Confringentur, Mk.2; a Madoka Magica / Fate/Stay Night crossover
- Thread starter SVS
- Start date
- Crossover
Day 24 Chapter 1
- Location
- Around here
You have to rub your eyelids to warm them up as your rise this morning. The cold frost brought about by your practice of Isa was colder last night than any other night you can remember. You've grown fairly proficient in such a short amount of time. At least, you assume that to be true. You've been learning new applications for Isa's freezing abilities, though at the detriment of whatever other abilities you might be losing out on by focusing your path of study on just the applications of ice.
Your hand brushes up against something warm and fuzzy as you move to pull yourself up and off of the couch. Snuggled up beside you as though your body were a giant pillow, is Amy, still fast asleep. You rub her behind her ears, and even in sleep she mews contentedly at your touch. "Did you get cold in the middle of the night and come looking to warm up?" you ask her. You've gotten too used to the Incubator. You do know that cats can't talk, right?
There are two new messages waiting in your phone for you as you at last manage to pull yourself completely into the waking world.
<Madoka: Homura-chan, we're all going out for lunch together on Sunday, and mama wanted to know if you were interested in coming. I can't wait for our date, too! I wonder where you're going to take me?>
<Hitomi: There were two new disappearances that were just released this morning. One was last seen in Kazamino near the warehouse where the 'Church' is located, while the other was last seen near the train station at the Mitakihara/Shirome border.>
You sigh, setting your phone back down on the couch cushion as you exit the living room and head for the kitchen. Of course. You finally have the time to spend with Madoka, and now this happens. Nice going, Hitomi. You have to stop yourself from thinking that way; it isn't Hitomi's fault that these things keep happening.
"You look upset," Archer says, setting down a large plate of omurice and a glass of - it's not orange juice, but what is it? - "Maybe breakfast will cheer you up."
"I appreciate the sentiment, Archer, but I don't think breakfast will help me right now."
"And why's that?"
"Well, I was all set to take Madoka out tomorrow, but Hitomi tells me there's been two new disappearances. I'd be surprised if at least one of them isn't Assassin's doing." You reach for the glass filled with the mystery liquid. It tastes like powdered orange juice mix; neither unpalatable, nor particularly refreshing. Still, Archer must have chosen this for a reason, and so you don't complain as you drink it down. But just because you aren't going to complain, that doesn't mean you aren't going to ask "What is this stuff?"
Archer looks at the bottle, sitting empty on the kitchen counter. "Morning Rescue, is what it says on the bottle. The guy at the grocer recommended it to me, said it's been flying off the shelves lately and asked if I wanted to give it a try. Is it any good?"
It's not a complaint. It's a frank and honest statement in response to a question you were directly asked. "It tastes like the powdered vitamin drink the nurses would give me when I was in the hospital."
"I'll take that as a 'no'."
There isn't much else you can say to Archer this morning. A part of you wants to try to talk strategy with him, to deal with the new disappearances as soon as possible, but ultimately you hold your tongue. Madoka has club after school today, while you do not. There will be time to discuss things with all of your allies after school.
School.
You still have to face that girl with the crush on you. She's in your group for your English literature class assignment. You haven't chosen a book yet, either. How are you supposed to face her; to tell her that a relationship with you just isn't feasible; and that despite that you both still need to work together effectively in order to pass this assignment? You've never had to turn down another person's confession before; how should you go about doing that?
"Homura-chan!"
You spot Madoka, running to meet you as you arrive at the intersection. She's so excited for your date. How are you supposed to tell her that you can't go?
