A Little Catch-up!

    The ceremony was a true delight, the celebration after a true debauchery the likes of which Fuka thoroughly enjoyed. There was good food, good music, good people, dancing, and of course cake! It went on for hours but, like all good things, it eventually ended. People made their excuses and left in their own times, though of course some remain around the area, especially those with business in Eas or an extended connection beyond the celebration itself.

    Fuka stays here pretty often, to be sure. She's done a lot of work in the Eas workshops, and she's spent a lot of time helping the people of Eas stay safe and sound during the war. She's not at all a rare sight around the castle and the village, and it's perfectly reasonable for her to stick around a few days, not rushing off to the next adventure. And of course there's a few things she still wants to do...

Photography isn't a thing yet, so immortalizing moments like these reqiures skilled artists to either sketch or memorize events as they happen, and reserve an appropriate amount of time later painting them the old fashioned way, with palettes and brushes, or perhaps blocks of stone, hammers, and chisels.

While probably not optimal for the actual painting and sculpting process itself, due how messy an affair the crafting of artwork is, it turns out that, due to how little its black ceiling reflects light, the Dome of Stars is perfect for temporarily storing the completed works to be sorted out later, either to be shipped to nobles via Messenger, or to be displayed within Eas itself.

Uta, back to her usual nurse's uniform and menu-grooming ways, is busy looking at a painting of Kauchemar rocking the musical accompaniment.

"This artist is impressive," she comments. "So realistic, such a sense of depth, and even the position of the fingers on the instrument is -so- accurate. That's a textbook F#, not just some random hand position that looks good...",

    "It's magical." Fuka agrees, coming up behind Uta and peering at the art. She's dressed in her more usual travelling gear, the kind with armour and all that, though she still has her hair ornately done up in a violet ribbon. It's a contrast, but then that's Fuka. Also, Fuka may well have just appeared out of nowhere without invitation, just butting in to private musings like she's been part of the solo conversation all along. That too is Fuka.

    "So how do you think the artist did it? Did they just remember the moment perfectly? Did they get Kaumare to hold a single pose for an extended time while they created it? OOOOH WAIT or maybe it's literal magic, and they PARALYZED her in that pose so they could paint it!" she muses happily. Never mind the last two possibilities literally didn't happen. Never let reality get in the way of a good speculation!

"I mean, there is such a thing as eidetic memory," Uta comments, then mutters "although it is found in young children, and is virtually noexistent in adults," , mostly to herself, but still audible. "Or at least, so it was outside of ETO. I wonder if this is one of the amazing things we can acquire within- uh. No, no, I don't think it's freeze magic," Uta comments with a flick of her hand. "I mean, I think I would remember if I was frozen in time and- wait."

Frown.

"...this artist probably knows Song as well," she continues, "or maybe asked the help of a musician. It is the most logical explanation."

She says so in the most confident way she manages, but she does cast a single, fleeting dubious glance in Fuka's direction at the end.

    Fuka nods enthusiastically at Uta's explanation, pleased by it and accepting it as eminently trustworthy and most likely accurate. Probably as much because Uta says it as because it's logical and consistent. "It'd make sense!" she agrees. "There's a lot of artists here from the work done recently and for the wedding, right? The one with the most musical inclination's going to be the one painting Kaumare for sure." Fuka says, going with the suggestion seriously and intently.

    "I mean, there was so much going on, and this one artist chose that one moment." Fuka notes. "It's a good moment, and the painting shows something that feels... true." she muses, groping and fumbling around for the right words to express herself. Words come freely and often to her. The right words... not so much. "Unlike, say, the other artists painting the couple, or important noble guests, or that amazingly athletic catch of the bouquet you made!" Fuka adds brightly. Either unaware of how Uta reacted when she learned of that particular tradition or, more likely, leaning into it in the interests of fun. Yeah... okay it's pretty clear which.

"It's not binding!", Uta blurts out as she stiffens and does that thing where some droples of sweat randomly sprinkle out of her head. "Ayame said so!"

"And I wasn't aware there'd be paparazzi preserving that moment for posterity! I was under the impression we exhausted them with the preparation for the statue!" Pause. Look around the small maze of paintings leaning against impromptu wooden structures all over the room, currently looking half warehouse and half art gallery. "...there isn't a picture of me catching the bouquet anywhere, is there?"

Seems like she hasn't been through the whole collection, yet.

    And there it is. Confirmation of what bothered Uta so much she needed her stress ball. While Fuka's not adverse to adding to Uta's stress levels, she's not interested in her friend suffering. The only question is... why is Uta so stressed over the idea of marriage? Fuka can think of several possibilities, some funny, some less so.

    "Uta, it's ME." Fuka says, waving a hand dismissively. "You don't need to convince me that tradition is nonsense you can ignore whenever you like!" she says reassuringly. Or as reassuringly as anyone can be when their suggestions involve 'just do what Fuka does'.

