- Location
- Around here
Dealing with Assassin is one of our major objectives, yes. As for who we bring and what sort of tactics we employ, that's entirely up to how our planning sessions go.
-
Going forward, links to content from Twitter (now X) will no longer be embedded. Pre-existing links should not be affected.
Confringentur, a PMMM/Fate Quest and Communication
- Thread starter Astra Myst
- Start date
- Crossover
Dealing with Assassin is one of our major objectives, yes. As for who we bring and what sort of tactics we employ, that's entirely up to how our planning sessions go.
- Location
- Philippines
Good point I still can't believe we didn't kill her with Rider well I could blame it on Rider since he was fooling around when we fought them.
- Location
- United States
[X] Talk
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
Kyuubey's been way too quiet, and I doubt Homura has missed that. That's real cause to worry when the source of all the troubles in PMMM is presumably plotting something in the background. Given Archer's Personal Skills, it should be relatively easy to spot at least one of the bodies running about, considering how much damage control its probably have had to cover up since this whole war business started up.
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
Kyuubey's been way too quiet, and I doubt Homura has missed that. That's real cause to worry when the source of all the troubles in PMMM is presumably plotting something in the background. Given Archer's Personal Skills, it should be relatively easy to spot at least one of the bodies running about, considering how much damage control its probably have had to cover up since this whole war business started up.
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] Talk
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
- Location
- Philippines
[X] Talk
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
The invite is expired - is this still around?
Astra Myst
Do you want a wish?
- Location
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Pronouns
- Femhon/Boymoder
Probably. But no one really uses it since we don't have that many players
Also welcome to Mr.
Day 16 Chapter 2
- Location
- Around here
[X] Talk
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
"Homura-chan!" Madoka is waiting for you at the intersection, just like always. Smiles abound and the two of you exchange hugs, before switching to holding hands as you continue towards school. "Tomorrow is April, Homura-chan. Are you excited?"
You can't say that you are. The thirty-day stretch from the start of April until the arrival of Walpurgisacht always leaves you feeling at unease. April is always the turning point for you loops; no matter how well things might have been going before, come April they all invariably take the turn for the worst, and each days counts down until the inevitable and foregone conclusion that you have failed yet again. You've never been a fan of the month of April.
So of course, you have to lie yet again to Madoka. "Yes. It's been so long since I was able to see a new month from anywhere but the inside of a hospital ward. I'm rather looking forward to it."
Madoka's grip on your hand tightens ever so slightly, but she puts up a brave front in spite of the obvious concern written on her face. "Just you wait, Homura-chan. Starting tomorrow, everything's going to turn around for the better, I just know it!"
You highly doubt that. "If you believe it, then I'm sure it will happen."
You walk with Madoka in silence, until you arrive at the intersection where Sayaka and Hitomi are waiting. "Hitomi-chan, happy birthday!" Madoka chirps, loosening her grip on your hand just enough so that she doesn't drag you along as she races up to her seaweed-haired friend.
You chime in as well, offering a polite "Happy birthday."
"Madoka-san, Akemi-san, thank you very much for your blessings."
"What's this make you now, fourteen?" Sayaka asks, wrapping her arm around Hitomi, catching the poor girl between the jaws of the Madoka-Sayaka hug-vice. "Guess I'm back to being the youngest in the group."
"Sayaka-san, you've always been the youngest," Hitomi replies.
"Yeah, but it was better when we were both thirteen."
It should come as no surprise that Sayaka would be the youngest member of the group, and yet you find that you still weren't expecting for it to truly be the case. "When is your birthday, Sayaka?"
"August sixteenth."
"Don't worry, Homura-chan," Madoka says, returning her attention to you once her part in the hug-vice is over. "Sayaka-chan gets like this every year."
"I do not!" Sayaka pouts, crossing her arms in a very - is it too on the nose for you to call her immature? - fashion. "This year's different, alright? Now we've got Homura, and Mami-san, and even Kyouko, and they're all older than me! It makes me... It makes me feel uncool, knowing that literally all my friends are older than me."
"Oh? So you've come to consider Sakura-san a friend?" Hitomi asks, causing Sayaka to blush and stutter frantically.
"No! Well, I mean, maybe. I mean, she can be pretty cool when she wants to be, and she wasn't as mean yesterday, and I guess maybe I could kinda sorta see us becoming friends later on... But she's not my friend right now, got it!"
Hitomi laughs at Sayaka's flustered attempts to deny her budding friendship with the abrasive redhead. "Well, I'm glad the two of you are getting along."
"Yeah..." Sayaka scratches at the back of her head, looking off into the distance before snapping back to reality, her attentions turned to you. "So hey, Homura, I'm really sorry for yelling at you last night. I know you're trying your best to sort everything out with those two, and it's probably not helping at all to have me yelling "solutions"-" Sayaka provides air quotes around the word "-at you when I barely know what I'd do in your shoes."
"My, that's surprisingly mature of you." Though you try your best to hide your intentions, the curling of the corners of your lips betray you. "And to think that you're the youngest member of our group. I'd have never guessed."
"Oh come on, not you too!" Sayaka's pleas do nothing to drown out the laughter coming from Madoka and Hitomi.
"On a more serious note, Hitomi, I believe I owe you an apology as well." Hitomi looks at you, confused. "I have neglected to acquire a birthday present for you, and for that I must apologize. I know that the business of my schedule is no excuse."
"Oh, nonsense Akemi-san. Just having you around is enough for me."
Perhaps Hitomi is right. You've never had the chance to give Madoka a birthday present, so why should Hitomi deserve better? Still... Feeling at least some sense of obligation to the girl, you reach out and touch the minds of Madoka and Sayaka, asking them "Can you think of anything I might be able to get for Hitomi?"
Their answer is unanimous. "A poetry book."
You don't know what sort of poetry Hitomi is a fan of, nor do you know what books she already owns, but it's at least a start. Perhaps you can have Archer pick something up and deliver it to you before the end of the day?
Your heart freezes as a flash of white skirts at the corner of your vision. The Incubator. His presence has been so infrequent in this timeline that you had almost forgotten about him, but no longer. Now, your mind is at full alert, not even calming down upon realizing that it was only Madoka's stockings you had seen. You've let him scurry about in the shadows for far too long, but now that things between you and Mikuni Oriko's block have quieted down, it's time to resume your duties.
"Archer, I need you to do something for me."
"And what does my master require of me today?"
"I need for you to track down the Incubator. With everything that's been going on, I imagine that it's had its paws full running constant damage control on the population. I need to know what it's been up to and what it's planning for in the immediate future."
"Hunt down the Killer Rabbit; got it. Is there anything special I need to know in order to do the best job I can?"
"The Incubator will never outright lie, but likes to obfuscate the truth as much as possible. Only ask it direct questions, and if you ever feel like it's not telling you enough, make it tell you the rest."
