(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

[shikisha]

Upset isn't even in the right key. I'm pissed off, at Ryuko, CERES and everything having to do with this stupid colony.

[ So yep, holding up just fine, nothing to worry about here. ]

...What did you bake? [ Nonon perks up a little, taking a small sniff toward the basket, obviously more than a little interested in what's inside. ]

[faithfulflame]

It's not really anything special, but here.

[Rei opens the basket and inside is a sizeable collection of sweet things. Cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls to pure for this world...and a bottle of white wine. That she had bought, though she wasn't sure Nonon drank.]

I guessed that you liked sweets...

[shikisha]

[ Okay, Nonon's eyes open a little wide. Not anything special? All those sweets. ]

You guessed right. [ Already she's reaching to take a cookie and pop it into her mouth, because what's unhealthy about eating sweets to make the fact that your girlfriend is in jail feel better?

That wine bottle though... could be dangerous. She's never really drank before. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei's baking skills are actually quite good. Nothing bad about that cookie at all. She's learned from Makoto, and has had ample time to practice. Just don't ask her to make anything incredibly complex.]

I wasn't sure about the wine, but I had it on hand. I drink occasionally, now that I'm of age. But I can take it back if you don't.

[shikisha]

[ Nonon's pleasantly surprised it's good, plopping down on the couch next to a teddy bear and pulling the basket up besides her to take a cupcake out next. But she hasn't forgotten about Rei. ]

..I don't really drink. But I guess you're right, I am of age now I could if I wanted to...

[ She just doesn't know if she wants to. ]

So what did you want to ask me?

[faithfulflame]

[Rei shrugs and pulls out a glass, popping the cork and pouring herself a small bit before taking a seat.]

Well, I'd like to ask you about several things. [She takes a sip and shrugs. It's alright, a bit tart, but not too bad.]

Would you like me to start with the difficult topics, or the light ones first?

[shikisha]

You going to drink it now?

[ Nonon is surprised to see her pouring a glass, but figures... ] I'll try it.

Go ahead and ask the difficult ones, there's no point in putting them off.

[faithfulflame]

Some of it. It's here, and it's cold. And it's not very strong.

[Rei's not planning to get sloshed or anything, and when she pours Nonon a glass it's only a quarter of the way full. Passing it over, she smiles. And Nonon might note the wine is sweet, it is weak (deliberately so for Rei's benefit, she's a twig), and it's just a bit tart. More like a grape juice than anything really super alcoholic.]

And my first question: Harime Nui. Is she capable of framing Ryuko-chan like that?

[shikisha]

[ Nonon appreciates that it's not overly bitter at least, because that would have been more than enough reason not to drink any of it.

But that question has her pulling her legs up onto the couch with her, watching the wine in her glass swirl. ]

She's capable of just about anything. She's a bonafide monster, she doesn't care about anything else here than Ryuko. She's obsessed, and she's stronger than anything I've ever seen.

[faithfulflame]

Do you know why? I mean, that's pretty extreme for high school.

[Rei leans back, head resting on the back of the couch. It's comfortable, at least. And the place smells nice.]

[shikisha]

You're asking me to explain a lot here.

[ Nonon isn't sure how she feels talking about it but... ]

She's not in high school, because she's not a real human. She works as REVOCS Grand Couturier, and is Ragyo's go to assassin. She's killed more people than an army, and her strength is beyond any human level.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei had decidedly not expected that answer. Her eyes flash with surprise, lip quirking in…she guesses surprise, and after a moment she frowns deeply.]

That…explains a few things. The names don’t have any meaning to me, but I assumed she was dangerous from the start even without the context. She’s a murderer, and that’s all I really needed to know.

[Taking another sip, the dark haired girl closes her eyes. This was treading close to territory Rei didn’t really want to think about either, but Nonon was showing her some trust, even if just a bit. To her that meant: take advantage of it. Learn, so that threats could be better dealt with by everyone.]

Is she actually dead, do you think?

[shikisha]

[ Nui is so cute, she knows most people wouldn't understand that she's a cold blooded murderer, and that pissing her off is tantamount to suicide. ]

She killed Ryuko's father. And Satsuki-sama's too. There's a reason why when Ryuko found out about it she went completely berserk.

[ She won't mention exactly how that worked, but it wasn't a good sight.

Nonon sips too, barely even recognizing that it's alcohol now. ]

Athena said no one can really die here. When they die they just get turned back into code. But Ryuko's scissor blade is special. I don't know.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei nods, closing her eyes and taking all that in with a sip of her drink.]

