Not a Magical Girl (PMMM)

[ColdGoldLazarus]

[X] Shadowhisker

 

[TerraOracle]

What were the titles of those books Madoka got again? I need them myself. Oh fuck

 

[Karnewarrior]

I don't think you ever said what the titles were, but I'd assume they're beginner-level psychology textbooks. I doubt she'd grab college textbooks, although from what I've seen 101 college stuff is pretty understandable if you have a decent vocabulary and some level of interest in the subject matter.

OTOH, we were pretty starved for time. It's not implausible Madoka grabbed a college textbook randomly and has been picking her way through that.



Note that we should also invest some time in things like Debate and Sociology. Psychology is very much focused on the individual, which is fine enough, but the extra speech training from doing debate and the expanded viewpoint from spending some time looking into sociology will act kinda like multipliers that should make Madoka much better able to actually utilize her skills, especially on girls who are less than explicitly willing.

One of the biggest problems with therapy is you can't therapy the unwilling. Madoka needs to get some skill in convincing potentially hostile girls to at least listen to her. Skills that won't involve locking them in a grief vault and riding them like Dr. Strange until she reaches the Mesosphere. We need to become, essentially, Keter, without becoming an SCP.

 

[Kai Merah]

[X] Shadowhisker

 

[TerraOracle]

I don't think you ever said what the titles were, but I'd assume they're beginner-level psychology textbooks.

Click to shrink...

I didn't. I just realized I'm about to delve into psychology-babble for this next update (unless this leading vote loses, which looks almost impossible at this point). I have zero knowledge on the subject, so chances are I'm gonna be pausing in the update a lot while staring at it going "What now?"

On an unrelated subject:

The same artist drew up a doujin following this; I need to find it. Again.

Success!

Click to shrink...

Here's a more complete link for the Mafia AU. Warnings: Danbooru (so the ads may be NSFW) and it's a soft translation (the speech bubbles are in Japanese, with the translations in boxes you need to mouse over).

 

[Karnewarrior]

​

I didn't. I just realized I'm about to delve into psychology-babble for this next update (unless this leading vote loses, which looks almost impossible at this point). I have zero knowledge on the subject, so chances are I'm gonna be pausing in the update a lot while staring at it going "What now?"

Click to shrink...

Madoka's only spent a day studying it, so some short wikipedia trawls are probably all you need to simulate her knowledge of the subject.

AFAICT, though:

Homura is a functioning depressive, and also severe PTSD. Which means she's paranoid, sleep deprived, and finds it difficult to get any kind of will to do anything that doesn't directly benefit Madoka. Neither can be fixed, but the PTSD can be ground down to something manageable, probably through judicious Madokahugs and talking about the Loops and crying about things. The depression will be harder, but could possibly be made manageable by convincing her to reconnect to other people, given the source. The paranoia is both an effect of the PTSD and of living in a world where Coobie wants to put a parasite in your girlfriends soul and she's totes down most of the time, so that'll probably only fade after Walmart Night, although us stating bluntly that we won't contract may have loosened her slightly.

Mami is socially starved, and also severe PTSD. Notice the theme? This continues. In any case, I'm not a psychologist myself, so I don't know if there's a name for the particular mania she has, but it can probably be made managable by making sure she confronts her fears of abandonment and comes out the winner: Eg. if she thinks we're going to leave her and then we don't. Will probably work better in a group? This is one thing we probably have a good chance of actually "fixing", since we can probably get Mami to the point where it won't bug her any more if someone has to leave. The PTSD won't go away, because being meguca is suffering and weening her from Coobie is going to be a pound of flesh from everyone involved. She also might have some buried issues from her parents dying - it happened actually quite recently, IIRC. That should be relatively easy - she just needs to talk about it to a trusted confidant (us) until she accepts their death and can move on.

Kyouko probably has a lot of shit wrong in her head, but for us, besides the obligatory PTSD, the biggest problems are probably getting her to trust the world and stop being such a pessimist. A good part of that will involve talking to her about her family, which means it may be the most lethal objective in the quest. Kyouko is not going to enjoy being psychoanalyzed, even if it's to her own benefit. In any case, our ins on what's wrong with her are obviously the betrayal issues from her dads psychotic breakdown, PTSD from that event, PTSD from being meguca for more than three days, PTSD from being forced out of Mitakihara by someone she trusted (probably because she "wanted to", which will make this even more complex to untangle), and hopefully stopping her emotional eating, which could cause problems later. Ironically, Kyouko is probably the sanest meguca, she just happens to have the worst PTSD this side of "I'm ten years older than the girl I fell in love with because I've been looping time to try to save her from soul parasites and monsters"-girl.

