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Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

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Redshirt Army said:
... I don't see it.

That said, if Kywijiko nailed DWDTG on his first try, that's really impressive. Like, top 10 talent worldwide impressive.
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You have to be good to make a career of an instrument. People putting so much weight on him in middle school over this? On the one hand it's just MS, on the other hand people sorta seem like they're already expecting a career from it.
 
CornyBones said:
Whoever came up with the idea of Kwoiji playing Devil Went Down to Georgia is a genus. That song is eerie when you think about it in context of Sabrina.
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Redshirt Army said:
... I don't see it.
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The only thing I can think is that the song is about making a deal with the devil, then beating him at his own game, whereas Sabrina made a contract with Kyubey (essentially making a deal with the devil, as QB is thematically Mephistopheles from Doctor Faustus), but is trying to defeat him with the powers he gave her.
 
The Narrator said:
The only thing I can think is that the song is about making a deal with the devil, then beating him at his own game, whereas Sabrina made a contract with Kyubey (essentially making a deal with the devil, as QB is thematically Mephistopheles from Doctor Faustus), but is trying to defeat him with the powers he gave her.
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Ah, hadn't considered QB as the devil, given the other figure analogous to Lucifer in PMMM.
 
We should remember to give Nagisa tons of hugs 'cause we don't see her that often.

Actually, by what I remember, Nagisa's gotten about as many hugs as Homura.

That means we should hug Homura more, too.

... Kwyjibo's obliviousness protects him against teasing. Uh.
 
It might be worth talking to the girls at some point about how some people just don't have the time or space for a relationship in their lives. Kyosuke is definitely one of these people. Trying to get into a relationship with someone so devoted to something else probably isn't the best idea.
 
Firnagzen said:
Homura, on the other hand, takes a moment to remove the foodstuffs from her shield. One smooth motion, like she'd choreographed it: transform in a burst of light, half crouch and shield sweep in a semi-circle, depositing containers and cooler along the way, and then another burst of light as she transforms out of her costume. And then she sits on the grass.

It doesn't even seem to have caught the attention of any of the other park goers.
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*applauds*

Firnagzen said:
He is a teenager, after, one raised in Japan and probably weaned on the not entirely unmerited notion that he's amazing at music.

[...]

The slight, confused frown on his face evaporates in an instant as he raises his violin. "Any requests?" he asks, mochi forgotten.

You cock your head. "Devil went down to Georgia?" you ask, catching a sharp look from Hitomi.

His brow wrinkles, lowering his violin. "Isn't that a country song?"

"Hey, fiddle, violin," you say, grinning and shrugging.

He produces his phone from his pocket, fingers flickering over the screen.

Sayaka sidles over to you. "What song is that?"

You snicker, lowering your voice. "He's right, it's a folk song," you say. "Fairly difficult to play one, at that."

"Bet he can play it," Sayaka says.

"Oh, I'm sure he can," you agree. "Just his pride~"

Kyousuke nods sharply, setting his phone down - you can see sheet music on the screen. And then he starts to play.

He skips the lyrics, and goes straight for the two fiddle -you mean violin- solos.

... Yeah, he's pretty good, you'll concede. He manages to play the fast, violently frenetic song without missing a beat, on what's presumably his first time.

Sayaka claps loudly the moment he finishes, joined by Hitomi and Nagisa. Madoka, too.

... Oh, fine. You applaud, Mami smiling at you and clapping politely too.
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Holy shit. That's damned impressive.

Firnagzen said:
"That was amazing, K- Kyusuke!" Sayaka says, barely managing to swallow a giggle and turning it into a strangled snort.

Kwijibo doesn't lower the violin, frowning in absent concentration. "No, I think my fingering could be better," he says. "Fiddle music is slightly different from violin music."

And then he sets bow to string again, starting from the top.
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And that's how he's that good. He spends all his time practicing.

Firnagzen said:
Nagisa ducks behind you, squealing as she hides from Madoka, who makes a fake scary face. "Rawr! I'm going to bite your head of!"
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... seriously, Madoka? Aside from Sabrina and Homura, you're the one most likely to remember why joking about Nagisa and biting heads off is in really bad taste.

