[ To be honest, she can't deny that she's worried. Maybe she should have come to pick him up. What if they're still out there, luring for people on the streets? She paces through the hallway as she keeps thinking about it over and over --
But then there's a knock. Even if it's the killers, she doesn't care, she'll just fight them, she has to open either way to make sure whether it's him or not. When she does open it though, she lets out a sigh of relief. ]
[ Honestly, though he's trying not to think it, he's worried for her too. Seeing her reassures him and maybe that's why he does what he does. Then again, maybe it's to reassure her. Maybe it's both.
Anyway, have yourself a somewhat awkward hug, Minako. ]
[ It's only about to get more awkward, since the moment it clicks with Minako that yes, this is a hug, her arms raise to hug him in return too, clinging to him almost a little desperately. The broadcast was only a little bit ago but she's already been unable to stop thinking and acting since then. There's too many to protect and too little time to take care of all of it. And there's no way she can show Usagi or even Chibiusa how desperate she is because of all of it, so..
.. Maybe it's okay if she shows him. It is, isn't it? Just a little, just for now..
She buries her face against him. ]
Not like I can't defend myself.. [ But it's in such a soft voice and completely muffled against him that it's barely audible. ]
[ That doesn't make it more awkward at all. That actually seems to make Hong Kong relax a little so he can hold her more naturally, like someone who is actually trying to comfort another person might. He even strokes her hair a little, trying to be soothing somehow, perhaps. Again, it's probably for his benefit in some way too, because he's thinking about Japan and... no, he really can't focus on that too much now. ]
I know. [ He says this almost instinctually, but he really does believe it. He knows somehow that Minako can definitely take care of herself, but... then again, he doesn't think she should feel like she always has to. ] We'll figure this out.
[ "We'll figure this out." Somehow. Even though it seems practically impossible without any current leads, without even a specific idea of what is going on. But he says it, so it's at least a tiny bit more believable now.
She takes a deep breath. ]
.. Right.
[ Even if it's hard to believe in, she has to believe in it. It's hope, after all. Usagi might be better in unconditionally believing in that than she is, but she has to try - for everyone's sake, too.
She pulls away from him, almost relunctantly, but she grabs his hand instead, guiding him down the hallway and then up the stairs. ]
There's something I want to show you. In my room. [ Don't freak out, Honkers. ]
[ Saying it helps Hong Kong too. It's true. They'll figure it out somehow. Things have a way of working themselves out here. That's just how it is.
It'll be okay.
... he takes a deep breath too.
And then another one when she speaks again. Somehow "in my room" sounds like "in my most inner sanctum." Or something equally dramatic.
Really, he's just weird about bedrooms. It's a long story. ]
Okay, sure. [ He doesn't resist though, letting himself be led along with his hand in hers. This isn't bad, right? Not bad at all. He's feeling more relaxed now somehow. ]
[ Once they're at the door to Minako's room (she even has a name sign hanging on it, okay, that's how long she's been here) she opens it. The room beyond is.. well, very Minako-y. She's managed to found posters of very non-descript generic idols from gossip magazines that didn't really talk about much at all in this place considering how isolated it is. There's a vanity littered with make up and various post-it notes on the mirror itself. A white cat plushie lies on her unmade bed and there's clothes and other things all over the room, like a hurricane went through it.
She herself seems to ignore the mess though, instead stepping over to the window where there's a crescent moon shaped compact lying in the moonlight. Minako picks it up and closes it before looking back to him. ]
.. You can keep a secret, right? I trust you. [ Heck, if she didn't, then she wouldn't have agreed to dating him.. ]
[ Oh boy. It's the inner sanctum!! How can he even handle this? Must be strong, Honkers. Must be strong.
Once they're inside, he does his best to keep his looking around curiously from being too terribly obvious. But wow, it's not like he's in his girlfriend's room everyday!
Or ever.
Having never had one.
And never having been in the room of the one he's just recently... gotten? That's a little strange as far as wording goes.
We're not going any farther down that rabbit hole. ]
Secret? [ He turns away from her mirror, which he was covertly observing. Once he's looking right at her again, he makes a motion of zipping his lips. ] Anything you say is safe with me, Minako, I promise.
