[X] Plan: Chill & Prep 2.0
"So, Homura-chan, we've got some time before you've got to meet up with the others, right? What do you want to do?"
That's a very pretty smile Madoka is giving you. You wish you could stop time and admire her smile in this moment forever. "Well, I was thinking we could go shopping for your arrows, if you'd like. After that?" You shrug. "Who knows. Oriko and Kirika won't be arriving until around eight or so, so that gives us plenty of time to do whatever we'd like."
"That sounds nice, Homura-chan." Madoka takes your hand - now free to be taken with Amy returned to the apartment - and gives you a gentle squeeze. "Really, I don't mind what we do, as long as I get to do it with you."
"I just have to send a few quick messages to the others, and we can be off." The first text message is the easier of the two to send; it's just a notice to the rest of your team that Nurse Ortensia wants to meet at the Sakura Church for the servant summoning. The second, not so much, because you haven't included Hitomi in your team chat group yet. She gets her own message.
<Homura: We're meeting tonight after eight. Nurse Ortensia wants to summon in the basement of the Sakura Church. Can you be there? Also, do you have a preference for servant/class? I'm sure we can work something out if you do.>
You put your phone away, content to spend time with Madoka while you wait for answers to come. You offer an arm for Madoka to latch on to, and ask her "Shall we be off, then?"
You've never gotten to see what having arrows sized to fit is like. It's different; neither particularly noteworthy nor particularly unpleasant. But it's time spent with Madoka, so you don't mind. You stand back as she, with the bow you gifted her, draws back on the string until she's demonstrated to the store owner how far back she can pull. Perhaps it's the memory of a bow without a string, but Madoka's draw strength is a lot less than you had expected.
"Are you sure you want to get into archery, young miss?" the story owner asks Madoka. "I don't mean to sound rude, but your upper body strength leaves a lot to be desired."
"That's okay," Madoka says. "I don't mind if I'm not cut out to be a champion archer. I just want to do something fun with my girlfriend." The store owner gives Madoka a look, one which you wish you could un-see. "Besides, she got me this bow for my birthday; I'd feel bad if I didn't do anything with it."
"Well, alright." The store owner glances in your direction. "You're the boss."
You and Madoka exit the store shortly after, Madoka two dozen arrows richer, and you poorer by more Yen than you expected two dozen arrows to cost. But it's fine; it's all for Madoka. "Well, what should we do next?" Madoka asks. "Do you think there's enough time for us to go to the mall and go shopping, or do you have to be heading out soon?"
"I think we've got enough time," you say. "Is there anything in particular you've got your eye on?"
Madoka steals a kiss from you, pulling back and saying with a smile on her face "You, silly." A few laughs and another kiss later, and Madoka is ready to give you a more serious answer. "There's nothing in particular I want. I just thought it would be fun to go shopping with you, that's all. We haven't gone shopping together in awhile."
"Shopping it is, then." Just as you and Madoka are about to leave for the mall, you feel your phone vibrate in your pocket. "Hold on, I should take this." It's Hitomi. "Moshi moshi."
"I'm sorry to interrupt you if you're in the middle of something, Akemi-san, but I just saw your message. We're meeting at the abandoned church later tonight, is that correct?"
"Yes, that's correct. Is that going to be a problem?"
"It shouldn't be, I don't think so. Um... You asked me if I had a preference for a servant or a class, but... Well, I confess this is all rather new to me. Is there anything I should know before I give you an answer?"
"Well, an Assassin servant is going to demand less mana from you than a Saber would, but they're not as suited for combat, and in a pinch an Assassin might not be the best at defending you. On the other hand, a Saber is going to be more mana-intensive, but in a fight a Saber is also going to be better suited for defending you. There's also your personal compatibility to consider, but that's more a matter of the individual servant than the class as a whole."
"I see. Well, you've given me something interesting to consider; I don't know if I can give you an answer at the moment." You are about to say goodbye to Hitomi, but before you can she returns with one final question. "Do you... Um, do you know if we'll be... Having to fight anyone tonight?"
"I can't answer that question," you are forced to say. "I'm sorry. I know that's not what you were hoping to hear."
"I know I've signed on to this, but I admit I'm still a little on edge over the thought of having to... Fight, another person, this way. I hope I don't end up holding you or the others back any."
"You're a competent mage and one of the smartest people I know. I'm sure you'll do just fine once you've had the chance to acclimate to things."
"Thank you, Akemi-san. I suppose I'll see you and the others later tonight, then."
