1/2PM Conversation in the Car (Usagi/Mamoru)

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru glanced up at the announcement and smiled, though it was only a slight one. “Great timing I guess.” He followed her to the door, frowning at the sight of the paparazzi. He sighed in irritation before stiffening his resolve and heading outside. Once again he forced himself not to react to anything they said, keeping his eyes on the car he was heading for.

He glanced curiously at Usagi when she mentioned she didn’t want to go back to the palace, wondering why she didn’t want to go home. Mamoru was more then happy to spend more time with her so he shrugged and gave her a wry grin before saying, “Just because we are in the car talking, doesn’t mean we have to go back to the Palace. For one thing, you’d have to take me back to the restaurant because we left my car there ... for another, there is any number of other places we could visit. There are other places that are still open for business at ten at night.”

Mamoru slid into the car before adding, “There are lounges, nightclubs, bars, even karaoke ... or we could just drive around a bit and see the sights. Whatever would make you happy is fine with me, that is if you really aren’t ready to go home.”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi did her best to tune out the paparazzi, though that was impossible-- the flashing of the cameras and the yelling was louder and brighter than her own thoughts. Still, she was quickly put in the car by her security team, only spending seconds outdoors. She was glad to hear the shutting of the car door, and settled back into her seat.

She gazed at Mamoru in surprise at his suggestion, but slowly, a smile crept over her face. "You would really go with me to a nightclub?" Usagi asked, her eyes glinted challengingly. "Seiya took me dancing once, it was really fun." She gave him an innocent smile. Forget their serious conversation-- Usagi could get back to that any time. She really wanted to know if he would go with her.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru hadn’t really expected Usagi to take him up on his offer and did she have to choose the nightclub? He hadn’t been to a nightclub in a very long time and he wasn’t certain he really wanted to go now. It was beginning to get late, not that he really wanted to let her go. He was having fun spending time with Usagi, but a nightclub? Wouldn’t that cause a lot of trouble for her security team to take care of?

He wasn’t really in to that kind of scene. Nightclubs were busy, loud, and crowded. If she really didn’t mind spending time with him, couldn’t they choose one of the quieter places? He was just about to suggest that when he noticed her eyes glinting at him challengingly and then she brought up Seiya.

The moment she mentioned Seiya his decision was made. He would certainly not hesitate to do something that his long ago rival had done. If Usagi wanted to go to the nightclub then he would take her there. Besides it would be fun.

He briefly wondered about the conversation they had been having. It had been a serious one and he had thought that she would want to continue it. Still who was he to complain, the subject had been making him uncomfortable anyway.

Mamoru immediately smiled and nodded. “I believe nightclubs count as anywhere. It’ll be fun, let’s go ...”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi's innocent smile slowly turned wicked as Mamoru at first seemed like he was about to say no, then immediately after she mentioned Seiya, he smiled and agreed. Damn straight it counts as anywhere...

"Perfect," she beamed cheerily. "Where should we go?"

The two agents in the car were starting to look extremely apprehensive at the way this conversation was going. Phillips cleared his throat, leaning forward slightly.

"May I make a suggestion?" he asked.

"No," Usagi said pleasantly. Security be damned, she was going to go to a nightclub with Mamoru! Usagi didn't know why she was going to derive such enjoyment from taking him out of his comfort zone just for the privilege of spending more time with her. Then again, he suggested it, he should be able to live with the consequences now that she was taking him up on the offer. The Secret Service, her aides, even her press secretary, was just going to have to cope. "How about Vanilla?" She supplied. That place was supposed to be off the hook!!

Phillips just shook his head. "Okay, no. I have to object. That's not safe. Nightclubs are huge targets for terrorists. Bali nightclub bombings, 202 killed, remember? The attacks in Tel Aviv?"

Usagi just shot him a look. "Did Lucan make you memorize that speech, or something? You are being such a killjoy. We just determined now that we're going! There's no way al Qaeda or Jemaat Islamiyah is lying in wait for me at Vanilla."

"This is January 2nd! People are still out on holiday, the place will be crowded, it's in Rippongi which is known for foreigners and different nationalities, a symbol of globalization. You just celebrated the one year anniversary of the New Earth government-- they may have been planning it! It's no secret around town that you're out-- nightclubs are very high-risk areas right now, didn't you declare that yourself by raising the alert level for the Metropolitan Police and emergency services in case of an attack over New Year's? They could very well be planning something now."

