- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
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?
Onmur
Archangel of Nutella.
What an uncultured non-believer.
Hasn't Madokami taught you to always have hope?
It's like you didn't even read 'Mikiel 1.24: And then Madoka stared down at the Incubator, and forgave it, for it did not truly know the pain it caused. And the Incubator blessed Madoka, and accepted her Law, and never again tried to cause Witch-outs lololol.'
Now, there's controversy about what Mikiel meant by adding that 'lololol' at the end. Whether there's any hidden meaning, whether it was a common turn of phrase at her time, or what, but I think this all points towards Madoka's Maxim "If someone tells me that it's wrong to hope or eat Doritos, I'll tell them they're wrong every me-damned time."
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Karnewarrior
Leastmost of the Hanged Man Arcana
Madokami hates Doritos!
Long live the Church of Frito!
Long live the Church of Frito!
Subrosian_Smithy
endless
- Location
- Washington
- Pronouns
- She/Her/Hers
What's the rest of the Heavenly Host like, then?
Akemiel - the Scribe and Shield of Heaven - is the highest angel (some would say the equal of Madokami). She chronicles all of the could-have-beens in the world, engraving them into the shield with which she protects her Lady.
Mikiel is the Sword of Justice, wielding weapons forged in frisson and quenched in the music of the spheres. Her equal and opposite is Sakurel the Tempered; the push and pull of their interplay may be Tiferet or it may be Thagirion.
Tomoel is the Rapturous One. Only described in a handful of lines before her untimely death, some say her power to connect is boundless enough to reach beyond the stories that describe her. A golden and abstract sentimentality.
AuraTwilight
The Sorcerer of Smiles
- Location
- The Silver City
But we offered Doritos to Homucifer in an omake and cheered her up. They are thus the Favored Corn Chip of Madokami.
Then there remains the question: Nacho Cheese, or Cool Ranch?
Karnewarrior
Leastmost of the Hanged Man Arcana
A question of great theological debate, that.
AuraTwilight
The Sorcerer of Smiles
- Location
- The Silver City
Then there remains the question: Nacho Cheese, or Cool Ranch?
Cool Ranch was the flavor offered to Homucifer, and is implied to be her preference. Theology has been solved.
- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
It's Mountain Dew flavored Doritos, obviously. 
- Location
- A place
So quick question about the current leading vote why are we referring to Kanna Hijiri's magic as mind/memory magic wouldn't it be better described as stealth connection, power copying, and magical string powers. Having Kirika along would still be useful to counter regardless.
Kanna Hijiri - Puella Magi Wiki
I just read Suzune Magica and I just want to make sure we are not confusing her with Kagari Hinata who is better described by Memory/mind magics than Hijiri. They are completely different cans of worms but there first and last names have the same first two letters so I'm really hoping we are not confusing them.
Kagari Hinata - Puella Magi Wiki
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When was this?
AuraTwilight
The Sorcerer of Smiles
- Location
- The Silver City
Hijiri has Umika's magic and thus has memory control powers.
...In an omake. One I wrote.
Well, don't I look like a massive tool. I just asked because this is the first time that I saw a mention of Doritos and it suddenly turns out they were offered to Homura once.
Always Happening
We could have prevented this.
- Location
- On a train with no brakes
In theory, she also has Satomi's magic, and thus possession powers.
AuraTwilight
The Sorcerer of Smiles
- Location
- The Silver City
Mirai's magic also seems to exploit body control, since her teddy bears work on the same magic that lets her control her body.
Onmur
Archangel of Nutella.
She's got a lot of powers, but I figure we're just mentioning the one that really, really, really concerns us.
Everyone must know.
I guess the question is if those links can be disrupted by Kirika's antimagic burst, in which case she'd have to re-link to everyone whose powers she wants to steal.
