[X] Eat dinner.
-[X] Talk about magic and it's differences between Gensokyo, wherever Lutecia came from, and Magical girls.
-[X] Curious tone.
You smile - people actually asked for you to be included! People who weren't your sister and didn't have ulterior motives! You dart forward and pull Agito into a hug. She squawks and tries to pull away; you tighten your grip until she stops, then give her a gentle squeeze and let her go. "Thank you," you say, then leap up to the second floor and trot toward the dining room. Agito manages to catch you at the bottom of the stairs - not that impressive, really, since you'd stopped to make sure you looked presentable - and makes you face her.
"Look, just one thing, okay? Please don't bring up Sayaka. Especially since we don't know her, you bringing her up might cause problems, because she doesn't know anything about her being not normal, okay?" She looks worried, and you nod.
"Don't bring up Sayaka, got it. I'll try." She relaxes and nods, then frowns as she looks past your shoulder. You don't see anything when you look back, and she just sighs and heads into the dining room before you can ask her about it. You follow her in and sit down in the empty chair, smiling at everyone present. You're sitting at one corner, with Homura at the head to your right and Mami to your left. Madoka is next to her, and Saya is across from her, then Lutecia and Agito. The food is an interesting mix of Japanese, European, and some other culture you don't recognize.
"Ah, you must be ... um, Flandre-chan?" Saya stumbles over your name, but gets it close enough, and you smile and nod. She has dark hair, but her eyes are the same bright and lively blue as Sayaka's, and now that you know they're related, you can see the resemblance. She seems rather timid, though, unlike her daughter.
"Um-hm! Flandre Scarlet! Are you feeling better?" Her smile stumbles a bit, and you feel a spike of irritation from Homura.
"Y-yes, I am, thanks to Lutecia and Agito," she says, and you smile before you start getting food. Mami titters and helps you by moving some of the dishes when you start to stand up and reach, much to the amusement of Saya and Madoka, and she actually taps your hand with a finger when you try to grab one of the desserts. You make a face at her, to no avail.
"Now, now - those are for after dinner. You wouldn't want to spoil your appetite, now, would you?" You stick your tongue out playfully, but let her have her way. You know perfectly well your appetite won't be spoiled, but it's not worth the bother right now. For some reason, despite not being with Remilia, you feel ... almost comfortable. Even Headless and her still-unnamed kin are quiet, simply savoring the sensation. Conversation starts as everyone begins eating.
The first subject is school - Saya asks everyone how their studies are going. You, Lutecia, and Agito don't go, of course, but the other three girls talk about the various goings-on they think she might want to hear. You wonder if Patchouli knows what kind of work kids have in this world - maybe she might find some of it useful? You decide to sneak a look at a textbook at some point. And it seems like Saya knows Madoka's teacher, or at least knows about her, because she laughs at a reference to her 'still having the same old problems.' You're tempted to ask, but Agito beats you to it.
"If she's having problems, shouldn't you be helping her instead of laughing at her?" She seems upset about it, and Homura shakes her head.
"Miss Saotome has what might be charitably called 'trouble in love.' More realistically, she is very critical of those people she forms attachments to, to the point of driving potential suitors away. She then comes to the conclusion that the problem is the other person's fault." She sighs. "And, no, informing her of the reality of the situation appears to have no effect. I believe she is simply searching for an outlet for stress." Saya, Madoka, and Mami look at her strangely.
"Did you know her from before you went into the hospital, then? Or did you meet her some other way?" Homura freezes momentarily, her veneer of calm broken as she collects her thoughts.
"An aunt knows several of the men she's attempted to get to know. When she found out that she was going to be my teacher, she wanted to get her side of the story in." Conversation dies for a few minutes, and you get the feeling that Homura really isn't very good at keeping her cool when she gets surprised. If she "knows" about something in advance, she can prepare for it, but new things? She doesn't know how to deal with them, and she reacts poorly.
"Um, Miki-san? Are you really okay? My mom was worried about you ...." Madoka says hesitantly. Saya puts her fork down and looks at her plate.