Usagi fumed, glancing to Mamoru for back-up. "Oh, c'mon. There has got to be a compromise here!! You know someone else that would be safer?" she begged him. Once Usagi got the idea in her head, she didn't let go. They would be going come hell or high water. She clung to Mamoru's arm stubbornly.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru was not stupid, he knew when he was being manipulated into doing something. This would ordinarily bother him. He didn’t like being manipulated into doing things that he would otherwise not do. Usagi was doing just that and by the wicked smile she was now giving him, she knew exactly what she was doing. Did this bother him? Definitely not.

It didn’t matter how it came about or where he was going, the fact was Usagi was spending her entire evening with him. He had only planned on dinner and wine, but he’d already enjoyed that along with the bookstore and coffee. If she wanted to also add on dancing, he was not going to be the one to complain.

Where should they go? He didn’t know. Where was the best nightclubs anyway? He was just about to respond to her when Phillips cleared his throat and asked if he could make a suggestion. Mamoru glanced his way and noted the apprehensive looks that both agents were wearing. He frowned just a little, doubt beginning to make it’s way into his mind. Maybe this was a bad idea ...

Mamoru stayed silent as Usagi and Phillips talked. The doubt becoming more certain in his thoughts, even for the sake of spending time with Usagi he couldn’t allow her to put herself in so much danger. Agent Phillips seemed to think it would be dangerous, it probably was. He would have to suggest something else even if it would probably annoy her.

He was just about to suggest making new plans when Usagi glanced to him for back up and clung to his arm. Mamoru’s resolve melted instantly. He couldn’t disappoint her, not again ... surely it wouldn’t be that dangerous. She was right after all, no one knew they would be going there. They had only just thought of it. They couldn’t possibly have set up anything dangerous that quickly and anyway ... the security was there weren’t they. If there was something dangerous they would spot it and get Usagi to safety and anyway he was Tuxedo Kamen wasn’t he? He had kept her safe from all kinds of villainous monsters before, surely with the help of the security team to keep watch he’d be able to do so again ... right?

Somewhere in the back of Mamoru’s mind he did realize that he was probably making a stupid decision just because Usagi was clinging to him, however he ignored that little voice of reason and shrugged. He never could say no to her very easily.

“I can’t see how it would really be that dangerous. As she said, no one knows we were going ... we didn’t even know we were going. It isn’t like she was asking you to let her go alone. Celebrities go to places like this all the time and they are just fine. Besides, didn’t you say you could only advise her on things ... you couldn’t tell her what to do.”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi beamed up at Mamoru as he backed her up. See, who could argue with sense like that? She knew he'd come through for her.

"Ha!" she exclaimed triumphantly, smirking over at Phillips. "See? Everything will be fine! Don't be such a worry wart. I know you're supposed to prepare for everything, but seriously, what are chances? Don't answer that," she added quickly. It was a rhetorical question! She knew that she (and particularlly Mamoru) did not need to know.

Secretly he really wanted to go dancing. There was something inside of him that needed to move to the beat, and he just didn't know it yet. She would show him how great it could be! They'd get drinks, and then dances their little tushies off underneath the disco ball, until the early morning light. It would be fantastic!! She sat back with a dreamy look on her face, already bopping her head to the techno beat.

Phillips, on the other hand, was not at all happy with Mamoru's answer. He glanced to the other man, deathly serious. "I can only advise her, it's true, and that's exactly what I am doing. I strongly protest this decision. By 'celebrities' you must mean 'pop stars.' They have different security concerns, and even their details get a chance to check out the venue when it's not open. Do you recall reading about presidents or prime ministers going out in nightclubs when they were office?"

"Hey, I read a lot about princes going to clubs!" Usagi supplied, tuning into the conversation. There was no way she would let Phillips change Mamoru's mind, so she continued to keep her grip on his arm. Subconsciously she knew that if she maintained physical contact, her chances of winning this were higher.

"Yes, with the disapproval of their details, and only VIP clubs that had already been scoped out."

Usagi sighed, scooting closer to Mamoru so that they could stand in solidarity on this issue. "I don't work for the Secret Service, you work for me," she said, pulling out her trump card. That said, she turned to Mamoru. "So, have you been to a club before? What's it like? Will there be a cover charge? Am I dressed alright?" she jabbered away, very enthused about the entire process.

Phillips shook his head, picking up the receiver to the phone that was hooked into the car. "I'm sorry, but I can't sign off on this. If you two are going to insist, I have one protocol I have to follow-- and that's covering my ass." He held out the phone to Mamoru. "Why don't you explain all that to my employer...?"

