(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

[deontology]

[... Yeah, she's basically holding a giant sign that says "Something is definitely wrong". He slowly tilts his head to one side, eyebrow arching.]

A checkup? What for?

[He doesn't want to pry a whole lot, not really, but...well, it'd be a lie to say he's not concerned.]

[faithfulflame]

[Ick. That's not what she wants to talk about...]

I've...been coughing some. I didn't want to catch anything.

[Said far too quickly to be the truth. Her eyes close and she just...waits for a minute.]

And I'm a terrible liar, aren't I?

[deontology]

Yes, you are.

[It's an automatic, simple response. He's not quite fond of the fact that she feels the need to lie to him, but...sometimes it's necessary, he knows that much. They can't always speak of everything in their lives, after all.

He crosses his arms and arches an eyebrow at her.]

Are you going to tell me what's wrong?

[faithfulflame]

[She snorts and looks away, disgusted with herself, because that was really rude.

Her answer is immediate, automatic, almost dull.]

Would you believe me if I said I was worried about friends to the point of coming apart?

[deontology]

Yes.

[It's easy to respond to that. Even if he doesn't seem like the sort to express similar emotions, well...he can't successfully be a lone wolf either. He knows that much by now. Trusting in others is a required part of living, as troubling as it can be. And thus...losing people is just as frightening.]

Is there supposed to be something shameful in being so concerned over your friends? There is not.

[That's just being human, he thinks.]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei looks at him and shakes her head.]

No...it's not that. It's just. You know I've got psychic talents right?

[That she keeps under tight control.]

When I get really worried, I grow less in command of them. and I should be better about that.

[deontology]

[...Ah. He hadn't even considered that at all, but now he arches an eyebrow slowly.]

Is that so.

[He's woefully untrained in this sort of thing; while his own abilities are well under control, it's more a lack of having an outlet for them than anything. He's certainly no onmyouji.]

And are there ways for you to improve your control?

[faithfulflame]

Focus. Discipline. I was hoping there was some sort of medicine, but no, not this time.

[She closes her eyes and sighs, walking over towards an empty bench.]

It's bad, when I can hear emotions without thinking. I hate it. It's...well, it feels invasive. And loud. It's been like this since the incident with Ryuko Matoi-san.

[deontology]

[He follows; it's clear this is a talk that needs to happen, so he'll stay for awhile as well if she's also willing.]

Ah. I see. I was unaware you possess that ability.

[The ability to hear emotions is not one he possesses (he thinks he should be thankful for that), but it very much does sound invasive.]

And what methods of focus and discipline did you use in your own home?

[faithfulflame]

[It does need to happen, probably.]

Not many people do. I hate talking about it.

[She really hates it, it puts people on their guard, makes them uncomfortable, and she's lived with that for far too long already.]

At home, I would spend time with my close friends. Only one of whom is here. Or I would meditate, but this place...I don't know, I have trouble focusing. I'm not in control here, I'm not in my shrine, finding my center is elusive at best.

[deontology]

[... Yes, those are two problems right there. Okay, so if you only have one friend here, and find it hard to find a place to meditate...]

... Perhaps it is time to find a new place where you feel entirely comfortable. Would your friend be able to assist you in that task?

[And then it's two-fold--it would give Rei some time to hang with her friend as well, and maybe stabilize her just a bit.]

[faithfulflame]

You mean a new shrine? Or an actual meditation chamber?

[I'ts...a good idea, and Minako would be more than willing. There are a few snags with that though.]

Because I'm not sure there's a place as...spiritual...as that here. Everything, as you know, is very artificial.

[deontology]

Then you may need to make one yourself.

[He knows this much, at least. It may not be a proper shrine if she makes it herself, or anything quite so carefully constructed as what they're used to back home, but creating your own space is a spiritual act in and of itself. It may not be perfect, but...]

That can be done, even in a place such as this. If you carve out your own space, there can be no questioning its authenticity.

[faithfulflame]

Yes, I suppose that's true enough.

[A snort. As she'd certainly tried...but]

And home is as much Minako-chan's space as it is mine, now. You're right. But that doesn't solve the immediate problem, really. I need to find something to distract me, while I sort that out.

[deontology]

A distraction, is it?

[Well, he might be able to help with that, though he doubts she'll enjoy it.]

When my squad requires distractions, I usually assign them extra laps. [The faintest of quirks of his lips.] It is difficult to be troubled when you are too exhausted to think.

[faithfulflame]

And you want me to do extra practice, is that it?

[She snorts. That sounds like you.]

[deontology]

[And perfectly straightfaced--]

It will keep your mind off of things, should you train hard enough.

[sousei pls]

[faithfulflame]

I spent most of today at the gym training already.

[Oh lord...]

[deontology]

[she already knows where this is going...]

Indeed? And yet you're clearly still thinking too hard about this.

[so not enough]

[faithfulflame]

I...see your point.

[Eyebrow lifts.]

Sensei.

[deontology]

[Have an eyebrow lift in return!!]

Well then. That would be my advice, if you decide to take it.

[faithfulflame]

I'll...keep it in mind.

[And give the suggestion genuine weight, really.]

[deontology]

Regardless, that is all I have to offer you. I cannot help you with your meditation, unfortunately.

But should you have further concerns, I will listen to them.

[Whenever there are some...it's the least he can do as any sort of "sensei", really.]

[faithfulflame]

Not...at the moment. [Truthfully, she doesn't necessarily want to talk about Minako...and that ... yeah.]

But, actually, Ryuko Matoi-san. You heard about all of that, yes?

[deontology]

I've heard of the situation, yes.

If nothing else, it is something to keep in mind; there are the means here to imprison us should they so choose, and the laws they may use to do so could be flexible.