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Perhaps we both allowed ourselves to believe that things would be as simple as they were with Usagi and the others. [Because it was simple, with Usagi. Usagi was the sort to trust so implicitly, so immediately in people with her whole heart, even to the arguments of others. She smiled as she thought of their princess, but then pressed her lips together.]

Perhaps we are being unkind... we trusted as we might with a senshi, with Usagi, but they are neither. [Even with Tadashi's Sailor Earth joke.] It is unfair to ask them to trust so deeply when they are more like you and I and less like Usagi...

[At being held close, she stiffened for only a moment, because she was not the sort to do physical touch easily. But then she relaxed into Rei, she held onto her sister in battle and wrapped her arms around Rei. She could trust Rei, she could trust Minako, she could trust the girls. And maybe, someday in the distant future, she could trust in Hiro and Tadashi almost as deeply. But it was unkind of her to ask it of them now.]

It's alright to be afraid. We've never been in something like this before, we've never been without all the girls and our princess this long before, you longest of all. There is no rush, honestly. Until a real threat rises, we'll slowly collect our data and take our time. This is to be a long battle, we must go at a slow pace, tend to our embers until we must be a roaring fire. [She stroked Rei's hair.]

Yes, perhaps that’s it. They’re only human, and they’re still men. There’s…only so far either of them can go. They’re better than most, but still. You’re right, they aren’t, and maybe I forgot that too. [Which naturally makes her feel quite the fool, especially considering the amount of trust she’d placed in Hiro. There were others here who knew more, to be sure, and none of what she’d said to him could be used against them really. Unless an enemy showed up, and she refused to consider that Hiro would willingly approach any of their old foes. That far she knew she could trust him.]

But I don’t think we’re being unkind. They’ve done us a disservice, as men often do. As people often do to both of us. It stings, but…[It was a reminder that despite everything the Senshi had in common with the people of this place, they were also something separate. She couldn’t bring herself to say that, but the thought hovers on the tip of her tongue. Instead she finishes lamely.]

shouganai. [It cannot be helped.]

[The tension in Ami wasn’t unnoticed, but it was a familiar feeling now, and she just held the other in that tender, sisterly embrace in silence for a long moment. Her fingers ran up and down Ami’s back, little patterns meant to give her something else to focus on, and she found herself smiling into that mop of blue hair.]

We will. We’re hardly burned out, I just...every time I think back to my arrival, I remember h ow alone I was. And I don’t want to go back out there and risk losing one of you, or risk taking myself away from one of you. I know it’s a cowardly thing, I know I should be better, but I don’t want to be alone again, even for a day. Because as we’re discovering, as nice as the people here may be, they are not our people. And maybe that’s what stings most of all. [A sigh.]

I’m hoping that the next cycle has another of us, that’s fit the pattern so far. But every time new people arrive, I look for them, and I pray.

Humans who strive to be more than they are, but yes, human. [And was that not what the original war, the war that started all of this, had been about in the first place? The separation, the divide between humans and those who lived and protected the moon? She swallowed. Maybe someday, they could be trusted as deeply, though in a different way, than the girls trusted one another, but for now? It was all too soon, and they had no one but themselves to blame for rushing ahead.] But we can't demand them to go against what they are and what they believe in either.

We were too eager, I think... or... I know I was, at least. [Hiro and Tadashi were, despite Rei's beliefs, smart. Young and inexperienced in some ways, but still smart and hard working.] They aren't bad people, but slowly. [She smiled. Just hugging onto Rei and knowing that they weren't alone in the world anymore. They had each other, they had the senshi, they had their princess and prince. She felt her heart become warm.]

No no, it's okay, there is no rush, not really. I don't want you to have to feel that ever again. I can wait, that jungle isn't going anywhere.

Maybe we might even have Usagi join us. [She would love for their princess to arrive.] One giant video game? How could she possible resist.

