Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

[Firnagzen]

"How about I-" Your immediate instinct is to just clear another Seed right in front of Anri. It's not unique, and there's no reason it should be, but.

But.

You asked Oriko to handle this, and she's not an idiot. She knows you can clear Grief Seeds out, too, and she didn't ask you to do that. Kirika asked you if you had a spare that they could fake Anri out with. The least you can do is trust Oriko with something you asked her to.

"I could just clear another Grief Seed to demonstrate that Clear Seeds aren't unique," you say. It doesn't hurt to offer, after all. "I... well, I could and maybe should have cleared Arzt Kochen, but I wanted to leave it untouched... eh. You're sure you just need a Clear Seed?"

Kirika blinks, tapping her lip with a finger. "Oriko asked me to get one from you!" she says. "So yeah!"

"Right," you say, rubbing your forehead. "Er... will I get it back?"

"Yep!" Kirika says, beaming happily. "Oriko said 'ask if Sabrina has a spare Clear Seed we can borrow'. Borrowing means we return it later!"

"Right," you say, frowning thoughtfully at the other privacy sphere.

"'scuse me," Niko says, raising her hand. "Don't you think that lying to someone who already thinks you're lying to her is a bad idea?"

"Nah, nah," Kirika says. "Oriko has a plan! Iunno what it is, but my Oriko's always right!"

Niko arches an eyebrow into a deeply skeptical curve, and Kirika proceeds to ignore it with total aplomb.

You sigh, and pull Hildegard out of your pocket. "I'll want this back, ok?" you say, and flip the Seed at Kirika. "Ongoing experiment and all, but nothing that will affect using it right now."

The black haired girl snatches it out of the air. "Thanks!"

"Actually," you say, as a thought occurs to you. "Didn't I give you two a Clear Seed?"

A half rhetorical question, really. You can sense the Clear Seed on her, and just the one Soul Gem. Which is probably sensible. While it was absolutely adorable that Kirika carried both her and Oriko's Soul Gem when they were around the house, it'd be generally unwise to have Kirika carry both when outside. Like now.

"Ah? Ah, yeah, well-" Kirika frowns, thinking for a second before brightening. "She accuses us of lying to her, and we go 'yeah you're right, we had the real one riiiiiiiiight here all along, good job!' probably isn't going to work, right?"

"Yeah, I guess... yeah, that probably wouldn't go down well," you say, considering it. "Well, there you are. Anything else you need?"

"Naw, that's it!" Kirika says. "Thanks!"

She bounces out of the privacy sphere, and back towards Oriko.

"That seems..." Niko shrugs. "Well, I won't tell you how to run your side of things."

"I wouldn't tell them how to run their side of things either," you say evenly. "I asked them to do this. The least I can do is trust them and let them work it out. If something goes wrong, then, well. My turn, I guess."

Niko eyes you for a second, before shrugging once more.

"Speaking of things to do..." you say, frowning. "I feel like it might be worth trying the magic mingling on a Clear Seed."

"Are they different from normal ones?" Niko inquires, squirming around to curl her legs up in front of her, hugging her knees.

"Yeah, actually," you say. "They function the same for cleansing, as far as I can tell, but Clear Seeds... like, Grief Seeds are basically simmering in their own Grief and despair, right? Clear Seeds... aren't. They're calm, dormant, without the Grief."

"How can you tell?" Niko asks.

"My magic," you say. "I get a sense of them."

"I see," Niko says, frowning. "Can you quantify that?"

"Honestly, no more than you can quantify people, or more specifically the magic intermingling... emotion sharing... effect," you say. "That is to say, somewhat, but only in less than precise terms."

Niko's frown deepens. "I would like to investigate that, with your help," she says. "If you're amenable."

"I would be!" You grin. "I was going to ask, actually. I'm expecting a magical girl with Soul manipulation magic of some kind to arrive in Mitakihara. Her name is Riona Mag Aoidh, if you've heard of her? I only know her by reputation. Would you be interested in collaborating? I was thinking some kind of research network."

"It's not much of a network with only three people in it," Niko points out. "But I would be interested, yes."

You grin, wide and pleased. "Great!"

"What are your research goals?" Niko asks, dipping her chin to rest on her knees.

"De-witching, obviously," you say. "I admit, I don't know exactly how feasible it is. But it's definitely on the list, the other thing being mainly ethical substitutes for Grief Seeds."

"Some way of imbuing your Grief kinesis into a static object?" Niko mumbles. "It sounds like something you might be able to enchant."

"Exactly like that," you say. "Or something. Unfortunately, I've been having trouble learning it, even with Mami to tutor me. Mostly because of time constraints, I have to admit."

"Enchantment is versatile and exceedingly useful, but difficult to learn, in my experience," Niko says, eyes cast not on you but at a featureless patch of rooftop. "It doesn't help that it seems all but individualised in technique, so enchantment winds up being more artisanal rather than, ah, industrial."

"I've noticed," you grumble. "Any tips?"

"Practice," Niko says with a shrug, and pushes herself up to her feet. "If there's nothing else, Sabrina, I want to go back to my friends."

"Ah, yeah, fair enough," you say. "I... guess I can also suggest that clairvoyance might be helpful to avoid experimental pitfalls, if you need eyes on. I'd be happy to help, and I suspect Oriko would be too."

"Noted," Niko says with a thin smile. "Let me know when this Miss Riona arrives?"

"Can do," you say, bouncing on your toes and stretching. "According to Oriko, that's tomorrow or the day after, thereabouts."

"Gotcha," Niko says, already stepping through the boundary of the privacy field. You follow her out, watching as she makes a beeline across the roof back to the constellation of Pleiades and is promptly tackle-hugged by a ballistic Satomi.

"Sabrina!" Mami calls. You leave your field behind you and meet her halfway, sweeping her up into a tight, tight hug.

"Hi!" you say brightly, beaming at her.

"Oh my god you two," Sayaka mutters, walking up. "Well?"

"All good," you say, not releasing Mami at all.

Sayaka snorts, rolling her eyes. "More cloak and dagger stuff?"

"Nah, the same cloak and dagger stuff," you say, and sober for a second. "Look, I don't mean to over-dramatize it or anything, but it is a serious concern of mine, OK? That there's knowledge that is dangerous, like... y'know. The truth about our Soul Gems."

The smile drops from Sayaka's face, and she nods. You tighten your arms around Mami a little more, and pull back so you can smile at her.

She smiles back, a little wobbly, but warm, and fond.

"So what've you two been up to?" you ask, shifting to pull Mami into a side-long hug. She burrows into your side, smiling at you.

"I've been giving Sayaka advice for fighting," Mami volunteers. "With as many powers as she has now, not all of it is useful, but..."

"I've been watching the emergency services. I got an invisible clone to sneak around the building, too," Sayaka says, and scratches at her blue hair. "Trying to see how they do things, you know? I guess if we're going to be doing rescue missions and so on it'd be good to know. Also, seems like they've concluded it must be carbon monoxide or something."

"Hm," you say. Kyuubey's doing, probably. You manage a grin for Mami and Sayaka. "Good thinking, though. Both of you. Speaking of clones, how's your clone at school doing?"

"Pretty good!" Sayaka says, grinning. "Zoned out a coupla times, but Madoka and Hitomi kept me on track."

"That's good," you say. You glance towards the obdurately still surface of the interrogation sphere, and then at the circled constellation of the Pleiades. Both ongoing still, and both things that don't require your presence. Both that your intrusion would arguably be detrimental to.

Ah, well.

You sit down on thin air, Grief moulding into a floating bench beneath you. Mami blinks, and promptly claims her seat beside you as you form another for Sayaka.

"Might as well take a seat," you murmur. "I dunno. Guessing they're gonna take their time."

Sayaka snorts, inspecting the bench before plonking herself down. "Impatient?"

"Well, it feels like they've been at it for days," you say, shrugging. "So yeah, a bit. I had a thought, by the way - could you lend me one of your power jewels?"

"Sure," Sayaka says, reaching under her cloak. "Any particular one?"

"Nah, any one should do," you say. Sayaka pulls a double-lobed teardrop charm from under her cloak, and flips it to you. Catching it in one hand, you grin at her. "Thanks."

"No prob," she says.

You turn the jewel over slowly, tracing your fingers over the clear, blue surface. Exactly the same colour as her Soul Gem. Mami peers over your shoulder curiously as you probe the charm with your senses, both magical and Grief-based.

"So, Sabrina," Sayaka says slowly, watching you. "I've got, uh... something I was thinking about. Remember when Nadia told us about, uh, the Iowa group and San Shi Hui and... what was the last one?"

"Uh. The Saja?" you say, brow wrinkling as you continue to examine the jewel. It feels like Sayaka, with the faintest hint of the coming of spring, of wet earth and the deep, abiding strength of an ancient tree. It resonates, almost, half of a complete song drifting on the edge of your hearing, and there's something yet deeper thrumming through its deepest layer.

Oktavia von Seckendorf.

Ah. Well, then. You were considering whether these things might be some kind of Familiar analogue, and... perhaps there's a kernel of truth to that.

"The Saja," Mami agrees. "They're... Indian?"

"Are we going to do anything about them?" Sayaka asks, rubbing her nose. "I mean... we're here, right?"

Sayaka gestures out at the city. "This is a small thing, but we made a difference, right? And we've got... well, I get the impression we're fairly powerful, right?"

"Well, yeah. Catch, by the way," you say, tossing the jewel back at her. "We've got Mami, who's respected across the country and about half the world. We've got Homura, who, y'know." You make an expressive gesture. "Then we have you, who has all the powers, and then we have me. I keep everyone going."

"You're selling yourself short, Sabrina," Mami says, patting your shoulder.

"And so are you," you say, grinning back at her. "But, yeah. We're pretty powerful."

"Yoohoo! Mami? Sabrina, Sayaka?" Kazumi calls, waving her hand. "Got a moment?"

"What is it, Kazumi?" Mami asks, looking over.

"Hold that thought, Sayaka," you say, raising a finger. "I'll get back to it. Also, question for you? Do you think other people can use your stored powers? Non-magical people in particular?"

"Mmmhm," Sayaka agrees. "And I... don't know?"

"Might be worth checking?" you suggest. "Or try and figure it out?"

Kazumi walks over, the other Pleiades trailing along behind her like a cometary trail. "We've made our decision," she says. "We're going to let Hijiri come back to us, unless you have some way to find her immediately. We..."

"I don't think she'll go far," Niko says quietly, looking down at the ground. "My- her family is here."

