Random Run-In (Minako/Reika 1/7 afternoon)

[Aino Minako]

Minako lifted the dress from the rack in the middle of 'Kinji's Famous Fashions' and added it to the growing stack she wanted to try on. The week had been extremely stressful, and her automatic response was to go shopping for clothing, alone. She'd even left Artemis behind this time around. All she wanted was to see herself looking stunning in the mirror without thoughts of the senshi or the government or the movie or her recording studio.

Clothing in hand, she headed into the dressing room to try on different outfits. She started with a pale yellow dress, stripping off her own clothing first and then stepping into the dress. Once zipped, she headed out to the full length mirror to admire the way the silky fabric fell perfect over her hips.

She began to wonder if Khalid would like the way dress looked on her. Her cheeks flared pink again, and she cursed herself for always blushing whenever she thought of him. She couldn't understand still why he made her feel so flustered - she knew exactly who he was and what their past had been. Or at least, she had an inkling of such things.... She twirled around, letting the dress sway and then she smoothed it out down her legs. She was definitely getting this one.. especially if Khalid would ask her out on a date.

Pleased, she turned around ready to head back into her stall to try on the next dress.

[Furuhata Reika]

Life had been difficult recently. Reika didn't realize how trivial her normal day to day problems where, until she had to face this interpersonal strife. Now she longed for the days when the biggest worry she had was the integrity of a dig or the where the funding for the foundation was going to come from.

Instead, she thought ceaselessly about the Motoki Situation. She didn't even know what to call it. She still hadn't decided what she was going to do about all this. In fact, this was the reason she was even here, looking for another suit. She hadn't completely decided to quit her job just yet, but it might be necessary, unless the Foundation accepted her proposal to stay in Tokyo for the next year. But she was certainly looking at other positions around Tokyo, and even had a tentative interview scheduled. She just needed something impressive to wear. No matter what happened with her husband, he was going to need to help, and she had to stick around.... whether he realized it or not.

She pushed the garments along the rack, finally finding a gray suit. It wasn't the best color on her, but the workmanship was decent for the price. She added that to a dress and skirt she had picked out, and headed over to the fitting rooms. There were two girls at the desk, one looking bored and blowing bubbles with her gum, and another just handed her a tag for her items and sent her on her way. When she entered, there was a bored-looking man slumped in the chair. He was wearing a wedding ring, she she assumed he was simply a husband that had been roped into shopping and waiting on his wife to try things on. There was a lovely blonde-haired woman standing near the mirror. The moment Reika caught sight of the red bow, she knew who it was.

"Minako!" she exclaimed, and then flushed slightly. Reika was surprised to see her here. She thought-- well, she thought the senshi wouldn't be buying ready-made clothes out of a shop like this, anymore.

[Aino Minako]

Minako whirled around at the voice. "Reika!" she exclaimed. She hadn't seen the woman in years, but there was all the same, looking hardly any older than she had back when Minako was in school. She moved across the room, her dress still swishing around her hips and easily embraced Reika like she would an old friend. Nevermind that the senshi had always been closer to Motoki. Nevermind that she'd hardly spoken to Reika when she was younger, much less in the last five or six years. Nevermind that she had probably never embraced Reika during the whole of her life.

Minako was simply happy to see another smiling face.

"What brings you here?" Minako asked, looking at the clothing Reika was holding. "A suit? For work?" Minako was thankful she didn't have to don such boring wear for her own job. "You should try on some of these dresses. Perhaps for a date with Motoki?" She stepped back and showed off the yellow she was sporting. "Isn't this absolutely fabulous? You can find some of the best dresses in the stores along this strip. Far more fun to shop here than some of those snooty places down town."

[Furuhata Reika]

Reika's eyes widened in surprise, and she awkwardly returned Minako's hug. They were acquainted, but she never had been close enough for this. In fact, for a moment there she had wondered if she'd be reprimanded for using the woman's first name.

She smiled, however, at the hint of distaste in the other woman's voice as she looked at the suit-- or so it sounded to her. "An interview," Reika answered succinctly, as always, a little taken aback by Minako's vivaciousness.

"It's a very lovely dress," she approved. "Goes great with your skin tone. A dark flicker ran over her face at the mention of her husband, but she attempted to side step the question. "Definitely some interesting stuff on the racks. You going out on a date yourself, then?"

