interstellar5555 | Sometimes you just gotta talk [Closed]

Entry tags:

Sometimes you just gotta talk [Closed]

Who: Rei Hino & Koumei, possibly others.
What: Rei talks to some people? Sort of a catch-all
When: February
Where: Vista City
Warnings: None except maybe language.

The news was difficult, a text and then nothing. It didn't matter if they'd split up before then, it still hurt seeing it and knowing he was gone. Somewhere, presumably home. A bitter pill, but one she had to swallow for the moment. Of course she wasn't about to leave it at that. A quick call and a few curt promises and Rei was out and about to meet someone. Sitting in the lot of a favorite cafe, her little car idling, she waited for that walking mop of red hair. When it appeared, she beeped lightly, not wanting to get out into the cold.

((ooc: Closed catch-all for a few scenes. If you want to catch Rei, poke me on Plurk and we can discuss a scene.))

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"Well, sometimes just talking about it to someone you can trust can help, I'm sure the Doctor or Miss Luce will be more than happy to listen," she offered since she wouldn't dare count herself among Rei's trusted as things were now.

"Or distracting yourself helps too," she didn't take a seat, because she didn't expect to stay. Staying would have to imply Rei wanted to be around her and she made it absolutely clear that she needed to go slowly. Usagi didn't really know how to do friendship "slowly." So she was just trying to be polite.

Ami would be so proud of her.

"Distracting myself is sort of what I'm trying to do," Rei said softly. She also slid over, a silent invitation to sit, though it would be on Serena to take the hint. Rei off stage wasn't much of a talker, and this girl still made her nervous, but she could at least politely allow someone to sit.

"But it's not the kind of thing you can talk out. Yosuke and I broke up. And then he was fired."

Usagi was sorely tempted to sit down. She wanted to, of course. She wanted to be beside Rei at every opportunity when not with Minako and Haruka. She wanted to hug the other girl tight and assure her that things would be alright, to tell her everything.

She could pick up on the hint and wondered if it would be wise for her to sit down. But then, when had she done anything wise? She swallowed and took a seat next to Rei, yet couldn't bring herself to look at her. She focused on her knees because if she looked at Rei, she would want to hug her.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Miss Hino," she offered gently. "And that he got fired." Fired... wait, fired, no one rescued him, so where had he gone! She swallowed and couldn't help but wondered what being 'fired' meant in this place. Was he okay? She prayed he was. She wasn't sure she could bring him back in this place.

"Is... is there anything I can do?" she bit her lip. Was that too forward again? Too much? "I understand if you don't want to, of course," she offered quickly after the question. "You... know... if you don't mind my saying... sitting alone on a park bench isn't going to help you get distracted."

Rei let out a breath, honestly more bothered by how Serena was clearly more on edge than she was than the presence of the girl at all. It was nervewracking, knowing that she was missing something, and that because she was missing something it was upsetting this other girl, but she bit down on a sharp comment.

"Honestly, I don't even know anymore," Rei said, looking down at her hands and squeezing her knees. "I've spent the last few days writing songs, or trying to, and it's just a jumble. Do you have a cure for writer's block? Or...some special words of inspiration? It's pretty obvious that I mean something to you in that...other life..."

She waved a hand at the park, "before all of this. So what would I do in this situation if there wasn't something horrible going on?"

She pressed her lips together and pulled at her fingers in thought. Should she really tell her?

"Well, I think the best cure for something like that, is to do something fun, maybe something different and new. As for... words of inspiration, that is a little harder. You... never had a relationship like the one you had with Yosuke. Not with anyone. Uh... you actually super hated men with few exceptions." Like Mamoru, her grandfather of course, Artemis... "But..." she tilted her head and leaned back.

"I think it's good you care so much, isn't it? It means that you really put your heart into the relationship, that it mattered. If you had broken up, and it meant nothing, then it makes you wonder why you were even in that relationship in the first place, why did you stay in a relationship that meant nothing, right? But I think you should get out of your head! We can go do something together, if you want? Does this place have an amusement park or something? Or maybe we can go to the aquarium or even just the mall. Some place where you wouldn't normally go so you don't focus on what you aren't doing and just something new and fun!"

That strikes Rei in an odd way, her eyes jerking up to look at Usagi. It wasn't...exactly...news. She'd always preferred girls to guys, found them easier to get along with, generally found them more appealing, heck she'd even gone out with Gaige and Nariko a few times before finally committing to Yosuke. He was a good boy, but hormones and fun aside, something had nagged at her. It wasn't right.

