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

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...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Like...I don't know?

Maybe flirt with her or something? Make really romantic gestures?

Something you would read out of a princess story?

Anna-chan...we are a princess story...

[But she still nods along.]

I do plan to do all those things, at least. Nothing overt, but...definitely romantic.

Exactly! So it makes it even more perfect right?

[Anna, no]

Oh, oh! How about you sing a song to her? You think she'll like that?

Sing.

[Rei says that word like it's some sort of poisonous viper...]

I don't sing.

[Oh dear, Rei, you shouldn’t have said that because you know what Anna’s going to do now?]

That’s okay! Because guess what? I can teach you how to sing! Trust me, I’m a really good singer and if you follow me, you’ll get there in no time at all!

[Can you see the magical gleam in her eyes? It’s definitely there!]

[Rei doesn't want to encourage this. She really, really doesn't. This is edging into bad, bad territory and she takes a step back, folds her arms and fixes Anna with her very, very best "Stop" look.]

I can sing. I don't need a teacher. I don't sing.

[She is not a Disney princess, Anna. She's got issues and hangups and...this is one of the big ones. Her jaw tightens, posture rigid.]

Please drop this idea. I'm not going to change my mind, and Minako-chan knows why.

[While Anna might be pushy, she definitely knows when she's gone too far. As Rei gave her a very stern look, the princess quickly closed her mouth before she took a step back.

Well, this didn't go the way she planned]

O-Oh, sorry about that, I didn't know it would make you this upset. I didn't mean to come across as being too forward but um....

[Insert awkward pause. Of course, she wanted to ask why but maybe this was one of those things she probably shouldn't know.]

Yeah...sorry.

It's fine.

[Rei's voice softens just a bit. Her shoulders relax, since she knows Anna has no idea.]

It's just...personal. Really personal. Honestly if I started singing, she'd probably ask if I was sick.

[Anna didn't reply at first. She kept quiet for a few seconds as she scratched the back of her head]

Do...do you want to talk about it? It seems something really personal but it looks like it bothers you a lot.

I don't. It's...no offense? It's just something from a long, long time ago.

[Rei manages a weak smile, and squeezes Anna's shoulder.]

Sorry. Some wounds don't heal, that's all. I don't sing, and that's really about all there is to it.

Hey, don't worry about it! Sometimes there's just some things you don't want to talk about and that's fine!

[Even now, Anna wasn't even sure how to really talk about what happened back home either. Still, she gave a shrug before giving a chuckle]

At least look on the bright side, we'll just need to think some more creative ways to woo Minako! Like giving her flowers or roses or telling romance poems!

Flowers I think I can do.

[Rei sighs...]

But I'm not really wired for romantic haiku. That might be more difficult.

How would that be more difficult? It's just acting out and saying them right?

[...Riigghhttt?]

Well I'd have to write them. I wouldn't want to give her anything I haven't made myself, especially not if she's making me chocolates.

[A beat.]

And that reminds me, I need to find your gift too.

Well, that's true too. It seems a lot more nicer to have something done by yourself rather reading something someone else mad-

[With her words cut short, Anna just immediately stared at Rei with big wide eyes]

W-What? You don't have to do anything like that! I'm just happy with you being my friend so you totally don't need to get me anything!

[And Anna's totally not getting you anything! Not at all! Nope!]

Anna-chan. I'm sorry, but it's not about being more than friends.

[Obviously.]

It's just a holiday gift, for a friend. You're getting a gift.

Huh?

[Blink blink] Oh, no, it's not just that! It's just that uh...well, I haven't really gotten you anything yet? I mean, I was going to and I guess I kind of already have something for you but um...

Well...I kind of wanted it to be a surprise?

[Anna, you just sold yourself out!]

Who said you have to?

[Rei chuckles.]

But I won't say no.

[As she mumbled to herself, she began scratching the back of her head]

Well, I don't but it kind of ruins the fun of it...

I wanted to get you something nice for you and Minako but I guess it's not really a surprise anymore is it?

It'll still be a surprise. I won't know what it is, after all!

[Cheer up, Anna.]

[...]

Well, that's true too! But it'll still ruin the surprise because you know it'll be a surprise! And that's what will ruin the fun!

...If that makes any sense anyway!

...not necessarily. Maybe you can spring it on me in a surprising way?

So you're telling me to get creative in surprising you, is that what you're saying?

[Can you see the smirk on her? Because it's definitely there now!]

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Edited 2015-08-13 02:06 (UTC)

[As each second passed, Anna already had an idea of how to make this happen. It was going to be the biggest and most elaborate plan ever! She'll have to wait until they're both together to surprise them!]

Then just you wait! It’ll be really great and it’ll appear out of nowhere! I can’t wait to see the look on your faces when you find it!

[Nevermind that she already gave Rei a hint]

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

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