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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[He does the same, though it takes him a bit longer. He hopes this is last article of clothing he will have to remove because he'd hate to have to explain this one to Padme.]

Oh, right. I apologize. My name is Anakin Skywalker. You said your name is Rei Hino, correct?

[Nope, just the shoes. Gosh Anakin, she's seventeen...]

I did, Skywalker-san. Are you by chance related to Luke Skywalker?

[She's...avoided the man, but she knows Ami is in love with him, so she feels it may be worth asking.]

[And there's the awkward topic.]

Actually ... you could say that. He is ... my son. I know it sounds strange, but he's from my future.

Not at all. I've seen much stranger.

[Neo Queen Serenity, for example. And Ironhide, but that's another story.]

I was just curious. He's...dating my housemate, is all.

[His expression lightens some.]

Ah yes, I've met her. She's nice.

[He pauses briefly.]

Unless he's dating multiple people and hasn't mentioned it.

Ami Mizuno. And if he is, then she and I need to have a long talk.

[Though Rei sounds more amused than anything.]

That's her name, so I don't think you have anything to worry about. And he should know better -- he doesn't want to invoke the wrath of an angry women.

[Just like Padme gets really scary when she's mad.]

Edited 2014-02-26 04:59 (UTC)

[Rei's eyes glitter with amusement.]

I should hope not.

[She meanders over to a chest and pulls out a pen and some paper.]

Alright, so the last thing that you need to do is sign your name.

You're not going to make me sign a contract that I will regret later, are you?

[Anakin smirks with his own amusement and goes to sign the paper. Why were there so many steps just to know his future?! He didn't think it'd be this much work.]

No, I need it to focus on you. Because I don't know you, Anakin-san. Having your name will help me visualize what I need to make the reading work.

[She takes back the paper and gestures to a cushion on the floor.]

Now all you need to do is wait.

[And then she steps in front of the brazier burning before the altar.]

I understand.

[He didn't really, but he took a seat anyway and hoped this wouldn't very long.]

[Understand or not, Rei didn't exactly expect it. All she needed was a moment and a bit of quiet. She claps her hands twice before tossing the paper into the flame, letting it crackle and burn in the flames. Then after another clap she kneels down in front of the flames.]

[The fire begins to shift, bending and curling and moving all on it's own. Anakin might even feel a vague shifting in the Force from the girl, a spiritual stirring of power that far, far belied her appearance. The vision comes quickly, Rei's eyes widening in confusion, an intense sense of fear beginning to roil off of her.

Her mouth opens in a silent scream, but she can't seem to pull herself away as the fire roars higher, far higher than it should, nearly licking the ceiling of the little building. And then...just as suddenly, it dies down to it's original size.

Rei falls forward onto her hands, gasping for air, and as she looks back at Anakin, there's a wariness there that wasn't present before.]

I...I...am...not sure...I should...show this to you...Anakin-san.

[That ... actually bothers Anakin. He quickly gets to his feet to rush to Rei's side. Both her words and her condition were concerning to him.

Though he was slightly torn on which should be the most important.

He at least goes to help her up though.]

Are you all right? What did you see? Please tell me.

[Rei's instinct is to jerk away from Anakin, not wanting him to touch her or even come near her. But at the same time, the concern she felt from him as well as what he said somewhat alleviated that fear. Somewhat. It meant that he wasn't the person she'd seen in the vision just yet. He...had a chance. A chance, if only a slim one.

Still, she's very, very careful to keep her hands away from his.]

I...will be alright. And...if you want to see it. Really, truly want to see it, I will show you. Take my hand. But don't say that I didn't warn you. This is not a pleasant future, and I am so, so sorry.

[Anakin was no stranger to dark visions of the future, but her reaction is completely unsettling. This only makes his concern for the future grow even stronger.

This was it. He had to do it.

His emotions boil up inside of him. There was no turning back from this now.]

I have to know, it's the only way.

[The only way he can make sure to stop the future if it really is as terrible as she makes it sound. So he goes for it and takes her hand.

But he is unable to really prepare himself for what he sees.]

[The instant that Anakin's hand touches hers, the vision begins.

