I don't want to save the world

[lightthedarkness]

Who: Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon and you!
What: Usagi is dealing with mild corruption and is trying to get rid of it
When: Through mid-March
Where: Beach and Willful Machine

Content Warnings: Violence


A. Strike the Match [Beach]

When the thought 'I wish I could just destroy this whole place' entered her mind, she knew she was in trouble. She knew she was in at least SOME stage of corruption and needed to get it in check.

But the people, outside of Makoto, who she would talk to about the corruption were. all. gone.

And that was the problem. That was why she kept having the thought. Rei, Minako, Hotaru, Setsuna, Varian, Atsushi, Bella, the list went on and on and on and on and on. It was just her and Makoto now.

And then the fearful thought, 'But when would Makoto be next?' would come.

When would another loved one, another precious person be taken? What was even the point to keep going if they were all gone? This was not the first time she had had such thoughts. But this wasn't about Galaxia and an endless war and all life going on. This was just her and her life. This wasn't home. It got incredibly difficult to keep going, to keep hoping they may someday arrive, because there was no way to bring them out of the ocean. But also, she didn't WANT them to arrive. That was the hitch, the problem.

She missed all of her precious people like crazy.

But in her truest of heart's desires, she could never wish them to come to this hell, even if she knew the girls would follow her without hesitation.

"But you're not here," she told the crashing waves. She was Sailor Moon right now, waiting for Maul.

She was so. damn. tired. of this world taking from her, hurting her, and how she was supposed to be okay with it. She didn't even get to mourn Hotaru because this world made her so happy that all she could do was be glad Hotaru got out.

She wasn't okay.

Sailor Moon watched the waves crash around her, a storm out on the horizon making them harsher than usual. The wind whipped her hair around her, her wings going back and forth with the breeze. In her hand was her Tiare.

She sensed someone coming towards her. It wasn't Maul she sensed, but another.

"I would not come any closer," she said, eyes still out on the horizon, her voice harsh. "The waves may suck you under." And she wasn't much in the mood to save anyone. The only reason the waves weren't dragging her away was because of her strength where she stood. "If you have need of the beach there is endless amounts of it," she gestured to the miles of shore.

B. Wildfire [Closed to Maul (and observers)]

Finally, she thought.

"Don't hold back," her head tilted a bit to glance at the Sith behind her, though she did not fully face him, her back still turned to him.

There was a breath, a tic of a second, as if she might change her mind about the whole thing. After all, she was always so hesitant to fight anyone.

She exhaled.

The second passed.

She was already right in front of him, her tiny size and powers allowing her to be deadly fast, her Tiare was raised, fully intending to strike him in the head, whether or not he could block or dodge was his problem.

C. Smoke and ashes [Willful Machine]

The fight had done her a lot of good to get most of her anger out.

But so would shopping. She was currently looking at herself in the mirror, a bright pink and red outfit for springtime. She was turning this way and that with a soft hum and when she saw someone behind her in the mirror she spun around and grabbed their hand, her own nails were still quite sharp as her corruption was still edging away.

"I need your opinion!" she smiled brightly, feeling better and intending on buying a large spring wardrobe with some retail therapy. "How does this look?" she gave a little spin.

(OOC: Unless a character can read souls/auras/have sensitivity in the Force/magic to see through glamours, they will not be able to detect that Sailor Moon and Usagi are the same person.)

Comments

a

[hopesparks]

Anakin is taking a run along the shoreline; his body is restless but his mind is pensive. With each footfall, another thought I promised Ezra I'd help with his vows, what really happened in Crenshaw?, why wasn't I more careful last month?.

He senses her before he sees her. But once he gets closer, he finds Uncle Luke's 'angel.' Sailor Moon.

Who seems to be in a sour mood.

"I'm stronger than I look, don't worry."

[lightthedarkness]

She isn't really all that surprised that Anakin ignores her warning. A cruel enough thought enters her mind, that Anakin's grandfather and uncle do a wonderful job at ignoring warnings, why would he be any better at heeding them?

But she doesn't say such things. Her anger is at this world, not at a boy.

Her eyes narrow as she merely continues to stare out at sea.

"I'm not worried," she finally looked over at him. "Do what pleases you."

[hopesparks]

Anakin isn't deterred and simply wades into the ocean. He keeps a polite distance, though. Which, he finds, is generally a good idea when it comes to upset people.

