View source for 412/Coffee, pastries and heavy conversation

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2023/09/13
|Location=Midori-Ya Cafe
|Synopsis=Morning after coffee and conversation between Naru and Kyouka and Darien.
|Cast of Characters=59,53,38
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:(PHONE) '''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} texts:''' Defense only, hmm? Thank you. For everything. I'm sorry I had to call you when you were already injured. (And yes, I have a new phone.)

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} texts:''' defense only? what do you mean? and don't worry about it. i'm sorry i couldn't help you. everything you went through after that could have been prevented.

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} texts:''' Watching you with your powers (I had a lot of time to think in the cabin.) You didn't take any offensive moves.

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} texts:''' yeah. i'm not allowed. part of my contract that allows me to have powers at all.

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} texts:''' It's okay. It was.. okay the end kinda sucked, but it wasn't awful until then. (other than bored. SO BORED)

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} texts:''' having your agency removed at the whim of another person is not fun. i know this from experience. you may have survived it but that doesn't mean we should have let it happen. i'll do better next time.

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} texts:''' We'll all do the best we can, and we make it work. I didn't explain the power of working as a team in unreasonable detail to one person just to have to explain it /again/ here. Besides, they worked.. including you.. as an amazing team. I got to feel like death warmed over in my own bed, which is an amazing step up. And even though I know for fact that coffee won't help, I am still going for coffee. Outdoors. In /daylight/.

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} texts:''' teamwork is definitely preferable but when youre the emergency backup and you still cant actually help its pretty frustrating. regardless, all im saying is sorry. i dont mean to dump my issues on you when you've just had plenty of your own to deal with. That was mostly Moon last night. I was there but as noted earlier my ability to participate was limited to transport and advice. but im glad it went.. as smoothly as can be expected of such things. nobody died which is a definite plus.

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} texts:''' Wanna come for coffee, or are you being all teachery?

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} texts:''' I'm not a teacher, but even if I was I'd have to remind you that if you're well enough to go out for coffee you're well enough to be in class- but on the other hand, sure, I'll go with you.

:(PHONE) '''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} texts:''' Teacher-y.. like a teacher, but not /actually/ a teacher. And I am not well enough to go for coffee, or class, but I'm doing it anyhow. It's like thinking through cold rice.

