Puella Magi Persona Magica!

Lapin Lune said:

I'd personally say that this I were running a Persona/Madoka Quest, I'd go with having Personae for the Madoka characters, or making Persona characters Magical Girls, rather than having both Personae and Magical Girls. But I'm obviously not the QM here, so it's AllyDJ's call

(I remember Ranbu Escalation, another Madoka crossover Quest but with Kamen Rider Gaim, to me just felt too cluttered having Magical girls, Witches, dance gangs, Inves, Armoured Riders, and Yggdrasil all being around at once)

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That exact concern is actually why I elected to only really extend to Oriko Magica outside of mainline PMMM, to prevent the bloat that comes from things...like, say Kazumi Magica, which is a mess on top of the fact that 90% of the people in it have absurd powersets that would shatter certain elements of the narrative. It's also why outside of limited interaction with P3-and the Velvet room and it's overall master-there's not much Persona character stuff going on. Though Persona with PMMM metaphysics and powers sounds neat. Somebody should write that.

Though there is some 'this is a crossover and some things have changed metaphysics wise' stuff going on with meguca and personae. Most of it probably won't ever come up in an important, usable info context if you don't Wish, but better to have something and not need it. You are, barring a Wish from you specifically, or Madoka/someone similarly powerful about it, the only Persona user.

Oh, and I forgot to answer it before about how contract permanency and Homura's time travel works-assuming you don't hit a certain point with the Homulink, your contract will be undone when the timeline resets, as with everything that happens after she arrives in a new timeline. If you get particularly far within the Homulink, you can selectively allow the turnback to erase certain actions you've undertaken within that timeloop.

HelioA said:

Say, how are social links going to work here, anyways? Will it be a formal thing, or will they just gradually go up as we interact with whichever character?

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Somewhat formal, but one can generally assume that if you spend time with a character frequently you will run into the events that matter for their Social Link. For some characters this requires you to be at certain social stat requirements because you have to push about it, rather commonly Understanding or Bravery. In general, you can assume that if it is available, you can move forward in a social link. You can also assume the lower you are the easier it is to get higher. 10 ranks total, as normal.

There's two links in particular that have specific story progression locks-Judgement and Magician. In Judgement's case, there is a very specific timeframe each loop that you have to make any progress in it. In Magician's, there's a lot of factors-either number of loops or by reaching a broad level across all of your social links.

You bite your lip. You...deeply want to Wish. To make someone care, even if it's forced, even if it's not real. But...you can't bet it all like that. "I...I need more time to think about this." You stall, making it a decision for the future. "Not that I'm saying no, but...you said someone cares, already, and I can't think of anything else right now." A lie, really, there are plenty of other options that already spring to mind. The wish could do anything, so you could make yourself personable, or a million other things. But you're scared, despite yourself. After all, you already acquired a bout of...powers, you'll call them, and you don't know how they'd interact.

"That's okay. Mami will be disappointed, but not every girl is as certain as she was." You blink. It makes sense, though. Mami had seemed-other than the hope of being a group showing-like she was in control of certain of her wants. You wonder, briefly, what she wished for, before figuring that was private. "I'm afraid that I cannot in good conscience leave you connected to the telepathic network beyond today unless you make a Contract, however. There are already girls around the world connected to it, and I have to route all conversations properly." Your lip quivers slightly, at that. You...liked this. It was instant, no waiting, no chance of being missed, communication with someone. You wouldn't cother someone, obviously, but you could...talk. No matter what.

But you nod, not trusting your words to betray you. You frown as your phone vibrates-only two people have your number, and one never calls or texts. You take it out to check it, and frown at it being from an unknown number.

If you value your life, come to the Mikuni mansion by the next hour. It is the only way your safety can be guaranteed.

...normally, you'd write this off as something absurd, but you do remember driving past the mansion in the pictures, and the address isn't that far. But still, an unknown messenger warning you you're in danger? You're...no one. Nobody could care to target you. You look down at Kyubey. "Are you...familiar with a Mikuni?" You ask. You figure your best shot is a magical girl that got to see the future, or something. Wishes could do anything, right?

