Onmur
Archangel of Nutella.
No, no.
[Q] Write "Get Grief Hair Extensions" on Mami's hand.
-[Q] Tell her it's so you'll remember.
Puella Magi Adfligo Systema
- Thread starter Firnagzen
- Start date
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- Tags
- puella magi adfligo systema puella magi madoka magica be gay do crimes (gay) female protagonist bad decisions dating mami tomoe (tomoe mami) diabolical laughter friendship is the best ship handholding identity crises microwaving tea gets you put in the bad place names are important the body is the fursona of the soul this is not the baked goods thread we don't talk about rionna what could possibly go wrong? who in the world is azure sanfrancisco?
[Q] Write "Get Grief Hair Extensions" on Mami's hand.
-[Q] Tell her it's so you'll remember.
Vebyast
Nascent Transhuman
Brilliant!
[Q] Write your to-do list on Mami. That way you'll be reminded about what you have to do every time you look at her and you get to look at her every time you need a reminder of what you have to do.
-[Q] Explain the logic to Mami. She'll be proud of your genius.
- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
So sad. It made it into a winning vote, but that part of the vote ended up getting cut off due to update length. It was right around Haloween IRL too...
UbeOne
Daydreaming CPU
- Location
- Philippines
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Onmur
Archangel of Nutella.
Making the Speckled Enchantments also got cut off now, so clearly, we'll never have magic bling nor cosplay as Shinki. Ever.
Should have put the magic bling first, or at least asking Nadia for ideas.
... We can still ask Nadia to, you know, show off her magic bling? I kind of want to know what she's packing, since she's loaded in enchantments.
Script Mak3r
(Verified Sun God) (Verified Feathers)
- Location
- Hell of Blazing Fires
- Pronouns
- She/Her
But that's Sakura's job! We can't take that away from her!
(Wait, isn't that also the job of Sasa and Ono? Hmm...)
Onmur
Archangel of Nutella.
Better, we can make any amount of fire we want, and we wouldn't even burn anything if we don't want.
Then, then... then we can try to act mean...
It'd make Mami laugh! That's a good thing.
"You're... you're a dumb!"
"Oh yeah? Yeah well you're... a goofy!"
"Oh yeah, you pink haired moeblob?"
"Yeah! You... tall person... tall like a giraffe!"
"Your dad tall!"
"Yeah!"
"... You're supposed to insult me here. Or say something mean."
"But being mean is hard."
"Wanna hug this one out?"
*Hugs*
*Looks at Homura*
*Looks at Mami*
"We're fortunate."
*Nods*
*Raises eyebrow*
*Blushes*
The Narrator
Disembodied Voice
- Location
- Somewhere Offscreen
I'm still not comfortable with the wording of Vebyast's response to Nadia.
[x] Thank Nadia for doing this for you, and for being your friend. With her help, you hope you can reach and help as many magical girls as possible. If there's ever anything we can do for her, she need only ask.
-[x] Hugs? If it seems appropriate.
[x] Call Rin and give a heads-up.
[x] Tell Mami that you need to offload some of this grief, but you don't want to upset her by making her deal with the rat. Should you step away for a minute?
[x] After taking measures to keep him from upsetting Mami, offload a chunk of grief to Kyubey. Keep just enough to make an MOF to fly everyone home.
[x] On the flight over, warn Sayaka that you're... not on such good terms with this group. Quick recap and explanation.
[x] Go to the Sendai Group
-[x] Try to be friendly. Ask how everybody is.
-[x] Cleanse, refresh their Grief Seeds.
-[x] Offer a Clear Seed. Usual conditions, warnings, and instructions.
--[x] Subtly(?) express a hope that, if everybody has one, nobody will have to fight any more.
-[x] Ask about Akiko.
[x] Thank Nadia for doing this for you, and for being your friend. With her help, you hope you can reach and help as many magical girls as possible. If there's ever anything we can do for her, she need only ask.
-[x] Hugs? If it seems appropriate.
[x] Call Rin and give a heads-up.
[x] Tell Mami that you need to offload some of this grief, but you don't want to upset her by making her deal with the rat. Should you step away for a minute?
[x] After taking measures to keep him from upsetting Mami, offload a chunk of grief to Kyubey. Keep just enough to make an MOF to fly everyone home.
[x] On the flight over, warn Sayaka that you're... not on such good terms with this group. Quick recap and explanation.
[x] Go to the Sendai Group
-[x] Try to be friendly. Ask how everybody is.
-[x] Cleanse, refresh their Grief Seeds.
-[x] Offer a Clear Seed. Usual conditions, warnings, and instructions.
--[x] Subtly(?) express a hope that, if everybody has one, nobody will have to fight any more.
-[x] Ask about Akiko.
The Narrator
Disembodied Voice
- Location
- Somewhere Offscreen
Wee bit too late for that, but we were probably being totes affectionate with Mami the whole time we were there, which should have the same effect.
