(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

[faithfulflame]

[Totez not judgin' Just wondering why you frontin'

But in all seriousness, she huffs a half sigh, half laugh]

Well, I was hoping for advice from someone with a bit more experience with Valentine's day. I...want to give someone special a gift they won't forget.

[A beat.]

And I've never actually...celebrated the day before.

[sjokolade]

[See Anna, see Anna have a huge smile on her face as she nudged Rei on her elbow.

Of course, it didn't stop the giggle fest she was having either.]

Oh really now? Then you know you have to tell me who this special someone is! You can't leave me hanging because that means I need to help you make this the most special Valentine's Day ever!

[faithfulflame]

[Shit! ABORT, ABORT!

Rei turns bright red!]

I...um...M-Mina...ko.

[That comes out more as a squeak than anything. She is embarrassed okay?]

[sjokolade]

[You see that smirk on Anna's face? It's definitely showing alright. As she gave a giggle, she crossed her arm as she leaned closer]

Minako huh? You know, I met her the other day and let me tell you something, she has told me a lot about you! And I mean a lot!

[Trololololollolol]

[faithfulflame]

W-What?!

[Rei's face turns a brilliant shade of red! What had Minako said?! Oh! W-What?!

Normally she wouldn't get so flustered, but Minako was chatty, and Rei had definitely admitted very suddenly that she had at least some feelings for her. She'd kissed the blonde, after all...]

What did she say about me?!

[sjokolade]

[And this my friends, was where Anna was going to play matchmaker for them! Or at least, get them to set up a date anway!]

Ooohhh you know, about how much she likes you and how much she wanted to impress you! Those kind of things? Typical Valentine's Day stuff if you ask me!

[But really, all they talked about about their world but she didn't need to know that just yet!]

[faithfulflame]

You...she...what?!

[Rei blinks, completely confused by that statement because that's not at all what she expected! Minako liked her? Minako...wanted to impress her?]

[sjokolade]

You heard me, she wants to impress you! She wanted to make some chocolates for you, silly!

[As she gave a giggle, she was hoping this plan was working as well as she thought!]

Or maybe I should have kept that secret?

[faithfulflame]

Chocolates? She was trying to cook?

[........

god save us all....]

[sjokolade]

Yea of course she did! Why wouldn't she?

[Pause] Uh, unless it's a bad thing or something...?

[faithfulflame]

Minako-chan is almost as bad at cooking as Usagi-chan.

Please tell me she had help.

[...that wasn't just you...]

[sjokolade]

Well....it's more like the other way around? [She said as she gave a small wince]

Kind of like she was helping me out?

[And notice how her voice gotten quieter with each passing word]

[faithfulflame]

Oh.

[Hah...hah...]

Well, did it turn out well? Have you tried it?

[sjokolade]

[Yeeaaahhh about that....!]

...If I said that it could have gone better, what would you say?

[In other words, it failed...badly]

[faithfulflame]

I'd say it's par for the course. She's very, very sweet and enthusiastic. But...there's a reason I do all the cooking.

[Hah...]

[sjokolade]

Well at least it proved to be a good lesson right? That you should never mix of water with chocolate! Even if it does get burnt!

[...No, not really]

B-But anyway! Enough about that! What about you? What are you going to be doing for Valentine's Day anyway?

[Hooray for subject change!]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei just sighs...

She'll make a cook out of you yet!]

I'm planning on giving her a few gifts, and taking her out to dinner, if she wants to go. I'm thinking of something candlelit.

[sjokolade]

[Quick, we need a montage with this song!

But until then..!]

Oooohhh, something romantic! That's a good start! Don't forget the mood too! You really need to keep up with the atomsphere too! That's the most important thing!

[What are you doing, Anna?]

[faithfulflame]

The mood?

[Rei blinks a little bit, almost taken aback by Anna's enthusiasm.]

The atmosphere? How should I do something like that?

[sjokolade]

Like...I don't know?

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

Something you would read out of a princess story?

[faithfulflame]

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.

[sjokolade]

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?

[faithfulflame]

Sing.

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

I don't sing.

[sjokolade]

[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!]

[faithfulflame]

[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.