Puella Magi Adfligo Systema - Story only

[Firnagzen]

Your humming shifts to something more tuneful as you make up your mind, the high, running piano and rising strings you vaguely consider your own theme. It's all about the people, and in this case, the Shiogama girls, first of all. You've been giving them time and space to grieve, not to mention the capacity to grieve - when negative emotions are a direct threat to your health, allowing yourself to feel a loss is dangerous.

On the other hand, you could also say that you've been negligent. A place to live and sustenance isn't a life, as it were. But they've got each other, and you have neither the right nor the context to intrude on that. Everyone heals in their own way, and... you don't know how they might.

You're also slightly concerned that they might know about the true nature of Witches. It's something to be carefully probed at, because this is something you'd rather be sure of, and that would be something best done face-to-face.

Still.

A check-in right now can't hurt, and it'd let you arrange things for said face-to-face meeting.

"Miss Saito, Miss Watanabe?" you call out into the aether. "Are you awake?"

"I am, Miss Sabrina," Noriko responds promptly, and to you alone. "Akemi's still asleep. I can wake her if you need us?"

"No, no!" you say, leaning forward on the bench to prop your chin on your fist and elbow against your knee. "Sorry, I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No, I was awake," Noriko says.

"Ah, gotcha," you say. And you can read between the lines of that rather bleak tone of voice, can't you? Trouble sleeping. "Is now a good time to talk?"

"... Sure," Noriko says. "What do you need?"

"Well, I wanted to do a quick check-in," you say, watching as Mugin scrabbles over the sandy courtyard of Warehouse-kun, hopping and pecking around. "And I thought that if it's OK with you, I might drop in this afternoon?"

"Ah... yes, that would be fine," Noriko says.

"How's everything going?" you ask. "Is the apartment and all that alright? Food? And I hope Miss Saito's doing well?"

"The apartment is more than we could have asked for," Noriko says. "Uhm... we've done some shopping for groceries, yes. And she's fine, we just had a late night, that's all."

"Good. That's good," you say, trying not to kick at the sandy ground like the awkward teenager you are. "Right. So... I'll see you this afternoon, yeah? After lunch, but before three or so, most likely."

"We'll be here," Noriko promises.

"Hokay. See you then!" you say, and sign off. You're still not used to the sheer diffidence you get from the Shiogama girls, and in many ways, you hope you'll never get used to it - from them, or anyone else. You're powerful. You're privileged. But that just means you need to be mindful of the effect that has on other people.

You sigh quietly, shaking your head and trying to put those thoughts aside for now, because now is the time for Science.

... Well, speaking of the time, the first thing is to set a timer for yourself on your phone so that you don't overshoot. You tap it out on your phone and set it down on the Grief bench beside you, speaker facing up. And with that done, the first thing is for you to experiment a little more with Grief itself.

You knead a blob between your hands, thinking. Grief is Grief, but is Grief grief? Small-g grief, the emotion is something intensely personal. Everyone heals in their own way, conversely, everyone grieves in their own way.

So...

One person's grief is not the same as someone else's grief. Is one person's Grief different from someone else's?

You stare down at the blob held between your hands. At first glance, little more than a smooth lump of deep purple, but as you look at it longer, you notice how the surface wavers, shifting and twisting in dizzying, fractal patterns. You cast your senses at it, mundane and magical and Grief senses.

It's just Grief. You don't notice anything in particular about it, but maybe that's because you aren't comparing it to anything - so you cleanse your own Soul Gem, drawing that filmy patina of Grief into a separate fragment. You hold both of the Grief chunks out, one hovering over either hand like brooding little omens of misfortune.

... omens of misfortune.

You sit bolt upright, glaring at Sayaka's crow. "Wait a second," you say. "It's Hugin and Munin, not Mugin."

It seems to recognise its name, stopping its investigation of the ground to fix you with one beady eye.

"Then again, it might also be a pun," you inform it. "Mugin, mugging. Or just a rhyming pair of words. You like shiny things, right?"

Mugin caws at you.

"Also, I have no idea whether you even understand me, or why I'm talking to you," you say. "I'm not that hard-up for things to do. But here. I'll give you a shiny, in hopes that it serves as a peace offering."

You grab a bolt off the ground with a bit of Grief, polishing it to mirror-finish with a thought before dropping it in front of Mugin. The crow inspects it carefully, cocking its head to the side before apparently deciding that it's acceptable and placing a possessive foot on top of it.

"Right. No more pecking," you say, waggling your finger at Mugin, and turn your attention to marginally more productive things - trying to differentiate Grief. You set the smaller blob in orbit around the other, like a tiny, tiny moon drawn into the gravitational field of a planet.

Is there a difference between the two?

The answer, it would appear, is no. Not as far as you can tell - they're the same, with no hint of what thought or cause was behind either bit of Grief. Maybe it's something to do with the way you perceive Grief, or maybe the way you acquire Grief - at a second hand, after it's been filtered through a Soul Gem. Maybe Grief only corresponds to grief in a generic way.

Maybe it's just poetic. There's no sadness too big or too small that you shouldn't try to help.

Alright. Next experiment, then.

Magic is emotion, and emotion is magic. And your magic is control.

Can you imbue emotions into Grief? Clear Seeds and Grief Seeds both suck up Grief. Could you serve them up the emotional and magical equivalent of a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup to perk them up? It'd be a good step on the road to de-Witching.

Something along the lines of enchanted Grief, perhaps. But something so diametrically oxymoronic as joy or hope infused Grief... well, you'd rather than start with something less fundamentally opposed to the very nature of Grief. Something just a shade further along the spectrum, bittersweetness, perhaps.

You can't truly recall a time when you felt the like. You've always been a person of emotional extremes, haven't you? Happiness, sadness, hope, despair... Distinct, and clear cut. But there is something.

Mami's recovery is unambiguously a thing of joy. To see her rediscovering her strength, to see her truly learning to smile again instead of putting up a facade is nothing less than everything. And yet it's something leavened by a twinge of regret.

Kyuubey laid the foundations. Built her up on a foundation of shifting sand. It was the one to bring her students who would ultimately abandon her, using her. And yet.

You were the one who brought the breakdown. Ultimately for the better, but those niggling thoughts - could you have done it better, could you have done it different, do you have the right... Well. To doubt is to be human. And yet.

Mami is happier. She's truly happy. Because of you, because of your -her- friends.

You imagine the thoughts crystallizing, the regret and the joy mingling and flowing down your arm, to your fingertips...

And into the Grief.

The Grief soaks up the emotion, the magic, without fuss, and you keep it up, slowly kneading magic into the Grief over the course of minutes. You vaguely wonder why you need to do that, physically squish magic in to enchant it, but that might be a topic for later examination. For now, you just focus on holding the emotion.

It takes a bit to finish, and at some point, Mugin flutters off with the bolt before returning to peck around your feet. The Grief, though... the Grief doesn't look any different, just another fist-sized lump of disconcerting, eye-bending despair congealed into solid form, but it feels different. It doesn't even feel like regular enchanted Grief, and touching it with the back of a knuckle gives you a sense of melancholy regret.

Huh.

That's interesting.

Unfortunately, it did take a while -longer than ordinary enchanted Grief, volume for volume- and you're just about out of time. Between talking to Noriko and this experiment, you're just about out of time... but it's not like you can't keep this around and poke at it more later.

"Alrighty!" you declare. Mugin looks up from pecking at the ground. "Time to head to Fukushima." You offer the bird your hand, beaming when it hops out seemingly without any fear to perch on your shoulder. "You're friendly, aren't you? Do you even know where Fukushima is? Probably not."

You take flight on a Grief platform, Mugin scrabbling about the smooth floor with what seems to be both curiosity and annoyance, but it doesn't actually seem inclined to fly away. Awfully tame, that bird.

"Hey, Mami," you reach out with your mind as Mitakihara dwindles beneath and behind you. "How are you?"

"I'm doing quite well!" Mami says happily. "Ah... you were right about the church - Gothic revival, not original Gothic construction. You know, for my homework?"

"It was just a guess," you say. "Semi-educated guess, but I'm glad! I wouldn't want to lead you astray."

"You would never," Mami says with a warm laugh. "How about you, Sabrina? How are you?"

"Well, I'm headed to Fukushima right now to meet with Miss Tsuruya, maybe the other Fukushima groups too if it can be arranged."

"Ah, that's good thinking," Mami says. "It might be good to check her feelings about Tokyo in person, too? Oh, and, ah... Homura was intending to acquire a house for Miss Tsuruya to claim, wasn't she? It's only been two days, but it might be worth checking with Homura? Miss Tsuruya is sure to ask."

"Hmm... yeah, I could raise that with Miss Tsuruya," you muse. "And I'll ask Homura - good thinking, Mami. Thanks for the tip! How are classes? Art now, I presume?"

Mami's voice in your mind, Grief to enchant, Japan unwinding in fields and roads beneath you, the trip almost blurs past. You check with Homura, too, because Mami's right, and anticipating questions is a good thing. Almost before you know it, you're slowing for the final descent to Fukushima, pulling in your Grief nanofog and bidding Mami a farewell for now.

Yuki steps out onto the roof ahead of your arrival, striding up through the solid concrete of her office building as if ascending a staircase. For all that she's still a tiny little waif of a girl, she moves with confidence and simple assurance as she catches sight of you and raises one hand in a wave.

"Good morning!" you call as you coast in for a gentle landing on the roof, Grief platform seething out of existence around you. Mugin caws in protest, flapping up to your shoulder.

"Good morning, Miss Vee," Yuki says, returning your greeting with a sharp nod. "You appear to have acquired a passenger."

"Ah, yeah, this is my friend's bird," you say. You resist the urge to shrug. "Sayaka -you met her in Mitakihara- picked up an animal communication power, and I'm pretty sure she told Mugin here to bother me all day."

"I see!" Yuki says, flashing Mugin a sharp grin. "My, aren't you a handsome little thing."

Mugin caws loudly.

"I'll be honest, I'm not sure how much Mugin actually understands," you admit, wincing a little. That was right next to your ear, dammit. "Anyway. It's a pleasure to meet you again, Miss Tsuruya."

"Likewise," Yuki says. "Welcome back to Fukushima, Miss Vee. Please, come in."

"Thank you," you say with a smile. You follow her down, by the actual stairs this time, admiring the building. Despite having been here before, you're still almost startled by how much living magic is woven into the very fabric of the walls. "How are things here in Fukushima?"

"Quite good, though we haven't recieved any job requests lately," Yuki says, not looking at you as she descends the stairs almost daintily one hand on the bannister. "Dry spells happen, of course, and it's only been a few days since. But word of mouth is moving fast, and in some ways, it feels like Japan is holding its breath, all the little rivalries and brushfire wars held on a knife's edge."

She chuckles lightly, slanting a sidelong look at you.

"We live in exciting times," she concludes.

"Er... I'm sorry?" you say.

"Oh, no, don't be," Yuki says, raising a finger. "I've thrown my support for you, in any case. I am genuinely glad for that."

"And I'm glad for that support," you say. "Speaking of, uh, support, how secure can you make your territory against outside espionage? Including against Kyuubey?"

Yuki frowns, steps slowing as all of the mischief drops off her face, leaving nothing but an intent, calculating look.

"Secure enough that telepathy fails, if need be," she says. "But there's no way to be truly sure if he's simply pretending or not. Why do you ask?"

"Private discussions for later," you say.

"Ah," Yuki says, frowning. "How important is it?"

"Relatively so, I'd say," you admit. "It's information you should be aware of, and it pertains tangentially to Miss Anri, too."

"Hmm," Yuki says. Her frown deepens a little, looking disconcertingly out of place on her far-too-young face. "I'd rather handle that as our first matter, then, unless you would prefer otherwise? It's somewhat disruptive."

"I can also provide privacy through my own magic," you offer, tilting your head as you notice a few magical presences through the thick saturation of magic that is Yuki's territory. Four of them - the rest of Yuki's group, then, just a few floors further down. "If it costs too much?"

"Oh, no, it's not the cost," Yuki says. "Besides, with the Clear Seed you provided, I can afford to be profligate, and if it's important, I would prefer it be handled first."

"Uh... sure, then," you say. "I suppose I don't have a real preference on that. By the by, did any of the other local groups agree to meet?"

"Just the Hirano group," Yuki says. "I'm afraid the Azuma group didn't respond, if you were interested in meeting the volcano supervillain group."

You laugh.

"Well, maybe I'll drop on them sometime," you say. "But that's fine. Thank you for putting in the effort."

"Of course," she says. She stops at a stairwell and leads you out into the corridor and the meeting room across the stairwell. It's luxuriously furnished, thick carpet and solid wood table dominating the room.

"I'll be securing the room now?" Yuki asks with a raised eyebrow at you, and at your nod - flares bright with magic. Your awareness of the magic around you twists, almost as if the world beyond the confines of the room collapsed around you, but you can still sense the Soul Gems of Yuki's group beyond.

"Oh wow," you say, wincing. "That's... disconcerting."

"Ah, I didn't realise you were quite that sensitive," Yuki says. "My apologies."

"No, no, it's fine, just weird," you say. "Is this a... spatial distortion of some kind?"

"Essentially," Yuki says, nodding and gesturing at the chairs. "Drink?"

"Ah... just tea?" you say. You sit down, and watch with fascination as an entire teaset bubbles up through solid wood.

"Ceylon tea, courtesy of Shinobu," Yuki says with a slightly amused smile. "I figured that you might prefer it, given your association with Miss Tomoe."

You chuckle, accepting a cup of tea. Yuki leans back in her chair, obviously waiting for you to elaborate.

Witches, then, and de-Witching. Given Nadia's response, this is something of a tricky subject, so a bit more thought might be appropriate here.

[] How do you raise de-Witching?
Word count limit: 150 words

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Upon arriving:
-[X] Thank Fukushima again for their assistance.
-[X] Ask how secure Yuki can make her territory from QB's eavesdropping.
-[X] Hand over Rionna, "offscreen".
-[X] Ask if they have information about:
--[X] The Soujus.
--[X] The Murasaki Shrine Maidens.
--[X] Trustworthy magical girls with empathy/therapy powers.
[X] With Yuki, privately:
-[X] Discuss your dewitching plans, in the context of Airi's mental state.
--[X] Keep in mind Nadia's reaction, and reassure Yuki that you're being cautious, ethical, and methodical.
-[X] Request letting Airi channel her emotions into Yuuri's grief seed - this will require temporarily removing the anti-magic manacle.
-[X] Ask for a more detailed overview of Airi's mental state, to inform your approach to her.

=====​

Yeah, just that bit of vote - unless you specifically want to countermand something for the vote in abeyance, I'll be continuing with it.

 

[Firnagzen]

Mugin hops off your shoulder as you think, landing on the table with the clatter of claws on hardwood. You chuckle, reaching out carefully to stroke its head, which it seems to appreciate - but only for a few minutes, before scrambling off to explore the table.

You shake your head, trying to set aside the idea of buying Homura a baseball bat. Later.

"Right," you say slowly, and look up to meet Yuki's startlingly green eyes. "Sorry, had to get my thoughts in order. So... as a preface, my ethos is very simple. I'm here to help. I know I've said it before, but it's my guiding principle, heck, it's why I'm a magical girl. My priorities are to keep people alive, healthy, and happy, and that applies to... my friends, my allies-" you gesture at Yuki for emphasis "-and people in general."

"That's a good thing," Yuki says, brow wrinkling faintly as she stirs sugar into her tea. "And I'm hearing a but?"

"One of my big goals is turning Witches back into people," you say simply, spreading your hands. "It's something of a personal goal, but I've heard some horror stories from Miss Bennouna."

"I've heard horror stories too," Yuki says, tone careful but... thoughtful, as is the expression on her face. It's far too old a look to be worn by someone as young as she looks. "Why did you not tell me before?"

"First of all, because most of my friends don't know the truth about Witches yet. I'm figuring out how to break the news. And honestly? I didn't think of it, at the time," you admit, shrugging. "It's... I'm told that it's a topic of some historical problems, but for me, it's just another goal. I'm being careful, taking precautions and taking my time, but..."

You trail off, grimacing.

"You should have been told from the start so that you could go into the pact we had with open eyes, and I'm sorry for that," you say. "That said, I'm not expecting anything of you with regards to de-Witching - this is something I'm working on."

"But I can't help but be entangled in it anyway," Yuki murmurs. She shakes her head. "No, I don't regard this as a deal-breaker, though I wish I'd known about this earlier. It's... Hah. Given what I know of you, I should have guessed, really."

"Hm?" You give her a quizzical look, and in return, she gives you a sharp, cheerful smile.

"Even from our short association, I've noticed that you have a marked tendency to go for the most ambitious of goals," Yuki says, her grin widening. "Am I wrong?"

"Well, no," you say sheepishly, and take a sip of tea more as punctuation than anything. It's pretty good tea, admittedly. "So... you don't mind?"

"That's still up in the air," Yuki says, expression returning to cool, evaluating neutrality. "It behooves us to clear the air, I think."

"Yeah, of course," you agree readily. "I'll start?"

"No, actually, I'd like to, if you don't mind?" Yuki says, raising her eyebrows.

"Uh... Sure?" you say, blinking. You're not sure what Yuki's getting at, unless she's about to confess to her own attempts at de-Witching.

"You lack context, so let me give you some," Yuki says, leaning forward to steeple her hands in front of her. "We have personal knowledge of how badly it can go, because we were called in to clean up a fusion Witch of, I believe, five others. Osaka, just three years ago. One of our first jobs, and we barely made it out of there."

You wince. Yeah, that would be more than justifiable cause for concern.

"That said, that job bought us a small measure of fame, and that bit of reputation is in some ways the foundation of who we are today," Yuki says, unlacing her fingers and sitting back. She gives you a long look. "And that said... we brought down the girl who was responsible for the abomination, too." Yuki hums quietly. "She shattered her Soul Gem rather than be captured."

"That... really sucks," you say lamely. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"We've seen worse, since then," Yuki says, and sighs. "I don't tell you this to intimidate you or to dissuade you. Besides, I suspect that it'd do little to accomplish either. My point is simple: this is a dangerous field to explore. Maybe because those who try almost inevitably do so on the heels of some unfortunate revelation, but even so..."

"I understand that," you say. "And I understand your reservations. I can only reassure you that I have every intention of doing this safely and ethically - I'm in no way desperate. It's not... personal for me, as many attempts must be, and I have the luxury of taking my time. And given my powers, I believe I have a better chance than other attempts."

"I agree," Yuki says. "That's why I'm not running for the hills."

"There are plenty of hills here to run to," you say, trying to lighten the mood if only by a bit.

"Hah. Word of warning... I suspect that Kyuubey tries to meddle in this kind of thing, too," Yuki says with a frown. "I don't trust him."

"Hell no I don't trust it," you say. "It's why I asked to speak in privacy. I can't hide the fact that I'm trying, but I hope I can obscure some of the details."

"Prudent," Yuki approves.

"Mm. Also... As I said, I don't expect anything of you, but there's two things. First, I'd like to offer to involve you, if you want," you say. "I'm happy to share any details or address any concerns you might have."

"Involvement... Perhaps not, but I would, I think, like to be informed," Yuki says. "What was the second thing?"

"Clear Seeds are, I think, part of the process," you say. "And I'd like to request that Miss Anri help."

"Explain?" Yuki says.

"Well - first of all, just a reassurance. Even if I do succeed, I won't be recalling Clear Seeds until such a point where I figure out a viable alternative," you say, and sigh. "Ethics are a complicated, messy subject, but... If I succeed, there will be more than enough souls to save. I'll figure something out."

You sigh. When you say it out loud, that... sits ill with you, but you don't have much choice, do you?

"To the point, then: Soul Gems turn into Grief Seeds, that much is obvious. There is some amount of awareness of the Witches in there, or at least enough to wake up in response to my, uh, poking," you say. "Draining them of Grief leaves them in a state where they aren't literally marinating in their own despair, and I believe that this is the first step. They calm down, when I do - hibernate, maybe, but at least they aren't suffering more. I've been experimenting to figure out what the second step should be, among them, trying to feed them magic."

Yuki states at you for a long moment, then her eyes flick aside, and back.

"Would that it were so simple," she says slowly, and falls silent again. "Ah. Miss Anri's friend. You think that... asking her to help with her..." Yuki pauses. "Her friend's Witch's Grief Seed might more readily accept magic? Because of their relationship?"

"Yup," you say. You're always impressed with how quickly Yuki puts facts together, you have to admit - that intelligence is probably what let her and her group survive. "But that idea is dependent on your approval and judgment - you're the one securing her."

You pause thoughtfully, taking a sip of tea as you count the Soul Gems you can detect within the building.

"Say, where is Miss Anri being kept?" you ask curiously. "I can sense the rest of your group -another three of you, all a few floors down, right?- but not Anri?"

"You can sense them?" Yuki says. She looks faintly impressed and faintly worried, her eyebrows nearly approaching her hairline.

"Yeah?" you say.

"You are the first, I think, to be able to sense beyond my folded space," Yuki says. "Not that the list of people who I've brought in here is a large one."

"Ah," you say. "Well... my sense of Soul Gems and Grief is a lot more, ah, fundamental than most magic, I think. Low-level, to borrow a term from programming? Magic, Souls, all that... I think I'm tapping into something that's a lot closer to the metaphorical bedrock of magic itself, if that makes sense."

"It does," Yuki says, expression returning to that bright, sharp-edged grin. "Still, that makes things more interesting for me."

"Sorry?" you say, rubbing your nose sheepishly.

"Oh, no, not at all," Yuki says. She points at you with her teaspoon. "It's just a flaw that I have to be aware of and perhaps overcome. That said - you can't sense Miss Anri? She might appear rather further away than you might expect? I've put her in a bubble of folded space similar to the one we're in right now."

"Hmm," you say, frowning as you push your senses out further, and then wince, touching a hand to your forehead. "Ow."

"You found her?" Yuki asks. She leans forward, gaze focused and intent - and you know she's gauging your abilities, blatantly so, but you do can't really begrudge her that, can you? You'd do the same in her position.

"Yeah, three-ish floors up? We walked right past her earlier and I didn't even notice her among the background and the obfuscation from the space-warping," you say, shaking your head. "Wow, that's really kind of dizzying. She's far away and right there at the same time."

"Hah!" Yuki takes a long draught from her teacup, seemingly satisfied. "She is. That's interesting."

"Yeah, it is," you agree. If nothing, it gives you a bit more of an idea of your possible limitations. You can sense a lot, but just because you sense it doesn't mean you notice it.

Yuki smiles in a way that suggests she knows what you're thinking - largely because she's thinking along similar lines.

"Interactions of our powers aside, shall we return to the topic of Miss Anri?" she asks politely.

"Yeah," you agree. "So... again, it's dependent on your judgment. As you'd expect, you'd have to remove her anti-magic manacles temporarily for her to perform the channeling."

"She's been a model prisoner," Yuki says. Mugin hops up to her, giving her a curious look, and with a gesture, a small dish of what looks like sunflower seeds bubbles from the table. "She mostly spends her time reading the books and manga she requested. She eats reasonably, cleanses at a reasonable pace, and hasn't tried anything unusual."

Yuki pauses, and nods firmly. "I think we would be amenable to trying."

"Great," you say with a smile. "Thank you. What else can you tell me about her, since I'll be telling her?"

"Not much, I'm afraid," Yuki says. "She hasn't spoken much - and I can't say that her choice of reading material is particularly illustrative, either. Some shounen, some shoujo. She is, I suppose, about as depressed as you'd expect."

"Hmm," you say. "Right. That does make sense... I'll figure that bit out, then. And... I guess that's the last of the really private things I wanted to talk about? Oh, wait, uh-"

You spare a few minutes to hand over Rionna. And it's frankly a relief to release her into someone else's hands. You don't like what she did to you, and you don't like the visceral, gut-churning unpleasantness just thinking about her brings, either. Homura still has her body, and you've promised not to leave it indefinitely with her - but you're not leaving her as a Gem indefinitely, either.

"Thank you for informing me about your de-Witching attempts, Miss Vee," Yuki says, with that bit of unpleasantness done. "It would have been an unpleasant surprise to find out in another way, I imagine."

She hops to her feet, and you can feel the folded bubble of space untwisting around you as you collect the saucer of sunflower seeds and use it to lure Mugin onto your arm.

"What now, Miss Vee?" she asks. "Certainly, I can bring you to see Miss Anri right now, or perhaps you'd like to think about it for a bit? If so, I'd be happy to introduce you -reintroduce you, in some cases- to the rest of my team."

[] Straight to Anri
- [] How do you approach her?
[] Speak to Yuki's team
- [] Any particular points?
[X] When conversation allows, ask for information about:
--[X] The Soujus.
--[X] The Murasaki Shrine Maidens.
--[X] Trustworthy magical girls with empathy/therapy powers.
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Surprise slightly early update?

 

[Firnagzen]

"Anri first, if that's OK with you?" It only takes you a moment to decide - better to get what you came here for out of the way first, before you inevitably forget why you did come here. You feel like that happens uncomfortably often, like walking into a room and forgetting what you were there for.

Actually, exactly like that.

"Of course," Yuki says, nodding and starting to lead the way out of the room. "I'll bring you to her, then."

"Thanks," you say. "I'd love to meet your team afterwards, though. How's everyone been, actually? I know you said no hard feelings last time, but erm, well, after Sendai..."

"Foes today, friends tomorrow," Yuki says airily. She leads you to the stairs, one hand on the railing as she ascends. "In all seriousness... you rattled them. I never fought you in earnest, and even from our spar and their reports, I understand their fear."

She takes the stairs two steps at a time, you notice. Great hops for her, with her shorter stature - but a sedate, if longer than usual stride for you. That rapid climb slows as she speaks, until she turns fully to face you.

"Your mercy that day, too, was noted," she says. "You had them... and not only did you have them healed, you let them go with little more than a scolding. Well-deserved. All the better now that we're on the same side. You're scary, but you're fighting with us."

"That's... yeah, that's good," you say. What else can you say to that clinical dissection? "I'm glad I haven't left any lasting grudges."

Yuki nods slowly before resuming both her words and her pace.

"Moe took the worst of the wounds, but she's been running with me for long enough that she accepts that as just the price of business," Yuki says. "And despite how hard you put my girls down, she appreciates that it wasn't done with excessive force."

"Without excessive force?" you echo, wincing a little at the memory. Between Mami's Tiro Finale, fired in anger, and your own Grief blades... well, you'd nearly torn her in half. You did rip her arm off.

"We're magical girls," Yuki says with a placid smile. "Besides, we've had worse. That said - Sasami remains uncomfortable. She doesn't exactly know you."

"Which is why I definitely want to talk to your team," you say with a nod. "I don't want to let it fester."

"Then we're on the same page," Yuki says, nodding as she steps off the stairwell. She holds the door open for you. "This way, directly across here. The door will open to let you in, and you just have to knock on the walls or the door when you're done."

"Got it," you say. You roll your neck from side to side, careful to avoid Mugin, who caws in annoyance at you anyway. "Thanks, Miss Tsuruya."

"You're very welcome," Yuki says.

A quick grin for her, a breath to brace yourself, and you stride across the corridor-

You pause before knocking, and raise your hand to your shoulder, rubbing Mugin's back gently.

"OK, Mugin, I need to talk to someone," you say. "And I'm pretty sure you can't understand me, but a) I'm probably going to bribe you to not tell Sayaka about what Miss Tsuruya and I were talking about anyway and b) I'm going to leave you out here for a bit, OK? Here, I've still got those sunflower seeds from earlier."

You arrange the seeds in a little heap on the floor beside the potted plant, and coax Mugin into hopping off you before knocking firmly on the door.

"Miss-" You blink, and swallow the name. You call her Airi, and that's her original name, but... it's not necessarily the name she wants to be called. "Hello? It's Sabrina. May I come in?"

It takes a moment for the answer to come, and you imagine you hear movement from within the room.

"Sure, whatever." Anri's voice is flat, disaffected.

You reach for the doorknob. The swings open ahead of your touch, courtesy of Yuki's powers -she could make a fantastic haunted house- and you step into the room. You've been here once before, of course, and you'd watched Yuki remodel it into a living area before your eyes. It had been neat and tidy and perfectly arranged back then, freshly formed out of primordial building matter, with a cheery view of Fukushima city out of the window.

Now...

Honestly, it doesn't look much different. There are clothes on the floor, presumably worn and discarded, and a small, haphazardly stacked pile of books. The curtains are drawn over the window, but you can see a sliver of blue sky peeking through a crack, just enough light to leave the room dimly lit by the morning sun. A plush, comfortable-looking bed takes up one corner of the room, decorated with a teenager draped upside-down over it, her feet up against the wall and long, blonde hair hanging over the edge as she stares at the ceiling.

"Hi," you say, eyeing the carpeted floor. You kick your shoes off and pull up a bit of Grief to sit on instead. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm great," she says, chipper and cheery in that glass-fragile way of someone not at all having a good time. She waves one hand airily -the one with the steel of the antimagic manacle- in a vague, expansive gesture. "Fine, just fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Say, if you don't mind, er... which name do you prefer?" you ask carefully. She did make her Wish to become Yuuri, after all.

She blinks at you, and then snorts. "Anri Airi, Yuuri, whatever. I don't care."

"Well... I'll call you Miss Airi, if you don't mind? I've got news that might make things better," you say. "I-"

"If it's not about Yuuri, I don't care," Airi says.

"Actually, it is," you say calmly. "I made you a deal, and I've been working on it. I'm not there yet, but I've made progress."

"Go on, then," Airi says, raising an upside-down eyebrow.

"First of all, I just want to check what, exactly, you know about Witches?" you say. "The specifics are relevant."

"What, you didn't get your lackey to tell you?" The prospect seems to amuse Airi, who rolls over and props her chin on her hands to smirk at you.

"She's my friend, not my lackey," you say. You're not going to take the bait. "And no, I didn't interrogate her in-depth."

"Goody two-shoes, aintcha," Airi says, once more faux-bright. "Witches come from people who are too good for this world, so the world strangles them and leaves behind a monster."

Her expression slips a little as she speaks, the smile cracking for a second before reasserting itself.

"... more specifically, if our Soul Gems fill up with Grief, then we become Witches," you say, frowning slightly. You're pretty sure she's just being whimsical about it, but you'd rather be sure. "The... that's important."

You retrieve a Grief Seed from your pocket -the only regular Grief Seed you have, Elsa Maria- and both of your Clear Seeds to balance on your palms. Aurora and Hildegard on one hand, Elsa Maria on the other. Oriko said she'd disabused Airi of the notion that the Clear Seed you'd given Kazumi had to be Yuuri's, because it was special, but you're still a little wary, keeping a close eye on the way her gaze snaps to the Clear Seeds.

"So... again, I'm not sure whether Oriko told you in detail. Clear Seeds are what we get when I drain a Grief Seed of all of its Grief," you say. "Otherwise, they're filled with Grief, as their, uh, default state."

"I don't..." Airi's hand twitches a little towards her side - toward the little bulge in her pocket. "I don't care."

Heh. Girl's clothing pockets. Way too small to contain most things... but big enough for a Grief Seed.

"You want Miss Asuka back," you say, raising both eyebrows. Depression was perhaps a fair assessment on Yuki's part, but you're trying to help her - and more than that, you're trying to give her something she wants with all her heart. "I want your help to try and get her back. I can just tell you what to do, but I'd rather explain so that you know why I think it's relevant."

"What, you want me to do the work for you?" Airi says, tone caustic. "We had a deal."

"I'm holding up my end of the bargain, because this is important to me, too - but it's a work in progress, Miss Anri," you say sharply, nettled. You soften your voice. Not pity, because you don't think she wants pity. But you can imagine what she's going through, and you can empathize, just a bit. "I'm not going to speak for you, but if I were you, if I'd lost someone dear to me, I'd want to help get her back."

You hold her gaze. There's something there, apathy cut with a spark of smouldering anger. Rage at the world, rage at the injustice. She looks away.

"If you don't want to help? Fine. You're right, we do have a deal, and I'm going to continue working on this myself," you say. "But I think you have a better chance than I do of succeeding on this."

"... fine," Airi says grudgingly, eyes dropping from the ceiling to return to your face. "What do I have to do?"

"First of all, a word of warning," you say. You lower the Grief and Clear Seeds, letting them balance on your thigh, their points pricking a little. You meet Airi's eyes once again. "All this stuff? It's dangerous to know. It hurts people. So while I'm going to keep working on this - if you don't play ball, if you try to use this information to hurt people, you're out of the project. Are we clear?"

"Crystal," Airi says, and because she apparently can't help herself, adds, "You sure do like the sound of your own voice, huh? I mean, who am I even going to tell?"

"There are some things I take very seriously, Miss Anri," you say. "And I wanted to make sure there's no excuse. I want to work with you, Miss Anri, but I'm depending on you not to do anything... immoral with this information - because I'm not going to compromise on what I value for your help."

Airi rolls her eyes and slouches on the bed until her chin rests on the mattress.

"So," you say after it becomes clear she's said her piece, and raise Aurora, point pinched between your index and thumb finger. "Clear Seeds. They're... there's a kind of awareness to them - the Witch is still kind of awake in there. It calms down when all the Grief is drained out, and it... lashes out if I try and affect it."

"Yuuri's awake?" Raw, naked hope flashes across Airi's face, her hand darting toward her pocket before stilling, her expression settling back into pinched anger.

"Her Witch is," you say. "I don't know whether the Witch is the girl exactly. So with your permission, I'll empty out Miss Asuka's Grief Seed as a first step. If nothing else - I believe that the Witch is... essentially marinating in its own despair. Removing Grief is at the very least good for fixing that."

"Wouldn't know how that feels," Airi says bitterly. "I... you want to do that to- to Yuuri?"

"Yes, I do," you say, raising Aurora for emphasis. "If nothing else, as I said - it quiets down Witches."

"I... fine," Airi says, reaching into her pocket. She closes her hand around the Grief Seed, the bulge of her fist prominent against the cloth. "You... you'll do it here?"

"I will, if that's what you want," you say.

"No shit that's what I want," Airi says, the spark of anger flickering to life. "How do I know you're not going to pull a fast one on me?"

You choose not to mention the fact that if you'd wanted to, you could have already done so. There's no way she could know for sure that the Grief Seed she'd been given was Yuuri's - the only reason you know is because of the name.

Arzt Kochen.

Airi holds the Grief Seed out, reluctance in the set of her shoulders and the way her fingers follow the Grief Seed as you take it gently from her. You hold it up so that she can see it, and touch a finger to the glassy surface of the Seed. You draw your finger away, and with that motion, you draw out a thick streamer of cloying, rippling Grief.

Just a bit of theatricality, to give Airi an idea of how much Grief there is. Despair enough to drown a world, despair enough to kill a person.

"Alright," you say, eyes flicking up to Airi, her attention in turn fixed upon the Grief Seed in your hands. Your focus is mostly on the process of emptying out the Grief Seed, but you have attention enough to continue speaking. "What I've been doing is infusing magic into Clear Seeds."

"... is that it?" Airi says.

"Hopeful magic," you say. "And yes, there's a difference. If you just try to imbue a Clear Seed with magic like you would enchant something, it... doesn't work. But it's possible to channel emotions into magic, in the same way that if you're angry, your magic can come out stronger."

"And?" Airi says.

"And I don't know. I don't have enough time in one day," you say. "But we magical girls, we are creatures of hope. Grief is our antithesis, and the fact that a Clear Seed soaks up magic as hope is a step in the right direction. What happens when it fills up? I don't know, but I haven't gotten there yet. Do you see the Grief?"

You gesture emphatically with your free hand, at the billowing clouds of Grief you're pulling away from Arzt Kochen.

"Maybe we need to put this much hope back into a Clear Seed," you say. "A Soul Gem fills up with Grief and turns into a Grief Seed. It would make sense if filling up a Grief Seed with hope turns it back into a Soul Gem. I don't know for sure what happens - but I am sure that this isn't hurting the Witch or the girl that it used to be."

"I..." Airi's gaze flickers up to you for a second, then back down to the rapidly emptying Seed. "And you'll... let me do that?"

"Again, you have to work with me here," you say. "As much as Miss Asuka is depending on you to not damage her soul, I'm depending on you not to hurt people with that knowledge - or anything else. But yes. I want you to help, and I think you've got the best chance of doing this right. You know Miss Asuka, what she was like, and you've done all this for her."

"Fat lot of good it did," Airi mutters.

"We're here, aren't we?" you say.

Airi falls silent, unwilling to say anything more. Her eyes flicker over the room, darting from you, to the stack of books, to the Grief Seed in your hands - which doesn't take much longer for you to empty out, the last of the Grief twisting into seeming empty air as you rotate it away.

"And that's that," you say. Airi immediately snatches for Arzt Kochen, and you let her take it, sitting back as she inspects the Clear Seed, rolling it over between her fingers.

"So... I'd like to show you how to channel hopeful magic," you say. "If you'd like?"

"How?" Airi asks, raising her manacled hand.

"I'll get that off for you," you say. "Alright?"

"... yeah, sure," Airi says.

The first thing you do, out of sight and hopefully beyond her senses, is to saturate the room with Grief nanofog. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst - you'd rather have a ready answer to any funny business she might try. Carefully, you pry the manacle off her, making sure not to damage the metal.

"If this goes well, and you're willing to continue working on this, I'll make arrangements with Miss Tsuruya to let you keep at it," you say. "Now... how it works for me is that I need to visualise, well, hopeful things. Hopeful, happy... and you need to guide it with magic into your hands. It's a bit similar to magical healing, if you've done that?"

"Nope," Airi says, flexing her wrist. Her hair drapes over her face, forming a sheer curtain over the Clear Seed cupped in her hand. "I don't..."

"Tell me about Miss Asuka, if you want," you say quietly. "You don't have to, but... what was she like? She clearly means a lot to you, and... those memories of her are good ones, I should hope."

"They're my memories," Airi snaps. "None of your business."

