Date at Tamakyu's 1/2 Evening (Usagi/Mamoru)

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi found herself shrugging once again. "I don't know if I'll see anybody else, if I want to see anybody else, if I'm ready to see anybody else, if there's anybody else who would be sincerely interested in me and not my crown. I'm not even sure if I really have the time for it." Though, for some reason, the thought of dating brought her thoughts to Alex. Why was she thinking of him-- they had shared nothing but a dance and some conversation. Some very stimulating conversation. Pushing those thoughts aside, she remarked: "What are the procedures for dating within the world of high government, anyway? Everything is done differently there. Would I have to submit future dates for the senshi's scrutiny-- or send them to Lucan for a polygraph before I get a chance to go out? Furthermore, it would have to be someone with which the government isn't purchasing or contracting something, it couldn't be someone in the military because that would break all fraternization rules, I would have to make sure there would be no conflict of interest regulations that I'd be trespassing on-- and just about everyone that I would even have a chance to meet would run in those circles where it would be a problem. Dating casually would be just about impossible; I'd have to set apart a vetting team, as if I was picking another member of my cabinet instead of a dinner date."

She smirked at his answer. "Haven't you ever looked just for fun? Guess not." Perhaps that was more of an Usagi reason to do things than a Mamoru one-- she did plenty of things just for fun, and no reason other than that.

"Kidnapping me?" Usagi repeated back, surprised. She wasn't sure how security could get that idea. "Why, are we leaving in your car? We'd have to leave in mine, I think... Motorcade and all. I thought to tell them so they can do a quick route recon and prep the store."

Once Mamoru had ordered and Masao had slipped away, she signaled security over discreetly. There were agreed upon hand-signals, and Usagi jumped at bit as Agent Phillips immediately appeared at her elbow, seeming to come out of nowhere. He had managed to blend in so well she didn't even notice him and the rest of the team. "Hi," she smiled, once she got over his swift appearance. "We want to go to a bookstore after dessert. Any suggestions?"

Phillips just smiled. "Are you asking me about the selection, or how secure the different venues would be?"

"Both."

"Well, there are many bookstores within a 25 kilometer radius from here, but most of them are closed due to the hour. In terms of selection, Aoyama Book Store is fantastic. It's also right by the former United Nations University, so security there would be fairly easy; cordoning streets off on their campus would be a snap and cause less traffic issues; however, their exits are questionable. Then there's the Azabu National Bookstore on top of the supermarket, that's always been a favorite amongst diplomats and foreign workers, even before the rise of New Earth. I'm sure you're familiar with it." Usagi nodded her head. It was amazing, she had lived in Tokyo her whole life, but Phillips was even more familiar with it. They had to be, they had to know what was where and how secure it was, for reasons like this-- she might want to stop somewhere. It was better than having a tour guide.

"So, the Secret Service is constantly in there with our protectees, that would be easy. Selection is decent, more emphasis on foreign materials, though. Then there's Junkudo, probably one of the best selections in Tokyo-- a whole nine floors of books, but their stacks are too close together for my comfort, and I doubt you want to wait for us to scout out the whole nine floors and post people on every stairwell. Plus, its' a busy street-- serious issues getting a route to there. Kinokuniya is more open, but would have the same issues since it is so large. Then there's Tsutaya Tokyo Rippongi." He grinned as Usagi's eyes lit up. "That's so close to Azabu-Juuban, that I know you both are familiar with it. Large selection, but easy to keep track of it, it's in the Rippongi Hills shopping complex-- so they're used to diplomats coming through, already have some security set up, and would be easy to work with. Plus, we can cordon off the street quickly, and it even has a Starbucks inside."

Usagi laughed. "Yeah, let's do Tsutaya! I can see the neighborhood, browse for books, AND get a Starbucks fix! As long as that's okay with you?" she asked Mamoru. He hadn't specified a preference before, but she thought it would be polite to make sure.

