AN: I hope you are all well and still with me although I took my sweet time for this chapter. I really hope I can one up the pace a bit in the future. This chapter directly continues from the last one so I recommend re-reading it, in case you got lost. Otherwise as always: Enjoy and please comment.
Previously:
Laertes was quite insistent with his sister, looking out for her well-being, even when they were standing in a vacated bathroom and when their mother the Queen expected them back asap. "Someone needs to take you down a notch, before you run yourself racked. And don't think by any means, we won't talk about all of this later. And now, relax. You know the score. So, just take your time and do the mental relaxation exercises I know you haven't done for days. I..."
"Will you also shut up at some point or am I supposed to relax during your non-stop lecture?"
A smile tugged at Laertes' lips. "Look, who is the bossy one now?"
And then the two were quiet.
All of a sudden, Michiru saw rapid movement in her periphery vision. It was Haruka who tried to get her attention. When Michiru finally tore her gaze away from what was happening with the newly-revealed siblings right in front of her, she looked at her girlfriend expectantly.
The blonde's face was grim and she made a hand sign.
Haruka requested a timeout. One they direly needed after the shocking revelation that Laertes was indeed Methys' brother.
Michiru nodded briefly and looked towards the others who made affirmative gestures, which were more or less half-hearted, stiff or baffled. They required a break. And they would get one.
"Void." Michiru said without the slightest bit of hesitation and heard only the rasp in her throat. Fortunately, the mirror obeyed her command.
Immediately, the scenery around them changed and they entered the subspace of the mirror that was meant to be used for the very purpose of talking things over without stepping back into the real world. She still hated the white surroundings, the vast eternity that made them appear so small and still she brought them here in order to voice their thoughts.
Here they were able to talk; here they could get a breather from all the new impressions the mirror revealed. And here they could finally curse loudly for everyone to hear and vent some of the pent-up tension that ate them up in the forced silence, they had to endure for so long. Here they could finally throw a tantrum. Which is exactly what they did without a care that everyone else did the same.
"You have to be fucking kidding me! That fucking maniac is her twin?!" That was Rei.
"That can't be true. He can't be her brother. Not when he…" Usagi wailed, her voice hitching at the end, before she was drowned out Haruka's agitated voice.
"Goddamn! He almost killed her. She said he did kill her in that past. How the hell can he be her brother…" The racer's fists were clenched.
"How can they be all lovey-dovey here and turn into mortal enemies? That can't be right. That's just so…" Minako protested, pacing from left to right, before she was interrupted by a fuming Makoto.
"How many fucking secrets can a single person have? See! It's all nothing but lies with her. That's why I say we can't trust her. She even kept something like that from us!"
Chaos. This was unbridled chaos with everyone talking over each other without truly hearing anything the others had to say. They just vented their frustration all at once in a verbal outcry of indignation and the sudden noise rang in Michiru's ears like a trampling horde of elephants in a porcelain store. "Ok, timeout! One after the other and no more shouting! If you need a break after that I do understand, but then we should rather leave the mirror altogether instead of venting our frustration on each other."
The potpourri of vociferous complaints died down to more subdued grumbling and weak protests, but finally they had all calmed down enough to get a real conversation going.
It was Rei who said something first. "We have not reached the end of the memory, yet. Pulling us out now might have been too early."
"It was necessary. We need to talk about it. And I won't bite my tongue all the time combusting in on myself because I can't say a damn word in there. This needs to be addressed. Now." Haruka justified her actions.
"That might be true, but Rei is right as well. We should watch it to the end. Methys said she would meet us again afterwards and I want to hear what she has to say to well, … that." Minako agreed with a scandalized gesture. "I can't believe she never said a thing about him. I mean he is her frigging brother! Isn't that worth mentioning at all?"
"Probably as much as mentioning everything else so far. She apparently has a passion for leaving out the important bits. This just proves my point. She is still keeping secrets playing us like some pawns on a chessboard and she will continue doing so. How can't you see it?" Makoto grumbled, clearly confirmed in her earlier assessment of Methys' dubious stance about the importance of conveying certain information.
No one indulged in Makoto's accusations. It had shown before that this behavior did not bode to end well.
Michiru looked down, her brows furrowing thoughtfully. "She might not have openly admitted that he was her brother. However, now that I think about it, the clues have been there. I always had the feeling that she never truly wanted to kill him. Back then, I thought it was just her conscience objecting to kill someone or her reluctance to sacrifice his host, who is also unfortunately a police officer, along with him. Only now, I see it was much more than that. She always hesitated in the crucial moments and do you remember when she had her sword at his throat, right after she saved Rei and me from the bullets, he aimed at us? She cried back then. When she had the golden opportunity to kill him, her blade at his throat, she had a tear running down her cheek. And later when he was unconscious after the hit with the frying pan and she wanted to end him, it was almost too easy to convince her to let him live. I kinda felt how torn she was about it and used it to sway her from that path… but I never made this connection." Michiru appeared stricken by not seeing it sooner.
"It wasn't only during their fight. When we saw those memories in the alley, when she saw Kato… Laertes, or whoever he was at that time, for the first time with those other police officers at the crime scene. There was something like hope and longing on her face, before he had the migraine fit and she turned suddenly all frosty."
Haruka's brows were furrowed in suppressed anger. "And then his taunts… He taunted her relentlessly during the whole fight, as if he knew her intimately, as if he knew exactly where it hurt the most…"
Michiru just nodded deep in thought. "Even right after he suffocated her and threw her into the pool, he made those dubious comments about her. As if a part of him regretted what he has done in a morbid and mad way. It was eerie." Michiko shuddered upon remembering his words vividly. You can call me Laertes. However, that won't tell you much either. That name only meant something to her.
Those were his exact words. She had been so agitated about what happened back then, that she didn't think about the true meaning of them.
Minako just shook her head disbelievingly. "I simply don't get it. If he is her brother and she apparently loved him and he loved her, as this last piece we have seen of the both of them insinuated, then what the hell happened? What went wrong?"
Rei frowned. "It must be something bad. Really bad. And that's probably why she was so reluctant to reveal anything about him. He is the Mercurian Crown Prince and according to her, he destroyed the Silver Millennium. That's what she said, didn't she? It was she, who dubbed him as pure evil that has to be eradicated in her message before we started with those memories. She even asked Usagi not to show any mercy and kill him. I mean how fucked up can it get?"
"I can't kill her brother." Usagi whined desperately with a frantic shaking of her head. "Definitely not. And… he didn't come across as evil. I mean, here he didn't."
Rei grimaced. "No, in the five minutes we have seen of their past he was a poster brother. I am not so sure I wanna know what happened to turn this into the absolute opposite."
"Oh man, I still can't get to terms with her fighting her own brother to the death. That's so… sick."
"She did it to protect us… and the world." Usagi sounded grief-stricken.