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>As promised, Naru does not actually look like she should be out and about, but she is anyhow. Messy ponytail, leggings and a hoodie do not speak to 'high fashion', but those and the sunglasses make the teen look .. well.. hungover quite franky.<br><br>Naru has two coffees at the table outside that she's sitting at, and two chocolate filled pastries. One has a corner pulled off from it. She's leaned back in her chair, hugging her hot coffee to her as she basks in the sunshine.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouka pulls up outside on her motorcycle. It's a pretty nice one, a white Yamaha with gold trim, obviously lovingly customized and maintained. She parks it on the street and hops off- the weather cool enough now, at the tail end of summer, that she's back to wearing her leather jacket over her button-down white shirt and slacks which indicates she was probably at school prior to this.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's wearing her sunglasses but she pulls them off as she approaches, hanging them on the collar of her shirt. "You didn't need to buy ''me'' coffee," She admonishes as she eyes the contents of the table, pulling out the other chair and sitting. "You're the one in recovery, and even if I helped rescue you, I also failed to stop you getting captured in the first place, so you don't owe me anything."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Shut up and drink your coffee." Naru's gesture is vague towards the second cup. "You'll end up with both pastries if you're not careful too." Although that one appears to be somewhat less altruistic and probably more about the conversation her headache is having with her stomach.<br><br>"Regardless of your guilt level, I'm still grateful." Naru comments. "And wholly and utterly not in the mood to sit indoors. Although my dream of going for a good long run has somewhat been kyboshed by reality."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're not the boss of me." Kyouka says, sticking her tongue out at Naru, before she picks up the second cup and takes a sip. She winces a bit, because its hot, but doesn't complain. She doesn't touch the pastries- yet.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shakes her head. "You need some time to recover. But I don't sense any residual Dark Energy. So you ''will'' recover. Give it a couple of days and you'll be out running again in no time. The need to sit in the sun though, that I can understand."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Yeah. My guess was that I wasn't dark side anymore." Naru gives a little shrug, sipping from her own coffee. Carefully, she's already learned that its hot. "It didn't feel like that anymore, but it does feel like I've been drained multiple times in quick succession, with a side order of ... detox?" She considers how to phrase it. "Dark energy hangover. Cause that was quite the /trip/."<br><br>Don't do dru... dark energy, kids.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sounds about right." Kyouka sips from her coffee again, the heat seeming to bother her less on subsequent attempts. "But it's insidious. You can't always trust your own feelings. Just a warning- I do actually think you're clean, now."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sighs absently. "Make sure you thank Usagi-chan properly. She did most of the heavy lifting to solve this situation. She's shaping up to be a pretty good leader already, which is impressive. I thought it would take longer."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Good to know, and wholly and entirely not surprising." Naru considers, holding her coffee more than drinking it right now. The day holds hints of autumn, even if it's not that cool yet, but she still values the warmth of the cup in her hands. "I can't speak to how working with light side energy feels, but dark side energy is /easy/. Too easy, and I can totally see how it would be insideous."<br><br>Naru mmms softly, giving a little nod. "I've a lot of people to thank, and she's on the list about 18 or twenty times. I'm proud of her, and grateful for her."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The problem with Dark Energy is that it corrupts those who use it. Not always entirely.. just using Dark Energy doesn't instantly make you a supervillain." Kyouka says, contemplatively. "I have worked constructively with Dark Energy users plenty of times when our goals aligned. The thing is, Dark Energy tends to amplify negative traits. It makes you more arrogant, less likely to care about collateral damage, more prone to being selfish. People with strong minds or strong souls can resist the worst of that corruption but nobody is completely unaffected. That's the price for the power being easy. Weaker minds tend to go completely crazy after a while."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Sunbreaker is suffering from that." Naru nods and then is thoughtful a moment. "She really wasn't a horrible kidnapper. She was trying to 'fix' me, and .. yeah.. the arrogance was clear."<br><br>Another sip of her coffee, rather than just holding the cup. "She's absolutely got stuff she needs to work through, but she's not all bad." There's a pause. "All things considered. Okay.. that's a hard sell on how that all went down, but she's certainly more on the corrupted side than on the completely crazy side." There's a half flicker of a smile. "I'm not sure, right this second, if that's better or worse."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Speaking of people on the Dark Side, Kyouka's phone buzzes with a text.