2033/Sunshine in your Heart

Sunshine in your Heart
Date of Scene:	29 October 2024
Location:	Function Hall
Synopsis:	Usagi introduces Hinoiri to Laura, in the hopes that they can solve each other's troubles. And yet - something doesn't quite work. Perhaps they need to build up resonance? No, Hinoiri, that's not what resonance means!
Cast of Characters:	Usagi Tsukino, Hinoiri Kirara, Laura La Mer

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Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's a cool October day, the weather cloudy but not drizzly, and Usagi's texted both Hinoiri and Laura to arrange a long discussed meeting: seeing if Hinoiri could meet the qualifications to be a Pretty Cure like Laura. Once she's at the Function Hall and waiting for her the pair, she digs out her phone and starts texting.

TXT to Hinoiri: I'm here!
TXT to Hinoiri: No promises that this will work, but I'm hoping it will. Cure La Mer's looking for teammates
TXT to Hinoiri: and you're looking for magic, and you're one of the most motivated people I know, so...

TXT to Laura: I'm here!
TXT to Laura: You can come in henshin if you want! Hinoiri doesn't know your ID, so if you want to protect it you can.

And then? She sits down, stretching a little. She's in her uniform, but with orange leggings with yellow stars on underneath the skirt, because it's cold.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Magic magic magic! Hinoiri was excited. This girl, La Mer, needed more people to join her team and, sure, while Hinoiri didn't want to be someone's like... second in command and would have preferred to be the main act, it wasn't so bad. And it was magic!

... Magic she didn't have to steal from someone else, like her device that had a piece she'd stolen from a certain nurse.

So she had to consider every avenue.

TXT to Usagi: Okay, be out there in a minute.

Hinoiri came strolling in a few minutes later, wearing her faux-leather jacket, blue pants, light green tank top. She flashed a smile to Usagi as she walked over, giving a small wave. "Yo. So this magic works on the motivation spectrum then? Yeah, I can prooooobably get that to work," she said in the cocky, arrogant tone of someone who was certain they were all but guaranteed to have it figured out by... well, sunset.

Laura La Mer has posed:
Laura still has the Tropical Pacts the Queen gave her completely unused, and despite having become a Pretty Cure herself, she hadn't ceased her search for someone who would awaken them. There is really nothing wrong with more allies, and probably another Tropical Precure would have certain advantages against the Witch of Delays.

<PHONE> Laura La Mer texts Usagi Tsukino: I am coming!
<PHONE> Laura La Mer texts Usagi Tsukino: Should be there right over.

After texting the reply, she pops out of her Aqua Pot with Kururun next to her and the precious relic in her bag, walking at speed towards their meeting place, wearing her shell earrings with blue pearls, a blue button up jacket with fur on the collar and the hem of the sleeves over a red blouse accompanied by a long starry grey-green skirt and blue flats.

Her enemies already knew her identity from the get go, so she doesn't really hide herself in magical circles. "Hello, Usagi-chan!", she smiles and waves to the sailor soldier before turning to Hinoiri, looking at her confidently. "Oh, so It was you that wanted to use the Tropical Pact! Hello and nice to meet again, Hinoiri-san. My real name is Laura Apollodoros Hyginus La Mer!"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Hey," Usagi greets cheerfully, as Hinoiri joins her. "Yeah, she's fighting the Witch of Delays, who like, steals motivation power from people, and also, she's a mermaid, and you've had good luck with those, so..."

It just seems like it might work out this time!

And then, Laura is there, introducing herself, and Usagi waves at her. Once the three of them are together, she says,

"Yeah, I haven't given her the whole spiel, but she's one of the most motivated people I know."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara glanced towards the new girl and gave a small nod. "Hello, I am Hinoiri Kirara, former unicorn of Kirakirafantastica. If motivation is what you need, I'm happy to say I have plenty. Back home I was so motivated that I managed to be top of my class in *every* subject at my school for the arcanely gifted, with only a handful of ponies, and one very talented zebra, managing to even come close. While I've never met this witch of delays, I'm sure you'll find if I were to join your side she wouldn't stand a chance."

Okay, so maybe she's talking herself a lil bit...

"I've also done plenty of work with mermaids. Yellow Pearl Voice is a benefactor of mine and I have been using my knowledge of arcane melodies to aid her in her fight against... well.... other... angrier mermaid. I'm also close friends with a micro-mermaid by the name of Ula." She had no idea if micro-mermaid was the correct name. "So, if you need someone to use your magical dohickey, there's really no better candidate than me."

Yup. She was deeeeeefinitely puffing herself up a bit. She even did her hair flick at the end. She totally wasn't nervous as all get out and trying to talk big to cover up for that fear she'd fail or anything. Nope. Totally not. That'd be preposterous.

Laura La Mer has posed:
"Yeah, I am an actual mermaid, and I am next in line to be Grand Ocean's. I have been at the Witch of Delays' mansion and stuff after she kidnapped me, but there is no prison that can detain me", she nods pleased, as she describes the list of events.

