[Special 008: Voice/Action]

[no_use_running]

[Voice/Ami]

This may seem sort of a strange question suddenly, but please tell me about your families.

[Ami's having one of those days where the distance between herself and her family and friends seems too vast and too real. Later, to focus her mind, she'll train in the battle dome, partners and visitors welcome.]

Comments

[the_mikester]

[Mike is watching, mouth hanging open. He hadn't recognized you at first, but there was no mistaking that energy- stronger now, more abundant, and overlaid with different patterns- but still you. There is a warm feeling rising in his chest, and he hasn't taken a breath in over a minute. Don't worry, though. As a turtle, he won't start feeling dizzy for a little while longer.]

[no_use_running]

[Ami goes through a few cool-down stretches to keep her muscles from tensing up, seemingly oblivious to her watcher.]

[the_mikester]

[Mike... is observing his own brain as if from far away. Ami... is not just a Japanese school girl. She knows magic, or something like it. She can fight. His heart is beating really fast and hard, like it's trying to hammer it's way out of his plastron. And let's not forget that she looks really delicious right now, a light sheen of sweat coating her skin as she stretches...

Mike shakes himself, and takes in a breath.]

[no_use_running]

[She rubs at a spot on her arm; perhaps a slightly tense muscle. Then she turns to the door to head out.]

[the_mikester]

[Oh no, she's leaving! Mike bounds down to the door, trying to beat her there. If he succeeds, he'll lean against the doorway casually, looking up as though he didn't know she was there.]

Oh, hey Ami.

[Isn't he smooooth?]

[no_use_running]

[Something seems a bit stiff about that pose.... Ami shrugs it off and is just about to answer when it hits her:

He called her Ami. While she's transformed.]

Mike?

[the_mikester]

That's my name, don't wear it out.

So, you uh... been working out?

[Geez. Could he get any more lame?]

[no_use_running]

[Mercury doesn't seem to notice it as 'lame'. Instead, she nods slightly.]

I want to stay in shape here, especially with the drafts. I've gone twice, so, it may not be my last time, either.

[the_mikester]

So... [He gets a little more serious, and he may even be blushing a darker green than the rest of his skin.] You can fight. [There's a million unspoken questions there, but Mike is almost smiling. This is great!]

[no_use_running]

Why are you calling me Ami?

[It could be taken either as denial, or simply asking how he knows.]

[the_mikester]

Cause... that's your name?

[Oh no. You don't think he's being too forward, do you? Should he be calling you Mizuno-san?]

[no_use_running]

I'm called Mercury.

[A part of her dislikes doing this, but she doesn't quite mean it as deceiving him; she just has to clear this up.]

[the_mikester]

Mercury. [Beat.] Is that like your superhero name?

[no_use_running]

I'm the soldier of Water and Knowledge, Sailor Mercury.

[She's being purposely cryptic now, to avoid lying while still avoiding calling herself Ami until she knows more. Come on, Mike, tell her how you knew.]

[the_mikester]

A soldier. [Somehow, that is even cooler than being a superhero. Since you certainly don't look like a regular solider in that sailor suit.] So is that why you feel all... [He waves his hands vaguely,] different? [He's not good at explaining how his chi-sensing works.]

[no_use_running]

[She relaxes a little finally.]

So that's how.