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

[al_truism]

[Al shuts his eyes, but not before pain crosses them. Usagi's always been nothing but kind to him. She's always been there for him, for everybody. ... he doesn't often cry anymore, when someone leaves, but now he's blinking back tears. One of two get away from him.]

Ah...

[flameandpassion]

She's needed.

[She's off-camera, now, because enough people have seen her completely lose it. But something is off, in Rei's tone. It's not full of the usual determination, the fire, the need to succeed.

It's completely and utterly hollow.]

At home. She's needed there.

[al_truism]

[That hurts worse, somehow. He'd wondered what it would take to finally break Rei. Everyone breaks, eventually. Everyone reaches their limit here. He draws a shaky breath and wipes his face.]

... y-yes.

[flameandpassion]

[Rei lives for her duty. Sometimes, in Adstringendum, it's all you have, is your duty -- and with each passing week, Rei's resolve has weakened, but her need to protect Usagi has always remained there. It's the reason she pushes forward, and gets up every morning, and fights, and stays strong --

And now, Usagi isn't here.

Hino Rei is the backbone of the senshi. But without a leader, the guard has no one to protect. The cracks started by the departures, by the constant fighting, by the onslaught of utter failure, were always healed over by Usagi, and Rei's mission -- Mars' mission -- to fight to the death for her.

And now, Usagi isn't here.]

...

[She can't say anything. Her breathing is uneven, now.]

[al_truism]

[He knows. He understands, perhaps better than anyone. To have someone precious, someone you stake all your faith in. That one person who can hold you together even when the rest of the world goes to hell.]

... you want to come over here for a little? You and Ami?

[flameandpassion]

... I can ask her.

[al_truism]

There are spare rooms. You're welcome here as long as you'd like.

[Because the temple's so damned empty, really.]

[flameandpassion]

-- it's fine.

[The senshi need to stick together and the Temple reminds Rei so, so much of her shrine at home. She's reluctant to leave it.]

[al_truism]

I meant for a visit.

[flameandpassion]

... Michiru, Ami, and I can come over for dinner sometime.