Mare Serenitatis

[Princess Serenity]

Serenity rolled her eyes, seeing Acacia’s gesture. She would have wondered how in the universe her Jupiter Senshi had been brought up—no one at court ever even thought of doing such things—but she already knew, so there was no point in wondering. Serenity supposed that after being raised as a boy in the wilderness of Jupiter, such things as the way Acacia expressed herself from time to time, would be a little… unusual. But to know Acacia was to love her and it had to be acknowledged that her presence brought a little spice to the Senshi group.

"Let's not be too hasty Princess Serenity, I wanted to hear what Asami had to say."

“No,” Serenity groaned, a blush quickly rising to her cheeks as she forced herself not to smile just because of the mere mention of her crush. She put her hands over her cheeks to hide the blush. Of course this wasn’t going to keep Acacia, Riri, and anyone else who was watching them from knowing it was there (why would she bring her hands up like that if she wasn’t blushing?) but it was an automatic reaction. At least her cool hands soothed the burning of her flush a little though. That was always a plus.

“Yes, I want to talk about it too,” Asami continued smoothly as if she had not heard Serenity, still smirking, amused. “You see, I was out in the gardens looking for Chara a few months ago because Mother and Father were here visiting and they wanted to see her. I was walking past one of those little secluded rose gardens that we have around and-”

“Asami!” Serenity begged, her blush growing stronger by the minute. “Don’t tell, please.” Seeing as she didn’t have much personal time, she didn’t have much personal life either. What Asami was about to disclose was one of only a few private memories Serenity had. As much as she trusted her Senshi, she didn’t want to let it become common knowledge. Everyone was allowed to have their secrets, even the princess, right?

Asami obliged Serenity by refraining from continuing, but turned calmly to face her. “Princess,” she began, her tone still conversational. “If I don’t tell them now, Acacia and Riri will wonder why you want to keep this a secret so desperately and they’ll begin to exaggerate what really happened, in their minds. Then who knows what sort of rumors will be floating around concerning you? It’ll be much better for you if you let me finish my story. Trust me.” Serenity sighed and after a moment nodded reluctantly. She did not like this at all, but Asami was right. Yes, the rumors would fly if she couldn’t finish the story now. And really, the only reason she didn’t want it getting out was for sentimental reasons. It was barely tease worthy information.

“Good girl.” Asami said, sounding pleased. She turned back to Acacia and Riri. “As I was saying, I was walking by one of those rose gardens and I saw them. Serenity and that nobleman, sitting on a bench together. Alone. They were only talking though.” She sounded a bit apologetic when she said this as if she was letting her audience down by admitting to the truth.

"Does this crush involve wild, raging hormones that cause you to invision his wet, hunky, naked body begging you for a kiss. Kiss me, beautiful goddess of the moon. Will you be mine?"

Serenity’s blush had just about gone away by this time, but it came quickly back, even brighter than before. “Acacia!” she cried, pulling a hand out of her friend’s hold so that she could cover her face in embarrassment. This time she didn’t just cover her cheeks. She just put her hand over the whole thing, spreading her fingers for maximum cover. Oh, this was so embarrassing! There was no doubt in her mind that everyone in the courtyard had stopped to stare at them for this one. But she wouldn’t know if that was really true, seeing as she had her eyes scrunched together as tightly as she could manage. Why did she have to leave herself open to be such a teasing target?

And while she wouldn’t tell anyone, her heart secretly jumped at the idea of her crush asking her such a thing. She wished she could tell whether he liked her as a friend or as something more. She really didn’t see him enough to be sure and when they were together he was rather unreadable when it came to that sort of thing. It was so annoying!

"Lead the way, Princess Serenity."

“I shall,” Serenity replied, with a bit of a grin, recovering from the embarrassment that her friends were causing her. However, at that moment something caught Riri’s attention and therefore Serenity’s since Riri was still attached to her dress. Seeing her unhappy look, Serenity frowned slightly and looked across the courtyard to who could be troubling the girl. Her eyes caught on a man in Mercury colors. A messenger perhaps? He didn’t look familiar, so either he wasn’t a high ranking person or he was someone who generally stayed on Mercury.

