Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

[Firnagzen]

You frown, not terribly sure what to say to that. You're... quite sure you heard something, yes, though 'heard' might not be the best word. And yet, no one else even seems to have noticed. Homura did look askance at the ground in Elsa Maria's Barrier, but... apparently she considered that nothing out of the ordinary. Was that normal, then? But then what was that voice?

"Sabrina?" Homura's looking at you, faint worry in her eyes.

"No... I'm just thinking," you say. You sigh. Probably best not to continue asking - you've already asked twice, after all. "I'm kind of worried about the voice." You rub wearily at your forehead with a knuckle. "I suppose I'll let you know if it happens again? I mean, I'll be the first to admit that there's not much to go on here, but it does kind of worry me."

Homura bobs her head quickly in agreement. "Noted. This..." She thinks for a moment, her amethyst eyes distant and worried. "Do you..." She trails off, looking out over the city and grimacing.

"Hmm, Homura?" you ask, sitting up and peering at Homura.

"If... your information is good," she says, grimacing unhappily, eyes still looking out over the frozen cityscape rolling by beneath you. "Then... do you think this might be the 'feather'?"

A blink. That's the second time Homura asked you. You sigh. "I... I think maybe I'm being paranoid. I hope I'm just being paranoid. But... it could be. It could be."

She doesn't respond for a long, long moment, staring off into the distance before she finally refocuses on you. "Alright," she says simply.

You raise your eyebrows slowly. That's it?

She holds your gaze for a heartbeat longer before nodding, just a hair. That's it.

The rest of your journey back home is spent in a comfortable silence, neither of you really feeling the need to say much more. She sits beside you, relaxed, her legs dangling over the edge of the carpet and midnight black hair streaming out behind her in the rushing wind.

"By the way, Homura," you say as you coast in for a landing in front of Mami's apartment. "I'm going to let Mami know that I went on this little errand with you, is that OK? It's only polite, I guess."

"Yes, that's fine," Homura says.

"Alright, then," you nod, before snickering slightly . "Also... I owe you a mop."

There's a quiet, familiar humming of gears, and you turn to see Homura producing a familiar looking mop.

... just about exactly the same as the one you'd left behind, before you polished it.

You blink at the mop, then at Homura.

"... why?" you ask plaintively.

Homura shrugs microscopically. "I... might need more than one mop? Or a new one?"

"... right," you say. "Right."

Boiling water and instant ramen and mops and probably that golf club club and probably a fresh pizza and rope and all manner of dakka and explosives and goodness knows what else. Probably first aid kits and... huh. That shield of hers is essentially Doraemon's pouch, isn't it?

... you decide not to mention that to her, instead heading back up to Mami's apartment, Homura in tow. Your loot, still safely ensconced in protective layers of Grief, you stash on the roof of the building, alongside the rest of the Grief.

You stop outside the door, turning to Homura. "So, um," you say. "Homura? Can I give you a hug?"

She blinks slowly at you, before nodding.

You smile, stepping forward and wrapping your arms around her gently. Moving slowly, uncertainly, she hugs you back, her movements stiff and awkward. "Hey. Thanks again for letting me come along," you say.

"It was no problem," she murmurs, softening into the hug a bit. She's so thin. It's not the first time you've noticed, but... Homura's really a tiny slip of a girl. Far too thin, far too fragile. She leans against you for a moment, a bit of tension ebbing from her tightly wound shoulders.

You hold the hug for a moment longer before breaking it, stepping back and smiling at Homura. "OK. Cleanse?" you ask.

Her eyes flick down to her Soul Gem, gleaming on her hand. Wordlessly, she presents it to you, and you take a quick moment to cleanse her Soul Gem, along with you own. The Grief wicks away, flowing through down the corridor to the window at the end where it lofts upwards to join the bulk of your Grief on the roof.

You're already pushing through the door, stepping back into Mami's apartment and returning to where you'd been before Homura pulled you into the timestop. You detransform before shooting her one last smile and undoing the cord around your wai-

-st.

Colour, bright and vivid after the muted, deathly greys of the time stop assault your eyes. Mami's back is still turned towards you as she heads towards the kitchen. "Sabrina, could you help with the rest of the dishes?" she calls.

