faithfulflame | Ninth Prayer: A Flame Snuffed Out. [Action/Written]

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Ninth Prayer: A Flame Snuffed Out. [Action/Written]

First he'd missed two days worth of meetings, and now he wasn't answering calls? That gave Rei pause, an odd tightness in the pit of her stomach. He'd always answered calls before, and he was usually quite prompt about getting back to her if he missed a call. Putting all that aside, she gave it another day before going to check on him. Just in case he was brooding. And even then, the miko was dragging her feet in dread.

The door was unlocked, the room bare save for a few things, clearly marked. Letters, magical tools, and a bottle of some dark brown liquid labelled as "Soul Sauce." But no Harry. Rei's eyes sank, her entire body wilting in the doorway.

Harry was gone. Just...gone.

The first man she'd willingly spent time with. The only man who'd really been there for her when she'd needed it. Rei wrapped her arms tightly around herself, feeling the fabric he'd enchanted for her, clutching it like it was the man himself. He was gone. He'd promised to look out for her, been there for her, and now he was just gone. After all they'd been through, just gone. After Apep, and the battle with Sabriel. After losing Usagi and dealing with those awful refugees. He'd been there then. He'd coached her through her argument with Ami, and helped her protect the shrine. It just wasn't right, for him to be...gone?

She allowed herself a wan smile as she thought back to the smilodon barreling after them last November, their hide cloaks flapping in the Ice Age breeze as they ran. That Shift had been a weird one

But that smile faded quickly as she thought back to...Christmas Eve.

Her face tightened, eyes going flat. She'd kissed him. And just like Kaidou, he'd...gone. Gone like everyone else. She scrubbed at her lips in a sudden flash of anger that quickly faded. It wasn't rational, she knew that, but it didn't help. She'd felt like he was a decent man. Someone worth even considering trustworthy. The only good man she'd known outside of Grandpa. And he was just gone. As she thought about him, though, memories flooded back. Memories that came back, clear as day.

The Soulgaze. The memory of a man standing against all the dark, horrible things in his world, and still laughing. A good man. A kind man. Despite the pits and cracks that all the supernatural horrors of the world threw at him. A ridiculous, childish, and wonderful man. A man who was there for his friends. A man she'd been lucky to know.

"I guess I'll never get rid of that, will I Harry?" she said with a bitter little laugh. It was a small comfort, having that. At least that way she knew that her feelings hadn't been wrong. He had been worth liking. A man worth trusting. Maybe even kissing.

Because even gone? He was still a good man.

Written:

[A while after the discovery, Rei sends out a written note to hide the cracks in her demeanor. ]

Hello everyone,

This is Rei Hino and I regret to inform you that Harry Dresden has returned home. He left letters and things for his friends in his apartment.

If you would like to say a prayer for him, I will be at the Tsukino Shrine all night tonight, and much of tomorrow. Please consider it.

[Rei can be found at the shrine for the next 3 days, meditating and offering prayers for Harry. She'll welcome people for prayer, as well.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know you would've. He had a way with making people like him.

Yes, he was a wizard.

He sounds like a great guy. I'm sorry I didn't get the chance.

Maybe you will in the future.

Maybe. I think I'd like that given the chance.

I hope you have it.

Thank you for your concern. If you'd like to pray for him, I'll be at the shrine.

Yeah, me too. [Maybe for her sake more than his though.]

I might just do that. I can at least pay some kind of respects.

I'll be here.

I'll see you up there.

[He does show up half an hour or so later, dressed up a little more neatly than normal in slacks and a nice shirt.]

Hey. Hope I'm not interrupting.

[She's sitting inside, the door of the honden open, back to him and focused intently on the flames. When he speaks, she stirs slightly, enough to say]

Come in, but please take off your shoes.

[He doesn't respond, but toes off his shoes and pads over to her, sinking to his knees on the floor like she is.]

[A sudden gust of wind kicks up and sends the wood and rice-paper door clicking into it's frame. Only then does she turn from the flames. Rei's face has a few blotches from faint tears, but otherwise is a mask of calm. Though a little pink from the heat of the fire.]

Good evening.

[He offers a small smile.]

Evening. I hope it's not awkward me being here. I know I'm pretty new round here.

No, it's not awkward. This shrine is meant for everyone.

[And it's protected by Harry still, the wards he placed are still strong, and obvious to anyone with a scrap of talent.]

It's a place for people here, and people who've gone.

[He can feel the prickle of unfamiliar magic and it's kind of tempting to test the wards a little, because curiosity has always been a problem. It would be kind of rude though.]

It's a really nice place. It feels very safe. Someone's protecting it.

Harry laid out some of the wards. Helios-san and I did the rest. It's designed as a place for magical energy to mingle, peacefully.

[And it was a lot of hard work.]

It's definitely impressive. Must've been pretty complicated.

It took a great deal of time, yes.

[She offers up a weak smile, but not much more]

You're welcome to add to it, if you wish.

[He smiles back, as soft as he can manage and gives a short nod at that.]

I'd be honoured to add to it. Build some kind of memory here.

Then you're welcome to. Harry would like that, Max-san.

Seems like a fitting thing to do then.

[And he gives himself a moment to unfocus a little, slip into that state of mind where real things get a little fuzzy but magic is clear and sharp and... wow, bright.]

[And Rei silently watched]

[It takes a little adjustment to it, to make his body remember that it doesn't need to move, the threads are not physical, but then he settles breath evening out as he works. It's like weaving, twisting the threads of his own magic in alongside the others, strengthening it with his own power. Helios' magic he recognises, and the magic that feels like Rei, so the last must be Harry Dresden.

It isn't a quick process and it isn't exactly praying, but it's honouring them in his own way. Eventually he finishes, coming back to himself and blinking furiously until the lingering flickers of brightness fade from his vision. He lets out a slow breath, feeling a little drained, but that's to be expected, he supposes.]

[Rei closes her eyes and feels the will flowing around them both. It's an appreciated gesture, and she probes it with her mental senses, feeling it. Strong. A good chord, she can tell that. Curious, like spider silk, but a good link in the chain.]

Thank you, Max-san.

[He takes a moment to just feel the magic around them, the weave of the shields which encircle the place. It's strong. Good foundations to build upon.]

Thanks for letting me do something.

Of course. I appreciate you doing it. This is meant to be a safe place.

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