AuraTwilight
The Sorcerer of Smiles
- Location
- The Silver City
I honestly wouldn't bet on it. The intent on her wish seemed to tie her power set to the Pleiades SPECIFICALLY rather than just the power sets of whoever she chooses.
- Location
- The Surface Of A Hostile Planet
Games
She'd been seven, when the demon came for her soul. Young, and oh so very, very, stupid. She wanted, she yearned, she wished for people to play games with, beyond the strangling confines of her parents beliefs.
And they came. So many faceless girls, so many forgotten memories. And they laughed and danced and sang and made merry, her and the others, and they purged the lands of evil one and all, and though she was the youngest they all cheered her on. They were closer family to her than her own parents, and she loved each and every one of them, even if some of them went away and never ever came back.
And it continued, on and on the fun, until one day the truth came out, and everything finally broke. She was damned. All of them were. Damned to suffer and die, suffer the wages of sin after death, and suffer the pits of hell for selling their souls forevermore.
And there was only one thing to do. To carve a bloody path across the world, to live forevermore, and to make a mark on history and never, ever be forgotten. Inky had lied and cheated and tricked and taken everything from her, and like the good student she was, she would turn it all around and take from the world until it gave her back what she had lost.
That had been eleven years ago. Sarah didn't play with childish toys anymore. Her "friends" were her toys to play with, and she was very, very good at this particular "game". A little nudge here, the right words there, some direct intervention for the most stubborn, and one and all her pieces fell into line, while her opponents scrambled around like the idiots they were.
They never had the right ideas. Never had the right words. Honestly, she was hoping that the tight-knight and communicative groups in Japan were more of a challenge, because right now, the mismanagement of resources she saw was making her sick.
Take Anika. Now there was a pretty plaything, a jewel in the rough that she'd taken from Aurangabad and begun polishing. Reflections. So, so much you could do with reflections, and she'd been too squeamish by half to take any but the most obvious steps. It was still too early to tell, of course, but Sarah bet that under her guidance, she'd last all the way out of India - her defensive trick was one of the more potent ones she'd seen. Bounce any effect, any effect at all back where it came? Top twenty, at least.
Eh.
Maybe top fifty.
Still. Hundred of seeds, dozens of girls, all humming along like a well oiled machine. Vadodara, on the other hand, was utterly clueless about what was about to happen, just as the past three cities had been. She sat in a coffee shop, hidden in plain sight, while her mind's eye tracked what was going on.
True conflict was nothing like chess, of course - only she could see all the pieces in real life, while her opponent was blind, for one - but if she had to put it in words...
"Check."
She'd been seven, when the demon came for her soul. Young, and oh so very, very, stupid. She wanted, she yearned, she wished for people to play games with, beyond the strangling confines of her parents beliefs.
And they came. So many faceless girls, so many forgotten memories. And they laughed and danced and sang and made merry, her and the others, and they purged the lands of evil one and all, and though she was the youngest they all cheered her on. They were closer family to her than her own parents, and she loved each and every one of them, even if some of them went away and never ever came back.
And it continued, on and on the fun, until one day the truth came out, and everything finally broke. She was damned. All of them were. Damned to suffer and die, suffer the wages of sin after death, and suffer the pits of hell for selling their souls forevermore.
And there was only one thing to do. To carve a bloody path across the world, to live forevermore, and to make a mark on history and never, ever be forgotten. Inky had lied and cheated and tricked and taken everything from her, and like the good student she was, she would turn it all around and take from the world until it gave her back what she had lost.
That had been eleven years ago. Sarah didn't play with childish toys anymore. Her "friends" were her toys to play with, and she was very, very good at this particular "game". A little nudge here, the right words there, some direct intervention for the most stubborn, and one and all her pieces fell into line, while her opponents scrambled around like the idiots they were.
They never had the right ideas. Never had the right words. Honestly, she was hoping that the tight-knight and communicative groups in Japan were more of a challenge, because right now, the mismanagement of resources she saw was making her sick.