- Location
- Blocksberg
Can we try to compress these votes down a little? They're getting long and kinda micromanage-y again...
Onmur
Archangel of Nutella.
"That Sabrina girl? Not only does she have unlimited magic, and hax powers in a fight, I mean, you saw those wings of her, and the shit she can do with her powers? She's usually holding back. Yeah, while we're all doing our best to beat up each other, she's trying to not accidentally kill you when she fights you. Like, HAX. To start with, she's also got a magic radar so you can't get the drop on her unless you're stupid fast.
"And beyond all that? Sabrina not only got all that power weeks after Contracting, but you know Tomoe Mami, right? That cold, hardass veteran who's kicked every single magical girl out of her city on her own... Days after Sabrina pops up out of the fraking blue, she's got Tomoe Mami wrapped around her little finger. I don't know what she did or how she did it, probably some more bullshit magic, but if you want my advice? When Sabrina offers you one of those Seeds of hers? Just take. Take it, leave, and never look back."
"Is she really that bad...?"
"I've also heard she likes spiders."
"Spiders. My god."
*Wise nod*
A Red Letter Day pt. 17
You laugh.
"That's the idea," you say. You grin right back at her, fierce and pleased. "I want to be famous. Or- I want what comes with being famous. These aren't my Grief Seeds I'm giving out." You exhale, and hold your free hand out to her. "Thank you for believing and helping me, Nadia. I... I will fix this."
Instead of shaking your hand, she clasps it, palm to palm. "Hold on to that optimism, fimti? You will need it."
"She's not going to do it alone," Mami says, squeezing your free hand with her interlaced fingers.
"I see she is not," Nadia says, nodding.
Sayaka harumphs, folding her arms. "You know, I still don't get why this is such a big deal," she grumbles, the smirk ticking the side of her mouth giving lie to her faked discontent. "But it is a big deal, I know that. If we're doing all these dramatic declarations of support, I'm in too."
The street's not too crowded, so you unclasp your hand and wheel to face Sayaka, Mami moving in perfect synchronisation. "Sayaka, I'm not sure I've said it in these words before, but we four in Mitakihara? You, Homura, Mami, me? We are privileged. We are the one percent of the one percent. You've seen some of what it's like for everyone else. Nadia wasn't kidding when she said Clear Seeds might be the most valuable things in the world."
"I've been getting that impression, yeah," Sayaka says. "I... bah. Look, I don't need a speech, I'm in. Like I said."
You snort softly. "Sorry, it's a habit," you offer half-heartedly.
Sayaka rolls her eyes. "Right. Wasn't there one last group we're here to see?"
"Yeah, uh, about that," you say, rubbing your nose. "I should probably let them know we're here? And then we should probably find some way to occupy ourselves for a bit so that, uh, they don't know we're here without permission?"
Mami muffles a giggle against her hand. Nadia, of course, has no such reservations, throwing her head back and laughing. "Always something funny," she gasps, eyes dancing.
You sigh, rolling your eyes. Mami squeezes your hand, tugging you onwards as you reach out by telepathy. "Hello, Miss Mori?"
"Ah, Miss Sabrina," the healer responds a few seconds later. "I've been expecting your call."
"Oh, good," you say, willingly following as Mami strolls onwards aimlessly. You'd told her that you were coming, yes, but you haven't contacted her today. Which, really, brings you to your dilemma, and a bit of a white lie. "Hey, can I drop by for the cleansing soon? The rest of the group won't get upset?"
A heavy sigh flows over the telepathic link. "Feel free to drop by," she says. "For free cleansing, they... we will tolerate you. Akiko..."
You hear the shrug. "I see," you say. You don't, really, but you will, with your own two eyes. Akiko can't still be catatonic, can she? "I'll be along soon, then."
"See you," Rin says.
"See you," you echo. The white lie, pretending that you aren't technically already here without their knowledge... It smooths many feathers, you suppose. You can imagine the stream of invective, starting mostly with the letter 'f', coming from Sakura if you didn't. Then again, you might be getting that anyway, and it's not like you know the rest of Rin's crew all that well, right.
"Alrighty," you say, smiling at Mami. "We have... ah, twenty minutes to spend?"
"Hmm... I wonder if there are any music shops around?" Sayaka muses. "Or an arcade?"
"We passed a music shop," Mami says.
"Oh yeah, you're right!" Sayaka says, pivoting on her foot. "C'mon!"
"Getting more music for Kwasuke-kun, eh?" you say, waggling your eyebrows at Sayaka.
She flushes red. "It's not like that! I genuinely like the music!"
"Ah, but of course," Mami says, nodding wisely. "You also like sharing it~"
Sayaka blushes brighter, and sticks her nose in the air as she marches away. "I'm ignoring you two now."
