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

[faithfulflame]

Oh?

[For an instant, there's a flicker of uncertainty as the girl thumbs her chin. How could he know about Mars? Tsuzuki didn't know that much, and he'd never encountered that form. The affectionate gesture she barely notices, because frankly she's not...interested in a fight. But if he knew about Mars?

Spirits...how?

Best to be circumspect.]

What am I, then?

[idealism]

[Tsuzuki stays silent. Before he knows what's happening, he doesn't want to intervene.]

[cynicism]

I know you're supernatural. And I know you've got power. So you may as well reveal yourself for what you are.

[Assuming something is the same thing as knowing it, right?]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei looked at Tsuzuki, a deadly serious look in her eye. She felt trapped, in a sense, and she hated that. But she trusted Tsuzuki. He knew a lot about her...already.]

Tsuzuki-san, there is a secret I've kept from you. Can you give my your word that you or your friend will not betray me?

[idealism]

[It's uncomfortable or him, too. His hand tightens around Hisoka's, both as a way to support him and as a way to give Rei the freedom to do what she needs. He knows Hisoka will be angry about it, but he wants to know what she's talking about.]

Of course.

1/2 then

[faithfulflame]

[Rei puts her hand to her chest, taking out a small marble pen held on a chain around her neck. She holds it up, and shouts.]

MARS POWER! MAKE UP!

[Obvious holy energy flares up around her, whirling flames and cosmic power enveloping her clothing. Changing her...]

2/2

[faithfulflame]

[into Sailor Mars. Flames dance before the pair of them as she faces them down, eyes narrowed.]

This is my secret, Tsuzuki-san. I am Sailor Mars, a soldier against evil, who fights in the name of justice.

[idealism]

[Tsuzuki can't believe what just happened. A small part of him had expected a vampire, since Hisoka had been so convinced of it. The part of him that knew Rei had imagined that she may turn into a phoenix. He hasn't expected this. It makes him happy to know that people in other worlds fights for the right things. He hugs Hisoka close, his clear joy radiating from him, and the niggling dread that were previously there has all but vanished.]

It's nice to meet you. Why do you need the disguise?

[cynicism]

[It's not joy that Hisoka shares. So the girl can put on a light show. That doesn't make her a superhero. Tsuzuki's too quick to believe what he's told.]

Nice skirt.

[It's brazen and unladylike. He's still suspecting Succubus.]

[faithfulflame]

To protect someone, Tsuzuki-san.

[She's ignoring Hisoka again. Because he's being absurd.]

I don't know how your partner knew about this, there are only a few people who do here. But this is...well...the rest of it. I'm a soldier and an exorcist.

[idealism]

He has a knack for finding things out.

[He looks down at Hisoka's fair hair.]

Do you hear that? She can exorcise, too.

[cynicism]

[The mention of exorcism is a ping. It's not that he doesn't believe her. It's just all too convenient to take in without some form of verification.

Instead of answering either of them, his head bows, hands performing the motions of his whispered kuji-in. If she's as attuned to the spirits as she claims, then they'll surely recognize her as an exorcist. It's the only way to be sure.]

[faithfulflame]

[Well...she is an exorcist, so it probably reacts accordingly. Though Ax has no idea how it should.]

[idealism]

[Although Hisoka has good intentions for what he does, Tsuzuki didn't expect him to distrust her that badly. It's a breach of etiquette, as far as he's concerned, and not a small one.] Stop it!


I'm really sorry. I... ah. Maybe we should go.

[cynicism]

[It's as much for Rei's benefit as his own. As he chants, his form remains rigid and focuse, focused on the tiny gestures of the hands. The symbols created by his finger positions are textbook-accurate, though he doesn't respond at all to Tsuzuki's protest.

After a period of this, he looks up from his meditation and regards her again.]

We can stay. She's fine.

[faithfulflame]

What did you do?

[She sounds somewhat annoyed, but at least he's not being hostile anymore.

Eying Tsuzuki she asks]

He did something rude, didn't he?

[idealism]

He was just checking if you were... you.

[But it reminds him of something faint and dangerous, like how an exorcism can really damage a body if there's a demonic presence. Rei wouldn't have survived it if she really was possessed, which is why he's shaken.

He doesn't approve of Hisoka disregarding their friendship and going along with something so potentially dangerous.]

I could have told him that, though.

[cynicism]

[It could have been damaging if he'd committed to performing a reibaku. But this was just a cursory examination, a tickle against her spirit to see if darkness reared up in protest. If it hurt her, then it would have been a cue to keep her from hurting others.

Tsuzuki of all people should have respected that. Hisoka finds it offensive that he'd wanted it to stop. But that was a fight to have later, behind closed doors.]

And it could have been untrue. There's absolutely nothing rude about it.

[He continues to stare directly at Rei, half-challenging her to continue talking over him as if he's not part of the conversation.]

[faithfulflame]

[Sailor Mars glowers at Hisoka, the feelings she's gotten from Tsuzuki are decidedly the opposite and she doesn't appreciate being lied to. She'd recognized a few of those hand motions as well, and knew what they'd meant. He thought she was some sort of demon.]

Hisoka-san, does this satisfy your curiosity? You've dug out my innermost secret, insulted me in front of a friend, treated me like some sort of demon, and worried your partner.

[To Tsuzuki she adds]

Is he always this jealous of girls that remind you of your sister?

[idealism]

[Tsuzuki shakes his head, feeling like he's let a friend down. Whether that friend is Rei or Hisoka, he's not even sure anymore. He's going to have to find some way to make it up to them both later.]

No. Usually he's very polite.

[He gently untangles himself from Hisoka once she mentions the jealousy thing, because it's just then that he becomes aware that he hugs him is a bit too friendly way.]

[cynicism]

[Tsuzuki mostly overreacts. He associates spirituality with pain ever since his own possession. As if things didn't turn out well in the end then too. Hmph.]

If that's all it takes to insult you, then you need a thicker skin. There are creatures that can do a lot worse. [Especially to a miko.

He doesn't budge when Tsuzuki pulls away. It's not Rei's place to know what bothers him by their proximity to one another.]

[faithfulflame]

[All it takes? This...what...is with this boy? What he's done, and what he's asked her to do just to get him to stop threatening her? What the hell!]

Tsuzuki-san, I can hardly believe that. But I'll take you at your word, because I trust you to keep my secret.

[She lets the power fade from her, shimmering back into her civilian form]

Hopefully Hisoka-san will as well.

[idealism]

He will.

[Tsuzuki really can't understand the animosity Hisoka shows towards Rei. If anything, he has expected that he'd treat her like he usually treat girls - with politeness and chivalry.]

[At least Rei is coming back to normal. Maybe that will help his partner relax. Tsuzuki tries to establish eye contact with him.]

Won't you, Hisoka?

[cynicism]

There isn't any reason to bother keeping a secret like that here. [It's probably some kind of girl thing. Teenage girls like to keep all sorts of unnecessary secrets.] But I don't imagine there'll be a reason to discuss it in the future.

[faithfulflame]

There is.

[She looks genuinely worried, eyes flickering between Hisoka and Tsuzuki. It wasn't something she wanted spread around, if there were enemies to appear in the village.]

Please. It's...important.