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Just one thing- If you get the chance, do you think you could stop at the bookstore and ell me what sort of options there are for books of poetry?"
"Poetry? Okay, but wouldn't it be easier for me to just pick you up one directly?"
"It would, but it's meant to be Hitomi's birthday present, and I want to be able to say that I picked it out for her myself."
"Ahh, I understand. Alright, if I'm in the area while I'm searching for the little rat bastard, I'll let you know what the bookstore has."
Your name is Emiya Shirou, and today your master has tasked you with two assignments. Track down the Incubator and grill it about what it's been up to recently, and check out the poetry section of the bookstore. Well, if that's not the most unusual set of marching orders a master has given you.
[ ] Where do you check for the Incubator?
-[X] To Madoka & Sayaka
--[X] About what she should try and gift Hitomi later in the day
-[X] To Hitomi
--[X] To wish her a happy birthday
-[X] To Archer telepathically
--[X] To ask him to try and find one of the Incubator's bodies and interrogate it for information. Namely, what its been doing these past couple of weeks, why it had seemingly ceased trying to get Madoka to contract given her Potential, and if there is anything big that's going to happen in the city in the near future to its knowledge. Remind Archer that Kyuubey will only speak the truth when asked a direct question, and that it is partial to half-truths as well.
"Homura-chan!" Madoka is waiting for you at the intersection, just like always. Smiles abound and the two of you exchange hugs, before switching to holding hands as you continue towards school. "Tomorrow is April, Homura-chan. Are you excited?"
You can't say that you are. The thirty-day stretch from the start of April until the arrival of Walpurgisacht always leaves you feeling at unease. April is always the turning point for you loops; no matter how well things might have been going before, come April they all invariably take the turn for the worst, and each days counts down until the inevitable and foregone conclusion that you have failed yet again. You've never been a fan of the month of April.
So of course, you have to lie yet again to Madoka. "Yes. It's been so long since I was able to see a new month from anywhere but the inside of a hospital ward. I'm rather looking forward to it."
Madoka's grip on your hand tightens ever so slightly, but she puts up a brave front in spite of the obvious concern written on her face. "Just you wait, Homura-chan. Starting tomorrow, everything's going to turn around for the better, I just know it!"
You highly doubt that. "If you believe it, then I'm sure it will happen."
You walk with Madoka in silence, until you arrive at the intersection where Sayaka and Hitomi are waiting. "Hitomi-chan, happy birthday!" Madoka chirps, loosening her grip on your hand just enough so that she doesn't drag you along as she races up to her seaweed-haired friend.
You chime in as well, offering a polite "Happy birthday."
"Madoka-san, Akemi-san, thank you very much for your blessings."
"What's this make you now, fourteen?" Sayaka asks, wrapping her arm around Hitomi, catching the poor girl between the jaws of the Madoka-Sayaka hug-vice. "Guess I'm back to being the youngest in the group."
"Sayaka-san, you've always been the youngest," Hitomi replies.
"Yeah, but it was better when we were both thirteen."
It should come as no surprise that Sayaka would be the youngest member of the group, and yet you find that you still weren't expecting for it to truly be the case. "When is your birthday, Sayaka?"
"August sixteenth."
"Don't worry, Homura-chan," Madoka says, returning her attention to you once her part in the hug-vice is over. "Sayaka-chan gets like this every year."
"I do not!" Sayaka pouts, crossing her arms in a very - is it too on the nose for you to call her immature? - fashion. "This year's different, alright? Now we've got Homura, and Mami-san, and even Kyouko, and they're all older than me! It makes me... It makes me feel uncool, knowing that literally all my friends are older than me."
"Oh? So you've come to consider Sakura-san a friend?" Hitomi asks, causing Sayaka to blush and stutter frantically.
"No! Well, I mean, maybe. I mean, she can be pretty cool when she wants to be, and she wasn't as mean yesterday, and I guess maybe I could kinda sorta see us becoming friends later on... But she's not my friend right now, got it!"
Hitomi laughs at Sayaka's flustered attempts to deny her budding friendship with the abrasive redhead. "Well, I'm glad the two of you are getting along."
"Yeah..." Sayaka scratches at the back of her head, looking off into the distance before snapping back to reality, her attentions turned to you. "So hey, Homura, I'm really sorry for yelling at you last night. I know you're trying your best to sort everything out with those two, and it's probably not helping at all to have me yelling "solutions"-" Sayaka provides air quotes around the word "-at you when I barely know what I'd do in your shoes."
"My, that's surprisingly mature of you." Though you try your best to hide your intentions, the curling of the corners of your lips betray you. "And to think that you're the youngest member of our group. I'd have never guessed."
"Oh come on, not you too!" Sayaka's pleas do nothing to drown out the laughter coming from Madoka and Hitomi.
"On a more serious note, Hitomi, I believe I owe you an apology as well." Hitomi looks at you, confused. "I have neglected to acquire a birthday present for you, and for that I must apologize. I know that the business of my schedule is no excuse."
"Oh, nonsense Akemi-san. Just having you around is enough for me."
Perhaps Hitomi is right. You've never had the chance to give Madoka a birthday present, so why should Hitomi deserve better? Still... Feeling at least some sense of obligation to the girl, you reach out and touch the minds of Madoka and Sayaka, asking them "Can you think of anything I might be able to get for Hitomi?"
Their answer is unanimous. "A poetry book."
You don't know what sort of poetry Hitomi is a fan of, nor do you know what books she already owns, but it's at least a start. Perhaps you can have Archer pick something up and deliver it to you before the end of the day?
Your heart freezes as a flash of white skirts at the corner of your vision. The Incubator. His presence has been so infrequent in this timeline that you had almost forgotten about him, but no longer. Now, your mind is at full alert, not even calming down upon realizing that it was only Madoka's stockings you had seen. You've let him scurry about in the shadows for far too long, but now that things between you and Mikuni Oriko's block have quieted down, it's time to resume your duties.
"Archer, I need you to do something for me."
"And what does my master require of me today?"
"I need for you to track down the Incubator. With everything that's been going on, I imagine that it's had its paws full running constant damage control on the population. I need to know what it's been up to and what it's planning for in the immediate future."
"Hunt down the Killer Rabbit; got it. Is there anything special I need to know in order to do the best job I can?"
"The Incubator will never outright lie, but likes to obfuscate the truth as much as possible. Only ask it direct questions, and if you ever feel like it's not telling you enough, make it tell you the rest."
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Just one thing- If you get the chance, do you think you could stop at the bookstore and ell me what sort of options there are for books of poetry?"
"Poetry? Okay, but wouldn't it be easier for me to just pick you up one directly?"
"It would, but it's meant to be Hitomi's birthday present, and I want to be able to say that I picked it out for her myself."
"Ahh, I understand. Alright, if I'm in the area while I'm searching for the little rat bastard, I'll let you know what the bookstore has."