Kazumi shakes her head. "We got lucky, finding her the first time," she says. "She was nervous, and probably thought that she could take you out with one shot. I don't think... if she's smart, and she is, she's probably gone to ground somewhere completely off-kilter. Unless you have any suggestions?"

Voting opens Jan 13, 2018 at 11:00 AM
[] Hijiri...
- [] Ribbon search
- [] Manual combing
- [] Something else?
[] Sayaka
- [] Yes, eventually
-- [] Why?
- [] No
-- [] Why?
- [] WORLD DOMINATION, ALL HAIL EMPRESS MAMI
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Ugh, this update took longer than I wanted it to. Still, here we are!

 

[Firnagzen]

"Yeah, actually," you say, blinking. "Mami and I could try ribbon searching, if Mami is willing? We can't cover the entire city, but we can cover a good part of it. And, uh, dumb question, but... have you tried talking to her? By telepathy?"

"Of course I'd be willing to help." Mami nods.

"She wouldn't listen," Niko answers you, looking away. "She wouldn't listen to any of us."

"It's not a solution for finding her," Saki says, the rising sun glinting as she pushes her glasses-monocle up the bridge of her nose once again.

You sigh, faintly annoyed. You doubt you yourself can persuade Hijiri to return, not on your own. You can't give guarantees for her peace of mind, for her life here in Asunaro. There's one person who's relevant, who can give Hijiri what she wants.

"We can try the ribbon search, then," you say.

"I'll start preparing," Mami says, smiling at you and leaning against your side. She holds her hand up to the sky, fingers spread. Ribbons cascade from her open palm, fading to invisibility as she clenches her fist and lowers her arm. You can feel the network growing, spreading and webbing unseen across the buildings.

"That said..." you catch Niko's eyes. She shifts under your gaze. "You know that the only person who can really bring her back is you, right?"

"Hey, back off of Niko!" Satomi says, bristling. Dark eyes meet yours in a fierce glower, but you don't back down either.

"I'm not pressuring Niko. I'm saying: Hijiri is afraid of Niko," you say, opening your hands as you let your eyes sweep the group. Kazumi's red eyes, worried and thoughtful. Satomi, Kaoru, and Mirai are suspicious and defensive and worried by turns, their thoughts written on their faces. Umika and Saki are guarded, evaluating you quietly.

"I can't tell her to not be afraid," you say. "And no matter how much all of you trust and care about Niko, none of you can tell Hijri to not be scared, either. It doesn't work like that. The only one who can convince Hijiri she'll be safe is Niko herself."

It doesn't help that Hijiri's in full teenage rebellion mode right now, either. If she comes back with piercings and a tattoo or three, you wouldn't even be particularly surprised. Something to prove she's different from Niko.

"Sabrina's right," Mami says. She's distracted, but her voice is clear and loud. "Maybe we can catch her. But we can't convince her."

"What do you suggest, Mami?" Kazumi asks.

Mami, instead of answering, glances to you with a smile.

"Honestly? Be nice to her," you say with a shrug. "Tell her what's happened here, and maybe do a dead drop of things she needs. Food, clothes, Grief Seeds if she needs them. I mean... I'm not saying she's incapable of taking care of herself, I'm saying make life easier for her. Just... do what you would for a friend."

Kazumi glances at the rest of the Pleiades. "We'll, um. Take it under advisement?"

"It's not so simple," Umika says, folding her arms. "'If you truly love something, then set it free' is a nice sentiment, but it doesn't always work out in real life."

"That's not even what Sabrina said," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes.

"I gather you're not out to capture and punish Hijiri any more," you say calmly. "In that case, then you need to persuade her to come home."

Niko rocks back on her feet, expression twisting. She's immediately gathered up in a protective hug by Satomi, but shakes it off with an irritable twitch.

"We were already thinking of doing something like that, anyway," Niko says loudly. Not looking at you, either. "But thanks for the advice, Sabrina."

Kazumi's attention flickers back to her friends, and she sighs, wrapping her arms around a mutinous looking Mirai and Umika. "We'll leave you to the search," Kazumi says, nudging Niko to walk ahead of them.

Sayaka rolls her eyes, slumping back in her seat as the Pleiades walk off again. "Ugh," she grumbles mentally at you and Mami.

"Eh. I can't blame them for having their differences... I get the impression that Niko's annoyed with them for not seeing things her way," you say. "I mean, it can't be easy for them to - she's in a unique position and all, since Hijiri came from her Wish."

"I suppose," Sayaka says.

"Mm," you agree. "Still, I think they'll work it out. Just so happens that we're here and nominally external mediators, yeah?"

"Yeah," Sayaka says. "Can I have back support on this, instead of just a bench?"

"Sure," you say, and suit action to words. You shape Grief out of the air into proper lumbar support for both Sayaka and Mami and yourself, Mami sighing happily and tucking herself firmly against your side. "Anyway, speaking of external mediators, that's a nice segue. Would have been a nicer segue if you hadn't interrupted, though."

Sayaka sticks her tongue out at you.

"Well. To answer your earlier question, yes, we are. Eventually," you say. "We have... a lot coming up at home to deal with at home, first. Refugees, Walpurgisnacht, figuring out Clear Seeds, and whatever happens next. Just organising everything is going to be a problem. I mean, look at us right now. We're here in Asunaro helping our friends with a crisis, and meanwhile, we already have refugees coming in. It's only going to get worse."

"Yeah..." Sayaka says, frowning. "Yeah. I guess that makes sense."

"Honestly, I'm going to be depending on you and Mami and Homura for help," you say, smiling at her. "I expect things like raiders and people abusing magic and nastier magical girls coming to Mitakihara, and even the simple things. If magic is essentially free, who's going to want to hunt Witches anymore? And we'll need to handle all of that."

"Ah... not to interrupt, but the ribbon network is... um, this is as far as I can push it without straining too much," Mami says. "Um... I've covered a third of the city, maybe a half?"

Half the city. Half the bloody city, blanketed with ribbons. You beam at Mami, hugging her tight and nuzzling your cheek against the top of her head. "That's amazing, Mami. Sorry, Sayaka, gimme a moment - I'm gonna build a Grief device and then get back to you, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka says. "I'll fiddle with my powers a bit, see if I can come up with anything new."

You take a moment to cleanse Mami's Gem, the Grief joining what you call from thin air. It drips into your hand, flowing like wax from an invisible candle, and you mould the lump for a second, visualizing what you need before bringing your will to bear. With Niko right there, you know who you're looking for, and you force reality to bend.

Your will be done.

You blink, finding a simple, unadorned compass moulded of Grief in your hand. The needle, glinting gold in the mid-morning sun, spins wildly, directionless - but that's fine. You can feel it in your mind, an awareness of a lack in the immediate area.

"Sabrina?" Mami murmurs.

You smile at her, taking her hands in yours, cupped over the compass. "I'm good. Are you ready?"

"I am," Mami says, with a nod.

"Here we go, then," you murmur, exhaling slowly as you push your magic out, mingling and twining with Mami's. She gasps softly, curling up against you as your senses flood outwards, borne on an intricate, spiralling network of ribbons. Your awareness leaps from street to street, quicksilver lightning dancing through Asunaro.

"Anyway, Sayaka?" you murmur. Loathe as you are to disturb the almost meditative peace, you feel bad for interrupting the conversation with her.

"Yo," Sayaka says, cerulean blue eyes flickering up from her examination of her power jewels to meet yours.

"Sorry about the interruptions," you say.

"Nah, I get it," she says, waving it off. "Some things take time, and it's better to get it started earlier rather than later. I gotcha."

"Yeah," you say. "That's pretty much it. But... yeah. Y'know Nadia mentioned the Iowa group, for example? They're the Iowa group, from the US, and the last she heard they were in India? They've got something powerful on their side, and I fully expect them to come visiting when they hear about us. I don't think they'll be the only ones, either."

"And we gotta prepare for them," Sayaka says.

"Exactly," you agree, attention still mostly on your search, and Mami. "Them... I need to know more about them. The other groups, too. They're established, which means they must each have their own ways of holding sway, and we don't know how. We can't underestimate them."

"Y'know..." Sayaka cocks her head, frowning. "Clone, invisibility, and flight. I wonder what's the limit of my range?"

"What? Sayaka, you don't mean-"

"Yep," Sayaka says, with a faint grin. "Heck, I've got that vision power too, right? I can spy on them from far above, and they'll never see me."

"That... could work," you concede, still searching.

"And with clones, I'd be safe, too!" Sayaka says. "Assuming they can go that far, anyway."

"That's true," you agree. "Assuming they don't have some kind of power that can chain all the way back to you. They're established, and they're nasty. Maybe it's just that they haven't faced serious, organised resistance before, but... we can't count on it. Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer, and all that."

"Yeah, yeah," Sayaka says, and motions to the compass in your hand. "Any luck there?"

"Not really," you sigh. You've already done a second lap of the area, not that you were expecting to find Hijiri. Carefully, gently, you withdraw your magic. "Mami? You can let the ribbons go now."

Mami sighs, and slumps bonelessly against you, blushing rosily as she smiles at you. "In a bit."

"Ugh," Sayaka says, folding her arms. "I know you had to let her go, but it feels like we're leaving things undone here."

"Yeah, well. As I said, we can't solve this problem except by force," you say. "And the only thing that'd do is breed resentment."

"I know, I know," Sayaka grumbles. "Still sucks."

"Anyway," you say, sighing and pushing yourself to your feet. You let the compass dissolve into Grief and offer Mami a hand. "Should probably go tell the Pleiades that."

Just as you start across the roof, though, Oriko emerges from the void-black privacy sphere. She walks to you, stately and unhurried.

"Airi is... somewhat tractable, if prone to hysterics and anger," Oriko pronounces, sea-green eyes flickering to Mami for a second. "She has been convinced of the... truth of the matter I sent Kirika to you about. Less so of the truth of the events leading to her swearing vengeance. I do not think our initial evaluation of her was wrong, however, do you have terms of surrender for her?"

Voting opens Jan 17, 2018 at 11:00 AM
[] Oriko and Anri
- [] What are you going to do with Anri?
-- [] Allowances Oriko can negotiate
-- [] Talk to Anri yourself
[] Pleiades
- [] You can't find Hijiri.
- [] What do you tell them?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Again, kind wish I'd gotten this out earlier. Ah, well. C'est la vie.

Also, shoutout to Phoenixian's effortpost just above this one - take a look!

 

[Firnagzen]

"Yes, but first-" you grin at Oriko. "Thank you, Oriko. Thank you for doing what I... almost certainly couldn't have."

"It was nothing." Oriko shrugs, almost modest. Then again, you can see the spark of accomplishment and the tiny, satisfied smirk on her lips.

