(no subject)

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Who: Doppelganger!Jasmine, open to doppelgangers
What: Discovery and a plan
Where: Las Vegas, then the castle in Neuschwanstein
When: March 15th, evening

Jasmine refused to accept being a copy. As in, she didn't even do so much as cognitively entertain the thought. Everything she'd learned about her origins in respect to her so-called "original" had only galvanized her, made her all the more determined to remove the interloper and take her rightful place. She was the one who accepted what she was, after all. She was the one who didn't ruthlessly deny their power or what they deserved.

She had gone out that night on a simple survey mission. The location of their doppelgangers was still a mystery, and recon was likely a good idea. She swept over the city, eventually catching sight of something quite interesting...

It was a tree, at the center a fountain that seemed to be but a simple tourist spot. But Jasmine recognized it instantly... she'd seen this tree in her memories. The location of victories for her past self, as well as defeats. It represented triumph and failure, but it was also something of great importance: The Great Heart Tree.

And with it, a plan formed in her head. She grinned to herself, and quickly returned to the castle in Neuschwanstein, where she sought out anyone who might listen. The appearance on her face was absolutely fiendish. She had an opportunity. She had a way of realizing her goal. Soon, she would set herself in place as the real and sole Jasmine Tsukuyomi.

Comments

[dragon_blossom]

Marina, of course, is more than willing to listen. It's not as though she has much of a choice, sure, as powerful as she can be when push comes to shove, Jasmine is, well, Jasmine, so if she wanted to make Marina listen she would, but it's not like she has anything better to do than listen to her girlfriend anyways.

Being a mere 'copy' is less than ideal. There is, in her mind, no denying it; all the pieces fit together. On top of that, the originals don't really seem to approve of how the 'copies' are doing things...

One way or another, some of them are going to have to die. Leaning against a wall, listening intently, she wondered, in the back of her mind, when that was going to happen.

"So... what's up then?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"It's quite simple, love," Jasmine replied, moving over and leaning close to her girlfriend. Jasmine has gotten significantly bolder in the last several days, in most areas. She'd already been unapologetic in doing so, but her ladylike demeanor now lacked a concept of personal space. "I've found something by which to lure them in. Something they can't readily ignore."

[dragon_blossom]

Marina didn't need that personal space anyways. Her space is Jasmine's space, and she does so enjoy being with someone considerably bolder than herself. "Lure them in... and do what to them?" Hurt them, break them, kill them? Copy or no, this is a matter of life and death for them, and she wants to be on the living end of that equation.

"...whatever it is, I'm in."

[jasminebloominginshadow]

It wasn't just about survival. It wasn't just about living and being free to do whatever one wanted. It was about identity. It was about status. It was about cementing herself as the real deal, now and forever.

"Kill her, specifically," Jasmine said quite plainly. "As far as I'm concerned, anything else we accomplish there will simply be gravy."

[dragon_blossom]

Six of one, half dozen of the other. Whatever made Jasmine happy made Marina's life much easier, and while she didn't care quite as much about her uniqueness... making her other self suffer sure would be fun.

"It's simple. We kill the Jasmine?" she smiled back. "I do hope I get to see their Marina's face when it happens. What's the plan?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine pursed her lips into a thin line. Before she could continue, she really needed to remind Marina of something.

"Marina, dear," she said flatly. "What have we said about making references?"

[dragon_blossom]

Marina shrunk down, lowering her eyes immediately. Ah, darn, she hadn't slipped that one by. "...to not do it." When Jasmine could figure out what she was referencing anyways. Marina would have to get a little more obscure to get her jollies next time.

"I'm very sorry, and it won't happen again." Unless Marina wants punished.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"Good", Jasmine replied, with a shake of her head. "Honestly dear, they're the lowest form of entertainment."

She cleared her throat. "Anyway... as for the plan, it seem one of them has echoed back the source of the Precures' power: The Great Heart Tree. I surmise that's why Rakka's counterpart was able to become a Precure in the first place."

[dragon_blossom]

If only Jasmine wasn't looking at her so closely she could totally roll her eyes. Ah well, they had more important things to get to.

"...they got back something that important? And it's powerful enough to keep making new Precure?" Very important things. Marina sighed. "So you're going to threaten it to draw her out?"

