(no subject)

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

It's been a hard couple of days for the sous-chefs, but Utena is feeling all the better for having worked as much as she has. Taking a well-earned break from the kitchen, she heads into the main room and curls up with a delicate cup of tea.

Comments

[lastgunslinger]

Roland has seen this face before.

On a milk carton.

Idly: "Long days, pleasant nights."

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

Wide blue eyes turn to him, and Utena blinks, a little unsure at being addressed.

"Thank you?" She stirs her tea. "Um...good...good evening."

[lastgunslinger]

"It is."

When Roland is being friendly, it is best to be wary.

"Haven't seen you around before."

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"I work in the kitchen," she explains, looking at him wide-eyed. "But I've been here for a while now. Over the--over the winter, at least."

She rubs at her upper arm self-consciously.

[lastgunslinger]

He looks a little surprised. Roland is a good actor. "That long? Are you Bound here?"

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I suppose so," she says automatically, and looks down at her tea. She'd like to take a sip, but all of a sudden she doesn't feel so well.

In a minute she looks back up at him with something of a smile. "I'm sorry, we haven't met. My name is Utena. Tenjou Utena." She holds out her hand, suppressing her urge to keep it back.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland meets her hand.

"Joe Wales."

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

She takes his hand and shakes it firmly but quickly. "Nice...nice to meet you, Wales-san."

[lastgunslinger]

"Joe." A smile. "Please."

Roland is going to hell.

"So. You've been here over the winter. Where before that?"

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"Tokyo," she says, still looking slightly at sea. Anxious to avoid his eyes, she turns her gaze to her tea and sips at it.

"Where were you from?"

[lastgunslinger]

"Nowhere in particular. Arizona, for a while. Texas." Pause. "Afraid I'm not familiar with Tokyo."

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"It's in Japan," she says helpfully. "So you're American?"

[lastgunslinger]

Not especially helpful, for Roland. But it's supposed to be helpful for Joe Wales...though Roland doubts that Josey Wales had a good grasp on where Japan is, either. "I am."

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

In a magical continuity that is neither during nor after Utena's conversation with Roland, Anthy wanders over in her direction, tea in hand.

"Tenjou-san . . . ?"

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"Himemiya-san, hello!" Utena waves at her cheerfully.

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

Anthy waves back. With the hand that isn't holding tea, fortunately.

"Hello." She's smiling. "How are you?"

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"Good. Tired." Utena smiles at her and waves for her to sit down. "What about you?"

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

"I'm fine, thank you." She sits, but not curled up: back straight, and feet tucked under her. Anthy has excellent posture. "You look tired. Have you been working hard?"

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

Utena rubs at her upper arm. It's sore, for some reason. "Yes," she admits, and shrugs. "But Gil wasn't up to doing much work, the way he is, so..."

She trails off and takes a sip of tea, hoping it will calm her stomach. She doesn't feel very well.

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

Anthy's eyes move from Utena's arm to her face.

"You should be careful," she says, lightly. "After sleeping so long -- it must be easy to tire yourself out."

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I suppose you're right," she says sheepishly. "I don't know what it was that made me sleep like that--exhaustion, I guess."

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

"Time . . ."

"Time doesn't always move right, here."

Utena ought to be used to that. But of course she wouldn't remember.

Anthy thinks, for no particular reason, of Miki's stopwatch.

Miki.

Brightly: "Or exhaustion. There are illnesses --"

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"I suppose." She doesn't sound convinced. Utena does not like to think of herself as an invalid, which is swiftly contradicted by another sharp pain, this time in her side. Her hand ghosts over it quickly, causing the dim light to sparkle quickly on a ring she has put on her left hand.

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

Anthy reaches for her, and hesitates.

She lowers her hand. "Are you all right?"

The glint on the rose signet catches her eye, but she doesn't mention it, not yet.

[la-calice.livejournal.com]

"Fine," she says, putting on a beaming smile and taking a sip of tea. "Just a stomach-ache. Too much cake, maybe. How's Chuchu?"