"You don't have to tell me, like I said," you say. And you can respect that - you don't know her, you don't know Yuuri. Not really. And you're speaking from a position of power over her, effectively the one to sentence her to imprisonment. "But those memories might be a good starting place, and... reminding Miss Asuka of the good things she'd done might help her."

Airi doesn't say anything to that, but you can feel her magic surge and ebb, so you sit back and watch, ready to warn her if something might be going wrong.

Your knowledge of Yuuri and Airi might not be accurate. Certainly, the events surrounding the Pleaides seem a little different from that knowledge, but the broad strokes, perhaps, remain. A girl who was good at heart, but persecuted, accused of something she didn't do - and another who stood up for her. The friendship, the illness... and then a Wish, Yuuri paying back a kindness given freely and curing Airi.

A tale as old as time, perhaps, because then came the fall, the tragedy. Yuuri Witched out. And from there things are perhaps a little fuzzy, in the space between Airi somehow finding out, and finding out that her Witch had been taken down by the Pleiades, and swearing vengeance with a Wish to become Yuuri.

Oriko said that she blamed the Pleiades. Even if they hadn't caused her to Witch out, Airi still blamed them. Irrational, perhaps, but grief of the mundane kin-

"There," you say, sitting forward. "That. You've got it. Hold that feeling in your mind, let it seep into the Clear Seed... yes, there, that's it."

You watch with other senses as the crackling fire of her magic seeps into the Clear Seed, vanishing as if dropped down some bottomless hole. Not so bottomless, you hope.

"So... now what?" Airi asks. "I keep doing this when my oh-so-lovely captors allow me to do this and... that's it?"

[] Explain...
- [] That's the nature of science
- [] Enquire if she's after anything in particular
- [] Something else?
[] Back to Yuki
- [] Meet her team
- [] Any particular points to hit?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Apologies for the late update, but here we are.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Eh... kind of?" you say, raising your eyebrows at Airi. "If you're asking 'how long will this take'? Then I expect it'll be about a week, maybe two before it has a noticeable effect. 'Is that all the idea I have'? Yes, it is, and it's the result of a fair bit of experimentation. This is essentially unbroken ground. If you're asking about, uh, details of what's supposed to happen - I can explain more in detail if you like."

"It's not like I really have a choice, is it?" Airi asks caustically, slouching bonelessly against the wall behind her bed. "I've just gotta trust you."

"Believe it or not, I really am trying to help," you say. Don't rise to her bait. "I mean, if you don't believe that, then - first, I have zero reason to fool you. Second, enlightened self-interest. It benefits me to be honest with you both because I made a deal, and a reputation for dealbreaking serves me ill, especially with Miss Tsuruya."

You gesture around you at the walls for emphasis, just in case she hasn't caught Yuki's name.

"And reversing Witching is one of my goals, so being honest with you and giving you something that I personally don't have as much time to sink into to work on is only good sense," you say. "I mean, if you don't like me, that's... fair. But I intend to deal with you fairly."

Airi snorts quietly, her eyes flicking down to the Clear Seed - to Yuuri's Clear Seed. She sighs, shoulders slumping.

"Fine. Not like I've got anything better," she mutters. "I hope... I really hope you're right."

You sigh.

"As much as I can, I've given you my reasoning," you say. "I think it's sound, and frankly, I'd appreciate you calling me out if something didn't seem right. De-Witching, though... look. We're not the first to try this sort of thing before, and as far as I know, it's ended in disaster... pretty much every single time."

"Uh-huh," Airi says, giving you a flat look. There's anger in her eyes, the way her jaw pulls tight, but still she cradles Arzt Kochen between her palms with infinite care.

"You can ask Miss Tsuruya for more details if you want. She's seen the aftermath of some. I'll let her know you might be interested, if you want?" you say. You pause, looking to Airi, and continue when she doesn't speak. "And I'm not trying to dissuade you, I actually have two points that I'm trying to make: that people have rushed into it, and both they and the people they tried to help have suffered for it. So I want to emphasize being careful - and my other point is that I'm pretty sure that Kyuubey intentionally fucks with de-Witching attempts, because it messes with his bottom line."

"That little rat," Airi mutters, looking away. "If I'd known- if she'd known-"

"That's one thing we're wholeheartedly in agreement about," you say. "A lot of sins can be laid at its feet."

"'It', huh," Airi echoes, her face twisting into a ghastly parody of a smile. "I like that. I like that a lot. Little white rat."

"I'm... glad we agree?" you say. You're pretty sure you've used those exact words, admittedly, and you're glad that she's turning the anger on someone -something more worthy than the Pleiades- but that glitter of sheer hate on Airi's face and the way she's trying to burn a hole in the wall with her eyes alone are enough to worry you just a bit.

Just a little bit.

"If it weren't for that thing, my Yuuri would still be alive," Airi hisses.

"Many people would be," you agree. "I mean, I'm sure as heck not disagreeing in the slightest. A lot of sins, a lot of deaths can be laid at its feet. But it's one more reason to be careful, eh? Miss Tsuruya's power keeps this room safe from Kyuubey's eavesdropping, but... seriously, take it slow, and get in touch if something changes. I'll make sure Miss Tsuruya knows."

"Yes, yes," Airi says, waving it off, eyes still glaring sightlessly at the wall past you.

"I-" Your eyes narrow, and you sit up straight, swallowing your instinctive, easy-going response.

Airi's an angry teenager, sure. Mostly likely depressed to boot on top of that, as well as being literally imprisoned - both for good reason, but this isn't something you're willing to just let her brush off like it's no big deal. Sometimes you have to put your foot down.

"No. None of this flippancy, Miss Anri, not for this. Look at me," you say. And when she reluctantly meets your eyes, you continue, voice serious. "This is dangerous. Not just for you, but for everyone around you - and Miss Asuka." You motion to the Clear Seed. "You have her soul in the palm of your hand. Have I made my points clear? Do not even try to hurt people with this knowledge, and be careful."

"You really like the sound of your own voice, huh?" she says.

"Miss Anri," you say. "Do not test me on this - because I will cut you out of this if I can't trust you. I want to let you help, but I need to be able to trust you. Lives are at stake. Do you understand me?"

"... yes, fine," Airi says. A muscle in her jaw jumps as she pulls her knees up to her chest, hugging her legs to herself. "I understand. I will be careful in... in trying to help Yuuri, and I will not tell anyone else about what you've shared."

"Good," you say, relaxing with a sigh. "Alright. Then unless you have any questions for me, I'll get out of your hair."

Airi sighs, flapping a hand at you without uncurling from the bed.

"Right," you say, standing and moving over to rap on the wall. "Thank you for your time, Miss Anri, and thank you for agreeing to help me with this."

Airi doesn't say anything as the door swings open and you step out, but you feel her shifting on the bed, and you can sense the slow trickle of her magic twisting to hope. Slow, unsteady, but it's there. And even if that much is a good thing...

Well.

Trust, but verify.

You scour yourself with Grief, a nanoscopic swarm of particles skimming over your skin like a combination exfoliation, deep pore cleansing and extra deep sinus irrigation from hell and maybe you were a bit over-zealous because it stings like it bloody well came from hell, too.

You may have done an awkward, hopping little dance as you force yourself to go through with it because this is important, dammit. You can't absolutely trust that Airi didn't load you down with some nasty pathogen or knock-out chemical, even if you were watching her magic use. And just to be sure, you scrape your clothes clean, too, getting your Grief right into the threads.

And because you're allowed to be just a bit vain, some of the Grief sleeting through your hair settles the strands properly too, leaving it for once in a state someone might consider adequately coiffed.

"... are you alright?" Yuki's voice asks, followed shortly by the girl herself emerging from a wall.

"Yep!" you say in a voice that's definitely not a startled squeak. You finish scrubbing yourself and shove all the nasty organic gunk into hammerspace. "Just, uh. Making sure Miss Anri didn't leave us any surprises. I did mention the knock-out gas she used the last time, right? Whoo, my sinuses are clear."

"You did," Yuki says, blinking slowly. "That's good thinking."

You take a breath, rolling your shoulders and handing the antimagic bracelet over to Yuki.

"So... I've arrived at an agreement with Miss Anri," you say. "If she does anything outside the bounds of working on the Clear Seed, she's off the project - feel free to reapply this at your discretion, and let me know, yeah?"

"Of course," Yuki says, accepting the bracelet with a nod. "Are you certain she can be trusted?"

"I appealed to her own self-interest," you say, brushing your hands over your forearms. Your skin feels smooth and baby-soft, wow. "She wants her friend back as much as I do - it was the deal we made to have her agree to being imprisoned, after all."

Yuki nods thoughtfully.

"That's always a powerful motivator," she agrees. "Nevertheless, I'll be keeping a closer eye on her."

"I'm sorry for the additional trouble," you say. "And I really appreciate you putting up with this."

"Hah." Yuki chuckles, and smirks up at you. "I have to admit, I'm curious to see whether this will work. That said, I hope you won't take offense if I metaphorically rig Miss Anri's room to blow explosively." She pauses. "Perhaps literally so, even. I might check with Shinobu."

"I... well, I entirely understand why you'd want to," you admit with a wince. "I would really, really prefer that it didn't have to come to that, but I appreciate that you need to be certain on your own terms. Maybe... I don't know how feasible it is, but perhaps you could rig a de-Gemming of some kind?"

"Oh, for Miss Anri, certainly," Yuki says, folding her arms. She regards you with an arched eyebrow, head tilted back to meet your gaze - but no less imperious for all that. "But the Clear Seed... well. If that should go nuclear, then I will not hesitate. I put the safety of my girls above all, Miss Vee."

"I understand that. I understand the need to protect your friends and yourself," you say with a smile. "It's just... well, this is my personal credo, and I'm not trying to impose it on you - but the more power you have in a given scenario, the less, ah, excusable lethal force is, right?"

"And that's something that we have benefited from," Yuki says, touching a hand to her heart. "In turn, I do appreciate that. It would make for a kinder world, if we could all work to that kind of thinking."

"Yeah. It would," you say, biting back a heartfelt sigh. You shake your head hard, hair flying. "Just... I'm not trying to force it on you, and heck, it only applies if you do have that kind of superiority in force. And I mean... it's practical too, right? People are more inclined to surrender if you're known to show mercy and restraint, rather than fighting to the death."

"Oh, yes," Yuki says, green eyes glinting. "I'm well aware of that - reputation matters. But as you say, it's something done from a position of power. In this case... against Miss Anri? Certainly. Against a hypothetical super-Witch birthed by an experiment gone wrong?"

Yuki shrugs.

"Yeah," you say. "As I said, I understand that. I was just... giving my perspective, I suppo-"

An imperious caw interrupts your conversation. You look down to spot Mugin hopping up to you, wings fluffed. You laugh, and bend down to offer him a hand, which he promptly takes advantage of to clamber up to your shoulder.

"You know, I really, really don't know if Sayaka's magic gives the animals more intelligence, or if this bird was always a brat," you say. "I mean, crows are pretty smart in the first place."

Yuki chuckles, and waves a hand down the corridor. "I suppose she's telling us that we should get a move on, anyway," she says. "I'll take you now to meet my team, or would you prefer otherwise?"

"No, no, that'd be perfect," you say with an easy grin. "I hope you weren't all waiting on me?"

"Nah, we were just watching television," Yuki says with a shrug. She pushes off the wall.

"Anything good on at this time of the day?" you ask dubiously, following as Yuki starts down the corridor.

"That does rather depend on your definition of good," Yuki says. "But we enjoy the time spent relaxing together."

"Ah, yeah, I get that," you say. "I definitely get that."

Yuki leads you to the lift this time, which dings open as you approach it - presumably at the behest of her power. The acceleration is almost imperceptible, a nice smooth ride all the way down that opens into a joyously raucous living room.

The television contributes very little to the din that rolls over you, some gameshow or another playing on it. You can smell something sweet, syrup or caramel or similar, almost certainly the popcorn that's sailing merrily through the air. There are two girls sitting on the sofas, and on the sofa is right for Nishimura Moe, perched on the back of the sofa.

She doesn't look much different from when you'd seen her back in Sendai, curly black hair bouncing around her face and cascading down her back as she crows loudly, bright crimson eyes fixed on the floor where two girls are roughhousing.

With surprisingly good form, you might note. Jiu-jitsu, by the looks of it, something grapple-y and emphatic. You recognise one of them, the girl currently winning - Akiyama Atsuko, a stocky girl with shoulder-length, dark grey hair pulled back by a single red hairclip that's barely hanging on as she pulls her wrestling partner's arm into a vicious armbar and grinds her face into the rug.

"Yield!" she yells over bubbling laughter and the swearing of her opponent.

"I leave them alone for five minutes," Yuki mutters, despairing and soft enough that you're not sure she meant for you to hear it.

The other girl sitting on the sofa -rather more sedately than Moe, who's hooting loudly- looks up. Her gaze freezes on you for a split second before shifting to Yuki, and then back. Slowly, she raises an arm for a silent wave, nodding at you and then returning to grazing her way through her box of popcorn.

And that would be Koizumi Sasami, also known as Ramiel, LASERFACE, and presumably sundry other laser-related sobriquets. She's a slender, whipcord-thin girl who looks like she'd blow away in the wind, short, blonde hair bracketing a perpetually gloomy demeanour.

"Ahem," Yuki says, striding forward.

"Oh, hey Yuki," Atsuko says. She looks up from her wrestling match, still holding the other girl -Nanami Shinobu, you presume- down. Atsuko's eyes flicker to you for a second, and then back to Shinobu. "Yield!"

"Fine, fine!" the girl mumbles into the carpet. "I yield!"

Atsuko huffs and rolls off her, allowing Shinobu to rise - to rise, and rise.

Huh.

There was a time when you'd thought that Yuki might have Wished for Shinobu, as in Mount Shinobu, the mountain on which you'd first met her, to come to life to be her friend. Yuki denied it when you asked her, but now you think you're going to revisit that particular thought. It would explain Yuki's ability to bring entire buildings under her sway, and it would explain all this thisness.

"Hi!" Shinobu says, thrusting a hand the approximate size of an oven mitt in your general direction. She's as tall as you are, with forest-green hair and -dammit, if you had to imagine the personification of a mountain, they'd have green hair, too- and has enough muscle that she looks like she could bench a car. Or three. She is built like a brick shithouse, and that is such a weird phrase now that it crosses your mind.

You take her hand on instinct, shaking firmly. And, OK, fine, her hand isn't literally the size of an oven mitt or even close, but it's still enough to all but engulf your hand. Still, despite the sheer bulk she exudes, she matches your grip, but no more than that.

"You must be Miss Vee, right?" Shinobu asks, releasing your hand and giving you a friendly smile. "Pleased to meet you."

"Pleasure to meet you too," you say. You return the smile, and look around at the rest of the Fukushima girls. "And it's a pleasure to meet all of you again, too."

Atsuko's retreated to the sofa, flopping down beside Moe. The latter girl offers her a high-five and you a cheerful "Hi!", all without getting off the back of said sofa.

Yuki chuckles quietly, stepping around you. "Alright, settle down, girls," she says.

"I'm already settled," Moe says, kicking her legs and bouncing into a more proper sitting position. "Lovely to meet you again, Miss Vee. We should try a friendly spar someday. You've got some moves, girl."

"I'd like that," you say, smiling at her. And this is the girl that was nearly torn in half at the waist by Mami's Tiro Finale and your Grief blades, goodness.

"... hello," Sasami says, setting aside the box of popcorn she's still slowly munching her way through. "How are you? And, uh... why do you have a bird?"

"I've been good," you say. Yuki catches your eye and motions towards the armchair, so you claim a seat. Said armchair is upholstered in dark blue, by some odd coincidence. "The bird is my friend's, he's been assigned as my minder for the day, apparently. How have you been? Miss Nishimura, Miss Koizumi, Miss Akiyama? I hope you, uh, recovered well?"

Mugin caws loudly as it surveys the room with an imperious eye, cocking its head this way and that.

"You were kind enough to have us healed before sending us on our way," Sasami says, eyeing the bird still. "So we were doing well from the beginning."

"I'm glad," you say. You essay a little wave in Atsuko's direction -the only girl who you haven't really greeted- and she returns it half-heartedly.

"As you all know, girls, we've entered a defense pact with Tomoe Mami's group, of which Miss Vee is a prominent member." Yuki cuts in smoothly. She moves to the center of the room, standing on the rug that Shinobu had just finished getting her face ground into. "And as you know, she was in opposition to us during the recent battle at Sendai. We thought that it would be good to clear the air."

Yuki smiles, and holds her hand out to you in silent prompt.

[] Write-in topics you want to raise first.
- [] Any particular approach?
[] Instead, let them air their grievances first, if any.
Word count limit: 150 words

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] With Yuki's team:
-[X] Clear the air. You'll be working together, so you need to wrinkle out any potential issues.
--[X] Especially in Tokyo, it'd be good to present a relatively united front.
--[X] You're... unhappy with the amount of collateral they caused in Sendai, but if they were desperate to recover their friends, some of the blame *is* yours.
---[X] Yuki has said that their team will strive to be better in the future, and that's all you can really ask for - too many magical girls have had to hurt people to survive for you to be judgemental about past actions.

=====​

Alright. Apologies for the late update, and apologies for cutting the update a bit earlier - but this is an opportunity to refine your approach to the Fukushima team, anyway.

 

[Firnagzen]

You're torn.

You... well, you're not even sure whether you did use excessive force. True enough, you were pretty new to your powers back then. You have a better idea of what you can do now, and a hypothetical do-over of Sendai now would probably be a lot closer to being bloodless.

Bloodless in all senses.

You're not happy with the collateral from the fight. Collateral that they caused. You took them down clean and as quick as you could have, back then, and... you think you did as best as you could have. You can do better now, and in hindsight it feels like it was overkill, but... you're don't think you could have done better, at the time.

You're not apologising for saving people. You'd thought that, at the time, and with the benefit of hindsight, you still think you were doing the right thing. You could, perhaps, apologise for hurting them, and there's no real clash there - you did hurt them. Justified, perhaps, but you still caused pain to others. That could be worth apologising for.

... but not now. The atmosphere is light, and they don't seem exactly... bothered by the whole affair. If the topic rolls around to something more serious, or the opportunity presents itself.

And besides.

You have a freaking bird on your shoulder, with its claws pricking slightly at your skin as it surveys the room with a certain imperial majesty. This does rather impose a fundamental upper limit on how serious a conversation you can carry out. You have vague notions of pulling a leaf from Mami's book and being maximally formal over tea, but... nah. It doesn't fit you.

"I'm glad that you all seem none the worse for the wear," you say. "So... yeah. I'm Sabrina Vee, and I'm a Grief controller. I'm here to help." You grin. "That's my ethos. I'm here to help people, and I'm glad we can work together on a more friendly basis now."

"We're glad for that too," Moe says with a cheerful smirk. "Better pissing in than out."

"Also, speaking of clearing the air," you say, and half-turn to Yuki. Your expression turns serious as you gesture at Shinobu. "Miss Nanami is clearly a mountain incarnate, and you said she wasn't."

"Did I?" Yuki says, a tiny smirk flitting across her face. "Clearly, I must have been mistaken."

"You know, I think that must be the nicest thing anyone's said about me... all week or so," Shinbou muses. She catches your eye and flexes an arm, bicep swelling. "I work for these babies."

"... eh?" you say. "But magic-"

"Up-bup-bup!" Atsuko slashes her hand through the air. "Don't tell her!"

"Don't tell me," Shinobu agrees amiably. "Besides, I had these before I made my Wish."

"... fair enough," you say. "Though... seriously, and I mean no offense by this - if I had to imagine an anthropomorphised mountain, you'd be it. You've even got, you know-" You gesture vaguely at her hair. "-uh, vegetation coloured hair?"

Shinobu snorts, slumping back against the sofa with enough force to make the frame creak. "It's not the first time I've been told that," she says, waving in the air. "But this is what I've always wanted to do, and fuck anyone else who thinks this isn't girly enough, nevermind that half the world's strongest bodybuilders are women."

Mugin caws, apparently in agreement, and flutters off your shoulder to land on the floor. No one raises a fuss about that, so you just watch as the bird hops off to explore the room, claws clattering over the floor.

"I still think that magic was responsible for that," Moe says. "The statistics on that are kind of ridiculous if you look at 'em."

"Yeah, and people being inspired is a kind of magic too," Shinobu says. "Not everything is because of magical girls or Wishes."

"That's true, but Moe's right," Sasami says quietly. "In this particular case, anyway."

Yuki coughs quietly, interrupting what you get the impression is a well-worn, long-running argument, judging from the way both Shinobu and Moe are already opening her mouth to fire back.

"As I mentioned before, Shinobu, Sasami, I'm intending to send the two of you to be part of Miss Vee's delegation to Tokyo," Yuki says. "Pending Miss Vee's confirmation of when that is, of course. However, Miss Vee - I think it best to propose a substitution, if you are amenable?"

"Ah... yeah, that should be fine by me?" you say. Yuki wasn't willing to go herself, you remember - her power is too tied down with Fukushima the location, and with the possibility of magical shenanigans, she didn't want to risk it. You give her a questioning look, then Shinobu, then Sasami. "Is something wrong?"

"After a fashion," Yuki says. "I mean no offense-"

"I can speak for myself," Sasami says, cutting across Yuki. She steels herself and looks directly at you. "I'm uncomfortable with working with you, Miss Vee, on a personal level. I'm grateful you've agreed to ally yourself with us, and I'm sure you're a perfectly lovely person, and I'm trying to put it behind me - but you are the person who ripped my Soul Gem away from me."

"I... well, that's fair," you say with a grimace. "I can understand that."

Slowly, Atsuko raises her hand, peering at you from beneath her steel-grey fringe. "Can I add something?"

"Atsuko..." Moe says in a reproving voice.

"Look, Yuki told us to be ourselves," Atsuko says, setting her jaw stubbornly. "I'm being myself. Right, Yuki?"

"Miss Vee?" Yuki asks, eyes flickering over to you.

"No, I mean, yes - honesty is good," you say. "I want to help, and I'd rather have it all out in the open."

"'All out in the open' isn't that easy," Atsuko says. "Emotions are complicated! I mean, look, we're all trying to get along. I'm trying, and I appreciate you're trying. Hell, I even like that you're on our side now, same as Sasami. But it's hard, OK? My best friend here-" A choppy gesture at Moe "-got bisected, and that's hard to disentangle, but I'm trying."

"You beat us fair and square," Moe says, speaking to you, but giving Atsuko a severe glare. "We are in the business of being hired muscle. I mean, we try to be better than thugs, but we didn't exactly do great back in Sendai. Fair's fair."

"Yeah, yeah, we had the talk," Atsuko says. "All I'm trying to say is, this takes work, yeah?" She looks at you, defiant. "I'm not even asking you to try and fix it."

"I..." you hold your hands up. "Look, I get it. Emotions are complicated, and I appreciate that you're trying to work with me despite that. I really, truly do. And, um... I wasn't going to say anything about the substitution. Like, shit happens, changes need to be made."

Atsuko deflates a little and slumps back into the sofa.

Yeah, and you don't... you don't really want to rip into them for what they did. You went into this defense pact with both eyes open, wrangling an agreement from Yuki that they'd do better in the future. Rehashing the past isn't going to be the most useful thing you can do.

Yuki clears her throat into the silence.

"As I was saying," she continues mildly, as if that interlude had never happened. "I think it might be best to substitute Moe into the delegation to Tokyo, if that's alright with you, Miss Vee?"

"Yup," you confirm. She's making no apologies about the outburst -none of them are- which you can respect, too. "That's perfectly fine with me."

"Excellent," Yuki says. "While we're on the subject, was there any business you wanted to raise, Miss Vee?"

"Actually, yes," you say, blinking as you recall. "Two... no, three things. First - I checked with Homura earlier, and she's working on getting a property for you to claim. Even expedited, though, she can't get it done earlier than early next week, in all likelihood."

"That's still sooner than I expected," Yuki says with a nod. "Excellent. I'll look forward to that, then."

"Other business... yes, about Tokyo, I'm planning for something like early next week, too?" you say. "Not quite confirmed yet, but I'm sounding out you guys, and Asunaro too. So... if that suits everyone?"

"Fine with me," Moe says.

"Same," Shinobu adds, offering a thumbsup.

"Keep us informed," Yuki says, nodding.

"I will," you say. "And last bit of business, uh... do you know anything about the Murasaki Shrine Maidens? I've heard good things about them from Nadia."

"Murasaki, Murasaki..." Yuki muses. "Ah, they're down in Kyoto, are they not?"

"Yeah, that's what Miss Bennouna said," you agree. "I know it's a long shot, but I was just wondering?"

"I'm given to understand they're quite benevolent in general," Yuki says. "But no, we haven't had contact with them, and I've only heard of them in passing. They're not particularly known to be troublemakers, if that's what you were asking. I would actually be interested in meeting them -on a personal level- if you should choose to involve them in any way?"

"Ah, I gotcha," you say. "Thanks, anyway."

"So, ah..." Sasami ventures, with a vague gesture in the general direction of Mugin, currently strutting along the arm of the sofa beside her. "Not really business related, but is this... your friend's pet, or something?"

"Kind of sort of?" you say, taking the peace offering for what it is. "Animal communication power, and apparently this one likes her, and she named it, so... probably?"

"Ah," Sasami says, eyeing the bird. Carefully, she rubs the back of its head, Mugin making pleased little brees in response. "He's a handsome one."

"And annoyingly smart, too," you grumble. "I'm ninety-nine percent certain he can't actually understand human speech but still. Crows are intelligent. Also, I'm not sure whether he's a he or a she, I gotta admit."

"Doesn't your friend know?" Shinobu asks, planting one hand on the seat for support and leaning over to peer at Mugin. "Miss Miki, right?"

"That's her, yeah," you agree. "And I didn't think to ask."

"Ah," Shinobu says. The conversation lapses for a moment, the awkward silence billowing and filling the room.

[] Strike up a conversation
- [] About...?
[] You've done as much as you can here, time to leave
- [] Where to?

=====​

Shorter update today, but it feels fitting to end off here.

 

[Firnagzen]

You cough quietly into the silence.

You did think that you might apologise, and now appears to be the ideal time. You don't regret having intervened or having taken down, but, well. Perfection is asymptotic, and you'd come nowhere close. You could have done better.

Not in the fight. You were desperate, fighting back without enough skill or experience to temper your attacks. But there were other things that you could have done, could have thought of at the time.

"I'm sorry I didn't... I'm sorry that I didn't try and contact all the parties involved, back in Sendai," you say. You flick your eyes over to Yuki. "I'm not going to insult your pride and say that I might have convinced you to renege on your contract, but... I don't know."

"Damn right we wouldn't have backed out," Atsuko says, scowling.

"Exactly so," Yuki says, motioning towards Atsuko. "It's both a matter of pride and our reputation - I doubt you could have taken us out of the fight just from diplomacy, Miss Vee."

"Perhaps, but... I suppose, at the very least, we might have been able to reduce the collateral damage," you say. "You girls, you're..." You grin weakly. "You're reasonable, rational, and realistic, and all sorts of other complimentary r-words, and I can't imagine we couldn't have talked some part of it out. I could have done better, I should have done better, and I'm apologising that I didn't."

"Perhaps. But what's done is done, Miss Vee. There's little point in dwelling on it," Yuki says. The side of her mouth ticks up into an amused little smirk. "But if you feel the need to submit an AAR, by all means."

"Don't even joke about it, I just might," you say, taking the joke for what it is - an olive branch, an agreement to smooth it over. "... do you guys do, uh, internal after action reports?"

"Only verbally," Yuki says.

"Which is, really, a fancy way of saying we like to bitch about our jobs after they're done," Sasami adds. She catches Atsuko's eye and shrugs. "What? It's true."

"And there's a lot to bitch about," Shinobu adds. "God but they get weird sometimes."

"I'd love to hear your war stories sometime," you note. "You must have plenty."

"Oh, yes," Shinobu says, eyes gleaming.

"Sssooooo if we're all done with serious matters for now," Moe says. "Can I ask something personal?"

"Sure?" you say.

"You and Tomoe Mami?" Moe says.

"Ah... yeah?" you say, colouring faintly.

"No, I mean like... what's she really like?" Moe says.

"She's beautiful," you say without hesitation. "Not just physically. She's brilliant, and kind, and insightful, and..." You shake your head, a touch of chagrin in your smile. "She helped me be a person. She's my angel, my guiding light, and I am so lucky she's my friend, let alone anything more."

"Aww!" Moe coos, hands clasped and all but starry-eyed. She's not the only one, either, Shinobu and even Sasami and Yuki looking a bit misty-eyed.

You chuckle a bit ruefully. "Sorry, I tried to dial it back a notch."

"That was dialed back?" Atsuko says.

"Oh, yes, you could stick a tap in me and get maple syrup out when it comes to Mami. I mean, look, sometimes I have to resist the urge to break out into bad poetry," you say, smiling. "She's my anchor."

"A true romance for the ages?" Yuki says, chuckling. "She is famously isolationist, you know. It's remarkable that she's let anyone else take up residence in Mitakihara."

"That's... not true," you say, brows knitting faintly. "The isolationism, I mean. Mami isn't. She just has... high standards for behaviour. And I mean, she has students scattered all over Japan, doesn't she?"

"True enough," Yuki says, nodding slightly. "We considered recruiting her once, for her strength. She's held Mitakihara by herself for so long... but there lay the problem, really. She held a city - she wouldn't settle for being part of a team, or so we concluded at the time."

"If anything, she would have probably invited you over to Mitakihara," you say, shaking your head.

Of course, you're politely eliding the fact that they might very well have later come to blows over differences in their ideals, had Mami invited them over to Mitakihara at the time. Especially with Kyuubey meddling. Things are different, here and now, which is why you're happy enough to just... slip past those specifics.

And who says you can't be diplomatic?

"Lost opportunities," Yuki says, shaking her head. "Such is life, I suppose."

"... Well, uh," you continue after a moment. "And there's also the fact is that her isolation was partially driven by a certain white rat, too. Just..." You look around the room. "I think you all know as well as I do the, ah, facts of life. That magical girl life isn't usually nice, or kind."

You slip into telepathy, at the same time. "Miss Tsuruya, is your team cleared to know about... the unsavoury details related to what we discussed in privacy?"

"They are," Yuki responds in the same way, with a measured nod that could be a response to either your telepathic message or your spoken words.

"There are... benefits to keeping magical girls unable to reach out to one another," you say. "To keep us ignorant and fearful and suspicious. It's why I'm here, you know? I want us to... I dunno. Maybe being friends is a hard ask for now, with Sendai being raw. But I want us to at least understand each other a bit. Friendly, if not friends?"

"Hear, hear," Shinobu says, snapping her fingers and hoisting a giant mug of something dark-coloured and foamy. "Oh, here-"

A similar mug appears on the table in front of everyone.

"Root beer," Shinobu says, winking at you. "Calorie-free. Everything free, actually, it takes more effort to make it have calories. Still tastes great!"

There's a clatter of clawed feet as Mugin hops up to the table, inspecting the shiny new objects curiously, and is promptly rewarded by Moe providing it with careful headrubs.

Yuki chuckles, raising her own mug to clink against Shinobu's. "I think we've had more than our share of experience in the matter," she says, looking around at her team. "And I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we truly do appreciate it."

"I'm trying," Atsuko says and takes a long draught from her mug before shrugging. "That's all I can say."

"I mean... at least we're all on the same page?" you say, making it a question as you clink your mug against Shinobu's, then Yuki's, and take a sip. You let it roll over your tongue, rich and sweet and just a bit tart, hints of vanilla hiding under the pleasant fixx. "Mm. This is good."

"Rather," Yuki says. She flashes Shinobu a smile before turning her attention back to you. "It's a worthy goal, Miss Vee."

Hah. And wasn't she the one who raised it in the first place?

"Still, we should perhaps be wrapping this up for now," Yuki says, eyes flicking to the wall clock. "I didn't put a hard meeting time with the Hirano group, but I did suggest sooner, rather than later. Do you have anything else to bring up, Miss Vee?"

"Yeah, actually, and hopefully this won't take too long - first, have you heard to the Soujus?" you say.

A round of shaken heads goes around.

"They're... uhm," you say. "They're twins who share the same body, Souju Ayase and Luca. I don't know the specifics, but I understand they're, uh, slightly insane and collect Soul Gems. More pertinently, I understand they're heading in my general direction. Towards Mitakihara, I mean."

"They collect Soul Gems?" Sasami asks. Horror flashes across her face, chased by raw, visceral disgust.

"Yeah," you say. "Like I said, a bit insane. I... I have to admit, I'm not absolutely sure of all the specifics, but that's what I know in general."

Yuki leans forward, expression utterly intent. "You're sure about your source, Miss Vee?"

"Ehh..." You screw your face up. "The where and when? Yes, I trust that. They're likely to arrive in Mitakihara around Monday or so. Three days from now, give or take a bit. That they're twins in one body who collect Soul Gems, yes. The whys of that... ehhhhhh."

"Understandable," Yuki says with a nod. "Alright. Will you require help with repelling them?"

"I doubt it," you say. "Even if she were an utter combat monster, we have weight of numbers and advance knowledge of her - and we've got Mami, so no. But I wanted to warn you in case she passed through here on the way over, and just to warn you that I will, uh, probably be remanding her to you? Again, I really, really need to get a therapist on staff."

"Ah," Yuki says, giving you a considering look. "That shouldn't be a problem. Thank you for the warning." Her eyes narrow. "Are they after you?"

"Aaaalmost certainly," you say, grimacing. "I mean, I can't say for sure, but they collect Soul Gems for their... unique radiance, and not to put too fine a point on it, mine is probably especially so. Either that, or some kind of Witchy abomination, I have no idea which."

"It would only make sense," Yuki mutters. "We'll put out some feelers, and see if any of our contacts have heard anything."

"On that note - I wanted to ask you more about the Iowa group, actually," you say. "Since you've heard of them?"

"Ah. So do I, as a matter of fact," Yuki says with a grimace. "I've actually put out word on the subject already, but apart from Miss Bennouna, I don't have too many international connections. I'm awaiting word from a few places, but I'd be happy to share what I get when I receive it?"

"I'd be grateful for that," you say. "Though, uh... is there anything you can share now?"

"A bit about their tactics," Yuki says, frowning. "About their powers... not too much by way of specifics."

"Anything at all would be helpful," you say.

Yuki nods thoughtfully, raising her mug and taking a long chug of rootbeer.

"They rely on shock and awe," Yuki says. "That much has been a common thread. I suspect they have a clairvoyant of some kind, because another common thread is that they nearly always arrive in a perfect position to demoralize the defenders, often by destroying or occupying some location of significance, or even catching one of the defenders alone and then maiming them to send a message."

"How many of them are there?" you ask. A frown grows on your own face. A clairvoyant. That does make things difficult.

"I'm uncertain," Yuki admits. "Accounts range from six to eleven."

"Six to eleven," you muse. "Huh. Somehow, that's less than I expected."

"I would suspect it leans to the lighter end of that," Yuki says. "Larger magical groups are... resource intensive and consequently unstable."

"Ah. Yeah, I can see that," you say. "Sheesh."

"I'll let you know when I have more certain information," Yuki says, nodding.

"That'd be fantastic," you say. "'cuz... yeah. I'm preeeetty sure Mitakihara is going to be a target."

"Unfortunately, I concur," Yuki says. "We'll be there, when the time comes."

"Hell yeah," Atsuko says. "I mean... honestly, I'd kinda like to match myself against a group like that. No holds barred."

"No holds barred got us in trouble last time," Yuki says mildly. "Some holds barred, Atsuko."

"Yeah..." Atsuko says, darting a look at you.

"Anyway," you say. "Uh... Miss Tsuruya, you mentioned the Hirano group was waiting on me, right?"

"Somewhat, yes," Yuki says. "Would you like to see them now?"

"I think so, yeah," you say.

"Very well, then," Yuki says, polishing off her mug of root beer and getting to her feet. "Behave, girls."

"No promises," Moe says, waggling a finger at Yuki.

"It was great meeting you, Miss Vee," Shinobu says.

"Likewise," you say, grinning back at her as you hop to your feet. "And the same to all of you - thanks for hearing me out, and I'll see you around."

Sasami waves a good-bye to you, Shinobu raising her mug once more in salute, and Atusko manages a polite goodbye. Moe grins and touches a two-fingered salute to her temple as you woo Mugin up to your shoulder with the last few sunflower seeds and head out of the room, following Yuki.

"The Hirano group are based near the Hirano station," Yuki says conversationally as she leads you down the corridor. "As their name implies. They're friendly enough, and in truth, I would call them an average group. They do have a foreign girl by the name of Diana Graham who is rather powerful, but that's all that I can really say about them."

"How's their hunting situation?" you ask, ambling along at an easy pace so as not to overtake Yuki. Mugin perches happily on your shoulder, preening.

"Average, I would say, but I don't know for sure," Yuki responds. "I can't say I've heard of any issues on their end, or had any territorial conflicts."

"Gotcha," you say.

"Indulge my curiosity, if you would?" Yuki says. "Why do you want to meet them? Is it just to introduce yourself?"


[] Why do you want to meet them?
- [] Write-in
[] How do you introduce yourself, any particular conversation points to hit?
[x] Ask Yuki about sharing her contacts

=====​

... so I'm pretty sure I've been spelling 'Souju' and 'Soujo' this entire time, and just noticed.

Uhh.

Whoops?

 

[Firnagzen]

"I'm honestly not sure I understand the question," you say after a moment. You turn to Yuki, gesturing at Fukushima city with an open palm, through the closed window and beyond the confines of the corridor. "They're here. I'm here. Why wouldn't I want to meet them?"

"Time constraints?" Yuki says, raising her eyebrows.

"Like I said - I'm here," you say, shrugging. "And I was going to be here anyway to talk to you, so this best makes use of my time."

You weigh options briefly in your mind.