Take Anika. Now there was a pretty plaything, a jewel in the rough that she'd taken from Aurangabad and begun polishing. Reflections. So, so much you could do with reflections, and she'd been too squeamish by half to take any but the most obvious steps. It was still too early to tell, of course, but Sarah bet that under her guidance, she'd last all the way out of India - her defensive trick was one of the more potent ones she'd seen. Bounce any effect, any effect at all back where it came? Top twenty, at least.
Eh.
Maybe top fifty.
Still. Hundred of seeds, dozens of girls, all humming along like a well oiled machine. Vadodara, on the other hand, was utterly clueless about what was about to happen, just as the past three cities had been. She sat in a coffee shop, hidden in plain sight, while her mind's eye tracked what was going on.
True conflict was nothing like chess, of course - only she could see all the pieces in real life, while her opponent was blind, for one - but if she had to put it in words...
"Check."
I'm not so sure that Hijiri wanted to have the Pleiades' powers, so much as the ability to steal them, and use them how she sees fit. When I read: "I want the power to connect to others without drawing attention. I'll watch (Niko) and burn her death into my eyes!!" it sounds to me like she was looking specifically for a one-way connection to the Pleiades, essentially stealth, a way to stalk them unknowing and find an opportunity to kill them, with the ability of this one-way connection also allowed her to steal their powers as a side effect. The point is that the connection is important: she is specifically hijacking their powers, through the power of their one-way connection, rather than using powers that she's copied from them, and that tells me that the powers aren't innate to her, that there is a connection that can be disrupted.
But I could be wrong; in fact I could be completely wrong given that I'm using an English translation. Anyone with the original Japanese who can clarify what was actually said?
Rictek
Burning hear to the burning way
- Location
- Colombia
ok that game part was onimus
ok so if my memory and my english reading of the wiki dont betray me, Hjiri wish was
"I want the power to connect to others without drawing attention. I'll watch (Niko) and burn her death into my eyes!!"
so i guess that the power of connect it had meaning while the group that she connect is close or have some relation with niko?
im having divided about mami going with sabrina,
Mami: Pro: she knows one of the pleiades, she can be a good mediator and see a former student that is happy to see her it could be good for our golden mumi
cons: asurano is kinda a thin ice walk on the secret of magical girls turning into witches, and i dont think our soul gem is bullet proff yet (episode 10 flashbacks intensifies)
about the international conquest ejem i mean dealing with other magical girls we can plan that later our world domination plan can wait until we can make homura our rigth hand and make her wear a cape like darth vader jajaja ahmm sorry
in a more constructive idea, we could bring kyouko and yuma could stay with mami, i mean its not the best option but kyouko had the experience to back us, sorry fo this format i must read to learn how vote in the quest im re-reading again to not miss a detail
ok so if my memory and my english reading of the wiki dont betray me, Hjiri wish was
"I want the power to connect to others without drawing attention. I'll watch (Niko) and burn her death into my eyes!!"
so i guess that the power of connect it had meaning while the group that she connect is close or have some relation with niko?
im having divided about mami going with sabrina,
Mami: Pro: she knows one of the pleiades, she can be a good mediator and see a former student that is happy to see her it could be good for our golden mumi
cons: asurano is kinda a thin ice walk on the secret of magical girls turning into witches, and i dont think our soul gem is bullet proff yet (episode 10 flashbacks intensifies)
about the international conquest ejem i mean dealing with other magical girls we can plan that later our world domination plan can wait until we can make homura our rigth hand and make her wear a cape like darth vader jajaja ahmm sorry
in a more constructive idea, we could bring kyouko and yuma could stay with mami, i mean its not the best option but kyouko had the experience to back us, sorry fo this format i must read to learn how vote in the quest im re-reading again to not miss a detail
Subrosian_Smithy
endless
- Location
- Washington
- Pronouns
- She/Her/Hers
AuraTwilight
The Sorcerer of Smiles
- Location
- The Silver City
Problem. Hijiri can keep using the magic of dead Pleiades.