"'Kwasuke-kun'," Nadia muses, pursing her lips. "'-kun' is for boys."
"Mmmmhm," you say. "And well, maybe, to answer your next question."
"Ah," Nadia says, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "I understand."
Mami giggles, hugging your arm closer.
"Anyway, shall we? Though-" you don't need to look to feel the masses of Grief you have. You know where each and every single piece is: the bag full of marbles bouncing at your side, outlining the deadly shape of the obrez, the monstrously large primary mass of Grief you direct over the rooftops in an endless waterfall of malevolently dark spheres...
"Though?" Mami says.
"I think I'll step out for a moment, when we reach the music store?" you say, coming to a decision. "I need to drop off the Grief, I have way too much, and it's getting impractical."
Mami's eyes flick up to yours, and you see comprehension fade into worry. "I-"
You stop, and pull her into a proper hug. You get looks from the passersby, but you don't care. Mami's the only thing that's important. She hugs back with crushing force, clinging tight to you. You stroke her back in slow, soothing circles. "It's OK, Mami."
She sniffs quietly. "I-I'm sorry. I s-shouldn't-"
"No," you whisper. "There isn't a shouldn't. You feel how you feel, alright? And I'm willing to give you all the time and attention you need for you to feel better."
"I-I know," she says, pulling back far enough to give you a smile that's only just a bit teary. "I know. It's just- hard."
"I know," you whisper, smiling back. "I'm still here, right?"
She indulges in the hug a few moments longer, before pulling back. You see the way her lips move, shaping the first syllable of 'sorry' before she dips her head and smiles hesitantly at you.
You take her hand, interlacing your fingers with hers, and look up to find Sayaka standing with her back to the two of you, glowering at the curious pedestrians. She must have noticed, and hurried back. You give her a grateful smile. Clear cerulean eyes meet yours, and she smirks.
"Um... shall we go to that music store?" Mami suggests in a rather small voice.
"Yeah," Sayaka says, grinning to smooth over the awkward silence. "Let's go!"
You squeeze Mami's hand, and follow. The music store's set in the front of a large, airy building. You don't head in, but you give Mami one more tight hug and a promise to return as fast as you can. You give Sayaka a sharp look, and she rolls her eyes before nodding. You turn away and down the nearest alleyway, scaling the side of the building in a few rapid bounds.
"Kyuubey," you call, shaking brick dust off your hand from where you'd trailed it up the wall. "I have Grief for you."
"The Grief is always appreciated, Sabrina," the Incubator's words flow into your mind promptly, the little white alien's body stalking out from behind the stairwell. "As will the reduced workload from having to modify memories of people who see your Grief."
It almost sounds like the Incubator's scolding you. And it's not like you're happy about those mindwipes, but... you just want this done quick and smoothly so you can make good on your promise and get back to the important things. Like Mami. So you're just going to ignore that.
Instead, you summon the Grief to yourself with a wave of your hand, a gigantic wave of spheres cascading down towards you. The Incubator watches with unblinkingly, fluffy tail lashing in slow, metronomic motions.
"Do you know how much trouble you're going to cause with the Clear Seeds?" Kyuubey asks.
"Lots, or so everyone tells me," you say, eyeing the Grief. You leave a decent chunk for everyday use, and you make damned sure you seperate out all the spheres containing your stuff. Homura's notebook, particularly. The rest you draw together into a titanic, ominous sphere that hovers over your heads.
Without being prompted, Kyuubey presents its back to you. You spin Grief off the main mass, ostensible solid flowing like liquid into a slender, pouring stream that you drive into the hole in the Incubator's back. You'd briefly considered compressing it, but it's not like you need to, and you don't really want to broadcast the sensation of Witch, anyway.
Grief under your control moves fast, all but blistering the air as you slam it through the hole. The deep purple sphere bleeds mass, waves crawling across its surface as you siphon away congealed despair. It dwindles smaller and smaller, the downdraft of air dragged along by the Grief enough to rustle the hem of your shirt until there's nothing, the last, slender spike of Grief driven into the Incubator.
"Thank you for the Grief," Kyuubey says, pawing at itself. It rolls over to fix you with glassy pink eyes.
"Thank you for taking it off my hands," you say, rolling your eyes. Seems to be the thing to do. Without another word, you turn on a heel and drop off the side of the roof, landing in a smooth crouch. You smooth your clothes down and wander out of the alleyway to find your friends.
Mami's eyes are already rising to meet yours through the glass front of the store before you round the corner. That preternatural sixth or seventh sense of hers, heh. She practically teleports to you, and you greet her with a hug that sweeps her off her feet.
"Hey," you say, smiling at her. "Are you OK?"
"Better now," she says, the anxiety melting off her face as she smiles back at you.
Sayaka waves at you through the window, pointing at her basket, and then the counter. You flash her a thumbs up - that gives you a bit of time to cuddle with Mami, anyway. You're not going to object about that.
