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

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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

[The relief in his voice is so obvious.] Yes. I've been saving the strips I have, because you never know when an emergency strikes.

....Are you sure? I don't want to take away things you need for wards later.

Yes, its fine. I've made enough ofuda to last me a long time.

[She leans over and rummages through a chest, pulling out a bundle of rice paper]

Here, take some.

[He gapes, suddenly feeling very young an inexperienced. That doesn't stop him from taking several sheets of rice paper.] Thank you. I mean it.

You're the first one I've met here that knows what an ofuda is.

Really? They're fairly well known, I thought?

Yes, but not a lot of people know how to make them right. It's usually just... priests. [His voice drops off as he realizes he's talking to one.]

Ah, well, yes. Are you a priest, Tsuzuki-san?

Well.

No.

Then...how do you know ofuda?

My superiors realized I had a knack for it, so they taught me.

[This is a fairly uncomfortable subject for him, however, so he takes one of the rice paper strips and prepares it.]

If you have a brush and ink, I can show you what I mean.

Your superiors?

[Rei reaches into the same chest and offers a brush and an inkstone]

Please, do.

[She's good at asking the tough questions. Tsuzuki ducks his head, pretending he didn't hear it.]

[His body language abruptly changes. Before he was a tall and somewhat clumsy man in a trenchcoat. Harmless. But when his attention focuses like it does on the ofuda, that clumsiness evaporates. The way he dips the brush in the ink is somewhat careless, but once he leaves the words on the paper the grace reminds of dancing. He smiles softly, blowing on the wards to make it dry faster. He's really enjoying himself, since it's been ages since he's gotten to work with a proper inkstone and paper.]

Did you ever have trouble with them in the beginning? I did.

[Rei watches with a smile, glad that he seems to be enjoying himself. That was, after all, the purpose of this shrine. A place for people to get together, relax, and perform quiet, traditional pasttimes.]

It came naturally to me. I'm lucky, I guess. I...can see things and do things other people just...cannot. Spiritual senses and powers, I guess you could say.

[Tsuzuki's calm reaction to her revelation might be very suspicious to some. He's just very used to dealing with unwilling psychics in his line of work.

Usually he wouldn't be quite as forthcoming about details about his job or life, but he's had a few rough weeks. If he doesn't say anything to someone he will feel like he's about to explode.] You're a bit like my partner, then. He's sensitive, too.

When you say powers, what do you mean?

[After her 5 months in Luceti, its not suspicious at all.]

Oh? I suppose thats one word for what I am. I see visions in flames that are almost always true, I can feel spirits talking to me. And I have a strong affinity for fire.

[As she says this, a row of candles on the wall behind her ignites unbidden. Even without Eferin, she's always had that connection.]

Do you ever feel scared because of the visions? I think that if I saw things like that, it's be really upsetting.

[As the ink dries, the little ward crumples like an origami bird. Tsuzuki doesn't give it any attention, not even when the little paper bird suddenly turns into a real one. It jumps up on his shoulder as Rei demonstrates her fire connection, its tiny beak holding onto his jacket in its distress. It remembers being paper, and how flammable paper is! Tsuzuki, on the other hand, smiles with admiration.]

That's amazing. Can you control it, or does it happen when you feel something strongly?

I have been, yes.

[Rei watches the bird with interest, the ghost of a smile flickering across her lips. She'd seen magic before, and while this was a small display it was certainly interesting.]

I can control it, to a point. With Eferin's help I've gained even greater control. What can you create?

I don't think I can create much. My strength doesn't lie in that.

[The bird has now found a perfect nest on the top of his head, nestled in his hair. It peeks at Rei, tilting its small head at her words.]

Fire can be a great weapon. What do you use it for?

Then what is your strength for?

[She raises an eyebrow. He couldn't know about Sailor Mars, so she'll answer as simply as she can]

I use fire to keep evil away from innocent people, when other means fail.

I summon. I... used to summon. I can't do it here.

[Not without hurting his old world, that is. He tries not to think about how lonely it feels that he can't reach them. Instead his expression betrays a hopeful approval at her answer, and the bird jumps off his head, flapping its wings once to avoid hitting the floor hard. For now, it's indulging its curiosity about the stranger.]

Good. That must be the very best way to use fire.

What do you summon, Tsuzuki-san? And why?

[Her tone and eyes are fairly neutral. If he's summoning demons or forcing Youkai to do his bidding then of course she isn't going to approve]

Friends.

[He says it very simply, before he realizes that it's hard to go by such a short answer. But he knows from experience that people become afraid when he's honest about what he is, so he doesn't know how much he ought to say. As if to divert attention, his little messenger hops closer to Rei's knee.]

In my job I meet supernatural creatures. It's not safe not to have someone watch your back.

That is very, very true, Tsuzuki-san.

[She smiles, nodding. She doesn't want to pry, but she is very, very VERY curious now. The little bird on her knee gets an absent look, but you've intrigued her, so she returns her gaze to the man, one hand reaching down to pat the paper bird.]

What is your job?

[Tsuzuki fiddles with the paper, unsure what to do with his hands. It feels a bit wrong to outright lie in a temple, so instead he chooses his words carefully.]

I help people that are stuck in their lives. Some are troubled because spirits have hurt them in some way, or they have trouble letting go.

How do you help them?

[She presses, mildly suspicious. Something about his demeanor, particularly with his hands, strikes her as odd]

[His wings tuck together on his back. Rei's a pleasure to talk to, that's why he's so worried about saying the wrong thing. He doesn't want to alienate her just because of what he is. Tsuzuki's burnt himself on being too open, before.]

Oh look at the time! I really should get going.

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