faithfulflame | Thirteenth Prayer: A Flash of the Future [Video/Action]

[It's been nearly two years in Luceti, and Rei's come to realize that things are very different for her than they were initially. Then, she'd been so focused on getting home, getting back to the fight, and finishing what she'd started. But everything that'd happened since that time had given her other things to focus on, other people to care about besides just the Senshi, and a semblance of happiness she'd not had at home. People to trust, a shrine to call her own, and a way to grow stronger without having to rely in the power of Mars and that link to the past. It was nice, having that life, even the experiments and friends randomly disappearing were better than being dead.

Haruhi's departure had been a little shocking, but then...every time someone left it meant they were just going back to the life they'd been stolen from. Even as much as she'd grown attached to the place, going home still felt right, like it was the way things should go. After all, destiny could only be put off for so long. Which she knew all to well applied to her, that she shouldn't wish too hard to delay the inevitable, but all the same she couldn't quite bring herself to hope for that. Even if you knew you'd come back, and everything would be alright in the end, there was something oddly morbid about wishing for death.

Rather than dwell on it, though, Rei does what she does best: she moves on with her life with a sigh. Today is Setsubun after all, so inevitably, she finds herself in the shrine. After a while she decides to perform a flame reading of her own future, something she's been putting off for a while. Unsurprisingly the results are too much of a jumble to make much sense, though Fenimore is beginning to feature more prominently in them. Disappointed that she couldn't get more, she decides to set up a broadcast because even if she can't get a proper Setsubun ceremony going this year, Rei feels she should at least do something.]

Video

Good afternoon, Luceti, and welcome to any New Feathers that have just arrived. For those of you that do not know me, my name is Rei Hino and I run Tsukino Shrine, across the river from the Flame building. It's a peaceful place and it's open to visitors at any time, regardless of spiritual beliefs.

As today is a sort of traditional festival day in my world, I'll be offering fortune telling and flame readings to anyone who visits today. If you have an interest in knowing a bit more about your future, your luck, or other things, feel free to come by and I will be happy to help you.

Also, I was wondering if anyone knows much about carpentry. There are some parts of the shrine that are beginning to get a little worn and some improvements I'd like to make, though I need some help with that. Any assistance or advice would be appreciated. I'm more than happy to offer what services I can in return. Baking, limited enchanting, exorcisms, omamori and other charms, or even just help with yardwork.

[And she bows to the camera before turning off the feed.]

[As promised, Rei is at the shrine, and while she'll be replying to journals she'd prefer in person visits!]

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[Fenimore nods back.]

All right. Though I appreciate the warning.

[With that, she will stay still and wach Rei quietly to allow her to concentrate.]

I guess I'll have to set up his circus act sometime when the weather warms up.

[ He nods ] Oh, right probably a good idea. [ He jogs over to the trough and washes his hands thoroughly. He'd been bending so dirty hands were a thing he forgot about pretty often. Once that is taken care of he return showing that his hands are clear. ] So what next?

[Well, yes, that was part of her point; so Ami answers seriously.]

I think that helped me to understand.

So, I have to wonder how much the reading had changed in a year, yeah? I'm not sure how much about the future I want to know still though.

America? What's America?

[He seriously doesn't know where or what that is.]

Edited 2014-02-09 03:39 (UTC)

[Likewise, when Jack sees her, he halts and waves before changing direction to walk over to her.]

Ah, hello, Rei! I was hoping I would catch you here. It would've been rather tiring to have to carry these all over looking for you.

That depends. What kind of costumes are in order and do ya think they'll fit?

[Suddenly, he has a hunch that he's in trouble...]

Come inside, and there's a little thing I need you to do.

[She hops up inside and takes off her shoes before entering and pulling out a brush, inkstone, and paper.]

I need you to write your name down, to give me something to focus on.

Was it? [Rei can't help but laugh slightly, covering her mouth with a hand.]

You never thought it was possible before?

Well, I guess it depends. Do you feel up to wearing an oni costume? And how do you feel about beans?

[So very much in trouble.]

A country in the West of my world.

[She eyes the basket]

Oh? What are you carrying?

Well, that's up to you, Max-san. Generally, a year's time is quite enough to alter one's fortune.

[Awkward explanation is awkward.]

Science doesn't allow much room for the supernatural. [On the other hand, Ami had, once she'd seen it for herself.]

What's an oni and what do beans have to do with this?

[He wasn't sure he liked this...]

Oh, it's a demon. And the beans are supposed to be tossed at you.

[Rei snorts softly and wiggle a finger.]

I don't know how you coped with suddenly becoming a magical heroine then.

It was hard to deny it, when I'd just used magic myself. [And anyway, despite all of what she just said, she wanted to believe. That helps.]

[Rei takes the parchment and sets it in front of her. Then she claps once, tosses the paper into the brazier, and claps twice more before bowing her head in meditation. Slowly she begins to chant, a soft sound full of will and certainty, and the fire begins to shift. First it seems to spiral up, then swirl around, creating an empty space, a void in the heat. Rei's eye shoot open wide after a moment's hesitation and they grow wider and wider as she stares into the flame...]

[And after another moment or two, her eyes as wide as they possibly can be, she begins to shake slightly. Tears begin to stream down her face and it's quite plain that she wants to pull away, but something seems to hold her there. Horrified, she begins to shake more at what she's witnessing, until finally a short gasp escapes her throat and she slumps forward, hair covering her face, not saying a word.]

Well, I'd hope so.

[She's definitely sipping tea]

I never really thought how hard it must've been to accept such things.

[At first, Fenimore just watches in fascination as the fire shifts around Rei. She doesn't know what the chant means or, really, the meaning behind most of the actions, having no context for it, but even without that, it's undeniably awesome. A shiver goes up her spine.]

[She's so awed that it takes her a moment to notice that something is not right. While she does briefly wonder if the shaking could possibly be a normal part of the fortune-telling (she doubts it, but maybe it just takes a lot out of her), that thought is quickly discarded -- when considered with Rei's horrified expression, it's clear that something is very wrong, either with the vision or the ceremony. She leans forward, about to move to pull Rei away, but she stops. What if flame-reading is like the old superstition of not waking people who are sleepwalking? She has no idea, so she remains paralyzed with indecision until Rei slumps forward. Then she gets up to move to Rei's side, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder.]

What happened? Are you all -- [Well, clearly Rei isn't all right, so she swallows that question to replace it with another.] What's wrong?

[The instant Rei feels Fenimore's hand on her shoulder, she jerks her own hands down and sits on them, because she doesn't want that vision shared with anyone. But the question...she can't possibly expect Fenimore to not ask it, and she can't reasonably deny it. Lying would just make it worse, and probably exacerbate the entire situation too. So Rei croaks out in a low rasp...]

It's...your future. It's...it's awful...and I...I don't want to tell you. But if...if you want to know, I will.

[He whips off the cloth he'd been using to cover the basket with a flourish, revealing...]

These are some mikan from Nami's orchard. She's gone home now, unfortunately, so someone has to look after it in her stead. But that means there's that much more fruit to go around!

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Thirteenth Prayer: A Flash of the Future [Video/Action]

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