Nadia and Sayaka rejoin you a few minutes later, Sayaka swinging a small plastic bag from her finger. Checking your phone, you decide that enough time has passed, which means it's time to go and meet the Sendai girls.
Neutral territory, a park, so you get airborne. Well, neutral for this meeting, anyway; a meeting with the University girls wouldn't be neutral in a park for Haru to bend to her will. The four of you get airborne, and along the way, you explain the situation to Sayaka and Nadia both.
You make particular note of the whole Kato Setsuko... anomaly that triggered off the whole mess, of course. You still haven't gotten to the root of that, the missing girl who might have started off Akiko's obsession with Grief Seeds. You think that she Witched out in Ishinomaki territory, whether because of the Ishinomaki Group's actions or not, and that set off everything.
But you're not sure.
Eventually, you're descending towards a building near the park, rather than try to land your Mobile Oppression Fortress in a crowded location. And it is crowded. Sunday in a fairly large city, of cour-
A surge of magic.
Vwwp.
Sayaka yelps, spinning on the spot. Shining steel flashes into existence, Sayaka brandishing a sword at the newcomer.
Sakura -who else would it be?- glares back, arms folded over her brown jacket and white undershirt. She doesn't even have a weapon but for a scowl directed at Sayaka. "Put that fucking toy away," she growls. "I'm not here to fight."
"Then don't- don't startle us like that!" Sayaka snaps back. She does lower her sword, though.
Mami's free hand eases from a clenched fist, and you feel the subtle, subtle magic of a ribbon dissolving. You didn't even see it.
Nadia seems completely unruffled by the altercation, tilting her head in that birdlike manner of hers. "Tachibana Sakura?" she asks.
"Yeah? Oh. You." It takes a moment for Sakura recognise the traveller, and she unwinds far enough to give her a short bow. "You're with the Witch Girl?"
"I am passing through, and she has been gracious enough to give me a lift and allow me to observe, fimti?" Nadia says with an amused smirk and a gesture at you.
Sakura folds her arms again, turning to you. "Anyway, Rin sent me to check whether that was you," she mutters. "As if there was any doubt, Witch girl. They're at the big pavilion."
Vwwp.
Sayaka blinks at the space where Sakura had been, expression twisted in disbelief. "She's... friendly."
"Yeah, I was hoping she'd have mellowed out over the week," you say with a sigh. "She seems to have, ah, simmered nicely in her dislike."
"Jeeze, she doesn't need to take an ass-kicking that personally," Sayaka mutters. "Shall we go?"
"Yeah, we probably should," you say with a sigh, choosing not to get into the matter of, well, Akiko. You'd covered it already, no point bringing it up again. Mami squeezes your hand, giving you an encouraging look.
Nadia laughs again, apparently amused. "It is just ruffled feathers," she says. "They will get over it, or they will not."
You sigh again, hopping off the edge of the roof. Mami doesn't let your hand go, following you down and landing in easy tandem with you. All four of you stroll out onto the street and over to the park, threading the crowds.
There are three of them at the pavillion, three out of five. Akiko and someone left as a caretaker, you'd assume.
Rin stands as you approach, giving you a small, but genuine smile that touches her green eyes. "Good to see you, Sabrina," she says. Sakura's not here. Instead, you see Minami Yumi, dressed in a close-cut green blouse that complements her iron grey hair. Gravity, if you recall correctly.
Well, you also recall snatching her Soul Gem from her and fighting a brief, one-sided tug of war with her gravity powers for it. Which would explain how strained her polite smile and murmured niceties are. On Rin's right is Tanaka Tamiko, the girl with the iridescent, orange-tinted force fields. She brushes back her long hair, giving you a sharp nod.
"Good to see you too, Rin," you say. "Um, so this is Mami, of course, she was here last time. This is Miki Sayaka, my friend, and Bennouna Nadia."
Nadia nods, taking a step forward to shake Rin's hand. There's a spark of recognition in Tamiko and Yumi's expression, but not to Rin - it seems like she actually hasn't met Nadia before. The Moroccan girl's in her element as she introduces herself and explains what she does, Rin nodding along.
The healer seems a tad surprised, but hides it well.
"Ah, but I do not mean to steal the spotlight," Nadia says. "Sabrina?"
"Right, thanks," you say. "Anyway, is everything going well, Rin?"
"They are, thank you," Rin says with a careful nod. She brushes back her black hair. "It's been a quiet week, really, and things have needed some... settling into."
"Yeah," you say, wincing. You don't want to undermine her authority - hell, you're not absolutely sure what the situation's like. Is she leading by dint of having seized power, or whether because they are willing to follow. "How's hunting been?"
"Hunting is... sustainable," Rin says. "We've given some territory back to Miss Chouko's group."
Tamiko tilts her head, giving Rin a look.
