Studious girl!

[waterfell]

In this corner of the moonlocket space, Mizuno Ami is de-transformed for once, studying in her room and making notes while listening to a Kuroki Mio CD she's conveniently been able to procure in a different dimension. It was probably a gift from the artist

Comments

[shadowedgold]

[Twitch... twitch... That's...]

AAAAAARRRRRG! Turn that stupid music OFF!

[waterfell]

Congratulations, you've startled her. Ami drops her pencil. She doesn't even pick it up before she's turning to the intruder.

"Venus!"

For a moment, she has the automatic urge to transform. Then she takes in that tone, and a few other very subtle differences. She knows this Venus; the Dark Kingdom.

"I was studying," she says a bit sternly. She reaches to turn the music down, but not off.

[shadowedgold]

[Twitches again, resisting the urge to turn off the music herself... or worse, smash the player. Stupid Mio, messing with her energy gathering, getting her in trouble with Beryl. Instead, she tries to ignore it, going to look at what Ami's working on. Before long though, her vision swims because of the complexity of the math.]

You really are Mercury-chan's counterpart. [Wrinkles her nose.] Why would be listening to that though? I HATE Mio! She's stealing my fans, and I'm going to get in trouble with Beryl!

[waterfell]

"I don't think anyone needs to worry about Beryl," Mercury says. But she does oblige as far as picking up her pencil, tucking away some of the notes, and finally turning the music off. After all, if it bothers this Venus that much, she may as well.

"If you don't like it, I need new music to listen to," she suggests. It would be somewhat ironic to listen to Aino Minako music again, but why not when it's one working against the princess and prince?

[shadowedgold]

[At the last bit, Venus immediately opens her subspace pocket, fumbling around till she finds a couple CDs. Blinks, eying them as she tries to figure out if they're safe to give Ami or not, because... she can't remember the differences between the regular CDs and the energy draining CDs.]

Um... Here! [Plops one down on the desk on top of the notes.] You might want to scan it though. [Laughs a bit nervously, scratching the back of her head.] Beryl wanted me to make all the CDs drain energy, but... that would have been a give away!

[waterfell]

"Umm... I think you're right that it's better if I scan them right away..." Ami pastes a slight smile on, mentally facepalming. Is this really Venus or some weird alternate Usagi?

Probably best not to question that too hard. Or out loud.

Fortunately, they're in her room. She has plenty of devices utilizing fairly impressive technology already set up here. The CD is scanned and... Ami hands it right back to Venus.

"Not that one, Venus-chan."

[shadowedgold]

[Grabs the CD back and holds it up to another one, eying both closely. Then, after a long moment, puts the second CD down and grabs another one. She does this a couple times because she finally makes a little noise of satisfaction, placing the CD down on Ami's notes one more.]

Here! This one should be okay! ... I think.

[waterfell]

She thinks? But another scan reveals the CD is clean. Ami takes it out, places it in the CD player, and presses the button. The strains of "Route Venus" being playing. It suits Ami somehow, that outwardly cheerful tone and beat for the nostalgic and sad lyrics.

"You're pretty good, Venus-chan," she compliments.

[shadowedgold]

Thanks! [Smiles cheerfully and plops down to sit, facing Ami. Tilts her head, because she looks so different this way! After a moment, nods. Jupiter would like the way she looks like this... Grins wickedly, still plotting to get her Jupiter and Mercury together.]

Why homework, Mercury-chan? Isn't it boring?

[waterfell]

"Nn." She shakes her head with the negation and a small smile again. "I like this. I want to test myself. Besides, this is what I'm good at."

Ami, fortunately, has no idea what diabolical thoughts are going through Venus' head. Seriously, her and a sailor senshi? Ew.

[shadowedgold]

[That would be why she didn't say it out loud. Buuuuut... she can't resist a teeny question. Because her Mercury would NEVER answer it.]

Mercury-chan... What kind of things do you like? In others?

[waterfell]

"Eh? What do I like?" The question takes her off-guard and that might be noticeable for just a moment. In a blatant and enormous self-contradiction, she ignores what obviously comes to mind as she names qualities:

"Someone who's strong. Powerful. Confident." Good at chess. A master swordsman. A leader. Handsome.

Don't do this to her, Venus.

[shadowedgold]

[Nod, nod, nod. Well, those describe Jupiter for sure! Grins. So she just has to get her Mercury to see those traits in Jupiter! Thankfully for Ami, that's enough for Venus for confirmation, so she moves on with the conversation.]

How are things in your world? We haven't talked for awhile!

[waterfell]

She's finally begun to understand the benefits of holding back the progression of her world. It allows her to maintain a more favorable state of affairs with others in many ways. Ami considers, therefore, what to tell or not tell this Venus. There's a lot to consider in that question, and it takes her a moment before answering.

"Beryl is gone and, so is the Princess."

[shadowedgold]

[Her eyes widen and she grins brightly, bouncing forward to hug Ami, excited.] You got rid of the princess! That's great! That definitely means we can do it too!!

[waterfell]

She shies away from the hug, eyeing Venus with a mixture of confusion and a new wariness.

"Of course you can do it," she says blandly. "If you're powerful enough."