Souls again, huh... [ This isn't the first she's heard of the concept, though with every new telling the idea of a "soul" becomes more and more mysterious rather than less. ]
I see. Souls sound... very powerful. And you remember who you were in a past life? Even though that means you'll have...
[Rei's a little quiet as she mulls over what Rapunzel's said, taking the time to sit and arrange her outfit a little bit. Hands in her lap, she nods and makes sure there's room for two.]
That's right, I do remember everything from my last life. And yes, that includes my own death. I died during a war, fighting to protect my kingdom, my friends, and my queen.
Though, I'm something of an unusual case. Most people, humans, can't have that happen.
What makes you different? [ Something, curiosity perhaps, keeps her from relaxing entirely just yet. Her eyes, sharp as a cat's, follow the path of a drifting cherry blossom.
Rei's transformation in the tunnels certainly seemed like that of a warrior. ]
[Rei's eyes flit away, upwards to the simulate sky and she huffs out a quiet sigh.]
It's not because of the magic powers. It's because that other self, Mars. That's her name. Is a goddess. The Goddess of Flame and War, the princess and ruler of the planet Mars, and a member of the royal guard of the Moon Kingdom. All things long gone, destroyed in that war.
[Eyes closing, she smiles sadly.]
The Queen used her power to ensure that the royal guard, us, and her daughter would be reborn again on Earth. And that we'd one day remember the past, and inherit our power again.
Why? [ It's out unbidden, this impetuous question, before she can stop herself. Her fingers fly to the tips of her ears for a favoured lock of hair as she looks away sheepishly. ]
...I'm sorry, Rei, you - you don't have to answer that. [ She's said enough of her turbulent past for the moment, really. ]
Because she was using the bulk of her power to seal the demon that our enemy had unleashed upon the world. If she hadn't contained it, then there would not have been a future to send us to. It broke her to make that choice, but she gave us a future.
[She listens patiently to the questions, finally holding up a hand.]
Slow down, one question at a time. I'll start with the last. Usagi Tsukino is my friend. Her story is hers to tell in her own time. Not mine.
[Which is true.]
Just...breathe though. I'll explain, but slow down.
[ Not quite shamefaced but certainly something very much like it as she shrugs her shoulders somewhat sheepishly, Rapunzel nods and waits for Rei continue.
For a beat.
Then: ] It’s just - Usagi… told me she wasn’t special when I asked her about the demons. The, uh - the monsters, I mean. In your world? She said they were common so I guess I just... don’t understand why would lie if you’re all aware of her powers already. Was she hiding it from me specifically...?
[ Because Rapunzel is Rapunzel and her first thought is always to take the blame. ]
[That explains some things. That explains a lot of things, actually. Okay. Rapunzel...]
It's not you. We're supposed to keep it a secret. It's safer for us, at home. Or if an enemy from home were to arrive in Cerealia. Our powers are supposed to be kept quiet. Usagi's only been here a few weeks, and she hasn't lied to you. She just is doing what we're supposed to do, and being quiet about our powers. She's also from a time years before mine, from when we first started doing things. When it was more important that we keep our secrets.
Now? We're all more powerful than her, we've grown through our struggles, and she's still back at the beginning of our story. So, it's not you.
[Rei puts on a reassuring smile.]
I trust you. Or I wouldn't be telling you anything at all.
[ Now she feels even worse because concealing important facts for safety reasons is the entire reason she is who she is. Magical abilities and the secrecy surrounding them are her life story: past, future, and present.
Well. Sort of. Rei knows now, and Rei trusts her. So she returns the smile because that's what's important. Feeling sorry for herself can wait. ]
I understand. And - Rei?
[ Here comes the hard part. ]
I... I trust you too, you know? You haven't told anyone about my secret, and - for that? I'm grateful.
...But I'm also sorry. Really, Rei, I - I'm so sorry for what happened out there. About the way I was acting? You could've gotten hurt and I wouldn't have cared at all.
I know that. [ If she weren't surrounded by such beauty, this would come out as a snap. Instead, her brows merely come together in a pensive frown. ] I know that, but... It's not like the mask made me different, Rei, just - the way I was acting.
