Discount Valentines

[andtherevolution]

WHO: Utena and Futaba
WHERE: Heropa #001
WHEN: After the Romance by Chance plot
WHAT: Ranting about stupid houses. Making plans for the future. Binging on discount chocolate.
WARNINGS: None yet



Finally, she's home. Utena fumbles for her keys and opens the door, and takes a second to kick off her shoes before tromping towards her room. Her clothes are wrinkled, her hair's a mess, and there's deep, heavy bags under her eyes. All she wants to do is crash into bed and forget about anything and everything to do with romance movies.

On her way, though, she sees Futaba. Things are better between them, or at least she thinks so, but she only has enough energy to muster up a weak wave.

"Hey," she says, her voice rough with exhaustion. Sorry Futaba, that's the cheeriest she'll be for the next few minutes.

Comments

[codeoracle]

Futaba, on the other hand, was much more lively. It might have something to do with the half-box of chocolate she had consumed in the past half hour. Yeah, that sugar binge would definitely do it.

"Hey!" It's said with a wide smile and a bit too much enthusiasm for Utena's current state--which Futaba failed to take in until just a second ago. "Are you...okay?"

[andtherevolution]

"Yesterday's been weird," she sighs. "There was a creepy house, and a cat in a dress, and aliens, and..."

She trails off, when suddenly, she realizes something. Just how long was she in the house? Utena blinks, the realization jolting her awake.

"Hold on. What day is it today?"

[codeoracle]

"Um...the 16th. I think."

She doesn't exactly keep up on her calendar, and she wasn't about to go and dig out her phone to check. But she's pretty certain about that date.

"But uh--back it up a bit. What's this about a cat in a dress? And did you say aliens?"

[andtherevolution]

"The sixteenth?! I was there for that long?! I-"

She lets out a frustrated groan and shakes her head, not bothering to finish that sentence. Wait, what did Futaba just ask?

"-anyway, they weren't real aliens, or a real cat in a dress - well, the cat was real, but she was more like a cat... person? Not like, a housecat."

[codeoracle]

"You mean the one girl that's been on the network? She's kinda new..."

She's rather amused by this conversation, trying to figure out just what had gone on--what Utena's been through.

"So you were at some weird house where this all happened, huh? You uh...want to come have some candy and talk about it? Or just...talk?"

[andtherevolution]

"You know what? Candy sounds great right now. I'm starving."

Wait, it's the sixteenth. Which means that a couple of days ago, it was... Utena pauses, and says, "Wait, did someone give you candy? Let me guess, gifts from your legion of adoring fans?"

She's smiling, playing it off as a joke, but seriously, where did you get the candy from, Futaba? Yeah, yeah, girls didn't get Valentine's candy back home, but this is America! Things are different here!

[codeoracle]

"Oh uhm...No I bought it." Not that she would have accepted it anyway. It was still a bit strange for her to get used to the American tradition. Where was the fun without White Day?

"And I'm really no good at making my own, so I hope store-bought is okay." She is, of course using this as an excuse. You better come up with something good in March, Utena. She'll be expecting it for sharing her hoard.

[andtherevolution]

"That's fine," she says, more relieved than she'd like to admit. "Besides, I have no room to talk - I'm terrible in the kitchen."

In a moment, it'll hit her that this isn't just friends sharing their discount candy haul. However, she does have enough awareness to know that favors need to be repaid, even if it's not in the way that Futaba is imagining.

"And I'll make it up to you," Utena continues, "I promise - oh! Your birthday's coming up soon, isn't it? How about we do something nice? We can invite the others too, if you want."

Or go alone. No pressure.