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Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 3, 2014 22:17:26 GMT -5
[OOC—This post moves all the Moon folks to ball day! So, I figured it was finally time to start a new thread for us. Earth folks will join this thread once the actual ball begins. All Moon characters, please start posting for your characters in this thread]
The stars. They were endless and beautiful. Each had its unique shimmer and color.
But somehow such a captivating space was not where Serenity’s sapphire gaze rested. No. Her sapphire eyes were transfixed on that blue planet, Earth. That planet that seemed so far away that night.
Serenity hunched further forward. Her upper body swayed from side to side, elbows taking on the weight of her body as they made contact with her balcony railing. Her fingertips curved gently about her cheeks, tapping against the smooth and soft skin as she thought on.
Why hadn’t she said something? Why hadn’t she fought back?
All her mother’s statements burned in her memory. “She was once just like me.” Serenity murmured to herself, shrugging her shoulders in disbelief. As far back into her memories as she could reach, Serenity never knew her mother to be so raw and unfiltered. Was the road to becoming Queen a journey where Serenity would peel off all the layers of her true identity? She simply didn’t understand. So much of her life was already set out for her. It was dictated how she should act, how she should think, and now how she should feel.
“Train my emotions.” She scoffed, her gaze fell away for a moment with frustration. “What does that even mean?” She sighed. Honestly, it felt like a tactic for Serenity to become more mature and grounded. Her mother would love that. But that wasn’t Serenity. Why would she have to be so different. Why couldn’t her mother be like him. A Prince who didn’t find her very being so far beyond her station. A Prince who hated formality. The Queen constantly talked about embracing Serenity for her uniqueness, but her actions never seemed to show such compassion.
Her heart sank. She’d never see him again. It was foolish to have pulled her hopes up so high. Her mother had been short and blatant; Serenity was never to return to Earth. Through her passive aggressive statements, Serenity knew she would be watched with extra care. And how could he ever find her. Perhaps that was the fateful consequence of her meeting, that she’d forever be haunted by the memory of him. She promised to watch over his planet with tender care he had shown her.
The restlessness in her heart began to swell and stir. Her chest grew tight. Her cheeks now rested against clenched fists. Her emotions grew so big and loud. They rose up inside of her, roaring to be set free.
She felt so caged and she wanted to rattle the scene. She wanted to unhinge the perfections and challenge the status quo. She wanted to be known as an imperfect monarch, because that was human and that was real. She would choose heart and honesty over the countless messages of political correctness that were forced on her.
Helpless. She reached a hand forward, grasping at the nothing in front of her. In those simple and exhilarating moments on Earth, she felt like she had come up for air. For that brief moment she felt so alive and at peace. But her friends were now in the palace and she had to be strong for them. No more whining, no more weakness. She had to be strong for them and support them in their new roles.
As she crawled into bed, pulling the satin sheets up about her body, she swallowed hard. Her head was heavy with all the thoughts swimming around. Who would she decide to be at the ball tomorrow? The Princess Serenity that was modest and guarded—the one that would say what everyone wanted to hear. One that would be emotionally controlled and allow others to protect her. Or, would she speak her mind and protect those that she loved at all costs. Somewhere deep inside, she was still fighting to be an equal, a person just like everyone else.
Somewhere along the way, her mother let go of herself. If anything, Serenity would remember that a Prince on Earth felt she was a kind creature—a person worth spending time with. She couldn’t give up just yet, could she?
Suddenly a wild knocking rattled her thoughts. “Princess, princess wake up!” Her hand maiden called before a small army of women entered her chambers. “It’s going to be a beautiful day, and before you know it, the grand ball.” She smiled.
Serenity groaned, rolling back onto her side. She tugged one of the pillows over her head, slipping her hands against their cool fabric. “It can’t be morning already. I’ve barely slept.” She said, feeling drained.
She sat up sheepishly, batting her eyelids as the woman began to move around her bed chambers. They made far too much noise for Serenity to get her wish for more sleep. “Wait, what time is it?” She questioned through a long yawn.
At her hand maiden’s response, Serenity’s eyes widened and she shot out of bed. Plucking her robe from the foot of her bed, she slipped it about her body, covering the nightgown she wore. “I’m late. I have to go see the Inner Princesses!” She called, rushing through the door.
“Princess!” Her hand maiden gasped. “You can’t go out in your sleeping attire!” She called.
“It will be fine! Thanks for waking me up!” She called, already tearing through the main corridor to the outdoor training area. It was time to teach her dear friends how to soar before letting them prepare to show the entire Moon Kingdom exactly who their were—unique, beautiful, and strong. She was so excited for them. As she flung the main doors leading into the training area she sucked in a careful breath, ready to be chastised for her second late appearance with her new guardians.
