- Location
- United States
Well that's good to hear.
Confringentur, Mk.2; a Madoka Magica / Fate/Stay Night crossover
- Thread starter SVS
- Start date
- Crossover
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[x] enetious
[x] enetious
- Location
- United States
Who knows? I'm sure it'll come up in conversation at some point though.
- Location
- Around here
You say that, and NMS earlier sent a DM to Archer warning him that the food supply was running dangerously low, and I think it was you who said you had a plan for when you'd have Archer tell Homura and the others the last time I asked, but that was several days ago and Archer still hasn't brought it up. So, I've been waiting on you, but I guess you were just expecting me to have Archer mention it whenever. Hence why I was asking again.
- Location
- United States
Nah, my original plan was simply overshadowed by current events. I was planning on Archer giving Homura a telepathic call the next time he was sent out of hunt a Witch, which was supposed to be the day after the message was sent while Homura was at school but things didn't really pan out. It was to give Archer an excuse for the statement outside of telling Homura about him being on Counter Guardian business.
- Location
- Florida
Umm...what was the plan for that eventuality? I wasn't present for that part of the discussion.
- Location
- United States
If we didn't have a way of cleansing the Grief Seeds, I would've had Archer go to the neighboring cities to check out their Witch populations; after all it's only Mitakihara that's experiencing a shortage, right?
- Location
- Around here
The entire Kanagawa 19th, actually. Oriko and Kirika depopulated Mitakihara, Shirome, and Kazamino, and since Kyubey hasn't gotten to work on Asunaro yet there are no witches there either. Archer would have to venture out into other districts to find witches, but there's no guarantee that he'd find anything there either, or that anything he did find wouldn't fall under the territory of another faction that isn't interested in sharing.
Day 32 Chapter 12
- Location
- Around here
[X] Plan A Grieftastic Night
"... Well, police did eventually find the kidnapper's hiding place, but by the time they arrived, all that was left of the girl was a pair of blood-spattered galoshes, and the love letter she never got to send."
Madoka is tightly clamped to your side, shivering as though your rune of ice were in full force against her body; her own fears in the wake of Mikuni Oriko's story were to be expected, but it is the fear of another member of your party which is of particular note to you. "... Hey, Oriko-" You're no stranger to Kure Kirika's overly-affectionate displays, but right now she's clamped to her lover just as tightly as Madoka is to you; and you thought she was made of sterner stuff. "-You... You were just making all that up, right? The raincoat kidnapper's not going to come and take me away from you, is he?"
"Of course not, dearest," Mikuni Oriko replies, kissing the top of her lover's head as the last embers of the fire around which everyone is seated at last are snuffed out, leaving the only source of light to come from the patio behind you. "And if anyone tries to take you away from me, I swear I won't let that happen."
"Alright kids, it's time to wrap it up," Archer says, commanding the group's attention with the clap of his hands. "I promised your parents-" for those who have them "-I'd make sure you all got your schoolwork done and that you wouldn't be slacking off while you were on vacation."
"Aw, man, this sucks!" Sayaka proclaims, rolling her eyes as your servant herds the eight of you back towards the cabin. "How am I supposed to have fun on vacation if I've got to do homework?"
"It won't be that bad, Sayaka-san," Hitomi says, giving a smile for the blue-haired girl. "Besides, if you get your homework done tonight, you'll have all day tomorrow to enjoy yourself."
"Well, you losers can do whatever you want," Kyouko throws her thirds into the ongoing dialogue. "I'm gunna see if there's anything ta watch on TV."
"Actually, Sakura-san, there is no TV here." Kyouko stares at Mikuni Oriko, her face mixing the crestfallen with the flabbergasted. "My father originally had the cabin built as a wedding present for my mother, and he specifically neglected to include a television in order to encourage the time they spent together to be more, um, personal..." Mikuni Oriko's face reddens, and it isn't as a result of Kure Kirika slipping her hand into the back pocket of her jeans. "... Well, let's just say that I was most likely conceived in this cabin."
"Aw, man, gross!" Both Sayaka and Kyouko shout out their displeasure in unison; you're sure Hitomi would have joined them, were her face not burning up to such a degree that smoke looks like it would escape from her mouth were she to open it. "Geez, we did not need to know that!" Just like how you did not need to see the look which Kure Minako just gave to your servant. "And you want us to sleep here? That's disgusting!" Sayaka shakes her head furiously, asking "Do you- Do you at least know which bed they did it on? You know, so we know which one to avoid?"
"Miki-san, please, calm down-" You're quite sure that Mikuni Oriko is the last person Sayaka would listen to with respect to calming down. "That was fifteen years ago. Neither the mattresses nor the sheets are the same from back then. You have nothing to worry about." You see Kure Kirika's hand slip out of Mikuni Oriko's back pocket, as both of her arms wrap around her lover's waist. "However, if it makes you feel any better, Kirika and I can stay in the room that once belonged to my parents."
Kyouko rolls her eyes, saying "Yeah, yeah, we all know the real reason why yer so willing to stay there with her" in a tone so smug you almost expect her to try and sell you a used car immediately afterwards. Hitomi, who until recently had barely conceived before that two girls could be as affectionate as Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika are, is now even redder than before at Kyouko's insinuations that the couple could, in fact, be even more affectionate than even what she has seen of them. You aren't sure it's a very good look for her. Her hair's not the right shade of green to go with the deep crimson blush staining her face.
You look to Madoka; she's been stunned silent. Not that you can blame her; between the scary stories and the turn this conversatino has taken, you aren't sure you'd have anything to say in her shoes, either.
Mikuni Oriko doesn't agree with Kyouko's assertions, however, and counters with "I really wish you would stop making such unfounded accusations about the nature of my relationship with Kirika. Whether we are... Like that, or not, is none of your business, and I would appreciate it if you would refrain from making such claims in the future. It's quite disrespectful to speak about our relationship in such a manner."
Things mostly quiet down from there once everyone is back inside. The eight of you split up based on grade; Tomoe-san, Mikuni Oriko, and Kure Kirika take over the kitchen area, though Tomoe-san soon finds herself running back and forth between tables to assist her juniors; while you, Madoka, Sayaka, and Hitomi all take seats around the coffee table. Kyouko, the last member of your party, reclines on the couch not in use by your group, grousing to herself "Man, can't even get internet or nuthing out here," when she is unable to use her phone to distract herself.
"... So, in order to figure out how to solve for x, what you need to do here is-" You look up as you find your patience for Kyouko's grousing growing thin. You shoot her a glare, saying to her mind "Could you please keep it down? I'm trying to help my friends do their schoolwork."
"Fine, whatever. I'd go upstairs but I don't wanna lie down in the same bed Big White's parents did it in, ya know?"
"I'm certain that's a not a risk you need to concern yourself with. She did say that both the bedding and mattresses had changed since then."
"Yeah, but I mean, what if the spirits of all the ones that didn't get ta become her are still floating around up there, or something?"
