Puella Magi Adfligo Systema - Story only

[Firnagzen]

"Sure, that sounds great!" you say, pushing off the car. You give Homura what you hope is a reassuring smile, before walking over to join Mami and Sayaka.

"We'll talk later, OK? you whisper into Homura's mind as you stride across the sandy asphalt.

"Yes," she agrees.

"Just melee, no powers?" you ask as you approach Mami and Sayaka. There's a niggling little bit of concern at the back of your mind that Very Bad Things™ might happen if you let Sayaka copy your powers, starting with possibly overloading her brain with information and going up to accidentally revealing that little tidbit about Witches.

You briefly debate adding musical backing to the fight, but that's probably not exactly the right impression.

Mami nods. "Sayaka's not too bad at ranged combat, but she has trouble hitting targets further away," she says, smiling at you. "So I thought we could see how she does in a melee spar."

"Yup, sounds good," you say.

"I still don't think it's reasonable," Sayaka grumbles, scowling. The effect is rather ruined by how Sayaka's still bouncing happily on the balls of her feet.

"Mami hit it," you point out, a smirk growing across her face.

"She doesn't count," Sayaka says, waving a finger at you. Mami, by contrast, beams happily at you, walking over to bump her shoulder against yours.

"Anyway, first things first, cleansing for everyone," you say, raising one hand.

"Good idea, Sabrina," Mami says, reaching for her Soul Gem. She presents the flower shaped Gem to you, smiling.

Sayaka fumbles at the Soul Gem on her stomach. "Um- ah," she says, managing to get the little crescent shaped Gem off and presenting it to you.

Homura barely moved, flipping her hand over so that you can see her Soul Gem.

"You know," you comment as you draw the Grief out with a careless little gesture, "I can actually cleanse the Soul Gems without seeing them?" You can't help but notice that Sayaka's up to... at a guess, somewhere around four or five percent on her Soul Gem, and it's noticeably trickling upwards even as you siphon away Grief.

Mami smiles warmly at you as she replaces her Soul Gem. "But that would be..." she waves a hand. "Ungracious. When you're doing so much for me- for us."

You huff an amused little laugh, bumping your shoulder against Mami's. "Well, how can I argue with that?" You purse your lips. "By the way, Sayaka, you're still holding Mami's powers, right?"

"Yeah, why?" she asks.

"Can you release them?" you ask.

"Hmmm? Sure?" she asks, frowning for a moment. "There, they're gone."

Her Soul Gem stops filling.

"... hm," you say. "It looks like you have a bit of an upkeep on powers held." Four or five percent with moderate usage in... maybe half an hour, or a little more. You weren't exactly watching the time. That's not too bad, you guess?

"Ah, that makes sense," Mami says, nodding.

"Bah, upkeep," Sayaka says, folding her arms. She's still bouncing irrepressibly and completely undeterred.

"Hey. It's important," you say, raising your eyebrows. "Keeping your Soul Gem clean is important."

"Sabrina's right," Mami adds, nodding in agreement.

"I know, I know," Sayaka replies, waving a hand. "Just... magic. I'm too happy to be annoyed right now. Anyway, spaaaaar?"

Mami nods, smiling. "Ten steps apart, Sabrina, Sayaka?" She backs off, clearing the immediate area.

You comply, smiling as you step back, facing Sayaka. Moving slowly, you 'draw' a warhammer from over your shoulder, the silvery steel flashing into existence under your hand. Sayaka mirrors you, drawing a sword in either hand, grin firmly affixed on her face.

"Go Sayaka! Go, Sabrina!" Madoka cheers from the sidelines.

"When you're ready!" Mami calls.

You tighten your grip on your hammer, raising it into a low guard.

Opposite you, Sayaka raises both her swords, cerulean eyes intent on you.

You breathe, centering yourself.

Sayaka's weight shifts, balancing lightly on her toes.

Your boots scrape on the concrete as you firm your own stance a little. Feet shoulder breadth apart.

A stirring of a breeze sets Sayaka's cape fluttering, your own heavier longcoat still.

...

"You're not going to attack, are you?" you ask.

"Uh," Sayaka says.

Mami giggles.

You sigh - and explode forward. Your hammer flashes, gleaming in the afternoon sun.

"Whoa!" Sayaka squeaks, leaping backwards. The shining silver arc sweeps through the spot she'd occupied not seconds ago.

She lands, and leaps again - forward. One sword swings high and the other slashes low.

You bound upwards. Upwards and over in a flip, legs scissoring into a vicious kick at Sayaka's head.

She ducks the sweep. One sword reverses direction, cleaving upwards.

Steel clashes against steel with a ringing chime-

-and you push, hammer shoving back against Sayaka and you spring away-

-and you land behind Sayaka.

Her cloak swirls around her as she spins to face you, swords snapping up. A fierce, exhilarated grin lights her face up - and she springs, blue motes of light turning her leap from a mere jump into what's nearly a long, arcing flight that's going to terminate where you are.

You sidestep sharply. Your hammer rises in a two handed swing, as if you're wielding a baseball bat and-

-Sayaka's left sword is coming right at your face-

-you release the hammer, forming a new one in the path of the sword and you catch that a moment after the ringing contact, sparks flying from the impact and why even sparks metal doesn't work that way-

-Sayaka's other sword clangs to the ground. She throws her weight against you, both hands on the hilt of her sword.

You strain against her, strength against strength.

And she slips to the side, blade scraping against the hilt of your hammer.

You snatch your fingers away just in time and whirl away, dragging your hammer by the other hand. The head hooks against Sayaka's sword, and there's enough time for her eyes to widen before you send the blade flying with a fluid twist.

Sayaka leaps back, white cape swirling around her.

Cape.

You stomp on the edge of the white cloth, trapping it against the concrete.

There's a faint tug, and Sayaka pulls free, the cloak snapping off at her shoulders. Her eyes widen, and she hops back, holding up both gloved hands. "Hey hey hey," she complains. "My cape?"

Amused giggles float from the sidelines, Sayaka shooting Madoka a betrayed look.

You shrug, grinning as you lower your hammer. "Hey, if it works... well, it didn't, but at least now we know a Witch can't grab you by the cape, right?"

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka grumbles, her petulant mask unable to hide her bubbling grin. She pats at her shoulders, as if trying to flick away dust, and sweeps her hand straight out. Pristine white cloth swells from her shoulders, billowing out to snap into a new cloak. "Again?"

You check the time. "Sure," you agree, raising your hammer again.

Sayaka grins and forms a fresh sword in her hand, levelling it at you with one hand in what might be a fencer's salute.

... Entirely wrong kind of sword for a fencer's salute, though.

You sweep your hammer in a flourishing salute.

Sayaka grins. Her finger tightens.

You have only a moment to react before the sword booms and the blade rockets at you. You smash it aside with a gleaming sweep of your hammer.

Sayaka's right behind it, a fresh sword already swinging for you. A flurry of wild slashes rain down on you, broken and choppy.

You're not terribly mobile, you have time to think as you're driven back step by step. Not without your Grief, not like Sayaka or Kyouko.

You plant your feet and knock Sayaka's sword high - and you drive under her guard, slamming your elbow into her chest. The breath leaves her in a sharp wheeze.

She rolls backwards, springing to her feet. Blue motes of light blossom around her feet, and she springs straight up into the air. She pushes off another set of rings midair, rocketing down towards you with sword flashing.

This time, she smashes your hastily raised hammer aside. A sword tip flicks menacingly for your face.

You pivot backwards and away, lashing out at her knees with a weak, off balance blow. She flows out of the way with fluid grace, and you only manage to catch her shin. You try to pull her off balance, but she's already set and she has her sword to your neck and a bright, exuberant look in her eyes.

You huff. "I yield."

Sayaka drops the sword, crowing. "Whoohoooooo!"

Madoka and Hitomi clap enthusiastically from the sidelines, the pinkette jumping to her feet to congratulate Sayaka. Hitomi follows a touch more sedately, while Homura shadows Madoka a step behind.

Mami joins you, smiling warmly at you. "It was nice of you to go easy on her," she murmurs quietly to you.

"I wasn't really," you admit. "Apart from not using my powers. I'm not much in a melee fight."

"How well do you think I would do without my muskets?" Mami asks, shaking her head.

"Amazingly," you answer, giving her an amused smile.

Mami huffs, giving you a fond look. "Well..."

"You know you would," you say, smiling back at her.

She rocks her hand from side to side, unable to hide the smile on her face.

You laugh. "Anyway. Sayaka seems to be taking to the training well?" you offer.

"Oh yes," Mami agrees. "I think she will do well." She taps a thoughtful finger to her lips. "She can fight in close and mid range, and I think that's where she will excel. She's versatile, like her powers are."

"Makes sense," you agree. "I'm not the best at melee, but she's... maybe a bit better than me, and she's not too bad at ranged combat? With her powers, and training from you, she'll be a great magical girl, I reckon."

Mami nods, smiling. "We can train her."

"We can," you agree, an answering smile on your face even if you're not that sure how much you can contribute to that training.

"Mmm," she agrees, smiling. She lifts her arms slightly in an open little gesture.

You chuckle, and give her a quick hug. Not like that's something onerous or anything...

"Anyway, what now?" Sayaka asks.

You pull your phone from your pocket, tapping the prominently displayed time.

"Oh! Yes!" Sayaka says, beaming. "Oh man I can heal Kyousuke! Are we going to go and hunt a Witch tonight?"

"Maybe not," you say. "Something to do tonight. But if we do, we'll let you know, yeah?"

"Yeah!" Sayaka cheers. "Anyway, let's go already!"

Madoka giggles, exchanging a look with Hitomi, who shakes her head in mock disapproval. Homura scowls, nearly imperceptibly.

... Admittedly, this time yours not entirely sure she's displeased with Sayaka or because of the thought of Kyousuke.

...

Why not both?

"Let's go," Mami agrees. "Sayaka, don't forget to detransform..."

The bleunette glances down at herself. "Oh, right!" she says, and detransforms in a blaze of sapphire blue light. You and Mami both follow suit, and the five of you start strolling off towards the hospital.

Sayaka practically skips as she ranges ahead.

You pat Mami's elbow, giving her a quick smile before speeding up your footsteps to catch up with Sayaka.

"Hey, Sabrina!" she says, voice and eyes bright.

"Hey, Sayaka," you say. "Nice spar back there."

"Yeah!" she agrees, punching the air. "Ah, you weren't so bad yourself."

"I'm not a melee fighter," you say with a shrug. "Not without my Grief, anyway."

"Ah, OK," Sayaka says as she turns the corner towards the hospital.

"Anyway," you say, sobering. "It... Sayaka, I never told you the full details of what I was doing, did I? Beyond just fighting Witches, as important as that is?"

"Hmmm?" Sayaka asks, her grin fading a touch as she peers at you. "No?"

You sigh. "Well... Remember what I told you about earlier? Lots of magic girls... don't exactly have very happy lives."

"Hmm?" Sayaka asks, thinking it over, before understanding dawns. "Ah."

"Yeah," you say. "They fight to just stay alive, not just against Witches, but also each other. For Grief Seeds. Because of Kyuubey and what it does. Most of them aren't bad people, just... in a bad situation. Or they're desperate, or misguided, or don't know any better, or some combination of all that. But..." You smile. "I mean to change that. I want to help as many girls as I can, and break this messed-up system for good. Make it so none of them die, or fight needlessly."

Sayaka's eyes glitter. "I... Wow, OK," she says. "You're kind of cool, you know that? Kind of dorky, but cool, too."

...

"Excuse you?" you ask, incredulity in your voice. "You're calling me dorky?"

"... Yeah?" she says.

...

"Whatever," you grumble, waving it off.

Her grin fades. "But OK," she says. "I... suppose I'm pretty lucky, huh?"

You shrug. "Mmm..." It's probably true. "The point is, though, well... I'm asking for your help with that, one magical girl to another."

"Me?" she asks, surprised. "'Course I'm in, did you really have to ask? I want to help."

"You don't owe me anything," you say.

"I know," she says, jaw setting stubbornly. "You were 'just' doing your job. Helping people, as a Magical girl. But... I'm a magical girl now. It's my job to help people, too. And if it lets me help you and Mami, and maybe lets me repay my debt to Hitomi, then that's even better."

[] Write-in

=====​

Finally.

Also, the next vote will probably take you to the hospital.Vote accordingly.

 

[Firnagzen]

"You don't," you say, giving Sayaka a serious look. "You don't owe it to anyone to do this. Do it because it's the right thing and because you want to do it, not out of obligation."

A grin splits Sayaka's face. "Duh, I want to," she says. "Don't need to worry about that, Sabrina." She waves her hands in the air in great, sweeping motions. "It's just... I get to be a part of all this. And it's big, and I can make the world a better place by fighting evil."

You bite back a sigh. Oh how that shine is going to come off.

Damn it.

One thing at a time.

"You don't owe the world anything, you know," you say, waving your finger at her. "Hitomi doesn't think you owe her anything either. No," you hold up your hands as she opens her mouth to protest. "-just think about it, OK?"

Her mouth snaps shut and she nods, but you can see that mulish set to her jaw which means she's going to be stubborn about it.

"She didn't have to," Sayaka grumbles, hefting the two schoolbags over her shoulder. "So I owe her."

You do sigh this time, before smiling at the bluenette. "Anyway, I'm glad you want to. Welcome to the team!"

"Actually..." Sayaka frowns at you. "You don't get it. Do you?"

You shrug, which she seems to take as agreement, and she continues. "I became a magical girl because... because you helped me, because I owe Hitomi, I owe you and Mami and even Homura," she says slowly. "And it's awesome. I can run and jump and fight and I have magic just like in anime. And yeah, my s-soul, but it's worth it, because..."

"Magical girls help people. So because I'm a magical girl, I help people now," she says. "I can help people now." She clenches one fist. "I fight evil, or wrongdoing, or whatever. And I can pay it back that way. So... yeah." She grins at you, frown chased away by bright, sunny cheer. "Thanks! Good to be on the team."

You blink in surprise. "Well," you say, deciding to digest that for a bit. "Yeah. Like I said, good to have you with us. That said... If things get to you, or something's bothering you, don't worry about talking about it, OK? Talking about things helps."

Sayaka nods. "Yeah. Right back at you, if you need to?"

There's some of the wind out of your sails. "Yeah. We're all in this together, OK? Mami, Homura, Madoka, myself - we've got your back, right?"

"Yeah," she agrees. "Something prompt this?"

"Nah," you say, deflecting. "Just saying, you know? Anyway, healing! Mami'll probably explain this one better. So..." You turn to glance at Mami, who's walking beside Hitomi, Madoka and Homura just behind them in a loose group.

Mami smiles at you, warm and happy, and quickens her steps to join you. "What's happening, Sabrina?"

"Healing," you answer with a smile. "We never did teach Sayaka how to heal."

"Ah!" Mami says, nodding. "I actually hadn't brought it up yet on purpose. Healing is, ah, best taught with a demonstration to hand."

"... Hey!" Sayaka complains. "That's not nice."

Mami tilts her head in confusion. "... Oh," she says. "That's not what I meant. My apologies, Sayaka."

The bleunette shakes her head. "Eh, I was kidding," she says, smile returning to her face. "Mostly. It is kind of funny."

You snort. "Well, we're gonna go fix that up. Magic's handy that way."

Sayaka whaps you on the back of your head. "No."

"Yes," you counter. "It's my right to make terrible puns. And my left." You raise both hands to illustrate your point.

Mami bumps her shoulder against yours. "No, Sabrina," she says firmly.

"No?" you ask.

"No," Mami says. "It's not nice to make fun of the handicapped."

You bark out a startled laugh, beaming at Mami. "Nice one!"

"Traitors," Sayaka mutters. "Traitors, all of you."

"Ah..." Madoka says, peeking over from behind you. "I'm sure Homura and Mami and Sabrina are glad to lend a hand..."

"Madoka!" Sayaka complains.

The pinkette giggles, followed by Hitomi's quiet, genteel chuckles. You glance over your shoulder, winking at your friends. Homura raises an eyebrow a tiny fraction of a centimetre at you.

"Hmph. You people are all terrible," Sayaka says, sticking her nose in the air and marching away ahead of your group.

You laugh, long and loud, your friends joining in, and the serious mood transitions to something more easy going. Happy chatter fills the air as all five of you stroll towards the hospital in the waning afternoon night.

You push your senses out, paranoid for an attack, or... something unusual. Which brings to mind Mami's offhanded suggestion about your powers being a lightning rod for Witches. Or, well. Making Barriers attracting Witches. Like calls to like, as she'd put it.

Your powers are... pretty similar to a Witch's, you have to admit. Not quite, though. You don't think you've seen a Witch straight up control Grief by itself, the stuff you draw from a Soul Gem. But if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... It might still be a goose, to torture the metaphor and the ornithologically inclined.

...

Where were you going with that again?

"Are you OK, Sabrina?" Mami asks, turning to smile at you as you walk down the sterile corridor towards Kyousuke's room. Nothing unusual you'd noticed, not even a Witch nearby.

... which is actually a little unusual in and of itself, maybe? Witches, misery, hospitals and all. They should go together.

"Yeah," you say, smiling back at her. You've coalesced into a loose group again, Madoka, Sayaka and Homura walking in the front, Madoka trying to engage Homura in conversation about schoolmates, from the sound of it. Hitomi's on your left, and Mami to your right. "Just thinking a bit."

Mami nods. "Alright."

"Say, Sabrina?" Hitomi asks. "Did you make any progress with..." She glances at Sayaka.

"Nooooot really," you admit.

Hitomi nods. "I expected that," she says with a shake of her head.

"Sorry," you say.

"No, no," Hitomi says. "It's not your fault."

You huff a sigh. "I know, but still."

Up ahead, Sayaka raps on Kyousuke's door.

"Come in!" the boy's voice calls from inside, and Sayaka throws the door open, practically bouncing into the room.

"Hello, Sayaka," Kyousuke says, looking up from the bed. He blinks, looking faintly nonplussed at the sudden influx of high school girls trooping into the room. "Hello, Hitomi, Madoka... Hello, Sabrina, Mami... Homura." He flinches slightly at the last arrival.

Sayaka gravitates over to Kyousuke's bedside. "So, uh, Kyousuke, we're going to finish healing you today." She glances back at you for confirmation.

You nod. "Or as close as we can get, anyway?"

Kyousuke nods, looking overwhelmed. "I've been working hard on the physiotherapy?" He holds his hand up, flexing his fingers. They... well, they move a lot more fluidly than the last time you'd seen it.

"That's great!" Sayaka beams. She looks down, twiddling her fingers a little. "And, ah, I'll be helping with the healing too."

"Isn't it a magical girl thing?" Kyousuke asks, blinking at her.

You exchange a look with Mami. She raises her eyebrows at you, looking amused.

"I became a magical girl too," Sayaka says, fiddling with the ring on her finger.

Kyousuke blinks in slow, dull surprise. "Oh. Oh!" he says. "I see! So... you can help to heal my hand?"

You wince.

"Yes, I can!" Sayaka says. "Um, Mami? Sabrina?"

"Yep," you say, hooking a chair over with one leg. "Chairs, I guess?"

Mami pulls a chair over so that it's beside yours, sitting down. Sayaka stands on the opposite side of the bed, nearly hopping from one foot to the other in barely contained glee. Well. You say barely contained, really, it's not contained at all. Homura... Homura ghosts over to stand beside you without a word.

"Alright," Mami says, holding out a hand and summoning the familiar glow of magic to it. "Sayaka, you should know how to do this instinctively, it... comes with being a magical girl. Focus on what you want to do. You should feel warmth, of a sort, and you need to direct it to your hand."

Sayaka nods, frowning in concentration. "Hmm..." she says as Kyousuke stretches his arm out on the bed, slate grey eyes darting around.

"Ah!" Sayaka's hand begins to glow a faint, sapphire blue.

"That's great, Sayaka!" Madoka claps her hands together, smiling proudly. Hitomi claps, too.

"OK, what now?" Sayaka asks.

Mami motions towards Kyousuke with a smile.

Sayaka reaches out with a trembling hand, and presses it to Kyousuke's wrist. A faint blush steals across her face, but the boy doesn't seem to notice, staring rapturously at his hand as if that would speed the process.

Mami's hand joins Sayaka's a moment later. "Raise your hand, please," she says.

Kyousuke complies, giving you enough room to add your hand.