Firnagzen said:
Mami enjoys herself playing host, serving everyone a constant stream of goodies from the two baskets with a smile on her face. Tomohisa, as expected, turns out to be a fine cook.

It's funny, really, Mami is a ridiculously powerful magical girl, but perfectly happy to just... immerse herself in domesticity. It's a comfortable kind of grounding, you suppose.
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Yep. That sounds like Mami to me!

Firnagzen said:
Madoka's eyes light up, and she helps herself to a spoonful. "It's good!" she says, filling a paper bowl with it. "Not very spicy, though."

"Yeah, I brought a bottle of chilli powder, since I wasn't sure how much would be-" You cut yourself off, staring as Madoka promptly dumps a full quarter of the bottle in.
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Sweet merciful Madokami above, why?!

Firnagzen said:
Homura eyes the bowl, and then Madoka, who's offering it to her with a bright smile. Not offering to feed Homura, unfortunately for your inner shipper. Homura dips a spoon in, scooping up just a little, and hesitantly pops it into her mouth.

You grin at Mami as Homura makes a strangled sound, but Mami's already offering a freshly scooped bowl of ice cream which the time traveller grabs.
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This is the response of a human who still possesses their taste buds, instead of having a tongue made of old leather.

Firnagzen said:
Mami leans against your shoulder as you wind down the eating. "I think we need to pass out leftovers," she admits ruefully, eyeing the amount of food left over.

"Yep," you agree. You could probably continue, but even as a puella magi, there's such a thing as restraint.

To be fair, just about everyone's lying around in various states of fullness. Madoka and Homura, in particular, between the two of them, you think they'd devoured about ninety percent of the... fairly sizeable container of cream stew.

Even Kyousuke's dozing in his wheelchair from the food coma.

"Ice cream, anyone?" you ask.

Sayaka waves a weak, floppy arm at you, making an inarticulate noise.
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Just think, next picnic we have might include Kyouko, so it won't have any leftovers!
 
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Godwinson said:
joking about Nagisa and biting heads off is in really bad taste.
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Boooo.
GiftOfLove said:
It might be worth talking to the girls at some point about how some people just don't have the time or space for a relationship in their lives. Kyosuke is definitely one of these people. Trying to get into a relationship with someone so devoted to something else probably isn't the best idea.
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And then Mami's heartbroken because Sabrina's so focused on helping people that she doesn't have enough time to help people, let alone have a relationship.
 
Guilop said:
Success. We saw Nagisa again and she's adorable and happy. Homura was able to relax and share food with Madoka and Mami was genuinely happy. Everything went great.

Well aside from Kyoiuskie ignoring everything. Kyuskue should really put down his violin more often. We really have to convince Sayaka and Hitomi that Kwijusike isn't boyfriend material at the moment, although I think that will be almost impossible. At least they noticed that Kwijuske is kinda oblivious to his surroundings at the moment.
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I stand convinced by now.Even given the girls are just beginning to explore romance and boys are always starting later, the guy is surrounded by ... SIX BEAUTIFUL GIRLS HIS AGE.
Of which two are rather-or were rather- heads over heels about him.
And he is fondling his musical instrument.
And ignoring them ALL.

One has to ask what is wrong here.

Well, not wrong, but distinctively abnormal .

First possibility :classic case of terrible shy, so often found in Japan.
Counterargumant: he seems rather calm, no stuttering, no other signs.

Second possibility:Sexual interest, as it is , going towards own gender.
Possible but hard to prove given the low occurence of boys in this setting.

Third possibility: Unhealthy fixation on his musical talent due to constantly getting reduced to being that 'young musical genius' by others and having no other ready dource of self-esteem.
That looks more and more like it. Really, the way he clutches his violin like a pet or a drowning man clings to a lifeboat....

I would not be surprised if he is one of those persons who reduce themselves to one-trick ponies in order to be 'the best'.
Which is unhealthy, as Heinlein said "Specialisation is for insects, not human beings."

