Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

[Firnagzen]

You peek at Rin, who's quietly rocking her cup of tea back and forth, looking down and staying quiet. Mami, at your side, is regarding the entire table with her usual, placidly calm demeanour, but the moment she feels the weight of your gaze on her, she turns to smile at you. You smile back, and she returns to her quiet contemplation of the people around the table.

Kirika just looks bored, sketching drawings in the crumbs of her cake, long since devoured. Messily. There are still crumbs stuck on the side of her mouth.

You look back at Chouko, leaning forward on the table. "Um... Miss Tsubaki, " you say, garnering her attention. "Following on that... please don't call for help yet?"

The girl, the leader of her little group, frowns. "You- we-"

"No, look, I'm not asking that you give up or anything," you say hastily, waving your hands in what you hope is a placating manner. "Just... let me take a shot at ending this whole conflict first and yes, that includes Akiko's... tax. And if you call in more favours... Akiko has just as many, more, even. She'll match you girl for girl."

"I... hm," she frowns, and looks away.

You chance a look at Rin again - she's looking away, unable to meet anyone's eyes, her coffee cream cake still untouched. "Look," you say, shifting your attention back to Chouko. "I want this to end peacefully. I just need people to talk, not fight," you say. "That's all I ask."

Chouko nods slowly.

You take a sip of tea, as punctuation. "OK, then," you say. "If you don't mind... Can you tell me the details of the 'tax'? Or rental fee, or what have you? Did she offer you anything in exchange, how did she approach you, that kind of thing? I've heard it from others, but... what's your side of the story?"

The blue haired girl sighs. "Three Grief Seeds a week," she says, holding up three fingers to demonstrate. "We can... could barely keep up with it. My parents... I don't live with them anymore," she smiles bitterly. "The same goes for most of us, really. It's... better than the alternative."

The entire table's silent, now. Mami's sitting up straight, eyes flinty, and Kirika's still lounging in her seat. Rin... the healer's completely unable to meet anyone's gaze, opting to inspect her cake minutely. Varying levels of discomfort go around the table.

"Something in return?" Chouko continues, tone bitter. "I don't know what drives Hamasaki. Greed, or megalomania, or something. I have no idea. She takes, and takes, and takes. I... she's polite. Civilized. She came and talked to us, but when we tried to protest... She was happy enough to kick us around."

"She's just a bitch, through and through," Haru grumbles.

Chouko shrugs. "That too."

"Right," you say slowly. "So... what about Miss Fukui? Was it Hamasaki's... policies, or was there a breaking point?"

A shadow passes over Chouko's face. "That was part of it, yes," she says, and doesn't seem inclined to elaborate any further.

Yuko looks at you, and then at Chouko. "Tell her about about Chika," she says wearily.

Chouko sighs, closing her eyes. "Ayano Chika was our friend. She died. To a Witch. Because we were reckless. Kuzue was... broken up over it," she says, in short, clipped sentences. "She left."

Mami looks stricken, and one of her hands grope for yours, squeezing lightly. You don't particularly need to look at the University group to guess at their expressions - the stark presence of Grief bubbling into their Soul Gems at the reminder is enough. And, surprisingly, or perhaps not so much - the same applies to Rin, too, if at a lesser degree.

"I see," you say. "... I'm sorry, for your loss, and for touching on a painful subject."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Mami echoes, while Kirika nods, face completely solemn.

"Thank you," Chouko says, accepting on behalf of her whole group.

A moment passes in silence. "Sorry, but... moving on... do you know what else Hamasaki's done? Beyond invading Ishinomaki at regular intervals, or something?"

Chouko shakes her head. "Not much. Roams around a bit, I guess? Mostly drags Tachibana with her, teleporting, you know. No idea where, before you ask, the most we know is that she's not in town from time to time," she says.

Less than you'd hoped for. "Alright, then. Last question, are you willing to... speak your mind, with Hamasaki at the table? Or other members of her group?"

Chouko sucks in a breath. "I'd... rather not," she says, and the rest of the University girls nod in agreement.

"Agreements made in the flesh..." you trail off - Chouko's already shaking her head, no.

You sigh, tilting your head back to look at the sky, rapidly shading towards night. Dark clouds on the horizon - looks like a storm rolling in. It's sort of funny, but it rained the last time you saw Akiko, too, didn't it?

