[D3EN] Honorable Company

[Usagi Rei]

Well. That took Rei a few moments to process. He looked at her incredulously. A number of emotions flickered over his face, a confusing swirl, matching what was going on inside his head. His lips parted, then pressed together.

Finally he laughed.

"That's rough, buddy." Rei echoed, still laughing. "It is rough. Where's your wife, Rei? I don't know!" He brushed a hand across his face, his laughter rough, edged with dark humor.

Finally he sighed, looking back at Reki, lips quirked in a way that only somewhat resembled a smile. "I guess there's not really much one can say to that, is there?" He shrugged. "But I hope that explains..." He waved a hand vaguely, not quite able to voice what he thought it should explain.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki frowned and looked down, her appearance bringing to mind a chastised child.

"My...I..."

She took another deep breath and tried to salvage the whole thing, maybe even a little anger that he had taken it so poorly even if she meant well. Again her mouth moved before the words really processed.

"At least you didn't have to watch her die...order her to her death."

Reki froze at that admission, all the memories coming back. She rested her head on her hand, quiet for a long moment.

"...a drink. I need a drink. A strong drink. A very strong drink."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei's eyes widened, and what remained of his smile faded at the admission. "Akodo-sama..." He said, his voice soft. He tried to think back to what it would have been like to watch Yuria die, back when she was still his Yuria. But it was too confused with the swirl of emotions around her leaving. And then seeing her again. He swallowed. "I'm sorry." He finally managed.

Frowning, he leaned forward, pressing on the supplied console almost aggressively. "Straight whiskey. A favorite of a friend of mine, Susumu Yuji. Meant for drinking slowly, but it'll do the job."

He looked at her, smiling sadly. "Let's see if we can't do at least a bit of forgetting tonight." Moments after he spoke, two new glasses were delivered, generous pours of amber liquid.

[Akodo Reki]

"You had nothing to do with it." Reki looked up slowly, "...yes, a little forgetting."

When the drinks were delivered she took a long sip, and coughed lightly behind her hand before taking another long sip.

"My apologies for my unseemly state." She had thought herself past all this, but there it was right back. "A few moments and it will pass. And at least it was not all sadness. Most of my memories were of happier times. I am sure the same could be said of your own memories..."

[Usagi Rei]

"No." Rei said shortly. "Or, at least, I can't trust them anymore."

A more experienced whiskey drinker, Rei managed a longer drink of his. "There's no need to apologize Akodo-sama. I just hope I didn't... there's no shame missing a lost loved one." He grimaced, taking another drink of the whiskey.

Then he looked at her, managing a smile again. "What is your preferred drink, anyway?"

[Akodo Reki]

Reki pressed her lips into a thin line...

"I always preferred to mix a little brandy into some of the harsher tea blends. Naomi-chan," She smiles, a sadness still behind it...but also some manner of joy, "She would often chastise me for it, telling me if I wanted a drink I should just have one and if I honestly thought the kami damned smell of the strong tea would mask the brandy's scent."

The Lioness brough her hand and shivered a little...a muted laugh perhaps... "I told her she had no right to question my choice of drinks when she favored that fermented milk the Unicorn have dragged out into the stars."

[Usagi Rei]

That made Rei laugh softly, his eyes crinkling. "You know, I was on her side until you talked about that fermented milk stuff. I tried that once." He shook his head, chuckling. "I guess that's just further proof you two were right for each other."

He looked at her, still smiling. "What's that stuff called? Starts with a K sound, right?" His eyebrows went up. "And she really liked that?"

Rei lifted his glass, taking another drink. He gave Reki a nod, encouraging her to do the same. He hoped his plan to make her laugh, get her a little drunk, and see her safely back to the Lion Embassy hopefully feeling a little better wasn't too transparent.

[Akodo Reki]

"Kumis," Reki responded, "I probably still have the picture of the time she convinced me to drink some of it...I almost threw up." She did indeed take another drink, her eyes caught his for a moment. Behind the swirl of emotions there, one very clear thing emerged a harshness that practically screamed: you best not be thinking of taking advantge of me

As quickly as it was there it was gone, "She drank it quite a bit, one of the things she missed most about becoming a Lion was how hard it was to get."

[Usagi Rei]

Grimacing, Rei pushed on through that harsh look. "Sounds like the batch you had was worse than mine." His lips quirked. "Or is that better? I mean, it's supposed to taste like that, right?"

He took another sip, drinking moderately. His pale eyes were narrowed, watching Reki's features, alert for a shift to unhappiness. It was a bit like some sort of cheerful interrogation. "It took me a while to adjust to being here." Rei said. "So what Lion stuff did she like? I bet there were some things." He said, his tone encouraging.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki leaned back and closed her eyes, letting the precious few happy moments pour in. It brings a sad smile to her face. Leaning forward again she takes another drink and begins.

"Well...I remember when we had first seen...."

/fade to much drunk reminiscing?

[Usagi Rei]

/fade, and thank you!