WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
... Wait, did we forget to warn Kirika we were gonna timestop?
[x] Enetious
[x] Enetious
Confringentur, Mk.2; a Madoka Magica / Fate/Stay Night crossover
- Thread starter SVS
- Start date
- Crossover
- Location
- Around here
"GODDAMNIT SIS I'M GONNA KILL YOU IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS TO ME!"
Day 41 Chapter 4
- Location
- Around here
[X] Plan GARcher
"Oh? This is a rare treat." As always, Caster knows you've come to join him on the roof before you've had the chance to announce yourself. "You've been quite shy to join me lately, so I wonder what it is that has brought you here today. Come, talk with me awhile, Archer."
"It has been awhile," you say, as you join Caster at his post overlooking the city from the roof of the school. "I suppose I've been busy lately. What about yourself? Is this War satisfactory enough for you?"
"Perhaps I had been hoping for something more, something more fitting of the presence of I, the King, than the War we have been given." You nod your head; it's the same complaint you remember hearing Saber voice when she was first summoned. "You'll forgive me for thinking this is all a bit strange. I mean, a Grail War where there's no Grail and no War? That's kind of far-fetched, isn't it?" "But perhaps, with time things shall become more interesting for us."
"As in, you're loooking forward to the fight against Walpurgisnacht?"
Caster shakes his head. "Beyond that. I see the dark clouds of a tempest forming on the horizon. The balance of power in this place has been shaken by our presence, and conflict will find its way to our masters in time."
You don't like the sound of that. Just as soon as you've saved the city from one impossible monster of destruction, along comes something else? And you really thought this mission might be your last. "How long do we have?"
Caster closes his eyes, counting off under his breath until he arrives at "Worry you not, Archer. Our masters will have plenty of time in which to prepare themselves. Instead, concern yourself with surviving the threat in front of you first."
While you wish Caster would tell you more about this supposed 'tempest' he sees, you suppose he also has a point. Worrying about something else that's only yet to come does you no good when there's something else coming at just the end of this week. "I'll keep that in mind," you say. "If you don't mind, could you tell me the whereabouts of Alina Gray and her father? I'd like to check in on them to make sure they haven't gotten themselves into any more trouble." It would be just like Fate to have thrown them into some other sort of trouble after all the effort everyone put into keeping them safe.
"They are where anyone else their ages would be," Caster says. "Alina Gray is at school, while her father is at his job."
After getting the address of Alina's school and her father's place of work from Caster, you ask him "And what about the Incubator? We haven't seen him around in awhile, and our recent attempts to locate it haven't worked out. Alina seems like she'd be the perfect candidate for that little weasel, so I'd also like to know where he's gone just in case we need to keep it off her back."
"The Incubator has fled to a city called Asunaro, and is attempting to re-establish a foothold for itself after our masters disrupted its hold over this city."
Asunaro... You'll have to keep the name in mind, if you ever decide you need to go looking for the weasel again. "I suppose that's a good thing for us, then, not having to worry about it trying to make a move on Madoka." In the back of your mind, though, you aren't sure about that. Madoka has such a tremendous amount of power locked inside her. There's no way the Incubator would have just up and abandoned her so completely. Even if it's in another city, you'll have keep your eyes peeled around Madoka's house, just in case.
"As always, you've been helpful." Cryptic, but helpful none the less. "If there's something you'd like me to do for you in exchange for your assistance, just let me know."
"I believe we have had this conversation already, Archer."
"That's not what I meant, and I know you know it." Caster smirks; yeah, he knows. "I meant besides that."
"Of course," Caster says, as his smirk turns to a much more somber expression. "But I warn you, Archer; you may not like what I have to say."
Caster was right. You don't like what he had to say to you. But if he's right, it may be the only way for Homura to defeat Walpurgisnacht and come out alive... You shake your head, wishing the world didn't have to be this way. But when has it ever been any different? "I suppose there isn't another way?" you want to ask him; but deep down you know he's probably seen every other way and judged this to be the best. "Thank you," is what you eventually settle on saying. "I'll keep that in mind, when the time comes."
Caster nods, saying as you see yourself out "Be sure that you do, Archer."
