Crystal Utopia

Minako flitted around the palace, excited about the New Years celebrations going on throughout the week. Tonight would be especially exciting, as there would be a large party at the palace and men from all over the solar system would be attending.

She made her way to Ami's study, where she knocked on the door hoping to find her friend. She wanted to be sure Ami would attend the party and not be cooped up all night! Minako was convinced if she could find the right man, Ami would come out of her shell some more.

"Ami-chan!"

Aboard the Sea Goddess: Your computers are picking up strange signals. You are having difficulty deciphering them.

In Crystal Tokyo: It is early January and the city is having a new year's festival all week!


OOC: A message from almighty GM-sama- Sorry it's been so quiet guys! I got tied up with the holidays. I think we shall have to progress sans Neptune for awhile (unless Lauren doesn't mind me GM-ing her a bit)

( Application. )

"Well, I'm glad you think so," He replied with a smile. "Myself, I'm eager to see new places."

Kunzite chuckled softly. "I do believe he's got a point. Or he just cheats at cards," Kunzite chuckled. He leaned back in his chair and brushed some hair from his face. "Your homeworld was quite beautiful Yasuo."

Yasuo raised his eyebrows. "You do know my knight title is "the Blazing Card", right? There's no luck to it. Pure skill."

Yasuo pulled a jack of hearts into his hand, seemingly from nowhere, and held it in front of Zoicite. It was red and shone with a brilliance entirely unlike an ordinary card.

"Beginners luck," Zoicite scoffed as he gathered the cards back up and began to shuffle.

Yasuo smirked. "Hm, this game is even simpler than you said it was, Zocite!"

By decree of the d20:

Kunzite: 13
Yasou: 16
Zoicite: 12

Yasou wins the hand. Kathy, feel free to write a post detailing this ;).

The head Shitennou chuckled some and sat down. "Prepare to lose dear Zoicite," he smirked. He took the cards and easily began shuffling them before dealing them out.

Yasuo raised his eyebrows.

"Do I know how to play poker? You have got to be kidding me. Yasuo sat down with a smirk.

"Everything, huh?" Zoicite scoffed. "You're too much, Kunz."

"Well, if you know so much a hand of poker should be nothing for you, yes?" He sat down at the little table in the center of the room and pulled a deck of cards out of a nearby drawer. "Do you know how to play this Earth-game?" he asked Yasuo. "It's very simple. There's a good deal of luck involved, but it still requires strategy."

Zoicite smirked back at Kunzite, returning the flirtatious manor, "I'll have you know my bluff has improved over the years."

Kunzite smirked some, dusting his shoulder off. "I still know everything," he returned mildly, giving the smallest of a playful flirt smirk at Zoicite. "Especially a few things that would surprise even you." He gave a small glance at Yasuo before looking boredly around the room. There really wasn't much to do in the ship and they still had days to go before they got back home.

It was a chilly winter afternoon in Crystal Tokyo. Princess Lady Serenity (or just Usa to those who feared her wrath) had dragged Diana with her to the European-Style Christmas market in the main square. She was bundled up in a long beige-pink jacket with a rosy shaded fluff scarf wrapped snug around her neck. It was chilly out and she could see her own breath. It looked like it might snow. Still, she removed her gloves so she could hold the hot cocoa cup in her bare hands. She loved the feel of heat touching her skin.

Her lips curved into a delighted smile and she giggled girlishly after taking a sip. "I think Chocolate can solve all the world's problems."

Something caught Usa's attention out of the corner of her and and she skipped over to the next booth. They were selling sailor senshi plush toys. She picked up the Ceres plushee with her spare hand and waved it at Diana as she laughed her little butt off. "I'm tempted to buy this for Cere, just because I KNOW she'll pitch a fit over how chubby it is."

"It's a plush... it's supposed to be chubby."

Zoicite sighed inwardly. Children...

Outside, though, he simply smiled politely. "It's nice to be young," he scoffed. "Young and indestructible yes? Say, Kunzite, don't you miss the days when you knew everything?" There was blatant sarcasm in his tone.

"Everything except everyone's edgy attitudes," He replied. "Relax, guys. If something happens, we'll deal with it when it comes. What's the point of everyone sitting around, nervous and uncomfortable?"

"Nothing of any consequence," Zoicite replied as he glanced back in the direction he had just come from. "Misplaced nerves, most likely..."

He turned his attention back to Yasuo. "Is everything to your liking, young lord?"

Kunzite glanced up at Zoicite as he entered. He gave a subtle smile to the other general and glanced at Yasuo before looking back at Zoicite. "You seem...preoccupied Zoicite. What troubles your mind?" he asked.

Haruka was on edge. Kinmokusei had been beautiful but she felt like something was amiss. But the radar showed nothing on the screen and the communications were quiet since they had left Kinmokusei. She glanced over at her lover and in spite of her nervousness, felt a smile tug at her lips. Michiru was one of the few people who could get her to smile like this.

Watching Zoicite leave, Haruka continued to monitor the ship's controls to ensure everything was in order.

Somewhere just beyond the Kinmoku system.

A lithe figure stood near the controls of the ship, watching the pilot, Miss Tenou Haruka navigate.

He delicately looped a finger through his long tawny blonde hair and pushed it behind his ear as he bent down to get a better look at the readings.

Something was unsettling Zoicite, but he couldn't place what.

Standing back up, he progressed through the ship until he located Kunzite and the young Prince Yasuo. He nodded his head in a quiet greeting, folded his arms across his chest, and leaned against the wall of the ship.