Your name is Emiya Shirou, and today your master has tasked you with two assignments. Track down the Incubator and grill it about what it's been up to recently, and check out the poetry section of the bookstore. Well, if that's not the most unusual set of marching orders a master has given you.
[ ] Where do you check for the Incubator?
- Location
- United States
[X] Where do you check for the Incubator?
-[X] Around the incident site from the train wreck last night, then nearby the households of the local Puella Magi
-[X] If all else fails, get to a high point in the city and use your vision to try and spot the Incubator by chance
-[X] The local major leylines just in case
Shouldn't be too difficult for EMIYA to find one of the Incubator's bodies due to the skills he has as an Archer-class Servant and his Magical NoseTM.
EDIT: Removed leylines vote for SVS's sake
EDIT2: Re-added the Leylines vote since SVS figured out where they are
-[X] Around the incident site from the train wreck last night, then nearby the households of the local Puella Magi
-[X] If all else fails, get to a high point in the city and use your vision to try and spot the Incubator by chance
-[X] The local major leylines just in case
Shouldn't be too difficult for EMIYA to find one of the Incubator's bodies due to the skills he has as an Archer-class Servant and his Magical NoseTM.
EDIT: Removed leylines vote for SVS's sake
EDIT2: Re-added the Leylines vote since SVS figured out where they are
Last edited:
- Location
- Around here
At some point, I'm going to have to draw up a map of where Mitakihara's leylines are, but until I do I need for us to stick to locations on the map so that I actually know where we're looking.
Edit: So, getting around to drawing up a map of Mitakihara's leylines didn't actually take as long as I thought it would. I can't post the picture here, but the leylines follow the river and the train tracks pretty closely, with a few small bulges and branches along the way.
If anyone wants to include the part about leylines from Enentious's vote, feel free to do so, since I now know where we'd be looking.
Last edited:
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] Where do you check for the Incubator?
-[X] Around the incident site from the train wreck last night, then nearby the households of the local Puella Magi
-[X] If all else fails, get to a high point in the city and use your vision to try and spot the Incubator by chance
-[X] The local major leylines just in case
Last edited:
- Location
- United States
@SVS Hm, it does make sense that the Leylines would cut through the abandoned Church, as in the Nasuverse people tend to set up religious and otherwise mythological places like Churches and Temples on Leylines unconsciously. I'm assuming the one that follows the the railway would dip more towards the residential district and the park and lake? From what I recall, a reason many major Leylines in the world have been declining in power, other than the decline in Mystery and Magic in the world, is from major Urbanization.
@WanderingTwix pinging; altered the vote
@WanderingTwix pinging; altered the vote
- Location
- Philippines
[X] Where do you check for the Incubator?
-[X] Around the incident site from the train wreck last night, then nearby the households of the local Puella Magi
-[X] If all else fails, get to a high point in the city and use your vision to try and spot the Incubator by chance
-[X] The local major leylines just in case
-[X] Around the incident site from the train wreck last night, then nearby the households of the local Puella Magi
-[X] If all else fails, get to a high point in the city and use your vision to try and spot the Incubator by chance
-[X] The local major leylines just in case
- Location
- Around here
Bingo. With only a single exception, all of the branches and bulges that aren't in the process of decaying are in a southern-facing direction away from the major city sprawl.
Day 16 Chapter 3
- Location
- Around here
[X] Where do you check for the Incubator?
-[X] Around the incident site from the train wreck last night, then nearby the households of the local Puella Magi
-[X] If all else fails, get to a high point in the city and use your vision to try and spot the Incubator by chance
-[X] The local major leylines just in case
You've got an Incubator to catch. It shouldn't be too difficult to pick out a single, cat-sized magical alien whatsit in a twenty square kilometer city of almost three-hundred-thousand. Piece of cake for your highly-tuned hawk's eyes, right?
Well, maybe not.
Even though you weren't looking for the Incubator in particular, your eyes have been peeled for any signs of trouble since you left the apartment, just like they are every day. If the Incubator was following your master and her friends, then it's damn good at keeping hidden; too good, in fact. So you decide instead to focus your search on other locales, in the hopes of catching it where it might be an easier prospect.
The most obvious place to begin the hunt is the sight of last night's accident. In the daylight, the place is even more of a mess than it had appeared under cover of darkness. There's a large section where the track is just completely torn up, and part of the bridge has collapsed into the river below, cutting off rail traffic going into and out of Kazamino. Workmen are busy putting things back together, but just based on the amount of damage to the bridge you'd probably estimate a few months before everything is back the way it should be.
And yet, there's no sign of the little white bastard.
While you're in the area, however, you decide to make a stop over to check out both the church and the apartment complex where Tomoe-san resides. You find nothing. The Incubator is nowhere to be found at either location, and even Rider's presence can no longer be felt at the church, though you would imagine that Rider has gone off to wherever his master might be. Though to be fair, you don't know where that might be, either.
"Master, could you ask Tomoe-san what happened to Sakura Kyouko after I left last night?"
After your master's affirmative, there's a bit of a wait before she returns with "Kyouko is currently laid up at the hospital. Tomoe-san says that she'll be there for another day or two while they check her for injuries. However, what will happen to her after her release isn't something I can say."
"And it'll be difficult for her to return to squatting in the church now that rail traffic to Kazamino is shut down."
"Good. Maybe this will finally put a solid roof over her head and real food in her stomach on a regular basis."
"We can only hope."
The leylines of Mitakihara are fairly straightforward, following the river and the train tracks, with a few branches and bulges here and there, but before you decide to commit the time to scoping them out, there is still one more place you want to check out. Having looked at the residences of the other puella magi in Mitakihara, it only makes sense to give the last residence a once-over.
And it is here, wandering about the border of Mikuni Oriko's Bounded Field, that you find the Incubator. It paws at the boundary, unsuccessful in gaining entrance. "You know, perhaps you should take the hint and get out of here," you say to the white creature, causing it to turn its attentions towards you. "I doubt you'd be able to get in no matter how hard you tried."
"I remember you," the Incubator responds. "You were present in Akemi Homura's apartment building when she decided to shoot me unprovoked. I sense a large amount of magical energy inside of you, and yet you are of a kind of existence that is unknown to me. This is most illogical. Tell me, what are you?"
Do you
[ ] Tell the Incubator
-[ ] What? (write-in what you tell the Incubator)
--[ ] But first get it to tell you (write-in what you want from the Incubator)
[ ] Don't tell the Incubator
-[ ] And instead force it to tell you (write-in what you want from the Incubator)
[ ] Other (write-in)
?
-[X] Around the incident site from the train wreck last night, then nearby the households of the local Puella Magi
-[X] If all else fails, get to a high point in the city and use your vision to try and spot the Incubator by chance
-[X] The local major leylines just in case
You've got an Incubator to catch. It shouldn't be too difficult to pick out a single, cat-sized magical alien whatsit in a twenty square kilometer city of almost three-hundred-thousand. Piece of cake for your highly-tuned hawk's eyes, right?
