action + network video;

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Who: Lily Tsukuyomi and you!
What: Back in and around and about town.
When: Action anytime from around March 9th through to March 26th; Network post is March 24th.
Where: Locke City

[ACTION - LOCKE CITY]

Lily had never much considered herself a city girl, and yet... she'd missed this place. Beyond the occasional, brief trip back that usually wasn't for good things, it felt like she, Winter, Jasmine, and Marina had been on the run since September. Mostly because...

Well, they had been.

Returning here, it's on the run again. Raye's double had seen to that. They could have returned to Europe, easily. There's still work to do there, but... In the end, home felt like a necessity.

It didn't feel quite the same. Not entirely. The military presence was unsettling. Foreboding. And yet, even if she considered "home" to be wherever she went with her family, or family-to-be, was... It felt good to be here again, after everything. To at least for a little while, go about life day to day like a normal person.

Most of that was still spent hovering over Winter. She was still recovering, but even Lily realized she might get a little overbearing at a certain point. Jasmine and Marina were still there to help too, and... frankly, Lily was more than a little dissatisfied having had to spend the last half a year mooching off her father, at a time she should have been in college. Should have gotten a job.

So, that last part had been taken care of too - thanks to Lazarus, and part time employment at Espresso Yourself. It helped to have friends, and while she would never, ever view it as such... it was kind of funny how that brought things full circle since her first month on the Network, some fifteen months later.

She knows something is coming. Everything seems to be lining up towards that. The Doppelgangers, the Animals, the Aliens, the Echo areas... Lily is prepared to face those challenges, but first she has to make sure that all Precure are in fighting shape for that purpose. Once Winter was ready, Lily would be ready.

Until then... They get to live their lives just a little bit longer.

[OOC: Lily can be found around and about Locke City, Espresso Yourself, or at her & Winter's home, anytime from around the 9th to the 26th! Feel free to poke her~]

[NETWORK - VIDEO POST]

[Lily's image flickers onto the Network, and she's. Well, she actually looks oddly content, in spite of everything.]

Hello, everyone. It's been awhile since I just... talked I suppose, hasn't it? There's been a lot going on, and we've run into... a whole lot of problems. We've got a whole lot more on our plate now, but...

It was always going to be like that in some way or another, wasn't it?

We were always going to have to fight, one way or another. It's why we're here. I can't imagine I became a Precure for any reason other than to protect everyone I can. It's not about Yuri Tsukikage's legacy - I am Cure Moonlight, and right now, that's all that matters so far as that goes. I spent a lot of time wondering about that, over a year ago. If I was worthy, if I could even do anything...

Then, the snake came up. I realized that I could do precisely that. [She frowns a little...] Even if that was the wrong thing to do then. [But she rubberbands back, brightening quickly.] It's been a year since then, hasn't it? It seems almost surreal. Our number has shrunk over the last year, but my memories of all those people who stood by our side...

[Banagher. Harper. Annie. Kari. Russel. Cherise, and... others still. She looks a little wistful, sighing.]

It's really sappy of me to say, but you're probably used to that by now, so... I sort of feel like they're all with me still, a little bit. Everyone I've met has changed me a little bit, and that's been for the better.

We've got a lot ahead of us now, but... I'm sure that we can do what we all need to, if we're together.

[She grins.]

I feel like a Precure is supposed to be hopeful, so... For now, that's what I'll be.

Comments

Action - 24th

[dragon_blossom]

They're on the run, but even with her immediate family no longer living in Locke, it feels... like coming home, in a sense, now that they're staying here for a while again. There are a very few people she'd been friends with in school who she caught up with, fewer who'd been totally accepting of her... but even finding just one or two was relieving in a way she hadn't expected.

Most of her time is spent with other Numbered though, and with the only warning being a text sent five minutes in advance, she waits for Lily to get off work, sipping a chocolate raspberry cappuccino on a seat outside despite the cool weather, fidgeting a little and playing a game on her phone. She should really look for work herself...

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Working a regular job is. Odd, for Lily. She's never really had one - there'd been no reason when she was in school, they had enough money. She was also so focused on the house, and taking care of Jasmine and her father both... Now is different, however. Who even knows when she's going to make it to college anymore, if ever - so long as they're in the situation they currently are, there's no telling when they'll have to uproot again. Which is what she took to working for L; at least that's one option she knows would be able to understand such a thing.

