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?

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[Ah, he knows this face. Even if it was much younger the last time he saw it.]

I have a spell to bring back any dead flowers, if replanting needs a little help.

[A pause, involving him leaning off-screen and coming back with a sugared doughnut. He takes a bite and swallows before he speaks again.]

Depends on what you're looking to make, but I know a few things.

I'll help. Um, with the greenhouse, I mean. I used to garden.

[Nanami wasn't going to turn the camera on at first, but switches it on anyway after a second of rare contemplation.

She's scowling.]

You look terrible!

How can you care so much about sports at a time like this?

[Her voice flattens out.] ...Where else would I go.

[Oh, she remembers him. Her gaze flickers away, almost guiltily.]

Really? Thanks. [She brightens up some.] That would be a lot of help! I dunno much about flowers, but a spell to do that sounds pretty useful.

Say, how did you learn how to do that?

[Contemplative, almost to herself:] Doesn't look like the type...

[Then, a little louder (and flustered):] Ah, I mean, that's great! I'd appreciate it! Hey, you're that guy who bakes cookies, right? Can you cook anything else? I'm trying to learn, so...

[She turns away from the camera a little.] Mm, there's not much else to do here, and I like sports. I can't sleep all day.

[No comment on the insult about her appearance, but she's studying Nanami out of the corner of her eye...] Sometimes people get sent back home, or on missions. I just wanted to check up on you, that's all.

[He doesn't take offense to that.]

Not really. I mean, if you got a recipe, I could try to help you out.

[ Something to work on! Sokka's not exactly a farmer, but something positive to put his energy into will help him stay focused. He scratches at his chin--which is the only thing visible. He's still working on this camera lens thing. ]

Sounds like a good project! I'm not much of a gardener, but I'm good with my hands.

And what kinda sports do you play?

Edited 2013-03-03 02:19 (UTC)

Geez, I don't have anything like that. I didn't realize there was a difference between baking and cooking.

[She truly means this.] But thanks anyway. I'll definitely need help with the big greenhouse, so I'll keep you updated.

[His eyebrows rise a fraction. Not the expression he expected to see.]

I don't know much about them, either. I only know that spell works that way because I killed my assistant's petunias, once.

[He snorts at the memory of her puffed up, annoyed face upon discovering he'd been over-watering them. Then her question registers, and he grows a bit more serious.]

I didn't really learn, per se. Magic in my world means... well, it means learning to use the power of the magical monster living inside you. I just happened to defeat despair and make Dragon my kind-of ally. The rest is just magic stones and my mana.

[Jesse only knows what he's memorized, so he's in no position to judge.]

Cool.

Hey, there. Would you mind explaining to me what the incident was about? I've been gone for a while, so I'm trying to get back up to speed.

That's good! I could really use someone like that...the building's in pretty bad shape.

[Her expression warms just a little bit at his camera difficulties, but she continues.] And I play all kinds of sports. Baseball, basketball, football, volleyball...

I can help ya with the greenhouse! I don't exactly have a green thumb, but I can help with repairs.

[What's with that attitude...?]

No, I'd be lucky if I went home.

What else does the machine do? Is is even really like playing sports?

[Nanami Kiryuu is here to make your bad moods worse.]

Would you?

[More thoughtful than accusatory. Unusually cryptic for Utena too, and she doesn't expand on it.] And I dunno. The workers I asked said the machine can do almost anything you want. If it doesn't work right, I'll just keep looking for another place to play.

Hi, Utena. My name's Sophie.

And I'd love to help with the greenhouse. There's a garden back at the manor where I lived... I miss it too.

Hm? [A pause. She looks dimly uncomfortable, but her voice is calm and level.] A few weeks ago, something weird happened. I don't understand it, but some people were children, and others were a lot older, or just different. It had something to do with timelines. I don't really get all this time changing stuff, but that's what the Initiative guys told us later.

[Hey, it's that hedgehog dude again.] That'd be great! Thank you. Say, I remember you. Sonic, right? I haven't seen you in a while.

[After "assistant's petunias," Utena totally lost track of this conversation.] Huh? You have a dragon monster inside of you?

Hi Sophie. It's nice to meet you. [Her eyes widen a little.] A manor? Sounds...fancy. Are you rich?

Great! I'll see you soon.

[a cheery little wave. she doesn't look any less tired, but she's trying.]

I see. That's about what I'd heard from somebody else.

[ So that's good. She'd be more concerned if even more notable things had happened. She relaxes where she is, tone remaining soft but less serious. ]

So what's this sport you have going on?

That's right. I've sorta been out in the woods for a while. Wanted to see what was outside the city, yanno?

[ You know what, she has no idea. ] ...I don't know. Does living in a manor make me rich?

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