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Post by hinorei on Dec 5, 2014 11:45:26 GMT -5
Rei walked slowly through the open room, the cold floor gently chilling her bare feet. The room was littered with shimmering gemstones, some laying on the floor, others covering tables, but all of them sparkled brilliantly in the hazy light. She moved through the room, her eyes absently scanning the area, when one of the gemstones caught her eye. Almost instinctively she gravitated toward it, unable to tear her gaze away. The stone itself was bright green, but unlike an emerald it was completely opaque. Also unlike the other gemstones this one was raw and uncut, as though it had been plucked from the ground, cleaned off and placed among the polished and cut gemstones in the room just moments before. Perhaps this was what drew her to it. It was unique. It was unconventional. It was the most beautiful stone she'd ever seen. She could feel a gentle rhythmic pulse emanating from it and the closer she got, the faster it pulsated. Slowly she reached for it and as her hand drew near, the pulse began to race, coaxing a warm and honest smile across her face. 'Why does it do that?' she wondered to herself. Because you are near me. The response was barely above a whisper, but it echoed in her mind and turned her contented expression into one of curiosity. Did it just speak? Gently she wrapped her slender fingers around the stone and was surprised to find it was warm to the touch. Slowly, she lifted it off of the table and held it close to her face, her deep purple eyes studying every inch of the stone as she wondered if it would speak to her again. I love you, Rei.
Rei's eyes popped open and she found herself gazing up at the red cloth canopy of her bed. She sat up slowly and placed a hand over her racing heart. What an odd dream. Morning had come to the Moon Kingdom, though the hour was still early. Figuring she might as well get up since she was wide awake now, Princess Rei tossed her covers off of her and slid out of her bed. She washed her face and selected a simple purple with black satin trim corset and a black skirt to wear for the day, all the while thoughts of the stone she'd seen in her dream floated around in her mind. It was a beautiful stone, but she'd never seen its like before and had no idea what it was called. As she ran her brush through her long onyx hair a thought came to her. She slipped into a pair of comfortable black heels and hurried out of her room, crossing the common room to the blue entryway to the bedroom of the Princess of Mercury.
"Ami-chan, are you awake?" she asked with a gentle knock. When no response came she opened the door just a crack so as not to disturb it's occupant should she still be asleep. Though it showed signs of being slept in Ami's bed was empty, which did not surprise the Princess of Mars. The Mercurian Princess was known as an early riser and was likely already at the training area where they were supposed to meet with Princess Serenity this morning. Rei gently closed the door, then made her way to the training area, nodding to the servants who greeted her in the hallway. She passed though the archway that lead to the arena and saw, as expected, Princess Ami patiently awaiting the arrival of her fellow princess'.
"Good morning, Ami," Rei said with a warm and friendly smile on her face. "Did you sleep well?" Ami carried herself with such gentle clarity that simply being around her helped Rei focus her frazzled mind.
"Ami-chan, I was wondering, would you mind if I borrowed a book from your library? I had an odd dream last night and would like to research something I saw."
[Tag: Ami, Minako, Makoto]
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Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 5, 2014 15:48:55 GMT -5
Curious. While others might have been overloaded by all the events and information buzzing around from the last day, Ami was not restless. She slept perfectly and peacefully in her new room. Perhaps the sweeping blues played tricks on her mind. After all, blue was a calming color.
Knowledge and information was clarity for the blue haired woman, who swept her feet out of bed with passion and drive and excitement for the next bout of information that would come her way. For weren’t people just the accumulation of all the thoughts and experiences that flowed in and out of their mind.
In that sense, Mercurians were similar to those from the Moon, for they did not believe in violence. Words and strategy could deal far more serve blows than even the most powerful weapon. Though, as she walked along the outdoor corridors of the palace to take in the courtyards and gardens, she frowned.
Everyone was feeling the growing pains of their new duties. Moments of unease were peppered throughout the day. Especially when that cloaked figure swept into their common room, filling their heads with messages of how they were off baking cookies instead of watching over their Princess. Ami visibly shrugged at the thought.
It was impressive how quickly a person could go from feeling confident in one thing to feeling helpless in another. She believed they would all find their footing in this more permanent home. It would take determination and a great deal of trust to move forward as a unit, especially with Serenity already giving them a unique test to keep track of her in her restlessness.
Aware of the time and her surroundings, she tugged delicately at the thick and heavy fabric of her navy dress, which flopped to the side. She increased her pace, taking in a careful breath as she surveyed the outdoor training grounds. The last time she was there they all embraced their powers. Everyone seemed stronger than the last time they met. Each with unique personalities and skills, she only saw a glimmer of what was possible when they worked together. As much as she did not like violence, the idea of sparring with the other woman was special and exhilarating. She hoped to spend more time with her miniature data pad. The Moon’s technology was impressive. She knew there was something in that henshin rod—something alive, and it called to her. These duties were all choses and as of tonight, they would be each woman’s live. That was a heavy thought, even for Ami.
“Hm?” Ami said, almost in a daze herself. She often became trapped in her own thoughts if she had enough time alone with them. As she shifted her focus, a gentle smile came over her expression. She smiled, her short blue locks moved gently forward as she nodded in respect to the other woman.
“I did sleep well.” She said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you at first. It’s such an important day, and I was thinking about it all.” She said, ruffling her fingertips down the front of her dress as she let out a long breath.
“Certainly.” Ami said, a growing interest lit up her expression. “Of course, I brought quite a few books here. I don’t mean to pry, dreams are quite personal.” She blushed. “Is there a specific topic or element you’re interested in researching, so I can point you in the right direction. You’re happy to comb through my collections, of course. It’s easy to get lost in books, hours and hours and hours worth of collections to be seen and potentially chosen.” She mused.
