2537/Handholding Deviants

Handholding Deviants
Date of Scene:	16 May 2025
Location:	Crystal Tokyo
Synopsis:	After the battle with the Esmeraude-Dragon, Venus seeks out the infirmary to check on the wounded Nephrite. She finds Makoto already there tending to him. Venus assures them that they will retreive their kidnapped friends, and then sneaks out to leave the potential love-birds alone.
Cast of Characters:	Minako Aino, Nephrite, Makoto Kino
Tinyplot:	Black Moon Clan
Tinyplot2:	BMC: Dimension Future

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Minako Aino has posed:
The infirmary was an area that Minako would overall prefer to avoid all things considered. Even so she'd been here a few times already when showing various refugees here.

The current draw to the infirmary was one of those injured in the prior battle however.

She hadn't made it out totally unscathed herself, but she hadn't been on the front lines so she was relatively good other than a bruises, and scrapes, after initial care. The Shittenou had taken a much worse blow. One of them had at least.

Venus pauses to lean against the wall with arms lightly crossed as she regards the figure on the bed hooked up to all kinds of equipment. Some she could guess, most she couldn't, but she wouldn't be surprised if Ami would know each and every peice were she here in her place. Whatever their reasons, all she knew was that it didn't look good.

"You look like you got ran over by a skyscraper."

Nephrite has posed:
Sapphire eyes lift towards the sound of Minako's voice, his head tilted toward her. Despite the state of him-- which is fairly rough, all things considered-- he looks alert enough. A combination of medicines and magics have kept him on a slow path to recovery, thus far. Sessions taken to advance his condition, after he was stabilised.

He still sounds a little short of breath when he says, "Crushed and thrown by a dragon, would you believe?"

Makoto Kino has posed:
A chair has been scared up from somewhere or other, for use by visitors. It's already occupied, however; Makoto, out of henshin, has positioned herself out of the way of any of the comings and goings of the infirmary's staff, with her feet tucked in under the seat. At the moment, she's slowly peeling a mikan, working the rind off in a slowly growing spiral.

"You'll have bragging rights on that one for a while, probably," she comments before looking toward Venus to wonder, musingly: "How does a skyscraper run someone over, anyway?"

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino remains in henshin herself, at least for now. Likely because she had a torn skirt, scuffed knee, a scratch on her cheek and who-knew-what else that her henshin was keeping from being even worse. Still. FAR better a result than Nephrite.

"Dragon?" The response of course causes her eyes to dart over to Makoto with eyebrows raising in quiet question. The only dragon she rightly knew of was Makoto's!

"Oh, that's when you run over by a skyscraper during a fight and end up getting thrown into it because it's really bad cover. Not as bad as a dragon maybe." It's here her expresson flickers with guilt and she draws another small breath. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help. I was near some of the refugees when everything happened so I had to make sure I got them safe first." Then the droids. That had made progress quiet slow when it wasn't just herself to worry about.

Nephrite has posed:
"It all happened pretty fast. Those Black Moon bastards really... didn't waste any time," Nephrite acknowledges, letting his head rest back on the pillow. His gaze watches the ceiling for a moment. "They cracked the Princess. She ran... and everything fall apart, after that."

He licked at his lip briefly, "I know Mamoru's out there alive. I can feel him. But I'm a little... out of the loop." He smiled almost apologetically. All he really knew, thus far, was that contact had been lost with Usagi and Chibiusa as well.

Shifting his arm-- still in a sling-- he turned a look to Makoto, who had gratefully remained here with him. The scent of the mikan zest eased his nerves a little. "I'll brag about it if you'll pretend to be impressed."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Who's pretending?" Makoto replies with a lopsided smile. "I am impressed. The dragon was practically the size of a skyscraper."

Returning her gaze to Venus, she shakes her head a little. "You were taking care of something that needed taking care of," she says. "There's no need to apologize for that. It's no good if we get people all the way here and then let them get hurt."

She worries a little at the mikan peel, the spiral growing a little longer. "Esmeraude turned into the dragon... Saphir managed to carry off her body, so you might still get a shot at her, Minako-chan." Her mouth twists like she's tasting something bitter. "If only that were our biggest problem. Usagi-chan, Mamoru-san, and Chibiusa-chan... they're probably on Nemesis."

Minako Aino has posed:
It wasn't the first update that she had received on the situation. There were others that were talking. Those who had seen, who knew. That doesn't stop the obvious shudder that runs through Venus upon hearing the news. Her eyes squeeze shut a moment while she grips her arms tigther around herself giving a single, solemn nod.

Usagi gone. Mamoru gone. Chibiusa gone too. The sinking feeling growing in her stomach certainly wasn't helping her current peace of mind.

"I know. We'll get them back." Those words are stated with firm determination, and an unwavering confidence. Sharp blue eyes snap open again to regard her friends with a fierce grin.

"We'll get the back and we'll stop the Black Moon Clan once and for all. I know some are hoping they can be redeemed, but they've gone too far." A clenched fist is raised and she declares, "They're going to learn that justice is best served cold!"

Nephrite has posed:
A small smile returns Makoto, before the gravity of things outweighs it again.

Nephrite closes his eyes for a moment-- not because it isn't reassuring, but because that last bit really undercuts the particular anger he feels and, currently, doesn't have the strength to hold onto or express. Something vengeful.

It is harder for him to feel as capable when several of his ribs were still knitting together, but the sentiment is a sure one. If he felt he had been a little harder on Zoisite than necessary before this, the capture of Mamoru and the others put it entirely to the back of his mind.