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Darien TXT: hey how is naru i figure you must know<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The problem with Dark Energy," Kyouka says, leaning forward a bit, one elbow on the table, "Is that it's all about turning inward. It makes you think about you, about how this situation effects you or can be to your benefit. It's inward-facing. Other magic tends to be about facing outwards. Helping other people, relying on other people, being strengthened by other people."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I don't think Dark Energy is inherently evil. It doesn't exist in order to destroy the universe, or make people's lives miserable, or perpetuate cruel acts. It's a component of the universe. But it ''is'' dangerous. Because human minds are inherently vulnerable to it's influence in ways which are unhealthy. You're feeling the after-effects of it now."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her phone buzzes and she glances down at it, then quickly taps out a reply. "Darien is asking about you." She says to Naru.<br><br>Kyouka TXT: hung over but coherent. i'm with her now, at midori-ya.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"It stands to reason that it has to exist, or the world would be off balance." Naru comments slowly, thoughtfully.<br><br>Her thoughts are momentarily derailed by the text message. "He's welcome to come drink coffee if he wants." Naru offers, letting Kyouka take care of the texting. She's hugging a coffee cup.<br><br>Let the world take note, coffee wins over texting.<br><br>"Interesting. Some of Sunbreaker's motivation WAS focused outward. Just.. misplaced and tinged with arrogance." Naru mmms, letting that swim around her in muddled mind a moment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Apparently the location is enough of an invitation for Darien to come out from around the side of the building, where he obviously wasn't present a moment ago. He's carrying his personal phone in one hand and he's dressed in an anonymous white button-down and black trousers, hair back in a ponytail, glasses perched on his nose.<br><br>He comes up to the table in time to hear the very last sentence of Naru's, and jokes-- somewhat proving the point-- "Talking about me?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I don't know," Kyouka says, in response to Naru. "I mean, other magic is split into all sorts of weird subdivisions, and you need a pre-existing affinity to even use it. Anybody can use Dark Energy, even people who couldn't use other magic, and it's also relatively unified and doesn't care about needing mascots or focusing gems. I don't necessarily buy that it's simply the 'balance' to 'good' magic. But whether it is or not doesn't change the fact that it exists independent of our understanding of it or desire for it to do so. The same way we may not want earthquakes to exist, but they clearly do so we have to account for and live with them."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for Sunbreaker, her comment is, "Like I said, people with strong minds or soul energy tend to be able to survive the influence better, turn it towards their own ends. But that corruption is there. You can't dodge it, you can only mitigate and live with it, if you decide the benefit is worth the price it exacts."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Darien chooses this moment to walk up, and Kyouka rolls her eyes. "Stalk much?" She says, despite knowing full well he probably teleported and wasn't just following them. "Also, see, this is what I meant about the arrogance," she says, making an up-and-down gesture encompassing Darien as if he is exhibit A. "It's all gotta be about Shields, doesn't it?" She grins, though, making it clear she's just busting the dude's chops and not seriously tearing him down. "Have a seat. You want a coffee? Naru bought mine, for some reason, so I can buy yours. Pay it forward, as it were."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Mmm." Naru muses thoughtfully as Kyouka provides her thoughts on magical energy. "Now you're falling into the good versus evil trap." She flashes a half smile. "Light versus dark does not necessarily mean good or evil.. It does exist, regardless of what we call it."<br><br>Naru turns to Darien as he appraoches. "Pull up a chair, or get yourself a coffee first. One of you gets to have most of this pastry, cause apparently chocolate was a poor life choice this morning." Based on how she's curled up with her coffee cup, most everything feels like a poor life choice. "How are you doing this morning, Darien?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Darien sticks his tongue out at Kyouka, then grins lopsidedly. It's not entirely a real one; it's a breezy mask over the concern they can both read when he looks at Naru. Have a seat, pull up a chair-- he does so, third at the table, and shakes his head at the offer of coffee. "I had so much coffee this morning that it's nearly replaced my entire blood supply," he says to both of them, and the last to Kyouka, "but thank you, and you can buy me a coffee later if you want to pay it forward."<br><br>The boy tentatively reaches for Naru's pastry, not entirely sure she's serious, but finishes the motion because of Naru's body language when looking at it. "I'm exhausted, but... I should be the one asking how you are, except I'm not blind. Inai-sensei said it's like a hangover-- if it really is, then against all odds, you probably need a sports drink and a big fried breakfast instead of pastry and coffee," he says apologetically.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm not falling into nothing," Kyouka says to Naru, "I'm saying that good and evil are relative and the universe exists the way it is regardless of the morality that we assign to it, and that it's our human frailty that leads us to corruption, or our human strength which leads us to rise above corruption, rather than any pre-determined nature of universal energy we don't fully understand." She grins. "But then again, maybe I'm totally wrong. I ain't a fuckin' scholar."