Rei! [That sure is a distressed phone call from someone who sounds just like Hiro. (Okay to be fair it actually is Hiro.)] You're the only one I thought I could ask right now since everything else is going totally nuts out there and I don't think anybody else could help. Where are you? Got a few minutes?
[She's just finished up dealing with getting Athena home, so...she answers quickly, transformed.]
I've got time. What's going on?
I've got time. What's going on?
[She'd heard Rei's announcement a short while back about Minako's disappearance. That had been hard to hear, but Rise hadn't reached out to the other girl then. The timing didn't seem right. She could understand wanting to be alone and truthfully they weren't close enough yet for her to ignore Rei's wishes. It's for that reason though that she chooses to try today in light of everything else's that's happened.]
Hi Rei-san! [She's trying to sound as chipper as possible without being fake.] Doing okay after the attack of the clones? [And...everything else.]
Hi Rei-san! [She's trying to sound as chipper as possible without being fake.] Doing okay after the attack of the clones? [And...everything else.]
[Rei probably wouldn't have accepted calls from Rise, no. Or Chie, though, that wasn't really an issue anymore. The people who had come by had been the closest or the ones that battered down her door without knocking even on a good day...]
I'm fine, yes. Nothing but a few scrapes. How about you, Rise-chan?
I'm fine, yes. Nothing but a few scrapes. How about you, Rise-chan?
[ugh. England hates this day, America's birthday. it makes him physically ill, so he's stayed home from work today and decided to try to find things that will make him feel better. he always feels better talking to certain people, so... he will try that.
when he contacts Rei, he's already got a cup of tea made, and is sitting up in bed]
Ah, hullo, miss Hino. It's England. Just checking in to see how you're fairing.
when he contacts Rei, he's already got a cup of tea made, and is sitting up in bed]
Ah, hullo, miss Hino. It's England. Just checking in to see how you're fairing.
[Rei answers a moment later from her own couch, looking down at the device. She's certain he'd heard about Minako departing, and probably Athena's kidnapping...but other than that?]
I'm alright. As well as anyone can be, I guess. Yourself?
I'm alright. As well as anyone can be, I guess. Yourself?
[ It's only when he's had time to rest after coming back that he finally gives Rei a call. He's had to think about how he responded to her after that post went up before he left, how he felt in comparison. He recognises the emotions a lot better now after having the silence to sit and just contemplate it all. It's easier, too, now he knows he isn't alone.
He never was, but when that's what you're used to, it's difficult to accept anything else.
Now it's just a matter of waiting for her to pick up while he sits quietly. ]
He never was, but when that's what you're used to, it's difficult to accept anything else.
Now it's just a matter of waiting for her to pick up while he sits quietly. ]
[Truth be told, Rei had been concerned about him after that curt reply. It hadn't hurt, but it had made her question a lot of things about him. Namely his relative youth, and seeming inexperience in dealing with the things she took for granted. It told her a little more about herself, but more importantly, it told her more about him.
His trip to the Labyrinth had not gone unnoticed either, but she waited for him to call her. And answered his call within a moment or two.]
Good afternoon, Merlin.
[Her tone isn't exactly happy, more tired than anything. Drained.]
How are you?
His trip to the Labyrinth had not gone unnoticed either, but she waited for him to call her. And answered his call within a moment or two.]
Good afternoon, Merlin.
[Her tone isn't exactly happy, more tired than anything. Drained.]
How are you?
R-Rei-chan! [Yup. Rei is probably already all but bracing herself at that particular pitch and tone of voice, the wailing immanent in spite of Usagi's best attempts to try keep calm in all of this. Mostly calm.]
I don't know what is going on but that Mosley-san pushed me down into some sewers or something. It's gross! This is totally not my fault if I'm late for dinner trying to get out of here, okay?! Hopefully that cage was just a one-off trap or something....
But I'm not alone. Saber-sa....er, I mean. Saber and some other guys are with me so I'm sure we'll figure it out. Just be careful okay? Don't let him push you too! I'll see you soon, right?
I don't know what is going on but that Mosley-san pushed me down into some sewers or something. It's gross! This is totally not my fault if I'm late for dinner trying to get out of here, okay?! Hopefully that cage was just a one-off trap or something....
