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

[ahappylie]

[with them gone, the pig peers out and grunts, sidling out a little more.]

Tea would be wonderful.

[He looks down at Saizou.]

I was going to bring a sweet, but someone got into them just before I came over.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei looks at the pig as well, giving him a gentle smile]

Oh, that's alright. I made dango this morning too, if you'd like?

[She's already starting to get out her tea set, the hot water kept warm by a kettle set near the brazier. No sense wasting heat after all.]

[ahappylie]

I just felt a little bad coming with nothing to offer.

[Saizou snorts and buries his face under the hems of Souji's kimono, leaving his lower half sticking out. That is his way of saying he feels bad. ...Sort of.]

Shall I help?

[faithfulflame]

No, it's alright. I invited you here, after all.

[It doesn't take her too long to have all of the tea prepared and served up, along with a little tray of multicolored dango.

She even sets out a smaller one for Saizou, if he feels inclined.]

[ahappylie]

[He always feels inclined. As soon as the tray is out for him, he speeds out from behind Souji and starts eating. Food is delicious.

Souji sighs and smiles, accepting his tea.]

Thank you, Hino-san. I apologise for making you do all these preparations, but thank you for having me over.

[faithfulflame]

I owed that to you, Souji-san.

[She takes a small sip of her tea, settling down on her cushion]

Besides, you helped me a lot on the draft.

[ahappylie]

I think it would be more accurate to say that you helped me.

[He laughs and sits, setting his teacup down to lean over and help Saizou get the dango off his stick.]

It really is a fascinating power you have.

[faithfulflame]

I'd never have had the time to transform without you.

[She watches the little pig wrestling with the dango a moment before responding.]

I'm sure you have questions, and I promised you answers. So please, ask.

[ahappylie]

[He pulls one off and takes the stick away, making sure the pig only eats one dango ball at a time.]

Well, I suppose the biggest question is - what is it? I've never seen someone become a completely different person like that before.

[faithfulflame]

[Right to the hardest question...]

It's...I suppose you could say it's my past self. Sailor Mars. At home, I'm a soldier, and that's the form I take to fight with. I'm the same person, but...there's magic to keep my identity a secret.

[ahappylie]

[YUP............ Well, it was the most important, anyway.

Saizou looks up at him and headbutts his leg signalling Souji to absent-mindedly pull another dango from the stick and pass it to him. His real attention is on Rei and her explanation.

Past lives, magic, soldiers?

He's quiet for a moment as it sinks in.]

You must have a very important job that you must keep your identity a secret then.

[faithfulflame]

[It's not quite a question, but the query is implied. She nods once in reply, taking another sip before answering.]

I do. It's my duty to protect someone. Someone important to my world.

[ahappylie]

[His smile says he understands that sentiment well and he nods.]

Then I will keep your secret as if it were also my duty.

[He will take the secret to his grave, protect it as if it were his own because if Rei is protecting someone so important, than the least he can do is keep his word.]

It must have been difficult for you to choose to show me that, not knowing how I would take it. Thank you.

[faithfulflame]

I thank you, Souji-san.

[She smiles and nods cheerfully, relieved.]

It...was and it wasn't. I thought I could trust you, and...in my world you are something of a hero. So. I gambled, and guessed right. But thank you for being so accepting.

[ahappylie]

[He laughs and slides the last dango off the stick, handing it to his pig.] I hear that quite often here. It's surprising, seeing how everyone hated us so much.

[He wipes his fingers on a paper he pulls from his kimono and folds it away.]

And I couldn't be rude to a miko. I think that would give me bad luck.

[faithfulflame]

Well...[She gives him a vaguely teasing look] If you had, I would've placed a hex on you for certain.

[ahappylie]

And there would be no one else here who could take it off me. I'd be completely at your mercy.

[faithfulflame]

Precisely. So it's good you were polite, yes?

[Rei's pretty new to this teasing thing.]

[ahappylie]

I guess I'll just have to stay on your good side then~ I wouldn't want to be hexed.

[Souji can go with it. It's totally normal to him]

[faithfulflame]

That shouldn't be too hard.

[She sips tea, and smiles warmly]

Is that all of your questions, though?

[ahappylie]

[He could ask more, but somehow he doubts that he'd understand the answer to a lot of them. So he goes with a fun one.]

Mm....

Can you teach me to do what you did? It looked so interesting.

[faithfulflame]

I...cannot. I can teach you some magic, but being a Sailor Senshi and transforming is something you have to be born for.

[And...why would he want to? That would be weird, man.]

[ahappylie]

Ah well. [Why wouldn't he want to? That looked pretty badass.] I suppose I wouldn't look very good in skirts anyway.

[faithfulflame]

No, nor in heels I think.

[ahappylie]

Oh~ I don't know. With a little practice, I might be able to manage those at least.