1181/Fryer Soul

Fryer Soul
Date of Scene:	25 February 2024
Location:	WcDonald's
Synopsis:	Rei invites friends and acquaintances and hopefully new friends to WcDonald's for lunch. Just to get to hang out with everyone, get to know them better... And thank them for being there for her.
Cast of Characters:	Rei Hino, Pyrite, Usagi Tsukino, Zoisite, Ami Mizuno, Mamoru Chiba, Naru Osaka, Makoto Kino, Nephrite

---

Rei Hino has posed:
    The WcDonald's Party Room. Place of legend. At least for Rei, for this is her first time in one. She reserved it for a few hours, and her wallet is now quite empty, but she managed to borrow from her grandpa so she can actually eat food. She got the usual questions. "There are not going to be any boys there, will there?" he asked suspiciously.

    "So what if there were!?" Rei retorted hotly.

    Aaaand the argument started from there, ending with Rei saying, "I'm DATING a GIRL!" which shut her grandpa up. She got the impression he was mostly just unsure how to respond rather than upset. The blustering following his staring and mouth opening and closing like a fish before pulling out some money for lunch was immensely satisfying, even if Rei's face was red when she left. That was not how she had intended to break the news.

    But now she sits, a long table in the room, uncertain why there are balloons and streamers and things. She just wanted the room, not the decor.

    Maybe this is normal?

    Rei is wearing a red short-sleeve t-shirt, blue jeans, and what look like cowboy/cowgirl boots. One leg is crossed over the other, as she leans an elbow on the table and rest her cheek on her hand.

    .oO(What if nobody comes?)

    Thanks, intrusive thoughts, that was very helpful.

Pyrite has posed:
    "It was my understanding," says a little girl's voice from across the table in the previously empty room. "That there would be fries." She sounds disappointed as she looks at table free of any fries. She is wearing a white dress that looks like it belongs on Alice from Alice In Wonderland, but it's overtop of a black puffy blouse instead of blue. Also she has a party hat.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
WcDonald's isn't Usagi's favorite place to grab a snack, but they've got some pretty decent fries, so whenever she has a craving for fries without a side of arcade games, the local WcDonald's has a chance of being haunted.

Of course, this time, all of that can be safely disregarded, because she has an invite!

"Rei-chan, hey! I'm here for you, and also your fries, so hand 'em over!"

She's wearing her favorite black miniskirt and pink long-sleeved shirt combo, with black leggings to make up for the fact that it's still a chilly winter day.

Zoisite has posed:
    Izou is busy fanning himself out in front of WcDonald's, instead of going inside. Not because he's overheated, but because he's just so HOT. He's waiting for someone to ask him so he can give that answer. Truly a professional of his craft. He is also wearing the goth version of Alice In Wonderland, just a bit larger. He did not coordinate with Himeko at all.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
A party? Or at least a meeting in a party room. Ami was certainly not going to be late to such a thing as soon as she was invited. Being punctual was one of the things she was very good at, even if she wasn't AS punctual as say, Setsuna.

There were priorities when at a WcDonalds though.

It's not long after the scheduled time, maybe just a minute or two, when the bluenette rounds the corner carrying a tray filled with a suitable amount of snacks and treats. Family sized chicken nuggets with a few various sauces. A family sized pack of fries. And of course a reasonably sized fizzy drink with a straw already in it so as to avoid any instances of blowing the wrapper across the table that might ensue if such a loaded weapon were left within reach of the more mischevious members of the group.

Her attire is casual, cozy, and even a bit fashionable as she approaches wearing dark blue leggings, a black sheath dress, and a large light pink and white chess patterened sweater over it all. A jaunty little cream colored beret rests on her head. She'd been shopping recently. Blame Michiru and Makoto.

"I got us all snacks," she informs as she approaches with a soft smile.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"There will be fries," comes Mamoru's voice from the door to the party room, and he comes in and puts a little wrapped box in front of Rei. "Happy... x number of days knowing-each-other-iversary." (There is a plastic cube box full of konpeito in there, as well as a Calcifer keychain.)

He's not especially dressed up, except that his jeans are black and his dress shoes are polished. There's still a black t-shirt (with a silkscreened logo of a local punk band on it) and a black leather blazer-length jacket-- it's fake dressed-up.