Serenity watched as Riri made her way over to the man and he leaned over to tell her something. Whatever it was, it didn’t look like Riri was taking it well… Oh. Serenity’s stomach dropped as she realized what had happened. Riri’s father. He must have died… Quietly, she approached her friend and gently hugged her. Asami followed behind quietly her face blanker than ever. “Oh Riri,” Serenity said, her voice just above a whisper. “We’re so sorry…”

[Sailor Mercury]

Riri gasped and her eyes widened. She had been found out! Was she this easy to read? Papa was dead, she couldn't change that, but she certainly couldn't let it to become worse by letting her friends worry. She pushed Serenity away. "NO! Nothing's wrong!" She wouldn't let anyone be unhappy on her account. "There is nothing to be sorry about! Everything is happy! Riri is happy and nothing bad has happened!" Her voice was raised so that the whole courtyard had probably heard her. She didn't care. All she cared about was making Serenity and the senshi not worry. She cared about them so much! She would die if she were the cause of their unhappiness! It was then that she panicked and ran. This would probably make everyone worry more, but she just had to be alone! She couldn't let anyone see her like this!

The Mercury delegate put his hand on Serenity's shoulder somewhat forcibly. Not enough to hurt her, but enough to make her stay and listen. "I see you know what happened already. It might be best if you didn't talk to her for awhile. She is scared of upsetting you. I don't know if you know this already Princess Serenity, but Princess Riri idolizes you. She wants to be just like you. It's her worst nightmare to make you worry." He sighed as looked down sadly. "She is very much still a child. But perhaps not as much as she lets on. It's all very complicated. Since her father came down with this illness she's only let one person see her cry. She is very much afraid that if she doesn't appear to be the happy childish one that she will have lost her place in the group and people won't like her anymore." He shrugged as if he was unsure as to what he could say to make her understand. "Just don't tell her I told you this. I only did so because I care about her, but if she knows that her secret has been let out she'll only become more upset and I'm afraid that she might do something to harm herself. I just ask that you give her a little while alone. Of course, I can't command you about, Princess. I can only make a humble request." He let go of her should and bowed as he began to walk away. More than anything he was sure that seeing the Mercury regent would be the best thing for her right now. But this time she was so upset that he didn't know if she would cry for even him.

She had to run. She had to hide. She had to find somewhere that no one would ever find her. She paused for a frantic moment unsure of where she should go and then ran down the stairs to the lowest levels of the palace. She could feel her eyes stinging with unshed tears and she mentally scolded herself. She couldn't let anyone see her cry. She wasn't free to cry even down here where she would be completely hidden. She could only cry back on Mercury when she saw the regent. Mercury. She'd have to go back to see her father's funeral. She was the Queen. She'd have to appear composed and oversee all of the events. She'd have to see her father's slowly decaying body. She couldn't do it. She couldn't. She'd have to hide until everything was over. She walked into one of the rooms knowing exactly where she was going. There was a trap door in one of these rooms. She was sure that she was the only one who knew about it. It led her to a narrow passage under the floor which she had to crawl through. At the end of the passage there was a dark room. It was furnished and looked like it had once been a bedroom. Perhaps a room for the royal family to hide in if there was every any type of crisis. Riri was sure that no one would mind her hiding in it. She stood in the room, closing a vent that she had taken to the room. It was cold and she could hear rats and dripping water and smell mold. She didn't care. All she wanted to do was curl up and die.

[Sailor Jupiter]

Acacia smirked and let out a long, loud laugh as she heard Riri's reaction to what Acacia had said to Princess Serenity. Riri just couldn't handle the responsibilities a woman had to a man. Of course, Acacia thought this only because she had been raised as a boy, a boy who was taught by her father to be a lady's-man early on. Her attitude was being taken from a man's point of view. Acacia thought for a moment and concluded that maybe Princess Serenity was not ready for those responsibilities either, for she seemed to be awfully shy.

