flameandpassion | 59 [Video]

59 [Video]

[For a moment, all you can see is the rainbow fuzzy face of a lamb -- until Rei pushes it out of the way with a scowl. She looks harried, tired, and is holding half of what appears to be a set of bed sheets. The other half seems to have been eaten.]

Is this week over yet? Because I really want it to be over. And if one more sheep tries to eat my sheets drying outside, we're having mutton tonight.

[She pauses, though, and looks -- slightly more serious.]

And -- I know this is Shura's thing, but anyone who went to the Inner City -- do you mind telling me what everyone found? Is everyone okay? Any new information? I know all of us who went in first would appreciate getting all of the facts to see if any headway was made -- or if the scientists were found. So... let Toushirou or I know so we can cross-check our facts.

And I'll definitely give anything I found over, too -- fair's fair.

[And then the public feed cuts off.]

[Filtered to Anna // Private // Unhackable]

Are you and Castiel okay? What happened to him?

[Filtered to Castiel // Private // Unhackable]

You're an idiot. Where are you?

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[No, not at all, thankfully. It had been a simple fight between siblings over a subject they were both worked up about. Of course, then it had gone more than little too far. He's ruffled a little by the dismissive comment, as well as the general insult even if it was accurate and for the most part he agrees, responding a little snappishly.]

Five year olds don't torture each other for saying something they don't like. Lucifer's simply a self-centered bastard.

[Castiel usually reserves cursing for special occasions, and underneath the apparent calm he's actually furious.]

[Rei arches her eyebrows, at the curse, before she leans forward slightly.]

You'd be surprised. Five year olds are capable of really cruel things if they're left up to their own devices. I beat up a bunch of boys with a baseball bat once for destroying an artifact in my temple.

[She pauses, though, before she rests her chin in her hands. She, too, looks pretty calm, but the word 'torture' unsettles her, and if that's what Lucifer actually did -- ]

What did he do to you?

[Castiel just sort of looks at her at that admission, honestly not too surprised. He could see that occurring.]

I suppose I should confess I know little of human children. However, they should have had the sense not to damage something of yours.

[He pauses, deciding how to explain, before responding in a controlled but coldly angry tone.]

Other than the expected physical violence, he forced his hand into my chest and attacked my vessel's soul.

[Which was both excruciatingly painful and offensive, but mostly Castiel was so incredibly angry because Lucifer had gone after Jimmy's soul instead of Castiel himself. The angel's grace would have been just as easy a target, but Lucifer had picked the innocent third party.]

[She starts, involuntarily, at the information, looking briefly horrified.]

Are you -- is he -- okay?

[But then something else nasty occurs to her, and her horrified expression morphs into something slightly sadder, and Rei drops her hands into her lap.]

Is that what you can do, with the souls you wanted to take?

['Have taken', Rei amends silently.]

[He's about to respond to her first question, when she asks the second. His eyes narrow and his jaw clenches briefly, and he's up and storming a few paces away, all tension and anger wound up, arms crossed hard over his chest.]

No. I don't damage the souls I use, especially not intentionally. And I don't deal with ones still in a living creature unless absolutely necessary.

[He certainly didn't go corrupting the souls of innocent people just to get back at someone else, either. He fails to see any connection at all between what he does and what Lucifer did.]

[She remains seated, perfectly still, watching him move. She's silent, for a long moment, to digest his defense, before Rei decides to say what's hanging between them:]

You still use them. And to use them, you have to take them out.

[But before Castiel can get angry with her properly, Rei holds up her hands and shakes her head slightly, to drop the thought and potential argument. It's not worth the fight.]

But more importantly -- are you okay?

[He has an argument ready for that--that he never had to at home because they were the souls of already dead beings and that here it would be a last resort and he didn't like it either--but he does heed her gestures and with great effort drops the subject. Aside from getting back at Lucifer, he doesn't want to fight with anyone at the moment, especially not Rei.]

I'm fine. I don't know about the soul of my vessel, Jimmy; I don't know how to repair damage done to a soul.

And Lucifer will come to regret this.

[Rei purses her lips slightly -- it's something of a tell to show she's thinking. Who in Adstringendum could repair a soul? The first name that pops into her head is Kurotsuchi Mayuri -- and Rei would rather die than send Castiel to him.

But then, Castiel's next comment jars her line of thought, and she looks up sharply.]

What's that going to accomplish, Castiel?

[Her tone is unusually sharp and harsh.]

[Castiel actually knows about Kurotsuchi, actually; Raven told him, and warned him of the potential risk. But if it comes to it, he may seek out the shinigami anyway and attempt to finagle a suitable agreement.

Despite the tone of Rei's question, Castiel is calming down from his anger now that they've moved off the topic of the souls, and onto a less moral and more logical one.]

It isn't simply for revenge. I have to gain an advantage here, or I will have absolutely no standing; as it is he's violated our agreement and there's nothing I can do about it as I have no leverage at all. I can't allow him to do whatever he likes with no opposition or he'll simply continue to do so.

He's going to kill you the next time this happens, Cas.

[There isn't much room in her tone for argument, and for a moment, Rei looks horribly frustrated, because there isn't anything she can do to -- fix it. She had barely escaped Lucifer with her life -- and it was only thanks to Gabriel that she hadn't been sent to the Animus a second time. They were fucked. Maybe.]

[But then, Rei seems to lose her anger, and she slumps backwards into the couch with a sigh, closing her eyes abruptly.]

Tell me your plan.

[It's said absently -- faintly, almost.

Rei is looking ahead.]

Edited 2011-06-12 07:32 (UTC)

I'm not certain he sees it as worth the effort. He had opportunity and seemed angry enough this time, but he let me go. [With a parting kick in the head, but still.

