5 ❧ though the pressure's hard to take, it's the only way I can escape

[headedforhope]

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[envyspites]

[KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.]

Oi! You alright in there? Can I come in?

[Too bad, because Mion comes in anyway, a knife in hand.]

[headedforhope]

[She couldn't have answered Mion anyway, not quickly at least, even if Mion had patiently waited outside the door until Mami managed to piece together her words, much less drum up the desire to speak. She regards Mion with blank, uncomprehending eyes - who are you? where is she? - at least until she notices the knife. The bright, gleaming blade triggers her into action; she immediately scrambles away and falls off the bed.

Mami's trying to speak but grief has locked down her throat, instinct allows no time to think through the obstruction, and so there's only an agitated whine of surprise as she moves and then falls. Her battle instincts flare into life and where's her soul gem, where is it, where is it, she's going to die, she'll die again without it-

It's on the small table by her bed, gone unnoticed in her panic.]

[envyspites]

Woah, woah, woah. I'm not gonna hurt you. [She sticks the knife into a holster on her hip she managed to find.] This was just in case the fuckup of a dad was hurtin' ya.

[Mion drops to her knees, tucking her feet underneath her.]

Did you just wake up here?

[headedforhope]

The...what? I don't-

[She subsides, mulling that over, the utter absurdity of Mion's words piercing a hole in her hysteria and bleeding it dry. The alien emptiness in her gaze slowly clears.

Then, a few long moments where Mami covers her face with one hand (but does not close her eyes) and simply breathes. Shelves the horrific images in her mind's eye aside, hurls them into some dark corner for later. When she speaks again, it's with a new calmness. A lie is all it is, if a serviceable one.]

...yes, I did. [Cautiously she peeks out at Mion, searches the other girl's face. Snippets of some other memory, faded and gray, slowly rise to the front of her mind.] Tell me, miss, this place.....what do you call it?

[envyspites]

Mayfield.

[She pauses.] Are you alright? I'm not the best with medical stuff, but I can get you some aspirin if you're dizzy...

[headedforhope]

Mayfield? [She repeats the word like a question, tone glossed over with numb puzzlement.

But as she takes another slow, deep breath, more memories return. And Mami understands.]

...ah, so that's how it is. I see. [Somehow here again, dragged back by her ankles - but perhaps she should be bitterly grateful. It's only fitting that someone like her should be made to suffer, even beyond death.] I'm all right, miss. I've actually been here before, if you can believe it.

[envyspites]

[Mion relaxes a bit, crossing her legs pretzel-style.]

You have? [She scratches her head.] Oh. Did you go home for a while? I think someone told me people did that once in a while...

[She waves a hand in the air.] Don't with the 'Miss', alright? I'm Mion Sonozaki. Just call me Mion.

[headedforhope]

Yes, that's right. [Her voice fades, trails off at the end.

A long, distracted pause before she comes back to herself. Then a nod.] I'm Mami. Mami Tomoe.

[She thinks for a moment, and some of the awful glassiness fades from her eyes - there's some spark of purpose, petty as it is.]

You mentioned.....our assigned father. He's troublesome, I take it?

[envyspites]

I take it you saw something bad, then. I won't pester, I get the feeling.

So I heard. The other girl they think is our sister--apparently he tried to strangle her.

[headedforhope]

[Just another nod to that. Dimly, she's grateful, but she can't spare the thought or the will to voice such feelings.

A thoughtful hum, low in her throat. She doesn't seem that disturbed to hear something so awful; her voice is calm and serious, rather than horrified or even angered.]

I see. I suppose we'll have to deal with him, should he try that or anything similar again.

[envyspites]

[Mion doesn't seem too surprised either. Though for a girl just horrified at waking up, she sure sprang back rather quickly.]

She and I have talked about it. We're watching each other's backs.

I can't do any magic or stuff like that, but I'm good in fist fights. What about you?

[headedforhope]

I have.... [Another distracted pause. She goes quiet and still, before getting to her feet. Mami takes a few aimless, silent steps as her eyes search the room - the familiarity is hitting hard now, for all that this is a different house. (Or is it? She doesn't know yet, people come and go here overnight.)

But she sees her ring sitting innocously on the bedside table and she goes to it, slipping it on her finger.]

....I have my own kind of magic. [Mami regards her ring, the way it gleams faintly.] I regained some of it the last time I was here, so it should be of use.

[She looks to Mion again.] Are the two of you willing to kill him, if necessary?

[envyspites]

[Her eyes widen a little at the sight of the ring.]

She probably is, but I'd have to see what he can do in-person before I bare my gun. Personally.

[headedforhope]

I see.....I suppose that's understandable. [A graceful cant of her head to the side, as if she was deep in thought.] I'll be honest with you; I'm prepared to do anything if it means fending him off.

[A much more deliberate pause.] Personally.

[The mask she hides behind even now grows stronger as she settles into it, forces herself to be buried deep in the facade. If she's to breathe again against all odds, despite her failure and shame and unworthiness, Mami will live for herself even less than she had before. Protecting this house is but the first step of many.]

[envyspites]

Understandable. I just wanna see if he really has the guts to try and kill one of us.

If he does, that's what I have my guns for.

[headedforhope]

Ah, so you also use such weapons. I take it you're a good shot?