Planting seeds

[ryoko_set_free]

From the inside, Ryo-ohki's interior was dominated by the fact that it appeared to be open to the vacuum, naked stars and planets on display without an apparent hull to keep the atmosphere in. It was actually a real-time projection to allow for three-dimensional maneuvering; the floor could also be made to appear transparent to eliminate the last

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[delicate_royal]

Ayeka didn't speak much when Ryoko greeted her at the shrine. Just a few affirmatives and the like. The night before had been rather restless, she tossed and turned a few times trying to contemplate her future with Tenchi. There were other things that should be on her mind now, but the princess always did have a bit of trouble sorting out her priorities

[ryoko_set_free]

Ryoko wasn't used to having company on trips so the break in the silence was welcome. She didn't have anything to do at this point; Ryo-ohki was driving, after all. She did the math, with help from the ship. "Not quite two Earth days, I think. Ryo-ohki's faster than she used to be." One of the floating gems jiggled happily at the compliment as it drifted by.

Ryoko looked over at Ayeka and noted the tension. "With some luck and our usual amount of badassness we'll be home free by this time next week. Loads better than when I got out last time-" Ryoko scowled briefly. She really ought to tell Ayeka the story so she doesn't go in totally unprepared, but the princess was wound a little tightly at the moment and it wasn't an encouraging story.

"Look Ayeka, we can get down to business about the plan but we just got started. You *can* relax here, ya know. There's vids, there's a bath, a kitchen with food that I didn't cook, even a library." Washuu had insisted. Ryoko even used it from time to time. "Hell, wanna play cards?"

[delicate_royal]

Ayeka sulked a little bit. It may have only been an outward appearance, but Ryoko seemed unfazed by both the upcoming mission and their little 'talk' about Tenchi. It took some doing to admit to herself, but Ayeka had always envied the pirate's ability to bounce back

[ryoko_set_free]

Ryoko smiled encouragingly as she retrieved the red-back cards from a hidden drawer in the table. She shuffled with practiced ease but no flourish. The deck was as crisp as brand-new despite showing years worth of wear; the crab symbol on the back might explain why. "We could play something simple for points or we could play a betting game, but I can't think of any stakes we could use. Betting's no fun unless there's something at stake."

Card games are strange things; they can casually burn through hours of light conversation or heavy philosophy with the same ease. They can pack five revealing moments and chances to lie into each hand, making time move in yet another way.

They've got both kinds of hours before that speck on the galactic horizon, the first obstacle on their road, makes itself known.

And livejournal is starting to get weird, so it's time for a new thread

[delicate_royal]

Ayeka could feel something grabbing at her, and shortly thereafter the gel on her face began to dissolve. Pulling her hands from her face, Ayeka took a deep breath even though she had no trouble breathing before. As Maka worked on her feet, Ayeka took in the sight of the destroyed auditorium and everything began to sink in. "Where is Ryoko?!" She demanded. "Don't tell me that witch Nagi managed to get away with her?"

Maka started pulling on her arm before she could say anymore. But the princess dragged her heels, her eyes filled with hatred. She had no intention on going anywhere with this woman. "Where the devil are you taking me? This is all *your* fault!" She prepared to charge her logs again. "I should kill you for everything you've done to us! You just have no shame at all, do you?" Ayeka had to rail at something, and Maka was a deserving target.

[roguebranch]

Her first instinct had been to chase them down. But no; while her ship could catch them easily, it was no match for Ken-Ohki's firepower. There had to be another way

[delicate_royal]

Okay, so she wasn't quite prepared to see that

[roguebranch]

Her shoulders slumped. "Everything's gone wrong," Maka said brokenly, not lowering the blade yet. She'd do it if she knew for certain that it would really save Ryoko, but there was still that chance; maybe it wouldn't fulfill the deal, or what would Nagi do if she realized that she lost her chance but still had Ryoko in her power? Hot tears spilled down Maka's face. Her deception was destroyed anyway; what did it matter now?

"I had to lie to make it easier for her to let go, but it's me, *I'm* the one who should die. You would both be free and some of the damage I did would have been worth it." She squeezed her eyes shut as an upsurge of despair rolled through her. It was almost enough for her to make that fatal motion, but the thought of duplicitous, thieving, hateful Nagi speeding away stayed her hand another moment.

[2/2]

[greatestgenius]

Trying to figure out how she'd been misunderstood so completely, Ryoko let herself be drawn along. She saw that they were headed for Yagami; so the cops were still at the reunion. Oh wow was this going to be strange. She wished she'd thought to carry her pardon with her, but it was safely tucked away in the subspace pocket that was the bridge of Ryo-Ohki's ship form. She could get at it with a little time or with Washuu's help, but it would have been nice to have in her hand when the questions started.

Of course this was sort of ancillary to the fact that she was being pulled by a woman she'd had a brief encounter with more than a millennium ago who thought they were destined to be together.

Maybe she should try again to explain. "Kodachi, you have to listen to me, I'm not sick, and my girlfriend is-" her foot caught on a rock and she stumbled, not finishing her sentence. Ryoko was walking to be polite but she was a little off-balance in *so* many ways at the moment.

Washuu nearly gave her hiding place away when she herself

[kodachi_sama]

Kodachi continued to drag Ryoko by the arm, determined to confront the people under the space craft so she could demand medicine for her love. Ryoko was continuing to babble something or other about not being sick, despite being obvious -to Kodachi, anyway- that she was. She had nearly gotten in sight of the group when Ryoko stumbled. *That* finally caused Kodachi to pause, kneeling down to tend to her love

[ryoko_set_free]

"I'm not hurt either, I just-" but Kodachi tied the ribbon around her anyway in a place where, even had she been hurt, it would do no good whatsoever. Clearly Kodachi thought she was being kind and heroic with it. Okay, this was getting out of hand

[kodachi_sama]

During Ryoko's attempted explaination, Kodachi pretty much listened without actually listening. The ex-pirate spoke of thousands of years and the like, but she didn't seem to understand that time had no meaning when love was involved! But Kodachi wasn't *too* worried, Ryoko would understand the concept once they started their new life together back in Nermia. The name Ayeka did catch her attention a little, but she quickly brushed it off. It probably wasn't anyone important