[X] NMS
Confringentur, Mk.2; a Madoka Magica / Fate/Stay Night crossover
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WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
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soz.Also this. First @WanderingTwix, then you say this, yet you guys won't tell me why it's a long shot.
Seriously, I love criticism and when I'm wrong about something (unless it's in regards to something dangerous or immediately important irl, of course), or even just knowing different perspectives on things. That way I can adjust my votes in the future in related topics, and generally have a better understanding of things happening in the quest.
My view grew to be less harsh since I posted that (but before this update). My worries included Caster's foresight seeming quite powerful, us getting another 'newbie' on top of Miyuki would be too much,
I thought it would be much sooner, so yeah, this can be relegated to post-Walpy. Caster's certainty is unsettling, though.
[x] Not Enetious
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Hitting the nail on the head with this one. Fortunately, her part in this quest has been played, and we won't be seeing her again. We won't.
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. We can't save everyone, no matter how hard we try.
- Location
- United States
Eh, I figured that'd be the case even before we started up with the Archer segment of the day; this trip is mostly for contacting reasons, really. Best to have someone at least amiable to the Holy Sextet in the Incubator's new place of business, as we probably don't want to be spooked by either an Incubator plot or some roving band of Puella Magi murderhobos making their way into Mitakihara from Asunaro some time in the near future.
Even if Homura kidnaps her and locks her up in the Homudungeon until it's January 1st, 2013? /s
Unless Michiru has some kind of ancient voodoo death curse on her or something like that, I really doubt there's nothing we can do to address her issue by the end of 2012 what with the two powerful precogs, overwhelming firepower in the form of a lot of Puella Magi and Servants, and Magecraft from the Age of Gods. Tbh, there's very little that those can't solve assuming we use our resources correctly... unless their name is Elsa Maria or something similar of course.
Heck, let's just time capsule her into 2013 by putting her into stasis if things get bad enough for her to need such a protection. Either Caster or Lancer could probably individually take care of that, assuming the person in question is willing and magical energy is supplied (though with the GoB specifically, who knows?).
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It's worse than "some kind of ancient voodoo death curse."
It's authorial fiat. I'm not saying that Michiru will die as a challenge to see if we can come up with a way of saving her that's outside the box. I'm saying it in the same vein as "every timeline in which Sayaka contracts, she dies." We'd be wasting time and resources foolishly trying to save her that could be better spent preparing for Walpol.
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- The End of Glory
I think I know who those 2 are. Is it okay for me to tell or is it spoilers ?
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Their names are literally mentioned in the most recent update. There's no way it's a spoiler unless someone being spoiled doesn't actually read what I put out.
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@WanderingTwix
I see your name popping up in the 'users who are viewing this thread' ribbon. Why not stop in and get us started with
Don't be shy. Or else.
I see your name popping up in the 'users who are viewing this thread' ribbon. Why not stop in and get us started with
?
Don't be shy. Or else.
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
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I just left it open and forgot about it.
Wakeup to Oriko's cooking, forget you're in Oriko's home for 10 seconds, did we even bring school clothes unless we just go around in them, excuse for Archer to come and bring sweets along with clothes, lament that you can't meet Madoka on the way to school, etc.
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We did not bring a change of clothes. Or a lunch. We're lucky we have our school bag. We'll have to ask Lancer to insta-clean our uniform with some rune magic if we're not relying on Archer to bring everything up for us, which he probably can do since he'll be not too far away bringing breakfast to Minako.
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- United States
Hm, let's not forget doing a mental review of her recent milestone in Projection Magecraft for future fight planning reasons. Also she may or may not be snuggled up against someone depending on the circumstances of the slumber party, not sure who (could be Assassin - not a surprise, that one; could be Kirika somehow, causing Oriko to "Aww~" when she sees it which may or may not include photos; least likely is Oriko, which Kirika would take offense to). Could have some post-slumber party remarks, such as about how surprisingly fun it was, and could have after-effects such as their hair styles. Kirika could give Homura a pep talk due to Homura's nervousness about her friends.
Day 42 Chapter 1
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- Around here
You awaken to the scent of a breakfast not usually made by Archer, in a bed that most certainly is not your own. There's a warm body sleeping beside you - Assassin, you're quick to confirm - and a faint smell of abandoned books sitting just underneath the scent of breakfast. It takes you a moment to remember where you are, but the sound of knuckles rapping against the other side of the door and the voice of Lancer saying "Breakfast will be ready shortly," is all the reminder you need.
You stretch, pulling yourself to a seated position as you take stock of the room you've slept in. "I can offer you and Assassin the room that used to be my parents," you hear the voice of Mikuni Oriko saying in your memories. "It's been unused since my father... But Lancer makes sure to keep it clean all the same, so there's no trouble with you staying there for the night."
Your sleep was hardly the most pleasant one you've ever had - like the bed shared by McRemitz-san and her Lancer, the springs in the mattress were quite creaky - but as you make ready to leave for breakfast, you stop by the shrine of Mikuni Oriko's parents to pay your respects. "Thank you for letting me stay here," you say to the couple, a dashing young man with dark hair and strong features and a smiling woman who is the spitting image of her daughter. "I... I've done terrible things to your daughter, in the past, but my assessment of her character is much improved since then. She's kind, thoughtful, and surprisingly fun when she wants to be."
