Scene #2923: Post Kaitou Kaito Kakeru Keiki

Owner	Pose
Tuxedo Mask	That-- ''that'' was a scare. That was a scare enough that Mamoru absolutely needs a lot of chocolate, and as the the small party of fighters dehenshins and trails to the closest landing pad, Mamoru texts his phenomenal wife: Mamoru TXT: hey just did a fight going to cafe 4 cake Now they're ensconced in the corner table's chairs, taking up a lot of space, and thoroughly in community with the cats of the place. Anko is sprawled either on or next to Amy, eyes half-closed and purring quietly. It's not very crowded, since the post-dinner dessert date crowd hasn't arrived and the after-clubs crowd has thinned. Mamoru has already inhaled a quarter of his giant slice of chocolate cake, and had some coffee to wash it down, and he is now rubbing his eyes. He's wearing black skinny jeans and a deep dark red silk shirt under his black leather blazer, and of course, deep dark red Fluevogs on his feet, a tasteful amount of dark eyeliner on. So quirkily stylish. He is also still wearing the cat-ear beanie. "I'm gonna write him a letter, I have his work address," the former Obsidian employee says.
Niji Dasshu	"Who, the kite guy?" Niji asks. And the rainbow-haired girl is not being intentionally obtuse. She's found an orange cat so with fur so dark it's practically to play with, and is getting it to skitter back and forth chasing a feather - the cat and the girl being so at odds, with the cat being only one simple color and Niji being all of the other ones - her jacket has a rainbow motif as do the arm warmers she's got and the scarf she's wearing, not to mention her hair. "But what was that guy up to - and why was he after your... henshin device, I'm guessing?" Niji asks. "People seemed more worried about that one than usual, too..." she adds, tapping her chin. But, with all of the sports teams she's part of, Niji has missed some of the major goings on, after all.
Amy Faust	Unfortunately Inada-san was called away or something, so there is no soda date now. But there is Anko, and Amy is cuddling her while she purrs, sitting on the floor cross-legged with Anko's back feet on her left leg and forelegs and head resting on her right arm so Amy can pet a bit of Anko's back and side and near the base of her tail with her right hand while holding the cat close, and her left hand can pet Anko from head to tail, or hold her close from the side. At the moment, she's hugging the large cat close with her ear against Anko's upper back, just listening to purring and breathing and heartbeat. It's calming and she can focus on that to stop thinking about nightmare scenarios of her soul gem (once again a ring on her left hand) being lost. There's some cheesecake ordered but she hasn't gone over to the table and touched it yet. Now is cat time. Amy ''had'' magic'd her clothing to the red sweatshirt and jersey-knit skirt that are a copy of the outfit that came with the body -- it's a bit much red, together with her hair, but it's ''also'' so very soft and comfortable -- but the sweatshirt is presently draped over one of the table's chairs while she cuddles Anko in a black T-shirt, not caring what cat hair gets on any conjured clothes. Amy realizes she's been asked a question when the henshin device is mentioned, and opens her eyes, sitting up a bit and petting Anko with her left hand. "It's a red gem that sometimes has black in it. The Ladybug Miraculous looks like red-and-black earrings, apparently -- and Hawk Moth wants the Miraculous because apparently Ladybug's ''and'' Cat Noir's together can be used to rewrite reality -- to make a Wish. I wonder why he never goes for Cat Noir's, first." When Mamoru spoke earlier, she assumed he meant Hawk Moth, but... there's no need for her to speak for him. She has a kitty to cuddle.
Usagi Tsukino	"I think it's because the Ladybug Miraculous causes more trouble for him," Usagi Tsukino says, dropping into a chair beside Mamoru after walking up behind the group, hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream in hand. "Chat Noir has the destruction powers, but Ladybug's powers let her undo everything his akumas do. That's gotta be way more frustrating than just destroying the akuma." She's been the one with that power in her hands, and seen the way it just... melted away the worst of it all. Fixed everything. "But... he went after your soul gem again?"
