SeQuester
Novice explorer
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/His
Judging by defense skill and combat passive names, it might be Madoka's ego.
“Human Resources” Shouldn’t Be This Literal: A PMMM/ProjectMoon Quest
- Thread starter Lepidoptera
- Start date
-
- Tags
- library of ruina lobotomy corporation project moon puella magi madoka magica eldritch horror magical girl crossover eldritch protagonist female protagonist gore non-human protagonist suffering violence discussion is always good civ good decisions identity crises nuclear moth detected parenting powers activate
questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
Nah. It seems strong but not really.
It would land in the upper echleon of IDs for sure, but it's not too strong.
The only thing that makes it too strong is the combat passive.
2.4.8 - Fraternization
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Chapter 131 - Fraternization
You, Homura, and Madoka descend the stairs to the Floor of Language together. Where the climb up was quiet and interspersed by sparse conversation, the way down is different. A contemplative silence fills the air, and it would feel wrong to try and fill it with noise.
Exactly how well this went remains to be seen. Hokma and Binah are both difficult people to speak with in entirely different ways. While Hokma is usually trying to help and you're fairly certain that Binah is trying to help right now, how much the kids get out of it is up to them. You still don't have any obvious way forward on confronting the Adult Who Tells Lies. Not that you were expecting anything so convenient, but it would've been nice. As things stand you may need to head into Kamihama with what you have now.
That will be a difficult proposition to be sure, though not an impossible one. Kyoko and Homura will be especially key to keeping ahead, though how effective they'll actually be is dependent on their mental state. You can trust that Mami will be more than a match for any of the Magical Girls in the city, though there's more room for surprises there. Even Sayaka, relatively weak and inexperienced as she is, is making a lot of progress.
Speaking of, you've nearly reached the training room. The patient silence of the upper floors has slowly pulled back to welcome the clanging of metal and clashing of blades. Interestingly enough, the occasional cheer or shout joins the clamor. Some of the voices sound unfamiliar to you, but others…
The three of you arrive at the floor, exiting the stairway and immediately feeling a ripple of heat from the molten steel flowing below. Just as you step out into the training area, you're forced to duck to the side to avoid a discarded sword flying towards your head. Behind you, Madoka winces at the sight of Gebura slamming Mimicry's hilt into a now-disarmed Sayaka's temple.
Her expression is mirrored by a row of kids you barely recognize, sitting lined up just outside of the enclosed training area on a few disorganized pieces of scrap pulled together to form seats. Three adults in Library garb, two women and a man, are lined up behind them. The first woman, the only member of the three to wear the red suit of this Floor's Assistant Librarians, is tall and somewhat gangly, messy green hair falling in curls over their sleep-deprived face. The second woman is shorter and yet stands above River by virtue of far better posture. Her hair, tied into a simple ponytail, is somewhere between white and silver in spite of a youthful face, matching the uniform sheen over her eyes. She and the man both wear the blue uniforms of members of the Floor of Social Sciences, though the man's outfit is contrasted heavily by the shock of wild red hair atop his head. The red-haired man, Apollo, wears his uniform loosely while London's is immaculately kept.
They really haven't changed at all.
River is the first to notice your entry, turning her eyes from the ongoing duel to greet yours. Her gaze quickly drifts from you to Madoka and Homura behind you. River stares at the children from over the tops of the other kids' heads, lowering her body as if to hide from your wards behind the Library's Magical Girls. Her strange behavior is noticed by Apollo, who follows the former Disciplinary Team Agent's gaze. When he sees you, the grin on his face widens.
"Manager!" the once-Captain of the Welfare Team cries. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
His voice is light but boisterous and full of vigor. London and the Magical Girls are finally alerted by the yell, their attention pulled away from the fight by their curiosity. Madoka yelps in surprise, pulled away from staring at the training session by the sudden noise. Sayaka, to her credit, remains focused enough to duck back from a sudden elbow strike clearly intended to punish any potential distractions.
"You know her, Apollo?" one of the Magical Girls asks, though it's not him who answers.
"Indeed. We are all rather familiar with them. They were our Manager for the longest time, after all." London confirms placidly, her voice the same mildly pleasant monotone as it always was. If you didn't know that real artificial intelligence is practically indistinguishable from a human, you'd have thought she was a robot with how unchanging that girl was.
"'Course, they were a man at the time. And we only got to talk face-to-face every once in a while." River chimes in, pausing only to glance over at the still-ongoing match between Sayaka and Gebura.
"They were a man? How's that work?" another Magical Girl asks. They really have become comfortable around your agents, haven't they?
"If a person is not comfortable in their body, it's an extremely simple procedure to have it replaced with one that suits them better. Sometimes, a person prefers a different sex to the one they were born with. It's not anything special. Of course, it is also very expensive." London explains.
The children clearly have more questions, but before they can ask any of them River cuts in.
"Say Manager, are those two your kids?"
At this, Madoka starts slightly. She's been switching between staring curiously at your agents and glancing back nervously at Sayaka's training this whole time. "No! X- X isn't my mom. She's just looking after me for now. We were visiting some of her friends."
"Oh?" River raises an eyebrow. "How about the quiet one? She one of your kids?"
"It certainly feels like it sometimes. But no." you say, the whispers of laughter in your voice. "Mami, Kyoko, and Yuma are at an arcade right now with some friends."
"A shame. I had hoped to meet one of your children today, Manager. If they are as spirited as this girl before us, I have no doubt meeting them shall be a pleasure." Apollo declares, gesturing back to Sayaka.
"Is… is she gonna be okay?" Madoka says. As she does, Sayaka is disarmed for a second time and thrown bodily into a nearby building. The metal wall crumples when she hits it, leaving a child-shaped indent on the side. Impressively enough, Sayaka doesn't seem slowed down in the slightest. In spite of her clear wincing from the pain, she peels herself away from the impact zone and drops to her feet just before the building begins to collapse in on herself.
"Hey, we thought the same thing at first. But no, turns out blueberry over there's a lot tougher than she looks." a Magical Girl in a flight jacket interjects.
Another girl, one with glasses who bears more than a passing resemblance to a Shi fixer and is sitting extremely close to flight jacket girl, adds on to her partner's statement. "If we're being technical, any of us could take a hit like that. With our Soul Gems, as long as they aren't damaged…" Her voice trails off, the clinical tone hollowing into something darker. "Anyways! The point is, any Magical Girl can actually heal from an injury like that without any problems if they have time and resources. The only actual issue is how much magic you have left, but that's not a problem for us here." She pushes back her glasses in what is clearly a practiced motion. "No, it's the rate and efficiency of her healing that's truly impressive."
Madoka pales. "H-how much has Sayaka gotten hurt doing this?"
Apollo is the first to move to reassure her, as expected. "No, it's nothing like that. Gebura isn't so cruel as to brutalize a child in such a manner. While Sayaka here has received more than one unsightly injury," his smile does dim a fraction as he says this, but not by much. "she has proven far better at avoiding such wounds altogether. For such a young girl, her fighting spirit is truly ablaze with potential."
River rolls her eyes. "She's not that good. Gebura's pulling her punches hard. I could take her."
"Don't worry, River. Nobody here is questioning your ability to defeat a fourteen year-old in combat. Your skill is indeed superior to that of a literal child." London says without missing a beat, her voice completely sincere and without even a trace of condescension. The kids, however, are far less disciplined and break out into a fit of giggles.
"X, these are your agents?" Madoka asks finally, looking up to you.
"Right, introductions. Apollo Allos, London Kvostyv, River Medli. They used to work for me." you say. Apollo feigns a look of shock.
"'Used to work for me'? We were your loyal soldiers! Under her command, we agents conquered horrid beyond human imagination! We faced the powers above and triumphed! Together, we of Lobotomy Corporation were unstoppable!"
"I wouldn't go that far," River deadpans, though her voice lightens soon after. "They were a good boss, though. Not one casualty in her chain of command the whole time I was there." Internally, you wince. Kind as that compliment may be, you can't accept it. Not when it's not really true.
"Don't exaggerate. You make it sound like things were pleasant. I did my best, but it was still not the sort of place you'd want to work at." you answer. River just shrugs.
"Yeah, it sucked and we were all either two steps from going crazy or already there, but that just kinda how it was. Not like any of us could get a better job."