He turns and watches the sea as well, letting the crashing of the waves ground him and stifle his overabundant energy.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

Beach

[schoolingfish]

Luca sees a woman standing out in the water, and with how harsh the waves are getting with the coming storm he's concerned, so he heads out to make sure she realizes how dangerous it can be. As the waves flow over his feet, they turn green and scaley, becoming longer and webbed, though all the skin that remains dry looks as human as it ever does. As he gets closer, she gives him a warning.

"That's okay if I do. I have gills. But what about you? You could get swept under, too, couldn't you?"

He's nowhere near as far in as she is, after all, and he feels like he might be pulled under. Of course, it's not much of a problem if he does. He'll just swim deep enough that he won't be affected by the storm and just wait it out, but he assumes that's not an option for her.

[lightthedarkness]

It's sweet, his care and compassion for a complete stranger. In her right mind, he's someone she would protect, someone she would fight for, but right now, his kindness stings. His kindness is a reminder that there are just as many kind people that mean the world to her and they don't exist in this world.

Her gaze looks at his feet, the way they turned scaled and webbed.

"It would not kill me," she turned her head to look at him as he came closer. Her wings shift from decorative to real.

[schoolingfish]

"Oh!"

He wasn't expecting the wings to turn real. As the waves worsen, Luca decides this would be easier if he didn't try to keep standing, so he dives into the water, reemerging in his sea monster form, so he can make use of his powerful finned tail to swim closer.

"So why are you out here?"

smoke and ashes.

[opheliac]

( she is only here to pick up more supplies, nothing more than that. despite fishbones and her omen's protesting, jinx has made her mind up of two outcomes of her life here in trench. plan a: work tirelessly over the hexgem until it can warp her out of this city and leave everyone behind. if plan a is a failure, she'll move on to plan b -- allow herself to get so corrupted that she becomes the monster she is destined to be. and to take on the beast life and live among the rest out in the wilderness.

to anyone else, these two plans would seem completely horrid, but to jinx, it just makes perfect sense to her. all that time she asked herself why does she jinx everything that she touches, why does she hurt every person she comes across, and why was she born to be like this (with vi's help)? the answer to all of those questions had been right in front of her face, but she had been so blinded by everyone's kindness which she now wonders if it was just a ploy. )

( she is a prodigy; the one who was meant to be princess of zaun with silco at the throne. they were to rise and fall all kingdoms and claim them as their own. without him, she had gone astray and went on an entirely different path which she thought was lovely. and it was... for a little while. things began to unravel for her when a few people of trench lack of an understanding of her (so she believes). silco warned her people would never understand her or them and at first, she thought the old man was just... being old.

but it seems his wise words had some truth in them. if some good-getter nobodies saw her of a horrendous person, it's whatever. their opinions didn't matter, but those she cared for -- their thoughts meant everything. their acknowledgement and their recognition are what she needs throughout her days. the praise and honesty are like oxygen to jinx; a yearning she will always chase after. it'll never be enough. so when chizuru came to her with that question that day, her glass heart shattered. jinx really thought she was doing well with her and with everyone in trench -- because after all, they were going to show them all just what a great person she was together.

jinx assisted to the injured, rescued those who were in trouble, gave advice who needed it, worked long hours on building weapons to those who asked for them, and spent time to those who needed a hug or a shoulder. yes, she gloated and relished over her killings back home, but she thought with that being the past and not current activities, it shouldn't matter. actions speak louder than words, right? she accepted chizuru for being a demon so why wouldn't she not accept her being a monster? ... and that's the core of her hurt by all of this. )

( jinx welcomed every aspect of chizuru, but she can't do the same. and despite how patient and delicate she was during their relationship with the girl, everything still blew up in flames. then and even now, jinx has been obsessively looking over the equation to see where she messed up. she used the right formula, the right method, added, divided, and subtracted -- so where did it fuck up?

well.

another compulsive thought for another time. because when she enters the shop and sees usagi a few steps ahead of her, jinx instantly wants to turn on her heel and bail. she is now down to two bunnies and she doesn't think... she can take care of either of them anymore. usagi and vi should really find someone else who is better (especially with her plan on leaving). but the teen gets grabbed by the hand which startles her just a slight bit and stares at the other like a fish. )

U-Uhm. Great. ( that didn't sound convincing at all so she tries again, cleaning her throat. )

— Ahem. I mean, lookin' good, Moonlight. Definitely suits ya.

