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Sugilite darted her eyes around the empty street, then, reassuring herself that there was no one there, shoved her hands under her armpits and did a small dance. The weather was getting colder by the day, but life went on as usual. Apart, of course, from the promotion. It was still new, and she felt slightly off balance, unused to the power. It was like starting all over again, learning the ropes from the start. And so she had gone to the woman who had helped her back then, the woman who she was standing on the deserted street waiting for. The energetic and enthusiastic Painite, who's grandiose schemes and elaborate deceptions always appealed to Sugilite's overly theatrical side.

If she was the kind of person to accept second place, to accept assistance as nessecary, and allow the thought that others were more skilled than her, Sugilite would have considered Painite her mentor. As it was, she thought of the woman as 'useful', and felt a faint itch of impatience when she considered asking for assistance. And now she not only itched, but also bounced, jumping up and down to keep warm.

As soon as she had felt the energy of the other officer, Sugilite had abruptly ceased her arobatic exercises. Staying warm was one thing, but looking dignified while staying warm was another entire barrel of fish. It mainly involved cultivating warmness on the inside as a mental state, through the power of imagining warm summer beaches. Her hands slowly opened and closed in the cold air, fingers stiff. She had been overall at a loss over if her new costume was better than the last. Certainly the high boots and gloves were welcome, but the skirt had risen dramatically and the gloves seemed to have run out of material before they could work on the fingers.

"It is rather frigid out tonight, I must admit. I think earth must have been decidedly much more tropical back in the time of the first moon kingdom, judging by how we're outfitted."

A wan smile escaped Sugilite's rather pink face, to be quickly replaced by an appropriately enthusiastic one. Shifting from one foot to the other, she turned to face Painite, her eyes flicking up and down behind her glasses, trying to keep out the envious thoughts of the other woman's warm cloak and keep her mind on the reason she was out here. It would be a long winter, no use breaking down and calling it quits now.

"Apart from the weather though, I suppose tonight is quite favourable for a hunt. People do tend to cluster indoors when the wind nips rather sharply, and snow is quite muffling."

It wasn't a question, but it was the closest thing she was going to get to asking one.

"Why of course! What's a small attack of the chills in return for the freedom of our planet?"

The answer came back smooth and fast, not rushed but certainly not hesitant. Sugilite didn't give two cents about earth's cruel oppression under the moon kingdom, but she would be damned if she admitted to enjoying donning a magical disguise and punching girls in frilly dresses for the thrill of battle. So, girl scout reply it was. She glanced at the woman to see how her answer was received, never considering for a moment that it wasn't a test. After all, if she was in Painites place, she'd be doing the exact same thing. And she was prepared.

"Before you arrived I took the liberty of slipping into a few of the bars and resturants in civilian clothes and having a look out the windows. Most of them can see a fair bit up and down the street, and into the windows of the other places, but that one - "

She paused and gestured quickly, before bringing her arm back to the relative warmth of her coat, at a smaller, older building set a little ways down the street, in the mouth of an alley.

" - can't be seen from the others, nor does it have very clean or big windows. It seems to be some kind of refurbished sports bar, with a lot of young, highly inebriated, and rather ridiculously dressed students packing it. I think perhaps it would be the best target, so as to avoid unwanted attention."

Inwardly, Sugilite cringed. What can I do for you. She had hedged around that question, even in her own mind. Of course, there was the uncertainty of becoming a Captain, but was it really that hard to deal with becoming stronger? Did she really need a general to hold her hand on her first fight? No, it was more than that. She started to walk towards the selected bar, trying to use her feet to give her brain time to figure out what it wanted to say. In the end, she diverted the subject to another that had been worrying her.

"Well, it's been quite quiet so far, I haven't had much opportunity to assist the less experienced soldiers. You know, of course, how it's been rather subdued since ... our setback at the Surrounding."

The words came out as delicately as possible, smoothing over their resounding defeat at the hands of the forces of Order. While she knew the general to be level-headed, Sugilite was aware of how personally some of the higher-ups had taken the loss. For her, it was merely a worrying sign of how vast the difference between the true strength of the two forces really was. The Negaverse had to spend weeks preparing, raising an old titan and farming the citizens of Destiny for energy, while the senshi merely had to hold hands and think about hugs to destroy all their work. She slowed as they approached the corner, then waved a hand towards the back, and to the front door of the crowded building.

"I think it would probably be best to each take an entrance, and work our way towards each other? It should end with a sizable haul, from the amount of people packed in there."

Hesitating for a moment, pride and rank taking a few swings at each other in her mind, Sugilite stopped herself from striding towards the front door and instead reached out a hand, summoning her new weapon. It had been a shock, seeing the upgraded size and sharp edges, but she had spent an afternoon bashing trash cans with it and had discovered through trial-and-error that she could roughly control the direction it spun on its own with her thoughts. For now though, she hefted the gyroscope like a club. Turning to Painite, she stretched her other hand open, invitingly in the direction of the building.

"Would you prefer the front entrance? I'm quite certain I could apprehend any miscreants and size control of the back door without too much fuss."

"Certainly, certainly. Shall I wait for your signal? A whistle perhaps?"

Sugilite was already drifting towards the alley leading to the back door, somehow getting closer without apparently doing something as crass as turning her back on the conversation and walking away. Her tactical glide towards her station could practically be described as a display of brownian motion in action. While standing around and plotting was all very well, the sooner they put word to action the sooner she would be inside draining civilans and (here was the important part) enjoying a nice, cozy, honest to goodness heating system.

Mind games, serious debates, and tactics were all very well, but when all was said and done so was being able to feel your feet.

Sugilite blinked. Her crystal, of course. She patted herself down distractedly, arms stiff from the cold as she moved to the back door of the bar. Arriving in position, she gently tested the door. It was unlocked, and actually had a small piece of wood jammed in the bottom as a doorstop. Noise, warmth and steam drifted out of the open crack, and Sugilite squeezed herself as close to it as possible as she waited for the signal. Never had such a stinky, sweaty, cramped building seemed so inviting. She mentally kicked herself and tried to focus on her memories of being inside on her impromptu scouting mission. Had there been any other exits? Any places people could hide? Where were the washrooms? Unconsciously, she began to jiggle up and down again as she waited for the signal.