[ Hey, at least she doesn't mind the snooping. Instead she steps over to him, showing the compact as it's lying flat on the palm of her hand. ]
This is mine. Inside there's a mirror that shows your true self. [ Well, it can do more than that, but this is the point she's trying to make right now. If there's any time to tell him about her sailor soldier secret, it's now - the situation calls for it, after all.
She clicks it open, holding so it's pointed at her but that he can see too. It sure is Minako in the view on the mirror, but different - it's her in her Eternal Sailor Venus outfit, except her tiara is replaced by the glowing mark of Venus on her forehead. ]
.. And.. this is why I said I could protect myself. I can transform into a sailor soldier and use special powers. [ There's something slightly hesitant about the way she says it though - like she's waiting for his judgement, maybe even a little scared of what he'll think of her now. ]
[ Thank you for your kindness in consideration of his unbearable nosiness and inability to control it.
When he hears her first statement, he almost speaks up then. But instead, he holds his tongue, waiting for her to explain what she means. After all, "true self" isn't something that's easily quantifiable in this case. When she holds the mirror up, he inadvertently shifts in closer so he can see better what she's trying to show him.
For a moment, he's quiet. Just... observing. ] So.
You'll be safe then? [ He finally speaks, sounding a little unsure of himself. Not enough that it's really noticeable, but there's a hint of a tremor in his voice, like he's really asking a question he's not sure of the answer to or not sure he wants to hear the answer to - but only if the answer is "no." ]
[ She smiles confidently at that, at least. It's what she's been taught to, after all - as the leader, she has to be strong, she has to reassure everyone that it's going to be alright. It's her duty. ]
That's why I called you here too, you know? It's easier to protect you when you're not that far away. [ She already made sure Usagi and Chibiusa are nearly right next door too, not to mention her "family" obviously lives in the same house as her, so.. she's just trying to get the maximum scope for protecting people here. ]
I don't know who or what did this, but I'll stop them.
[ Even if she's nervous or worried or scared. She has to be brave. Strong. ]
[ She's a little hesitant at first about answering the question. It's selfish to want to keep him here, right? Surely there's a lot of people who are worried about him too and who wants to know if he's alright, and he probably wants to check up on certain people too and not just be stuck here with her of all people, dating or not..
But then he says those next words and they chase away some of her own doubts about whether she's actually able to do any of this or not. So much that she knows she really wants him to stay here. Even if it's just for now, even if it's just for a little bit-- ]
Yes! .. I mean.. [ She bites her lips, staring at her feet. ] .. if you want to. I don't want to force you or anything.
[ He tries for a little smile, bending over a little to catch her eye. ] Hey, it's cool. I'm not being forced.
As long as you won't be offended if I check my phone a lot. [ It's true there probably are people who want to get ahold of him, so it wouldn't be bad to try and keep lines of communication open. And yet...
Well, now that he's here, he really doesn't want to leave. He'd rather be here and know she's okay - to say nothing of how he feels about being here and being "safe" insomuch as they can really know whether or not they're safe at all given the victims they already know about. Speaking of which, he probably does need to acknowledge at some point that Japan's name was on that list.
Not yet.
Not now. He needs to think about something else a little while longer and if that means cracking pathetic jokes about his phone, well. So be it. ]
[ It's still a little weakly, but at least the gratitute in it is pretty genuine as she looks back at him, a tiny but wry smile on her face. Even if she still feels like she's probably just inconveniencing him, she's grateful that she doesn't have to sit here alone and do nothing but worry and worry and worry until it drives her crazy.
[ Warmer indeed. Hong Kong's cheeks just went red. ] Oh, yeah. It is.
[ He looks around for a minute, not really at anything, but more just to keep his eyes moving. ] Should we sit? [ He's not... really sure why he said that. But it felt like the thing to say. Or, more accurately, it felt like he needed to say something and while there are a few other things he wants to say, they're all sort of getting stuck in his throat.
