01

[ex_diplomacy861]

Who: Shelly and anyone
Location: Plaza
Time: Afternoon
Style: Either
Status: Open

[Standing before the coral with a hand perched on her hip and a megaphone in the other, Shelly, still damp but drier from her sodden arrival, begins her announcement in a firm, less-than-pleased tone as the fairy beside her flutters about quietly.]

Attention [ -- the rest is drowned out by a high-pitched screech as the megaphone adjusts -- ] !

What you have committed is a severely punishable offense that will not go unheard by the Republic's Senate. However, before you respond to the matter of your crime, I demand an explanation.

[She lowers the megaphone, waiting.]

Comments

[ex_diplomacy861]

[She raises her brows, now adopting a lighter tone.]

You must have been abducted as well. It's an unusual situation, though. The people here are . . . kind.

[On the surface, anyway, with selective hearing.]

[gorges]

Yeah, they're not that bad. Stuff's free here, too. Makes a girl not have to work so hard to get it.

[Aka: steal it.]

[ex_diplomacy861]

[Tsk tsk, Kyouko.]

But our freedom must bear a heavy price, if it can be afforded at all . . .

[gorges]

[She shrugs. Not like it really matters to her.]

No price here, other than...y'know, not being able to leave and stuff. Guess that's the closest thing to a price we have.

[She knows all about prices, and there really isn't one...]

[ex_diplomacy861]

Indeed . . .

You don't seem very perturbed by this predicament.

[gorges]

Nah, there's no point in it. Not like I have anything to do at home, anyway.

[Being dead, and all.]

[ex_diplomacy861]

. . . Why do you say that? You must have school, at the very least.

[gorges]

[She can't help but laugh at the idea of school.]

No school for me, lady. I was as free as a bird.

[ex_diplomacy861]

[Shelly only smiles.]

Are birds truly that free, I wonder.

[gorges]

[Her grin fades just slightly, and she just. Looks at Shelly out of the corner of her eyes for a moment.]

'Course they are. They do whatever they need to do.

[ex_diplomacy861]

Need indicates obligation, which may bar freedom in certain cases.

[Then she continues, her tone becoming lighter in a way that she dismisses her own remark.] But I can see the appeal. Birds are rather magnificent creatures.