flameandpassion | 61 [Text]

[He has little to no desire to argue, so he just looks at her. He would ask who told her, but it wasn't necessary, because it could have been any of the other angels and it didn't matter which, ultimately.]

I have made an agreement with Raphael to do so.

[She stares for a long moment.]

When.

[He stares right back in his usual angel way.]

Saturday.

[She doesn't look away for a few minutes before she sighs, finally relaxing, her shoulders slumping slightly as she leans fully against the door.]

Good.

[Because that -- is a relief.]

[He watches her a bit, so tired of people going off on him about the souls, and glad she seems to be a bit less angry now. He still doesn't feel like explaining any of the situation in more detail, so he's a bit short.]

Was that all you needed?

[She frowns for a moment, at the tone, before she pushes herself up off the door.]

I'm sorry for being a jerk, but that -- I used to be able to feel them, Cas. What they wanted, what they feel -- I just want to make sure that they're going to be where they belong.

You'll be safer that way, anyway.

[And then, a genuine smile, even if it is small.]

And I told you, I needed a favor.

You're going to hate it.

[He relaxes slightly at the apology; he's not entirely certain about what it was bothering her, despite the explanation, however.]

Were you informed where they came from? They're condemned souls, from Hell. Wherever they go will be better than there.

[And that was Lucifer kept saying, going on about safety, like he actually cared. Castiel had a feeling he knew who had told Rei now, but it lets it go along with the comment. Instead, he focuses on the last statements.]

Why? What is it?

Yeah, I was. And if that's where they belong, Cas, that's where they belong.

[But more importantly than that, using souls for power has to have a negative side effect. And that scares her more than actually using the souls in the first place. But asking Castiel about that isn't going to work -- and really, Castiel letting the souls go is what she wanted, so Rei shakes her head with a smile.]

They're being released. That's what matters. Besides, I have good news -- maybe.

[She clasps her hands together, and adds, rather brightly:]

I want to try trapping you in holy fire.

[Fine, whatever. He doesn't want to talk about it anyway, so.

And what did she just say, so cheerfully?]

...Why? Where would you get the Holy Oil? And there is no point to testing it; we already know that it works.

There is a point in testing it, because I don't have holy oil, but I can create holy fire without it. I want to see if it actually works on you -- not you, but angels.

[It occurred to her today while she was stewing over the fact that the angels needed to be put into time out.]

If it works, then I can defend myself and help. If it doesn't, then I know it doesn't.

Humor me.

[Linefais, Rei. So much. He's not at all for this idea, even if he sees the practical use, if it works.]

Rei, a ring of holy fire works to trap us because if we cross it, we die. I would prefer not to test such a thing, even if the effect is potentially more minor here.

[She blinks before she looks almost insulted.]

I would never hurt you.

[Seriously, Cas, she is the embodiment of fire, she knows how to handle it. 8(]

And can't you feel whether or not you're trapped without actually crossing it?

[Uh-huh. He's heard that before. But she does make a good point, there; they can't fly and their powers are limited while within the ring.]

Yes. Alright.

[Still not big on this idea; he hates being trapped, but he does trust her. And it would be important and useful if it did work.]

[Oh, come on, Cas, she's hiding you in her house like some freakish angelic Anne Frank. If that is not dedication and loyalty, she doesn't know what is.

She does brighten, though, at the agreement, before she gestures for him to follow her out of the room.]

Come on, we can try it out back. And I promise, I won't hurt you, and if it works, the minute you want to be let out, I'll break the circle.

[Toushirou really wanted to watch. But Castiel is obviously very not happy with this plan. So Toushirou will have to deal with sitting out on this one. She doesn't want to make poor Cas any more irritable than he already is.]

[Yeah and that she's proven it is why he's agreeing in the first place. 8| He drifts after her, still clearly displeased, but offering no argument. At least until she keeps reassuring him and he bristles, though he's not even certain why.]

I'm not afraid of you.

[Rei glances towards him with half a grin before she starts down the stairs to go outside.]

I'm not afraid of you, either. What's your point?

