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Hino Rei still hates karaoke ([info]fireandpassion) wrote in [info]wariscoming,
@ 2011-12-30 23:33:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:hino rei/sailor mars, svetlana sergievsky

Who: Rei and OPEN!
What: Attempting to find a place of tranquility in a city she doesn't know.
When: Slightly backdated to late afternoon of Dec. 30th
Where: A church
Rating: TBA depends on who comes!



This whole situation was a little difficult to swallow, but Rei was slowly adjusting. Having been thrown into the middle of a war wasn't bothering her. She was a soldier and was used to fighting. What she was having a harder time adjusting to was the fact she was in America and she was completely out of her element. She'd never really left Tokyo, and on the rare occasion she had, it was to visit a Shinto shrine somewhere in Japan. So to suddenly find herself in America was difficult. Then there was the fact she was able to sense everyone's aura, and it was stifling. There was so much pressing against her mind that it was hard to focus sometimes. It helped that she had her sacred fire, it lessened the burden on her mind. But the room she was in was not Hikawa Shrine any longer. The wards here were different, which should be expected given they were up against a different type of evil. But that wouldn't stop Rei from putting up her own wards and luck charms when she could.

But for now, she needed to get out of the complex and away from some of the more dominant auras around it. Even the good ones were oppressive if she concentrated too long. Inwardly, she wished one of the other priests or priestesses was here to show her some trick to better clear her mind, but none of them had her gift, her heightened sense. This gift had a tendency to be a curse, though. It was the curse of awareness, of always knowing who or what was around her. She could use the sense to track people down, able to pinpoint a location if she focused in on one. However she was not tracking someone now, she was simply searching for a church or a cemetery where she could sit for a while and just focus herself. There was something peaceful about both that she liked. Rei wasn't the type to hang out in cemeteries or even be in one after the sun set, but sometimes she liked to walk through one during the day. In Tokyo, she frequented her mother's grave, taking flowers on the anniversary of her mother's death. Other times she'd simply go there to pray and meditate, able to not feel so alone for a little while.

After clothing herself appropriately for the weather outside, she headed out, glancing at both Minako's and Serenity's doors on her way, not wanting to run into either of them right now. She had no patience for Serenity and no doubt Minako would freak out at her going somewhere alone. Even though she was only fourteen, Rei could take care of herself, and she could sense if danger was going to approach her, so she could never be truly ambushed. Making her way out of the complex, Rei stood on the sidewalk outside, looking up and down the road, wondering which way she should go. It was a little daunting, but she figured no matter which way she went, sooner or later she'd find what she was looking for. Finally deciding on going right, she walked along, keeping her mind as clear as possible. However, she also kept it sharp to sense any approaching threat while she was walking.

Eventually, she came upon a church. She stopped and looked at the sign, taking a few extra moments to translate it into Japanese. A Christian church of some denomination. Even though she wasn't Christian herself, she always found peace in churches, so she walked up to the door, pulled it open and stepped inside. It was quiet inside, no one else around that she could see. She glanced around, taking in the art and architecture. The Western world had a far different viewpoint in both aspects, but she could respect both. She walked up the main aisle, then walked over to a statue to one side of the main altar. She lit a match, then lit a candle before she knelt down, closed her eyes, and began praying. She started going through her prayer and meditation rituals in hopes of them helping her calm down.


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[info]thegirlisme
2011-12-31 06:27 pm UTC (link)
Svetlana was more than slightly convinced that her daughters were plotting against her. First their secret talk with Anatoly the night before and now they were having yet another one. She didn't know what to expect in regards to this, but she was vaguely concerned. That, and she wanted to light a candle for Dmitri's birthday and it was impossible to do that with two young girls demanding she leave so they can have a 'serious talk' with their father. Which meant that Svetlana was left to her own devices yet again.

Given what her current mood was, what she wished to do, visiting Darcy and the boys was out. She really didn't have the energy to pretend that everything was okay right now. She missed her brother. She missed their talks. In everything that had happened the past five years, Svetlana could have used Dmitri, his perspective. Erik had just grown angry and telling Svetlana he had told her so. And he hadn't even known the worse of it. Dmitri at least would have been more sympathetic to her plight, and perhaps might have had ideas on how to fix it before it had gotten to the point it had. But no, he had died before Anatoly had changed so Svetlana never had his help in this.

Passing by many of the stores, Svetlana noticed the sales but paid them no heed. She already had the apartment decorated for New Years Eve, even if she didn't know what her wish would be yet. She didn't know what she would tell the girls as Ded Moroz and Snegurochka wasn't going to show up, but they did have some gifts for them all the same. She still had no idea what to do with the gift card Florence had given her for the girls. It was a kind gesture, but the way she had worded it when Svetlana had thanked her made the Russian woman wary, as if she were trying to say Svetlana couldn't provide for the girls. But she shook those thoughts away. She didn't need to worry about that on top of everything else.

Spotting a church, the Russian woman stared up at it. She wasn't exactly religious. Would she have been had the government not made it illegal? Perhaps, she had her traditions after all that fell under religious traditions, so who knew. Either way, she decided to see if this was one of the churches where people could light candles for lost loved ones. It would be a peaceful setting, which might help with her nerves. At least, that was her hope. So stepping in, Svetlana looked around, noticing the lone Japanese girl. She looked to be about fourteen. Was this the girl who had her husband so upset because she reminded him of his sister? It was hard to tell from where she stood.

Sighing, Svetlana walked up the main aisle to where the main alter was, lighting a candle and kneeling beside Rei, closing her eyes as she spoke to Dmitri in her mind as she always did. She was so tired of doing all of this alone. Even with Anatoly there, she still felt alone and she was so tired of it.

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[info]fireandpassion
2011-12-31 09:39 pm UTC (link)
As she finished one of her prayers, Rei paused in her usual routine long enough to offer up a prayer for her mother. After all, that was who the lit candle was for. Rei had almost lit two candles, but given the fact Minako was here, she only needed to light one. She hoped that her mother could hear her and help send her some peace. It might have been more effective had she done this at her own shrine in her room, but she felt more centered being in a church. The serenity she found within was refreshing after the whirlwind of adjusting to this new place.

Not for the first time, she found herself wondering if her mother would've been proud of her. She was so strong for being so young, and her life hadn't been easy by any means. And now that she was a senshi, she had even ore strength. But she'd also been an outsider most of her life. Her sixth sense made her different from others, and thus a target for bullies. If her mother had lived, would she have been different? Would she actually be able to count her friends on more than one hand? It was hard to tell, but she prayed all the same and hoped that her mother approved of her strength. Her mother was undoubtedly hurt that Rei and her father couldn't have a conversation without fighting or getting upset at the other. But was it really Rei's fault that she held so much bitterness towards the man? Yes after that last talk at her mother's grave, Rei did say if she had a little more time she would share a meal with him. Perhaps he had his own reasons for doing what he did, but the fact was it had affected her deeply, and she wasn't sure she could ever fully get rid of her bitterness and pain, but she would try. Though now that she was here, that wasn't a priority. He wouldn't be sending his people to kidnap her, she wouldn't find him suddenly appearing to take her with him.

Without opening her eyes, Rei felt someone else's presence before they even lit a candle and kneeled down beside her. There was nothing evil about them, so she didn't get defensive. After finishing her current prayer, Rei opened her eyes, looking up at the statue there. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted the blonde woman but said nothing, knowing the woman had her own prayers to say and she didn't want to interrupt that with a simple greeting.

Sighing inaudibly, Rei lowered her gaze to the candle she had lit. It seemed so little to offer in remembrance of the woman who had given her life, but without being in Tokyo where she could actually spend time at her mother's grave, this would have to do. Being a priestess, she knew the value of prayer and she still should honor her mother and the rest of her ancestors. And she realized that even in the couple minutes she'd been in here, her mind was all ready calming. She would have to keep this place in mind for the next time the auras got to be too overwhelming.

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[info]thegirlisme
2011-12-31 11:56 pm UTC (link)
What would Dmitri do in this situation? In any of it? How would he have responded to Anatoly's defection, his distance, the cheating and now being in the same place as the woman her husband had left her for, albeit temporarily? She tried not to show how hard it was on her to be in this situation, but that didn't mean it wasn't. It was just Svetlana masking everything because it was all she knew. And her brothers and Anatoly were really the only ones who ever could see that. Sometimes she wondered if Darcy did. Or even Freddie. But she didn't bring it up with them, especially not Freddie. Darcy was an interesting one, because of her friendship with Florence. It left Svetlana uncertain on what exactly she could reveal. She didn't think Darcy would say anything, but as much as Svetlana disliked the Hungarian, she would never purposefully interfere in any of her affairs, which meant that she had to keep their relationship quiet. And she didn't think it fair to put Darcy in a situation where she was between two friends. No. It was better to say nothing on this or if she said anything, be vague. But Dmitri? Dmitri she could talk to candidly about this without fear of him growing so angry that he wouldn't listen.

Letting out a slow breath, Svetlana finally opened her eyes. She didn't really feel that much calmer. She knew that the wish she would make at midnight would come true, or at least it should. While she doubted the validity of the belief these past five years, perhaps it had just taken that time for the wishes to come true in regards to Anatoly coming back to her. And now they had so much to work through. So what did she wish for this year? Most likely a wish for the well being of her daughters. Here that was all that mattered as she couldn't protect them as well as she had in Moscow. She would figure that out.

"You are new here, recently arrived, correct?"

Why she spoke, Svetlana wasn't certain. Then again, contrary to the ice queen persona she put on, she did care. And it was obvious that Rei was one of the displaced. Being next to her showed Svetlana that this wasn't the fourteen year old who had Anatoly worried. This was the one who wanted to go to school. Oh, she paid attention to the boards even if she didn't comment much. Besides, they were alone here, and Svetlana knew how hard it was to show up here, even with knowing people. To be a teenager? She didn't know how well she'd respond though this one seemed to be handling it well enough, all things considered.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-01 03:53 am UTC (link)
It was hard to tell exactly why sacred places always calmed her. Perhaps it was because she was a spiritual person and found safety within such places. Perhaps it was that such places, strictly speaking, were unassuming about those within. Unlike other religions around the world, Shinto was accepting of all religions, and Rei held to that belief. While her religious studies did mainly focus on Shinto, she knew at least the basics of other religions. She knew the most about Buddhism and Christianity due to the prevalence of both within Japan, and she did like some of the basic beliefs they had. Whatever the reason was, she drew spiritual strength from the atmosphere of the church and let it fill her. She needed the calm and the strength to help her deal with all the things she felt in this place. A church was always a safe place, always a refuge for those in turmoil.

While Rei had gotten her emotions under control after her talk with Minako, she did notice her emotions calming as well. Oh she was still distressed over the culture shock, and she was somewhat still getting used to the fact Minako was even alive, but generally speaking she was no where near outwardly showing emotions about either aside from the passing mention of the culture shock to Connor and missing her temple. But as she knelt there and found the stillness within herself, she felt that anxiety drift away little by little. She knew it would come back after leaving and as the day she would start school drew nearer. Always the outsider and always the one with a target for bullies on her back, Rei was apprehensive about the people who would be at the school, but she was looking forward to the structure to her day and to learning.

When Svetlana broke the silence between them, she lifted her head and looked at the woman beside her, nodding. "I am. My name is Rei." She gave a little bow, a sign of respect and greeting. "You are as well?" Her English was heavily accented, but she could tell by the other woman's accent that English wasn't her native language either. Even though that potentially put more language barriers between them, it made Rei feel a bit easier, that there were others here who didn't speak English as a first language. Well, others besides Minako and Usagi that is.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-02 10:46 pm UTC (link)
"Not recently new. My family and I have been here since June... though it is still a lot to take in." Perhaps it was the fact that being in another country made it all the more hard to adjust to this place. Or the fact that she wasn't used to supernatural things, fights against things that weren't human or political. And the time jump certainly didn't help. But she didn't know about Rei's life. She didn't know the year she was from or if she was used to things that weren't exactly normal happening. But she could at least relate to the culture shock, the learning of a new language. She at least had a grasp of English, which would make it easier for her than it was for Fayina and Jelena, so there was that at least. "You do get used to it, though, no matter how daunting it seems at first."

No one else would really understand what she was talking about, or at least, those not involved with the apocalypse. They would assume most likely that she was talking moving another country most likely. Though why Lawrence, Kansas from Moscow? Who knew. She certainly wasn't a mail order bride like she'd sometimes been mistaken as. Insulting, really. But some people were idiots. Or a lot of them. Maybe it was just Americans. It was hard for Svetlana to tell. The situation at hand certainly didn't give her a standard selection of people to interact with, so their opinions on what she was didn't matter as much as they were all in the same boat. Brought here against their will. But to average citizens? Well, that was where the misconceptions came in. Especially when she was out with Anatoly. That was just all sorts of awkward, both when the rare person 'recognized' her and mostly when she wasn't as she was the strange woman with Josh Groban. Or the girls seeing pictures of their father in music stores. That was fun when they randomly yelled out daddy and confused people. Especially after that whole fiasco with that teen pop kid, Biber Bibe, something like that anyway with the one woman claiming him the father of her children.

