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Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

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DB_Explorer said:
It stops -

Ride is not worthy : P
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Well, what I was suggesting was that the ride stops, yes, but Homura still experiences the centrifugal/coriolis forces of the ride while walking around on the now-stationary inside surface. The force sticking her to that wall isn't that different, in terms of relativistic physics, than the force sticking her to the ground when she walks around outside.

Or, for another one. Homura stops time in the Vomit Comet. Does she remain floating, or fall to whichever end of the plane is facing down? Even considering that the plane definitely stops because she's not even touching it, I think there's a credible argument that she could remain floating. Even with the "Homura's expectation" interpretation... she doesn't necessarily know which way is down. What if she's just told that it's an antigravity chamber and the fact that it works by a flightpath simulating freefall isn't disclosed? (Third possible result: She believes the antigravity turns off and she can now walk on floor of the plane as if it were in level flight, no matter what direction it is in fact facing)
 
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homura shouldn't be able to stop time on the grief carpet without bringing it with her, right? Hasn't it been established that sabrina's controlled grief is considered an extension of her and brings people into time stop with her?
 
Is there a doc somewhere that explains what enchanted grief does? My foggy memories remember being able to make a chibi/body more easily, and grief that we could sorta hold onto if it left our 100m radius.
 
Appletank said:
Is there a doc somewhere that explains what enchanted grief does? My foggy memories remember being able to make a chibi/body more easily, and grief that we could sorta hold onto if it left our 100m radius.
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IIRC, enchanted grief is shaped by focus much, much faster, requiring no trance at all, while the griefhax chibi required a 10 minute or so trance to get the same end result.

Meanwhile we couldn't so much hold onto grief outside our radius, but it remained coherent and, well, existent, though it did lose the chibi form our focus applied and get rendered back into an undifferentiated mass.

Beyond that, it appears clear seeds have some degree of control over enchanted grief, same as we do. Whether this is the same kind of "focus" and control we can give it remains to be seen, but the shell formation implies something is going on.

Actually... When we have Homura spotting for us, I'd kinda like to see if we can flat out tell Aurora how to form the enchanted grief in various shapes (be it basic stuff or more complicated like a chibi)

This probably requires establishing methods of communication. The two easiest ways I can see to do that are either flat out forming some enchanted grief into a comms device (we still haven't tried for either communication or analysis of soul gems since figuring out how to enchant grief, which may well allow us to do things that were just out of reach before) or starting off with feeding Aurora different and more varied kinds of charged magic and seeing how she reacts. (We don't need full out language to do so, though if we can convey something like the rules of Wabun code into there no harm trying, but even just trying to feed her things like sensation, ideas and complex concepts bound up in magic seems likely.)
 
The Phoenixian said:
IIRC, enchanted grief is shaped by focus much, much faster, requiring no trance at all, while the griefhax chibi required a 10 minute or so trance to get the same end result.

Meanwhile we couldn't so much hold onto grief outside our radius, but it remained coherent and, well, existent, though it did lose the chibi form our focus applied and get rendered back into an undifferentiated mass.

Beyond that, it appears clear seeds have some degree of control over enchanted grief, same as we do. Whether this is the same kind of "focus" and control we can give it remains to be seen, but the shell formation implies something is going on.

Actually... When we have Homura spotting for us, I'd kinda like to see if we can flat out tell Aurora how to form the enchanted grief in various shapes (be it basic stuff or more complicated like a chibi)

This probably requires establishing methods of communication. The two easiest ways I can see to do that are either flat out forming some enchanted grief into a comms device (we still haven't tried for either communication or analysis of soul gems since figuring out how to enchant grief, which may well allow us to do things that were just out of reach before) or starting off with feeding Aurora different and more varied kinds of charged magic and seeing how she reacts. (We don't need full out language to do so, though if we can convey something like the rules of Wabun code into there no harm trying, but even just trying to feed her things like sensation, ideas and complex concepts bound up in magic seems likely.)
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Or just give Aurora Enchanted Grief to shell herself and once she does, shape indents in the Grief, in the shape of Witch Runes. :V

Somewhat more seriously...

We still haven't tried poking the 'core' of a Clear Seed. Might be painful, but maybe less painful? Maybe if we try it while feeding happy Grief to the Seed? :thonk:

Our methods of communication are extremely limited. However, they are also kind of perfect for the simplest of experiments: We can literally reward Aurora with happiness whenever she does something we like.

... We just need a way to have Aurora do things, and for us to observe said things. And for her feedback to not destroy our mind.

By the way, we totally need a private telepahtic network, or similar, something we could use to talk about Witchbomb without KB overhearing. We really need to talk with Niko about Witch stuff, see what she's found, share ideas, etc.
 