“You never need to ask to borrow anything from me, Rei. My door will always be open for such things.”
[Tag Rei, Makoto, Minako, Serenity]
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Post by Princess Jupiter on Dec 5, 2014 17:23:31 GMT -5
Mako yawned loudly as she walked leisurely through the hall toward the training ground. She wore a white turtleneck wrapped in a dark green vest along with grey slacks which drew some attention from passerbys. Mako was under no illusion that the cute and feminine clothes that brought out the beauty of some of her fellow senshi were at all flattering to her physique, so she played to her strengths.
Although physically and mentally exhausted, she had spent much of the night imagining everything to come. Her thoughts on the ball, on how she came across to the others, and on her own confidence as a guardian. Despite the mysteries and complications, she felt she had a plan and her short reflection on being a child of the Storm had rekindled her indomitable spirit. She wondered idly if Rei felt a more consistent and powerful connection with fire under the same sentiments, since her people worshiped the fire while the Jovians only sought to emulate the Storm.
At length, she entered through the doors and saw Rei and Ami there. She waved and made her way over, “Morn’n Ami, Rei! How did you all sleep?” It was good to be among them, Makoto reflected. It helped ease away all the thoughts that troubled her.
Then, of course, Makoto was excited to learn this flying thing that Serenity had promised them. Besides being useful, Mako always loved a thrill. But as the time ticked by and Serenity was late in coming, she exchanged looks with the other senshi. She leaned up against a wall, arms crossed over her chest and her fingers idly tapping on her bare arm.
“She’s running late again…” she broached, “I hope nothing new has happened..” at this last statement, she looked to Minako who had joined them in the interim. Whether real or imagined, Mako still felt a bit of tension between them after yesterday’s outburst. If Serenity had run away to earth again in the dead of the night and had gotten hurt or worse, how could she be held blameless after making it sound like it was the right thing to do?
Thankfully, her fears were allayed when Serenity came bursting through the doors still in her bedclothes. Makoto stood up straight and smiled with an ironic laugh and put her palm to her face, “Serenity…I think you forgot something...”
Tag: Serenity, Rei, Minako, Ami
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Post by hinorei on Dec 8, 2014 10:43:52 GMT -5
"It's not prying", Rei said, her ruby lips curving into a smile. "I'm actually looking for a book about precious stones. I saw an unusual stone in my dream and was hoping to find its likeness in a book so that I might learn its name and if there is anything significant about it."
'Like its propensity for confessing its love to princess', she thought to herself.
Rei's delicate fingertips gently pushed a lock of silken onyx hair behind her right ear.
"I just wanted to be certain I wasn't taking a book you were currently reading, that's all."
One of the many things the Princess of Mercury was known for was her habit of reading several books at the same time. Where as most people might read one or two, Ami would read five or six books at once and retain every bit of knowledge within them without mixing them up. She was a brilliant woman, even among the most noted scholars from Mercury.
At the sound of her name, Rei turned and smiled as Makoto entered the arena. Of all of her friends, Makoto was the least traditional princess she'd ever met. Never wanting to wear dresses, always avoiding lady-like behavior; she railed against tradition harder than anyone she'd ever met and it was one of the things Rei adored most about her.
"I slept very well, thank you. And you?"
It wasn't long after Makoto's arrival that they were joined by Minako, whom Rei greeted with a warm smile. Even this early, the Princess of Venus was always picture perfect and cheerful.
"Good morning, Mina-chan. Did you sleep well?"
The four women waited patiently for the arrival of their princess, Rei hopping up on a waist high wall and sitting, crossing her legs at the knee and resting her crossed arms on her leg. Serenity's arrival was heralded with a rushed flutter of bedclothes. The Princess of Mars chuckled softly and hopped down from her position on the wall.
"Punctual as ever, I see," she said with a teasing smile. "I feel overdressed, now."
[Tag Ami, Minako, Makoto, Serenity]
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Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 8, 2014 19:18:48 GMT -5
Minako’s fingertips slid along the railing of the upper levels of the ballroom. It was barely morning, but she couldn’t sleep. And as she watched court members bustle about, bringing in large metal fixtures to light the perimeters of the ballroom floor, pulling forward grand banquet tables, and hanging expansive floral arrangements.
It was all becoming too real. Minako felt as if she were matching forward toward some large moment in her life, a moment she suddenly felt unready for. Her fingertips bent and then straightened as she pushed her weight away from the railing and moved toward the training grounds.
“Good morning.” She smiled, sweeping a hand over her long golden locks, tucking them haphazardly over on shoulder. “The grand ballroom is already coming alive. There’s so much happening.” She said in an excited tone. “It will be a lovely evening.” She said, as if searching for some validation in her sentiment from the others.
She wore a pale yellow silk gown with small straps that hugged her slender shoulders. A bright orange ribbon wrapped carefully about her waist and a matching ribbon nestled about her neck tenderly. “While it’s still us…” She said, letting a moment of silence pass between the girls. “…About last night.” She sighed. “I’m sorry if I brought some unnecessary tension. In the end, we must protect the Princess, but we do report to the Queen. We have to be aligned in our future actions. I don’t ever want to speak for us, but we have to search beyond our friendship with Serenity to serve the greater Kingdom and help her on her path toward becoming Queen.” She added. “If we could…” she began. But, before she could get out another word, the Princess tore into the scene in a simple robe and gown no less.