The conversation falls to a lull just in time for Sayaka to score a near-hit on Gebura's leg. Apollo whistles, impressed, and that's enough to draw the kids' eyes back to the fight. Could you have done a better job? Of course. Looking back to your time as Manager to find mistakes is easy, easy enough to do without even thinking about it. Communicate with your agents better. Try to exert some control over the clerks, or at least implement safety protocols for them. Organize Abnormalities more efficiently. It's effortless, but meaningless. You can't return to that time even if you want to.
"So how've you all been settling in?" you ask the amassed children. Because you can't do anything about the past, but you can certainly do something about the future. What little future you have left, and whatever carries on beyond that.
—————————
You reconvene with the rest of the kids outside the arcade in the mid-afternoon. It's a large building, fitting the Mitakiharan aesthetic by being esoterically designed and a little too big to feel comfortable in. Honestly, it feels a bit like this whole city is designed to make people look small and isolated sometimes. That might just be your general mood talking, though.
"So how was the arcade? Did everyone have fun?" you ask. The answer is very obviously yes from what you can see, but asking properly never hurts.
"We had a lot of fun." Mami answers. "Kyoko won most of the games, though. Apparently she spends a lot of time at arcades."
Kyoko, for her part, seems half proud and half embarrassed by her victory. In her hands, Leonie clicks plainly.
"We got the highest score on the dancing game."
"Impressive." you nod. "Did you have fun today, Leonie?"
"It was nice. I'm very grateful that everyone took time out of their day to help me." she answers. Her voice is softer than it sounded this morning, though the compliant drone you're used to from her is still present. It would be too much to expect a deeper change in a day, but at least the objectified Distortion sounds happier.
"It was nothing at all, really. You haven't imposed on any of us." Hitomi says. It seems time and support have been enough to restore her self-confidence. Standing in a circle of her friends, it's hard to imagine the young girl would ever seem shy or nervous.
"Yeah! Leonie's really fun! She makes super cool rooms!" Yuma chimes in suddenly, using Hitomi as a support to jump up towards you and the others. Hitomi, for her part, does her best to provide that support for the smaller kid while not looking more than a little put out by the sudden invasion of personal space.
"Yuma, don't jump on people." Mami chides. Yuma immediately pulls back and looks guiltily down at the ground. "It's alright, just don't do it again in the future."
Mami's taking her responsibilities as an older sister seriously, you see. Though that's not all that you picked up from that little exchange.
"You've seen inside Leonie's pocket dimensions?"
"Was I not supposed to use those? Sorry." Leonie says. Before you can reply, Kyoko cuts in.
"It's not her fault. We were curious, and we asked to see what she could do." she says casually. Despite her flippant tone, you can hear an underlying tension in her voice.
You waive away their concerns. "No, no, it's fine. There's nothing wrong, I'm just curious. What was it like?"
"I will admit, seeing something like that was rather disorienting at first. You've shown me magic before, but to see it used on such a grand scale is truly something else." Hitomi answers. It must've been quite a shock for somebody whose only exposure to supernatural abilities up until that point was small, personalized displays meant more to prove a point than anything else. An entire personalized world isn't a feat you see everyday, unless of course you're hunting Witches.
The more you think about it, Barriers really are the most impressive features about Witches. They're a perfect hiding place that makes their bearers untouchable for anyone not properly equipped to reach them and provide a massive advantage through environmental hazards. Witches are generally stronger than the Magical Girls that spawn them, but taking the existence and theoretical maintenance of a Barrier into account that gap in ability is significantly wider. Where does all that extra power come from?
There'll be time to analyze such things later. You have other things to focus on right now.
"It was a beautiful scene." Mami agrees. "Leonie's… routes? I believe you called them?" Leonie clicks affirmatively. "Routes are far more pleasant than Witch Barriers, despite the outward similarities."
"Yeah, my eyes always started to hurt if I got stuck in a Barrier for too long. Something about them just wasn't right, y'know?" Kyoko adds. "Back there was much nicer."
"It's nothing special. They're just something that happens when I want to go somewhere, that's all." Leonie protests, clearly unused to the constant praise and support. You remember Leonie responding similarly to Argalia's own prior compliments.
A thought occurs to Sayaka. "Hey, maybe that's it!" Her sudden exclamation draws everyone's attention towards her, as well as some curious looks from random passerby. "These other places Leonie makes look really nice, and everyone who's seen them agrees on that, right?" A round of nods. "It's simple. She doesn't have any eyes, so how's she supposed to see anything she makes?"
Huh. You hadn't considered that. Kyoko and Argalia can both see without eyes and Homura's eyes function despite being very clearly artificial, but that doesn't necessarily mean Leonie would be the same. The kids are apparently having similar thoughts, exchanging looks that run the spectrum between embarrassed and ashamed.
"Can you see?" you ask plainly. You have a feeling things are going to get awkward fast if the answer is no.
"I can see fine, but it is a bit odd. I'm not sure how, it's just something else I do." Leonie answers, prompting more than one sigh of relief from the group.
"You seem to do quite a lot, as far as I can tell." Hitomi replies. Leonie's needle tilts in a manner that reminds you of a person cocking their head at somebody else to express skepticism. A bit of you wilts seeing how the only time Leonie expresses her own opinions contrary to everyone else is when criticizing herself.
"Now I'm curious. Could I see one of your Routes? O-Only if you're okay with it." Madoka asks, excitement dragged back by timidity.
"If that's alright with Leonie, then I don't see why not." Mami answers, looking down at the Distortion held in her hand. Even as she does, part of her voice sounds resigned, as if she already knows the answer and isn't quite satisfied with it.
"You can. It's what they're for, anyways." Leonie answers, as expected. She can hardly make decisions on her own right now, even when given the choice. It's only natural for her to acquiesce when asked for a favor.
Still, there's no way around that for now. Leonie will recover eventually, and until then the issue of her individual choice will need work one step at a time. In the moment, you're better off giving her something to do.
And do she does, a nearby alleyway that turns just out of sight suddenly emitting the sound of whistling wind.
"That was fast." Sayaka notes. "So are we all just going in, or…"
"Yep. Just step through whatever passage she picked and you're in. We can explore for a minute or so, then we'll make camp. There are a few announcements that need to be made." you say, your voice cooling with those last few words. This won't be pleasant.
"Right." Mami confirms, before stepping forward ahead of the rest. "Then we'd best be going now. We have a whole world to see."
———————————————
Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Porccubus' Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Schadenfreude's Sapling - Observation Level 1/3
CENSORED's Sapling - Observation Level EXPUNGED/REDACTED
Yeah, this one's split in two. It was a tough decision since I want to keep chapter numbers lower, but I really don't like being behind schedule. If you need something to discuss…
What IDs would you want to see? I have a few more floating around, both from Human Resources and other stuff I've made.
You, Homura, and Madoka descend the stairs to the Floor of Language together. Where the climb up was quiet and interspersed by sparse conversation, the way down is different. A contemplative silence fills the air, and it would feel wrong to try and fill it with noise.
Exactly how well this went remains to be seen. Hokma and Binah are both difficult people to speak with in entirely different ways. While Hokma is usually trying to help and you're fairly certain that Binah is trying to help right now, how much the kids get out of it is up to them. You still don't have any obvious way forward on confronting the Adult Who Tells Lies. Not that you were expecting anything so convenient, but it would've been nice. As things stand you may need to head into Kamihama with what you have now.
That will be a difficult proposition to be sure, though not an impossible one. Kyoko and Homura will be especially key to keeping ahead, though how effective they'll actually be is dependent on their mental state. You can trust that Mami will be more than a match for any of the Magical Girls in the city, though there's more room for surprises there. Even Sayaka, relatively weak and inexperienced as she is, is making a lot of progress.
Speaking of, you've nearly reached the training room. The patient silence of the upper floors has slowly pulled back to welcome the clanging of metal and clashing of blades. Interestingly enough, the occasional cheer or shout joins the clamor. Some of the voices sound unfamiliar to you, but others…
The three of you arrive at the floor, exiting the stairway and immediately feeling a ripple of heat from the molten steel flowing below. Just as you step out into the training area, you're forced to duck to the side to avoid a discarded sword flying towards your head. Behind you, Madoka winces at the sight of Gebura slamming Mimicry's hilt into a now-disarmed Sayaka's temple.
