Puella Magi Adfligo Systema - Story only

[Firnagzen]

"Sa-ba-ka," you say, pointing accusingly right back at Sayaka. You can't hold the expression for long, though, a massive grin stealing back across your face. You're going to tell Sayaka about one of the biggest secrets. You're going to bring her in, with Homura's help, and it's a huge step forward. Not just for her, not just for you, but also paving the way to tell Mami sooner, rather than later.

"Uuuugh." Sayaka blinks, makes a sound of disgust, and flops over backwards onto the floor of your flight platform.

You snicker.

"So, in other matters - I asked you before the training, and just to round things out, I'll ask you again," you say. "How're you feeling about it? Training with Kyouko, I mean."

"It's good!" Sayaka says, stretching. "She's a tough teacher, but she knows her stuff. Plus, like you said, she's really a big softy."

"Yeah, she is," you say with a grin. Good, good. It's a start.

... It's not like you're going to force them together, but you know that they could be great together, and you can't help but want to encourage that. Admittedly, if Sayaka does manage to get Kyousuke to actually notice her, you'd be both impressed and happy for her - but also annoyed at having to throw out half a dozen theories. Either that, or just mark Sayaka down as a bizarre outlier.

You're mildly interested to note that Hitomi's shown no sign of wanting to declare her affections for Kyousuke, mind. If you had to guess, she's at the very least extremely reluctant to, because with Sayaka's sense of duty and indebtedness, she'd immediately bow out, and that would be uncomfortably close to coercion. You can respect that.

"Aaaalso, in sort-of-related stuff," you say as a thought strikes you. "Didn't you think about a bracelet for your power gems before? But you found it too confusing?"

"Sorta?" Sayaka says, tucking her arms under her head. "OK, so, that time, I wanted to put all of them onto the bracelet. Or a belt, I think. And that didn't work out too well, because I couldn't distinguish them properly. But what I'm thinking is that I pick out the... three most useful ones, let's say, and put them spaced out nicely, so I can tell which is which just from the position."

"Oooh, OK," you say, nodding. "So you just need to memorize where they are, rather than having to sort them out. Yeah, that's a good call."

"I was thinking Yuma's healing, Miss Benouna's juggernaut thing, and... hmm. Not sure of the last one," Sayaka says, pursing her lips. "Miss Koizumi's clones? Kure's antimagic? Miss Umeko's invisibility?"

"Look at you, spoilt for choice," you say with a snicker. "I think antimagic would be the best panic button, though if you get a more, uh, direct teleportation power than Miss Saki's, it would also be good."

"Maybe a second bracelet," Sayaka says, considering. "Or... a necklace. Actually, yeah, a necklace might work nicely. Not too conspicuous."

"Sounds good to me," you say. "Let me know if you need help forging something?"

"Can do," Sayaka says with a nod. She fidgets for a moment, watching the lone cloud in the sky scud by, before sitting up. "This secret."

"Yeah?" you say, giving her a curious look.

"It's..." Sayaka trails off, makes a face, and subsides, thumping the heel of her palm against her knee.

"What is it, Sayaka?" you ask. You turn away from watching the metaphorical road ahead -you're cruising above skyscraper level, anyway- and face her fully.

"I, uh... look, it's this big, scary secret that everyone's tiptoeing around, and now that I've committed to it I'm just kinda nervous about it," Sayaka says, fidgeting uncomfortably with her hands, her gloves rubbing together. "I want to ask questions now even though I know we're gonna discuss it soon."

"Oh," you say sheepishly. "Yeah, that's fair. I promise we're gonna do our best to explain it properly, alright? But not out here, where... anyone or anything could hear."

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka says, waving you off. "I know, I'm just nervous."

"Completely understandable," you say. "Won't be long, though."

"Mmrh," Sayaka agrees, and falls silent, staring up at the evening sky. A few stars are starting to peek through, glimmering, distant points of light wheeling far above as you soar towards home.

Homura cuts a distinctive figure even from a distance, standing statue-like on the roof. The evening wind's picked up a little, pulling her hair into a streaming black banner, bold and prominent against the blazing hues of sunset. And perched on her outstretched arm is an equally familiar figure.

"Hey!" you call as you land, grin already stretching from ear to ear.

"Hey, Homura," Sayaka says, rolling off the side of the dinner plate of doom to land on her feet. "... I see you found Mugin."

"It wouldn't stop pecking me until I picked it up," Homura says, a hint of a smidgen of a sliver of reproach colouring her tone.

The bird in question squawks loudly, fluffing up its feathers.

"Maybe he's hungry," Sayaka says, shrugging and reaching under her cloak. "Hold on, I've got some birdseed in my bag..."

As it turns out, a handful of scattered birdseed is enough to appease Mugin, who hops off Homura's arm and flutters down to peck at the birdseed. Homura, freed of her burden, catches your eye, and you nod, grinning. She cranks her shield-

-and you find her gripping your wrist lightly. You grin at Homura, meeting violet eyes with your own.

"We're going to tell Sayaka," you say. "We're going to tell Sayaka!"

"... Yes?" Homura says.

You find laughter, bright and joyous, bubbling up from your chest, loud enough to fill the emptiness of Homura's time stop, and before you can stop yourself, you pull her into a hug, and she's so light in your arms you can't help but pick her up and swing her around. She flails a little. And-

You blink, freezing, and set her down gently.

Are you blushing? You might be blushing. You're definitely feeling embarrassed enough.

"Um. Sorry," you say, sheepish, and ease into a more neutral hold. "Just... we're telling Sayaka, because she wants to know, and she's going into this with both eyes open, and just, just- this is huge, Homura."

"... yes," Homura says.

"... sorry about the hug?" you say, grinning weakly. "I know, um, not everyone is as touchy-feely as I am. Just, this is such a huge step forward and it's progress and I've been getting through to Kyouko too and it's a huge step forward and just, ugh, I'm repeating myself."

Homura shrugs, looking about as awkward as you feel.

"It's OK," she murmurs. "It... it is a big change."

"Yeah," you say with a happy sigh. "Yeah, it is. Before we begin, how are you? How did things go with Mami?"

"It... went well. The... the Kures were well behaved," Homura says, looking away and nailing the water tank on the roof with a glare. "I'm fine." She closes her mouth, frowns slightly, and looks up at you. "The... extra security is reassuring. What was that about Kyouko?"

"I'm glad," you say, smiling warmly. "And about Kyouko - I got her to agree to meeting Mami. To talk! I've got high hopes for reconciling them, and, and just- progress."

Homura nods, once and sharp.

"That's good," she says, and... she sounds honestly glad, the usual dispassion faded from her voice.

You laugh again, almost giddy with joy. "Thanks, Homura," you say, squeezing her arm gently. "But now- are you ready?"

She doesn't respond for a long moment, silent and still enough to be mistaken for someone frozen by the timestop, like Sayaka. But her fingers are warm on your wrist, and she looks like she's thinking through something, so you hold your tongue.

"Do you think it'll go well?" Homura asks quietly.

"Telling Sayaka, you mean?" You smile at Homura's nod, and turn to face her fully. "I think so. She's a lot smarter than most give her credit for, and she's fully on board with us, this loop. It's... Sayaka's reckless and impulsive, but she's with us, you know? And we've got concrete goals and plans to work with. So long as she's got that, she'll handle it fine."

"And..." you huff a quiet sigh, cheeks puffing out. "Look, I'm quite confident that Sayaka handles the Witchbomb better than most. And it's part of why the Incubator targets her first."

"She's... she's not weak, this time," Homura says quietly.

"She's got the support she needs, and the facts to point her against the real enemy," you say, gently correcting her. "She might have been more inclined to Witching out, before, but that's as much circumstance as anything else - like I said, the Incubator targeted her, specifically. She's part of the team now, and we support each other, yeah?"

Homura takes a moment to digest that, and nods. "OK," she murmurs.

"And... one last thing. If she somehow realise you're a time traveler, I've got your back," you say. "I'm with you, Homura, and it's your call how you want me to intervene there."

"Just..." Homura closes her eyes, exhaling. "Just make sure she's still on our side." She nudges your hand to grip her elbow, freeing her hands to pull some string from her shield. A few quick motions knot it around her wrist, and then yours, and then you walk over to Sayaka to lay your hand on her shoulder.

"Guh." Sayaka gasps as colour bleeds back into her. She shakes her head, blue hair flying.

You chuckle, offering her the string with your free hand.

"Hey," you say. "OK there, Sayaka?"

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka says, looking around the timestop as she loops the string around her wrist.

"Alright." You smile, pulling up enough Grief to make three simple chairs so that you don't have to sit on the roof, which isn't exactly clean. "Let's sit down for this."

"That's reassuring," Sayaka mutters, but sits down without any further fuss, tucking her hands on her lap like an attentive student - but from the way she clasps her fingers tightly together to not fidget, you can tell she's nervous.

"Right," you say, once everyone's seated comfortably. "So. Cleanses all around, first."

"That bad?" Sayaka says. Still, she offers up her own Soul Gem, as does Homura, and you drain them all away. This time, you don't collapse it all down, instead keeping it floating free around you.

"Yeah..." You sigh, flattening your palms on your thighs, and look at Sayaka. "As you guessed, what we're about to tell you is... awful, but it's something that we're trying to fix. Not just us, a few other magical girls, and it's something I'm actively recruiting for. Your help would be invaluable, if you're willing to after we explain this."

"Right..." Sayaka says, nodding slowly. "Who else is invol- no, nevermind, one thing at a time."

"One thing at a time," you agree. "So... let's start this right. You've watched Star Wars, right?"

"Yes, Sabrina," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes. "I've watched Star Wars."

"Great!" you say with a grin that you don't quite feel. "So when I tell you that it's true from a certain point of view..."

"Ugh," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes. "Just get on with it."

But she has relaxed a bit, so you'll take that as a win. And you should probably fight the urge to extend the metaphor to uncomfortable levels and point out that in that context, magical girls are Anakin Skywalker while Witches are Darth Vader.

"This stuff isn't called Grief for no reason," you say, letting the Grief coalesce enough to be visible to Sayaka. "I'm certain you've noticed that it actively makes you feel worse, and draining it away helps you feel better."

Sayaka nods slowly, eyes fixed on you. Her hands have stilled now, her attention fully on you.

"As your Soul Gem fills up, you feel worse and worse," you say softly. "And it's a vicious cycle, a feedback loop. The worse you feel, the more your Soul Gem fills up. I call it a Grief spiral, because that's what you do - spiral into the darkness. And finally, your Soul Gem fills up."

You exhale.

"It's not entirely true that we die if our Soul Gems fill up with Grief," you say. Your jaw tightens, because this is it. The big one. The point of no return. "We die... and a Witch is born from our Souls."

The blood drains from Sayaka's face, and she seems to stop breathing entirely.

"Easy, Sayaka," you say, leaning forward to place your hand over hers. After a second, Homura's hand joins yours, hesitant and slow. "Easy. Take a moment."

Sayaka's shaking.

"T-the. The-" It takes Sayaka a few tries, speaking through bloodless lips. "The Witches we've-"

"They were once magical girls," you say grimly. "But no- you haven't killed them. Witches..." You sigh. "Witches don't die, not really. They just go dormant."

"What- why?" Sayaka whispers.

"Kyuubey," you say quietly.

"The Incubator," Homura spits.

"Why?" Sayaka demands.

"For energy," you say. You can't help the humourless laugh. "It's... almost banal. All this suffering, because according to them - the expression of our souls, as magic, as Witches, can combat entropy."

"I-" Sayaka raises a shaking hand to run through her hair. "God."

"Take your time, Sayaka," you urge. "We're not going anywhere."

"I don't- I don't want to take my time, I, I- we- we turn into Witches?" Sayaka demands.

"Witches are born from our Souls," you echo your earlier words. Better a clear statement than diving into the complexities, right now. "And, um, let me cleanse for you?"

"I-" Sayaka stiffens. Her eyes snap down to her own Soul Gem, and you can see her shaking intensify. "Y-yes, please, I- I don't want that to-"

"It's not going to," you say, cutting her off as you drain her Soul Gem. "Not while I'm alive."

"R-right," Sayaka says, and for a wonder - she manages a shaky smile for you. "I... right. Right, right. That's why... yeah. Your magic."

"Yeah. I've got you." You return the smile, trying to project as much confidence as you can into it. "We've got you - Homura'd help you too."

"Right," Sayaka repeats, turning to Homura. The shaky smile vanishes a second later. "But I, the, the Witches. The one's we've faced."

"Are less lucky magical girls," you say with a sigh. "Imagine... imagine a depressive episode. There's nothing good to life. Nothing that brightens your day. There's no way to pull yourself out of the darkness. And you're just... immersed in that, forever. Your regrets, your shames. Witches lash out, or they retreat into themselves, or..."

You sigh, looking away.

"Monsters born out of Grief," you say. "What else can they be? They lash out. Or maybe they don't. They're girls like us who fell to despair, who kill people because they can't escape their fear and hate and anger."

"That's horrible," Sayaka whispers. "It's, it's..."

"There are no words adequate for it," you murmur. "But..." You sigh. "I wasn't trying to be morbid about it. The point I wanted to make is that they... we can't really communicate with them. We can only stop them from hurting others, and... themselves."

Slowly, you withdraw Hildegard from your pocket, and set it on your thigh. It balances on its point, glinting in the eerie, directionless half-light of Homura's timestop.

"I can draw the Grief out of a Grief Seed," you say. "At the very least... they're not suffering, like this."

"Right," Sayaka mutters. "I... give me a moment."

"Take all the time you need," you say, sitting back a little. You don't remove your hand from Sayaka's - and neither does Homura.

You flash her a reassuring smile. It's going to be OK.

"S-so," Sayaka says. "Don't let Soul Gems fill up, or we turn into horrible monsters. I..." She swallows, and shakes her head, looking between you and Homura. "That's... that's why you don't want Madoka to become a magical girl."

"Among other things, yeah," you say.

"Right..." Sayaka sucks in a shuddering breath. "I..."

"No need to rush this, Sayaka," you urge. "Really."

Sayaka shakes her head.

"This is a secret, right?" Sayaka asks.

"Yes," you say. "The three of us know it, obviously. Oriko and Kirika, too. Mami does not. Neither does Kyouko. And this is... Sayaka, I cannot emphasize this enough, this is dangerous to know. Don't go sharing it round randomly, OK?"

"Right, yeah, because the whole... spiralling. Yeah," Sayaka says, looking faintly sick. "I... yeah, OK. Obviously."

"And... be careful how you talk about it. Don't talk about it over telepathy, because Kyuubey will hear, and it will weaponize it if it can," you say. "Timestop is safe. My privacy sphere is safe, and you've got a shadowcopy of that, right? With Kazumi's magic?"

"Yeah," Sayaka says. "This is... this is a lot."

"I know," you say. "I'm sorry."

"I asked for it," Sayaka says, squeezing her eyes shut. She buries her face in one hand, trying to squeeze her temples with outstretched thumb and index finger. "Mami doesn't know?"

"Yeah," you say, sighing. "I... I can go into it later, but for now, trust me when I say I have reasons for not telling her yet. She knows that there's a secret, and she's... she's agreed not to ask about it for now."

"OK," Sayaka says. "Right. Same choice you gave me, kinda. Right, I..." She takes another hard, shuddering breath, and looks up. "What are we gonna do about this?"

[X] Thank Sayaka, and explain in some detail to her exactly how much you appreciate her choice to be told about the Witchbomb. Make it completely clear that this has been a huge, longstanding weight on you and that her choosing to be told about this stuff is just a really big deal for you on a personal level.
[] Elaborate on your plans and the people involved
- [] Write-in
[] Elaborate on any important details
- [] Write-in

=====​

Just in case someone's unfamiliar with the pronunciation, the "Sa" in "Sayaka" is pronounced more like the "sa" in "sardine".

 

[Firnagzen]

"Right..." you dither for a second, and then focus at Sayaka. "I'll answer that in a moment. There's a lot to say on that, because it's a big problem, and there's a lot to work on. I've got a lot on the docket, and there's stuff I'd dearly like your help and input on. But first of all, how are you feeling?"

"I'm..." Sayaka rubs her face with one gloved hand. "It's horrible, Sabrina. It's terrifying to think that I could turn into a monster if I'm not careful. I couldn't have dreamed of something like this, and... yeah. I get why the big fuss about keeping this a secret. But I'm... I'm OK."

She says it as if it's a revelation to herself, and then she nods decisively.

"I'm OK," she says. "I'm scared. But I think it's perfectly reasonable to be, and... I can deal with it."

You nod slowly, and grin at Sayaka, tucking Hildegarde back into your pocket.

"OK," you say. "Last thing, then we'll get into the details. Would you mind standing up? And uh, brace yourself?"

"Uh, ok?" Sayaka says. You dissolve the bench behind her as she stands and braces herself as instructed. "Why-"

You pounce, pulling her into a hug that has her breath whooshing out of her lungs.

"Thanks for listening, Sayaka," you mutter. "Thanks for choosing to listen. This... this means more than you know, to me. I hate, I hate keeping secrets and this is one of the big ones. Thank you for being cool about it."

You feel a hesitant hand pat you on the back, Homura giving you a look you can't quite decipher. A flash of... guilt?

Ah.

"C'mon, what else was I gonna do?" Sayaka says. "'sfar as I'm concerned, listening was the right thing to do. And I can help, so... so much the better."

"Yeah, well, thank you. I mean it," you say, releasing Sayaka before turning to Homura. You wait until she meets your gaze before giving her a gentle smile. "And Homura. Please don't blame yourself for forcing me to keep secrets, yeah? You didn't force me to - I chose to, because I get it. Like... I'm keeping this secret from Mami still, because I know it will hurt her, and that's on me. Alright?"

You hold her gaze for a moment until her eyes waver a bit - you'd hug her, but you know she's a little uncomfortable with it in front of other people. Instead, you settle for clasping her shoulder gently.

Sayaka snorts, attention now focused on Homura. "And you. I've got your back too, you know that, right?" She props her fists on her hips, arching an eyebrow at the other girl. "We're on the same side, and like..." She wrinkles her nose. "Yeah, I get it. I'm not sure I wouldn't come off as a weirdo if I'd had to deal with this shit alone."

"Hey, Homura's not a weirdo," you protest.

"You're not a good judge, weirdo," Sayaka says, sticking her tongue out at you.

"Oh, real mature," you say. You squeeze Homura's shoulder gently. "I mean it, though. We're all on the same side, and... I hate secrets, but I choose to keep them. I understand why they're necessary."

Homura nods, violet gaze sliding away from you to stare into the frozen city. The shadows seem deeper, in her timestop, the lifeless greys accentuating the evening pall. Her eyes flick northwards - northwards, to the Kanames', then back to you, then to Sayaka.

"Thank you," she says quietly. "For understanding."

"'course," Sayaka says, and grins. "Honestly under all that you-ness you're pretty nice, so... I'm glad I got to meet you properly, transfer student."

Homura sighs faintly.

"Anyway," Sayaka says, her good cheer fading a little as she returns her attention to you. She looks around for the Grief chair - long since vanished, but now instantly reformed for her. "So, what are we doing about all this?"

You seat yourself back down, too, and hum thoughtfully.

"There's a lot to cover, so... I'll start with a high level overview of sorts," you say, bobbing imaginary weights in either hand, up and down to emphasize your points. "Prevention and cure. I mean, it's not a disease, but the idea applies, you know? And honestly, you can help with both."

"Tell me more," Sayaka says, nodding soberly. She clasps her hands on her knees, attention focused fully on you - the very picture of a model, alert student, and without a trace of mockery, at that.

"Prevention..." You make a face. "We're already working on it - you included, Sayaka. Making sure that magical girls, all magical girls, everywhere, will no longer have to fight and scrabble for resources to survive. It's slow going, out of necessity, because I can only reach out to so many at once, and even if I could..."

You grimace, irritated.

"Time, time, time, my kingdom for a moment more time and yes I'm perfectly aware of the irony," you say, disposing of the grimace in favour of a grin for Homura and the frozen greys of the time stopped world. "I can't possibly impose on Homura for everything, but in turn, I need all the help I can get."

"And that's where I come in?" Sayaka says.

"Not just, but there's so much to do, and every pair of hands I can trust will help," you say with a firm nod. "Clear Seeds are a stopgap solution. They work, but they're... still Grief Seeds."

"Right," Sayaka says, pulling her own out and looking at it. "... yeah."

"I'm trying to figure out a replacement," you say. "One that doesn't require a Grief Seed as a base. For now... Clear Seeds are better than the status quo, but it's still not great."

"Right," Sayaka nods. "And with all the powers I'm accumulating, I could maybe help there?"

"Maybe!" you say with a pleased grin. "We can get into the details later, or another time, we'll see. And in the interests of not getting bogged down in said details... curing. That is to say, reversing a Witch-out, turning a Witch back into the magical girl she used to be."

"Yeah?" Sayaka says. "It can't be easy, or somebody would have done it already. Or... well, I guess it could require some specific powers put together."

"There are two parts to answering that," you say. "I mean, yeah, it clearly isn't an easy task. It's been tried before, and people have failed disastrously - from what I've heard, conglomerate Witches are a frequent outcome."

"Oof, that... doesn't sound fun," Sayaka says, wincing as her imagination clearly treats her to the mental image. "I... oh. Oh."

"Pretty much, yeah," you say glumly. "It's the kind of thing that gets a bad rep. Hell, both Nadia and Miss Tsuruya kind of freaked out when they heard I was trying it. But." You hold up a finger. "Both that reputation and the failures could very well be attributed to the same source - Kyuubey."

"Go on?" Sayaka says, brows knotting. "I think I get where you're going with this, but... yeah, go on."

"It wants us to Witch out," you say. "Maybe not immediately. Some people are more useful alive, like Mami - she was being used to recruit." You're all but spitting the words, you think. Your voice sounds distant to your ears, hard and angry. "But at the end of the day - in Witching, we provide the biggest returns on its investment."

"So he... it interferes with that kind of thing," Sayaka mutters. She looks thoughtful, scuffing her boots against the rough concrete tiles of the rooftop.

"It's a difficult, fraught avenue of experimentation in the first place," you say with a sigh. "Because who would be the most motivated to delve into it? Someone who just saw their friend, their comrade, their girlfriend turn into a horrible monster?"

You spread a fist to an open palm.

"A dangerous task, carried out under emotionally fraught circumstances," you say. "All it would take is the right word in the wrong place, and maybe not even that. Couple that with the Incubator rumour-mongering..."

"That's one hell of a problem," Sayaka mutters. "Right."

You blink at her, anger draining away in an instance to be replaced with a fresh tank of concern. Her Soul Gem is clean enough -you're used to your powers, and monitoring Soul Gems in your presence comes as easily as breathing- but you cleanse it anyway.

"Are you OK, Sayaka?" you say, looking over her carefully. She doesn't...

She doesn't honestly seem that upset, which you're glad for, certainly.

"Yeah..." Sayaka says, and catches your eye. She puffs out her chest and grins. "Seriously, I am. It's a lot. It's scary and freaky and horrifying. But it's like..." She looks between you and Homura. "You're dealing with it. And I'm, I'm, super privileged that I wound up in a group that has guaranteed safety net. Two nets, even, you and Homura. Heck, you can make stupid Star Wars jokes about it, though that might be because you are as big a weirdo as Homura is, but in the opposite direct..."

Sayaka trails off, eyes first widening, then narrowing at you.

"From a certain point of view?!" she demands. "Kyuubey does not deserve to be Obi Wan Kenobi!"

"I mean, you could also interpret it as Homura and I being collectively Obi Wan," you muse philosophically. "Also, don't you want to be Anakin Skywalker?"

"No, because I don't mean to get my limbs chopped off," Sayaka retorts. "Darth Vader's pretty cool, though."

Homura shifts slightly, and you turn to her, swallowing your retort. You should probably not waste as much of her time as you are, you suppose.

"Sabrina is a bigger weirdo than me," Homura states in the same calm, clinical tone she always uses, the words spoken with steady gravity and measured intent-

"... hey," you protest as the actual words sink in.

"No, no, she's got a point," Sayaka says, leaning back and nodding at Homura.

"Ugh," you grumble, folding your arms. You catch Homura's eye - she's smiling, just the tiniest bit. You beam at her. "Surrounded by traitors, I am."

"You don't get to pull off Yoda, either," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes.

"Anyway. Back to the matter at hand..." You sigh, drumming your fingers against your thigh. "Kyuubey... We aren't in a position to fight it directly, yet. Killing it does no good, because it's got extra bodies it can just... teleport in? I think it teleports. Homura, do you have any idea?"

She shrugs.

"It might as well teleport," you conclude. "It's also capable of... memory stuff, as you know."

Sayaka scowls deeply. "Right. I remember."

"It also has influence over media and the spread of information," you say, shaking your head. "So no, we can't face it directly. Not yet. But when we find out how, when we have the support, we are going to end this whole rotten system it's built."

"Sounds like a hard ask," Sayaka says, grimacing. "If it's got that much support..."

"It's not going to be easy," you admit. "I mean..." You wave at Mitakihara, frozen in dull greys. "We're here, hiding under Homura's power, because we're afraid it can overhear us. We're fighting from a disadvantage. But that doesn't mean it's impossible, or that we shouldn't."

"I'm not saying it is!" Sayaka says. "I'm just saying it seems... I have no idea where we'd even begin."

"To belabor an analogy, we're the Rebellion," you say, flashing a sudden grin. "It was always going to be an uphill fight."

Sayaka snickers, and rolls her eyes. "Right, right."

"So... welcome to the Rebellion," you say, spreading both arms wide. "That's the high level summary. Do you have any questions? Need a break to think it over?"

"Yeah, I mean, uh, no, no break," Sayaka says. "I've got a billion questions. First of all is... who is we? The three of us? I get the impression you've been at this for a bit."

"Nadia is... neutral-ish, but helping us to spread the word," you say with an even nod. "Kanna Niko is actively researching the topic, and the Fukushima group is helping with experiments. But I should emphasize that we're taking this really slowly, because I don't want to hurt the souls I'm trying to help."

"Makes sense," Sayaka agrees. "So, Miss Tsuruya... figures. And Miss Kanna. I can talk to them?"

"Yes, but remember - telepathy isn't secure," you say.

"Ugh, right. Got it," Sayaka says, nodding. "That really sucks, but... OK. We're the underdogs, we've got to be careful. Right." Sayaka nods thoughtfully to herself, then looks at you. "So where do I come in?"

"Well. You've already been a huge help with the outreach efforts," you say, smiling. "I don't think I need to tell you that you've been a huge help there. But more pertinently, now that you're in the know..."

You gesture at her belly, where her Soul Gem shines bright and clear. "Your Wish gave you, in effect, the ability to scan Soul Gems, and create ersatz copies. I don't think that's a coincidence, considering what you Wished for," you say, and hold up a warning finger. "But - don't try it by yourself, and definitely don't try it at home."

"Hmm?" Sayaka says.

"I don't have your power, but I've... tried tapping into a Witch before," you say. "And I... I felt its suffering. It wasn't..." Words fail you, and you shake your head. "It's not an experience I'm eager to repeat, and it's not something I want you to experience - not without a spotter, at the very least, and hopefully not without some kind of precautions."

"Right," Sayaka says, nodding thoughtfully. "OK, I guess that makes sense. I won't experiment on Grief Seeds without someone watching... I mean, yeah, I guess that's common sense."

"Not if I had to remind you," you say, gently chiding. You catch Homura's eye, nodding slightly. Sayaka's recklessness is something that needs to be curbed before it gets her in trouble. "Seriously. It's dangerous, Sayaka."

"I know," Sayaka says with a sigh. "I know. I won't. I promise."

"Good," you say with a smile. "Now, you have more questions?"

"I did, but..." Sayaka frowns. "I... think what I need is some time to think this all over." She gives you a sheepish smile. "This is just... It's a lot. But I know we've got it handled in the short term, and I know we've got plans moving forward. I'll want to know more about those plans at some point, but..."

Sayaka waves her arms, a grand, pinwheeling gesture as if to encompass the entire world.

"I've got a place in all this," she says. "I'm part of this, and that's... important. There's a place for me to make this right."

[] How do you respond?
[] Any last points to bring up?
[] Back to Mami!
- [] Invite Sayaka along
- [] How do you tell Mami about Kyouko?
- [x] Dinner!
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

Spoiler: Concepts that were not covered

-[X] Almost all magical girls - even the most heinous ones - are ultimately victims of this system. And often the most ruthless and vicious ones are the ones who know the most: they'd do anything to avoid suffering that fate.
--[X] You strongly suspect this is why the Akiko of the Sendai group was so harsh with her "taxes" upon the University Girls.
--[X] With the recent outreach in Tokyo in particular, you think that the truth about witches was shared in that Council Meeting, and Chiyoda used memory magic to cover it up.
-[X] Explain your current theories regarding Clear Seeds and their absorption of Hope.

=====​

Last few points for Sayaka - and I do mean last few.

 

[Firnagzen]

"I'm glad I could help you find that place," you say, giving Sayaka an earnest, warm smile. "Seriously, I..."

You trail off, shaking your head. "I'm glad you took this well."

"So am I!" Sayaka says, waving a hand. The thread tied around her wrist -tying her to Homura- flutters alarmingly with the motion. "I mean, I might go have a nice breakdown later, but... yeah, I'm feeling OK. I'm kind of surprised, too."

"Uh..." you give her a concerned look. "On that note, d'you wanna join us for dinner? Homura's already coming. You are staying for dinner, right, Homura?"

"I am," Homura says, shifting slightly on the bench.

"Great," you say, beaming at her, then returning your attention to Sayaka. "How about it, Sayaka? No pressure if you wanna go home and mull it over in peace, of course."

"Nah," Sayaka says, shaking her head. "I was just kidding about the hysterics. I think." She smiles. "Seriously, I'm feeling alright. And... Sabrina? Homura?"

"Mm?" you raise an eyebrow at her. You can feel the weight of Homura's attention on Sayaka, too.

"Thanks for trusting me," she says. "I..." Sayaka huffs, bracing her arms on her seat and leaning forward. "Look, I dunno 'bout you, Sabrina, but I'm... pretty sure you've been burned before on this, right, Homura? So... thanks. Thanks for trusting me, thanks for giving me a chance."

"You would have found out eventually," Homura says quietly. "If not from us, then from seeing it, or from the Incubator."

"And that... would have been worse," Sayaka agrees. "But I didn't, and we're here now, right? So... thank you both."

"No, thank you, Sayaka," you say, smile widening. "And just... goodness knows I do a horrible job of this, but pacing yourself for a long and difficult project -which this is- is a good thing. Taking the time to think it over is just wise."

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka says with a grin. "I know, I impress myself with how smart I am."

"And... don't get hung up for too long on, like, the details and such," you say, waving a hand vaguely. "Like... There's a fine line between consideration and hesitation - the former is wisdom, the latter is fear, and all that stuff, you know? Homura and I are here if you have any questions, or doubts, and I'm always happy to lend a listening ear or a shoulder."

You are, in fact, perfectly aware of the irony inherent in your words. You should also definitely tell Oriko that at some point, too.

"And I am so glad for that," Sayaka agrees, nodding. "I can't... god, things would've gone so badly without you here."

Homura grimaces, looking away from Sayaka. You catch her eye and smile reassuringly - you are here. You're here to stay.

"Anyway," you say, shrugging and standing. "Any last questions? Anything important that I missed out, Homura?"

Homura shakes her head, standing.

"I've got too much to think about already," Sayaka says, pushing herself to her feet. She hops a few times, boots scraping dully across the concrete roofing slabs as she stretches. "I'm good."

"Great," you say, pursing your lips thoughtfully. "Homura?"

"Yes," she says. "Pass me the string."

"Right, ugh," Sayaka grumbles, already starting to try and untie the string around her wrist. She rolls her shoulders, string held pinched between two fingers. "Homura, your powers are really, uh, powerful, but ugh."

"I'm sorry?" Homura says, brows knitted in confusion.

"Eh, don't sweat it," Sayaka says, waving her free hand. "See you in a second."

She lets go of the string. The colour bleaches out of her, draining away as if into some vast, unseen tank, and she's locked into a droopy-eyed freezeframe of a grin.

You can't help but snicker, and grin at Homura, untying your own bit of the knot. "Alright. See you in a moment?"

"Wait," Homura says.

"Hm?" You look up to meet her eyes, hard amethyst to your sky blue.

"It... worked," Homura says, soft and disbelieving. "She listened. She didn't break down over it."

"Yeah," you say with a slow exhale, and grin at Homura. "I... you know what? It's a relief for me, too. I was scared, too."

Homura nods slowly.

"You made it work," she says. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, but... Homura, don't you think that you didn't help, too," you say, raising both eyebrows at her. "I don't know if you've noticed, but Sayaka trusts you, now. Having you around to offer your support to her helped her to absorb all this. So..."

You wrap her gently in a hug, giving her time to pull away if needed. She doesn't. "It's OK to be relieved, Homura," you say. "It's a step forward. It's progress. With Sayaka on our side, fully in the know, she'll help to dissuade Madoka, too. She'll help to protect Madoka, and we can tell Madoka that we've got it under control."

"We'll have to be careful still," Homura mutters. She leans into the hug, just a bit. "The Incubator isn't going to just give up."

"I know," you say, pulling back enough to glare vaguely at the dull greys of a frozen Mitakihara. "In fact, I'm sort of expecting it to show up after this... I'm hoping it doesn't go after Sayaka when she's alone. But even if it does, Sayaka knows more than enough to not talk to it."

"It may target Mami by preying on her insecurities," Homura says.

"Yeah, and don't I know it," you admit. You ease back fully from the hug, scowling at nothing in particular. "I'm preparing to intercept it, if necessary."

"I will stay alert as well," Homura offers.

"I appreciate that," you say with a smile. "Thanks, Homura."

She nods.

"Alright," you say, holding the string up, and grin. "See you in a moment?"

Homura gives you a flat, unamused glare, and just reaches for her shield. The gears hum as she cranks it across, a clatter of gears heralding the crash of noise that's almost a physical force after the weight of the silence.

"Bleh," Sayaka says, sticking her tongue out. "Hom- hey!"

Sayaka squawks nearly as loud as Mugin does, the bird abandoning the birdseed to flutter and peck at Sayaka's boots in great agitation. You raise your eyebrow, catching Homura's quizzical look. You can only shrug, bemused, as Sayaka back-pedals, trying to avoid the aggravated pecking.

Homura motions towards the stairs, and you shrug, falling in step as you head down.

"Traitors!" Sayaka hollers after you.

"You've got the animal communication power, use it!" you call over your shoulder, grinning.

"Traitors!" Sayaka complains.

She does join you a few minutes later, footsteps echoing down the stairwell as she jogs down to join you, detransformed and with Mugin now sitting placidly on her shoulder.

"You're all traitors," Sayaka mutters. "Also, apparently crows are smart enough to notice when you abruptly jump like three meters to the side."

"I guess that's not entirely surprising," you muse. You've spent the walk down spreading Grief nanofog, now an invisible cloud billowing out to fill your entire control radius. Nothing within the apartments or anything, because that's private, but any public space is fair game, you feel. Early warning anti-Kyuubey detection system activated. "... hang on, why're you coming this way? Changed your mind about joining us for dinner?"

"Gonna take a bus," Sayaka says, shrugging. "I'm... in the mood to think, I suppose. Also, this is yours."

Sayaka reaches up to coax Mugin over to your shoulder. Homura snorts quietly, sidling over to your far side to avoid him.

"Don't think too hard," you say, teasing. "You might hurt yourself."

"Oh shush," Sayaka says, smacking the back of your head lightly.

"OK, but seriously - stay alert," you say. "'cuz... y'know. We've got hostiles around."

"Mm," Sayaka says. Her expression turns pensive as she ambles down the stairs by your side. "Yeah, I gotcha. And... hey. Again, thanks."

"Anytime," you say with a smile.

And that's your cue to part ways, Sayaka continuing on down the stairs while you and Homura head back home.

"Maaaami, I'm hooome~!" you carol as you bump the door open with your hip, already fumbling your shoes off. Mugin flutters off your shoulder, hopping to the floor with a clatter of talons to investigate.

"Welcome home, Sabrina," Mami calls back from the kitchen. "Hello again, Homura."

You hurry over to join Mami in the kitchen, letting Homura close the door behind you. It might be rude, but you've got other things to do, like draping your arms over Mami's shoulders to pull her into a hug. She nestles back against you with a happy sigh. You can feel the rigid tension seeping from her body, her shoulders easing back against you as she lets herself relax.

"I'm home," you breathe, letting your eyes slide shut. "How are you?"

"I'm better now," Mami murmurs. "How were things?"

"They went well," you say, looking around the kitchen. "Already started cooking?"

"Just preparing, since... since you were away," Mami says. She raises her hands to cover yours, squeezing gently. "I thought we might make some beef stew tonight? Is that alright?"

"Beef stew sounds lovely," you say. A thought strikes you as you look around at the prepared vegetables and meat, all washed and ready in tidy stacks beside the chopping board. "Wait, we still had beef?"

"Ah... I decided to run to the grocery shop earlier," Mami says, with a sheepish laugh. "Homura came with me."

"Aha!" you say, smiling. Mental note to self: thank Homura for that. "That's good."

"How was... how was training?" Mami asks, that edge of nervousness returning to her voice once more.

"It went well," you say, dropping a kiss to the crown of Mami's head, and rest your cheek amidst soft, golden hair. "Sayaka's a fast learner."

"That's... that's good," Mami says quietly.

You interlace your fingers with Mami's, locking her firmly into the hug. There's nothing on the stove, nothing that needs to be attended to right now. Homura's pulled out her homework, by the feel of it, so you're not too worried about wasting her time.

"Kyouko's willing to talk," you say softly. "Tonight, if you want."

Mami stiffens under your arms. You force yourself to remain calm, to be a steadying presence for her, your thumb stroking gently over the back of her palm. You hold her close and snug in your arms, not moving and letting her work through her thoughts. It'll be alright, you tell her without speaking, you're here, she's safe, and you're going nowhere.

"Oh," Mami whispers. She shifts, turning in the hug so that she can burrow herself against you, head tucked under your chin. You take to rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back with one hand, the other holding her close.

You don't want to push her. You don't want to steamroll her with what you think she should do, or what you think she wants. You want- no, you need to let her work through it on her own, to figure out what she wants.

Still, you monitor her Soul Gem carefully.

"W-what does she want?" she whispers, finally.

You hum quietly.

"I don't know her reasons, not really," you murmur. "But I've been trying to... open up the possibility of reconciliation, if you want it. I've made that clear to her, and she's willing to talk about it."

"I-" Mami shakes her head, her hair brushing against your neck. "I- yes, of course, but you-"

Mami pulls back. Not so far that she has to unwind her arms from around your waist, but far enough that she can look up at you. Her eyes are bright with unshed tears - but she's smiling, smiling brilliantly at you with wonderment and pure, heartbreaking joy.

"S-Sabrina," she whispers. "You're everything."

"It's nothing more than you deserve, Mami," you say, smiling softly at her. "You deserve this and more."

"I-" Mami sniffles, swiping at her eyes. "Do- do you think it'll be alright?"

"It will be," you say. "And I'll be there. I'll catch you if you fall. Always."

Mami chokes out a soggy laugh, pressing against you once more and burrowing her head under your chin.

"I know you will be," she whispers. "I- I can, I have started to believe it. And it, it's more than I thought I'd ever have, Sabrina. You can work miracles."

"They're not really miracles," you disagree. "But... I wanted you to be happy." You drop another kiss amongst golden hair. "And I know what you're going to say, so - I want you to be happier."

Mami laughs again, muffled by the way her cheek is mashed against you. "I know. I know, Sabrina."

You hold her like that, swaying slightly in the middle of the kitchen.

"B-but-" Mami breaks the silence.

"But?" you prompt, tightening your hug a little more.

"What I m-meant to ask is, I- we didn't really..." Mami shakes her head. "She- we fought, Sabrina. You... you know that, right? Is..." She takes a shaky breath. "What is she expecting?"

[] How do you answer Mami?
[x] Onwards with dinner!
- [x] Experiment with magic cosplay and set the table as maid-brina. With hair extensions.
- [] Any particular dinner conversation?
[x] Arrange the meeting with Kyouko
- [] How do you handle the meeting?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] You think Mami should approach this with openness, honesty, and understanding. Emotionally as well as otherwise. It's behind all your relationships with the people you care about, and you don't think the heart of the answer is different here.

=====​

The next post should take you through dinner and to the meeting. Vote on how you'll handle the initial meet-up, please!

 

[Firnagzen]

"Mmm..." You debate phrasing and specifics with yourself for a moment. You understand Kyouko, a bit. Enough to give Mami an answer, anyway, you just have to organize your thoughts.

Mami makes a quiet, indecipherable noise, curling a little closer to you, but not so far that she has to look away from you.

"She does want to reconcile with you," you say finally. You almost change your mind at the last second, but really, you don't need to complicate it. "But she has a lot of difficulty believing that it's possible."

"Because we fought," Mami murmurs quietly.

"Eh..." In lieu of waggling your hand -you'd have to stop hugging Mami to do that- you bob your head from side to side in a non-committal sort of hybrid between a nod and a shake. "I don't know for sure whether she believes that because of you, or herself, or maybe both... but I do believe she wants the reconciliation. I wouldn't be trying to make this happen if she didn't."

Mami hesitates, a touch of fear and a sprinkling of worry etching lines around her face and mouth. You give in to the impulse to brush your fingertips along her face, trying to smooth away the wrinkles. She presses against your hand, following the touch.

"Does she?" Mami asks finally, her voice very small and scared.

"As much as you do, I think," you say softly. "But she has those same fears, too. She..." You huff, staring past Mami's shoulder and out through the window, as if trying to see past the distance and the buildings to Kasamino. "I don't think she really expects this to work."

"But-" Mami's eyes snap up to you, any further words dying on her tongue.

"But I think it can be done," you say. "As long as you want it, too."

"Of course I do," Mami whispers.

"Then I think it can happen," you say softly. "But if I may, Mami, as a... third party, I think... I think you shouldn't rely on expectations. I don't think Kyouko's expectations are correct, and... it's just a breakdown of communication. You still care about her, right?"

Mami nods, throat working as she swallows.

"I think you really need to tell her that," you say. "And I think she really needs to hear about it. And anything else, literally anything else, can be worried about after that."

"A-alright," Mami says, voice small. She takes a breath, and smiles at you. "Alright. I believe you, Sabrina."

"And I'll be there with you," you promise, returning the smile. "Always."

"As long as you're there," Mami murmurs. "As long as you're with me, I can do it." She burrows back into the hug, arms wrapping around your waist to pull you close and tuck herself into your embrace.

"Then we're definitely getting this done," you murmur, returning to rubbing soothing circles on her back. "And it won't be thanks to me, because all I've done is make the meeting possible. I know you can do it, Mami, because you still care about her, or you wouldn't be afraid - and the same applies for her, too."

"You're everything, Sabrina," Mami whispers. "None of this would have happened if you weren't here. I'm happy because of you, Sabrina."

"And you make me happy too," you murmur. "Always remember that."

Mami makes a soft noise, but doesn't say anything more, instead choosing to indulge in the hug for a few more minutes.

"Alright," she murmurs at last, pulling back to meet your eyes. There's warmth in her golden eyes and tremulous but strengthening smile, and as you return it, she straightens.

"Alright?" you echo, returning that smile.

"Alright," she says, cracking a tiny grin.

"Alright!" you say.

Mami giggles, and pulls away entirely. "We should probably get back to preparing dinner," she says. "After all, we have a guest, and we shouldn't keep her waiting for too long."

"Two guests, actually," you say lightly, following Mami to the sink to wash your hands. "Mugin came along, too."

"We should just get him a perch," Mami says thoughtfully.

"Are we adopting?" you say, slanting a sidelong grin at Mami. You're not blushing. You're absolutely not blushing. You're just lightening the mood a bit, to help Mami feel better, so why would you be blushing?

Mami, on the other hand, definitely does blush, an utterly adorable dusting of pink settling across her cheeks, but she rallies gamely and smooths her expression out.

"No, I think we've been adopted," Mami says. "We should ask Sayaka."

"Sounds like a plan," you say, beaming. "Now, beef stew, right? Do we have enough time?"

"I think so, if we're quick about it," Mami says, smiling and gesturing at the prepared vegetables. "And... we should have enough time to bake some bread, too?"

"Sounds good. I'll start browning the beef, then," you say. Mami makes room for you to pull out a large pot, and you set to dusting the beef in a bit of flour and browning it. As the meat sizzles merrily in the pot, you keep a close eye on it - just as you keep a close eye on your cloud of nanofog for unwanted visitors.

Honestly, Kyuubey's been way too quiet recently. It makes you more than a bit suspicious.

And of course, you have enough attention to spare for a little side project, too. As you bob to the side to make room for Mami to start mixing a dough, you start weaving Grief into your hair. It takes some tweaking for you to get the texture and colour right without going into Witchy Grief, and that occupies a good ten minutes, and even then, you decide to grow your hair extensions out slowly, just for the effect.

You find yourself humming quietly under your breath, watching Mami out of the corner of your eye and smiling when she looks up to meet your gaze. She always returns the smile, and if there's an edge of nervousness in the way she hesitates and pauses at times, as if lost in thought, well - you're right there, and more than happy to reassure her with a brush of your hand against hers, or a gentle bump of your hip against her.

Still, by the time you have the stew simmering nicely on the stove, your hair's down to mid-back. You're not quite certain if Mami hasn't noticed it, or if she has noticed it and has decided not to say anything about it. Probably the latter.

