(Untitled)

[anthy_rosebride]

Anthy stands in the centre of the greenhouse. Around her, north east south and west, float four glass coffins, and inside them four women. Susannah, long-legged and serene; River smiling untroubled; Meg relaxed; Utena peaceful.

It's silent; even the fountain makes no noise. The water's halted in midair.

( And Chuchu -- Chuchu isn't here.)

Comments

[path_unprepared]

If this is a glimpse of the Rose Bride's power --

(when she does this, even the shortlived flowers can be made to last a little longer)

-- then it is safe to say that on some level, Mikage is utterly fascinated by what he is seeing.

'Lovely,' he murmurs at last, speaking both to her and to himself. 'This is your power, Rose Bride. This is what I desire.'

[anthy_rosebride]

Anthy closes her eyes.
Eternity means that this moment lasts billions of billions of years, without end.
Her breathing is slowing, and steadying.

[b_ko_chan]

"At last! At last! The tragic, dramatic, passionate, exciting conclusion to the world-famous 'Tale of the Rose'! Buy your tickets for the next performance at Kashira Theatre! There are still some left if you hurry!"

"How many are left?"

"Only thirteen."

"That's how many we made."

"Are you a moron? Shut up!"

"Ooooo, what will happen next? I'm on the edge of my seat! How enthralling!"

"But . . ."

"The story's already ended. It wasn't a very good ending."

"We even ran the credits."

"So what's happening now?"

[saionjisenpai]

The door opens, slowly, and Saionji steps in, a grey mouse-monkey on his heels.

"...Anthy?" he says carefully.

The crystal coffins hang in the air in a manifestly impossible way. His mouth is dry.

Coffins.

(Don't open it. Please, don't open it.)

[anthy_rosebride]

Something passes. Maybe it's time.

Anthy opens her eyes.

[shadowsusannah]

Susannah... does not.

She gleams in her happy crystal coffin, smiling slightly.

[anthy_rosebride]

She breathes in.

And then, very slowly, pulls an elbow back behind her, over the dirt. Draws up a knee. Runs the back of her hand across her chin, and pushes with the other.

The greenhouse is quiet. So quiet.

And there they are.

Four coffins. Four women, floating.

[shadowsusannah]

Nothing changes in here. Nothing ever changed. She is whole, and she is many, and her heart is full.

Of course it's a trick. But life's a trick, and love a glammer, isn't it?

Mia takes the cookies out of the oven, and when Susan comes home from school she says, Girl you look good.

Detta dances on the razor's edge, in peace in danger, and she and Cuthbert laugh as the fires burn.

Odetta and Alain in the library; Susannah and Eddie in the bedroom. Chasing and throwing a frisbee with Jake and Oy, and walking (walking!) arm in arm with Roland, no longer wandering, because this is the soul and center; this is the nexus of space and the nexus of time.

This is home, in her mind are many mansions, and in this one this perfect moment (moments) goes on and on and on and never fades.

Odetta? Detta? Mia?

Never--

Susannah?