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she looks at Darien, and rolls her eyes again as he sticks his tongue out at her. "Coffee for blood would be a pretty lame superpower." She agrees absently. "But consider it owed at a future date." Her own pastry is as-yet untouched, perhaps shockingly, or perhaps she's just not entirely comfortable with Naru buying her stuff 'in thanks' when she's still fairly convinced its all her fault to begin with. "Calories will probably help." She agrees with Darien. "But I can see chocolate not being entirely the best choice."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Do you know how hard it is to sort it out when you wnat to be a scholar, but none of you people come with a glossary?" Naru pffts softly at Kyouka. "I need my magic to mundane dictionary module installed or something."<br><br>"The electrolyte drinks that I started with today is pretty much the only reason I'm upright at all." Naru nods to Darien at his suggestion. "And then I decided I was going to indulge in more stupid and pour coffee on top." She considers a moment. "Okay, greasy fried breakfast sounds weirdly appealing, which was unexpected. Protein bar did not, but I did mange to choke some of /that/ down. Pastry.. also a no." She surrenders and nudges it towards Darien and Kyouka. "I'll get something else after I snuggle my coffee a while longer."<br><br>"And Darien, I've a lot of people to thank for helping me, and you are absolutely amongst them. I hope you manage to get some rest soon. Oh yes, and I'm sorry in advance for using you, even more, as messenger clearing house." Naru's expression is a little rueful. "There's a collection of people who I dont' have contact info for, but I think you do."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"I think 'guns don't kill people, people kill people' is reductionism at its most blunt, but I mostly agree with you," Darien tells Kyouka, "not that you asked me." He picks up the pastry and holds it for a second, not taking a bite yet, and then he says, "I put your thermos on your desk."<br><br>Of course he did. Locked doors, feh.<br><br>Then he smiles a little crookedly at Naru and shakes his head. "Friends do what they can for friends. I couldn't do much, but I did what I could. I'm happy to be a message clearinghouse, whether or not I have the contact info -- but you're probably right and I do."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The difference is that people make guns," Kyouka points out to Darien, as she finally reaches for a pastry. If Naru isn't going to eat it, she's not going to let it go to waste. "Magic, Dark or otherwise, is here whether we want it to be or not. Humans are theoretically capable of removing all guns, but we can't remove all magic. Though sometimes I wonder if the world would be better off if we could." A mild, cynical huff, before a bite of pastry.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She just nods to the mention of the thermos. No complaints from her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Naru, on the topic of a magical glossary, she says, "It's a lot of jargon. Just about the time it all starts making sense is the time you realize you're guilty of making it confusing for the next newbie down the line."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Naw, we'd all be bored out of our minds." Naru decides on the topic of a lack of magic in the world. "We might not know that's /why/ we're bored, but we'd be restless."<br><br>"I'm pretty sure at least some of the jargon is literally just half a dozen phrases for exactly the same concept, but of course they can't be, it's all /very different/." Naru gives a little shake of her head. "Except, of course, when it actually is different." She wrinkles her nose. "And of course my notebook is .. was.. in my satchel." She considers a moment. "I do wonder if any of my stuff survived. It seems unlikely, but possible. Nothing got lit on fire, at least." She furrows her brow, having to struggle to think through the confirmation of that.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Darien nods to Kyouka, he doesn't look that invested in the philosophy, but-- oh, but ''until he is''. "I'd be pretty miserable if I didn't get back what I lost," he admits. "I don't know how much of me would be left. I grew up with magic as part of my understanding of the world."<br><br>He was eating pastry as the other two talked, but now he puts what's left of it down. "I can go look through the detritus, if it was in the cabin that Moon blew up."<br><br>He's trying not to grin, but. Well. ''Sailor Moon blew up the cabin.'' He's sure other people helped, but, ''Sailor Moon blew up the cabin.''<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's because people like to divide themselves by the ostensible source of their powers, instead of just examining what they have in common." Kyouka insists to Naru, and the tone of her voice speaks to some passion on this topic, though what exactly her investment might be is unclear. "Cures and Device Mages and Puella all think they're somehow different or unique but the truth of the matter is it's all just different ways and means of accessing the same power which exists there already. I wish people were more willing to embrace what they could be instead of getting hung up on what they ''are'' and therefore ruling out possibilities for positive change."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For some reason she gives Darien a glance at this, although it's not accusatory or pointed. Like she's not saying this as if it applies to him but perhaps just thinks he will understand what she means.