A grunted scoff echoed through the void. "Now don't start talking again as if she is a fucking hero. I for sure wouldn't see it as heroic deed to kill my own family." Makoto's dark eyes held a disapproving shine. "On the contrary, I wouldn't be capable of doing something like that, no matter what is on the line. If this proofs anything, then that how much of a cold-hearted bitch she can truly be. First Ami and now him… and if she does that to people, she claims to care about… what else is she capable of doing, if circumstances demand it? Ask yourself: How hard-boiled do you need to be to kill even the last shred of compassion and remorse in you and do what she has done?"
Haruka immediately stiffened upon hearing those words and Michiru's gaze darted to the ground faster than lightning. Makoto did not notice their dubious reactions too caught up in her own raging fit, but Minako did. She recognized the dangerous territory they had just entered immediately. They definitely shouldn't follow that direction at least not, if they didn't want to provoke another fallout between Inners and Outers.
Makoto's evaluation of Methys hit too close to home for those two. The resemblance to what Uranus and Neptune were willing to do for the Talismans could not been denied. And that's not where the similarities ended. It also came too close to what they did against Galaxia. Hotaru and Setsuna had been something akin to family to them as well and still they stole their talismans and sacrificed their souls along the line just to one up Galaxia. It has been a blatant breach of trust. A betrayal of the highest order, if you consider that those four had been a unit the same as the Inners were. She never knew whether the Outers sorted this particular incident out between themselves. Had Setsuna and Hotaru been gross about the betrayal of trust? Had there been a fallout afterwards? Accusations for their solo attempt that cost the other pair of their team their lives? What were their interactions like afterwards?
Minako did not know and she never asked. She was almost ashamed to admit it, but there were a lot of things she never asked. There was always this distance between them, this barrier that set Outers and Inners apart. It stopped her from daring to question them about anything, most of all the sensitive topics. The fact that with the both of them almost every topic fell into the category 'sensitive' only made it worse. She did not know how Michiru and Haruka awakened as Senshi. Haruka insinuated in the squabble with Makoto that she had no choice, that they got it bad from the beginning. Minako did not know. However, she often wondered where they even came from and where they always vanished to, when another foe was beaten. Did they have family somewhere? Maybe, after all of this was over, there would be time to ask those questions that were long overdue.
Maybe now that they knew the past never knew the same kind of boundaries, they had taken as a given, they could finally overcome them. She really wanted that. She did so for a long time and she knew the rest of the Inners were on the same page as her. More than anything she had enough of the constant inhouse squabbles. She knew the Outers well enough to get that they could be great friends. For Setsuna and Hotaru that had never been too much of a problem. Haruka and Michiru though. The tough-skinned racer and the unapproachable artist had always been a tough nut to crack. However, over time they had softened considerably towards them. Things had gotten better. Way better until this whole mess with Ami and Methys started. They had been on the right path and damn it all, Minako would make sure they followed this path until they finally reached the end goal. She knew the effort was worth it.
However, during the current crisis too many old and sour topics had come up again. They were straying in more than one aspect. Makoto already caused much damage in deepening the closing rift between them again, first with the fist fight with Haruka and then with her unwillingness to let the matter slide. That didn't mean Haruka was innocent in the whole matter, but at least she was willing to talk it out. Makoto however, was beside herself for quite some time, and nowadays talking appeared to be only an option for her, if she could start a dispute. It might not have been her intention, not really, but it did not change the fact, that painting Methys as a cruel bastard because she was willing to sacrifice a person close to her for the greater good, was a blow to the face towards Haruka and Michiru.
In fact, even touching the topic of Haruka's and Michiru's less than friendly deeds during their past enemy encounters was most unwelcome to talk about.
Fortunately, Minako wasn't the only one to notice the plight they ended up in. Deep scarlet orbs were examining the racer and the painter and a dark timbre offered her own input. "The old debate about sacrificing one to save all. There is no wrong or right in this decision. Just despair. It is just torture for the one who has to take it. I don't think we have the right to judge Methys, when it hasn't been us finding themselves in this cruel plight. I, for the matter, acknowledge that she probably wanted to do the right thing and struggled endlessly, although she knew very well the right thing was out of her reach." Setsuna's words did hit the mark and upon Haruka's and Michiru's surprised glances she only smiled leniently at them. A free pass, if Minako had ever seen one.
And she found some help in Hotaru. "She never wanted to be in this position. And when it was time she did not kill him the same as she did not sacrifice Ami. At the end maybe she just couldn't do it. At the end her conscience stopped her. That has to count for something."
"Yeah, I am sure her conscience had much to do with her sparing him and not the fact that she was beaten to a pulp." Makoto scoffed and Minako was pretty sure she hasn't noticed where the topic had unintentionally drifted to at all. Her single-minded hatred for Methys made her blind for any subtext and it grew more and more to a problem.
"When you do not really believe in the things you fight for, you will never fight with full strength. If you lack the conviction, it will weaken your body and mind to a point when you stand in your own way. All that keeps you going then is the hope that it will finally end at some point… and that's not enough to … win." Haruka whispered to herself, unaware that she had spoken out aloud.
They all looked at her bewildered and Minako sighed when exactly happened what she had hoped to avoid from happening: Putting the Outers in the spotlight and drawing the attention to the similarities between them and Methys.
So, Minako had no choice but to choose the same path as Setsuna and Hotaru. Defending Methys' actions in this case equaled to defending Haruka and Michiru, so she took that route. It didn't harm that it actually fit quite well to her own opinion about the matter. "I think in the past we have been too quick to judge her. She was in the ultimate no-win situation. And we have seen that it definitely fazed her. She didn't want to kill him nor did she ever want to endanger Ami."
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, their resident Thunder Senshi wasn't thrilled by her strategy. "Yeah, yeah, I got the message." Makoto grumbled finally getting at least the gist of the general mood. "I don't want to offend her new fan club."
Minako rolled her eyes, but chose not to comment on it. Makoto's stubbornness knew no end. She didn't need to be encouraged to start another argument.
Usagi, however, was not so forthcoming. "Mako, you promised to me to settle the animosities. We need her and you promised to try to get along."
"Oh, come on, she is not even awake to hear it. I don't need to get along with her, yet."
"That's not the point. That kind of attitude is not helping in our discussions. Not at all."
"Then, I should probably keep my mouth shut from now on, if criticism is not allowed."
"I never said it's not allowed, but your criticism is like a broken record. You just hate her and you don't budge an inch about it no matter what. You have seen the same memories I did. Can't you see at least something you can relate to in her?"
"Well, I stood right next to you and since I am not deaf and blind, I saw plenty... I dare say I might have seen more than you did."
"What's that supposed to mean again?"
"Well, for once don't you ask yourself why she tries to butter us up? Why she shows us what she has shown to us so far? Please, pray tell me what I am to get out of those memories in your opinion? The way I see it, after she convinced us that she is one of the good guys, she wants to do the same with her newly revealed lunatic brother? Come on, that's a bad joke, if I have ever seen one…"
"You don't know what happened to him."
