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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Just don't tell him that. He'd totally flail and be a tsunny tsun-butt.

When she mentions cleaning up, he looks around for the cleaning trough. Living next to the local shrine does have some benefits after all. Besides, he has escorted his mom there a time or two. He makes quick business of getting the dirt off of him as much as he can and leaving his boots by the door of the temple before entering.

As far as he can tell, besides the cosmetic damage on the outside, the inside was pretty normal. But, then again, he didn't spend day in and out there to really know what's wrong with it.]

How long's this place been here? It looks like the shrine back home, but I doubt these Malnosso jerks were kind enough ta build it for ya.

It's been here a little over a year and six months, and it wasn't built by the Malnosso, no. A group that's mostly gone, called Brave Vesperia, helped me build it. It's modeled after the shrine where I live at home, though it's a bit smaller.

[And he's right, the inside is pretty normal and clean. The roof just needs some patching.]

Well, it's cool that someone helped you build it here. I wasn't expectin' something that would feel like it could be right back in my town. It's kinda... nice, I guess.

[As the kid who only went to the shrine during Hatsumode or the anniversary of his dad's death with his mom, that's saying something.]

I hope you find someone to help with the repairs though.

It is nice, isn't it? I mean, there are enough Japanese people here that I think it's really helpful.

[She nods towards the damage.]

I do have someone. Cliff-san is going to help. And...there's this strange person who will fix it...but only if I'm not here. It's a little creepy.

[He blinked at the mention of a Cliff.]

The only Cliff I met here was a girl who said she was originally a guy.

[He just kinda shrugs that off. Naoto. 'Nuff said.]

Yeah, that second guy sounds really creepy and I don't think I'd trust him either.

[And we all know Kanji's answer to creepy.]

Well, that would be him. He...she...was shifted. He's actually a man old enough to be my father.

[She laughs.]

And I honestly think the second is some sort of gremlin. I've seen stranger things here. I'm not sure if I'm going to let it work on my shrine, though.

Yeah, he seemed kinda outta his league when he was pickin' out clothes. Nice enough, I guess. We didn't talk for long, but I couldn't leave him in distress.

[Yu would never have let Kanji live it down if he had been. Not that he would have particularly felt okay just leaving someone who he could help to flounder on their own.]

Gremlins? I thought they were just fairy tale characters?

Well, yes and no? I mean, they're rather real, the same as any spirit.

[Yu's sort of explained a bit about the Persona thing, anyway...so honestly Kanji, you fight Shadows, how weird is this?]

[Manifestations of the human soul aside, Kanji doesn't do ghosts. Although, to be fair, he's not as bad as Yosuke~!]

I've never seen one, so... it's kinda hard to believe they're real. Although, being here is slowly changing what's real and what's not, I guess.

[He scratches at the back of his neck as he looks around again.]

So, uh, where do you want me for this?

[Spirits and Ghosts are not the same thing, Kanji!]

Well, I need you to write your name on this paper.

[She slides one over, along with a calligraphy brush. Any decent kid knows how to use one for their name, at least. That's elementary ed.]

[They are to him. He doesn't want much to do with anything that he can't easily explain. The only reason he went after Adachi and Namatame was because they made him involved.

Well, and he wanted to get to know the people who'd saved him from death and loneliness back in Inaba.]

Can do! That's pretty easy.

[He takes the brush and with a few sure, steady strokes, his name is showing in all of its infinite glory: 巽完二.]

What's next?

[She watches, nodding approvingly. It's good, it means he's not a total nitwit.]

Now you wait, of course.

[And she takes the paper, gesturing for Kanji to make himself comfortable on a floor cushion.]

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

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