Session Start: Fri Nov 11 21:36:16 2005
<Ked> After the ice cream, Rinada wandered home  It was quiet in the gardens
around the Seishou residence in Tokyo - too quiet.  The Pets were hiding,
though not the pets.
<Ked> [mini start]
* Lord_Darkmoon pulls out the tessen, and puts on some sunglasses. ~Sunset,
where is everyone?~ he asks of one of his chronic guests, telepathically. He
looks about the garden for a moment or two while he so does; after the last
few months, he wouldn't be entirely surprised to find an ambush awaiting him
at his home.
<Ked> There's only a faint response - the cat is some distance away and Rinada
gets the impression that it is headed home for once.  Something about
unexpected company.
* Lord_Darkmoon casts his mind about to see if any of the Pets remain, or if
only his own Aka and Tsubasa are around. And looks to see if anyone might be
watching from the windows that look out on the garden.
<Ked> The windows have no one lurking behind them... but there may be a light
inside?  There's still some daylight, and it may be just a reflection.  The
Pets are all long gone.  Aka is stalking a wild cat somewhere down the street,
and Tsubasa hasn't noticed anything.
* Lord_Darkmoon turns to look out the gate to make sure no one is around to
look inside, and then detransforms, immediately creating an elegant lady's
cape with a cavernous hood to cover herself from head to toe.
* Rin glides forward, almost wraith-like in her red and blue cape. When she
opens the door, white gloves on her hands hope to conceal the glow there. She
steps inside, and looks about from under her hood as she uses the Tessen to
switch from outdoor shoes to indoor slippers.
<Ked> There is an extra pair of shoes there - sensible ladies' shoes, though
quite clean and neatly lined up.
<Ked> The scent of tea and something savory wafts into the room.
* Rin inhales through her nose, and smiles. She glides into the main room of
the house, still wearing her cape - and keeping her face hidden in its hood -
for the time being. "Good evening, Mother. This is a pleasant surprise to
which to come home."
<Mother> Rin-kun!  I'm in the kitchen, and didn't hear you slip in.
<Mother> <Ked> There's a pair of small suitcases sitting by the guest bedroom
door.
* Rin stands in the living room for a minute, facing the kitchen and
considering how to ... do this.
<Mother> ...Rin?
* Rin pitches her voice pleasantly. "Yes, Mother?" She makes a decision, and
glides forward, into the kitchen, still disguised as an empty cape.
* Mother steps into view. She's dressed in a sensible, though expensive, pair
of slacks and an imported cashmere sweater under one of Rin's own aprons.
<Mother> Are you... ...that's an interesting costume.
<Rin> Thank you. Is that sweater new? It's lovely.
<Mother> Yes, I got it online, but are you going back out or something?
<Rin> I had not planned to.
* Mother blinks a couple of times, waiting.
<Rin> The tea smells excellent, Mother. Would you like to have a seat while I
serve us some?
* Mother gestures politely, and moves out of the way into the main room.
* Rin bows slightly, then glides the rest of the way into the kitchen to put
the tea on its tray. Bringing it into the main room and setting it on the
table, she kneels across from her mother, and, white gloves the only things
visible that protrude from the cape, she performs the ritual serving of tea in
silence.
* Mother blinks again, and reaches out to grab Rin's wrist. "What is wrong
with you, dear?"
* Rin doesn't quite freeze, but neither pulls out of her mother's grasp, nor
keeps moving once grabbed. "Nothing is wrong, though things have
become...complicated. We have much to discuss. Both about myself, and what
Father has been doing, and who he works for. Such discussions are best held
over tea, and my Mother's tea is the best I have ever had."
<Mother> Compliments are all well and good, daughter, but what are you hiding?
I can't even see your face!  This is not proper.
<Rin> No, it is not. I apologize, Mother. *pulls gently out of her mother's
grasp, settling back on her knees and heels in a proper kneel* This will
be...unusual, but I assure you, nothing is wrong, so please do not be alarmed.
<Rin> I had hoped to wait on this, for it is like starting in the middle of
the story, but...
* Rin reaches up with her gloved hands and pulls the hood back and down,
revealing her lovely, if glowing, countenance. She offers her mother a
slightly embarrassed but mostly polite smile.
<Mother> Telling a mother not to be alarmed is the fastest way to alarm one.
You may learn this someday...
* Mother blinks. She's doing that a lot tonight. "You're GLOWING, Rin-kun."
She manages not to squeak. Much.
* Rin nods. "I am. As I said, things have become more...complicated."
* Rin sips her tea.
* Rin does not sigh, but the silence as she swallows is a good substitute.
"Forgive me, please. I am trying to decide where to begin."
<Mother> Rin, dear, you're GLOWING!
* Mother is repeating herself. Yes she is.
<Rin> Mm. How much do you know of Father's work?