Her expression is mirrored by a row of kids you barely recognize, sitting lined up just outside of the enclosed training area on a few disorganized pieces of scrap pulled together to form seats. Three adults in Library garb, two women and a man, are lined up behind them. The first woman, the only member of the three to wear the red suit of this Floor's Assistant Librarians, is tall and somewhat gangly, messy green hair falling in curls over their sleep-deprived face. The second woman is shorter and yet stands above River by virtue of far better posture. Her hair, tied into a simple ponytail, is somewhere between white and silver in spite of a youthful face, matching the uniform sheen over her eyes. She and the man both wear the blue uniforms of members of the Floor of Social Sciences, though the man's outfit is contrasted heavily by the shock of wild red hair atop his head. The red-haired man, Apollo, wears his uniform loosely while London's is immaculately kept.
They really haven't changed at all.
River is the first to notice your entry, turning her eyes from the ongoing duel to greet yours. Her gaze quickly drifts from you to Madoka and Homura behind you. River stares at the children from over the tops of the other kids' heads, lowering her body as if to hide from your wards behind the Library's Magical Girls. Her strange behavior is noticed by Apollo, who follows the former Disciplinary Team Agent's gaze. When he sees you, the grin on his face widens.
"Manager!" the once-Captain of the Welfare Team cries. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
His voice is light but boisterous and full of vigor. London and the Magical Girls are finally alerted by the yell, their attention pulled away from the fight by their curiosity. Madoka yelps in surprise, pulled away from staring at the training session by the sudden noise. Sayaka, to her credit, remains focused enough to duck back from a sudden elbow strike clearly intended to punish any potential distractions.
"You know her, Apollo?" one of the Magical Girls asks, though it's not him who answers.
"Indeed. We are all rather familiar with them. They were our Manager for the longest time, after all." London confirms placidly, her voice the same mildly pleasant monotone as it always was. If you didn't know that real artificial intelligence is practically indistinguishable from a human, you'd have thought she was a robot with how unchanging that girl was.
"'Course, they were a man at the time. And we only got to talk face-to-face every once in a while." River chimes in, pausing only to glance over at the still-ongoing match between Sayaka and Gebura.
"They were a man? How's that work?" another Magical Girl asks. They really have become comfortable around your agents, haven't they?
"If a person is not comfortable in their body, it's an extremely simple procedure to have it replaced with one that suits them better. Sometimes, a person prefers a different sex to the one they were born with. It's not anything special. Of course, it is also very expensive." London explains.
The children clearly have more questions, but before they can ask any of them River cuts in.
"Say Manager, are those two your kids?"
At this, Madoka starts slightly. She's been switching between staring curiously at your agents and glancing back nervously at Sayaka's training this whole time. "No! X- X isn't my mom. She's just looking after me for now. We were visiting some of her friends."
"Oh?" River raises an eyebrow. "How about the quiet one? She one of your kids?"
"It certainly feels like it sometimes. But no." you say, the whispers of laughter in your voice. "Mami, Kyoko, and Yuma are at an arcade right now with some friends."
"A shame. I had hoped to meet one of your children today, Manager. If they are as spirited as this girl before us, I have no doubt meeting them shall be a pleasure." Apollo declares, gesturing back to Sayaka.
"Is… is she gonna be okay?" Madoka says. As she does, Sayaka is disarmed for a second time and thrown bodily into a nearby building. The metal wall crumples when she hits it, leaving a child-shaped indent on the side. Impressively enough, Sayaka doesn't seem slowed down in the slightest. In spite of her clear wincing from the pain, she peels herself away from the impact zone and drops to her feet just before the building begins to collapse in on herself.
"Hey, we thought the same thing at first. But no, turns out blueberry over there's a lot tougher than she looks." a Magical Girl in a flight jacket interjects.
Another girl, one with glasses who bears more than a passing resemblance to a Shi fixer and is sitting extremely close to flight jacket girl, adds on to her partner's statement. "If we're being technical, any of us could take a hit like that. With our Soul Gems, as long as they aren't damaged…" Her voice trails off, the clinical tone hollowing into something darker. "Anyways! The point is, any Magical Girl can actually heal from an injury like that without any problems if they have time and resources. The only actual issue is how much magic you have left, but that's not a problem for us here." She pushes back her glasses in what is clearly a practiced motion. "No, it's the rate and efficiency of her healing that's truly impressive."
Madoka pales. "H-how much has Sayaka gotten hurt doing this?"
Apollo is the first to move to reassure her, as expected. "No, it's nothing like that. Gebura isn't so cruel as to brutalize a child in such a manner. While Sayaka here has received more than one unsightly injury," his smile does dim a fraction as he says this, but not by much. "she has proven far better at avoiding such wounds altogether. For such a young girl, her fighting spirit is truly ablaze with potential."
River rolls her eyes. "She's not that good. Gebura's pulling her punches hard. I could take her."
"Don't worry, River. Nobody here is questioning your ability to defeat a fourteen year-old in combat. Your skill is indeed superior to that of a literal child." London says without missing a beat, her voice completely sincere and without even a trace of condescension. The kids, however, are far less disciplined and break out into a fit of giggles.
"X, these are your agents?" Madoka asks finally, looking up to you.
"Right, introductions. Apollo Allos, London Kvostyv, River Medli. They used to work for me." you say. Apollo feigns a look of shock.
"'Used to work for me'? We were your loyal soldiers! Under her command, we agents conquered horrid beyond human imagination! We faced the powers above and triumphed! Together, we of Lobotomy Corporation were unstoppable!"
"I wouldn't go that far," River deadpans, though her voice lightens soon after. "They were a good boss, though. Not one casualty in her chain of command the whole time I was there." Internally, you wince. Kind as that compliment may be, you can't accept it. Not when it's not really true.
"Don't exaggerate. You make it sound like things were pleasant. I did my best, but it was still not the sort of place you'd want to work at." you answer. River just shrugs.
"Yeah, it sucked and we were all either two steps from going crazy or already there, but that just kinda how it was. Not like any of us could get a better job."
The conversation falls to a lull just in time for Sayaka to score a near-hit on Gebura's leg. Apollo whistles, impressed, and that's enough to draw the kids' eyes back to the fight. Could you have done a better job? Of course. Looking back to your time as Manager to find mistakes is easy, easy enough to do without even thinking about it. Communicate with your agents better. Try to exert some control over the clerks, or at least implement safety protocols for them. Organize Abnormalities more efficiently. It's effortless, but meaningless. You can't return to that time even if you want to.
"So how've you all been settling in?" you ask the amassed children. Because you can't do anything about the past, but you can certainly do something about the future. What little future you have left, and whatever carries on beyond that.
—————————
You reconvene with the rest of the kids outside the arcade in the mid-afternoon. It's a large building, fitting the Mitakiharan aesthetic by being esoterically designed and a little too big to feel comfortable in. Honestly, it feels a bit like this whole city is designed to make people look small and isolated sometimes. That might just be your general mood talking, though.
"So how was the arcade? Did everyone have fun?" you ask. The answer is very obviously yes from what you can see, but asking properly never hurts.
"We had a lot of fun." Mami answers. "Kyoko won most of the games, though. Apparently she spends a lot of time at arcades."
Kyoko, for her part, seems half proud and half embarrassed by her victory. In her hands, Leonie clicks plainly.
"We got the highest score on the dancing game."
"Impressive." you nod. "Did you have fun today, Leonie?"
"It was nice. I'm very grateful that everyone took time out of their day to help me." she answers. Her voice is softer than it sounded this morning, though the compliant drone you're used to from her is still present. It would be too much to expect a deeper change in a day, but at least the objectified Distortion sounds happier.
"It was nothing at all, really. You haven't imposed on any of us." Hitomi says. It seems time and support have been enough to restore her self-confidence. Standing in a circle of her friends, it's hard to imagine the young girl would ever seem shy or nervous.
"Yeah! Leonie's really fun! She makes super cool rooms!" Yuma chimes in suddenly, using Hitomi as a support to jump up towards you and the others. Hitomi, for her part, does her best to provide that support for the smaller kid while not looking more than a little put out by the sudden invasion of personal space.
"Yuma, don't jump on people." Mami chides. Yuma immediately pulls back and looks guiltily down at the ground. "It's alright, just don't do it again in the future."
Mami's taking her responsibilities as an older sister seriously, you see. Though that's not all that you picked up from that little exchange.
"You've seen inside Leonie's pocket dimensions?"
"Was I not supposed to use those? Sorry." Leonie says. Before you can reply, Kyoko cuts in.
"It's not her fault. We were curious, and we asked to see what she could do." she says casually. Despite her flippant tone, you can hear an underlying tension in her voice.