Homura's still working on her homework when you and Mami join her in the living room, leaving dinner to, well, stew for a bit.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Mami says, blinking as she enters the living room on your heels. "We... haven't been the best of hosts today, Homura, and I apologise."

"Not at all," Homura murmurs, shaking her head. "You're offering dinner, and I'm only taking advantage of the time to do my homework."

"Weren't you going to join everyone else for the homework session tomorrow, Homura?" you ask, settling onto the sofa. Mami immediately claims the spot beside you, curling herself under your arm.

"I still am," Homura says, eyes flicking up to you. You can see the instant Homura notices your hair. Violet eyes narrow for a split second, then dart over to Mami, then back to you, and then she continues smoothly. "But the intention was only to finish the more difficult questions as a group."

"Hah, right. Yeah, that makes sense," you say. Mami starts toying with your hair, exploring the Grief extensions with a curious, gentle touch, and you can't help but lean into the touch - and you can't help but twine the strands affectionately around her fingers, either.

Homura nods, and returns to her homework, pen scratching out neat, precise characters. It's a comfortable sort of silence, Mami content to play with your hair, and you content to continue growing it out slowly. You'll have it down to Homura levels of hair by the time dinner's done, you estimate.

Still, you're never one to stay idle for too long.

"Hey, Kyouko?" you reach out telepathically, trying to keep both your face and your mental voice neutral. "Mami's agreed to the meeting."

On the one hand, it'd be polite to ask her if she's still up to the meeting. On the other, Kyouko tends to take that kind of thing as a challenge, and you don't want to accidentally coerce her into it - that's not the kind of mindset you want her to go into it with.

"Yeah? Tonight?" Kyouko's mental voice is perhaps a little rougher than usual.

"Tonight, if you're up for it. Do you want to come over to Mami's apartment, or somewhere in between?" you ask carefully. "We're having dinner soon."

"The bridge," Kyouko grunts. "She knows where."

"The bridge, huh," you say, but you're thinking to yourself. Kyouko's already cut the connection, and you can't help but notice she didn't say when you were going to meet up.

... well, you've told her, in as many words, that you'd be having dinner. If she shows up earlier... you think that you're allowed that bit of selfishness, if she herself didn't bother to make it clear.

"Is it... is it alright?" Mami asks, quiet and tremulous. Golden eyes watch your face anxiously.

"Yeah," you say with a soft smile. "We'll head down after dinner."

Homura looks up silently from the coffee table, her pen stilling for a second before she nods at you, which you interpret as acknowledgement and notice that she will, in fact, be there, and then she returns to her homework.

"Oh," Mami says. She takes another breath. "Alright."

She returns to toying with your hair, distracted and fitful, but she seems to find it fascinating, anyway - Grief extensions and your natural hair alike.

"We'll be there," you say. You squeeze her gently, and you leave it at that, because you've been learning when to hold your tongue sometimes. Mami needs to work through this herself, and so you'll give her that time and space to think.

"We may wish to invite Miki Sayaka," Homura murmurs to you, and you alone.

"I... hm." You lean into Mami's hand, following the trail of her fingertips along your scalp. "I... maybe? The support would be nice, but the fact that Kyouko and Sayaka are already friends might make it weird. It's a good idea, though, I'll mull it over. Thanks, Homura."

Homura catches your eye for a second, nodding infinitesimally.

"Ah..." Mami exhales, and uncurls from your side. "We should... we should finish up with dinner."

"Alright," you say. "Let's go."

"Dinner will be ready soon, Homura," Mami says, smiling at Homura. "Thank you for being patient."

"It's not a problem," Homura says.

You stand, and head in to the kitchen on Mami's heels, sharing a reassuring smile with her. The richness of the beef stew combines with the heady fragrance of baking bread, enough to make your stomach rumble as you peek under the lid to check that the stew's getting along nicely.

You turn your thoughts to Homura's suggestion and the meeting with Kyouko. The bridge, Kyouko had said. You think you know what she means, though you don't know where it is. The scene of their confrontation.

[] Invite Sayaka
[] Don't invite Sayaka
[] During the meeting
- [] Guide the conversation
- [] Provide an opening statement
- [] Just let Mami and Kyouko talk it out
[X] Vote in abeyance

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Onwards with dinner!
- [X] Experiment with magic cosplay and set the table as maid-brina. With hair extensions.
- [X] Any particular dinner conversation?
-- [X] Sayaka's training with Kyoko and Yuma seems to be going well. You're proud of the progress she's made.

=====​

Ugh. Sorry for breaking the update here - I'd genuinely intended to get you through to the meeting, but that isn't happening.

 

[Firnagzen]

You give the stew a quick stir, thinking hard. Really, the problem with bringing Sayaka is that you don't want to pressure Kyouko. You don't want to put her in a position where it seems like you're bringing a show of force against her: Mami, Homura, you... and Sayaka.

"A touch of soy sauce?" Mami asks, watching the bread anxiously.

"I think so. And I'll thicken it with a little flour, I think, since we don't have time to really reduce it properly," you say. Despite that, however, it can wait a moment, so you replace the lid and join Mami in squatting beside the oven, bumping your shoulder gently against hers.

"... sorry," Mami says, ducking her head and leaning against you, presenting the perfect opportunity to wrap your arm around her shoulders.

"Don't be ridiculous," you say with a fond smile. You press a gentle kiss to her cheek. "It's fine to be nervous or worried about it."

"I know," Mami says. "And I've got you, and Homura with me. I... I think the bread's just about done."

"Alright," you say, releasing Mami to let her retrieve the loaf from the oven, fresh and piping-hot.

Sayaka. And Homura.

You continue thinking as you stir in a dash of soy sauce to the stew. You're not even sure that you want Homura to come along, even. You're deeply and utterly grateful for her support, but... again, you don't want to pressure Kyouko, even if you'd already mentioned Homura to her. But then again, maybe therein lies the answer.

Sayaka's friendly with Kyouko and Yuma. She's as close to neutral as anyone might be, here, so... you could ask her to act as such, if she's up to it.

You nod. That could work.

Mind made up, you switch mental tracks to lighter topics. A thought and a flare of light leaves you transformed and Mami looking at you in concern as she sets the bread on a cooling rack. You wink at her, grin, and hold a finger over your lips. She relaxes, and smiles.

The stew will keep for a few more minutes. Which leaves you with other considerations of utmost concern, of course. A second of focus has your hair exploding out to mid-back, the same length as Homura's. And even if you have a steady, sinking feeling that this won't work, it's worth a try.

You hook your fingers through your hair, and a smooth, steady flick -exactly the way Homura does it- sends it whipping out sideways, a rippling banner of purest white that almost hangs in the air, suspended for a moment.

And yet.

And yet.

"Oh, Sabrina," Mami murmurs, walking over to hug you gently, and instead of her usual fond exasperation, there's pity in her voice and in her eyes.

"I..." You sigh, ignoring the way a pit opens in your stomach. So close, and yet so far. So very far. The taste of disappointment is bitter indeed. "I had to try."

"I know," she says. She goes up on her tiptoes to brush her lips against your cheek. "I understand, Sabrina. It was a very good try."

"And Homura doesn't even use any magic to do it," you mutter darkly as you start to shorten your hair. Not quite to its usual length; enough to hang past your shoulders, and enough for it to weave into a pair of thin braids that frame your face on either side.

Mami nestles into the hug, tucking herself against your chest and worming her own arms under your coat. "It's alright, Sabrina," she murmurs. "It's alright."

"Yeah," you say. "I know."

"Shall we finish preparing dinner? Homura must be getting hungry," Mami offers.

"I don't know if I can look her in the eye anymore," you mutter, but exhale, and smile. "But yeah. Thank you, Mami."

"Of course," Mami says, separating from the hug. "Now, shall we?"

"We shall," you agree. And as Mami turns to making a light salad and you busy yourself tending to the stew, you focus on your costume. Fabric ripples and crawls across your body to fill out the shape of a costume - tights and a dress of deep blue, knee-length and trimmed with a frilly white hem and puffy white sleeves. You top that with a white half-apron that goes around your waist, tied with an enormous white bow at the back. A frilly headband, grey to stand out against your white hair, finishes the ensemble along with blue-green ties to close your braids.

Out of the corner of your eye, you notice that Mami's stopped preparing dinner and is now leaning against the counter to watch you, a soft smile on her face.

"It looks good on you, Sabrina," she says. "But you'd look good in anything."

You flush a brilliant red. "I-I-"

Mami giggles, and crosses the kitchen once more to fiddle with the thin ribbon bow around your neck. "You're beautiful, Sabrina," Mami says. "And... I will always, always be glad that you... that you chose me."

"T-thank you," you say, raising your hand to curl your fingers around hers. "U-um. Yeah. Thank you."

She smiles at you, and you're glad to see the anxiety displaced by impish amusement. For the moment, at least. "You're not really used to compliments, are you?" she asks.

"Well... no?" you say. You fidget.

"I see," she says, sing-song, and spins away. "Now, we've kept Homura waiting for long enough!"

You blink dumbly at Mami's retreating back as she walks out of the kitchen, platter of neatly sliced bread in hand.

On the one hand, you feel like she got the better of you there.

On the other hand, you're glad to see her in a better mood.

You laugh quietly to yourself and collect utensils and the stew - three bowls balanced on a disc of Grief, held on your hand like a serving platter, the pot on its own floating disc, and of course, a small dish of nuts for Mugin. Then you straighten up, fold your arm behind your back, and stride out of the kitchen.

Homura looks up at Mami's arrival, and then her eyes catch on you. Her head tilts slightly to the side, gaze tracking you as you lay out the meal with ritual motions and near robotic precision.

"Please be seated, Lady Tomoe, Lady Akemi," you say, stiffly formal. You pull the chair back for Mami and for Homura, courtesy of a bit of Grief.

Homura snorts slightly, but deigns to sit. Mami flows gracefully into her chair with all the regal elegance of royalty, beaming at you.

"And you, Miss Vee," Mami says, tone just as formal as yours. She gestures, and a third chair slides out. "Fret not of the impropriety - you have my leave to dine with us."

Homura snorts quietly, almost under her breath.

And that's as far as your straight face will take you, your poker face cracking into giggles as you slip into the chair.

"Let's eat," Mami says, beaming at you. "Itadakimasu."

You echo Mami, as does Homura, and tuck in, joined by Mugin who scrabbles over to investigate the food. Freshly baked bread and savoury stew, thickened to perfection, and a light salad to round it off, and Mugin seems content with the nuts after behind gently redirected.

"... did your hair grow?" Homura asks.

"Yup!" you say, raising one braid in a cheerful wave.

"Oh." Homura blinks, and seems to give this a moment of consideration before nodding, and returning to her meal. "... the food is good. Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Homura," Mami says warmly.

Dinner's a quiet affair, conversation sporadic, but it's a comfortable silence broken by the clink of cutlery. You had been planning to talk about Sayaka's training, but... perhaps not, to let Mami gather herself before the confrontation with Kyouko.

Though speaking of which...

"Hey, Sayaka?" you murmur, chewing busily on a piece of stew-soaked bread to hopefully disguise the telepathy. Not that there's much hope of that, with Mami right beside you. "You free?"

"Yeah? What's up?" Sayaka responds after a moment. "'m at home."

"So... I know I've loaded a hell of a lot on your plate already," you say. "But uh... so, you know I was talking to Kyouko, right?"

"... yeah?" Sayaka says carefully.

"I've somehow managed to wrangle a meeting between Mami and Kyouko," you say. Hm, a lump of gristle in the beef. You start chewing more vigorously. "To take place tonight."

"Hooo." Sayaka's quiet for a moment. "And... you wouldn't be calling me and apologising first thing if you didn't want me there, huh?"

"Yeah," you say with a mental sigh. "If you feel up for it? I don't... no, let me back up. You know both Mami and Kyouko pretty well, and I'm... I'm obviously biased, as you said. Homura'll be there too, but I don't want to pressure Kyouko with too many people 'taking sides' against her. It's gonna be emotionally charged as is."

"I... yeah, you know what?" Sayaka says slowly. "I'll be there. Where?"

"After dinner, I think - and I don't know where, but Mami would, apparently," you say. "Come by our place when you're finished with dinner?"

"Gotcha," Sayaka says. "Not too late, so that's fine too."

"Great," you say. "Thanks, Sayaka."

"'course," Sayaka says. "See ya soon."

You can't help but notice Mami's mood slipping, as the silence turns awkward and dinner dwindles to drips of gravy in your bowls to be polished off with cooling bread. You place your hand over hers, and offer both a smile and a vigorous waggling of both braids when she looks up at you.

It gets a half-hearted giggle, at least, as she turns her hand over to interlace your fingers.

"We should... we should get the dishes done," Mami says.

"We're not in a big rush," you say. "We're waiting for Sayaka, anyway."

"Sayaka- Sayaka's coming?" Mami says. You catch Homura glancing up at you out of the corner of your eye, too.

"Yeah," you say, smiling at Mami. "It was Homura's suggestion, and I agreed - it might be good to have someone who's familiar with both you and Kyouko?"

"Oh," Mami says, and nods. "Alright. T-thank you, Homura."

"Speaking of, I..." You trail off for a second. "Mami, I'm on your side to the end. You know that, right?" You smile at Mami, and wait for her to nod before you continue. "But for this... this is between you and Kyouko. I don't want to interfere, and I'm afraid I'd make things worse if I tried. So... I'll stand to the side. Homura, Sayaka, and me. If you're alright with that?"

"I-" Mami's words die in her throat as she swallows, her hand tightening on yours.

"You can do this, Mami," you say, encouraging and warm. "You're stronger than you know."

"A-alright," Mami says. "But you'll be t-there, right?"

"I will," you say. "We all will."

"Alright. Alright," Mami says. She hesitates for a second, hand tightening on yours. "I... alright. Shall we do the dishes? They... they do need to be washed, regardless."

"Sure," you say with a smile. Homura silently helps you collect the dishes and ferry them to the kitchen, but any further help is politely but firmly turned down. You stick close to Mami, elbows and shoulders bumping and fingers brushing as you wash with easy, familiar coordination.

You find Homura seated comfortably on the sofa when you re-enter the living room, apparently lost in thought but entirely alert, from the way her attention snaps up at the sound of your approach. She eyes Mami for a second, and then nods.

"You won't have a problem," she says.

"Thank you, Homura," Mami murmurs.

"Well. I guess we're just waiting for Sayaka to get here," you say, and rub your face as you urge Mami to sit down. Madokami on high, please let this go well - not for your sake, but for Mami's.

Homura nods, settling back on the sofa with an air that suggests she'd be happy to wait until the end of time if need be. You try to imitate that as Mami curls into your side, projecting strength and confidence you don't quite feel for Mami. You know Kyouko, and you know Mami. You know that both of them do want their friendship back, and yet...

"Almost there!" Sayaka's voice sounds inside your head a few minutes later, jolting you from your thoughts. "Sorry, hope I'm not late?"

"No, no, we just finished dinner," you say. "We'll meet you on the roof?"

"Sure," Sayaka says. "I'll be here."

"Cool," you say. "Mami, Homura? Sayaka's almost here. Shall we head up?"

"Alright," Mami says. There's the faintest quaver in her voice that you hate, hate hate and want to wipe away. You want to chase those fears away, because you don't want to see Mami looking afraid, but the best you can do is to continue holding her hand as you both stand and transform in unison.

You don't let go, all the way through gently ushering Mugin out of the room, and all the way up the stairs to the roof. Sayaka sails in for a smooth landing, blue motes of light dissipating from her feet as she cleanses her Soul Gem with her Clear Seed before nodding at you.

"Hey," she says quietly.

"Hey yourself," you say.

"Where're we headed?" Sayaka asks. "... also, are you cosplaying?"

"Maybe," you say with a crooked, half-hearted grin. "You like it?"

"Not a bad look," Sayaka says, snickering. "Nnnnot sure it's something you wear to a formal meeting, though."

"Well, yeah," you say, starting to undo the costume changes, and the hair extensions. "But I kept it up 'cuz I thought it was kind of neat. And as to the where... well, I don't know, actually. Mami? She... she said that she'd be at the bridge, and you'd know where."

"Oh," Mami says, swallowing. "I... I do know. I'll lead the way."

She turns towards the edge of the roof and freezes, one leg up on the ledge. You squeeze her hand gently.

Sayaka notices, of course. She doesn't say anything, simply walking up and lacing her hands behind her head, tilted back to look at the stars - silent support for Mami. Homura hovers a step behind, a solid, immovable presence that manages to loom despite her slight form.

"Alright," Mami whispers, taking a shaky breath. "Let's go."

She pushes off. And you're not about to let her go. Not now, not when she needs you. So your hand remains tight on hers as you leap for the next roof with her, forcing back your instinct to roll with the landing as you race forward by her side.

"Hey, Kyouko? We're on our way," you call. Kyouko's only response is a wordless grunt and cutting the connection.

Sayaka and Homura flank you, one to a side as you leap over the glowing chasms between buildings. Both silent, because the nerves are catching. Both transformed. Sayaka's cape streams in the wind, a bold mirror to the midnight black swathe cut by Homura's hair.

Your path takes you nearly to Kasamino. Not quite, but close, the buildings thinning out as you approach. It's quiet enough, near enough to the industrial district that the four of you drop to ground level as you approach.

A quiet area.

A bridge. Brick.

You recognise it, of course.

The very same place Kyouko and Mami parted ways.

Under the pool of a street-light, you see a splash of red.

A ponytail sways as its owner turns to look in your direction.

"I-" Mami's grip is crushing, grinding the bones of your hand together.

"You can do this, Mami," you murmur to her. The four of you slow to a walk, Sayaka and Homura peeling off to the side.

You stop a few meters from Kyouko.

Kyouko, whose eyes are fixed on Mami, hard grin -sneer, really- on her face. She glances from Mami to you, then to Sayaka, then to Homura.

If Yuma's around, she's not in your sensing radius.

"So," Kyouko says, breaking the silence. The sneer, fierce and feral and challenging and forced, doesn't move. "You wanted me here so badly?"

Kyouko spreads her arms. "Here I am."

She's not transformed, either, dressed in that same ratty teal jacket and shorts and incongruously fashionable boots.

"Kyouko," Mami whispers, one hand reaching for her, and the other clutching yours.

"Yeah, that's my name." Kyouko folds her arms, slouching against the lamppost. There's a glint in her eye, a challenging tilt to her chin. "Y' girlfriend's been hanging out in Kasamino, you know. Her 'n blue over there."

[] Let Mami handle it
[] Speak up
- [] Write-in
[] Move to the side

Spoiler: Ongoing vote

-[X] Let Mami and Kyouko talk it out, and hopefully acknowledge and speak candidly about their relationship to each other and feelings about each other.
--[X] Stay hands off, but take action to guide things it if that isn't happening on it's own.
-[X] Potential specifics
--[X] Interject if something comes up that you feel a need to respond to with "Okay, that's just not true."
--[X] Intervene if the encounter is going downhill in a way that Mami is having trouble recovering from or it looks like violence is about to happen.

=====​

Ah, Kyouko. You just can't resist poking.

 

[Firnagzen]

Your jaw tenses for a second, making a valiant and not quite unsuccessful attempt to stop the collision of amusement and annoyance on your face. It's not every day you see someone so convincingly ram their foot into their mouth all the way up to their thigh.

Look, you don't actually watch yourself in the mirror. Come to that, you don't even look into a mirror that often and no that's not a metaphor for anything you do plenty of self-reflection thank you very much and why are you justifying yourself to yourself anyway.

Still, oddly, Kyouko's jibe seems to steady Mami.

"Sabrina would never do anything like what you're implying," she says sharply.

You squeeze Mami's hand tightly.

"Reach out with both hands and don't look back," you murmur into Mami's mind. "If you don't know what to say, or if you're hurt, then tell her. I'll catch you if you fall, and I'm here for you. I will always be here for you."

You let Mami's hand go. Her eyes go to you, huge and terrified but resolute as her fingers slowly fall away. You give her warm smile, soft and -hopefully- reassuring, before stepping back. This is Mami's fight, and as much as you ache to be there with her, as much as your hand feels cold where she'd clutched so tightly - you know that you can't.

"Yeah? It's all about her, isn't it?" Kyouko snaps back. You detransform as you join Sayaka and Homura, the flash of light seeming to catch her attention. She jerks her chin at you. "You've found someone who you can believe in."

"I-" Mami's voice cracks, but then she straightens her back, shoulders squaring. "Sabrina has nothing to do with this."

"Hey," Sayaka murmurs as you slouch against the wall lining the bridge. Homura glances at you, an inscrutable look out of the corner of her eye.

"Isn't-" That's as far as Kyouko gets.

"You left me." Maybe it's something in the look Mami gives Kyouko, maybe it's the way she whispers it -neither loud nor accusing nor angry, just disappointed- that takes the wind out of Kyouko's sails.

Old pain, old hurt that never truly went away.

"... yeah. I did," Kyouko says. She starts to look away, before her eyes snap back, glare reasserting itself. She doesn't move, either, her arms folded. Knotted tight and closed off, harsh shadows cast over her face and body by the illumination of the street light. "I couldn't stand being around you."

The blood drains from Mami's face.

Sayaka sucks in a breath, hissed between her teeth, while you-

You feel Homura's hand on your elbow, halting you in your tracks. Amethyst eyes meet yours, silent, implacable, and... questioning. You subside, forcing yourself to watch as your hands find the rough brick ledges of the bridge.

"What, didn't like that?" Kyouko asks, noticing your movement. She glances at you, gaze lingering on Sayaka for a moment. "Whatcha gonna do about it."

"Kyouko," Mami says, her cold, precise diction belying the anger simmering beneath her even tone. "Why are you doing this?"

Kyouko laughs. Loud and coarse and mocking and perhaps you're reading too much into it, but with just a bit of genuine hurt leaking through.

"I'm not good enough for you," Kyouko sneers, and her words burn hot, hot, hot with anger. Anger at Mami, anger at the world, anger at herself. "You know it, I know it. I never was. I could never live up to your ideals, Mami-senpai."

That's not how you remember it. And it doesn't stop the sick jolt of anger coiling that surges in response to the taunt. Not anger for you, but for Mami. You fight back the response, reminding yourself that this is Mami's fight.

And you...

Your senses jangle. You feel displacement in the nanofog bank you never retracted, a slinking, cat-like form pushing into existence. The first time you've ever actually observed Kyuubey teleporting in, you think.

You freeze Grief around the rat, locking its body in place. It struggles for a moment before going limp and motionless - not motionless like someone lying still, but the stillness of death.

Good enough, as long as it doesn't come back.

"That's not true," Mami says, her chin lifting. "We fought together, Kyouko. We fought for the same thing."

"Yeah, and then I didn't," Kyouko snaps. "How about that? We can't all be perfect."

"Mistakes are human, Kyouko," Mami says softly. "I never asked you to be perfect."

"'Mistakes'?" Kyouko echoes, her face twisting to anger. "I hurt people. That's all I do."

"You don't have to," Mami says.

"There was once a little girl who killed her family. The end," Kyouko says, singsong and mocking and bitter. She holds both arms out and twirls, then curtsies towards you. "How about that, my dear audience?"

And therein lies the problem, doesn't it?

Her mother, her sister. Dead of a murder-suicide at her father's hand. Because he found out that Kyouko had made a Wish, that his congregation had gathered out of her witchcraft.

Hurts that never mended. That never had the chance to be mended.

"I think you're being stupid." Sayaka beats you to the punch, scowling and folding her arms. "I've seen how you act with Yuma. I dunno what your problem is, but you're not as bad as you think you are."

Mami steps forward. Once, twice, thrice, to stop just out of arm's reach of Kyouko, and she simply... looks at Kyouko. The anger is gone, banked embers now replaced with solemn consideration.

"I wonder what lessons your student is learning from you?" Mami murmurs. "I wonder what she thinks of you?"

"She's a kid," Kyouko snarls. "She doesn't know better."

"I think she knows well enough," Mami says. "I wonder if she would agree, if I asked her?" She turns her head slightly, looking past and above Kyouko's head. "I recognise that enchantment she's using."

You track Mami's gaze, past the glow of streetlights and past the gloom of night, to what might be a tiny silhouette perched atop a building in the distance.

"I feel sorry for her," Kyouko says, lips peeling off her teeth. "So what?"

"No matter how much you try to pretend otherwise... Kyouko, you believed in the same ideals I did," Mami says. Her attention returns to Kyouko. "I know you did."

"No. I just said that to make you feel better," Kyouko says. The sneer returns to her face. "It's better this way."

"I don't believe you," Mami says, but you can see her conviction waver a little. She shakes her head, and sighs. "I... Kyouko, I miss you."

"Good for you," Kyouko says, sardonic. "I don't miss your nagging."

Brick crunches under your fingers, jagged edges biting in even as it crumbles to powder under superhuman strength. Kyouko's eyes flick your way for a second, that damnable sneer curling her lips still.

"Still that same troublesome student of mine," Mami says. She opens both hands to Kyouko, the gesture belying the hurt and renewed anger in her eyes. "You're not here because you want to argue with me, Kyouko. Why are you here?"

"I dunno, really," Kyouko says. She half turns away from Mami, shadows cast by her ponytail and bangs shading her face. "Maybe I should leave. You've already got friends."

"Kyouko, I..." Mami falters, reaching out to Kyouko before letting her hand drop, and takes a shaky breath. "You're my friend, too. You're still my friend, and... I'm not going to let to push me away. I..." Mami takes a deeper breath, straightening. "I learned to hope again, Kyouko. I'm not giving up on you."

"I thought you knew better than that," Kyouko says. She doesn't look at Mami, still half-turned away. "I've got a pretty good life. Just gotta look out for myself." She jerks a thumb over her shoulder at you before stuffing her hand back in her pocket. "Your girl's pretty good for free stuff."

Sayaka snorts quietly.

"Can you really say that, Kyouko?" Mami says. "Can you really say that you don't care? That you only care about yourself?"

"Hey, that's just the way things have to be, isn't it?" Kyouko says. "You try and do something good, and the world pays you back with the bad."

"No," Mami says quietly. "No, it doesn't have to be that way. We fight for justice, Kyouko, because things can be better. I..." Mami's eyes flicker over to you for a split second. "I never- I never thought I'd have the chance to see you again, and yet, here we are."

"Should've kept it that way," Kyouko grunts. "What, you forget how disappointed you were with me?"

"I was disappointed with what you were saying," Mami whispers. Her voice is quiet. Almost pleading. "But you... you never really meant it, did you?"

"Mean it?" Kyouko barks out a bitter laugh. "People died. I didn't save them."

"And now?" Mami persists, but you can see her shoulders slumping a little. Because Kyouko, damn her prickly street urchin facade, hates herself, and she can't stop digging.

Kyouko doesn't answer, a muscle twitching in her jaw as she looks away, too.

"I-" Mami swallows, taking another step forward. "Kyouko, I... whatever you've done, it's alright. We can- we can work something out. I-" Mami's voice cracks, and you can see her trying to blink back tears. "I'm sorry, Kyouko. I'm sorry I- I wasn't enough to help, back then. Please- please. I just want my friend back."

Kyouko hunches her shoulders, mutely shaking her head. "There's a place for people like me, Mami. Go home."

[] Wait. Let Mami handle it.
[] Intervene
- [] Encourage Mami
-- [] Telepathically (Write-in)
-- [] Out loud (Write-in)
- [] Say something to Kyouko (Write-in)
- [] Nudge someone to say something
-- [] Sayaka
-- [] Yuma
-- [] Homura
[] Say something to Kyuubey

=====​

Minor note: Mami has been using 'Kyouko-san' throughout, as opposed to 'Sakura-san' whic Kyouko would have been used to from their parting.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Kyouko..." Mami trails off, uncertain and more than a little lost. She presses her lips together, tears forgotten as she blinks at Kyouko. You can feel the Grief in her Soul Gem, and in Kyouko's, darkness simmering away slowly. Your own, too.

You take a jerky step forward, mouth opening to say something, but-

What?

How do you interject?

You realise, as the thoughts sleet through your head, that you'd never told Mami the full story, either. But this-

This isn't your fight.

You could say something. You could lay out the details, the same sad story that you'd never gotten around to telling Mami about. But not now. You dart a glance at Sayaka and Homura, the latter impassive and the former conflicted, anger duelling incomprehension across her face. You're not sure Kyouko would appreciate you laying bare her secrets and her shame to others.

You shoot Mami a quick look, taking in the way her head is still high despite the way her hands are shaking a bit, and you can't help the surge of pride. Maybe some of it shows on your face when she glances over at you, because she manages to straighten a little before refocusing on Kyouko, seeming to find strength anew.

You freeze in your tracks, words dying unspoken on your lips. Not now. You have to trust Mami.

Kyouko looks down, her eyes shaded by her hair. But there's enough life in her to glance your way, lips peeling off her teeth into that sneer of hers, all false bravado and fragile confidence. But as she opens her mouth to speak again, Mami interrupts.

"Kyouko," she says, soft and resolute. "I don't understand why you're doing this. Please help me understand?"

"Haaah..." Kyouko says, hooking both arms behind her head again and looking up at the night sky. "I dunno. Got no idea why I'm here."

Mami exhales quietly. Her gaze turns to you, and you smile at her even as you slouch back against the wall along the sides of the bridge - because Mami's doing great, even if you are hesitant and uncertain. You've put your trust on Mami, because she deserves it, and you hope that she knows.

"I don't believe that," Mami says at last. "I think you came here for a reason, Kyouko, even if you can't spit it out." She shakes her head. "You really haven't changed from that same old troublesome student of mine."

"I'm not your student any more," Kyouko snarls, eyes flashing.

"Maybe not," Mami says. "But you're..." She smiles, tremulous. "You're still my friend, Kyouko."

"Still naive," Kyouko spits. "There's no place for that, Mami-sempai. How many people left you, huh? Ten? Twenty?"

Brief flashes of pain spark up your arms, your fingers digging into the soft flesh of your palm and your jaw creaking as you force yourself to stay silent.

"Two less than it could be," Mami says, seemingly unfazed other than closing her eyes for a second. "Three less. Kyouko, I... I don't know what happened. But I know that it wasn't your fault."

"I killed my family," Kyouko snarls. "I don't deserve your kindness."

And there it is.

"Did you?" Mami asks. "Because I don't believe that." She tilts her head slightly and smiles at you. "Did she?"

And that-

-it's like a knot of tension comes apart in an instant, leaving you breathless for a second. Not just that you get to say something, the million and one thoughts spilling over into the paralysis of decision, but also that Mami isn't taking it all upon herself. She's not alone.

"No," you say. "No, she didn't."

"What the hell do you know?" Kyouko rounds on you, all sharp angles and harsh shadows.

"Enough," you say. "Kyouko..." You sigh, pushing off the wall, and take a step forward. You catch Mami's eye. "I know. Do you want me to share? I can get everyone on the same page, and I guarantee you everyone will listen, and tell you the same thing, Kyouko. It wasn't your fault."

"I-" Kyouko's hands fist at her side, visibly restraining herself.

"Not now, I think," Mami says. She smiles at you, brief and wan, before turning her attention back to Kyouko. "It seems, Kyouko, that you're not a bad person. I don't think a bad person would have taken in Yuma, either, no matter how much you protest, so... Kyouko, the only person who seems to hate you is yourself."

"Yeah? So what?" Kyouko says. "So what if you think that?!"

"Oh, come off it," Sayaka grumbles, not quite under her breath.

"Come out of the cold, Kyouko," Mami offers. "I... I don't believe for a second that you're a bad person, however much you pretend you are. You may have done things that you regret, but... if I'm naive for believing in justice, that things can be made right, I remember a girl who thought the same."

"Come out of the cold?" Kyouko snarls, fire returning. "Th' hell does that mean?"

"We've got a spare room," Mami says. She holds her open hand out to Kyouko, and despite the tremble in her arm, despite the Grief you can feel churning in her Soul Gem, she's smiling. "I never hated you, Kyouko. And we're talking now, right? I... I guess we've still got things to resolve, but you can stay the night?"

"I..." Kyouko's jaw twitches, clenched together tight enough that you imagine you can hear her teeth creaking against each other.

"Bring Yuma, too, of course," Mami says, lowering her hand. "There's enough room for the both of you."

"I'll think about it." Kyouko whispers the words, half turning away. "I'll think about it."

Without a look back, she strides away, ponytail swishing behind her.

"... oi!" Sayaka yells after her, her frustration apparently finally boiling over. "You better not be skipping out on us. I'll hunt you down and kick your ass myself!"

Kyouko's only response is a rude gesture over her shoulder.

"Let her go," Mami murmurs to you, eyes fixed on Kyouko's disappearing form. "She... she was always like that." She turns to you, eyes glistening with tears. "I... she'll come by. I know she will. I know she will."

"I believe you," you murmur, smiling at her and holding your arms out. "You were amazing, Mami."

She nods, taking a teetering step towards you... and collapses into your arms, shaking with adrenaline and sheer, pent up emotion. She buries her face against your shoulder, clinging to you as though to a float in a storm, and you're not sure where her trembles end and yours begin as the tension finally breaks.

"Dumbass," Sayaka mutters, running an unsteady hand through her hair. "God. I just stood there and I'm..."

"That... went well," Homura says quietly. She seems the least affected, a seemingly emotionless statue, gaze fixed on the road and hooded by shadow. "Well done, Mami."

"I- I-" Mami shakes her head, words muffled by your shirt. "I put a ribbon on her. Just in case. But she- but she'll come. I know she will."

"You-" You can't help the startled laugh that bubbles up your throat. You hadn't even noticed it, Grief senses and all. "That's my Mami."

"I... let's go home, Sabrina," she says softly.

"Yeah, I gotta get going back to Madoka's, too," Sayaka says, making a face. "Still got homework to do. And I've got some thinking to do. This day's been way too long."

"May I join you?" Homura murmurs.

Sayaka snorts, rolling her eyes. "Ask Madoka when you get there, and she'll say yes," she says. "So... yeah, c'mon."

[] Say something to Sayaka/Homura
- [] What about? (write-in)
[] Head home
[] Talk to Mami
- [] Fill Mami in about Kyouko's story
- [] Ask her what she thinks about this whole thing
- [] Something else (write-in)
[] Prepare something for Kyouko?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

So, honestly, any of the three (Let Mami handle it, Kaizuki's, or Godwinson's) options would have been qualified successes, just to various degrees. I'm not going which ones were which, but one of them would have resulted in a lot more belligerence.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Yeah," you murmur to Mami. "Let's go home. And... Homura, Sayaka." You beam at your friends over Mami's shoulder, arms still wrapped snugly around her.

"Mmm?" Sayaka says. She grins briefly at you.

"Thanks for being here, both of you," you say. "It helped." Mami nods wordlessly, hair brushing over your shirt as she refuses to let go of you.

"Ahh, c'mon, how could I say no?" Sayaka asks, rolling her eyes. Homura nods, amethyst eyes distant.

"Just accept the gratitude," you say, matching Sayaka with your own rolled eyes. "Seriously. Being here helped. I don't think anyone else could've really called her out like that, and it worked. So... thanks." You grin, and then blink as your thoughts jumping to something niggling at the back of your mind. "Also, weren't you going home? Earlier, I mean."

Sayaka shrugs easily. "Changed my mind," she says. "And... I know I can't talk about this stuff with, uh, basically anyone, buuuut doing homework? That's better than being alone in my room."

She pauses, and makes a disgusted face as if she can't believe she'd just said that.

"Yeah," she says, shrugging. "So I stopped by home and then went to Madoka's instead."

Mami makes a soft noise. Her trembling's eased out a little, but you can still feel her soaking into your embrace, and no wonder - the encounter was draining for you, just from the tension and emotion. You rub her back gently, trying to work out the knots.

"Well... I guess we're done here," you say. "Oh, yeah, a quick cleanse for everyone, yeah? Right, there we go. Say hi to Madoka for me, and see you tomorrow?"

"Mmhm!" Sayaka says, waving. "Coming, Homura?"

"Yes," Homura says. She nods at you, solemn and measured in a way that's almost a bow without being more than a slight inclination of her head. And in that one gesture...

Acknowledgement, because you've done it. Happiness, just a hair, because she's happy for you. And gladness, because this is one more obstacle. One more battle won in her long war: the foundations of the stage settling just that little bit more for the grand showdown to come. Because Mami has always been a pivotal part of the scene in Mitakihara, because Mami was, and is Homura's friend.

Maybe you're reading too much into it, but you've gotten pretty good at understanding Homura.

So you smile at her, and as they leave, you gather Mami up in your arms with a quick 'hup!', delighting in the surprised little squeak you startle from her, and leap for the roofs. Mami cottons on quickly, looping her arms around your neck to steady herself as you bound across Mitakihara.

Your Grief nanofog spreads out ahead of you, a perpetual cloud bank flooding out ahead of you. It lets you feel your path, safe and sure and certain so that you don't have to risk dropping Mami - you could walk on air, if it came to an awkwardly placed building. Detection and utility and offense and defense all in one, and speaking of detection, you'd picked up a Kyuubey earlier.

Not dead or defunct, apparently, just totally limp as if playing dead. You can sense the faintest traces of magic in it still.

A second's worth of internal debate: to crush, to destroy, to incinerate the body, or not. Certainly you don't want to keep it around for much longer, but... ultimately, you choose to simply toss it none-too-gently at a rooftop. It lies still for a moment, and then stirs and scampers out of your range.

The city glows beneath you. Headlights and streetlights combine into luminous rivers, distant shopfronts and building-sized displays and signs casting enough light to drown out the stars. Traffic and people and people throng the streets, the noise a low rumble rivalled only by the roll of thunder overhead, lightning streaking briefly through the clouding night sky.

Looks like you're due some rain tonight.

When you get home, she's still curled up against you, reluctant to let go, so you simply drop onto the sofa with Mami still in your arms. She makes another soft, indecipherable noise, shuffling around to get comfortable, which apparently means cuddled as close to you as physically possible.

Not that you have any objection to that, of course. You smile at her, brushing the hair back from her face and simply... exist, content to let her regain her equilibrium and to let yourself relax. In the back of your mind, you can still feel your nanofog, spread out around you. Nowhere near as effective as it could be, out of respect of other people's privacy - but enough, you hope, to detect Kyuubey should it attempt to intrude again.

You divert a sliver of attention and nanofog to flooding the kitchen. You find the kettle and a teapot and a few cups and, of course, the tea. Chamomile feels perfect for the mood, you suspect.

Hah.

Utility indeed.

"How are you feeling?" you ask, after a few minutes.

"Drained," Mami murmurs, shaking her head. "Exhausted."

You laugh quietly. "I'm drained, and I was just... standing there," you say. "Yeah, I completely understand."

"Sabrina-" Mami shakes her head, one hand closing over yours in a tight, urgent grip as her eyes look up at you. "I couldn't have done it without you. Knowing you were there gave me the strength to push on, and... it... it made me angry, when she taunted you, or tried to deflect things."

"I..." You blink, and then laugh, a little. "Thank you, Mami. But that's not really what I meant - I just... I was there to support you. I knew that, going in, it was your fight, and even if I could have stepped in, you had to reach out and take this. What I meant was that even just standing there to support you was exhausting, emotionally, but you... you were in the thick of it, and feeling drained is perfectly reasonable."

"Oh," Mami says. "I..." She lifts her head to smile at you. "Still. Thank you, Sabrina. This is... this is everything."

"Maybe," you say, smiling, and walk your fingers through Mami's hair. You talk over the whistle of the kettle from the kitchen even as you pull it off the stove to cool for a moment. "But Mami, tonight was all you. I set it up. Homura was there, and Sayaka, and so was I, but... ultimately, you did this. You know that, right?"

"I couldn't have done it without you," Mami murmurs. "It... it wouldn't have happened without you, I... I had no idea how to reach out for that first step, the meeting."

"Mmm," you hum quietly, twining a lock of Mami's hair around your finger, sunlight caught and spun into soft curls. "I... I facilitated. We supported you. But it was your effort that brought it over the finishing line, you know? You did it, and that's..."

You huff, letting her hair spring back.

"You were amazing, Mami," you say. "I... you were. You were brave and strong and you... you got it. You didn't... you didn't really have much information about Kyouko, right? And yet you figured it out, and you managed to get her to agree to come over."

"If I was brave, then it was because I knew you were there for me," Mami murmurs. She interlaces her fingers with yours, squeezing. "Homura and Sayaka, too. If I was strong, then that strength came from you. And Kyouko..." She sighs. "She... she really hasn't changed all that much, but she... she hates herself, now. I can only guess as to why, but..."

"I could tell you," you say quietly. "If you want to hear the story. I'd meant to tell you, before this, but I just completely forgot to, and that's my fault. But beyond that, Mami, well... If I gave you strength, it's because you inspire the best in me. And you were inspiring today, facing Kyouko."

Mami giggles, humour warming her features from the cold of exhausted emotion. "We can't keep attributing our successes to each other, Sabrina."

"Yes we can," you say, and match her giggles with a pleased grin. "We help each other become better. That's what a relationship is. And right now, Mami, I am praising you because you did something amazing today."

"I... alright," Mami say, snuggling against you and laying her head against your collarbone with a quiet, pleased sigh. "I... I think I can believe that, but only if you admit that you had a share of the credit in allowing this to happen."

"I can live with that," you say. "And... Mami?"

"Mmm?" she says.

You blink, and purse your lips. "Hold that thought," you say. "Something more important: tea?"

Mami blinks, and then laughs, sitting up properly. You steady her with an arm around her waist.

"Well, if you insist," she says. "I thought that that was what you were doing."

"Chamomile," you say, floating the teapot and teacups from the kitchen. "Freshly steeped."

"That sounds perfect," Mami says. A thoughtful expression crosses her face as you pour out the tea, and as you pass her a cup, she continues with rather more hesitance. "Do... do you think we should prepare something for Kyouko?"

"I was thinking about that, but... you tell me," you say. "Do you think she'd appreciate that?"

Mami starts to worry at her lower lip, then seems to notice what she's doing, and switches to sipping her tea. She closes her eyes briefly in contentment, before reopening them and nodding firmly.

"A cake, I think," she decides. "Large enough that we can keep some for tomorrow. It... would be better if we had some leftovers, but we did finish all the stew."

"Leftovers?" you say.

"She always was an odd balance of, ah, shameless about food but still prideful," Mami says. "She wouldn't like it if we did something specially for her, like we pitied her, but if it's something general..."

"Makes sense," you say. "And see? You've got this, Mami. You do."

"I suppose," Mami says, taking another sip of tea. "Only with your help."

"You'll always have me," you say. You take a sip of tea, your free hand finding Mami's. "So we'll handle it together."

"Alright," Mami says.

You spend the next few minutes drinking the tea in a comfortable silence, Mami ducking herself under your arm and only leaving to pour the both of you refills. You savour the floral, vaguely honey-like fragrance of the tea, soothing and mellow, and the warmth that pools in your belly and radiates comfort much as having Mami by your side does.

Thunder rumbles outside. You can feel the pressure dropping, too - it's probably going to rain all night, and you really hope Kyouko's coming. She'd probably find shelter in some hotel room if she doesn't, but... well, you hope Kyouko's coming, more for her own sake and Mami's sake than because of the rain.

"What was the other thing, Sabrina?" Mami asks, at length.

"Mmm," you temporize. You only continue after another minute, forcing your thoughts into some semblance of order.

"This... the talk with Kyouko wasn't special," you say. "And I'm not... I know, Mami. Kyouko was, is important. She's an important friend, and bringing her back means a lot to you. I know that."

Mami nods, squeezing a little closer to you.

"But this... it wasn't a miracle," you say. "It was hard work, on your part. I know that I had a part in setting it up, and that was hard too - I'm not really... good at this kind of thing." You grin, a touch sheepish, and a touch amused. "I know what you're going to say, but really I'm not. I just had a lot of advantages."

You take a breath.

"It's a skill," you say. "Much like any other. To, to understand people, relationships, and what brings them together and tears them apart, and... how we all think, and our motives, and all that."

"I... I still don't understand why Kyouko l-left," Mami murmurs. "I... she hates herself, I saw that much. I don't care, and I hope she understood that, but... why?"

You sigh.

"It's an ugly story," you say. "But ultimately, she didn't want to drag you down. She thought you deserved to have better friends than her."

"B-but-" Mami's expression crumples. Alarmed, you pull her into a hug, abandoning your teacup to Grief and tugging hers away. "That dummy. I don't... I wouldn't have cared. Never."

"I know, Mami," you say, rubbing her back gently, soothingly. "I know. She knows that, and... she thought that you were too good to associate with someone like her, you know?"

"She wasn't," Mami murmurs. "She never was."

"People are complicated," you say, huffing a faint laugh. "Understanding them is complicated and difficult."

"I..." You can feel Mami take a deep breath. "Alright."

She stands, and offers her hand to you, smiling. "Let's go bake that cake, and... Help me understand?"

Without hesitation, you take her hand, smiling.

[X] Explain Kyouko's story and motivations to Mami
- [] Any specific points? (Write-in)

=====​

The next post will take you through to the next morning, hopefully.

 

[Firnagzen]

Mami's hand is soft and warm in yours, belying the unyielding strength you know lurks behind her gentle demeanour, the strength that's never been just a facade. She tugs you to your feet, and you slump forward on her so you can wrap her into a tight hug, planting a sloppy kiss on her forehead.

"Sabrina!" she says, giggling and leaning into you.

"Mami!" you say happily.