"So, thank you." You bow, just as Assassin is coming into consciousness herself. "For bringing such a kind person into the world. I'm proud to call your daughter my friend, and I hope one day you'll forgive me for the wrongs I've done to her."
"Master?" Assassin asks as she sits up. "Where are we?"
"We spent the night at Mikuni Oriko's residence," you remind Assassin. "Breakfast will be ready shortly."
You and Assassin make your way downstairs, trying to recall where you had left off with your Projections practice last night, and what improvements you might have made upon doing so. This is the problem with only having theory to work with, you think to yourself. You can guess what you've accomplished, but without live testing that's all your guesses are.
Hopefully you'll get the chance to test your guess out some time soon.
"Come on, Oriko, I want it~" You hear Kirika's voice coming from the kitchen, presumably, as she whines to her lover about something. "Please, just let me have your special sauce~"
"No means no, dearest. I don't mind when it's just the two of us eating, but I'm quite certain Akemi-san and Assassin wouldn't like it, and I'm not going to spend the time making two different sauces."
"But I want it~" You and Assassin round the corner and enter the kitchen, just in time to catch sight of your hosts. Immediately, Kirika pulls away from her lover, hiding her hands behind her back and wearing an awkward, almost Sayaka-esque grin on her face. "He-hey," she says to you. "Breakfast'll be ready soon, 'kay?"
"I've made grilled fish with a light glaze," Mikuni Oriko says. "It's the same dish Kirika made for us all that Sunday at the beach."
"Yes, I remember," you say, recalling the taste of the salty-sweet glaze Kirika had painted across the surface of the grilled fish, and wondering whether that was the special sauce, or if Kirika means some other special sauce that only she and Mikuni Oriko get to enjoy. "But, what about yourself?"
"I'm making grilled tofu for myself." Mikuni Oriko moves to the side just enough for you to see three portions of fish and a few cubes of tofu sizzling on the fry pan, all of it glistening with a glaze that smells familiarly salty-sweet. "I don't mind, so you needn't feel uncomfortable eating meat in my presence. I make this breakfast for Kirika all the time."
You and Assassin take your seats at the kitchen table, with Kirika joining you shortly as you wait for breakfast to be served. "So..."
Over breakfast, do you
[ ] Talk
-[ ] to Mikuni Oriko
-[ ] to Kirika
-[ ] to Lancer
-[ ] to Assassin
-[ ] to Berserker
--[ ] About what?
After breakfast
[ ] Wat do?
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Major objectives:
- Maintain your relationships with Kaname Madoka, Miki Sayaka, Shizuki Hitomi, and Tomoe Mami
- Go on another date with your girlfriend some time in the near future
- Try to cultivate a better relationship with Sakura Kyoko
- Try to figure out just how you want to view Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika in the future; you've gotten closer to them and you don't know what to do
- Try and integrate Nagatsuki Miyuki and Saber into the Holy Sextet as best as you can before Walpurgisnacht arrives
- Further your knowledge of Rune thaumaturgy and practice your chosen Rune
- Further your knowledge of Reinforcement thaumaturgy under the tutelage of Archer
- Help your non-Puella Magi friends gain enough personal power to fend off minor threats, at least
- Prevent Kaname Madoka and Miki Sayaka from contracting and becoming Puella Magi
- Figure out a way to more reliably locate the Incubator in order to nip any problems from it in the bud
- Find out some way to ward off the Incubator from Kaname Madoka; maybe your teammates could help you with that?
- Make sure that none of the Shirome girls meet an untimely demise
- Try to help out Miyuki with her drinking problem if you can
- Defeat the Witch known as Walpurgisnacht
- Go on another date with your girlfriend some time in the near future
- Try to cultivate a better relationship with Sakura Kyoko
- Try to figure out just how you want to view Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika in the future; you've gotten closer to them and you don't know what to do
- Try and integrate Nagatsuki Miyuki and Saber into the Holy Sextet as best as you can before Walpurgisnacht arrives
- Further your knowledge of Rune thaumaturgy and practice your chosen Rune
- Further your knowledge of Reinforcement thaumaturgy under the tutelage of Archer
- Help your non-Puella Magi friends gain enough personal power to fend off minor threats, at least
- Prevent Kaname Madoka and Miki Sayaka from contracting and becoming Puella Magi
- Figure out a way to more reliably locate the Incubator in order to nip any problems from it in the bud
- Find out some way to ward off the Incubator from Kaname Madoka; maybe your teammates could help you with that?
