2330/Dunk

Dunk
Date of Scene:	16 February 2025
Location:	Cafe BAKE Neko
Synopsis:	Mamoru and Zoisite are doing homework when Minako comes in. Then Kazuo. Then Usagi. This is the scene where Minako's big red bow is a feature character, and so is Zoi's fire.
Cast of Characters:	Minako Aino, Mamoru Chiba, Zoisite, Kazuo Saitou, Usagi Tsukino
Tinyplot:	The Demise of Bow-chan

---

Minako Aino has posed:
There had been quite a lot going on lately which is the only reason that Minako is running late with her usual yearly haul of delivering joy, love, and delight! Burdened with the glorious, uh, burden of gifts she nudges the cat cafe door open with a bump of her hip as her hands were already full of bags. Colorful red, glossy bags that bore a myriad of heart-shaped themes. Some of them were recognizable as Valentine gift bags that had been on sale at Nounamu Sweets while others were a bit more... Handmade.

Artemis darts in just past her feet to plant himself defensively in front of the opening created by the door to ensure that no kittens or other feline denizens of the cafe attempt to escape past her.

"Thanks Arty! I don't want to get in trouble for any escapees. Now, I just need to figure out where to set these so I can sort them..." She allows the door to swing shut behind the both of them as her eyes dart around the room aiming mainly for the back where she knew there was an entrance to the floors above.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I've never been able to play an instrument, why is Taro-sensei trying to get me to play one now?" Mamoru's complaining at the back of the cat cafe, at his favorite corner table, sitting back in his chair and looking really grumpy. "I have way too much to actually worry about for this..."

Chibiusa's on campus with Usagi and Tamaki, god knows where Nephrite is, and Kazuo's upstairs, probably feeding the snake. Or the kitten. Who probably both think they can eat the other.

Mamoru's in his black leather jacket with an unzipped hoodie on underneath it, and a minty-green t-shirt that says ROCK COLLECTOR on it, skinny jeans, dress shoes that cost as much as a smartcar. His glasses are a little smudged and his hair is slightly less fluffy than normal.

Zoisite has posed:
Zoisite is sitting on the other side of the corner table, watching Mamoru's hissy fit with an elbow on the table and head propped up by his hand. "I'm surprised he did not saddle you with a musical triangle. You play the piano at toddler level at best, but-" and he emphasizes with a small sigh, his other hand, pointing the mechanical pencil towards Mamoru. "Never too late to learn, if you're committed. Blah blah."

Unlike his princely study companion, Zoisite was put together with dark grey slacks and a light pink button up shirt. The sleeves were expertly folded up past his elbows, not a wrinkle in sight. Wild caramel hair tied back in the usual green ribbon that matched the color of his eyes.

In front of him laid his study book for phytology, a small black leather pencil case next to it.

"Will you need me to tutor you?"

Minako Aino has posed:
It's Artemis that lopes over to the table with Mamoru and Zoisite before Minako even has a chance to make it there. She's busy divesting herself of the armload of bags on an empty table so that she can quickly sift through them to pluck out a few for the faces over at the table. This leaves the white feline plenty of time to leap up onto a free chair to settle in with his tail wrapping daintily around his haunches as he sits at the table. Like a people.

"Hello! Far be it for me to suggest anyone ignore their education," Artemis interjects, "But I have to agree there are far more important issues to be focusing on. You could always try singing and claim that's your 'instrument'?" It works for cats after all! "I hope you don't mind if I join you both?" He asks recaling his manners after a moment.

With the proper bags hooked on her fingertips Minako finally makes her way over. "Mamoru-kun!" She greets cheerily. "I've got a gift for you~! It's not from Nounamu, I know you get treats there all the time so I thought you might like a change of pace!"

The red bow on her head bounces a single time as she dips her head in Zoisite's direction by way of greeting. She's bit more dressed up herself in a red dress with a black jacket and matching chunky black belt holding it all together.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I don't want to turn down the offer, but we literally don't have the time it would take. Plus I'm not committed, I feel like I should *be* committed at this point--" Mamoru says, one hand tangling in his hair and tugging a little, head tilted into it. He's tired and stressed and high school, as good as he is at it, is just taking too much time.

