frowny-face for a moment. "You better not, or it's... er... 
something."
<Kyouko> I'm a lot better though. I can swim again...
<Taki> You wanna sit down? I think Rinada was making some tea, if you want 
some...
* Lord_Darkmoon peeks out of the kitchen. "Kyouko? Long time no see. Feeling 
better?"
<Maya> Yeah, please. You're still a part of the team, sick or no! ^^
<Kyouko> Tea would be nice. *sits down in a chair and blows her nose* ...Hello 
Rinada...I'm still kinda sick.
<Taki> Maybe you shouldn't be swimming again just yet...
* Lord_Darkmoon retreats back to the kitchen. "I'll put some extra herbs in. 
It'll help clear your chest."
<Kyouko> I know...but...
<Kyouko> It's really hard not to.
<Kyouko> So..uhm...what happened?
<Maya> Lots and lots of...
* Maya sighs heavily. "Work."
<Kyouko> ...Oh.
<Maya> Look, it'll take some time to catch up, and it's not all pretty.
<Kyouko> It's never pretty...
<Taki> No...
* Lord_Darkmoon 's re-entry into the living room is heralded by the smell of the 
tea on the tray he bears. "...it can wait until you're completely healthy, 
Kyouko. Really. It's probably best not to think about it right now."
<Taki> I wish I didn't have to think about it...
<Lord_Darkmoon> Me, too. *brings the tray over to Kyouko, first* Tea?
<Kyouko> Thanks.
* Kyouko takes the tea and sips it, burning her tongue.
<Lord_Darkmoon> You're welcome. We need you healthy again. ;) Careful, it's 
freshly brewed.
* Lord_Darkmoon takes it to Maya next.
* Kyouko puts the tea down and sucks on her tongue for a bit.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Tea, Maya?
<Maya> Please.
<Maya> It just... well. The best I can say is that things are going to get 
better and worse all at the same time.
* Lord_Darkmoon lets Maya take a cup from the tray, before proceeding to Taki.
* Maya makes a face, almost as if something were nagging at her, then takes her 
cup. "That's all I can really say for now."
* Taki takes her cup and sets it on the table. "Thank you."
<Kyouko> Okay...
<Lord_Darkmoon> You're welcome. *sets the tray on the table, kneels and takes a 
cup himself, sipping* Ahhh.
* Taki sips at it.
<Taki> What do you think happened with Sakura?
<Kyouko> How's Sakura been with her position?
<Lord_Darkmoon> Hm. Maybe the Queen needed an army of seamstresses, and was too 
cheap to hire professionals.
<Taki> Busy.
<Taki> I don't think if it was that we'd be unable to get ahold of her all 
week...
<Lord_Darkmoon> The Queen is VERY protective of her fashion secrets. ;)
<Kyouko> ...what?
* Taki rolls her eyes. "Why is everyone so against the Queen?"
<Maya> She's been really good. I think that... she'll stay close to us, even 
now. We're still her Ladies.
* Maya gives Rin a momentary, and perhaps withering look.
* Lord_Darkmoon hmphs. "Because her Royal Pain takes her --" he flinches at the 
look, and goes silent, sipping his tea.
* Taki sighs.
<Ked> The front-door buzzer sounds from the speaker beside the lobby door.
<Taki> I think she does what she has to.
* Lord_Darkmoon rises to his feet. "Shall I get it?"
<Ked> There's no secretary in on Sunday, at least not this week, so...
<Taki> Yeah, go ahead.
* Lord_Darkmoon bows out of habitual politeness and goes to do so.
<Kyouko> *sits up* Who is it?
* Taki tries not to look too annoyed at Darkmoon.
<Taki> How does anyone even know we're here today?
<Kyouko> I hope it's not an enemy...
* DetectiveMorioka is waiting at the front door, in a sweatshirt and casual 
slacks.
* Maya looks up, blinks, and puts her tea aside.
<Lord_Darkmoon> It's...the detective from before. Um, should I get rid of him, 
or do you girls want to transform? *called back before opening the door, and in 
a way so as not to be heard by the detective*
<Maya> Transform. He's bound to have something important to say.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Thought so. Tell me when you're ready.
* Kyouko gets up and heads into the bathroom to transform. Massive amounts of 
steam won't be too suspicious there.
* DetectiveMorioka nods in acknowledgement of the young Lord.  He waits 
patiently - this has apparently happened before.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Sorry to keep you, Sir. It will be just a bit while the Ladies 
prepare themselves. 
