[Open] I find myself tryna stay by the phone...

[faithfulflame]

Who: faithfulflame & You
When: 6/19-6/23 (Including Robot Event)
Where: Rei's Apartment, TEXT, and various places around Cerealia
What: Minako Aino vanishes and Rei Hino copes.
Rating/Warning: PG 13, for language/mentions of violence and blood

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6/19: Introspection/Action Closed to Usagi Tsukino

[It'd been some time since Rei had woken up alone, not since before her birthday. Minako had been a steady, warm presence by her side as they'd slept these past months, right up until the previous night. Opening up had come more naturally, as she'd expected it might, with as comfortable as she'd become with the affairs of the heart. It still confused her a tad, but that seemed the sort of thing that was also natural. She loved her partner, loved everything about her, despite how the blonde vexed her so at times. That was just them, and she was so, so grateful for that soft, radiant presence beside her.

A presence that was, as of this morning, gone. At first when Rei woke up, untangling herself from the sheets she figured Minako had just gotten up early but that didn't track. Today was her day off, she'd said she was going to sleep in and if there was one thing Rei could be assured of it was that when it came to sleep Minako was not going to miss a wink. Rising quickly, she cast out her senses, feeling for the bond they shared.

And came up empty.

With a choked cry, she hopped up and looked around desperately for her CEREVice, or any sign that Minako Aino was still there. And again, she came up with nothing. Grabbing her own device, she ripped it open and searched contacts and a certain app, the bottom dropping out of her stomach. She had departed. The CEREVice tumbled to the floor with a clatter as Rei dropped to her knees, heart hammering in her chest as she clutched the fabric of her clothing.

She was gone. Just...just like that, the person she'd finally begun to really and truly let herself be totally open with was gone. Thoughts grew in her head like a wildfire, her entire body shaking as emotions welled up. She closed her eyes, slamming a fist down onto the carpet, a white-hot flash of anger shredding every single ounce of calm she had. Tears fell as she staggered to her feet, shambling over towards a nightstand and coming perilously close to pitching forward into the mirror in her distress. Her whole body creaked and wobbled while she mopped at her face with a handkerchief, the shock of seeing her face enough to trigger a reflexive attempt at maintaining her appearance.

Trembling, unsure of how to even process anything else, she heads out of the room and into the living area. Moments later, unsure of how she even got there, she wilted onto the couch with a mug of tea and sat there, quietly waiting for whoever might wander in. She had to break the news, she absolutely had to, but how to even begin. First Ami...and now...now Minako. Gone, when it'd been just hours before that she'd just fallen asleep next to Rei. Not even a full day ago they were planning to go out, Rei relenting and agreeing to go to a karaoke bar. And now?

Now, she was sitting on the couch in stunned silence. Completely and utterly unable to even sip at her tea.]

6/19: Text Network Post/Open Action

[The CEREVice broadcast is brief, and anyone who knows her will forgive that, she hopes.]

Minako Aino has returned to the Nexus Code. I will be unavailable to meet my social obligations for the next twenty four hours. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you need me for something desperately, I will be at home.

[After that, the message ends. Rei will NOT be answering her CEREVice at all, but visitors are welcome.]

6/21-6/23, Action around Cerealia

[After that 24 hours was over, Rei was again visible within the colony. She avoided any of Minako's haunts, places that might remind her of her partner, and instead stuck to places that were more her space. The trouble was that she had an abomination of a robot following her around, and while Rei bore this indignantly silently, she was clearly put out by the machine. A frown, an uncomfortably straight back, and occasional furious glances at the CERES Headquarters were telling pointers to her discomfort.

Each and every day Rei began with a trip to the gym for a strenuous workout, specifically the sections dedicated to kendo and martial arts. Her wooden shinai slapped against a practice dummy, or her robot's clumsily attempted blocks as she forced a spar. There was little pity in her voice the machine, devoid of a soul as it was, and if it was going to be “familiarizing” itself with her then it should get used to this side of her. The martial arts section of the gym would similarly be filled by the sounds of fists slapping against a punching bag, or the indignant squawks of a robotic Rei hitting the mat hard.

Once noon arrived, and Rei'd worn her knuckles almost to the point of bloodying them, she departed and made straight for the park to meditate. Disturb her at your own risk as she sits out beneath one of the safer trees under Phobos and Deimos's watchful gaze.

And after somewhere between three and six hours of meditation, Rei simply disappeared from the city. But friends that know where to look...or just people who frequently look up or hang out on rooftops. She and her servantbot both are darting from rooftop to rooftop in a head to head parkour style race. Long legs carry her easily, a path she'd run a thousand times. Calling out to her is the best bet, though stepping in her way will get her to stop as well and earn an annoyed glare. Yes, she's pushing herself, and yes she's doing something dangerous, but focus. Getting her mind off of it. That's what's got to happen, and she knows it.]

