[FFML] [fanfic][Sailormoon] Moonshadow, chapter 16 (Random Comments)

[H. Torrance Griffin]

Usual stream-of-conciousness thing

--- On Sat, 8/15/09, The Eternal Lost Lurker <lurkerdrome at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> From: The Eternal Lost Lurker <lurkerdrome at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: [FFML] [fanfic][Sailormoon] Moonshadow, chapter 16 (draft)
> To: "FFML" <ffml at chez-vrolet.net>
> Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009, 10:52 AM
> 
> 
> Continuing onward. I haven't yet reformatted 14-15 for the
> web; I have been 
> working on various other aspects of my site since
> recovering from my 
> computer difficulties.
> 
> I have made a minor retcon to the stoy overall: I have
> altered the time 
> frame of the setting. Originally, this story was set in
> early to mid June; 
> this was arbitrary, and circumstances have forced me to
> roll the timeframe 
> back to April. The relevant date inferences in earlier
> chapters have been 
> changed to reflect this.
> 
> C&C welcome.
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> "A..." Usagi squeaked out, face pale. "Ami-san, that's a
> terrible thing to 
> say!"
> 
> "Kino-san maintains an inordinate supply of birth control
> products, 
> including emergency contraceptives which are just barely
> legal in Japan and 
> are highly difficult to obtain even on a case-by-case
> basis," Ami explained 
> patiently. "There is a notebook on her desk containing a
> list of names--all 
> of which appear to be masculine names. You have stated that
> she has no 
> family, and lives alone--a highly improbable circumstance."
> She pushed her 
> glasses up, and they reflected the lights in the living
> room eerily. "The 
> evidence suggests Kino-san supports herself through, at the
> *very* least, 
> enjokosai, if not outright prostitution."
> 
> Usagi sank to her knees. "Kino-san is..."

Usagi is a touch sheltered, no?
> 
> "This information does not change the situation," Ami said
> in a clinical 
> tone. "Kino-san is still missing, and we still do not know
> what has happened 
> to her. However, this new information adds numerous
> possibilities, none of 
> which are aligned in our favour."

This is a matter of having one's priorities halfway straight.  Find Mako and get her out as intact as you can, _then_ discuss alternate employment options.

> The long-haired girl stared at her, horrified.
> "Ami-san...how can you be so 
> calm about..."
> 
> "Kino-san's personal life does not concern me," Ami said.
> "My opinion of 
> this discovery is irrelevant. She is still Jupiter, and
> thus is still 
> necessary to the continuation of our battle against the
> Dark Kingdom. 

Okay, she is a bit cold about things....

> Therefore, we must determine her whereabouts. You *do*
> still intend to find 
> her, do you not?"
> 
> "Of course I do! But--"

Hope she thinks on what has and has not changed about her friend.

> Studio ELL Presents
> 
> MOONSHADOW
> 
> Adapted from "Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon" by Takeuchi
> Naoko.
> 
> 16: Without Honour Or Humanity
> 
> =-------------=
> 
> Makoto flexed her wrists, straining against the bonds
> holding her. The cuffs 
> were tight; too much stress and she risked opening a vein.
> 
> She reached into herself, trying to clamp onto the power of
> Jupiter, but it 
> seemed to have retreated, scattered; she could not summon
> even a fraction of 
> her power.

This is bad.  A specific Kryptonite Factor or general poor condition? 

> Of course, she had not expected to be able to transform;
> one of the few 
> times she'd been able to see clearly since awakening in her
> prison, she'd 
> realized they had removed her henshin bracelet.
> 
> The drugs they kept pumping her full of probably weren't
> helping.

Well, that too.

> One horribly blackened, puffy eye drifted hazily toward
> her. "Who..."
> 
> "Goddamn yakuza," Makoto replied. "If I'd known Okuda
> rolled like that, I'd 
> never have taken the job."
> 
> "Okuda...? Damn," Motoki hissed. "I'm sorry,
> Mako-chan...didn't know..."
> 
> "It's my fault." Makoto sighed. "Dammit, this ain't the way
> I wanted to 
> die."

Yet another reminder that this is not your typical Pimp/Whore relationship here.

> "Not go...die, Mako-chan," Motoki wheezed. A gout of blood
> spurted from his 
> mouth. "Ugh...thirsty."
> 
> "Don't talk anymore," Makoto advised. "Save your energy."
> 
> "Mmm...k." Mere seconds later, Motoki was unconscious
> again.
> 
> Makoto sighed deeply. *God this sucks.*

See also: Understatement, Massive.

> Usagi sat on Makoto's sofa, knees drawn to her chest. "But
> who'd take 
> Kino-san?" she asked. "What were they looking for?"
> 
> "We don't have enough information to deduce that at
> present," Ami replied, 
> continuing to examine the room. She frowned. "Something
> seems amiss, 
> however."
> 
> "Ami-san...Kino-san is missing, her desk is wrecked,
> there's rotten food in 
> the kitchen, and she's a hooker. What ISN'T amiss about all
> this?"

*snort*

> 
> The shorter girl paused to wipe her glasses on the hem of
> her skirt. "The 
> front door was locked, correct?"
> 
> "Hai."
> 
> "Which means that the last person to leave this apartment
> had the keys."
> 
> Usagi frowned. "Hai..."
> 
> "One would assume the key to Kino-san's desk drawer would
> be on the same 
> keyring as her apartment keys."
> 
> The long-haired girl's brow furrowed. "I suppo..." she
> trailed off. "But her 
> desk drawer was broken open by force!"