A Red Letter Day pt. 24
"Talk to her," you murmur to Mami, smiling. You hesitate for a second, and boot Homura, Oriko, and Kirika from the mental conversation, mouthing 'sorry' to them.
Homura blinks very slowly at you, managing to look faintly nonplussed without actually changing her expression one iota. Kirika, on the other hand, just rolls her eyes and flashes you a thumbs up, while Oriko nods.
Kazusa seems to notice the booting, though. "Hey, who was that? Mami?"
"A-ah, some friends," Mami manages.
"Oh, that's great!" Kazusa says. She's bubbly. "All worried about you, I guess? Hm, is someone still there? Hi!"
"Hi!" you say. "I'm Sabrina, it's nice to meet you. Sorry, I hope you don't mind?"
"No, no, it's fine!" Kazusa says. Well, Michiru, to use her first name. "Miss Tomoe? Are you OK?"
Mami takes a deep, shuddering breath, and smiles. At you, not conveyed in that odd, barely-there impression over telepathy. "I think so," she says. "It has been a while, hasn't it?"
"It has!" Michiru agrees. "Oh! I have a proper team now, Miss Tomoe! We call ourselves the Pleiades Saints. I've taught them everything I learned from you."
"I've heard," Mami says, nodding. You clasp her hand between both of yours, giving her an encouraging smile. She's got this.
"Do you remember Kaoru and Umika?" Michiru enthuses. "They became magical girls, too! Umika is hoping to get her book published soon, she found an editor, and she says she wants to buy us a bigger house! Though... the three of us already live together, anyway, more or less."
"That's good," Mami says. "Was that the book you showed me a part of... last time?" Her expression falls a little.
"Ah, a different one," Michiru says, sounding proud. "Um, kind of? You know how she is about writing, she rewrote so much of it!"
"That's cool!" you say, trying to suppress the worry in your voice. As far as you know, Michiru Witches out on the day Umika's first book debuts, so that's your timeline. Then again, Michiru doesn't seem to show any strain of carrying too much Grief. "What's the book title? Maybe we could pick up a copy here."
"Oh, it isn't out yet!" Michiru says. "It will be soon, though, it's called The Sky of Seven Stars."
"Like the Pleiades constellation?" you ask, quirking an eyebrow.
"That's the idea!" Michiru replies. "Write what you know, Umika said."
"Sounds about right," you agree, smiling faintly. You check on Mami. She's listening avidly, soaking it all in despite the biting, tired grief on her face.
"Oh, Pleiades, like your group?" Mami asks.
"Yep! We have seven magical girls, Miss Tomoe, just like the constellation!" Michiru continues, picking up her thought from earlier. "They're all wonderful people, and I'm very lucky to know them."
You can hear the bright, cheerful smile accompanying the statement, for all that it sends your mind into overdrive. Four people. Asami Saki, Wakaba Mirai, Kanna Niko, Usagi Satomi, in addition to Kazusa Michiru herself, Misaki Umika, and Maki Kaoru. All present and accounted for, though is Nikon being on the team means that Hijiri Kanna is around, too.
Mami wilts, expression shattering. Of course, Michiru having a team is indirectly Mami's fault. And talking about a team wasn't ever going to be not a touchy subject, with how lonely Mami was, but... more magical girls that are her doing, more magical girls consigned to having their Souls ripped out to fight an endless war for their survivals.
Fuck that.
"That's an impressive group, Miss Kazusa." You pick up the slack, slowly stroking Mami's back in soothing circles. Her grip on your hand is almost crushing, knuckles bone white around yours. "How's hunting?"
"Eh? Oh, Miss Sabrina!" Michiru says, sounding bright and curious. If she's puzzled by you having effectively taken over the conversation, it doesn't show in her voice. "Ah, yes, are you Mami's new student?"