She laughs, nestling into your arms. You stay like that for a while, wrapped tightly around each other and swaying slightly back and forth as you soak in the quiet. Thunder rolls again beyond the walls, beyond the apartment that's become your home.

"I hope Kyouko comes soon," Mami murmurs quietly.

"She will. You told me so, right?" you say, pulling back to smile at her, your arms resting lightly on her shoulders.

"She..." Mami takes a breath, and nods. "She will. But she might also procrastinate until it's raining so heavily that she's soaked when she gets here, and... magical girl or not, that's not good for anyone."

"Yuma will talk some sense into her, I hope," you say. "She's definitely the more sensible one."

Mami laughs, then blinks, peering up at your face when she realizes that you aren't laughing.

"No, really, she is," you insist, cracking a bit of a grin.

"I suppose I can see it," Mami says. "By comparison, anyway."

You nod solemnly. "So, since we know that they're definitely coming, shall we get started on that cake? And... I'll help you understand Kyouko properly while we do that?"

"I'd like that," Mami says with a warm, adoring smile. Her expression turns thoughtful. "A big cake, since we want to actually have some for tomorrow."

"Bigger, even," you say with a quiet laugh. "You haven't really met Yuma yet, so... let me just say, she's learning from Kyouko."

"Ah, I see," Mami says. "She sounds like a nice girl."

"Tiny little terror," you say, gently nudging Mami towards the kitchen. Obligingly, she shifts so that you can walk side-by-side to the kitchen. "Who... well, I think she probably reminds Kyouko, at least a little, of her sister. Which is a nice segue into how this story starts."

"Go on?" Mami murmurs, glancing at you as you squeeze into the kitchen - not that the kitchen is small, but the door certainly isn't wide enough to accommodate the both of you.

"It starts with Kyouko's family," you say quietly, as you reach for the flour, handing it to Mami just as she starts to look for it. She beams at you. "She loved them very much."

"I met them before," Mami murmurs. "Her father, her mother... her little sister. Momo, her name was."

"Yeah," you say. On a whim, you gather enough Grief to form a panel, a blank canvas that you rapidly fill in with colour. Dinner with the Sakura family, Mami and Kyouko prominent in frame. All smiling, all happy.

Mami stares at the image, her smile fading to regret.

"They... died," Mami murmurs. "They... he committed suicide."

"You heard it on the news, didn't you?" you murmur, reaching out to hug Mami, only to find her already seeking your embrace.

"She'd found a Witch in their church, you see," you say, squeezing Mami tight. "How could she not fight it? How could she not defend her home? And then... maybe he was drawn by the noise. Her father found her, just as she defeated the Witch."

You dissolve the image-panel, and you don't bother to form another. Mami's not looking, anyway.

"He turned to drink," you say. "At first. And that... that would have been when you noticed that she was being quiet, that she wasn't as enthusiastic any more."

Mami nods wordlessly, pressing a little closer to you. Not out of distress... or not out of distress for herself. Still, you rub her back in soothing, slow circles, trying to ease away the knots of tension.

"And it..." you sigh. "She was trying to make him see that she was fighting to save people. To help. But you know what her Wish was - so that people would listen to her father's ideas. And her father... her father put it all at the feet of the devil. His daughter had made a deal with the devil, and the success of his words, his flock... he had led them all astray at the behest of the devil."

"He killed himself," Mami murmurs, voice trembling. "I knew that. I. I didn't want to pressure Kyouko. Even when she told me she was at fault..."

You sigh again.

"I can't say that that was the wrong approach," you say. "She walked in on his body. On the bodies of her family. You couldn't have known that would happen. But you... Mami, you're more perceptive than you give yourself credit for. And you're good with people - better than I am."

"I let her push me away, even before that," Mami says, and there's a quaver, a note of quiet sadness and revelation in her voice. "I was... I was so desperate, even then, and I panicked. I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have."

"Oh, Mami," you say, your own heart breaking for her. "People... people are messy and dumb and we say things we don't mean. We lash out in blind pain. In fear. But... that's what people are like. It doesn't mean they're any less for it, just that they're... human."

"I know," Mami says. "I... thank you, Sabrina."

"Again, Mami... you're perceptive," you say. "If someone says 'nothing's wrong'... I dunno. There's no one-size fits all to all of this. But trust yourself, because you are worth trusting."

"I... I'll try," Mami says, taking a breath. "Alright. Ah... we should get started on the cake."

"If you're sure?" you say. You separate far enough from the hug to meet her eyes.

Mami looks back at you, resolute and calm, in a way that isn't forced in the slightest. Her eyes crinkle a little with a faint smile, soft and gold, and she reaches up to brush your hair behind your ear, hand lingering for a moment. She looks centered, steady in a way that you can't help but relax in response to.

"I have you, Sabrina," she says. "And together, we can work miracles." Her grin turns teasing, just a bit.

You laugh, and pull her in for another quick hug before releasing her. "One day, Mami," you say. "I'll get you to accept that you are the miracle worker, not me. I just cheat outrageously."

"If you're not cheating, you're not trying," Mami says with a firm nod. "Speaking of..." She stretches out a hand, and a cupboard door flies open ahead of a mixing bowl leaping to her on the end of a ribbon. "I doubt we have time to be careful making a proper cake mix..."

"... but I can cheat outrageously," you finish for Mami, nodding solemnly. "Leave it to me."

Mami beams at you, finding her equilibrium once more on steady ground. "I was thinking... a layer cake, perhaps with a caramel glaze? We do have cream cheese for frosting, too, and..." Her gentle smile fades to a slightly more melancholy edge. "We can continue talking about certain subjects while we bake?"

"Of course, Mami. On both accounts," you say. You smile at her, tempted to pull her into yet another hug, but... if she wants to maintain a lighter mood, you're not one to deny her. "Pass the- ah, thank you." You accept the carton of eggs from Mami, who's bustling around the kitchen to pile ingredients on the table. "Six? Eight?"

"Six," Mami says, already starting to measure out flour. "Eight... I don't think we have baking tins big enough for that."

"Ah, good point," you say, pulling six eggs out with Grief and cracking them mid-air, separating the yolks and the whites with a smooth flourish. Butter, sugar, and a bit of orange zest go into the mixing bowl, carefully measured out by Mami, and you start whisking vigorously. "So..."

You hum thoughtfully as you add the yolks. "You... weren't wrong, when you said that Kyouko was pushing you away," you say finally. "That is what she was doing, even earlier today. She blames herself for what happened, because that's what her father -her idol- told her. That she was damned by God, and she'd damned all of them. I... like I said. She was lashing out in fear and pain, and she'd taken those poisoned words to heart. She was damned, and she didn't deserve good things."

"We'll just have to change that, right?" Mami murmurs. She starts the stove, staring into the blue flame with distant, pained eyes.

"We will," you say. You abandon the mixing bowl and whisk to Grief, so that you can set a hand on top of Mami's and squeeze gently. She gives you a grateful look, bumping her shoulder against yours before turning away to fetch a saucepan.

Soon, the smell of caramel starts to fill the kitchen, browning under Mami's expert eye while you whisk together the cake batter - carefully folded in with egg white so that it remains nice and fluffy. It's a delicate balance that you find yourself enjoying, plying the batter with Grief to whip together perfectly sized air bubbles.

"Sabrina?" Mami breaks the comfortable silence as you pass her the cake batter.

"Mmm?" you say. You lean against the countertop, your part done for now, and you watch as she pours the batter into cake tins with an easy grace and precision that's still a delight to watch.

"You... you say that I'm better at people than you," she says. "And you manage because you cheat."

"It's... well, you know," you say, tapping your temple. "Knowing people helps. With people I don't, I mess up far too easily."

"Maybe," Mami allows. "But you've done some amazing things, Sabrina, 'cheating' or no. And I don't... I don't want you to discount that. I, we wouldn't be here today if you weren't you, and I wouldn't trade us for anything."

"Yeah," you say, suddenly breathless and yet buoyed by Mami's words. "I wouldn't trade us for anything, either."

The faint pitter-patter of raindrops are rattling against the window by the time you have the cake in the oven, and by mutual, wordless agreement, you migrate back to the living room, curling up on the sofa together. The television provides some white noise, and as Mami settles against your side, she casts a worried look against the gloomy skies, illuminated infrequently by flashes of lightning. It's not hard to guess at her thoughts.

"How did you manage to get the ribbon on Kyouko without her noticing, anyway?" you ask, paying just a sliver of attention to the news in case something notable comes up. "... heck, I can sense magic quite well, and I didn't notice, either."

"I taught her everything she knows," Mami says with a faint smile. "And I've gotten better since then."

"Hah!" You laugh, beaming at Mami, who giggles in return.

"In all seriousness, I exploited change blindness," Mami says. "I extended the ribbon from my foot very slowly, and as long as it was slow enough, she wouldn't have noticed it... though it was in part due to how focused she was on me."

"That's my Mami," you say. "Amazing as always."

Mami nods, and glances at the window again, at the rain beating against the glass. Her expression flickers to surprise. "She's... she's coming. I suppose the rain helped her make up her mind..."

"Ah!" you say. "We should get the cake ready, then. We still need to do the icing!"

"It's time for more outrageous cheating," Mami says. She doesn't get up, though, sitting back on her haunches and eyeing you with a slow, warm smile - and then she kisses you on the cheek, before finally getting up, smiling and definitely trying to suppress a blush. Not very successfully.

"What was that for?" you blink at Mami, flushing a bright red.

"For being you," Mami says. "Because I wanted to." She laughs, clear and bell-like, and then flees to the kitchen to hide the way her face reddens even more.

You laugh, and follow her in, cracking your knuckles, because it's time to get cracking, pun absolutely intended.

Kyouko announces her arrival with a diffident, almost timid knock at the door - only after dithering outside for nearly a minute. Of course, you and Mami already knew she was there, tracking her progress anxiously with hushed, whispered conversation over the cake. Yuma's right there with her, too.

"I'll get it," Mami murmurs to you.

"Then I'll finish up the cake," you say, smiling and squeezing her hand lightly. "We're almost done, anyway."

"Alright," Mami murmurs, squeezing back. You keep an eye on her as she drifts to the front door, and you hear the door unlock and open, and then...

"Sakura Kyouko!" Mami barks, voice rising to outrage. "Did you run here in the rain? With a little girl?"

"Yuma is not a litt-"

"Yeah, whaddya gonna-"

You roll your eyes, reaching for towels with Grief. And bathroom mats, to sop up the water already dripping on the floor. And when you wander over to the front door just behind the floating towels, you have your very best quizzical eyebrow at the ready, already cocked and slightly accusing.

"You could have at least gotten an umbrella!" Mami scolds, grabbing a towel out of mid-air and kneeling to help Yuma dry herself off with only a minimal amount of protests from the younger girl. Kyouko, on the other hand...

Well...

She looks like a sodden cat. There's really no other way to put it, with her usually-magnificent ponytail bedraggled and limp, fringe plastered to her eyes and jacket clinging to her body.

You toss the towel at her face.

"Welcome, Kyouko," you say drily. "Try not to drip on the floor."

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko grumbles, towelling herself off with rough, angry motions and scowl firmly emplaced. "Should've just hit up a hotel."

"You will do no such thing," Mami says in a tone that brooks no argument. "Come in, Kyouko, Yuma. You'll be sleeping in the guest bedroom."

"Yeah, no, I-" Kyouko stops, one foot over the threshold, and sniffs at the air. "Are you baking?"

"We happen to be baking a cake for tomorrow, but you can certainly have some now if you want," Mami says smoothly.

"I-" Kyouko's expression twists, trying to hide want under annoyance. "You didn't have to."

"I'll cut some cake for all of us," Mami says with a smile. "Sabrina, why don't you see if there's some old clothes that might fit Kyouko and Yuma?"

"Sure," you say. You grin at Mami as she departs in the direction of the kitchen, and then at Kyouko.

"Shut up," Kyouko mutters, avoiding your gaze. Yuma, on the other hand, beams brightly at you, bouncing happily on her toes.

"I'm glad you came," you say. "Now, sit down, and wait here. I'm... not sure if anything we have will fit you -Yuma, especially- but I'll see what I can do."

Kyouko grunts, and flops onto the sofa.

"Can I look around?" Yuma asks.

"Of course," you say, smiling and ruffling her hair. "Feel free!"

You discreetly dry your hand on your shirt as you head to your bedroom, rummaging through the clothes. Nothing that Mami had bought for you would really fit, you think, but you do know that Mami has older clothes stored away...

"It feels almost like old times," Mami murmurs telepathically to you.

"In a good way or a bad way?" you ask, finding the neatly folded stack off to the side and starting to search. "Ah... is it OK if I go through your old clothes?"

"Of course, and... good, I think," Mami says. "But it's... different, somehow."

"You're not the same people you were," you say.

"I know," Mami says. "I don't... I don't dislike it."

"Then that's enough," you say. "Reach out, and take it, right?"

"Right." Mami's voice steadies. "I'll bring the cake out - don't take too long?"

"I won't," you say.

By the time you emerge with a blouse and old sweatpants you think might fit Kyouko and a shirt that's... probably a nightgown for Yuma, they've already demolished their slices of cake. Mami looks up at your approach, smiling warmly at you and motioning towards an untouched slice, pushed away from Kyouko and Yuma.

"Managed to find something for you, Kyouko," you say. "And, uh, Yuma, this is definitely too big for you, but it's better than wet clothes, right? You can belt it in."

"Yuma doesn't mind!" the green-haired girl says brightly, jumping to her feet.

"... thanks," Kyouko mutters, holding her hands out for the clothes.

"You can change in the spare bedroom," Mami says, smiling and pouring you a cup of tea as you settle down next to her.

"Right," Kyouko says, shifting uncomfortably. "... we're sleeping out here, though. The couch is fine."

"It's fine, it's fine, I, uh..." You manage to suppress your blush. Mostly. "I don't use that room, anyway."

Kyouko's stare nails you head-on. You're forced to fight a retreating battle against the blush which is, unfortunately, giving no quarter and taking no prisoners, claiming ground with relentless speed. Right up to your ears.

You take some small comfort in knowing that Mami's in no better state.

"Wh-" Kyouko's hand closes on Yuma's mouth before she can continue.

"I'll explain later," she grunts tersely, and stands, gently tugging Yuma with her. "C'mon, Yuma, let's go change."

Mami giggles nervously as Kyouko leaves the room, ducking her face against your shoulder. "That went better than I expected," she says.

"A lot better," you agree fervently, sinking back into the sofa and closing your eyes.

"Your ears are red," Mami says with a giggle, her finger tracing along the shell of your ear, and you can't help but follow the touch.

"I know," you whine.

"Well... eat your cake?" Mami says. "Before it gets cold!"

You chuckle, opening your eyes and beaming at Mami as you reach for the plate. "Alright. But... you're feeling alright?"

"I am," Mami says. She nestles into your side as you start in on the cake.

You're a few mouthfuls in when Kyouko emerges, looking grumpy. The shirt's a little loose on her, as expected, but at least it's better than Yuma - who, by contrast, looks absolutely delighted with the pseudo-nightgown, bouncing happily on her feet.

"We're sleeping out here tonight." Kyouko echoes her earlier words.

"You don't have to," you say, raising an eyebrow at her.

"We're. Sleeping. Out. Here." Kyouko grates the words out, looking utterly mutinous, and you raise your hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright," you say.

"We'll bring out some sheets and blankets, then," Mami says with a smile.

"... fine," Kyouko says.

It's... not entirely comfortable, attempts at small talk dying in a few exchanges, with Kyouko answering in monosyllables. But Kyouko's here, and you can tell that that makes Mami happy, with the way she lights up. Yuma flits about the room, exploring with bright-eyed curiosity that's entirely undampened by Kyouko's reticence - and you can't help but notice the way Kyouko's eyes soften at familiar sights as she relaxes slowly.

Rain hammers a steady drumbeat at the windows, the wind having since picked up, with lightning splashing bright across the night sky. The weather forecast says that the storm has a strong chance of lasting through tomorrow morning, which doesn't necessarily put a damper on your plans. Though it does, perhaps, make your plans damper.

Still, it is getting late. You make for the showers, insisting that Kyouko and Yuma go first to warm up, since they were soaked, and by the time you emerge, you find Mami leaning against the wall beside the bathroom door and quieting you with a finger pressed to her lips.

You raise a quizzical eyebrow at her, and in response, she motions towards the sofa, where you spot Kyouko slumped over, sound asleep with Yuma curled up on top of her.

Together, you and Mami creep into the spare bedroom, divesting it of its blankets and pillow. With the same delicate care you'd both put into baking the cake, you drape the blanket over the sleeping duo, and set the pillow within arm's reach in case Kyouko wakes up.

"She must be exhausted," you murmur to Mami.

"I... suppose she must have been," Mami answers, mental voice unnecessarily hushed - but then again, you started at a whisper, so who are you to judge? "But it's... good to see her again, properly."

"I can only imagine," you say. Mami takes your hand, intertwining your fingers, and tugs you towards the bedroom.

"Let's take an early night, too," Mami says.

"Yeah. Let's," you say. "Feels like the day has been months long."

"I know the feeling," Mami agrees. The door closes behind you with a muted click, Mami turning and pressing a kiss to your cheek. "Thank you, Sabrina."

You smile warmly at her. "You know my feelings about the matter, Mami," you say. "So... I'll just leave it at a 'you're welcome', under protest."

Mami giggles.

"Oh, Sabrina," she says, impossibly fond as she nudges you towards the bed.

[x] Morning routine!
- [] Radio Mitakihara
-- [] The usual suspects
-- [] Including Kyouko
[] Shopping with Mami and Homura
- [] Ask if Kyouko wants to come along
- [] Now that you have an ID, you can get a bank account!
[] Get in touch with...
- [] The Animators
- [] The Shiogama girls
- [] Nakano Mika
-- [] What about?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Whew. This update took forever to get out. Also, minor reminder: The dinner with the Shizukis is scheduled for tomorrow (that's Saturday, 16th April)!

 

[Firnagzen]

You awaken to the sound of rain.

It's cold outside. The distant rumble of thunder rolls from time to time, drowning out the steady pitter-patter of raindrops drumming against the window, accompanied by lightning which crackles through the clouds and peeks through the gap in the curtains. The chill creeps in through the glass, seeping into the walls and into the air.

But it's warm here. Here, under the blankets, with Mami curled up against your back, arm and leg wrapped possessively around you. Warmer still is the sheer contentment of a job well done: One more friend for Mami, one more friend for you, and the Holy Quintet back together for the first time - with a few extras.

You feel Mami shifting on the bed, her hand working out of the blanket and finding its way to your hair, running slowly through the strands.

"... are you purring?" Mami murmurs after a while.

"... No," you deny.

Mami giggles, and presses her cold, cold nose to the back of your neck.

"Geh," you grumble. Then, softer, "Did I wake you?"

"Sort of, but it's alright," Mami murmurs. She cuddles closer to you, quiet for too long before she speaks again. "I've got more to wake up in the morning for, now."

"Oh," you say, because what can you say to something like that? "I'm glad."

"Mm," Mami says, and promptly yawns, wide and loud. Right by your ear, too. "Besides, we slept early, even though it's Saturday."

"So it is," you say, though some part of you is itching to get up and at 'em already. Admittedly, what you have planned today does rather determine on others: you're not getting any training done without Kyouko and Sayaka awake.

"You have such nice hair," Mami mumbles into said hair.

"Not next to you I don't," you say. "Mine's always a mess."

"It suits you," Mami says.

"Because I'm a mess?" you say, teasing.

"But you're my mess," Mami says with a low, quiet giggle.

"Damn straight I am," you say.

Conversation lapses after that, Mami's fingers combing slowly through your hair. A scrap of Grief twitches aside the curtains enough for you to see the miserably grey skies beyond, still pouring rain.

Man, they weren't kidding about with the forecast last night, were they? It's a good thing you know that Walpurgisnacht isn't due yet, or you'd have cause to be worried - and even if Kyouko would have found proper shelter for herself and Yuma last night, you're oddly glad that Mami had convinced them to come home with you.

Speaking of whom, you can still sense them out in the living room, sound asleep and dead to the world.

"What are we doing today, Sabrina?" Mami murmurs. "I know you had plans, but given the rain..."

"I was wondering if training in the rain might be a good idea," you respond. "If nothing else, I know that Walpurgisnacht is accompanied by a storm. And well... I'm hoping the rain slackens by afternoon, then we can go shopping."

"If not, there's always the train," Mami offers, and laughs quietly. "I don't think anyone would turn down a shopping trip, really, even if we have to brave the rain for it."

"Ah, that's a good point," you say. "And dinner with the Shizukis tonight, mustn't forget that."

"Mmm," Mami agrees. "It's a... remarkable coincidence that Mrs Shizuki just happened to have known a magical girl when she was young."

"I'm starting to believe little and less in sheer coincidence," you grumble.

"Mmmnm," Mami says.

"Should we get up and start making breakfast soon?" you muse.

"In... other times, I'd have been up already," Mami says. Her tone is quiet and contemplative, solemn, but not exactly sad. "Patrolling the city, and... searching."

"Ah," you say, reaching up to close your hand over Mami's. Searching for what? you don't ask, because the answer is heartbreakingly simple, and you already know it.

"But now..." Mami shakes her head, her head brushing against your hair. "It's different." A touch of light humour enters her voice, then: "And in any case, it's Saturday. Our friends won't be up yet."

You laugh, and snuggle back against Mami. "That's true. That's very true."

"That said... perhaps we should arrange some patrols," Mami notes. "Even if Homura has been doing her diligence, we shouldn't be relying on her to cover our duty. We're a team, after all."

"And we wouldn't want it claimed that we were shirking our duties, either," you agree, leaving it... unmentioned who or what might claim you were being negligent.

"Mmm," Mami hums. "But that's for later."

There are worse ways to spend a Saturday morning than lazing around on a bed and chatting slowly about nothing in particular.

Eventually, by mutual, unspoken agreement, you roll out of bed and wash up before converging in the kitchen, tiptoeing past a sleeping Kyouko. Yuma's curled up on top of her, Kyouko's arm wrapped protectively around her adopted-in-all-but-name little sister.

... Kyouko snores.

Mami presses a minty kiss to your cheek as you join her in the kitchen. You beam at her.

"Good morning," she says.

"Good morning!" you say. "Should we wake Kyouko up for breakfast?"

"Not until we actually have breakfast ready," Mami says. "And in any case, the smell of food will probably awaken her."

"Hah," you say. You were... well, you'd rather make sure she's awake before you launch into your morning routine, if only to avoid unfortunate stabbings from startled redheads. "Alright. What's for breakfast..."

And the answer to that, at Mami's suggestion, is a traditional Japanese breakfast: rice, miso soup, some tuna broiled in the oven, and some pickled vegetables to round it out and add some tartness to the meal. And in precise concordance with Mami's prediction, you sense motion from Kyouko just as the savoury fragrance of cooking fish starts to waft towards the living room.

Mami beams at you, bumping her hip gently against yours as she departs for the dining table with laden tray in hand. You can sense Kyouko stumbling blearily over to the bathroom, with an equally sleepy Yuma attached to her leg.

Kyouko wanders out of the bathroom and over to the table just as you finish setting out breakfast, looking more alert - Yuma less so, however.

"Good morning, Kyouko," Mami says, smiling warmly.

"G'morning," Kyouko grumbles, rumpled and grumpy as she makes sure Yuma sits properly on a chair. "... thanks."

"You're very welcome," Mami says. You take the seat beside her, clapping your hands together.

"Itadakimasu~" you say happily. Kyouko barely spares a breath to echo you before digging in, chopsticks moving with lightning speed - in stark contrast with Yuma, who's grazing her way through breakfast while staring around the apartment with bright-eyed interest.

Really, you're not sure what she finds so interesting about the place. It's a lovely home, certainly, but it's not like it's changed from last night, either.

"Anyway, Kyouko - mind if I include you and Yuma in... well, we do this sort of morning chat," you say. "In our friend group?"

Kyouko gives you a long, steady stare, stuffing her mouth with rice. Yuma tugs at her sleeve, looking up at her with huge, soulful eyes, and Kyouko crumbles instantly. "Sure, what the fuck ever," she grunts.

"Great," you say, sharing a grin with Mami. "Well, then..."

You take a deep breath, mostly to prepare yourself mentally than anything else.

"Gooooooooood morning Mitakihara!" you crow. Across the table, Kyouko closes her eyes for a brief second, face turning upwards as if praying for deliverance. Yuma practically bounces in her chair, eyes shining.

"You're lucky I woke up early today," Sayaka grumbles.

"It's nine, Sayaka," Hitomi says, gently chiding.

"On a Saturday," Sayaka complains. "Madoka, back me up here."

"It's a Saturday," Madoka says loyally.

"... good morning," Homura allows, apparently ignoring all the byplay.

"Have you looked outside today?" Sayaka grumbles. "It's freaking funeral weather. It is not a good morning."

"Suck it up, wondergirl," Kyouko drawls. "Bit of rain won't hurt ya."

The mental conversation goes silent. Kyouko gives you a defiant look, to which you only respond with a placid smile.

"Huh. Didn't expect you'd get dragged into this too," Sayaka says. "'morning, Kyouko."

"Ah... it's very nice to meet you?" Madoka ventures.

"Everyone, this is Sakura Kyouko," you say, discreetly taking Mami's hand under the table and squeezing gently. "An old friend of Mami's. And Kyouko's student, Chitose Yuma."

"Hello!" Yuma says brightly. "Big sis and I are staying with Mami and Sabrina now!"

"Ah, I see!" Hitomi says. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Sakura."

"Yeah, yeah, nice to meet you too," Kyouko says gruffly, eyeing daggers at you. Eyeing spears, maybe. Really, you don't know what she's complaining about, other than out of sheer obstinacy born of aggravated tsundereness.

You grin back.

"Are we still up for shopping today, considering the weather?" Hitomi asks.

"Ahhh, c'mon, a bit of rain won't hurt, right?" You can hear Sayaka's grin as she echoes Kyouko's words. "It's been ages since we got to do a proper thing, and this time we've got more people."

"Shopping? Seriously?" Kyouko asks out loud.

"Hey, shopping's great," you say. "... as long as we keep Madoka away from the furniture store. And you don't have to come, if you don't want to, though maybe you could buy some new clothes if you want?"

"If everyone's still up for it, I don't see why not? I'm still up for helping with homework afterwards, too," you offer telepathically. "And ah... Mami, Homura, Sayaka, Kyouko, Yuma - would you guys be up to some more training this morning?"

"Nothing wrong with how I look," Kyouko says with a sniff, and returns to eating.

"Perhaps Yuma could use some new clothes?" Mami offers with a gentle smile. "But as Sabrina says, there's no pressure for you to come along. We can figure something out later."

"Mmmmaybe not me," Sayaka says. "Gotta get some more work done. You guys can go ahead, though!"

"I can be there," Homura says.

"Training in the morning, until lunch, then shopping, and a homework session?" Mami summarizes. "Unless anyone has any objections?"

[] Continue the conversation
- [x] Confirm the meeting in the evening with Hitomi's parents.
- [x] Propose inviting Nagisa along too
- [] Anything else?
[] Existing science and training plan
- [] Additions/changes?
- [] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)
[spoilers=Existing science/training options]
[X] SCIENCE
-[x] Make a Hat Full of Sky. (Use your grief fog to subtly scatter raindrops away from you.)
-[x] Try summoning a modified hammer more appropriate for flinging. Artillery shell hammer heads? Practice grief sabots.
-[x] Take and provide ideas from and to your friends on what to practice.
[x] Group Training: 2 vs. 2's again, but up the intensity/magic usage.
-[x] Your own personal reaction times aren't up to scratch, focus on improving those.
-[x] If Kyouko and/or Yuma want to participate, maybe 3 vs. 3's? Either way, make room for them.[/spoiler]

=====​

And as has become habit (I've got to stop posting so late I'm spacing out) I forgot to call the chapter last post. There ends Office Complex, and here begins Book 2, Chapter 15: Lowlife!

(And no, 'lowlife' isn't referring to Kyouko here. )

 

[Firnagzen]

"Sounds fine to me!" Sayaka says. "Although, uh... I'll be skipping out on the training, as I said. Looking forward to the shopping, though!"

"Yeah!" Madoka says happily. "It'll be nice to hang out with everyone."

"It does feel like it's been a while," Hitomi says.

"So... more or less settled, then!" you say, squeezing Mami's hand. You arch an eyebrow at Kyouko, across the dining table - you're vaguely surprised she hasn't commented. Albeit pleasantly surprised. "Two quuuuick things: Hitomi, uh, are we still doing the dinner with your parents tonight?"

"I believe so," Hitomi says. "I shall check, one moment please."

"Alright, thanks," you say. "And... the second thing, I sort of want to invite Nagisa along? What do you guys think?"

"Oh, that's a great idea!" Madoka exclaims enthusiastically. "It's been a while!"

"D'you ever think it's weird that her uncle just lets her hang out with us?" Sayaka asks.

"It is a little weird, isn't it?" you muse. Kyouko eyes you across the table, then rolls her eyes and gets back to eating. Yuma hasn't stopped, bottomless pit that she is, and you're glad you'd made extra rice earlier.

"Maybe she's just really independent?" Madoka says. "And he knows my mom, too..."

"Ah, Sabrina? My mother says that the dinner is still scheduled for tonight, yes," Hitomi says. "Six PM. And on the subject of Nagisa - I believe Sabrina did make an excellent first impression, so that can only help, I'm sure."

"Great, thanks Hitomi," you say. "And again, great! I'll see if we can invite her later, then."

"Alright! See you all later, then~" Sayaka says.

"When shall we meet for training?" Homura asks quietly.

"After breakfast, so... call it half an hour from now, meet up at the old industrial district?" you say, glancing to Mami, who beams and nods at you in affirmation. "You're sure you don't want to come for the training, Sayaka?"

A spark of concern drives through you, vague worries that Sayaka's inferiority complex, or worries about being useless, might be kicking in again. But then again... it's just one training session, and Sayaka has more than legitimate reason to want to focus on other things.

"Nah, I'm good," Sayaka says. "Seriously. Just got homework to do if I'm gonna free up the rest of the weekend. I have no idea how you do it, Homura, Mami, I'd love some tips."

Kyouko rolls her eyes.

"Time management," Mami says. "I make sure to take the time to finish the homework as it comes in, as early as possible. And I'm sure..." Mami trails off for a second, blinking, and then shares a faintly smug smile with you. "I'm sure Homura has excellent techniques for time management."

"Yeah, Homu-" Sayaka, too, trails off, and you get the distinct impression of narrowed eyes. "Nope. Not touching that."

"... oooh." Madoka says, and promptly starts giggling.

"I would say this is definitely Sabrina's fault," Hitomi decides.

"I gladly accept credit," you say cheerfully.

"... I will see you at the training grounds." Homura says, completely and utterly deadpan, and leaves the mental call.

"See what you did?" Sayaka says. "Homura had to step out. Homura."

Mami leans into you, giggling faintly, and you can't help but smile at her. How happy she is.

"Yeah, yeah, you laughed too and you know it," you say, directing a vague grin in her mental direction.

"It was terrible!" Madoka says. "But funny."

"Agreed on both counts, Madoka," Hitomi says. "That said, I probably should start on my homework, too. Until later."

"Ah, see you!" Madoka says.

"Later!" Sayaka says. "Gotta go, too. See ya."

You relax as the call ends, slouching back into your chair and grinning inanely at nothing in particular. Across the table, Kyouko and Yuma are demolishing the last of their breakfasts, so you hurry to finish, too - it'll be time to meet Homura soon, you figure.

"Same ol' place as we used to go?" Kyouko drawls, pushing her chair back and standing.

"Nearby," Mami says with a smile.

"Cool," Kyouko says. "See ya there. C'mon, Yuma."

"Thank you for the food!" Yuma says, hopping lightly to her feet. She fidgets a second, then grabs her plates and utensils and glances at Kyouko, who in turn rolls her eyes and collects her own utensils.

"Just leave that in the kitchen," Mami says, smiling faintly. "We'll wash up."

"Riiight," Kyouko says, already breezing off towards the kitchen. "Gotcha."

You return to eating, eyeing Kyouko thoughtfully as she walks past you, a vaguely sullen snap in her step, and then again as she pulls the living room window open and hops out without so much as a by-your-leave. Yuma waves cheerfully to you as she follows out into the dreary rain.

You watch as they bound upwards, already sodden, and swing the window shut with a bit of Grief and a roll of your eyes. It only takes a bit more work to scoop up all the raindrops that got in, too, and you convey the water off to the kitchen sink as Mami scoots her chair closer to you so that she can lean her shoulder against yours.

"She's uncomfortable with how much things changed without her, I think," Mami murmurs. "How much... how much I changed. I... I'm not the same person I was, and... that's a good thing, but..."

"It is a good thing," you say, smiling and wrapping your arm properly around her. The back of the chair pokes at your arm, slightly uncomfortable but entirely tolerable. "And, well, she's just prickly. A prickly street urchin."

Mami manages a weak giggle for that.

"It's making her uncomfortable," she murmurs. "It was... it was inevitable, in the end."

"It was inevitable because things are different, as you said, and you are a different person from back then," you say. "Come to that, she's a different person from back then, and... none of that is a bad thing. It's how... hah, it's just how life works, right? Time moves on, and things change."

"I know," Mami says, shaking herself and squirming free of your arm to stand. "I'm not upset, I think, but... it feels odd." She huffs a sigh. "I suppose Kyouko must, too. I hope she's handling it as best as she can."

"She's got Yuma with her," you say. "And Yuma's definitely the smarter one."

"That's true," Mami says, stretching and twisting from side to side. "Well... we won't know any more from just standing here, I suppose."

"Let's get moving, then," you say.

With both you and Mami moving in easy, familiar tandem, the dishes aren't much trouble at all, even with your phone held up against your ear - with Grief, not with your shoulder. No awkward sideways hunch for you while trying to wash up, oh no.

"Good morning, Sabrina." Nagisa's uncle answers after a few rings. "How are you? I hope you're doing well? Nagisa's been clamouring after you, but I thought you must be busy."

"Very well, thank you!" you say, and perhaps your tone is just the bit brighter for the way Mami's fingers brush yours as you pass a soapy plate over. "How are you?"

"Ah, far too busy," he says. "Business is booming. I'm glad to hear you're well. I'd offer to let you speak to Nagisa, but she's still asleep, unfortunately."

"Well... on the note of Nagisa, I was wondering if it would be alright for her to come with me and some of my friends for a shopping trip today?"

"Hmm," Shin says. "Do you have a schedule?"

"Not a schedule as such, but we were planning on meeting up after lunch for... oh, about three hours or so?" you say.

"Right..." he sounds thoughtful, and faintly distracted. "That would work well, actually. I was expecting to have to leave her with my other niece - business meeting in the afternoon, you understand. Kaname's daughter will be there, yes?"

"Yeah, actually," you say, blinking.

"Excellent! After lunch, you said - one?" Shin says.

"Around there, maybe a bit earlier?" you say. "I can call ahead, if that would work better."

"That would work," he says. "Nagisa will be glad to see you again."

"It'll be good to see her, too!" you say. "I feel like I should've called more, but... ah, well."

"Keeping in touch is... more important than it feels," Shin says, melancholy seeping into his voice. "Take it from an old man."

"Ah, yeah," you say. "I will."

"Apologies, I didn't mean to lower the mood," Shin says. "But I'll see you at one, then!"

"At one!" you agree.

Mami chuckles quietly as you end the call. "He seems to like you."

"I guess so," you say. "As Hitomi said, I made a good first impression, and that helped, I think."

Mami chuckles, bumping gently against you as she washes her hands, the dishes finished. You smile at her, and with your chores done, it's time to change and head out - out and up to the roof. Your footsteps echo up the stairwell, and the rapid drumbeat of the rain responds in counterpoint, accompanied by the slower, distant bass of thunder.

Grief spreads out ahead of you, a nanofog cloudbank flooding the stairwell, and as you reach the roof, boots scraping over sodden concrete, you start batting raindrops away. A drop here, a drop there... you keep it subtle, nudging the droplets ever so slightly away from you so that you stay dry.

Mami glances at you out of the corner of the eye as you both step up to the edge of the roof, a tiny, expectant smile curling the side of her mouth.

"Yes, Mami?" you ask.

"Oh, nothing, I'm sure," she says.

And despite the fact that her expression doesn't change, despite the fact that she doesn't really seem bothered by the rain -her hair and costume both seem immune to getting wet- you immediately extend the hat of sky to her, brushing away the raindrops.

"I am so weak," you mutter.

Mami smiles, taking your arm gently. "Shall we get going?"

"Yeah," you say. "Let's."

You bound right into the teeth of the driving rain, westwards, towards the industrial district. Sayaka was right, you have to admit, it really is funeral weather, and you can't help but make uncomfortable connections - it will have been raining on the day of her funeral, elsewhere and elsewhen.

Well, that's not happening here or now.

When you skid to a landing in the muddy sand of the junkyard, you find both Kyouko, Yuma, and Homura already there, the latter seeming to fade out of a little niche formed by mouldering old cars. Like Mami, she seems unperturbed by the rain, despite the way it slicks down her face in little rivulets.

"Hey, Homura," you say, waving. "Thanks for coming."

"Hello, Sabrina, Mami," Homura says. She nods at you and casts a significant glance skywards. "Training to fight under these circumstances is a good idea," she says tonelessly. "Is Miss Kyouko going to come down?"

"I can hear ya talking from up here, y'know," Kyouko calls.

"And you could come down here and not perch on top of the junk like some wonky bird, y'know!" you call back.

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko grumbles, dropping to the ground beside you in a splash of mud, Yuma following a moment later. "Why'd I agree to come out here in this lousy weather again?"

"It's fun!" Yuma says brightly, all but hopping from one foot to another in the rain, bright cheer undampened despite being soaked. Subtly, you extend the rain-shield to her too, earning you an amused glance from Mami.

You chuckle, smiling.

"Honestly, I wonder if Sayaka just wanted to stay dry," Mami muses. "That said, Homura has a point - sometimes, we have to fight in the rain." She nods decisively and claps, smiling. "Well, we have five people here today. It is a bit of a shame that Sayaka couldn't join us, or we'd have a nice even six, for sparring. What does everyone feel like?"

"I... I'd sort of like to spar with you, Mami?" you say. "A high-intensity spar?"

Mami's smile brightens. "I wouldn't mind," she says. "Kyouko, Homura, perhaps you'd like to spar, and we can rotate so that Yuma has an opportunity the next round? If everyone's alright with that?"

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko grumbles, cracking her neck from side to side, then glancing at Homura. "What's your deal, anyway?"

"Guns," Homura says, utterly bland.

Kyouko's grin is feral. "Cool. Let's do this... hrm. Yuma?"

"I can wait!" Yuma says. "I wanna watch the fights, anyway!"

[] Confirm the matchups
- [] Specify stipulations or limitations
[] Versus Mami
- [] Try to fight at range
- [] Try to get closer
- [] Focus on using your hammer
- [] Focus on using Grief
- [] Any other notable tactics?
[] Vote in abeyance

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Science:
-[X] Try summoning a more aerodynamic hammer variant. Just the hammerhead as an artillery shell? Lob it at a distant target with a grief sabot.
-[x] Take and provide ideas from and to your friends on what to practice.
[X] Group Training: Ask Kyouko if she's interested.
-[X] Discuss the format with the people attending. A series of 2 vs. 2 fights again? Or something else?
--[X] A more high intensity spar of yourself against Mami?
-[X] Your own personal reaction times aren't up to scratch, focus on improving those.

=====​

'Kyouko-san', from Homura.

 

[Firnagzen]

Sandy mud underfoot, the kind that's simultaneously coarse and gritty, scraping beneath the soles of your feet and splattering in flecks of reddish-brown. A seemingly endless downpour from above, fat, heavy droplets that veer off to the side around you, and more than enough to steal the heat from the air and drown the heavy tang of rust and mouldering old electronics.

You watch Kyouko size Homura up, out of the corner of your eye: and you know that at first glance, Homura isn't terribly impressive. A tiny buckler, a plain costume, a blank expression. It's only when you get to know her that everything that makes Homura Homura shines through, and if Kyouko thinks she's got an easy mark. Well. She's going to get to know Homura.

But as for you...

You have your own match to look forward to.

Huh.

You are looking forward to it.

You feel your lips curl into a slow grin as you look to Mami, anticipation settling in your bones. She matches your smile with one of her own, a slow, steady thing that makes her look radiant despite the rain streaking down her skin.

"Anything goes?" you offer quietly. "Short of major injury? To immobilization for, uh... three seconds?"

"I think we can handle that," Mami says. Her weight is balanced lightly on the balls of her toes, balanced and ready.

"Alright..." You smile at her. Looks like she's looking forward to it, too, and that's a warmth that pushes out the slow chill of the rain.

"Boooorrrring," Kyouko calls at you.

"Like you'd hurt Yuma over a spar," you snipe back.

"You're boring," Kyouko counters eloquently.

You ignore her, still holding Mami's gaze, the tension electric as you run through tactics and scenarios. You want to match yourself against the most skilled magical girl you know, even if that happens to be Mami, and you in some ways, you want her to win, to see how you might lose. And you find a matching glow of eagerness in Mami's eyes.

Mami's no delicate flower. She's always been a fighter, one of the best there is.

You consider, briefly, stipulating that there be no preparation: no sneaky ribbons, like that one already curling across the ground towards your right foot -that you wouldn't have noticed if you weren't looking for it- and no nanofog enshrouding her. But that would be defeating the point of this spar, you think.

"Booooooooooooooorrrrrrrrring," Kyouko repeats, drawing it out.

Mami's smile widens just a little bit more.

You nod, just a tiny fraction on a centimeter, your eyes never leaving hers. Your left foot scrapes back a bit in the mud, as close to a ready stance as you need.

In your peripheral vision, you see Yuma glancing between the two of you, raise her hand, yell out a "three-two-one-go!" and scamper out of the splash zone.

The moment drags out.

Rain, rain, more rain.

A neat block of stacked appliances behind you. Ovens, washing machines, and the like. An obstacle. Hemmed in on your left, too. To your right, clear space. Occupied by Kyouko and Homura, but they'll be fine. A not-quite-as-decrepit-as-everything-else boom crane over there, probably used to shift heavier junk around.

Above?

No more time to think.

Mami moves at the same instant you do. A blade of Grief slams down to sever that ribbon, but she's already yanked it hard enough to throw you off-balance and you're falling to the side. You throw out a hand and flip into a cartwheel.

An explosion of noise to your side, the distinct crack of a pistol, a yelp, signalling the start of Kyouko and Homura's spar. You can't spare the attention for that, Grief already swarming towards Mami. Capture. Nanofog thickens out of the air around her to enclose her, and-

Thud.

The air shudders around Mami, almost a detonation - and you can feel force slam into your Grief, a physical thing that forces the Grief back in a bloom of gold for just an instant.

It takes you a second to comprehend what Mami did. Ribbons. She'd covered herself in a layer of them, or maybe conjured them out of thin air, and simply squirted herself free like a watermelon seed between your fingers. And in that instant, you'd lost sight of her in the cloud of ribbon and smoke.

Lost sight, but not contact. You know where she is, her presence glowing in your senses and her passage rippling through your nanofog. Your eyes snap up, hunting for her as you finish the cartwheel to land in a low crouch. A flash of silver is your hammer, drawn from beneath your coat in the same instant that you lay eyes on her.

Above, indeed, turning at the apex of her leap with musket levelled at you. Grief flashes around your hammer, and you snap it forward, a straight-armed throw. It flies straight at her, a shining thunderbolt leaping forth just as you see her finger depress the trigger.

Grief solidifies ahead of you, layered shields shimmering into existence. Her musket sweeps around with a crack, and she pushes off your hammer in mid-air to bound higher. Muskets fan out around Mami with the clap of her hands and shots hammer your shield, but you're not there any more. Nanofog boils into macrofog, an oozing cloud of darkness that floods out amongst the piles of scrap.

Gunshots to your left, the clatter of chains and chatter of an SMG as you dash out ahead of a surging wave of darkness. Kyouko getting into it with Homura, then. Fog sweeps out on multiple paths. Distraction and concealment, but you don't believe for a second that Mami doesn't know exactly where you are. Perhaps you can spoil her aim a bit.

She lands atop a rusty old car. Picture-perfect poise, unruffled and smiling.

Time to go on the offense.

You suit will and motion to impulse, and flip the car.

Mami feels it, senses it, evades it with a leap skywards. A trap, or such as you could put together in the span of a heartbeat. You have Grief there -or how would you have flipped the car?- your fog's already there, shrouding her, and this time you're wise to that trick of hers. Grief bulges around her like a maw about to slam shut.

You're expecting that trick - and of course, she doesn't do it. She twists midair the instant before your Grief closes, spinning a cocoon of ribbons around herself, a single ribbon weaving through your fog to slam into the ground.

Muskets bloom like flowers. They track you unerringly, a steady boom of shots sizzling past you as you dodge.

Wings. Grief ripples from your shoulders and you yank yourself airborne, flying right into the teeth of the rain. Mami's cocoon explodes, twists of ribbon bursting forth like razor-sharp chaff that slices at your Grief. Not all the way through, as you pile on more Grief, but then-

Mami hits it from the inside. You have no idea what with, but there's no time to think about it any more as she blasts her way it, tumbling into a picture-perfect roll that ends with cannons spinning out of ribbons beside her.

You have a heartbeat to contemplate the very large muzzles leveled right at you before the spark of powder ignites, fire blooming from darkness.

You juke.