[ ] Spend all your courage and tell Madoka outright that you can't go
[ ] Try to dance around the subject; hopefully she gets the hint
[ ] Say nothing. Stand her up. She'll forgive you no matter what
[ ] Screw your responsibilities; go on your date tomorrow regardless
Do you
[ ] Talk
-[ ] to Madoka
--[ ] Wait for Sayaka and Hitomi to join you before saying anything
-[ ] to Sayaka
-[ ] to Hitomi
--[ ] About what? (write-in)
[ ] Don't talk
-[ ] unless someone else talks to you
[ ] Other (write-in)
Friday, 8 April 2011
Major objectives:
Homura
-Grow your social capital with Kaname Madoka, Miki Sayaka, Shizuki Hitomi, Tomoe Mami, and Sakura Kyouko
-Cultivate your alliance with Mikuni Oriko and Kure Kirika
-Track down and eliminate the servant Assassin before it can cause further harm
-Investigate the "Church of the Righteous Sister" and prevent the catastrophe of the "black mountain" from occurring
-Further your knowledge of rune magic and practice your chosen rune(s)
-Prevent Kaname Madoka and Miki Sayaka from contracting and becoming puella magi
-Defeat the witch known as Walpurgisnacht
Archer
-Investigate, identify, and prevent the occurrence of the event that caused a fundamental force of this universe to be twice overwritten
-Protect your master from harm in this unusually dangerous loop
-Further your master's skills in magecraft, now that she has mastered the fundamentals of Projection
-Aid your master in coordinating her allies so that they stand a better chance of defeating Assassin, as well as any other threats that may appear
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- Location
- United States
[X] Plan Fate/CSI
-[X] Screw your responsibilities; go on your date tomorrow regardless
-[X] The disappearance near the Church is probably due to the Black Mountain's influence, while the one near the train station was more than likely Assassin's doing
--[X] Call McRemitz-san and inform her of the disappearances, your thoughts on them, and to ask her if she can investigate the one that may be Assassin's doing and to try and track her down, while Archer investigates the Church, it's denizens, and the area around it while in astral form
-[X] Talk
--[X] to Madoka
---[X] about the girl with a crush on you whom you're working with, and how to put her down gently without hurting her too much
--[X] to Hitomi after getting advice from Madoka
---[X] thanking her for the vital information she supplied and informing her that you're having the disappearances and their connections to the Church and Assassin looked into
Hey, if Mami can put off Assassin murdering and consuming a multitude of innocent people in order to study for a test, Homura should be a be able to go on a scheduled date with her girlfriend. Also added onto NMS' portion of the vote a bit for Homura to get some people advice.
-[X] Screw your responsibilities; go on your date tomorrow regardless
-[X] The disappearance near the Church is probably due to the Black Mountain's influence, while the one near the train station was more than likely Assassin's doing
--[X] Call McRemitz-san and inform her of the disappearances, your thoughts on them, and to ask her if she can investigate the one that may be Assassin's doing and to try and track her down, while Archer investigates the Church, it's denizens, and the area around it while in astral form
-[X] Talk
--[X] to Madoka
---[X] about the girl with a crush on you whom you're working with, and how to put her down gently without hurting her too much
--[X] to Hitomi after getting advice from Madoka
---[X] thanking her for the vital information she supplied and informing her that you're having the disappearances and their connections to the Church and Assassin looked into
Hey, if Mami can put off Assassin murdering and consuming a multitude of innocent people in order to study for a test, Homura should be a be able to go on a scheduled date with her girlfriend. Also added onto NMS' portion of the vote a bit for Homura to get some people advice.
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In Mami's defense, Assassin's victims would only have been reported missing several days after the fact, accounting for a day of absence before a missing person report could be filed and another day or two for the news to break to the public. That's not counting that any number of witches - who would have been our responsibility just as much as hers - could have caused the disappearance, and with Hitomi only doing her investigative respearch the day the team launched their attack, and prior evidence having convinced her that Assassin was only after magical girls, and there would have been no time or way for her to have known how severe the situation really was.
And she did apologize for being selfish and holding everyone up once they realized how fucked things had gotten, so it isn't as though she just went 'Oh, lemme hold off on killing the mass-murdering cannibal loli while I go study real quick' without any regard.
- Location
- United States
Fair, though I mostly meant for it to come off jokingly. I failed at that apparently, my bad
. The main reason I'm voting for Homura to continue on with the date is due to the precautions she's going to be implementing (e.g. Bazett and Archer), and this'll help Homura settle in more and prevent her from neglecting Madoka to the point where Madoka feels she needs to contract (prob also due to a healthy dose of prior timeline feelings/instincts bleeding into Madoka's mind) or do something else that puts her in danger in order to help and ease Homura's burdens.
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WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] Plan Fate/CSI
- Location
- United States
Bazett stumbles into an Ancestor-level Dead Apostle's Reality Marble after they got a quick snack passing through Kazamino, and we find out Grail-kun was behind the Black Mountain and it corrupts Archer, turning him into Archer Alter.
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- Location
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Meanwhile, CasGil uses his own body as the catalyst to summon Archer Gil, who promptly betrays Mami and teams up with Kotomine Kirei who has returned from the dead after having his body jacked by Alter Ego Rasputin serving as the herald of the Alien God; and also Oriko and Kirika have found a way to weasel out of Homura's geis and have also recruited Assassin to their side.
And that's when the Pleiades Saints blow in from Asunaro with their own team of servants...
- Location
- Around here
You mean, she is a Type.