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru shifted uneasily as Phillips gave his response. The agent was really seriously against this idea, maybe they should listen. Phillips was right after all, he hadn’t ever heard of any presidents or prime ministers going out to nightclubs when they were in office.

He glanced down at Usagi when she mentioned that princes had gone out to clubs. He would have to admit that he had heard that as well, seen it on television even. If they could do it ...

Mamoru knew that he was being stupid here. It was Usagi’s safety they were talking about and Agent Phillips was very much against the idea. If he were smart, which he had always prided himself on being, Mamoru would tell Usagi right then and there that they should go somewhere else.

He glanced down at her once more as she scooted closer to him and told Phillips that he worked for her. She was so excited, he didn’t want to disappoint her. Couldn’t they just go for a just a little while? There couldn’t be any harm to that right? No matter what Agent Phillips said, he was just being over cautious ... right?

“They might have gone with the disapproval of their details, but they came out of it ok didn’t they? No harm done ...”

Mamoru gave Usagi an uneasy smile and said, “I haven’t been to a club in years, but didn’t you go with Seiya to one? I’m sure there is a cover charge.” His grin steadied into a much more appreciative one as he added, “You look great, no need to change that ...”

He glanced back over to Phillips when the agent spoke up again, beginning to feel just a little annoyed. Surely it couldn’t be as bad as Phillips was making it out to be. He sighed in frustration and said as patiently as he could, “Fine, you have one protocol to follow, that makes ...” He fell silent as Phillips added the bit about covering his ass and held out the phone toward him.

Mamoru stared at Phillips for a few moments before looking down to the phone being held out to him, a growing sense of dread overtaking him. His gaze slid back up to Phillips again as he reluctantly asked, “You want me to call Lucan?”

He would have to be insane to do that. Mamoru didn’t need to call Lucan to know what he would say. He wasn’t an idiot, if Phillips was dead set against them going to the nightclub then Lucan was going to be a hundred times worse. Usagi couldn't possibly want him to do that, could she?

[Neo Queen Serenity]

"All it takes is once," Phillips replied shortly, but he knew better than to argue beyond that point.

Usagi was ignoring him pointedly by now, her attention entirely focused on Mamoru. She was bouncing up and down in her seat like a little girl now. A nightclub! With Mamoru of all people! It was going to be great!!

She blushed a bit at his mention of Seiya. "Well, I wasn't paying too much attention to how we got in..." She declined to mention that she thought she was going to be kissed by Seiya and had been surprised by dancing couples popping up and a disco ball. She wasn't even technically legal at that time, and she didn't have to present ID...

"You really think so?" she asked breathlessly when he said she looked great. Tons of girls got all dolled up to go to clubs, she would happy if she could manage to fit in enough. She would have to check out their outfits once they got there... "See, it was more casual when I went with Seiya, I'd love to go someplace a bit more... I dunno, adult? Not in the seedy way, in the 'this is swank' way. Oh, this was the best idea ever!!"

Usagi's attention was reluctantly drawn away from her date-- she had all but climbed into Mamoru's lap in her excitement-- and she turned to stare at Phillips for a very long moment before making a lunge for the phone. The agent adeptly stopped her, holding the receiver out of her reach. "Careful, you'll hurt yourself. Of course I want you to call Lucan. In following the Queen's orders I would not only be putting her in harm's way, I would also be placing her security personnel, yourself, and even the club's patrons and employees in a very precarious position. I will need him to be fully aware of it before I proceed. So please," he handed off the phone to Mamoru. "...tell him what you told me."

Phillips dialed the number and sat back in his seat, ignoring Usagi's glares. "Maybe he'll even pull in a senshi to talk some sense into you..."

"Not. Funny," Usagi growled at him, but turned her attention to Mamoru with apprehension.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru really wasn’t paying much attention to Phillips by this time, too caught up in watching Usagi. She was definitely looking forward to going to the nightclub, with him of all people. He couldn’t bare to disappoint her now.

He rose an eyebrow at her blush but decided not to comment on it, although he did briefly wonder what she was paying attention to if it wasn’t on getting in the place.

Mamoru nodded and murmured, “Without a doubt, you definitely look just fine.” His smile broadened as she continued talking, so Seiya had only taken her to a casual place. Well that made sense actually, they were both quite a bit younger at the time. “You want a more sophisticated place. I agree, this idea is getting better and better.”