On the way in, he definitely hip-bumped the pinafore-clad Izou and said, "I don't think they have crab legs here," but didn't ask The Question.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Fries are the best part of WcDonald's." Naru comments as she follows in pretty much right on Mamoru's heels. It's still winter enough for leggings under a cute dress, but swishy skirts are fun leggings or not, mixed with a warm sweater and a jacket.

"Do we have enough snacks for the moment, or should I go get more?" She has a coffee, because of course she does, but she made no assumptions that anyone else might want one.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto did not dress up cute, because... it's WcDonald's, really. She's in jeans and a cozy oversized pink cable-knit sweater. She arrives behind Mamoru et al, just in time to overhear his last comment, and makes a wry face as she sidles on in. "I'd be pretty concerned about anything crab that was offered at a burger joint, anyway. Better stick with the nuggets, I think."

She claims herself a seat next to where Ami is setting up, and promptly reaches to snag a nugget. "Hi." The greeting appears to be a general one to the room at large.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei startles at Himeko's sudden appearance. She didn't sense anything at all. Probably because Himeko is... No longer dangerous. The little ghost is just Himeko and nothing more. She says, "I was waiting until everyone was here to start, because cold fries are--" Then the other arrivals begin! Rei sits up straight and puts both feet on the ground when she pots Usagi, starting to get up to give her a hug of greeting. Then Usagi demands Rei's fries. Rei scowls. "I paid for the room, not the food. Buy your own!" Wait, the room doesn't come with food, does it? She pulls out her phone and starts scrolling through it. It was such a fight to get her to carry a phone at first, and look at her now!

    "...Hang on, I think we can get cakes and Smile Meals with the party package. Let me jus--" She is sitting back down to see if she can call the WcDonald's from inside the WcDonald's to sort this so she isn't leaving everyone at her own party. Then Ami comes in with all of those goodies. Rei smiles with relief, "Oh, thank you, Ami. I'll pay you back for sure. And you look very cute! Did you pick out the outfit yourself?" Then her attention is stolen by Mamoru. He is very attention-stealy. She was not anticipating presents, so is both surprised and a bit awkward at first, before saying, "You're a really good person." Then she looks up at Mamoru with those violet eyes sparkling and says, "Not only am I glad to have met you, I'm glad that one of my best friends found you too." Surprising sincerity over getting a box she hasn't even opened yet!

    Maybe she's just still feeling guilty for her initial harsh judgments and concerns when she heard about Mamoru as Hematite.

    Naru, hidden behind Mamoru until she steps out with her food, gets a grin. "I've never held a party before. I really didn't plan very well, did I? You and Ami-chan are life-savers, Naru-chan." Then the superwoman of the group steps over to grab a nugget, and Rei returns the greeting with a smile and a just as simple greeting of her own. "Hey."

    There were others on the invite list, but not all of them could make it, some haven't responded, one of them is hanging out in front of the doors like a weirdo, another is late... And she's hoping another one is just running late too and will be here. The slight anxiety is wiped away forcefully with a breath and then a, "Thank you everyone. I know this is a bit of a weird gathering, but... I just wanted to hang out with all of you. Everyone I've met since this whole crazy thing started. You've all helped me grow beyond where I was back then... Sheltered and alone." Then gestures for Usagi to come over for that hug from her seat. "Starting with this girl right here. No matter how long we've known each other... I just wanted you to know I treasure each and every one of you. And there's nothing I would change about the past several months."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's practically an Senshi Reunion, with so many good friends around. Usagi beams at everyone, quick to happily steal fries from Ami, who so thoughtfully anticipated an Usagi-sized diet. At Rei's demand that she buy her own, she just sticks her tongue out.

Of course, she feels slightly bad about that, when Rei starts in with the very sentimental speech, though it sees her smiling brightly and sentimentally wiping away a tear.

"Aww, Rei-chan! We're all glad to have met you too! It's crazy, how much life changed in just a few months, isn't it?"

Naru Osaka has posed:
"It's /ridiculous/ how much life has changed in just a few short months." Naru has to laugh, shaking her head a little as she settles in to find a seat somewhere. Her coffee gets settled on a table, and she digs out her sketchbook.

"AND we've all kept up in school!" Naru adds with a grin. Some better than others, perhaps.

