[ The gift itself is a little weird.. well, until she spots the name on the cd. It's pretty hard to miss. Minako Aino.. so that's her in Rei's world - an idol?
It's a slightly strange idea. Her actually being able to follow her dreams.. it's something Minako has already realised will never be a reality for her. It's not like she knows that it's not exactly following her dreams for the other Minako, but still.
It leaves her sitting on the bed staring at it for a few moments before she decides to make her way through the house to find Rei, the CD still in her hand.
But when she spots Rei.. well, Minako is Minako. If she can avoid a sad topic when it's not necessary to talk about it, she will, so instead she just gives the other a silly grin. ]
Hey, Rei-chan.. the me of your world looks pretty weird!
[Both Minakos sacrifice far too much of themselves for the mission, even in Rei's opinion. She knows this Minako has connections with the music group here in Holly Heights, and that being an idol is something of a dream for her. This is Rei's small, weird way of encouraging her in that.
Of course, she should have expected a reaction like that, huh?]
She's not that different...
[Actually, she looks a lot more like this Minako when she's transformed into Sailor Venus, so Rei got used to the differences pretty quickly.]
And she's pretty popular, too. She told me I was the only girl that didn't recognize her, when we met.
[Again, she's trying to encourage this Minako with things about the other one? Hopefully it doesn't backfire. She kind of wants to ask if Minako liked the gift too, but she's too embarrassed to actually say it.]
[ Yeah, it's probably pretty obvious that this Minako here is trying to avoid any more of the heavy topics, instead focusing on the light things about this situation.. because even if Rei is - and has always been - the one she could share the most with about their duty, she's always put herself at a certain distance even from her. From anyone, really. And the fact that this Rei is from another world and younger and more inexperienced.. well, it just makes it even easier to drive up the distance.
A distance covered by ditzy actions and light smiles, as if there isn't a single worry on her mind. ]
You didn't? [ She laughs. ] Maybe I should have expected as much.. no matter the world, Rei-chan's the kind of girl who just sits in the temple all day and doesn't even bother to go out and gossip with the other girls about popular things.
[She does know Minako - even this Minako - better than to think this is all there is to her. Perhaps against her better judgement, she wants to be closer to her. Even living together, it doesn't feel like they're really on the same page sometimes. She's even going so far as to try to understand her dreams, frivolous as they might be. They do have their own lives to live, after all... fighting isn't all there is.
There was never any chance she'd figure out how to articulate any of this, though. Certainly not when Minako's dangling that bait, which Rei gladly takes.]
Maybe if what they were talking about was more interesting, I would.
[Her eyes narrow as she folds her arms.]
If you don't like it, you should just say so.
[Not that... she thinks that's what Minako's saying at all...]
[ Yes, that reaction is honestly very much like Rei - no matter whether it's this one or the one from her world, apparently some things just never change. It brings out a small and fond smile on Minako's face. Especially considering just how long it's been since she's really had a proper chance to tease Rei or interact with anyone from her world other than Usagi or Chibiusa. ]
Do you think that's what I'm saying? That I don't like it?
[ The idea she wouldn't treasure something a friend gave to her is honestly so laughable that Minako can't even fully suppress the giggle that escapes her lips at it. ]
I didn't know you had a cute insecure side like that. [ Just leave it to this girl to spin just about anything into something embarrassing.. but it's just easier to do it this way, she just knows Rei would only flip out more if she acted openly sappy and all that.
So teasing it is.
(And honestly, the way she hasn't let go of the cd at all yet should already say enough about how much she likes the present..) ]
[Yep, the teasing is nice and comfortable and familiar. It distracts her from the warmth she feels at the almost-confirmation that Minako does, in fact, like her present.]
Don't be ridiculous.
[The slightest blush, as she turns her head ever so slightly to avoid directly looking at Minako, while still trying not to be too obvious about it.]
I'm not even sure it's any good. Just because so many other girls listened to her...
