»4 [video/action]

[hopelessdreamer]

[the mirror shows the front doors of the Tohno mansion. Standing in front of them are a young girl and a tortoiseshell cat. The girl's pale hair is bobbed, and her dress speaks of wealth. She can't be much older than four or five.]

[her voice, when she speaks, is small and plaintive.]

This isn't home...I, I want to go home.

[she looks down at the cat

Comments

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[onvelvetpaws]

[The first sentence she speaks mostly to herself, beneath her breath.]

Honestly, they go so far as to kidnap children as well? It's awful.

[When she speaks aloud, her voice is kind and her face is gentle, as one who's had an abundance of experience dealing with children.]

It's all right now, love. Hold right there and I'll come find you. And-- [Suddenly she notices the sword in the small girl's hands.] My goodness! Put that down right this instant!

video (and of course for some reason I can't seem to use a different account.)

[hopelessdreamer]

[she casts around for the source of the voice, finally settling on the mirror. She's not sure what to think of it, but approaches hesitantly. Her mirrors have never talked to her before, and certainly haven't ever shown her anyone else.]

[she stares for a moment, before registering that she's being addressed, and flinches, clutching the weapon tighter.]

I-I, I...it's...it's my brother's...!

[there's no way she'd let go of her only link to home.]

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[onvelvetpaws]

You're to be very careful with it, do you understand? I shan't have you getting hurt on my watch.

I don't suppose you could tell me how you've come here?

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[hopelessdreamer]

[she nods several times, wide-eyed.]

I...I was...in the forest.

[she means the jungle, but there were trees, and that's good enough for her. She points at the cat, which is now washing itself.]

I followed the cat...

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[onvelvetpaws]

Good. Then it oughtn't be too hard to find you. [She nods solemnly and straightens up. She doesn't know the Gardens well enough yet to recognize the place where the little girl is standing, but she's quite adept at following cats herself.]

Stay there, and be safe. I'll find you.

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[hopelesscrybaby]

Stay...?

[she fidgets, but she's not about to disobey an authoritative voice, so she sits down abruptly where she is. The cat comes over to rub against her side, which calms her a little, but she doesn't take her eyes off the mirror.]

O-okay...

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[onvelvetpaws]

[Minerva closes the vine and begins to make her way toward where she thinks the little girl may be. Fortunately, for all they seem to be useless at giving her information about this place, the cats are rather more forthcoming with directions. Shortly she arrives in front of the mansion and kneels down before Gal.]

You're not hurt, are you, love?

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[hopelesscrybaby]

[she blinks in surprise to see Minerva in person. She can't quite wrap her head around how a young woman could appear out of a mirror, but that's not what's important right now.]

[she shakes her head at the question.]

D'you know Van?

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[onvelvetpaws]

I'm afraid I don't, dear. Perhaps if you describe them for me, I'll see what I can do.

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[hopelesscrybaby]

She's big, like...like you. [really, the other girl is in her young teens, but everyone is big to a four year old.] And she's really nice.

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[onvelvetpaws]

Does she have dark hair, like me, or light hair, like you? And what colour are her eyes?

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[hopelesscrybaby]

Light hair. But not like...me. [she tugs at her straight cut a bit helplessly. She doesn't know the exact word for the color.] Brown...?

Her eyes are...blue. They're pretty.

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[onvelvetpaws]

She sounds very lovely. [Minerva stands, taking Gal by the hand.] What do you say we look for her together? We can ask the other ladies if anyone has seen her.

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[hopelesscrybaby]

[the girl nods in agreement. She's still too young to be self-conscious about admiring her friend.]

She'll be looking for me. If she lost me she'll get in trouble, and...

[here, there's a little pout. She doesn't like it when Van gets scolded just for being a servant.]

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[onvelvetpaws]

Don't you worry your head about that. We'll work everything out once she's found.

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[hopelesscrybaby]

...okay. [the sword drags along the ground when she tries to carry it with one hand, and it's weight is too difficult for her to manage that way. She pulls at it, trying to hold it against her chest awkwardly. There's no way she's letting go of it.]