first vision; [video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

[When the vine turns on, it's pretty obvious that the teenage girl in front of it didn't mean to turn it on. She's pacing back and forth, muttering to herself. Her long ivory hair is gathered in one ponytail to the side of her head, and it swings as she moves.]

Was it Kyubey? It's possible, but...

[She stops, having caught a glance of the vine pointed to her. She bends down in front of it to get a better look.]

This is the communication device, then?

To whomever this is broadcasting: If someone could tell me more about this place, I would be very grateful. And if anyone has seen a girl with dark hair named Kirika, please tell me. She's a very important friend.

[She pauses momentarily, a pensive expression on her face, before saying:]

Akemi Homura, if this is your doing, know that you won't get away with this for long. A petty trick like this will not stop me.

Comments

[video]

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

[Her eyes widen at the mention of someone familiar.]

... You know Homura-san?

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

Somewhat. We've never officially met, but I know of her.

[Oriko's voice sounds a bit annoyed, but her expression is calm.]

You're a friend of hers, I take it?

[video]

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

Oh.

[Her expression looks resolved.]

Yes, I am a friend of hers. She isn't behind any of this; the Queen of Hearts is.

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

The one who "invited" us here?

[Oriko smirks a little at that. Really, this queen is quite troublesome if she truly exists.]

Have you seen her for yourself? What was she like?

[video]

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, on both parts... She's sort of out of it and thinks that what she's doing is in everyone best interests.

She's very selfish.

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

A selfish dreamer, then? Such power in the hands of such a person can only mean trouble.

[Her smirk softens into a kind smile.]

Excuse me. My manners seem to have abandoned me for a moment. My name is Oriko Mikuni; thank you for the information.

[video]

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

... Yes, that is true.

[She perks up at the manners because yes polite person, though a part of is still wary because of the comment about Homura-san.]

Oh, you're very welcome! It's nice to meet you, Mikuni-san. My name is Hikari Horaki.

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

Power in the wrong hands can always go awry, after all. And I would say it's gone that way now, if she's kidnapping people.

[Oriko continues to smile, but it has a slightly sad twist to it as she says this.]

Horaki-san, it's a pleasure to meet you, as well.

[video]

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

It definitely has. She doesn't intend on sending any of us home on purpose at all, which is awful.

[Still a little suspicious, and also, if she knows Homura-san...]

... Do you have magic, Mikuni-san?

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

Is that what she says? Hmm, that won't do. We'll have to find a way to convince her.

[Oriko's smile stiffens only slightly, and she gives a sigh of resignation.]

Akemi-san hasn't been keeping that a secret, after all. I suppose there's not much point in a place so full of magic as this.

Yes, Horaki-san, I have magic.

[video]

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

Mm, yes, but we haven't found one yet.

[Hikari nods with a decidedly neutral expression on her face, taking this in.]

It's not like she told me when I first met her. The Vine was open without her knowing.

Mikuni-san, why did you suspect Homura-san of being behind this?... If it's okay for me to ask.

[video]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

... What do you want with Homura? And why are you accusing her of something completely ridiculous like this?

[Priorities. Whoever this was mentioned Kyuubey, so what they are is pretty easy to guess, but the last thing they said was more important.]

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

She's the only one I know with the power to change paths like this. It's only a logical conclusion.

[Well, only if you complete ignoring the part where she's Oriko's enemy even if they haven't met yet.]

[video]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

Change paths? Look, I can only guess what you mean by that, but this is a bit different than a changing path. This is more along the lines of being plucked off the path and dropped in a cage.

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

We can't leave, then. I had gathered as much, but...

[Oriko's expression remains calm, but she looks a little less sure of her conclusion at that. She tries for a slightly sheepish smile.]

My apologies. I didn't mean to offend Akemi-san or her friends. I have not met her in person, so I made a wrong assumption.

[video]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

That's pretty weird, isn't it? You haven't even met her and you said all that?

[A fool she may be, she's not dumb enough to not see something's off about this.]

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

[She sighs a bit, touching the ring on her hand in a (fake) nervous gesture.]

Would you believe magic exists in our world, Miki Sayaka-san?

[She purposefully uses the girl's name, knowing that it will provoke a reaction.]

[video]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[Probably not the sort of reaction as expected, as it is only a harder look in her eyes. Sayaka in some way expected that her name would be known somehow, after what was said about Homura. But she doesn't know how... probably Kyuubey, the bastard ferret thing.]

Sure, what girl doesn't? Would probably explain how you know my name. Are you going to introduce yourself as a witch?

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

Of course not. I'm a magical girl. Witches are something altogether different.

[She smiles again, trying to project an air of trustworthiness.]

My power lets me see the future; that's why I know about Akemi-san's power and your name.

[video]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

Isn't that the same thing? Witches are girls with magic, aren't they? Pretty sure there's a bunch of those here already.

[This playing dumb thing was harder than she ever thought it would be...]

See the future? So does that mean you can see who would win a race and get rich off of it?

[video]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

Witches in our world are different. They're not human.

[Her face falls slightly. Now, that is some genuine sadness there. She shakes her head at the question.]

My ability doesn't show me small things like that. It shows me visions of cities being destroyed; people dying. The events I must prevent from happening.

[video]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

Are they aliens? Or a biological creature made from a secret group of scientists?

[Thank you, cheesy movies.]

... So what does that have to do with Homura and me?

[ video ]

[sexy-beams.livejournal.com]

'Important friend', eh, eh?

[ video ]

[magicalvellian.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's right. Is there something wrong with what I said?

[ video ]

[sexy-beams.livejournal.com]

Words like that have a lotta weight around here. You'll find out♥