Early Breakfast 1/6 (Open)

[Aino Minako]

Minako settled down in the patio chair outside the Starbucks coffee shop just around the block from the palace. Since the integration of Earth into one state, Starbucks had managed to flourish even stronger than they had in the first few years of the century. And Minako had to admit, their coffee was excellent and their muffins, while rediculously unhealthy, were a tasty treat.

She glanced around, knowing that Lucan's security was around her. Only one agent was visible, seated the table next to her, but she knew enough about Lucan now to know others were out there.

She sipped her coffee and opened up the newspaper. As Usagi's second, she was making a point to try and keep up with the public news along with any of the private information she was given in the briefing sessions as needed. The paper talked about some affairs going on in the middle east, which piqued her interest since that was Khalid's home. She read the article, then moved on to one discussing the still present economic issues between Mexico and the United States. The article hinted at the fact that the queen should be doing more to reconcile the issue. Minako sighed softly. Usagi couldn't fix everything in a day.

She took another sip of her coffee, then a bit of muffin, and flipped the pages until she reached the entertainment section. A guilty pleasure, she knew, but she began to read anyway enjoying the more relaxed reading of pop culture while she worked on her breakfast.

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid had long given up trying to find real coffee in Japan. Traditionally, they preferred tea to coffee, and usually what coffee they did have was American imports such as Starbucks or independent cafes. He had learned that espresso was as close as he was going to get, so he often settled for a couple of shots of un-doctored espresso if he did not have time to wait to make real coffee for himself or have one of his aides do so.

This morning he had no real plans, but had the urge to get out of the hotel suite that had become his new home. He had not taken the time to wait for coffee, but now he felt himself in need of some form of the drink, even if that meant settling for espresso.

His trained eye had not missed the glint of gold hair outside as he entered the Starbucks. A raised eyebrow and the slightest up turn of one corner of his mouth was the only indication that he had seen her as she hid behind the newspaper. Perhaps settling for espresso would not be such a bad thing this morning.

He entered the shop and got into the short line, thankful that so many people seemed to sleep in on a Sunday morning. After only a few minutes of waiting, he had ordered and paid for his drink. It was only a few more moments before he was being handed the pure double shot, the barista eyeing him like he was crazy for drinking such concentrated coffee. Khalid's response was a simple smirk and a slight nod of his head as he accepted his drink.

He took his drink outside and sat down at the table with Minako. "It's a bit early for the sun to be shining so brightly."

[Aino Minako]

Minako jumped at the sound of his voice, so absorbed in reading about how two Japanese Celebrities were in the process of breaking up after one had had an affair on the movie set. A tinge of pink touched her cheeks and she quickly closed the paper and set it down, hoping Khalid hadn't paid all that much attention to the section she'd been pursuing. Then again, being a pop idol was just as much her job as being a member of Usagi's government and reading both sections of the paper kept her balanced.

She smiled in welcome. She hadn't seen Khalid since the New Years Eve party and she realized now that he was sitting right in front of her that she'd missed him. "Khalid!" she greeted him, her expression nearly as bright as the sun he was comparing her to. "What a pleasant surprise. I guess," she laughed, "You'll be joining me for breakfast?" She pushed the paper aside and picked up her coffee. "Interesting flavor these Americans have," she commented, noting that Khalid also had a cup of something in front of him.

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

He didn't see what she had been reading, but he most definitely did notice the tinge of pink in her cheeks. Khalid smirked slightly at the coloring, wondering what exactly had triggered it, and he did not for one moment believe that it was simply his compliment which had done the job.

Even Khalid could not help the small smile that answered her own bright one. That was what had first attracted him to her, despite her insanely skimpy stage outfits that had him almost dismissing her as another pop twit. She actually had talent, which had made him think that she needed to dress more modestly on stage as she did not need to sell herself to gain a following. However, it had been her smile and the radiance that seemed to flow out of her that had had him following her.

"If I'm not intruding by doing so, I'd be honored to join you for breakfast." He chuckled a bit wryly at her comment regarding the flavor of the Americans, "I find it rather weak, but it seems that a double espresso is the best I can get here. I feel it almost to be my responsibility to introduce your city to real coffee one day."

[Aino Minako]

"Of course you aren't disturbing me. I'm not really one to enjoy a meal alone anyway, I just needed to get out of the palace. That place can be stuffy at times. I'm not sure how Usagi manages. Maybe part of me is just restless after spending months on the roads traveling." She lifted her coffee and smiled, "This is plenty strong enough for me. I was never much of a coffee drinking until I started having so many late nights for my career. Then it wasn't the taste that mattered so much as the ability to get me going in the morning for whatever was up next. I don't expect things to change much, with the added responsibilities I've just gained in the government."

She took a sip of the coffee and then set it down. "We all seem to be getting busier and busier these days, with less time to spend with each other." She still hadn't spent any time with the other inner senshi with the exception of a few isolated moments.

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid raised an eyebrow at the idea that the palace could become stuffy. The palace seemed to be a small city in and of itself, though he supposed it was more a matter of feeling trapped, one he could understand to some degree.

