third bullet :: video/action

[headedforhope]

[The mirror at first only shows robots marching past, destroying and trampling the Gardens as they go. Really, you might think, why did the Vine even bother? It's not exactly hard to miss the drama going on- no need for this kind of public awareness announcement.

But, see, the Vine sensed something exciting about to happen.]


TIRO FINALE!


[The roar of a single cannon blast; a nigh-blinding burst of light; a massive shot of bright yellow energy shoots into view from somewhere off in the surroundings, obliterating dozens of the robots. Their pieces litter the grass. Then, a small but growing spot of darkness over the busted gears and scraps of metal; the shadow of something falling out of the sky.

Mami gracefully touches down into sight of the mirror, fully transformed and for once not smiling. Unaware that the Vine is recording her, she summons a dozen muskets from thin air with a sweep of her hand. They remain hovering there, by her side, as her cold gaze takes in the damage the robots caused.

It's a very different Mami Tomoe than most in the Gardens know.]

They just won't stop, hmm....? Then neither will I.

Comments

[gentlecuteside]

...you know...until recently, I'd have said that I knew one personally. In fact, I suppose I still do; 'Half-Sentient Curse' is the perfect descriptor for it.

[headedforhope]

[She slows, glancing over her shoulder.]

Is that so?

[gentlecuteside]

Yes...well, I know better now, but-

[She cut off mid-sentence as she felt all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She'd said too much - how could she have been so stupid? Get carried away with the conversation and forget about the rules?]

[She looks up and just as she thought, Nemesis Q is suddenly floating about a meter above her head. Amamiya is too busy freezing up to notice that its hips seem wider, its shoulders narrower, and its chest fuller than usual.]

[headedforhope]

[Mami spins fully around, already moving to summon another musket. There's no gasp of surprise, scream of warning, calling out of Amamiya's name. There's no point- there's no time. It's obvious enough from the other girl's expression that this thing isn't a friend.

Only amateurs waste their breaths.

Mami takes aim and fires.]

[gentlecuteside]

[Nemesis Q doesn't even respond to Mami's attack, but the space between them distorts, and the bullet is harmlessly teleported to the other side of it.]

[It turns its attention to Amamiya, extending one hand towards her. She immediately feels her chest contract painfully, feeling like she just got kicked in the heart by a horse. She falls to one knee with a cry of agony, her hand automatically flying to her chest, grasping uselessly at the pain.]

[headedforhope]

[A bare second of shock, this time, before Mami's pulling out another gun and firing again, stepping forward in the same motion. There's a sharp note of urgency in her tone, because Amamiya's pain is impossible to miss.]

What is this thing-? Miss Sakurako!

[gentlecuteside]

[The shot is once more transported to the other side of it, but Nemesis Q does respond this time: with a deep, resonant sound that vaguely resembled laughter. It looks at Mami, and tilts its head as though it was amused by her.]

[And just as soon as it appeared, it's gone. It had just fired a warning shot, and left. Amamiya slowly got to her feet, still clutching at her chest.]

I'm...fine. Really.

[headedforhope]

[gives you a tight, stern, somewhat exasperated look]

Don't lie. You're anything but fine.

[gentlecuteside]

[The pain is fading now, and Amamiya's grimace gradually turns into a more normal expression.]

I'll be fine in a moment, really. I'm pretty sure that was just a warning.

[headedforhope]

So if you had pressed further, should I assume you'd be dead now?

[gentlecuteside]

Yes. I hope you understand now why I can't explain much about myself.

[headedforhope]

And here I just thought you had a cagey personality.

[a sigh, hand coming up to massage her temples as if to ward off an incoming headache]

I think I would have preferred that. It'd be easier to work around.

[gentlecuteside]

I wish. There's a huge chunk of my life that I simply can't talk about or else that happens.

[headedforhope]

[.....]

I apologize, then, for tempting you into risking your life. I didn't know about that...."security measure".

[She takes the time to curtsy low, once.]

[gentlecuteside]

Don't worry about it. You couldn't have known.

[headedforhope]

Still, the apology stands.

Of course, this information won't be spread around, either.

[gentlecuteside]

I appreciate it. Last thing I need is a bunch of curious busybodies trying to pry open that can of worms.