faithfulflame | Fourteenth Prayer: A Rekindling. [Video/Action]

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Fourteenth Prayer: A Rekindling. [Video/Action]

[It’s been a while since Rei could even find the time to make a broadcast over the network, and given her encounter with Anakin Skywalker the last time she’d offered to do flame readings she’s not going to be offering that today. Instead, she’s got a question, and now that her leg has gotten back to normal, there’s also a bit of housekeeping to take care of before some very, very important plans happen. As well as some admissions and requests to take care of.

So, early in the day, she addresses the journal with a forced smile, because one the questions is a little embarrassing. Normally she’d probably have just talked to Yukiko and Yu, but the Inaba teenagers have both seemingly departed now…which directly relates to the other subject at hand, in fact. Ami being gone didn’t help, of course.]

Video:

Hello everyone, this is Rei Hino. I’m afraid to say that most of the people helping me tend to Tsukino Shrine have departed Luceti. If there’s anyone who has free time and would be willing to help me maintain it, I would really appreciate the help. Some of the work that needs to be done simply needs more hands to be done. I’d be willing to repay anyone willing to help with things I’m able to make. If you’re interested, please let me know either here at the shrine or through the journal.

And secondly, I was wondering if anyone had some insight on some exercises for getting back a leg into shape after an injury? My leg was hurt badly recently, and I’m still a little shaky at times, enough so that I’m not comfortable with normal physical activity beyond walking. I don’t want to strain myself, but I would like to get back to normal as quickly as possible.

Thank you in advance for any help or advice.

[And then she closes the journal out.]

Action:

[Later in the day, Rei heads out to visit two very specific people. Raine Sage and Fayt Leingod can expect visits. Raine by Sailor Mars, and Fayt by Rei herself.

After that business is taken care of, Rei hits the shops and starts to gather up some things. Clothing, boxes of food, board games, and pastries in addition to food stuff and a bottle of wine. All the things one needs for an evening alone with her special someone.

And by nightfall, Rei’s got Tsukino Shrine all prepared for her promised evening with Fenimore. Some food, a present, futons, and all the things they might need for the next two evenings. Hopefully it will be a peaceful, uninterrupted night!]

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Oh, is she that sort of friend?

[The sort that Fenimore has been before. But she's not so keen on being on the receiving end of it, especially on an evening that is for just the two of them. Since I just tagged Minako's post it's hard to know if Fenimore is going to know that Minako is Rei's friend ahead of time depending on what they talk about. But if not, she is assuming she is a friend thanks to the "chan."]

It would spoil it. I don't want to share you with anyone else tonight. I only want to spend it with you.

[As they move towards the shrine door, she hooks the handle of her bag with one leg and half-shuffles so as to drag it along behind her.]

She's...well I don't suppose there's any harm in telling you. She's part of my team from home. Venus. And if I'm the goddess of flame reborn, she's the goddess of love. She likes to pry.

[This is all said once they're inside and the door is shut, of course, as it's a huge measure of trust for her to share that secret. She figures that Fenimore would likely have guessed Minako and Ami's magical girl natures by now, so she doesn't feel it's giving away anything that isn't obvious.]

And because she likes to pry, I'm being extra careful. Because I also want you all to myself. Minako-chan gets to spend tonight with Hajime-kun.

[She has guessed that Ami might be a part of the team (though not the odd parallel universe part) and she would probably have come to guess for Minako as well. Still, she's touched by the trust telling her implies. Not sure how to express it, though, she doesn't say anything about that.]

I guess that it would make sense for a, er, reborn goddess of love to take an interest like that.

[She still finds the goddess reborn thing pretty weird. She tries not to think about it too closely.]

But I'm glad you've prepared for that. Who's Hajime-kun?

[The honorific gets a ride only because she's repeating what Rei said and she doesn't think about dropping it. She's got the completely wrong idea, though, wondering if this Hajime is Minako's boyfriend (she's got a certain kind of staying the night with someone on her mind), so it's good she asked instead of assuming..]

Oh, I don't know if I mentioned him yet.

[Rei smiles fondly, looking off in the direction of the house for a moment.]

He's a little boy, and a few weeks ago the person from his home that was taking care of him vanished. Ami-chan and I didn't want to leave him alone, because he's eight and that would be terrible for him. So, we invited him to stay in one of our spare rooms. He's...well, he's a little helper, honestly. And so polite.