Hinoiri Kirara	Hinoiri Kirara sighed and gave Niji a look, before then giving Amy a look, before then just... sighing. "It's... a thing. A whole thing. A lot of... thing," Hinoiri said. "Uhhhhh... So... puellas... puellas are... their henshin devices are... special. As in, their lives. They get damaged, they kind of... die." "So we handle them with extra care. If you ever see a little guy with long ears, goes by the name of Kyubey, asking people to make a wish? Punt him, get the kid to someone else who can explain the whole situation. He asks for a wish and if your karma is... worth it? He'll grant the wish. Put your soul in one of those, you get a henshin, and... you fight witches from now on." She was, admittedly, petting a cat herself. The stress of having someone's soul gem almost stolen in front of her had... brought back some mermaid-shaped memories and feelings she did not like and since Sayaka was not here to pet, instead the kitty got affection and pettings. "So... the concept isn't so bad. The problem is Kyubey hides a lot of details about the wish from people until after they've locked into it. Like if they despair, they turn into a witch, a kind of... giant, mega-youma. Which is not actually dark energy, I checked, I ate one, do not ask, do NOT recommend, long story, bad idea. But... yeah. Very much the fairly cliche'd 'Making a deal with the wishgranter who's got nothing but his own intentions' kind of creature. Punt on sight."
Tuxedo Mask	"Nah, nope," says Mamoru, looking up from stirring his coffee, tilting his head a little at Niji. "That kite guy's boss, Hawkmoth. He's a Director at Obsidian, like Beryl was, or like, like Riventon is. He has ''a lot'' of raw power at that level. He doesn't make youma, he finds people with strong negative emotions and offers them an immediate magical outlet for their feelings and a way to get revenge or right a fundamental wrong or whatever, and they become an akuma. He promises them that they can keep their newfound power forever if only they get the Miraculous for him." Mamoru picks up his coffee and slouches down, hooking his foot behind Usagi's when she sits, and nudging his cake toward her with his free hand. "He's kind of goofy, but... every once in a while it almost works, or an akuma is actually super dangerous. I want to know what his wish would ''be''. Magical teamwork instead of theft and rewriting reality might get him what he's so desperate for, if it's something innocuous."
Amy Faust	> He went after your soul gem again? "He akumatized a... who I can gather must have been a catburgler in a midnight-blue wingsuit ''before'' the akumatization, and it seems that even when told it wasn't the Miraculous, well clearly it was special and magical and given how we all reacted, quite important." Amy sighs. "And I panicced trying to think of things to dissuade him and said I already ''used'' my wish, and Mamoru asked what his wish ''was'' in case it could be granted another way..." She nods after he speaks. "I mean... Sailor Eclipse was pretty dangerous, and when she teamed up with Casual Friday you guys actually ''got the Miraculous.'' During the fight I certainly started to wonder what would've happened to the world if you won and started trying to make a world free of paperwork..." After Hinoiri explains, Amy looks over to Dasshu and nods. "It's all true." She holds up her left hand, briefly, showing the ring with its little round gem, and then shifts the position of her fingers, suddenly holding the 'egg' form of the soul gem up by its base. Ruby red with, yes, less than a tenth of it presently corrupted by smoky blackness. "That's my soul, that's how Kyubey is able to get us magic, we're not drawing it from a god or a planet, it's ''us'', it's ''ourselves'' that we burn as fuel, and only the grief seeds we get from defeated Witches can restore them, though some magic can slow the drain. ...And I do have one with me, a little over half-used-up." "You know how they were going around shooting people's souls out of their bodies with the heartstealer rifle? And their bodies just fell into a coma until you put it back in? Ours work a little differently since it's ''already'' out." "Everyone got so worried so fast because we can only control our bodies from about a hundred meters away." Uhh, actually, ''did'' that get mentioned to everyone there? "If he'd flown back to Obsidian tower before we could catch him..." Amy hugs Anko a little more tightly, with both arms, the soul gem returning to ring form the moment her fingers stop holding it up. The image of Lulu falling to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut plays in her head again. "...Then this body would be a corpse. If the soul gem's brought back into range fast enough, we come back, but... we haven't exactly studied the specifics of this."