- Location
- United States
So Walpurgis, as a Witch, projects it's own Reality Marble/Inner World, right? And Types are defined by a World. If Walpurgis is constantly emitting it's own World, and since it was born of a Human girl, wouldn't that make it Type Human, since there's nothing that could contest it's claim? (obviously Alaya doesn't count)
- Location
- Around here
Move over Cath Palug, there's another organism more perfectly suited to killing humans than you.
Day 24 Chapter 2
- Location
- Around here
[X] Plan Fate/CSI
"Homura-chan!"
You spot Madoka, running to meet you as you arrive at the intersection. She's so excited for your date. How are you supposed to tell her that you can't go? Your eyes meet hers, and her warmth envelops you as she wraps her arms around your body. "Did you get my message?"
"I did. There are things I'll probably have to take care of on Sunday, so I'll let you know later if I'll be able to make it."
Madoka smiles; it looks like your answer is satisfactory, for now. "I can't wait for tomorrow, Homura-chan. Where are you going to take me?" She's so excited for your date.
You know that you have your responsibilities; that you have to deal with the 'Church' and what is almost certain to be Assassin; but you've been neglecting the Madoka of this timeline for too long, and the fear is setting in that, despite what she's said to you in the past, she might do something drastic if she thinks you're ignoring her. You don't have very much proof, just her own word said on Sunday at the start of your loop, but you've suspected for some time now that memories of previous timelines are bleeding into Madoka's mind. What might she do, if she feels that things aren't the way they 'should' be to her?
You know that you have your responsibilities. But isn't Madoka your responsibility as well? You return Madoka's smile, saying "It's a secret. But I promise that you'll enjoy it." The two of you break your hug, and hand in hand, you walk to school.
However, just because you aren't going to break from your responsibility to Madoka, that doesn't mean you are going to leave your other responsibilities unaddressed, and you take the time while you walk to collect your thoughts. Two new disappearances; one near the 'Church', and another near the train station at Shirome. You'd bet anything that the disappearance near the 'Church' isn't unrelated, almost certainly the doing of whatever the 'Black Mountain' is, or of someone already under its control. The disappearance near the Shirome train station could have been caused by any number of witches, but that's Mikuni Oriko's territory; if she was unable to see that something would happen and prevent it, you're likely dealing with Assassin. You can't speak for how much of Mikuni Oriko's collection of Soul Gems still remains, but with Assassin having been left in ruinous condition on Sunday, if any still remain it's likely that she was drawn that way by her desire to feed and to heal herself.
"Homura-chan?" Already, Madoka knows that something is bothering you.
"Excuse me for a moment. I just need to make a quick phone call." You barely manage to catch the soft-spoken "Okay" that crosses Madoka's lips as you step off the beaten path and into a nearby wooded patch, phone at the ready. You dial.
*ring*
*ring*
*ring*
"This is McRemitz."
"McRemitz-san, it's Akemi Homura. Something has come up, and I need to request your assistance once again."
"You do remember that I'm not here solely at your disposal, yes? I have my own job I need to do, which isn't exactly made any easier by how secretive you and your friends are being about how magecraft works in this city. I've had no luck in finding the master body behind this 'Incubator' mage you spoke of earlier. And to top it all off, there's a goddamn serial killer servant running around without a master and what is apparently one of those churches where they get you to drink the Kool-Aid and kill yourself. As of today I'm now three days over schedule for my investigation. But by all means, go ahead, add one more thing to my pile."
With how helpful McRemitz-san has been for you in the past, you had almost forgotten that she was here acting on her own agenda, and wasn't just someone you could call for help whenever you needed another set of hands. "My apologies. I didn't actually realize just how much you had on your plate until just now. Fortunately, what I need from you isn't something new; at least, not entirely."
"Well, if it's not new business, then which old business is it?"
"A friend of mine has been keeping her ear to the ground and giving me information that she thinks is relevant to my own investigations, and just this morning she said that two people had been newly reported as missing this morning. One of them was last seen by the warehouse where the 'Church' is, and I'm fairly certain that it has something to do with whatever they are doing. The other was last seen near the train station in Shirome, and though I can't tell you why, I have a feeling that Assassin is behind that one."
"Let me guess- You want me to check one or more of these out while you're at school, am I right?"
"That's correct. I was hoping you could investigate the area around the train station and tell me if you think I'm right about it being Assassin."
"And the 'Church'?"
"I'll have Archer investigate that.
There is a pause from McRemitz-san on the other end of the line, and you have to wait before you hear her say "Alright, here's the deal. I can get an extension from my superiors and probably stick around in this city for the rest of the month, but I'm going to need a place to stay because they're a bunch of cheapskates and I'd almost certainly have to foot the bill to keep my hotel room if I did. Now, I know for a fact that there's no one living in the apartment above yours in your building, so if you let me stay there, I'll keep helping you when I can in the course of my investigation. Deal?"
