View source for 2517/The King, the Sunshine, and the TSAB

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/05/08
|Location=Crystal Tokyo
|Synopsis=Rashmi and Chrono talk with King Endymion, and a cultural exchange is proposed.
|Cast of Characters=38,41,166
|Tinyplot=BMC: Dimension Future
|Tinyplot2=Black Moon Clan
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>The ghost of the King of Crystal Millennium has been making his way around to the various groups of people, or people solo, who've gathered in temporary safety to do research and gear up to fight the Black Moon Clan. He's already spoken to a number of people, including here in the library-- and now he comes up to Rashmi.<br><br>"Thank you," he says gravely, "for answering my daughter's call for help."<br><br>Up close he seems even taller; it's impossible to say if his added height is lifts in his shoes, natural, or just his mental image of himself for this projection, but he's definitely got a couple inches on Mamoru at least.<br><br>Otherwise, he looks like Mamoru with lighter hair, wearing his mask, tied on instead of magically sticking like a magnet to his face. "Do you have any questions? Your Sailor Jupiter has apparently already filled the kitchen with delightful things to eat, your Prince has gone to the infirmary with two of his Shitennou..." he trails off. Many people are in the library, many are elsewhere. The palace is, as King Endymion noted before, palatial.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>After the somewhat tense, and largely unhappy, conference with Nephrite and Zoisite, Rashmi stayed behind in the Library, continuing her research into Crystal Tokyo's government. From King Endymion's perspective, what that means is that she's perched on a stool in front of one of the terminals, a positively *huge* and armored book floating at her right elbow with holographic 'screens' floating above it. Gesturing with her finger, she points without looking to one of the screens, and the text is copied onto it.<br> <br>When the King approaches, however, she hurriedly turns to smile brightly and bow her head. "You're absolutely welcome, Your Majesty. She's been a joy, and she'll probably be every inch as formidable as her parents."<br> <br>She pauses, blinks, then taps her forefingers together, flushing. "I, uh... gotta say I'm the one who armed her, until she grows into her own powers. ...And my boyfriend's been teaching her self-defense. ... ..... ... Aggressive aerial self-defense. Eheh..."<br> <br>Look one does *not* know what a devoted and loving father is going to say when one admits they've been teaching their eternal toddler how to dogfight.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown was working in the library as well... albeit, in a different manner.<br><br>Since coming to this world, well...<br><br>The earth of Rashmi's was stuck in the black hole of strange energy, the center of the storm, as it were. Magic there... worked strangly. But outside of its borders? It was entirely possible that he pull wasn't as strong. That a message might be able to be gotten out.<br><br>He was looking for signs, studying the magic, what information he could LEARN of magic in this world. He was in henshin, floating about, gathering tomes, flipping through them, comparing notes, scanning as he went...<br><br>... Wishing, albeit only slightly, he was more sciency so he could apply this better. He was, sadly, more of a soldier type. Sure, he was smart, but he wasn't exactly the scientific sort. He was able to apply a greater grasp of arcane knowledge of things primarily because he grew up amongst it, not because he was innately gifted, so his ability to adapt and understand some things was just... not up to snuff... And he wasn't sure if his desire to contact the TSAB from here was possible. Even if he could... It was unlikely they'd ever be able to contact him when he returned home...<br><br>... But if he could contact them, they might be able to offer THIS world help... And that would be enough.<br><br>As he came out, a book in hand, he glanced over towards the pair and sighed. "I'm not sorry," he said flatly. "She's older than I was when I started, in a lot more danger and... frankly, far more talented than I was even when I was at that age. She'd have made a fine enforcer, if she were a member of the TSAB."<br><br>"... "I have recordings of her first training session, if you and your wife desire to fuss over them later. She did quite well."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>... the King ''brightens''. "Oh, thank you!" he tells Rashmi, enthusiastic, and then his eyes widen even further when Chrono says he has ''recordings''. "We will absolutely fuss, thank you. I..." He spreads his hands and says apologetically, "I didn't know where she was. I didn't know if she was dead. I couldn't feel her anywhere -- but I also didn't feel our connection snap so I didn't definitively know one way or another. I'm glad she not only had people protecting her, but teaching her to protect herself. Especially since she can ''fly'', it makes one a terribly visible target." He exhales. "And no one said it directly, but... the attackers. The Black Moon Clan. They followed her, didn't they?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well then you're *very* welcome, Your Majesty," Rashmi answers, bobbing her head much more cheerfully. "Also her Device might... sound concerning, but... Well it's a loaner, and it just *sounds* like that, it's got her safety and well-being at heart at all times."