<DetectiveMorioka> I'm in no hurry.
* Maya proceeds to do so without bothering to change or hide; no point in 
wasting time.
* Taki transforms in the bathroom and puts her coat back on over.
* LadyNightshade heads back out into the main room.
<LadyMysteria> Ready.
<LadyNightshade> Yeah.
<LadyHeat> Who is he?
<Lord_Darkmoon> Alright. Right this way, Sir.
* Lord_Darkmoon leads the Detective into the main room. "This is Detective 
Morioka. Detective Morioka, this is Lady Heat. Lady Heat, Detective Morioka."
* DetectiveMorioka walks on in, smiling.
<LadyHeat> ...Hi.
* Lord_Darkmoon does appropriate introducing-people gestures.
<DetectiveMorioka> Ah.  How many of you are there?
<Lord_Darkmoon> If you'll give me a moment, Detective, I'll go get another cup 
and pour you some tea.
<DetectiveMorioka> That would be nice.
* DetectiveMorioka sits on a spare office chair, straddling it.
<LadyNightshade> I think you've met all of us now.
* DetectiveMorioka nods.
<LadyNightshade> What can we do for you today, Detective?
<LadyMysteria> Hello, Detective. What---yeah.
<DetectiveMorioka> Well... it's become clear that Sakura isn't running things 
here anymore, and I thought it would be good to get to know you better.
* Lord_Darkmoon goes into the kitchen and rummages around in a cupboard a bit.
* LadyMysteria looks into her tea. "Anything we need to know---ah, right. Well, 
she still is, in a way, but I guess I have some sway."
<LadyNightshade> Mysteria's in charge now, Sakura still supervises everything 
though.
<DetectiveMorioka> You run the day-to-day operations then, Lady... Mysteria is 
it?
* Lord_Darkmoon chuckles as he returns with another cup from the set he served 
himself and the others with. "Some sway, my Lady? You are our leader."
* Lord_Darkmoon kneels by the tray, and carefully - almost ritualistically - 
pours the tea into it before offering the full cup to the detective.
<DetectiveMorioka> Thank you.
<Lord_Darkmoon> You're quite welcome. *resumes his spot by the table, and sips 
from his cup again*
<DetectiveMorioka> Anyway, I sort of remember Sakura implying that she was being 
moved up to management, and I guess the Princess thing makes sense in that 
context...
<LadyMysteria> Yes, Mysteria. And she's done a masterful job of helping us with 
coordination and intel.
<DetectiveMorioka> ...but it didn't really sink in until I showed up at the 
scene a week ago.
<LadyNightshade> Yeah, she trained us well enough to run things on our own.
* DetectiveMorioka takes a long sip of tea.
* LadyMysteria frowns at the mention of 'the scene'. "Mmmmn. Yeah, she had a 
hunch and we followed up on it. Struck gold, thank goodness."
<DetectiveMorioka> Amen.
* DetectiveMorioka chugs down the rest of the tea, then sets the cup down on the 
computer desk behind him.  There's a pensive look on his face.
* LadyHeat picks up her tea and sips it now that it's cooled down.
<DetectiveMorioka> It didn't look like one of Sakura's scenes.
<LadyNightshade> Why's that?
* DetectiveMorioka doesn't reply right away.
<LadyMysteria> It's usually just direct combat, right?
* Lord_Darkmoon listens, waiting, watching the detective with a careful mask of 
polite interest.
<DetectiveMorioka> ...that's a polite way of putting it, Lady Mysteria.
<LadyHeat> What happened?
* DetectiveMorioka blinks at the new girl.
<DetectiveMorioka> ...she wasn't there at all?
<LadyNightshade> No she's... been away.
<LadyHeat> I haven't been able to work recently...
<DetectiveMorioka> Huh.  Well, you'd best hear that particular tale from your 
friends, and not someone you just met.
<DetectiveMorioka> I've seen some pretty awful messes over the last five years, 
but that one was just... just...
<LadyHeat> Really gross?
* DetectiveMorioka visibly gags.
<LadyHeat> ...Oh.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods. "We can tell her now, if she wants to hear it and it's 
important to what you have to say." He seems...uncomfortable, but trying to hide 
it.
<DetectiveMorioka> No, no, let's not go over that again.
* Lord_Darkmoon smiles quietly. "Good. I didn't really want to." ^^;
<LadyMysteria> Ah... yeah.
<LadyHeat> If it's really that bad...it can wait.
* LadyMysteria has been strangely quiet for a while, staring into her tea. 