But I'm not alone. Saber-sa....er, I mean. Saber and some other guys are with me so I'm sure we'll figure it out. Just be careful okay? Don't let him push you too! I'll see you soon, right?
[Rei saw the message the instant she got out of bed and checked her CEREVice. Usagi had every right to be afraid and worried, and that line about Mosley was infuriating, but there wasn't much she could do about that now. She knew what was coming, and was grateful that Usagi at least understood how death worked for the Senshi after the battle with Metallia. None of them could truly die, not without some catastrophic event befalling their home planet or their Sailor Crystal being thrown into the Galaxy Cauldron. So, there was at least that.
But that didn't make the walk home any more pleasant. She could already hear the crying now, and she braced herself when she finally opened the door and shambled into the living room. Phobos and Deimos flapped in immediately, crowing mournfully and nestling up against her. Then, and only then, did she call out.]
Usagi-chan. I'm home.
But that didn't make the walk home any more pleasant. She could already hear the crying now, and she braced herself when she finally opened the door and shambled into the living room. Phobos and Deimos flapped in immediately, crowing mournfully and nestling up against her. Then, and only then, did she call out.]
Usagi-chan. I'm home.
[Yuri had never been dead before.
Obviously it was usually a thing that happens only once, and as much as Yuri had waffled about living vs. dying, this was... Well, it was different, that's for sure. She'd often been flippant about the idea of death, especially in a place like this where it had seemed so cheap; actually experiencing it definitely put a halt on that sort of thinking. Sure it didn't last, but it was still very real.
Ugh.
Yuri awoke slowly, limbs feeling heavy like she was coming out of a particularly deep sleep. That was weird. Hadn't they been in that prison thing? Helping ghosts? And then--
Oh.
Oh.
Her eyes open wide as she stares up as the hospital ceiling. Died. She'd totally died. And now she was back and there was someone next to her and--
Wait. There was someone next to her.
Yuri stiffens and turns her head slowly, but it's sort of as she feared. That girl--Mars?--was there. But the others... Were they okay? Looking around doesn't reveal anyone else familiar, so she can only hope they got out alive.
But now what? Should she try to slip away now before Mars wakes up? Would that be even more awkward? This girl had stepped up to help Yuri out with exorcising the ghosts-- if she hadn't done that, maybe Mars would still be alive.
Her heart clenches guiltily at the thought as she begins to sit herself up, still examining Mars' face in worry that the girl will wake up and-- What? Be angry at her? She's pretty, too (really pretty), and somehow that makes Yuri feel even worse.
If she hadn't tried to help Yuri...
Yuri sighs deeply, silently berating herself.]
Obviously it was usually a thing that happens only once, and as much as Yuri had waffled about living vs. dying, this was... Well, it was different, that's for sure. She'd often been flippant about the idea of death, especially in a place like this where it had seemed so cheap; actually experiencing it definitely put a halt on that sort of thinking. Sure it didn't last, but it was still very real.
Ugh.
Yuri awoke slowly, limbs feeling heavy like she was coming out of a particularly deep sleep. That was weird. Hadn't they been in that prison thing? Helping ghosts? And then--
Oh.
Oh.
Her eyes open wide as she stares up as the hospital ceiling. Died. She'd totally died. And now she was back and there was someone next to her and--
Wait. There was someone next to her.
Yuri stiffens and turns her head slowly, but it's sort of as she feared. That girl--Mars?--was there. But the others... Were they okay? Looking around doesn't reveal anyone else familiar, so she can only hope they got out alive.
But now what? Should she try to slip away now before Mars wakes up? Would that be even more awkward? This girl had stepped up to help Yuri out with exorcising the ghosts-- if she hadn't done that, maybe Mars would still be alive.
Her heart clenches guiltily at the thought as she begins to sit herself up, still examining Mars' face in worry that the girl will wake up and-- What? Be angry at her? She's pretty, too (really pretty), and somehow that makes Yuri feel even worse.
If she hadn't tried to help Yuri...
Yuri sighs deeply, silently berating herself.]
[Well. That was not entirely unexpected. Whatever hit Mars managed to burrow through her shield, and in the split second between that and whatever it was that disrupted her Sailor Crystal she silently curses her luck and forgetfulness. A secondary layer of defense. That’s what she was forgetting.