Sayaka has a slight trace of Hero Syndrome, which can intensify under the wrong conditions, but is otherwise basically not there. Besides that... She's got nothing right now, but we can expect our good friend BATTLE FATIGUE to return (that's PTSD, Kyle!).

Hitomi... Is perfectly sane, as far as we can tell from canon. I guess Tank could give her something. Sociopathy would work - a lot of CEOs and other oligarch-sorts are sociopaths. Oh, but she'll get PTSD eventually. Edit: Oh, and as an aside, Tank, if you do deign to make Hitomi a sociopath, don't go with the hollywood version. For one, sociopath and psychopath aren't nearly the same thing - and for another, sociopaths have a long standing tradition of being perfectly decent citizens... Legally. Generally not great friends, but not enormously outside the curve. Think more Gendo Ikari minus his Yui Ikari fixation. Just no fucks given.

I admit again, I'm not a psychologist. This is basically all just armchair psychology I pulled from other people and some conjecture from canon personalities. If it seems heavy on the PTSD, maybe that's why, maybe it's Witches~.

 

[TerraOracle]

Edit: Oh, and as an aside, Tank, if you do deign to make Hitomi a sociopath, don't go with the hollywood version. For one, sociopath and psychopath aren't nearly the same thing - and for another, sociopaths have a long standing tradition of being perfectly decent citizens... Legally. Generally not great friends, but not enormously outside the curve. Think more Gendo Ikari minus his Yui Ikari fixation. Just no fucks given.

Click to shrink...

I know how sociopathy and psychopathy are defined in the dictionaries. What I have for Hitomi...probably can't fall under either of those. Something similar to...not an inability, but a difficult time sensing emotional issues in others. For example, in canon, she knew Sayaka couldn't bring herself to confess to Kyousuke, but didn't know it was because she was broken up upon learning she was a lich. I saw it as Hitomi thinking that Sayaka was just being afraid of rejection and that's it.

 

[NMS]

For example, in canon, she knew Sayaka couldn't bring herself to confess to Kyousuke, but didn't know it was because she was broken up upon learning she was a lich. I saw it as Hitomi thinking that Sayaka was just being afraid of rejection and that's it.

Click to shrink...

Because assuming someone found out they were an undead is something anyone of a perfectly sound mind would do. Clearly.

 

[Raiseth]

[Q] Psychoanalyze yourself. Clearly your abnormal love of chairs says something about you and your mother. Find out what.
-[Q] Fail to find anything relevant. ( yeah, I looked. ) Oh well.
--[Q] Think about creating Meguca Anonymous. That's where these useless incredibly useful chairs can truly shine! Oh, and therapy for your friends, too, you guess.

Anime Japan is such a fun place to live in!
Well. In Russia, you accept that everything is fucked up for a fact almost from the moment of your birth. Sometimes, you joke obscenely or complain about it to your neighbors.
I blame culture differences.

That, and QB seems to have some sort of criteria for picking up Magical Girls ( sounds intentionally horrible, what did I say about obscene jokes?). Hitomi doesn't have potential to contract, because she's sane, maybe? ( Oh, and TankD, do with her what you will, but I think we have enough on our hands already. Well, you're the QM, so it's your call. )

 

[Karnewarrior]

For some reason I love the idea of Madoka reading Freud, and getting really into it, even as she turns redder and redder because lewd.

And then she thinks all her friends have mommy and daddy issues and causes some problems.

Tank, that actually sounds pretty interesting. I bet there's a term for that, but I dunno what it is.

 

[tygerbright]

Madoka's only spent a day studying it, so some short wikipedia trawls are probably all you need to simulate her knowledge of the subject.