"Well, maybe I don't wanna know. I chose to watch this stuff to find a way to save Ami, to find a weak spot in that maniac Laertes, we could exploit. I couldn't care less for whether that guy is her brother or not. And I don't need to see them cuddling nor bantering, the same way as I am not interested in the rest of her family life. We need to destroy him. So, what the fuck is she intending to do in depicting him as a poster brother? Is that supposed to strengthen our resolve? Is that supposed to make it any easier on us to face him? You said it yourself Usagi, you are now even less willing to take action against him. If she thinks for only one second, that sentimental crap she spouted would stop me doing what needs to be done, she's been wound askew." Her chocolate brown glowed intensely in unbridled anger.
Usagi avoided her gaze. "It's her story she is telling… I don't think she wants to stop us. I mean she did try to kill him herself. And I don't think she wants to change our opinion of him."
"No, because manipulating us into doing her bidding never has been something she has been into." Makoto countered sarcastically.
"She wants us to understand our past. Isn't that the same she promised in her message, when she first told us about the recorded memories?"
"And how the hell is showing us that supposed to help with anything? We are wasting time. All I want to know is how to crush Laertes, how the Henshin Sticks work, how to get Ami's back from him… and she did not even come close to any of those topics. If that –"she made a derogatory gesture in a random direction. "–is all she wants to show us, we should quit now and focus on something that's actually helpful in achieving our goals."
"And what is that supposed to be? She knows our plight. We have to trust that there is some intent into what she is showing us, even if we can't see the immediate use for some of the things, she showed us."
Makoto laughed out loud bitterly. "Trust. Seriously? That very same trust in her almost put us in our graves, and for Ami it's probably not even an 'almost'."
"Ami is not dead." Usagi insisted vehemently a stubborn unshakable edge to it.
Makoto just scoffed upon her too-good-to-be-true naivety. "You don't know that. For all we know she might as well be and you all do not seem to care. I can't believe that all of you act, as if she isn't even in the picture anymore. You do neither grieve nor do you think of plans to save her. And least of all you think going against the one, who did that to her. Instead, you only make up excuses for her and continue to do her bidding as if nothing ever happened. Suddenly, it's all about Methys, about indulging into all those oh-so fascinating stories about this damn past… You are being sidetracked by an illustrious fairy tale that has never been our priority, that has never been my priority. As if Ami wouldn't matter at all anymore."
That comment made Usagi straighten up stiffly to all her impressive height that was still a far cry from Makoto's imposing posture. "Of course, Ami matters. Don't you think I wouldn't know that she should be here with us? That she deserves to see this more than we do? Methys is her Senshi guardian, after all."
Makoto scoffed upon the word 'guardian'. However, Usagi just ignored it. "This is foremost her past we see and she is not … here. Don't you think it wouldn't bother me that I don't know her fate? That I have no clue whether Methys' plan worked and she managed to reach the Henshin Stick? That I have no idea whether her soul is somehow still alive in the hands of our enemy? Well, it fucking drives me crazy not to know. I worry and I grieve, but I can't do anything about it. I can only believe in her and work towards the only goal that might help her. Getting her Henshin Stick back. Until I am holding it in my very hands I can't know, whether her soul is in there or not. Whether she made it. We need it. And Laertes is the one, who has it. The very same Laertes that has been once that guy in those memories." She kinda pointed angrily into the white emptiness right beside her as if Laertes was standing there for everyone to see.
"You make it sound like such a conclusive chain of events that will lead us to Ami, but we made no progress whatsoever. Instead, I get the feeling that it's suddenly Methys, who turned into our sole focus? This is about Ami not her and somehow, I get the feeling you are forgetting about that. About our main objective."
"I did not forget. I never will. We will save Ami and this will always be our top priority."
"Then we need to face him and not waste our time here with Methys' useless fairy tales. We need to focus on him in the here and now. It's as easy as that." Makoto shot back.
"No, it's not. You just wish it to be." Rei said with an undertone of pity.
Makoto didn't take it well at all. "We need to do something. None of these memories get us any closer to Ami."
"Being rash won't work either." Haruka noted and earned an acrid side glance for it.
"You are one to talk." Haruka already opened her mouth for a sharp retort when a piercing side-glance from Michiru made her close it again.
Rei just shook her head with an obvious frown. "Mako, we don't even know where he is. We don't know anything about his intentions and we have no clue how to beat him. What do you intend to do as soon as you face him?"
"Fight like we always did."
"Yeah, because that worked so well the last time. You have not been there. You—"
Those were definitely the wrong words to make her see reason. A flash of raw anger lit up in her eyes and she immediately cut Rei short.
"We were not prepared for him and it wasn't even all of us. We will beat him if we work together. Like we always did. We just need to fight."
"We will do that as soon as we watched those memories."
"It might be too late then."
"Well, now it's too early. We are no match for him, even together."
"Well, then we at least need to look for him." Makoto insisted. "Right now, we are sitting ducks hiding in this beach house while we watch old news instead of returning to Haruka's and Michiru's house to look for clues or use the computer at the Crown Parlor to find out what he is up to. He could be doing who knows what right now, while we are being cowards, who hide in their past."
Usagi's eyes burned with a fierce an unyielding intensity. "I have led you often enough into a suicide mission without thinking it through. Not anymore, Mako. Not with him waiting for us. I can't save Ami with losing all of you. She would be the first one to agree with me. We are either doing this with a solid plan in mind or we are not doing it at all."
"And in the meantime while we are sitting here fiddling with our thumbs, he has her Henshin Stick and probably her soul within it. Who knows what he is doing with it right now! Am I the only one who has a problem with it?"
"No. I –"
"Save it. Methys got you all twisted around her little finger doing whatever she pleases."
"Mako, please, just try to be sympathetic…"
"Why? You are all overcompensating for my lack thereof anyway. At least one of us has to stay realistic without succumbing to a pity party for her and her poor brother. I don't like her and I don't trust her. So, what? You won't sway me to her side, so don't try and we won't have a problem."
"This is not about sides. Why do you always have to paint her as a monster, when she clearly isn't? We have enough evidence that she isn't and still you stick to that hostile behavior. Why?"
"Why? I tell you why. She gave us a possibility that Ami is somehow alive! A possibility. Nothing more. That's all it is. A possibility. And we don't even know the odds. Ami might be dead for real and you are so eager to fraternize with her killer. I don't care whether she has been once a saint or not. None of her past excuses her actions in the present. She played us, she manipulated us and she willingly sacrificed Ami." Usagi already inhaled to fight those accusations, but she didn't get a word in. "And before you say she tried to save Ami, you should take into consideration that it was her who put Ami in the spot, where she needed saving from. Methys needed her body so she threw her soul out, fully knowing that she was weakened and that she might not make it towards her Henshin Stick. She decided that a plan with sacrificing Ami in it, was worth following and she did so for quite some time. And then she thinks giving Ami a tiny chance to fight for her life would absolve her of her sins, would relieve her conscience. All she did was thinking of herself." She snorted snarkily. "What a joke…"
"Methys helped Ami in the past. You have seen that in her memories. She does care about Ami."
