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From: Minako
Date: May 1st

Um.. hey!

[ Although Minako smiles, there's something a bit muted about her. If not just for the fact that the volume of her voice currently isn't rupturing your eardrums right away with the greeting. ]

I thought I should let everyone know, since a lot of people know her.. But it's probably going to be difficult to reach Zelda for a while. Because she's asleep! And, you know, not just "doesn't want to get up in the morning" asleep. More like.. "sudden spring hibernation" sleep? Which is something that.. sometimes happens, I guess!

[ It's fine. This is fine. It's fine! See, she's smiling. Totally cool. ]

I guess.. until she wakes up, I'm going to try and take care of Metis temple affairs. [ Sure, Natsuru is there too, but Minako is the Exemplar! Not to mention Minako does have a natural leader sense - despite her lack of memories - and a huge sense of responsibility. It comes natural to try and take the whole world on her shoulders if needed. ] So if you need anything.. just let me know instead!

.. yeah, that's all. Thanks for listening, everyone!

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[ Ah, how satisfying it is to not be the flustered one.

Putting that aside, it's good to have confirmation that her favorite princess hasn't suddenly kicked the bucket. ]

"Cheery" my ass! In fact, you're being really suspicious.

[ If it were anyone else it might slip her notice but Mordred's extremely familiar with Minako's brand of cheer— and this sure isn't it! ]

For all I know, you put Zelda in a coma and now you're trying to cover it up by telling everyone that she's sleeping so you can take over.

[ There's no way she'd believe Minako is capable of something like that, and from her smirk, it's clear she's just poking fun at the other shinki.

Also, excuse the constant bobbing of the image, that's Mordred making her way over to Metis Temple right now to get a first-hand look at the unconscious goddess—and, you know, check up on her best friend in person. ]

Why would I want to take over!

[ At least Mordred's teasing is helpful for something here - it's distracting Minako for a moment. Enough to not make her worry like she's been doing all day so far, at least. She doesn't even really have the time to think about how she really doesn't like that Mordred is on to the fact that Minako is pretending to be doing better than she really is. ]

Being a goddess of dreams wouldn't be my thing at all..! At least make me a goddess of love and beauty!

[ Does she even realise Mordred is busy walking over? Probably not. ]

[ If Mordred knew she was being helpful she'd be very proud of herself. For now, she'll just have to settle for the entertainment provided by this conversation.

She cocks an eyebrow at that last bit. Minako Aino, Goddess of Love and Beauty, huh?]

Are you even qualified for that?

Are you saying you think I'm not pretty?

[ Careful there, Mordred. You're dealing with the rare Sensitive Girl mode. Not that she usually isn't sensitive (she's insecure as hell, honestly), but usually she's a lot more secretive about this part. And something about the way she says it now makes it sound like there's definitely something genuine in it instead of it just being playful like it usually might've been. ]

[ Her mouth is already open, ready to continue the teasing but Minako's tone throws her off. Was that an earnest question just now? ]

I'm saying that someone who thinks being called partners is the same as dating shouldn't be a God of Love.

[ Although it exposed her own lack of experience on the subject Mordred remembers how that previous conversation started.

Her expression sobers and she stares at the screen intently. ]

But as for whether I think you're pretty... Do you want a serious answer?

Edited 2019-04-04 18:29 (UTC)

[ Well, excuse her for thinking love can take on many forms!!

Not that she actually voices any kind of protest like that though. Usually she would have, but she's definitely in way too strange of a mood today to get up to her usual antics. Instead she looks kind of sulky - but in a more normal way than her usual childish over the top way - when Mordred asks her that. ]

You don't really have to answer. I guess today isn't really a good time anyway. [ Not a good time for what? Who knows. Maybe not a good time to do anything but worry herself sick, apparently. ]

Huh?

[ Well that certainly wipes away any doubt that Minako is behaving stranger than usual. Mordred thought her friend was being playfully dramatic but this time she actually seems serious. Did she say something legitimately upsetting in the last few minutes without realizing?

Of course, the natural response to all this is to end the call abruptly without saying another word. ]

[ Mostly because she's arrived at the temple already.

It takes her a couple of minutes, but Mordred eventually finds her way to the room Minako is in. She remains in the doorway, a plastic grocery bag dangling from one hand and her phone grasped in the other.