Pyrite has posed:
    Himeko sits quietly as everyone arrives, hands on the table, with a little smile, just happy to see many familiar and friendly faces. "Happy Rei Day, everyone!" she chirps finally when it looks like most people are here. She wishes Izou would come in, she has a party hat for him and everything.
    The speech from Rei initially confuses Himeko. And worries her. It's the kind of thing she has heard before. Right before someone leaves her behind. But everyone seems happy. This isn't a good bye. This is a... 'Welcome back', perhaps. She settles back down. But if anyone tries to take away anyone today, she knows a monster cat who accepts bribes who can fix that!
    "Hm! I understand completely!" she says with a firm nod. "Friendship makes a difference." For once, it seems she truly does understand completely.
    She is trying not to cling to Mamoru by remaining where she is seated, but she is of course pleased to see him. She's just... Trying to be a little bit more independent. It's okay. She can be patient and wait to catch up later after the party.
    She is very good at waiting. And she's happy to do it now.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru flushes a little at the compliment, unexpected given how awkward his handing over the present was-- but he offers a hesitant smile, which gets a little more solid when they're on 'Usagi is awesome' ground, which he's more sure of.

He grins at Makoto, taking some nuggets in clear agreement, then slides over an individually portioned tiny plastic tub of sweet and sour sauce.

"Things have all changed for the better since summer," he says firmly, then shoves some food in his mouth so he doesn't have to talk, and carefully slides some fries over towards Himeko on a napkin. He said there would be fries, and Ami brought them, and now there are fries in front of Himeko too.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno smiles fondly at all that are gathered here, and sets the tray down with a little nudge to settle it toward the center of the table. Except for the drink she snags for herself having decided she wanted her orange Fanta as a treat instead of something healthier. When Makoto joins her she smiles and leans in toward her friend to give a little shoulder bump of greeting.

"Thank you, Rei-chan! Makoto and Michiru both helped me pick it out, actually. Though I did have the sweater already," she admits looking down to herself with hands smoothing out the soft fuzzy sweater lightly. "Of course, it's not a problem at all to get us some food. I can get more if we need as well," she assures. "I've still got a good bit of allowance left for this month."

Though she listens to everyone her gaze slides over to the window to stare out at Zoisite outside in that dress similar to Himeko's. And she just. Stares. Unblinking. Until a fry is stolen catching her attention so she quickly, firmly shakes her head.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto shoulder-bumps Ami in turn, carefully, before accepting the little plastic carton of sweet-n-sour and grinning back at Mamory. And then makes a wry face at Naru. "Speak for yourself, Naru-chan," she says in what's almost a groan.

She shakes it off quickly enough, though, peeling open the sauce to dunk her nugget in. "Well, I probably wasn't going to keep up that well anyway, to be honest." She smiles at Rei, warm and sincere. "I'm glad we met, too."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Chicken nuggets, fries, sentimental friends... And Zoisite somewhere outside, looking admittedly quite cute in a dress. Usagi steals a few more fries from Ami's snack profile, and hums thoughtfully. "You're right Naru-chan, we are keeping up in school! Heck, I've only got like, three Ds right now!"

And she's aiming to get that down to two, so she can avoid cram school.

"If we runb out of fries, I'll get more, promise."

Nephrite has posed:
    Nephrite arrives late, as usual--No, he's Masato right now. He has to stop... Stop thinking of himself as Nephrite. Even if that man is part of who he is, there's a whole other person who was born here and now in the present not thousands of years ago. He needs to be remembered too. Such thoughts are on Masato's mind as he starts walking towards the WcDonald's doors distractedly, dressed in a fashionable upper-class outfit, accessorized with a scarf around his neck. Then he sees Izou and stops.

    He stares cautiously as though waiting for something to happen, then carefully continues his approach, and enters the building while avoiding contact. There's something Izou-ish going on here and he wants no part of it. So it is. The late Professor Sanjouin has arrived. (* He is not yet a professor.)

    "It is good to see everyone here," he says, in that baritone voice he uses when he's too insecure to use his real, raspy one. "Thank you for inviting me to join you in celebrating."

Zoisite has posed:
    Izou frowned when he was hip-checked without being asked the Question by Mamoru, but he SCOWLS when Masato avoids him completely. Muttering about heathens who have no respect for the arts, he turns around and sashays inside, managing easily on his high heels. Then he visits himself upon the party with a friendly announcement. "Good afternoon, everyone~! I trust the day finds you well--" Then he stops and stares at Himeko. He staggers back, with a gasp, his left arm going up on Mamoru's shoulder, as he points accusatorily at the ghost who COPIED HIS OUTFIT.