Makoto's angry pointer finger darted again into the void. "Then look at her hospital bed. Is that what it looks like if you care for somebody? It was Methys who put Ami there. She used her body like a crash test dummy without a care in the world that it was Ami's body that took all the damage in her fight against Laertes."
"Maybe, yes… but she didn't want—" Usagi was again interrupted by Makoto's tantrum.
"And even before… with those memories of the two. Ami never needed her. She could have come to us. With anything. We would have been there for her. I would have been there for her. It was Methys who encouraged her not to do just that. If anything, she played Ami the same way she played us, lulling her into trusting and relying on her."
"It wasn't only Methys who drove Ami to keep her secrets, Mako." Rei pointed out the obvious flaw in her assessment.
The Thunder Senshi's head immediately whipped towards her in disgruntled outrage. "Yes, it was. She manipulated her."
"I can see why you want to see it that way. It's easier than conceding Ami's part in all of this, isn't it? You don't want to be angry at her, but you are. So, you rather put it all on Methys."
"That's not at all what I am doing. Don't put words in my mouth and don't go all-shrink on me either. It is her fault. You are the ones who just refuse to see it. I am the only realistic one here."
"You are nothing but pessimistic. Don't get me wrong I can relate to it, but enough is enough. That attitude is nothing but counterproductive. It does not help us right now."
"Whatever, do what you want. You do so anyway. I don't want to dwell anymore about it. We are clearly not on the same page about her and that won't change. For all I care, you lot can be all sympathetic and forgiving and lovey dovey as you want. However, I will keep a close eye on her as soon as she wakes up. She won't catch me unprepared again, that's for sure. So, let's get it over with and continue with those memories, if that is what you so direly want to do, so that we can finish at some point. I have had enough talking."
"But, you must see…" Usagi started.
"I was the only one, who has seen her intentions. And you did not believe me. I told you she was up to no good but you considered me paranoid." The remark was sharp and shut up Usagi before she could even finish her plea. There was no talking to Makoto. Not now. Trying to reason her out of her opinion was a futile approach and they all knew it. After all they tried already countless times. Makoto just refused to budge. Instead, she was sulking now.
Minako's eyebrows were furrowed in worry upon the intensifying arguments. "Maybe we should take a real break."
"Now? We barely started. If we are going through it at this snail's pace, those memories will take us ages. We don't have that much time." Rei noted, while Makoto only offered a complacent smile upon someone seeing her point for once.
"Well, at least someone sees that we might have other things to do with our time than to watch how Methys brushes her teeth." The Thunder Senshi grumbled with folded arms in front of her chest.
Minako's eyes only strayed briefly to her disgruntled figure. "Time slows when we watch the memories. Methys said so." Makoto's jaw muscles twitched upon the Methys-remark, but she didn't comment further.
"Yeah, when we are in here. Not in the outside world. If we make a break for real, we will lose time." Michiru pointed out the obvious. Setsuna only nodded.
"I agree… besides we kinda digressed from our original discussion about the memories she showed us. There was other stuff aside Laertes that's worth talking about. Don't you agree?"
"My former self wasn't mentioned so far." Hotaru pouted trying to divert the topic to less explosive matters than Methys or Ami. Setsuna sent her the hint of a soothing smile. "Mine wasn't either. That's not necessarily a bad thing."
"They mentioned the Uranians only briefly in the talk between those Senshi." Haruka carefully looked towards Setsuna. "It seems they squabble about Pluto with Michiko's people…" Her gaze darted further towards her lover. "That's quite a bit off-putting."
"Quite." Setsuna commented curtly upon her past peoples' involvement in the described dispute, although she appeared more intrigued than worried. She knew probably very well that Haruka was more bothered that it was Uranians against Neptunians, than the fact that it was about Pluto.
Michiru seemed to sense the plight of her girlfriend and tried to defuse it with humor. "Well, at least you didn't find out that you were no Senshi at all. Apparently, Neso is the Neptunian Senshi. I am just ...princess. Great, guess I should pack my bags..."
"Well, you are Methys' cousin… that's… something."
"Yeah, I truly am… well Michiko is. I admit that's something I can live with."
Makoto just scoffed although nobody was kind enough to acknowledge it in a duly manner.
Rei finally also commented but she was kinda reluctant. "Well at least your counterpart got some spotlight. I still know as much as I knew before. There was not a single word about the Martians or my former self Reina. Do they even show up for this conference?" It clearly troubled her, but what came next bothered her even more. "And then… Laertes mentioned before that I killed Methys' brother. Well, not that this isn't already bad enough, if it was true, but now… you know … she has two of them."
"Well, hopefully you killed at least the prick." This time a collective groan went through the group upon hearing the crude words.
"What?!" Makoto defended herself. "You wanna found a fan club for him, too?"
"Mako, please, we know your stance. Can we now please leave Methys out of this and discuss the other things we have seen? Is that asked too much?" Usagi pleaded with her.
"Fine. If you have a better response…"
Usagi appeared lost, sending an apologetic shrug towards Rei. "I guess we will have to wait. Don't let it bother you too much, ok? I mean if Laertes truly turns evil, then maybe your past self even did a good deed." She noticed too late that this was basically what Makoto said in cruder words. "… or it was all a lie." The backpaddling did little to lift Rei's worries.
That's when Minako stepped in. "Baah, as far as I remember, it was never directly said that Reina killed Methys' brother. Laertes only insinuated it with fancy speech and plenty of theatrics. It might not even be as bad as we think it is." She euphemized the situation quite a bit, in fact she outright lied, but Rei appeared to appreciate the gesture, the same as she welcomed Minako's cheeky thumbs up.
The blonde did not leave her with much more time to brood further. "I, for the matter, really want to know what happens next. The ball I presume? If she is going to show us that…"
Hotaru nodded eagerly. "I hope she does. She must have chosen that memory for a reason, so I expect things to happen."
"Yeah, and for sure they will, now that the Venusians arrived. And don't think I didn't notice. You, guys so far entirely forgot to comment about them. They are the best part!" Minako cheered while everyone else groaned in a manner as if that had been entirely the intention. It did not faze Minako, though. "What?! Those Venusians are so … cool." Minako's eyes glowed in excitement.
"Not the words I would have used." Rei murmured with raised eyebrows and a dry undertone that couldn't be misinterpreted.
"Definitely not." Michiru deadpanned.
Minako sent them an offended side-glance. "Oh, come on, that Queen is a gorgeous badass. Although we have seen my old self only in passing… A true looker herself, of course and she might be even cooler. I hope she shows up in the next bit."
"For your sake I hope she is not, how did you put it, cooler? That conversation between those Queens was… well, I don't even know what to name it..."
"Bah, that was just playful banter…" Minako just swatted the comment away like a fly.
Rei wasn't as easily placated. "Hmm, quite the hostile banter, if you ask me. However, to point out the bright side: at least they didn't try to kill each other."
