|
|
Post by Mizuno Ami on Mar 2, 2009 1:44:32 GMT -5
"This is not your fault, Usagi. You've nothing to apologize for." Ami smiled warmly to her, gently touching her hand. The idea of suitors was one that caused her to shudder slightly, but that was not Usagi's fault. "You made the decision that you needed to make, the right decision for yourself. That there are people in the world who are benighted enough to believe that a pretty face and a title is going to impress us and win them power, is not your responsibility."
She sighed, "And quite frankly, it probably was only a matter of time before decided that they could use us to get closer to you." Ami clenched her jaw briefly, not wanting to hear Zoisite's barely stated comment from the other night.
Marriage for anything short of love was not a concept that Ami understood, but that did not lessen her irritation at these people. Usagi was hurting and did not need this right now. "If you need any of us to provide you an excuse to dodge them, you know we'll be glad to. Perhaps we should come up with some kind of signal for tonight. Something you could do to let one of us know to come 'rescue' you from a suitor."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hino Rei on Mar 2, 2009 5:15:00 GMT -5
Rei seconded Ami's suggestion with a nod. The idea of someone using one of the senshi to get close to the queen was almost laughable, for a moment--then Rei remembered how Mina had been acting lately, and the current dangers that they faced and she flushed. Maybe it wasn't so funny, or improbable. Shaking herself, the Senshi snapped out of it enough to flash a smile at her friend, "Ami's right, don't apologize, Usagi. ... if worst comes to worst, I can always get out the pitchfork the staff swears I have and chase the reporters off the lawn with it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo Queen Serenity on Mar 2, 2009 5:32:19 GMT -5
Usagi was relieved that they weren't upset with her for considering this possibility sooner. She returned Ami's warm smile. "I'm sure it'll all die down after a few weeks." It had to, didn't it? Stories could seem so large at first, but then days later were entirely forgotten.
At Ami's mention of the senshi being used to get to her, Usagi found herself blushing. It was a deep flush that spread from her cheeks down her neck, making her ears burn. It was obviously not the first time the topic had been brought up to her, but it was the first time with the senshi and she hated even thinking about it like that. "I trust you all," she murmured, unable to meet their eyes anymore. "You know I do." And she did. Trusting the shadowy others that might attempt such deeds was a different thing entirely.
"A signal sounds good, though it might be me sending someone to pull them away from you, who knows..." Usagi remarked, eager to get away from the other line of conversation. She was in no hurry to discuss why she was so flustered by the topic, and managed a giggle at the highly amusing mental picture of Rei with a torch and a pitchfork, single-handedly chasing the press away from the Palace. "I think my press secretary would come after you with his own pitchfork if you did that," Usagi laughed. Nothing could arouse the ire of the media faster than being told to shove off. Usagi could see the resulting headlines now-- 'Queen's Totalitarian Regime' 'Senshi Collaborate in Persecution of Reporters'... "I will come to you if I need courage, though," she smiled. Usagi was often too accommodating for her own good.
"So what should the signal be? It has to be subtle... Taking two sips in quick succession of a drink?" That was not usual or too unusual, but perhaps a little too subtle.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kino Makoto on Mar 2, 2009 11:43:09 GMT -5
Fortunately for Makoto, Sheila’s issue was only a small one and easily remedied. A few of the labels had been mismatched with the place settings. While she worked on correcting the problem, and trying to calm down a very stressed assistant, she happened to notice that Usagi had joined Rei and Ami.
She turned back to her work when she heard a voice above all the hustle. “Another proposal!” Makoto looked up and saw Hikari waving around some sort of wireless device. She crooked an eyebrow and mumbled to herself, “I’m not sure if I want to know what that was about,” then moved back over to Sheila. “Ok, I think this is all set now. Can you handle it from here?” The other woman nodded and smiled as Makoto handed the notebook over with the corrected information. “Alright. Good luck. I’ll be right over there for now, and then heading back to the kitchen. Let me know if you need help, OK?” Again, Sheila nodded and Makoto left her to her work.
Weaving in and out of the ladders and scaffolding and people, she made her way over to the other ladies. Makoto smiled to Ami and Rei again, and gave Usagi a quick side-hug squeeze. “Good morning Usagi! Things seem to be coming along nicely down here, don’t you think?” Turning back to Rei, she continued. “Sorry about the quick exit. Had to fix a small mix-up but it’s all set now. I’ve got a little bit of free time before I’ve got to be back in the kitchens. What have I missed, and what can I do to help out?”
|
|
|
|
Post by Mizuno Ami on Mar 2, 2009 11:53:34 GMT -5
Ami blinked and looked over to Rei, clearly confused. "I don't think any of us thought otherwise, Usa-chan." Well, there had been some misunderstanding between them regarding their involvement in Crystal Tokyo, but Ami was pretty sure that that had all be worked out. She did not understand why Usagi was blushing, "Besides, I think all of us are too smart to allow ourselves to be used like that."
