aboxfulloftea222 | The 57th Post!

[One of the merchants scoffed nearby scoffed] " 'Lady Verenia'. Is everyone here really that stupid that they'd fall for that?"
[Then Homura noticed something noticed something about some of the girls with Verena. They were wearing silver necklaces that resembled soul gem rings. Could they be...? And then,a certain devious extraterrestial critter nearby, watching them...]
Gretchen setting up her booth, that white beast within her line of sight, but she seemed to take no notice of it.
"Perhaps, she is not meant for it in this time, for now... Thank goodness." [Homura thought
"I finally get to go out!" Charloote cheered, looking around at all the going ons with wide curious eyes.
Marianna caught sight of a booth nearby and its residents, including the merchant who spoke up, and narrowed her eyes "Excuse me for a moment. Charlotte you must stay here." with a level head she went over "So. Is this a legitimate booth, or a cover up if you had a pick pocketing event planned for tonight?"
"Bit of both" Opelia repleid as she peeled potatoes, wearing a plain peasant class dress and her now temporarily dark hair under a kerchief " Got my crew set up, but we also gonna be sellin some crisps. Huh, I see that blue twit is here. I brought her stuff"

...Crisps, huh?

[Marianna said, and looked at one of the younger girls, who was busy cutting into some potatoes with a rather strange looking curved knife.]

- Well, ya see, a local witchy-woman told us we could make the potatoes taste much better if we cut them thin, skins and all, and made the slices wavy before we fried then in oil, and then sprinkled some salt, pepper an' herbs over 'em, ho ho ho -

[Ophelia laughed, and took another crisp with her fingers, sticking them in a white dip.]

...And they taste even better with some cheese or sour cream with pickles! You wanna try them too, Lady Marianna?

[Marianna shook her head with a sigh.]

...Maybe later. And Ophelia? I think you should keep the pickpocketing to a minimum, if you don't want to mess up what we're planning to do with Lady Oktavia. You do want the reward, right?

[Ophelia sighed a bit at that, and waved her hand.]

- Sure, sure. So you're going to help us set things up now, right?

[And then, she grinned.]

...I think we'd rather prefer to talk someplace where "Lady Verenia" and her troup of beautiful girls wouldn't come and bother us, though. Boy, does that lady get around or what?

[Marianna sighed, then, and rolled her eyes, snickering herself.]

- For shame, Ophelia - Stop spreading those stories about her, please! Do you know how much trouble I'd be in if the Queen of the Purple Kingdom actually happened to turn up on my doorstep or something?

...Yeah, yeah, I get it...

[Ophelia said, and then, she got to her feet, and clapped her hands.]

- Well, OK, then, everybody - It's time for the performance we've been talking about. Come on, let's go, Chelsea, Emmy!

[And and about half and hour later, the green haired beautiful girl who Ophelia had called Emmy was bowing toward Oktavia, looking very embarrased. Marianna had taken Oktavia, Gretchen and Humility to a clearing in the woods, so they could do this without any extra fuss or muss.]

...And then, the theives ran away on their horses, sounding very drunk, and the bag was just lying on the ground, and oh, I was so scared, my lady...

[Emmy said theratically, putting her hand to her chest, while Chelsea nodded, her cute eyes wide, and struck a pose.]

- I was scared too - They almost ran right over her, lady! And they were all scary and noisy and hollaring and everything, and they stank of booze, too!

[Oktavia, in the meanwhile, was groaning.]

...They both sound soo fake! And I'm expected to pay them for handing me my own stuff back to me!?

[She whispered. Gretchen sighed, poked her in the arm, and whispered back to her -]

- Oh, Lady Oktavia, can't you let it go, just this once? I mean, we have no evidence whatsoever that these people are in cahoots with the thieves, right? And once this is over, we can go see my family's booth and everything...

...Oh, all right, all right, let's get this over with. I really don't want to lose the music sheets I wrote, or the pendant Lord Kelsey gave me for that matter.

[Oktavia grumped, and then, she tossed a gold coin at the green haired girl.]

- There. Now, you give me back my stuff, all right!?

...Thank you so much, lady!

[The green haired girl said, smiling and bowing profusely, and then, she immediately took the bags, and gave them to Oktavia. Oktavia took them out and looked threw them, scowling.]