"Very well, I'll get started on prep, then. But in a bookstore like that, there's bound to be some political types who will get antsy when you show up, so we'll be sticking close, and make sure someone is with you in the stacks at all times, it's easy to get bottle-necked between them, and they cut down on visibility considerably. It'd be too simple for some 'peace' protester to accost you in one."

She nodded. "Got it. How is it outside?" Usagi was almost afraid to ask.

"Once word got out that you were both here, we had to clear the street here as well. Paparazzi, protesters, lots of people outside now."

Usagi sighed, she should have figured, and gave Mamoru an apologetic look. Phillips disappeared to attend to things.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru nodded once, understanding but not really knowing what to say. In reality, he didn’t want her to date someone else, but at the same time he was sincerely sorry that she was feeling so uncertain. He leaned back in his chair and gave her a sincere sympathetic smile before saying, “I don’t have the answers to all of that Usa. It’ll be tough, but I’m sure there are rules for this sort of thing. Problem is we don’t really know those procedures, none of us do. I’m sure there are people you could ask though, what about Hikari or Lucan himself. Casual dating might be just about impossible, but I’m sure there are ways to get around it. There has to be doesn’t there? The previous royal families of the world, they dated didn’t they? It’s not like they were born into marriages.”

He shrugged and replied, “I have fun reading the books I pick out, but I usually know what I’m going in to buy so I don’t look. Saves time that way ...”

Mamoru grinned and murmured, “I didn’t mean literally Usa. I knew they wouldn’t really think I was kidnaping you and I’m fine with taking your car. Mine isn’t near as secure as yours.”

Although he was startled at Agent Phillips appearance, Mamoru managed not to jump. He stayed quiet as Usagi conversed with the man, interested to see how well he knew the city. He knew a lot of the bookstores that Phillips spoke of, but the information the man knew was extensive. He was impressed, even though a good portion of that was because of what Phillips did for a living.

Mamoru smiled at Usagi’s enthusiasm for going back to the old neighborhood. He nodded in agreement and said, “That’s fine with me. Tsutaya is a great bookstore and I’m always up for a Starbucks fix.”

He grimaced just a bit when Agent Phillips mentioned the paparazzi and the other people. When he had invited Usagi out here he had forgotten that the paparazzi would follow her. He wasn’t terribly keen on them at the moment but when he saw Usagi’s apologetic look he gave her a comforting smile and said, “It’s not your fault Usa. Don’t worry about it. Dealing with the paparazzi, protesters, and even all the other people aren’t going to ruin this evening for me.”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi nodded thoughtfully in response. "That's true, I could ask them... Hikari has been handling these so-called 'proposals' coming in, and I know Lucan was on the Royal Protection Squad in the UK when Princes William and Harry were dating, so he probably could tell me about some of the procedures. To my (admittedly limited) knowledge, most of the marriages for royals, at least in modern times, were to nobility or their glitterati equivalents. I don't know, though, I might ask for curiosity's sake, but I don't have any definite plans. If it's too inconvenient I probably won't even bother about it."

She snickered a bit at his response. "You like Starbucks too? You probably buy real coffee there, I'm addicted to the stuff that has espresso in it but like fifty different flavors and half of it is steamed milk, with whipped cream." She had gotten addicted to it after having to buy coffee there as an intern several times a day.

Usagi smiled with relief. "Good, it won't for me, either." It was just a terrible inconvenience for everyone, she knew. When they had gone to the 30th Century Crystal Tokyo, King Endymion had told them that Neo Queen Serenity never left the Palace, and perhaps this was why-- but she had hated the idea then, and even with the inconvenience she would refuse to stay there. She had to be a part of the world in order to rule it, to know how to live in it. "Even with all of that, you have no idea how happy I am to be out of the Palace right now. It may be a city unto itself, but I was getting major cabin fever."

