[Action/Video]

[animator]

Who: Anita Blake and YOU!
Where: Downtown New Moore
When: Today, afternoon.
What: Having a bit of a personal problem, really.

[With the afternoon to herself, Anita has taken to giving herself a more thorough tour of New Moore, with an especial interest in Starbox. She misses her usual coffee place from back home, but when hard-pressed, Anita's never met a cup of coffee she didn't like. With her cup in one hand and the other supporting the strap of her shoulder back, she begins to head in the direction of home at a leisurely pace.

She begins to slow down even further when she approaches the storefront of Hoarders, considering stopping in for a few minutes, but as she does so, there's the faint sound of footsteps slowing to a stop just behind her. Decidedly non-human footsteps, at that. Something much smaller.

Turning around, she raises an eyebrow as she realized that she's made a four-legged friend during her tour of the town. The raccoon before her sits up and tilts his head to the side, clearly pleased with the attention he's sure he's about to receive.

Anita can't exactly blame him. He looks like the last attention he received came in the form of being plowed over by someone's car.

She sighs, facepalming.]

Well, crap.

[The raccoon isn't the only friend she's going to pick up today. As she continues to walk through town and even as she gets closer to home, the roadkill parade behind her seems to grow exponentially. To say the least, she doesn't look exactly pleased. Feel free to run into her anywhere along the way?]


[Video, Evening:]

[Once she's home and locked all of her admirers out, Anita is quick to get on the network, hoping she can get this resolved before Rose gets home and asks her what the hell is going on.]

So, I'm having a bit of a problem today. I need chickens. Does anyone know where I can get chickens? I could also make due with a goat, but I'd rather not. That gets messy.

Comments

/sidebar noted!

[animator]

[Meanwhile, Anita is doing her own appraisal. This girl pings her radar as something not-quite-living. She folds her arms, closing herself off as she studies the girl with her critical gaze.]

Neat party trick, right? It's not intentional. I'm in the process of resolving it.

You, however.

[You don't feel right.]

You're not a zombie. What are you?

[Nothing ventured, nothing gained.]

[trytryagain]

[For just a moment, the expression on Homura's face melts to shock and dismay, and she looks her age, not aloof and jaded and emotionless. She's trembling, tears welling in her eyes, and her arm moves just slightly --

--and then she's standing upright, still, her face like a carven statue again. The tears are gone, and her shield is at her side. She no longer looks prepared to fight. There was no telltale of visible motion or change indicating preternatural speed -- as if she changed states between one moment and the next without bothering to move.]

That's not important.

You're a magician?

[animator]

[Anita is slightly taken aback by the girl's reaction, however brief it may have been. After a moment, she shakes her head, though her stance does not change, still firm.]

Not really. An animator. I have a certain affinity for the dead.

[trytryagain]

[If Anita is watching for it, she'll see again a change in facial expressions almost too fast to be noticed, and a little nervous fidget, like a twitch in Homura's shield arm. her voice is glacial now.]

I'm not dead.

[animator]

[Oh, she's watching -- studying people's expressions is a great way to read between the lines.]

No offense, but you're sure as hell not human, either.

[trytryagain]

Most people are unable to tell.

[For the moment, curiosity is overcoming distress. Homura studies Anita right back.]

[animator]

What can I say? I'm special.

[trytryagain]

[After a long, silent stare, Homura vanishes between one breath and the next.]

[animator]

[Anita stares at the spot where the girl was previously standing, now seeing nothing but thin air.

... okay. What?]