    The sylph pauses, turning to regard Uta. "Not sure why you're bothered by the idea though. I mean I get it. I'm pretty sure I'm never going to marry, and I'm okay with it. I knew a lot of silly girls who would do anything to have a boyfriend, or a girlfriend I guess, and get in on that social circle. Me, never cared about it. I wouldn't *refuse* with the right person I guess, but ... yeah, not a goal of mine."

    Fuka explains her situation, in part because she wants Uta to understand her a little better, in part to encourage her to open up in turn. To make it okay to share something a little awkward and more than a little personal. But, being Fuka, she also has to push... just a little. "We could always search the new art to see if your achievement has been preserved for all time though, if you like!" she claims brightly, smirking enough that it should be obvious she's teasing.

Uta's tension is released graduelly with each of Fuka's words. She fidgets with her fingers a little. She looks left, looks right. Looking for the right words.

"Same with me," Uta offers as a response. "I like things the way they are now. I just don't want to -have- to get married. No need to rush things." Some silence. Uta may be distracted, easily, massively, and at length, but some things she can pick up on. This answer is not going to end the conversation. Fuka is going to want more details.

"I didn't want to rain on Wake's parade, but between the two of us, I'm still a bit baffled by this whole story. It's been a grand ceremony, but..." She leans over, looking down straight at Fuka, and extends one hand, palm open to gesture in the distance, where the event supposedly took place. "...there's a high chance that this is just a videogame wedding. Nice show, but when they finally figure out how to remove our helmets and wake us from this fever dream back into the real world, what good will all this be? Wake and Tae will still be unmarried. Castle Eas will be nothing but a bunch of dead bits frozen in some data storage box thingamajig somewhere, awaiting forensic analysis, as will be all those Lander Nobles and Children." Look down and mumble, "And my most amazingly atletic achievements will consist of delivering meals from the kitchen to the dining area, and collecting bills. My academic achievements? Failing to graduate and holing up at home to read books... pretty much full time when not at work. If we don't coung me going to -buy- books to read."

Silence. She looks down.

"Or, as unlikely as it is," she adds in a more somber tone, with just a hint of ominousness, "and no matter how little I belive it is, there still is a tiny chance that this is somehow 'real', for some definition of 'real'. Perhaps we are downloaded simulations. Perhaps we really have become flesh-and-bone versions of our Adventurers." She raises her glance just enough to look at Fuka. "In that case, I -am- a Musical Kung-Fu Nurse."

She begins to pace around the room, and finally finds a stool. She sits down, and sighs, head held in her hands. "What am I?"

Head raised abruptly, she continues, "Is there an old life to go back to? Is this what I'll spend the rest of my life as?" She leans over further, fingers tense, as if she was clutching the air; she looks between one hand and the other, "I'm a bit on the traditional side, you know? I like to know in what reality I find myself in, and whether or not it's transient and reversible before committing to a lifelong relationship." The tension in her voice evaporates all of a sudden as Uta returns veers off into a rambly tangent, "I mean, I can't see either myself liking anyone in that way or, likewise, anyone liking me in that way any time soon, so this shouldn't be a problem. However, stranger things have happened in the past. I'd like to sort out the whole 'nature of reality' mess first."

    Interesting. Not what Fuka had expected, but not at all unreasonable. The offered position in turn is a nudge for Fuka to continue to explain in a little back-and-forth, something she's not at all reluctant to do, at least with a dear friend.

    "For what it's worth, I believe this is real." Fuka observes lightly. "I don't know if this is another world or a computer game. If we're copies of our original's minds or if we're the originals somehow rebuilt into another world or if the originals are still wearing helmets and are in comas while dreaming our lives." she says. She has her suspicions, but that's not terribly relevant. Pure philosophy which might be fun to speculate over some night, but not here and now.

    "But I'm Fuka." explains Fuka, stating the obvious. "I'm not Miyu, not any more. And I've never been one to live my life to fit someone else's expectations. Even if that someone was me once." she grins. "And I think it's the height of silliness to refuse to live my life to the fullest in fear that this might not be wholly real! I get Waku-Waku and Tae, I guess. They're living their lives and dreams, not caring if it's real or not, and I totally approve!"

    Not that Fuka fails to understand or consider Uta's position. Her angst. She just chooses to provide an alternative. "I couldn't possibly say what you are, or who you are, or what might happen in the future." she claims, coming over to sit beside Uta. No stool, just flopping out on the floor with knees tucked up, arms wrapped around. She doesn't bother looking up. She's used to doing so of course, but there's no need for it. This is comfortable to her in more ways than one. She chortles warmly. "You don't need me to tell you I'm not very traditional!" Fuka grins. "Or that I live my life not intending to regret any of my choices. You ground me a little, make me want to look ahead and plan, so I don't do something that disappoints you. And everyone else close to me, of course! I hope I do something similar for you. Make you happy with trying something different maybe."

