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

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.

Filter; Locked to Rei

[ahappylie]

Perhaps around the hour of the goat then? Mid-afternoon?

Filter; Locked to Rei

[faithfulflame]

That would be perfect. I look forward to it.

Action | Mid-afternoon

[ahappylie]

[As promised, Souji shows up around the hour of the goat - closer to 2:30pm - at the shrine with his pig in tow. He goes through the customary motions of cleansing himself, and his pig, before he enters the shrine and then heads to the altar first. He said he would come here to pray after all, and considering what had just happened on the draft, he feels like he should.

Bowing his head, hands pressed together, he offers a silent farewell to his friends, his comrades, and to those who lost their lives above.]

Action | Mid-afternoon

[faithfulflame]

[Rei watches him go about his prayers in silence, carefully avoiding looking at him or listening in. She stops her sweeping and cleaning while he does so, to give him the silence that was proper, and even Phobos and Deimos go silent as well. It's a scene that's played out a few times today already, and one that never fails to make her pause.

Even though he has a pig with him. Souji you are weird.]

Action | Mid-afternoon

[ahappylie]

[He finishes his prayers and bows his head deeply, taking a few steps back until he is out of the altar's range. With that done, it's like a weight is off his shoulders and he stretches a little, arms up over his head.

Don't knock the pig, Rei. It's his biffle.

He looks down at Saizou and smiles at him, the pig looking up and snorting, perplexed as to why they are even here. When he speaks, it's to her even if he's still looking down at his pig.]

Thank you for waiting for me, Hino-san. I hope you are well?

Action | Mid-afternoon

[faithfulflame]

[She'd never. She hangs out with birds.

When he's done she steps over and bows politely, smiling.]

I'm quite well, thank you Souji-san. Who is your little friend?

[As she asks, Phobos and Deimos land on her shoulders, eyeing Saizou...]

Action | Mid-afternoon

[ahappylie]

I'm glad to hear it.

[He turns and bows to her as well, his pig shuffling back behind him to hide behind his legs. Souji looks down at him and smiles faintly.]

This is Saizou. Saizou, say hello.

[The pig grunts, barely peeking out from behind his owner.]

What of your friends?

Action | Mid-afternoon

[faithfulflame]

Hello, Saizou.

[The two crows make a gracious bow of their own like well mannered birds.]

This is Phobos, and this is Deimos.

[They both quork, and hop off her shoulders to the ground, still watching the pig]

[ahappylie]

[Souji watches in amusement as the two crows bow and Saizou sinks a bit further behind his master.]

They're very well trained, aren't they?

[The pig snorts and bobs its head, which can just barely be seen from behind the hems of Okita's kimono. It seems more concerned now that the crows are off her shoulders.]

Does this have to do with your skills?

[faithfulflame]

No, they're just my friends. I didn't train them.

[She laughs gently at that, covering her mouth with her sleeve]

Saizou seems skittish, though.

[ahappylie]

He's just upset that I took him out of the house to socialize.

[The pig grunts and peeks out from behind Souji's legs, glaring at the crows before sinking back to his pseudo-hiding place.]

He takes after his namesake in that respect.

[If the crows are friends, then Souji is being rude, so he looks down at Phobos and Deimos and bows his head.]

It is a pleasure to meet you both.

[faithfulflame]

Well, it's not so bad.

[The crows bow again and flutter off to leave the pig to his moping. He's kinda boring.]

Would you like tea? I did invite you here to talk.

[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.