You waive away their concerns. "No, no, it's fine. There's nothing wrong, I'm just curious. What was it like?"
"I will admit, seeing something like that was rather disorienting at first. You've shown me magic before, but to see it used on such a grand scale is truly something else." Hitomi answers. It must've been quite a shock for somebody whose only exposure to supernatural abilities up until that point was small, personalized displays meant more to prove a point than anything else. An entire personalized world isn't a feat you see everyday, unless of course you're hunting Witches.
The more you think about it, Barriers really are the most impressive features about Witches. They're a perfect hiding place that makes their bearers untouchable for anyone not properly equipped to reach them and provide a massive advantage through environmental hazards. Witches are generally stronger than the Magical Girls that spawn them, but taking the existence and theoretical maintenance of a Barrier into account that gap in ability is significantly wider. Where does all that extra power come from?
There'll be time to analyze such things later. You have other things to focus on right now.
"It was a beautiful scene." Mami agrees. "Leonie's… routes? I believe you called them?" Leonie clicks affirmatively. "Routes are far more pleasant than Witch Barriers, despite the outward similarities."
"Yeah, my eyes always started to hurt if I got stuck in a Barrier for too long. Something about them just wasn't right, y'know?" Kyoko adds. "Back there was much nicer."
"It's nothing special. They're just something that happens when I want to go somewhere, that's all." Leonie protests, clearly unused to the constant praise and support. You remember Leonie responding similarly to Argalia's own prior compliments.
A thought occurs to Sayaka. "Hey, maybe that's it!" Her sudden exclamation draws everyone's attention towards her, as well as some curious looks from random passerby. "These other places Leonie makes look really nice, and everyone who's seen them agrees on that, right?" A round of nods. "It's simple. She doesn't have any eyes, so how's she supposed to see anything she makes?"
Huh. You hadn't considered that. Kyoko and Argalia can both see without eyes and Homura's eyes function despite being very clearly artificial, but that doesn't necessarily mean Leonie would be the same. The kids are apparently having similar thoughts, exchanging looks that run the spectrum between embarrassed and ashamed.
"Can you see?" you ask plainly. You have a feeling things are going to get awkward fast if the answer is no.
"I can see fine, but it is a bit odd. I'm not sure how, it's just something else I do." Leonie answers, prompting more than one sigh of relief from the group.
"You seem to do quite a lot, as far as I can tell." Hitomi replies. Leonie's needle tilts in a manner that reminds you of a person cocking their head at somebody else to express skepticism. A bit of you wilts seeing how the only time Leonie expresses her own opinions contrary to everyone else is when criticizing herself.
"Now I'm curious. Could I see one of your Routes? O-Only if you're okay with it." Madoka asks, excitement dragged back by timidity.
"If that's alright with Leonie, then I don't see why not." Mami answers, looking down at the Distortion held in her hand. Even as she does, part of her voice sounds resigned, as if she already knows the answer and isn't quite satisfied with it.
"You can. It's what they're for, anyways." Leonie answers, as expected. She can hardly make decisions on her own right now, even when given the choice. It's only natural for her to acquiesce when asked for a favor.
Still, there's no way around that for now. Leonie will recover eventually, and until then the issue of her individual choice will need work one step at a time. In the moment, you're better off giving her something to do.
And do she does, a nearby alleyway that turns just out of sight suddenly emitting the sound of whistling wind.
"That was fast." Sayaka notes. "So are we all just going in, or…"
"Yep. Just step through whatever passage she picked and you're in. We can explore for a minute or so, then we'll make camp. There are a few announcements that need to be made." you say, your voice cooling with those last few words. This won't be pleasant.
"Right." Mami confirms, before stepping forward ahead of the rest. "Then we'd best be going now. We have a whole world to see."
———————————————
Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Porccubus' Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Schadenfreude's Sapling - Observation Level 1/3
CENSORED's Sapling - Observation Level EXPUNGED/REDACTED
Yeah, this one's split in two. It was a tough decision since I want to keep chapter numbers lower, but I really don't like being behind schedule. If you need something to discuss…
What IDs would you want to see? I have a few more floating around, both from Human Resources and other stuff I've made.
This just gave me the image of Compass Leonie just, like, hopping by herself on the arrows of a DDR machine.
even better: Kyoka is a Centaur, imagine her dancing on a 1*1 mat
Suddenly, surprise Oz in the middle of the way!
But have you checked closely?
Nico Kanna... probably, it could be a disguised Hijiri, but I doubt it, she wouldn't keep up the charade given the situation.
Probably Saki Asami?
Anyway, glad to see the polycule is at least partially still alive! I know we saw Kazumi sooner, and wait, didn't she had her post wish costume? Can't remember, but if she had, how is Nico alive?
The perfection in deadpan snarking is when nobody can even tell if you are serious or not, because it all sounds the same.
At least the school's roof isn't getting fancier and fancier every few iteration of you seeing it!
Little steps.
That's already quite the good thing, we have a way.
Kyubey: *You see... I love sprouting bullshit about it, but the truth is that I have no idea!*
Probably the different style of animation.
How likely is it that her vision makes it impossible for her to see the beauty of her own creations?
That's seems quite in theme for her.
*Sounds of Witchbomb falling down.*
questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
A pity we can't use ol' Ozzy.Suddenly, surprise Oz in the middle of the way!
Twei
I have a face!
- Location
- the land where they write things
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Something something, follow the yellow brick road?
I don't know, that seems like a good way to get flattened by a house.
JmonsterNEO
Spouter of nonsense
- Location
- The quest forums
I think her just rapidly dropping out of her paths onto the arrows instead of hopping around is even funnier. It'd be an easier way for her to get the proper force to set of the motion sensors, and Leonie randomly ricocheting off the dance pad, vanishing through her paths, then appearing going straight down on an arrow to bounce off again, rinse and repeat is a funny visual, especially when you start thinking about how a talking, teleporting compass is supposed to hit two DDR arrows at once.
questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
No new agents, but got 2 confirmations and 3 full names!
Apollo is not merely just a welfare agent, but a full-on captain!
River is a disciplinary employee like previously confirmed flashbacks.
London is confirmed to be a welfare agent!
Though I suppose they have changed their occupations now.
Apollo is not merely just a welfare agent, but a full-on captain!
River is a disciplinary employee like previously confirmed flashbacks.
London is confirmed to be a welfare agent!
Though I suppose they have changed their occupations now.
The real question is: will we meet that one employee who, and I quote, "wanted to become intimate" with our local Manager via cactus gift?
questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
I bet on it being BongBong.
questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
The only time I remembered her was when I saw her in the kill feed during one of the Violet Midnight's rampages lol (Before I reset of course).
I got her a bit late, so she was chillin' in Malkuth's department most of the time.
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
There's no vote to close, but the next chapter is coming tomorrow regardless. Or, well, soon. Maybe not exactly tomorrow. It might take a bit for this one.
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Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Chapter would've been today, but I got a really bad headache and am having trouble focusing. The Update will be out when I'm feeling better, whenever that is.
Sorry.
Sorry.
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questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
Don't worry, we'll wait patiently.
Headaches are no jokes, take care of yourself, there's nothing to be sorry about there.
2.4.9 - Anamnesis
Lepidoptera
Mother of Monsters, Unverified Impuritas Civitatis
- Location
- Indeterminate Unknown
Chapter 132 - Anamnesis
Leonie's newest subspace is interesting, to say the least.
The sky looks oddly flat, more like a ceiling or a stage set than anything else. Whatever it is, a gradient shifting from a light blue through various pinks and purples and eventually settling on a dark blue-black has been painted over it from one end of the horizon to the other. Below the skyline, an ocean stretches out as far as you can see. You're not entirely certain if the pink-purple hue of the water is a reflection of the sky above or an actual feature of the substance itself. You and the children stand on a shore of pale pink sand. The beach stretches on off into the distance, apparently enclosing the entire shoreline on which you stand. In the direction opposite to the ocean is the mainland, occupied by a forest of pale silver trees with deep blue leaves. Pyramids the same color as the sand rise up from the woods, their monolithic shapes broken by the staircases that spiral up the sides and the occasional foliage that has taken root in the structure's walls. Between the pastel colors, the gentle breeze, and the calm rhythm of the sea washing in and out, this Route is a peaceful place. Some part of Leonie clearly understood the need for something relaxing when this place was made.
