Session Start: Sat Oct 30 12:43:53 2004 [Monday, Feburary 9, 2004, mid-afternoon, the Agency. Segev can't keep dates straight.] * Lord_Darkmoon shows up mostly unnanounced, just about to open the door to go into the agency. He's still in his school uniform, with the jacket still done up formally. * Taki is already in the front lounge relaxing on the couch, watching TV. * Lord_Darkmoon heads in, looking around tentatively. "Oh, hello, Taki. What brings you here this afternoon?" He keeps looking around to see if anyone else is here. Oh! Uh... *sits up straight and changes the channel to... News?* I was just hanging out... I thought maybe Maya would come by. Or Sakura... Oh. I, um, guess that they're not here, then. What are you watching? The news channel is focused on a report about a minor collision between US Navy ships a few thousand miles to the south. Apparently they'll be coming to Japan for some repairs. Uh... *looks at the TV* News. I wonder what they'll steal from the US to use against us... *sighs* ...there's an unpleasent thought. Here's another - why would they have to steal it? They apparently have power - both monetary and political. As that report ends, another begins. It's hard to tell if this is celebrity reporting or hard news, but apparently the royal family is unhappy about the pressure being exerted upon them by their keepers. Again. * Taki shrugs. "I dunno. Just a thought. Why are they even after us in the first place? Don't they understand that if we lose than all of humanity loses in the end?" ...they probably believe they will come out on top. ...after that, the news degenerates into analysis of the latest idol singers. *yawn* Yeah... but... They're people they're killing. Girls... * Taki leaves the TV on but mostly ignores it for now. Yeah... those who seek power often forget that power is a responsibility, not a privelage. *sigh* So they do terrible things to get it, and abuse it when they have it. ... Yeah. Things I gotta remember myself. When leaders forget that, they eventually lose their power. The Emperor could tell you that - he is little more than a figurehead, now. *seems almost saddened by that* Yeah... It would be nice to back in the more nobler of days. So thinks my father. We...my family...used to be of the Samurai caste. Now...in pursuit of that past...I think that---never mind. What? You can tell me. I'm good at keeping secrets... * Taki sounds almost sad about that. Heh. I suppose you are. Mind if I sit down? *walks from the door, which he's been standing in front of, over to the couch* Sure... *scoots over to give him room. Thanks. *takes a seat with adequate personal space between the two of them* Just...my father has a new job, and it seems to be giving him everything he's wanted. But, you know where he works. What that means. I hope he is not forgetting what purpose power has, in his search for a reclamation of our family's glory. Yeah... I hope he doesn't force you to choose between him and us... He-- he's already asked me to move out with him and mother. He's afraid of something. But...he doesn't know about you...and me. ... Do you stay transformed around him too? * Lord_Darkmoon chuckles, nervously. "N-no. He doesn't know I transform. If he did...I'm not sure what he'd do. What it would do to him. He's a strong man, Taki...as strong as your father, I think. But...he can be brittle, too. And he is under-- he seemed stressed." My father was too, but he realized his mistakes and he rose above them... Your father's mistakes prevented him from claiming what was rightfully his. Mine's...he'll stand to lose everything if he ceases doing as he is. He can't even tell me everything; he's given oaths. Not even Mother knows everything. I just hope...I can help him when the time comes. I can't let his mistakes become mine, though. Yeah... I wish we could get ahold of Sakura and figure out what to do about this shipyard. I almost just want to let Leena loose on the place. ...*looks calculating for a moment* If that happened...Father might slip up, and tell Mother something. Or myself. I don't -think- that would ruin his position, but... *sigh* I hate this. I do not want to betray him, even in this way. He's a good man. He's just misguided. So talk to him. Make him see the right path. How, when he has told me nothing that would let me give him such advice? My own secrets...curse this, curse everything! Why must it be this way? I can't tell him, because I can't know what I know, from his perspective. If he has to ask how I know things...the answers WOULD destroy him. Or me. So then be honest? I don't know. It seemed to work with my parents. Sometimes you're just forced to tell the truth. *sigh* I have considered it. *shakes his head* Sorry, you just got your problems resolved, and here I am burdening you with mine. *smiles weakly* I'm a pretty rotten friend, aren't I? What? It's like payback. You all had to deal with my junk. Now we move on to yours. Hey, maybe you'll get a cool new costume too. *smiles* * Lord_Darkmoon laughs. "I like mine just fine. Well, if I have to have one at all, at least. Maybe Feral will get one? I can see it now: a tuxedo with little fangs for cufflinks. And a western coat with long tails." * Taki giggles. "That's strange though having another transformation. How come you always stay transformed anyway?" ...I'd...rather not get into that, if you don't mind. *deflates some* Uh... okay. I'd kinda like to see what you really look like though... Do you change a lot? Like Lord Oldman? * Lord_Darkmoon flicks his Tessen, and is suddenly cos-playing as Xellos. "That...is a secret." ^_- He flicks it again, and is back in his school uniform. Who's Lord Oldman? * Taki looks a bit annoyed at him avoiding the subject, but doesn't say anything. "He's the principal at our school... His transformation turns him into an old man. Isn't that just the lamest thing ever?" * Lord_Darkmoon looks like he's about to agree reflexively, then stops and thinks a bit. "...maybe. But there are some pretty lame transformations. At least his is...useful." Yeah. Keeps the school under the Queen's influence more directly. I have to give her at least one thing. She knows how to manage her political power. Indeed. Um... So