"See you then, Hitomi." You hang up, returning your phone to your pocket and hoping you weren't loud enough for the entire rest of the world to hear your conversation. "That was Hitomi," you say to Madoka. "She just had a few questions about going forward with, well, with all of this."
"You're going to keep her safe, right Homura-chan?"
"Of course I will." You lean in, kissing Madoka again. "Now, let's go shopping. I'm sure there's lots of cute outfits we can find that'll look great on you."
"You too, Homura-chan. Don't forget to take care of yourself."
Shopping with Madoka is always a pleasure; seeing her reactions as she gleefully grabs clothes off the rack, comparing them with the ideal version of you she sees in her head, reminds you of your first date together in this timeline. In her hands she holds out in front of you an elegant, Gothic dress with lots of frills and ruffles, beaming as she says "Isn't it adorable, Homura-chan?"
There's something familiar about the dress Madoka is asking you to try on, but you can't place your finger on it. "It certainly is something," you say, taking the dress from her. That price tag is something else, however. "But, it's a bit too rich for my tastes. Maybe it's something I could ask mom to get me for Christmas, if you think I'd look good in it." You don't really want to do that. True, Minako makes good money now working for Madoka's mother, but you don't want to make her spend money frivolously on clothes you don't really need. Just last week she bought Kirika a really nice jacket for her birthday and that cost a fortune; you don't want to make her break the bank a second time. You return the dress to the hanger where Madoka found it, adding "Ironically, it would probably cost less to outfit me in a tailored suit."
Madoka's eyes practically become hearts at that image. "Really? Would you try a suit on for me, Homura-chan? I bet you'd look really good in one."
You give in; there's no way you can overcome those eyes of Madoka's. "Oh, alright," you say, allowing Madoka to lead you over to the department where suits in women's' sizes are kept. "You know, have you ever considered becoming a fashion coordinator?" you ask, as Madoka rummages through the racks of women's suit jackets for something in your size. "Because I can't think of a single time where your sense of fashion has ever let me down."
"I'm not actually that good," Madoka replies, handing you her selections. "You're just really easy to match for, because just about anything looks good on you."
"You're just saying that because I'm your girlfriend," is what you want to say, but upon seeing yourself in Madoka's chosen attire - a black suit, a royal blue shirt that matches your eyes, and a white silk tie - you find yourself questioning the degree to which Madoka undervalues her coordination skills. "I think you shouldn't sell yourself so short," you say as you reveal yourself to Madoka. "Because some people would pay really good money to have their clothes matched to them the way you do for me."
Damn, do you look good in a suit and tie; and this really is cheaper than that Gothic dress, who knew?
Madoka smiles at your compliment, edging closer to you as she says "You know, there's something I've always wanted to do..." Before you can react, Madoka has grabbed you by your tie, using it to pull you in as she kisses you. You're hidden from sight within the confines of the changing room, thankfully, or this would be rather embarrassing for any other shoppers to come across. When Madoka finally releases you, she's still smiling. "You look really good, Homura-chan, but I think there's still something missing."
"What are you thinking of?"
Madoka takes out her phone, and chews on her tongue as she spends a minute or two pouring over the device until she finds what she's looking for. While you're facing the mirror, she holds her phone up to your ear, revealing that she's found a picture of some rather expensive-looking amethyst earrings. "You don't have to if you don't want to, but I think you'd look really good with these earrings, Homura-chan." Removing her phone from your face once you've had the chance to confirm Madoka's correct opinion, she runs a finger over your earlobe, adding "But, I'd understand if you didn't want to get your ears pierced also. You've got really pretty ears; I'd hate for you to think you have to get them pierced just for me."
"I'll give it some thought," you say, not sure how you feel about the idea at the moment. Nor are you sure how your body would react to having your ears pierced in the first place. It's just a tiny pinprick; wouldn't your body heal it before you've even had the chance to enjoy your new earrings? "I don't feel particularly compelled to at the moment, but you're right; I would look good with those earrings." More than getting your ears pierced, though, is the thought of what Madoka's choice in earrings would cost you. They look too nice to be within a price range you're comfortable with. "Now, we've come all this way, surely we're not going to make this trip just be about me. Come on, let's find you something nice to wear..."
Do you buy anything?
[ ] Break the bank a lot; get the Gothic dress
[ ] Break the bank just a little; get the suit
[ ] Don't break the bank; just buy some regular clothes that you need
[ ] Buy something for Madoka; it's her choice, price doesn't matter
[ ] Other (write-in)
On the other hand, it'll be a lesson in sufficiently researching the art exhibition beforehand.