<Mother> He's the big boss over some shipping... but what does that have to do
with your skin shining blue?
<Rin> Almost nothing. Coincidences and accidents connect the two in a mesh of
circumstance. Did you know that Father was on that ship in Tokyo Harbor, when
it was attacked and sunk by the Ningyo?
<Mother> Yes, of course.  I got a rather strange call from a man at Universal
Shipbuilding, saying that my husband was all right, but that he would be out
of touch for some time.
<Mother> If it hadn't been an international incident, I would have been...
suspicious that he was sneaking away for something.  But no one controls the
Ningyo, and the business must have had some negotiations to hammer out with
the Americans.
<Rin> He was sneaking away, and the incident was planned. I can only speculate
as to the goals involved, but the reason Father and his superior survived is
that Father's company helped arrange the attack.
* Mother is losing her poise. "He what? How do you know this?"
<Rin> I know a great deal about it, but from an...odd perspective. You see,
Mother, I was on the boat when it was attacked, as well. I saw him jump off. I
can only speculate that there was a Ningyo waiting to take him and his
superior to safety.
<Rin> There was a good reason I could not evacuate the city when he attempted
to warn me of dangers he could not enumerate without breaking his oaths. I,
too, knew generally what his warnings meant.
* Rin sips her tea again, giving her mother time to absorb this and, perhaps,
regain her composure.
<Mother> You were on the carrier?!  *definitely squeaking*
* Rin nods once, setting down the tea cup.
<Rin> Despite my desire to honor Father's request...I had duties of my own. I
failed in them, though not so badly as I would have had I not tried.
<Mother> Did the reactors irradiate you?  Is that why you are glowing?  Are
you sick?
* Rin actually chuckles a bit at that, surprised out of her composure for a
brief instant. "No, no. This is a far more recent development, and more than
likely a fault of one of my acquaintances rather than Father's misguided
alliances. I am perfectly well. Merely...inconvenienced...at the moment."
<Mother> Oh... it's temporary, then?
* Rin does sigh, now. "I do not know. We're trying to figure out what exactly
it is. But if it persists with no new discoveries until school is to resume,
there is a drastic measure I can pursue to solve it. I simply reserve that for
a last resort. It is, as far as I can tell, a merely cosmetic effect."
<Mother> How drastic?
<Rin> She could probably de-nature a Ningyo. But it will not hurt a mortal
human. So there should be no serious ill effects unless I overexert myself too
soon after. Nothing I do in my school life is 'overexertion'.
<Mother> Don't wait, daughter.  I can take care of you for a couple of days,
and if you were seen like... this...
<Rin> I will not be seen like this. Not by any who are not already familiar
with the situation. ...or possibly Father, if he can be reached. As I said,
the three of us have much to discuss.
<Rin> Oh, Mother. Family loyalty is among the most sacred and important
things, and Father and I have both failed at it lately. I am so sorry. It is
time the three of us shared our secrets with each other, completely. As
families should.
* Mother leans forward. "If there is a harmless way for my daughter not to
glow like a neon sign, we will NOT wait."
* Rin settles back on her knees, and casts her eyes downward at her lap. "It
is still more complicated than that. It can and must wait at least one more
night. I am sorry, Mother. Your visit should have been a happy occasion, and I
am making you worry. And I still have more to share with you."
<Rin> Perhaps it is good that you have come, that I may tell you before I tell
Father. He will need your support for the shock. Poor Father; he could not
keep all his secrets from his daughter, but at least he did not know he was
working with her enemies.
* Mother shakes her head. "I can not reach your father. He called me, once, I
know not from where."
<Mother> But... your enemies?
<Rin> His company is allied with the Ningyo, Mother.
<Mother> Your enemies... oh.  Oh.
<Mother> Which is why you were on the carrier.  And he came to you...  And
again...
* Mother goggles briefly, her eyes crossing in a most unladylike manner.
<Mother> And all of this happening right in front of me...
* Rin sips her tea, watching her mother through her eyelashes while ostensibly
looking down at her lap.
<Mother> You must think I'm the least observant mother in the world.
<Rin> No, not at all! You have done everything you could; it is my fault, and
I am deeply sorry for hiding it from you. ...there is a...reason I have. I
still...
<Mother> So which Lady are you?
<Rin> ...that's another issue entirely. M-mother... I w-was ashamed of this. I
hated it. It is still embarrassing. Just...brace yourself. ...how familiar are
you with the magical girls?
<Mother> I read the newspapers, and some online reports.  I know... a little,
I suppose, though not more than the average woman.
<Rin> Then you'll probably not recognize Darkmoon.
<Mother> Lady Darkmoon?  How poetic.
<Rin> It's...it's best if I show you. Brace yourself.
<Mother> Is it worse than you glowing?
