2668/Shadows Recede

Shadows Recede
Date of Scene:	02 July 2025
Location:	Mamoru's Apartment
Synopsis:	Sailor Venus requested that Ace Saijou be purified, and Ace agreed. Having gathered on Mamoru's rooftop for the sake of convenience, the peanut gallery offers their support as Ace experiences purification - and settles some of the shadows lurking in his soul.
Cast of Characters:	222, Minako Aino, Usagi Tsukino, Zoisite, Mamoru Chiba, Nephrite

---

Ace Saijou (222) has posed:
The closer they got to this day, the more and more nervous Ace found himself becoming.

Of course, one might think he would *want* to get a clean bill of spiritual health. A whole new lease on life, a chance to go forward without the influence of the darkness that had defined most of it -- that's what he had set out for himself, wasn't it? Wouldn't this be the perfect way to ensure that, to leave no doubt that his mind and his destiny, were finally his own?

Ah, but that is exactly where "doubt" comes in. Between the ever-present shadows dimming his memories and the almost overwhelming flashes that had come to mind when he had encountered the other Shitennou -- brief, but no less vivid -- an unsettling thought had started to settle in: what if there *was* nothing else outside of the shadows, other than scraps? What if Ace Saijou was, in the end, just another role to play, and it was the puppet who was the truth? And what if *that* is the fact that the silver light that had resurrected him, was going to shine on now? Not a healing light but a harsh one, showing just how stark and threadbare he really was?

It was a ridiculous thought, of course. But then again, some would say coming back from the dead is an equally ridiculous one.

In the end, he had nerved himself to go through with it. If for no other reason that he became more and more certain that if he dug his heels in, Minako would simply *drag* him there. It was a non-zero chance she would, at least, and it would get more and more "non-" the longer he waited.

A rooftop rendezvous in the moonlight is the sort of setting that would be more befitting a masked thief, but Ace arrives only as himself this time -- this is *not* a time for masks and artifices. Not for himself, at least. One can only hope there there are no busybodies with telephoto cameras about as he tails a sailing leap to land at the edge of the rooftop garden he was told to arrive it, tucking his hands into his jacket pockets as he comes out the landing into a forward walk, his head bowed.

Minako Aino has posed:
Already standing atop the roof, waiting for the arrival of the other Venusian, was Sailor Venus herself. She could have been casual. Civilian. With Usagi here however she was not going to risk being out in the open on a rooftop at night without already being prepared for anything that might occur.

Not that she was overly cautious due to Ace, but with the Black Moon Clan still out and their next moves unknown, she had to be on guard. Just in case.

When the platinum blonde Ace shows up she turns toward him to flash a winning smile. "I was beginning to worry," she calls out in greeting with a bit of relief that he did show up. "I hope you don't mind others being around but I thought some familiar faces might help." Ones that had been through purification before especially.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Sailor Moon isn't standing at attention, but is sitting in a lawn chair, under the shade of an umbrella, with Mamoru occupying one of the other chairs. They're in the area of the roof directly over Mamoru's apartment and bedroom balcony, and thus, over the area where his moveable rose garden is. The umbrella has WiFi, because of course it does, Kazuo has a tendency to think of everything.

The point is, the Soldier of Love and Justice, of Mystery, the Princess of the Moon, is relaxed and casual when Ace arrives, which might help with some of his nervousness, particularly when she rolls from her chair and bounces to her feet, approaching with a gentle smile.

"Hello, Ace-kun! It's good to meet you!" Ace's head might be bowed, his forward walk slow, but Sailor Moon is all welcoming cheer. "Not to get heavy right away, but Venus-chan told me you wanted to be purified, and I'm here to offer that, if you want to be purified too."

Zoisite has posed:
Izou was semi minding his business as Sailor Venus arrives. Not that he would nose himself into the situation--perish the thought! But seeing a gentleman following close at her heels was worthy of a raised eyebrow as he was tending to his growing saplings. Letting them get some sun before moving them back into the greenhouse for the evening.

Then he heard purified. Ah. So this is why Sailor Moon was hanging out on the roof. Not to just enjoy the presence of her newly wed husband, but to provide a service.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
So as it turns out, Mamoru's definitely less smart about being in henshin than he could be. Fortunately, he's surrounded by longsuffering people whose task it is to make sure he doesn't die at almost all times.