- Make sure that none of the Shirome girls meet an untimely demise
- Try to help out Miyuki with her drinking problem if you can
- Defeat the Witch known as Walpurgisnacht
- Investigate, identify, and prevent the occurrence of the event that caused a fundamental force of this universe to be twice overwritten
- Protect Homura from harm in this unusually dangerous loop and from being taken advantage of by the denizens of the Moonlit World
- Further Homura's skills in Magecraft, now that she has mastered the fundamentals of Projection
- Aid Homura in coordinating her allies so that they stand a better chance of defeating the various threats plaguing the city
- Be a good dad to Homura
- Protect Homura from harm in this unusually dangerous loop and from being taken advantage of by the denizens of the Moonlit World
- Further Homura's skills in Magecraft, now that she has mastered the fundamentals of Projection
- Aid Homura in coordinating her allies so that they stand a better chance of defeating the various threats plaguing the city
- Be a good dad to Homura
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- Location
- United States
[X] Plan Best Off-Screen Sleepover, Ever
-[X] While having breakfast
--[X] review the photos you took last night on your phone, and stifle your laughter as you recall the silly moments that occurred during the slumber party last night; catalogue it all into an album on your phone - including downloading any texted to you by Oriko and Kirika - so that you could later have them made into physical photos at a shop sometime in the future for hammer-spacing
---[X] e.g. such as when you and Kirika worked on styling Oriko's hair and you both had different visions on how it should come out as, where it came out looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa (or when Kirika put your hair into a Madoka-esque hairstyle and texted you the photo, or when you and Oriko made small braids in Assassin's hair from her bangs and neatened/brushed the rest of it up, or when Assassin made up your hair into an immaculate ponytail hairstyle with flared bangs); or the various dares they had each other do, Assassin's surprising you the most (e.g. Kirika daring Homura to talk in a cutesy/little sister voice in stark contrast to her usual serious tone until the end of her next dare, Oriko daring Assassin to dress up in a particular outfit she had lying around, Homura daring Oriko to swap outfits with Kirika, Assassin daring Homura to act like a cat whereupon Assassin pets her, etc.)
--[X] talk to
---[X] Oriko, Kirika, and Assassin
----[X] about last night's slumber party
---[X] Oriko
----[X] about how she sees Lancer and Berserker as part of her life, such as how you see Archer as a father and Assassin as... something; friends, acquaintances, servants (lower-case, like maid/butler), family, teachers, etc.
---[X] Kirika
----[X] making sure she didn't post anything too embarrassing in the group chat from last night's activities
----[X] getting a pep talk for when you encounter your friends again
---[X] Assassin
----[X] complimenting her hairstyling skills from last night, which was much better than your botched - and admittedly amusing - attempt at styling Oriko's
---[X] Lancer
----[X] about what happened back when she sparred against Archer
-[X] After breakfast, go to school with Kirika while texting Madoka and humming to yourself
--[X] (Archer) Telepathically debrief Homura about your nightly activities last night, including your rendezvous with Caster in Asunaro, the Puella Magi situation there, your encounter with the Incubator, and your meeting with Michiru
---[X] Ask how her slumber party went
Trying to get Homura to have some cherished memories/photos out of this timeline, even (and especially) if it doesn't end up working out in the end. It'll also add permanence to their relationships, making it more real (and to help to account for relationship changes since apparently we skipped the whole slumber party entirely and all of its subsequent bonding moments). It helps that Kirika could text Homura any pictures she takes and vice-versa, though Kirika may or may not have posted one or more pictures in the group chat... who knows (which could mothball into Kyoko seeing it, then Kyoko showing Sayaka, etc.)?
Assassin would certainly be good enough at styling hair to stand out during that activity, due to her infiltration specialty and all that.
Also relationship changes, since we didn't get a chance to do it after the day ended:
[8.5 -> 8] Sayaka: At least until they make up.
[8.5 -> 8] Hitomi: Same as Sayaka. Both were saved from a full point loss from Madoka/Kirika interference, thankfully.
[8.5 -> 9] Oriko: Due to Oriko helping her out and accepting her even before Homura knew she knew, combined with the off-screen bonding moments that were probably great.
[8.5 -> 9] Kirika: Due to accepting her after being told the truth, in stark contrast to the other duo of friends who basically rejected her (at least temporarily). In fact, Sayaka and Hitomi would've gotten some real gains if they hadn't reacted the way they did, but instead Oriko and Kirika stole the spotlight.
[7.5 -> 8] Assassin: She had fun at the sleepover with everyone, and Homura got to spend a lot more time with Serenity the person rather than Assassin the Servant.
EDIT: Added in NMS' Lancer talking point.
-[X] While having breakfast
--[X] review the photos you took last night on your phone, and stifle your laughter as you recall the silly moments that occurred during the slumber party last night; catalogue it all into an album on your phone - including downloading any texted to you by Oriko and Kirika - so that you could later have them made into physical photos at a shop sometime in the future for hammer-spacing
---[X] e.g. such as when you and Kirika worked on styling Oriko's hair and you both had different visions on how it should come out as, where it came out looking like the Leaning Tower of Pisa (or when Kirika put your hair into a Madoka-esque hairstyle and texted you the photo, or when you and Oriko made small braids in Assassin's hair from her bangs and neatened/brushed the rest of it up, or when Assassin made up your hair into an immaculate ponytail hairstyle with flared bangs); or the various dares they had each other do, Assassin's surprising you the most (e.g. Kirika daring Homura to talk in a cutesy/little sister voice in stark contrast to her usual serious tone until the end of her next dare, Oriko daring Assassin to dress up in a particular outfit she had lying around, Homura daring Oriko to swap outfits with Kirika, Assassin daring Homura to act like a cat whereupon Assassin pets her, etc.)
--[X] talk to
---[X] Oriko, Kirika, and Assassin
----[X] about last night's slumber party
---[X] Oriko
----[X] about how she sees Lancer and Berserker as part of her life, such as how you see Archer as a father and Assassin as... something; friends, acquaintances, servants (lower-case, like maid/butler), family, teachers, etc.