...Darn, the third music sheet got dirt stains on it now, but all right, they're all here....

[The two girls disappeared very quickly after that, then, thanking Oktavia profusedly all the while. Gretchen sweatdropped a bit, wondering if the girls had been associated with the original theives which had stolen Oktavia's stuff after all, but decided not to worry about it for now.]

- OK, so that's done!

[Gretchen said, and then, she turned toward Marianna, Oktavia and Humility, forcing herself to smile brightly.]

...Lady Marianna, Lady Oktavia, Lady Humility - I would be honored to take you to my family's booth now, if you have to time to visit us. Do you have the time, do you think?

[Homura, in the meanwhile, was furrowing her brows inside Humility's mindspace. Was it just that she was becoming jumpy, or was a certain red eyes white critter actually looking directly at her - Or rather, Humility?]

[And then, the Incubator opened it's mouth!]

...Strange, strange. Why do you look so sparkly, all of a sudden?

Edited 2016-09-11 06:20 (UTC)

[Homura hurried along, pretending she had not taken notice of the incubator. Along the way to Gretchen;'s family's stand, Charlotte had stopped at the stand the green haired girl was from, ordering some crisps. [The owner of the stand, the kerfiefed girl who had spoken up about the queen, leaned over and smiled down at Charlotte] "But of course, young miss! alas, we are not open for business yet and have just started our cooking." [ Upon seeing her dispointed look, she added "But just for you young miss, we shall offer our very first batch! " And she brought out a still hot plate of crisps, topping it ff with seasoning and melted cheese "Voila!"
"Hooray! Thank you so much!" Charlotte reached into er coin purse and puleld out some coins "Here you are, I hope it is enough!" it may have been too much, but she did not know how to manage money very well yet.
[Homura couldnt help smile as she watched the scene. Yes this Nagisa seemed just the same as the current incarnation, and that girl at the stand had a familiar air as well...]
"There you are Charlotte!" [ Maianna approached, Oktavia behind her. ]"I see you wanted a snack all ready" She took out her kerchief and wiped the crumbs form her sister's cheeks.
[the girl at the stand bowed demurely, keepign her eeys down] "It is an honour, Lady Von Seckendorff."
Oktavia just nodded "Thank your friend again for finding my stolen items."
"You are welcome. as she said, we found the lost items. we decided to return as much of the itmes to their ownders as possible. I am fortunate enough to be able to read, and I saw your name. Im sorry we cant just give it right back to you and ask for money in return, but as you understand, times are hard..." [the conversation eventually turned to arguing over other merchandise.]
"Is it so a fair price! It is not just my mouth to feed after all! See little chelsea there?"Ophelia pointed to the little girl with short green piigtils that was now running around playing with Charlotte " I took her under my care when her abusive mother was killed by a beast!"]
"Well that is noble of you, fine I will match it, but this is getting far, and_"
[they were interupted by the sudden clater of the little girls ran inside the booth and stumbled over the crates, heading right for the boiling pot of oil! In a flash, Ophelia suddenly leapt and spun agilly over the booth in a way a normal commoner woman would not be able to, grabbed a pole and knocked the pot out of the way and pushed the child to safety, landing both of them into the washtub with a splash.
Oktavia's mouth dropped open as she revisualized taht exact same agile leap as the theft yesterday and matched it, and even more proof with the crimson hair that appeared as the dye dripped off. "y-you!!!"
"Ah, looks like you found me out." Ophelia just gave her a wicked grin "Thats rigt. Im the thief. And damn proud I did! " why you so mad? Its cause I took some silly sheet music and some jewerly from your boyfriend?" ]

...Lord Kelsey is not my -

[Oktavia almost shrieked - But that was when she realized that Marianna was almost burying her face in her hands, wincing.]

[The other people at the booth, on the other hand, were looking at both the girl Oktavia had been yelling at and Marianna, as if they couldn't decide exactly what to do. Some of them were even looking at Marinna directly, almost like they were begging her to do something about the situation.]

[.......Haaah? Well, she'd heard that some of the lords had "arrangements" with the local thieves, but...]

[Oh, well, she wouldn't make life more difficult for Lady Marianna if she could help it, and who knew what kind of "arrangements" her own family had made, but whatever, whatever.]