Well, maybe not.
Even though you weren't looking for the Incubator in particular, your eyes have been peeled for any signs of trouble since you left the apartment, just like they are every day. If the Incubator was following your master and her friends, then it's damn good at keeping hidden; too good, in fact. So you decide instead to focus your search on other locales, in the hopes of catching it where it might be an easier prospect.
The most obvious place to begin the hunt is the sight of last night's accident. In the daylight, the place is even more of a mess than it had appeared under cover of darkness. There's a large section where the track is just completely torn up, and part of the bridge has collapsed into the river below, cutting off rail traffic going into and out of Kazamino. Workmen are busy putting things back together, but just based on the amount of damage to the bridge you'd probably estimate a few months before everything is back the way it should be.
And yet, there's no sign of the little white bastard.
While you're in the area, however, you decide to make a stop over to check out both the church and the apartment complex where Tomoe-san resides. You find nothing. The Incubator is nowhere to be found at either location, and even Rider's presence can no longer be felt at the church, though you would imagine that Rider has gone off to wherever his master might be. Though to be fair, you don't know where that might be, either.
"Master, could you ask Tomoe-san what happened to Sakura Kyouko after I left last night?"
After your master's affirmative, there's a bit of a wait before she returns with "Kyouko is currently laid up at the hospital. Tomoe-san says that she'll be there for another day or two while they check her for injuries. However, what will happen to her after her release isn't something I can say."
"And it'll be difficult for her to return to squatting in the church now that rail traffic to Kazamino is shut down."
"Good. Maybe this will finally put a solid roof over her head and real food in her stomach on a regular basis."
"We can only hope."
The leylines of Mitakihara are fairly straightforward, following the river and the train tracks, with a few branches and bulges here and there, but before you decide to commit the time to scoping them out, there is still one more place you want to check out. Having looked at the residences of the other puella magi in Mitakihara, it only makes sense to give the last residence a once-over.
And it is here, wandering about the border of Mikuni Oriko's Bounded Field, that you find the Incubator. It paws at the boundary, unsuccessful in gaining entrance. "You know, perhaps you should take the hint and get out of here," you say to the white creature, causing it to turn its attentions towards you. "I doubt you'd be able to get in no matter how hard you tried."
"I remember you," the Incubator responds. "You were present in Akemi Homura's apartment building when she decided to shoot me unprovoked. I sense a large amount of magical energy inside of you, and yet you are of a kind of existence that is unknown to me. This is most illogical. Tell me, what are you?"
Do you
[ ] Tell the Incubator
-[ ] What? (write-in what you tell the Incubator)
--[ ] But first get it to tell you (write-in what you want from the Incubator)
[ ] Don't tell the Incubator
-[ ] And instead force it to tell you (write-in what you want from the Incubator)
[ ] Other (write-in)
?
Last edited:
- Location
- United States
[X] Tell the Incubator
-[X] A magical construct given sentience, formed and maintained by an unknown specialized well of magical energy
--[X] But first get it to tell you what it had been doing these past couple weeks, why it hasn't contacted Kaname Madoka to contract with her recently, and if there's anything big that'll happen in the future, particularly outside of the Incubator's control and understanding that he and his Master could help contain before anything drastic occurs.
-[X] Explain what a Bounded Field is and how it works in exchange for information about how a reality-altering event can be achieved via its system of Magic; does it have to do with this Potential he's heard his Master speak of before, what specifics about its system could alter the fabric of reality, etc.
So, no harm in somewhat lying to the Incubator, since it knows squat about what's happening. Also finally Archer gets a chance to question the being that's been imposing powerful Magic/Magecraft in order to grant 'Wishes', particularly as to how a Reality-altering event could possibly occur under whatever system of Magic the Incubator uses as Archer has no other leads.
-[X] A magical construct given sentience, formed and maintained by an unknown specialized well of magical energy
--[X] But first get it to tell you what it had been doing these past couple weeks, why it hasn't contacted Kaname Madoka to contract with her recently, and if there's anything big that'll happen in the future, particularly outside of the Incubator's control and understanding that he and his Master could help contain before anything drastic occurs.
-[X] Explain what a Bounded Field is and how it works in exchange for information about how a reality-altering event can be achieved via its system of Magic; does it have to do with this Potential he's heard his Master speak of before, what specifics about its system could alter the fabric of reality, etc.
So, no harm in somewhat lying to the Incubator, since it knows squat about what's happening. Also finally Archer gets a chance to question the being that's been imposing powerful Magic/Magecraft in order to grant 'Wishes', particularly as to how a Reality-altering event could possibly occur under whatever system of Magic the Incubator uses as Archer has no other leads.
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] Tell the Incubator
-[X] A magical construct given sentience, formed and maintained by an unknown specialized well of magical energy
--[X] But first get it to tell you what it had been doing these past couple weeks, why it hasn't contacted Kaname Madoka to contract with her recently, and if there's anything big that'll happen in the future, particularly outside of the Incubator's control and understanding that he and his Master could help contain before anything drastic occurs.
-[X] Explain what a Bounded Field is and how it works in exchange for information about how a reality-altering event can be achieved via its system of Magic; does it have to do with this Potential he's heard his Master speak of before, what specifics about its system could alter the fabric of reality, etc.
-[X] A magical construct given sentience, formed and maintained by an unknown specialized well of magical energy
--[X] But first get it to tell you what it had been doing these past couple weeks, why it hasn't contacted Kaname Madoka to contract with her recently, and if there's anything big that'll happen in the future, particularly outside of the Incubator's control and understanding that he and his Master could help contain before anything drastic occurs.
-[X] Explain what a Bounded Field is and how it works in exchange for information about how a reality-altering event can be achieved via its system of Magic; does it have to do with this Potential he's heard his Master speak of before, what specifics about its system could alter the fabric of reality, etc.
Day 16 Chapter 4
- Location
- Around here
[X] Tell the Incubator
-[X] A magical construct given sentience, formed and maintained by an unknown specialized well of magical energy
--[X] But first get it to tell you what it had been doing these past couple weeks, why it hasn't contacted Kaname Madoka to contract with her recently, and if there's anything big that'll happen in the future, particularly outside of the Incubator's control and understanding that he and his Master could help contain before anything drastic occurs.
-[X] Explain what a Bounded Field is and how it works in exchange for information about how a reality-altering event can be achieved via its system of Magic; does it have to do with this Potential he's heard his Master speak of before, what specifics about its system could alter the fabric of reality, etc.
"Tell me, what are you?"
Admittedly, when you first set out to locate the Incubator, you had no real idea of how you planned to get it to divulge the information you were after, but now that you know it has information it wants from you, perhaps you've found a way to leverage yourself into a better position.