"Well, that's good," you say, a little at a loss for small talk. "So, uh... cleansing?"
"That would be appreciated," Rin says with a little smile. She offers her Soul Gem readily, emerald green Gem sparkling in the sun. Tamiko tenses as she produces hers, keeping it caged between her fingers, as does Yumi. You're presented with a generous array of Grief Seeds, too. More than you'd expect, for their group, but then...
Akiko had been stockpiling, hadn't she?
You take a breath, and wipe them all clean with a theatric wave of your hands. Fractal banners of Grief drift free, winding around you and collapsing into little marbles that you send streaming away.
Tamiko tucks her Soul Gem away with a little more alacrity than is strictly polite, but you don't grudge her that.
"So, uh... how's Akiko?" you ask carefully.
Rin's expression goes blank. "She's... coherent. Why?"
[] Offer a Clear Seed (conditions and warnings will be automatic)
[] Ask to allow Sayaka to copy powers
[] Ask after Akiko
- [] Ask to see Akiko
- [] Write-in how
[] Avoid the subject, leave
- [] Write-in what to do
[] Write-in
Voting opens
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)
Apologies for cutting this one off a little early, but the update's starting to get a little too long. The key write-in in this vote is about Akiko; what, specifically, do you want to do?
"That's the idea," you say. You grin right back at her, fierce and pleased. "I want to be famous. Or- I want what comes with being famous. These aren't my Grief Seeds I'm giving out." You exhale, and hold your free hand out to her. "Thank you for believing and helping me, Nadia. I... I will fix this."
Instead of shaking your hand, she clasps it, palm to palm. "Hold on to that optimism, fimti? You will need it."
"She's not going to do it alone," Mami says, squeezing your free hand with her interlaced fingers.
"I see she is not," Nadia says, nodding.
Sayaka harumphs, folding her arms. "You know, I still don't get why this is such a big deal," she grumbles, the smirk ticking the side of her mouth giving lie to her faked discontent. "But it is a big deal, I know that. If we're doing all these dramatic declarations of support, I'm in too."
The street's not too crowded, so you unclasp your hand and wheel to face Sayaka, Mami moving in perfect synchronisation. "Sayaka, I'm not sure I've said it in these words before, but we four in Mitakihara? You, Homura, Mami, me? We are privileged. We are the one percent of the one percent. You've seen some of what it's like for everyone else. Nadia wasn't kidding when she said Clear Seeds might be the most valuable things in the world."
"I've been getting that impression, yeah," Sayaka says. "I... bah. Look, I don't need a speech, I'm in. Like I said."
You snort softly. "Sorry, it's a habit," you offer half-heartedly.
Sayaka rolls her eyes. "Right. Wasn't there one last group we're here to see?"
"Yeah, uh, about that," you say, rubbing your nose. "I should probably let them know we're here? And then we should probably find some way to occupy ourselves for a bit so that, uh, they don't know we're here without permission?"
Mami muffles a giggle against her hand. Nadia, of course, has no such reservations, throwing her head back and laughing. "Always something funny," she gasps, eyes dancing.
You sigh, rolling your eyes. Mami squeezes your hand, tugging you onwards as you reach out by telepathy. "Hello, Miss Mori?"
"Ah, Miss Sabrina," the healer responds a few seconds later. "I've been expecting your call."
"Oh, good," you say, willingly following as Mami strolls onwards aimlessly. You'd told her that you were coming, yes, but you haven't contacted her today. Which, really, brings you to your dilemma, and a bit of a white lie. "Hey, can I drop by for the cleansing soon? The rest of the group won't get upset?"
A heavy sigh flows over the telepathic link. "Feel free to drop by," she says. "For free cleansing, they... we will tolerate you. Akiko..."
You hear the shrug. "I see," you say. You don't, really, but you will, with your own two eyes. Akiko can't still be catatonic, can she? "I'll be along soon, then."
"See you," Rin says.
"See you," you echo. The white lie, pretending that you aren't technically already here without their knowledge... It smooths many feathers, you suppose. You can imagine the stream of invective, starting mostly with the letter 'f', coming from Sakura if you didn't. Then again, you might be getting that anyway, and it's not like you know the rest of Rin's crew all that well, right.
"Alrighty," you say, smiling at Mami. "We have... ah, twenty minutes to spend?"
"Hmm... I wonder if there are any music shops around?" Sayaka muses. "Or an arcade?"
"We passed a music shop," Mami says.
"Oh yeah, you're right!" Sayaka says, pivoting on her foot. "C'mon!"
"Getting more music for Kwasuke-kun, eh?" you say, waggling your eyebrows at Sayaka.
She flushes red. "It's not like that! I genuinely like the music!"
"Ah, but of course," Mami says, nodding wisely. "You also like sharing it~"
Sayaka blushes brighter, and sticks her nose in the air as she marches away. "I'm ignoring you two now."