A smile crosses your face, and you begin to pile up the rest of the dishes as instructed, joining Mami in the kitchen. Homura meanders in after you a moment later, looking around and face returned to her neutral, expressionless poker face.

"Mami?" you say telepathically to Mami as you start soaping up the dishes with brisk, practiced motions.

"Yes, Sabrina?" she asks, flashing you a bright smile as she waits for the soaped dishes.

"Ah, Homura pulled me off for that errand I mentioned earlier," you tell her.

"Oh, I see," Mami says, her smile faltering for a moment. She takes half a step closer to you, closing the distance to lean against your side. "It... I hope it went well? No big problems?"

"Yeah, it did," you say, smiling down at her.

"That's good," she says. "Um... may I ask what you did?"

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Muuumi.

 

[Firnagzen]

"Weeeeellll," you say, putting down a soaped plate and stepping away from the sink. Mami's gaze follows you, looking curious.

You throw one hand wide, gesturing in Homura's vague direction. "The unapproachable beauty, talk of Mitakihara, Akemi Homura teamed up with-" your other arm swings in front of you, dipping down slightly as your twist your body away from Mami, "-the mysteriously appearing foreigner Sabrina!"

You sweep both arms around you, curling your middle and ring fingers in on each hand before crossing them over your chest. "Together! They used their secret identities and superpowers to fight crime and correct injustice!" You grin proudly at Mami as soap suds slide down your hand, soaking into your blouse.

Mami stares at you, mouth open. You can hear a faint groan behind you.

"Sabrina, did you j-jus- pfff-" Mami doesn't make it to the sentence, dissolving into quivering giggles that grows into clear peals full bodied laughter. She wobbles half a step forward, collapsing against you for support.

Her laughter's contagious, and you join in, delighted, as you support her. You can see Homura out of the corner of your eye, rubbing at her forehead in exasperation.

Mami laughs until she runs out of breath, wheezing helplessly in your arms, gasping fits of giggles bubbling from her. "S-so-" Mami chokes out between giggles, "-did you punish anyone in the name of the moon?'

"Sure," you say with a grin. "I helped Homura, ah, chastise some Yakuza by, shall we say, restocking her weapons. I, uh, kind of got some souvenirs, too."

Mami peeks up at your face, trying to see if you're serious this time, her mirth fading a little. "You... robbed the Yakuza?"

"Well... yes," you say sheepishly. "I was careful! And Homura's done it before! We made sure not to leave any fingerprints or anything, and she was using her power the whole time!"

"Ah... so it's safe?" Mami asks.

Homura answers for you, to your surprise. "I've done it many times," she says, tone utterly bland.

You shoot her a smile and a nod of thanks.

Mami nods, smile returning. A thought seems to occur to her, and she giggles again. "S-Sabrina- does that make Homura Tuxedo Mask? Or is that you?"

"... you know I have no idea?" you say, considering that for a moment. "I vote Homura, she has the hair and the dark bishie look for it. And she's more than mysterious enough."

"True, but... who would be Usagi, then?" Mami asks, glancing back at the sink.

"Not Homura," you say immediately. You gently nudge Mami towards the sink, and the both of you move over. "Maybe Madoka? What do you think, Homura?" you ask, looking back over your shoulder.

She shrugs. "Madoka is... Madoka."

"Yeah, not really that good a fit, I guess," you concede.

You and Mami demolish the stack of dishes in short order, and retire back to the living room, where you flop on the couch, Mami cuddled into your side. To your faint surprise, Mami doesn't really seem to be concerned about the raid on the Yakuza at all, apart from wanting to cling to you.

But then, what else is new?

You glance at the clock. It's only eight... well, approaching eight. Still relatively early, though the day feels like it's been dragging on forever. Still, things to attend to. "Mami, Homura?" you say.

"Mmm?" Mami lifts her head to peer up at you, drill hair rustling slightly. Homura simply looks over at you silently.

"I'm thinking we should go and see Miss Ono?" you suggest. "And um, Homura, if you'd like to come along, you're welcome too."

"Ah... yes, we do need to," Mami says, looking down. "I was hoping we could do it tomorrow, though... I was hop- I have homework to do tonight." She looks hopefully up at you, though there's a bit of dismay in her expression.