Pyrite has posed:
    Happily munching on fried potat, Himeko looks up when Izou enters and starts pointing at her. She doesn't know why he's doing that, but it displeases her, so she responds with a >:o face. If she had cat ears and fangs, she'd be that cat from the LadyPointingAtCat meme, and Izou would be the lady. Still might be, in fact. "Pointing is not polite, Izou-senpai, and we must be polite." she scolds.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Good vibes all around. Rei has hugged Usagi, she is getting smiles from everyone, we're all having a good time, and then THESE two start up oh my god please. "Here we go..." she mutters already rubbing her head. She looks at her phone again, checking her messages. Hoping for a reply. She hadn't meant for her grand father to be the first person to find out, and she wasn't going to bring it up during this party or anything, but she still wanted Minako to be here. Honestly, even all of this insanity and arguing is part of the joy of knowing these people. Former enemies, former strangers, now friends she can't imagine being without. Despite herself, her smile returns as a little smirk.

    "I love all of you," she whispers.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru is zero help in the 'Nephrite' versus 'Masato' thing; he has a tough time calling almost any of his rock band members by anything but their rock names. But he tries. And then he's got a Zoi hand on his shoulder and he glances toward the prettiest of the Shitennou, eyebrows up.

He swallows his mouthful of chicken nugget and asys distinctly, "I don't know what you expected." Then he leans his head over to gently klonk it against Zoi's. "Ridiculous," he says with gentle affection. "Stop pointing at Himeko. Have some food. Stay away from the diet Coke."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno flashes a smile toward Masato when he joins as well. It was hard to miss someone as tall and wavy-haired as he was. "We may need to pull more chairs over," she decides with a little glance at the seating that was getting a wee bit crowded. Of course the seats were far more plentiful here in the party room at least. No lack of chairs, and no worry if not being able to get one.

The click-clack of heels announcing Zoisite's arrival earns her attention shifting down to her purse to rifle within it momentarily. Just long enough to find what she was looking for. A little plastic pack is pulled out with a hanger tab at the top that, when Zoisite POINTS at Himeko, she lifts up to slide the hanger part over his extended finger. It was just a little package of sparkly hairclips. That had been her New Years gift for many of her friends, though he hadn't really been around at the time. "There you go," she offers cheerily. "It's late, but Happy New Year. I got gold because I figured it would go well with your hair."

Hopefully the little distraction would help a bit. Though it does make her pause to look into her purse again. "I do have some extras if anyone else would like as well. I didn't want anyone to feel left out, but I wasn't sure if Mamoru or others would wear them."

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Did anyone get any sauces? Because I can get some sauces, if not!"

This is the least touching way to break a hug ever, but Usagi had given Rei a hug, and once she was done, her attention was entirely devoted to the snacksa and the snackage. The fact that this also distracts from Zoisite beefing with an actual child is mostly a coincidence.

"Mamochan! Come get sauces with me - I want to get more fries too, because I want a whole fry to myself."

That, and Ami-chan is probably going to make eyes at Zoisite, a thing she supports in theory and in practice doesn't want to see.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Evening." Naru greets the later arrivals and her smile is warm for Nephrite. She's gotten out a pencil and is doodling in her sketchbook as she drinks her coffee.

"OMG, you two look adorable, all matchy matchy!" Naru comments as she looks between Izou and Himeko. "Good job, the pair of you."

Because clearly they had to ahve planned it, right?

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"I'd wear them temporarily at best," Mamoru tells Ami apologetically, then stuffs another nugget in his mouth with a big dollop of sauce, then puts his half-empty sauce down on the table and moves Zoisite's hand off his shoulder before patting it.

He gives a chewing-paused close-mouthed smile to everyone and then follows Usagi to go get more sauce. He gently pushes Neph's arm in greeting on his way out of the party room. Not going far! Just into the restaurant proper.

Zoisite has posed:
    Izou answers this by looking at Naru, betrayed, and saying, "She's wearing what I'm wearing! She's eating fries, and she has a dinosaur party hat, and I was going to bring dinosaur party hats, and she's just, like, a total COPY CAT." He turns to Mamoru when he gets that advice, ceasing the pointing, because he was asked with such a gently head klonk. "Fine, fine, you know I'd do anything for you." He flutters his eyelashes as he rests his chin on the backs of his forarms, on Mamoru's shoulder, which he has to lean up to do, because he's shorter than the other giants.

