It's Complicated [Usagi Rei Q&A]

[Usagi Rei]

Hello!

I often like playing characters who are, in addition to being whatever else they are, also sexy. Like, Yul was a fighter pilot, a bit of a maverick wildcard... and also sexy. Rei was slightly different in that I put the sexy first. It was a bit of an experiment, but I think it was a successful one.

So! Questions?

[Akodo Reki]

Thank you for the scenes with Reki! They were my biggest surprise this game.

Well that and shooting Mantis. Reki dating Rei is *almost* as good as getting to shoot Mantis. That's pretty high up there!

What's next for the Hare? A pull back from him lighting up a cigarette in the raining streets of the World of Dreams while the electronica music starts up and he gives a hardbitten voice over?

[Usagi Rei]

Thank you for the scenes with Reki! They were my biggest surprise this game.

Well that and shooting Mantis. Reki dating Rei is *almost* as good as getting to shoot Mantis. That's pretty high up there!

What's next for the Hare? A pull back from him lighting up a cigarette in the raining streets of the World of Dreams while the electronica music starts up and he gives a hardbitten voice over?

You're very welcome! I had so many terrific moments this game I think I have to give them tiers instead of ranks, but a lot of Rei and Reki moments are definitely S tier. Their whole beach scene was beautiful.

There's going to be a brief interruption in things for Rei. He's going to try to start Yuria on her... I can't say recovery, because there isn't one. But to the next phase of her illness? He'll spend some time with her, try to make sure she's comfortable...

But ultimately, he has to say goodbye. Or he's just using his future as kindling to warm her for a little longer.

He'll return to World of Dreams, and his life will pick up pretty much where he left off. Except with a new beginning, and significantly more closer. I think Reki would be happy for him.

[Boogiepop]

Hello! Thank you for joining us in Banner once more and playing the game! Why did things have to be this complicated with Rei? Did you foresee things being this complicated? I don't think it was particularly that sexy of a complication either. I know that you've really had a lot of thoughts regarding his situation and I'm glad that I've been able to be thought-provoking in the story I was able to provide.

[Usagi Rei]

Hello! Thank you for joining us in Banner once more and playing the game! Why did things have to be this complicated with Rei? Did you foresee things being this complicated? I don't think it was particularly that sexy of a complication either. I know that you've really had a lot of thoughts regarding his situation and I'm glad that I've been able to be thought-provoking in the story I was able to provide.

I considered many possibilities for what might happen with Rei's wife. This was not one I expected!

The missing wife was, initially, mostly background info. It affected Rei, to be sure. He'd been very badly hurt, and depending on how one looked at it, betrayed. And, as I discovered while writing him, also stuck him into a sort of stasis. Rei was definitely intended as a bit of a playboy, but he'd already committed once; it was clearly within him to do so. But he couldn't, not with his strange legal situation. Just this simple fact provided a lot of material for stuff with Rei.

And then she actually showed up!

I'd been thinking about how he would respond if she suddenly showed up. With her condition, I found quickly that he couldn't still be angry. With her condition, that felt cruel, and Rei is not cruel. At the same time, no matter how I thought about it, it didn't feel like he would feel the same about her as he once did.

From there, it was trying to stay true to the vows he made, while also giving him a future. As I saw it, there was no way for their marriage to continue. The maximum good for her would be if he transferred to wherever she ended up, and visited her frequently... but of course, that would be a huge personal cost for him. And a deeply tragic ending. I think the plan I came up with minimizes harm... but it's very much a question with no easy answer. I really have been struggling with it, IC and OOC, since she showed up.

I hope that answers your questions!

[Boogiepop]

That does answer my question, thank you very much!

[Asahina Hinata]

Usagi-samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Just want to say thank you for the tree scene with Airi-sannnn, Rei-Rei-Daddy.

[Usagi Rei]

Usagi-samaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Just want to say thank you for the tree scene with Airi-sannnn, Rei-Rei-Daddy.

Haha, that nickname.

I was really impressed with how long we kept the tree thing going! That was great!

[Thimacek]

First and foremost - thanks for being part of the game! The resident Hare was an important fixture - and he did get into some complicated situations indeed!

And I loved that scene with Airi, for the record Rei and Hinata's interactions in general were very fun, actually!

I might have one more question later (about Yuria!), but I need some time to formulate it. So for now:

Rei ended up becoming a bit of a star at the Sanctuary with his participation in the D9 event - photos of critters, being in the Badger dream team and all! I think he didn't have that many scenes in the Sanctuary, from what I've seen? So a guess a question would be: How would you say he felt seeing his photos and his face all around the Tsukune Festival Photo Book, suddenly becoming an idol for kids and stalkers alike?

And while I'm at it - favourite scene? Favourite event? Missed opportunities? Things you'd do differently?

[Utaku Yesugen]

I didn't keep track... just about how many possible Rei ships were there?

What dark timeline would be Rei X Yesugen...?

[Usagi Rei]

First and foremost - thanks for being part of the game! The resident Hare was an important fixture - and he did get into some complicated situations indeed!

And I loved that scene with Airi, for the record Rei and Hinata's interactions in general were very fun, actually!

I might have one more question later (about Yuria!), but I need some time to formulate it. So for now:

Rei ended up becoming a bit of a star at the Sanctuary with his participation in the D9 event - photos of critters, being in the Badger dream team and all! I think he didn't have that many scenes in the Sanctuary, from what I've seen? So a guess a question would be: How would you say he felt seeing his photos and his face all around the Tsukune Festival Photo Book, suddenly becoming an idol for kids and stalkers alike?