"'Kwasuke-kun'," Nadia muses, pursing her lips. "'-kun' is for boys."
"Mmmmhm," you say. "And well, maybe, to answer your next question."
"Ah," Nadia says, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "I understand."
Mami giggles, hugging your arm closer.
"Anyway, shall we? Though-" you don't need to look to feel the masses of Grief you have. You know where each and every single piece is: the bag full of marbles bouncing at your side, outlining the deadly shape of the obrez, the monstrously large primary mass of Grief you direct over the rooftops in an endless waterfall of malevolently dark spheres...
"Though?" Mami says.
"I think I'll step out for a moment, when we reach the music store?" you say, coming to a decision. "I need to drop off the Grief, I have way too much, and it's getting impractical."
Mami's eyes flick up to yours, and you see comprehension fade into worry. "I-"
You stop, and pull her into a proper hug. You get looks from the passersby, but you don't care. Mami's the only thing that's important. She hugs back with crushing force, clinging tight to you. You stroke her back in slow, soothing circles. "It's OK, Mami."
She sniffs quietly. "I-I'm sorry. I s-shouldn't-"
"No," you whisper. "There isn't a shouldn't. You feel how you feel, alright? And I'm willing to give you all the time and attention you need for you to feel better."
"I-I know," she says, pulling back far enough to give you a smile that's only just a bit teary. "I know. It's just- hard."
"I know," you whisper, smiling back. "I'm still here, right?"
She indulges in the hug a few moments longer, before pulling back. You see the way her lips move, shaping the first syllable of 'sorry' before she dips her head and smiles hesitantly at you.
You take her hand, interlacing your fingers with hers, and look up to find Sayaka standing with her back to the two of you, glowering at the curious pedestrians. She must have noticed, and hurried back. You give her a grateful smile. Clear cerulean eyes meet yours, and she smirks.
"Um... shall we go to that music store?" Mami suggests in a rather small voice.
"Yeah," Sayaka says, grinning to smooth over the awkward silence. "Let's go!"
You squeeze Mami's hand, and follow. The music store's set in the front of a large, airy building. You don't head in, but you give Mami one more tight hug and a promise to return as fast as you can. You give Sayaka a sharp look, and she rolls her eyes before nodding. You turn away and down the nearest alleyway, scaling the side of the building in a few rapid bounds.
"Kyuubey," you call, shaking brick dust off your hand from where you'd trailed it up the wall. "I have Grief for you."
"The Grief is always appreciated, Sabrina," the Incubator's words flow into your mind promptly, the little white alien's body stalking out from behind the stairwell. "As will the reduced workload from having to modify memories of people who see your Grief."
It almost sounds like the Incubator's scolding you. And it's not like you're happy about those mindwipes, but... you just want this done quick and smoothly so you can make good on your promise and get back to the important things. Like Mami. So you're just going to ignore that.
Instead, you summon the Grief to yourself with a wave of your hand, a gigantic wave of spheres cascading down towards you. The Incubator watches with unblinkingly, fluffy tail lashing in slow, metronomic motions.
"Do you know how much trouble you're going to cause with the Clear Seeds?" Kyuubey asks.
"Lots, or so everyone tells me," you say, eyeing the Grief. You leave a decent chunk for everyday use, and you make damned sure you seperate out all the spheres containing your stuff. Homura's notebook, particularly. The rest you draw together into a titanic, ominous sphere that hovers over your heads.
Without being prompted, Kyuubey presents its back to you. You spin Grief off the main mass, ostensible solid flowing like liquid into a slender, pouring stream that you drive into the hole in the Incubator's back. You'd briefly considered compressing it, but it's not like you need to, and you don't really want to broadcast the sensation of Witch, anyway.
Grief under your control moves fast, all but blistering the air as you slam it through the hole. The deep purple sphere bleeds mass, waves crawling across its surface as you siphon away congealed despair. It dwindles smaller and smaller, the downdraft of air dragged along by the Grief enough to rustle the hem of your shirt until there's nothing, the last, slender spike of Grief driven into the Incubator.
"Thank you for the Grief," Kyuubey says, pawing at itself. It rolls over to fix you with glassy pink eyes.
"Thank you for taking it off my hands," you say, rolling your eyes. Seems to be the thing to do. Without another word, you turn on a heel and drop off the side of the roof, landing in a smooth crouch. You smooth your clothes down and wander out of the alleyway to find your friends.
Mami's eyes are already rising to meet yours through the glass front of the store before you round the corner. That preternatural sixth or seventh sense of hers, heh. She practically teleports to you, and you greet her with a hug that sweeps her off her feet.
"Hey," you say, smiling at her. "Are you OK?"
"Better now," she says, the anxiety melting off her face as she smiles back at you.
Sayaka waves at you through the window, pointing at her basket, and then the counter. You flash her a thumbs up - that gives you a bit of time to cuddle with Mami, anyway. You're not going to object about that.
