☆TRACK VIII: I'LL REACH YOU BELOW

[interdimanagers]

Who: All rescuers!
What: The trio is here to give you the deets.
When: The evening of February 18th.
Where: An abandoned subway.
Warnings: Nothing predictable, but you never know.

“Word has it on the wire That you don't who you are. Well, if you could jack into my brain, You'd know exactly what you mean here.” ☆I'LL REACH YOU BELOW The notification is sudden. A several hours in advance, all rescuers will receive a ping over the network from Shep that they are to gather at a specific location late that evening. The location will not be given out until one hour in advance of the meeting, but they are advised to be ready to receive it and move out immediately. When they arrive, the meeting is taking place in an abandoned subway. At first it doesn't seem like there is a way in, but after slipping through the rubble in some collapsed tunnels, you'll find it. Shep, Gold, and Silver are all present, and will spent the first while doing a careful headcount of those that show up, until approximately 15 minutes after the starting time. The results seem to be disappointing. People who were here the first time are missing, that much is obvious just from looking around – the leaders’ unease with it is clear. However, it doesn’t cause them to panic or change the point of the meeting, either. At 11:15 PM on the dot, then Shep will begin the meeting by explaining what they are all there for: information. There have been details that the team has been holding back on giving until now, and Shep will somewhat sheepishly explain that it’s because they didn’t want the risk the change of it being leaked in the event that new recruits were incapable or unwilling to blend and lay low for the time being. Thankfully, he’ll explain, everyone here has more than proven themselves capable of working within Vista’s system. So, they’ve been brought together so they can be fully brought up to speed. Information will be delivered in three parts, by each one of the leaders. Afterwards, questions can be asked, and the rescuers will be allowed to mingle and discuss for a few hours. All the information is concise, and in the end the actual explanation will end up taking a half hour or less. Afterwards, Gold has brought snacks to share, as has become customary. Hopefully you like pastries. “So, if you've got the time, Set up the tone to sync. Tap in the code, I'll reach you below.”

Comments

[lightthedarkness]

"Don't keep secrets about what you're going to do, don't... think you have to fight anything or anyone alone. If you can't depend on anyone else here you could at least depend on Minako and me. We would fight beside you, we have fought beside you." She bowed her head, hating how this sounded, that she needed to say this at all.

But wasn't how it always was? The outer senshi had to fight on their own, the inner senshi were to protect her.

But she wanted to protect everyone. Even Haruka.

"I can't be Michiru or Setunsa, but I'm not asking to be. I'm asking you to put more faith in me," she lifted her gaze back up. "If you need something done I can do it. I'm not the same little girl anymore either. It's just the three of us here, and until we get Rei back that's all we have who knows each other intimately. I know I can trust you with everything, Haruka... can you the same about me?"

If she received a no on this... she knew that was her own fault, because she wasn't always serious enough, she wasn't always strong enough, but she tried. She did everything she could to make things right if she messed up.

[actsmagnificent]

Haruka had been afraid of all of the above: Usagi doesn't know what she's asking. No matter how many times Usagi's told the worlds they want are different, no matter how much she cares - and Haruka doesn't doubt Usagi cares - there are things Haruka is just not comfortable asking Usagi to do. People she wouldn't want to see Usagi become. And not wanting Usagi along is not a matter of trust: she is the precious Princess. Her presence is a liability because it splits Haruka's focus, and she can't afford that.

Yet she's terrible at explaining her emotions never been able to get Usagi to see that. So she follows up bluntness with bluntness.

"Look after Rei," she states: that's where she trusts Usagi, that's where she wants Usagi; if Usagi and Minako are helping with the actual rescue effort that frees Haruka up to do what only she can do. If they must have this conversation, that's the form of cooperation she's willing to offer.

And it's all she's willing to offer, since now she's turning to go. She can tell she's close to losing her temper and this situation needs a Soldier of the Outer Solar System who can make decisions unimpeded by their emotions. Until she can be that person, she needs to make herself scarce.

[lightthedarkness]

She leaned back against the wall to let Haruka pass. It was all she could do to stop herself from crying because Haruka didn't...

Once again the barrier was there, as tangible as the door when she pleaded with the outer senshi to fight beside them during the Pharaoh 90 issue. She closed her eyes and when Haruka was gone, she swallowed and slid down to the floor, drawing up her knees and leaning her head back.

Was it always going to be like this? She wasn't sure she could handle this. She knew Haruka loved her, she knew Haruka trusted her. She could not summon the grail without either of those things. She knew that Haruka was on a different mission. She didn't discount Usagi's abilities, but it would always be like this. A barrier of what they were supposed to do. She was the princess and Haruka the warrior.

But it didn't mean Usagi always had to like it. She never liked it. She wanted to be able to stand up and... and protect all of them. Like they were fighting to stand in front of the other in the face of a blast. But Haruka was like the wind.

Always had been, always would be.

Not something to be caught, not by her even if she tried. She closed her eyes and lightly knocked her head against the stone, only to hiss at having done it too hard and rubbing the back of her head.

But she couldn't just accept this, could she? Not here not when they only had each other?

"Damnit, Haruka," she whispered and knew... knew she couldn't say anything about this to Minako, because Minako would side with Haruka. Haruka did have a separate mission from them, whatever she may be planning.