[Not really wanting to be around pretty much anyone at the moment, Taki heads out after the Princesses left. Intending to just walk until she can come up with something better.] [mini start] * LadyNightshade sighs as she heads down the street, not really looking at anything in particular. * Lord_Darkmoon steps out the door and jogs to catch up. "Hey..." * LadyNightshade doesn't stop or even turn around. "What do you want?" ...mainly, to make sure you're alright. And to tell you that I do care. What can I say but I'm fine? You know I'm pissed off. * Lord_Darkmoon nods. "And I understand why. It isn't fair, is it?" It's not even about being fair! It's about doing what's right! Nothing about this is 'right'. It sucks. Completely. * LadyNightshade stops. "Goddamn it, you're going to make me all mad again." I'm sorry. *looks it, too. No mask at the moment* * LadyNightshade looks up at Darkmoon. "Gah. I wish you were Rin." ...I a-- *shivers, and chokes on the last word* What? I -am- Rin. *twitches, but doesn't shiver* It's not the same. It's just... not. She doesn't look at me like that. * Lord_Darkmoon blinks, genuinely surprised. "Like what?" Like... Like what I look like matters. * LadyNightshade blushes and curses under her breath. ... wha...? NEVERMIND. *growls* What did you want to talk to me about? I... I just wanted to try... I'm sorry. Try what? You didn't even do anything yet. * Lord_Darkmoon steps back and bows from the waist. When he rises, his mask is firmly in place. "I had hoped to help you understand that what is right and necessary is unpleasant, but that justice would, ultimately, be done. It was wrong of me. I should not have...bothered you. I apologize. I did not mean to anger you again." ... You don't think I know that? I should have. I also wanted to let you know I understand why you're angry. I did not wish you to be angry anymore, Taki-san. I... * LadyNightshade looks at him curiously. "You?" It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable. If... if you want to talk, I'll be at my place. I'm sorry, but I cannot *looks around, to make sure no one else can hear them* detransform out here. I...wish ... *forces a smile* I hope you feel better, my friend. * LadyNightshade sighs and whimpers. No I ... I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Please don't be mad at me. ... Please. ...no, Ta--...I'm not mad. At all. My feelings aren't hurt, honestly. I've been trying so long to keep my lives separate that now that I have...*shivers again* * LadyNightshade shoulders drop. "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm trying so hard. I want things to change. I want my parents to be proud of me..." Never mind. I'm fine. I think. I...just...I was worried about you. And you're doing fine. Rin saw your mother; she -was- proud of you. She is. She loves you very much, Taki. I know... I miss her... I didn't want to leave... * LadyNightshade eyes water up. Maybe you can go see her again next weekend? I can't... I... While I'm there I just wanted to stay and pretend none of this was going on. Does that make me a bad person? * Lord_Darkmoon smiles kindly. "No. I've wanted that ... I did want that...for a very long time. I still wish it -wasn't-. That... *pauses, as if trying to force himself to say something* ...I was a normal Lady. That I'd never allowed Darkmoon to try to--to--to be his own person. To separate them. I'm Rin, dammit. " ...except... *shakes his head* No, sorry. I didn't mean to say any of that. It's unnecessary. * LadyNightshade hugs Darkmoon. "I know. I'm sorry." * Lord_Darkmoon reflexively hugs her back. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I know you're Rin. You can't help what you are. It's... It's just my own problem. * Lord_Darkmoon shivers when she says that, and holds her just a bit more tightly. "It's my own fault. There is no need to be sorry, Taki-san." Ri--I know how disconcerting my unfortunate transformation is. Yes there is. You should be able to tell me these things. I should be able to handle them. I should be a better friend. I really did just come out here to try to make you feel better. I don't mean to dump ... something that isn't even a problem ... on you. I don't... *stops, realizing he's hugging a girl in the middle of the sidewalk, and releases her, blushing a bit* *cough* Uh, sorry. ^^; You are a good friend, Taki. * LadyNightshade blushes back realizing she was hugging a boy. I... Thank you. And you can dump whatever you want on me... Um... except phrased so it doesn't sound so icky.... You know what I mean. * Lord_Darkmoon laughs a bit. "Yeah. And here I came out here to make you feel better. ...except I don't feel bad. --never mind. I'm not making any sense." * LadyNightshade smiles. "I appreciate it." I