And while I'm at it - favourite scene? Favourite event? Missed opportunities? Things you'd do differently?

Thank you! It was great fun to get the internalized bit of Airi that I couldn't really show. You did a terrific job, and it really added a lot to the scene!

That was the only scene I had at the sanctuary! Rei spent time at the park and the beach, but not the sanctuary. I think he would cheerfully take being photographed like that in stride. It's just a bit of fame, and that's good to have on Wod!

Favorite Scene: Definitely the Xanatos Booty Call (named for Xanatos Gambit). I loved this so much.
Favorite Event: The Eriko Investigation. It really let the team shine, and there were lots of interesting rules, mechanics, etc. It let us think, roleplay, and be cool
Missed Opportunities: Hmmm. Alas, Yuji's player is always so busy! Should have gotten more time with him
Things I'd do Differently: I probably went monogamous too early? Haha. This was the first game I've managed non-monogamy at all (Manny only sorta counts), and I was sorta experimenting with trying it. But Rei was pretty monogamous from day 7 on. Still, I'm fine with how it all turned out!

[Usagi Rei]

What dark timeline would be Rei X Yesugen...?

For Rei's other ships...
ReixMariko - The one that ended up happening. If before the game I had described what sort of romance I wanted, it would have been pretty much this. Flirty banter, passion, trickery but with a core of feeling underneath.
ReixYuria - Rei's wife, who came back after leaving him, with something chasing her, and a bad case of Shadow Corruption. If Rei hadn't had anything else going on, I might have tried harder to make this work. But I honestly don't know how it could work. Would have even more tragic feels than it did, probably.
ReixReki - These two hit it off surprisingly well. They both experienced similar pain, helped each other through it. Their sensess of humor and kindness matched quite well. There was a scene where they both admitted to feelings... but Rei also admitted to being otherwise involved. A very nice might-have-been.

Those were the primary three. Then...
ReixYurei - It's hard to pick up on, but it's very strongly implied the two went back to bang after they had drinks together. Just a fling, although they do seem to like each other well.
ReixYakumo - Koyuki: "This is my girlfriend Yakumo, and this is her boyfriend Rei, and her other boyfriend Mineichi." They had a thing and some connection, but I think it wasn't quite what either of them were looking for.
ReixYuji - The exact nature of their relationship was strongly hinted at, but never 100% defined. Still, they would definitely have a fan following, at least!

I think that's everyone Rei was seriously paired with? Lots of other flirting, but that's just what Rei did.

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Just dropping in to say Thanks for the scene and for the highly entertaining game of watching Rei. That relationship list really *is* complicated.

And in the end there's a bit of tragic, which feels kinda true to his noir vibe.

Will he try to get Airi back to foster when he returns, or do you think he'll end up with a different drake? XD

[Susumu Yakumo]

My darling Yohimbo.

Thanks for the great scenes, and as always for being an amazing thread-partner. Always enjoy writing with you and interacting with you in different ways in these games.

I liked how Rei/Yakumo had a nice heartfelt connection for a while there, and seemed to enjoy eachother a lot even if Rei was getting involved in all sorts of complicated things! And to think I was worried that Yakumo was going to make his life complicated, but she was probably among the least complicated dalliances he had this game?

She'll never forgive him for ditching out twice though.

Did you expect Rei's lovelife to get *that* complicated going into the game? xD

[Usagi Rei]

Just dropping in to say Thanks for the scene and for the highly entertaining game of watching Rei. That relationship list really *is* complicated.

And in the end there's a bit of tragic, which feels kinda true to his noir vibe.

Will he try to get Airi back to foster when he returns, or do you think he'll end up with a different drake? XD

It was a pleasure to interact with Tsuyo! Rei was very impressed by her insight. She really did feel like the wise (barely older) mother of the MCA. And yes, I agree with your assessment above.

I thought about it, and I think Rei would try to keep Airi. Yuria is still important to him, and she's a connection to her. And, well, Airi is a special drake, too! She calls him Rei-Rei-daddy!

My darling Yohimbo.

Thanks for the great scenes, and as always for being an amazing thread-partner. Always enjoy writing with you and interacting with you in different ways in these games.

I liked how Rei/Yakumo had a nice heartfelt connection for a while there, and seemed to enjoy eachother a lot even if Rei was getting involved in all sorts of complicated things! And to think I was worried that Yakumo was going to make his life complicated, but she was probably among the least complicated dalliances he had this game?

She'll never forgive him for ditching out twice though.

Did you expect Rei's lovelife to get *that* complicated going into the game? xD

Indeed! A pleasure as always!

Yakumo was interesting for Rei in that he could trust her more than his typical dalliances. Also, she was hot even by WoD standards . This enabled him to be a little more open, and I think allowed them to progress a bit more as friends who happened to have banged once. For Yakumo, this also gave her a connection with minimal drama, which is of course something she wanted.

But it wasn't what Rei needed! Consciously or unconsciously (and with OOC involved who knows how), Rei was looking for something to help him get over his wife leaving him. And Rei/Yakumo didn't burn hot enough for that.

I do feel bad that he wasn't always there to help, though! I think part of that was a sign of how he trusted Koyuki, actually. "Eh, she's got this, I've got my own stuff." Still, though, I do have some mild regret about that.

Rei's lovelife did have some surprises. I wasn't sure if Yuria was going to appear. I don't normally romance NPCs; Mariko actually started off by joining an open thread. I noted Reki as someone who Rei would likely have good chemistry with, but I didn't expect it might (almost) turn into something more.