[Don't be silly, Cas. She's just making absolutely sure you know that she won't let you burn. Fear of her has nothing to do with it.]

[Hmph. He continues after her, just generally irritable, though her response had placated him for the most part.]

How do you intend on going about this without drawing a circle with the oil first? What is the fire going to burn?

I'm Mars, Cas. I am fire.

[She pushes open the doors to go outside, almost incredulous with the question.]

It doesn't need anything to burn -- it just burns. I can create a ring of fire and maintain it without oil or wood.

Mars is a cold planet, you know.

[There's a flicker in that comment of the previous teasing attitude that had prompted ALL THE SHEEP to appear in Rei's yard.]

But alright. As long as you have control of it.

Shut up.

[There isn't any actual irritation in her tone, though, and she murmurs the necessary words to herself to immerse herself in fire, to become Sailor Mars. Once it's done, she turns to him with arched eyebrows.]

Stand still and don't move. Tell me when you're ready.

[He just watches her transform then plants his feet and straightens up, suddenly all angel, watching her calmly.]

Make your attempt.

[She's still, for a long moment, before she closes her eyes in thought. The goal was to trap Castiel, but it wasn't just that -- for this to be effective, it would have to be quick -- lightning fast -- to trap as soon as possible.

And then, Mars' eyes snap open.]

Burning Mandala.

[It's hissed to herself -- and she twists her arms in a wide arc, creating ten seals of fire, before she pushes her arms forward, quickly, to send them twisting around Castiel in a circle, bringing them down to rest along the ground, careful to give him enough room to make sure he wouldn't be touched.

She then straightens, before her eyes widen slightly, and she curls her fingers into fists to keep the fire steady.]

You're strong.

[It's murmured absently.]

[He continues watching, tense and ready despite his calm appearance simply on instinct. He did trust Rei, and he'd hold still and test out her trap, but that didn't mean he wasn't ready to fly in an instant.

Still, part of him is distracted by the technique itself, fascinated by how her powers work. He watches the Mandala--it's fast but not so fast that he wouldn't be able to avoid it if he chose, if only because he knew it was coming--and as it settles into place around him he feels the restriction of the effect that holy fire creates. His wings pin down and his strength dampens, not that he had much usable at the moment anyway, and he can tell it's working.]

It has a similar effect.

[It doesn't hurt him but it's uncomfortable and claustrophobic, and the simile of trapping a bird in a cage is accurate. He wants to try breaking it, to see if her holy fire was weaker than the kind from his world, but he doesn't have the strength for it while healing. He makes a note that he'll want to attempt it later; it would be important to know if, with enough effort, it could be escaped in a way his world's couldn't.]

So it works.

[She's breathless -- part of it is the effort she's putting into maintaining the ring of fire. Mars has trapped and ensnared things before with her Mandala, but keeping an angel at bay and maintaining a circle was something that required a lot more effort than simply binding together a youma with the flames. But part of it is excitement. Finally. A way to combat the enemy -- and even better, a way to combat the enemy without spilling a drop of blood.

If this works on all angels, it could work on Lucifer. On Raphael. Mars could successfully break up the fighting by simply keeping them away from one another long enough for the other party to escape. And her Temple was hidden from the angels now -- which protected Usagi and the other senshi from harm at the involvement.

It was a perfect way to keep the madness at bay.]

If I wanted... I could turn this into a column of fire -- and trap the person completely.

[But Mars lowers her arms abruptly and the fire vanishes, leaving not a trace behind that it was even there, so Castiel could be free again, exhaling slowly.

-- before she grins.]

Let's try it on Gabriel next.

[He nods slightly in confirmation at her statement, watching her, unsure if the effort she seems to be putting forth was normal or something that might be of concern. He's distracted, however, by her comment about extending the fire.]

What you are doing is sufficient. I will want to test breaking it at a later point, when I have recovered further, but it seems effective as is.

[He's relieved when the fire drops out, and her comment earns what's close to an amused look. Not quite, but close.]

He would not appreciate that.

Edited 2011-06-18 08:43 (UTC)

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