"It's..."
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...yes, my Lady?
<LadyMysteria> You see the darkest side of people at the worst times in this 
line of work... well, we do, because it's what we have to see.
<DetectiveMorioka> But... what I was trying to say was that Sakura, bless her 
little vicious pragmatic soul, always, *always* left bodies on the ground.
<LadyMysteria> Mmm. She's efficient, yes.
<LadyHeat> ...Oh. Ew.
<LadyNightshade> That was my doing... I just thought that the law should handle 
them... It wouldn't be good for us to stoop to their level...
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...it crossed some minds, I'm sure.
* Lord_Darkmoon sips his tea, the picture of calm.
<DetectiveMorioka> And that was what I was expecting to see when we showed up.  
What I was... planning for.
* Lord_Darkmoon looks up at the detective, measuringly. "I...see."
<LadyMysteria> Trust me. I was tempted to go that route. But...
<LadyNightshade> I'm sorry for holding everyone back...
* DetectiveMorioka shrugs.  "Well, it usually did simplify things.  I can't say 
I was always too thrilled about it, but there was no question of the 
circumstances, either.
<LadyMysteria> ... I don't know. There's some hesitation as a group, probably 
because we're new at this, and that they're still human. At least on the 
outside.
* Lord_Darkmoon reaches over and puts a hand on Taki's arm or knee, whatever's 
in reach. "Don't be, Nightshade. Don't be."
* LadyNightshade looks down and sighs.
<LadyMysteria> ... that reminds me. How're things regarding Junko?
<DetectiveMorioka> I won't disagree with you, Lady Mysteria.  It doesn't sit 
well in many circles that there are Ladies out there playing executioner.
<DetectiveMorioka> Junko is bearing up pretty well.  I had a long talk with her 
and her parents, and they appear to grasp the severity of the situation.
<LadyNightshade> ... I just don't think anyone should die if can be avoided. 
Even if they... *shudders*
<DetectiveMorioka> Her father didn't quite believe me at first, given her 
apparent condition.  But the prelim forensics from the scene and the picture I 
let them see...
<LadyMysteria> So, they know now, too? That's got to be a shock.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...has she ...explained her ongoing situation to him?
<DetectiveMorioka> She had to.  I mean, it's going to come up later, unless she 
refuses to testify.
<DetectiveMorioka> He thinks... heh.
* Lord_Darkmoon nods. "I...figured. Just wondered."
* LadyHeat sits back and listens
<Lord_Darkmoon> He thinks...?
<DetectiveMorioka> He thinks it's nifty.  Her mother is a little less certain.
<LadyNightshade> ... It makes things complicated.
<Lord_Darkmoon> *nod*
<LadyMysteria> I see. It has to, yes. Still... I just hope she's fine.
<DetectiveMorioka> It does.  We're actually going to put them into a relocation 
and protection program after the trial.
<LadyNightshade> That's good.
* LadyMysteria nods, slowly. "Yes, it is. A shame it has to be that way, but... 
so long as justice is served."
<Lord_Darkmoon> This trial will not be public, then? Else...a magical girl being 
revealed to the public would provide no element of privacy.
<LadyNightshade> That's what I was worried about...
<DetectiveMorioka> There seem to be... well, a number of people in the 
prefectural government that act to protect Ladies' interests.  And they have 
intervened in this as far as they could.  But the trial can not be secret.  This 
isn't the United States.
<Lord_Darkmoon> I see. *sip*
<DetectiveMorioka> We've been keeping it close, though, and hopefully she'll 
only be outed for a few days before we move the family off to somewhere remote.
* LadyNightshade stays quiet at that sipping her tea.
<LadyMysteria> Better than nothing, I suppose.
* LadyMysteria works on her tea a bit more. "... Detective, what led you to us 
at first, anyway? Us Ladies, I mean."
<DetectiveMorioka> Heh.  Well, I caught one of the very earliest Ningyo attacks 
just before I made Detective.
<LadyNightshade> That must've been scary.
<DetectiveMorioka> It still is, really.  Why are these monsters attacking?  It's 
six years later, and things aren't as desperate as they seemed then since there 
are more of you to eliminate them, but...
<LadyMysteria> They... they're probably gaining edges here and there. Alliances 
with people, who knows what else. Things are getting a bit rocky...
<DetectiveMorioka> In all the cartoons, there's some final battle where the bad 
guys finally lose.  I guess real life doesn't work like that.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Then again, things always look best for the bad guys right 
before that battle.