"I don't think it works like that."
Both you and Kyouko shake your heads in mutual agreement; this conversation is over. You hope she'll keep it to herself until you've finished helping Madoka with her studies. As you return to trying to help Madoka with her homework, you catch sight of Sayaka, previously tearing her hair out as she poured over her book for the English project, get out of her seat with her copy of Beowulf in tow; she looks just about ready to throw it in the trash. Curious to see if any of your seniors are having the same problem, you glance over to the ninth-years' table. You see Kure Kirika, her upper body sprawled out over the length of the table as she moans, "I can't do this anymore~ It's too much~" Well, at least Sayaka isn't alone in tearing her hair out over an assignment. "Oriko, please save me!"
"Just a little bit more to go, dearest, then you'll be all done." Mikuni Oriko leans over, and you hear her whisper in Kure Kirika's ear "For each question you get right, I'll give you a kiss; how's that?"
"Hey, Mister Archer," Sayaka says, having not approached the trash bin as you had expected, but rather your servant. She holds the book out for him, and asks "Do you think you can help me out with this?"
Archer takes the book from her, saying "Beowulf , was it? Yeah, I can give you a hand with this." With permission from the ninth-years also seated there, Archer takes a seat at the kitchen table, motioning for Sayaka to join him as he asks her "So, what did you need help with?"
"Everything."
Your own schoolwork was easy enough to power through, since at this point you've long since memorized the correct answer to every question in all of your school books; you've certainly had more than enough time to do so, after all. No, the real grind involved with doing schoolwork with your friends comes from just how poor Madoka and Sayaka's grasps on the concepts are. You can't fault Madoka for finding mathematics difficult; she's an artist, not a mathematician; but how frequently do you catch Sayaka sleeping in class? No, any failures of Sayaka's are entirely her own. Fortunately, with the combined help of Hitomi, Archer, and Tomoe-san, you manage to get your girlfriend and Sayaka caught up on all of their weekend schoolwork, leaving them free to enjoy tomorrow to their heart's content.
With the last of everyone's assignments finally completed, you close up your school bag and "Please, excuse me for just a moment," remove yourself from the table. You're fine with your friends thinking you need to use the toilet; but while you are heading that way, it isn't to answer nature's call. Instead... You only bother to go as far upstairs as it takes to put you out of sight of your friends before you check your Soul Gem. They know, but you still don't see any reason to make them worry about you if they don't have to. It would only worry them and spoil their vacation if they felt they had to worry for you.
You sigh as you look at the faint black swirls of Grief ringing the edges of your soul; it's not enough to be a cause for concern, but you find you can't help but be concerned all the same. Just recently, you came into an attack that, even with the help of Tomoe-san's Grief dampening abilities, causes the buildup of corruption in your Soul Gem to spike. A single use of Finitora Freccia is enough by itself to put you in an incredibly dangerous position. You will need it when Walpurgisnacht arrives, but you cannot afford to spend all of your Grief Seeds in that fight on just recovering from your own attacks; you'll need them for other purposes as well.
True, you and your team do have access to the massive Grief Fruit yielded by Elsa Maria, but you have no idea how much of your soul's corruption it can drain before another Elsa Maria is hatched. And it feels like witches are becoming less frequent in their occurrence, as well. You need to think of an alternative.
"Do you think I could speak to Lancer alone for a moment?" you ask Mikuni Oriko. "There's an important matter I'd like to ask her some questions about."
"Of course, Akemi-san; I'll send her right up."
Of everyone who has come along on this trip, Lancer is perhaps the least-appropriately-dressed for the beach, wearing the dark professional suit you see her wearing when acting as her master's servant. "My master informs me that you wish to speak with me; is that correct?"
"Yes," you say with a nod of your head. "I've reached the point where I'm satisfied with my level of skill for the Isa rune, and I was hoping you might help me choose another rune to study next."
"Of course." Lancer passes you in the hell, motioning for you to join her in the larger bedroom at the far end. "We can speak in here, so as not to be disturbed." You follow her lead, and once you've closed the door behind you Lancer asks "Perhaps you can give me an idea of what you are hoping to achieve in the study of your next rune? My master tells me that your study of Isa has yielded you a powerful new weapon; are you looking for something of complimentary effect; or perhaps you desire something in a different vein of study; a utility, perhaps?"
You hold out your Soul Gem for Lancer, which she leans over to look at. "Well, I'm not really sure how I should word my request to make sense to you, but I was hoping there might be a rune with an ability to, I guess, extract the corruption from a Soul Gem; something I can use to either push the corruption out entirely, or if that's not possible then at least to transfer it into another vessel."
"The rune Inguz would be perfect for your needs, master of Archer." In the air, Lancer draws with her rune of a fire a rune ᛜ shaped like a square turned on its corner. "The Inguz rune is used in the storage, transformation, and release of power and energy for rituals. I believe you should be able to use it to cleanse the negative energies from your Soul Gem as well, if you give it the proper depth of study."
Inguz... You mimic Lancer's action, tracing the squat rune in the air with your own rune of ice. And dear lord that makes practice so much cleaner now that you don't need to make sense of the mess of scribbles on your practice sheet any more. "Thank you, Lancer; this should work just fine."
"Then I will leave you to your practice, master of Archer."
"Hey, Mister Archer," Sayaka says to you, as she presents you with one of her school books, "Do you think you can help me out with this?"
You nod, taking the book from her as you scan the title. This one isn't exactly your first choice for Sayaka, that's for sure. "Beowulf , was it? Yeah, I can give you a hand with this." You head over to the kitchen table, making sure to get permission from Tomoe and the other girls already situated there before taking a seat, and you motion for Sayaka to do the same as you ask her "So, what did you need help with?"
"Everything."
Today has been a long day, you think, as you stare out into the black Hakone night from the Mikuni patio. You weren't expecting to be hit on by the mother of one of your master's friends... Nor were you expecting to find yourself thinking of Kure as one of your master's friends, for that matter. The night sky is darker out here than in Mitakihara; the bright city lights throw up so much light pollution at times, but out here everything is dark, and quiet.
It almost reminds you of home, in a way; and how the farther out you got from the bustle of the city, the darker the Fuyuki sky seemed to get.
You hear the sliding doors open behind you, and a familiar voice asks you "You're looking like you could use a drink; want one?" as the mother Kure holds out a can of beer for you. You take it from her, not sure whether you'll drink it or not. She pulls the tab from her can, taking a long and exaggerated sip before letting out a contended sigh. "Been a long day, hasn't it?"
Well, you spent the morning giving your surrogate daughter the talk; then spent the rest of the day until the end of school fruitlessly searching for that little white rat bastard; you had to convince the scariest man you've ever met to let his daughter accompany her friends on a vacation; then finally the train ride to Hakone was fairly long, made even longer by a certain someone trying their hardest to get a taste of the bone of your sword. Not to mention Sayaka needing you to explain basically the entirety of Beowulf to her... All in all? "Yeah, I guess it has."