"Modesty doesn't suit you, Oriko," you say, sticking your tongue out at her before turning to Mami. "I'm sorry, Mami, but-"

"You have to speak privately to Oriko?" Mami says, giving you a soft smile. "I guessed."

"Yeah," you say, pulling her into a hug and burying your face in soft, golden hair. "I'm sorry, Mami."

"It's alright," she murmurs into your shoulder. "I'll let Kazumi know."

"Thank you," you say, easing back to smile at her. "I'll just be a few minutes, hopefully, but - if you're OK with continuing the search, let her know we'd be willing to keep pursuing that avenue?"

"Alright," Mami says with a firm nod. "I'll let her know."

"Sorry about all the waiting, Sayaka," you say, giving Sayaka a sheepish smile. "Hopefully we'll wrap all this up soon."

"Nah, go, go," Sayaka says, waving you off. "Shoo, off with your secrets." She winks.

You roll your eyes. "I'll be back soon. C'mon, Oriko."

A thought strikes you, and you slip into telepathy as you head for the sphere. "Hey, Niko? Success from Oriko - she's successfully convinced Anri. Do you want in on this?"

"I..." you can all but feel the chains of logic cascading through Niko's mind. "No, thank you."

The seer, having waited patiently, moves off towards the privacy sphere. Transformed, with her enormous, floor-length dress, she almost seems to glide across the roof. Probably the intended effect, for that style of dress.

You grin at Oriko as you enter the sphere. "Again, Oriko," you say. "Thank you so much."

"And again, it was nothing," Oriko says, waving it off.

"You'll take my thanks and like it, damn you," you say, rolling your eyes. You gesture, condensing Grief out of the air into two benches. "Anyway. What can you tell me? Go over what you talked to Anri about?"

"Certainly," Oriko says, nodding. "As you surmised, her mind and opinions had been poisoned by Kyuubey. I didn't try to dissuade her of most of them - there was no point, and it would have taken far too long."

"Fair enough," you say, rubbing your chin thoughtfully. You might have to come back to that at some point. "So... does she know? About our Soul Gems, about Witches? She should, all things considered, but y'know. Outside considerations, confirmation and all that."

"She knows," Oriko confirms. "And among other things, she believed that the Pleiades had the ability to transform magical girls into Witches. She was rather intent on gaining that ability for herself, in fact. I have not been able to disabuse her of..."

Oriko holds up a hand, frowning. "I apologise. Allow me to qualify my success - I couldn't go into detail without the privacy here. I have not been able to convince her to set aside her perceived vengeance on the Pleiades Saints. I have convinced her, in order, that Witches arise from magical girls without human intervention, and that the Pleiades do not have the ability to force magical girls to become Witches."

"Right," you say, frowning. "I'm sensing a but."

"Just so," Oriko agrees. "She still blames the Pleiades Saints for Yuuri's death. Even knowing that the Pleiades did not cause her to turn into a Witch, she sees the fact that it happened at all to be a sufficient cause, let alone that the Pleiades did kill her Witch. She is quite, quite hysterical."

"I..." you scrabble for words, for understanding. "So that Yuuri Witched out at all was the Pleiades' fault?"

"In a word, yes," Oriko says with a delicate shrug. "Bear in mind that the grief is fresh, and kept close to her heart. I've also managed to convince her that Clear Seeds are not particularly unique. I've informed and given her Yuuri's Witch's Grief Seed, but she is not completely convinced that that is in fact Yuuri. And since the topic has come up..."

She reaches into the folds of her voluminous skirt to withdraw a Clear Seed - Hildegard, which she hands back to you.

"Thanks," you say, tucking the Seed away. "But if she demands vengeance on the Pleiades still, then..."

"She is willing to surrender in the face of a promise to bring Yuuri back," Oriko says. "I took care to impress on her that it was not guaranteed, but she seized upon the idea. She... cares more for her friend than she does her vengeance, and is willing to compromise for her. It's the only thing that Anri was willing to grant."

"Hmm," you say, leaning back and drumming your fingers against your thigh. You look past Oriko, at Mami speaking calmly to the Pleiades, standing strong in their circle. You turn the thought over in your mind as you watch for a second, before nodding. "I guess... well, it's definitely on my agenda. You did emphasize I couldn't guara... yes, you did."

Oriko nods again, slow and thoughtful. "Rather. How do you intend to continue?"

"Honestly, I don't know," you admit. "I don't have any good options to keep her in captivity. Do you think leaving her in captivity with the Pleiades would work?"

"Needlessly antagonistic," Oriko says. "Eminently doable, perhaps, if we acquire something secure enough that she cannot remove it and enchant it with anti-magic."

"Yeah... I can't imagine she'd take it well. Nor the Pleiades," you say. "And I don't really want to put the Pleiades in charge of someone who hurt them. They do have the space. Which... ugh. I can't in good conscience ask you to do it, either."

"To imprison her?" Oriko asks, grimacing. "I am... less than inclined. She would not be a good guest, and we would have to provide for her."

"Mm," you agree. You're kind of considering asking if Oriko and Kirika would want to stay in Asunaro instead - at the very least, they wouldn't be going stir crazy cooped up in their mansion. But it's definitely something you should run by Homura before even bringing it up.

"Have you considered mercenaries?" Oriko asks, raising her eyebrows. "Not necessarily the Fukushima girls, but perhaps asking for aid from Sendai or Ishinomaki, since you have rapport with them already."

"That's... hm," you say, tapping your chin. "That's a possibility. Probably not the Sendai group proper, maybe the University or Ishinomaki groups."

"You would know better than I, on that subject," Oriko says. "Just suggesting it as a possible option."

"It's a good one," you agree. "The problem then becomes a matter of the infohazards, which... I'm fairly certain none of the groups are aware of."

"Then perhaps other mercenaries," Oriko says with a shrug. "I am sure they must exist."

"Mm..." you say, rubbing your nose. "Lemme think about it."

"Of course," Oriko says.

Voting opens Dec 31, 2017 at 11:00 AM
[] Anri
- [] Ask Homura about leaving Oriko and Kirika in Asunaro
-- [] Ask Oriko and Kirika about staying in Asunaro
- [] Anri under house arrest with Oriko and Kirika
- [] Ask for the help of...
-- [] The Pleiades
-- [] Sendai Group
-- [] Fukushima Group
-- [] Ishinomaki Group
-- [] University Group
- [] Discuss this with the Pleiades
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Pleiades:
-[X] Offer to let Kazumi copy whatever she thinks will help.
-[X] Return the Memory Device. Offer to clear the Derrick Witch Seed in lieu of Arzt Kochen.
-[X] Discuss Anri.
--[X] Who's going to mind her? Offer Mitakihara's help.
-[X] Security measures. Tracking and anti-magic enchantments.
-[X] Ask for ideas. Listen to opinions. Modify plans as needed.

=====​

Apologies for the delay in this one. Writing just didn't flow, and Sunday turned out unexpectedly busy.

 

[Firnagzen]

You close your eyes and think for a moment. Oriko brings up an excellent point, if indirectly. You do have people you can call upon for help, and not just your immediate circle of friends.

"Yeah," you say finally with a sharp, decisive nod. "I'll ask for help, maybe check in with Nadia. She's probably the most well-connected magical girl out there... hell, maybe there's a magical girl prison out there or something. Stranger things have happened, I guess."

"Perhaps," Oriko says. "I would not credit the notion with too much optimism, however."

"We're magical girls, miracles are our stock in trade," you say, rolling your eyes. "Though I admit, a prison existing is, uh, a less requested class of miracle, I imagine. Then again, Mirai Wished for a teddy bear museum... anyway. How tight a leash do you think we need to keep on her?"

"What do you mean?" Oriko asks, raising an eyebrow.

"I mean... OK, so she agreed to surrender in exchange for de-Witching works, right?" you say. "But I get the impression that isn't entirely voluntary, and I'm guessing she's unstable enough to still be acting up. I figure I can forge something more solid than a piece of string for antimagic, that kind of thing, but what kind of, uh, containment do we need for her?"

"Ah, I see what you mean," Oriko says, looking thoughtful, and shrugs delicately. "Truthfully, she belongs in an asylum. She was rational for long enough, when her assumptions were broken, but she backslid nearly immediately. I suspect it is a trend that will continue. As such, I would recommend physical confinement, or at the very least someone watching her in addition to the antimagic."

You nod, thoughtfully nudging a stray lock of hair behind your ear. "Yeah, I'll see what I can figure out," you say slowly. "I don't suppose you know if Nadia has been Witchbombed?"

Oriko frowns, before shaking her head. "I am uncertain. My apologies."

"Nah, it was a long shot, anyway," you say, waving it off. "Hm. Witches... Did Anri share her Witch-out plans with Hijiri?"

"Yes," Oriko says. "I gather it was a somewhat contentious point, however. Not on any moralistic ground, but on practicality and usefulness."

"Ugh," you grunt, grimacing. "Right."

Oriko raises her eyebrows, eyes meeting yours squarely. "For what it's worth," she says slowly. "You didn't make that threat out of malice."

"Good intentions, road to hell," you say, stomach roiling a little. Not your proudest moment, even if it worked. You sigh. "I do apologise for having done it at all."

"It's done," Oriko says, and shrugs. "I probably wouldn't be here if you hadn't, really, and nor would Kirika." She pauses, frowning. "It's an uncomfortable topic for both of us. Shall we move on?"

You sigh, rubbing at your eyes and leaning back on the bench. "Right, right... next question. Do you think I can join in the talk with Anri? I wanna get a feel for her mental state myself."

"It's possible, but I wouldn't recommend it," Oriko says. "She is unstable, as yet."

"Right, right..." you mutter, propping your hands on the bench. "Yeah, I'll get back to you on that. That said... mm. Non-hostility, obviously, towards us or the Pleiades or anyone, really. Absolutely no Witching out magical girls, not that she'd be able to with the antimagic applied - which is itself going to be a condition for her surrender. I think that unless a better solution presents itself, we'll be bringing her back to Mitakihara." You pause, frowning. "I need to talk to Nadia, yeah, but don't worry. I know you don't want to be saddled with her."

Oriko nods slowly.

"Alright." You blow out a sharp breath, and grin at Oriko. "I think that's nearly everything, bar one last thing - Oriko, again, thank you. You've helped so much, just doing this... I mean, you talked Anri around. I almost certainly couldn't have done it, and I have no idea what I'd do if some willing cooperation from her wasn't possible."

You shake your head, still smiling. "What I'm trying to say is: you've done good, and I'm grateful. Also, accept the praise and the thanks, damn you."