<br> <br>Endymion knows the look that passes over Rashmi's face, as Chrono rounds the corner. He's seen it on his wife, and he's made it himself. 'Ah, there's my other half, all is right with the world again.' "They did," Rashmi answers simply, nodding. "But if I'm told right, they thought they were going back to *your* past, and were pretty off-balance at first. And since they didn't even *try* to team up with the big threats *we* have to deal with, well... let's just say they made the ground much more hostile to them than they probably wanted."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown paused for a moment and opened his mouth, only to pause. Then glanced between the two. And smiled, nodding. "Oh. This is a much better reaction, admittedly, than I expected. And yeah... it was a lot like watching Resian pirates attempt to board a belkan freighter. On the one hand, you're obligated to aid and you know it's likely to result in someone getting hurt... on the other hand, you can't help but feel a smidge of catharsis that the pirates are getting what they deserve..." he mumbled softly.<br><br>"Your highness, I would like a chance to talk with you, once this is over. I represent an organization called the TSAB. Time Space Administration Bureau. While they are unable to access the world we come from, they may be able to contact this world. Or, even if they can't land here, they may be able to contact and offer aid. I can't guarantee anything, mind, but our vessels are designed to travel through the dimensional planes and your dimension may be enough on the fringes of the lost logia black hole that it is able to get a message out."<br><br>"... I can't promise anything, of course, and it isn't something we can do at the moment, but it is something to keep in mind after this current apocalypse has been resolved."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"...and your present is very different from our past," the King says, eyes twinkling behind the mask. "I've seen your smartphones. I've seen ''you''..."<br><br>He smiles indulgently when he sees Rashmi's expression on laying eyes on Chrono, but he doesn't call attention. It's just really cute. "I'm very glad they didn't cause you more damage," he says, and he truly means it.<br><br>He shrugs at Chrono, then. "She's a baby, but she's very, very good at being a baby, and-- I don't know. Maybe being able to defend herself will give her the confidence she needs. I probably sound like a bad parent, being all right with my daughter fighting even when she's so small..." What he doesn't say: we all did, and now it's been proven she needs to as well.<br><br>He listens with interest to Chrono's offer, and he says firmly, "I'm sure that unless they're likely to try and take over, we'd be happy for occasional aid, and even more happy for trade negotiations. But that will have to wait until my wife wakes up and makes her opinions known."<br><br>He pauses. "Would you want to contact them for ''you''? To leave?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>"Honestly, given what little I know of how--" She just... sort of gestures to the palace wall and the world beyond. "--everything happened? You don't sound like a bad parent at all. But, yeah. She's got a lot of potential, and she's already proven some of it. If you're as proud as you look, you really *ought* to be."<br> <br>Her smile slips some, as King Endymion asks Chrono a question that she... hadn't really considered, mostly in the vein of 'There are so many more immediate problems, let's finish those first before really working up to a good fret about this.' But... Sometimes other people shortstop those efforts, and now the look she turns to Chrono is curious, if not a bit worried.<br> <br>After all, there's too much going on back home to be happy about leaving Earth behind now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown blinked a few times. "She's... a baby?" he asked. He then glanced to Rashmi, giving her a bewildered look. This was one of those 'don't ask' things, wasn't it?<br><br>The question about him leaving, however, made him shake his head. "No. I still want to contact home in order to establish a way for some of the people from my world to return to their homes. But unless a stable connection can be created, I don't intend to return home. Like it or not, I feel that this world needs me and it is my duty to go where I am needed. And, unlike many people who have performed in this role... I chose it."<br><br>He may not have chosen to be stationed on earth... But he DID choose to stand up, where people needed him. To not let them down, to not turn away from the dangers, the threats they faced. It was his duty, his role. And he would never turn away from it.<br><br>And then he glanced towards Rashmi... "Though... if I ever do manage to get back home... Rashmi? I am buying the biggest ship and taking you and your family on the *longest* vacation and tour of the galaxy."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"I'm ''incredibly'' proud of her," Endymion says very firmly indeed, one corner of his mouth tugged upward, eyes sparkling again. "And... yes she's a baby, you've ''seen'' her. She's physically, emotionally, and developmentally four or five. She's just got an awful lot of practice at it, and is very, very smart."<br><br>And then Rashmi's smile slips, and the King wonders if he's misstepped, if Rashmi can't leave for some reason like Amy can't leave her Earth, but Chrono reassures her. And then Chrono keeps going, and the King frowns, glancing around at everyone else in the library. "They all look like they chose it at some point to ''me''. Even Sailor Moon -- there's always technically a choice, Enforcer. It's just that you're not the only one for whom duty comes first."