She grinned as Makoto rejoined them. "Usagi was telling us about the vultures," for Ami that was rather harsh language, "who have begun circling since the engagement was called off. And we were discussing using a signal if she needs us to rescue her from any over enthusiastic suitors."
Ami tilted her head, "I don't know, it may be just too subtle. Perhaps you could play with your hair or something Are you planning on wearing the odangos?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Hino Rei on Mar 2, 2009 15:52:58 GMT -5
Rei leaned back against the table and tapped her chin thoughtfully. She nodded to Makoto when the other woman rejoined them. "Hm, I agree the sipping might be a little too subtle. But an errant hair twirl might be too obvious, if you have to use it more than once or twice." There was a pause before Rei smiled, "Maybe you could tap the side of your glass? One finger for 'alert', two for 'get me out of here' and three for 'urgent?' It might be too subtle as well..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo Queen Serenity on Mar 2, 2009 16:56:57 GMT -5
Usagi grinned, turning to hug Makoto back. "Morning, Mako-chan! Things here are amazing," she replied, glancing upwards. "I can't wait to see it when it's all finished tonight, with the lighting going..."
She just nodded mutely to Ami's comment, not bothering to go into it. She just hated the very thought of people using her friends like that; and refused to entertain the thoughts further. Besides, it would just fluster everyone if they talked about it at length.
However, Ami's acrid description of the would-be suitors surprised Usagi. That was rather direct coming from her Ami-chan! She melted a bit, once again touched by the support of her friends. "Hmm... Well, I am wearing my hair in odangos..." Maybe she should consider taking them down for one of these events; people might not recognize her then and she could get away with more. "But, I'm playing with my hair pretty often..." It was just the physics of floor-length hair, making sure she wasn't going to step on it, or someone else was going to step on it, or it wasn't going to get shut in a door or snagged on something-- she barely noticed when she was swinging a pigtail around anymore. A few times Usagi had been far too klutzy and whacked a Secret Service agent or two with a pigtail when she made a fast turn or twirl (if she was in a particularlly good mood). There was now an inside joke about her dangerous 'copter hair.'
Usagi's face lit up as she listened to Rei's idea. "Oooooh, Rei-chan! That's so clever!" she said in awe. "I love it! Super Secret Senshi Spy Signals," Usagi giggled, striking a Charlie's Angels pose. "This could actually be... fun." At least, if they made it into a game...
|
|
|
|
Post by Kino Makoto on Mar 2, 2009 18:38:45 GMT -5
“Vultures?” Makoto quirked an eyebrow. That was rather interesting, coming from Ami. Then again, things were different now. Desperate times call for desperate terms? Something like that anyways…
Rather than offer any of her own suggestions, which basically would have involved brute force should any male approach Usagi at all, she only listened as Ami and Rei shared their own ideas. Rei’s idea was quite clever, actually. Not to mention, much less direct than anything Makoto would have come up with. She nodded along with Usagi’s agreement to the idea, then laughed at the comment about 'Senshi Spy Signals.'
“I agree and I think think that’s a fantastic idea, Rei. Though we’ll all need to keep an eye on each other as well or at least try to stay nearby so we don’t all come running to Usagi at a one-finger signal.” Makoto laughed to herself at the mental image that appeared. Four Senshi darting across the ballroom before tackling some poor soul who only wanted a moment of the Queen’s time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mizuno Ami on Mar 2, 2009 20:35:42 GMT -5
Ami blushed slightly as Makoto called her on her choice of wording. "Well, it seemed like an apt metaphor given their behavior and the immediacy of it." She shrugged a bit, grinning.
"I like that idea. Though, Mako-chan is right. Whoever is closest should respond - unless she happens to miss the signal, at least to a one finger." She grinned, "I'd say that if you feel the need for a three-finger, we should all respond without hesitation." She looked to Makoto and Rei, grinning, somehow being on Senshi business - more than just as representatives of new government - made the evening's ball seem less terrifying.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hino Rei on Mar 3, 2009 16:50:54 GMT -5
"Actually, I thought it fairly apt, ami-chan," Rei smiled at her friend. Vultures indeed! She actually twisted herself to be back-to-back with Usagi for a moment, striking an answering pose with a laugh. Despite the situation, this was probably the best mood she'd been in all week. It was really good to get back to the old, slightly-zany Senshi business they'd dealt with in the early days of their "career."