He's not saying the thing he wants to say, the thing that's at the tip of his tongue to say, that he'll have plenty of time after the Fade does its dreadful work. But Zoisite can see it in his face, and can see it for what it is: the beginning of a spiral.

So it's a good thing when he sees Minako coming in with all that red. His eyes widen, and he glances to Zoisite, and he pushes a chair out with his foot for Artemis -- who, yes, promptly takes it to sit at the table like a people. "You're fine, welcome," says Mamoru to the white cat. "And you're also welcome to my apartment, you know, even if Anko is rude. She's just very protective of Luna and she hasn't parsed the nature of your relationship quite yet. Mostly because Luna hasn't told her."

Mamoru is up on the cat drama.

"Minako-chan!" he calls back as she makes her way over. "Aw, thanks! You didn't have to," he says warmly. "Here, you want coffee or cocoa or anything?" This asked as he starts getting up as if to fetch some.

Zoisite has posed:
Mamoru didn't have to explain much for him to be able to pick up that something was rattling the Prince from the inside. In truth, he knew what it was as well... Zoisite was hoping the offer to tutor would be a good opportunity to lose one's mind from future worries, be in the present--forgetting that it would more than likely not be the same for Mamoru as it would be a learning experience. Not one of passion. So he bit his tongue, unsure for a quiet instance on what would be helpful. Ignoring their studies could possibly make the situation worse. Lips parted, about to ask if the Prince wanted to talk about what was truly bothering him, only to lose the words as a flash of white feline jumped upon the pushed chair, joining their table.

Lips were sealed, sigh escaping through nose. "I do not see why Taro-sensei would object with a voice being an instrument. It's a sound argument."

Then his sharp eyes glances towards Minako's approach, taking in both the girl and the outfit she was wearing. From bow to foot and back again, landing on her face. She looked as out of place as most of the Valentine's Day decorations the day after. Belated gifts and whatnot. Oh dear.

Yet, he greeted her all the same, both hands lowering to his textbook and dipping his head in return. "Good afternoon."

Minako Aino has posed:
"You're welcome! And of course I have to," Minako assures with an over-dramatic drawl as if this were the most obvious thing ever. "I'm just sorry it's a bit late. I can't not celebrate valentine's day, though! It's just not done for someone of my status." Venus. Goddess of love. At least she's not saying such thoughts *out loud* while in her civilian guise, right?

Artemis for his part gives a flick of his tail along with a sigh. "She's been running around delivering gifts since early Valentine morning. At least the chocolate is good." Cats shouldn't be eating that though, right?

"Speaking of which... Is Kazuo home? I know he usually is." A quick glance around, and her gaze flits up to the cameras she knew were hidden around. Her voice drops a bit in an attempt to not be overheard. "If he's not I can just drop his off in his room." But that wasn't where she was at the moment, and she smiles brightly at the offer. "Oh a coffee would be fantastic! You know what they say, 'A coffee a day keeps the grumpy away!'"

Minako hums happily to herself at the thought of coffee while also giving out chocolate. There were still a few bags in hand, and many more over on the other table. Looking toward Zoisite she remarks, "I don't think we've officially met. I'm Minako Aino, pleased to meet you! Here, you can have one too!" So saying he gets a little heart-covered gift bag offered out as well. Oh no.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Well, all right. Maybe we can finally do magical karaoke night, that counts as practice, right?" Mamoru suggests dryly, and then lays his fingertips briefly on Zoisite's forearm. It's not so much words he places in Zoisite's head as it is images and feelings, quickly and lazily bundled to relieve concern, and they add up to: it's the usual anxiety, but hyped up because of the Black Moon Clan, and the prince is fundamentally all right.

It's joined by the warmth of Mamoru's golden power in the contact, a reinforcement of the simple love and complicated need Zoi's come to expect from his friend, his charge.
It takes a fraction of a second and doesn't even require eye contact, though there is.