...Surprise? ]

Hey, what's gotten into you today?

[ That's genuine concern even though it comes out sounding a little like she's scolding. She's not used to asking people how they are since she usually doesn't care, okay. ]

[ Minako is pretty surprised by the call suddenly cutting out like that. For a moment she too wonders if she offended Mordred somehow - especially since she's already worrying about so many things to begin with, it only feels natural to let that one slip in there as well.

Except while she's debating to herself whether to call the other back or not, Mordred is suddenly just.. there. Right there. In the doorway. Minako noticably startles when she hears her speak up before turning to stare at the other with wide eyes. ]

W.. What do you mean?

[ It's hard to tell if she's trying to dodge the question or just so genuinely startled that the question doesn't fully register with her to begin with. Probably a little of column A and a little of column B. ]

[ Aha! Why are you so surprised Minako? Are you hiding something!?

Oh, wait it's probably because she didn't say anything about visiting today.

Now that they're face to face Mordred considers the possibility that she just imagined Minako being moody over the phone but, being a master of foul moods, she quickly dismisses the thought. ]

Don't give me that— you've been acting weird since you made that proclamation about Zelda earlier.

[ She steps into the room and pockets her phone. ]

So spill it, what's the problem?

[ For a moment she's just quiet. It wasn't exactly easy to dodge all the concern and pretend to be alright earlier, but it sure was easier doing it over different, more long-range kind of communication than it is when Mordred is suddenly right there. It makes Minako feel rather put on the spot, because she does have an obvious problem, but the thought of talking about it with anyone makes her guts twist up.

Her mouth opens and closes a few times as she tries to speak up and quickly thinks better of it, making her just look like an awkward goldfish.

But in the end she just can't hold it back anymore, and words quickly spill out as her mind twists into its final defensive mode. ]

Y.. You'd just think I'm weird if I told you!

[ Her eyes glister a bit, like they're getting watery. ]

[ Mordred looks surprised and a little confused by the outburst. That combined with Minako's slightly teary eyes make it clear she's underestimated whatever is bothering her pal.

But even if she recognizes that it's not like she knows a different way of approaching things besides being her usual self. ]

I already think you're weird, Antlers.

[ With a frustrated sigh Mordred finds a spot to set her packet down and rummages around inside while keeping her attention on Minako. When she speaks again her natural combative tone has softened a bit. ]

If I had a problem with that then we wouldn't be friends.

[ She's obviously missing the full intent behind Minako's words but she still means what she says. ]

[ It's a good thing that Minako does know the other fairly well at this point. Some of Mordred's mannerisms are a little.. unique, after all. Like how she will just call someone weird so plainly without even meaning anything bad by it necessarily. It's why - thankfully - the words don't sting, since that'd be the worst possible thing to happen in this situation. ]

That's not what I meant. [ She sniffs, before quickly raising a hand and rubbing at her eyes to try and get rid of any tears before they spill. She doesn't want to just be some crying idiot in front of anyone. ]

I'm just-- just doing my best. To look after Zelda.

[ Watching Minako rub her eyes, Mordred fishes some old serviettes out of her jacket pocket. She's about to offer them up but it seems like Minako isn't actually crying just yet, so Mordred just stands there holding them out awkwardly for the moment. ]

I don't get it. The reason you're behaving strangely is that you're doing your best?

[ She lets it sink in for a few seconds longer but everything is still a bit too vague for her to come to any solid conclusions. Maybe that's what Minako meant when she said that Mordred would think she was weird? ]

Is it the responsibility that's stressing you out or something?

Edited 2019-04-14 13:01 (UTC)

[ Sorry, Mordred, but Minako is going to let her stand there holding those out awkwardly for a bit longer. Apparently she's too caught up in her own emotional distress for the moment to notice it. It's already tough enough to actually talk about these kinds of things when she's so used to bottling them up forever.

What Mordred suggests is part of the problem, yes, but also-- ]

It's since this is my fault. I'm her friend, her shinki-- I'm the Exemplar, even. [ And despite how Minako seems.. well, virtually all of the time, let's be real, she does take that seriously. Maybe a little too seriously. ] And yet Zelda still ended up like this. I should've been able to prevent it somehow.