... nah. Probably a coincidence.

Still. Time to bring her in?

[] Call in Akiko
[] Negotiations
- [] Tone, points?
[] Write-in

=====​

Also, since it was asked of me a few times and you'll probably not find out in story - Rin is considerably different in her first introduction as compared to now. She was trying to cultivate a) a reputation and b) a professional persona. You guys... kinda broke the latter.

A little like Mami, now that I think about it.

 

[Firnagzen]

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.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Yeah," you agree, smiling back. "Just... try and break the ice between them, a bit? I mean, we just need them to... stop sniping at each other."

Mami brightens. "Of course, Sabrina," she replies. She turns back to the table, face smoothing to a pleasant smile and posture straightening almost imperceptibly.

"Miss Tsubaki, Miss Mori," Mami says, her head dipping in a slow nod. "Miss Umeko, Miss Suzuki, Miss Suzuki." She turns her head to meet the eyes of each person addressed as she speaks, faint smile everpresent.

"Miss Tomoe," Chouko nods in response, as does Rin. The others can't help but smile back, and truth be told, neither can you suppress a small smile.

"Miss Tsubaki, we understand your grievances with Miss Hamasaki's group, and what they've done," Mami says, holding out a hand to indicate Rin. "But surely you understand that if you seek only to punish them, it will only leave them with ill will towards you?"

"We're not letting them get off so easily," Chouko says.

"Of course not," Mami nods. "That's not going to happen either," she says firmly. "We're here to ensure that both sides will accept this peace. All we ask is that you give this a chance."

Chouko nods. "We... are willing, Miss Tomoe."

"As are we," Rin adds, before her face twitches in a small frown. "As are we," she repeats.

Mami's smile widens fractionally. "That's good to hear," she says warmly, gentle demeanour never wavering. "Then, Sabrina?"

You smile. "Thank you, Mami," you say, and lean forward again.

"Rin," you address the healer first. "Why did you need to pay Fukushima? I mean, just for their coming to help, or something else?"

Rin shakes her head. "No, just for their, ah, coming down here."

"OK," you say. "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 more Grief Seeds. Or let me put it another way - is there any reason that an effectively unlimited amount of cleansings wouldn't satisfy any needs you were... hoping to fulfill from this war?"

Rin pauses, eyes unfocusing into the distance - talking to Akiko, then.

You turn to Chouko instead. "Would you agree to a mutual cessation of hostilities? My services for cleansing of Soul Gems are also on the table, of course." You hold up a finger, darting a glance at Yuko, as well. "Yes, what they did was wrong, but this way, it can be over without any more fighting."

Chouko grimaces. "If you could guarantee that it's mutual? That we don't get pressured any more? Yes, I would," she says.

Yuko folds her arms, and opens her mouth to say something, but Rei beats her to the punch. "Pretty big if," she pipes up. Yuko shuts her mouth, and nods in the green haired girl's direction. "What she said - it's a big if."

Rin's eyes refocus, her features twisted in a grimace. "'Grief Seeds are a valuable trading commodity in and of themselves'," she says, turning to you. "Thirty Grief Seeds, to replace the ones used, paid in installments." She swallows, and looks away. "That's what Akiko said."

"No, wait, what?" Yuko says, disbelief in her tone. "Really? You're in the wrong, and you-"

Rin squeezes her eyes shut. "'You attacked us first.' I... it's what Akiko told me to say," Rin defends herself, unwilling to meet anyone's eyes.

Chouko shakes her head. "Additional condition - you, Miss Sabrina, don't agree to this."

You glance at Mami. The smile's disappeared from her face, and judging from the way her brow's knitted, she isn't any happier with this either.

[] Write-in

=====​

Akiko stahp wat r u doing

 

[Firnagzen]

You keep your face immobile, fixing on a pleasant smile as you turn back to the table. You're not sure how well you succeeded. You look at Rin, wilting in her seat under the combined, furious stares of the University girls, and at Kirika, still nonchalant and indifferent in her chair.

Thoughts whirl through your mind as you process furiously. Akiko can't be this stupid - she must be doing this for some reason. Your own fury wars with your reason. You're tempted, so tempted, to do something drastic. Rip into Akiko here and now, throw this open to the rest of her teammates, straight up call her out... but no.

Like it or not, you volunteered to mediate.