"I'm Mami's student, Mami's friend..." you say. But that's not enough, is it? It doesn't encapsulate your relationship. You blush. "Uh... Well. I'm Mami's."
"Ooh, like me and Umika and Kaoru," Michiru says. "I see! I'm glad."
"Yeah," you say, smiling at Mami's startled look. "I'm actually pretty new as a magical girl, even though I know a lot about the magical girl world."
Kirika flashes you a discreet thumbs up, which you ignore.
"Lucky!" Kazusa says. "And you have Miss Tomoe teaching you to help with the bits you don't know, too!"
"Yeah," you agree. "I really am pretty lucky." More than Kazusa knows, but there's no need to cram your spiel down her throat just yet.
And hey, it wasn't all luck, either.
"Hey, if you're Mami's student, and so am I, then you can call me sempai!" Kazusa says cheerfully.
"I- I have a team too, now," Mami says, her hand clamping down on yours, just a little more. You smile at her, gently brushing hair out of her face.
"Oh, that's great!" Kazusa says. "Oh, was that them listening in earlier? And Miss Sabrina?"
You smile encouragingly at Mami. She swallows hard, jaws working, before she shakes her head. You squeeze her hand back, gentle, but firm.
"Yeah, I'm part of the team," you say, nodding. "We only have four members proper, though."
"Oh, that sounds great!" Michiru says. "Four of you with the whole city to yourselves?"
That would be your cue to jump in, but... You eye Mami. She looks conflicted, a mix of simple elation and guilt and crushing regret. You exhale, and you release her hand so that you can hug her properly. It only takes a tiny effort to cleanse her Soul Gem, too, twists of Grief rippling free.
"Hello? Miss Tomoe? Are you OK?" Michiru says, sounding a little concerned.
Mami takes a deep, shuddering breath, looking up at you again. "I'm fine," she says. "J-just- it's been a while, Miss Kazusa."
"It has," Michiru says, voice softening. "It really would be nice to see you again, Miss Tomoe."
"Um... Sabrina?" Mami asks.
You squeeze her hand, watching as Oriko murmurs something to Kirika. The black haired girl bounces to her feet and off to the kitchen, irrepressibly energetic. Homura's eyes follow her. "Yeah, we're actually planning a trip sometime, if that works for you?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful," Michiru says. "I now know how hard it is to leave your city behind, though! Maybe I could come over instead? I'll bring Umika and Kaoru with me!"
You blink. That could actually solve a fair number of problems - like sidestepping Oriko's rather dire warnings. And with Michiru explicitly bringing Umika on a friendly visit, that would mean presumably that you don't need to test your possible resistance against mind control or anything.
Are there downsides? Maybe if there's something specific to Asunaro city that you need, like the anti-Kyuubey barrier or Jyuubey. But without Michiru Witching out, and hopefully she won't, they wouldn't exist yet, maybe. And Oriko and Kirika wouldn't get to go out.
Mami gives you a look you can best describe as conflicted - longing and terror at the same time.
"Oh, can Mitakihara support another three magical girls, though?" Michiru continues, blithely ignorant of your churning thoughts.
... On the other hand, she's practically handing you the perfect opening.
You smile at Mami, still stroking her back slowly, and you nod a little. If it's at all possible. "Actually, Miss Kazusa, if I may divert the topic a little to answer your question?"
"Sure?" Michiru says.
"I control Grief," you say. "I can cleanse Soul Gems."
"Really? That's amazing!" Michiru says, voice brimming with excitement.
"She is," Mami murmurs. "W-would you like to come and visit?"
"Or would it be easier for us to go over and visit you?" you offer. "I can actually move a few people very fast. I think I might be supersonic, but I'm not sure."
Angel of Grief, that's you. Heh. Then again, Sayaka probably makes the better angel. Mikiel or some such, perhaps.
"Wow," Michiru breathes, sounding awed. "Um, I'm not sure? It sounds like it would be easier for you to come over, but I'd love to see Mitakihara..."
