♘ duel the tenth. (!wildcard! vine. video. action.)

[ofnobility]

[Utena's basketball court is a familiar sight, as are the shadows playing along the walls, but there is something new about it today. It has expanded into a more elaborate sports field, an outdoor gym of sorts. There is a tennis and badminton court, an outdoor pool, and basically a lot of scenery porn the area around the grounds is surrounded by

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[burns_things]

[ And in a shocking twist, Azula is transformed into a...

Wait, no, she is a princess already. So, uh. Hmm. That part of the wildcard probably does not affect her, but she will nonetheless acquire a dress more princess-like than her standard armor and/or pants and will suddenly be more prone to swooning.

...Although she may be confused the entire time. ]

What in the world is this?

[ofnobility]

[Swooning is always helpful! Utena doesn't appear to be as confused as Azula -- in fact, she drops to one knee. It's kind of like she's proposing, but that would be hideous once the wildcard wears off, so instead she takes Azula's hands in her own.]

--Ah, princess! We meet at last!

[Okay, so it's still hideous.]

[burns_things]

[ Azula raises an eyebrow.

As strange as this is, this is certainly far from unpleasing. It has been a while since she has last received a welcome actually befitting her. Plus, she IS a princess and this IS the...actually, this is the second time they have met in person, but Utena has struck her as not too bright so she thinks nothing of it and simply accepts this situation as (mostly) normal and nice.

So, the lovely princess smiles down at the prince. ]

Yes, at last. The pleasure is all yours.

[ofnobility]

[That's...a little more, er, self-assured than she usually sees from princesses, but Utena recovers smoothly. Part of being gallant and so on is knowing how to adapt, after all! And because she is so gallant, she is going to give Azula the most dashing and charming grin she can manage.

She's very photogenic!]

Yes, of course. [And so, Utena says the words she will come to deeply regret when she returns back to normal:] Is there anything at all I can do to assist you? Just say the word.

Princess

[gun_cata]

[ Normally, froofy dresses are not Larry's bag - dresses are okay, on appropriate occasions, but dresses with poofs and puffs not so much. But this princessy white dress, for some reason, just feels right, at the moment, as she makes her way across Utena's sports facility.

That's when she spots Utena, gallant in her fancy new outfit, even with those little injuries. ]

Utena? Are you alright?

[ofnobility]

[Larry may not be used to frilly dresses, but Utena sees them all the time, and usually a floofy dress = princess, so it's only logical to roll with it. And roll she does!

Actually it's more like a trot over to Larry, but details.] Thank you for being concerned, princess! But yes, I'm fine. [She beams! Look how cute she is, in her little prince outfit with all of her bizarre delusions.] I'm more worried about you, in fact. Is there anything you need? A dragon to be vanquished, or a witch to thwart! [...] I'm pretty good at all of that.

[gun_cata]

[ Larry blinks a few times. Witches... dragons. Hmmm.

She can't really think of anything that pressing, just wanting to make sure that the prince is in one piece. ]

Nothing like that! As long as you're okay, then I'm okay.

[ofnobility]

Um...[Utena scratches her head. This not having anyone to save thing is completely confusing to her magic-addled brain. There's always someone to save, right?] Are you sure? There's no woodsman trying to take your heart, or a Queen that wants your voice...or an imp that wants your firstborn son? Nothing like that?

[mnementomori]

[she doesn't waste time--she hasn't seen Utena in a while, and with so many people disappearing lately, she's glad to see her friend is all right. So instead of using the Vine, she goes straight to the scene, a greeting on her lips.]

[she pauses some distance away, among the rose bushes, overwhelmed by the sudden feeling of deja-vu. The shadows, and this dress--]

[she doesn't think wearing it suddenly is odd, but rather the fact that it looks so familiar. Red is black and green is white, but she remembers the design, even if she can't place it immediately. At least this one fits her.]

[she straightens, clasping her hands together, trying to shake off the feeling of foreboding the half-remembered memory brings.]

...Utena?

[ofnobility]

[Utena would have some sort of clever joke on how Xion keeps ending up in Rose Bride dresses, to lighten the mood, but the magic of the wildcard has pretty much overrode any memory of that she might have. So while she's certainly happy to see Xion, it very quickly becomes apparent that she doesn't really recognize her in the same way as she usually would.]

Yes, princess? [She would be confused as to why so many people seem to know her name, but she is the Prince, of course. The only one. Surely the tales of her exploits have reached even this faraway land.]

[mnementomori]

["Princess?" she opens her mouth to say, but what comes out is]

Oh, noble Prince! Thank goodness I found you.

[well, that's strange. And new. And she didn't even know what a curtsy was before, and now she's performing one.]

It's so terrible. You must help!

[What is? What am I saying?]

[ofnobility]

[YEAH FINALLY A MISSION!!

Is what Prince Utena is thinking. But her expression is very serious. It wouldn't do to act so unbecoming in front of a princess.

She bows in response to the curtsy.] Of course, you can count on me. What is it that troubles you?

[fatedmagia]

... Eh? [ The last thing Madoka had been expecting was a sudden clothes change, or sudden setting change for that matter. The light pink dress is beautiful, she thinks--but, it doesn't suit her somehow. ] What... happened....?

lol i'm so sorry for this

[ofnobility]

[At the sight of the little princess, Utena is speechless! What a beautiful young maiden - why, surely, she must be the most beautiful maiden in all the lands. And of course, this totally means that the only rational conclusion Prince Utena can come to is that they are destined to be wed. That's how the stories go, after all.

Madoka, you'd best be prepared to be wooed.

TO BE WOOED SO HARD.

Because it's about to happen.

Utena rushes to Madoka's side! And bows, before clearing her throat.] My dear princess, you've shown up just in time!

why are you apologizing this is beautiful

[fatedmagia]

[ ... Ah.

What...?

Madoka's eyes widen once more, and she feels her throat going somewhat dry as he face reddens. She waves her hands ] Sorry--I'm not--... Utena-san...? [ What was happening...? This... definitely, definitely had to be the Queen's doing again. But, Madoka was taken by surprise by Utena's sudden change of attitude towards her that she doesn't exactly say that out loud just yet. She doesn't back away, though. Even though she was acting strangely, this was her friend. ]

[ofnobility]

[If Utena notices Madoka's confusion, she's either entirely oblivious to it, or if she's so used to people reacting to her in such a way by now. She takes Madoka's hands in her own, and speaks with earnest seriousness.]

I've searched very long for you, princess, and just as I was about to lose hope, you arrived! [Kind of like an all-knowing and all-seeing Goddess.

Or something.]

[heartovertime]

[Um, well.

The amethyst gown that just appeared out of nowhere on Homura is a little confusing, given it isn't exactly like her magical girl outfit.

Fortunately, at least, she hasn't lost her senses or become deluded - has she?

Hearing the somewhat familiar voice nearby, Homura turns to look at the pink-haired girl.]

Tenjou-san?

[ofnobility]

[Another princess! Utena offhandedly thinks that there's something a little strange about all these princesses showing up, but it isn't enough to break the power of the wildcard magic.

She brightens up when she sees Homura, and as with the others, bows.] Greetings, princess!

[heartovertime]

[Homura takes a moment to make sure there's not someone standing right behind her that Utena is talking to. Sure enough, nope.] ...P-Princess?

[coronated]

Yes! [...] You're the Princess, remember? Or one of them. Now please, dear Princess, can you tell me if there's anything you need? Anything at all, and I'll provide it for you!