"Mami," you say telepathically. "Could you take over for a bit? Explain why asking for payment like that is... unacceptable. Especially from a group that's already struggling to survive. You're so much better than me at this. I..." you pause. "I'll probably say something I'll regret."

"Of course, Sabrina," Mami replies, directing a smile at you that you can see out of the corner of your eye. "I'd be happy to. Though... are you talking to Akiko?"

"Yes," you say. "I'm going to see whether I can't get some answers from her."

"Alright," Mami says. "Give her a piece of my mind, too." She turns to Rin. "Miss Mori, this proposal is unrealistic, considering that the reason for this conflict is that Miss Tsubaki and her friends felt that sustaining the three Seeds a week was not tenable."

You open up a telepathic channel to Akiko. "Akiko. What exactly do you need all those Grief Seeds for, anyway? Three a week, five a consultation... it adds up. You must have taken in hundreds."

Rin shakes her head vigorously, holding up her hands. Mami stops, and lets her speak. "Please wait while I relay this to Akiko." She stresses the bluenette's name as she speaks.

"Did Rin not convey what I said? They're a commodity," Akiko replies.

"And even if they are, you must have taken in hundreds," you repeat. "Even as a currency, what could you spend so many on? If a commodity they are to you, then who do you trade them to? And for what?"

Silence, from Akiko, at least. "We have already used eight Grief Seeds, and expect to use another for healing. Twenty are for miscellaneous expenses." Rin looks away. "The Fukushima girls," she adds softly.

"Still no," Yuko snaps back. Chouko shakes her head, too.

"I'm still willing to work with you," you say after a moment. "But I need to know your reasons. What are you trying to accomplish? What's your goal? Grief Seeds are a means, not an end."

"Grief Seeds bring security," Akiko rejoins, finally speaking up. "They're peace of mind."

Mami's faint smile doesn't waver. "Miss Mori, please tell Akiko that that may be a sound reasoning, but that Miss Tsubaki and her companions are unable to afford it."

"And you would have girls die for your peace of mind? And you'd ignore my powers?" you snap back.

"Your powers make a nice supplement," Akiko says. "Pardon me if I doubt your 24/7 presence at my side."

... well, she's not wrong, but she's also evading the point. Fine, then. "Does this have anything to do with Kato Setsuko?"

Further silence.

Confusion grows on Rin's face.

"Miss Mori?" Mami prompts, looking at the healer.

"One moment," she says, frowning.

"Kato Setsuko is dead," Akiko says, voice even.

"Wasn't Rin going to heal her?" you challenge. You turn your head to your right, looking up to the top of the building where Akiko and Sakura are standing, and you fancy that you meet Akiko's gaze across the gulf. "Something I should know?"

Rin looks at you. "Miss Sabrina... what did you do?"

"I asked a question," you say simply. Your gaze doesn't shift from the two figures on the distant roof - Sakura's stopped her nervous pacing, and from what you can make out, she's staring at Akiko too.

"Akiko?" you ask.

"Grief Seeds are safety. Security, commodity" Akiko mutters in response. "That's my answer."

Not an answer.

[] Write-in

=====​

Akiko whut

 

[Firnagzen]

You hit a nerve, that much is obvious. And your mind whirls as you frown at the two distant figures of Akiko and Sakura on the rooftop, dozens of different thoughts cascading through your mind as you think about what to do with the first real flaw that Akiko showed.

Then again, was it really a showing, or did you never notice?

Either way, it makes little difference now, you suppose.

You glance at Rin. "This isn't your fault," you say. "You're just relaying from Miss Hamasaki, after all." It's as much for her benefit as it is for the University girls'. Your eyes sweep across the table, holding Chouko's gaze for a moment before moving on again.

You take a deep breath, and then reach out telepathically. To Rin and Sakura, you ask, "Is she OK?" No need to specify who 'she' might be referring to. And to Akiko herself...

"Akiko, you have a teleporter," you say to the girl. "And I don't mind you dropping by whenever for cleanses, or to refresh Grief Seeds. And all I'm asking for in return is that everyone stop fighting over something I've essentially made obsolete."

"Grief Seeds are security," Akiko repeats. "People are unreliable."

"I don't... what did you ask her?" Rin replies, confusion tinting her voice.

"Yeah, the fuck did you say to her?" Sakura asks, with less vitriol than you usually hear from her, acid replaced with puzzlement. "She just kinda... stopped."

