(Open) Come on, choose one. You mustn't be afraid.

[faithfulflame]

Who: Rei Hino faithfulflame & You! This is open!
When: 2/1-2/6 (7/10-7/18)
Where: All over Cerealia. Entertainment District, Shopping District, Residential District, Research District
What: Rei goes out to check on some people, take care of some business/be social, and spend time with various people.
Rating/Warning: None save maybe language? Will update as needed.

---

I. Residential District:

[Today there's a young woman walking rather briskly through the winding streets of the residential areas. She's got something on her mind, a focus and more than a few worries weighing on her of late. There are questions she has, and people she needs to talk to. If it happens that she brushes past you on the street, there may even be a palpable sense of heat following her despite the chill. Her control is slipping, and she needs to get answers and information.

She's heading for specific apartments, preceded by a simple text message request to speak. Athena Cykes, Nonon Jakuzure, Simon Blackquill and England can all expect to hear from Rei at some point, but there are other people she's checking up on. CR can assume they're on this list, I cannot list all of you!


II. CERES Gym:

[Rei's kendo training is coming along well, and she's showing up at the gym even when she doesn't have classes with Sousei to practice both that and her archery, sometimes late into the evening. Her hands are steady as she holds the shinai, and her eyes are focused on each target she looses an arrow at. To an experienced observer she's much more comfortable with the bow, but she's seemingly taking to the bamboo sword rather quickly. Sweat and hard work may not be particularly dignified, but given how insane everything's been lately? She's willing to just give up on that for now.

Hard at work, she may not notice observers until she pauses, or practically sinks down next to a water cooler. Grab her however!]


III. Research District:

[Realizing that her control is in fact slipping and has for a day or so, Rei makes her way to the hospital to get a quick checkup. It's not that she's worried she's overdoing it...but she is, and she's hardly foolish enough to let the signs of stress go unanswered.

After her checkup, she heads out of the medical facility wearing a very severe frown, looking around and hoping she's not going to run into anyone she knows. That's probably not the case, knowing her luck, but she can hope, right?]


IV. Shopping District/Auto Shop:

[This is a bit of a whim of hers, but one she's decided to indulge. It's not like she can't afford something nice, and after the scare with the buses and trains recently it has a bit more practical application. So, here she is, browsing the selection of motor-bikes available. She's actually considering it seriously, simply to have an alternate way to work.

Look out roads...]


V. Closed to Minako Aino:

[The Shopping District was something alright. The selection of things to eye-shop and possibly by rivaled and probably exceeded downtown Tokyo, but Rei'd never quite admit it. She'd also never admit to Minako that she was letting all this stress and worry get to her, but it seemed the blonde had picked up on that without prompting. At least, that was what the raven-haired priestess had assumed when she'd been told that they were going out that evening for shopping and dinner, so that Rei could 'Loosen up a bit!'

And with no choice in it and the matter settled, here they were, outside a large department store. Just before Valentine's Day...]

Comments

2

[zenryokuzenkai]

[ Nanoha mostly did cardio when she wasn't occupying herself with simulation training, but she also enjoyed watching other people's practice. It was something between an occupational hazard and the hobby of a mother of a martial artist.

Besides, dojos were nostalgic.

For her own target practice, Nanoha would need something closer to a gun range. Probably bigger. But she could definitely appreciate someone who knew how to shoot.

So here she is, watching Rei while sipping from a bottle of water. She's taking a break, not just creeping on younger girls. Really. ]

Good work out there.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei looks over at the stranger and swallows her water, dipping her head in acknowledgement of the compliment. It was nice, even from a stranger.]

Thank you, miss. I appreciate it.

[zenryokuzenkai]

You're more than welcome. My daughter does - did - martial arts so I've just gotten used to watching. Sorry if it seems a bit strange, haha.

[ People have told Nanoha she was a little too friendly, but oh well, how bad could it be? ]

I

[shacklebreaker]

[The text message is unexpected, but not unwelcome. So Blackquill is already waiting for her as she arrives, answering the door with his usual grim demeanour. Apparently he makes no effort to tone it down, even when receiving guests.]