[] Write-in

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Hmm? What's wrong, Mumi?

 

[Firnagzen]

You bite your lip, looking at Mami's hopeful expression.

"If it wasn't so important..." You look away. "I'm sorry, Mami. I... Miss Ono can't continue on as she is. It's dangerous."

Mami's shoulders sag. "I- I know," she says, voice catching. "S-sorry. I'm being selfish."

"No," you say firmly. "No, you're not. Is something wrong, Mami?"

"Just... I was hoping for a quiet night in, after... all this today," Mami says softly.

"Oh," you respond. "Well... it might be a bit late, but I can still help with your homework tonight. Is that OK, Mami?"

She gives you a wan smile. "That would be nice."

You smile at her. "When's the makeup test, anyway?"

"Ah... It's this Friday," Mami says.

Hmm. Wednesday today, so two days to go. But that's for later, and for now... You step forward, holding your arms open. Mami accepts the hug, clinging to you, and you just hold her. She doesn't seem upset, just a little disappointed.

"I could go myself," Homura offers quietly.

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Apologies for a very short update. But things came up in real life - and Homura wanted to offer, anyway.

As an advance heads up, I'm not sure I'll be around tomorrow, again, my apologies.

 

[Firnagzen]

You blink at Homura over Mami's shoulder, faintly startled that Homura even offered. And you're tempted to take her up on that offer. It'd hopefully sort things out, letting Mami have her quiet night, while Homura sorts out Ono... Well that last bit's a problem, isn't it.

That's what you tell yourself, anyway.

Nevertheless, a huge smile breaks out on your face as you separate from Mami, still keeping her close to you.

"I... thanks, Homura," you say. "Thank you so much for offering. It's... really nice of you, and... I really appreciate it, I do. But I'm sorry, Homura, and sorry, Mami." You glance between Mami's disappointed look, and then Homura's neutral expression. "We've made Miss Ono wait quite a lot already, and I really should start making good on my word to her, so I really do have to do this personally."

You're not going full Gilgamesh again, you're not. Homura has known problems with social skills. And you did promise Megane.

... you are going to have to insist on talking to Megane in the flesh tonight, though, even if you have to be invisible to do it.

"I'd be happy to have you with us when we go, though?" you suggest. "If you want to, anyway."

Homura nods fractionally. "Yes."

"Alright, then," you say, smiling at her in thanks. "Mami... I'm very sorry, but we do need to do this."

"I know," she says, giving you a smile that's only slightly forced. "You wouldn't be you, otherwise."

"I guess not," you murmur. Sometimes you're not entirely sure that you are really all you're cracked up to be, but... close enough.

You huff out a sigh. "By the way, Mami, before we head out... do you still have that feather? The one that came out of my Barrier?"

"Um... yes, I think so," Mami replies. "It should be in my bag?" You follow her over to her bag, where she pokes around a bit before before eventually producing the Feather. It looks a little rumpled, worse for the wear for being stuffed into a pocket.

... really, it just looks normal. Rather larger than you'd expect of a feather, but really. It looks like a feather. It doesn't seem to be magical or Witch-y or Grief-y in nature.

Just to be sure, a thought summons a sphere of Grief, dropping down from the rooftops and scooting in through the window with a rustle of curtains. You take the feather from Mami and seal it in Grief, locking it away into another innocuous sphere to join the others. Absently, you check your pocket - you've still got Hildegarde's Grief Seed, sitting quietly there.

"Alright," you say. "I suppose we should prepare to head out?"

Mami nods, giving you a quick hug. "Let me go to the bathroom first?" she asks.

"Of course," you reply with a smile. As you wait for her, you collect your sling bag of Grief marbles and drop into the couch, kicking your legs out. Absently, you summon the Grief sphere containing the obrez to you and slip the cut down rifle into your sling bag, concealing it underneath the marbles. No point having it 'in case of emergency' if it isn't to hand, after all.

You shoot Homura a quick smile, which she replies to with an eyebrow raised a fraction of a centimetre. You smile broadens into a grin.

You hear the bathroom door click open, and you glance over to see Mami stepping out, plumping her hair drills. It looks like she washed her face too, at a guess.

"I'm ready," she says.

