2194/New Year New Feelings

New Year New Feelings
Date of Scene:	31 December 2024
Location:	Four Clover Mall
Synopsis:	Philip and Chiyo sneak up to the top of Four Clover Mall and share conflicting feelings on the rooftop.
Cast of Characters:	Phantom, Chiyo Sakai

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Phantom has posed:
It was late in the evening on the 31st of Decemeber. Most of the students are at parties or otherwise revelling. Philip wasn't feeling it, but he did want to spend time with Chiyo. A message is sent to her, a spur of the moment 10:30 PM text of:

<TEXT> Philip texts Chiyo: Meet me at the bus stop. I want to take you somewhere!

When Chiyo arrives, they catch the bus, Philip not giving away the location of where they are going until they reach the mall. It is here that Philip decides to stand up to depart, glancing at Chiyo to follow him as he departs.

As he's getting off, the bus driver reminds him. "If you're here to shop, it's too late, the mall is closed for the evening."

"I know! Thanks though." Philip responds cheerfully as he steps off, takes a few steps and turns around to wait for Chiyo.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai was more than willing to meet up. Most of the New Years preparations on her family side were taken care of (it helped the family was mostly her and Ojiisan outside of the extended relatives.) Meeting up wasn't an issue.

Still, the location is a bit confusing as well. Even as the bus driver warns of the shopping issue she was about to speak up. Instead she shrugs, following after Philip with a bemused expression.

"Okay now I'm curious. Where are we going, Philip?" She reaches out to take hold of his arm preparing to walk awhile if necessary.

Phantom has posed:
Arm slipped into his, Philip grins at Chiyo. "You're not one for surprises, are you?" And with that, he's making his way towards the backside of the mall, his arm moving so that he's holding Chiyo's hand. As they round to the back, there's a fence in their way. "So. We're going to be climbing this." he explains to Chiyo. "You're okay with a little breaking and entering, right?" His smile is almost at Cheshire level as he takes off his jacket to throw over the top of the fence to drape over it.

And then he starts to climb. "Hopefully the security is lax tonight. It is New Years after all."

He reaches down to offer his hand to her so that he can help her up.

There's nothing like a misdemeanor between loved ones, right?

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai juts her lower lip out in a little pout at the question of surprises. "I mean... I don't mind them, but I'm still going to ask," she points out with a laugh of amusement at being called on that. When lead along, and at least a bit of explanation given, her eyebrows rise a bit.

Admittedly it wasn't as if she hadn't done a little B&E before.

"So long as we don't get caught, I guess," she agrees with a sheepish grin. She waits until he reaches down to offer her a hand up. Then she gives a little jump to boost herself while holding onto his hand.

"No pictures then tonight, I take it? Better not to leave evidence," she agrees. Of course if she'd known they were doing this she would probably have worn something better than a mini-skirt and leggings.

Phantom has posed:
"Oh, we're totally taking pictures. What's the fun of going to a forbidden place if we don't capture the moment?" Philip asks with a playful smile as he hefts Chiyo up and over to the other side. Once she's cleared the fence, he drops down as well, and then whips his jacket off the fence and catches it when it comes down to him. It takes a couple of tries, but it eventually gives way.

Once inside the perimeter, he slips his jacket back on, and his hand finds Chiyo's again as he takes off. As if he has done this before. Several times. "So when I was working for Obsidian, Mirage had a shop here. And since she has a shop..." he fishes into his pocket and takes out a set of keys. "She didn't take these away from me."

Stopping at the ladder, that goes all the way up, he pauses. "Ready to climb..." he looks way, way up. Is he serious? He waits for Chiyo's reaction.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai glances back over her shoulder as they start to race away from the fence, just to make sure that no one passing by saw them. The streets were mostly empty though. There weren't too many out since most were in with their families preparing to be up late and see the sunrise, or visit temples.

Her hand is taken, and she squeezes his back quickly while running beside him. Right up until they pause at a ladder and he fishes out the keys.

"Oh! You did mention the makeup store before," she admits while looking just a bit hesitant. "Are you sure about this? I mean... What if she comes after you again?"

