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

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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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[Normally, Fenimore might be a little frightened by being so close to fire moving unnaturally like that, but when being held by Mars, who clearly has it under control.... Well, okay, maybe she might have just shifted a little away from the fire out of pure instinct while remaining against Mars, as though being ready to hide behind her, but she's mostly watching the fire with a mild sense of awe. Even if her instincts are pretty clear on the idea that fire is dangerous, it really is a beautiful sight.

This time when the word Sailor is mentioned, she's not too shocked to wonder about the word choice, especially since she also recognizes the word Moon, if not Mars. She vaguely wonders if they have a ship. And then she makes an amused sound at the last sentence, a small grin on her face.]

She sounds like an interesting person for a princess. [Or so she assumes that Sailor Moon is the same as the previously mentioned princess.] But I can understand the need for caution.

[After all, it took her a while before she felt ready to tell her about being Ferines. Though that one's closer to being just her own secret, since the other Ferines around don't seem to have the same worry.]

And besides: if you don't tell many people about it, that just makes me feel more special for being one of the people to learn it.

[Mars let's the flame go after another moment, a little comet streaking back into the brazier. It was all just for show, really, but if it's making Fenimore visibly uncomfortable it's time to stop.]

Some people know out of necessity. I'm a lot stronger, like this. The divine power of Mars is a lot more than I can handle normally, so I've had to use it to fight. I tend to just stay like this, when there's a draft.

[It's easier that way, she doesn't have to worry as much, even if she's not as versatile as she would be in her normal form.]

It's sort of a shame that Sailor Moon is gone, honestly. She'd definitely like to meet you, since you're so close to me. Your hair is even similar, when you wear the two pigtails.

[She was only a little uncomfortable, but it is true that she would rather be slightly farther away to watch such a display, at least until she gets a little more used to it.]

So that's why you were like this when we met on that mission. But...when you say the divine power of Mars -- is Mars a god of some kind?

[Is it related to her status as a miko? But then where does the sailor bit come in? Hmm.]

Ah, well...maybe she'll come here one day. I wouldn't mind meeting someone as important to you as that. She must be a good person for you to go so far for her. [And then, her tone changing to a joking one:] And, apparently, she has good taste in hairstyles.

Mars...is a lot of things.

[She laughs lightly, glad to move away from the somewhat heavier topic onto something easy.]

Mars is a planet in my solar system. Another world, far out in space. Mars was also a god in legends on Earth, the god of war. And in a sense, this...Mars, me? Is both. A long time ago, she was the princess of the planet Mars, a goddess in her own right and a guardian to the princess of the Moon, Serenity. So, when I say the divine power of Mars, I mean the power of a god and the power of the planet.

[Fenimore pulls back slightly to better look Mars in the face.]

Wait. You're a princess? And a goddess? Or...half one, or -- or however that works, being "two people in a sense"? I'm...not really sure I get how it works.

[Does this mean she just kissed a goddess? Even just the princess was a startling enough potential revelation, but she's not at all sure if she had a reference point for kissing a goddess.]

[Mars laughs and shakes her head. That's not a reality she'd willingly accept, where she and Mars were the same.]

No, no. Remember, I said was. That was a long, long time ago. She's been reborn already, and I'm not the same person. I can draw on her power...but I'd rather not think of myself that way. I am Rei Hino, not Princess Mars, and our experiences are different. I just happen to have access to some of her power.

[Now, in time that may change, once Serenity brings back the Silver Millenium, but now she's pretty much dead set on being Rei.]

[Fenimore nods. She thinks she has a better understanding of how it works now -- she'd been a bit confused by the two people comment.]

Good. I'm glad. I mean, when you're like this, you're really cool, but I like you the way you are best.

...Er, that is -- you already are you even when you are Sailor Mars, I guess. I didn't mean you weren't. I meant -- I'm glad you aren't also someone else, because I'd rather -- it's not that there's anything wrong with Princess Mars, I'm sure she's fine, I just don't know her and I --

[...She's lost where she was going with this. But maybe she can salvage it by masterfully changing topic, like maybe those extra characters she wrote earlier.]

It's just...good. Um. I guess while we're sharing secrets already, I could show you -- ah, the parchment was already burned up. But I could write it again if -- can I borrow another piece?

