"come, come," I hear it calling me

[headedforhope]

Characters: headedforhope, gentlecuteside, revolutionized, waha
Date: 2/14~ and onward, spanning the length of the event.
Summary: The magic of the Gardens draws Mami to each of these three girls in turn, and them to her, keeping the pair locked together until both reveal something to the other.
Warnings: Should be nothing, will edit if anything comes up.

[Mami is no stranger to the feeling of her heart fluttering in her chest, the sensation of being tugged by the fragile strings toward another. She's also no stranger to resisting it and making the lessening of distance a slow and cautious thing, if she allows it to happen at all. Gradual, like some intricate, orbiting dance of light footsteps and restrained movements.

The magic at play affords her that much, at least, but no amount of digging in her heels and shoving away the feeling of being pulled can stop the inevitable from happening.]

Comments

go hooome

[headedforhope]

[Mami glances at Utena, her gaze soft with both affection and concern for a brief moment before she shelves the former, hides that emotion before it can get her in trouble.]

Ah, it is. I'm happy to be able to see them again....all of them. Back home, I would have cared about only Madoka-san and Sayaka-san. Homura-san and Sakura-san weren't friends, weren't even allies. It took this place to change that. There was no reason for us to fight here, in a place without Witches or the corruption of our Soul Gems. It was from that critical point that I was able to change how I felt about them.

So, you know....that's why I think it could be the same for you, Utena-san. There's no need to have duels here where the old rules don't apply. [A thoughtful murmur before she adds, not unkindly:] ...mm, you'd both have to change, though. It wouldn't happen in a day. Goodness knows it took me quite awhile to get over myself, to let go of my grudges and childish resentment.

[She delivers these blunt and humble words with her usual grace, in tones free of regret or bitterness. True, Mami still winces when she recalls how she used to be. Some part of her, that tendency all humans possessed of wanting to avoid pain, wishes she could have done things differently. But just like that crucial moment with Kyuubey, there are things one must learn to let go. There are agonies one must accept, and even come to value, for sometimes pain is a better teacher than kindness. If Mami wants her suffering, her mistakes, to have any meaning....she will learn from them, let them become that which will keep her moving forward rather than hold her back.]

I don't like making promises I can't keep, but....I really think you would get that second chance, Utena-san, if that situation came to pass. It might not be easy, or happen quickly, but it's definitely not an unreasonable thing to hope or strive for.

[Truthful words, and hopefully comforting ones as well.]

i am home!

[revolutionized]

We'd both have to change, huh...

[It's spoken distantly. Utena slows to halt and gazes at the ring on her finger. She has rarely shined or buffed it, and never removes it, but the silver still glitters; the Rose Seal is in perfect condition. Unchanging, as it had been the day

(night)

her prince had given it to her.

Her hand clenches into a fist.] Maybe you're right. You're right about it being hard too. You know, it's strange...sometimes I don't think anything changes at all, even though I fight for it. I'd like things to change for the better, but at the same time, I...

[It always seemed as if lately, that Anthy was on the verge of telling her something. But then the moment would pass, and she would close in on herself. Again, and again, and again. Every night, Akio-san would watch the stars, and every day there would be a Duel. On Saturday evenings, Anthy would leave, and return like clockwork. She never said what she was doing, and Utena never asked.

Another duel, and another day, just like the day before, just as it had been after her Prince had given her the ring. One day she would leave Ohtori, of course, but that...

That was impossible, wasn't it? She couldn't leave until...until...]

I don't know. [She admits this at last, and very quietly.] I don't know if it's good to change all the time.

[She shakes her head, and grins, helplessly.] Ah, that was a pretty heavy thing to say, huh? Nothing like me at all...geez, maybe it's this gloomy weather, you know?

no!

[headedforhope]

[It's but the work of a minute for Mami to cut a neat turn and skate up to Utena, to come to a slow and graceful halt in front of her. Near enough to touch, easily, a thing she does after a heavy moment of hesitation - one hand on Utena's shoulder.]

...I understand.

[Simple words stated in a quiet voice. Yet another truth, for Mami knows that feeling. It's more comfortable to stay the same, isn't it? To have the ease and familiarity of routine, to know what you have to do and how to do it and have it repeat over and over. Change is scary. Change is difficult. Change is not something most people gladly and readily accept. She doesn't know if she should be proud of Utena for this admittance, for this moment of insight and thinking outside of her bubble.....or disappointed that it's such a slow and small step considering the long and hard road it's but a piece of. So she settles for neither. Mami just smiles in a comforting way, removes her hand, and allows that thread of conversation to lay abandoned.]

Ah, yes....it'll be nice when it's sunny and warm here again. I'm looking forward to it.