As Asami began to speak about Princess Serenity's and the Prince of Uranus' escapades in the garden, Acacia leaned forward with a smile on her face. Maybe Princess Serenity was not so shy after all! Then the end of the story came. ... Nevermind, Princess Serenity was that shy. Acacia clucked her tongue and grimaced a little. "You could have at least gotten some action! A kiss or something." Shaking her head, Acacia decided that a little exaggeration was needed for this story. Just to spice it up a little and make Princess Serenity look less like a wuss.

When the messenger from Mercury came to talk to Riri, Acacia was quite confused. She saw the messenger leave, which left Riri there looking quite upset. Acacia watched Princess Serenity and Asami follow after Riri. Having no idea what was going on, Acacia followed after a few seconds. Leaning over to Asami, Acacia asked Asami what was going on. She became even more confused after Riri ran off. Acacia was not the brightest crayon in the box when it came to emotions and therefore was totally clueless.

"What's up with her? I didn't think any of us were unhappy, especially not enough to make her run off like that." Acacia pointed a thumb in in the fleeting Riri's direction. Due to Acacia standing a little ways away from the group, due to feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation, Acacia heard little of what the Mercury messenger said to Princess Serenity, thus she was still in the dark.

[Princess Serenity]

Serenity was slightly taken aback by Riri’s violent reaction to her apologies. As Riri pushed her away, she quickly stood up so as not to fall over. She had only been trying to help… Why had Riri gotten so defensive? It seemed a little out of her personality to push help away like that… Serenity conveniently forgot that she too had acted along those lines when she first heard news of her parents’ deaths. It had been so long ago after all. She remembered the confusion and pain that had plagued her the first week, but the hour or two after she got the news was completely blank to her. She could barely even remember who had told her what had happened. She knew it had been one of her mother’s Senshi, but which one was beyond her now.

Before she could hurry after Riri, the Mercury delegate stopped her, by putting a hand on her shoulder. She started slightly, having forgotten that there was anyone around her. Serenity listened calmly and when he was finished, nodded reluctantly. She didn’t like the idea of leaving Riri alone while she was in such a state, but she did remember how much she had appreciated the solitude of her bedroom. It was quiet and completely here. Nothing could bother her there. And then she had come out to see her friends when she had been ready, not before or after. Hopefully Riri would do the same. However, the man’s comment about Riri doing harm to herself worried her. She couldn’t imagine her doing something like that, but grief made people act strangely… “Thank you for telling me all that,” Serenity said quietly to the delegate. “I’ll leave her alone for a bit.”

"What's up with her? I didn't think any of us were unhappy, especially not enough to make her run off like that."

Serenity heard Asami answer Acacia’s question, although she did not turn to watch them. She kept her eyes on the place where Riri had disappeared into the crowd. “It’s her father.” Asami said quietly. “He’s dead. The man asked Serenity not to follow and that means we shouldn’t either.” Serenity sighed and finally turned around to face the other two, nodding in agreement. “We’ll give her a day, alright? If she comes to us before then, fine, but if not, just give her the time. It’s hard losing a parent.”

{{ooc: Eh, short. >.< Sorry!))

[Sailor Jupiter]

Acacia was a little taken aback by the news of Riri's father, the former King of Mercury, having passed away. She had expected the old man to let go of life at one point or another, but she never had really expected to be confronted by it. Knowing it will happen and it actually happening were two different things. And now what in the heck was she supposed to do with Riri? Acacia put on hand on her hip and frowned in Riri's general direction. If Acacia had her way, she would ignore this whole fiasco until it blew over, however, she figured that might be hard.

Acacia was uncomfortable with emotions and this sort of thing. She couldn't relate to the feeling of losing a parent, even though her father had been sent off to the mines to die. She had never been close with her father, thus she felt awkward with this whole situation. She had no idea how to confront Riri next time she saw the Mercury... Queen. Riri was a queen now...

"Is it now?" Acacia said absentmindely, still debating on how to handle the whole situation. "I can't relate." Acacia stood around for a moment, unnerved by the uncomfortable silence and tension. She threw up her hands and whirled around on her heel. She walked forward a few steps, than turned back around. "What do we do now?"