AFAICT, though:

Homura is a functioning depressive, and also severe PTSD. Which means she's paranoid, sleep deprived, and finds it difficult to get any kind of will to do anything that doesn't directly benefit Madoka. Neither can be fixed, but the PTSD can be ground down to something manageable, probably through judicious Madokahugs and talking about the Loops and crying about things. The depression will be harder, but could possibly be made manageable by convincing her to reconnect to other people, given the source. The paranoia is both an effect of the PTSD and of living in a world where Coobie wants to put a parasite in your girlfriends soul and she's totes down most of the time, so that'll probably only fade after Walmart Night, although us stating bluntly that we won't contract may have loosened her slightly.

Mami is socially starved, and also severe PTSD. Notice the theme? This continues. In any case, I'm not a psychologist myself, so I don't know if there's a name for the particular mania she has, but it can probably be made managable by making sure she confronts her fears of abandonment and comes out the winner: Eg. if she thinks we're going to leave her and then we don't. Will probably work better in a group? This is one thing we probably have a good chance of actually "fixing", since we can probably get Mami to the point where it won't bug her any more if someone has to leave. The PTSD won't go away, because being meguca is suffering and weening her from Coobie is going to be a pound of flesh from everyone involved. She also might have some buried issues from her parents dying - it happened actually quite recently, IIRC. That should be relatively easy - she just needs to talk about it to a trusted confidant (us) until she accepts their death and can move on.

Kyouko probably has a lot of shit wrong in her head, but for us, besides the obligatory PTSD, the biggest problems are probably getting her to trust the world and stop being such a pessimist. A good part of that will involve talking to her about her family, which means it may be the most lethal objective in the quest. Kyouko is not going to enjoy being psychoanalyzed, even if it's to her own benefit. In any case, our ins on what's wrong with her are obviously the betrayal issues from her dads psychotic breakdown, PTSD from that event, PTSD from being meguca for more than three days, PTSD from being forced out of Mitakihara by someone she trusted (probably because she "wanted to", which will make this even more complex to untangle), and hopefully stopping her emotional eating, which could cause problems later. Ironically, Kyouko is probably the sanest meguca, she just happens to have the worst PTSD this side of "I'm ten years older than the girl I fell in love with because I've been looping time to try to save her from soul parasites and monsters"-girl.

Sayaka has a slight trace of Hero Syndrome, which can intensify under the wrong conditions, but is otherwise basically not there. Besides that... She's got nothing right now, but we can expect our good friend BATTLE FATIGUE to return (that's PTSD, Kyle!).

Hitomi... Is perfectly sane, as far as we can tell from canon. I guess Tank could give her something. Sociopathy would work - a lot of CEOs and other oligarch-sorts are sociopaths. Oh, but she'll get PTSD eventually. Edit: Oh, and as an aside, Tank, if you do deign to make Hitomi a sociopath, don't go with the hollywood version. For one, sociopath and psychopath aren't nearly the same thing - and for another, sociopaths have a long standing tradition of being perfectly decent citizens... Legally. Generally not great friends, but not enormously outside the curve. Think more Gendo Ikari minus his Yui Ikari fixation. Just no fucks given.

I admit again, I'm not a psychologist. This is basically all just armchair psychology I pulled from other people and some conjecture from canon personalities. If it seems heavy on the PTSD, maybe that's why, maybe it's Witches~.

Click to shrink...

I dug up a copy of of the DSM-V as well as a few of my old college text books so I'm going to try and give this the once over.

Homura could be classified as having a minor case of Persistent Depressive Disorder mainly with thoughts of worthlessness, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy would be good options though actually succeeding would also likely help. Personally I wouldn't call her paranoid at all given that she isn't delusional in the slightest, rather it would be hypervigilance she is entirely grounded in reality just in an almost constant state of arousal. Also she displays emotional blunting as part of her PSTD. (Odd enough she don't actually check one of the required boxes for PTSD under the DSM-V, she don't avoid the source of her trauma but rather is constantly trying to fight back against it though IRL people don't get the opportunity to prevent the event that caused their trauma.)

Mami's issues are somewhere between border line personality disorder and compensatory narcissist personality disorder but both of those are really hard to diagnose in children and adolecents. Also while it might be a tad Freudian I'd say the death of her parents is the root cause of almost all of her issues but not in the sense that she is overly dwelling on it but in the loss of stability in her life.