Dive, rise, a jolt to the left... your coat snaps with the Gs, booming whipcracks that smash rain into mist. You swerve hard enough to be impossible for any merely human body to survive, and still you barely stay ahead of the flak bursts stitching through the air. The blades you hammer at Mami are met with ribbons and shot, crisp, minimal nudges lending themselves to crisp, minimal dodges.

Go on the offence. Mami has you on the back foot, so change that!

You drop your left shoulder and let your wing sweep forward. Mami's next musket ball splashes against the wing, an explosion of ribbon you shred, and in that instant, in that split second of disruption to the tempo, you answer with a hammer. Grief locked around the haft, hurled with enough speed that it cracks the sound barrier.

Mami dodges it, as expected, but it's enough to make her abandon the cannons. Enough to crater the ground, too, mud spraying in a viscous splatter. Her footing slips for a fraction of a second. Enough for your second hammer to bracket her retreat and the third to take her in the back. She stumbles forward, and your heart lurches for a second before you register the bloom of ribbons that cushioned the blow.

Golden eyes meet yours, piercing the rain and the concern that stole across your heart. She smiles, warm and soothing -no hard feelings- and then salutes with a flourish of a newly formed musket.

You relax, and smile back at her, but just for a second, because that musket is now levelled at you.

When she fires again, it's not her usual musket ball, but a swarming, twisting burst of ribbons, streaking across the skies like a demented, living spiderweb. You grin, and you dive into it, Grief swirling around you like a blender, wings flared wide to shred a path through the storm of brilliant gold.

Nanofog floods out ahead of you, sensing-touching-feeling for any surprises hidden in the endless torrent. And further out ahead, tendrils spinning out of Grief to reach for Mami.

You don't know how many times she can escape your Grief cocoon, but you intend to find out-

Incoming.

You feel Mami's leap almost before she starts it, and then she's on you, pushing through nanofog with crackling gunfire and twisting ribbon to meet you midair, and then there's no time to think-

High kick at your head. Block. Grief woven in for a hold around her leg- useless. Mami slips past it with a twist of ribbon. Hammer swung at her torso, Grief blade from the other side. A musket meets the hammer, pushes, and somehow impels her over the blade in an arching backflip. A new musket -her other hand- rising towards you. Freeze it in place with Grief, manacle clamp locked around it.

Mami uses it as a pivot to scythe another scissoring kick at you. Expected. You whip the musket away, spoiling the swing and sending her arcing towards the ground below. Ribbons lash out for you, a forest of shining gold seeking purchase as Mami falls back towards the junkyard. You answer with blades, a blurring, shifting blender, and realise too late that that was a distraction from the way Mami already found an anchor point, swinging around that boom crane.

You back away frantically, wingbeats thundering loud enough to rival the lightning crackling through the skies above.

"Watch out," Homura's voice murmurs into your mind.

You blink. Watch out? For wha-

For a ballistic Kyouko, yelling and using your leg as a fulcrum to lash her spear around and slingshot further, apparently.

"Really?" you yell at her.

Your only response is mocking laughter, the bedraggled crimson banner of her hair sailing off into the rain.

At least Homura was polite enough to not shoot while Kyouko was using you like a trapeze swing. The jolt and the distraction pulled you off balance for a second, and that's enough for Mami to bracket you, golden streaks blasting past you. More warning shots than anything: keep your attention on her!

You whirl midair: wing forward to block. You bull through the hail of shots, more Grief reaching towards Mami - blades, this time, razor sharp. You can pull them before they hit, if need be, but you trust Mami. Between the blades, you hurl a hammer. Then two, then three, rain hissing to vapour trails in their wake.

In that moment of distraction as Mami flips to dodge the hammers, you slice through the ribbon tether. She goes flying, but even in flight, she claps her hands together and spreads them to fan out an array of muskets. You dive for her, slipping past the shots slashing for you. She's getting too far - you can't let her have the range.

As if reading your mind and rising to the challenge, Mami kicks off an old car and leaps straight for you, a glint in her eye and fresh muskets sweeping around her. Detonations crackle through the storm, sharp bursts pounding away at you. You've got the measure of those for now, intercepting each one with pinpoint Grief shards, there and gone in a second.

You snatch for her Gem -just the once, just to see- and find ribbons snapping around it, hauling it back into place. You abandon the attempt, and in the same motion, you drain her Soul Gem of Grief, pouring it away into hammerspace.

Explosions pepper the air, sparks of gold splashing against midnight darkness, sizzling through the rain as Mami closes. She opens with a sweep of her latest musket. Block with a freshly formed hammer and duck the shot that slices past your face. Your ears ring, and you can't help but grin.

It's almost a dance, an exchange where you almost know what Mami's doing before she does it, reading and flowing around each other's strikes and blows then meeting in a clash of strength on strength. The boom of her musket echoes in steady counterpoint to the ring of metal on metal, percussion to accompany the whirling dance. You're not going to win in a melee, but all you need is a few seconds.

You tumble through the air, wings flaring wide and Mami sticking to you with ribbon and grabs and sheer, unyielding tenacity, her golden eyes wide and smile stretching her face.

And then- you drop under her trajectory, and get a solid elbow to her gut to send her sailing past you.

She catches you with a solid kick to your shoulder in return, knocking you spinning and disoriented. And as she plummets past you, she throws an exhilarated grin and wink at you, and that's devastating for entirely different reasons.

You surge after her. She's falling, uncontrolled, and it's now or never. Your Grief pours forward, a boiling cloud of utter darkness forming out of thin air -rotating from hammerspace- around her. You spot the tell-tale of her ribbons blossoming around her, and that's fine. You'll be waiting for her.

And this time-

This time, the Grief closes around her. You lock her arms, her legs in place, a solid band around her waist, and then-

Ribbons explode around you, from your arm. From your arm, where she kicked you, whipping around you to enfold you in a gentle embrace. That's fine, that's fine, you can cut ribbons, slashing through them faster than they can form, but-

You can feel Mami doing the same to your Grief manacles, garroting tight around each band with ribbons.

And as you break free of Mami's ribbons, you can hear her laughing. She lashes herself to the Grief, hanging midair just out of arm's reach, and she laughs, bright and clear and absolutely, utterly delighted.

You can't help but join in, drifting closer on your wings so that she can shift from the manacles and leap at you, winding her arms around your neck. She's still laughing, breathless, bubbling giggles that shake her body. Adrenaline bleeds away as you hug her closer, your chest heaving from both the exertion and with helpless, wheezing laughter.

"This isn't going to work," you admit.

"'Until immobilization'..." Mami giggles. "We can break out of each other's immobilization easily."

"I got more, though," you say, grinning cheekily.

"Ah, but I was just testing your ability," Mami says, her smile delighted and utterly warm.

"Speaking of which, how did you break out?" you ask, curious. "I mean... it's not like my Grief is totally invulnerable... OK, it is against mundane attacks, I think, but... you were cutting through it like nothing."

"Not exactly nothing," Mami says, and cuddles against you. "I don't think many other magical girls could do that. Perhaps Homura."

"Really?" you ask, arching your eyebrows. Speaking of Homura, you can still hear their fight going on, brief muzzle-flashes and the crash of steel alerting you to what seems to have become a running fight through the maze of the scrapyard.

"It was simply... mmm," Mami hums. "It was a trick of focusing my magic, a sort of extension of enchanting, of sorts? And I think the only reason I knew to use it against you was because..." She pulls back, giving you a smile that warms you all the way down to your bones. "I have the privilege of knowing you, Sabrina. I know you, and I know the feel of your magic."

You chuckle quietly, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I suppose you do," you say. "Thanks, Mami."

She beams at you.

"And... it must be said, it took a considerable amount of effort," Mami admits. "I'm not sure if you'd noticed, but my Soul Gem was somewhat higher on Grief than I'd have expected to expend in such a fight."

"Ah, yeah," you say, nodding. "And on that note..." You cleanse her Soul Gem, and then your own, Mami sighing happily and smiling at you. "I didn't hit you too hard, did I?"

"I'm fine," Mami says, smiling at you. "Really, I am."

"Alright," you say, giving her a gentle squeeze. You believe her, and you trust her - but that doesn't mean you don't get to be concerned about her.

"Shall we see how Homura and Kyouko are doing?" she asks. She makes no move to disentangle herself from you, so you form a comfortable two-person chair for the both of you, letting the wings melt away.

"Let's gooo," you say, smiling. "But I'm going to want to experiment more with that technique of yours later, and see if I can counter it? And... I'd appreciate a critique in general."

"Of course," Mami says with a smile.

You drift towards the clash, and find Homura keeping Kyouko at bay with steady, efficient motions and pistols in both hands, forcing Kyouko to give ground and parry the shots. Kyouko snarls, leaping high with spear slicing out, only for Homura to step smartly to the side, hair drifting amidst the rain before she stomps the blade to the ground, almost yanking it from Kyouko's grasp.

The blade explodes into chains, clattering and whirling through the air like a demented snake, and this time, Homura does have to actually dodge, bounding high to meet Kyouko in the middle with a machine gun of some variety. The chatter of gunfire has Kyouko baring her teeth in fury, driving forward with a flurry of jabbing strikes. Homura's eyes flicker up to you for a second as she deflects a stab.

And there's Yuma, hopping up to the top of a stack of rusting machinery and waving at you. You can't help but chuckle as you wave back, drifting lower and letting her clamber up, forming a third seat.

"Hey, Yuma," you say as she plops herself down. "How's it going?"

"Great!" Yuma says, eyes shining. "The fight between you and Mami was really cool!"

"I'm glad you think so," Mami says, smiling. "How has the fight between Kyouko and Homura been going?"

"Yuma thinks big sis was expecting an easier fight than this," Yuma says. "She seems a bit annoyed."

A loud crash from ahead has you wincing as some precariously balanced tower of junk topples over. You'll have to put that back later, but then again...

It's gone quiet.

Or not that quiet, as Kyouko's swearing rises above the patter of the rain. You drift over to find Kyouko pinned in the mud, Homura with a knee to her back and a gun to the base of her skull.

"Fine," Kyouko grumbles. "I yield."

Homura stands immediately, the gun vanishing, and she offers Kyouko a hand up.

"Tough one, aintcha," Kyouko grunts, letting Homura pull her to her feet. She's covered in mud, dripping from her bangs and down her costume, but an impatient shake and flicker of deep crimson has the mud shuddering off her.

"I try," Homura says drily.

"You're not so bad," Kyouko says, cracking her neck and digging in a pocket to produce a rather squashed box of what looks like chocolate. She tosses a few into her mouth, then holds the box out to Homura. "Want some?"

"Man, it took me a while before Kyouko offered me anything to eat," you mutter quietly to Mami. She giggles dutifully, leaning against you.

Kyouko shakes out a few chocolates into Homura's palm, and looks up as if she'd just noticed you.

"Oh, there you are," she drawls. "Enjoy the show?"

"Only caught the tail end of it," you say, leaping down to join them, Mami and Yuma a step behind as you let the Grief chair unravel. "Good fight."

Kyouko eyes you, then Mami, and chomps on a few more pieces of chocolate as she pulls a Grief Seed out and cleanses her Soul Gem. You can't help but notice, in your Grief senses, that she has four Grief Seeds, and Yuma has two - all in varying states of fullness.

"Mind sparring with Yuma?" she asks, eyes flicking back to Homura. "She needs more experience with ranged fighters."

Homura considers this silently, glancing at Yuma, and then nods. Yuma cheers, bouncing lightly on her toes despite the way the rain plasters her hair to her skull, the green soaked so dark it's almost blue.

"Right then," Kyouko drawls, lacing her hands behind her head. "Now for me... it's been a while, Mami-sempai. Care for a dance?"

[] Confirm the matchups
- [] Ask to discuss your spar with Mami first, while it's fresh on your mind
- [] Leave the discussion for later
- [] Work on science during the spars
-- [] Work on aerodynamic hammer for throwing
-- [] Work on something else? (Write-in)
[] Comment on Kyouko's Grief Seed situation
- [] What, exactly? (Write-in, word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Here we go!

 

[Firnagzen]

"I would be delighted to," Mami says, smile widening a little. "After I give Sabrina a critique of her performance?"

"No, no, it's fine," you say, beaming at Mami. You motion towards Kyouko. "Match first - picking apart my fight can wait. I've got a few ideas to experiment with in the meantime, anyway, and I'd get to watch the match!"

You're very tempted to suggest that if it's a dance, they should be dressing up properly for the occasion.

"And may I just add, Mami, that I am very impressed," you continue telepathically. "And very happily flirted with." You manage to keep your cheeks from igniting to an inferno. Smouldering embers, at worst.

Even so, it doesn't seem to escape Kyouko's attention, her eyes narrowing at you.

"I-" Mami's mental voice hitches, but she manages to restrain her blush. "A-ah... That's good."

"Actually, could you give us a moment first?" Mami asks out loud, smiling genially at Kyouko.

"God, whatever," Kyouko says, rolling her eyes. "Hurry up with your makeouts or whatever."

There's real irritation in her voice, and by the way Mami stiffens, you know that she picked up on it, too. Still, Mami smiles, takes your hand, and tugs you around the corner.

"Are you alright, Mami?" you ask, smiling at her as you duck under a beam propped haphazardly against a stack of cars.

"I am," she says, returning the smile. "I just... I just wanted a few minutes with you."

"That's always up for the taking," you say. Your smile widens a little more as she steps in for a hug, squeezing gently in return. The seemingly endless downpour patters on, trickling in runnels down the beam and dripping to the muddy ground.

Mami hums wordlessly, snuggling a little closer to you. Her costume isn't soaked, exactly - it's more like it's waterproof, raindrops rolling off the cloth and pressed into your uniform where she cuddles up against you. The smell of Mami's shampoo mingles with the rain and the ozone, a heady fragrance that has tension seeping from your bones despite the chill of the rain.

"I really do..." You trail off, and tighten your arms a little. "I just... the person that you are is just wonderful, Mami. Seeing you be happy and confident like that is..." You make a gesture that's wholly insufficient to convey your emotions, your thoughts, your delight in seeing Mami like this.

"I'm..." Mami takes a breath, leaning into you. "I'm trying."

"Mami..." you huff. "I, well. I don't want you to have to try to be happy, or confident. I want you to be."

"I am," Mami says. She pulls back and looks up at you, solemn and clearly thinking. "I'm... sorry, I phrased that wrong. I'm not... I'm not forcing myself to be happy. But when you're here, it's easy to see the good things. It's easy to believe, and I just need to let myself."

"Alright," you say. "Alright. What can I do to help?"

"Be you," Mami says with a quiet laugh. "I don't need anything more."

"I can do that, I think," you say, and stick your tongue out at her.

Mami giggles happily.

"A minute or two more," she decides, and nestles back against you, tucking her head under your chin. "Or Kyouko will get tetchy."

"She's already tetchy," you observe.

"That she is," Mami says.

"It's not because we're together, is it?" you ask tentatively. "I mean... she already knew that, I think."

"Not directly because of that," Mami says, shaking her head. "As I said before, I think she is off-balance thanks to how much things have changed, and, ah... it's a reminder of the differences. But I wouldn't- I wouldn't want to hide us, Sabrina, not even... not even for her."

"And she lashes out when she's uncomfortable," you say. "Eh. Well, things will hopefully get better as she gets used to it, right?"

"Right," Mami says. "And... as I said, she's changed, too. I'm glad she's back, but she needs to accept that circumstances have changed."

Gently, you raise your hand to cover Mami's. She turns it over, intertwining your fingers, and smiles at you. She takes a deep breath.

"Alright," she says. "Shall we return to everyone?"

"Let's," you say.

You're still hand in hand when you round the corner once more. Kyouko's pulled Yuma aside, apparently giving her some advice, while Homura stands motionless in the middle of the muddy clearing, watching the stormclouds in silent judgement. She doesn't even look away as lightning sparks and flashes in a blazing white sheet across the skies.

You inspect her as you approach. To the casual eye, she looks little different than usual, raindrops rolling down uniform and dripping from the magnificence that is her hair, her shoulders squared and shield at the ready, as it always is. Open, of course, the gears still and pointed to her wrist.

Huh. Pointed towards her wrist. Something niggles at the back of your mind about that, and so you file the thought away in the back of your mind for later consideration.

She seems at once tense and yet perhaps just the slightest touch pleased, just the slightest bit more content as you approach. It's not quite your imagination, you think, that there's the faintest hint of a smile as perpetually tired amethyst eyes drop from the sky to consider you.

"Hey, Homura," you murmur, joining her. "Are you alright?"

"Memories," she says finally.

You nod, managing a quiet 'ah' of understanding. Mami gently reaches out to clasp Homura's shoulders briefly, earning her an inscrutable look from Homura - to which Mami only smiles, unruffled and warm.

"Are we gonna do this thing or not?" Kyouko demands, rough and impatient.

"We are," Mami says, squeezing your hand once and offering a smile before releasing it and stepping forward. "When you're ready, Kyouko."

"Yuma, you know what to do," Kyouko says, slicking dishevelled, soaking hair out of her eyes and summoning a spear from behind her back. "You'll do fine."

"Yuma will do her best!" Yuma declares, pumping her fists.

You smile, and take two steps back and up, Grief platforms forming under your feet. Before you can rise much further than a meter, however, Kyouko explodes forward.

She's a blur to your eyes, flashing silver trailed by dusky crimson and the spray of mud from charging footsteps, until suddenly she isn't, leaping sideways with spear swinging like an axe.

Mami barely even moves, placid smile firmly in place as she arches backwards to avoid the blow in a manner that's almost languid. Your breath hisses between your teeth at the way the spear scythes past her chin, close enough to ruffle her hair, but you know that Mami's got this.

She answers with a sweeping kick and rising elbow that flows from the same graceful movement. Her left hand, hidden from Kyouko's view, reaches into nothing and grasps a musket, spun instantly out of ribbon.

When Kyouko finishes her dodge, it's to a barrel levelled right at her face. You bite back the instinct to cheer.

The first shot of the spar roars its retort, Kyouko twisting away from the blast in a blinding-fast blur. She drives forward in response, snarling as her spear explodes into whipping, viper-fast segments sliving through the air. It connects with a solid crack to Mami's shoulder, and you can't help but hiss in sympathy and worry.

Mami seems unfazed. Her golden eyes practically glow with determination, seeming to shine through the downpour as a fierce grin stretches her lips.

"Go big sis!" Yuma cheers, bouncing on her toes.

"Get-" Kyouko leaps aside from a wave of lashing ribbons. "-on with it!"

Yuma giggles, her expression turning solemn as she faces Homura again. "Let's have a good match!"

Homura nods.

Yuma charges.

Shockwaves ripple across the ground with every footstep, scattering mud and shivering gravel beneath your feet. Homura draws a pistol in a single smooth motion, but doesn't fire - a decision that proves wise when the ground erupts under her with an ear-splitting detonation. Shards of rock and metal splash across the yard, enough so that you're forced to deflect some of it or be splattered yourself.

Homura's not even there any more, retreating to the top of a pile of cars.

Which reminds you that you probably should replace the ones that got knocked over earlier, and so you start doing that, lifting the cars with grief and stacking them neatly.

Meanwhile, Mami's on the attack once more. Muskets sprout like a forest from the ground in front of Mami, brought to her hands by a quick grab or a smooth kick, snatched from the air and formed of shining ribbon. Golden fire stitches through the air, a seemingly endless hail of shots that Kyouko slides through with swift parries and desperate dodges.

Some instinct has you dodging straight up, your wings forming instantly to yank you out of harm's way. Yuma sails through the space you'd occupied a split second earlier, skidding across the mud - and then she slams her mace into the ground, instantly arresting her momentum.

"Don't underestimate me!" she howls, and charges once more, mace forward.

Homura backs away to a wrecked car, expression blank as she abandons her pistol for an SMG -a Skorpion Vz 61, some part of your mind busily classifies- and fires without hesitation. Yuma deflects the shots, the head of her mace moving in swift, precise jabs despite her headlong charge.

Amethyst eyes flicker in your direction, exasperation and faintly affronted accusation writ clear in her expression as she's forced to retreat once more to higher ground. This is your fault, she conveys without a single word.

You shrug, offering her a sheepish grin and a raised fist. Fair enough, you agree. I believe in you?

And that's all the wordless communication Homura has time for as she's forced to leap over a mace swing. Yuma slams her mace into the wreck of the car, a one-two combo so fast the sound blurs into a single noise. A crack like thunder shatters the air, mud splattering in waves around Yuma and surrounding cars chewed up as if hosed down with a machine gun.

Homura's no longer there.

It takes you a second to process what Yuma did - her first strike popped the engine block out of the car, and the second simply caused it to... cease existing as a singular object, abruptly replaced by flying shrapnel.

Huh.

Probably a good thing you're in the air and out of the immediate blast radius.

A shout draws your attention back to Mami and Kyouko's fight, just as a titanic spear erupts from the ground beneath Mami. Kyouko leaps forward in that moment of distraction, the giant spear slicing through the air like a scorpion's tail and hemming in Mami's dodge.

Kyouko meets her mid-leap, tackling her into the mud... only for Mami to plant a foot on her chest and kick her off. When Mami rises to her feet once more, not a single speck of mud sticks to her - and cannons rise with her, weaving out of ribbons.

She doesn't give Kyouko time to think, firing the instant she finds her target. The head of the giant spear slams down between them, the shots splashing off the steel of the blade, and Mami dashes for her. Her charge turns into a smooth vault, a ribbon propelling her over the scything spear blade and swinging her under the flurry of jabs Kyouko meets her with.

Spear against musket. The ring of metal chiming against metal, musketfire roaring through the storm. The flash of ignition and glow of sparks scatters through the splattering mud as Kyouko and Mami meet in earnest. You can barely keep up, Mami's pure, bold élan evenly matched against Kyouko's vicious speed and endless bag of tricks in colliding waves of noise and fury.

They clash, and lock weapons, straining for dominance.

Kyouko's stronger, you realise. She is. Mami's being forced back, and you can feel the simple weight of magic Mami's bringing to bear - and she's losing.

Losing the contest of strength, but not the battle.

Mami releases the block abruptly in a burst of speed that leaves her a blur to your eyes, drawing a pistol from thin air with her free hand. She fires. Ribbons fill the air, twisting and writhing - the same trick she'd used against you.

Kyouko whirls, hurling up a desperate hand. Diamond-shaped chainlinks explode from her palm, solidifying in an instant to a warding barrier that the ribbons scatter over, streaking around and through the gaps.

It bought her precious seconds to retreat to safety, a sweep of her hand sending the giant spear after Mami. The spear lashes forward, striking like a viper at Mami who's not even there any more, the steel crunching into an old car with enough force to upend the entire stack.

More for you to pick up and replace.

Kyouko snarls, and pivots after Mami. The spear sweeps back to her, matching paces so that she can hop on and ride the broad blade like the head of a giant serpent, chain links thrashing across the yard as Mami retreats for distance and height.

A crackle of gunfire chases Yuma back into view. Shots stitch the ground behind her as she evades Homura's unhurried, careful aim. Yuma ducks behind the corner, mace drawn back and ready for a strike, only for Homura to vault the pile of junk, SMG chattering away.

Yuma squawks, hurling her mace at Homura -more out of surprise and desperation than anything, it seems- and ducks aside, a new mace shimmering into her hands as she dives for cover. The old one goes far wide of Homura, and you catch it before it can sail out of range, lowering it safely to the ground.

"Stop! Stop stop stop!" Your attention goes back to Yuma, who has a hand stuck out of a car door, waving frantically.

Homura stops obligingly, SMG disappearing back into her shield.

"Yuma yields!" Yuma says, scrabbling out of the car. She's covered with rust and mud and what looks like rotten upholstery, and pouting hard. She points an accusing finger at Homura. "But you're holding back!"

Homura shrugs, and vanishes.

You blink. Between one heartbeat and the next, she's in front of Yuma, hand making a gun shape pointed right at Yuma's nose. She lets her thumb fall.

"Bang," Homura says drily.

Yuma pouts harder, then shines up, shoulders set in determined lines. "I'll get better," she says fiercely. "I will!"

"Tiro-"

Your eyes snap up.

Kyouko's massive spear, coiling around the arm of the crane like a snake poised to strike. Kyouko, swooping down at Mami like a diving hawk, hair and costume streaming in the wind.

... like a hawk diving right into a trap.

Mami, cannon formed right in front of her and cradled in her arms. Lightning sparks across skies above, shining off the gleaming steel. You can see the smile on her face across the distance, faintly amused with the world at large.

Her voice is a clarion call cutting through the rain.

"Finale!"

The blastwave rolls through your bones and shivers mud from the ground and sodden rust from old, deteriorating machines. Golden light streaks out, a line seared into your retinas in an instant. Between one moment and the next, ribbons splash across the gloom of the rainstorm, streaking out to enfold Kyouko.

When you can actually see again, half the junkyard is shrouded in gold. Shredded ribbons here and there tell the story of a valiant effort to cut a way through, and shredded chainlinks and segments of shaft cocooned against every available surface tell of the reprisal. That said, the story is rather abruptly brought to an end by an upside-down Kyouko, looking very grumpy.

"Aw," Yuma mumbles.

You ruffle her hair gently. "Kyouko picked a fight with the two most bullshit magical girls here," you tell her. "If she wanted an easy fight, she should've picked me."

Yuma giggles quietly.

"Shall we join them?" you ask, catching Homura's eye. She nods back, and you start walking over to Kyouko - the same direction Mami's headed.

Mami strides over with easy, unruffled poise, ribbons lowering Kyouko until she's just shy of her hair touching the mud.

"Yield?" she asks.

"Yeah, yeah, I yield," Kyouko grouses. "God this sucks."

Mami smiles, and with a clap of her hands, the ribbons unravel, slow enough that Kyouko flips fully to her feet before landing. She scowls.

"... you've gotten better," she mutters grudgingly.

"So have you, Kyouko," Mami says with an encouraging smile.

"Big sis!" Yuma says, walking right into Kyouko's fight and hugging her around her legs. "That was a really cool fight! I didn't know you could do all that!"

"And how would you know that if y' weren't paying attention to your own fight?" Kyouko asks. She glances at Homura, then you. "How'd she do?"

"She shows promise," Homura says.

"Honestly? From what I saw, Yuma's dangerous as hell, and very competent," you offer. "You've taught her well. But, well, choice of opponent. Speaking of which..."

You turn a brilliant, megawatt smile on Mami, and pounce, sweeping her off her feet and into a hug. "That was amazing, Mami!"

"Jeeze." You can hear Kyouko grumbling behind you, and rustling as of some plastic packaging being unwrapped. "Here, Yuma."

Mami laughs, throwing her arms around your shoulders cuddling against you.

"Thank you, Sabrina," she says. You can feel her adrenaline ebbing as she leans into you, nuzzling her head under your chin.

"Right, Yuma, don't forget to cleanse..." You can't stop yourself from perking up a little at that, because that's your cue.

"Homura, play along please?" You hastily set Mami down, shooting her an apologetic look as you pivot to Kyouko. "Hey, uh... well, now's as good a time as any. Soul Gems, and any Grief Seeds you need cleaned, everyone?"

Homura nods, pulling a half-empty Grief Seed from somewhere in her costume and holding it out in her left hand, presenting her Soul Gem in the same motion.

"Just my Soul Gem," Mami says, smiling at you and tilting her head slightly so that you can see hers, the honey-gold gem gleaming even in the sullen light filtering through the clouds.

Kyouko eyes you for a long moment before letting one hand sag into her pocket.

"Was gettin' sick of lugging these around anyway," she mutters, scowling and thrusting the handful of Grief Seeds in your general direction. "Yuma, you too."

"OK!" Yuma says brightly, offering up the two she has. "Thank you, Sabrina!"

"'course," you say. A wave of your hand and an effort of will has Grief spiralling up into the air, a bit more of a show than you've made of it recently - you're in the mood for it, for some reason. Fractal purple swirls together, condensed nightmare crushed down to pinpricks at your command.

You only drain Kyouko's Grief Seeds down to what you think of as the normal fill level. Grief Seeds still, and nowhere near Clear Seeds.

Kyouko makes a vaguely grumbly noise, inspecting the Grief Seeds closely before nodding, and tucking them away once more.

"Thanks, Homura," you murmur to her as she puts the Seed away. She glances in your direction, but doesn't acknowledge you otherwise - probably for the best. Kyouko would probably notice.

Mami sighs happily, leaning against your side. "Shall we discuss the matches now, then?"

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko grumbles. "Only way t' learn, I know the drill."

[] Bring up some specific point of discussion (write-in)
[] Attempt some minor refinement of technique
- [] Throwing hammers
-- [] Suggest that Yuma should try that too
- [] Practice against Mami's magic punch-through technique
- [] Write-in
[] Head off lunch
- [] Ask if Homura would like to come along
- [] Ask if Kyouko and Yuma would like to come along
Word count limit: 150 words

=====​

I tweaked the previous update a bit, by the by, just phrasing and flow.

So, I expect that the next update will be wrapping up this training session and then for lunch, and possibly meeting up with your friends (Nagisa included). As such... not too much science, please.

 

[Firnagzen]

Mami beams at Kyouko. And no wonder, because it's a lesson that she must have learned from Mami, and... perhaps one that she taught to Yuma, too.

Kyouko scowls and looks away.

And with her attention safely pointed in directions not yours, you feel free to crack a grin, because Kyouko's sheer tsundereness will never cease to be amusing to you on some level. Granted there are more issues lurking beneath that simple, catch-all phrase, but still, you can afford some amusement.

"Arright," Kyouko grumbles. "Yuma, get back 'ere."

"Yes, big sis!" Yuma says, bouncing over. She sheds rust-flaked mud with every step, the rain carving little runnels through the gunk caked onto her face.

"... Right, no, stop a moment." Kyouko's scowl deepens. She raises a hand to her face, frowning until it starts to glow with magic, and plops it on Yuma's head. The magic washes over Yuma, shaking the detritus free, and Yuma beams at Kyouko. "How did you even get this dirty?"

"Homura kicked Yuma!" Yuma seems absolutely delighted with this fact.

Kyouko raises her eyebrows at Homura.

Homura shrugs.

"... and why did she manage to kick you?" Kyouko asks.

"Homura was, uhm, limiting Yuma's movement with her guns!" Yuma says. "So Yuma couldn't dodge!"

"Alright, alright, one moment, please," you say. "Let's not just stand around in the rain while we go through all this?"

You snap your fingers, Grief unfolding above and behind you: benches for everyone, arranged in a loose circle, and an awning stretching across the entire clearing in the junkyard.

Hah.

Finally.

Kyouko glances up, but even in all her tsundereness, she can only find minimal grumbling in herself for being not rained on, so she just sprawls herself out on one of the benches, one leg propped up. Wordlessly, she pulls out a plastic-wrapped pretzel and shares it with Yuma.

Mami smiles at you, nudging you to sit beside her -not that you needed much prompting- and cuddling up under your arm. Spots of damp coldness spread out where raindrops get crushed into your costume, but quickly warm from your shared body heat. You sigh, contented, as Homura seats herself.

With the rain reduced to a distant patter, washing off the awning and cutting a furrow into the mud, you all take a moment to relax.

"Would you like to begin, Yuma?" Mami asks with a smile. "Since you were already starting earlier."

Yuma nods and chews frantically, swallowing the last of the pretzel before speaking. "Yeah!"

"Alright. What do you think you did right and wrong during the spar?" Mami asks. "And do you think there are any major weaknesses in your fighting style?"

"Yuma... I think I did alright to stick close to Homura," Yuma says. She's making a distinct effort to sound more mature, you can hear that much. "I think it made it harder for her to shoot Yuma. But Homura was moving away, and Yuma doesn't have enough ways to attack her from far away."

Mami nods, smiling. "And Homura? What do you think?"

"Her self-evaluation is largely correct," Homura murmurs. "She needs to develop ways of attacking at range." She nods at Yuma. "You need to be aware of other angles of attack. I managed to catch you off guard by striking from above."

"Ah! Yuma understands. Uhm, I understand," Yuma says. "Yuma wants to ask about your, uhm, teleporting?"

"My magic," Homura says.

Yuma nods solemnly, apparently committing that to memory.

"Alright!" Mami says. "And Homura? How about you?"

"Yuma managed to surprise me several times," Homura says after a moment. "I underestimated her. Using the engine as shrapnel was a good technique."

"Big sis taught me that one!" Yuma declares happily.

"Can I just say that that trick was really cool?" you say, glancing at Mami for permission. She nods slightly, smile widening a little. "It'd have caught me off guard for sure. And you were deflecting bullets there. That was amazing, and Homura, why are you using live ammo?"

"Why not?" Homura says, blinking slowly.

"... fair enough, I suppose," you say. You did expressly request that she use airsoft ammo, last training.

"I'm gonna have to have you practice more, Yuma," Kyouko says gruffly. She has her ponytail dragged over her shoulder, and she's trying to squeeze the worst of the rainwater out of the bedraggled mass of red. "Can't have you losing so easy."

It's funny, really. Kyouko has that trick for getting dirt off, but apparently not the rain. Homura just seems to ignore it, and the rain in turn ignores her - she's almost waterproof, in the same way Mami is. Perhaps Mami only developed it after Kyouko left?

"Yeah!" Yuma beams eagerly. "I'll get better. I will!"

"You were awesome too, Homura," you say with a grin. "Seriously. I... don't think I've ever mentioned it, but I've always been very impressed with your fighting style? It's... mm, it's very minimal, just exactly what you need to do and where you need to be to win."

"Necessity," Homura says.

"Even so!" you say brightly. "That doesn't make it any less impressive. And... your accuracy, too. I mean, firing on the move, one-handed, with automatic and with high caliber firearms?"

Mami blinks, beside you, giving Homura a look.

"... thank you?" Homura says. She seems faintly bewildered with the praise.

"Yeah! You were really cool!" Yuma says happily.

Kyouko rolls her eyes.

Mami chuckles quietly, patting your arm and straightening from the hug. "Do you think there's anything you can improve on, Homura?"

"I need to be more prepared for non-lethal fights," Homura says.

Her gaze sliding over to you for a second, and you shoot her a quick smile in response. You appreciate that. And even exploiting her timestop to its fullest, as she didn't do in this spar, having more non-lethal options would be for the better.

"Alright," Mami says. "And now, Kyouko?"

"Still not enough wide-area attacks or defenses," Kyouko grumbles. "I don't have a good way to get past saturation attacks."

"Really?" you ask. "I mean, that chain wall you put up worked pretty well."

Kyouko frowns at you, still trying to do what she can to dry out her normally magnificent mane.

"Not well enough," she mutters, after a long moment filled with awkward squishing noises of rainwater from sodden hair. "See, it goes up fast enough, but it locks me in and doesn't go down fast enough. Might 's well be a coffin, if I try and put it up all 'round myself."

"Is that something you could practice?" you ask. "I mean... you have the resources and the time to practice now."

"Even if I were gonna do that, yeah, no," Kyouko grunts. She fixes you with a glare. "'s a frigging party trick mostly. Good to block things off now and then and that's pretty much all. Inflexible."

"... fair enough," you say.

Mami nods gravely. "Multiple active spears might be the solution, perhaps?"

"Perhaps," Kyouko admits grudgingly. "Now that I have the resources and the time, maybe I'll try it." She sighs, locks her hands behind her head, and slouches, looking away.

"You were still great, though," you say, grinning at Kyouko. "You're ridiculously fast, and the giant spear is..." You trail off, shaking your head and grinning. "C'mon, there's something inherently cool about kaiju spears."

Kyouko snorts. When it becomes clear that she doesn't intend to comment, Mami picks up the conversation, smiling warmly at you.

"How about your match with Kyouko, Homura?" she prompts.

"Terrain," Homura says, indicating the dense corridors of the junkyard, albeit interspersed with clearings. "And verticality. It was hard to follow Kyouko if she disengaged, or chose to fight in close quarters."

"Traps, perhaps?" Mami says, nodding.

"Not always an option," Homura says. "Especially not non-lethally."

Because you're sure Homura has claymores -the mine, not the sword- stuck in her shield somewhere. Then again, you wouldn't definitely declare that Homura doesn't have swords stuck in there either, just in case.

"Y' did pretty well, all things considered," Kyouko mutters. "Can your shield block or is it just for keeping shit in?"

"I prefer not to," Homura says. She frowns slightly. "It's dangerous."

"Right, gotcha," Kyouko says.

"Well... As for myself," Mami says, nodding at Kyouko. "My melee reflexes have slipped, somewhat." She shakes her head. "I don't know what I was thinking, trying to block instead of deflect. I'm looking forward to practicing more with you, Kyouko."

"Yeah, yeah, you gotta be the best, dontcha," Kyouko grumbles.

"The moment we stop improving ourselves is the moment we die," Mami says. "I doubt I will ever come close to your skill in melee combat, Kyouko, but I do intend to be able to hold my own better."

"Don't sell yourself short, Mami," you say, taking her hand and squeezing lightly. "Perfection might be asymptotic, but you're further on the path than most."

"Flatterer," Mami says, squeezing back and blushing red.

"Get a room you two," Kyouko says.

"Ah, yes," Mami says. "As for my match with you, Sabrina... I was expending far too much magic for effect. While your particular style of combat requires fairly specific counters, there are other magical girls who attack similarly - powerful telekinetics, for example."

"Makes sense," you agree. "As for me... I really need to work on my reflexes, and ranged attacks, similar to Yuma. Speaking of which, Yuma, something I want to practice is throwing my hammer as a ranged attack. Maybe you could try that, too?"

"Yuma is thinking about cannonballs!" Yuma declares proudly. She reaches under the bench and 'withdraws' a mace which she holds up, frowning, until the shaft shimmers into non-existence, dropping the head into her hands. She holds it up like a trophy and beams.

"Shotput or cannonball?" Kyouko muses, unwinding far enough to lean over and ruffle Yuma's hair.

"What's shotput?" Yuma asks.

"A sport," Kyouko says. "People take a metal ball and throw it as far as they can."

"Oh!" Yuma says. "Shotput, then. Yuma... I think I can use my magic to toss it further!"

"Only one way to find out," Kyouko says.

"Yup!" Yuma says.

"I was kind of wondering whether I could get a more aerodynamic sort of hammer, too," you admit.

"A good thought," Mami says approvingly. "I noticed that you were already throwing your hammers, but they were unguided. Perhaps magical control of the flight might be possible? That might take more experimentation, though."

"Maybe," you say, smiling.

Mami takes a breath, looking around. "Alright," she says. "I believe that's everything - shall we all break up to practice? We do have some time left, right, Sabrina?"

"Yup," you say. "Homura, Kyouko, Yuma - do you want to come for lunch after this?"

"Do we have a choice?" Kyouko growls.

"Of course you do," Mami says. "Isn't that right, Sabrina?"

"Yeah," you say. "I'm not gonna force you to come, but I'm offering because... well, I like to think that we are friends. I like doing nice things for my friends."

"Can we, big sis?" Yuma turns devastatingly huge and wobbly eyes on Kyouko, who groans, palms her face, and nods.

"Yeah!" Yuma says, cheering.

"I'll come," Homura says quietly.

"Great!" You beam at Homura. "And now that that's settled... Shall we get to practicing, then? I can keep us all out of the rain, since we're not sparring any more."

"Yeah, yeah," Kyouko says. She stands, cracking her neck from side to side.

"You know," you say to Mami and Homura. "Sometimes, I'm genuinely uncertain whether Yuma is an evil mastermind, or just a kid."

"Definitely an evil mastermind," Mami says to you. Homura doesn't respond, but the perplexed look you get from her definitely speaks volumes about her opinions on the matter.

Nominally, you're all splitting up, since you're working on different things - but then, Mami doesn't stray far from you, nor Yuma from Kyouko, and since you're working on something similar to Yuma, you all wind up in a loose cluster, anyway. Homura hovers nearby, seeming to be after advice from Mami but uncertain of how to ask, if you're any judge.

Mami notices, of course, and heads over without any prompting. You hide a proud, pleased smile as you turn to your own practice - throwing hammers. Which you are absolutely not going to make references of Mjolnir about, but only because you don't have the right type of hammer.

It's quiet, relaxing work, for the most part. Kyouko's spears clatter away in an endless crash of chains, whipping around her like a tornado, first one, then two, then three, sweat beading down her face as she focuses. Beside her, Yuma's magic flickers emerald, sparking between her hands as she practices her throws, hurling cannonballs with seemingly no effort.

For her part, Homura listens to Mami's advice with solemn intensity, and starts flying. At least, you think that's what she's trying, the amethyst glow of her magic flickering around her in fits and starts and kicking her off the ground from time to time, only for her to land with cat-like grace as she lands.

... for some reason, you wonder if Homura would grenade you if you told her you wanted to test it. You feel like she would.

Mami, having effortlessly slipped back into her position as mentor and teacher, returns to you for a hug which you're more than glad to bestow.

"Do you think you could help me with my practice?" Mami asks, cuddling into your arms. "Would it take away from your own?"

"Of course I can help," you say. "What do you need?"

"I need some stationary targets," Mami says. "A few blocks of Grief - you don't have to put too much effort into them, I just need to hone my own efficiency."

"Easy," you say, beaming as you pull together sufficient Grief to form a few targets for Mami.

"That's perfect, thank you," Mami says, and goes up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to your cheek.

"Anytime," you say, smiling.

Mami returns the smile and separates from the hug. You return to your own experimentation, sparing a fragment of attention to keep an eye on Mami, of course. You can feel the surge and ebb of magic as she throws it against your Grief, shoving and pushing and optimizing her technique.

As for yourself...

Coaxing a more aerodynamic form out of your hammer isn't hard. With the right mindset, you can reshape it - a pointed spike is almost trivial. Longer or shorter or wider, stubby tank shell, and even fins with a bit more effort. The problem you find, as you run through a few basic drills, is that it doesn't come naturally. If combat disengages for more than a few seconds, you'd have the time to prepare and sling these in quantity.

Under fire, actively evading hostile attacks from afar? You're... not as sure. It might be easier to just throw rocks. Or even just plain old hammers. There might be something to Mami's idea of guiding it with magic, but the closest you get there is blowing a crater in the mud with barely any effort.

"... huh," you say, blinking through mud-encrusted eyelids.

"Oi," Kyouko complains.

"Sorry!" you call back. "Accident!"

You don't think the mud even reached close to where she's standing, surrounded by what's practically a wall of living spears, whirling like a blender. She gives you a half-hearted glare, but you can tell she's mostly focusing on controlling the spears. She's definitely going to need another cleanse after this.

Homura, too. She's using that magic pulse trick, boosting into high jumps and attempting to stabilize in the air, with a limited amount of success - you can tell this isn't something she's used to, with the number of near-crash landings she's made. Still, she keeps at it, implacable frown firmly in place.

"Sabrina?" Mami drifts over. Somehow, she's completely mud-free, despite practicing her own techniques near you.

"I... guess I finally figured out how to do that hit-things-harder-than-it-should trick?" you say. "I mean, my hammer was always... weirdly light to me, but hit like you'd expect it to. But now I think I've managed to make it swing harder. It's just... a weird twist to the magic."

"Oh!" Mami frowns. "I didn't realise you didn't know that one, Sabrina, I'm sorry. You hardly use your hammer..."

"That's probably why you didn't realise," you say with a smile. "I'm not a melee specialist - I kind of discovered this by accident while trying to, uh, steer my hammer remotely. I guess this might be a first step?"

"Quite possibly!" Mami agrees, and flicks some mud off your shoulder. "You're all dirty now..."

You giggle, and start cleaning yourself off with Grief. "That's what happens when I overswing right into the mud."

"Well, be careful," Mami says. "That said, I think it's nearly time we should be going?"

"Probably," you say, and check your phone. "Definitely. Hey, everyone? Lunchtime!"

"Lunch!" Yuma cheers, pivoting on a foot to hurl one last cannonball in a manner vaguely reminiscent of a baseball throw. The projectile leaves her hand as a streak of emerald green, and you wince as it... well, cannonballs into a wrecked car.

Through the wrecked car.

Homura drops out of the air to land next to you, the motion almost catlike, and Kyouko releases the forest of spears to stroll over. She tries to make it nonchalant, but the occlusion of Grief in her Soul Gem gives lie to the casual effort she's trying to project.

"Cleansing time," you say. "Kyouko, I could just cleanse your Soul Gem directly?"

"Why?" she asks, already pulling a Grief Seed from her costume. "'s not like it's extra trouble for you, is it?" She switches her attention to Yuma. "You too, Yuma."

"Mmh!" Yuma says, obediently pulling out a Grief Seed of her own.

"Well... no, not really, but it'd be easier for you?" you say, cleansing Homura and Mami's Soul Gem with a wave of your hand.

"Do I look like I care?" Kyouko says, holding out the Grief Seed, as does Yuma.

"You're just stubborn," you say, rolling your eyes and cleansing the Grief Seed. Really, it's just an extra step, and she trusted you far enough to return to Mitakihara, didn't she? And you've been right so far.

"Do I look like I care?" Kyouko echoes, smirking at you and pulling out a package of Skittles. She rips it out with a crinkling of plastic, offering some to Yuma. "Now, we gonna get lunch or no?"

"Yup!" you say. "I have no idea where, though. Uhh. Mami?"

"Mm..." Mami hums thoughtfully. "There's a nice cafe near Shinmachi Mall we could look at?"

"Cafe food," Kyouko says, as if that's all the indictment she needs.

"They offered surprisingly generous portions, the last I saw," Mami says. "In any case, there are plenty of other options in the area if we decide not to look at it."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Kyouko mutters half-heartedly. "You're paying anyway, right?"

"My treat," you say, smiling. "Courtesy of the Mop Fund!"