And then, it’s done.
Death is not a new experience for her. It’s an old, familiar feeling, a companion to some of the darkest times of her life. The first had been in war, demolishing an enemy platoon during the war for the Moon Kingdom and the source of one of the many craters that pockmarked it’s surface. The second had been ending that war, her life force transformed into a spear driven into the heart of a dark god, and the final death had been much like the first: in battle. It wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t all that bad, either. It simply was.
This death was different though. Peaceful, painless, quick, though just as full of the righteous certainty that she’d been doing the right thing: putting lost souls to rest. The biggest change was the waking up, this time. She’d reincarnated the first time, woken up on the shrine’s flagstones the second, and the third had been on the hard marble floor of the Galaxy Cauldron beside her companions. The sensation of a soft bed and a warm blanket was far, far more pleasant.
Turtles? How nice… she thinks as her eyes register the gift from those forgotten spirits.
The next thing to grab her attention is the wave of negativity and anxiety rolling off of the girl to her left. Another new sensation, waking up next to a human girl experiencing the fallout from her own passing, and her heart went out to Yuri in that moment. She was actually rather cute, and it was difficult for her to imagine how it must have felt. Letting her attention flicker up to meet the girl’s eyes, gaze steady, Mars reaches out to take Yuri’s hand in her own, the warm fabric of her gloves intended to be a steady reminder of her presence. She’d failed this girl as much as she had those boys. They’d had a good death, yes. A worthy one, doing the right thing…but that didn’t mean those three clods had made it. They weren’t all that organized, didn’t have the ability to really deal with spirits (clearly), and if she knew anything about Merlin and Yu, she knew they’d take her passing as a personal failure. A notion she’d disabuse them of rather quickly when they reunited but that didn’t make it less likely.
For now though, she refocuses her thoughts on the girl, reaching up to touch her cheek with a free hand and smiling warmly.]
Take it slowly. A few deep breaths, Yuri. It’s over. Nothing to be afraid of anymore.
And then, it’s done.
Death is not a new experience for her. It’s an old, familiar feeling, a companion to some of the darkest times of her life. The first had been in war, demolishing an enemy platoon during the war for the Moon Kingdom and the source of one of the many craters that pockmarked it’s surface. The second had been ending that war, her life force transformed into a spear driven into the heart of a dark god, and the final death had been much like the first: in battle. It wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t all that bad, either. It simply was.
This death was different though. Peaceful, painless, quick, though just as full of the righteous certainty that she’d been doing the right thing: putting lost souls to rest. The biggest change was the waking up, this time. She’d reincarnated the first time, woken up on the shrine’s flagstones the second, and the third had been on the hard marble floor of the Galaxy Cauldron beside her companions. The sensation of a soft bed and a warm blanket was far, far more pleasant.
Turtles? How nice… she thinks as her eyes register the gift from those forgotten spirits.
The next thing to grab her attention is the wave of negativity and anxiety rolling off of the girl to her left. Another new sensation, waking up next to a human girl experiencing the fallout from her own passing, and her heart went out to Yuri in that moment. She was actually rather cute, and it was difficult for her to imagine how it must have felt. Letting her attention flicker up to meet the girl’s eyes, gaze steady, Mars reaches out to take Yuri’s hand in her own, the warm fabric of her gloves intended to be a steady reminder of her presence. She’d failed this girl as much as she had those boys. They’d had a good death, yes. A worthy one, doing the right thing…but that didn’t mean those three clods had made it. They weren’t all that organized, didn’t have the ability to really deal with spirits (clearly), and if she knew anything about Merlin and Yu, she knew they’d take her passing as a personal failure. A notion she’d disabuse them of rather quickly when they reunited but that didn’t make it less likely.
For now though, she refocuses her thoughts on the girl, reaching up to touch her cheek with a free hand and smiling warmly.]
Take it slowly. A few deep breaths, Yuri. It’s over. Nothing to be afraid of anymore.
[Illidan had gone to the farthest most unused corner of the park to get as far as he could from the general population, while waiting for one to come by. Low and behold she did, and once she entered a less crowded area he slipped down from his perch and approached her and bowed his head in greeting.]
