View source for 2225/Backscene: Happy New Years to You

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2024/12/30
|Location=Mamoru's Place
|Synopsis=For New Years' gifts, Usagi teamed up with Chibiusa and Makoto to make cookies and wrapping cloths. It even went pretty well - no bloodshed, only light poking.
|Cast of Characters=43,45,270
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>It's a couple of days before New Years, and now that Usagi and Chibiusa have made it back Chanteur (and boy had that been a doozy), there's a different crisis to handle. The most important of them all: <br><br>Getting New Years gifts together for everyone they know and love and like! <br><br>Last year, Usagi had bought personalized little gifts for everyone, but it had been a lot - and it hadn't felt very personal, in the end. This year, she's got a solution for that though, and all it needs is Makochan (and Chibiusa, she guesses), and Mamochan's ''enormous'' kitchen. <br><br>"Cookies!" She announces it excitedly, gesturing at the bags of ingredients she had picked up after a perusal of the internet. "We could give cookies for New Years, and I can wrap them up in these cute little wrapping cloths, as soon as I finish... stitching the ends... but it will be great! We could make different flavors, and you and Chibiusa-chan could make them, really, because I guess we don't have time for me to burn them." <br><br>T^T is what her face shows, but she knows her limits. Really, she does. And they are down to their last days of New Years.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>Makoto smiles fondly at Usagi. "I think that's a great idea," she says. "We can make a few big batches, and have enough for everyone." She moves to look through one of the bags, a thoughtful expression coming over her face. "I think maybe... something like shiroi koibito cookies would be good for New Years? Or really, we could do a couple different flavors of langue de chat, sandwich style. I don't think that'd be too complicated..." <br><br>Lifting her head, she looks over to add, "Maybe some traditional soba boro, too? You could help cut those out into the plum blossom shapes, if you want to."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa's time with Chanteur was pretty chill at first, but turned kinda cold in the end. At least it all ended in an ice way.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet now it's gift time, and Chibiusa wants to help too! Someone has to save Makoto from Usagi, and Chibiusa is up to the task.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Note: She is not up to task.)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Also Note: She is just as bad as Usagi. Possibly worse.)<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's all good though, because they are once again at Mamoru's place, which is one of Chibiusa's favorite places to be in this timeline. Plus there's always a chance that Usagi lowers her guard and Chibs can take the Silver Crystal.<br><br>"No, we don't" she says, curtly, in response to Usagi saying she'd burn them. Her eyes are closed and her nose is in the air as she stands on a stool and washes her hands in the sink.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Makoto mentions a few different cookie types, and Chibiusa is a bit impressed. A lot of it is 'as expected from Makoto Kino' but sandwich cookies aren't something that she'd attempt on her own. Part of that is Makoto being a good cook but another part is Chibiusa being an especially bad one. "We can make those? Er... I mean of course we can! Obviously. Let's go with that."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Urgh, Chibiusa-chan," Usagi grumbles, as Chibiusa offers that curt response, but they're at Mamochan's place and she doesn't want to pick a fight that he'd make sadfaces at her about, so instead she just huffs, and, at second thought, immaturely sticks her tongue out. <br><br>Then Makoto suggests several different kinds of cookies, and Usagi is ''glad'' she recognized her flaws and faults, because there is no way she wouldn't mess that plan up. <br>"Those all sound yummy... and yeah! Yeah, I can help cut the shapes out, I'd be good at that. You and Chibiusa-chan can bake up all those perfect cookies that totally won't be even a little bit messed up." Yes, she is slightly staring down a five year old. Don't worry about it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>A look of consternation flickers across Mako's face at the friction between Chibiusa and Usagi, and she mentally adds 'keep the Usas from fighting' to her to-do list for this project before summoning up a determinedly bright, cheerful expression. "It'll be great!" she says with a firm nod. "But you two will have to help me figure out what flavorings we should use aside from chocolate."<br><br>Because of course there will be chocolate.<br><br>"Red and white are best for New Year's, but there's a lot of different flavors we could use for red - or, well, pink. There's strawberry, there's azuki, sakura..."<br><br>She's getting things out of the cabinets while she talks - what looks like an entire matched set of cookware in green with pink accents.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa makes eye contact with Usagi as she sticks her tongue out, and smirks. She's smug, and toeing the line, threatening to cross it at any time. She's not even trying to hide it from Makoto, either. Poor Jupes is going to have her work cut out for her if she wants to stop these two from sniping each other.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns away towards the counter as she feels her alt-mom's baleful eyes staring into her back. "That's right! They're gonna be perfect," says Chibiusa, confidently.