(two.) | video.

[invocation]

[It's rare that she addresses the network at large, but today, Kyouko is perched on a far-off rooftop. The remains of the domed ceiling and the slightly bent, scorched cross atop it suggest that this place, wherever it is, used to be a church.

She is dressed as a Puella Magi for this, and with a care that belies her usual behavior, wraps the chains of her separated spear around the bent cross, and begins to pull, slowly. The comm device catches bits and pieces of this work — her boots, the strain and squeaking of old metal and wood. Eventually the cross is righted as much as it can be without tipping over and crashing to the ground below, and apparently satisfied, she leans against it, unwraps a candy bar, and places her comm device in her lap, staring down at the screen.]

[She turns away a little, and speaks in a contemplative tone of voice.] Y'know, the people who live here have hard lives.

[She takes a bite out of her candy bar, and continues to speak. Seems she's in an introspective mood.] Not you guys, [rude.] the people who lived here before we got here. When those bombs hit, a buncha of these buildings didn't make it. A lot of the people didn't either.

[A grin, but there's little humor to be found in it.] Heh, and this place is still here. It's a dump, but people come in here anyway. There's no priest and no books, but they leave junk here at the altars, even though the rain leaks through. They bury people without givin' 'em their rites. [...] I wonder if they even remember 'em. Betcha they don't, huh?

[She continues to chew.] I got here almost a year ago, and this building's still the same as the first time I saw it. I used to think nobody gave a damn about it, but I see them coming in and out of here all the time. An' even after the bombs, and what just happened, they always smile at you when you walk by. People give me stuff for no reason. I used to think that kinda attitude was stupid. Who smiles in a shitty place like this? Why give a buncha strangers anything? It's better to just care about yourself. They'd live better lives if they did.

[The wind is soft. Still. Kyouko's expression appears to close off, becomes difficult to read.]

Maybe. I don't know what I think now.

Comments

video;

[invocation]

[The voice gives her pause, and as on her end it's video, and for a moment she looks as if she might not say anything. But eventually...]

What's that supposed to mean? I can't talk about stuff like this?

[She seems more or less as annoyed as she always does.]

[fortissimos]

No, I didn't— that's not what I meant. [ A frustrated groan. Maybe voice wasn't a good choice, either. ] I think it's good that you do. Maybe you could help them fix the place up some more.

[invocation]

Me? [she points to herself, disbelieving.] Do I seem like the kinda person who'd do that?

How am I gonna help. [she frowns.] I can't build nothin'. [...] Where have you been, anyway?

[fortissimos]

Maybe not, but... you've surprised me a lot already.

[ HAHAHA... HA... also why would you ask that. long pause. ]

And what's that supposed to mean, huh? I haven't gone anywhere.

[invocation]

[she glances away, as if embarrassed by the compliment. Muttered:] I couldn't fix up this whole place on my own. [she's almost grateful for Sayaka's denial, so she can talk about something else.]

Haven't seen you around, that's all. Are ya pissed off about something again?

[fortissimos]

[ She wants so badly to go back to the first topic, but it's too late. ]

It's not that! [ At the very least, she doesn't sound like she's lying. ] I guess I've just been busy. There's nothing weird about that, right?

[ uhhh maybe not for other people but when you were talking like every other day before this... ]

[invocation]

I guess. [but she doesn't look convinced.

she stands up, dusts off her outfit.] Where are you now? We can have lunch or something.

[fortissimos]

Actually... [ She pauses, fidgeting when she realizes she doesn't have an easy way out of this. Shit. ] ... I'm in my room. You don't have to worry if you're too far out, though.