Onmur said:
We still haven't tried poking the 'core' of a Clear Seed. Might be painful, but maybe less painful? Maybe if we try it while feeding happy Grief to the Seed? :thonk:

Our methods of communication are extremely limited. However, they are also kind of perfect for the simplest of experiments: We can literally reward Aurora with happiness whenever she does something we like.
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Honestly, my thoughts on doing so would be to feed her the emotions of our intent: Curiosity and hope as we begin, then either joy and excitement or guilt and apology after she responds, depending on whether she we think she likes it or not. So we're less "rewarding" her and far more trying to respond to her.

But first I'd honestly rather try the flat out "rig up a grief!comms device" idea.
 
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Appletank said:
I'd suggest poking her in morse code, then I realized even I'm not that much of a nerd to know morse by heart. A tiny grief loudspeaker we jam into the side? A grief wire connected to the a private server? The controls to Mario Kart?

A tank?

Let's give them a tank.
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A super advanced magitech computer with a controller system that receives input directly from your emotions and simulates a perfect 3D world.

De-Witching project gets utterly derailed when it turns out Witches would rather play minecraft forever rather than get human bodies.
 
Onmur said:
A super advanced magitech computer with a controller system that receives input directly from your emotions and simulates a perfect 3D world.

De-Witching project gets utterly derailed when it turns out Witches would rather play minecraft forever rather than get human bodies.
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How about a command and control interface to access a solid hologram body on the moon of a distant star system. :V
 
For the consideration of the thread, the result of me and firn dying a whole bunch to a tempered hazak after mildly trashtalking tempered hazak


KaizukiToday at 11:29 PM
ok but srs tho
what monhun classes do mumibrina pick
that's a tough one
wait no
mami takes bowgun
FirnagzenToday at 11:30 PM
brina plays hammer :V
KaizukiToday at 11:30 PM
hi-fives firn
FirnagzenToday at 11:30 PM
snickers
KaizukiToday at 11:30 PM
answering the tough questions in life!
FirnagzenToday at 11:30 PM
"Mami said to knock you out"
KaizukiToday at 11:30 PM
XD
LOOOOOOOOL
FirnagzenToday at 11:30 PM
important consideration
does mami yell "tiro finale" when firing the wyvernsnipe
KaizukiToday at 11:31 PM
only when it's going to be a killshot
and she always knows when it's going to be a killshot
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Firnagzen said:
Just you and Mami, ghosting over the late evening Mitakihara. It's fully night now, the city glowing with life. Threads of light wind through the streets, the never-ending pulse of the city circulating.

You cuddle a little closer to Mami, sinking into her arms as she hugs you, and you savour the sensation of being with her. She's made your life better, just by being a part of it. And... when you think about it, you're not really sure you've told her all that before.

You can change that.

But for now, you have... one last conversation to get to before you arrive home, just to clear the air. Just to clear it out, and focus on your time with Mami.

"Nadia?" you call, casting the telepathic message.

It takes a few minutes for Nadia to respond, which you occupy by letting yourself sink deeper into Mami's embrace, snuggling closer into her.

"Sabrina?" Nadia says. "What is happening?"

"I met with Rionna," you say. "Or rather, she met us."

"Ah, good," Nadia responds. "I was not sure, I had not heard she was travelling besides what you said."

"Except, well..." you say, trying not to grimace. "She... I don't know. It seems like she might have come to kill me for being a Grief Controller."

"... I have not heard of this," Nadia says, voice turning sharp. "What happened?"

"Well-" For the fourth time in less than an hour, you go over what happened with Rionna. Nadia's silent as she listens, only responding when you prompt her to make sure she's still there. And finally, as you draw to the end of the explanation, she sighs.

"I apologise," she says. "I did not know. I did not... she seemed pleasant enough when I met her. Rude, but pleased to have me over."

She pauses, seeming to think it over. "I did not know she was coming. She is not known to leave Edinburgh, fimti? And she did not say either, when she was going down to Mitakihara. If she does not, and her visits are not common... I did not know. I am sorry."

"I'm not blaming you," you say with a mental sigh. Something twinges at your mind. Wouldn't Rionna have left witnesses behind? Other magical girls, who she didn't kill and enslave. Hopefully. "Just... updating you. And... there's going to be PR fallout of this, isn't there? For attacking her? Do you have any idea how I might deal with it?"

But then again, her powers would be uniquely suited to simply making individual magical girls simply disappear from right under the noses of others. You suppress a shudder, but not before Mami notices. She peers down at you, concerned.

"I'm OK," you tell Mami with a soft smile. "Just keeping Nadia updated, that's all."

"Alright," Mami says, returning the smile, and resumes playing with your hair.

"Be honest about it," Nadia says. "It is what I will do. You do not want to let her kind stand. So, you did something. If someone is afraid of you for that, then that is their problem."

"I don't want to scare people off from coming to Mitakihara, especially if they're in need," you say. "And I don't want people coming after me because of rumours that I take down people at my own whims."