And then Mamoru's going to the counter and ordering Minako a coffee, which he guesses at light and sweet. He goes, he comes back with it, he puts it on the table next to Minako, and he  t e n t a t i v e l y  sets down a small dish of cat treats in front of Artemis. "If you don't actually like those, no worries, someone here will. But please don't eat chocolate, Artemis-san, I don't want to have to heal you in the middle of the night."

Then he plops himself down and picks up his own coffee, looking amused. "You may not just go in someone's bedroom, Minako-chan. That's an invasion of privacy. And anyway I don't know if he's home. He's definitely here if Chibiusa-chan is, but she's not..."

Blink blink. "You haven't met? No, I suppose you haven't. Yes: Minako Aino, Izou Saitou." A beat. "Venus, Zoisite."

Zoisite has posed:
Like lightning, his green eyes became rather focused on the bouncy blonde once Kazuo's name was brought up. Asking as to where the other Shitennou would be, if she had permission to even approach his room. The sentiment was as crude as acid, bubbling in his stomach, but he made the Herculean effort to conceal it.

Then, in a split second, he felt fingers connect to his skin, and earnest emotions travelling down his muscles as fast as the blood in his veins washed away some of the sudden bitterness, spreading the warmth of reassurances and the simple explanation of what it was that was ailing the Prince. That everything was fine, even with stressors piling up once more. Green eyes connects with Mamoru's for a moment, thankful of the relief offered right his charge left the table for Minako's coffee.

Ah yes, Minako. Gaze quickly returning to hers. "Not officially, no. A good time to change that." With a little more control now, he accepts the small hearts covered bag by pinching it between his index and thumb, placing it gingerly on his textbook. Mamoru returned in time to introduce the two, giving Zoisite enough to open the bag and see not-chocolate.

Nougat. "How thoughtful. Thank you. You may call me Izou, if you'd like." He closes the bag, knowing he'd pawn it off to Nephrite later.

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino settles in to the chair to sit with a sweep of her hand over her skirt to ensure that it's done in the most graceful way possible. Not because she was trying to be cultured; this was just the habitual movement of someone who knew darn well how to move quickly in a skirt without it becoming an issue. It's second nature.

"Oh, thank you, Mamoru-kun!" Her hands wrap instantly around the cup of sweet creamy coffee to warm her fingers. Yeees. Sweet and not that dark. Perfect!

The proper introduction has her giving Zoisite a quick once-over of her own as she commits his face to memory. "Ah! I see. Most everyone calls me 'Mina' if you want."

ANYWAY she turns her gaze to Mamoru with blue eyes wide and utterly innocent and one hand raised to curl beneath her chin in a pleading gesture that was really far too like Usagi begging to not be intentional. "Not his ROOM room, just the room he showed me with the monitors! Pleeeeaaase?" Innocent. Wide eyed. Wibbly. Usagi-reminiscent. Pleeeeaaaase? But she relents even before he answers with a little sigh. "Or I guess I could just hang it on his doorknob but that seems so very tacky. I thought I could maybe decorate his desk a bit as a surprise."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Did Minako glancing at the cameras alarm him? Was it some supernatural understanding of when Zoisite's eyes focus that way? Did Mamoru sneak in a text when he stopped by the counter?

Either way, the subject of not-entirely-conversation is definitely not watching the security cameras at the moment, because he just stepped in the door. (Odds that he came out one door of the building and right back in the cafe's: high.)

Kazuo is dressed in his usual fashion, plain white button-down shirt and black slacks; they're not in as good order as usual, because trying to keep a kitten from flinging itself off of Anko's ceiling run does not for immaculate clothing make. The kitten is not, in fact, with him at present. They might never get it back from the feline masses.

"I take it that the study session is on break," he says to Zoisite and Mamoru, glancing between the both of them with an only half-hidden amused affection before adding, "Hello, Mina."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
There's a tiny little 'pfheh' sound from Mamoru, right into his coffee cup before he sets it down. "That's the server room, Minako-chan, *I'm* not even allowed in there without supervision, and I'm his--"

Kazuo walks up.