"I'll tell you what I am, if you tell me something first."
"A bargain, then; information for information. There is much information that I require from you, and if you have sought me out, then the most logical conclusion is that you also have information that you require from me."
The Incubator circles your position, like a housecat searching for a leg to rub up against. However, this little white bastard isn't looking for anything physical from you. "So, is that a yes I'm hearing?"
"That depends. If the information which you desire from me is of greater value than the information I desire from you, then this exchange would not be worth it. Before I can consent to an agreement, I must first know what it is that you desire of me."
"I need to know what you've been up to for the past two weeks, and what you're planning for the future."
The Incubator paces about at your legs for a few seconds more, staring at you with its soulless eyes, cherry-candy orbs far too close to the eyes of an Einzbern homunculus to be mere coincidence. At last, the pacing stops and the Incubator stands in front of you, motionless but for the swaying of its bushy tail. "Very well. Your requests are not outside the realm of fairness for the information I seek."
"The past two weeks have been occupied largely with undoing the negative repercussions of Mikuni Oriko's mass slaughter of the local puella magi and performing necessary damage control on the civilian populace incidentally involved in her actions. Thanks to the efforts of her and Kure Kirika, along with an unidentified third party possessed of a very similar magical waveform to yourself, twenty-three puella magi have been removed from the local ecosystem."
Twenty-three girls whose lives were cut short by the machinations of a girl your master is now trying to court. Based on how terrified she seems of this Walpurgisnacht witch she and everyone else with half a brain seem to be talking about, it makes sense that she would try to recruit as many allies as possible, especially ones that she knows to be powerful. But still, it doesn't sit right with you, especially when there must be other girls left she could recruit instead. "What percentage of the local ecosystem does that represent?" you ask, internally seething at your own usage of the Incubator's thoroughly dehumanizing term for the girls whose lives he is partially responsible for.
"Allowing you two ask multiple questions in a row hardly seems fair," the Incubator replies. "One question for one question makes for the fairest exchange of information, does it not?"
"No, I suppose it doesn't."
"Then perhaps you could tell me what I might call you, before I answer your next question."
"Archer. You can call me Archer."
"Very well, Archer. Twenty-three puella magi represents approximately eighty-two per cent of the total population of the local ecosystem."
Eighty-two per cent. You quickly do the math in your head, and are stunned once the realization finally hits you. If the Incubator is telling the truth, than the only puella magi left in the area would be your master, Tomoe-san, Sakura Kyouko, and Mikuni and Kure. The simple fact is, your master doesn't have any options other than to conscript that pair of mass murderers if she wants more allies. "Alright then, it looks like it's your turn again."
"What are you, Archer? What sort of entity are you, and why have I never sensed another of your kind before?"
"Ah-ah, now who's trying to ask two questions at once, hm?" The Incubator continues to stare at you, but makes no comment that could denote any irritation at having its own logic turned against it. "What I am isn't the easiest thing in the world to explain, but for simplicity's sake you could say that I'm a construct of mana given sapience, and powered by a specialized well of magical energy."
The Incubator continues to stare at you. "My turn again. When you said that you were working to undo the negative repercussions of Mikuni's actions, what exactly does that entail?"
"Scouting out potential contractees and determining which ones would make the best puella magi candidates in order to raise the local population back up to a satisfactory level. Why have I never sensed another of your kind before? The kind and amount of magical energy you emanate is rather distinct, and it is illogical that something such as yourself could exist without my knowledge, so why have I never sensed another entity similar to yourself before?"
You shrug. "Pure luck of the draw, I guess. My kind don't exactly pop up at a regular basis; you're either in the right place at the right time, or you're not, and there's no other way about it." You don't recall seeing anything like the Incubator during any iteration of your War; and if for some reason you were unable to, then if Rin saw anything she didn't say anything. You can't speak for the previous Wars before yours, but simply given the kinds of participants involved, it's highly unlikely for the Incubator to have had a reason to be involved before.
But getting back on track; you realize that the Incubator has made a grave misstep. It's given you the perfect segue into your next question. "Who are your current candidates to be made into puella magi? Be specific; give me names."
"At present, a girl named Kaname Madoka is at the top of my list. I have sensed the presence of entities with similar magical waveforms to yourself scattered throughout the city, most prominently the one under the command of MIkuni Oriko. Are these entities the same sort of existence as yourself?"
"Yes. What's so special about Kaname Madoka that has her at the top of your list?"
"Her potential is unlike anything I have ever encountered before. Why does the entity attached to Mikuni Oriko follow her commands?"
"Beats me; I wouldn't follow her, but I can't speak for someone else who would. What is this 'potential' that Kaname Madoka has?"
"A puella magi candidate's potential is an informant of how strong of a puella magi that person would be, as well as the scope of their wish. Are all entities such as yourself attached to a puella magi, such as the one attached to Mikuni Oriko?"
"Yes. If Kaname Madoka has such great potential, why have you not attempted to contact her in the past two weeks?"
"Because Mikuni Oriko and I have been engaged in what you might describe as a 'Cold War' between one another over Kaname Madoka. Were I to make a move on her, it was certain for Mikuni Oriko to see this and to move against me. Why are all the entities similar to yourself attached to puella magi? Your existence is not a part of the system that my species devised, so your presence and your attachment to the local puella magi leaves me confused."
You know why you and the other servants are attached to the local puella magi; with the Grail destroyed, "Only the vast amounts of mana contained within a puella magi's Soul Gem can provide myself and the others like me with a sustainable amount of magical energy. Now that Mikuni Oriko has been dealt with, will you be turning your attention to Kaname Madoka any time soon?"
"Of course. Walpurgisnact is coming, and a girl with such potential as hers should not be left uncontracted. Why are my actions of such importance to you that you would seek me out to question me?"
"Personally, I don't care what you're up to." That's a lie. "But, since you're observant enough to have realized that each one of the other entities like me is attached to their own puella magi, then I guess there's no harm in saying that the one that I'm attached to has taken a great interest in your recent activities."
The Incubator continues to stare at you. You wish it would stop. "However, she's also told me a fair amount about you and your system. I'm aware of the wishes. I'm aware that puella magi become witches. Does Kaname Madoka's potential relate to the strength of her witch?"
"Yes. Just as Kaname Madoka will become the most powerful puella magi, so too will she become the most powerful witch, easily eclipsing Walpurgisnacht in size and strength. To which puella magi are you assigned? Is it Akemi Homura?"
"It is. In addition to Walpurgisnacht and the witch of Kaname Madoka, are there any other powerful witches that will be attacking this city?"
"I cannot say. Why is Akemi Homura interested in my plans for Kaname Madoka?"
"That girl's about seven layers of mystery. I wouldn't be able to tell you why she takes any interest in anything she does." That's a lie. "You say that you're unaware of any other powerful witches besides Walpurgisnacht and the witch of Kaname Madoka, but are there other, non-witch events coming up that you might be aware of?"