"Hah!" Nadia snorts. "That is not a concern. The fact that you do not automatically attack people already sets you apart, fimti? Welcoming people? A rarity, if people are in need or want to come, they will. This will not scare them, and if they want to attack to steal you away, this may persuade them otherwise."

"I... that's fair," you say, hesitating for a second. You're not sure whether you should bring up Kyuubey stirring shit up, but this is something that -unlike Rionna- she must be well aware of. "Is there anything I should do?"

"No?" Nadia says. You can hear the audible shrug in her voice. "It is not like there is a press for you to give a statement to, fimti?"

"... yeah, that's true," you say. "Thanks, Nadia."

"You are welcome," Nadia says. "I apologise for the poor information."

She disconnects, and you sigh. Mami's fingers pause for a moment in your hair, and she gives you another look - but then, she's always been able to read your emotions, even when you try to hide them.

"It's nothing, just... well, Nadia," you say. "I mean, I guess I can't blame her for not being omniscient, but still. If I'd known ahead of time..."

"It would have saved a lot of trouble, had we known," Mami agrees. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be ridiculous, Mami," you say, smiling up at her. The wind sets her hair whipping out, framing her face with a soft, golden halo lit by the glow of the city below. "You are not at all at fault."

"I'm sorry you had to go through it," Mami says, shaking her head. "And I'm-" She bites her lip.

"Mami?" you prompt, sitting up properly to look at her.

She giggles faintly. "I was... I was going to apologise that I couldn't help more," she says. "But I realised that you wouldn't accept it."

"Damn right I wouldn't," you say, smiling and relaxing back into her embrace.

Mami huffs, and wraps her arms a little tighter around your midsection. The conversation lapses into a comfortable silence as you head home. Home with Mami, home to Mami's apartment, the two of you descending the steps at a rapid trot. You shuck your shoes and lock the door behind you, barely an afterthought, before flopping face down on the sofa.

There are still dishes soaking in the sink, but you don't really care right now.

"Geh," you grumble, feeling the cushion depress as Mami sits next to you. She gently lifts your head and slides over so that your head is resting on her lap. "Mmrm."

"How are you?" she asks quietly.

You roll over so that you're face-up, and smile at her. "Better. Tired, but... better. Thank you, Mami."

"I didn't do much," Mami says, returning the smile, soft and warm.

"I..." you pull yourself upright, one hand on the back of the sofa, and shift so that you're facing Mami properly. You take a breath, and smile at her. "Mami, I've been thinking. Or, well, the pendant, the things you've said about what I've done for you... it got me thinking."

"I... I understand what I've done for you, I think," you say quietly, and pull Mami into a hug. "And I like to think I understand some of what... what it means to you, the importance of all of it. 'I'm not alone anymore', as you said. I... hope it isn't too arrogant to say that I filled a, a void in your heart?"

"No," Mami murmurs, wrapping her arms around you and leaning into the hug. "No, not in the slightest, Sabrina. You have. You absolutely have."

"I... well, I know it's not a, a small thing," you say. "I know you think that it's a lot, even, but as much as it is, I think of the two of us as being even on this kind of thing. I know I haven't really elaborated or expressed myself well on why or how, but I..."

You smile softly at Mami, pressing a gentle finger to her lips before she can speak.

"You've done as much for me as I've done for you," you say. "You really have. I've done a poor job of telling you that. I've been leaning on the easy things, like... thanking you for taking me in, or simply telling you that, but none of it is really sufficient to convey what I want to. And I could never truly find the words to really tell you what I wanted to."

"I..." Mami's eyes are huge. She swallows, eyes huge as she stares at you. "I didn't... I haven't done that much."

You take her hands between yours, running your fingers over the soft, delicate skin that belies so much strength. She turns her hand over and closes her fingers over yours, squeezing gently.

"I never really could tell you, but... I said something once. I didn't know we'd get along so well. I didn't know we could be friends," you murmur, and smile at Mami. "Do you remember that?"

"I remember," Mami responds, her breath hitching slightly. "It was when you... I... remember."

You hug her. When you told her about yourself, how you woke up knowing about her.

"Sabrina, I..." Mami swallows, looking up at you and smiling. "I trust you. You've... given me everything. I trust you."

"I know," you murmur softly. "And I'm sorry I hurt you, then and now. But... what I said back then? It wasn't really accurate." You smile at her, gentle and warm, and speak before she can. "Not the fact that I'm your friend - I am, Mami, now and always."

"But I always knew you could and would have friends," you say, smiling ruefully and shaking your head. "In an... abstract sense, you know. 'Mami can and should have friends.' But me... I was here to fix things. I had a purpose, I suppose, when I woke up. Do the right things, get everyone their happy endings. Put an end to all the horrible things happening."

