005 ♦ Voice + Action [Isla Empieza]

[diamondlight]

Rikka's running around the Shepherd, and the dock where it remains moored, like a girl possessed. She looks like a completely different young woman than she did a week ago; friends and a long bath have breathed new life into her after the events leading up to Halloween. But, whatever happened, it's got her scared again, and both her own crew and anyone else on the island are likely to notice - she's usually a little more collected than this, vampiric shenanigans aside. Catching herself for a moment and realizing there's a better way, she stops, take a moment to get her breath back, and opens her journal.

"If anyone on the Shepherd is reading this, we need to move now. We're in danger if we stay here any longer. If anyone's joining us, get aboard. Alice, Mana, we need to start making preparations; meet me on the deck. Whoever else is left, you should probably meet me on the deck, too. I am not going to see us killed today, if there's anything I can do about it.

Anyone else that's on Isla Empieza, I think it's a good idea if you do the same thing - if the Navy comes here, we're going to be stuck, and I don't want to think about what's going to happen to us. Please... everyone be careful."

Satisfied as the journal finishes recording her handwriting, she snaps it shut, and starts up the gangplank at a brisk walk. And when she's on the deck:

"MARIBELLE!"

Comments

[abundantlove]

[Mana pulled Rikka into a hug... and then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. If they were going to be a couple, displays of affection like that had to be more common, right?]

You don't need to thank me... it was natural, you know! We were drawn together from the start!

... and I like it better when you're smiling too!

[diamondlight]

[OH GOD MELTDOWN NOW]

I-I... t-thank you?

[Clearly Rikka is not yet prepared for such random acts of affection. Oops.

[abundantlove]

[blinku blinku. Oh my gosh, that is too cute]

... Did I make you flustered, Rikka-sama? [she says that teasingly... just before giving her another one on the other cheek]

[diamondlight]

M-M-Mana...! [She's resisting the urge to flail her arms, considering she'll hit Mana; after a moment, her brain restarts, and she turns almost as red as her friend's hair before coughing lightly.] T-this isn't helping us finish our preparations! Um, I've got to do some... some very important work assignments!

[She starts to walk away before she remembers Mana is still holding her, which means she has no ability to actually move, and just stands there dumbly again.]

[abundantlove]

I knoooow you do! [Mana giggled a bit, before giving Rikka a kiss on the nose this time]

I'm giving you these for good luck~!