"Akiko, please, work with me. This doesn't have to end in tears," you say to Akiko. "I just need you stop hounding the University girls, and the Ishinomaki girls. You don't have to do that any more."

Back to Rin and Sakura - "I asked her about Kato Setsuko."

"The girl I went to heal?" Rin asks blankly.

"Shitfuckgoddamnit," Sakura swears. Ah. So that's where all the vitriol went. With interest, too.

"Sakura?" Rin asks, her voice suddenly very small.

"Hey," Chouko says. "What are you talking about?"

Well, that's a fair question. You have been staring off into space for a minute or so. "Discussing some issues with Hamasaki and company," you explain. "I'm trying to... persuade her, on your behalf."

"Right," Chouko says, somewhat mollified. She leans back in her seat, crossing her arms and making eye contact with Haru, then Yuko - probably starting her own telepathic conference.

"Sabrina?" Mami asks, warm golden eyes meeting yours.

"Remember that little inconsistency with Kato Setsuko?" you ask her. "Akiko reacted... oddly when I asked her about it."

"Oh," Mami says. "Umm... OK."

"Sakura, what's wrong?" Rin asks.

"Fuck. Fuck," Sakura snaps. "I lied, OK? Akiko told me she wanted me to snoop around. So I lied. So fucking sue me."

"Oh," Rin says. "That's all?"

"Rin, Aki- um," Sakura says. "Yeah, that's all. Fuck. Witch girl, give us a minute."

Still no further response from Akiko, and you glance over at her again. From what you can make out, she's folded her arms. Thinking, presumably? And Sakura's resumed her pacing back and forth on the roof.

"Mami." You look at the blonde. "It... well, it looks like... OK, from the top. So you know about the inconsistency, right? Rin said that she was here to heal Miss Kato, but when we talked to Ishinomaki, they said she was dead. Well, when I asked Akiko about it, she... went odd. Started talking about Grief Seeds being security and a commodity and stuff. And Sakura just said that she was lying about Miss Kato; that she was there to snoop around and made an excuse to bring Rin along."

Mami purses her lips. "Sabrina..." she starts hesitantly. "Are you sure this is the best time?" She hastily continues, worry touching her eyes, "I understand that you want to help too, but we're... supposed to be... in the middle of negotiations here." She glances sidelong at the University girls, and then quickly adds, "Sorry, I know you want to help her, it's just..."

"Yeah, but if I can figure out what's going on with Akiko, then hopefully it'll render all this moot? I mean, she isn't stupid; she knows that nobody, least of all the University girls, can afford thirty Grief Seeds. So either she wants the war, or she's pushing for it because of... whatever hangups she has," you explain. You give her a smile, squeezing her hand lightly. "And it's fine, Mami."

A slow nod. "I suppose that makes sense," Mami agrees. "I... she's had a bad experience before, that much is... obvious. Something to do with Miss Kato, and... there was a fight in Ishinomaki, before Miss Kato left. Maybe it's something to do with that?"

[] Proceed with talking to Rin and Sakura
[] Question Sakura
- [] About?
[] Talk to the University girls
[] Write-in

=====​

Oho.

 

[Firnagzen]

Ugh. This is such a mess. So many things -so many people- to juggle, Akiko and her underlings, Chouko and her friends, Kirika looking bored, Rin, and of course, Mami, still anxiously holding your hand under the table.

Alright then. Keep moving forward.

You rattle the fingers of your left hand on the table as you think. "Give me a bit of time, OK? I'm still working on it," you say out loud, glancing at the University girls. Yuko shrugs, while the Suzuki sisters nod in synchronization. "OK," Chouko agrees. "I... wish you all the best?"

"Rin, Sakura," you say telepathically, and Rin's gaze returns to you, fidgeting with her black hair. "Something's wrong with Akiko. You know that, right?"

A soft growl from Sakura interrupts you. "First of, fuck you, second, she's done right by us for years."

"Sakura..." Rin says.

"Yeah yeah, she has her oddities. Who doesn't?" Sakura says. "Even you are pretty weird, witch-girl. More'n, y'know, your powers. You know that, right? So fuck you too."

...

Ouch.

Well, you can't exactly deny that.

"Fine, fine," you say. "But look, the negotiations can't work like this, if she's going to keep insisting on the Seeds."