Minako blinked wordlessly, her gaze said that she would continue the conversation at another time, wincing softly.
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Serenity tilted her head to the side awkwardly, her lips opened, leaving small o-shaped gap. Her eyes filled with confusion at Makoto’s chuckling. “Wha?” She said, lifting her shoulders, continuing to catch her breath.
Her eyes darted between the different occupants in the room. “Sorry for being late!” She huffed again. It wasn’t until Rei chimed in with a well-placed jab, that she better understood the girls’ laughter.
“Oh! That’s cold, Rei…” Serenity blushed, shrugging her shoulders. Her fingertips slid down her robe, readjusting the sheer, soft fabric against her body. She quickly retied the band of fabric tightly about her waist.
“Perhaps I am exposed to you all.” She pouted. “But you’ve all seen far more of me than this…and I didn’t sleep well last night...” She said, bringing a hand about the back of her head, rubbing. Her brows furrowed and gaze rose to the ceiling as she grew more flustered.
“I must be so far from a proper Princess.” She winced, looking about the group. “Mother came to visit me last night. She still does not want me to train for battle. But she said a compromise would be me training to control my emotions, because it will help me hone my powers, whenever I can actually use those.” She winced, shaking her head dejectedly.
“But, soon enough, each of you will be exposed.” She mused, trying to push the focus back on her peers. “Imagine the flowing gowns and dapper tuxedos.” She mused, daintily lifting the corner of her nightgown as she twirled about. She danced in time to a melody only she could hear.
“So many colors and sounds mixing together. Identities hidden beneath masks. So much noise, so much movement.” She said carefully, shiftly swaying her body nearer to each of the women.
“But suddenly, your eyes meet. You stop and stand still, seeing those eyes that you feel you’ve known forever. Eyes that pull you in and make your next few moments fuzzy.” She paused, her gaze moved between each of her fellow Princesses slowly.
“Now, there's no music. There are no people. Just you and that pair of eyes. And there’s something so powerful in that gaze that can pierce your heart and know your secrets in an instant.”
Her gaze fell toward Rei as she continued. “And in the corner of your heart, an unknown and glorious feeling begins to rise up. It’s frightening and exciting and mysterious. Even the most guarded of hearts would fall victim to it.” She warned.
Her expression softened as she turned her attentions away from Rei and tapped at Ami’s chest. “Even you Ami, the most rational woman I know would be left defenseless after a dance with a handsome and intriguing man.” She sighed, some semblance of longing was evident as she let out a breath.
“No rational, no best judgments, just feeling and unplanned for occurances. Such are the adventures of a ball.” She grinned. “I’m so excited for each of you. After everyone sees your hearts, your passions, and your talents… I believe each of you will have quite the evening.” She cooed, tapping a fingertip to the side of her face excitedly. “And, I demand that each of you have a good time.” She crossed her arms. “So, are you all ready to soar?” She rose a brow with great interest.
As her sapphire eyes fell back on Makoto, she smiled softly. “Those…pants… right?” She tilted her head to the side. “I like them, very much. Do you, perhaps have a pattern for those?” She questioned. “I’d like to get some made for me. I’m sure it’s easier to move around and…” She blushed, looking to the ground as she clasped her hands together at her waist. “Sorry…we should stay focused. The ball. Flying. Are we ready to begin?” She asked again.
[Tag Rei, Makoto, Ami]
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Post by hinorei on Dec 9, 2014 10:01:26 GMT -5
Rei raised an eyebrow, the look on her face somewhere between bemused and dismissive. First a stone, now a pair of eyes. Did people actually fall in love or just inanimate objects? Still, even with Serenity's warning the Princess of Mars doubted there was a man in this galaxy who could win her heart. Several have tried, all have failed. If there were someone she was destined to be with, surely by now she would have had some sort of vision eluding to that fact. No, it was not her destiny to fall in love. Her destiny was to protect her Princess and serve the Moon Kingdom. Her love was for her friends and her Princess only.
As Serenity continued, Rei couldn't help but wonder if this romanticized version of tonight's ball was inspired by the Moon Princess' encounter with the young man from Earth. Though she knew it was dangerous, the Princess of Mars couldn't help but feel a bit of envy for Serenity's ability to open her heart so freely. Her deep purple eyes glanced at her fellow guardians and she could not help but wonder if she were the only one among them who guarded her heart so closely. In that instant, despite the fact that she was standing among them, Princess Rei felt as though she were watching her friends from far away.
The question drew Rei out of her thoughts and back among her friends. With a warm smile on her face, she stepped forward.
"I'm ready if everyone else is."
[Tag Ami, Minako, Makoto, Serenity]
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Post by Princess Jupiter on Dec 9, 2014 11:10:53 GMT -5
With a smile and a shrug Mako replied, “Ah, I’ve slept better. Stayed up too late thinking about today. I’ve got a great plan for this ‘presentation’ tonight!” she finished with a sly smile.