[Archer]
[ ] Talk to Kure Minako
-[ ] about what? (write-in)
[ ] Don't talk to Kure Minako Don't be rude
[Homura] Wat do?
"... Well, police did eventually find the kidnapper's hiding place, but by the time they arrived, all that was left of the girl was a pair of blood-spattered galoshes, and the love letter she never got to send."
Madoka is tightly clamped to your side, shivering as though your rune of ice were in full force against her body; her own fears in the wake of Mikuni Oriko's story were to be expected, but it is the fear of another member of your party which is of particular note to you. "... Hey, Oriko-" You're no stranger to Kure Kirika's overly-affectionate displays, but right now she's clamped to her lover just as tightly as Madoka is to you; and you thought she was made of sterner stuff. "-You... You were just making all that up, right? The raincoat kidnapper's not going to come and take me away from you, is he?"
"Of course not, dearest," Mikuni Oriko replies, kissing the top of her lover's head as the last embers of the fire around which everyone is seated at last are snuffed out, leaving the only source of light to come from the patio behind you. "And if anyone tries to take you away from me, I swear I won't let that happen."
"Alright kids, it's time to wrap it up," Archer says, commanding the group's attention with the clap of his hands. "I promised your parents-" for those who have them "-I'd make sure you all got your schoolwork done and that you wouldn't be slacking off while you were on vacation."
"Aw, man, this sucks!" Sayaka proclaims, rolling her eyes as your servant herds the eight of you back towards the cabin. "How am I supposed to have fun on vacation if I've got to do homework?"
"It won't be that bad, Sayaka-san," Hitomi says, giving a smile for the blue-haired girl. "Besides, if you get your homework done tonight, you'll have all day tomorrow to enjoy yourself."
"Well, you losers can do whatever you want," Kyouko throws her thirds into the ongoing dialogue. "I'm gunna see if there's anything ta watch on TV."
"Actually, Sakura-san, there is no TV here." Kyouko stares at Mikuni Oriko, her face mixing the crestfallen with the flabbergasted. "My father originally had the cabin built as a wedding present for my mother, and he specifically neglected to include a television in order to encourage the time they spent together to be more, um, personal..." Mikuni Oriko's face reddens, and it isn't as a result of Kure Kirika slipping her hand into the back pocket of her jeans. "... Well, let's just say that I was most likely conceived in this cabin."
"Aw, man, gross!" Both Sayaka and Kyouko shout out their displeasure in unison; you're sure Hitomi would have joined them, were her face not burning up to such a degree that smoke looks like it would escape from her mouth were she to open it. "Geez, we did not need to know that!" Just like how you did not need to see the look which Kure Minako just gave to your servant. "And you want us to sleep here? That's disgusting!" Sayaka shakes her head furiously, asking "Do you- Do you at least know which bed they did it on? You know, so we know which one to avoid?"
"Miki-san, please, calm down-" You're quite sure that Mikuni Oriko is the last person Sayaka would listen to with respect to calming down. "That was fifteen years ago. Neither the mattresses nor the sheets are the same from back then. You have nothing to worry about." You see Kure Kirika's hand slip out of Mikuni Oriko's back pocket, as both of her arms wrap around her lover's waist. "However, if it makes you feel any better, Kirika and I can stay in the room that once belonged to my parents."
Kyouko rolls her eyes, saying "Yeah, yeah, we all know the real reason why yer so willing to stay there with her" in a tone so smug you almost expect her to try and sell you a used car immediately afterwards. Hitomi, who until recently had barely conceived before that two girls could be as affectionate as Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika are, is now even redder than before at Kyouko's insinuations that the couple could, in fact, be even more affectionate than even what she has seen of them. You aren't sure it's a very good look for her. Her hair's not the right shade of green to go with the deep crimson blush staining her face.
You look to Madoka; she's been stunned silent. Not that you can blame her; between the scary stories and the turn this conversatino has taken, you aren't sure you'd have anything to say in her shoes, either.
Mikuni Oriko doesn't agree with Kyouko's assertions, however, and counters with "I really wish you would stop making such unfounded accusations about the nature of my relationship with Kirika. Whether we are... Like that, or not, is none of your business, and I would appreciate it if you would refrain from making such claims in the future. It's quite disrespectful to speak about our relationship in such a manner."
Things mostly quiet down from there once everyone is back inside. The eight of you split up based on grade; Tomoe-san, Mikuni Oriko, and Kure Kirika take over the kitchen area, though Tomoe-san soon finds herself running back and forth between tables to assist her juniors; while you, Madoka, Sayaka, and Hitomi all take seats around the coffee table. Kyouko, the last member of your party, reclines on the couch not in use by your group, grousing to herself "Man, can't even get internet or nuthing out here," when she is unable to use her phone to distract herself.
"... So, in order to figure out how to solve for x, what you need to do here is-" You look up as you find your patience for Kyouko's grousing growing thin. You shoot her a glare, saying to her mind "Could you please keep it down? I'm trying to help my friends do their schoolwork."
"Fine, whatever. I'd go upstairs but I don't wanna lie down in the same bed Big White's parents did it in, ya know?"
"I'm certain that's a not a risk you need to concern yourself with. She did say that both the bedding and mattresses had changed since then."
"Yeah, but I mean, what if the spirits of all the ones that didn't get ta become her are still floating around up there, or something?"
"I don't think it works like that."
Both you and Kyouko shake your heads in mutual agreement; this conversation is over. You hope she'll keep it to herself until you've finished helping Madoka with her studies. As you return to trying to help Madoka with her homework, you catch sight of Sayaka, previously tearing her hair out as she poured over her book for the English project, get out of her seat with her copy of Beowulf in tow; she looks just about ready to throw it in the trash. Curious to see if any of your seniors are having the same problem, you glance over to the ninth-years' table. You see Kure Kirika, her upper body sprawled out over the length of the table as she moans, "I can't do this anymore~ It's too much~" Well, at least Sayaka isn't alone in tearing her hair out over an assignment. "Oriko, please save me!"
"Just a little bit more to go, dearest, then you'll be all done." Mikuni Oriko leans over, and you hear her whisper in Kure Kirika's ear "For each question you get right, I'll give you a kiss; how's that?"
"Hey, Mister Archer," Sayaka says, having not approached the trash bin as you had expected, but rather your servant. She holds the book out for him, and asks "Do you think you can help me out with this?"
Archer takes the book from her, saying "Beowulf , was it? Yeah, I can give you a hand with this." With permission from the ninth-years also seated there, Archer takes a seat at the kitchen table, motioning for Sayaka to join him as he asks her "So, what did you need help with?"
"Everything."
