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]

"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."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Don't worry, I won't. I partake of consenting donors only, cross my heart."

[characterquarry]

"If you want me to clear out of the room, just point me to somewhere I can read. In the meantime..." She opens The Industrial Revolution: A Summary.

[maggie_of_the_owls]

After a little while, Jaromira leaves (Daphne not having been in the room when she got out of the shower). Daphne returns a few hours later and pokes her head in. "Do you want to get supper?"

[characterquarry]

She sets down her current book. "Sure, thanks. I'll feel a lot less awkward when I can actually pay for my rations, but I won't turn down free food."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Jaromira can afford to feed you for a while. Don't worry about it too much," Daphne says, waiting for Major Gepard to leave the room so she can lock the door.

[characterquarry]

"I imagine I'll have more permanent accommodations sooner or later and it would be a waste of effort to get me a spare key to that room. It's not a big deal, anyway. Where am I gonna eat? Dining hall again? The dining hall was nice but I admit I'm a bit curious what your restaurants are like."

[maggie_of_the_owls]

"Dining hall again. If you want to go out we can make plans, but we did not make such plans today."

[characterquarry]

"I see."

Dining hall food is had. More books are read. She sleeps in the same clothes, explaining, "I'll just clean it with magic. It's not like I'm scheduled for combat patrols tomorrow morning."

And she keeps sleeping until awoken or almost noon, whichever comes first.