"Feh," Sakura grunts. "You mean they won't get to a result you like, you mean. Hell, do you think she'll stick with it if she isn't the one signing off on it, anyway?"

"Miss Sabrina..." Rin says. "Akiko... is still giving me instructions?"

"Still the Seeds?" you ask.

"One moment-" Rin replies. "Sorry, yes..."

"Can anyone from your group take over for Akiko?" you suggest. "You, Sakura?"

"Jesus fuck, no," Sakura snaps back, heartfelt. "Me? Fuck no. And look, negotiations. You don't get to throw out someone because you don't like what she's saying, right?"

[] Write-in

=====​

Sakura's coarse, not stupid.

Holding the following in abeyance as needed:

Spoiler

[x] Private telepathy. Sakura, now's the time to come clean. We can try to help her too, but we need to know to do that.
[x] Also, could you keep an eye on Akiko's soul gem for me, Sakura? She sounds like she's racking up some corruption over there.
[x] Tell Mami she's right, and that we're focusing on getting someone who'll listen.

 

[Firnagzen]

You look at Rin. She looks uncomfortable, reaching up to adjust glasses that aren't there, and then moving to fidget with her hair instead.

Truth be told, you're getting sick and tired of these negotiations. Maybe that makes you a bad negotiator - after all, they can go on for days at a time, but well, if Akiko isn't going to negotiate in good faith...

But your patience can stretch a little further, and you can afford to push a little. More than a little, even.

"So what exactly is Akiko saying, Rin?" you ask, catching and holding her gaze.

"Thirty Grief Seeds, to be paid in installments, and me to be returned..." Rin says. "She also said to let it be bargained down to twenty... to try and convince you that she's not unreasonable.""

"Hm, no, I don't think so," you say. "Look... you do realize that there's no way the University girls will agree to her demands, right? Thirty or twenty, they've literally died for them already. You know that. And I'm offering to make Grief Seeds unnecessary. For everyone. And she's still refusing to budge. "

"Sakura, she's right..." Rin says softly. "Akiko's... being unreasonable."

"More than that, I'd wager," you inject, before Sakura can get a word in. "You know the University girls won't got for it, and she knows it too. So, what? Is she trying to sink the negotiations, or does she have some serious, like, issues about it, or what?"

"Jesus fuck, yes she does," Sakura snaps. "And you have your hangup about helping people."

"My 'hangup' hasn't gotten people killed," you riposte calmly.

"That-" Sakura says, and breaks off. "Fuck."

"That what, Sakura? Doesn't matter? I think it does, personally," you say, almost conversationally. "But y'know, let me ask something. Say I'm not here, say you get the University girls to agree to the thirty. What next? You keep on fighting for territory forever?"

"No, I assume we back the fuck off on them if they actually managed to fucking make us negotiate," Sakura snaps.

"And speaking of negotiating," you say. "Negotiations only work when both sides are actually working in good faith. Like, say, the University girls. You know that you've pretty much ruined their lives, and they're still willing to let it go, right? How 'bout Akiko, hmm? Of she isn't willing to bend on something, then I don't think she's negotiating much. Just demanding she gets her share. That's not going to work. Convince her to reconsider, or get someone to take over, or this is going nowhere."

"Sakura, I think Miss Sabrina has a point," Rin pipes up, unexpectedly. You'd almost forgotten she was there. "Maybe Yumi could take over?"

"With her fucking broken neck?" Sakura says sourly. "And you know Akiko won't fuckin' agree."

You fight the urge to sigh again. Turning to look at the rooftop where Sakura and Akik-

...

You frown.

"Where's Akiko gone?" you ask, narrowing your eyes at the single figure on the roof.

"Elsewhere," Sakura says, unhelpfully.

[] Look around for Akiko/the rest of the Sendai group
[] Press Sakura about Akiko
[] Talk to Rin
- [] About...
[] Talk to Sakura
- [] About...
[] Write-in

=====​

So I tried this last time, but it kinda fell to the wayside. This time, I think I'll insist. Point form the dialogue. I'll be reasonable about short segments that you want in specific phrasings, but only that.

 

[Firnagzen]

You growl softly under your breath. Someone's playing silly buggers here and it's starting to piss you off.

Well.

Not exactly 'starting'.

Alright. Alright then.