[Oktavia snarled, then, and pointed at the woods outside, looking straight at the now brown-haired girl who was sneering back at her wolfishly.]

- Very well, then, you idiot thief - Let's go and fight properly out there, so people don't get hurt, all right!?

[And then, she snickered, and said - ]

...And if I win, I get to keep that pretty spear of yours. That'll be fair, right?

Edited 2016-09-14 06:15 (UTC)

Oktavia glared back, her eyes just as cold "That is a good plan. Let us go."she went over to the carraige and took out the sheathed sword she had brought along.
Marianna took her arm "Oktavia, do not be foolish!"
"I must deal eith her!"(d Okatvia replied, ppassing her by She and Ophelia headed out to the oudsits of forest near the festival grounds
The thief chuckled as she saw the sword )
"Oh-hoh! So you found a way to defend yourself, huh? You pretty lady even know how to use such a thing?"
"Shut up!" Oktavia growled, pulling off some of her underskirts for easier movement then drawing the sword, standing in a proper stance "I have been training in swordsmanship for a while now! And I shall become one of the royal knights and a defender of peace and justice!"

[Homura blinked, then. What in the world was happening?]

[It was as if two different scenes were taking place in front of Humility's eyes at the same time - In one, Oktavia had challanged the thief girl to a duel in the woods, and had told her she'd keep her spear as a prize if she won, but in the other scene, it was the thief girl who challenged Oktavia, and told her she'd keep her pendant as a prize if she won.]

[What in the world was going on?]

[But that was when there was a soft voice behind her.]

(Oh, yes, a reality glitch. This timeline is beginning to change slightly, already, just by you existing within Humility, it seems...)

[Homura spun around, then, but there was nobody else in Humility's mindspace as far as she could see.]

[So the timeline was beginning to change, huh? Was that a good thing or a bad thing?]

[But then, Gretchen and Marianna began to run after Oktavia and the thief girl, and Humility began to follow them too, even if she couldn't run as fast. Homura wondered who was going to win, Oktavia or the thief girl - And then, she blinked as she realized that the thief girl looked just like Sakura Kyoko, except she had brown hair. How strange! Did everybody look like the people she knew back home, here?]

[And then, the thief girl shook her head, laughing, and her hair began to change color as Homura watched, the redness shining threw what was apparently some kind of brown powder that was sprinkled on it! Now the girl really looked like Sakura Kyoko, bright red hair and all...]

[Homura sighed a bit, then, as Humility had to stop, her hands to be chest, panting. Gretchen turned around and came running back to her, a worried expression on her face.]

...Oh, Lady Humility, I'm so sorry! We shouldn't have run ahead like that...

Edited 2016-09-17 12:07 (UTC)

After that, oktavis pwent over to the carraige and took out the sheathed sword she had brought along.
Marianna took her arm "Oktavia, do not be foolish!"
"I must deal eith her!"(d Okatvia replied, ppassing her by She and Ophelia headed out to the oudsits of forest near the festival grounds
The thief chuckled as she saw the sword )
"Oh-hoh! So you found a way to defend yourself, huh? You pretty lady even know how to use such a thing?"
"Shut up!" Oktavia growled, pulling off some of her underskirts for easier movement then drawing the sword, standing in a proper stance "I have been training in swordsmanship for a while now! And I shall become one of the royal knights and a defender of peace and justice!"

[Homura shook her head, then, and decided not to worry about the strange things that had just happened for the moment. No matter who challenged who, Oktavia and Ophelia were still going to fight, after all.]

[Humility, in the meanwhile, had managed to catch her breath, and now was slowly walking toward where the duel was talking place, Gretchen holding her hand.]

...I wish I didn't cause you this much trouble, Miss Gretchen...

[Humility said, softly. Gretchen turned around, then, and gave her a hug.]

- You are not causing me any trouble, Lady Humility - You're my friend, right? And that's what friends are for!

[Ophelia, in the meanwhile, had just laughed at Oktavia, brushing the brown powder out of her red hair with a hand.]

...Ohh, so you want to become a Lady Knight!

[And then, she snickered.]

- Too bad that the only Kingdom that has Lady Knights around here is the Purple Kingdom, eh? Why, they even have a Lady General, from what I've heard...