"Well, not literally. Verbally on the other hand those two Queens were not exactly on friendly terms…" Michiru let the thought trail off.
Haruka chose that moment to voice her opinion as well. "Well, I admit they were quite outspoken… for Queens. I would have expected a more overblown kind of speech. You know the royal kind. Instead, it was more … well, in the gutter. They traded insults nonstop."
"My thinking, exactly, you don't talk like that to a foreign sovereign, if you don't know her well. Especially with the threat of war looming at the horizon. I mean, they basically badmouthed each other left and right during the whole conversation and got away with it."
"That might be true, still I can't really see any closeness between them."
"No, I wouldn't go that far either. It's more as if they have to deal with each other, so they found a way that worked for them."
"Well, that or they take that in house fighting to the next level aka the battlefield soon, if certain aggressions are not already happening away from prying eyes. We can't know that at that point."
"The interactions we have seen so far were all quite complex. So far, we have got Methys, Serenity, Minarin and Michiko. Let's see whether the others show up at this ball as well."
"Well, the tensions already run high with the ones present, it seems. Have you heard how that hairdresser talked about Queen Serenity? Those Mercurians for sure don't like the Lunarians." Her gaze drifted carefully to Usagi, who bit her lip in apprehension, but chose not to comment for now.
"Yeah, that's what I don't really get so far. I mean Methys told us in the beginning that during that Riven War of theirs some Empires chose to participate in that final fight and some didn't. As far as I remember the Lunarians participated alongside the Mercurians. It was the Venusians who did not. So, they were allies. Why are they now at odds with each other to that extent?" Minako pondered.
"Good question. Methys insinuated that Queen Serenity did something during the war to cause their spite. Maybe that's it?"
Usagi finally choose to say something. "Methys does not appear to like the Lunarians either. Still, she chose to save me… I mean Serenity's life. I wonder why…"
"Yeah, and somehow I doubt that's the end of the story. However, that Serenity is truly just like you. Putting her foot in her mouth appears to quite a common thing for the both of you, along with being airheaded, clumsy and slow on the uptake."
"Hey!" Usagi protested.
"I have to admit it was kinda hilarious to see them interact." Michiru admitted.
"Serenity did not even recognize her as the Mercurian Princess and Methys was so… awkward."
"Don't forget they don't know each other and their Empires are at each other's throat. This is just the beginning… their first meeting. Methys isn't the person we have got to know. Not yet." Setsuna pointed out matter of factly.
"Yeah, that's probably what she meant with 'that she was young.'"
"To be honest I didn't expect her to start… you know right at the beginning. I thought this is more about us understanding how the Silver Millennium fell and what Laertes has to do with it. But for some reason she started here. Way before that. Well, apparently way before anything… if that anything we are expecting is even going to exist."
"Well, we apparently have a wrong view of the Silver Millennium so she probably wants us to understand what it was to begin with."
"Yeah, I got that much. Still… it's… a bit disturbing. Laertes was right with claiming that the Empires were at odds with each other, at least from what we have seen so far. What he said during our fight is true. I… I still hoped it wouldn't be or that he might have exaggerated. Turns out he didn't."
"Yeah, I am worried what that means for the other things he mentioned."
"Well, let's wait until the Uranians make an appearance. But yes, chances are high I am really a power-hungry headhunter." Haruka put in dejectedly.
There was a pregnant silence before Rei sighed heavily, directing a poignant gaze at all of them.
"Guys, those pronouns we continue to use, I think we truly shouldn't do this anymore. They are not us. I know it's hard, I know you see yourself in them, I do as well, but they are their own people. Whoever they turn out to be, it does not reflect on us." Rei looked intently at each of them, those whose counterparts had been shown the longest. Usagi did not meet her eyes for long and neither did Haruka.
Usagi finally mumbled. "It's easy to say those words, but taking them to heart is an entirely different matter. They look like us and I don't think that's where the similarities end. I mean from what I have seen we are not the same, but some things…" She trailed off thoughtfully. "Methys for instance, from the attitude she couldn't be farther away from Ami, but then there were these bouts of insecurity, she has shown. It reminded me of Ami. And they are both geniuses. And when she smiles…"
"They are nothing alike." Makoto spat defiantly out of nowhere.
Minako showed an eyeroll upon Makoto's predictable response, before she confronted her directly. "Can you truly say that? Methys is a workaholic and an overachiever, she is dedicated to what she is doing, she is strikingly intelligent and loyal to those she loves. At the same time and I can't believe I am saying that, she doubts herself and her own aptitude to be the Mercurian Senshi. Does that ring a bell?"
"Oh, come on, I don't see half of those characteristics you think you see in her. You just get distracted by her appearance. She is not half of what Ami is."
"If you think so about her, what about me? You all said Serenity and I are similar."
Makoto immediately frowned. "What the hell does it matter? We are not them. We already asserted that. Even if there are some similarities that's just pure chance. Don't project. There are much the same or even more differences."
"Maybe, there are."
Minako puffed her chest. "Well, there certainly are differences as well. In my opinion, Minarin was way too quiet and too humble. I mean have you looked at her? She definitely had no reason to stick to the background."
"No reason you know off. As far as I remember none of Queen Sirani's children said a word. That's already striking me as odd."
Michiru chuckled slightly. "Well, it's probably hard to get a word in with that mother."
That comment earned her a peeved glance from Minako. "Just wait for it. She will be a total badass for sure. The coolest of the coolest. Way cooler than your counterparts."
"Is that a competition, now?" Hotaru asked enthusiastically.
"Great, then I already lost without Ruka even making an appearance."
"Definitely not. This is by no means a competition." Michiru interfered, sending her partner a stern look. "And don't make assumptions without knowing anything." Then as small smirk appeared on her lips. "Besides, to me you already are the coolest of the coolest. No competition even comes close."
Haruka indeed blushed and Minako couldn't refrain from commenting with a smug smirk. "Ok, I let that pass. Michiru is allowed to say that. She is anyway biased so her vote is not counting."
"Maybe not to you." Haruka mumbled in a barely audible voice not daring to say more.
Minako couldn't resist. "How sweet of you Haruka. I truly didn't know you had it in you." Haruka turned a shade of deeper crimson, but an edge of embarrassed annoyance was shining through. Before she could sort out her an offensive comment, Michiru just grabbed her hand, which did wonders to throw her completely of course.
"Well, as interesting as all these discussions are, to be honest I want to know what happens next. Can we proceed with the memories?" Rei looked around expectantly and earned more or less affirmative gestures.
Then her eyes darted to Michiru. "If there are no objections, we proceed with Methys' and Laertes' encounter." The teal-haired beauty agreed. She waited for another few seconds but no one spoke up. So, she just nodded and voiced a hesitant. "Ahem, proceed?"
The mirror reacted although the command had been a wild guess. The white of the void was swallowed by a plethora of colors and their surroundings changed into the bathroom they had left before. Methys and Laertes still stood in their silent embrace, with the former having her eyes closed.
