Usagi Tsukino (bunny_tsukino) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-04-03 18:16:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, lina inverse, usagi tsukino (sailor moon) |
Who: Usagi and Lina
What: Lina threatens some guys bothering Usagi!
When: Earlier today!
Where: At a food cart!
Rating/Warnings: PG 13
Status: Completed!
Lina was cranky. When she was cranky, she ate.
There was something about these particular set of dreams that hit her with a paranoia like no other - even if, logically, she knew damn well there wasn’t an assassin versed in the art of combat and sorcery chasing her tail, and neither was every single demonic goon under Garv’s reign of foiling Hellmaster’s plans. It was the third time a cycle like this was hitting her in her sleep. In theory she should be used to it, but there was something that much more relentless and sinister about it - they were purposefully wearing her down bit by bit, depriving her of sleep, engaging in constant battle to the point of exhaustion and very little space to escape.
Kinda like how she’d had a price on her head here for years before things evened out.
Anyway, with all that bogging down her mind and all the shit she’d been researching at work, refueling was necessary. Refueling that she felt like she just needed to do alone, taking a walk towards the food truck area (she was going to eat the shit out of some massive turkey legs, don’t think she won’t) when a pretentious ruckus by a vendor’s merchandise stand invaded her hearing.
Normally she wouldn’t care - why the hell was anything not pertaining her life her business - but she slowed her stride, a fiery brow quirked up very high and very annoyed.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” a male shouted at the girl, hands on his hips. “Just slamming into people?! You want to start somethin’?!”
“I said I was sorry!” The dark haired girl cried, stamping a foot into the ground as she glared up at the much, much taller teens around her.
“The hell were you doing?” a second scowled.
“Watching the ‘tube,” she waved her phone around like it was obvious. “And I said I was sorry,” she folded her arms, pigtails bobbing. “So go away now.”
“You should show some respect, kiddo! What are you, ten?!”
Usagi’s eyes narrowed and she snorted. “I’m just short! I’m in highschool!” Really, how annoying. All she wanted to do was grab a bite and head to the store and get some more manga and comics. She’s so late on them! ...And the sooner she uses her allowance the sooner her parents can’t take it back after they see her latest test’s score.
“Maybe you should just give us some compensation!” a third huffed. “How much you got on you?”
“Oh, no way,” she cried, stepping back. “I have to get the new issues!”
What the hell am i even witnessing was what crossed her mind, ruby red eyes slanting into a glare that cut like a knife. Lina had to assess her surroundings quickly to make sure she hadn't spaced out to the point of walking into a damn school yard - because that's exactly what the exchange reminded her of. Some kind of bullshit bullying from a punk-ass that needed his mother to spank the discipline into him.
"I'm about to compensate my fist into your face if you don't go away," she intervened, seemingly out of the blue - and at first glance not the least bit intimidating. Vertically challenged, small boned, blazing hair. Little but fierce. "You really want to cause a scene out here in public, bub? You're embarrassing yourself. Who the hell picks on a kid?"
There were subtle tricks of sorcery she could conjure that weren't all blazing balls of fire and destruction. If he didn't move, she was about to cause him some major pants-shitting stomach pains.
Of course, not to be intimidated by a small-fry, he didn’t move. “What do you want?! Go mind your own bu--” he stopped mid-sentence and fell to his knees, holding his stomach. The others looked absolutely stumped at their friend, and, not surprisingly, even Usagi was staring at him curiously, before lifting her eyes to the woman. Wow, she began, eyes wide. She’s so pretty! Hair like fire!
The others moved to their friend, one looking from him to Lina. “The hell did you do to him?!”
Oh, so he wasn't going to piss off? Oops, her magic slipped. Lina's shoulders pulled into a shrug with feigned innocence. "Did you see me do anything?" she asked, arms crossed over that modest bosom (motherhood had given her some tits, okay, all the flatchest comments needed to rot in hell forever). "Don't think so. You should probably help your pal, though - he doesn't look too well."
Today was not a day to test her already thin patience. And seriously, what a dickwad anyway. He deserved it.
They looked at their heaving friend, then back at Lina, then back at their friend… and deciding whatever she did, probably some kind of super spy ability because clearly that made more sense than anything ‘magic’ related, they scooped their buddy up and off they went.
Usagi didn’t hesitate. The second they were leaving, she ran up to Lina and stared, big ol’ eyes wide and almost sparkling if they could. “You were so cool!” she squealed, fists bunched at her chin as she bounced, vibrating in excitement and awe.
There was a satisfied smugness at making those shitheads leave, and it almost made her feel kind of better but -
Uh.
Lina reeled back a couple inches, and blinked. "Hi," she slowly greeted, shifting those unnaturally colored eyes from side to side before settling on her again. "I didn't really do anything, just gave them crap for being jerks at the right time? You going to be okay, kid?"
Usagi nodded hard, still bouncing. “Yeah! Thank you! All I did was walk into one and he dropped something,” she waved it off. “I’m Usagi! And you?!”
Hyper, wasn't she? It made her think of a certain priestess that wouldn't shut her mouth hole about love and justice - which was probably why Lina's levels of irritation remained surprisingly low.
"Name's Lina," was her response. "And don't worry, you at least stood your ground back there. Next time if you have to give 'em a good kick in the balls, feel free. He was getting way too uncomfortably pushy there."
That sought after food truck was only yards away, a line of customers already building, and she pointed over to it. "I'm starving, though, so don't mind me - gotta eat. You like turkey legs?" Juicy, tender, medieval style hunks of meat. It was comfortingly nostalgic; they'd had this very vendor at her wedding, and it also reminded her of double-fisting meat with Gourry.