That was very kind of you to step up like that. It's lucky that he's a good kid, though. I wonder if he and Sophie might get along? It would be good for her to have more kids...well, not exactly her own age, but at least a little closer to play with. Maybe I could bring her over to play someday, and we could watch them together.

[If she were perfectly honest, her motivation is an excuse to go see Rei more first and Sophie's well-being second, but she does think the latter mightn't be a bad idea on its own. She just cares more about the chance to spend time with Rei.]

You know, I'd honestly thought about doing that. I'm sure he'd get along just fine with her. He's...well, he's such a sweet boy, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind letting Sophie-chan boss him around a bit.

[While, y'know...Rei and Fenimore have time together. Hajime was part of a super-hero team of his own, so he could take care of Sophie for seven minutes in heaven or so, right?]

I think Sophie'd appreciate that. She's pretty strong-willed.

[Probably because out of the people in House 34, only Grune isn't notably stubborn and so she's full of bad influences of "my way or the highway." Still, Fenimore would be willing to take a chance on nothing going wrong during such a seven minutes. Or so. She'd have willpower issues under such circumstances.]

So, did you bring a...what did you call it again? A yukata? It sounded like it was something you were looking forward to.

[Even though she's got only the vaguest of ideas of what a yukata is, beyond clothing, she's been looking forward to it a bit herself. Rei said that she thought Fenimore would look wonderful in one, and Fenimore definitely likes to look good for her girlfriend. And, in a small way, it feels like a way to get a glimpse into Rei's world. Though, alas, it will require letting each other go.]

[And with that bit of business out of the way, Rei nods and pulls back out of the hug.]

I did. I found one in your size, too. [Yes, she's sized you up. And she reaches down and picks up a long box that she passes to her girlfriend with a little grin.]

It's not too different from mine, though the colors should match you more than me. Blue and white, just like your usual dresses.

[Fenimore returns the grin as she accepts the box.]

You know me well. [Not that it would take much observation to notice that she likes wearing blue and white.] I think you'd look good in anything, but I guess you're right that they aren't your usual colours. Is there a side room where I can change?

[Kimonos are just open robes that are folded over and tied around the middle, right? How hard can that be? (Deceptively difficult, probably.)]

[Rei nods, gesturing towards a panel in the back wall. It leads into her private room, where she sleeps when she stays here. And where they'll probably end up.]

Right over there, yes.

[And just because she doesn't do it enough, she's going to let Fenimore try putting it on herself. Because a kimono is fairly complex, and even the simpler, lighter yukatas are difficult for first-timers.]

All right. I'll be right back.

[Except she's not right back; she spends quite a bit of time in Rei's room. There are a few seconds at first where she glances around the room with the realization that this is probably where they're going to be sleeping, but it's mostly because she's discovering the difficulties associated while being stubborn about trying to get it right. If Rei is close enough to the door and has good hearing, she might hear some muttering at some points in the process. Eventually, though, Fenimore emerges, hesitantly and maybe even a little shyly.]

So, um. How do I look?

[It's...not a disaster, at least. With a lot of work, she's managed to get the fabric to lie mostly straight and at the right height. Certainly not perfect, but quite good for a beginner. By chance, she'd also by chance folded it with the proper side on top without realizing there was any meaning behind it -- she'd just immitated without thinking about it. She'd even managed to figure out that the first cord should be tied around the top of the hip bone when she'd realized there were two such cords and that the extra fabric hangs over the top of it (she doesn't actually think the latter is supposed to happen, but she couldn't figure out what to do about it and eventually decided that the sash would hide it).

That's about the end of her successes, though. The second cord is tied too low, nearly on top of the first one, leaving the top of the yukata somewhat loosely secured. This is a pretty minor problem compared to the obi, though. Not only is it also too low, she'd tied it on with a bow more like a shoelace -- and a rough bow, at that, since she tried to tie it on behind her back rather than tying it at the front and turning it around. Despite some effort to straighten it after the fact, this has left parts of the sash bent near the bow as she tried to work it like a shoelace, leaving the first layer poking out from under the second wrap around. The first layer is occasionally poking just slightly out from underneath in other places as well, since she's just not used to it.

...She tried.]

[Rei does not laugh. She very, very pointedly does not laugh. But she does smile, already crossing the room with hands outstretched. She embraces Fenimore and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek, to soften the blow.]

It definitely suits you. The color brings out your eyes. And you did an alright job of putting it on properly...but you look very much like a gaijin who's putting one on alone for the first time.

[Which, Rei supposes she is...]