She smirks proudly about that, all the while petting the pink seal. ""Kururun?", the fairy seal smiles innocently at Hinoiri. "And of course, I had Kururun with me! She has come all the way from Grand Ocean too!", the mermaid pets her seal friends.

"That sounds quite interesting", she acknowledges still smiling widely. "I can tell that you definitely put the determination in what you do. How do you feel about someone who pushes you towards something you have never done, but might sound interesting?", she asks all the while taking a Compact out.

"This is the Tropical Pact the Mermaid Queen has entrusted to me, and that's what responds to heart of sunshine. Your heart does have to resonate with a mermaid, but I am quite great and friendly, so don't worry about it", she grins, nonchalantly addressing the the implicit question that would pop up, undeterred by Hinoiri's "head start".

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded. "Next in line to be Grand Oceans ruler? Ahhhh, I see. I've worked with royals before. And no prison? That's good."

... She barely, BARELY, resisted the urge to ask if she felt a giant magic fish bowl could. No, she was NOT letting that go. EVER. BUCK THAT! GIANT! FISH! BOWLS! OF COMAS!

Hinoiri reached out then, offering her palm to Kururun to sniff and, if approved, to then pet her. "Hey little guy. And I'm always down to try new things, no matter what. How will you know if you can master something if you don't try it the first time, you know?"

She then held her hand out, palm open. "Okay then. Let me see it. I just need a heart of sunshine? Easy enough. And lots of mermaids like me, I'm sure it'll work wonderfully. So, what do I need to do, how do I know when I've passed the test?"

Laura La Mer has posed:
"Kururun doesn't care much for sniffing Hinoiri, rather immediately pushing lightly against Hinoiri's hand and nuzzling against its open palm. "She likes you already, that's good", Laura smiles at the fairy's behaviour, taking note of the extents of Hinoiri's go-getter attitude. That's certainly a positive thing.

"I use a Mermaid Aqua Pact to transform, but if you have awakened the Tropical Pact, you should get a Heart Swirl Ring like mine", she says, tapping it lightly next to the Perfume Shiny Ring and the Marine Heart Swirl Ring. "And you should then be able to become a Tropical Pretty Cure by inserting it into the compact", she explains, pointing next to the keyhole on the relic.

Letting Hinoiri take a hold of the Tropical Pact, she just waits and see if it does anything. The item starts shining lightly, the outline of a ring radiant with white light before the phenomenon stops as abruptly as it started.

"Hmm, I see", Laura muses. "I think you might be close to awakening it. You probably got that far thanks to the other mermaids you know. Maybe if...?" she considers, taking a pause to reflect, bouncing her. "What hobbies do you have? I love singing, exploring around, and take bubble photos of cool things I find and any good moments with friends. We could definitely take one of us three after this, too!", she suggests with a wide smile.

Laura La Mer has posed:
"Kururun doesn't care much for sniffing Hinoiri, rather immediately pushing lightly against Hinoiri's hand and nuzzling against its open palm. "She likes you already, that's good", Laura smiles at the fairy's behaviour, taking note of the extents of Hinoiri's go-getter attitude. That's certainly a positive thing.

"I use a Mermaid Aqua Pact to transform, but if you have awakened the Tropical Pact, you should get a Heart Swirl Ring like mine", she says, tapping it lightly next to the Perfume Shiny Ring and the Marine Heart Swirl Ring. "And you should then be able to become a Tropical Pretty Cure by inserting it into the compact", she explains, pointing next to the keyhole on the relic.

Letting Hinoiri take a hold of the Tropical Pact, she just waits and see if it does anything. The item starts shining lightly, the outline of a ring radiant with white light before the phenomenon stops as abruptly as it started.

"Hmm, I see", Laura muses. "I think you might be close to awakening it. You probably got that far thanks to the other mermaids you know. Maybe if...?" she considers, taking a pause to reflect, bouncing her Aqua Pact. "What hobbies do you have? I love singing, exploring around, and take bubble photos of cool things I find and any good moments with friends. We could definitely take one of us three after this, too!", she suggests with a wide smile.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi watches closely, and when the Tropical Pact starts to glow, she's - hopeful - but then it stops. It just... stops. And that's weird.

"I... that wasn't supposed to happen, right?"

Obviously, Usagi! But still - she frowns, worried for how Hinoiri might take this.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod and flicked her hair back. "Yeah, I've always had a way with animals. Probably the unicorn in me."

She then took the compact and... stared at it. Annnnd... "Ummm... it stopped. So... ummmm... close? I'm close?" she asked.

Hinoiri stared at it, a frustrated look on her face. She clutched it, staring... Her hand shaking. "I can sing... I love riding my motorcycle... dancing is fun... pictures, huh? I'm part of the yearbook club. I do some painting, too. A little baking, but I'm not the best."