"I don't have any objections, but I'll have to ask the landlord first." That's going to be difficult, considering that you don't even know who the landlord is. Are you the landlord? "I'll have to get back to you after I've gotten an answer from them."
"Right. I suppose that wouldn't be your call to make, after all."
Once you and McRemitz-san have given each other your responses, you hang up, and return to a waiting, worried, and impatient-looking Madoka. "Homura-chan, is everything alright? You were gone a long time, and I thought I heard something about people disappearing again."
You hang your head and sigh. "Yes, I'm afraid people have been disappearing again. That was the foreign magic inspector I was talking to; I was trying to enlist her help in tracking down the cause. But don't worry Madoka, you and everyone that's important to you is safe, I'll make sure of that."
Madoka hugs you tight, before you both set off walking again. "Archer, I need you to head over to the warehouse park again. One of the disappeared that Hitomi told me about was last seen there, so I want you to investigate the 'Church' as well as anyone who might be affiliated with it and the warehouse park as a whole."
"Understood. Will that be all?"
"That will be all, Archer. I'll leave it to you."
Madoka's hand tightens around your own, and a worried expression forms on her face. "Homura-chan, can I talk to you about something?"
"Of course, Madoka. Don't ever think you need to ask for permission before talking to me about anything."
Madoka pouts as she says "It's about Kaede-chan." Oh. "I don't like the way she's always looking at you. It wasn't so bad before, but now you're in a group with her and not me, and she was giving you these really strange looks all day yesterday. She's a lot prettier than I am, and her grades are better, and she even draws better than I do... She's better than me at everything, and I-" Before you have time to think or react, Madoka's arms are tightly wrapped around you, as though she were holding on to a life raft in a violent storm. "I don't want to lose you to her!"
Your arm manages to wriggle free from Madoka's death grip, and your hand finds its way to the top of Madoka's head. Gently stroking through her silky pink strands, you say to her "And you never will. It doesn't matter to me whether Satomi-san is prettier or smarter than you, because you are the one that I love, and only you can ever be you." So please, Madoka, remain you forever. "I don't particularly like being in a group with her either. Mochizumi-san has offered to help keep her under control, but I would prefer it if we could work together with her knowing that I can't return her feelings."
"So, why can't you tell her that you can't be with her?" Based on how fiercely Madoka's voice still trembles, your words to her have yet to sink in.
"I... I don't actually know how I should go about telling her, while still ensuring that she an I remain on cordial enough terms where we can work together to get a good grade. I've never had to reject another person's affections before."
"..." Madoka stares at you, before saying "... I don't actually know how to, either. But maybe Hitomi-chan or Sayaka-chan will!"
"Somebody say our names?" And there's Sayaka, right on schedule. At least she looks like she's in a better mood now than she was in yesterday. As if that wasn't your fault for mentioning Kyouko and setting her off. "Hey, why the long face? You two look adorable together; so don't be sad, be happy!"
While Madoka breaks off to talk to Sayaka, you do the same to talk to Hitomi. "Again Hitomi, I want to thank you for keeping me updated with information. I'm having people looking into as we speak."
"Really, Akemi-san, it's not a problem at all. I'm just trying to do my part in giving back to the city."
[ ] What's your plan for the school day? (write-in in detail)
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[X] You'll have to ask the landlord first
-[X] Do you even know who the landlord is?
--[X] You don't know. Are you the landlord?
[X] What's your plan for the school day?
-[X] Ask Sayaka and Hitomi for advice on how to properly reject Kaede's affections
-[X] Try to pay attention to class, and work with your group on your project in the Library
--[X] If Sayaka and Hitomi give good advice, use it to reject Kaede's advances without hurting her too much
-[X] Sit with your friends at Lunch and snuggle up with Madoka
--[X] Feed each other their food
[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
We can't not do the landlord option, that's hilarious. Is the group project being worked on in class or outside of it? May need to edit my vote depending on how Sayaka and Hitomi give advice, as I'm not sure when she's supposed to reject Kaede's advances (since they're always in public at school). And last school vote, were you going to ever expand upon the "get to know your club members and reciprocate" part or should we assume they did that off-screen? Also I'm fully expecting the "Switch to Archer" part of the vote not to make it next update for obvious reasons.
EDIT: Edited in the Kaede rejection plan. Thanks for the additional info, SVS!
-[X] Do you even know who the landlord is?
--[X] You don't know. Are you the landlord?
[X] What's your plan for the school day?