Not much happened and for a moment Michiru feared to have triggered a pause mode or something like that, but then she realized that this scene just entailed them standing there unmoving. She watched them impatiently still astonished by Laertes' tender gesture to help his sister unwind. They looked peaceful like this with his arms around her midsection and her head leaned against his shoulder behind her.
Then Methys finally opened her eyes and turned her head a bit. She gave him a playful tap with the back of her head to get his attention.
"Better?" He asked softly.
"Much, yes. Thank you." She unfolded his arms around her gently and stood straight. He just let her go and remained where he was, when Methys stepped towards the sink again to finally get rid of the glitter stains on her face as she intended to do in the first place.
Laertes observed her actions silently with a patience, as if they had all the time in the world. Then his mouth opened briefly, only to close again, biting back whatever he wanted to say. He was obviously torn, but after a moment he tried again and this time actual words left his mouth.
"Tell me what I can do. Even if I have to put up with dozens of Venusians, just tell me what I can do to make this easier for you."
Methys halted in her actions and looked at him at first startled by his sudden offer. Then her features changed to an expression of utter affection and appreciation.
"You are already doing it." She admitted softly.
"It's apparently not enough, if you look that downtrodden as soon as you think you are alone. It was mother, who added the final straw, wasn't it?"
Methys sighed. "To be honest, there wasn't much to add this time. I … I am not exactly in the mental state to put up with her or any other delegate right now and it shows. I probably overreacted."
Laertes raised a doubting brow. "Did you?"
"She isn't wrong. I probably shouldn't have enforced these short-notice changes and, yes… I decided on a whim to give it a try. I… at that point I thought it would be a good idea. Just a half-baked act of well-meant naivety to… I don't know, to do something differently and to tread a new path. It was foolish... and I am not really sure what I had been thinking. I should have probably stuck to the old ways like everybody else is apparently doing. I am anyway on thin ice with her because of this whole Senshi mess. Adding even more ammunition is just my style." She showed a croaked smile.
"You were never someone to just fall in line and she knows it."
"And still, she tries again and again to make me."
He shrugged. "You know how she is. She always finds fault with anything. It's her way to foster improvement. She sometimes forgets that it can be quite down putting. Don't let it get to you."
"The problem is that her assessments are typically spot-on. She was right in calling out my poor behavior upon facing the Venusian Queen as well… it was embarrassing."
"I acted like a fool as well, when I had to face her. It's probably the norm when facing the Venusian royal family." Laertes pointed out sympathetically.
"You didn't do so in front of courtiers, pages, Michiko, Neso and Atget. People are watching me, Laertes, now more so than ever. I can be glad it didn't happen inside the ballroom with even more witnesses." Methys pointed out dejectedly.
"Methys, I know you have a lot going around in your head. Can you be blamed for not being up to playing that Queen's games right now? I don't think you can. Don't make it worse than it is. At most, it was a minor slipup and none of the people present to see it, will think worse of you for it. They have all dealt with the Venusians at some point."
"Maybe they have. I still screwed up. At least in public I can't afford acting like that right now. Showing weakness like that is unbecoming of the Crown Princess of Mercury and even more so for someone who wants to be Senshi. I have to show those traditionalists that I am up to the task. I have to get better with these kinds of power play. Sanai probably wouldn't even have flinched upon the Venusian Queen's antics." She added bitterly.
Laertes groaned. "So, that's what this is about. She really got you good, didn't she?"
"It isn't funny." She pouted clearly hurt.
"It wasn't supposed to be. Listen, that rivalry with her for the Senshi title is doing you no good. You need to believe in yourself. You can do this, but not if you stand in your own way."
"Now, don't turn all-Ithoran on me. I am trying, but she does not have to attend this ball. She is probably training for the next trial right now, while I am stuck… here. I feel like every second I am wasting here she is using to get further ahead of me."
"Methys, you barely sleep as it is. You need a break not more training." His concern was obvious.
"I don't have time for a break." She lamented.
Laertes sighed in a resigned way. "That does not revoke the fact that you need one."
"Well, that has to wait at least another four days until after the trial, probably even six days until the conference is over, provided that mother does not come up with more illustrious ideas to occupy my time." She snorted.
"Do you promise to me that you take it easier afterwards? I know I can't stop you from further training. The only thing I can do is taking as much of the conference stuff off your shoulders as I can and I will. But when the conference and the trial are over, I will force you to relax, if I need to."
"That beats the purpose you know…" Methys responded flatly.
"I don't care. Methys, people are worried for you. Natai is and Ithoran is as well. Heck, even Michiko noticed how stressed you are and she is barely here for some hours. And all you do is being hard-headed about it."
"What else am I supposed to do?"
"Well, talking would be a good start, instead off brushing everyone off, claiming you are totally fine."
"I am fine. I was just a little bit tired, when you came in here. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."
He looked at her skeptically. "I know you. Better than anyone. I know what the mountain is and what the molehill. We might not have reached the mountain yet, but we are definitely way past the molehill."
"Laertes, please, can't you just let it be. I am tired of these endless discussions and the exhausting lectures about the same topic over and over. I have to pull through the Senshi ascension and everything that comes along with it, whether I want it or not. That was my choice. I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park and still I chose to put up with it. It has to be my primary focus and everything else has to take a backseat for now. So, is it so surprising that I try to keep additional hassle to a bare minimum?"
"No, it isn't. You still can confide in me about what ails you instead of bottling it all up. I am here for you and so is Natai… and Michiko, even Ithoran and Atget will listen. You don't have to soldier through this on your own."
"I know that. You already proved that with your actions and I am grateful for your help and support. But I just don't need talking right now. That kind of psychological counseling you want me to partake in is a hassle in itself. It's just another distraction, when I don't need more of these. And it won't help. Right now, I am required to bite my teeth to soldier through it and no pretty words can change that fact. It's one of many tests to follow and if I can't withstand that pressure then I am really not worth the title. This is my fight, Laertes. I can pull through all of this, but you need to let me focus. You need to let me fight. I know it appears as if I am possessed by training and appearance and whatnot, but can't you see that this is how it has to be right now."
"That does not…"
"Please Laertes, is it too much to ask to just leave me alone? Don't criticize me at every corner. I have enough people doing that already and I thought you would not be one of them."
"I am not criticizing you. I just want to help." He protested.
"You can help me. Just do what you already did with the conference and stay clear of the Senshi topic. Just trust in me and let me do what I have to do. Please. If I already have to attend this conference and waste my time, then don't let me waste it with arguing about that topic."
Laertes almost deflated. "I … I think I can do that."
"Good. We should go, now. Apparently, we already took ages in here. Natai will worry."
He seemed not entirely satisfied with the premature end of their discussion, when Methys left the room. Still, he agreed. "Ok. Let's go."
They followed them, when they left the restroom. They went back to the anteroom, where Queen Anairin and Natai were still standing, waiting for them. The Mercurian Senshi Atget was there as well, but both Neptunians, Neso and Michiko, apparently had left.
