(Untitled)

[halfafinger]

It had been a strange sort of month.

Arguably, any month - or week - or day - spent on an island such as this was bound to be strange, but Margot felt a little more unsettled than usual. Perhaps it was the fact she had been smoking only island-rolled cigarettes for some time now, or the business with Walter, Rorschach, or dealing with having a

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[agirlnamedchuck]

Misanthropic people were something that Charlotte Charles was no stranger to. In fact over the years, the bright and chipper girl had grown quite attached to those who did not wish to grow attachments.

"Hi!" she greeted with a wave. "Nice day for November, isn't it?"

[halfafinger]

It was that singularly cheerful woman who had been among the first to greet Margot upon her arrival on the island. She couldn't say she was particularly thrilled to see her again.

"I guess so," she offered, civilly enough. But she hoped she wasn't going to have to make small talk about the weather.

[agirlnamedchuck]

"You look awfully unhappy to be sitting outside. On a beach no less!" There were times and places to be miserable. Grave yards and in the pantry when no one was looking and things seemed to be impossible topped the list.

"You'll get wrinkles."

[halfafinger]

"Because I'm outside or because I look unhappy?"

It was hard to tell, but there might have been a trace of amusement in Margot's expression.

[agirlnamedchuck]

"Probably both, but mostly the latter."

Pulling her face into a melodramatic frown, Chuck demonstrated what she was so clearly warning against. "See? All sadsack and out of shape."

[halfafinger]

"I don't think I look like that," Margot opined. She probably should have been annoyed, or perhaps amused. But she was Margot Tenenbaum, so she was neither. Outwardly, at least.

"I've got a few years, anyway," she mused.

[agirlnamedchuck]

"I understand how you can think that," Chuck let her face relax and nodded thoughtfully. In fact it wasn't such a stretch of the imagination at all.

Unlike what was to come next. "But you never know when something like a rock will come rocketing from the sky and boom! You're gone and so are your looks."

[halfafinger]

"Is that very likely?"

It was a legitimate question, considering what this island was like. Unpredictable. That was the word.

Sometimes Margot liked unpredictable, but not if a meteor was going to hit her.

[agirlnamedchuck]

"As likely as anything I figure."

Which was a supposition that meant a great deal and very little at the same time. Charlotte Charles was not one for predicting the unpredictable. She simply aware that it happened.

[halfafinger]

Somehow Margot got the feeling this woman figured a lot of things, not all of them true, so she decided not to be concerned. For the moment.

"And the likelihood of a tobacconist or a crate of cigarettes falling out of the sky? How would you figure that?" she asked, deadpan.

[agirlnamedchuck]

"More likely than a rock falling out of it..." Chuck started before continuing to ponder the question. Tapping her index finger against her cheek, she nodded to herself before continuing.

"But less likely than a firearm specialist. I think we're bound for one of those too."

[halfafinger]

"...I see," said Margot, who didn't.

Eventually, curiosity got the better of her. "Why?"

[agirlnamedchuck]

"There seems to be an almost excess of military and gun enthusiasts on the island. What if their pistols misfire or something?"

Then they would really be in a jam.

[halfafinger]

It would be no less dangerous than Manhattan streets, were that the case.

"You're right," she deadpanned. "What if their guns clog up with sand? That must be a real concern here."

[agirlnamedchuck]

"Yes. As would moisture damage," none of that seemed like an optimal cause and affect. It sounded all rather messy.

[halfafinger]

Staring at her for a moment, Margot wondered if she was really serious. Usually she could tell, and it was impossible for anyone to be this cheery and oblivious.

Wasn't it?

"I wouldn't worry about it," she said, eventually.