85 [Video]

[marsfireignite]

[Rei is in a hall of the Temple of Heaven, which is, miraculously, still fairly intact. Why, you ask? Because a few of the citizens of Adstringendum helped keep the entirely wooden building together -- and Rei, who is wiping a bloody blade clean on her sleeve, focuses on the PCD to address exactly that

Comments

[aquaticbeauty]

Rei-chan, when you're done, you should let me tend to your wounds.

[Ami may not be a healer, but she could at least make Rei more comfortable while she's tending to whatever she feels the need to do.]

[marsfireignite]

I'm on the third floor.

[Without hesitation.]

[Video]//[Action]

[aquaticbeauty]

[Ami nods, and switches off the feed. It doesn't take long for her to collect what first-aid items she'd culminated over the past several weeks and make her way to the third floor.

She paused, and listened. There was little movement on the third floor right now, most likely due to people needing to recover from all the action of the past week. Ami couldn't blame them. She, too, felt the weight of fatigue, but luckily her injuries were minimal, so in comparison, she felt rather spry.

She could hear the cumbersome, clumsy movements of her companion in the near distance, and she bee-lined to where Rei loitered.]

Rei-chan. [Ami simply smiled with relief. This was the first time she'd had a chance to get a good look at her friend, and it was as though the vision on the feed had been some terrible nightmare.

But she knew better. She didn't allow herself to hesitate before approaching her, fumbling with her first-aid kit.]

[Action]

[marsfireignite]

[She wishes it was a terrible nightmare. But it wasn't. And she knew, even though her body screamed with frustration at how she was still awake, after so many hours, that she would just lie in bed and not go to sleep. Stare at a wall until unconsciousness took her.

But she kept that to herself -- instead, Rei smiles tiredly at Ami, watching her undo the first aid kit, before she extends an arm. There's a cut on her forearm, shallow, and barely bleeding anymore.]

[Action]

[aquaticbeauty]

[Ami keeps her eyes down on the clean bandages, smiling lightly to herself as she unwraps one. In the back of her mind, she reminds herself to see if she can scrounge up enough chamomile to make Rei some tea. It wasn't a sedative, but it would be enough to smooth any rough edges enough to grant her at least a modest amount of sleep.]

You should sit down while I do this. [While her tone was gentle, Ami wasn't making a suggestion. It was just as much for her sake as for Rei's; there was no way to neatly bandage while Rei was shaking like that.]

[There was so much Ami wished to say, but she was uncertain that Rei would be receptive to any of it. Rei always pioneered ahead of the other senshi, so it wasn't necessarily unlike her to adhere to her own convictions, but this place had certainly turned her friend into a bit more of an island. Ami wasn't sure if she could reach her.

No, it was probably better to just tend to her injuries. Rei would come to her if she wanted to talk.]

[Action]

[marsfireignite]

[She's still for moment before Rei reaches behind her, toward a stool, and she sinks upon it, following Ami's instruction without much argument. She averts her eyes, to look at the floor, as Ami works, silent for a long moment before she speaks.]

I'm so sorry, Ami.

[Action]

[aquaticbeauty]

Mm? [Ami quickly tends to Rei's arm, tenderly removing the stale bandages that were haphazardly wrapped around her arm towards the end of the battle while those offered aid jumped from victim to victim. Now that they had a chance to breathe, Ami could see to it that Rei's bandages were neat, tidy, and secure.]

I spoke to Mandrake-san regarding the motives. And it made sense, what was done. [She didn't look up from her work, holding Rei's arm gingerly as she stroked her open palm across the length of Rei's arm, making sure the bandages stayed flat.]

Is that what you're talking about?

[Action]

[marsfireignite]

I --

[She doesn't flinch at the tending to her wounds, but she pauses, as Ami tends to her arm, watching, distracted by the motion. It only lasts a second, though, before she continues.]

... I've been here for so long and nothing's changed. I thought -- I could make this world better. For everybody.

[Action]

[aquaticbeauty]

[Ami chuckles a bit, resting a soft hand lightly over Rei's.]

It upsets you when Usagi-chan thinks that way. It's no different when the situation's reversed, you know.

[Her cool eyes look up to Rei, and she lightly pushes back the heavy curtain of ebony hair Rei had obscuring her shoulder. She moved up towards Rei, reaching to where her shoulder met her neck.]

The reason this world is so miserable is because we're acting on our own accord, rather than banding together.

[Action]

[marsfireignite]

[She's quiet, at that, and doesn't move when Ami moves her hair, lost in thought.]

... sometimes I feel like I don't have a choice.

[It's soft, as she stares at her hands, fingers carefully working together.]

[Action]

[aquaticbeauty]

You're not alone, Rei-chan. [Ami says this with a mild sternness.]

We're partners, you and I. Aren't we?

[Ami dipped her head a bit in an attempt to get Rei's eye contact. The expression on her face was now more one of pleading. In the darkest corner of her heart, Ami feared that she would regret asking such a bold question.]

[Action]

[marsfireignite]

Of course we are.

[Without hesitation and she looks up to stare at Ami, jawline set.]

I would die for any of you. You know that.

[Action]

[aquaticbeauty]

[Ami smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting genuine relief. She rested both of her hands over Rei's and held them gently.]

I know you would. But at least give me a chance to stop you, next time? It's only fair! [There's a slight air of jest in her response.]

[Action]

[marsfireignite]

[It's almost like an anvil is taking off of her lungs at the smile -- and Rei almost laughs to herself, but she manages a slight smile, and a sniff as she inhales deeply.]

Right -- I will. I will. I just -- I really... needed to fix it. So many people rely on me here, Ami, even if they don't say so, and I hate being trapped here and feeling so useless and --

I just needed to try.

[Action]

[aquaticbeauty]

[Ami stops and listens, looking at Rei as her exhale came out accompanied with a flurry of words. The young woman was still shaking, and Ami was skeptical that all of it was due to physical fatigue.]

May I hold you?

[Action]

[marsfireignite]

[She almost looks surprised, at the question, before she pauses. She loathes feeling and looking weak, but --

-- she lets out a long exhale before nodding slightly.]