Day 57: Courtyard (Third Shift)
The air inside the Institute was getting stifling. It wasn't much different than usual, really, but knowing about all the changes done under the Institute's hood in her absence, Utena could barely stand it. The staff were so stiff, even as they pretended to be the same caring nurses as always. Landel's regurgitated voice recordings crept under her skin like skittering bugs. And there was still no sign of Himemiya anywhere.
At least today was still Free Choice Day. As soon as she was allowed, Utena went back to her room for a coat, and made her way outside. That was another change to contend with - the temperatures had been dropping before, but it hadn't snowed yet when last she'd checked. Still, that wasn't such a huge deal to Utena. In fact, the snow was actually kind of refreshing; it was something she hadn't seen much since entering Ohtori. And even if she had hated the snow, she bet that she would have gone out anyway. If she didn't get some fresh air, she knew she was going to get a headache. Or kick something. Whichever came first.
Utena followed the path out through the courtyard. She breathed in deep as she walked, then let the breath back out, watching it dissipate in the cool air. She stared out into the empty, walled space. "Guess it's not so easy to get out of here for good, huh?" she said to herself, pushing her hands into her coat pockets and wandering over to a bench.
She sat for a while, staring up at the white-blue sky. Thoughts from the day ran through her mind on a loop, filling her vision. Eventually, she got restless. Arms raised above her head, Utena laced her fingers together and pushed her palms up toward that sky, glad to feel that soothing burn of stretching. She brushed snow off the bench next, swinging her legs up onto it and starting in on toe-touching stretches. This was what she needed right now, Utena thought. Something to focus on for the moment, take the heavier thoughts away for a little while. So, she kept stretching.
Eventually, Utena (being Utena) got into some of the more complicated streches. Meaning that eventually, she was leaning upside-down against the wall behind the bench, hands pressed into the cold ground as she alternated stretching one leg away from the wall, then the other. Nothing unusual about that. Not at all.
[Jessica~ ♥]
At least today was still Free Choice Day. As soon as she was allowed, Utena went back to her room for a coat, and made her way outside. That was another change to contend with - the temperatures had been dropping before, but it hadn't snowed yet when last she'd checked. Still, that wasn't such a huge deal to Utena. In fact, the snow was actually kind of refreshing; it was something she hadn't seen much since entering Ohtori. And even if she had hated the snow, she bet that she would have gone out anyway. If she didn't get some fresh air, she knew she was going to get a headache. Or kick something. Whichever came first.
Utena followed the path out through the courtyard. She breathed in deep as she walked, then let the breath back out, watching it dissipate in the cool air. She stared out into the empty, walled space. "Guess it's not so easy to get out of here for good, huh?" she said to herself, pushing her hands into her coat pockets and wandering over to a bench.
She sat for a while, staring up at the white-blue sky. Thoughts from the day ran through her mind on a loop, filling her vision. Eventually, she got restless. Arms raised above her head, Utena laced her fingers together and pushed her palms up toward that sky, glad to feel that soothing burn of stretching. She brushed snow off the bench next, swinging her legs up onto it and starting in on toe-touching stretches. This was what she needed right now, Utena thought. Something to focus on for the moment, take the heavier thoughts away for a little while. So, she kept stretching.
Eventually, Utena (being Utena) got into some of the more complicated streches. Meaning that eventually, she was leaning upside-down against the wall behind the bench, hands pressed into the cold ground as she alternated stretching one leg away from the wall, then the other. Nothing unusual about that. Not at all.
[Jessica~ ♥]