He's sitting down in his lawnchair, though, and he's wearing all black in the dark, and he watches silently as Ace approaches nervously, and his hand goes over his mouth. He does successfully manage not to laugh inappropriately.

He does not successfully manage to avoid looming up out of the shadows behind Sailor Moon while henshining, his ghostly white mask forming identical to the one Ace isn't currently wearing. His cape falls to his ankles with the soft swish of silk in the night air.

No hat though.

Nephrite has posed:
Masato lived here, and he liked to mill about on the roof sometimes and think and overthink about things, and try to make sense of the stars beyond the light pollution with a slightly ensorcelled telescope. Tonight, though, there was slightly more going on. Him having recently seen Ace, of course, he was very curious.

A branded windcheater and an expensive set of boot-cut jeans matched a backwards cap-- a gift, from the National Museum, and bearing likeness to the Great Wave of Fuji.

Though he still made a show of fiddling with his telescope to pass time until Ace arrived, and he came to stand near Venus with a hand pocketed and a can of coffee in the other.

Ace Saijou (222) has posed:
For his part, Ace is dressed in dark clothes, a simple jacket over shirt and pants, a silver choker the only splash of color. Colors to match his mood? No -- he did at least have *some* presence of mind to decide not to dress in glaring colors for a discreet rooftop meeting. Unlike his usual garb -- in that sense it's a pity the Dark Agency is a thing of the past, as it's no longer possible to ask any writers there whose idea it was to draw up a 'thief' character who dresses all in white.

(That as the agency chief it was *his* idea, is something he's going to conveniently maintain is lost in his memories' shadows, if ever asked.)

Not that he'll begrudge anyone else their own choice of colors. Familiar faces draw the eye, but there's always one that will draw his first above all. Ace's troubled mood vanishes briefly as he raises his head and spies Sailor Venus, offering a thankful (if still somewhat nervous) smile. "It -- does help. Thank you."

(It's that one that draws his eye that's the most balm to his troubled soul, but he won't mention that part.)

The others get a brief look. Some he's become re-acquainted with already -- he gives a quiet smile and a polite nod to each. One he's seeing again for the first time -- and there's another of those disturbing flashes, Ace faltering briefly at the sight of Izou, a dark time and an old name coming to mind. But he bites it back, and gives a nod instead... though why the sight of Izou tending to plants makes him think of white crosses next, he could not say.

And then, there is Sailor Moon.

No question of who this is, given she's wearing the same kind of uniform as Venus. And Ace -- a lowly soldier in his past life -- realizes this is actually the first time he'll be meeting the Moon Princess int his era *or* the previous one.

She's... not what he expected.

Ace is clearly startled at being greeted in such a friendly and informal manner. He places hand over his heart, giving a low bow in response. "Thank you, Your Highness," he murmurs. "Yes, I am here for that. Although.. " He does finally smile a little. " ...I'm a little curious now as to what would happen if I said 'Eh, I changed my mind' and walked away."

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus had of course noticed that Izou was here in his garden. When his attention shifts toward the group she flashes a little smile his way as if to say she'd explain later. Then again... With how badly Izou and Masato were at translating emojis, maybe that look doesn't get across properly either.

A tip of her head rises to nod at Masato when he stands beside her. And of course there's the ever-dramatic-Mamoru-mask shadowing Sailor Moon.

Before she can really say anything though, Ace bows greeting Sailor Moon. Instantly she steps forward arms crossing over her chest a bit as she blurts, "I did not tell him to do that honest! Ah heh I don't think you need to do that Ace--" She cuts off at his apparent hesitance toward being purified.

"Eh? Well..." A glance shifts toward Sailor Moon as she gives a helpless shrug. "I asked just to be careful, but it is your call, ultimately."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Oh, he's formal. Well, that won't last long, if Sailor Moon has her way, and so often, she does. She doesn't do anything so forward as catching him in his bow and stopping him, but does dip in a graceful (surprisingly) curtsey of her own, more the princess than the soldier, for the briefest moment.

"Venus is right," she follows up the gesture with a laugh. "You don't have to do that, and don't worry, V-chan, I didn't think you did! Still, Ace-kun, you don't have to bow to me, or call me Highness. I might be the princess, but here and now, I'm Sailor Moon first."

He smiles, offering up his curiosity, and she laughs a little.