(Humility blushed further, feeling Gretchen's warm and sooft touch upon her] "Of course. Dear Gretchen..."
[Marianna rushed ahead hurridly, still in a refined manner, but had to pause to stop Charlotte from following ] "Please, stay here, Charlotte. It will be dangerous."
[Charlotte pouted in disappointment] "Yes , big sister...

[Ophelia leaned forward, sneering in amusement] "Which means, your manly knigthts probably weren't too happy when you told them you wanted to sign up! they said no, manly heroic knights were no position for a fancy, pampered lady like yourslef!"
[Oktavia gritted her teeth, not wanting to admit that Ophelia was actually right. That the knights of the blue kingdom only chuckled in amusement upon hearing her wish...]
"Anyway, Okty"[Opehelia chuckled, picking up that nickname form Oktavia's tiny pink friend] "A defender of peace of justice? What a load of crap! The so called heroic knights are nothing but pompous hypocrites! Where were they when villaiges were being burned to the ground, raids were going on, and innocent people got hurt!"

[Oktavia sneered at Ophelia, then.]

...Booo! Sure, sure, some of the knights are shitty people, but most of them are pretty decent as far as I know. And everybody knows that they just aren't enough knights to go around to stop all the bad stuff from happening, anyway!

[And then, Oktavia sighed a bit.]

- It's mostly the Princess of Evil's fault, anyhow - She raises taxes and raises taxes, but nobody can figure out where all that money is actually going to. And each year, there's less and less money for the knights, or the city watchmen, or for fixing roads, or for anything important to the commonors for some reason...

[And then, she sniggered again.]

...Besides, you're a thief, right? Are you sure you have a leg to stand on, complaining about innocent people getting hurt?

[Ophelia sighed a bit at that.]

- Oh, I do suppose you've got me there. We do try to do that "steal from the rich and give to the poor" shtick seriuosly, though, in case you were wondering~

[And then, she chuckled.]

...So you don't like her Evil Highness either? Cool, cool - I'd thought most of the nobles loved her style, for some reason!

[And then, the two traded some blows again, both grinning. This was quite fun, oddly enough, they both thought.]

"Well, Princess Rillianne is quite horrid indeed! I really dislike her!"
" Princress Rillianne, the Daughter of Evil!"So many innocent people are in misery because of her!!" In her ire she struck. Ophelia sneered with disgust and anger at the thought of her
[Ophelia reacted and managed to block the pear with her sword, though she was being pushed back a bi]t "She is horrid! And especially if she is as bad as you say," S[he swung back ]"But she is not my queen! I am am of the Blue kingdom's noibility! I was just visiting my friend! But despite being a noblewoman of gold, Lady Candeloro is a very kind person!"
"Ah, so you have a handsome, womanizing idiot as your crown heir apparent then, in Blue!"
"Well he treats his people well, at least!" [Oktavia leapt in a springing charge]]
"Yeah because he's too busy stuffing his face with ice cream and charming every pretty lady he sees!"[Ophelia stepped aside, though she was actually a bit surprised the young noblewoman figured that move, and grabbed the flowing skirts and bringin her down to the ground]
[Oktavia cried out at that and tried to twist around, hand still on her sword, but Ophelia pinned her down] "Ya cant deny that, can ya!
[Ok it was true Prince Kyle was a fool, but that wasnt the point!Oktavia struggled with a whine] "Let go of me!"
[Ophelia leaned her face in closer, grinning nastily. ] "Why should I, Okty?" " [Huh, this silly blue girl, She did look cute all flustered like this....]

[Oktavia shook her head, then, though she was still red in the face.]

...Oh, who cares - Prince Kyle may be embarrasing, but he hasn't done anything to bring his own Kingdom to ruin, at the very least!

[Ophelia blinked at that, grinning.]

- Are you sure of that? I mean, I've heard some stories -

[And then, she snickered.]

...So what are those rumors about him jilting the Princess of Evil because he wanted to marry a Green girl, anyway? Aand then, she just happened to turn out to be a Princess of the Green Kingdom, right? How convienient for them!