"Though, well-" you say. "OK, so... there's no real deeper plan or motives to this meeting, if that's what you're asking. And maybe you want to call me naive -I wouldn't exactly blame you- but I like people. I like helping people."

"I wouldn't, no," Yuki says. Her tone is carefully neutral, but you get a faint sense of bafflement from her.

"Honestly, Mami and Homura haven't been involved too much in politics. As you say, Mami has been 'famously isolationist'-" You airquote that just for emphasis. "-which is, incidentally, something I don't really agree with, but that's a topic for another time."

You hold your hand out towards Yuki, just for emphasis.

"But me? I like people," you say, echoing your earlier words. "I like meeting people, I like helping people. And... we've been depending mostly on Nadia's advice and her efforts to spread the word, but as far as I can tell, she's taking it slow. I can't really blame her for that; I'm guessing she has her own constraints." You shrug. "But that leaves me to do outreach on my own, too."

"And so here you are," Yuki muses. "I see. That does make sense."

You chuckle quietly.

"There really is no master plan or anything here," you say, tapping your temple with a finger and shrugging. "I'm an optimist. I wanted to meet new people, extend my hand in friendship. It's not entirely impractical, mind you. I want my name to spread - the more people I meet, the wider the influence I have, and the more people I can reach out to in turn."

"Hah," Yuki says, and smiles, sunny and sharp. "Optimism... I envy that, Miss Vee, and I suppose you have better cause for it than most. It's not a bad thing - I think we magical girls could use more in our lives."

"The word I prefer is hope," you say, looking out the window once more. "We all need some more hope in our lives, and I like to think I'm the girl to help on that score. That's what magical girls should be, should do. Bring hope."

"We all need a little help punching up, I suppose," Yuki says. That smile remains, dancing on the edge of her lips. "And I admit, you more than inspire confidence, and you have equally as much cause for that confidence, too. But I didn't mean to criticize, Miss Vee. We are allies - you're not one of my girls, and I was just curious. I apologise if I gave you that impression."

"Ah," you say. "No harm, no foul?"

"If you prefer," Yuki says.

"Yeah, I think I would," you say. "Ah... shall we walk and talk? Where are we meeting the Hirano group, anyway?"

"I was just about to suggest as much," Yuki says, chuckling as she starts down the corridor again, rapping her knuckles fondly against the glass of the window as she passes it. "We'll be meeting at a nearby park between our territories - it's our usual meeting ground."

"Ahh, yeah, that makes sense," you agree. "I have this bad habit of inviting people to a cafe or some food place nearby when it comes to meetings."

"It's generally a good plan," Yuki says. "Everyone welcomes food, after all, and we don't exactly get fat now."

She blinks slowly, a thoughtful look catching in the corner of your eye before she snickers.

"Don't tell Shinobu that," she says.

"OK, so two things there-" You hold up two fingers for emphasis. "One, seriously, she looks exactly how I'd expect an anthropomorphic mountain would look. Two, speaking of welcoming people and such, is there anyone in particular you'd recommend contacting?"

"In reverse order: yes, I might have a few recommendations. And on the subject of Shinobu..." Yuki says, pulling open the door to what looks like another meeting room, gesturing for you to go on ahead. "She hasn't always been as... comfortable with teasing about honing her body. She loves it, she enjoys it, come what may. She's weathered a lot for the sake of it."

She lifts her eyes to pin you to the wall, intent and serious.

"And I'm honestly impressed with it," you say, nodding as you step past her into the room. Message received, loud and clear - she's faced teasing, and probably bullying, over her size. Perhaps there's a smidge more acceptance, but... children can be cruel. "Like... damn."

Yuki chuckles, expression softening as she leans on the edge of the table. "I know, right?"

You grin, imitating her and leaning against the table. The conversation lapses for a moment into a comfortable silence, until Yuki speaks again.

"As to your other question..." she muses. "The Yamase group, perhaps - Aomori City, up in the north. We did a job for them a while ago, and they were certainly friendly, and pleasant enough." Her eyes cut to you, almost glowing green in the dimmer light of the room. "They had a territory dispute that we helped resolve."

"Huh," you say. "Friendly, you said?"

"I thought so, at the time," Yuki says. "Part of it was simple gratitude, but they were rather nice. They let us stay overnight, too."

"Gotcha," you say with a smile. "Have you kept in touch? Also, er... why are we in this room?"

"I'll be transporting us to the meeting ground, and no, I haven't kept in touch, but I've heard they're doing well," Yuki says, shrugging. "We... they were friendly, but we didn't become friends, or indeed, allies, and they haven't needed our aid since."

"Yeah, that makes sense. On both counts," you say, nodding. "I might drop in on them at some point, then. Also... huh. While we're on the subject, are there any other regional power centers like Tokyo I should know about?"

"No, there aren't. Not in Japan, anyway. I believe there are others abroad, but I know a lot less about those," Yuki says, shaking her head. She inhales sharply and flicks a hand at the window, the curtains and window flying open to admit fresh air and sunlight to the musty room. "Tokyo is an anomaly, as far as organization goes for us magical girls."

You blink in the bright sunlight, and then again as Yuki transforms.

"Yeah," you mutter after a moment. "Can't imagine why."

Yuki chuckles again, looking out the window. You can sense the ebb and surge of her magic, coursing through the building almost like a pulse of some vast, slow creature. "Are you ready, Miss Vee? This might be a bit disconcerting."

"All hands and feet inside the vehicle," you respond cheerfully, tucking your hands into your pockets. You check that your bag is there -fashion, one of, check- and that your Grief is pulled in tight with you. And actually, on second thoughts, you remove one hand from your pocket and coax Mugin down into the crook of your arm, cradled gently against your chest. "Ready!"

"Here we go, then," Yuki says. She snaps her hand out, the edge of her hooded cloak trailing shimmering light, that flares to incandescence and then the window suddenly seems to loom and-

You're elsewhere. Gone is the bland off-white of the meeting room, gone are the fine wooden table and wheeled office chairs, gone is the potted plant to be replaced by four cramped metal walls and shelves, laden with what looks like canned food and tools.

You blink, swaying a little. That was-

That was eerily like the disjunctions you get inside Witch Barriers.

Mugin caws in displeasure, fluttering out of your arm to land on the floor, where it proceeds to scratch at the wooden planks in a rather distinctly irritated manner.

"Are you alright, Miss Vee?" Yuki asks, peering at you in concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," you say, waving it off with a grin. "Just, well, a bit disconcerted."

You roll your shoulders and wiggle your toes and your Grief. Right, that's all your extremities still attached.

"Very well," Yuki says, stepping around you to reach for the door. You can still feel her magic in the walls around you, ebbing slowly from the teleportation. "We're right on the outskirts of the park from here, so- this way."

What you emerge from is a squat little shed of corrugated metal, innocuous and unassuming and set into the side of foothills. What you emerge into is fresh, crisp air and gentle morning sunlight that glows over a gentle mountain slope, sandy paths winding their way through lovingly tended greenery. A few late cherry blossoms still clinging to the trees, chased by the brilliant hues of flowering bushes and soft fragrance that hangs in the air.

Heh. It's a shed, or in other words, a little building. You vaguely wonder if Yuki can clone buildings. Or... building mitosis.

"Welcome to Hanamiyama park," Yuki murmurs. "It's a neutral location, located in neither of our territories."

"... man, I should bring Mami here," you breathe. "It's beautiful."

"It's a pity you missed the cherry season," Yuki says, and smiles. "Come back here next year in May, it's even better then."

"Gladly- hey!" You squawk, practically an echo of Mugin, who evidently spied the clear skies and took right off, flapping past you in a flurry of wings. "You better come back later!"

You shake your fist at the departing black dot. You vaguely consider tagging Mugin with a bit of Grief, but you have no guarantee of keeping it within a hundred meters of you.

"I'm sure he'll come back," Yuki says, snickering. "Miss Miki did tell him to follow you, didn't she?"

"I hope so," you mutter sourly. "I'd probably get an earful if I went back alone. Bah. Anyway, birds can find their way home just fine. Migratory birds and homing pigeons and all that."

"This way, Miss Vee," Yuki says, sounding as if she's trying to swallow laughter.

You sigh in annoyance and follow her over the gravel paths. It's no wonder that Yuki didn't roofhop over here - the nearest buildings are all rather squat, three or four levels at most, short enough to make roof hopping far too easily spotted from the ground. The average meguca is a city creature, indeed. And even so...

This place is lovely. Gravel crunches under your shoes as you meander along lovingly tended flowerbeds, bright starbursts of colour in vivid reds and orange and yellows. The park is nearly empty at this time of the day, birdsong and insect chirps the only sounds to accompany you.

"Ah, there they are," you say, perking up as you sense two magical girls. "Two of them. Up that hill?"

"Rather," Yuki agrees. "Seems they arrived early."

You veer up the little knoll, making your way over soft grass. And as you approach, you can see just why they'd arrived early - they seem to be making a picnic out of it. You spot two girls spread out on a large blanket, a picnic basket beside them and heads bent and evidently talking quietly over something.

Something alerts them as you approach, their heads snapping up almost as one, and they scramble to their feet. Yuki nods slightly to you and steps forward, smiling.

"Miss Hatsume, Miss Graham, thank you for coming today," Yuki says, bowing. "Apologies for the odd timing."

"Miss Tsuruya, it's always a pleasure to see you," her opposite number -or at least the girl who takes a step forward to bow in response- says. She's a tall, slender girl, dressed in a rather nice pale green sundress that flatters both her figure and tanned complexion. She's older than you, you think, by perhaps a year or so. Her polite smile is framed by laugh lines, and topped with a shock of strawberry blonde hair twisted into a messy bun.

Her companion must be the Diana Graham that Yuki mentioned. She's a rather severe-looking girl, black hair pulled back into a long ponytail that somehow emphasizes the imperious tilt of her eyebrows and high cheekbones. She's tall, too - taller than Hatsume, and only slightly shorter than you, and she looks to be near the same age as Miss Hatsume.

"Likewise," Yuki says, and gestures to you. "This is Sabrina Vee, who I've mentioned. Miss Vee, these are Hatsume Hina and Diana Graham."

"I'm pleased to meet you, Miss Vee," Hina says in passable English. She starts to bow, before hesitating and offering her hand instead.

"And I'm pleased to meet you too, Miss Hatsume, Miss Graham," you respond in the same language, shaking her hand firmly. You dart a look between Hina and Diana. "Ah... I'm comfortable with speaking in Japanese, if you prefer?"

"If you're sure, that would be easier?" Hina says.

"Japanese it is, then," you say, and offer your hand to Diana. "Miss Graham."

"Miss Vee," Diana says in lightly accented but fluent Japanese. Bright blue eyes meet yours, intent and curious. "We've heard a lot about you."

"Nothing too bad, I hope," you say with an easy smile.

"The opposite, really!" Hina says brightly, and gestures at the picnic blanket. "Shall we take a seat? And my apologies - the rest of my team are at school and couldn't make it. Ah, Hayasaka Kana and Nishizumi Aiko."

"That's nothing to apologise for," you say, making yourself comfortable on the blanket. "It's only us delinquents who get to skip school and hang out, right?" You grin.

"I happen to be a professional, not a delinquent," Yuki observes in a perfect deadpan as she takes a seat, startling a laugh out of both you and Hina.

"... Alright, that's fair," you say, smothering your giggles.

"How may we help, Miss Vee?" Hina says after everyone's seated. "Oh! Drink? I have tea."

She pulls a thermos and a few mugs from the basket, giving you a questioning look.

"Please," you say with a smile. "And as to what I'm here for... well, in truth, I think I'd turn the question back on you, because I want to help. So: how can I help? And, well - how much have you heard about me?"

Hina exchanges a look with Diana.

"Ah... you're essentially a modern day Robin Hood?" Hina says. "You steal from the rich and give to the poor, and you protect those who need it?"

"... kind of?" you say, cocking your head to the side. "I don't really steal from the rich... no, wait, I did steal from the yakuza." You raise a finger, and then lower it. "But that was just gold and money. Uh. Forget I said anything, let's start over again. I don't steal Grief Seeds from people, never. People need those to live, and like I said, I'm here to help, not to hurt people."

"... you stole from the... never mind, I don't want to know," Diana says, shaking her head.

"Actually, if I may," Hina says. "How do you know each other, Miss Tsuruya, Miss Vee?"

Yuki blinks, and then looks to you as if to ask who should answer.

[] Let Yuki answer
- [] Any specific interjections?
[] Answer yourself
[X] Continue with standard spiel
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Here we go. Apologies for the late update!

 

[Firnagzen]

It's not that hard a decision.

"I think this is more your story to tell than mine, Miss Tsuruya," you say. You had a part in it -a major part, even- but it was her people, her mission, and this is her turf. You doubt she's going to cast aspersions on you either, since you're allies, and besides, you're curious about how she might frame the events.

Lots of good reasons.

And here's one last one: it's a bit true that you talk a lot. You like to control conversations. Talking is good, because it means people aren't fighting. You don't want to fight, and you don't want people to fight. You want them to sit down and talk, because fighting doesn't resolve differences. It just puts one party in a position to force the other to listen.

Sometimes that's necessary.

Sometimes people need to be forced to listen. You hate that.

But not here. Not today. Not here and now. You can afford to relinquish control.

Yuki quirks an eyebrow at you and shrugs before turning back to the Hirano group.

"Did you hear about our job in Sendai?" she asks, tilting her head in a rather cutesy way.

"Somewhat," Hina says in a judiciously neutral tone.

"Hah. And that's what she really wants out of the story. Gossip." Yuki's murmur passes right into your mind without the intervention of your ears at the same time as she speaks out loud. "My girls were hired by Hamasaki Akiko, from the Sendai group - we were to fight alongside them."

"Is that bad?" you ask, disguising any microexpressions or whatever you might have made with a gulp from the mug Hina handed you - which, it turns out, is full of green tea sweetened with honey. You prop yourself up with one arm on the picnic blanket, taking in the scenery and listening as Yuki explains.

"Oh?" Hina asks, eyes bright.

"It looked like a minor turf war that had been simmering for months, and was about to spiral into a full-fledged conflict. And of course, we didn't know that Miss Vee would be weighing in... or Tomoe Mami," Yuki says with a sheepish shrug and smile. "It's just what she's like. She loves gossip."

"Tomoe Mami? She was there?" Hina says, leaning forward a little - perhaps unconsciously. You can see Diana roll her eyes, out of Hina's line of sight. She shrugs when she sees you looking.

You're sort of curious about her story, you have to admit.

"She was!" Yuki says brightly. "I sent my girls in, of course. Atsuko, Sasami, Moe. And they, along with the entirety of the Sendai team, ran headlong into the Mitakihara group. Smack!" Yuki emphasizes it with a slap of her palm against her thigh. "And they were healed, and sent away with a scolding for collateral damage. Miss Vee offered them a deal at the time, but they didn't stay to hear it out."

Well-deserved is one way to put it. You're still more than a little sour about the whole mess. Casualties.

Feh.

You put that aside, shaking yourself a little.

"The Sendai University group was there too," you note, vaguely beholden to defend them as well. "And they did their share of the fighting, too."

"But... you're allies now?" Hina asks, goggling a little.

"Miss Vee was persistent enough to seek further contact," Yuki says, smiling brightly. "This time, I took the opportunity to find out a little more, and, yes, I thought it would be better to be punching out with her. So we drew up a defence pact!"

"Huh!" Hina says, rocking backwards. "That's really cool! There's a Mitakihara coalition now?"

"This, I think, would be best left to Miss Vee to explain," Yuki says. She gestures towards you, raising her own mug for a sip.

"Well..." you say, blinking at the sudden feint, but then again, turnabout is fair play, you suppose. You sit up, focusing. "I mean, ultimately, the answer is yes, there is. Mami, Homura, Sayaka, myself, plus Oriko and Kirika, I suppose, though the last two are... complicated, and a few others in the city who aren't officially affiliated with us. And the Shiogama group."

"You're on first name basis with Tomoe Mami?" Hina asks, almost at the same time as Diana speaking.

"The Shiogama group?" Diana asks, brows knitting into a frown. "Isn't Shiogama... you know, another town entirely?"

"Yes, and yes," you say. "They... lost a member, and they're in a bad place, so we offered them a place to stay."

"With your cleansing powers?" Hina asks, jumping onto the topic with both feet.

"Yup," you say, wobbling your hand from side to side. "I've been giving them time to adjust - this is a recent enough thing that we haven't really made any formal arrangement yet other than allowing them to stay in Mitakihara, so... I guess they're part of our group, but not formally so yet."

"Noble of you," Diana says.

"I see it as doing the right thing," you say calmly. "They need the help, and I'm in the right place to provide that help."

"Like a modern day Robin Hood!" Hina says happily.

"I... I suppose," you say. If what they'd heard of you came from the Sendai incident... well, you were rather insistent about redistributing Sendai's Grief Seeds.

Speaking of which, you really need to stop blurting out the whole thing with the yakuza. One day, you're going to accidentally mention it in earshot of actual yakuza - or maybe to a yakuza. There are yakuza magical girls, after all.

Right. Note to self, stop blurting that out to strangers.

"How did you come to be in Japan, Miss Vee?" Diana asks, giving you a curious look. "If I may ask?"

"Ah, yes. I admit, I'm curious, too," Hina says, blinking curious, purple eyes at you. She flashes you a thumbs-up. "Your Japanese is excellent, if I may say so?"

"Thank you, and, uh, it's... complicated," you say, wincing and rubbing at the back of your neck. "I'd rather not lie to you, so let's just say that I don't know for sure, even if I have some very good theories as to how I got here that I'd rather not talk about?"

That gets you a curious look from Yuki, but she doesn't say anything.

"Ah, a mysterious stranger who blew in on the wind, just to add to the Robin Hood mystique," Diana says, nodding. She purses her lips. "My parents emigrated here when I was young, in case you're curious. Nothing so exciting."

"I was, actually," you admit sheepishly.

Hina laughs cheerfully, beaming at Diana. "But she's gone native now," she says. "Anyway. We've gotten off track, and that was my fault. What can we help you with, Miss Vee?"

"Well, the Shiogama girls and my powers are a good segue, really," you say. "So... the reason we can afford to support them in Mitakihara is that I can cleanse Soul Gems - truly, genuinely cleanse them, as opposed to moving it into another receptacle. I can demonstrate, if you'd like?"

"I can vouch for that," Yuki says, folding her hands on her lap in a way that somehow makes her look even tinier and more vulnerable than she normally does. It's probably the way that she just disappears under her costume's cloak, really. "I've witnessed it."

"Maybe later," Hina says. "Go on?"

"So..." You launch into your usual spiel, well-practiced and familiar by this point. Cleansing, your desire to help, and Clear Seeds, all interspersed with sips of tea which you'll begrudgingly admit isn't bad.

"We have one, courtesy of Miss Vee," Yuki chimes in to add.

"Seems like the kind of thing a lot of people would be after," Hina says, wincing. "But you're offering this to us?"

"I am," you say steadily, meeting her eyes. "I'm offering it to every magical girl that I meet, because we all deserve to live a life free of having to, to scrabble for basic dignity and sustenance."

"And all you want is for us to be nice," Hina says, and looks away, sighing. "Unfortunately, I... think we have to decline."

"Hina-" Diana starts, but Hina shakes her head.

"Not that we can't be nice," Hina says with a weak smile. "But we're not combat powerhouses in the way Miss Tsuruya's group is. We do well enough for Witches, but... if anyone really tried to steal this from us, we wouldn't be able to do much."

Diana scowls, folding her arms grumpily, but she doesn't say anything..

"I mean, even if I guaranteed my personal intervention if that happened?" you say. "Which I do. A Clear Seed is... I can't and won't allow these to be taken by force, because not only is it enough power for virtually any magical girl to go on a rampage, it'd be the kind of thing that would lead to outright war if these could be taken."

"I'm a simple girl, Miss Vee," Hina says, shaking her head. "And Miss Tsuruya's group aside, Fukushima's a pretty sleepy city. Magical girl-wise, I mean. I don't think I want to risk it."

[] Press the matter
- [] How so?
[] Don't pressure them, it's their choice
[] Afterwards...
- [] Anything else to raise with Yuki?
- [x] Try and collect Mugin before heading back for lunch

=====​

Alrighty. Apologies for the late update, again.

 

[Firnagzen]

"I understand," you say. And yeah, you do. Not wanting to come to everyone's attention is... Well, you never had a choice, but you wouldn't have chosen differently if you had. Still, you appreciate the idea of living in safe, quiet anonymity. It doesn't sound awful, really.

"Thank you." Hina relaxes slightly.

"Still, the offer remains open, if you change your mind at some point in the future," you say. "And I'm planning on distributing these, so... there'll be more groups with them, and you'll be less of a target. And I'll be here in Fukushima relatively often, since I'll be working with Miss Tsuruya - so please, if you change your mind, don't consider it an imposition in any way."

Yuki offers her support with an incline of her head by just a few centimeters, steady agreement with your words.

"We will keep it in mind," Hina says.

Diana's shoulders slump, and she sighs. "Hina..."

"We can't keep this kind of thing secret, Diana," Hina says gently. "Days or weeks or months, people will come after us. We can't, and we don't need it."

"... Um, can I add something?" you say, raising a finger. "If you want something that draws less attention, I could just kind of... half-way clear a Grief Seed or three? So it's still pretty much a normal Grief Seed, but can be used a couple more times than normal and isn't the sheer, ah, ridiculousness of a Clear Seed?"

"No, tha..." Hina pauses, words trailing off. Diana puts a hand on her shoulder. You can see her fingers tighten just enough to dig in a bit. "May we have a moment?"

"Of course," you say, smiling as you take a sip of tea. As Hina and Diana's faces shift to that slightly glazed look you're learning to associate with people using telepathy and not trying to hide it, you flick a glance and a telepathic question of your own at Yuki. "Internal friction?"

"None that I've been aware of previously," Yuki informs you. "And I do make it my business to be aware of what happens within Fukushima."

"Right," you say, leaning back with your weight propped on one arm. You tilt your head back to look at the clouds scudding across the blue skies. The warm sun and gentle fragrance of flowers filling the air do little to alleviate the concern churning in your gut, however - it seems the problem is strictly over your offer. Damn.

Yuki hums quietly, some tune you can't place.

Hina stirs after a few minutes of what's probably intense discussion, eyes focusing on you. "I think we would like to accept that offer, Miss Vee, if that's acceptable to you?"

"Of course it is," you say with a smile. "Pass me as many Grief Seeds as you'd like me to clear? Used or not, it doesn't matter."

"Thank you," Hina says, reaching into the picnic basket and rummaging around. "Ah, Diana? Can you get one? Kana and Aiko have one at school, so get that one from them and one from home?"

Diana, by her side, looks happier than earlier, at least. A happy compromise, then, which... honestly, if all conflicts went this way, you'd be happy. Still, perhaps something to keep an eye on in the future.

"On it," Diana says. "One sec..."

She glances around furtively, checking for any onlookers, then clenches one hand. As she unfurls her fist, cogs and mechanisms and clicky things of brassy metal and shining red gems -the same colour as her eyes- bloom out of thin air, wrapping around her fingers and palm and creeping up her wrist to form what you can only describe as a steampunk glove. She holds both hands out, palms facing each other.

The volume between her hands hazes to black. Blacker than midnight, blacker than black, the kind of darkness that actively drinks in light. Diana frowns thoughtfully and shakes the volume of absolute darkness in a manner that makes you think of a recalcitrant eight-ball, black sphere and all.

Two Grief Seeds drop out of the darkness, scattering across the picnic blanket, in addition to another which Hina withdraws from the basket. All three are partially used, you can tell - one of those that came out of Diana's portal is nearly full, in fact.

And that's not the only thing you can sense. Namely, that Hina had two Grief Seeds in the picnic basket, but only pulled one out. The other one seems to be completely unused.

Hah.

You can't really blame them for being cautious. Even with Yuki making the introductions, even with your reputation... Grief Seeds are precious enough to be careful with.

"There," Diana says, shaking her hands. The black sphere vanishes, along with the brassy glove.

"So, ah... how do we do this?" Hina says, cradling the Grief Seed between her palms and eyeing you.

"I just need a moment," you say with a smile. "That's all."

You reach forward with one finger, tapping first the Seed held by Hina, and then the other two. Grief follows your hand, first wispy streams that twist and twine around each other, swelling rapidly to a torrent of something like the dense, billowing consistency of an oil fire. The Grief swirls around you, a cloud of darkness visible only to magical girls - and barely so, at that.

And because Mami's not the only one in your relationship with a sense of the dramatic, you cast your arm out to the side in a way that draws the eye, and with the motion, the Grief implodes on itself, coalescing into a handful of marbles. Another theatrical flick of your wrist banishes the marbles, twisting them through another dimension to join the rest.

"And that's that," you say, smiling at the wide-eyed awe on the faces of the Hirano girls. You tap the Grief Seed Hina's holding. "So, these'll be good for about... eight times the usual amount you'd get from an ordinary Grief Seed, each. The same conditions apply, OK? Don't use these to hurt other people, and if someone's in need, help them."

"We can do that," Diana says, snatching one up to hold it up to the light. "So that's it? It doesn't look any different, even with all that stuff you pulled out."

"That's the point, no?" you say. "They don't look any different, and more importantly, no one would notice them, so they won't bring you any more unwanted attention than sitting on a large pile of Seeds would."

"True," Diana concedes, and looks up at you, meeting your eyes. "Thank you."

"Yes, thank you, Miss Vee," Hina adds, solemn and serious. "We owe you for this. This... this will make life so much easier, to have a buffer like this. I... can we offer you something to eat?"

"I offered it freely," you say firmly. "But you're very welcome. And no, but thank you - I'll be heading back to Mitakihara to have lunch shortly."

Hina nods, almost bowing her head.

"Miss Vee is, in many ways, too generous for her own good," Yuki noted with a light chuckle. "But then, the world would probably be a better place if everyone could be as giving."

"It would be," you say, sighing quietly. Too generous for your own good does somewhat sum up a dilemma that's been percolating at the back of your mind for this conversation, admittedly. "And, I suppose, 'could' is as much appropriate as 'would'."

"We can try," Hina says. "But we can't promise, if only for a lack of opportunity. Fukushima isn't exactly a hub of magical girl activity."

"That's all I can ask for," you say, and check the time on your phone. "And I'm sorry to cut this short, but speaking of lunch, I should be going."

"Thank you for your time," Hina says, rising gracefully and offering her hand. You shake it firmly, then Diana's hand as she rises too. "And again, thank you for the Seeds. This... this means more than I can say."

"Thank you for listening," you respond. "Until next time."

"Miss Hatsume, Miss Graham," Yuki says, nodding at the both of them.

Goodbyes said, you head off, Yuki heading back down the gravel paths towards the shed.

"Will you be heading back to Mitakihara from here?" Yuki asks, casting a sidelong look at you. She straightens as she walks, shedding the childish almost-skip in her step and manner.

"No, actually, there's one more thing I wanted to discuss with you first, but hold that thought for a second?" you say, tilting your head back and looking to the sky. "Here birdy birdy birdy? Mugin? Muuuugin?"

You wait a few moments hopefully, patting down your pockets and digging out the last few stray sunflower seeds. "Muuuugin? I have food!"

"A rather vexatious creature, as birds tend to be," Yuki observes after a minute of fruitlessly scanning the sky.

"Yeah, well, Sayaka probably won't be too upset if I return without Mugin," you say, scowling. "Gotta get back on time for lunch and all. So... lead on, then."

"What did you want to talk about?" Yuki asks as she starts walking once again, sensible shoes crunching over the gravel.

"Not here - in privacy, if that's alright with you?" you say. "I apologise for imposing."

"Not at all," Yuki responds easily.

The conversation lapses as you head back to Yuki's shed at a moderate pace, and as you arrive, you're greeted by an accusing caw and an angry, fluffed-up bird.

"Don't you chrwaaaak me you traitor," you snap back at Mugin. "You're the one who abandoned me."

The only response you get is a pointed peck at your shoes, Mugin hopping around your feet in an angry little dance.

"Fine," you grumble, and offer those last few seeds on your palm. With a triumphant squawk, it gobbles up a seed and clambers up your arm, up to your shoulder. "Feathery little monster."

"Not that little," Yuki says, pulling the shed door open. "He's rather large for a crow, isn't he?"

"Yes, but he's also a little monster," you say, shaking your head as you follow her into the shed. Yuki snorts, transforms, and shifts you back to her building.

A few minutes later, you're once more safely ensconced in the privacy of one of Yuki's dimensionally pinched off spaces, Yuki herself giving you a curious look from across the meeting room table.

"So... based on what you've told me, I think I'm going to hit Iowa pre-emptively," you say, drumming your fingers on the table. "I know they're coming to me, and I'd rather not let them take me by surprise - or take anything I care about hostage."

"That would be wise," Yuki agrees neutrally, watching you.

"So, I'm going to do more research, and speak to my friends before committing, but as a general enquiry, what would it take to hire your team to help me on this?" you ask. "I'm aware that we have a defence pact that doesn't cover this, so I am asking about hiring. What would it cost?"

And there's a problem, isn't it? Too generous for your own good, Yuki had said - and here you've put yourself in a situation where Yuki wants for very little that you can offer. Money, perhaps, but you are paying her a not inconsiderable sum to look after Airi, too.

You can't quite bring yourself to regret that, of course. Magical girls not having to scrabble for scarce resources is a solid mark in the 'win' column.

Yuki tilts her head thoughtfully, propping her chin on a fist in a distinctly cutesy gesture. "That is an interesting question," she muses.

"I know, right?" you admit with a sigh.

"Grief Seeds, cash, and information," Yuki says. "Those are the currencies I usually trade in, but at first thought, I'd ask for Grief Seeds and cash, unless you should happen to have some more world-shattering news hidden up your sleeve."

She hums thoughtfully, cocking her head. "A future, perhaps?"

"Fresh out of both," you say. "At least, that I can think of."

"No, no - I mean that I could, perhaps, accept the promise of my selection of recruits in the future, or perhaps territory, or similar," Yuki says, and pauses, blinking. "Miss Vee, your ambitions aren't limited to just Japan, correct?"

"Yeah?" you say.

"I would consider it a fine payment if you facilitated my claiming of buildings in other countries," Yuki says. "As a general, ah, retainer, not just for this job alone."

"I... huh," you say. "That could work, actually, but I have to say that buying buildings or houses or whatever in other countries will be difficult."

"They don't have to be bought, just claimable," Yuki says with a distinctly wolfish grin. "The details we can hash out at a later time."

"I think I can agree to that, tentatively," you say. "I'm not planning on any globetrotting for the immediate future, but I'll send you a message when I start on that in earnest? And for now, as I said, I'm going to do more reconnaissance and consult my friends, but... pencil it in?"

"Certainly," Yuki says. She nods sharply. "The most important piece of information would be their projected route, I suspect."

"Fair enough," you say. "And whatever trump cards they might have. Though, uh, speaking of trump cards... I'm going to ask you not to raise this outside of privacy?"

"Agreed," Yuki says. "Their clairvoyant would be a potent adversary."

"Yeah, about that," you say, rubbing your nose. "I have a suspicion that Kyuubey may be feeding them information."

"It's not outside the realms of possibility," Yuki agrees, calmly folding her hands in front of her. "A rather blunt tool to take out upstart magical girls who might want to buck the system, but I agree that it's a possibility."

"Hah," you say. "Yeah, that's me. The system breaking magical girl, and all that."

Yuki smiles, and stands. "I think we have the beginnings of a deal, Miss Vee," she says. "I entirely approve of neutralizing the Iowa group before they become a problem - they are known to do substantial damage."

"Yeah," you say, standing too. You do need to get moving. "I don't very much like the idea of bringing a fight, but... ah, well."

"Rather," Yuki says. "Was there anything else?"

[] Write-in any last few questions
[] Back to Mitakihara for lunch!
- [] Write-in any high points to hit
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Again, I'm sorry for the late update.

Also, I've edited the last update a bit, tweaking Yuki's mannerisms and such.

And thank you, @Redshirt Army, for volunteering to help threadmark all the side materials!

 

[Firnagzen]

"Well... since the topic was raised, what's the furthest way to expand your reach, anyway?" you say, after a moment's thought. You are sort of curious about her powers, you have to admit, and rocky start aside, she's been nothing but upright and forthcoming. "Can we just... I dunno, wholesale airlift a building you've already claimed? Or if I just grab a few floors of, say, this building and move it?"

Yuki purses her lips, resting her hands on the back of the chair she's standing behind. "I doubt that will work," she says. "A building is... the location of a building is as much an essential part of its identity as anything else. If moved, that nature changes. In the end, I still need to travel to claim a building."

"Huh. I can see that, I suppose," you say. You could probably argue that a building is a building no matter where it was moved, but you can't really argue the metaphysics of Yuki's powers with her. She'd know them best. "How about prefabricated buildings? Like if I bought a prefab shed kit and knocked it together somewhere else?"

"That does work, yes - I've a few such holdings here and there," Yuki says. "It does require careful thought and positioning, though, to prevent interlopers from investigating or removing mysterious, suddenly appearing buildings."

"Ooh. Yeah," you say, and snicker. "Started any good urban legends?"

"Not that I know of," Yuki says, smirk rising to her face.

"... on a somewhat related note, if I ever head up to the moon or something for some reason, if I lug a prefab shed up with me, would that actually... work?" you ask, grin widening a little.

"I... have no idea," Yuki says. Her smirk matches yours. "But I would be interested in trying at a later time."

"Pencil that in for later, then," you say. "But thanks for the segue, because yeah, I should go. So - one last thing. Two, actually - first, do you know if anyone in Sendai or Ishinomaki might know about the whole... thing with Witches and magical girls? And second, pass my regards to the rest of your team, and help me apologise that I couldn't say goodbye in person?"

"I shall. Safe travels, Miss Vee," Yuki says, and pauses thoughtfully. "And to answer your question, let me first emphasize that this is speculation - Koizumi Aki might be, but only by dint of the fact that she has been a magical girl for years. Other than that, I can't say."

"Koizumi Aki?" you echo, looking around the meeting room. "Uh... The girl who's all yellow and frilly and makes teleporting clones?"

"That's her. Again, it's speculative, but her old team fell apart rather spectacularly," Yuki agrees, and shakes her head. "More than that, I don't know. Let me see you out."

"Appreciated," you say, flashing her a grin as you feel the spatial discontinuity surrounding the room fade. You collect Mugin and let Yuki take the lead up the stairs, slowing your climb to match her pace until you reach the roof.

She waves you off as you take off into the skies on a freshly reformed Mobile Oppression Platform, which really does need a rename. You don't do very much oppression at all, though admittedly you do do plenty of mopping up. It's definitely better than moping, in any case, which goes neither up nor down even if it does go around.

"What do you think, Mugin?" you ask. "Rename this ship? Maybe... Mobile Operations Platform?"

"Braaawk," Mugin opines, fluffing up its feathers and burying its beak under its wing.

"Yeah, I'm not that sure about it, either. It doesn't really have the same... pizzaz to it," you say. "It's a perfectly good name, but-"

You pause midway through the sentence, tilting your head slightly to the side.

"I mean, if I want to have an actual name, I could call this the Katana," you muse. "Mop, katana. And Homura would be the only one who got the joke. Anyway, I need to stop talking to a bird who probably doesn't understand me."

You rummage through your pocket, locating Aurora's Grief Seed as you leave Fukushima behind with the wind howling past the hull of your flight platform. Sunlight glints through the clear crystal, only serving to highlight that minuscule, all-important speck of darkness at its core.

"How are you today, Aurora?" you murmur, probing gently with your senses. It -she?- doesn't seem much different, but you never expected the process to be fast. Airi might have a better time of it, and that's exactly why you asked her to try with Yuuri's Grief Seed.

But that's no reason to slack off yourself. You turn your thoughts to hope, and to joy, and to the satisfaction of a job well done with what you've done so far today, and you start channeling magic through your fingers.

And speaking of not slacking, you might as well double up on the time spent during the flight back, too.

"Nadia?" You reach out by telepathy, vaguely hoping that Nadia hasn't left Japan -or more importantly, your timezone- yet. And since it's just the two of you, you switch to darija. "Are you free to talk?"

"I am on a train, and I am very bored. Almost there, but I am very bored," is Nadia's response. Her voice brightens as she speaks, words coming faster in her native language. "Good morning, Sabrina. How are you? Good?"

"I'm doing well," you say. "Where are you headed?"

"Hokkaido!" Nadia says. "It's going to be beautiful at this time of the year."

"Oh, cool!" you say. "So, first thing - you won't be in Japan for too much longer, right?"

"Right, funds permitting for the flight," Nadia says. "I'll be heading for China next."

"Right! So I was wondering, do you have an email or Skype or something I could use to contact you when you travel further away?" you ask. "I mean, we're not going to be in the same timezone in the future, right?"

"I do have an email address I try to check every day, at least," Nadia says. "I do have Skype, but it's not something I can regularly access, understand?"

"Yeah, gotcha," you say. "Email will do - oh, mine is sabrina dot vee dot mitakihara at gmail dot com."

"Let me write that down," Nadia responds. "Mine is bennouna seven at hotmail dot com. Uh, three 'n's, then one, and that's the number seven."

"Gotcha," you say. "Oh, uh- Vee as in Victor Echo Echo, not just the letter V."

"Oh," Nadia says, and there's a pause that seems to be just about right for someone scribbling out something to re-write. "Noted, thank you."

"No, thank you!" you say. "Also, uh, this goes without saying, but if it's an emergency, you can just brainmail me at any time."

"Thank you," Nadia says. "I try not to take risks, but it's good to have backup, understand?"

"Anytime," you say. "Uh... so, on an unrelated note, what can you tell me about the Murasaki Shrine Maidens? You mentioned them before?"

"There are four of them. Koyanagi Saki is their leader. She's a power amplifier, and I think I told you about her before, too," Nadia responds. "Amano Megumi, Suga Kazue, both healers, and Miss Suga is a recent recruit. Their last member is Daigo Nana, who's an item conjurer."