"I..." Mami swallows, curling up against your side and wrapping her arms fully around your waist. "That's not how it should be. You should have more than that."

"That's just it," you say with a smile for Mami. "I never thought that I would have a life outside that mission. I just never really thought about it. And it was just the little things, at first. Having someone around who didn't mind my silliness, you know? The Portal theme, breakfast together, Mecha Godzilla Gurren Lagann, that kind of thing."

You squeeze her hand gently. "But it became more than that. I realised I could have you as a friend, and I realised I wanted to have you as my friend. To know you better, to spend time with you, not because I wanted to fix things, but because I wanted your friendship, because I enjoyed spending time with you."

Mami swallows, her eyes huge, following your every motion, every word. But you can see the growing joy in her gaze, the way she wraps herself around you, arms around your waist and leg thrown across yours. Not the deathgrip of fear that you might leave her, but because she wants to be close to you - and you're clinging to her just as much as she is to you.

"You make me happy," you murmur. "You make me happy, and I have a life now, and I want you as part of my life. Now and always." You smile softly. "And that I found out any of this, Mami? That's thanks to you."

"Sabrina, I..." Mami swallows. "I don't know what to say."

You smile, and lean into her embrace, tucking your chin against the crook of her neck. "And that's fine. I didn't... I didn't have the words for this, couldn't put it together until now. But it's... it's what you've done for me, you know?"

"You've given me everything, Sabrina," Mami murmurs quietly. Her breath disturbs the hair over your shoulder. "I... I know I said that already, but you have. I never thought I'd be here today, with friends all around me, talking to my old student again... I never thought I'd have someone like you with me. And it's everything."

You exhale slowly, still nestling against her.

"There's been... an image burned into my mind, from the very start," you say thoughtfully. "And... this is a non-sequtur, but I was thinking about it. Of me. Alone, wandering the universe, and... someone asking me if I didn't want to stop, whether I didn't want to settle down with my friends. With everyone else. And there... I said no. It was a success. Everyone else was happy, and I would continue my job, my mission. Sad, but... everyone was happy. That's all I could ask for."

"That's not-" Mami pulls back from the hug, something like horror stealing across her gaze. "That's not right."

You smile at her, taking her hand and twining your fingers together.

"Not any more," you say, meeting her eyes squarely. "All I had, back then, was a mission. Now I have you, and that's not something I'm willing to give up. That's what you've done for me, Mami. It's not as... dramatic as what I did for you, but no less life-changing."

You shake your head, hair flying. "I understand why you still worry that I might leave you. But it's not going to happen. Not as long as you'll have me. Someone would have to force me to, because I have a life now, and I want you in it."

"I..." Mami takes a quick, shivering breath. "Always, Sabrina. I'll always want you. Always."

"Thank you," you murmur. "I... I don't want to be alone, either." You pull Mami into a tight, crushing hug, and she reciprocates, arms wrapping around your back as if she'll never let go.

[] Relax for the rest of the night
- [] Homework for Mami!
- [] Enchanting practice for yourself?
- [] Ask about Mami's enchantment for the pendant
- [] Something else?
[x] Breakfast with Mami
- [] Good morning Mitakihara!
-- [] Any topics to hit?
[x] Shopping with Homura in the morning
[] Call up Nagisa, it's been a while!
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Again, slightly later than expected, but... better late than never?
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Airbrushed version of last chapter said:
Just you and Mami, ghosting over the late evening Mitakihara. It's fully night now, the city glowing with life. Threads of light wind through the streets, the never-ending pulse of the city circulating.

You cuddle a little closer to Mami, sinking into her arms as she hugs you, and you savour the sensation of being with her. She's made your life better, just by being a part of it. And... when you think about it, you're not really sure you've told her all that before.

You can change that.

But for now, you have... one last conversation to get to before you arrive home, just to clear the air. Just to clear it out, and focus on your time with Mami.

"Nadia?" you call, casting the telepathic message.

It takes a few minutes for Nadia to respond, which you occupy by letting yourself sink deeper into Mami's embrace, snuggling closer into her.

"Sabrina?" Nadia says. "What is happening?"

"I met with Rionna," you say. "Or rather, she met us."

"Ah, good," Nadia responds. "I was not sure, I had not heard she was travelling besides what you said."

"Except, well..." you say, trying not to grimace. "She... I don't know. It seems like she might have come to kill me for being a Grief Controller."

"... I have not heard of this," Nadia says, voice turning sharp. "What happened?"

"Well-" For the fourth time in less than an hour, you go over what happened with Rionna. Nadia's silent as she listens, only responding when you prompt her to make sure she's still there. And finally, as you draw to the end of the explanation, she sighs.

"I apologise," she says. "I did not know. I did not... she seemed pleasant enough when I met her. Rude, but pleased to have me over."