[ It's not entirely sure if that will make Hong Kong's embarassment any better, considering the only place to sit in Minako's "what bomb exploded in your closet" kind of room only has one remotely clean spot to sit and that's the bed. But since Minako's in an odd kind of mood considering her usual attitude, she just nods, tugging on his hand to lead him over there until she sits down on the edge of it, a little quietly. ]
[ He nods mutely at first, taking a seat and hanging onto her hand. ]
This is a little weird. [ He doesn't mean being with her, he means the whole evening's events. But he doesn't immediately clarify that. ] Uh, not this. I mean.
[ Good job, Honkers. Then again, neither of them are really in their best state of mind right now - would anyone be after seeing all of that in the middle of the night? ]
Hmm.. it's not like anything that happened before. [ At least she picks up on what he means by the end there. ] Even if weird stuff happened, it was never bad like this..
[ For a moment she's quiet too, letting the awkward silence linger on, but then she squeezes his hand lightly. As she asks the question, she doesn't directly look at him. ]
Japan..? [ She's met the guy before, although she only realises that as she slowly repeats the name. Another one of the country people - of course Hong Kong would know him then, right? ]
.. Were you two close?
[ Even if they weren't, losing someone like that so suddenly, especially through murder.. ]
[ That makes sense. Japan and Hong Kong of course have history in.. well, actual history, so that's probably how it works for the country people too. She never really did ask, thinking about it.. ]
I'm sorry. You lost someone important to you, and even so I selfishly dragged you over here.. [ Even if she is his girlfriend, but Minako - despite what she acts like outwardly - is never the type to think she should come first. Ever. ]
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But then there's a knock. Even if it's the killers, she doesn't care, she'll just fight them, she has to open either way to make sure whether it's him or not. When she does open it though, she lets out a sigh of relief. ]
You really are okay..
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Anyway, have yourself a somewhat awkward hug, Minako. ]
Yeah, I'm fine. I'm glad you're okay too.
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.. Maybe it's okay if she shows him. It is, isn't it? Just a little, just for now..
She buries her face against him. ]
Not like I can't defend myself.. [ But it's in such a soft voice and completely muffled against him that it's barely audible. ]
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I know. [ He says this almost instinctually, but he really does believe it. He knows somehow that Minako can definitely take care of herself, but... then again, he doesn't think she should feel like she always has to. ] We'll figure this out.
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She takes a deep breath. ]
.. Right.
[ Even if it's hard to believe in, she has to believe in it. It's hope, after all. Usagi might be better in unconditionally believing in that than she is, but she has to try - for everyone's sake, too.
She pulls away from him, almost relunctantly, but she grabs his hand instead, guiding him down the hallway and then up the stairs. ]
There's something I want to show you. In my room. [ Don't freak out, Honkers. ]
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It'll be okay.
... he takes a deep breath too.
And then another one when she speaks again. Somehow "in my room" sounds like "in my most inner sanctum." Or something equally dramatic.
Really, he's just weird about bedrooms. It's a long story. ]
Okay, sure. [ He doesn't resist though, letting himself be led along with his hand in hers. This isn't bad, right? Not bad at all. He's feeling more relaxed now somehow. ]
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She herself seems to ignore the mess though, instead stepping over to the window where there's a crescent moon shaped compact lying in the moonlight. Minako picks it up and closes it before looking back to him. ]
.. You can keep a secret, right? I trust you. [ Heck, if she didn't, then she wouldn't have agreed to dating him.. ]
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Once they're inside, he does his best to keep his looking around curiously from being too terribly obvious. But wow, it's not like he's in his girlfriend's room everyday!
Or ever.
Having never had one.
And never having been in the room of the one he's just recently... gotten? That's a little strange as far as wording goes.
We're not going any farther down that rabbit hole. ]
Secret? [ He turns away from her mirror, which he was covertly observing. Once he's looking right at her again, he makes a motion of zipping his lips. ] Anything you say is safe with me, Minako, I promise.
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This is mine. Inside there's a mirror that shows your true self. [ Well, it can do more than that, but this is the point she's trying to make right now. If there's any time to tell him about her sailor soldier secret, it's now - the situation calls for it, after all.