"--princefriend."

What?

"On br-- yeah, Zoi and Artemis-san both told me I need to tell Taro-sensei that I don't have to learn an instrument because I can sing okay," he tells Kazuo and holds a hand up, contact please--

That's basically a scenedump complete with the developing vibes, and Mamoru's growing amusement. And a dare to make it worse.

Zoisite has posed:
Stars above, Minako was insisting in making herself seem as tacky as bubblegum under a shoe, enough that one of his hands lifted to press fingers against his lips in an attempt to conceal whatever sentiment was attempting to crawl back into his stomach. Pity, jealousy, contempt, amusement? Something negative, surely. "Mina, yes. Pray tell, were you hoping on sprinkling nougats around his room?"

That was out of his mouth as Kazuo came in, and his demeanor quickly changed from sharp scrutiny to wide eyed twinkles in his eyes. Sitting up straight, hand lowering from his face as a small smile curved upwards. Tongue pressed against the back of his teeth, 'Kunzite-sama' swiftly being swallowed down to a simple "Kunzite." A nod, reserved.

"Thinking of joining us?" Sit next to me? Sit next to me.

Minako Aino has posed:
It's amazing how such a simple phrase as 'Hello, Mina' could make her heart stop completely in her chest. Once upon a time she might have completely melted at the greeting. She was older now! Wiser! More mature! Cultured, even!

"Kazuo! Hello! Happy Be Late Valentine Day!"

What? "Nougat? Why would I... No of course not!" Oh, god, nougat why would she give KAZUO nougat? A distasteful look is flashed at Zoisite before she immediately focuses on her target!

Mina springs up from her seat, abandoning her coffee, she darts over to the other table to pick up the bag meant for Kazuo. There were still other bags there, obligation chocolate, candy to distract others who might EAT the chocolate (or nougat in Zoi's case) and similar items. This bag was shimmery red. Thankfully NOT glitter (she's well aware how that ends) but it was sparkly. It had no hearts, but ... The color was bright, vivid, unmistakeable red. Heavy enough that she holds it in both hands while stepping over to Kazuo to offer it out to him grinning ear to ear.

"Here, this one's for you. You don't have to open it here if you don't want," she assures. "But if you want it's okay, too!" Inside are not one, but three boxes of various sundry candies. One is candied fruit dipped into chocolate. One is chocolate truffles. And the last? Cookies. Homemade cookies dipped into chocolate. They actually look... good? Maybe she wasn't as bad in the kitchen as Usagi even if she was a body double. (Or maybe she had her mom help.)

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Princefriend? Kazuo's eyebrows twitch, just a little, and there's stifled amusement in his eyes. He laces fingers with his - princefriend's - and lets the contact linger a moment.

(Mamoru's growing amusement is fed with Kazuo's own mental image of Mamoru arguing to Taro-sensei that castanets count as an instrument, just to mess with him.)

When he lets go, Kazuo does indeed fold himself into a seat at the corner table. No, it is not the seat Mina sprang up from. Yes, it is a seat beside Zoisite. The darting-away of their guest means that Kazuo gets a chance to glance directly from one to another of Mamoru and Zoi, and mouth the word, 'Nougat?' silently...

... and then turns to accept the bag in both hands. "Thank you, Minako." Shimmery red bag is placed down. Is it opened? It is not opened. Perhaps because she is Usagi's body double, and he has ... heard stories. So many stories. Careful analysis may be in order before letting anyone risk seeing the contents, let alone tasting.

That, or he's making sure Zoisite doesn't actually shred Mina with commentary. Who can tell?

(Obviously he no longer needs to worry about the Fade. His life expectancy now ends with White Day.)

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Castanets!! Mamoru starts to slowly do the motion he does with his hand when he pulls a rose out of nowhere, but no rose, just a smirk. The 'nougat' question earns Mamoru pointing equally silently to Zoisite's gift bag of chocolate.