And then her gut had to go and ruin it by twisting upon itself. Rei winced at the sudden onslaught of PMS and then let herself have a mental sigh. Of course her body would choose the night of a really big, important event to start. Yet a wave of elation greeted her after that and she let her irritation slide.
In fact, it slid so much that she didn't scream in irritation when a loud "RIP" resounded about the room and half the length of one of the drapes fell into a pool at the floor, the same servant she'd been yelling at before covered in its flimsy material. "Just TELL ME we have a replacement," she sighed to no one at all and opened a book to check.
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo Queen Serenity on Mar 4, 2009 15:40:18 GMT -5
"Sounds good to me," Usagi remarked. "And-- someone will be angry with me if I don't say this--" she said hesitantly, glancing warily behind her at her political advisor, "--but we'll need to be subtle in getting them to back off, too. People at these things will seize any chance to get offended and bleat loudly about it to whoever will listen." She paraphrased advice given to her, shrugging at the labyrinthine social interactions that had eclipsed her life. She could be herself with the senshi; and they had her back at the ball and everywhere else.
Usagi giggled at Rei's match of her pose, relishing the moment to just goof off. Her smile slipped, however, at the sound of Rei's wince, her brow knitted in confusion. "Rei-chan?" Usagi cast an inquisitive glance in Ami's direction, silently asking her to investigate, for Ami was actually a doctor and had far better diagnostic powers when it came to winces and other sounds of pain or ill health than Usagi did. All she knew was that that didn't good, but would rather leave the wrangling out of why to someone else.
She let out a sigh as the drapery fell, her heart going out to the poor servant. "Poor thing, he's terrified..." Usagi could relate; her clumsiness had caused many a decorating fiasco during school festivals and events; she also had plenty of experience getting yelled at for her ineptness. "Why don't you... find something else to do?" Usagi called out to him, all sympathy and smiles. "You know, I think Gustaph could use a second opinion on the main centerpiece..." He didn't, actually, need a second opinion, but it wouldn't hurt anyone to have the poor boy stand there and stammer one out. It would probably be less stressful for everyone, as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kino Makoto on Mar 4, 2009 21:37:54 GMT -5
Ami and Rei were right. The ‘gentlemen’ who were now swarming the palace, vying for the Queen’s attention… they could certainly be likened to vultures. Makoto supposed that she’d been so busy in her work lately that she hadn’t noticed just how bad it really was.
She let out a hearty laugh as Rei and Usagi posed ala Charlie’s Angels. It had been quite a while since they’d all planned anything like this, and it was nice to get back to ‘normal.’ Makoto hadn’t had a chance to register the slight wince from Rei when the sound of fabric ripping echoed through the hall.
She lightly grimaced at the poor soul who was now surrounded by a sea of fabric. Usagi’s suggestion was a good one. Perhaps he would be better suited helping out somewhere else for the time being.
Makoto turned back to Rei. “Any luck finding a replacement?”
|
|
|
|
Post by Mizuno Ami on Mar 5, 2009 16:02:52 GMT -5
Actually, Ami only knew of the problem because Usagi had told them about it. However, the fact that she'd only found it through Usa did not change her assessment of them.
Ami raised an eyebrow at Rei's wince. She made a mental note of it and decided to keep a close eye on Rei to make sure that whatever had caused it was nothing to worry about. However, she caught the silent order from Usagi. She nodded ever so slightly, letting the others deal with the unfortunate klutz.
"Rei-chan, is everything all right?" Normally, she would have just kept an eye on her. She had learned her friends; she generally had an idea of which pain responses meant that something was seriously wrong and which ones to just do subtle follow-up. However, Usagi had taken that option away from her. "What hurts?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Hino Rei on Apr 1, 2009 22:03:31 GMT -5
Rei 'allowed' the Queen to do what she would with the servant--honestly it was a good idea and Rei wasn't in a mind to argue for a punishment for ruining the drape. Instead she filed out the replacement, wrote its location down on a scrap of paper and sent a much more reliable girl to find the damned thing. She smiled up at Makoto's question and nodded, ignoring another twist of pain from her stomach.
"Yes, I'm fine." But that wouldn't get her anywhere with Ami, she thought, though she blushed and glanced at the males in Usagi's entourage. They were talking amongst themselves so she just pointedly touched her stomach, shrugged, and went back to the books. "I think everything is pretty much complete, so long as there aren't any more drapery travesties."
|
|