    Then he flounces (there's really no other way to describe it) over to slide into a seat by Ami. "Come here often?" he asks with a pretty smile, as he wiggles the finger with the hair clips hanging on it up and down. "Thanks for these. I need to accessorize more. Most of my outfits were either ruined by Tethis or left behind in the Dark Kingdom. And by now they probably have, like, youma juice all over them or something, so they can keep them." Eye roll. Youma, right? Ami gets it.

    He still makes sure to wave and smile periodically to the others so that they know he's thinking about them, and eats some fries and nuggets and drinks Sprite, not diet Coke, because he is a good boy.

    "Oh, you dressed up too? You look lovely, dear." he says to Ami after a good look up and down.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto's eyebrows go up at the back and forth between Himeko and Izou. It is very much an expression that says, 'is this really happening right now?' All she says, though, is, "Okay," and then she turns to lift a hand in greeting to Masato. "Hello," she says, with a slightly rueful smile. "Nice timing, you got here just in time to catch the end of the floor show."

Nephrite has posed:
    Masato's own smile is warm as well when he sees Naru. A little bit lopsided. A little bit relaxed. Like he's not as concerned about how people see him. Or maybe just Naru. Then he notices Makoto is here too, and that relaxation fades as he tries not to reveal anything outwardly about his feelings. There's an internal struggle going on. He bows his head politely and smiles. "Greetings." She isn't Juno. he tells himself and then looks towards the hostess of the party. "I never thought I would be able to join festivities with you, or so many others here... It is simple, human moments like these that make me realize how much I could have missed if I had stayed on the wrong path. So..." He was about to sit down by Naru then second-guesses himself, and leaves an open chair there. So that he doesn't appear to be too close, but is still close enough for conversation.

    "Apologies for not bringing a present. I did not realize it was that sort of party," he says, eyeing the box in front of Rei, and trying very hard to keep repeating that magic spell in his head that will help him get though this. She isn't Juno. She isn't Juno. Both Naru and Makoto here in the same room are certainly having an affect on him. Ah, the problems with being Nephrite. "I see quite enough of Izou's idea of entertainment on a regular basis," he says dryly. "Himeko is a treasure, but she used to be something more like a consolation prize."

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei waves it off. "It isn't that sort of party. Mamoru-san was just being nice." Then she considers Ami's offer and with a grin says, "Sure. What colors do you have, Ami-chan?" She is having fun just watching everyone interacting. Being with everyone. It's a simply joy she never thought she'd have. When you're alone long enough... You stop realizing how much you wish you weren't.

    She finally starts eating. Like she told Himeko, she doesn't want the fries to get cold.

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery, Izou." Naru points out with a grin. "Of anyone she could have dressed like, she decided you were the coolest."

"How are things going, Masato?" Naru asks him as she lets her pencil scrape over the page of her sketchbook, continuing to doodle as the chatter and eating goes on around. "It's not often we all manage to get together like this. It's really nice when we manage it, truthfully." She nods to him. "I'm glad that we managed to wrangle you guys back. It's a good thing."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"Thank you," Ami replies with a warm smile. "I do like dressing up when the occasion calls for it. We're not in school right now, and it's sort of a party. It seemed like the perfect time to do so." When Zoi sits beside Ami she lifts her hand to give a little 'welcome to it' gesture indicating the family sized nugs and fries she'd gotten. They had been depleted a bit thanks to everyone nibbling at it but there was still a good amount available.

Rei's interest earns a quickly bobbed nod, and her attention dips back down to her purse to sift through the few packages there. "I have red for you, Rei-chan," she offers as a set are pulled out to offer over to her. Red with a little star on one end to decorate it.

Mamoru had already left so he doesn't get any. Another pause comes as she withdraws a green set to slide over toward Masato. "If you want. I thought they might at least help keep hair out of the eyes while studying, but don't feel obligated to wear them if it's not your thing, really," she assures. There were a few more left, and she murmers to Makoto, "I already gave you yours, I'm sorry."

Since Mamoru had said no that meant she had some extras so... So the dark hematite stoned one that had been for Mamoru is offered out instead to Himeko. "These would probably suit you, too!" As for Naru? A set is slid over in teal for her.