Kyouko, while she might initially be the type to confront her problems with violence she also does want to open up to others about what happened with her family, however her living in the church where her father killed the rest of her family is very unhealthy.

I'd say Sayaka needs to learn how to effectively communicate her emotions in respect to relationships.

Can't really say much about Hitomi.

 

[TerraOracle]

Because assuming someone found out they were an undead is something anyone of a perfectly sound mind would do. Clearly.

Click to shrink...

Never mind the reasoning. You shush

That, and QB seems to have some sort of criteria for picking up Magical Girls ( sounds intentionally horrible, what did I say about obscene jokes?).

Click to shrink...

I don't know what qualifies a girl to have potential. His criteria for potential contractees, before their potential to even have the ability to contract, is adolescent girls. There isn't anything specific stopping anyone else from having a contract, just that the aforementioned have the biggest emotional crash when they Witch out.

Hitomi doesn't have potential to contract, because she's sane, maybe?

Click to shrink...

Wrong, she does have potential here. Not a lot, especially next to Madoka, but she does. I've made it so, just for the convenience of her seeing Kyubey.

 

[Kai Merah]

I had the impression that potential was linked to emotional trauma. The shittier your life is, the higher your potential.

Madoka had stupidly high potential because Homura's wish was karmically linked to hers or something, which means all of Homura's trauma from all the loops was concentrated into potential for Madoka.

 

[Raiseth]

I had the impression that potential was linked to emotional trauma. The shittier your life is, the higher your potential.

Madoka had stupidly high potential because Homura's wish was karmically linked to hers or something, which means all of Homura's trauma from all the loops was concentrated into potential for Madoka.

Click to shrink...

As far as I understood, it was, in fact, the potential of all the deadified Madokas concentrated in each subsequent one, linked together by Homura's mucking with the timelines.

 

[Shadowhisker]

Potential, in PMMM, is... Weird.

We don't really know what it is, other than it's called potential, it has something to do with karma, and the more you have, the more powerful your wish is.

That's why I'm having us ask about wishes. That gives us our segue into asking about potential. After that, it's up to Tank to decide.

 

[TerraOracle]

Vote tally:
##### 3.21
[X] Talk with your friends- old and new- about magic. In a private location, of course.
-[X] Reiterate your earlier question. Is there anything else magic can make easier?
-[X] Kyubey mentioned you could make a wish as part of the contract...
--[X] How much oomph is there behind the wish? What's the greatest, most wide sweeping thing you could wish for?
--[X] Are there any limitations on the wish? No killing, no raising the dead, no wishing for more wishes, anything like that?
--[X] Are the wishes cursed? A Monkey's Paw sort of deal?
-[X] Do all Magical Girls have the same costume, or is it personalized?
-[X] What are Witch fights like? Just how dangerous are they?
-[X] What about local politics in the magical side of things? Homura said Mami works alone, which is terrible, but she can't be everywhere at once. What does she know about her neighboring magical girls?
--[X] This includes Homura too. How long has Homura been a magical girl? Has she made contact with anyone besides Mami yet?
-[X] Anything else cool or interesting magic can do?
[X] Put that psychology knowledge to use! Look for any cues or symptoms of PTSD, or other mental traumas Homura and Mami may have.
-[X] If anyone starts feeling uncomfortable, guide the conversation away.
No. of votes: 5
Shadowhisker, Karnewarrior, Anya Homura, ColdGoldLazarus, Kai Merah

 

[TerraOracle]

Most likely gonna write at Starbucks, so I'll leave this open for last minute votes.
Listen to my future writing music in the meantime.

That's all done

 

[TerraOracle]

[X] Talk with your friends- old and new- about magic. In a private location, of course.
-[X] Reiterate your earlier question. Is there anything else magic can make easier?
-[X] Kyubey mentioned you could make a wish as part of the contract...
--[X] How much oomph is there behind the wish? What's the greatest, most wide sweeping thing you could wish for?
--[X] Are there any limitations on the wish? No killing, no raising the dead, no wishing for more wishes, anything like that?
--[X] Are the wishes cursed? A Monkey's Paw sort of deal?
-[X] Do all Magical Girls have the same costume, or is it personalized?
-[X] What are Witch fights like? Just how dangerous are they?
-[X] What about local politics in the magical side of things? Homura said Mami works alone, which is terrible, but she can't be everywhere at once. What does she know about her neighboring magical girls?
--[X] This includes Homura too. How long has Homura been a magical girl? Has she made contact with anyone besides Mami yet?
-[X] Anything else cool or interesting magic can do?
[X] Put that psychology knowledge to use! Look for any cues or symptoms of PTSD, or other mental traumas Homura and Mami may have.
-[X] If anyone starts feeling uncomfortable, guide the conversation away.