[She's not going to admit how much some of the lyrics actually mean to her... they're part of Minako. Her Minako. Maybe this Minako too.
More importantly, Rei won't admit it, but she wants this Minako to really understand just how incredible her other self was. Her life was short, but she touched so many others. Even if it was in a way Rei couldn't truly understand. Surely, this Minako has the same potential. Who knows what she could do without an illness holding her back?]
You mean you haven't listened to it yet, Rei-chan?
[ Not that Rei has ever really been the type to listen to whatever new teenage idol was hot and happening at any moment. Not even in her world. But since this is not just some random idol's cd, but instead Minako's.. well, she figures Rei must at least have listened a little bit of it.
Especially not while she's looking away like that. But at least Minako's trying to keep her tone light - or rather, relatively tease free.
Relatively. ]
Maybe we should listen for a bit together now then.
how was it another week and a half *why are events so distracting?*
[She's so quick on the response, she can't have possibly actually thought it through. The truth is, she has listened to a little bit of it. Not all of it. Admittedly, she's curious about the rest. They'd had a mission to complete, so it didn't seem important then. But here... in memory of her Minako and in acknowledgement of the Minako she has in this place...]
... But it's different here.
[For a second, it seems like she'll actually be honest, before the tsun shields come up again.]
If you want to, go ahead. I don't care.
[Liar. There's no way Minako won't see through that completely. But it's easier to react that way than to admit what she's really feeling. Minako will understand anyway, right?]
[ Of course she does. If there's anyone in this lifetime that's going to look through Rei's - any Rei's - tsun, then it's Minako, right? It's why she grins so widely to hear those last words from Rei. She knows what it means, she totally does want to listen, for some reason or another. She doesn't really think it's particularly for her sake, but maybe for the Minako that Rei has known back home..
.. well, whatever, that's fine to her too. Rei's probably a little homesick anyway. She's younger, after all, and Rei has always been more prone to be grumpy over bottling things up.
(Which is a totally unhealthy habit that Minako obviously doesn't have!! Minako, bottling things, when does that ever happen.. except always..)
So she's hooking arms with the other girl before dragging her over to the stereo set so she can pop in the CD. ]
Then let's listen together! I'm sure Rei-chan can teach me all the songs.
[ Because she'll be damned if Rei hasn't at least listened to it a little bit.. she's so sure the other girl has. ]
[It's for this Minako's sake too! If Rei knew what the older girl was thinking, she'd probably shout at her for being too self-sacrificing again. But maybe that's just getting her Minakos crossed. (Except this Minako totally does the same thing, let's be real.)
Of course, annoyingly, Minako totally sees through her. The way she just hooks arms with her and drags her over isn't even unexpected anymore, but gosh, does it fluster her every. single. time.]
That's... I don't even know them all!
[Oops. Score another one for Minako. Time to cover with more annoyance, even as she lets her guard down a little again.]
... That's not what I meant! I don't mind listening together, but I won't sing. You'll have to learn them on your own.
[ Score one for Minako, more like Minako has already won the match a long time ago and is just enjoying the extended afterparty a little too much. She's already popping in the CD even as she's talking to Rei, like she's not even surprised the other girl gave herself away by accident.
It always works like this, after all. ]
Why..? What do you have against singing?
[ So maybe Minako is pretending like the Rei in her world wouldn't react the same way as this Rei is doing just to see a reaction.
[Is she trying to get her worked up? ... Probably. Rei manages to keep a lid on it and not shoot back with some snide comment. But there's no stopping her blush. Does this Minako even know what she'd already done? All that 'Reiko Mars' nonsense...]
Nothing in particular! I just don't want to.
[Whoops, that came out a little more fiery than she'd intended. ... Maybe it's not too late to move houses, somewhere where she won't have to endure this practically ever day? (Like she'd ever leave Minako... even this Minako.)]
Minako Aino songs wouldn't suit me, anyway.
[There, she managed a calmer, more rational response. Too late, as usual.]