"That...makes a little bit of sense. When we were intimate together, that was nice...but we didn't really connect the same way I felt we should. Good things, yes, but that's not really a big surprise. That I like girls more. Obviously, he matters to me, he always will. But I can't say I would've married him." It was fun, harmless fun.

"As for going somewhere. I think I'll pass on the amusement park and the aquarium, but the mall? That's okay. I tend to avoid it, when Luce isn't around. If you don't mind me driving us there?"

Usagi didn't really clarify that Rei hadn't expressed an interest in women either because perhaps she had and Usagi had missed it. She seemed to be missing a lot of things about her senshi and that...

That hurt. But she nodded and tilted her head. Marry?

"You never wanted to get married, I don't think. You..." she pressed her lips together, realizing she honestly shouldn't say more.

"Ah, the mall is fine! And... sure, if you don't mind me in the car?"

The hurt makes her eyebrow twitch slightly, and she almost...almost...rethinks the invitation. But no. This was the work of Blanche, not Serena. She'd have to get used to the girl.

"I'll be fine. I'm not frightened of you, Serena. I'm just...a little frightened of everyone, in a way. I don't really want to push you away, though, especially since I'll probably enjoy myself. Once I push myself to socialize, I usually do."

If Rei wasn't frightened, she had a somewhat weird way of indicating that. Still, Rei had never been one to lie, she hoped that still applied even with the brainwashing.

"Well, we don't want to push you too far out of your comfort zone, but don't worry, if need be I can always walk myself home if you need to leave early. Ah... er, unless we go really far, of course. I only know of one or two malls."

It was true, she wasn't scared. She was more unsettled, and there was a wide difference between them. It was just difficult being around someone who made her head hurt like that, and there was nothing for it.

"If that happens, I'll pay for a cab, don't worry about that." Rei smiled gently, and admittedly that was a very real possibility. But a part of the aim today was to again provide aid to these mysterious people. She knew she should be helping them, and that they were out for her benefit, after all.

"We can get you some new outfits, while we're at it."

"REALLY!" Usagi clasped her hands together and smiled bright. Ah, she'd love some new outfits.

Except she suddenly waved her hands in front of her, shaking her head.

"Ah, I can't have you spending money on me like that! You worked hard for it!" Even if it was all apparently magic and brainwashing, Rei had still gotten up on stage to earn all that.

"You already said you'd spend a cab on me and now you are going to buy me outfits?" she knew she couldn't fight too hard on this since Rei would get angry at having her intentions questioned much more.

"But let's go let's go let's go!" she reached out and was about to grab Rei's arm and hug it close. Only she stopped in mid-motion and pulled her hands back and smiled, a little more subdued, a little more restrained. "Sorry, let's... ah, let's go."

"Serena," Rei drew herself up to her full height and looked right at the blonde, her jaw set tight. This wasn't something she was going to stand for.

"Let me make some things perfectly and completely clear. I, not you, dictate who and what I spend my money on. And I, not you, get to decide what is and isn't too much. You clearly came with Alex and Di to do something for me. You won't disclose to me who or what I am. I understand you want me to be patient. I accept that. However, I want to help. I'm strong enough to lift a small car, and I can feel how much being around me hurts you. I cannot use those talents yet, presumably because the individual who brought me here is keeping tabs on me."

She exhaled, fists clenched tightly.

"So you are going to let me help you. It's not much, and it's money that I can pass off as spent on myself in the wake of a failed relationship. I'll also be sending you home with gift certificates for the other two. I don't understand fully what's going on, but I was brainwashed. I know that. I figured that much out. I don't even know how far I can rebel, but I know that I'm becoming more myself. And I know that person isn't the sort of person who wouldn't help someone doing her a favor."

A beat.

"Do you understand?"

Edited 2016-02-28 07:14 (UTC)

Usagi really hated being short sometimes. But she wasn't scared, she could never really be scared of Rei or any of the girls, because they loved one another too much. She suspected that despite the brainwashing, the spirit of Mars would act if either she or Minako or Haruka were in real danger. She wanted to answer all those questions. She wanted to say everything right then and there.

At the mention of her hurting her... She pressed her lips togehter.

"Okay Rei." She smiled, not at all upset at Rei's comments. It was like having the old Rei again. She nodded.