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>"And once we convince my parents that magic is real, that'll be a *wonderful* vacation," Rashmi chuckles, all the tension slipping out of her shoulders. One doesn't like to *assume* someone else will do what you'd prefer, but it's always nice to have the confirmation.<br> <br>"And it's not... *really* the same, Your Majesty. Chrono went into a very specialized, very *established* rescue-military academy. He's had years and years of training, education, and real-world practice. ...This time last year I was just a student in the background of my high school, and *all* of what I learned is the kind of 'on the job training' you and Sailor Moon had."<br> <br>Slipping out of her chair, she moves over to Chrono, draping an arm around his waist and fondly knuckling the back of his head. "It's hard for him to come to grips with that, sometimes, but, y'know... If you have power, you have a duty to use that power for the benefit of everyone around you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown gave a small nod. "Yeah. It's... not quite the same. It's... one thing... to have the choice, to know that there is a battle and that there will be others who will take up the mantle if you cannot. It's something else entirely to know that there is a battle and that many others can't if you don't. Where I come from? Magic was common, there were thousands of soldiers... and if I hadn't taken on this role, someone else likely owuld have. But many others didn't have that luxury."<br><br>"... They've been incredibly brave, incredibly strong, and incredibly awe inspiring, and not had nearly as much support as they should have had in this. While I'm sure there are plenty amongst them who would fight if they were given the choice, there is nobody else who can be Sailor Moon, as it were. But there is someone else who can be an Enforcer."<br><br>He leaned into her and smiled. "I mean no disrespect, Rashmi. While I do not approve of what you have all been through, I do believe you have performed more than admirably. I can imagine few of even the finest members of the TSAB who could handle the burdens of this world with even a fraction of the success and... ahhhh... grace many of the mahou of your world do."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"You're lucky training was available to you that young," says the King seriously to Chrono after Rashmi speaks. Then he looks at both of them, "I don't think training and education makes the act of choosing any different-- I think you choosing the school means you had a lot of agency and an excellent idea of what you wanted out of your life much earlier than most people," he says, but he doesn't sound like it's anything he's trying to establish as truth, it's just gentle opinion. "I can't speak for your Mamoru, but I would love to have had that opportunity. Instead, I went to medical school." Now he looks amused, just for a moment, before sobering again.<br><br>"You're right in that I won't truly understand what your options were, I just don't think it's accurate to say that everyone else had ''no'' choice. It's a testament to their courage and kindness that they make the choices they do, every day, to keep going and keep placing themselves in danger to shield others. Just because no one else can do something doesn't mean it's not a choice."<br><br>Finally the King laughs a little and shakes his head, holding up his empty, gloved, translucent hands. "I beg your pardon, I've been looking at the world I want to help but can't for a month, and you all came of your own free will, duty or not. When I thank you, I'll acknowledge that I'm thanking a soldier for doing his job-- which is something I've done before, and something I'll do again." A beat. "Thank you, so there."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>'So there.' It's the little things like that, that put a smile on Rashmi's face. He truly is Mamoru with centuries of responsibility in practice, under his spectral belt. "No disrespect taken, Chrono," she chuckles. "I know that in a perfect world, we'd have an entire support staff and possibly at least three Elder Ninja Butlers per dozen mahou, but... eh. We take what we can get."<br> <br>Then a thought occurs to her, and she blinks. "Oh! Right! I wanted to explain more what I told you when we came in, and my theory. We saw a man who could be an almost perfect match for Nephrite, Your Majesty... Only he's Naru-san's grandson. Odds are he'll be on his way here with the rest of the survivors."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown flushed a little and glanced a little. "I... didn't quite mean it in that manner. I more meant... nevermind," he said with a sigh. "I am mostly just... frustrated that you are not afforded the same opportunities, is all. My apologies, I did not mean to... make light of your own choices."<br><br>The boy did NOT accept praise we... The boy just... did not accept praise.<br><br>"... Elder... ninja... butlers?" he asked, sounding confused before sighing. "Koji."<br><br>"Ah, right. Nephrite. I did want to ask about that. Why did everyone react so... strangly to that? Are the shittenou such a big deal in this world? I, sadly, haven't had much opportunity to read up on their reports in this world. I imagine Nephrite and Naru-san must have engaged in an affair of some sort?"