    The little sylph smirks mischeviously, continuing. "Sure, maybe you don't want to get married now. Maybe you're not interested in anyone that way for now, and I get it! But you're being a little silly thinking no one would like you that way!" Fuka pauses, looks up. "I would, you know." she says cryptically. Then explains. "I like you. I'd like who you were before you became a kung fu nurse, so if this all turns out to be fake and we both return to ... well, to Miyu and your old self, Furore or whatever, that's fine with me! It'd probably feel a little weird, getting used to a different you. But you'd probably have to put up with me being taller than you, so there!"

While Fuka was delivering her last sentences, Uta has been sitting still, looking at Fuka with a melancholic expression.

The kind of expression where one can expect a counter. Something about questioning Fuka's understanding of Uta's Real Life situation. Questioning whether she'd really appreciate the real life Uta. Questioning something else, possibly. The questioning is coming, any minute now.

"How can you be so sure you'd be taller than me?", is the questioning that finally drops, with a chuckle. "I'm pretty sure you don't know how tall I am. I mean, I wasn't -much- taller than I am now, but still, you couldn't have known. I don't think I've told anyone until now." Her smile is part being foreced into existence, part creeping up spontaneous.

She shakes her head, and the smile takes up enough substance, if not more extension, than before, that it can sustain itself, without any need for forcing, while Uta looks down and away, shaking her head. Then, looking at Fuka again, she adds, quieter, barely above a whisper, "I believe you. Thank you." She sounds sincere.

Silence lingers for a moment. "I'm not sure we can assess our real selves that well form within... this world. But..." One arm scratches behind Uta's head, as she looks down and away once more. "But... if it turns out that this is just a game and we end up getting out, I'd still like to... you know, accept your offer to... meet for real."

Uta remains pensive for a few moments, scratching the area just below her lower lip with the side of her finger. Considering. Weighting.

"'Kawashima', actually." she finally says. "'Furore' is what the random generator came up with. Out there, I'm 'Kawashima'."

Immediately, she looks up and away. "While you... Fuka... Miyu..." Uta says that. Slow. Deliberate. Ruminating the words more than just spitting them out. "Living one's life..."

"That... that is exactly the core of my problem, actually," she says, turning to Fuka. "I've been trying to live two lives at once. Simultaneously. It's exhausting." She bursts into a light laughter. "Well, good thing I completely forget about one of them at times. Provides some relief."

She shakes her head, and her smile finally grows to full size. "I suppose I do need someone to unhinge me on occasion."

"Well!", she exclaims, resuming her usual cheerfulness. "let's try something different and let's see if it makes me happy..." She slapps each knee with the corresponding hand as she's still sitting, then rises to stand, and with one hand on her hip, she extends the other to the sitting Fuka. "Let's do it," she smiles down at her friend. "Let's search the new art to see if my achievement has been preserved for all time."

    Fuka considers the question with due seriousness. More than due seriousness probably, considering both questioner and qustionee. Then she shrugs. "I'm just guessing. For all I know you're as tall as my friend Kohi!" she grins. "I'm as tall as most boys my age, so there aren't a lot of girls taller. Mostly though, I think I'm taller because it's way funnier if I am!" she grins.

    She shrugs again at the more introspective comment. "Maybe. I mean, if we've forgotten stuff about our past selves, or even if stuff we believe about them is entirely made up for us somehow, we'd never know it!" she agrees, not seeming disturbed by the prospect in the slightest. "That's partly why I live my life here and now. Mostly it's how I always did things, but ... you know, it seems especially important here and ... and now!" she beams. "But yes, if we do all get out of here, I'll stalk you and find you and introduce you to Kohi. You'll like her too!" she says. Not really serious about the stalking. Probably. "And now that I know your name, that should be easy!" she smirks. Though the smirk doesn't last. It turns into something more genuine instead. "Thanks.... Kawashima." Fuka says, trying out the name. "Shinohara. That, and with everything else you know about me, should make it easy for you when we eventually meet, out there!" she says, waving her hand about airily.

    She probably has made things a little awkward, but not yet so much so that it should take Uta long to rebalance and resume their conversation. When Uta mentions trying something ... different... Fuka's eyes go a bit wide, startled. But Uta's suggestion isn't QUITE where Fuka's mind went, fortunately. She laughs, bounding to her feet in a way that's probably all but impossible for an ordinary person. "Yes, let's search for your legacy!" she agrees wholeheartedly.

    But that last curious musing... well, Fuka just HAS to make it a little weird, doesn't she? "And here I thought you were proposing to me, all of a sudden!" she says, one hand placed over her heart, the other fluttering air madly at her own face. "All of a sudden, and so bold! Entirely unlike your normal careful, shy self, so it'd have been totally trying something different that'd make you happy!" she continues, speaking quickly, trying to get it all in before Uta manages to parse everything and completely short-circuit. This is too fun after all, and she really REALLY does have to make it weird.

    "I guess you're not really into that sort of thing, but ... well, that'd be okay too!" Fuka continues blathering on. "I'd be happy doing whatever. Not that I'd object if you were to hit on me and like... drag me off somewhere private to have your way with me because let's face it, I can't imagine doing *anything* with you that didn't turn out fun!" she says. "Which is ... I guess, that's kind of the point! Anything we do, I enjoy. So I don't need to insist on doing anything in particular! Just go with the flow and have fun!"