"Right, you did mention her before," you agree. "I think I was asking about, well, power amplifiers."

"Mmmh," Nadia agrees. "Now... what you actually want to know. They are not quite pacifistic, but they always try to avoid having to fight. They are protective of their territory, but they treat passers by kindly. They'll let you stay if they can, but that's not always, understand?"

"Yeah, I see," you say thoughtfully. "They do sound like people I'd want to meet - I might set up a meeting today."

"I think you would get along well," Nadia agrees.

"Well... one thing," you say. "Er. What's their attitude towards Witches? 'cuz, you know. My powers. And they're shrine maidens? Are they going to try and purge me or something?"

"Only Koyanagi and Amano are shrine maidens," Nadia corrects. "Or... I think Suga is, too. I don't... think they'll try to purge you, but they do consider it a duty to fight Witches to save mundane people?"

"I guess I'll have to see, then," you say, wincing. You don't really fancy getting smacked with those wand things with the streamers. Gohei, they're called. Though you are rather liking the group as you hear about them. "... maybe I'll bring Mami with me."

Nadia's belly-laugh carries clearly over telepathy. "It could help."

"Yyyyeah," you say. "Oh! So, I don't think I've updated you on this - we've formed a defence pact with the Fukushima group, at Miss Tsuruya's suggestion."

"Aha! Thank you for the update," Nadia says, and chuckles. "I should have seen it coming, really. Miss Tsuruya is a bit of an opportunist like that. But deal with her fairly, and she will return the courtesy, understand?"

"Yeah, that's what I figured," you say. "She seems like the type."

"Good!" Nadia says. "I hope to report good things in the future, then."

"I hope you do too," you say, grinning.

"Ah, the train approaching the station," Nadia says. "Was there anything else?"

"Nah, that's it," you say. "Have a good trip!"

"I always do," Nadia says. "Until next time."

And with goodbyes said, Nadia signs off on the conversation. Which leaves you just over halfway back to Mitakihara, and still a bit more time to burn, so...

"Miss Tsubaki?" You visualize the butterfly-winged girl from the Tohoku University group in your mind as you reach out to her. "This is Sabrina, do you have a moment to talk?"

"Good morning, Miss Sabrina!" Chouko's response is nearly instant. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good! How's everything going over there? Is the Clear Seed holding up alright?" you say, smiling. She's a lot more cheerful now, out from under the thumb of Akiko.

And because that reminds me of something else, you open up a telepathic channel to Inoue Yuuki, too, since you're due in Ishinomaki for a cleansing trip. Might as well get that confirmed too.

"It works perfectly," Chouko replies. "And again, thank you - we can't possibly thank you enough for everything you've done, Miss Sabrina."

"I'm glad to help," you say, forming a seat back out of Grief so you can lean back properly to watch the clouds scud past. Your attention is mostly focused on the conversation with Chouko, since all you need is a quick check-in with Ishinomaki, and feeding Aurora with magic doesn't take up that much attention. "Nobody should ever have to scrabble for basic sustenance."

"And we're grateful for your help," Chouko says firmly. "Speaking of - how can we help you today?"

"Well, I was wondering - do you think you could get me in touch with the Tome group?" you ask. You know that one Kazue Fukui left Chouko's group and joined the Tome group, at some point in the past. It wasn't a happy event by any means, precipitated out of the loss of one of theirs to a Witch.

You get the distinct impression of Chouko sucking in a breath.

"I could," she says. "We... haven't talked recently. I hope she's well."

"If you're uncomfortable with it, I'll figure out something else?" you hasten to add.

"No, no, I... I should talk to her, anyway," Chouko says, voice gaining conviction as she speaks. "It's been too long."

"... if you're sure?" you say.

"I'm sure," Chouko says. "I'll get in touch with her, and then let you know. Perhaps by the end of today?"

"That would be fantastic, if it's not too much bother," you say.

"It's not," Chouko says firmly. "Especially not for you. And I really, really should, anyway."

"Alright. Then... let me know?" you say.

"I will!" she says. "Until then."

"All the best!" you say, and end the call, smiling. You seem to have lit a bit of a fire in her, and that's good - but then, you just gave her a bit of a push. Sorely needed, perhaps, if she was that eager about it.

You smile, relaxing a little. That's that, then - update from and for Nadia, trip confirmed with Ishinomaki, and Tome meeting in the works, and best of all? You're almost home. Aurora doesn't seem to have done anything usual, quietly sucking up the magic that you feed in, but... Mitakihara looms on the horizon.

Home is where the heart is, as the saying goes, and you know where yours is.

[] Write-in anything special to hit over lunch?
[] After lunch...
- [] Time for science!
- [] Catch up with the IRCs?
-- [] Which?
- [] Go see someone...
-- [] Who?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

And there we go! Unrelated, does anyone remember what this link used to link to?

Hmm. First things first; musical accompaniment. You spin your instruments out of Grief marbles, hesitating a moment and trying to figure out a wind section. Tunable pipes are easy enough, but airflow is tricky... Eventually, you settle on bellows of a sort, and begin playing something dredged from your memory.

Click to shrink...

The video it, well, used to link to is gone, and despite it being dredged from Sabrina's memory, I don't remember it.

 

[Firnagzen]

Lunch, lunch, lunch!

Lunch with your friends. Lunch with Mami, and you'd prepared the special lunch for Mami, too, with your own safely tucked away in your bag. Your smile stretches across your face as you come in for a landing, Grief folding away behind you as you drop to a light landing on the roof.

Mugin flutters to the roof, and then up to the aggressively fency crenellations surrounding the roof. You're reminded of Mami's art homework last night, which makes a bizarre amount of sense now that you think about it. For every staid, practical building in Mitakihara, there's at least one architect's mad fantasy. Of course it'd be covered in the curriculum.

Hah.

You could check the time, but you don't need to - you can almost feel the electric anticipation drawing the air tight as a thousand students watch the clock. And there goes the bell, right on cue, and the strident calls of the class representatives intermixing with the scrape of chairs, and the explosion of noise and chatter.

And there's Mami, a bright, blazing presence sprinting up the stairs. You do hope that she doesn't get in trouble for that.

You meet her at the entrance to the stairwell, both of you laughing in delight as she crashes into your arms and you lift her off her feet into a tight, spinning hug. You kiss her gently on the cheek as you set her down, beaming and trying not to blush too much.

"I missed you," she murmurs, and pulls back a little to stare up at you, wide smile on her face - but only for a second, as her eyes widen to a wondering stare.

Slowly, dream-like slow, her hand reaches up to cup your face, her fingers warm against your skin. Her other hand circles around your wrist, thumb stroking gently over your forearm.

"Your skin is so soft," she marvels, and then her eyes narrow to slits that transform into a disappointed droop of an expression. "Sabrina. Did you go to a spa without me?"

"I-" You did nothing wrong, and yet that tone in Mami's voice sends a frisson of panic and bewilderment chasing through your veins. "Eh? No, no spa."

"Spa? Did I hear that right?" Sayaka bounds up the stairs, a few steps ahead of the rest of your friends. "Oh. Hitomiiiiiiii, cover Madoka's eyes. And Homura's. Mami and Sabrina are being disgustingly lovey-dovey again."

"No, I did not go to a spa," you repeat, endeavouring to stand strong in the face of Mami's disappointed pout. You wrap your arm around her waist, pulling her close. Her hand stays glued to your face, fingers exploring curiously. "I didn't! Really!"

"Your hair does look good," Hitomi observes as she emerges from the stairwell behind Sayaka, armed appropriately for lunch with a lunchbox. "Are you using a new shampoo?"

"What, really?" you say, hand flying up to your hair. It feels the same as ever. And that-

"Still messy," Homura observes.

-oh. You'd scrubbed yourself down after meeting Anri, just in case. Scrubbed yourself down thoroughly with Grief, hair and all, and this, this must be what it's like for everyone else when you jump onto a tangential thought.

"Messy but glossy," Madoka says, beaming. "A bit like Homura's hair! But not as nice."

"Sabrina," Mami says and wow you've never quite heard that particular tone of whine in her voice before.

"I didn't!" you protest, holding up your hand. "I really didn't. I went over to Fukushima to check on Airi, and I decontaminated myself after that by, uh, scraping myself down with Grief."

"Did you, uh, scrape yourself down that hard?" Madoka says, boggling at you.

"I mean, I suppose so," you say, pouting right back at Mami. You tug her into a proper hug, and she sighs fondly before tucking her head against your collarbone.

"Oh, Sabrina," she mumbles.

"Mami, if I ever go to a spa, I promise you'll be right there with me," you say firmly. "I wouldn't deprive you of that!"

"I'll hold you to it," Mami says.

"Oi, what about us?" Sayaka protests.

"I mean, if you want to come along, you can?" you say, obliging Mami's insistent nudges towards the bench. She tucks herself against your side. "We could make an outing of it sometime. Also, uh... My hair? Tell me more?"

"Still a mess," Homura notes, running a hand through her own beautiful, midnight black mane.

Madoka giggles.

"It looks good, Sabrina. The style suits you," Mami says reassuringly, one arm reaching up to thread through said hair. "And it's so smooth!"

"Huh," you say, beaming.

"... I don't use magic in my hair," Homura adds.

"Yes, but that's because you have naturally awesome hair, Homura," you say. "The rest of us lesser mortals have to make do with whatever advantage we can ge-"

"Caw!" Mugin demands, fluttering down from the fences and strutting imperiously over to Sayaka.

"Ah, there you are," Sayaka says, producing a small handful of birdseed from somewhere in her uniform. Mugin noses through the seed, picking out just a few choice morsels from the pile. Probably because it's full, spoiled brat of a bird that it is.

"... And now that that's come up, Sayaka, it's Munin, not Mugin," you say, grinning.

"... really?" Sayaka says, blinking. "But... it sounds better if it's Mugin. Hugin and Mugin, it rhymes."

"Didn't we cover it in class last year?" Hitomi muses "Norse mythology, I mean."

"Mnyeeeh," Sayaka says, sticking her tongue out at Hitomi.

"And while we're on the subject, what pronouns do I use for Mugin, anyway?" you ask. "I've been referring to it as, uh, 'it' in my head this entire morning, and that just feels rude."

"I have no idea," Sayaka says with a shrug. She plops down on a bench, settling her lunchbox on her lap and coaxing Mugin up to her knee. "Let me ask."

"Let's eat!" Madoka says, clapping her hands happily as she sits down onto a bench, claiming the space beside Homura.

You hear the popping of catches, and turn just in time to see Mami's delighted gasp as she beholds the lunch you'd prepared for her: not hearts, because that would be cliché. Instead, you'd carefully arranged the food into a chibi version of Mami herself. Carefully cut strips of fried egg for her hair, black and white sesame seeds and ginger for detailing on her costume...

"Oooooo," Madoka says, craning her head over to look, alongside Hitomi. "Sayaka, come look!"

"Hmm?" Sayaka says, looking away from Mugin and leaning over your shoulder. "Oooh. Very nice!"

"It's lovely, Sabrina," Mami says, beaming at you. "But I don't know how I'm supposed to eat this."

"Rather a conundrum, isn't it?" Hitomi muses, smiling. "I suggest you use your mouth."

"Hitomi!" Madoka protests, stifling a giggle. She pulls out her phone and waves it questioningly at Mami.

Mami laughs, and obligingly holds the lunchbox out for Madoka to take pictures. "I love it, Sabrina. Thank you. What did you make for yourself?"

You chuckle, and flip your own lunchbox open to reveal a considerably plainer meal. "The problem is that there's not much food that's actually blue, so I couldn't figure out how to make my own uniform. I mean, there's blueberries, I suppose, but first of all, we didn't have any in the fridge, and second of all, blueberries don't match for lunch."

"I feel vaguely offended, somehow," Sayaka observes. "Also, Mugin's a he, apparently. He says you brought him lots of interesting places today."

Mugin caws loudly, apparently recognising his name.

"You're a raspberry, not a blueberry," you tell her. "And also, that's good to know, and also also, yes, I did." You pause thoughtfully. "Also-also-also, I'm curious, how much does he actually understand, anyway? I know crows are really smart. Human speech smart?"

"Nah, he doesn't understand human speech, or I wouldn't have to use my power," Sayaka says, shaking her head. "But crows are really smart. The main hurdle was convincing him that humans do things for a reason even if he doesn't understand them, you know?"

"Like... recognising the things we do?" Madoka asks curiously. "I read about that parrot... what was his name? Alex?"

"The grey parrot?" Hitomi asks.

"I think so," Madoka says, nodding.

"Kind of, Madoka," Sayaka says. "It's like... the things we do seem utterly nonsensical, y'know? Birds have no concept of sitting down for four hours in a row to listen to someone teach, that kind of thing. There's no, uh, survival imperative to it, and I don't think I can explain the concept to Mugin, but I could explain that it is useful eventually."

"Makes a lot of sense," you agree, sneaking a smile at Mami, who's produced her own phone to take a few pictures of her lunch. She catches your eye and giggles sheepishly before picking up her chopsticks and tucking in.

You let the conversation wash over you, chatting lightly with your friends as you all blunt your hunger with lunch.

"You visited Fukushima?" Homura asks during a lull in the conversation.

"Yeah, I did," you say, and grin at her. "I was meaning to bring it up, actually, so thanks for the segue. So... first things first, I met the rest of the team."

"How was it?" Mami asks.

"Kind of awkward," you say. "Also, we should do a proper meetup at some point, between our teams, since we're allies, but... OK, first, before I get into details, one of Miss Tsuruya's teammates is named Shinobu."

"Like the mountain?" Madoka asks.

"Exactly like the mountain and damn if she doesn't deserve the name," you say. "She is built like a brick wall, and her biceps are like..." You gesture in the air. "I mean, OK, from the beginning, when I heard her name, I was guessing that Miss Tsuruya's Wish was to literally bring the mountain to life to be her friend."

"I'm actually disappointed that that's not the case," Hitomi notes, daintily tucking away a bite of a dumpling.

"Right?" you say. "I mean, come on, it'd fit. She even has green hair. But she's apparently just a magical girl and I am just so disappointed with reality." You sigh, slumping against Mami in dejection.

Mami laughs, patting your head gently in consolation. "There, there, Sabrina."

"Anyway, yeah, Fukushima," you say, shaking yourself. You summarize the meeting, Sayaka paying avid attention. Madoka and Hitomi too, evidently curious about this team from out of town, and you can feel Homura's watchful eye on both you and Madoka. You tell your friends about the group from Hirano, too.

"I wanna meet the group living in the volcano," Sayaka notes as you wind down.

"Yes," you agree fervently.

"Do they have hot springs?" Madoka asks, eyes bright.

"Prrrrobably?" you say. "I mean, there are hot springs in the area anyway, aren't there?"

"I think so," Hitomi says. "They sound interesting. The group out in the volcano, I mean. Though I wouldn't say no to a visit to the hotsprings..."

"Yes they do!" you agree, grinning.

"Hm..." Mami muses. "I'm not surprised that Miss Tsuruya's group is somewhat wary of us still, but it's good that they had outright stated intentions of working on it. It does bode well for working together with them."

"Agreed," Hitomi says. "They're awfully practical people, aren't they?"

"Suppose it comes with the territory," Sayaka says.

"Hey, speaking of practicalities - I was thinking, Mami, do you think you could contact Chiyoda now that everyone's onboard?" you say, and smile. "Better sooner than later, right?"

"Hm... just to arrange a meeting, right?" Mami says, and smiles. "I think I can do that - but I'll need your help to contact them."

"Ah, right," you say, pursing your lips. "I'll have to ask Miss Nakahara to relay, and... hm. Sayaka? Could you get ready with anti-magic and just blast the two of us afterwards?"

"Are we being that paranoid?" Sayaka asks, pursing her lips. Despite her words, she puts down her chopsticks and reaches behind her back, producing the ring of tabbed power jewels.

"You- we do think they have some kind of mind magic, right?" Madoka says, worrying at her lower lip. "I think it's a reasonable precaution."

"I agree," Homura says quietly, eyes hooded. Her attention divides itself between you and Madoka, her shoulders tense.

Madoka beams at her.

"I'm not sure it'll affect me," you admit. "But it's better to be safe than sorry."

"What, because you don't have a brain to be affected?" Sayaka says, smirking at you.

"Why are we friends again?" you wonder.

Mami laughs, and smiles at you. "It's good to have backup, regardless. Shall we, Sabrina?"

"Ready over here," Sayaka says, cracking her knuckles.

"Hokay... and just to be sure - in case there is any mental contamination, I'll be keeping this to just Mami and myself," you say. You take Mami's hand, squeezing gently before switching to telepathy. Everyone's eyes are on you. "Miss Nakahara? This is Sabrina Vee and Tomoe Mami. Do you have a moment?"

"Certainly. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Tomoe," Kurenai responds after only a moment. You imagine, vaguely, her tossing her brilliantly-red hair. "Your reputation preceeds you."

"Thank you, Miss Nakahara," Mami says, equally polite. "Sabrina has told me only good things about you."

"I'm flattered," Kurenai says. "If I may, what do you require, Miss Tomoe, Miss Vee?"

"We would be interested in contacting the Chiyoda group to set up a meeting, as I believe Sabrina mentioned previously?" Mami says. "With that in mind, would you be willing to make introductions for us, Miss Nakahara?"

"Ah, certainly!" Kurenai says. "Please hold one moment."

You squeeze Mami's hand again, leaning your head against hers. Sayaka, meanwhile, has returned to eating, conversing quietly with Madoka and Hitomi - and, by the looks of it, trying to draw Homura into the conversation too.

"Miss Tomoe, Miss Vee?" Kurenai returns after a minute, a new presence joining the telepathic conversation. "This is Miss Shimada Aoi, from the Chiyoda group. Miss Shimada, this is Miss Tomoe Mami, and Miss Vee Sabrina from Mitakihara."

Hm. Not the enigmatic Toshimichi Akane. You catch Homura's eye, nodding slightly and flicking your eyes to Sayaka - contact made, be wary, and keep Sayaka in the loop.

"Thank you, Miss Nakahara. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Tomoe, Miss Vee," Aoi says, her mental voice low and perhaps a tad rough. "How may I help you?"

"We are contacting you as part of a coalition of magical groups from Mitakihara, Fukushima, and Asunaro," Mami says. "We would be interested in meeting you to establish diplomatic contact and various related matters, among them the disposition of Sabrina's offer for cleansing - though that has since been changed to an offer of what we term Clear Seeds. I understand that has been the cause of some deadlock in the Tokyo Council, and we were hoping we could help resolve that."

"That is indeed the case," Aoi says. She actually sounds excited, to your surprise. "Naturally, we would be pleased to accept! Did you have a particular time in mind? Would this Sunday work?"

Mami pauses, catching your eye.

[] Confirm meeting for Sunday
[] Another time? (Write-in)
[] Anything specific to address to the Tokyo group right now?
[x] Continue vote in abeyance

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] Have Sayaka anti-magic you of any foreign effects afterwards to be safe.
-[X] Contact Yuki and Kazumi to share the confirmed date.
[X] You'll be going with Sayaka to visit Kyouko this afternoon. Hug Mami and promise to see her after.
-[X] Encourage Mami to hang out with Homura while you're away.
[X] Ask Homura to privately talk with you towards the end of lunch. (Timestop)

=====​

I'm sorry for the later update again. @_@

 

[Firnagzen]

You nod sharply. Sunday's largely clear, and oh dear. That does remind you that you've only got two more weekends until Walpurgisnacht.

Which, admittedly, sounds like a long time. It's almost as long as you've been... Alive? Aware?

Well. Almost.

"Sunday would be perfect," Mami tells Aoi.

"Great!" Aoi says. "I'll call the Council, then. Morning or afternoon?"

"Ah, I believe that a private meeting with your group prior to the full Council meeting would be in order," Mami says, catching your eye again. You smile, gesturing towards Mami - she's doing great, and you trust her. "And I believe that the afternoon would be best? Perhaps at two?"

"Two would be perfect - and we would have insisted on meeting you personally even if you hadn't requested it," Aoi says. "It's not every day that we receive such exceptional visitors!"

And oh, but isn't that just the slightest bit ominously suspicious, when you throw in the concerns of mind magic? Of course, it's just as reasonably the perfectly reasonable response of the slightly starstruck. It's not like you haven't run into a fair number of people utterly awed by Mami, you, or both.

Well. You're going loaded for bear, anyway.

"We'll look forward to the meeting on Sunday, then," Mami says. She leans against you, tucking her head against your shoulder. "Sabrina, did you want to raise anything?"

"Ah, yes, actually," you say. You did want to bring up the idea of detaching one of the Tokyo groups to police the others, among other things. "On a more practical note, would it be acceptable if we wanted to look at hiring magical girls from Tokyo while we're there?"

"Certainly - if you have anything specific in mind, we could provide suggestions? If not, you'll have the opportunity to speak in person to all the groups come Sunday," Aoi says, and continues in a rather careful tone. "It's not an uncommon notion, and in fact, I believe you ran into Miss Ueda under... related circumstances."

"Yeah, I remember," you say. Ueda Noa, who'd been in Sendai during that little conflict. She'd been the one to first carry your message and offer to Tokyo, even. "How is she, anyway?"

"I wouldn't know in any detail, but we haven't heard any complaints?" Aoi says, a shrug all but audible in her mental voice.

"Fair enough," you say. Too many magical girls in Tokyo for any one person to keep track of, you suppose. "Anyway, that's all I wanted to ask, unless there's anything important we need to know before heading down to Tokyo? Mami?"

"Nothing that comes to mind," Mami says, raising her head off your shoulder to flash you a warm smile.

"And nothing from me, either," Aoi says. "So believe that concludes our business - we'll look forward to seeing you on Sunday."

"Until then," Mami agrees, nodding.

"See you on Sunday!" you say, and end the call, smiling at Mami.

"All done?" Sayaka asks, already raising her hand. Madoka and Hitomi look up, curious, while Homura shuffles back a bit.

"Go ahead, Sayaka," Mami says.

"Right. Here goes..." Sayaka says.

You brace for it, grimacing at the greasy sensation of antimagic washing over you, like being splashed with oil. You're never going to get used to it, even if it's not directed at you.

Hah, there's another reason for Kirika's magic being the way it is. It's almost like it's specifically tailored to irritate you in particular, especially considering that Mami doesn't seem to have as severe a response to it, simply leaning into it like a brisk wind.

"OK, done," Sayaka says as the antimagic blast fades, giving you two a faintly concerned look. "How are you feeling?"

You inspect your memory for a second, suck in a sharp, shocked breath, and turn huge eyes on Mami. "I just remembered something terribly important and I can't believe that I forgot, even for the barest fraction of a second. It must have been the vilest, most terrible of magics to have made me forget, even for a second."

By the end of the sentence, you're standing, one hand to your breast and one hand dramatically outflung as if proclaiming grand oratory to some great crowd. Sayaka sits back, nudging Madoka and rolling her eyes as she picks up her chopsticks.

"What is it, Sabrina?" Mami asks, a barely-suppressed twitching to her lips.

"Sayaka, I must thank you a thousand times for saving me from that terrible fate," you say, and kneel in front of Mami, looking up at her earnestly. "Mami, you're awesome. And I want you to know tha- hey!"

You twist out of the way, and find an amused look and outstretched, post-flick finger leveled at you not by Sayaka, as you'd expected, but by Hitomi.

"Bad Sabrina," she says, and primly returns to eating delicately with her one good hand.

You giggle, grinning at Hitomi as you reclaim your seat next to Mami. "OK, but seriously. Thanks, Sayaka, for helping make sure. I don't think they did anything to my brain. Mami? Are you alright?"

"I am," Mami says, smiling and rewarding you with a kiss on the cheek. You wrap your arm around her, and she happily snuggles closer.

"Would we be able to tell if they did something to your brain?" Homura muses quietly.

"... Ouch, Homura. Ouch." You clutch at your chest, giving her a betrayed look. Madoka giggles happily.

Homura shrugs, but she's smiling, just the tiniest bit.

"Anyway, so - Mami's set up a meeting with the Council for us for this Sunday afternoon," you say. "I'll be letting Miss Tsuruya and Kazumi know in a second, of course. Mami also arranged for us to meet Chiyoda first, and then the full Council for us to present our case."

Hitomi nods approvingly. "Sound thinking."

"Meeting just Chiyoda?" Sayaka asks. "Sounds a bit... worrying?"

"I thought so too," Mami offers. "They mentioned that they'd have insisted, even if we hadn't asked."

"There is perfectly reasonable cause for wanting a private meeting first," Hitomi notes. "It could, for example, just be that they wish to establish an initial stance before the full meeting."

Madoka worries at her lip. "Did they say anything else?"

"Nothing much other than pleasantries, and we didn't speak to Miss Toshimichi herself, just one of her teammates - one Shimada Aoi," Mami says. "Homura, I don't suppose you've heard of her before?"

Homura considers this, frowning slightly in thought. "I don't think so."

"That's, um, not really unusual," Madoka says, shaking her head. "I mean... Miss Toshimichi is apparently pretty reluctant to show herself anyway, I'm not surprised that someone else would be, um, answering the phone for her."

"Agreed," you say with a sigh. "But it leaves us with precious little information to work off of. Also, Sunday."

"What about Sunday?" Madoka asks.

"No, I was just thinking that I'm going to have to reschedule meeting some other teams for the rest of the week," you say, frowning. Kagoshima and Hozuki.

"I don't have information, but I have cake?" Hitomi offers. "Well... Sayaka's carrying it?"

"Yeah, I've got it," Sayaka says, grinning and producing a box that turns out to contain a chocolate cake.

"Oh, what's the event?" Mami asks, smiling.

"There isn't one," Hitomi says with a laugh. "My father thought it would be nice."

"Well, convey my thanks to him?" you say. And as the conversation descends into a flurry of echoed thanks and scrambling to get the cake dished out, Mami taking charge, you reach out by telepathy. Mami flashes you a smile as you include her, but she's busily dividing up the cake.

"Hey Kazumi, Miss Tsuruya," you call. "Got a moment?"

"Heya!" Kazumi chirps happily. "I'm free right now. Well, mostly. Oh, hi Mami!"

"As am I," Yuki says.

"Hello, Kazumi," Mami says warmly.

"Right! Kazumi, this is Tsuruya Yuki, from Fukushima, and Miss Tsuruya, this is Kazusa Michiru, from Asunaro," you say. "As discussed, we're the three groups that will be forming a coalition to visit Tokyo.."

"Ahhhh. Hi, Miss Tsuruya!" Kazumi chirps. "Call me Kazumi!"

"It's good to make your acquaintance, Miss Kazumi," Yuki says politely. "Has something come up with Tokyo, then?"

"Yup - we've finally nailed down a date with Tokyo - the coming Sunday afternoon. Well, I say we, but mostly it was Mami's awesomeness," you say. "I hope it works for everyone?"

"Ah, Sunday? That's certainly doable," Yuki says. "Arguably more so than Monday."

"Works for me!" Kazumi says. "Gotta reschedule a bit of stuff, but... ahhh, no, it's fine."

"Oh, sorry about that," you say. Sounds like you might have disrupted some plans?

"No, no, it's fine," Kazumi says. "Seriously. Was just planning on going out with everyone, but we can go out for dinner too."

"Alright, if you're sure," you say. Mami rejoins you with two paper plates laden with cake - one for you, one for herself. You beam at her. "Uh... I'll be arranging transport. By which I mean I can ferry everyone over to Tokyo?"

"That would be for the best," Yuki says.

"Yup, sounds good!" Kazumi says brightly.

"Great!" you say as you dig into the cake, savouring the rich bitterness of dark chocolate. "See you on Sunday, then!"

"This is fantastic cake. Not as good as Mami's, of course," you continue outloud, exchanging telepathic good-byes with Kazumi and Yuki.

"It's store bought," Hitomi says, chuckling. "So I should think so, on both counts."

"Fair enough!" you say with a laugh, and lean against Mami as you enjoy the cake and just let yourself relax with your friends, good-natured chatter and teasing washing over you. Mugin returns, cadging more treats from you and Sayaka. Lunch is almost over, but these moments of peace are worth savouring.

You consider reminding Mami that you're going to be bringing Sayaka off to train with Kyouko later today, but...

No.

Not now.

You don't want to have to stew on it for the rest of the school day, and you're definitely going to see her after school before heading to Kasamino, anyway. You have time now, and you'll have time later, to lavish her with the attention and the affection she deserves.

So you do just that, taking her hand in yours and sitting close enough that your legs and shoulders are pressing against each other, Mami's warmth a constant, present comfort to you as much as you hope your presence is for her.

Still, it's almost time.

"Hey, Homura?" you speak into a lull in conversation. "Could I have a private word before you head off for classes?"

Homura blinks, and nods at you.

"Speaking of which," Sayaka says, theatrically hopping to her feet and stretching. "I reckon it's time. See ya!"

"Mmmh!" Madoka says, beaming as she gets to her feet. "Was good to see you, Sabrina."

Hitomi dusts down her skirt as she stands, smiling. "I'll be heading to the hospital right after school today," she notes. "To get this cast off."

"Oh, that's fast," you say.

"Nothing but the best," Hitomi says with a wry quirk of her lips and a shrug.

"Hah. Fair enough," you say. "So I probably won't be seeing you later?"

"Perhaps," Hitomi says. "Admittedly, you're always at the school gate."

"True!" you say, grinning at Mami. You offer your hand to her, and let her pull herself to her feet.

"Later!" Sayaka says. She clicks her tongue, catching Mugin's attention, who caws and flutters back over to your bench.

"Still got my minder, I see," you say, amused.

"He seems to like you!" Sayaka says with a laugh. "I didn't actually tell him to follow you this time, just that we were leaving."

You snicker, gently rubbing Mugin's neck. "Well, off we go on more weird adventures, then."

Sayaka grins and snatches up Hitomi's lunchbox before scampering for the stairs. Hitomi huffs and follows, and you exchange farewells with Madoka who hurries off after her.

"... I'll be over there," Homura says, gesturing vaguely at the stairwell.

"Thanks, Homura," you say, turning a gentle smile on Mami. "I'll see you after school, alright? I promise."

"I know," Mami says. She steps forward, wrapping her arms around your waist and tucking her head under your chin. "I know, Sabrina."

You bury your nose in the golden thatch of her hair.

"I'm glad I found you," she murmurs. "And that you came with me, that first day. I don't... I don't know what would have happened, otherwise."

"You're stronger than you know," you murmur, trying not to think about things that weren't. "And I'm here now."

Mami laughs, burrowing a little closer. "I know," she says. "I know." She pulls back, and smiles at you. "I'll see you later, Sabrina."

"You will," you promise, giving her another gentle kiss on the cheek. "See you soon."

"See you soon," Mami murmurs, backing away. She keeps her eyes on you as she heads towards the stairwell, until she disappears past the wall.

Homura emerges a few moments later.

"Hey, Homura," you say. "Thank you for waiting."

"Not a problem," she murmurs, and transforms in that familiar blaze of amethyst light. You grin at her, and await that familiar stutter of the world that marks the transition in-

-to the bleached greys of her timestop. Homura's hand is warm on your wrist as you nudge her gently over to the bench.

"What's happening?" Homura asks as she sits.

"Well... first of all, it's a bit awkward, but uh, it occurs to me that this conversation might benefit from having Mami here?" you say. "I'm only going to touch lightly on Witch related matters."

"What do you want to talk about?" Homura asks, frowning slightly.

"Uh," you say, ticking the points off on your fingers. "First, Airi - as I said, I visited her today, and I need to update you. Second, Iowa. That's the big one that needs to be discussed with you and Mami, I think."

Homura considers this for a moment. "I can go and get her," she concludes, and tilts her head slightly. Her next words are reluctant. "... what about Miki Sayaka?"

[] Bring Sayaka in
[] Don't bring Sayaka in
[] Continue vote in abeyance
- [] Any alterations?

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] Offscreen: Fill her in on Airi's situation.
-[X] Ask Homura if she wants Mami included in discussions that don't touch the Witchbomb
-[X] Explain everything you have heard about Iowa's methodologies and tendencies, including Yuki's evaluation of them having clairvoyant-esque information and their noted travel path.
--[X] There is small but significant chance that their "clairvoyant" is Kyubey, and you don't want them getting anywhere near Mitakihara. You've already gotten a price quote from Yuki in case you choose to buy their help with this and it's not unreasonable.
--[X] Bring up that Homura herself is a likely target for a first-strike.
--[X] You are very hopeful that Oriko's new magic will help with this problem.
--[X] If you don't manage to neutralize Iowa group abroad within a moderate timeframe you will need to read Madoka and Hitomi in on their likely intentions and the threat they pose, because either of them being caught off guard would be far, far worse than them knowing.
-[X] Break. Don't leave timestop.

=====​

So I swear I meant to finish the update with all the stuff for Homura, but then she had to go and raise a pretty good point. Also, this lets me get in an early update.

 

[Firnagzen]

"If you're comfortable with bringing Sayaka in, then yeah, absolutely," you say, beaming at Homura.

Madokami above, you're proud of how much progress Homura's made, and humbled by how much trust she's putting in you.

"I'll go get them, then," Homura says, starting to get up.

You tug lightly on her arm before she can release your wrist. "Hang on- two things first, Homura?" you say.

She looks at you, head tilted slightly in question.

"First, uh... A couple of Witch-related matters to discuss bringing them in?" you say. "Second, I could just come with you instead of you bringing Mami and Sayaka up here, and third of all because I'm terrible with these kinds of lists, can I give you a hug?"

"Yes," Homura says after a moment.

"To all of them?" you say, smiling.

"... yes," Homura says. She leans into the hug when you engulf her in your arms, exhaling quietly. Hesitantly, her arms go around you.

You keep the hug brief, half twisted around on the bench, and smile at her when you pull back.

"There. Much better," you say, shifting your grip to a gentle clasp around her wrist.

Homura nods silently. "What did you want to talk to about?" she asks.

"First things first - I visited Fukushima, so naturally, I checked in on Miss Anri and had a talk with her," you say. "I'm getting her on board with helping to try and reverse Yuuri's... current status as a Witch. So to that end, I gave her Yuuri's Clear Seed to work on."

"Is that wise?" Homura asks, frowning. "A Clear Seed..."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," you say. "I've got Miss Tsuruya keeping a very close eye on her - besides, Miss Anri's entirely under Miss Tsuruya's power. I'm not going to tempt fate, but I think I've stacked as many advantages as is reasonable against her breaking out."

"OK," Homura says, frowning. "What do you expect from her?"

"In terms of the experiments? The main thing she's helping me solve is that I don't have the time to devote to what looks like a very slow process - channelling magic into a Clear Seed," you say, pulling out Aurora and showing her to Homura. "I'm not entirely sure, but it's possible that we need to put an equivalent amount of magic to the Grief I draw out."

"That's a lot," Homura murmurs.

"Yeah, which is why I tasked Miss Anri with it - and she has a personal connection, which might help," you say.

Homura frowns minutely, the tiniest crease of her brow, and nods. "I suppose so," she says at last. "And Miss Tsuruya will alert us if something goes wrong."

"Yeah," you say, and grin weakly. "And hey. You know I've got a thing for, ah, talking at enemies until they stop fighting. I think I got through to Miss Anri, at least enough that she's willing to try for now."

Homura nods.

"And the other thing... so this is part of what I'd like to bring up with Mami and Sayaka too in a moment, but from a slightly different take. I think Kyuubey may be directing the Iowa group at us," you say, biting your lip. "And if it is, that's probably because of me."

"You think..." Homura's eyes narrow, and she nods. "Witches."

"Bingo," you say. "So... I'll be going over it in more detail with everyone, but I just wanted to... you know, bring it up so we're on the same page."

"It's fine," Homura murmurs, eyes distant for a second before she nods, expression hardening. "We'll take it on."

"Right," you say, over that breathless twist of -relief? pride? joy? all of the above?- that unspools on your chest. "We will."

You take a breath, and grin at Homura. Because... the implicit message you're getting from Homura, the set of her shoulders and the steel in her eyes, is simple. This isn't the inevitability of fate. This isn't the inexorable crush of destiny drawing Madoka in, and that is something you're determined to fight anyway, alongside Homura.

And this... so what if Kyuubey has pointed a group of murderous magical girls at you? You can fight that. You're not one to taunt Murphy, but put up beside your other problems, it wasn't that much at all - and with Homura simply declaring her support for you, it feels downright simple.

"We'll take them on together," you say, and your smile is probably bright enough to eclipse the noon sun, hanging frozen in Homura's timestop because yeah, Homura's right. "I'm really glad to have you at my side, Homura. We make a good team."

Homura shrugs slightly.

"Alright," you say. "Let's go get Mami and Sayaka?"

"Alright," Homura echoes, getting to her feet.

You follow her down the stairs and down into Mitakihara Middle School proper. It's an eerie experience, weaving around students frozen midstep in a grey hued world. You take a moment to ogle the smart-glass walls of the classrooms, the kind that can shade to opacity in an instant, but with all the glass left transparent for the break, it's quite the view. Students as far as the eye can see, all making their way back to their classes.

"Hey, Homura?" you ask as you muse about the potential frequency of people running into perfectly clear glass. "Question?"

"Yes?" Homura says, looking back at you.

"Do you use 2chan?" you say.

"Rarely," Homura says. "Magical girls posting there are infrequent."

"Huh," you say. Kirika definitely posts on 2chan, you know that much, and you have vague notions of them shitposting at each other. "Fair enough."

"There," Homura murmurs. You follow her gaze to spot Mami, making her way towards what must be her classroom - alone, even though she's surrounded by other upper classmen.

Homura motions towards Mami. You grin at her, and reach out to take Mami's hand.

Colour bleeds back into Mami, warm pink suffusing her skin and brilliant, vibrant gold leaching into her hair as she sucks in a shocked breath.

"S-Sabrina? Homura?" She reorients in a heartbeat, tensing as if readying to transform. "What's wrong?"

"Easy, easy Mami," you say, soothing her gently. "Nothing's wrong, Mami."

