March 5, mid-afternoon | Video

[cursemarked]

[Rei looks incredibly sheepish when she turns the video on, running a hand through her hair. In her other hand is a little kitten that some might recognize from Duo's post before It seems to find nibbling on her fingers an agreeable past time, and Rei doesn't seem to mind]

I think I might need Cats Anonymous. I can't seem to resist anything cute and helpless... I'm going to become one of those women soon. [You know, crazy cat ladies or something. No one to talk to but her cats and the dog that looks like a loaf of bread]

This makes three cats and a dog so far. I might need to be stopped.

Ah, and I hope everyone who joined my photography class got their cameras and are practicing already. I'll be starting classes officially on Monday. It's not too late to sign up, either!

[Private to Kotetsu and Barnaby]

[Speaking of cute and helpless]

I don't suppose I could convince either of you to take one of my cats, could I?

[And on a more serious note as she lowers the kitten onto her lap] I'm sure you're already aware that someone else from your world arrived and was in the hospital. [...And now that she thinks about it, she never did get his name. Damn.] I just wanted to make sure he's okay. It was alright that I told him you were here, wasn't it?

[As nice as he'd seemed there was always the risk of him being an enemy, after all]

((OOC: I didn't put up any official sign-up sheet for Rei's photography classes. Assume that if your character would be interested, have seen the sign-up sheet by Rei's art gallery, and signed up-- OR if they talked to Rei and expressed an interest, that they've received a new camera from Rei! Nothing overly fancy, but it's a camera and it's theirs!))

Comments

[timelessummoner]

We did not understand it at first, either. However... [Sigh.]

His sister -- Akane Tsukigata -- was to marry Lord Tento, a local god worshiped by the villagers. It is customary for the Tsukigata daughters to Lord Tento to ensure the prosperity of the village. Akane-san was prepared to fulfill her duty, whereas Dahn... Well, he was determined to spare her from that fate at any cost.

[He pauses, his expression growing darker.] He wanted power to overthrow Lord Tento... or rather, as we found out, the Tento lords.

[cursemarked]

Does... the bride die, if they do this? [That's the only way she can see someone being so against this. And really this is just reminding her of the rituals and things from back in her own world.

It's always some poor girl prepared to do their duty before something comes along to mess it up. A doubt, a love, another person (or all three at once), and it makes her heart ache.]

[timelessummoner]

No... Death might be a more merciful option. [He's quiet for a moment.]

The Tento lords are an underground-dwelling tribe of... well, I am not quite certain what they are. They look like somewhat humanoid insects, but I know they are not demons.

The portion of them that are in contact with the Tsukigata family detest humans and see themselves as wronged gods. They provide the assassins with their unique weapons in exchange for their daughters, allowing Tsukigata to survive and prosper.

[cursemarked]

[Yeah, uncomfortably close to some of Rei's experiences with the rituals that she's uncovered. Although at least it's weapons and not a gaping gate to hell. That...helps, right?

She says nothing just sliding a comforting arm around him again, quietly urging him to continue]

[timelessummoner]

[Raidou is silent for another moment. The Tsukigata case had been what made him second-guess himself again. He had done what was his duty, and yet... it was not the right thing to do.]

...I saw what happened to the previous bride. She was still alive in those caves. And despite that... I helped protect Akane-san's marriage ritual from Dahn.

[cursemarked]

[She rubs his shoulder lightly, trying to think of what to say] And you don't know if you did the right thing?

[timelessummoner]

I don't know if I could have done anything else, with the Capital in danger... But I can't call it right.

I suppose it may not matter anymore. In the end, neither my actions nor Dahn's saved anyone.

[cursemarked]

Raidou... [She trails off lightly, sympathetic, and pulls him in some. Her head rests against his, quiet and comforting, quietly encouraging him to talk more if needed]

[timelessummoner]

[He swallows. The warm gesture makes this easier and harder at the same time. It's comforting, but it's unfamiliar as well.]

The despair of the Capital opened the Infinite Abyss -- the Gate to the Abysmal Realm. Dahn's plan was to control the Apollyon monsters that came out in order to defeat the Tento lords... But they did not listen to him and began to wreck the Capital instead.

[cursemarked]

[She only understands about half of what he said--So a portal thing opened and monsters came out and started wrecking everything? Rei releases a breath; poor Raidou. Too much shit he never needed to deal with.]

What happened to them? Did you stop them?

[timelessummoner]

No. I woke up in Death City immediately afterwards.

[Well, almost immediately. There had been that dream... but he's not sure he wants to talk about that.]

[cursemarked]

[What a terrible time to have brought him back then.} I'm sure everything will go okay, Raidou. It'll turn out well, once you get back on the case.

[She smiles at him, trying to be reassuring] I believe in you.

[timelessummoner]

[He meets her gaze and manages a small smile.] ...Thank you.