He eyes Kazuo's giant chocolate bag and buries his expression in his coffee cup, leaning forward a little to glance past Zoisite at the white-haired boy, eyes twinkling, then sits back.

"Belated," he says mildly.

Zoisite has posed:
As she darts away, there was an exaggerated roll of his eyes while crossing one leg over the other, fingers twirling a long lock of hair between them. "Nougat is what I got. Don't worry yourself." Juts his chin delicately at his own bag, tied up and ignored. About the same size as Mamoru's.

It was such a huge contrast to gift given to Kazuo, he could almost smell the intention from it. Green gaze not exactly hiding the 'want' to set it on fire, but he wouldn't dare do such a thing. There are better things to set alight if he so chooses.

"How charming. Definitely a special belated Valentine's Day gift."

Minako Aino has posed:
"What's wrong with eating chocolate? It's delicious!" Artemis remarks as he moves to place front paws on the tabletop when Mamoru delivers the plate of treats. One is daintily taken and monched with a small 'MmMmm' of approval. "These are fine, thank you. I eat Mina's chocolate all the time. Especially those Rainbow chocolates. She was getting so fat from eating them I had to 'save' her from them," he explains matter-of-fact. Artemis, heroically putting himself on the line to save his charge by eating fattening chocolate that was part of one of Danburite's old ploys. Woops.

Of course talking about Mina getting fat results in Mina scooping more treats off the plate to thrust into Artemis' mouth. "Ha ha ha oh that's so funny Artemis I think you're remembering wrong anyway!"

The gift was given so she reclaims her seat and holds her hands around the cup of coffee trying to not simply bounce with excitement as she beams brightly.

"Well of course it's a special gift! I can't give a bad gift to-" A dreamy sort of sigh comes as her hand lifts to cup her cheek recalling the past. "-The boy who was my first kiss." <3 <3 <3

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
There is a saying about looking daggers at people. Kazuo is employing the politest and most civil possible version of that saying at Minako right now - eyebrows lifted just the faintest touch, eyes not quite half-lidded, mouth coolly even in such a way that the lack of expression is expressiveness itself. But civil. And polite.

Somehow the bag of chocolates in front of him does not develop tiny icicles, but that might be a close call.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Sitting in the corner, with Minako sort of facing them in a chair and Artemis in another one, Mamoru grins. He's sitting next to Zoisite, and Kazuo's on Zoi's other side... leaving the seat next to Mamoru empty (as well as some other chairs, BUT--

Mamoru's just grinning, there, with his coffee in both hands and a cat starting to wind around the legs of the chairs and the people, under the table. The cat's a little dilute orange tabby with high white spotting, and there is not a thought in its head. It winds around Artemis' chair, then jumps up on it next to him and starts poking at his treats, trying to drag the little bowl over.

Mamoru does not say a single thing.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's after Valentine's Day, which means - well, mostly it means that Mamoru got some storebought chocolate from Usagi on Valentine's Day, and Kazuo got some simpler obligation chocolates, and that's about it, as far as her chocolate deliveries among the Senshi and Shitennou quarter goes.

She's a growing girl with a daughter, and she's only fifteen! How could she, such a pitiful figure, ever be expected to give out all the obligation chocolates she could theoretically owe?

She slinks into the cafe, sees Minako, Kazuo, Mamoru, and Zoisite sitting at a table -

And sideskirts all of them to go order the largest hot chocolate the cafe sells. She's got a feeling she'll need it.

Zoisite has posed:
It was like his insides were made of nothing but corrosive fuel, holding back every bit of venom he wished to spit out in that moment, but Minako's word's were the embers he was forced to breathe in and swallow down, stuck between the Prince he loved and served, and the man that he--what? What was it? Define it, what was Kunzite to him, to feel such vicious fangs around his heart.

Zoisite was internally grasping at anything internally to keep himself from setting anything aflame, he even felt his teeth chatter quietly within his mouth. This would have been so much easier if he hadn't followed his Prince. If he didn't have cares to give. Tear that ridiculous bow off her head, drag her out of the cafe. Shouldn't have worn earrings today.