Priestess.
Priestess.
[She'd expected that he'd come find her when she entered the park, and she'd been gone long enough that he had to have guessed what occurred.]
Illidan. Are you well?
Illidan. Are you well?
( who was to know that walking past a cafe would make her catch the sight of a familiar person, requesting that she goes there and not have her master accompany her. much to his dismay, he'll allow saber to enter the shop without him and he'll tend to his own business. that's how they've been working out with things today but with the bell dinging once the emperor has made her entrance, she looks towards the table that rei is occupying. ) I will sit with you and help you pass the time.
( of course, she's going to do what she's said and sit down, crossing her legs as she places her hands in her lap. ) It's been quite some time since the last that we have met, I do hope you're holding up much better than most. Aside from that, this is the most mundane place I would have believed to find you in, as I was passing by with my Master; I thought I could come and speak with you. ( besides, before she had died, there was someone that she recalls that knew rei rather well and maybe she could learn something about them? or perhaps it would be good to pass along some information. )
Not too long ago, I believe I have met one of your acquaintances. They seem to have known you, the way their curiosity piqued once I mentioned your name.
( of course, she's going to do what she's said and sit down, crossing her legs as she places her hands in her lap. ) It's been quite some time since the last that we have met, I do hope you're holding up much better than most. Aside from that, this is the most mundane place I would have believed to find you in, as I was passing by with my Master; I thought I could come and speak with you. ( besides, before she had died, there was someone that she recalls that knew rei rather well and maybe she could learn something about them? or perhaps it would be good to pass along some information. )
Not too long ago, I believe I have met one of your acquaintances. They seem to have known you, the way their curiosity piqued once I mentioned your name.
[Rei folded her arms when she felt the Servant's approach, and when the blonde sat she smiled somewhat vaguely. The booth was round, and they were ending up seated almost side by side. Nero was good company, she found, if a little bombastic, so she didn't mind at all.]
It's got good tea. [She gestures to her cup, filled with a reddish liquid with a single cherry blossom petal floating in it.] That's why I come here. It's nothing extremely fancy, but the tea craftsmanship is of a rare quality. It might seem mundane, but that's just the presentation. The skill involved is that of a master.
[She frowns then, looking up to meet Saber's eyes]
Who did you meet? What was their name?
It's got good tea. [She gestures to her cup, filled with a reddish liquid with a single cherry blossom petal floating in it.] That's why I come here. It's nothing extremely fancy, but the tea craftsmanship is of a rare quality. It might seem mundane, but that's just the presentation. The skill involved is that of a master.
[She frowns then, looking up to meet Saber's eyes]
Who did you meet? What was their name?
She ranks higher than you, you know. She's the patron god of Rome's namesake
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
faithfulflame
- 2016-06-05 05:54 (UTC) - ExpandIF UR A PATRON!!! SHOULDN'T YOU HOLD ME AS THE HIGHEST! no one loves rome more than me
rosaichthys
- 2016-06-07 01:19 (UTC) - Expandoooooo she agrees then!!! (nero voice) oh!! OH!!! praise me :)
rosaichthys
- 2016-06-07 21:05 (UTC) - Expandbut my orders? :( let me give some and you can humor me!
rosaichthys
- 2016-06-08 02:39 (UTC) - Expand[Sometime late on the day Rei returns, Kashuu leaves a message. While they're not terribly close, he had definitely noticed the error message indicating she was still absent during that three-day period that so many people were gone for, and respects her enough to check once that time has passed.
A lot of people were pretty unlucky this time around, it seems.]
Hey— It's Kashuu. Um, I'm just, like... calling to see how you're doing.
[Which is stilted but there are only so many elegant ways of saying "so I noticed you died and I want to make sure you transitioned back okay".]
A lot of people were pretty unlucky this time around, it seems.]
Hey— It's Kashuu. Um, I'm just, like... calling to see how you're doing.
[Which is stilted but there are only so many elegant ways of saying "so I noticed you died and I want to make sure you transitioned back okay".]
[Rei responds a few moments later with a fairly cheerful little chirp of her own, a smile evident even through the voice message. Death isn't all that troublesome, not anymore. The first time? Sure. The second was pretty rough, but after the third and now fourth? You get used to it. And in this place it's basically meaningless.]
