52 [Accidental Video]

[flameandpassion]

[There's a series of slammed doors, when the PCD turns on -- anyone who has been inside of it will recognize the Temple of Heaven -- and anyone who pays attention will see that the reason for the slammed doors is quickly approaching the device.

Rei is opening doors, looking inside rooms, and slamming them shut.

Over. And over. And over. And over. And over.

It's a large temple, after all. There are a lot of rooms to look through.

But once Rei has reached the final door, the one closest to the PCD, she is breathless, her fingers are trembling, and she yanks it open with much more force than absolutely necessary. The door slams into the adjacent wall and the PCD manages to look inside it, quickly -- an empty, unused room -- before Rei slams the door shut so hard that the wall shakes.]

Damn it --

[It's choked through a sob as she turns away from the PCD, her shoulders trembling, as she struggles to get ahold of herself. The trembling soon turns into full out shaking and Rei turns, her back hitting the wall, so she can sink to the floor, her hands burying themselves in her hair as she cries.

Sometimes, it's just one last straw to finally break the camel's back.]

Comments

[flameandpassion]

[There's a tiny laugh.]

Well, thank you.

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

But, welcomes aside--that still leaves the question, doesn't it?

[flameandpassion]

What question?

[Is she playing stupid or did she honestly forget? Who knows.]

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

The one about pretending.

[flameandpassion]

Pretending?

1/2

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

You don't have to look like that! I'm only curious, that's all, about the manners of things here... Are we pretending that you're all right? Would you rather people didn't ask?

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

I suppose that makes my questions very impolite, if you do...

[flameandpassion]

... there's no point in pretending that I am.

[Everyone saw the video and Rei herself looks like a mess.]

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

Isn't there?

[flameandpassion]

Why would I lie when everyone saw the stupid recording?

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

People can discover all sorts of excuses.

[flameandpassion]

You can see me however you want to see me.

1/2

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

I wonder...

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

Shall we say truthful, then? Proud? A little defensive?

[flameandpassion]

[Her eyes fixate on Vincent's. All true. Rei won't dispute them.]

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

I see. It is a pleasure to meet you, then, Miss Rei.

[flameandpassion]

I'm glad.

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

In that case... will you be all right?

[flameandpassion]

[No.]

I have people in this city to protect.

If I weren't all right, they would suffer because of it.

1/2

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

Now, that isn't very fair!

[flameandpassion]

[... is he laughing at her -- ]

What's so funny?

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

Just now--that was a bit of a cheat, wasn't it?

[flameandpassion]

... it's not a cheat.

[With something a huff.]

It's the truth.

[haruspicate.livejournal.com]

That may be... but duty isn't a real answer.