2610/His Heart

His Heart
Date of Scene:	13 June 2025
Location:	Game Crown Arcade
Synopsis:	Mamoru asks Minako for what's left of Crimson Rubeus.
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Minako Aino
Tinyplot:	BMC: Wicked Ride
Tinyplot2:	Black Moon Clan

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Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"You know what's great," Mamoru's voice comes from behind Minako, "Making people jump. Do you have any makeup remover pads? I'm out and I have to check in with Izou in a little while, and he really hates the way I draw the black moon on."

He's in his black roses yukata instead of his navy blue cats yukata, and his pink-tipped hair is a little windblown and very fluffy, and his glasses are smudged. He's also carrying an empty drink carrier and a little shopping bag.

Minako Aino has posed:
On top of most everyrthing else she was doing, the random messages asking to meet up had to be heeded. Who knew if Minako was going to get any update on Usagi or what was going on otherwise? A coffee drink with whipped cream sits in front of her though as she's already safely ensconced in a booth in the cafe waiting for Mamoru to show up.

The red bow bobs upward with his sudden unexpected greeting and a little yip. "Don't DO that. Seriously, you only do that to me because Usagi-chan hates it and you couldn't get away with it with her!" Her lower lip juts out in a scowling pout fixed on him only to fade away with a sigh of exasperation.

"Of course I have makeup remover. And you DO draw it on awful. You could just get a temporary tattoo or something. Sit, sit." Her hand flaps toward the other chair even as she reaches back with the other hand to grab her purse drawing it into her lap. A quick rummage through it produces a small pack of resealable makeup wipes.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Sorry," Mamoru says completely unrepentantly, grinning, and then he sits down across from Minako. But then the grin fades, as he takes one of the wipes and looks at her with a serious expression. "Actually, I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other evening, a few days ago. I was really overwhelmed, which isn't an excuse, but... you were very right, I should have kept that a secret. I guess it unconsciously felt like a safe space."

He starts industriously working on getting the crooked smudged black moon off his forehead.

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino sighs quietly watching him fumble for getting the makeup off and just smudging it further. With a little click of a compact opening she holds it up for him to be able to look into the mirror while he cleans himself off.

"It was a safe space, but I was trying to keep it down on who knows I have it. It was just us at that point." Her lips purse together tightly. "I know, you're going to lecture me about relying on my friends, and I *do* rely on them. ... But as a Senshi, it's my role to protect them as well as our Princess. Artemis knows where it is if something happens to me."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I wasn't going to lecture you," Mamoru says with a sigh. "I agree, some things need to stay secret. I hate not telling you where Usako is, but she made me promise. Thanks," he adds as he takes the compact and then does a way better job, folding it properly and everything-- boy knows how to take off makeup. "I actually had something completely different to ask you about -- remember when we killed Rubeus, and you picked up his heart crystal? Do you still have it? I have a use for it, which I promise isn't creepy."

Minako Aino has posed:
The mention of Rubeus and the heart crystal earns a little look of confusion though Mina does tip her head to the side slightly. "Mm," she agrees simply. "I do. Should I ask what it's for though? No offense, but even if you're not--" Her hand gestures at him in with a circle of her wrist to indicate all of him. "--Corrupted, you're hanging with some people that currently are."

"Rudeus was a tough bookie to fight. It'd suck if he got ressurected again. Of course I have the crystal still. It's with the fishes."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Saphir can't bring him back from just that, there's not enough of it left to hold a whole soul. But-- it would be like returning his friend's ashes," Mamoru says, holding out his hand. "Which I want to do, because it's the right thing to do. Here, you can see I'm not lying--?" That's what his hand's out for. "He was a dick who was full of rage and hatred, who had the power to corrupt other people. I don't want him resurrected any more than you do. But I would hope that if one of my guys died, someone would bring me his stone."

Minako Aino has posed:
"I..." Mina glances down to the offered hand knowing full well how Mamoru liked to share his thoughts when he wanted to prove something. It's the words that hit her though causing her to sigh heavily. Wearily.

The hand is waved off only for her to lean her cheek into her hand, and reach for her coffee drink. It's barely touched. "You don't want me to take your hand right now. I'm tired. You're right though, giving back his 'ashes' would be the respectful thing to do."

A pause and she adds, "Hopefully he won't mind that it's wet. Literally been in my fish tank. Seemed as good a place as any to hide something weirdly shaped."

"I'll clean it up and bring it to the apartment later."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Handing it back slimy and covered in fish poop would be sending the wrong message," Mamoru says gravely, "and really gross." He's silent for a second, then holds his hand over his mouth, eyes dancing behind his glasses. He hands the compact back, forehead red from the pressure and mild scrubbing, but already fading.

"You should contemplate life in the ballpit for a while," the prince suggests after a moment, hand lowering. "I'm giving you permission. Just don't dig through my stuff. It's in the walkthrough closet off my bedroom, across from the toddler bed."

That said, he stands and says affectionately, "You should grab a nap where you can. That's how I'm making it through."

Minako Aino has posed:
"I said I'd clean it up! I'll even find a pretty box for it." A pause and she crinkles her nose. "Or a camo box. I'll figure it out." She might not be the most diplomatic but even she had to agree fish tank yuck was not going to be great for handing something precious over.

She reaches out to take the compact back with a quick glance into it herself. It's when he offers the ballpit that she's staring at her own reflection a moment. "... I do need to try some other things for awhile. I've been more 'Usagi' and 'Sailor Moon' lately than I have in a long time. Even back when I was pretending to be the Princess that at least was still me." The last is said a bit thoughtfully quiet, before she shakes her head quickly.

"I might. Tell Izou 'Hey bitch, we need to go shopping soon' for me."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I'll tell him you said it exactly like that," laughs the prince. "And yeah, do some you things for a bit. And remember, this'll be over soon."

And 'the prince' he is; with a swift transformation like self-lighting charcoal's line of sparking light, a caped and armored figure stands in Game Crown Arcade for three seconds while he readies his teleportation. He grins. "And for my next trick," he says, and flips up his cape while turning around and half ducking, giving the illusion that he disappeared into his cape and took it with him.

Right in the middle of the arcade.

Minako Aino has posed:
"That's why I said it like that," Mina agrees nodding a bit with a little twinkle of amusement in her own gaze at it. It wasn't typically how she spoke but with Izou it seemed fitting. Their relationship was a bit rough in that manner.

When he changes into his princely form, right in the arcade, she gapes a bit in shock. Of course everyone else has forgotten it a moment later, or else thinks it was just a wandering magician showing off. But...

"Oh, right, I can transform. Hmmmm~"

It gives her thoughts.