You have a... sense of what your magic's doing, slowly repairing the ligaments and muscle and nerve in the boy's wrist and fingers. You can sort of direct it, too, to speed certain areas more than others. And you can feel Mami's and Sayaka's magic, too, working away.

You glance at Homura, but she just frowns minutely at you. "No room," she says.

... To be fair, there isn't really any room left for her to help.

She backs off, and goes to stand beside Madoka instead.

The three of you work in an amiable silence, Madoka and Hitomi conversing in hushed voices in the corner. Your mind wanders, briefly touching on the adorable and yet mildly worrying notion of infinite Kirika's. And shipping. Oriko and Kirika make an adorable couple.

Then again, you do have to worry a little over... whatever it is that's eating Oriko. Which you still don't know how to solve.

Tsk.

You take a moment to consider Asunaro, which is... full of crazy. Very much full of crazy. But possibly also full of goodies, depending on when you get there. Which is the problem, isn't it? Of course, the drive by, or maybe flyby solution's always there... Caw, caw, swoop and grab and all that.

It takes nearly an hour before you finish, Kyousuke's eyes fixed on his hand the entire time.

Finally, you sit back with a satisfied sigh, Mami imitating you a moment later. "We're done."

"Are you sure?" Sayaka asks, keeping her hand right where it is, checking anxiously.

"Kyousuke?" you ask.

The boy flexes his fingers slowly, one after another. "I can feel my fingers again," he breathes. "They work. I- thank you. I- I- my violin's inside the cabinet, could someone get it for me?"

"Ah!" Sayaka scrabbles at the cabinet beside her and fumbles the instrument out. She holds it out to Kyousuke with reverent hands.

The boy snatches it from her, raising it to his chin and touching the bow to strings. With his eyes closed, he draws the bow across and promptly winces at the squawk of out-of-tune notes.

"... Ah," he says, laying down the bow and starting to fiddle with the tuning knobs.

You exchange a look with Mami. She looks rather exasperated, eyebrows high on her forehead. Madoka, by contrast, looks anxious, her gaze flicking from Sayaka, to Hitomi, to Kyousuke, and finally to you. Hitomi and Sayaka...

Hitomi and Sayaka are both watching Kyousuke avidly, their eyes following his every motion as he tunes the violin.

[] Write-in

=====​

Job's done!

 

[Firnagzen]

You push your chair back, raising your eyebrows at Mami. She shakes her head, tilting her head at the duo around the bed - Sayaka and Hitomi, both staring as violin boy fiddles with his instrument.

"Mami?" you ask via telepathy, glancing aside at her.

"Yes, Sabrina?" she responds, turning to smile at you.

"Well..." you say as the first strains of music fill the air. Simple scales, a running series of notes. "Um, do you remember that I mentioned Oriko needs help?"

"Ah... yes." Mami's smile fades a little.

"Yeah," you say, rubbing uncomfortably at your mouth. You're... a little leery of bringing it up like this, but... Oriko and Kirika. You consider them friends, you think. And they're people, regardless - so they're worth your help.

After a short pause to let Mami mull it over, you continue. "I was thinking we could go over now? If that's OK with you? Kirika's been waiting for the whole day..."

The first strains of music, actual music, fill the air as Mami worries at her lip. "It... if you think that's best, Sabrina," she says. "What about dinner?"

"Ah... they have food, too," you say. You hadn't really thought about it, but it's that or order in, you suppose.

Mami nods. "Ah, that makes sense," she says, essaying a weak smile.

"Are you OK with this, Mami?" you ask, reaching over to lay your hand over Mami's.

She nods, smile becoming a little stronger. "Just a little disappointed," she admits. "It would have been nice to cook for everyone again."

"Hey, there's still the picnic," you say, squeezing Mami's hand in reassurance. "And many more days to come after that."

She exhales, turning her hand over so that she can grip your hand, squeezing lightly. "Alright," she says, voice soft. "Shall we go, then?"

"After he finishes, maybe?" you suggest, tilting your head at Kyousuke and his enraptured audience. He's playing Ave Maria, swaying back and forth on the bed with his eyes closed.

Madoka looks delighted, a bright smile on her face as she looks around. She catches your eye and beams happily, turning her eyes to Hitomi and Sayaka who look utterly captivated.

Homura... is Homura, standing stolidly next to Madoka with an utterly neutral mask on her face.

You sigh quietly as you listen to Kyousuke play. He's good, you have to admit. Very good, if this is what he plays like months out of practice.

He keeps his eyes closed as the piece comes to an end, silence sweeping in like a soft, velvet curtain. Slow tears glimmer at the corner of his eyes, his lips upturned into a faint smile.

You break the silence. "Hey, guys? Mami and I need to head off now," you say, keeping your voice quiet.

"Eh?" Madoka asks, blinking at you in surprise. Homura glances at you, amethyst eyes neutral.

"Yeah... something else to handle," you say, nodding slowly.

"Ah... thanks, Sabrina," Sayaka says. "For being here."

"Eh," you say, waving it off.

Kyousuke opens his eyes, looking up at you. "Ah, you're leaving?" he asks. He bows slightly at the waist. "Thank you both for... for giving me back my music. And you too, Sayaka."

The bleunette blushes slightly. "Just doing my job," she says, trying to downplay it. "Magical girls help people, you know?"

"Anyway," you say, standing. "One round of cleansing, everyone?"

Sayaka glances down at the ring on her hand. "Oh, yeah," she says. "Uh, right." Holding her hand out, her Soul Gem manifests with a shimmer of blue.

Mami presents her Soul Gem to you too, as does Homura, and you cleanse it all with a careless crook of your finger - your own, too. You spin the Grief into a few small marbles, sending them coasting out of the window to join the main mass on the rooftops.

Which is really a huge amount, honestly... The only real reason you wanted so much was for making Barriers, and with that on hold... Even MECHA GURREN ZILLA LAGANN didn't take that much Grief.

Eh. It'll wait.

"Thanks, Sabrina," Sayaka says.

"No problem," you say, waving it off. "Anyway... I guess Mami and I will be going now?"

"Bye, Sabrina, Mami!" Madoka says, waving. "See you tomorrow!"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Sayaka agrees.

Hitomi smiles at you, nodding slightly. "Thank you, and see you tomorrow."

Homura exhales slowly. "See you," she says. Mind to mind, she adds a quiet, "Be careful."

"Yeah," you agree. "I remember, Homura. I will."

Homura nods slightly as you and Mami leave the room.

You smile at Mami, motioning down the corridor. She lifts her arms a little, palms out. You smile, and oblige her with a hug. "I'm sorry, Mami."

She shakes her head, the golden driils of her hair brushing against you. "No," she says. "It makes sense. If Oriko is in need... Then we should take care of her."

"Yeah," you agree. And speaking of taking care of people, that reminds you of something. You open up a connection to Homura again, as you separate from the hug and start down the corridor, Mami walking at your side. "Hey. Homura?"

"Yes?" the time traveller responds.

"I forgot to bring this up earlier," you say as you wait for the lift, humming tonelessly to yourself. "But um, could you lend Sayaka a Grief Seed? I would give her the one I have myself, but uh, I think there may be problems with it."

"I can offer," Homura says, a note of... something in her voice. "She may not take it."

You exhale slowly. "I think she will. She actually kind of respects you, you know?"

Silence from Homura, as the lift arrives and you step into it.

You're reaching the first floor and about to prompt Homura when she speaks again. "She took it," Homura says, sounding faintly surprised.

"Thank you, Homura," you say, smiling a little as you step out into the waning evening light.

Silence again. Mami and you head down an alley, leaping up towards the rooftops once you're out of sight of the main road.

"Thank you," Homura says, voice quiet and uncertain.

"Hey, what're friends for?" you ask. "You're welcome, Homura." You smile at Mami, and gesture grandly with both hands. Grief gathers and spreads as if pressed flat by some vast hand moulding playdough, deep purple material flattening into a carpet patterned in twisting fractal patterns of eye-wrenching depth.

"Thank you, Sabrina," Homura says again. After a short pause, she adds, "See you later."

"See you, Homura." You plop down on your carpet, Mami sitting right beside you to nestle comfortably into your side.

Best to let Kirika you're on your way. "Hey, Kirika, we're.on our way," you say as you will the carpet upwards and onwards.

"Oh. Please hurry," she respond.

"Yeah, we're flying in," you say, exhaling a slow sigh snatched away by the wind of your passage.

A thought occurs to you. "Say, Mami," you say, raising your voice to be heard over the rushing wind. "Do you think it's possible to reverse-engineer an enchantment?"

Mami blinks. "Of course it is," she says.

"Oh," you say. "Well, OK, then. Hmm... What about adapting enchantments? Start from one, and then change it to a similar effec-"

Mami's already nodding. "It is," she says. "That's how I learned many of my own enchantments. I went from... simple durability, to the shield, to... specific shield configurations, for example."

"Oh, that's cool," you say, smiling. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"Ah..." Mami hides her expression of pleased embarrassment by nuzzling her head against your shoulder.

You chuckle. "You're good, Mami. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself," you say. Truth be told, you were a little worried about asking Mami about the enchantments. That seems to have been a rather thankfully misplaced fear, though.

Kirika's waiting for you when you arrive, glass door thrown open well before you land in their backyard.

You hop off the carpet to the grass, waving to Kirika. "Hey, Kirika," you say. You can sense her Soul Gem... upstairs, next to the clear Seed, and next to Oriko's Soul Gem. Which seems more or less unchanged from the last time you'd seen it - Pythia's still there, if oddly distorted, almost as if you're 'looking' through a heat haze, or trying to 'hear' underwater.

And there's something in her hand, dangling loosely at her side. It looks like a rock to your eyes, but... it's a complete void in your Grief senses.

Huh.

"Hey, Sabrina," Kirika says, biting at her lip. "You're here to help Oriko?"

"Yeah," you say, absently dissolving the carpet as Mami dismounts from it. "And so's Mami. I promised I'd be here, right? And ah... what's that in your hand?"

Kirika nods, her eyes dropping to the rock in her hand. "Oh... I tried what you asked me to. I... succeeded in making an antimagic enchantment, I guess. I didn't get anywhere with making my antimagic field a constant effect, though."

Huh.

She turns and heads into the house, bounding up the stairs. You follow.

When you get to the room, you find Oriko lying right where you'd left her, her skin grey and, well, corpse like. Mami winces, her expression falling a little as she glances away from Oriko to you. There's a laptop lying on the bedside table, the browser open to an awfully familiar website.

Kirika waits next to the bed, giving you an expectant look.

 

File: clear_skies.jpg (123kB 1020x680)
		■ Anonymous 04/07/11(Thu)14:26:35 No.51017331 ▶ >>51017542
		ITT: meguca
		>>	■ Anonymous 04/07/11(Thu)14:27:43 No.51017542 ▶ >>51017667 File: da_phuk_is_a_valid_name_i_swear.jpg (123kB 1280x720)
				the fuck's a meguca
>>	■ Anonymous 04/07/11(Thu)14:27:57 No.51017667 ▶ >>51017712 >>51017856 >>51017872
	>>51017542 magical girls!
>>	■ Anonymous 04/07/11(Thu)14:28:12 No.51017712 ▶ >>51017719
	>>51017667 fuck off with your animu bullshit
>>	■ Anonymous 04/07/11(Thu)14:28:29 No.51017712 ▶ File: umad.jpg (48kB 340x340)
		>>51017703 no

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] When we're there, degrief Kirika. Bring Mami up to speed.
[x] Remake the pain blocking ring. Usual warnings.
[x] Run healing magic on Oriko's body. Remove any damage brought by necrosis. Wake Oriko up.
[x] Everyone is probably hungry at this point. Suggest ordering take out?
[x] Discuss plans on how to proceed.
-[x] Ask Kirika if she made any progress. If not that's okay.
-[x] Enchantment is probably the surefire way to go.
--[x] If Mami's remarks on reverse engineering were promising, suggest making an enchanted pain blocking ring with grief assistance and letting her look at it.
--[x] If that idea doesn't pan out, while Mami attempts enchantment, try using a shell of magic to make a second grief ring sustain itself.

=====​

I, ah, substituted 4chan styling and... flavour for 2chan, because I don't know 2chan at all. Call it... localization.

 

[Firnagzen]

"She's OK," you say. To Mami, to Kirika - to both, really. "We just need to heal her up and return her Soul Gem to her, and she'll be up again."

"I... OK," Mami says, unable to tear her eyes away from Oriko's body.

You touch Mami's elbow lightly, gently steering her aside. You throw Kirika an apologetic look, but she nods slightly. She shakes her head and motions silently towards Mami, an understanding look on her face.

"Mami," you say, pulling her into a hug. "Are you OK?"

She takes a deep, shuddering breath. "I... I suppose I am. It was just a... bit of a shock. It's like she was... dead," she says, swallowing.

"Yeah," you say, exhaling. "I'm sorry. I should have warned you."

"No, it's not your fault," Mami says, pulling back far enough to give you a weak smile. "I... I'm alright."

"OK," you say, tightening your hug around her for a moment before loosening your grip. Mami doesn't step away immediately, content to rest her head against the crook of your neck for a moment before finally stepping back, smile a little less wobbly.

"Alright," you say, turning to Kirika. "Let's get to it. First things first, I'll make a pain blocking ring, then you can wake Oriko up, and we'll heal her a bit, alright?"

Kirika nods.

"OK, so... Mami, this is going to feel a bit Witchy, alright?" you say. When she nods in acknowledgement, you summon a small blob of Grief to your hand and mould it. The Grief melts into a simple doughnut shape, and you bear down with your will and mind. Block the pain of your wearer.

You feel it give abruptly, the ring abruptly shining gold. Fiery runes burn for a moment along the edges before fading away, the ring singing with that familiar pressure of Witch.

You exhale, holding it out to Kirika.

Kirika accepts it gratefully, immediately sliding it onto Oriko's finger and interlacing her fingers with the seer's. She gives you an anxious look. "Sabrina?"

"Kirika?" you respond, gesturing at Oriko's Soul Gem with a smile. You glance at Mami and motion outside the room. "Give them some privacy," you murmur into Mami's mind.

"Ah," Mami says, glancing back.

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Kirika give both of you a grateful nod as she reverently picks up Oriko's Soul Gem.

You step outside the room pulling the door shut, and lean against the door.

"How are you?" you ask Mami, smiling at her and pulling her into a quick hug. You can feel Kirika returning Oriko's Soul Gem to her, and the seer waking up, the glowing conflagration of magic thatis Oriko kindling from her Gem.

Mami shakes her head, smiling. "I'm... I'm alright." She meets your eyes. "I am, Sabrina. I- it really was just the shock."

"Alright," you say, exhaling in relief. "How long did that take? To make the ring?"

"Oh... maybe a minute?" Mami says. "Not too long."

"Hmm," you say, filing that away. "OK, thanks."

Mami smiles, shaking her head. "Not at all, Sabrina."

You lean against the wall, looking up and down the carpeted corridor. There are... there were pictures hung on the walls, now merely discolourations in the wallpaper from where they'd been removed. A pot of flowers sits on an ornate table at the end of the corridor - lilies, from a quick glance.

... And probably Kirika's doing, if you think about it.

You shaks your head, and smile at Mami. "Anyway... How much do you know about what's happening with Oriko?"

"Only what you told me," Mami says, smiling back at you. "She's having some difficulty with her magic, and it's causing her a lot of pain."

"Right," you say. "Crippling pain. I made a pain blocking ring that worked on her, but it would only last as long as I was around, so I had to, ah, disconnect her." You tuck you stray hair behind your ear as you think. "Hm. OK, so... I've been hoping to make that pain blocking permanent. But my skill with enchantment is, ah, lacking, so I was hoping you could help me?"

Mami smiles. "Of course, Sabrina," she says, voice warm. She glances thoughtfully at the door. "Miss Kure really loves her, doesn't she?"

You shrug. "Yeah."

She nods slowly, golden eyes fixed on the closed door. Eventually, she sighs and smiles at you, expression warm and soft. "I see," she says.

You smile back at her.

"Hey, Sabrina? You can come back in now!" There's more life to Kirika's voice than you'd heard since this morning.

And when you reenter the room, Oriko's sitting up, aided by Kirika. Sea green eyes regard you with unruffled calm despite the distinctly unhealthy pallour of her skin. And if she's moving a bit more stiffly than you remember, well. "Hello, Sabrina. Miss Tomoe."

"Hi, Oriko," you say.

"Miss Mikuni," Mami says, nodding fractionally.

"OK, first order of business," you announce. "Oriko, we're going to heal you up a bit, OK?"

She nods, voluminous silver hair shifting. "That would be welcome."

Noting the distinct dearth of chairs in the room, you perch on the edge of Oriko's bed, Mami right beside you. Kirika's on the opposite side of the bed. All three of you stretch your hands towards Oriko, the gentle glows of healing magic in three different colours mingling as you work to repair the necrosis.

It doesn't take that long, about half an hour at most - there wasn't too much damage. You exhale slowly as you withdraw your hands, absently checking all your Soul Gems - Kirika's is fine, since it's sitting right next to the clear Seed. You cleanse Mami's Soul Gem and your own with a crook of your finger, a deep purple mist of Grief pouring out of the window in eddying whorls.

"How are you feeling?" you ask.

Oriko blinks slowly, taking a deep breath. "I feel fine," she says. "Your pain blocking ring works. And my visions are..." She makes an empty handed gesture. "They are sluggish. Not the usual... rapid pace."

Kirika's hand curls around Oriko's, orange eyes seeking sea green ones for reassurance. Oriko smiles at her.

"Alright," you say. "Anyway... Kirika, I'm sure you're hungry, and so are Mami and I. Shall we order takeout for dinner, or is there something we could throw together quickly?"

Oriko considers this for a moment. "Takeout," she says. "It would take too long to cook."

"KFC!" Kirika says, perking up.

Oriko smiles at her. "KFC."

You raise an eyebrow. "... KFC?"

Kirika beams at you. "Yes! Three piece chicken meal for me," she says.

"... Mami?" you ask.

She smiles at you. "I don't mind."

"Alright," you say, nodding. "KFC it is."

Oriko orders, speaking into the phone with terse, clipped tones.

"I'll go get some chairs," you note, wandering out of the room. Mami, naturally, follows you.

You let your mind... drift as you walk down the corridors, peeking into the rooms as you search for chairs. Oriko's... soul pains. Well. You could wait for the puella magi with soul powers to come by in a week, as predicted by Oriko, but a part of you can't help but worry that that would be too late.

And then there's the can of crazy that is Asunaro. Of course, that means dealing with the crazy.

And then again, there's the Soujos, the twins in one body. And Oriko had predicted they'd be arriving in... a week now, you think. That particular brand of crazy is something special. Collecting Soul Gems because they're pretty. Honestly, you should probably just snatch away their Gems the moment you lay eyes on them.

Frankly, exploding their Gems isn't even out of the question, you have to admit to yourself. You swallow. Killing... You don't want to. But if it comes down to it...

Or you could Witch them out, in hopes of reviv-

Your gorge rises, and you gag.

You force back the sudden nausea, the disgust with yourself for even contemplating that. You-

You didn't even like the thought of doing it to Kirika-

Mami's at your side, her hands fluttering as she checks your temperature with a hand on your forehead. "Sabrina? Sabrina!"

You swallow the bile. "I- I'm OK," you say, voice wavering. The back of your throat burns with stomach acid. "I- I'm OK, Mami."

"Are you sure?" Mami asks, peering anxiously at your face. "You don't look like it."

"Yeah," you say. "I'm OK. I just had a... really upsetting thought."

"Oh," Mami says, biting her lip. "I-if you're sure, Sabrina."

"I'm sure," you say, managing a smile at Mami and pulling her into a reassuring hug.

"A-alright," she says, leaning her head against you for a moment. Eventually, she eases back a little.

You release her, and let her step out of the hug. "We still haven't found any chairs yet..." she says.

"That's true," you agree. "Onwards!"

Eventually, you do find the chairs, and return to Oriko's room to find Kirika lying on the bed, curled into the seer's side like a cat. You plunk your chair down and sit.

"By the way, Kirika," you say, by way of filling the silence as you wait for the takeout to arrive. "That antimagic enchantment you made. How does it work, do you know? I mean, does it have an area of effect, or just people who touch it, or...?"

"People who touch it," Kirika says, glancing at the rock on the bedside table. "That's it, I think. It just shuts down their magic."

"Hunh," you say. "OK. Is that the first one you made? Do you think you can make more?"

"Yeah, and yeah," Kirika nods. "It... Do you think it will help?"