He swallowed uneasily, finding it difficult to think straight with Usagi’s nearness as he watched Phillips. Mamoru watched Usagi try to make a lunge for the phone, but Phillips adeptly stopped her. The man was definitely playing hardball here. It would have been so much easier for Usagi to talk to her head of security then for Mamoru to do it. Obviously Agent Phillips was smart enough to know this as he continued with his lecture about how many people he would be putting in harm’s way if he followed Usagi’s orders.

Mamoru dumbly took the phone as it was handed to him, staring at it almost as if it was a snake that would bite him. Phillips didn’t give him a chance to refuse as he dialed the number, ignoring Usagi’s glares. He winced a bit as Phillips added the bit about the senshi. Mamoru had no desire to talk to the senshi, though he had to admit he had even less desire to talk to Lucan at the moment. Suddenly this great idea of Usagi’s was turning itself into a nightmare. He glanced up at Usagi in the hopes that she would change her mind and he could get off without speaking to Lucan, but no she was watching him apprehensively. Surely she understood that this was Lucan that he was going to have to explain this to. Mamoru didn’t want to disappoint her, he really didn’t. Maybe he could make Lucan understand, or get him to make some sort of compromise ... like that would ever happen.

Cursing himself all kinds of a fool, Mamoru held the receiver up to his ear and waited for the other side to be picked up. Obviously he was more insane then he had thought.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Tuxedo Kamen had faced down many monsters without a trace of fear. He had battled against the most evil beings he could think of without a thought. Lucan was only a man, so why was it that Mamoru was sitting here dreading having to speak with him?

He swallowed nervously when Lucan picked up the phone and again questioned his sanity.

“Yeah, hi Lucan. This is Chiba Mamoru ...”

Mamoru forced himself to relax. It wasn’t as if Lucan was a demon, he was only the head of security. He could do this. All he had to do was convince Lucan that it was safe enough to take Usagi to a nightclub just for a short little while so that she wouldn’t be disappointed. Lucan wouldn’t want Usagi to be disappointed would he? And the moon was made of green cheese, maybe he needed that professional help more then he thought he did.

[Chiba Mamoru]

This was definitely the worse idea in the long history of bad ideas that any of them had ever had before. Lucan sounded pleasant enough, but Mamoru wasn’t fooled. He heard the hint beneath the warmth and he very nearly threw the phone back at Phillips and ordered the man to take them all home. Why was he doing this again?

Mamoru glanced over at Usagi for a moment, his eyes traveling the length of her before an appeciative smile once again tilted his lips. Oh yeah, that was why. What he wouldn’t do for Usagi ...

Taking a deep breath and putting as much confidence in his tone as he was capable of doing, Mamoru said, “Agent Phillips wanted me to call and ask you if it would be ok to take Usagi to a nightclub. She really wants to go and ... well there has to be a way to do so.”

He swallowed once again, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he waited for Lucan to respond.

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru winced a little when Lucan finally responded. Although his tone was pleasant, Mamoru was under no illusions that Lucan was actually pleased on the other end of the line. Nor was he fooled into thinking that Lucan hadn’t heard exactly what Mamoru had asked him.

He really should just tell him that he was mistaken and hand the phone back to Phillips. That would be the smartest thing to do. They didn’t have to go to the nightclub, Usagi could get over whatever disappointment she felt. Surely she realized that they weren’t going to pull this off. There was no way in hell that Lucan was going to agree to this, so why was he still on the phone?

“Actually, that’s exactly what I asked. Usagi wants to go to the nightclub, she very rarely gets out and she really wants to go.” Mamoru kept his tone even and pleasant as he continued, “I can’t see how it would really be that dangerous Lucan. It isn’t like we had this planned, we didn’t even know we were going until just a few moments ago. You can’t convince me that there will be people laying in wait to harm her when they couldn’t possibly know we were going there.”

He paused a moment before adding, “Yes I know that you never read about presidents or prime ministers going out to nightclubs when they were in office, but as Usagi mentioned there have been princes who went to clubs. Nothing ever happened to them ...”

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru tensed when he heard Lucan sigh, however the words that came over the line were not what he was expecting to hear. Break any physical contact and stare out the window? Why would he do that? He flushed a little under Lucan’s next words, briefly wondering how on earth the man could know so much without even being in the car. Reluctantly he did as he was instructed and removed himself from temptation, breaking all contact and shifting his gaze out the window.