"Mami?" you prompt gently, smiling at her. Kirika returns from the kitchen with a plate of cookies, plonking it down on the middle of the coffee table before collecting a handful which she proceeds to stuff her face with, offering some to Oriko.
"Maybe... maybe you could come over first? And then we travel to Asunaro after that?" Mami suggests hesitantly, looking to you worriedly.
You smile at Mami and shift to hug her a little tighter, over Michiru's excited agreement. It would solve some issues. Not all, like school, but-
Speaking of school, you should ask.
"Actually, before we plan more, I should ask - Miss Kazusa, do you go to school?" you say, considering getting some of the cookies. But then, that would mean leaving Mami's side, and... not now. Besides, you have an odd craving for chips right now. "Uh, well, I don't."
"Oh, a delinquent!" Michiru says. "How exciting!"
"Sabrina is not a delinquent!" Mami says sharply.
"Eh? Oh no no no! I didn't mean it that way!" Kazusa says, shaking her head. "I mean- I'm a delinquent too. I don't go to school, being a magical girl takes up too much time!"
Mami's shoulders sag a little.
Voting opens
[] When do you want to visit?
-[] Let Michiru come over first
-[] Let Michiru know it might be more than just Mami and Sabrina visiting.
-[] Leave decision to the group
[] Discuss who's going to Asunaro
-[] Explain Hijiri's memory/mind magics
-[] Push for...
--[] Kirika and Oriko, as counters to mind magic
--[] Homura, because she should know
--[] Mami, because Mami
--[] Sayaka
--[] Masami and Hiroko
--[] Megane Ono
-[] Leave decision to the group
[] Ask Kirika for anti-magic enchantments
[] Say goodbye to the Kures
-[] Ask Homura to chat
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)
For the record, Kazusa uses "Mami-san" to address Mami, and "Sabrina-san" for you. 'Translation' convention.
Also, I feel like I should point out that while the Pleiades cluster is known as the Seven Sisters, there are nine readily visible stars - the Seven Sisters and two parents.
Homura blinks very slowly at you, managing to look faintly nonplussed without actually changing her expression one iota. Kirika, on the other hand, just rolls her eyes and flashes you a thumbs up, while Oriko nods.
Kazusa seems to notice the booting, though. "Hey, who was that? Mami?"
"A-ah, some friends," Mami manages.
"Oh, that's great!" Kazusa says. She's bubbly. "All worried about you, I guess? Hm, is someone still there? Hi!"
"Hi!" you say. "I'm Sabrina, it's nice to meet you. Sorry, I hope you don't mind?"
"No, no, it's fine!" Kazusa says. Well, Michiru, to use her first name. "Miss Tomoe? Are you OK?"
Mami takes a deep, shuddering breath, and smiles. At you, not conveyed in that odd, barely-there impression over telepathy. "I think so," she says. "It has been a while, hasn't it?"
"It has!" Michiru agrees. "Oh! I have a proper team now, Miss Tomoe! We call ourselves the Pleiades Saints. I've taught them everything I learned from you."
"I've heard," Mami says, nodding. You clasp her hand between both of yours, giving her an encouraging smile. She's got this.
"Do you remember Kaoru and Umika?" Michiru enthuses. "They became magical girls, too! Umika is hoping to get her book published soon, she found an editor, and she says she wants to buy us a bigger house! Though... the three of us already live together, anyway, more or less."
"That's good," Mami says. "Was that the book you showed me a part of... last time?" Her expression falls a little.
"Ah, a different one," Michiru says, sounding proud. "Um, kind of? You know how she is about writing, she rewrote so much of it!"
"That's cool!" you say, trying to suppress the worry in your voice. As far as you know, Michiru Witches out on the day Umika's first book debuts, so that's your timeline. Then again, Michiru doesn't seem to show any strain of carrying too much Grief. "What's the book title? Maybe we could pick up a copy here."