"Maybe," you say, mulling it over. "I'm not entirely sure yet, still thinking it over. But... Good job, Kirika."

She grins at you.

Just as you're about to say something more, you're interrupted by the clear belltones of the door chime.

"Food's here!" Kirika cheers, bouncing to her feet. She swipes some money from inside a drawer and heads out of the room. Oriko watches her go with a fond, wistful smile on her face.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] Discuss plans on how to proceed. Enchantment is probably the sure fire way to go.
[x] Ask Mami how she'd begin if we were to start on a pain blocking enchant.
[x] Tell Mami about your magic control booster and your mixed success with one enchant as well as how it failed. Ask if she'd think it'd help her if she looked at a 'boosted' enchant.
[x] Continue to work with Mami, Kirika and Oriko on a plan with enchantment magic.
[x] Break for food at the agreed upon time/when it arrives. During this time, telepathy Masami about Ono.

=====​

KFC is really popular in Japan. I have no idea why.

Also, cutting off the update here due to length, if you want to refine the vote a little more, go ahead.

 

[Firnagzen]

Mami excuses herself to wash her hands, returning just as Kirika bounces up the stairs, carrying plastic bags bulging with cardboard boxes and drink cups. "Food's here~" Kirika chirps, setting the bags down on the bedside table and digging out two boxes for herself and Oriko. The savoury smell of fried chicken fills the air.

"We are not eating in the bedroom," Oriko says crossly, frowning at Kirika.

"Yes we are," Kirika says, plopping onto the bed next to the seer and producing a towel from a drawer, laying it across their laps with a quick flick. "You're not getting out of bed until you're better."

You snicker under your breath as you claim the last two boxes for yourself and Mami, earning a glare from Oriko. You'll leave the mashed potatoes and coleslaw for later.

"Here you are." You pass Mami's dinner to her. She accepts it with a warm smile, letting it rest on her lap.

After a chorused 'itadakimasu', you all start digging into the chicken. Kirika isn't shy about her enjoyment, making happy little noises as she devours the chicken and sending crumbs showering over the towel.

"So anyway," you say after taking the initial edge off.your hunger. "I'm thinking of how to proceed from here - does anyone have any suggestions?"

Oriko glances at you, somehow contriving to be absolutely tidy and refined as she peels the skin off the chicken. "You're the closest to an expert on... Soul matters we have here," she points out.

... Madokami damn it but she's right.

Hopefully that'll only last until the puella magi you've mentally dubbed the soulguca gets here.

"Ah... Sabrina, you said something about enchantment?" Mami asks, nibbling on a drumstick.

"Yeah," you say, tucking back a stray lock of hair with your as-yet-ungreasy hand. "So... OK. I'm hoping that enchantment is the key to helping you, Oriko, because it's frankly the most versatile thing we have available to us. Hypothetically, I could so something with Grief, but that'd dissipate as soon as I left."

Oriko shakes her head. "The problem is that none of us are able to make enchantments," she says.

"Excuse you," you say, smirking at her. "Mami's absolutely amazing at this."

Mami blushes slightly. "I wouldn't say that..."

"I would," you say, smiling at her. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Kirika flash you a grin.

Mami shakes her head. "Ah... regardless, I've never made anything like this before. I don't know how well this would work..."

"I made the antimagic rock," Kirika volunteers, gesturing with a virtually polished bone towards the rock on the bedside table. "Uh... What did you have in mind with it?"

"Well, we need to see whether that actually helps Oriko as is," you say. "It might, it might not, but if it does, well, it's probably going to shut down Oriko's visions."

Kirika nods, looking thoughtful.

"If the pain is, ah, magical in nature, then it might be worth looking at?" Mami suggests. "I mean, even if it doesn't directly help, I could try and learn how it's made and adapt it?"

"It seems to me that trying to learn about the magic of an anti-magic enchantment would be futile," Oriko observes after swallowing a mouthful. "Kirika, could you pass me the coleslaw?"

"We won't know if it's possible until we try it, Miss Mikuni," Mami says, regarding Oriko with a placid smile.

"Reasonable, Miss Tomoe," Oriko responds, accepting the little plastic tub Kirika hands her.

You exchange a look with Kirika, and she makes a little 'after you' gesture, a slight raise of her eyebrows, her chin lifting a fraction of a centimetre.

"So, uh," you say. "Mami, you said you could reverse engineer enchantments, right?"

Mami's eyes leave Oriko's, and she smiles at you instead. "I did," she confirms. "Do you have something in mind?"

"Well, I made a Grief thingamabob that gave me better control and let me enchant things easily," you say. "But the enchantment was... unstable, and wouldn't hold if I left the area."

"Ah," Mami says, perking up. "I could take a look at that and reverse engineer it?"

"That's what I was thinking," you say.

"Er... Sabrina?" Kirika asks. "Is it possible for you make something that lets your Grief things persist?"

You snort. Hoo boy. "Maybe?" you say. "I've been meaning to try, but uh, timing, plus I have a hard time deciding on whether it's worth it."

"Ah... would it feel Witchy?" Mami asks.

"Yeah, that's the other thing," you sigh. "Almost certainly." And you can't help but wonder if that would entail creating what amounts to a Familiar. Which, uh, bad touch. You're... pretty sure you're not a Witch, yes.

Mami nods, mouth twisting. "That might not work the best," she says. "It's quite noticeable even from a distance away..."

"Probably not that, then," Kirika says, looking glum. "Uh... I suppose I can try to make a new antimagic enchantment, if Miss Tomoe's examining the old one?"

"Mm," you nod in agreement, snagging mashed potatoes for yourself. You take a moment to consider whether Japan is real before discarding that thought as utterly absurd. Why'd that even occur to you?

Oriko blinks slowly. "I shall try to enchant directly for pain removal," she volunteers, sound unsure.

"You do that - and like I said earlier, stop trying to use your foresight on it," you say, waving a greasy hand at her. "Enchantment is a skill you have to learn-" you glance at Mami, who nods in confirmation, "-so if you don't actually start, all you'll see is yourself failing."

"Think of it as... akin to mathematics," Mami supplies. "There is a 'right' way to do things that will work for one problem, but there are also generally applicable skills that you have to learn."

Oriko nods. "Noted."

"Alright then," you say, rolling your shoulders.

"What will you do, Sabrina?" Kirika asks, citrine eyes bright with hope.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] In your free time, telepathy Masami about Ono.

=====​

On a mostly unrelated note, KFC Japan did this for their 30th anniversary.

No, I don't know why, either.

Additionally, please clarify on what you want to tell Masami about Ono.

 

[Firnagzen]

You blink, thinking about that for a moment. "I need to figure out own enchantment," you say, savouring the mashed potato. "I want to be able to understand what goes into an enchantment, or a Soul Gem."

Mami nods. "That sounds like a good idea," she agrees.

"Yeah... Maybe you'll be able to see what's wrong?" Kirika says, smiling hopefully. She gives the little pile of polished bones in front of her a mournful look.

"Hopefully," you agree, watching in amusement as Oriko shares half of the breaded skin she'd peeled off the chicken with Kirika. The black haired girl immediately brightens, scooting a little closer to Oriko.

"Ah, Sabrina," Mami says, smiling at you. "Could you pass the coleslaw and mashed potato?"

"Sure," you agree, doing just that. Dinner finishes in amiable silence, most of the discussion having burnt itself out, and you all wash your hands, Kirika getting lightly smacked by Oriko for flicking her hands dry on the floor.

You head down to the living room, illuminated by the warm sunlight tones of fluorescent bulbs. You all settle into the rich leather sofas, Kirika collecting some rocks from outside and dumping them on the table.

"Alright," you say, smiling as Mami sits beside you and curls against your side. "Let's get started. Ah, Mami, could you enchant something for me to practice on first? I'll make you the Grief boosted enchantment. Uh, general warning for the Witch-y feel again."

Mami nods, reaching out just far enough to snag one of the river-smoothed rocks and holding it between both hands. She exhales, face turning blank as she focuses on the enchantment, her palms lighting up with a golden glow.

Kirika and Oriko are cuddled into each other on the other sofa, both of them getting started on their own enchantments.

You call a blob of Grief to you, a small sphere zooming in through the open window. You catch it, and focus your will upon it. What was it you'd wanted last time? Enhancement of enchantment control. You bend your will upon the Grief, metaphorically moulding and twisting at it-

-and it's done, a plain bracelet of seemingly steel, gleaming in your palm. It hums in your senses, and out of the corner of your eye, you catch Mami's look. You give her a reassuring smile, flipping the bracelet into your other hand so that you can give Mami a one-armed hug.

She relaxes, smiling at you.

"Right," you murmur, slipping the bracelet on and selecting another of those smoothed rocks from the small pile on the table. You'd make a ring, but you don't have a normal ring to work with. So a rock it is, then.

You exhale slowly, holding the rock on the flat of your palm. You know what you want -pain blocking- so you simply pour magic from the palm, letting your intention and the bracelet guide the formation. Grief wicks into the winding traceries of magic, giving the enchantment a speckled appearance to your mind's eye.

"Here we are," you say, holding it out to Mami. Absently, you dissolve the bracelet rather than keep it around - the Witchy sensation's probably a distraction.

"And here you are," Mami says, taking the rock and handing you another in exchange. This one's formed into a smooth sphere. Golden fire blooms across its surface at your touch, light spreading in rippling circles. "Magical reinforcement," she adds.

"Thank you, Mami," you say, taking the rock with a smile. She ducks her head, smiling back at you.

On the other sofa, Kirika's concentrating hard, her tongue poking out of her mouth as she directs a frown at the rock in her hand. Oriko, on the other hand, is slowly turning her rock over between her palms, magic flickering in fitful little starts.

To work, then. You want to learn to analyse magic more thoroughly. Trying to do it with Grief didn't quite work, the last time you'd tried it. And that had been odd, too. It had felt like it was... somehow out of reach, and just out of reach, at that.

You chew on your lip as you contemplate that. Shouldn't Grief transmutation be incredibly versatile, capable of nearly anything? It is what Witches use to build their Barriers and their very forms. So why would this be out of reach?

You need to think about it. For now, though... You exhale, turning your attention to the rock and peering into it with your senses. Magical traceries wind across the surface of the magic. You spend a while examining those twisting streaks of magic, trying to discern some pattern to the way they're structured and the way they flicker and glow in response to touching the stone.

Not really much to be found there, though you do note that the magic has a distinct sensation to it, warm and gentle while wrapped around an inner core of cast iron.

Reminds you of Mami, really. Which makes you think of Mami in glasses, for some reason, and that mental image is alarmingly adorable. Hm. And speaking of Mami, she does have that test tomorrow... tsk. You need to do something about that. Back to the topic at hand...

Magic is odd, on your senses, a sort of like-yet-not-like resonance to your self. You feel like you could mould it, twist it like you do with grief, but when you reach for it, it's oddly far away and yet paradoxically still within reach.

And if you look at your own Soul Gem... it is, in many ways, the absolute opposite to a Grief Seed. If a Grief Seed is absolutely packed with Grief, then your Soul Gem overflows with magic. It would be blinding, an absolute nova, if you were looking at it with your physical eyes.

And in the centre, the one similarity. That one abyssal speck of Gried that you instinctively shy away from looking at too closely.

You chew on your lip. Magic and Grief.

Despair and hope.

That's not really a new realisation, you suppose.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] While you practice, remind Oriko that in order to test Kirika's AM enchantment, she'll need to let go of the ring for a moment. She should tell us as soon as she's ready.
[X] Whenever you feel tired, telepathy Masami and Hiroko.
-[X] How many Christmas baskets do you owe them for their help?
-[X] Ask how did their meeting go.
-[X] Also how's the Grief Seed working.
-[X] Also if they need anything from you.
[X] If you need another break during practice, try to Grief up an informational pamphlet about Oriko's Soul issue. Grief warning.

=====​

Hmmmm.

 

[Firnagzen]

You tilt your head slightly, contemplating what you'd learned. You're still not really sure what to make of it, though you do have a vague, if unrelated idea. Hm.

Enchantment... well, what you do with Grief is you impose your will, you impose order. And that simply doesn't seem to work with magic. What if it's more like Wishing? Ask and ye shall receive and all. Maybe it's to be guided, and not grabbed by the stranglehold of your will and forced into a rigid structure.

It would kind of make sense, given how there's no perceptible rhyme nor reason to the enchantment laid by Mami. It's worth a shot. You turn your attention back to the rock, pursing your lips and let magic simply seep into it. You don't control it, you don't try to force it into any structure.

Reinforcement. You try and push the impression at the magic diffusing from your hands. If you had to use an analogy, it's... a cloud of gas, sort of, moving kind of aimlessly. You try and... prod it towards the rock, but to no real avail - bereft of direction, it acts exactly like said cloud of gass and diffuses.

It doesn't even try to clump together like Grief that leaves your range, it just thins out into the environment.

No luck there, then. Hm. At least the rock isn't shattered into little chunks. With perfect comedic timing, a sharp crack fills the room - Oriko's first rock, splintered into tiny shards. The seer winces, but dusts her hands off and picks up a new one.

You know what, you'll take a quick break and check on Masami and Hiroko. Hopefully they haven't murdered Ono in the, uh, six or seven hours since you'd last seen them.

Hmm. Only six hours. It feels longer.

"Hello? Masami, Hiroko?" you reach out telepathically, leaning back in the sofa for a moment. Mami spares a moment to look up from the rock you'd enchanted and smile at you, giving you a pat on the shoulder. You smile back at her.

"You weren't kidding about her attitude," Masami grumbles right back.

... promising.

"Hello, Sabrina," Hiroko chimes in.

"Sooooo how many Christmas baskets do I owe you?" you ask cautiously, rolling the river stone around your palm.

"All the Christmas baskets," Masami grunts. "Hold on."

"She's making her do laps," Hiroko confides in you, mental voice conspiratorial.

"... laps?" you ask.

"Ah, yes. Running laps?" Hiroko says.

That doesn't actually clarify much. "Go on?"

"Well," Hiroko says. "It's what Masami did for me? It helps to train discipline and, ah, an appreciation for physical stuff."

"But we're meguca," you say blankly.

"Meguca?" Hiroko asks.

"Uh, slang word for magical girls. From English, 'magical girl', meguca," you explain. "But anyway, we're magical girls? A bit of running shouldn't do much?"

"Ah!" Hiroko says, apparently understanding. "Yes, you're right, we know it shouldn't, but Miss Ono doesn't."

"Oh," you say. "Ohhhhh."

"Exactly," Masami says, rejoining the conversation. And if there's a certain amount of vindictive glee in her voice, well, who are you to comment. "It's what I did for Hiroko!"

"... try not to drive her too hard?" you offer. "I mean, she was sort of upset when I first met her."

"Ah," Masami says. "Yes, we know."

"I suggested that we could keep an eye on her for a day or two," Hiroko says. "We do have the time."

"Uh... huh," you say. "Well, OK then. Good luck, and see you around?"

"See you," Hiroko agrees.

"Yeah, bye-bye," Masami says.

You exhale. That's going well. You think.

You hope.

You return your attention to the rock, humming quietly under your breath. That idea you had wasn't it. Then again, such is science. You create a hypothesis and you test it, and discard it if necessary. "... We do what we must because we can~"

"For the good of all of us~" Your head snaps up. Mami beams at you.

"Except the ones who are dead~" You grin right back at her.

"But there's no sense crying over every mistake-" Her English is really quite good, only a bit of rounding on some syllables.

"You just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake-"

"And the science gets done and you make a neat gun-"

"For the people who are still alive~" The both of you finish together, grinning at each other.

Oriko and Kirika are both giving you looks of polite incomprehension.

You giggle. And that sets Mami off, covering her mouth to muffle her giggling. You quirk your eyebrows at her, and she nods, wiping the smirk off her face and returning to work. You, too, return your attention to the rock in your hands, flipping it slowly from side to side.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Oriko and Kirika exchange a very confused look before returning to their own tasks.

Hmm. You still think that there might be something to be made of that odd... sensation you get from magic. You try to mould a little magic, letting a gentle silver glow build up on your fingertips and trying to roll it around.

Controlling Grief comes naturally to you. It's like an extension of yourself, really, hands and arms and legs as needed. You will it, and it is done. And yet magic isn't like that. Control, proper control, feels like it's out of your reach, and all you can do is a few rote actions that you instinctively know how to - healing, summoning your hammer, and so on.

Hm.

You watch as Mami sets aside the rock you'd enchanted with pain removal, a distant, thoughtful expression on her face. Instead, she reaches for the antimagic rock, hefting it in her hand. The thoughtful look instantly dissolves into confusion, and she blinks down at the rock.

"Is something wrong, Mami?" you ask.

"... no," she says. "Not... exactly. Miss Kure, this is... antimagic, correct?"

Kirika looks up. "Hm? Yep, it is!" Oriko's head snaps up, too, eyes unfocusing as she frowns in the general direction of the wall.

"I... can't do anything with this," Mami admits, looking sheepish. "It nullifies my magic."

"Oh," Kirika says, giving Oriko a concerned look. "Uh... that makes sense? Um... Oriko?"

"Mm," you agree. "That's annoying. Oriko?"

"What is, Sabrina?"

You spot the red eyes first, almost glowing against the soft white fur. Kyuubey perches at the window of the living room, lit by the lamps against the encroaching blackness of light outside. At your side, Mami makes a faintly distressed sound, and you wrap an arm around her waist, squeezing lightly.

[] Write-in

=====​

Did you forget about it?

 

[Firnagzen]

To throw it out, or to talk to it. Throw it out, or talk to it...

On the one hand, it's Kyuubey. You're... you're afraid of it, you guess. You don't know what it wants, in this case, and you don't know how it might ruin things for you. As it is, it holds far too many cards, and each of those cards could break you and your friends. Mami, especially.

On the other hand, it's Kyuubey. You hate it, but you might learn something from it. Kyuubey is the actual Soul expert here, much as it galls you to admit it. Or more so than you are, at any rate. It might be your best chance to help Oriko.

On the third gripping hand, which you just formed out of Grief, it's Kyuubey, pinched delicately between two marionette jointed fingers. It's really not worth it.

You bring Kyuubey up to your eye level, dangling by the scruff of its neck. "Get out," you say.

With a deft flick of the disembodied Grief hand, you toss it back out of the window.

You exhale. Bastard bunnycat.

You turn to Mami, pulling her into a proper hug. "Are you OK, Mami?"

She stares out of the window where you'd thrown the incubator, leaning into the hug. "I- I suppose so," she says, swallowing blinking rapidly as if trying to force back tears.

"That was unecessary, Sabrina." Kyuubey's telepathic voice intrudes in your head - in everyone's head, judging by the reactions. Oriko's expression tightens fractionally, while Kirika openly scowls at the little white creatue. Mami turns away from the window, burying her face in your shoulder.

"Go away, and stay gone," you snap, another Grief hand already snatching for it.

"Very well," the Incubator says, dodging nimbly and hopping out of sight. "It seems my help is unwanted."

You snort. Any help it'd offer would probably be tainted.

Then again, some part of you can't help but feel like you might be making a mistake. Alienating the little, well, alien, could lead to it taking more active measures against you. So far, it's been subtle - about the worst you can lay at its feet is... encouraging Megane to be distrustful of you. And then again, that might have been her natural onoryness showing through.

What if that changes, though?

Kirika grimaces, staring out of the window. "Nasty thing," she opines.

"Mh," you agree.

Mami shakes her head, and you can feel her taking a deep breath and steadying herself. "I... I hope he stays gone," she whispers.

"I know," you say, squeezing her reassuringly. "I know, Mami."

Oriko exhales. "Shall we get back to work?"

"Yeah," Kirika agrees, eyes flicking to the window with a grimace. "Back to work."

Mami sighs, cuddling into your side with her eyes closed. You hug her reassuringly, biting your lip. This... this isn't the kind of thing that goes away easily or quickly. You stroke her back in slow, soothing circles as she recovers.

Kyuubey. Little furry bastard. He, it. It's sentient and sapient, and... does it deserve a chance? Does it deserve your dislike? In the end... you suppose it does. Deserve your dislike, and maybe even your hatred. Forgiveness goes only so far, not when it has the blood of millions on its paws, accumulated since time immemorial.

"I- I'm alright," Mami whispers, pulling herself upright in your hug. She wipes at her face, giving you a weak smile.

"Take as much time as you need, Mami," you say keeping your arms right where they are.