"Well, V-chan would probably get upset with me for telling her to not badger you about it, then. This isn't a battle, and you're not an enemy - if you don't want to be purified, I won't force it on you; you'd just build the stuff back up, anyway. For it to really work, you have to want it."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Yeah we're actually all just hanging out," Tuxedo Mask says to Ace from where he looms under the umbrella. "If you said 'no thanks' I might judge you, but I'm judgemental, don't take it personally." At least he just sounds like the sort of amiable jerk he did in the cafe. Which is downstairs seven floors.

He drops himself back in the lawnchair, cape and all, and sits back, legs crossed and head propped up on one fist, elbow on the table. "Consider the audience your hazing. Uh, you can opt out of that too."

Zoisite has posed:
A smirk. A bit sharp. It reached his eyes, but it wasn't a deadly thing. Just more amused by the nervousness he was witnessing and the hint of mixed memories and recognition. But there was no need to dabble in any of it now.

He wanted to be part of this audience, which he made good on by action, placing the pot in hand on a plastic table before turning to look at properly at the gathering group. Fingers pinching at the ends of gloves to slide them off and tuck them in front apron pocket.

"It's not bad, the purification. But the choice is completely yours to make. If you need someone's hand to hold during the process, just say so."

Nephrite has posed:
"Nobody's going to grab you and hold you down, or anything." Masato mused over the rim of his warm can of caffiene, "But I am a mean spirited bastard and I might laugh if you run off, and down the line, need to get Purified by way of... I don't know. Getting a giant whale dropped on you, or something ridiculous."

His smirk shows his amusement at that, but it isn't sharp like Izou's is. He sips. "Save a little dignity and get checked over here. It's for the best."

Ace Saijou (222) has posed:
For just a moment, Ace's smile changes in a way that Venus at least, will recognize. The same smile he gave as he tore a playing card -- her "new fortune" -- in half, declaring her fate her own.

Kaitou's smile. Showing that he is indeed, contemplating doing just that -- strolling away from it -- if for other reason than to see what sort of mischief might result.

Only for a moment, though. Mischief can ease one's peace of mind for only so long.

The rest of the crew (he would never go so low as to call them a 'peanut gallery') he will answer first. "I can take a little hazing," he assures Mamoru. "And -- " This next to Izou, calling out lightly. " -- no offense, but if I need a pretty blonde to hold my hand through this, there's only one choice for me~"

Masato's comment gives him pause though. Purification by whalefall seems... strangely specific, somehow. And he flicks a glance to the others, as if to wonder if he should ask how well purification actually takes. But in the end, decides to leave that alone -- for now, at least.

A last look to Venus, a softer smile and a bob of his head to her. The fact that despite their spotted history, she's insisting this is *his* choice instead of demanding his purification for the sake of her own peace of mind-- that gesture is not lost on him. Or perhaps that's simply the kind of girl she is? If so, that means even more to him.

And so while nerves are not *quite* gone, he takes a deep breath before turning to face Sailor Moon again. "Thank you, Your H-- er, Sailor Moon," he corrects himself. "I... yes. Yes, I'll do it."

A pause. "Do I... need to do anything special? I didn't think to bring any salt."

Zoisite has posed:
Oh, the little comment flung his way made him giggle, some of the sharpness in his eyes melting away. It could have been taken as a mean spirited one, but in truth, he was mostly amused.

"Don't worry, I wasn't offering my hand. There's only one handsome near-white haired man for me, and that's definitely not you. "

Steps closer to the threshold that separated his section of the roof from the rest.

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus had been holding her breath for a few tense moments as she wasn't entirely certain whether Ace would walk or not. Deep down part of her was worried about whether there were still traces of dark energy around him. Not because she thought he would turn on them, but because... This was someone from her past. Someone she hadn't been able to save herself.

A tense, anxious look momentarily clouds her face, only to fade away entirely as he agrees. That tension eases out of her just as she'd begun to clasp her hands together squeezing tight enough her knuckles went white beneath her gloves.

"Okay, great!" Cheer flooding her again she pauses only to raise an eyebrow as she looks over toward Izou's response with a hint of amusement herself. "Well at least I know you won't set me on fire when dealing with the guy who was my *second* kiss!" She teases only to flush at her own audacious remark. Woopsie.

