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Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

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PhantomFractions said:
it seems to me that this would be less cruel than what we did to Oriko and Kirika (i.e. crippling them to the point of being unable to provide for or protect themselves, threatening them with death or worse (even if it was a bluff) and forcing them to rely on us to keep them alive whilst keeping them isolated from all other human contact).
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I was under the impression Akiko was less of a threat to us, but I suppose her network of allies could be far more dangerous than Oriko and Kirika. On that note, unless we convince everyone but Akiko, that'll really piss off her allies.

That reminds me: we totally should see if we can determine if it's safe to let Oriko and Kirika free. We seem to be friends with them and leaving Oriko crippled and under house arrest seems like too much considering that she's our ally now (I think). I know it was necessary at the time, but I think we can look into letting them go once we're done shutting down this war (provided we think Oriko won't do any more crazy shit because "I saw the future and decided to light shit on fire to save it").
 
There's no equivalent term for shipping for 'I ship them as being long-lost siblings' but there should be because Homura and Sosuke are amazing together.
 
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"We've Got Hostiles" pt. 21
  • Threadmarks
    • You spend a few minutes simply contemplating the sky, letting your mind contemplate the next course of action, and sparing a quick thought for what to do with the incoming rain. Finally, you tilt your head forward again, looking around the table. "Well, that being the case, then..." you start, and then trail off as another thought strikes you.

    "Actually, sorry, one last question. Is there anyone else who should join in on these negotiations?" you ask. "Someone else subjected to Hamasaki's... tax, or something?"

    Simultaneously, you reach out for Mami and Kirika. "Stay alert, I still don't quite trust Akiko not to try something."

    Chouko shakes her head, before stopping. "Well, there's-what's-her name, the blonde girl? But I haven't seen her for... a month? Anyone else seen her recently?" she glances around, recieving only shaken heads from her friends. "Then no, we're the only ones still... hanging on. She probably had the sense to get out," she adds, a bitter tone in her voice.

    At the same time, Mami replies telepathically, taking a sip of tea and expertly hiding the communication. "Surely she wouldn't," she says, glancing at the street. "But... yes, you're right." Kirika just chirps a cheerful "Gotcha."

    "Alright, then," you say out loud, and to Mami and Kirika, you reply with a quick "Thanks, Mami, Kirika." And a second telepathic channel, to Akiko, "The University girls have declined to have you attend, I'm afraid. You're OK with Rin being your representative, right? Thanks."

    You can hear the frown in the bluenette's voice when she replies. "Actually, I feel that as the leader of my group, I should be the one negotiating."

    "And the University girls have stated their unwillingness to negotiate directly with you," you reply, in an even, pleasant tone. You almost declare that you're going to put up a Grief awning against of the rain, but at the last minute, a sudden sense of foreboding strikes you, and you change your mind.

    Instead, you send Mami another quick question. "By the way, Mami, how many Grief Seeds do you use, say, in one week?"

    "Very well," Akiko concedes, finally.

    Mami responds more promptly. "Umm," she says. "Using my powers is the majority of it, really. Maybe... one every two weeks, if I don't use my powers at all? I... can't imagine what Miss Hamasaki might be doing with all the Grief Seeds, other than using them for the... war."

    "Alright, thanks, Mami," you reply, before addressing Akiko again. "Excellent. Now, would you mind telling me why you imposed your... arrangement with the University girls?" Smoothly, you reach out to Rin at the same time. "Rin, how are you feeling?"

    The healer twitches a little in response to your call, squeezing her eyes shut. "Please wait, Miss Sabrina."

    "Miss Sabrina?" Chouko asks, looking curiously at you, since you fell silent for a minute.

    "Sorry, one moment," you say, raising a finger. "Akiko?" you prompt.

    "It is my territory," Akiko replies. "But I am not so heartless as to make them leave."

    "Sorry, Miss Sabrina," Rin replies, glancing across the table at you. "I was... being given instructions."

    "But them dying because of your 'tax' is OK?" you demand of Akiko. To Rin, you say, "Yeah, it's OK. Are you... alright? Did you know about all... this, before?"

    "They would have died anyway," Akiko rebutts calmly. "If they died, it's because they weren't good enough."

    You blink in disbelief at the sheer callousness of the response. You'd rip into her for it, but... you're here to mediate. You can settle that later, after that's settled to your satisfaction. For now, you simply end that connection.

    Rin, on the other hand, sighs. "I did, a little... but it was just... there, a background thing."

    "Hmm," you reply. 'Not my problem', in other words, you think to yourself. "OK. Are you up to this, then?"

    "Yes," she says, straightening and placing her arms on the table, clasping her hands together.

    Alright, then. Time to get things started. You lean forward on the table, directing your glance around at the girls sitting here. Clearing your throat, you say, "Let's begin. Chouko, Rin. First things first, what do your two groups actually want? Not just means to an end. What do you want?"