<Lord_Darkmoon> And things don't -look- that good for the Ningyo.
<LadyNightshade> Hopefully something will be resolved. This can't go on 
forever...
<DetectiveMorioka> No.  Property losses to them are down 20% last year, and 
almost 85% since they started showing up.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Does anyone need more tea?
<DetectiveMorioka> No thank you.
<LadyNightshade> I'm alright...
<LadyHeat> They're getting uglier though.
<DetectiveMorioka> Also, Ningyo kills of Ladies are way down these days as well.
<DetectiveMorioka> Almost half of the Lady combat fatalities are coming out 
of... well, your side of the war.
<LadyMysteria> Yeah, which is what's worrying me.
<LadyNightshade> We're trying our best to reduce that number though...
<LadyMysteria> How many assassins do they have employed? Until we know, we 
should expect the worst...
<DetectiveMorioka> I don't know.  I just don't know.
* DetectiveMorioka looks down for a second, then back up.
<DetectiveMorioka> I told you the Prefectural government was intervening on 
behalf of Ladies in general... but the national government has been exerting 
some pressure to keep us from investigating the assassination attempts.
<LadyMysteria> Is there any specific reason?
<LadyHeat> The National government is trying to kill us?
<DetectiveMorioka> Like they tell the little guys like me?
<LadyHeat> Well..I guess not.
<LadyNightshade> Why would they do something like that though?
<DetectiveMorioka> No... not the whole government.  Certainly not the police 
groups or the Diet - they've been helpful.  But there's someone up there that is 
acting like they have something to hide.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...
<LadyMysteria> ... the reach of the Sea's deeper than it seems. God help us all.
<LadyHeat>  *mumbles to herself * The Prime Minister is probably some evil 
stooge of the Sea who wants to kill us all and eat our souls before taking over 
the world....
<Lord_Darkmoon> We will find the root of the problem. Hopefully, it need only be 
persuaded to help us. I...do not wish to ponder the alternative.
<LadyMysteria> If that turns out to be true, Heat, I'll have you.
<LadyHeat> ...what?
<DetectiveMorioka> Mmm... anyway, that's probably more paranoia-inducing than 
helpful.  But watch your back.
<LadyNightshade> Always try to.
<DetectiveMorioka> Anyway, I met Sakura when she got to one assassination a 
little late.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...oh.
* LadyMysteria smiles, faintly... then sobers. "Mmmmn... I imagine she was a 
wreck."
<DetectiveMorioka> No, she marched right over and capped the injured assailant 
in front of me, then petalled me when I wanted to arrest her.
* Lord_Darkmoon 's mask breaks as he snickers. "Sounds like her, alright."
<LadyNightshade> That's our Sakura...
<DetectiveMorioka> ...it took a while, but we eventually made contact in less 
extreme circumstances.  By then, I'd figured out what she was doing, and was 
prepared to help her out a little.
<LadyMysteria> ... yeah, that's like her.
* Lord_Darkmoon sips his tea again. This is a fascinating story.
<DetectiveMorioka> ...and that's the other part of why I stopped by.  If she's 
moving on, then I guess I need to arrange channels with you now.
<LadyMysteria> Well, we're more than willing to. Any help we can get would be 
greatly appreciated.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Indeed.
<DetectiveMorioka> I can't do a lot of poking around for you without getting in 
trouble, but if you're looking for some tidbit of info that the police would 
have... I can usually get it to you.
<LadyNightshade> Thank you... What would you require from us in return?
* DetectiveMorioka sits back.
<DetectiveMorioka> Not a lot.  Sometimes, when things are a real mess, the truth 
about what went down.
<DetectiveMorioka> Enough that I can forward a sanitized version to my 
superiors.
<LadyMysteria> I'll do what I can, insomuch as orders allow.
<DetectiveMorioka> ...and...
* DetectiveMorioka blushes.
* Lord_Darkmoon raises an eyebrow.
<DetectiveMorioka> And someday, when this is all over, I'd like the whole story.
<LadyMysteria> ... eh?
<LadyNightshade> Wouldn't that be good to know...
* LadyMysteria chuckles a bit. "It'll be a story for the ages..."
<Lord_Darkmoon> Heh. If it is permitted, when it is over, it would be my honor 
to tell you as much of it as I know, Detective.
<DetectiveMorioka> I mean, everything.  Like whether or not there really is a 
Queen of the Earth.  Why the Ningyo are attacking.  How close we came to 
disaster in the bad old days of the war...