Your own schoolwork was easy enough to power through, since at this point you've long since memorized the correct answer to every question in all of your school books; you've certainly had more than enough time to do so, after all. No, the real grind involved with doing schoolwork with your friends comes from just how poor Madoka and Sayaka's grasps on the concepts are. You can't fault Madoka for finding mathematics difficult; she's an artist, not a mathematician; but how frequently do you catch Sayaka sleeping in class? No, any failures of Sayaka's are entirely her own. Fortunately, with the combined help of Hitomi, Archer, and Tomoe-san, you manage to get your girlfriend and Sayaka caught up on all of their weekend schoolwork, leaving them free to enjoy tomorrow to their heart's content.
With the last of everyone's assignments finally completed, you close up your school bag and "Please, excuse me for just a moment," remove yourself from the table. You're fine with your friends thinking you need to use the toilet; but while you are heading that way, it isn't to answer nature's call. Instead... You only bother to go as far upstairs as it takes to put you out of sight of your friends before you check your Soul Gem. They know, but you still don't see any reason to make them worry about you if they don't have to. It would only worry them and spoil their vacation if they felt they had to worry for you.
You sigh as you look at the faint black swirls of Grief ringing the edges of your soul; it's not enough to be a cause for concern, but you find you can't help but be concerned all the same. Just recently, you came into an attack that, even with the help of Tomoe-san's Grief dampening abilities, causes the buildup of corruption in your Soul Gem to spike. A single use of Finitora Freccia is enough by itself to put you in an incredibly dangerous position. You will need it when Walpurgisnacht arrives, but you cannot afford to spend all of your Grief Seeds in that fight on just recovering from your own attacks; you'll need them for other purposes as well.
True, you and your team do have access to the massive Grief Fruit yielded by Elsa Maria, but you have no idea how much of your soul's corruption it can drain before another Elsa Maria is hatched. And it feels like witches are becoming less frequent in their occurrence, as well. You need to think of an alternative.
"Do you think I could speak to Lancer alone for a moment?" you ask Mikuni Oriko. "There's an important matter I'd like to ask her some questions about."
"Of course, Akemi-san; I'll send her right up."
Of everyone who has come along on this trip, Lancer is perhaps the least-appropriately-dressed for the beach, wearing the dark professional suit you see her wearing when acting as her master's servant. "My master informs me that you wish to speak with me; is that correct?"
"Yes," you say with a nod of your head. "I've reached the point where I'm satisfied with my level of skill for the Isa rune, and I was hoping you might help me choose another rune to study next."
"Of course." Lancer passes you in the hell, motioning for you to join her in the larger bedroom at the far end. "We can speak in here, so as not to be disturbed." You follow her lead, and once you've closed the door behind you Lancer asks "Perhaps you can give me an idea of what you are hoping to achieve in the study of your next rune? My master tells me that your study of Isa has yielded you a powerful new weapon; are you looking for something of complimentary effect; or perhaps you desire something in a different vein of study; a utility, perhaps?"
You hold out your Soul Gem for Lancer, which she leans over to look at. "Well, I'm not really sure how I should word my request to make sense to you, but I was hoping there might be a rune with an ability to, I guess, extract the corruption from a Soul Gem; something I can use to either push the corruption out entirely, or if that's not possible then at least to transfer it into another vessel."
"The rune Inguz would be perfect for your needs, master of Archer." In the air, Lancer draws with her rune of a fire a rune ᛜ shaped like a square turned on its corner. "The Inguz rune is used in the storage, transformation, and release of power and energy for rituals. I believe you should be able to use it to cleanse the negative energies from your Soul Gem as well, if you give it the proper depth of study."
Inguz... You mimic Lancer's action, tracing the squat rune in the air with your own rune of ice. And dear lord that makes practice so much cleaner now that you don't need to make sense of the mess of scribbles on your practice sheet any more. "Thank you, Lancer; this should work just fine."
"Then I will leave you to your practice, master of Archer."
"Hey, Mister Archer," Sayaka says to you, as she presents you with one of her school books, "Do you think you can help me out with this?"
You nod, taking the book from her as you scan the title. This one isn't exactly your first choice for Sayaka, that's for sure. "Beowulf , was it? Yeah, I can give you a hand with this." You head over to the kitchen table, making sure to get permission from Tomoe and the other girls already situated there before taking a seat, and you motion for Sayaka to do the same as you ask her "So, what did you need help with?"
"Everything."
Today has been a long day, you think, as you stare out into the black Hakone night from the Mikuni patio. You weren't expecting to be hit on by the mother of one of your master's friends... Nor were you expecting to find yourself thinking of Kure as one of your master's friends, for that matter. The night sky is darker out here than in Mitakihara; the bright city lights throw up so much light pollution at times, but out here everything is dark, and quiet.
It almost reminds you of home, in a way; and how the farther out you got from the bustle of the city, the darker the Fuyuki sky seemed to get.
You hear the sliding doors open behind you, and a familiar voice asks you "You're looking like you could use a drink; want one?" as the mother Kure holds out a can of beer for you. You take it from her, not sure whether you'll drink it or not. She pulls the tab from her can, taking a long and exaggerated sip before letting out a contended sigh. "Been a long day, hasn't it?"
Well, you spent the morning giving your surrogate daughter the talk; then spent the rest of the day until the end of school fruitlessly searching for that little white rat bastard; you had to convince the scariest man you've ever met to let his daughter accompany her friends on a vacation; then finally the train ride to Hakone was fairly long, made even longer by a certain someone trying their hardest to get a taste of the bone of your sword. Not to mention Sayaka needing you to explain basically the entirety of Beowulf to her... All in all? "Yeah, I guess it has."
[Archer]
[ ] Talk to Kure Minako
-[ ] about what? (write-in)
[Homura] Wat do?
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- Location
- United States
[X] Plan Minako Route
-[X] Talk to Kure Minako
--[X] ask her what her favorite and least favorite foods are; you're going to be cooking for everyone after all, might as well include things people enjoy
--[X] about giving Homura "the talk" you had with her earlier today due to the new neighbor's antics
---[X] and take a drink before talking about it; you'll need it
--[X] about anything she might aspire to do once Kirika becomes self-sufficient; does she want to go to college and get a degree to get a more well-paying job, work less, get into a hobby of some kind, etc.?
---[X] In return talk about your "job"; tell her about England and the places you've traveled to
--[X] about anything else she might bring up
-[X] (Homura) Hug Madoka and tell her that you can't wait for tomorrow, for when the vacation actually begins
--[X] Ask her if she's had any inspiration in her forays in drawing lately
-[X] (Homura) Practice Inguz to a sufficient extent to "rank it up" if you hadn't already
--[X] While she's still with you, ask Lancer about the progress made on whatever her and Oriko are cooking up for Madoka
--[X] Later when everyone's pretty much going to sleep telepathically ask Archer if he could check out the surrounding land of the Mikuni vacation home in astral form, mostly to check for any unwelcome guests such as the Incubator or a nearby Witch and partly for him to inform you of a good spot to watch the sunset tomorrow with Madoka
There's no guarantees that the Incubator hasn't been tailing them this entire trip; it should be much more difficult for the Incubator to hide itself from Archer now that it doesn't have buildings/sewers/other artificial constructs to hide itself in, especially if it wants to get close enough to keep an eye on the Puella Magi/Servants.