She pauses, seeming to think it over. "I did not know she was coming. She is not known to leave Edinburgh, fimti? And she did not say either, when she was going down to Mitakihara. If she does not, and her visits are not common... I did not know. I am sorry."

"I'm not blaming you," you say with a mental sigh. Something twinges at your mind. Wouldn't Rionna have left witnesses behind? Other magical girls, who she didn't kill and enslave. Hopefully. "Just... updating you. And... there's going to be PR fallout of this, isn't there? For attacking her? Do you have any idea how I might deal with it?"

But then again, her powers would be uniquely suited to simply making individual magical girls simply disappear from right under the noses of others. You suppress a shudder, but not before Mami notices. She peers down at you, concerned.

"I'm OK," you tell Mami with a soft smile. "Just keeping Nadia updated, that's all."

"Alright," Mami says, smiling back at you. She returns to playing with your hair.

"Be honest about it," Nadia says. "It is what I will do. You do not want to let her kind stand. So, you did something. If someone is afraid of you for that, then that is their problem."

"I don't want to scare people off from coming to Mitakihara, especially if they're in need," you say. "And I don't want people coming after me because of rumours that I take down people at my own whims."

"Hah!" Nadia snorts. "That is not a concern. The fact that you do not automatically attack people already sets you apart, fimti? Welcoming people? A rarity, if people are in need or want to come, they will. This will not scare them, and if they want to attack to steal you away, this may persuade them otherwise."

"I... that's fair," you say, hesitating for a second. You're not sure whether you should bring up Kyuubey stirring shit up, but this is something that -unlike Rionna- she must be well aware of. "Is there anything I should do?"

"No?" Nadia says. You can hear the audible shrug in her voice. "It is not like there is a press for you to give a statement to, fimti?"

"... yeah, that's true," you say. "Thanks, Nadia."

"You are welcome," Nadia says. "I apologise for the poor information."

She disconnects, and you sigh. Mami's fingers pause for a moment in your hair, and she gives you another look - but then, she's always been able to read your emotions, even when you try to hide them.

"It's nothing, just... well, Nadia," you say. "I mean, I guess I can't blame her for not being omniscient, but still. If I'd known ahead of time..."

"It would have saved a lot of trouble, had we known," Mami agrees. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be ridiculous, Mami," you say, smiling up at her. The wind sets her hair whipping out, framing her face with a soft, golden halo lit by the glow of the city below. "You are not at all at fault."

"I'm sorry you had to go through it," Mami says, shaking her head. "And I'm-" She bites her lip.

"Mami?" you prompt, sitting up properly to look at her.

She giggles faintly. "I was... I was going to apologise that I couldn't help more," she says. "But I realised that you wouldn't accept it."

"Damn right I wouldn't," you say, smiling and relaxing back into her embrace.

Mami huffs, and wraps her arms a little tighter around your midsection. The conversation lapses into a comfortable silence as you head home. Home with Mami, home to Mami's apartment, the two of you descending the steps at a rapid trot. You shuck your shoes and lock the door behind you, barely an afterthought, before flopping face down on the sofa.

There are still dishes soaking in the sink, but you don't really care right now.

"Geh," you grumble, feeling the cushion depress as Mami sits next to you. She gently lifts your head and slides over so that your head is resting on her lap. "Mmrm."

"How are you?" she asks quietly.

You roll over so that you're face-up, and smile at her. "Better. Tired, but... better. Thank you, Mami."

"I didn't do much," Mami says, returning the smile, soft and warm.

"I... No." you pull yourself upright, one hand on the back of the sofa, and shift so that you're facing Mami properly. You take a breath, and smile at her. "Mami, I've been thinking. Or, well, the pendant, the things you've said about what I've done for you... it got me thinking."

"I... I understand what I've done for you, I think," you say quietly, and pull Mami into a hug. "And I like to think I understand some of what... what it means to you, the importance of all of it. 'I'm not alone anymore', as you said. I... hope it isn't too arrogant to say that I filled a, a void in your heart?"

"No," Mami murmurs, wrapping her arms around you and leaning into the hug. "No, not in the slightest, Sabrina. You have. You absolutely have."

"I... well, I know it's not a, a small thing," you say. "I know you think that it's a lot, even, but as much as it is, I think of the two of us as being even on this kind of thing. I know I haven't really elaborated or expressed myself well on why or how, but I..."

You pull back just enough to smile softly at Mami, and to press a gentle finger to her lips even as she makes to protest.

"You've done as much for me as I've done for you," you say. "You really have. I've done a poor job of telling you that. I've been leaning on the things that are easy to say, like... thanking you for taking me in, or simply telling you that, but none of it is really sufficient to convey what I want to. And I could never truly find the words to really tell you what I wanted to."

"I..." Mami stares at you, brows furrowed, her head shaking ever so slightly. "I didn't... I haven't done that much."