She clicks it open, holding so it's pointed at her but that he can see too. It sure is Minako in the view on the mirror, but different - it's her in her Eternal Sailor Venus outfit, except her tiara is replaced by the glowing mark of Venus on her forehead. ]
.. And.. this is why I said I could protect myself. I can transform into a sailor soldier and use special powers. [ There's something slightly hesitant about the way she says it though - like she's waiting for his judgement, maybe even a little scared of what he'll think of her now. ]
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When he hears her first statement, he almost speaks up then. But instead, he holds his tongue, waiting for her to explain what she means. After all, "true self" isn't something that's easily quantifiable in this case. When she holds the mirror up, he inadvertently shifts in closer so he can see better what she's trying to show him.
For a moment, he's quiet. Just... observing. ] So.
You'll be safe then? [ He finally speaks, sounding a little unsure of himself. Not enough that it's really noticeable, but there's a hint of a tremor in his voice, like he's really asking a question he's not sure of the answer to or not sure he wants to hear the answer to - but only if the answer is "no." ]
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[ She smiles confidently at that, at least. It's what she's been taught to, after all - as the leader, she has to be strong, she has to reassure everyone that it's going to be alright. It's her duty. ]
That's why I called you here too, you know? It's easier to protect you when you're not that far away. [ She already made sure Usagi and Chibiusa are nearly right next door too, not to mention her "family" obviously lives in the same house as her, so.. she's just trying to get the maximum scope for protecting people here. ]
I don't know who or what did this, but I'll stop them.
[ Even if she's nervous or worried or scared. She has to be brave. Strong. ]
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But on a more serious note: ] I believe you will.
[ And he really does. He has faith in her. ]
I know you will.
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But then he says those next words and they chase away some of her own doubts about whether she's actually able to do any of this or not. So much that she knows she really wants him to stay here. Even if it's just for now, even if it's just for a little bit-- ]
Yes! .. I mean.. [ She bites her lips, staring at her feet. ] .. if you want to. I don't want to force you or anything.
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As long as you won't be offended if I check my phone a lot. [ It's true there probably are people who want to get ahold of him, so it wouldn't be bad to try and keep lines of communication open. And yet...
Well, now that he's here, he really doesn't want to leave. He'd rather be here and know she's okay - to say nothing of how he feels about being here and being "safe" insomuch as they can really know whether or not they're safe at all given the victims they already know about. Speaking of which, he probably does need to acknowledge at some point that Japan's name was on that list.
Not yet.
Not now. He needs to think about something else a little while longer and if that means cracking pathetic jokes about his phone, well. So be it. ]
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[ It's still a little weakly, but at least the gratitute in it is pretty genuine as she looks back at him, a tiny but wry smile on her face. Even if she still feels like she's probably just inconveniencing him, she's grateful that she doesn't have to sit here alone and do nothing but worry and worry and worry until it drives her crazy.
Slowly she grabs his hand, holding it. ]
It's a little warmer like this.
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[ He looks around for a minute, not really at anything, but more just to keep his eyes moving. ] Should we sit? [ He's not... really sure why he said that. But it felt like the thing to say. Or, more accurately, it felt like he needed to say something and while there are a few other things he wants to say, they're all sort of getting stuck in his throat.
Maybe sitting down will get them unstuck. ]
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.. There. That better?
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This is a little weird. [ He doesn't mean being with her, he means the whole evening's events. But he doesn't immediately clarify that. ] Uh, not this. I mean.
[ Awkward. ]
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Hmm.. it's not like anything that happened before. [ At least she picks up on what he means by the end there. ] Even if weird stuff happened, it was never bad like this..
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That's what I was thinking, yeah. [ ... ] You said it way better than I did.
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[ For a moment she's quiet too, letting the awkward silence linger on, but then she squeezes his hand lightly. As she asks the question, she doesn't directly look at him. ]
Do you think more people will be killed..?
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I dunno. I really hope not. [ ... ] Japan's name's on the list. I don't know what that means.
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.. Were you two close?
[ Even if they weren't, losing someone like that so suddenly, especially through murder.. ]
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Textbook history.
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[ That makes sense. Japan and Hong Kong of course have history in.. well, actual history, so that's probably how it works for the country people too. She never really did ask, thinking about it.. ]
I'm sorry. You lost someone important to you, and even so I selfishly dragged you over here.. [ Even if she is his girlfriend, but Minako - despite what she acts like outwardly - is never the type to think she should come first. Ever. ]
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