---[X] Kirika
----[X] making sure she didn't post anything too embarrassing in the group chat from last night's activities
----[X] getting a pep talk for when you encounter your friends again
---[X] Assassin
----[X] complimenting her hairstyling skills from last night, which was much better than your botched - and admittedly amusing - attempt at styling Oriko's
---[X] Lancer
----[X] about what happened back when she sparred against Archer
-[X] After breakfast, go to school with Kirika while texting Madoka and humming to yourself
--[X] (Archer) Telepathically debrief Homura about your nightly activities last night, including your rendezvous with Caster in Asunaro, the Puella Magi situation there, your encounter with the Incubator, and your meeting with Michiru
---[X] Ask how her slumber party went
Trying to get Homura to have some cherished memories/photos out of this timeline, even (and especially) if it doesn't end up working out in the end. It'll also add permanence to their relationships, making it more real (and to help to account for relationship changes since apparently we skipped the whole slumber party entirely and all of its subsequent bonding moments). It helps that Kirika could text Homura any pictures she takes and vice-versa, though Kirika may or may not have posted one or more pictures in the group chat... who knows (which could mothball into Kyoko seeing it, then Kyoko showing Sayaka, etc.)?
Assassin would certainly be good enough at styling hair to stand out during that activity, due to her infiltration specialty and all that.
Also relationship changes, since we didn't get a chance to do it after the day ended:
[8.5 -> 8] Sayaka: At least until they make up.
[8.5 -> 8] Hitomi: Same as Sayaka. Both were saved from a full point loss from Madoka/Kirika interference, thankfully.
[8.5 -> 9] Oriko: Due to Oriko helping her out and accepting her even before Homura knew she knew, combined with the off-screen bonding moments that were probably great.
[8.5 -> 9] Kirika: Due to accepting her after being told the truth, in stark contrast to the other duo of friends who basically rejected her (at least temporarily). In fact, Sayaka and Hitomi would've gotten some real gains if they hadn't reacted the way they did, but instead Oriko and Kirika stole the spotlight.
[7.5 -> 8] Assassin: She had fun at the sleepover with everyone, and Homura got to spend a lot more time with Serenity the person rather than Assassin the Servant.
EDIT: Added in NMS' Lancer talking point.
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Well, if you wanted me to actually show the sleepover, you should have given us sleepover stuff to do at the last call to vote. Instead, since all I was given was NMS's "have Archer get some sweets for Homura" I was kind of left with nothing since there's no reason that would have possibly taken up an entire update.
Also, I just want to officially say how weird this is-
What kind of bizarro world have I created where Homura has a better relationship with Oriko and Kirika than with Sayaka and Hitomi?
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But... we did. 😩
EDIT:
In a timeline where they contracted, weren't executed by Homura due to Miki "Hero of Justice" Sayaka, where Homura instead tried to see if she could help them change their ways if only to better combat Walpurgisnacht, and where SayakaDice and HitomiDice hate time travelling.
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Oh, right, that was a thing. At the time, I wasn't feeling like taking an entire post to wax about all the fun we were having, because I didn't think it was important to go all in on showing us doing sleepover stuff when I could move us on to Archer doing his investigation instead; then we got sidetracked by Michiru because we didn't like that she's going to die, and then after that I must have forgotten.
- Location
- United States
Eh, not like you have to go back and do an entire update, as long as there's a couple heartfelt brief flashbacks or Homura reminiscing over one photo or another to actually punctuate that she's grown closer to them.
EDIT: Agh, forgot about Assassin thanks to her Presence Concealment. Edited in her relationship gains.
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WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
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Yuri Vampire
Kirameku Hōseki! Cure Coral!
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Plan Best Off-Screen Sleepover, Ever
Day 42 Chapter 2
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- Around here
[X] Enetious
You and Assassin take your seats at the kitchen table, with Kirika joining you shortly as you wait for breakfast to be served. "So... I had a lot of fun last night," you say. You scroll through a few of the pictures taken during the course of last night's events, stopping on one in particular as you ask Kirika "Did I send this one to you yet?"
"I dare you... To swap clothes with your girlfriend!"
You've captured Kirika in a moment of vulnerability, the look on her face unsure whether to be elated at the idea of wearing Mikuni Oriko's clothes, or completely embarrassed by the fact that they're far too big for her to the point that they're falling off. Beside her, Mikuni Oriko is similarly uncomfortable; Kirika's pink-and-black striped stockings are far too tight for her legs, and the difference in their waists and busts is such that Mikuni Oriko hasn't even bothered to fasten her lover's skirt or shirt all the way, leaving the skirt falling off her hips and the shirt completely open at the front. You'll thank every god you can that the pair didn't bother switching bras, or this would have turned out a much more uncomfortable picture.
"Think you can crop me out of that one?" Kirika asks. "I wanna put just the Oriko part as my background."
"Dearest, please don't," Mikuni Oriko says, laying out four plates of the day's breakfast. "What if someone were to see it? What if your mother were to see it?" Taking her seat beside Kirika, Mikuni Oriko asks you as she gets out her phone "I already sent you the ones from when we were styling each other's hair, right?"
You check your pictures and confirm that you received the ones sent to you last night. "You didn't send any of these to anyone else in the group chat, did you?" you ask Kirika, who furiously shakes her head in denial of your accusations. You'll wait to see if anyone else brings these pictures up before letting her off the hook completely. One of the pictures shows you and Kirika in a reverse angle - Kirika called it a "selfie" - after she had finished styling your hair into fluffy, Madoka-like pigtails- Well, Kirika's attempt at fluffy, Madoka-like pigtails, at any rate.