The rooftop is silent as you finish telling your friends the truth about your time-looping. Uncomfortably so; and then- "Hey..." Sayaka's voice cracks, and you see her body trembling as she stands on shaky feet. "... All this time, you knew... That's why you tried so hard to keep me from becoming a magical girl, isn't it?"
You nod your head, and say "I'm sorry. At the time, I didn't think you were ready to know the truth."
"Then, maybe you can tell me why the other me's never believed you?"
"I was never very good at social interaction," you say. "I could never find a way to get anyone to listen to me, not just you."
"I don't blame them. Even if you're telling the truth, that's still a lot to take in. Like, I read a lot of comics and stuff with time travel in them, and I still don't really believe you."
"I have pictures, if you'd like some proof."
For a moment, it looks like Sayaka might take you up on that, but that changes when she says "No thanks. I... I think I'd like to go now. You've given me a lot to think about, and I think I'd rather not see you while I'm thinking about it."
So it seems this Sayaka doesn't believe you either. Hitomi rises as well, joining her blue-haired friend as she says "I'd like to leave as well. I... I also have things I need to think about. I don't hate you for telling us what you did, Akemi-san, but I think I would prefer to be alone while I think about what you've told us."
"Alright," you say, letting your friends - if they even still consider you their friends - leave as you allow time to resume its normal flow. "Even if you change your minds about me, I want you to know that I've valued our friendship these past weeks."
Only Hitomi returns your words, saying "Thank you, Akemi-san. I too have appreciated the time we've spent together, as brief as it might have been," as she takes her leave of you and Madoka.
"You and Pinkie having a good time up there?" comes the voice of a very annoying certain older sister of yours who you completely forgot to warn beforehand that you were going to stop time. "I hope you are, and I hope it was worth stopping time to do, because when I get my hands on you I swear..."
[ ] Wat do?
"Oh? This is a rare treat." As always, Caster knows you've come to join him on the roof before you've had the chance to announce yourself. "You've been quite shy to join me lately, so I wonder what it is that has brought you here today. Come, talk with me awhile, Archer."
"It has been awhile," you say, as you join Caster at his post overlooking the city from the roof of the school. "I suppose I've been busy lately. What about yourself? Is this War satisfactory enough for you?"
"Perhaps I had been hoping for something more, something more fitting of the presence of I, the King, than the War we have been given." You nod your head; it's the same complaint you remember hearing Saber voice when she was first summoned. "You'll forgive me for thinking this is all a bit strange. I mean, a Grail War where there's no Grail and no War? That's kind of far-fetched, isn't it?" "But perhaps, with time things shall become more interesting for us."
"As in, you're loooking forward to the fight against Walpurgisnacht?"
Caster shakes his head. "Beyond that. I see the dark clouds of a tempest forming on the horizon. The balance of power in this place has been shaken by our presence, and conflict will find its way to our masters in time."
You don't like the sound of that. Just as soon as you've saved the city from one impossible monster of destruction, along comes something else? And you really thought this mission might be your last. "How long do we have?"
Caster closes his eyes, counting off under his breath until he arrives at "Worry you not, Archer. Our masters will have plenty of time in which to prepare themselves. Instead, concern yourself with surviving the threat in front of you first."
While you wish Caster would tell you more about this supposed 'tempest' he sees, you suppose he also has a point. Worrying about something else that's only yet to come does you no good when there's something else coming at just the end of this week. "I'll keep that in mind," you say. "If you don't mind, could you tell me the whereabouts of Alina Gray and her father? I'd like to check in on them to make sure they haven't gotten themselves into any more trouble." It would be just like Fate to have thrown them into some other sort of trouble after all the effort everyone put into keeping them safe.
"They are where anyone else their ages would be," Caster says. "Alina Gray is at school, while her father is at his job."
After getting the address of Alina's school and her father's place of work from Caster, you ask him "And what about the Incubator? We haven't seen him around in awhile, and our recent attempts to locate it haven't worked out. Alina seems like she'd be the perfect candidate for that little weasel, so I'd also like to know where he's gone just in case we need to keep it off her back."
"The Incubator has fled to a city called Asunaro, and is attempting to re-establish a foothold for itself after our masters disrupted its hold over this city."