-[X] Ask Sayaka and Hitomi for advice on how to properly reject Kaede's affections
-[X] Try to pay attention to class, and work with your group on your project in the Library
--[X] If Sayaka and Hitomi give good advice, use it to reject Kaede's advances without hurting her too much
-[X] Sit with your friends at Lunch and snuggle up with Madoka
--[X] Feed each other their food
[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
We can't not do the landlord option, that's hilarious. Is the group project being worked on in class or outside of it? May need to edit my vote depending on how Sayaka and Hitomi give advice, as I'm not sure when she's supposed to reject Kaede's advances (since they're always in public at school). And last school vote, were you going to ever expand upon the "get to know your club members and reciprocate" part or should we assume they did that off-screen? Also I'm fully expecting the "Switch to Archer" part of the vote not to make it next update for obvious reasons
.EDIT: Edited in the Kaede rejection plan. Thanks for the additional info, SVS!
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- Location
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One of these days, I'd like to do an omake of an entire club session if I remember and have the time, but for right now assume that any getting to know each other happened off camera.Is the group project being worked on in class or outside of it? May need to edit my vote depending on how Sayaka and Hitomi give advice, as I'm not sure when she's supposed to reject Kaede's advances (since they're always in public at school). And last school vote, were you going to ever expand upon the "get to know your club members and reciprocate" part or should we assume they did that off-screen? Also I'm fully expecting the "Switch to Archer" part of the vote not to make it next update for obvious reasons
As for rejecting Kaede, we'll be working on our project both in-class and outside, with in-class work being done in the library in lieu of lessons, and outside work done whenever we schedule it with our teammates, so we'll have plenty of opportunities to do so, though not all of them may be ideal. We can do it in the library when our group is working, or we can sit with her at lunch and let her down, or we can tell her afterschool, or we can arrange a group study session and tell her either on our way there, there, or as we're leaving there.
WanderingTwix
Posting something good once in a full moon
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] You'll have to ask the landlord first
-[X] Do you even know who the landlord is?
--[X] You don't know. Are you the landlord?
[X] What's your plan for the school day?
-[X] Ask Sayaka and Hitomi for advice on how to properly reject Kaede's affections
-[X] Try to pay attention to class, and work with your group on your project in the Library
--[X] If Sayaka and Hitomi give good advice, use it to reject Kaede's advances without hurting her too much
-[X] Sit with your friends at Lunch and snuggle up with Madoka
--[X] Feed each other their food
[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
-[X] Do you even know who the landlord is?
--[X] You don't know. Are you the landlord?
[X] What's your plan for the school day?
-[X] Ask Sayaka and Hitomi for advice on how to properly reject Kaede's affections
-[X] Try to pay attention to class, and work with your group on your project in the Library
--[X] If Sayaka and Hitomi give good advice, use it to reject Kaede's advances without hurting her too much
-[X] Sit with your friends at Lunch and snuggle up with Madoka
--[X] Feed each other their food
[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
Day 24 Chapter 3
- Location
- Around here
[X] What's your plan for the school day?
-[X] Ask Sayaka and Hitomi for advice on how to properly reject Kaede's affections
-[X] Try to pay attention to class, and work with your group on your project in the Library
--[X] If Sayaka and Hitomi give good advice, use it to reject Kaede's advances without hurting her too much
-[X] Sit with your friends at Lunch and snuggle up with Madoka
--[X] Feed each other their food
[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
-[X] Ask Sayaka and Hitomi for advice on how to properly reject Kaede's affections
-[X] Try to pay attention to class, and work with your group on your project in the Library
--[X] If Sayaka and Hitomi give good advice, use it to reject Kaede's advances without hurting her too much
-[X] Sit with your friends at Lunch and snuggle up with Madoka
--[X] Feed each other their food
[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
"Really, Akemi-san, it's not a problem at all. I'm just trying to do my part in giving back to the city."
"Still, I appreciate your help. Despite disagreeing with my romantic preferences, you have been nothing but helpful to me in the weeks that I've been here." Hitomi nods, and a faint smile finds it way across her lips. She is trying, you know that. Your eyes dart over to Madoka and Sayaka, in whose snippets of conversation you can hear the very same problem you posed to Madoka only minutes ago. "But perhaps I can trouble you to help me once more."
"?"
"It's about that girl, Satomi Kaede, that's in my group for our English Literature project. I can't return her feelings for me, but I've never had to reject someone before, and I'd imagine that it's extra-tricky now because I still need to work with her to complete our project. Madoka suggested that I ask you, so I was hoping that you might have some tips to share with me about how to reject her without causing her animosity towards me that might cause our group cohesion to suffer."
