[Thread] - What is the price of peace of mind?

[waterfell]

Characters: OU: Mizuno Ami [PGSM], OU: Ichihara Yuuko
Where: Ast-Pente
When: after the Mist plot, when Dark!Mercury returns
Summary: Be careful what you wish for...
Warnings: none?

Comments

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko had just recently finished a shower. It had refreshed her and cleared her head a little. She had troubles at the moment of her own. Most from the various disappearances of people the reactions others were having to them. It bothered her that people merely vanished like they were and in mass amounts. Wearing a simple white kimono that she often slept in with all her hair down, Yuuko was pondering this as she stared out the window.

However someone was at her door. "Come in," She called absently before Mercury had actually knocked.

[waterfell]

That certainly brought Mercury up short. She hadn't knocked!

...Going in there unsettled from the start was probably not wise. But sitting here now that she'd been acknowledged was pointless, too. She stepped inside.

A slight bow was her greeting to Yuuko. So this was the one... She was actually quite pretty. "Good evening. I mentioned I'd be coming."

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko did not turn from the window when Mercury entered, still staring outside with her back to the other girl. "Yes," She replied. "I was waiting."

There was another pause before she finally turned to face Mercury, smiling slight. "You said you had a wish."

[waterfell]

Something in that smile...

Mercury did not live in the Dark Kingdom without a healthy dose of paranoia caution. No one lived (long) in the Dark Kingdom without that, after all. What was this woman thinking?

"Yes," she said simply. She was sure she felt more confident than it probably sounded. This was the worst timing! But no, this was why she was doing this. "I should explain it?"

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko nodded and crossed the short distance to sit on the couch. She motioned for Mercury to sit in the chair across her if she wanted.

"Yes, please do."

[waterfell]

Mercury took the chair, along with a deep breath as she sat. She was definitely not doing this hurriedly, but she was afraid somehow.

The words to use...

"I was a sailor senshi, and I serve the Dark Kingdom. The two are enemies, so those parts of me are enemies, too. What I want, is to stay as I am now; for that conflict to be over. No more back and forth."

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko tilted her head slightly, though she didn't seem confused. "You want to be... free from the Dark Kingdom. Or from the Sailor Senshi?"

[waterfell]

Mercury barely controlled the impulse to scream at this woman. Stupid thing! As if she'd want the first - as if it were possible.

I'm already of the darkness.

"I'll be serving the Dark Kingdom," she said. Semantics: to wholly eradicate that, who could say what effect it would have on Mercury's powers? No, the goal was to suppress.

But the truth was...it didn't sit right to say 'I want to be free of the senshi' even now. This woman, making her think this way!

[only_hitsuzen]

"Serving the Dark Kingdom..." Yuuko echoed thoughtfully, her eyes never leaving Mercury. "You want to be in the middle."

She wanted a balance as far as Yuuko could tell. Or something like it.

[waterfell]

They were away from dangerous ground now - thankfully.

This woman isn't my goal. Actually, this woman is...someone I wouldn't mind knowing, in a sense. Now that I'm here...I see they come to her for what she can be. That's not so different...

These were strange thoughts, but not dangerous.

Still, Mercury shook her head. "That would only be more confusion. I want to whole-heartedly pursue my mission and live out my life by the ideals of the Dark Kingdom."

[only_hitsuzen]

"That's your wish," Yuuko stated. She gave a nod, looking thoughtful. So maybe not. She was difficult to read clearly. But a wish was a wish. Yuuko had no choice but to grant it.

"You will pay the price for this wish?"

[waterfell]

Mercury might be having second thoughts, but she certainly had been thinking. She paused.

"I have questions first:

First, what is the price?

Can it be undone? I'm not eager to pay this sort of price for something gone tomorrow.

Will the wish and its price remain in effect when I return to my world?

If it were somehow undone, would the price be returned to me as well?

Also, are there circumstances under which you would share the details of our deal if I requested that you not do so?"

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko seemed very amused by her questions. But she smiled and didn't let it show well.

"Your price is one of your abilities. It cannot be undone unless under rare circumstances. There is no way to know for sure, but I would say the effect would stay. Your price will not be returned."

She tilted her head. "That depends on what details you ask for."

[waterfell]

Mercury thought quickly.

My power? But my power...

Giving up all of it is impossible; it defeats the point, but she's not asking that. The best to give up is the ability to manipulate them. But then when I returned, Usagi's friends, they wouldn't be under my control any longer...that's a lot less comfortable... Actually, even here it could make things difficult...

But better less comfortable than insufferable!

No, there's a small chance it could be undone...and I'd have nothing, but the price would still be paid. Even a small chance, that's not a good situation, either. But...as it stands, I can't tolerate this! It's better to do this.

She nodded. "There's one ability I can give up."

Actually... having a small out, that's not a bad idea, either. But it doesn't take much to think of how to turn this situation around, so I should make sure that isn't possible."Is it possible to make it part of the wish that it can't be undone... unless I myself want it to be? I assume in that situation, the rest would be as normal for

[only_hitsuzen]

"Then that is the one I'll take," Yuuko confirmed as if she already knew what it would be without actually asking.

At her other question, Yuuko paused. She seemed reluctant but nodded. "Very well. I can do that. It will not affect the price. And I do not discuss the wishings of others to anyone else. Don't worry."

[waterfell]

Victory! At least, as close as it could be for now.

"Then I'm ready," Mercury pronounced.

...what had that reluctance been from Yuuko? No, better not to wonder or worry about it.