Asunaro... You'll have to keep the name in mind, if you ever decide you need to go looking for the weasel again. "I suppose that's a good thing for us, then, not having to worry about it trying to make a move on Madoka." In the back of your mind, though, you aren't sure about that. Madoka has such a tremendous amount of power locked inside her. There's no way the Incubator would have just up and abandoned her so completely. Even if it's in another city, you'll have keep your eyes peeled around Madoka's house, just in case.
"As always, you've been helpful." Cryptic, but helpful none the less. "If there's something you'd like me to do for you in exchange for your assistance, just let me know."
"I believe we have had this conversation already, Archer."
"That's not what I meant, and I know you know it." Caster smirks; yeah, he knows. "I meant besides that."
"Of course," Caster says, as his smirk turns to a much more somber expression. "But I warn you, Archer; you may not like what I have to say."
Caster was right. You don't like what he had to say to you. But if he's right, it may be the only way for Homura to defeat Walpurgisnacht and come out alive... You shake your head, wishing the world didn't have to be this way. But when has it ever been any different? "I suppose there isn't another way?" you want to ask him; but deep down you know he's probably seen every other way and judged this to be the best. "Thank you," is what you eventually settle on saying. "I'll keep that in mind, when the time comes."
Caster nods, saying as you see yourself out "Be sure that you do, Archer."
The rooftop is silent as you finish telling your friends the truth about your time-looping. Uncomfortably so; and then- "Hey..." Sayaka's voice cracks, and you see her body trembling as she stands on shaky feet. "... All this time, you knew... That's why you tried so hard to keep me from becoming a magical girl, isn't it?"
You nod your head, and say "I'm sorry. At the time, I didn't think you were ready to know the truth."
"Then, maybe you can tell me why the other me's never believed you?"
"I was never very good at social interaction," you say. "I could never find a way to get anyone to listen to me, not just you."
"I don't blame them. Even if you're telling the truth, that's still a lot to take in. Like, I read a lot of comics and stuff with time travel in them, and I still don't really believe you."
"I have pictures, if you'd like some proof."
For a moment, it looks like Sayaka might take you up on that, but that changes when she says "No thanks. I... I think I'd like to go now. You've given me a lot to think about, and I think I'd rather not see you while I'm thinking about it."
So it seems this Sayaka doesn't believe you either. Hitomi rises as well, joining her blue-haired friend as she says "I'd like to leave as well. I... I also have things I need to think about. I don't hate you for telling us what you did, Akemi-san, but I think I would prefer to be alone while I think about what you've told us."
"Alright," you say, letting your friends - if they even still consider you their friends - leave as you allow time to resume its normal flow. "Even if you change your minds about me, I want you to know that I've valued our friendship these past weeks."
Only Hitomi returns your words, saying "Thank you, Akemi-san. I too have appreciated the time we've spent together, as brief as it might have been," as she takes her leave of you and Madoka.
"You and Pinkie having a good time up there?" comes the voice of a very annoying certain older sister of yours who you completely forgot to warn beforehand that you were going to stop time. "I hope you are, and I hope it was worth stopping time to do, because when I get my hands on you I swear..."
[ ] Wat do?
...
They're talking about Homulilly, aren't they?
[x] Try and avoid your irate sister until she calms down.
- Location
- Around here
I swear, I'm not doing it on purpose. This stuff just happens sometimes, like the one night where Oriko kept getting shat on by my dice.
Because of course I made it so we can only defeat the final boss by sacrificing our humanity and becoming a witch. Yes, mister Carbink, truly you've cracked the code.
...
I'm sensing some hostility here. When was the last time you cleaned your Soul Gem, Homura?
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
TFW Archer gonna pull a heroic sacrifice
You know, I've never really thought about it, but it's odd to think that there's all these dice rolls in the background that have all these effects which we literally never hear about at all. Just seems like an abnormal choice, not to disparage you or say I don't like that.
- Location
- Around here
People don't always act in a manner that's beneficial for us, and there are times when I don't want to go into writing a situation having decided the outcome ahead of time.
- Location
- United States
You know, one of these days Confringentur's Caster!Gilgamesh is going to laugh, and it's going to solve all of their problems.