Motion out of the corner of your eye - two gazes watching you silently, one sea-green and one orange. Oriko nods slowly, her expression distant and almost blank. Kirika's eyes flick from you to the darkness beyond the window and back to you, and she gives you a weak, worried little grin.

"I'm alright," Mami says, taking a deep, shuddering breath and sitting up properly. She doesn't move away from you, though, still pressed into your side, but she eases away just enough to pick up another rock and cup it between her hands.

Oriko nods again, eyes refocusing on you. "I'm going to try Kirika's antimagic rock," she murmurs, laying aside her own chunk of riverstone.

"Here," Kirika says, holding the newly made one to her. Oriko accepts it, holding her left hand out to Kirika.

The black haired girl smiles weakly, taking Oriko's hand between hers. With slow, gentle motions, she slides the ring off. Oriko tightens her grip on the antimagic rock in anticipation, her knuckles whitening.

The ring comes off fully. Oriko's jaw clenches tight, a flicker of pain crossing her face.

"Oriko?" Kirika whispers.

"It's... it's alright," she whispers. "Let me try."

She's controlling her breathing, forcing herself to breathe normally. It takes minutes, but it becomes more natural, her eyes opening.

"It's... workable," she says, voice thready.

Kirika shakes her head, squeezing the ring back onto Oriko's finger. The seer sags, the rigid set of her shoulders easing back into something gentler. "It cuts off my visions, but... the pain is manageable," she says, glancing at you.

"I think we can leave that as a backup plan, maybe?" you suggest. "If we absolutely can't figure out anything else?"

She nods slowly.

"I... I think I can duplicate the anti-pain effect, Sabrina," Mami says hesitantly. "I'm not completely sure, but I think so."

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] Stay alert in case the bunnycat comes back. If he returns, throw him out with floating Grief hands. Repeat as many times as needed.
[x] Diagnose Oriko's sickness using a magic boosted Grief book.
[x] More enchantment practice and experimentation.

=====​

This is technically a continuation of the previous vote in abeyance. Write in what Sabrina will do in the meantime - enchantment isn't really something you can assist on, if you want to practice a specific enchantment or idea or something, now's the time.

 

[Firnagzen]

"That's great," you say, giving her a warm, pleased smile. "You can do it, Mami. Um... is there anything I can do to help?"

She smiles back at you. "Ah, not really," she says. "I... don't think two person enchantment is really possible? Or... perhaps it is, but I've never tried it before."

"That's fair," you say, smiling at her. "I believe in you, Mami. You'll get this done. Hang in there!"

Kirika beams at Mami, eyes alight with eager hope. "Please do your best!"

Mami nods. "I'll try," she says, leaning forward to snag a fresh rock and the one you'd enchanted for her to reverse-engineer before cuddling back into your side, both of the rocks on her lap.

"Hm," you say, considering the matter. "Actually, maybe we should make it a ring for Oriko?"

Mami tilts her head. "Mmm... that makes sense," she agrees. "Ah, do you have a ring, though? I'll need something to start off."

"No, but I do have gold," you say, a smirk flickering across your face. You don't have to heat forge it, since you can probably extrude it with sheer pressure applied with your Grief. You hold your hand out towards the window, summoning one of the spheres containing your loot.

"Why do you have gold?" Kirika asks, eyeing you oddly as you root about inside the sphere and produce a small slab of gold. "... why do you have gold bars?"

"I stole it from the yakuza with Homura's help," you answer, pursing your lips as you contemplate the best way of doing this.

Oriko palms her face, and Kirika pats her shoulder reassuringly.

You chuckle, coming to a decision. Grief enfolds the bar of gold, the deep purple stuff flowing over the gold. It only takes a bit of thought to form a ring mould in the middle of the Grief, and another touch of will and a clenching of your fist squeezes. Sheer pressure crushes gold into the ring. With twirl of your fingers, you form a thousand tiny, abrading blades inside your impromptu cold-forge sphere, sandblasting the ring to a polished finish.

You briefly debate etching words in the Black Speech around the edge of the ring, but that probably sends the wrong message entirely.

The sphere hinges open to display a gleaming golden ring, which you pick out with a grin and hand to Mami. You seal the Grief sphere shut again, and compress the remaining chunk of gold back into a bar shape, albeit a smaller one than you'd started with. "There we go," you say, beaming proudly.

Mami stares down at the ring in her hands, shaking her head. "Oh, Sabrina," she says fondly. She weighs the ring in her hand thoughtfully. "I can work with this."

"Hey, if it works, it works," you say, glancing around at the others. Kirika seems torn between giving you a thumbs up, blushing furiously at the prospect of putting a ring on Oriko, and cheering Mami on. Oriko's face is firmly buried in her palms.

"Alright," Mami says, holding the ring in one hand and the anti-pain rock in the other. She leans into your side, nestling comfortably against you. "I'll get started."

"Right," you say. "I'll get back to practice, then. I suppose all of us should, just in case?"

Oriko nods, as does Kirika.

The living room falls silent as you all turn to your own tasks, the minutes ticking away on the clock. You let your mind wander as you work slowly on your own enchantment. Dewitching.

Really, it's one of your biggest hopes for enchantment. Half one, and half the other... Grief comes naturally to you but magic is so much harder. It's weird, really, just out of reach. Just out of reach, as if you might be able to grasp it by figuring out how to twist your control.

You exhale slowly, turning the rock over in your hand. At least you haven't broken any so far, though you haven't succeeded, either.

... Madokami above, you hope you don't break any Grief Seeds when it comes to trying to restore them. That would be rather not good.

Would Kyuubey retaliate if you start cutting into its profit margins with the dewitching? You have no idea, to be honest, and that's... a concern.

The sharp crack of a rock shattering draws you from your own contemplation - Kirika, poking disonconsolately at a broken rock. You frown. Hadn't she already succeeded with enchantment?

Hm.

"By the way, Kirika," you say. "Just curious, how'd you do the anti-magic enchantment?"

She glances up. "Eh?"

"No, I mean like..." You wave a hand. "Did you start with a simpler enchantment, or did this one work out easier, or...?"

"Aha!" Kirika says, citrine eyes crinkling into an understanding smile. "Uh, I was trying the reinforcement magic-" she gestures with the handful of splintered shards in her hand, "-but that didn't work. When you suggested the anti-magic, I gave it a shot. Still took me a few tries, but it was easier."

"Right, that makes sense," you say, idly tucking stray hair behind your ear. Hm.

"I've noticed magical girls tend to have an affinity for enchantment related to their own powers?" Mami offers, glancing up from the ring.

"Ah, thanks, Mami," you say. Hm. It makes sense, you reckon.

She beams up at you, returning to studying your rock with a thoughtful air.

"... also, Kirika," you say. "How did you get a picture of me flying, anyway?"

"Telescopic lens," Kirika says, fang poking out of her grin. "And I asked Oriko for the best place to look."

"Do I want to know why you have a telescopic lens?" you ask.

Kirika shrugs.

You shake your head, smiling yourself - that grin is infectious, and you return to your enchantment. Beside you, Mami chuckles and leans her head against you, eyes flicking from the rock to the ring in her hand. You can feel her magic starting to stir in slow, tentative licks of spectral, invisible fire.

Another hour ticks by, until finally, Mami makes a satisfied sound, sitting up straight. And you can feel her magic coalesce into a closed loop, centred on the ring.

"Success?" you ask, sitting up and smiling at Mami.

"Yes!" she says, proudly holding the ring up to you. It gleams in the lamp light, golden fire in shifting runes burning along the rim. Not the Black Speech.

Kirika bounds to your side, eyes bright and eager. "It works?" she demands.

"It works," Mami says, steady and confident.

Kirika makes an inarticulate, begging sound, holding out both hands for it.

Mami glances at you, and you nod in confirmation. She nods, and drops the ring in Kirika's hands.

Kirika's back at Oriko's side in an instant, the ring in her outstretched hand. Oriko smiles at her, and holds her hand out.

Kirika blushes. Violently.

And she grins at Oriko through the blush, bright and happy.

Mami makes an amused noise, watching the couple with an equally amused smile.

Slowly, reverently, Kirika slides the Grief ring off her finger, and replaces it with the golden one.

Oriko relaxes. Tension bleeds out of her shoulders, and she works her neck experimentally.

"It works," she pronounces.

Kirika squeals, and tackles her in a massive hug, nearly rocking the sofa over on its back.

[] Write-in

=====​

OK, so I'm going to do something I haven't done before: In the interests of settling this particular argument, I am locking it in that Sabrina will be trying the Grief book before she leaves Oriko's place, using this vote:

Spoiler

[X] Try to create a Grief Manual outlining the form and function of a Soul Gem.
--[X] After Mami finishes the anti pain enchantment.
--[X] Warn her that making it might take a few minutes, general witchy feeling warning, etc.

 

[Firnagzen]

Success. Success.

You grin at Mami, pulling her into an exuberant hug. "You did it, Mami!" you squeal into her hair. "I knew you could do it!"

"Ah... I'm glad I could do something," Mami says, ducking her head.

"No," you say, pulling back and smiling at her. "You did this, Mami. You did this, and you made something usable out of what I did."

She shakes her head, but she can't hide the delighted smile on her face as she hugs you back.

"Thank you, Tomoe Mami." Oriko's quiet voice has you glancing over at the seer.

Kirika bounces off Oriko's lap. "Yeah! Thank you, Mami!" she chirps, gloom vanishing and good mood restored.

"It was no problem," Mami says, smiling a little at Kirika. The expression turns stiff when her eyes meet Oriko's, however, smile faltering.

The seer nods slowly in acknowledgement.

If Mami's gracious smile and nod is still a little strained, well... you'll take it as some progress.

You tighten your hug around her, drawing her attention back to you. "Thank you, Mami, for indulging me on this," you say. "I know you didn't really want to help Oriko, so... Thank you, Mami, so much."

"You thought it was for the best, so I'm glad to have helped," Mami says, smiling warmly at you.

You smile back at her, meeting warm, golden eyes with nothing but absolute, unshakeable trust in you.

A minute later, she steps back, still smiling. "What's next, Sabrina?"

You exhale, smiling around at the others. "OK. This buys us a little time - Oriko, your Soul Gem is still... odd." You double check to confirm that this is, indeed, the case. "But it's getting kind of late, so... we'll see you tomorrow, OK? We're not done here."

Oriko nods. "I understand," she says. "My visions are still... sluggish, but the pain is gone. I'll be fine."

"Aw," Kirika says, shoulders slumping. "OK."

"Alright," you say, rolling your neck and summoning a blob of Grief to your hands. This... this is something that's been bothering you for a while, whether you can do it. And there's really no better time to settle it. "Let me try one last thing before we go, OK? This is gonna feel kinda Witchy, and it'll probably take a few minutes." You smile reassuringly at Mami.

She smiles back at you, a touch of worry on her face, but she nods. "Alright," she says.

You glance at Kirika and Oriko. They nod in acquiesence too, so you set your feet and raise the blob of Grief between both hands.

You focus.

A deep breath in...

Soul Gems. A manual on how Soul Gems work. You push with your mind, reaching with that odd sense of control you have over Grief. Knowledge.

Knowledge that feels like it's there but not quite within your grasp. Out of your reach, even if you strain to try and take it-

... and out.

You wipe at the sweat beading on your brow. You roll your shoulders again, now dense knots of tension, and you wince. The sphere of Grief in your hands remains mockingly unchanged.

"Sabrina?" Mami asks.

"I'm OK," you say, letting your hands drop so that the blob of Grief hangs in the air. You banish it out of the window. "Didn't work, is all." You grimace, rolling your neck and your shoulders both.

"Eh," Kirika says, shrugging. "Win some, lose some, yeah?"

"Yeah," you agree. "Anyway, cleanses for everyone?"

You take a look at Oriko's Gem as you cleanse it. Maybe it's your imagination, but you'd swear the fire that is her magic is tightening on itself. You'd compared it to a klein bottle earlier, and that's not a bad analogy - the loop is shrinking.

Oriko and Kirika see you to the big glass door, opening into the rose garden. Kirika beams at you as you step outside. "Thanks for helping, Sabrina," she says, patting you on the shoulder.

"Thank Mami," you say, tilting your head at her.

"Already did," Kirika says, grinning. "Now I'm thanking you."

"You're welcome," you say, smiling back as you form a Grief carpet. "Anyway... See you all tomorrow, OK?"

"Yeah, see you," Kirika says, stepping back.

Oriko nods, waving with her one working hand. "Tomorrow."

Mami's already sitting on the carpet when you turn back to it, and to your surprise, doesn't immediately curl into your side when you sit on it. You look askance at her, but she simply smiles back at you.

You lift into the air, Kirika waving enthusiastically as she shrinks away beneath you. Mami shuffles around behind her, and sets her hands on your shoulders. Strong fingers start to knead and massage at your trapezius muscles, soothing away the tension.

She's good at it, and you slowly relax, the knots melting away under her hands as you soar over Mitakihara. You groan, working the muscles and letting your mind wander, briefly considering the vaguely terrifying idea of Homura with more guns.

"Thank you, Mami," you say.

"It's just a massage," she demurs, never ceasing her ministrations.

"No, not that," you say. "Though thank you for this, too, it feels amazing. Just... thank you for helping today, Mami."

"It was nothing," she says. "Ah, there's something I'm curious about."

"Mmm?" She's changing the subject, but you suppose you'll let her.

"Um... Mikuni Oriko," Mami asks. "I suppose that house was her father's?"

"It is," you agree. Where's she going with this, you wonder.

"I thought so. She... doesn't seem to be taking care of it," she says.

"Mmm... She can't really do much with just one hand," you say. "And Kirika doesn't, uh, strike me as much of a cleaning person, you know? And honestly... I'm not sure she likes the house much, other than as somewhere to live."

Mami chuckles, her laughter light and cheerful. "That's true. And that would make sense."

"Is something on your mind?" you prompt.

"Not really..." Mami says. "The rose bush in the backyard... that was you, wasn't it?"

You blink in surprise. "... well, yeah," you admit. "Why?"

"Oh, Sabrina," Mami says fondly, her massage stopping for a moment so that she can hug you from behind. "Only you."

That's probably true. "Any particular reason?"

"No, I was just wondering. It seemed so out of place, you know?" she responds, pulling back from the hug and returning to the massage.

You shrug. "I wanted to test something, and Oriko didn't like the bushes."

"Mmm," Mami says, her chuckles filling your mind.

You continue chatting happily as you fly back home, landing the carpet on the roof of the apartment block and dissolving it back into Grief to join the rest. You walk down to Mami's apartment and immediately flop on the sofa, not even bothering to detransform.

Mami giggles, sitting at the end of the sofa by your head. "Tired?" she asks.

"Meh," you say, sitting up. "Just lots of things happening."

"Mmm," she says, shuffling over to nestle into your side. "You take so much on yourself, Sabrina."

Because there might be no one better to do it. You try not to be arrogant, but... it is a fact that there's essentially no one who knows as much as you do about the entire story playing out here. Speaking of which, you do need to tell Mami. Later.

You exhale. "Anyway," you say, smiling at Mami. "You need to study, right?"

"Ah, yes," Mami says, her smile fading a little. "I... I'm not sure how much I can get done tonight, though..."

"I'll help you study," you offer, smiling. "If you want?"

"Of course I do," she says, already walking to her school bag to pull out her textbook and a thick sheaf of notes.

You help her clear the table, and settle down beside her. The two of you study into the night, you helping to quiz her and explain the concepts she has trouble with.

Eventually, she sighs, sitting back and glancing at the clock. Eleven thirty. "I don't think I'll get any more studying done tonight," she admits. "I need to sleep."

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x]Afterwards, time permitting, gently bring up that we'd like to talk about something, if she wants to. Does she remember the...things we said we weren't sure we were ready to talk about before? We'd like to talk to her about one of them, if she's okay with that and wants to hear it now. If not, that's okay.
-[x]This...It doesn't change how much we care about her. We wouldn't leave her.
-[x]Tell Mami about the metaknowledge after setting up Kyubey-proofing if she wants to talk about it. Not just that we knew about the system and other things, but that we knew things about her past when we first met, as impossible as that was. About other girls we hadn't met yet too, like Kyoko. Madoka. Even things like Sayaka's costume and who she might have wished for. We really don't know how, and we're sorry we kept that from her- both at the time and for this long. But we were...scared to talk about it at first.
[x]If Mami didn't want to study or talk about it, go to sleep.[/b]

=====​

Great success.

 

[Firnagzen]

You exhale. "Alright, Mami," you say, smiling at her. You... you were considering telling her about yourself. How you knew about her - about everyone, and what's to come. Or what was to come, really, now that you've changed everything.

It can wait. It's not fair to her, if you did this now.

Mami smiles at you, packing up her textbook and notes. "I... I should be alright," she says, taking a breath. She nods decisively. "I'll be alright."

"Good," you say, beaming at her. "Would you like to shower first? Your hair takes longer to dry."

"I think so," she agrees, standing and twisting from side to side. She groans in relief as her spine pops. "If you're sure, Sabrina?"

"Of course," you say, motioning her towards the bathroom. "I'll be here."

"Alright," she says, smiling at you. She pads over to the bathroom, peeking back at you one last time before disappearing inside. You hear the water start up a few moments later.

You flop back on the sofa and stare up at the roof. "Blagh," you complain, directed at nothing in particular. It's been a long day - then again, they're all long days, you'd swear.

You mentally review what you need to do tomorrow. The most important thing is Oriko, really. You still need to see... what's going on with her Soul Gem. You might want to check for Sasa in the city, too.

You frown. Sasa could be a real danger, depending on how her powers work on you. And you do need to talk to Kyouko at some point, too, about Walpurgisnacht.

Hm.

Ah, well. You'll sleep on it, and hopefully wake up with a clearer mind.

For now, you click the television on and let the noise, some insipid drama, roll over you as your mind wanders. Briefly, you conside the state of your finances, such as they are - you're independently, if less than legitimately, wealthy, and that'll last you a good long while.

On the other hand... You've considered going global. You want to help all puella magi, after all. And that is going to take some financing. Heh. You could always get Oriko to play the stock market for you. What's the worst that could happen? You doubt that anyone could possibly pin anything on either of you.

As you finish that thought, the bathroom door clicks open, and you turn to see Mami emerging, eyes hunting for you. You wave at her, smiling, and her worry melts away into a warm smile. "Hi, Sabrina," she says.

"Hi, Mami," you say, beaming back at her.

She returns to towelling her hair, dangling wet and limp. "Your turn?"

"Yeah," you agree, hopping off the sofa and heading towards the bathroom. You leave the television on. "I won't take long, OK?"

"Alright," she says, smiling as you pass her.

You're as good as your word - you only take about ten minutes in the shower, and leave it to find Mami dressed in her pajamas, blow drying her hair in the bedroom. She smiles, and hands you the hairdryer.

Eventually, you're both ready for sleep. Mami, sitting on her bed, gives you an uncertain look that immediately clears up when you sit on the bed next to her and flop over. Mami joins you in lying down a moment later, switching the light off.

She cuddles against your back, hesitantly at first and then putting her arm over your waist when you don't pull away. "Good night, Sabrina," she whispers.

"Good night, Mami," you respond, smiling in the darkness and pulling the covers up over the both of you. "I'll wake up early, but you sleep in, OK?"

"Eh?" Mami asks.

"You have a test tomorrow, and I don't," you point out. And you're not sure you actually need to sleep, anyway. "I can manage breakfast and lunch myself. And I know-" you reach up to pat her hand, "-but it's just one morning, and I don't mind. OK?"

"I-" Mami seems conflicted, her voice sleepy.

"Just this one time. Let me make cook for you," you say. "And it's too comfortable to argue, right?"

"Mmmmnm," she says. "Alright. G'night."

"'night, Mami," you say, snuggling more comfortably under the covers, Mami nestled against your back.

This is nice. It... really is.

With a content sigh, you let yourself drift off.

=====​

You climb muzzily from the depths of sleep. There's a warm presence wrapped around you, and you take a moment to remember that's Mami, making good headway towards filling your daily quota of hugs. Then again, does this count as just one long hug, or multiple hugs?

Hm. Maybe something to consider later.

You blink at the clock. About time to get up. Gently, you ease yourself out from under the covers and Mami's arm. Her face crumples into a displeased pout as you slip from her grasp, and she pats at the mattress where you just were before curling into a little ball on top of what warmth is left.

You huff a quiet laugh and tuck the covers back around her before heading out of the room to wash up and prepare breakfast.

