#reijad

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B: for senxshi in general perhaps? how did you get into it?

Well, basically I was aware of it before, but it wasn't until I officially joined the fandom that got really into it.

One of the things I like about it is the storytelling potential of these characters. It's referenced in the manga that the two groups had some romantic inclinations during the Silver Millennium and we never get the whole story per say, but that lays the groundwork for drama whether it's written as an AU, a post-canon fic, or "lost scenes" that are canon compliant.

Another great thing is how none of these ships need to be cookie cutter. Each ship can have a different vibe to them depending on how you interpret the characters' personality.

For example, Zoisite is often portrayed as a showy, even flamboyant figure within fandom, with his counterpart Sailor Mercury shown as more soft spoken and even serious at times. It's interesting to see how the two interact and how a relationship would work (or not work) in the context of the story. What attracts them to one another? And what makes them unique as a couple? These sort of questions drive the stories forward and can hook people.

And while the questions can remain the same, the answers do not. Two people writing the same ship can come to completely different conclusions about them.

There's also how each party has a rapport with one another as a group. All the Sailor Senshi are friends and the Four Kings were Endymion's personal guard, so it's not just the interaction between the ships it's also how each little friend group feels about one another and each individual member's relationship with one another.

So it's basically a whole yarn ball of character dynamics that you can enjoy unravelling. There's just so much wiggle room with these characters and that's so stimulating for writers and fan artists. And I love seeing all the different results.

My brain is empty please send me Ships so I can either A. Write something about them B. Yammer about them C. Recommend a fic about them D. Literally do anything at all to pass the time. If you don't want the answer to be smutty or spicy, please make sure to add the phrase "hold the lemon" to your ask.

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R x J Week 2024 Day 5: Psychic

@senshixshitennouweeks late as can be but hopefully good

“That fortuneteller was full of crap!”

Rei fumed as she and Usagi left the tent of ‘Rani the Mysterious.’

“I don’t know,” Usagi said, pausing from inhaling the massive cotton candy she’d bought the moment they’d entered the carnival, “she told me I would marry young and live to old age with my sweetheart.”

The romantic wistfulness on her face melted into consternation.

“But then she said my first child would come before marriage.”

“Count yourself lucky,” Rei said, “that quack said that I would fall in love with someone I’ve already met, already hurt, been hurt by, and I wouldn’t know when I met them again.”

“In that order?”

Rei rolled her eyes.

“As if I would ever allow any of that to happen to me,” she said with a huff.

*

“That fortuneteller was full of crap!”

Kunzite looked up from the map of the carnival he held in his hands, his frown matching Jadeite’s.

“I don’t know why you even went in there,” he said, “you usually don’t go in for this sort of thing.”

Jadeite rolled his eyes.

“I lost a bet with Zoisite. I had to go to the next huckster I saw and let them ‘take me for a ride.”

“And that’s why we’re in disguise, in the middle of a carnival?”

Jadeite crossed his arms.

“If I didn’t hold up my end, I’d never hear the end of it. You know how Zoisite is.”

Kunzite sighed, then folded up the map and turned to go.

“I’ll have a talk with Zoisite,” he said.

Jadeite fell into step beside him.

“You better,” he replied, “that ‘Rani the Mysterious’ said that I would be dominated by a fiery woman.”

“She could have been talking about Beryl?”

Jadeite shook his head.

“Doubt it,” he said, “Beryl only gets pissed when someone screws up. Namely me.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s nothing to worry about.”

“Psychics,” Jadeite muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets, “I’ll never understand the appeal."

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R x J Week Day 3: Shrine

@senshixshitennouweeks

Doing roof work was hardly in the purview of being a miko.

But then again, Rei wasn’t all that ready to let random strangers with power tools make shoddy workmanship decisions on her beloved shrine.

Which is what ultimately led to her standing on a ladder, nailing down loose shingles on the sacred fire’s building.

It was cost effective to do it herself anyway. And she’d be done in no time if it wasn’t for that damnable wind.

“You know, forecast says the wind is going to pick up another two kilometers today.”

Rei’s hammer halted just before it’s intended destination. She looked down over her shoulder at the young man who now stood at the ladder’s base, looking up at her with his hands in the pockets of a ratty old hoody.

“Well, I’ve still got three more shingles to fix,” Rei replied, “and no, I’m not calling a repairman.”

“It would go faster.” “And eat through our budget for the month.”