    Chouko smiles bitterly. "I want- we want our lives back."

    Rin blanches. "What do you want, that we can give?"

    "I think five Grief Seeds a week sounds like a good start for reparations," Yuko mutters softly, accompanied by a nod from Haru.

    "I... don't think that's tenable," Rin says, shaking her head.

    "You bled us for over a year," Yuko snaps. "I don't thin-"

    "Ahem," you say, and Yuko falls silent, looking away. "OK, let's try this again. Chouko, what were you going to do, after capturing Rin, here?" you ask.

    "We were going to tell Hamasaki to back off. She's...." Chouko breaks off, grimacing. She continues via telepathy, her voice sounding directly in your head. "We are... were... prepared to try and throw them out of the city. She's their healer. It made sense to try and... take her out. And they've been using her as their meal ticket, haven't they? We could get Grief Seeds for her."

    Rin glances at Chouko, then at you. She can probably guess at the telepathy and its contents, if her creased brow is anything to judge by.

    "All right. How about you, Rin? What do you need all the Seeds for?" you ask.

    Rin shakes her head. "We used some, and the rest we stockpiled. I guess... we would have used them in this... war? I know Akiko promised twenty to Fukushima for thei-" She cuts herself off, realizing what she'd just said.

    The University girls glare daggers at her. "Fukushima, huh," Chouko says softly.

    Rin winces, and looks away.

    You prop your elbows on the table, gesturing lightly with your hands, and not interlacing them in the classic pose. You're not here to intimidate, after all. Though you did at least some of that already.

    "Right, then... Insofar as I'm here, what I want is an... end to the extortions, and an end to the conflicts, plural." Your gaze sweeps the table, before resting on Chouko. "For my part? I'm offering my abilities to clean Grief, both off Soul Gems and Grief Seeds. I can refresh Grief Seeds to an unused state, letting you reuse them."

    "That's... great, but..." Chouko glances at Rin.

    Rin sighs. "Hold on, please."

    Your gaze flicks up at the overcast evening sky - not raining yet.

    Mami squeezes your hand lightly, drawing your attention over. "Sabrina, maybe I could try to smooth the conversation over a bit?" Golden eyes meet yours, smiling slightly.

    [] Let Mami try
    - [] Ask her to try something specific?
    [] Continue
    - [] Points?
    [] Write-in

    =====​

    Hmhmm. Back to business as usual, then.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [x] Let Mami try
    - [x] University side of the story
    - [x] Grill Akiko/Rin for details on the extortion racket
    [x] Armistice agreement
    - [x] Possible reparations
    - [x] Telepathy Homura and ask if she would be interested in a little "Peace Keeping" from time to time
    -- [x] If yes, tell her thank you
    -- [x] If no see if Mami or Kirika would be interested
    -- [x] Partake in the "Peace Keeping" operation
    [x] Arrange for a pen on paper contract meeting to solidify the ending of hostilities between the University group, Sendai groups, and Ishinomaki. We will be the ones enforcing it.

    EDIT: For enforcement, we can do it two ways. A) We could slowly cripple their grief seed supplies making them reliant on us to stay alive or B) Big Stick Diplomacy.

    Seeing as they don't know us well enough to hand over the grief seeds, Big Stick it is. And the sticks don't get much bigger than grief control, anti-magic, Unlimited Musket Works, and Homura. Let's face it, if we were so inclined we could quite easily break a meguca's soul gem with their own grief. Homura has enough munitions, ordinance, and equipment to start a war in the Middle East and win. Kirika makes magic useless and can do it in a configuration not dissimilar to a shaped charge that can make things melt. Mami can pull as many muskets as she wants out of her skirt and if she knows to aim for the soul gem... well she does have very good aim.
     
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    [X] Let Mami try.
    -[X] Just try to break some of the ice between them, if you can. Don't take sides just get them to stop snapping at each other.
    [X] Once she's done:
    -[X] Rin, why did you need to pay Fukishima? Just for their involvement in the war, or for something else? Is there anyone else you owe payment to? I'm willing to offer my services to them as well if it puts an end to your need for additional grief seeds from Hamasaki. Is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleanings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were hoping to fulfill from this war?
    [X] Chouko, would you be willing to cease hostilities with Sendai on the condition that they do the same for you, and I provide the cleanings? Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way it can be over without any more fighting.

    I'm sure there are some flaws in here, but perhaps it can be sacrificed to a superior frankenvote.
    Edit: better wording from Ugo.
     
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    No reparations. That never ends well.

    [X] Let Mami try.
    -[X] Just try to break some of the ice between them, if you can. Don't take sides just get them to stop snapping at each other.
    [X] Once she's done:
    -[X] Rin, why did you need to pay Fukishima? Just for their involvement in the war, or for something else? Is there anyone else you owe payment to? I'm willing to offer my services to them as well if it puts an end to your need for additional grief seeds from Hamasaki. Is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleanings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were hoping to fulfill from this war?
    [X] Chouko, would you be willing to cease hostilities with Sendai on the condition that they do the same for you, and I provide the cleanings? Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way it can be over without any more fighting.