"Mop Fund?" Yuma asks.

"The Mop Fund!" you confirm. "Homura and I bravely raided the yakuza. And during the raid, what did we see but the finest katana?"

You regale your friends with the story as you head out, pulling out the katana itself for a prop, and you only embellish a little bit. There totally was a shrine and everything, you're not making that up! And even Kyouko seems amused with the story, though more with the idea of messing with the yakuza than anything else.

Homura pulls three umbrellas from her shield, tossing one to you as you leap across the rooftops and leave the junkyard behind.

"Thanks, Homura," you call. Just the one, because you and Mami can share! And while you were going to just use Grief to keep yourself dry, the streets below throng with umbrella and raincoat-clad pedestrians, Mitakihara bustling even under the downpour - you'd look odd without umbrellas of your own.

As you bound across the city, you can't help but think about Homura's shield. Oriented towards her wrist... but that's odd.

Your thoughts cut into clarity as you delve into your memories of times-that-weren't. Her shield reverses orientation every time she turns back the clock, you know that. In a terribly literal sense, she flips the hourglass of time, and sand flows in reverse once more. Towards her wrist, and away from her wrist.

The last loop -the loop you think of as the last one, where Madoka made the Wish- was one where the shield pointed towards her wrist. And here we are again: the 'next' time, and yet... the shield points the same way.

Something doesn't add up there.

That everything could be fixed, Madoka had Wished, and that's... something else that didn't add up. That's not the Wish she should have made.

Did Homura turn back the clock, or did Madoka?

Was there another loop in between, that's gone missing? How would that work, with Madoka still around?

Madoka Wished to fix everything, so... what had gone so terribly wrong?

Mami squeezes your arm, seeming to sense some of your thoughts. She gifts you with a warm smile, tucked snugly under the umbrella you're holding up for her and cuddling closing, hands locked lightly around your elbow.

You've hit upon something, you think. You're not quite sure what, but it's an important piece of the puzzle.

[X] Lunch!
[X] Meeting with your friends - Nagisa, too!
[] Try to get Kyouko to join you for shopping
- [] How? (Write-in)
[] During the shopping, pick up something specific (Write-in)
[] Keep Madoka away from the furniture store
[] Specific conversation with... (Write-in topic!)
- [] Mami
- [] Homura
- [] Sayaka
- [] Madoka
- [] Hitomi
- [] Nagisa
Word count limit: 150 words

=====​

The next post should take you through lunch, and halfway or so into the shopping trip, until.

Just, y'know, until. Generally speaking.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Penny for your thoughts, Sabrina?" Mami asks, smiling faintly at you.

"Nothing I should share without privacy, unfortunately," you say.

You pause, blinking, and then you proceed to match Mami's rosy blush with one of your own.

"Phrasing?" you ask.

"... just phrasing?" Mami asks, managing a teasing smile despite the red staining her cheeks.

"... well..." you temporize, and laugh. Mami joins in, resting her head against your shoulder as you walk.

There's an odd kind of privacy to this, shielded by the curtains of rain cascading off the shared umbrella. And yet... your friends aren't too far away, either, bobbing splashes of colour threading through the crowds. Kyouko and Yuma on your left, Homura a step ahead.

"But yeah," you continue after a moment. "Just... thinking about matters."

"Mm," Mami says. She hums thoughtfully. "Can we talk to Homura?"

"Of course," you say, smiling at Mami, and quickening a few steps to catch up.

Mami sticks to you, of course, shoulder bumping against yours, and smiles at Homura as you approach. Your friend gives the two of you a quizzical look as you overlap your umbrella with hers, making some space for Mami to speak.

"Hi, Homura," Mami offers.

"Hello," Homura says, blinking slowly.

"I just wanted to say that I was very impressed with your gunplay," Mami says with a smile. "And... perhaps I'm off the mark, but thank you."

Homura tips a shoulder in a vague shrug.

"You're a good teacher," Homura murmurs quietly, albeit vaguely.

You have to admit, you're not entirely sure of Mami's deduction, either, or if even Homura knows for sure. Homura uses guns. Mami uses guns. And perhaps Homura only stopped using the pipebombs at Sayaka's request, and perhaps guns are terribly effective against all but the toughest Witches, and perhaps there are a million and one justifications.

Mami uses guns.

Homura uses guns.

Golden eyes flick up, and the tiny lines around them crinkle up into a warm, pleased smile when Mami finds you already looking at her.

You chuckle quietly, and walk onwards, Mami nudging you to take the lead - which makes sense, because you're almost there! Shopfronts dazzle with noise and lights and wares, blazing against the rain, heavenly smells cutting through the damp to attack your nose. The crowds around you are different now, more families, more teenagers braving the rain like you to hang out with their friends. More colour, more laughter, more noise.

Maybe it's just your imagination, but Kyouko seems to relax a little despite radiating annoyance, a rough sneer firmly in place as a shield against the looks that turn her way, judging her ratty jacket and shorts and demeanour. Yuma brightens yet more, the little ball of sunshine that she is, eagerly drinking in the sights and sounds.

Homura trails a step behind, a quiet but... not dissatisfied presence.

Her shield still bothers you. It's nothing you can place, your thoughts going in... hah, going around in loops. You have absolutely no reason to believe that Homura was lying when you'd asked her about the last loop - which matches what you think of as the last one. Not truly the last one, especially not given the Rebellion-that-must-never-be, but it's the endpoint.

And yet, here you are. Either time wound back without Homura's shield -perhaps from Madoka's Wish- or... an entire loop has gone missing.

Either way, something is deeply wrong there.

"Here we are," Mami says, squeezing your arm gently.

You blink out of your reverie, train of thought interrupted, and smile at Mami.

"Trendy," Kyouko mutters disparagingly.

"That it is," Mami says with a light chuckle. "But the food is good."

"It looks nice!" Yuma says. "And there's lots of it, like Mami said!"

"Yeah, sure," Kyouko grumbles. "Not like I'm paying, anyway."

"How about you, Homura?" Mami asks. "Do you think you'd like to eat here?"

Homura eyes the menu for a moment, visible through the glass frontage of the cafe: a wood-framed blackboard, words rendered in flawless calligraphy and in turn surrounded by painstakingly drawn flowers and what appears to be their mascot, a particularly peppy looking purple flower.

"I'm fine with it," she decides at last.

"If you like it, I'm happy to eat here, Mami," you answer before Mami asks.

She laughs, squeezing your arm lightly. "Alright, it's settled then," she says. "It doesn't look too crowded, so let's grab a seat."

And so you head in, taking in the rest of the cafe. It's narrow, crammed between two other shopfronts, the counter squeezed right into the corner beside the staircase to the second floor. Kyouko was right to call it trendy, you suppose, though you'd personally call it cutesy. Bright, cheerful blooms of flowers -real flowers, not plastic!- planted in tubs running between tables underline the fragrance of food with subtle, floral undertones.

There's room enough to grab a seat on the first floor, but as it turns out, the second floor is quieter and just as cosy, so you find your seats above. Happy chatter mixes with the vaguely French-ish music, a pleasant counterpoint to the endless durmming of the rain.

"Steak," Kyouko announces as she slides onto a chair, cocking a challenging eyebrow at you.

"Which cut?" you ask. Mami takes your hand under the table, intertwining your fingers and squeezing gently. "Think they have T-bone and ribeye, from what I saw."

"T-bone," she says.

"Big sis..." Yuma says, tugging at Kyouko's hand. "Don't make trouble."

"No, no, I did offer to pay, and I can afford it," you say, smiling at her, then grinning at Kyouko as you rotate a small stack of cash into your ever-present bag. "Rare or medium?"

"Medium," Kyouko grumbles, looking away. Your grin widens a little more, because you can take that as a win.

"How 'bout you, Yuma?" you ask.

"Yuma saw that they had roast chicken? With roast potatoes?" Yuma says. "Or, um, fish and chips, um..."

"Take your time to decide," you advise. "Menu, menu... here you go." You grab a menu from the holder and slide it across to Yuma. "Homura? Mami?"

"I'll go order with you, Sabrina," Mami says. "I'd like to take another look at their specials, anyway."

"Of course," you say, squeezing her hand, which earns you a smile.

"... I'd like the steak, too," Homura says. She eyes Kyouko for a second, and then quirks an eyebrow at you.

"'course," you say. "Yuma? Wanna come with us to look at today's specials?"

"Nuh-uh!" Yuma says. "Yuma will have the half-a-chicken! And, um... a Coke?"

"Sure," you say. "Shall we, Mami?"

"Let's go!" Mami says.

She doesn't let go of your hand as you make your way down the stairs, either, running her fingers gently over the back of your hand in slow, rhythmic motions. You can't help but beam at her in response as she leans into your side, and after a few minutes queueing, you make your order. You insist on paying, of course, and you manage to get that far before your phone buzzes, so you shoot Mami a smile before answering.

You raise the phone to your ear, already hurrying out of the cafe to the street, where it's quieter. "Hi Mr. Momoe, this is Sabrina!"

"Big sis!" The excited squeal is definitely not Shin's baritone. "Hi!"

"Oh, hello, who's this?" you tease. "You're not Mr. Momoe."

"Big siiiis," Nagisa whines.

You laugh.

"Hello, Nagisa," you say. "How are you?"

"Excited! Uncle Shin says that he's going to drop me off with you soon, and can I come over early? Please say yes!" Nagisa begs.

"How soon would that be?" you ask. "We're having lunch now."

"Oh, that's OK!" Nagisa says. "I've already eaten!"

"Well, as long as it's OK with your uncle!" you say. "Ah, is he around?"

"Right here, Sabrina," Shin says. "Speakerphone."

"Ah, hello," you say. "I didn't know you were there."

"Perfectly fine," Shin says. "I hope it wouldn't be an imposition if I dropped Nagisa off early?"

"Uncle Shiiiiinnn big sis already said yes," Nagisa whines.

"Yeah, it's fine," you say, smiling. "We're eating at a cafe right now, if that's a problem? Madoka isn't here yet, though - she's meeting us after lunch, too."

"'Us' would be you and, ah... Miss Mami?" Shin asks. "If I recall her name correctly?"

"Yes and yes, plus three more of my friends that I don't think you've met," you say.

"I think that would be alright, then," Shin says. "Whereabouts are you?"

"We're near Shinmachi Mall," you say. "Uhhh..." You crane your head back to look at the sign. "Shion Cafe."

"Hah! I drive by there every day on my way to work," Shin says. "Is the food any good?"

"I'll find out and report later," you say, quirking a grin.

"Fair enough!" Shin says. "Will you be alright if I dropped Nagisa off in... half an hour?"

"Yeah, we'd be happy to have her," you say.

"Very well," Shin says, raising his voice to be heard over Nagisa's delighted 'YES!'. "In half an hour, then."

"See you soon!" you say. "Behave, Nagisa."

"Yes, big sis!" Nagisa says happily. "Bye!"

You smile to yourself and return to the cafe, finding Mami poring over the cakes in the display stand.

"I think I'll order us some desserts," she says, looking up and smiling as you approach.

"Well..." You loop your arm around her shoulders, and join her in taking a look. "Add a slice of cheesecake? Looks like Nagisa will be joining us."

"Didn't we give her cheesecake last time, too?" Mami muses.

"We did!" you say.

"I suppose I can't argue with that," Mami says, and sighs happily as she leans into the hug.

She insists on paying for the dessert, and though you put up a valiant fight, you inevitably fall to the onslaught of Mami pouting at you. Mami leads the way back up the stairs in triumph, humming cheerfully.

Lunch is excellent, and even Kyouko doesn't manage to find it in herself to complain about the food, practically inhaling her portion. You eat with hopefully a bit more decorum, but you have to admit that you'd worked up an appetite during the training.

"Are you sure you don't want to join us for the shopping later, Kyouko?" you ask as you sit back, setting your own utensils down. Mami flags a waitress down, asking for the dessert to be served.

"Fuck that," Kyouko grunts. "Yuma'n I are going hunting."

"If you're sure?" you ask. You don't really want to pressure her into it -and you doubt that'd work, anyway- but you are a little concerned. "I mean, I get it if you're all socialed-out for the day, but we'd be happy to have you along if you wanted, and I'm pretty sure Shinmachi has a big arcade."

"It does," Mami notes.

"Well, there you are," you say. And you have to admit, you're not entirely sure if Kyouko and Yuma have extra clothes or anything. "So... yeah."

"We're goin' hunting," Kyouko repeats.

"Alright," you say. "Well... we'll be just a call away if you need help."

Kyouko snorts, rolling her eyes at you.

"I've been doing just fine without needing your help," Kyouko says. "An' that was before I had Yuma to watch my back. Isn't that right, Yuma?"

"Yes, big sis," Yuma says obediently, and proceeds to give you a wink you'd call conspiratorial if it weren't for the fact that she just did it right in front of Kyouko.

"Brat," Kyouko says, and ruffles her hair anyway.

"It's reassuring to know that you have someone to watch out for you," Mami says. "Thank you, Yuma."

"Right, I'm leaving," Kyouko snaps. She stands.

"You'll miss the cake," Mami says.

Kyouko sits.

"You know, in retrospect, I'm not sure why I didn't just bribe Kyouko with food to come back to Mitakihara," you note to Mami.

Kyouko flips you off.

"Big sis, that's rude," Yuma says, butting her head against Kyouko's side. "Don't be rude."

"... can't fucking win," Kyouko grouses.

"You're up against Yuma," you say happily. "Of co- oh, hang on." You pull your buzzing phone out of your bag, checking the caller ID. "Gotta take this."

"Hi, Mr. Momoe!" you say. "Are you here already? I'll head out."

"We're approaching," Shin responds.

"Alright, on my way," you say, squeezing Mami's hand and standing.

You hurry outside, snagging one of your umbrellas from the stand and putting it up just as Shin pulls up by the pavement.

"Big sis!" The car door flies open, and a ballistic Nagisa crashes into your legs, shrouded in a bright yellow raincoat.

"Hey, Nagisa!" you say, grinning at her. "Hello, Mr. Momoe."

"Shin will do," the older man says, rolling down the window to peer at you. "Thank you for inviting Nagisa along today, she's missed you."

"Of course - I should have done it earlier, but I've had a busy few days," you say. "And I take it that you have too?"

"Business is booming," Shin says, echoing his earlier words. "Seems the Nakano corporation's taken more of an interest lately."

"... huh," you say. "Urban development?"

"Oh, it's not as if Mitakihara doesn't have that going on all the time, anyway," Shin says dismissively. "It just means more work for us. But I doubt you want to listen to an old man's complaints, so... have fun, Sabrina. Nagisa, be good, alright? I'll pick you up at four."

"OK!" Nagisa chirps. "See you, Uncle Shin!"

"Take care, don't let marketing bite," you offer with a grin.

Shin snorts as he rolls up the window. "I'm more worried about Mrs Kaname biting my head off," he grumbles. "Ask her daughter to pass on my regards, if you would? It might put her in a better mood..."

"Can do," you say, standing back and waving as he pulls off. You smile at Nagisa. "Shall we go inside?"

"It's cold out here!" Nagisa complains.

"I'll take that as a yes, then," you say.

When you get back inside, leaving both Nagisa's raincoat and the umbrella by the door, you find that Mami's pulled up a new chair - and that the cake is waiting for you, Kyouko giving you a grumpy, impatient look that narrows to surprise when she sees Nagisa.

"Everyone, this is Momoe Nagisa," you say. "Nagisa, this is Homura, Kyouko, and Yuma, and you remember Mami, right?"

"Hi!" Nagisa says, waving shyly.

"Hello," Homura says.

"Hallo!" Yuma says brightly. "I'm Yuma! This is Yuma's big sis, Kyouko!"

"This is my big sis," Nagisa says, grabbing your arm.

Yuma nods solemnly.

"Seriously? Are you picking up strays now?" Kyouko asks you, arching an eyebrow.

"Nagisa is not a stray!" Nagisa says.

"Glass houses, Kyouko. Glass houses," you say.

"... Yuma is not a stray, either," Yuma says, pouting and burrowing her head under Kyouko's arm. "Yuma has a big sis who she loves very much."

Kyouko grumbles inaudibly, mussing Yuma's hair.

"Cake!" Nagisa squeals, apparently only now noticing said confectionary.

Still, you smile indulgently and nudge her towards the empty seat, and the not-empty plate.

"Cheesecake!" you agree. "You liked it last time, right?"

Mami smiles as you take your seat beside her. "It's nice to meet you again, Nagisa."

Nagisa doesn't seem to hear either of you, though, her attention apparently wholly occupied by the generous slice of cheesecake, towards which she drifts in a haze of delight. And that's when it all goes wrong, you think, because Yuma notices too, and apparently decides to make it a competition of who can eat their portions faster.

The crumbs go everywhere.

"Your cakes are better," Homura murmurs to Mami, leaning away from the feeding frenzy.

Mami beams.

"Thank you, Homura," she says. "But I-"

"Mami, your cooking is amazing," you say firmly, shuffling your chair a little closer to Mami - and a little further from the shoals of piranhas disguised as little girls. "Baking included."

"... oh, alright, if I must," Mami says, beaming at both you and Homura.

"Yes, you must," you say.

"Well, thank you both," she says warmly.

Kyouko pops the last of her cake into her mouth and belches loudly. "Arright, that's that," she grunts, standing. "Yuma?"

"Mmh!" Yuma says, bouncing to her feet. "Thank you for the meal, Sabrina, Mami!"

"Take care of each other," Mami says.

"Aww," Nagisa says, pouting. "But I just got here!"

"We'll meet again!" Yuma says happily. "But I gotta go with my big sis."

Kyouko rolls her eyes and stalks off. Yuma offers a cheerful wave before hurrying off after her, chased by Nagisa's woeful pout. You track them in your Grief senses as Kyouko marches out of the cafe and off the streets, bounding to the rooftops and out of your range in short order.

"Did Nagisa upset Miss Kyouko?" Nagisa asks.

"Nah, it's definitely not your fault, Nagisa," you say. "She's just cranky from other things."

Kyouko doesn't dislike you, you think, but she... is definitely pricklier against you than with others. And it's not that you don't believe Mami, that Kyouko will learn to handle all the things that changed in her absence - and you're not sure that you're the person to try and fix this, even if Mami were wrong.

"She is," Mami admits with a sigh. "I never really saw her like this before."

Homura eyes you.

"It'll work out," you say, exhaling. You imagine letting your worries out with that breath, and try to project confidence for Mami and for Homura. "We got her back, didn't we?"

"Perhaps Sayaka should be convinced to talk to her more," Homura says.

"Not a bad idea," you admit. Then you grin at Homura, because Homura of all people offering suggestions on a social situation? Homura, of all people, suggesting that Sayaka might actually be able to help? "Yeah. Not a bad idea at all."

Homura shrugs, managing to look both faintly sheepish and embarrassed without actually changing her expression.

"Are we going to see Miss Madoka and Miss Sayaka later?" Nagisa asks.

"Yep!" you say. "We're gonna meet them soon."

"We might want to head to the shopping center first, actually," Mami offers with a smile. "We've already finished eating, after all, and there's no harm in arriving early, right?"

"Sounds good to me," you say. "How about it, Homura? Nagisa?"

"The biiiiiig mall?" Nagisa asks, blinking her oddly coloured eyes at you.

"That's the one," you say, laughing. "We're meeting everyone there."

"Yay!" Nagisa says, jumping to her feet, and hurrying off to the stairs.

"I'll take that as a yes, then," you say. "Homura?"

Your friend nods, giving Nagisa a long look, then you, and Mami.

"What?" you ask.

Homura shakes her head. "... it's nothing. Shall we?"

"If you're sure," you say, smiling.

She nods firmly and stands, pushing her chair back in. Mami takes your hand as you get up too, and you head out, making sure that Nagisa puts her raincoat on properly before you step forth once more into the rain.

[x] Vote in abeyance
[] Any particular conversational points to hit?
- [] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] While shopping, acquire some/all of the following, leaving the rest for next update:
-[X] A decent smartphone plus data plan.
-[X] Your own soaps and shampoos.
-[X] A separate bank account for yourself.
-[X] Appropriate formal clothes for the Shizuki meeting. (And maybe Tokyo too?)
[X] Just generally have fun with your friends!
-[X] Buy something nice for Mami.
-[X] If possible, try roping Madoka into helping Homura pick an outfit.
--[X] See if you can get Homura to wear a cat-ear headband.
-[X] Quietly ask Homura if getting gifts for Madoka is something she's interested in doing.
--[X] If yes, see if you can arrange a situation where it's clear to everyone that Madoka would like an iPod so Homura can offer to buy her one without it being weird.
[X] Check privately with Sayaka -- did her parents get their memories back?

=====​

Alright, so I felt I had to break the update here in a rather odd and unintended spot - I wanted to update before I slept, since tomorrow's gonna be busy.

Unfortunately, shelled watermelons and nyancats will have to wait for the next update.

 

[Firnagzen]

You wind up arranging yourselves in a loose line, overlapping your umbrella as best as you can with Homura's to give Nagisa more coverage, Mami with her arms wrapped around yours.

Admittedly, it would be nice if she actually stuck in one place for long enough to enjoy the benefit of more umbrella coverage, but she seems absolutely delighted to flit about, a splotch of bright yellow in her raincoat giggling as she stomps in the puddles of water. She gets tolerant smiles from other pedestrians as you all make your way to the looming specter of Capitalism.

Hrmph. Capitalism.

Shimachi Shopping Centre looms large, even shrouded by the downpour. Floodlights carve brilliant swathes through the sky, shining off raindrops to form solid beams that seem to pierce the very heavens, an impression lent credence by the flowing, marble-white lines of the building itself.

"Heeey I'm almost at the shopping centre," Sayaka's voice fills your head. "Anyone else here yet?"

"A-ah! We're getting ready to go, papa said he wanted to do some grocery shopping too, so he said he'd drive me over," Madoka says. "Sorry..."

"I, too, am on my way, so don't feel bad about it, Madoka," Hitomi says. "I thought it might be nice to take a walk, but I misestimated the time it would take..."

"... in this rain?" you ask, a touch dubiously. Rain is nice and all, but this isn't so much rain as it is a storm.

"Yes?" Hitomi says.

"... Eh. Fair enough, I guess," you say. Who are you to judge.

"And anyway, I'm early!" Sayaka says. "Or... will be early, I guess, when I actually get there. So don't worry about it, Madoka. Sabrina, uh, I take it you're with Mami and Homura and Kyouko?"

"Kyouko didn't want to come," you say. "She's gone Witch-hunting instead."

"... Aw," Sayaka says. "Shame."

"What, looking forward to seeing her in new outfits?" you tease lightly.

"Eh? The jacket is kind of her style," Sayaka says. "Was just looking forward to hanging out in a less, er..."

"Adversarial?" Mami offers. She turns an amused look your way, and you grin, arching an eyebrow.

"Less adversarial context!" Sayaka completes triumphantly. "Thanks, Mami."

"Of course," Mami says. Her smile widens, just a hair, and your other eyebrow joins the first. She purses her lips, thoughtfully solemn, and you tip a shoulder up in response. The purse of lips turns into an amused smile, to which you respond to with a waggled hand, and a concerned quirk of your eyebrows. She nods decisively, and returns to laying her head against your shoulder as you continue onwards.

In fairness, you're not entirely sure that Sayaka's interested in Kyouko, or vice versa, but you are sure that they could be. All that remains is to properly arrange for them to spend time together and see what happens, and... you're glad Mami's on board with the idea, however complicated her own feelings about Kyouko are.

"You've overshot," Homura murmurs.

"Hmm? Shopping Centre's up ahea- oh, I see you," Sayaka says. "Coming!"

You look up just in time to see a blue streak of light loop back on itself, dipping down towards a building not that much further ahead of you. A moment later, as you pass the next side-street, Sayaka strolls out to join you, clad in a light blue jacket and bearing her own umbrella.

"Yo," she says cheerfully.

"Heya!" you say.

"Sorry for ditching the training session this morning," Sayaka says, falling in step on the far side of Homura. "Oh, hey Nagisa."

"Sayaka!" Nagisa bounces over, beaming. "Hi!"

"Terrifyingly adorable kid, aren't you?" Sayaka says. "Good to see you again."

Nagisa beams.

"Nah, if you had stuff to do, you had stuff to do," you say. "I hope the stuff went well?"

"Homework is homework," Sayaka says with a shrug. "Deeefinitely gonna need your help later if we're gonna go gallivanting about tomorrow, though. We're still up for that, right?"

"Assuming nothing comes up, yeah," you say. "And yeah, I already said I'd help."

"Eww, homework," Nagisa says. "Can big sis do my homework for me?"

"I'm not doing Sayaka's homework for her," you say, ignoring Sayaka's disappointed 'aw'. "I'm helping her understand it, so she can do it herself."

"But can big sis do Nagisa's homework for her?" Nagisa asks, clasping her hand and making the biggest, poutiest expression she can at you.

"... Bring it with you next time and I'll help," you say, because you are weak.

"Well... that would be OK," Nagisa says, after giving this a moment of solemn consideration, and returns to splashing on ahead.

"Oh, Sabrina," Mami says fondly.

"What?" you say.

Mami doesn't respond, simply returning to tucking her head against your shoulder. You feel eyes on you, and you aim aggrieved eyebrows at Sayaka, who, it turns out, is openly smirking at you.

"What?" you say.

"Oh, nothing," she says far too cheerfully.

"Hrmph," you grumble. Still, it's hard to feel too grumpy.

A blast of warm air greets you as you arrive at the shopping centre, the glass doors yawning open to admit the great flood of people who, like you, chose to brave the rain today. You leave your umbrellas behind at the lockers, and head into the the maw of commerce.

"Where're we going first?" Sayaka calls.

"Well what are we looking for today?" you respond. "I... well, I need to hit the bank first, I think, and maybe we should do that first before Madoka and Hitomi arrive?"

"Aw, banks are boring," Nagisa protests.

You smile at her apologetically. "Sorry, Nagisa. Just need to get a proper account set up for myself," you say, and continue telepathically - to Mami and Sayaka and Homura. "Now that I've gotten proper ID, I mean. Well, 'proper'."

"Somehow, I figured you'd just share Mami's," Sayaka says.

Homura nods.

"I- I wouldn't mind that," Mami says, blushing hotly.

"There are... practical reasons to not," you say. Your cheeks are red. "Like the fact that, y'know."

You dip your hand in your pocket and pull out a gold bar, withdrawn from hammerspace in the same motion, and toss it at Sayaka.

"Wha- whoa!" Sayaka nearly fumbles the catch, blinking at you. "Oh. Uh. Fair enough, I guess."

"What's that?" Nagisa asks, going up on her tiptoes to peek at the bar.

"... Why don't you ask your big sis?" Sayaka says.

"It's a gold bar," you say cheerfully. "Banks don't like it when you can't really explain where your money comes from." You pause slightly. "Except when you're really rich, I suppose."

"Blech," Sayaka says, making a disgusted face as she passes the bar back to you.

"Oh," Nagisa says. "So... you can't explain where your money comes from?"

"Nope," you say.

"Oh," Nagisa repeats. "OK!"

"So... bank?" you say. "If everyone's OK with that?"

"Only if I get ice cream," Nagisa declares.

"You know, I could go for ice cream, too," Sayaka muses. "Sounds like a good recompense for having to queue for bank stuff..."

"Fine, fine, I'll treat everyone to ice cream," you say, amused and exasperated. "Happy?"

"Ice cream!" Nagisa cheers.

And that's why Hitomi and Madoka find you in the queue for ice cream. The DBJ branch at the shopping centre turned out to be shockingly efficient, and you barely had to wait ten minutes before being ushered into a quiet cubicle. And to your further surprise, they... don't actually question the fact that you have no legal guardian, or even the deposit of raw cash.

You got understanding looks during the entire process, for goodness' sake.

"Hey Hitomi, hey Madoka," you say, waving. "Do you guys ever think about watermelon?"

"Hello, Sabrina, hello, everyone," Hitomi says. She returns the wave with her newly cast-free hand, smiling. "Is that a joke about our hair colours?"

"Pink watermelon sounds terrible!" Madoka says, turning her nose up. "Proper watermelon should be a deep red. Hello everyone!"

"Hello," Homura says quietly. You flash her a grin for that before continuing with your thought.

"No, no, I mean yes they should, but also, I was thinking like..." You hold your hand out, miming it out. "Like... uh. A shelled watermelon. You take a watermelon and remove the rind, but as a... whole... thing." You trail off in vague bewilderment as you finish the thought.

Mami considers this for a moment. "I think I could do that," she says. "So could you, Sabrina."

"Yeah, probably," you say, frowning thoughtfully.

"... but why though?" Sayaka asks.

"I dunno, the thought just... kind of popped into my head," you say. "Maybe later."

"Now I want watermelon," Nagisa says.

"You know what, so do I," you muse. "Maybe we can pick one up later."

"After the ice cream, I hope," Hitomi says drily. "Speaking of which, may I get matcha?"

"Sure," you say, choosing not to comment that Hitomi's hair is exactly the same shade as matcha ice cream. "I'm treating everyone, so... Madoka?"

"Uhmm..." Madoka peeks at the array of flavours on display, wobbling back and forth indecisively as the queue proceeds forward. You're at the counter by the time she does make up her mind. "Apple pie!"

"... one apple pie, and uh... hm, make that two apple pie ice creams," you finish. "It does look good. Cone or cup, Madoka?"

"Cone, like everyone!" Madoka says.

"In a cone," you say, flashing an apologetic smile at the proprietor of the store. "Sorry for the trouble."

"No trouble at all, Miss," the man says genially. "I've seen worse. That will be five thousand six hundred yen, please."

You peel a few notes out of your bag and pass them over. Mental note to self: you should maybe get a purse, too, since you're shopping. Not a handbag, you've got a perfectly good one, a purse.

"What are we doing today?" Madoka asks. "I want to get some new socks, and papa asked me if I could take a look at more clothes for Tatsuya... he's growing too fast! Soon he'll be as big as papa and then I won't have an adorable little brother any more..."

"I, er, think you might be skipping a few steps there," Sayaka says.

"You know what? Tatsuya is adorable," you say. "C'mon, him and his chubby little cheeks and all."

"Here you are, Miss!" the ice cream man announces, handing over a tray laden with cones.

"Thank you!" you say, beaming, and nudge everyone to clear the counter before starting to hand out the ice creams. "Alright, so... that's strawberry and cream for Mami, chocolate for Homura, mint for Sayaka, matcha for Hitomi, apple pie for Madoka, and... what was it you wanted again, Nagisa?"

"Big siiiiiiiiis..." Nagisa whines, stamping one foot.

"Ah, right, cheese ice cream," you say, plucking that second last cone off the tray. "And an apple pie for me. C'mon, let's get out of the way."

By mutual assent, you duck away from the flow of people to enjoy your ice creams - well, Nagisa started well before you made it to safety, devouring hers with happy abandon and getting it smeared all over her face. You savour your own with rather more decorum. Crispy, crumbled bits of crust and chunks of nicely caramelized apple mixed with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream. Madoka made an excellent choice, you have to admit.

"May I try some?" Mami asks.

"Of course," you say. "But only if I can try yours?"

"Fair's fair," Mami says, beaming. You swap ice creams, and then again after having a taste.

"So, what do we have on our itinerary today?" Hitomi enquires as she takes a bite of her ice cream. "Other than Madoka needing new socks and baby clothes for Tatsuya?"

"Oh yeah," Sayaka says, snapping her fingers. "Madoka! Who knows, maybe you'll wind up as tall as your father."

"Whaaat? Noooooo," Madoka whines, covering her head and cowering. "I don't wanna be so tall! I wanna be cute!"

"Bah, you'd still be cute no matter what," Sayaka says. She grins at Homura, sharklike. "Isn't that righ..."

Homura tilts her head just a bit to the side. Her eyes narrow a hair.

Sayaka shuts her mouth.

"Huh?" Madoka blinks. "Sayaka? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, uh..." Sayaka laughs awkwardly. "Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine."

"I think I want to get some new clothes, actually," you say, stepping into the silence. "Formals, for... well, dinner with your parents tonight, Hitomi. And a purse! I can't just keep carting around loose cash."

"It's not that fancy an event," Hitomi says with an amused smile.

"Your standards of 'not fancy' are different from everyone elses', Hitomi," Sayaka says.

Hitomi rolls her eyes.

"Rolling your eyes at me, Miss Shizuki?" Sayaka says, voice shifting to a deliberately snotty, stuck-up version. "How uncouth!"

"I don't think you'd need anything more than smart casual, if you must dress up," Hitomi tells you, pointedly ignoring Sayaka. "We're not even going out to a restaurant or anything."

"It might be prudent to buy something, anyway," Mami says. "Even if you don't wear it tonight, it might be useful later, and now's as good a time as any, right? I could perhaps take a look, too."

"Right, and I was thinking it might be useful for meeting Tokyo and such, yeah," you say.

"Righty, fancy clothes boutique goes on the list, then," Sayaka says. "I wanna hit the music store."

"I could perhaps take a look at the new styles they might have while we're there too," Hitomi says.

"Uncle Shin keeps saying that I'll need new clothes soon, too!" Nagisa pipes up.

"Hmm?" You look at her pink, white-spotted dress in consideration. It does look like it's starting to get a little short. "And... oh, look at you. Does anyone have a spare napkin?"

Hitomi has wet tissues, it turns out, so you spend a few minutes fussing over Nagisa and the ice cream that she got all over her face. On her eyelids, for goodness' sake!

"I think I'd like to stop by the furniture store," Madoka announces as you finish wiping down Nagisa's face.

You freeze.

Homura does, too. Sayaka and Hitomi develop these awful, rigid grins, like someone cornered by their worst nightmare.

"... eh?" Nagisa says, looking around.

"I think they were supposed to be getting new styles today, too," Madoka says, happily oblivious to the horror rolling through the group. "And I think a new high stool would really bring the kitchen together, so I'll take a look at that?"

"... also, Mami," you say, making a desperate attempt to divert the topic to something else. Anything else. "Ah... I know I still have that flip phone that you bought for me, but I was thinking that it might be good to update to a smartphone? I... feel like it would be nice to have GPS navigation and Internet access on the go."

"Oh, that's fine," Mami says, smiling and hooking her arm around the crook of your elbow. "But only if you let me buy you the new one too?"

"I can't impose on you like that, Mami," you say.

"It's not an imposition," Mami says. "And besides, given that your phone is still so new, I'm sure we can do a trade-in."

"Ah, true," you say. "Well... if you're sure? And if you let me buy something nice for you in return."

"I don't need anything else as long as I have you," Mami says, smiling and cuddling a little closer to your arm. "But... if that's what it takes, then alright."

You laugh, and drop a gentle kiss on the crown of her head.

"Alrighty... Homura, is there anything you wanna get?" you ask. "I think we're hitting the clothes store first. Do you think you need any new clothes?"

"Oh, yeah, Homura, you definitely need something new to wear," Sayaka says. "I mean, the dress is nice and all, but it's not exactly..."

"It lacks a certain je ne sais quoi," Hitomi says.

"... it looks perfectly fine to me," Homura says, looking down at herself. It is a perfectly nice dress, in your opinion, loose and comfortable-looking and in a shade of lilac that brings out her eyes quite nicely. A bit damp from the rain, you'll grant.

"It does!" Madoka offers, beaming.

"But I bet we can do better," Sayaka says. "And c'mon, we're all gonna go shop around anyway, right?"

"You don't have to buy anything!" Madoka says. "But maybe you could try on something new, if you find something you like?"

"... I reserve the right to veto." Homura eyes Sayaka, then Madoka, in a way that suggests she feels like she's just sealed her own doom.

"Hel- heck yeah!" Sayaka cheers, punching the air.

You laugh cheerfully. "Alright, it's settled, then! Someone who knows the shopping centre better than I do lead, please," you say, beaming.

Hitomi takes the lead with an amused smile, and you usher everyone along, keeping Nagisa in particular in front of you. Sure, you could tag her with a bit of Grief -can and have, actually- but it's a big crowd, and you don't want her losing you in said crowd. Mami claims your free arm, smiling at you as she cuddles up, and you can't help but smile back.

"By the way, Homura," you say as you follow Hitomi. "On the note of buying things, do you think you want to buy a gift for Madoka or something?"

"Why?" Homura asks blankly.

"Just to do something nice for her?" you say, slanting a smile her way. "It's... I'm not forcing you to do it or anything, but I'm sure it'd make her happy, and if you want, there's an opportunity for it here, so... I'm asking, and offering to help make it happen."

"... I'll think about it," Homura allows.

"That's all I can ask for," you say.

You leave it at that, content to let Homura work through it on her own time. She still hasn't come to a decision by the time you reach the clothes section, but that's fine, because you have time.

"Department store first, regular boutiques, or fancy boutiques?" Sayaka asks.

"That does rather depend on budget," Hitomi muses.

"I would say that we could start at the department store first," Mami muses. "We could take a look at general styles and such to get an idea."

"Besides, we always have time for window shopping afterwards!" Sayaka says, grinning.

"Yeah!" Madoka agrees. "And I can look at baby clothes for Tatsuya there, too."

"Are you looking for a suit or a dress, Sabrina?" Mami asks. "Ah... this way."

"Um..." You tap your chin thoughtfully as you walk arm-in-arm with Mami, your other friends following. "I thiiiink a suit? I think suits suit me better."

"You would look great whatever you choose, I'm sure," Mami says.

"Nah, Sabrina's right," Sayaka says. "She's definitely a suit kind of girl."

"I think Sabrina would look good in a dress too!" Madoka says.

"Sure, but I mean... look at her, she's one hundred percent a suit person," Sayaka says, waving vaguely in your direction.

"That's true..." Madoka says. "What do you think, Homura?"

"... I don't know?" Homura says, looking vaguely hunted.

"Awww." Madoka pouts.

"Nagisa thinks big sis should wear a dress!" Nagisa says.

"This still isn't necessary for meeting my parents," Hitomi says. "That said... mm. What kind of suit did you have in mind, Sabrina?"

"Maybe not a standard two-piece suit," you say. "I was thinking a vest suit?"

"Mmm... I could certainly see that," Hitomi says, considering you.

"That would look great on you," Mami says, eyes brightening as she looks you up and down. "With a tie?"

"A bowtie?" you say. "Bowties are cool."

"No, they're not," Sayaka says, smacking you lightly on the back of your head. "And if you say one word about fezzes, I'm going home."

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," you say, grinning.

"I'm sure," Hitomi adds dryly. "Now, if we're looking for a suit vest, we're almost certainly not going to find anything proper in a department store, but I suppose we'll still take a look. Over there?"

Hitomi turns out to be mostly right. You do find a few vests, but all made in adult sizes, and not of any style that really appeals to you. Instead, you turn your attention to helping Madoka pick out baby clothes for Tatsuya, several soft, brightly coloured sets joining the socks in her basket, and while you're doing that, you keep an eye on Nagisa -currently bouncing around the store and admiring all the clothes on the mannequins- and on Homura.

"Sooooo," Sayaka says, sidling over to Homura while Hitomi closes off her other flank. "About getting new clothes for you."

"There is nothing wrong with my clothes," Homura says. She almost sounds pouty.

You exchange a look with Mami, who's joined you in rummaging through a stack of baby overalls. She hides her grin, but she can't disguise the way her eyes crinkle up in mirth.

You stifle a giggle.

"Sure, but it could be better," Sayaka says. "Don't you think so, Madoka?"

"Ah?" Madoka looks up from the stack.

"Don't you think Homura would look better in... hmm, actually, I'm kind of surprised you're not wearing jeans, Homura," Sayaka says. "Or pants like Sabrina does. It'd suit you pretty well."

Homura shrugs.

"Skinny jeans would suit Homura very well," Hitomi muses.

"... I have jeans at home," Homura says.

"Hunh. Well, fine," Sayaka says. "You should think about wearin' em sometime - seriously, I reckon they fit your style."

Homura shrugs again, looking relieved that Sayaka's backing off. You finish up with the department store, Madoka happy with her purchases while you grab some a light makeup kit for yourself on the way out, along with some shampoo and conditioner. Maybe that'll actually help neaten your hair up a bit.

And from there, Hitomi directs you to one of the boutiques - which she assures you is reasonably priced. Even with your Homura-aided yakuza raids, there's a limit on how much money you can reasonably spend at once.

It doesn't take more than a few questions and answers before the saleswoman loads down your arms with a few different sets and ushers you off to the changing room.

When you emerge, you're wearing a trim, figure-hugging vest over a collared shirt; a deep, navy blue over soft lavender. Just two buttons on the vest, with pockets and vertical pinstripes to emphasize your height, and paired with narrow-cut trousers of a matching blue.

You turn to your friends, all sitting on the waiting bench outside the dressing rooms, and smile perhaps a touch shyly. "Well?"

Sayaka whistles.

"That's super cool!" Nagisa says, clapping her hands happily. "You look like Uncle Shin when he goes off to do his business stuff!"

Mami looks you up and down, smiling warm and very approving. "You look fantastic, Sabrina."

"Thank you, everyone," you say, beaming, but you save your best smile for Mami. "It even has pockets! Though I think... mm, Miss Amano-" you turn to the saleswoman "-do you have any ties you could recommend? I was thinking gold, or gold-ish?"

"Not pure gold," Hitomi adds.

"A pale gold, perhaps? Or gold-patterned?" the saleswoman offers.

"Something like that?" you say with a sheepish grin.

She nods, and when she returns with a handful of ties, only to be intercepted on her return. Mami thumbs through the ties, selecting a dark tie streaked with bands of gold, and walks over to you with an expectant smile.

You beam, and let her knot the tie around your neck for you.

"Perfect," she says, stepping back and smiling.

You blush.

"I assume you're referring to the outfit," you say. "Thank you, Mami."

Mami doesn't say anything, simply raising her eyebrow at you, and you blush a little more.

"Alright, alright, break it up you two," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes and ignoring Madoka's elbow in her side. "Sabrina, that looks damn good but don't just go and buy the first thing you try on. Check the rest out too."

You huff in exasperation, but Mami just smiles and returns to her seat, arranging her hands primly on her lap. Which you take to mean that yes, you are going to be trying on the rest of the outfits, too, but she thinks -and you agree!- that this one's probably the best you'll find.

And as it turns out, it is. It's not cheap, but you pay for it gladly - you're certain it will serve you well.

Mami reclaims your arm as you walk out, bags in hand.

"Heeeeey. Miss Sabrina? Do you have a sec?" It takes you a moment to place the voice - Nakano Mika, over in Ishinomaki. You're pretty sure she's the heir of Nakano corporation, and... hah, now that you think about it, she's probably the reason Shin's seeing more interest in Mitakihara. You did mention Walpurgisnacht to her.

"Miss Mika? Sure, what's happening?" you ask. Mami glances your way, a questioning look in her eyes. You shrug, wobbling a hand from side to side.

"Did you girls pick up a weather girl at some point?" Mika asks.

"... no, why?" you say slowly. Mami tightens her arm on yours, apparently picking up on your tension.

"That storm sitting on top of you guys is pretty neat," Mika says. "And I was wondering if I could come over and take a look at it? But uh, if you don't know anything about it..."

"No, I don't," you say. Homura's eyes flicker over to you for a moment, and you can't help but notice the way she drifts back a step, gaze suddenly sharp and watchful. "It's not a natural storm?"

"No, no, it is," Mika says. "Uh, well, it started out naturally, rolled right in from the sea and everything. But now... I don't think it's completely natural?"

"Can you tell me anything more?" you ask.

"I don't think it's harmful or anything? Just that the storm should be slackening off by now, but isn't," Mika says apologetically. "Sorry, that's as much as I can tell you without heading over."

[] Ask Mika to come over to Mitakihara
- [] Wait for her to arrive
- [] Make up an excuse to step outside now
[] Check out the storm yourself
[] Tell your friends about what you just learned
- [] Tell everyone
- [] Tell everyone - including the Kures and the Animators
- [] Just tell Mami and Homura
Word count limit: 150 words

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Just generally have fun with your friends!
-[X] Buy something nice for Mami.
-[X] If possible, try roping Madoka into helping Homura pick an outfit.
--[X] See if you can get Homura to wear a cat-ear headband.
-[X] Quietly ask Homura if getting gifts for Madoka is something she's interested in doing.
--[X] If yes, see if you can arrange a situation where it's clear to everyone that Madoka would like an iPod so Homura can offer to buy her one without it being weird.
[X] Check privately with Sayaka -- did her parents get their memories back?

=====​

With thanks to @Diomedon for the suit design - I personally cannot into fashion.

 

[Firnagzen]

Well. Damn.

Enemy action? Perhaps. Likely, even. There are rules and protocols, unspoken perhaps, but adhered to nevertheless. And when most magical girls are intensely territorial and capable of immense feats of destruction, the most basic rule is that you call ahead.

Iowa? They'd be early, but it's not outside the realm of possibility. It might, perhaps, fit their modus operandi, especially if they can leverage the storm into some kind of force multiplication.

The Soujos? Fire and ice, heat and cold - perfect for brewing a storm, if they had that scale of power.

A thousand thoughts sleet through your mind at once, spinning through the possibilities and counterplans. You don't know enough.

... on the bright side, if it's hostiles, you'd get to avoid aiding and abetting in Madoka's chair rampage.

"Miss Mika? I, uh... well, thank you for the update, I really appreciate it. Could you wait for a second?" you ask. "I need to check with my friends."

"'course," Mika says cheerily. "Don't take too long now!"