Wildcard

[As always, wildcard me bro!]

Comments

[unpreparer]

[As the park was the closest thing to familiarity he could get without choking after a few hours, Illidan often frequented it. It wasn't uncommon for him to see Rei there as well, so he thought nothing of it at first. After some time, however, something seemed off. She would usually give him some sort of polite acknowledgement, even just in passing.

Perhaps it was nothing but an oversight on her part, or something of the like. Still, he decided to greet her himself instead. His ability to be decent was just a skill pushed aside, rather than forgotten. So he dropped from his perch in one of the larger trees and made his way over to her, dipping his head in greeting.]

Priestess.

[faithfulflame]

[It wasn't that Rei didn't want to greet him, and it wasn't an oversight, it was more that she simply hadn't noticed him. Her mind was scattered, unfocused, and completely unable to pick up on the usual signatures of life, right now.

She does break her meditation though, breath hitching and eyes starting just a bit as she hears him. If there was any clue needed that something was wrong, it was that.]

Illidan. Hello. Forgive me, I didn't sense you.

[And somewhere, deep down, that bothers her. She rises up and bows formally]

It's good to see you.

[unpreparer]

[He remained quiet for a moment, taking in her reaction. Something was obviously troubling her, and he didn't see a reason to dance around niceties while ignoring it.]

Something troubles you.

[faithfulflame]

[Illidan, as always, cuts through the veil of politeness in a way that Rei actually appreciates.  She knows she doesn’t have to beat around the bush, and she can say what she means with him.  It’s helpful, in a way, so she gives her answer straight out.]

My partner and my love, Minako.  She was returned to the Nexus Code this morning just like Ami.

[unpreparer]

Priestess...

[Again he's quiet. If there was anyone who understood the weight of such a loss,it was him. Though the circumstances were very different, the pain was no doubt the same.

He reached out an placed a hand on her shoulder, lacking his usual awkwardness with such gestures.]

If there was ever a pain that I would not wish upon you, it is the loss of a love.

[faithfulflame]

[The touch was strange, moreso for the absence of his mannerisms than the contact itself. A huge hand, a tiny shoulder, and for once in her life Rei actually feels small. Her head hangs at the words, but there's still a spark in her voice when she speaks. She is not broken, merely hurting.]

It...it does hurt. But she is not dead. There is that much mercy in this hell.

[unpreparer]

Not dead, true, but that hardly alleviates the pains from her absence.

[He let out a sigh, and let his hand return to his side. He knew she would be alright, he always had great faith in her character. But he remembered going through the loss of Tyrande's heart... and the somewhat reckless and poor life choices he had made thereafter.

Not that he would ever admit that, but he did not want Rei to follow his footsteps and do something foolish, nor did he want her to be alone as he had.]

I shall not tell you that it shall fade away, or that it shall work itself out, because it shall not fade, and no one can know if it shall work itself out. But I can tell you that it can become.... bearable, in time.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei nods slowly, taking a deep breath while she stares down at the ground. She knows, really, that he's been through similar. That he's had millenia to get used to the idea of what happened, and that they both know her situation is different. She's grateful, truly, for those words. Wrapping her arms around herself, she exhales.]

We will be reunited. I know this. I know that when this is over...we'll return and I'll...be there with her. I may have to tear this place apart stone by stone, and brick by brick to get there, but I will.

[Her shoulders shake, eyes flitting upward. She's not crying, she won't cry again. It's been a day, and she's indulged that side of herself enough.]

And it's thanks to you...that I can at least be assured she wasn't taken to that place.

[unpreparer]

You are fortunate in that way, and I am certain, if you have chosen a mate with even a fraction of the spirit you have, that she will be fine regardless of what happens.

[A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth seeing her resolve. It was one of the traits he respected about her. Still, he couldn't imagine that her sitting around alone with her thoughts would be very good, so he placed a hand on her back to gently encourage her to walk with him while they spoke.]

Just do not follow my lead and go charging across enemy lines just yet. I do not think your mate would be pleased if you returned to her with tattoos and a blindfold.

[faithfulflame]

[The encouragement was helpful, and she gladly starts following along, letting him lead. The two birds take flight, circling overhead to keep up. She looks up at him, resisting the urge to just gush about Minako a little bit and instead forcing herself to keep an even tone.]

She’s the leader of our order. She has more spirit than anyone I know. And I think…she’d be more upset that I went charging off alone than she would by any tattoos. Not…that I plan on getting them.

[Truthfully she couldn’t imagine going through whatever process he’d gone through would turn out well for her. He’d said it before, demonic magic clashing with the light of Mars might cause a terrifically bad imbalance.]

