1 º a shot in the dark

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

[ Amongst the stars, you see a girl dressed fancily, making odd movements; is she dancing? With one foot planted firmly, she draws the other around her in a circle, fluffing the hem of her dress; a seemingly meaningless action until muskets fall out of her dress as if there's hammerspace up there. She picks them up-- making sure there is no one in her line of fire, and fires.

Then picks up another, and fires in another direction.

Repeat a few times. With each firing, she pauses to listen for the ricochet, a soft 'ting' in the distance to know her firing met metal. She tosses the guns to the side, and-- ]

Aah, my apologies. Did I startle you? I was merely reassuring myself I wasn't in another Witch's labyrinth.

[ She bows her head and smiles sweetly. ] I was told there were pamphlets. Am I wrong?

[ All as natural as one can be. ]

Comments

[ex_oneiromancer912]

[Morgana has ducked and covered her ears with her hand. Whatever those strange... blasting devices are, they are loud.] You might have killed someone with those!

[She assumes. She isn't completely certain, because she isn't completely certain what they are.]

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

My apologies-- I made certain no one was in the line of fire. One can never be too sure when you go from one dangerous place to a potentially dangerous one as well.

... You're not a witch's minion. [ Her rifle's vanish. ] Of course you aren't-- so I'm not in a Labyrinth at all.

[ex_oneiromancer912]

N-no. It isn't. [She is still a little hesitant.] The name for it is 'the Astral Plane.' [Cautiously, she steps closer to Mami. She looks like she is just a child.] Were you in a Labyrinth before?

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

That's correct; the labyrinth was the home of a very dangerous witch... they usually contain such bizarre scenery that this wouldn't look out of place for one.

[ex_oneiromancer912]

But you are only a child. Surely you should not be sent out to the domains of witches.

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

I'm fifteen, ma'am. And I'm very capable of handling myself, I assure you.

[ex_oneiromancer912]

[She frowns, but...] Someone put on paper an explanation of this place.

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

I'll be glad to read it.

[ex_oneiromancer912]

Would you like me to accompany you there? The place should be that way. [She gestures with a hand.]

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

I would be very grateful.

[ A pause-- ] How rude of me, not to introduce myself. I'm Tomoe Mami.

[ex_oneiromancer912]

[She smiles.] My name is Morgana. If there is ever anything I can do to help you here, do not hesitate to ask. [She begins to walk to the kiosk.]

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Marta is staring at the young girl, wide-eyed and quite startled.]

Is that the only way to tell if you're in a labyrinth? Because that's really loud!

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Labyrinths are confusing for that very reason. That, and the chance of danger...

[ A pause. ]

I'm very sorry if I startled you, though.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

It's okay. If you needed to do it to make sure you're not in danger, then I understand. [Firm nod!]

I'm Marta Lualdi. And yes, there are brochures! They're over at that information stand over there. [She points.]

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, Miss Marta. And thank you for understanding as well-- It was a rather jarring transition for me, even with my experience.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

What kind of experience? I mean, if you don't mind me asking...

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Hunting witches.

[ She says it plain as day. ]

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Hunting witches? [headtilt] They're dangerous?

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Witches are born from curses-- their danger to the world is immeasurable.

[ a pause ] Am I saying too much?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Oh. Then, in your world, witches hurt other people?

[She shakes her head.] No, not at all! I mean, unless you're not supposed to tell anyone about them if they're not from your world.

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

It's generally such a secret. Lately, though...

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[That sounds worrying.]

Are you in trouble, miss...? [She never got her name, did she? Oops.]

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Mami. Please, call me that.

And I was, but... not anymore.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She smiles.]

That's a good thing! Right?

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Ahh, you could very well call it trouble! But because someone joined me, it no longer felt that way.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

Well, as long as you're okay... right?

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Right. I'm better than okay, now. [ There's a bounce in her voice. ]

[ravenchaser.livejournal.com]

Not really.

[Gin doesn't bother looking her way, still smoking his cigarette.]

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Ah! That's a relief, then.

I take it this isn't a witch's labyrinth at all, then?

[destinedking.livejournal.com]

[Arthur is curious about that gun and her movements]

Is that a sword of some sort?

[science is weird here, maybe someone invented some sort of thunder sword...or a boom stick]

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

A musket, actually! Did I startle you?

[destinedking.livejournal.com]

No, of course not. I just -

[he approaches, his focus on her musket]

And this musket, it's used to fight witches?

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

Yes-- and it is very effective, as well.

I must admit, I'm startled to meet someone who doesn't know what one is.

[notameliajones.livejournal.com]

[THUD.

That was the noise of Matti feinting. Well done.]

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

... oh dear.

[ And Mami walks over, kneeling to put a hand on her forehead. ]

[notameliajones.livejournal.com]

[She's out cold, nothing major. Conidering it's her, she'll be okay in 5... 4... 3... 2...]

A-ah...!! S-sorry..!! [She pops up, laughing out of pure fear.] I-I didn't mean to... e-er... s-startle you... w-well... i-if I did.... o-or....

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

It's me who should apologize for startling you. Are you sure you're all right?

[notameliajones.livejournal.com]

[She sighs and pauses before calming down.] Y-yeah... I-I'm fine... J-just... i-it's been a while since I heard gunshots...

[headingoff.livejournal.com]

It was only a test. I promise, miss.