Ah, but he was already climbing, so she just nods with a sigh and starts along. "They have cameras too you know," she hisses suddenly feeling very wary given the whole B&E thing. Maybe she could cover her face with the scarf before they get inside. Yes.

Phantom has posed:
But he only went up one rung, before he comes back down and Philip laughs. "Sorry, babe. I have a much better way to do this. Though yeah, pull up the scarf." He himself pulls up the baklava he has around his neck as he inserts a key into the elevator and turns it to activate. "I don't know why she'd come after me. Unless Scorn is doing terribly or something. I had been training her. Now I know why." He shrugs while waiting for the elevator to arrive.

That's when the beam of a flashlight shines out from around the corner. It's still shining towards the opposite direction, but it does make Philip clear his throat. "Well, that's going to make things interesting." What will arrive first, the guard or the elevator?

It takes about ten seconds, but the doors open first and Philip pulls Chiyo with him into the elevator. "This is a service elevator. Only goes to the roof." he explains, and he presses the up button. "And it's old... so no cameras."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai breathes out a little sigh of relief as they don't have to climb the ladder. She WOULD have if that was the only way. Though she was certainly missing being able to leap tall buildings. Perhaps once she got the Reshbal mark. After all, Wako and Takuto could fly!

The scarf is pulled up and wrapped around herself quickly a few times, pinning her usually fluffy curls in tight so that it doesn't look QUITE like her at first glance. When the elevator is queued up she gives Philip a little nudge in the side with her elbow.

"I don't know, I just worry sometimes. I didn't have any direct enemies really but you certainly might."

At the little flash of light she grows quiet and presses in closer to the wall right up until she's tugged into the elevator.

Heart racing she reaches for her pocket to pull her phone out. "Should I give anyone a heads up in case we need to get bailed out?" She teases.

Phantom has posed:
As the elevator clatters and creaks as it heads up, Philip considers Chiyo's words and slips his arms around her waist and presses his forehead to hers. "I appreciate that you worry about me." he tells her, eyes warm and sparkling. "It makes me feel important to you and..." he trails off. Another time, maybe? But then she mentions bail money.

"That won't send them out here in their mahou form intent on kicking my ass for ruining you?" he asks her with a lift of his brows. Part amusement, part pretty sure that Sailor Moon would indeed show up and give him a stern talking to.

Finally, the elevator stops, and opens into the night air, and the large, four leaf designed rooftop and helipad. Glancing down at his watch, he makes a note.

11:55. A little bit of time left. Stepping out of the elevator into the slight wind, Philip breathes it in. "I miss coming up here. This was one of my thinking spots."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai leans in against Philip meeting his gaze as he holds her. Her own arms slide around him to return the hug here in this rattling old elevator leading up to the roof. "Of course I worry, silly. You *are* important to me."

"As for them rushing over..." That does cause her to pause, and consider a moment. "Maybe if I just let Sugata know." They weren't exactly the sort to care about laws compared to some of her other friends and relations. She does smirk in amusement though, and step away when he releases her.

Out onto the roof she follows allowing her gaze to sweep around taking in the open rooftop and the view that it offers. Her attention shifts back to him as he explains the meaning of this place.

"It is a bit harder to hang out on rooftops these days," she agrees with a soft smile. "The view is nice."

Phantom has posed:
"It is. Especially when I used to be able to portal anywhere." Philip admits as he walks out a little further, waiting for her to join him. When she does, he considers his words and straightens up a little as he exposes his face. "There's a reason I brought you up here. This was one of my favorite spots. And... after I met you, I thought about you a lot here. And what you were doing and what it meant."

And then we decided to start seeing each other, even though I had no idea how to handle that, you walked me through it. You were patient with me. You cared for me. You were there when Mirage stripped my powers. And I started feeling a stirring inside me I couldn't explain... but I think I figured out what it is that I feel here." His hand rises to his chest and covers his heart.

His other hand goes to his pocket and pulls out an elongated box. Presenting it to Chiyo, he opens it, exposing a small silver bracelet with two hearts on it. "Chiyo Sakai... I've fallen for you." he admits, just as the fireworks start to go off, illuminating the sky around the tower.



