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[prayingone]

[Voice]

[On the morning of the 25th, the voice function of Shirley's journal clicks on. The viewfinder shows the overcast sky; wherever she is, it's outside. While Shirley herself can't be seen, her voice can be heard quite clearly.]

So... I stand like this? And -- hold my fists like this... hmm... Should I say it like that too?...

[A pause, as

Comments

[action]

[oldtreeherder]

[That tree isn't very amused and shifts his head to look down at his attacker.]

[action]

[prayingone]

[Your attacker is a tiny blonde girl in an ill-fitting uniform. She looks distinctly startled to see that her practice tree is moving. Not As Planned.]

A...ah...

[action]

[oldtreeherder]

[Normally in these circumstances, Treebeard would do nothing. But once he sees who it is...]

Hoom... Little princess... [Out comes long, large arms attempting to snatch her up.]

[action] 1/3

[prayingone]

P...princess?... [Now, this is where the old Shirley, delicate spellcaster and crystal eren would dart to the back of the line. While she wasted time scribbling spells out, someone like Senel would be out there picking up this moving tree and tossing it far, far away.]

[action] 2/3

[prayingone]

[But that was yesterday. Today... Shirley is an ALLIANCE MARINE. And Alliance Marines do not falter! So Shirley stands her ground, shifts back into her fail!stance and makes her fail!fists, a stubborn expression on her face.]

I... I'm an Alliance Marine! So... um... take... this! [Nails glowing, she reaches out, grabs Treebeard by a root with the intent of lefting him up and tossing him and --]

[action] 3/3

[prayingone]

[Absolutely nothing happens. The girl has absolutely no upper arm strength whatsoever, yo.]

[action]

[oldtreeherder]

[Undeterred, Treebeard will be attempting to close his hands around her tiny frame very, very soon.]

[action]

[prayingone]

[Also undeterred, Shirley is going to continue try lifting Treebeard, because Alliance Marines never give in! And if watching Senel has taught her anything, it's this: never run away from an opportunity to toss! Even if almost all of your health is gone and you really should step back for a moment so your pseudo-sister can heal you! I mean that would take too long and you're busy trying to throw things! You don't have time for stuff like that.]

[action]

[oldtreeherder]

[Well if she's not going to run away, Treebeard is going to just try and snatch her up then.]

[action]

[prayingone]

[Damnit, even a tree can kidnap her. Shirley squeaks as she's picked up, struggling a little.]

E-....er... unhand me! ... please?

[action]

[oldtreeherder]

[Nah, he'd rather take her into the forest.]

Hooom... no young maiden, you must wait to be rescued.

[action]

[prayingone]

[Shirley sighs. It may have been a while since she's been kidnapped, but it still sucks as much as ever.]

Erm... couldn't I just save everyone the trouble and rescue myself?...

[action]

[oldtreeherder]

Hoom... No, I do not believe it works that way, young maiden. You must wait.

[action]

[prayingone]

I... I see. [... not really.] Um. Why are you kidnapping me at all? Is -- is it because I hit you? If so, I'm very, very sorry...

[action]

[oldtreeherder]

No... not because you attacked.

I am hruuum... the Black Knight. [He still hasn't quite got used to that yet.]

[action]

[prayingone]

The... Black Knight? ... aren't knights supposed to protect people?

[ps: don't mind the sparkly blue butterfly-shaped thing that is now flitting back the way you've carted her off. It's completely irrelevant.]