But Kunzite was not his. It was never a subject they spoke about.

He did not wish to be there anymore, emotions already losing control as he was about to do something horrifically stupid. "Oh." Was all that escaped him. For some reason, Minako's bow was starting to smoke, flames chewing on the lace with gusto.

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino didn't see anything wrong with sharing that information since it was something she had already spoken to Mamoru about. Not that she was trying to share all of her history with Kazuo, but it had been a situation she was feeling guilty about and she had texted Mamoru when Kazuo's response to their discussion had been a momentary blue-screen face. So she'd HAD to explain why.

Zoisite however didn't know, and for perhaps the first time tonight she focuses her attetion on him with a slow growing awareness that she usually had regarding the emotions of others. She'd been so caught up in her own giddiness that it hadn't gotten through her fog of Love and Happiness. Until now.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm sure someone will want to kiss you too some... day?" Rapidly blinking her eyes roll upward with a deep sniff. Smoke.

Artemis for his part scooches over to share with the orange. Oranges were brainless, they needed to be tolerated after all. Though the smoke catches his attention as well and he suddenly bristles with a yowl. "Mina! Your bow!"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"You ever see your friends sitting together, but it's the wrong group of friends sitting together?" It's a question asked idly to the girl at the register who'd just taken Usagi's order. The Moon Princess, Legendary Double Girl, One and Only Sailor Moon, is leaning against the counter, waiting for her hot chocolate, in absolutely no rush to join a table where she is pretty positive every person there except Artemis is in love with Kazuo.

Nothing against Kazuo, of course, but there's fighting evil by moonlight, and there's walking into doom, you know?

"Oh, it's that kind of friendship drama?" The young staff member asks, looking a little too interested, which Usagi does not blame her for.

"Oh yeah. I mean, I don't think they've ever been all at a table, but I just can't see it going well - actually, can you make sure it's like, half whipped cream? I'm going to need so much sugar for this."

"Oh, sure, sure, I can do that! It makes it easier, actually, do you want any other toppings?"

"Nah, I think that will be good!"

"Well then, here you go -"

It's only a few seconds that Usagi's looking away. A few seconds.

But when she looks back, Minako's ribbon is on fire and the smoke is curling towards the ceiling and she rushes over in an instant -

Poor Minako gets her head yanked back by the hair as her princess dumps hot chocolate over her leaned back head - it spares her outfit, but her bow and hair are soaked in lukewarm hot chocolate (all that whipped cream, killer for the temperature)

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Oh no. Mamoru clamps a hand over his face, his coffee abruptly on the table. And then his hand grips Zoisite's shoulder-- not skin contact but the Prince anyway-- and he starts to say something when the smoke starts to waft upwards, and he says, "Kunz--"

--and then that is Usagi, and that is hot cocoa, and Mamoru's eyes are very wide, and he starts cough-laughing, HELPLESSLY, and gasping, "Sorry, suh-sorry," and then after he manages to stop wheezing he says, "Oh gods Usako you are so fast and-- Minako-chan do you want to go upstairs? Where there's. Showers. And some of Usako's clothes--" he glances at Usagi for confirmation.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Mamoru's hand is on Zoisite's shoulder, and Kazuo's hand settles lightly on Zoisite's other forearm - much lighter than Mamoru's grip, as if to offer some silent assurance in counterpoint to Mamoru's grounding him -

And then, absolutely perfectly polite, he says, "Thank you, Usagi. That was timely." Dealing with such a ... strange coincidence. Spontaneous Minakombustion.

Zoisite has posed:
Zoisite hadn't noticed his own nails digging into the palms of his hands, nor how narrow his sight had become to red lace a couple of seconds ago. It did take one grip and another to bring him back from seeing vibrant colors bloom to orange and yellow. Now his fingers flexed, eyes blinking with the scene developing before him.

He could laugh. He might, eventually, in hindsight. In the moment however, the light smell of smoke filled his lungs, quick enough to 'look' positively stunned at everything, wide eyed.

