second.

[getawaywith]

[ action ]

[It's surprisingly easy for an innocent housewife to find a weapon. She's expected to prepare dinner for her dear family, isn't she? Up her sleeve goes a long sharp steak knife, where it's safely secured with string and tape. Then she sets out into the town

Comments

[praystosandwich]

Well, uh, it's kinda because of the whole pilgrim thing.

That's a good thing to be thankful about, though.

[getawaywith]

Oh, you mean the people who settled this country. I wonder if they ever imagined something like Mayfield?

[praystosandwich]

I hope not. This place is pretty creepy, you know? Why would anyone want some place like this?

[getawaywith]

Somebody must, or it wouldn't be here. Don't you agree?

action

[getawaywith]

[By the time Shizuru returns, she's carefully erased the vacant look from her eyes and is simply smiling.]

Thank you, Hisui--

--but there's no need, you know. You're not really my maid, are you?

action

[getawaywith]

[And Shizuru just looks...thoughtful. After a moment, she smiles.]

Then I don't have a problem with it. You should be whatever makes you comfortable, isn't that right?

[After all, she knows what it's like. To feel better hiding under a mask.]

{action}

[onlythesong]

[That house makes her uneasy, so Mashiro's been spending a lot of time out of doors. Today she's sitting idly in the park on a swing after school. She hates not having something to occupy her time.]

{action}

[getawaywith]

[As far as things to be uneasy about go, Mashiro's day is about to get a lot worse. Because now Shizuru is approaching her, smiling. But her eyes are just slightly vacant, like a drone's.]

Queen Mashiro. Isn't that it, in your new game?

{action}

[onlythesong]

[way to give Mashiro the creeps]

Meister Viola. I'm not playing any games.

{action}

[getawaywith]

[It's hard to beat Shizuru at giving of the creeps.]

So you say. Isn't the Festival itself a game, after all?

I've let it go on this far because I've been able to keep Natsuki safe. You must have figured that out by now.

[How much else has the Headmistress figured out? No, she can't think about that. Just think of Natsuki, and how to bring her back to her rightful state.]

But letting you tamper with her mind...it just won't do.

action LIKE A BOSS

[kinpika]

[Stoop Gil won't leave his stoop.

AKA

He's eyeing Natsuki as she goes by. It's good to be king.]

action

[getawaywith]

[Shizuru very nearly passes right by Gilgamesh. After all, he's just sitting there on his stoop. Probably not a threat, at least not to Natsuki.

But he has this look about him as if he knows what he's doing, or at least thinks he does. Right now Shizuru needs to talk to people like that. So she stops, turns, makes her way up his walkway, and bows politely to him.]

Good afternoon.

action

[kinpika]

[Oh...she bows...a little. Still. Exempted from mongrel status until the next transgression.]

Having a pleasant day, woman?

action

[getawaywith]

[That's not exactly a mode of address Shizuru is used to, or one she likes. But she's good at pretending to like things she doesn't really, and pretending not to like things that she does. So she smiles.]

Not as pleasant as it could be, I'm afraid. You see, I'm new here.

[rapier_ex]

If that's all we have to be thankful for, then it's all the more reason to cherish and fight for it.

[getawaywith]

Can you think of anything else...?

Some of us also have our friends.

[rapier_ex]

Of course. And any other number of reasons. But it all amounts to the same goal, if you think about it.

[getawaywith]

And what would that goal be? You'll have to tell me. I couldn't begin to guess...