"Oh, it isn't out yet!" Michiru says. "It will be soon, though, it's called The Sky of Seven Stars."
"Like the Pleiades constellation?" you ask, quirking an eyebrow.
"That's the idea!" Michiru replies. "Write what you know, Umika said."
"Sounds about right," you agree, smiling faintly. You check on Mami. She's listening avidly, soaking it all in despite the biting, tired grief on her face.
"Oh, Pleiades, like your group?" Mami asks.
"Yep! We have seven magical girls, Miss Tomoe, just like the constellation!" Michiru continues, picking up her thought from earlier. "They're all wonderful people, and I'm very lucky to know them."
You can hear the bright, cheerful smile accompanying the statement, for all that it sends your mind into overdrive. Four people. Asami Saki, Wakaba Mirai, Kanna Niko, Usagi Satomi, in addition to Kazusa Michiru herself, Misaki Umika, and Maki Kaoru. All present and accounted for, though is Nikon being on the team means that Hijiri Kanna is around, too.
Mami wilts, expression shattering. Of course, Michiru having a team is indirectly Mami's fault. And talking about a team wasn't ever going to be not a touchy subject, with how lonely Mami was, but... more magical girls that are her doing, more magical girls consigned to having their Souls ripped out to fight an endless war for their survivals.
Fuck that.
"That's an impressive group, Miss Kazusa." You pick up the slack, slowly stroking Mami's back in soothing circles. Her grip on your hand is almost crushing, knuckles bone white around yours. "How's hunting?"
"Eh? Oh, Miss Sabrina!" Michiru says, sounding bright and curious. If she's puzzled by you having effectively taken over the conversation, it doesn't show in her voice. "Ah, yes, are you Mami's new student?"
"I'm Mami's student, Mami's friend..." you say. But that's not enough, is it? It doesn't encapsulate your relationship. You blush. "Uh... Well. I'm Mami's."
"Ooh, like me and Umika and Kaoru," Michiru says. "I see! I'm glad."
"Yeah," you say, smiling at Mami's startled look. "I'm actually pretty new as a magical girl, even though I know a lot about the magical girl world."
Kirika flashes you a discreet thumbs up, which you ignore.
"Lucky!" Kazusa says. "And you have Miss Tomoe teaching you to help with the bits you don't know, too!"
"Yeah," you agree. "I really am pretty lucky." More than Kazusa knows, but there's no need to cram your spiel down her throat just yet.
And hey, it wasn't all luck, either.
"Hey, if you're Mami's student, and so am I, then you can call me sempai!" Kazusa says cheerfully.
"I- I have a team too, now," Mami says, her hand clamping down on yours, just a little more. You smile at her, gently brushing hair out of her face.
"Oh, that's great!" Kazusa says. "Oh, was that them listening in earlier? And Miss Sabrina?"
You smile encouragingly at Mami. She swallows hard, jaws working, before she shakes her head. You squeeze her hand back, gentle, but firm.
"Yeah, I'm part of the team," you say, nodding. "We only have four members proper, though."
"Oh, that sounds great!" Michiru says. "Four of you with the whole city to yourselves?"
That would be your cue to jump in, but... You eye Mami. She looks conflicted, a mix of simple elation and guilt and crushing regret. You exhale, and you release her hand so that you can hug her properly. It only takes a tiny effort to cleanse her Soul Gem, too, twists of Grief rippling free.
"Hello? Miss Tomoe? Are you OK?" Michiru says, sounding a little concerned.
Mami takes a deep, shuddering breath, looking up at you again. "I'm fine," she says. "J-just- it's been a while, Miss Kazusa."
"It has," Michiru says, voice softening. "It really would be nice to see you again, Miss Tomoe."
"Um... Sabrina?" Mami asks.