"I am not a fortune-teller, Archer. I cannot scry into the future and see what disasters may strike. Walpurgisnacht is a rare exception, and once contracted, the witch of Kaname Madoka is all but inevitable, but aside from those events I am unable to tell you what the future may hold. What is the nature of this barrier preventing me from entering the grounds of Mikuni Oriko's mansion?"
"The barrier is called a Bounded Field. It's a space set up using powerful magic for the purpose of keeping unwelcome intruders out of areas where they're not wanted. Earlier, you mentioned that Kaname Madoka had the most potential of any candidate you've met, and that this would make her into a powerful puella magi and thus a powerful witch. How does a puella magi candidate's potential relate to the scope and power of the magic you're using to grant their wishes?"
The incubator continues to stare at you. You really, really wish that it would stop doing that, but at this point the damn thing doesn't appear to be capable of blinking. Or maybe it can, but simply chooses not to for whatever reason. Who knows; this thing is all kinds of weird and creepy. It's like all the worst aspects of an Einzbern homunculus crammed into a stuffed cat and sent off to be raised by Hannibal Lector.
"I cannot answer your question in a manner that you would find acceptable. While a candidate with greater potential will have the potential to have a wish of a greater scope granted, my species does not understand the means by which our magic is used to grant those wishes, as that knowledge is beyond my species's technological understanding of magic."
In other words, while the Incubators are capable of granting wishes, they don't actually understand the process behind the action. "... I see."
Will that be all?
[ ] Yes
-[ ] What do you do next? (write-in)
[ ] No
-[ ] What else do you want to know? (write-in)
[ ] Change perspectives to Homura
[ ] Other (write-in)
-[X] A magical construct given sentience, formed and maintained by an unknown specialized well of magical energy
--[X] But first get it to tell you what it had been doing these past couple weeks, why it hasn't contacted Kaname Madoka to contract with her recently, and if there's anything big that'll happen in the future, particularly outside of the Incubator's control and understanding that he and his Master could help contain before anything drastic occurs.
-[X] Explain what a Bounded Field is and how it works in exchange for information about how a reality-altering event can be achieved via its system of Magic; does it have to do with this Potential he's heard his Master speak of before, what specifics about its system could alter the fabric of reality, etc.
"Tell me, what are you?"
Admittedly, when you first set out to locate the Incubator, you had no real idea of how you planned to get it to divulge the information you were after, but now that you know it has information it wants from you, perhaps you've found a way to leverage yourself into a better position.
"I'll tell you what I am, if you tell me something first."
"A bargain, then; information for information. There is much information that I require from you, and if you have sought me out, then the most logical conclusion is that you also have information that you require from me."
The Incubator circles your position, like a housecat searching for a leg to rub up against. However, this little white bastard isn't looking for anything physical from you. "So, is that a yes I'm hearing?"
"That depends. If the information which you desire from me is of greater value than the information I desire from you, then this exchange would not be worth it. Before I can consent to an agreement, I must first know what it is that you desire of me."
"I need to know what you've been up to for the past two weeks, and what you're planning for the future."
The Incubator paces about at your legs for a few seconds more, staring at you with its soulless eyes, cherry-candy orbs far too close to the eyes of an Einzbern homunculus to be mere coincidence. At last, the pacing stops and the Incubator stands in front of you, motionless but for the swaying of its bushy tail. "Very well. Your requests are not outside the realm of fairness for the information I seek."
"The past two weeks have been occupied largely with undoing the negative repercussions of Mikuni Oriko's mass slaughter of the local puella magi and performing necessary damage control on the civilian populace incidentally involved in her actions. Thanks to the efforts of her and Kure Kirika, along with an unidentified third party possessed of a very similar magical waveform to yourself, twenty-three puella magi have been removed from the local ecosystem."
Twenty-three girls whose lives were cut short by the machinations of a girl your master is now trying to court. Based on how terrified she seems of this Walpurgisnacht witch she and everyone else with half a brain seem to be talking about, it makes sense that she would try to recruit as many allies as possible, especially ones that she knows to be powerful. But still, it doesn't sit right with you, especially when there must be other girls left she could recruit instead. "What percentage of the local ecosystem does that represent?" you ask, internally seething at your own usage of the Incubator's thoroughly dehumanizing term for the girls whose lives he is partially responsible for.
"Allowing you two ask multiple questions in a row hardly seems fair," the Incubator replies. "One question for one question makes for the fairest exchange of information, does it not?"
"No, I suppose it doesn't."
"Then perhaps you could tell me what I might call you, before I answer your next question."
"Archer. You can call me Archer."
"Very well, Archer. Twenty-three puella magi represents approximately eighty-two per cent of the total population of the local ecosystem."
Eighty-two per cent. You quickly do the math in your head, and are stunned once the realization finally hits you. If the Incubator is telling the truth, than the only puella magi left in the area would be your master, Tomoe-san, Sakura Kyouko, and Mikuni and Kure. The simple fact is, your master doesn't have any options other than to conscript that pair of mass murderers if she wants more allies. "Alright then, it looks like it's your turn again."
"What are you, Archer? What sort of entity are you, and why have I never sensed another of your kind before?"
"Ah-ah, now who's trying to ask two questions at once, hm?" The Incubator continues to stare at you, but makes no comment that could denote any irritation at having its own logic turned against it. "What I am isn't the easiest thing in the world to explain, but for simplicity's sake you could say that I'm a construct of mana given sapience, and powered by a specialized well of magical energy."
The Incubator continues to stare at you. "My turn again. When you said that you were working to undo the negative repercussions of Mikuni's actions, what exactly does that entail?"
"Scouting out potential contractees and determining which ones would make the best puella magi candidates in order to raise the local population back up to a satisfactory level. Why have I never sensed another of your kind before? The kind and amount of magical energy you emanate is rather distinct, and it is illogical that something such as yourself could exist without my knowledge, so why have I never sensed another entity similar to yourself before?"
You shrug. "Pure luck of the draw, I guess. My kind don't exactly pop up at a regular basis; you're either in the right place at the right time, or you're not, and there's no other way about it." You don't recall seeing anything like the Incubator during any iteration of your War; and if for some reason you were unable to, then if Rin saw anything she didn't say anything. You can't speak for the previous Wars before yours, but simply given the kinds of participants involved, it's highly unlikely for the Incubator to have had a reason to be involved before.
But getting back on track; you realize that the Incubator has made a grave misstep. It's given you the perfect segue into your next question. "Who are your current candidates to be made into puella magi? Be specific; give me names."
"At present, a girl named Kaname Madoka is at the top of my list. I have sensed the presence of entities with similar magical waveforms to yourself scattered throughout the city, most prominently the one under the command of MIkuni Oriko. Are these entities the same sort of existence as yourself?"
