4th Analysis/ accidental video

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

[Two girls are seen shuffling around the spacious kitchen at Iwatodai dorm. Both of them have aprons on, though the slight girl with blue hair's is a little dirtier. At their feet is a a white Shiba and he looks quite happy to be there snagging nibbles of whatever the girls are working on. The brunette is busy rolling dough on the opposite counter when Fuuka glances back at her.]

Are we ready for the cookie cutters?

[Sure enough, Minako nods before she reaches back for the offered cookie cutter. Before Fuuka can say much, she moves to let the other girl closer to the counter.]

Come on. I wanna show you how to roll the dough, and no arguing. I know you'll be great at it.

[Fuuka moves back to Minako's side after a short moment of hesitation.]

Mm, okay. I'll grab some more flour.

[The white dog settles at their feet, obviously hoping for Fuuka to drop another bit of cookie dough. It didn't matter to him if she dropped it or if Minako handed him down bites here and there, but Fuuka was currently his favorite. Minako stepped off to the side to give Fuuka plenty of room to work on rolling out another round of dough.]

I think Koro-chan's gonna gain weight this holiday... oh, be careful! Don't use too much!

[By now, the color of Fuuka's apron is almost gone, barring the little patches of pink left untouched by flour. She's holding flour pinched in her hands, and she stops still at Minako's warning.]

H-How much am I supposed to be using?

[Minako's hair is a little lighter now, thanks to the flour shower, and she manages to muffle a soft cough, but there's no mistaking the smile on her face. For her, it's something familiar in unfamiliar times. Chuckling, she reaches over to pat some of the excess flour on the dough. From just off camera is a soft doggy sneeze.]

You did just fine! Just... maybe a little less next time. You use enough to keep the roller from sticking to the dough.

[Fuuka reaches for said rolling pin, looking over at Minako as if for guidance. Minako offers a smile for encouragement. Bolstered by the brunette's encouragement, she starts rolling the dough.]

Just...roll it like this?

[She takes a moment to watch Fuuka with the rolling pin before leaning against the counter, her elbow burrowing into a small pile of flour as she murmurs more encouragement.]

You know, these cookies are going to be awesome. We can't let Junpei find them, or else no one else will even get to try one! Mitsuru-senpai might execute him for that.

[Fuuka giggles a little, a cheerful glimmer coming onto her face. She doesn't pause in her now-confident rolling.]

That reminds me;  we could probably make some batches for all our friends at school.  What do you think?

[Minako pauses, her head tilted and lips pursed a tiny bit before she nods, smiling once again before she rolls up a tiny ball of loose dough to pass down to Koromaru.]

I think that's a great idea, Fuuka! Everyone loves Christmas cookies!

[Fuuka pauses, looking down at the table as if calculating something. Sighing lightly, she looks back up at Minako.]

How many people do you think we'll be taking cookies to? We should probably figure that out if we want to know how many more batches we need to make...

[A finger taps lightly on the counter, brow furrowed slightly in concentration.]

I know I'll be sending some to Natsuki-chan, and I'll be taking some to school for Keisuke-kun, some more members of the photography club, and Ryoji-kun. What about you? [She looks at Minako expectantly, before she gasps at the realization of the name she allowed to pass from her lips.] Oh! I-I'm sorry...

[For a moment, Minako's face shows the conflict in her spirit but the look of sadness passes quickly. Humming a little, she brings a smile to her lips before she leans in to give Fuuka a quick, floury hug.]

Mm. It's alright. I think he would've loved the cookies, but I'm not really thinking about that. Maybe we should do an extra batch for Junpei. What do you think about taking some to Naoto-san's party? 

[A small sigh is heard, followed by a soft whimper from Koromaru. The apology and sick discomfort is still seen in Fuuka's expression, which she weakly laughs off.]

That's a great idea. Well, both of your suggestions are. Though, Junpei probably needs about....I'd say, two. Is Itsuki-san coming to Shirogane-san's party?

[The questions earns Fuuka a quick blink, and there's not enough flour on Minako's face to hide the blush that colors her cheeks. Clearing her throat, Minako glances down at the dog at their feet, who's busy wagging his tail as if to ask the same thing.]

He is, as well as lot of other people. All sorts of people.

[Koromaru's head snaps around as he barks, attracting the attention of both girls.]

What is it, Koro-chan?

[The white dog rushes at a barstool, the image teetering and going black as a short burst of static is heard before the video feed cuts off.]

Comments

[philoxidizes]

Homemade cookies, hmm?

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

Mm, yes! Would you like some?

[philoxidizes]

It happens, from time to time. Luckily it was only something innocuous.

I'm happy to be included in the list. Cooking is a hobby of yours, isn't it?

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

I've noticed...This broadcast isn't half as embarrassing or revealing as a few I've seen...

Yes, it is. I've gotten a lot better at it, especially with Minako-chan's help.

[philoxidizes]

I'm sure you've far surpassed me by now. Some days I still burn microwave meals.

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should ask Minako-chan to help you with your cooking. She's a very good teacher.

[philoxidizes]

I'm not surprised that she is. Do you two cook together often?