Oriko closes her mouth with a click, looking ruefully amused. "I am predictable in some ways," she allows.

"Excellent, glad we cleared that up," you say, tipping your nose up in as haughty a manner as you can manage. "Also, would you be interested in fulfilling the Social role in the team? I mean, I try, but I'm not exactly the greatest at it."

"And would you have to bargain with Akemi to allow us out every time?" Oriko asks, shrugging delicately. "Would she trust me to do anything useful?"

"That's for me to handle," you say. "I'm extending you the offer first."

"I would appreciate it," Oriko says, slowly. "And so would Kirika."

"Alright," you say, smiling. "Then I'll sort it out. Is there anything else that we need to cover?"

Oriko considers that for a moment. "No, I believe that's everything."

"Alright. Then shall we?" you ask, rising to your feet and dusting your knees off.

"We shall," Oriko says with a nod.

You walk through the hazy wall of your privacy sphere for what feels like the umpteenth time today. Mami's head twitches up, gaze gravitating away from the Pleiades over to you instantly.

You beam at her, opening your arms. You meet her halfway, sweeping her up into a tight hug. "Hey," you murmur.

"Hi," she murmurs back, cuddling into the hug. You let yourself indulge for a moment, before pulling back a little and nudging her into a side-long hug.

"Hi," you say, waving at the Pleiades with your free hand.

Kazumi grins back, amused and almost indulgent. "Hi yourself."

"So..." you say, looking between Mami and Kazumi. "Any luck?"

And at the same time, you reach out by telepathy. A certain itinerant puella magi, and a certain seer. "Hey, Nadia?"

"Hello," Nadia responds in her accented tones. "We will be there soon."

"Sadly no," Kazumi says, shaking her head. "We're gonna keep an eye out for her, but..." She waves at Niko. "We don't think Hijiri's trying to hide now. She'd be running."

"We're not gonna find her," Niko says, looking bleak. "I wouldn't be found."

"Right," you say, scowling. "I see... well, thanks to Oriko here, Anri is willing to surrender. With your permission, and if Mami and Sayaka are alright with it, we'll be bringing her back with us when we leave, to get her out of Asunaro. Oriko?"

She inclines her head, silvery-grey hair almost shimmering in the early morning light as she steps forward, looking around the circle of Pleiades. "Indeed. Anri is willing to surrender, in return for considerations. However..."

You listen with a sliver of your attention as Oriko explains, skirting around the issue of exactly what those considerations might be.

"Ah... unfortunately, Nadia, we won't be there," you say. "Tried our best, but we're running late. That is, Mami and I. Homura, uh, Akemi will be meeting you. We've got accommodations sorted out already."

"Mm, yes," Nadia says. "You have mentioned. You are dealing with the Clear Seed thief. Have you succeeded?"

"Yeah, actually," you say. Sayaka sidles up beside you, giving Oriko a suspicious look. "Caught the thief. That said, uh... I do need advice - do you know what to do with an unstable, unhealthily revenge focused magical girl? She can't be reasonably exiled from the city, because her vengeance will bring her back, and while I've got antimagic to keep her locked down, I don't exactly have a magical girl jail available."

"I understand," Nadia says. "Not killing her will already be a step-up from most groups, fimti?"

"I figured," you say, somewhat sourly. "Hm. Can you suggest anywhere we could send her, or if we could hire someone to guard her, or something?"

"Fukushima," Nadia responds nearly instantly. "They are, mm, expensive. But expensive is not a problem for you, mm? And they are near to you."

"Well, yeah," you agree. "But given the circumstances, we can't have just any guard, you know? I... well, she wants vengeance against the Pleiades for killing her friend. But they didn't, and Anri needs very careful guarding for the whole mess."

"Sabrina, are you sure about Anri?" Kazumi asks - your cue to rejoin the conversation, with Oriko's artful explanations done.

"If Mami and Sayaka are OK with it," you say. "We're not going to be the one keeping watch on her, except as a last resort, I think, just detaining her in Mitakihara. Trying to make arrangements right now."

"Oh, good," Sayaka says. "I'm cool if it means I don't have to watch her."

"Arrangements?" Mami asks.

"Yeah, with Nadia," you say. "Trying to see if there's anyone who might be willing to take the job."

"Ah," Mami says, frowning a little before smiling. "Ah! I see."

"I see," Nadia says finally. "The Fukushima group, they will do the job, fimti? But I will see you later today?"

Oh, thank Madokami. That's message received, you think. "Yup," you confirm. "We should be wrapping up soon, actually."

"Mm, good," Nadia says. "Goodbye for now, then."

"Later!" you say, letting the connection drop and smiling at Mami, then Kazumi. "So... yeah. I'll... work something out."

Kazumi grimaces. "I don't like the idea of foisting our mess on you."

"I... have an idea," Niko says hesitantly. "For, ah, detaining magical girls."

"Oh?" Saki asks, tilting her head and snatching at her monocle-glasses as they nearly fall with the motion. "Do tell, Niko?"

"There's..." Niko's glance flickers over to Kazumi, then you. "There's a way of knocking magical girls unconscious for good, with magic. We could use that, to keep Anri locked down."

Voting opens Jan 27, 2018 at 11:00 PM
[] Niko
- [] Abort abort abort!
- [] Carefully discuss the topic
-- [] Agree, and why?
-- [] Disagree, and why?
[] Anri
- [] Check in with Homura
- [] Check in with Fukushima girls
- [] Something else?
[] Something else?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

-[X] Consult about developing security measures.
-[X] Return the Memory Device.
-[X] Offer to clear the Derrick Witch Seed in lieu of Arzt Kochen.

=====​

As a side note, ideally the discussion can be wrapped up relatively soon and you can start heading back to Mitakihara - but that's me speaking purely from a writing perspective. You don't have to follow that.

 

[Firnagzen]

The Freezer. Something from a once upon a never, but you're not surprised Niko came up with the idea: remove a magical girl's Soul Gem, and she'd be out for good, barring spontaneously learning how to animate as a Gem. Which isn't impossible, and certainly something you're planning on doing, but therein lies the brutal practicality of what Niko did: a magical circle to suppress the Gems.

From the looks on the Pleiades Saints' faces, this isn't the first time Niko's brought the idea up. But just as much... this may be the first time Niko's suggested using it in earnest.

And the worst part is, you're tempted. Asunaro is only the beginning. Anri is only the beginning. This isn't going to be the last situation you have to intervene in, and she isn't going to be the last problematic magical girl you have to deal with.

"Go on, Niko?" you say carefully.

And yet.

"There isn't really much more to it," Niko says, biting her lip. "It wouldn't be too hard to make sure that their, ah, bodies are preserved, too."

Is this really a road you want to start down? Is this how it all begins, with the best of intentions?

And yet.

Sayaka gives you a sharp look, even as Mami squeezes your hand.

You can't dismiss the offer right off the bat. It could be useful. You can't rule out the eventual problem of a totally recalcitrant magical girl, and you can't say that you won't actually need it.

But...

No.

This isn't who you are.

"I'd rather avoid it," you say quietly. "I'm never going to want to put someone on ice forever, and it'd just postpone the problem. Besides..." You sigh. "I... OK, look, this is more of a gut feeling than anything, and hell, maybe you already figured it out. Hijiri said that Anri told her the truth. Anri's truth is that she thinks you killed her friend."

"That's not true!" Mirai snaps, bristling. There's a lot of hair to bristle.

"We went over this, Mirai," Niko says wearily, looking down. "It may very well be what she thinks, yes."

"I don't... It's not a good option," you say reluctantly. "No offense, Niko, it's probably the worst option available. What it'd do to ruin any goodwill we have, let alone what Hijiri would think. Oriko's talked Anri down. I'm going to try everything I can to make actual confinement work, but as a very last resort..."

You feel... uncomfortable. It's not something you want to do. You'd rather pay the Fukushima girls to sit on her, but if she escapes, or tries to harm people -including herself- you're not sure if you'd have anything else you could do.

"A last resort," Kazumi echoes quietly.

"There's got to be a better way," Sayaka protests, fierce and indignant. "You can't just... do that!"

"I don't want to do that either," you say, almost to yourself. "To Anri, or anyone. But if she refuses to cooperate, if she keeps trying to break out, if she keeps fighting... It's a last resort, until I can figure out something better."

"She's agreed to cooperate," Oriko says, folding her arms. "However, as mentioned, there is no guarantee that she will abide by that, given how unstable she is."

You sigh, pushing the heel of your palm against your eye. "Argh."

"You'll figure something out," Mami says, giving you a warm smile as she cuddles up against your side. "I'm sure you will, Sabrina."

"Yeah, well," you say, smiling back at her and exhaling. "It's... thanks for the offer, Niko. I'll keep it in mind, but I really hope I don't have to resort to it."

"I understand," Niko says with a nod.

You look around the circle, at the rest of the Pleiades. You meet their eyes in turn, solemn and serious. "So, if it's alright with all of you, I'll be bringing Anri out of Asunaro, for security, and to help regain her equilibrium."

Kazumi glances at her friends, and nods at you. "I think that will work," she says. "We're grateful, Mami, Sabrina, for your help. Sayaka, Miss Oriko, you too."

"Yeah, thank you!" Kaoru says, grinning and flashing you a peace sign. "And Miss Kirika, too!"

Naturally, this prompts a wave of thanks from the rest of the Pleiades.

"It's what I'm here for," you say, blowing out a breath and smiling. You look around. "Thank you all for working with me."

"Yeah!" Sayaka says, grinning. "We're happy to help."

"But we're not quite done here," you say. "Oriko? You still need to talk to Anri, right?"

She inclines her head gently. Now that you think about it, you can't help but wonder if her slow, regal motions are mainly to ensure that her bucket hat doesn't fall off.

... nah, she can do roofhopping and such.

"Indeed, Sabrina," she says. "If there's nothing else?"

"Yep," you say. "You don't have to stick perfectly to all the terms, just... use your judgement, yeah? In the meantime, I'll check in with Homura, maybe Fukushima."

Oriko nods again, and turns to head toward the sphere. Kazumi gives you a slightly concerned look.

"Will she be OK with that?" Kazumi asks.

"I'll find out," you say, giving her a reassuring nod as you reach out with telepathy, to Homura and Mami and Sayaka. "Hey, Homura? Are you free?"

"Yes," she says. "I have excused myself from class, with Madoka's help."

"Ah, right," you say. "The Shiogama girls are going to be there soon... well, I'm wrapping up right now, and headed back soon."

Niko slumps in on herself, fidgeting. "Are we done? I... I should go back to my lab."