Other people have died here. Nui-san will return, probably. Unfortunately.

[She fixes her violet eyes on the pink-haired girl, and nods again, this time with a quiet surety. Confidence has never been something Rei's lacked, but now there's an almost zeal-like quality to her words.]

A problem that can be dealt with when the time comes. If it comes. And hopefully it won't.

[shikisha]

Before we got here, Ryuko had cut both her arms off. But when I fought her the night of my opening performance, she didn't remember that happening at all. It was strange.

[ As if everything about Nui isn't strange... ]

If you do see her, don't even try to fight her. Ryuko and I have weapons that are made to kill her. It's safer that way.

[faithfulflame]

[Somehow none of that surprises Rei. But her smile sharpens slightly, tone growing faintly more sarcastic. This is the second time that's come up, and she doesn't appreciate being talked down to. And panfandom rp being a weird animal anyway...]

Nonon-san, your concern is appreciated. But I don't know what she looks like, and she doesn't know me. However, if she does attack me? She'll be in for a few unpleasant surprises. Though given her fixation on you and Ryuki-chan? I don't think I have anything to worry about outside of your company.

[shikisha]

[ She definitely didn't mean to bring it up twice oops She just nods, reaching back into the basket, taking out more cookies to munch one. Because wine and cookies are a good combination, so very classy. ]

What else did you want to ask me?

[faithfulflame]

[So very.]

Well, I wanted to ask you for some advice. Because you've done this a lot more than me.

[She frowns, not really sure how to just ask this. But part of this is for Nonon's ego, so that she and Rei can get on better at Ryuko's request.]

What would you get someone you cared about for Valentine's?

[shikisha]

[ She looks up from her cookie, assuming the question has to be about music, or fighting or...

Love advice was definitely not what she was thinking, her brow raising at the question. ]

Chocolate of course. I can't imagine a girl like you hasn't gotten Valentine's chocolates before. Though I know how much of a pain that can be, with everyone expecting you to return the favor on White Day. Eventually I just had to give up and buy all my girls chocolate as a group because I couldn't remember who had given me some.

[ Wasn't she supposed to talk about someone she cared about? ]

But anyways, something homemade is what you want. It may be cliche, but that doesn't mean that you can't make something that puts your feelings into words for you. Sometimes the littlest gift can make the biggest bang.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei nods along with all of that, amused that Nonon assumes she likes a girl. She's not wrong, but it's still an interesting thing.]

Something homemade, then. Homemade chocolate might be more trouble than it's worth, since she'll know. [Living with her and all.]

But what makes you think that whoever I like has been given chocolates before? [Almost like she's implying something there. And as far as she knows, Minako's never been involved with anyone.]

[shikisha]

[ Oh, she had assumed it was a boy honestly. That's why she said she was confused she didn't get chocolates. But it seemed like Rei wanted to GIVE a gift instead of receive one after all.

Because when Rei says 'she' Nonon's interest level goes up. ]

Oho, just who is this girl? Maybe I know her.

[ That question makes her shake her head. ]

I never said she had. But giving chocolate for Valentine's is obviously a well worn cliche, for better or worse.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei's face turns even redder at the renewed scrutiny. She was fairly sure Nonon didn't know Minako, but...she's misheard something ]

Minako Aino, a friend from home. [Moving past the slip...]

But I haven't accepted gifts for Valentine's day before either.

[Rei, who went to an all girl's private school, presented herself as an icy person? Yeah, no. Despite her good looks.]

[shikisha]

[ Okay, that's kinda cute. Nonon can't help but smile at seeing that look. That same look that Nonon has definitely made before when thinking about Ryuko. ]

I'm sad to say I don't know here. But I imagine she must be here if you are planning to give her a present.

[ She shrugs, but her interest level is definitely high. Girls who like girls... it's something new to her. ]

At all? It's rude not to accept them at all. [ The question of whether Rei was offered them at all is really no question at all, of course she did. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei simply shrugs in reply, offering a fairly icy tone at the comment.]

It's more rude for a boy to offer them to someone they don't know at all. I accept gifts other times, but not holiday candies. There's a certain expectation there.

[shikisha]

Who said anything about boys?

[ Not that Nonon wouldn't accept it all, because she fucking loves candy. But it's not likely that she ever gave anything back to them. She's just a heartbreaker~. ]

Well, you that expectation with your friend don't you?