"I understand."

She tilted her head.

"It... the being patient... it's... I know it's hard. I... I might have screamed by now if I was in your position."

"It... I'd... I'll answer questions about... about you. About things that are just about you back home, if you want? And... if it gets to be too detailed, I'll just say 'pass.' Ah, but you're so smart this might be a bad idea. You're the only one who can keep up with our precious doctor," which is what they had nicknamed Ami in case she ever showed up.

Rei nodded curtly and started off towards the parking lot, and her little coup. It wasn't much, but it was transportation that was hers and not tied to any label. It was big enough for her band and all their instruments too...if tight.

"That's fine," she said as they walked, hands slipped into her pockets. It wasn't that she didn't think that Serena might like to hold hands, it was more than...with Yosuke and Di and everything, it was hard to willingly bring herself to touch anyone.

"How many of you are there, in general?"

Usagi hopped alongside Rei, able to keep up since the girl was rather good at needing to go fast.

"Pass."

She suddenly said, not able to reveal their numbers.

"I said about you back home, Rei," she offered softly as they headed for the car. "But uh, Diana, Alex, and I are all from the same home."

"I understand that. I was hoping to spring more into asking if I'm one of your number, or something else entirely," Rei replied briskly as they approached the car.

"Am I?"

"You're someone we love very much, family in every way but blood," though plenty of that had been shed they may as well be.

It was as much of a "yes" as Rei might get without a direct one.

The lack of a direct answer annoys her, and she opens the car door wordlessly. It takes her a few moments to nod and unlock the other side for Serena.

"I've already surmised it's unlikely I am a musician. Is that true? And if it is false, then what am I?"

"Well... uh, you play the piano. But no, you aren't a musician back home. You're training to be the head priestess at your family shrine."

Usagi took a seat and buckled up. Was Rei mad at her again?

Probably. Rei turns the car on and starts out slowly.

"Head priestess. So that much was true. Do I have family?"

She tilted her head as she looked out the window.

"..... You have relatives... and a family, but they aren't one and the same," she said softly.

"I don't know if you want to hear this one, Rei."

"I do," Rei said sharply. "I'll have to go back eventually. It can't be any worse than what Luce is dealing with. Please don't treat me like I am a doll, I won't break."

She was silent a long while as she stared out the window. She wondered if she was doing the right thing. These were all Rei's memories, so if she suddenly remembered, it wouldn't endanger the other rescuers.

But it could endanger Rei, and that idea terrified Usagi.

"It's not that I think you will break, but it's phrasing like 'I'll have to go back eventually.' I don't... want to say something and make you think 'oh how much better it would be to stay here,' that's what scares me."

She couldn't look Rei in the eye, because then Rei would realize how scared Usagi was that this world of fame and fortune and most of all, family, would be the place to stay. That Usagi would be the one to rip that all apart. How many times would Usagi have to see a loved one get twisted and turned into something they weren't?

Would she ever be strong enough to protect them all properly?

"But... your mother, your real mother, she passed away. You wear a pendant that she gave you at all times. You live with your grandfather at the shrine, he loves you very much and doesn't see any issue with you inheriting the shrine. Then... then there's your father. You... don't like talking about him much, you barely acknowledge him if you can. He's very wealthy, a politician too, but you don't depend on him at all except to pay for your education."

Edited 2016-02-28 09:22 (UTC)

"I'd rather be a little hurt than afraid for my life and my memories," Rei said, practically snapping that out. She didn't like the way this was being phrased, and she hated the very notion of having something so basic being withheld.

The revelation is born with quiet dignity, though. Her face doesn't change, just stays set into a hard line. Her words don't tremble. Not a bit.

"They didn't change that in my memories, then. I have no mother, I hate my father, and then there's Grandpapa. He's nice, but I remember leaving the shrine to pursue music. So, a small lie."

She's not talking about her band family though. That's...a different issue entirely.

She doesn't flinch at the snap, she doesn't think Rei can't handle hard or difficult matters. She's a senshi, specifically, she's the senshi of war. If anyone can handle such a thing, it's her. She watched as the city rolled by, still only look out the window and she listened as how they hadn't changed her past regarding her parents. How interesting.

She was reminded of the dream.

Rei had asked her this then too.

Afraid for her life and her memories... that first part.

"Do," she swallowed and pressed her lips together. "What is your next question?"

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