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... because Makoto is going to do all the hard parts. Right?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh! I vote azuki!" she says cheerfully. It really is like Jekyll and Hyde the way she acts to Usagi vs. literally anyone else. She watches as the cookware is brought out, because there's no way she's going to be able reach up there with her tiny little arms.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"I was going to vote strawberry," Usagi pouts, "But I guess we can let Chibiusa-chan win, because this is her ''first'' time," she saw that look of consternation! She is determined to be the mature, blooming flower of youth that she is, instead of the snapping viper that ''Chibiusa'' is, even if it's also totally unfair that Chibiusa is nice to everyone except her! <br><br>(Even if sometimes Chibiusa ''is'' nice to her.) <br><br>"I picked out these colors for the sheets," she shows Chibiusa and Makoto the cloths she's found, in pink, green, and red, with white patterns. "I'll be stitching them up right here, and I'll help wherever I can that's not... the baking part. Sewing and stitching is something a good housewife should know, you know?" <br><br>Which is why it's her goal to learn; now that her wedding date is mostly sort of set, she's going to be ''sure'' to practice her skills, so she can be ready for marriage!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>Makoto manages not to look relieved - much - when Usagi concedes on the matter of pink flavors. "Azuki it is, then! Hm, does Mamoru-san have a footstool you could stand on..." Otherwise Chibiusa is going to have to help Usagi with the cloths, and that just seems like an invitation for strife.<br><br>She pauses to look at the cloths when Usagi holds them up, and nods in satisfaction. "That looks great! And some sewing is definitely a useful skill to have. Okay, so it'll be chocolate and white chocolate, matcha, and azuki for flavorings. We might need more white chocolate, but we can make one of the guys run the errand if we need to."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The look that Chibiusa gives Usagi at the sight of the fabrics is neither smug nor angry, but rather a mix of disbelief and maybe a bit of pity, which could be pretty easy to misread as rudely intended. Especially considering the short pink's usual behavior. There is no way this girl is going to need to be a housewife for more than a few years, Chibiusa knows, but actually doesn't have the heart to tell her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... Well everyone should have a hobby..." she almost mutters. Crushing Usagi's dreams is the exact line she's not going to cross. Especially not the ones involving Mamoru.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa looks down at the stool she's standing on and says, "I mean... Luna-P is better, since she can change height." She taps the top of the stool, and it elevates a bit, then drops back down. Then she reaches over for a towel to dry off her hands. "I can crush the beans!" she volunteers, because honestly that's probably one of the parts that's hardest for her to mess up.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Her little Luna-P thing is pretty useful," Usagi admits, because Luna-P has never done anything wrong. It's not it's fault that it's a terrifying embodiment of the end itself, or something. There's the temptation to snap at Chibiusa's look, but, honestly, she's used to Shingo doubting her, so at least Chibiusa's doubt doesn't sting ''that'' much (because of course she interprets it as a negative - why would she recognize a five year old as pitying her?). <br><br>"These are going to be great, you'll see. After everyone unwraps their cookies, they can use them for bentos, or something else, I guess," she shrugs a little. She resists the urge to say that crushing stuff is absolutely something Chibiusa would be good at. Maturity! She has it!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>Mako sort of doubletakes - she's still really not used to Luna-P and the toy's transforming ability at all, and after a moment she laughs. "Ah, good point! I'll leave that part to you, then, Chibiusa-chan."<br><br>She bustles confidently about, setting out bowls and utensils and lining up ingredients, and getting Chibiusa set up for red-bean-crushing duty. "Hey, a good, pretty furoshiki is a very useful thing to have! I use mine all the time. And just think, they'll be able to think of us every time they use these."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Luna-P believes in Chibiusa's capacity for violence. The small pink doesn't see it yet, but Luna-P does and is rooting for more bloodshed. It doesn't hurt that the Black Moon Clan has supplied them with a steady supply of fools and some really strong motivation. It's only a matter of time.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Time that Chibiusa is currently spending being 'helpful' to Makoto and -unhelpful- to Usagi.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nods and agrees with Makoto's compliment by saying, "Yeah! Even you think of good things sometimes, Usa-chan."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa tries to remember what exactly to do with red beans first. "Um... let's see, they need to be soaked and cooked first to soften them up, I think..." she says, thinking out loud. She's not saying anything that Makoto doesn't already know, she's sure. "I think m-- my cook back home would soak and rinse them first?