    At that point she pauses, finally, to see the effect of her words. And for that matter to have her brain catch up to her mouth. Finally Fuka blinks. "Soooo... searching the paintings... right?" she grins, a little sheepishly.

Uta's response starts out cheerful enough. "I'd love to meet this Kohi. She sounds fun," before a change of subject where her voice takes a turn for a sort of neutral seriousness that has echoes of a poker face. "Here and now." One of her pauses of reflection, ended by, "It's... well, come to think of it, it's all we're sure we have. Is there even a past life to go back to? Uncertain. But are we sure as heck do live a life as Adventurers in the world of Alba."

"That's another point I had considered. We can, and do, lose memories. And even if I don't, our abilities are adjusted to match our character sheet." She glances at Fukaziroh. "We lost and gained skills based on the whims of our character sheet. You have a point in that we aren't... -exactly- who we were before."

Uta stumbles as Fukaziroh freewheels her suggestion that Uta might have been asking for... well, something else; and there it comes, the blushing and the flailing of arms in panic and possibly distress. "NO! It was only about looking for that painting!", the Spriggan blurts out to Fuka. "I mean... don't take it the wrong way. I'm sure you'd be an excellent romantic partner and all, but-" She scratches the back of her head. "Just like you, I'm not into looking for a stable partner at the moment, too busy researching Lore and Medicine and Song and Monsters and-" The list goes on for a while. "But if I were..."

She bites her lower lip and pulls away. Hold that breath a little longer... "-well, as said, I'm an old fashioned traditionalist. I just can't bring myself to be in a same sex relationship. It just... feels too weird. So... uh... it's nothing personal. I'm sure you'd make a great date," she says, and probably too embarrassed by the whole dump of personal information, she returns to focus on the paintings and the statues, walking on to the ones she hasn't seen yet.

    Having abilities *different* from their original selves... yes, not really something Fuka had considered. Stats that augment their original selves, sure, but everything she's good at, she figures there's a reason for it that comes down to who she is... but it's a reasonable point she has no reason to dismiss. Something for further thought, later.

    Now, she's just amused by poor Uta's reaction. Being willing to push it just a little, being sure that Uta won't take it poorly... it's a big part of friendship and trust. And if the rejection stings just the tiniest bit, it's okay. Fuka's not sure about her own status in that regard. She likes girls, but she's not sure she *likes* girls. She's not experienced enough to distinguish between excitement at the idea of a little funtime play and ... an actual choice along those lines. Lust is not, after all, the same as love. And there's many ways to satisfy the urge to enjoy one's self after all.

    She smiles, not hurt by Uta's expression of her preference. It's not like she didn't know, and it won't stop them having fun! The smile is also for the careful and awkward way Uta tries to express it ... safely. "I think experience makes it clear I'm anything but an excellent romantic partner!" she claims with a slightly brittle cheer. It's something she came to expect quite a long time ago, and one she was kind of okay with. "I'd like to think I'm an excellent friend though, and I hope that's even better! So... you need any help with your research, I'm your girl. And as for feeling weird... hm. Well, all the games seem to say it feels pretty good actually! Nothing weird about that! But it's not like I've got experience in that sort of thing!" she laughs.

"...what kind of games have you been playing?!" Uta asks, squinting down at Fuka with suspicion.

There is some pause at Fuka's brittle smile. Uta lets Fuka finish, then, after thinking a little longer with her head reclined down, finger on chin, she glances upwards. "You sell yourself sh-" Pause. "You... you underestimate yourself," she quickly corrects herself, in panic.

The Spriggan resumes walking, the clacking of her soles on the marble echoing through the space. "It was super weird, what you just said to me earlier, but it proves you do have a good heart."

"And you're a great friend to have. You- oh, hey, look at this."

She stops in front of a painting of June catching a garter in her teeth, like a dog would do with a frisbee. "I remember this!", she beams as she points.

    That question just makes Fuka smirk, though she seems to be happy enough. "All the games, Songbird my dear." she replies knowingly. "ALL the games." she adds with entirely unnecessary emphasis, in case it's not at all clear which games she's referring to. All of them, that is. But *those* games too of course!

    The mood carries over, and if Fuka's smile was a bit brittle before, it's a trouble she's been used to for a while and it's not something that gets her down long. That it weighs on her is unarguable, that it's one she acknowledges is clear, but she doesn't let herself dwell on regret. She is who she is, after all, and she's pretty comfortable being herself.