Was she not good enough? Or was it the fact she stole part of her current device? Was she just not close enough? Or was it something else?

Dang it, this world's magic was annoying. Why couldn't it all be simple and make sense? Why were there ALWAYS so many HOLES and CAVEATS?!

She looked like she might fling it on the ground, before finally... slow, deep breath. "You wanna join the yearbook club? Obviously this just means you and I need to become closer. I'm not resonating yet, but I'm close. Maybe you could even help me with my research? You ever work in a lab before? If we could figure it out for me, I'm sure we could find all the others you need, too. I'd need to run some tests, see you henshin and whatnot, but it should be easy enough."

She held the device out to her. "I want you to tell me *Everything* about when you got your Heart Swirl Ring. Everything. Don't leave even the most tiny detail out."

... Well, nothing was on fire so she was taking it well.

Laura La Mer has posed:
"Not the first time it happens", Laura shrugs to Usagi. "Some people start showing potential, but fail somewhere, and that is what happens. The tricky part is understanding where the hangup is", she crosses her arms, Aqua Pact still in her hand. "With Hinoiri, I have got a feeling she got this far due to the other mermaids in her life. Honestly, weird coincidence that one, but the problem is easy to deal with."

"Never worked in a lab before. We don't have anything like that in Grand Ocean, but I am really studious, and have learnt a lot about my home, especially with access to the books at the palace. There is a treasure trove of information there." The pinkette glosses over the fact that during her first days here, she kept getting several answers wrong, because what she knew from there was actually quite different from here. She couldn't be blamed for that. Is that enough for you?

Her current thoughts make a stop at Hinoiri's offer to join the club. "Eh... I have only really used the Aqua Pot to take photos... I don't know the first thing about using a human camera, I never really had to. I would figure it out quickly, but I am not sure I am comfortable stopping taking bubble pictures. They are what I can have back at Grand Ocean, see?" she furrows her brow, looking a little lost and uncertain at the moment.

You ok with me taking both? For those photos I am attached to. I don't think I would like doing without", she explains, before nodding at Hinoiri's request to know everything about her Heart Swirl Ring. "I was sent here by the Queen with the Tropical Pact to start warning people and form a team that could protect the human lands. But the Tropical Pacts aren't for mermaids, no matter what I couldn't use them to transform. I can't really resonate with myself, you got that?" she checks quickly.

"Things were going well until the kidnapping, but I got out, and then the Queen told me I no longer needed to go back out of the water and offered me to start my apprenticeship to actually become Queen with my mission fulfilled and proved I was capable."

A small smile forms on her face. "But that made me realise my priorities had changed, and I wanted to help out my friends more. So, I put it on hold for now, and the Queen respected that. She gave me a rock, and when I found out, Chongire and Numeri had been attacking them and hurting them, I got angry and the rock cracked open, revealing the Mermaid Aqua Pact and giving me the Heart Swirl Ring in a similar way to what was going to happen to you. Then I became Cure La Mer, and gave Chongire a strong kick for good measure."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Hinoiri's reaction is determined, instead of angry, and sure, maybe Usagi sees some frustration, but nothing that seems too over the top. She relaxes a little, leaning back and watching as the two of them talk and plan togehter.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara gave a small nod, crossing her arms and making a mental record of all of this. "Uh huh, uh huh... And that's fine. The yearbook clubi sn't like, a 'you can only use our cameras' club. Good way to learn about people, waht they like, what they dislike, their strengths, weaknesses." Pause. "Maybe not that last one. And... really. So your transformation is different..."

Then she blinked and... "Wait. What does 'resonate' mean? Cause like... I mean, you're cute and all? But I have a girlfriend and uhhhh... I want magic, really. But I can't start making out with a girl to resonate with her." And of course she went there for a moment. "But... yeah. A desire to protect those you care about. That tracks. Well, Laura, I'm going to be watching you for the next few days. And going to run a lot of tests. You said you like to sing, right?" She then reached out and grabbed Laura's hand, dragging her off towards the music room.

There were going to be so many tests....

Laura La Mer has posed:
Laura raises her eyebrows at Hinoiri mentioning learning people's weaknesses, and she is about to comment on that, when Hinoiri's next sentence hits her like a hammer. "What? M-making out?" Laura stammers, flabbergasted. She didn't expect a misunderstanding like that to arise, and she visibly blushes with the embarassment.

"That's not at all what it means! I am not trying to... ugh", Laura starts getting winded up as she gets suddenly dragged off. "It's not meant to be romantic, how would I be supposed to help all sorts of different people awaken the Tropical Pacts!? I would never get in the way of someone's girlfriend...", she mutters.

"Resonating is just becoming close friends. I am not talking about a romantic development. Please, let's just do these tests, and not get other ideas. I am great at singing, and love it", she acquires some semblance of composure again while Hinoiri forcefully leads the way.