[Oktavia blinked] "Well, I have not heard about that yet. But I doubt that they are true. If it is, well, knowing princess rillianne, things shall be much worse off."
"And what about you, eh? Got some fancy prince charmin of your own, ya pinin after enough to write love songs about?"
"That would be none of your business, crook!!!"
"heheh. Hm, ni e shot.I admit, youre atually much better then I thought you'd be! "[of course it did help that the noble had taken off a bunch of layers of her fancy dress before the battle, making it much easier to manuver in]
"I have been taking lessons form the captain of the guard!" [Oktavia proclaimed as she pushed ]back "think as you may, but I take the ability of the sword seriously! it is not some whimsy!"
"Well good for you, getting a hobby besdes rich stuff! besides, swords are overrated, and I got lessons myself!"
[They continue to swipe blows and bantering for a while. Oktavia was starting to get tired more easily as she was not used to combat. at one point the spear stuck the fabric and ripped off the last few layer of oktavia's skirt, revealing down to her bloomers and stockings.
finally they ended up getting tangled up and tumbling off the bridge SPLASH! into the pond]

[Oktavia got red in the face, then, as she looked at the thief girl. Most of both of their clothes had gotten torn in the fight, and now they were both wet to boot. Of all the embarrasing - ! =}

[The redhead grinned and waved her hand, then.]

...Well, alright, I never thought I'd say this to a silly noble miss, but you're pretty good!

[And then, she waved her hand, and jumped back up on the bridge.]

- But on the other hand, I do have to go now, so -

[Oktavia looked at her and tried to stand up inside the lake, huffing.]

...So you're going to run away now, Thief Girl?

[The redhead laughed.]

- Yuuup! Running away is part of my job, after all!

[And then, she leaned closer to Oktavia, and whispered - ]

...But on the other hand, if you're serious about really really not liking the Princess of Evil, we might be meetin' again sooner rather then later, ha ha ha - So bye for now, Okty!

[And then, the redhead ran into the woods, and was gone. Oktavia sighed, and started to get out of the pond, pulling some weeds from out of her hair.]

...And I suppose the rest of the thieves got away while we were fighting, Lady Marianna?

[Marianna gave Oktavia a relived smile, and went up to her.]

...I'm afraid so, Lady Oktavia!

[Oktavia shrugged at that, wondering what kind of deal the redhead and Lady Marianna actually had. Well, it was sort of obvious there was some kind of deal going on, she was pretty sure, and now that the redhead had actually mentioned Princess Rillanne... Ew, politics. Oktavia decided not to mention anything about what she thought about the connections between Lady Marianna and the thief girl for the time being, and changed the subject with a smile.]

- Oh, well...It can't be helped, I suppose! Say, Lady Marianna, have you heard any rumors about Prince Kyle lately?

[And in the meanwhile, just a small distance away - ]

[Gretchen and Humility were sweatdropping up a storm, staring at a large bowl full of fried potato slices that one of the younger thieves had just thrust into their hands as she ran past them, giggling.]

...Those are the strangest theives ever.

[Gretchen said, and then, she smiled a bit as she smelled the potato chips with salt and bacon bits on them.]

- Oh, this really smells good, though!

" what about him now?" ( marianna loolkef oktavia over )And you are filthy and your dress is in tatters!" M)arianna shook her head) Poor thing. Here, we should go bathe in the springs. We have a special private section in the gardens."
"Wonderful idea! It shall be relaxing!"
[none of them noticed the redhead still watchig them with a smirk from the branches]

[some time later, Oktavia, Marianna, Gretchen, Charlotte and Homulily went to the private royal hot springs in the castle grounds. Built up from natural hotsprings, it was elegantly crafted with marble ledges, floral arrangements and a gazebo and served snacks and drinks.]
"Oh this so pretty!" (Gretchen commented as they got in. Homura Humility still could not help blushing as Gretchen undressed. Whatever timeline, it was always nice to bathe with madoka...]

[And then, Humility's breath caught in her throat again as her chest pains started up.]

...Ow...

- Lady Humility - Oh, no!

[Gretchen said, and then quickly pulled Humility away from the baths, and found her a bench to sit on. She then went over to some of the racks, and wrapped a soft pink bathrobe around her, looking worried indeed.]

...Oh, Lady Humility...Does it still hurt? It must have been all the excitement - I'm so sorry!

[Humility, in the meanwhile, had managed to get her breath.]

- I'm all right now, Miss Gretchen, and please don't apoligize...

