1/3 AM Where Time and Duty Meet (Setsuna/Lucan)

[Meioh Setsuna]

The soft chirping of birds and the wind in her ears were a welcoming change after the long quiet of the past few years. It felt like it had been ages indeed since Setsuna had returned home. Home- yes, the word was right. Though she spent the majority of her life outside the gates alone, she would forever think of this palace as her real home. It was where all the people she cared about resided, the center of her world. She had missed the sights, the smells, the feeling of living and moving along with the flow of time instead of standing outside of it.

She crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair, sipping at her tea as she watched the people moved through the grounds, her dark eyes observant and distant, her fingers idly tapping the pencil twined through them against the sketch pad that rested on the table before her. Normally this would be the time she’d consider new designs for outfits- something she was going to need to focus on soon. She refused to live off of Usagi’s charity forever; while she was here she planned on at least being able to take care of her own expenses by working. However, the inspiration just wasn’t coming this morning, not that she could really expect anything different with all that had been happening. Especially after last night- though she would have to act as if she didn’t know about that yet.

Frowning, Setsuna set down her cup and pushed it aside, rubbing her temples. There was too much going on, too much that she couldn’t do and too much she should but wasn’t sure how to begin. Once the future had begun to shift she had known her presence was needed, but she wasn’t sure as what. An advisor? A reminder that time was not set in stone? She wasn’t sure, and it frustrated her. She would only know how to act when the time came, and she did not like the feeling. There were too many possible futures at the moment, and it made her edgy to know that she couldn’t say or do anything of them; only subtle warnings and gentle guidance. It made her head hurt thinking about it.

Rising, the tall woman slid her pad under her arm, pencil still in her hand as she left the tea cup and began to walk, her long hair fanning out loosely around her. She hadn’t bothered with tying it back this morning, though she probably would later, but it was the least of her concerns at the moment. Her eyes flickered around the grounds, pausing briefly on the people she passed, barely noticing the stares she received from the gardeners and civilians.

Pausing at a branching in the path she noticed a vendor nearby and remembered that she hadn’t had any breakfast; an apple or croissant sounded very appetizing at the moment. Turning left she approached, considering the food selection before picking out a small bunch of grapes and the idealized croissant. She passed the seller the money to pay, thanking him before noticing the man standing not too far away.

“Mr. Felix, a good morning to you,” she offered, taking a few steps toward him. “I didn’t think to see anyone I knew out this early.”

[Meioh Setsuna]

She blinked, inwardly wondering how often this man was taken by surprise- probably not too often. Though now that he was working with them, she would bet that there was nothing but shocks and unforeseen circumstances where Usagi was concerned.

Suddenly she felt a little self conscious- she was only clad in light cotton pants and a loose fitting top herself, having not anticipated that she would run into anyone she would know or who might recognize her. Mistake, Setsuna chided herself ruefully, though by Lucan's response he probably was experiencing a similar predicament. Apparently she would have to make some reassessments about life at court.

Still she wasn't expecting the man to bow right in front of everyone, as if they were back at the ball where she had first set eyes on him in the present! And Lady- it wasn't a title she was accustomed to. Were all the senshi referred to as such around here? Setsuna had a moment of complete and utter awkwardness where she was at a total loss of what to do but some how she managed to gather her wits enough to respond. Instead of a traditional curtsy, she settled for a half bow of her own, hand touching above her heart as she inclined her head, long hair cascading down around her face.

"If you will allow me to call you Lucan, I'll allow you to call me Setsuna," she told him, tipping her head slightly to the side as she considered him. "I'm not really one for formality."

An eyebrow lifted slightly in amusement. "Late?" she inquired, lips twitching as she fought back a smile. "Well, since you've probably been up half the night I suppose you could look at it that way." Her face lifted to the sun momentarily, and nodded, her eyes softening. "I am enjoying the weather indeed. It's a nice change after coming from a place where there isn't much weather at all."

She caught his glance to her sketch pad and attempted to explain. "Just trying to come up with a little inspiration," she told him. "Though I'm afraid my mind has other plans." A rueful smile tugged at her mouth. "I'm sure you know what that's like."

[Meioh Setsuna]

Setsuna sensed his moment of hesitation and was slightly worried. She hadn't paid particular attention to how the senshi were addressed or how much they played up the whole royal court angle. Was she expected to be referred to as 'Lady' by everyone but the senshi? Too busy watching other things, she'd never bothered to learn how court worked officially at this time. It would seem she had better learn, and quickly before the public became aware of her presence and the spotlights found her.

But the sound of his voice speaking her name calmed her. "Thank you. I hope I haven't startled you too terribly by that request. I suppose I will have to get used to the title eventually, but I'm not quite ready for that yet."

Her cheeks flushed. All night? Well, maybe something had shifted slightly in time enough that he'd been up that long instead of only half. "Well. . . I had. . . " Setsuna hesitated, feeling oddly off balance and at a loss to explain to him. She'd never had to tell people other than the senshi about her abilities, and she wasn't sure how much Lucan already knew, or what she needed to tell him. She had seen that the adventure Usagi had had last night would have certainly kept him up, but had something changed again to make it more extreme? Rubbing her temples she made a note to spend some time after she returned to the palace taking a good look at the future and past.

Her gaze fluttered down to her pad again, realizing the impression he must have gotten from it. It was natural- people saw you with paper and pencil and assumed you were sketching people or nature, not clothing. "Oh, no, not that kind of inspiration. Michiru's more the type to do that kind of art, though I've never tried my hand at it to tell if I could do it myself. I was actually watching people to see what the trends are." A small smile tugged her lips, shrugging her shoulders, embarrassed though unsure why. Perhaps because she wasn't used to explaining herself, and wondered how odd she was sounding to this man. "I design and make clothing, and I needed some ideas before I can think about getting a shop open."

Shifting her weight, she flipped open the pad to her half formed sketches that she had been working on that morning to show him, almost immediately wishing she could close it. "It's not really that interesting," she murmured. "I'm out of practice."