You look around at your friends, as much with your Grief and your senses as with your eyes. Homura's hanging back a step, her shoulders tense and back ruler-straight as she scans the crowds for trouble. Mami, by your side, is similarly alert, for all that she doesn't show it externally - you can feel the tension in her arm, looped through yours.

Sayaka's only just started to notice something, her eyes darting between you and Homura. Neither Madoka, Hitomi, nor Nagisa seem to have noticed anything, happily ogling clothes through the windows of the shops as you pass them.

"Hey, everyone?" You reach out by telepathy - not including Nagisa, of course. "Something's up."

"Ehh?" Madoka blinks and stares at you. "What's happening?"

"Hey, hey- Madoka, Nagisa doesn't know," Sayaka says urgently.

"O-oh! Right!" Madoka nods rapidly, pigtails bouncing, and faces forward again. Thankfully, Nagisa doesn't seem to have noticed, distracted as she is.

"Uh... yeah, thanks, Sayaka," you say. "It's nothing immediately urgent, I hope, but gimme a sec to pull Kyouko in."

Mami presses a quick kiss to your cheek, smiling, and releases your arm to sweep to the front of the group, drawing Madoka and Hitomi and Nagisa into a discussion about maybe sitting down to have some tea in a bit.

A second mental channel goes to Kyouko and Yuma. You can feel Homura's attention on you, razor-sharp and ready. You sneak her a quick, reassuring smile, despite the turmoil that gnaws at yourself. You don't want your time with your friends to be interrupted, but interrupted it has been.

"Kyouko, Yuma, can you talk? We've got trouble, " you say, mentally opening a third conversation at the same time. "Oriko, Kirika - we've got a bit of trouble. Are you busy?"

"We just found this damn Witch," Kyouko grouses. "Yuma, wave off. This better be good, Sabrina."

"Not so busy that we can't talk," Oriko responds to you. "What is it?"

"Right..." you say, and merge the channels. Sayaka's eyes snap to you for a moment. Oriko's presence, undoubtedly. "OK. Hello, everyone - I got a call from Nakano Mika over in Ishinomaki. She was wondering about the storm on top of us, and wanted to know if we'd picked up a weather mage at some point."

"Nakano," Kyouko mutters.

"Nakano, huh," Hitomi muses, slanting a look back at you.

"The storm isn't natural?" Homura asks sharply.

"Apparently not," you say. You catch Homura's eye, holding her gaze for a second and shaking your head slightly. It's not Walpurgisnacht, as far as you know. "Miss Mika couldn't tell me anything more from Ishinomaki, but she's volunteered to come and take a look."

You catch Sayaka frowning and slipping her hand in her pocket, palming a power gem - she hesitates for just a second before absorbing it.

"That's good, right? She's... I suppose she must be an expert on this kind of thing?" Madoka ventures. You give her a quick smile as you catch up to the front of the group, linking your arm with Mami's once more and ruffling Nagisa's hair as she scampers back over to you.

"Do we know who might be responsible?" Mami asks. "I'm not aware of any groups near us that might have weather mages. Homura? Do you know of any?"

"Other than Miss Nakano, none near us," Homura says tightly.

"Could be a new magical girl trying out her powers, could be hostile... we don't know," you say. "I... mm. We're running blind here, and we have no idea of... where, why, and who. We need information."

"Agreed," Mami says. "So we need to find out. Miss Nakano volunteered to come over and take a look out of interest, right?"

"Right," you affirm. "I wanted to get your opinions on whether to allow Miss Mika over before I confirmed it with her, and whether we should be alerting Fukushima and the Pleiades? Mutual defense pact and all."

"Mutual freaking defense pact?" Kyouko grumbles.

"It might be nothing," Mami muses.

"I believe it would be prudent to find some preliminary information, and then warn them if need be," Hitomi says. "While the mutual defense pact suggests that we share and share alike, it wouldn't do to jump at shadows - it wouldn't do to alert them before we're sure that we have something to defend against."

"Yeah, I gotta agree," Sayaka says. "And even if an entire army rolls in, we can hold on for long enough for them to get here."

"Right. I guess that makes sense..." you murmur. Mami smiles at you, squeezing your arm gently. "And Miss Mika?"

"If she already expressed interest, I don't see why not?" Mami offers.

"She sounds nice," Madoka ventures.

"She's smarter than anyone gives her credit for," Hitomi notes, giving you a look. "Which I suspect is an impression that she deliberately cultivates. I think her opinion would be valuable."

Huh.

"Fair enough," you say. "So... are we all in agreement in asking Miss Mika to come over?"

"Agreed," Homura says.

"Seconded," Mami says.

"I don't see why not, so... yeah?" Sayaka says. "Madoka? Uh... Kyouko?"

"Why the fuck are you asking me?" Kyouko grumbles.

"I think so!" Madoka says. "We just need information, right? And we've got no way of checking, otherwise?"

"I could fly up there and take a look around," you muse. "But I'm by no means a specialist, and I can sense magic, but I'm kind of pants at actually... noticing this kind of thing. Though... either way, we should probably have someone on overwatch when Miss Mika arrives?"

"I could take a look?" Mami volunteers. "I might be able to see if there's anything, from the roof, and I'd be able to watch for Miss Mika's arrival. Or... if you could carry me up into the storm, Sabrina?"

"Wait until Nakano arrives," Homura says, tone clipped. "Multiple observation points can cover more ground."

"That... yeah, that could work," you say. "And... Sayaka, do you want to take a look?"

"I don't have the experience," Sayaka says. "I could, but I'm in the same boat as you. Not sure how much I'll see."

"Alright," you say, exhaling slowly. "I'll let Miss Mika know, and we'll wait for her to arrive."

"Gotcha," Sayaka says. "... we gonna stick in the shopping centre in the meantime?"

"Well... Nagisa," you say. "Plus, look. We don't know it's bad guys, and maybe it isn't - there's no reason to cancel the shopping trip until then, right? Let's have fun until then."

At the same time, you devote a sliver of attention to Oriko and Kirika alone. "Hey, Oriko? Kirika? You've been quiet - you alright?"

"Oriko's looking at the clouds," Kirika reports quietly. "She's focusing reaaaaal hard, and said she'd let you know if she found anything. I'm keeping an eye on her!"

"Ah, good call. Thanks, Kirika, thanks, Oriko," you say.

"Yeah, I guess," Sayaka says. She closes her eyes, and then exhales hard, striding her way to the front of the group, turning to face you and planting her hands on her hips with a broad grin. "OK, OK. I like window shopping 's much as anyone else, but I wanna hit the music shop before the day's over. Anyone mind?"

"No, that sounds good!" Madoka says. Her smile is weak at first, then strengthens, determination leaking into the lines of her expression.

"Lead on, then," Mami says.

"This way, ladies!" Sayaka says, sticking her arm into the air and marching off like a tour guide.

You laugh, and follow.

"Miss Mika?" you say. "If it isn't too much trouble, we'd like you to come over and have a look. And um... just in case there's trouble, we'll be backing you up, so let us know when you arrive?"

"Sounds like a fun time," Mika says. "I'll be there in uh... hm. Twenty minutes, if I push it?"

"I'll cover any costs, if need be," you say.

"Would be nice, since I'm not bringing the you-know-what with me," Mika says. "Great, on my way, then! I'll let you know when I'm close."

"Gotcha," you say. "See you soon." You catch Homura's eye and nod a hair.

The lines around her mouth fail to move. They might as well be graven in stone, for all that her expression is nearly as blank as ever - but there's the faintest frown creasing her forehead, tension pulling at her lips and her shoulders. You can't blame her for that.

You hope it's nothing. Dear Madokami, you hope it's nothing. Some new magical girl testing out her powers for the first time. Even some strange Witch messing with the weather, as long as it's not Walpurgisnacht. Those are things you can deal with.

Plans whirl through your mind, fragments clicking together for an instance before coming apart. If you don't find hostiles... perhaps you should disperse the storm. Perhaps it's some effect cast ahead of an invasion - from Iowa, from Tokyo, from someone who's heard about your powers.

Either way, if it's magical, you don't want it there.

Leech the heat away, and the storm will die. Leech away the water, and you've effectively gotten rid of the storm. That's all you need to do, and neither is strictly out of your reach, with some effort. Or maybe Mika has the sheer power to simply take the storm and... push it somewhere else.

... that'd be kind of cool, you have to admit. Heat related puns aside.

"I've never been to the music store!" Nagisa says.

"Really? Well, there's a first time for everything, then," you say, smiling at her. "You'll enjoy it, I think!"

"Uh-huh!" Nagisa says happily.

"Plenty of good stuff there," Sayaka says. "And I'll see about picking up something for Kyousuke... though I guess he doesn't need it any more now that he's recovered?"

"I'm sure he'd appreciate the thought," Mami says. "Though... he plays the violin, does he not? Perhaps violin care supplies?"

"... hey, that could work!" Sayaka brightens a bit.

"He would have his own, wouldn't he?" Hitomi says.

"Yeah, but I bet he could always use more," Sayaka says, nodding firmly. "Great idea, Mami, I could look at it."

"Glad to help," Mami says with a smile.

The music store -or rather, this music store- is huge, a riot of colour, and unsurprisingly, noise. It's laid out in sections: to your left, musical instruments ranging from accordions to grand pianos, and to your right, rows and rows of records and CDs and whatnot, accompanied by headsets for listening.

"Arright, I'm headed over to the instruments to take a look first," Sayaka says with a grin.

"I wanna look at everything!" Nagisa declares, eyes huge.

"Well... why don't you decide where you want to go, and I'll come with you?" you offer.

"Uh..." Nagisa puts a finger to her lips, and then points at the instruments. "There?"

"Alright," you say, smiling. Mami squeezes your arm lightly, leaning lightly against you.

"I'll go over to the music section!" Madoka says.

"As will I, I think," Hitomi says, nodding thoughtfully.

"I'll go too," Homura murmurs.

"Oh!" Madoka beams at Homura. "Do you have anything you like to listen to, Homura?"

"... not really," Homura says.

"Well! We can't let that stand," Madoka declares. "I'm sure we can find you something that you'll like. Come on, Homura."

You snicker as Madoka leads Homura away, savouring this bit of calm. The calm before the storm, you'd say, except that the storm rather is ongoing.

[X] Vote in abeyance
[] Anyone you want to talk to in the meantime?
- [x] Update the Shiogama girls and the Animators
- [] Write-in...
[] Ask someone else to provide overwatch/observe when Mika arrives
- [] Homura
- [] Mami
- [] Sayaka
- [] Yourself
Word limit: 150 words

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Continue shopping while coordinating the response.
-[X] Cover for Mami or Sayaka if they need to split off.
-[X] Request Madoka and Hitomi's help to keep Nagisa from worrying.

=====​

Quick update, hopefully a quick decision... at least partially informed by me expecting to be busy tomorrow.

I think I can update earlier next week, but I can't make promises.

 

[Firnagzen]

Sayaka leads the way, scanning the rows and rows of instruments, and you follow as Hitomi, Madoka, and Homura depart for the music section. Accordions to grand pianos, violins to double basses... no pipe organs that you can see, though, so it's not that big a music store by Mitakihara standards, you suppose. Or maybe it's just that space in a big shopping centre like this is too expensive.

Nagisa bounces out ahead of you, apparently unaware of the turmoil and impending trouble.

Mami's hand on your arm anchors you in the here and now, rather than getting lost in your head. Even so, your mind runs rampant, iterating through scenarios and possibilities and tactics.

Tokyo.

Your meeting with Tokyo's tomorrow, which means that today's the last opportunity to do anything: It's not quite a motive, but it's not quite not a motive, either. The means? They have enough magical girls that they might have a weather controller, and the opportunity... well, given that you're not keeping an eye on them, you wouldn't be surprised.

But there are so many other candidates.

Iowa, Hijiri, Akiko, the Soujos... the list goes on and on, not to mention someone you simply haven't heard of. Akiko, in particular, would have a grudge against you, and the means. Iowa you know is headed in your direction.

Which reminds you.

Your group isn't the only one in the city.

"Masami, Hiroko, Miss Watanabe, Miss Saito- quick headsup, if you girls have a moment?" You reach out once more with your mind.

"'nother day, 'nother call, eh? What's it this time?" Masami drawls.

"We're here," Noriko murmurs.

"That rainstorm above us isn't natural," you say crisply. "We don't know what it is yet, but it's not natural."

"Shit." Masami's response is succinct and easily crisp. "They're after you?"

"We don't know yet," you repeat. "But not to put too fine a point on it... yeah, probably me."

"Where do you need us?" Akemi asks, voice quiet and resolute.

"Nowhere, for now - again, we don't know who or why or how," you say. "We're investigating. Well... unless you have any special insight into storms and such?"

"I could get someone struck by lightning?" Akemi offers. "But no, no particular insight."

"Nor us," Hiroko says. "But if it comes to a fight, call on us. We're part of this city too, and we owe you."

"I hope it won't come to that, but I'll keep you updated. We've got someone coming in from Ishinomaki to take a look soon," you say. "Just... keep an eye out, for now, and call me if you spot something unusual."

"Got it," Masami says.

"We'll be careful," Akemi says, and breaks the call.

Alright. One thing off your mind. Which leaves you a little better than where you'd started, but... who, why, and how. What and where are less important for now, because if you know who and why, then you can start figuring out how to navigate the situation.

"Sabrina?" Mami's quiet voice draws you from your racing thoughts.

"Hmm?" you ask.

She squeezes your arm again, fingers rubbing slow, soothing patterns against your skin. You can't help but soften, relaxing and returning her smile with one of your own.

"Breathe, Sabrina," Mami murmurs into your mind.

"Sorry," you mutter. "Just... worried, you know? Was I being too obvious about it?"

"Not to anyone else," Mami says. "Breathe. It's not an attack - not yet, and maybe it isn't. We'll find out more soon enough, right? And when we do, we'll know enough to act on it. And if it is an attack, we're well poised to fight them off, right?"

Sayaka glances over at you - at Mami, actually, who nods at her, and then Nagisa. In turn, Sayaka shrugs, and drifts over to point out a grand piano to the younger girl.

"I don't want it to be an attack," you say. "I just... I want to have fun with my friends, not fight against someone... someone who might be... unreasonable, or just evil, or... I don't even know. The best scenario I can come up with is that it's just some new magical girl who doesn't know better."

"I understand," Mami says with a soft smile, and chuckles. "It's... you've always been notable, Sabrina. You've been making waves, and you're not going to stop any time soon. The consequences will return to us, but I can promise you that we'll face it together."

Her smile sharpens to something a little smug, yet tinged with melancholy. "And... I held Mitakihara alone for years, Sabrina. Now it's our city, and I'm not going to let anything get between us and our happiness. Neither are you, Sabrina."

"Yeah," you say, and take a deep breath, then smile. "Thanks, Mami. I needed that." You pause slightly. "The wait is killing me."

Mami chuckles, tucking her head back into place against your shoulder. "It's the nature of waiting."

"Big sis, big sis!" Nagisa scampers over to you, tugging your shirt. "Can Nagisa play the piano?"

"I don't know, can you?" you ask, smiling.

"Big siiiis," Nagisa whines, pouting at you.

"Lemme see..." you say, looking around. "Aha. Hey, Sayaka, we're taking Nagisa over there."

"Gotcha!" Sayaka says. "I'll be over there."

'There', for Sayaka, would be the rather more businesslike shelves and racks of instrument-related supplies, as opposed to the rows and rows of tastefully ostentatious display stands of said instruments. And 'there' for you, Mami, and Nagisa is a piano set aside with very clear signs declaring that it's for public use.

"Wheee!" Nagisa bounces on ahead of you, making a beeline for the piano, immediately plopping herself down on the stool and starting to plunk away randomly.

You chuckle quietly as you follow, shuffling your bag of shopping around and waving off the shop staff. They give you amused looks in response, and divert to other customers.

"Would you like me to teach you how to play, Nagisa?" you offer.

"Can you play, big sis?" Nagisa asks, eyes turning huge.

"Well... yes," you say with a smile. "Give me a bit of room?"

"Let me take your bag," Mami offers.

"Thanks," you say, beaming, and slide onto the bench beside Nagisa, who budges over. You close your eyes, thinking for a second as your fingers rest lightly on the keys.

Something lighthearted, as much as you're tempted to go for something to match the storm. Something... not quite impromptu, something fast because you're not above showing off with Mami right there, and Sayaka a few rows over talking animatedly with one of the shop assistants.

You close your eyes, and you start to play. Fast, rolling notes, first with one hand, then two, rolling across the keyboard to chase the melody in swooping crests and troughs, then a bold, powerful crescendo.

"Show-off!" Sayaka calls.

"Well, yes," you respond, opening your eyes to shoot Mami a grin. Sayaka's wandered over to watch, eyebrows arched as you continue to play. "But then... Maybe you'd prefer this?"

Mid-note, you switch tunes.

"I know this one!" Nagisa exclaims excitedly. "Nyan-nyan-nyan-nyan-nyan-" She runs out of breath, sucking in a deep lungful of air before redoubling her efforts. "-nyan-nyan-nyan-nyan-nyan~"

"... really, Sabrina?" Sayaka asks.

"What?" you ask, grinning.

Mami laughs fondly. "Dare I ask?" she asks. You hear the rustle of paper as Mami in turn shifts the shopping bags around, and then her fingers running slowly through your hair as you continue to play.

"I don't know, dare you?" you ask cheekily.

"Oh, I suppose so," Mami says.

"I'm going back to shopping," Sayaka grumbles.

"It's an Internet joke that's just... really popular," you say. "And really catchy. How do you even know about it, Nagisa?"

The white haired girl shakes her head, eyes wide as she determinedly keeps up with the melody. Not very well, but she's trying her best!

"Uncle- nyanyan- Shin lets- nyan- me- nyan- use his- nyanyan- computer-" Nagisa manages.

You laugh, and switch back to the Chopin. "Fair enough," you say as Nagisa wheezes for breath.

Mami laughs too, fond and warm as she continues to gently tease her fingers through your hair, and... it's comforting. Familiarity. The eye in the storm, perhaps, but a moment of calm nevertheless.

You look around, searching through the crowds of customers for the rest of your friends. Sayaka's just over there, vacillating between different brands of rosin, and Madoka, Homura, and Hitomi are crowded around one of the display stands, ogling the music players. Well... Madoka and Hitomi are ogling the music players, Homura standing half a step back with a sharp, watchful eye. Which reminds you that you never did get an answer from Homura about buying Madoka a gift.

She seems to sense your gaze on her, tired amethyst eyes flicking up to meet yours for a second. You nod at her, smile fading a little to something you hope conveys your conviction. Whatever this is, you'll fix it. It's what you're here for.

Homura nods slightly, and returns to scanning the area.

"Hey, Miss Sabrina? Almost there." Mika's voice sounds inside your mind. "ETA to outskirts of Mitakihara, five minutes~"

"Gotcha," you say. "We'll meet you outside." Simultaneously, you open up a second mental channel. "Alright. Miss Mika's here - Homura, you're good with staying to watch Madoka and Hitomi, right? And assuming it's acceptable for everyone, Mami, Sayaka, and I will go meet Mika and monitor the storm."

"A-ah? Ah, yes..." Madoka says, glancing up at you.

"Yes, I am," Homura says.

"Yeah. I'll make a clone and stick with Madoka and Hitomi, too," Sayaka says. "I'd get my spies out, but er... most of 'em are too busy hiding from the rain."

"Good call, but... mmm. Maybe send a clone with us instead, and the main you can stay with Madoka, Hitomi, Nagisa? More eyes where they're important," you say. "Mami?"

"I'm with you, Sabrina," Mami says. "We'll have to make our excuses, then."

"And Madoka, Hitomi, you have the most important job of all," you say. "And I'm not even kidding. Help keep an eye on Nagisa, keep her happy, yeah?"

"Y-yeah!" Madoka says. She fidgets a little.

"We can do that," Hitomi says. She doesn't look your way, not deliberately, but nudges Madoka to start heading in your direction. "I'm not much of a piano player, but perhaps I can help entertain Nagisa there, at least for a while."

"A-and I'll be here, too!" Madoka says.

"Alright. Thanks, everyone," you say, stilling your fingers on the piano. "Mm... Nagisa? I need to head off for a bit, but I'll be back later, alright? Stay with Madoka and Hitomi and Homura and Sayaka?"

"Aww," Nagisa says, pouting. "Alright."

"I won't be long, hopefully!" you say, smiling at her. "And besides, it's not like I'm leaving you alone."

"I know!" Nagisa says, bouncing on the chair. "Come back soon, alright?"

"I'll do my best," you say as you stand and collect your bag from Mami. "Madoka! Hitomi?"

"Coming, coming," Madoka says.

"Heading off for a bit, so I'm leaving Nagisa with you, alright?" you say, smiling.

"Mmmh!" Madoka agrees. "See you!"

"Uh... I'm gonna pop off to the washroom while you're at it," Sayaka says. "Be right back, too."

"See ya," you say. Mami adds her goodbyes, and you head off, Sayaka in tow. You catch Homura's eye as you leave, nodding at her.

"OK, you know what?" Sayaka mutters to you. "Washroom's as good a spot as any. Catch up with you in a moment."

"Go, go," you say, waving her off. Mami takes your free hand as you head for the stairs, nanofog flooding out around you in earnest as you dredge the area for possible oddities. Roofwards you head, two sets of footsteps sound in sync with not-quite-human speed, safe in the security that there's no one else in the stairwell. You drop your shopping bags off into thin air, instantly whisked into hammerspace for safety.

"Allow me," Mami says with a faint smile as you approach the top of the stairwell. Two quick steps forward brings her ahead of you, a faint shimmer of magic licking around her fingers for a moment as she presses it to the door - which swings open with nary a fuss nor raised alarm.

"I'll need to learn that trick," you say, squeezing Mami's free hand as the roar of the storm rolls in on you. Lightning crackles overhead, arcs forking across the skies.

"Of course," Mami says.

Grief balloons out overhead as you step out onto the slick concrete of the roof, an invisible fog spreading out in a sphere that nudges away raindrops, and senses for trouble. And even with the fog, even focusing your senses, you don't sense anything amiss. Not from down here, anyway.

"Miss Sabrina?" Mika says. "Aaaaalmost here. Where d'you wanna meet?"

"Do you know the DBJ tower?" you say, giving Mami a questioning look as you include her and Sayaka in the call. Mami nods.

"Yeah, it's only in every promo pic of Mitakihara," Mika says. "See you there."

"Sayaka's almost here, so-" Mami starts.

"I'm here!" Sayaka says, a bright splash of magic in your senses. She bounds up the last few steps, cape fluttering in the wind surging through the open door. "Loaded and ready to go! Got two kinds of lightning, sight, healing, and invisibility. Didn't think I should go for more, feels like I'm pushing it a bit as it is."

"You know yourself best," you say. Grief flows around you as you step forward, spreading into the flat disc of your flight platform. Mami's right at your side, striding forward with confidence that your support will be there as her foot stands - as it indeed is, with you trading Mami a smile.

"I know myself best," Sayaka -or rather, Sayaka's clone- says with a snicker as she hurries up the platform to join you.

"How'd you even get here without being spotted?" you ask, already lifting into the air. Another thought forms a roof, just in case.

"With great derring-do," Sayaka proclaims. "OK, but seriously - stairwell ran right beside the washroom. Made me through the wall."

"Hah, good call," you say. "Alright. Everyone brace."

You give Mami and Sayaka a moment, and then accelerate. The shining spire of the DBJ tower, brilliantly lit in defiance of the floom, closes on you in an instant. Mami blinks, attention dragged upwards for a second.

"Hallloooo!" Mika's voice comes a moment before the girl herself, somehow carried clearly through the driving rain and wind well ahead of her actual body. You sense her passage in ripples through your nanofog, impressive speed tapering off into a dainty landing on your platform as you drift into the lee of the DBJ building.

Mika grins, resplendent in perfectly dry robes the same pale green as her eyes. "Good to see you girls again."

"It's lovely to meet you, too," Mami says with a smile. "I wish it could have been under better circumstances."

"Ahh, this isn't too bad," Mika says. "So, I'm here. Took a look on my way in - there's definitely some kind of magic driving the storm."

"Can you tell us anything more?" you ask, intent. "Is whoever's doing it here?"

"Dunno yet," Mika says. "We've got someone watching us, though."

Watching?

Adrenaline thunders through your body as your gaze snaps up, following Mika's pointing finge-

"Calm your tits," Kyouko growls into your mind. You spot her belatedly, a barely-visible silhouette crouching atop the DBJ spire, with an even smaller form beside her.

"... huh," Sayaka says. She looks as startled as you feel, stuck halfway between battle mode and simple surprise.

"They're friends," Mami says, voice steady. She lays her hand against your shoulder, and you give her a sheepish look. "They're not behind the storm."

"Ah," Mika says. She looks pensive for a second, then shrugs, and smirks. "Well. With your permission, I'll head up and take a look?"

"We'll all head up together," you say. "I want to take a look, too."

"Sure, always nice to have company," Mika says with a smirk. She takes a long step backwards off the platform, suddenly supported by a roaring gale that sets her robes whipping around her. "Mind the turbulence!"

"Alright!" you call back as she jets off, straight up. You glance back at Mami and Sayaka. "Gonna take us straight up, alright? Call out if you spot anything, or wanna take a closer look or anything."

"Yeah," Sayaka says, squinting faintly. "Now, let's figure out that one vision powe-"

"Slow down for a sec," Kyouko grumbles at you. And right as you pass the spire of the tower, Kyouko's spear lashes out, chains exploding across the distance to hook onto your platform and swing both her and Yuma right up to you. "You'd probably screw this up without me."

"Hi!" Yuma waves cheerfully.

Mami smiles at her, and offers the same smile a little more tentatively to Kyouko, who just snorts, banishing her spear.

"Glad to have you on board," Sayaka says with a grin.

Kyouko squints at Sayaka, jabbing her in the shoulder. "You're not real."

"Real me's protecting our friends," Sayaka says.

"Hrng." Kyouko doesn't have much to say to that, instead scowling at you. "Well? Weren't we moving?"

"Yep. Brace yourselves," you say.

A thought pops you straight up into the sky, acceleration pressing down on you as you chase Mika into the teeth of the storm. The wind picks up around you, driving rain and what might be hail slashing at you, only to be diverted with Grief. Up and up and up, Mitakihara vanishing beneath you as you rise.

"There is magic in the storm," Mami murmurs. She has her eyes closed, head scanning slowly from side to side.

"Yeah," you say.

"If you're done statin' the bleeding obvious..." Kyouko grumbles.

"Not like you're saying anything useful," Sayaka grumbles, her brow furrowed as she stares into the storm. She doesn't even blink when lightning sears across the skies, right in front of you. "I'm seeing... patterns, but this power's weird. Dammit, why'd I never try this one out properly before?"

"Can you see where they lead?" you ask. "Or anything like that? Maybe we'll find the user at the center?"

"I'll let you know," Sayaka says. "Get us higher?"

"Sure," you say. Mika's still somewhere above you, anyway - she's already out of your sensing distance, Grief and magic.

"Sabrina," Oriko murmurs into your mind. "It's a scrying technique of some kind. The falling rain provides information, I think, but the storm itself is the nexus of it... there's a link to somewhere in South East Asia. I'm having difficulty tracing it across the distance - and whoever's using this is in turn under cover of some kind."

[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Apologies for the late update. Had difficulty focusing this entire weekend.

 

[Firnagzen]

You still for a moment. A scrying technique. Of course it is. It makes a certain amount of sense, even with the magic concentrated so high above even Mami hadn't noticed. It would take a dedicated weather mage like Mika to find it, and it would fit in perfectly with Iowa's tactics.

Your mind races, lining the facts up. You'd last heard they were in India, a month ago. If they're moving against you, then this is their first move, to find details. Leverage. They know... they know about your friends. Nagisa. Nagisa's the weakest link, you'll have to watch out for that.

... Don't panic.

No, really. Whoever this is -you're pretty sure it's Iowa, at this point- made their first move. And that's fine. You and Mami and Homura and Sayaka represent one of the biggest concentrations of force across the entire magical world. There's no reason to be complacent, but there's no reason to be scared. Plus, you know where your towels are. At home, right where they should be. And you'd left your friends at a shopping centre, where they can buy you some more towels if need be.

Calmly, then.

They know, too, about Mika - they know that she came here once the storm turned unnatural. They know you have allies, which is good and bad. They must know they've been noticed. You could make a statement - you're tempted, for a demented moment, to write your email address in giant letters for them.

Mami squeezes your arm, grounding you. You trade her a look, finding worried golden eyes gazing back at you, and you cover her hand with yours.

"New intel," you announce over telepathy. Mami and Homura and Sayaka and Kyouko and Yuma and Oriko and Kirika and lastly, Mika. "Before I begin: Oriko, thank you for letting me know, and Mika, thank you for having come over - if this bit of news changes your mind, you can head back if you want. I'm not going to pressure you into anything you don't want to be a part of."

Kyouko looks over at you, and very deliberately rolls her eyes.

"Oh? Now you've got me curious," Mika says. There's danger lurking in her tone now, deeper undercurrents surging beneath the light, airy words. Which isn't a surprise, given that she is as much a veteran as Mami or Homura or Kyouko. "Do tell."

"The storm itself is a clairvoyant technique of some kind with a connection leading to South-East Asia, but according to Oriko, the specific location seems to be warded against other clairvoyance," you say. "I strongly suspect that it's the Iowa group, given that they're almost certainly after me, and that they were last sighted in India a month ago. Kyouko, Mika - do you know who they are?"

"Do I care?" Kyouko drawls. "I mean, I get the gist. Nasty people comin' to steal your shit."

"They're rather worse than that, Miss Sakura," Mika says. "They're a gang of thugs and raiders who make a living out of it."

"So, nasty people coming to steal Sabrina's shit," Kyouko repeats, cracking her neck. "And they're good at it. Fine. So it might be a big, ugly fight. Simple. Nasty, but simple. We hit them first, we hit them hard enough to scare them off."

"They start by making examples, from what I've been told," you say, bracing your hands against the side of your flight platform and staring out into the storm with a frown. You're still rising, soaring into the driving rain and spitting lightning. "Gunboat diplomacy. They come in hard, destroy something big, or take hostages, or hurt someone."

They'd seen your spar this morning, too. A corner of your mind wonders if they'd noticed Homura's timestop... but no, they can't have. The rain is just rain by the time it gets to the ground, no magic, no life. They'd seen Homura teleport, but little more than that - but Kyuubey was happy to spill info about Homura to Kyouko. Why not the Iowa gang?

"Mm," Mika says. "Fits with what I've heard too, which isn't much. I'm still in, Miss Sabrina, at least as far as checking this storm out. Anything more... we'll see."

"That's fine," you say in response to the unspoken regret and apology in her words. "That's more than I could ask, anyway, and we're glad to have you."

You exhale hard, still thinking furiously.

"If they're observing us remotely, then they're observing us now, presumably?" Mami says.

"Almost certainly," you say.

"But Miss Mikuni wasn't able to trace them any further than somewhere in South-East Asia?" Mami asks.

"Correct," Oriko says, speaking for the first time. "They're hiding behind some kind of anti-clairvoyant technique - I suspect they have their own anti-magic mage."

"I see," Mami says, turning her face to the storm.

"Do you think you could track them back by the connections?" you ask. "I was kind of thinking about raising it. Maybe by working on conjunction with Oriko?"

"Maybe," Mami murmurs. "I could try. Anything we do, they'd notice, presumably, and any technique that I attempt is something they could actively counter in turn. I'm guessing... Miss Kure, are you two under cover?"

"We are!" Kirika chirps.

"I thought as much," Mami says. "Mm. I think it's best you stay there for now. Either way, they know we're here, and they know we've noticed their storm."

"Agreed," you say, giving Sayaka a worried glance. She's glaring out into the storm, as if trying to intimidate the driving rain and wind by the ferocity of her glare alone. "Sayaka? You alright?"

"Yeah, just... we've got bad guys coming us. To our city," Sayaka says, grimacing and turning away from the storm. "And we're just... stuck. Waiting."

"Not true," you say. "We know where, sort of, and it looks like we know who. Once we find more information... I'm not going to sit here and wait for them to come to us, either. But that's our first move. We need to know where and who for certain before we can do anything."

"... ugh, I just..." Sayaka waves a gloved hand, agitated and nervous. "It'll have to do, but I can't stand the waiting and doing nothing. Can we just... I dunno, blow their storm away? They're watching, right? If we just blow their storm away, unravel their magic somehow, can we scare 'em off or make them think twice?"

"Don't tempt me," you mutter. "I bet we could do it."

"I can do it," Mika says. "I think. I've unravelled storms before, dunno 'bout this one, and I'd be happy to try."

"It's not a bad option," Mami offers. "Intimidating them via our own show of force could work."

"We would lose our only lead to track and counter them," Homura says, voice clipped.

"Not necessarily a good option, either," Mami says. "But it's on the table." She grimaces, and nods. "I think I need to be in the storm layer, Sabrina."

"We'll be there in another minute or so," you say. "I don't want to reveal how fast we can move, since they're watching."

"South East Asia," Homura mutters quietly. "How fast can they move?"

"I don't know," you say unhappily. "Which means, yes, they might be planning on dropping in on us immediately after this."

"... I'll be on watch," Homura says. She pauses for a long moment before adding, "They're very confident in themselves."

"How so?" Sayaka asks.

"If they're observing us now, then they know we're coming to investigate," Mami says. The fingers on her free hand flex slowly, the brilliance of her magic ebbing and surging with the motion. "And yet the technique remains - either they're confident that we have no way we can get useful information in return, or..."

"Or they're confident that it doesn't matter," Kyouko drawls.

"... ah," Sayaka says, and falls silent.

You're already two kilometers in the air, perhaps a bit more, and rising fast - the bottom of the storm cloud looms large above you, a brooding, dark presence that stretches from horizon to horizon. About a kilometer above you, and the top of the cloud is perhaps ten kilometers or so above that. The wind is a constant roar now, temperature plummeting as you drive into the teeth of the storm, raindrops falling nearly sideways now.

Alright. You have things to do.

First things first: you pull a generous amount of Grief from your hammerspace, moulding it between your fingers as you start the familiar process of infusing magic into it. You don't know what you'll use it for, but you'll find a use for it eventually, you're sure. It gives you something to do with your hands, anyway, something to fret with as you watch, and wait.

And second, you hadn't called in your allies yet because you weren't certain it was enemy action. Now, you're all but certain it is.

You reach out for familiar, mental connections once more as you plunge into the cloud layer. Akemi and Noriko, Hiroko and Masami. Tsuruya Yuki. Kazumi. Friends and allies all, even if less close than the friends around you now. You hesitate for a moment before including Homura, just in case, but not Mami. You're... you're not going to drop Masami and Mami into the same conversation without warning.

"Hello, everyone." You announce yourself in a crisp, hard tone as the connection snaps together. "Mitakihara is currently being scried upon by parties unknown, from a location indeterminately located within South East Asia - unknown because they appear to be working from behind some kind of counter-clairvoyant technique. We suspect that the Iowa Group may be behind this."

"Oh shit," Kazumi breathes. In English, no less. "Wait, who's the Iowa group?"

"Shit," Masami mutters, an echo of Kazumi. "When are they coming?"

"Raiders who managed to gain infamy and continue to raid with devastating effect," Yuki says, clinical. "Unfortunate that they made the first move, and earlier than I'd expected. What leads you to believe that they are behind the scrying?"

"Masami: we don't know that. We're not sure how fast they can move. Miss Tsuruya: location and motive," you say. "They're scrying from behind specific defenses, which sort of precludes any innocent interpretation of the technique, and location - last any of us had heard, they were in India a month or so ago, correct?"

"Correct, insofar as that was what I mentioned the last time," Yuki says crisply. "I've since heard from my sources -and I hadn't informed you yet because I had decided that I would try and find something more concrete- that they had left India in an north-easterly direction as of a week ago."

"Which would line up unfortunately well," you say, frowning.

"Do your sources know how fast they can move?" Homura asks. "Or can they corroborate storms with their arrival?"

"No, and no," Yuki says. "Unfortunately, my sources are mostly within the borders of Japan, with a very few in Singapore and China. While the Iowa Group is notorious, they are, in the grand scheme of things, something nobody really worries about until they are known to be in the area. However, if they have a teleporter, they're relatively short-ranged, and if they're somewhere in South-east Asia, I doubt they'll be making it to Japan for a day or two."

"So everybody keeps an eye on their current location, but no one bothers to trace them," you conclude. "Speaking of - just to make sure, Kazumi, Miss Tsuruya, you're not under storms right now, are you?"

"Fukushima is clear," Yuki says.

"Asunaro's clear!" Kazumi adds.

"Alright, that's good," you say, crushing the Grief moulded between your hands for a moment and squeezing it out between your fingers, just so you can vent the tiniest bit of tension. "Alright, before we continue, I'm just going to say that this is opt-in. Miss Tsuruya, I'm not going to insult you by asking if you are, but everyone else, you only have to help as much as you want to."

Mami touches your elbow gently. You smile at her, and she nods a little, returning the smile with gentle reassurance and warmth. You're fine, and you'll all be fine. Maybe not in this moment, but you will be, in the end.

Her smile softens, and she turns back to the storm, now shaping magic between her hands in twists of golden ribbon and woven magic, glittering in the darkness of the storm.

"If they're coming to Mitakihara, then it's our fight too," Akemi says quietly. "Call us when the time comes."

Sayaka's sitting down now, cross-legged and staring unblinkingly into the storm. You can feel the surge of magic through her, the magic that sustains her clone a blaze of fire bright to your senses. Deep furrows crease her brow as she focuses.

"Yeah. If they come to Mitakihara, then we're fighting," Masami says. "But I dunno how much help we can be other than that."

Kyouko, by contrast, is a brooding presence, leaning against her newly-reformed spear. She has one hand on Yuma's head, gently reassuring the younger girl, both of them chewing their way through a packet of gummy worms.

"'course we're in," Kazumi says. "Though... we're gonna have a little bit of trouble getting to you. Saki can port us, but her jumps aren't that long."

"If need be, we can include you in our transport arrangements, Miss Kazumi," Yuki says. There's a hint of approval in her tone. "Since I suspect that Miss Vee will be disinclined to leave Mitakihara to collect you."

"... I, well, thank you, everyone," you say gratefully. "And for my part, um... I'll definitely cover all Grief and healing costs that we might pick up."

"Of course," Yuki says. "Now, to business, then. I take it you're investigating the storm? Weather reports indicate that it's ongoing."

"We are, and we'll update if there's anything more," you say. "Does anyone have any ideas that might help?"

"None that will be useful for the investigation," Yuki says firmly. "I do not know your teams' powers or interactions. That said: have you considered that anything you do now will be revealed to them?"

"Yeah," you say. "I'm hoping we'll get more intel out of this than they get from us. Ideally, a location."

"Understandable," Yuki says. "Given the Iowa group's tactics, are you keeping part of your team in reserve, or on guard?"

"We are, yeah," you say.

"Then I'm afraid I have little else to offer until you can acquire more concrete details," Yuki says. "Save that if they're working from beneath cover against clairvoyance, they're presumably working on somewhat prepared ground."

"That's fine," you say. "I'll keep you updated."

"Heeeey," Kazumi says. "Miss Sayaka has a copy of my power, right?"

"Yeah," you say. "Why?"

"Well... my power's the power to copy techniques, which is not the same as her power to copy powers," Kazumi says. "Why not see if she can copy the scrying technique, and then dissect it?"

"I... would that work?" you ask.

"Can't tell you from over here, but it's what I'd try," Kazumi says.

"I'll suggest that to her," you say. "Thanks, Kazumi."

"Anytime!" Kazumi says.

"If there's nothing else, I'll start making preparations," Yuki says.

"Uh... actually," you say. "Your sources said they'd left India. Do you know where they were, and whether they made the news?"

"Ah. I see your intent. A city near the southern tip, to my understanding. Thiruv... vanantha... puram?" Yuki says, stumbling a little over the unfamiliar syllables. "I do not know if they made the news."

"We can look into that," Noriko says. "Uh... you mean to check the news, right? Kyuubey can't completely hide it if anything big happens, so it'd make some kind of news."

"And maybe corroborate with storms, and see if there are any other patterns," you say. "It'd be a big job."

"But we know at least one data point," Noriko says. "It's something we can contribute."

"Keep in mind that the scrying technique they're using may not be something they always deploy, depending on how much it costs," Yuki cautions. "It could be something that they only use for a hard target, such as Mitakihara."

"Which means commensurately big news," Noriko concludes. "We can look into it. Miss Tsuruya, do you mind if we correspond with you directly for any further details?"

"Certainly," Yuki says.

"We'll get ready for a fight. And get Ono to hunker down," Masami says. "Let us know."

"Stay safe, Sabrina," Kazumi says. "Better keep Mami safe too, yeah?"

"Of course," you say. A few more farewells later, that call ends.

The storm is bleakly beautiful, billowing eddies and swirls of mist backlit by the crackle of lightning. This high up, in the middle of vicious winds only partially blunted by your own cloud of nanofog, the cold is an omnipresent, hungry thing that sinks into your bones. Something you can distance yourself from, pushing it into the back of your mind, but something that is nevertheless there.

"Hey. So, now that I've had a good look at this, this storm definitely started naturally," Mika speaks into your mind. You can feel Mami and Homura and Sayaka and Kyouko too, connected and listening. Oriko and Kirika as well. "So... I've got a question, or... more of a hypothesis. Whoever's doing this saw a natural storm starting, and fed her own juice into it - that's easier than starting up your own thing."

"So what're you saying?" Sayaka asks. "I mean... I can see the magic, kind of. It's not in the water or the wind or the lightning or anything, it is the storm. And..." You can hear the frustration bleeding into Sayaka's voice, mingling with concern. "Mikuni's telling the truth. It is a remote observation technique of some kind. I can't tell from where."

"You may have more time than you think," Mika says. "I think so, anyway. They saw an opportunity and jumped on it to grab some early reconnaissance, and that's why they haven't undone the technique. They're hoping to get more out of it than you are from them."

"It's an opportunity for us," Homura says quietly. "They're scrying in advance of their attack, and won't be expecting us to attack in turn - or we can let them think that we failed to get anything useful, and ambush them before they arrive."

"If I'm right," Mika cautions.

"Sabrina?" Mami murmurs. "I think I can trace the connection. But they will definitely notice it. Shall I?"

[] Ask Sayaka to try copying the storm-spell
[] Confirm Mami's counter-scrying attempt
- [] Start arranging an immediate pre-emptive attack (Write-in how!)
[] Hold off on it
- [] Mika's right. You have time to bait them closer so you over-extend less
[] Go for intimidation. Make some big display of power and blow away the storm
[] Write-in

=====​

To be clear, neither option is fully a "wait for them to come to us" option. It's "wait for them to come closer" on a timescale of hours or days versus "attack now".

 

[Firnagzen]

"I..." you hesitate.

Moment of truth. If you do this, you have to commit.

You trust Mami.

She knows what she's doing, and if she says that whoever's on the other side of this -you're sure it's Iowa, but there's always room for error- will know, then you believe her. They'll know. And if they know, that means you have to move fast if you're capitalizing on this.

They're raiders. You're not letting them come to your city, your home, and threaten it. You're not going to let them come close to the city, to the people you love. And worse: anyone else caught in their path to you will be laid at your feet. You have no excuse, if you know about them.

You don't have to go in swinging, on the off chance that it's not Iowa. But you are going in.

A deep breath of the humid, ozone-laden air, a chill that goes deep into your bones.

Alright.

"Homura," you murmur across the distance, as fast as you can form the thoughts. At the same time, you signal for Mami to hold for a moment. "With your agreement, I want to go for a pre-emptive strike on whoever's doing this by timestop. If this is Iowa, we can't let them come to us, and I don't want to leave the city undefended. If you have any objections, now's the time."

You pause for a second to let Homura absorb that, and then, softer, "I'd like you to come with us, Homura. We can have, um. Someone we trust, I'm thinking Kyouko, and a Sayaka clone, maybe but I'm not sure stick with Madoka, but that shouldn't be necessary - we'll stay in timestop as much as possible, and I can fly us there quickly. Mitakihara won't be undefended."

Homura's silent for a long moment. Mami glances to you with a warm smile, magic still held ready in her fist. You smile back, shifting your blob of Grief to one hand to free up the other - but only for so long, as Mami takes the implied offer. And your hand. You interlace your fingers with hers, squeezing gently. You'll sort this out. You'll sort this out together, albeit after you sort something else out first.

"Sayaka?" you murmur to your friend on another channel as you wait for Homura to collect her thoughts.

"Yeah?" She glances up at you, blue bangs almost black under the dim light of the storm.

"D'you think you can get another clone with Kazumi's power onto a roof or some other vantage point? Get ready to copy the scrying spell?" you say.

"Will that wor... Oooh. Ooh, yeah, I see. Can do," Sayaka says. "Can't believe I didn't think of that."

"Hey, I didn't either," you say. "Well, I sort of did, but Kazumi suggested it to me. And uh... bring antimagic with you? Just in case?"

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka says. "Gimme a minute."

Lightning strobes past, a near solid sheet of white blazing through the darkness of the cloud.

"What do you intend to do when you find them?" Homura asks quietly.

"Stop them," you say simply. "I hope it doesn't come to a fight, but I think it will. I'm... prepared for that, and I'll want to end it quickly."

"... alright," Homura says. "I'll come."

"And I'd... the plan is to grab as many allies as we can to smash Iowa. Again subject to your agreement. I'd... I'd like to bring Oriko and Kirika along as well?" you add hesitantly. "If nothing else, it means that they're not up to mischief while we're away."