"Ahh... Truth be told, Akemi-san, you're already there. Just be honest with her, and tell her exactly what you've told me; that you can't return her feelings, but that you don't want that to mean that you can't still work together. I know you don't know her very well, but Satomi-san is a very reasonable person; I'm sure she'll understand if you just tell her the truth."
Would a reasonable person be willing to give Kure Kirika's 'advice' consideration?
But she didn't; she said it sounded extreme. Maybe there's room to consider her reasonable after all. "Thank you, Hitomi." Is this what a lifetime of repeating the same forty-five days has earned you? A detachment from the way in which normal human interaction is supposed to work to the point where telling someone the truth isn't the first thing that crosses your mind? But then, can you really blame yourself? How well has telling the truth ever gone over for you in the past?
You hope that it'll work this time...
The boundaries of school approach, and you see Tomoe-san and Kure Kirika waiting at the front gate, as always. Sayaka's immediate and irritated departure upon seeing the crippled brunette comes as no surprise to you, but the - pleasant - expression on Kure Kirika's face most certainly is. "Good morning!" she shouts, giving a wave and an uncharacteristically happy smile.
"Ah, good morning!" Madoka calls back. "You're in a good mood today, Kure-san! I'm glad; you've looked so unhappy the past few days."
"Yes, it's a surprise to me as well," Tomoe-san says. Like yourself, she stands there, in awe of the sight you're both seeing. "I met her at the train station like always, and she- Well, I think I'd rather show you." Tomoe-san takes a small purple envelope out of her pocket, revealing the contents inside to be a letter. "Tomoe- I know I've been nasty to you and Akemi in the past, so thanks, for always being there and helping me out while I'm like this. It means a lot, to both Oriko and myself, that you've been so gracious and helpful to me when you've never had to be.
-Kirika" You read the letter over and over, your brain failing to process the words you were reading. This can't have been Kure Kirika's own doing; this has to be Mikuni Oriko forcing her to do this. "I don't understand it either, Akemi-san. But if Kure-san has finally decided to turn over a new leaf, I'm not going to be the one telling her 'no'."
"It's almost like she's back to the way she was immediately after making her contract, actually. Only this time, it all seems so genuine. I wonder if the talk we had with Mikuni-san had anything to do with her sudden change in demeanor?"
"I'm certain that it did, but I couldn't begin to tell you how, or why."
"Hey, Akemi-" You terminate your connection to Tomoe-san, turning your attention to to the one calling for you. You would have never expected to hear her say your name without malice, and yet, here she is... "Listen, I know I've been a real jerk for like, forever, but like Oriko made me promise, I'm going to do my best to put my anger behind me and move on. So-" Last Sunday, you had been the one to extend your hand to Kure Kirika in peaceable terms. She hadn't rejected it, but neither had she accepted it. Now, to your great surprise, it is her turn to extend her hand to you. "-Peace?"
You aren't sure that you can trust Kure Kirika's sudden change of heart. But then, this entire exercise in rehabilitating her and Mikuni Oriko has been one of breaking down your preconceptions about the pair and learning to work with, and ultimately learning to trust, the two as allies in your fight to keep Mitakihara - Madoka - safe. "Peace," you say, accepting Kure Kirika''s outstretched hand.
You pray that this peace isn't peace in your time.
"So..."
You're fairly confident that this is your first time in the school's library. It's quite spacious, with a tall ceiling and equally tall windows facing out onto the center courtyard outside. Unlike the classrooms and hallways, covered as they are in walls of smart-glass, the library has traditional walls made of wood. You aren't sure what kind of wood it is - cherry, perhaps - but the unpainted wall, windowsills, and bookshelves, are all made of the same wood. And speaking of books... "Anybody got any ideas for what book we're gonna do?"
That would be Mochizumi-san, who despite having taken the lead as soon as your group assembled in the library come the start of your English Literature class, has no more idea of what should be done than do you. At present, she's gotten the three of you to sit down together at a small, circular table by the window, but that's about as far as she's gotten.
"Maybe we could start by naming what books we're familiar with, and seeing if there's one we all know?"
"Great idea, Satomi!" You and Satomi-san both give Mochizumi-san a glare. The library is a place for quiet; you know that much. "... Sorry. Um, let's see... something I've read that's in English... Uh, I guess stuff like Iron Man, Batman, Spiderman; does that count?" Probably not.
"Definitely not, Mochizumi-san." Make that definitely not, then. "We could always pick something by Shakespeare?" That was your idea, too. Now you're going to sound like you're just copying Satomi-san.
