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Who: Minako Aino and Rei Hino
What: Finally making good on that date promise
When: Early April
Where: Starting at Brads, wild tour of the town!
Warnings: Flirting and longing, will add more if needed.

The atmosphere at Brad's Diner has been slightly off as of late. Di's still doing her best to care for each customer with her usual charm and smiles, but there's a subtle tension in the air. She's heard the whispers about her recent TV debut. A commoner like her kissing a famous star? How strange. Di does her best to disarm any questioners with a quick suggestion, but her secret's not so secret these days. It's dangerous, reckless, and...honestly, maybe a little exciting.

That excitement is what carries her through this day. She slings milkshakes with an unusual amount of energy, not sparing a moment to rest. That can wait for later. Not too much later, actually.

The second the last customer says their goodbyes, Minako's off like a shot. She cleans the counters with remarkable speed, flings coins at the kitchen staff, and once she's on the outskirts and alone she's ready in a flash. Her disguise compact has transformed her into a sophisticated city woman with boots and jacket, and with shades pulled over her eyes, she slips outside to wait for Rei.

She's Minako's five thousandth first love, maybe...but in another way, she was always the first. Minako's heart is racing a mile a minute, blood hot with anticipation, and she's disinclined to stop it.

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When Rei had initially proposed all of this, she wasn't expecting the media attention. She'd been fussed at by the new manager for her indiscretion, but the resulting argument had been deemed "not worth it" by the android, clearly, because she hadn't said Rei couldn't go. Dressing up nicely, in a long, sleek, modestly cut red dress the dark haired girl rolled up in a small red coup, the so-called Hipster Mobile.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she approached, the passenger side window buzzing as it lowered, and with a cheeky grin to mask her uncertainty Rei peered out and beckoned with two fingers.

"Going my way?"

Yep. Definitely nervous.

"Always have, always will."

The floppy hat and trench coat do well to hide Minako from the outside, but as soon as she's safely behind a tinted window, they're off. She's picked a little dress of her own---simple and black, to be traditionally attractive. But she's not taking her eyes off Rei any time soon.

"You've always been a knockout in red, you know that?"

She winks. Gotta start this off right.

“That’s why I wear it,” Rei says with a smile, reaching out a hand to clasp Di’s and give it a squeeze.

It was, really. As far as she knew, Red was her color in her real life, and in this fake one it was the color that Angel had always put her in. Maybe there was a reason for that. Or maybe it was just coincidence. Either way, it was the color she felt suited her, and the fire in her seemed to agree.

Quietly Rei pulled out of the parking lot and into the street, angling the car towards one of the freeways that lead across town. It wasn’t fast, but she wasn’t in any hurry.

“Going to take you to a restaurant I like, a Japanese place with private rooms. I hope that suits your taste.”

"You know you're driving me nuts," Minako accused playfully, squeezing Rei's hand when given the opportunity. She'd never miss a chance at that...not now, not after facing the loss.

She licked her lips playfully at the revelation of where they were going. "I'm assuming they treat you like a queen?"

Though who wouldn't?

"Am I? I thought I was doing anything but. I'm just trying to treat someone I happen to like a lot," Rei teased back with a chipper smile.

The question drew out a laugh, Rei's lips peeled back in delight. Did they treat her like a queen? No. But that wasn't the point.

"They treat me with respect, no differently than any other customer. That's why I like them. They respect privacy and keep people clear."

"Mmm. Yeah, I guess I can see that the idol life gets exhausting," Minako whispered back. "It's nice to get away. Just be ourselves...away from the camera flashes, I hope?"

That blitz of publicity had caused a bit of a circus at the diner, and who knew what had happened to Rei with the label?

"I don't know if I'd call it idol life. I'm in a classical-pop band remember?" Rei chuckled, twining her fingers with Minako's if the girl was willing.

"I think it'll be a great time to get clear of everyone and everything. If there are cameras, they won't be trained on us. I don't think I could deal with my manager freaking out about tabloids again."

Oh, Minako was very willing. She squeezed Rei's fingers with a quiet sigh.

"Mm, that's right. Idol life was my dream...but whatever you are, you always shine."

She thought about some of those tabloids and bit her lip. "You think your manager would come after me?"

Oh, Minako had already considered this. She had her answer. She simply wondered if Rei agreed.

"I doubt it. She's more likely to go after the tabloids. And she's not even a real person anyway."

Rei huffed a laugh, squeezing their linked fingers back as she drove on into the evening streets towards their destination.

"But you knew that, didn't you?"

Ah...that was right. The indiscretion of the Sailor Senshi. Minako's guilt was written all over her face.

"Knowing and facing it first-hand were different. She just about overpowered us all, but with that done we can figure out how to help you all."

"So it was you, then?"

Rei smiled, having just gotten the confirmation she was looking for. It helped, really, made her feel a bit more lighthearted and hopeful, and that shows in her smile.

"Angel wasn't the worst as robots go, Myra is much more irritating and hands on, but with one dealt with there's some proof they can be broken up. Thank you for that."

"And Sailor Moon, and a few of our allies," Minako whispered back. "It was pretty scary, actually...but you're all strong. I know we can beat this."