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;People might be hesitant to let Chibiusa play with fire, but a bowl full of room-temp water and beans are probably safe enough for her to mess with. She starts grabbing the things that are small enough for her to pick up, and lets Makoto help with the stuff that she can't do. Before long she's happily pushing the beans underwater and stirring them around to make sure they all get rinsed before cooking.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Wh- EVEN ME? I think of good things all the time you little - ooooh, you're so lucky it's bad luck to bring grudges into the new year!" <br><br>There is a little stamp of her foot, steam practically floating from her head, but somehow - against all odds - she doesn't throw anything at Chibiusa, just grinds her teeth and breathes in deep - <br><br>"She's only five, she's only five, she's only five," she mutters to herself, and the refrain is important, if she's to remember why she can't leap screaming over the counter. <br><br>Digging out the needle and thread from her sewing hobby kit (purchased with the cloths), Usagi spends a few minutes carefully threading the needle and then starting to sew the edges of the first cloth, folding the end over and sticking the needle in, pulling out, sticking it in, pulling it out, sticking it - "Ow!" <br><br>Aaaand she's jabbed herself already.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>"Sounds like you've got this down," Makoto tells Chibiusa cheerfully. It doesn't take her long to get a reasonable feel for what the younger girl can manage (and to what degree she's willing to be helped); it takes a good bit of tamping down her own natural inclination to just ''do'', but she tries to keep her hands off and just keep a watchful eye out while Chibiusa does her thing. <br><br>There's plenty more prep work for Mako to occupy herself with, anyhow.<br><br>The exclamation from Usagi draws a concerned look from Makoto - she just barely manages to bite down on asking if Usagi is okay. "Does your kit have a thimble?" she asks instead. "I'd have brought mine from my dorm if I'd known..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa intentionally does not to correct Usagi regarding her age. This era doesn't have immortal moon princesses yet. At least, not obvious ones. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll get all new grudges," promises Small Lady.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she hears her future mom jab herself with a needle and shoots a dirty look back in her direction. "Did you bring band-aids, too?" she asks, because she somehow doubts that this will be the last time. "Mamochan might have some around if you don't."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As perhaps a small mercy to Usagi, Chibs stops digging at her the more she focuses on her own tasks. It will take some time before the beans are soft enough to be crushed, but it's her very favorite part of the process. She eagerly waits, bright smile on her face.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"I guess that ''is'' the best we can hope for," Usagi rolls her eyes a little at Chibiusa's input, because somehow letting bygones be bygones doesn't seem likely to work anyway. There's just something about Chibiusa... <br><br>"A thimble... is that the little metal cup?" Sticking her finger in her mouth to suck away any blood, Usagi blinks sheepishly at Makoto and rubs the back of her head. "I have one in here, but I didn't really know what it was for..." <br><br>Yes, Usagi is one of those people who picks up new hobbies without any research or any idea of what she's doing. <br><br>"And of course I brought band aids, I know what I'm like!" <br><br>That didn't sound the way she meant it too. But it's true, and she pulls out a package of Pokémon Themed band-aids to put on her finger. Just a little bit of handwashing, a band-aid application, and - "So do I just put my finger in the thimble? Oh! It works!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>Discretion, the better part of valor: Makoto does not attempt to intervene in the back and forth about grudges. Chibiusa is most likely right, anyhow, because none of them in this kitchen - Makoto included - are perfect enough to make it from year to year without ''some'' new grudges. Especially with people like the Black Moon Clan about.<br><br>"You should stick yourself less that way," she tells Usagi with a grin over her shoulder, between measuring out dry ingredients. "It'd be nice to end the year without too much bloodshed, right?" It's a teasing comment with no pointedness to it at all. (Really!)<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa looks back at Usagi aghast when she reveals that she doesn't even know what a thimble is. Really!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Luna-P stool did not have a face before, but after the bloodshed comment its eyes suddenly blink open, and it's staring up at Makoto with it's unchanging overly happy expression. That, ma'am, is ''your'' opinion.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Lady gets more and more focused on the azuki beans, ignoring the doomed would-be housewife behind her, and once they are soft enough she smiles brightly and starts putting on tiny little gloves before grabbing a spatula. Mixing the beans, adding in sugar and salt, does take a bit of time. Once in a while she asks for Makoto's input, just to make sure she's doing it right.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When the beans get soft enough to start turning into paste, she giggles in a jokey-screechy way and says, "Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!" conjuring the idea of a witch.