"It is nice to meet you, Rei. I am Svetlana." Smiling some, Svetlana rested her hands on her lap. Perhaps it was the loneliness this girl exuded from her, or the fact that she too had lost someone and used candles as remembrance, whatever it was, Svetlana didn't mind taking time out of her day to talk with her and help her adjust and know that there were more like her beyond the ones she had shown up with who weren't used to the language. So far it seemed it was just her family and the three new Japanese girls who really had that issue, though.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-02 11:37 pm UTC (link)
Rei gave a little nod of understanding. At least this woman had her family here, that perhaps made it easier. Well Rei wasn't completely alone. She had Minako and Usagi. Granted her and Minako tended to fight more than they actually talked, and Usagi was hiding from the world, leaving them to deal with Serenity. So in a way, Rei felt completely isolated and wishing Ami was here. She could at least talk to Ami without fighting, and she and Ami had more in common. They both had lost one parent and had a strained and distant relationship with their other parent. Rei stared at the candle she'd lit for some moments before looking back to Svetlana. "I hope so. I am more daunted by the culture change than anything else. I am a soldier and encountered youma where I am from." Pausing a moment, Rei tried to find the correct translation for 'youma.' "Youma are demons, I believe is the correct translation. But they are different from the ones here." She felt comfortable revealing that fact to Svetlana because the woman seemed to be aware of what was happening here. Though the possibility that Svetlana would be shocked to discover a fourteen year old girl was a solider never crossed her mind.

It had been years since an adult had ever cared about her enough to talk to her like this. Sure, she'd had conversations with her father every once in a great while over their meal, but they were largely awkward and distant ones. Perhaps her father had actually shown genuine concern in their last conversation at her mother's grave, but she was not going to let herself believe it. Too many times had he broken her heart. Too many times had she lain awake at night crying for a father that had never come to comfort her. No, she would guard her heart carefully and not let anyone else hold that power over her. She would not let herself be broken again, though she well knew Minako had all ready somehow worked her way under the layers of ice and planted herself firmly within her heart. The fire senshi knew her feelings for the love senshi, she'd realized them when Minako had died. The way she'd broken after the battle made the feelings all the more clear to her. And it hurt, it still hurt even though Minako was in the room next to her here. And they were back to what they had been before, the leader and the second, the replacement. Would things be different here? It was hard to say, but Rei wasn't going to hold her breath. She wasn't going to put her heart out there to Minako only to get it rejected.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Svetlana." Rei gave Svetlana a small smile in return. Somehow she was able to keep her emotions locked inside with no outward signs of them. Well, unless someone was the exact same way as her, then they might be able to recognize the signs. "You said your family is here? Children?" She really wasn't one for talking to strangers, but somehow she felt comfortable talking to Svetlana, so she didn't let herself close up just yet. No doubt Minako would be proud of her for playing nice.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-04 01:45 am UTC (link)
Hearing that Rei was a soldier was a little startling but Anatoly had mentioned the girl Minako commenting about being born to protect this planet so if the two knew one another....So she would focus on what she knew and could respond to while holding the information given to her to herself.

"Yes, the culture change is quite daunting... I am still adjusting to it even after six months...."

Oh, Svetlana could tell that Rei was holding her emotions in because that was how she operated most days, even around her husband and daughters. Especially around her daughters. Really, the only time they weren't being held in was when she was pushed past her limit, or when something triggered a memory so overwhelming that it caught her by surprise and she couldn't help but respond and panic. She was getting better at that since the music incident, but it was still troublesome. Even so, she knew that Rei was putting on a brave face. She was holding her own because she had to, and that this whole experience was terrifying to her. Svetlana knew because she had felt the same way upon arriving here with the girls before Anatoly had. Not knowing anyone beyond Freddie and then running into Florence. Lost in a world where the language wasn't her own. Even when Anatoly had shown up, she'd been terrified. Terrified of where they were and terrified of him. Not because he'd attack her. But terrified because he could break her with a single word without even trying.

Was this girl in the same position? In regards to her heart? And could Svetlana really speak on the matter? She was still trying to hide her own feelings even when she knew, in the end, it was allowing herself to feel, falling in love, that made her feel alive. But not now. This was not the time to address such matters. Perhaps if she and Rei spoke more often, but for now, she would file it away for later, if it ever came up at all.

"Yes. My daughters, Fayina and Jelena. Fayina just turned eight and Jelena is five.... they are still trying to learn English. My husband is here as well...."

It was subconscious of her to refer to Anatoly as her husband again as opposed to referring to him as the girls' father. When had that happened? No matter.

"It is nice having people you know here, though it can also be scary. Wanting to protect them and knowing that there are things you are powerless against..."

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-04 02:26 am UTC (link)
If Svetlana was still adjusting after six months, Rei wondered just how long it would take her to adjust. She had no idea just how different this place was from where Svetlana had come from, but Rei was out of her element in more than one way. First, she was anything but a normal teenager. Second, she was a priestess and she had no shrine here, no duties to perform. There was also the fact she was sworn to protect this planet and Serenity kept bordering on the edge of destroying it. Rei wasn't the best to adapting to changes, but she'd find a way to adapt. Whether it would be for the better or the worse remained to be seen. She could adapt, but the first time she'd pieced herself together, she came out the other end with a closed heart. If she wasn't careful, she could revert right back to that, then Minako would have to start all over again with getting her to open up. There was a tiny part of Rei that really wondered if it would be so bad to completely close up, to keep everyone out. But she knew better. Minako would stop that from happening.

Rei wasn't typically one to be scared of things, but when it came to her heart? She was afraid of trusting others, yet she had four she could trust now. And now here, she only had two. Well, one since Usagi was hiding from the world. She didn't like this feeling of being lost. Is this what trust ultimately did when people weren't around anymore? Isn't this what she'd felt when her father wasn't there when she'd needed him?

"You are lucky to have your family with you. At least you are not alone." Rei smiled softly, though there was a twinge of sadness within it. She quickly kept herself from dwelling too much on her own family. "I understand how it can be scary. I am in such a position with one of my friends." After all, she couldn't take away Minako's tumor as much as she wished she could. "I can protect her from outside enemies, but not those within." Oh she really hoped Minako wouldn't die on her again here. She was petrified of having to go through that again. If that happened, Rei knew she wouldn't be able to put herself back together again. And once more they would fail in their mission to protect the Earth because she wouldn't be able to be effective as Sailor Mars in that state.

"Your daughters must bring you joy, especially at those ages." Despite her abrasive personality, Rei was good with children. She didn't quite know why, but it was perhaps she hadn't gotten the chance to be much of a child and she could allow herself to be playful when around them. It allowed her to just let go of herself and forget the ice for a while and indulged her imagination.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-05 05:38 am UTC (link)
If Svetlana weren't so well versed in reading people's expressions, she might be concerned at how easy it was for her to figure out that Rei was guarding herself, her heart in hopes of protecting herself. That she wasn't letting herself feel the emotions inside because they were scary to her. Though, it might more be the fact that Svetlana knew the signs to look for in such things because she had done the same thing herself up until Anatoly had entered her life. Oh, there had been some potential suitors who the blond thought might break through those fears but it never had been. And then Anatoly had shown up and got through all of her defenses without trying and it was too late. Oh, she knew the pain that kind of opening up caused thanks to him, but in the end, she knew she wouldn't change it for anything. To really live for once and not just exist because she was afraid of being hurt. There had been thrill and exhilaration. And so much heartache. Yet here she was, willing to work on things again because she wanted those feelings back, the living. Hopefully Rei would see that she couldn't hide her emotions all the time, that she needed to live and if Svetlana had to help point that out, she would. Despite how painful it was, no one should live half a life because they were afraid.

And Rei's comment about Svetlana not being alone as she had her family here just heightened Svetlana's perceptions of the young teen. Alone because of self isolation because she was afraid yet wishing she weren't. Still, she didn't have much time to comment on that particular comment beyond a small nod of agreement as Rei was then mentioning understanding the scary aspect of being unable to protect someone from internal issues.

"Your friend Minako, I take it?" It was only after she made the comment that Svetlana realized it might seem strange that she'd know just which of Rei's friends she was talking about. After all, it wasn't like Minako had mentioned anything in public on the forums in regards to her illness. "My husband, Anatoly.... he was helping her when she first posted asking for information and she mentioned the need for a doctor in regards to a condition to him...." Voice trailing off, Svetlana's gaze flickered to the candles. Despite having never met Anatoly's sister, she still would light a candle for the teen who had died too young, "He mentioned it to me when I questioned why he had gotten upset as his sister died when she was fourteen and he felt he had failed at protecting her... But yes, it is much harder and scarier to be unable to help protect against internal problems..." For while the girls were doing better, they still would wake up crying or screaming, would still zone out, still were suffering. And while Svetlana had her own PTSD that forced itself to the surface at random times as she refused to address it, she was more focused on her daughters.

Still, Rei mentioning them bringing her joy did give Svetlana pause in her thoughts before she smiled faintly.

"They do, yes..." With all the drama of this place, both apocalypse based and real life based thanks to Florence and Freddie being here and what had happened before showing up here, the girls were innocence and light despite having suffered as well because of this place.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-05 06:12 am UTC (link)
Did it get difficult hiding her emotions? Yes, but Rei could at least let them out when she was alone. And she was alone quite often, so that wasn't such an issue. It was more the issue of letting others in and letting them see her vulnerability. Even now, she refused to be seen as vulnerable. She had to be strong so Minako wouldn't chastize her. She had to be strong in case Serenity stopped playing nice and tried to destroy the world. She had to be strong to face whatever evil this world had to throw at her. Her vulnerability could be saved for when she was alone in her room praying at her shrine. It was bad enough Minako had all ready seen her fall apart twice within the short time of being here. She didn't need a third time to be added to that. And she needed to make sure Usagi came back. How, she wasn't completely sure yet, but she had to appeal to her somehow. Though she didn't necessarily like the fact that she would have to acknowledge her mother's death outloud again. But if it helped get Usagi back, she would do it. She would just need to be careful not to let her emotions spill out as she did so.

Rei looked at Svetlana, a bit startled that she even knew who she was talking about. She was about to get suspicious when Svetlana explained herself, then she relaxed again. "Oh, he was the one that told her what was happening here." And when Svetlana explained Anatoly's concern, Rei was inwardly relieved that there was someone else here that was worried. It would at least be another voice added to her own and to Artemis'. Of course she well knew Minako wouldn't listen, but at least there was a little more reinforcement on the subject. "No matter how hard I tried to do just that, Minako wouldn't listen. Not until close to the end. And then..." Her voice trailed off, that wound still very much open and sore for her. She lowered her head and took a slow breath, starting to breathe slowly to keep herself in check. Because she wasn't going to let herself become a crying mess here in front of Svetlana. She could let the emotion out when she got back to her room and went about her daly prayers and rituals.

"It must be frightening for them to be caught up in something like this. But at least they are with you." The other option being that they'd still be in their world and who knows if Svetlana would spend her time worrying about not being there with them. Not that Rei really understood family dynamics, but Svetlana obviously cared for hers. "Sometimes I envy those with families." It was an off-hand comment, but Rei couldn't help it from slipping out. In this respect, she was relaxing and letting the walls down ever so slightly.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-06 01:40 am UTC (link)
"And then it was too late... I am sorry." And she was. Svetlana knew what it was like to lose someone you were close to. Just as Anatoly did, even if he didn't outright talk about it much. Svetlana would light a candle for his sister based off the information she had, but it was rare they talked about her. Mostly because Svetlana herself never really knew the girl so they didn't have memories to talk about with one another as they had with Dmitri. They hadn't brought up either of her brothers since being here, though. Even so, there were times when her husband would make a passing comment about his sister. Time healed the wounds, but the hole would always be there. And somehow she doubted that the Seal would bring either her brothers or Anatoly's sister here. After all, they hadn't shown up in the musical version of their life. "But you have another chance with her. And it hurts and is terrifying the fear of losing her all over again, but you still have this time with her because as much as it hurts to be away from them, to lose them, it hurts just as much to deny yourself the extra time spent with them."

It was what she had to remind herself in regards to Anatoly, even when she feared he'd leave her all over again. He was being patient with her, with what she was going through, but how long until his eye wandered again? How long until he grew bored and left? It had been a fear of hers from before, even worse, he had thought she would be the one to leave and he turned around and did it. And she knew her heart couldn't handle that heart break... but she also knew that denying herself being around him hurt just as much. She would never win. Was that what Rei felt in regards to Minako? She didn't know the extent of the teen's feelings for the other girl, but she still knew what it was like to lose someone you cared about.

"It is. My husband and I try to keep their lives as normal as we can, but they know that things are not right... so all we can do is provide as much structure as we can...." And then the comment about envying those with a family. That was unexpected. And while it certainly explained how Rei held herself, Svetlana still felt bad for her.

"Families can come in all forms. There are the families we are born into and the ones we form on our own with those we surround ourselves with...." As much as Svetlana wanted to assure Rei that she wasn't alone, it was hard for the blond as she also believed that no one was completely on anyone's side. That no one could be truly trusted. But she couldn't just tell that to a teenager. It could just be a USSR thing for all Svetlana knew. Still, she trusted few and knew how lonely that was.

"What is important is that you have your friend here, so you are not alone in this as well. And those of us who are also displaced, we understand and while there are different personality types, we help one another."

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-06 03:39 am UTC (link)
It had been too late. Rei wished she could've done something to change it, but she knew nothing could have been done. It was what it was, and she just needed to deal with it somehow. But Svetlana was right, she did have another chance here. Minako was alive, so she shouldn't let herself dwell too much on her death in their world. Besides, wasn't Rei the one that was all about living in the now? The present moment was really the only thing anyone ever truly had. Sure there were memories of the past, hopes for the future, but the only thing they could ever do anything about was the present. The future was always uncertain. The past couldn't be changed. And Rei was always adamant about living in the present, about fighting for the present. "You are right, and I don't intend to push her away. It is just getting over the surprise of seeing her again. I am glad that she is here, that we are together. I just need to keep reminding myself of that, and trying to close the wound of her passing." But of course none of that would detract from the fact she was afraid she'd still lose Minako. At least if she focused solely on the present, she could fully appreciate every moment they had together here. "Though there is the fact all she and I really seem to do is argue and challenge each other. But I do care about her."