"Mikuni Oriko contracted ten minutes ago. Why?" You frown deeply at your phone. So...she made a Wish. She might've only just now figured out how to contact you...somehow.

"Did she see the future? And could you allow me to talk to her via telepathy?" You ask, chewing on your lip. You were really unsure, but if she was precognitive, then she could be a hero...or the worst villain. You weren't sure. She could also be lying, but it seems a strange

"She was given a vision as part of her Wish, though her magic otherwise has nothing to do with future sight. And certainly." A beat, and you felt the connection being made. "Oriko, this is Okamoto Yui."

"Okamoto-san, please follow my instructions. Finish your errand, but come straight to my abode. There are critical things for your future that I must inform you of. Additionally, I am capable of advising you on other matters as well. If Tomoe Mami asks you to return home with her, I would suggest politely declining. If Akemi Homura invites you for anything, it is imperative that you follow along. You musn't alienate her. That is everything important I can tell you over telepathy. I hope, for your sake, that you visit me. You are cared about more than you could ever know." You blink as you feel her disconnect. That was...a lot of words, and some part of you wants to obey simply because she sounded worried for you. Genuinely, and not just the fake worry that adults put on occasionally when your circumstances were explained.

"I need to leave, unfortunately. Call for me if you have a Wish, Yui-chan." With that, Kyubey padded to the edge of the building before jumping downwards. You wanted to follow him, but Homura and Mami returned, the violet eyed girl looking at you with...sympathy? You were unsure, but it seemed slightly thawed. Mami scanned for Kyubey, and her smile dimmed as she noticed she was gone.

"I see you made your choice, Okamoto-san. Very well. I need to go to school, so I'm afraid I must go." With that, the blonde magical girl leaped away, leaving you alone with the scrutinizing Homura. You turn, but you frown. What were you supposed to do? Not alienating her was...fine, but you didn't really know how to do anything more than that.

Then, Homura reached into her shield and pulled out a grocery bag, as well as the list of things you needed to get, handing them to you. "I thought you might want to go home to digest this, and you dropped the list when I shot at your...persona, you called it. Consider this an apology." She explained calmly. You took the bag, slightly flummoxed as you reached for the payment, but the girl shook her head. "Can you call out the Persona? I...want to look more closely at it." You blink, and concentrate....

But it just won't come. It's like...the 'realness' of the world is bearing down on it when you try, preventing it from forming. It sits quietly in the back of your mind, but you cannot manifest it. If you had to put it into words...

"I don't think so. It's like...like trying to make a drawing come to life. It just can't happen here. That's the impression I feel." You droop, expecting her to be upset but if anything, the girl just seems pensive.

"So the presence of a witch makes the world more fantastical, which allows it to manifest. Perhaps other magic might cause it, but the presence of a single puella magi isn't enough, at least. I see. Thank you for trying. I will have more questions for you tomorrow, but you should rest today." You feel kind of like you're being treated as some sort of...fragile thing, from her tone. It makes you a little angry, but at the same time you can't muster the courage to call her out on it. Then, with no warning, she picks you up in a princess carry and hops down into the same alley Kyubey had jumped into. After setting you down, a burst of violet light leaves her in what you recognize as the Mitakihara school uniform. You want to ask, but her brisk pace takes her out of the alley before you can, and...you're not sure you want to follow her.

After all, your errand was done, and Oriko, Kyubey had called her, had told you to go to her house.

But she also told you not to alienate Homura...

[] Follow Homura.
[] Go to the Mikuni mansion.
[] ...Go home. You don't care about a supposed vision of the future. It's probably fake anyways.

I haven't quite sorted out all the outline stuff, but it's enough that was can keep moving, and I've been replaced in the life stuff by people more capable of the task than I. This first day is very eventful, but this choice leads into the last interaction of the day. Unless you go home, I suppose. Homura sees herself in the original timeline in you.