If she wants to mess around with negotiations, so can you.

You look back at the table, shaded orange with the sun dipping below the horizon - it's about six, now. The University girls are still discussing telepathically amongst themselves. You cough lightly to get their attention, and lean forward, one hand pressing flat against the table - Mami's still holding your other hand.

"OK, so," you begin when you're sure you have their attention. "I'm going to lay some of my cards on the table here, because a certain someone is being stupid."

Yuko nods triedly. "Yes," she says slowly. "What's... your end of the bargain?"

"My end of the bargain is peace," you say. "Because all this... thisness-" you wave your hand in a sweeping motion, "-sucks. Magical girl fighting magical girl over Grief Seeds. You've seen what I can do, and I see no reason I can't break this system. Or at least, I damned well mean to try."

"Here and now? I want this fighting to stop," you say, steamrolling onwards. You jab a finger at them. "I want you to be able to not have to fight and die because of her." The finger turns into a thumb pointing over your shoulder.

The bustle of the city in rush hour continues behind you on the streets, but here around the table in the wake of your pronouncement, a hush falls, the University girls dumbstruck.

"And that," Mami says softly, "is why I'm here." Her hand, soft warmth against yours, squeezes tightly, and you turn to see a radiant, proud smile on her face, one you can't help but answer.

"You don't even know us," Rei says, looking at you through her curtain of pale green hair. "You're willing to throw your lot in for us?"

"Each and every magical girl is a victim," you say quietly. "I don't see why I can't help."

"Then... we thank you," Chouko says, matching your sombre tone and bowing her head.

You look around, trying to gauge reactions - the Suzuki sisters seem overwhelmed and relieved. Chouko straightens from her half-bow, looking expectantly at you, while Yuko looks... skeptical, if that frown is anything to judge by, but a flicker of hope fights for control, if the easing of tension in her folded arms and shoulders is anything to judge by. Rin looks conflicted, dismay and relief in mixing in equal parts.

"That said," you add. "I'm still working on... convincing Miss Hamasaki. So... give me a little more time, please?"

"Yes," Chouko says. The rest of the University girls, even Yuko, nod in agreement.

Speech aside, though, you're not completely wide-eyed idealist. You shift the sling bag full of marbles sitting next to your chair, and let the marbles drift silently out. They're small enough to go without notice as you carefully spread them out over the area, keeping them to the shadows.

"Mami, Kirika," you say telepathically. "Akiko moved from that rooftop. I don't know what she's doing - keep an eye out?"

"Yep," Kirika drawls.

"Of course, Sabrina." Mami leans back slightly in her chair, golden eyes roaming slowly, unobtrusively around as she inspects the rooftops.

Then back to business. "Sakura, when someone ups and runs off in the middle of cease-fire negotiations, that's a bad fucking sign. Where did Akiko go?" you ask, picking up where you'd left off with Rin and Sakura.

"Jeeze, you can still talk to her by magic," Sakura says sourly.

"Sakura..." Rin says. "Miss Sabrina... isn't wrong."

Silence for a moment.

"Hello?" you say, cautiously, glancing back - Sakura's still alone on that roof, but she is still there.

"Fuck. Fine. She went to talk to the Fukushima girls," Sakura growls. "Happy?"

"Gah. OK, look, just concern here: Was Akiko accumulating a lot of Grief earlier? When I asked her about Kato?" you ask.

"Does it fucking matter to you?" Sakura snaps back. "Cool your fucking head, anyway. No."

"Well, that's good, at any rate," you reply. "Thank you for the answers, Sakura. I mean that, seriously. Thank you. And thank you too, Rin."

In response, you just get some thankfully incomprehensible grumbling from Sakura.

"I... hope you know what you're doing, Miss Sabrina," Rin says privately to you.

[] Go investigate Akiko
[] Ask about the last two Sendai girls
[] Adjourn elsewhere
[] Write-in

=====​

Same policy as before. Points and tone, not dictation. Also, it's somewhere around six, now.

 

[Firnagzen]

You're tempted to give Rin a snarky answer. 'No, I don't', maybe, or 'I hope so too', or something else along those lines.

So very tempted.

Alas, this really isn't the time for it.

Instead, you look back at the University girls sitting around the table. "By the way," you say. "What can you tell me about the other two girls with Miss Hamasaki? Minami Yumi and Tanaka Tamiko? I know they're gravity control and force field, but... how do they use their powers, what are they like, that kind of thing?"