A simple breakfast for today, you muse as you pull the refrigerator open. You take a moment to stare at the contents, trying to decide on something, before pushing it shut and hunting around in the cupboards for the rice. Porridge will do. You chew your lip as you scoop out rice for porridge and fill up the rice cooker for breakfast. Maybe a bit of chicken?

You click the news on as you wait for the porridge to boil, chopping up vegetables and some pork for lunch.

"... multiple fatalities caused by a major accident in downtown Mitakihara yesterday evening. Investigations are ongoing..."

Tsk. That's... yeah. With the density of pedestrian traffic in Mitakihara... You sigh as you dump the pork into a pot to stew a bit.

"... Sozoumachi metro line will close at eleven thirty PM today for maintenance. Commuters are advised..."

By the time Mami stumbles out of the bathroom, rubbing at her eyes and hair a tousled mess, you've concluded there's nothing much of note happening. You click the news off and turn to set out steaming bowls of porridge with salted salmon and scallions and some other toppings on the side.

"Good morning, Mami," you say brightly, turning away from the table to pack up lunch. Nothing fancy, just some vegetables and braised pork and rice. A little more of a Chinese slant towards the cooking, you suppose. And not the terrible American 'Chinese' food, either. Proper Chinese food.

"Good morning, Sabrina," she says, stifling a yawn and smiling sleepily at you. "Oh, you've finished breakfast already..."

"I did," you say, putting the lunchboxes down and walking over to give her a hug. "Good morning, Mami. I said I would, remember?"

"I know, but..." Mami mumbles against your shoulder.

"No, no buts," you say, releasing the hug to smile at her. "Anyway, breakfast is served."

Mami sighs, giving you a fond smile before moving to the table. "It smells good," she says.

"It's just porridge," you say, pulling a chair out for yourself and sitting. "Well... let's eat!"

You start to spoon up the porridge, adding a bit of salmon and savouring it.

"GOOD MORNING, SABRINA." Sayaka's telepathic voice just about splits your head open from the sheer volume, and you clear a good handspan off your chair from sheer surprise. Across the table, Mami twitches too.

A flurry of startled, irritated voices follow.

"Sayaka!"

"Sayaka, what are you doing?"

"Sayaka?"

"What do you want." You can practically feel the accompanying glower from Homura.

You raise your eyebrow at Mami, and she shrugs.

"What are you doing, Sayaka?" you ask.

"... damn it," she grumbles. "Doesn't really have the same effect, does it? I was just trying to irritate you by being all cheerful in the morning."

You snort. "It doesn't work if you aren't actually a morning person," you point out, meeting Mami's eyes across the table. She giggles.

"Sayaka... it's too early for this," Madoka complains.

"Ehehe, sorry," Sayaka responds. "Uh... good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, everyone," Mami says.

"Good morning!" Madoka says.

"Mmm, 'morning, everyone," you say, continuing to eat.

"Good morning," Homura says, voice as dispassionate as it always is.

"Good morning," Hitomi adds. "You seem cheerful this morning, Sayaka?"

"Ah, it's a good day," Sayaka responds.

"Mmm," Mami agrees.

"Anyway, how's everybody this morning?" you ask.

"Good!" Sayaka says.

"Um... yes, I'm good," Madoka agrees.

"I'm doing alright," Hitomi says, her mental voice thoughtful.

"Oh hey! Mami, Sabrina? Homura? I meant to ask, are we gonna go hunt a Witch today?"

"I will likely have errands to run," Homura says. And that's a no in other words, isn't it?

"Aw, OK," Sayaka says. "Mami, Sabrina?"

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] Quiz Mami on the way to school.

=====​

Here ends Book 2, chapter 5: This Mortal Coil, and here begins chapter 6: Anomalous Materials.

 

[Firnagzen]

You debate that with yourself for a moment, glancing at Mami with a questioning little quirk of your eyebrows. She nods, smiling at you. "Sure," you say. You... you had considered putting off Sayaka going on a hunt for a while, but you've been neglecting it for a while. "Why not? After school, maybe, though uh, we do need to pick up supplies for the picnic tomorrow."

"Alright, sounds cool!" Sayaka says. "Anyway, gonna go get ready for school now. See you all soon!"

Speaking of cool things, you are still lugging that katana around, you muse as you trade farewells with the others. Weren't you going to give it to Sayaka for fun? Then again, you could keep it for yourself, too. Also for fun, coincidentally. And of course there's the lazy option, which is to leave it inside your cloud of Grief.

Always with the tough decisions.

Speaking of which, you do have a rather a lot of Grief now. You know it's there, a huge mass always on the peripheral of your mind.

Mami smiles at you across the table. "Everyone's cheerful today," she says.

"Yeah," you agree, smiling at her as you spoon up more porridge. "It's nice."

"Mmm!" she says, spoon clinking as she scrapes the bottom of the bowl.

You finish breakfast and clean up the dishes in a companionable silence, bumping shoulders with Mami. Taking turns, you change for the day, Mami into her school uniform and yourself into a nice blouse and skirt.

Before long, you're walking down the sidewalks, quizzing Mami on her test as you follow the crowds flowing through the streets. There's always so much human traffic in Mitakihara, great crowds of people walking politely and calmly - rarely do you see anyone jostling to try and get ahead.

"Alright, tell me... the types of sediment transport," you say, head nearly bumping Mami's as you walk side by side so that you can hear each other.

"Ah..." Mami's brow wrinkles. "There are... three of them. Suspended load, bed load, and..."

"Yup," you confirm as you turn the corner to the miniature park fronting Mitakihara Middle School. "One more?"

"Dissolved load!" A relieved smile appears on Mami's face. "Right?"

"Yup!" you confirm, smiling at Mami. "Well done, Mami! Can you tell me what they are?"

"Ah, yes, all three are ways in which a river or stream can carry types of sediment. The dissolved load, is, ah, ions from chemical weathering-" she glances at you, and you nod confirmation, "-and is a strong contributer to the, ah, salt export from lakes and-"

"Mami! Sabrina!" Sayaka's voice rings out over the chatter of students. You look up, and spot her waving exuberantly at you. You hold one finger up at her in a wait-a-tick gesture, and she falls silent, eyebrows cocked quizzically at you.

You smile at Mami. "Last question?"

Mami smiles back at you as you stroll towards Sayaka. "Ah, well, bed and suspended transport are very closely related, and they're more of a spectrum of the sediment mass - the heaviest ones will... roll across the bottom of the river, pushed by the current, whereas the suspended load consists of particulates small enough to float in the current."

"Perfect," you say, beaming at her. "Hi, Sayaka."

The bleunette pulls a face as you reach her. "Ugh, geography?"

"Hello, Sayaka," Mami says, smiling at Sayaka. "Yes, Sabrina's helping me to revise for a test."

"Good morning!" You spot Madoka coming, waving at you as she walks up from behind. Homura trails a step behind, amethyst eyes flicking to Sayaka, then you.

"'Morning!" Sayaka calls, grinning at her friend. "'Morning, Homura."

"Good morning," Homura says, toneless as ever.

You all exchange greetings, everyone cheerful this morning, and you head to school, chattering. Hitomi joins you at the school gates, arriving as she usually does by car.

"So Miss Saotome picked on Nakazawa again," Sayaka says, shaking her head. "What was it this time? Favourite drink? We can't even drink yet!"

Madoka shakes her head, looking mournful. "She's been dumped," she comments.

"Again," Hitomi says, an amused smile curling the side of her mouth.

"Again!" Sayaka exclaims. "Wasn't even a few days!"

You snort. "Does she just have terminally bad luck, or bad taste?"

Sayaka exchanges a look with Madoka. They both shrug.

"Both?" Sayaka asks.

"Both," Hitomi agrees.

Mami nods too. "Both."

Madoka looms torn for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Both."

"... OK then," you say as you reach the school gates.

Mami giggles, patting your shoulder.

You laugh and pull her into a hug.

"Anyway, we're here," you say, releasing Mami. "So... See you all for lunch?"

"Yep!" Sayaka says, punching the air. "You gotta teach me how to do the building jumping thing."

"Well, mostly I fly these days, but yeah, it's on the list. Right, Mami?" You smile at Mami.

"Right!" Mami agrees, beaming. Her smile fades a little. "See you soon, Sabrina."

"See you," you say, giving her a warm smile.

You trade goodbyes with the others, and wave them into the school - Sayaka marching at the front of the group with an irrepressible grin, Hitomi's school bag and her own bouncing on her shoulder. Said verdette walks at her side, trailed by Madoka and Homura. And of course, Mami, peeking back at you before finally stepping into the building.

You nod to yourself, exhaling. Throwing the truancy officer a friendly smile, you pivot on your heel and wander off. You stroll along the streets, thinking. You have things to do this morning.

Witches. You have been kind of shirking your hunting duties. In favour of arguably more important things, but...

Witches kill people. And hell, that accident might have been a Witch, fat on kills.

Tsk. So your first task is to do something about that, then.

Witches, Witches, Witches, you muse as you wander down an alley and transform. Ugh. Always an unpleasant topic. You crouch and leap, bounding up the walls to reach the rooftop of the apartment block.

Of course, if Madokami comes into existence... do girls really Witch out? She catches them at the very last minute and brings them to Madokahalla, or whatever you want to call it.

Which does suggest the idea of Witching out Homur-

You stagger.

You catch yourself before you fall off the edge of the roof and fall to a knee. Dry heaves wrack your body, and you retch, trying to keep your breakfast down.

The moment passes, and you breathe shakily, spitting the bile from your mouth.

You stand on trembling knees, turning over to flop with your back against the raised wall lining the roof.

"Are you OK, Sabrina?" a sweet, telepathic voice intrudes on your thoughts, followed by the furry white presence of the Incubator, tail lashing vigorously behind it.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] After everyone goes to school, get some distance and deploy the privacy bubble. Check the book of Witches Homura gave us. See in particular if anything might be related to the area the pedestrian accidents happened in. Look for Witches that might appear around this time.
[x] Run a sweep of warehouse-kun.
[x] Deal with any and all witches you encounter.
[x] Do a quick check for potentials on the way.
[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika

=====​

Oh, here we are again.

 

[Firnagzen]

You hack, clearing bile and phlegm from the back of your throat, and spit it to the side.

You touch your Soul Gem with shaking fingers. Deep, bilious purple gathers under the shining, silvery surface, and you draw away a thick rope of Grief. It hangs in the air, roiling eddies of dark, nearly black purple speckled with vomit green and congealed blood red.

A breath in.

You are Sabrina.

A breath out.

Maybe you don't really know who you were. You don't know if there was a 'were', or whether that question should be a 'what'. Some days, you wonder if you aren't Walpurgisnacht or something odd like that. Or perhaps a manifestation of Madoka's Wish.

A breath in.

What you do know...

You're going to save everyone. That's who you are. You're going to break this entire, lousy system over your knee, and you're going to make things better for those who matter to you. Your friends, and everyone.

Mami, Homura, Madoka, Sayaka, Kyouko, Hitomi. Masami and Hiroko and Rin and Sakura and even Ono and everyone you've met.

They're your friends.

... Well, you're not sure about Ono, but you're going to save her anyway.

It's why you're here, in some ways.

You sigh, forcing your shoulders to ease. You flick your fingers vaguely at the cloud. It collapses, imploding into a handful of marbles.

"Sabrina?" Kyuubey asks, tail undulating behind it in slow, sinuous motions.

"I have some Grief to give you," you say, voice remote. You don't like Kyuubey. Madokami alone knows how much you despise the thing. But some part of you thinks, hopes that you can glean something useful from it.

And much as it galls you to admit it - it's arguably the actual Soul expert around here, or if not an expert, then more knowledgeable than you.

"Very well," Kyuubey says, turning to present its back to you. The little hatch fades to empty void in clear invitation. The Incubator even moves its tail out of the way, tucking it beneath its haunches.

A wave of your hand pulls your Grief around you. There's plenty here, hundreds of dark purple spheres arrayed around you in neat, concentric rings.

With a sigh and a wave of your finger, you send Grief cascading into the hole in Kyuubey's back. You take care to separate the spheres containing your, ah, loot from those you feed to the little white alien - not that those would fit, anyway. Gold and cash and your AR-15 and Homura's notebook and ammunition.

You keep your bag full of Grief marbles, of course, though you empty that out a little so it isn't outright bulging. Your obrez sits at the bottom of that bag and your lunchbox at the top of the shifting mass of marbles. Eyeing the sheer quantity of Grief you're going to dump, you sigh, and sit crosslegged on the rooftop - it's not like you're particularly worried about dirtying your costume.

The flow is kind of hypnotic to watch, you muse as you prop your chin on your fist. Deep purple, speckled with muted, kaleidoscopic patterns twisting through an endless abyss.

It takes a while for the torrent of Grief flowing into Kyuubey's back to come to an end. You sit back with a sigh, watching as Kyuubey seems to notice the lack of a continued flow of Grief. The alien squirms about on the spot, rolling over to display its belly before hopping to its feet.

"Thank you, Sabrina!" Kyuubey says. "Will you talk to me?"

You sigh again, considering the little alien. It looks entirely too innocuous for what it is, which is really the point - even knowing that it's a ruthless, manipulative bastard of an alien, you have to admit it looks utterly adorable.

Except for the staring.

That's creepy.

And the ear hoops. Seriously, what's up with those? They're just... hovering there. You vaguely wonder how they work.

Rather than answer its question directly, you start off on a tangent. "You were... distressing Mami earlier, but I am curious what your analysis of Oriko's condition is, if you're willing to share it," you say, leaning forward a little.

"That's simple," Kyuubey answers, stalking around in a little circle with tail lashing at the air. "However, I'm curious. Was she not your enemy?"

"She was," you agree. "But she's my prisoner. I have an obligation to fix her." That's technically true. You... honestly, you consider Oriko a friend, at this point, and you'd help her for that alone.

Kyuubey stares at you for a moment. "The cause of her condition is simple. She's rejecting, consciously or not, her Wish."

Your lips tighten a hair. Yeah. That was always a possibility. "Is the pain she's experiencing normal for something like this?" you ask.

"No," Kyuubey responds. "Different magical girls have different reactions."

"And Oriko's pain, and the distortion in her Soul, are caused by the rejection of her Wish?" you persist. You're well and truly mindful of Kyuubey's little word traps. It didn't specifically state causation - it just implied it.

"Yes," Kyuubey states, sitting on its haunches to stare up at you with head tilted slightly to the side.

You meet its eyes in a staring match, clear blue against flat, lifeless red. It's like trying to win a staring contest with a cat.

"Is there anything else, Sabrina?" Kyuubey asks.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] After everyone goes to school, get some distance and deploy the privacy bubble. Check the book of Witches Homura gave us. See in particular if anything might be related to the area the pedestrian accidents happened in. Look for Witches that might appear around this time.
[x] Run a sweep of warehouse-kun.
[x] Deal with any and all witches you encounter.
[x] Do a quick check for potentials on the way.
[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika

=====​

Apologies for the long delay between updates. I haven't lost motivation to write, just that final year uni's been kicking my ass.

 

[Firnagzen]

"No, that's it," you say. You purse your lips, considering what it's told you - very little of substance, truth be told. What's probably definitive confirmation that Oriko's condition is caused by the rejection of her Wish

Probably.

"Very well," Kyuubey agrees, eyes still fixed on yours and tail flicking in slow, metronomic motion. "Goodbye!"

The Incubator turns and slinks off to the edge of the roof, hopping right off.

You blink. That... was surprisingly painless - you were kind of expecting it to try and stick with you and badger you with more questions or something.

Of course, Kyuubey ostensibly leaving doesn't preclude it following you around, or surveying you from afar. You've... pretty much been running on the conclusion that that's exactly what it's been doing, in any case.

It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you! Or at least it's healthy paranoia, and against an alien empire with purportedly universe spanning reach, you can't be too paranoid.

That's what you tell yourself, anyway. Though whether Kyuubey's out to get you is something you debate hotly with yourself.

You huff, looking at the Grief you've left behind. You kept enough, really - a handful of large spheres of Grief. That will suffice for wings, or a Mobile Oppression Fortress or privacy bubble or something, though sadly not a MECHA GURREN ZILLA LAGAAN.

In any case, you have things to do. You can ruminate about Kyuubey later.

You look up, wings unfurling behind you. Great swathes of Grief cut through the morning sky, and a powerful stroke launches you skyward.

You close your eyes, exhaling as you spiral upwards into the cloudy sky.

You'll go on an impromptu patrol of sorts. That area with the car crash needs checking, in particular.

Hah. It's just serendipity, surely. You happened to hear it on the news - but it can't have been the only accident that happened in Mitakihara, just the only one that happened to be reported when you turned in. You mean, it could be a Witch, but not every accident is caused by a Witch and not every Witch causes accidents.

Hm. Downtown Mitakihara. They didn't give an address, but you think you know where it is, from that shot they showed.

You swoop past the skyscrapers, soaring above the glittering steel and glass towers. In the distance, you can see the early morning sun sparkling off Mitakihara river. The sound of pedestrains and vehicles drift up to you, muffled by the distance.

Downtown, downtown... You alight on a building, looking around. You're going to have to get down to the ground level, you reckon.

You do just that, leaping off the side of the building. A massive downstroke of your wings breaks your fall, stirring up a cloud of sand and trash. Detransforming, you wander out of the alley.

It's loud here. There's still people commuting, presumably to work - hundreds of soberly dressed office workers cramming the walkways from side to side. And it was... that way, you think. You let yourself move with the crowd, drifting in the direction you want to go.

You spot the bits of broken glass scattered about the floor first - they haven't cleaned it up yet. And then you notice the signs put up, with a tacked on date and information. "Appeal for witnesses: FATAL ACCIDENT: 07-07-11 SATURDAY 5:30PM. Please call..."

Yep. This is the place.

You drift over to a corner out of the flow of human traffic, beside a little ramen stand. You push your senses out, listening without your ears and seeing without your eyes.

It's an odd thing, your Grief sense.

You don't find any magical girls here, nor any Witches in the immediate area as you push your senses, inspecting everything within your range. Thoughtfully, you merge back into the crowds, walking a slow spiral around the site of the accident. As you walk, you take a moment to turn your senses to your side, inspecting Elsa Maria's Grief Seed.

It seems like a normal Grief Seed, as far as you can see. There's... nothing special about it.

You sigh, pulling your phone from your pocket to check the time as you turn down an alleyway. Barely past nine. You transform, and with a few quick bounds, you hop up to the roof of the office building.

A wave of your hand draws Grief around you, wispy torrents melting from your ever present cloud of Grief spheres and pouring into a thin shell around you. One particular sphere of Grief arrives by your side just as the shield seals itself fully. In absolute darkness, you exhale, eyes falling closed as you bear down with your will.

Isolation.

When you open your eyes again - it's to absolute darkness, and a sensation pressing on you. Witch. You purse your lips, and another touch of will adds a gentle glow to the inside of the sphere, emanating from all angles. It's a good thing you're not particularly bothered by the dark.

Roller coasters, though. Those do bother you a bit. Not terribly badly, considering that you can fly, but still.

You shake those thoughts free, and dip your fingers into the sphere of Grief hovering patiently at your side. The solid Grief parts like oil before your hand, and you withdraw Homura's notebook of Witches.

You read by Witch-light, paging through notes and descriptions written in Homura's delicate hand.

You find... hm. There's a reference here to a train-themed Witch, that's... the timescale's right, certainly, but the location is a few kilometers from here. Chewing on the lip, you stare at the description in the book for a long moment. Train Witch with huge cutting circular saws for wheels and teeth and stuff.

Hm.

You flip through the rest of the notebook, finding nothing really relevant. Homura had mentioned that she hadn't written in every Witch, just those she'd encountered more, but still.

You grumble to yourself, dissolving the... you'll call it an isolation field, because why not. The Grief pours away, wispy torrents imploding back into the usual spheres.

You walk over to the edge of the roof, looking down as you contemplate your next course of action. Hm. You could go after that Witch, maybe. Or you could go to Oriko's - you have a laundry list of things you want to consult her about, and you're not done with helping her, in any case.

"Hmmhmmm," you hum quietly to yourself.

"Ah, sorry, Miss Bennouna," Mami's voice intrudes in your head. She stumbles a little on the name. "This is my friend Sabrina. Sabrina, this is Miss Nadia Bennouna, she's a travelling magical girl."

"'ello~!" A light alto responds in heavily accented but intelligible Japanese. "Pleased to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Bennouna," you respond politely.