It really was difficult for her to fully explain how she felt about Minako. The love senshi did infuriate her most of the time, but she also felt a kinship to her. Rei had been able to see her as Minako the girl, not the idol. Perhaps there was a bit of her within Minako, or perhaps they just complimented each other despite being opposites. Whatever the reason, it was hard for her to pinpoint. Though perhaps it was also the fact Minako made her feel alive whenever she was around. The challenging, the fighting, it made Rei react, something that she'd spent half her life not doing.

Rei gave a small nod. It must be hard to have children in a world like this where anything could happen. But at least both Svetlana and Anatoly were there to help protect and support them. "At least they have both you and your husband to take care of them and support them."

Then she listened as Svetlana spoke about families. Perhaps there was truth to that, Rei really hadn't thought about it like that before. But even then, who was her family? The senshi? It was weird to think of it like that. Especially where Minako was concerned. "I have never thought of it like that before." Even with this new view, she had still been alone for eight years of her life never letting anyone close. It was definitely difficult having been alone, and for so long she'd focused on what she'd lost than what she could potentially have.

"No, I'm not alone." The tone of her voice spoke volumes, as she was a little awed that she wasn't alone. Which was really a new concept to her, though she was slowly adjusting to it. And as long as Serenity was around, she and Minako had to put their differences aside to keep a united front. "It is good to know those who have also been displaced are understanding. It is comforting to know we are not alone." In Rei's case, it was more a matter of asking if she needed anything.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-07 12:19 am UTC (link)
"That makes sense. There are people here whom I did not expect to see ever again...." The only difference being that these were people Svetlana had no desire to see ever again. Oh, she knew that in Russia, she'd still have to see Molokov. But Freddie and Florence? Well, they were the ones she'd rather not see ever again. Freddie wasn't so bad most of the time. Most of the time, at least. But Florence? Oh, she tried to pretend she understood. She tried to pretend she was on Svetlana's side, but the blond knew. The other woman wanted nothing to do with her just as Svetlana wanted nothing to do with Florence but because of their mutual friendship with Darcy, their paths would always cross and the knife in Svetlana's heart would always twist even though Florence now was with Freddie yet again and had an irrational hatred for Anatoly. It made no sense and Svetlana shouldn't feel so threatened by the Hungarian but she supposed she always would.

The comment on always arguing and fighting had Svetlana smile ever so faintly. True, she and Anatoly usually got along well enough, they complimented one another. Or had before Molokov... even so, they didn't fight often but that didn't mean they hadn't had their fights in the past.

"It means you challenge one another, you fight because you care. If you never fought, if you never challenged one another, it means that you do not feel anything for the relationship, that you do not care one way or the other what happens. True, fighting all the time probably is not the best of ways to show your care, but I am sure that being here, you can work through it. If anything, the different setting allows you that chance, to be able to fix things that maybe might seem impossible to repair back home..."

That was the hope, at least. Because if Svetlana couldn't save herself or her family here, who knew what would happen in Moscow. Or was happening in Moscow. Honestly, that whole bit confused the Russian woman, what happened in the world they had left behind. She knew that life paused or went on as if they never had left. But in their world, their reality, were things going as they were here? Or at least hopefully better given what had happened back in September?

Hearing the Rei had never thought of family in the way Svetlana had put it, the blond could only smile some and nod.

"It seems unconventional, but here? Sometimes it is all anyone has. People show up with no connection to their own world, no friends, no families. Just themselves and they are left to fend for themselves and form new friendships here that sometimes are deeper than the ones back home because of what we are facing. My family? We are lucky. We have our problems, but we still have one another and for that I am thankful. I know full well I could have shown up here by myself with only those from my world here that I have no desire to see. You need to take what you can, let yourself live and be thankful for that. For your friends here, for any friends you might make. Even those who may not make friends easily seem to make them here.... As someone told me, you cannot hold everything inside here for it will destroy you. It might be hard to trust but trust someone so that you can talk to them when things get rough."

And that was Svetlana speaking from experience. She was an Ice Queen, after all. Still, she had formed a friendship with Darcy and a vague one with Freddie. She was polite with most everyone else when she spoke to them, something she needed to work on. But she certainly hadn't expected to form any friendships here given her personality and yet... it seemed that deeper relationships happened in this place because it was the end of the world.

"It is comforting, is it not? No matter what, there is someone here in a similar enough situation to know what you are going through.... it is strange but true."

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-07 06:16 am UTC (link)
As Svetlana spoke, Rei listened. Really listened. While Rei did a lot of listening, she didn't always take much to heart. But somehow, she found herself taking what Svetlana said to heart. They did make sense, and perhaps in a way, hearing them helped her wrap her mind around this place a little more. It was, after all, easier to do so when she wasn't being completely emotional.

Was Svetlana's summary of Rei's relationship with Minako right? From Rei's stand point it mostly was. She did care. Well, she loved Minako, was the accurate statement. But she couldn't help but wonder if Minako actually cared about her, or only cared about her because the love senshi chose her to be her second. Most of the time, Rei was convinced it was only because she was the second, but every once in a while, Minako would say something or do something that made her think perhaps she really did care. But those moments seemed to be few and far between. It only made Rei want to protect her heart even more than she all ready did. What would be the use of telling Minako when she wasn't even sure if Minako considered her a friend? Yes they could get along, and they hadn't actually fought yet since being here. And yes Minako had come over and talked to her and let her talk when she was having an emotional breakdown. But had Minako come over of her own accord or had Artemis said something? Rei wasn't holding her breath on the first part, though that's the one she wanted to believe. She wanted to believe that there was hope, that she could trust someone with her heart. But yet she was still resistant to that. If Minako gave her any window of hope, she would hesitantly latch onto it. Perhaps she could one day find the courage to try and put her heart out there, but she was more than certain it would only end up broken.

Lowering her head for a moment, she took a slow breath before looking back at Svetlana, giving a small nod. "That is true. Without challenge, there can be no growth." And Rei knew Minako's challenges and constant pushing had made her grow. Just as her challenging and pushing Minako had helped her to grow. After all, it was Rei who had called Minako out on not having awoken her power as a soldier, challenged her to the point of being kicked out by the senshi. But she had been right, and eventually Minako had accepted she couldn't only be a senshi, and she accepted herself as Aino Minako. So in a way, they both helped each other. Rei just would much rather they had nicer talks a lot more often instead of fighting so much. Their current situation was good because they were able to put the fighting aside to work together. But how long would it last? When Usagi came back, would the love and fire senshis goes back to their squabbling? The fire senshi figured they would. They only had a united front against Serenity and against the evil in this world. Without the need for keeping a constant united front against Serenity, no doubt they'd go back to fighting.

And then Svetlana was talking about making friends in this place. As usual, Rei was seriously doubting she could make friends here. She wasn't good at doing that. It had taken her so long to even open up to the other senshi, but here? She wasn't even certain if she could make friends here. Connor had been extremely nice, and Rei had actually been nice to him in return. Whether they would ever become friends was uncertain, but she would be nice to him any time they talked. Not everyone would help three teenagers like he had, and she was grateful. She just had odd ways of showing it because Rei never really had to show gratitude before. Not on a personal level anyway. But she understood what Svetlana was saying. Being in a new place changed the rules, so perhaps the priestess would be able to forge a new friend or two in this place. After all, didn't normal teenage girls have friends?

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-07 06:17 am UTC (link)
"It is not so strange. I am perhaps luckier than others here, having two people from my world with me. But it is difficult for me to make friends. For the longest time, I had no desire for friends. I did not want to let people in. But at the same time, people did not want to get to know me. At school, I was the weird girl. I went to a private school, but I am a practicing Shinto. I am a priestess, and the girls at my school were frightened of me. They called me a witch sometimes." She paused a moment, deciding to take a risk and confide in Svetlana a little bit. "Do not be frightened, but I have an ability to...how do you say it...sense auras? I can sense the presence of a person and whether they are good or evil. I was born with this ability. It is also part of the reason the girls at school disliked me. My sixth sense, if you will, was what made me strange. And...after my mother's death, I had no one to really encourage me to be open. Not until I met Usagi, Minako, Makoto and Ami-chan."

Well, Rei gave Svetlana two birds with one stone there. Rei hadn't intended on revealing the bit about her mother's death, but there it was. And she was opening up to the woman. It was hard to say whether it was her churning inner emotions that propelled her towards this, or if it was simply that Svetlana seemed to be so understanding, and was actually willing to talk with her, not talk down to her.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-08 01:05 am UTC (link)
And Rei managed to end up verifying Svetlana's observations of the teen when she decided to speak. She had seen the way she held herself, seen how she had looked down. Classic signs of one who doesn't want to let someone in. Of someone protecting their heart. Because that was exactly how she had held herself up until Anatoly. She had tried with others, truly, she had. They just never lasted. Never managed to really break through and then they annoyed her so she let her brothers deal with them. So she could understand why Rei held herself the way she did. And the confessions she made just made it all the more easier for Svetlana to understand. But while she understood, she didn't necessarily believe that was the best way to go about living, especially here as she was learning.

The comment about having a sixth sense may have startled Svetlana before, but after being here, interacting with gods and witches and vampires and demons and angels, she knew that such things weren't so farfetched. Not here, at least. So instead she simply nodded some in thought, allowing the words spoken to sink in

"I understand. Up until my husband, I did not let anyone in who were not my brothers. I did not see the point and I wished to protect myself. My eldest brother, Erik, also saw it as necessary as he did not wish me to meet someone only to be hurt.. and even then, I tried to protect myself from letting Anatoly in, but he somehow broke through all of my defenses without my realizing it." Shrugging some, Svetlana smiled faintly at the memory. These were the memories she held onto, the ones that reminded her why she was still willing to fight for her marriage after everything that had happened. "I did not understand how he did it, I still do not... but he did. And even though he has hurt me and broke my heart, I know that because I let him in, because I started to trust people, I became a better person because I had something to believe in.... Even here, I did not expect to make many friends, but i have made a few, and one of them was the same as before, she became my friend and broke through the defenses without realizing it.... and yes, there is pain involved, and fear of opening up... but I also know that I would not change it because I see now that how I was? That was not living at all. To truly live is to open yourself up to risk."

Sighing, Svetlana looked back to the candle she had lit for Dmitri, her smile faltering some.

"It is especially hard after you lose someone who should be the one to encourage you to open up, or who did.... I understand for I lost two brothers and even my daughters temporarily... but I know that they would not want me to be alone and untrusting of everyone around me, afraid to feel... No mother would want that for their daughter, I can tell you that even without knowing your mother for I would never wish my daughters to not open up because I know how lonely that is..."

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-08 09:17 am UTC (link)
Having a talk like this with someone she had just met was extremely strange to Rei, yet it felt natural to her. No one else had ever managed to get her to talk like this upon first meeting them. Rei didn't know why things were so different this time around. A lot of things were suddenly different from what she'd known. Perhaps it was like Svetlana said, people tended to make new friends here. As much as Rei knew she should do the same, she also knew it would be a hard fought battle for those that didn't know or understand her. She wasn't expecting people to line up wanting to get to know her, and she wasn't even exactly sure how to approach the subject if she wanted to know someone else. Social skills were not her strong point. After meeting the other senshi, she had gotten better, but she was still highly awkward in social situations. Still, if she was going to be staying here for an extended amount of time, she should at least get to know someone outside of Minako and Usagi. She was making a good start of it right now with Svetlana.

Listening as Svetlana told her about Anatoly and how he broke through her defenses, she couldn't help but think Minako had done the very same thing in very little time at all. Some days, Rei didn't understand her feelings for the idol. All the fighting left little room for actually making a connection. But then she'd remember when they first met and helped the lost dog. And the game show. There was also the fact Minako had trusted her with secrets. Obviously Minako must trust her to some extent, Rei knew that, but trust was far different from having feelings for someone.

Still, she smiled gently at Svetlana. "It must have been shocking to you when you realized what had happened with your husband." Her tone was gentle, but it didn't take long before the smile faded and the tone of her voice changed again. "I have always had a negative view on love, and that is where my distrust of people comes from." She braced herself for what she was about to say. Really, why she was divulging all of this in one go was beyond her, but it just seemed natural to Rei, despite the fact it was very unnatural to her. "My father is a politician, and he chose his career over his family. I was five when my mother fell ill. I watched her waste away in the hospital, and my father never came. My mother died alone, and as soon as she was buried, my father abandoned me at Hikawa Temple to be raised there. All I wanted was for my father to be there, to help me understand what had happened. Instead, I found myself being groomed to one day be a priestess. Many nights I laid awake crying for a father who never came." There was both bitterness and sadness in her voice. "Instead of turning to someone else, I dedicated myself to my studies and training. My faith was all I had, and it was all I ever knew until last year." It was hard to imagine that it had been nearly a year since she'd met Usagi and became Sailor Mars, but it had been. "My father and I would meet once in a while to share a meal at a restaurant. Most of the time he was working during even that. A few months ago, I had had enough and refused to see him. I did not think he cared about me if he could not stop working long enough to talk to me. I did ask him why he was not there when mama died, why he was not there for me after it. His answer was that he had been working." Rei shook her head, remembering that conversation at her mother's grave. Perhaps he had cared. She saw the picture he'd had in his hand. "If you love someone and they were dying, would you not be at their side no matter what? Even a politician can make time to be with his wife when she is dying. But he did not."