Makoto was glad when Minako brought up yesterday. She didn’t want all of their thoughts and feelings on the matter to be dismissed. Although she disagreed with the end conclusion, Mako could appreciate exactly what Minako was saying. There were wide consequences to living freely, as she knew well, and she wanted to have an open and frank discussion about where they stood and how they could address Serenity’s wanderlust. She nodded firmly to Minako, mirroring her sentiments. Next time.
She giggled with the rest as they poked fun at Serenity’s absentmindedness, but things took a strange twist when Serenity started waxing eloquent on the romantic qualities of tonight’s ball. Mako was easily pulled into the scene and the longing for such an event swelled in her breast. She was always hoping for such a romance to spontaneously burst into being like fireworks, but nothing had ever come of her hopes. She was easily swept off her feet by good men who paid attention to her, but most men lost interest when they found how ‘difficult’ she was. How awkward. How unfeminine. Not many men could appreciate a girl who could win against them in a test of strength, among other things.
So she shook her head as if to keep her hopes from taking root, “If only we’d all be so lucky,” she said with a slightly sarcastic tone which glossed over many of the worries she had about tonight – seeing all her friends dancing and enjoying themselves while she herself kept vigil. Mako’s only goal was to keep from causing a scene. She had been practicing her wall-leaning skills a lot longer than her dancing skills after all, “But if that’s your command, Princess,” Makoto bowed from the waist, adding to her masculine look, “your wish is my command!” she finished with a smile.
“Oh yes, I’m quite ready to fl—“ she started before Serenity made mention of her pants. Mako’s jaw dropped, “You—you want to wear these?” she said dumbfounded. Her first instinct was to argue. After all, she wore these out of necessity. Someone of Serenity’s charms didn’t need to fall back on boring menswear to look good. But, when she saw that Serenity’s interest was pure, she relented, “I, uh, sure. I can even make them for you. Let me just get your measurements later and pick out some fabric and I’ll get you some fashionable pants in no-time.” She concluded, almost amused that anyone would want to emulate this style.
“But for now, the skies await!”
Tag: Serenity, Rei, Minako, Ami
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Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 9, 2014 12:23:47 GMT -5
A genuine smile lit up Serenity’s expression. So often, she was being directed, advised, and taught. It was an interesting position to be in the role of teacher, especially given the opportunity to pass along knowledge and skills to her dearest friends.
A rush of excitement and confidence flooded her body as she nodded her head to the girls being ready to begin.
“So, I expect I should go over the events for the evening, so you all know how everything fits together.” She spoke her thoughts aloud, feeling out the rational as she went.
“After everyone has arrived, I’ll announce you briefly to our court. At that time, I’ll present each of you with your henshin rods.” She said, the excitement beginning to well up within her. “And then, one by one—Makoto, Ami, Rei, and then Minako—you’ll present yourselves to court as you please.” She paused, brushing her fingertips along her chin as she tilted her head to the side.
“Hm. I’d expect each score of music is about three minutes long, so that’s the time each of you have to show yourself.” She clasped her hands at her chest, eyes twinkled.
She took a few careful steps forward. Her voice echoed an earnest devotion to each of them. “I know you might feel out of sorts or different in this moment, but you all are so precious to me. I want people to see what I see in you. Even now. So, don’t be afraid to lay yourself bare to our people. This is there moment to know you and to believe in you and your skills. Let that moment be true to you and your unique cultures.” She urged.
“At the end of Minako’s presentation, I’ll join you all. We’ll all present a final symbol of ourselves and then, as one, we’ll fly. As the essence of our powers combine, they’ll flood our court as a magnificent light show!” She beamed.
It was that moment that Minako coughed, trying not to be rude and interrupt Serenity’s emotional speech. “What do you mean as an essence of our powers?” She questioned.
Serenity took in a breath, realizing she was getting ahead of herself. “Oh. Well, I’m limited. I will stand with you. But each of you… you should be able to manifest your power elements into the symbol of your home planets. I’d suggest you do that and then let them all float above and combine. The rest will take care of itself.” She said, looking to the ground for a moment. She wondered what her mother would think of these displays of strength and grace, but it was Serenity’s to piece together and she felt this was the most honest way of introducing and welcoming them all to court.
Minako looked to the ceiling as she sucked in a deep breath. She had a feeling everyone would be off in their spaces practicing like mad until this special performance would begin. But, they would do it gladly to please Serenity.
“And then?” Minako questioned, not asking any more questions as if she were confident in everything else she was doing. Of course, inside, she was wavering and concerned.
Serenity’s gaze shifted between the different girls as she extended a hand to Rei and another to Makoto. “And then we join hands.” She motioned. “You close your eyes, let yourself feel confident and limitless. It’s all in your mind what you can do here. Flying is quite simply really, you tell yourself what you want and then you let yourself have it.” She encouraged, tugging at the two of them as she began to lift off the ground.
“We’ll soar up together, united. Then we can all let go, remembering you have your independence and strength as individuals as well.” She offered as she held her position, about arms length above the girls. “You can spin, you can float down. You can do what you please, because at that moment, you’ll be free to dance with intriguing men.” She chuckled as she let go of the other girls’ hands and moved upwards.