"Coffee should not just be about the caffeine." He smiled a bit to indicate that he really did not mean for that to be judgmental. "The added responsibilities you've just gained?" That statement confused Khalid. The government had been in place for a year, and he was under the impression that all of the Senshi were intimately involved in the government.

His eyebrow raised at her final statement. She did not sound like she was whining, but that definitely had the sound of a lament.

[Aino Minako]

Minako fingered her coffee cup. She wasn't sure how much announcing Usagi had done regarding her new position, but she knew that her role was not meant to be a secret. "Yes, although I haven't been balancing my time as well as I'd like to." She began. "Usagi has asked me to be the one to step into her place should anything ever happen to her. A second-in-command if you will. Of course, I couldn't be very effective at carrying out her wishes if I didn't spend time knowing what was going on and how she was handling things. It's just something else on top of music and acting, although far more important than either of those."

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid nodded slightly, something feeling right about Minako filling in for Usagi. In fact, something felt rather familiar about Minako posing for as Usagi. He blinked slightly, something nagging the back of his mind, but with the slightest shake of his head and turned his attention back to the Venetian.

"That's quite a full plate. Impressive." He wondered how she could be second in command and continue her career.

[Aino Minako]

Minako felt her cheeks tingle slightly at his complement. How many was going to have to give her before she stopped finding herself blushing like a schoolgirl? She had been dealt many complements in her field, from fans, and producers, and studio managers and agents. Yet they all paled in magnitude to any words that seemed to pass from Khalid's lips.

"To be honest, I'm not certain how it'll all be managed. Obviously, the government takes priority, but I really would like to film this movie as well. Although, to my knowledge, a filming date hasn't been set yet."

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

His lips upturned just slightly, which was a full smile for Khalid, as he notice the color in her cheeks. There was a part of him that hoped that no other man managed to draw the blood to her face the way he did, while the rest of him assured him that he had always had that particular affect on her when no one else did. "I've always liked that color on you."

"I believe it should be starting soon. At least that is what I'm always assured. And I can guarantee, Aino-san, that I will do what I have to do as a supporter of the film to make sure that the filming is done around your schedule."

[Aino Minako]

Was he referring to her clothing, the soft yellow sweater she'd picked out that mornng to help combat the winter chill in the air, or the rouge color of her cheeks? Minako had hoped he wouldn't notice the way her face flushed at her words, but was he pointing it out to her? And with a compliment at that? She smiled back at him, attempting to calm herself down so that the color might dissipate. Complement or not, she was woman, not some lovestruck teenager.

She hadn't thought about how easily he might have influenced the filming with the financial backing he was providing. "Khalid, I would appreciate that. Movies are fun and a wonderful part of our culture, but I think Usagi needs my support right now with all the changes in the world government. Lately I've been wondering if I'll have time to film it at all. I didn't expect to balance this new role with being an idol and a movie star."

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid nodded. "I would imagine that your new role has required you to re-prioritize things." He was still a bit surprised that it was a new role, but he realized that issue was not his to press. "Besides, I doubt that anyone would be unwilling to work around your needs. Not only are you a well known idol, as a Senshi, your name will draw in profit alone."

He held up his hand a bit, realizing that could be taken as an insult. "I am sure that you are an excellent actress. However, from a business perspective, your name would be a draw regardless."

[Aino Minako]

Minako had no doubts that her name would draw a crowd, even if the only attenders were her millions of pop fans. But that didn't mean that the studio should have to incur additional costs waiting on her schedule, when there were hundreds of other actresses who would easily easily draw as many numbers. Although, Minako told herself, if Khalid was footing a decent percentage of the bill, he would likely have say in the rules that went along with his money.

"I will leave the decision up to the studio," Minako finally replied. "Even if my name would draw, to be a burden on the filming because I've never there would not make for a good movie. Once the filming schedule is out, then I'll have a better picture of how the movie will mesh with the government needs. Until then, I'll keep working on my lines and be as prepared as I possibly can."

Minako took another sip of her coffee and shifted the subject. "So, what about you? What else do you have going on in the city?"

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid nodded a bit, appreciating the fact that Minako seemed to have her priorities straight. "I'm sure the studio will make the right decision. Perhaps they could hire a double for scenes in which you appear but not clearly. Or using green-screen they could put you in later."

"I'll talk to the studio and ask them to get the schedule to you soon, so that any changes can be made that need to be."

"I'm meeting with the queen regarding an energy contract. As I'm sure you're aware, the biggest issue with alternative energy is storing and transporting it. We've been working on smaller batteries that would hold a significant amount of energy without leaking it out. Such a development would not only reduce--possibly eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels, but also provide equity for those parts of the world where wind or solar energy is simply not feasible."

[Aino Minako]

Minako finished her coffee and set the empty cup down on the table between them. The fact that Khalid cared so much about her career was both flattering and worrisome, and she knew that the strange feelings she had for him were the caught of both her distress and her pleasure. Either way, if he was going to take the responsibility of sorting out the movie issues so that she could focus on Usagi for now, that was simply one less thing on her plate to worry about.

She listened as he spoke about alternative energy and she nodded in agreement. “There are many people in the world who do not even have access to good fossil fuels. Any attempt we make to improve everyone’s life is a benefit. Does this mean you’ll be staying in Tokyo for some time then?”