Walking out, her face brightens as she takes note of Marina, approaching her.

"Hey there. Judging by the text I'm guessing you haven't been waiting too long, hm?"

[dragon_blossom]

Marina's considered getting a job. Her family wasn't poor, necessarily, but they weren't, and still aren't, the most well-off either. It's not like she had any idea of what she was going to do with her life anyways, on top of that; it all seemed so far away, and it all seemed like such a waste of time, that she figured she could just work it out last minute.

Now she's gonna be stuck way behind the curve anyways.

She smiles up at Lily, and gives her a little wave, standing up. "Yeah, just sorta came out on impulse. Don't worry about it."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Behind the curve in life basically described all of them, in some way or another. Lily and Winter had spent so much time cramming Jasmine's head full of knowledge to pass summer school last year, and now...? To say nothing of Lily basically having to drop out of college before she even really started.

One thing at a time, though. There's only so much they can pick their lives back up, at this point.

She gives Marina a grin, shouldering her purse and nodding. "Well, impulse is plenty okay. Not like I'm going to complain about the company, especially at this point."

[dragon_blossom]

They're ahead of the curve on 'being phenomenally powerful'. They ARE the curve. Fat lot of good it does.

"Not a lot of company to go around, even for me now," she replies, before taking a slow sip of her drink. "You got time, or do you wanna head straight home?"

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Well, she'd have to give Marina that one at least. It's not like she can argue, even if it seems so surreal sometimes that a stick figure like Lily has all that power at her fingertips. Sometimes, she can hardly believe it's her that's done these things.

At the question, she gives a slow chuckle. "I guess the predictable answer is that I'm going to rush straight home and make sure Winter's still in one piece, hm?"

She pauses, shrugging a little. "Which is... probably accurate, but. Heh, I can make time."

[dragon_blossom]

"Right? I know the feeling, as you well know, and I'm confident that Winter is in one entire
whole piece at the moment." And for the foreseeable moments. Hopefully for a lot of moments.

She stretches a bit, taking a moment to put her words together. "We've kinda done a crappy job of celebrating holidays and I'm blanking on if there's any jewelry Jas might be into. Clothing and jewelry and like, purses and stuff are the presents I'm good at buying, and she's... y'know. Her." Just diving right into why she made a point of coming out here.

"Not that I didn't just figure I'd walk home with you and keep you company if you didn't have time."

[feastorfamine]

Lily wasn't the only one who had returned to Locke, though Amy's was much more temporary. Her intentions were to touch base with her mom, tell her how her work was going. It had gone well, and her mother had been excited to tell her about the repairs to the bar... as well as learn more about how her relationship with Saretha was progressing.

Amy was a bit embarrassed, but she was thankful for having a supportive parent nonetheless.

Her next intended visit had been Expresso Yourself, to see if she could find out how her former employer was doing... only to be surprised to find Lily there when she reached the counter. "Lily...?" she said, eyes wide. "I didn't expect to run into you here..."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily however, perks up perfectly well at the sight of Amy. She smiles as she finishes up one customer's transaction, and then eyes the younger woman.

"Well, Winter and I can't just live off our parents forever, can we?"

She beams, almost resisting but not quite succeeding at positioning her hand in a way her engagement ring can be seen. Amy had undoubtedly seen it on her in Lapland, but... "Even with everything going on, we have to think about our lives and future too, right?"

[feastorfamine]

Amy had seen it, but the sight of it did cause her to smile. "I suppose you're right," she said. "I of all people shouldn't knock anyone for doing that."

But... then she continued. "I'm really more surprised to see you here in Locke...!"

[alilyinthemoonslight]

"Yes, well. That..."

She sighs, and reaches up to brush her hair back, turning slightly from Amy. "Vegas became much less safe. No where is very safe right now, but... Our home is here, and it's not much worse than anywhere else we're looking at."

[feastorfamine]

"... I see," Amy said with a nod. "I can definitely understand that."

She smiled now. "In any case, it's good to see you again. ... While working my old job."

That last part was said a bit more playfully.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

"Heh, well - it was an open opportunity, and we need what we can get," Lily says, and then smiles. "Plus, I think pretty well of the proprietor. How about your work now, then?"