Hello, Kashuu-san. I'm alright. How about you?
[She will address the concern soon, for now? Let her pretend this is a normal call.]
Hello, Kashuu-san. I'm alright. How about you?
[She will address the concern soon, for now? Let her pretend this is a normal call.]
[Well, this was probably the easiest life-and-death cycle he's ever been through.
One moment, he's in a cold, dark tunnel, cut off from the rest of the city and staring down a failed ghost-- and the next, he's back in his bed, groggy and warm like nothing had happened. For a few, blissful moments, it's like everything that happened was a dream... until the heavy weight of the glowing crystal in his hand proved otherwise.
Shit.
It takes him less than five minutes to change out of his pajamas and into some real clothes, opting not to style his hair for once in his urgency. There was one person he knew that would want to hear about these recent developments, and it was better to tell her now, while it was still fresh in his memory.
So here he is, ringing the doorbell urgently to Rei's apartment, freaky techno ghost crystal safely stashed in his pocket. The fact that Rei had her own fair share of trauma during the week, along with a good chunk of the city, never really crossed his mind.]
One moment, he's in a cold, dark tunnel, cut off from the rest of the city and staring down a failed ghost-- and the next, he's back in his bed, groggy and warm like nothing had happened. For a few, blissful moments, it's like everything that happened was a dream... until the heavy weight of the glowing crystal in his hand proved otherwise.
Shit.
It takes him less than five minutes to change out of his pajamas and into some real clothes, opting not to style his hair for once in his urgency. There was one person he knew that would want to hear about these recent developments, and it was better to tell her now, while it was still fresh in his memory.
So here he is, ringing the doorbell urgently to Rei's apartment, freaky techno ghost crystal safely stashed in his pocket. The fact that Rei had her own fair share of trauma during the week, along with a good chunk of the city, never really crossed his mind.]
[Somehow, Rei is hardly surprised to hear the doorbell, and feel Yusuke's spiritual energy outside her door. His emotional state was not surprising either. She's just seen several people who died, and other people who didn't but nearly did, so it's a clue at least.
She answers the door in a light yukata, the kind she'd normally lounge around the house in, and ushers him inside with a sweep of her hand.]
Yusuke-kun, come in. You look frazzled. What's wrong?
[She's cheerful enough at least. Trauma? Not really.]
She answers the door in a light yukata, the kind she'd normally lounge around the house in, and ushers him inside with a sweep of her hand.]
Yusuke-kun, come in. You look frazzled. What's wrong?
[She's cheerful enough at least. Trauma? Not really.]
[ He's spent the past few hours at Athena's at this point, not even heading to his apartment and instead just going straight there. Ideally he knows he should go and see Rei as soon as possible, just to make himself believe that she would have woken up on this side too. It's ridiculous, but it's the first time he's actually been witness to something like this here.
Besides that, he sends her a small text to at least let her know he's back, though he doesn't know how closely she's been watching her CereVice since she woke up. She probably had enough rounds to make on her own.
All she gets is one word though, oddly anticlimatic after everything: ] hi.
Besides that, he sends her a small text to at least let her know he's back, though he doesn't know how closely she's been watching her CereVice since she woke up. She probably had enough rounds to make on her own.
All she gets is one word though, oddly anticlimatic after everything: ] hi.
[By now Rei's said most of what she's needed to say to the people who were missing. With some exceptions. The most glaring being this one. For several reasons. Mostly out of respect for Athena, since she can sense where he is in relative proximity to where the lawyer is.
Now though?]
Hi. We should talk.
Now though?]
Hi. We should talk.
Rei-san...
We're back.
[ It's not the most auspicious way to begin. But there's no sugarcoating the fact that all five members of their party died, and he knows Rei wouldn't want him to. And god, does he want to talk to her.
Still, a few hours have gone by between he, Merlin, and Hyoubu waking up in the same bed and this text. Not because he didn't want to see her, but because other people needed his most immediate attention. Rise, and Dipper.And theoretically Yosuke, god save me from the timelock. But Rei and Yuri are his next highest priorities, before absolutely anyone else in this colony. ]
We're back.