Here, let me help you. It's mostly right, very good for someone who doesn't know, you just got a few things not quite perfect.

[Rei starts with the obi, undoing it before starting to pull cords tighter and cinching it all up properly. An easy fix, Fenimore just hadn't tugged quite hard enough.]

But I think you look very, very beautiful.

[She blushes, a little embarrassed despite how much Rei has softened the blow with both the kiss and her choice of words, and even if a gaijin putting it on alone for the first time is true (even if she's not quite sure what a gaijin is). She lifts her arms to keep the long sleeves out of the way as Rei fixes things.

Her response to the first parts is a little mumbled.] Well, it is my first time putting one on....

[She does appreciate how much Rei has softened it, though.At the last sentence, Fenimore's blush turns into a pleased flush as she smiles widely. Hearing Rei call her beautiful -- or, indeed, very, very beautiful -- gives her a delightful warm feeling.]

Thank you. I'm glad you think so, though it's partially because you picked well. And it's really comfortable -- well, I'm going to have to get used to walking in it [with how short of steps she has to take comparatively] but the cloth feels really soft.

[As useful as it is for the Ferines clothes to be waterproof, it means it's kind of rough, and the only other kind of clothing she's worn outside of shifts has been partially armor. So comparatively this stuff feels heavenly.]

So maybe this won't be the last time I'll put one on, when we're alone together.

Edited 2014-06-24 01:26 (UTC)

[Glad to see that the words have had the desired effect, it takes Rei the work of only a moment to get it all fixed. Really, she hadn't mucked it up too bad, and the pattern had been a simple one. She had also somewhat expected that Fenimore might find it difficult to move, but it was something you got used to with time, she was right.]

It is, isn't it? Yukata are for summer, while the heavier kimono are for winter and fall. The fabric on these is meant to breathe, since a lot of people back home don't have a good way to get cool in the summer.

[Because Japan is stupidly hot, and electricity is stupidly expensive.]

And this one is for you, so you can wear it whenever you'd like. I'm glad you like it.

That's useful. [When Rei finishes adjusting, she swings her arm gently as though testing how the air might pass through the material or at least how light the sleeves are as they swing slightly. Another problem with waterproofing clothes is that they aren't noted for breathing and the ones that are relatively lighter-weight don't cover enough of her scars to feel comfortable in them these days. Score another for the yukata.] When I was younger, I could spend the hotter days cooling off in the water, but when I started to get more work to do...well, I can understand why people would want fabric that can breathe.

[She turns around and twists her head back and forth to get a better look at Rei's handiwork. Yes, that definitely looks better. When she finishes, she turns to Rei to give her a kiss on the cheek.]

Thank you. I'll cherish it.

[Less on the front that it's comfortable to wear ~~despite being doubtless awful to swim in~~, even if it is, and more because it's from Rei and a part of Rei's culture. Rather than hugging Rei, though, she instead links her arm through Rei's and takes her hand, giving a light tug towards the door where Fenimore had dropped her bag.]

Those muffins are surely cool enough by now. Grune might ask how we liked them and I wouldn't want to forget to eat them if I got [she grins] distracted.

[And the pair have a lovely dinner and several hours of talking and sipping wine and in general enjoying themselves, but as the evening wears on, they both start thinking of bed. And the other things that go with it.

Standing up, Rei looks pointedly towards the back room, and then down at Fenimore.]

Well...I...definitely think it's time for bed. How about you?

[And thanks to the wine? She's already got a bit of a blush going.]

[It had been a lovely evening that Fenimore had greatly enjoyed. She'd not been especially careful with the wine, what with how well things had turned out last time she'd had wine, so it was partially luck that she hadn't drunk too much. She'd been a bit more impulsive as the evening wore on, both in what she said and how cuddly she might have gotten, but she was otherwise fairly clear-headed.

At Rei's question, Fenimore nods and starts to stand as well.]

Ye -- [-- okay that standing is going to take a couple of seconds extra, as she's still getting used to moving without making the yukata open and it's not any easier with the wine in her okay now she's standing nailed it --] Yes. It is getting late. We should at least start getting ready for bed.

[And if anything happens to slow us down as we are getting ready, that'll be fine...is what she doesn't say, because she isn't quite that impulsive. But she does think it.]

[Well, Rei is a bit steadier, her tolerance perhaps a hair higher...and after the incident with Cliff and the cider she'd learned to take things a lot slower. Her steps are light, and she reaches for Fenimore's hand as she moves towards the back room, slowly of course. Dignity even when intoxicated is important, and all the more important so she can not fall over and make a fool of herself. That'd spoil the mood.