Beneath the table, his hand reached across his middle and gently held onto Kunzite's sleeve.

Minako Aino has posed:
On FIRE. HER BOW. IS ON FIRE. The thought barely has time to register before Minako is bodily yanked backwards by her ponytail by Usagi so that she can get doused with cocoa and repent.

Thankfully it's not scalding. The bow sizzles, hisses, and goes limper than a ramen noodle. Bowchan gives up the ghost. It is both sizzled, charred, and soaked. There's no coming back from that. Mina's hair likewise turns a darker shade both from being wet and being wet with sticky sweet chocolate leaving her resembling a golden retriever that found a mud puddle.

"...." Mina takes a deep breath a single time before she jumps to her feet standing there next to Usagi looking at once mortified and just fumbling with her hands reaching up to clap over her hair. Over her ruined bow.

"... Yes please..." is all that manages to come out quietly as her shoulders slump in apparent defeat over the situation.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Timely. That sure is a word for it. Kazuo is given a look. Mamoru, is given a look.

The look communicates cleanly that she's not mad, but very disappointed, as she turns away from them and gives Minako a tight hug, and takes her own jacket off to drape over Minako's shoulders, so that her dripping hair can't ruin her outfit.

"I've got clothes upstairs that you can change into," she promises, and I'll come up with you, okay? Let me just take care of one thing."

And then, with a very gentle smile, she turns around, walks up to the table, leans across it so that she's staring Zoisite in the face, and says, just loud enough for the table but not the whole cafe to hear, "I don't care what she did, even if she probably deserved it, because if you ever use your powers on one of my Senshi again, we're going to see if hair grows back after you drop liquid nitrogen on it, okay?"

The smile drops off her face.

"Mamochan loves you, and Kazuo-kun and Ami-chan like you, so I'd never, ever, kill you, but I think we both know you'd rather I did than you have to rock the bald look, right?"

And then she straightens up, stalks to Minako's side, wraps an arm around her, and gently pulls her away towards the elevator that will let them go up to the apartments.

"We'll be back~"

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru shriiinks from the look Usagi gives him, and the disappointed look, and he knows he deserves it after laughing after watching the whole thing from the setup to the end--

--(but it was so funny)--

(but he knows)

But then Usagi's not just lecturing Zoisite, she's making very real very deserved threats, and as much as he loves Zoisite, that's...

That's just really really attractive.

He gets himself under control. "We'll probably be here. I'll be here, at least."

Finally, Mamoru gets up and starts for the mop, as Anko keeps the other cats away from the spilled chocolate on the floor, and employees are collecting cats as well.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
That leaves only Mamoru's personal cats to herd. Kazuo breathes out, slowly, after Usagi tugs Minako away from the table, and then leans to the side far enough to rest his head for a moment against Zoisite's hair. Defending it from Usagi's threat? ... he is unlikely to defend anything against Usagi, granted, but he can signal his appreciation of the hair in question. "We should help clean up," he murmurs to Zoisite. "And apologize to the staff." He is ... somehow not moving. Not quite yet.

All right, enough to straighten up and turn to look more directly at Zoisite. "Are you all right?"

Says he, to the one who did not get set on fire.

Zoisite has posed:
When the Moon Princess leaned across the table, he lifted his head, looked her in the face and took the lecture without a sound. He knew that her threat was very real, enough that he nodded back once in understanding. Pride and humiliation did not fit into the equation of duty when it was the girl Mamoru was in love with. Everything else would be compartmentalized until his error was cleaned up and dealt with.

Yet his fingers were still clinging to Kunzite's sleeve, tightly. The weight of lean against his head made him want to melt. Wild curls, a chore to look after, but they were soft to the touch.

Yes, they should assist in cleaning up. His attention was quite focused on Kazuo. Turning his head so green eyes locked onto icy blues. Was he alright? Zoisite tried on a smile, but it felt forced after everything that's happened. And he was aware that the question could easily fish out more than a mere simple 'no.'