[And then, she smiled at Gretchen, and took her hand.]

You didn't do anything wrong, all right?

[And in the meanwhile, inside Humility's mind - Homura groaned. Darn all this! If only she had enough magic right now, she could fix Humility's heart in less then an hour!)

(...My non-existant Kingdom for some actually useful magic, seriously.)

[She groused, misquoting Shakespere on purpose - Aand that was when a cream furred critter with red-amber eyes slowly blinked as it sat on one of the gazebos.]

[Oh, yes, here in came, that strange little burst of magic again. Eight smiled a bit, and licked his paw. This was interesting indeed!]

[Suddenly a wave of relief washed though Humility as the pain stopped and she felt much better.] "Ah,I think I am all right now...]
"Oh, wonderful!"
"Let us go back to the baths then" [The girls held hand as they returned to the bath and Gretchen into the water sighing with delight]
"Ah! So nice! You are so luck Mari, to have really nice baths like this!"[ Gretchen smiled brghtly and picked up the sponge ]"Here, let me wash your back Homulilu!"
[the thieves peered out of the bushes at the scene]
"Even this bath looks busy..."
[Suddenly, with a wild grin, Ophelia appeared at the bath having leapt from a bush, peeling off her skirt and blouse, still wet from pondwater, and underwear, and leapt into the pool with a spalsh ]
"What in the_!"
"Hello ladies!" [Ophelia stretched out her athletic body, marred with a few scars.] "dont mind me, just stopping by for a dip!"
"Y-you!!"[ twitching in fury, Oktavia started towards her, but Marianna put up an arm to keep her back.]
"Miss Ophelia. You should not be here."
"Well we really needed a relaxing bath, so I'd figure Id go here for a bit. Just relaxing a dip" [She waggled an eyebrow teasingly at the blue haired girl.]
"Just for the bath?" [Marianna sighed ]
"I would not mind! It is always nice having more company!" [Gretchen chirped. Homulily just nodded in agreement. Charlotte cheered.]
"Very well. I suppose you could stay for now. You did save Charlotte after all, and I must thank you very much for that. Just please, do not cause any trouble."
"But, Marianna!" [Oktavia scowled, her hand absentmindedly scratching her legs, some spots were starting to itch.]

[Oktavia, in the meanwhile, was staring at both Marianna and Ophelia.]

...Wait a minute, wait a minute - Lady Marianna, you mean that she was the brave commonor girl who saved Lady Charlotte from a runaway carriage?

[Ophelia snickered, then, and blew some soapbubbles Oktavia's way.]

...You got it in one, Okty!

[Oktavia stared at her for a moment, and then sank back into the baths, muttering to herself. Why were her legs itching like this, anyway? It was so annoying!]

...Of all the - You know, Lady Marianna - Things would have been so much simpler if you're simply told me that first...

[Marianna groaned a bit at that, but then, she smiled.]

...Well, maybe, but... It is a bit hard to explain, is it not?

[She hadn't been sure how far she could trust Oktavia, to be honest - Things were now getting politically delicate indeed, with Queen Verena herself visiting them in her "Lady Verenia" persona.]

[But now - Hmmm. Maybe, just maybe, she could include Oktavia in their little circle of people who were really interested in saving Queen Rillanne from herself, and saving the Gold Kingdom as well, so to speak? Oh, Marianna herself wasn't planning to do anything drastic by any means (not that she could speak for all the other people in their group) but she was pretty sure the Kingdom as a whole would be much better off if Queen Rillanne had better "advisors" then the ones she had now. Things would be so much better if good and competent people actually ran the country, while Rillanne could just play at being Queen as much as she liked...]

