Seeking Answers(Rei and Nathaniel)

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nathaniel looked around with nothing short of admiration, even if he felt more than passing strange walking through the royal palace. Every surface was white and shimmering, gently radiating a warm energy that stroked over the exposed skin of his face and hands. It made him feel warm, and just slightly uncomfortable, as if his brain were wrestling with a problem that it just couldn't quite grasp.

He was seeking out the priestess who lived here. One of the planetary princesses who guarded the woman who would be queen of the world. She supposedly possessed powers as well and was able to for tell the future. Only a face to face meeting could make sure of that.

It would be nice to run into someone else who could actually sense things again, as he missed talking with Carol about the omens he saw in the stars. Maybe the priestess would be able to help him figure out his dreams as well. If she couldn't, he had no idea what he was going to try next, and the last thing he wanted was to be driven mad by all of these half-formed visions of people, places, and things that he should know.

The redhead blinked in surprise to find himself already at the heavy oak and brass door that marked the entrance to the shrine. Lifting his hand, he rested the palm of it against the wood, pleasantly surprised to find it warm and tingling with protective charms. A small smirk quirked up one side of his mouth. Maybe this was going to be more productive and interesting than he thought.

With a tiny sliver of hope curling in his heart, Nathaniel grasped the simple brass knocker and rapped it three times against the heavy door. "Come on Priestess. Time to show me what you've got."

[Hino Rei]

Rei had had a fairly good day thus far. The visit that morning had left her in somewhat of good spirits, and not even an argument with a pushy old church lady had killed her mood. In point of fact, that she'd reduced the woman to a blustering, blushed sack of blue-haired and bad knit rage had only left Rei feeling rather chipper and as if she'd done a good days work. "Spiritual" might have described the fire priestess, but "serene" and "peaceful" did not.

After the noontide debacle, Rei had taken her lunch in the gardens, tied her robes back to tend them, and then had a warm bath. Her hair was still damp at the ends, and left to drift about her ankles when she heard a knock sound at the front of the shrine. Rei pursed her lips; she hadn't been expecting anyone. The Priestess stopped in the hallway at a carefully place mirror to check her robes. The outfit had been fashioned by one of the designers that Minako kept going on about when Rei had told her that she'd had to give up the traditional Shinto robes.

In keeping with her heritage, the robe resembled a Kimono in many ways. Several layers of loose silk robes draped upon one another so that each colour peeked through just slightly about the neck, sleeves and hem; the top most was black with various shades of red (from ruby to garnet) falling beneath it. White lillies, added on by her request, decorated the bottom hem, the only truly personal touch she'd allowed hers. The sleeves of the robes were wide and log, and the bottom of the robes flared into a slight train behind her, to allow her more freedom than a Kimono would have allowed. All in all, it was an elegant look--just not one that Rei was at all used to.

At least, she allowed, she could go barefoot and no one was the wiser.

With an easy tug she pulled the door partially open, "Can I help you?" Her voice stopped short as she saw the man awaiting her, and the Priestess's eyes narrowed faintly. There was something... very familiar about this man. Entirely too familiar.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

The woman was prompt, he would give her that, but friendly was definitely not on the list of initial impressions. She was also much younger than he expected, and a lot more beautiful. Her dark, narrowed eyes seemed to pierce straight through him, and Nathaniel got the distinct impression that rather than just being merely unfriendly, the young priestess just didn't like him.

Shaking off his initial reaction, the young man gave the pretty priestess his most charming smile. "I'm actually hoping that you can, lady. My name is Nathaniel," he replied with a small half-bow, "and I could use a little advice on dreams. I've heard of your powers and I'm curious to see if you can help me out."

Straightening back up, he took in as much of her as he could. Her robes were rather luxurious and beautifully designed, the white lilies on the hem lending it an air of innocence that entirely belied the woman's shrewd gaze.

That was what his eyes took in, and as he gazed upon her, Nathaniel opened himself up just a little bit to see what he could perceive about her. He was left blinking his blue eyes several times, trying to dispel the image of a bright pillar of pure fire that had seared itself into his mind's eye.

[Hino Rei]

Those lavender eyes narrowed even further as she felt something she definitely different like from him. Unfortunately for her that same feeling proved that she could not turn him away. "I might," She replied sharply, fixing him with her best no-nonsense look, "but consider this your last warning--try that again, and I'll toss you out on your ear."

With that, the woman turned and crossed up the three steps into the main room of the shrine. She left the door open for Nathanial to either walk through, or not; it was his choice and he wasn't liable to be offered more of an invitation than that. She took her place at the table, sinking elegantly down onto the pillow waiting there in place of a chair. The teapot there was always kept filled with water, ready for tea, and she lit the brazer with a simple snap of her fingers. It had taken years to perfect that power, but finally she seemed to have control over it.

He was a handsome man, of that there was no doubt. But handsome men often came with trouble, she had learned as many women often did. The feeling that she knew him did not go away with his speaking but only increased; there was something in the arrogant air about him and the feel of his aura that made her certain she had met him before. Nor did this seem to be a good thing.

"The realm of dreams is one I'm quite familiar with," She said as she did all of this, assuming that he had followed her, "but dream interpretation is also very dependent upon the person and their circumstances. Somehow I do not think its simple interpretation you seek." This wasn't a question, though it was phrased as one.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

All he could do in response to her threat was laugh. She'd felt his gentle probe and was not at all happy about it. This alone made him grin and follow her into the shrine. Nathaniel wanted to know about her now, just how powerful she was, and was determined to keep a psychic eye on her.

