V for Naprite!

Just coming back from an unsettling conversation that may end up getting him some jailtime in his near future, Mamoru Chiba took the elevator up instead of down when he left the dorm, and then Tuxedo Kamen took to the rooftops for the short route home.

That's where he is now, above the nighttime streets of the city of Tokyo, soaring over roofs and alleys and crossroads, over partiers and police, under the moon and stars and scudding, backlit clouds. He's maybe not moving as gracefully or effortlessly as usual, for those who might notice the difference, but those are few and far between. Probably just a handful of magical girls.

Minako Aino/Sailor V is doing her 'stand on the corner of a big building and spy on the city from way up high' thing. It's not as classic or cliche as Tokyo Tower, but it works for the environment.

Usually, she looks to intervene in exciting crimes or monsters, but today she catches a sight of Tuxedo Kamen and reacts the same way.

A kaleidoscope of bright light explodes around you, although it's not really an attack or anything dangerous (although scientists would probably recommend eye protection), but rather crescent moon beams bouncing up and around you from the dark windows and reflective surfaces at ground level below, all acting as a perfect beacon for the girl trying to get your attention.

She's also screaming, but it's probably too far to hear.

Honestly, Tuxedo Kamen reacts pretty predictably for it: he almost falls off the building he hits just as the lights dazzle him.

Once he's got his feet planted on the rooftop where they belong, he turns an incredulous look in the direction of the source of those beams. He doesn't need to say 'what the eff', it's written all over his face. Gamely, he backtracks and veers left, heading for the master of attention-seeking. Run, leap, springboard, run, leap--

--and he lands soundlessly in front of Sailor V, cape settling down around him.

After a second he asks dubiously, "Should I be the one sending up the V signal to call you?"

Minako Aino/Sailor V throws a bunch of Sailor V merchandise on the ground in front of you, explaining in brief that she leaves this at the 'scene of a crime' but the police have been asking her to stop. "So you can have all of it, since you sound like a fan if you want a Sailor Vuh-Vuh-Veeee signal!"

She has the most pleased of expressions on her face, lips curled into a smile that shines right through her mask. She didn't have to chase or run or even leave her seat on the edge of the building. She just had to wait for you.

"Anyway, you can sign up for the fan club with the card and merchandise their, but there is something really important to talk about and I'm gonna need your help."

"I think I know who Naprite is."

Tuxedo Mask stares at the collection of merch, then ... adjusts his mask like it's a pair of glasses, because really, what else is he going to do?

He's not sure how to cope with Sailor V.

This is going to be a permanent fixture of his life, now, no matter what name Minako is using.

That smile, though-- it's really terribly disarming. It's bright behind that mask, and reflexively, Mamoru smiles back a little crookedly as he relaxes slightly. "All right," he says obligingly. (He's not going to tell her he's already signed up.) Then she adds the last and he blinks in surprised. It doesn't stop him from correcting, "Nephrite. Like the gem." But, "Who is he? How can I help?"

Minako Aino/Sailor V purses her lips a bit, squeezing her balls into little fists. "He is not a 'gem'. He's a villain. He's ruined bride shops and orphan charity balls and he's not familiar with the latest trends," she stresses, her voice becoming minimally perturbed.

"Anyway, I was snooping around, putting my nose into other people's belongings, and I got a hint as to his identity," she says, springing up to her feet and twisting around to face you, a finger in the air to signify that this is dramatic time.

"You can help me hunt down and kill Mamoru Chiba."

Then, after a pause: "Because Mamoru Chiba is Naprite."

"...what," says Tuxedo Mask flatly, his eyes tracking her from behind his mask. He's gone completely still.

There's a second of silence, and he's just. Trying to process this. Is she trolling him? DOes she know who he is and she's trolling him? Finally, "... that's not funny, V."

Minako Aino/Sailor V slowly, slowly nods her head. "Right. I know. I'm serious," she says.

"You might even say I'm......... deathly serious."

She snaps her fingers and tries to interrupt the laughter she expects from you with more talk. "Anyway, I'm already well along into this plan, but I wouldn't mind having some competent backup."

The laughter she just... doesn't get. Tuxedo Kamen is too busy staring in disbelief.

The flattery does not completely pass him by, but it remains unaddressed. Eventually he sighs and reaches up to pinch the bridge of my nose. "This whole WEEK has been a headache. All right. I'm going to tell you a secret that I really don't want to tell, but it doesn't look like I have much of an option, here. First, though, can you tell me what this... 'evidence' is?"