[unpreparer]

[He couldn't help but be reminded of how he would once speak of Tyrande, when he was far, far younger. Though her reaction is far more subdued than his was. Not that that was necessarily a bad thing, probably the contrary really.]

You handle this far more gracefully than I did in my youth. [He chuckled a bit.] I would almost say it was a shame. You would make for a talented demon hunter I believe. Though I doubt the goddess would agree with me.

[He was half kidding. Sort of. ME meant his words, she would make for an exceptional demon hunter, but he was aware that was not her path in life.]

Tell me more of your mate, I saw her about, but never spoke with her.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei sucks in a breath, forcing out a wheezing laugh. She had been through the worst of it already.]

I cried for a day, and did nothing but eat sweets and throw them up. This is me after two days, though I'm glad you missed seeing me at my worst. [She doesn't really need to say anything about being a demon hunter though, she could do it...she did hunt demons, but actually training the way he had was not her role.

The subject of her love though?]

Her name was...is...Minako Aino. She's roughly the same age as I am, and a talented athlete. She wanted to be a musical performer, a singer, before her powers awakened in her. She's always sided with her duty, rather than her desire, though. She's a soldier, in the same way I'm a priestess. She's not all that good at strategy, but she's good at leading, leaving strategy to Ami who I know you also met.

And, she's the Goddess of Love, as I am the Goddess of War. We've always had feelings for one another, but duty kept getting in the way. Here though, it was different. We had chances, so we took them.

[unpreparer]

No worse than I.

[Though he really had no idea why anyone would eat that many sweets. Granted he didn't care much for sweets in the first place. He's eaten things far less socially acceptable though, and was well aware he had no room to judge.]

So I see, and what will become of things should we free ourselves from this place and return to our respective homes and times?

[faithfulflame]

[It's a girl thing. Specifically an Usagi thing.]

I...don't know what will happen. If she remembers this place, I suppose the answer is simple. As is far more likely, she will not. So we start over. We both came from the beginning of peaceful times, and our duty shouldn't interfere any longer.

I know she loves me. And that's...really all that we need.

[unpreparer]

Then you have little to worry about. We merely need to get the situation here taken care of so that we may return.

[And he's certain that will happen, whether he has to force it himself. He did not doubt his abilities to form a portal to his homeworld, what he did doubt was that he'd be able to do so without collapsing his world like what had happened to Outland. He'd figure something out.

Though he could not completely begrudge this place, as much as he hated it. Part of him was a bit envious of Rei, who could return to the one she loved, while he was destined to a far less kind fate.]

You are lucky... to have something to look forward to upon your return.

[faithfulflame]

I'm...luckier than most, even if I'm presently cut off from my dearest.

[Rei admits that rather freely, she knows she is, despite her foibles and problems. She's in a better position than him, certainly, and most people here. It makes her feel bad, in a way, for being so self-indulgent. enough that she reaches up to pat his arm.]

You know, when this place is done with, you don't have to return to your world, if you do not wish it.

[unpreparer]

[He glanced around at the contact, then briefly looked down at her, assuming she had be been trying to get his attention for something. After a moment, when it dawned on him it was meant to be a gesture of comfort, he straightened up. He was still adjusting to such gestures again, but it was still a gesture appreciated.]

No, my duty lays in Outland. There is something I must face if my world hopes of standing a chance of survival. [He scowls as he continues.] And to be honest with you, I would much rather face my death against an endless army of demons, than to live out the rest of my day in this wretched place, with its obnoxious hunks of metal walking about.

[faithfulflame]

[He did deserve them. Anyone trapped here did.]

I didn't say you had to stay here, you know. You've slipped into the cracks of another world, and I'm sure those in mine could find a way to help yours too.

[Yes, that was an offer, and one she wouldn't rescind. If he needed a refuge, there were worse places.]

[unpreparer]

Your offer is kind, priestess, but in doing so you would endanger your entire world.

[There was a temptation in the offer, truly. Simply abandon Outland, and leave Azeroth to its fate. He held no loyalty to them, and he finally rid himself of Maiev's relentless pursuit. But there was Kil'Jaeden's wrath to consider, there was no doubt he would scour the Great Dark Beyond for him, and likely raise his hiding place to the ground. He had faith in the Rei, of course, but there were some things even out of her league, and the Burning Legion was one of them.

And of course there was that tiny small shred of morality, that he loathed, clinging to the thought of protecting Tyrande in some round about way.]

[faithfulflame]

That choice is yours. But my offer does remain. My world is defended, and not merely by me and mine.

[There were other things, the Dark Dome, the Sailor senshi throughout the galaxy, all of that. But still, she understood.]