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then she gets down off of her high philosophical horse and adds, "Nephrite and I found some of your stuff abandoned in the first location you were brought to. I dunno if your notebook was there, but I have the pile in my office. Sorry I didn't think to bring it but we can go get it after this."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>Naru makes the mistake of glancing at Darien as he offers to go look. And he's struggling not to grin.<br><br>Which makes Naru burst into giggles. "Can we just sit and acknowledge just the glorious absurdity of that concept aslone.. Sailor Moon blew up the cabin." She laughs brightly, headache be dammed! "She totally blew up the cabin."<br><br>It takes a moment before Naru has her giggles under control enough to go back to philosophy. "I agree, Kyouka. Coming at it from an outsider perspective, I've been actively looking to /find/ those similarities, in spite of the jargon and the us versus them mindset. There are differences, for certain, but not half as many as people think,is my theory. It is, however, slow going without a dictionary."<br><br>Naru is thoughtful. "Ahh, I wasn't super coherent at the first cabin. I had noticed that some of my papers were missing though, and I'll be glad of them back, but there's no rush." She nods a little. "I had a lot more time to draw and sort through ideas at the second cabin though, so the notebook I had there would be lovely to get back. Although if its gone, it's gone and life will go on."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>There's a moment where Darien catches the look and immediately interprets it incorrectly, but-- he's able to quash that and reexamine what Kyouka said with a little bit of effort. And then he nods to her.<br><br>And then he's just ''grinning'' at Naru, straight up, and he looks so proud. Of Sailor Moon for blowing up the cabin, obviously, but also of himself for making Naru laugh. "I know, right? ''Sailor Moon blew up the cabin!'' She's amazing and it looked ''so'' impressive from the cliff where we were watching."<br><br>Once she's back on philosophy, he quiets to finish the pastry, and then lifts his eyebrows and hurriedly swallows at the last. "I didn't see anything on fire or anything, so there's probably something left. I'll go down there later today and if I find anything I'll get it to your dorm." A beat. "Do you need a new phone? I mean, without having to tell your mom. If I don't find it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It was a very pretty lightshow." Kyouka says, in response to the joy at Sailor Moon's 1-step house renovation plan. "I've always been rather a fan of the application of overwhelming force as a tactic. That girl has oodles of potential." She grins to Darien. "Before you came I was saying to Naru that I was very impressed by the way Moon marshalled the troops. Not just beforehand but in the moment. She really has a knack for it."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Naru, she adds, "We'll build you a dictionary, which I realize may not be any more helpful than just learning the jargon, but maybe it will help someone the next time around."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Darien, she adds, "Well she texted me to get me to come out here, so I'm going to assume that's not an emergency, although I have no idea if her current one is a loaner." A questioning glance to Naru.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Loaner phone, yes." Naru confirms. "There's only so long I wish to endure life with a cracked screen and questionable audio, but for the moment,it gets the job done." And that job is texting, by and large. Score one for being a packrat of old phones.<br><br>"I'm so unendingly proud of her. I know its such a challenge, but she's trying so hard, and she's winning." Naru's voice holds so much love and pride for her bestie, it's clear in every word.<br><br>Naru pauses a moment and then comments to Darien. "I was going to offer to go with you, but I think I'm just going to not and thank you for going in my stead." Naru doesnt elaborate on if she's unwilling or unable to go back to the scene of the crime, so to speak, but at least she's admitting that she doens't have it in her to do it anytime soon. Naru adds after another moment of thought. "Luna or Usagi, or possibly both, may want to go with you. Check with them."<br><br>"Well, I mean..learning the jargon /is/ building the dictionary." Naru comments with a nod to Kyouka. "And I had a whole list of terms I wasn't clear on that was in the queue for figuring out before I got distracted by being a captive." She considers. "I don't think I was a hostage, Sunbreaker never asked for anything, did she?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oh I'm ''so'' glad," Darien says, literally sagging back into his seat at Kyouka's description of Usagi's leadership. He doesn't say why, but given the givens it's probably fairly obvious. He doesn't want to win.<br><br>Then he nods at the 'she texted me to come here', and turns his attention back to Naru. "I don't know of anything she asked for. A friend I have who was texting her the first night just said she was being stupid about it, but that he'd keep working on her. I'm sorry that didn't work."<br><br>He sits up a little again and says, "I'd be happy for Luna and Usagi to go with me. I'll definitely check."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouka shakes her head to Naru, with a confirming glance to Darien. "No, to my knowledge she never asked for anything. I think her intent was to use you to power herself up, or whatever, and once she realized that... wasn't a thing she was already in too deep to back down. But she never made any demands or even any threats to anyone else, as far as I'm aware."