Tenth Prayer: Fanning the Flames [Action/Video]

[faithfulflame]

[What a week! Rei couldn't remember a time she'd been more exhausted in her life. The minute she made it in the door of House 3 she'd just dropped into bed like a wilting flower. And she'd slept. For days. When she finally managed to get up and feel...human...again, though, she had things to address. Lots of things.

And the first thing on that list? The shrine. And preparations for a trap she planned to lay on two unwary wizards. After that, she had promises to keep and work to do. This was going to be a long day...]

Action

[Rei spends the early part of the day around Tsukino Shrine. She's been gone for more than a week, and the whole thing needs a bit of tending, just basic chores. While she works, Phobos and Deimos play around the small courtyard, flapping around merrily in the spring breeze. It's a pretty nice time, a far cry from the insane battle the week before. Anyone's welcome to come by and help out with chores, or setting up for her foray into forced match-making.

Midmorning, before she sits down to have lunch she opens her journal and sends out a broadcast. Phobos and Deimos are probably pawing around the camera, being nosy birds as usual.]

Video

Good afternoon, Luceti. This is Rei Hino. I would like to inform you that fortune telling at Tsukino Shrine will resume today as normal. I'd also like to express my sincerest condolences to anyone who was injured on the draft last week, and even more to those who lost someone in battle. Words...fail me at the moment, but if you are in need of a place to pray or find a peaceful place to think, you are welcome to use the shrine here for that. I hope you are able to find some measure of solace, however you choose to seek it. If you need me for anything, I will be here until six this evening for fortune telling or prayer services.

Additionally, I would like to ask a question. What are ways that you've learned to relieve stress? Particularly after a battle. How would you go about creating an atmosphere to help people relax? I have a small project that I'm working on down this vein, and I could use some suggestions. I would appreciate it a lot.

[A little later she sends out 3 more filtered broadcasts]

Locked to Max Woodville

Max-san, can we talk?


Locked to Okita Souji

Souji-san, if you have time, I would like to make good on my promise.


Locked to Helios Sprensonne
Helios-san, can you visit the shrine tonight at around seven? There is something very important I need to discuss with you. I'll prepare dinner, so please come hungry. This may take some time, as well. And it's a sensitive issue, so I'd appreciate it if you could leave your journal at home.

(OOC: Feel free to just drop by the shrine instead of responding to the broadcast if that suits your character better.)

Comments

A Sprung Trap, Locked to Helios and Max [Action/Written]

[faithfulflame]

[Armed with whatever suggestions and a little help from housemates, Rei's got the shrine interior set up for a date and a night in. Blankets and bedding, a decent sized fire to keep out the early spring chill are offset by a full four course Japanese meal that's still steaming. Fish, beef, noodles, rice, and various other treats are set out for two. Perfectly arranged with two bottles of sake, a pitcher of mugi-cha, and a small cooler of some rather expensive looking Japanese beers.

As soon as both Max and Helios arrive, they're greeted and led inside...not by Rei but by Phobos or Deimos (if they could tell them apart), and ushered into the honden by their feathery friend. Once both enter, the door clicks shut and locks, a note written in elegant script now visible as the Charter mark concealing it vanishes.]

Dear Max-san and Helios-san

I've decided that you two need to spend a little time together. Alone, and without Malnosso interference. It's apparent you both care a lot about one another even though you don't realize it, or won't admit it to each other. And as the Senshi of Flame and Passion, it's my holy duty to fan the fires of love when they're so apparent. I've gathered everything you'll need for a night in. I hope you enjoy the meal that I prepared for you, and that you can honestly enjoy one another's company. Phobos and Deimos will keep watch if you need anything. I have set wards to keep you in until morning, though they will dissapate with the sunrise. If you are angry with me, then I'm sorry but we an discuss that in the morning. I will be here shortly after the wards drop.

Goodnight
火野レイ

PS: I would advice against testing the wards. They were laid by myself and reinforced by Queen Serenity.