[X] Plan A Realistic Emotional Response Keeps SVS From Throwing Rocks At Us
-[X] Unfreeze time if you hadn't already and break down a bit (and only a bit) in Madoka's arms
--[X] Why is it that whenever you try to confide in your friends, they always take it so badly to the point that they don't want to see your proof and your relationships with them are pretty much ruined? Everything was going so well, and you screwed it up by hoping that this time would be different. You're afraid of losing them again (such attachments which you'd beaten out of yourself for good reason before this timeline).
---[X] You don't think it's such a good idea after all to tell your team the truth about yourself, at least not right before Walpurgisnacht
---[X] Apologize to Madoka for her having to put up with such a mess of a person as yourself
-[X] Telepathically send a "Sorry..." to Kirika while you eat your lunch up on the rooftop; Madoka doesn't have to stay up here with you if she doesn't want to, as you're sure Sayaka and Hitomi went down to eat with the others
--[X] Cleanse your Soul Gem just in case, as even if you hadn't collected an overly large amount of Grief it's always good to keep tabs on it
-[X] Avoid Sayaka and Hitomi for the rest of the school day (they did say they didn't want to see you, not that you blame them), and after school
--[X] Take out your frustrations by going out shooting with your big sis; try out your new Isa pistol while you're teaching Kirika how to shoot better
I think Homura deserves a bit of emotional vulnerability while being comforted by someone who loves her, otherwise that stuff'll bite her when she least expects it as it builds up in the background. In any case, a realistic emotional response from Homura a day keeps the Walpurgisnacht away.
Hm, I wonder what Madoka will choose to do after comforting Homura in her initial breakdown: will she stay up on the rooftop with Homura or will she try and convince Sayaka and Hitomi to give Homura a chance? 🤔
Anyone got any thoughts on names for Homura's Mystic Codes, by the way? Any Magus worth their salt names their Mystic Codes something cool, after all; I'll probably try and think of something at some point in the near future, in any case.
[X] Plan A Realistic Emotional Response Keeps SVS From Throwing Rocks At Us
-[X] Unfreeze time if you hadn't already and break down a bit (and only a bit) in Madoka's arms
--[X] Why is it that whenever you try to confide in your friends, they always take it so badly to the point that they don't want to see your proof and your relationships with them are pretty much ruined? Everything was going so well, and you screwed it up by hoping that this time would be different. You're afraid of losing them again (such attachments which you'd beaten out of yourself for good reason before this timeline).
---[X] You don't think it's such a good idea after all to tell your team the truth about yourself, at least not right before Walpurgisnacht
---[X] Apologize to Madoka for her having to put up with such a mess of a person as yourself
-[X] Telepathically send a "Sorry..." to Kirika while you eat your lunch up on the rooftop; Madoka doesn't have to stay up here with you if she doesn't want to, as you're sure Sayaka and Hitomi went down to eat with the others
--[X] Cleanse your Soul Gem just in case, as even if you hadn't collected an overly large amount of Grief it's always good to keep tabs on it
-[X] Avoid Sayaka and Hitomi for the rest of the school day (they did say they didn't want to see you, not that you blame them), and after school
--[X] Take out your frustrations by going out shooting with your big sis; try out your new Isa pistol while you're teaching Kirika how to shoot better
I think Homura deserves a bit of emotional vulnerability while being comforted by someone who loves her, otherwise that stuff'll bite her when she least expects it as it builds up in the background. In any case, a realistic emotional response from Homura a day keeps the Walpurgisnacht away.
Hm, I wonder what Madoka will choose to do after comforting Homura in her initial breakdown: will she stay up on the rooftop with Homura or will she try and convince Sayaka and Hitomi to give Homura a chance? 🤔
Anyone got any thoughts on names for Homura's Mystic Codes, by the way? Any Magus worth their salt names their Mystic Codes something cool, after all; I'll probably try and think of something at some point in the near future, in any case.
- Location
- Around here
Don't be so sure of that. This wouldn't be an enjoyable experience if Caster just solved all our problems for us by laughing about it.
But Homura isn't worth her salt, at least by conventional mage standards. She's a complete outsider with about as much knowledge about the way the establishment works as pre-FSN Shirou. She has no idea that most mages name their Codes, so I don't particularly think it's a realistic want for us to have that Homura name hers.