[Oktavia sighed and sank further into the water. Ophelia noticed her expression and chuckled, taking an apple form the fruit bowl and mucnhing on it]
"Gee you look tense, Okty! The point of this bath is to relax!"
"Oh be quiet you! " [Oktavia snapped] "I have having a lovely time until you showed up!" [She could not help observing the redhead's athletic body, scars included. She also was wearing a small cross with a red stone around her neck.]
[Ophelia rolled her eyes] "Still that hostile about me?"
[The two began arguing again. The other girls just watched shaking their heads, while little Charlotte was happily playing with bubbles. Gretchen and Homulily were still enjoying watching eachother, but finally Gretchen cried out, more in worry than anger] "Oh please stop fighting you two! Can you not be friends? I know you very much can be!"
[hTat got them to stop arguing at least. They sat in tensed silence for a bit, Oktavia still scratching at her uncomfortable legs. Nobody noticed the multicolored scale that had peeled off of her legs and floated among the bubbles]
"...Those music sheets" [Ophelia finally spoke up] "You wrote them yourself, didn't ya"
[oktavia nodded] "Yes, I did.I have always loved music, both listening and playing. I am decent enough at playing instruments, and people say I am a good singer. But I also very much enjoy arranging music. Creating melodies and compositions, conducting the paths of the sounds form the musicians..." [She sighed, calming down and smiling at the thought of it.]
[Gretchen clapped her hands] "Okty has the most beautiful vooice! And the pieces she composes are sublime!"
"huh. Thats actually pretty cool" [Ophelia seemed genuinely impressed]

[Homura, in the meanwhile, was scowling inside Humility's mindspace. She had somehow managed to raise enough magic to make Humility's heart function better for now, but she needed at least an 100 times more magic then that to actually fix it properly, she was pretty sure.]

[...And in either case, why was that Sayaka lookalike glowing like that, anyway? Had she made a Contract already or something? But no, those energy patterns didn't really feel like the energy patterns of most of the Magical Girls she had known over the years, somehow...]

(...That's because she's a throwback of some kind, probably. Mermaid, Siren or both, maybe?)

[A soft voice floated through the mindspace Homura happened to be in.]

...Oh, don't be silly, it's not like mermaids or sirens actually exist or anything, after all -

[Homura huffed - And then, she froze for a moment, and slowly turned around. An half transparent white and cream critter was floating in the air, looking at her with amber-red eyes, an oddly amused look on it's face.]

(- Well, actually - They do. From the very beginning, this planet was terribly odd, after all.)

[The critter licked it's paw, then, much like Kyubey had used to do after he had eaten something he liked. Homura sighed a bit, then, feeling an odd pang of loneliness.]

(Mermaids, sirens, fairies, all kinds of so called "supernatural beings" - Some of them existed from the beginning, but even the ones which were just based on made up stories ended up being created for real, more often then not. They may not have existed originally, but once people started to tell stories about them, it was only a matter of time until Magical Girls started to Wish them into existence, you see...)

................Huh. You're not Kyubey, are you.

[Homura said, wondering why she felt so calm. The critter was oddly familiar, though...]

(- I am most certainly not Niner, yes.)

[The critter said, and then, he gave her a little bow.]

(...And you aren't really the girl called Humility either, correct?)

Edited 2016-10-19 04:51 (UTC)

[homura blinked] "how doid you know?"
"I'm inside your mind now. And I see two two exact soul coupies overlaying. Judging by the reality glitch temporal version we have detetected, you are a future version of Humility now transplanted itno her body.]
[Homura sighed] "Indeed. from 200 years in the future. And now I am ghere, with identical versions of my friends in the past...
[she watched as The group of girls talked some more for a whil, enjoying the hot springs, and having a good time. Even Oktavia had eased up, even with Ophelia.

Suddenly, a fog came over, and the air felt thick. Marianna looked up in comfusion]
"Hm? what is wrong with the weather?"
"I do not know..I do not feel very good..." Gretcheb leaned against homulily] "It is like, a cloud of, depression..."
[Inside, homure fearfully. she recognized this feeling. A witch was nearby...]
[Marianna saw a servant drifting nearby.] "Excuse Miss, coud you bring over some towels please?
[the maid emitted a low hiss and turned towards them. All of the grils except Ophelia let out a scream at them sight of her twisted, empty ghoulish face]
"W-what is wrong with her!!"
[Ophelia reached for her spear, and Oktavia tried to reach for her sword, but gray ragged tendrils shot out and grabbed them] "W-what the hell is this!!"
"Charlotte! " [Marianna picked up her little sister ]"coem on girls, we need to get out of ehre!"
Homuliy and gretchen held onto eachother, shakign fearfully.

[And that was when a pair of Magical Girls came crashing into the very big bath all the girls were in, cursing up a storm!]

...That's my Witch, you damn moron - Go away and find your own!