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like a Halloween witch. Not a Puella Witch. Very different thing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"I would love to end the year without any bloodshed," Usagi says with a little sigh, "And I think we could even manage it? I mean, there's like two more days in the year." <br><br>She is willing to put all her hopes into it. There's no doubt it won't be long into the year before there's bloodshed - but if there can be no bloodshed ''in these next two days'', wouldn't that be great? <br><br>The fact that Makoto is more talking about bloodshed between the two bunnies goes right over her head. <br><br>"Last year, we spent almost all of this week going around and fixing problems, this year we spent - well, okay, the first part of that fairy trip was fine, it was just the last bit that went all mahou problems."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>There is a pause, as Makoto notices Luna-Stepstool smiling fixedly up at her. There definitely wasn't a face there before... right?<br><br>--yeah better not to worry about that. She shakes it off, focusing on the task at hand - transforming disparate ingredients gradually into batter. Chibiusa's mini Macbeth gets an indulgent smile before Mako glances over toward Usagi. "I didn't hear much about that," she says, brows lifting curiously. "What happened? Is everything okay?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No bloodshed in two days? Chibiusa thinks that should be doable. Assuming the Black Moon Clan doesn't try anything. At least the snow fairy wasn't a bloodthirsty timewrecker.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, her kingdom lost all of it's citizens a long, long time ago. Like..." She glances towards Makoto and Usagi, wondering if she should bring up their own fallen kingdom. They both fell at around the same time, give or take a thousand years maybe. She decides against.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"... a ''really'' long time. She was the last person left. Her idea was to invite random people to her kingdom and then force them to stay."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Lady focuses a bit more on squishing the beans into paste, and putting the results on a plate. She furrows her brow a bit as she presses, putting a bit of effort into this with her tiny little hats.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I kinda hoped she was on the level, but I guess not."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Pretty much what Chibiusa said," Usagi sighs a little, "Sharon-chan was kind of nice? But well... she lost her kingdom pretty soon after we lost ours, if we're counting like, a thousand years as soon." <br><br>She finishes stitching the side then moves to the other one, relieved that the thimble is actually working to make sure she doesn't jab herself again. Flipping, she starts working on the next one... <br><br>"She wanted to keep ''us'' there, and build her new kingdom with us, like we'd give all our power to keeping her new kingdom of Chanteur together instead of trying to get home... I felt bad for her." <br><br>This is probably not a surprise to Makoto. <br><br>"Not bad enough to ''stay'' of course, but, we didn't want her to just... keep suffering, either. We did what we could to help her, and now we're all home, at least."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>Makoto winces a little at the explanation, a troubled shadow crossing her face for a moment. "That's too bad... I'm glad everybody got back. I'd hate to have had to end the year by invading fairyland to rescue you all or something."<br><br>Would she have done it? Of course. But it's good that she didn't have to.<br><br>She works meditatively for a space, the noise from her fancy mixer filling the quiet. "It is a shame about her kindgom," she says eventually, "but that doesn't excuse kidnapping."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It doesn't," agrees Chibiusa, "and it's not like we don't have our own problems. We tried to do what we could for her, but we ''had'' to do something about the dark energy she was using."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Usagi brought up what Chibiusa wasn't sure whether or not to avoid, but it seems like it isn't that sore of a topic. Maybe 14,000 years doesn't really qualify as 'too soon'. "I understand wanting to bring back her own kingdom, but things don't really work that way. Even if she was able to do that, it would be a new place, not the old place."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Lady pauses a bit as she considers her own home timeline, but... no, that's different. It's not gone yet! She can still go back and fix things. It's totally different.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her mood turns a bit somber. Good thing she's focusing down on the beans. People are less likely to see the worry on her face.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Yeah, it was," Usagi murmurs, equally quiet. There's just the little ting-ting-ting of her needle occasionally (often) striking the thimble, and Chibiusa working the azuki. "But it's not like we could have made it come back. It's like how the year ends and the new one starts, you know? Chibiusa's right. Time moves forward, and you can't go back to the way things were." <br><br>Because that, of course, is absolutely what Chibiusa was agreeing with. That you can't go back in time, or change how things were. <br><br>"But! That's enough sad stuff, or the cookies will taste sad too! There have been some pretty wonderful things happening too, right? Like... Mamochan finally moving into this great apartment! And Nephrite giving you like a million cooking tools to put inside it, Makochan!