[ locked ]

Actually, while we're in conversation already, there was something about your Persona I wanted to ask.

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

About once a week or so. We can work in both the home-economics room and the dorm's kitchen, so it's always very convenient. Would you like to come over sometimes? I'm sure someone could arrange a world-hop...

[locked]

You would? O-Okay then...I'd be happy to answer any questions.

[philoxidizes]

If you wouldn't mind having a hanger-on, I think I'd enjoy that.

[ locked ]

Thank you. There's something specific I'm trying to work out, you see... people with ESP-related powers seem to be getting certain premonitions. Do you know if your Persona allows you to sense anything unrelated to Shadows?

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

That would be great! I'll let Minako-chan know, if you'd like. I'm sure she'd be really happy to have you over.

[locked]

I sometimes pick up the feelings of the people around me, or I just "know" something before anyone else does. And sometimes, I get just sounds...and it's always the same thing I hear. It's always very quiet, though, so it's almost like it's not there. If I may ask, what sort of premonitions?

[philoxidizes]

Quite possibly. Was she blushing, or did I imagine that?

[ locked ]

They're related to the Doctor. I'm not sure if you've ever spoken to him... he seems to be going through some difficulties currently, so isn't paying much attention to the community. But this sound... how would you describe it?

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

I don't think you were imagining it, Itsuki-san. She really cares for you.

[locked]

The Doctor? I've only heard of him in passing, who is he, exactly? And, it's a little like a repeating, four-beat cadence. And it's always so faint, so it's hard to describe in any deeper detail. I'm very sorry about that...

[philoxidizes]

She's going to be embarrassed when she sees this, isn't she.

[ locked ]

He's a nine-hundred year old alien who travels around space and time in a phone booth that's bigger on the inside and requires more suspension of disbelief than nearly any other member here. And as for the beat...

[ he turns on the computer's microphone for a moment, and taps his finger on the desk. tap tap tap TAP. tap tap tap TAP. ]

Is it anything like that?

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

Oh, very. I won't hear the end of it, and neither will anyone else in the dorm.

[locked]

R-Really? Is that true?! [She pauses, reminding herself what community she is on.] Yes! It sounds like that!

If I may ask, what connection does this beat have to this...Doctor?

[philoxidizes]

Hopefully my cookie privileges won't be revoked.

[ locked ]

To be honest, that's what I'm not entirely sure about. There was a prophecy made, to the doctor... "he will knock four times". I'm sure it's not a coincidence that there are four beats, but at the same time, I'm not sure what it could possibly signify in terms of an actual concrete event.

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think they will. I'll be bringing some for you, as well, so you'll be getting quite a lot.

[locked]

Is there anyone else on the community that the Doctor knows personally? From...his universe, per se?

[philoxidizes]

I'll say farewell to my svelte figure while I have the chance, then.

[ locked ]

A few. I've spoken to someone called Jack Harkness about the situation, but it seems like the man causing these beats to be transmitted the first time he encountered them has since died. So barring incidents involving complicated time travel that I'm not sure is allowed, I seem to be back at square one.

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

[She giggles a little.] I don't think you'll be getting that many cookies. Staying on the subject of food, do you want to talk to Minako-chan about a day when you can come cook with us?

[locked]

But...can't people come back from the dead? I've never seem it firsthand, just in manga and tv shows, but I suppose it could happen. I mean, if this community can exist, then anything could be possible.

[philoxidizes]

You never know. The holidays are a dangerous time for food. As for visiting, I'd be glad to. I don't have many schedule constraints, so it would depend on when you two are free.

[ locked ]

Mmm... you have a point. I've seen it happen, as a matter of fact. In most cases, though, I'd hesitate to put it at the top of the list of possibilities-- but at the same time, we can't rule it out.

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

D-Dangerous? I'll talk to Minako-chan sometime, then.

[locked]

Do you know anymore about this prophecy "he will knock four times?" I'd really like to know how it was meant to be taken....if it is a threat or a warning of danger.

[ locked ]

[philoxidizes]

If I had to say, I would count it as a warning. When I heard it, it came from a woman with slight psychic abilities that we happened to meet-- the full statement contained both "Your song is ending" and "he will knock four times". She sounded worried, besides. I'm afraid the prophecy didn't have the decency to include any concrete details, however.

[ locked ]

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

Erm, you said before that the man sending out the beats had died...do you know any more about him?

[ locked ]

[philoxidizes]

He's the same sort of being as the Doctor himself-- he called himself "the Master", which should tell you a little about the essential difference between the two. He was on the community himself, back when I first joined, but after he left I'm not sure what happened to him... and there aren't very many members who have been here long enough to remember.

[ locked ]

[she-who-warns.livejournal.com]

Do you know anything about the kind of being the Doctor is...you said he's an alien, right?

[ locked ]

[philoxidizes]

He's a being known as a Time Lord. While he seems to require a transport to travel through time and space, I believe him to be somehow attuned to the flow of time-- he can tell which events have to happen the same way and which can safely be changed, if there's something wrong with the flow of time, that sort of thing. As far as I know, he's also the last of the Time Lords-- for what reason, I don't know. He's not the sort of person who talks about his past.