"Oh, that reminds me!" you say. "Two things. First, uh, I did take a Grief Seed from you girls, and I need to hang on to it, if you don't mind. But I'm willing to clear a Grief Seed for you girls in exchange?"

"Ah... we already have two Clear Seeds, right?" Kazumi asks, glancing at Niko. "I think that's plenty, Sabrina, but we appreciate it. Besides, it's not like you're so far away we can't ask for help, right?"

"Yeah, that's fair," you say. "Now, the second thing..."

You crook a finger, just a touch of will to act your intention on the world. A blob of Grief sails over to you from a distant part of your outer orbit, and you bring it carefully over to Niko. "Uh, here's the memory device back. Hope it isn't damaged or anything."

"Ah. That. Thanks, Sabrina," Niko says, stretching her hand out to catch the device, the rounded, triangular disc fitting snugly in her palm.

"That's good," Homura says. And maybe there's a trace of relief leaking into her voice, maybe there isn't.

"Uh... one thing, though," you say. "We caught Anri, and... she's kind of unstable. We've... talked her down, but we can't leave her here in Asunaro, because the thing that drives her is vengeance against the Pleiades Saints. Would you mind terribly much if we brought her back to Mitakihara and detained her there?"

You watch as Niko sighs, taking a few steps backwards to distance herself from the group proper. She perches on the edge of the roof, and produces a screwdriver from somewhere to unscrew the back.

Kazumi gives Niko a worried look, catching Mirai's eye. In unison, they hurry forward to join Niko.

"Hey-" Niko says, eyes widening. "The memory field is-"

"Don't care," Kazumi says, stepping forward boldly. "I-" she breaks off, frowning. "Ugh, forgot what I was going to say, but. Niko, you're upset. We're here for you."

Mirai follows, smiling.

"I'm fine," Niko says tightly. "Just let me work on this."

Umika exchanges a look with Saki, who glances at Satomi. Umika bows at you. "Sorry, Sabrina, Mami," she murmurs. "Niko needs us."

"Go, go," you say, waving them off. You return to telepathy, Sayaka turning to face you properly now that the rest of the circle's gone. "Homura?"

"You mean to try and rehabilitate her," Homura says.

"I do, yeah," you say. "I'm planning on hiring the Fukushima girls to guard her, in the meantime. Maybe put her up in Oriko's old warehouse."

"They'll be good help against Walpurgisnacht if they can be convinced to stay and fight," Homura says. "If Anri doesn't cause problems, then I have no objections. Even better if she fights against Walpurgisnacht."

"Alright. Then... Mami, Sayaka? I'm sorry I didn't ask your opinions earlier, but we were in the privacy sphere and all," you say.

"I'm OK with it," Mami says. "I think it's... maybe the best solution we could have, under the circumstances."

"Yeah," Sayaka says. "I... really don't like the idea of Miss Mad Scientist there just switching someone off for good. Gives me the creeps."

"It's an awful solution," you agree with a sigh. "And I really, truly hope it doesn't ever come to that."

"Well. Yeah," Sayaka says.

"Hey, Sabrina?" Niko calls, standing. She's surrounded by her friends, not exactly a hugpile, but everyone just staying close to her. "I had a thought."

"Is there anything else?" Homura asks.

"Nah, that's it," you say, glancing at the privacy sphere with Oriko, Kirika, and Anri. You did promise to bring up Oriko being the team's social face with Homura... well, perhaps not just now. "See you soon!"

Out loud, you answer Niko. "Yep?"

"I can tune this to block out memory of us," Niko says, gesturing at herself and her friends. "You could put it on Anri."

[] Niko
- [] What do you say?
[X] Wrap up and leave.
-[X] Try and acknowledge everyone's efforts.
-[X] Hugs.
[] On the way back
- [] Talk to...
-- [] Mami (about?)
-- [] Sayaka (about?)
-- [] Oriko and Kirika (about?)
-- [] Hijiri (about?)
- [] Tell Homura about Oriko and Kirika being helpful
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

I think I'm gonna drop the vote lockout as an experiment - not sure it really adds much!

Also, Niko made a liar of me, turns out. Just needed to get one last bit in edgewise, but that's the last thing to be wrapped up before heding back to Mitakihara.

 

[Firnagzen]

You shouldn't entirely be surprised by these half-tempting, horribly pragmatic ideas from Niko any more. And that's the thing. Part of you is revolted by the notion, but another part of you recognises the sheer pragmatic use something like that could be.

But then again.

This is not who you are.

"Maybe as a therapy tool," you say finally. "It's not... It's not a good solution to imprison her with that. If she's willing... yeah, maybe it could be useful."

"Losing your memory sounds awful," Sayaka says, shuddering.

"Speaking as someone with amnesia-" probably, maybe sort-of, you amend mentally, "-I have to agree."

"It's not like that," Niko says, shaking her head. "It's more like very small tweaks, like... perception filters. It's not that different from what Kyuubey does, to cover up our existence. And anyway, if you leave the area of effect, it wears off instantly."

"Last resort, at best," you say with a firm nod. "It's... it's a better last resort than knocking out Anri, I think. I... modifying someone's memory, whatever way it is, isn't something I'm really confident with, and I wouldn't be able to really try and help her through her issues if we did this. So it's a very, very last resort."

"I understand," Niko says, nodding.

You wonder for a moment whether she's feeling useless, what with the ideas she's offering... But then again, she doesn't seem that disappointed. Thoughtful, but not disappointed. Really, if you had to guess, she just prefers to simply throw herself into her work and keep busy. Maybe. That's for Kazumi to keep an eye on, though.

Kazumi herself is cuddled up against Niko, chin propped on her shoulder as Niko pops the back off the device. Crimson eyes flick up to you, curious and warm.

"Is there anything else, Sabrina?" Kazumi asks.

"Mami, Sayaka?" you ask in turn, smiling at your friends.

"I got nothing," Sayaka says, shrugging.

"I don't think so," Mami says.

"Then no, I... guess we're out of things," you admit. A flick of thought generates benches out of Grief for Mami and Sayaka and yourself, and you plop down on yours. Mami beams and claims her place right next to you.

"Then we just have to wait," Kazumi says, glancing at the empty blackness of the privacy sphere. "And hope that Miss Oriko manages to pull off something."

"Mm," you agree, glancing at Sayaka as she sits down. "I have faith in her. In the meantime, we'll leave you to it for a few moments - going up!"

Sayaka squawks, clutching at her bench as the three of you rocket straight up, benches soaring upwards until you've cleared the roof by a good twenty meters. She clutches at her chest, glaring pointedly at you.

"Oh, don't be like that," you say, grinning and waving at the Pleiades Saints. "I just wanted to give them some privacy, and have our own conversation. And besides, Mami wasn't bothered, right?"

"Nuh-uh," Mami mutters, happily cuddled up against your side.

"Yuh-huh," Sayaka snorts, rolling her eyes. "That doesn't count. What's up?"

"Well, so... I just want to get everyone on the same page, honestly," you say, waving your hands in the cool, crisp air winding around you. "I mean... we're all a team, yeah? And, well, what do you want to do today?"

"Eh?" Sayaka asks, kicking her feet idly.

"Well, it's, uh..." You check your phone. "It's nine fifty. You could still conceivably tag back into school, switching with your clone. And Mami-" You give her a warm smile. "You've missed half a day of school already. It's your choice, do you want to go back when we return?"

"I- I should." Mami bites her lip, curling up against your side.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," you say, wrapping your arm around Mami and giving her a smile. "Same for you, Sayaka, though I warn you that the rest of the day probably isn't going to be anywhere as exciting as this. Nadia's arriving soon, so I'll be settling the Shiogama girls in and all... oh, yes! Enchantment practice this evening."

"Right, right," Sayaka says, scowling thoughtfully. "Honestly, I kinda want to meet them, but I can do that after school."

"I... I should go back too, then," Mami says, swallowing.

"That's fine," you say, smiling warmly at her. You lean over and remove her beret to press a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "Then I'll still come and meet you for lunch, of course. I'll make something! Or maybe buy something, depending on how much time the Shiogama girls take. Hm. I'd really rather cook for you, though."

"Alright," Mami whispers, nestling a little closer. You squeeze her gently.

"I'm keeping this, by the way," you say, raising your free arm so that she can see the loop of golden ribbon around your wrist. It's the same hand as the Grief ring that you never took off, glinting around your finger. Which is still distinctly not corroded off.

"Mm?" Mami asks, and blushes when she sees what you mean. "Oh."

Sayaka shoots you a grin and a roll of her eyes, leaning backwards with nary a care for the drop below her. Then again, magical girl.

"So anyway!" you say, lowering your arm. "Anri. I'm... well, I've got a few goals. One, make sure she doesn't cause more trouble, to the Pleiades Saints or to us. To that end, I'm planning on hiring the Fukushima girls, since they're known to be reliable and for hire."

"And paying with a Clear Seed?" Sayaka guesses, raising her eyebrows at you.

"If they'll accept it!" you agree cheerfully. "If they insist on regular Grief Seeds, guess it's time for hunting. Second thing for Anri is... well, I'm planning to try and rehabilitate her. Or find someone who can, maybe, I know I'm not exactly the best person to do that. I don't intend to just leave her under lockdown indefinitely, is what I'm getting at."

"I think you could do it, Sabrina," Mami says. "But... it might be better to delegate because we're so busy these days."

"Mm," you say noncommittally.

"Yeah, well..." Sayaka says, waving her hand. "Are you going to look for, what, a magical girl therapist or something?"

"There's got to be one out there somewhere!" you say, grinning. "Failing that, I think just having someone to try and talk to her would be useful. Or, and here's a thought... maybe 'just' a therapist. I mean, I demonstrate magic, read them in, and then brief them. We're still human, after all."

"Ehhhh, sounds good to me," Sayaka says.

"I think as long as you try, it'll do good," Mami says warmly.

"By the way, just so we're clear," Sayaka says, frowning suddenly. "Niko's idea earlier. She means... taking away Anri's Soul Gem, right?"

"Yep," you say. "And then using magic to lock it down."

Sayaka grimaces and falls silent.

"Yep," you repeat. "It's an ugly solution. I'm very, very reluctant to consider it at all, but... if one day I should run into the magical girl equivalent of Luis Garavito or Ted Bundy or Yoshio Kodaira or something... I don't know, maybe that kind of person simply doesn't get contracted, but I just don't know for sure."

"Yeah," Sayaka says, looking faintly ill. "Yeah, maybe."

"Sorry," you say, sighing. "Unpleasant thought, I know."

"Nah, nah," Sayaka says.

The conversation lapses for a while.