    "Sell myself short?" she asks, letting mock outrage spread across her features as she turns to study Uta. She lets the other woman finish, letting the panic build just a little. "I'll have you know I *never* sell myself! Short or otherwise! If someone's not worth being with, I'm not about to let money change that!" she harrumphs, tossing her head in mock snippitude, which doesn't end up in a nearly dramatic-enough hairflip considering how well-done-up it is at the moment. She shrugs, laughs, then moves to catch up. "Anyone who thinks you're not lovable is an idiot." Fuka claims. "And you, you're no idiot! So you're *definitely* not allowed to think it!" she adds in an attempt at being serious, despite the general silliness. Probably not the most successful attempt, to be fair, but she's at least sincere in that belief. If it requires Fuka to make it weird to point that out, she's all for it... and if it's a little risk of saying something too personal, well, what are friends for?

    She stops to study the painting of June critically. Or rather, she's standing and looking at it like she's trying to be critical. She has no particular skill with art or desire to judge it, but this definitely tickles her fancy. "Yeah, I think when it comes to capturing the epic catches of the night, yours might end up being forgotten when it comes down to it." Fuka muses. "A shame really, fine catch indeed. But I guess if everyone ends up forgetting that you're supposed to get married next, that works out for the best right?" she smirks. "Not sure how much she wants to get married either. Bit of a hedonist I suppose, not that I'm one to talk!" she grins.

The first time Fuka mentions plaiyng all the games, Uta doesn't seem to catch on. When the emphasis is added, though, one can notice the blushing and embarrassment returning. "Uh... I don't play... you know, -those- games." Then, faster, as if for recovering (and possibly change the subject), she adds, "In fact, I have played NONE of the games!" She scratches the back of her head. "...which would be why I'm kinda lost in this world. But... hey, at least I know I can count on you to help me with gaming questions, right?"

And then the second barrage arrives. Panic builds on cue. As Fuka builds pretend outrage, Uta's stuttering attempts at chipping in (and failing, no matter how much or how little resistance Fuka oppooses -- mostly due to Uta's tongue tripping on itself), results in her standing there in silence at the end of the tirade about Uta not being allowed to think she's an idiot.

Clearly, multiple thoughts passed through Uta's head, possible answers, retorts, objections. But what she says, in the end, is a simple, "...Or else?" Implying... if someone lies down a prohibition, it needs to be backed up by some sort of enforcement, right?

"I don't think June wants to get married, no," Uta comments, looking at the painting with her hands behind her back. She doesn't have the ability to appraise paintings, either. "I think she just wanted to catch a garter in her teeth." And then, as if the former part of Fuka's commentary about the painting hit only now (which is probably did -- Uta is not exactly known for always processing information in an order that makes perfect sense), she blushes, stutters, and scatters the usual droplets of sweat. "Y...yeah, probably better if they forget."

    To someone not used to Fuka, her reaction to being asked to help with gaming questions might be a little ... fierce. The sylph leans in, eyes widening in delight. And by leaning in, she does so literally, pushing her face right into Uta's personal space with no regard for social niceties; completely unaware of them in the moment. "Of COURSE I'll help you with any gaming questions! Or gaming anything!" she spouts enthusiastically. Few things interest Fuka so much as taking interest in a friend's obsession, and vice versa. Uta getting into Fuka's obsession gets wholehearted, unconditional, overly-enthusiastic support! Sometimes you get exactly what you ask for. Sometimes, you get Fuka. "Even the naughty games!" she offers. "ESPECIALLY the naughty games!" she adds, though the latter is less due to this being Fuka's obsession and more due to still having 'tease Uta' somewhere in the back of her head. Not that she really needs to tease Uta, having done so pretty persistently... but she's Fuka.

    She's curious, however, at Uta's question. It takes her aback. She hadn't intended her demand to be taken as a threat. Plenty of possibilities flash through her mind as she considers. Or else Fuka will be upset? Disappointed? Annoyed? It's a stumper. Or else nothing, most likely. Fuka's not going to insist over this, and she isn't one to want to change her friends when they're set in their course. Offer them options, sure, and that... gives her an idea.

    "Or else, I'll have to say it again!" she concludes cheerfully. "Only this time, probably somewhere public, to make sure EVERYONE knows my feelings on the subject! Sure it'll probably be a little embarassing, but we'll survive that!" she blathers. "What's a little embarassment between friends? Nothing, that's what!" she grins playfully. "And speaking of embarassment, really? Catching a garter in her teeth?" she says, the train of her thoughts going full off the rails. A trainwreck, in truth. "I mean she knows where it's been, right? Which I suppose is the point, but that's a little bold even for me!" she adds, fanning herself. "At least in public, with a happily-married woman... in private, I'd probably be more than happy to..."

"Look... NO!", Uta blurts out again, leaning backwards (not that that stops Fuka from getting in her personal space -- it just makes it more -apparent-), with her gloved hands held up. "No need to help with the naughty games!", she blurts out, red in the face. "This world, real as it may be, seems to function on game mechanics, and while I am sure that... sort of game has been integrated, SOMEWHERE, that is not the kind of game I have any intention of playing!"

