[OOC][PLOT] Planning for Arc 1 - Arrivals

[robkelk]

...
Up util Season 2, anyhow.  That will be when we start having entire fleets showing up, both in the sea and among the stars, and then later on towards the end of Season 2, entire freakin' interstellar empires.  Yes, the Metacontinuity is gonna be a HAPPENING place. 
...

Riffing off of that...  Spoilered because this refers to some things that will be happening at the Halloween party, and because it's a little long.

Spoiler

"Thank you all for dropping what you were doing and indulging me." With all of the madness that had been taking place recently, it was rare for even half of the building's residents to be available, let alone having everybody in the same place at the same time. "I thought we should take a look at this before it makes the news."

Rob routed his computer's display to the big TV on the common room's wall, and zoomed in on the satellite photographs that Washuu-chan had sent of Tokyo. The first photograph he focused on certainly looked like it showed a modern city with a wall around it sitting in Akiruno. "I thought Academy City was closer to Tokyo Bay."

"It was," confirmed Mii. "At least it's still in Tokyo."

Rob nodded. "That it is, if just barely. Are we sure that this is Academy City?"

"The layout looks right," replied Kazari.

"Thank you. So, now what?"

"Now what, what?" Usagi asked.

Rob turned to the Academy City girls. "Are you five going home?"

Mii shook her head. "I'm already in university here, on a scholarship, no less. If you'll have me, I'd prefer to stay."

"If I go back, it'll only be to give Aleister what he has coming to him. And I'm not powerful enough to do that yet. I'll let my family know where I am, but I'd like to stay here for now." By now, everybody had read the novels and seen the anime; there was no question in anyone's mind what Mikoto meant by giving Aleister what he had coming to him.

"I'm staying with Onee-sama." Nobody was surprised by Kuroko's decision.

Kazari thought for a few minutes. "I don't know. I have friends there, but I have friends here, too."

Then a gentle breeze ran through the room for a moment. Everybody turned and looked at Ruiko - and were surprised to see a fire in her eyes. "The people here have done a lot more for us than Academy City ever did. They didn't bother training me because they couldn't see any military use for the Skill that Washuu-chan is helping me develop here. Either I'm staying here or I'm moving to Washuu-chan's lab; I'm not going back to Academy City!"

"You're welcome to stay as long as you want, Rui-chan," Rob said gently. Then he turned to Kazari. "And if you want to go back to Academy City, I'm sure that nobody will be upset."

Kazari shook her head. "No, Saten-san is right. You've done more for us than the people in charge of Academy City ever did. I'll stay."

Usagi leaned over and gave Kazari a hug. "Thank you."

Then another breeze drifted by, lifting Kazari's skirt without affecting Usagi's clothes. She pouted, Rob cleared his throat, and Ruiko grinned sheepishly.

"All right, now that that's been settled ..." Rob went back to his computer and zoomed in on Azabu. "The German Embassy to Japan appears to have shifted over somewhat to make room for another building."

"The Diamond Embassy. That's our Azabu."

"You're sure, Rei?"

"Positive. We were there once, back when we were looking for the Silver Crystal."

"I don't know whether I was hoping or dreading that answer, but I was half-expecting it. This means the rest of you have the same decision to make. Are you going home?"

Makoto looked at Usagi, then at Mikoto, then at Rob. "I'm with my friends. All of my friends. Home is where the heart is."

"If we were to return to Japan, I'd have much less personal freedom than I do here," commented Rei. "But it's Usagi's choice; I'm staying with her."

Ami didn't look up. "I'm sure that I can transfer my university credits here to a school in Tokyo, if Usagi wants to go back," she whispered.

Minako, Luna, Artemis, and Diana said nothing; they merely stood beside Usagi.

Usagi, Chibi-Usa, and Mamoru looked at each other for a moment. Finally, Chibi-Usa said, "We all know what isn't being said, mama."

"I know. Mamo-chan?"

"It's up to you, Usako."

Usagi took a quick look around the room, and saw Makoto looking at Mikoto, Rei looking out the window, and Ami looking anywhere except at her. "Then we stay."

Everybody grinned.

Rob routed his computer's display back to the laptop's screen. "I have an email to send to Lord Phantomhive, then, telling him that this residence will continue to not have any vacancies for the foreseeable future. Kazari, would you ask Skuld-sama and HAL to keep our network running, please?"

Kuroko leaned over to Mikoto. "And you need to let your sisters know that we're staying here. Can you tell them without telling Accelerator?"

EDIT: I've updated this because more characters - but only in my personal notes. This is almost how the scene will play out, instead of exactly how it'll play out.