thelastdanse | (no subject)

[ You wake to a comfortable silence, warmth and softness surrounding you. The room is dim, but a little light comes into the room. Should you check, the room has an ornate clock that tells you it is still early-- only a few minutes after seven in the morning. Although it should be no difficult task to assess that this room is unfamiliar to you in every way; your last memories will be a bit herder to focus in on. But the haze will gradually lift and you will be left with a few simple facts.

This bed-- this room is not your own. Nor is it the last place you were.

You are not alone. There are at least two other people sleeping in beds like yours in this room.

Now that you are awake it is time to explore. As you do you will realize just how many others there are in this building. Meet with them and you will probably soon realize none of them know any more than you do. Still-- considering the situation it may benefit you greatly to work together.

It is likely that you will see portraits of some familiarity positioned throughout the building as well as some confusing writing posted in each of your rooms as well as just outside of the Ballroom.

Looking around you will notice that you have practically full reign of the house-- with one exception. It would appear that right now the office is locked. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, it's an issue! I haven't seen you in so long and now you're not walking like you normally do.

[Because it is?]

... Sarasa I... I just saw you in class, didn't I? You came running in and we...

[ Hinako squints at her. ]

How do you not remember?

I saw you going to the roof with those weird sisters but we haven't talked in over a year.

[Because you somehow vanished off the ballet scene?]

You haven't been going to any competitions at all--I didn't even know you were going to our school!

... Sarasa, this isn't right.

[ Not this whole situation. This, specifically. How can Sarasa have forgotten... something like that? ]

We already talked, didn't we? About why I wasn't at the competitions... and my knee.

[Her eyes open wider. Her knee? She must be--no. Hinako wouldn't joke about it. When she said knee... right. The way she walked, she favored her other leg as if she was trying to put less strain on it.]

No... no, I don't remember any of that! But--you're not joking are you? Trying to put something around your old rival?

[Even as she says it, Sarasa doesn't believe her own words then she stops--]

No. I don't think you would lie to me, Hinako. I... just don't know what you're talking about.

[ ... She has to tell her again, doesn't she?

Hinako's not sure she wants to. She remembers how angry Sarasa had been the first time around. And that was just at school -- how badly will she react hearing the news somewhere like this place?

Hinako has to take a deep breath before she can start. ]

I. I stopped because I can't anymore, Sarasa. Dance, I mean. With my knee the way it is... it's impossible for me.

[She... at least doesn't start glowing and there has to be a dungeon dive. No, instead she stares at Hinako. Stares at her knee.]

No! You wouldn't just give up like that! It's been a year, right? Maybe if you just keep at it--

[Sarasa starts to yell then she stops herself. She doesn't look very happy at all but she's not unaware of where they are.]

--ngh. Something like that is really hard to believe but... you wouldn't lie for no reason.

[ That stings. Sarasa's... trying and Hinako appreciates it but she still feels a flicker of anger in her chest at the idea that Sarasa thinks this is a matter of her not trying hard enough.

She's not yelling but there's definitely more than a bit of bite to her words when she responds. ]

I've been keeping at it, Sarasa. I've been seeing specialists and doing all the physical therapy and... I'd even thought about doing something crazy like going overseas and seeing if anyone over there could do something. But it's no good.

They said I'll live a normal, everyday life... but I'm never going to dance again with this leg.

That can't be all! That can't be just how this ends.

[Why? Why?! Why? Why did Hinako have suffer like that? There was no reason at all! Sarasa knew she couldn't get angry now. What was the point? Still, there was a clenching feeling around her heart.]

This just can't end this way! You're--you're one of the greatest dancers in all of Japan already! It can't...

[There. Just for a brief second. Hinako might remember that faint blue aura, that blank look in her Sarasa's eyes.

Right before she snaps back to it.] ...We probably should talk about this later.