"I ... I think so. I just ... I needed ... I ...." She seems like she's going to break down, but Lutecia puts her hand on the woman's shoulder, then loosely grabs her sleeve and holds it without looking at her. It doesn't help you, though - the good feeling is gone, and your headspace returns to normal as Headless and her charge disappear. Saya seems startled, then calms down and smiles at Madoka before patting Lutecia on the shoulder. "I'll be fine," she says. "I ... I should call Junko, though, shouldn't I?"
After that, Mami and Agito collect the dishes, making sure that no one else leaves the table or takes any of the desserts. You scowl lightly, but they return less than a minute later with a moderately-sized cake that leaves everyone shocked - perhaps especially Homura, given how long it takes for her to recover. Of course, you take the opportunity to snatch some of the better pieces of dessert, and while Mami frowns, she doesn't stop you this time. You've heard Remilia complain enough times to know that sugar is absolutely vital to the growing process of a young girl - maybe she's aware of this fact as well? After you finish your first piece of cake, you put your fork down and look at Saya.
"Hey, Saya? Do you believe in magic?" Everything stops, and everyone except Agito stares at you. She winces and puts a hand over her face. You raise your right leg and turn it just enough, and Homura takes a deep breath and exhales slowly as her shin scrapes along the heel of your shoe. Saya takes a breath of her own, looks at Lutecia, then back at you.
"I ... I guess I have to believe that magic exists, I suppose. It's hard, because I never grew up believing any of that, I only started trying to learn about it when ...." Her face seems to shut down, but when Lutecia touches her again, she shakes her head and looks up again. "Um, about ten or eleven years ago, I think. Children's fairy tales from the West, where magic is everywhere and can do almost anything." You nod.
"Hm. How do you think magic works?" She frowns and starts to shrug, only for you to shake your head. "No, just ... mmm, give a guess as to what rules it follows, why it does the things it does but not other things. And then I'll go, and then ...." You make a show of looking at everyone else. "Hm, Lutecia, and then either Homura or Madoka. And then if anyone else has something they want to add, they can just jump in!" You send a pleading look at Saya, and she caves almost immediately.
"Alright .... You know, I'd never really thought about it. Magic wasn't real, after all, so what did it matter? But ... it doesn't seem to follow any rules. I mean, there are rules, they're even said in some stories, but they aren't consistent across stories. Like the one about the deathless sorcerer - his soul was a needle inside an egg, so killing his body wouldn't kill him, but most other evil wizards didn't try doing that, usually because you couldn't do things to souls. Sometimes magic was flashy, sometimes it was subtle - fireballs in one story, transformations in another, or fortune-telling then just magic weapons in a fourth." She sighs. It seems like the stories she read might have some basis in fact ... especially the 'deathless sorcerer.' A glance to your left sees Mami slightly paler than usual ... maybe she figured it out on her own? You hope she and Homura talk about it where you can hear. Saya seems to have run out of things to say, though.
"Hm .... Well, to start with, magic is an act and a source. It's what separates magicians from youkai; youkai do magical things because that's what they are, magicians do magical things because they use magic. So a youkai that can fly and turn invisible isn't necessarily doing magic, even though what he's doing is magical, just like birds flying or fish breathing underwater isn't magical even though humans can't do it. A magician that flies and turns invisible usually does it because they used a spell. Spells are variable rituals, dependent on the maker, that focus magic-as-a-source to create a given effect or effects, from a harmless ball of light to a beam of energy that can destroy a mountain. Of course, just using magic-as-a-source to do that isn't necessarily a spell, like I said, because you can just throw that energy unshaped and get similar effects. Spells control and focus the energy a specific way that can be learned and taught by anyone with the ability to use magic. It may be easier to do for some once they learn it, and some might not live long enough to learn it, but anyone who is a magician is capable of learning how to do any spell." You sigh. "Of course, if you can't cast spells, you aren't a magician. ... Well, unless you're a youkai magician, but they're usually proper magicians anyway, so it doesn't matter."
