faithfulflame | Sixth Prayer: Opening a Shrine [Action/Voice]

[Rei is having a really good day for the first time in a long, long while. The shrine she'd requested Brave Vesperia's help on was finally completed, and it was an absolutely lovely place. Though simple in design, and smaller than Hikawa Jinja at home, the newly christened Tsukino Jinja was enough to make the normally reserved girl beam in delight. She wasn't the sort to run around squealing, but inwardly she was definitely making some very unrefined sounds of glee! The young miko definitely had her work cut out for her, decorating it, though.

The central honden was a single, cozy tatami room with an altar and a brazier set up for meditation, prayer, and flame reading. It would be warm and dry, much nicer than the tent she'd been using for such things. The guild had even erected a small fence, and a proper torii gate in the entrance. Rei had consecrated the ground herself, hard work that she loved. There was something refreshing about meditation, purification, and preparing all of the sacred things that went into preparing the temple. It served a dual purpose, this ritual was also a way for the girl to wash away her sadness at losing yet another friend. Viral's things had disappared from House 3 shortly after the Kin'Corans had vanished. She'd appreciated the Beastman and his strange, inhuman ways, but it wasn't nearly as harsh as losing Usagi.

Rei can be found working at the shrine throughout the entire day, carving, doing calligraphy, and working various forms of Shinto rites. Its not finished, but she's accepting visitors and offering flame readings.

Around lunchtime, she opens up the journal and sends out a few messages]

Voice, Filtered to Brave Vesperia.

Hello everyone, this is Rei Hino. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who worked on the shrine building. Words are not enough to convey how grateful I am for your hard work, so I made something for each of you. If you have time, please visit me here and I will give it to you, along with a blessing.

Voice
Good Afternoon, Luceti. My name is Rei Hino, and I would like to welcome all of the New Feathers who've just begun arriving. I hope that you are able to adjust to life here without much difficulty. If there is anything that I can do to help, please feel free to contact me.

I would also like to announce the opening of the Tsukino Shrine. It is a place for anyone who wishes to come and recieve a fortune telling, a blessing, or a charm. Also, it is open for anyone who wishes to come and meditate or find a quiet place to spend time. I hope that everyone who visits can find some measure of peace and good cheer here. Please come visit and enjoy the shrine. The person it is dedicated to would have loved having many visitors who spend time here. I would also make it known that should anyone be interested, I will be offering flame readings every day barring shifts and other complications.

Finally, I'd like to inform those that knew him that Viral-san has returned home. If you wish to offer a traveler's prayer for him, then please do not hesitate to visit me and I can show you how to do so. I know that he will need a lot of luck and well wishes in his home, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for listening, I wish everyone well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hah, between you and Miyabi, no one back home would ever believe I spend this much time at shrines.

I'm debating trying a new blend of tea and if I make it here it might give Ace Garp flashbacks, mind if I come join you? To pay back your hospitality from when I was a child.

Of course I don't mind, Marco-san.

[She does actually like you, Marco. You're not a creeper]

But there is no need to pay me back, your young self was no trouble at all.

[He is totally a creeper, shh.]

It was my attempt for a clever excuse to spend time with a friend and bring tea. That and I still do genuinely appreciate it, eh?

Then by all means, come.

[She'll be waiting for him, tending to a fire while a large number of crows watch, silent sentinels observing the miko at work]

[Brings the pot of tea and two mugs! YAY. You know, it probably would have been easier to make it there, but Marco wasn't sure if it was sacrilegious and better safe than sorry.]

Hello hello, eh~? [Have a teacup. White with a blue feather on it, he's particular.]

Hello Marco-san.

[Rei accepts the cup with a smile]

It smells lovely. Thank you for bringing it, but you know that you could have just made it here, right?

I'll keep that in mind in the future, eh?

So has it been busy here or am I the first visitor?

Ami-chan came by, and Grune-san did as well. But no, its not been very busy.

[Rei takes a seat on the floor]

I doubt it will ever be truly busy, but I think people will appreciate it.

I'm sure they will, busy or not, eh? Besides, there's definitely something to be said for at least a little peace and quiet, eh.

Yes, peace and quiet are rare here, what with all the strange things happening lately. The refugees, especially.

Have you been well, Marco-san?

Aye. I guess that doesn't count as a shift though, but just as strange.

[He rubs the back of his neck. He hardly feels regret about what he did, but he should probably do a prayer thing for the people he killed right? =\ If nothing else then so he can care about them even less than he already does. ~~Best motives ever.~~]

Ah actually, how do I go about setting up a -- thing, for some people who aren't really here anymore, eh? [Does it really count as a prayer if it's not really wishing good things for them such as a light death penalty from the Malnosso or even that they go back home? His "prayer" for them would just be that they never have to run into someone as violent and dangerous and protective of their nakama as someone like Marco again. Not a great basis.]

You write out a prayer to them, and hold their name or their face in your mind and burn it. That's how the spirits send well-wishes to travelers in my world. I observe the same ritual here.

[Rei's head quirks to one side]

Are you alright? Did something happen?

Nah, I'm fine, just ran into some people from my world that were refugees here, eh? What if you don't know their names?

[He really does seem ridiculously relaxed about it though.]

Then you just need to hold their faces in your mind.

[She gestures for him to follow her inside, removing her shoes]

[Nods. Okay, he can do this. He follows suit, trying to adapt her customs as much as possible and remember the faces. Though he might just make up some features if there's a blank here or there.]

Thank you Rei.

Of course.

[She hands him several small prayer strips and leads him towards the fire]

Throw them in, one at a time. And hold them in your mind, wishing them well.

[Nods his head and follows the directions, hoping for them to learn better in another life and/or when they get revived. Even if he basically figures they won't. Okay, maybe just that they won't run into anyone like him and his family again. Yes, that works well. Poof go the prayers in the flames and Marco glances at Rei wondering if there's any ritual to recite.]

Now clap twice, and bow. That concludes the ritual.

[She nods at him, assuring him that he'd done the right thing]

[Claps twice and bows!]

Thanks, eh. So you did this a lot back home?

When people go travelling a long distance? Yes. Its just a formal prayer.

Hah, a long distance is it...

I guess there's prayers for just about everything, eh?

Many things, yes. Even for sailors and pirates.

[A small laugh.]

Even pirates? Is it for us to turn over a new leaf?

Actually, its for safe sailing. Piracy wasn't a dishonorable profession in Japan long ago. Provided the pirates preyed on other nation's ships.

Oh? [Devious grin.] Sounds a little familiar. [If "nations" includes pirate empires. Though it's still really more like mob family fighting.]

Was Japan at war with a lot of countries, or was it more of a trade arrangement?

[Action]

faithfulflame - 2012-09-26 05:31 (UTC) - Expand

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faithfulflame - 2012-09-26 15:51 (UTC) - Expand

Sixth Prayer: Opening a Shrine [Action/Voice]

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[Action] ooc: sorry for late

[Action] No worries! <3

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