Pyrite has posed:
    With the matter of the Rude Finger dealt with, Himeko returns to being pleased and eating potat. Then Ami addresses her, and Himeko looks over while chewing. Her red eyes go big when she is told there is a present for her. She swallows, and claps her hands to her cheeks in amazement, and gasps! :O
    Then she is up and out of her chair and running the way only younger kids can, over to snatch up the hair accessory. She turns it over in her hands in amazement, inspecting it. "Hm! Ami-senpai, you are the Goddess of Potato and Hair Clippies. And horses, but that hasn't happened yet." What? A bright smile up at Ami as she carefully avoids acknowledging Zoisite next to her. "Thank you!"

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Why sorry?" Makoto asks Ami in an answering undertone, laughing just a little. "Like you said, you already gave me mine. I'd have worn them today, if I'd thought about it." She lifts a hand and half reaches out like she intends to ruffle Ami's hair, but then thinks better of disturbing her cute hat.

She reaches for a fry instead, and turns her attention back towards Masato. "Hey," she says, wagging the french fry in playful mock-chiding at him, "you shouldn't call a girl a consolation prize! Especially not where she can hear you."

Zoisite has posed:
    Zoisite is eagerly placing the clips in his hair after untying his low ponytail and allowing it to fall loose and wave down his back. "I don't have a mirror, darling. Please tell me if they are being misplaced, would you?" he asks. He, too, tries to ignore Himeko's presence. They aren't enemies like they used to be. Zoisite is actually rather fond of the ghost. But that's part of why he teases her. "It's fine," Izou calls out. "She probably doesn't even know what that term means." That does not make it fine!

Nephrite has posed:
    Masato tilts his head and nods in acknowledgement of Makoto's words. "You are correct. But saying 'she used to be a walking death curse that I was afraid would kill my Prince' seemed a bit too blunt as well." He still turns to Himeko and apologizes. "I am sorry for calling you a consolation prize, Himeko. You were very good at being a death curse in the past and are just as good at not being one now."

    Then attention is back towards the actually corporeal girls here (no, he's not even thinking about how Himeko can eat as a ghost or where any of it's going, he'd rather not know). He accepts the hair clips, turning them over and examining them similarly to Himeko. "It would probably be less work than tying my hair back. And it always gets tangled when I try, and have to carefully pull the scrunchy off or just cut the hair... Over all, a much better solution for my follicular woes. Thank you, Ami." Masato has always been a bit rude in that he doesn't use honorifics much. He may address someone by their surname still, but he just calls them by whichever name is appropriate and leaves the rest for people with better manners.

    Perhaps another thing he can change.

    He finally thinks about how much to say, and whether or not this is the right place to go into details. "Well, Naru-chan," oh so SHE gets an honorific. "I am trying to make contact with my family. I lost touch after encountering She Who Must Be Mistaken and having my memories tampered with. I'm not even certain if they are in Tokyo, or Japan, or even this hemisphere." He shrugs. "But I have the time."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"That super doesn't make it okay!" Makoto objects to Izou's remark, in a tone of affront that most likely carries no weight with him whatsoever.

She visibly doesn't seem to know how to take 'walking death curse,' either, but after a glance toward Himeko she elects to leave it at that. The rest of what Masato says holds more interest for her anyway, even if it wasn't directed at her. "I hope you can find them without too much trouble," she comments in a slightly softer tone, resting her chin on one hand. "Family... is important."

Ami Mizuno has posed:
Ami Mizuno smiles softly at Makoto when the nudge comes. "I know, I just..." Here she shrugs faintly unable to properly express the sentiment. She had already gifted hers after all. It was just a bit of guilt really over passing out a bunch at the table now. Though when she's assured she would wear them sometime she smiles all the more. "I'm glad you like them."

Himeko's own glee at it causes her to laugh warmly. "I don't know about horses. I've never even ridden one! Maybe sea horses though. Water's more my thing." Reaching out she lightly pats Himeko on the head in a manner similar to what Makoto had considered for her. Though she's careful not to dislodge the dinosaur hat.

As Zoisite puts them in she fixes her attention back toward him. A thoughtful tilt of her head comes, and she sighs. "Come here." Both hands raise to gently turn Zoi's head to one side with the back of her knuckles. The hairclip is taken carefully to nudge up just a bit while pinching at his hair so it doesn't tug against his scalp in the process. "There you go. Perfectly symetrical."

Tearing her gaze away from him she flashes another grin. "You're welcome, Masato."

Naru Osaka has posed:
"Awww, Ami.. that's so sweet!" Naru pauses in her sketching to reach over and gather the clips up closer to her. "Thank you." She examines the present a little more closely, but for the moment.. doesn't put them in her hair.

