[action] Top of the world, looking down on creation...

[neverforgets]

[ On one section of the beach, about twenty feet from where the sand gives way to jungle, someone has planted a giant mallet head into the sand. A bright, red scarf is tied to the handle. The handle sticks straight up--

And up--

And up--

And up into the sky. If you're good at estimating height, you might guess it's two hundred feet up above the ground. And at the very top, you can see the shape of a person up there. ]

Comments

[maidenlysense]

[Petunia can't help jumping back as Lavi slides down the handle like a fireman because she's far from prepared to converse with strangers who were in the sky with the help of a giant hammer!!! except he doesn't look so good either, so any thoughts of him suddenly whapping her on the head fly out of the window]

[But then he asks her about her hair which is usually a light pink, but looks white thanks to the direct sunlight, and her hands instinctively move to her head, confused]

What's wrong with my hair?

[neverforgets]

[ Shakes his head, and as he climbs up off the hammer, it shrinks to a very portable palm size. But... he doesn't holster it just yet. ]

Nothing. Got a friend with hair like yours. Just wondered if it was natural, or there was a story to go with it. [ Slight grin. There is a trail of drying blood along the side of his head, and bruises around his throat. ] I'm a big fan of stories.

[maidenlysense]

[her eyes grow comically large as the hammer shrinks, maybe she can survive a whapping of that size]

Um, it's natural. I have the same color as my mother... [trails off because wait that's not important right now!!] Are you -- are you a magician?

[neverforgets]

[ Her reaction makes him laugh. ]

Nah, it's not magic. [ Pause ] Well, it is, sorta. But I'm an Exorcist, not a magician. [ Holds the now-tiny mallet out to her, head first. ] Can touch it if you'd like. [ See if she's really an akuma. Though he sort of doubts it. ]

[maidenlysense]

[she reaches out to touch the mallet before her mind can make up an excuse not to, all eyes on it]

It looks so normal. [awe as she looks back up, she's never met an exorcist with a magical hammer before] So, uh, mister Exorcist... [can you fly? how does that happen? do you have to say a magical incantation?? but instead, she takes in his appearance once more -- the bruises on his neck and the trail of dried blood]

Are you alright?

[neverforgets]

Oh, sorry. Name's Lavi. [ Offers her his free hand. ]

Was in a fight before I got brought here. [ Maybe. Or it could have been months ago. He doesn't know for sure. ] No big deal.

[maidenlysense]

[she takes his hand and shakes it, unconvinced]

I'm Petunia. Even if you say that... [She takes out a handkerchief from the pocket of her dress and holds it out for him] Here, you should take this. For your head. And wherever else you might be bleeding from...

[neverforgets]

[ Accepts the handkerchief, though wondering why she's being nice to a total stranger. ]

Thanks. [ Smile! ] Petunia's a nice name. Where're you from, man? [ Thinks he might be able to place her accent, but he's not sure. ]

[maidenlysense]

[you would be too if he was a magical exorcist!!! a little embarrassed at the compliment, though she appreciates it]


Oh, I'm from Melbourne. [quickly] It's in Australia. [because apparently not everyone is from Australia here, which is kind of mind-boggling for an Aborigine girl who's seen only two cities her entire life.] How about you?

[neverforgets]

Australia, huh? [ That explains it. She sounds like Reever. ] Haven't been there yet.

I tend t'travel around a bit, but I'm living near London for right now. What's Australia like?

1/2

[maidenlysense]

What's it like? [a little flustered, because wow an exorcist and a traveler THAT SOUNDS PRETTY COOL] Oh, well, I've only been to Melbourne and Perth, but Melbourne is a pretty big city with lots of people... [I'm blanking out why am I blanking out] L-lots of people! A lot of people from Europe's moved to the city recently, after the war. And, uh... In comparison, Perth isn't very big.

[This is really boring, all I'm talking about is boring stuff!! I might as well talk about the weather!!!]

2/2

[maidenlysense]

[and then her eyes light up and she goes for the closest most exciting subject she can think of]

-- Oh, but we've had bombings recently!!