He listened quietly to everything Lucan said, silently cursing the man for giving him a reasonable explanation of the way things were in reality. Why did he have to be so good at his job? Mamoru had been able to ignore Phillips, partly perhaps because Usagi had been clinging to him. However, he was finding it a lot more difficult to ignore what Lucan was saying. Unfortunately for Usagi, everything that Lucan said made sense to him. It was all true after all. The place would be crowded and it would be nearly impossible to make certain no dangerous person got in. It didn’t even have to be a dangerous person, Mamoru knew very well how easily it could be to lose control when you were drinking. An otherwise friendly person could lose their sense of judgement and so something that they would ordinarily do.

With every word Lucan spoke, Mamoru was becoming less and less certain that taking Usagi to a nightclub was a good idea. Why would he want to throw her into the vipers’ nest? He loved her and because of that, no matter how disappointed she might be, Mamoru couldn’t allow himself to take her somewhere that she could be hurt. Not and be able live with himself afterwards.

Again Lucan had a point. He had served on the Royal Protection Squad, which of course meant he had far more knowledge about what happened to them then Mamoru himself did. The kinds of nightclubs that Mamoru could get them in tonight wouldn’t be extremely exclusive and Lucan and his team certainly wouldn’t have the chance to check things out before hand. As much as he hated to disappoint Usagi, he just couldn’t give in to this request.

“I guess I never thought about things quite like that, you are right of course ... I’d never be able to live with myself if something did happen.”

Mamoru slumped in his seat, not at all looking forward to disappointing Usagi. However, Lucan’s next words had him straightening up again. Lucan wasn’t entirely against the idea? If they were given the chance to put in the proper precautions he would be agreeable. Mamoru couldn’t help brightening at the thought of a second date. That was a perfect idea. He wouldn’t have to entirely reject the plan, just delay it and he’d get another evening out of the deal.

“That, that actually sounds like a good idea Lucan. I could do that. Thank you ...”

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi was beginning to believe that Mamoru really did love her. He had been telling her all evening, but it had to be true. Not only did he agree to her plan to go to a nightclub, he backed her up with Agent Phillips. And now, he was even going to go head-to-head with Lucan over the matter, despite his obvious unease when he took the phone. She practically swooned!

However, things were not going as planned. Not only did Mamoru disentangle himself from her, he looked out the window! Her two most powerful weapons, her wide blue eyes and angelic expression, plus physical contact with him, were stripped of her. Damn Lucan. It's not like she shouldn't have expected this-- she had used variations of those same weapons on him to mixed success-- sans the clinging, she had definitely begged him so he knew what Mamoru was up against.

Damn it, damn it, damn it.

Then Mamoru was silent for awhile as Lucan was probably talking to him. Usagi just glared at his back, wishing she could hear what was being said. Finally, Mamoru said something about Lucan being right, of course, and then he thanked him.

He. Thanked! Him!!

No, no, no, no, no, NO. This was NOT going as planned. Now Usagi knew why Phillips had made Mamoru make the call. She had just thought that since Phillips was covering his ass, and Mamoru was so logical and sensible, that perhaps it would be best to have Mamoru do the explaining. At first she had agreed. Now she knew why Phillips had put Mamoru on. Because Mamoru was logical and sensible and also rather protective, and Phillips knew that she wouldn't go if Mamoru wouldn't go, and that Mamoru would be susceptible to that annoying thing called rationality.

Bah, humbug.

Usagi hunched her shoulders in, settling into a sulk. Realizing she had lost, she leaned over Mamoru's shoulder, trying to speak into the phone. "I'll get you for this, Lucan! This isn't over!"

[Chiba Mamoru]

Mamoru already knew what it felt like to have at least one senshi furious with him. He really didn’t want to do anything that would cause all eight of them to be POed at him. Especially since if he really had allowed anything to actually harm Usagi, the senshi would be more then just POed. “I’ll agree with you there. It’s definitely not a position I’d wish to be in.”

He was feeling a lot better then he had been a few moments before. Mamoru knew that he would still have to explain things to Usagi and that was going to be difficult. However, things might go ok if he could just get her to understand they could go to the nightclub if they allowed Lucan to prepare. “I understand. I’ll get back to you on that, making sure to keep all of that in mind. I’ll have to ask her if she’d agree to that ...” Mamoru flushed a little at the curfew joke, but didn’t say anything.

He was just about to respond to Lucan’s question of whether he could be of anymore assistance when Usagi leaned over his shoulder trying to get to the phone. Mamoru couldn’t help grinning in amusement before asking, “Would you like to talk to Lucan before I let him go Usa?”