Fifth Leap [Action] | Backdated to August 5th

[heartovertime]

[It is quite a dark and stormy night afternoon outside, as anyone in the Gardens probably has picked up by now. Homura certainly picked up on it quickly; the winds alone are just a little reminder of some rather darker days in her past

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[ofnobility]

[It's not long before a second visitor shows up in the lobby, bedraggled and drenched from head to toe. Utena's shivering from the cold and looks frazzled and tired, but no worse for wear.

She hasn't seen a storm of this magnitude in a very long time, and it was safe to say she'd been ill-prepared for this one. Without preamble, she sits down on the lobby floor, removes her jacket, and begins the (at this point, fruitless) task of wringing it out.]

G-geez...this thing is gonna be ruined.

[heartovertime]

[Homura is cautious about approaching the new arrival, but then she realizes that, though she's tall, the girl is probably not much older than she is.

There's nothing that makes girls around her age any easier to talk to, as her personal history has well proved, but the thought lingers that if things had been different, if they had lived on different worlds or even parts of the same, maybe they would have been classmates, or even friends. And seeing another girl so waterlogged like this, she wants to be able to help.]

It's really bad isn't it...? You don't live in the Apartments here do you?

[ofnobility]

[Utena looks surprised when she sees the other girl, but she smiles, friendly as always.]

Yeah, it's terrible. [A slight shake of her head, and water droplets fall to the floor.] No, I don't live here, but it looks like it's the only place that held up. Er, sorry for barging in like this.

[heartovertime]

There's nothing to apologize for...a lot of different people live here...

[She pauses, nervously, before adding a little more.]

I don't know if it'll do much good, but...we have a drying machine upstairs if you would like to use it. [It doesn't get used much - such things are luxuries that aren't necessary on the usual sunny days - but in cases like this, it's good to have around.]

[ofnobility]

All the same, I bet it's weird to have strangers showing up.

[She smiles and rubs the back of her neck.] Gee, that'd be great. That's awfully nice of you. [a beat, and she glances up.] Say, what's your name?

[heartovertime]

Oh...sorry, my name is Homura Akemi.

It's really no problem...we're all neighbors in the Gardens after all. I want to be able to help people if I can, like they helped me...

[ofnobility]

Heh, you don't have to be sorry. I didn't introduce myself either. My name's Utena Tenjou. It's really nice to meet you, Homura-san.

[Finally, she stands, swinging her still-damp jacket over her shoulder and setting to wringing out her hair now.] Yeah, I feel the same way. We should all try to help each other out, if we're stuck here.

[heartovertime]

[She gives a sliver of smile.] It's nice to meet you as well.

Um, we're just upstairs this way... [She starts to lead the way, making sure Utena follows.] We have a bunch of towels upstairs too. I probably should have brought some down here...

[ofnobility]

[She follows behind Homura, unmindful of the trail of water she's leaving.] Oh, thanks again. [and then she decides to make conversation.] Who d'you stay with, anyway? You seem about my age.

[heartovertime]

[Homura's cheeks turn just a little pink, though at least she's facing away from the girl.]

I'm living with...um, my friend from home, Madoka Kaname.

Are you in high school? Junior high?

[ofnobility]

Mm? [she recognizes that name.] Oh! Madoka-chan. You must be her friend, the one who was making the cake. She's a sweet girl.

I'm in junior high, but...oi, I bet I've missed so much school...

[heartovertime]

[A little shyly, though she cannot help but smile a little:] Mm...she is...

I'm a second year in junior high. Or I was before coming here. [But education, as useful as it was in the real world, was not so much a priority in her generally peaceful life here.]

[ofnobility]

That's the same as me. [It's rare for her to have friendly conversations with many people her age, and so she seems to latch on to this opportunity.] Have you been here for a while?

[heartovertime]

I've only been here for about four months now... What about you, Tenjou-san?

[She turns and starts leading the way up the stairwell.]

[ofnobility]

It's a little complicated. [Utena follows along, taking the steps two at a time. It's unlikely she'll be winded afterward -- stair climbing's kind of her forte.] I was her for almost five months, I think, and then I was sent home for three. That's what everyone's told me. I just got back a little while ago.

[heartovertime]

I see... Did you remember being gone...?

[With the eventuality that Madoka would leave to fulfill her wish, Homura wonders what it may be like should she return.]