It starts with the robed form of a man pulling back a hood, revealing a face wrinkled with corruption, eyes burning a malicious yellow, and an unmistakably bonechilling cackle as Anakin kneels at his feet. All around them are the bodies of dead men and women, human and alien alike, dressed in the simple brown robes of Jedi. A single word is all that the wrinkled man says. Vader. And that alone is enough to cause tremors of darkness in the vision. The man is well and truly evil, and as Anakin stands it's apparent that he's been tainted with the same dark energy.

The scene flashes forward now, shifting to a scene of Anakin in black, walking into a room full of children. The room goes dark, and when light returns only Anakin is left standing.

Another flicker and Anakin will see a woman laying on her back, sobbing while Obi-Wan Kenobi, a face Rei recognizes, tends to a dark bruise on her throat. And then the bearded man rushes Anakin, a sword of light blazing in his hand. The struggle is brief but brutal and when it's over Anakin falls, defeated. Obi-Wan rushes to the woman's side, checks her pulse, and his face falls as the fire of life leaves her.

The scene shifts again, taking them to a dark room where Anakin stands, dressed all dark armor but with his face exposed. He looks taller, somehow, and mechanical parts jut from various places along the armor's surfaces. The stench of burned meat fills the room, and horrific scars and blisters pucker the handsome young Jedi's face, making it nearly unrecognizable. A mist fills the room, and the robed man trundles in with a dark shape in his hands. Cackling, he reaches up and slowly lowers a helm over Anakin's head.

The vision ends with a single sound, a hissing, shuddering breath that rolls through the dream chamber. A sound that still sends a faint chill through Rei as she breaks contact with Anakin, looking at him with wide, wary eyes...]

Edited 2014-02-26 06:54 (UTC)

[The visions crash over him like a raging hurricane of emotions. This couldn't be right. That couldn't happen. No.

He backs away from her almost as instantly as she breaks contact. The look of horror is clearly plastered across his face, but it fades into deny ... and then further into anger.]

No. I refuse to believe it. None of that is true. None of it could possibly be true!

[His gaze shifts back to Rei with a dark expression.]

Why did you put these lies in my head?!

[She feels the anger as a bright pain in her head, her emotional empathy overloaded with the sudden outburst. She backs away, fear the only emotion on her face, and her fingers fumble with something in her pocket.]

I...I didn't...they aren't...I...I warned you.

[She slides even further away, pressing herself against a wall in near terror.]

It's what I saw. I-I can't...change them. And I have no reason to lie to you...

[Anakin is desperately close to dropping over the edge. He clenches his metal fist in a slight reflex, but does not take his eyes off of Rei at all.]

I don't believe you! You are trying to trick me -- make me turn on everyone.

But I won't let you. These lies you filled my head with, they ... they won't happen. I will not allow it. I will never allow it.

[Oh his anger was certainly boiling up, but he somehow manages to stay in one place and not actually make a move at Rei ... yet.]

[She's looking at the ground now, one fist buried deep in the folds of her robe, clutching her transformation pen. Her eyes begin to water, and tears fall, staining the tatami mat. She shakes her head over and over.]

I...am not. I did not want to show that to you, and what I showed you was not a lie. It's what I saw. I didn't...I didn't mean to hurt you. And I wish that...I wish that you hadn't asked me to.

But...[She looks up, eyes shining.] If you really want to change the future, then...you need to stop. If you go can't control yourself now...what will happen when that anger takes root? I only showed you what may happen, but nothing is unchangeable...

[He stares at her as he desperately tries to hold onto his emotions.]

I ... won't - I won't let that future happen!

[There's another small burst of anger before he catches himself and takes a step back.]

I'm ... sorry.

[He just ... had to get out. Had to go somewhere else and think. Isolate himself before he did anything he'd regret.

So he turns and quickly storms away. Where? He isn't sure. Perhaps the forest.]

Good! You...just...need to believe you can!

[Rei stands as he runs off, her hand on her heaving chest. That had genuinely been...quite terrifying. And she knew full well what Jedi were capable of, thanks to Obi-Wan.

When he's gone, Rei immediately gathers her things and closes up the shrine for the day, heading straight home.]

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

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