[Q] Related your realization that Ito is the exception that clarifies the rule: It's not that magical girls always fall in love with girls. Rather, the SOs of magical girls are into Yuri.
An angeru! :[
More seriously, a thought.
Power copying is a solid result for Sayaka's wish. It's a super teamwork power. But other they setting even more power behind Sabrina, it doesn't do all that much to actually help Homura and Madoka, especially emotionally or in the sense of life goals and self-worth, where we need the most help by far.
What if Sayaka's copying power is actually secondary, the way Mami's ribbons are a secondary result of her wish to be tied to life?
I think that the direct result of Sayaka's wish may have literally been the power to help. Not in any symbolic or roundabout manner with a powerful ability, but a power whispering in her ear exactly what to do to help her friends.
I'm not sure what we'd observe to falsify this. Sayaka not having a suggestion for how to help with something? That said, I think we can probably build evidence for it being more likely than alternatives. I think the big thing would be observing Sayaka acting on information that she couldn't have except by being contessa-lite? So... mostly indistinguishable from the "unconsciously an angel" hypothesis, I guess. Especially because I've heard proposals saying they wishes are, effectively, granted by the magical girl's over-arching universal soul, and it'd be easy for Sayaka's soul to implement an "always know how to help" power by just quietly leaking information to her as necessary.
(Which, of course would mean that it's not just Sayaka that's on board with MadoHomu - it's literally every Sayaka in every reality ever.)
The problem with the hypothesis is that Sayaka has had stuff
up with her since well before she made her wish. Her wish may have interacted with all that, but it seems more reasonable to presume that the underlying cause is something else.
As far as her power, I think it's better to look at power copying as being about what being useful
means to Sayaka.
Seen from a stance of utility, first off, it's a toolbox. It's acknowledging that no one power will solve everything and so instead being able to have the needed solution on hand, whatever that may be at any given time.
Secondly it's taking inspiration from others. Sayaka may not have the answers
herself, but she can stand on the shoulders of giants. It's about being like the people she admires and doing what they can do. It's present in her fighting style too: Kyouko notes that Sayaka is reactive, she takes her cues from others.
So yeah, I think Sayaka got the power she did because of how she thinks about herself and the meaning of her, personally, being useful. We've talked about what she sees in others and her lack of self-esteem after all, and I think her power copying ties into that.
As an example, if Sayaka she ever redefines her wish and how she thinks of herself, she might move on to power-synthesis or -invention. Keeping the toolbox analogy, but dropping the copying side of things.
We doing my vote with a better IRC portion - more focus on the local groups
[x] Discuss the politics of Tokyo!
-[x] Hitomi and Madoka's thoughts on the matter. Focus on how any possibilities will influence your first meetings. If you have too many ideas focus on Most likely case, Worst Case and Most Dangerous Cause.
- [X] Also Specifically figure out what you know, and what you DON'T know and what you wish you knew and what you NEED to know. This makes questions to answer that can shape our approach to negotiations and what to look for longer term. The need to know become priority intelligence needs.
[x] Dinner!
[x] What do you do afterwards?
- [x] Check out the IRCs again
- [x] With #nyantokanyaru see if we can hash out when and where to meet them. Homura wished to get their help for Walpurgisnacht and they may be able to help act as a clear seed distributor. We can also ask them about what they know of Iowa, with a focus towards previously identified gaps.
- [x] If we have time check on #milesgloriosus and see if we can talk to any of the other girls on the server we have yet to meet. General introductions for them, nice, friendly, and honest. Get an idea on how the group as a whole is in terms of situation and disposition (fractured, unified, aggressive, passive etc) We can also see what we can find on the Iowa group to help inform identifying gaps in knowledge on the Iowa group and narrow down on the questions we need to answer.
As far as politics goes, my head is not in the space for that discussion, but would it be worth mentioning what we're trying to achieve there? (namely, recruitment and our offer of cleansing)
When it comes to the offers we're making Nyantokanyaru I'd stress that clear seeds are still a clinical trial, and that they'd have to put thought towards defending them. Because while we are beholden to give our assistance, that doesn't mean we can stop people from considering clear seeds a target in the first place.
It would also be good to note to them that none of the offers or requests we're making are contingent on each other.