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-08 09:18 am UTC (link)
And then Svetlana mentioned having lost two brothers. Rei could understand the pain of loss, how much Svetlana must miss them. But as soon as Svetlana said that her mother wouldn't want her to be untrusting of anyone, Rei froze. For so long she'd been so focused on hating her father and wishing her mother was here that she hadn't even thought of what her mother would want for her. The realization of Svetlana's words punched a hole through Rei's defenses and unable to stop it, she started crying, the tears rolling down her cheeks. Though she did not have many memories of her mother, she had enough that she knew she wouldn't want Rei to be alone like this. But even realizing that, it was still going to be difficult. And she well knew she wouldn't even try to tell Minako about her feelings unless she had solid evidence the love senshi felt something for her in return. She did not want to go through the pain of rejection, not now. Then again, who did want to go through rejection? But she could make small changes. Talking to others, doing social things. She didn't have anything to lose, after all. Rei wasn't going to be such an outsider here when there were others also displaced from their own lives. Perhaps here, without having the daily duties as a priestess, she could actually learn to be a normal girl.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-08 05:57 pm UTC (link)
"It was. I did not even realize it had happened until I feared I would lose him because he had recklessly put himself in harms way to protect me.... and then I realized it was too late to protect my heart from him because he was already there..." The faint smile at the memory faded though when Rei started to talk about her father. It reminded her of the past five years with Anatoly. Him never being around despite the promises he had made. It was always the game for him, it had become his life. And from the sounds of it, that had happened with Rei's father. He let the politics take over and stopped caring about everything else, even things he should care about, such as his father.

"Trust is hard to earn, there are some who trust blindly, but for others, it seems impossible to earn. Perhaps it is because their is an air of distrust everywhere you go, someone always waiting to turn on someone. Or in your case, because you saw someone you should trust go against everything you would think for pride. Whatever the case, it is hard... And you are right... if someone truly loves another, they should be there for them when they need it most. I cannot speak for your father as I do not know his mind, truthfully, this is something more Anatoly could touch upon because he was like that in regards to chess to the point where he was distant and then gone for five years because he let pride and ambition get the best of him.... though I do wonder if perhaps part of your father's reasoning was fear of losing love, so he hid behind his work and fear of remembering when he looks at you... it is not an excuse, it never will be.... but fear is also a powerful motivator for people. It can control someone and turn them into someone they themselves do not recognize, along with pride."

Sighing, Svetlana shrugged.

"As I said, this is probably something more Anatoly would understand than I do, so these are just speculations on my part...."

And then Rei was crying and the blond had no idea on what to do. If it were one of the girls, she would simply hug them, stroke their hair, sing softly and comfort them. But they were her daughters, she knew what worked for them. Even Anatoly she would know what to do. True, they were working on things, but Svetlana still knew the man and knew how to handle such things. But a fourteen year old girl who was a miniature version of herself whom she had just met? Well... Okay. Miniature version of herself. If she were in this situation, how would Svetlana respond to someone comforting her, what would work best.... Hesitantly, the Russian woman reached over and took Rei's hand, squeezing it gently and just waited until she had calmed down even slightly.

"Are you all right...? If you like, we could get some tea? If not at a cafe, then in my apartment as I have a variety..."

She truthfully wasn't exactly sure on how Rei would respond, but Svetlana self medicated with tea, so it was at least worth a shot.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-09 08:01 am UTC (link)
The way Svetlana described realizing the way she felt about Anatoly was much the way Rei had realized she'd felt for Minako when Minako died. But by then, it was too late for her to even say anything about it to Minako. Well, she had the option to do so now considering Minako was alive and here, but Rei was resisting it. The timing was wrong, and not to mention she didn't know Minako's feelings about her. So that was that subject defeated before it was even raised. For now, anyway.

Listening, Rei nodded gently. No matter how long Rei lived, she would always resent her father for not being there when her mother had died. There was simply no excuse for him to not have been there. She'd never forgive him for that or for abandoning her. There could be a day when she would be able to sit and talk with him, but there would never be forgiveness. Rei was the type to hold grudges, and when it came to her father, they would be everlasting. Though she was a bit surprised when Svetlana said Anatoly would know more about the subject. She was saddened to hear that Svetlana knew what it felt like to be left behind, yet it seemed as though Anatoly had come back to her and their daughters. "Perhaps he was afraid. Perhaps when he looked at me all he saw was my mother. I don't know. We've never really had a talk as father and daughter. The conversations we have had are either distant and awkward or we yell at each other." Rei was far more like her father than she admitted to herself. Her stubbornness and temper came from him. She remembered when he'd hit her. The slap had hurt, but not nearly as much as the realization that her father had raised a hand to her. One thing was true, her father was a complete stranger to her, and she didn't know who he was beyond the politician. "Sometimes I felt I was only his daughter when it was convenient to him. I cannot believe the last time he wished me to meet with him he wanted to present himself as a family man to the public. Can you believe that? He is a complete stranger to me, has been distant from me for the past nine years and wants me to go along with this 'family man' persona. That was the final straw for me." She glanced at Svetlana. "I am sorry that you had to endure something like that with your husband. Perhaps if I want to know more, I will ask him." But of course, that wasn't going to be any time soon. It wasn't just that she had an innate distrust of men, it was also that she had to feel comfortable enough around Anatoly which she doubted she would ever get to that level of comfortable around him. No matter how curious she may eventually become on the matter, her distrust and dislike of men would always prevail.

It was really difficult to say what worked best for Rei when she was upset and in need of comfort. Normally, she would just cry alone and remain in her room until she could put her emotions back beneath the hardened exterior. If Svetlana had hugged her, she might not have pulled away, but she might've felt awkward because hugs weren't something Rei got a lot of. When Svetlana took her hand, it was surprising, but Rei didn't pull her hand away. The priestess didn't even try to stop herself from crying, she just let the emotion play itself out. It took a minute or two, but she finally managed to calm down enough to speak again. Using the sleeve of her free arm, Rei gently dried her cheeks.

"I have spent these past years focusing on my hatred of my father and wishing my mother was here to realize that she would want me to be happy." Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Rei let herself calm down further.

"I am sorry, I am not used to crying in front of people. Tea would be nice, thank you." She looked at Svetlana, giving a small nod and giving her hand a little squeeze in return as a silent thank you. Rei was an avid tea drinker, and she well knew the calming capabilities it had. It would definitely help after this unexpected outburst of emotion.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-09 01:24 pm UTC (link)
Svetlana let Rei discuss her father in the way she felt comfortable with. It still didn't help the blond understand the man as that really would be more Anatoly's area but she could at least try. At the very least, it would help her understand Rei a bit more. Because it was those sort of relationships that helped to define a person. For Rei not to have her mother there to help her and for her father to be emotionally distant and barely ever seeing her, it was no wonder that the teen didn't take to trusting easily. Why should she? But Svetlana knew that she needed to. Here to keep from going insane and to relax. And hopefully it would carry over to her life in her own world if she was sent back. Even if she didn't remember, perhaps the innate feeling of wanting to and being able to would help her in the end.

"What happened has happened, I cannot change it. All I can do is focus on working forward and building the relationship again...." Because really, what else could Svetlana do? She was trying with Anatoly. Some days were easier than others. True, the past few months had been hard because of everything that had happened, sending her back to how she'd been when she and Anatoly had first met, but Rei didn't need to know about that. All she needed to know was that it was okay to trust and that it was possible, even after being betrayed, so long as she was willing. And as her father wasn't here, she could simply focus on forming friendships and learning to trust others. Did she think Rei would actually talk to Anatoly? Svetlana really couldn't say. The curiosity might get the best of her, or it might not. But at least she knew the option was there.

Thankfully, Rei didn't pull away as Svetlana took her hand. She wasn't exactly sure why the teen had started to cry, but the answer was soon enough presented to her as Rei finally calmed down. It made sense, and it seemed that Svetlana's words had merely given her a realization. Which was known to happen. So instead, the woman simply nodded before giving a small smile at the apology.

"It is fine, it happens sometimes, even when we do not want it to..." Goodness knew Svetlana loathed crying in front of someone, even her husband. And she had been known to apologize to him for the very same reason even when he said it was fine and that she needed to let her emotions out and he was there for her now. But then there was also the affirmative for tea and Svetlana returned the hand squeeze before extracting her hand and standing up.

"I know of a small cafe that is usually not busy." Once Rei was ready, Svetlana started to lead Rei there when she saw him. Molokov. Tensing ever so slightly, the blond managed to keep her breathing under control, even as he went into the cafe. So much for that plan.

"Though it looks to be busy today. I can always make us some tea at the complex." It was that or run the risk of panicking with Molokov around and Rei didn't need that. So Svetlana led the fourteen year old past the cafe and back to the complex. True, if the girls and Anatoly were there, it might be awkward, but the girls loved meeting new people, and might be able to help cheer Rei up. They were good at that, those two. Even when their antics made absolutely no sense whatsoever. But they were good children and Svetlana wouldn't change that for anything.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-10 12:45 am UTC (link)
It actually felt better to get all that out. Sure, she'd vented once or twice before about it, even talked about it with Makoto and Ami, but never to this degree and never to an adult. It wouldn't lessen Rei's resentment and bitterness towards her father, but it would lessen the emotional pressure around her heart. Now being in a world where she didn't have to worry that her father's people would randomly show up and drag her off somewhere to meet him, she could put those things to the back of her mind and focus on the things she could change. After all, as much as Rei found it nearly impossible to let things go, she had to put these feelings aside at some point in order to keep herself from getting distracted.

Again, what Svetlana said made sense. The priestess well knew she couldn't change the past. All that could be done was to move forward. Could Rei ever rebuild her relationship with her father? She wasn't sure, but then she also knew if she ever was sent back to her world, she'd only meet death. So in reality, unless her father ended up in this place, she would never find out for herself. It would be good for the priestess to open up. Especially given the fact she was in danger of closing herself off after the drastic change in her reality. But she felt safe opening herself up to the blonde, and that was a good thing. Not many people received this from Rei, and the senshi would rather not force Minako to force her to be open.

Rei gave a small smile in return and nodded. Emotions were tricky things, and this outburst of crying had merely caught her by surprise. Normally she was better at holding herself together, but she did have cracks in her armor, one of which Svetlana had found without intending to. After Svetlana pulled her hand back, Rei stood up, giving a bow of respect to the sanctuary before she turned back to Svetlana. Nodding, she followed along, still mostly lost in this place, so it was good someone else knew where they were going. Rei was oblivious to Svetlana tensing slightly. The priestess wasn't that good at reading other people's body language. Not that she'd be able to tell Svetlana was tensing if she did know how to read that, but when Svetlana suggested the complex instead, she nodded.

"That would be fine," she replied, glancing back at the cafe, memorizing the name of it should she wish to find it again later. She followed along, somewhat recognizing the way back to the complex. "Do you know your way around the city well?" It just so happened that Anatoly and the girls were home currently. He had taken them out a little earlier for some bonding time, which meant a playground and some ice cream on the way back. Currently he was changing his clothes because the girls had decided to ambush him at the playground.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-10 01:34 am UTC (link)
And thankfully, Rei hadn't noticed the moment of tension. Of course, the teen didn't know the signs to look for with her, and she seemed lost in thought. Which meant that Svetlana didn't have to explain anything. Because really, there were just certain things someone that young didn't need to be told. She needed to be careful, everyone did. Still, there was being on guard and knowing of bad things and actually knowing what the bad thing was. And this was something Svetlana didn't want to reveal. Even knowing that this wasn't the same 'man', it was still enough to make her feel sick and agitated. Still, they were going to the complex, where as far as Svetlana knew, Molokov didn't know about so they were safe. Even if there was still the threat of her daughters dying again looming ever above her head. There had been no word of what could happen, no threats or ransom, but that didn't mean it couldn't come. After all, she didn't know who sent the threat meaning she didn't know if they were even still around. But she couldn't risk finding out in case they were.

Hearing the question, which thankfully snapped Svetlana from her inner turmoil and panic, the blond gave a small nod.

"For the most part, yes. I sometimes might get lost but mostly I am fine."

Once back at the complex, Svetlana led Rei to the second floor and to the apartment she shared with her family, blinking as Jelena ran up to the two, Fayina coming forward as well to circle Rei as she observed the teen.

"Mommy, mommy! Fayina and I stopped daddy from being possessed!" Unaware what that meant in this place, Jelena then turned to Rei and waved, switching to English. "Hi!"

As for Svetlana, she stood there for a moment stunned. Given that possession could happen in this place.. but he would have worn the amulet. Right? And the girls didn't know the exorcism so... it had to be something else. Right. Fayina circling Rei.

"Fayina, this is Rei, you do not need to circle her, she is not a threat." Smiling in apology to the teen, Svetlana took Fayina's hand and pulled her back. "Rei, this is Fayina and that is Jelena." Turning her attention to the eight year old, Svetlana knelt down for a moment, "Will you go see if your father wants some tea?" Nodding, Fayina raced to the bedroom her parents shared to ask Anatoly about tea, Svetlana standing just in time to see Jelena dragging Rei to the table.

Shaking her head in amusement, though still vaguely worried about the possession thing, Svetlana moved to the kitchen to start the tea. Now the question was, what type of tea to make...