"Alright," you say, patting the couch beside you and raising your eyebrows. "Let's just check in with Miss Ono, then." With a thought, you reach out mentally for the girl who might be the Glass Witch - but not if you have anything to say about it. You let Homura and Mami listen in, too, the latter now cuddling into your side again. "Miss Ono?"

... Heh. Quantum Ono; simultaneous superposition of Witch and meguca until observed.

It takes a moment before she responds. "Hello, Miss Sabrina," Megane replies.

A touch of relief suffuses you. "Hello," you say. "I'm very sorry for the delay, a lot of things came up today. But we're ready to meet you now; would you happen to be free?"

"I'm terribly sorry, I currently have matters that need my attention," she says, voice frosty. She doesn't sound sorry at all.

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Testy, testy.

 

[Firnagzen]

Your lips tighten in a flash of irritation. Is she blowing you off? Judging from the frown growing on Mami's face, you're not quite alone in those thoughts, either. You exchange a look with Mami, and she shakes her head microscopically, her hair brushing against you.

Megane has no idea of what she's doing. Really no idea.

Either she's just this bitchy, or it's her pride, or it's her Wish... Really, you don't believe that there is something happening.

So for once... you think you're perfectly justified to insist.

"I see," you say, fighting to keep your mental voice even. "Nothing dangerous, I should hope?"

"Of course not," she retorts sharply.

'Of course not?' You raise your eyebrows at Mami, then Homura. A faintly sour expression flicks across the time traveller's face as she drops onto the sofa, crossing her arms patiently.

Or maybe that's impatient. You're getting better at reading her, but still.

"That's good," you reply cautiously.

"If there's nothing else, I have matters to attend to," Megane replies, voice hovering somewhere south of arctic. "As I'm sure you have, with your busy schedule."

... Definitely trying to blow you off, with a side order of 'being bitchy as hell'.

You frown, exchanging another glance with Mami. Her frown deepens, and she slowly pulls herself upright on the sofa.

"I think she feels insulted," Mami offers. "That we didn't honour our initial promise to see her."

"Feh," you grunt. "Do you think I should apologise?"

"It should help," Mami says. "But... she's being difficult on purpose."

"Yeah, I agree," you mutter. Steeling yourself, you speak telepathiclly to Megane again. "Miss Ono, I am truly sorry that I couldn't meet you after school like I said I would, and you have my deepest apologies for that. I hadn't meant to just blow you off like that."

"So noted," the girl replies, and falls silent again.

"... for goodness' sake," you mutter under your breath, rubbing at your forehead in frustration. "I take it you're not interested in going hunting for a Witch right now?"

"Why would I do that?" she counters.

You glance at Homura, who's looking increasingly annoyed. Even Mami looks displeased, an unhappy frown tugging at her lips. You blow out a breath, reaching up to tuck a wisp of hair behind your ear.

"Fine," you say. "But it's vitally important to keep your Soul Gem clean, for your own well-being. May I make up for not meeting you earlier by dropping by and cleaning off your Soul Gem and Grief Seed?"

Silence, for a moment. "No, you may not. As I said, I'm busy."

You grind your teeth. "It'd be barely a minute, and we can be there very quickly, if you want."

"I think that's all we have to talk about, Miss Sabrina," Megane replies. "We can meet tomorrow." With a distinct air of finality, she ends the call.

"Damn that girl," you hiss, your hands tightening into fists. Why the hell is Ono so damned petty? "She doesn't bloody know what she's doing."

Mami nods. "She does seem rather... dismissive."

"Homura," you glance at the black haired girl. "Do you know where to find her?"

"Maybe," she says. "I think I know roughly where she lives."

"Right. We're going," you say, pushing yourself to your feet and offering Mami a hand. "Mami, I'm really sorry, but... this is important, I think." You wish you could leave her alone for the snubbing, but you can't. Not really.

She takes your hand, letting you pull her to her feet. "No... I understand, Sabrina," she saves, giving you a wan smile and hugging you tightly. "You have to."

"Yeah. Yeah, I think so," you say. "Homura?" You turn to find her already headed for the door with a swish of hair.