She turns her head away (or does the best approximation thereof one can manage with a Fuka in their face), and continues, "...the whole -world- works on game mechaincs, and as a proud, obsessive, long-time non-gamer, it's been a uphill battle learning how to interact with it. And it still isn't a walk in the park. Let's start with... you know, tips and tricks more fit for... everyday tasks and possibly fighting monsters, eh? A more survival-oriented tutorial would be beneficial."

"...YOU will survive that," Uta stutters. "I don't think I'm going to live that down!"

Spin on one foot to look at the picture. Change of subject! Good! Look at the garter and-

Aaaaaaaand she's making it weird again. "LET'S MOVE ON!", Uta blurts out, red in the face, with a stiff gait towards the next line of paintings.

    Fuka blinkblinks and backs off. Not because she realizes she's inappropriately in Uta's face, but because Uta's confession makes her feel the need to take an actual step back and consider. "Seriously? NO games?" she asks, apparently surprised. "You poor thing!" Fuka says, clearly dismayed. She couldn't imagine living without games. Well okay yes she can. She remembers what happened when the internet died, and it very nearly killed her. Well, made her feel like she wanted to die anyways. Close enough!

    "Hmmmm." Fuka muses. "You always seemed to have this game figured out, to me." she claims. "Figuring out the music, making use of super smart fighting tactics. Even training slimes! It's... it's all just gaming!" she says, shaking her head dubiously. "I'm not sure you even need any tutorial, because you do it all naturally!"

    Following on behind Uta, Fuka begins to ramble. She's more interested in the topic of gaming than she is about art after all. "Okay so, tips and tricks for everyday tasks. Uh... hm. I'm not even sure! Anything you just do every day, it just works!" she shrugs. "Though I have to admit, it feels a lot better to have a hot bath than just to do things like running yourself through menu cleaning and dressing. It's like the difference between eating menu food and an actual cooked meal!"

    Fuka pauses, considers. "Look, there's a game designer, right? Whether we're in a video game or there's some aliens watching us or it's some sort of god, there's a designer! And a designer wants to see people enjoying their creation! Doing what feels good, eating what tastes good, that sort of thing. Trust me! I actually went to school for game design. Only a term, mind you, before ending up in here full time. I learned way more by playing than by school..." she pauses, considers. "Where was I? Oh yeah! The designer WANTS us to do stuff. You really want to learn how to do good in the game? Figure out what the designer intends!"

"Hey, I had books!", protests Uta in response to 'You poor thing!'. Weakly.

"Well, uh, thanks. It... kind of happened. People helped get me up and running early on."

"I honestly don't know! I... I kind of picked up bits and pieces along the way. Unformalized. From people who might or might not have been gamers." A pause. "Ok, I suspect the Landers probably weren't gamers...", she trails off, distracted.

Uta appears to go through a whole range of emotions during Fuka's speech. Most of them seem to be varying degrees of discomfort or embarrassment, until Fuka mentions having studied game design. That seems to flick a switch in Uta's brain, somewhere. Her ears perk up, and she consumes every word with eager, absolute attention. She's no longer listening to a friend who has been playing videogames. She's listening to some sort of -authority- now. And it shows in her demeanour

"...So...", she hazards, tentative, at the end, like a student at the end of a lesson, torn between the desire to have their understanding scrutinized, and the fear to be reproached and reprimended for a complete lack of comprehension. "...it's like the hats?"

Uta looks down and begins to tap on the palm of her hand. "Mikage, in the early days, said something... I forget the details, but something about hats being an important part of gamer culture, and how they are taken as a representation of status, and how many gamers find it important to wear one." She nudges her nurse's cap to adjust it. "Reson why I'm rarely if ever seen without one." She glances up at Fuka, tentative. "The Game Creator wanted us to wear hats?"

Her biting her lower lip pretty much screams, silently, 'did I get this right?'

    "Hats?" Fuka asks, briefly confused. Not sure what hats have to do with anything but naturally reluctant to dismiss anything her friend speaks of out-of-hand. She listens, considering. Then she smiles and nods her agreement. "Hats! Exactly!" she says enthusiastically. Now, Fuka's not an expert on the subject but she's full of empathy and willingness to see what her friends see, so she's quick to shift her mind into hat mode, so to speak. "That's a strong part of it. Not all of it, but a lot of it!" Fuka agrees. "See, goes back to the days of early online shooters." she explains, partly saying what she believes, partly making things up to fit. "All the figures looked the same, and animation was kind of crappy so the devs couldn't make much customization or like the uniforms would clip through the body and look really terrible. But HATS!" she cheers. "They could make dozens of cool hats, and everyone wanted to stand out, so they all wanted a special hat!"

    It's plausible, Fuka supposes, and she can branch it out from there. "Now, we all have customized clothing of course. Anyone who wants to look special and amazing, well, there you go! I mean, look at our wedding party outfits! There's a lot more options to stand out and look special, not just hats. But hats are the original, the classic. Can't go wrong with great hats!" she claims.

    It's pretty much 100% BS, but who is Fuka to mess with something her friend takes as an article of faith? Besides, it might even be the truth for all Fuka knows.