- Location
- United States
Fair, fair. Unless Bazett or Rin bring it up, I suppose they'll just be "Isa Ring" and "Isa Pistol" then.
Are you kidding? She bared her heart to them and they basically went "Sayaka: I don't want to hear any more about this, I don't want to see any proof, and I don't want to see you" and "Hitomi: I too have appreciated the time we've spent together, as brief as it might have been". The only reason she doesn't break down normally is because she closes herself off from emotional attachments outside of Madoka in canon, which she didn't do in this quest.
EDIT: Expanded Sayaka's example
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Yuri Vampire
Kirameku Hōseki! Cure Coral!
- Location
- US
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Enetious
Lets not go there. Its a silly place.
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
Sayaka and Hitomi Affection: [REDACTED]
[X] Enetious
[X] Enetious
[X] Plan A Realistic Emotional Response Keeps SVS From Throwing Rocks At Us
Day 41 Chapter 5
- Location
- Around here
[X] Plan A Realistic Emotional Response
You look on as Sayaka and Hitomi take their leave of you, while you're completely powerless to stop them. You had finally built up the courage to tell your friends the truth about you, and how did they react? But throwing it in your face and refusing to believe you, just like they always do. Why? Why is this always the way it goes when you try to tell people the truth? Was Sayaka right? Is what you're saying really so insane that there's no way anyone could believe you?
Madoka sits beside you, and you lean into her to salvage some form of comfort from this experience. You don't allow yourself to show vulnerability until her arms are around you, and her voice in your ear is ringing "It's okay, Homura-chan. I'm still here for you; and I know Sayaka-chan and Hitomi-chan will be there for you too. Just give them some time, and I"m sure they'll understand why you've been keeping this from them."
"But what if they don't?" Before this, you had been wondering if the time had come to tell your teammates the truth about yourself as well, but after seeing the disastrous results that brings with it, you've decided to hold off on saying anything to them. At least not while Walpurgisnacht still looms. Maybe, and that's a pretty big maybe, you'll decide to speak up after the threat has passed.
If they're all still alive to hear it.
"I'm sure they will, Homura-chan." Madoka strokes her fingers through your long, silky locks as she says "I've known them my whole life. They're good people, they just... Need time to process what you've told them; Sayaka-chan especially, but once she understands that you weren't trying to hurt her by keeping this from her she'll come around, I know she will."
"I'm sorry..." Your words draw a confused stare from Madoka. "I'm sorry you have to put up with a mess like of a person like me."
"You're not a mess, Homura-chan. You're a girl who's had to go through so much more than anyone your age should have, but I don't think you're a mess." Madoka smiles, and reinforces her smile with a tightening of her warm grasp on your body. "Trust me, okay?"
Trusting in hope has failed you more times than you can count. But is it okay to trust in Madoka? For all the times you've let her down, she's never let you down once, so... "I've got some good news." So, Archer, then. "I got the locations of Alina Gray and her father from Caster earlier in the day, and I went to check on them to make sure they were still doing alright. So far, everything looks good for both of them."
"Thank you," you say. "That is good news."
"You and Pinkie having a good time up there?" comes the voice of a very annoying certain older sister of yours who you completely forgot to warn beforehand that you were going to stop time. "I hope you are, and I hope it was worth stopping time to do, because when I get my hands on you I swear..."
"... Sorry." You know it won't be enough to distract Kirika from the time you've stolen from her that could have - and probably was being - spent talking with Mikuni Oriko. "I know you don't like it when I don't tell you beforehand, and I really am sorry for not warning you."
"Well... Okay. I'll forgive you this time. But only 'cause you're taking me shooting today, got it? So you better not disappoint me, sis."
You say a parting "I'm sure I wont, sis," to Kirika as you let her get back to her girlfriend, before saying to your own girlfriend "You don't have to stay up here with me if you don't want to. I'm sure Sayaka and Hitomi went down to the cafeteria to eat with Tomoe-san. You should go join them."
Madoka shakes her head, remaining absolute in her place by your side. "Right now, you look like you could use the company more than Sayaka-chan adn Hitomi-chan would," she says. "So, I'm going to stay right here. I thought I told you that first night, you can't get rid of me so easily, Homura-chan."