[lightthedarkness]

[Having been in some stage of corruption earlier, Usagi sees the way Jinx is acting. She's cagey, she's less focused. She's less confident than usual. She watches Jinx for a long moment and then puts down the dress, setting it to the side as she fully intended to buy it and deal with something that actually mattered in front of her.

She pulled Jinx closer, eyes searching all over her face and her brows knitting together as she watched her.

Usagi was of the same agreement as Jinx. Actions did speak louder than words. Actions spoke volumes, words could move hearts, but actions showed hearts that the words were truth.

So, being someone who lived by both her actions and words, she grabbed both of Jinx's hands and then pulled her into a tight hug.]

cw: poor mental health + health in general stuff + voices

[opheliac]

( crap, did she say the wrong thing here? the way usagi is eyeing her like this, all signs may point to her possibly offending her or not sounding as enthusiastic. and who knows how her appearance look to everyone else now -- she's been avoiding mirrors. and jinx's been out in the dangerous woods with lurking beasts since over the weekend. her temporary home had been in the branches with her bed being a hammock -- high enough where the beasts can't fully reach her and she would watch them move around from below.

sleep hadn't come to her easy and she's been ignoring the eats until her omen insisted she should have something. her hair, while still braided, there might be a few twigs mix within the twisted locks. sharon and nara'a had offered her a space, but she declined them both -- refusing to be more of an issue in a already horrible world that's putting them in predicaments.

'she's a problem and we all know it.'
'you're about as good for our cause as you were for your family. jinx.'

good old sevika. never afraid to spit out venom right in her face. again, the tug and into a hug leaves her unexpected; arms hovering around the other's form on whether if returning the embrace is appropriate or not. it's like she took a big step backwards -- forgetting what it's like or what to do with human interaction all over again. )

... Sorry. Guess I'm a lil' worn out. ( what an understatement. )

You wanna try out another dress? — I bet you look great all kinds of colors.

C

[thunderingcourage]

The plants had made for a very busy and difficult month, and after Hotaru there had been something weighing on both of their minds. Makoto hadn't been really able to put it into words, but she was as worried as Usagi that she would be pulled away. That no matter how much she fought it there might come a time when she's simply taken. She'd asked several people if there was a way to prevent it but there had been no answers, just the advice to live each day here as if it were the final and last. As if you could wake up at any moment and all of it would jus be a quickly fading dream.

Now that she'd dealt with the worst of the stress her own level had fallen to where she could actually feel things again, the texture of fabrics. The warmth of the sun and the cool air again. Stopping in one of Usagi's favorite shops she was going to pick something up for her, when suddenly she found herself in the other's grip, claws digging a bit deeper than they should have.

"Ahh there you are, I was just going to come and find you."

Makoto watched her spin, smiling. The dress didn't really matter as much as the smile and the golden locks, the boundless energy with which she spun. But still Makoto nodded with a look of a approval,

"It looks great on you. Though I think I saw one that had a little more color right over here."

[lightthedarkness]

"MAKO-CHAN!" Usagi immediately put the dress to the side to hug on tight to Makoto, hugging her with a full-force-Usagi-Hug™. She breathed in her girlfriend, her sense of smell no longer connected to her tongue and hearing colors was gone as well. She closed her eyes and breathed in the soft rose fragrance that she always smelled like. Usagi used to think it was a perfume but it was just "Makoto's essence." She was a beautiful rose made flesh, though sturdier and made of stronger, but just as pretty and smelling just as sweet.

She wondered what it said about her that the people she was dating had a thing for roses...

Well, not the point.

Right now, Makoto was in her arms, Makoto was where Usagi wanted her to be above all else.

Makoto wasn't gone.

[thunderingcourage]

Usagi's hugs were one of the best things in the universe, scratch that they were the best thing in the universe, and it didn't matter which one you were in. Makoto didn't have a problem with bearing the full brunt of the hung and supporting herslef as well as the blonde as she filled Makoto's arms and Usagi wrapped her own arms around Makoto. A bit of color still came to her cheeks each time they did this, along with a smile as Makoto leaned in a little to bring their foreheads close together.

Makoto was still there, and as long as she could help it she would always be there.

"Out doing a little shopping? I was actually thinking about picking up something to surprise you."

It was still a while until her Birthday, and White Day had already passed, so there really wasn't an excuse for it other than Makoto knew they'd both been pretty down lately and she'd wanted to surprise her girlfriend.

