436/And Finally, Mall Rats

And Finally, Mall Rats
Date of Scene:	16 September 2023
Location:	Four Clover Mall
Synopsis:	Usagi and Rei go out for a day of shopping, and this time, nothing will go wrong. Minako joins them - and even less goes wrong.
Cast of Characters:	Usagi Tsukino, Rei Hino, Minako Aino

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Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Rei-chan! There you are, you made it!" Usagi Tsukino hops up from her seat and rushes over, eagerly linking arms with Rei - not even giving her friend a chance to refuse. (Hoping she wouldn't)! "Just watch, we're finally going to have a good shopping trip."

Some would argue she's testing fate. Usagi would say fate isn't going to dare to bother her, not today, not after all the drama they'd lived through with Naru's abduction. Nope! They've earned a day off.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei is latched onto before she even knows what's going on. She smiles as she wonders at what point in time Usagi's call started making her glad to hear her voice, after their almost-disastrous first meeting. "Hey, Usagi-chan. I don't have too much money, so let's choose wisely where we spend it, okay?" Another way of saying, 'please don't guilt me into buying you a bunch of food and then still expect me to be able to afford an entire new wardrobe and also Sailor V collectibles'.

    "I have a good feeling about today." she lies. More like she doesn't have a bad feeling. When you're Rei Hino, that's almost -- but not quite -- the same thing.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Okay, okay, no worries! We'll window shop it, and only get something if we see anything really good! I promise!" The problem with this kind of promise is that Usagi really means it... but her standards for really good are very low. She's the sort who will see all kinds of great things and do a terrible job of evaluating which one she really likes. Poor Rei-chan will have to hold strong!

"The mall looks really good you know? They did a great job of fixing it up after... it's looking good."

The mall had been wrecked, but already, it's back to great condition.

Rei Hino has posed:
    "Of course," Rei says while rolling her violet eyes. She knows what's up. You know what's up? Because Rei definitely knows what's up. She is probably going to be buying Usagi bacon or something from an all-day breakfast place. In her head is the image of Usagi as a golden retriever, twintails and all. The refined miko has to turn her head away and put a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles.

    "A-anyway, where should we start? Did Osaka-san not want to come with?" Yes, change the subject like a coward.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"She had her own plans today," Usagi says, a little smile coming to her face. She's honestly glad, not because she didn't wan to spend time with Naru, but because Naru being able to have plans was just one more way she wasn't in captivity - one more way she wasn't a prisoner anymore, trapped at the behest of Sunbreaker. "But you two are going to hang out, just you wait. We're going to have a girl's night out, no matter what. Maybe a girl's night in..."

A sleepover at the dorm could be a good idea, couldn't it?

"Come on! Let's hit the clothes first!"

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei allows herself to be half-dragged around the mall. "I'm glad she's back safe. I'm sorry that I couldn't do more to help. Yeah, I'd really like to meet her. A friends of yours is bound to be... Interesting, at the very least." She boggles at the mental image of a sleep over. She has never had such a thing before. Not that she can remember anyway. Even though she can't really picture it... Just realizing this common thing for girls their age has been outside of her reach and she never even knew she wanted it makes her wonder what else she's been missing out on.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"You did what you could, and it helped. And we got Naru-chan back, and no one's going to try that again, just watch. All we have to do now is teach Sunbreaker a lesson. But those are problems for another day!"

Another day, not today, which is going to be a normal, good day!

"I was thinking, I have a lot of skirts and some cute dresses, so really, I need some pants, and some tops! It's going to get cold again, soon."

Rei Hino has posed:
    "You'd think that, but these people never seem to learn to stop doing evil..." she mutters in regard to people not bothering Naru Osaka anymore. When it comes to clothes, however, she looks mildly impressed. "Surprisingly practical of you, Usagi-chan. You're planning ahead! You might be smarter than you look. No wonder you're the leader."

    Though she sort of wondered if maybe Sailor V--Err, Sailor Venus would take over that position... But she hasn't heard anything about that, so it's probably fine to have Sailor Moon keep leading them. Usagi has been growing by leaps and bounds.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Wah, Rei-chan, couldn't you have found a nicer way to say that?" There are no bags for Usagi to flap at Rei with, so she just pouts, the most sincerely insincere expression of hurt on her face. "I have great ideas, you know, and I like being cute for the seasons."

Of course she'd think ahead to seasonal clothes!

"I dunno about being the leader though. I kinda feel like Luna just made me the leader because she found me first, you know? Maybe if she found you first, you'd be in charge."

Rei Hino has posed:
    Teasing is just part of their relationship. No ill will is intended. She loves her best friend, and wouldn't seriously say something mean to her. ...Any more, at least. So she just grins and says, "Don't forget sweaters and warm leggings. That way you can still wear cute skirts when it's cold." What's this!? Rei has a fashion sense!?! Why, yes, she was written and designed by a fashion model fanatic! *Cough*

    "Hmm... I'm not so sure about that." Rei says thoughtfully. Picturing herself as the leader... She has the passion for it, the common sense (mostly. She's still a teenage girl after all, she's going to make dumb, emotional decisions sometimes)... But somehow she feels like she would break and fall eventually. The her of now, at least. Who knows what the future holds? "How is Luna doing? I haven't seen her since you invited a bunch of people over to my house. Is she searching for other Allies?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Oooh, leggings are a good idea! See, this is why I needed to bring you," Usagi cheers, sore feelings already dismissed. "I've got sweaters, so I'll need to see soemthing really nice to get another one... what about you? What are you looking for?"