Their dessert was brought out, along with the check. Usagi thanked Masao and happily dug in. It was wonderfully tasty, and she had to keep herself from making noises of satisfaction as she ate. Dessert was always her favorite part of a meal.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru nodded and tried hard to look interested in the current topic, honestly though he was liking it less and less. Especially when his mind began conjuring up images of her and that blonde he had seen her with at the party a few days earlier. He wanted to be strong and willingly allow Usagi the chance to date if she really wanted to, not that she needed his permission they were after all split up now.

Dating would allow her the experience she seemed to feel she needed. It would allow her the chance to realize, hopefully, that she did love him. However, the longer they continued talking about it the more his stomach was twisting with jealousy. He couldn’t help wishing that she would find it all too inconvenient, of course that just made him feel guilty. He had said that he wouldn’t stand in the way of her happiness.

“Of course I like Starbucks, I lived on coffee through med school you know.” He grinned at her and teased, “Yeah I buy the real coffee, that flavored stuff you drink can’t be considered the real thing. You should try a real coffee, it keeps you awake better.”

Mamoru nodded before saying, “You should take more trips out Usa. You’ll get too stressed out if you stay stuck inside all the time. You aren’t the kind of person that does well stuck in four walls all day long.” He smirked just a little as he added teasingly, “just make certain to not go out on your own again. I’m not going to be there to help you keep Lucan from resigning the next time.”

He watched Usagi enjoy her desert for a few moments. Watching her face light up with delight in so small a thing as a desert was more satisfying for him then the actual desert would be. He looked away, for fear of embarrassing himself by being caught staring. Mamoru dug into his own treat, finding it to be as delicious as the rest of his meal had been.

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"Yes, I know," Usagi smirked in response. "I don't like the taste of 'real coffee' though God knows I've drank it to stay up late. Though usually I'll take a Red Bull or some other kind of energy drink... Hikari keeps trying to wean me off, though, she's so cute. She says if I can't stay awake without the help of caffeine, that I should be in bed, and I have to agree with her, since I do love sleep and all. But coffee is indispensible when I'm woken up to deal with something at 3 am."

She smiled at his advice. "Sometimes I take work outside, at least when it's been warm. Hard to do it in January. I want to get out more, I've been thinking about taking a vacation-- or even just going on more international trips for policy reasons, there's plenty of royal engagements to give me an excuse to head out."

Usagi just shook her head and laughed at Mamoru's remark about Lucan. "Yeah, I learned my lesson. If he pulls that again I'll have to get one of the senshi to help me."

Finishing her dessert, Usagi pushed away the empty dish, sighing with satisfaction. "Ready with you are," she said, leaning back and just basking in the after-food feeling of relaxation.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru grinned and said, “I’d have to agree with Hikari as well. If you can’t stay awake without the help of caffeine you need to be in bed. Those long hours aren’t good for you ...” Of course he himself had kept long hours both during medical school and doing the odd thing that he had been able to do for Usagi when he had lived in the palace. “I know it can’t be helped sometimes though.”

He glanced at her with interest when she mentioned a vacation. “A vacation might be an interesting diversion to all the work you do. It would definitely give you a chance to get out, maybe even a chance to be as ordinary a person as you're capable of being nowdays. You certainly deserve it, where would you go?”

Mamoru finished his desert and pushed his own dish away. He leaned back in his chair once more and said, “I’m ready to go. Would your security people have had enough time to do all they need to do?”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"Romania," Usagi blurted out to his response about a vacation, and thus blushed. Of course, she was only thinking about it because of that conversation with Alex, but wasn't about to tell Mamoru that she wanted to hang out with a really hot diplomat in eastern Europe. She couldn't deny that she had been attracted to him, but would rather not say. "....or somewhere in the Caribbean. It's just been a... flight of fancy, I haven't given serious thought to going anywhere."

Usagi stood up, making sure to grab her purse. She didn't carry a purse too often, and so was afraid that she'd leave it behind. "I don't know, I'm sure they'll let me know if we need more time." With that, she made her way to the front, collecting her wrap and flowers from the restaurant staff.