[ And what it's taught her is that she's reckless. A danger to her friends. ]
..Mm. [ Rapunzel closes her eyes. ] It doesn't matter. You're right, I guess. Can you... show me how to put on these clothes now? I keep my promises, too, and I promised myself I'd learn as much about priestesses as you're willing to teach.
I'm just treating the masks like any other nonsense in Cerealia. sometimes people here act different than they would otherwise, and that's just that. But...yes, since you want to learn, let's get started.
[Rei nods and stands up from the bench, jerking her head towards a public restroom. she sure wasn't going to help Rapunzel dress out in the open for wandering eyes to inspect.]
[ Shockingly it takes her about a minute total to change (after the last hurry-and-get-dressed task CERES had them do, she'd sort of forced herself to learn).
And far from exaggerating about the theatrical quality of her "miko" outfit, now that she can model it for a real miko, Rapunzel wonders if she shouldn't have been less generous about the accuracy. ]
Um. Something tells me this is... not quite right.
[Rei just smiles fondly when Rapunzel appears, because no it's not quite right...but she really could not have known. And that's perfectly fine, since she is lovely and she's so earnest and trying.]
Not quite, but it looks good on you. [She represses the urge to laugh at how awkward Rapunzel seems...]
I mean, it's more like something we'd wear for a special occasion. The skirt's a little bit short too, but that's a common misconception.
[Play it off, Rei.]
And it looks a lot more comfortable than what I wear.
It– [ Her hands go unconsciously to the impractical sleeves and skirt, eventually dropping to her sides where they grab for her hair. As usual. ]
...does it? [ She laughs, finally relaxing after all the sad, serious talk and the self-consciousness. ] I don't– Tight clothes like these are really – I mean, they seem popular in the more modern worlds, but I still think they make moving much harder.
I liked your shoes, though. The... ones you transformed into? Heh. Even I know priestesses don't usually wear heels that high, but wow were they nice.
They sort of flow with you though, which is nice if you're trying to avoid being caught on something.
[Rei smiles and nods. Right, the heels on her boots. Her Eternal form had long done away with the red high heels, but those boots definitely did have heels on them.]
And I guess they are. I mean, they're just boots. It's not something a priestess can do, it's more just me. But thank you.
[A pause, and she thinks, half out loud...]
We could probably find you some that fit, if you like the idea?
You know. [ In moving to fold her arms, Rapunzel inadvertently discovers how much fun giant sleeves can be, which is... why she starts doing that instead. Swinging her arms back and forth so the sleeves move like sails. ] I don't know why I'm being so stubborn about it still; shoes don't really bother me, exactly. It's just... not wearing shoes is kind of like - my signature now or something. You know? The thing that makes me unique.
[Rei just starts giggling. It's kind of impossible not to, with how...sheltered...Rapunzel is that giant sleeves make her act like this. Goodness gracious she is just the cutest thing.]
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I see. Souls sound... very powerful. And you remember who you were in a past life? Even though that means you'll have...
[ Died? Yikes. ]
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That's right, I do remember everything from my last life. And yes, that includes my own death. I died during a war, fighting to protect my kingdom, my friends, and my queen.
Though, I'm something of an unusual case. Most people, humans, can't have that happen.
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Rei's transformation in the tunnels certainly seemed like that of a warrior. ]
Heh. It's... not the magic powers, is it?
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It's not because of the magic powers. It's because that other self, Mars. That's her name. Is a goddess. The Goddess of Flame and War, the princess and ruler of the planet Mars, and a member of the royal guard of the Moon Kingdom. All things long gone, destroyed in that war.
[Eyes closing, she smiles sadly.]
The Queen used her power to ensure that the royal guard, us, and her daughter would be reborn again on Earth. And that we'd one day remember the past, and inherit our power again.
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...I'm sorry, Rei, you - you don't have to answer that. [ She's said enough of her turbulent past for the moment, really. ]
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Why were we given power again? Or why...was there a war?
[She's genuinely curious about which Rapunzel meant. she has no objections to sharing, frankly.]
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[ But then she stops when the horror of such an existence settles upon her. It's exactly what she'd always been afraid of in some part of her mind. ]
...Why was there a war? What - What happened? Where did your powers come from? Why Mars? Is--
...
Is Usagi...?
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[She listens patiently to the questions, finally holding up a hand.]
