thinking won't get us anywhere

[hershiningheart]

WHO: Usagi Tsukino, OTA
WHERE: Various places in Temba
WHAT: Usagi's explorations
WHEN: Various days
WARNINGS: some possible mention of the deaths of her friends



Diner.

Usagi knew she shouldn't be picky but the offerings today were not appetizing, too much lettuce and veggies. She misses her mother's lemon cake, big steaming buns, rabbit-shaped rice cakes Makoto would share with her at lunch, and of course sweet dumplings. Just thinking about all the good food she was missing makes her groan in disappointment.

But her stomach was growling but she wasn't ready to give up just yet. If there weren't any sweets set out then Usagi would just have to fix that. Looking around to make sure that she was so far alone she sneaks into the kitchen, giggling to herself. Surely everyone would be happy when they discover that she made cookies for them all. After all, she had seen Makoto do it a million times by now she's confident she can do this.


Flour was easily found and she pauses, trying to remember what else Makoto used for her amazing cookies. Eggs, milk...and baking soda? Something like that. Off Usagi went to search again, determined as she threw open cabinets in her search.


Beach.

It's a cool evening when she finds the beach and she can't resist sliding her shoes and socks off, tying up the ends of her hair into two large loops so it wouldn't drag in the water. She indulges in a a bit of splashing about, venturing in to just below her knees as she gathers her skirt in one hand.

Usagi loses herself for a bit so she's not being careful, only coming to a stop when her foot hits a slippery patch of seaweed. But there is no time to avert disaster, flailing around before she hits the water, finding herself soaking wet a moment later as a wave hits her.

She's a bit dazed by this turn of events, still registering being in the cold water without realizing if there is anyone who saw this.


Closed to Peter Quill.

Usagi's smile is a little sad but there is a light in her eyes at his question. "I mean there are lots of tests and make-up tests but it's worth it to be able to be with my friends. All my friends get to join clubs and do what they love." Because she had to believe Ami and Makoto weren't gone forever, she wasn't ready to let them go. They would all be able to live out their high school years together.

"You're a space pirate??!" Usagi bounces, eyes wide. It was like something out of a manga, a cute dashing space pirate robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. She had no idea who Lone Starr or Robin Hood was but it didn't matter. She was getting to meet a real pirate! "I thought all pirates had eyepatches though?"

It was a genuine question as she tilts her head as she looks at him.

Comments

Beach

[tyrants_son]

The sudden splash near her is to abrupt to be another wave. Usagi might catch a glimpse of the flapping edge of a dark coat before a gloved hand attempts to grasp her arm to help haul her up out of the water. Hopefully she doesn't startle too much at the sleek black skull of a robotic face looking down at her, eyes glowing like embers in a furnace.

"Are you all right?" There's only the slightest intonation to that faint electronic echo to suggest concern, but it's there.

[hershiningheart]

She doesn't look before taking his harm to get out of the water. She's cold and shaking, inwardly scolding herself as she looks up at her rescuer when he speaks.

Her eyes widen when he talks and even though she knows it's rude, she can't help but stare at his face and his eyes that seem to burn. "I-I'm a-alright," she manages to stammer as she tries to find her footing in the wet sand. He hasn't tried to hurt her and she's out of the water which she's grateful for.

[tyrants_son]

He waits, taking the fact that she can react to him- even if it is to stare a bit- as a sign that she's not too dazed or injured. He gives her a nod when she finally does find her voice, lending her his arm until she can get her feet under her. At least she hadn't screamed. He wouldn't know what to do then.

"You should be careful out here. If not only in watching the waves, there are large crustaceans that dwell on the beach as well."

Once the girl had found her footing, the Exo would lead her back up from the water's edge. His own boots sunk deep into the sand with each step, the hem of his greatcoat soaked and dripping as they reached the drier part of the shore.

[hershiningheart]

She was grateful for the assistance back to the beach, being careful not to slip on the wet sand.

"I think I'm going to avoid the ocean from now on," she assures him as she shivers once they reach dry sand. She was cold and shivering but still gives him a grateful smile. He may have a scary and strange appearance but that doesn't negate the fact that he helped her safely to shore.

"Does my gallant rescuer have a name?"

[tyrants_son]

That was just as well. "What were you doing out in the water anyway?" The idea that people actually played in the water for sport and fun was completely unheard of to him, but then the area he came from was too cold for such things even if those human settlements had people inclined to try.