    We are going to have words with Akiko. If she still has the audacity to object, there is no good reason not to point out that as far as we're concerned she's a serial killer and she can either stop and play along or we bring her to account for all the people she's killed. And no, her excuse doesn't work in the slightest.
     
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    [X] Let Mami try.
    -[X] Just try to break some of the ice between them, if you can. Don't take sides just get them to stop snapping at each other.
    [X] Once she's done:
    -[X] Rin, why did you need to pay Fukishima? Just for their involvement in the war, or for something else? Is there anyone else you owe payment to? I'm willing to offer my services to them as well if it puts an end to your need for additional grief seeds from Hamasaki. Is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleanings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were hoping to fulfill from this war?
    [X] Chouko, would you be willing to cease hostilities with Sendai on the condition that they do the same for you, and I provide the cleanings? Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way it can be over without any more fighting.
     
    Voting for this for now:
    [X] Let Mami try.
    -[X] Just try to break some of the ice between them, if you can. Don't take sides just get them to stop snapping at each other.
    [X] Once she's done:
    -[X] Rin, why did you need to pay Fukishima? Just for their involvement in the war, or for something else? Is there anyone else you owe payment to? I'm willing to offer my services to them as well if it puts an end to your need for additional grief seeds from Hamasaki. Is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleanings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were hoping to fulfill from this war?
    [X] Chouko, would you be willing to cease hostilities with Sendai on the condition that they do the same for you, and I provide the cleanings? Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way it can be over without any more fighting.

    I said before that I would withhold my final judgement of Akiko, but man does she make it hard.
    Now she' even bringing survival of the fittest crap into this. "They would have died anyway. I#LL just amke it even harder for them by extorting them." I really have the urge to punch her in the face sometime in the near future, if this goes on. I'm also surprised that she accepted being excluded so easily. Makes me suspicious.

    Since Fukushima got promised grief seeds for their help, there might be complications, if they arrive and there isn't anything left to do to earn that pay. Still would like to know what she needs all those seeds for. If she can spare twenty to call for help, she should still have a lot left and doesn't seem to use them up all that much. There might also be less seeds than we thought since the extortion apparently happened over a timeframe of one year and not the whole two years.
     
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    [X] Let Mami try.
    -[X] Just try to break some of the ice between them, if you can. Don't take sides just get them to stop snapping at each other.
    [X] Once she's done:
    -[X] Rin, why did you need to pay Fukishima? Just for their involvement in the war, or for something else? Is there anyone else you owe payment to? I'm willing to offer my services to them as well if it puts an end to your need for additional grief seeds from Hamasaki. Is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleanings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were hoping to fulfill from this war?
    [X] Chouko, would you be willing to cease hostilities with Sendai on the condition that they do the same for you, and I provide the cleanings? Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way it can be over without any more fighting.
     
    [X] Let Mami try.
    -[X] Just try to break some of the ice between them, if you can. Don't take sides just get them to stop snapping at each other.
    [X] Once she's done:
    -[X] Rin, why did you need to pay Fukishima? Just for their involvement in the war, or for something else? Is there anyone else you owe payment to? I'm willing to offer my services to them as well if it puts an end to your need for additional grief seeds from Hamasaki. Is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleanings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were hoping to fulfill from this war?
    [X] Chouko, would you be willing to cease hostilities with Sendai on the condition that they do the same for you, and I provide the cleanings? Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way it can be over without any more fighting.

    After this negotiations business gets settled we need to have a few words with Akiko. Big ones, with plenty of pointed letters.
     
    [X] Let Mami try.
    -[X] Just try to break some of the ice between them, if you can. Don't take sides just get them to stop snapping at each other.
    [X] Once she's done:
    -[X] Rin, why did you need to pay Fukishima? Just for their involvement in the war, or for something else? Is there anyone else you owe payment to? I'm willing to offer my services to them as well if it puts an end to your need for additional grief seeds from Hamasaki. Is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleanings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were hoping to fulfill from this war?
    [X] Chouko, would you be willing to cease hostilities with Sendai on the condition that they do the same for you, and I provide the cleanings? Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way it can be over without any more fighting.
     
    Firnagzen said:
    "They would have died anyway," Akiko rebutts calmly. "If they died, it's because they weren't good enough."
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    She does know that this line would completely justify Sabrina exploding her gem as soon as she gets within range, right?

    There goes any chance that Akiko will ever trust Sabrina to keep her degriefed.
     
    Crasian01 said:
    @Onmur

    ...Do you work in an underground testing facility?
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    You know, if we ever get around trying to create a Barrier, and it works... It occurs to me that simply creating it may not be enough. In fact, should we create a Barrier, we should test it's limits, for which we would need a test subject. And what do you know, I think somebody just volunteered.

    /jokingIthink
     
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