Chouko gives you a curious look. "Minami can fly, a bit, and mostly she uses her powers to crush things into the ground? She... I don't think she has much fine control. Um... she's reasonable. I guess. She's let us have... extensions before," she says, lips twisting, before nodding slowly.

"Still right behind Akiko when it came to attacking us, though," Haru says. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Yuko grimace to herself, while Rin shrinks a little further, her shoulders hunching in.

Chouko shakes her head. "Well, yeah. But anyway... Tanaka... she's mostly quite defensive, but she can also use her forcefields to hit back. Hmm... I don't think we've talked to her much?"

Yuko shrugs. "I think she might actually be mute? I'm pretty sure I've never heard her speak."

"So there you have it," Chouko says, looking at you. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm... trying to feel out their intra-group dynamics," you say. "Homura?" you reach out for the time traveller.

"What is it, Sabrina?" Homura responds almost immediately.

"What can you tell me about the Fukushima group?" you ask.

A soft snort from Homura. "Hamasaki called them in?"

You sigh back, picking up your cup of tea, long gone cold. You take a gulp from it as you respond. "Yeah. I managed to get her to back off for now."

"From what I know of her, the easiest way to make her leave you alone is to just give her the Grief Seeds," Homura notes.

"It's not exactly an option when I don't have that many, and neither can the University Girls afford it," you say sharply.

"Hmm," Homura says noncommitally. "The Fukushima girls... they won't be sending everyone. Akiyama Atsuko, Koizumi Sasami, Nishimura Moe." She pauses for a moment, before adding.

"Right. Uh, this Nishimura-"

"Yes, her name is Moe, no, she isn't actually very moe," Homura says, cutting you off impatiently. A lesser person would probably be rolling her eyes. "Their powers are... metal, light, and shadow." She pauses, thinking for a moment, before adding, "If you fight them, be careful of Koizumi and Nishimura. The two work together very well."

"Alright, thanks, Homura," you say, suppressing your surprise at Homura describing someone as dangerous. "How's things, back home?"

"The shopping trip is done, Madoka is safe at home," Homura replies.

"And Sayaka?" you ask.

"Still thinks that magical girls are cool," Homura says, almost spitting the word out.

You sigh, taking another sip of your tea, and making a face at the taste. "We probably need to do something about that at some point," you note.

"Hmm," Homura says. You get the impression she would say more, were you face to face, but is reluctant to over telepathy.

"Well, thanks," you say. "And, well, as before - see you soon."

"See you," Homura says.

Alright then. A call to Akiko. "Miss Hamasaki," you say, putting your cup back down on the table.

"Miss Sabrina," she replies, voice cold, but collected - not a hint of her earlier... madness? Was it even that? More of an inexplicable hangup over Grief Seeds and that Kato Setsuko than anything.

"I would say that leaving negotiations unannounced is rather... unprofessional, wouldn't you?" you let your annoyance bleed into your telepathic voice to match the frost in her voice. "Might you share what you're doing?"

"Rin is my negotiator, is she not?" Akiko asks. "That's what I was told. And I'm still in contact with her."

"Hmm," you say. "We both know that really, you're the one negotiating. But that aside, what did you leave for?"

"I am engaging in talks with my allies," Akiko says.

"Allies from Fukushima, perhaps?" you ask, letting out a hint more of the bubbling annoyance you're keeping a tight lid on.

"Yes," Akiko says.

"What about, I wonder?" you press. "Miss Hamasaki, no matter how I look at it, I feel increasingly worried by your actions."

No response.

And that's not a good sign, is it?

Lamps around the cafe flick to life to drive out the encroaching darkness of night, and the tenor of the city shifts as the crowds throwing through the street grow more measured. A few more people have trickled into the cafe, settling in for their dinners.

"Mami, Kirika, we may have incoming," you say to them. Mami sucks in a sharp gasp, looking worried.

"Not here, surely?" she says, sounding horrified. "With so many people around?"

"I hope not," you say. "A group from Fukushima just got here, it seems like."

"Eh, we can take 'em," Kirika says, unconcerned.

"We may have to," you say. And that's what you're afraid of.

You look around the table. "Please stay calm, but I think Miss Hamasaki might be preparing an ambush," you announce.