"Your hair's too silky for me to work with; it doesn't want to be fluffed up at all. Also it's too long. You'd look better with a side-tail like how Oriko does her hair than you would trying to copy Pinkie."
It isn't a side-tail, but the other picture of yourself shows off Assassin's handiwork, putting your hair into a meticulously-styled ponytail. Assassin's own hair showcases the small braid which Mikuni Oriko had done into the side.
"There's no reason for us to leave you out of the fun, Assassin... Or, do you prefer 'Serenity' now?"
The last hair-related picture is only partially of you. You and Kirika stand on either side of Mikuni Oriko, whose long ash-white locks have been turned into a complete disaster. You and Kirika had two completely different ideas about what you were doing, and with communication nonexistent the end result was hardly what anyone would call a success. And yet, she's still smiling despite the massacre job you and Kirika did to her hair.
"You're much better at styling hair than I am," you say to Assassin, as you close your phone on Kirika's and your disasterpiece. Despite your saying so, the Mikuni Oriko sitting across the table from you now still looks as pleased with the job you and Kirika did to her hair as the Mikuni Oriko in your picture did last night.
"I needed to learn all manner of infiltration techniques during my lifetime," Assassin replies. "Sometimes, a change of hairstyle is all it takes to lose someone in a crowd."
It's still quite early in the day, you remind yourself, and Kirika has a long commute from Mikuni Oriko's mansion to the school in Mitakihara. So it only comes as a slight surprise to you when the doorbell rings and "Akemi-san, that would be Archer," Mikuni Oriko says, allowing you to excuse yourself and answer the door.
"Hey, dad. Uh, what brings you by so early?"
"Well, since Minako isn't too far from here, I thought I'd swing by and drop off lunch and a change of clothes for you," Archer says, handing off lunch and a fresh uniform. "There's some pastries in there for you as well. Did you have fun last night?"
"I'd like to think I did," you reply as you take Archer's gifts from him. "How did things go with Kure Minako?"
"Same as always. We have a bit of fun, then I excuse myself when she tries to get in my pants." You'll pretend you didn't hear that. "After that, I went over to Asunaro to check out where the Incubator has set up camp. There's a nice girl there by the name of Kazusa Michiru, and two not so nice girls named Souju, who are the local puella magi. I spoke with Kazusa for a bit and tried to extend a neighborly hand to her, so maybe after Walpurgisnacht is over we'll hear back from her."
"Why not now?"
"She and the Soujus are engaged in a pretty fierce turf war, according to Caster. if she leaves to help us out, they'll come in and sweep up her territory. She's also a newbie, and with Nagatsuki already on our plate it's not like we can afford to take on, train, and integrate another girl."
"That's unfortunate, but understandable." As much as the extra firepower another puella magi could bring to the table against Walpurgisnacht, you are unfortunately forced to concede to Archer's point. Trying to bring her in and get her up to speed would be more of a hassle than you have the time to deal with. "Anything else to report?"
"That's all. Will I be seeing you when you get out of school today, or are you thinking of pulling another all-nighter?"
"I'm not sure. I've got club tonight, and this is the last night we'll have access to Kirika so I'd like to make the most of it. I'll let you know if anything comes up."
"Alright." Archer leans over to hug you, and he says "Well, if I don't see you, have fun at school and remember to stay safe. I love you, kiddo," as the two of you part.
"Love you too, dad." You find a place in the living room to put aside Archer's gifts, and you return to the kitchen to finish breakfast. "You know, it's interesting the way our servants have become parts of our lives," you say to Mikuni Oriko. "Though I'm a little curious why Lancer ended up as your servant, rather than as a mother-figure the way Archer became my father."
"I suppose it's..." Mikuni Oriko pauses, considering the best way to phrase what she's trying to say. "I'd guess you don't remember your parents anymore, after... Everything you've been through; is that right?" You nod. "I think that's the reason. I can still remember my parents. I think that's why you were okay with accepting Archer as your father; that and, well, Lancer doesn't exactly have a motherly temperament, so even if I wanted to I don't know whether I'd be able to accept her as a replacement for my real mother."
You nod; you'll make no comment about Kirika, Berserker, and her real father. But you will say "While we're on the subject of Lancer... Uh... What happened between her and Archer on Sunday?"
"The sword Archer shot at Lancer was the same sword used by Sigurd." That would explain it. "I do apologise if she gave you or Archer a scare, but... Well, at this point I suppose you know how she is about that man. I just hope we never have to encounter another master that's summoned him."
The rest of breakfast is unremarkable, and afterwards you make use of the Mikuni bathroom to shower and change for the coming school day. As your host and her lover hug and say their goodbyes for the morning, Mikuni Oriko says to you "I hate to be a bother, Akemi-san, but if it's not too much to ask, do you think you could try to convince Caren-san to have dinner with me sometime during the week? I'd really like the chance to speak with her before Walpurgisnacht." "In case I don't make it," follows Mikuni Oriko's words unsaid.
"I make no guarantees that I'll be successful at convincing her," you say, still unsure whether it's safe to allow the two to occupy the same room in light of Nurse Ortensia's plans for her cousin. "But I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you. Now, hurry along you two, or you'll miss your train."
You and Kirika do indeed hurry yourselves along, making southbound train to Mitakihara just in time for departure. "Are the mornings you spend with Mikuni Oriko always this hectic?"
Kirika shrugs, saying "Eh, I'll put up with it if it means I get to live with Oriko." You tune out as Kirika waxes to herself about how great Mikuni Oriko is, while you decide it would be best to send Madoka a text letting her know not to expect you.