With everything done, you feel it's time to stop being silly, and ask if there's anywhere more private than the mall to talk about magic. Mami suggests her apartment, and with a chorus of agreements the grade nine student leads you all there. On entering, you're enamored by the set up: an ornate looking L-couch with a beautiful covering, a amazing triangle, glass table; you can even see a staircase to your left! But, you keep yourself from being too distracted as Mami sits down on the couch and invites the four of you to do the same; you take the offer, as does Hitomi and Sayaka. Homura declines politely, and you can't help the small frown at that, but you don't say anything.

"Miss Mami," you start, and attention goes to you; your look at your hands in your lap wringing together, "I know I asked earlier, but is there anything that magic can make easier?" You look up at her, and Homura as well, curious.

The two of them look at each other, then the brunette answers. "It would depend on the Magical Girl's power, I suppose. Remember that Mami said that she can use her ribbons to help in mundane tasks?" You nod, and see that Sayaka and Hitomi are paying varying amounts of attention. "I can move around quickly through means I do not wish to disclose, in case unwelcome parties are listening in. I apologize, Mami, in case you were curious." You see the blonde smile and wave it off, and can't help wondering what Homura's powers - and wish - are.

After a moment of silence, you swallow, knowing how much weight this next topic will hold, but press on. "He mentioned a wish." Everyone is looking back to you, and you can see Homura tense up. "How does it work? Like, what would be the limit to a wish, how exact does it need to be, is it like that book The Monkey's Paw...?"

"Well, for the first one," Mami speaks up, and you turn to look at her, "the limit depends mainly on your potential. Of course there are moral limits, but I don't think that those with enough potential could be stopped from, say, wishing someone back to life. Wording..." You see Mami turn to Homura, who's tight-lipped, but her face at least looks encouraging. The older girl sighs. "You need to watch your wording. If you wish, for example, to survive an accident, you will. But only you, even if you wanted everyone else to..." She's cut off by something flying at her, and when she catches it you can see it's a Grief Seed. Homura doesn't say anything when you all look at her, and Mami just nods, looking unsure, as she pockets it.

"Okay lighter topic." Sayaka stands up with a clap. "Outfits? It is like the Super Sentai with your own colors, or more personalized? Or less?"

Mami smiles again, stands up, and with a shrug from Homura they both transform. Homura's looks no different from the rooftop yesterday, but Mami's looks incredible as well! And yes, you can see it's all personalized.

"That's so cool!" you exclaim excitedly. "I wonder what mine would look like!" Homura frowns a bit, but doesn't say anything. You grin sheepishly as an apology.

"Gotta be honest, so do I." Sayaka just grins and ruffles at your hair; you swat at her arm with a laugh.

"I'd imagine you use magic to make weapons for fighting these Witches," you hear Hitomi speak up, and look at her for a moment before back to the others. Mami simply curtsies, and an ornate musket appears by her leg, which she picks up and spins expertly before resting it on her shoulder. You find yourself clapping at the display as the blonde gives a proper curtsy, then you look at Homura, who has a shield on her arm and a bat...half-sticking out of it?

"My magic doesn't allow me to make weapons, but it does allow me to store them in a hammerspace. Bats, homemade pipe bombs for explosives; etc."

"Hm... Can't say I really approve of you having explosives, Akemi, but if what I'm thinking about Witches being all freaky like you said, I can't really blame you."

Mami nods at that. "Part of it comes from working with each other if you can."

"Speaking of that," Hitomi speaks up again, "Miss Akemi told us yesterday that such a thing is actually rare. She mentioned fighting for a limited resource." You see Mami smile a bit sadly and nod.

