❝ this side of paradise ❞ ░▒▓ video.

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[ The vine slowly slithers in the grass, slowly following it's prey who walks upon the Garden. It's trail lays behind―far enough that it will not be caught, but close enough to keep watch

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[ofnobility]

[The nightmares from last week have taken a toll on even Utena's usual exuberance and good cheer. She looks tired when the Mirror appears, and it takes her a moment to convince herself that the person she's seeing isn't another dream.]

...Juri-senpai? Senpai! You're really here? Are you all right?

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[ Juri's eyebrows knits at her name being called and the familiarity of the voice who's calling her. ]

Tenjou...? [ Of course, this still isn't enough to convince Juri that this isn't some sort of weird dream of hallucination. This place is absolutely perfect for her. ] I'm not surprised to see you in a dream like this.

[ofnobility]

[She shakes her head vehemently.] No, it's not a dream. I've been here for a while.

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That's impossible. [ Her words are sharp, unbelieving. ] I just saw you not that long ago. Today, in fact.

[ofnobility]

I know it sounds impossible, but it's true, senpai. What everyone else is telling you, that's true too.

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[ It's hard for her to not see everything in a rational light, but there is also no reason why Utena would lie. Especially to her. While it still seems utterly ridiculous to her, her tense shoulders relax for a moment. A loud sigh is heard. There's still a conflict in her mind about how Utena's been here for awhile when she just saw the girl, or how she even wound up here, but she has a feeling Utena's words will echo the others. ]

Is there really no way out of here?

[ofnobility]

[A solemn shake of her head.] Not one anyone knows about. There might be, but the Queen is keeping us here.

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What's she got to gain kidnapping us here, besides... romantic intentions? [ Really, Juri doesn't believe all of that. Why would a Queen kidnap only females for them to be used like puppets in some sort of weird quest for love? ]

[ofnobility]

It beats me. [She shrugs, at a loss on what to say.] She gets mad when we don't do what she wants, and she's always trying to get all of us to...you know.

There's ruins all over the place too, and she likes it when we build things with that magic dirt that's scattered all around. I'm not sure what that's about.

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[ Juri arches an eyebrow at Utena's "you know." ]

That's disgusting, forcing people together just because she wants some sick entertainment. No real Queen acts like that.

Magic dirt? [ The incredulous tone in her voice suggest that this far too unreal for her. How in the world did she end up in a place like this? ] You've got to be kidding me.

[ofnobility]

I don't think it's just for that, senpai. [She dislikes defending the Queen, but..] She seems confused. I don't think she means to hurt anyone, but she's still going about things all wrong. [Utena frowns, at an unpleasant memory, and then her face clears again.]

The dirt's not so strange. After Ohtori, this stuff's pretty normal.

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She kidnapped us from our world. How is that not meant to harm someone?

[ At Utena's comparison of Ohtori and this place... her eyebrows knit together. Talking animals, magic dirt, plant life that's actually alive? How is any of that even considered normal? It takes her a moment to register the words, as she blinks at the the underclassmen. ]

How long have you been here, exactly?

[ofnobility]

I don't think she thinks that's bad. And...[She remembers her conversation with Mami, and glances down.] for some people, it's better here, even with all the odd things that go on.

[At the question, she rubs the back of her neck.] Um, it's a little complicated...

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So I've heard. [ Her eyes narrow a bit. She knows there is a reason why Utena is content with being here. ] Is Himemiya-san here?

I'm sure it's not as complicated as everything here seems to be.

[ofnobility]

[Her cheery expression falters, and then disappears entirely.] No, Himemiya's not here. She hasn't been here in all the time I've been stuck in this place.

[A pause, and she begins to explain, albeit slowly.] I was here months ago, but I got sent back to Ohtori for a little while. Only...I didn't remember the Gardens while I was there. It happens to some people.