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-10 02:16 am UTC (link)
Even if she didn't know the potential dangers this world posed, Rei well knew danger could lurk around any corner. Luckily she had her sixth sense so she wouldn't be taken by surprise by any of it, but that didn't stop her from naturally being on guard. Youma could show up anywhere at any time. And know Serenity could summon her own, she wouldn't put it past the Princess to do so for amusement. But Svetlana was right, there were things someone her age just shouldn't know, and Rei did know things she shouldn't. But her life hadn't played out normally, so it only stood to reason that she'd know and be responsible for things normal fourteen year olds shouldn't.

"What places do you like the best here?" Rei figured she'd ask Svetlana for some points of interest at least. She could at least pass them on to Minako and they could go discover them for themselves.

Rei followed the older blond to her apartment on the second floor. Though what the teen wasn't prepared for were the girls being right there. And then Fayina was circling her, which only made Rei feel highly uncomfortable. Well, that was awkward. As much as she tried to hide the awkwardness on her face, she couldn't quite mask it. She did, however, manage to look at Jelena as she heard the greeting.

"Hello," she greeted with a smile, which turned out a little more awkward than she'd intended due to Fayina's circling. She was thankful when Svetlana intervened and got Fayina to go do something else instead of treating her like a threat. Rei would've wondered how someone could think she was a threat, but Rei didn't exactly have the warm and cuddly expression or vibes. She was about to greet Jelena properly when the five year old was suddenly dragging her to the table. Well, she was letting her do so. After all, Rei knew it was futile to not do what children wanted. She'd been around them enough to know that. So she let Jelena take her wherever she wanted.

In the bedroom, Anatoly had just pulled on a fresh shirt when Fayina asked him about tea. He told her he would like some and that he'd be right out. He had some smudges of dirt on his face to wash off first. After all, he liked being presentable, though he didn't know yet that they had company.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-10 04:38 am UTC (link)
"I mostly go to different cafes or the park with the chess boards set up..." True, it wasn't the most exciting of lives, but it worked for Svetlana. "There is also an ice skating rink not too far away if you like that..." The blond was still vaguely amused that Anatoly had taken her ice skating here given the fact that everyone mistook him for Josh Groban. Still, they had dealt with the fans and confusion and had enjoyed themselves. Or as well as Svetlana could in regards to the fact that she'd been having severe PTSD issues at the time. They were still there, of course, but they were mostly under control. Usually. It had been a few good days at least, so she'd take it.

As Jelena decided to ask Rei about her bracelet, Svetlana started the tea, nodding to Fayina when she came in.

"Daddy wants tea."

Giving a small nod, the blond watched her daughter head into the other room before she searched through the different loose leaves she had. Oh, she had store bought teas as well, but Svetlana found it calming to drink loose leaf tea. So it was a matter of figuring out which tea she wanted. Anatoly would be easy, but given both she and Rei were rather upset in their own rights... Okay, tea decided, now it was time to go about preparing the tea bags.

Meanwhile, Fayina had joined Rei and Jelena, and watched for a moment. Jelena was doing better with people, which was dangerous. She had to protect her little sister. And Svetlana. Well, Anatoly should but he was washing the dirt off his face from being saved from possession so that left it to Fayina. And she took her duty as being a big girl now very seriously.

Going to the table, Fayina tugged on Rei's hand until she leaned down and then spoke quietly so Jelena didn't hear.

"If you shoot my mommy or sister, I will kick you." Glare added for extra measure, Fayina stepped back and then sat down next to Jelena to keep an eye on the younger girl.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-10 05:09 am UTC (link)
As Jelena asked about her bracelet, Rei rolled her sleeve up and explained the meaning behind it. Though bypassing the whole thing of it letting her transform into a superhero because she couldn't divulge that right now. She was learning that people here had abilities of their own, but she wasn't comfortable with just blowing her cover on the subject. After all, there was no reason to tell children about this upon first meeting them. Maybe eventually she would, but not now.

And then when Fayina came over and delivered her threat, Rei's eyes went a bit wide, mostly out of surprise. She nodded a bit in understanding. The priestess obviously had no intention of hurting anyone like that, but she knew better than to just brush off these things from children. Children did take things very seriously sometimes. So once Fayina settled herself without further threat, Rei turned back to Jelena and her bracelet. She smiled at Jelena. "You like it?" Perhaps it would be good for her to be here right now. Children always got Rei to open up the most and to be easy going. And with tea mixed on top of that? She'd be good and relaxed when she went back to her room.

After washing his face, Anatoly headed out of the bedroom, pausing and blinking as he saw the unfamiliar Japanese girl sitting with Jelena and Fayina. He figured Svetlana had met her, and he continued on to the kitchen. "I see you met someone new?" He asked, though he didn't really need to, but it never hurt to have confirmation. Anatoly was also glad to see Svetlana was talking to people, even if the person in question this time was a teenage girl.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-10 05:30 am UTC (link)
Jelena listened in rapt attention as Rei explained the bracelet to her. And she spoke in English terms that the five year old understood which made it better! True she had no idea what Fayina said to the older girl but Fayina was weird like that. She liked to scare people, which wasn't nice but people never seemed to bother her after Fayina spook to them, so she wasn't going to complain. Instead, she nodded enthusiastically at the question about liking the bracelet.

"Ded Moroz made me one for New Years. I had one back home but it got lost." Showing Rei the beginnings of her charm bracelet, Jelena bounced in her chair excitedly as Fayina worked on her homework.

As for Svetlana, she managed to keep from jumping when Anatoly spoke. With her back to the entrance though, it was a good thing. She was getting used to his presence again despite the PTSD, that was definitely good. She was so tired of being jumpy all the time. Oh, he'd know what type of tea she was making for herself but no matter.

"I did. I met her at the church where I lit a candle for Dmitri as the girls had another secret meeting with you."

As she mentioned the secret meeting, Svetlana shot her husband a bemused look. She had no idea what these meetings were about but that wasn't uncommon. The girls could be quite confusing at times. And then she went back to what she was doing with the tea bags.

"I also hear that they kept you from being possessed. Impressive." Smiling faintly, if a bit forced given the day it was and seeing Molokov, the blond finished the tea bags and brought down some cups as the tea kettle whistle blew. This time at least she was aware of herself and surroundings, meaning that she didn't burn herself with the water as she had been doing on and off between being sick, showing up here after being sent to the alternate world and then dealing with the memories. Progress.

Tea bags placed in the cups, Svetlana poured the hot water into them, leaning against the counter as she waited for them to steep.

"Her name is Rei, though. She's friends with the girl you spoke with the other day, Minako."

Strange how they both managed to meet people who knew one another but no matter. This place was like that.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-10 06:12 am UTC (link)
Despite the language barrier, Rei was glad that Jelena understood her. She was doing her best to use words the young girl would know. Of course it also helped that Rei wasn't explaining something like Shinto, which would be far more difficult for her to talk about in English, let alone using English words a five year old would understand. Rei wasn't privy to Russian culture, so she merely assumed Ded Moroz was something like Father Christmas. She smiled and admired the bracelet.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" She congratulated Jelena, admiring the bracelet. "Do you know what other charms you'll put on it yet?" As the girl had mentioned she'd had one like it at home, Rei wondered if she would make this one similar or not. While the senshi was not a girly girl by any stretch of the means, she did like jewelry, especially bracelets. She was also very arts and craftsy, so she could perhaps help Jelena, if she wanted it.

In the kitchen, Anatoly nodded a bit. He was of course still worried about Svetlana, but she had been doing better lately, so he was glad for that. When Svetlana gave him the bemused look, he merely retorted with one of his own.

"What can I say, the girls are devious." Which was putting it lightly. The girls could be rather ruthless when they wanted something, and Anatoly was perfectly aware of what they wanted. They were getting their way considering he was living with them officially now. And he didn't have to sleep on the couch either.

Oh he saw that the smile was a bit forced, but he didn't press it given that he knew what today was. Instead, he merely addressed her statement about the girls. "Ah yes, they did. I was shocked that they were so strong and powerful." He chuckled softly, remembering the ambush well. "Truthfully I just got lost in thought and they decided I was being possessed and attacked." Which he was certain Svetlana all ready knew, but he figured he say as much. He wasn't stupid enough to take the amulet off. He only took it off when she showered, and even then he made sure to put it back on.

Though he quirked a brow when Svetlana mentioned Rei was Minako's friend. Despite her having been Japanese, he wasn't about to assume she knew Minako. "Ah, I see. At least Minako and Rei know each other, that makes things here a little easier." And oh he was worried about Minako. Even if she hadn't been the same age as his sister had been and even if she hadn't been sick, he would've been worried. No teenager should find themselves in a place like this. Granted Minako had said that it was her destiny to protect the world or something to that effect, but still. It only made him worry more to know how much she had in common with his sister.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-10 05:45 pm UTC (link)
At the question, Jelena shook her head.

"No. Not yet.... Brittany took us to see... um...."

"Santa."

"Right! Santa. Her and Tina. And he said he was brothers with Ded Moroz and that is why I have it now and not when it is New Years. Because Ded Moroz was sad that we are not in Russia and wanted us to fit in."

Nodding to prove her point, Jelena swung her feet back and forth on the chair she was sitting on. Tea making always took so long. Or she just had no patience as she was five years old. Either one, really. And Fayina was glaring at her homework because the English was confusing her again.

As for Svetlana, she simply nodded.

"They are very devious. Should I worry about what they're plotting against me?" Oh, the Russian woman had an idea on what they wanted. They'd been pushing her before they had died to let Anatoly move in with them again instead of him just visiting all the time or them going to his apartment two doors down. And even when he started staying over despite Svetlana's insistence that they were fine, they still seemed to know it wasn't official. But it had been for two days, and already Svetlana was slightly more at ease. If he had wanted a chance to leave, wouldn't he have denied the invitation? She was wary to trust him again, but it was happening, whether she liked it or not.

"Well, they are determined when they put their mind to something... I'm not surprised that they were able to catch you off guard." Goodness knew they did that to Svetlana all the time back in Russia while Anatoly was away. It was only fair that he be subjected to their methods. And then the comment about Rei and Minako. Oh, Svetlana had her theories about the two based off her conversation with Rei but she wasn't going to say anything. That would come in due time.

"Yes. It is lucky for them to have people they know." Was Svetlana aware that Anatoly was going to worry about Minako? Of course she was. Given the correlations to his own sister, she would be shocked if he didn't. If he were still solely focused on chess, maybe then it wouldn't be that shocking, but as he was becoming more and more human again, it wasn't. But it did make her think. Think back to her conversation with Rei, how true the words had been about her relationship with Anatoly in the beginning. How it had helped her, opened her up to so much.... He'd been patient with her then and he was patient with her now as she struggled to overcome what had happened three months ago. Maybe it was the season, or maybe there just was hope after all. Whatever the case, where Svetlana had been doubtful they could overcome this latest set back, she was beginning to think they could.

With the tea steeped, the blond went and got Anatoly's cup and handed it him, going on her toes to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you."

It was simple, really. But it meant a lot. Because it wasn't just about the patience in regards to the past three months, to putting up with her seemingly random breaks since people started singing. It went back to him getting her to trust to begin with. For opening up her eyes to what she'd been missing. For helping her. True there was the five years they needed to overcome, but she was seeing the man she had fallen in love with again.

Oh sure, there had been moments when they got caught up in the familiarity of their old life, but that always ended with an awkward silence and tension on Svetlana's part as she tried to put her emotions on hold. This time, it was deliberate. But she also wasn't going to let there be a moment, not a long one as they did have company. With the thanks given, Svetlana went and got the remaining cups of tea and moved to where the girls were, placing the tea in front of Rei.

"I hope you like it. I often make my own loose leaf teas." Sitting down, the blond sipped her tea, contemplative.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-10 10:09 pm UTC (link)
Listening to Jelena explain about Santa and Ded Moroz, Rei nodded in comprehension. It did make sense, and she smiled at Jelena. "I am glad that Ded Moroz wanted you both to fit in." Because in the end, that was good for the girls, trying to fit in in a society that was different from the one they knew. Rei could understand how they felt, she was going through the culture shock, though she was impressed with their ability to speak English.

She glanced over at Fayina, noting the glare she gave her homework. Smiling gently, Rei figured she was ahving trouble with the English. "English can be tricky, can't it?" She figured she'd offer that olive branch, letting the eight year old ask her for help if she wanted. Rei knew better than to offer help to a girl that had just threatened to kick her. But she figured if she could put out the olive branch on the tricky language, Fayina might be less inclined to insight violence against her.

Anatoly merely smiled mysteriously at Svetlana's question. "I don't think you should worry, but you should be something." Because really, worry didn't quite cover it and neither did concern. Besides, Anatoly shouldn't give away what the girls were plotting. "But you know how they can be." Which was as much as he would divulge. God knew if he told Svetlana, the girls would attack him for telling. And that was the last thing he wanted.

"They are definitely tenacious. I shouldn't let my guard down around them. Next time they may say they fought off Lucifer or something." Given how Fayina and Jelena were, it really didn't stretch things too far to think that could be the case. Though it probably would be Anatoly's fault for always telling them stories with dragons and heroes in them. Oh well, he'd deal with it as it came. He'd much rather deal with their fantastic imaginations rather than potential boyfriends. Oh he was dreading their teenage years and when they discovered boys.

Taking the cup of tea, Anatoly was honestly surprised by the kiss. Sure he'd known Svetlana was relaxing a little more recently, but aside from the awkward moments, they hadn't really had something like this in...well, a long time. He blinked, but he smiled.