The Queen immediately turned, her eyes trained on her children, arms folded in a rather impatient gesture. "I really don't know, what can take so long in washing your face. Well, at least you managed to find your brother, which is already quite the feat. So, can we finally get the mandatory pleasantries over with and get in there? I have a council meeting to prepare and this is already taking up way too much of my time…"
"We are ready to enter." Laertes answered for the both of them.
Natai only sent them a curious glance, but fell in line when they approached the entrance portal of the ball room.
Queen Anairin was in front, head high and regal in her whole demeanor. Laertes had linked his arm with Methys right behind her and Natai followed, fidgeting a tad bit nervously in his dress robes. Atget was taking the rear, her tattooed face solemn and her arms folded neatly at her back.
Anairin winked nonchalantly and the aide opened the portal doors announcing their names. "Welcome our generous hosts! Queen Anairin of Mercury, bearer of the Kaveri bloodline, the royal twins, Crown Princess Azkadelia Methys Ingui and the Princes Laertes Nereus and Natai Andal."
The Queen stepped forward and applause echoed throughout the hall. She waited patiently until it ebbed down, a somewhat tense smile on her face that appeared trained for this kind of occasions but did not reach her eyes.
Meanwhile, Methys was looking towards her left, a confused expression on her face, as if something was missing on her empty side.
Turning and spotting her youngest brother behind her, she offered her free arm to him. "In case you have forgotten, I am one of the ladies you wanted to practice with." She discreetly whispered a spark of playfulness in her words that clashed with the questioning expression in her eyes.
A shy smile danced over Natai's features and he gracefully stepped forward taking her left arm.
He looked to his right and found both Methys and Laertes watching him, offering reassuring smiles. "An equilateral triangle, remember? That's what we agreed, Natai. Ballroom etiquette does not override that decision."
He nodded. Relieved and reassured he straightened his posture, when the three of them followed their mother down the ballroom stairs, walking right next to each other.
The room was grand, and decorated with plenty of adorned columns, arches and wall reliefs. If you wanted to be accurate, it wasn't even a room. There was no roof, just the vast sky above them. Michiru had seen something similar in Europe during one of her many travels. It had once been an old church of some kind. Air raids during the Second World War had destroyed the roof structure. Instead of reconstructing it, the architects had just kept the outer walls and turned the whole 'ruin' into an open-air concert hall. It had been entirely beautiful to stand on that stage with her violin surrounded by the ancient history of the middle ages with a starlit sky above her. This location reminded her of that experience.
Her eyes wandered skyward and she smiled at the setting sun. Was it scheduled like that to start the reception at sunset? If it was, it was certainly an impressing move. She paused in her admiration when a flicker caught her eye. A force field. There was a force field instead of the roof. What was that for? Suddenly she remembered the temperature debate Serenity and Methys had during their encounter. Serenity had called Mercury frigging cold. However, when she looked around, she saw plenty of delegates with less than warm clothing, the Venusian Queen Sirani being only one of them with her revealing getup. If she had to guess that barrier above the room made sure that they could heat it up however they wished.
Interesting. She let her gaze stray further to drink in the ambience.
The ball room was somewhat etherical. Round tables out of a very light wood were lined up at the walls to make room for a free floor in the middle.
Aquamarine linens with embroided snowflakes were used as tablecloths and drapery and delicate ice sculptures and luminescent flower bouquets flanked the broad staircase. In one corner where the banquet was, the floor was made out of a see-through material that was probably designed to mimic ice. Beneath appeared to be something like an aquarium, complete with fish, an ensemble of what looked like a crossbreed of seaweed with a fire coral. Michiru could even spot clamps and stingray-like creatures with impressive tail stingers.
Icicle-like structures adorned the walls filled with luminescent orbs that radiated light in a carefully chosen color palette. It reached from a soft blue over mauve with a touch of red to a warm white. Right now, their light was dim, but Michiru could imagine that as soon as it was dark those colors would make for a cozy atmosphere. Right now, the setting sun above their heads truly took their breath away. It bathed the interior of the room in long crimson shadows that were reflected in strategically placed mirrors that could as well be ice, until the light formed a mosaic pattern on the floor.
As a side effect, the reflections made the ballroom appear even larger.
Michiru struggled to take her eyes away from such breathtaking beauty. However, she had to in order to focus her attention back to what was happening.
They followed the Mercurian quartet through the room and it was apparent that they aimed for the Neptunian delegation. On their way, they passed various other guests, who mostly resorted to polite nodding towards them in greeting. The audience was clad in a mixture of exotic dresses, uniforms, tunics or other fancy garbs that reflected the multi-cultural nature of the gathering and small groups had already formed.
Soft melodious music was playing contributed by a band located in one of the far corners. Michiru immediately recognized it as the pleasant background type, meant to lighten the atmosphere but not dominant enough to disturb any ongoing conversations.
A waiter stopped right next to the four royals with a half bow and offered some greenish drinks. They each took a glass.
As soon as they arrived at the Neptunian party, Michiko greeted them with a revered nod towards Methys' mother and a curtesy. "Aunt Anairin."
The Queen dipped her head slightly in a greeting. "Michiko. We have already seen each other outside. And you know, that's not necessary."
"In passing, yes. Unfortunately, there was no time to talk."
"There will be time. I already suggested shared dinner to your mother for the days to come. We should use the opportunity to spend some family time aside from the official festivities."
A sudden voice behind them chose this moment to comment. "The offer is gladly accepted. My dear wife already mentioned those plans and I couldn't agree more."
A barely noticeable flinch went through the Mercurian Queen's body, but she quickly regained her bearing. Turning around she faced a middle-aged man that was on first glance a Mercurian. However, when you looked closer you saw small details that discriminated him from his fellow countrymen. A crown with stylized seashells and larimar stones, the turquoise cape and the obviously Neptunian woman that grasped his arm.
Michiru stared at the newcomers, her mouth slightly agape. Those must be the Neptunian Royals. Michiko's parents. The Queen had married a Mercurian, the brother of Methys' father. Those two were the reason why Michiko and Methys were cousins.
The Mercurian Queen directed now her full attention at them. "Altan, Galatea. A pleasure as always." Her words and tone were kind and honest, but she only held eye contact for the bare minimum of what was polite.
"It's good to see you, too, Anairin." King Altan responded kindly.
"We were afraid there was some trouble, since your entry was overdue." The Neptunian Queen, Galatea, added, her eyes quickly darting to Methys, Laertes and Natai as if searching for a hint for their delay.
"All is fine. We just had an encounter with the Venusian Queen." Anairin immediately rolled her eyes in annoyance.
The Neptunian Queen scoffed derisively. "Well, that explains a lot." Galatea's eyes strayed immediately to the feathery yellow blur at the other side of the hall, who was obviously busy to corner a quite handsome delegate. She grimaced and just shook her head disapprovingly, her lips pursed in distaste. "She just can't resist."
Upon her mother's miffed words Michiko's lips curled in obvious amusement. When her father noticed, he sent her a warning glance that was almost pleading with her to keep her mouth shut.