To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, shrine maiden? If you've come to drive out evil spirits, you'll find they're rather scarce here.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei simply smiles, shaking her head and drumming lightly on the cover of a notebook she'd been carrying with her.]

I had wanted to ask you a few questions, Simon-san. About a few topics not related to dark spirits. I've had quite enough of those for one month, as it is. And to thank you for telling me about Archer's little trick, with the swords.

IV

[sjokolade]

[All Anna wanted was a break.

After what happened a couple of weeks ago, she just felt like it was time to spend a day all by herself without work getting her way! However, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, she already knew what she wanted to do for her friends! As she wandered down the shopping district with a bunch of stuff in her hand, that's when she spotted a friend nearby

Uh-oh, this was one of those rare times that Anna didn't want Rei to see her here! When she quickly made a left turn to a store close by, hopefully she won't be able to see her!]

[faithfulflame]

[It was hard for Rei not to notice when she was being watched, and when someone was avoiding her. Some tingling pressure, likely due to her lack of control, told her to just look to one side...and she did in time to see Anna stepping around a corner.

And into the same store Rei was going to anyway.

She trots ahead briskly to keep up and taps the redhead on the shoulder.]

Anna-chan, how are you?

iv

[unluckless]

[Komaeda is less interested in the motorbikes, more poking around accessories for them. Not that he has one -- there is way too much that could go wrong if he and his luck were to drive driving one -- but Hinata does, so he will ride with him. He may or may not be looking for a surprise for him.

But when he catches sight of the young woman looking, he'll pipe up.] Are you thinking of getting one? They really come in handy around here I think. At least, Hinata-kun's seems to.

[faithfulflame]

[And Rei happens to have met Hinata. Her eyes flicker over to the stranger and she smiles coolly. Not unkindly, just the sort of smile one would give a stranger.]

I am, actually. I've been thinking about it since the incidents with the trains and buses a week or two ago. Having my own transportation would be better than relying in potentially troublesome public transit.

[A beat.]

And Hajime Hinata-san?

I

[shikisha]

[ Nonon's home, seeing how she texted Rei when she'd be back. For obvious reasons when she opens the door, dressed casually in just pink cotton pajama pants and a blue zip up hoodie, she's not exactly in the best mood, a lollipop sticking out of her mouth, with a jar of sour patch kids in her arm. ]

Do you want to come in or something?

[faithfulflame]

[Rei, holding a notebook in one hand and a basket in the other, looks down at the sour and candy covered member of the Lollipop guild and nods.]

If it's not too much trouble, yes. I thought I'd check up on you, and...well, I brought you something. And I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind. I don't know how wise asking on the CEREVice will be, though.

iv

[swordboning]

Are you sure you're old enough for this?

[He's eyeing a bike hesitantly. He doesn't need terrors on the road as another worry in his life.]

[faithfulflame]

I'm of legal driving age, yes. Why do you ask?

[Look, she's 18. And has a millennium of memories beyond that...]

[psycholawgy]

I'm at Simon's. [ is all she replies with, which pretty much means that Rei is more than welcome to visit. She is, of course, unknowing that Rei also has some business with Simon. But perhaps it's when Simon's out or something that Rei catches Athena at the apartment. ]

[faithfulflame]

[It isn't surprising, all things considered. Athena and Simon were obviously close. But she does wait until Simon is out to come by. Not because she didn't like him (she did, actually quite a lot.) but because she had a secret to share that wasn't Simon's.]

Knock knock!

iv.

[rubyinferno]

[There's a girl over near some of the motor-bikes. She appears to be tinkering with one, a somewhat serious expression on her face. The one in question isn't particularly nice looking--especially compared to the others--but Pascal is giving it some special attention anyway.

She peeks over it when she notices Rei and offers a friendly wave.]

Hiya! Looking to buy something? [She works here mostly behind the scenes repairing and building but she'll greet the customers that wander in if she can.]

[faithfulflame]

[Tinkering? Well, Rei doesn't really know what she's doing, but the sight of someone working that obviously knows what she's doing is always good. She eyes the tools, not the bike itself, before focusing on Pascal.]