"Maybe we could get a pedicure, I think you scratched me just a bit a second ago."

a

[eudaimonikos]

...aren't you the one who dropped me into a blood ocean one time?

[Michael's not even mad about that - it's old news, and even at the time he didn't really mind - but he's surprised to see her again given that he really hasn't for quite a long time now. And also admittedly sort of irritated by the immediate snippiness.]

[lightthedarkness]

[She snorted.]

You're a bit late to be seeking your pound of flesh. [She looked over to him.] Is that what you want then?

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael snorts back!]

Chill out, I'm just walking. No need to be dramatic about it.

A

[faithfulson]

Luke had his own things on his mind, which probably wasn't much of a surprise, given recent events. He kept insisting to himself that he was okay, that he was over what happened with the Emperor, but... well, he was a terrible liar, even when lying to himself. He set out for the beach that day to try and clear his head, to allow himself to let go, but it seemed like he wasn't the only one with that idea.

It was a surprise to actually see Sailor Moon, especially since his last interaction with her was via text. His assessment of her being an angel wasn't all that far off, given her wings, but at the moment, she seemed far from angelic.

"Sailor M--"

He cut himself off, frowning slightly. Something about her felt... familiar, like he was standing before an old friend instead of a virtual stranger. Luke squinted, like he was trying to see through a fog, before he took a step back in surprise.

"Usagi?"

[lightthedarkness]

He was bound to find out, she supposed. Force users always had that little trick to see right through the glamour. The side of her lip twitched.

"Luke," she responded easily enough.

A

[opress]

[Savage wasn't a particularly strong swimmer, so he was wary of the crashing waves and where they could drag him for certain. It was why he kept a clear distance even if he began to pace back and forth with his arrival. The Force radiated off of her where she was watching the water crash on the shore.

He hadn't come for a fight either, but he knew one was going to happen where his brother was going to be involved. Like old times, Savage was keen to shadow Maul to the scene of battle. He knew it wasn't his place to partake, but he could act as observer and be certain his brother would remain in one piece.]

You stare like the Witch does when she doesn't think anyone is looking.

[lightthedarkness]

[She should have known where Maul went, Savage would follow. But Maul wasn't here yet. She glanced back behind her and then turned to look back out at the horizon.]

And what do I look like to you, Savage? [She asked.] What does my stare tell you?

B

[survivalthroughhate]

Maul knew that Usagi had to be in a bad way if she was requesting a fight with him. More often, it was the other way around, and with her flat-out saying no so that he wouldn't end up getting hurt. He knew her power was immense, arguably making her the most powerful person in Trench.

So the fact she was wanting this meant something must have happened. He'd ask after their bout was done, when there would be time for tea and recuperation. For now, he was going to give it his all and not hold back. Even at full power, there was no way he could hope to defeat her. This was an exercise in seeing how long he could last against Sailor Moon before she overwhelmed him.

Force but she was fast. She was in front of him before he had time to do more than blink. He ducked down and rolled to the side, popping back up on his feet within a few seconds. His saberstaff was out and both sides lit. Going on the offensive, he went in for a quick few slashes.

[lightthedarkness]

Her Tiare is up and, well, she was always curious if the lightsaber could slice through the Tiare. The initial answer is "no" but she's not going to let Maul keep slashing at her to find out if there is, in fact, a limit. She takes several flips back to avoid the next several slashes. She has to put Maul back on the defensive.

She summons a barrier of light and shoves with it to put distance between her and Maul because she knows that he has the bigger advantage when they're up close to one another with both weapon and size. The Tiare is, at best, a club, the lightsaber is the more deadly weapon at close range. She twirls the Tiare and contemplates her next move, she's so far decided to stay on land, not shifting to flight yet.

Sailor Moon decides, then, that Maul always wanted to fight her at full-blast, and while she wasn't going to do THAT since it would easily kill him, she IS going to send a Honeymoon Therapy Kiss at him.

B. A slightly late to the fight observer

[ezra_of_lothal]

The last time Usagi and Ezra talked about feelings much, he'd managed, to his regret, to shut her down pretty hard. Perhaps it's not fair, but uncertain he wouldn't just make things worse, he leaves the ball in her court, even though he knows he's not exactly been doing great. In the meantime, he runs with the premise that if something truly alarming happens to his friend, he'll pick up some inkling of it through their limited blood bond, or through his own sense of the Force.