Methys finally came to the rescue, when she approached the Neptunian Queen, her aunt apparently. "I am sorry for not greeting you sooner."
Queen Galatea's eyes immediately lit up when they fixed on her niece. "No worries, Methys. I know you are exceedingly busy." She hugged her warmly and when she let her go, an approving smile adorned her face. "And you have outdone yourself. The ambience is extraordinarily beautiful, and give my recommendation to the chef. The food is excellent." She praised her.
A small smile played on Methys' lips. "Thank you. I will do."
Altan also stepped forward to embrace her and smiled at her. "Everything my dear wife said. I would twirl you around like I always did, but Michiko reminded me recently that the both of you are not eight anymore and she would rather abstain from having her father embarrass her in public, so I guess I owe you the same curtesy. If you insist, of course we can postpone this to later… and… please: insist." He grinned at her and Michiko just rolled her eyes at him, when he proceeded to talk to Methys. "I do hope the two of us will find some time for some games of chess, though. Natai was doing his best, but you know… it still takes some years until he will be on par with me."
Natai shrunk next to her. "Oh man, I wasn't that bad."
"As I said in a few years with further practice you will be a force to reckon with." Altan patted him placidly on the shoulder to raise his spirits.
"Don't worry, I can't beat him either." Laertes noted.
"And I don't even try anymore. It's more than valiant of you to still take up the challenge. At least that way I don't have to." Michiko pointed out dryly.
King Altan made a pout and leaned towards Methys conspiratorially. "See, that's why I need you. No one wants to play with me."
"Your own fault, dear." His wife commented unsympathetically. "You always act like a pompous ass, when you are winning."
"I do not." He protested.
She just raised an inquisitive eyebrow and he immediately faltered. "Ok, maybe sometimes. But that is what makes the game spicy to begin with. It's psychological warfare at the highest level."
"Yeah, maybe when someone else is playing it. In your case it's the overeager psychological warfare of a pompous nine-year old pain in the neck. No one wants to see that." Galatea deadpanned.
Michiko snickered and her father narrowed her eyes at her, but did not comment.
"I admit you were a bit too self-aggrandizing." Natai backstabbed with a small smirk towards his uncle.
Laertes just rolled his eyes, knowing very well what his brother intended to do.
"Bah, you all have no clue what you are talking about. Methys is the only one who understands me." He patted her on the shoulder like a prized horse. "That's why you are my favorite niece."
"She is your only one, dear."
He slowly turned towards his wife. "Do you always have to pick on the odds-and-ends?"
She raised her brow in challenge. Methys chose this moment to end the playful spat, probably sensing that something was going on, she was not informed of. "It's the gesture that counts and that one is highly appreciated. You are my favorite uncle as well." She made an implied curtesy in front of him just for show.
Altan beamed, and immediately gestured towards his wife. "See, that's how those things are handled… with grace, eloquence and benevolence."
"Are you implying I am ungraceful, ineloquent and spiteful?!" There was a dangerous tint in her voice.
Altan immediately paled. "Noo, no of course not dear." He tried to get himself out of the deep waters, a certain helpless panic radiating from him that made him fidget like a fly in a spider's web. Michiko just snickered, not the least bit sympathetic towards her father's self-made plight, shaking her head in amused disbelief.
Galatea just narrowed her eyes at her husband. "Oh, then I must be imagining things. As I apparently did earlier."
The King groaned. "Oh, come on, you can't still be angry, because of that."
"And what if I am?" She responded sourly.
"It was nothing, really. You know how she is." He whined.
"You flirted with her." She outwardly accused him, a prodding finger on his chest.
"I did not. I swear. I was fending tooth and nail to get rid of her."
"Oh, really? If this was you fighting tooth and nail, then I should hope we will never be attacked. Neptune would fall in minutes. Seconds maybe, if the Venusians do the attacking." She deadpanned.
Altan winced. "That's not fair, dear. I did nothing to reassure her. She just didn't take no for an answer, as per usual. What was I supposed to do? Use force?"
"If you can't fend off a single barely-clad woman, I could have gladly done it for you. At least I could have done it, had you not entirely forgotten I was there."
"Galatea, please… What shall I do to make it up to you?"
"Well maybe you should finally ask your Queen for a dance, before anyone else does and I might be benevolent enough not to be as ungraceful to step on your toes. Was that eloquent enough?"
He winced, but obediently held out his arm to her. "I would be delighted to have the honor, my lady." Somehow, he sounded defeated, while Michiko barely suppressed an outright snicker.
Altan scowled at his daughter and mumbled a low "Traitor." for only her to hear.
Queen Galatea smiled obviously satisfied for the time being and led her guilty husband to the dance floor, a possessive arm around his waist.
Methys eyed the departing couple with obvious confusion. "What was that about? They barely argue normally."
Michiko smiled cheekily. "Oh, before the lot of you entered, they had their own encounter with the Venusian Queen."
Methys groaned. "Don't tell me…"
A shit-eating grin appeared on Michiko's face. "Oh, yes. She made advances. As in: We could have lots of fun in bed together- advances. To be fair, father wasn't as eloquent as he could have been in shooting her down, but he did his best. Well, and mother heard most of the encounter."
"She did that with your mother present? His wife? Is she nuts?"
"We both returned from the banquet in the middle of her ambush. She didn't notice at first. Mom's death glares though were terrifying. She looked as if she would make her eat her feathers garnished with the remains of her cocktail glass, she was seconds away from emptying right over her ample cleavage before crashing it with her bare hand. Believe me, if she dons that kind of scathing looks shutting up is highly recommended…"
"And what did Queen Sirani do?"
Michiko chuckled in mirth. "Oh, she basically invited her in for a threesome. I don't know who turned redder: father or mother? When the Venusian Queen realized that mom wasn't so much embarrassed as she was boiling with rage, she rather chose to make a swift exit. A smart decision if you ask me."
"That seals it. I need to keep a safety distance to those Venusians." Laertes groaned.
"Oh, come on they can't be all like that."
"No, it's probably only the blond ones." Natai snickered.
"Funny. But probably entirely accurate." Methys deadpanned.
Michiko frowned slightly. "Speaking of blond ones. We have an audience. Don't turn around, but they are right next to the dancing ice figure in front of the fountain."
Laertes had the perfect angle and looked in the mentioned direction without raising any unwanted attention. "Those are no Venusians. That only leaves…"
"Lunarians." Michiko confirmed bluntly.
AN: That's it for today. As the end foreshadows the next chapter will focus on the Lunarians so Serenity gets some screentime again, when the ball finally starts. I hope you enjoyed the little discussion between our Senshi. I will do that from time to time to show the impact some of the newly revealed information will have on our girls. I hope Makoto isn't too much out of character, but well she has her reasons to act the way she does and she is not in the greatest space of mind right now. As for Laertes, well it's already apparent he is vastly different in this past, so let's see what happens to him. As always I would be beyond happy if you tell me what you think about the story. Stay well and see you next time.