You don't want to, but somehow your body forces up a small laugh despite your protests. "Of course," you say to Madoka, as you finally find the strength to reciprocate her affections with a hug of your own. "I had forgotten how persistent my girlfriend was." It's been awhile since you last cleansed your Soul Gem, and whether you strictly need to or not, recent events have you feeling like it would be a wise decision. While Madoka clenches your hand as she watches on, you draw out the Grief that had settled in your Soul.
"Feeling better?" Madoka asks you, as you put the Grief Seed away.
"Yeah."
Finally, after a wait that feels like it's been an eternity since you first came up to the roof, you and Madoka break out your lunches. "Itadakimasu!"
You hang back at the front door as Mikuni Oriko and Kirika kiss to their reunion. "Oh, Oriko, I've missed you so much!" Kirika says, somehow managing to find enough time and air in-between kisses to speak to her lover.
"Dearest, it's barely been a full day," Mikuni Oriko responds, her words in line with your own sentiments. "But I'm glad to see you too, all the same. How was your day?"
Madoka had one of her clubs after school today, and Sayaka and Hitomi made it painfully clear that they wanted nothing more to do with you after the events at lunch. After saying your goodbyes to Madoka, it was easy enough to avoid your blue- and green-haired former? friends to meet up with Kirika instead. She'll never know how glad you are that she chose today to be the day she wanted to go shooting.
The train ride up to Shirome was uneventful, as always; save for a single text message sent from Hitomi shortly before you arrived at the Shirome station. While your hosts wind down their affections, you take a moment to read that message again.
<Hitomi: I'm sorry if what I said to you earlier offended you in any way. I didn't mean by it that I wished to stop being friends with you, but what you've said has given me a lot to think about, and I believe I would prefer to think about them alone.>
It gives you the faintest hope - a hope you should know better by now than to trust - that maybe things can return to normal, if only given enough time. You put your phone away, and standing right beneath your nose is Kirika, with a smile on her face as she says "So, can we go shooting now?"
"Yes," you say, as your eager older sister gives you just enough personal space for you to produce pistols for the both of you from your shield. You don't hand hers off to her right away, though; first, you ask her "Do you remember the four rules of safe shooting?"
"Safety on, finger off the trigger until I'm ready to fire. Know my target and what's behind it. Don't point it at anything I don't want to shoot. Gun's always loaded until I've checked to make sure." You smile; for something that has absolutely no relation to Mikuni Oriko, Kirika managed to retain what you taught her last Wednesday, and she recites the four rules verbatim from how she did on Wednesday.
"Good," you say, as you hand Kirika's pistol to her. "We can shoot now."
Kirika leads the way to the makeshift target setup in the Mikuni garden, but you hang back as you feel a hand on your shoulder. You turn, and are greeted to a melancholy smile on Mikuni Oriko's face as she says "I believe you, Akemi-san. Your friends will too, in time." She forces her smile wider, and gives you a gentle push in Kirika's direction. "Make sure Kirika stays safe, will you? I know she's enthusiastic, and I'd hate to see her hurt herself while she's having fun with her her new sister."
"Right," you say. "I'll make sure she stays safe."
[ ] Wat do?
You look on as Sayaka and Hitomi take their leave of you, while you're completely powerless to stop them. You had finally built up the courage to tell your friends the truth about you, and how did they react? But throwing it in your face and refusing to believe you, just like they always do. Why? Why is this always the way it goes when you try to tell people the truth? Was Sayaka right? Is what you're saying really so insane that there's no way anyone could believe you?
Madoka sits beside you, and you lean into her to salvage some form of comfort from this experience. You don't allow yourself to show vulnerability until her arms are around you, and her voice in your ear is ringing "It's okay, Homura-chan. I'm still here for you; and I know Sayaka-chan and Hitomi-chan will be there for you too. Just give them some time, and I"m sure they'll understand why you've been keeping this from them."
"But what if they don't?" Before this, you had been wondering if the time had come to tell your teammates the truth about yourself as well, but after seeing the disastrous results that brings with it, you've decided to hold off on saying anything to them. At least not while Walpurgisnacht still looms. Maybe, and that's a pretty big maybe, you'll decide to speak up after the threat has passed.