"Sabrina, Miss Bennouna is a travelling magical girl who carries news between cities," Mami explains. "She's come through Mitakihara a few times before."

"N'aam, yes," the new magical girl says. "There are interesting things 'appening, I thought best to go to Mitakihara early, fimti?"

Mami doesn't say anything, clearly waiting to follow your lead.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[x] Borrow some grief from Elsa Maria if you don't have enough to deploy the privacy bubble in regards to consulting Homura's witch book.
--[x] On that note, observe Elsa Maria's seed for any irregularities.
[x] After everyone goes to school, get some distance and deploy the privacy bubble. Check the book of Witches Homura gave us. See in particular if anything might be related to the area the pedestrian accidents happened in. Look for Witches that might appear around this time.
[x] Run a sweep of warehouse-kun.
[x] Deal with any and all witches you encounter.
[x] Do a quick check for potentials on the way.
[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika

=====​

With thanks to @Rook for help with the Moroccan Arabic vocabulary.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Well," you say, turning away from the edge of the roof. Other direction. "First things first-" you switch smoothly to maghrebi, her dialect of Arabic. "Hello! Welcome to Mitakihara."

You grin. You can feel the stunned surprise from the other two people in the chat.

"You speak darija?" Nadia asks in the same language, clearly thrown for a loop. "God, didn't think I'd run into anyone speaking my mother tongue out here. Sabrina isn't a Japanese name, is it?"

"Nah," you say as you throw yourself off the roof - the location Homura indicated in her notebook isn't really far enough for you to bother flying. "But yeah, I speak it." You switch back to Japanese as you land smoothly on the next roof over, shifting into a sprint without breaking step. "So, yes. Welcome to Mitakihara. What kind of things have you heard?"

"Aaaa, t' usual," Nadia responds in her accented Japanese. "There's rumours of a magical girl who can clean Soul Gems. Only thing is, quite a few people are sayin' t'at."

"Ah... well," you say, bounding for the next roof over. "Um. Yeah, that would be me."

"Really now?" Nadia asks, voice turning guarded. "This, I will see for myself."

"It's true, Miss Bennouna," Mami chimes in. "Sabrina can truly cleanse Soul Gems."

"She's not t' first to claim to be able to do so," Nadia says, her accent thickening to nigh incomprehensibility as she speaks faster. "I mean no offens', Sabrina, but there's been cons and wretched tricks for pr'bably 's long as this system's been in place, fimti?"

"None taken," you respond, weaving around a roof vent. You want to make a good first impression, anyway, even if you were inclined to take offense. "Though I should hope Mami's word means something."

"Yes," Nadia says, obviously forcing herself to speak slowly and intelligibly. "Dozens of rumours from all around th' area, and Tomoe Mami herself backing it. That's why I'm coming to look instead of, uh, buggering the hell out of the area until the fighting is finished. It never ends well."

"That's... fair," you admit. "Anything juicy from other cities?"

"Ah-ah-ah," Nadia fires back. "You know how the game works, no info 'til I trade, fimti?"

"I don't, actually," you respond amiably. Fimti. Something like 'capsice'. "I'm mostly new to this."

"Um, well, Miss Bennouna trades information in person only," Mami offers. "And only for Grief Seeds, or an agreement to let her hunt."

"Oh," you say, landing smoothly and pushing off again. You're quite proud that you haven't shattered any rooftops yet. "My apologies, then."

"No offense taken," Nadia responds. "I do this because I need to make a living, fimti?"

"Yeah, makes sense," you agree.

"Will we be using the usual rate?" Mami inquires. "Three hunts, and one Grief Seed?"

"N'aam, yes," Nadia agrees.

"Well," you say, pursing your lips for a moment as you stop at the edge of the roof, looking around as you decide which direction to head in. "I should point out that I can cleanse your Soul Gem directly?"

"Oh, that's a good point," Mami says. "Miss Bennouna, Sabrina can keep your Soul Gem clean for the duration of your stay here."

Nadia pauses thoughtfully. "How do you say it? Subject to renegotiation."

"Hmm... that's fair," you agree. That-a-way, you reckon. You leap off towards your left - that building looks easier to get to.

"Ah, yes. When will you arrive, Miss Bennouna?" Mami asks.

"I will be swinging by Sendai briefly," Nadia responds. "To arrive in Mitaki'ara Sunday morning."

"Sunday morning," Mami says. "Your own accomodations?"

"Yes," the presumably Moroccoan girl respond. "As usual."

"Understood," Mami says briskly. "Contact us when you arrive, then? Sabrina, do you have anything else?"

"Well..." you say as your prowl along the roofs. "Not really business, but if you don't mind indulging my curiosity, what's life as a travelling magical girl like?"

The traveller doesn't respond immediately, falling silent for a while. You bound along the rooftops, hair whipping about your face in the wind of your passage. "Hard," she says. "Not every magical girl's as nice as Miss Tomoe. I ask for payment first to be sure, fimti?"

"Mmm," you agree, stopping to look around again. You're in the area where Homura said the Witch would be, but you don't sense anything around. "How do you get around over that kind of distance, though?"

"Flying," she responds. "Budget airlines are cheap. I hitch 'ike the rest of the way if I can, or bus, or something."

"Huh, I see," you say, leaping for the next roof. You can search around the area a bit, you guess. She doesn't use her magic to get around? Then again, she might not have applicable magic.

"I like it," she says, the verbal equivalent of a shrug. "I have things to do; I will see you on Sunday."

"Alright, see you," Mami says.

"See you!" you say. You can feel her 'disconnecting' from the call, leaving you and Mami. "How are you, Mami?"

"I'm alright," Mami says, the warmth in her voice a sharp contrast from the businesslike tone she took with Nadia.

"Good," you say, smiling. "Is your test starting soon?"

"Next class," Mami says. "Um..."

"Yes, Mami?" you ask as you spiral steadily outwards.

"Ah... I shouldn't, but if there's any really hard questions, could I ask you for help?" Mami asks.

"Of course, Mami," you respond. Maybe she can't see your smile, but hopefully the impression goes through.

"Thank you," Mami says. "And ah, I didn't know you spoke... um, what was that language?"

You pause your fruitless search, considering that question. You've covered a fair bit of ground, and you're... not entirely sure of the answer yourself, but it just... came to you. You know it's maghrebi Arabic, also known as Darija, but how you know you can only attribute to the questionable and probably magic related circumstances surrounding your appearance.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] Run a sweep of warehouse-kun.
[x] Deal with any and all witches you encounter.
[x] Do a quick check for potentials on the way.
[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika

=====​

Hmmmm.

 

[Firnagzen]

"It's Darija," you say, looking around again. You'll go and check out warehouse-kun, you think, and see if Mami's idea had any merit. "Otherwise known as Maghrebi Arabic. It's... among the many, many languages I apparently speak."

"Oh?" Mami asks, a trace of worry edging her voice.

"Yeah," you say, striding over to the edge of the roof. Grief spheres dissolve, your wings cutting swathes through the sky behind you. "I... I can speak a lot of languages. Posso parlare italiano!"

"Oh," Mami says, now sounding more confused than anything. "I... is this part of your memories?"

"Yeah," you say as you launch yourself you skywards. "Um... It just sort of comes naturally to me."

"Oh," Mami says. "I... do you remember anything else, Sabrina?"

"No, not at all," you admit. You have ideas of where you might have come from, but... You don't remember. You don't know for sure. "Just things that I know how to do."

"Ah..." Mami says. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be," you say. Wingbeats thunder through the skies behind you as you soar towards the sun - eastwards, to the warehouse. "Mami... honestly, I'm not that worried. I have a life here, wherever I may have come from. And it's with you, and everyone else."

"Alright," Mami whispers. "I just... I'm worried."

"I know," you say. "I'm here with you, right?"

"You are," she agrees. "I... yes. You are."

"Good," you say emphatically. "Now, how are you feeling?"

Mami seems to take a breath, rallying. "I... not too bad. What are you doing right now? Um. If I may ask?"

"Of course," you say firmly. "And well, I'm going to go out and check on warehouse-kun." Your eyes widen. "Uh-"

"Warehouse-kun?" Mami asks.

"Yeah, um, I've been using this abandoned warehouse for experiments," you say, rushing through the words. "So, well, I nicknamed it warehouse-kun."

"And it's just a warehouse?" Mami asks.

"Yeah," you say. "Just a warehouse."

"... oh, Sabrina," Mami says fondly. You get the impression she'd be shaking her head at you, were you actually face to face. "You never change."

"Hey, I wouldn't be me if I weren't a bit silly," you protest. Privately, you're just glad you seem to have distracted Mami from the thoughts about your facility with language.

"That's true," Mami says.

"Hmhmmm..." you muse as you soar eastwards, banking in a lazy curve towards the old industrial district. This early, there aren't any good thermals yet, and you're having to rely a little more on direct Grief impulse rather than actual aerodynamics to gain altitude.

"Mmm, Sabrina?" Mami asks.

"I was just thinking out loud," you say. "Oh! I had a thought - do you think we could make patatas bravas for the picnic tomorrow, maybe?"

"Ah... patatas... bravas?" Mami asks, stumbling over the unfamiliar words.

"It's Spanish, I think," you explain. "Lightly fried potato, with a savoury and slightly spicy tomato sauce? It's quite simple to make, and talking to Miss Bennouna made me think of it."

"That sounds good," Mami says. "We could try that! Um... Isn't Miss Bennouna Moroccan, though?"

"She is," you agree as you wing past that one flue stack. It's practically a landmark by now. "Still!"

"... alright, then," Mami says. She... sounds better. A touch more cheerful.

"Mmmm," you say, banking a little to the left.

"Ah, Sabrina?" Mami asks. "What are you checking warehouse-kun for, anyway?"

"Well," you say, grinning. "Remember when you suggested that maybe Witches would be drawn to my experiments? Like calls to like, and all that? I've been mostly doing those at the warehouse, so I thought I should double-check the area."

"I see!" Mami says. "Um... be careful if you do find any Witches, alright?"

"I will," you promise. "I'll be careful."

"Alright," Mami says. "I... should pay attention to class. Be safe, alright?"

"I will, Mami," you say. "I'll see you at lunch, OK? Promise. And you can always talk to me."

"See you soon, Sabrina," Mami says.

"See you!" you respond, closing the call. Reaching the warehouse, you start flying a large, looping spiral over the largely abandoned warehouses and metalyards below. Even up here, you can smell the tang of rusting metal in the air, wisping curls of dust trickling over the ground far beneath as a faint breeze stirs.

Is there any truth to Mami's idea that the experiments might be drawing in Witches? That would certainly be... unfortunate, especially considering that you've been using the same Witch-stuff at Oriko's house. Hm. Something to consider, maybe. And it'd be a rather worrying trend, if your powers attract Witches, an-

Speak of the devil.

You suck in a breath, wings backing air as you draw to a hover. You can feel a Witch... not even three minutes into your search. The abyssal, swirling morass that is a Barrier entrance lurks in what looks like, from where you are, an old metalworks factory.

Hm. It's a Witch... but there's few enough people around here that you could probably afford to leave it alone for now. Or you could just handle it quickly.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika

=====​

Man, it's been a while, hasn't it?

 

[Firnagzen]

You hum, considering the Barrier as you hover midair. This might be a conglomerate Witch, if Mami's supposition is correct - if Witches are drawn to your powers, then this might be several Witches having a grand old ball in a Barrier.

To be honest... you do remember that Mami's hypothesis was in response to you not offering an explanation. You do remember that you'd thought perhaps it was because you'd... tranced out making a Barrier of your own. Which might chain into what Oriko said; that Feathers didn't act when you were around.

Ah, well.

You'll play it safe - you did promise Mami, and capable of hideously overpowering Witches or not, you're not invincible.

You chew your lip for a moment. Armour, then, just to be absolutely sure. Grief, solid Grief under your control, is very nearly inviolate, and makes for excellent armour. You briefly considered drawing Grief form Elsa Maria for this, but you do have well and away sufficient for just a set of armour. It takes far more than that to build your Mobile Oppression Fortress, after all.

Grief spheres dissolve, eddying wisps flowing around you in billowing tendrils. It slides under your coat, solid, dense plates forming around you in a layered, segmented carapace of the same material. No Witch-material, just plain old Grief in its mottled deep purple.

You rap your fingers aganst the Grief, eliciting the dull thud of something vaguely plasticky, before balling your fist and slamming it into your gut. It barely yields, and you hiss in pain, waving your hand in the air. "Ow!"

That probably wasn't your brightest idea. Still, it rather proves the point. Might have been an awkward angle, but you weren't exactly holding back, either, and you know you can put holes in solid concrete.

This'll do.

Slowing wingbeats let you drift downwards to the Barrier entrance until you drop lightly to your feet right in front of the gently glowing entrance, with all its endless, painful fractal depth.

You dissolve your wings and let it flow away into Grief spheres. Reaching behind your back, you draw forth a silvery warhammer, gleaming in the morning light. A deep breath, and you take a step forward, plunging through the entrance. A moment of jolting distortion, and-

Witch.

A shuddering breath, as you steel yourself against that powerfully wrong sensation that runs icy fingers down the back of your neck and skirls down your spine.

The heavy tang of salt and rusting iron hits you first, a wet slap to the face only aided by the liquid humidity in the air. The crash of surf fills your ears as you take in the corroding hulk of steel superstructure yawning into the sky. Black, tarry fluid pours and writhes about the towering derrick tower, twisting and churing in living ropes around the metal. Flickering light glares down from above.

Beneath your feet stretches metal plating held in place by rivets, just as rusty as everything else. A rickety, failing railing surrounds the edges of the massive platform, looking very nearly paper-thin from wear. A massive pillar nearly the width of the entire rig, barely visible over the rim of the platform, supports the entire structure.

An oil rig, or a simulcra of one.

You scan about warily, looking for anything that might be out of place, be it Familiars or strange Witch abilities or people or fellow puella magi.

Nothing you can see nor sense in the immediate vicinity.

You venture forward, your senses pricked for the slightest disturbance and hammer held ready at your side. Hm. Speaking of fellow puella magi, you need to go and check on Oriko. And maybe make sure that Ono's still alive under the, ah, gentle ministrations of Masami and Hiroko.

... Hiroko probably wouldn't let Masami do anything too drastic.

Right?

Right.

You hope.

Speaking of Oriko, you vaguely wonder if you could make something of Grief to give predictions. Or maybe a magic 8-ball. You can call it the, uh, Original Raving Informant Killing Opinions device. Though it's really only the original if you're being ironic about it. Omniscient Receiver of Information that Kills Options, maybe?

And maybe you should just make a plushy or five. An Oriko one for Kirika, a Kirika one for Oriko, one of yourself for Mami... One of Kyouko for Sayaka? Not that they've even met yet.

The metal plating clanks underfoot, shifting on loosened rivets as you prowl into the spidery shadows of the derrick.

Familiar.

You freeze in place, breath stilling in your chest. Behind that wall there, inside what looks like a cabin. You strain your senses, but... It's just the one.

With the head of your hammer, you nudge the door of the cabin open. You freeze again as the squeal of rusted hinges fills the air.

Nothing.

You prowl through the open door, and there's a jolting sense of distortion-

You're elsewhere, overlooking a huge expanse of grass. You immediately spot a single desk and chair in the middle of the grassy meadows, and the Familiar - a spindly, headless humanoid thing wrought of iron girders and wire, brightly coloured fruit packing its starkly metallic ribs in a ghastly imitation of organs, oranges and dragonfruit and lemon and apple and a banana for the liver. The Familiar dozes on the chair.

You take a spinning step forward, the silvery arc of your hammer swooping around you to take the Familiar in its shoulder. It cleaves right through with the shriek of tearing metal, fruit juice splattering across the floor as the thing crumples to the floor in a crash of metal.

You freeze again, straining your senses for the slightest sounds of disturbance.

Nothing.

You eye the Familiar, very nearly bisected by your hammer - apparently iron, but with a consistency more befitting plywood than anything. It's splayed the grassy soil in what would be a morbid display if it had actual blood and viscera instead of juice and fruit.

You snort softly under your breath. Funny, when you were contemplating the morality of killing... executing Kagari.

You shake your head and turn, confonted with the freestanding metal door, hanging ajar. You stalk back through it, and with that same sense of distortion, you're-

-elsewhere. You scan warily for any disturbances, looking around - a different part of the same oil rig, it loosk like.

It's quiet. You'd say it's too quiet. And really... it is. The only sounds are the churning crash of the sea and the creaking of the superstructure overhead and -

Oh.

There's the Witch.

It's the entire derrick. Twin flares of light blaze in the writhing oil far above you, massive, flaming eyes staring out over the sea. From this angle, you can barely make out the form of the towering superstucture; a enormous, squatting gargoyle.

Hmm.

It's just a Witch. It won't be hard to kill, though... you haven't exterminated, or even found all the Familiars yet.

[] Write-in

=====​

Sorry about the long delay between updates.

 

[Firnagzen]

You sigh. Not enough time to go around - you're burning daylight as it is. And you've been meaning to get to Oriko for a while, just to check in on her.

This particular Witch is big. Huge. You have to crane your neck back to look at it, two car size globs of flaming oil serving for eyes in a face easily the size of the apartment that Mami shares with you.

The bigger they are, the harder they... well, no. This one'll fall like the rest, neither harder nor softer. No time to handle the Familiars - if they come after you, then so be it, you'll deal with them.

You stare up at the Witch, picking out its form. The massive, misshapen head with two flaming eyes, staring out over the distant sea. A nightmarish jigaw of girders worn by the sea and corroded by the passage of faux time outline a bestial pair of shoulders, gnarled and hunched against the elements.

Hm.

You raise one hand, fingers splayed towards the Witch.

You can feel the Witch. Oh, yes. Visual metaphor is imperfect, but synesthesia... Grief, active Grief under another's control, glows like a black hole undergoing final evaporation. And you can taste the Witch's control, heavy and cloying and metallic and somehow tangy in a way that has nothing to do with your tongue.

Instinctual, normal, and easy. A moment, a breath to center yourself...

You smile.

Your hand closes into a fist, curled back towards you.

And you tear the Witch apart with a flex of your mind.

You start with the face, snuffing out the flames of its eyes and tearing out entire swathes, rippling across the sky in thick, vicious streamers.

Grief explodes into the air. Yours to control and mould. Steel softens and melts like butter under a torch, rusted brown and glints of silver running into the bilious, speckled purple of raw Grief. The massive superstructure of the derricks groans as it buckles and twists.

The waves rise, churned to a froth by the whipping wind. The water crashes impossibly into the sky, a tidal wave about to smash you down.

You turn your attention to it as the water falls and the ice-rimed water vanishes into eddying mists of Grief before it even begins to descend. Billowing clouds wash past you to join the rippling fabric of your rapidly forming wings.

The Witch dies. It doesn't even have time to react, its entire form crumpling like tissue paper in the rain.

You feel it give, something almost audibly snapping in your Grief sense. The Barrier ripples, cohesion lost. You sidestep as metal decking crumbles under your feet. You release your wings, the Grief roaring into a whirlpool coalesced around a kernel that is the Grief Seed, precipitated into the world.

Your boots thump on concrete again as the crash of surf fades from around you, once more back in the mouldering old industrial district. And... you frown.

You can feel smaller blobs of Grief skittering away. Familiars - Familiars you didn't catch.

Your wings reform out of your own Grief, the stuff you've been towing around, and you throw yourself skyward. You're already dissolving as many Familiars as you can reach -through the walls, some in the sewer pipes below, in the buildings- but they're scattered wide. There are more, frustratingly outside the range of your power.

"Damn it," you hiss under your breath. Your wings pump, and you throw yourself forward, dipping low for a moment to snag the Grief Seed.

You zip along, barely skimming above the rooftops of the dilapidated factories and warehouses as you hunt the Familiars darting away, exterminating them as soon as you can. The Grief under your control balloons as sandy yards and mouldering rooftops whip by beneath you.

Finally, you come to a halt, pulling into a lazy hover nearly a kilometer away from where you'd started. You've gotten all you can, you think - if any escaped, they're well away by now. Tsk.

You sigh, slow wingbeats thundering over the industrial district. You've covered a good bit of ground chasing Familiars, and... you hadn't seen any Witches.

Fine then.

Strengthening wingbeats lift you higher, and you climb in a wide spiral over the sky. You've spent enough time here - you'll go and see Oriko and Kirika.