A few minutes later, you're sitting on a Grief carpet, gaining height rapidly over Mitakihara. You find your mind wandering a little as you watch the city hum through its paces far below, blinking rivers of light flowing across the city. You could use Homura's timestop to get there a little faster, and Madoka and Kirika would probably make a diabetes-inducingly sweet couple but that probably woul-

You shake your head, dislodging that thought, hugging Mami into your side. You glance back at Homura, who's sitting on the carpet. She gives you a slight frown, raven black hair streaming in the wind behind her.

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Whoa, bitchy much?

 

[Firnagzen]

You catch Homura's frown, and reach out telepathically. "Homura? Is something wrong?"

Faded amethyst eyes hold yours for a moment. "She's just like..." She trails off, lips flattening together.

"Ah." You can fill in the rest, you think. "Are you OK?"

Homura sighs, the sound inaudible over the rushing wind. "It's too familiar," she murmurs.

"... ah. I see," you reply. The same story, repeated over and over, even with different actors to dance out the play. "Are you alright, Homura?"

Her eyes meet yours again for a moment. She inclines her head very slighty towards the side - neither a yes, nor a no.

You nod, considering Megane. More than a touch bitchy... but she's very much a kid. Granted, you're not that much older than her yourself, but you feel like you're much older. Or at the very least a lot more conscious of the dangers and necessities.

Speaking, or thinking of which... you abruptly slow the Grief carpet down, coasting into a gentle holding pattern. Mami looks askance at you, confusion in her golden eyes.

"One last try," you tell her and Homura.

"It's not worth it," Homura says.

"Yeah. It probably isn't going to work, but I feel like I should at least try," you respond, resigned. With a thought, you reach out to the girl that's become your newest headache.

... this is probably how Oriko feels all the time, huh?

"Miss Ono?" you say.

She responds with an annoyed, telepathic sigh. Which doesn't really make sense, since sighs are literally exhalations of breath, but... magic is as magic does. Or magitech is or magite- focus! "Yes, Miss Sabrina?" she says, voice cold.

You roll your eyes, deciding that you might as well try to get it out of your system before you actually meet her face to face. "Miss Ono, there is something that I absolutely have to talk to you about in person. This really can't wait, and is a matter of life and death to magical girls."

"Miss Sabrina, I am certain that you feel that whatever you have is very important," Megane replies.

Your teeth grind together. Mami lays a gentle hand on yours, squeezing lightly in support, and you force yourself to relax. You hug her, instead. "Miss Ono, I do apologise that I couldn't meet you earlier. One of my friends was..." you glance at Mami, trying to give her a silent apology before continuing, "... suffering from personal problems and needed my immediate help and support. And then after that, another of my friends was attacked by a Witch."

There's a pause as Megane absorbs this. In the meantime, you hug Mami more fully, whispering a quiet "Sorry," to her.

"My, what a busy life you lead, Miss Sabrina," Megane says at last. "I'm sure you have more things to attend to."

You try again. "I'm so very sorr-"

"I'm not interested, Miss Sabrina," Megane says, voice dripping with frost.

One last try, one last bombshell to drop. You raise your mental voice, just a hair. "I didn't want to intrude, but it has to be tonight. It could save your life, Miss Ono."

She doesn't respond, apparently opting to ignore you.

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see Homura slant you a look -a slightly raised eyebrow, head tilted slightly to the side- that screams 'I told you so'.

By contrast, Mami's staring straight ahead into the night, a sharp frown warring with dismay on her face. Apparently Megane's starting to both annoy and worry her, too.

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Ono for President Bitchy 2015!

 

[Firnagzen]

"Well then," you whisper to yourself. You've just about had it with her, and... truth be told, some part of you would dearly like to let her die, or Witchout, if that's what's happening. It'd... solve a lot of problems, and you can come back and quietly clean up later.

But no.

You don't do things like that.

And besides... Someone, somewhere, is fighting for you, and all that. Maybe she doesn't know it, but... you're on her side. You want her to live.

You become aware of Mami gently stroking your hand, teasing your tightly clenched fist open and holding your hand between both of hers. You squeeze her hand lightly, giving her a smile.

"Mami, Homura?" you say. You don't have to raise your voice too much, with your carpet cruising in a slow circle. "She won't accept my help, or my apology... but I can't just leave her alone." You press your lips together. "Much as I'd like to. But we can't. It'd literally kill her."

