faithfulflame | Tenth Prayer: Fanning the Flames [Action/Video]

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Tenth Prayer: Fanning the Flames [Action/Video]

[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.)

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Yeah. I mean, that's the same everywhere. You have to make as much of it count as you can.

...does this mean I can hold off turning 30? [He grinned at the thought, giving a soft laugh.

He looks up at Helios again, noting the blush, his smile softening.]

Can I kiss you? [He sounds a little unsure, hesitant, because he's not entirely sure how Helios wants this to work, what he's comfortable with.]

No truer words have ever been spoken. Time is time no matter where it is. A, ah, universal constant really. [ Helios laughs at that. ]

I-I don't think it would matter when you do. You'll s-still be, um, g-gorgeous to me no matter what age. [ Outward appearance need no apply for Helios. And then Max asks that question. Helios feels color practically consume his face as he looks away for a brief moment. Helios sounds even a bit more hesitant. ] O-Oh. Ah. Of course.

[ He knew why Max asked and that only made him even more thankful and grateful that he had someone as thoughtful as the other. ]

[His smile widens at that, flattered and he's pretty sure that he's bright red but it's okay, Helios is as well.]

You think I'm gorgeous?

[He's never considered himself a vain person, but hey, it's nice to hear it and hell, he thinks Helios is absolutely gorgeous as well.

He sees the hesitance and gives him a grateful smile when he says yes. He leans forward slowly, tilting his head a little so that he can press their lips together, a soft kiss, raising his hand to cup Helios's cheek. He can taste a little of the alcohol on his lips.]

I-I don't have to think about it, not really. Beauty comes in m-many forms you know?

[ Max was easily one of the kindest and most genuine people Helios had met thus far. Beauty wasn't necessarily skin deep to Helios on principle or in general. He wasn't all that judgmental on how a person looked but Max was rather good-looking anyway. Even if he hadn't been Helios would have thought the same no matter what.

The kiss is expected so Helios will just let the other man press his lips against his own. While Helios will adjust sink into that entirely foreign action. ]

[If it had been anyone else, it would have sounded ridiculous, cliche perhaps, something from a movie where everyone is so much better than they can be in real life. And yet when Helios says it, it's so genuine and it makes him believe it too, like that belief is contagious.

He's quite content to give Helios all the time that he needs to adjust, and he keeps it gentle and slow, something soft and affectionate.]

[ It was strange that he was here and now kissing another man he just recently got acquainted with. Had it been any other time in the past and would've set off alarms and worry. But looking at and reflecting on it now he realizes just how much he's changed as a person, how much this place has changed him as a person.

He's never kissed anyone but Elise but this was no different he found. Max's lips tasted lightly of alcohol but they felt no different. He was never one to really judge a person on their preferences of partners and even now he certainly wouldn't judge. Helios found this to be safe, to be something that he could get used to in the future. So he adjusts little by little, reciprocating with just as gentle an action. Helios might be a bit more tentative because he's not exactly used to doing this with the same sex. ]

[He feels the moment when Helios starts to relax and he smiles into the kiss, giving a soft hum of appreciation. He slides his hand back a little, to rest against Helios's neck, fingers brushing against the short hair at his nape, his tongue flicking out teasingly against the other man's lips.

After a few moments he pulls away, resting his forehead against Helios's and smiling.]

So that was [amazing] good. Really good.

[ all the noises and actions Max makes at that moment, makes him smile and if nothing else it makes him feel just a little bit more embarrassed. The added action of Max's tongue teasing against his lips only fuels the burning sensation in his cheeks.

When Max pulls away Helios will let out a slightly breathless laugh, though he looks quite contented with the overall outcome of this venture. Max looks positively gorgeous and happy too. It's a very nice look for him and Helios is glad that he was the one that could help Max reach such a place emotionally. ]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I did as well it was-it was very, ah, very good.

[ Amazing is more like it, but noting the other man's expression he can tell that Max was of the same idea. ]

[He looks a little rumpled, and happy. God, that's good to see. He dips in for another quick kiss, and then matches Helios's laugh with one of his own. He looks good like that, like Max didn't already think that anyway. But he looks warm and happy, and a little rumpled and that- god he could get used to waking up next to him.]

I'm glad. I mean- wow, you really do terrible things to my ability to speak, y'know?

[ Helios ducks his head and looks away momentarily after that quick unexpected kiss. Max was happy though and Helios was feeling quite pleased as well. He smirks and laughs lightly shaking his head. ]

W-well I could say the same f-for you as well. You, ah, don't seem to mind though. [ There's a light teasing tone in his voice as he says that. ]

[The smirk does terrible things to him. Bad bad thoughts. He's never met anyone as unaware of their effect on people. Or maybe that's just on him? who knows.]

Well if this is the reward, then eloquence is so overrated.

Ah, well, I-I suppose we are a bit beyond first impressions, hm? It can't be helped, really.

[ He's just teasing. But he does laugh and smile even wider and brighter then. ] But you know I-I wouldn't really care either way.

I'm sure we'll manage to communicate. [So long as Helios realised how much Max cared for him, that was all he needed to know.

He smiles back, warm and happy.]

Me either. I'm just happy to be here. With you.

I'm sure we will. And I am too. We should eat now I think, hm?

[ They could talk more later and for the rest of the night as well. And with that Helios will get up and go off towards the table to get them both some plates of food. It's a nice peaceful evening there after all the talking is done. It's quiet and comfortable, homely in more than one way, and Helios can only imagine spending and evening like this with one or two other people. The fact that Max is one of them is no surprise. But he can't say he's regretted coming to the shrine this evening. He's actually quite glad for it.

It's only when light filters into the room that next morning that Helios will yawn and stretch from his place on the bed.

Yes. There was someone they needed to speak with, wasn't there? He'll peer over at Max sleeping on his left side, trying to not move so much as to wake him. He can just rest here for a moment, right? Right he will do just that. ]

[At some point during the night they'd made up the futons ready to sleep and crawled in. And at some point Max must've fallen asleep. He wakes up slowly when the sun starts to filter in and he feels the shift of the covers as Helios moves.

He really doesn't want to move. He doesn't want to wake up out of the pleasant and fuzzy place where he's in bed with Helios and he's warm and comfortable, so instead he just sort of burrows closer, pressing his face against Helios's shoulder. Just a little longer.]

[At dawn, as promised, Rei is standing outside the minute the wards are down, buckets of bathwater, towels, and a tray of breakfast food ready.]

[ Helios gives a pleased hum when he looks over and sees Max resting next to him. It was a strange realization that this was actually happening here and now. That the entire night actually happened and he and Max were now together. It made him smile and he knew deep down that this was right in ways that were acceptable. It wasn't as if he was trying to replace Elise, not at all, but having another person to share his time with intimately was...well it was a step in the right direction he thinks. ]

Max? Are you awake? [ His voice is barely above a whisper but loud enough so the other can hear. Rei was supposed to stop by in the morning so she should be here soon, if not already, he thinks. ]

[That certainly sounds like Helios. For real. But still, he's a little afraid to look.

He smiles sleepily, still not quite awake.]

So, if I open my eyes, you're still gonna be here right?

[Rei remains quiet despite the voices inside.]

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Tenth Prayer: Fanning the Flames [Action/Video]

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