Those glowing eyes blinked at her question, looking almost confused for a moment. Although his Ghost was unseen, he could tell she was having a laugh, which only made him more confused. Since they were no longer in danger of being caught up in waves, the Exo released the girl's hand.

"My name is Felwinter," he finally replied.

[hershiningheart]

"It was fun- or supposed to be." At least until she had fallen in the water, that part wasn't so fun but now that she's on dry land she's a little more relaxed. She was going to ask if he's never played in the water before but looking at him she already knew the answer.

"It's nice to meet you, Felwinter," she smiles at him, finally able to take in his full appearance but she doesn't flinch. "I'm Usagi."

Beach

[silenziobruno]

Because of the purple sand, the water looks really dark when the sun's setting and that's the time of the day when Alberto likes to swim in the ocean. He's harder to spot and that makes it safer, he doesn't know any human who can see in the dark. He's humming to himself, swimming underwater, his long scaly tail swaying behind him as he moves, the tip of a large fin sometimes breaking the surface of the water.

The loud splash makes the sea monster turns towards the source of the noise, big green eyes focusing to try and see what it caused it. As much as he likes the ocean, Alberto is very aware that it can be dangerous, that seaweed could tangle around people's feet and that the currents might take them underwater by accident. He got used to looking after the humans who got into the water in Portorosso, and the habit hasn't gone away here in Temba.

Re: Beach

[hershiningheart]

Staying in the water is just making her even colder so she hauls herself up, wounded pride and all, making sure she had both shoes in hand. Another wave nearly sends her sprawling face-first into a pile of seaweed but she manages to stay on her feet.

"Ugh this is so gross," she whines as she picks a long green thread of kelp from one long pigtail that had come undone. She knew she looked like a complete mess, soaking wet with bits of seaweed hanging from her hair.

[silenziobruno]

It doesn't look like she needs any rescue from possible ocean currents, but the poor girl clearly isn't having a good time either. Her hair is a bit of a mess, but Alberto is still impressed at how long are her pigtails.

After considering what to do, he disappears under the water and swims further away from Usagi, only to reappear on a spot on the beach she can't see from that angle. Alberto steps out of the ocean and shakes the water off of him like a dog, his looks changing from those of a sea monster to a normal human with tanned skin, green eyes, and brown curls. He heads towards her side of the shore, waving a hand at the girl, yet making sure not to get too close to the water.

"Ey, signorina. Are you all right?"

Diner

[plate_builder]

Reeve had merely shown up to put together a scant lunch because Mini was nagging him. It wasn't that Reeve had forgotten to eat again (it was totally that Reeve had forgotten to eat again), but rather that Mini was quite the keeper. And so, prodded along by the three foot high doll.

What he wasn't expecting to hear when he entered was the greater degree of... well, chaos. The noises, the banging, the indecision. Reeve paused by the door, confused and off guard. But Mini?

Mini just strode confidently back toward the kitchen and then into it.

"Oy!" he called out as he entered, "whas that goin on in here? Ya got quite a racket!"

[hershiningheart]

Usagi peered out of a cabinet, blinking, and with two containers of what she thought was baking soda and baking powder.

A talking cat.

He didn't have a moon and he was walking strangely but of course, he was scolding her just like Luna would right now. She didn't even bother to look up to see Reeve there as she squealed in delight.

"You're so cute! What's your name?" the two containers she had been holding were dropped as she bounces over to Mini, kneeling down so she's at his level. "I'm Usagi!"

[plate_builder]

Reeve was getting ignored over Mini so often lately. Wow. Mini really was quite happy with the attention he was getting, right down to people getting down on his level. The cat put his hands on his hips and smiled at the girl.

"Ah'm Mini. Whatcha tryin' ta make?"

Not that he knew much about cooking. But he knew Reeve knew at least something.

[hershiningheart]

"It's nice to meet you, Mini." Usagi beams, meaning it. She still hadn't noticed Reeve as she turns back to the cabinet to show him what she was looking at.

"I was going to make cookies but I just found the flour. I know we need...eggs. And baking something. I think it was baking soda." She counts on her fingers, trying to remember what Makoto had used. "OH! and chocolate chips. Most important."

[plate_builder]

It's rather amusing to Reeve to be so thoroughly ignored for his little companion. But he definitely has to speak up when she starts listing what she needs.