Hands lift to wave energetically around, "Okay yes great then we can get on with it yeah? Okay? If you er... I mean I can hold your hand if you need to, I guess, it won't hurt me to be purified too and all if you seriously need."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"If you think it's going to hurt, I can hold your hand so it doesn't," Tuxedo Kamen explains, taking off a glove and waving his bare hand around, not quite sitting up. His foot taps the air. "I'm a healer. And I wouldn't judge you for that. But," he pulls his glove back on, "I seriously doubt it'll hurt..."

...Mamoru stares at Minako, because it takes him a second longer than it should to process that Minako just subscribed to Minty Fresh Shoelace Floss Monthly, and his hand goes back over his mouth again. He sits back into the shadows and shuts up.

Nephrite has posed:
Masato continues to down his coffee, because it covers the laugh he might have given up otherwise. Well, now Ace had slightly more context to add to his notes about why Mina's bow had been set on fire, to follow from their last conversation.

Oh, Mina. You're a menace even to yourself, he thinks, and shakes his head.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Sailor Moon blinks at Ace, looking from him to Minako and back again, and then she looks at Mamoru, a question mark practically blaring over her head - 'are you seeing this???'

Luckily for Ace and Minako, her train of thought crashes hard into a mountain when Sailor Venus decides to take a bite of her own foot, live in front of an audience, and she hurries herself with summoning the Spiral Heart Moon Rod - only to blink as a different weapon drops into her hand.

Moon Sceptor flashes through her mind at the sight of it, the same way she's known the name of every new weapon that's dropped into her hands, and she spends a moment admiring the rod for the sake of avoiding Minako's eyes, unable to look at her friend's latest embarrassing faux pas. Nope, just admiring the long pink shaft, the golden crescent moon and wings, the heart anchoring the crescent moon and crimson orb together -

"Right! Well! Nope, you don't have to bring anything! All you need to do is stand right there, and try not to scream too loud, okay? Sometimes it hurts."

Most times it hurts, unless Mamoru is right there - not a terrible pain, but if there's Dark Energy to remove, it's the sting of antiseptic spray, the scouring of muck from the soul.

She doesn't give him time to consider this warning - there's just the swing of the rod, a circle of light carved into the air -

"Moon Healing Escalation!"

And silver beams blast Ace with purifying light.

Ace Saijou (222) has posed:
"*What* was that now?" Ace turns his head sharply to the side, blinking as Venus says something he's not quite sure he heard right.

But that's when Sailor Moon calls his attention back, blinking as he sees her now holding a scepter. The fact that she says it *might* hurt is... well, not reassuring, but not surprising. He knows full well the darkness does not give up its toys easily.

Mamoru's offer to help mitigate the pain is appreciated, and he gives a weaker smile as he looks over. "Thank you -- but you're not even blonde, so I'd have to pass on that as well." Though certainly pretty at least -- Usagi would think so, if no one else.

But now there's nothing for it but to get to it, and he takes a breath before giving a little nod. Bracing as the healing is invoked, and he's struck with purifying light.

There is not pain. There is *cold*. A deep, numbing cold.

The shadows surge. In his mind, in his soul. They rear up from his memories and crash over the rest like a tidal wave, plunging his thoughts into pure black.

There's not an outward sign -- the distress is mundane, but visible. Ace's eyes become wide and shocked, mouth falling open as his breath seizes in his chest, and he staggers back a step from that light...

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Tuxedo Kamen's eyes haven't even finished widening before he's lunging, henshining again between breaths, one back to Endymion in his armor with no gloves, and grabbing hold of Ace's wrist. He holds his other hand out to catch at Venus; he calls out to Usagi, "Keep going! I've got him!"

What Ace will feel from the Prince is a wild concern and a fierce determination to help, the sense of the vastness of the planet spinning beneath them, its bedrock, its sunny valleys and snowy mountains, its cities and its ground, it's grounding, it's a lifeline offered. And it's a warm cessation of physical pain as Mamoru keeps up a low grade healing energy transfer.

Minako Aino has posed:
Everything would be fine. Venus was certain of that as she gives Sailor Moon a confident smile at her friend trusting that she knew what was best in this particular case. It would be fine. Nothing would be wrong, everything would be right, it would just be a simple check and then they could move on with their night--

Then the look on Ace's face causes her to blanch.

Automatically she moves forward reaching out to try and steady Ace. There's no cry of his name, no shock at the result, just instant action to hopefully keep him from falling, fainting, or anything that might make it worse.

