queenofheartsrp | ♘ duel the eleventh. ( video. action. )

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.]

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That's not necessary really, but thank you, Tenjou-san. [She hadn't really planned on mentioning it to anyone but...] It's...in a few days actually.

It's not a problem. [She blinks. She hadn't expected it to be that close.] A few days, huh? I'll be sure to remember it. How old will you be?

[Homura's smile spreads just a little wider at that, a warm feeling growing in her heart. Even the idea of having someone around her age to remember her birthday is pretty new, after years of not having the courage to even bring it up or otherwise being able to celebrate it. Sure, the nurses remembered her birthday off her chart in the hospital, but she couldn't do much to celebrate it there anyway. And it's one thing if adults remember, it's another having friends who can celebrate it with her.]

I'll be fifteen...are you the same, Tenjou-san?

[It takes her a moment of thought, but eventually she shakes her head.] I'm sixteen now.

Is that so? [Maybe baking sixteen of something small would do.] I guess you'd be in high school now, if you went back, then...

Yeah, that's right...it's odd, thinking of going home older. [For more than one reason, but Utena isn't aware of that.]

I guess it's a lot of school to miss, but that's not really new for me. But...I'd prefer to stay here anyway.

[A school here wouldn't be such a bad thing, really. Maybe there's nothing she could put most of her academic skills to use here, but at least things like language class would be useful, for better understanding other books. She's pretty content with her life as it is, but having some kind of ambition seems like it would be nice.]

It's not new for me either. [She sighs, stretches an arm behind her head.] Things got so busy at Ohtori that I needed a tutor for my best subject. [She tilts her head, and the memory of what Mami had told her about magical girls in her world returns to her.] ...It must be really nice here for you.

It is. When it's peaceful here, it's almost like a paradise. [Free from Witches, free from their fate, free from what people might think of their relationship. The little difficulties are almost nothing in comparison, aside from the monsters that have made themselves known. But one day, maybe they might never worry about those kinds of things again.

Even so that knowledge of Madoka's wish and what must happen springs back to her mind. If they can be so fortunate that Madoka can return when she's done...] I hope we can stay here a long time.

[But she stops there, not particularly wanting to explain things to Utena at the moment. Maybe the girl would understand at some point, but for now Homura is simply too uncertain about sharing something so near to her heart.]

Mm, I hope you get to stay a long time too, Homura-san. [She smiles, bright, but the expression doesn't reach her tired eyes.]

♘ duel the eleventh. ( video. action. )

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