<Rin> Much.
<Mother> Mmm.
* Mother tenses, barely.
* Rin rises gracefully to her feet, and pulls out her Tessen. Pointing it at
the ground, she raises her arm out to her side, like a clock-hand. A purple
moon rises behind her, following her arm. When it reaches its apex, Rin brings
her arm down, covering her face with the open silk fan. Jerking her arm out to
her side, the fan becomes a Katana, and Lord Darkmoon replaces Rin,
resplendent in his purple and black hakama.
<Mother> ...
* Lord_Darkmoon expertly sheathes his katana, and looks at the floor, clearly
embarrassed.
* Mother opens her mouth, closes it again. Finally: "But you're so pretty!"
* Lord_Darkmoon looks up, blushing, and definitely not glowing. "So I've been
told. At least I don't glow like this."
<Mother> Oh, Rin, I'm so sorry - this has to have been so hard for you!  But
is it truly such an awful thing?
<Lord_Darkmoon> At first...yes, it was. They had to Order me to continue
transforming. To work with them. But...ever since I met my new friends...no,
it isn't. It's just...a hard thing.
* Mother gets up and hugs her daughter. Son. Whatever.
* Lord_Darkmoon holds back a moment, then hugs back. "You are taking this
better than did I. Thank you." It must be humid in here, for water to be
condensing on his cheeks that way. Men don't cry; it's not polite.
<Mother> I think it's charming - the beautiful young maiden disguising her sex
to take on the evil in the world... like from a great epic...
* Mother frowns slightly. "Or maybe a Disney movie. But still so romantic."
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...I...never thought of it that way.
* Mother lets go of Rin and somewhat wobbly sits back down.
* Mother smiles weakly. "Has a beautiful young girl fallen hopelessly in love
with your male side?"
* Lord_Darkmoon rubs the back of his head. "I kinda have a girlfriend, but
it's nothing serious. I have been hit on once or twice...and my curse with
best...never mind." He blushes at that.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Thanks for coming home, Mom. I have missed you.
<Mother> Mmm.  I came because you were on vacation... and because of what your
father said.  I thought it would be most... honorable to wait through this one
with my daughter.
<Lord_Darkmoon> I will protect you from...whatever is coming. We think that
the main thrust of their efforts was thwarted, but one said it was 'already
too late' after that last attack on the Navy base. We failed, again.
<Mother> I... guess this means you will be in the thick of it.  But I'll be
here, waiting for you.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Maybe. I don't know. My job is...unusual. And there haven't
been any Ningyo attacks in a month; it's creepy.
<Lord_Darkmoon> You can see why I wished to speak with Father as well...but
I'm glad I could tell you, first.
<Mother> If he has aligned himself with the Ningyo, what will you do?
<Lord_Darkmoon> Find out why, first. And discover just how tightly Hitachi-
2Osen is tied to them.
<Lord_Darkmoon> Even if our goals must remain at ends, we are a family, and we
should have no secrets from each other.
<Mother> But... what will you DO?
<Lord_Darkmoon> What I must. I cannot allow the Ningyo to win. I hope to
convince Father to aid our cause. He has worked so hard to build what he has;
I want to see it used honorably, and to benefit him in the long run. ...we
must find out what has been promised to his superior.
* Mother bows her head. "Of course - what you must."
<Lord_Darkmoon> If Father and I must be enemies outside our home, we will. I
will not use what he shares against him, and I expect he will do the same for
me. But we are a family, and we will stand as such under our roof.
* Mother looks back up. "So, are there any more great shocks in store?"
<Lord_Darkmoon> Mom... I want him to be happy. I want him to succeed. ...gah,
I'd explain this better detransformed.
<Lord_Darkmoon> ...I don't know. I think this is the biggest. ^^;
<Lord_Darkmoon> Oh! I'm sort of in the magical girl special ops. That's the
last of it. Our job is to protect other magical girls from assassins. That's
kind of important to some of what I have in mind. We've got a lot to discuss.
* Lord_Darkmoon detransforms in a flash of purple, and uses the Tessen to
change her overly costumey cape into a sensible house kimono before putting it
in her sash. "Something smells wonderful from the kitchen, Mother. May I
assist you in completing it?"
<Mother> ...Rin.
* Rin smiles, genuinely. "Yes, Mother?"
* Mother 's voice suddenly has a deep current of urgency. "You can transform
your clothing at will?"
* Rin grins, pulling out her Tessen. "This is a great little toy."
<Mother> ...are you accepting recruits?
* Rin laughs, a rare, genuine laugh. "If my luck is indicative of the family's
in this area, you'd wind up being Lady Pipsqueak, and turning into a 5-year-
old. But you can borrow my Tessen if you like."
<Mother> [end mini]
Session Close: Sat Nov 12 00:53:50 2005