Shock, followed by fear, flickers across Rin's face. "N-no, she gave me instructions to negotiate, and she said she was just going to talk to them. I-I'll talk to Sakura, she'll listen to me," she says, words spilling from her mouth and tripping over each other.

Chouko grimaces, looking faintly disappointed, though it's overshadowed by weary resignation - an expression repeated three times over in the faces of her friends. "Are you sure about this?"

"No," you say. "I said that she might be. Please, stay calm."

The blue haired girl shakes her head slowly. "We... thank you for trying, Miss Sabrina," she gives you a sad smile. "It's more... than anyone has offered us before." The Suzuki sisters, and even Yuko, nod in agreement.

"So what will you do now?" you ask.

"If... Miss Hamasaki plans to attack..." Chouko starts, and then throws a sharp look at Rin. "I suppose we'll see if... Fukui will still help us. And the Osaki girls owe me a favour. We won't give up without a fight."

[] Write-in

=====​

Hmmm.

 

[Firnagzen]

"That won't be necessary," you say to the University girls, a tiny smirk crossing your face. A shame Homura isn't hear, but... one for the mental scoreboard, anyway. "If Akiko decides to try anything, we can shut her down. Quite aside from what you girls can bring to the table... well."

"You know Mami. One of the strongest and most talented magical girls alive. Kirika... well, she has some nasty tricks hidden up those sleeve ruffle things and me? I can and will yank Soul Gems if I have to." A feral smirk, one to match any of Kirika's, washes across your face. Some part of you is going to enjoy humbling Akiko, if it comes to it.

Chouko flinches at the sight. "I see..."

You lean back in your chair. "For now... we don't actually know whether Akiko's going to start anything. It's just... well. She dropped out of communication after meeting... a party she hired for combat."

"You can say Fukushima, we know it's them," Haru says, rolling her eyes.

You shrug. "The point I want to make is that it's suspicious as hell and something to be concerned about, but!" You raise a finger to emphasize the point. "But there could be an innocent explanation. Maybe she just doesn't like my voice, or she can't focus on two conversations at once, or something."

Yuko snorts softly, deep purple hair bobbing with the motion. "Not likely."

Another ambivalent shrug. "Maybe. I'll give her enough rope to hang herself... but I'd really rather she didn't. For now... I'm still working on it."

Rei glances at her sister, and then at you. "You have an amazing amount of optimism," she mutters.

"Eh," you say. You close your eyes, taking a deep breath and force back the bubbling pit of anger. When you think you can speak calmly to Akiko, you reopen the connection to her again.

"It occurs to me, Miss Hamasaki, that I may have been going about things wrongly," you say slowly. "Or rather, there are some things I neglected to mention."

Akilo doesn't respond for a moment, and your anger begins to bubble back to the surface again.

"I will hear you out."

That's... almost a snub. Your teeth grind against each other for a moment, but you force yourself to reply civily. "First, I am willing to offer my services to the Fukushima girls to help defray the costs involved."

"Noted," Akiko says tersely.

You frown. That's not really like her, that you've seen. She likes her words. Distraction, annoyance, cutting off an enemy... You have no idea. Still, you forge onwards for now. "Additionally, I spoke to the Ishinomaki group, asking for an end to hostilities. They said they would stop fighting in return for a mutual cease fire."

A longer pause this time. "I am not interested in peace with them," she replies eventually.

That's interesting. You suppress your urge to lash out on that count - why the frelling hell does she not want peace? "And about that," you continue on. "What do you want with Ishinomaki?"

Akiko's response is monosyllabic and cold. "Redress."

Redress? Revenge, then? The same excuse that she screamed at the Ishinomaki girls, if couched in different terms? In that case, the-

A loud flumph behind you makes you jump. You twist around to see-

Someone opening an umbrella. Umbrellas appear as if by magic throughout the crowd, blossoms of colours ranging from black to white to blue to red. A plop draws your attention back to the table - a raindrop just landed in the middle of Kirika's plate.

Oh. Rain.

Great.

"Excuse me, dears, would you like to move inside?" the elderly owner of the cafe walks out, surprisingly sprightly despite her age. The rain begins to patter down, the lazy, fat droplets picking up in intensity.

[] Write-in

=====​

Reminder to keep conversation to point form unless absolutely necessary!