[ 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. ]
[ He shakes his head quickly. ] Hey, it's fine. I don't think there's anything I can do for him now, y'know? I mean, that's the impression I get.
[ He doesn't want her worrying over that, of all things. It's not that he's not concerned, but probably not for the reasons she would suspect and he feels like it would sound a little cold if he tried to explain that to her now. ]
Still-- [ She immediately starts to protest, but then she immediately closes her mouth again a little awkwardly, almost looking like she's sulking just a little bit over not knowing how to say this. ]
.. You must be sad, right? Losing someone you care about hurts, everyone knows that.
I am sad. I guess. I don't usually have a lotta time to think about this kinda stuff, y'know? We don't- [ He gestures a little, like he's struggling for words. ] This isn't how we die.
[ But she knows his point. They're country-people, and she doubts those are murdered really often. Then again, this place does take away powers, so maybe it makes even them into normal people..
She finally dares to look him in the eyes again. ] It's alright though. He'll come back. Even if there's something weird going on, he'll come back for sure.
... Then, slowly but surely, her head moves sideways until it's resting right on his shoulder. She's been stressed and tired ever since she saw the broadcast, but maybe she can rest - just slightly like this, just for a little bit. Just for a few moments, just here with him now she's told him that she's weak and worried already either way... would that be alright? ]
[ It would be perfectly all right. He relaxes a little to let her settle there comfortably, remaining quiet as well. He doesn't mind staying like this. Normally the quiet might make him feel like he needed to speak or it might provoke him to ruminating about his thoughts, but right now? It does neither and instead he finds he's comfortable staying like this. It's nice. ]
[ It's pretty nice, lying here like this. It actually feels a little safe despite the situation, and even though there's a voice in her head yelling at her to get up and help all the people out there she needs to help, she's too tired to listen to it for once.
And so she gives in to rest. A few moments later her breathing has gotten slower and calmer, and it's pretty obvious she's just fallen asleep against him like this. Let's hope none of the housemates walk in on this, Hong Kong. That'd sure be awkward. ]
[ Hong Kong can handle awkward. He's always in embarrassing situations and rarely seems to care. He wouldn't want her to have to explain anything though, so it'd be best if this private moment stayed that way. As for her falling asleep on him, well. That's all well and good too. Hopefully he can stay awake....
If not, this could actually get pretty awkward indeed. ]
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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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[ He doesn't want her worrying over that, of all things. It's not that he's not concerned, but probably not for the reasons she would suspect and he feels like it would sound a little cold if he tried to explain that to her now. ]
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.. You must be sad, right? Losing someone you care about hurts, everyone knows that.
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[ But she knows his point. They're country-people, and she doubts those are murdered really often. Then again, this place does take away powers, so maybe it makes even them into normal people..
She finally dares to look him in the eyes again. ] It's alright though. He'll come back. Even if there's something weird going on, he'll come back for sure.
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He nods slowly after she speaks, like he's still ingesting what she's said. ]
Right. He'll totally be back. Everyone will. You're right, Minako.
For sure.
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... Then, slowly but surely, her head moves sideways until it's resting right on his shoulder. She's been stressed and tired ever since she saw the broadcast, but maybe she can rest - just slightly like this, just for a little bit. Just for a few moments, just here with him now she's told him that she's weak and worried already either way... would that be alright? ]
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And so she gives in to rest. A few moments later her breathing has gotten slower and calmer, and it's pretty obvious she's just fallen asleep against him like this. Let's hope none of the housemates walk in on this, Hong Kong. That'd sure be awkward. ]
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If not, this could actually get pretty awkward indeed. ]