"You're bringing Mami and Sayaka?" Homura asks.

"Yeah," you say.

"... fine," Homura says. She doesn't sound happy about it.

"I know it's a lot to ask," you say. "But I am asking, Homura. If you're willing, I think this is our best shot at handling this before trouble comes to Mitakihara."

"I agree," Homura murmurs. "I don't trust them. I... with this many other magical girls..."

"I know. I understand," you say. "I doubt they'd try anything, but... we can keep an eye on them. Sayaka will be there too, and she doesn't trust them, either. Mami, too, and nothing gets past Mami, and Kazumi will always side with her, so..."

"I agree," Homura repeats, her voice strained. "Your plan makes sense. Taking care of Iowa before they can threaten M- Mitakihara is sound. Bringing allies is good. I..."

"Take your time, think about it," you murmur gently. "I... you can even pull me aside later to discuss it first, if you want? None of this happens without your say-so, Homura."

"... I will," Homura says. Another pause. "Tell Mami to start her search."

"Can do," you say. "You're sure, Homura? Again, this is your decision. I'll figure out something else if you don't want to."

"I'm sure," Homura says.

"Alright. Let me know, Homura - Mami says about ten minutes? But um... grab me before that ends if you need to, I'll need to make some arrangements," you say. "If not... I'll let you know when Mami's done. Grab Sayaka and link up with us?"

"Understood," Homura says quietly.

You take a breath and smile at Mami. "Alright. Alright," you say. "Mami, Sayaka - are you both ready? Sayaka, do you need to go first?"

"Got a clone on the mall roof, ready!" Sayaka says. Her first clone, crouching at the side of your flight platform, grins and flashes you a thumbs-up - the same grin you can hear in her mental voice.

"I'm ready too, Sabrina," Mami says. "I'll need to focus, and I'll be depending on you to cleanse me while I do this."

"Of course," you say. "I've got you, Mami. When you're both ready, then." You expand the call to include Mika, Kyouko, and Yuma. "Alright. Mami and Sayaka are going to do their thing to trace the storm."

"Got it!" Mika says, still somewhere far above your heads. You suspect she might actually be above the cloud by now. "Ready when you are~"

"And then what?" Kyouko asks, scowling at you.

"When we know where they are, we pay them a visit," you say. "If they're hostile, we smash them."

Kyouko snorts, but apparently that meets her standards for approval, because she doesn't say anything further, instead returning to glaring out at the clouds. She produces a pear from somewhere in her costume and bites into that, her other hand soothing Yuma, who's leaning anxiously into her side.

Mami chuckles, and pulls your arm around her shoulders. "I'll get started now," she murmurs into your ear, ducked close enough that her hair brushes against your skin as it drifts in the wind.

"Got it," you say, smiling. "You've got this."

She nods, taking a deep breath, and closes her eyes. She holds her hands out, fingers lightly cupped, and you can feel the warm glow of magic gathering between her palms - just as much as you can feel the Grief gathering within the depths of her Soul Gem. A mere trickle, but a growing one as Mami's magic starts to spiral through the air around her.

But then, that's what you're here for. You begin to draw the Grief from her Gem, draining it as fast as it might generate.

And this is where you get to work, too.

A sliver of attention: Your phone, pulled from your pocket. Not with your hands, since one is occupied with enchanting and another with hugging Mami, but with Grief. You never did get that smartphone, so the flip phone is a little hard to see in the murk of the stormcloud. You shield it with Grief, just in case, and start typing: a message to be sent later to Nagisa's uncle.

The saddest part about all this is that you won't be able to spend the rest of the day with her - well, maybe you'll be back in half an hour. You can hope.

Mr. Momoe, this is Sabrina. I apologise, but a major problem's come up that I need to sort out. I've arranged with Madoka to accompany Nagisa and that she'll get back to you, and if all else fails, Mr. Kaname will pick Nagisa up, along with Madoka. Hitomi and Sayaka will be staying with Nagisa too. I'm deeply sorry.

Click to shrink...

You schedule that for half an hour, and you'll leave your phone with Madoka or Hitomi, just in case.

Another sliver of attention: A mental call to Oriko and Kirika.

"Oriko, Kirika?" you say. "I'm going to take the fight to them."

"... are you sure?" Kirika asks.

"Yeah," you say. "If you're willing, Oriko, Kirika, and if Homura agrees - I'm bringing you along. We'll all be fighting on the same side, and I hope it'll help to heal some rifts. And I... I don't want to leave you two alone, not at this time. I trust you know why?"

There's a slight pause before Oriko responds.

"We do," she murmurs. "I... yes. If we're allowed to, we're coming."

"Alright. Then in that case..." you expand the mental call, reaching out to your allies scattered across Japan. Kazumi, Yuki, the Animators, the Shiogama girls. "Hey, everyone."

"Sabrina! What's happening?" Kazumi asks.

"Change of plans," you say. "Mami thinks she can get a fix on the location of whoever's doing this, so, pending a few more arrangements, we'll be going on the offense."

"A pre-emptive strike, then, as previously discussed," Yuki says. "I approve. I'll lead a team."

"... I hadn't gotten there yet, but yeah," you say. "Whoever's willing, we'd love to have you on board - but this is entirely voluntary."

"We're in," Akemi says. "If they want to attack Mitakihara... then it falls to us to defend it."

"Us too!" Kazumi chirps. "I can't bring everyone, but we're coming to. Especially if Mami's going!"

"Mami's going, huh," Masami muses quietly. "Sorry, but I'm... I'm going to sit this one out. 'sides, you need someone to play home defense, I'm sure."

"I-" You choke off your instinctive protest. You did say it was voluntary, and... it's not like you've gotten Mami and Masami back on talking terms. It'd be nearly as awkward as bringing Kyouko without having reconciled them first. "Of course. I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to."

"Good luck on the fight," Masami says, quiet regret in her tone. "We'll hold down the fort at home."

"Sorry, Sabrina," Hiroko murmurs to you and you alone as they disconnect. "I hope you understand."

"Yeah, I do," you tell her. And to everyone else, you continue. "Alright. So - we'll hopefully be leveraging Homura's power, which out of respect to her, I'll be keeping... as obscure as possible. She's managed to keep her power largely a secret, and I intend to honour that."

"What do you need from us?" Yuki asks.

"Every group needs to designate a representative," you say. "Ten minutes sharp, you need to know where everyone else is, or better yet, be together, preferably somewhere prominent. I'll check in with you, we'll come to you, then grab the rest of whoever's coming."

"Understood," Yuki says. "We'll be ready."

"Us too!" Kazumi says.

"As will we," Noriko says. "Good luck to all of us."

"Hopefully, we won't need it... no offense, Noriko," you say. "I mean, turn of phrase and all."

Noriko snickers faintly. "None taken."

"Alright. Talk to you all soon, then," you say, and end that call, only to immediately open another, simultaneously checking on Mami. Her brow's furrowed in concentration, sweat beading on her brow - you can feel the surge of her magic, twisting and dancing off into the sky around you. The very air around you hazes a faint gold, evidently something that Yuma finds fascinating with the way she stares, eyes huge.

"Hey, everyone," you say to your friends, back in the mall. Homura, Sayaka, Madoka, Hitomi - and not Nagisa, of course. "So... the situation's changing."

"What's happening, Sabrina?" Madoka asks. "We're just hanging out at the foodcourt right now, taking a rest."

"Well... the storm's being used to spy on us, and we're going to go after whoever's behind it," you say. "We won't be away for too long, hopefully, but just in case, can you take care of Nagisa for me? And Madoka, if it isn't too much trouble, I know Mr. Momoe knows your mother - so can you help get in touch with her or your father, and guarantee that Nagisa has a place to stay until Mr. Momoe can pick her up?"

"Yeah, of course!" Madoka says. "I can do that!"

"We'll stay with her," Hitomi promises.

"Thank you," you say, relieved. "Thank you both. Just... yeah. I really hate to ditch and run, but, well."

"Keep Mitakihara safe, and we'll call it even," Hitomi says. "Besides, it's hardly a chore to keep an eye on Nagisa."

"Still, thank you," you say. "Um... Madoka, I'll text you Mr. Momoe's number, and you can get in touch with him in half an hour and let him know about the situation, if we're not back yet? Hopefully we are, but again - just in case."

"Oh, yeah! That's a good idea," Madoka says. There's an air of determination in her voice, as if she's trying to reassure you. "I can do that."

"Then thank you, both of you," you say. "Hitomi, shut up and accept the thanks."

"Well I never," Hitomi says, an amused lilt to her mock-outrage. "Stay safe."

"Are we leaving anyone else behind? Me, I assume?" Sayaka asks. She stands up from her position, and judging by the way she's rubbing her eyes, giving up on trying to divine the patterns in the magic. The wind plucks at her cape, tugging it out in a rippling banner of purest white, stark against the storm.

"A clone of you, yeah," you say as you start a new text to Madoka with Shin's details. "And anyone else, uh... we'll sort out the details."

"Right, right," Sayaka says. "Got it. And, uh, got it too. The storm scrying thing, I mean."

"Fantastic," you say. "Then we're just waiting on Mami's trace."

"Sabrina," Oriko says, directly to you. "A favour, if I may?"

"Yeah?" you say, absently offering farewells for now to the others.

"If Akemi Homura agrees, could you pick us up first?" Oriko asks quietly. "I would like to speak to her, with... as little audience as possible."

"... I'll ask," you say. "But I can't make promises."

You feel Mami's magic surge, just then, and she looks up, eyes glowing.

Literally glowing, a soft, golden luminescence.

"Too late," she murmurs, a satisfied smile curling her lips.

"Mami?" you say.

"They tried to kill their technique," Mami says, the glow fading as she blinks. "I don't think they realised I could trace it. We've got them, but they know."

[] Final team arrangement, pending Homura's confirmation
- [] Include Oriko and Kirika
-- [] How do you convince Homura?
[] How do you plan to spend the trip there? It will be about an hour not including pickup times if you really push the speed, utilizing the upper atmosphere.
[] Write-in

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Drop your phone with Hitomi

=====​

Again, apologies for the late update.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Alright," you say, closing your eyes.

Lightning crackles across the sky, the flash bright through your eyelids and the thunder a rumble that shakes you to your bones. You tip your face to the ozone-scented wind that lashes at your coat and steals the heat from your breath as you exhale, slow but resolved.

This is it, then. You're committed to this fight - as if you weren't before.

You open your eyes, and smile at Mami.

"Mami? You're awesome," you say, tightening your arms around her. "I don't even have the slightest inkling of how you did that, but... you put it together in a matter of minutes."

"I couldn't have done it without your help," she says softly. "But..." She offers a warm smile. "We're racing the clock now."

"We are rather liable to fall into praise loops, so... point taken." You chuckle quietly, and press a gentle kiss to her cheek anyway. "You just wanted to get the last word in, didn't you?"

"You'll never be able to prove it," Mami says. "Who's coming?"

"Our friends and allies, all going well," you say. "I've been arranging for that. Which makes this a good segue to..."

"Alright, everyone," you declare telepathically. This time, you include Mami and Sayaka and Homura on top of all your allies - but excluding the Animators. "We have a location. Again, I... I don't want to force anyone to fight, if you're not willing. But everyone who's willing to help, are you ready?"

Sayaka looks up at you, arching her brows. The unearthly light of the storm casts her face in sharp relief, shadowing her grin and thumbs-up.

"We will be shortly," Yuki responds first, crisp and sharp. "We are headed to Mt. Shinobu. Unless you have any objections, I'll be bringing myself, Sasami, and Moe. I believe you know where that is?"

"We do, and that's... uh, it's your team, so you'd know best who to bring, but I may have a few last minute adjustments for you, I'll get back to you in a moment?" you say, eyeing Kyouko discreetly. You sort of want her and Yuma on defense, but you have no idea if Kyouko would be willing to take the back line. You doubt it, which means that Yuki's group might work better.

"Of course," Yuki says.

"Well, we're ready!" Kazumi says. "Heading for the museum roof!"

"Alright... we'll appreciate however many of you can come along, but it's your choice, Kazumi, so thank you," you say. "Noriko, Akemi?"

"We're ready to go whenever you are, though we're still working on tracking down weather patterns and such," Akemi says. "At the apartment."

"Great. We'll be in touch as soon as possible, and everyone? I appreciate this. I really do," you say, and switch mental tracks, because there are a dozen things to handle. At the same time, you start descending back towards Mitakihara itself - you've gotten what you came for. "Miss Mika?"

"Yup?" Mika says. "Whatever you did seems to have worked, by the way. Want me to finish off the storm?"

"Uh... there probably isn't a need," you say. "That said, Miss Mika, we really appreciate you coming here. We'd have had zero idea this was happening if you hadn't brought it up."

"Bah, don't mention it," Mika says. "Heck, I didn't know either, I was just curious about the funky weather pattern you had here. What're your plans now?"

"I'm pulling together some friends and allies and going after whoever's behind this," you say. "And I know you said you don't want to risk joining the fight - I understand, so... thank you so much for your help. I'd be happy to reimburse and cleanse you for your help today, and... I think we'd be happy to have you in Mitakihara anytime."

"Now now, not so fast," Mika says. "I didn't say I wasn't gonna help. I said I'd see."

"Um?" you say blankly, exchanging a look with Mami. She smiles a little, nestling under your arm.

You sense a presence approaching fast, plunging through the layers of the stormcloud. Mika drops to a smooth landing on the platform amidst a howl of wind, grin in place and somehow leaving everyone else untouched by the gale. She glances curiously at the Grief you're enchanting, but doesn't comment on it.

Kyouko gives her an annoyed look, regardless, pulling Yuma against her side and tossing the pear core over her shoulder.

"Like I said. I'd see," Mika says, propping the tip of one of her tonfas against her hip. "I can't commit to leaving myself at risk of potential retaliation. But if you're gonna close that off... that sounds like a great use of my time. So count me in."

"We'd be glad for your help," you say, smiling. "And I'd be happy to cleanse your Soul Gem, plus any healing that might be necessary?"

"Eh, don't need it just yet," Mika says. "But yeah, that'd be nice later."

"We're glad to have you on board, Miss Nakano," Mami says with a smile.

"Don't worry 'bout it," Mika says, waving a dismissive hand.

"Alright. Then... the last bit of arrangments to make," you say, turning to face Kyouko and Yuma.

Kyouko arches an eyebrow at you. The smile Yuma offers you is fretful, worried, her hair ruffled by the wind and fringe falling over her eyes.

"What?" Kyouko asks. "We goin', or are we going? You got what you came for."

"We are but I wanted to ask -ask- about that," you say. "We need someone to play home defense, and-"

"No, and again, hell no," Kyouko says.

"It's your call," you riposte calmly. You'd expected this, really, but it's worth a try. "And if you want to go? We're more than glad to have you. But we are going to need someone on defense - if Iowa can teleport, I wouldn't put it past them to take hostages. The two of you would... there's few people I'd trust more to play rearguard."

Kyouko rolls her eyes.

"No," she grunts.

"Fair enough," you say. "I'll make other arrangements, then."

Kyouko snorts, and turns away, dropping to a seated position, arm propped on her knee as she glares out at the storm. Yuma hovers anxiously beside her, fidgeting, and Sayaka scowls at the redhead, tugging in annoyance at her bangs.

"She's anxious and out of sorts," Mami notes. "And honestly... she just wants to hit something to vent her frustration."

"Yeah, I gotcha," Sayaka says. "I'll talk to her."

The bigger problem, it occurs to you, is the lichbomb. While historically, or perhaps ahistorically, Kyouko handles it better than most... well, your preferred form of non-lethal combat is snatching away Soul Gems. That's closed off, unless you... well, there are enough magical girls that you might split up into teams.

"Right," you mutter to yourself, watching as Sayaka strides over to Kyouko. They don't say anything - not out loud, anyway, opting to use telepathy as you have, to avoid shouting over the wind and the rain. Which is a bit of a shame, because some part of you does want to know what they're talking about, but you have other things to worry about. "Right. Home defense."

You exhale hard, staring out at the storm. You're dropping out of the cloud layer now, the mist billowing past you as you punch through the bottom of the cloud. The lights of the city blaze through the relentless downpour, a bright welcome for you.

"Miss Tsuruya?" you say, once more including Mami, Sayaka, and Homura. Especially Homura.

"Yes?" Yuki asks.

"If it isn't too much trouble, do you think you could spare a member or two to play home guard for Mitakihara?" you say. "In event of an unexpected teleporter and such? I wouldn't expect them to fight off, but to give advance warning, and we'd feel much better with someone watching our friends."

"Certainly," Yuki says. "Atsuko would welcome the role, I feel. I'll have her join us at the pickup point."

"Perfect, thank you," you say. "And Sayaka-"

"Yeah, I'm leaving a clone behind," Sayaka says. "'course I am."

"Then I'll have Atsuko correspond with you," Yuki says evenly.

It only takes you a minute more to reach the rooftop - Kazumi and the Shiogama girls both indicated that they were ready, but you are waiting on Yuki's group to adjust for the last minute arrangement. Seconds stretch on interminably, the patter of rain off the concrete roof of the shopping centre an ever-present background to your circling thoughts. You take the moment to finish up the enchanted Grief too, tucking it aside for the moment. It'll last.

Kyouko has her arms folded, a tightly knotted mass of tension facing down Sayaka, who returns the glare with an easy grin.

You squeeze Mami's shoulders gently. She glances up at you, seeming almost relaxed in the face of the tension, but you know better. You know her, you know that little quirk of her lips that says she's worried, and the way that she burrows under your arm that says she's concerned for you.

"I'm alright," you murmur to her as Yuki checks in. "Are you ready?"

"I am," Mami says firmly.

You nod, smiling at her and gently easing your arm from around her. You flash her an apologetic look, to which she just nods, expression resolute.

"Homura? I'm ready," you say. A moment, and the world-

-shudders to a halt. Homura's hand is cold on your shoulder, but her grip is steady and firm, hard amethyst eyes meeting yours.

"Hey, Homura," you say, taking a deep breath and offering her a smile. "Thanks for all this."

"We're defending the city," Homura says, jaw tense as she pulls some string from her shield. "Defending Madoka."

"Yeah," you say with a sigh. You accept the string, tying it around your wrist with easy familiarity. "So... we have things to go over, first, before we get started."

"Oriko," Homura says tightly.

"Yeah," you say again. You exhale slowly, forming chairs for the both of you out of Grief. Homura practically collapses into her seat, her gaze not leaving yours. "So... I'm not going to assume. I know-" You tap your forehead, then your chest. "-but I don't know. So. Talk to me, Homura?"

"How can you trust her?" Homura whispers. "She- you know what she did."

You exhale slowly, looking to Mami's frozen form, then up at the surreal sight of raindrops, frozen mid-air in a dome above the roof.

"I believe things are different," you say. "Sure, she's still Oriko, and... you're not wrong to be paranoid, or wary about her and her motivations. I have reasons I think are good, and I'm willing to lay them out, if you want to listen to them?"

Homura nods sharply.

"The first, and maybe the biggest reason, is because I trust you," you say. "If Oriko tries something, I don't believe she'll get far, because you're here to catch me if I fall. Mami and Sayaka, too. And having that safety net means I've been trying to, to get some real change in. But..."

"I suppose that's kind of nebulous, and it's more of an... overall thing than a specific one. I... mm." You wave your hands vaguely in the air, thoughtful. "Alright. The biggest piece of proof I can arrange is this: if we grab Oriko, we can have Sayaka copy her power, and we'd be able to know for sure that her magic has changed. Does that make sense?"

"Even if her magic changed..." Homura trails off mid-sentence, hunching her shoulders as she realises.

"Magic follows intent," you murmur. "And... again, Homura, I'm not asking you to trust her fully. But if nothing else, Sayaka copying Oriko's power -which I can't believe I haven't thought of before, by the way- means that we'd have another way of tracking them, whether it be precognizance or clairvoyance, you know?"

"It makes sense," Homura says tonelessly. "I..." She trails off again, shaking her head wordlessly.

"What is it, Homura?" you ask, reaching out to gently take her hand in both of yours. She doesn't resist, hand limp and cold. "Take your time."

Homura looks down at her lap for a long, long moment before speaking again.

"Your reasoning is sound," she says. "It makes sense. Bringing Mikuni with us limits the harm she can do. If... if she has something pre-arranged, Miki Sayaka will be on guard, and Akiyama. I..."

"Fear isn't rational," you say softly, when it becomes clear that Homura isn't going to continue. "I understand that. I can offer you more logic, but it's only that. Logic. You're not wrong to be paranoid or afraid, Homura."

"It makes sense to bring them along," Homura says. "It would be better if I weren't."

Your mouth falls open for a second, but only a second as anger surges in turn.

"Fuck that," you say, tightening your hands on hers. "Homura, don't ever- don't even- that's just being human, Homura. Don't you dare talk about yourself that way. I- Homura, look at me."

Tired eyes flick up to meet yours.

"You are human," you say fiercely. "And it's because you are that we're all here today. If you weren't, if you didn't feel anything, you wouldn't be striving to protect Madoka. It's because you care that you're afraid, and it's because of that fear, because you care, that you want to fight for her. That's why I'm not forcing any of this on you. If you're not comfortable with it, it doesn't happen."

"It should happen," Homura says. "It helps keep Madoka safer."

"It hurts you. Madoka wouldn't want that, and I don't want that, either," you say firmly. "If, at the end of this, you don't want to do this, then we won't - we can just leave them here in Mitakihara, and have someone guard them, or maybe something else. So... talk to me, Homura."

Homura squeezes her eyes shut. "I am afraid," she whispers, as if it's a terrible admission. "But it... it makes sense. What... what other reasons do you have?"

"Well..." you consider Homura for a long, long moment. You can see what she's trying to do - get her heart to line up with her emotions. No easy task at the best of times, and this is far from it.

"Help me," Homura whispers.

... and what can you say to that?

"I don't need to tell you the pragmatics," you say quietly. "That they could be useful. So I'll talk about them." You squeeze her hand again, trying to rub some warmth into her fingers. "The big thing is that Oriko wants to save the world. The... first time round, her vision was of what could happen if Madoka became a magical girl."

You skirt around the topic as delicately as you can, but you can still feel the tension in her hand, the way the tendons in her wrist suddenly pull taut.

"Yeah," you say. "Things are different this time, of course. We've already talked about Kirika, their Wishes, their magic, but this incident... Oriko wants to, needs to prevent Madoka from becoming a magical girl. And Iowa is big and loud and obvious, and if they come to Mitakihara, we will be fighting them here. Madoka would be more likely to want to become a magical girl to help us, if that happened."

"She could use the chaos," Homura whispers. "That's what she did before."

"Then she wouldn't have warned us," you say. "If she wanted Iowa here... we might not have even have known where to start without her tip." You huff slightly. "And... you know, she said she didn't see Iowa in her precog. She never mentioned them before, either. It's consistent, if they happen to have some kind of anti-clairvoyant protection."

You huff another sigh out, looking across the rooftops of Mitakihara.

"I understand why you can't really trust them, Homura," you say. "And that's completely valid. They've done terrible things before. But... I suppose what I can offer is us making sure that they won't be a threat. We'd be watching them, and..."

You hum thoughtfully.

"I... I brought it up earlier, Homura, but... what do you think of having Sayaka copy Oriko's powers?" You smile at Homura, trying to reassure her. "I think it might be the best proof we can get right now, but I'm not you, so... I'm asking."

"It would help," Homura says, but there's uncertainty in her voice, even now. "To know that she's... different."

"Then that's a start," you say. "And well... we'd have more than a few allies we can trust. Mami, Sayaka, Kyouko, Yuma, Akemi, Noriko and everyone else. Kyouko and Noriko especially - they're both melee specialists, and not as strongly affected by antimagic. They'd be away from Mitakihara, and they'd be hard pressed to try anything."

Homura nods silently, swallowing, and stands jerkily, dragging her hand from your grasp.

"That's enough," she says. "That's... let's go."

"Homura, no," you say gently. "I don't want you to do it if you aren't comfortable with it."

"The reasons make sense," she says tightly. "And we are taking precautions. That's enough."

"I-"

Homura cuts you off with a sharp shake of her head.

"If... if someone dislikes needles, but needs an injection, she'd still need the injection," she says. She sounds like she's trying to convince herself, as much as anything else. "I don't... I don't like this. But I..."

She swallows.

"Your precautions are good," she says. "I... they're enough."

"I..." you sigh, remaining seated. "Well. I hope you don't mind if I bring up two more things first?"

Homura nods.

"The first idea is a precaution - rather than having Mami tie everyone into the timestop, we could... maybe tie some regular string to the ribbon, and then you hold on to that?" you say. "That way, if things don't look good, you can just snap the string, and have things under your control. Would that help?"

"It would," Homura says, nodding again. Her voice is a little unsteady, a thread of uncertainty still winding through her tone. "Having that surety would help, if Kure doesn't use her antimagic."

"Then I'll make it happen - Mami won't object, I'm sure," you say, and finally stand, matching Homura. "And... the second thing. I think... well, it's no secret that you dislike Oriko, and she knows it, too. She asked me to ask you if you could pick her up first."

Homura's head snaps up. "Why?"

"I don't know for sure," you admit. "She said she wanted to speak to you with as little audience, so I imagine she wants to say something private... But she asked it as a favour. So this, more than anything, is optional. It's extra optional, even. We won't be alone, even in that."

"I..." Homura hesitates. "Do you think I should?"

"I think so," you say quietly. "It's like the time we confronted her the first time, after hunting her down."

Homura's jaw tightens a little, but she nods. "Then... we'll take Mami and Miki Sayaka."

"Sounds good," you say, smiling and clasping her shoulder gently, holding her gaze. "Are you really alright with this, Homura? I want to emphasize - if you're not comfortable with allowing this, then we can just... leave them behind."

"I..." Homura hesitates looking torn, before forcing herself to nod, and this time, you can read resolve in her gaze. "I don't trust them. But I... you've been right, so far."

[] Any last bits of conversation before starting to pick up your crew?
[] Work on something during the flight over
- [x] Figure out a name for your coalition
- [] Group tactics
- [] Split up into squads?
- [] Write-in...

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Go over Akemi and Noriko's findings during the flight
[x] Final prep
-[x] Drop your phone off with Madoka and Hitomi and fill them in on what's happening before you go.
-[x] Put on some music or other white noise in the background. (Take requests.) Start moving.

=====​

Apologies for the long delay between updates here. It's been a week (not just me slacking off), and frankly this update saw a fair bit of rewriting.

 

[Firnagzen]

"... Hey, Homura?" you say. "Thank you for trusting me. And for what it's worth, I know facing your fears isn't easy. You're probably the bravest person I know."

Well, a tie between Homura and Madoka, if someone pressed - but here and now? Homura's facing her fears, and you are proud of her for it. She deserves to know that much, and you'd give her a hug right now, but you doubt she'd want one at this moment.

Homura shakes her head.

"Let's go," she says quietly, already reaching out to grab Mami by the shoulder.

"Ah- hang on a sec!" you say, and she halts, hand outstretched and quizzical expression turned your way.

"Nah, just - I wanted to raise the notion that Oriko might want to talk about, uh... Feathers," you say. Homura grimaces, a faint curl to her lips, but doesn't comment. You can't blame her for that, either, considering how much you despise the notion of an enemy you can barely even speculate about at this point. "Or about Witches, so... it might affect who you want to bring along?"

"Doesn't matter," Homura says with a sharp shake of her head. "If it's... dangerous information, then Mami and Sayaka can step aside."

"Alright, as long as you're sure," you say with a smile. "It's your call - I just wanted you to be informed."

Homura nods, and places her hand on Mami's shoulder.

Mami takes a shuddering gasp as colour bleeds into her, dull grey replaced with rich cream and yellows and the warmth of life. Golden eyes focus on Homura, then you, and she relaxes, smiling.

"Hello, Homura," she says, already spooling ribbon between her hands to link you all together. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yes," Homura says, nodding. "We will... we'll take Sayaka, and then collect Mikuni Oriko. She... she wanted to speak?" She eyes you.

Mami considers this for a moment before smiling and linking her arm with yours.

"You've been busy, Sabrina," she says, smiling warmly at you.

"Always," you admit, and then you grin at her. "For you are my one reprieve from the dark, the light that warms my heart when I return from the cold, dark mines of, um, social work."

Mami's blush blooms luminescent, a welcome sight against the monochrome world of Homura's timestop.

"You used 'dark' twice," Homura mutters, and you can tell she's resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

You chuckle, and sober. "Alright... Being serious, then. Let's grab Sayaka and head over?"

"Yes," Homura says.

"Do you think we should bring Kyouko, too?" Mami asks with a hesitant look at Kyouko's grey-hued form, frozen mid-bite into a chocolate bar.

"She doesn't know the situation," Homura says. "Come."

Homura pivots and heads for the stairway, pushing through the frozen drops of rain with heels clicking on slick concrete of the roof. You smile, and follow, Mami humming quietly, arm still linked with yours.

"Do you want some music, Mami?" you ask.

"Perhaps later," Mami says. "I... I think I'm alright for now. That said, ah... Homura? Can't we just grab Sayaka's clone back there on the roof?"

"We'd need the real Sayaka, anyway," Homura responds.

"Ah, that's true," Mami says, and falls silent, smiling up at you.

You're probably more resistant to the surreality of Homura's timestop than most, but you're not sure you'll quite ever get used to the eerie experience of threading your way through a frozen crowd of people. The three of you move single-file, careful not to bump into anyone, and eventually find your way to the rest of your friends.

At the corner of the foodcourt, as promised, Nagisa apparently having been bribed with a shared basket of fries and the inevitable cheese dip. Sayaka's sitting straight-backed and alert in contrast to her usual slouch, a touch of wariness in her form, and there's a spot beside Madoka where Homura had clearly been sitting.

Madoka also has a distinctive white paper bag beside her, with an equally distinct logo on it. You grin, nudging Homura in the side - you didn't even have to prompt her much for it! Heck, you'd known that Madoka wanted an iPod, but you're not sure if Homura ever knew. And even if she did, well...

Homura shrugs, and reaches out to grab Sayaka by the arm.

The bleunette flinches, eyes widening for a second, and then relaxes as comprehension dawns upon her.

"Hey," she says, already worming her way out of the seat. "Go time? Lemme get my clone back here, I gotta swap my powers around."

"If by go time you mean time to pick up everyone, then yeah," you say. "And I guess we should let Madoka and Hitomi know, too. Uh..."

Mami's already ahead of you, ribbon winding forward as she looks to you and Homura for confirmation. Homura nods, so you simply smile and gesture for Mami to go ahead.

Madoka, too, gasps as she's brought into timestop, eyes seeking around the frozen world until she orients herself. It's not unexpected, you suppose, given the abruptness of Homura's power, and it's a reaction you find mirrored in Hitomi.

On the other hand, Hitomi simply smiles, looking around with sharp, bright interest, while Madoka stares at Homura, hands fidgeting on her lap.

"O-oh," Madoka says. "W-what's happening?"

"We found that the storm is a scrying technique, and Mami managed to track it down - so we're going to go and find whoever's behind it," you offer when Homura stays silent, uncertain. "But I just wanted to make sure that we didn't leave you hanging. We'll be away for... minutes, hopefully, with Homura's power, but perhaps an hour or so, realistically."

"O-oh," Madoka says. "Stay safe, OK? Everyone stay safe!"

"Indeed," Hitomi says, nodding in firm agreement. "I can't even begin to pretend I understand anything of what this... what this situation is, if it should turn to conflict, but take care out there."

"We will," Mami says, stepping forward. She radiates assurance, with a gentle smile and confident, squared set to her shoulders. "We're assembling a large team to help us, so we won't be heading out alone, either."

"We'll get this sorted and be back safe and sound," you say, smiling bracingly at them. "That said, I wanted to leave my phone with you two, just in case it takes too long and you need to get in contact with Mr. Momoe. And... mm, Sayaka will be dropping off a clone to help guard Mitakihara itself, just in case, and we're getting a girl from Miss Tsuruya's group to help out there, too. I should... ah, dang, telepathy doesn't work in timestop."

You scowl in annoyance as you root in your pockets for your phone.

"It's fine, I'll hook us up," Sayaka says, waving at herself as her clone arrives. "I'll be here still, anyway."

"Ah, right," you say, smiling gratefully at her as you pass your phone over to Madoka. "Yeah, that works, thanks, Sayaka."

"No prob, no prob," Sayaka says, shrugging. You'll need to let her know about the Animators being on defense too - but that's for later, when Mami isn't right there.

"It does rather set my mind at ease to know you'll still be around, Sayaka, with reinforcements if need be," Hitomi says, smiling. There's just a hint of concern in that smile, but there's determination in the tilt of her chin, and you can respect that.

"Alright," you say, smiling. "We'll leave you two be, and again... thank you for agreeing to look after Nagisa. It... well, it's an important job, and I regret that I have to dump it on you two. Three, really." You turn to Sayaka, offering her the same grateful smile.

"She's quite the joy," Hitomi says with a smile. "So it's very much our pleasure."

"Yeah!" Madoka says, nodding vigorously enough for her twin tails to bounce with the motion. "It's no problem at all!"

"I'm glad," you say. "Hopefully we'll be back before you know it, but if not - we'll be fine, yeah?"

"Until later," Hitomi says gravely.

"Um... all the best!" Madoka says.

You swap goodbyes for now, nudging Homura to add her own, and release them back to the clutches of Homura's timestop.

"Hey, Sabrina," Sayaka says, glancing at her clone. "Got any thoughts on the powers I should bring or leave behind?"

"Leave antimagic, definitely," you say. "And... one good defensive power, mmmmaybe one good offensive power?"

"Won't we need antimagic?" Sayaka asks.

"We're bringing Oriko and Kirika, so..." you shrug.

"Ugh, are we really?" Sayaka asks, grimacing and turning to Homura in wordless appeal.

"It's a tactically sound decision," Homura says tonelessly.

"Ugh," Sayaka grumbles, sorting through her power gems. "Right. Leaving antimagic behind, and uh... hrm. Plants? I think plants. Not more than that, I think... hope my clone holds up."

"Alright," you say. "So, just to get everyone on the same page, we're going to pick up Oriko and Kirika first -Oriko wanted to talk- and then Mika and Kyouko, then Noriko and Akemi, and then Kazumi and her girls, and then Miss Tsuruya, and then we go."

"Mm... why not Miss Tsuruya first?" Mami suggests. "After all, we'll have to drop Miss Akiyama back here in Mitakihara before we leave."

"Ah, that's a good point," you say, smiling. "That'll do, then."

"Where're we headed, anyway?" Sayaka asks, trading power gems with herself.

"Myanmar, I think," Mami says. "I'm not too sure geographically - I have a... a sense of which direction and the distance, but I wouldn't be able to place it on a map."

"Oh, nice! Well, not so nice based on why we're going, but I've always wanted to visit Angkor Wat," Sayaka says. She grins as her clone flips over the back of seat and squirms into the position she'd previously occupied. "Anyway, ready!"

"Uh..." you exchange a look with Mami, who shakes her head slightly.

"Angkor Wat is in Cambodia," Homura observes.

"What?" Sayaka says in English, grinning.

"... no," Homura says.

"Alright, alright, let's get moving?" you say, before that goes any further. "Up to the roof again, I guess, or... is the front door closer?"

"Front door," Homura murmurs.

You head out, squeezing past the crowds and the canopy of umbrellas to get airborne on a flight disk. And since you'll be heading to near space on this trip, you take a moment to contemplate using nanofog to form a remote sensory array, allowing you to close up the Mobile Oppression Platform entirely.

Hmm. Perhaps not, actually. Now that you've got a handle on nanoscale Grief, you suspect that you can make something see-through but still air-tight, and you suspect that your passengers would rather not be trapped on all sides by aggressively ominous, eye-bendingly fractal walls.

You're descending towards the Mikuni mansion in minutes, landing in the backyard. You spare that rosebush a look, lying beside the hole you'd uprooted it from. It's not exactly doing well, but some roots managed to find their way back to the ground, and despite the wilted, dead leaves, you can see new growth starting to show.

Huh.

Nanofog flows out ahead of you, mapping out the interior of the house. Less for your own sake -you do trust Oriko, you think- and more for Homura's. She'd appreciate you being thorough in this, and so through you are, working Grief into the walls to check for possible surprises. You don't find anything apart from the beginnings of an ant nest, which you move outside into the garden as you enter the mansion.

And you find...

You find Oriko and Kirika both transformed, and sitting apart on the sofa. Kirika's arms arm knotted into a tight curl of anger, with an expression to match the tense set of her shoulders. And Oriko looks... Oriko looks saddened. Saddened, but determined, mouth opened as if mid-argument.

Homura takes the scene in with a blank expression, and Sayaka's face, by contrast, morphs into a grimace.

Mami's hand is tight on yours.

"Do we really have to bring them?" Sayaka asks. Her words seem to jolt Homura into action, who marches forward, producing a retractable pointer from her shield. She extends it, and taps it to Oriko's side.

"-ve to-" Oriko blinks, sagging as her eyes refocus to take in Homura's icy glare. "Ah. My apologies."

"You wanted to talk," Homura says, tone absolutely even.

"... yes, I did," Oriko says, exhaling slowly. She glances around the room, at you, and Mami, and Sayaka, then to Kirika, her eyes lingering for a long moment before turning back to Homura. "I have reasons to want to live, which I owe largely to Kirika, and Sabrina - and in part to you, for giving me a chance to realise that. But anything I can say is little more than air."

Moving slowly, carefully, she removes her Soul Gem from her collar, and holds it out to Homura.

Homura stares.

"A guarantee," Oriko says, voice shaking just the tiniest bit.

"What the hell?" Sayaka asks.

Oriko turns her head slightly, pinning Sayaka with a look. "Is there anything I can say that might change your mind, Miss Miki?" she asks. "Or indeed, change the reality of things I've done?"

Slowly, Homura closes her hand on Oriko's Soul Gem and pockets it, expression unreadable. Mechanically, she pivots away and marches over to Kirika, bringing her into the timestop with that same extendable pointer.

Kirika doesn't move at first, other than her eyes widening a hair - and then her expression crumples. Without looking at Homura, without looking at Oriko, she all but rips her Soul Gem off her back and thrusts it at Homura.

"If you kill my Oriko, then kill me too," she says, a vibrato of fury and deep-seated terror lacing her voice. "Or I will gut you and everyone you love."

"Kirika-" Oriko says.

Mami's hand is painfully tight on yours as Homura accepts Kirika's Soul Gem too.

"If you're doing this, then so am I," Kirika says. "I don't want to live in a world without you." She explodes to her feet in one swift motion, uncaring of the way Homura twitches, and throws herself at Oriko, curling up on her lap.

"... I think we should give them a moment," Mami says quietly, and ushers everyone out as Oriko wraps her arms around Kirika.

"What the hell," Sayaka repeats as soon as you're out in the open air, trying to avoid the raindrops frozen midair as much as possible.

"I have... I'll be honest, I didn't see this coming at all," you admit with a shaky laugh that's entirely devoid of humour.

"She's not making amends," Mami observes quietly. "She's just... asking for enough trust that we can fight together, I suppose."

"She didn't have to do this," you mutter. "I mean... we'd all agreed to let them come along, right?"

[] Do you have anything to add here? (Write-in, word count limit: 150 words)
[] Just continue onwards
- [x] Vote in abeyance

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] For yourself, ask Kirika if she can make antimagic enchantments with what you have handy. You'd rather not gem people if there's a better way and you think she's met or fought everyone on our side but Mika, Akemi, and Noriko already, all of whom are in town to be picked up early.
[X] Overarching flight goals: In the time before you arrive in SEA you need...
-[X] to understand your opponents as best as possible so you aren't taken by surprise
-[X] to make sure you and your allies all know enough about each other to fight together effectively

[X] Gather Mitakihara and head to Fukushima. Plans for the first leg, to Fukushima and back to drop off Atsuko:
-[X] You're going to need a bigger Mobile Operations Platform. Make a full on flying saucer.
-[x] Put on some music or other white noise in the background. (Take requests.)
-[X] Given that you're going halfway to space by the end of this, and general utility, can you use grief fog sensors instead of windows? Can you make a "very foggy array?" (Thousands of mechanical grief micro cameras distributed throughout your fog and/or the hull of the MOP. Do not trance.)
-[X] Gather basic info prior to a bigger tactical discussion once you've picked everyone up.
--[X] Generally offer your enchanted grief for any one tool your friends might need and don't have, with a note on the limits of what you can make.

=====​

Yes, this is an even more open-ended vote than usual. Not having a response here -or not interceding, just offering thoughts- is an entirely valid outcome too.

 

[Firnagzen]

Homura stares at the two Soul Gems in her hand. Two fragile lives, cradled in shaking fingers.

"I-" you begin, and find words failing you. What do you even say at this point?

Oriko's being way too melodramatic? Well, she is.

She's backsliding? You're not entirely sure she is. She wants to live, or at least she said as much, she's just... incapable of not being an absurd, self-destructive drama queen.

She's trying? She sort of is, you suppose. She's making it an offering of sorts. 'It' being her actual and literal life, in exchange for trust.

She's putting some actual trust in Homura? You know you trust Homura. You don't think she'd actually kill Oriko or Kirika without a truly good reason to do so, not at this point, and... you suppose Oriko knows that too. You could characterize what Oriko's doing as trust in that.

People aren't logical. Emotions aren't logical, to paraphrase a certain white rat. Homura's emotions about Oriko aren't logical. Trust isn't logical, and a gesture this big is as much symbol as anything. The melodrama is, perhaps, part of the point.

You...

You're pinching the bridge of your nose, is what you are. You shift to rubbing at your face, half-exasperation and half frustration with the melodramatic, martyr-ish but mostly well-meaning idiot Oriko is.

"What the hell," Sayaka mutters again, staring at the Soul Gems now back in Homura's hand. "What just happened?"

"A gesture of peace, I suppose," Mami says quietly.

"A stupid one," Sayaka grumbles.

You laugh. Just a short, sharp bark of laughter, muffled by the palm of your hand, but it feels good to just... let go of some of the frustration.

"You know what?" you say, grinning up at Sayaka and Homura's expressions. "You're not wrong, Sayaka. I... I mean, I kind of get what Oriko was trying to do, but no, you're kind of right, too. She's just..."

"An idiot," Sayaka supplies.

"Again, not wrong," you agree, and sigh as you sober up. "I'm... Homura? Are you alright?"

"Explain," Homura says. Her gaze shifts from the Soul Gems to yours, hard amethyst clouded with confusion and incomprehension.

"Gladly," you say with a warm smile. "I'm happy to offer my thoughts, but... just that. I'm not going to tell you what to do, OK?"

Homura nods jerkily, and out of the corner of your eye, you can see Sayaka folding her arms slowly, regarding the two of you with a thoughtful look. Some part of you worries that she might be starting to put things together, and some part of you wonders if that might be a bad thing, and some other part of you complains that Sayaka who is definitely an angel of Madokami should really be the bigger person and stop messing with you already.

"Well... honestly, as dramatic as all this is," you begin slowly. "Oriko really is trying here. I mean, we talked about... concrete proof, and guarantees of trustworthiness, right? I guess Oriko was thinking about it too. Talking about it."

"I can't say that I approve of her methods," Mami notes. "Better than her previous ones, but she does seem to be a rather... all or nothing person."

Homura's eyes go to her, the lines of tension clear in her face and her shoulders.

Mami shakes her head, smiling gently. "I think Sabrina has more insight here, but I was just thinking that she truly does seem to throw herself into things, to the detriment of others."

"Well, yeah," you say. "Mami's not wrong, I think. She made this offer of her own free will, and I think that's significant, considering how little Kirika or Oriko herself seem to like it as an idea. But trust is a two-way street, and I guess... she took the first step."

"I don't trust her," Homura snaps.

Sayaka's attention swivels from you to Homura, blue eyes alive with curiosity she visibly tamps down on.

"And I'm not saying you have to," you say. "But... that's why she did it. It's a gesture, an offering, that she's willing to start."

"But we were already gonna bring her along, right?" Sayaka asks. "I get what she's doing, but I mean we were already planning on bringing her along."

"Again, it's about trust," you say, shaking your head. "Technically speaking, with Homura's power, and that we were gonna have Mami ready to disconnect and other stuff... well, if they acted up at any point, we just... y'know. But it's a symbol."

"I don't want this," Homura bites out, glaring at the Soul Gems in her hand. "I don't-" She shakes her head.

"And that's fine, if that's what you prefer. You can just give them back," you say softly. "We already had our own contingencies prepared, so we can just stick with those, right?"

"Right," Homura mutters.

"... hey, Homs," Sayaka says.

Homura's attention snaps up, glaring at Sayaka, to which the bluenette only responds with a sunny grin rivalling one of yours.

"Thought that might get your attention," she says. "Yeah, so... listen. I'm pretty sure I'm missing more than half the story here, but uh... just talking about those. I mean, I guess Sabrina kind of said it already, but putting your life in someone else's hands is a pretty big gesture. It feels like..." Sayaka grimaces. "It feels like Oriko's saying she can trust you. Or maybe that she trusts Sabrina, since she's here and stuck into everything? I dunno where I was going with this, ignore me."

Homura stares at Sayaka for a long, long moment.

"... what?" Sayaka raises an eyebrow, obviously trying not to fidget. "Something I said?"

Homura turns to you, face blank. You're pretty good at reading Homura, at this point, but you're not sure what she's thinking this time, barring the tension still in her shoulders and the stress lines etching deeper into her face.

She thrusts her hand towards you, Soul Gems held out. "I don't want this," she enunciates clearly.