"Then... what's happening?" Mami asks. She finds your free hand, interlacing your fingers. You squeeze back gently.

"Just a discussion that in retrospect I should have included you in," you say. "And Sayaka. I should've thought about it earlier, I guess?"

Mami leans into your side, head resting on your shoulder. "Ah," she says. "Alright."

You laugh sheepishly. "I suppose it's a little awkward, considering we already said our goodbyes and all?"

"A bit," Mami says, eyes sparkling as she looks up at you. "But that's alright. I will never turn down the opportunity to spend more time with you."

You blush, hugging Mami closer. "But, uh, speaking of time, we should probably not waste Homura's?" you say, catching Homura's eye. She shrugs.

"Ah, yes," Mami says, blinking and straightening sheepishly. "Apologies, Homura."

"It's not a problem," Homura mutters.

"Well... shall we find Sayaka, then?" Mami says, smiling. With her other hand, she unspools a twist of ribbon that whips through the air like a living thing, winding around your wrist, and then Homura's.

Despite having an excuse to do so, you don't let go of Mami's hand, sharing a conspiratorial smile with her as Homura once more takes the lead, threading through the frozen crowds of students. Mami gives the statue-like forms an uneasy look as she slides past them, her hand tightening on yours. You smile at her, squeezing back.

The rest of your friends are in a classroom one floor below, as it turns out. You find them in the midst of a small crowd, Madoka frozen mid-laugh, as is Sayaka - it looks like she was telling a joke. Hitomi, as mired in the timestop as anyone else, looks on with tolerant amusement.

"I'll get her," you say. "Or would you like to, Mami?"

"It would be easier for me," Mami says. With a raised hand comes another band of ribbon, spiralling through the air until it makes contact with Sayaka's wrist.

"-oose!" Sayaka says, and then blinks. She blinks again, looking around and then catching sight of the three of you. "Uh?"

"'allo," you say, essaying a little wave.

"...'sup?" Sayaka says.

"Discussion that in retrospect all of us should be involved in," you say, and grin faintly. "Thank Homura for reminding me."

"Oh. OK," Sayaka says, looking around and shivering. "Man, Homs, your power is weird."

"... Don't call me that," Homura says, an expression of faintly confused horror flickering across her face.

"Right, so..." you say, looking around at the corridor. "Uh. Right, let's get clear of the crowd a bit so we don't bump into people by accident?"

All of you shuffle to a slightly less crowded spot, standing in a loose circle. Sayaka slouches against the wall, eyes bright with curiosity, while Mami stands right beside you, shoulder brushing yours. Homura stands shoulders braced and steady, silently waiting for you to speak.

"So, the Iowa group," you say. "I raised it with Miss Tsuruya, who's already putting out the word for more information, but she already had an interesting tidbit for us - apparently, their favoured tactic is to arrive at a location and take over or destroy some particular position of significance, or if they catch someone, hurt her to send a message."

"Eurgh," Sayaka says, paling.

Mami's hand tightens on yours.

"Our school," Mami says quietly, gesturing around at the glass corridors. "Our homes."

"Exactly. Or Madoka's home, or Hitomis's. Maybe Kyousuke. Or even one of us," you say with a sigh, nodding at Sayaka. "But more than that, I... first of all, like hell we're going to let that happen. Second of all, it suggests that they have a clairvoyant with them, or someone who can feed them information in advance."

Sayaka's scowl deepens. "Same tactics as Mikuni," she says, tone even.

"That's... true," you admit, eyes flicking over to Homura. She stands still and stiff and statue-like as any of the people under the sway of her magic. "Still. Not going to happen, now that we know about it."

"What are we gonna do?" Sayaka asks. She folds her arms, fingers drumming against her forearm.

"Yeah... so, I've got about three different threads of conversation to chase up on, here," you say. "To answer your question, Sayaka - preemptive strike. I don't really... like the idea of combat being a first resort, but they're raiders. Remorseless ones, to boot, and..."

You trail off with a sigh. Mami wraps her arm around your waist, squeezing gently, and you lean gratefully into the hug.

"I asked Miss Tsuruya for a quote to bring them in on the attack," you say after a moment. "Her price is... honestly very reasonable - so we're going to have more fighting power on our side."

"Right." And here Sayaka flashes a fierce grin, pushing off the wall to raise a clenched fist. "Sounds good to me. I mean, like you said, right? They're raiders. They hurt people, they kill people? I think that's as fair game as it gets."

"Shouldn't be hard," Homura murmurs.

"Don't jinx it, Homura," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes.

Mami squeezes you again. "I'll be with you, Sabrina," she promises.

"Thank you, Mami," you say, smiling warmly at her. "I couldn't ask for anything more. And..." You look around at your friends. "I'd really, really rather see if I can talk to them, but at the end of the day, if I let them continue what they do, then it's on my conscience."

"On our consciences," Sayaka says. "We all know about it, we've all got a responsibility to do something."

Mami chuckles, smiling at Sayaka. "She's right, Sabrina. We're all part of this."

"I would have raised it later," Homura murmurs quietly. "They're dangerous. We need to take them out."

"I... well, thanks, guys," you say, with a smile. "Just... thanks."

"It's like we know you or something," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, you said you had three things?"

"I did," you agree. "Second - speaking of Oriko... well, having a clairvoyant to help feed us information is a pretty good counter to them having one."

"If we can even trust her," Sayaka grumbles.

"It's easier to verify if she isn't, anyway," you point out. "And Homura, well... I'd really prefer to talk it out, but if it comes to a fight, your help will be invaluable."

Homura nods once, violet eyes hard.

"They're a threat," she says simply.

"And speaking of threats..." You trail off, settling your hand over Mami's and squeezing gently. "There's a very slim possibility that their clairvoyant is Kyuubey feeding them information."

"Oh," Mami says quietly, sagging against your side. You hug her, pulling her close.

"Rat bastard," Sayaka mutters. "Figures."

"It... doesn't really matter much in the grander scheme of things, whether they have an actual clairvoyant or Kyuubey in the pocket," you say. "But I'm just raising the possibility so that we all know to be careful about talking about this outside of privacy constructs or Homura's timestop or similar."

"Yeah... doesn't make much of a diff," Sayaka says, scowling. "I mean, clairvoyant, right? Seeing or hearing stuff at a distance."

Mami takes a deep breath and straightens, though she doesn't separate from your side. "Sayaka's right. Regardless of what their source of information might be, we need to be wary of what we say at all times."

"True enough," you admit, smiling proudly at Mami. "Anyway, third poin..."

You trail off, and count off on your fingers.

"Fourth point, I can totally count I swear," you say. "I think we need to let Madoka and Hitomi know. They deserve to know, and they're potentially targets, as awful as that sounds. We don't want them caught off guard."

"Why?" Homura asks.

"I mean... they're vulnerable," you say, blinking. "So they should be warned."

"We'll take care of it," Homura says, a slight frown furrowing her brow as she looks at you. "It's not their problem."

"Homura kind of has a point there," Sayaka says. "Madoka's the kind who'll worry and worry and worry about this sort of thing if she knows. And it's not like the Iowa group is near us yet, right? Maybe we should tell her after we take care of the threat?"

[] Write-in response
[] What next?
- [] SCIENCE!
- [] Check in on IRCs
- [] Your identification papers should have come in by mail, go grab them
- [] Check in on...
-- [] The Shiogama girls
-- [] The Animators plus one
- [] Something else?

=====​

Agh. I'd meant to update yesterday, but couldn't focus on writing. But here, have a decidedly non-canon outtake:

"Say, Mami?" you murmur as you follow Homura, hand-in-hand with Mami. "Uh..."

"Yes, Sabrina?" Mami asks.

"So, uh... am I remembering wrong, or did you say 'owo' instead of 'two' earlier?" you say slowly. Up ahead, Homura's stride stutters, your friend twisting to give both you and Mami a vaguely concerned look.

"... no?" Mami asks, blinking at you. "Are you alright, Sabrina?"

"... yeah, I'm probably just remembering that wrong," you mutter, mostly to yourself. "Forget I said anything."

Click to shrink...

 

[Firnagzen]

Mami squeezes your hand gently, and you can catch the concerned look she shoots you out of the corner of her eye. Heh. Guess she knows you pretty well, at this point.

Still, your attention is fixed mainly on Homura and Sayaka, your jaw working silently as you look between them. They're in agreement with each other, Homura looking as surprised as you feel.

"I..." You shake your head. "Y'know what? Yeah. If you both think it's for the best, I can't really argue. I don't... I don't really like keeping secrets, but if you think that it's for the best, we'll do it your way."

"We'll tell her eventually, right?" Mami says - inflected like a question, but sounding more like a statement.

"Yeah!" Sayaka says, eyeing you. "I mean... I've known Madoka since we were kids, you know? So I know telling her now just means she's going to worry herself to sleep for the next two weeks. I suppose telling her that we're gonna go stop Iowa makes it better, but then she'd just worry about us instead. Telling her after... She'll be a bit upset, yeah, but she'll get it."

"And Hitomi?" Mami asks.

"Uh. Honestly, Hitomi..." Sayaka blinks. "Hey, hang on a sec. You're having dinner with her parents like... tomorrow, right? To, er, read them in properly on magic and all that? Tell them, maybe?"

"That... is an excellent point," you admit. "Yeah, I can think about that."

"Hey, on that note, are you gonna tell Madoka's parents?" Sayaka asks. She waves her hands vaguely in the air. "Only fair, right?"

"I... hm," you say, glancing at Homura. No help forthcoming there. "It's a good point too, and I'll see what I can figure out?"

Sayaka shrugs, and slouches back against the wall.

"The Shizukis might be able to offer advice, or help," Mami notes.

"Everyone's making fantastic points today," you say with a laugh, catching Homura's eye again. It's something you'll need to discuss with her, regardless. "Yeah, I agree. It's possibly something to check with them."

"So what's gonna happen now?" Sayaka asks. "Uh... Not literally now, but with Iowa and everything."

"I'm going to gather more information," you say firmly. "After... you know, Rionna, I want more details before I decide to act on Iowa based on just hearsay. But when I figure out what they're actually like, then I'll let you all know?"

"That sounds good," Mami says, squeezing your hand gently.

"Count me in," Sayaka says with a firm nod. She grins. "See, this is more like it. A brave band of magical girls against the forces of evil of the world. Don't you roll your eyes at me, Homura."

You snort, grinning at Sayaka.

"Anyway. That's what I wanted you all to know - anything you guys wanna bring up?" you say.

"Nah," Sayaka says, shaking her head. "Thanks for letting me know."

"Thank Homura - I didn't think of it at first and she was the one to bring it up, actually," you say, and grin sheepishly. "Just... yeah."

"Ouch," Sayaka says. "Ouch, Sabrina. I bet you thought of Mami, huh."

"Well... yeah," you say. Is your face red? Your face is definitely red. The situation is a bit more complicated than that, with Homura's opinions, but you do deserve a bit of the shaming there.

Sayak sniffs haughtily. "Well, I see how it is," she says. "But you, Homura. Thanks for sticking up for me."

Homura shrugs, and pivots on a heel, starting to head back down the corridor - which, of course, obliges you all to follow her. Sayaka slugs you lightly on the shoulder as you pass her, grinning playfully at you, and you slug her back.

You drop off Sayaka, Homura offering quietly muttered adjustments to help her reposition herself, and then back upstairs to drop Mami off.

She takes a deep breath and goes up on her tiptoes to kiss you gently on the cheek. "I'll... I'll see you later?"

You wink at her, smiling broadly and closing your arms around her. "You will. I promised you not even ten minutes ago~"

"Until then, then," Mami says, taking a deep breath and stepping back from the hug. She smiles at Homura. "Sayaka was right. Your power is strange, but it's audacious and it suits you."

"... Thank you?" Homura says, shifting uncertainly. She motions towards a spot. "Stand here."

"Alright," Mami says. Her smile is tinged somewhat with nervousness, now, and you give her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder before moving over to clasp Homura's wrist gently.

"Arm out a bit more, left leg up," Homura murmurs. "Doesn't need to be perfect, just not noticeably different from your original position."

Mami follows Homura's quiet adjustments, and with one last smile from you, releases the ribbon. You turn to Homura, trying not to dwell on the way the colour, the vibrant life drains out of Mami. It's just Homura's power, as discomfiting as it looks.

"Shall we get going?" you ask. "And, um... thank you for indulging me, and being willing to bring everyone in."

"It's fine," Homura mutters, starting to head back towards the stairs. "This... it was necessary for everyone to know."

"Yeah," you say. "Still, I could have found another way or time, and... look, just accept the thanks, Homura."

Homura shrugs slightly.

"And, uh... just to clarify," you say. "Telling the Kanames... I think Sayaka has a point, and I think that at a later time we may want to give it serious consideration. I mean, Madoka loves her parents, and respects them. But it's something to be discussed, and not something that'll happen without your approval, yeah?"

"... thank you," Homura says.

You grin at her, and let the conversation lapse. Homura needs the reassurance, you feel. She doesn't need coddling, but that diamond-hard facade is, ultimately, a shell grown in response to trauma. At the end, she's just as much a scared, traumatized girl, and... it doesn't hurt to reinforce that you want to help. You want her to be happy.

Homura brings you up to the roof, turning to face you.

"Nah," you say with a grin, interpreting the questioning look as, well, a question. "No 'one more thing' this time, I'm afraid. I know I've got a bad habit of doing that, but not this time!"

"... until later, then," Homura says. Her grip loosens on your wrist.

"See you!" you say cheerfully, and deliberately step back, out of her gras-

-p. Homura's gone by the time you reorient, the noise of the city and on the school beneath your feet rolling over you. And also some angry squawking, accompanied by an angry bird doing an equally angry, hopping dance around your feet with his feathers all fluffed up.

"Sabrina?" Mami's voice sounds inside your head as you bend over to offer your hand to Mugin and soothe him. Apparently birds -or Mugin in particular, anyway- can and do notice the displacement from timestop.

"Hey, Mami," you say warmly. "How are you?"

"Better now," she responds. "I'm sorry, I just... wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I'm perfectly fine, about to head home for a bit to use the computer," you say. You wince a little as Mugin claws his way up your arm to perch on your shoulder. "And don't apologise for that! Otherwise I'm going to start up an apology jar. Like a swear jar, but for unnecessary apologising."

"We'd have it filled within the week," Mami says, slight emphasis on the first word. Her voice softens. "What are you headed home for?"

"I'm gonna check in on the IRCs," you tell Mami. "I'm hoping that the American one in particular would have some insights about the Iowa group."

"Ah, that does make sense, but America is huge," Mami observes. "The Iowa group might be famous, but they might not have specific knowledge..."

"Every little bit helps," you say, standing. Grief boils forth from your shoulders, drawn from your extradimensional storage to form your wings - and Mugin, standing proud in place of honour on your shoulder, seems only mildly perturbed. "I'm just gathering up every scrap of info I can get to see what I can piece together out of it, anyway."

"Ah, that does make sense," Mami says.

"Did you make it to class alright?" you ask. Wings fully formed, you crouch, and glance aside at Mugin. "Hang on to your feathers."

"I did!" Mami says. "Class will be starting soon - it's literature now."

"Ew, lit right after lunch?" you ask as you launch yourself into the air, wincing at Mugin's cawing right into your ear and also his talons digging through your shirt and into your skin. "Won't half the class be asleep?"

"Ours not to reason why," Mami says solemnly. "You know, nobody truly knows who schedules the classes - the timetable changes every week, did you know? I've always thought it might be some Witch that somehow got into the school systems..."

You can't help the laugh the bubbles up your chest and over telepathy. "Noooo that can't possibly be true," you say as you soar past the glittering spires of Mitakihara city. "No Witch would possibly dare to mess with the mighty Tomoe Mami."

"Maybe a very small Witch that snuck into the school?" Mami says. "Trying to drive students into despair with nonsensical and poorly planned lesson schedules."

"Well, then, it is our duty to hunt it down!" you declare, nearly overbalancing as you thrust one finger skyward. Mugin squawks in protest, scrambling off your shoulder and onto your back between your shoulderblades.

"Our solemn duty," Mami agrees. "For we have sworn great oaths to protect those who are weak, to help those who need it, to punish those who deserve it."

"In the name of the moon?" you add, grinning.

Mami chokes back a giggle. "I'm in class, Sabrina!"

You laugh, always pleased to be able to make Mami laugh. And so you relax and chat with Mami as you head back home. It comes easily, just letting the gentle teasing and commentary flow between the two of you.

Still, Mami eventually has to concentrate on her class, and so you end the conversation as you descend the stairs. You hum cheerfully to yourself as you reach the doors... and then pause, turning towards the lift. You should have mail due in, shouldn't you?

The mailboxes are down on the ground floor, so down you go, soothing Mugin as the lift door closes. Enclosed spaces and wild birds don't mix, it turns out, but you make it down, anyway.

As it turns out, you do have mail, a slim package wrapped in non-descript brown paper. Which you don't believe any government would ever do for sending important documents like, say, a passport. But then, this package didn't come from the government, now did it?

You head back up the stairs at a jaunty climb, making it back up to unlock the doors and shed socks and shoes alike. You can't help but smile as you take in the familiar sight of home, emptier in more ways than one without Mami, but you don't exactly begrudge that.

Mugin hops off your shoulder as you head towards the study, and you give it a stern look.

"Sayaka had better have explained house training to you," you say, and you should have thought about that before bringing Mugin back. Then again, he didn't leave any messes when you were over at Yuki's place, either, so maybe she did.

Mami's computer clicks on without fuss, running through the bootup as you tear open the package. A card and a passport fall out, and you check the latter to find your own face beaming out from the page. And as it turns out, the card is 'your' resident registration card.

"Hey, Miss Inoue?" you call across telepathy, because it'd be polite to update Yuuki. The card you pocket, the passport... you'll ask where Mami keeps hers and keep it together. "I got the package!"

"Sec, sorry," Yuuki responds, sounding faintly distracted.

You fall silent, raising your eyebrows.

"Right, sorry," Yuuki says after a minute. "Team is fucking inting. Anyway, yeah. Good! Everything in order?"

"Yeah, it's perfect," you say. She's playing... League, probably. "Again, thank you - and thank you for getting it to me this quick. Seriously, I wouldn't have expected it until like next week at best."

"I'm the best at what I do," Yuuki says. You can hear the smug pride in her voice. "It wasn't a problem."

"Well, sincerely, thanks," you say. "All the best in your game?"

"Don't need it," Yuuki says. "Later!"

You laugh to yourself at the abrupt cut-off and turn your attention back to Mami's computer, fingers flying over the keyboard. Nyantokanyaru first, you think.

[12:42:09] *** Guest02153 sets mode -r on Guest02153
[12:42:09] *** Guest02153 joined #nyantokanyaru
[12:42:09] *** Guest02153 is now known as GriefBeGone
[12:42:12] <YatanoKagami> Good afternoon!
[12:42:13] <GriefBeGone> Hi!
[12:42:17] <GriefBeGone> how's it going?
[12:42:18] <TwoTails> hello!
[12:42:30] <YatanoKagami> Going quite well, we've taken a day to relax after yesterday.
[12:42:38] <GriefBeGone> oh, hi, you must be yugito?
[12:42:47] <GriefBeGone> Right, you hunted down two Witches, right?
[12:42:48] <TwoTails> i am
[12:42:56] <TwoTails> was Hatsumi using that nick again
[12:42:57] <YatanoKagami> She was.
[12:42:58] <TwoTails> geh
[12:43:01] <TwoTails> fine whatever
​

Click to shrink...

You squint at the screen, slightly concerned. You do hope you didn't step into something, though you were just making inferences from certain anime references and the username Hatsumi -Hatsumi Nodoka, you think?- was using last time. Who seems to be notably missing this time, you can't help but notice.

[12:43:02] <GriefBeGone> errr
[12:43:03] <GriefBeGone> Sorry?
[12:43:18] <TwoTails> you're not the one who's going to be sorry when I get my hands on her
[12:43:29] <YatanoKagami> And yet I feel like she'd enjoy that.
[12:43:33] <TheWall> I'll warn her to run
[12:43:34] <TwoTails> wb
[12:43:36] <TheWall> hi, Miss Vee
[12:43:37] <GriefBeGone> Hi!
[12:43:41] <YatanoKagami> How can we help you today?
[12:43:42] <GriefBeGone> no u
[12:43:48] <GriefBeGone> OK more seriously
[12:43:50] <TwoTails> no *u*
[12:43:51] <GriefBeGone> no U
[12:43:53] <TwoTails> no *U*
[12:43:55] <TwoTails> no **U**
[12:43:55] <GriefBeGone> no **U**
[12:43:57] <GriefBeGone> dammit
[12:44:03] <GriefBeGone> OK, for real this time
[12:44:13] <GriefBeGone> Actually, first, why does everybody ask me that, anyway?
[12:44:18] <GriefBeGone> What can I do for *you*?
[12:44:35] <GriefBeGone> I'd honestly like to be friends, and I wouldn't mind having another Grief Controller to chat with
[12:44:40] <GriefBeGone> How's Hatsumi, anyway?
[12:44:48] <TwoTails> she's napping right now, that's all
​

Click to shrink...

You purse your lips slightly. On the one hand, you want to be friendly - you want to be friends, as you said. On the other hand, you can't help but remember how skittish Nodoka seemed to be around you the last time you actually talked to her. You can't really blame her, you suppose, but you wouldn't be surprised if it were a little white lie.

[12:44:51] <GriefBeGone> Ah, fair enough.
[12:44:56] <YatanoKagami> Friends would be nice, yes.
[12:45:21] <YatanoKagami> As we mentioned, we're a small group, and we don't really want to cause any ripples
[12:45:23] <GriefBeGone> That's fair!
[12:45:26] <GriefBeGone> I get that
[12:45:27] <GriefBeGone> hmm
[12:45:30] <GriefBeGone> Hey, uh...
[12:45:42] <GriefBeGone> You mentioned last time that you'd be open to a visit?
[12:45:48] <GriefBeGone> Is that offer still open?
[12:46:05] <GriefBeGone> And if we schedule for late afternoon, Mami could come along too?
​

Click to shrink...

It's a bit of a hail Mary, really. A bit of a hail Mami? You know that Mami has a reputation for being a do-gooder, and hopefully that could offer them a bit more reassurance in your intentions. Also, if you conquered the world for Empress Mami, you would definitely have reason to hail Mami.

Hail Satan? No, the complete opposite of what you're interested in. Besides, there's a certain furry Satan you don't want to invoke. Hail Santa, now that has possibilities.

... given magical girls, you're not entirely sure Santa doesn't exist in some way or another. And come to think of it, Santa would be very familiar with hail, what with the winter seasonal theme.

What were you thinking about again? Ah, yes, hail Mami.

You drum your fingers beside the keyboard, watching the screen as you wait for a response. They're discussing it offline, you're presuming, and you don't blame them in the slightest. You really hope you're not coming on too strong here, but you also don't really know how else you can convey your sincerity.

[12:50:29] <YatanoKagami> Sorry for the delay
[12:50:36] <YatanoKagami> We wouldn't mind a visit, no.
[12:50:36] <GriefBeGone>
[12:50:43] <GriefBeGone> In the interests of good faith
[12:50:59] <GriefBeGone> Is there anything you'd like me to do, or bring along, or something?
[12:51:16] <GriefBeGone> Just to be completely blunt, I know there's some concern about me, and I understand that
[12:51:17] <TheWall> caaaake
[12:51:45] <GriefBeGone> If there's anything I can do to alleviate that? I can put you in touch with some other established magical girls I've made friends with, if you like
[12:51:47] <GriefBeGone> cake?
[12:51:54] <TheWall> You're from Mitakihara, right?
[12:51:57] <TwoTails> seriously?
[12:52:07] <TheWall> There's a cafe that does *really* good pastry
[12:52:13] <TheWall> I got to have it *once*
[12:52:18] <GriefBeGone> psht, I can do that
[12:52:18] <YatanoKagami> Ignore her, Miss Vee.
[12:52:22] <GriefBeGone> What's the address?
[12:52:27] <GriefBeGone> no, no, I don't mind!
[12:52:29] <TheWall> great
[12:52:34] <TheWall> Shinmachi, around 3-21
​

Click to shrink...

Cake is such a small thing, and offering something as minor as convenience is the least you can do to establish that you mean well. Besides, if there's a place that does good cake, that's somewhere you could possibly bring Mami. Though you're sure that Mami's cake is better, anyway.

[12:52:40] <GriefBeGone> sure, I can do that
[12:52:42] <TheWall> yessssssssss
[12:52:53] <YatanoKagami> Late afternoon next week, did you say?
[12:52:59] <GriefBeGone> I did! Not Monday?
[12:53:07] <GriefBeGone> Any particular day you'd prefer?
[12:53:11] <YatanoKagami> Tuesday, perhaps?
​

Click to shrink...

You sit back, frowning at the screen as you consider your mental timetable. You honestly can't think of anything scheduled for Tuesday, though Oriko predicted the Soujo's likely arrival for Monday. That's really your only concern, you think.

[] Confirm meeting for Tuesday?
- [] Propose another day?
- [] Any other topics to cover?
[x] Vote in abeyance
- [] Any particular topics to hit with #milesgloriosus?

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] Also log into #milesgloriosus to hang out a bit and chat. Nothing heavy, just get to know them more.
[X] While on IRC, confirm meeting times today with:
-[X] The Shiogama Refugees. (To check their mental health, warn about the Soujus, and check their witchbomb status).
-[X] Oriko and Kirika. (To check on Oriko's soul, and update them about Tokyo Politics and the Iowa situation).
[X] Contact the Animators, let them know about the Soujus.

=====​

Right. Slightly later than I'd like, but better late than never?

Unrelated, fun tidbit: I wrote a short script in Python to help me populate IRC timestamps.

 

[Firnagzen]

Tuesday... Well, you really can't think of anything that might be an issue, bar one. The most important one, of course.

[12:53:15] <GriefBeGone> Tuesday sounds tentatively fine with me, but let me check with Mami first?
[12:53:16] <YatangoKagami> Of course.
[12:53:17] <TwoTails> soooo
​

Click to shrink...

You cock your eyebrow curiously at the screen even as you reach out by telepathy. That looks like someone who has something on her mind.

"Hey, Mami?" you say. "Do you think you'd be free for a trip out to Kagoshima after school on Tuesday?"

[12:53:38] <TwoTails> did you contract in mitakihara?
[12:53:39] <GriefBeGone> I did, why?
[12:53:40] <TwoTails> just curious
[12:53:42] <TwoTails> like, why Japan and all?
​

Click to shrink...

"Mm, Sabrina? Oh, the IRC group?" Mami asks. "I'd like that. Are you thinking of bringing anyone else?"

"Nope, why?" you ask, eyeing the screen. Interesting question to ask, you muse as you chew on the inside of your cheek. "Did you have someone in mind?"

"Mm... Rather the opposite. It'd be nice to take a trip out, just the two of us," Mami says. She pauses. "Is something wrong?"

"Nah, just got asked a bit of a weird question on the IRC," you say.

[12:54:09] <GriefBeGone> ... I mean
[12:54:13] <GriefBeGone> why *not* Japan?
[12:54:25] <GriefBeGone> Overall it's a bit of a complicated story, but honestly
[12:54:46] <GriefBeGone> The best answer I can give you *now* is that Mitakihara is my home.
[12:54:47] <TwoTails> huh
[12:54:50] <TwoTails> yeah, Iguess
[12:54:57] <GriefBeGone> Why do you ask, anyway?
​

Click to shrink...

"Mmm?" Mami asks.

"'Why Japan'?" you quote. "To which I answered, well - why not Japan?"

Mami's laughter echoes over telepathy, warm and sweet. "Well... I'm very glad that it was Japan, for what it's worth."

"So am I," you tell her. "So am I, Mami."

[12:56:23] <YatanoKagami> Because Yugito is terribly rude
[12:56:33] <TheWall> and I just got nodoka to sit on her
[12:56:34] <GriefBeGone> ... er
[12:56:39] <GriefBeGone> Weren't they fighting?
[12:56:47] <GriefBeGone> TwoTails seemed a bit irritated earlier.
[12:56:48] <TheWall> nsh
[12:57:00] <TheWall> just irritated with nodoka embarassing her all the time
[12:57:00] <GriefBeGone> ...
[12:57:03] <GriefBeGone> Fair enough.
​

Click to shrink...

"I'll leave you to it?" Mami says, affection in her voice.

"I'll see you soon," you murmur in response.

"See you soon," Mami echoes, and ends the connection. You sigh, and smile to yourself, because even if you have to stop talking to Mami now, you'll see her again soon.

[12:57:51] <GriefBeGone> Anyway
[12:58:01] <GriefBeGone> I just realised that I never actually confirmed:
[12:58:16] <GriefBeGone> Yeah, Mami's fine with Tuesday, so shall we make it official?
[12:58:27] <GriefBeGone> Tuesday, at... let's say about four?
[12:58:31] <YatanoKagami> That would be fine.
[12:58:31] <GriefBeGone> Also
[12:58:34] <GriefBeGone> I gotta ask
[12:58:49] <GriefBeGone> Did you literally get Hatsumi to sit on TwoTails?
[12:58:52] <GriefBeGone> If so, uh
[12:58:53] <GriefBeGone> Hi?
[12:58:53] <TwoTails> hi
[12:58:55] <TwoTails> um, yes
[12:58:58] <TwoTails> this is nodoka
[12:59:00] <GriefBeGone> Well... hi!
[12:59:05] <GriefBeGone> I hope you're well?
[12:59:07] <TwoTails> yeah, just
[12:59:17] <GriefBeGone> Ah, gotcha.
[12:59:29] <YatanoKagami> Is there anything else we can help you with?
​

Click to shrink...

There's a gentle 'please go away' if you've ever seen one. Which... well, fair enough. They still seem kind of scared of you, which is something you'll dig into it gently, maybe. Gently being a key word here. Hm. Still, your presence alone is enough to make the awkwardness all but bleed out of the screen, but you'll hopefully sort it out when you get to meet her face-to-face, and it's not as if you don't have other things to do right now.

Still, you've got one last question to ask, you think, before you do hop off... and it's not as if you can't multitask.

Oriko and Kirika first.

"Oriko, Kirika? Got a moment?" you call softly.

[12:59:34] <GriefBeGone> Well... just one question?
[12:59:35] <YatanoKagami> Yes?
[12:59:52] <GriefBeGone> Do you know anything about what the Tokyo Council are like, or if they're friendly?
[12:59:55] <YatanoKagami> Only by reputation.
[13:00:18] <TheWall> weeee're sort of as far away from them as possible while being still part of japan
[13:00:25] <YatanoKagami> We *are* rather far away from Tokyo.
[13:00:27] <GriefBeGone> That's fair!
[13:00:33] <GriefBeGone> Just thought I'd ask, in case.
[13:00:38] <YatanoKagami> Though... Nodoka?
​

Click to shrink...

"Good afternoon, Sabrina," Oriko says. "How are you?"

"I'm good!" you say. "You? And Kirika?"

"Quite well, thank you," she says. "And Kirik-"

"Hiya!" Kirika chirps. "I'm good too~"

"I should hope so," Oriko says, sounding amused. "The trackers have arrived, by the by, and we're... ready for you to set them up at your convenience."

"Eager, even!" Kirika says happily. "I wanna take Oriko out on a proper daaaate."

"Geh," you say with a frown. "Right. Hm. Ugh, I should have planned this better. I'll see what I can do. Homura and Sayaka will probably want to be there... Hitomi, too. But today after school... yeah. Yeah. I can't give you anything firm, but I'll do my best?"

"Understandable," Oriko says. "We'll eagerly await your word on that, then."

"Yeah, I'll do my best," you repeat. "Sorry 'bout that, I should be more on the ball about this kind of thing."

"Perfectly understandable," Oriko says.

[13:00:50] <TwoTails> it's how I know about the whole grief controller thing
[13:00:57] <TwoTails> I heard they come dwn hard on us?
[13:01:01] <TwoTails> but yeah that's it
[13:01:06] <TwoTails> heard it from a friend
[13:01:08] <TheWall> *hugs*
[13:01:12] <GriefBeGone> ah. Yeah, I see.
[13:01:14] <GriefBeGone> Well...
[13:01:24] <GriefBeGone> So I'll actually be meeting them this weekend.
[13:01:37] <GriefBeGone> If you want, I'd be ask anything on your behalf?
[13:01:39] <TwoTails> no! nonono
[13:01:48] <TwoTails> I just want to be left alone
[13:01:52] <GriefBeGone> That's fine too!
[13:02:02] <GriefBeGone> But I did mean just *questions*, just in case?
[13:02:20] <YatanoKagami> I think we'd be more than happy to stay out of their way.
​

Click to shrink...

You tug at your hair, thinking, and then frown and start trying to comb it back into place with your fingers. Honestly, the way it sounds, it sounds like the nyantokanyaru crew have been burned before, but it's a story they're unlikely to share right off the bat.

"Anyway, so, I wanted to check in on you guys," you say, shaking your head. "You particularly, Oriko, how's your Soul doing?"

"... settled, I think, after my epiphany," Oriko says. You can hear the tenderness in her voice.

"I'm happy for you," you tell her sincerely, smiling. Oriko's devotion to Kirika, and vice-versa, is honestly a spot of pure good that they bring to the world despite their rocky start with you.

And as for other rocky starts... A graceful retreat from the Kagoshima girls' IRC is in order, you think.

[13:02:25] <GriefBeGone> I can't argue with that.
[13:02:36] <GriefBeGone> Still, if you change your mind, please feel free to let me know.
[13:02:46] <GriefBeGone> I gotta go for now, so... take care, everyone?
[13:02:46] <TwoTails> bye
[13:02:52] <YatanoKagami> Until Tuesday, Miss Vee.
[13:02:57] <TheWall> don't forget the cake!
[13:03:01] <TwoTails> later! ~yugito here
​

Click to shrink...

"Thank you," Oriko says gravely. "It wouldn't have happened without you."

"I'm glad to have helped," you say, equally serious as you sign off the IRC, leaning back in your chair with a sigh and an amused smirk for the ceiling. "Seriously. You two are good people. Kirika, get the squirt bottle."

"Oh, I don't need it right now~" Kirika purrs.

"Not gonna ask," you say, toying with the string of your necklace - the necklace Mami made for you. "So, mushy feelings aside, I had some news about Tokyo and Iowa to update you about? Also, real quick before I forget - Oriko, you predicted the Soujus in on Monday, right? Most likely?"

"I... did, yes," Oriko says. "And we would be glad to hear an update."

"Alright! So..." While you tell Oriko about Tokyo and Iowa, you take the opportunity to sign into milesgloriosus.

[13:07:59] *** Guest05608 sets mode -r on Guest05608
[13:07:59] *** Guest05608 joined #milesgloriosus
[13:07:59] <Genesis> argument noun To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In ar·gu·ment | \ ˈär-gyə-mənt How to pronounce argument (audio) \ Definition of argument 1a: the act or process of arguing, reasoning, or discussing : ARGUMENTATION b: a coherent series of reasons, statements, or facts intended to support or establish a point of view
[13:07:59] *** Guest02153 is now known as GriefBeGone
[13:07:59] <Genesis> 1b
[13:08:03] <Genesis> ergo we're arguing
[13:08:13] <TomatoPotato> dictionaries are descriptive not prescriptive
[13:08:14] <Genesis> hi gbg
[13:08:22] <EleseCanGoDie> c: an angry quarrel or disagreement
[13:08:23] <EleseCanGoDie> heyo
[13:08:30] <EleseCanGoDie> none of us are *anrgy*
[13:08:38] <Genesis> dictionaries are descriptive and I say
[13:08:50] <Genesis> this describes an argument pretty well
[13:09:08] <Fireblade> I don't know, I might be very anrgy. You wouldn't like me when I'm anrgy.
[13:09:08] <Genesis> and *as you well know* not every line has to apply
[13:09:19] <Fireblade> Heya, GriefBeGone. How's it going?
[13:09:20] <GriefBeGone> Heya!
[13:09:29] <GriefBeGone> Are you arguing about whether you're arguing?
[13:09:29] <Genesis> yes
[13:09:31] <WhiteRabbit> Hi GBG
[13:09:37] <EleseCanGoDie> no, because we're not arguing
[13:09:52] <EleseCanGoDie> but yes we're *discussing* whether we're arguing
​

Click to shrink...

Ah, the sweet whimsy of Internet Arguments, capital letters intended. Or Internet Discussions, maybe. Especially when they aren't half-terrified of you, which is... really a nice change. You vaguely wonder about introducing the two groups to each other, but then again, language barrier.

"... so yeah," you say, finishing your spiel about Tokyo and Iowa. You'd left out speculations that Kyuubey's the one feeding Iowa information, of course - and the fact that you're planning a strike. You're not sure whether Kyuubey's always listening, but there's no reason to make things easy for it. "So that's about where I am now."

"It sounds like good progress," Oriko says, her next words hesitant and cautious. "Iowa is... concerning."

"Oh?" you say. "... huh."

Oriko had never mentioned Iowa as a threat, back when she had her clairvoyance.

"Indeed," Oriko says.

It's always possible that you were always going to have handled Iowa, of course, but it is a little disconcerting, now that Oriko brought it up.

[13:10:03] <TomatoPotato> NotANickname we know you wanna be a linguist
[13:10:08] <TomatoPotato> you've been quiet so far
[13:10:13] <Genesis> a cunning linguist? :^)
[13:10:19] <NotANickname> Don't you drag me into this
[13:10:28] <GriefBeGone> Also, pokemon again, Autonomy?
[13:10:30] <Fireblade> who's Autonomy
[13:10:35] <EleseCanGoDie> yeah who's autonomy
[13:10:43] <EleseCanGoDie> I don't know no autonomy
[13:10:44] <GriefBeGone> Aha!
[13:10:51] <GriefBeGone> So you *do* know Autonomy.
[13:10:51] <NotANickname> You
[13:10:55] <NotANickname> I like you
[13:11:00] <Quickshot> hi person I haven't met yet
[13:11:01] <GriefBeGone> hi!
[13:11:08] <Fireblade> Any particular occasion today?
[13:11:15] <GriefBeGone> Nah, just here to hang out mostly
​

Click to shrink...