[Action]

[abjurer]

[He's not entirely sure why Rei had asked him to head back that night, except that it was important and would take a while. It had certainly piqued his interest so he'd told Jack and Eugene where he'd be for the night, and headed over.

It's the ravens that meet him outside. Him and... and Helios.

It isn't that he's been avoiding Helios. He's seen him at the house when he's gone to visit Sabriel after all. It's just... Helios has been recovering and he doesn't think either of them have been in any fit state to do much anyway.

Alright, maybe avoiding him a little.

It's the ravens who greet them anyway, rather than Rei and that's a little curious but nothing worrying.]

Hey. Guess we should head in.

[He gives Helios a small smile as they make their way into the shrine. And he just stares at everything that's laid out. It- it looked awfully like- like a-

...the door snaps shut and there's the click of a lock and the feeling of a ward activating.

They're stuck. He doesn't need a note to tell him that although the note when he reads it certainly makes things a little clearer and he is going to kill her when he gets out of here. Should have known she'd let things go too easily back on TERRACE but he hadn't thought...

He shakes his head and glances over at Helios, an apologetic, somewhat rueful expression on his face.]

I- I'm sorry. This is my fault.

[Video]

[abjurer]

Uh, Rei, sure. I'm guessing you don't mean over the journals.

Up at the shrine?

[Video]

[faithfulflame]

I do not. And yes, if that's convenient for you. I can come to you, if you would prefer.

voice

[aerialassault]

Shore leave. Asap. Someplace mellow with things to do, if ya can. It's hard sometimes. [Particularly with the stress and notoriety of his job.]

...so. Magic and now fortune telling? What next, tap dancing?

oice

[faithfulflame]

Shore leave isn't possible here, Cliff-san.

[But there's a hint of vague amusement in her tone.]

I don't dance or sing, no. But I play piano.

[cynicism]

[There's a new visitor to the shrine today. Though it would be polite to show deference at the gates, Hisoka's here on a mission. He strides directly to Rei, bowing dutifully in greeting without lowering his eyes just in case she decided to grow an extra limb and start fighting.]

Miss Hino, is it not?

[He tries to keep his tone formal, but if her passive empathy is nearly as strong as his own, then she can probably detect the intense suspicion and deep distrust coming from yards away.]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei turns to the newcomer, and she is indeed quite befuddled by his suspicion and distrust. It hits her in a wave that immediately puts her back up, and makes her own bow as stiff as his own.]

Yes. May I help you?

[Video]

[mountain_sage]

I practice Valega to relieve stress and find enlightenment.

[Video]

[faithfulflame]

Care...to elaborate?

[Video to start?]

[geniustheveil]

[Ami had let Rei sleep, of course, going out during the days even if she had nothing in particular to do so that the house would stay quiet and restful. This wasn't really a sacrifice; it gave her extra time at the library and stables.

In fact, Ami happens to be out when the video comes through, too, but she replies almost right away.]

They say water, white noise, and low lighting or darkness can aid in relaxation. Are you still feeling tension, Rei-chan?

[Video]

[faithfulflame]

I am. But it's not for me, Ami-chan.

Are you busy?

[action]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi told Rei that he would try and pay a visit to the shrine, and he's true to his word. Everyone is safe at home and there isn't a better time to pay his respects than now, with the events of the draft still fresh in his mind.

A good night's rest helped with the weariness of battle, and he's looking much more refreshed when he walks up the steps and comes to stand at the entrance, taking the place in as best as he can without the Sharingan.]

[action]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei feels the man's approach as he arrives in the courtyard, as he enters her little sanctum, and she smiles. She'd liked the man well enough, he seemed to be a decent one, despite the odd feelings she got from him at their previous meeting. A huge change, truly, thanks to Luceti. When she'd arrived, she'd as soon as hit him with an ofuda.

She turns from her meditation, looking at him in the entrance with a half smile.]