"You're welcome." The truth was, Svetlana didn't need to thank him. But given their history the past five years, it was perhaps needed to help them reconnect and move forward through things. But this was a definite sign that things were progressing in the right direction. Following Svetlana out of the kitchen, he sipped his tea and looked at Fayina and Jelena. The younger one seemingly making herself comfortable talking to Rei.

"Ah, arigatou. Uh, I mean, thank you." Rei smiled a little awkwardly and took the tea. She sipped it, taking in the taste and aroma. "It is good. I prefer loose leaf teas to pre-made ones." Rei could make her own tea, as she had done often back home. It was usually green tea, or sometimes black tea, but there were times she experimented. She looked up at Anatoly, nodding her head respectfully to him in greeting. He returned it with one of his own and a gentle smile.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-11 06:51 pm UTC (link)
"It was nice..." Jelena's voice trailed off. Despite her general happy demeanor, Jelena knew that it was rare that people could be nice. The kids at school were proof of that. They usually left her alone whenever Fayina interfered but that only lasted a bit. And she knew her sister also had issues with people in her class. But they both knew that their mommy put up with mean people before and didn't get upset so now they didn't want to worry her because she was already upset and they didn't need to add to it. But the moment of sadness over being picked on because she didn't understand English as well as everyone else did passed easily enough. And because they didn't speak in Russian around English speakers unless they were really upset and forgot, the two were doing better with the language than most would think, even if it was hard most of the time.

As for Fayina, she just looked at Rei curiously before nodding some. Well, it was obvious that Rei also didn't speak English normally so that was something for her. She still didn't trust her but Fayina did take after Svetlana in her lack of trust and need to protect so it made sense. But she relaxed slightly with the teenager there. And Jelena liked her. Well, Jelena liked everyone. Even those who were mean to her.

Seeing the look Anatoly shot her, Svetlana merely quirked a brow.

"I should feel something? That's quite vague." And it was. And given Anatoly was clearly in on this as well, Svetlana was doomed. That's all there was to it, if the girls and Anatoly teamed up together, Svetlana would never win. She could hold her own and pretend she had everything under control but with that team up, it was only a matter of time.

And then there was the comment about Lucifer.

"That would worry me." Mostly because Svetlana didn't want her daughters involved in this fight, they were too young. They didn't even know that he was a real threat. They didn't know that they'd need to fight him to begin with. So if they somehow knew that he was to be fought, well... Svetlana would be upset and worried and would go after whomever informed them and shattered what remaining innocence they had following their untimely death. If she hadn't been determined to protect the two from the stress of this world before, to keep them as innocent as possible, she wanted to now. Of course that was in the kitchen and now she was sitting at the table.

Smiling to Rei as she mentioned she preferred loose leaf teas, Svetlana nodded.

"As do I. I find it soothing...." She noticed the slip into Japanese but thought nothing of it. After all, she'd been known to slip into Russian when she was tired or worked up. Usually she was good in front of everyone beyond her family but there were still times where she automatically responded in Russian, usually when she was at the store or cafe and on no sleep. It was troublesome but it happened and she just had to go with it.

Noticing Anatoly, Fayina pulled her homework down and went to where he was sitting, tugging on his sleeve to ask him what the word meant because she was tired and couldn't figure it out to save her life. Well, it wasn't life and death but Fayina was determined to do well in school so that she could better protect Jelena, who had perked up after her moment of trailing off in regards to the school children.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-12 08:35 am UTC (link)
Giving Jelena a gentle smile, Rei could understand the sentiment. Fitting in was definitely not Rei's specialty by any means. While she normally could blend in somewhat back home, here she just stood out like a sore thumb. It was going to be difficult to try to fit in, especially with the whole trying to trust people thing, but she'd do what she could. And she actually did like being there in the midst of Svetlana's family. Except for Anatoly, she felt at ease around them. She didn't have to keep walls up around children, and so she let them down for the meantime. Though as she heard Anatoly's voice in the kitchen, she couldn't help but be naturally distrustful and slightly tense on that part. It was her natural reaction to men. At least when they were physically around her.

Anatoly said nothing more on the subject of what the girls had in store. Anything further would undoubtedly tip Svetlana off to what exactly it was. Of course, he was still adjusting and changing, doing his best to more be the man he used to be before the pride had taken over. Being around his family was definitely helping that. It was also liberating being around his girls again. They brought out the inner child in him that allowed him to be playful.

"It would worry me, too." More than anything, he wanted to protect the girls from the bad things in this world as long as possible. He didn't want them to worry about demons or Lucifer or whatever other insanity this world threw their way. Knowing about these things would only frighten them and undoubtedly take away some of their innocence in how they viewed the world. He couldn't allow that to happen. They both were still far too young to worry about such things. It was going to very difficult for Svetlana and him to protect them like that, but he would make damn sure he was doing everything he could.

"Do you make your own teas or do you have recipes?" Rei was curious, though she may not have worded the question quite the way she wanted. She was curious if Svetlana experimented or had set recipes she normally used to make her teas. She would need to make it a point to try and get a hold of some tea leaves of her own and make some teas here. Sipping her tea again, she leaned back in her chair, keeping her hands curled around the cup. She relaxed a bit more, enjoying this moment while it lasted. After all, after she left to return to her room, she well knew it wouldn't take her long to close back up and grow tense again. She wouldn't close up completely, but her defenses would go back up. Sometimes she did wish she wasn't so guarded, but what else could she do? It really was good she wasn't alone here, otherwise she would have closed herself off completely soon after arriving here. Yes, she could hear Minako's voice in her head telling her she needed to trust people, but she was trying. Hadn't she just opened up to Svetlana? That in and of itself was a feat unlike any other.

As Fayina asked him about her homework, Anatoly gave her the answer she wanted. He glanced over the page, seeing just what she was working on. He was rather interested in what the girls learned about at school. They were learning things he had no clue about, especially in regards to history. After all, with the jump forward in time, there had been many things he'd missed. The collapse of Communist Russia. The fall of the Berlin Wall. Both Gulf Wars. But whenever they had questions, he did his best to help.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-12 04:41 pm UTC (link)
Even if the question was not worded the way Rei wanted it to be, Svetlana understood what she was trying to ask. Even if their native languages were different, Svetlana understood the general sentiment of translating into English and things being in the wrong order or just awkward and not how they were intended. So there was at least that. And as none of them were native English speakers, none of them would judge Rei when she slipped up. Anatoly had the best grasp on English but even he knew how difficult it could be, if only from watching Svetlana and the girls struggle and then getting glared at by Svetlana when he tried to help her when she misspoke.

"Both, actually. I make recipes from what I experiment with if they work."

Because of her natural distrust of people, her perchance for guarding herself, Svetlana could tell that Rei was relaxed, though she kept from looking at Anatoly, meaning she didn't trust him. Though, given what she said of her father, it made sense for the most part. Why trust a man if the only one in your life who you were supposed to trust above all else lost that trust when you were just a child? Perhaps that was why it had been easier for Svetlana to trust Anatoly or even Freddie than she did most females. She'd been surrounded by her brothers, who while overprotective and ridiculous, had never betrayed her trust. So it was easier for her to trust males than females. Especially when females would sleep with a married man while knowing and not even care. Darcy was different. And younger females such as Brittany and Tina and now Rei... but as a rule, Svetlana felt more at 'ease' if it could be called that, around men. Hopefully with time Rei would open up around others more, though as Jelena seemed to have taken a fierce liking to Rei, at least Anatoly.

As for Fayina, the homework she was working on was about appreciating the differences in cultures between people in the city. After all, it was just social studies, not really history yet. But it was a laugh, children didn't care about differences, they used it to pick on others. Which was why Fayina got into trouble so much, because she was defending her sister and parents and Russia. So far she hadn't gotten herself injured in the process, but given her perchance for fights, it was only a matter of time.

Nodding in thanks, Fayina got into the seat next to Anatoly to keep working so she could ask him more questions in regards to translating as they came up.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-15 01:54 pm UTC (link)
It was reassuring that Svetlana and her family weren't native English speakers. Rei knew her accent would be difficult to understand, so she tried her best to annunciate as best as she could. She had a good grasp of the English language, but she'd never used it before outside of school. Using it in every day conversation was difficult, but she was trying. She might end up having to get a Japanese-English dictionary for herself to help with the translating. Especially for use in school. She had no doubt she'd come across words she'd never even knew existed in the English language.

"Really? That is useful if you make an experiment that you really enjoy."

Before she'd met the other senshi, Rei hadn't been comfortable around anyone. Of course it was mostly because she herself didn't let anyone close to her and no one really tried to get close to her. If no one really knew here, then she couldn't be hurt again. As much as she didn't like being alone, she refused to be hurt again. Yet after meeting the senshi, that had changed. She came to care about them, and they cared about her. For the first time in her life, she had people she could call friends. There was even someone she loved, which was surprising to her, but she couldn't change how she felt. All she could change was how she dealt with it, especially now considering Minako was alive. Taking herself out of those thoughts before they went to places she didn't want to go, she looked at Jelena. "Do you like tea?" It was perhaps odd to ask that of a five year old, but given Svetlana liked tea, Rei had a guess that she let her daughters have some once in a while.

Anatoly was interested in what Fayina was studying. Truth be told, he had been surprised just how accepting people were here of different cultures. But once he'd gotten used to the fact that many different people appeared here with various abilities, some of these people not even truly human, he wasn't so shocked anymore. Those who were displaced needed to accept things because like it or not, they were all in the same situation and had to find ways to work together when bad things happened. Even though he knew some people would always be blinded by generalities and assumptions simply based on what country someone was from, Anatoly knew that there were people that didn't care about that.

Smiling to Fayina, he sipped his tea and looked over at Rei and Jelena. He couldn't help but smile as he could tell his youngest daughter seemed to have found a new friend. And despite the fact Rei seemed a little detached, she seemed to warm up to Jelena as well as Svetlana.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-15 06:16 pm UTC (link)
"It is." While Svetlana had always had a perchance for experimenting with teas as a means to pass the time, it was when Dmitri had gotten sick when she did so more often as a means to try and help him with his symptoms as well as to try and calm herself down. Still, it was something she did and just because the reasoning might not be the most cheerful, she didn't mind doing it still. She found that it helped her cope, that and Dmitri was the one who had taught her how to do so to begin with just as Erik had taught her how to play chess, "My brother Dmitri was the one who showed me how to do so." Strange that it would come up today of all days, but she didn't let it show. So instead she just sipped her tea as Rei turned her attention to Jelena.

At the question, Jelena just shrugged.

"Sometimes. I like peppermint." After all, it wasn't like she and Fayina had tea a lot. But sometimes they got curious about what Svetlana was making and so she'd make them peppermint tea. It was good. She'd tried tea elsewhere and hadn't liked it, though. But peppermint tea was good.

And while Anatoly found that people were accepting of different cultures, Fayina didn't see it. Then again, children were children, they either wouldn't care one way or the other and just saw another playmate, or they were like the children at school who picked on people for being different. Svetlana tried to explain that it was misunderstandings and that as they grew up, it would be better, but Fayina didn't know if she believed that. Which was why she'd keep getting into fights until the children at school left her and Jelena alone for good.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-17 12:01 pm UTC (link)
Inwardly, Rei had wondered what it would've been like if she'd had her mother, or even a sibling, to share things like that with. The other priests and priestesses at Hikawa Temple had shown her the basics as she grew older, such as how to cook and so forth. But that was different than having a close family member teach them. Still, Rei didn't begrudge anyone other than her father for it. She had accepted that this was her life long ago, and while no one her age should be as self-sufficient, Rei was fine with it. No fourteen year old should be able to live on their own in a place like this after being displaced from their own reality, but it hadn't really phased Rei. After the initial shocks, she knew all she could do was accept it and move forward with it. It was rather pointless to fight adapting because she was stuck here.

"So he was the tea master, and now you have picked up the habit." Rei said gently, meaning only respect by the comment. She remembered Svetlana telling her about her brothers being dead, and Rei did make it a point to honor the dead. She thought of saying that it was a nice way to keep her brother's memory close to her, but she thought that would be too much of an emotional thing to say, so she kept silent on that.

"Ah peppermint is good." Immediately, Rei's mind went to the symbolism of peppermint because she was a deep thinker. She just didn't always give voice to those thoughts. "Do you like stories?" The priestess was completely unaware that she had, in fact, just sealed her fate according to Jelena. But Rei did like telling stories. She just hoped that she'd be able to tell her favorite one in English, and not Japanese.

Anatoly was fully aware that not all people were accepting of different cultures. But he'd generally found that the others displaced here were accepting. He was, of course, leaving Freddie out of that count because that man was not accepting, nor did Anatoly ever expect him to be. But he would try his best to help his girls be receptive to people. Not everyone could be trusted, but at the same time, not everyone was bad.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-18 12:11 am UTC (link)
The assessment was accurate enough. Svetlana held on tightly to both her tea and chess as a means to hold onto her lost brothers. Oh, they were part of her, she had grown up with them, had watched and learned. Truthfully, Svetlana didn't know what her life would be without them. Tea was her self medication, it calmed her, soothed her, made her forget. Chess was her focus, her passion, her drive. The strategy and tactics. She didn't care to play it professionally, she never had gotten that grasp. But that was also because she knew it would become more than just about the game once it went to that level and she didn't want to lose what she cherished. Anatoly had and now they were trying to mend their lives because he had let pride get the best of him. Because Molokov had kept Anatoly away because he knew that she and the girls would challenge him and call him out when he got too prideful and thus his perfect machine would be ruined.