Minako Aino/Sailor V looks at you and realizes the weight of what she's asking of you, giving you a supportive smile and a thumbs-up before taking on the best matronly tone she can manage.

"Don't worry about the details," she says, fake-shushing you with her finger. "It's from a mostly reliable source. I'll put together a pointpoint presentation later if you're really interested, but for now, just trust my dedication and persa-variance to never quit on my goal!"

"But if you're not feeling up for it, it's not happening tonight. These sorts of things take a while to plan."

"But these sorts of things also have a way of catching up to you. So you can't wait forever!"

This is the part where behind that glimmering white mask, Tuxedo Kamen is grinding his teeth. "Sailor V!" he says insistently. "He is NOT Nephrite. I have conclusive evidence to the contrary!"

His hand twitches, and then he grimaces and reaches up--

Minako Aino/Sailor V interrupts you to ask if you have any conclusive evidence to the contrary. "More conclusive than my own allies!"

"UGH! YES! I DO!" bursts out Tuxedo Mask, sounding more like a seventeen year old boy than should be possible for someone so very dashing. He reaches up and yanks off his mask. "I'm Mamoru Chiba, damn it! And I'm not Nephrite!"

The confused expression on her face is suitably masked by her mask. Her hesitation is only a second in duration, as she immediately snaps her fingers.

"Aha!"

There's another pause, this time almost two seconds, before V continues, her voice not betraying any of her surprise at this turn of events.

"It is... just as I thought. But now that I've tricked you into confessing your secret to me, I know I can trust you!" she says.

It sounds very logical.

Mamoru just... looks so incredibly put out. "No, really, what the hell was the evidence? I want to know. Because that's really... really awkward. And if your allies -- and I HOPE your allies are the other Sailor Senshi -- if they think I'm Nephrite, that's... that's really..."

His hand crumples his mask, and his jaw works. "That's both horribly insulting and really kind of awful. I like them a lot. I mean I have no idea why any of them but Jupiter would even know me, and I know she thinks I'm a jerk, but..."

This is the sound of a guy who needs a distraction.

"Oh no no no no no, they're not my allies!" Sailor V says without thinking.

"I mean, they ARE my allies. But they don't think that," she says reassuringly.

"In fact, next time I see them, I'll... I'll stress just how much you aren't him, just in case anybody does think that."

"Which they don't."

With a neat little clap of her hands, she nods her head as if conclusively achieving her original plan rather than just being put back to square one. "So, uh... what kinda' V-signal do you think I should have? Communication with allies is important!"

"Well--" Mamoru says hesitantly, "please don't tell anyone who may or may not think I'm Nephrite that I'm actually Tuxedo Kamen, either..."

What a god-damned night.

"Uh. Well you can have my cellphone number. It's not very spectacular, but... if you've got a mobile number you can give me, then I can use that as a V-signal, right?"

Minako Aino/Sailor V takes out one of her phones (she has several) and puts it up in front of your face. "It can be! Just gimme your number. Also, gimme your non-work number, too," she says, very professionally, referring to her V-cell and her normal every day cell phone covered in hearts and stickers.

"And yeah, I guess I won't tell 'em that, then. Your secret is as safe with me as it is in the Fort of Hard Knocks."

"...thanks," Mamoru says, looking down and smoothing out his mask, then somewhat disconcertedly putting it back on. He lists off his regular mobile first, "That's my real phone," he adds, and then gives her the number for his burner, "And that's my work number. I... can I go home now? I need to take some tylenol." He sounds like he's trying really hard not to be grumpy.

Minako Aino/Sailor V claps her hands. "Sure sure! I'll give you a call whenever I need your help. I got lots of stuff I need to get done, so expect a call here and there... also, I might call your 'home' number there just in case somebody comes after you 'cuz of bad assumptions," she says, giving you a totally inappropriate thumbs-up.

"But don't worry. We'll betray that bridge when we come to it," she says, stretching out her legs and turning towards the city to jump.

"Take your tylenol and be healthy so that you can help me, or I'll take your V-card," she shouts before jumping away.

HOW DID SHE KNOW MAMORU HAS A V-CARD. "'Betray that bridge'?" he mouths, then... decides not to make his headache worse. And, in fact, goes home for that tylenol.