"Nah. I mean, come on, everyone's gonna pick him, right? Teachers love that sort of stuff." Mochizumi-san kicks her legs back and forth in her seat, adopting an exaggerated "Thinker" pose as she says "No, we've gotta pick something that nobody else is going to touch, and we've gotta own it, or we're all doomed." She looks at you, and asks "What about you, Akemi? Got any ideas that'll really knock teach's socks off?"
Well, Satomi-san already suggested Shakespeare, and that was shot down, so... "If you're shooting down Shakespeare, then I'd imagine Chaucer is also off the table. He'd be the 'other end' of cliché for English literature..." Mochizumi-san looks at you in a very - you hesitate to describe it as such, but it's such an accurate description - 'Sayaka-esque' fashion. She has no idea who Chaucer is, does she? "
"Well, that's no fun." An exaggerated frown shows itself on Mochizumi-san's face. "So we're all flat out on ideas." She sighs, staring out the window as a pair of birds soar by in the distance. "Well, I guess we could just go roaming the shelves until we see something."
"Great idea!" Satomi-san grabs your hand and proclaims "I'll take Akemi-san. Together, we'll find something for sure!" Before you have the chance to protest, Satomi-san is dragging you off, as Mochizumi-san silently mouths to you "Be careful."
The two of you browse through the shelves of books in silence, your heads bobbing up and down as your eyes scour the shelves for any English titles that strike your fancy. Every so often, you watch as Satomi-san sneaks a glance your way whenever she thinks you aren't looking. You're always looking. Just as your fingers settle on the spine of The Little Mermaid, you hear it. "Um, Akemi-san, I was wondering... I know you don't have archery practice after class today, so maybe you'd like to..." She swallows, pressing on. "... Come over to my house after school? We could have a study session, or work on our project, or..."
"You would have to ask Mochizumi-san," you reply. "She's the one that seems to have taken leadership of our group, so any group activity planning should probably be run by her."
"No, I... I meant just the two of us, if that's alright with you. I- I know I should have said something to you earlier, but I... I really admire you, Akemi-san. You're smart, and- and beautiful, and I..." She leans in close, and you bristle, fully expecting her to kiss you then and there. But she doesn't; instead, she leans in close to your ear and whispers "I don't want to believe in Kure-san's words. I want to believe that you'll choose me, over Kaname-san."
"I really, really like you, Akemi-san."
"I know," you say, gently pushing Satomi-san away from you. "But I love Madoka." She stands there, a stunned and crestfallen look on her face, as her eyes lose all hope and colour. "I've had my suspicions about how you feel towards me for awhile now. I know what it's like, to be so close to someone and yet so unable to express your affections for them, and I'm sorry that you had the misfortune of falling for someone who can't reciprocate your feelings. But the truth is, I love Kaname Madoka, not you."
"That being said-" You see the fainted glimmer of hope return to Satomi-san's eyes with those three words. You'll soon be dashing that hope once again. "-Just because I don't feel the same towards you, that doesn't mean that I hate you. You are your own person, and I'm sure that one day you'll find someone who loves you for who you are. I may be unable to return your feelings, but I would still very much like the chance to work with you to complete this project."
"... I see... I- I guess I understand, Akemi-san. I wish I had the ability to change your mind, but I can respect your decision if that's how you really feel." Satomi-san turns away, the noise on her breath sounding like her desperate attempts not to cry. "I'll just... Keep looking over this way, then."
With your group having been unsuccessful at finding a satisfactory book, the three of you head to lunch once class ends, defeated. Satomi-san goes off to a secluded corner to sulk, and Mochizumi-san opts not to repeat her stay at your table. You snuggle up close to Madoka as everyone is seated, and as always, Sataka's eyes are on your lunch box, salivating at the thought of what could be inside. You don't open it just yet. "Tomoe-san," Hitomi asks of the oldest member of your table party, "Did you have Kobayashi-sensei for English Literature last year?"
"Yes, I did," Tomoe-san replies. "My group did Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales for our group project. Have any of you decided what books you'll be doing?"
"My group is also doing Chaucer," Hitomi says. "Perhaps you would be willing to give my group some pointers, if you have the time?" Hitomi's eyes drift over to Sayaka, still eagerly waiting for you to open up your lunch box for her. "Though, perhaps Sayaka-san could use the help more than I could. She's managed to convince her group to go for Beowulf..." Hitomi leans in close to Tomoe-san's ear, but with your enhanced senses you can still manage to pick up what she says. "But between you and I, I think Beowulf might be a bit advanced for her. English is her worst class, and I don't want to see her fail because she's chosen material that's too much for her."