Still, Svetlana smiled slightly at the comment about tea master and gave a small nod.

"I suppose you could look at it that way..."

Oh and Jelena. Sweet, innocent, naive Jelena. The second Rei asked if she liked stories, the five year old's eyes lit up and she nodded quickly.

"A lot!" Normally she'd mention about her parents' story, and how Svetlana got sad when she would tell it before but how it seemed to be changing, or was being added to. But with both her parents there, and Fayina shooting her a warning look from over her homework, Jelena managed to curb that particular sentiment. Maybe later when Svetlana wasn't there to overhear and get sad.

But it was true, Rei had sealed her fate in regards to Jelena. The five year old now absolutely adored the miko, and was restraining herself from climbing onto her lap.

And Fayina was trying not to roll her eyes at Jelena. She was so obvious. At least to Fayina. But the five year old was definitely cheered up considerably from how she'd been since coming back to life. She'd been getting better, yes, but a new friend who told stories? That made life infinitely better in her logic. Not that five year old logic ever made sense.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-18 12:24 pm UTC (link)
Obviously, Rei didn't know Svetlana considering they had only just met, but the priestess did understand self-expression and using things to help deal with emotions. It was evident in the way Svetlana made her own teas that she did hold it close to her, perhaps out of a combination of love for her brother and treating herself when she needed it. Rei was aware of the various ways tea could heal people. Whether the ailment was physical or emotional, there seemed to be a tea for nearly everything.

"Tea is a good habit to have. It is healthy." Perhaps habit wasn't quite the right word, but Rei was relaxing, feeling her emotions calm themselves for the time being. It was undoubtedly due to the tea as well as making some new acquaintances. She wasn't so focused on herself right now, which was a good thing.

The instant Rei saw Jelena's eyes light up, she grinned. It was a genuine, happy grin, one that seemed to come so rarely to her.

"You are in luck because I love stories, too." She didn't exactly need to ask if Jelena wanted to hear one considering the girl's reaction to the question. "My favorite one is actually a Japanese legend about a girl named Princess Kaguya." And yet again, poor unsuspecting Rei was completely oblivious to what the word "princess" would trigger in Jelena. But onwards she went. "A long time ago, there was an old couple who cut and sold bamboo for a living. They had no children, but had always longed for one. One day, a girl was born from a piece of bamboo. She lived with the couple, but in reality, she was a princess from the Moon and would have to return when she became an adult." Inwardly, Rei couldn't help but think that this legend was actually true. Only the real princess' name wasn't Kaguya, but Serenity. But, of course, Rei wouldn't be admitting that part. Not yet anyway. She'd told Svetlana she was a soldier, but she wasn't about to give away the fact that Minako, Usagi and she were senshi from the Moon Kingdom, princesses of their respective homes.

Looking at Jelena, she smiled, getting into the story as she always did when she told it or read it. Or drew it, as she once had done. "So you see, there was a kingdom on the Moon, and everyone who lived there were gifted with long lives, longer than normal people who lived on Earth. Princess Kaguya was one of the people from the Moon Kingdom. Before she returned to the Moon, she provided something called Fuji, which is what would grant the people of Earth eternal life. But once she returned, the people she had left the Fuji with ordered it burned on top of a mountain. That mountain is now called Mount Fuji." Of course, Rei had good suspicion that Jelena had no idea what Mount Fuji actually was, but there it was. Leaning in close to Jelena, Rei made as though she were telling a secret, though she could still be heard by everyone in the room. "It is also part of the story that when someone dies, their soul goes to the Moon. And when we die, we will be reunited with them. My mama's on the Moon." It was a sad confession, but this time it came without the emotional baggage. Rei also purposely didn't tell the whole story, leaving room for Jelena to ask questions and such. Sometimes stories were more fun when the listener was able to guide it.

Anatoly was smiling as he saw the way Jelena lit up. Oh he knew Rei now had a forever friend in his youngest daughter. And someone who would almost incessantly ask for stories. Sipping his tea, he listened to Rei's story, noting the confession about her mother. He was a little startled by that. Someone so young shouldn't be without one parent. He glanced at Svetlana and sipped his tea. It also was not lost on him that Rei seemed to carry herself in a similar manner to Svetlana. The teenager was no where near as guarded, but he could see the little similarities. Perhaps it would help both Svetlana and Rei to have a relationship.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-18 04:42 pm UTC (link)
All Svetlana could do was nod about tea being healthy. That was definitely something she understood well. True, it hadn't saved Dmitri which was when she had started to work more exclusively with it to try and help, but it had at least eased his pain. So there was that. She just knew that it wouldn't solve everything. Even sicknesses could out do tea if they were strong enough, deadly enough. But this wasn't the time to brood on that fact, no matter what day it was in regards to her brother. So nodding it was and then listening to Rei tell Jelena the story of the Moon Princess. Did she know what Anatoly was thinking in regards to her and Rei forming a relationship of sorts? No. Because well, while she was guarded, she didn't necessarily feel it was a bad thing. She knew when to ask for help. Mostly. But she did want to help Rei so she didn't have to carry the world alone.

And Jelena just listened in rapt attention. Of course the word princess caught her attention, she was five. But the story was interesting and vastly different from anything she had heard before. But the comment about the dead caused her to blink and look to Svetlana.

"Are uncle Dmitri and Erik on the Moon now?"

"I do not see why not."

Smile forced a bit more to anyone who knew where to look, Svetlana quickly took a sip of tea to hide it. Were they on the moon? Of course not. They were dead and buried in Russia. But this was Rei's story and it was a better idea for Jelena to believe about the moon right now. Seeing her daughter nod and turn her attention back to Rei, she was about to relax when the five year old asked the teenager another question.

"Do souls get kicked away from the Moon?"

And cue in Fayina speaking up.

"She wants to know what happens when a person dies and then they are not dead but they were."

"Would they remember?"

Great. Just...Svetlana needed more tea. That was all there was to it. Because now this was going back to when the girls had died and she needed her composure for this talk.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-20 02:28 am UTC (link)
When she'd started telling the story, Rei hadn't anticipated there being a serious conversation coming after it. Then again, how was she to anticipate that? She was just telling her favorite story to Jelena who loved stories. Though the question about her uncles being on the Moon didn't phase her, that was expected given the fact of what she'd said. It was the question of people dying then coming back that caught her by surprise. She looked at Fayina as she further explained what Jelena meant, then she looked back to Jelena.

Great. A loaded question, and not one she personally knew the answer to. Well okay so she technically might have been dead in the instant before she ended up here, but all she remembered was the flash of white as Serenity destroyed the world. The next thing she knew she was here. Truth be told, Minako might have a better answer than she did, but the love senshi wasn't here now, so Rei would have to answer herself.

"I cannot say for certain, but from what I believe, people could come back to life." After all, wasn't Minako here now? And Rei herself was here. Truth be told, Minako might have a better answer than she did, but she wasn't about to say anything. She didn't want Jelena bothering Minako with questions of death. Minako didn't need that. "But the gods work in mysterious ways. A person may or may not not remember, but as for why, I cannot say. Your guess would be as good as mine." Rei wished she had the answer, but she didn't. From her own experience, all she'd seen was white, and then a possible sliver of nothing, then she was here. But she wasn't about to tell a five year old there was nothing to remember, nor was she going to out-right say people couldn't remember. Who was she to speak when it might be different for everyone who experienced such a thing? While she was a priestess and had views on the afterlife, she was no diviner and could not speak for what the gods willed. All she could do was speculate. Her thoughts ran deeper on the matter, but they were too complex to explain to a five year old. The look on her face turned deeply thoughtful to reflect her inner thoughts.

Anatoly's full attention was grabbed by this turn in the conversation. He glanced at Svetlana, knowing she was going to have a hard time with where this conversation was now going. He glanced back at Rei as she gave her explanation. He hadn't expected a straight, concrete answer, but he thought what the priestess had to say was a good answer.

"It is hard to know, but there is always a reason for things," Anatoly chimed in when Rei finished and went into thought. He glanced to Svetlana, again wishing that he had been here when the girls had died. That he had been there when Svetlana needed him. It wasn't his fault that he'd been sucked into that alternate world, but he still hated that he hadn't been there for his family.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-20 06:29 am UTC (link)
If there was one thing that seemed to be a family trait for the Russians, it was their ability to throw people off guard, be it one another, or those they had just met. But Jelena had been curious. Because she wanted to remember being on the Moon, she wanted to meet her uncles. She never got to meet her uncle Dmitri and she didn't remember Erik as she'd been about two at the time of his death. Fayina said he was grumpy but loved them both. So it would have been nice to remember being on the Moon so that she could have met them. Instead, she was given a vague answer like Svetlana sometimes gave and instead she just nodded thoughtfully.

"Oh..."

Meanwhile, Fayina was concerned. Mostly because she was older and more observant than her sister. She saw what Svetlana hid when she thought no one was looking. It was one of the reasons she wanted Anatoly back. Not just because he was daddy, but because he made Svetlana smile. It was why she'd kicked him all those months before. Because he had hurt Svetlana but he had promised not to anymore and he'd been doing good at it until the mean him came and the dying and after that, her mom had been different but was getting better with Anatoly around. Yet, there were still times, especially recently... times when Svetlana stared at nothing and it usually was when something like this came up. But she needed to keep an eye on Jelena and Rei so it was back to her homework.

"Does the princess have a knight?"

And away from the serious questions because Jelena was indeed five and all stories needed a knight like the one who saved the princess from herself and allowed her to become a queen.

Oh, Anatoly was right in assuming Svetlana was going to have a hard time with this conversation. It was thankfully brief, but mentally she was exhausted. With the break downs following the music explosion because her mind was forcing her to relive things she didn't want to, it was harder to maintain her facade and Jelena more or less mentioning out loud her death? Every time it happened, it broke Svetlana's heart. When the girls woke up crying in confusion. When they said something in passing. But this was so direct... so hopeful and scared. How was she supposed to respond?

Hands shaking, Svetlana kept herself away from view as best she could, thankful at least that the girls and Rei couldn't see her. So she gripped the counter and took a breath. She could get through this. The girls were alive now. That was what mattered. She needed something to drink, something that wasn't tea. But she also didn't like just taking a shot because she was upset but this sort of warranted it. Fine. One shot and then tea. And by the time the tea would be done, she'd be calm. It was as simple as that.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-26 03:41 am UTC (link)
While her answer was vague, it was really the best she could do. Rei herself couldn't really explain her own experience, and she wasn't about to say a definite yes or no when she wasn't certain. False hope was harmful to people, she'd learned that young. So the best she could do was to be vague and hope that Jelena would be satisfied enough with it. Or at the very least use it to draw her own conclusions. Not that a five year old could draw many deep conclusions like that, but one never knew if she'd ever look back on this when she was older or not.

At Jelena's new question, Rei thought of the legend in which there had been suitors, but Princess Kaguya had never had an actual knight. Princess Serenity, on the other hand, did. So Rei was going to deviate from the legend here because while Serenity and Endymion didn't have a happy ending, it made for a better story. While she didn't have many memories from the Silver Millennium, she did know what Luna had revealed to them. And when in doubt, she'd get into Usagi and Mamoru.

"Yes, she does. Actually, her knight is a prince from Earth. Their relationship was forbidden, but they loved each other and would defy the laws of both of their people to be together." Would the five year old catch the slight discrepancy in her story with how Kaguya had been given to a human couple? Who knew, but Rei would cover that base if need be. But she figured Jelena would let it go and be more interested in learning about this new story. As long as Rei kept the bad parts out of it and made up a happy ending, it wouldn't be all bad, would it? Yes it was bad to lie and say the prince and princess were happy in the end when in reality, they both ended up dead. But Jelena didn't need to know that.

Of course Anatoly was keeping a close eye on Svetlana. How could he not? He knew what had happened to the girls, and while it was hard for him to hear Jelena ask about the topic, he knew it was nothing compared to what Svetlana felt. With Jelena sufficiently distracted by Rei and Fayina working on her homework, Anatoly got up from his seat and moved into the kitchen. He saw the way the blonde gripped the counter. Oh this wasn't good, not that he thought it could be good because he knew better. He moved closer, silently lettig her know he was there if she needed anything. But he wouldn't exactly stop her from taking a shot because he knew it helped calm her down. It also wasn't like she was an alcoholic or anything. But he just made his presence known, let her know she wasn't alone in this.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-26 06:08 am UTC (link)
While Jelena was indeed aware of the slight discrepancy in the story, she didn't comment on it as she was more interested in the new story. She had no idea that she was being lied to but what did it really matter? After all, there was a prince and a princess and that was all it needed to keep her full attention. So while Rei told her the story about how the prince and princess fell in love and were able to unite their two kingdoms, the five year old listened with rapt attention, nodding in thought as the story came to an end.

"I know a story!"

"Doesn't mean she wants to hear it."

Sticking her tongue out at her sister who just rolled her eyes, Jelena turned her attention back to Rei.

