second bullet :: video/action

[headedforhope]

[After the events of this thread, Mami can be found in the Gardens. She's become very....popular with the local wildlife; there's a fox snuggling in her lap, rabbits nestling contentedly by her feet, a quail perching on her knee and a cat nuzzling her arm.

For awhile, Mami silently preoccupies herself with petting all her animal admirers. For awhile, she focuses on them and not what occurred inside the Labyrinth, not the lurking idea that everything she saw was a horrible illusion. (She deserves for it all to have been real, so that cannot be. Never mind the sudden vanishing of all those bloodstains....) Then she reaches out to a nearby Vine, speaking to it, and the plant obliges her with a mirror shrouded in leafy boughs.

She's very tired, but still smiling- although the expression itself seems...a little less there, a little more whittled down. To those who might notice that sort of thing, anyway.]

I don't suppose this kind of behavior is normal for these creatures? Not that I mean to fuss- this is rather nice. I never had a pet before, or anything similar.

[a pause to scritch the cat, who has by now become quite persistent, behind the ears]

.....However, that's not important right now. I don't know if I was able to save the Queen. Please, has anyone heard from Miss Harlaown or her daughter, Vivio? They went into the Labyrinth with me and I've yet to hear from them.

I can only hope they're safe.

Comments

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[thewisechoice.livejournal.com]

So you went to save the Queen?

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[headedforhope]

I tried to, yes.

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[thewisechoice.livejournal.com]

That's probably more important in this case.

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[headedforhope]

I just couldn't very well leave her down there without doing my best to help.

Maybe it was a wasted effort, though.

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[thunder-ace.livejournal.com]

[Fate saw the video, but doesn't respond to it. She's been worried about the younger blond ever since she and Vivio were deposited back outside of the Labyrinth, and speaking over the Vine isn't enough for her right now.

So she takes to the air, trying to track the other girl down. The good thing about the fighting earlier is that she now has an idea of what Mami's magical signature is like, so it makes finding her pretty easy, even if their magic doesn't seem similar at all.

After a few moments of searching, Fate finally spots her, and lands several feet away. The worry is very clear on her face as she approaches.]

Mami...

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[headedforhope]

[She doesn't seem perturbed at all by the older woman's arrival. After a nod and a smile in Fate's direction, Mami resumes stroking the various animals curled against her.

As if nothing at all was wrong.]

It's good to see you, Miss Harlaown- I had been worried! Is your daughter also all right?

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[thunder-ace.livejournal.com]

[... It's heartbreaking. Fate knows this is all an act, and to see this poor girl pretending she was okay when she very clearly was not the last time Fate saw her...

She couldn't stop herself. She walked straight to Mami's side, kneels down, and - ignoring the animals clustered on and around her - pulled her into a tight hug.]

I'm sorry...

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[headedforhope]

[She tenses. The smile remains.]

...Ah, no, I'm the one who should be apologizing. That was a very disgraceful thing you had to see.

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

The animals seem to like you, Mami-san.

... Vivio-san? She went into the Labryinth?

[headedforhope]

They do indeed! Heaven knows why, though. [However, she can hazard a guess.]

And yes, unfortunately. I didn't plan on it, of course- she must have snuck in after her mother.

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

It's kind of amazing, really.

[Hikari looks really worried.] I hope she's alright. I know she's strong, but still... Let me know if you hear from her, if that's alright?

[headedforhope]

Maybe it'll prove useful....although it's hard to imagine eating any of them.

[oops stepford smile]

Yes, of course I will. But let's try to be optimistic; she was with Miss Harlaown the last time I saw her, so it's not as if she's alone. They both seemed....well-equipped to handle any trouble.

[well, that's something of a lie- Mami's well aware that she can't know for sure.]

[video]

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

I think they like you!

They probably just arrived somewhere else if they were with you.

[video]

[headedforhope]

[Just nods and pets the fox. The quail flutters a bit and hops to her other knee.]

Oh, I see! Thank you, that's reassuring to hear. I couldn't bear it if they were still in the Labyrinth.

[video]

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

So, what did you find?

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[shanghaiworld.livejournal.com]

Did something happen in there for you to become estranged from each other?

[Don't mind Alice, she's just leaning in to get a closer look at your mass of animals while waiting for an answer.]

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[headedforhope]

[She doesn't say anything for a few moments, petting the cat again. Her voice is calm when she speaks- but just a little...what? Cold? Who knows.]

Well, I met the Queen! But Miss Harlaown and her daughter didn't get to come with me.

[A few more rabbits come hopping out of the nearby scenery to cuddle up next to their brethren at Mami's feet.]

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[shanghaiworld.livejournal.com]

[Alice felt that the answer given was lacking, in a way. Not enough information. She knew she had to press for more, now she just had to think about how she should go about that.]

Do you mean they did not meet the Queen along with you? Or something else?

[peachhat.livejournal.com]

Wow, you're as good with animals as I am.

...Haven't seen em, no. Sorry.

[Tenshi originally wanted to mock the animal situation, but even she can tell the mood enough to spot that it wouldn't go anywhere.]

[headedforhope]

It seems to be a recent thing.

And thank you, regardless. Perhaps no news is good news, in this case.

[peachhat.livejournal.com]

....So, something happened? You seem distraught. Even I can see that.

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[hentanuki.livejournal.com]

Hey, Mami.

Knew you were a good girl the second I laid, uh.

[ Hands? ]

Eyes on you! Thanks for helpin' out my subordinate and friend in there.

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[headedforhope]

[oh it's you]

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[headedforhope]

[I mean what]

Mm? Oh, no, please think nothing of it! I was only doing what I thought was best.

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[hentanuki.livejournal.com]

Don't be so humble. Not that I'm one t'talk, but you should accept praise.

...And don't go thinkin' you don't deserve it.