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>Makoto might have said something else. It's on her lips, almost visibly, as she glances over toward Chibiusa.<br><br>But then Usagi changes the subject, and Makoto turns ''very pink'' and focuses way too determinedly on what she's doing before she can accidentally mistake salt for sugar or something like that.<br><br>(She can't, she measured everything out in advance and lined it all up neatly for exactly that kind of reason.)<br><br>"I still can't believe he did that!" she flusters. "I can't even imagine how much it all cost... The apartment ''is'' really nice, anyway." A beat. "Even if Saito-kun is the only person who lives here who understands what a kitchen is for."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa hears Usagi talk about time, and she considers for a moment. ''Was'' it actually possible to go back in time? She wound up in the wrong timeline, after all. Small Lady has not, as of yet, actually succeeded in going back in time. Not her own time, at least. Someone else's past doesn't count.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nephrite. Another person named after dad's favorite stones. Something to ask about later, maybe. Not right now.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's a nice place!" agrees the small pink girl. "I actually really like it here. They have a ball pit in the big closet, and Mamochan lets me play in it all I want!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks excitedly up at Makoto, only to notice that she's gotten all flustered. Huh? Why would that be? She looks at Usagi for some kind of hint, but doesn't seem to find one, so she goes back to her bean paste. "Okay! I think it's done. What can I do next?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>Makoto gets all flustered, and Usagi grins wickedly, pleased for the perfect distraction away from all the sorrow. "I don't think he knows how much money is. Mamochan mentioned once, he's from ''California''. He definitely didn't think twice about it, he just wanted to get it for you, I bet." <br><br>American boy! From Hollywood! (Probably!) Definitely never understood the value of a 500 yen lunch! <br><br>"Plus, he's got a Batmobile car, so I really, really don't think he knows what money is. Don't worry about it, Makochan! It was a gesture of niceness!" <br><br>And it was very cute. Sure, she's still suspicious - Nephrite had been up to a ''lot'' after all, and he had hung around Naru-chan a ''lot'' - but if a handsome boy wants to give her friend gifts, she supports her taking all he's got! <br><br>"Mamochan knows how to use the kitchen! He can use the microwave and the rice cooker ''and'' the coffee stuff Sugata-kun got him." <br><br>She nods sharply, as if this is not in and of itself a damning inability in poor Makoto's eyes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>"But it's way too much!" Makoto protests weakly. "And custom colors and everything! I should have made him take it back." So she says, but it's Le Creuset - in her colors! - and she's weak. And still blushing.<br><br>She very visibly does not even argue about Mamoru's ability to use a kitchen as demonstrated by his mastery of the microwave. Instead she sets aside what she's doing to check on Chibiusa's work, and nods her approval. "Looks good! Let's see... give me a minute to roll out the buckwheat dough, and then you can start cutting out the flower shapes, okay?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nephrite doesn't know how much money is? Chibiusa takes mental notes. This is a friend of the family she hasn't met yet, and she's curious about him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A batmobile car? Is Nephrite Batman?! Is Batman a magical boy? She thought he was just a comic book or cartoon character, but it might be a Sailor V situation. It's something she'll have to look in later.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then again, probably not, depending on how long she has to stay here.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She doesn't have anything to say about kitchen skills. Small Lady has no room to talk, and while she's not above empty boasting in order to irritate Usagi, it's a lot harder when they can call you out for it right on the spot.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead she focuses on the fact that she gets to help cut out flower shapes. She claps her hands together once and rocks forward on her tiny feet. "Okay!" Then she starts looking for a cookie stamp or something.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Yeah, ''your'' custom colors," she giggles, "And besides, you've already used some of them! It's too late, so you can just be happy that they're yours, and maybe make him something as a thank you, if you ''really'' worry it's too much." <br><br>Of course, if she Makochan were to really do that, she would have to get to know Nephrite a little more, so she would know what he liked, and it's not that Usagi wants to hook them up - she just knows that cooking for the man is a lot better than trying to return a gift from him! <br><br>"But until then, the best thing to do is just keep using them~ Look, I finished a whole square! Now I just need to do... a lot more!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>There is, naturally, a flower-shaped cookie cutter among the various utensils that Makoto set out beforehand, ready and waiting for Chibiusa to get stamping. All that's missing is the rolled-out dough to use it on.<br><br>Makoto is on that, of course. "You're right," she admits as she turns the brown buckwheat cookie dough out on some floured parchment paper and begins flattening it down. "It's way too late to give it back. I'll have to think of something nice to make, I suppose..."