You take her hands between yours, running your fingers over the soft, delicate skin that belies so much strength. She turns her hand over and closes her fingers over yours, squeezing gently.

"I never really could tell you, but... I said something once. I didn't know we'd get along so well. I didn't know we could be friends," you murmur, and smile at Mami. "Do you remember that?"

"I remember," Mami responds, her breath hitching slightly. "It was when you... I... remember."

You pull her back into a full embrace. When you told her about yourself, how you woke up knowing about her. The two of you stay like that for a few moments before Mami, this time, breaks away to look you in the eye. "Sabrina, I..." she swallows, smiling. "I trust you. You've... given me everything. I trust you."

"I know," you murmur softly. "And I'm sorry I hurt you, then and now. But... what I said back then? It wasn't really accurate." You smile back at her, gentle and warm, and speak before she can, preempting any possible misinterpretation. "Not the fact that I'm your friend - I am, Mami, now and always."

"But... see, I always knew you could and would have friends," you say, shaking your head, your smile turning rueful. "In an... abstract sense, you know. 'Mami can and should have friends.' But me... I was here to fix things. I had a purpose, I suppose, when I woke up. Do the right things, get everyone their happy endings. Put an end to all the horrible things happening."

"I..." Mami's face pales slightly at your implication, and she shudders slightly before pulling her legs up and across yours to curl up against your side and wrap her arms fully around your waist. You wrap both arms around her in turn as she looks up at you from her new position. "That's not how it should be. You should have more than that."

"That's just it," you say as you give Mami a happy smile. "I never thought that I would have a life outside that mission. I just never really thought about it. And it was just the little things, at first. Having someone around who didn't mind my silliness, you know? The Portal theme, breakfast together, Mecha Godzilla Gurren Lagann, that kind of thing."

You drop one of your arms from her back to your waist to take her hand in your own and squeeze it gently. "But it became more than that. I realised I could have you as a friend, and I realised I wanted to have you as my friend. To know you better, to spend time with you, not because I wanted to fix things, but because I wanted your friendship, because I enjoyed spending time with you."

Mami stares up at you, eyes huge, following your every motion, your every word. It reminds you of the times when you've seen her at her weakest, reduced simply to begging you not to go, but today you can see the growing joy in her gaze, just as you see it in the way she has wrapped herself around you. Here, now, she's not holding despererately to you in fear that you might leave her, she simply wants to be close to you - and you're clinging to her just as much as she is to you.

"You make me happy," you murmur. "You make me happy, and I have a life now, and I want you as part of my life. Now and always." You smile softly. "And that I found out any of this, Mami? That's thanks to you."

"Sabrina, I..." Mami swallows. "I don't know what to say."

You smile, and lean into her embrace, tucking your chin against the crook of her neck. "And that's fine. I didn't... I didn't have the words for this, couldn't put it together until now. But it's... it's what you've done for me, you know?"

"You've given me everything, Sabrina," Mami murmurs quietly, her breath disturbing the hair over your shoulder. "I... I know I said that already, but you have. I never thought I'd be here today, with friends all around me, talking to my old student again... I never thought I'd have someone like you with me. I never even imagined."

You exhale slowly, still nestling against her.

"There's been... an image burned into my mind, from the very start," you say thoughtfully. "And... this is a non-sequtur, but I was thinking about it. Of me. Alone, wandering the universe, and... someone asking me if I didn't want to stop, whether I didn't want to settle down with my friends. With everyone else. And there... I said no. It was a success. Everyone else was happy, and I would continue my job, my mission. Sad, but... everyone was happy. That's all I could ask for."

"That's not-" Mami pulls back from the hug, something like horror stealing across her gaze. "That's not right."

You smile at her, taking her hands and twining your fingers together.

"Things are different now," you say, meeting her eyes squarely. "All I had, back then, was a mission. Now I have you, and that's not something I'm willing to give up. That's what you've done for me, Mami. It's not as... dramatic as what I did for you, but no less life-changing."

You shake your head, hair flying. "I understand why you still worry that I might leave you. But it's not going to happen. Not as long as you'll have me. Someone would have to force me to, because I have a life now, and I want you in it."

"I..." Mami takes a quick, shivering breath. "Always, Sabrina. I'll always want you. Always."

"Thank you," you murmur. "I... I don't want to be alone, either." You pull Mami into a tight, crushing hug, and she reciprocates, arms wrapping around your back as if she'll never let go.

[] Relax for the rest of the night
- [] Homework for Mami!
- [] Enchanting practice for yourself?
- [] Ask about Mami's enchantment for the pendant
- [] Something else?
[x] Breakfast with Mami
- [] Good morning Mitakihara!
-- [] Any topics to hit?
[x] Shopping with Homura in the morning
[] Call up Nagisa, it's been a while!
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Again, slightly later than expected, but... better late than never?
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I airbrushed your edit of the last chapter @Firnagzen.

