[Rei is sitting at the kitchen table, with a large stacks of old moderately musty books surrounding her. She has one open in front of her, fingers pressed into the corners to keep the pages from curling. To her right is a notebook and a pen and to her left is a stack of loose papers, bound together loosely with a bit of twine.

For a long moment, it looks like Rei is simply reading, without paying much attention to the PCD, but soon enough, she speaks without looking up from her work.]

Cas, make yourself useful and grab a book. Toushirou, I found something new. We can talk about it over the network or you can come over -- it doesn't matter to me.

To the rest of you, I need every single god of fire that you can think of. The angels can probably help out the most, but I don't really want to talk to any of the archangels except Gabriel, so you three can save yourselves the time and just keep your mouths shut.

[Someone isn't bothering with messing with the obviously faulty filters. Or, for that matter, being nice. Being told that you suck at the thing you are best at sort of stings at the pride.]

[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] )

( [Filtered to Castiel // Private // Unhackable] )

[Rei sounds tired.]

There's a breach in the wall at [x,y].

Stay away from it until it's fixed.

[Filtered to the shinigami // Private // Unhackable]

Can one of you set up a barrier until it can get fixed? Please?

[Rei's expression is calm.]

Does anyone here have any experience in building machines?

[Relationship problems? Rei doesn't have those. So don't ask.]

[The PCD is turned on as it is tossed onto Rei's bedside table with a resounding thunk. The girl doesn't appear all that happy and her eyes look suspiciously bright, but her hair shields her face as she bends down to scoop up whatever had fallen out of her bag.]

-- stupid -- immature -- why did I even --

[And Rei tosses her bag onto her bed before she pauses in her tirade. Her eyes suddenly grow wide and her breath catches in her throat.

She crosses to the bed and reaches out to the bed, fingers curling around an object. When it's lifted to eye-level, it's shown to be her Mars Crystal Power transformation wand.

The last time it appeared in Adstringendum, it had been during the canon update/backdate event. When she had been given a rush of new memories, when Hitsugaya had lost his limbs, and when Hino Rei and Tsukino Usagi died.

She turns to the PCD to grab it before noticing it's already on. A muscle in her cheek twitches before she exhales slowly, resting her new transformation wand against her cheek, closing her eyes to think before she speaks.]

... Toushirou, you haven't done anything dumb, have you? And girls, have you gotten anything?

[Filtered to Household* // Private // Unhackable]

I'm not going to be home for a day or so, so don't worry about me.

I'll probably be at the clinic later tonight. I'll let you know.




*List: Cloud, Zack, Makoto, Usagi, Minako, Chibiusa/Black Lady, Hotaru.

[The voice that comes over the network is soft and hoarse, as if it hasn't been used in awhile. There's a distinct quiver in the tone, as if the person had been crying, but it was now under control... just barely.]

Where is Usagi and --

[And here, Rei's voice catches, but she presses onward, her tone adopting a new form of anger that hasn't been heard. ever.]

-- where is Aizen?

[She is silent for a moment after her declaration, but with a hiss of physical pain and a snarl of that kind of pain, the PCD is turned off after a loud crash. She has slammed it into the ground.]

[Rei is sitting underneath a tree, carefully arranging slips of white paper into an envelope. Those that know her -- and know her practice -- may recognize them as the ofuda that Rei never leaves home without... which brings up the question as to why, exactly, she's got so many of them with her.

Her transformation wand is in her lap, but it looks slightly different and the look in Rei's eyes is all it takes to show that she's been affected. She looks tired and exhausted, but she picks up the PCD regardless, noticing that it's turned on. Instead of turning it back off, she forces a smile for the camera.]

Everyone stay safe.

[And it shuts off... or it does to most people.]

[Filtered to Hitsugaya // Private // Unhackable]

I need to talk to you about something, but only if you're up to it.