004 - video;

[alldevouring]

[The same black-clad girl from before is feeling a little tired today, more than usual. Hotaru has left her device right cross from the bed she's been sleeping on, currently slumped forward, not budging at all. And from the looks of things, Hotaru seems to be worn out. Sad thing is, Hotaru hasn't exactly gone anywhere today. She's feeling a little

Comments

[princely_calyx]

H-Hey [Utena stifles a yawn. How can she be so tired? Class wasn't even that hard today. Doesn't matter how tired she is, she can't ignore someone who might need help.] Who are you looking for?

And who lost their grip?

1/2

[alldevouring]

[Sleep sounds great right now, doesn't it?]

I want my papa.

video;

[alldevouring]

[At that question, Hotaru's eyes seem to go empty. She stares.]

video;

[princely_calyx]

Is he here? I can go look for him... [A hope. Also, she hopes that it doesn't take too much to find him.]

She notices the stare.

Um...are you all right?

1/2 - video;

[alldevouring]

[Hotaru rests her head against the bed and keeps that vacant, hollow look on her face. Anyone watching her now will just assume she's tired, right? It's not just Hotaru speaking right now, even if her voice hasn't changed. Just that hint of her expression.]

He is not here.

video;

[alldevouring]

[Her breathing seems to calm down, at least.]

Mm... why is this thing on?

video;

[princely_calyx]

I - you turned it on, I think. You were asking about where all your important people were. [Utena's quite confused now. Just what is going on with this girl.]

video;

[alldevouring]

[Back to the same sheepish Hotaru! She glances at the device and she looks at it; the confusion and concern on her face visible, even if she's holding her head. She offers a sigh -- Hotaru will just be grateful that this happened over the device, but...]

Oh.

I didn't... mean for it to come on. This was an accident.

[Right?]

video;

[princely_calyx]

Are you sure you are okay?

Re: video;

[alldevouring]

I'm just... very tired today, more than usual. That's all.

[Hotaru isn't about to comment openly she seemed to stop caring about what happened, either.]

video;

[princely_calyx]

I- [She hesitates. Something is off here. For some reason, though, she just feels too tired to fight with the girl to find out what.] Okay. If you need anything, I'm Utena. Feel free to call.

video;

[alldevouring]

[She looks quite sad hearing this. The girl doesn't budge, she stays curled up on the bed, not moving.]

Thank you, miss, but I assure you... I'll be okay. I'm sick very often.

video;

[princely_calyx]

[Why does she look so sad. Why can't Utena just go and find her? This isn't right.]

You should go to the clinic then. Maybe I should too...

video;

[alldevouring]

[Hotaru won't say. It feels for a moment she stopped caring about what she said and did, and that's horrible. Hotaru wants to turn over, she wants to stop caring.]

Perhaps... but it's better if I stay here. It's just a bad day.

video;

[princely_calyx]

I don't think that's really a good idea. You were... somewhere else. And if you get sick so often, you should get checked out.

[More to herself but definitely out loud.] Why am I so tired?

video;

[alldevouring]

[It takes a moment or two for her to respond. She hears her, but she's fighting off that urge to disconnect and to give up. Why does it feel like something's clawing in hear head?]

... I don't need to if you're tired, too. Isn't this place supposed to be strange?