“I could always ask one of the others to help out.”

“You mean the peacock? Or the Midnight Stallion?”

“You’re never going to let that one rest, are you?”

 “Anyone who tries to make that into their nickname is clearly—whoa!”

She probably shouldn’t have been leaning over that far. Not when the wind was blowing as hard as it was. Not while trying to talk to someone and fix the roof at the same time.

Unfortunately, as anyone except Rei would tell you, she could be exceptionally bullheaded. So really, she had no-one to blame but herself for falling from a latter at that moment. If she had been Sailor Mars at that moment, a fall like this would have been nothing, landing with cat like grace on the cobblestones without a second thought.

The thoughts of “where’s my transformation pen” evaporated though, when her fall was cushioned by a pair of strong, familiar arms.

“So, what have we learned?”

That smirk on his face and the errant curl that was hanging roguishly just above his eyes made her want to slap and kiss him in equal measure.

“Shut up and put me down,” she said, “you can call the rest of the clown troop later.”

Rei squirmed out of his grip (without waiting to see if he’d put her down) and headed back inside.

Soon, the shrine would be fixed and she could worry about other things. That’s all that mattered.

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R x J Week 2024 Day 2: Burn

@senshixshitennouweeks

She should be loyal.

To her princess, her friends, her mission.

And she hates herself.

Because she burns.

For *him* of all people!

Rei’s hands ghosted across the curves of her torso, and she frowned. His hands would no doubt be bigger than her’s.

Stop.

None of that.

She’s taking care of urges. No different than eating or going to the bathroom.

That’s it.

A shaky breath escaped Rei as her fingers teased her entrance.

Her eyes slide closed and she hates what her mind conjures.

Her fingers tangling in the golden curls of his hair.

The timbre of his voice against her throat.

His skin against hers.

Damn him.

Damn herself.

And still she burns.

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R x J Week Day 4: Energy

@senshixshitennouweeks

He collapsed on the bed, spent and panting, sweat sticking his hair to his brow.

“That,” Jad said, “was… that was more intense than usual.”

From the corner of his eye, he beheld Rei’s silhouette, the slender curve of her body as she sat up in bed, seemingly deep in thought. Normally, such an image would drum up memories of their previous life, of stolen moments between them on nights like this one, before the fall of Silver Millennium. Strangely, though, Rei had said very little during the act of lovemaking, not even really announcing her intentions when she first walked in.

A delicate, warm hand came to rest on his chest.

"Again," she said simply.

Jad's eyebrows rose.

"Really?"

"Yes."

No further word came from her as she pulled him towards her and kissed him deeply.

They'd already done the deed twice now and she gave no indication that she would run out of energy.

Something was wrong. But he'd have to wait to ask her.

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R x J Week 2024 Day 1: Pride

@senshixshitennouweeks

Five days. Five whole days. One work week.

That was how long they’d been fighting.

Or at least, Usagi thought that Rei and Jad had been fighting. Really, she didn’t even know what the start of it was.

She’d heard second hand from Minako that the two had been shouting at one another early last week and that was all Usagi needed to know.

Which, unfortunately, meant she would have to ask one of them to get to the root of the problem. And from the way Jad had been kneading that dough for the past five minutes…

Usagi reached over and tapped him on the shoulder.

The scowl that met her called to mind the time when he had been under the control of the Dark Kingdom, but it quickly melted away when he realized just who it was.

“Usagi,” he said, surprise coloring his features, “I was expecting—what are you doing here?”

“Oh, I just wanted to say hi,” Usagi said, “You know, I was in the area.”

Jad frowned, returning to his previous task.

“In Rei’s kitchen?”

“I was… hungry…”

A pregnant pause stretched across the room, to the point where Usagi wanted to tug her own pigtails to relieve the tension.

“Well, lunch probably won’t be ready for about another hour,” Jad said, “so you’re in for a wait.”

“I’m fine with that.”

Anyone who knew Usagi would know she wouldn’t be fine with that. If she had truly been hungry, that is. She had, in fact, just come from an early lunch with Mamoru, which they had only had to fortify themselves for what they were currently doing.

Another pause, more tension. Probably best to rip the band aid off.

“So,” Usagi began, hands clasped behind her back, “how’s it going?”

“Fine.”

“You’re sure? No stomach problems, nothing too stressy going on?”

“Can’t think of anything.”

He didn’t even look up! Usagi fought down a pout.