[ And the stress of having to take care of things almost by herself now, and the worry about the "what if" of Zelda maybe never waking up, and.. so many things. Once Minako has one issue, they just start piling up and won't let go. ]

You're blaming yourself for this?

[ Mordred doesn't even really understand what happened to Zelda. For all she knows this is just a natural thing that happens to pointy-eared people or princesses— she's pretty sure there was even a movie about that. ]

What makes you think you could've done anything to stop it?

Why wouldn't there be something I could've done to stop it?

[ Sure, turning around the question that way is totally irrational, but that's just how things work in Minako's head. There can't be anything that's completely impossible to prevent from happening to the people she cares about. She has to find a way to prevent those things one way or another.

Her gaze drifts to the open door to Zelda's room, filled with worry. ]

We're shinki. Isn't it our duty to protect our god? So if something happens to them, it's our fault. [ But despite the way the content of Minako's words is a very general way of putting things, there's a hint in her voice that makes it obvious she's just talking about herself and what she feels her own duty is. ] I keep thinking.. If only Zelda would have had a better shinki, maybe this wouldn't have happened.

[ Listening to this is a little upsetting for Mordred. Minako has always carried herself with enough confidence to power a small city so listening to her doubt herself to this extent feels... wrong.

She follows Minako's gaze over to Zelda's room, wondering what sort of wisdom the princess would have to share regarding this situation. There must be something Mordred could say, some string of words that could reassure her friend that she's a worthy shinki. But would words even be enough here?

After a few moments of quiet deliberation, Mordred knows what she has to do. ]

I understand.

[ And with that she begins a purposeful march toward Zelda's room. ]

[ Maybe Mordred understands - or says she does, anyway - but Minako feels that in turn there is something she really doesn't understand here. It takes her a moment since she was so caught up in thoughts of her own insecurities, but she slowly snaps out of those when she notices the other heading in the direction of Zelda's room without saying anything else.

Which is.. weird? Sure, maybe Mordred just wants to see Zelda, since she knows Zelda as well, but then all of this is happening in a very, very strange way.

And with how overprotective Minako is feeling right now, it makes a cold chill run down her spine without even realising why. ]

Saber? W.. What are you doing? [ She takes a step after Mordred. ]

[ What is she doing? Something very stupid. That is she's going to pretend to attack Zelda to force Minako to protect her. She doesn't intend to go all out, just enough for Minako to realize she's a good enough protector. It's a half-baked, idiotic plan but it's the only thing she can think of doing right now.

But if Minako doesn't understand her intentions here it could cost Mordred her most precious friendship. Is it worth it? If it helps her friend overcome her doubts then... maybe it would be.

Ignoring Minako, Mordred continues forward until she reaches Zelda's bedside. Looking down at the sleeping princess, she finds herself experiencing some mild disappointment that Zelda even sleeps gracefully. At the same time, she lays so still that Mordred can see why Minako is worried.

She mutters something under her breath before the other can catch up.]

You better hurry and wake up.

[ Raising her arm over the goddess, Mordred throws a glance over her shoulder at Minako. ]

What am I doing?

[ Clarent flashes into her grip, the blade hovering ominously above Zelda like that of a guillotine. ]

Killing Zelda, of course.

[ During any other moment Minako would have seen through Mordred's intentions right away - or, at the very least, she would have realised there's just no way that the other would be serious about this. Sure, Mordred did say she killed people before, but Minako has filed that away under "things Mordred probably had good reasons for". Besides, Mordred likes Zelda, and this seems too random, and-- there's tons of reasons as to why she'd know Mordred doesn't fully intent to go through with this.

But in this very specific situation Minako is too frayed to think about any of that. She's been on edge all day, moving shocked and worried and upset and ten thousand other emotions.

So she doesn't think. She just acts.

Her transformation into her sailor soldier form happens instantaneously, practically without her even calling anything out, and a moment later she's already dashing across the room, ready to attack out of the sheer instinct to protect Zelda no matter what. ]

Venus Wink Chain Sword!