Homura shakes her head, expression flat. There's a hint of apology in her posture, her shoulders slightly hunched.

Mami clasps your hand between both of hers. "I think..." she swallows, looking up at you. "I think she's just, just lashing out. She was angry that we didn't make it to our appointment, and just... lashing out. We have to be firm with her. Just show up. I-I don't think she will like it, but it may be the only way."

"Do you think so?" you sigh, rubbing at your forehead. You really don't know whether this is for the better. It's in line with what you've been thinking, and it's nice to have confirmation, but... you're not entirely sure you trust your own judgement.

She nods tentatively. She doesn't look very sure herself, more torn than anything.

"OK, then," you say, eyeing Homura. The girl's expression is set, her violet eyes staring out into the darkened horizon. The thick clouds shrouding the sky have finally started moving, scudding across the sky in sluggish spurts. The moon, waxing towards its first quarter, occasionally peeks out from above.

"I was thinking of using Homura's power to head in quickly, find her, and see what her situation's like?" you say.

"I don't think she's really busy," Mami offers, grimacing.

"Neither do I," you murmur. "But she might be in distress." You tap your own Soul Gem meaningfully.

"I don't have any objections," Homura notes quietly, resting her fingers lightly on the rim of her shield.

Mami nods, spreading her fingers to show golden ribbons starting to web between them.

You take a deep breath, and exhale slowly. "Alright. Let's do it, then," you say.

Homura twists her shield with a hum of clockwork, gears singing. Grey hues explode across the night, swallowing up the bright glows of traffic suddenly paralyzed in the streets below. You feel motion at your waist - Mami's ribbon, twisting sinuously around to bind you to Mami and Homura.

You smile at your friends. "Thanks for indulging me," you whisper.

"Of course, Sabrina," Mami says, giving you an answering smile.

Homura just gives you a nod.

You sigh. "Somewhere in that direction, right?" you confirm, gesturing in the general direction of Yokosuka Academy and glancing at Homura.

She nods again, this time in affirmation, and you will the carpet forward, zooming towards the school. It only takes a few minutes' flight before you arrive at the enormous glass edifice that you're increasingly sure was built purely for the express purpose of one-upping Mitakihara. It even has those crennelations topping it, except wrought of gleaming steel and glass into swooping spires and arches.

"Somewhere in that direction," Homura murmurs, pointing to the west. You nod, and redirect the carpet.

"By the way, Mami," you ask. "Does Yokosuka have a rivalry with Mitakihara Middle School or something?"

"Yes, we do," Mami confirms with a shrug. "I never really bothered much with it, though..."

"Ah. That would explain it," you say.

Mami glances back at the building. "... it is a bit ostentatious," she agrees.

"Ostentatious," you snort. The grin fades back into seriousness, though, and you look at Homura again. "Any idea where better?"

She shakes her head. "Somewhere here," she says.

"Hmm..." you say, reaching out with your senses. You can feel the crackling glows that are your friends, sitting beside you. Beside you, and beneath you, are the tenuous, sepulchral presence of Grief ghosting through the air. A faint shadow of Grief, somewhere below, but... no. No other magical girls, and no Witch.

"Hm. Nothing that I can sense," you say with a frown. The carpet dips lower towards the ground, swooping between the canyons formed by the buildings, and you speed along the streets.

You spend fifteen minutes zigzagging along the streets before... "There," you murmur. "Found her, I think. Or I've found a magical girl."

A slightly poorer area, you think. A little shabby, and the facade perhaps a little more dirty than you usually see. Glowing on the ninth floor, in your sight beyond sight... A presence. Grief and magic, the distinctive twinned signature of a magical girl.

You head in.

Your impressions are confirmed as you head in. Not the best maintained place, indeed. Nothing bad. Just a bare shade less opulent than might be expected, or perhaps if you compared it to Oriko or Madoka's places. Or even Mami's apartment block.

Without prompting, Homura unlocks the door with a flash of purple light and steps into the apartment.

You're confronted with a frozen tableau. An older woman, bearing more than a passing similiarity to Megane, is slumped on the sofa, a can of what's obviously beer in her hand. A few empty cans lie abandoned on the ground, and the television's on.