“If anything was wrong, you’d tell one of us, right?”

“You mean like a certain someone refusing to apologize?”

Usagi wasn’t sure if this was progress, but hopefully it was.

“Maybe…”

Jad put plastic wrap over the dough he’d been working over and moved to another counter where a knife and vegetables waited for him.

“When Rei’s ready to apologize, she knows where to find me,” he said, dicing a red onion.

“But what if you apologized first?” Usagi asked, moving so she was just at Jad’s immediate left, “Then everything would be fine and none of our meetings would have any really weird tension…”

“I’m not apologizing when she’s the one at fault here.”

Usagi’s face fell. Plan A was a bust, it seemed.

“Can you at least talk to her? I know you care so much about each other and I hate seeing my friends fight.”

For a moment, Jad paused and Usagi thought she had a breakthrough. Instead, Jad returned to his task.

“Please!” Usagi said, “for me?”

Jad said nothing, focusing instead on his veggie slicing.

“Oh, come on! I know you heard me!”

Still, nothing.

“Vegetables aren’t that interesting!”

As if in answer, Jad moved to the fridge and removed a package of hamburger from it.

Usagi sighed and left the kitchen. Hopefully, Mamoru was having better luck with Rei.

+

“When Jad’s ready to apologize, he knows where to find me.”

Mamoru ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Rei had been holed up beside the sacred fire for every day since her apparent argument with Jad (At least according to the other senshi).

Mamoru could understand the desire for solitude after feeling hurt, but this felt ridiculous.

“Can you at least tell me what he did to make you so upset?”

“Why don’t you ask him?”

“What if he doesn’t know?”

Rei didn’t say anything after that, seemingly staring at the sacred fire.

Most people would have thought she was just haughtily ignoring him at that point.

Most people couldn’t feel human emotions like raindrops on their skin.

Anger, confusion, sadness, they all flickered from Rei like ashes. And for some reason, maybe it was psychic powers, maybe it was a gut feeling, but Mamoru knew Rei wouldn’t elaborate any further.

+

The two of them collapsed on the couch in Mamoru’s apartment. How a conversation with friends could be so draining was beyond either of them.

“So,” Usagi began, “how’s Rei?”

Mamoru sighed.

“Angry. Too proud to admit anything.”

Usagi’s frown deepened.

“And Jad’s the same way.”

Mamoru sighed. He should have expected. Those two really were made for each other.

“I hope he wasn’t too rude to you,” he said, putting his arm around Usagi's shoulder. She snuggled all the closer.

"He was a perfect gentleman... just like he is with Rei."

"I'm glad you're still optimistic about them."

"They'll work it out," Usagi said, "you'll see."

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RxJ Week Day 6: Trust

@senshixshitennouweeks here it is my final late entry. I hope you enjoyed all of them and I'll try to post them on AO3 when I can.

If memories of a previous life in a society that was ancient even before the dinosaurs had set foot on earth, Rei had never trusted easily.

And why should she?

As wonderful as people like Usagi could be, people who could open their whole hearts to people no matter how strange or intimidating they seemed, Rei didn’t think she had it in her.

In Silver Millennium, she remembered pieces of conversations she held with people filled with curt answers and deflections, all to keep cow-towing and pernicious courtiers from getting too close.

As close as they got.

Prince Endymion’s personal guard.

Rei sighed and gave Deimos another pet as Phobos pecked at the seeds in the bird feeder.

She looked up and across the courtyard, where Jadeite (Jad, she had to remind herself) stood, sweeping the leaves. Just like she’d told him to do.

She sighed.

He and his “brothers” had been confusing a bunch since the beginning. Even at the beginning of all this, she’d had to listen to Usagi vent about Mamoru’s school boy teasing and wondering how someone so handsome could be so infuriating.

And then, mere months later, she was gushing about her prince and how he was just the best thing since handheld games.

Not that any of them had room to talk.

Ever since their resurrection, the Four Heavenly Kings had been a batch of confusing emotions.

No, scratch that.

Ever since meeting them in Silver Millennium, the Four Heavenly Kings had been a batch of confusing emotions.

First doggedly loyal to Endymion, then smitten with Princess Serenity’s own guard, then evil, then dead, then back to Endymion as ghosts before finally returning to the mortal plain as humans with unfamiliar names to boot.

It was a mess of contradictions exacerbated by too many reincarnations and first impressions.

Especially Jadeite.

That golden haired cipher had seemed to throw Rei for a loop every time she met him.

