So right now the leading plan is:
Okay, so first off I'm not sure this plan is blunt enough to get through Michiru's layer of denial, which we know can be serious enough that she can and will Witch out before ever admitting to her best friends that there is a problem. We're sort of playing into her game here, letting her deny there's anything wrong even if there very much could be by being vague and non-confrontational. If we don't cut to the heart of the matter, then it's almost certain that she will deflect and deny in order to spare her friends and sempai any grief. It's uncomfortable, but there are lives on the line here, and that's more important than being super-polite.
So here's a question for you: How does Michiru react when confronted directly? Does she give in or Does she clam up? If we choose the wrong answer we could lose her. If we're impolite or pushy and she doesn't react well then that's
it as far as gleaning information nicely goes, and it may well push us out of gleaning information entirely or even have negative repercussions for our relationship beyond that.
Let me dig into this a bit:
You're right, I am being euphemistic rather than direct in that line. The intent was to say something more along the lines of:
[X] Confer with Mami and then dig a bit.
-[X] Verbally: Tell Mami you think she's hiding how bad the situation really is.
-[X] Telepathically: Make arrangements to meet up as quickly as possible. Tomorrow, or even tonight; in five minutes or less, if necessary. Offer ferry services.
-[X] Explain: Your ability to refresh Seeds, so don't discard them. Clear Seeds, every meguca group should have one, you'd appreciate the chance to have more beta testers.
Let's say that Michiru is the type to clam up: This vote doesn't give Mami any chance to stop us so if we go in Leeroy Jenkins style, we're committed. Not only does that risk making Mami
fret, but if Michiru clams up because of that, then this avenue of problem solving is
done. As it turns out,
And that's the thing here, we don't have to guess here.
We may not know Michiru, but
Mami does. So rather than directly confronting Michiru or not, we get advice and let her call the shots here.
This is why part of the vote is asking Mami for advice. No, it hasn't been fully implemented to my satisfaction yet, but I can do that now.
And as far as "polite by default" goes: Keep in mind that any question we can ask directly we can also glean politely.
If Michiru dodges those topics... we already know what that means.
There's also a lot of random vote cruft and cloudcuckoolander stuff going on here. What the heck is "absolutely almonds" supposed to mean (hint: I know what it means in context of the thread, but haven't we learned our lessons about tossing random in-jokes into votes yet)? Why are we pulling Sayaka into the conversation, and then immediately ejecting her again; isn't that even more rude than just brain-mailing her up after everything's decided?
Sticking with my vote for now, but I'm not particularly happy about it:
It at least provides enough forward guidance if Firn wants to write a longer update, and ever since the latest vote reforms Brinapilot has been good for handling the small stuff.
Allow me to explain how I expect "absolutely almonds" would come off to someone outside the thread:
"The capacity is absolutely
almonds."
*blink* "Why 'absolutely almonds?'"
"Because it's
nuts!"
Alas, it looks like that was dropped for length anyways.
The point of calling Sayaka is twofold. The first is involving her in a conversation about magical girls visiting the city. If Homura Oriko and Kirika have questions and concerns then Sayaka could too. Secondly, Sayaka needs to know some things and may know others, so we need to have a conversation with her. The raincheck isn't booting her out after we bring her in, it's "hey, there's a lot of important stuff I'd like to talk to you about later."
Unfortunately, the giant epiphany storm happened on the discord, but we're now pretty sure
something is up Sayaka. (Sympathetic to witches earlier and recently, never took her music player to Kyouske, she and Madoka
both gave Nagisa an odd look on first meeting, has powers that mimic abilities shown in Rebellion, magic shows angelic imagery not previously associated with her, may have
deliberately showed herself to Kyouko across the river, the list goes on.) Which is part of why I've been pushing for that meeting.
As far as "More to go off of for Firn" goes, please keep in mind that
this was a longer update and that the last vote got us through maybe half to a third of the conversation despite having much more planned. We might get as far as starting planning, (I doubt it) but I guarantee you that it won't go further than that. This conversation can easily stretch on.
In any event, the revisions:
[X] Keep
gently supporting Mami and reassuring her.
- [X]
Aside, Tell Mami you're worried for Michiru and ask for her guidance on how to approach things. Be polite by default but adjust accordingly.
[X] Move from the hardships of meguca life to segue into clear seeds.
- [X] We have prototypes but need testers.
- [X]
Actually, if she wants, all it takes is any grief seed. Does she have a spare or would she like us to provide one?
- [X] Note risks, benefits, and implications if she shows interest.
[X] Try to touch on Asunaro meguca politics a bit. Especially old friends.
[X] Tell
your friends that Kazuza is willing to visit Mitakihara.
-[X]
Address any questions or concerns, offer to introduce
Homura and Sayaka.
-[X] Raincheck
a conversation with Sayaka later.
[X] Offer to ferry over Michiru tomorrow. If it wouldn't be too much imposition?
-[X] Schedule the pickup at a convenient time.
(Wordcount: 149... :/)
Notes on votes:
[ ] Keep
gently supporting Mami and reassuring her.
- [ ]
Aside, Tell Mami you're worried for Michiru and ask for her guidance on how to approach things. Adjust Accodingly
This gives Mami a role in the conversation even if we ostensibly end up taking the helm: It's her who knows her friend and she can help us talk to Kazusa in the best way to solve her problems. And we're supporting instead of guiding because, well, we're the once being guided.
[ ]
Actually if she wants, all it takes is any grief seed. Does she have a spare or would she like us to provide one?
If we need to rush over, we can gauge how many grief seeds Michiru has to spare by noting that all it takes to make a clear seed is a grief seed and ask if she'd like to provide one or if we can bring her one of our spares.
If she dodges, well, that's our answer and we know enough to expedite. If she has a spare, well, she has a spare she can use for a clear seed, well she has a spare and the rush isn't
that big. If she "can get one" it means she probably needs to hunt a witch or she's given them all to her friends.
And suddenly I'm picturing a result of that:
"Hey Homura, we needed to have a talk later? Would you be okay with dropping something off in Asunaro and having it on the way?"
IF YES:
"Hey Michiru, I have this trick we can do with clear seeds, Could you hold out your hand."
"
...Okay?"
One long conversation and a round trip later for magical girls, no time at all for anyone else:
"What! It just appeared out of thin air!"
[ ] Tell
your friends that Kazuza is willing to visit Mitakihara.
-[ ]
Address any questions or concerns, offer to introduce
Homura and Sayaka.
-[ ] Raincheck
a conversation with Sayaka later.
First two changes shortening for length, "everyone" has become "Homura and Sayaka" per veByast's advice, and the latter has been expanded for clarity.
Sidenote to self: Make a point to vote to ask Oriko before we leave if her visions ever showed her acting for a reason she didn't understand, or in a way she didn't agree with. If she has to learn skills like enchanting and can't use them through future sight, it may be that her visions can't show her futures where
she changes.