"You could try braiding it, Masato.. see if that keeps your hair from getting tangled. Mine's a little short for anything but the most sad little braid, but I braid Usagi's for her sometimes." Not very oftne in public, mind you.

Naru mmms softly as Masato comments about finding family. "If you need help, just let me know and I will do what I can. Blood family is important, but sometimes chosen family is just as important.. or more so. Still, knowing helps soothe the mind, and often the heart."

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei laughs a bit embarrasedly as she says, "You all are too generous. I wasn't expecting presents, really. I'll just have to make up for it by giving you double presents on your birthdays. Thank you, Ami." She gladly accepts the red hair clips slid over to her. "I'll have Minako put them in for me later, at her place," she says. Then her smile freezes at what she just said. Pause. "...While we study." she clarifies. Because obviously she has to clarify right? What if people got the WRONG IDEA after all??

    She is going to be such a mess trying to avoid blabbing about this, isn't she?

    Especially when the news makes her so happy.

    "Himeko stepped into a place she didn't know if she'd come back from, just to help us find out who the Moo--To help us find someone." Yes, they're alone in a party room, but no need to risk it. "She is an extremely brave little girl. Braver than I was at her age. I think she deserves kinder words than 'consolation prize' too."

Pyrite has posed:
    Himeko just nods happily as she gets headpats. "That is okay. The horse has not happened yet. That is later." She is also dimly aware she is being made fun of somehow, so she gives a suspicious eyebrow-raised glare at Izou and Masato, before returning to turning the clippies over and over in her hands, like they're some long lost sacred treasure. When she hears her name, she looks up again. The ghost isn't sure how to respond at first. The words and the sentiment behind them is much bigger than she is used to. She may not have a physical heart, but she still finds the cold spot where it should be to be a bit warmer than usual.
    She smiles slowly, shyly. "That was me from before. This me is not so brave."
    Deflecting compliments! She has learned well from her brother, truly.

Nephrite has posed:
    "I shall certainly enlist the help of all who are willing to provide it if I have no luck." He agrees with Naru. "There is no Star Chamber that I can use to find people. I don't even know if I have any living family. I sealed my memories about my human life to keep Metallia out of them. And now I can't use my Astrological Magic any more, so I have no way to undo it. It was not made with any power granted by Metallia, so there is nothing binding it to evil. And it was put there of my own accord, in a way it would not keep me from functioning in the day to day. In other words, it's more like a layer of glass between different halves of my life so far. If I am not careful, what I think I may see is a path ahead of me may wind up just being a mirror. And if I crash into it... I risk losing much, from both sides of the glass." Masato reveals.

    He also nods to Rei's statement about Himeko, despite the latter's humility in denying the compliment. She really is her brother's sister. "I would hate to impose further on Mamoru... But I understand he is able to traverse mindscapes. Perhaps he could help establish where it is I need to start looking, at least."

    Then he dares to look directly at Makoto as she rests her chin on her hand, and the similarity in his memories is close that he can't look away for several seconds. He simultaneously looks... Entraptured and like he is looking at a ghost. The ghost of a dead woman overlaying a girl who is still very much alive.

    Seeming haunted, he turns his head and eyes away abruptly, and swallows hard. That touched... Too many memories. Too many jagged, painful memories. He didn't seal those ones. They're too important to lock away.

    He is going to be very quiet for a little while.

Ami Mizuno has posed:
"There's more than one way to look at the situation as well, Masato." Ami speaks up with eyebrows raised a bit, and her head tilted to the side regarding him thoughtfully. "Even if your memories are sealed you are still a part of this world. One which is," she adds with a grin, "Very technologically based in most of the developed parts of the world. We can try to look for missing persons that fit your description, around the age you would have gone missing, and the like. Granted," she's quick to add with a thoughtful nod. "It would take a bit of searching if you're not from Japan originally. It's not impossible though."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto flicks a sidelong look at Rei, and grins at the quick protestation about her and Minako studying. "Sure, Rei-chan," she teases. "While you study!"

Himeko is favored with a brighter, more earnest smile, before her attention shifts back to Masato as he speaks. The expression he's wearing has her own slipping into uncertainty. Her brows pull together in an unvoiced question, and then she quickly looks away, turning her focus to the french fries.

Like Rei said earlier, they'll be no good cold. Right?