She doesn't get that far when she's caught by Endymion but she too nods in agreement not to stop. This was clearly needed on some level. As soon as that touch is made she gasps feeling that connection linked through.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
This reaction? This reaction is a new one. Sailor Moon can't say she's thrilled with it either, not with how Ace has gone stiff and still and pale, locked up, but with Endymion on it, she grimaces and nods sharply, her grip tightening on her scepter.

Again, she carves the circle of light, and this time, it glows even brighter, the entire golden circle filling with light before a solid blast, four feet in circumference, blazes forth.

"Moon Healing Escalation!"

Ace, Endymion, and Sailor Venus are enveloped in light.

Nephrite has posed:
A transformation would be taking place, just in case, but it wasn't going to be Nephrite. Even in their last encounter, it was easy to see that Ace had been shaken by seeing the Shitennou, and again today, when he saw Izou as well. Masato didn't miss it. In the midst of this Purification, it was a far safer bet to use a different henshin-- and Masato only had one other option.

A look and a specific hand signal to Izou confirmed it, and prismatic colours would overtake him until a flash of cape replaced the image of Masato entirely.

There were certain details that were slightly different, but on the whole, it was a damn good impersonation of Tuxedo Kamen. Even his long hair was tucked up into the hat, for the moment, and in a co-ordinated step towards Izou, the cape swept like a quick change curtain over the other Shitennou.

Zoisite has posed:
That expression was what caught him off guard, and it was an automatic switch from amusement to quick focused alertness. And his green eyes slid quickly towards Masato, connecting with hand gesture confirming they were on the same page.

Once Tuxedo Kamen's cape covered him from other's view, Izou's transformation was one of petals burning bright magenta pink as his visage was replaced by a near identical one of Sailor Moon. Blue hues and blue eyes included, like before, instead of the more preferred purple that he enjoyed using during training.

Yes, this was a much safer option during a moment so delicate and crucial for Ace, and one Zoisite did not wish to influence or interfere in any shape or form. So being disguised as Sailor Moon, the icon of purity and love, would be much more calming than his own image of sharp edges and fangs and flames.

Once done, Sailor Moon posed, crossing arms and finger gesturing in perfect imitation of in the name of the Moon, I'll punish you, except, without words.

Ace Saijou (222) has posed:
Grasping hands, grounding bedrock, old comrades in new garb, redoubled healing. None of it reaches through the cold swallowing Ace's inner being, lost before the one thing that can forestall them all.

Death.

The memory is an overwhelming coldness, a deep, numbing nothingness. Death -- and Ace had woken from it to *more* death.

When the silver light shone and Serenity sent out her call for those lost lives to return, Ace didn't wake up in Paris. He woke up *under* Paris: in the underground catacombs, his first sight upon opening his eyes being the yellowed stacks of skulls set into the walls. The orderly dead, silent and watching.

Silent -- but not *in* silence. There was also... music?

The silver light had brought *everyone* back, without a hitch in their experience -- everyone had gone right on laughing and living just as they were before, none of them the wiser. And that went also for a group of ravers, of all things, who had broken into the catacombs to have their own little party. Turntables, portable speakers, laser lights, and machined fog. Confused, disoriented, Ace had followed the pounding sounds echoing off the stone, stumbled right into the midst of it all --

-- and been swept right up.

Arms thrown around his shoulder, hauling him in with accompanying laughter. A bottle tipped to his mouth, to calls of cheering encouragement. His hands seized as he was pulled, whirled, cheered on to join the festivities, to join the dance. That he was a stranger didn't matter; that everything had brought back didn't matter -- none of them were any the wiser for what had happened than anyone else. It was nothing more than coincidence, the thing they had happened to be doing at the time: a celebration of life among the solemn dead, a thing of simple, rebellious delight that they had freely shared with the stranger in their midst.

Though all things considered, pouring half a bottle of Château Greysac down the throat of someone who had only just "awakened" was probably not the best idea. Ace had woken up two days later on the banks of the Seine, sick to his stomach and with the worst hangover of his life. He had retched... and then he had *laughed.* Because whatever else, however miserable -- it was all proof that he was *alive*! For for the first time, in *every* sense of the word.

