unplanned landing

[characterquarry]

She's at the lead of a formation of six Witches, flying her metal not-quite-a-broom out on a routine patrol. She carries her bow, sword, quiver of arrows, four loaded flintlock pistols, two pot-bombs. The usual loadout.

What she finds is not any alien invader she's familiar with. It's a flying snake with a mirror for a head.

"Pull up! It's faster than us, so use formation wagon-wheel!" Bows come out, and arrows fly at it, but they bounce uselessly off its mirror-head and scales. After a few minutes of this she charges in, drops one of her pot-bombs on it at point blank range, then pulls a roll to dodge as it charges past, but not fast enough-

And she's somewhere else entirely.

Comments

[characterquarry]

"Fair enough. But most people not knowing about magic sounds to me like most of the world not realizing chemistry is a thing." She shakes her head. "Whatever. I've got stuff to read, I'll drop it."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Do you want to read here or should I check them out for you?" Jaromira asks.

[characterquarry]

"May as well check them out."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Okay." She takes the pile of books and her student ID card and goes and checks them out. She comes back and hands them back to her. "And now I'm going to go write a message for my brother about this whole incident."

[characterquarry]

"I may have need of less conspicuous clothes... And washing these with magic is a waste of mana. Do let me know if I can help you with something in return. Especially if it involves flying somewhere or fighting something."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"I can loan you some clothes," Daphne offers. "And show you where the laundry machines are. Given the way our lives work, I'm sure flight or fighting will be useful sooner or later."

[characterquarry]

She follows, still looking like a cosplayer for now.

[maggie_of_the_owls]

People mostly don't look at her oddly for it! And then all three of them get back to Daphne and Jaromira's room.

"Do you want to shower before changing?" Daphne asks, making a beeline for her dresser. "And do you have any sartorial preferences in particular, I don't have a fantastic amount of variety but I have some."

[characterquarry]

"Shower. Like... A rain-shower as a bath? That sounds nice. Mm. If I'm not wearing a uniform, I think I'd like things that blend in and are easy to move in."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Okay, do you wear denim a lot where you're from?"

[characterquarry]

"I've never heard of denim. So no."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"I think jeans aren't that comfy if you're not used to wearing them, so..." she pulls out a forest green long-sleeved long-waisted shirt and a pair of black leggings. "These should be good."

[characterquarry]

"Yes, that should be fine. No dozens of curly ribbons and annoying delicate bits of lace to deal with, as is the popular fashion back home. I think I'll keep my own boots and underthings for now, though."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Of course," Daphne agrees. "If you had wanted curly ribbons and delicate bits of lace, I would have referred you back to Jaromira."

[characterquarry]

"I only wear anything harder to get on than my boots if someone else will help me in and out of it. Witches are so rare, and the only advantage we have over the Neuroi, so our time is considered wasted if we so much as cook our own food or dress ourselves. I'll pull my weight here, though, don't worry. You might need to show me how the shower works, by the way."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Okay," she says, stepping into the bathroom. "You get water by pulling this knob out, and adjust the temperature by turning it left or right," she says, gesturing to the shower stall.

[characterquarry]

She tries it out, locates the soap. "I think I get it. Does this door lock?"

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"The shower doesn't, the bathroom door does."

[characterquarry]

"Very good." And she sets down the borrowed clothes on a counter and starts undoing her boot-laces.

[maggie_of_the_owls]

Daphne leaves and closes the door behind her.

[characterquarry]

The door locks, the shower runs.


For a long time.


Eventually, Annette emerges from the bathroom slightly damp and dressed in borrowed clothes. "Sorry for taking so long, I haven't had a good bath in weeks. But that was almost as good as a hot-spring."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"It's fine," Jaromira says. "I've contacted my brother, but I wouldn't expect an answer before tomorrow morning--he doesn't keep diurnal hours."

[characterquarry]

"No problem. I'm used to strange schedules, I've had night patrols. I'll read engineering 'till then, I suppose. You need not keep me company if you don't want to."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Did it not get mentioned that we're vampires? Well, if it didn't, we're vampires. Vampires are nocturnal by nature."

[characterquarry]

"It got implied that you were nonhumans of some variety. I am obliged by cliché to make a brash statement to the effect that if you try to eat me you'll regret it. I'm fairly sure this is unnecessary, but one must bow to the clichés once in a while, so please don't take it personally."