<Homura: Don't wait for me today. I spent the night with Mikuni Oriko and Kirika so I could give Sayaka and Hitomi their space.>
<Homura: How's your morning going?>
"Hey, why the long face?" You look up from your phone at Kirika's question. "You've looking pretty sad for someone who's talking to their girlfriend. What's up?"
"It's..." You sigh. "It's Sayaka and Hitomi. I know you said to give them their space last night, but I can't stop thinking about it... Why was it so much easier for you to accept everything I said than it was for them?"
"I dunno." Kirika shrugs. "Maybe it's because they're not as used to magic stuff as I am? Just do what I said and give them their space, and I'm sure they'll come around soon enough." And then, the worst possible thing happened. As if a lightbulb went off inside her head, Kirika turns to you and says "Hey, I know!" She has an idea. Kure Kirika has an idea. You don't know how terrified you should be by that prospect. 'You wanna really give your friends their space? Let's ditch school and go hang out together somewhere!"
"Won't your mother be upset with you when she learns you're skipping school?"
"Yeah, but what am I even going to school for anyway? To learn some stupid math crap that I'll never use? Bo~ring! Let's go hang out at the mall and do sister-stuff together. Come on, it'll be fun!"
Do you
[ ] Skip school with Kirika
-[ ] What's your plan for a skipping-school day?
[ ] Go to school with Kirika
-[ ] What's your plan for the school day?
You and Assassin take your seats at the kitchen table, with Kirika joining you shortly as you wait for breakfast to be served. "So... I had a lot of fun last night," you say. You scroll through a few of the pictures taken during the course of last night's events, stopping on one in particular as you ask Kirika "Did I send this one to you yet?"
"I dare you... To swap clothes with your girlfriend!"
You've captured Kirika in a moment of vulnerability, the look on her face unsure whether to be elated at the idea of wearing Mikuni Oriko's clothes, or completely embarrassed by the fact that they're far too big for her to the point that they're falling off. Beside her, Mikuni Oriko is similarly uncomfortable; Kirika's pink-and-black striped stockings are far too tight for her legs, and the difference in their waists and busts is such that Mikuni Oriko hasn't even bothered to fasten her lover's skirt or shirt all the way, leaving the skirt falling off her hips and the shirt completely open at the front. You'll thank every god you can that the pair didn't bother switching bras, or this would have turned out a much more uncomfortable picture.
"Think you can crop me out of that one?" Kirika asks. "I wanna put just the Oriko part as my background."
"Dearest, please don't," Mikuni Oriko says, laying out four plates of the day's breakfast. "What if someone were to see it? What if your mother were to see it?" Taking her seat beside Kirika, Mikuni Oriko asks you as she gets out her phone "I already sent you the ones from when we were styling each other's hair, right?"
You check your pictures and confirm that you received the ones sent to you last night. "You didn't send any of these to anyone else in the group chat, did you?" you ask Kirika, who furiously shakes her head in denial of your accusations. You'll wait to see if anyone else brings these pictures up before letting her off the hook completely. One of the pictures shows you and Kirika in a reverse angle - Kirika called it a "selfie" - after she had finished styling your hair into fluffy, Madoka-like pigtails- Well, Kirika's attempt at fluffy, Madoka-like pigtails, at any rate.
"Your hair's too silky for me to work with; it doesn't want to be fluffed up at all. Also it's too long. You'd look better with a side-tail like how Oriko does her hair than you would trying to copy Pinkie."
It isn't a side-tail, but the other picture of yourself shows off Assassin's handiwork, putting your hair into a meticulously-styled ponytail. Assassin's own hair showcases the small braid which Mikuni Oriko had done into the side.
"There's no reason for us to leave you out of the fun, Assassin... Or, do you prefer 'Serenity' now?"
The last hair-related picture is only partially of you. You and Kirika stand on either side of Mikuni Oriko, whose long ash-white locks have been turned into a complete disaster. You and Kirika had two completely different ideas about what you were doing, and with communication nonexistent the end result was hardly what anyone would call a success. And yet, she's still smiling despite the massacre job you and Kirika did to her hair.
"You're much better at styling hair than I am," you say to Assassin, as you close your phone on Kirika's and your disasterpiece. Despite your saying so, the Mikuni Oriko sitting across the table from you now still looks as pleased with the job you and Kirika did to her hair as the Mikuni Oriko in your picture did last night.
"I needed to learn all manner of infiltration techniques during my lifetime," Assassin replies. "Sometimes, a change of hairstyle is all it takes to lose someone in a crowd."
It's still quite early in the day, you remind yourself, and Kirika has a long commute from Mikuni Oriko's mansion to the school in Mitakihara. So it only comes as a slight surprise to you when the doorbell rings and "Akemi-san, that would be Archer," Mikuni Oriko says, allowing you to excuse yourself and answer the door.
"Hey, dad. Uh, what brings you by so early?"
"Well, since Minako isn't too far from here, I thought I'd swing by and drop off lunch and a change of clothes for you," Archer says, handing off lunch and a fresh uniform. "There's some pastries in there for you as well. Did you have fun last night?"
"I'd like to think I did," you reply as you take Archer's gifts from him. "How did things go with Kure Minako?"