[ It's a good thing that she's so used to Rei being Rei - any Rei, really - that the prickly comments don't even remotely hurt her anymore. It's just Rei being Rei, so she knows she doesn't mean it in any truly insulting way. Her smile doesn't fade in the slightest. ]
Oh? Then what kind of songs would suit you?
[ She has a whole karaoke set, Rei.... don't test her. Never test Minakos. You know how it ends. ]
It wouldn't do if I was the only one singing here! I'm not enough of an attention hog that I don't want to share with you, you know?
[Whoops, that question might be bringing back memories of that one time she did sing. Which means she's getting all flustered again.]
... None of your business!
[This Minako is not getting her to sing. She may be older and have years of experience with girls named Rei Hino, but there's no way that's happening.]
You don't have to feel bad about that because of me. I don't mind if you sing.
[ Okay, not technically. Minako is just fine with being in the spotlight and solo and all that, that's not the problem here.. It's just that she wants to make Rei sing as well.
Which is why she's - oh so subtly, obviously - shoving a microphone into the girl's hands. ]
So come on, let's do this together! [ And now for her final weapon, the hidden ace up her sleeve-- puppy eyes. ] Do it for me..?
Well, it's actually much harder to resist when there's nowhere to escape to. Maybe she can sing really, really quietly just so Minako will stop bugging her about it?]
... Fine. But if you tell anyone...
[She can set fire to anything and everything Minako loves! (She won't, but she'll do... something!)]
[ There we go, that microphone is already being shoved straight into Rei's hands. ]
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone! [ And she might actually keep herself to that one.. she does have some consideration for Rei's feelings, after all, and she doubts just telling everyone about Rei having sung will really help shove her a little out of her shell more. No, all of this isn't even for blackmail materials' sake - she just genuinely wants to hear Rei sing.
See, she's just thinking of your own good here, Rei.. ]
Are you ready? Oh, wait-- you can pick the song too, I'm fine with anything!
[Despite everything else, Rei does trust her. So if she says she won't tell, she believes it. (If she had danced around the issue, it'd be a different story, but she didn't!)
Rei doesn't want this responsibility, though. Picking songs, teaching Minako the words... where will it end?]
Let's just do the first one.
[There, that was easy (and dismissive) enough! Unfortunately for Rei, the first song on the album is... well...
Yeah, she's just going to keep her mouth shut through the whole intro chorus. Hoping there's a way out of this she just hasn't figured out yet.]
[ Of course Minako doesn't know the lyrics yet, but thank god there's lyrics included.. and she's good at improvising, so she's actually doing fairly well even though it might be the first time she's ever heard the song. Maybe it's some lingering instinct that crosses worlds or something like that - and hey, even if this Minako isn't an idol, it's not like she's a bad singer.
But it's not hard to notice that Rei isn't really singing along.. ]
I love you baby baby, switch off the lights, baby baby, kiss me--
.. Hey, it's no fun if you're not going to join in after all, you know?
[Sigh. Well, she held out as long as she could. Which wasn't long at all. At least the verse is a little calmer... she just has to take a deep breath and steel her nerves against how embarrassing this is going to be.]
The weather is good today, I see your reflection in the window...
[She starts off very quiet, but she doesn't even have to look at the lyrics. She's heard it all before, and not caring to learn it doesn't mean she wouldn't have ended up picking up on the words regardless.
She's not a bad singer either, if clearly not a professional by any stretch. Her deeper voice doesn't really match the song, but she can carry the tune well enough.]
I inscribe my love in my diary, same as usual.
[So glad there's no one else here to see this. She'll rise to the challenge for now, but she's going to make sure they never speak of this again.]
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no subject
It's a slightly strange idea. Her actually being able to follow her dreams.. it's something Minako has already realised will never be a reality for her. It's not like she knows that it's not exactly following her dreams for the other Minako, but still.
It leaves her sitting on the bed staring at it for a few moments before she decides to make her way through the house to find Rei, the CD still in her hand.