"There was an Ice Princess who had a hard time of trusting people but there were a lot of... suits who wanted to make her their princess so they tried to win her attention. Princes but she did not care. She knew who they really were because she could see into the souls to know if they were good or bad. She had a locket but it could not be opened because the key was missing. But there was a knight that no body paid attention to. One day, he came across people trying to take the princess and so he fought them off by himself but got hurt. Taking her to where he lived, the knight tried to take care of the princess but she would not let him because he was hurt and she used her powers to heal him. When they went back to the palace, the princess' brother tried to banish the knight because he thought that the knight did something mean but the princess fought her brother, which was shocking because she very rarely said anything. After that, the knight and princess started to be friends. One day, it was raining and the knight got the princess somewhere safe and told her he loved her but knew she did not love him because he was just a knight but he was wrong and when she said she loved him, the locket opened because the key was made of love. After that, the two were married and the princess became a queen. They were happy but then a mean Rat King showed up and he challenged the knight for the queen and set him up on very hard tests to prove himself and the knight was gone but the Queen never lost faith in him even as the Rat King tried to change her heart. He would send people after her but she never stopped loving her knight and he finally came back and she was right."

The shot had calmed Svetlana down slightly but she was still upset. She just wasn't going to drown her issues in vodka. That was Mikhail's way. So as she waited for the water to heat up again, she just leaned against the counter next to Anatoly. She wasn't really sure on what to say, so she said nothing at all. But then Jelena started to tell the story of the two and Svetlana just looked down. It was happier than the truth but it was also true. All that time, Svetlana had held onto hope. It was really Bangkok where it had been destroyed. She had been hurt and betrayed in the years before, yes, but after Anatoly didn't come home? After seeing him with Florence? The arguments about him losing or winning... that was when she realized he was changed, that he would never be hers again. Or so she thought.

When the kettle whistle blew, Svetlana went and quickly made the mixture for the tea she needed this time and let the now full tea bag steep and the water to cool down some, looking at Anatoly curiously to see just how he was handling the story Jelena had just told Rei.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-26 07:38 am UTC (link)
The fire senshi well knew Serenity, as she was right now, would probably berate her, or possibly kill her, for even uttering the story. Love wasn't lost on her, she could see the value in it. And besides, she was the embodiment of passion, a key aspect to love, and Serenity and Endymion as well as Usagi and Mamoru had it. And as long as Jelena liked hearing about it, Rei would tell stories like it. She knew the value of fairytales to a child. Too early she'd had her innocence ripped away from her. She wasn't about to let any child have the same taken away from them if she could help it.

As Jelena stuck her tongue out at Fayina, Rei just had to smile. It was funny to see, but she did want to hear the story. She listened closely as Jelena told it. She didn't even pay any attention to the word swap, she followed the meaning easily enough. Rei had no idea that the story was true, that it was about Jelena's parents, so she just took it as a story. Of course, as much as she loved stories, she was a bit jaded on love and had a pessimistic view of it, for the most part. As much as she wanted to believe that fairytale romance actually existed, she knew better than that. But she wouldn't be popping Jelena's bubble on that, she'd let her believe whatever she wanted to because she had a right to do so. When she got to the end of the story, Rei smiled.

"A happy ending. I like that the princess was proven right. I am certain the knight would make certain the Rat King stayed away after having succeeded in his challenges and proven himself." She was completely oblivious to the fact the story was an allegory about Svetlana and Anatoly because how could she know otherwise? She'd only just met them.

Words weren't something that would make a lot of difference at this moment, mostly as they had company and their girls were within earshot. They didn't need to get into the emotional side of things where their children could overhear. So Anatoly too remained silent. At least until he heard Jelena's story. He froze a bit, of course knowing exactly what the story was about. It wasn't that hard to figure it out. Lowering his head, all he could think about was those years of pain he'd caused his family, how horrible he had been. It had all culminated in Bangkok. He knew that was when Svetlana had truly seen what he'd become, knew he wasn't the man she'd married anymore. He was grateful for this place, for helping him try to rebuild his family and be back where he belonged. But the point was that he had a chance, and he was taking it.

The whistle of the kettle jolted him a bit. After a minute he lifted his head and saw Svetlana was looking at him. Without having to speak, his expression said it all for him. He regretted what he had done, what he had become. He'd let Molokov corrupt him and let his pride take him away from what truly mattered the most; his wife and his family. He really hadn't expected Svetlana to even let him in the door of this apartment, yet she had. And now he was living here with his family again. They were willing to work through everything, and perhaps some day, he could be that knight again, be worthy of that title again.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-26 08:59 am UTC (link)
Jelena nodded at Rei's assessment.

"Of course they do. They are .... star mates."

"Soul mates"

"Thats what I meant. The only reason the locket could open was because it was because the key made of love could only be made by two people who are part of one another and meant to love one another. And that made the princess able to reach her... her....." Now what was the word the five year old wanted? "Promise?" Looking to Fayina, the eight year old just shrugged as well. Words were weird enough at times, and it wasn't like the girls knew all the words ever for their translation needs, so promise would have to work for the story.

"But the knight promised to stay with the queen again now that the tests are done so that the Rat King will not come back and if he does he will protect her."

Svetlana saw the look on Anatoly's face and she looked down. It was a horrible situation to be in. Knowing the truth behind Jelena's words. Knowing what had been left unsaid because she wouldn't understand and didn't need to know. The tests, the matches and the women. Florence. England. Bangkok. How Anatoly had betrayed them when he won yet still he came home. Svetlana didn't understand that. Sometimes she still worried that something would happen and he'd stray again and she didn't know if she could handle that. It wasn't as prominent anymore. The past near three months was proof of that, ever since Anatoly came back from that alternate reality and refused to leave her alone again.

Sighing, the blond sipped her tea once it had cooled down. She didn't really know what to do at the moment. They were avoiding again. But what could be said at the moment when there was company here? When the girls were awake? And by the time they went to sleep it wasn't like it would be on their minds and they would avoid it anyway because why would they want to talk about it? There were enough issues at hand. Enough memories and pain. Remembering Dmitri for his birthday. No. They would avoid this conversation yet again. Maybe over chess they would once again have at least some conversation but even that was uncertain. But it would work out. It had to. They were living together again, willing to work things out. It counted, even if they had to start from beyond the beginning when Anatoly had come back from Moscow.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-26 11:15 am UTC (link)
Soul mates. Rei didn't personally believe in such things, but then she didn't have much faith in love. After all, given her childhood and what her father had taught her about love, she didn't put any stock in the validity of true love of soul mates. Even if someone pledged their love, a person could still end up dying all alone. Her mother had, and Rei refused to walk that same road. At her young age, she didn't exactly care that by keeping her heart closed she was missing out on the greater experience and meaning of being alive. All she wanted was to never be hurt, to never be broken again. And in order for that to happen, she needed to keep her heart protected and not give it to anyone. She was a paradox because as much as she denied love, she did love, but she knew it was one-sided. She really didn't need to set herself up for that heartbreak, so she'd merely stay silent on the matter. And if someone pushed her on it, she'd push back twice as hard. Her innate stubbornness ran just as deep as her passion did.

But despite those feelings, she kept a smile on her face, not wanting Jelena to pick up on the fact she lacked belief in love. Promise may not have been the word the five year old was looking for, but Rei understood what she meant well enough. Even though she hadn't been here that long yet, Rei was getting more used to the language barriers and interpreting what others said. It should have been more difficult to talk to the Sergievsky girls because the language translation that was going on between them was crazy, Russian to English, English to Japanese, and back again.

"He had better protect her, it is the duty of the knight to protect the princess." Which was a fact Rei herself was living proof of. She was a soldier sworn to protect Princess Serenity. The fire senshi was by no means a knight, but she still had a princess to protect. She took another drink of her tea, taking a moment to relish in the taste and the soothing effect it had. "What would you say if I told you I was sworn to protect a princess?" Now, Rei was smart, she would actually say Serenity was here or really give away the fact she was a senshi. After all, she knew better than to direct a five year old towards a woman who had homicidal intentions for this whole planet. It would just be a story to Jelena. If in time the girl came to learn she was Sailor Mars who protected an actual princess, she'd answer to that then. But for now? She'd make a story out of it.

When Svetlana looked down again, Anatoly just drew in a silent breath and brushed his fingers through his hair. It was heart-breaking when it came down to it. So many times in the past several months he'd wished to erase the last five years, to have the chance to say no to Molokov. Of course he knew that without the experience of the past five years, they wouldn't be wiser, they wouldn't be stronger. They would still have their initial innocence to things. Yes, Anatoly never should have broken his promises to Svetlana, never should have cheated on her or defected without her and the girls, but sometimes a person had to lose everything, to be broken down completely, to fully realize what they had and what was truly important in life. Anatoly knew that Svetlana and the girls were the most important things in his life, and he would do anything to get them back.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-26 11:16 am UTC (link)
He was doing whatever he could to get them back. He had refused to leave Svetlana's side since returning from the alternate world. They were living together now. But Svetlana was right, this would be a conversation that would be avoided until perhaps they sat down at a chess board again. While there was company and the girls were awake, they shouldn't talk about these private matters. Their daughters were too young to overhear these kinds of things, and Rei was a guest who didn't need to be exposed to their issues. So there was more avoiding and more silence on the matter. It wasn't an awkward silence, but it wasn't comfortable either. He just wished Jelena and Rei would change the subject matter to something else, something that wasn't an allusion to him and Svetlana. Though he supposed most every story involving a knight and a princess would be just that for Jelena. The five year old had always taken a strong liking to the stories he'd told. Both girls had, but Jelena was passionate about them. Though he was glad to see that Rei enjoyed stories, too. No doubt the Japanese girl had a slew of interesting stories and legends she could fill Jelena's head with. Though he now knew he should possibly brush up on Japanese folklore in the event Jelena ever asked him for a story like this Princess Kaguya or something.

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[info]thegirlisme
2012-01-26 07:31 pm UTC (link)
If Rei had mentioned not believing in soul mates, she would have had Jelena on her case to prove that they truly exist. The prince and princess from her story, the knight and ice princess from the Russians. Soul mates were all over, people just let sad things keep them from seeing it. Love existed and was real and deserved to be felt and Jelena would feel bad for anyone who didn't see that. Who wanted to protect themselves. But that was just a sad and lonely existence. Just because she was five didn't mean she wasn't wise. Sometimes the best wisdom came from those who were still innocent enough to not be so jaded on life.

But she didn't know that Rei was stupid about love and instead she was being told that she was a soldier to protect a princess.

"Really?!"

That certainly had her perk up. Long gone were the memories of dying, the fear of being kicked off the Moon. They'd come back later, but for now, it was time to hear another story.

It was definitely heartbreaking. Things happened for a reason, Svetlana had to believe that. Was it Freddie who had said that maybe there were reasons for them being here even if it made no sense? To let them work on things? To show the aspects of humanity to give strength to the fight? Things got so jumbled. Either way, Svetlana was thankful for this opportunity, though she worried about what would happen if they were sent back. Would they remember? Or would the be jaded and angry, Anatoly wanting Florence while he was in Russia and Svetlana being broken hearted and forever closed off to anyone?

Forever avoiding the pain. They never could do things the way normal couples did. It was always over chess where things came out. Chess which was simple pieces on a board. Sixty four squares, able to bring truth to the matter if people knew what to look for. If two people were so connected that they knew what everything represented without even having to discuss it beforehand. Sipping her tea, Svetlana sighed. Dmitri would have been helpful in this situation. He always knew how to fix things. Always knew how to help the two work past things. Well, help Svetlana be receptive to Anatoly's attempt to fix things. But she was alone here in that. She had to find it in herself to be receptive and she was so afraid of being hurt again even as she found herself opening up to her husband again, found herself relaxing in his presence and able to sleep with him around.

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[info]fireandpassion
2012-01-28 10:55 pm UTC (link)
That was one reason Rei didn't give away anything about her disbelief in soul mates and love. It was more than enough that Minako got on her case about beliefs and the like, she didn't need a five year old doing that as well. And really, who knew what would come in this world. Perhaps her views would change, perhaps she would change, but that wasn't going to happen in the foreseeable future. Though that was questionable depending on the people she made friends with, of course.

But as Jelena perked up, Rei grinned and nodded. "Yes, I am. I took an oath a long time ago to protect the Princess of the Moon. We grew up together and we were friends, but with the tension with the kingdom on Earth, she needed protection in the event war broke out. So I became a knight." So she was pulling from what Serenity and Luna had told her about the past and making up the rest. She knew Jelena would believe the story like all children her age would. But she had a feeling Svetlana, if she was listening, would think it was true. After all, Rei had told her she was a soldier. But she really did hope she could keep that identity of hers a secret as long as possible. Why she was so intent on keeping her, she didn't know, but it was perhaps because none of them had ever revealed it, if they could help it, to anyone back home. It was their destiny, and it was heavy, but Rei was carrying it.

Not for the first time, Anatoly did wonder what would've been happening between them if they were still in their world, back home in Russia. He hoped that being back home would have resulted in him changing the way he was here. Svetlana had always been the one to keep him grounded, keep him human. But then there was the question of Molokov. He probably still would have been a factor in Russia because Anatoly had still been champion and had gone back to Russia. He did hope that the year he'd spent away from Russia had done some good in him being able to say no to Molokov, though he knew that would be worse than going along with his plans. But he certainly hoped he would've gotten a backbone for his family.

This was definitely the time where he missed Dmitri's presence. He always knew what to do to fix things and help Svetlana and him communicate better. But this was perhaps something they would save for a chess game. It was easier to express themselves through the game, also easier if the girls were around. Of course he knew they would actually need to talk about these things at some point, but a game of chess was always a good starting point. It helped make some of the issues they needed to talk about clear, as well as their positions on them. It had helped the last time they'd played, had opened a door that they could then walk through and start to reconnect. Now they would need to do that again, and Anatoly was prepared to do that as many times as was needed. Without Dmitiri, they needed to find their own ways to reconnect, of course while pulling from what Dmitri had helped them with before.

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