"Same as always. We have a bit of fun, then I excuse myself when she tries to get in my pants." You'll pretend you didn't hear that. "After that, I went over to Asunaro to check out where the Incubator has set up camp. There's a nice girl there by the name of Kazusa Michiru, and two not so nice girls named Souju, who are the local puella magi. I spoke with Kazusa for a bit and tried to extend a neighborly hand to her, so maybe after Walpurgisnacht is over we'll hear back from her."
"Why not now?"
"She and the Soujus are engaged in a pretty fierce turf war, according to Caster. if she leaves to help us out, they'll come in and sweep up her territory. She's also a newbie, and with Nagatsuki already on our plate it's not like we can afford to take on, train, and integrate another girl."
"That's unfortunate, but understandable." As much as the extra firepower another puella magi could bring to the table against Walpurgisnacht, you are unfortunately forced to concede to Archer's point. Trying to bring her in and get her up to speed would be more of a hassle than you have the time to deal with. "Anything else to report?"
"That's all. Will I be seeing you when you get out of school today, or are you thinking of pulling another all-nighter?"
"I'm not sure. I've got club tonight, and this is the last night we'll have access to Kirika so I'd like to make the most of it. I'll let you know if anything comes up."
"Alright." Archer leans over to hug you, and he says "Well, if I don't see you, have fun at school and remember to stay safe. I love you, kiddo," as the two of you part.
"Love you too, dad." You find a place in the living room to put aside Archer's gifts, and you return to the kitchen to finish breakfast. "You know, it's interesting the way our servants have become parts of our lives," you say to Mikuni Oriko. "Though I'm a little curious why Lancer ended up as your servant, rather than as a mother-figure the way Archer became my father."
"I suppose it's..." Mikuni Oriko pauses, considering the best way to phrase what she's trying to say. "I'd guess you don't remember your parents anymore, after... Everything you've been through; is that right?" You nod. "I think that's the reason. I can still remember my parents. I think that's why you were okay with accepting Archer as your father; that and, well, Lancer doesn't exactly have a motherly temperament, so even if I wanted to I don't know whether I'd be able to accept her as a replacement for my real mother."
You nod; you'll make no comment about Kirika, Berserker, and her real father. But you will say "While we're on the subject of Lancer... Uh... What happened between her and Archer on Sunday?"
"The sword Archer shot at Lancer was the same sword used by Sigurd." That would explain it. "I do apologise if she gave you or Archer a scare, but... Well, at this point I suppose you know how she is about that man. I just hope we never have to encounter another master that's summoned him."
The rest of breakfast is unremarkable, and afterwards you make use of the Mikuni bathroom to shower and change for the coming school day. As your host and her lover hug and say their goodbyes for the morning, Mikuni Oriko says to you "I hate to be a bother, Akemi-san, but if it's not too much to ask, do you think you could try to convince Caren-san to have dinner with me sometime during the week? I'd really like the chance to speak with her before Walpurgisnacht." "In case I don't make it," follows Mikuni Oriko's words unsaid.
"I make no guarantees that I'll be successful at convincing her," you say, still unsure whether it's safe to allow the two to occupy the same room in light of Nurse Ortensia's plans for her cousin. "But I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you. Now, hurry along you two, or you'll miss your train."
You and Kirika do indeed hurry yourselves along, making southbound train to Mitakihara just in time for departure. "Are the mornings you spend with Mikuni Oriko always this hectic?"
Kirika shrugs, saying "Eh, I'll put up with it if it means I get to live with Oriko." You tune out as Kirika waxes to herself about how great Mikuni Oriko is, while you decide it would be best to send Madoka a text letting her know not to expect you.
<Homura: Don't wait for me today. I spent the night with Mikuni Oriko and Kirika so I could give Sayaka and Hitomi their space.>
<Homura: How's your morning going?>
"Hey, why the long face?" You look up from your phone at Kirika's question. "You've looking pretty sad for someone who's talking to their girlfriend. What's up?"
"It's..." You sigh. "It's Sayaka and Hitomi. I know you said to give them their space last night, but I can't stop thinking about it... Why was it so much easier for you to accept everything I said than it was for them?"
"I dunno." Kirika shrugs. "Maybe it's because they're not as used to magic stuff as I am? Just do what I said and give them their space, and I'm sure they'll come around soon enough." And then, the worst possible thing happened. As if a lightbulb went off inside her head, Kirika turns to you and says "Hey, I know!" She has an idea. Kure Kirika has an idea. You don't know how terrified you should be by that prospect. 'You wanna really give your friends their space? Let's ditch school and go hang out together somewhere!"
"Won't your mother be upset with you when she learns you're skipping school?"
"Yeah, but what am I even going to school for anyway? To learn some stupid math crap that I'll never use? Bo~ring! Let's go hang out at the mall and do sister-stuff together. Come on, it'll be fun!"
Do you
[ ] Skip school with Kirika
-[ ] What's your plan for a skipping-school day?
[ ] Go to school with Kirika
-[ ] What's your plan for the school day?
- Location
- United States
Oriko... staph.
[X] Plan Model Students
-[X] Go to school with Kirika
--[X] Briefly explain to Kirika that while you would love to hang out some more with your Big Sis, there are a lot of things that would go wrong if they skipped school today (e.g. deliberately distancing yourself from your friends creating a rift between them when they piece things together, Kirika getting in trouble with her Mom by skipping school practically under Oriko's "custody" - getting Oriko in trouble, etc.)