"These are Routes, aren't they? Like, they have to go from one place to another. So where's this one going? It just kinda seems like its own space." Kyoko points out as the nine of you trek past the tree line and through the forest. There are no animals within, no birds chirping or leaves rustling to fill the quiet air, but the sound of the wind whistling through the leaves and the gentle rhythm of the tides is noise enough.
"The entrance and exit are the same. Just walk far enough out into the water and you'll be back at the street. You just wanted to get here, not anywhere in particular, so that was the best I could do." Leonie explains. Kyoko just "Hm"s in acceptance, and the walk continues in silence.
"Do you make everything here yourself, Leonie?" Madoka asks before the pause can stretch too long. Leonie, still sitting inanimate in Kyoko's hands, tilts her needle back and forth indecisively.
"You could say that if you wanted to. I can't really claim responsibility for any of it, though. When somebody asks to go somewhere, I make a Route that takes them where they want to go. Everything between the two points gets filled in like this." she drones mechanically. Madoka begins to speak again, but withdraws and closes her mouth before any words can escape. The weight in her posture, a shapeless invisible tension bearing down on the otherwise cheerful girl, grows ever so slightly. She's noticed it too, then. Leonie's denial, obvious in some places and subtle in others. And, of course, she's decided that it's her responsibility to do something about it.
"Does it have to be somebody else who wants to go somewhere?" you ask further. "Or could you make a Route just because you wanted to?"
"I don't know. I've never tried to go somewhere on my own before. There's just no reason for me to. It's not like I could actually go anywhere on my own." she says. And that's an answer on its own, isn't it? Leonie can't use her powers herself because she can't want to.
You have a lot of work to do in what time you have left.
Unprompted, Hitomi asks "If you could go anywhere you wanted, where would you go? Personally, I've always been curious about Paris."
"That sounds nice." Leonie replies. After a short, patient pause, she seems to realize that you want more of an answer from her. "There isn't anywhere specific I'd want to go. But if there's somewhere somebody else wants to go, I can take them there."
"I've always wanted to see Italy, though I'm sure that comes as little surprise. Perhaps we could visit sometime in the Summer?" Mami says. This, of course, starts everyone explaining their dream vacation spots. Sayaka wants to see some ancient castles in England. Kyoko admits to not being much for travel, but has heard enough about Italy from Mami (who blushes with the embarrassment of having the depths of her enthusiasm revealed so publicly) that she's at least a little curious. Madoka agrees, narrowing her destination specifically to Rome, but also bring up Yellowstone National Park out of interest in the hot springs.
"What about you, Homura?" Madoka asks the other girl, who has been silently blending into the background since you left the Library. Homura doesn't respond, halting her March and staring off into the distance. The group gradually slows to a stop, all eyes turning back to the mechanical girl.
"I don't have anywhere I want to go." Homura says flatly. "We've wandered far enough. This is a sufficient place to stop. We have more important things to talk about."
Slowly, surely, the levity drains from the atmosphere. Expressions fall from bright and playful to tight and anticipatory. As relaxing as this place may look, none of you can afford to lay back and rest right now. With what's on the horizon, you need to prepare.
And that means everyone needs all the cards on the table.
"Hate to say it, but she's right. We shouldn't delay any longer." you announce with a deep sigh. "Find somewhere comfortable to sit down. This might take some time."
—————————
It's not long before everyone has taken their seats, assembled in a loose circle around a small clearing in the forest. You and Homura sit on either side of a small tangle of ash-colored roots while the remaining girls wait with bated breath for you to begin. She's already activated her time-stop, the others exempted of the effects by the nearly invisible length of gold ribbon tethering the group together. Homura quietly contemplates, sifting through thoughts and memories for nearly a minute straight. Finally, the clockwork girl raises her head and immediately turns to lock eyes with you.
"I'm not sure where to start explaining. I'll need you to help." she asks. It's not quite pleading, but it could be. Would be, if Homura were somebody more expressive. Of course, you answer.
"Right. Maybe ease into things? Don't start with the hard stuff, is what I'm saying." you suggest. People need time to process new information, and there's a lot of new information that needs to be processed.
"Hold on, what exactly are we talking about here?" Sayaka interjects, fidgeting uncomfortably. She's not the only one curious, either. Though the line between curiosity and nervousness is rather thin at this point, all the children are growing more and more ready for an answer. They might not know what awaits, but the tension in the air is palpable nonetheless. Whatever you and Homura know, it must be something truly world-shaking.
"Let's start with Homura's Magic and build off of things from there." you announce, and you can almost feel the layer of gloom that has been settling over the group since Homura spoke condense and settle into something solid wrapping around the edges of the clearing. There's no more turning back now. The box is open, and the kids are going to know the full truth by the end of today one way or another.
"Is there something special about Homura's Magic? She was a Magical Girl like Sayaka and Mami, but that was before any of you met, right?" Hitomi says. You almost forgot she doesn't know the ins and outs of the system like everybody else does. To your surprise, Yuma is the first to answer. That makes things simpler for you. A civilian she may be, your youngest has a gift for making complicated problems simple. You can leave this to her.
"Nope! Mom and Mami say everyone's got their own special Magic. When you make a Wish, what you wish for turns into your Magic. That way, everyone's special!" Yuma summarizes with slightly less jubilance than usual. Even she's picked up on the mood, then.
"I see." Hitomi confirms. "And Homura's Magic is..?"
"She can stop time." Sayaka says firmly. "It looks a bit weird from the outside, but it's crazy strong."
"That's only part of it." Homura corrects. "I can both stop time and reset time to return to an earlier point."
There it is. You can tell which of the kids understand the implications immediately and which ones are trying to think it through. Sayaka, Yuma, and Hitomi, who have the least experience with the supernatural, have the least grasp of the situation. You can see them putting the pieces together, considering the new possibilities and the ways they fit into Homura's story, but they aren't there yet. Mami and Kyoko, on the other hand, recognize the implications almost immediately. They don't know, can't know exactly what Homura's gone through, but they can guess. Between Homura's bizarre priorities and supreme cynicism, it's not hard to imagine what a person like her might have lived through. Madoka, though…
"You already knew us, didn't you Homura?"
It only feels right that she would figure it out first. Yourself aside, Madoka is the only one Homura has come anywhere close to opening up to. They've spent the most time together, they've talked the most, they know each other best. And now, it appears Madoka knows why.
"Yes. Originally, you had contracted before I did. We first met on the day I moved to this school, and you and Mami rescued me from a Witch later that day. I didn't become a Magical Girl until around a month after. Sayaka didn't Contract at all that time." Homura explains with the same flat, bored tone one might use to describe some particularly uneventful weather for the fifth time that day. Her body, on the other hand, tells a different story. All visible movement has ceased completely, while the ticking of the distorted girl's internal mechanisms has risen to a rapid pace. This frantic expression is mirrored by the other girls, whose confusion and worry only intensify with each word.
"Hold on, I'm really confused right now!" Sayaka exclaims. "Madoka's never been a Magical Girl. We'd have known if something like that happened."
"Not necessarily. You know how Homura's time stop looks odd from the outside? If you're not part of it, you don't see anything except the end results?" you explain. Sayaka nods tentatively. "It's the same basic principle with resetting time. Homura goes back to an earlier point, and only she remembers the stuff that originally happened after. Everything beyond that point gets undone and never happened in the first place. You can think of it like rewinding a movie back to the start."
"I… believe that I understand." Mami begins to say. "Something must have happened that you Wished to undo. And you've been working to try and keep it from happening again, haven't you?"
Homura continues without visibly reacting to Mami's assertion. "The original timeline ended in failure. The two of you together were not strong enough and perished. I had Wished to undo that outcome and to become strong enough to prevent it, though it was futile." She doesn't react to the looks of horror on the other girl's faces as she impassively delivers news of Mami and Madoka's past deaths. No pause is given in her recitation of the past. "The second was similarly a failure. I did not prevent Madoka from Contracting, and instead attempted to assist her and Mami directly. At the time, I was useless in combat. I couldn't use my Magic well enough to fight effectively. I couldn't make any important differences that time." Homura's voice remains still and emotionless, as if reading off of a script, as she demeans her past self. Of the various looks of pity, Sayaka's and Kyoko's are the most complex. Sayaka is struggling, words of apology and refutation just on the tip of her tongue but unable to make their way into the air. Kyoko opens her mouth, ready to say something, but whatever she might have spoken vanishes like smoke in the wind. She closes her mouth and slumps back into the tree she's using as a seat, exhausted. Unaffected, Homura proceeds with her explanation. "Madoka was able to defeat the Witch that had killed her previously, but expended too much magic and-"
"Hold on." you interrupt, placing a hand on Homura's shoulder. Now is absolutely not the right time for that particular revelation, not while everyone is still reeling from Homura's clinical reporting of her past."Let's save that part for after everything else, yeah? This is a lot to take in already. Wouldn't want to be overwhelming, now."