If they're all still alive to hear it.
"I'm sure they will, Homura-chan." Madoka strokes her fingers through your long, silky locks as she says "I've known them my whole life. They're good people, they just... Need time to process what you've told them; Sayaka-chan especially, but once she understands that you weren't trying to hurt her by keeping this from her she'll come around, I know she will."
"I'm sorry..." Your words draw a confused stare from Madoka. "I'm sorry you have to put up with a mess like of a person like me."
"You're not a mess, Homura-chan. You're a girl who's had to go through so much more than anyone your age should have, but I don't think you're a mess." Madoka smiles, and reinforces her smile with a tightening of her warm grasp on your body. "Trust me, okay?"
Trusting in hope has failed you more times than you can count. But is it okay to trust in Madoka? For all the times you've let her down, she's never let you down once, so... "I've got some good news." So, Archer, then. "I got the locations of Alina Gray and her father from Caster earlier in the day, and I went to check on them to make sure they were still doing alright. So far, everything looks good for both of them."
"Thank you," you say. "That is good news."
"You and Pinkie having a good time up there?" comes the voice of a very annoying certain older sister of yours who you completely forgot to warn beforehand that you were going to stop time. "I hope you are, and I hope it was worth stopping time to do, because when I get my hands on you I swear..."
"... Sorry." You know it won't be enough to distract Kirika from the time you've stolen from her that could have - and probably was being - spent talking with Mikuni Oriko. "I know you don't like it when I don't tell you beforehand, and I really am sorry for not warning you."
"Well... Okay. I'll forgive you this time. But only 'cause you're taking me shooting today, got it? So you better not disappoint me, sis."
You say a parting "I'm sure I wont, sis," to Kirika as you let her get back to her girlfriend, before saying to your own girlfriend "You don't have to stay up here with me if you don't want to. I'm sure Sayaka and Hitomi went down to the cafeteria to eat with Tomoe-san. You should go join them."
Madoka shakes her head, remaining absolute in her place by your side. "Right now, you look like you could use the company more than Sayaka-chan adn Hitomi-chan would," she says. "So, I'm going to stay right here. I thought I told you that first night, you can't get rid of me so easily, Homura-chan."
You don't want to, but somehow your body forces up a small laugh despite your protests. "Of course," you say to Madoka, as you finally find the strength to reciprocate her affections with a hug of your own. "I had forgotten how persistent my girlfriend was." It's been awhile since you last cleansed your Soul Gem, and whether you strictly need to or not, recent events have you feeling like it would be a wise decision. While Madoka clenches your hand as she watches on, you draw out the Grief that had settled in your Soul.
"Feeling better?" Madoka asks you, as you put the Grief Seed away.
"Yeah."
Finally, after a wait that feels like it's been an eternity since you first came up to the roof, you and Madoka break out your lunches. "Itadakimasu!"
You hang back at the front door as Mikuni Oriko and Kirika kiss to their reunion. "Oh, Oriko, I've missed you so much!" Kirika says, somehow managing to find enough time and air in-between kisses to speak to her lover.
"Dearest, it's barely been a full day," Mikuni Oriko responds, her words in line with your own sentiments. "But I'm glad to see you too, all the same. How was your day?"
Madoka had one of her clubs after school today, and Sayaka and Hitomi made it painfully clear that they wanted nothing more to do with you after the events at lunch. After saying your goodbyes to Madoka, it was easy enough to avoid your blue- and green-haired former? friends to meet up with Kirika instead. She'll never know how glad you are that she chose today to be the day she wanted to go shooting.
The train ride up to Shirome was uneventful, as always; save for a single text message sent from Hitomi shortly before you arrived at the Shirome station. While your hosts wind down their affections, you take a moment to read that message again.
<Hitomi: I'm sorry if what I said to you earlier offended you in any way. I didn't mean by it that I wished to stop being friends with you, but what you've said has given me a lot to think about, and I believe I would prefer to think about them alone.>
It gives you the faintest hope - a hope you should know better by now than to trust - that maybe things can return to normal, if only given enough time. You put your phone away, and standing right beneath your nose is Kirika, with a smile on her face as she says "So, can we go shooting now?"