<LadyMysteria> Mmmm. Again, we'll see. But... I can understand wanting to know 
the whole story. I wish I did.
<LadyHeat> ...There is a Queen...we've met her.
<DetectiveMorioka> *blink*
* Lord_Darkmoon snorts. "Pity I can't give you my Lordship, Detective. You'd get 
all the story you want. Perhaps more."
<LadyNightshade> Heat! Quiet.
<DetectiveMorioka> Really, now.  Did she used to be a Lady or a Princess?  Or 
did she appear as the Queen to start with?
<LadyHeat> ...Sorry Nightshade.
<DetectiveMorioka> Or... were you not supposed to say anything about her?  ^^;
<LadyNightshade> It's uh... Yeah. I don't think if Sakura didn't tell we should 
really start... ^^;;
<Lord_Darkmoon> What'll kill you later tonight is the question of whether 
Nightshade and Heat are teasing you. :/
<DetectiveMorioka> Cheap cover, Lord Darkmoon.
<LadyHeat> ...we also don't really know much.
<LadyMysteria> It's... well, it's actually a nebulous sort of thing. We don't 
know as much as we'd like to...
<DetectiveMorioka> Well, okay.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Perhaps. Sorry. *he doesn't look sorry at all*
* DetectiveMorioka pulls out a card.  It has a number, but no name.
<DetectiveMorioka> This is my safe phone.  It's not quite untraceable, but it 
would take a lot of work.
* LadyMysteria takes it, two-handed. "Thank you..."
<DetectiveMorioka> If there's something I can do for you... well.
<LadyNightshade> We won't hesitate to ask.
<DetectiveMorioka> I know how to contact you.
* DetectiveMorioka stands up, and rolls his chair off to one side.
* Lord_Darkmoon rises as well. It's only polite.
<DetectiveMorioka> I've stayed here too long already.  But... it's good to 
really meet you.
* DetectiveMorioka bows.  "Be brave."
<LadyMysteria> It was nice to speak with you too, Detective. I hope we're a help 
to one another.
* LadyMysteria bows in return. "We really don't have a choice." ^^
* Lord_Darkmoon bows back. "We will. You do the same. It is good to know we have 
friends."
<LadyHeat> Nice to meet you...
* DetectiveMorioka nods, and goes out the front on his own.
<LadyMysteria> ... I don't envy him his position.
<LadyHeat> ...He was kind of nice.
<Lord_Darkmoon> He is...an honorable man caught between oaths and what is right. 
But he seems to handle it well. From what little I've seen.
<LadyNightshade> Yeah...
<LadyNightshade> I hate that we have to talk about our matters with outsiders, 
but I guess we really don't have a choice.
<LadyMysteria> Not anymore, no. The fight's broadening.
<Lord_Darkmoon> That we must be secretive is also irksome. That we must fight at 
all is wrong. But we have little choice save to fight. Given ... our nature, we 
don't even have the small option of rolling over. Not that we should.
<LadyNightshade> We do need to get ahold of Sakura though. So we can figure out 
what to do about that shipyard...
* LadyMysteria looks at Rinada for a moment, then simply sighs.
<LadyHeat> *finishes her tea*
<LadyMysteria> It all comes back to that shipyard, huh...
* Lord_Darkmoon looks over at Maya at the sigh, then looks away.
<Lord_Darkmoon> It does... curse you, father. What have you gotten involved in?
<LadyNightshade> Yeah.
<LadyNightshade> What have you found out, Darkmoon?
<LadyHeat> What did your dad do?
<LadyMysteria> We'll find out. What happens after that... I pray it's a clean as 
what happened earlier on.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...I told you about that already. How I saw him there. Didn't I? 
*looks confused*
<LadyHeat> Oh...right.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...I'd rather not talk about it. I don't know much more than 
that. *swallows nervously*
* LadyMysteria pauses for a moment, then places a hand on Rin's shoulder. "We're 
with you. Stay strong."
* LadyNightshade nods.
* Lord_Darkmoon looks up and meets the girls' eyes. Smiling weakly, and maybe 
blushing just a bit, he says, "Thanks."
<LadyHeat> I should be better soon...so I'll be back to help.
<Lord_Darkmoon> I'm glad. We missed you.
<LadyHeat> I missed all of you too.
<LadyNightshade> It'll be nice to have you around again.
<LadyMysteria> Yeah, it's great to have you back... but don't you *dare* get 
sick again! ^^
<LadyHeat> I'll try not to.
* LadyMysteria wags a finger mock-admonishingly.
<Ked> [end mini]