And with that realization, the shadows recede. They'll never truly be gone... call them gaps, if you wish. Call them scars. A unique interaction between the darkness and the color of his soul, perhaps? Either way, it's fine isn't it? A shadow isn't an absence, after all -- it's a thing that's cast by something in prominence. And if there are shadows all around him, that just means there are towering, incredible things all around him too, doesn't it? Just *waiting* for him to tilt his head back and take it all in.

< Or take it all away? >

In his mind's eye, a figure suddenly stands before him: the heroic masked thief. Kaitou Ace, his other self.

< I *am* a thief, after all! But I am more than that -- and so are you. Would you like a glimpse? Shall I read you your fortune? > Kaitou offers, holding out a fan of cards. In his mind, Ace reaches a hand to take one --

And with a flick of his wrist, Kaitou lets them spill before he can. Every card in the fan falling face-up, scattered across the ground.

Jokers. Every last one. A card that can be anything.

< Go ahead. > Kaitou invites, waving a hand over the mess. < Which one is yours? >

" ....heh."

"You need to ask?" Ace murmurs aloud -- most likely to the confusion of those not in a particular form of contact with him right now, as his shocked look becomes a sly little smile, eyes still focused in the distance for the moment. "There's only one that really suits me, isn't there?"

Minako Aino has posed:
Fear. The cold. The familiar sight of the Parisian catacombs riddled with skulls. All of it washes over Venus as she takes in the unfamiliar memories that were familiar in other ways. It wasn't HER memories though they could easily be tied to many of them. For the time she'd spent in Paris searching the catacombs for any signs, any glimpse, of the Dark Kingdom that may remain to further torment them later.

The gleeful abandon of life celebrated is as much a relief in those memories for her as it likely was for Ace himself. It's not until the flash of Kaitou with his cards that her lips part and she blurts out, "Hearts," with her blue eyes gone hazy and unseeing to the world around her. "Ace of Hearts," she murmers in spite of the fact that they were jokers. That's how she had always know him: Kaitou Ace, the Ace of Hearts, perhaps a joker but one that had at one point held her heart for however brief a time until she had properly awakened, and remembered.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"It's gone he'll be okay!" Mamoru calls as soon as he's sure, as he's sure, and then--

He sees something he's probably not supposed to, so he carefully lets go of Ace's wrist as the escalation stops. That breaks Ace out of the link; Endymion shows Venus to put on her emergency communicator signal if she needs an out <3, and then he lets go.

"That's rough, buddy," he says, taking a step back. "Uh--"

Mamoru just straight-up drops henshin back into his yukata, waving a hand as if to clear the air. "Why are you two-- um--"

He's staring at Nise Sailor Moon and Nise Tuxedo Kamen.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Sailor Moon lowers her scepter with a little sigh of relief once Mamoru calls that everything's fine. Whatever else is going on - something profound and personal, she's sure - it's not a thing she needs to blast again, which means she politely links arms with Endymion and turns with him to face Nise Sailor Moon and Nise Tuxedo Kamen.

"When you transform like that, is your hair growing longer, or does it just look like it's longer?" She asks Nise Sailor Moon curiously, because with the colors made accurate, Zoisite really is managing a perfect reflection.

Behind them, Ace and Sailor Venus are murmuring things to themselves, things she's trying not to listen to because it's none of her business.

Nephrite has posed:
"Why are we at the ready to help, at a moment's notice?" Nise Tuxedo Kamen finished Mamoru's question-- is he teasing him with his mock speech? He might be teasing him. "Because a youth who has been interfered upon by the forces of darkness, seeking to cleanse his heart and soul, deserves the help and compassion of others."

Although, he does try not to laugh at the end, taking off the hat to let long wavy locks tumble free.

Zoisite has posed:
From her pose of justice and love, a sigh is given after Tuxedo Kamen's speech, dreamy eyes and hands clasped together as she leans in with pure adoration from her blue eyes.

"Isn't he just amazing? Oh! Ahaha--" A hand gestures dismissively as she laughs, embarrassed. "I mean, he is my husband after all!" Finally she stands up straight, nodding with confidence and a beaming smile, pointing to the other Sailor Moon. "My hair? Well, you see, with a bit of magic and love, anything can happen you know? But honestly, this is mostly just me being magical. It's pretty, isn't it?" Grins, all proud with a subtle conscious shyness.

"By the way, is he going to be okay? He looked rough for a second." Blinks towards Ace.