"Um?" You shake your head and glance down the table at Madoka. "So, magic is like ki?" You shake your head.
"No, they're different things. Ki is bodily life force, magic is an energy source that exists apart from the world but affects it and can be drawn from it."
"... So it's the Force?"
"Or dark energy." You have no idea what 'the Force' or 'dark energy' are, but the next several minutes of Homura and Mami discussing the possibility of using dark energy to fuel supernatural effects is just fascinating. Rather, you begin to suspect that Patchouli might not have explained magic correctly to you. Some of their arguments are certainly familiar ... you wait until they wind down, calmly eating Mami's dessert while Agito and Saya's eyes glaze over. Lutecia, like you, is eating dessert, and Madoka is switching between Homura and Mami, trying to track the discussion. Mami and Homura both turn a brilliant crimson as they realize what just happened, and jump when you clear your throat.
"Anyway. Magic is not an unlimited force; individuals have only a limited capacity to work with it, which is why not every magician is equal, and their talents are similarly variable. Some spells are hypothetically possible, but either they are much too unwieldy for a given magician to cast, or they require prohibitively large amounts of energy. As a result, magicians tend to be reclusive sorts, which lets them store energy safely and lets them research and refine spells In comfort. Unless there are more questions, I think I'm finished." No one says anything, and Lutecia nods.
"Magic is the physical alteration of reality using 'mana,' energy generated by an individual from an organ called a 'linker core.' Magic requires complex mathematical formulas to generate - essentially small rituals that focus the energy in a particular form - which leads to many mages adopting mechanical aids to reduce the chance of failure. Spells are practically limited; most are direct manipulations of energy, either for offense or defense. Mages are further constrained by their own personal skill and energy reserves - skill determines how much energy can be used at a time, as well as how efficiently it is used, and most mages aren't skilled enough to use external energy sources such as ambient mana or cartridges." She stops so suddenly that you aren't sure she's actually finished. Why won't she talk more? Is she still just too focused on her mother? Does she not actually know anything else except the practicals? You can certainly fill in the blanks yourself, but if you get something wrong ....
"What else can magic do? You've said offense and defense, would you be able to be more specific?" Lutecia frowns at Mami's question, but nods anyway.
"Direct attacks using mana, elemental manipulation such as fire or electricity, binding using mana or physical restraints, barriers, energy-depleting fields, healing by increasing the body's rate of recovery, flight, dimensional travel, teleportation, illusions. Dimensional travel is most simply achieved by forcing enough energy into a small-enough area that the dimensional barrier is torn apart; safer effects are more difficult, but also less energy-intensive. Teleportation is achieved by rewriting the physical coordinates of the target within the dimensional barrier." You see a flash of light through the window and glance at Homura. Lutecia shrugs, as if to signify that she's done, and the peal of thunder makes her jump. Agito leaps out of her chair and faces the window before she realizes what happened, while Madoka bolts out of the room, heading upstairs. You see Saya move her arm slightly as Agito rights her chair, and Lutecia relaxes.
"Magic is the ability to manipulate the world in a few specific ways, dependent on the nature of the contract signed. The abilities take a certain amount of energy to activate, but that energy cannot be replenished in a safe manner, requiring the ... mage ... to risk herself in order to maintain her abilities." Homura glances out the window as the first raindrops begin to fall. "Mages cannot normally replicate abilities, although some abilities are fairly widespread, and most mages are capable of direct combat on their own." She lets out a yawn - false, you're sure - and shakes her head. "There is more, but I am not sure of my ability to keep track of them right now. Perhaps we could continue tomorrow?" As if on cue, Mami, Saya, even Madoka all start yawning. Even Lutecia seems like she's struggling to stay awake!
"Um, I'm sorry for rushing away like that, but I remembered that a few of the windows upstairs were open, so I made sure to close them. Are we ... hyaa~ finished already?" You scowl out the window as everyone starts getting ready to go to sleep, then slip into invisibility. No one notices you - they assume
you've gone upstairs already. You wait until the lights are off before you lean into the hallway to check where everyone is. Your attention is caught by Agito and Homura arguing in the main room, and you rush over to listen.
