June 12th, The Woods, Near midnight

[independent_dollmaker]

[Well, if they didn't want kids exploring the woods, maybe they should have said why!

Hiroshi, Alice, Nui, Osaka, Chiyoko, Maya, Minako and Maria advance through the darkness. It's not as creepy as Alice was expecting, honestly. She told her parents that she was visiting Maria, and wouldn't be back until late, and they seemed happy enough that she was spending time with friends to not ask too many questions. Her main contribution to the exploration party: A flashlight!

Alice looks up, quietly noting the moonless sky. Good luck, hearing about this whole thing the day before a new moon.]

So, I never did get a clear answer on whether or not there are bears in this area.

Comments

[happyhalloween]

Hey let's go! Hey let's go! I'm happy as can be!

[Somebody's definitely happy if the sounds of the opening song to My Neighbor Totoro are any indication. Maria's going to meet a witch! She's going to make friends with a witch!

And she has a new apprentice! OSAKA, the Witch of Enlightenment!

This is a very good night to be Maria.]

It's okay if we meet bears! The bears are Shigetsuna-sama's friends!

[independent_dollmaker]

I'm more worried about whether or not they're our friends.

[happyhalloween]

If we make friends with Shigetsuna-sama, the bears will be our friends!

[independent_dollmaker]

And what about the bears we meet between now and then?

[happyhalloween]

We'll feed them Hiroshi.

[ohmygah]

You think Hiroshi likes to eat bears?

[Not what she said, Osaka.]

[happyhalloween]

Maybe he likes to eat gummi bears. They bounce here and there and everywhere!

[Somebody's a TV kid.]

[ohmygah]

Wow, really? I don't think I'd have the energy for that.

[loveandwillpower]

That's why you aren't a bear, Osaka! You need to shape up if you want to become a bear!

[ Said in more or less the exact tone of voice their homeroom teacher uses when talking to either of them about their grades. ]

[ohmygah]

[THE DEJA VU IS HORRIFYING]

But... why would I wanna be a bear?

[loveandwillpower]

Well, it would be a real shame if we had to feed Hiroshi to a complete stranger.

[ohmygah]

Oh, I getcha.

You sure he'd be tasty though? He's pretty skinny...

[fortunatetoaster]

We ain't feedin' anyone ta no bears! Twenty demerits if I see ya tryin' it!

[ chiyoko are demerits really the appropriate response to attempted murder ]

[happyhalloween]

I won't let you see me, Madame President!

[Demerits are always appropriate.]

[fortunatetoaster]

Then I'm just gonna keep an extra close eye on the both a' ya and make sure it don't happen.

[happyhalloween]

[Maria just goes back to singing the song from Totoro:]

Let's go walking, you and me! Ready set, come on, let's go!

[all_onis_are_true]

I... I doubt that will be necessary.

[Maria why do you hate hiiiiim]

[happyhalloween]

[Because you don't believe in magic, Hiroshi.]

But Hiroshi can possess the bear after it's done eating! Then you can become the bear! Kihihihi.

[all_onis_are_true]

Somehow, I do not believe things would work quite that way.

[Ugh... why couldn't she be obsessed with something more benign?]

[happyhalloween]

Doesn't Hiroshi want to be a bear?

[Doesn't everybody?]

[itwasfeyt]

Maria-chan! We can't feed Hiroshi to the bears! Bears are only supposed to eat Honey and stuff!

[happyhalloween]

And gummi-berry juice!

[TV KID.]

[itwasfeyt]

Exactly! [JUST GO WITH IT] That's why Hiroshi shouldn't be fed to bears!

[happyhalloween]

But then when he possessed the bears he could bounce.

[itwasfeyt]

Huh, that's true.