[charcoalfeather]

Rakka was beginning to tire of the Neuschwanstein castle. Each day, she left, sometimes sneaking out under Raye's watchful eyes. There was always an inventive to return, though, partly a feeling in her gut, but also a promise to Raye to stay close.

As she reentered the courtyard, she flinched and dropped to her knees at the large shadow that passed overhead. Immediately expecting something to come in and hurt her. That feeling was not eased as she saw who it was.

"Oh. Hey, Jasmine..."

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine swooped down, landing with dignity and poise. In fairness, she had her doubts about telling this news to someone like Rakka. She'd have to see how this conversation went.

"Hello, my dear Rakka," she said. "And how are you this fine evening?"

[charcoalfeather]

Rakka picked herself off the ground, dusting herself off. A clearly unamused look crossed her face. "I was doing just fine a moment ago. Now I'm covered in dirt."

Hello to you too, Jasmine. She sighed, straightening up.

"Umm, you look happy about something. What's going on?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"If you dislike dirt," she said, laughing softly, "perhaps it is best you don't wallow around in it."

She sighed. "But I've merely had a marvelous idea, is all."

[charcoalfeather]

"Ha ha." She laughed back, tone dripping with sarcasm. As much as she didn't want to deal with someone like Jasmine tonight, she had captured the Haibane's interest. She could just leave, feign an explanation that Raye needed her.

But, for now, she wanted to listen. Rakka's head tilted a bit to the side, her expression inquiring. "Really? What kind of idea is that?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine just chuckled, shaking her head. "That really depends on you, Rakka," she said. "You're not going to wander off like a sneak and spoil things for me, are you?"

Red energy crackled in her palm. "That would make me very angry, you know."

[charcoalfeather]

"Uh..." Rakka's eyes were instantly drawn to the crackling energy. She had seen what the Dark Precure was capable of, she was not as powerful as Raye, but there was a lot that she could do.

"I... I could." She admitted. Truthfully, telling Raye might have been the best option for her.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"... That's the wrong answer," she said, grabbing Rakka's shoulder with that same palm.

"I seriously believe that you should reconsider that statement, my dear, before I do something you'll regret..."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily isn't sure what to think. What to feel. It all feels so very... surreal. Where she had been aggressive and quick to anger weeks ago... well. She still is, honestly. Yet even that seems a bit more subdued. More passive aggressive, than outright aggressive. She's done little but hover near Winter, or Jasmine.

That can't be real. She can't... not be Lily Tsukuyomi, right? Even as she hangs around this stupid castle. Compelled to always return here...

Jasmine will find her at some point or another, lurking in a doorway, far more quiet than anyone who's encountered her in this castle may be used to.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Ah, finally. Her dear sister. Jasmine grins to herself before approaching.

"You look lost, sister dear," she said, as she sauntered closer. "Perhaps my recent epiphany can help you find direction?"

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily turns to her with a bit of a start, but... doesn't react as abrasively as one might normally expect. She just gives her a little nod, frowning.

"Guess I can't really argue there, right." She pauses and frowns. "What sort of... epiphany do you mean?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine chuckled for what seemed like the umpteenth time that evening. "I've found away to lure that pretender to my name into a trap," she said. And then, after a moment, she added, "Well, and all her little friends, really."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily's eyes widen, before giving her sister a focused look. "And just how do you plan on doing that? They're- everyone treats them as if they're..."

The real ones.

"That there's someone else running around with my face, yours, with... with..."

Winter's. Somehow, that seems the most insulting thing to her of all.

"Hnn. What are you planning, Sis?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"... The simple answer to that problem," Jasmine explained, "is to make ourselves the only ones around. And that's where my trap comes in..."

She spun around, arms raised with a bit of theatricality. "Lily! The Heart Tree... it's here! We can use it to lure them right to us!"

[alilyinthemoonslight]

"The Heart Tree?" She stumbles forward a bit, but then... blinks. Rakka, back in Lapland... that made sense, didn't it? If that's the case, then... "Wait, you're not saying we should do something to it, right? If that's here, and it can create more Precure..."

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"Oh, believe me," Jasmine quickly replied. "I have no intention of doing anything to it. Rather, I simply mean to make them think that might be our intention."