"We have no chocolate chips. I don't know about baking soda. And eggs? That's not common. People may prefer what little we have be reserved for proper meals."

Diner

[shiftinglikeclay]

It takes more than the relatively short period of time Alex spent as an Einherjar for her to forget the years of food insecurity. So while this place is weird as all hell, and she's still not sure she really believes everything people have said about this place, the one thing she is totally on board with is the access to food.

The sounds coming from the diner kitchen though had her approaching a bit more cautiously than she might have otherwise. Especially as she pokes her head in and sees the... well, mess seems like an understatement. Chaos might be better. She grimaces at the amount of food the supposed 'cook' is wasting. "Do you... need help or something?" she asks finally.

[hershiningheart]

Usagi looks up, flour puffing around her as she sets the bag down at hearing another voice. She gives the girl a warm smile though, glad that perhaps she'll have some more competent help in the kitchen.

"Do you know how to make cookies? I was going to make chocolate chip cookies."

Beach!

[no_applause]

"Oh!" Padme exclaimed in surprise as the strange girl tumbled into the water. She leapt from her blanket and rushed over, reaching for her.

"Oh my! Are you okay?!"

[hershiningheart]

Usagi doesn't register Padme being there for a moment as she shakes a bit of seaweed from her face. Only then does she realize Padme is there and she laughs nervously, stumbling to her feet though another wave made her stumble a little.

This woman looked elegant, completely the opposite of Usagi who was soaked and had bits of seaweed in her hair. "Yeah, I think I'll stay out of the ocean," she gives a small smile though winces as she picks some kelp from a bun.

Thanks for the starter! <3

[puddledancer]

He knew that look: he'd seen it in the mirror quite recently. She'd lost someone or something and was trying to keep going in spite of it: or maybe because of it. He'd done the same after losing Yondu: the old man wouldn't have let him hear the end of it if he'd lain down and just given up.

"Not all of 'em do, but I know a couple with 'em." He grinned, puffing out his chest. "My first crew was called the Ravagers, but now I run the Guardians of the Galaxy. Not our name, the Nova Corps kinda stuck us with it. But we take jobs most people won't, you know? The dangerous stuff."

<3

[hershiningheart]

"Guardians of the Galaxy....that's so cool! Like something out of a movie!" She laughs at his pride but she can understand it. The life of a pirate definitely seems more exciting than make up tests and study groups all the time.

"A heroic space pirate, you must have the most exciting life."

[puddledancer]

"Yeah, most of the time," he said, momentarily about as humble as he ever got. They were still a few minutes out from the diner, and filling the time with talking about his crew seemed like both the best and the worst idea, with how much he missed Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot.

"In between things, though, you just kinda hang out on the ship and bicker with everyone about dumb stuff. Like explaining to everyone what a soap opera is, and having to spend half an hour trying to really, really get them past the fact that no, there's not actually very much soap at all."

[hershiningheart]

Usagi smiles, understanding. In between saving the world she and her friends got to be normal high school girls with normal problems like studying for tests and enjoying the same everyday things as other people did.

"Soap...opera..." She sounds it out, trying to puzzle it out. She knew what an opera was but how it was connected with soap she couldn't figure it out. "Why is it called a soap opera then?"

[puddledancer]

He huffed out a breathless sort of laugh. Of course, it would just figure that he'd gone for a normal example and shot himself a bit in the foot.

"Honestly, I couldn't tell you. My mom, her guess was that it's on durin' the time of day when most old-timey housewives would be cleaning stuff or doing laundry - and that's where the soap part came from."

Diner

[heeeyadora]

Cute blonde with hair poofs? Is it really a surprise Catra has taken notice of her? She tries to tell herself it isn't anything to do with missing Adora, she's just curious about what all that noise is back there.

She arches a curious brow, and smirks at the mess. "What'cha working on, Princess?" she asks, deciding the girl definitely looks like she'd make a good member of that annoying bunch.

[hershiningheart]

Princess. Usagi freezes but she doesn't have any sense of the enemy here. So she looks up with a smile, only pausing just for a moment when she sees the girl who speaks.

No, surely she hasn't been figured out, the enemy wouldn't hesitate so much.

She nervously laughs, knowing she shouldn't be here. "I was going to make cookies but I don't think the things that are needed are here. I can't find any chocolate chips."