maskormenace | Duel 01; Video

[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.

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[Oof, she meant where the talk show was filmed. She, uh, could have phrased that a little better, though, and she looks a bit sheepish when she replies]

Yeah, I remember you saying that. I just thought it would be filming closer to where you lived, is all - but if you're always on the go, then I guess that doesn't matter. But why are you staying with it? No offense, but it doesn't exactly sound like your dream job.

[ Mai's curtness probably causes its fair share of communication. Mai doesn't even seem to register Utena's sheepishness as she replies. ]

I thought about what would happen if someone other than me had the job. [ Beat. ] That's a lot worse to me. At least I know I could do a good job at it. [ There might be an impasse of ideologies here between Utena and Mai who sets the bar so low for everything you wonder if she refs limbo competitions in her spare time. ]

Er-

[She doubts that Mai is really talk show material, but she keeps that thought to herself. However, she can't ignore it entirely]

And, uh, what's your idea of a good job, exactly? I mean, being a talk show host can't be too hard, can it? No offense.

[She may or may not regret asking this.]

Someone that isn't annoying. People don't need all that energy in their face at seven in the morning. They already have enough reasons to regret being awake. [ Yes. This is the new face for smiles for miles Utena. ]

Yeah, but all that energy is supposed to wake people up, isn't it? They may not be able to pay attention to a... quiet host if they're still half asleep.

[Quiet. That's a tactful way of describing Mai's style.]

That's why the show is filled with nothing but saccharine garbage. The show's content is nothing but visual sugar to wake people up! If it wasn't, there's no way I could be able to pull off that job.

[So she thinks it's their job? What is she supposed to- wait a minute.]

Hey, have you ever gotten any fanmail? Not just from imPort fans, but the guys who watch your show in the morning.

[There she is, jumping from point A to C again]

No. I'm not "media trained" yet, so I haven't made an on-screen debut. [ She's kind of vague as to what media trained means, but if Utena asks Mai can give her a few examples. ]

"Media trained"...? Oh, so you mean like learning how to speak in front of a camera, and stuff like that?

[It seems like it would be the same as just speaking regularly, but she's also not the morning show host here]

Yea. Turns out, there's a bunch of things on TV that you have to do. Like, give equal time to politicians, things you can't say because of the time or ratings, familiarity with sponsors so you don't accidentally diss them, things like that.

Huh... and what about your personality? Did they have anything to say about that?

They just gave me some intern whose job is to get me coffee. Always. Whenever I want. At any time. [ It's awesome. ]

[Which means... she smiles brightly, suddenly getting an idea]

Hey, remember what I said about how this doesn't sound like your dream job? I take it back - maybe you can make it into your dream job... and give the audience something new.

If I made every morning a little quieter, I know I will have changed the world for the better. [ only mai would be able to say this would 10000000% conviction. ]

Duel 01; Video

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