"Yes. What's so special about Kaname Madoka that has her at the top of your list?"
"Her potential is unlike anything I have ever encountered before. Why does the entity attached to Mikuni Oriko follow her commands?"
"Beats me; I wouldn't follow her, but I can't speak for someone else who would. What is this 'potential' that Kaname Madoka has?"
"A puella magi candidate's potential is an informant of how strong of a puella magi that person would be, as well as the scope of their wish. Are all entities such as yourself attached to a puella magi, such as the one attached to Mikuni Oriko?"
"Yes. If Kaname Madoka has such great potential, why have you not attempted to contact her in the past two weeks?"
"Because Mikuni Oriko and I have been engaged in what you might describe as a 'Cold War' between one another over Kaname Madoka. Were I to make a move on her, it was certain for Mikuni Oriko to see this and to move against me. Why are all the entities similar to yourself attached to puella magi? Your existence is not a part of the system that my species devised, so your presence and your attachment to the local puella magi leaves me confused."
You know why you and the other servants are attached to the local puella magi; with the Grail destroyed, "Only the vast amounts of mana contained within a puella magi's Soul Gem can provide myself and the others like me with a sustainable amount of magical energy. Now that Mikuni Oriko has been dealt with, will you be turning your attention to Kaname Madoka any time soon?"
"Of course. Walpurgisnact is coming, and a girl with such potential as hers should not be left uncontracted. Why are my actions of such importance to you that you would seek me out to question me?"
"Personally, I don't care what you're up to." That's a lie. "But, since you're observant enough to have realized that each one of the other entities like me is attached to their own puella magi, then I guess there's no harm in saying that the one that I'm attached to has taken a great interest in your recent activities."
The Incubator continues to stare at you. You wish it would stop. "However, she's also told me a fair amount about you and your system. I'm aware of the wishes. I'm aware that puella magi become witches. Does Kaname Madoka's potential relate to the strength of her witch?"
"Yes. Just as Kaname Madoka will become the most powerful puella magi, so too will she become the most powerful witch, easily eclipsing Walpurgisnacht in size and strength. To which puella magi are you assigned? Is it Akemi Homura?"
"It is. In addition to Walpurgisnacht and the witch of Kaname Madoka, are there any other powerful witches that will be attacking this city?"
"I cannot say. Why is Akemi Homura interested in my plans for Kaname Madoka?"
"That girl's about seven layers of mystery. I wouldn't be able to tell you why she takes any interest in anything she does." That's a lie. "You say that you're unaware of any other powerful witches besides Walpurgisnacht and the witch of Kaname Madoka, but are there other, non-witch events coming up that you might be aware of?"
"I am not a fortune-teller, Archer. I cannot scry into the future and see what disasters may strike. Walpurgisnacht is a rare exception, and once contracted, the witch of Kaname Madoka is all but inevitable, but aside from those events I am unable to tell you what the future may hold. What is the nature of this barrier preventing me from entering the grounds of Mikuni Oriko's mansion?"
"The barrier is called a Bounded Field. It's a space set up using powerful magic for the purpose of keeping unwelcome intruders out of areas where they're not wanted. Earlier, you mentioned that Kaname Madoka had the most potential of any candidate you've met, and that this would make her into a powerful puella magi and thus a powerful witch. How does a puella magi candidate's potential relate to the scope and power of the magic you're using to grant their wishes?"
The incubator continues to stare at you. You really, really wish that it would stop doing that, but at this point the damn thing doesn't appear to be capable of blinking. Or maybe it can, but simply chooses not to for whatever reason. Who knows; this thing is all kinds of weird and creepy. It's like all the worst aspects of an Einzbern homunculus crammed into a stuffed cat and sent off to be raised by Hannibal Lector.
"I cannot answer your question in a manner that you would find acceptable. While a candidate with greater potential will have the potential to have a wish of a greater scope granted, my species does not understand the means by which our magic is used to grant those wishes, as that knowledge is beyond my species's technological understanding of magic."
In other words, while the Incubators are capable of granting wishes, they don't actually understand the process behind the action. "... I see."
Will that be all?
[ ] Yes
-[ ] What do you do next? (write-in)
[ ] No
-[ ] What else do you want to know? (write-in)
[ ] Change perspectives to Homura
[ ] Other (write-in)
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] No
-[X] Ask if its 'Wishes' are capable of rewriting reality, given a sufficient amount of Potential in the girl that is wishing for something.
[X] Change perspectives to Homura
-[X] Ask if its 'Wishes' are capable of rewriting reality, given a sufficient amount of Potential in the girl that is wishing for something.
[X] Change perspectives to Homura
Day 16 Chapter 5
- Location
- Around here
[X] No
-[X] Ask if its 'Wishes' are capable of rewriting reality, given a sufficient amount of Potential in the girl that is wishing for something.
[X] Change perspectives to Homura
"... I see." Based on everything that the Incubator has told you so far, you've got a little theory blossoming inside your thoughts that might lend some insight into your mission here. You're fairly certain that Madoka, and whatever sort of Platoon-esque game that Homura and the Incubator are playing with her soul, are the central pivot of what you're here to accomplish. "I notice that you've neglected to ask one of me first. If there's nothing else you have to ask me, would be improper of me to ask mine out of turn?"
The Incubator continues to stare at you. It's so unnerving, and it almost makes you wish you had spent a question earlier asking it to not do that. It wouldn't be so bad if it would blink or move its mouth, but it does neither of those things. Instead, it just sits there, staring. "For what purpose are you here now, Archer? Answer me that, and I shall answer one more question."
You trust the Incubator with the nature of your mission about as far as you could throw it. Unfortunately, you're well aware that trying to lie about this one will only do you more harm than good. You remember the Incubator being there in your master's living room that first day. It knows. As much as it pains you to tell the thing even this much, you'll have to risk it.
"To be honest, I'm only vaguely aware of my purpose here. My... I guess you could call them my employer, the one who assigned me to Akemi Homura, only gave me vague details. Apparently, I'm supposed to investigate and prevent some incident or occurrence that's going to cause the laws of the universe to be rewritten. I've been led to believe that you will have some part to play in all of this, but I don't know what sort of part that might be."
"Your answer leave me with just as many questions as I had had before, Archer, but you have given me no reason to doubt the truth of your answer. You may ask your question."
Well, that's good. The Incubator appears to be satisfied with your answer. "Alright." Time to see if your hunch is right. Time to ask your last question. "Given a significantly high amount of potential, could a puella magi candidate make a wish powerful enough to rewrite reality?"
"It is not outside of the realm of possibility."
"Well, aren't you going to ask me a question? It's obvious that we both have more to learn from one another."
Finally, the Incubator stops staring at you. "I said I would answer one more question."