He reaches into his coat at her last comment and pulls out a short, silver sword, holding it up for her to see.]

This is an angel sword, or more specifically, this is an archangel sword. They're the most effective weapon against an angel, and an archangel blade is capable of killing even Lucifer.

[He flips the weapon in his hand, clearly skilled at using it.]

This one is Gabriel's, and that's why I haven't used it yet; if Lucifer finds out he's given it to me, we will both be at great risk. But if necessary, I can stop Lucifer with it, if only for one time.

[Rei doesn't move to open her eyes quite yet -- she is impossibly still and her hands are pressed together in her lap, her fingers twitching lightly against one another as she thinks...but once he says the words 'killing even Lucifer' -- her eyes snap open to take a proper look at the weapon.

At first, she wants to ask what's so special about it -- but she remains quiet as the rest of the story unfolds.]

... right. Then let's hope you don't have to use it.

[Rei presses her fingers to her lips, closing her eyes again now that she has what she asked for.]

Because that won't... help.

[A pause, before she settles back more comfortably into the couch, her eyes still closed.]

You're safe for the rest of the week.

[The weapon disappears back into Castiel's coat, and he seems as unimpressed with his own plan as Rei appears to be. It's not really a plan as much as a last resort, and not what he wanted to have to fall back on. He needed something else.

Her last comment causes him to tilt his head, not understanding.]

Why? I could avoid him, but we have planned to make an attempt on the Inner City as soon as we have information in regards to how the excursion lead by Shura went. I am supposed to ask you for information.

However, it may not occur, as I have little desire to deal with Lucifer again so soon.

[He had bigger concerns than the Animus right now, even if this was a good opportunity. If Lucifer didn't like it, he shouldn't have attacked him.]

Because I --

[Rei pauses before she blinks her eyes open.]

I haven't told you -- I can see into the future, through using fire and just through focusing on certain people. I used to be able to see months ahead, but the Animus interrupt me a lot -- so a week or two is all I can manage here.

You're safe for at least another week.

[She pauses, before her expression grows colder.]

Whatever information I have, he can get just as easily by going into the City himself, just like anyone else in this city. He can go choke.

[Well that's... Interesting. Angels could do something similar, following certain paths of action through to likely conclusions, seeing an array of possible futures that could come from different decisions. It was, however, not at all foolproof and things could and did occur outside their predictions. Here that power was practically useless to them, and he was surprised Rei had it at all, let alone that it still worked here. But he wasn't inclined to completely believe in it, though he knew she would be telling the truth of what she saw.]

From Lucifer?

[That last comment earns a lighter expression than he'd managed so far, even if it was simply just a lessening of intensity.]

He deserves no cooperation.

[But then he's serious again, remembering a conversation with his brother, and growing concerned.]

However, it may be best for both of us to relay to him as expecting. It isn't worth it to risk him attempting to gather it from you himself.

From everything, actually, but yeah, that includes Lucifer.

[It's said distractedly, though, because Rei is already thinking of the new problem.]

... I asked everyone to tell me what they know. It'll all be public and unfiltered. He can look through it himself.

As for what I saw at the center of the City -- [She looks irritated.] -- it's none of his business.

[Because it's horrifying and moderately humiliating.]

It's dangerous. That's all he needs to know.

[He considers that for a moment, not at all sure she was right, but beginning relax just a bit. If she was, he'd have some time to recover and plan, at least. But he also moves on the next issue.]

He pays little attention to the network unless he's addressed specifically, but perhaps he could be pointed in the direction if necessary instead of having to discuss face to face.

[He's still concerned about the possibility of Lucifer going directly to Rei, even though she was shielded, and thinks of something he feels he should mention.]

If he does come to speak to you, and you need assistance for any reason, know that a prayer will allow us to find you. Directed specifically at one of us the response will be better and quicker, but in general we will all still be able to hear it. Myself, Anna, and likely Gabriel will all go to you if you need help in an emergency.

Gabriel has saved my life more than enough, thanks.

[It's said irritably, but there's little bite to the statement. She genuinely likes Gabriel quite a lot -- even if he is an annoying waste of oxygen half of the time.

She looks somewhat reluctant, though, despite her fake irritation, and glances away.]

I don't want anyone to be hurt or die because of me.

[Well, he... Didn't know that. He just knew Gabriel seemed to like Rei, and that in general the archangel didn't like harm done to innocent people.]

He has?

[He understands her reluctance, but continues.]

Despite that, it's an option. Lucifer is our problem, not yours.

He saved Usagi and I from Lucifer.

[With... chainsaw wielding clowns. It was not a great day.

She closes her eyes for a moment, to think, but frowns slightly at Castiel's statement. She hated that line of logic -- it was the same one Hitsugaya used against her involving the Espada and Aizen Sousuke. "It's our problem, not yours."

They were all trapped here together. Old alliances and enemies made no sense anymore.]

He's everyone's problem, Castiel. He's not just yours anymore.

...That explains how you survived the encounter at least.

[He is, however, a bit annoyed. As far as he understood, Rei started that fight, and then Gabriel'd had to step in. They were lucky all three of them hadn't been killed by Lucifer.

He does his equivalent of a shrug, glancing down, off to the side, then back at her.]

He's an angel, and he's powerful enough that there is practically nothing but another angel that can face him. None of you should have to be involved when you are so outmatched.

Mm.

[Rei didn't necessarily start it -- Lucifer got too close and she instinctively drew her ofuda. It then escalated into something of a disaster -- but Rei carries full responsibility for what happened and feels guilty for putting Gabriel in that position at all.

But she doesn't say any of that, naturally.]

We are involved. There's nothing to change that now.

[Technicalities, Rei. Also this sort of leads back to his original point.]

Then we all are in this together. So call for one of us, if we are needed.

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