First Shot

[crystalrazing]

[Action -502 Ricardo Street/Surrounding Houses-]

[The first thing Natsuki noticed was the smell of burned wood. She immediately jumps out of bed and-- wait. This definitely isn't her bed. Or her room. The place is a wreck; the closet and dressers have been ransacked, everything torn apart; the same can be said for the rest of the house. There are

Comments

[getawaywith]

[Shizuru wasn't going to go outside. She's not stupid. There's no reason for her to risk her safety. Or--there wasn't. Now there is. Because she looks out a window and sees Natsuki there.

No hesitation. Only a moment to compose herself, and then she throws open the doors and walks out into the street.]

Natsuki. You've slipped away from safety again.

[crystalrazing]

[Natsuki looks a little confused at Shizuru's comment, because as far as she new everything was fine in the aftermath of the last big incident, but she pushes that aside for now. She's just damn glad there's another familiar face here!]

Shizuru! [And she runs over to her!] Damn, they got you too?

[getawaywith]

[As Natsuki breaks into a run, Shizuru slows down, a faint look of surprise flickering over her face. Where's the reticence? That charming aloof attitude?

But she thinks back on how quietly vulnerable Natsuki was just before Shizuru was kidnapped here, and she decides: in the face of all that and now this, Natsuki must have shed some of her shell. It's wrong, Shizuru knows, that this excites her. So other than that quick moment of startlement, she shows no sign of any emotion other than mild worry.

Instead, she gestures with one hand to her home's open door.]

Please don't stand around outside. You'll be killed if you're caught here.

[She smiles pleasantly.]

I won't let you go running off into danger anymore.

[crystalrazing]

[Again, Natsuki avoids asking questions about Shizuru's comment. This is kind of important though, so it's understandable!]

Killed? What exactly is going on here?

[getawaywith]

Shall I explain it out on the streets while men with flamethrowers search for more victims?

[crystalrazing]

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

[Lead away!]

[getawaywith]

[A graceful tilt of her head, and she leads Natsuki into her intact house. Now that the immediate danger is passing, she's starting to notice what else is wrong: the age difference. Is it just something about this place, the different clothes and all, that makes Natsuki seem older? Or is she really...?

It couldn't be.]

[crystalrazing]

[Natsuki raises an eyebrow at her silence. She's not as observant as Shizuru is, so she hasn't caught on to the sudden difference in her partner.]

Is something wrong, Shizuru?

[getawaywith]

[Her partner. If only Shizuru knew that Natsuki was thinking that way--no, it's probably best that she doesn't.

She shuts the door securely behind the two of them.]

I'm afraid so.

Natsuki. Do you know anything about a place called Mayfield?

[crystalrazing]

I've heard a bit about it from someone else. Apparently it's a town in America, and is possibly under the control of a girl named Lucy Smith. [She scowls at this; the last name 'Smith' obviously doesn't sit well with her at all.]

They can also take our powers away, and have the ability to turn us into brainwashed drones that act just like the the normal residents of the town.

[getawaywith]

[The reaction to the last name 'Smith' relieves Shizuru. At least this Natsuki hasn't had her mind messed with the way Mashiro has. Right?]

Yes. It's nothing to do with any of your quests, then?

[crystalrazing]

[Aaaand looks like they're going to address the pink elephant in the room.]

My... quests?

[getawaywith]

[Shizuru tries to hide the sudden sinking feeling, but it doesn't quite work, not in front of Natsuki of all people. Her eyes lower before she raises them to meet Natsuki's again.]

Natsuki...what have they done to you?

[crystalrazing]

... Nothing. I haven't run into any townspeople yet.

Shizuru, what's wrong? You're acting a little strange.

[getawaywith]

["A little strange" is putting it mildly. Shizuru tilts her head and looks at Natsuki with faraway eyes.]

They changed you...

Why on Earth would they do such a thing?

[She lifts a hand as if to reach out and touch Natsuki, but pulls away at the last moment.]

They must have thought you a threat the way you were.

[It makes sense. Take away Natsuki's desire for revenge, make her docile. Was "Queen Mashiro" involved? Is that the Headmistress's true form, and this the next step of the Festival?

She won't stand for it. It's a good thing they left her mind unaltered, even if they took away her powers.]

[crystalrazing]

"Changed" me? If taking my powers away counts as changing, I guess they did. But other than that, I'm completely normal!

[If she wasn't afraid of something going wrong, Natsuki would suggest that maybe someone had done something to change Shizuru... after all, she's never seen her act this way. Not back when they first met at Garderobe, nor any time during their relationship. She's definitely worried, and Shizuru might be able to see a glint of it in her eyes.]