Her body spun in graceful circles, she lifted her arms up to the ceiling and then wrapped them around herself tenderly. She closed her eyes, the long French braid her mother had crafted seemed to sway and follow her motions.
[Tag Ami, Makoto, Rei]
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Post by hinorei on Dec 10, 2014 10:59:13 GMT -5
Rei listened closely to Serenity's explanation, her brow furrowing with deep thought. They didn't have much time to prepare and her mind raced with the different possibilities for her performance. She could perform a military demonstration, but that seemed to rigid for her. Perhaps she could perform a dance instead. There were very few dances native to Mars and most were fairly well known, but the Princess of Mars wanted something unique; something very few people had ever seen. Her eyes widened as realization set in: she would perform the Sacred Fire Dance. Rei could count on one hand the number of people who could perform this dance and it had been taught to her by the High Priestess herself. It was only performed for rare and special occasions because it was extremely dangerous and required a great deal of concentration. Still, the Princess of Mars could think of no better way to showcase her abilities. The Sacred Fire Dance was a perfect display of power, grace, and discipline; three things her people were well known for and three things she prided herself on having in abundance.
"Seems easy enough", Rei said with a smile, grasping Serenity's delicate hand and extending her other hand to take Minako's.
Rei closed her eyes and cleared her mind, then fixated her thoughts on lifting herself off of the ground. She felt her body become weightless and at Serenity's gentle tug she floated up into the air. Her deep purple eyes opened slowly and her smile widened at the sight of her fellow princesses all floating beside her. The sensation was exhilarating. Her long black hair floated around her like a cape and her skirt fluttered as she spun gently in the air.
"Is our flying ability limited to the Moon Kingdom or would I be able to do this on my home planet as well? In the event I needed to travel back there I would love to show this to Phobos and Deimos."
At Serenity's mention of dancing with intriguing men, Rei rolled her eyes. She would be doing none of that.
"I was giving it some thought and I've decided for my performance I will do the Sacred Fire Dance. I'll need to practice for a while, but I'm sure I'll be ready by this evening."
[Tag Ami, Minako, Makoto, Serenity]
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Post by Princess Jupiter on Dec 10, 2014 12:34:06 GMT -5
It was a strange sensation to feel pulled up from a standing position. Makoto tried to follow Serenity’s instruction even as her rational mind wondered how flight could be as easy as “being confident,” especially as their entrance ceremony garnered more mystery with displays of essence and other wondrous scenes. Still, it was one of Serenity’s gifts to be able to radiate hope and trust as easily as a lamp gave off light. She felt her feet lose contract with the ground and the sensation thrilled her. She knew how to “tell herself what she wanted,” but “letting yourself have it” was always more difficult. Makoto was sure that without Serenity’s presence there with them, this too would be an impossibility. She was such an amazing gift to them, to the Moon, to the entire Solar System, really. If she said that they would be able to manifest their powers together and showcase their talents with only hours of practice, then it was actually believable that would happen. Of course, it still seemed less fanciful than finding an intriguing man to dance with her. That would require more than just hope and confidence. That would require a miracle.
Yet, miracles aside, there she was, floating above the surface of the ground along with everyone else, her ponytail bobbing side to side with the ungrounded motion, “This is awesome!” she exclaimed, her adventurous spirit kindled. She looked to the sky and wondered how fast she could go with this new ability. She willed herself further up and lunged to one side, feeling the wind whip around her. It reminded her of home a bit, the strong bite of the Jovian winds and the smell of the chill in the air. Of course, back there the Storm controlled the speed. For now, in the sky, she was the Storm. She circled back and dove, all the while calling out with exhilaration. It felt…a bit like ice skating while lying flat and she seemed to take to it easily to her utter delight. She whizzed past her friends, oblivious to any conversations they might be having as she tested her limits. At length, she pulled herself from her chasing the wind and rejoined the girls around their floating circle,
"Wow, Serenity...this is a lot of fun. How come we don't see more people flying around here when it's so easy?"
Tag: Serenity, Rei, Minako, Ami
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Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 14, 2014 16:35:46 GMT -5
Minako bent her legs as she took a jump and quickly came back to the ground. “Hm.” She frowned, her cheeks growing red with embarrassment. “Are you sure we can all do this, Serenity?” Minako questioned with a huff of frustration.
Her eyebrows furrowed as Rei and Makoto lifted off the ground effortlessly, soon followed by Ami.
Serenity smiled, looking down on her friend. “Of course you can. You’re so quick to jump to action. You don’t use your legs or your body to fly Minako. It’s all in your heart and mind. Remember your strengths.” She advised.
For the briefest of moments Serenity truly felt weightless. She watched each of her friends rise up with her. She squeezed Makoto’s and Rei’s hand. She closed her eyes, a vibrant memory came to the forefront: They were all so young. They weren’t thinking about roles and responsibilities. They held each other’s hands and galloped wildly round and around. Their smiles were so bright, their laughs so loud and honest.
She lowered herself to the ground, the gentle layers of her nightgown and robe fluttered about her as she made contact, becoming lifeless again as her feet hit the ground.
