Duel 01; Video

[andtherevolution]

[There aren't any questions about what this place is or what it's like. Utena's already gotten used to all of that. She does, however, have a question about something else that's been on her mind: employment. She flops on her new bed and turns on her device, and the network will see a zoomed in image of her eye before she stretches her arms and raises her communicator, showing her from the shoulders up]

So. The government gives us these jobs when we get here, right? But what do you do when it's something you're not cut out for? Like...

[Okay, recording like this isn't very comfortable after all. She stops and rolls over on her side, and adjusts the camera so it's focusing mostly on her face]

I'm supposed to be a teacher, sort of. Or maybe instructor is a better way to put it? ...anyway, I'm supposed to give fencing lessons now. And it's not that I'm bad at it, but...

[She bites her lip and glances away for a moment, uncertain of how much she should (or how much she even wants to) explain about the duels.]

Well, I'm not really used to "standard" fencing matches. I mean, I've fenced before, but the last time I did the rules were kind of weird, and as soon as I got used to it the game would change again. The only real advice I could give is, "hey, don't get stabbed," but that's not really good advice, is it? I mean, that's what swordfighting is all about, I guess, but...

[She sighs, and flops back on her pillow]

I'm not really sure what I should do about this. I still need to talk to them - the people who run the lessons, not the guys who gave me the job - but... I guess I'm just worried that they'll expect more from me than what I can give them. That they'll expect me to be some master fencer from a movie or storybook or something like that. Has anyone else had to deal with that? With their bosses expecting them to be something they're not, I mean.

Comments

[restingstitchface]

[One of his eyebrows rise. He could reply that most people wouldn't include someone like him, and that she was trying to misjudge him, but he suspected she was referring to those who did understand her, moreso than those who don't. He balances that opinion against her isolation, and concludes her closest relationship puts her in the role of a friend to an unhealthily codependent person.]

I see. And I suppose those few who understand you possess an overwhelming desire for your love and affection? Your words imply one person at least has a certain level of fascination...

[andtherevolution]

[She breathes in deep, and while she remains thoughtful, she's regains some measure of confidence when she speaks again.]

Not exactly - I have a friend sort of like that, but I wouldn't call it overwhelming. And my other friend, she's actually pretty quiet about that sort of thing. It's more like... how do I put it... it's more like we support each other. We help each other out, when nobody else can.

[Wakaba's the first friend, and while she's certainly affectionate, she'll never understand the dueling games. Utena wouldn't want her to, for that matter. There's the other duelists, but even the ones that could become friends are still technically her rivals. The only one who understands their strange world while still staying close to her is Himemiya and Himemiya alone.]

[restingstitchface]

You depend on each other?

[His tone contains a measure of calm. He had never tried depending on anybody and he was doing fine. That this youngster had fallen into that trap, well, he almost feels disappointed.

Almost.]

[andtherevolution]

Yeah, that's a good way to put it. But that's normal for friends, right?

[See, nothing weird going on here]

[restingstitchface]

[A wry smile.]

Friends help each other. So yes - that's normal.

[Not if one of them supports maladaptive traits and behavior, though.]

[andtherevolution]

And is there a part that's not normal?

[That emphasis seemed kind of weird. But maybe it's just her imagination.]

[restingstitchface]

Of course. For example - friends who might accuse you of rejection for spending time with other people. Does that answer your question?

[andtherevolution]

[She goes stiff for a moment, confused by that answer]

That hasn't happened, though. I mean, I still spend plenty of time with the both of them, so it's not like that's anything they have to worry about.

[She wonders, though.. has either of them been upset with her? Did she just not realize it? An uncomfortable memory tugs at the corner of her mind, but try as she might, she can't make it come to the surface]

[restingstitchface]

Oh, yes, or perhaps you prefer not having to worry?

[And thus you can ignore all those uncomfortable memories.]

[andtherevolution]

They were fine-

[There's a bit of uncertainty underneath her bravado, though, and she catches herself.]

...they seemed fine.

[She tries to keep her voice calm, but firm. However, the word choice betrays her doubts, even if she may not realize it.]

[restingstitchface]

Except they were anything but?

[Putting on a brave face. Too many people did it when their fears were obvious to anyone, especially close friends.]

[andtherevolution]

[And she stiffens again. What a rude little...]

You're acting pretty confident for a guy who's never even met them.

[restingstitchface]

[Shrug.]

I can make accurate assessments of patterns of behavior based on your information. They're not so special that said behavior isn't something I've witnessed before.

[andtherevolution]

Oh come on! There's no way you can "assess" someone without even seeing them. Besides, I didn't even tell you that much about them. There could be other stuff going on that you don't even know about.