i_speak_softly | Fifty-First Theory [Written/Voice/Action]

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Fifty-First Theory [Written/Voice/Action]

[This morning, instead of going for his usual run, Don settles himself at his desk in the back room. The door is open and a pencil is poked thoughtfully between his teeth. When he begins to write, it isn't filtered, but courtesy of a translation-shield, anyone trying to read the entry will see something that looks more like a Danish cryptogram than anything intelligible. It's a code Don uses for his private notes: only his brothers or an extraordinarily gifted linguist would have a hope of being able to figure it out.]

BGTVULWG - Wvlz hltwqszu bluul kgf bj svg hblfl. Bj ilkqtblf bqs q lu zu lb pvwblu WJDLUQ, gs bj zpflh bqzzal tgulf bqs zlwh, lkulf vu bj nvhbl iglu nl f q lu vg gs lt vwh.

[A little later in the morning, Don leaves the following message.]

Filtered to everyone he can think of that he would consider a friend || Unhackable

All my friends here in Luceti... would you say a few words about yourself? For my notes.

[Much later, in the evening, Don goes out for his run. Now that Shredder is gone, he's allowed to go out after dark again. He knows he doesn't have long before the nights get too cold for this, so he's going to enjoy it while he can.]

((OOC: On Ami's suggestion, Don is working on the in-game equivalent of a timeline and a CR chart.))

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[She's Mercury right now. Mercury sits as carefully as Ami, posture straight and formal, hands properly in her lap.]

Thank you for inviting me in. [The formalized words are entirely the shy girl, too. It was only during the battle that she'd seemed to take on more life, to gain confidence in a skin other than her own.]

It's alright to talk right now. It's still a secret, but some of my friends know it here. [And... some people who unfortunately found out when she made mischief across Luceti in her first stay here as Dark Mercury still.]

[Don isn't aware of the 'Mercury' name. As far as he's concerned this is Ami in different clothes.]

It was very impressive.

[He sips the tea slowly, gauging its effect on his body.]

[Maybe Robert might make it obvious, because when he addresses her, it's softly and tentatively and a little nervously, but:] Ah... Sailor Mercury... Are you also alright...?

[She seems fine, but he may as well ask, for safety's sake. Even though he keeps eyeing Don worriedly.]

... If, if either of you need anything, I would be happy to oblige.

I wasn't trying to be impressive. [She feels a little embarrassed by that, actually; she's always considered her powers weaker next to the other senshi's.]

I'm alright. [She answers to Mercury naturally right now.] Thank you. Some water, maybe.

[What, he can't admire another fighter's skills?]

[He blinks curiously at this exchange. He should probably ask a real question, but it isn't important enough right now. Instead he'll focus on safely equalizing back to ambient temperature.]

Ah... certainly. [He gets up again; this time it's a much more brief egress, though he's still a bit twitchy and is paying far too much attention to Don. Still, Robert hands the glass - full of cool water - to Mercury a moment after he returns to the room.]

... So, am I correct in the assumption that you two were, er... practising some sort of fighting? [His words aren't exactly accusatory, but they are a little awkward.]

[Well, better the skills than the skirt, at least. Mercury answers Robert quietly.]

We were training together. [It's a yes. And she's so relieved that Don has said he wants to do it again sometime; it makes the guilt a little less.]

[Don smiles sheepishly.] It wasn't much of a fight. Ami beat me in two moves.

[... Well. He knew Mercury was strong. He just didn't know how strong.

His expression flickers to one of surprise.]

That is... very significant.

[Of course, if it was based on temperature manipulation... well, it only makes sense.]

And you used your powers to do so, then...?

That was just circumstances. [She's saying it to make Don feel better, but also because it's true. A real battle is very, very different from friendly training. She wouldn't have stopped - and he would have found a way to come back and overcome.]

The cold was more than I expected.

Was it... more than you meant to use?

[Now that he's settling back to a comfortable core temperature, he's being overcome by the urge to sleep. It's hard to formulate a coherent sentence.]

[It's worrisome behaviour to Robert, who doesn't know exactly why Don suddenly looks as exhausted as he does.]

I am... certain Sailor Mercury would not have... deliberately harmed you. [Still...] However, Don... you certainly seem adversely affected...

[He's not sure if he should be trying to help the turtle into bed or something.]

[She shakes her head, and states the truth.] I controlled my attack. I just... I didn't realize it would affect you that strongly. I'm very sorry.

[In a "Seriously, I'm fine, stop worrying" tone:] Just mild thermic shock. I'm a little tired. [He blinks hard and refocuses.] No need to apologize. Accidents happen.

[It's unlikely that Robert will stop worrying. But he does stop pressing. Instead, he nods and tries not to fret too much over his partner's condition.

Turning to Mercury, he asks:] Are all senshi able to manipulate temperature like that? [That's his guess, anyway. He doesn't know, exactly, that it's snow and ice Mercury used.]

Edited 2011-10-24 02:04 (UTC)

[She'll keep an eye on Don, too, but Mercury answers Robert's questions.]

No. My powers are Water. The others have power over different elements. Fire for Mars, for example.

[... Is his exhaustion causing the translation magic to do strange things, or did Robert really just say "senshi"?]

[Another part of his mind wonders if Mike was drawn to Ami because of her Water chi.]

What others?

Water... [That confirms something Robert had been wondering. He'd always noticed Ami's skills tended towards water and ice-related things, such as her spectacular swimming skills. This... makes it clear that it's a theme that she has.

It also means that ice was probably responsible for this temperature drop. So he nods thoughtfully.]

Like the Filial Spirits, almost.

[He does know there are others ~~though the mun isn't certain if he knows Usagi is one for certain, yet~~, but he is still curious.]

[Mike very likely was; water is a key part of the aura of everything about her.

As for Robert, if he sniffs around Usagi's secrets, he's going to learn just why a senshi is also sometimes called guardian.]

I guess you could call it similar. We were born with these powers from our past lives. [Even though that sounds incredibly unbelievable, too.]

Edited 2011-10-24 02:31 (UTC)

[Don wants to know more about these "past lives" Ami keeps mentioning, but he thinks he'll let Robert ask the questions. He senses that his own ability to speak intelligibly is dwindling fast.]

[He's had several months to see things more unbelievable than past lives, and though part of his mind still rebels, he asks anyway.]

Are they part of what gives you past lives in the first place...? Or what allows the mechanism that sustains them to occur, at least?

[She's starting to get uncomfortable with so much of the focus being on her.]

It's how we were born. We weren't born as humans, last time. [You can't apply the same biology and science, Robert - though Silver Millenium advancements were remarkable technologically, too.]

[Don is trying really hard to stay awake for this. What are you, Ami, if not human?]

[Sorry, Ami. Robert isn't really trying to be problematic, honest. He's just... unaware of how uncomfortable this is making her.]

What were you born as, then...?

[And that's the end of her patience, because this wasn't about her to begin with, and because she's starting to regret revealing herself if it means losing being seen for herself and being lost behind her other identity.]

I came here to help Don. Let's think about that.

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