[ Light gathers into her hands, forming the shape of a sword, and she swings it straight at Mordred the moment she's close enough to the other. ]

[ When Mordred came up with this plan five minutes ago she had an idea of how things would play out. She would start by threatening Zelda, Minako would then tackle her or at most use her newfound beam attack to stop her. The plan, if it can even be called that, was to take the hit and oversell the effectiveness just enough to let Minako think she was overpowering the Servant.

Things seem to be playing out the way Mordred wants until Minako shouts out something about a "Chain Sword". Mordred's instincts flare up, letting her know that taking a direct hit from whatever is coming is probably a very bad idea. She spins on her heel and brings Clarent up to guard herself from... Minako's sword!? ]

What the hell—!?

[ That's... So cool! When did Minako get that and why didn't she say anything about it? Mordred almost asks those questions out loud before she quickly remembers that she's supposed to be playing the bad guy here. She pushes back against Minako, striking out with the flat of her blade. ]

Ha! Do you really think you're gonna be able to stop me with just that?

Edited 2019-05-02 18:18 (UTC)

[ Honestly, Minako has no real idea of what she's doing here either. Her powers are still new to her, since she has to learn about them all over again without any of her memories.. It's probably just seeing Mordred pulling out her own sword that made some instinctive part of her use her own sword attack in turn.

Later she'll probably realise how weird and new all of it is, but right now her brain is locked into the single-minded mode of getting rid of a threat to Zelda. ]

Cut it out! [ Maybe saying that makes it sound like she's considering Mordred's safety here and doesn't want to do anything to really hurt her, but in this state she's not even really thinking of that. She's mostly just considering the fact she might accidentally hurt Zelda too if she uses an attack with an actual beam or blast now.. ]

If you keep this up, I won't hesitate!

[ Then again, she may have to go to that phase regardless - just from the sheer force of Mordred's sword against her own, Minako can feel there's no way she's going to be able to stop the other when she can't win in swordfighting strength. ]

[ All this and Minako is still holding back? Mordred knows she's capable of more but she's just barely putting up a fight here. Maybe she isn't pushing hard enough? ]

By all means, keep making lame threats— might as well give Zelda something to laugh at before she dies!

[ Mordred brings a greater portion of her strength to bear now, reaching for Minako with her free hand so she can attempt to throw her aside— which would also conveniently move the struggle a few feet away from the slumbering princess. ]

Since you've already decided that you're a worthless shinki you might as well say your goodbyes now.

[ Flinging cruel insults comes naturally to Mordred but saying things she doesn't mean makes her want to bite her tongue. Even so, she needs to stay the course just a bit longer.

She aims Clarent at Zelda's bed, and a familiar halo of blood-red light begins to emit from the blade. Minako would know exactly how much damage this could do if Mordred releases the energy. Of course, she has no intention of letting it go that far— if Minako doesn't step up in response to this threat Mordred decides that she'll have to drop the charade. After all, she can't push any harder without actually injuring Minako or Zelda. ]

[ Mordred increasing the force her blade is being pushed with is definitely enough to throw Minako aside. She wants to quickly recover and get up, but for a moment that momentum is halted by the words that leave the other's mouth. Something about them makes Minako's heart sink to the very pit of her stomach.

It's not even because the words are wrong - no, it's because they're exactly on point. Minako really has decided she's a worthless shinki a long time ago, because it feels like she can't live up to her full potential or do everything she's supposed to do no matter how hard she tries. Hearing it from herself is hard, but hearing it from another person is harder, and she only manages to snap out of the temporary hold it has her in when she sees Mordred aiming her sword at Zelda's bed.

There's no time to wallow in self-pity. Not even any time to think about Mordred's wellbeing. The only important thing is that if she can't protect Zelda now, then-- ]

Don't you dare touch her!

[ Minako shouts it loud enough for most likely the next temple over to have been able to hear it as well if they weren't underground, and a bright yellow light surrounds her as she stands up, the magical sword having vanished. The light gathers in her hands as she holds them in front of her, aiming at Mordred. ]

Venus.. Love and Beauty Shock!

[ And while the sword attack just now might have been held back just a bit, this definitely isn't, especially since she's free to attack Mordred from an angle she won't hit Zelda at now. It's like a huge cannon's worth of energy is shot like a huge laser, heading straight for Mordred, ~~like a Pokémon using Solar Beam~~. ]

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