faithfulflame | Twelfth Prayer: Some Flames Never Die [Action/Video] Late Afternoon

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Twelfth Prayer: Some Flames Never Die [Action/Video] Late Afternoon

Video

[A video feed flickers to life, showing a teenage girl dressed in long, thick looking priestess's robes sitting outside the little shrine on the riverbank. And for once in her Luceti life, Rei Hino looks genuinely happy with how things are going. Everything has gone...strangely well...for her lately. Despite the invasion, the discovery in the tunnel, and all of that, everything was actually alright in Rei's little world. So much so that it seemed like an ideal time to have a little celebration for an event that had been pretty significant for her a year before. It's not much, she never expects a large crowd for anything she does, but then she's never been one for that sort of thing, either. And who knows, it may even help to lift people's spirits after their own troubles.

There's no sigh, no subtle frown, no vaguely irritated look in her eye. She's even smiling at the camera as she addresses it.]

Good afternoon Luceti. My name is Rei Hino, and as some of you might know...and some might not...I maintain a small shrine here across the path from Community House 2. I haven't broadcast about it in a while, but I thought today might be a good day to extend an invitation to anyone who might want a peaceful place to spend some time before the weather changes. It was one year ago today that Brave Vesperia completed building it, and it felt appropriate to mark the date with a little something.

[She gestures to some tables of food she's prepared or gathered from the shops and bakery, a variety of snacks, along with curry, pasta, and various other easy meals really. Rei can cook alright, but this was kind of last minute, after all.]

So please, come eat and relax. If you like, I'll read your fortune and give you a good luck charm too. I know things have been stressful lately, so please consider it. It may do you some good.

[A pair of crows flap into view, landing on her shoulders as she turns to look at the building. With a laugh Rei playfully runs a finger under one's beak and looks to the journal.]

And you know...it's strange, having been here as long as I have. I've had a lot of friends come and go, and seen a lot of strange and unsettling things. But looking at this building...it makes me happy. Maybe it's because it's like my home. My...real home. [Rei's smile grows almost wistful, weary even.] Does anyone else have a place like that here? A place that makes you feel at peace, maybe even a little nostalgic? I'd like to know...even if you don't come eat.

[And then she waves a hand, whispers a word, and the book closes with a sudden gust of wind. Harry would've been proud...]

Action

[Rei will be available at the shrine all afternoon after around 2:00, or if you like you can catch her earlier in the day in the shops with armfuls of food. Nothing too fancy is going on, just a little impromptu anniversary party.]

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Of course not, Ami-chan. It's never too much work.

[She heads right on over to the little box she'd stored their dinner in. Grilled fish, kept warm by the fire and a selection of various simple sweets and fruits and things, along with a couple of the biscuits Fenimore had brought.]

Would you like to sit inside, or out?

[Everybody likes sweets. The fish looks delicious, too.]

We should enjoy sitting outside while the weather is nice. [Ami finds herself faintly surprised by saying that instead of checking with Rei first, but she goes with it.]

I'll help you bring everything out, if you'd like.

Alright, that sounds nice. It's a good evening for it, definitely.

[Rei nods and indicates a cooler. It has still got some ice (chilled with magic) and a variety of drinks, ranging from soda to juice.]

If you'd get out some drinks, I think that and these trays should be enough.

[Ami brings the drinks from the cooler right away, pausing just a moment before she picks them out and brings them back over to the rest of the preparations.]

You thought of everything ahead of time.

Of course. That's what I do, Ami-chan.

[She slips inside too, and returns with a small box under one arm.]

And I have your present, too.

Rei-chan, you really didn't have to do anything like that. [This is true. It's also true that she's glad Rei did it anyway, but it's far more polite to raise the protest than to be greedy for her friend's time and thoughts.]

I know, but it's what's proper.

[She holds it out in two hands, bowing slightly.]

Then, I shouldn't object, right? [Ami smiles at Rei quickly before carefully taking the small package. She opens it neatly from long habit.]

No, you definitely shouldn't.

[Inside is a small pendant with a single sapphire set into the symbol of Mercury. It was a little opulent for Ami, perhaps, but Rei had seen it in a shop and knew immediately that it was meant for her.]

Rei-chan, it's beautiful! [A little overwhelming, really, but she loves it. It's the sort of thing she can wear when she dresses up more.] I'll think of Rei-chan whenever I wear it, alright?

I'd like that. [She holds up the ruby pendant she always wears, a gift from her mother.]

It matches, see?

Eh? Rei-chan, you got it to match? [That.. is really touching, and Ami's face breaks into a smile.] Then, I really like it even more than just being beautiful.

As I said, I knew it was meant for you.

[Have a hug, Ami.]

[It is a veritable feast of hugs today. Once Ami extracts herself, she's still smiling.]

I'll treasure it for certain.

I know you will!

Now, food. Tuna or would you like salmon? I can never remember which you like more.

I don't like tuna very much, so, if it's alright to have the salmon... [Then she would definitely prefer that. Though really, she only said it because Rei gave the choice anyway.]

[Well, Rei likes tuna a lot so...no worries there. She just slides it over.]

How are you doing after...everything? You look alright, but have you gotten enough rest lately?

I'm fine. It isn't the first time things like this have happened here.

[She's lived through the Malnosso-sponsored Luceti valleys, several of them, and invasions beyond this one. It'd be a complete and utter lie to say it's old hat, but telling herself she's done it before and can do it again helps.]

I know, but...it's still not normal.

It's normal for here. [Which clearly means she is well adjusted to it.]

I don't think so. That was bad, even for a Shift.

[Actually...]

It's happened several times before.

[Not the invasion, of course, but everything else that had come with it, and the personal always hits her hardest. Oh, she remembers that now. It's actually, ironically and horribly, quite a normal shift for here.]

Has it?

[Rei looks a bit nervous as she takes a bite to cover her trembling lip.]

[She feels a twinge of regret as soon as she sees Rei's expression.]

I'm sorry. It's just... [It's just that it's true.] It's been that way here from the start.

I don't think every experiment...or even half of them...are like that.

[to INFINITY AND BEYOND!]

[to INFINITY AND BEYOND!]

[to INFINITY AND BEYOND!]

[to INFINITY AND BEYOND!]

[to INFINITY AND BEYOND!]

[You've got a friend in me~]

[You've got a friend in me~~]

[when the road looks rough ahead~]

[And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed]

[Just remember what your old pal said]

[Boy you've got a friend in me]

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