<br><br> ... ...... .........<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"I-- thank you," King Endymion says to Rashmi with a little smile. "Mamoru and his Shitennou did-- wait, did you say ''butlers''?"<br><br>It's comical how taken aback he looks. Scandalized, even. "Aren't you a little young for that--?"<br><br>But then 'Koji' and King Endymion doesn't know the name, but Chrono's asking about Nephrite, about the Shitennou. ...about Naru.<br><br>"Wh-- no? She's been with Gurio Umino her whole life, and believe me, ''everyone'' would know if she'd had an affair. She's the Queen's best friend," he starts out with a little sputter of disbelief, then just rolls on. "The Shitennou have been dead for a thousand years, and were secret ghosts for two hundred of them. Naru was there when they showed up working for Beryl, and I didn't remember them at the time. It was her mother that was attacked first, that led to Usagi's awakening as Sailor Moon. Very few people remember them."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>Rashmi pauses, blinks, then looks back and forth between Endymion and Chrono, then sighs. "...Sorry. Pop culture joke, forgot my audience. Not important. So... I'm guessing... they were ghosts for the *first* two hundred years? Because if so... Then it might mean they're being reborn, like the Senshi were, and probably they'll end up gravitating toward you the same way. Miyake Kaito was his name, the one that looked like Nephrite... And... I... kinda had a question for myself, if you don't mind? Just... a real little request."<br> <br>Looking down, she taps her fingers together again, as if it's such a small thing she's a little embarrassed just to voice it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown went almost *scarlet* when what he said was misunderstood. "W-what? N-no! I didn't mean she, I-I meant, a romantic affair, a-as in she, and he, they, had a relationship, a-as in, that he had, possibly perished before, a prior husband, n-not that she had cheated or that, that he'd, I-I hadn't meant--" And, normally unflappable? Well, he was... flustering, and actually scarlet. And then he quickly buried his face in his book. "Rashmi, I ummm... I have... research to do... I'll, errr, c-continue. To study. I have star charts to look over..."<br><br>Quickly moving back. One might notice he was close enough to hear the question she asked, though. Boy... was curious. Don't mind him...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Oh no poor Chrono! The King blinks, then grimaces. "You don't have to be-- I mean, you're fine, I misunderstood--" Sigh. He turns to Rashmi.<br><br>"We did look for them, for a while, after they went silent and I couldn't find them no matter how hard I reached. I hope we didn't miss them. I hope they haven't been in the cycle looking for me every time. It's just -- I'm the King, my image is everywhere, they--"<br><br>King Endymion pauses.<br><br>He reaches up to touch his mask.<br><br>He ''sighs'', and also looks low-key alarmed/queasy. "I really hope they weren't reborn over and over, looking."<br><br>But he reaches to ''look like'' he's laying his hand over Rashmi's, even if his is see-through, even if there's no weight or warmth. "Ask whatever you like. The worst I'll say is no."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>"...Oh good job, Your Majesty," Rashmi mutters, grinning at Chrono's turned back. "Usually it takes a lot more to get him *that* flustered..." The tone of her voice *definitely* says that it was a) highly amusing, and b) not, per se, a mistake of rudeness.<br> <br>But then that ghostly hand rests in the general vicinity of her hand, and she can't help but chuckle. "So... I was gonna ask, did your world get past DVD? And if so, what format you use? Because, well... In our world, the *year after* 2000... They started making Lord of the Rings movies. And not cartoons, like big, *big* live-action productions. And after hearing Chibiusa-tan say the password to the Gates, well... I was thinking maybe a little cultural exchange...?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:166|Chrono Harlaown (166)}} has posed:'''<br>Chrono Harlaown couldn't help it... he was listening... and.... "If they were reborn, and aware... they might have been aware, watching, but afraid to reveal themselves unless they feel they are needed," Chrono offered.<br><br>Because people were dumb and liked to feel needed.<br><br>.... Because people could be dumb and not realize they were needed, no matter how badly they were needed.<br><br>He, none the less, grinned as he heard what Rashmi wanted to offer. Oh. Ohhhh Setsuna, of this world, was going to love this... He could almost hear her delightfully nerding out....<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>It's so funny watching King Endymion's face -- Rashmi reassures him on Chrono and his shoulders de-bunch a little from where they had VERY SLIGHTLY bunched, but then, THEN, Rashmi's little tiny request was for a ''gift for her to give'' like 'can I give you this lovely thing you would love to have, please?' and the King's just startled all over again. "What, really? I'm not-- sure, but there ''must'' be someone who can convert media," he says, sounding... not excited, as such, but certainly delighted. "We can give you the fanmade production that went wild on our internet somewhere in the 2300s. And also other things. I imagine our media content swerved pretty sharply away from yours once we got around to making it again."<br> <br>
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