She held tight to Rei's hand. Once the power of Mars was fully free, she knew, the evil wouldn't stand a chance.

Rei squeezed back, and there was a hint of restraint there, if Minako was paying attention. Parts of her powers had come back, enough so that she knew she could seriously hurt someone without being attentive.

"I know. I have faith in you, Minako. That's something I've always had, even if I don't remember it."

"And I you, Rei...but these other things...well, they're not new. Just newly able to enjoy them!"

Minako catches that odd restraint and smiles reassuringly. "Don't want you to lose your focus, but...wow, we're heading pretty far out, huh?"

“We’ll have to keep it that way then, I’ve learned a few tricks here in this world to keep a relationship fresh and exciting,” Rei said with a wink. No small amount of amorous behavior with a boy had certainly helped loosen her up a bit, and there were other people too, dates and private moments. All part of the rockstar life.

“We’re almost there, it’s just another block or two.”

Minako giggled appreciatively. Oh, she was looking quite forward to the surprises of this life. And if she was lucky, she could toss in a few of her own.

"Ah, I can't wait to see it. Everything must be cooked so deliberately...leaving us time to talk, right?"

They've said a lot. There's a lot more they haven't: the curse of living on opposite sides of this strange divide.

"It does, yes."

Rei pulled up into the lot and killed the engine, looking over at the other girl before nodding and hopping out, pressing a button to pop open Minako's door.

"Shall we?"

When Minako was ready, Rei took the lead, guiding them inside arm in arm. It's not long before they're put into a private room, complete with a door and shutters that can be opened for the meal and to call a server.

"Now, order whatever you like. Money is no object tonight."

Indeed, there aren't even any prices on the menu...

Minako is just a little excited. She's no food fanatic on Usagi's level, but it's been a little difficult to eat well in her situation. She'd like to gather her strength for the trials ahead...and maybe to enjoy this. That's the main reason they're here, isn't it?

She smiles and parts from Rei as they sit, softly gliding her hand over Rei's to reach the menu. She studies it thoughtfully, then peeps over the top.

"All this and not a drop of grease! I'm at a total loss. Let's see...a thin sliced salad, that would be a change...and what to drink?"

"I recommend this," Rei said, flipping the menu around to point to a white wine on the list.

"It pairs well with all of the dishes, and I was going to make sure we not only had sushi but also some nabe. It's nothing strong, and I've enjoyed it quite a lot when I had it previously."

She, however, is more focused on the blonde and not the food. She's interested in the food of course but it was more a cover to spend time with the girl who clearly has feelings for her...and who she's beginning to suspect she harbors feelings for as well.

"Oh...so we're loosening our collars. Gotcha," Minako winked, finally setting it down once she'd agreed. The choices certainly sounded delicious.

"Do you come here with the band? Or..." It's hard for Minako to imagine eating alone, but Rei's led such a new life here with many other people. Maybe she shouldn't ask, but it's out already.

"Naturally." Rei laughed, rolling up her sleeves and writing down her order for the server.

The question took her off guard a little, but she has to answer honestly. She had been here with the band, yes. And...

"Yeah, I came with the band. And on a couple of dates with Yosuke. The boy I was with for a couple of months."

She's sure she's mentioned him before. But there's another confession. She doesn't want to give the false impression that she's led an entirely quiet, antisocial life here. She knew it was a false life, and figured it might possibly hurt Minako, but at the same time she had to tell the truth. And...hopefully use tonight to make sure Minako knew how much she meant to Rei. But that didn't change that she needed to tell her the whole truth.

"And once with a girl. I don't know if it was a date though, we just came for drinks."

Edited 2016-04-23 04:21 (UTC)

Minako had read enough about Yosuke, but this mysterious other woman...it wasn't really a surprise, was it? Rei was alluring, beautiful, charming...she'd have the world wrapped around her finger if she wanted, wouldn't she?

"Sounds like a date to me..."

She'll have to outdo them, there's no other choice. Minako will drink more, charm more, be more.

"But I won't lose. Bet you've never had one like me, huh?"

She bats her eyelashes.

Minako's reaction surprised Rei, and she laughed. Genuinely laughed, and reached over to put a hand on the blonde's cheek for just a moment, rolling her thumb along the other's jaw. She didn't need to prove herself, at all.

"I haven't. But being here...I know that there's it's even a competition. I cared about them, but they weren't from my real life. You are. Di...Minako. Believe me, you've already swept the awards show by coming to save me."

Her laughter in response caught in her throat. She swallowed that down with a gentle smile, leaning into the touch. There was nothing strange at all about this, much to her relief.

"True, but there are things every love goddess needs to know...not that I don't know them, but someday I might just visit with Ami's books..."
She folds her hands, curious now about that wine.

"But I think we might learn more by saying. Then doing."

Maybe not THAT much doing, they're still divided, but she's having fun with winking and playing that game.

“You want to know about what I’ve done here?” Rei said with an easygoing smile, rolling her thumb down along Minako’s neck. It’s an incredibly intimate moment, one that prompts her to lean just a little bit closer.

“I don’t mind telling you, but you have to promise not to get jealous. I…wasn’t entirely myself, and the people I spent time with were…are…good people. And the connection between you and I…I didn’t know about.”