[010 ☿] Birthday Cruise

[waterfell]

It's been a pleasant day, Mizuno Ami's birthday, and the summer heat has gentled to a cool autumn evening. As night falls, a golden sun sinks into the sea and the water shimmers in its fading light as a luxurious cruise ship makes its unhurried way down the Sumida River

Comments

[herlonelystar]

[ There's not enough time for her to admire the decor, or curiously poke at the robots that seem to be in an abundance here on the boat.

No, because once Usagi steps into the room wearing a simple pink floor length dress, she can already feel the eyes (or lack thereof) turned to her.

It doesn't take her too long to spot the birthday girl, but once she does, she seems relieved? Almost happy that the only real person in here is one she's familiar with. So, she walks forward but stops halfway to Ami, waiting for the other girl to give the permission to walk any closer.

It's only polite. If Ami doesn't want her in this dream, then this is her chance to kick her out. ]

[waterfell]

[There's no seat for Usagi - whether simply because Ami's filled the table or whether intentionally to keep Usagi outside. Her smile, sly as ever, widens.]

How nice of you to join us, Tsukino-san! [The robots, expressionless, may be a little unnerving.]

It's a special day, so I don't feel like fighting, but be careful here, ok?

[herlonelystar]

[ She's going to keep her wits about her, because in all honesty, those robots staring really are starting to freak her out. But, seeing as how she's not being kicked out immediately, her expression brightens a little more and she nods. ]

Sure! I can do that!

[ Usagi's swallowing any kind of reservations she may have -- any kind of nervousness that may be trying to break her strength. This was a mission; she had hoped to show up in this girls' dreams for a sole purpose and as long as she could do that then it'd be okay. Everything would be fine for the night.

Her eyes scan the room and, surprise surprise, there's no room for her, but that's not what she's looking for. She's looking for the table that should have all the gifts for the birthday girl. ]

[waterfell]

[The table is against one of the walls, piled high (as of course it would be in her in dream) with brightly wrapped packages. She's held in high esteem here. A robot stands by it to keep everything in good order.]

Where are you looking, Tsukino-san?

[herlonelystar]

Huh?

[ Now that she knows where the presents are, she's just going to turn her attentions back to Ami with a sheepish little smile on her face. ]

I was just admiring your party! [ Well, that's one way to describe it. ] The decoration's really nice in here.

[1/2]

[waterfell]

I wanted to celebrate elegantly!

[2/2]

[waterfell]

[But before she can boast or taunt further, the robots shift restlessly in their seats. Her head turns sharply to look at them, expression guarded and alert. This behavior is unexpected.]

[herlonelystar]

Eh?

[ There's a curious expression on Usagi's face as she sees Ami sudden reaction to the robots. Blinking once, her own gaze looks at the robots. ]

Is something wrong?

[waterfell]

[She frowns. If the robots are behaving strangely, she's lost some tiny part of the control she's exerting here; and they become more and more unpredictable, to her. But as her eyes flicker down the row, nothing seems out of place besides that odd sense of movement.

Perhaps she's imagining it. Thinking too hard about the possibilities.]

No; it's nothing.

[The table is covered with dishes of food, and she sends these a look before raising an eyebrow at Usagi.]

Hungry?

[herlonelystar]

I'm a little hungry, yeah!

[ And it's then that Usagi steps towards the table to get a better look at what's there. ]

Oh, wow! Look at all this stuff!

[ Her hand reaches forward towards the display and regardless of whether it's to pluck a delicious honey butter roll from its basket or to just gently nudge things around so she can see, the robot next to her reaches forward to grab her wrist from moving any further. ]

Wh-what the...

[ And suddenly she's thrown backwards with an inhumane strength into the closest wall with a painful thud and cry. ]

[waterfell]

[She'd be smug (albeit ready to take the situation out of the robot's hands) if it had been her plan.

But it isn't.

Ami gets to her feet just as the robots all around the table get to theirs. That's when the sees it: the black moon sigil, suddenly appearing openly on their foreheads.]

Dark Power, Make-up!

[They advance on her, lumbering with awkward gaits, deceptively smooth but inhuman.]

[herlonelystar]

[ When Usagi gets her bearings back from being thrown into the wall, she idly nurses her wrist. It stings -- that much is for certain. It doesn't stop her however as she watches Ami transforms into Dark Mercury .. and especially when she sees the robots with their black moon sigils shifting forward en masse to the birthday. ]

Silver Moon Crystal Power, Make-up!

[ In a flurry of light and feathers, Usagi becomes Eternal Sailor Moon sans the large white wings, her eyes sweeping over all the potential enemies. ]

[waterfell]

[The entire ship is full of robots; she has to assume, now, that it's full of droids just like the room. Mercury has the grim satisfaction of knowing she can make the Black Moon clan pay for such an open attack, but her enemy is far more immediate right now.

Sailor Moon receives only a quick, appraising look to be sure she can still fight. They have a common foe right now, but no time for niceties even if Mercury knew how to say them. An ethereal harp shimmers into her hand.]

Dark Rhapsody!

[A watery glissando unleashes the force of her power and anger, pushing back the closest droids to send them toppling over each other. Some struggle to move; some lay perfectly still.]

[herlonelystar]

[ The harp is nostalgic once Moon takes notice of it. She has no time to dwell on the immediate feeling however as she notices a few of the remaining robots inside of the hall are gathering. With a frown she raises her own hands up and sends a beam of power to shoot through the droids.

Nothing too fancy, just a concentrated beam of silver moon energy that she fluidly sweeps away from Mercury, taking out a good chunk of the droids that disintegrate into moon dust that quickly disappears into nothing. ]

[waterfell]

[She consciously keeps herself from staring at Sailor Moon (how much power-?); they still have opponents left here. Mercury cuts them down where she stands, a slash of her sword against the air releasing streams of dark energy that shatter the things to pieces.

When the things are finished, between the two of them, Mercury catches her breath. She won't have long to do it.]

[herlonelystar]

[ And rightfully so -- no time to spare as Moon hears the creaking footsteps of the robot droids that are starting to gather outside. Her head turns just slightly as she tries to figure out the best way to go at this.

But for a moment, she turns her head back to Mercury and gives her an apologetic little smile. ]

I'm sorry that the robots are ruining your cruise, Mercury.

[ She has no reason to apologize but she offers it anyway as the smile fades. Pleasantries over, she bolts for the double doors and after sparing one last glance at her companion, swings it open, jumping backwards so that the droids only have one place to come in from ... an easy target for the two senshi ready to blast at them. ]