Basically just cleaned things up.

Firnagzen said:
"I..." Mami's eyes are huge. She swallows, eyes huge as she stares at you. "I didn't... I haven't done that much."
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Firnagzen said:
Mami swallows, her eyes huge, following your every motion, every word.
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Like that stuff.

Hopefully now I can stop obsessing over this >_>

Thoughts anyone?
 
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Point Insertion pt. 31
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    • You lean into Mami's arms, burrowing into the hug. She tightens her grip on you, squeezing hard enough that a normal human might have difficulty breathing - but then, you're holding her just as tightly. Mami sighs happily, her chin resting gently against the crown of your head.

    And here and now, it's... entirely possible to just push the world aside, just forget about all the troubles and issues piling up. Let it all wait until later, and relax for just a bit.

    "I..." you stir, pulling back and smiling at Mami. "It's... it's hard to articulate these things, sometimes, but... I could show you."

    You gather your magic, ready to mingle it with the magic of the ribbon holding that pendant around your neck, only for your thoughts to stall as Mami presses a finger to your lips.

    "No, I... let me say something." She takes a breath, smiling. "Sabrina, you've given me everything. I was... I had almost given up. But you- you've brought me happiness. I, I can't express in words how much you mean to me, just- you're everything to me, Sabrina. I just... wanted you to know that."

    You give her a smile, one you're sure is probably seven levels of embarrassingly sappy.

    "Thank you, Mami," you say quietly, reaching up to take your pendant. She presses a hand to yours, gently nudging your arm away - instead, she twines her fingers together with yours.

    "Hm?" you blink at her.

    "I believe you," she says simply, and smiles, cupping your cheek gently. "I believe you, Sabrina. And it's... something for me to hold on to. Something to anchor myself to, that you think so much of me. That you... need me as much as I need you. I don't need you to show me, because you already have."

    She smiles softly, and then leans up to brush a gentle, careful kiss against your cheek.

    ... you definitely do not squeak and blush a bright, flaming red, staring at Mami with huge eyes. She does, on the other hand, laugh, blushing just as hard as you definitely aren't, and curl up against your side. You wrap your arm around her, closing your eyes and sighing happily, savouring the closeness and the warmth.

    As much as you wish you could stay like this forever, though, you do have other things to handle.

    "Mami? You have homework to do for the night, right?" you murmur, eyes still closed.

    "Mm," she says. "I do."

    "OK," you say. "Do you want to get started?"

    "I suppose I should," she murmurs.

    You stir, and smile at her. "Hey. We have all the time in the world to be with each other, right?"

    "And only so much time to do my homework," Mami says, and pouts.

    "Not really what I meant, but it's true as well," you say, laughing and tucking yourself under her arm. "I'll help you with it?"

    "I'd like that," Mami says with a smile. "And... ah, we haven't done the dishes."

    "Oh, don't worry about that, I'll handle it," you say, perking up. "Shouldn't be a problem."

    "Um?" Mami says. "No, no, I should help!"

    "Nah," you say. "I want to practice using Grief remotely, anyway."

    "Oh, I see," Mami says. She nods, smiling. "Alright, then. Be careful!"

    "I will," you say. You're already saturating the kitchen with Grief fog, mapping out every square centimeter of the room. Especially all the dirty dishes soaking in the sink.

    Mami stands, and pads over to collect her bag from the shelf, bringing it over to the coffee table. You slide off the end of the sofa to join her on the floor, wrapping an arm around her and squirming closer. She gives you a warm smile as she fishes out a writing pad and the day's worksheets.

    Chemistry, it turns out. You half turn so that you're leaning lightly against her shoulder, a fraction of your attention turned towards the kitchen.

    You pull the plug from the sink, allowing the water to drain, and rather than soaping, rinsing and drying every plate, cutlery, and miscellaneous cookware, you just... scrape them all clean with a surface-following, atomic-thickness blade. And then you stuff them away into the drawers.

    Magic!

    You peek over Mami's shoulder as she works. Organic chemistry, it appears - free radical reactions with simple organic molecules. Mami tilts her head and gently rubs her cheek against yours, and you beam at her in return. Still, she seems to have it well in hand, so you instead withdraw a small blob of Grief from your hammerspace.

    And the biggest thing you need is to have something that can contain Grief outside your control radius, something that can replace Grief Seeds. Clear or otherwise.

    You scowl thoughtfully to yourself as you pull a rock out of your hammerspace, too, weighing Grief in one hand and stone in the other. Perhaps if you tried to enchant something that simply attracts Grief? You frown, setting aside the Grief and trying to shape your magic, imbuing the rock with your will.

    You and Mami work quietly for an hour and a half. Working on your own things, but working together in an easy, comfortable silence with the reassurance that both of you are right there, next to each other. Mami asks for your help with the chemistry, and you give her a happy smile as you set aside the enchantment for the moment and help her with her homework, tucking your chin on her shoulder and hugging her from behind as you explain.