You squeeze her hand, watching as Oriko murmurs something to Kirika. The black haired girl bounces to her feet and off to the kitchen, irrepressibly energetic. Homura's eyes follow her. "Yeah, we're actually planning a trip sometime, if that works for you?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful," Michiru says. "I now know how hard it is to leave your city behind, though! Maybe I could come over instead? I'll bring Umika and Kaoru with me!"
You blink. That could actually solve a fair number of problems - like sidestepping Oriko's rather dire warnings. And with Michiru explicitly bringing Umika on a friendly visit, that would mean presumably that you don't need to test your possible resistance against mind control or anything.
Are there downsides? Maybe if there's something specific to Asunaro city that you need, like the anti-Kyuubey barrier or Jyuubey. But without Michiru Witching out, and hopefully she won't, they wouldn't exist yet, maybe. And Oriko and Kirika wouldn't get to go out.
Mami gives you a look you can best describe as conflicted - longing and terror at the same time.
"Oh, can Mitakihara support another three magical girls, though?" Michiru continues, blithely ignorant of your churning thoughts.
... On the other hand, she's practically handing you the perfect opening.
You smile at Mami, still stroking her back slowly, and you nod a little. If it's at all possible. "Actually, Miss Kazusa, if I may divert the topic a little to answer your question?"
"Sure?" Michiru says.
"I control Grief," you say. "I can cleanse Soul Gems."
"Really? That's amazing!" Michiru says, voice brimming with excitement.
"She is," Mami murmurs. "W-would you like to come and visit?"
"Or would it be easier for us to go over and visit you?" you offer. "I can actually move a few people very fast. I think I might be supersonic, but I'm not sure."
Angel of Grief, that's you. Heh. Then again, Sayaka probably makes the better angel. Mikiel or some such, perhaps.
"Wow," Michiru breathes, sounding awed. "Um, I'm not sure? It sounds like it would be easier for you to come over, but I'd love to see Mitakihara..."
"Mami?" you prompt gently, smiling at her. Kirika returns from the kitchen with a plate of cookies, plonking it down on the middle of the coffee table before collecting a handful which she proceeds to stuff her face with, offering some to Oriko.
"Maybe... maybe you could come over first? And then we travel to Asunaro after that?" Mami suggests hesitantly, looking to you worriedly.
You smile at Mami and shift to hug her a little tighter, over Michiru's excited agreement. It would solve some issues. Not all, like school, but-
Speaking of school, you should ask.
"Actually, before we plan more, I should ask - Miss Kazusa, do you go to school?" you say, considering getting some of the cookies. But then, that would mean leaving Mami's side, and... not now. Besides, you have an odd craving for chips right now. "Uh, well, I don't."
"Oh, a delinquent!" Michiru says. "How exciting!"
"Sabrina is not a delinquent!" Mami says sharply.
"Eh? Oh no no no! I didn't mean it that way!" Kazusa says, shaking her head. "I mean- I'm a delinquent too. I don't go to school, being a magical girl takes up too much time!"
Mami's shoulders sag a little.
Voting opens
[] When do you want to visit?
-[] Let Michiru come over first
-[] Let Michiru know it might be more than just Mami and Sabrina visiting.
-[] Leave decision to the group
[] Discuss who's going to Asunaro
-[] Explain Hijiri's memory/mind magics
-[] Push for...
--[] Kirika and Oriko, as counters to mind magic
--[] Homura, because she should know
--[] Mami, because Mami
--[] Sayaka
--[] Masami and Hiroko
--[] Megane Ono
-[] Leave decision to the group
[] Ask Kirika for anti-magic enchantments
[] Say goodbye to the Kures
-[] Ask Homura to chat
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)
=====
For the record, Kazusa uses "Mami-san" to address Mami, and "Sabrina-san" for you. 'Translation' convention.
Also, I feel like I should point out that while the Pleiades cluster is known as the Seven Sisters, there are nine readily visible stars - the Seven Sisters and two parents.
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Aranfan
Team Plasma Grunt
This is amazing.