Mitakihara rolls by beneath you, intermingled dense greenery and apartment blocks of the suburbs giving way to the towering monoliths of the skyscrapers. You skim past downtown Mitakihara, closing your eyes and rolling over to let the sun warm your face for a moment.

It feels like it's been a long day already, and it's barely started. Still, you killed a Witch, so there's that. Speaking of which, you should probably check in with Mami.

"Mami?" you reach out across the distance.

"Sabrina! How are you? Are you alright?" Mami asks, rapidfire and anxious.

"Yeah, I'm just fine," you answer as you flip back over. You muse briefly on the fact that you shouldn't be able to actually fly upside down like that, aerodynamically speaking, but then again. Magic is such bullshit. "Killed the Witch cleanly. How are you?"

"I'm good. I'm moving to my next class right now," Mami says, voice brightening. "And... I'm glad you're alright, Sabrina."

"It's test time, right?" you ask, smiling despite yourself.

"It is," Mami confirms.

"Well, hang in there," you say. "You can do it!"

"Ah... well, I have your help," Mami says. "Of course I can."

"Mmm," you say, not really willing to disagree. "Feeling confident?"

"I suppose so," Mami says, sounding, if not the exact opposite of confident, then at least somewhat dubious.

"OK," you say. "And you know I'm here, right?"

"I do," Mami says. "Thank you, Sabrina."

"Mmm," you agree. "Anyway... no real point saying bye, when really, we're both right here, yeah?"

Mami's voice brightens a little. "Alright."

You lapse into a comfortable silence after that as you approach Oriko's house. You spend a moment to muse briefly -hah, briefly- on the fact that despite Kirika's kriticism, well, the girls from Asunaro do have pants. Two of them do, anyway, albeit more of hotpants than actual, proper pants.

Hm.

Does Kirika really have any place to criticize when her puella magi costume has, essentially, biker shorts?

You shake your head, pulling up out of a shallow dive before hitting the ground in Oriko's backyard. You back air a little and drop the last few meters to land in a low crouch, looking around the roses. They're starting to grow unkempt.

You click your tongue, looking around. No one's come out to greet you, but you can feel Oriko and Kirika upstairs. They're asleep, at a guess. You squint at your phone. It's only nine thirty.

... Well, you could let yourself in. It's not like a glass door is hard to unlatch from the outside, not with Grief to help you. Certainly you've got a laundry list of questions to ask Oriko. Could let them be, too, and do something else.

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika

=====​

Whoops. Looks like this vote gets put on pause again.

 

[Firnagzen]

Well... they're asleep. Which means it's the perfect time to pull a prank on them.

You chew on your lip, looking up at the house - the mansion.

And doesn't that give you an idea?

You look back down at yourself contemplatively. If you were to get rid of the longcoat, which is easy enough... that leaves you in pants, is the problem.

Hmmm. An apron, you definitely need an apron, preferably a frilly one, and honestly, you need a skirt. You chew on the inside of your cheek. Hm. You could try and raid Oriko's house and see if there's an apron and skirt that'll fit you. You could probably fit into something of Oriko's. It'd be a little loose, but that should work.

Or... You smack your head. You should be able to change your costume, right? You think? And besides, raiding a friend's closet isn't very nice.

You let your eyes fall closed, attention turning inwards. Your costume is a part of your magic. It's something that comes with the territory, and why the hell shouldn't you have control over it?

Slow breaths, as you reach through the recesses of your mind, hunting and searching. What else is in here? What abilities have you missed, what revelations lie hidden? What thoughts unthought?

The cloth crawls over your shoulders. With an effort of your mind, you shift the fabric, feeling it re-weave itself into lacy frills. A huge white bow ties itself just below the small of your back, long tails trailing behind you to brush against your legs. A slight breeze winding its way between your calves as your pants give way to a skirt - not too short. You have your dignity, after all.

What dignity is left after this prank, anyway.

Eh, who needs dignity, anyway.

... the skirt's still not going too much past your knees.

And the finishing touches - a white, ruffled apron, and an equally ruffled headress thing to top off the whole ensemble.

You open your eyes to look down at yourself - a pristine white half-apron, cinched tight around your waist with a flowing white ribbon. A dress of your usual blue, trimmed out with little bits of dark grey here and there, gives way to ruffled, white sleeves covering your upper arms. Your hair isn't quite long enough to tie off a pair of braids, but really, close enough.

You take a brief moment to contemplate Mami's reaction to this, before shaking your head with a giggle.

Maybe someday.

You crack your knuckles. Right then.

Breakfast. You know for a fact that their kitchen's fairly well stocked, so you make a beeline straight for that. You're midway through preparing a more traditional Japanese breakfast -Oriko would probably appreciate that- when Mami's voice sounds inside your head.

"Ah, Sabrina?" she asks, voice soft and anxious.

"Yup, Mami?" you ask, turning away from the steaming pot of miso soup to check on the rice.

"Um... how would pollution interact with fluvial transport?" Mami asks.

"Oh. Uh..." you say, scratching at the headdress as you try to recall the information. It itches. "Uh. I'd say... it'd be present as all three parts of sediment transport - dissolved load for the soluble chemicals, especially things like fertilizer that cause algal blooms, or lead ions and stuff."

"Ah, yes," Mami agrees. "And, um, suspended and bed load for bigger particulates?"

"Yeah," you say, starting to load up a tray with an array of cutlery and breakfast foods. "That's what they do, mmm?"

"Right," Mami agrees. "Thank you, Sabrina."

"Anytime, Mami," you say warmly.

"Alright," she says. "I'll... focus a bit here?"

"You don't need to ask me," you say. You squint at the tray, running a finger along your collar. For all that the costume should be perfectly tailored to you, it just sits oddly on you. "I'll be here, yeah?"

"Alright," she says again, falling silent.

Gathering up the tray, you start upstairs. Oriko and Kirika's door is closed, and the both of them are still asleep by the feel of it in your Grief sense. And by the sound of it, too - you can hear the snoring from behind the solid oak door. How Oriko sleeps through it, you have no idea.

The closed door's easily handled with a bit of Grief, moulding around the handle to nudge it open. You follow the door into the spacious bedroom, carefully manuvering the tray ahead of you.

You take a moment to grin at the sleeping couple on the bed, Kirika curled around Oriko. The black haired girl seems to be mumbling to herself in her sleep, lips curled into a faint smile and limbs coiled around her girlfriend like a particularly affectionate octopus. On the bedside table sit their Soul Gems, side by side with the clear Seed balanced next to them. Kirika's stuffed toy sits behind the Gems, a looming, protective presence.

Pursing your lips, you eye the slumbering pair before backing up a few steps. Grief flows into the doorway to form a rough facsimile of the ajar door - a second door, fitted into the space of the existing one. You back up another step.

You take a deep breath.

And then - you charge.

Grief and careful balance keeps the tray steady.

You slam through the door, letting it bounce off the wall with a resounding crash.

"GOOD MORNING, SLEEPYHEADS," you bellow, loud enough to bounce off the walls and rattle the windows.

Eyes flare wide, one pair bright orange and the other sea green.

Kirika jackknives off the bed, her entire body uncoiling like a lithe, twisting spring. Light glints off her claws, her face distorting into a snarl as she soars clear across the room in an inhumanly powerful leap.

"Kirik-"

There's just enough time for her eyes to widen before she crashes into you.

The next few seconds are a confused mess of tumbling and yelling and a knee in your face and soup splashing and an elbow in your gut.

You groan, staring up at the ceiling. There's a glob of rice up there. "OK, I could have thought that out better," you observe, wincing at the dull ache in your stomach. And it's a good thing puella magi don't really bruise, or you'd have a beautiful shiner.

"Owwwww," Kirika agrees, sprawled across you in a loose heap that painful, recent experience tells you contains about three elbows and five knees too many. Good thing she actually managed to pull her claws aside.

"So," you say, staring in fascination at the lump of rice. "I was gonna offer you both breakfast in bed, but that plan's kind of shot. I prepared extra, at least."

"Good morning, Sabrina," Oriko says. You can hear the rustle of cloth as the seer gets off her bed. Footsteps pad over to you, and Kirika's tugged off you. Oriko hugs Kirika with her one arm - the other's a little better than a stump now, but still nowhere near fully healed.

You remain on the floor, watching as the rice slooooowly detaches from the ceiling and plops square onto Oriko's head.

The seer flinches, her eyes going wide. Kirika giggles, sweeping the rice clear with a few brisk pats.

You sit up, running your finger along your collar and tugging to loosen it. Ugh. It itches, and the warm soup steadily soaking through the cloth to form a damp, sticky patch against your skin doesn't help.

"Ugh," you say.

Kirika unwinds herself from Oriko and glances over, finally looking at you properly before returning to flicking bits of rice off herself. It takes her a moment for what she just saw to sink in, and her head snaps back to you. "Is that a maid outfit?" she asks.

"Nooooooyeeeessssssss?" you say.

Kirika gives your costume a long, thoughtful look before turning back to the girl at your side. "Orikoooooo- Oriko?" the playful tone abruptly vanishes from her voice.

You glance up.

"My visions didn't warn me," the seer whispers, swaying as she raises one hand to her temple. Her eyes are huge and shocked.

Kirika pulls her into a wordless hug. "Y-your power?" she whispers.

"Going," she whispers. "They're weakening."

In your Grief senses, the glowing, otherworldly fire of Oriko's Soul Gem is as bright as ever, but the tense knot tied of her magic is an ever tightening loop, clenching tight into a point.

[] Write-in

=====​

Oh. Well then.

 

[Firnagzen]

Your jaw tightens for a moment. Damn it.

You dismiss the frustration with a breath, blowing it out hard and fast as you force a smile to your face. A little strained, perhaps, but a smile nonetheless.

"OK, OK," you say, holding your hands up. "Girls, stop. Don't panic."

Oriko shivers, arms hanging limp and eyes closed as Kirika hugs her closer. Stark, unthinking terror's written on the seer's face. Kirika's gaze cuts to you, worry and dismay etched into the lines of her expression. "Sabrina?"

"I know what's going on," you say, keeping your voice steady as you meet Kirika's eyes. "OK? And we can fix this. We will fix this."

Oriko shakes her head, eyes closed. "I- without my powers, I'm nothi-" she whispers. Her head tosses blindly, frantically rejecting the idea. "I'll be lost."

"No, no no," Kirika whispers frantically, hugging Oriko closer. "No, you won't be. I'll be here, I will."

"It's not going to happen," you say, stepping forward to touch Oriko's shoulder. "OK? Oriko, I know what's happening." You're not lying. You hope you're not lying.

The seer's shoulder shakes under your hand, nearly flinching away from you. "I-" she swallows hard, obviously choking back panic. "Make the, the bracelets, the ones that stop it from hearing."

You nod slowly. You'd been meaning to do that, anyway, and... you suspect they could do with a moment alone. "OK. OK, I'll do that," you say, thinking furiously. "Kirika, help Oriko clean up, and I'll clean up and serve breakfast downstairs, OK? I'll get the bracelets ready."

Kirika nods rapidly, arms tightening around Oriko.

You sigh, squeezing Oriko's shoulder again in silent reassurance before turning to gather up the spilled breakfast. You give the couple as much room as you can as Kirika croons wordless encouragement into Oriko's ear, calming her down. Padding silently out of the room, you scratch at the collar of your maid outfit. A quick transform back to your normal clothes and back again restores it to pristine condition.

It still itches, though.

By the time the couple descend the stairs, you've set up breakfast on the table and fielded another quick question from Mami. A bracelet sits beside each bowl of rice, and there's one more, by itself. Privacy bracelets made with Grief - one for each of you. Glancing up at them, you smile. Oriko looks, if not calm, then calmer. Kirika gives you a worried smile as she ushers Oriko towards the chair.

"Breakfast is served, Lady Mikuni, Lady Kure," you say, stepping to one side and bowing properly, with your hands flat against your thighs.

Hey, what's dignity in the face of keeping spirits up?

You manage to elicit a weak, grateful smile from Kirika, and a look from Oriko.

You sigh, waving at the table. "Anyway. We can talk over breakfast?" you suggest, snagging one of the bracelets and sliding it on.

Oriko grabs another bracelet and slips it onto her wrist immediately, the endless fractal patterned Grief contrasting with the gleaming gold ring on her hand.

You pull a chair out and sit down. You've already eaten, and while puella magi... probably can't get fat, Kyouko being all the proof you'll ever need, you've already eaten breakfast. You smile at Kirika as she drops into the last chair, before scooting it over to sit beside Oriko. Reverently, Kirika places two gleaming Soul Gems on the table, adding Aurora's clear Seed to form the last point of a triangle.

The seer doesn't eat, keeping her eyes closed.

You exhale. "Alright, s-"

"Shh!" Kirika cuts you off, waving her hands at you.

You blink at Kirika, before turning to Oriko, who still has her eyes closed, brow furrowed in concentration.

Idly, you take a look at Aurora's Seed, observing it. As before, it broods, a quiet, living speck of abyssal darkness hanging within the crystal structure of the Grief Seed. It doesn't seem to do anything more than push, weakly, against your mind as you observe it.

Finally, Oriko's nostrils flare minutely, and she begins speaking, low and rapid.

"Shizuki Hitomi will not become a magical girl." She exhales sharply. "There is a travelling magical girl, her name is... Bennouna Nadia." Oriko stumbles over the unfamiliar name, but presses on gamely. "If you talk to her and demonstrate your powers she will carry the news to other countries."

"Oriko," you say, gently interrupting the tumbling flow of words. "I appreciate it, I do. But-"

"Let me finish, I might not have a chance to later," Oriko hisses between gritted teeth. "The... magical girl specialising in soul magic will be here in a week. It doesn't matter what you tell Miss Bennouna." Her lips compress together for a moment. "Do not... do not ask her about her sister."

She pauses, frown deepening over her closed eyes. "They... the other magical girls, a fair number of them, start trickling in unless you ask Miss Bennouna not to spread the word," she says, mouth twisting into a grimace as she waves a hand. "Things get messy. More magical girls means... more friction. I- there are so many, I can't see a clear way through."

Oriko exhales slowly. "Those are the, the big things," she says. "That I can see."

"OK," you say, filing the thoughts away for later contemplation. "OK. I... maybe we'll come back to those later, but... Oriko, how do you feel, first of all? No pain? Anything odd? Also, uh, breakfast is getting cold."

"Other than the waning of my powers?" Oriko smiles bitterly, prompting a sidelong hug from Kirika. "No. The enchanted ring works perfectly. Pass my compliments to Miss Tomoe, if you think it appropriate. And thank you."

"Right," you agree, filing that away for later, too. "OK. So..." You wave your hand in the air. "Oriko, you remember about your Soul... twisting into a loop, right? It's still doing that, tightening even further."

Kirika pokes tentatively at her breakfast, grabbing a bit of rice with her chopsticks and offering it to Oriko, who obediently eats it without taking her eyes off you.

Oriko nods. "I remember. Is there anything in particular there?"

You sigh, though your lips can't help but quirk up a little as an emboldened Kirika starts feeding Oriko, stealing bites for herself. "Oriko... look, Kyuubey came by again, and I let it talk at me," you say. "I'm pretty sure it's trying to provoke some kind of reaction from me, but it confirmed that it's happening because you're rejecting your Wish."

"Rejecting my Wish?" Oriko blinks, taken aback.

"Yeah," you say. "There's far more to your life tha-"

Oriko cuts you off, surprised expression turned to displeasure. "I'm doing what I can," she snaps. Kirika flinches, pulling back the chopsticks. "Unless you propose to let me free, which I don't believe Akemi Homura will be very happy with."

"No, not that," you say. "It... look, Oriko, when I said Kyuubey confirmed it for me, I meant exactly that - confirmed, not told me. I... I believe, and I've believed for a while, that you're not interpreting what your Wish is trying to tell you correctly."

"How else am I supposed to interpret my visions?" Oriko hisses. "Endless ways for things to go wrong, endless ways for me, for us to die and to fail?"

[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] There's far more to her life than trying to save the World and dying. Far, far more.
-[X] Ask: What's most important for you, Oriko?
-[X] Try to get Kirika's opinion on what she thinks should be the most important thing in Oriko's life. Prod her, if she tries to dodge the question or tries to go along with whatever Oriko says without making an effort.

[X] If at any point disscussions tank, apologize and leave, but tell Oriko one more thing before you do so.
-[X] We believe it might be possible to save Oriko's life, even if it costs her her power. We'd consider this a success. We'd much rather keep our friend alive than worry about whether she can tell the future or not.

=====​

If you ever wondered about how I thought I could do PMAS: Run Away to the US Edition...

Also, this is a pause in the post if you want to refine your approach/ask any questions.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Oriko," you say, voice clear and sharp as you lean back in your chair. "Your visions are a tool granted by your Wish, not the Wish itself. You know what your Wish was, Oriko, and you should know what you intended when you made it."

You know what her Wish was, too. 'I want to learn the meaning of my life! This is my wish. This is my prayer. Fulfill it, Kyuubey!'

Just the same as the rest of your esoteric collection of knowledge. You know. But you don't know how you know. It simply is, knowledge bubbling up within your mind.

Oriko gapes at you, perfect, stately poise cracked by outrage. "I know what I've seen," she hisses. "I've seen it all fall apart. I've seen open conflict in Mitakihara. I've seen everyone die. Everyone but you."

You sigh. "Oriko, you are more than your visions," you say, folding your arms. Beside Oriko, Kirika's eyes dart between the two of you as she shifts to cuddle into Oriko's side, slipping one arm around the seer's waist. "I stand by what I said. Your visions are a tool, a means to an end. What is that end?"

"Saving the world," Oriko snaps.

... yeah, you walked right into that one.

You exhale, blowing out a sharp breath. "Oriko, look," you say, rubbing at your forehead. "OK, fine. I'm not exactly going about this the best way, but my point is, the point I've been trying to make is, your visions are a tool. They're useful, yes. But you are more important than just your powers."

"I will give my life to save the world," Oriko hisses, eyes narrowing at you. Kirika makes a distressed little noise, tightening her hug around the seer.

"That's beside the point," you counter, eyes narrowing. "Oriko, you matter. I know you would. Just as much as I know you don't want to die. Nor do you want to lose your powers."

"I don't," Oriko agrees, eyes narrowing. "Do you have a point to make?"

"Oriko, you matter more than as a crystal ball," you snap. There's really two issues here, you muse to yourself. Oriko's fatalism, and her fear of losing her powers, all tangled up in one twisty ball of yarn probably informed by her father's ignomnous fall from grace. "You matter as a person, as someone to be loved, to Kirika."

"Leave her out of this." Oriko bristles, closing her working arm protectively around the other girl.

"Oriko, it's relevant," you say, folding your arms. "She loves you. Am I wrong? Either of you?"

Silence.

You let it stretch for a heartbeat. "You matter to me as a friend," you murmur. "I might be a meddling do-gooder who can't stop herself from interfering, but I do think I've got good intentions and enough knowledge to do good."

Kirika tucks herself a little more soundly into Oriko's arms, nestling closer with an unhappy little noise.

"Oriko," you say gently, leaning forward on the table and meeting Oriko's eyes. "The point I want to make, the point I've always been trying to make, is that you are more than your visions, and your Wish is more than your visions."

Oriko closes her eyes, expression tired. "Then what? My powers are going, and I'm going to die. Not now, but... soon."

"As we've established, Oriko," you say, a crooked smile tugging at your mouth. "I do not accept that. Between keeping you alive and healthy, or keeping your powers... what do you think I would choose? I mean-" you shrug. "-I'll be honest. I have no idea if it's an either or, or maybe a logical or, but given the choice..."

"I know," she mutters, exhaling with her eyes still closed. "You've made your position abundantly clear."

"You don't want to lose your powers, do you?" you ask. "You don't want to die."

Oriko doesn't respond immediately. Then finally, in a whisper - "I don't. You know I don't."

"Good," you say. "That's a start."

"Blind optimism only goes so far," Oriko counters. "Sabrina, I gave up hoping because it's easier. It's just... easier for everyone to just... accept it."

You lean back in your chair again, propping it up on the two rear legs as you stare up at the ceiling. Fatalism. That's certainly one way of dealing with things - denial, bargaining, anger, depression, acceptance, and all that lovely stuff. This would be acceptance, if you're rolling with that. And you're solidly in the denial phase, of course.

If there is any to deny, of course. You're not convinced fate is so set in stone.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light and all.