Usagi blinked a few times before she nodded. “Yes! I love to eat!” Mostly sweets… “I’ll make sure to go at their legs!” She grinned wide. “You were so cool back there though. You aren’t my age, are you?”
The entire point of coming out was to enjoy a little solitude, but, eh. That soft spot underneath the grouchy volcanic temper had been poked at the right time. There was no going back from the offer, anyway - being a dick to her was pretty unnecessary.
Lina walked as they talked because food, she was hungry, and the line was thankfully moving quickly. "Thanks?" I think? Should she preen? "And no, I'm guessing I'm not. Married with a kid, and above the age of drinking. High school for you?"
Wow. Way to make her feel infinitely old. Damn.
Usagi nodded, skipping beside her. “Almost done with it, this June. Then I’ll be free!” She threw her arms up, looking at Lina with an amazed expression. “Married and a kid? And you’re still so cool?” She was absolutely brimming with excitement and amazement. “That’s what I want! Married to the person I love!”
Welp. Usagi here definitely didn't fit the bill of a jaded, moody teenager about to embark onto the passage known as 'The Rest of Your Life.' Really, she was bleeding the kind of optimism that'd make Xelloss turn into a puddle of bubbling monster goo. That took skill.
And a fuckton of positivity. Lina could not express just how much.
"Don't try too hard," she advised, an awkward smile pulling at her lips. "The best things come when you least expect it, and make sure you give yourself some time to test the waters?"
It was a subtle way of saying 'kid, please do not get hitched and pregnant straight out of high school.'
Usagi tilted her head curiously, thinking as she walked. “But I’m not so great at a lot of things, and I don’t really have any ideas about what I like… Well, my mom tells me to try community college, just to see if anything gets my interest. But what if nothing does?”
It was their turn to order at the truck, and Lina had requested two turkey legs - for herself, Usagi could order what the hell she wanted but the tiny sorceress was going to chow the fuck down on this decadent roasted bird legs - with a glass bottled Coke.
It was about to be heaven in her mouth.
"Go out on your own, try different things out for yourself. Life's an adventure. Don't settle just yet," the redhead huffed. "Just keep away from doing hardcore drugs and any form of illegal trafficking, and you should be fine."
Usagi looked for the dessert side, and realized most of it wasn’t what she was used to. So, eying what Lina bought, Usagi ordered herself one, taking it with a squeal, amused. “It’s so big,” she laughed, before chomping into it in a way that would put most teenage girls to shame.
Huh. And here she thought she could pack it away, damn.
After equipping herself with several napkins (especially with full hands), Lina discovered a vacant bench for them to sit on and spend some intimate time with their sustenance. "Don't ever say something like that around a guy," she mumbled, tearing into the drumstick with hunger and teeth like razors. "If you're looking for recommendations on colleges and some interesting things to try out, I can direct you to this internet forum I'm on. It takes some getting used to but you'll, uh, have your horizons expanded."
Usagi, confused, just tilted her head as she ate, listening to the older woman. Her eyes once again widened and she grinned, mouth full. “Feally?! Fo feel? Fanff fou!”
The network was - well, special. That was putting it lightly. But the connections made there had a hand in changing her life, and there was no doubt Usagi would get to hear and see some shit she probably never thought she would.
“And to think I actually understood that,” Lina smirked, passing her a napkin. “I’m on it too and don’t worry, if someone’s mean to you there, they’ll hear from me too.”
Usagi took the napkin, wiping her face as she stared up at LIna. Something… familiar, and yet something entirely strange at the same time hit her. Someone that was looking out for her felt so nostalgic, like something far, far away that she couldn’t grasp. She rubbed her eyes for a moment before grinning at her. “You will?! Thank youu!” she sang, laughing.
"Look, I have to head back to work soon, but -" There must have been a pen, something to write with in her purse somewhere, but with her hands so occupied with meat, she said a mental 'fuck it' and just went for her phone and passed it on. "Text yourself from my phone. I'll send you all the info."
That way she had her number too for whatever reason - because who knew, the kid could be saddled on the dream boat someday. Lina knew the Powers To Be of this damn place didn't discriminate.
Usagi nodded, taking the phone carefully like it was an egg. She quickly put the number into the message and texted. There was a loud ‘Kawaii!’ cry from her very pink phone. She grinned at Lina. “My mom hates this so much, so I keep it as my notification sound.” Evil, evil grin. She might even have grown a devil tail and horns!
Lina's nose scrunched a bit.
I could see where that could get annoying. If that's what she had to expect once Amelia grew - intentional methods of annoying the parental unit - then someone just shoot her in the face right now. Christ on a cracker. "It's a miracle she hasn't flushed the thing down the toilet yet," she chuckled, slipping her phone back into her backer and occupying both hands with the turkey legs again. This was efficiency. "I'll send you a text once I get back into the office, but until then?"
She rose from the bench, pointing a meat stick at her. "Watch where you're going."
“I will! Thank you, Miss Lina!” She waved frantically with her turkey leg, beaming and nearly glowing with happiness.
So cheerful, jesus. It was a miracle she hadn’t been reduced to an aggravated twitchy pile of gunk herself - and the whole miss thing, that definitely reminded her of Princess Nutjob of Saillune. Nostalgia is probably what had kept her sympathetic.
“Byeeeeee,” she waved some free fingers after biting out a chunk meat and going on her merry way, shaking her head. What a weird kid.