But when she spots Rei.. well, Minako is Minako. If she can avoid a sad topic when it's not necessary to talk about it, she will, so instead she just gives the other a silly grin. ]
Hey, Rei-chan.. the me of your world looks pretty weird!
no subject
Of course, she should have expected a reaction like that, huh?]
She's not that different...
[Actually, she looks a lot more like this Minako when she's transformed into Sailor Venus, so Rei got used to the differences pretty quickly.]
And she's pretty popular, too. She told me I was the only girl that didn't recognize her, when we met.
[Again, she's trying to encourage this Minako with things about the other one? Hopefully it doesn't backfire. She kind of wants to ask if Minako liked the gift too, but she's too embarrassed to actually say it.]
no subject
A distance covered by ditzy actions and light smiles, as if there isn't a single worry on her mind. ]
You didn't? [ She laughs. ] Maybe I should have expected as much.. no matter the world, Rei-chan's the kind of girl who just sits in the temple all day and doesn't even bother to go out and gossip with the other girls about popular things.
no subject
There was never any chance she'd figure out how to articulate any of this, though. Certainly not when Minako's dangling that bait, which Rei gladly takes.]
Maybe if what they were talking about was more interesting, I would.
[Her eyes narrow as she folds her arms.]
If you don't like it, you should just say so.
[Not that... she thinks that's what Minako's saying at all...]
no subject
Do you think that's what I'm saying? That I don't like it?
[ The idea she wouldn't treasure something a friend gave to her is honestly so laughable that Minako can't even fully suppress the giggle that escapes her lips at it. ]
I didn't know you had a cute insecure side like that. [ Just leave it to this girl to spin just about anything into something embarrassing.. but it's just easier to do it this way, she just knows Rei would only flip out more if she acted openly sappy and all that.
So teasing it is.
(And honestly, the way she hasn't let go of the cd at all yet should already say enough about how much she likes the present..) ]
/rescues from my old Outlook, I'M SO SORRY D;
Don't be ridiculous.
[The slightest blush, as she turns her head ever so slightly to avoid directly looking at Minako, while still trying not to be too obvious about it.]
I'm not even sure it's any good. Just because so many other girls listened to her...
[She's not going to admit how much some of the lyrics actually mean to her... they're part of Minako. Her Minako. Maybe this Minako too.
More importantly, Rei won't admit it, but she wants this Minako to really understand just how incredible her other self was. Her life was short, but she touched so many others. Even if it was in a way Rei couldn't truly understand. Surely, this Minako has the same potential. Who knows what she could do without an illness holding her back?]
HOW DARE YOU...
[ Not that Rei has ever really been the type to listen to whatever new teenage idol was hot and happening at any moment. Not even in her world. But since this is not just some random idol's cd, but instead Minako's.. well, she figures Rei must at least have listened a little bit of it.
Especially not while she's looking away like that. But at least Minako's trying to keep her tone light - or rather, relatively tease free.
Relatively. ]
Maybe we should listen for a bit together now then.
how was it another week and a half *why are events so distracting?*
[She's so quick on the response, she can't have possibly actually thought it through. The truth is, she has listened to a little bit of it. Not all of it. Admittedly, she's curious about the rest. They'd had a mission to complete, so it didn't seem important then. But here... in memory of her Minako and in acknowledgement of the Minako she has in this place...]
... But it's different here.
[For a second, it seems like she'll actually be honest, before the tsun shields come up again.]
If you want to, go ahead. I don't care.
[Liar. There's no way Minako won't see through that completely. But it's easier to react that way than to admit what she's really feeling. Minako will understand anyway, right?]
no subject
.. well, whatever, that's fine to her too. Rei's probably a little homesick anyway. She's younger, after all, and Rei has always been more prone to be grumpy over bottling things up.
(Which is a totally unhealthy habit that Minako obviously doesn't have!! Minako, bottling things, when does that ever happen.. except always..)
