That really all sounds like the kind of thing he'd read in a fairy tale. Some sort of sun demon? A princess taking her own life in despair of her fallen prince? This is...a lot, really. But much more, he imagines, for her. It's her past, right? He let's it settle in his mind and heart, visualizing to the best of his ability. It's a little fantastical and...well, sad.
It's hard for her, too. He can tell, despite the fact he doesn't know her as well as he did before. The way she has to put a hand on her face, almost literally holding herself together. His own fingers flex, twitching in the natural urge to reach out, but he refrains. Would she even appreciate that? ]
[She can feel his nervousness, little psychic twinges that needle into her brain, and decides to stop them. She leans over a bit, setting her free hand on top of his. She's fine with contact. Really.]
It's...fine. It's just the past. It's over, it's done. We were reborn in the modern day. The story...well, it goes on, though. The Dark Kingdom, what we called them, reawakened in 1992, and so did we. Our powers woke up when we were 14, and we managed to defeat and destroy the queen and her generals, as well as the demon. [She huffs a laugh.] We gave our lives during the battle to empower the Moon Princess with our magic, and she destroyed the demon forever. And revived us, in the end.
[Which should have been the end of it, but things kept happening. She'll spare him the whole story though, and she finds herself, breathing much steadier.]
More enemies showed up in time though, more powerful ones. Dark gods, monsters from other universes, beings from the past and future. We got stronger, and we defeated them time and time again. I'll tell you about them some other time, if you like, but last year was our final fight, as far as we know. We defeated one last enemy, and died in that battle as well, but we...can't...truly die. Not so long as the crystals we draw power from remain intact. That's why death is really not a new experience for me. In myself, and others.
[The hand over her face drops, resting on her knee, squeezing until her knuckles go white. She hates feeling exposed and vulnerable like this, but she trusts him. He won't take advantage of her, and he gets it. He's empathetic enough to know how hard it is, thinking on the past.]
I'm...not upset by death. My whole story is just steeped in it. I guess I'm just...tired of seeing it happen to decent people.
[ So she's...died and been revived twice? That's a rough life. It's like these girls can't get a break. Yosuke continues to listen, eyes wide and blinking.
Yeah, he...he gets it. He gets why this is just another bump in the road for her, though he starts to wonder if she's ever going to get out of a cycle like that. Does that really make it any easier? Maybe. But definitely not any better, as far as he's concerned. ]
Okay...so, yeah, you're used to it. But that doesn't mean it's good that it happens to you.
[ Since she made the first move, he'll place his other hand on top of hers as an attempt at being comforting. ]
Thank you. I try to be a decent person. I've...killed...but that's what a soldier does.
[And it's in the name of peace.
Rei's aware that they can't quite seem to catch a break but she does have some more good news for him. Something happy. Her eyes turn towards his, fingers curling around his.]
And you're right. No, it's not good. But it's done. It's...in the past for me. I've actually seen my future. There aren't any more enemies. We're aware of that. And when we turn twenty two, the world changes. We...change it. [Her eyes shut, and her lips curve into a wistful smile.]
We use our power to revive the Silver Millennium, and end war and famine and plagues forever. The world unifies under the new queen, and...everything's peaceful again.
[Until Death Phantom shows up in the 25th century, but that's something that they're not only prepared for, but forewarned about this time.]
[ He knows, logically, that it shouldn't feel different when it's some sort of alien or otherworldly deities, but that does feel different to him than humans being killed. It's biased, definitely, but that's how it is.
His eyes widen slightly. She does look...maybe peaceful isn't the right word, but calm. ]
[Honestly, it's biased in the right way. There are very few benevolent beings in the universe, and almost none of them have passed anywhere close to Sol. There's a reason that the gateways in are guarded by the goddesses of Death and Silence. Pluto and Saturn are, in a word, terrifying. Even to Rei.
She perks up a bit, favoring him with a smile and carding fingers through her hair.]
It is nice, I think. I mean...isn't that what people fight for? A brighter future?
However we can. [Squeezing his hand with hers, the skin just a shade too warm to be human, she leans more against him. It's nice, he's new yes...but he's also familiar. And it's rare to have these moments even at home.]
We all have our battles to fight, and if we don't, who will? I know it's hard, God believe me I do. But it's worth it, don't you think? Knowing you did the right thing.
[ It's definitely new to him. Don't mind Yosuke getting a little hot under the collar, nevermind that she'd shut him down just a few moments prior. He can't help it.
Keep it friendly, right? ]
I think so. I used to think that getting recognition was important, but at the end of the day knowing that you did the right thing and helped someone...that's really what you're trying to do.
[She'd apologize for it if she knew. Rei's always maintained that he deserves someone solid, who'll be there for him emotionally. She can't be, though. Physically, he's not bad, but she's not really capable of the kind of affection he needs. She knew that when she met him. He's a good friend, but going further? It'll end up hurting him when she burned him up and took too much, and that's why she'd pushed aside the notion ages ago.
It's better this way, Yosuke. Rei is like fire, and fire will burn you.]
Recognition is almost pointless. It's gratifying, but in the end...humankind is fickle and it's fleeting. To be honest, I think it's better not to be recognized. That way people can have their mundane lives, and go on with the lie that there aren't monsters in the closet or demons lurking in the shadows. It's safer that way. For everyone.
[ He did think about that to an extent. People knowing that there weren't shadows, that some Goddess wasn't trying to continue an age-old feud to make a point and take the rest of humanity with it. But because of what they did, no one else will have to worry about it. At least for now. ]
I used to think life would be boring without getting to do stuff like that, but I think most people'd be happy just getting to live their lives. So if we can do something to help, then that's even better.