"I'm afraid that if the goal was not to be overwhelming, you have already failed." Hitomi says. In spite of her careful and collected language, her voice is shaking. A small, weak laugh manages to crawl from her throat at her joke, though it feels far more like a statement than a jest. You lean back and sigh.
"Well, there's not really an easy way to explain any of this. Not quickly, at least." you admit, resigned. It's a bit like ripping a bandage off, only that's a horrible metaphor because while both are unpleasant things that need to be done eventually, rushing through this explanation would be a terrible mistake.
"No kidding." Sayaka says weakly. "It's not every day you learn that you've died before."
"You weren't a Magical Girl until the next loop, so I don't know what happened to you those first two times." Homura corrects, though it does absolutely nothing to help allay Sayaka's despair. "I can recount every attempt, but there wouldn't be much point. We only worked together in the first few timelines. I simply wasn't capable of working with others. I could never save anybody either, or even convince anyone of Kyubey's true intentions. Because of my incompetence, I was-"
"Stop."
Two voices ring out at once in the silence of Homura's world of frozen time. You and Madoka, both leaning towards the mechanical girl, exchange a glance. Slowly, you draw back and let Madoka take the stage.
"I'm sorry Homura, but I can't let you say that about yourself. Not after everything you've done for all of us. You're not weak or incompetent, and I won't let you say those sorts of things about yourself." Madoka insists. Her voice is bereft of any hesitance or timidity, leaving only steel and fire behind. It's almost hard to believe, seeing such courage from somebody so young, so small. "How can you say those things when you've been protecting us for so long?"
"Indeed." Mami joins in, resolute and encouraging as ever. "Though I do not grasp the specifics of this situation as well as I wish, it seems clear to me that you have done me and the rest of us a great service. From my understanding,I would be dead if not for you. I cannot possibly express what I owe you."
"That's incorrect." Homura refutes plainly. "I never succeeded in saving any of you. Madoka always becomes a Magical Girl eventually, and I gave up on even trying to save anyone besides her a long time ago. I haven't done anything."
"Are you kidding me?" Kyoko snaps, jumping forward suddenly and filling the air with heat. "That's not even remotely correct! Leaving aside the fact that none of us are dead right now, I have a family again! Mami has a family again! Yuma has people who actually care about what happens to her! Are you really gonna tell me that none of that matters?"
"This isn't the first time that you and Mami have reunited, though it isn't common. Yuma has been removed from her original home before as well. It's not unimportant, but none of that is dependent on me. I can only accomplish one thing, and I must-"
"No. None of that now." you interrupt, ending Homura's inevitable tirade of self-recriminations and fixation on her sole objective. She falls silent without argument, though the mechanical girl gives no other signs of acknowledging your words. She's becoming agitated, you can see it. Even being so inexpressive, Homura's increasingly insistent rejections are telling enough. "Setting aside the mechanics of time manipulation, we both know that didn't happen originally. Whether directly or not, you're responsible for the possibility of such a thing happening at all. That means something."
The whirring of machinery fills the air, loud enough that anyone could hear it. Homura looks across the circle of people, eyes locking with each child one after another before finally turning her gaze to you. Expression unchanging, she inhales deeply before letting out a long, slow sigh. To your surprise, you can see the slight rise and fall of her chest as she does.
"This isn't relevant to the reason we gathered here." Homura says finally, no longer meeting the eyes of the other children. "Everyone is gathered here to learn essential information, not discuss my life. There are more important things to talk about. We need to continue."
You withdraw and compose yourself. Homura's right, you have business to attend to right now. "Let's table this discussion for the moment. There's still another topic to discuss today. That's not to say that this discussion is over, but just that we need to keep moving forward. Until then, keep quiet about all of this. Kyubey's probably already figured it out, but I don't wanna give him any more information than I have to." You withdraw some snacks and drinks from your jacket and set them out in the middle of the circle, burning away the cheap plastic wrap with a careful application of EGO. "Just take a moment to get yourselves properly situation again. When everybody's ready, we'll continue."
You can tell that the girls intend to pursue this further when they can, but your tone doesn't allow any disagreement. With some consternation, the children let things lie and accept the offered snacks. The meal is quiet and subdued, with even Yuma lacking in enthusiasm as the pile of food you brought gradually disappears. She might not have been able to do much aside from sit quietly for most of the conversation, but what information the diminutive child has managed to understand has shaken her. Homura neglects to eat at all, instead allowing you to refill her stock of energy while Hitomi and Mami watch with a mix of fascination and discomfort.
"Does that… hurt? There's just a… well, a hole in the back of your neck. I can't imagine that would be comfortable." Hitomi observes.
"My senses have become detached since my transformation." Homura explains in her typical monotone. "The winding process is mostly without any feeling, though having full reserves is more comforting than being unprepared. There is an associated feeling of security in being able to fight at full strength."
"Just remember to keep yourself at full strength, yeah? You've gotta take care of yourself if you want to stay in top form." you chide. You really wish Homura would take better care of herself instead of just the bare minimum to function. Maybe it's just a drilled-in reaction, but leaving Homura's winding to just when it's needed feels wrong. With tasks like that, you prefer them done as often as possible in case something goes wrong. It's always a good idea to plan for the possibility of failure, after all.
"We aren't here to talk about me." Homura repeats, returning her key to its resting place in the grasp of her ribbon. Thinking back over the previous times you've done this, her ribbon acted similarly, actively taking hold of her key and keeping it out of harm's way during combat. It's almost certainly prehensile, but you've never seen Homura carry anything with it besides the key. Maybe it's just the key that it can hold? Or maybe it has a mind of its own?
Regardless, Homura's right. The break has run its course, and before long nervousness will start to seep back in. Before that can happen, you'll just have to push through.
"If you say so. Is everyone done eating? There is still something else I need to tell you."
A round of muted affirmations follow. With the snacks gone, there's nothing left to distract from the subject at hand. While Homura remains impassive, the mood for the rest of the girls is far more foreboding. What could it be now, after what they heard just minutes ago?
"That's good to hear. This is mostly for Mami and Sayaka, though Madoka, Hitomi, and Yuma should keep it in mind too." Homura and Kyoko have less reason to be concerned, given their current state of being. Becoming Distortions has done them some good, at the very least. It would be much harder for you to live with yourself if it hadn't.
"It's not as personal a secret as what we just discussed." you continue, your voice the same measured, half-casual and half-professional cadence you would use to brief your agents. "This is something many Magical Girls figure out one way or another."
Your lower your voice to a darker, harsher tone with those last few words. Aside from somebody else telling them or teasing it out of Kyubey, there's only one way a Magical Girl learns where Witches come from.
"Just say it!" Sayaka shouts suddenly. "I can't stand all this waiting. Whatever this thing about Witches is, we'll deal with it! So just come right out and tell us!"
You suppose that's fair enough. With a heavy, drawn out sigh, you ready yourself for whatever's coming next. Nerves taut, you speak the secret in full.
"Witches are born from Magical Girls."
———————————————
Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Porccubus' Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Schadenfreude's Sapling - Observation Level 1/3
CENSORED's Sapling - Observation Level EXPUNGED/REDACTED
And that's cut! Now, I hate leaving it here as much as any of you, but this chapter was delayed enough as is and stretching it out any further would feel even worse. Nearly four thousand words feels like such a tiresome length, I have no clue how other authors write such long stretches like they do.
Leonie's newest subspace is interesting, to say the least.
The sky looks oddly flat, more like a ceiling or a stage set than anything else. Whatever it is, a gradient shifting from a light blue through various pinks and purples and eventually settling on a dark blue-black has been painted over it from one end of the horizon to the other. Below the skyline, an ocean stretches out as far as you can see. You're not entirely certain if the pink-purple hue of the water is a reflection of the sky above or an actual feature of the substance itself. You and the children stand on a shore of pale pink sand. The beach stretches on off into the distance, apparently enclosing the entire shoreline on which you stand. In the direction opposite to the ocean is the mainland, occupied by a forest of pale silver trees with deep blue leaves. Pyramids the same color as the sand rise up from the woods, their monolithic shapes broken by the staircases that spiral up the sides and the occasional foliage that has taken root in the structure's walls. Between the pastel colors, the gentle breeze, and the calm rhythm of the sea washing in and out, this Route is a peaceful place. Some part of Leonie clearly understood the need for something relaxing when this place was made.