"... neither do I," you say, blinking at Homura. You reach out, and hesitate before closing your hand over the Soul Gems in her hand. "I... what are you thinking, Homura? Get us all on the same page?"

"It doesn't make a difference," Homura says, her tone measured and controlled. "We were already going to bring them along. This..." She gestures with the Gems. "This doesn't make a difference."

"Are you sure, Homura?" Mami asks, clear concern on her face. "It is a... powerful guarantee."

"You can disconnect them just as easily," Homura says evenly. Her eyes flicker over to you for a second. "That's a better guarantee."

"Then..." You consider it for a second, and withdraw your hand slowly. "If you're sure, Homura, and if you're willing, I think you should be the one to return the Gems to them. I know you don't trust them still, but it's still a gesture of... acceptance, I suppose, to working together for this."

Homura hesitates, still holding the Soul Gems out.

"It's fine that you don't trust them," you add quietly. "And if you want me to do it, that's absolutely fine, too. But to them, I think it would mean more if you gave them back, and maybe it would help establish the beginning of them accepting you. Small steps, that's all."

Some part of you registers a thought, a question, an answer: that Homura might never have had an opportunity to really learn, or to learn how to learn. Where would she have? The orphanage? In the hospital? Right after being precipitated from the hospital and into magical girl life? During the endless grind of the loops?

Perhaps never.

There's more to that thought, you feel, but it's something to unpack later.

For now... you offer up an explanation, offer up a warm smile and uncompromising acceptance for Homura.

"... alright," Homura says.

Sayaka snorts, sounding amused. "Gee, Homura, it's no big deal, right? You're just giving them back their lives."

Homura shrugs again, twitching her head towards the house. "Let's go," she murmurs, and suits action to word, striding off towards the house.

Mami smiles at you, squeezing your arm gently as you leave the frozen grey rosegarden and the frozen grey dome of rain behind. You return the smile, exhaling slowly.

This is as good a result as you could have asked for, you think. You'd been prepared to offer up tactical considerations, especially with regards to how odd it'd seem to your allies for Homura to be holding three Soul Gems, but Homura's simply giving them back of her own free will.

Oriko and Kirika are still curled up on the sofa, arms wrapped around each other when you enter, but their attention is already fixed on the door as the three of you file through - they can't possibly have missed your footsteps against the absolute silence of Homura's timestop.

Homura marches over, wordlessly thrusting their Soul Gems at them, Mami simultaneously extending ribbons to keep them linked together.

Oriko stares at Homura, expression flickering between confusion and hope. "I-"

Kirika swipes both Soul Gems from Homura's hand, immediately clutching them to her chest. Homura, in turn, takes a long step backwards the moment the Soul Gems leave her hand, wary glare riveted to the couple.

"What is this?" Oriko asks quietly.

"You might be useful," Homura grates out, her voice stiff, and turns her gaze to you, her tolerance apparently expended for now.

"You knew what you were doing when you handed over your Soul Gem," you say, raising an eyebrow. You motion at Homura. "And it's hard not to understand what you were trying for, but... for goodness' sake, Oriko. Kirika, have you spritzed your wife for being an inconsiderate doofus yet?"

Mami giggles quietly even as Sayaka's palm meets her face with a loud smack.

"No," Kirika mumbles, still cradling both Soul Gems close. "Pr'bly should've. Was too upset."

You sigh, rubbing your forehead wearily.

"Ugh," you say. "Well... you're coming, if you're still up for it, so we can talk on the way. But seriously, Oriko. I get what you were doing, and I'm sure you can figure out why I'm at least somewhat annoyed with you. And so help me if the next words out of your mouth are some variant on 'it was necessary' I will dunk you in the next pond we fly over."

Oriko opens her mouth, and then closes it thoughtfully.

"Anyway. Shall we go? We've got a lot more pickups to make," you say.

"I hope you apologised to Kirika," Mami notes quietly. "I think she deserves one, don't you?"

"I did," Oriko says. "I did."

"Good," Mami says, nodding.

Kirika makes a soft, protesting noise when Oriko shifts to stand.

"Dear..." Oriko murmurs.

Kirika grumbles quietly, but stands herself, pulling Oriko with her.

"Let's go, then," you say.

And now there are six of you. Seven, if you count the awkward silence, which quite frankly has nearly as much physical presence as any of you on your Mobile Oppression Platform as you speed through the sky. Grief fog billows out ahead of you, batting aside motionless raindrops and damping the roar of wind.

"So," you say, pivoting your chair to face your friends. "First things first, rough itinerary: We're going to pick up Kyouko, Yuma, Mika, Noriko and Akemi, then head over to Fukushima to collect them, drop Miss Akiyama back here in Mitakihara, then off to Kasamino to pick up the Pleiades."

"Have you determined anything more about the Iowa group?" Oriko asks.

"Not much, other than their location," you say. "I'm hoping Akemi, Noriko, and Miss Tsuruya might have more info - we'll have to discuss it when everyone's picked up." You make a face. "The problem with these staggered pickups is that either we have to go through the same info multiple times, or we're going to have to wait until we grab everyone."

Oriko shrugs slightly, settling back with Kirika curling a little tighter into her side.

"Also, so... Kirika, I don't suppose you could make some antimagic enchantments on the way over?" you ask. "It'll be good to have an option other than Gemming people... and I think you've met everyone who's coming, barring the first three we're going to pick up, so you can key it to us."

"... yeah, sure," Kirika says, apparently only half paying attention to you as she rubs her face against Oriko's shoulder, cat-like.

"I'll make sure she does it," Oriko notes quietly.

"Thanks," you say, flashing them a quick smile before sobering to a frown. "... And Oriko? Again, I understand what you were trying to do." You glance at Homura, then back to Oriko. "I... look, I'll keep this brief. Speaking personally, I appreciate you making the first move. But like Mami said - you owe Kirika an apology, and more. It's something you should talk out when this is done."

"I am aware," Oriko says quietly, eyes fixed on Kirika. "I... I am aware of what I have to potentially lose, Sabrina. As I mentioned, I have reasons to want to live."

Kirika opens her eyes, staring up at Oriko, and leans up to give her a gentle kiss. You avert your eye politely, trying not to listen, either, but given the proximity, you can't help but overhear her words.

"I love you, always, but Sabrina's right," Kirika murmurs. "We are going to talk."

"I know," Oriko says.

You swallow, facing forward once more, and even Homura, in the back row, seems vaguely uncomfortable. Mami sighs, leaning her head against your shoulder.

"Also, so..." You raise your voice, cutting through the cloying awkwardness. "I know the silence can get to people a bit, so I'm taking requests for music?"

You get blank stares from your friends, apart from Mami, who just giggles, beaming at you.

"Maybe Credens Justitiam to start with?" Mami says, giving you a warm look.

"Sure!" you say, beaming. And rather than forming discrete instruments -you could, but this feels more elegant- you use the entire floor of your Mobile Oppression Platform as a speaker, the energetic drums and crooning strings carrying through the still air.

[x] Vote in abeyance
- [x] Enchant some more Grief along the way
- [] Anything to add?
-- [] Try and talk through the awkwardness
-- [] Just leave it be for now

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] For yourself, ask Kirika if she can make antimagic enchantments with what you have handy. You'd rather not gem people if there's a better way and you think she's met or fought everyone on our side but Mika, Akemi, and Noriko already, all of whom are in town to be picked up early.
[X] Overarching flight goals: In the time before you arrive in SEA you need...
-[X] to understand your opponents as best as possible so you aren't taken by surprise
-[X] to make sure you and your allies all know enough about each other to fight together effectively

[X] Gather Mitakihara and head to Fukushima. Plans for the first leg, to Fukushima and back to drop off Atsuko:
-[X] You're going to need a bigger Mobile Operations Platform. Make a full on flying saucer.
-[x] Put on some music or other white noise in the background. (Take requests.)
-[X] Given that you're going halfway to space by the end of this, and general utility, can you use grief fog sensors instead of windows? Can you make a "very foggy array?" (Thousands of mechanical grief micro cameras distributed throughout your fog and/or the hull of the MOP. Do not trance.)
-[X] Gather basic info prior to a bigger tactical discussion once you've picked everyone up.
--[X] Generally offer your enchanted grief for any one tool your friends might need and don't have, with a note on the limits of what you can make

=====​

There. The next update should be the pickup of everyone else, and finally arriving for the confrontation proper!

Believe me when I say I've been looking forward to this as much as you have, but I really wanted to finish an update tonight, so...

 

[Firnagzen]

You stare out into the gloom of the time-frozen storm. Animating Grief takes but a sliver of attention, nanofog batting raindrops from the sky and keeping your platform in flight. Another part of you keeps a watchful eye out, surveying your city, your home, for things that might be out of place despite the grip of Homura's power. Still yet another part of you enjoys having Mami snuggled up against you, a warm presence tucked against your side. Your anchor, in many ways, to being human.

And the rest of you worries, churning thoughts rattling against each other in the dark corners of your mind.

"What are you thinking about, Sabrina?" Mami asks, her hand stroking slowly through your hair.

"That 'rattling' implies a certain emptiness and it's not really the best adjective to use on thoughts," you say. "Also, Pokemon should move away from HMs, because forcing you to dedicate a slot to a move just to get past some obstacles is tiresome."

"The emptiness might well apply to you," Oriko says drily. "You really should drink more green tea."

"Hey," you protest, spinning your chair around to face her. "But... Alright, reconfiguring a second."

You shuffle the seats around your flight platform so you form a loose square facing each other - Sayaka, Homura, Oriko and Kirika, you and Mami.

"So..." You sigh, rubbing your face. "I mean, truth be told, I'm... worried that this isn't going to go as smoothly as I'd like it to."

Homura's gaze shifts to you, sharp and perhaps a touch concerned.

"No plan survives contact with the enemy?" Sayaka says, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, we all know that."

"Well... yeah," you say. "Exactly. We've got this big pretty plan about hunting them down with the help of Homura's power, but I'm worried that that's... where it trips up. I'm new to this, and so are you, Sayaka, and Oriko and Kirika too. I don't really know how to, to evaluate risks. My one big engagement was Sendai."

"Neither can we say much," Mami offers with an apologetic look. "We know too little, at this point - we don't even know how many magical girls they have."

"Which..." you sigh. "Which is the problem, right? We... we barely even know where they are."

"Ah... we do know where Iowa is," Mami says. "My trace on them is... mm, a compass effect of sorts. And I'm maintaining it with ease, now that I've started it." She smiles at you. "It's not that different from tracing a Witch, now that I think about it. I could try teaching you later, if you'd like?"

"I would, but..." you trail off unhappily.

"Second thoughts, o fearless leader?" Sayaka asks teasingly.

"I... well, yeah," you say. "I'm just worried. These, these people. Heck, even that's a gap in our intel, I'm only assuming that it's Iowa - I'm pretty sure, but it's still an assumption. If it's Iowa, they're people who pose a threat to everything I know and love." You raise a fist, and let it drop weakly.

"I try and see magical girls as victims first. Victims of this system, of life, of Kyuubey," you say slowly, eyes sweeping from Mami, to Homura, Sayaka, to Oriko, and Kirika. "Most of us wouldn't be in this situation if we weren't manipulated into it, but I... I haven't found a lot of sympathy in myself for Iowa. If they're a threat, if they're coming for me, for us, then I want them crushed."

"Isn't that why we're going now?" Kirika asks, giving you a narrow-eyed look. "I mean... you're grabbing everyone you can, and we go in and smash 'em flat. Smush. Done."

"And for that exact reason I've been... I've been going over the thought of all of us cutting loose," you say quietly. "We have a lot of power at our disposal, and that's before we factor in the fact that with me around, we have unlimited magic. If they weren't in a population center, maybe I should just... open with a thousand-ton chunk of rock doing orbital reentry velocities. Airburst it, and use it as a distraction."

"There are people around, Sabrina," Mami murmurs, giving you a worried look.

"Which is why I have zero intention of doing it - as I said, if they weren't in a population center," you say. "But if wishes were fishes, the Incubators would be fishmongers and I'd still only got the one." You hesitate, well aware that that last thought wasn't the most coherent. "We have a lot of power. Should we be using it? Pushing ourselves, against them?"

"You're scared." Homura's words bring you up short, killing your momentum and your rant in an instant. Her eyes lock onto yours, tired and hard, but... leavened with just a touch of sympathy and painful understanding.

"I-" You trail off, hunching your shoulders. Mami takes your hand in hers, squeezing gently. "I guess I am, a bit. I'm scared that we don't know enough, and I'm scared of how this might go if we just blunder right in. I'm scared that approaching too close results in us tripping some... I dunno, some whatever that counts as enough of a connection to bring them in here with us. I'm scared that they might have hostages."

"Better afraid than overconfident," Homura says, still holding your eyes.

"I have to agree," Mami says quietly. "We know our limitations. Knowing that, we can consider ways to mitigate them."

"I..." you sigh. "The best thing we can do is find someone who's fought them before. Then we'd have accurate information, but... I have no idea how."

"Miss Tsuruya mentioned the previous place they attacked," Homura points out. "It's... an option."

You study her for a moment - you can tell she doesn't relish the notion, and you can't blame her. From the way Mami shifts a little beside you, neither does she, with the time spent in the grip of Homura's magic.

"She did, in India. It'd be a few hours even at top speed in atmosphere," you murmur. "But it would be... it would be a good option, leaving aside the possibility of actually finding them in the city."

"Assuming anyone was left alive, I could find them," Oriko murmurs. "My clairvoyance seems to have an affinity towards... people of relevance. However, given the reputation they've built, and given their mode of operation... anyone left behind, it seems, would not be long for this world."

You bite your lip.

"Hey, uh, listen," Sayaka says. "Miss Tsuruya knows that stuff, shouldn't we grab her and uh... see if she's scared up any more information in the short term?"

"The research you put to Miss Saito and Miss Watanabe, too," Homura notes. "They haven't had much time, but there might be something useful."

"That's... true," you admit, and flick a gaze in Sayaka's direction. "I... well, Oriko, I don't suppose you can scry through Homura's timestop?"

"I've never been on this side before," Oriko says. "I certainly couldn't, in the other direction."

"That reminds me," Sayaka says, expression hardening. "Mikuni. Give me your hand. I'm going to copy your power."

Oriko doesn't object, reaching out wordlessly, and you bite back any and all of the teasing remarks that you might make. Best not to, with the suddenly tense mood, and especially not with Kirika looking distinctly sour about the whole thing. Sayaka's grip locks tight on Oriko's - not painfully so, or not deliberately, you don't think, and you feel the familiar surge-ebb of Sayaka's magic as she does her thing.

Sayaka sits back, thoughtful. "Clairvoyance," she mutters. "Hrmph."

"... To answer the question, Sabrina, I'm certainly willing to try, with Miss Akemi's permission," Oriko says after a moment. "But I'm uncertain if I would have any more success than I did before, given that their defenses are presumably still up."

She hesitates for a second.

"Much as I hate to suggest it, it's possible that Miss Miki might have more success, by combining powers," Oriko says.

"... Miss Kure," Mami says thoughtfully. "Are you capable of dispelling other people's antimagic?"

"I... guess?" Kirika mutters, apparently still sulking. "I just gotta tune it right, I suppose."

"Then it's entirely possible that working with Miss Mikuni -or Sayaka combining your powers- you might be able to penetrate the effect preventing Miss Mikuni from observing them," Mami says slowly. "It really does depend on whether you can manage to use your powers in tandem like that, of course."

"... we can make it work." It's like watching the sun rise, a steady glow of excitement taking over Kirika expression as she considers the notion. "I bet we can make it work!"

"I do suspect we'll have to be closer to them," Oriko murmurs. "Now that we no longer have the direct link of their magical works to trace, I'd need a firmer idea of the search area."

"I'll try, too," Sayaka says dubiously. "Pity I doubt they're currently parked under a storm, or I could try turning the storm-scrying back on them."

"Alright, that's... that's a start," you say, nodding. "I'm still kind of terrified of tripping some kind of forward defenses of theirs, but... that's a good start."

"It's not enough to go on," Mami says thoughtfully. "But even if they somehow know about Homura's power, I don't believe it's reasonable that they would be specifically prepared against it - it's an exceedingly versatile one, and one that isn't easily defended against." She smiles warmly at Homura. "And even then, I believe that with our allies, we have a critical mass of capability that should help us avoid, and notice any initial issues. And when we get closer, we can reconnoiter."

And that's a thought that's been bouncing around the back of your head - no plan survives contact with the enemy, but it's valuable in and of itself to have discussed with everyone your general goals, to share your capabilities. An overall plan might fall apart, but each of you are individuals capable of thinking and taking opportunities as they come, and of working together.

"So, in summary, plan A: we gather everyone, get closer but not directly on top of them, and then reconnoiter via scrying and re-plan?" you summarize, biting your lip as you think about it. "Plan... I dunno, Plan Aleph: we try and find survivors. Solid intel, but the chances are low. Plan Alpha: show of force to open with?"

"I reckon it'd be a good idea to grab everyone first," Sayaka notes. "I mean, look, we're gonna have to go over the same discussions again whatever we decide, right?"

Mami squeezes your hand, giving you another warm smile as you try and work through it in your mind.

[] Vote in abeyance
[] Head to Thiruvananthapuram and try to find survivors
[] Travel towards Iowa, but stop short to scry
[] Something else? (Write-in)

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] For yourself, ask Kirika if she can make antimagic enchantments with what you have handy. You'd rather not gem people if there's a better way and you think she's met or fought everyone on our side but Mika, Akemi, and Noriko already, all of whom are in town to be picked up early.
[X] Overarching flight goals: In the time before you arrive in SEA you need...
-[X] to understand your opponents as best as possible so you aren't taken by surprise
-[X] to make sure you and your allies all know enough about each other to fight together effectively

[X] Gather Mitakihara and head to Fukushima. Plans for the first leg, to Fukushima and back to drop off Atsuko:
-[X] You're going to need a bigger Mobile Operations Platform. Make a full on flying saucer.
-[x] Put on some music or other white noise in the background. (Take requests.)
-[X] Given that you're going halfway to space by the end of this, and general utility, can you use grief fog sensors instead of windows? Can you make a "very foggy array?" (Thousands of mechanical grief micro cameras distributed throughout your fog and/or the hull of the MOP. Do not trance.)
-[X] Gather basic info prior to a bigger tactical discussion once you've picked everyone up.
-[x] Enchant more Grief on the way
--[X] Generally offer your enchanted grief for any one tool your friends might need and don't have, with a note on the limits of what you can make

=====​

Well. This update saw a considerable bit of rewriting mostly because I completely misinterpreted the vote but hey I get to carry forward a good chunk of it to the next update.

 

[Firnagzen]

"... Alright," you say, letting out a slow exhale and smiling at your friends. "Alright. You... well, you all make good points, so... thank you."

"You had most of it already," Mami says, squeezing your hand. "And being afraid of this sort of thing is perfectly understandable, Sabrina. Still, we're here for you - and I think everyone here, right now, is here because we trust you."

Her eyes sweep the rest of your impromptu war council: Homura, Sayaka, and yes, Oriko and Kirika.

"Well... alright," you say. You straighten, and smile. You have your friend's confidence - you deserve to have a little in yourself. "We've got some loose plans, so let's get moving."

You're descending towards the shopping centre in short order, tracing the same path you'd taken on the way out, already cleared of raindrops. Mami smiles at you, squeezing your hand and standing.

"Alright, er," you say, looking back at the others. "Just a quick stop for a pickup, so... Oriko, Kirika, Sayaka, you can stay put for the moment? Ah... Mami, and Homura, if you want?"

Homura nods.

"Of course, Sabrina," Mami says, rousing herself from her half-doze against your arm. Together, the two of you vault the side of the flight platform, Homura following a second later to drop towards the roof of the shopping center.

"Kyouko and Yuma first?" Mami asks.

"I think so, yeah," you say, smiling. A fraction of your mind goes towards expanding the flight platform - still a disc, just a larger one. More chairs, too, and you put a bit of thought towards ergonomics.

"Hey!" Kirika squawks, somewhere behind and above you.

"Just doing some remodeling!" you call back.

Mami smiles at you, the bright flash of ribbons already blossoming between her fingers. They quest towards Kyouko and Yuma, reaching for their wrists.

Kyouko inhales with a sharp gasp. Mami tugs you back with a hand on your wrist. Which is something you appreciate greatly a moment later as that familiar spear sprouts in Kyouko's hand, dusky red eyes sweeping the roof sharply, pulling Yuma behind her on instinct.

"Big sis, w-wha-" Yuma asks, summoning her own mace and looking around.

"Welcome to the world of Homura's power," you say lightly.

"Oh," Yuma says. She blinks, apparently realizing something. "... Oh!"

"The fu..." Kyouko's eyes narrow at you, then shift past you, to Homura. "Right. And we're using this to get to the chucklefucks spying on Mitakihara."

"Yup," you say. "So... I guess I know the answer already, but Yuma, I don't suppose you're willing to stay back? I know Kyouko's coming along, but if you're willing to play reargua-"

"Nuh-uh!" Yuma says, interrupting you. "I'm going with big sis!" She shrinks a little. "S-sorry."

"Noooooooope." Kyouko scowls at you, hand on Yuma's shoulder.

"Righty. It's fine, Yuma - like I said, I guess I did know the answer already, but I wanted to check," you say, unfazed. You jab your thumb over your shoulder as the flight platform glides in to a hover beside the roof. "Hop on, then, we need to grab Mika, then we'll be on our way to pick up the rest of our strike team."

"Got this all planned out nicely, dontcha," Kyouko says with a snort as she saunters over towards the flight platform. "'sup, wondergirl?"

"Eh, just hanging out," Sayaka says, waving.

"Heck no," you call towards Kyouko. "But we've got a lot of distance to cover and I want to get covering it before I'm old and grey."

"You're already grey!" Sayaka hollers from the flight platform.

"I- hey, I am not!" you protest. "My hair is white, thank you very much. Oriko has grey hair."

"Don't bring me into this," Oriko says drily. "Miss Sakura, Miss Chitose, a pleasure."

Mami giggles softly, over Kyouko's rough laughter. You can sense Kyouko -sense her, disturbances pushing through your omnipresent cloud of nanofog- helping Yuma up to the platform.

That's... fine. It leaves your rear guard lighter than you'd like it to be, but you also have near instantaneous reaction time to threats in that direction, with Homura in the picture.

... Besides, you need a healer, you suppose. An important tactical consideration, and one that slightly weirds you out for the fact that Sayaka isn't one.

"Don't sulk, Sabrina," Mami says, smiling up at you. "I'll stay with you even if you're old and grey."

You laugh, cheeks ringing slightly pink. "And I'll be glad to have you, but I was just thinking about all this... thisness."

"Well... shall I bring Miss Nakano in?" Mami asks, nodding.

"Yeah," you say with a grateful smile.

Mika's reaction is rather more interesting - even as colour bleeds across her form, she remains as still as if she were still held in the thrall of Homura's timestop but for the slow rise and fall of her chest.

"Well!" she says after a moment, looking down at the ribbon around her wrist, and then swiveling to face Homura. "That's kind of disconcerting."

"This is my power," Homura says tonelessly.

"Mmm," Mika says. "I see, yeah." She flashes a grin. "Yeah. We're not gonna fight like this, are we?"

"No," Homura says. "We'll use it for a surprise attack."

"Good, good," Mika says. "And we're getting there by..." Her gaze shifts past the three of you, to the flight platform. "I see!"

"Miss Nakano?" Mami says softly. "Does Homura's magic make you uncomfortable?"

"Oh, yeah," Mika says, entirely cheerful and apparently without a single trace of sarcasm. "It's deeply unpleasant to not be able to feel the wind, but if we're just gonna use this to get to... wherever it is, I'll be fine."

"... my apologies?" Homura says.

"And mine," you say. "I'm sorry, I had no idea it'd affect you like this."

"Oh, don't make it a big thing," Mika grumps, shaking her head. "It's not. I'm used to having... having the wind at my back, but that doesn't mean I can't deal. Anyway, that's the magic school bus over there, right? Let's get going, I'll like it better with some moving air."

"Well, if you're sure," you say, nodding.

The trip across the city is a swift one, off to the towering complex of newly-built apartments. You're still incredibly grateful to Hitomi for coming through on that so quickly, you have to say - the power of a solid grounding in the real world, as it were. And money.

Another pickup, Noriko and Akemi absorbing the strangeness of Homura's timestop with surprising aplomb. Noriko bangs the time-frozen printer a few times before giving up and tucking the already-printed stack under her arm, her other body collecting stationery.

"I don't suppose you had any luck?" you ask.

"Mmmmaybe," Akemi says. "We found some possible hits, but we need a bit of time to check through it."

"Well... you've got a bit, since I want to gather everyone before we discuss anything - no point going over everything multiple times, right?" you say, already ushering them towards the roof.

"Right," Akemi says, sneaking Noriko a fond look as they lock up.

One round of introductions for the new pickups later, you're on your way, rising fast over Mitakihara, the strains of Wagner filling the air. Not the Ride of the Valkyries, because the time isn't right yet, but you're laying in the groundwork. You're pretty sure Sayaka's cottoned on to the joke already, though, given the glare you can feel boring into the back of your head. And...

"Uh... Miss Mika," you say, swivelling your chair to glance back at her. You're not sure she heard you the first time, so you raise your voice. "Miss Mika? You're an aerokinetic, right?"

"A wind mage," Mika says, pulling back in to give you an inquisitive look. She's asked for a seat by the window -and you had to add both- so that she can stick her head out to enjoy the rush of wind from your passage.

"Well, I don't know if it's possible, but... are you able to smooth the wind of our passage?" you scrub your hand through your hair sheepishly. "I mean, the limit of how fast we can go is determined by aerodynamics and shockwaves through the air, so..."

"One hypercavitation bubble, coming right up," Mika says, brightening. She leans out of the window once more. You can feel the flare of power, and the way the wind swirls around her arm for a moment before surging forth.

"Thank you," you say, nodding. "Right, and... we've got a lot of ground to cover, so! Are we all OK with hard acceleration? I could try and make some kind of inertial compensator, if you'd prefer - the only problem is that we'd have to deal with the Witchy sensation."

"Witchy sensation?" Mika asks.

"I control Grief, and Witches are made of Grief, so I can make constructs out of Grief that... well, behave like Witch stuff," you say. "Which means I can make stuff that fully defies physics, like, say, something that cancels inertia."

Mika winces. "I'd rather not."

"Yeah, nah," Kyouko says, scowling at you. "Not dealing with that."

"It's rather more grating to those of us who have been magical girls longer," Mami offers quietly, laying her hand against your elbow. "I've gotten used to it with time - the sensation of your constructs is ever so slightly different from a Witch's, but it took time for me to realise."

"Hunh. Really?" Sayaka asks, scratching her hair. "I noticed, but maybe that's cuz I knew Sabrina right away?"

"Mmrm, right," you say. "So... hard acceleration, then? Is everyone OK with that? Is there anything you guys need before we get moving?"

A round of nods and agreement, apart from-

"Peanuts!" Kirika chirps. "I want those lil' bags of peanuts."

You start to open your mouth, eyes shifting to Kyouko, and then close it slowly as you think better of it. The death glare preemptively attempting to hate you out of existence has nothing to do with it, of course. Absolutely nothing.

"... Maybe next time," you allow. "If there's nothing else-" a round of shaken heads, "-then hold on to your hats, everyone -and this means you, Oriko- because we are off to Fukushima," you say, and gun the metaphorical engine, an equally metaphorical giant promptly sitting down on your chest.

You're vaguely annoyed by the notion that there are shockwaves from moving too fast in timestop, but Homura didn't disagree. It makes more sense than most of the timestop's effects in general, really - if you set off a lump of TNT while under the aegis of her power, the shockwave would still be there after the timestop ended. Or bullets fired off keeping their velocity.

... timestop is weird, anyway.

You're mindful of Homura sitting quietly in the back of your flight platform, directly behind Oriko and Kirika. Her fingers pluck slowly at the ribbon around her wrist -seemingly unconsciously- despite the grind of acceleration pushing you all back into your seats. You're mindful of the Grief trickling slowly into her Soul Gem, and you keep her cleansed, of course, but you're also watching her carefully for signs of strain.

Her attention shifts for a split second, gaze going to you, and then back to Oriko and Kirika.

You punch upwards through the storm, and then leave it behind, glittering, frozen raindrops giving way to dense cloud, and then clear skies as Mitakihara recedes over the horizon. Japan blurs past beneath you, checkered fields and rolling countryside twisting into monochrome smudges.

To Fukushima, to the grassy peak of Mount Shinobu. To the shrine, where you're all but certain that you'll find Yuki. And you're not teleporting this time, instead heading towards the observation deck where you'd first met her, the same rough-paved stone.

A new addition is the block of metal, seemingly made of junk smushed together into a gigantic brick taller than you are. The cause is obvious: the girl perched atop it, frozen in the act of kicking her feet against the block. Her bootlaces are untied, you can't help but notice. Akiyama Atsuko, in her billowy dress of red and black.

Sasami and Moe are leaning against the carved granite of the railing, both snacking companionably on granola bars. Light and shadow, searing blasts and superspeed: perhaps not the strangest pair you've ever met, but you can't deny that they complement each other perfectly.

And Yuki...

Yuki's nowhere in sight.

You leave the metaphorical engine running, hopping off the flight platform with Mami and Homura in tow to collect them. Another round of introductions and explanations and induction to Homura's timestop -and the accompanying fear-tinged discomfort- before you ask about Yuki.

"... Over by the shrine," Atsuko says, gesturing with an alarmingly pointy glove. "She always goes after accepting a mission."

"Ah, right, I remember," you say, frowning. "Do you think she'd be upset if we interrupted her?"

"Under the circumstances, I think she'd understand," Sasami says dourly.

"Fair enough," you say. "Uh... we'll go get her, then, feel free to hop up if you want? Or you can come with us?" You gesture at your flight platform.

They wind up joining the others on the platform as you, Mami, and Homura head off past the copse of cherry trees. Old ones, you can't help but notice, weathered and gnarled and carefully tended, and for that they lend their shade to an equally weathered little shrine.

Not much of one, you admit, but you're pretty sure that it's still tended to, the paint still bright and the encroaching grass pruned back. And here you find Yuki, kneeling before the minimal wooden structure, and when Mami winds her ribbon around the smaller girl's wrist, she doesn't react, remaining with head bowed even as tension thrums through her body.

You wait, because it seems the right thing to do - even Homura doesn't seem to have any objections, here.

Yuki stands after a moment, arms disappearing under her cloak, and she nods to the three of you.

"Thank you for your patience," she says. "And this..." She chuckles lightly. "Formidable and terrifying in equal measure, Miss Akemi."

Homura inclines her head slightly as Yuki looks from her, to Mami, to you, and then a glance back to the shrine. She smiles.

"A time of legends. I'm glad I chose to side with you," she says. "Shall we?"

"Yep," you say, returning the smile. "Let's go."

You confirm, once more, that everyone's alright with the hard acceleration, and confirm too that they're all alright with discussing matters once everyone's gathered, and then you're off once more, back to Mitakihara.

The block of metal you leave atop the shopping center, along with Atsuko. A girl who controls metal, and literal tons of fodder. You wish her a boring watch, which she crooks a smirk and a lazy salute at as the monochrome greys Homura's timestop reclaim her. Yuki watches silently, thoughtfully, but doesn't say anything.

From there, it's off across Japan, striking northwest at speed to Asunaro. Mami has your hand, fingers interlaced and thumb stroking slowly over the back of your hand. Not yet the ratcheting tension of a fight anticipated - rather, slow and soothing, anchoring you to reality. What you're fighting for.

'You reach Asunaro, and find Kazumi on the roof of the museum.'

Such a terribly innocuous sentence.

It's accurate, but:

You reach Asunaro, and find a fucking legion of three-meter tall teddy bears with claws the size of your torso on the roof of the museum.

There.

Much better.

Admittedly, that's overcorrecting a little into hyperbole. The teddy bears are only a petite two and a half meters tall, at a guess, and there's only six of them. The claws, which are not hyperbolic, and the glowing yellow eyes and the jaws lined with dagger-sized teeth kind of make an impression, though.

Four magical girls -Kazumi, Kaoru, Umika, and Mirai- are an afterthought, even if the bears are summoned by the latter.

Kirika whistles. She's long since migrated to sitting across Oriko's lap, working quietly on enchanted chains.

"On the one hand, I understand why Mirai didn't want me to copy her power," Sayaka muses. "On the other, I really want those bears."

"... Yuma wants a bear too," Yuma adds.

"Let's pick 'em up, and we'll see whether we can get you a bear," you say.

And so you do, Kazumi lighting up with an awed, wondering smile as you explain, and she stares around the timestop, and you usher all of them up to your flight platform.

Kazumi stops, blinking first at Yuma, then at Yuki. You purse your lips, seeing the impending...

"Omigodyou'resocute-"

... disaster?

No, not really a disaster, you muse as Kazumi drags Yuma and Yuki into hugs. You're not sure why Yuki goes along with it, and nor are you quite sure why Kyouko's allowing it. The giant teddy bear offering Mirai a hand up -literally a hand up, lifting her on the palm of one giant paw- to the platform might have something to do with it.

"Can Yuma have a teddy bear?"

"Yes, absolutely!"

And a teddy bear gets conjured for Yuma, while Yuki flops bonelessly for a bit under the force of Kazumi's ferocious hug.

You exchange a look with Mami, and then with Homura, the latter of whom is looking upon the scene with faint horror. You shrug, and produce an extra flight platform for the bears - which march up to it in perfect synchronization and formation. Two rows of three, aligned with machine precision.

You shrug, and take off again.

Not too fast this time, not until you finish all your discussion, anyway.

"Alright everyone!" you call. "I'm going to rearrange the seats, so please hold for a moment!"

You suit action to word, forming everyone into a large circle. Mika pulls her head in from the side of the platform too, listening attentively.

"Right, so..." Your gaze roves from face to face as you force yourself to calm down, palms resting flat on your thighs. Calm, and poised. You hope. Your friends and allies, come to answer your call, and you owe it to them to make damn sure that they come out of this safe and unharmed. You'll start here. "I want you to be bored."

That startles a laugh from some of them: Kazumi and Kaoru, Sayaka, Moe.

"I'm quite serious there," you say, cracking a grin of your own. "I don't want this to turn out to be a fight. I hope that we're going to go down there and find out that it's just some new group flexing their powers for the first time and tripping off my own dumb paranoia. I hope that I'm going to have to drop you all off back home, grumpy and bored and annoyed at having spent your time putting up with me and heading all the way out for nothing. But I don't think that's likely."

"We don't think it's likely, either," Noriko pipes up quietly. She and Akemi have been sorting through papers the entire fight, reading frantically and annotating them.

You sigh quietly, and smile. "It's never wrong to hope, and like I said: I hope it's just some new magical girl or something," you say. "But too much points at Iowa, in this case, which means we're going into a fight. And well... no plan survives contact with the enemy."

"And we have precious little information, as yet," Oriko observes.

"Agreed," you say, nodding. "The current plan, as of now, is that we're going to get closer to the city, with Mami's guidance, and stop a good ways off. Closer in, Oriko can use her powers to scry on them, hopefully, and gain us intel before we engage. Sayaka too, using her copy of Oriko's power."

"Sounds solid," Kazumi says, flashing you a thumbsup. "Ah, Umika, dear-"

"Of course," Umika says, pushing her glasses up. They don't glint, not in the unearthly half-light of the timestop. "I can attempt to help too. My powers are not... specialized towards clairvoyance, but I can certainly try."

"I'd appreciate that," you say, smiling. "But even with that intel, well, uh. Don't expect the enemy to cooperate in creating your dream engagement, right?" That gets you an approving nod from Yuki. "So what I'd like to do is... not plan, exactly, but apart from our own groups, we've never worked together before. I think we'd benefit from at least sharing and discussing what we can each do, so we're aware and know how we can fight together, and how to not trip over each other."

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Yuki says, eyes sharp.

"OK!" you say brightly. You catch Mami's eye for a second, quirking your eyebrow just a fraction - she blinks, and then smiles, nodding an equally infinitesimal amount. "Then I'll hand off this, ah, session to Mami, because hey, who better, right?"

Mami smoothly takes up the lead, and keeps it simple to start with: going around the circle, she has everyone introduce themselves and their powers. Mami starts, of course.

Mami, with ribbons and musket.

Then the girls from Shiogama: Noriko, with her dual bodies and vicious scimitars and Akemi, with her probability manipulation. They fight well in tandem, they say, coordinating in the chaos and flow of melee.

To their right, the Pleiades. Umika, with true-writing, and Kazumi, with her shadow copies. Body enhancement and healing from Kaoru, and, of course, the monstrous teddy bears from Mirai. They're capable of keeping up with everyone, she reassures you, which is a nice thought when you're talking about towering half-ton beasts of baleful glares and rending claws that are on your side.

And to their right, Yuki's group. Yuki herself with her building control - any building you'll be fighting in or near will be hers, lending you the advantage. Sasami and Moe, light and shadow, laser blasts and a speedster in melee.

Mika. Another speedster, one who speaks to the winds. She's insistent about that. She doesn't control the winds, not per se, she speaks to them. Kyouko's been eyeing her sidelong during the flight, and you're not exactly surprised there - she must have caught the name, and the connection to her old home being demolished... and then the lifting of that sentence.

Then comes Oriko and Kirika, clairvoyance and antimagic. Allies, for a certainty, and you consider them friends too, by now. You're worried about Oriko, about her attitudes and her predicted death sentence. It's why she's here, in part, since she'd predicted her own death right around now. When you were away from Mitakihara, she'd said.

Yuma and Kyouko, the latter clipped and sharp as she glosses over her lack of overt magic - but nobody raises the issue. Spears are perfectly respectable, as is healing.

Then comes Sayaka, and Homura, and yourself, finishing with a smile. Mami opens the floor to discussion, to the eighteen of you heading out to...

Well.

As you'd said, to be bored, hopefully.

The first thing to be raised is by Sasami - she needs to coordinate her blasts, so as not to blind everyone. Telepathy is how she usually does it, and how you'll be working with it should you have to leave timestop to fight. In timestop, you have all the time in the world to discuss firing lines.

Concerns about antimagic are easily sorted out, considering that Kirika, and thus Sayaka, can target her power.

You figure out some rough plans and how you might interweave your powers, working together, but ultimately, the best way to start an engagement is to stick together to the groupings you're all familiar with - because you work better with those you know. Things will change during the engagement, but you'll start with that.

Which brings you to the discussion of the engagement itself.

"Right, so..." you say. "Rules of engagement. No collateral to civilians. I think we can all agree on that?" You let your eyes sweep the group, pointedly not lingering on Yuki, and you get a round of nods. "Then... capture if possible, but if the worst should happen..."

You sigh, rubbing your face. "You all came because I asked you to. You're all going to go home. So if you need to cut loose, then so be it, yeah?"

"We outnumber them by any reasonable guess," Yuki observes. "It's... unlikely that there's more than ten of them."

"Which is a great segue to my next point," you say as Mami takes your free hand, tugging it gently over to her lap. "Yuki, Noriko, Akemi... have you found anything new?"

"Little enough," Yuki says, waving a hand. "I guessed at ten from the point of view of logistics. Even moving around, unless they stick strictly to very large cities, then they're unlikely to have enough Grief Seeds to sustain more than a few girls."

"Ah, that makes sense," you say. "OK. Akemi, Noriko?"

Noriko and Akemi exchange a look. It seems that Akemi loses the silent conversation, because she's the one to answer you.

"We found obituaries," she says with a quiet sigh, holding up a few printouts. "We think. Well, two obituaries, three missing."

"... ah," you say, grimacing as you take the papers. Black and white pictures, and machine-translated mangling, but... the ages fit. The dates fit. You feel the bottom drop out of your stomach as you look them over.

"We also found... some candidate storms," Noriko says, picking up the explanation. "Miss Tomoe, does the current location happen to be in Mandalay?"

"I'm not sure," Mami says, shaking her head. "My tracking is more of a compass than a location."

"We'll know when we get there," you say. "But why do you ask?"

"There was a storm a week ago, over Mandalay," Noriko says. "It may have been the Iowa group at play, it may not have been."

"They don't make storms," Mika offers. Green eyes gleam as she looks from you to Noriko. "At least, they didn't make the one sitting over Mitakihara, merely enhanced it."

"Well..." Noriko scratches her head, sorting through the papers with her free hands. "If it's them, then we know the city."

"I don't suppose you'd found any other cities they might have hit? Previous ones? And..." you say, looking down at the papers in your hand. The obituaries. "I don't suppose they mentioned any living relatives or friends?"

"The trail is much harder to find any further back," Noriko says, shaking both heads. "If we had more time, we might have managed something. And no, we didn't find any mention of relatives or friends, but I suppose that wouldn't really be in the news."

"I... yeah," you say, and sigh. "Well, good work, both of you. Seriously, you managed a lot in... what was it, twenty minutes? You did great."

"Hear, hear," Sayaka says. "I don't even get that much homework done in twenty minutes."

"It was the least we could do," Akemi says, nodding firmly.

"Still, thank you," you say, sighing as you set the papers aside. You rub your eyes. "So... I'm going to put it to everyone. Do you think it's worth going to Thiruvananthapuram to look for survivors? I'd... really like more concrete information before we approach them."

"We're getting that information, are we not?" Yuki asks, indicating Oriko. Her question joins a wave of shaken heads, quiet denials, and well... you can see the same quiet pain on every face.

"There might be survivors," you say quietly. You can feel Homura's attention on you, in particular. Your gaze flicks up to meet amethyst eyes, hard, but... not unsympathetic. There's concern there, for you, written in wrinkles and the tension in her jaw. "There are people we could save. I-"

"Ask 'em," Kaoru says, sitting up from her slouch.

"Hm?" you blink at her.

"We beat them, then we ask them," Kaoru says. "Who did they leave behind? We outnumber 'em, don't we? We're going in prepared for an asskicking, so we kick some asses, and we make 'em talk. Umika can help make sure they're telling the truth."

Umika appends a thumbs-up.

"That... yeah," you say, exhaling slowly. "I could live with that. I... still don't like going in with as little information as we have, but..."

"What are you worried about?" Yuki asks.

"That Kyuubey's been spreading tales," you say. "That they somehow have some way of negating Homura's timestop, and we're going to run headlong into it. Heck, we know they have some kind of antimagic, or warding - what if we run facefirst into it and it cancels Homura's magic?"

You don't need to look at Homura to see the concern that flickers across her face at the thought, either.

"Then we probe ahead of us," Yuki says, raising her eyebrows. "It's possible, I agree, but it's something easily mitigated. Miss Tomoe's ribbons, or even your Grief would suffice - in fact, you already have it set up as such, don't you?"

"Well... yeah," you say. "I've got nanofog spread out ahead and behind us."

"Miss Tsuruya makes an excellent point," Mami says with a smile. "I should have thought of it myself, though... it doesn't rule out something more exotic."

"An effect that propagates along contact?" Yuki asks. "Possible, but unlikely."

"I don't need to be that close to them to scry on them, in any case," Oriko says. "Line of sight is best, but given that we are flying..." She gestures towards the window, to the muddy smudge of ground kilometers below.

"... alright," you say, nodding slowly. "I... look, I am a novice at this whole meguca thing. Mami, Homura, Miss Tsuruya, Miss Mika? You're the veterans here, and Homura, it's your power facilitating all this. You have the final word."

"I believe it is sufficient," Yuki says, nodding. "If we should walk into a trap, then we will adapt on the fly."

Mami hesitates, and then nods slowly. "I agree. I can help ward off any more esoteric effects, let alone having Sayaka and Miss Kure ready with antimagic."

"Mm," Mika says, thoughtful. "Gotta admit, I don't have much experience going on the attack, so I can't contribute here."

Homura exhales slowly, and then nods. "It's sufficient," she murmurs.

"Alright. Then... it's settled," you say, nodding slowly. "We'll make best time for Myanmar, and let Oriko and Sayaka scry. Anything else we wanna clear before we get moving?"

"I've got a question!" Kazumi says, sticking her hand up. "Just... curious, not super important?"

"Go ahead?" you say.

"Uh... Miss Saito, your power is luck, right?" Kazumi says, picking her words slowly as if she's still assembling the query.

"Yes?" Akemi says.

"Right, right," Kazumi asks. "So... were you doing your research just by hitting 'I'm feeling lucky' on Google?"

"Kazumi," Umika hisses, elbowing her.

"... I can neither confirm nor deny that," Akemi says, folding her arms and pouting.

"Y'know," you muse. "I'm sort of glad I'm not the only one who has that kind of weird dain bramage." You form a fist out of Grief vaguely in Kazumi's vicinity - she's too far away otherwise.

"It was a perfectly logical supposition!" Kazumi says, but happily raps her knuckles against yours even as Mami giggles fondly, amusement and disgust rippling around the circle of your allies. Sayaka, in particular, facepalms loudly.

"OK, OK," you say, holding up both hands. "Five minutes for last minute thoughts before we really get moving! Reconfiguring our seats, taking requests for the jukebox, any last minute business?" You pause thoughtfully. "Hope everyone, uh, went before we picked you up?"

A wave of nods, and rolled eyes.

"Five minutes, then!" you say, nodding firmly.

[] Confirm plan as written
[] Last changes? (Write-in, 150 words)

=====​

Alright. I had to break this update somewhere - this one's already ballooning out of control. I should be able to update the next one relatively soon, assuming nothing major changes!

And again, apologies for the long delay between updates here.