[An older looking girl with orange hair yelled, shaking her fist at the other girl. She was dressed in something that looked like stage costume version of a lady's dress, Homura noted with an inward groan.]

- Nah nah naah, Nene needs the Grief Seed more, stupid!

[The other girl said, sticking out her tongue. This girl looked younger, and was wearing a pink dress which seemed rather the worse for wear. Homura really stared, then - Wait a minute, where those Magical Girls really fighting in their normal clothes? Why hadn't they just created magical combat outfits when they transformed, like all the other Magical Girls she knew normally did?]

(...Huh. So the Magical Girls you know automatically create magical combat outfits when they transform as a matter of course? I've known some Magical Girls who did manage to do something like that, but it wasn't easy at all, I thought...)

[The critter who had called himself Eight said, curiously.]

(It does sound like a cost effective upgrade, though, now that I think about it. Oh, they automatically create Magical Weapons too? Yeah, Niner would love that, once he actually gets up to updating the basic programming...)

[Homura blinked at that. Wait a minute...]

[And then, she sighed a bit as yet another critter waved his paw at her. This was had mussy looking fur, and red brown eyes.]

(I'm called Seven, by the way, but - Watch out!)

[Homura groaned, then, as the two Magical Girls actually started to fight the Witch at long last. They didn't seem to care who got caught in the crossfire, and several green spell arrows were going right over Humility and Gretchen's heads!]

[Homura took a deep breath, then, and took over Humility's body for the moment. She quickly ran over to one of the racks, and tossed a robe at Gretchen.]

...OK, then, Miss Gretchen - Now we're going to run away very quickly and very quietly! All right?

[She whispered.]

{Gretchen nodded fearfully] "all right. homulily!]
[But then the magical giirls chased the monaster away from the baths! with the monster gohne, the atmpsphere returned to noramal]
O[phelia growled and griped her spear.. Should would have taken out the monster right then and there, but she had to protect Maranna and Charlottw, not to mention it would be a very bad idea to battle in the buff.] "Damn it! EWhat the hell just happened!!"
"I, I do not know... " [Marianna hugged charlotte, who was sobbing in fear, closer to her ]. "But those girls, they were some odf Queen Verena's wards..." [ She sighed and stood up] Let us just return home for now. Then perhas later I should have a talk with Lady Verena. I wonder if she knows that some of her girls are involved with magical affairs... I have heard them say they have met 'fairies' after all"

[...Fairies, huh? Homura sighed inwardly. She was almost a 100 percent sure that at least one of the "fairies" in question was a red eyed critter with white fur, who didn't care about the wellbeing of all those girls he'd Contracted at all.]

(Oh, well, Mado - Miss Gretchen seemed to be safe for now, at the very least. Homura took a step back inside Humility's mindspace, and let Humility take charge again. And then, she turned toward the two critters, who were still projecting their images inside the mindspace where she was.)

(...Oh, you're right about that, pretty much, but they're also quite a bit of real fairies living around there, so.)

[Seven said, and then he yawned, scratching his flank.]

(- Oh, more then half the girls in "Lady Verenia's" troop can and do create Magical Outfits when they fight, but it's not automatic, as far as I know... And their Magical Weapons tend to look like stage props, for some reason.]

[Huh. Homura sighed again.]

(Is that so. I was also about to ask if Witches that looked like that were commonplace, here, but...)

[Eight nodded.]

(...Oh, yes, the so-called living corpuse type is quite common, though they're all kinds of other types too. Only a small percentage of them ever get powerful enough to generate their own Witch Barrier, thankfully...)

[And then, his eyes narrowed as he watched some of the images flickering past.]

(- Wait, so the Witches you know all know how to create Witch Barriers, automatically? Even the weak ones?)

[In the meanwhile, the girls had all gone back to the main manor, shaken. Marianna was wondering how to bring the subject up with Lady Verena, while Humility and Gretchen were holding hands as they walked.]

...Miss Gretchen? Would it be all right if...if you came to my room, so we could have some tea and crumpets before I go to sleep? That monster...I...

[Humility said, shyly. Gretchen nodded at that, and smiled.]

- Of course, Lady Humility! I'll be happy too! I mean, I don't want to be all alone in my room either, after seeing something like that...

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