So she's hooking arms with the other girl before dragging her over to the stereo set so she can pop in the CD. ]
Then let's listen together! I'm sure Rei-chan can teach me all the songs.
[ Because she'll be damned if Rei hasn't at least listened to it a little bit.. she's so sure the other girl has. ]
no subject
Of course, annoyingly, Minako totally sees through her. The way she just hooks arms with her and drags her over isn't even unexpected anymore, but gosh, does it fluster her every. single. time.]
That's... I don't even know them all!
[Oops. Score another one for Minako. Time to cover with more annoyance, even as she lets her guard down a little again.]
... That's not what I meant! I don't mind listening together, but I won't sing. You'll have to learn them on your own.
no subject
It always works like this, after all. ]
Why..? What do you have against singing?
[ So maybe Minako is pretending like the Rei in her world wouldn't react the same way as this Rei is doing just to see a reaction.
Just maybe. ]
no subject
Nothing in particular! I just don't want to.
[Whoops, that came out a little more fiery than she'd intended. ... Maybe it's not too late to move houses, somewhere where she won't have to endure this practically ever day? (Like she'd ever leave Minako... even this Minako.)]
Minako Aino songs wouldn't suit me, anyway.
[There, she managed a calmer, more rational response. Too late, as usual.]
no subject
Oh? Then what kind of songs would suit you?
[ She has a whole karaoke set, Rei.... don't test her. Never test Minakos. You know how it ends. ]
It wouldn't do if I was the only one singing here! I'm not enough of an attention hog that I don't want to share with you, you know?
no subject
... None of your business!
[This Minako is not getting her to sing. She may be older and have years of experience with girls named Rei Hino, but there's no way that's happening.]
You don't have to feel bad about that because of me. I don't mind if you sing.
[She only minds if she's the one singing.]
no subject
[ Okay, not technically. Minako is just fine with being in the spotlight and solo and all that, that's not the problem here.. It's just that she wants to make Rei sing as well.
Which is why she's - oh so subtly, obviously - shoving a microphone into the girl's hands. ]
So come on, let's do this together! [ And now for her final weapon, the hidden ace up her sleeve-- puppy eyes. ] Do it for me..?
[ Can you refuse that face. ]
no subject
......
Well, it's actually much harder to resist when there's nowhere to escape to. Maybe she can sing really, really quietly just so Minako will stop bugging her about it?]
... Fine. But if you tell anyone...
[She can set fire to anything and everything Minako loves! (She won't, but she'll do... something!)]
no subject
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone! [ And she might actually keep herself to that one.. she does have some consideration for Rei's feelings, after all, and she doubts just telling everyone about Rei having sung will really help shove her a little out of her shell more. No, all of this isn't even for blackmail materials' sake - she just genuinely wants to hear Rei sing.
See, she's just thinking of your own good here, Rei.. ]
Are you ready? Oh, wait-- you can pick the song too, I'm fine with anything!
/shamelessly revives a few old threads
Rei doesn't want this responsibility, though. Picking songs, teaching Minako the words... where will it end?]
Let's just do the first one.
[There, that was easy (and dismissive) enough! Unfortunately for Rei, the first song on the album is... well...
Yeah, she's just going to keep her mouth shut through the whole intro chorus. Hoping there's a way out of this she just hasn't figured out yet.]
no subject
But it's not hard to notice that Rei isn't really singing along.. ]
I love you baby baby, switch off the lights, baby baby, kiss me--
.. Hey, it's no fun if you're not going to join in after all, you know?
no subject
The weather is good today, I see your reflection in the window...
[She starts off very quiet, but she doesn't even have to look at the lyrics. She's heard it all before, and not caring to learn it doesn't mean she wouldn't have ended up picking up on the words regardless.
She's not a bad singer either, if clearly not a professional by any stretch. Her deeper voice doesn't really match the song, but she can carry the tune well enough.]
I inscribe my love in my diary, same as usual.
[So glad there's no one else here to see this. She'll rise to the challenge for now, but she's going to make sure they never speak of this again.]