By the way, did Sayaka have an easier time with Archer's knowledge as opposed to an Old English-Japanese translation? I can't imagine how much worse it probably is to read when Old English on its own is bad enough.
-[X] Talk to Kure Minako
--[X] ask her what her favorite and least favorite foods are; you're going to be cooking for everyone after all, might as well include things people enjoy
--[X] about giving Homura "the talk" you had with her earlier today due to the new neighbor's antics
---[X] and take a drink before talking about it; you'll need it
--[X] about anything she might aspire to do once Kirika becomes self-sufficient; does she want to go to college and get a degree to get a more well-paying job, work less, get into a hobby of some kind, etc.?
---[X] In return talk about your "job"; tell her about England and the places you've traveled to
--[X] about anything else she might bring up
-[X] (Homura) Hug Madoka and tell her that you can't wait for tomorrow, for when the vacation actually begins
--[X] Ask her if she's had any inspiration in her forays in drawing lately
-[X] (Homura) Practice Inguz to a sufficient extent to "rank it up" if you hadn't already
--[X] While she's still with you, ask Lancer about the progress made on whatever her and Oriko are cooking up for Madoka
--[X] Later when everyone's pretty much going to sleep telepathically ask Archer if he could check out the surrounding land of the Mikuni vacation home in astral form, mostly to check for any unwelcome guests such as the Incubator or a nearby Witch and partly for him to inform you of a good spot to watch the sunset tomorrow with Madoka
There's no guarantees that the Incubator hasn't been tailing them this entire trip; it should be much more difficult for the Incubator to hide itself from Archer now that it doesn't have buildings/sewers/other artificial constructs to hide itself in, especially if it wants to get close enough to keep an eye on the Puella Magi/Servants.
By the way, did Sayaka have an easier time with Archer's knowledge as opposed to an Old English-Japanese translation? I can't imagine how much worse it probably is to read when Old English on its own is bad enough.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan Minako Route
verse worse than modern English, can it?
Eh, Old English can't be muchBy the way, did Sayaka have an easier time with Archer's knowledge as opposed to an Old English-Japanese translation? I can't imagine how much worse it probably is to read when Old English on its own is bad enough.
- Location
- Around here
Yes, because Archer knows how to talk to idiots like
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] Plan Minako Route
Day 32 Chapter 13
- Location
- Around here
[X] Plan Minako Route
"Been a long day, hasn't it?" Kure Minako asks you after the contented sigh that accompanies her taking the first sip from her beer.
You try not to think of all the ways that today has made itself a noticeably long day, but find yourself unable to escape them as you respond "Yeah, I guess it has." You follow the mother Kure's lead, popping the tab of your own can and taking a long sip as you try to forget that this morning's conversation ever occurred. "The upstairs neighbors are-" you sigh; one of these might not be enough "-recently in love, if you know what I mean. I had to spend my morning giving Homura the talk; boy, was that an unpleasant conversation."
"Tell me about it," Kure Minako responds to your statement by raising her can to you. "I had to give Kirika the talk when I came home from one of my shifts and found her and Oriko getting a bit too hands-on one day last... Was it October, or November? Ah, I can't remember." Kure Minako sighs, but it's not the sight of contentment that previously accompanied her drinking. "I just hope she took what I told her to heart, about waiting until she and Oriko were older before getting into that kind of stuff. I'd hate to see my daughter crying because she made the same mistakes that I did at her age."
You aren't sure, but you think that might have just been the missing piece you were looking for, about how the mother Kure could look so young but still have a fifteen-year-old for a daughter. You don't feel like it's your business to pry; not unless she makes it your business. Instead, you decide to ask her a much simpler but equally as important question, "What sort of food do you like? Dislike? I'm the one who'll be doing the cooking on this trip, so I'd like to make sure I'm able to deliver to the best of my abilities."
"Well, those burgers you made for dinner were alright. I wouldn't mind having more of those."
Somehow, you feel like that would just get boring, especially when there's three meals coming up and you need to cook for eleven people. "Burgers aside, there must be some-" you have to stop yourself, correcting course when the word someone almost escapes your lips instead "-thing you'd call a favourite dish. I mean. I figured I'd go for something inoffensive enough for my first foray, but for tomorrow I'd like to try and make everyone something a bit more involved, especially for lunch and the farewell dinner."
Kure Minako shrugs, responding "Honestly? I don't really care. Most of the time I just throw some cheap crap into the microwave because I'm strapped for time. In the entire year, I think the only real food I've had was tonight's burgers, and a couple lunches out with my daughter." She laughs, and about her daughter she has this to say "Kirika's a lot like me in that regard; she'll eat just about anything, too. Though in her case, it really helps if a certain someone's made her meal for her."
"So, speaking of your daughter, have you given any thought to what you might want to do once she's old enough to strike out on her own?"
"Truth be told, she's already out on her own; has been since January."
You feign ignorance to the daughter Kure's living arrangements, not wanting to let on just how much more you know than the mother Kure thinks you do. "Really?"
"Yeah." By the sound of it, Kure Minako has finished her beer, but she holds on to and nurses the empty can as she says "A little after Oriko's father... Did what he did, she invited Kirika to come live with her. Of course, she jumped at the invitation, and while I was glad to know that at least someone who loved her would be able to provide her with a good life, I was also really sad to see her go." Kure Minako smiles, but you're not sure whether it's melancholy or something else on her lips when she says "She can be a handful, but she's still my daughter. I'll love her no matter where she is; but I guess it is kind of lonely, coming home to an empty apartment long after the rest of Japan's gone to sleep."
"Then, there must be something else you'd like to do, if you had the chance. What's that? What does the dream of Kure Minako look like? College; find a hobby you can do in-between work?" Get married and not have to work three jobs anymore? is your third suggestion, but one that goes unspoken.
"Actually, if I had the chance, I'd like to do it all over again; but this time, I'd like to do it the right way. I..." Kure Minako stops herself, and under her breath you hear her muttering "I'm too sober to be having this conversation" before reaching down to grab another can of beer from the case she's lain out on the floor in-between the two of you. This one, it seems as though she downs in just one sip, and she says "I met Kirika's father when I fifteen, no older than she is right now; and like any couple of young idiots, we thought it'd never happen to us." She laughs, not caring that the empty can slips from her grasp and falls onto the patio floor. "Of course, it was only a matter of time before it did, and I had to drop out of high school when she got too big to hide."
"Her father had a nice job lined up right out of high school, so I thought I'd be fine, staying home to raise her while he went off to earn the family bacon. So, I go over to my parents' house for the afternoon, thinking everything's fine and that life will be just the same when I come back. So of course, I come home and he's fucking another woman in our bed, while Kirika's just in the other room watching TV. Suddenly, I don't have a husband, my daughter doesn't have a father, and I've got to work my ass off just to keep a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs."