"Ask me again, after we're done cleaning?" A quiet request.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"All right." Kazuo's hand slides down to cover Zoisite's for a moment. He takes another quiet breath, in then out. "And I'll tell you the story later. It's embarrassing as hell, but you deserve to be able to laugh at me about it." Light pressure on his hand. Then he stands up, and goes to try to steal the mop from Mamoru.

"I just hope for one thing," he says to their prince. "That Minako doesn't try to return that to Usagi threefold on White Day..."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru cedes the mop and starts to say something gravely, and then his mouth shuts and his lips purse and his eyes sparkle. "Stop," he says, throat tight to keep from laughing again. But the corners of his mouth are twitching. "We're all in trouble. I'll get the dry mop for you, Zoi-face. I think Usako lectured you enough, though, you don't need to hear a lecture from me too."

Zoisite has posed:
Pressure from Kunzite's hand was enough to make Zoisite blink back once, then slowly soften into a small smile. Of course, the words he heard did their charm as well, hinting that perhaps this was not a recent occurrence. Made him feel all the more better and equally as foolish.

But he had to focus. When Kunzite got up, he was quick to follow, only standing back a second to close his book and zip up his pencil case before stepping around the table to meet with Mamoru.

Brow arched. "Thank you, your Highness."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Thank me? What f-- my *highness*?" Mamoru asks, startled and slightly alarmed. "What did I do now?" He reaches to touch Zoisite's arm for a quick wellness check--

--his own emotions are mixed. Mostly he feels rueful and regretful, but not guilty, as such. Well, guilty for laughing. His touch is warm and golden, carrying with it the peace of a summer meadow and the stillness of a mountain cave.

"Hey. We all make mistakes. Yours was only in the level of escalation."

Zoisite has posed:
Fragmented. That's what his minds was like at that moment. Like the rubies in the stone itself, separated yet still part of the structure, Zoisite was doing his best to stave off his emotions for when he and Kunzite were able to talk without an audience. Avoid making more of a scene.

There was, however, a part of him that felt like he was indeed the youngest of all of them. Still learning to confront and reign in what was inside his chest and mind. He was intelligent in academics and musical arts, but emotionally, his control was indeed that of a child's.

Even with the golden touch from Mamoru, that much was clear. Zoisite breathed in, looking back at his Prince. "Setting a senshi's accessory alight is a bit more than an escalation."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"...yeah," agrees Mamoru, rueful again. "Yeah, it is. And you're going to have to make up for it. But listen--"

He leans in, then closer, until they're practically cheek to cheek and he's close enough Zoisite can feel the heat of his skin radiating through the air, and Mamoru whispers, "I'm jealous too. Just not of you, okay?"

There's another brief touch, this one communicating something close to 'because you're both mine,' full of protective possessiveness, but not anything like ownership. His people. His men. Connections his soul holds. The other parts of how his magic works. Mine.

"But I know you have more to talk about. I'm going to campus to check on who's with Chibiusa," he tells both Zoisite and Kazuo, "but if you leave the cafe, text me so I can be there when the girls come back down."

Zoisite has posed:
' 'His.' ' Zoisite heard it, felt it in the touch, the warmth given along with the love that echoed in every sentiment shared. And he understood it, found a comfort in being reminded this when it's all said and done. Since the very beginning of all his memories, it was the purpose he was given since young. To be of the Prince's, life and soul.

He nods, returning the touch with one of his own, fingers around Mamoru's wrist gently. 'I will make up for it, as best I can.' No cynicism, no lies. Zoisite meant it, even if his emotions would later disagree for some reason of another. This was more important.

"Good, you should check on Little Lady." Letting go of Mamoru's wrist, Zoisite goes for the dry mop. "We'll be sure to text you if we do leave the cafe."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Zoisite gets a quick hug around the shoulders, then, and Kazuo a quick kiss, and Mamoru swipes his books and coffee from their table. "Okay, cool," he says, then laughs, "Small. Small Lady. But Chibiusa-chan in public, she said. See you guys soon."

With that, he's out the door.