Nadia and Sayaka rejoin you a few minutes later, Sayaka swinging a small plastic bag from her finger. Checking your phone, you decide that enough time has passed, which means it's time to go and meet the Sendai girls.
Neutral territory, a park, so you get airborne. Well, neutral for this meeting, anyway; a meeting with the University girls wouldn't be neutral in a park for Haru to bend to her will. The four of you get airborne, and along the way, you explain the situation to Sayaka and Nadia both.
You make particular note of the whole Kato Setsuko... anomaly that triggered off the whole mess, of course. You still haven't gotten to the root of that, the missing girl who might have started off Akiko's obsession with Grief Seeds. You think that she Witched out in Ishinomaki territory, whether because of the Ishinomaki Group's actions or not, and that set off everything.
But you're not sure.
Eventually, you're descending towards a building near the park, rather than try to land your Mobile Oppression Fortress in a crowded location. And it is crowded. Sunday in a fairly large city, of cour-
A surge of magic.
Vwwp.
Sayaka yelps, spinning on the spot. Shining steel flashes into existence, Sayaka brandishing a sword at the newcomer.
Sakura -who else would it be?- glares back, arms folded over her brown jacket and white undershirt. She doesn't even have a weapon but for a scowl directed at Sayaka. "Put that fucking toy away," she growls. "I'm not here to fight."
"Then don't- don't startle us like that!" Sayaka snaps back. She does lower her sword, though.
Mami's free hand eases from a clenched fist, and you feel the subtle, subtle magic of a ribbon dissolving. You didn't even see it.
Nadia seems completely unruffled by the altercation, tilting her head in that birdlike manner of hers. "Tachibana Sakura?" she asks.
"Yeah? Oh. You." It takes a moment for Sakura recognise the traveller, and she unwinds far enough to give her a short bow. "You're with the Witch Girl?"
"I am passing through, and she has been gracious enough to give me a lift and allow me to observe, fimti?" Nadia says with an amused smirk and a gesture at you.
Sakura folds her arms again, turning to you. "Anyway, Rin sent me to check whether that was you," she mutters. "As if there was any doubt, Witch girl. They're at the big pavilion."
Vwwp.
Sayaka blinks at the space where Sakura had been, expression twisted in disbelief. "She's... friendly."
"Yeah, I was hoping she'd have mellowed out over the week," you say with a sigh. "She seems to have, ah, simmered nicely in her dislike."
"Jeeze, she doesn't need to take an ass-kicking that personally," Sayaka mutters. "Shall we go?"
"Yeah, we probably should," you say with a sigh, choosing not to get into the matter of, well, Akiko. You'd covered it already, no point bringing it up again. Mami squeezes your hand, giving you an encouraging look.
Nadia laughs again, apparently amused. "It is just ruffled feathers," she says. "They will get over it, or they will not."
You sigh again, hopping off the edge of the roof. Mami doesn't let your hand go, following you down and landing in easy tandem with you. All four of you stroll out onto the street and over to the park, threading the crowds.
There are three of them at the pavillion, three out of five. Akiko and someone left as a caretaker, you'd assume.
Rin stands as you approach, giving you a small, but genuine smile that touches her green eyes. "Good to see you, Sabrina," she says. Sakura's not here. Instead, you see Minami Yumi, dressed in a close-cut green blouse that complements her iron grey hair. Gravity, if you recall correctly.
Well, you also recall snatching her Soul Gem from her and fighting a brief, one-sided tug of war with her gravity powers for it. Which would explain how strained her polite smile and murmured niceties are. On Rin's right is Tanaka Tamiko, the girl with the iridescent, orange-tinted force fields. She brushes back her long hair, giving you a sharp nod.
"Good to see you too, Rin," you say. "Um, so this is Mami, of course, she was here last time. This is Miki Sayaka, my friend, and Bennouna Nadia."
Nadia nods, taking a step forward to shake Rin's hand. There's a spark of recognition in Tamiko and Yumi's expression, but not to Rin - it seems like she actually hasn't met Nadia before. The Moroccan girl's in her element as she introduces herself and explains what she does, Rin nodding along.
The healer seems a tad surprised, but hides it well.
"Ah, but I do not mean to steal the spotlight," Nadia says. "Sabrina?"
"Right, thanks," you say. "Anyway, is everything going well, Rin?"
"They are, thank you," Rin says with a careful nod. She brushes back her black hair. "It's been a quiet week, really, and things have needed some... settling into."
"Yeah," you say, wincing. You don't want to undermine her authority - hell, you're not absolutely sure what the situation's like. Is she leading by dint of having seized power, or whether because they are willing to follow. "How's hunting been?"
"Hunting is... sustainable," Rin says. "We've given some territory back to Miss Chouko's group."
Tamiko tilts her head, giving Rin a look.