She says, quietly, yet a knowing look twinkles in her eye. It's not like Amy had been very subtle on the Network at times.

Action; 23th

[charcoalfeather]

Rakka was out and about as well. Locke city had certainly seen better days, what with the continued military presence and some problems with the Doppelgangers. Rakka liked to remain optimistic, though, that things would get better before they got worse. It was a fleeting hope, but she would hold onto it.

And it wasn't her that noticed Lily. Not at first, no. It was Fougere the baby fairy that noticed the familiar features of the fellow Precure. Soon enough, a tiny voice filled the air as it shot towards Lily, leaving Rakka dazed and in the dust.

"Cure Moonlight!"

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily's out and about, shopping for home. Even if Winter's able to move about better now, even if she is recovering... Well, Lily's still not about to let her do too many chores. Where she can avoid it, at least.

The cry startles her a bit, the voice still not quite familiar to her, and she spins around. She stops short a bit, and her expression softens as she notices the fairy... and the poor girl left in his wake.

"Fougere," she says gently, and smiles. "Hello, there. Are you doing well today?"

[charcoalfeather]

"Good! Real good!" The fairy proclaimed, as though that was an achievement. More then anything, he was excited to see Cure Moonlight, even in her civilian form. He always thought that the pre-existing Precure were so cool, even if some of them weren't connected to the heart tree.

"Lily!" Caught off guard, but quickly recovering, Rakka was not too far behind from the two. She caught up quickly, and she gives Lily a smile. "H-hey. You're back in Locke! How've you been?"

And she turned to Fougere. "And you. You're not supposed to run off like that!"

"But it's Cure Moonlight! She's awesome!"

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily laughs a little bit at the little fairy's description of her, even as her cheeks brighten in a bit of embarrassment. "I'm not that great..." she mumbles softly before coughing, and nodding to Rakka. "Yeah, after the thing with, ah..."

She blows out an annoyed breath from her nostrils. "Raye's copy. Winter, Jas, Marina and I came back here for now. It's not really any better or worse than anywhere else, at the moment, and Winter needed someplace stable to finish her recovery."

Her expression brightens slightly. "Have you all been doing okay, then?"

[charcoalfeather]

Rakka's expression sank, and she and Fougere exchanged a look. "You guys ran into Raye's doppelganger too?"

"Uuuugh! If she tries that again...!"

"Fougere...." Rakka started, but lost her voice. Her troubled expression likely said enough. "We're fine, honest. There was some trouble but we got out of it. I'm a Precure now, after all."

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Lily looks a little bit surprised, and suddenly worried. "You ran into her also? Rakka, that's..."

But. She's right, isn't she? Lily doesn't have to worry like that, not anymore. Even of that copy seemed deadlier than the norm...

"...of course." A smile touches her lips again. "That you are. The Great Heart Tree wouldn't have chosen you for no reason, after all."

video;

[brotimaeus]

You're soundin' a bit more positive than last time I talked to ya.

[He doesn't remember the exact specifics of their conversation, only that she'd seemed a bit down about things in general and that particular thing had been what had left a lasting impression.

Hell, he's not even sure if he remembers her name.. or if she gave it to him at all.]

Hope isn't such a bad thing to aim for.

video;

[alilyinthemoonslight]

[Her brows raise, but she smiles.] Mm... yes, I guess you could say I am. Even considering everything, if I'm not being positive... well, it doesn't help me, does it?

So no, hope isn't bad to aim for.

If anything, it's one of the best things.

video;

[brotimaeus]

Yeah... [A little positivity doesn't hurt, he figures, as long as you don't start dreaming too far outside of what you can achieve.]

Don't feel like a year since all that happened. I missed it-- Got thrown into all this just after. Ain't been any kind of smooth sailing since.

video;

[alilyinthemoonslight]

So, it was with the snake then?

It was... a little bit more than that for me. It was a while after I first got my numbers that I had the courage to look into just what was happening.

video;

[brotimaeus]

Mm. [Still doesn't know if that's what triggered it.. but maybe.]

I guess I didn't have much choice.. Had family involved. But.. I reckon I would've wanted to wait too, if I hadn't.

video;

[alilyinthemoonslight]

If I'd known my family was involved from the start, the same as me... it would have changed what i'd done a lot sooner. Maybe things would have turned out differently.. maybe better? I guess I can't say now.