Quote:I'm already doing that, actually ... or would be, if it weren't for the fact that my machine's still in the shop. I'm hoping we can pull the two stories to a close with this thread. Certainly, it's making me put in writing time like ... well, I don't know if I've ever put out this much text in this short a time. Somewhat decent text, at least.
Y'know do either of you guys have any plans to collect and compose your works into a single file?
Being woken up in the middle of the night was not one of Natsuki's favorite things in the world. In fact, it was pretty much down there with 'being attacked by rabid weasels' and 'dealing with incensed politicians' on the list.
She was not, had never been, and would likely never be much of a morning person. Really, it was only to be expected of someone who had to take an alarm clock custom built to be somewhere within the 'pneumatic hammer' range of volume to bed with her, just to not sleep until noon.
Therefore, it could be considered a lucky that she'd not yet gone to sleep, opting to take a shower beforehand and then being distracted by a long distance phonecall.
On the other hand, maybe it would be preferable to have to deal with a sleep deprived Natsuki Kruger than with one who'd just gotten word that two Meister Otome had just engaged in a brief skirmish along the Romulus and Remus border of the Lutecia Commonwealth.
Be that as it may, a knock on the door of her quarters there and then was a tad unexpected.
Just as the person standing there, or rather, the face said person wore.
One could go as far as to call Natsuki paranoid. She preferred 'well prepared', though.
Which was why she was backpedalling almost as soon as she caught sight of the person wearing Shizuru's face, hand flashing out to the side and coming back instantly, the handgun she'd snatched from its hiding place a reassuring weight therein.
For a moment, everything was frozen in a rather awkward tableau ...
... until , on the business end of the sidearm, the Shizuru lookalike inclined her head to one side.
"This is why you didn't exactly object to me doing the knocking, is it?" she asked with a resigned sigh.
"In one," a muffled, if recognizable voice came from somewhere out in the corridor. "Right now, I have little doubt that showing up this late, not to mention getting this far at all, would get me shot."
"While I'd get the benefit of the doubt, yes," she sighed again. "Why, exactly, would you worry about getting shot?"
"It stings?" a head poked into the room. Annoyingly familiar. Red eyes blinked at her before turning to study the far wall with feigned nonchalance. "... while I realize that it's a bit late, could we ask for a bit of your time, Headmistress."
Natsuki's eyebrow twitched.
"I think I should just shoot you on principle," she muttered before lowering the handgun ... slightly. "Probation. This had better be good. Really good. As in, good news."
"There ... may be a slight problem with that," Schrdinger walked to stand behind the Shizuru lookalike, still most resolutely not looking at ... "Um, Shizuru? Don't leer at the nice lady with the handcannon."
Natsuki hastily drew the bathrobe closed again, before glaring. 'Shizuru' pouted.
When tact is required, use brute force. When force is required, use greater force.
When the greatest force is required, use your head. Surprise is everything. - The Book of Cataclysm