"So, if I had the chance, what I'd really like to do is do everything that I fucked up the right way. I'd like to get my equivalency certificate; I'd like to go to college and get a degree; and I'd like to find a man who loves me and my daughter and give marriage a second shot. I'd like to have just one job, so I can come home at the end of the day and still have plenty of time to spend with my husband and my daughter. Maybe I'd give Kirika a little brother or sister while I was at it. I want to learn how to cook, so I can feed my family a proper meal each day, and not just throw cheap crap into the microwave 'cause it saves time."
"I'm only thirty-two; I'm still young, but right now everything I want to do seems so far away, like my life's already over and I'm just marching towards a future that gets worse and worse each day. I hate it. I wish I had the time to do the things I want, but it takes three jobs just to make ends meet when you're an idiot like me who never even finished high school; and I know that if I asked, Oriko'd be more than happy to front me however much I needed, but I don't want to ask so much of her when she's already taking care of my daughter for me." It's clear that she doesn't want to show it to you, but Kure Minako has been crying the entire time she's spoken about what she'd like to do with her life. When it becomes clear to her that you're still there, despite seeing her at her weakest, she tries her best to smile for you despite her tears. "I'm sorry; it's not my place to be throwing all this at you, especially when we've only just met."
You sigh; just one more example of a person whom life has left behind. How many of those have you seen before? You want to help her; but how? The answer is obvious, once you think about it. Kure Minako needs a stable presence in her life, just as much as your master does. Well, what's one more stray when you're a hero of justice? "Hey, come on now, dry those tears," you say, as you crouch down to her level. "I know things seem rough right now, but they'll get better."
"That's rich, coming from someone who doesn't have to struggle to make ends meet." Despite her comment, Kure Minako does indeed dry her tears, and even offers an apology. "Sorry. It was rude of me to say that to you."
"You're right, I don't have to struggle to make ends meet," you say, offering her your hand, which you use to help her stand upright again. Oh, how symbolic of a gesture can Fate give to you? "But that's why I'm willing to help you. I know it's not much, but I can help you study for your equivalency certificate, when we've both got the time, and I-" Well, that much you aren't going to say. Her daughter may be off on her own, but that doesn't mean you're just going to jump into her bed after having known her for all of a few hours. "-I'd be happy to be your friend, since it's pretty clear you could use one."
Kure Minako smiles for you; you aren't sure if she's still too sober to be having this conversation, but a smile is nice to see on her face all the same. "You know, when you mentioned you were a teacher, I almost asked if you'd be willing to help me get my cert, but I didn't want to put all my bullshit onto you so suddenly. I guess I didn't even mean to put it all on you now." She smiles again; yeah, you're thinking she's drunk. "So, hey, can you tell me a little about the kind of stuff you teach? I always thought those old myths and legends were cool as a kid; you know, Momotaro, Journey to the West, that sort of thing. You ever teach any of them?"
"I know I don't look it, but I actually studied at a prestigious university in London, so most of my education was focused on Europe and the West. I do have a bit of a background in Eastern mythology, but I mostly focus on Ancient Greece, and pre-Christianity Nordic, Germanic, and Celtic countries. The history and evolution of Arthurian canon is my specialty, though-" as it's something with which you have first-hand accounts of from the woman herself "-and I guess I dabble a bit in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Usually at least once a semester I'll have a class on The Epic of Gilgamesh. That one has a lot to unpack."
Kure Minako giggles; yeah, you're definitely thinking she's drunk. "I don't understand a word you just said," she says, leaning over to kiss you on the cheek. Whoa now, you never agreed to that. "But, thanks for saying it anyway. You're a lot of fun to talk to." But then, just as soon as her giddy mood takes hold, it's gone, and feigned indignation takes over as she says "And hey! You still haven't told me which swimsuit you thought I looked best in! You big meanie; why do you keep dodging giving me an answer?"
"Archer, are you there? I was hoping you could check out the grounds when you had the chance. I need to know if the Incubator is following us; and, I was also hoping you could find a nice place for Madoka and I to watch the sunset tomorrow."
It doesn't take you very long before you feel like you've made a decent progress practicing Inguz; perhaps this rune's applications are easier for you to grasp, or perhaps after the first rune, others will only get successively easier; you cannot say. Either way, you are glad that Inguz took only a short while to acclimate to, as that means you have more time left to spend with Madoka this night; a Madoka whom you immediately wrap your arms around once you've descended the stairs and are back on the lower floor of the cabin.
"I can't wait for tomorrow," you say to her, feeling her warmth and drinking in the comfort that being near to Madoka brings you. "Today was long, but tomorrow will be so much better."
Madoka reciprocates your hug, saying "Yeah. I can't wait for tomorrow either, Homura-chan. It'll be nice to have fun at the beach, and see everyone in their new swimsuits. I bet it'd be really fun if I tried drawing everyone in their swimsuits tomorrow."
"Oh?" You don't mean to tease, but the opportunity Madoka's given you is too good to pass up. "Does that include me?"
Your girlfriend is replaced by a red cabbage, and Madoka just barely manages to squeak out an embarrassed "Of course! I can't wait to see what Homura-chan looks like in a swimsuit! I bet she looks really cute!"
"Well, I can't say whether I look cute or not-" mostly because it's not something you particularly care about. You don't mind the way you look in the purple side-tie Kure Kirika picked out for you; and isn't that embarrassing in itself, that someone other than your girlfriend picked out your swimsuit for you; but whether you looked 'cute' in it wasn't your primary concern. "-but I'd be more than happy to model for you, if you happen to think I look cute in it."
You stay like this with Madoka, not caring who among your group of friends is watching. Not that what you're doing is any worse than what Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika do just as publicly. Even the faint voice of Kyouko whispering "ga~ay" nor the immediate sound afterwards of Sayaka silencing Kyouko with some application of force is enough to stem the tide of your love for Madoka, nor your desire to show that love to her.
But while you stand here, embracing your girlfriend, your mind is regrettably elsewhere. "Have you and Lancer had any luck with that item you spoke to me earlier about?" you ask of Mikuni Oriko; "The one you said might help to ward the Incubator away from Madoka?"
"Not yet, I'm afraid. Between the time our commute took, eating, and our study session earlier, we haven't really had the chance to get any work done. I am sorry, if you were expecting a progress report so soon."
"No, I'm not upset, and you've done nothing wrong by not having found the time. I was just curious, that's all. We all have a vested interest in seeing your proposal come to fruition, after all."
"Of course. I promise you, Akemi-san, I will try to work with Lancer later tonight, and if it is possible to accomplish I will let you know as soon as I can."
"Thank you. That's all I can ask."
[ ] Wat do?
"Been a long day, hasn't it?" Kure Minako asks you after the contented sigh that accompanies her taking the first sip from her beer.