I can't get you to talk about yourself at all? Heh. Well, a Lord's supposed to be all mysterious and such, isn't he? ...sorry, that -was- lame. I... This is new for me, having friends in the team I work with. I don't mind talking...just... *laughs at self, sighs* What would you like to know? Uh... *ponders* Okay. What's up with Tiara? Well, half of it you can probably guess. You've met her...well, you've been around her more than you probably wanted to, right? Yeah... But it seems like something happened between the two of you... * Lord_Darkmoon nods. "I've been on... a few teams, before this one. Tiara's was one of them. The last one, actually, though she and I have never gotten along. You've seen...the major bone of contention. You know how surprised I was when I managed to return from being Feral, that first time Sakura had me do it for you guys?" You... did you hurt someone? * Lord_Darkmoon exhales, and looks away before looking back at Taki, and nodding. "More than once. I-- I think I might have killed one of Tiara's friends. They won't tell me. I-- I don't remember specifics. But, I'm useless against Ningyo if I don't let out the Beast. So...when the Ningyo was dead, I had to be controlled. And sometimes...the control was insufficeint." ... I... * Taki gets really quiet. We heal, at least. And it was always the ones that ... well that I liked least ... that were first targeted. Feral is either very smart, or very vicious and emotional. I... I hope it's the latter. I think it is. I haven't hurt any of you. ... I haven't, have I? You'd have told me if I had? No, you haven't... Is that why you stay so distant? Part of it. But...honestly, I like you. All of you. I'm ... I'm even glad to be on this team. *wipes a tear from his eye, and pretends very much that it was just a speck of dust in his eye* I don't think I'll hurt you, if I don't get too mad before - or when - I transform. So...please don't be afraid of me? ^_^; I'm not. I just don't want you to be afraid of yourself around me... I'm not. *looks a bit nervous, though. In fact, he blushes just a bit when he coughs* *cough* I-- uh. Hm. I lost my train of thought. So then Tiara kicked you off her team? More or less. I'm sure that...incident...is why I was assigned to this one. Is that what you and Sakura talk about in private? Hm? Yeah. *muttered quickly* among other things... ... I'm sorry, it's none of my business what you talk about with her... * Taki sighs a bit more heavily then one would think for the current topic. * Lord_Darkmoon tentatively pats Taki on the back. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing...terribly important." His tone is rather uncertain for someone trying to be comforting. ... Sorry. Um... so why are you so angry at the Queen? Sorry? Why--never mind. Sorry. ^^; The queen? For making me do this. Making me have to fight in this war. I-- I never wanted to be ...one of us. It's...better now, with you guys. But at first, I just wanted to never use it, ever. I wanted to be a nor-- normal teenager. And she and her Princesses forced me to participate. ORDERED me. You know how little choice that gives you, right? It's not her fault. You were destined to be a Lord. I was destined to be a Lady. It makes things complicated but you play with the hand you're dealt. All I wanted to do was fold out of it. And she wouldn't let me do it. *notices his hand's clenched into a fist, and takes a deep breath, releasing it* Sorry. I ... I know you've had a similar problem. Congratulations on getting that embarrassment fixed, by the way. *smiles gently* I... always wanted to be a Lady when I found out I was... Others made it hard, but I thought I was doing something good. Making the world a better place. I don't understand why you wouldn't wish to be something greater than you are... It...let's just say it doesn't fit with what I'd seen for myself. And...it was something I had to do, on the side, interfering with my real life. Now...well, here I am, when I don't have to be, seeing if my teammates are around. ^^; So...it has become something more, to me. I am not sure, anymore, I would give it up if I could. I... I probably would, truthfully. But ... I'd miss you. Lord Darkmoon has a future, now. Kind of. I'm not saying this well. ... I'm glad we've changed your view on things then... I mean, I know it's going to make things complicated when I have to take control of my clan. But... Everything has a purpose. So. It'll work out. It has to. It's like...I see two possible futures. And they're not compatible. One is...what I've always seen, always wanted. The other...is nebulous, but I don't want to give it up anymore, either. And it involves being ... being Lord Darkmoon. ... What is it you want? To be like your father? * Lord_Darkmoon sighs. "I hope you're right, Taki. The choices aren't so easy, anymore. I could almost be bitter, that you've made me like this on any level. I ... I can't, though. I'm grateful, to you, to all of you...for being my friends." He looks up at Taki, smiling. And then blushing briefly before shaking his head. "Sorry. I'm getting sappy." ...To be like my father? I-- I have always lived as my father and mother taught me. I suppose...in some ways, yes. But... I'm not sure, anymore." You and me both. * Lord_Darkmoon chuckles. "Thank you, Taki." No problem... * Taki looks back towards the door. I guess no one else is going to show up. I feel kinda bad squatting here. Even though she does have a nicer TV than mine... * Lord_Darkmoon does, too, when he sees Taki do so. "Heh. Good point. I was ... " He shakes his head, and stands up. "I...suppose I will see you later. It has been a pleasure, my Lady." See you too. * Taki stands up as well. Thanks for the conversation. It's nice to know you do have real feelings behind all that pretty. * Lord_Darkmoon turns RED. Before he gets it under control. By hiding behind his unfolded Tessen. Which has a lovely wolf howling at a purple moon motif. "Uh...thank you. I'm flattered." He is rather at a loss for words. * Lord_Darkmoon bows, and rises, the red mostly gone from his face. "I'll, um, see you around, then. Bye." He heads for the dooor. * Taki smiles. "Bye then." * Taki bows in return. [...and so it ends!]