Beyond that, a door that's rather pointedly closed, and presumably, locked. You can feel Megane just beyond that, and a little help from Homura sees you through.

You find Megane sitting on her bed, legs drawn up to her chest. Crumpled in her hand are some papers, ones you can't make out. Her Soul Gem, gleaming on her finger, is perhaps a quarter full... and you can't sense that Grief Seed you'd given her anywhere.

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Will you take on the world's problems?

 

[Firnagzen]

You growl under your breath. "The Grief Seed's gone," you say, looking at Mami and Homura as you step into the room. "That would explain why she didn't even want to consider going hunting with us, I think. Ashamed to admit it." You pause, grimacing. "Hopefully she didn't mean to go hunting alone in order to show up with a Grief Seed tomorrow."

Mami nods, looking at the girl sitting on the bed, before taking a step closer to you. You give her a quick, one armed hug to reassure her as you scan around the room.

It's cosy. Megane's room reminds you somewhat of Madoka's room, if less spacious and filled with considerably fewer chairs. Floral patterned wallpaper lines the walls, visibly worn with a scuff mark here and there. A ceiling fan-and-lamp combination hangs from the ceiling, the light off - Megane's sitting here in the darkness. A small study table sits off to the side, with some stationery and papers scattered about.

They're not poor, you don't think.

But they're not rich, either.

Homura glances around the room, and without a word, drifts over to the table, leafing through the papers.

You'll take that as... well, pretty much the same idea as you had, then.

"We should take a look around," you say, already starting for the papers. Mami follows you, glancing anxiously around the lifeless, colour-bleached world of the time-stop.

You fold your arms behind your back and lean over the bed, peering at the papers.

... school results, it looks like. A generous splash of reds, shaded grey by the timestop.

"Che," you grunt, straightening. "School results."

Mami sighs. "I think..."

"She's not very good," Homura says drily, carefully replacing the papers on the table. And now that you're looking, you can see rough scrawls of ink, probably scratched into the papers by frustration.

You sigh, too. "We need to talk to her."

Homura's eyes flick towards you, and then away. Not it.

"I..." Mami starts, trailing off.

"She can't go on like this, but... I'm not sure what to say," you admit. "She doesn't like me much, and... I'm afraid she's just going to clam up." You glance at Mami. "Mami, you're... better at talking to people than we are, and Megane seems more annoyed with me right now."

Mami looks torn. "I don't think she likes me, either," she says. "Do you remember... she mentioned the school rivalry?" Mami bites her lip, glancing away. "I could try," she says, giving you a wan smile.

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So I just kinda amlagamated the votes a bit.

 

[Firnagzen]

You huff out a sigh, tucking stray hair behind your ear. You're torn, to say the least.

"Sabrina?" Mami asks.

"Let me think," you say, rubbing at your forehead. You pace around the room, what little of it there is that isn't occupied by bed or desk or Mami or Homura, anyway. You spare a baleful glance at Megane - frankly, she's a pain, but...

Looking around her house, guessing from how she presents herself and what she might have wished for? You've got a pretty good idea of what drives her. Acting on it is a different thing -you're floundering for ideas- but you can make some guesses at her person. And it would go some way to explaining why she was so bitchy towards you.

... the thought of turning her into cheese kind of occurs to you before you ruthlessly tamp that down. It's completely unproductive.

"I'm going to bring her into the timestop," you decide at last, waving around at the colour-leached world.

"Are you sure, Sabrina?" Mami asks, wringing her hands.

"No," you answer truthfully. "I really don't know how best to deal with Miss Ono. I'm going to try. But I'm not sure." If you're being honest with yourself, some sort of you thinks that it's all going to shit as soon as you open your mouth. Hell, you think she might actually attack you. It's not terribly likely, you don't think, but it's a possibility.

"Homura?" you ask, glancing over at the time traveller. "Is that OK?"

She glances at you, then at Megane. She stares at the other black haired girl for a long moment, eyes evaluating, before looking back to you. "It's fine."

"Thanks, Homura," you say, shooting her a quick smile.

Mami's already stepping forward, ribbon spooling from her hand, before you stop her with a hand on her elbow.