You fidget with the string your necklace as you think. It could just be the fact that you apparently lack ontological inertia in Oriko's visions, and the distortion of your actions brought Iowa down on you. And you have to admit you're sort of curious about the necklace - Mami said that it wasn't finished, that she was going to practice the enchantment, and she's definitely been doing her best to keep it a secret from you.

You have to admit it's quite cute, not that you need another reason to find Mami absolutely adorable aaaand you've drifted well off topic.

Hm.

It's perhaps even likely that Oriko never foresaw you heading off to deal with Iowa, even, and it does seem like the kind of threat you'd have been incentivized to handle before they arrived in Mitakihara.

[13:11:20] <Fireblade> Ah, well, be welcome!
[13:11:31] <EleseCanGoDie> hey, anyone know where to get volcarona
[13:11:32] <Quickshot> nope
[13:11:40] <GriefBeGone> North route 18, man in the house
[13:11:48] <GriefBeGone> Well, that's a larvesta egg.
[13:12:02] <GriefBeGone> You can only catch *Volcarona* after you beat the game?
[13:12:03] <EleseCanGoDie> ah
[13:12:07] <EleseCanGoDie> perfect, thanks
​

Click to shrink...

"... we should, perhaps, converse in person sooner than later," Oriko suggests quietly. "I'm not asking for action on the trackers right this moment, nor that you visit today - we do know that Iowa isn't due to arrive just yet."

"Yeah," you say with a frown. Really, the key thing here is perhaps that Oriko doesn't know of your plans, and you can't tell her over telepathy.

[x] Vote in abeyance
[] Afterwards...
- [] Check on Oriko
- [] Check on the Animators
-- [] Arrange a meeting between the Animators and the Shiogama girls
- [] Drop in on Ishinomaki/Sendai/University group

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Also log into #milesgloriosus to hang out a bit and chat. Nothing heavy, just get to know them more.
-[x] If the conversation goes in a way that fits heavier topics, ask #milesgloriosus if they know anyone that might have info on the Iowa group, since they might be headed your way.
[X] While on IRC, confirm meeting times today with:
-[X] The Shiogama Refugees. (To check their mental health, warn about the Soujus, and check their witchbomb status).
[X] Contact the Animators, let them know about the Soujus.

=====​

Alright, so: For the record, I'm not going back-to-back IRC updates in the future without heavy timeskipping. I thought I could make this work, but I overestimated myself. I'm not writing a script fic and these are damned near impossible to write as something other than a script-fic.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Sabrina?" Oriko prompts, a hint of concern entering her voice.

"Hm? What's wrong?" you say, blinking and refocusing.

"Nothing on our end - you trailed off," Oriko says.

"Ah, sorry. Just thinking a bit," you say. "Anyway, yeah. As I said, I'll visit, and sooner rather than later. I'd visit now, but I've already got things scheduled that I need to head off for."

"That's perfectly understandable," Oriko says, and hesitates for a second. "To be clear, I am not attempting to pressure you - as far as you know, Iowa won't arrive here soon, so we have time, do we not?"

"We do," you confirm.

"Then all I request is that I be kept in the loop," Oriko says.

"I'm putting pressure on," Kirika chirps. "Daaaaate!"

"Yeah, I know," you say. "I'll work it out, I promise."

"I'll hold you to it!" Kirika says.

"I will, I think, test my new powers," Oriko says. "I shall see if I am able to spy on the Iowa girls. I doubt I will succeed, given how little link to them I have to start with and my inexperience, but I think it would be a good exercise."

"... actually, yeah, that does sound like a good idea," you say, blinking at the screen. You're not really paying attention to the IRC now, more on talking to Oriko and Kirika. "I mean... well, um. I'll have to let Homura know - I promised to keep her informed about developments with you. Sayaka and Hitomi, too."

It's not like you can't pay attention to both, but it doesn't feel polite, and you're just hanging out on the IRC, anyway.

"I understand," Oriko says simply. "I appreciate your efforts in shielding us from their ire."

"Yeah, well... you're my friends now," you say. "No arguing."

"Every moment more I can spend with Kirika is something I'm grateful for, Sabrina," Oriko says. "So thank you."

"Same," Kirika says, heartfelt.

"Better plan long term," you say, jabbing your finger at the wall. No, wait, Oriko's house is that way. You spin on your chair and point accusingly at the other wall. "You got that?"

Oriko chuckles quietly over telepathy, amusement leaking into her voice as she responds. "Noted, Sabrina. Long term plans are my specialty, after all."

You pause, your face probably making a rather complicated expression. Oh, wait, you've got the perfect response lined up.

"Kirika? Squirtbottle," you say, your eyes narrowing at the wall. "Please and thank you."

"Got iiiit~" Kirika chirps.

Oriko sighs pointedly at you. "I blame you, Sabrina."

"Happily," you say, grinning. "Anyway. One last thing, then I'll leave you to it - consider learning how to lipread? Might be a useful thing, with your clairvoyance."

"True enough. I'll make a note for it when I'm not fending off my own girlfriend," Oriko says accusingly. "Until next time, Sabrina."

"Later!" Kirika says.

"See you!" you say, snickering to yourself as you hang up. Alright. Things seem to be developing apace there, then.

[13:21:45] <WhiteRabbit> pizza's on the way
[13:21:47] <EleseCanGoDie> and so am I
[13:21:53] <GriefBeGone> Ooooh, what kind of pizza?
[13:22:05] <WhiteRabbit> meatlovers, pepperoni with mushroom and olives, one vegetarian
[13:22:14] <Genesis> of course the pizza rbings everyone's attention back
[13:22:26] <Fireblade> I've heard that you huse pickled mackerel as a topping in Japan?
[13:22:27] <Fireblade> *use
[13:22:39] <TomatoPotato> EleseCanGoDie how are you on the way if you're still online
[13:22:40] <TomatoPotato> *ECH*
[13:22:51] <GriefBeGone> Yes, but I can't say I've ever tried it
[13:22:52] <GriefBeGone> ...
[13:22:57] <EleseCanGoDie> I'm *theoretically* on the way
[13:23:13] <GriefBeGone> actually come to think of it I can't remember the last time I had pizza
[13:23:17] <EleseCanGoDie> besides I can just fly
[13:23:21] <Quickshot> i'm so sorry
[13:23:25] <GriefBeGone> Nah it's fine
[13:23:33] <GriefBeGone> because I have Mami's cooking <3
[13:23:39] <Quickshot> sure but pizza is *pizza*
[13:23:44] <Genesis> delicious grease
[13:23:46] <EleseCanGoDie> and salt
[13:23:47] <GriefBeGone> I mean
[13:23:48] <GriefBeGone> yes
[13:23:53] <Genesis> good you get it
​

Click to shrink...

You snicker, grinning. This is oddly comfortable, in many ways. You let the chatter flow, your fingers dancing over the keyboard as you mentally reach out for another conversation.

"Miss Watanabe, Miss Saito? Do you have a few moments free right now?" you ask. You did promise that you'd be meeting the Shiogama girls after lunch, after all.

[13:23:58] <GriefBeGone> so I'm just curious
[13:24:08] <GriefBeGone> What's everyone's powers, anyway, if you don't mind my asking?
[13:24:15] <GriefBeGone> I guess you have fire powers, Fireblade?
[13:24:22] <Fireblade> Emotion-sensing, actually!
[13:24:29] <Fireblade> But I *do* have a sword, sometimes.
[13:24:34] <TomatoPotato> *I've* got the firepower
[13:24:38] <TomatoPotato> well, magma and lava
[13:24:44] <TomatoPotato> I'm rather hot, as we all know
[13:24:45] <NotANickname> lol
[13:24:46] <EleseCanGoDie> lol
[13:24:47] <Genesis> lol
[13:24:48] <Quickshot> lol
[13:24:51] <TomatoPotato> I hate you all
[13:24:54] <EleseCanGoDie> love you too
[13:25:01] <EleseCanGoDie> I'm basically a dnd ranger, btw
[13:25:08] <EleseCanGoDie> legolas, aragorn, etc etc
[13:25:09] <GriefBeGone> huh
[13:25:11] <GriefBeGone> hold up
[13:25:20] <GriefBeGone> Neither legolas nor aragorn could fly
[13:25:34] <EleseCanGoDie> that's just because they were lazy and didn't want to show up gandalf
[13:25:35] <GriefBeGone> Ah
[13:25:49] <GriefBeGone> they didn't want to make him feel bad after he fell to his death
[13:25:53] <GriefBeGone> makes sense
[13:25:56] <Genesis> *sort* of death
[13:26:22] <Fireblade> Yep, they let him fall after the Balrog because they knew Gandalf wanted the most metal death scene possible. A real tragedy.
[13:26:27] <Genesis> gun powers here, by the way
[13:26:32] <Quickshot> and item creation
[13:26:37] <Fireblade> More like *pun* powers.
[13:26:38] <Genesis> eyyyyyy
[13:26:45] <Quickshot> yes our nicks are kind of reversed
[13:26:54] <Quickshot> it's a long story, don't ask
​

Click to shrink...

"Ah! Miss Vee?" It takes the Shiogama girls a few minutes to respond, Noriko's voice sounding in your mind. "Apologies, are you coming over now?"

"Not right this moment, but soon," you say. "And... OK, there are a couple of things I wanna cover, but first of all - I was wondering if you'd want to meet somewhere else, and if you'd like to meet the other magical girls in Mitakihara? Those are two questions, by the way, since I haven't actually confirmed the latter bit with, y'know, the girls in question."

"... certainly?" Noriko says.

"The other magical girls in Mitakihara?" Akemi echoes, curiosity leaking into her voice.

"Yeah, and I realise that I never really went into proper detail before. Which I should fix!" you say. "Gaikotsu Masami and Wakahisa Hiroko, and the former is an... estranged student of Mami's. Ah, and Megane Ono, teeechnically."

"We would be happy to meet them?" Noriko says, sounding faintly confused.

You chuckle quietly. "It's a bit complicated," you admit. "I... well, honestly, there's a fair bit of stuff to go over that I think you need to hear, so... maybe we can meet somewhere, I'll ferry you over to meet the Animators, and we'll all talk? Only if you're feeling up to it, of course."

"Um... we are," Noriko says. "Whereabouts?"

"I could just pick you up from the apartment, if you like? Or if you know of any cafe or something you'd like to try, I'd be happy to meet there, too?" you offer.

[13:26:54] <WhiteRabbit> probability manipulator here
[13:27:01] <Fireblade> Which is why you're so improbably pretty.
[13:27:02] <WhiteRabbit> o///o
[13:27:08] <NotANickname> get a room you two
[13:27:12] <Fireblade> This *is* our room.
[13:27:26] *** Fireblade has kicked NotANickname with the message: This *is* our room.
[13:27:42] *** NotANickname sets mode -r on NotANickname
[13:27:42] *** NotANickname has joined #milesgloriosus
[13:27:44] <NotANickname> fukc you
[13:27:46] <WhiteRabbit> language!
[13:27:49] <NotANickname> fuck* you
[13:27:52] <WhiteRabbit> that's better
[13:28:04] <GriefBeGone> To be fair, you kind of left yourself open for that one NotANickname
[13:28:08] <NotANickname> I know, I know
​

Click to shrink...

"A pickup would be easiest, if that's OK?" Noriko ventures.

"Alright. I'll let you know when I'm heading over - and I don't know if the Animators will be up for the meeting, but there's a couple things I need to discuss with you regardless," you say, smiling at the wall. "So... see you soon?"

"See you," Noriko says, Akemi echoing the farewell before ending the connection.

You hum thoughtfully to yourself. With that meeting sorted out, the next task, clearly, is to check that the other half of the joint meeting's up for it. And it does rather feel like a long time since you've met the Animators face-to-face, let alone Megane Ono.

[13:28:13] <NotANickname> so what's japan like, anyway?
[13:28:16] <GriefBeGone> Japan is lovely!
[13:28:29] <TomatoPotato> how long have you been waitjing to ask that
[13:28:31] <NotANickname> shush you
[13:28:36] <TomatoPotato> (NAN loves her some anime)
[13:28:38] <NotANickname> SHUSH you
[13:28:43] <GriefBeGone> Nothing wrong with that!
[13:28:57] <GriefBeGone> I feel like I'd enjoy anime if I actually had time to watch any, honestly
[13:29:01] <TomatoPotato> lol fair enough
[13:29:09] <NotANickname> have you ever been to akiba?
[13:29:35] <GriefBeGone> Akihabara? Nope, but I *am* going to go meet the Tokyo Council soonish, so that might change
[13:29:39] <NotANickname> Tokyo Council?
[13:29:57] <Fireblade> The MG organization controlling Tokyo, from what I've heard.
[13:30:01] <GriefBeGone> Yeah, exactly
[13:30:05] <NotANickname> god I wish I could go
[13:30:12] <Quickshot> whistle up a teleporter
[13:30:16] <NotANickname> bitch I might
​

Click to shrink...

"Hey Masami, Hiroko, got a second and possibly half an hour or so?" you say, starting yet another telepathic conversation.

"Sabrina? What's up?" Masami asks.

"Uh... well, I have some news I should update you with, and there's also an opportunity for you to meet the new girls in town if you feel up to a small meeting?" you say. "The two girls from Shiogama."

"News?" Masami asks, her voice overlapping with Hiroko's: "Shiogama?"

"Um. Well, it's not my place to go into the details, but basically? Their old group fell apart, and they needed a place to stay," you say. "And yeah. Politics, and incoming."

"That's kind of you," Hiroko says.

"Weeelll... we should be good for a meeting," Masami says. "Do you have a particular meeting place in mind? And do you want us to grab Ono?"

[] Yes, you'd like to meet Ono again
[] No, you'd rather not
[] The #milesgloriosus group probably isn't going to go into darker topics by themselves. Press for information about Iowa (and other topics?)
[x] Continue on

Spoiler: Upcoming actions

[x] Meet with the Shiogama girls first.
-[x] Be nice, be gentle, ask how they're doing.
-[x] Fill them in on the situation with the Animators.
-[x] Carefully enquire about infohazards (with privacy field if appropriate)
-- [x] Warn them about Mami
-- [x] Ask them whether the Clear Seed you made is Misato's and what they want to do about it
[x] Group meeting with the Animators and the Shiogama girls
- [x] Discuss the Soujus, Tokyo politics, and Iowa

=====​

Have an earlier update this week!

So, an aside: The sequence of events, unless specifically voted against, will be wrapping up the IRC chat, a meeting with the Shiogama girls, including the private discussion about the Witchbomb (vote points will be presented as appropriate), and then ferrying them over to meet the Animators.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Only if she wants to come," you say after a moment's thought. You have this vague feeling that that's effectively a no, given the last time you'd seen Ono. "And no, I don't have any specific meeting place in mind. Did you have an idea?"

"I'll ask her, then," Hiroko says. "Think she said something about wanting to have words with you, anyway."

"And there's a lovely dessert place that opened up recently!" Masami says. "Chinese style desserts, if you like that kind of thing?"

"Works for me!" you say. You'd swear Ono wants to meet you just to throw all your expectations in your face, hah. Then again, maybe the Animators beat some sense into her.

"Alright, so the dessert parlour is 4-17-8 Sabita," Masami says. "When're you coming over?"

"Hm..." you say, considering the clock. You'll need to talk to the Shiogama girls, after all, and possibly under privacy at that. At least you can prepare enchanted Grief on the way over, just in case. "In about forty five minutes or so?"

Heck, there's no reason get started on the enchanted Grief right now, and so you do just that, pulling a blob of congealed suffering from your extradimensional storage space to knead between your hands and mould to your will.

... When you put it that way, it does sound rather odd.

"That works!" Hiroko says. "See you then!"

"I'll let you know when we're headed over," you say as Masami adds her farewells, and turn your attention back to the screen as the connection breaks.

The American girls don't really seem to be inclined to talk about harder topics - not online, anyway. Just a place to chat with their friends, which is something you can entirely understand. You were thinking of raising the Iowa group with them, but perhaps not today, especially since you'd said that you were just here to hang out.

Besides, you do have potential information coming in your direction on several fronts. The Iowa group might be from America, but that doesn't mean that, say, the milesgloriousus group necessarily has up to date information on them. You can afford to wait a little - they're not going anywhere.

[13:35:08] <Fireblade> There is nothing wrong with Hawaiian shirts.
[13:35:13] <TomatoPotato> on other people, no
[13:35:16] <Fireblade> Nor on me!
[13:35:17] <TomatoPotato> yuh-huh
[13:35:26] <Fireblade> Whiterabbit back me up here.
[13:35:33] <Whiterabbit> other styles suit you better <3
[13:35:34] <Fireblade> ...
[13:35:37] <Fireblade> whyyyyyyy
[13:35:37] <GriefBeGone> Nothing wrong with hawaiian shirts!
[13:35:37] <GriefBeGone> Unless, I dunno, maybe it's like the shuttershades thing, except in reverse.
[13:35:40] <Genesis> shutter shades thing?
[13:35:45] <Genesis> do we wanna know?
[13:35:45] <GriefBeGone> Eh, nothing much to say there, really
[13:35:45] <GriefBeGone> Mami doesn't want me to wear shuttershades, and I suppose mostly I agree that they don't look good on me, but part of me thinks that it can't hurt to *try*
[13:35:45] <GriefBeGone> So yeah, the shutter shades thing.
[13:35:47] <NotANickname> I mean
[13:35:50] <NotANickname> she's right
[13:35:56] <NotANickname> shutter shades are No
[13:35:56] <EleseCanGoDie> ^
[13:36:10] <Fireblade> ... okay, how in the everburning blazes of heck are you typing that fast?

Click to shrink...

You look down at your hands, still busily kneading and infusing Grief with magic, and then you look at the keyboard, with small blobs of Grief resting on every key.

You grin.

[13:36:11] <GriefBeGone> By transcending the limitations of mere, base flesh, nay, even that of matter itself. I have achieved a lesser nirvana, for is not harmony being able to speak your mind and to *understand*? Behold the power of this FULLY ARMED AND OPERATION GRIEF-ACTUATED KEYBOARD
[13:36:11] <Fireblade> ...
[13:36:15] <Fireblade> Fair enough.
[13:36:22] <EleseCanGoDie> actually if you're typing with grief
[13:36:34] <EleseCanGoDie> isn't it the opposite of fully *armed*
[13:36:38] <TomatoPotato> Completely unarmed?
[13:36:38] <GriefBeGone> ... yeah, ok, that's true.
[13:36:38] <GriefBeGone> Also, minor correction: I haven't transcended the limits of matter, I suppose, since I'm still *using* the keyboard. Maybe I should try plugging directly into the ethernet socket to manually flip bits...
[13:36:46] <TomatoPotato> also, 99% sure that's not what nirvana is
[13:36:46] <GriefBeGone> Hey, I *did* say *lesser*.
[13:36:49] <TomatoPotato> not even close
[13:36:49] <GriefBeGone> Fiiiiine.
[13:36:54] <EleseCanGoDie> abtwat I gotta get moving
[13:36:56] <EleseCanGoDie> anyway*
[13:37:00] <Whiterabbit> see you soon! *hugs*
[13:37:01] <EleseCanGoDie> later
[13:37:12] *** EleseCanGoDie has left #milesgloriosus with the message:
[13:37:14] <Genesis> later!
[13:37:15] <Genesis> aw
[13:37:15] <GriefBeGone> Anyway, speaking of going, I should probably be headed off myself.
[13:37:15] <GriefBeGone> See you!
[13:37:19] <Fireblade> Until next time!
[13:37:20] <Genesis> later~

Click to shrink...

You smile to yourself as farewells fill the screen, and sign off. They're nice people, it seems like, and you'll probably find a reason to go visit them at some point. The real question is whether that's before or after Walpurgisnacht.

Before, probably, but who's to say?

Leaving the computer shutting down behind you, you tuck your necklace back under your shirt and head back to the living room.

"Mugin?" you say as you grab your bag. "You around?"

A caw answers you from the sofa, and you find Mugin bedding down on one of the cushions, peering at you with one beady eye and apparently totally disinclined to move. You snort, and pick him up with Grief, cushion and all. You're not leaving a semi-feral bird alone at home.

Speaking of which, you do a quick sweep of the room with nanofog for any... surprises that might have been left behind - you're rather pleased to find none. Well, other than a shed feather, which you give a suspicious once-over as you head out of the door before dropping it in a bin.

You call ahead as promised, even as you wing across the city with Mugin in tow. And prompted by vague feather-related paranoia, you check on Feathers', well, feather, which happens to still seem like a perfectly ordinary feather safely ensconced in a blob of Grief.

And you still can't help but muse about the sheer absurdity of Hitomi's wealth, as you coast in for a landing atop the roof of the apartment building the Shiogama girls are living in. Sure, you're paying the rent, but the point is that Hitomi had the clout to drum up a nice place like this in a matter of days. It's new enough that the rooftop is actually clean, for goodness' sake.

You spot Akemi and Noriko already pulling the door open as you emerge from the staircase - well, Norikos, both her bodies flanking the other girl at either shoulder.

"Hey, Miss Watanabe, Miss Saito," you call, smiling at you approach. You release the enchanted Grief so you can wave. "Sorry, I hope I didn't make you wait long?"

"No, no, not at all," Akemi says, weakly returning the smile. "Please, come in."

"Thanks," you say, beaming. The two -three?- of them shuffle awkwardly around to make room to let you pass, before Noriko gives up and excuses herself to go prepare refreshments as you take your shoes off. One of herselves.

"Really, there's no need," you say, with what you hope is a reassuring smile firmly in place as you follow Akemi in. The living room hasn't changed much, apart from curtains having been added to the floor-to-ceiling windows. "And ah... there's really no need for refreshments, Miss Watanabe. We're going to be meeting the Animators at a dessert parlour."

"Um... let us get you a drink, at least?" Noriko says. One of her bodies glances behind you. "Um. Is that a bird?"

"Oh," you say, and pull Mugin in front of you - still resting regally upon his cushion, though he sits up enough to inspect the brown-haired girl with an imperious eye. "This is Mugin. He's... well, Sayaka has an animal communication power, and apparently Mugin's taken a liking to us. So, um, yeah, he's been following me around."

"Is he following, right now?" Akemi asks drily, motioning towards the cushion borne upon a platform of Grief.

"Yes, well, he's a spoiled brat of a bird," you say, rubbing your nose sheepishly. "I mean, I'm definitely responsible for overfeeding him, but it's not like I was gonna lock him up at home when I headed out, so..."

"Well... is he tame?" Noriko asks.

"Yes and no?" you say, shrugging and letting the cushion drift towards Noriko. "The way Sayaka explained it, she has animal communication powers, not granting them intelligence or knowledge or anything. So he's technically feral, but very friendly."

Noriko brushes back blonde hair and reaches out to carefully offer her hand to the bird. She smiles wanly when Mugin perks up, nuzzling against the palm of her hand.

"He's cute," she says.

"Definitely," you agree with a smile. "He is also a suckup and probably trying to cadge treats off of you."

Noriko chuckles quietly as her other body -green-haired, with yellow eyes- emerges from the kitchen with a tray of glasses. Lemonade, judging by the slices of lemon in the glasses. "We'll see," she murmurs quietly. "Please, take a seat?"

Mugin, apparently determining that there are no treats to be had for now, flutters to the ground to investigate the potted plant by the side of the sofas.

"Thanks," you say, taking a seat with a smile. Noriko offers you a glass before settling down on either side of Akemi, facing you.

You can only stand the weight of the expectant looks for so long, taking a sip from your glass before putting it down on the table. The click of glass on wood is terribly loud, seeming to balloon out in a desperate attempt to fill the silence.

"So, ah..." you begin. "Do you know anything about the Animators? Gaikotsu Masami and Wakahisa Hiroko?"

"Apart from what you told us, not much at all." It's Akemi who responds first, tilting her head slightly. "I... think I've heard of Miss Gaikotsu's name in conjunction with Miss Tomoe?"

"Ah, yeah," you say. That actually makes things a bit easier. "That's something I wanted to bring up, in point of fact, so thank you. Gaikotsu Masami was, in fact, Mami's student. They... had a falling out, though I'm hoping to help patch things up eventually."

"Oh," Akemi says. "So we... don't mention them to her?"

"You shouldn't keep secrets from your girlfriend," Noriko says reprovingly.

"I'm not. Not on this," you say, and grimace. "Other things... well, that's a nice segue, anyway, so..." You purse your lips, considering for a second - you're reasonably sure, so you'll just go for it. "Are there any particular secrets you girls know about life as a magical girl?"

Noriko and Akemi go still.

"Y-es," Noriko says slowly. "What do you know?"

"Everything," you say. "Trust me - you know my powers, right?"

They nod, heads bobbing as if on strings.

"I know," you say with gentle emphasis. "And if you know the secrets, you know they can be dangerous, yeah?"

Another round of nods, three pale faces staring at you.

"So..." you give them a warm, reassuring smile. "Tell me what you know? So we can be sure we're on the same page for the discussion?"

"We..." Noriko exchanges a look with Akemi, who takes her hand and picks up the sentence. "We know where Witches come from."

"I'd guessed as much," you say, shoulders sagging. Half in relief, half in dismay. "I'm sorry."

Akemi laughs bitterly. "What is there to be sorry about?" she asks. "As you said, it's just... life as a magical girl. The end of it, if you're lucky."

"I'm sorry, because this sucks," you say, biting back on the vehemence, the simmering disgust for the state of affairs. "For all of us. We shouldn't have to go through all this, we shouldn't have to carry this kind of burden, we shouldn't have to squabble over resources just to live and not turn into monsters."

"Yeah," Noriko says. "Well. That's life."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," you mutter and force yourself to sit back, and to release your clenched fists. "Sorry."

Noriko shrugs, one motion rippling across two bodies.

"Anyway." You exhaling hard, shaking your head and forcing yourself to put the thoughts aside. "Moving on... since we started this on the subject of secrets, Mami doesn't know about where Witches come from. I'd promised her that I wouldn't keep it a secret from her forever, but I haven't figured out how to break it to her yet."

"Ah," Noriko says, biting her lip. "OK. Understood."

"Does she know about Soul Gems?" Akemi asks, tapping her finger meaningfully. Her ring, more specifically.

"She does," you say, nodding.

"Got it," Akemi says, sinking back into the sofa and into Noriko's arms.

You take another sip of lemonade, and sigh. "Alright. I've got... one more question, and it's a sensitive one," you say. "I apologise if it causes pain, but it's important that I know - is the Grief Seed that I cleared for you Miss Tanaka's?"

Shock flashes across their expressions for a second before their faces close off. Akemi exchanges a look with Noriko, who shakes her head.

"No," she bites out. "It's the Witch that killed her."

"... ah," you say, grimacing. "Right. I... I apologise for touching a sore topic."

The Shiogama girls fall silent, looking at each other.

"Why did you ask?" Noriko's the one to break the silence, having apparently lost the mental debate.

[] Tell them about your de-Witching efforts (in privacy)
[] Brush it off
- [] Write-in specifics?
[] Group meeting with the Animators and Shiogama girls
- [] Any specifics to mention during the introduction?
- [] Write-in specifics of discussion topics
-- [] Soujos
-- [] Tokyo politics
-- [] Iowa
Word count limit: 150 words

=====

Remind me to never do back-to-back IRC segments again. *grumble*

 

[Firnagzen]

"I asked because..." you purse your lips. They deserve to know, for good or for ill: They're here, in Mitakihara, under your protection. Which means they're caught up in this. "Well. It's something I'd rather discuss under some privacy, if you don't mind?"

"Huh?" Noriko asks.

"It's a secret, and I'd rather keep it that way from any prying ears," you explain as you grab the enchanted Grief to you. "So I'll be using Grief to set up a privacy sphere, and it'll feel quite Witchy. If you don't mind?"

"Um..." Both Norikos look at Akemi, who nods firmly. "OK?"

"Thank you," you say with a smile, already raising the Grief between both hands. "Give me a moment?"

It only takes you a moment to form the privacy construct, Grief flowing under your fingers at your will to form the familiar green band on a pedestal. The world goes fuzzy around you, blurred darkness beyond the boundaries of the sphere, Noriko and Akemi swaying away from the blare of Witch, Witch, Witch!

"It's alright," you murmur, and grin faintly at them. "This is just something I can do with Grief - I control it, and I can imitate what Witches do."

Akemi nods, thin-lipped and wary and safely wrapped in Noriko's arms.

"Sorry, just- this is an important secret," you say, gesturing vaguely. "I'll take down the privacy bubble as soon as we finish this discussion, and just to be clear, you aren't actually trapped in here in any way. You can step through the boundaries of the bubble, actually - it's just that nothing can eavesdrop on us in here."

"OK," Noriko says with a stiff nod. "What's the big secret?"

"I... well. One of my goals is de-Witching," you say, resting your elbows on your knees and leaning forward a bit, hands clasped. "Turning Witches back into magical girls. I've only just begun, and I don't have enough info to say how it'll turn out, but... yeah. If you'd had Misato's Grief Seed..."

Akemi's expression freezes, and then she laughs, short and bitter as her expression crumples.

"'Lucky'," she mutters. "What good is it?"

"Akemi, no," Noriko whispers, both of her bodies moving to hug her fully. "It wasn't your fault."

"No, it wasn't," Akemi snarls quietly. "It wasn't my anything, because I wasn't even there."

You wince. That does explain a lot, but you feel like you shouldn't be here. You want to give them their privacy, but you can't move without attracting their attention.

"Neither was I," Noriko snaps. "Neither was I, Akemi. Is it my fault?" She looks up at you, green and yellow eyes hard, and from the way one of her bodies jerks her chin towards Akemi, she expects you to say something.

... You're not sure why, but if she's sure...

"I don't know the full story," you admit quietly. "But I..." You break off with a sigh. "You know about Sendai, right?"

"Right," Noriko answers for the both of them. Akemi looks up at you, wordless, simmering rage in her expression - the lines around her eyes, the tension of her jaw. But it's not directed at you.

"People died," you say. "It was, in a way, my fault. I wasn't fast enough to stop the fighting. They were collateral damage." You almost spit the words. "But I was there. I didn't stop it from happening, either."

You sigh, meeting Akemi's eyes. "I don't know whether this works for you, but... the only thing we can do is to try and do better."

Maybe Homura didn't mean it in quite that way, but it's good advice, you think. It's how she keeps going, you imagine - seeking to do better, every time she turns back the clock. It's what you need to do, to look forward and strive.

Akemi closes her eyes, breathing deep.

"I'll... take your advice under consideration," she says after a moment and exhaling hard as she straightens. "I apologise for my outburst, Miss Vee."

"There's nothing to apologise for," you say firmly. "Emotions are only human. Would you like me to cleanse your Soul Gems?"

"... sure," Akemi says, and with a nod from Noriko, you proceed to do just that.

"So, um," Noriko says. "You're... working on de-Witching?"

"Yeah," you say. "And if you've heard anything about the subject, I know that other attempts have ended badly. I'm being as careful as I can, and, well... I can devote a lot more resources to the subject, thanks to my powers."

Noriko nods.

"And, um," you say. "I'm sorry I wound up inadvertently touching on some painful matters."

"There was no way you could have known," Akemi says quietly, and sighs.

"Nevertheless," you say, shaking your head. Still, you can read the mood, and it is definitely in favour of changing the topic right now. "Anyway. Do you have any questions about the project?"

"What do you need us to do for it?" Akemi asks.

"Well, um, nothing?" you say, shrugging. "I only asked because... y'know. And if you'd like to know more, I'd be happy to explain? But no, there's nothing I would demand from you, for this or anything else." You smile at them. "You're here because you need somewhere to stay, and the only thing I want from you is for you to be happy."

"... so you've said," Akemi says after a moment.

"Because it's true," you say, and grin. "Anyway. Do you have any more questions for me? Do you need a moment alone? I can step outside."

"A moment alone would be nice," Noriko says, before Akemi can say anything.

"Alright," you say with a smile. You hop to your feet. "Uh. Remember, nothing passes through the privacy field, so... you'll have to actually step out to get my attention."

"Got it," Noriko says.

The last you see of them as you step past the boundary of the bubble is Akemi turning to the blonde Noriko, burying her face against her girlfriend. You sigh quietly to yourself, glancing back at the blacker-than-black bubble of your privacy sphere for a second before meandering over to the window.

They've gotten some plants, you notice, a few small pots lined up neatly to catch the sunlight in an eclectic mixture. An aloe vera, a bromeliad, and a peace lily. Still, you approve, because you want them to be more comfortable here, and if this helps, you're not complaining.

Mugin joins you, cawing quietly, and you let him clamber up to your shoulder. "Had a good explore?" you ask. He caws in response.

"Miss Vee?"

You turn, smiling, to find Noriko, Noriko, and Akemi stepping out through the bubble. They all look more composed, though Noriko's bundling Akemi off to the bathroom, presumably to wash up. Noriko nods at you.

"We'll be ready to go in a few minutes," she says. "If that's alright?"

"Sure," you say, smiling. "I'll be here."

It turns out to be about fifteen minutes, including the time for them to change to outdoor clothes - a nice pair of dresses for the Norikos, and a sleeveless blouse-and-jeans combo for Akemi that shows off the muscles in her arms.

You sort of want to introduce her to Shinobu, now that you think about it. You have a vague notion that they'd get into a flex-off the moment they caught sight of each other.

With that thought lurking at the back of your mind, you lead the way to the roof, mind and powers ranging ahead so that a Grief platform is ready and waiting by the time you arrive. You step up, smiling, and plop down on the forward Grief seat - you have four seats, arranged one-and-three.

"Have you ever considered cushions?" Akemi asks, giving the platform dubious look. One of the Norikos steps up, offering her a hand.

"Yeah, but then I'd have to lug them around with..." You trail off, blinking. That's not actually a concern, now that you've properly figured out how to use your hammerspace. "You know what, I should get cushions at some point. All ready?"

"Sure," Akemi says.

"Ahem. Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride while it is in motion," you say, raising the windscreen and walls with a bright grin and a grand sweep of your arm. Mugin caws in annoyance, ruffling his feathers and hunkering down. "Mitakihara Meguca Airlines flight 008... ready for takeoff."

"... aren't you mixing planes and rollercoasters?" Noriko asks. You can feel the perplexed look directed at the back of your head.

"Yes, but meh," you say happily, and lift skywards. "Hey, Hiroko, Masami? We're on our way over."

"Got it," Masami responds. "I told you the address, right?"

"Yup," you say. "See you soon."

"Ono's on her way over too," Masami says. "See ya there!"

You disconnect, humming quietly to yourself. The Shiogama girls are peering out of the windows with interest, drinking in the sight of the city laid out below you in a vast, shining expanse of skyscrapers and roads.

It doesn't take too long for you to reach the... approximate location of the dessert parlour Masami mentioned. It's definitely the right neighbourhood, anyway - you can't exactly read street signs from the air, and while it helps that all the blocks are laid out in an orderly fashion, they're not perfectly orderly.

"There?" Noriko ventures cautiously.

You follow her pointing finger to spot a slender figure standing on a roof, with hands clasped demurely and lustrous black hair blowing gently in the wind. Lustrous black ringlets, of course, a lesser league than Homura's.

That would be Ono Megane, then. You haven't seen her in ages, and... she wanted to speak to you. Alone, apparently, if the fact of her presence on the roof by herself is any indication.

"Looks like it," you say, and wince. "That's Ono Megane, another of the magical girls around Mitakihara... she doesn't really like me, so I kind of threw her at the Animators, otherwise she'd probably have killed herself within a week."

"Oh," Noriko says.

"Yeah," you say, because what can you say to that? You bank towards the building, descending rapidly towards the roof. Megane's eyes snap to you as you approach, and you can see her chin lift as you land.

She marches right up to you as you step off your platform, expression perfectly unruffled and even. You can sense her Soul Gem - and it seems it's still filling up at a slow, slow trickle. Slower than you remember it being, but present nevertheless.

"Miss Sabrina," she says stiffly. Her eyes flicker to Mugin, perched happily on your shoulder, and back to you.

"... hi, Miss Ono," you say, giving her a little wave and a smile. "It's been a while. I hope you're well?"

You see her jaw twitch.

"Thank you for sending Miss Wakahisa and Miss Gaikotsu my way." She says in a painfully formal voice. "They've helped me understand that habits I was keeping to were somewhat questionable."

"I'm glad to have helped," you say with a broad smile. And you are, because you hadn't been able to convince her to stop whatever magic she was using. Something to do with appearance, you remember, though you hadn't figured it out in full.

"That said," she continues as if you hadn't said anything. "I do hope you realise that your arrogance was the reason I didn't listen to you."

You give her a blank look. What she views as arrogance, you kind of see as trying to get her to just save her own life. A different approach would have been better, in hindsight, but you didn't know what was ailing her. You still don't, in fact.

"I was trying to save your life," you say, echoing your thoughts out loud.

"Yes." She gives you a haughty, regal stare. "Additionally, you threw me at a pair of... ruffians. Helpful ones, but nevertheless."

[] She's probably just fishing for an apology from you. Apologise, and be done with that.
[] She's thanking you, in her own way. Acknowledge that.
[] You're still not happy with this outcome - she's still burning Grief. Subsisting off the Clear Seed you gave the Animators, presumably.
- [] Write-in something you want to raise?
[] Anything else to raise with Megane?
[] Onwards to meeting the Animators!
- [x] Vote in abeyance
- [] Anything specific to hit?

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Group meeting with the Animators and Shiogama girls
-[X] Make polite introductions.
--[X] in stage whisper, ask the Shiogama girls not to tell the Animators that you call them Animators.

=====​

How's this for a weird update time? I honestly had this update ready to go last night, but I decided to sleep on it instead. Still, I'm trying something slightly different with the voting this time.