"Ooooooh." Uta's vocalization is ripe with reverence. She fell for it, hook, line, sinker, pole, fisherman, stool, and a good chunk of the coastline.

"We're -supposed- to stand out?", Uta asks Fuka, with... well, it's probably not entierely clear to the viewer how she feels about it. But as someone who's always ensured that her personal care resulted in proper hygiene and social acceptability, but otherwise did away with all the inessential bells and whistles, Uta is clerly finding a conflict between her previous course of action and what her friend suggests now. "So it's not about hats only? It's about the whole outfit?"

A frown.

"...So, uh, to sum it up... I'm mostly doing everything right already, except-" hesitation. Mental checklist. "Taking real baths, and putting on fashionable outfits?"

Eyebrow quirked. Is it really about -this-?

    Fuka shrugs. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with fashionable outfits." says the girl with no sense of shame. "And there's nothing wrong with your outfits either! The point of that is just to stand out if that's what you want to do."

    Fuka's not about to push that point. Uta's shy, that much is clear. Standing out isn't really her thing, ever. It's much more Fuka's thing and she's not fool enough to think it'd be a good idea to force Uta down that path.

    "I'm not about to suggest you do something just because it marks you as someone who follows some popular trend." Fuka scoffs dismissively. "Your hats are great. Your outfits are hot and stylish, so I see no point in you *trying* to be more fashionable. I understand that if you have to try hard to be fashionable, you're not actually fashionable you're just chasing a trend, but I leave fashion advice to Gwen." she grins, then pads up to Uta, reaching out and up to put a single hand on her shoulder. "What I mean is, all you need is to let yourself live a little bit. Take a hot bath. Enjoy some ice cream or a sweet cake. Get a massa... well, probably not that. Just enjoy yourself when you get the chance! THAT, I think, is what the creators want. To see players having FUN!" she claims.

As it is customary for the Uta, she takes her time to process the batch job of information slid her way. Think. Ponder. Ruminate. Assess and weigh.

"I suppose I -have- been so obsesses with getting things done I kind of have forgotten to slack." She glances down at Fuka's hand on her shoulder, then straight at Fuka. "That's... you see, that's... part of the reason why I failed at academia. I didn't really flunk. The college's infrastructure and records were wiped by Pluto's Kiss. Needless to say, it went bankrupt and had to colose down." Lower voice. "If I had been less of a slacker in high school, I could probably have gone to a better college..."

But this is no time to dwell on the ghosts of the past! It's time to produce fresh ones! "No more!", Uta exclaims, fist clenched, gaze aimed straight at the future with burning shounen determination. "For, starting today, Uta Furore shall be a new Adventurer! And take time to engage in -enjoyment-!", in a way that sounds a lot like "I will work hard at relaxation, and get a good grade in it!"

    Fuka grins affectionately at that. No one could accuse her of being a slacker, not with how hard she works every day at a number of self-improvements and commitments... but no one would ever accuse her of not knowing how to take a break and relax and enjoy herself. The smile fades at Uta's confession however. "Man, that sucks. You do what you're supposed to do, you work hard, and then the world blows up and it's all for nothing!" she states overdramatically. "But that's why I say you have to live! Act now, do the stuff you enjoy! Don't neglect to do what you have to do, but don't neglect the things you WANT to do either!" she advises.

    Oh well, it's probably a wasted effort. Uta is, after all, Uta. Changing her would not be easy, and it's not anything Fuka wants to do either. Help her enjoy herself, sure. Help her be better at what she wants to do. But never to change the person she is at heart! Another person might get a certain sense of dismay at Uta sounding like she's taking the commandment to relax *way* too seriously... but Fuka just smiles fondly. "Working hard at relaxing? That sounds like fun!" she muses. That's like... spending hours playing tennis or something, something Fuka herself does. "Time to have FUN!" she agrees. "You'll be catching garters in your teeth in no time!"

    Because yeah, Fuka has to make it a little weird.

"It was quite the experience," Uta confirms. "Never been the same since." A quick glance to Fuka, then back to look ahead. "Anyway! Back to doing things for fun!" No need to dwell on the past, especially the unpleasant bits. "Fun! Yes! Not because I have to! Like finding that painting! I have committed to find it, so it's now my responsibility to-". Grimace. "Dang it! I'm doing it again!"

"I don't plan to catch garters in my teeth any time soon!", Uta blurts out, as she staggers and almost trips. "In fact- Oh, hey, look," she says.

She turns to look to a painting larger than the ones surrounding it. The subject of the work justify its unusual scale: it's a group picture, depicting, with some artistic liberties, the catching of tossed items; in order to convey a summary of the event, all four catches are depicted simultaneously; June catching the garter in her teeth; Gwen, catching Wake's bouquet; Haru's noodle arms, effortlessly snatching the garter out of thin air. And, finally, Uta aloft in the air, caught in mid-jump, snatching Tae's projectile bouquet with her ridiculous feat of athleticism.