A shopping trip is no fun if only one person is shopping! They've both got to do something fun! Never mind that she just said window shopping could be fun!

"It could have happened! Seriously. And - yeah. She's still looking; we're still missing two of our own, and I think she's maybe running out of ideas on how to find them... I'm starting to wonder if our luck's running out, and they're not in Tokyo."

A pause. Her text messages with Michiru burn in the back of her mind... "You know, I didn't plan to bring all those people over. I was just going to bring Setsuna-san, so you could know she was you, know? But then we ran into Minako-chan, and I didn't know what to do, so!"

Rei Hino has posed:
    What she might want is a subject that gets put on hold when she hears about Senshi business. She lowers her voice, realizing belatedly that maybe they should be more discrete. "We're missing two? How many are there supposed to be? We have Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Pluto... And the Moon, obviously. You don't think it's odd that there were this many of us in Tokyo in the first place? They have to be here. It's..."

    Well, she doesn't know if it's destined. She might be totally wrong. But everyone being together is already too much of a coincidence. One way or another, the others should be here somewhere. Chewing her lower lip, Rei looks absently at a display window with a mannequin in an autumn outfit. A fleece jacket over a black turtleneck shirt, with a black leather belt and a shiny buckle... She's lost in thought, but she appears to be checking out the mannequin's legs beneath the pleated burnt-orange skirt.

Minako Aino has posed:
"There's more," a voice speaks up, seemingly having snuck on the pair talking, but it wasn't an enemy...instead the flash of blonde in her own orange trimmed skirt, black jacket and shirt glimpsed beneath that seemed colored to complement. "And I'm super glad you -did- invite me, or we might all be in the dark!"

Minako was here...and given the collection of shopping bags on one arm? She'd been out shopping for a little while now!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi's voice lowers to match Rei's, even as her eyes keep scanning the clothes around them, casually looking for anything neat and cute. "Supposedly, five Inner Senshi, that's like, you and me and Minako-chan, who probably knows tons more than us, right Minako-chan and four Outer senshi. Luna mentioned to me that there's a Jupiter missing, and she has her pen, like she had yours and Ami-chan's and my broach...-" she pauses, her motormouth faltering as her brain and eyes catch up to her ears. "Minako-chan!! There you are! Uwah, we weren't being too loud were we??" Had the entire mall heard their SUPER SECRET CONVERSATION?

But it doesn't seem like it... Still, Minako is quickly granted a quick hug, and then Usagi is looping her other arm between Minako's, tugging her friend closer without a semblance of caring about personal space! "Hi, Minako-chan! Do you have any ideas? I was saying, Luna says there's a Jupiter, but we haven't found her...I think she figured she'd show up right away, because we all kind of appeared to each other in a cluster?" She spreads her hands a little, as if to say, who can understand the logic of cats?

"I met Neptune, the other day - she's really pretty, and also, kind of scary... and I think Pluto has a read on the third Outer, but she hasn't like, told me a lot? But I don't know what's going on with the fourth, and it must be all the planets, but does that mean there's Earth missing?"

It's too much thinking for her!

"Do you have any ideas, Minako-chan? Does Artemis? Also, are he and Luna like - are they friends?" Usagi wriggles her eyebrows a little and giggles.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Surprised by the sudden Minako in their midst while listening to Usagi and thinking about their problems, Rei's lip-chewing nearly turns uglyas she bites down harder in startlement. Thankfully, no blood. She checks a few times to make sure while muttering under her breath, before turning to eyeball Minako. "You could announce your presence before just entering a conversation, you know!" she snaps. Her anger flaring as is typical of her. "What if we were discussing something private!?"

    Not that anyone nearby would be able to guess based off of Rei's volume. Just as quickly as it comes, that passion dies back down, along with the likelihood of being overheard, as she speaks more quietly again. "Also, nice to see you again, Minako-chan. Jupiter? I can't believe I forgot about that one... And Neptune too! Maybe Earth is here somewhere too, and we just haven't found her yet." Rei furrows her brow in thought.

    "It's too bad we can't just have a 'Sailor Senshi Recruitment Drive' or something and hope the missing girls show up to it." Haha that would be ridiculous, right? Like having a Moon Princess Skiing Contest.

Minako Aino has posed:
Sudden hugs! Minako grins as she shuffles her bags to hang off her forearm by their handle loops and returns the hug, a little glance around to ensure they were indeed unobserved before speaking again. "There -is- a Jupiter," Mina nods, biting her bottom lip, "but I can't remember her well enough to pick her out of a crowd."