"These are Routes, aren't they? Like, they have to go from one place to another. So where's this one going? It just kinda seems like its own space." Kyoko points out as the nine of you trek past the tree line and through the forest. There are no animals within, no birds chirping or leaves rustling to fill the quiet air, but the sound of the wind whistling through the leaves and the gentle rhythm of the tides is noise enough.
"The entrance and exit are the same. Just walk far enough out into the water and you'll be back at the street. You just wanted to get here, not anywhere in particular, so that was the best I could do." Leonie explains. Kyoko just "Hm"s in acceptance, and the walk continues in silence.
"Do you make everything here yourself, Leonie?" Madoka asks before the pause can stretch too long. Leonie, still sitting inanimate in Kyoko's hands, tilts her needle back and forth indecisively.
"You could say that if you wanted to. I can't really claim responsibility for any of it, though. When somebody asks to go somewhere, I make a Route that takes them where they want to go. Everything between the two points gets filled in like this." she drones mechanically. Madoka begins to speak again, but withdraws and closes her mouth before any words can escape. The weight in her posture, a shapeless invisible tension bearing down on the otherwise cheerful girl, grows ever so slightly. She's noticed it too, then. Leonie's denial, obvious in some places and subtle in others. And, of course, she's decided that it's her responsibility to do something about it.
"Does it have to be somebody else who wants to go somewhere?" you ask further. "Or could you make a Route just because you wanted to?"
"I don't know. I've never tried to go somewhere on my own before. There's just no reason for me to. It's not like I could actually go anywhere on my own." she says. And that's an answer on its own, isn't it? Leonie can't use her powers herself because she can't want to.
You have a lot of work to do in what time you have left.
Unprompted, Hitomi asks "If you could go anywhere you wanted, where would you go? Personally, I've always been curious about Paris."
"That sounds nice." Leonie replies. After a short, patient pause, she seems to realize that you want more of an answer from her. "There isn't anywhere specific I'd want to go. But if there's somewhere somebody else wants to go, I can take them there."
"I've always wanted to see Italy, though I'm sure that comes as little surprise. Perhaps we could visit sometime in the Summer?" Mami says. This, of course, starts everyone explaining their dream vacation spots. Sayaka wants to see some ancient castles in England. Kyoko admits to not being much for travel, but has heard enough about Italy from Mami (who blushes with the embarrassment of having the depths of her enthusiasm revealed so publicly) that she's at least a little curious. Madoka agrees, narrowing her destination specifically to Rome, but also bring up Yellowstone National Park out of interest in the hot springs.
"What about you, Homura?" Madoka asks the other girl, who has been silently blending into the background since you left the Library. Homura doesn't respond, halting her March and staring off into the distance. The group gradually slows to a stop, all eyes turning back to the mechanical girl.
"I don't have anywhere I want to go." Homura says flatly. "We've wandered far enough. This is a sufficient place to stop. We have more important things to talk about."
Slowly, surely, the levity drains from the atmosphere. Expressions fall from bright and playful to tight and anticipatory. As relaxing as this place may look, none of you can afford to lay back and rest right now. With what's on the horizon, you need to prepare.
And that means everyone needs all the cards on the table.
"Hate to say it, but she's right. We shouldn't delay any longer." you announce with a deep sigh. "Find somewhere comfortable to sit down. This might take some time."
—————————
It's not long before everyone has taken their seats, assembled in a loose circle around a small clearing in the forest. You and Homura sit on either side of a small tangle of ash-colored roots while the remaining girls wait with bated breath for you to begin. She's already activated her time-stop, the others exempted of the effects by the nearly invisible length of gold ribbon tethering the group together. Homura quietly contemplates, sifting through thoughts and memories for nearly a minute straight. Finally, the clockwork girl raises her head and immediately turns to lock eyes with you.
"I'm not sure where to start explaining. I'll need you to help." she asks. It's not quite pleading, but it could be. Would be, if Homura were somebody more expressive. Of course, you answer.
"Right. Maybe ease into things? Don't start with the hard stuff, is what I'm saying." you suggest. People need time to process new information, and there's a lot of new information that needs to be processed.
"Hold on, what exactly are we talking about here?" Sayaka interjects, fidgeting uncomfortably. She's not the only one curious, either. Though the line between curiosity and nervousness is rather thin at this point, all the children are growing more and more ready for an answer. They might not know what awaits, but the tension in the air is palpable nonetheless. Whatever you and Homura know, it must be something truly world-shaking.
"Let's start with Homura's Magic and build off of things from there." you announce, and you can almost feel the layer of gloom that has been settling over the group since Homura spoke condense and settle into something solid wrapping around the edges of the clearing. There's no more turning back now. The box is open, and the kids are going to know the full truth by the end of today one way or another.
"Is there something special about Homura's Magic? She was a Magical Girl like Sayaka and Mami, but that was before any of you met, right?" Hitomi says. You almost forgot she doesn't know the ins and outs of the system like everybody else does. To your surprise, Yuma is the first to answer. That makes things simpler for you. A civilian she may be, your youngest has a gift for making complicated problems simple. You can leave this to her.
"Nope! Mom and Mami say everyone's got their own special Magic. When you make a Wish, what you wish for turns into your Magic. That way, everyone's special!" Yuma summarizes with slightly less jubilance than usual. Even she's picked up on the mood, then.
"I see." Hitomi confirms. "And Homura's Magic is..?"
"She can stop time." Sayaka says firmly. "It looks a bit weird from the outside, but it's crazy strong."
"That's only part of it." Homura corrects. "I can both stop time and reset time to return to an earlier point."
There it is. You can tell which of the kids understand the implications immediately and which ones are trying to think it through. Sayaka, Yuma, and Hitomi, who have the least experience with the supernatural, have the least grasp of the situation. You can see them putting the pieces together, considering the new possibilities and the ways they fit into Homura's story, but they aren't there yet. Mami and Kyoko, on the other hand, recognize the implications almost immediately. They don't know, can't know exactly what Homura's gone through, but they can guess. Between Homura's bizarre priorities and supreme cynicism, it's not hard to imagine what a person like her might have lived through. Madoka, though…
"You already knew us, didn't you Homura?"
It only feels right that she would figure it out first. Yourself aside, Madoka is the only one Homura has come anywhere close to opening up to. They've spent the most time together, they've talked the most, they know each other best. And now, it appears Madoka knows why.
"Yes. Originally, you had contracted before I did. We first met on the day I moved to this school, and you and Mami rescued me from a Witch later that day. I didn't become a Magical Girl until around a month after. Sayaka didn't Contract at all that time." Homura explains with the same flat, bored tone one might use to describe some particularly uneventful weather for the fifth time that day. Her body, on the other hand, tells a different story. All visible movement has ceased completely, while the ticking of the distorted girl's internal mechanisms has risen to a rapid pace. This frantic expression is mirrored by the other girls, whose confusion and worry only intensify with each word.
"Hold on, I'm really confused right now!" Sayaka exclaims. "Madoka's never been a Magical Girl. We'd have known if something like that happened."
"Not necessarily. You know how Homura's time stop looks odd from the outside? If you're not part of it, you don't see anything except the end results?" you explain. Sayaka nods tentatively. "It's the same basic principle with resetting time. Homura goes back to an earlier point, and only she remembers the stuff that originally happened after. Everything beyond that point gets undone and never happened in the first place. You can think of it like rewinding a movie back to the start."
"I… believe that I understand." Mami begins to say. "Something must have happened that you Wished to undo. And you've been working to try and keep it from happening again, haven't you?"