don't know where I was going... I'd probably just have ended up in trouble... * Lord_Darkmoon leans in close. "Also, Ri--*I* have plans to take care of Sato, even if things prove difficult for the Hierarchy. And you'd have gotten yourself out of it. You're a remarkable young lady." I pity the mugger that tries to take on a pissed-off Nightshade. *smiles jokingly* * LadyNightshade blushes. What... plans? I'll tell you later. I think Rin needs to do something else, first. But she wants to tell you herself. When she--dammit, I'm doing it again. ^^; I need to do something, first. Find something out. Hopefully I won't have to wait two weeks. But be patient. I promise, I'll help you accomplish your goals. Maybe this can end soon, and you can stay with your family for longer. If they let me. The Princesses seem damned certain to order us to stay and do what they want us to do. ... Maybe I shouldn't have depended on Sakura's help so much... * Lord_Darkmoon 's expression darkens. "..." I don't want to have to fight. I think...Sakura, at least...will be on your side. To let us go when the time comes. Then I won't have to be...dark..*shivers* Well, we'll see, won't we? If... If my Dad knew about the orders... If needs be, we'll spirit you home and you can avoid Princesses for the rest of your life. * LadyNightshade puts a hand on Darkmoon. "Whatever you do, don't do it alone. I'll have your back whatever you decide to do." * Lord_Darkmoon covers her hand with his. "Thanks. That means a lot." ... Are you scared? * Lord_Darkmoon gets a strange expression at that. "...not of this, no. The only person who frightens me right now is...no, I'm not scared." Who? * LadyNightshade looks at DM curiously. No, no, it's silly. There's nothing that really scares me, aside from the usual. * LadyNightshade puts a hand on his cheek. "Rin. Stop doing that." * Lord_Darkmoon shivers at the mention of Rin's name. "That's just it. I almost said, 'Rin.' But I don't fear myself." He laughs. ... Do you? Why would I? Because you wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise? Is she-- Are you going to do something you don't want to? No. Not at all. I honestly don't know why I thought of that. Don't worry about it. I think this voice throws me; I'm so much more...eloquent...when detransformed. See? That's why you worry me. * Lord_Darkmoon chuckles. "I worry you? Why?" Because you always pretend that everything is alright even though there are obviously things that bother you. I wish you didn't do that. At least not around me... * Lord_Darkmoon sighs. "I'm sorry. I don't know, or I'd tell you. Maybe I'm going just a little crazy. All that's happened, I think we all are. It's just stress; I'll be fine after some sleep." I hope so. I don't mind listening to your thoughts though. No matter how crazy they are. Heh. Just so long as you pound some sense into me if I ever go off the deep end. *sighs* Like Haruko. I wish there was some way to help her. But anything we do...it's just going to hurt her. That's it. I'm not doing this. I am not going to angst. Things are finally looking up. We know what we have to do, and Ri--I have plans for my...own...future. ... What are your plans? * Lord_Darkmoon gets an impish grin that is much more Rin than Darkmoon. "That...is a secret." For now, at least. I want to talk to someone else about it, first. Who? Rin's--my parents. * LadyNightshade nods. Do you want me to go with you? You helped me with mine... No. This must be done privately, with just the three of us. Thank you, though. Alright. Sorry, I didn't mean to impose myself or anything... No, not at all. I knew what you meant. I did not mean to offend. ...Rin would have handled this better. *pauses, mouths what he said, and looks surprised* * Lord_Darkmoon shakes his head, and laughs it off. * LadyNightshade blushes and smiles. "Don't hurt yourself thinking about it too hard." Right. And here Squeegee just got done saying I wasn't an airhead. * Lord_Darkmoon winks. She just doesn't know you like I do. * LadyNightshade sticks her tongue out. You sweet-talker, you. ...you know, Leena-chan was kind of down after Hardhat and Spoon came up. What say we forcibly drag her to an ice cream parlor and force- feed her some ice cream until she cheers up again? * LadyNightshade blushes. Good luck getting it into her. She's been refusing to eat it. I'll threaten to detransform in the middle of the parlor, or something. *shrugs jokingly* Be careful. She might hold you to that. *starts walking back towards the agency* * Lord_Darkmoon heads that way, too, smiling at the back of Taki's head. At least she's cheered up some. [End mini. Perhaps to be continued shortly thereafter, in the Adventures of the Ice Cream Ninja!] Session Close: Sun Nov 06 01:23:32 2005