"Let me try ot something, Mami?" you ask.

She nods and steps back, the ribbon vanishing in drifting motes of golden light.

"And um, maybe we could all give her a bit of room?" you say, suiting action to word. You move in front of Megane, Mami and Homura arranging themselves a little further back.

You're... suddenly very aware of your hands, hanging loosely at your side. That won't do; too casual. You tuck them in your coat pockets for a moment, touching your Grief Seeds for a moment. Hildegarde, and Andrea. But no, that's even more casual. You clasp your hands behind your back - no, too formal.

You start to fold your arms across your chest before abandoning that.

... No, no Gilgameshing.

A gentle hand touches your shoulder. You glance over to see Mami, giving you a smile, and she guides your hands to a more neutral position - back at your sides. "It's OK," she says.

"Thanks, Mami," you say. You close your eyes and inhale slowly, willing a marble of Grief out of your ever present bag. Really, that bag might as well be a part of your costume by now. The marble flits forward, stopping just in front of Megane.

You exhale, opening your eyes, and the marble snaps forward, lashing around the girl's finger. In tandem, colour floods into her.

Megane inhales sharply. Her eyes widen, and they dart around the room, glancing from you, to Mami, to Homura, to the frozen world, and then back to you.

She flinches, scrabbling back across the bed - still somehow moving with perfect poise.

"This might be a delayed answer-" you say, drawing the Grief out of her Soul Gem with a crook of your finger "-but I do rather think your life is very important." The Grief billows from her Soul Gem, tenebrous and swirling in a malevolent cloud in front of her for a moment before you collapse it down into marbles.

"Get out," she hisses. "Get out. Get out!" Megane's eyes are wide, almost frightened as she stares at you, her back digging into the wall. Her hands clench into white knuckled fists, the muscles standing out.

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Hmmm.

 

[Firnagzen]

You shake your head. "I can't, Megane," you say. "I can't. You're dying, an-"

"Get out," Megane snaps again. "Get out!" Her shoulder blades are practically digging into the wall, her hands groping wildly about. One hand encounters her bedside table and seizes her clock.

You're already moving a moment before the clock shatters against the wall behind you with a sharp crack. Pieces of plastic and tiny gears bounce all over the room before freezing in mid air, claimed by the timestop.

Your hand snaps out, blocking a ballistic powder compact. Powder explodes in a white cloud, staining everything white.

"Get out!" Megane scrambles over the foot of the bed, landing smoothly on her feet and drawing herself up. "Why are you bothering me?" In her hands, she's already hefting her table lamp, ready to throw. Serene rage masks her face, icily arrogant fury trying to intimidate you into leaving.

"S-Sabrina-" Mami says, stepping forward. "Miss Ono-"

Megane transforms. A blaze of light pours out from her form, the evening gown of her costume wrapping itself around her form. In her hands, an ornate, glassy staff forms, shimmering in the dim twilight of the timestop, and she levels it at you. "Get out!"

Glittering sparks gather at the tip of her staff.

A blur of cream and gold crosses your vision - Mami, stepping in front of you. She gestures sharply, and a tangling mass of ribbons explodes from her hand. The twisting yellow mass lashes across the room.

Bursts of light erupt from Megane's staff. The girl barely has time to dodge before before Mami's ribbons swamp the girl. They tear the staff from her hand and cocoon her. Mami gestures sharply, and ribbons snap out - to the bed, to the table leg, to the ground as if pinned there.

Megane struggles fruitlessly, trying to break out of the restraints. "Release me," she snaps, glaring at Mami. "Release me! Leave, and stop telling me what to do!"

Mami shakes her head. "Miss Ono, we only mean the best for you. We mean to help."

"I want you to go away," Megane enunciates every word clearly and sharply. "I want you to leave me be."

You glance at Homura. She's standing stock still, body tense and a pistol held in her hand.

Mami takes a breath, glancing quickly at you before facing Megane again. "Miss Ono, please hear us out."

"You broke into my house." Megane twists at her bonds, trying to work her way free. "Why should I listen to the foreign meddler and her cronies?"

Mami's eyes narrow. "Sabrina is my friend."

Megane doesn't say anything, her scornful, dismissive gaze answer enough.

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Oh dear.