You try not to think of all the ways that today has made itself a noticeably long day, but find yourself unable to escape them as you respond "Yeah, I guess it has." You follow the mother Kure's lead, popping the tab of your own can and taking a long sip as you try to forget that this morning's conversation ever occurred. "The upstairs neighbors are-" you sigh; one of these might not be enough "-recently in love, if you know what I mean. I had to spend my morning giving Homura the talk; boy, was that an unpleasant conversation."
"Tell me about it," Kure Minako responds to your statement by raising her can to you. "I had to give Kirika the talk when I came home from one of my shifts and found her and Oriko getting a bit too hands-on one day last... Was it October, or November? Ah, I can't remember." Kure Minako sighs, but it's not the sight of contentment that previously accompanied her drinking. "I just hope she took what I told her to heart, about waiting until she and Oriko were older before getting into that kind of stuff. I'd hate to see my daughter crying because she made the same mistakes that I did at her age."
You aren't sure, but you think that might have just been the missing piece you were looking for, about how the mother Kure could look so young but still have a fifteen-year-old for a daughter. You don't feel like it's your business to pry; not unless she makes it your business. Instead, you decide to ask her a much simpler but equally as important question, "What sort of food do you like? Dislike? I'm the one who'll be doing the cooking on this trip, so I'd like to make sure I'm able to deliver to the best of my abilities."
"Well, those burgers you made for dinner were alright. I wouldn't mind having more of those."
Somehow, you feel like that would just get boring, especially when there's three meals coming up and you need to cook for eleven people. "Burgers aside, there must be some-" you have to stop yourself, correcting course when the word someone almost escapes your lips instead "-thing you'd call a favourite dish. I mean. I figured I'd go for something inoffensive enough for my first foray, but for tomorrow I'd like to try and make everyone something a bit more involved, especially for lunch and the farewell dinner."
Kure Minako shrugs, responding "Honestly? I don't really care. Most of the time I just throw some cheap crap into the microwave because I'm strapped for time. In the entire year, I think the only real food I've had was tonight's burgers, and a couple lunches out with my daughter." She laughs, and about her daughter she has this to say "Kirika's a lot like me in that regard; she'll eat just about anything, too. Though in her case, it really helps if a certain someone's made her meal for her."
"So, speaking of your daughter, have you given any thought to what you might want to do once she's old enough to strike out on her own?"
"Truth be told, she's already out on her own; has been since January."
You feign ignorance to the daughter Kure's living arrangements, not wanting to let on just how much more you know than the mother Kure thinks you do. "Really?"
"Yeah." By the sound of it, Kure Minako has finished her beer, but she holds on to and nurses the empty can as she says "A little after Oriko's father... Did what he did, she invited Kirika to come live with her. Of course, she jumped at the invitation, and while I was glad to know that at least someone who loved her would be able to provide her with a good life, I was also really sad to see her go." Kure Minako smiles, but you're not sure whether it's melancholy or something else on her lips when she says "She can be a handful, but she's still my daughter. I'll love her no matter where she is; but I guess it is kind of lonely, coming home to an empty apartment long after the rest of Japan's gone to sleep."
"Then, there must be something else you'd like to do, if you had the chance. What's that? What does the dream of Kure Minako look like? College; find a hobby you can do in-between work?" Get married and not have to work three jobs anymore? is your third suggestion, but one that goes unspoken.
"Actually, if I had the chance, I'd like to do it all over again; but this time, I'd like to do it the right way. I..." Kure Minako stops herself, and under her breath you hear her muttering "I'm too sober to be having this conversation" before reaching down to grab another can of beer from the case she's lain out on the floor in-between the two of you. This one, it seems as though she downs in just one sip, and she says "I met Kirika's father when I fifteen, no older than she is right now; and like any couple of young idiots, we thought it'd never happen to us." She laughs, not caring that the empty can slips from her grasp and falls onto the patio floor. "Of course, it was only a matter of time before it did, and I had to drop out of high school when she got too big to hide."
"Her father had a nice job lined up right out of high school, so I thought I'd be fine, staying home to raise her while he went off to earn the family bacon. So, I go over to my parents' house for the afternoon, thinking everything's fine and that life will be just the same when I come back. So of course, I come home and he's fucking another woman in our bed, while Kirika's just in the other room watching TV. Suddenly, I don't have a husband, my daughter doesn't have a father, and I've got to work my ass off just to keep a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs."
"So, if I had the chance, what I'd really like to do is do everything that I fucked up the right way. I'd like to get my equivalency certificate; I'd like to go to college and get a degree; and I'd like to find a man who loves me and my daughter and give marriage a second shot. I'd like to have just one job, so I can come home at the end of the day and still have plenty of time to spend with my husband and my daughter. Maybe I'd give Kirika a little brother or sister while I was at it. I want to learn how to cook, so I can feed my family a proper meal each day, and not just throw cheap crap into the microwave 'cause it saves time."
"I'm only thirty-two; I'm still young, but right now everything I want to do seems so far away, like my life's already over and I'm just marching towards a future that gets worse and worse each day. I hate it. I wish I had the time to do the things I want, but it takes three jobs just to make ends meet when you're an idiot like me who never even finished high school; and I know that if I asked, Oriko'd be more than happy to front me however much I needed, but I don't want to ask so much of her when she's already taking care of my daughter for me." It's clear that she doesn't want to show it to you, but Kure Minako has been crying the entire time she's spoken about what she'd like to do with her life. When it becomes clear to her that you're still there, despite seeing her at her weakest, she tries her best to smile for you despite her tears. "I'm sorry; it's not my place to be throwing all this at you, especially when we've only just met."
You sigh; just one more example of a person whom life has left behind. How many of those have you seen before? You want to help her; but how? The answer is obvious, once you think about it. Kure Minako needs a stable presence in her life, just as much as your master does. Well, what's one more stray when you're a hero of justice? "Hey, come on now, dry those tears," you say, as you crouch down to her level. "I know things seem rough right now, but they'll get better."
"That's rich, coming from someone who doesn't have to struggle to make ends meet." Despite her comment, Kure Minako does indeed dry her tears, and even offers an apology. "Sorry. It was rude of me to say that to you."
"You're right, I don't have to struggle to make ends meet," you say, offering her your hand, which you use to help her stand upright again. Oh, how symbolic of a gesture can Fate give to you? "But that's why I'm willing to help you. I know it's not much, but I can help you study for your equivalency certificate, when we've both got the time, and I-" Well, that much you aren't going to say. Her daughter may be off on her own, but that doesn't mean you're just going to jump into her bed after having known her for all of a few hours. "-I'd be happy to be your friend, since it's pretty clear you could use one."