<br><br>As she gets to work with her rolling pin, she glances over to Usagi and grins. "Great work! Once we have some things in the oven, I can help you a little with those, too. Another set of hands will help it go faster, right?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa has been listening for a while, and while she didn't quite catch the subtext right away, it doesn't take her ''that'' long. She asks Makoto, with all the innocence of a child, "Is Nephrite your boyfriend?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Makoto is stammering at the mention of him, and he seems to have bought her something nice. It seems like a logical conclusion.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes the cookie cutter and waits for the buckwheat to be good and flat and ready before she starts doing her part. Chibiusa squishes the cookie cutter into the dough, not necessarily being the most efficient in her spacing, but she's so eager and happy to do it that it ends up being somewhat effective anyways.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Lady is giggling as she works, which means she's at least not making fun of Usagi for the moment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>Out of the mouth of babes, huh? Usagi bites down on a scrap of cloth to avoid laughing out loud as poor Makoto gets asked a direct question. <br><br>No responding! Only stitching! Frantic stitching and biting on the scrap-cloth.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>"I - he - ''Chibiusa-chan!!''" <br><br>Yeah that's Makoto gone ''completely'' flustered. The innocent question is enough to make her abandon her rolling pin completely. She has to take a deep breath and make an effort to compose herself before she can even begin to answer the question.<br><br>Usagi, of course, is no help. Mako shoots her a disgruntled look before she turns to Chibiusa. "Nephrite is not my boyfriend," she says. "Maybe he wants to be? I'm not sure, though. It's... kind of complicated."<br><br>She reaches for the rolling pin again, congratulating herself inwardly for what she thinks is a very mature and sensible reaction.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Makoto's reaction has Chibiusa glancing from Usagi to Makoto and back and forth, confused. Did she say something wrong?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Huh. So he's not the boyfriend? Chibiusa was ''sure'' he was ''something'' here, the way they kept talking about him. Oh, it's ''complicated''. Somehow Small Lady understands that a bit more. The reaction she's getting discourages her from asking much more.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh. Huh. Complicated."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So, there's nothing official between them, but there's a question. Interesting.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wanting to press for info from a different, maybe less sensitive angle, she asks, "Does he like stones? Or did his parents name him that?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>Usagi innocently looks down as Makoto shoots her that dirty look, and finally comes to the rescue. "Nephrite is his name like Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter are our names. I think his real name is Masato Sanjouin?" <br><br>She cocks her head, thinking about it for a second... then shrugs. Back to stitching it is! <br><br>"He ''is'' a complicated subject. I just think that if he wants to give Makochan nice things, she deserves them, and should clean him out!" <br><br>A materialist girl, to the very end, that's the one and only, Sailor Moon!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Makoto Kino (45)}} has posed:'''<br>Makoto lets out a long sigh. "It's one of those weird past life things, kind of. But... yeah. He's Nephrite like I'm Sailor Jupiter, like Usagi-chan said." A pause. "And I am not going to 'clean him out,' geez!"<br><br>Usagi, such a good influence.<br><br>She starts moving the cut-out flower cookies to a cookie sheet, until she can recombine the leftover dough and roll it back out for Chibiusa to cut out more. They'll probably have to repeat the process a couple of times, but who's counting?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nephrite is his... Oh! Well that makes sense. "Oh, so like Jadeite," notes Chibiusa.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for the topic of cleaning him out, well... he wouldn't be buying her things if he couldn't afford them, right? Or if he ''was'' doing that, then that's kinda his problem.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the bits get recombined and flattened out, Chibiusa starts cutting them again. The rest of the conversation is a little over her head, but that doesn't stop Small Lady from absorbing the details.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Usagi ''is'' kindof her mother after all. Sort of.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well, I'm just ''saying'', you could. I mean, theoretically. If he has enough money for a Batmobile, I don't know if you actually ''could'', you don't have the bad taste to want things just because they're expensive..." <br><br>That's three of her wrapping cloths down! <br><br>"But yes, he's like Jadeite! They're comrades of Mamochan's." <br><br>Hm... <br><br>"Makochan... is that cookie dough... edible?" <br><br>She would simply... like a snap. They've been working for a while! Like a whole hour! Maybe less. But maybe more! Wouldn't it be nice to take a snack break?<br> <br>
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