Even with stronger memories than the others, there was much Minako didn't know.

As for Rei's outburst, she just giggles despite herself, shrugging a little. "Guess you just need more practice sharing super secret things all secret-like. I'm sure we'll all have plenty of practice!"

Recruitment drive, Minako considers for a moment. "We nearly have one each time a monster attacks. That was how I met you two the first time after all..."

Cat Gossip? Minako grins. "I hope so...maybe it would make him more fun, and could you imagine if they had kittens?!"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Usagi smirks a little - she is smugly pleased that Rei-chan's ire is directed at someone else. Usually she's the one who's earned a loving scolding! "I wonder... there's magic you know, that keeps people from recognizing us? Maybe we forget some of these things sometimes, because of that? ...or maybe we're all just a little dumb sometimes."

She'd like to think she'd be able to put two and two together and get four, but maybe she's goofy!

"I can't remember anything about it at all," Usagi admits at Minako's own admission, glancing down. It still sends shivers down her spine, to know in a past life she'd been Sailor Moon, to know this was tied to her incarnations across lives. "I think I remembered something, once, but, I don't really know."

And she isn't sure how much she wants to know. There'd been an apocalypse, and it succeeded.

"I mean... we could have a recruitment drive though, couldn't we? I mean, we could try it!" It could work! It could - and the thought is derailed as she imagines kittens. Adorable black and white and black-and-white kittens, and Luna being a haughty proud mama and Artemis a doting papa and - "It would be so cute!!!"

Rei Hino has posed:
    The fact that Usagi is in favor of the open recruitment drive is enough to put it in the 'maybe' pile. That Minako also seems to be considering it means it goes in the 'do not' bucket. She doesn't have time to object or dissuade the two blonde menaces further before they both start squeeing about hypothetical kittens. Yes, of course they'd be cute, but do Luna and Artemis even feel that way about each other?

    Also, that's not the point!

    "I don't want to think about the things I remembered..." the raven-haired girl mutters as she walks along arm in arm with one girl, who is arm in arm with two girls. She doesn't even spare a thought for what it looks like. They're friends, aren't they? If anyone has a problem with it, they can go try to fist fight an akuma. She eyes Minako's shopping, and asks, "Get anything good?" She still likes that autumn outfit from the mannequin, but they're still walking and it might have been out of her price range. "What I'd really like is some good boots. Something practical but cute. Warm too, probably. Maybe with a fur lining?" Synthetic is fine, she's cool with that, or real, that's fine too as long as the animal was respected and thanked for its sacrifice.

Minako Aino has posed:
Shipping cats and kittens, Minako herself was quite happy to indulge in squeeing. However there was a distraction of her purchases and she was happy enough to share. "I got a cute skirt, something for summer, a swimsuit and..." oh dear, Rei had made an error.

An arm scoops around Rei's own and pulling her close. "Oh! saw a super cute pair of boots, and we can find a coat to match! Maybe some..."

It begins!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Isn't swimsuit season pretty much over," Usagi asks with a blink, peeking around Minako's side and eagerly digging at her packages, taking a look at what she's got available to her. "Boots with fur would be really cute too; you could get a patterened fur, with cute markings to look super stylish!"

Gone are the days of simply black or brown or white fur! In are the days of striped and spotted fur! At least, when Rei is going to be the living Barbie doll, at least.

Rei Hino has posed:
    "Well... Maybe she's a competitive swimmer. There are indoor pools you know." she suggests by way of explanation. Minako does seem the type to be involved in all sorts of athletics. Oh, boy. She's going to be dragged around to a bunch of stores now, huh? Well, she'll turn the tables at some point, maybe. "Sure, sure..." she says resignedly. "But I'm not the only one who is going to be modeling things. I can't afford to buy out an entire store, you know."

    At least Rei Hino will probably look good in just about anything. One of her ancient ancestors must've been a fashion model.

    Or maybe just the previous Sailor Mars?

    There is just so much leg when she henshins, Rei has more than once wondered who exactly designed their outfits. Sure, they are super cute, but...

    So caught up in her own thoughts is she, that she doesn't realize where she's being taken. Possibly until it's too late! Dun dun dunnnn!

Minako Aino has posed:
"But it was cute! And heated pools are a thing!...Aren't they?" Minako protests to Usagi. Don't get in the way of the self-justifying for Minako Aino celebrating life. Besides, winter offered its own themes and flavors of style for the girls to try out. "We can all take turns!" Minako offers excitedly, apparently roping in Usagi as well if the other blonde will keep up. Now? She was headed towards the first store in what almost would likely be a marathon. Discussions of dark threats or not, they were at the mall to have fun after all!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"They are, but the goal of a cute swimsuit is to be on the side of the pool! Laying out on a beach towel or in one of those chairs and wearing sunglasses. As soon as you get out of the heated pool, you'll be cold! You'll have to wrap up in a towel, and then what's the point."

But alas, it's too late! Minako has already purchased the swimsuit! Oh well!

"You don't have to buy everything we make you try! But you're the tallest here, so you're the best dress up doll."