"I... I love you, Chiyo."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai watches, and listens as Philip speaks. When he moves away she follows so that he doesn't have to raise his voice. There were still guards around after all so there was that concern. It was close to midnight though, and the air was chill, so it was very likely that even the guards would have retreated to their little shack to warm up and ring in the new year for hte moment.

As the talk goes to being patient she smiles softly. Her head dips forward with a little shake of her head in response. "I didn't exactly know either. We both worked at it," she assures only to glance up again when he talks of figuring things out. A little knot of uncertainty grips her chest as she holds her breath waiting to hear what, exactly, was figured out.

The box with the bracelete comes out causing her to let out that held breath in a rush. "Oh. Oh, Philip..." Her face was red. Very red. Not all due to the chill in the Winter air. Any further words hitch in her throat as she just steps forward to grab him in a tight hug.

Phantom has posed:
As Philip watches Chiyo while he talks, he comes to a realization that overwhelms even the New Years fireworks. His brain enters a mode of, Oh. Oh crap.

He embarassed her. And she totally is not ready, Philip realizes. As she grabs him into the hug, he returns it, though his own throat is strangled with a half-formed apology as he just holds onto Chiyo for several moments, his own face turning red as he buries it in her hair and kisses the top of her scalp.

"...if this is too sudden, or whatever, I... it can wait. Really." he starts to say, admitting to how he's reading the moment.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"It's fine," comes Chiyo's muffled response against his shoulder. "You're fine," she adds trying to be reassuring. "I just wasn't expecting this." Her grip doesn't release him though as she feels him kiss the top of her head. She just breathes deep a time or two before risking lifting her head to glance at him with a soft smile.

"I just feel as if the other shoe is going to drop at any moment. I really care about you Philip and I like you a lot lot." But that word was hard to say. She squeezes him a bit tigther before recalling she can be a bit strong. Maybe she shouldn't squeeze him to bits.

"It's my turn to need a little time I think. That doesn't mean I want to stop seeing you or anything though!" It's all let out in a quick rush, words stumbling over one another as she tries to find the right thing to say while just... Not really knowing what that may be.

Phantom has posed:
They're both stuck at that. "Okay... that's fine. I was being a dumb romantic and it was New Years and we've seen each other for a while. I should have checked with you first." Philip admits as she squeezes him. Yes. It's tight. Might even hurt a little, but he doesn't want her to let go. "The other shoe." It takes a moment for Philip to realize what Chiyo means, but when he does, his mouth forms a llittle 'o' and he sighs. "If Queen Mirage comes to take me back."

"I don't know if that's going to happen. But if it does... just remember this moment for me. And don't give up on me. There has to be a way to stop her." he admits, reaching up to brush his hand over her hair.

"And I want to see you as well. Keep the bracelet. If you decide to wear it, you can. If not... well, I understand." Then he chuckles.

"I'm glad I didn't go with tagging our initials up here." he says with a bark of a laugh. "That'd been a terrible idea!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Yeah," Chiyo agrees at the concern of Mirage coming back. All she can do is nod numbly at that. "I think I'll worry a bit less once I get the mark from Southern Cross Island. Silly as that may seem, at least I can fight that way." She could fight to begin with of course but even with her natural strength she was no match for magic. This was something she'd already learned a few times.

As the fireworks start to die down she meets his gaze again, and leans in to press a quick kiss to his lips. Just a soft kiss that doesn't linger too long. "Of course I'll wear it. It's from you!" The retort is firm, assured, and she adds, "It's lovely. Thank you, Philip."

Of course... she can't keep a straight face forever. The spray painting earns a laugh as her head shakes. "That might be a little bit more incriminating than we need."

One hand lets go of the hug to reach for his hand lacing their fingers together. "Happy New Year."

Phantom has posed:
"Do what you need to to be safe. I don't think anyone wants a former Pretty Cure thief with really no skills outside of being a bad guy." Philip admits, just to be silenced with a New Years kiss. It doesn't last long, but Philip gets a chance to return it, lingering until she pulls away. When she does, he grins at her declaration that she's going to wear the jewelry. "Okay... cool!"

And when she partially breaks the hug, his hand finds hers, lacing her fingers with his. "Come on, lets go watch the fireworks. That's what I brought you up here for."