Closing the door gently behind him, he scanned over the interior of the shrine and felt a very odd mix of emotions. The woman's energy was everywhere, as was to be expected, but something about nagged heavily at the back of his mind. The little trick with the fire made his brows draw together in frustration, but he needed no further convincing that she had Power.

Deciding to take the beautiful, if waspish, young woman seriously he ascended the three stairs as she sank gracefully to her seat cushion. That movement he could appreciate purely as a man. Shoving that thought down because it would only complicate things, Nathaniel took the cushion across from her, seating himself in a cross-legged fashion. It had taken a bit to get used to sitting on the floor all the time, but in this small shrine it seemed completely appropriate.

"So you really do have the ability to manipulate fire," he murmured softly, feeling a bit more hopeful of the fact that this woman might be able to provide some answers. "Anyway," waving a hand and making his voice a little more audible, the model looked the priestess squarely in her odd lavender eyes.

"You surprise me again, lady, with your keen insight. I..." Nathaniel trailed off, wondering just how much to tell her. He'd come here for help on a nigh lifelong problem so what the hell? Throwing caution to the wind he laid it all out for her. "My entire life, for as long as I can remember, I've had strange visions and half-dreams of places filled with dark and cold. Sometimes there is the sound of battle, and I have four comrades one of whom I am servant to. There are several young women, but I can never see their faces. The time and setting is always different and every time I try to probe deeper, it's like I run face first into a stone wall. There is so much...anger, in me. So much...loss." His rich voice took on an almost desolate tone with the last word, his dark eyes distant, inward focused, and a little sad.

[Deleted]

(Man I feel guilty for interrupting here... Don't hurt me please. *ducks* It's for the storyline!)

Unlike regular doors, which could be knocked upon, the shrine was full of sliding ones made out of paper and wood. For a moment, Agent Hirai just stood there, unsure of how to properly barge into and bellow about an emergency in an environment like this.

Shrugging, she pulled open the doors with as much drama as she dared, hoping she could get out her message before she got chewed out by Lady Mars.

"My lady, I am sorry for the interruption..." her astute eyes took in Nathaniel's presence, cataloging his face for future reference. "...But this is an emergency. Neo Queen Serenity is gone without a trace and a suspect was seen leaving her quarters. The King sent me to get you. He needs to see all of the senshi now." Well, technically her boss, Mr. Felix had sent her, but he was ordered by King Endymion; she had been there.

At least if they find the Queen most of her detail will be sacked for this and I can move up...

[Hino Rei]

((Its okay usa-chan <333))

A small smirk bit at the corners of Rei's mouth; she'd heard the comment he'd made about her pyromancy. Rather than reply to a statement of the obvious, Rei merely brought two clean cups from her cabinet and set them upon the table. She would be known as a good hostess, at least, if not a particularly pleasant one.

As she listened to his... problem... Rei felt a chill creeping its bony fingers up her spine. That feeling of recognition was only growing stronger the longer that she stayed in his presence; it wasn't a good thing. He mentioned the "several young women" and she couldn't help the softest of snorts. Of course there where. She was just about to dismiss it as male, childish fantasy when the last sentence stopped her. As much as she wanted to send him away, the Senshi couldn't help but know very deep within herself that to do so would be utmost folly.

Rei lifted the tea pot when she could hear it boiling and filled the two cups. It was just as she set the pot back upon the boiler and tamped the fire that the doors to her sanctuary were thrown open. She was just about to launch into one of her usual verbal beatings, sharp eyebrows already raised in indignant surprise, when the woman explained her reasoning.

That was good enough for Rei. Barely registering that at least this woman had some sense about her (an odd thing, Rei was sorry to say, for the palace workers), Rei was at once on her feet. "Sir, you'll have to come back tomorrow..." The Priestess paused only a moment, eyes raking over the soldier at her door. She couldn't remember this ones name. "See him out, please."

The order was snapped with an authority that Rei had no doubt would be followed, and then Rei brushed past the woman and out into the hallway. A shimmer of power burned the robes from her body and cast the armor of the Senshi upon her being--their identities were no longer secret and it didn't matter that there were others about her. Once in the short skirt, she was free to run headlong down the hallway. WHAT had Usagi gotten herself into now?

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

He'd heard that delicate little snort of derision, and his eyebrows drew together just a bit but he continued on anyway and was pleased to see the look in the priestess' eyes change. She would help him as best she could. The tea she poured smelled wonderful, but before Nathaniel could take a sip the shrine's doors were thrown open to admit a female soldier who took him in and dismissed him again with a glance.

And just as quickly he was dismissed by the priestess, telling him to come back tomorrow as she stalked out of the room without a backward glance. Twice dismissed in a handful of seconds did wonders to Nathaniel's ego, and he had to forcibly restrain a tight scowl as the soldier woman ordered him to stand with both hands visible, frisking him more for the formality of it than any actual threat of danger.

He flirted and crabbed about his poor treatment at the hands of the priestess with the female agent mostly ignoring him, doing his level best to come off as a lecherous airhead. Her irritation with his comments finally grew to the point where she gave him a cold stare and told him to wait for the maid who would show him out. Inwardly he smiled, bingo.

She stalked out, and he counted slowly to thirty before checking the hallway for anyone else who might be there, and stepped out, heading in the direction the fiery priestess had gone. The lavender eyed woman had not heard the last of him.

That, and how often did one get to be in a royal palace during a security breach? This was going to be interesting at the very least.