 

[Firnagzen]

"I..." Your thoughts race for a second, thinking about how best to handle this. Apologise? It's what she wants, you think. You could promise to do better. You are going to do better, but is it something you need to tell her? Is it something you need to say to her?

You close your eyes, and force your thoughts to still for a second as you hear Noriko and Akemi step off the Grief platform behind you.

You know what? Just... just keep it simple.

"I was arrogant," you say. "And I could have done better - I should have done better, and that's on me trying to... make everything happen my way. I'm sorry."

Black eyes look you over, as if judging you. Some part of you bristles at that -what right does she have, when you were trying to help- but you tamp down on that impulse and meet her gaze squarely. She had to humble herself to express her gratitude, and she had to do so in spite of her own attitude, let alone what you suspect might be Wish-born mental changes. The least you can do is to match that.

You've swallowed your dignity for lame jokes -a maid costume, for goodness' sake- with an arsonist you call a friend, and you've swallowed your dignity to reach out to a delinquent who dishes out worse without a Wish to muck with her head. All Megane's really done is to be rude at you. If you're annoyed at this, then you can't really deny that you were arrogant with her.

Megane inclines her head slightly.

"That said... I'm glad you're getting along with Hiroko and Masami," you say, smiling warmly at her. "They're good people."

"They are sadists," Megane says, a tinge of sour annoyance leaking into her voice. "... but they know their craft."

"Yeah," you say, chuckling. "They -well, Masami- learned from the best."

"I should be going," Megane says stiffly. "... I would not be averse to talking to you in the future, but you have a meeting, I understand."

"Ah, you're not coming? You're welcome if you want," you say, tilting your head slightly in surprise. You gesture at Akemi and Noriko, the former half-hidden behind you. "It's just a quick introduction for Miss Saito and Miss Watanabe."

You sort of want to ask her what you could have done better, too. Even if things turned out well this time, there's always next time. Some of her reasons for souring on you, you can recognise - you blew off the first proper meeting with her, to look after Mami. You'd broken into her place to lecture at her, after that, and you...

Given what seems to be self-worth issues, perhaps because of school or perhaps because of her mother, you would have stomped on those, too. And you'd tried to dissuade her from something she'd sold her Soul for.

She didn't know that she was killing herself doing that, so when you'd told her to stop... her reaction was, in retrospect, pretty obvious.

Yeah. You do know what you did wrong, and... asking her might, in and of itself, anger her again.

"It's good to meet you," Megane says, glancing past you to the Shiogama girls. "I apologise, but I will not be staying. I should return to school."

"It's good to meet you too?" Noriko says, uncertain, but Megane's already headed for the edge of the roof, launching herself off. Her form is picture-perfect, you can't help but notice - half her magic, and half training, you suppose.

Mugin squawks, hopping off your shoulder and taking flight. Instinctively, you tag him with a bit of Grief to keep an eye on him as he spirals up into the air.

"... bit of an introvert, isn't she?" Akemi says, blinking after Megane's disappearing form.

"I guess she might be?" you say, and sigh quietly. "Honestly, I... I don't really get her. I'm not absolutely sure what the specifics of her Wish or power is, but... it constantly burns magic for maintenance. She'd have killed herself, and I can't bring myself to regret stepping in, even if I could have, should have handled it better."

You wince slightly. "I suppose you can tell that my intervention didn't go the best, and I referred her to Masami and Hiroko for training, since she wanted nothing to do with me."

"Well... from the sounds of it, you saved her life?" Akemi ventures carefully. "So that's good."

"Wouldn't her mentors know her powers?" Noriko wonders, raising an eyebrow.

"You know, I never thought to ask," you say thoughtfully, and smile. "But on that note, I suppose we shouldn't keep them waiting any longer?"

A hop, a skip, and a jump, and you leave the bright afternoon sun of the rooftop behind for the dimmer shadows of the alleyway, Norikos and Akemi landing softly behind you. You spot Masami and Hiroko as you emerge onto the street.

Masami's wearing skinny jeans and a midriff-baring shirt, her masses of red hair spilling over one shoulder - and none of it an illusion. Her grin is wide and pleased, and for all that you'd just seen her last week, you're pretty sure she's started to tan a bit.

By her side, Hiroko hasn't changed as much. But there's more life to her, you think, the stress lines around her vibrantly green eyes smoothing out as they begin to distance themselves from their harrowing experiences. She's gotten a haircut, too, the page-cut standing well clear of the collar of her floral-patterned dress.

"Heya," Masami says, waving as you approach.

"Hey!" you say, smiling brightly. "Masami, Hiroko, this is Saito Akemi, Watanabe Noriko, and Watanabe Noriko. Miss Saito, Miss Watanabe, this is Gaikotsu Masami, and Wakahia Hiroko."

Hiroko blinks, looking between the two Norikos - one of them a blonde, and the other a verdette.

"I Wished to be able to be in two places at once," Noriko offers, and smiles. "It's lovely to meet you."

"Ah," Hiroko says. She shakes herself, and smiles politely. "Ah, sorry, I was being rude. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Saito, Miss Watanabe, and it's good to see you again, Sabrina."

You beam as the round of introductions go around, and you all make your way into the dessert parlour. It's cheerily lit, Chinese waterpaints adorning the walls, and a fishtank burbles away happily in the corner. The technically-four of you squash around one of the small round tables, Masami grabbing a few of the laminated menus for you to look over.

"Oh yeah," you say, grinning at Noriko and Akemi. "By the way, don't tell them that I've been calling them the Animators."

Noriko gives you a vaguely confused look, blinking simultaneously at both you and said Animators.

Hiroko makes a thoughtful face. "You know, I actually quite like that," she says.

"Kind of rude to just name us without telling us," Masami notes. "... even if it is a pretty cool name."

"Yyyeah," you say, making a face. "Sorry about that. It kind of started as an internal thing for me, you know?" You tap the side of your head. "Just a way to think about the both of you. And then it, uh, sort of slipped out into speech. I... hope you're OK with it?"

"I like it," Hiroko says firmly. "We're keeping it."

"We are?" Masami says. "Do we need a group name?"

"We are," Hiroko says, laying her hand over Masami's.

"Right. Settled, then," Masami says, and waves a finger at you. "Thanks for the nickname, but it was still kind of rude."

"I feel like we're lucky if we get to decide these things," Noriko mutters. "General we, I mean. Mostly you get some kind of notoriety and then you hear that people've started calling you something."

"Oh?" Hiroko says, looking interested.

"Just what I've noticed," Noriko says with a shrug.

"Hah," Masami says. "Guess that's kind of true... and it's probably better than being known as the other Mitakihara group." She makes a face. "So speaking of, you girls liking Mitakihara?"

"It's so crowded," Akemi says. "There's so many people, it's amazing. Shiogama had people, but not like this."

"Yeah, it is," Hiroko says, smiling. "It was a bit of a shock for me too, when I moved here, but I got used to it."

"Yeah, and then you met me," Masami says with a grin. "And before we forget, we should order." She lowers her voice. "Old lady at the counter'll give you the stinkeye if we wait too long."

"Right," Noriko says, one of her starting to scan the menu.

"If I may, how did you meet Miss Vee?" Akemi asks, running a hand through mousy brown hair.

"She kind of barged in on our business by proxy, but she also saved our bacon," Masami says, shrugging. "We... I was being extorted for Grief Seeds for healing. We couldn't have afforded it."

"We, Masami," Hiroko says gently, squeezing Masami's hand.

"Ah," Akemi says, nodding, and smiles faintly at you. "That's a bit of a common trend with you, isn't it?"

You chuckle, even as Noriko elbows her.

"I suppose so," you allow, fidgeting with that fly-away lock of hair. "Honestly, if you've got advice, I'd love it - you... well, you all know Miss Ono, and more or less how that turned out."

"Can't make everyone happy," Masami says. "Sometimes you gotta break a few ribs to do CPR."

Noriko shrugs, glancing away. "Well... it turned out well enough for us? But I suppose not everyone wants to be helped."

"It's a balancing act," Hiroko murmurs. "That's really all it is."

"I suppose so," you say with a sigh.

[x] When appropriate, direct the discussion towards...
- [x] Tokyo politics
-- [] Ask for advice
- [x] The Soujus
-- [] How much detail to offer?
- [x] Iowa
-- [] How much detail to offer?
-- [] Request help
- [] Other topics? (Write-in)

=====​

Two sides of the coin, eh?

 

[Firnagzen]

"Anyway!" Masami says, rapping sharply on the table with her knuckles. "Orders, orders!"

"Order in the court?" you offer, glancing at the menu again.

"Don't you start," Hiroko says, snorting softly. She glances at the Shiogama girls. "I would recommend the shaved ice, if you're in the mood for something cold."

"The... ice kacang?" Akemi says, sounding the words out uncertainly. "It looks good. To share?"

"Sure," Noriko says, smiling fondly at the brunette and leaning against her, scooting the chair over to do so while her other body glances questioningly at you.

"I'll take the glutinous rice porridge," you say, inspecting the menu one last time.

"I'll go order," Noriko volunteers, one of her bodies already half standing. "Miss Gaikotsu, Miss Wakahisa?"

Masami grins, wide and toothy. "Double order for me - glutinous rice porridge too, and the kueh. Red bean."

"Masami..." Hiroko says.

"Can you blame me?" Masami says cheerfully. "Anyway, order! I want my sweets."

"Oh, fine," Hiroko says, huffing and smiling at Noriko. "Sorry for the trouble, Miss Watanabe. Mango pudding for me?"

"Alright," Noriko says, pushing her chair back to head to the counter, while her other body picks up the conversation with seamless ease. "Ice kacang, two glutinous rice porridges, kueh, mango pudding."

"Sounds right," Masami offers. "Also, damn, that's a useful power."

"It has its moments," Noriko says with a faint smile. She takes Akemi's hand, leaning back against the seat rest.

"So what brings you all out here today, anyway?" Masami asks.

"My fault, I'm afraid," you say. "Well - I wanted to introduce you all, since we're all here in Mitakihara, but there's also some other stuff I'd like to talk about. It can wait until after we finish eating, though? It's more serious stuff."

"Hrgh," Masami says. "Is it bad news?"

"A bit," you say. "More warnings than news."

"I think we'd rather have the bad news first," Noriko mutters with a twist of her lips.

"Seconded," Hiroko says, Masami shrugging beside her.

"Well... alright then," you say, glancing around to make sure no one's eavesdropping. Not that you're going to talk about anything wrong, just rather odd. "As I said, a warning: There's going to be a... a reverse-Noriko, I suppose, coming to Mitakihara early next week. She's a Soul Gem collector, and, well, we don't expect her to be friendly."

"Reverse Noriko?" Akemi says, harmonizing with Hiroko's exclamation. "Soul Gem collector?"

"Two magical girls, one body. I'm not sure how she... they? I'm not sure how they wound up that way," you say, and glance from Akemi to Hiroko. "And yes, Soul Gem collector. So far as I know, she's, um, completely insane. I'm not completely sure of my intel on that front, but that's what I've got."

"She collects Soul Gems?" Hiroko echoes, faintly hysterical. She has Masami's hand in hers, gripping tight enough that you can see faint tremors.

"Yeah," you say with a sigh. "I wanted to warn you, because, well... yeah. It'd be bad to just run into her without knowing."

"You're... sure about this?" Masami says, giving you a dubious look. She leans against Hiroko, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Pretty sure," you say. "We're planning to handle it, so hopefully the most interaction you'll have with her is spotting her and disengaging. She's a pretty, ah, specialized combatant, given what she does, so... you know."

"Right," Hiroko says, nodding vigorously. She looks a little green. "Got it."

"Yeah..." you say with a sigh. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, just... this is something that's important. And we've got no idea where she's coming from, unfortunately, otherwise I'd engage her directly, but well. The best I can do right now is to warn everyone."

"What does she look like?" Noriko asks.

"Big, brown hair," you say, gesturing vaguely at the shape of a giant, lop-sided ponytail. "Blue eyes, kind of skinny, Soul Gems on either side of their chest here and here. Reddish-pink and white costume, kind of like a kimono but shoulder-less."

"And their powers?" Akemi says, propping her arm on the table and leaning forward, intent.

"Ice and fire, as far as I know," you say slowly. "The thing about the two Soul Gems in one body trick of theirs is that they coordinate flawlessly, so they use both in perfect tandem."

"I see," Akemi says, brow furrowing in thought.

"We're planning to handle it," you say, waving a hand.

"Understood," Noriko says, nodding firmly. "We'll leave her to you, right, Akemi?"

"... right," the brunette says, grimacing.

"We'll definitely call if we see her," Hiroko says firmly. "I don't want her anywhere near us."

"Yeah, yep," Masami says, her left hand curled tight into a fist. "Not letting that happen."

"I have one question, if I may?" Noriko says.

"Of course," you say, beaming at her.

"Does... well, is she a thief, or is she a robber?" Noriko says.

"More robber, I suppose," you say. "I mean, I don't think anyone gives up their Soul Gem willingly, no matter how little they know. But I admit I don't have solid information on how she operates in general."

"Now that's a nightmare," Hiroko mutters, grimacing unhappily.

"Sorry I couldn't be the bearer of better news," you say. And you're not even telling them about Iowa. Admittedly, if all goes well, you'll deal with Iowa before they arrive in Mitakihara, so it'll only ever be their problem after the fact. Hopefully.

You live in hope, really.

"Better to be warned than not," Masami says, snorting. "So... thanks, I guess."

"Ah... speaking of bearing," Noriko says, gesturing just as her other body returns with a laden tray and starts distributing desserts.

"Mmm," Masami hums, grabbing eagerly for her treats.

"Thanks," you say as Noriko slides you a bowl. A splash of coconut cream in the middle of a fragrant, sweet porridge: white and deep, nearly black purplish-red. Rich and sticky and warm, with the coconut cream leavening the heat.

"It's good," Akemi says, sounding almost surprised as she digs into the small mountain of shaved ice, dyed the colours of the rainbow with syrup.

"Mmh!" Masami says, mouth stuffed full. Hiroko giggles, swatting her lightly on the shoulder.

"Yeah, definitely," you agree. "Thanks for the recommendation, Masami."

Conversation quiets for a few minutes as you all dig into the sweets, which now that you think about it, are rather more south-east Asian than Chinese, but honestly, who's counting. Noriko and Akemi share their dessert, quiet and thoughtful as they feed themselves and each other - a complex affair, with three bodies in the mix. Masami, on the other hand, devours her sweets with wild abandon, Hiroko watching with a fond look.

"Miss Watanabe, Miss Saito - Masami asked earlier, but how are you finding Mitakihara?" Hiroko murmurs, her mango pudding half-finished. "You must have been here for just a few days, I imagine. Have you been able to find your way around?"

"We have," Noriko says, and smiles. "The buses here are very comprehensive."

"Unk," Masami says, swallowing a mouthful. "Speaking of, Sabrina. Ono. She's kind of getting there, if I do say so myself. Can actually hunt a Witch and 'xpect to do OK now, but we're kind of recruiting her for our group?"

"That's great," you say. "I mean, way back when I first tripped over her, we did offer to let her join us, buuuut given the, uh, terrible impression I've made on her, I'm just happy if she has people to look out for her."

Masami snorts. "She's halfway competent, but still kind of... you know," she says, poking at the side of her head.

"That's not nice, Masami," Hiroko says.

"I'm not wrong, sweetheart," Masami says, fluttering her eyelashes at Hiroko before turning her attention back to you. "D'you know what she Wished for?"

"Frankly, no," you say. "I never really had the opportunity to ask, you know? I was kind of hoping you might have an idea. I don't even know her powers, honestly."

"Yyyyeah, fine," Masami says, shrugging. "Guess so. She still needs work, anyway."

"She has some kind of general self-enhancement," Hiroko says. "Not just physically, but also mentally." She makes a face. "We're reasonably certain that her Wish affected her own mind, and we believe it's something that contributes to her attitude."

"I thought as much," you say, shaking your head. You've also thought that she might be trans, but... something about that hypothesis sits ill with you. It doesn't fit. "Self-enhancement, huh? Sounds... ah, right. Of course, that's what she's constantly running."

"Mmh," Masami says, mouth full of kueh again. "B'n lt'n' 'r-"

Hiroko shuts her up with a finger pushing her jaw shut. "We've been letting her use our Clear Seed to supplement the Grief Seeds from the Witches we hunt. She wouldn't be able to sustain it, otherwise."

"Yeah," you say, grimacing. You can't help but feel that she might be a magical girl Kyuubey had contracted just to Witch out, to feed other magical girls. Ugh. And in that light, you really can't regret saving her, in the slightest.

"I suppose I'm lucky," Noriko murmurs, giving Akemi a fond, faintly amused look. "My powers don't require much upkeep at all."

"Bet it comes in handy, too," Masami says with a grin.

"Oh, it does," Akemi says, smirking and pulling both Norikos in for a sloppy kiss on one cheek, then the other. Both Noriko's blush slightly, their cheeks heating up. "I'm lucky enough that Noriko agreed to be my girlfriend~"

"Soo." Masami glances at you, expression flickering to neutral. "On the subject of girlfriends. How's she been?"

[] Play dumb
[] Answer her:
- [] Mami's doing fine, thank you.
-- [] She misses you.
- [] Why do you ask?
- [] Write-in
[] Heading back to Mami
- [] Anything to talk to your friends about or arrange?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Whew, I'm back! Y'know what sucks? Falling sick and losing your voice when you're supposed to give a presentation. Y'know what's awesome? Microphones.

Anyway.

Two notes: Ono Megane isn't trans. While I'm not opposed to the idea of having trans characters, it's a tricky, tricky topic I'd have to give more thought to, and Ono isn't it.

Second of all, the next vote will bring you back to school, at which point Sayaka will need to head off to/be brought to meet Kyouko for training, so vote appropriately.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Mami's been-" fantastic. She's been happy, and she makes you happy in a way you'd never even imagined you could be. You like to think you make her just as happy, too. She has friends, people who care about her.

You swallow those words, choking off your instinctive reaction to gush about Mami.

"Mami's been doing well," you say, forcing your tone to something like neutral to match Masami's expression. "Recovering."

Because Masami was Mami's friend, too. Estranged, now, but that just means that feelings are still raw, and hell, if you remember correctly, she resents Mami because Mami got her into this life. You'd rather not put your foot into your mouth here - and there's both information and developments she's not aware of, either.

"Recovering from what?" Masami asks sharply. Noriko and Akemi, both in your peripheral awareness, lean back.

"She took the truth about Soul Gems poorly," you say, setting your spoon down to clasp your hands on the table. Unthreatening and unaccusatory. "And the fact that Kyuubey had been using her and only pretending to be her friend, even less so."

"Shit, but I-" Masami's mouth shuts with a snap.

"She found out because of me, not you," you say, shaking your head. You blow out a breath, hard. "Kyuubey was using her, and I couldn't... I couldn't leave that be."

"Using her?" Hiroko asks.

"To recruit," you say evenly, nodding at Masami.

"That's bloody convenient, isn't it?" Masami grunts.

"What happened to you was horrible," you say, steel in your voice. "I'm not trying to discount that, and I don't want to argue with you about it. I'm just telling you what happened, because you asked."

"I was expecting you to just say 'she's fine' or something," Masami says, scowling.

Hiroko gives her a sharp, knowing look.

Masami's expression hardens, and she shakes her head. "Fine. Why is she recovering?"

And in that one look was an entire ream of information, you imagine. For anyone who could read it, anyway. You're not the one privy to Masami's inner thoughts, but... you can only imagine mixed feelings. She might resent Mami for getting her into this life, maybe even hate her a little - but she wouldn't even have asked if she didn't care at least a little.

"Because realizing the truth about Soul Gems, and about Kyuubey, let her realise what she'd done to every single girl she'd convinced to join us. She..." You trail off, grimacing unhappily and trying to suppress the squirm of guilt. "She didn't take it well."

"Good," Masami mutters.

"Excuse me?" you say sharply, attention snapping back to Masami. You sit up, eyes fixed on the redhead.

"I said good!" Masami snaps, nostrils flaring. "She shouldn't!"

"It broke her," you say. Wood creaks faintly. "And she's going to have to live with the guilt for the rest of her life."

"Enough," Hiroko snaps. "Masami, apologise."

"I-"

Hiroko cuts her off, hand tightening on hers. "Masami."

You can see a muscle jump in the redhead's jaw as she looks up at you.

"I'm sorry for saying that she deserves it," Masami grates out.

"I accept your apology," you say. You bite back the impulse to demand why she even asked if she was just going to denigrate Mami like that - but the more rational part of you knows that she didn't mean to get angry. It's not logical to poke at a scab, but it's a difficult impulse to resist, too.

"Thank you for inviting us here today, Sabrina," Hiroko says. She smiles at you, dimpling a bit. "But I think it would be best if we left it here for today. How much do we owe you, Miss Watanabe?"

"That would probably be for the best, yes," you agree, standing. "Until next time, Hiroko, Masami."

"Until next time," Hiroko offers.

Noriko and Akemi stand too, adding their farewells, and after Hiroko settles their part of the bill, join you outside the cafe.

"Are you alright, Miss Sabrina?" Akemi asks quietly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," you say. "Why?"

"You seem a bit angry," Noriko says, and hastily adds, "Understandably so, of course."

"I-" you blink, and realise you're shaking, a bit. "Yeah. Just..."

"We understand the anger," Akemi says with a smile. "We're just concerned about you."

"Yeah..." You take a deep breath, and smile. "Yeah, I'm OK. Thank you. Can I offer you a lift home? I should be headed to school about now."

"I think we'll take the scenic route," Akemi says. "But thank you for the offer."

"Alright," you say with a smile. "Thanks for coming out today, and I'm sorry that it ended like that."

"It wasn't your fault," Noriko says with a wan smile. "And it was good to meet them, anyway." She hesitates for a moment. "Do... may we contact them, in the future?"

"Hm?" You give them a faintly puzzled look. "Of course. I'm not in charge of you or anything. You don't need my permission."

"Oh," Noriko says. "Alright."

"We shan't keep you any longer, then," Akemi says. "Bye, Miss Sabrina."

"See you," you say, waving. You watch as the couple walk off, hand in hand with each other, and shake your head as you meander down an unoccupied alley, rapping your knuckles idly on the rough brick of the wall.

That could have gone better. You can't say it was really your fault - Masami started it. And maybe you should have been non-committal about Mami, given Masami something vague, but you gave her what she asked for.

"My apologies for that, Sabrina." You're already airborne, taking in the cool, clear air, by the time Hiroko's voice sounds in your head.

"It wasn't your fault," you respond with a sigh, inaudible under the boom of your wings.

"I disagree," Hiroko says. "Masami's in a bit of a... confused position, with regards to Miss Tomoe, and she spoke out of anger. She'll think it through eventually, but right now, she's in no state to. I apologise for her lashing out."

"You're not her keeper," you say evenly. "But for the record, I bear neither of you any animosity. I was angry, myself, but... look, when she calms down, I'm still happy to talk."

"I'll make sure she apologies properly," Hiroko says firmly. "Until then."

"Until then," you say, and let the connection close.

The anger ebbs as you wing through the sky, and you sigh again, closing your eyes for a moment. It seems they're still a ways away from a reunion, which is a shame, because... well, Mami needs more friends.

On the other hand, you do have high hopes for Kyouko, so there's that. And speaking of whom...

"Hey, Kyouko," you call. "We're on for later, yeah?"

"Training Wondergirl?" Kyouko asks. "Yep."

"Great! See you soon, then," you say.

"Yep," Kyouko says, popping the last syllable and ending the connection.

You nod to yourself, banking past the spire of the DBJ building.

That's settled, then, and that's one thing that should go well. Kyouko seems to actually like Sayaka, so far. You should probably check in with Nakano Mika at some point, too - she'd done you a huge favour, averting the demolition of Kyouko's father's church. Which Mika had blown off as no big deal, since you'd given her the Clear Seed, but still.

You drift in for a landing in the park outside Mitakihara Middle School, folding your wings and dropping in amongst the dense greenery. You can't help the smile breaking out on your face, either, because even after everything - you're here, and you'll be seeing Mami again soon.

[x] Hug Mami
- [] Anything specific to talk to her and your other friends about?
[] You'll need to bring Sayaka to Kyouko for training!
- [] Anything to tell Mami in the meantime?
- [] Anything specific you want Sayaka to work on with Kyouko?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Well hey! I'm actually updating on a Sunday, for once.

 

[Firnagzen]

You emerge into the bright afternoon sun, footsteps light. You're pretty satisfied with yourself, with how things went - despite ending on a sour note, you feel that the meeting had gone as well as it could have, from the moment Masami brought Mami up.

The truancy officer eyes you as you approach, and you give him a smile before checking your phone - more for show than anything else, because you know that school's about to finish. You settle in to wait, bouncing lightly on the balls of your feet and thinking.

'Picking at a scab,' you'd thought to yourself, and in retrospect, that was perhaps a mite understating it. Masami had started digging around in a still-raw wound of her own volition, and to extend the metaphor in a rather horrible way, you'd pulled her bloody fingers out of said wound as best as you could.

And to extend the metaphor just a little bit more to its grisly conclusion and put said metaphor to its grave - in doing so, in removing Masami's fingers, you'd helped dislodge a fragment of a bullet. For all your powers, you're not a mind reader, and you don't know for sure what's going on in Masami's mind.

But you know she blames Mami for convincing her to make a contract. It's not, necessarily, a rational thing. But knowing, now, that it hurt Mami to learn in truth what she'd done?

Yeah, she'd lashed out. At the same time, knowing that is a step towards mutual understanding.

"Sabrina!"

Mami isn't quite the first one out of the doors today, her last class perhaps a bit further from the main gate - but you spot her as she races across the courtyard, her smile blossoming like the sun peeking from behind clouds.

She crashes into you, or maybe you crash into her, wrapping your arms around each other. It's a good thing you don't actually need to breathe - and for that matter, it's a good thing you're a magical girl, with the durability that that entails. The only reason you win the contest of strength is your height advantage, lifting her and swinging her in a laughing circle.

"Hi," you say, smiling at her.

"Hi!" Mami says, flushed and beaming from ear to ear.

"Did something good happen?" you ask.

"You're here," Mami says with a happy sigh, one that you echo. You nudge her gently away from the flow of students, ducking to the lee of the wall and nestling your cheek against soft, golden hair. It's nice to be with Mami, to simply relax and let the world wash away for a while. To be normal for a little bit.

"Heyo!" Another familiar voice floats from the crowd, just about audible over the din of students filtering out from the school, and you look up to spot a flash of blue and an enthusiastically waving hand.

"Hey!" You free one hand to wave back, spotting Madoka walking at Sayaka's side, Hitomi on her other side and Homura trailing just a step behind.

Mami shuffles around you, pulling your arm over her shoulders and slipping an arm around your waist so that she can stay tucked against your side as your friends approach. She beams at them, bright and happy.

"Hello, everyone," Mami says when they're within hearing range, everyone arranging into a loose circle.

"Hi!" Madoka says brightly. "How have you been?"

"Pretty good. Hey everyone," you say. "How's your days been?"

"Homework," Sayaka whines, pulling a face. "It's Friiiiiday."

"We've been given a fair amount of homework this weekend," Hitomi agrees.

"Aw," you say. "Tests coming up?"

"No, it's just homework..." Madoka pouts sadly.

"Ah, we'll still have time to hang out, though!" Sayaka exclaims. "'specially if you and Mami and Homura can help us with the homework."

"Mami?" you ask, smiling at her.

"We would be happy to," Mami says, squeezing you gently. "Schedule permitting?"

"I think so," you say, and grin at Sayaka. "C'mon, you know I'm here to help."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." She smirks at you, offering a fistbump, which you gladly return.

"And you, Homura?" you ask, turning your attention to your friend.

Homura fidgets slightly, and nods. "... I'll be there."

"Yay!" Madoka cheers.

"Fantastic," you declare.

"We should perhaps start walking," Hitomi says.

"... yeah, probably," Sayaka says, looking around at the flow of students parting around your group. She sneaks Hitomi's bag, slinging both her own and Hitomi's over her shoulder while ignoring Hitomi's Look with magnificent aplomb. "Byyyyy the way, Sabrina, I see you managed to lose Mugin."

"Yeah, not sure where he got off to," you say as you turn to start walking, Mami still attached firmly to your side. "Probably got tired and went off to roost for the day or something?"

"Or something," Sayaka says with a dismissive shrug. "He'll show up."

"Spoiled brat of a bird," you agree.

"Maybe we should adopt him as a pet," Mami says gravely.

"Ah... what about Hunin?" Madoka asks curiously.

"Iunno," Sayaka says. "Around? Uh... let's wait here a sec. Hitomi, your car isn't here yet, right? So lliiiike..."

She does this complicated little juggle of the two bags around so that she can free one hand and dig into her own, producing a handful of seed. She looks around, ducking not-so-surreptitiously behind you and Mami to scatter the birdseed in the bushes you're passing by.

"Oh, while we're waiting for that," you say, snapping your fingers and reaching into your own bag to 'pull' out a small card - formed instantly out of Grief, nano-patterned surface to give it the rich buttery yellow and crisp white hues. "I had an idea for a business card!"

Mami chuckles fondly as she takes it from you, and you produce a few more copies - one for Hitomi, which she takes with an air of faintly amused interest, and one for Homura. Madoka peeks over Homura's shoulder, looking intensely curious.

"Oh! And here, Mami-" you produce a second card, one with Mami's name, and press it into her hand.

"I like 'White Ribbon'," Madoka says brightly, admiring the card. "Are you going to hand these out?"

"If you guys think it's a good idea, I might get some printed, yeah," you say with a grin. "It's classy to be able to pull one out and say 'Here's my card'."

"Do the rest of us get cards too, or is White Ribbon just the two of you?" Sayaka says, head tilted back to watch the tree branches. "Ehn... either way, I think we can't be just the Mitakihara group forever, if you've got international aspirations."

"Are we known as the 'Mitakihara group'?" Hitomi asks, air-quoting the words with disdain. "That's such an... uninspired name. Uninspired and uninspiring."

"... Is it? I... well, I guess it is," you say, blinking and shrugging. "And I guess we kind of are? But that's why I have you and Madoka for consultants."

"So we get to think of a new name?" Madoka asks, brightening.

You catch Homura's eyes for a split second - but she doesn't react, so you just grin at Madoka. "Well, like I said, we've got you and Hitomi as consultants, right?" You make a face. "Naming things is hard. I only got White Ribbon because, well... You know."

Mami blushes, squeezing you gently with her arm around your waist.

Sayaka snorts, and looks like she's about to say something when she tilts her head to the side. "There they are," she says.

You follow her gaze to spot a couple of birds settling into the boughs of the tree, one of them an enormously fluffy crow with an odd white streak of feathers across its face.

"Aw, it's so cute!" Madoka coos. "Is that Hunin?"

"Yup," Sayaka says, making an odd croaking noise in the back of her throat. Magic flares, a bright glimmer crystallizing for a second, and the birds begin chirruping in response.

Hitomi watches with keen interest. "What are they talking about?"

"Nothing much, it turns out," Sayaka says. At some unseen signal, the birds descend and begin pecking up the birdseed. "Not much news to report, I mean."

You lay your hand over Mami's, squeezing gently. "On that note, Mami, Homura?"

Violet eyes flicker back over to you, intent and curious.

"The GPS trackers for Oriko and Kirika arrived," you say, which gets you the attention of Sayaka and Hitomi, too. "If you want, Mami, Homura, you could go set that up, and enchant them, while I bring Sayaka for her training? If not, I'd be happy to do that when we get back, and maybe... you could go Witch-hunting or something?"

Mami stills. So does Homura. The tension spreads, the smile fading from Madoka's face as her gaze darts between the rest of your group. Sayaka presses her lips together, thinned out to nothing, and Hitomi frowns thoughtfully.

"I..." Mami's tongue flicks out, wetting her lips. "I suppose it's something to do while I wait." Her eyes go to Homura, uncertain. "I'd... be happy for your accompaniment, Homura?"

"... very well," Homura says.

"Yeah, I can trust the two of you to do it right," Sayaka says with a grin that's only slightly strained. "No offense, Sabrina, but you're kind of too lenient."

"None taken," you say, pulling Mami a little closer to you - not that that's an easy task, given how tightly she's already clinging to you. "Can you give us a moment?"

"We'll be just by the road?" Madoka says, pointing. She looks faintly concerned, but smiles when she catches your eyes. "Ah... Hitomi, we'll be alright waiting there, right?"

"Oh, right," Sayaka says, snapping her fingers and draping her arms around Madoka and Hitomi's shoulders to guide them away. "You're going to the hospital to get that cast removed."

Homura trails along after them, leaving you alone with Mami under the shade of the trees. Not quite as private as you'd like, with students passing by on the main path, but it's as good as you'll get without ducking into the greenery proper.

"I'll be back, I promise," you murmur, shifting around to hug Mami properly.

"I know," she replies, a bare whisper. "You- you always have."

"It's not wrong to be afraid, though," you say. "It might not be rational, but feelings aren't."

"I know," she murmurs. You feel her fingers in your hair, toying with the loose strands, and you just hold her.

Fear.

Kyouko left her, Kazumi left her, Masami left her. Maybe it's an exaggeration to say that she has estranged friends and students scattered across Japan, but... there are enough that the fear of rejection bites deep.

"You..." Mami swallows, pressed so closely against you that you can feel it. "You brought Kazumi back."

"It's not wrong to be afraid." You echo your earlier words.

"It helps," Mami murmurs. "To remind me that... that I have a, a miracle worker, here with me."

You laugh, a little, and tilt your head forward so you can kiss Mami on the cheek. "Hey, we're magical girls. Miracles are our stock-in-trade."

Mami takes a deep breath, and manages a shaky smile for you. "Alright," she murmurs. "I'll be alright."

"You will be," you say with a smile. "And if I may be sappy, you are my miracle, Mami."

Mami's face lights up incandescent, and she makes a squeaky noise before burying her face in your chest.

That's better. You ignore your own blush, and ignore the looks you're getting from other students passing by, and focus on hugging Mami, until she finally stirs and looks up at you, still blushing luminescent red.

"Thank you, Sabrina," she whispers.

"No, thank you," you say, and purse your lips. "That said, while I meant every word I said, while I mean every word I said, I'm, uh, not going to make a habit of calling you my miracle."

"Hmm?" she asks, blinking at you. Then she blinks again, eyes widening. "Oh. Um."

"Yeaaaah," you say, making a face. People call their kids 'their miracles'.

Mami huffs out a fond laugh. "Oh, Sabrina," she says, leaning against you for a moment longer. "Alright." A deep breath. "Alright. Sayaka shouldn't be late for her training."

"Let's go see what our friends are up to, then," you say, smiling.

"Let's," she says, and takes your hand. She interlaces her fingers with yours, swinging gently as you walk.

When you reach the road, you find that both Madoka and Hitomi have vanished, Homura looking vaguely uncomfortable while Sayaka tries to make small talk about school.

"Heya," Sayaka says, waving. "Hitomi's driver got here, so she had to get going. Madoka decided to go to the hospital with her, and both of 'em apologise for having to go without saying bye."

"Ack," you say, squeezing Mami's hand gently. "Well... you ready to head off?"

"Yep," Sayaka says, grinning. "All good?"

"Ayep," you agree. You smile softly at Mami. "I'll see you later, alright?"

Mami takes a deep breath, and returns your smile. "You will."

A flash of violet, over Mami's shoulder - Homura, her eyes intent on you. When you look up to meet her gaze, her attention shifts deliberately to Mami, and she nods slightly.

You can't help that breathless little twist of gratitude that unspools in your chest.

A touch on your lips draws your attention back to Mami, who smiles at you, having tapped one finger against you. "I'll be collecting."

"Gladly," you say. "Until then!"

"Right!" Sayaka says, pumping a fist in the air and grinning. "Let's go!"

"Hmm... that way," you say, pointing at a likely building. You wave one last time at Mami as you head off, Sayaka in tow, and a few minutes later, you're airborne, the rush of wind filling your ears as you head off for Sayaka's training.

[] What particular topics do you want to talk to Kyouko/Yuma about during the training? (Specify in more detail)
- [] News on Kyouko's church
- [] Yuma's grandparents
- [] Mami
- [] Iowa
- [] The Soujus
- [] Walpurgisnacht (in more detail)
- [] Something else?

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[x] Discuss Sayaka's training with her: How does she feel she's progressing?
-[x] You were thinking of doing another group training session tomorrow afternoon, if time allows.
-[x] Poke Sayaka about copying Yuma's power, if it seems reasonable.

=====​

Another actual Sunday update. I blame the vacation.

 

[Firnagzen]

Clear blue skies above, the wind in your hair, a friend at your back... the only thing more you could ask for is for Mami to be here with you. And for Homura to have found peace, for Madoka to be safe, for world peace, for magical girls to be freed from the tyranny of fighting over Grief Seeds, for Mami and Kyouko to have made up, and lastly, a way to arrange all of those so you don't sound like a rather selfish person.

It's not like you're not actively pursuing all of those, after all.

"Haaaahhhhh..." Sayaka transforms and flops down beside you, rolling up her cloak to form a sort of pillow.

"Tired?" you say, snickering.

"Not tired, just lazy," Sayaka says, eyes firmly shut.

"Better not let Kyouko hear you say that," you say.

"You kidding? She's lazier than I am," Sayaka says. "She's basically a cat. A feral alley cat."

"I mean, yeah, fair enough," you say. You pause for a second. "Also, it's really easy to imagine Kyouko with cat ears. But if she ever hears about this conversation she's going to claw our faces off. And you don't have a healing power."

"True, true, and I don't have a healing power right now," Sayaka agrees, cracking a grin without opening her eyes.

"On that note, you should see if Yuma'll let you copy her magic," you note. Also, something about that phrasing makes you real suspicious of Sayaka. You narrow your eyes at Miki Definitely-Not-An-Angel Sayaka. "She's a pretty good healer."

