I'm fine, but shouldn't I be asking you? I mean I can't...do anything about the past but...I never knew it was actually supposed to kill you if Pluto hadn't stepped in. What was that even about?
[...so no, he's pretty spooked by those implications.]
No, I'm alright. You're the one that saw something nobody should have to see.
[She's a soldier. That's...really all there is to it.]
But it was trying to kill us, yes. Nemesis was alive. Or near enough that it decided to act consciously. I don't know how except maybe Death Phantom possessed it, but it came to Earth, and when it saw that we were about to undo it's work it came at the planet. I guess it thought it would be better to destroy Earth and kill whoever was left alive than to conquer it.
Pluto stopped time. [It cost her life to do so.] and we combined our powers to stop it. It gave us a chance to save the future. Which we did. So, it's alright.
Rei, I know you're a soldier and I know this is your job but...how can you just be okay with this kind of thing and these kind of sacrifices and situations? [It's something he's not sure he'll be able to understand on that level specifically.] I know you saved the future, but at what cost?
Hiro, believe me when I say I didn't used to be. I've been doing this for years now, though. That's why I'm okay with it. I did...and do...what I have to do to make sure that people get to live an ordinary life. Without worrying about a monster, or fearing that the Earth might be destroyed. I'm okay with it because it's the right thing.
[Rei takes a breath and smiles wistfully.]
It's what heroes do. You sacrifice things to do the right thing. I saved the future, and it cost me nothing except having a mundane school life. I gave up on that when I turned ten, you know. And the dividends paid out for that loss far, far outweigh the loss.
[It makes sense to him. He thinks it makes sense, anyway, and it's important enough that he's sitting up straight and listening. He's already rolling those words around in his head and taking them to heart. And in that moment Rei, in fact, has just become cooler than she already was.]
...think I'll ever get to that point? [A light laugh.] I mean I'm not a magical girl or anything but...I'd like to be able to make sure people get to live an ordinary life and keep them safe without thinking about it.
[As if she'd expect anything less, 'little brother'. Rei ruffles his hair affectionately and nods.] I think that if push came to shove? Yes. You'd do the same. I don't want that for you, but I know you would do the same if you had to. [A breath.]
But hopefully there are no monsters where you're from. You're trouble enough.
Hey! [But he ducks his head under the hair-ruffling and laughs a little. She has a fair point, and that weirdly makes him feel better to know someone else believes in him.] I think we're pretty free from monsters...but it's something to think about. Thanks, Rei.
[A grin.] ...are you feeling better? We can actually get lunch now.
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We have similar attire. [And weak laugh.]
I remember that moment, though. You okay?
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[...so no, he's pretty spooked by those implications.]
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[She's a soldier. That's...really all there is to it.]
But it was trying to kill us, yes. Nemesis was alive. Or near enough that it decided to act consciously. I don't know how except maybe Death Phantom possessed it, but it came to Earth, and when it saw that we were about to undo it's work it came at the planet. I guess it thought it would be better to destroy Earth and kill whoever was left alive than to conquer it.
Pluto stopped time. [It cost her life to do so.] and we combined our powers to stop it. It gave us a chance to save the future. Which we did. So, it's alright.
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[Rei takes a breath and smiles wistfully.]
It's what heroes do. You sacrifice things to do the right thing. I saved the future, and it cost me nothing except having a mundane school life. I gave up on that when I turned ten, you know. And the dividends paid out for that loss far, far outweigh the loss.
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...think I'll ever get to that point? [A light laugh.] I mean I'm not a magical girl or anything but...I'd like to be able to make sure people get to live an ordinary life and keep them safe without thinking about it.
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But hopefully there are no monsters where you're from. You're trouble enough.
[=D]
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[A grin.] ...are you feeling better? We can actually get lunch now.
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Yeah. Let's do that.