Good day, Itachi-san.

[truemessiah]

[ Today, Serenity is all a flutter; all her grace, and elegance left behind in excitement. The matchmaking idea had been wonderful, an idea that, when Rei mentioned it, sent Serenity giggling and nodding like a teenager. She enjoyed matchmaking, enjoyed the idea of helping others find love; it was the kind of shenanigans she would never truly grow out of.

The queen arrives at the shrine early, ready to do whatever it takes, especially if it meant taking some pressure off of Rei; her friend had only recently returned from the draft, after all. ]

All right, Rei. What needs setup? [ Her smile is wide, and excited. There was a lot to do at the shrine today! ]

[faithfulflame]

[Well Rei was certainly appreciative that Serenity had gone along with the idea. When she'd brought it up she hadn't quite expected the same level of enthusiasm from the queen that her teenage friend might've given, but she was absolutely delighted to have the help.

When her friend arrives, Rei's hard at work doing sweeping and taking care of some basic things. But queen or not...if she was offering to help, Serenity was not going to get off light. Because it was just easier to think of her as a grown up Usagi than anything else for the moment. An Usagi who put some of that boundless energy into something besides complaining.]

Thank you for coming. I appreciate it. [She beams]

I'm...not terribly good at romantic things, but I was thinking of setting up a trap like what you and some of the others did for some of our friends when you were younger? Locking them in the shrine. I'm trying to tidy things up, but do you have any suggestions?

[Video]

[breaks_destiny]

To relieve stress? I guess it depends on how much stress I've on me at the moment or how serious things got. Normally I either paint or do physical work.

[A pause.]

Though if you want to create a relaxing atmosphere none of that would help. The hot springs have always been very relaxing, you know.

[Video]

[faithfulflame]

And what would you say makes them relaxing? I don't disagree, I'm just trying to do something for a few friends, and getting them there might be difficult.

Filter; Locked to Rei

[ahappylie]

I have nothing but time for such an interesting story. Where should we meet and when?

Filter; Locked to Souji

[faithfulflame]

At my shrine, and any time today before five would be ideal. If that is suitable to you, at any rate.

[Action]

[koiwamizuiro]

[Ai had gotten up fairly early in the morning that day, finding herself doing so once more. Even though she had been in Luceti for a substantial period of time already, shaking off the habit of waking up early for school that she couldn't really go to anymore was not an easy thing to do.

At the very least, the teenage girl was feeling energized, already having started sleeping better since she came here, so she wanted to do something with the time she now had.

Tsukino Shrine was right in front of her apartment building, and once she got outside, a few seconds later it was Rei that she saw close by. Despite not being among the people who went to Terrace, Ai was aware of the draft and that it had just recently taken place. She hadn't seen Rei since then, so that naturally made her intrigued and she headed to visit her. Her gait was slow, with her hands in her pockets as she approached with an inquisitive expression on her face. Her lips pull into a smile before she said her greeting to the girl.]

Morning, Hino-san.

[Action]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei has had a lot on her plate, with the draft and the preparations and everything, but when she sees Ai she smiles and draws herself up. The girl was fairly pleasant, and it was nice to see someone else roughly her age who wasn't insane like Haruhi.]

Good morning, Nanasaki-san.

[voice]

[justicereigns]

I stack rocks. What's your project?

[voice-Filtered]

[faithfulflame]

[Well that calls for a filter]

I remember, Smoker-san. The project is matchmaking.

[Voice]

[shamelessness]

I think gardening is a really relaxing activity! It might be hard work, but it takes my mind off of scary things like a battle. And when you're done everything looks so calm and serene.

[Voice]

[faithfulflame]

Gardening? That sounds very relaxing, yes. And spring is just around the corner...that could be nice!

[voice]

[shinesbrightest]

I like listening to music. That kind of helps sometimes.

[voice]

[faithfulflame]

That's a good suggestion. What sort of music would you recommend?