Slow down, one question at a time. I'll start with the last. Usagi Tsukino is my friend. Her story is hers to tell in her own time. Not mine.
[Which is true.]
Just...breathe though. I'll explain, but slow down.
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For a beat.
Then: ] It’s just - Usagi… told me she wasn’t special when I asked her about the demons. The, uh - the monsters, I mean. In your world? She said they were common so I guess I just... don’t understand why would lie if you’re all aware of her powers already. Was she hiding it from me specifically...?
[ Because Rapunzel is Rapunzel and her first thought is always to take the blame. ]
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It's not you. We're supposed to keep it a secret. It's safer for us, at home. Or if an enemy from home were to arrive in Cerealia. Our powers are supposed to be kept quiet. Usagi's only been here a few weeks, and she hasn't lied to you. She just is doing what we're supposed to do, and being quiet about our powers. She's also from a time years before mine, from when we first started doing things. When it was more important that we keep our secrets.
Now? We're all more powerful than her, we've grown through our struggles, and she's still back at the beginning of our story. So, it's not you.
[Rei puts on a reassuring smile.]
I trust you. Or I wouldn't be telling you anything at all.
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Well. Sort of. Rei knows now, and Rei trusts her. So she returns the smile because that's what's important. Feeling sorry for herself can wait. ]
I understand. And - Rei?
[ Here comes the hard part. ]
I... I trust you too, you know? You haven't told anyone about my secret, and - for that? I'm grateful.
...But I'm also sorry. Really, Rei, I - I'm so sorry for what happened out there. About the way I was acting? You could've gotten hurt and I wouldn't have cared at all.
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[Rei nods, still putting on a gentle smile, reaching out to squeeze Rapunzel's shoulder once. That much she understands, but the last bit...well...]
It was your mask, Rapunzel-chan. It was doing something to you. That's hardly your fault. Truly, you've done nothing to apologize for.
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[ And what it's taught her is that she's reckless. A danger to her friends. ]
..Mm. [ Rapunzel closes her eyes. ] It doesn't matter. You're right, I guess. Can you... show me how to put on these clothes now? I keep my promises, too, and I promised myself I'd learn as much about priestesses as you're willing to teach.
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[Rei nods and stands up from the bench, jerking her head towards a public restroom. she sure wasn't going to help Rapunzel dress out in the open for wandering eyes to inspect.]
That'll be more private.
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And far from exaggerating about the theatrical quality of her "miko" outfit, now that she can model it for a real miko, Rapunzel wonders if she shouldn't have been less generous about the accuracy. ]
Um. Something tells me this is... not quite right.
...what do you think.
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Not quite, but it looks good on you. [She represses the urge to laugh at how awkward Rapunzel seems...]
I mean, it's more like something we'd wear for a special occasion. The skirt's a little bit short too, but that's a common misconception.
[Play it off, Rei.]
And it looks a lot more comfortable than what I wear.
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...does it? [ She laughs, finally relaxing after all the sad, serious talk and the self-consciousness. ] I don't– Tight clothes like these are really – I mean, they seem popular in the more modern worlds, but I still think they make moving much harder.
I liked your shoes, though. The... ones you transformed into? Heh. Even I know priestesses don't usually wear heels that high, but wow were they nice.
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[Rei smiles and nods. Right, the heels on her boots. Her Eternal form had long done away with the red high heels, but those boots definitely did have heels on them.]
And I guess they are. I mean, they're just boots. It's not something a priestess can do, it's more just me. But thank you.
[A pause, and she thinks, half out loud...]
We could probably find you some that fit, if you like the idea?
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For me? You mean... to wear? Um. Well. I... think I like boots better than most shoes. My mother wears them so... they can't feel that strange, right?
...Honestly? [ She laughs. ] I think being a priestess would be easier than wearing shoes for me at this point, Rei.
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[Rei wears socks most of the time, too, but she wears shoes around those socks...]
I mean, it's something that you just get used to, but I'm not going to push you to do it. That'd be silly.
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H-Hah...I...I understand. [Snerk.] Your arms...
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[ She looks up, startled. ]
Wait, my... arms? [ Oh, right, the swinging.
...and now her cheeks are a deep, deep pink, so that's wonderful. ]
Sorry!! I really am taking this seriously, Rei, I-I just... Aha.
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[She's taking a wild guess here.]
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