Today may be that day. Even when it dawns on him something out of the ordinary is coming through their bond, he can't make heads or tails of it immediately. Nothing comes through sharply enough that he jumps to the conclusion that she's been injured in an accident or attacked by someone or something bend on killing her.

Curious and mildly concerned, he goes looking. He can almost always find the people he has connections with, if he puts his mind to it. The blood bond just makes it easier.

What he finds-

It takes him a moment, to really process that's Usagi. But ok, she has yet another aspect from Serenity; he can roll with that. Usagi, or whatever she calls himself in this form, fighting Maul. Alright. A year ago he would have immediately assumed Maul was the aggressor, and out to kill, and called in back up somehow. But now - Maul is almost always angry still, yes. But it's Usagi who's bleeding emotion into the Force so raw, and viscerally, it makes Ezra shudder.

And one thing Ezra does believe is Usagi and Maul love each other. Every interaction he's witnessed between them has spelled out an imperfect, but genuine and seemingly unconditional closeness. Combine that with not actually sensing anyfocused malice-

This is a spar, he concludes, albeit a strange and dangerous one. He knows full well he's used lightsaber practice to burn off emotions at times. So, he folds himself to sitting cross-legged on a rock high on the shore, at what he judges to be a relatively safe distance away, his eyes bright with worry.

Waiting. Hoping the spar winds down, yet ready to try to intervene if the fight turns deadly between the participants, or dangerous to a bystander.

[lightthedarkness]

Throughout the spar, her anger grows and grows and grows. It does not dwindle even as the spar goes on, move for counter move. The anger carries endless other emotions as well, loneliness at all of her precious people from home constantly being taken from her. Sadness that she is helpless to stop it. Anger at herself for wanting them here and being unsatisfied with what she does have. Anger at the world for constantly putting her and others through the endless bullshit. Anger at the Pthumerians for letting this world THEY control seemingly fester and rot.

At some point her anger becomes less controlled, whatever vice grip she has on her anger seemingly snaps at some point in the fight and she gets Maul flat on his back, lightsaber knocked away, and is about to pierce her Tiare through one of his hearts.

Only to stop mere centimeters above Maul's chest, panting, and then dropping the Tiare, scrambling off of him and sobbing. She's terrified at how far she went, how much she was willing to kill in that moment.

She didn't want to kill Maul, she loved Maul, for all of the times he infuriated her and exhausted her, HE came to help HER.

Sailor Moon gets up and screams at the ocean, the type of scream that is from the heart. Tears streaming down her face. She is wild and chaotic and hurting. The anger is replaced with ache.

Heartache. Deep heartache and fear at what she is and what she almost did. Then exhaustion.

Eventually, she collapses to her knees, the storm moves further out to sea, as if her rage and screams chased it away. She sits back on her heels and looks up at the sky.

There is longing there, but the anger is gone. And with it, the rage, she isn't an empty shell or husk, but the rage is like the storm, being carried out to sea and dissipating with the winds. She's just tired.

She's exhausted.

But the rage of the storm has quelled both within and without. After some time, she realizes Ezra is beside her. She knew he was there during the fight, her own senses didn't exactly let her forget the presence of another. She took a deep breath, and opened her mouth to speak, but then, said nothing, she closed her eyes, too tired to even guess what he might say or might scold.

a

[dyaddyissues]

Kylo likes the beach, if there's any place that he can say that he truly likes here. The woods also suffice, either one he finds he doesn't mind going for a round of training or meditation or just simply... brooding. Rey is gone and with it, any feeling of warmth or hope with her. The bond rings hollow.

So. The beach. The waves crashed against the shore violently as the storm swelled above in a near perfect recreation of the storm that typically raged within him. Maybe he could swim out and leave this place, and what? Be back to enemies again? The thought is a bitter one. The camaraderie had felt... nice.

Of course he's not alone out near the water, watching the waves.

Kylo shrugs off Sailor Moon's warning. The swirling emotions around her were as a beacon to the darksider.

"You're out here." He drawls in reply, stepping even closer. He has the Force on his side.

[lightthedarkness]

'You're out here,' she's used to being underestimated. She's used to being considered weak and not a threat. Kylo has never met Sailor Moon, and she doesn't exactly go around exclaiming how powerful she is unlike so many others in this place.

"I am," she turned to look at him. "So as to not hurt others during the fight."