Actually yes, I am. I assume you're one of the mechanics?

iv.

[journaler]

[Getting into the spirit of Valentines' Day has kept Leia busy. She finds herself at the shopping district, gathering more heart candies and more materials to give out/sell for the occasion, so she... isn't exactly looking at motor bikes, but she does pass by the Auto Shop on her journey.

...She peeks in. She's reminded of Yang, but spots another familiar face entirely.]

Rei!

[faithfulflame]

[Rei turns at the sound of Leia's voice and smiles, waving and stepping away from the bike she'd been looking at.]

Leia-chan! Hello there!

IV

[unathletic]

[ The first thing - for once, considering Heung Soo isn't that great with people anymore - that registers with him when he looks through the display window of the store is that hey, that's Rei in there.

.. but the second thing is that it's a motorcycle store.. and girls don't really do that where he comes from. Not a lot, anyway. He sure couldn't imagine most girls from his class doing that sort of thing, if any at all. So he stops for a moment, staring through the window for a few moments until he manages to catch her gaze when she looks that way, raising his eyebrow as if to ask her wordlessly what she's doing. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei turns, almost missing him as she looks past him, trying to discern why she feels like she's being judged. And then she does, and returns the look with an arched eyebrow of her own. She waves, hand out, telling him to come inside so they can talk.]

iii

[deontology]

[Rei's got bad luck today, honestly. Sousei doesn't spend a ton of time in the research district (less, even, since the tours), but he's here now, because he can't give up on his habits of patrolling and looking around just because he doesn't like the district much.

Of course, spying Rei with such a grim look on her face is enough to get him to pause, arching an eyebrow slowly.

Naturally, he approaches.]

Hino. Is something wrong?

[faithfulflame]

[Cursing under her breath, she looks up at her teacher and friend. Her cheeks are red, and she has to take a deep breath before she can really answer.]

I...hello, Sousei-san. [She's not sure which would be worse, him or Minako seeing her right now, but she's definitely feeling about ten inches tall right now.]

N-no, nothing's wrong. [Obviously a lie.] Just getting a checkup...

V derp da derp

[idolater]

[Minako's keeping a tight hold onto Rei, arms linked as she steers them around. she is the one pointing and laughing, and herding them from one side of the street to the other in one breath. Minako loves shopping, generally enjoys her job, but mostly, she loves being with Rei alone.

this does not mean that she misses the rest of the girls, or that her mission is in jeopardy. she still thinks about Usagi every day, wonders if she and Mamoru are all right, and worries about the future. but today? today is all about Rei, and making her smile]

Ooh! That scarf is super cute! [Minako points to it. it is a little blue and white striped wool scarf for the cold weather, and a white cat is printed on it] Oh, and look at this hat! [she makes a kyaaa! sound]

darp darp

[faithfulflame]

[The fact that Minako's holding on so tight is pretty meaningful to Rei. After all the talking and chatting they've done, and that she's done with her friends from Cerealia this week? A chance to spend honest to goodness alone-time with Minako doing something that the blonde loves is a welcome one. She generally only humors her friend when it comes to shopping, but she's actually making careful mental note of things that draw Minako's attention. Not the little things she exclaims about, but the ones that draw lingering looks.

She also appreciates the chance to work off some stress. Yes, she was worried about Usagi, Makoto, Ami, Mamoru, and the others? But Cerealia had it's own problems too, and they weighed on her just as heavily. Worry about Nui Harime causing trouble, Ryuko and Athena's well-being, Simon's general state, and following up on Ryuko's request to check in on Nonon. The little troll was a bit difficult, but she'd get the hang of it. It didn't hurt that in a lot of ways? She reminded Rei of a much more psychotic, foul-mouthed Usagi. In Chibiusa's body. But that didn't need saying, now did it?

In any event, Rei's enjoying herself, allowing Minako to lead her around and just kind of reveling in the sights, scents, and general enjoyment of being able to let go and be a little selfish. If only for a bit.]

That scarf is really lovely, and so is the hat. [She points over towards another item, a pair of mittens with cat's paw pads.] What do you think of those? Wouldn't they be cute with the scarf?