You contemplate the idea of more puella magi coming to Mitakihara - if anything, they're going to descend in a swarm. Maybe you could ask Nadia to not tell as many people, and maybe it would work... but word spreads.

"You know, Oriko," you murmur contemplatively at the somewhat dusty ceiling. If you were actually a maid, you would do something about that. And the cobwebs in the corner. "I might not be a seer, but... I might be a bit of a clairvoyant." You shrug. "Certainly I know things I shouldn't. I dunno for sure. But well... I've told you about another Oriko, one who found her own answer."

You pop upright on the chair, riding it as it slams back down on four legs, the loud crash startling Kirika. "Just an idea, to start with. I could tell you about her."

Oriko opens her eyes to stare at you, sea green eyes meeting yours. "And hope that I can learn from another me and that everything changes for the better with just a story?" She shakes her head. "Sabrina, you're not that naive."

[] Write-in

=====​

Ouch.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Probably not," you agree. "Though some days I wonder. In any case... Even if I might be naive... are you really one to talk, Miss Save-the-world?"

She rocks back a little, outrage flickering across her face even as you press the attack.

"We're all naive in some ways. We're all hopeful about some things. I just happen to be more hopeful in general," you say, leaning forward on the table to give your words emphasis, pulling your chair up a little. "Easier, though?" you ask, voice dropping to something between a growl and a snarl.

"Easier? That, Oriko-" your eyes narrow to slits, annoyance bubbling. To be honest, love Kirika she might - but here and now, she's insulting their relationship and Kirika herself. "Is you dying easier for Kirika? Or any of the people who owe you their lives?"

Oriko falls silent, her eyes dipping to the table.

"I-it's not," Kirika whispers, voice shaking as she wraps herself around the seer a little tighter. "It's not it's not it's not. I don't want you to die, Oriko, I don't want you to."

"I-" Oriko's voice catches in her throat, her hand closing over Kirika's. "I know."

You exhale, annoyance dying, drained away. You can't exactly sustain it, in the face of that. "You don't want to. Kirika doesn't want you to. I don't want you to," you say, voice steely. You keep your gaze on Oriko, icy blue eyes unyielding even if she doesn't meet them. "You don't have to. It's never hopeless, and I am never going to give up on you." You flick your eyes over to Kirika. "Neither is Kirika."

Kirika nods. "I won't," she agrees, voice steady and clear for a moment before it cracks. "O-Oriko, please."

"You are worth fighting for," you say.

It's that simple.

Perhaps, once, you thought her your enemy.

That was then, this is now.

"And it hurts to see you give up on yourself," you tell Oriko. "Because you don't have to die. Giving up means it's over. Giving up means losing. I can't and I won't give up."

"I know you won't give up," Oriko says, looking tired.

"Mmmmm," you agree. "I know I'm hammering the point hard, Oriko. But I want you to understand where I'm coming from. And Kirika, you won't give up either, will you?"

The black haired girl shakes her head.

"There you have it. And, well, to be honest, Oriko... I reckon that people like you and me..." you smirk a little, a wry little quirk of your lips. "I reckon that we're here because we're meant to beat the odds. This isn't an anime, no. But cliché or not, there is hope - for everyone. That includes you, Oriko."

"We've... We've already beaten the odds," Kirika whispers. "O-Oriko. We have."

"Yeah," you agree, jumping on the point. "I mean, you're still here, right?"

Oriko sighs. "It's not the same."

"Why not?" you say. "You were so convinced you'd die. And you didn't." Your smirk strengthens a little. "Again -and I'll say it as many times as I need to- you are worth fighting for. What you're going through, what we're facing... none of it's insurmountable."

She sighs again, but doesn't contradict you.

You nod slowly. "I'm going to tell you about that other Oriko," you say. "And maybe it won't let you come to an epiphany, just like that - but maybe it will."

Oriko shrugs with one shoulder. Nevertheless, she straightens a little and meets your eyes. Kirika looks up at you too, faint curiosity peeking through her worry.

Absently, you check your privacy rings - all three of them are still glowing in your senses, perfectly functional. "About a week from now, or perhaps a little more," you murmur. "One night, you'll be out wandering a public park, because you didn't want to be home alone."

"Alone?" Oriko asks, voice toneless.

Your turn to shrug. "That you hadn't gotten Kirika to live with you."

"Ah," Oriko says. "That's... disappointing." There's something in her eyes that tells you that she knows exactly why that other her wouldn't have wanted to be at home without Kirika in it.

She'd found her father's body after he'd hung himself.

"Perhaps," you say, shaking those thoughts free. "But then... you meet a little green haired girl in the park - perhaps you know her."

"Chitose Yuma," Oriko murmurs. "Miss Sakura's current protégé."

"That's her," you agree. "You talk it out a bit. The next day, you have a vision of her dying. Her heart simply giving out from the chronic abuse her shitstain of a mother heaped upon her." And if your voice is a bit more biting than it usually is, who could blame you?

Not Kirika, listening with hopeful, worried eyes

Not Oriko, barely breathing as she watches you.

"So you saved her," you say. "And there was a magical girl, Sasa Yuuki, from Kasamino. She comes after the territory here, and... you and Kirika fight her off. And in doing so, in protecting each other..." You smile at Oriko. "You unlock your powers fully. Fighting wholeheartedly. You go on to fight Walpurgisnacht."

"And, I presume, we die," Oriko says. She shakes her head. "I don't see how that was supposed to help."

You purse your lips, considering the matter. The fact is, you could tell her, in as many words, what that other Oriko's realisation was. You just don't know whether it'd do any good.

[] Write-in

=====​

Mmmm. Uncertainty all around.

 

[Firnagzen]

You shrug, searching your memories. You... remember them ready to face Walpurgisnacht, but... You don't remember the outcome of that fight. "Maybe they did, maybe they didn't," you say. "I honestly don't know. My.. clairvoyance, weird alternate timeline knowledge, whatever, doesn't tell me what happened after that."

Oriko nods, expression tired, shoulders set. Not all that different from before. Simple, fatalistic acceptance that you're... unfortunately familiar with, from her.

"That's not the point, though," you say. "Really, it isn't."

"I know the point you're trying to make," Oriko says, meeting your eyes. "That if I can simply try to, to think like that other me, I'd be fine. That's... that's not how people work."

You sigh. "Not quite," you say. "The point is that that version of Oriko had better odds against Walpurgisnacht than you do. She could shoot frigging lasers, and she wasn't crippled by her own magic. She used her visions - they didn't use her. And whatever happened, if you died, you died together, with no regrets."

"Sabrina..." Kirika sits up a little, frowning at you.

Oriko's jaw sets. "I'm sorry I'm not as 'awesome' as my other self," she growls.

You frown. "Oriko," you say. "You know me. You know me. That's not what I'm trying to say at all."

"It sounds like you are," Oriko snaps.

You press your lips together. "Oriko," you say. "I wouldn't do that. My point is-"

Oriko interrupts you, slapping her hand to the table and half rising. Kirika starts to stand by her side. "That I'm not good enough, I'm not determined enough-"

You remain seating - but you interrupt her. "No," you say, cutting across her speech. "You are. You are, Oriko. That is the point I want to make. You were happy then - you can be happy now."

Oriko opens her mouth to say something, but you cut her off with a sharp, slicing motion of your hand. "Listen to me, Oriko," you snap, voice rising just a hair. Kirika bristles, her mouth pulling into an unhappy jag - but you have a point to make.

You power into the silence, staring them down. "Fate isn't written in stone", you snarl. "We're magical girls, for goodness' sake - we make the impossible possible. You know that!"

When the seer glances up at you, something dark and sullen blazes in her eyes and the twist of her lips. "Are you going to let me talk?"

You sigh. "Go ahead, Oriko," you say. "Look, I'm not trying to demoralise you. Quite the opposite. So... Go on."

"I am not her. I am not my other self," Oriko says, her voice a low, bitter thing. "Perhaps you are right; the potential exists. I will grant that." She meets your gaze steadily. "But it is hard to be optimistic when I can see the future and all I see is death. Maybe you're correct. This... isn't the meaning of my life."

She takes a breath, jaw tightening. "Perhaps. But it's hard to see what it is when all I see is death and failure. And soon I won't even see that."

"That's not true in the slightest," you counter. "Oriko, what were the odds? After you burned down Sayaka's house, that we'd just... drop out of thin air and stop you, right there? Just because you don't see a way to survive doesn't mean that we can't make one."

Oriko's nostrils flare. "There isn't one," she hisses. "For all your pretty speeches, you don't have a solution."

"I have one," you counter. "But the solution needs to come from you, as trite as it sounds. You need to realise-"

"-the meaning of my life, yes, I've heard it already," Oriko cuts you off, glaring at you.

"I've proven your visions wrong," you say, folding your arms. The fabric of your sleeves pull uncomfortably at your elbows. "I've proven your visions wrong, and you've proven your visions wrong. You see possible outcomes. You of all people should know how many people 'should' have died by now. You've fought fate-"

"I fight it where it isn't inevitable," Oriko hisses. "When every path I might tread doesn't lead to an end."

"And they don't," you insist, frustration bleeding into your tone. "I've proven your visions wrong, and you've countered your own visions. They're not infallible, and they're leading you down a dead end. We've already stacked the deck against Walpurgisnacht -and whatever more is to come- to a degree greater than it already has."

You jab your finger at Oriko. "Do you want to talk about visions, Oriko?" you demand. "I've seen it destroyed. I've seen Walpurgisnacht destroyed, and no one had to die for it."

Oriko's expression sets hard. "Then so be it," she says. "I think I've heard everything you have to say. And I think you can leave."

Kirika's orange eyes go wide, shocked, as her head snaps around to stare at her girlfriend. "Oriko..." she says.

"Kirika, we're just going in circles," the seer says, raising her hand to cover Kirika's.

"No," Kirika says, shaking her head. "No. No, Oriko, I t-think... this is a mistake."

Oriko groans, her head lolling back with eyes closed. "Sabrina. Please," she whispers. "Just... leave me alone for a while. We can talk more later. If that's alright, Kirika?"

"I-" Kirika shakes her head. "I don't... I... it feels like that's a mistake, Oriko."

[] Write-in

=====​

Oh dear.

 

[Firnagzen]

Inhale...

And exhale, slow and measured, as your eyes slide closed.

You hold it like that for a moment, choking back your worry and your frustration.

When you open your eyes again, you feel... calmer, if not quite settled. You glance at their Soul Gems - both are fine, the clear Seed doing its job of keeping them both perfectly clean. Nothing to worry about there.

Your own Soul Gem, then. You detach it from the lapel of your coat, staring at the patina of Grief swirling under the surface. With a curl of your lips, you wipe it away, mottled purple mist swirling away to collapse into marbles.

You look up to find Oriko still glowering sullenly at you.

That's fair.

You've been pushing, and you've been pushing hard.

"I'm sorry," you say. You keep your words slow and even, carefully enunciated. "I'm sorry, Oriko. I've been pretty unfair to you, here."

Oriko stills, and her eyes narrow a hair. She doesn't say anything, unreadable gaze shadowed by her fringe. Her one arm remains wrapped around Kirika in, and the black haired girl, for her part, is practically sitting on her lap. Bright, citrine eyes fix on you in an intense stare.

There's so very much riding on you, isn't there?

"I'm sorry," you sigh. "I just thought that... as painful as it might be, hoping and trying is better than the alternative. And hey. You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take and all that, right?" You smile weakly at them.

Kirika nods slightly, swallowing as she glances at Oriko, whose lips tighten a little.

"Except..." You sigh again. "Ugh, I'm doing it again. I just want you and Kirika to be alive and happy. Except I went about it entirely the wrong way, and I've been pretty inconsiderate."

"N-no," Kirika says, seeming to find the strength from somewhere to straighten a little. "No. You were trying to help, Sabrina." She licks her lips, eyes darting from Oriko to you and back again. "I... I just think..." She breaks off, shaking her head.

You wait for a moment, but she doesn't seem inclined to continue. So you start speaking again, slow and careful, almost meditative as you reflect. "So I'm sorry," you say. Kirika opens her mouth again, but you forestall her with a raised hand. Her mouth clicks shut. "I'm sorry for being inconsiderate and pushy, Oriko, Kirika. I just-"

You choke yourself off. You're pushing. You're always pushing. It's a habit of yours, and to be honest, you sometimes refer to it internally as Gilgameshing. Like the character. And that's not inaccurate. Not just against Oriko, and in this case... Maybe you shouldn't push her, but... you're honestly not sure how to get her out of these straits apart from maybe letting her go free.

Which, if you're honest to yourself, has an excellent chance of resulting in a pair mysterious "death by fatal lead poisoning" cases within the week. Homura's not in the slightest rational about Oriko.

"I'm sorry that I can't seem to do anything more to help you or make things easier," you say, grimacing unhappily. "As much as I want to. All I can say is... I'll try." You meet Oriko's eyes. "I'll try the best I can, even if... even if it doesn't mean anything to you. You deserve it."

Oriko sighs. "I believe you," she says, voice bitter and tired. "And I appreciate it. I just... It's just..." She sighs, glancing away.

Kirika glances up at you. "Sabrina?" she whispers. "C-could I talk to you outside? I-if that's OK, Oriko?"

Oriko nods.

"G-give us a minute, Sabrina?" Kirika asks, looking back at you with a weak smile on her face.

You smile. "Of course," you say, standing and pushing the chair back with a scrape.

The maid outfit dissolves in a flash of light, the cloth reweaving itself around you as you stump out of the room. You pause just out of sight, leaning against the wall for a moment, before pressing on and walking over to the great glass door. Silently, you slide it open and step outside before flopping onto a chair at the outdoor table.

You slump, pillowing your head on your arms, breathing deep of the heavy scent of roses. You're not sure you even want to talk to Mami right now.

Eh, that's ridiculous.

"Hey, Mami," you reach out.

"Sabrina!" Mami's voice rings bring and cheerful. "I think I did well for the test, thank you for your help!"

Despite yourself, you can't help but smile, mood bouyed a little. "Good to hear!" you respond, sitting up.

"How are you, Sabrina?" Mami asks.

"I'm OK," you respond. "Checking in on Oriko and Kirika right now, they're... not doing great."

"Ah," Mami says.

"Yeah. Doing what I can," you say. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot Kirika, and you wave at her. She waves back as she joins you at the table, smiling weakly.

"Hey, Sabrina," she murmurs.

"Ah," Mami says. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Hey, Kirika," you respond, smiling as best as you can at Kirika. "Holding up OK?" To Mami, you respond. "I... don't know. I'm honestly not entirely certain what to do in the first place, so..."

"Well, if there is anything, tell me, alright?" Mami responds. You can practically see the warm smile on her face, if a bit strained - it's funny, how emotions kind of sort of transmit along telepathy. Not that you're complaining.

"Y-yeah," Kirika says. She licks her lips, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "S-so you were getting at something earlier, right? With the whole... meaning of Oriko's life thing?"

"Of course, Mami," you respond telepathically. Out loud, you nod. "Yeah, I was."

"Is there... what was it?" Kirika asks. "Is it anything I can do?"

[] Write-in

=====​

Apologies - I meant to get this up earlier, but well. Been a shitty week, plus thesis submission coming up soon and tests. Whoo.

Took the liberty of combining the previous bandwagon with the previous one, since it slotted in nicely.

 

[Firnagzen]

You give Kirika a thoughtful look, absently checking your bracelets - this isn't for Kyuubey's weird ear-manipulator appendage things. You can still sense Oriko's perfectly well, back in the kitchen, and your own and Kirika's are just fine.

"I..." you sigh, turning your attention fully to Kirika. "I just want Oriko to believe that there's another... another, better way for things to go. She seems to feel that there's only one way for this to end, and that it would be... better that way."

Kirika nods, eyes downcast.

"That isn't true," you say. "It just isn't. I was trying to get her to just... think about it."

You exhale, flattening your palms on the smooth, lacquered wood of the table. "That's not really what you're asking," you say. "I know. That other Oriko, much like your Oriko, had trouble controlling her magic. Her powers were always activated, always giving her visions."

Kirika nods. "Yeah," she says, chewing on her lip. "Yeah, that's about right. I... Oriko... we were running for a Barrier, when you caught us, that time. Two birds with one stone, Oriko said."

"Huh," you say. That's something, you guess. Not really relevant to the now, much like your thoughts about how you'd handle word of your exploits spreading, and meguca trickling into Mitakihara. "More than that... Oriko blamed herself for her father's actions. She... carried the blame for what he did."

"I know," Kirika says, shaking her head. The sun to her back shadows her eyes beneath her hair, her lips twisted and unhappy. "She doesn't deserve it. I've told her she doesn't."

"And, I suspect, she thanks you for it," you murmur. There's very little suspicion about it, truth be told. You know. "She tells you it means a lot, and it makes her happy. But deep down inside, she has trouble convincing herself. Yeah?"

"Y-yeah," Kirika agrees. "Yeah. That's exactly it."

"She's wrong," you say. Kirika rocks back on the bench at the simple declaration. "You know she is. I know she is. That Oriko fought for you, and to help Yuma."

Kirika blinks. Consternation gives way to thought, and then... she laughs, weak but real and joyful. "Thanks," she says.

You blink in surprise. "For what?"

"Sometimes I forget," she says, wondering and somehow surprised. "That Oriko can be wrong."

"Heh," you chuckle. "Guess so."

"She's wrong..." Kirika echoes. "Wrong to think she's going to die." Citrine eyes, kindled with eager hope, flick back up to you. "What else?"

"Her visions," you say. "Well, not the visions themselves, just that she relies on them way too much. Both Orikos. The other Oriko, though... as I said, she faced Sasa Yuuki. She fought for you, and she realised something."

Kirika leans forward on the table, sharp and alert.

You quote from memory, the words rolling off your tongue in a cadence you assume from Oriko. "'You don't have to be a good girl for anyone. You are who you are. So become someone you, yourself, want to be.'"

You leave off that last line of hers - 'don't become like me'.

Hah.

Who says you can't do tact?

"Who did she say that to?" Kirika murmurs, eyes lost as she slowly absorbs that. You can tell she hasn't missed the implications - ditzy Kirika might be, but she isn't stupid, and when it comes to Oriko, you'd imagine she's well and away glad to put in additional effort.

"Yuma," you answer. "And later... she concludes that it was for the best that she could fight wholeheartedly." You grin at Kirika, lopsided and rueful. "You're what matters to Oriko. That's what I've been trying and failing to get through to her - but it might not be something I can. I don't think she would hear it from me."

"Love is an infinity of limitations," Kirika mutters, distant and distracted. "Is it that easy?" She shakes her head, denying her own thoughts. "Simple isn't the same as easy."

"No," you agree. "It isn't." You grin at her as a sudden thought flashes through your mind. "Ironic and probably redundant that I'm telling you, but - love her. Maybe I could be wrong, but I do think that that's at least part of what Oriko needs here. Why her magic's the way it is."

"You're not wrong," Kirika says, something flashing in her eyes. Conviction, raw and intense, written in the set of her eyes and jaw. "You're not wrong."

You let out a slow breath. You weren't... you're not sure yourself. But you seem to have inspired Kirika, at any rate. "You're probably the only person who can get through to her, here and now," you say. "Just... try and talk her through it. Talk about what matters to her, try and get her to-"

"-to see our point of view," Kirika says, continuing past you. "To see that there's a way for her to live, and that it's alright for her to be happy, to live and to love." A warm smile spreads across her face as she looks past you, to the mansion beyond. "'bout right?"

"Yeah," you agree. "'bout right. Get her to see that she has value for being herself. Get her to live for herself, don't let her give up."

Kirika's little fang protrudes from her grin. "I think I can do that," she says. "Thanks, Sabrina."

You shake your head. "Don't thank me. What did I do, other than mess up with Oriko? This is all you. Just needed to give you a little push, right?"

"Meeeeeeeh," Kirika complains, supporting herself with her palms flat on the bench as she lets her head flop back and stare up at the sky. "Thank you anyway!"

"So... what now?" you ask. You find yourself smiling - her good mood's infectious.

Kirika tips her head back forward to grin at you. "Love her," she says. "'s that simple."

"Well, I meant me," you say. "I'm... not sure I'm doing this the right way. What do you think?"

"Yeah, I get to love her, not you," Kirika says, sticking her tongue out at you. "You have your own oujo."

You shrug. "So... nothing more for me to do?"

Kirika shrugs too. "D'you think you could let us go out sometime?" she asks. "I... I think Oriko would like to do something sometime."

=====​

Thesis crunchtime, whoooo.