Chapter 104 - Behind The Curtain
You already knew that you weren't prepared to assault the Abnormality's position. Not at your current level, with your current resources, while you have the kids to look after all the while. That hasn't changed based on anything you've heard from Leonie or Argalia in this conversation. In the end, you simply can't do anything to stop the Adult Who Tells Lies right now. While you could continue to press for details on the Aleph's defenses, on her servants, on her capabilities, that can all come later. It can wait until you are in a position to actually act on the information that you receive. Until then, you need to ask about something more immediately relevant.
Time.
"Did anyone know what the Adult was planning in the future? Or was that kept a secret as welll?" Specifically, you're wondering what actions you can expect the Adult to take in the near future. Even in the best-case scenario, where all she does is fortify her position, you're still on the clock to make your move before she's too well dug-in for you to conceivably break through her defenses. If she's planning on expanding, you have to act faster. That would put you in quite a bit of an uncomfortable situation. You can't in good conscience let an Abnormality wander about freely to do as it pleases, but rushing in when you aren't ready wouldn't accomplish anything. The more time you have to prepare, the better.
"Oz didn't tell us much. Even though she said she had lots of plans and that our help was really important, I never really got what we were doing. Just that our work was important, and that sometimes there needed to be sacrifices made in the name of building something great." Leonie recites more mechanically than usual. You get the sense that she's repeating some lines she heard a lot more than once.
"And everyone just bought that? No plans, no actual guidance, just vague promises about a better future?" you deadpan.
"The others might know more of the specifics. They all got more personal trading time with Oz; she only stopped to check in on me every once in a while. I don't know. I think Oz expected me to leave, at least after a while. She could tell I thought I was making a mistake again."
"Hold on," you interrupt with a calm, collected tone, "she knew you were going to turn on her and didn't do anything about it? I suppose I expected the Adult to be more vicious. She is an Abnormality, after all."
Leonie pauses, her needle waving back and forth between North and East indecisively. "If you say so. Oz didn't really seem surprised when I changed, now that you mention it. She just brought everyone to look at me and then started talking about you. After that, Argalia showed up and took me away. I've been with him since then. If he hadn't, I suppose she probably would've just kept me." the new Distortion says impassively, in the same blasé tone as everything else she says. As thought she isn't discussing how she was turned into a literal object and then very nearly captured by a being you're fairly certain is a literal embodiment of human capacity for sadism and arrogance, then saved by a lunatic with a penchant for music and a weird obsession with your mother. What's more, it can't have been any longer than a week since the event.
Just from your surface-level analysis, Leonie's Distortion is a lot closer to Homura's than to at of the others you've observed in one way or another. Mechanical traits seem to correlate to heavy external motivation over internal motivation, and Leonie is even worse than Homura in that regard. Were it not for the fact that you can hear her talk, you would've taken Leonie for just an inanimate object.
That postulation can come later, though. It seems the former Magical Girl's last comment was enough to incite Argalia to jump back into the conversation.
"Ah, I remember it quite clearly. I has been slipping from one building to another for some time, near the outside of the inside of that old wretch's territory. I had been looking for ways to cut through those fields she has set up not too far when I heard a lonely melody from our friend here. And, well, what sort of person would ignore such a thing?"
Setting aside Argalia's supposed altruism, you need to wrap things up. Yuma's getting out of school soon and needs a ride home, and Mami and the others are finishing not too long after. You categorically refuse to neglect your children, even if the timing is rather inconvenient.
You could very well try and convince Argalia to leave Leonie with you. You do consider it, but it would probably be a poor idea. You have your hands full with the six children you already have to deal with, adding a seventh on top of that might just be too much for you as you are. You need to know your limits, no matter how much it goes against what you want. Besides, Argalia actually seems to be an encouraging presence for the shy girl. Leaving her with him isn't all that bad of an option. That said, if you pushed for it you doubt Argalia or the girl herself would argue.
You gesture Kyoko towards you, scanning the windows to ensure the building isn't being observed. A flash of Lamp reveals nothing, meaning you can move freely without fear of discovery.
"Well, I have other work to attend to. This conversation isn't over, though, and neither is our collaboration. Until then, we will need to part. I trust you'll be safe up until that point?" A nod from Argalia and an affirmative click from Leonie. "Good, good. In that case, there's the matter of where and when we meet next."
"That won't be an issue, dear composer. If you ever come looking for us, it won't be long before we find you. You have my assurance." Argalia helpfully chimes in.
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Leonie…
[] Leave her with Argalia
[] Take her with you
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Next Issue…
[] Madoka's Parents
Breaking the Masquerade
[] Hitomi's Parents
Alleviating Concern
[] Mami
The Darkest Secrets
[] Madoka
Measures of Value
[] Angela & Roland
A Familiar Face…
[] Write-in
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Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Porccubus' Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
CENSORED's Sapling - Observation Level EXPUNGED/REDACTED
Sorry this Chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but I really didn't want to be late on this one.
: At this rate, I'm questioning whether this is intentional or not.