"Zoisite can't go." To Nemesis, he meant. "He shouldn't... be exposed to a place like that. Not right now."

A sigh left him, and Nephrite gently shook his head. He felt incredibly useless, presently. "I don't even know when I'm going to be up and about, again. Isamu and Hotaru are doing their best, but... I've still got a few more days of this to go, at least."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto's head tucks downward, and she fixes her eyes on her current task. "I don't know yet what the others are planning... but you're right. We'll get them back, even if it means going to Nemesis."

She sighs a little herself, then. "Not that I know how to get there. Hopefully some people who are smarter than me have some ideas." Her eyes drift to Nephrite, and her tone gentles a little as she adds, "I'm sure Saito-kun is looking out for Zoisite. The best thing you can do right now is rest up and focus on recovering."

With sure, steady hands, she gets most of the peel off the mikan. After detaching the spiral of rind, she sets the fruit down into a small bowl that was waiting on the bedside stand, separates the wedges a bit, and then slides it over within reach of Nephrite's functioning arm. "There'll be more fights waiting, I'm pretty sure."

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino lowers her fist down to her side though it remains clenched. There were plenty of times it felt right to give a speech or call out about justice. This just... Didn't feel like the right time even if she could feel that heat of righteous anger burning bright inside her. Right now it would be time to plan action. After a breif rest.

The interaction between Makoto and Nephrite is watched with a hint of a smile, almost sad, as she feels a little ache build in her chest.

"You're right, he probably shouldn't." There's no reassurance saying he won't though. That wasn't something she could promise ultimately, especially with them down several fighters. "This is something we're going to have to do quickly though. I'll have to talk to Kazuo and King Endymion about our next moves." Whatever they may be.

An awkward pause follows, eyes darting to the mikan being offered between the two potential love-birds. The urge to tease was there though half-hearted at the moment with everything else going on. Instead she blurts out, "I'm glad you're okay, Nephrite. Mostly okay."

Nephrite has posed:
There's a very personal, reluctant worry worn openly on his features. He doesn't envy those who would go. Truthfully, it is terrifying to think of what Mamoru must be enduring on such a planet-- the slow wilting of life, the assault of everything from the air to the water, and the damaging energies seeping up through the ground. The constant pressure to take up Dark Energy simply to survive, to know relief.

The weight of temptation, too, for somebody struggling to find reasons to resist giving in. Nephrite doesn't know how strong he would be, if he had to be utterly truthful. He hopes he would resist, but he doesn't entirely know. It would be maddening, in its own little way. He would be a liability even if he went. So, too, is Zoisite.

But just as the girls imply, that doesn't mean he would not go. So Zoisite, for all the doubt, is paradoxically certain to.

"Thank you." Resigned, he takes a piece of fruit from the bowl that Makoto has prepared for him, and chews it quietly. The burst of citrus small distraction him form his pain and anxieties. "You're right. I'm mostly okay. Things will be okay." He tells himself.

Makoto Kino has posed:
"It will be okay," Makoto agrees, quiet but firm. "Because we'll make it be. We got through Beryl and all of her crap, in Paris and beforehand. We'll get through this, too. We're not on our own this time - and neither are you guys."

She sits back a little, absently rubbing her sticky fingers on her jeans. "Will you let me know what you find out, Minako-chan?" she asks. "I'm not much help for planning things, so I'm better off making myself useful here."

Minako Aino has posed:
Minako Aino inclines her head toward them both solemnly. It was one of the few times she was definitely remaining serious. "Of course. We need people here to defend as well still. The other Senshi are doing their best to keep the castle protected but I'd wager they took a hit from this attack, too." She wanted to confirm that with King Endymion or even the other Senshi if she could. Another stop to put in which she marks in the back of her mind.

She really wishes Artemis were here right now to help her keep track of things.

"I'll be going myself. I'm not as good a fighter as you, Mako-chan, but I can still fight even without my powers." Which... Maybe necessary

A quick smile is offered toward Nephrite. "Maybe they have some observation room somewhere that you could help look over too. To help keep the security up." A small suggestion to try and help him feel better about being bed ridden. It seems she might say something more, but instead she shakes her head firmly to get her mind back on track.

"I'm going to go check on things. I'll keep you both updated." A pause, and she adds, "Stay safe," before turning to slip out so they could have a little bit more time alone together.

Nephrite has posed:
In the back of his mind, Nephrite remembers what Minako said to him when they spoke by the bay. Makoto being 'his bacon'-- not beacon to guide him home, no. His bacon. Makoto's sureness and her steady presence-- and her intention to stay-- all do their part in steeling him. He feels remarkably safe with her beside him, even in all this uncertainty.

Even Minako, knowing that she will go on this dangerous mission; Knowing she will be there helps in a way he can't quite explain. He worries for her too, but only insomuch as how awful he knows that experience is going to be. How taxing, even for somebody like her.

"Perhaps they do," he murmurs of observation rooms, and his mind drifts to what he may offer here until he recovers properly-- but then again, Makoto has said there will be fights later. Maybe she is right, that the best thing he can do is rest, but that is not always easy.

As Minako leaves, regardless of Makoto's sticky fingers, his hand reaches out absently to seek and hold them, if he can.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto dips her head to Minako in response, offering a grateful little smile. As silly as the blonde can be when the mood takes her, knowing that she's on top of the planning for this is a load off of Mako's mind. In this kind of thing, Minako can be counted on absolutely. "Thanks," she says; "you, too."

Just that, and she lets Venus be on her way. And when Nephrite's hand seeks hers, she quietly curls her fingers around it, linking her hand with his.