It's what heroes do. They make sure that normal people can live normal lives. That's what makes them extraordinary.
[And yes, she's including you in that. Her hand squeezes his more tightly around his, because she wants to make sure he knows that she means him, but saying that out loud? That's probably a bit much.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Holy shit.
That really all sounds like the kind of thing he'd read in a fairy tale. Some sort of sun demon? A princess taking her own life in despair of her fallen prince? This is...a lot, really. But much more, he imagines, for her. It's her past, right? He let's it settle in his mind and heart, visualizing to the best of his ability. It's a little fantastical and...well, sad.
It's hard for her, too. He can tell, despite the fact he doesn't know her as well as he did before. The way she has to put a hand on her face, almost literally holding herself together. His own fingers flex, twitching in the natural urge to reach out, but he refrains. Would she even appreciate that? ]
...Geez...I'm sorry...
no subject
It's...fine. It's just the past. It's over, it's done. We were reborn in the modern day. The story...well, it goes on, though. The Dark Kingdom, what we called them, reawakened in 1992, and so did we. Our powers woke up when we were 14, and we managed to defeat and destroy the queen and her generals, as well as the demon. [She huffs a laugh.] We gave our lives during the battle to empower the Moon Princess with our magic, and she destroyed the demon forever. And revived us, in the end.
[Which should have been the end of it, but things kept happening. She'll spare him the whole story though, and she finds herself, breathing much steadier.]
More enemies showed up in time though, more powerful ones. Dark gods, monsters from other universes, beings from the past and future. We got stronger, and we defeated them time and time again. I'll tell you about them some other time, if you like, but last year was our final fight, as far as we know. We defeated one last enemy, and died in that battle as well, but we...can't...truly die. Not so long as the crystals we draw power from remain intact. That's why death is really not a new experience for me. In myself, and others.
[The hand over her face drops, resting on her knee, squeezing until her knuckles go white. She hates feeling exposed and vulnerable like this, but she trusts him. He won't take advantage of her, and he gets it. He's empathetic enough to know how hard it is, thinking on the past.]
I'm...not upset by death. My whole story is just steeped in it. I guess I'm just...tired of seeing it happen to decent people.
no subject
Yeah, he...he gets it. He gets why this is just another bump in the road for her, though he starts to wonder if she's ever going to get out of a cycle like that. Does that really make it any easier? Maybe. But definitely not any better, as far as he's concerned. ]
Okay...so, yeah, you're used to it. But that doesn't mean it's good that it happens to you.
[ Since she made the first move, he'll place his other hand on top of hers as an attempt at being comforting. ]
You're decent people too, you know.
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[And it's in the name of peace.
Rei's aware that they can't quite seem to catch a break but she does have some more good news for him. Something happy. Her eyes turn towards his, fingers curling around his.]
And you're right. No, it's not good. But it's done. It's...in the past for me. I've actually seen my future. There aren't any more enemies. We're aware of that. And when we turn twenty two, the world changes. We...change it. [Her eyes shut, and her lips curve into a wistful smile.]
We use our power to revive the Silver Millennium, and end war and famine and plagues forever. The world unifies under the new queen, and...everything's peaceful again.
[Until Death Phantom shows up in the 25th century, but that's something that they're not only prepared for, but forewarned about this time.]
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His eyes widen slightly. She does look...maybe peaceful isn't the right word, but calm. ]
...Yeah? That does sound nice.
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She perks up a bit, favoring him with a smile and carding fingers through her hair.]
It is nice, I think. I mean...isn't that what people fight for? A brighter future?
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Yeah...Yeah, I think so. However we can, right?
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We all have our battles to fight, and if we don't, who will? I know it's hard, God believe me I do. But it's worth it, don't you think? Knowing you did the right thing.
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Keep it friendly, right? ]
I think so. I used to think that getting recognition was important, but at the end of the day knowing that you did the right thing and helped someone...that's really what you're trying to do.
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It's better this way, Yosuke. Rei is like fire, and fire will burn you.]
Recognition is almost pointless. It's gratifying, but in the end...humankind is fickle and it's fleeting. To be honest, I think it's better not to be recognized. That way people can have their mundane lives, and go on with the lie that there aren't monsters in the closet or demons lurking in the shadows. It's safer that way. For everyone.
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[ He did think about that to an extent. People knowing that there weren't shadows, that some Goddess wasn't trying to continue an age-old feud to make a point and take the rest of humanity with it. But because of what they did, no one else will have to worry about it. At least for now. ]
I used to think life would be boring without getting to do stuff like that, but I think most people'd be happy just getting to live their lives. So if we can do something to help, then that's even better.
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[And yes, she's including you in that. Her hand squeezes his more tightly around his, because she wants to make sure he knows that she means him, but saying that out loud? That's probably a bit much.]
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I guess you'd know that better than anyone, huh?
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[She takes a breath, returning that smile just as radiantly.]
Thank you, by the way. For listening to all that. And for...being you.
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He can't help but laugh a little at that. ]
Ah...you don't need to thank me for either of those. I'm just glad I can get to know you all over again.
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[Turning, she pops up and gives him a quick peck on the cheek.]
You do get to have that chance. [And she gets the chance to confound him with a kiss on the cheek yet again!]
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Yosuke sputters for a second, then laughs. ]
Y-You really know how to treat a guy, you know that?
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I know how to treat my friends, Yosuke-kun. And you are that.
[No escape from reality.]