---[X] Hesitantly give your Big Sis a hug before going into school today, thanking her for looking out for you by being okay with you staying the night last night and her offer today
--[X] In a panic, before you reach school text Madoka while you still can about where you're going to sit at Lunch today since you don't really social... "Help me Kaname Madoka, you're my only hope!"
---[X] You want to sit with Madoka ideally, except you have to give Sayaka and Hitomi their space; you don't want Madoka to avoid their friends as that might really mess up all of their relationships with one another, creating a complex mess of "choosing so-and-so over so-and-so" (like Madoka choosing Homura - who she's known for mere months - over her best friend who she's known most of her life)
----[X] Should you try and sit with one or more of your group project or Archery club members, maybe?
--[X] What's your plan for the school day?
---[X] Pay attention to class
---[X] Get your medicine from the nurse's office, and while you're there talk to Nurse Ortensia
----[X] about Oriko, and how it'd be wise for her to have that dinner with her before Walpurgisnacht comes on... Walpurgisnacht. There's no guarantee that they'll all - if any of them will - survive fighting against that entity, which is many times worse than Elsa Maria ever was. This may be Caren's last chance to connect with Oriko at all before then, if Caren truly cares about her at all. Even then, you know it would mean the world to Oriko if she could spend some time with Caren just this once.
---[X] Work on your school project
---[X] Go to Lunch and sit wherever Madoka's wisdom brings you to
-[X] (Archer) Head on over to Asunaro and try to scout out the Soujus, if only to determine what they look like before heading back to Mitakihara; don't hunt any Witches while you're there unless it's to save someone in danger
Skipping school to hang out with Kirika seems like a really bad idea. Giving Sayaka and Hitomi their space is well and good and all, however by skipping school it'll seem to them that she's directly avoiding them - which would probably be taken as very rude, despite their horrific reactions yesterday - and Madoka would probably spill the beans that she spent the night with Oriko and Kirika.
That'll mothball into Sayaka figuring out that Homura's ditching school to hang out with Kirika when she doesn't see Kirika at school, causing her to pull back even further since, y'know, Sayaka wouldn't like the fact that Homura chose to hang out with "a murderer" over her - again despite her reaction the other day, people can be quite contradictory. Hitomi would be miffed as well, however she would probably choose to conceal it as per her usual disposition.
Madoka would be upset at not seeing Homura today, especially since they haven't really hung out or gone out on a date together recently. She might get a little jealous of Kirika actually for hogging up so much of Homura's time. Minako would be upset with Kirika skipping school, going against the spirit of her "joint custody" with Oriko and possibly using this as a chance to keep Kirika around more. Oriko would be upset as per the aforementioned agreement being messed with since Kirika's skipping school "under her watch" so to say, before Kirika switches over to her Mother's "custody".
Yeeaah, lots of bad things to go around when they just hung out the other night together.
That'll mothball into Sayaka figuring out that Homura's ditching school to hang out with Kirika when she doesn't see Kirika at school, causing her to pull back even further since, y'know, Sayaka wouldn't like the fact that Homura chose to hang out with "a murderer" over her - again despite her reaction the other day, people can be quite contradictory. Hitomi would be miffed as well, however she would probably choose to conceal it as per her usual disposition.
Madoka would be upset at not seeing Homura today, especially since they haven't really hung out or gone out on a date together recently. She might get a little jealous of Kirika actually for hogging up so much of Homura's time. Minako would be upset with Kirika skipping school, going against the spirit of her "joint custody" with Oriko and possibly using this as a chance to keep Kirika around more. Oriko would be upset as per the aforementioned agreement being messed with since Kirika's skipping school "under her watch" so to say, before Kirika switches over to her Mother's "custody".
Yeeaah, lots of bad things to go around when they just hung out the other night together.
Let's see if Homura can't get any socializing advice from Madoka before Lunch today, as it's probably not a great idea for Madoka to spend time with only Homura today (though she can probably briefly visit her during Lunch of course) due to the whole "choosing the girl she's known for mere months over friends she's known for many years" thing. And hey, it'll broaden Homura's social horizons as bit at least.
Also having Archer scout out the other two Puella Magi, who more than likely don't go to school since they move around a lot and are presumably very hostile.
EDIT: Added in a Caren portion of the vote, and edited the Archer sub-vote to clarify that he's only getting a visual on the Soujus.
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- Location
- Around here
We've got more than enough characters involved in this quest as is, I'm not going to go and get another two of them involved now when there'd barely be enough time to develop them. I gave you Michiru even when I'd rather have not, but I'm not going to give you the Soujus as well. Instead, I see we're neglecting to accept Oriko's request to get Caren to come to dinner with her- Is that deliberate, or did you just forget?
- Location
- United States
Oh, forgot about that, just a moment while i edit it in.
And no, I'm not asking you to introduce the Soujus. This is just supposed to be a scouting mission to actually confirm what they look like, basically. Just in case they ever come to Mitakihara. It's not like Archer will be interacting with them at all, aside from looking at them from a couple kilometers away.
EDIT: Alright @SVS, edited the vote. Added in the Caren sub-vote, and edited the Archer part to clarify that he's only catching a visual of them before heading back to Mitakihara.
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- Location
- Around here
But how will we know what they look like? Neither Caster nor Michiru told us what they look like, and even if we found them, how would we know it was them out of, say, some other school-aged girls who are skipping? It's not like we know what they look like to confirm that the girls we've spotted are in fact them.