“It’s so easy for you all because you’re special.” Serenity said simply. “Not everyone can focus their hearts and minds to do something so lofty, Makoto. That’s why you’ve not seen so many people floating about. But, it sure does beat taking transports from one area of the Kingdom to the next.” She chuckled.
“You all don’t realize how special you are, and how strong you are. Actually, very few people can.” She pursed her lips, thinking.
She began to tap her fingertips to her chin, her gaze growing more focused. “I’m not quite sure it would work on your home planet, Rei. I’ve never really been other places to test it out.” She added with a shrug. Again, her gaze fell to the ground, a flicker of sadness sucked the life away from her brightened expression.
“But, I’ll be excited to see what you learn when you try it the next time you’re home, Rei-Chan.” She mused.
“I wanted this to be a short meeting. I was confident that all would be quick learners.” She winked. “Now, you have the rest of the day to prepare your presentations. I believe your hand maidens and the seamstresses will be back to help you dress a few hours before the ball. I’ll meet you all in the ballroom, before the ceremony begins.” She add, before bowing her head politely.
Internally she was conflicted. Normally, she’d be so excited for a ball. Her mother hadn’t actually scared away all men in the Kingdom from wanting to dance with her. She enjoyed these opportunities to move freely around the people within her Kingdom. But, something had changed in her. Could the briefest of all interactions with a single stranger be such a defining moment in her life? She wondered. Tonight, she’d choose to live vicariously through her guardians and their interactions. She knew there was no one, on her home planet at least, that she’d like to dance with.
[Tag Inner Princesses]
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Post by Princess Jupiter on Dec 17, 2014 12:32:05 GMT -5
Lowering herself to the ground in turn, Makoto replied with a layer of self-depreciation, “Lofty, eh? I don’t know if I’d consider myself the lofty type either…but hey, the proof is in the pudding I guess.”
It was hard for Makoto to accept any compliments outside of her physical strength. That she could prove to others. In almost every other way, she was most often fighting against herself. Feeling like she was putting on a brave front and keeping everyone at just enough distance to keep them from noticing her flaws. Well, that was the idea anyway, since she was so often sticking her foot in her mouth for her rash behavior and words. If she really had such lofty vision, Mako thought, she might be more willing and able to temper her personal attitudes for the sake of her royal heritage.
Still, Mako was satisfied with the morning’s exercise. Another skill learned which was a hell of a lot of fun too. Now, like Serenity reminded them, they had a lot of work to do in preparing themselves for their grand entrance tonight. Makoto’s heart beat faster thinking about it. She was confident enough in her physical aptitude, but the thought of all those people with questions of who this Princess of Jupiter is and needing to communicate that made her anxious. Would they like the Dance of Life? Would they think she was coming across too broodingly? Too strongly? Would they be interested in her or frightened by her? Mako was sure she was overthinking the whole thing, but she couldn’t help it. Somewhere in her thoughts, however, she was sometimes thankful that this constant self-pressure helped her push herself to greater heights. If she could be sure of one thing, it was that she would become complacent about her own abilities.
“Sounds good. Thanks Serenity, this was lots of fun. I hope you’ll enjoy our intros tonight. I’m hoping mine will be quite shocking,” she laughed ironically at her own bad pun, “look forward to it!”
“Good luck everyone, be seeing you soon.” she said when the girls finally parted ways. Although she said it, she was not much concerned. Minako was a natural performer, Rei was supernaturally focused, Ami likely already had written out and memorized her script. Serenity was right; they were each so gifted in their own ways, and it warmed her heart to be a part of this group of the most remarkable girls in the solar system. She resolve again to prove herself worthy of being a part of it all.
Makoto ultimately decided to practice out in the garden. She asked a couple of the guards to partition off some of it for her and give her some privacy. Being around the flowers calmed her spirit and she needed an open sky to get the most out of her practice.
The Dance of Life, so called, was not very complicated, but it did require constant motion and supreme endurance. She had tried it once or twice as a kid and she had been overwhelmed by dizziness. But she had come a long way since then. And so, giving a little nod and asking the flowers for their patience, she began to spin. And spin. And spin. All for the sake of making a place for herself here on the Moon, with her friends, and for herself.
Tag: Serenity, Rei, Minako, Ami
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Post by hinorei on Dec 18, 2014 17:04:33 GMT -5
Slowly, Rei lowered herself to the ground, smoothing out her skirt as her feet gently touched the floor.
"Thank you for the lesson, Serenity," she said with a slight bow. At Makoto's terrible joke, she gave a soft chuckle and shook her head.
"Good luck to you as well," she said as the Jovian princess made her exit.
"I suppose I should go practice as well. We'll have plenty of time to talk this evening once the festivities are over."
Rei's turned her smiling gaze to each of the remaining princesses, her eyes lingering on Minako for a moment, letting the Venitian princess know she wouldn't forget that she wanted to talk with them. She then made her way out of the arena, heading back towards their tower. Once inside the common room, instead of heading to her room, she turned and entered Ami's room, heading for the huge bookshelf. Her shimmering purple eyes scanned the out facing spines of the texts, searching for one that might help her decipher her dream. On the shelf just above the bottom she found a sizeable volume called "Rare and Precious Stones of the Galaxy". Smiling triumphantly, she pulled the book off of the shelf, hefted it into her arms, and carried it into her room.