The lunch bell rings, and you gather up your things and prepare to head out with your friends. Your name is Akemi Homura, but before you can join your friends, "Hey, Akemi, you got a minute?" The tanned girl with short, dark blue hair stops you.
"Oh?" Well, this is strange. Short of the first day of your transfer, this girl has never said a word to you before in any other timeline. What could she want with you now? "Yes, I suppose I can spare a minute..."
"Mochizumi," she says with a smile. "Mochizumi Nico."
"Hey, Mochi, don't keep her for too long, okay?" Sayaka leads the pack on their way out of class, with Madoka and Hitomi followign shortly behind. "We'll see you in a bit Homura. And don't worry, she doesn't bite!" You aren't sure which one of you Sayaka's exiting comment was directed at, and you'd prefer not to dwell on it for too long.
"You've got some really good friends, Akemi." Well, Mochizumi-san isn't wrong, but you fail to see what this has to do with anything, in particular what it has to do with her original purpose for speaking with you. "You were so shy that first day, and I was a little worried that you weren't going to fit in very well, but then Kaname and her friends got a hold of you, and I knew that you'd be just fine."
"I see... Thank you for your concern, Mochizumi-san, but if you don't mind me asking, why would it matter to you if I were fitting in or not?"
Mochizumi-san holds her hand out next to yours, giving you a real comparison of just how much darker she is than you. "Dad's Japanese, but my mom's Filipino. They divorced when I was little, and I spent most of my life living with my mom and her family. Last year, she and dad got back together, and we moved back to Japan to live with him again. Transferring into a Japanese school when I barely knew the language was pretty tough, so I guess I've got a bit of a soft spot for other transfer students, because I know what it's like to be in their shoes.
You have no reason to doubt Mochizumi-san's story, yet you wonder why she never spoke to you in any previous timeline, if the plight of ill-adapting transfer students truly was a concern of hers. "Well, thank you for your concern, Mochizumi-san. Now, what did you want to speak with me about?"
"Today's the last day to sign up for clubs, so I was just wondering if you had anything in mind."
"Well actually, I had been considering signing up for the Archery club."
"Archery, eh?" The tanned girl gives you a smile before unceremoniously grabbing your hand, practically dragging you out of the classroom. "Come with me. I know some people."
Do you
[ ] Follow Mochizumi-san
[ ] Respectfully decline her offer
[ ] Other (write-in)
?
-[X] Ask if its 'Wishes' are capable of rewriting reality, given a sufficient amount of Potential in the girl that is wishing for something.
[X] Change perspectives to Homura
"... I see." Based on everything that the Incubator has told you so far, you've got a little theory blossoming inside your thoughts that might lend some insight into your mission here. You're fairly certain that Madoka, and whatever sort of Platoon-esque game that Homura and the Incubator are playing with her soul, are the central pivot of what you're here to accomplish. "I notice that you've neglected to ask one of me first. If there's nothing else you have to ask me, would be improper of me to ask mine out of turn?"
The Incubator continues to stare at you. It's so unnerving, and it almost makes you wish you had spent a question earlier asking it to not do that. It wouldn't be so bad if it would blink or move its mouth, but it does neither of those things. Instead, it just sits there, staring. "For what purpose are you here now, Archer? Answer me that, and I shall answer one more question."
You trust the Incubator with the nature of your mission about as far as you could throw it. Unfortunately, you're well aware that trying to lie about this one will only do you more harm than good. You remember the Incubator being there in your master's living room that first day. It knows. As much as it pains you to tell the thing even this much, you'll have to risk it.
"To be honest, I'm only vaguely aware of my purpose here. My... I guess you could call them my employer, the one who assigned me to Akemi Homura, only gave me vague details. Apparently, I'm supposed to investigate and prevent some incident or occurrence that's going to cause the laws of the universe to be rewritten. I've been led to believe that you will have some part to play in all of this, but I don't know what sort of part that might be."
"Your answer leave me with just as many questions as I had had before, Archer, but you have given me no reason to doubt the truth of your answer. You may ask your question."
Well, that's good. The Incubator appears to be satisfied with your answer. "Alright." Time to see if your hunch is right. Time to ask your last question. "Given a significantly high amount of potential, could a puella magi candidate make a wish powerful enough to rewrite reality?"
"It is not outside of the realm of possibility."
"Well, aren't you going to ask me a question? It's obvious that we both have more to learn from one another."
Finally, the Incubator stops staring at you. "I said I would answer one more question."
The lunch bell rings, and you gather up your things and prepare to head out with your friends. Your name is Akemi Homura, but before you can join your friends, "Hey, Akemi, you got a minute?" The tanned girl with short, dark blue hair stops you.
"Oh?" Well, this is strange. Short of the first day of your transfer, this girl has never said a word to you before in any other timeline. What could she want with you now? "Yes, I suppose I can spare a minute..."
"Mochizumi," she says with a smile. "Mochizumi Nico."
"Hey, Mochi, don't keep her for too long, okay?" Sayaka leads the pack on their way out of class, with Madoka and Hitomi followign shortly behind. "We'll see you in a bit Homura. And don't worry, she doesn't bite!" You aren't sure which one of you Sayaka's exiting comment was directed at, and you'd prefer not to dwell on it for too long.
"You've got some really good friends, Akemi." Well, Mochizumi-san isn't wrong, but you fail to see what this has to do with anything, in particular what it has to do with her original purpose for speaking with you. "You were so shy that first day, and I was a little worried that you weren't going to fit in very well, but then Kaname and her friends got a hold of you, and I knew that you'd be just fine."
"I see... Thank you for your concern, Mochizumi-san, but if you don't mind me asking, why would it matter to you if I were fitting in or not?"
Mochizumi-san holds her hand out next to yours, giving you a real comparison of just how much darker she is than you. "Dad's Japanese, but my mom's Filipino. They divorced when I was little, and I spent most of my life living with my mom and her family. Last year, she and dad got back together, and we moved back to Japan to live with him again. Transferring into a Japanese school when I barely knew the language was pretty tough, so I guess I've got a bit of a soft spot for other transfer students, because I know what it's like to be in their shoes.
You have no reason to doubt Mochizumi-san's story, yet you wonder why she never spoke to you in any previous timeline, if the plight of ill-adapting transfer students truly was a concern of hers. "Well, thank you for your concern, Mochizumi-san. Now, what did you want to speak with me about?"
"Today's the last day to sign up for clubs, so I was just wondering if you had anything in mind."
"Well actually, I had been considering signing up for the Archery club."
"Archery, eh?" The tanned girl gives you a smile before unceremoniously grabbing your hand, practically dragging you out of the classroom. "Come with me. I know some people."
Do you
[ ] Follow Mochizumi-san
[ ] Respectfully decline her offer
[ ] Other (write-in)
?
Last edited:
- Location
- Florida
[X] Follow Mochizumi-san
Let's see where this rabbit hole goes.
Let's see where this rabbit hole goes.