The 42nd Gecko

Grimoiric Heart

LILAC SHIMMER

Bonnie had broken away from the group earlier and walked home separate. There wasn't any good reason, same starting point, same destination. She was just theoretically making herself more vulnerable to a follow up attack. But that thought didn't cross her mind. When in the stories did the magical girls ever just get ambushed in human form on their way home after a dramatic victory? This was the place between the pages, off the screen, and Lilac didn't know how to be a magical girl in that place.

Well, she did know at least one mistake she was making. She should be in the group. Being a smiling background character as the new PoV character got shown the wonderful world of magical girls. But she just wasn't ready to smile any longer. She was ready to flop into bed fully clothed and fling her bags to the side haphazardly.

Her eyes glanced towards Camelot's bed. Camelot. Even when it wasn't magical girl business, Bonnie's mind still couldn't see Chinami much past the Camelot. That name stood tall above all else that she was, and everything seemed to come back to it in time. Just a name, right? But one with such meaning, such insinuation, such... Legend.

Bonnie stuffed her face into her pillow. Making herself presentable could wait till later. Camelot should be busy showing the new girls around, and she could be one with the bed alone.

Grimoiric Heart

Bonnie: *internal screaming* "Oh haha, nice to be rooming with you, Camelot!"

Grimoiric Heart

Hmm, with everyone talking about how much they're affected by their Grimoire, I wonder if that gives Lilac an odd story with how much she worries about not being effected enough by her Grimoire.

Grimoiric Heart

Thank ye.

Say, I'd think now seems like a good time for us to talk about what sort of downtime interactions we've got in mind. Cause I think we're supposed to have a brief break before the next group of Pageless.

Grimoiric Heart

LILAC SHIMMER

Lilac appeared in beside Nessie for the briefest of moments, blowing a kiss which sent ethereal petals of light scattering about. "Marvelous, you've trulyshowntruegracean-!" Possessed not of the power of flight, Lilac had jumped, and mistimed exactly how much time she would have to hang at the apex of her jump and talk before plummeting back to the earth below.

After a dull *thwumph*, Lilac cupped her hands around her mouth. "Don't worry if you fall, us magical girls are real tough! Oh, and- of course, Lumiere's got it. Her yelling turned to whispers as the scene developed.

Now with Pageless gone, Lilac looked around her to herself, and fetched her loyal royal blade from the place it had fallen. It was a little out of the way and Lilac almost relished the opportunity to be out of the main scene. The big magical girls seemed to be a little upset with each other and Lilac wasn't sure she wanted to be part of that. Lilac's eyes flitted from place to place. "Camelot?" A knot formed in her stomach, perhaps at the sight, perhaps from the crash of all the swirling emotions and adrenaline coming down. Probably both really. Camelot always just felt like.. Her but better. A legend where she was a fable.

Lilac shook her head, as if that could dislodge such thoughts from it. She clutched Joyeuse tight, like it were a teddy bear instead, turning her back on the scene. She had done everything she needed to, right? Make a flashy introduction, fight with honor, aid the new magical girl without stealing the spotlight. That was how the story was supposed to happen, right? Unlike Camelot or Lumiere, Lilac didn't think it was or wasn't appropriate for a Magical Girl to defeat the great Pageless in their first battle for reasons of learning or experience. Lilac believed that was how it was supposed to be because that was how stories worked. And stories clearly had a power in this world.

Breathing deeply, she dismissed Joyeuse and began to make her way back to Merrywell. Everything was ok. Her kingly demeanor might have slipped a little bit as the battle wore on, but first impressions were more important anyway. She hadn't made anybody mad, so, all in all, it was still a good day, right?

Grimoiric Heart

Hmm. Camelot's an interesting character to a lot of folks. I could see Lilac being like, "Why is she me but better? She has everything together and I don't. O_o." because she doesn't understand Camelot's internal struggles.

Grimoiric Heart

@Lewascan2 Indeed. :P

Grimoiric Heart

LILAC SHIMMER

Lilac had pulled herself back a little as attack after attack poured into the great Pageless. Wielding a melee weapon and not exactly knowing everyone's plans, it would make an ill-end to get splashed by someone aiming a grand attack at the Pageless, of which there were many. Aha, and there was even a new magical girl? She'd be the right person for the job. Or, wow, look at that thing-... what even was that, um, well, look at it go. Uh, good job...? Lilac took another half step back, quite happy she hadn't remained in melee.

And then she felt Goodhope's power pour into herself again. Wait, what should she do? She glanced left and right. She didn't want to go anywhere near the foe right now! She didn't have any ranged attacks. Should she throw a rock? Oh god, Captain Goodhope was giving it all and she was just standing there doing nothing! "NYAAGH!" Lilac panicked, and gave a strangled cry as she lobbed Joyeuse at the enemy, feeling she had to do something at least. Even with Captain Goodhope's buff, thanks to Lilac's mental state and the fact that Joyeuse was not a ranged weapon, it smacked into the side of the Pageless to... moderate effect. At least it was a punctuating element to Wilhemina's own volley of ranged firepower.

And, now there was a magical sword sticking to the side of the Pageless, if that was helpful to anyone.

For a few moments, Lilac stayed frozen in her post-throwing pose, arms outstretched, as her brain worked overtime. ~How do I make that look like I did it on purpose?~

Grimoiric Heart

So, everyone, I feel like it's magical girl tradition that the new magical girl gets to save the day when they unlock their power. Should we give @Sonnambula the dramatic kill or are we supposed to help?

Grimoiric Heart

I think internet users got old enough to have jobs instead of be in college.