[ It's not the most auspicious way to begin. But there's no sugarcoating the fact that all five members of their party died, and he knows Rei wouldn't want him to. And god, does he want to talk to her.
Still, a few hours have gone by between he, Merlin, and Hyoubu waking up in the same bed and this text. Not because he didn't want to see her, but because other people needed his most immediate attention. Rise, and Dipper.
Edited 2016-06-06 20:31 (UTC)
[Rei's reply is swift, almost like she's been waiting for that text. She had been, after she'd felt the presences of those three reentering the colony. There was a lot to say and do...]
Where can I find you?
Where can I find you?
[ It's kind of weird knowing people but not really knowing them. He's kind of continuously cautious that someone might just pop up and be like "hey, Yosuke! Let's go do that thing we talked about" and he'll have to play along or something. But Rei had been straight-forward from the beginning, helped him out when he was making a fool of himself. After everything that's just happened and with Yu still missing, he starts to try to reach out to the few people he feels he might actually know. ]
( July 15, 6:36 PM )
hey hino-san
a bunch of ppl disappeared mysteriously in rly crappy circumstances
r u ok?
( July 15, 8:03 PM )
hino-san?
( July 16, 10:22 AM )
hey its yosuke
my name shows on here rite?
just checking in
( July 16, 3:49 PM )
sry if this is getting annoying
r u ok?
plz rply thx
( July 17, 9:10 AM )
hey
( July 17, 9:53 AM )
im guessing ur not there...
yus gone 2 but rise-san says hell b back
i hope u will b 2
( July 18, 2:27 PM )
hey yu is back!
he said u were there with him a few days ago??
hello?
( July 15, 6:36 PM )
hey hino-san
a bunch of ppl disappeared mysteriously in rly crappy circumstances
r u ok?
( July 15, 8:03 PM )
hino-san?
( July 16, 10:22 AM )
hey its yosuke
my name shows on here rite?
just checking in
( July 16, 3:49 PM )
sry if this is getting annoying
r u ok?
plz rply thx
( July 17, 9:10 AM )
hey
( July 17, 9:53 AM )
im guessing ur not there...
yus gone 2 but rise-san says hell b back
i hope u will b 2
( July 18, 2:27 PM )
hey yu is back!
he said u were there with him a few days ago??
hello?
I'm here, Yosuke-kun.
I got your messages. I apologize for missing them. Can we meet? I would rather talk in person. I hate using the CEREVice when I can see someone face to face.
I got your messages. I apologize for missing them. Can we meet? I would rather talk in person. I hate using the CEREVice when I can see someone face to face.
What are your plans for the day? Anything special?
[ Every time he closes his eyes, he can see Yuri and Mars crumpling to the ground, like marionettes with their strings cut. He retreats to the skies to think, finally perching himself on the top of a tall, vertical antenna, precariously balanced. And then he sees something moving on one of the rooftops. It runs across and leaps to the next one, and the next. There's something somehow familiar about the way the figure moves, and he drops down from his perch, masking his presence with hypno, so he can watch.
...
And watch, memorizing how the figure moves, so that when he closes his eyes he'll see something else. ]
...
And watch, memorizing how the figure moves, so that when he closes his eyes he'll see something else. ]
[Tonight's one of those nights that Mars just needs to get out. Not Rei, but Mars. There are some evenings where it's nice to stop keeping the barrier up between the two of them, and just embrace the past, and after recent events? This is one such time. Of course it's also a time when her senses are on high alert. They always are constantly surveying the world around her, but after what happened, the only real mark was an increase in her general low-level paranoia.
Which naturally means she's aware that she's being watched. And isn't interested in allowing that to continue, especially not when it's a presence she recognizes. So...there's a flicker of motion in Hyoubu's vision as Mars jumps to a new rooftop, and the girl disappears, though the sound of her boots hitting the rooftop isn't distant. Oh no, it's about six feet behind him.]
Hello Hyoubu. Out for an evening stroll?
Which naturally means she's aware that she's being watched. And isn't interested in allowing that to continue, especially not when it's a presence she recognizes. So...there's a flicker of motion in Hyoubu's vision as Mars jumps to a new rooftop, and the girl disappears, though the sound of her boots hitting the rooftop isn't distant. Oh no, it's about six feet behind him.]
