exsilium | duel two (video.)

[The screen flickers on to show Utena sitting on the foot of her bed. Said bed is unusually rumpled, and she looks bleary-eyed and tired. Her hair is disheveled too, but when she turns to the camera, she manages a sleepy grin. It's only a little forced.]

Uh, hi, to everyone who's been here, and all the new people. I think this is around the time new people show up, is that right? For everyone who doesn't know me, I'm Utena Tenjou. I'm fifteen years old...I think. [She rubs the back of her neck, and sheepishly adds:] My birthday's gone by since I got here, but I'm not sure if that counts. It's good to meet you all.

[Her voice sobers some, and she slows down.]

Ah, I wanted to thank everyone who helped me and Himemiya out a few weeks ago. It means a lot. I wasn't really myself then, so...sorry for any trouble. [It almost looks as if she'll stop the message there, but she continues after an overlong pause:]

Say, I was wondering, well, when I was, ah...well anyway. I noticed there's a lot of buildings around here that are run-down. That big greenhouse in the city looks pretty bad, and I thought maybe a bunch of us could get together and help clean it up a little. Y'know, get all the glass fixed, and plant flowers. Where I'm from, there's gardens everywhere, so I miss it a little.

[Her gaze drops. She looks off to the side, and then starts a little, as if suddenly remembering something:] Oh! And to everyone I asked about sports the last time, there's a way we can play without finding a field. I asked around, and that VR machine'll make any kind of field or court we want. That's great, huh? I wanna host a game soon. Maybe we can have something like that once a week. It gets dull around here.

Mm, that's all. [She rests her hand against her mouth, looks and sounds thoughtful. Mumbled:] If anyone's interested in a game or in helping with the greenhouse, you can find me around anywhere, but I stay in room 705.

I had one last question. Does anyone know how to cook? I wanna learn. There's not a lot of instant stuff to eat here, and I'm not so good at cooking from scratch yet...

[After a while:] Hey, Nanami-kun. Are you still here?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Nanami scoffs a little at first but is otherwise quiet, whether it's thinking about the ridiculous notion of what Utena considers good people or something else.]

Are you just going to hit me with the ball again?

[Oh right, that...]

I'll try not to. [...] It was an accident the first time, you know. I wouldn't do something like that on purpose.

Yeah, sure! [Nanami's forehead creases.] What's next? You just don't know your own strength?

[That's not all that far from the truth, is it?]

[She tries really hard not to roll her eyes, but she can feel it happening anyway.] C'mon, you don't really think I did something like that on purpose, do you? What reason would I have?

[Nanami gives her cheeks a fairly impressive puff out.]

Jeez! Who knows? I can't pretend to understand what's supposed to be going on in your head.

Maybe you were jealous? Trying to get even? [That last bit is halfhearted as shit. She's learned the hard way that there's nothing Utena has to be jealous of her for.]

I just hope you've got a better arm this time.

Ah, believe what you want. [...] It really was just an accident, though.

[She doesn't get you, Nanami.] If you stay in the bleachers, you'll be fine.

Sure. I guess you don't get all the attention you used to, either.

[Utena's popularity: one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the universe, and one she's always been wishing she could get to the bottom of.]

Even if I show up, I'm not going to be your cheerleader! ...And I won't go near any gardens.

I'm not doing it for attention. [Sigh...] And alright, alright. I'm just letting you know you're invited. You don't have to help with the greenhouse if you don't wanna.

[She really is oblivious to everything, isn't she? Someone like that doesn't deserve so many admirers. Nanami purses her lips.]

Maybe try growing some different things, if they get fixed up, or whatever.

[Nanami expressing interest in gardening? Color her surprised. She plays this carefully.]

Really? Like what? D'you like flowers, Nanami-kun?

[She lives to surprise and then disappoint.]

I don't know! And I don't care. Do you think I want to get my hands dirty? That's why people hire gardeners, you know.

Just...

Don't you just get sick of roses? If they even have anything like them anymore. Maybe they all just died out?

duel two (video.)

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