"Sabrina?" Mami murmurs, tilting her head to look up at you. "Maybe... maybe I could stay with you until lunch? Then I can rejoin the afternoon classes?"

"If you want," you say, giving her a reassuring smile. "Mami, you should do what you want to. I'm always glad to have you along, and it'd be good for you to meet the Shiogama girls right off the bat, but if you need to go to school? That's fine too."

"Alright," Mami says, nodding.

You eye the beret you'd taken from Mami for a second before plopping it on top of your own head. Sayaka rolls her eyes at you, propping up one leg on the Grief bench and kicking her foot out to balance as she leans over backwards, nearly horizontal.

Your senses twinge, and you look over just in time to spot Oriko leaving the privacy sphere, and the Pleiades starting to gather. Well, that's your cue. Your descent is a lot more sedate, giving Sayaka enough time to backflip off the bench and drop into an effortless three-point landing.

The jerk.

"Anri has agreed to be brought to Mitakihara," Oriko announces to the rooftop at large.

"Oh, thank goodness," Kazumi says, tension draining from her shoulders. She walks up to Oriko, extending her hand. "Thank you for your work, Miss Oriko."

"It was... not precisely a pleasure, but I am glad to help," Oriko says, nodding and shaking Kazumi's hand.

Kazumi beams, bouncing away from Oriko as the rest of the Pleiades crowd around Oriko, thanking the seer. Kazumi, on the other hand, bounds over to you, beaming from ear to ear. "Thank you, Mami, Sabrina, Sayaka, for coming over to help. We couldn't have resolved this entire thing so easily ourselves."

"Considering it was partly my fault that this entire thing started, I couldn't do any less," you say, smiling. "And it's not like you girls didn't do anything, either, we all worked together to get this done, right?"

"Oh psht, I wanted to visit my old sempai," Kazumi says, grinning at Mami. "Speaking of, I'd love to visit again, without the crisis this time."

"I- we would be glad to have you," Mami says, her smile just a little watery.

"Yeah!" Sayaka says. "It'd be fun!"

Kazumi nods, pleased. Really, what is up with her mood swings? You've really got to wonder whether it's magical, considering how she was able to simply disguise her despair in the elsewhen that never will be.

"You have to go now, right?" Kazumi asks.

"We do," Mami says, nodding firmly. "We have refugees travelling to Mitakihara, and they're arriving soon."

"Gotcha," Kazumi says with a pout. She flicks a glance to Oriko, who's making her way over. "Well... I suppose this is goodbye for now, then. Stay in touch, ok?"

"I- I will," Mami says, swallowing. "I will."

Kazumi grins, and lunges forward to throw her arms around Mami and you - and you're promptly inundated with the rest of the Pleiades, who crush Sayaka and Oriko into the giant group hug.

"Oh, one moment," you say, giving Mami a quick, reassuring smile and disentangling yourself from the hug. You hurry over to the corner of the roof to grab the Kure's shopping. "Let's not forget these."

"Indeed," Oriko says drily, following you. "I shall collect Kirika and Anri."

You exchange farewells with the Pleiades, taking a moment to praise everyone for their contributions today as Oriko disappears into the privacy sphere and re-emerges with Anri in tow, Kirika following with a sharp grin on her face.

Anri, in all her ridiculously skimpy fuschia glory, simply stands and glares daggers at everyone. She doesn't bother to hide the raw, seething hatred on her face, the Pleiades almost flinching back from the look. Mirai glares right back, as does Umika.

You step between them, meeting Anri's eyes calmly. "Airi Anri," you say. "You agree to be detained in Mitakihara?"

"Yes," she bites out, lips barely moving. "Get me away from these murderers."

... oof. You can sense the anger catching like a fire behind your back, the Pleiades all listening close.

"Riiight," you say loudly, raising a hand. Grief sweeps in, seemingly-empty air fading to deep purple in whirling eddies. You make it theatrical and flashy, rippling tendrils of Grief swirling into a giant disc to form your Mobile Oppression Fortress.

Better that attention be focused on you than anyone else. Kirika jabbing Anri in the back is... appreciated, though.

"Alright. All aboard," you say, waving your friends -and Anri- up.

You're the last to mount up, giving Kazumi a little wave before stepping up to the disc. You pass the shopping bags to Kirika, before taking your seat beside Mami. Well, between Sayaka and Mami, but really. Beside Mami. Anri's seated at the back, the greasy touch of Kirika's anti-magic bracelet still hanging around her wrist. And if you concentrate the Grief fog around her just a touch denser, well, no one would even notice enough to call you out on it but Mami.

It might be better to restrain her, but you've got Mami and Kirika here with you. And you've got your metaphorical eye on her, too, the Grief fog layered close around her body to watch her movements.

"Right. Next stop, Mitakihara City!" you call loudly, lifting the fortress into the air. Grief bleeds out of the air, forming a shuttered windshield you'll grow to include a roof and convert to glass as soon as you have a moment.

It's an awkward, quiet flight out of Asunaro, especially as you dip low to buzz and junkyard and snatch a piece of rebar from the ground. You don't bring it up to eyelevel, but rather trail it far behind you. Grief shaves a small, coin-shaped piece of steel from the end, which you convey up to Kirika.

"Hey, Kirika?" you speak into her mind, dangling the steel shard in front of her. "Could you apply your anti-magic enchantment to this? I'm going to make something more permanent for Anri."

"Can do!" Kirika chirps, taking it from the air.

"Thanks," you say, and expand the conversation to Oriko. "So here's something interesting I discovered recently, and... hm. Right, before I share, I'm gonna have to ask for you to not try this right now?"

"Of course," Oriko says.

"Mmm," you say. A nice, somewhat fashionable bracelet, you think. And to that end, you shave the rust from the rebar and start moulding. "So - if you channel magic into something belonging to someone else, you wind up... not quite sharing your emotions with them, but you get a feel of them. It's... it's hard to describe, but you just get a feel of them."

"I see," Kirika says, sounding very interested.

"Yep," you say, tilting your head far enough to give her a grin. "Just a fun tidbit I found recently."

"Appreciated~" Kirika says.

You're well past the outskirts of Asunaro now, and so you start to pour on the speed, countryside and farmland roaring past below you in an accelerating blur. You continue to craft, and think.

The rebar you pare to size with Grief, smoothing it into a rounded strip curled into an open C-shape. You carve a coin-shaped depression into its underside, with flaps to seal an enchanted disc into. Tough enough to be nearly impossible for simple magical girl strength to bend, but more than yielding under the irresistible pressure of your Grief.

Speaking of Grief... you kind of want to check on Aurora. It seems like Clear Seeds are quiescent, with the notable exception of, well, Aurora. Could be worth checking on.

"Oh, by the way, Oriko," you continue. "Could I swap the Clear Seed out for another one later? I wanna check something."

"Certainly," Oriko says. You can feel her slow, nonplussed blink.

And as for what to do with Oriko and Kirika... you said you'd see about loosening the restrictions on them, but the hard part is convincing Homura and Sayaka. Both of whom have legitimate grievances against them, but they've been good. You don't want to trap them in their house indefinitely.

"They are here. I'm meeting them now." Homura's voice.

Well, speak of the devil. Not that you think she's the devil, probably not. If anything, she might be Homulily de-Witched. "We're on our way back," you respond. "Be there soon!"

"Noted," Homura says, and ends the call and leaving you with your thoughts and the howling wind rushing past your mobile oppression fortress.

There's perhaps a solution, or a way to get at a solution. "Mami?" you say. You'd thought about including Oriko and Kirika in the discussion, but it might be a bit rude to be talking about them like that to their faces.

"Yes, Sabrina?" Mami asks.

"So... I want to lessen Oriko and Kirika's restrictions somewhat. They've been more than helpful, and Oriko in particular worked wonders today," you say, motioning at Anri, who remains quiet and seething at the back of your flight disc. You add to Mami alone, "They've been nothing but well behaved."

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Sabrina?" Mami asks, giving you a worried frown. "I don't mean that as a slight to them - I... agree that they've been helpful. I'm worried about Sayaka and Homura's responses."

"Yeah, well, that's what I'm trying to figure out," you say. "I was wondering if you had any ideas?"

"I... don't understand Homura that well," Mami says quietly. "Perhaps you could convince her that the Kures are useful if allowed to roam?"

"Perhaps, but... Homura's problems run deeper than that," you say.

"Mm," Mami suggests, looking thoughtful. "Sayaka... you could say, truthfully, that the Kures are working to atone. I think that would help."

"Agreed," you say. "That could work."

"Do you have any ideas?" Mami asks, smiling faintly at you. "I could be a sounding board?"

[] Mami
- [] Involving Kirika's parents
- [] Oriko's newly given role
- [] Any ideas?
[] What do you do with Anri back at Mitakihara?
[] Oriko and Kirika
- [] Send them home
- [] Keep them around
[] Homura
- [] Discuss Oriko and Kirika
[] Sayaka
- [] Discuss Oriko and Kirika
[] Meet the Shiogama girls
- [] How do you present yourself?
- [] Bring them to the housing
[] Lunch
- [] Cook something (You need to allocate time for this)
- [] Grab takeout
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Turning the Derrick Witch into a Clear Seed and trading it for Aurora will be an automatic action.

 

[Firnagzen]

You take a moment to think about it, watching Japan blur by beneath you. The checkered blotches of farmland are seemingly endless, broken up only by thin roads snaking across the landscape to connect tiny villages dotted everywhere. Ahead loom lushly green foothills, with your home beyond the mountain.

Ultimately, you return to ideas you already had, and perhaps a few variations.

"We could involve Kirika's parents," you say slowly. "Kirika's been 'missing' for, uh, two weeks now. I... I can't imagine they wouldn't want to help confine her."

"That might go too far in the opposite direction," Mami says. "They might want to prevent her from going out at all... and would Homura trust them to control the Kures? Even setting aside that Miss Mikuni and Miss Kure are magical girls... if I understand Homura's issues with them, she fears that Miss Mikuni is hostile, with a considerable degree of finesse and subtlety. If Miss Mikuni put her mind to it, she would surely be able to influence them."

"I... You're right, more or less, for Homura's issues. And for Kirika's parents..." You sigh. "Yeah. She'd probably see it that way."

Mami leans into your side, nuzzling golden hair against your arm. "That doesn't mean there's no way to do this. Maybe some other people to chaperone them?"

"I did think about that," you agree. "But the only people I could think of are maybe Hitomi's parents, if they agree - but they don't know the full situation, and without explaining Homura's secrets... I mean, I haven't even told you, and you'd be the first person I would tell if I were free to."