[Rei rarely liked to think on that, to dwell on the memories of their distant past. But sometimes? Sometimes it was unavoidable. The war had scarred all of them, and torn a paradise asunder. Perhaps that too, was unavoidable, but that didn't mean that she had to like it. But it was strange thinking of human beings and themselves as separate species, though it was getting easier and easier here in Cerealia. They'd had years of time to work through everything, to get their memories back, and become used to it, and with the variety of people here it wasn't hard to start categorizing.

Was that the best? Probably not. But in Rei's head, there was no lie. She and the others were more than human, and for all their human friend's positives, they were definitely more limited. No less intelligent, maybe, but they were foolish, and were still committing a foolish act.]

We may have been too eager, you're right. But then, not everyone has been so...infuriating. There are plenty of people who have been forthright and not quite so quick to break the simplest promise.[Exhaling slowly, she steps back after letting the hug linger a little bit longer. They really weren't asking for a lot, just the knowledge that their friends were going into danger, instead of being in the dark.]

Regardless of their presence...we just have to keep hoping that one day soon we'll have another room filled.

[Swallowing somewhat thickly, she looks away, squeezing her shoulder.]

It's like there's something vile in the wind this month, it's like everyone but us has been suffering or acting strangely.

They are infuriating because we care. [She laughed, able to see the humor in the situation, stressful as it was.] But we will have to address the broken promise. Though Tadashi has yet to break a promise to me, Hiro's cannot be ignored.

[Ami looked up at that.]

Perhaps... there is, Rei. But what do you mean? Who else has been acting strangely?

[Was there something in the air that was affecting humans? Was there something that CERES was doing?]

Well, for starters, everyone who went on that trip into the jungle.

[Rei's lip may be curling into a scowl again, but she resumes walking.]

That whole expedition was a disaster from the start. Narukami-san should have known better than to bring Dipper-kun along, and as I understand it, one of the people who died was even younger than him. Who brings children along?

I'm afraid I only know Dipper-san and the Hamada brothers that went. But... I do know that there were deaths. Honestly, Rei, if they weren't acting strange with all that happened there I would be more worried.

As for this Narukami-san, I cannot say I understand their reasoning. Dipper-san is smart, but he's young. He, like so many his age, strive to prove themselves to those they admire, resulting in foolish decisions and actions. He would not have thought through all the consequences, apparently, none of them did.

Or perhaps, they simply do not care if they die, considering they may view themselves immortal.

Yes, there were deaths, but the entire affair just...reeks of poor planning and arrogance. I've spent some time with Narukami-san, the supposed leader, and I'm actually rather good friends with another person who was on the trip. Hanamura Yosuke-kun.

[A breath.]

Narukami-san is a mess of emotion, much the same as I was after the raids, but he seems just...like he doesn't understand why what he did was stupid. He took children into danger, and that just strikes me as strange. Not to mention the people I know what did go were primarily not exactly...warriors or survivalists. Every single one of them are from the city. Does that not strike you as a strange choice?

Everything I've seen and heard from these... raids, these... adventures, they are all poor planning. [She admits honestly. She doesn't target any one person, that would be rude, but the plans are things she can focus on. They're bad. They're just...]

They're plans are those of frantic people, but there is no need for us to be frantic. Not... yet. Yet, that is how they are acting. If they know... if they're aware of some doomsday countdown clock, they aren't sharing the information. Perhaps there is... but I doubt it. No... no it is simply.. [She made a vague, dismissive gesture with her hand.] It's the act of those seeking to be more than what they are. Hiro wants to be a hero, Tadashi wants to protect his brother, Dipper-san wants to prove he's an adult, and I'm sure they all have their reasons, whether we agree with them or not.

You know, Rei. As we speak they're breaking into the tower, but you know who doesn't need to? I don't. I'm an analyst at the actual tower, the very thing they are cracking into. Hiro isn't, Tadashi isn't, I don't know who else is going but you know what I have? Access codes, the ability to hack, the- [She took a deep breath before she got upset again.]

Regardless, I don't want to be on the side of CERES, but I simply cannot abide by foolish plans. The senshi made plans in desperation for desperate times, but there is no giant galaxy crushing down on the colony, there is no creature from the depths of a mirror poisoning the earth. There is no excuse.