    Ultimately, you don't make much headway with the enchantment - you just can't seem to get your magic to form the shape you want, but then again, enchantment is an ongoing thing. You can't help but wonder if you're approaching it with the wrong mindset, admittedly, but... it does take time.

    Mami exhales slowly, and beams at you as she sets her pen aside. "Alright. I'm done for the night," she says, stretching. "Shall we make an early night of it? It's been a long day."

    "That... sounds like a fantastic idea," you say, and beam at Mami. "An early night it is."

    "Alright," Mami says, packing away her homework. "Would you like to shower first?"

    "Nah," you say. "Go ahead, and I'll be right here, OK?"

    That earns you a dazzling smile from Mami, and she takes a deep breath before standing. You beam at her as she heads for the bedroom to grab a change of clothes.

    You frown at the rock still held in your hand. At least, without trying to force it, you haven't shattered the rock to tiny pieces again. You scowl thoughtfully. The general aspect of enchantment you have seems to be control. And yet, you're not sure how to parley that into a more general Grief cleansing enchantment, because... what is control without guidance?

    Your thoughts are interrupted by the door opening behind you, Mami emerging with an armful of clothes, giving you a smile as she heads to the bathroom. You beam back at her.

    As she enters the bathroom and you hear the shower on, it strikes you as oddly lonely without Mami right here beside you, even in familiar grounds and Mami not even ten meters away. You turn on the television, just to fill the room with some noise, and flop over to lie down on the sofa, frowning thoughtfully at the ceiling.

    What are you missing with your enchantment? Or are you thinking in the wrong direction here?

    And yet-

    No, there must be some way to distribute cleansing, right? You can't do everything yourself, and... you have to break this horrible system, that pits girls against other girls just for basic survival, that places endless torment at the end of an all-too-short life.

    Everything can be fixed.

    You're so caught up in your thoughts you almost don't notice when Mami emerges from the bathroom, walking over to the sofa with quick, hurried steps. You haul yourself upright, opening your arms to pull her into a hug. You bury your face in the waves of her freshly shampooed hair, breathing deep.

    "Hi," Mami murmurs.

    "Hi!" you say, and beam at her.

    You spend a few minutes just hugging each other before Mami stirs. "You should go and shower."

    "Are you saying I stink?" you say, faking indignation.

    "Well, I didn't say that you do..." Mami says.

    "Well." You huff, smiling. "I see how it is."

    "Go, shower," Mami says. Her smile matches yours. "And I... I'll be right here."

    You beam at her, and hop to your feet before grabbing your night clothes and heading to the shower. When you emerge, towelling your hair out, you're wearing a loose T-shirt and comfortable shorts to sleep in, Mami watching some game show or another on the television. Something about not laughing, you gather, where the contestants are put in increasingly ridiculous situations.

    She turns to smile at you.

    "Hi!" you say, draping yourself over the back of the sofa, bent forward at the waist. "How are you, Mami?"

    "I'm... I'm alright," she says, and hugs you.

    Well, she gives you an upside-down hug, anyway. Or rather, you're upside-down. Half upside-down.

    "Shall we turn in?" you say.

    "Ah, let me just dry my hair," Mami says, and frowns for a moment before snapping her fingers. You feel her magic snap out, and the water in her hair simply... puffs into mist.

    You blink.

    "... OK, that's really cool," you say.

    "Just a minor trick," Mami says, beaming. "Can't do much more than that, though, and it's not good to do it too often, I imagine... oh!"

    She snaps her fingers again, and dries your hair.

    "Thank you!" You beam at her.

    "You're welcome," Mami says, and stands. "Shall we?"

    "Yeah," you say, unfolding from the back of the sofa. Together, you head to your bedroom, flicking the light switch off as Mami crawls onto the bed. She holds her arms out for you and you happily oblige.

    "Goodnight, Sabrina," she murmurs.

    "Goodnight, Mami," you respond, and let your eyes flutter shut.

    [] Vote in abeyance
    - [] Anything to hit during the morning talk?
    - [] What do you talk to Nagisa about?
    - [] Anything to talk to your friends on the way to school?
    [] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)
    [x] Breakfast with Mami
    - [x] Good morning Mitakihara!
    -- [x] You want to contact some other Japanese meguca groups. Fukushima and the University Group might have some useful info.
    [x] Call up Nagisa, it's been a while!
    [X] If Mami seems down about the two of us parting ways for the day, kiss her. She's not leaving you and you're not leaving her.
    [x] Go shopping with Homura in the morning!

    =====​

    Ugh. Sorry for cutting the update off here, but if I didn't, I wouldn't be updating today. Oh, and I did a bit of an editing pass to the last update. Should read better now.
     
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