Does he have ANY interests except classic violin music?
 
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Sailor Midgard said:
Third possibility: Unhealthy fixatiln on his musical talent due to constantly getting reduced to being that 'young musical genius'
That looks more and more like it. Really, the way he clutches his violin like a pet or a drowning man clings to a lifeboat....
I would not be surprised if he is one of those persons who reduce themselves to one-trick ponies in order to be the best.
Which is unhealthy, as Heinlein said "Specialisation is for insects, not human beings."
Does he have ANY interests except classic violin music?
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I'm sorry, but how is it "reduction" to have a talent you love? There's nothing wrong with having a passion for something and pursuing it. The idea that there must be something wrong with a person, simply because they don't display romantic interest is fucked up.
 
Godwinson said:
I'm sorry, but how is it "reduction" to have a talent you love? There's nothing wrong with having a passion for something and pursuing it. The idea that there must be something wrong with a person, simply because they don't display romantic interest is fucked up.
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I think their position is less "Oh, it is a potentially bad thing he is passionate about the violin" and more "Oh, it is a potentially bad thing that all he cares about at all is the violin"? I may be misunderstanding something.
 
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Redshirt Army said:
Ah, hadn't considered QB as the devil, given the other figure analogous to Lucifer in PMMM.
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In the original versions of the Faust myth, Mephistopheles and Lucifer were separate demons, with Mephisto subservient to Lucifer.

Then came the version of Faust written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, where Mephistopheles and no-one else is the devil.

Madoka Magica is loosely based on Faust, but contains references to the Goethe story. Thus Kyubey is Mephistopheles is the devil. Homura's ascension as Lucifer metaphorically returns things to the original version of Faust.
 
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Godwinson said:
I'm sorry, but how is it "reduction" to have a talent you love? There's nothing wrong with having a passion for something and pursuing it. The idea that there must be something wrong with a person, simply because they don't display romantic interest is fucked up.
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When you are focussing on it to the exclusion of social interaction?
Look, I am all for being eanest about honing ones skills.
I myself am guilty of that at times, being rather focused on social sciences and study of literature.
But Kyousuke is basically 'that boy who will be a great violin player" .
Full stop.
Which is ... worrying. Because he focuses on it with tunnel vision.
At least that is how he comes across.
 
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Godwinson said:
I'm sorry, but how is it "reduction" to have a talent you love? There's nothing wrong with having a passion for something and pursuing it. The idea that there must be something wrong with a person, simply because they don't display romantic interest is fucked up.
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Sailor Midgard said:
When you are focussing on it to the exclusion of social interaction?
Look, I am all for being eanest about honing ones skills.
I my self am rather focused on social sciences and study of literature.
But Kyousuke is basically 'that boy who will be a great violin player" .
Full stop.
Which is ... worrying. Be ause he focuses on it with tunnel vision.
At least that is how he comes across.
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This discussion reminds me of a fanfic where Kyosuke gets his arm partially healed, but still complains about how he still won't get to play music right away (as opposed to 'never') dismisses any attempts to cheer him up, and is so focused on his own angst that he ignores the implications of Sayaka being in a wheelchair (which she is in the fanfic due to...reasons).

Basically, I think you can make the argument that Kwijibo is self-absorbed. Not in an arrogant way, but in an "I don't care about other people" way.
 
universalperson said:
This discussion reminds me of a fanfic where Kyosuke gets his arm partially healed, but still complains about how he still won't get to play music right away (as opposed to 'never') dismisses any attempts to cheer him up, and is so focused on his own angst that he ignores the implications of Sayaka being in a wheelchair (which she is in the fanfic due to...reasons).

Basically, I think you can make the argument that Kwijibo is self-absorbed. Not in an arrogant way, but in an "I don't care about other people" way.
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Yep, thats it.
And I blame people, most probably his folks, telling him that he has such a great gift he should focus on it and not be distracted.... which he, being a quiet boy by nature and most probably really into his art , did to an unhealthy degree.
 
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