Kure Minako smiles for you; you aren't sure if she's still too sober to be having this conversation, but a smile is nice to see on her face all the same. "You know, when you mentioned you were a teacher, I almost asked if you'd be willing to help me get my cert, but I didn't want to put all my bullshit onto you so suddenly. I guess I didn't even mean to put it all on you now." She smiles again; yeah, you're thinking she's drunk. "So, hey, can you tell me a little about the kind of stuff you teach? I always thought those old myths and legends were cool as a kid; you know, Momotaro, Journey to the West, that sort of thing. You ever teach any of them?"
"I know I don't look it, but I actually studied at a prestigious university in London, so most of my education was focused on Europe and the West. I do have a bit of a background in Eastern mythology, but I mostly focus on Ancient Greece, and pre-Christianity Nordic, Germanic, and Celtic countries. The history and evolution of Arthurian canon is my specialty, though-" as it's something with which you have first-hand accounts of from the woman herself "-and I guess I dabble a bit in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Usually at least once a semester I'll have a class on The Epic of Gilgamesh. That one has a lot to unpack."
Kure Minako giggles; yeah, you're definitely thinking she's drunk. "I don't understand a word you just said," she says, leaning over to kiss you on the cheek. Whoa now, you never agreed to that. "But, thanks for saying it anyway. You're a lot of fun to talk to." But then, just as soon as her giddy mood takes hold, it's gone, and feigned indignation takes over as she says "And hey! You still haven't told me which swimsuit you thought I looked best in! You big meanie; why do you keep dodging giving me an answer?"
"Archer, are you there? I was hoping you could check out the grounds when you had the chance. I need to know if the Incubator is following us; and, I was also hoping you could find a nice place for Madoka and I to watch the sunset tomorrow."
It doesn't take you very long before you feel like you've made a decent progress practicing Inguz; perhaps this rune's applications are easier for you to grasp, or perhaps after the first rune, others will only get successively easier; you cannot say. Either way, you are glad that Inguz took only a short while to acclimate to, as that means you have more time left to spend with Madoka this night; a Madoka whom you immediately wrap your arms around once you've descended the stairs and are back on the lower floor of the cabin.
"I can't wait for tomorrow," you say to her, feeling her warmth and drinking in the comfort that being near to Madoka brings you. "Today was long, but tomorrow will be so much better."
Madoka reciprocates your hug, saying "Yeah. I can't wait for tomorrow either, Homura-chan. It'll be nice to have fun at the beach, and see everyone in their new swimsuits. I bet it'd be really fun if I tried drawing everyone in their swimsuits tomorrow."
"Oh?" You don't mean to tease, but the opportunity Madoka's given you is too good to pass up. "Does that include me?"
Your girlfriend is replaced by a red cabbage, and Madoka just barely manages to squeak out an embarrassed "Of course! I can't wait to see what Homura-chan looks like in a swimsuit! I bet she looks really cute!"
"Well, I can't say whether I look cute or not-" mostly because it's not something you particularly care about. You don't mind the way you look in the purple side-tie Kure Kirika picked out for you; and isn't that embarrassing in itself, that someone other than your girlfriend picked out your swimsuit for you; but whether you looked 'cute' in it wasn't your primary concern. "-but I'd be more than happy to model for you, if you happen to think I look cute in it."
You stay like this with Madoka, not caring who among your group of friends is watching. Not that what you're doing is any worse than what Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika do just as publicly. Even the faint voice of Kyouko whispering "ga~ay" nor the immediate sound afterwards of Sayaka silencing Kyouko with some application of force is enough to stem the tide of your love for Madoka, nor your desire to show that love to her.
But while you stand here, embracing your girlfriend, your mind is regrettably elsewhere. "Have you and Lancer had any luck with that item you spoke to me earlier about?" you ask of Mikuni Oriko; "The one you said might help to ward the Incubator away from Madoka?"
"Not yet, I'm afraid. Between the time our commute took, eating, and our study session earlier, we haven't really had the chance to get any work done. I am sorry, if you were expecting a progress report so soon."
"No, I'm not upset, and you've done nothing wrong by not having found the time. I was just curious, that's all. We all have a vested interest in seeing your proposal come to fruition, after all."
"Of course. I promise you, Akemi-san, I will try to work with Lancer later tonight, and if it is possible to accomplish I will let you know as soon as I can."
"Thank you. That's all I can ask."
[ ] Wat do?
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- Location
- United States
Uhhhh o_o
Can you elaborate on what exactly this means? Is it marriage/dating, is it Minako moving into the Homuhome, is it Archer just being around to help her get into a more stable position in life, etc.? I'd like to know before I cast a vote.
- Location
- Around here
It's entirely on us to decide what each choice means to Archer. Do we want for Archer to mean just being her friend and being there for her; do we forget chasing after a Saber that may not even love us when we find her again and try for a committed relationship with Minako; cohabitation in the Homuhome; do we want to cut right to the chase and say "yes"; regular fucking with no/minimal strings attached; whatever else we can think of? The options are there, but the choice of what those options means is entirely on us.
- Location
- United States
Shouldn't actually be a problem considering in Archer's original Holy Grail War he had no romance options unlike Emiya 'Harem Protagonist' Shirou. Not even sure if Archer would have any lasting feelings left for Saber without those missing romance VN options. Plus Saber would hate what he's become anyways, for more reasons than one.
[X] Plan Archer Just Admitted He's A Hero Of Justice
-[X] You want to help her; but how?
--[X] Help her study for her equivalency certificate, when the both of you have the time
--[X] Be the stabilizing presence she's desperate for; what's one more stray when you're a hero of justice?
---[X] That comes with it's own baggage, doesn't it?
----[X] You'll deal with it as it comes; Kirika's no longer dependent on Minako anyways thanks to Oriko.
-[X] (Homura) Figure out sleeping arrangements and try to sleep nearby Madoka if possible
--[X] Try not to think about sleeping in the same bed as Madoka, but fail
--[X] Telepathically inform Archer of your plan to rob the Yakuza sometime after the trip as you usually do; either you'll do it or Archer could do it if he's feeling up to it
--[X] Go to sleep
We can see how things pan out; if they got chemistry then I don't see why not, or Archer could just be a good friend helping her get back on her feet.
So @SVS do we have to choose a path for Inguz like Isa, or is it just one concrete path? I'm assuming it's a single path considering it really only has one primary application, that being the movement of energy between things.
- Location
- Around here
Well, I had written him earlier as considering Saber to be the only woman he'd ever loved, even if that love never panned out in his own War due to failing to save her heart.
Until we have to tell her that we've been lying to her the entire time, and that we're actually Homura's magic punch ghost send by the World to stop The Bad Things from happening.
Is what I was going to say, before I realized that Release is just Transfer but stopped at the halfway point by not having a receiving vessel. Yeah, Inguz would just be a single branch of study, and to get the various aspects of it we have to alternatively deepen our study and know when to stop at various points in the process to achieve differing results.
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- Location
- United States
By the way, what is Homura capable of doing at Inguz 1/1 (which is what I'm assuming she's at with one session, unless the first session only unlocks it)? It's obviously going to be very low-power and bare basics, but I'm curious.