Good clue.  I know I did not spot it.

> "Hmm." Usagi stood, frowning. She walked over to the desk,
> and produced her 
> own handkerchief, using it to cover her fingers as she
> tapped at buttons on 
> Makoto's phone. "They'd probably want to erase this too,
> wouldn't they?"

Stupid, or caring little about the client/contact list. 

> "Hai." Ami glanced at the phone's Caller ID display as
> Usagi scrolled 
> through it. "That one number seems to call quite often."
> 
> "Un." Usagi reached for the notebook on the desk and,
> ignoring Ami's 
> protests, ripped a clean sheet from the back, picked up a
> small brown pen, 
> and wrote down the number. "Maybe whoever this is knows
> something."
> 
> Ami shrugged. "It's a lead."

Sombody's gonna get in trouble....

> "Master...the Senshi cannot withstand a combined assault
> from two of the 
> Shitennou. And if all four were to appear at once..."
> 
> The mage chuckled. "Concerned for the Senshi, Luna?"
> 
> The youma growled. "I am aware that their continued safety
> is the *only* 
> reason I am permitted to exist. If an ill fate befalls
> them, I have no 
> delusions about what your next act would be."

Keep telling yoursef that, fuzzy....

> "Ah, so it's mere self-preservation, then." Artemis
> shrugged, and discarded 
> the beautiful flower into the dirt. "In that case, you'll
> probably want to 
> help Her Majesty track down Jupiter."

....

No.  He.  Did.  Not.

> Artemis shrugged. "Couldn't say."
> 
> "Bullshit. You know exactly where she is, exactly who has
> her, and you could 
> save her in a minute yourself--"
> 
> "But then Princess Serenity and the other Senshi would
> learn nothing from 
> the experience," Artemis replied. "If I show up to save the
> day for them 
> every single time they get in trouble, what's going to
> happen when they have 
> to face the Shitennou?"

So at the very least he is the nastiest variant of Sink Or Swim Mentor out there.

> "I prefer to see if the princess can find Jupiter herself.
> How well she 
> performs in this should be an indicator as to how suited
> she is for the task 
> of actually finding the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou."
> 
> "So you're going to risk Jupiter's life for a test of
> Serenity's mental 
> prowess?"
> 
> "If need be, yes."
> 
> "...you are an absolute bastard," Luna hissed.

See Also: Understatement, Incomparable.

> "They may have come in through the window, but it is
> unlikely they exited 
> the same way, especially with a captive." Ami pointed at
> the plants outside. 
> "If someone abducted a girl of Kino-san's size and
> strength, it is doubtful 
> they would be able to carry her down the fire escape,
> especially without 
> disturbing her plants."

... Even tranqed, she is not an easy burden.

> "Agreed." Ami paused. "Have you alerted the other Senshi as
> to the 
> disappearance of Kino-san?"
> 
> "Not yet," Usagi said as she gathered up her bag and
> detached her umbrella.
> 
> "It would be prudent to do so," Ami said, stowing her
> glasses and 
> unlimbering her own umbrella. "Until tomorrow, then."

Looks like the gang could be all here.

> Makoto did not sleep; rather, she drifted in and out of
> consciousness as the 
> various drugs in her system waned in potency and were
> reinforced by the 
> gangsters who came and went throughout the night.
> 
> Motoki died shortly before three in the morning. His body
> was left hanging 
> in front of Makoto.

Oh she is going to be ticked.

Yes, the comments a couple of chapters back about possible Abuse Of Senshi Power, Justification For still apply.

> Sunrise came all too soon for some, and not soon enough for
> others...
> 
> =-------------=
> 
> The bristles of Rei's broom scraped soothingly along the
> damp stones of the 
> temple steps. The sound balmed her soul; she had always
> loved the simple act 
> of sweeping the steps. It focused her, it cleared her
> mind...
> 
> "Rei-chan?"
> 
> The miko stiffened, broom coming to a halt. "Aritsuka," she
> said in a hard, 
> foreboding tone.
> 
> A well-dressed, stocky man with stiff, bristly hair and
> mirrored sunglasses 
> stood at the base of the shrine steps, hands clasped behind
> his back. His 
> well-lined face set into a frown which deepened the ugly
> scar on his left 
> cheek. "Rei-chan, that's hardly a proper way to greet your
> father."

Well this relationship is no better than in the series... although genteel politician is not likely here.

That being said, he could know something.

> The scarred man scowled, then nodded stiffly. "Alright." He
> turned to head 
> for the large black luxury sedan parked at the curb. He
> paused briefly, 
> turned, and fished a small wrapped package from his pocket,
> which he tossed 
> up to the miko. "Happy birthday, Rei-chan."
> 
> Rei stoically watched the car pull away, expression blank.
> After several 
> seconds, she knelt down and picked up the package, studying
> it for a long 
> moment. With a sigh, she opened it.
> 
> Inside was a glittering green bracelet which sparkled in
> the early morning 
> sun. A tiny sigil was engraved on it, barely visible; it
> bore a resemblance 
> to a stylised number '4'. As she fingered the clasp, she
> felt a small tingle 
> of static electricity.

....

Oh crap.

At best, he probably knows it is stolen.  At worst Rei could end up orphaned over this.

> 
> Her eyes widened. *Masaka...*
> 
> Horror and worry creasing her face, she dashed into the
> shrine, broom 
> forgotten on the steps. Darting into her bedroom, she
> snatched up her phone.
> 
> "Tsukino-hime? I believe I know who has captured
> Kino-shi..."

Well this could complicate matters.

HTG