♘ duel the eleventh. ( video. action. )

[revolutionized]

I. video.

[Utena had been scarce after the night of the fireworks - the cold did not agree with her, and even her basketball court had been abandoned for the time being. The Vine unfurls to show her using the magic dirt for something, perched in the window sill of one of the high, arching windows of her room. A piece of the Tower, here in the Gardens. It looks as if she just got back in the room - she's still dressed for the outside, with her jacket and gloves, not caring that they are covered in dirt. Her cheeks are flushed with cold.

There are birds outside of the window, a number of them, and if one listens carefully, they are singing a familiar song. Finally, Utena speaks:]

Would you cut it out? Geez. I can't even count how many snowballs I threw at all of you. [The dirt in her hands changes shape into what looks like a picture frame. Utena makes a triumphant noise, goes to place the frame with a set of others. The Vine pans in on the frames - primarily images of other teenagers with strangely colored hair, and continues to follow her, until she eventually catches sight of it.]

You might as well make yourself useful. [She kneels in front of the mirror.] Say, does anyone know how to get rid of these birds? They've been following me all day.

II. action.

[A little after Utena makes her last picture, she's headed outside again for a walk! Unfortunately, her new feathered friends are following her around too, trilling the "Happy Birthday" song. One perches on her shoulder, and she irritably waves it away.

She'll be all over the Gardens today, trying to escape the birds. Bother her! Or throw a snowball at her...or build a snowman! Or just wish her a happy birthday, that works too.]

[ooc: Utena's birthday is today, so...the birds are wishing her a happy birthday. Or maybe messing around with the magic dirt has got them following her, whichever works.]

Comments

[revolutionized]

Wow...could we make something that big? Maybe she was just confused when you asked. It seems to me that she gets confused a lot.

[mnementomori]

I made the clock tower...and some of the houses here are big, too. Though nothing as big as a castle.

[she nods.]

She does...that's probably why it's not so good that she's in charge.

[revolutionized]

Huh, that's true...with something so big, maybe more than one of us would have to work together. [She scratches her head.] Say, Xion. You know what I think's strange? So much stuff around here seems...[She waves a hand.] Like it's not finished.

I don't think she's good at leading either. Oi, but the other people she's got working for her don't seem so good either.

[mnementomori]

They did say the building was up to us. But I always wondered if maybe, we're the only ones that can build? [shakes her head a bit.] But I guess the Queen has made some things...I just can't figure it out.

The others seem to have different reasons for what they're doing, even if they all want the same thing.

[revolutionized]

Huh. [She scratches her head.] If we're the only ones that can, where'd the other stuff come from? [It doesn't sound as if she's disagreeing with Xion - she's simply curious.] Maybe someone was here before us.

Yeah. I don't know if that's good or not.

[mnementomori]

No one remembers anything from long before I came...people talked about it a lot. But there could have been. After all, we've never actually seen the Queen make stuff, so maybe she's getting other people to do it.

[revolutionized]

Hm. It sure is confusing. D'you think there's anything in the library about it?

[mnementomori]

The library is mostly stuff about people in love. And cooking.

[revolutionized]

Aw, man... [A heavy sigh.] There's gotta be clues somewhere...

[mnementomori]

Maybe I'll start exploring again. I did when I first got here, but I couldn't find anything. But it's been a long time, and a lot has changed.

Though, when all those strange women came from that other place...that island. The woman who talked to us said something about the Queen, right?

[revolutionized]

I'll explore with you if you go. I get so bored, being cooped up. [She stretches her arms over her head.] It'd be fun to go together, huh?

Hm...I think I remember something like that.

[mnementomori]

Yeah! that would be great.

She didn't say much about how to get out, though. Or why the Queen does things.

[revolutionized]

I guess that's something we've gotta find out on our own. But it seems tough, without any other information.

[mnementomori]

Well, let's keep looking. If we give up we won't find anything, right?

[revolutionized]

Right! [She scratches her cheek.] ...Where should we start looking?

[mnementomori]

That's a good question...

Hey, you think we could make a map?

[revolutionized]

A map sounds like a great idea! It'll help people who are new too. Eh...but I've never made a map before. Maybe we should start at the Ruins and go from there.

[mnementomori]

They are kind of in the center, so that sounds like it will work.

[revolutionized]

Right. We can use other big buildings too, for the landmarks. That way the map will be easier to read for everyone.