"Well, that's good," you say, a little at a loss for small talk. "So, uh... cleansing?"
"That would be appreciated," Rin says with a little smile. She offers her Soul Gem readily, emerald green Gem sparkling in the sun. Tamiko tenses as she produces hers, keeping it caged between her fingers, as does Yumi. You're presented with a generous array of Grief Seeds, too. More than you'd expect, for their group, but then...
Akiko had been stockpiling, hadn't she?
You take a breath, and wipe them all clean with a theatric wave of your hands. Fractal banners of Grief drift free, winding around you and collapsing into little marbles that you send streaming away.
Tamiko tucks her Soul Gem away with a little more alacrity than is strictly polite, but you don't grudge her that.
"So, uh... how's Akiko?" you ask carefully.
Rin's expression goes blank. "She's... coherent. Why?"
[] Offer a Clear Seed (conditions and warnings will be automatic)
[] Ask to allow Sayaka to copy powers
[] Ask after Akiko
- [] Ask to see Akiko
- [] Write-in how
[] Avoid the subject, leave
- [] Write-in what to do
[] Write-in
Voting opens
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)
=====
Apologies for cutting this one off a little early, but the update's starting to get a little too long. The key write-in in this vote is about Akiko; what, specifically, do you want to do?
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- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
Coherent, huh? That's a marked improvement from last time... but who knows if it'll last when we show up?
Main thing here is to not undermine Rin's authority, while still offering Clear Seeds to the group as a whole. Discussion with Akiko is going to be tricky - not least of all because a fair amount of her trauma probably comes from the witchbomb, which we can't discuss unless we're absolutely certain we're not going to be overheard.
Main thing here is to not undermine Rin's authority, while still offering Clear Seeds to the group as a whole. Discussion with Akiko is going to be tricky - not least of all because a fair amount of her trauma probably comes from the witchbomb, which we can't discuss unless we're absolutely certain we're not going to be overheard.
mistfist
Protector of Moe
- Location
- United States, EST
This bit had me laughing for a good while.
Poor Sayaka. We should hold off on our teasing in the future, at least a little bit.
- Location
- Elsewhere
Yo, dawg. I think something is missin' there, man.
- Location
- ⇙
Hm. Talking to Akiko could help clear some things up, but at the same time, it might not be good for her mental health, if she has to see us again so soon.
I mean they haven't brought her to the meeting for a reason. Either because she just flat out didn't want to meet with us or they're concerned she'll have a relapse if she comes face to face with us. Going by Rin's reaction she'd probabyl prefer if we didn't insist on meeting Akiko.
I'm also interested in what this particular look means.
I mean they haven't brought her to the meeting for a reason. Either because she just flat out didn't want to meet with us or they're concerned she'll have a relapse if she comes face to face with us. Going by Rin's reaction she'd probabyl prefer if we didn't insist on meeting Akiko.
I'm also interested in what this particular look means.
Is it just owned to the unwillingeness of parting with the territory or maybe something more? All in all Rin's position as the new leader seems unstable and we should probably help her by not undermining her. So if she thinks that meeting Akiko is a bad idea, I won't insist on it.
- Location
- Somewhere!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Yeah, it's almost system breaking or something?
Probably messes up Kyubey's quotas in a big way because less meguca starving from lack of witches. And now it's going to spread past Japan to other countries, eventually.
His bosses will be so upset!
PhDEevee
Mathematician and Questgiver
- Location
- Sydney
I don't know if this theory was ever confirmed, and even if she does possess the Grief Seed, she might not be very comfortable with Sabrina doing anything with it, making it difficult to use as a way of building a rapport.
- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
Yeah. It's unfortunate, but I think we should maximize Rin's legitimacy. Speaking with Akiko now isn't so critical that destabilizing the Sendai group is worth it.
How could we make that offer, though? There's two issues: How do we raise the topic without witchbombing anyone else, and how do we offer to cleanse a seed for Akiko in particular without undermining Rin's authority over the group?
I think that Akiko has to contact us. And once she sees the Clear Seed... she probably will contact us, assuming she kept the grief seed. We don't need to rush this.
How could we make that offer, though? There's two issues: How do we raise the topic without witchbombing anyone else, and how do we offer to cleanse a seed for Akiko in particular without undermining Rin's authority over the group?
I think that Akiko has to contact us. And once she sees the Clear Seed... she probably will contact us, assuming she kept the grief seed. We don't need to rush this.
- Location
- ⇙
We don't know that actually.
Akiko went looking for Setsuko alone, came back without her and hated the Ishinomaki group after that.
Vebyast
Nascent Transhuman
The trick is getting the info to her that clear seeds are... what was the word, quiescent? Calm?
Not witchbombing the rest of our party is a major issue, though.
Make it a compassion thing rather than a cleansing thing. Once she understands what's going on there, that clear seed would not be used for cleansing.