"She isn't wrong. Everyone wants to survive, of course, and Grief Seeds only have so much room. Fighting amongst Magical Girls is a result." You frown, feeling sad at hearing that. If only it were more true to the shows. "I try, of course, to help, but some others...don't appreciate it. It's been a long year for me."

After a second, you look at Homura with a soft expression. "How long have you been a Magical Girl...?" There's another second or two of silence...

"I made my wish on April 30th​."

"But it's March?" you hear Sayaka ask in confusion-- "O-Oh. Oh. Shit..." Homura just nods once, and you can't help but feel a bit impressed, and sad, at how she hasn't Witched out yet. How jaded she's gotten, and you remember her saying that beforehand, she was ill...

"Well," you get everyone's attention again, "what's done is done. No point being depressed over something we can't change, right?" - Did Homura flinch? - "And, well, we're here now. And we need to be there to help people, and make sure no one else has to be forced to do this! All of us; even if me, Sayaka, and Hitomi aren't Magical Girls, that doesn't mean we can't help you guys!" You see Mami, Sayaka, and Hitomi all either smile or grin, and Homura looks determined now. You hold your hand out. "Team Mitakihara?" After a second, one by one, hands stack onto yours, Homura's last. You all raise them up with a cheer.

[ ] Write in

 

[TerraOracle]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

So the last vote tally has a lock on it now--

 

[Karnewarrior]

*ahem*

I art Thou, Thou art I.
Thou hast established the tie through which to change the world.

Through this short string shall grow thy power
To shatter the bonds by which the innocent are encased!

With the birth of the Fool Arcana,
Thy will shall be done, and thy blessings distributed.

 

[Raiseth]

"I made my wish on April 30th."

Click to shrink...

Nice one, Homura. It was more of May 1st, though? I'm not sure...

Seriously, the whole PMMM thing inexplicably reminds me of the 70th Soviet novel "Picnic on the Roadside". There are almost no similarities between them, aside from the main character having a shitty life and a huge alien blob belonging to Make-a-Wish FoundationTM​, so I don't know why. Well, whatever.

[Q] Make a Wish! Become a Magical Girl!
-[Q] Wish to...
--[Q] Find out what Homura's Wish was. You are really curious.

... You know, after reading through the Meow Quest it takes real effort not to write in cat memes. Huh.

Team Mitakihara is assembled! We still need to find a red ranger Meguca, though. Because "insert an inappropriate joke about rainbows and magical girls here". Trying to get Mami to open up about it is going to be a bitch. Maybe we should try with Homura? Thought for the later. Not too much later, I hope.
Ugh, need... sleep...
Stupid human body.
Good job, TankD. ( feels like the end of an arc, you know? )
Later.

 

[ColdGoldLazarus]

The Madoharem has been formed!

[X] Have cake, talk about magical girl and ordinary girl stuff both. Get Homu in on the latter, no matter how she might protest
-[X] Speaking of ordinary girl stuff, what about Kyousuke? You might want to talk to Sayaka about that at some point. And maybe Hitomi as well, for that matter. But delicately.

 

[Karnewarrior]

[X] ColdGoldLazarus

Talking about boys you like is one of those stereotypical sleepover things that suddenly becomes a lethal matter of life and death when Meguca get involved.

Also pressing Homura on who she likes ought to be entertaining, especially if we can get Mami on our side, since she's Socialguca and still probably has a higher level in Diplomacy than we do. Which means Homura's going to be forced onto her back-back foot. and probably fall on her ass.

 

[Raiseth]

Also pressing Homura on who she likes ought to be entertaining, especially if we can get Mami on our side, since she's Socialguca and still probably has a higher level in Diplomacy than we do. Which means Homura's going to be forced onto her back-back foot. and probably fall on her ass.

Click to shrink...

Homura disapproves.

Spoiler: What I said

 

[TerraOracle]

[X] ColdGoldLazarus

Talking about boys you like is one of those stereotypical sleepover things that suddenly becomes a lethal matter of life and death when Meguca get involved.

Also pressing Homura on who she likes ought to be entertaining, especially if we can get Mami on our side, since she's Socialguca and still probably has a higher level in Diplomacy than we do. Which means Homura's going to be forced onto her back-back foot. and probably fall on her ass.

Click to shrink...

All of you are evil and should feel bad for it.


*Maniacal Laughter*

Click to shrink...