"It's alright, Sabrina," Mami says. "I trust you."

"I... I'm sorry that I can't tell you, still," you murmur. "I just-"

"I know, Sabrina," Mami says, her composure cracking a little. She looks up at you, uncertain and worried. "I- just- stay with me. That's enough. That's everything."

"You're worth everything and more," you say, taking her hand. You stroke your thumb over her knuckles, gentle and warm. "But yes, Mami. I promised not to leave you, and I won't."

Mami shivers, curling close to your side. You hug her tight, pulling her into the protective circle of your arms, and you let your presence speak for itself.

It takes a few minutes before she speaks again. "S-sorry, Sabrina," she murmurs. "I... go on?"

You lean over to kiss the top of her head, tilting your head back to avoid her beret slipping off your head. You bury your nose in her hair, inhaling the familiar fragrance of her shampoo. "Never," you say firmly. "Never be sorry for your emotions."

"I- I know," Mami says quietly, relaxing into the hug. She stirs a few moment later. "B-but we were talking about something."

"Yeah," you say. "We could always hire external chaperones. Like if Fukushima were willing... but it runs into the same problem of trust. Homura trusts us, because she knows us. She... doesn't know, or trust, anyone else."

Mami nods in agreement. "I see," she murmurs. "And we are unlikely to have the time to watch over them, except for Sayaka, if she were willing to make clones."

"Or if I could make a clone that could go further than a hundred meters from me," you say. "Or... incidentally, Mami, have you ever thought about revisiting making full-sized clones? Then you could be in school, but still hang out with me."

"I... have thought about it," Mami admits. "I haven't had time to experiment with it, though."

"I gotcha~" you say, smiling at her. Your gaze flicks forward for a second, trying to decide whether you should veer upwards to avoid that cloud or no. Probably easier to do just that, and so you do, swerving upwards.

Oriko and Kirika, Homura and Sayaka. It's about trust, in the end. Mami came incredibly close to the point, you feel, correcting for the simple fact that she doesn't have the full story. Homura and Sayaka trust you, and Mami, and so they extend that trust when you agree to guarantee something. Extending that trust to a total stranger is much, much harder.

Ah, well.

The air turns thin and colder as you crest the mountain, and you take the opportunity to snuggle up to Mami. Oriko and Kirika are cuddled up equally close, and Yuuri, sitting sullenly at the back of your mobile oppression fortress... Well, a magical girl doesn't need to feel the cold, but she's new enough that she might not know that yet. You shift your Grief nanofog a little, trapping enough air to create an insulated layer around her. And speaking of Oriko and Kirika and Anri...

"Hey, Oriko, Kirika?" you say.

"Yes, Sabrina?" Oriko asks.

"I really hate to ask this of you," you say. "But can I ask you two to keep an eye on Anri for a little while longer after we get back to Mitakihara? I promise it's not going to be a permanent thing, and it's not going to become permanent - I just need to handle some things, and negotiate actual holding facilities for her."

There's a moment of silence before Oriko speaks again. "Of course, Sabrina," she says.

"I'm really, really sorry," you say. "And I promise I'll do my best to get the restrictions for the two of you loosened, OK?"

"If it were not for you, I would be dead," Oriko says. "I suppose I can extend you some measure of credit."

You can't help the snort. "Well, when you put it that way," you say. "Your generosity is appreciated. Seriously. Thanks, Oriko."

"Ah... Sabrina, Miss Oriko?" Mami asks. You twitch in surprise - she might be right next to you, but you hadn't included Mami in the conversation. "If I may, you're discussing Miss Anri, right?"

"Yeah," you say, smiling at Mami. "What gave it away?"

"I know you, Sabrina," she says simply. "And she's the most pressing problem at the moment that needs to be resolved."

"Hah. Go on, Mami?" you say, tightening your hug around her a little.

"I have something that may help, if Miss Oriko and Miss Kirika are to keep an eye on her?" Mami says. "I could extend a ribbon to her, and to you, Miss Oriko. She wouldn't notice it, and it wouldn't be a true restraint, but if she tries to run, you'd notice."

"An alarm to her leaving the confinement radius would be enormously helpful," Oriko says.

"I tried this earlier with Hijiri," Mami notes. "I... did not expect her to be able to turn herself into lightning, but Miss Anri has no such ability, right, Sabrina?"

"Yeah," you say, making a face. "Just some kind of biological manipulation, it looks like. Up to and including the ability to gas a building... oh, yes, Kirika - I've got a bracelet thingy to put on Anri when you're done with the enchantment."

"Oh, I'm done with it!" Kirika says. "Was waitin' for you."

"Ah. Well, we can wait 'til we land?" you say, squinting at the landscape ahead. There's no snow atop the mountains at this time of the year, sadly.

"Sure~" Kirika chirps.

"Then that will work," Oriko says. "When can we expect her to be picked up?"

"I... really don't know how long it'll take to make arrangements, but the end of the day at the latest, with a little luck," you say. You can already feel the slow pulse of Mami's magic, a ribbon winding invisibly from her hand.

"Keep us informed," Oriko says simply.

You let the conversation lapse, digging in your pocket and pulling out the derrick Witch's Grief Seed. You hold it up, and snatch it from your hand with Grief to swing clear of your flying fortress.

Etheldred.

You let out a slow breath, and start to drain the Grief from it, letting the billowing river of Grief dissolve into fog. You watch the horizon as verdant mountainside unfurls beneath you, Mitakihara the barest smudge of grey in the distance.

"Oi, Sabrina." Sayaka pokes you in the side.

"Yes?" you say, arching a lazy eyebrow at her.

"So I was thinking," Sayaka says. "I think I need to learn by doing, with my powers. It's not like I've got a manual for them."

"That's what sparring practice is for," you answer, other eyebrow joining the first.

"Yeah, I know, but I was kind of wondering if I should just see if I can keep a clone or two practicing the whole day even when I'm in school," Sayaka says.

"Doesn't that take concentration?" you say. "I mean, I'm not gonna say magical girl stuff isn't important, but so are classes."

"I think I can handle it," Sayaka says. "Not too many clones, just one or two should be fine."

"Well... I guess let me know?" you say. "And you need to keep your Soul Gem clean, too."

"Yup, can do," Sayaka says, grinning bright and cheery at you.

"Incidentally, Sayaka, I've said this plenty, but- you did great back there," you say. "Really. You took down Hijiri pretty much solo, and then you cleared the building."

"Aw, come on, I had help," Sayaka says, shaking her head. "But... thanks."

"You're only gonna get better," you say, eyeing the horizon. Mitakihara's a growing, glittering patch, silhouetted against the morning sun. "And you're already doing fantastic. So, y'know."

"Stobbit," Sayaka says, puffing her cheeks out. "I'm gonna get a big head."

"Well, I mean, I was also thinking of dropping you off at school," you say off-handedly. "Literally."

"Don't you-" Sayaka's hand dives under her cloak. "Actually, you know what? I know how to fly now. Bring it."

"Now, where's the fun in that?" you stick your tongue out at her.

"That's what I thought," Sayaka says with a cocky grin, relaxing.

Mitakihara grows in the distance, the familiar skyline a welcome sight. It's home. Home with Mami, home with Homura and Madoka and Hitomi and everyone. And it would be nice to stop off home at Mami's apartment, but you're on the clock now - first, a dropoff for Sayaka at school.

The bleunette grins bright and fierce and proud of herself as you soar off from the roof, white cloak and short hair fluttering around her. And the next destination is, of course, the Mikuni mansion.

You disembark, this time, holding your hand out for the shaped steel. It slaps into your hand, a smooth, rounded C-shape that gleams under the sun. Almost fashionable, if you didn't know what it was for.

Kirika hands you the anti-magic coin wordlessly. You press it into the indentation, folding retaining flaps of steel over it.

"This is an antimagic bracelet," you say, meeting Anri's feverbright eyes as she reluctantly steps off your mobile oppression fortress. "I'm very sorry, but you're going to have to wear this."

"Because I'm your prisoner," she sneers, shoulders hunched defensively. "What, do you expect me to be happy about it?"

"No," you say. "But I want you to understand."

You step forward to take her hand, and if you're tense and wary, you have nothing on the way her tendons stand out under her skin, wire-taut. Carefully, you close the bracelet around her wrist, steel groaning faintly as you fold it with Grief and lock the ends together. It's not coming off without some kind of super-strength beyond a normal magical girl's.

Her arm drops back to her side as you step back with a sigh.

"I'm really sorry," you murmur to Oriko. Mami walks over, holding her empty palm out - but you can feel the ribbon resting intangibly in her palm, and when Oriko takes it with a quizzical look, you can feel it almost attach. Oriko's eyes widen, just a hair, and she nods slowly.

"It's fine," Oriko says. "Farewell for now, Sabrina."

You trade goodbyes and Clear Seeds, and with that, you're off again, just you and Mami, now. Onward!

"Homura? Where are you right now?" you ask, including Mami in the conversation. She gives you a warm smile, cuddled up happily against you as you zip once more into the skies above.

"Hinata cafe," Homura says. "They were hungry, and I don't know the address of the apartment."

"Ah, right. Uh, I asked Hitomi earlier, so I know where that is," you say sheepishly. "Well, uh, tell me where you are, and I'll be there soon."

"Understood," Homura says.

Not too far from the central train station, it turns out. Which makes sense - Nadia did mention travelling by train. You land on a rooftop, dropping to the alleyway below with smooth ease, and you take a breath before detransforming. The bright flare of light leaves you in...

You blink down at yourself.

Well, you never did change from your sleepwear. You'd rolled right out of bed and transformed, and that leaves you in your -technically Mami's- pajamas. Which are awfully comfy, but not exactly good first impression clothes.

And Mami's beret, of course.

Mami giggles faintly, cheeks tinging red. "I'm in my pajamas too," she says, gesturing at herself.

"... quick change, or magical girl mode?" you ask. "It is a cafe."

"We should be fine in our magical girl uniforms," Mami says. "We're meeting with other magical girls, after all! Ah... people might give us looks, but it should be alright once we're inside the cafe."

"Right," you say, willing yourself to transform once again. Really, you're lucky no one's ever noticed you lurking in the backalleys. "You're sure you're OK with that, Mami?"

"As long as I'm with you," Mami says, smiling softly at you.

You offer her your arm, smiling right back. "Then let's get to it."

You walk out of the alleyway with Mami at your side, making your way to the cafe. True to the name, it's bright and sunny, tables spilling outside the building in a nice, open arrangement. You spot Homura and Nadia immediately, sitting with... three girls you don't recognise.