Hello Hyoubu. Out for an evening stroll?
[...he knows she won't really have an opinion on the matter, but it's late in the evening of the 5th that Rei receives a text.]
How's it going?
[That's all he's giving her at first.]
How's it going?
[That's all he's giving her at first.]
[Rei's actually up, and she'd taken to using Tadashi's app a while ago. After Ami left, she thought she'd at least make use of the tool. She was expecting this, either because of sisterly intuition or a psychic premonition...not that it mattered much.]
I'm well.
It's late. Do you need to talk?
I'm well.
It's late. Do you need to talk?
Just got off of work, so no, not at all.
What's up?
What's up?
[ It might be surprising that rather than running to a Certain Someone's apartment, he comes here first. Rei has, over the past few months, been a good friend. A great friend, even. Someone who understands a lot more than others. Not only that, but there was something she saw before that has come to pass now, that he can actually explain and tell her the end result of.
There's a lot he can say, but at the same time it's too much for the time he has now, first he just needs to know what he's missed in the past few days.
He doesn't press the buzzer for the door and knocks instead, not trusting it to work after how this morning has gone.
Hopefully Rei is in to answer. ]
There's a lot he can say, but at the same time it's too much for the time he has now, first he just needs to know what he's missed in the past few days.
He doesn't press the buzzer for the door and knocks instead, not trusting it to work after how this morning has gone.
Hopefully Rei is in to answer. ]
[Of course Rei is in. She's in the midst of dealing with the vertitable nightmare that is Cerealia right now, and she's barely slept a wink but that's fine. This is all fine. It's not like her hair dryer didn't try and melt her face off, and she definitely had to slay her bed like a dragon before sleeping in it.
And more importantly than that, she's in because she's feeling a familiar presence. An omen, more than anything, of things to come. Of changes, and of a man who is actually worthwhile. She'd known the minute he left, and knew when he'd returned. Merlin was, in her mind's eye, a stormcloud on par with any thunderhead she'd seen Jupiter conjure. He was one of those people that, once you knew him as Rei did, was impossible to miss.
Not that she isn't surprised, of course, that he's coming to her first. That's actually a huge deal to her, after having taken care of Athena off and on since he'd vanished. It means he's either got something important to say or he's a coward. And she's never really considered him the latter.
She shoves the door open, metal groaning in protest. Signs of a fight...dents and scorch marks mostly, mar the panel, but the apartment behind is as neat and tidy as ever.Just don't look under the sink where the blender is currently confined.]
Hello Merlin. Won't you come in?
[If he will, the door slams shut the second she lets go...of it's own accord.]
I'm going to melt that stupid thing next time...
And more importantly than that, she's in because she's feeling a familiar presence. An omen, more than anything, of things to come. Of changes, and of a man who is actually worthwhile. She'd known the minute he left, and knew when he'd returned. Merlin was, in her mind's eye, a stormcloud on par with any thunderhead she'd seen Jupiter conjure. He was one of those people that, once you knew him as Rei did, was impossible to miss.
Not that she isn't surprised, of course, that he's coming to her first. That's actually a huge deal to her, after having taken care of Athena off and on since he'd vanished. It means he's either got something important to say or he's a coward. And she's never really considered him the latter.
She shoves the door open, metal groaning in protest. Signs of a fight...dents and scorch marks mostly, mar the panel, but the apartment behind is as neat and tidy as ever.
Hello Merlin. Won't you come in?
[If he will, the door slams shut the second she lets go...of it's own accord.]
I'm going to melt that stupid thing next time...
[Usagi had initially thought it odd this morning that Makoto wasn't present when she woke up. Maybe she just got up particularly early and left before Usagi, given Usagi usually tends to sleep in. But the later in the day it gets, the more she worries. She checks her Cerevice when there is still no Makoto to be found when she gets back home. However, as much as she wills it not to, it comes up with that dreaded 'user not registered' message when she tries to contact the other senshi to check on her.
The message blurs as tears sting at her eyes. Not again....it's the same as with Ami, with Minako. But Rei was still here. Right? Usagi can't help an inner panic and dread at the very thought of her other friend being returned to the Nexus Code as well. Being alone.