Ace Saijou (222) has posed:
"Yes -- exactly right," Ace murmurs, turning his head towards Venus. Responding to her as he comes out of the fog of memory , which hopefully she should be coming out of at the same time. "Princess?" he calls softly, giving the hand holding his a little squeeze before letting go -- just enough to help call her back.

With that done --- a moment, to take stock. Taking a deep breath as he closes his eyes, casting his memories back. His parents' faces? His first audition? The details of his recollections whose lack had troubled him?

Still in shadow. Were they ever real to begin with?

Doesn't matter. Not anymore. He remembers the *feelings*. Warmth, laughter, pride. They, all the other feelings behind the shadowed memories -- those will be enough to carry him forward.

And with stock taken, there's now thanks to give. "I 'felt' someone there with me," he murmurs, looking an Endymion. "When memory started moving past the cold, I felt someone -- more than one. That was your doing, wasn't it? Even back then, we heard of the 'power of Earth.'" And dipping his head to the Prince. "Thank you."

And a lower bow to Sailor Moon, his hand over his heart once more -- but smiling this time, at least. "And thank you as well, Your Highness -- Sailor Moon. However you wish to call yourself in this age -- thank you for this. I'm in your debt."

Which now leaves the *really* important questions, as he turns to look at Nise Sailor Moon, and Nise Tuxedo Kamen. And back and forth. The costumes he recognizes, at least but -- "What in the *world* are you two wearing?"

Minako Aino has posed:
As Endymion steps away breaking that connection between the three of them, Venus is able to blink out of those memories that weren't hers. The little flash of the communicator is a relief to know she has an out, should she so need. Either way it barely matters when her eyes refocus to find Ace calling her 'Princess.'

The urge to blush comes over her though she flashes a smile at the same time. Old memories, older than current time, has her respond with a relieved reply of, "Adonis."

That was after all Ace's original, true name. Not Kaitou Ace, not Danburite. She remembered that even if she hadn't known him in the past life as more than just one of her Venusian soldiers.

She turns away to face the others though about to thank Sailor Moon and Mamoru when she, too, spots the doubles. A breif little 'pfft' of laughter comes as she grins warmly toward the gathering of her friends. "We body double at times," she laughingly explains to Ace. "I do, too. Zoisite and I both do a great Sailor Moon I think." A look toward Nise Kamen and she tilts her head. "Have you considered a man-bun?"

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
With Sailor Moon's arm linked through his own, Mamoru says drily to Nise Tuxedo Kamen, "I find it strange to converse with my taller self."

He turns back to look at Ace when the blond boy starts addressing them, and he smiles, warm and real. "I'm glad you don't object. You looked like you were going to start coming apart for a second. The only time we've seen that before was a real bad scene, so I was ready to put you back together. For future reference? If you feel yourself trying to resist a purification, yell 'refresh'."

Does it work to make it better? Who knows.

Nephrite has posed:
After a spin of hat on a finger, gloved hand moved to settle it back atop head. In another prismatic shimmer, the Tuxedo was gone and Masato was simpy putting his museum hat back on. He turned it backwards again, in casual fair. He's grinning at Mamoru, and nods at Minako.

"I'll make a note of it. Besides..." His gaze turns now to Ace. "Just thought it might be a lighter sight, than Nephrite. Let you get your bearings, at least."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Nise Sailor Moon's response earns a little snort of amusement, Sailor Moon's eyes crinkling with laughter. "Right, of course! You are pretty magical after all."

But she's not teasing or making fun, and it's clear that the compliment had been genuine - she does find it amazing how perfectly Nise Sailor Moon can match her.

With Ace finally having gathered himself, she turns back to him, and the return to formality makes her sigh a little, even as she says, "You don't really owe me one, but, if you feel like you do, just help someone out the next time you can, okay? That's the best way to make us even."

She really doesn't need to collect - or keep track of - debts, honest!

"I'm glad that helped and if you ever need it again - honestly, you can find me here pretty often. We're ~married~ after all!"

She is so pleased, and with Mamoru's arm in hers, she turns them towards the rooftop entrance to the building.

"You don't have to leave or anything, but we're going to head down, okay? I'm showing Mamochan how to play Overwatch."

Well, she is now. Really, she's just taking him away from the source of his embarrassment - though she gives Nise Tuxedo Kamen a subtle thumbs up behind Mamoru's back.