Misadventures. [It's a gentle correction, but it's a correction all the same.]

You're right about all of them. And there's...more that's been going on. Not necessarily related to anything with the raids. Just, it's been a bad few weeks for people vanishing.

[She steps close again, her hug nothing short of ferocious.]

I've been scared, at least three people I know have just disappeared overnight. And it made me think about...losing either of you.

[Both were acceptable in this case, but Ami wouldn't argue semantics. She gazed down the road and sighed.

However, when she's hugged tight again she doesn't argue anything, she just holds onto Rei, gently stroking her hair and rubbing circles along her back.]

I can't promise I won't disappear, but I will do everything I can to try and stay here until we can all leave together.

I know.

[She does. She really does. It's just hard, thinking about how she'd been alone. And how she could just...fade away...leaving nothing behind for Minako or Ami. She didn't want to see either of them in the Nexus Code...or for them to see her. That broken, crumbling ruin of a place. It was awful, the worst possible fate in her eyes.]

And I'll try...[She makes a choked sound, trying not to cry, the sudden thought coming back. An ossuary for defunct code...I wonder if this is to be our grave as well... Simon had said, and those words had bothered her then. Now? With the man sealed away in them? They came roaring back to haunt her, a shiver running through her spine as if the man's fingers ran up her spine.] not to...I'll do whatever I can to...do the same.

[She kept hugging onto Rei and closed her eyes. She lacked the ability to sense others emotions like Rei, but she didn't need it to know how badly Rei was upset. But she wasn't surprised. The senshi were sisters in all but blood, to have been away from them after so many years together, to never know when you might see them again, if you see them again? She held Rei a little tighter, willing to hold her as long as she needed.

She would be there with her silent support until Rei was ready, no matter how long that would take. She continued to stroke her hair and rub her back.]

I know.

[Rei's silent for a long moment, just holding her and being held helps, and she needs the time to stop herself from shaking. Thinking about Simon's words, and about the Nexus Code. It's...unsettling, the balance going out of her mental state for a little while.

But she finally manages to let go of that, letting out a breath and zipping back to business.]

Athena-chan's partner is gone now. She's...taking it hard. [A bit of an explanation.] Simon-san was a respectable man. [RINGING praise coming from Rei.] A falconer, and he left her his falcon. Taka. Do you...think you could help me research the sport? She asked me for help earlier today, for how to take care of him. And it's the...least I can do, given how she helped me when I was alone.

[She was a bit surprised by the sudden change of topic, but did not question Rei's need for it. She could go with the change of course like a river might. She smiled and then quirked a brow regarding the research of the sport.]

Of course I can help, I recall coming across quite a few books on it when I was looking up some other things. Do you want to read the books with me or would you just like the notes I take?

[Rei isn't wanting to dwell, is all. It may be a strange shift, but it's relevant, because Simon had been important to her. He was a good man, and he was good for her friend.]

Well, I'd rather read them with you. Your notes are one thing, but there's no substitute for reading myself. I've never quite had to care for Phobos and Deimos the same way, after all.

Alright, I will search the library and prepare some notes for Athena as well, since she will need to know most of all. Actually, considering how... tame, your crows are, it may not hurt to eventually have them socialize. I won't know for sure, however, until I really look into it.

Actually, Rei, regarding the two of them, what I was wondering... I know you mentioned them transforming, are they still able to do that here?

Oh, well they got along famously with Taka before, so I definitely intend to continue.

[She pauses, thinking on that.]

I...don't think they can. I doubt it. There hasn't been the need. And the circumstances are different.

We'll let Athena get used to the falcon before we do anything, though.

How interesting if they can't, it's still a part of them, that would mean their codes are incomplete.

Edited 2015-12-04 06:10 (UTC)

Probably so. But then it's also that they only awaken in times of great need. I haven't really been in mortal danger very often here.

Good, I want it to stay that way. For all the trouble CERES causes, they are at least slow in their actions, allowing us time to plan.

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