So, after clumsily wiping at her face with her sleeve, she forces herself up from sitting at the edge of her bed, to knock at Rei's door.]
Rei-chan?
The message blurs as tears sting at her eyes. Not again....it's the same as with Ami, with Minako. But Rei was still here. Right? Usagi can't help an inner panic and dread at the very thought of her other friend being returned to the Nexus Code as well. Being alone.
So, after clumsily wiping at her face with her sleeve, she forces herself up from sitting at the edge of her bed, to knock at Rei's door.]
Rei-chan?
[Rei had noticed this too. She'd thought it was just a little bit odd that the dishes from this morning were still in the sink when she got home from work, and that'd led her to check a few things and led to an uncomfortable discovery.
It hurt. It hurt a lot. But she wasn't alone right now. She knew that. She could still feel Usagi, a warm bundle of emotion in the back of her head. She wasn't sure what to do, but she figured it'd be best to let the blonde come to her, and when she did finally do that, Rei's door immediately slid open. She'd been waiting for that call, and she's already grabbing Usagi up in a hug.]
I saw, Usagi. It's...I'm here. It'll be okay.
It hurt. It hurt a lot. But she wasn't alone right now. She knew that. She could still feel Usagi, a warm bundle of emotion in the back of her head. She wasn't sure what to do, but she figured it'd be best to let the blonde come to her, and when she did finally do that, Rei's door immediately slid open. She'd been waiting for that call, and she's already grabbing Usagi up in a hug.]
I saw, Usagi. It's...I'm here. It'll be okay.
Rei.
[ there's nothing but sombreness in her tone. ]
I need you to do something for me.
[ SOUNDS URGENT!!! ]
[ there's nothing but sombreness in her tone. ]
I need you to do something for me.
[ SOUNDS URGENT!!! ]
[Rei's response is quick, a note of panic in her voice.]
Yes?! What's wrong?
Yes?! What's wrong?
Wha--?
[It's sudden. The loss of sight. The sense of vertigo that comes with it causing Usagi to shift sideways a little as she tries to regain her balance. Her sense of direction. A hand raises to her eyes, as she initially sits down, trying to wait and see if it will pass on its own or not.]
Rei-chan....?
[Was the other okay? Or was she suddenly feeling this too?
But then, almost as quickly as it happened, she opens her eyes and can see again. The vertigo gone.
That was weird?]
[It's sudden. The loss of sight. The sense of vertigo that comes with it causing Usagi to shift sideways a little as she tries to regain her balance. Her sense of direction. A hand raises to her eyes, as she initially sits down, trying to wait and see if it will pass on its own or not.]
Rei-chan....?
[Was the other okay? Or was she suddenly feeling this too?
But then, almost as quickly as it happened, she opens her eyes and can see again. The vertigo gone.
That was weird?]
[Rei had known something was wrong immediately. She'd staggered out of bed into the bathroom, flushing water in her eyes. The sudden blindness was jarring, the sense of nausea even worse, but what really, really hurt was the itching.
Her eyes felt like they were on fire, and she could think of nothing else but just tearing them out and scratching them since she'd woken up.
Usagi's voice forced her to think though, to do something.]
I'm here! What's wrong?!
[Strained, she stumbled out of the bedroom, nearly falling over the bleating Lacus, in his new Hamada-Created body. The pandabot gripped Rei's robe in his teeth and tugged her towards the couch where she sat down heavily.]
Where are you?
Her eyes felt like they were on fire, and she could think of nothing else but just tearing them out and scratching them since she'd woken up.
Usagi's voice forced her to think though, to do something.]
I'm here! What's wrong?!
[Strained, she stumbled out of the bedroom, nearly falling over the bleating Lacus, in his new Hamada-Created body. The pandabot gripped Rei's robe in his teeth and tugged her towards the couch where she sat down heavily.]
Where are you?
We keep missing each other, don't we? What are your plans for this afternoon Rei-chan?
We do. It's a little unfortunate, but I actually don't have many plans for the rest of the day at all. I have laundry drying, but that can wait since it never rains.
Where should we meet?
Where should we meet?
Page 3 of 3