The Princess of Mars plopped the heavy book onto her bed, then headed into the fire room. The room itself was large and Rei felt it was the safest place for her to practice her dance without risking setting the entire palace ablaze. After a few deep breaths to focus her mind, she offered a prayer to the spirit of the fire, asking for it's blessing and protection over her. Then she began to dance. As she moved and swayed, the fire moved with her, dancing and contorting to her will. As she practiced, Rei's mind began to wonder to the stone she saw in her dreams and the things it said to her. The Princess of Mars shook her head in frustration, pushing aside her curious thoughts and forcing herself to focus on the dance. The scent of fabric burning quickly drew her out of her internal battle as she frantically snuffed out the small flame that had bitten into the edge of her skirt. Though now in need of repair, the garment wasn't too badly ruined. Perhaps one of the royal seamstress' would be able to fix it.
"Fine!" Rei announced in a frustrated tone, realizing she risked destroying her skirt if she didn't take a few minutes to thumb through the book she'd borrowed from Ami. She angrily stormed into her room, flung herself onto her bed, and pulled the book into her lap. She began flipping the pages, each time greeted with the picture of a rare and precious stone as well as a description of it's attributes, but not finding one that looked like the stone from her dream. After several minutes, Rei closed the book, pinching the bridge of her nose. She didn't have time for this. She was supposed to perform a very difficult dance that evening and only had a few precious hours to practice. This annoying rock was just going to have to wait.
She slid the book off of her lap with a little too much force, sending it over the edge of the bed and crashing to the floor. Rei sucked in a breath, as she reached for the book hoping it hadn't been damaged in the fall, when her eyes fell upon the open page and she froze. There it was. Her slinder fingers grasped the edges and lifted the book off of the ground as her eyes read the description. The stone was called Jadeite and despite being very rare and very valuable, there didn't seem to be anything all that unusual about it. No mention of them being able to speak. Almost disappointed, Rei closed the book and, carefully this time, set it down on the bed. Maybe she would be presented with the stone by someone trying to woo her tonight. The Princess of Mars rolled her eyes at the very idea and headed back into the fire room. Now that her curiosity was satisfied, she would have no trouble concentrating.
[Tag: Ami, Minako, Makoto, Serenity]
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Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 28, 2014 20:51:10 GMT -5
[OOC—Just getting all the Inner Princesses together again before they get dressed!]
Where had the time gone? Minako had to wonder after having gobbled up several hours in her preparations for the ball. Prior to meeting with Serenity and the other Princesses, she had taken time to wander through the ballroom. It was a grand and open space, but it would be a sea of people—perfect for entertaining those who wanted to be seen, while also accommodating those who wanted to become lost or be wallflowers with nooks and crannies for stealing away.
She tried to imagine the music, the people, the feeling of being in front of all those eyes. She brought a shaky hand over the front of her satin robe as she peered forward at her reflection in the mirror, sliding a hand over her cheek and patting the side of her hair. “This looks wonderful, it’s just what I wanted it to be.” She said simply to the woman who continued to fiddle with the last few strands, wrangling them into place.
Minako’s hair had been styled in a way that befitted the strength and beauty of her people. Half of her hair was pulled up in high, sophisticated updo. While the other half was twisted and curled into a wavy ponytail that hung lower against her neck to bounce free with her movements.
“Well, thank you again. I hope you enjoy the ball tonight.” Minako added politely, nodding with respect. The hand maiden gave a smile and took her leave. Unsure of whether the other Princesses were as far along in their preparations for the ball, she called out loudly into their common room.
“Girls?! Do you have a moment?!” She brought a hand near her mouth to amplify the sound.
Unsurprisingly, it was Ami who popped out into the common room first. Well, she didn’t pop out exactly. She shuffled one foot in front of the other, nearly attached to her own hand maiden who was pinning some blue locks on the right side of her head carefully behind. “One more pin, Princess!” She muttered, still carrying a few hair pins in her mouth as she tried to hold the Mercurian woman in place. For as short as Ami’s hair was, the styling was quite intricate. Her hair had been curled in consistent waves, the left side of her hair had a large piece that seemed to curl and rest against her cheek, while the rest was pinned back as if it were a longer updo.
Ami blushed. “Could you give us a moment, please?” She questioned. The handmaiden shook her head. “It’s not needed, you’re finished. We’ll be bringing in your dresses shortly.” She commented, Ami waved a hand kindly.
“This already seems frantic.” Ami admitted. “What is it you’d like to speak about, Minako?” She questioned, unable to hold back her own curiosity until the others arrived.
“Your hair looks beautiful, Ami-chan. The waves remind me of lively water.” Minako said with a wink before taking a seat. “I’d just like all of us to chat as a group before any ceremonies. All of us should talk while Serenity is busy with other things. I thought before we all put on our gowns would be the best opportunity. I want all of us to come to some decisions as a team and make sure we’re aligned. I didn’t want to leave all those unspoken items in the air before we’re presented to court. That wouldn’t be right.” She explained.
[Tag Inner Princesses]
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