"Yes," you say, as your eager older sister gives you just enough personal space for you to produce pistols for the both of you from your shield. You don't hand hers off to her right away, though; first, you ask her "Do you remember the four rules of safe shooting?"
"Safety on, finger off the trigger until I'm ready to fire. Know my target and what's behind it. Don't point it at anything I don't want to shoot. Gun's always loaded until I've checked to make sure." You smile; for something that has absolutely no relation to Mikuni Oriko, Kirika managed to retain what you taught her last Wednesday, and she recites the four rules verbatim from how she did on Wednesday.
"Good," you say, as you hand Kirika's pistol to her. "We can shoot now."
Kirika leads the way to the makeshift target setup in the Mikuni garden, but you hang back as you feel a hand on your shoulder. You turn, and are greeted to a melancholy smile on Mikuni Oriko's face as she says "I believe you, Akemi-san. Your friends will too, in time." She forces her smile wider, and gives you a gentle push in Kirika's direction. "Make sure Kirika stays safe, will you? I know she's enthusiastic, and I'd hate to see her hurt herself while she's having fun with her her new sister."
"Right," you say. "I'll make sure she stays safe."
[ ] Wat do?
So, Oriko knows about what Homura told her friends. I'm assuming she learned via future sight shenanigans?
- Location
- Around here
If we want to know how Oriko knows what she knows, we'll have to ask her when we're done shooting.
- Location
- United States
Woah, Madoka and Oriko being the emotional support MVPs today, far more than I expected anyways. Madoka just saved Sayaka and Hitomi from losing a full point on the relationship meter, now maybe going down only a half a point until (or if) they make up. And I see Oriko is already vying to try and become student council president a 9 on the relationship meter, I see. 😲
I already pretty much knew that Oriko knew about Homura's time-looping, as if Homura ever told her or her team about it in the future then Oriko would probably know ahead of time.
[X] Plan Isa Pistol Go Boom, Haha~
-[X] Set up a Witch hunt later tonight and continue shooting with Kirika
--[X] Try out your Isa pistol to see how it ended up functioning; let Kirika give it a few shots as well if she wants to
-[X] Thank Oriko after you're done shooting with Kirika, you really appreciate it
--[X] Ask her how she knew, as you were under the impression that she couldn't foresee things that occur in stopped time; did she see you telling the team sometime in the future, perhaps?
-[X] Go on a Witch hunt - it's okay if some members can't make it, this is mostly to help curb the recently rising Witch population before Walpurgisnacht hits, though if Miyuki could make it that would be nice for integrating her into the team more
--[X] Split into random groups again, and bring Assassin along; Archer will be on standby to help out any group in particular if they get into troublelike the team's soccer mom
---[X] If you can, hand out communicators that link up to one that Archer has so that he could respond to any team that's in danger, otherwise just have people telepathically send messages through you
Would be nice to figure out exactly what Homura's Isa pistol does in practice, as there are many possible forms that Isa enhancement could possibly take. 🤔
I already pretty much knew that Oriko knew about Homura's time-looping, as if Homura ever told her or her team about it in the future then Oriko would probably know ahead of time.
[X] Plan Isa Pistol Go Boom, Haha~
-[X] Set up a Witch hunt later tonight and continue shooting with Kirika
--[X] Try out your Isa pistol to see how it ended up functioning; let Kirika give it a few shots as well if she wants to
-[X] Thank Oriko after you're done shooting with Kirika, you really appreciate it
--[X] Ask her how she knew, as you were under the impression that she couldn't foresee things that occur in stopped time; did she see you telling the team sometime in the future, perhaps?
-[X] Go on a Witch hunt - it's okay if some members can't make it, this is mostly to help curb the recently rising Witch population before Walpurgisnacht hits, though if Miyuki could make it that would be nice for integrating her into the team more
--[X] Split into random groups again, and bring Assassin along; Archer will be on standby to help out any group in particular if they get into trouble
---[X] If you can, hand out communicators that link up to one that Archer has so that he could respond to any team that's in danger, otherwise just have people telepathically send messages through you
Would be nice to figure out exactly what Homura's Isa pistol does in practice, as there are many possible forms that Isa enhancement could possibly take. 🤔
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