Once there, she slides back the panel and shows off the room she'd set up for them. Two futons, right next to one another, all laid out nice and neat. Sure she'd already seen it when she'd changed...but Rei's not thinking that clearly. After all, it's two beds squeezed really close together.]

And...here we are. How does it look? Cozy?

[She had gotten a look and, while she'd not investigated too closely at the time, she'd at least seen the futons (which isn't what she's used to, but they're obviously enough beds). Still, that had been at the beginning of the evening, when bedtime was a ways away, and this is now, when it's now, so that has its own thrill of discovery.]

Cozy, for certain. They're close enough that they could almost be one bed. [She squeezes Rei's hand and moves closer to settle against Rei's side.] And I wouldn't want it any other way. I want to spend tonight as close to you as I can.

Me too. [She slides her arm around Fenimore's waist and takes the first step into the bedroom, still a little flushed from all the excitement and drink. Once there, she turns and presses against the other girl, kissing her softly.]

And I'm glad to have the chance. No distractions and no trouble. Just you and me. Because I love you.

[Those three words are still a new enough thing that they are enough to stir up the butterflies in her stomach -- which were pretty well stirred as it was, really. She's also flushed and she can feel her heartbeat quicken a little as she returns the embrace.]

And I love you, too. [She gives Rei a soft kiss as well.] I wish that I could spend every night like this, falling asleep in your arms, not thinking about anything other than being with you. But when I do have that chance...I'm going to take advantage of it as much as I can.

[She kisses Rei again, this time lingering a little longer before pulling back.]

[Smiling, she pulls back as well, her hands trailing down Fenimore's arms until they're able to link fingers.]

Well, there's always ways to make this more common. If Hajime-kun and Sophie-chan hit it off...who knows what could happen.

[Group sleepovers? Dropping them off with Ami or Grune or Minako? A lot of mischief could happen that way.]

But that's a thought for the future. Right now, we should probably...get ready for bed.

[And that renews her blush, as it's something she never thought she'd say ever.]

[She likes this thought for the future and is now really hoping that Hajime and Sophie hit it off. Really, really hoping.

But it is a thought for the future, and that gets second place to the thoughts for the present, which are even more pleasant. She squeezes Rei's hands lightly where they're interlocked as she blushes a bit as well.]

You're right. [She's feeling suddenly nervous, running her tongue over her teeth and briefly licking her lips, but she's also excited.] Do you...need anything first, or shall we settle in?

[She'd brought a nightgown in her bag, but unless Rei needs to get changed herself, Fenimore's not sure she could stand the increase in tension that might come from a wait brought on by going to retrieve it. And, besides, with Ferines clothing being made out of rougher material due to the waterproofing, the cloth of the yukata was the softest she'd ever worn, so she's pretty sure she could just sleep in this.

And, well. There's a little thought in the back of her head, driven by some of those things they'd talked about when Rei'd come back from the draft, that is wondering if she'll be needing it, anyway. Sure, they'd both said that they weren't certain if they were ready and they hadn't made any plans, but it's a hard thought to dismiss even so, especially with the wine in her.]

[Rei smiles even wider, squeezing Fenimore's hand in hers. Does she need anything? Not...really. The yukatas they're wearing are very good for sleeping in, after all. And she imagines that peeling out of them might be even nicer...really.]

Mmmm, I...think I have everything I need right in front of me.

[And then she leans forward for a kiss, her arms moving back around her girlfriend to pull her into a tight embrace...]

Mmhmm.

[She was going to say more in agreement than just that hum, but Rei has thought of a much better use for their mouths. Fenimore has no complaints about that, opening her mouth and letting her tongue flicker out. Following the pull, she presses closely against Rei and returns the embrace, her hands settling just above Rei's hips for now. After a moment, she will take a small step forward -- and if Rei follows by taking a step backwards, she'll begin to slowly walk them back in what she's pretty sure is the direction of the futons (as best she can determine with her eyes closed and her mind not functioning at 100% capacity on things that are not "this kiss" and "the feeling of Rei against her").

She's not entirely sure what to do if they make it so far as the futons, despite making a move in that direction. The sort of beds she's used to are a bit higher and could be transitioned to more smoothly, but futons are a bit too low to move to without either getting out of the embrace or tripping over the edge in an ungainly fall. She's not thinking farther than that they were talking about bed before. There's plenty she can think of that she'd like to do that can happen standing up.]

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