Homura continues without visibly reacting to Mami's assertion. "The original timeline ended in failure. The two of you together were not strong enough and perished. I had Wished to undo that outcome and to become strong enough to prevent it, though it was futile." She doesn't react to the looks of horror on the other girl's faces as she impassively delivers news of Mami and Madoka's past deaths. No pause is given in her recitation of the past. "The second was similarly a failure. I did not prevent Madoka from Contracting, and instead attempted to assist her and Mami directly. At the time, I was useless in combat. I couldn't use my Magic well enough to fight effectively. I couldn't make any important differences that time." Homura's voice remains still and emotionless, as if reading off of a script, as she demeans her past self. Of the various looks of pity, Sayaka's and Kyoko's are the most complex. Sayaka is struggling, words of apology and refutation just on the tip of her tongue but unable to make their way into the air. Kyoko opens her mouth, ready to say something, but whatever she might have spoken vanishes like smoke in the wind. She closes her mouth and slumps back into the tree she's using as a seat, exhausted. Unaffected, Homura proceeds with her explanation. "Madoka was able to defeat the Witch that had killed her previously, but expended too much magic and-"
"Hold on." you interrupt, placing a hand on Homura's shoulder. Now is absolutely not the right time for that particular revelation, not while everyone is still reeling from Homura's clinical reporting of her past."Let's save that part for after everything else, yeah? This is a lot to take in already. Wouldn't want to be overwhelming, now."
"I'm afraid that if the goal was not to be overwhelming, you have already failed." Hitomi says. In spite of her careful and collected language, her voice is shaking. A small, weak laugh manages to crawl from her throat at her joke, though it feels far more like a statement than a jest. You lean back and sigh.
"Well, there's not really an easy way to explain any of this. Not quickly, at least." you admit, resigned. It's a bit like ripping a bandage off, only that's a horrible metaphor because while both are unpleasant things that need to be done eventually, rushing through this explanation would be a terrible mistake.
"No kidding." Sayaka says weakly. "It's not every day you learn that you've died before."
"You weren't a Magical Girl until the next loop, so I don't know what happened to you those first two times." Homura corrects, though it does absolutely nothing to help allay Sayaka's despair. "I can recount every attempt, but there wouldn't be much point. We only worked together in the first few timelines. I simply wasn't capable of working with others. I could never save anybody either, or even convince anyone of Kyubey's true intentions. Because of my incompetence, I was-"
"Stop."
Two voices ring out at once in the silence of Homura's world of frozen time. You and Madoka, both leaning towards the mechanical girl, exchange a glance. Slowly, you draw back and let Madoka take the stage.
"I'm sorry Homura, but I can't let you say that about yourself. Not after everything you've done for all of us. You're not weak or incompetent, and I won't let you say those sorts of things about yourself." Madoka insists. Her voice is bereft of any hesitance or timidity, leaving only steel and fire behind. It's almost hard to believe, seeing such courage from somebody so young, so small. "How can you say those things when you've been protecting us for so long?"
"Indeed." Mami joins in, resolute and encouraging as ever. "Though I do not grasp the specifics of this situation as well as I wish, it seems clear to me that you have done me and the rest of us a great service. From my understanding,I would be dead if not for you. I cannot possibly express what I owe you."
"That's incorrect." Homura refutes plainly. "I never succeeded in saving any of you. Madoka always becomes a Magical Girl eventually, and I gave up on even trying to save anyone besides her a long time ago. I haven't done anything."
"Are you kidding me?" Kyoko snaps, jumping forward suddenly and filling the air with heat. "That's not even remotely correct! Leaving aside the fact that none of us are dead right now, I have a family again! Mami has a family again! Yuma has people who actually care about what happens to her! Are you really gonna tell me that none of that matters?"
"This isn't the first time that you and Mami have reunited, though it isn't common. Yuma has been removed from her original home before as well. It's not unimportant, but none of that is dependent on me. I can only accomplish one thing, and I must-"
"No. None of that now." you interrupt, ending Homura's inevitable tirade of self-recriminations and fixation on her sole objective. She falls silent without argument, though the mechanical girl gives no other signs of acknowledging your words. She's becoming agitated, you can see it. Even being so inexpressive, Homura's increasingly insistent rejections are telling enough. "Setting aside the mechanics of time manipulation, we both know that didn't happen originally. Whether directly or not, you're responsible for the possibility of such a thing happening at all. That means something."
The whirring of machinery fills the air, loud enough that anyone could hear it. Homura looks across the circle of people, eyes locking with each child one after another before finally turning her gaze to you. Expression unchanging, she inhales deeply before letting out a long, slow sigh. To your surprise, you can see the slight rise and fall of her chest as she does.
"This isn't relevant to the reason we gathered here." Homura says finally, no longer meeting the eyes of the other children. "Everyone is gathered here to learn essential information, not discuss my life. There are more important things to talk about. We need to continue."
You withdraw and compose yourself. Homura's right, you have business to attend to right now. "Let's table this discussion for the moment. There's still another topic to discuss today. That's not to say that this discussion is over, but just that we need to keep moving forward. Until then, keep quiet about all of this. Kyubey's probably already figured it out, but I don't wanna give him any more information than I have to." You withdraw some snacks and drinks from your jacket and set them out in the middle of the circle, burning away the cheap plastic wrap with a careful application of EGO. "Just take a moment to get yourselves properly situation again. When everybody's ready, we'll continue."
You can tell that the girls intend to pursue this further when they can, but your tone doesn't allow any disagreement. With some consternation, the children let things lie and accept the offered snacks. The meal is quiet and subdued, with even Yuma lacking in enthusiasm as the pile of food you brought gradually disappears. She might not have been able to do much aside from sit quietly for most of the conversation, but what information the diminutive child has managed to understand has shaken her. Homura neglects to eat at all, instead allowing you to refill her stock of energy while Hitomi and Mami watch with a mix of fascination and discomfort.
"Does that… hurt? There's just a… well, a hole in the back of your neck. I can't imagine that would be comfortable." Hitomi observes.
"My senses have become detached since my transformation." Homura explains in her typical monotone. "The winding process is mostly without any feeling, though having full reserves is more comforting than being unprepared. There is an associated feeling of security in being able to fight at full strength."
"Just remember to keep yourself at full strength, yeah? You've gotta take care of yourself if you want to stay in top form." you chide. You really wish Homura would take better care of herself instead of just the bare minimum to function. Maybe it's just a drilled-in reaction, but leaving Homura's winding to just when it's needed feels wrong. With tasks like that, you prefer them done as often as possible in case something goes wrong. It's always a good idea to plan for the possibility of failure, after all.
"We aren't here to talk about me." Homura repeats, returning her key to its resting place in the grasp of her ribbon. Thinking back over the previous times you've done this, her ribbon acted similarly, actively taking hold of her key and keeping it out of harm's way during combat. It's almost certainly prehensile, but you've never seen Homura carry anything with it besides the key. Maybe it's just the key that it can hold? Or maybe it has a mind of its own?
Regardless, Homura's right. The break has run its course, and before long nervousness will start to seep back in. Before that can happen, you'll just have to push through.
"If you say so. Is everyone done eating? There is still something else I need to tell you."
A round of muted affirmations follow. With the snacks gone, there's nothing left to distract from the subject at hand. While Homura remains impassive, the mood for the rest of the girls is far more foreboding. What could it be now, after what they heard just minutes ago?
"That's good to hear. This is mostly for Mami and Sayaka, though Madoka, Hitomi, and Yuma should keep it in mind too." Homura and Kyoko have less reason to be concerned, given their current state of being. Becoming Distortions has done them some good, at the very least. It would be much harder for you to live with yourself if it hadn't.
"It's not as personal a secret as what we just discussed." you continue, your voice the same measured, half-casual and half-professional cadence you would use to brief your agents. "This is something many Magical Girls figure out one way or another."
Your lower your voice to a darker, harsher tone with those last few words. Aside from somebody else telling them or teasing it out of Kyubey, there's only one way a Magical Girl learns where Witches come from.
"Just say it!" Sayaka shouts suddenly. "I can't stand all this waiting. Whatever this thing about Witches is, we'll deal with it! So just come right out and tell us!"
You suppose that's fair enough. With a heavy, drawn out sigh, you ready yourself for whatever's coming next. Nerves taut, you speak the secret in full.
"Witches are born from Magical Girls."
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Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Porccubus' Sapling - Observation Level 2/3
Schadenfreude's Sapling - Observation Level 1/3
CENSORED's Sapling - Observation Level EXPUNGED/REDACTED
And that's cut! Now, I hate leaving it here as much as any of you, but this chapter was delayed enough as is and stretching it out any further would feel even worse. Nearly four thousand words feels like such a tiresome length, I have no clue how other authors write such long stretches like they do.
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WilyMachineKing1
Executive Manager of Limbus Company
- Location
- Reno Nevada
A great song.
questioningmeme
Just be yourself
- Location
- River of Light
I wonder if we'll get the CENSORED sapling after this.