And yes. Fukaziroh is down there, failing to reach a decent height.

"....Well, seems like we found it, finally!" Uta exclaims, with a sigh of relief. "Our search is over!"

And she stands there, silent, to observe the artwork.

    Fuka looks somewhat puzzled at Uta's confirmation, before cluing in to what she must mean about 'quite the experience'. She nods. "Tell me about it. It was my birthday." she notes, roundly annoyed at that happenstance. Not something she's forgotten, certainly, and in fact quite a shaping event from her past. She doesn't mind the reminder of it, but neither is it something she enjoys dwelling on.

    When Uta finds the painting, Fuka nods in satisfaction. "The treasure hunt is a success!" she claims, though she did little but tag along and make things weird. Weirder, at least. She studies the picture. "Huh. They could've made it look like I was jumping a LITTLE higher, couldn't they? Aunt Elly's going to think I wasn't enthusiastically participating in a silly ritual that means a lot to her!" she claims, and is that a hint of sarcasm in her tone of voice?

Uta politely nods, and offers an expression of empathy at Fuka's mention of Pluto's Kiss happening on her birthday. No need to dwell on this right now. The future will provide be better suited moments for that.

"I'm pretty sure Wake won't judge you based on a picture!", Uta reassures Fuka, before concentrating back on the artwork. "I... I suppose it's some artistic... composition... rule?", she offers. "You know, like they inaccurately represented all four catchers at once, instead of as separate moments in time? Symbolic, semantic, semeiotic, instead of mere... ah... literal chronicling?" She doesn't sound completely sure. "I used to be able to do some basic painting composition analysis, back in the day, but given how rules have changed in this world, and how I don't have the Artisany skill..." Silence. Rub chin. Look at painting. "So, that's Gwen, that's June, That's Haru..." A finger follows the corresponding figure as she mentions it. "...which means..."

A frown at the fourth figure, intercepting the ultrasonic bouquet. "...That's... me?"

    "My dress, not to mention my corset, was WAY TOO TIGHT to jump!" Fuka claims, insincerely, as if trying out her excuse in advance. Not even extreme corsetry prevents mobility, though a tight dress might. It's mostly hips and knees where restrictions prevent jumping, not ribs. "Alas, the sacrifices we make to look awesome~" she muses, humming cheerfully.

    She examines the painting, taking in the details as Uta describes them, and searching out her own understanding as well. She's not good at art, but she's also not reluctant to offer an opinion about... well, about anything really. "Tae's got a great throwing arm huh?" she muses, deciding at the last moment to distract away from Uta's distress. "And yeah, that's you! In all your symbolic, semantec, semi-idiotic glory!" she teases. Well, probably teases. She couldn't just have gotten that last word wrong due to language difficulties. Then again she DOES often come up with the wrong word. For comic effect, typically.

"You should work that into your training regime," Uta begins to ramble, absent mindedly. "Standing on a rocking boat or being drunk are far from ideal conditions for fighting, and yet, specific techniques have been developed based on those circumstances." Looking directly at Fuka, she continues, "Maybe you could develop a martial art style unique to yourself, based specifically on dresses and corsets? That'd probably be as deceptive as the other two. Nobody would expect you to pack so much violence, and yet, you would!" She rubs her chin. "Clearly, an advantage over any other opponent."

Once she's done veering off into Godhand shop talk, she nods at Fuka. "Tae's Ranged skills are phenomenal." There it is. More Godhand shop talk. "I'll have to ask her to teach me how to do that. That's like the illegitimate child of 'Flower Cut' and 'Throw Coin', but on steroids!"

Uta bursts into laughter at Fuka. "I guess that's an apt description, yes."

She lingers on the picture a little longer, then spins on one heel, apparently without any reaction to Fuka's 'semi-idiotic' comment. "There we go. A checkbox on the to-do list. I guess we are free to leave now," she says, as she begins to walk away. "Next item on the list, get you some training exercise for elevation." She looks down at Fuka. "Someone's been skipping leg day a lot, hasn't someone?" Wait -- is that a short joke? In that case, well, there's the reaction!

    Of course Fuka's not bothered by the short joke, any more than she believes Uta's any kind of idiot. Thoroughly distracted at times, sure, but that's more big-brain than anything else! But to not react to it? No, that'd be like not paying attention. "Hey!" she complains. "I'll have you know my legs are EXCELLENT!" she claims. "I'm just packed a lot more densely with awesomeness!" she says, gesturing at herself in an exaggerated, overbroad manner. "And I could train for that sort of thing... maybe, I guess?" she adds, considering and grinning in a manner telegraphing a joke. "Maybe with my wrists bound, or casting with a gag on. Or..." she pauses, looking at Uta. "If this is your way of trying to get me into bondage, you could just ask you know. It's not anything I've tried, but I'll try most things once! Maybe twice!"

Stumbling. Deep reddening. "THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT!", Flails Uta, protesting at length to Fuka's insinuation, her voice Possibly fading lower and lower in volume as the pair walks further down the aisle