7th Prayer: Some Time Away...[Video/Action]

[faithfulflame]

Video

[Rei's Warp Band pops on today to show an exasperated looking priestess stalking away from the living quarters of Hikawa Shrine. It's a positively lethal look she's got going on, as if anything trying to stop her would probably wind up spontaneously combusting. And the reason for it becomes quite clear a moment later as a small green hand shifts the camera back to the house.

A Kanghaskhan stalks out, both her arms and her baby's laden with packs. Big, bulging backpacks and small shoulder ones stuffed to the gills. The big Pokemon lumbers after Rei, bellowing out irritable sounds that to Poke-Speakers will sound oddly like 'You can't just go off without your extra blankets! And don't you forget your hair-care stuff! And make sure to remember to bring enough clean clothes for a whole week, since you're not taking me so I can wash it for you!'

The camera pans back to Rei as she reaches the stairs to the shrine, where she's stopped to glare at the overly mothering Pokemon.]

Juno! I don't need all that! I can't carry half of it, and I've been traveling a lot longer than I've known you!

[More bellowing, this time indignant. Of course you do! And she knows that, but now that you've got her, she'll definitely have to mother you because Grandpapa Hino sure can't! Just...

And that? Sparks something in Rei. She stamps her foot and practically snarls, snatching one of the backpacks in exasperation.]

Fine! But you're not my moth- [The words die in her throat as she catches sight of the flashing Warp Band.] CERES!

[The Warp Band drops to the ground...]

Treecko! Tree!

[And scampering off across the courtyard goes the offending Pokemon, cackling to herself as Rei goes to grab the band.]

Sorry about that. Someone is going to get a lesson on Warp Band etiquette when I get back. [She glares back behind her at the retreating lizard.] If anyone needs me, I'll be on the southern island for the rest of the week. There won't be any fortune telling at Hikawa Shrine this week, unless my grandfather is feeling up to it.

[She grimaces at the thought...]

Though...only if you really need one.

Action: The Tropical Island

[Rei's pretty much down on the island all week with a small group of her Pokemon and Ami. It was something they'd planned, and something she really needed. The Enhanced had been a mess, and Rei was quickly finding herself overwhelmed with all the goings on around Union lately. And while Juno was nice, but she was stressful. And Ceres...that damn lizard...was so frustrating.

Yes, relaxation was definitely in order. And who better to do it with than someone else who also needed that rest and relaxation?

She'll welcome people coming to say hi, too. She just really, really needed a vacation...]

Comments

[second_destiny]

A-and why would Rise follow me?

[He's wondering if she figured it out. Did she?]

[faithfulflame]

Because you two are close?

[She's observed that much via the warp band, boyo.]

[second_destiny]

Ah, it's more than that. You see, we're...dating.

[faithfulflame]

Oh! Well congratulations then!

[second_destiny]

Ah. Thanks. To be honest, you're the first person I've told outside of my family.

[faithfulflame]

Oh? Why is that?

[second_destiny]

Well...partly because opportunity came, and partly because I trust you.

[faithfulflame]

I'm glad to know you do, at that. But why keep it hidden at all?

[second_destiny]

It wasn't so much keeping it hidden as it was just not telling anybody.

[faithfulflame]

Fair enough. I thought it was something people shared, but...

[To be fair? Rei and romance? mmmm, no.]

[second_destiny]

Eh. Kind of feels like bragging to me. And I don't like bragging, so I just didn't bring it up.

[faithfulflame]

I don't think so. It's not as though Rise-san was some prize you won. She's someone who makes you happy...

[second_destiny]

Yeah. And I know that. But think about how our parents' peers would act.

[faithfulflame]

Since when does what our parents think matters?

[second_destiny]

My parents already know. Or at least Mom does. But I'm not concerned about my parents. I'm concerned about people who aren't family giving me that kind of treatment.

[faithfulflame]

[That gets a frown.] And why does what they think matter?

[second_destiny]

Because I don't want to see them treat Rise that way.

[faithfulflame]

Why would they? I mean, honestly, isn't she famous or something?

[second_destiny]

...Oh. That's a good point. I forgot about that.

[Asemu never paid attention to popular music until after he met Rise, and by then she had already quit.]

A-anyway, I just want people to treat Rise like a human being.

[faithfulflame]

Anyone who's worth a damn will do that regardless of who she's dating.

[second_destiny]

Yeah, I guess so. Maybe I'm just worrying too much. I keep thinking about how long it'll be until I'm head of the family, even though I know that Dad isn't ready to retire, and probably never will.

[faithfulflame]

There's no reason to rush into that sort of responsibility, no...

[second_destiny]

...I guess there are still some ways that I want to be like my dad in. Kind of shows I'm his son, huh?

[faithfulflame]

That's your prerogative then. If I ever start acting like my father, I want you to shoot me.

[second_destiny]

...I don't even want to picture that mental image.