In fact, he didn’t even go by Jadeite anymore; it was just Jad now. He claimed to have known no other name since awakening.

According to Mamoru, his skill among the four was infiltration and stealth (which fitted with how often he adopted and shed disguises during his tenure with the Dark Kingdom). And yet, he most often adopted a level headed and bluntly honest, if sarcastic, manner outside of his duties.

It was a talent that aroused Rei’s suspicions.

She’d dealt too much with people who only had shallow reasons to put her trust in someone who so often met people wearing a different face.

Although, another part of her mind said, he is consistent in his manner.

Which was true, she thought as Deimos joined Phobos at the bird feeder. Even in disguise, he was usually polite and diplomatic, a far cry from some of the dubious sycophants she’d met at her father’s campaign functions.

Most of the time, they would just pour on syrupy platitudes like “you’re so pretty Rei” or “where have you been living all this time?”

The kind of small talk that made her want to gag.

Jad never seemed to do that. In fact, he never really threw out a complement, rather stating facts in a complementary fashion.

Still, she couldn't get a bead on him. And thoughts like this were storming in her mind for what must have been a month now.

It was getting ridiculous.

With a huff, Rei strode over to where Jad was working and snatched the broom from his hands.

"I thought you said I should sweep the leaves?"

"You can go back to that later. Do you want me?"

Rei felt herself fluster as she asked and from the color on Jad's cheeks, he must have felt the same.

"What?"

"Do you want me?" she asked again.

“To be honest,” he said, “I do want you. I have since Usagi resurrected me in the Cauldron.”

Rei wondered if her heart skipped a beat at his words. Jad only took the broom back from her.

“But I know you have your reservations about relationships. Usagi told me. So, I’d rather that if anything happened between us, it would be on your terms. All I want…”

He looked up at her, blue eyes shining with something frightening and Rei damned her heart when it went pitter pat.

“…Is for you to be happy.”

Happy. The word stuck inside her ribs and seemed to sprout something. Really, she didn’t know what and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know. But, for his candor, Jad deserved an answer.

“I… don’t think I can start… anything with you… yet.”

Jad nodded, returning to his work.

“But,” she continued, “if you can wait, I think I can give you a chance.”

Jad paused in his chore, turning to look at her with an expression that mixed so many things; surprise, hope, maybe even love?

“But don’t think I’m going to save myself for you,” she continued, “if someone better comes along, I will give them a fair chance.”

Jad nodded.

“If our positions were reversed, I’d probably do the same.”

Rei couldn’t tell if she felt sympathy or frustration at the sentiment.

“And how long are you willing to wait?”

It came out as haughty, but really Rei was curious to know if Jad was serious about all this “waiting for her” business.

“For eternity, if that pleases you,” he replied.

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RxJ Week Day 4: Passion

@senshixshitennouweeks late and spicy. Minors beware

"Faster."

The command is simple, but fraught with a tightness that belied what he knew was there beneath that beautiful surface. Like a porceline doll hiding a furnace. So he picked up his pace.

"Harder."

He grips her arms and leans back and Rei's cry raises an octave, a sign that she likes what he's doing as she moves, skin slapping against skin.

It wouldn't be otherwise.

Rei is particular about many things, an after affect of being raised by wealth and disappointment, and that includes love making.

When she doesn't throw herself at his feet; more likely she will be subtle about it or blunt. "I want to have sex tonight," she will say.

And Jadeite, being the dutiful knight that he is, will acquiesce.

Not that it's a bother.

Others, like Nephrite and his prince, prefer a position to lavish their lover with kisses and sweet words, while he's heard tell that the princess of Uranus enjoys a sense of control of the situation, but for Jadeite it's freeing to simply let go. Let Rei decide what's on the agenda tonight.

It makes those little surprises, like when she leaves bites on his neck and shoulder that definitely won't fade by morning.

"Get closer."

He barely has time to register the command when Rei yanks him closer by the hair, forcing him into the crook of her neck where he kisses and nips.

"No hickys," she says.

He has to chuckle, having never imagined her using the word "hickys" before. But the thought fades as her gripping fingers and sensuous movements soon erase the rest of his will.

Rei Hino. Woman of Fire. Priestess of the Shinto Religion.

Owner of his heart.

And her passions threaten to consume him if they hadn't already.

Not that he minds, he thinks as she claws marks into his skin, whatever she does to me is bliss.