Reika gave a small smile as Minako went on about these shops being better than the others. "I wouldn't know," she murmured. She and Motoki got along well, but not so well that she'd blow money there. As much as she liked fine things, she usually wasn't home enough to justify the expense. And besides, designer clothes didn't hold up so well in the Africa Serengeti.

[Aino Minako]

Minako pulled out a long green gown that she'd planned on trying on next. Reika wasn't that different from her in size and she held it out for the woman. "Here, try it on. If it looks good on you, I'll buy it for you." Minako was probably overreaching, but she didn't care. Any friendly face who wasn't friendly only because she was a senshi or a celebrity or an idol or the queen's friend was enough for her.

Minako twirled again, "Well," she started off, "I don't have anything specific... but there is someone I hope might ask. He seemed interested enough New Years Eve." Minako blushed. Khalid had been clear enough with his intentions and yet she felt the need to be careful about assuming anything. "But really enough of me. What about you? I'm sorry you missed Usagi's party. Motoki came in with Mamoru instead. Where were you?"

Because Mamoru wasn't with Usagi.... then...

[Furuhata Reika]

Reika hesitated, and then took the dress, glancing uneasily at the other woman. She appreciated it, but they had never been close. It seemed a bit bizarre all of the sudden.

"No offense, Minako, but why are you being so nice to me? I mean, not that I don't enjoy it, but we're only acquaintances after all. Or do you do this with everyone?" she smiled. Reika was more than happy to accept the other woman's kindness, she just wanted to know if there was something Minako wanted from her, or if she was forgetting something.

She laughed a bit at Minako's blush and description. "You're a celebrated idol now, Minako, don't men come crawling to the Goddess of Love? I'm sure he'll ask you out, he'd be an idiot not to at least try."

She held her smile at the question about the party, despite the pain the words invoked. "I only missed half of it, actually. I am in late, my flight back was delayed. I found Motoki easily enough, though."

[Aino Minako]

Minako stopped moving for a moment to look at Reika. "I suppose it's just nice to talk to someone who knew me before I was an idol. You aren't speaking to me because you care about my songs and my status. You're speaking to me because you knew who I was before." Minako shrugged, "So no, not with everyone. When you're an idol you never know why people are really trying to be your friend you know?"

She laughed at Reika's next words. "Sure, I get fifty wedding proposals a day. But it's the same as with friends. They don't really know me. They don't really care what I like to do or how I take my coffee. They just want to say they love the Idol Minako. And that's not what I want."

Minako headed back into the dressing room to remove the yellow and try on a blue. From behind the stall she continued to talk. "I wish I'd have seen you, but Usagi needed help and I suppose the night just went by so fast. I'm glad you were able to see Motoki though! I spoke to him early in the night and I could tell he really missed you."

[Furuhata Reika]

"I suppose that makes sense," Reika agreed, though she was beginning to think that being an idol must be a lonely life-- to only have to rely on people one knew before instead of being able to make true friends once one was famous.

She nodded. "I guess that would make sense as well. Though do you ever worry about someone playing hard to get just to make you pursue them?" She supposed the smarter admirers could do such a thing, but she wouldn't know.

Reika closed the door on her own stall and changed. The green dress went much better with her red hair, and brought out the pale tones in her skin. It was a pretty good fit, though she'd need to tailor the hem slightly. She had no idea where she'd wear it, though, despite Minako's remark about a date. Somehow she didn't see a date in her near future.

"It was a pleasant surprise for both of us. So who is this guy who was so interested on New Year's?" she asked, wanting to steer the conversation away from her husband.

[Aino Minako]

Minako stepped back out of her dressing room, and stood in front of the mirror admiring the next dress she’d put on. It wasn’t as flattering as the first, and the cut of the neckline did not look right on her body type. She turned around to view the back of the dress and shook her head. The material looked frumpy on her, which was a disappointment considering how well the cut had appeared on the hanger.

“I worry sometimes… ok a lot, but not about having to pursue them. I worry about their intentions when they pursue me. It’s easily to not get involved with people on a deeper level. My relationship with fans and worshipers is high superficial. It’s safer that way too, especially considering that I’m not just an idol, but also a senshi.” And there was danger surrounding both roles. “But the man I met on New Year’s Eve? His name is Khalid. He’s here from the middle east to work with Usagi on energy contracts and such.” And I know him from my past as well… kinda.