When Sayaka's attention breaks at the mention of her name by Hitomi, you take the opportunity to open up lunch. You see that Archer has gone for a- Huh. You glance over at the lunch prepared for Madoka by her father, and then to yours. A small medley with chopped lettuce, two cherry tomatoes, fried cutlets of chicken, and little sausages cut into octopus shapes, all over a bed of steamed white rice. Somehow, both Archer and Kaname Tomohisa have made for their respective charges the exact same meal.
"Oh, man-" Sayaka looks between your two lunches eagerly. "Now we can finally find out who's the better chef."
You look to Madoka. "Only if Madoka is willing to share," you say, offering a bit of chicken to her on your chopsticks. Madoka happily bites down on your offering, before giving you the same offering from hers in return. True to form, Kaname Tomohisa's craftsmanship is a treasure to taste.
"Of course we can share, Homura-chan!"
"Oh! So Homura-" Sayaka's attention is, for once, entirely on you and not on your food. This must be important. "Madoka and Hitomi both told me that you were gonna tell Kaede that you didn't like her like that. So how did it go?"
Your eyes make a beeline for the place you saw her sitting yesterday. You don't see her. You didn't see her join you and Mochizumi-san in the cafeteria, either. "She-" is probably sitting in the bathroom, crying her eyes out "-Took it well enough, I guess. She understood that I didn't like her that way, and was respectful enough of my feelings to not press the matter any further."
"Man, that... I mean, yeah, I know you've got Madoka and all, but still... Man, I'd kill to have the kind of luck you have. Girls just fall into your lap, don't they?" You wait a few seconds for Sayaka to realize what she's just said, and another few seconds for her to become the red cabbage once the realization hits her. "I mean! Not like that! I mean, I wish I had the same luck with guys falling into my lap that you do with girls." You almost want to join Hitomi in a polite chuckle, but you choose to keep your laughter inside. You've seen where this goes, too many times.
"Master, I have news."
Ah, that would be Archer. Good timing, too; you've been hoping to hear from him regarding his search of the warehouse park grounds. "Is it good news?"
"No, but it is news." So it's bad news, then.
What does Archer have to say? (choose two)
[ ] He's found a body
-[ ] Whose body?
--[ ] The missing person
--[ ] Someone else
[ ] There's something wrong with the snakes
[ ] The Incubator is also on the case
[ ] The police are also on the case
[ ] Sister Hope has a name
[ ] Wat do?)
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- Location
- United States
-[] Whose body?
--[] Someone else
---[] His own
[X] Plan The Case Files of Archer Servant EMIYA
-[X] Peace
-[X] He's found a body
--[X] Whose body?
---[X] The missing person
-[X] Sister Hope has a name
-[X] Raise an eyebrow at Sayaka's obvious unintended subtext and bemusedly telepathically inform Sayaka that's it's okay to be attracted to girls as well as guys, as plenty of people are
-[X] While you're finishing the school day, have Archer confront Father Despair and Sister Hope as a Servant, if applicable
--[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
SVS, your making your OCs way too likable and well written, so now we gotta make Homura interact with them more often, stahp /s
Hey, if they find the body with the Church and the police/Incubator don't scare them away, Homura and co could possibly use this to send in a representative of the Magical side of things to try and get some information out of them depending on their reactions (if they're surprised by Magic and the body, maybe they're not aware of things and are being subtly manipulated, if they are then they may be corrupted by the Black Mountain's influence, etc. etc.) and will help us more easily determine future actions. Also interested in the name, that Archer would call it a "news", possibly bad news. Depends if they should do that now with Archer, though, considering we don't know how Archer will be explaining the situation to Homura.
Also Homura gets to tease the teaser. I didn't realize the Black Mountain and Walpurgisnacht were going to destroy Mitakihara today!
EDIT: Forgot the peace vote. Very suspicious on Kirika's change of heart though.
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- Location
- Singapore
-[] Whose body?
--[] Someone else
---[] Satomi's
For real though, considering the universe we are in, we might want to just keep a small lookout for her running into a Witch. Or a Kyubey. Or possibly the Church. All of which she might be more vulnerable to now.
Congratulations we won!
[X] Plan The Case Files of Archer Servant EMIYA
-[X] He's found a body
--[X] Whose body?
---[X] The missing person
-[X] Sister Hope has a name
-[X] Raise an eyebrow at Sayaka's obvious unintended subtext and bemusedly telepathically inform Sayaka that's it's okay to be attracted to
-[X] While you're finishing the school day, have Archer confront Father Despair and Sister Hope as a Servant, if applicable
--[X] Switch perspectives to Archer
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