"Look, she knows about magic because you and Flandre wanted Lulu to take care of her! Have you ever heard of broken bones or internal bleeding? If Lulu hadn't started healing her, she would've died. No one wins. And she doesn't care if people know about magic, we're from a world where magic is public, not one where it's used in the shadows by a bunch of kids! She's lonely, and you and that crazy girl told her to take care of someone, so anything that happens is your fault." You freeze and almost barge in, but you're still in sneaky mode, and Agito barges through the door and stomps toward the stairs, transforming halfway there into her miniature form. It takes a great deal of effort to not tear her apart, painfully, and by the time you control yourself, the lights are all off and Homura is back in her rooms. You dispel your invisibility and trudge into one of the reading rooms.
You're alerted by the sound of footsteps, a different rhythm than the pattering of rain on the window, and you glance up to see Saya sneak past the room you're in without a glance. You float up and follow her right up to the front door. She puts a hand on the knob, takes a breath - and then you clear your throat. She jerks around in surprise.
"Leaving in the middle of the night isn't nice, you know. And you might still be hurt."
"Flandre?" You summon a small pack of bullets to provide some light, and she takes a step back - or tries to, anyway. "Um, what are you doing up so late? Shouldn't you be asleep?" You just stare dully at her.
"Where were you going to go? Can't be home, you would just wait until morning if that were the case." She sighs.
"I … my daughter, Sayaka. I have to find her! She said she would be fine, that she would be back soon and for me not to worry, but she's been gone so long and I don't know what she's doing and … and …." She trembles, and one hand goes for the knob again. You step forward and hold the door closed.
"No. If you want to leave, you'll wait until morning and explain to Homura and Lutecia. If you leave now, Lutecia will try to follow you, and probably get into trouble. I don't want that, I want her to be my friend. So you aren't leaving tonight." She drops to her knees and grabs your shoulders.
"She's my daughter! I can't just … just leave her, not knowing if she's alright or where she is! Don't you have family? Can't you understand what I'm feeling??" You stare at her for a moment. You can't, really - not the way she means. Remilia … your sister, the only family you've ever had, has always been there for you. Even when you did something horrible to her, she was your guiding constant, the only one you always looked up to. But … maybe you do know, a little, about what she's talking about. You sigh.
"I'm … going to be doing some wandering around in the next few days, probably. If you want, I can look for Sayaka while I'm out, and if I see her, maybe I can give her a message from you." You're almost certain you'll meet her sometime soon, actually, but whether you'll be able to give her a message she'll understand is something else. Still, Saya freezes and stares at you, hope in her eyes.
"You … you'll find her? You'll give her a message from me? I … I …." She stumbles forward on her knees and hugs you, and you can feel the tears running down her face. "Just … can you just ask her, make sure she believes she's doing the right thing, that she's doing it because she wants to and not because she's being made to, and that she'll try to come home?" She pulls away from you and staggers to her feet. You nod, almost imperceptibly in the dim light, and she staggers back to her room. You glare at Homura's door; you know you heard something from behind that door, and you want little more than to rip the door open and find out what she learned … but you really shouldn't. And you can't howl, or kill, or even go outside comfortably! You can't even slam a door properly, because these doors are too flimsy to stand up to a fairy.
You silently fly into your room and close the door. The rain is still pattering gently, so you strip the blankets and sheets from the bed and cocoon yourself beneath it. Maybe you should've gone to the church - at least you know they have a proper basement .... At some point you fall asleep, and wake to see sunlight streaming across the floor.
What do you do?
[ ] Sleep in a bit more.
[ ] Get up immediately.
- [ ] See if anyone still wants to talk about magic.
- [ ] Go out.
- - Where?
- [ ] Other?
[ ] Sleep through the day.
- [ ] Go to the meeting.
- [ ] Don't go.