"Huh," Sayaka says. "Right, yeah. Good idea."

"How're you feeling about your training, anyway?" you say.

"Whatcha mean?" Sayaka asks.

"Well... how do you feel you're progressing?" you ask. "Are you happy with how your skills are developing?"

Sayaka doesn't answer you immediately, but when you glance over at her, you can see that her eyes are open and staring at the sky, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Yeah, I think I am," Sayaka says, after a moment of contemplation. "Like... you are a one of a kind freak of existence, with your Wish and powers and all, and Homura's Homura, but I can do stuff without you holding my hand, and I can help save lives. Kyouko's helping me get better at it, and I'm making good progress there, and... yeah, I feel pretty good about it."

"I'm glad," you say with a grin. "And I notice you didn't mention Mami."

"Because I knew you would, so I didn't need to," Sayaka says. She tilts her head to smirk at you.

"... This is an attack and I will not stand for it," you say.

"Yeah, you will," Sayaka says.

"... yeah, well," you mutter. "I'm gonna get you back for it. Also, it's not my fault meguca power is proportional to gayness."

Sayaka doesn't deign to respond, instead tucking her arms under her head and closing her eyes. You snort, eyeing the skyline - the rusting towers of the old industrial district ahead, and the river bordering Mitakihara and Kasamino just beyond.

"So," you say after a moment. "I've got actual ideas to talk about, if we're done mocking the perfectly undeserving."

"Sure, if you can find any undeserving of mocking," Sayaka says, sitting up with a groan. "Whassup?"

"I was thinking of doing a group training session tomorrow before the shopping?" you say. "But I don't know how much homework you guys actually have."

"Oh c'mon," Sayaka says. "You're not going to take up the entire damn day, right? If you can help us with the harder stuff, we can do the rest ourselves." She sticks her tongue out at you. "We're not bad students, y'know. Just ugh, reals analysis."

"Hah, OK," you say. "I'll check in with everyone else later, then. Training, shopping, homework session in that order, or something like that."

"Don't forget dinner with Hitomi's parents," Sayaka says, snorting. "God, but that's just weird to think about. That they... well, Hitomi's mom knew about magical girls all this time, I mean."

"I'm not sure she did," you say thoughtfully. "It might be that, you know, her memories were locked by Kyuubey until, uh. Recent events."

"Blech," Sayaka says, making a disgusted face.

"Yeah. Anyway, moving swiftly on from that unpleasantness," you say, waving a hand. "So you can make a shield, yeah?"

"Yeah?" Sayaka says.

"How 'bout armour?" You grin at Sayaka. "I feel like knight's armour would suit you pretty well. Plate armour, shield."

"You think so?" Sayaka says. "Hmm. I can try, but I dunno how much it'll actually help."

"Oh?" you say.

"A shield is nice, but we're magical girls. We're supposed to dodge and all that, and anything that does hit us is... probably not going to get stopped by armour," Sayaka say. "I dunno? You tell me."

"Honestly, every magical girl does their own thing," you say, shrugging. "We're super durable by default, and yeah, we're fast. Mami focuses on not getting hit and using her ribbons if she does, Kyouko focuses on not getting hit. There's that girl over in Ishinomaki with the armour, on the other hand."

"And I suppose I have this breastplate, so maybe?" Sayaka muses, rapping her fingers on said breastplate. "Could be worth trying. But mnnnnot during training."

"I mean, Kyouko's job is to help you with melee," you note. "Figuring out new ways to use magic and stuff is Mami's thing." You pause slightly, frowning. "Hey, did you say reals analysis earlier?"

"Yeah?" Sayaka says. "Mami's doing calculus, right?"

"I mean, yeah, she is," you say. "And OK, I suppose a grounding in limits and infinitesimals and such is good if you're approaching calculus from fundamental principles."

"Yeah, I think that's how it works," Sayaka says. "Every year, start of the semester, they lay it all out for us, but that no one pays attention to."

"Right. I guess that makes sense," you say. It is not cowardice to beat a verbal retreat even if you're still boggling internally at Mitakihara's curriculum.

The conversation lapses as you speed across the river, clear blue water streaked with the V-shaped wakes of boats and shipping, cutting across the waves. On the far bank are the buildings of Kasamino, office buildings and apartments intermingled with each other. You catch a flash of red, atop one.

"Y' see me?" Kyouko demands abruptly.

"If that's you on top of the building watching us, yeah?" you say.

"Good, good. Get your dinner plate of doom over here," Kyouko says, and cuts the connection.

You carefully do not look at Sayaka, who's still lying down with her eyes closed, and just as carefully change direction to cruise by that building, keeping the course-change slow and steady as if nothing's different.

As you approach the building, you spot Kyouko and Yuma - the former crouched on the edge of the roof, ponytail blowing in the wind like a dusky crimson banner. She catches your eye and grins, then she leaps towards the platform and kicks Sayaka off.

Yuma joins you with an easy hop, settling down where Sayaka was lying.

"Heya!" you say, pulling up gently rise to above roof-level of the skyscrapers.

"Hi!" Yuma chirps. She pulls out a chocolate bar from somewhere in her costume and starts snacking on it.

"How's it going?" you ask, smiling slightly. Looks like Yuma's picked up a habit from Kyouko.

"Yuma is doing OK," Yuma says between bites. "Big sis said to tell you to wait for her at the same park. Her and Miss Sayaka."

"Gotcha," you say, and start drifting leisurely in that general direction. You can hear more yelling and the clash of metal from over there, anyway, somewhere in between the buildings. "Hunted any Witches lately?"

"We fought one yesterday!" Yuma says, nodding vigorously enough to make her hair bounce. "It was a big one! Big white face and red nose and stuff. Big sis said it was OK? Part of her payment?"

"... what, like a clown?" you say, grimacing.

"Ah! A clown, yes!" Yuma says. "What about Miss Sabrina?"

"No, but we probably should, soon," you say with a hum. "How's Kyouko been?"

"Big sis has been a bit moody," Yuma says. She gives you a timid look, peering up from beneath her bangs. "But she's been glad about the church, Yuma thinks. Yuma... Yuma heard you talking to big sis last time. About her going home?"

"Ah, yeah," you say, ruffling Yuma's hair gently. That rather... raw confrontation with Kyouko about Mami, about forgiveness and whether Kyouko deserved it. "First of all, if she does, you'll definitely have a place in Mitakihara. OK?"

"Yuma wasn't worried about that," Yuma says.

"Fair enough," you say, politely ignoring the quavering relief in her voice. "Well, second of all, I don't know how much you heard, or how much Kyouko told you, but.... well, it's a work in progress."

"Yuma knows," Yuma says, drooping sadly. "Yuma wants big sis to be happy."

"She will be," you say. "Even if I have to drag her kicking and screaming to that happiness."

"Big sis won't like that," Yuma says.

"It's a figure of speech," you say with a laugh. "I don't mean to actually drag Kyouko anywhere-" if only because Kyouko would object, strenuously, "-but I really do mean to help work things out. Mami and Kyouko don't actually hate each other, you know? It's just... hurt feelings that made them stop being friends."

"Oh," Yuma says. "Big people are dumb."

"Well, yeah," you say. "I wish things were simpler, but... ah, well."

Yuma falls silent at that point as the park comes into view, and you home in on the sound of yelling. Really, you're surprised no one's stumbled on them yet. On a hunch, you ready your nanofog, spreading it out ahead of you and ready.

Which is just as well, because you land just in time to have a flailing, yelling Sayaka hurled in your direction with a crack of chain-spear. You catch her sword and cushion her trajectory with Grief, setting her down carefully.

"You know, I sort of expected this, but it sucks anyway," Sayaka notes, rubbing her left shoulder with a wince. She flicks a hand at her sword, dissolving it into glimmering motes of blue that fade to nothing.

"You're still not ready to fight without your powers," Kyouko grumbles, leaning against her spear. "I geddit, you hit the jackpot and you've got lotsa tricks. But you still don't have the attitude to survive."

"What does that even mean?" Sayaka asks.

"It means..." Kyouko waves a hand, looking irritated. "It means when your back's against the wall, you use what you've got. You've got a sword, so you use the sword."

"I was," Sayaka says, looking to you before realising that she'd already dismissed it. "I got rid of it, but I was using it."

"Nah, that's not what I mean," Kyouko says. "It's... it's how you use it. You use it like you wanna get rid of it so you can use something better."

"I... well, I kind of do," Sayaka says.

"What're you here to learn from me again?" Kyouko says, cupping her ear theatrically.

"... how to fight... with my sword?" Sayaka says.

"Yep," Kyouko says. "Can't teach you attitude, but if you wanna get good with your sword, you need to figure that out."

"Yeah..." Sayaka says, holding her hand out to manifest a sword. She frowns thoughtfully at the gleaming steel. "OK, yeah. I guess that makes sense."

"And you let yourself get herded," Kyouko says. "Not quite your fault, you're new, but you gotta learn to recognise it, or one day you're gonna get dropped right into an ambush."

"Right, yeah," Sayaka says. "Yeah. I see, OK. I'll work on that."

"Great," Kyouko says. Her eyes don't flicker, fixed steadily on Sayaka. "Think fast."

Kyouko's spear slashes out - at you.

"Wha-" You're already ducking, Grief flashing into a solid shield ahead of you as steel rings on steel.

"Sorry, Miss Sayaka-" You don't see what happens, but you sure as hell feel it, the ground shuddering beneath your feet. You sweep the Grief aside just in time to hear Sayaka squawking in outrage, giving ground before a furious, lightning fast hail of blows from Yuma. For all the size disparity, every time Sayaka catches her mace in a block, you can see Sayaka's wrists bend.

"Figured out she could do that," Kyouko grunts, slouching her way over to you and joining you under the shade of a tree. "And t' your girl's credit, she did catch the spear for you."

"She learns faster than you'd think," you note.

"I noticed," Kyouko says drily. She sighs, pulling a bag of chocolates from her pocket, which she rips open and offers to you. You grab a handful, watching as Yuma drives Sayaka up a tree. Literally up a tree, Sayaka scrabbling to evade Yuma's relentless assault. "So."

"So?" you say, echoing her words and munching on the chocolate. You eye Sayaka as she leaps off the tree, aiming a double-handed slash at Yuma, which the younger girl blocks easily. But now Sayaka's ready, dropping into a slide and kicking Yuma's feet out from under her.

"Whatcha got for me this time?" Kyouko gives you a sidelong look.

"Ah," you say. "Well. A warning - we've got a probably hostile and definitely dangerous magical girl headed towards Mitakihara, but we're not sure where from, so it's not impossible that she might pass through Kasamino?"

"That's nothing new," Kyouko says with a smirk. "I can -Oi, don't knock the damn tree down!- handle myself. We can handle ourselves."

"They're a hunter of magical girls," you say. "Maybe you can, but they specialize in that."

Kyouko grunts in irritation. "She's after you?"

"Prrrrrobably," you say. "So it's only fair to warn yo- oww." You can't help but wince as Sayaka hesitates for just the barest fraction of a second and takes a mace to the belly that launches her straight up with a shockwave that shivers through the trees and sends leaves raining down on you.

"You fucking saw that coming, block or dodge! Use your damn instincts!" Kyouko yells at Sayaka. "What do you mean, they?"

"Two magical girls, one body," you say with a sigh, picking leaves out of your hair. "Fire and ice powers, and given the one body thing, they coordinate and combine their magic really well."

"Nasty," Kyouko opines. "So, what. Send 'er your way?"

"I'm not expecting you to fight her for me," you say with a shrug.

"Yeah, sure," Kyouko says.

"Really?" You blink at Kyouko, surprised. You're slightly less surprised by Yuma crashing down through the canopy, followed by Sayaka.

"Yep," Kyouko says. "Not gonna borrow trouble, and I ain't gonna put Yuma in danger."

"Huh," you say. "Well... good."

Kyouko grins at you, fang protruding. "You're acting like you expected me to fight you on it."

"Well... kind of, yeah," you say.

Kyouko snorts, and shrugs. "It's your problem, you deal with it," she says. "And Yuma's a good kid. She'd probably be able to handle it with me, but I don't want her to have to."

"She's a good influence on you." You grin at her undeterred by the ringing clash of steel, sparks scattering from a strike of mace against sword.

"Crawl into a ditch and die," she says without any real heat.

"Yuma's getting really good at fighting, too," you say happily.

"She's a good kid," Kyouko repeats.

"She is," you say.

Kyouko sighs quietly, cracking her knuckles. "Alright. After Yuma's done with Sayaka, they're gonna do practices."

"Hmm?" you say. A tree shudders, as if someone were just knocked into it. "What do you mean?"

"Yeah, practices," Kyouko says. "Block high, strike high, blah blah martial arts movie shit. Light sparring. It's not completely useless, she's gotta get the..." She screws her face up. "She's gotta get used to the idea."

"Makes sense," you agree.

"And while that happens, we're gonna talk about Mami," Kyouko says, narrowing her eyes at you. "So you better have something good for me."

"Only if you have something more than 'something good' to go on," you riposte with a calmness you don't quite feel. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Start with your grand plan of getting Mami to not kill me when I see her again," Kyouko says, and folds her arms, settling back against the tree.

[] How will you respond to Kyouko?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[x] Ask Kyouko for her thoughts and advice on dealing with mind magic.
--[x] If she asks why, inform her of your suspicions about Tokyo. Be careful - it's obviously a charged topic for her.

=====

Posting from my phone, at the airport before my flight, hah. See you on the flipside!

 

[Firnagzen]

"So..." You lean back against the same tree Kyouko's slouched against, so that you don't have to look at each other. She seems to prefer that, tsundere feral cat that she is.

"Up-bup-bup, shaddup," Kyouko says. "I said after Yuma's done with Sayaka and I get them practicing."

"I wasn't gonna!" you protest. That earns you a suspicious, side-long look from Kyouko. "I mean, OK, I deserve that, but I really wasn't gonna. I was gonna ask if I can ask you a slightly delicate question, not related to Mami?"

"Ugh," Kyouko says, after eyeing you for a moment longer. "Why didn't I gut you the first time I saw you again?"

There's a loud crashing sound, somewhere off in the foliage, and something that sounds very much like Sayaka cursing in a distinctly retrograde fashion, if the dopplering sound of her voice is any indication.

"Laaanguage!" you call cheerfully, snickering and continuing in a softer voice. "Because I'm just that loveable?"

"Loveable, yeah, right," Kyouko mutters, letting her head thump back against the tree. Then she flinches away from said tree and starts brushing the bark out of her ponytail.

You give her your very best bright, winning smile.

Kyouko sighs, and waves her hand in a vague 'oh, go on' gesture, pulling a lollipop from her pocket with her other hand. The lollipop gets unwrapped in a swift, practiced swipe of her thumb, and she sticks it in her mouth, letting the stick dangle.

"So... you remember what we talked about last time, right?" you say, and continue at her nod. "Do you have any advice about dealing with mind magics?"

Kyouko stares at you for a long moment, and shakes her head. "I don't know what the hell goes through your head sometimes," she mutters. "I dunno why that's a delicate question. Mind magic, huh."

"Really?" you say, raising an eyebrow.

She slouches back against the tree, pulling her ponytail out of the way and making a rude gesture at you.

"I'm not some kinda fucking princess," she grouses, jaw jutting. "Mind magic is... ugh. Christ."

Ah, pride. Right.

"Look," Kyouko says, waving a hand forcefully as if trying to bludgeon an invisible cow to death. "Th' most important thing with stuff fucking with your head is noticing that it's even happening in the first place. You notice that, you've won... eighty percent of the battle."

She frowns at you.

"Lemme guess, you're looking for some sort of fancy magic trick to do it for you?" she says.

"Well... yeah," you say. You hold up both hands. "I know, I know, it's very me. But I'm just afraid that it might affect my perception of reality so much that I can't even notice it happening."

"Yeah, it is," Kyouko says. "Also, not completely wrong. Instincts only get you so far."

"... huh," you say, peering at Kyouko. She's being unusually nice today. Suspiciously nice.

"No idea where or how to make 'em, though," she says, ignoring your look and scowling at one of the trees. "Good if you can get 'em. Instinct and being careful only takes you so far. YUMA, WRAP IT UP!"

You wince at the bellow, leaning away from Kyouko, and the answering crashes coming through the trees. When Yuma and Sayaka reappear, the latter looks considerably worse for the wear, bark and dirt and smushed leaves ground into her costume and her hair. Yuma's grinning from ear to ear, bouncing lightly over mulch and scattered twigs.

"So what've we learned?" Kyouko asks.

"That Yuma here is a monster who isn't above taking advantage of the fact that I'm kinda reluctant to hit her too hard?" Sayaka grumbles. She flicks her cape out, shaking the stains off and leaving it a pristine white once more.

"Big sis told Yuma to!" Yuma says with a bright, happy smile.

"OK, that's somethin' else you gotta work on. Well done, Yuma," Kyouko says, beckoning Yuma over and ruffling her hair. "What else?"

Sayaka sighs heavily.

"If someone's focusing on disrupting me, I'm still not good enough to, uh, get enough space to actually find a useful power," Sayaka says.

"Yep," Kyouko says.

Sayaka grumbles, folding her arms. "First of all, I'm gonna make, like... a bracelet or something so I can wear the power jewels in an easily accessible way," she says. "I can't believe I didn't think of that before, actually. Second of all, if that was your point, shouldn't I be focusing on learning how to do that?"

"Yep," Kyouko repeats. "You'll be practicing with Yuma, again - light sparring. Kinda. She's going to try and hit you, no powers, and you gotta block."

"That's it?" Sayaka says, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"With one hand," Kyouko elaborates. "Block, dodge maybe, don't attack. Point is to get you comfortable with the idea, free up your other hand - you can't carry your copied magic with you indefinitely, right? So you gotta be able to grab 'em when you need to. Plus it frees up an arm if you need it. An' don't think Yuma's gonna make it easy for you, either."

"Hng," Sayaka says. "Yeah, OK." She eyes Yuma suspiciously, who in turn completely fails to look innocent.

Kyouko sighs explosively. "C'mon. There's a clearing 'round here, let's go find it."

"Ah, I saw that on the way in," you note. "It's this way."

You lead the way, picking through trees. This place is some kind of weird nature reserve, you're reasonably sure of now - or at least a very weird park, with entire copses of trees. You really should remember to look it up sometime.

Still, musings aside, you make it to the clearing.

"Yuma, you know what to do," Kyouko calls, and waves you over to a flat rock that she perches on. You settle down beside her, trying to find a comfortable spot before giving up and forming a platform of Grief.

"So what do I do with m- ow, Yuma!" Sayaka gets smacked -lightly!- by Yuma's mace, the younger girl grinning at her.

"Do whatever you want!" Kyouko calls back. "Keep one hand free, block or dodge, don't attack. Simple enough that you probably can't screw it up."

"Right, right," Sayaka says with a sigh. She turns to face Yuma, single sword held out and one arm folded behind her back in a pose vaguely reminiscent of a fencer's guard, before rethinking that and adjusting so that her arm hangs freely. "Ready."

Yuma bounces lightly on her toes - and then bounces three meters straight up and over Sayaka, who squawks and jerks her head to the side, avoiding the sweep of Yuma's mace.

"Man, when did Yuma get so vicious?" you mutter.

"Man, why doesn't Sayaka have any killer instinct?" Kyouko asks.

"'Killer instinct'? Really?" you turn a raised eyebrow on Kyouko, ignoring the clash of steel on steel from the practice.

She shrugs, unrepentant, but the smirk doesn't last long, fading into seriousness that's somewhat ruined by the lollipop stick dangling from the corner of her mouth.

"Well?" she says.

You exhale slowly, marshalling your thoughts, and check that Yuma and Sayaka are busy. This is going to hurt.

"Well... again, I'm going to call back to what we talked about last time," you say. You meet Kyouko's eyes. "I know that if Mami had actually wanted to kill you, you'd be dead. And Mami shortly after."

Kyouko flinches.

"Bullshit," Kyouko snaps, more on reflex than anything else. You can see you scored a hit - and while you managed a steady voice, you can't even begin to imagine your own expression right now.

"It would kill her to do that to a friend," you say, your voice wobbling a little. "I know how the fight started, Kyouko, and based on what I'm seeing now?" You make a small gesture to indicate Yuma, who's trying to knock Sayaka's knees in. "I'm pretty damned sure it's not going to happen again."

"That's-" Kyouko's expression shutters, closing off and turning into fierce anger. "I asked you a question."

You nod, accepting that. You'd known, going in, that it would hurt going down. But she needed to hear it, and it's why you think reconciliation is possible on even grounds.

Mami would accept Kyouko back, without question, no matter what she'd done. Of course she would. Even now, with you and Homura and Sayaka and Madoka and Hitomi, with Kazumi and her friends, Mami hasn't shaken that fear of abandonment. This isn't the kind of thing that's solved in a day, or even a few weeks. It takes time, it takes love, it takes care.

Kyouko, though...

Kyouko needs to forgive herself. It strikes you that she might even have been trying to commit suicide by cop, because there's a place for people 'like her'. There's a place for people who kill themselves, isn't there? She was punishing herself, for sinning.

"Something concrete, then," you say, and now you do smile. You've run through jokes and ideas to reassure her, but frankly, you should just keep it simple. "If you agree, I act as the intermediary. With your permission, all we need to do is to explain why it started, and that's... it."

"That simple?" Kyouko says, sneering a bit.

"That simple," you say. "The biggest reason I haven't done it is because bringing it up hurts Mami. I don't want to do that if I don't have anything from your end. It doesn't need to be more complicated than that, and honestly, from there... as long as you don't pick another fight, that's it."

"Yeah, just run your mouth and everything's gonna be wonderful again," Kyouko snaps. But she doesn't seem angry with you. Not exactly.

"Again, huh?" you say, a note of light teasing in your voice. You're forcing it, but you don't want this to be something quite so heavy, or fraught. It is that simple. "In the end, you've just got to suck it up and do what you were always had to do in the end. Sit down and talk. Communicate."

"And if you're wrong?" Kyouko says.

"If I'm wrong, if Mami attacks you, then I end the fight," you say. "Homura and Sayaka, too."

"As if you'd have a chance," Kyouko spits, pulling her legs up onto the flat rock and hugging her knees to her chest.

"Nah, I wouldn't," you say. "But she wouldn't hurt me."

"Confident, aintcha," Kyouko says, without any real heat.

You shrug, and glance at Sayaka and Yuma, and then do a double-take. "Hey, uh- oh, there they are."

"Slow, too," Kyouko says drily, seeming to pull herself together. "Yeah, blue wonder there lured Yuma to move further away." She snorts. "She's learning."

"My mouth sometimes does the thing with the words faster than my brain catches up," you say, shrugging. Now that you're looking, you can see Sayaka and Yuma, still practicing vigorously, albeit further away from the two of you. Yuma's really throwing herself into it, bouncing off trees and branches and the ground like an overly excited pinball.

Kyouko sighs, uncurling her legs and kicking them out in front of her so she can lean back, propped up with both arms and head tipped back to stare at the leafy canopy above you.

"Fine," she says. "When?"

[] Answer Kyouko
- [] Now!
- [] Tonight.
- [] Tomorrow?
- [] Monday.
- [] Write-in...
[] Wrapping up the training session
- [] Anything to ask Kyouko to help Sayaka with?
[] Heading back to Mitakihara
- [] What next?
Word count limit: 150 words

=====​

So, about those Sunday updates... >_>

 

[Firnagzen]

"Now- uhhh," You choke back your instinctive, delighted response, and substitute it for something a little more reasonable, but you can't help the grin that splits your face. "Toooooonight, if you want? I'll head back and talk to Mami in-person, but our schedules are pretty clear, I think."

"Wai-" Kyouko flinches. "Tonight? But I-"

"Is that... too soon?" you venture. Dammit, you should have thought of this - of course Kyouko would need time to gather herself too. This isn't the work of a day, even if you've been chiselling away at it for wee-

"No, fuck that," Kyouko says, jaw jutting. She grabs the lollipop still dangling from her mouth and crunches it hard. "Tonight. You better not wimp out on me."

You blink, and look at Kyouko, really look at her. Because beneath that bravado, beneath that prickly shell, is fear. Fear and hope and guilt and could-have-been and regrets, a raw, festering stew of feelings that were never really resolved. Heck, if things had gone differently between them, you might not be Mami's girlfriend.

You set aside the pang at that thought.

"I'll confirm it later, then," you say, rather than voice any of your thoughts or the reassurances on the tip of your tongue. She'd spurn them at the best of times, and this... isn't the best of times. "Would you prefer we meet in your territory, or in Mitakihara? It's your choice."

"Wherever the fuck," Kyouko grunts.

"Alright. I'll let you know," you say, nodding firmly.

"Right," Kyouko says, shouldering her spear and slouching abruptly outright. "I'm gonna go find Wondergirl."

"By the way, I was meaning to ask," you say. Topic over, by decree of Kyouko, new topic located. "Is that an Evangelion reference?"

"What? No the fuck it isn't," Kyouko says. She pauses, and frowns at you. "Wait."

You snicker, and grin at her. "Is it?"

"Shut up," Kyouko says.

"Anyway, try not to rough her up too much?" you say, following as she starts picking her way past the trees. "I've got other important stuff to sit her down to talk for, and I'd rather she be awake for it."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kyouko says, scowling.

You find Sayaka and Yuma still sparring past the trees, both of them making use of the close confines of the tree trunks to their advantage - Sayaka bobs and dodges behind them, Yuma a green blur bouncing off branches to strike at Sayaka. Steel chimes as Yuma darts in for another powerful, two-handed slam, and Sayaka meets it with one hand, baring her teeth. Her other hand is drawn back, clenched into a shaking fist as she's drawn into a contest of strength that looks almost comical but for the fact that Sayaka's wrist is bending inwards.

"Yuma!" Kyouko barks. "Shockwave!"

There's just enough time for Sayaka's eyes to widen in comprehension before power floods down Yuma's weapon, a cascading flare of emerald sparks that surges out with a boom. It sets your coat flapping, leaves and dirt scattering from the ground ahead of the blast.

"Wow," you observe.

Sayaka's still standing, barely. Her feet left furrows in the dirt, shoved back against some tree roots, and she looks utterly windswept - her hair looks like yours on a bad day. She lowers her sword, panting and glaring at Kyouko, evidently too breathless to form words.

Yuma dismisses her mace and bounces back to Kyouko's side, beaming happily.

"Not bad," Kyouko says grudgingly, rooting around in her pockets and producing another lollipop for Yuma. "Getting the idea."

"What was that?" Sayaka complains, finally finding her tongue. She works her shoulder, looking aggrieved.

"That was fun!" Yuma says brightly as she eagerly unwraps the sweet and sticks it in her mouth. She lets it dangle the same way Kyouko does, too.

"... you're a terrible influence," Sayaka says, eyeing Yuma, then Kyouko.

"Big sis is the best influence!" Yuma protests.

"Don't push it," Kyouko says with a snort. You're not exactly sure who she's referring to there, but you grin at Sayaka anyway.

"You looked like you were having fun," you say.

"Fun, right," Sayaka mutters. "Getting beaten up by a little girl."

"Yuma is not little," Yuma says.

"It's working, innit?" Kyouko says, shrugging. "Now c'mon, we're gonna spar. This time, you're gonna try and get your powers out."

"Right, but I'm gonna try doing the bracelet thing so that I always have access to them?" Sayaka says, pursing her lips. "I mean, sure, I might not always have access to it, but..."

"You're here to learn how to fight, aintcha?" Kyouko says, shrugging. "Like y' literally just said, you're not always gonna have the stuff on you."

"Yeah... and I suppose I might have to fight down an arm or something at some point," Sayaka mutters, wincing slightly, and nods. "Right. OK. Let's do this."

"Back over there, then," Kyouko says, pivoting on a foot and sauntering away with spear still slung over her shoulder, Yuma bouncing energetically at her side.

"D'you think she fed Yuma extra sugar or something before this just to spite me?" Sayaka mutters to you as the two of you make your way between the trees.

You consider this.

"To spite you? Nah," you say. "It's just that deep down inside, Kyouko's actually a big softy. And she loves food, I dunno if you've noticed."

"Oh, I have," Sayaka grumbles. She eyes you. "That talk of yours go OK?"

"Yeah," you say. "Thanks for leading Yuma away, by the way."

"Eh," Sayaka says with a shrug. "Polite thing to do, right?"

"Still," you say, flashing her a grin. "Thanks."

"Hope it went well?" Sayaka asks.

"Better than I expected, honestly," you say.

"Oi, slowpokes!" Kyouko yells from up ahead. "Daylight's wasting!"

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka calls back, hurrying over.

"And don't forget... ahh..." you enter the clearing, and change your mind. "Yuma? Before I forget again, may Sayaka copy your power? With Kyouko's permission, of course."

"Oi," Sayaka grumbles, elbowing you. "I hadn't forgotten, I was just leaving it towards the end."

"Your call, Yuma," Kyouko says, leaning against her spear and glancing at Yuma.

"Um... Miss Sayaka is nice!" Yuma says. "So OK!" She walks over, holding her hand out.

"Thanks, Yuma," Sayaka says with a smile, clasping her hand and shaking gently. You feel the spark of magic flare, a portion of Sayaka's rearranging itself. "Cool."

Sayaka grins and flexes her hand, producing a power jewel, which she tucks away into her cloak - and then she stiffens, drawing a sword in the same motion to point at Kyouko.

"What?" Kyouko says, smirking.

"Nuh-uh," Sayaka says, still holding the sword at full extension, like a fencer's guard. "I don't trust you any more."

"Good," Kyouko says. "You're not guarding 'gainst Yuma, though."

"She's close enough that I won't be able to block, I'd have to dodge," Sayaka says. She does take a step away from the much shorter girl, though.

"Good, good, now-" With a crack, Kyouko's spear explodes to life, segments whirling through the air like a living thing. The head lashes straight for Sayaka, who ducks it with a yelp-

-and slams the point of her sword through the nearest chain-link and stapling it to the ground.

"I've been-" Sayaka hurls herself at Kyouko, brand new sword flashing into her hand. "-thinking about this!"

This time, Kyouko's forced into a dodge, abandoning her spear and leaping aside. Sayaka dances back, boots kicking up lumps of soft loam and hand diving under her cloak with a yell of triumph.

"Got it!" she sings out, lowering her sword.

"Not bad," Kyouko says grudgingly. She conjures another spear, flourishing it in a wheeling spin before levelling one-handed it at Sayaka. "Can you do it again?"

Sayaka grins, and drops into a ready stance. Kyouko... doesn't attack, still holding the spear out. Sayaka's hand dives under her cloak, reaching - but she's forced into a block a moment later, Kyouko's spear slashing forward at blinding speeds.

Sayaka goes on the back foot, parrying a flurry of dashing thrusts from Kyouko, the redhead grinning as she advances step by step.

"Kyouko's getting predictable," you observe to Yuma. "With the surprise attacks, I mean."

"Yuma thinks so too," Yuma says. "Big sis likes to surprise us, but is it a surprise if we're expecting the surprise?"

"Probably not," you say. "The timing of the surprise can be a surprise in and of itself, though."

"Hm!" Yuma says, not really agreeing, but not really disagreeing either.

You settle back to watch the rest of the training, producing Grief benches for you and Yuma to lounge on. Kyouko's not a bad teacher, really, yelling advice and veiled encouragement across the sound of clashing steel. Admittedly, the encouragement is quite heavily veiled, but still. Yuma produces a bag of actual popcorn from somewhere, and you snack companionably on it as you watch the sparring surge back and forth across the clearing.

"Hah!" Sayaka slashes low, forcing Kyouko to block, and follows the motion into a low, rising kick almost reminiscent of a break-dance move. Both feet slam into Kyouko's gut, and Kyouko goes flying. "Yeah! Tak-"

Her triumphant shout is cut short by a crack of Kyouko's spear - the first one, the one that Sayaka had staked to the ground. It hits her in the shins, and then the small of her back, driving her down to her hands and knees.

"Gneh," Sayaka grumbles, as Kyouko hops down from a tree.

"What have we learned?" Kyouko asks, sounding amused.

"That you're a sneaky bitch?" Sayaka groans. She rubs at her back. "Ow."

"Damn straight I am," Kyouko says.

Yuma giggles.

"And I need to keep an eye on things that might be used against me later," Sayaka grumbles, standing properly. "Rrgrh. That's like... eight to three. Sabrina, do we have to go?"

"Time to start wrapping it up, yeah," you say, checking the time. "Kyouko, you've been keeping the Grief Seeds, right?"

More of a rhetorical prompt than anything, because you can sense that yes, she has multiple half-filled Grief Seeds on her, but it's not exactly polite to start with that. Yuma has some too.

"Yep," Kyouko says. "Pain in the ass, it is."

"Great," you say, and pass the bag of popcorn back to Yuma. Not that there's much of it left now, between the two of you. "So I'll get that sorted out now?"

"Yep," Kyouko says, pulling one from her pocket and touching it to her own Soul Gem. "Here. Yuma, you cleanse up too."

She tosses the Grief Seeds at you after she's done, and you don't even bother catching them with your hands. Instead, you stop them midair, letting them hang in the air like some bizarre constellation. Yuma hands you hers with considerably more decorum, and you add them to the orrery of Grief Seeds - and then you add rings to each one as you drain the Grief from the Seeds, setting them in a lazy orbit around your head for the fun of it.

"Sayaka? I take it you want a cleanse too?" you ask.

"Ugh, please," Sayaka grumbles, plucking her Soul Gem from her belly. "I can feel it, yuck."

"Fair enough," you say. You wipe your own clean too, while you're at it, and float the Grief Seeds back to Kyouko and Yuma. "All done!"

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko grumbles, giving each one a suspicious look. "Thanks, I guess."

"Hey, it's what we agreed on, right?" you say with a smile. "Sayaka, got all your stuff?"

"Yeah, made sure to pick up all the powers, especially after someone started whacking 'em out of my hand," Sayaka says with a glare at Kyouko.

Kyouko just laughs. "You're getting better," she says. "But you're ten years too early to beat me."

"Just you wait," Sayaka grumbles, shaking her head. "Good training, though. Thanks."

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko says. "She's payin' for it. Now go."

"Aw, you'll miss us," you say, grinning. You start building your dinnerplate of doom anyway, taking a long step back. "I'll be in touch, and you better not chicken out, eh?"

Looks could hypothetically kill, given the existence of magical girls, but you're reasonably sure Kyouko hasn't developed the ability to shoot spears out of her eyes yet, or else you'd be perforated quite thoroughly right now. Still, somewhere out there, there's a magical girl who Wished for knife eye attacks.

"Hmm?" Sayaka eyes you, very obviously curious, but holds it in until you're both aboard the dinnerplate and airborne. You wave goodbye to Kyouko and Yuma as they recede into the distance, swallowed by the green of the park.

"Trying to help Kyouko and Mami reconcile," you say, rubbing at your nose. "Yeah. I'm not really gonna make that a big secret, because, well... Mami's gonna need all the support from her friends."

"Oh," Sayaka says. "Ah." She sucks in a breath, cheeks hollowing. "You think it'll be OK?"

"I know it will be," you say, nodding firmly. "And if it isn't... well, we're magical girls. It's up to us to seize fate and make of it what we will, right?"

"You can't use 'we're magical girls' as an excuse for everything," Sayaka says. "But yeah."

You grin back at her as you soar into the sky, starting to darken towards the fiery oranges and pinks of a beautiful sunset.

"So, on that note!" you say, raising the windshield a bit more so that the wind doesn't drown out speech. "Have you come to a decision over the big secret?" You raise a finger. "It's not now-or-never, but this evening is probably gonna be the last bit of free time we're not hella busy for the next few days."

"Iiii'm kinda leaning towards yes?" Sayaka ventures. She hesitates for a moment, looking deep in thought, and then nods firmly. "Yes. Tell me."

You break out into a huge grin. "Absolutely. But not here - we'll get Homura for this, if she's up for it."

"How dare you make me wait," Sayaka says, reaching forward to prod you in the side.

"Quit it," you say.

"No," Sayaka says, and pokes harder.

You swat her hand away, mock-glaring, and she grins at you. There's perhaps just a touch of nervousness in her eyes, swimming amidst the confident front, and you can't help but give her a reassuring smile.

"We'll be glad to have you on board, and you deserve to know," you say. "It's why I argued with Homura to let you know."

Sayaka huffs.

"Yeah, yeah," she says.

"Though, er... gimme a sec," you say, and switch to telepathy. "Mami? We're on our way back. How are you?"

"Ah, Sabrina!" Mami says, voice brightening. "We're at home now. I invited Homura over for dinner. I-is that OK?"

"That's perfect," you say. "You're perfect."

"A-alright," Mami says. "I'll... see you soon?"

"You will," you say firmly. "But ah... could you have Homura meet us on the roof? I want to have a quick chat with her and Sayaka."

"Alright," Mami says, voice strengthening. "Alright. I'll... send Homura up, and I'll see you soon."

"Until then, Mami," you say warmly.

"Until then," Mami says, and ends the call.

"Do you know, you get this dopey look on your face when you're brain-calling Mami?" Sayaka observes.

"You'd be the same too if you had an adorable girlfriend to call," you say.

Sayaka wrinkles her nose at you.

"I'm not a sap like you," she says. "Besides, I like Kyousuke."

"I mean, who's to say?" you say with a shrug.

"Not you, you're biased and gayer than a tree full of monkeys and nitrous oxide," Sayaka says, sticking her tongue out at you.

"That is a very specific metaphor," you note.

"I read it somewhere, I think, and you didn't deny it," Sayaka says.

"I mean... it's true," you say, shrugging ambivalently.

Sayaka snorts.

"Dork," she says accusingly.

[X] Poke Homura for timestop, and give Homura a debriefing before bringing in Sayaka. Heck, give Homura a big damn spinny-hug too, because progress!
- [] How do you break it to Homura?
- [] How do you break it to Sayaka?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

And here... we... go.