Niji Dasshu	"I've fought a witch. So that was... Once a magical girl?" Niji asks, a bit quiet and a bit focused on the cat. And then she sighs. "Remind me not to complain about being a 'geode girl' again, given that." she says. "...especially given the outfit that Kite guy had, too. I made out pretty well, I think." she says, in an attempt at lightening the mood. "You think if he could get whatever it is he wants, he'd work with us? Like..." she pauses, and sighs. "... I feel like the folks who work at Obsidian aren't generally the kind to take that deal. 'Cause they seem to think they can just take whatever they want, if they only have enough power." she notes. "Probably not something you -should- test, either." Niji notes, to Amy's discussion. "Feels like not the sort of thing to muck around with." she adds. "...Also, given this, remind me to also not complain too much about not getting a fairy or talking cat who can explain my powers to me."
Tuxedo Mask	Anko's quiet purring gets louder, but then Amy squeezes a little ''too'' tight and Anko merps and gently places claws against skin.
Hinoiri Kirara	Hinoiri Kirara nodded along, shuddering a bit. "Yeah. Puellas are a... it can be rough, if it hits you by surprise. But no, I can't say with Hawkmoth. I mean... I used to be part of Obsidian, so they're not all bad? But I needed to get some sense beaten into me. And generally the people who demand a 'wish granting' trinket aren't the kind of people you want with a wish granting trinket. Even as Sunbreaker I wouldn't have wanted something like that because they always have costs, and going by what Ladybug told me? The cost is pretty severe on this one." "I won't lie, though. I love my new powers, but I do sometimes wish I had a mascot of my own. Just a lil jealous. Teensy bit... Luna's awesome. Kamiko is adorable. Ula is precious. So I don't blame you, Niji," she said playfully. "The puella situation is more... if someone wants to make that wish? And knows the consequences? I have no grief. But a lot of people don't... and then it tends to go bad. And nobody deserves that. And I imagine the miraculous would be the same way, if he ever got a hold of them well... it'd likely be just as bad, just for everyone else."
Usagi Tsukino	"Just about everything is worth trying if it doesn't hurt anyone," Usagi says, "And, maybe Hawkmoth wants to bend reality because he wants to be king of the world or something stupid. But maybe he wants something, enough that he'll do all this, ''maybe'', there's a chance that whatever it is... is something we can help with. I mean, I can't... I can't judge someone for wanting something enough to change the world for it. Not until I know what it is, at least." Her hand twitches, fingers shifting to brush against the spot where the broach on her chest sits under her jacket, the broach with the Silver Crystal, which had once resurrected the dead, healed the dying, and, with the help of friends, drew souls together from beyond death to be reincarnated far, far into the future. With that kind of power - with that kind of ''hope'' in her hands... how could she judge someone who wanted a bit of it for something good? She just doesn't know if what Hawkmoth wants ''could'' be good. "But if he's getting interested in Puella, that's not good, so... maybe he'll go back to focusing on Ladybug and Chat Noir."
Amy Faust	When Amy accidentally squeezes too tight, she feels Anko's irritation and immediately loosens the hug, and quietly apologizes, "Oh, sorry." > I've fought a witch. So that was... Once a magical girl? Amy nods. > Probably not something you ''should'' test, either. "I mean. I confirmed the distance thing is true. I mean, I stopped at about ninety-six meters and I didn't want to test further. But I can go that far, I guess. Or, my ''body'' can go that far from ''me,'' I guess. The one hundred meters figure was told us by Kyubey, and I saw Lulu collapse and stop breathing when her soul gem was out of range." It's important to distinguish what is actually known, observed, and tested from what they've only been ''told'' by Kyubey, after all. "...Honestly, sometimes having a guide would be nice. Kyubey was... ''occasionally'' helpful, early on. But everyone but Tomoe-san and I mistrusted him." She turns her head and looks at Dasshu and Hinoiri. "As Hinoiri points out... it ''can'' be a good deal, and it was for us." Hinoiri waxes on a bit about Obsidian, and Amy looks pensive as she recalls the past. "In retrospect, I've been made to realize you weren't really so 'reasonable' under the effects of Dark Energy. You just... Your behavior was less offensive to me in particular than it was to the others. If that was your ideals or what's important to you showing through despite the dark energy, then that's something..." And then she smiles. "I'm so glad you're out of it and you found something that works for you, though." Usagi also gets nods of agreement and 'yeah' at the possibility that Hawkmoth could want something good or at least non-harmful and just be using desperate, terrible means to get it. "It's worth finding out, if he'll talk to us... safely, somehow."