[Masterful.]

[Mars can't help but smile a bit at Fenimore's fumbling. It is oddly endearing, in a way. And she admits that it's a little complicated, certainly.]

I don't know her either. I know she was kind and passionate and committed, but that's all I really know. So, I'm glad you agree.

[She'll learn more as time goes on, if she ever returns home. But for now, she's only got base memories.]

And certainly, you can have as much as you need. [She lets go and heads over to her supply box and takes out more paper, and a pen. Just because she's nice like that.]

Here you are.

I guess you two have some things in common, then.

[Pens are such a nice invention. She takes it gratefully and, much more quickly and neatly this time, rewrites the two characters on one of the sheets of paper. Once she's finished, she holds it up for Mars to see.]

You probably noticed these when I gave you the parchment before. It's my true name, and I wrote it since you said that the way I write my name has a lot of meaning in the rite.

[After a second, she goes over what she said and notices a potential misunderstanding.]

Ah, but when I say "true name," that doesn't mean that Fenimore is some kind of fake name. A true name is different from the kind of name people call each other. It's more of a ceremonial name to indicate the true nature of the bearer. Every Ferines has one.

My true is Xelhes. It means "blessing."

[The X is pronounced like a Z, despite the fact that Ze has a different character and means something completely different from Xe. Languages.]

[Mars inspects them, nodding and committing them to memory. Characters are easy to remember, for someone like her. She's got a gift for symbols and language, and having to learn all the kanji she knows hasn't hurt that.]

I understand that. Even in my culture, the way you write your name has a lot of significance. And a meaning.

[Smiling, she tries the name out.]

Xelhes? [It's not a hard name, really.] Fenimore Xelhes. I...take it Fenimore is a common name, for less formal times?

[Fenimore nods.]

Yes, most of the time, the given name is all that's used. If you're being particularly formal, you can use both names -- Fenimore Xelhes, like you said -- but no one ever uses a true name alone to address someone. It most often comes up in introductions, since it tells something about the person. I haven't really been telling people it when I introduce myself here, though, since no one other than another Ferines would know about it, and -- well, it doesn't really feel right to talk about with someone who doesn't even know that I'm Ferines.

[Which is not a piece of information she's been exactly eager to spread around, given how nervous she'd been to tell Rei even after they'd known each other as long as they had. She shifts a little awkwardly and smoothes out her dress as a way of finding something to do with her hands. She feels a little embarrassed to have been so reluctant to tell Rei when she'd taken it so well in the end.]

So, um. What's the meaning behind how you write your name?

That's understandable. There's no real need to, after all, like you said.

[Mars takes out another parchment and writes out her full name to show Fenimore. It's a little longer, 火野レイ, a total of 4 characters. She points to each in turn.]

Well, my family name, Hino, means 'of Fire'. And my given name, Rei, means either Spirit, Beauty, or Companion. So, my name, depending on how you want to view it, could be Spirit, Beauty, or Companion of Fire.

[Fenimore examines the characters closely, vaguely drawing them in the air with a finger. Relares doesn't have nearly as many characters as Japanese, being used mostly as a ceremonial writing system for names these days, so she doesn't have quite as much experience with memorizing characters. (Unless that's how the common language on Melfes works. Who knows what that's like?) She'll give memorizing them a shot, anyway.]

So names have more than one meaning where you're from? Still, whoever named you chose well. They all fit you really well.

Names can, yes. The characters have different meanings, depending on context. But in a name they have all those meanings at the same time.

[Mars shrugs]

And thank you. I do feel they fit rather well. Like yours does you. It's a good name.

[She looks out the door and back to Fenimore.]

Do you mind if I change back into my...normal self?

[Fenimore smiles.]

Thanks. All of them at once, though -- that's interesting. I mean, the characters in Relares have different meanings depending on context, but true names usually only have one meaning.

[As for the question:]

Oh, of course I don't mind. Whatever way you prefer.

[Actually, Fenimore might prefer it that way. The strong presence Mars has put a lot of weight behind promises of saving her and was comforting in that way, but in terms of normal conversation, it could be a little intimidating. Just a little.]

[Mars nods and shimmers briefly, replaced by Rei in her civilian form.]

Thank you. It's easier to talk like this. I feel more myself, I guess you could say.

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

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