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sits back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other and sipping her by-now fairly cool coffee (the pastry is already long-gone.) "It's important," She says, to these two in particular, "To support Usagi-chan in what she does. But it's also important not to put too much pressure on her too quickly. A couple weeks ago she was in my office feeling like it was too much, too quick. And it was- it always is. She's done remarkably well. And I think will continue to do so. Help her, as much as you can. We'll all benefit in the end."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A quick smile. "I'm only saying this to you two in particular because you are both in unique positions to do so. And I trust you." A quirked brow at Darien. "Where Usagi-chan is concerned."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"I suspect you are right, Kyouka." Naru nods at the speculation on Sunbreaker. "Her focus changed once she fully grasped that I really didn't have powers." She pauses a moment. "And still don't, for the record. At least not that I've noticed.. last night aside."<br><br>"My goal for the next while is to provide nothing that she has to lead other than homework. And possibly some shopping." Naru gestures. "Darien's rescue mission for my stuff notwithstanding, I suspect I'm going to want a new satchel and some new sketchbooks at the very least. I'm hoping that the biggest decisions I have to force her into making is if I want the blue bag, or the cream coloured one."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Darien Shields (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"I think you know," says Darien actually gently to Kyouka, "that we already do help her, and so do you. And we're also not the ones putting pressure on her-- and neither are you. There's going to be a point, I'm pretty sure, where that'll change? And where you ''can't'' trust me-- but by then I'm hoping there'll be enough people willing to drop everything and help her that it won't be a problem and she won't have to do anything alone. Last night showed that things are well on their way."<br><br>He sighs, and it's short and abrupt. "I'm trying to make sure it's put off as long as possible, so she-- and everyone else-- is strong enough."<br><br>Then he gives Naru a little lopsided smile. "Out of all the stupid things Sunbreaker assumed, there was one thing she was almost right about. You ''do'' make Sailor Moon stronger. You're a thousand percent her berserker button. Just try not to press it again too soon."<br><br>Then he hauls himself up. "I gotta go. I'm still working on one of my friends you don't like, Inai-san. I think he might finally start getting okay, but I don't want to leave him alone too long right now."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouka gives Darien a look which is almost pleading, but at the same time reassuring, in the sense that it communicates that she believes him in what he says. "I know you do. And I know you will. But it.. would be wrong of me not to say it anyway, because that's what I'm here for. As for trusting you- Darien, I trust you until I can't, and at that point you can trust me to do what needs doing. For you, for her.. as much as I can. Hopefully it's enough."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That surprisingly heavy out-of-nowhere moment past, she also smiles to Naru. "Powers are a little overrated. People suddenly have all sorts of expectations of you. I do, however, have an expectation that you will do an excellent job distracting her with shopping, and that is probably exactly what she needs."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Darien rises to go, Kyouka glances up at him and quirks a brow. "Me, dislike somebody? I don't know what you mean." A lopsided grin. "Good luck. Stay safe. And thanks."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"If its a friend I know, and I'd be useful, give me a prod, Darien." Naru offers with a lift of her almost empty coffee cup in salute. "Good luck. I'll bother you more later, when I dont think my phone is secretly plotting to shiv me as I type."<br><br>Naru lets Kyouka heavy at Darien without her commentary. She just sips the last of her coffee and then sets the mug down.<br><br>"Powers or not, this is the Naru you folks all get to deal with. For better or worse, and yeah.. that's a topic for another day." Naru shakes her head a little.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Darien leaves, Kyouka sighs, drains the last of her coffee, and gets to her feet. "I should probably bounce, too," She says to Naru with a smile. "I do have y'know, a job to do back at school. Thanks for the coffee and snack."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She quirks her brows, looking down at the still-seated girl. "You sure you'll be alright? If you need anything, don't hesitate to text or call. I'm not so busy that I can't take a break.. like this one."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:59|Naru Osaka (59)}} has posed:'''<br>"Yeah, I'm about ready to go back myself." Naru's coffee is done, and the pastries are gone. Although she doens't look to be in a rush to get up right just yet. "I have faith I will be. Thank you, though. For the conversation, and the offer. I appreciate it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:53|Kyouka Inai (53)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyouka gives a mock salute, before turning to head back to her bike. "Stay strong, Osaka-san. I'll bee seeing you."<br> <br>
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