You head over, smile firmly in place. It's not too crowded on the streets at this time of the day, so thankfully neither you nor Mami get too many odd looks, and you make use of the approach to simply observe them.

Homura... is Homura. She's definitely making an effort to appear more open, a polite smile on her face as she speaks to the Shiogama... trio? Nadia's quiet, dark, curly hair brushed back from her face as she scarfs something green and leafy from her plate.

The Shiogama girls, on the other hand... Two of them look nearly identical. Twins, maybe? The same slender figure, and the same round face, the same worn look on both of them. They have the same hairstyle, even, something that looks like it was once a neat hime cut, what must have once been cheek-length sidelocks down past their jaws, an overly-long fringe shading their eyes. The only difference between them, really, is the hair colour and the clothes, one green-haired and the other a bright blonde. They're both dressed conservatively, in simple, plain dresses.

And both of them are sitting bracketing a brown-haired girl. She's startlingly muscular, from what you can see, her arms bared by a sleeveless dress in a deep maroon. She would be tall, you suspect, if it weren't for the way she hunches over, and you're close enough that you can see the bags under her dark pink eyes. There's a drawstring bag hanging over the back of her chair, from which you can feel the faint glow of magic.

All three of them seem to be sharing a platter of assorted pastries, mugs of drinks sitting beside them.

... You sense two Soul Gems among three girls.

Homura's eyes snap up as you approach, something like relief flickering across her face as she waves you over.

And since that's your cue, you walk right over, joining them at the table.

"Ah, Mami, Sabrina," Nadia says, attention flicking over. "It is good to see you."

"Apologies for being late," you say, bowing before seating yourself. "Hey, Homura, Nadia."

"Hello," Homura murmurs.

"It's not a problem," the brown-haired girl says. "You must be busy."

Nadia coughs delicately. "Tomoe-san, Sabrina, this is Saito Akemi-" she motions at the brown-haired girl in the middle, "-and these are Watanabe Noriko. Watanabe-san, Saito-san, these are Tomoe Mami and Sabrina."

"It's good to meet you," Akemi says, managing a wan smile.

"Thank you for having us," Noriko says. One of the Norikos. Apparently.

"We're sorry to hear about your loss," Mami says, bowing her head.

"Thank you," the other Noriko says, the one who you can actually sense a Soul Gem on. It's... odd, though, you can sense what's almost an echo of the same Soul Gem on the first Noriko. "It's appreciated. We are grateful for you inviting us to your city."

"Of course," you say. "We couldn't do anything less, when we heard about the troubles you had."

"We're grateful, anyway," Akemi says in that same quiet tone. She was probably more cheerful in times past, you think. There are laugh lines around her eyes, but now, she just looks tired and strained.

[] Shiogama girls
- [] Ask about...?
- [] Ground rules
- [] Demonstrate your powers
- [] Show them their apartment
[] Nadia
- [] Pull her aside for a talk
-- [] About?
[] Homura
- [] Thank the Homu
- [] Ask her if she wants to return to school
- [] Something else?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Updated later than I'd hoped for, my apologies.

Also, argh. Once again I forgot to mention the chapter change - Highway 17 ended with the last post, and here we begin To the White Forest.

 

[Firnagzen]

They're tired. Not physically, or maybe not just physically. Early morning train rides are one thing, but... they lost a friend, and just two months ago. Not that long ago, and more than recent enough for the loss to be raw. Nadia had said that the group was broken from that, and looking at them, you can believe it.

Well.

This is who you are.

You're here to help.

And so, you smile at them. You don't know their pain, but you can understand it, and you can have compassion.

"First things first," you say. "Do you girls need your Soul Gems cleansed?"

Rhetorical question, of course. They do. You're already holding your left hand out, Soul Gem shimmering into its egg form. No need to bother checking for anyone else watching either, not with your Grief fog hanging over the entire cafe like a heavy cloud.

You let them see the Grief seething under the surface of your Soul Gem, dark effluences marring the bright silvery-white glow. You tap your finger to the crystal, and draw away a streamer of Grief, forcing it into heavy, dense visibility in front of very wide eyes.

"Oh," Akemi says. There are tears in her eyes, and you can see her fumbling for Noriko's hand. Both Norikos are shaking as they latch on to Akemi from either side.

Nadia snorts quietly and buffs her fingernails on the hem of her shirt, looking very smug. "I do not exaggerate," she says.

You shoot her a look, before returning your attention to the two -three? two and a half? probably two- girls in front of you. "Don't ever hesitate to ask if you need cleansing," you say. "I offer it freely, and I only ask that you be nice. To us, to everyone who might come our way."

"You- you'll really let us stay here?" Noriko asks, her voice rough.

"We will," Mami says, smiling. Her hand finds yours under the table, squeezing gently. "Thanks to Sabrina, Mitakihara has no problem supporting more magical girls."

"We don't ask for much," you say, picking up the thread of conversation from Mami. "There are other matters that need to be discussed in the long run, but you must be tired, so we'll keep it short for now. Hunting is optional - but we ask that you call in any Witches or Familiars you might encounter. Similarly, if any other magical girls start causing trouble, let us know. Or if there are any magical girls in trouble. And... don't give Grief Seeds to Kyuubey."

"That's- that's it?" Noriko says. She visibly gathers herself -herselves- together, both bodies straightening up to stare at you. It's almost eerie, the impression somewhat ruined by the fact that her eyes are still teary.

"I want to help," you say.

"We want to help," Mami supplies.

"And I can sustain us all without trouble," you continue. "Yes, that's really it. There are things coming up that you will need to be informed of, but your stay here isn't contingent on them, and there are no strings attached to my help, barring what I've already said."

"T-then. We're glad to be here," Noriko says. "Thank you for having us."

"Thank you," Akemi echoes.

"You're welcome," you say easily, still smiling at them. "But I still haven't cleansed your Soul Gems yet."

Akemi nods, flipping her left hand up. Her Soul Gem shimmers into view, the same dark pink as her eyes, and more than a bit of Grief churning under its surfaces. The Noriko on your left, with the brilliant green hair, holds her hand out with her Soul Gem. Both are occluded with more corruption than you're comfortable with allowing, seething angrily below the surface.

"May I?" you ask, reaching out a hand. All for show, but the better to put them at ease.

With their agreement, you draw forth streamers of Grief from their Soul Gems, allowing it to shimmer in the air in all its bilious glory before letting it dissolve into the fog.

"T-thank you," Akemi whispers, withdrawing her Soul Gem in a motion that's almost skittish.

"I'm here to help," you say, smiling. Mami squeezes your hand gently under the table, leaning against your side.

Noriko nods jerkily, staring at her Soul Gem. Shaking, she closes her fingers over the Soul Gem, the egg-shaped crystal vanishing into a ring once more.

"Anyway... you must be tired," you say. "If you'd like, we can show you to your apartment and continue this when you feel better?"

"That- that would be good," Akemi says, nodding.

"Alright," you say, glancing left and right. Homura meets your eyes, expression blank but relief in her posture as she drains her mug of tea and rises. Nadia, on the other hand, arches her eyebrows high and stands, apparently deciding that the remains of her leafy salad weren't much to her liking.

Mami smiles warm and proud and adoring at you as she stands. You don't let go of her hand, either, as you lead the group down the street. The Shiogama girls are content to follow, walking in a small huddle just a step behind as you take to the rooftops.

Roofhopping, rather than flying. You don't really want to overwhelm them too much - they look overwhelmed enough as it is. You murmur the address to Mami, and with a smile, she takes the lead as you bound across the roofs of Mitakihara, all spread out in a trailing V-shape.

You might have the address, but Mitakihara is Mami's. You can't match address to a destination, but Mami can. You let yourself fall into the rhythm - landing, tucking into a shoulder roll, and springing forward with the conserved momentum. It's none of the bold grace Mami has, but it's smooth, and comes naturally to you.

You take a moment to withdraw cash from storage in the cloud, a thought summoning a Grief sphere to you as you dash across a roof. It splits to disgorge a wad of cash, which you tuck away in your pocket without even breaking step.

Turns out that Hitomi's idea of a 'simple' apartment is in a decidedly upscale area, part of a cluster of rather recent-looking development. You head straight forward for the management office, to be greeted by a bespectacled man behind the desk. His eyes light up as you enter the room.

"Ah, Miss Sabrina, right?" he asks.

"That's me," you say, stepping forward to let the others filter into the room.

The man's eyes flick behind you to Mami, Homura, Nadia, and then the Shiogama girls, before very obviously deciding it's none of his business and refocusing on you.

... whatever he's being paid, it's not enough. Mami's in her magical girl costume, and it's elegant and bold and beautifully suited for her, but normal it is not. And you are in your admittedly-somewhat-less-outlandish costume, and you and Nadia aren't exactly locals, either.

"Excellent," he says, riffling through one of the paperwork trays on his desk. "I have the tenancy agreement here. Will you be signing?"

"Ah... no, I think... Miss Saito? Miss Watanabe?" you say, motioning them forward.

They exchange looks, and a Noriko steps forward - the one with the vividly blonde hair. Wordlessly, she picks up the contract, and starts to read rapidly.

You hum quietly to yourself, pulling cash from your pocket. Ten thousand yen notes, seventy of. A touch of Grief, slid in between each sheet, lets you count and riffle them in a smooth, easy motion. The touch of amusement in the smile Mami gives you means she probably spotted the trick.

Homura watches with an impassive face, attention flicking to you when she feels your attention on you. You smile at her, trying to project confidence at her. This is the right thing to do.

Nadia looks faintly approving, watching Noriko read the contract. It does rather befit a magical girl to be careful with contracts, after all, and so you try not to fidget too much as the blonde Noriko goes over the contract in detail.

Finally, Noriko motions for a pen. "I don't have..."

"I'll be covering the rent," you say, stepping forward and proffering the notes.

"Yes, indeed," the manager says, taking the notes without batting an eye. "Miss Shizuki did suggest that you might be paying in cash. For future reference, it would be preferable to set up a bank transfer, but that can wait until you are more settled."

"Err, noted," you say, grinning sheepishly.

The man counts the notes and tucks them carefully aside before adding his signature in flowing loops. "It looks like everything's in order, then," he says, producing a keyring from a drawer. "Here you are."

You motion towards Akemi and Noriko. "All yours."

Akemi takes it, her bow uncertain. "Thank you."

And so you head off to the apartment, taking the elevator in a slightly awkward silence. Noriko and Akemi keep staring around as if trying to reassure themselves that this is real.

You can feel Nadia's look on the side of your head, and you grin at her. "Hit the Yakuza for money," you explain, and glance at Noriko and Akemi. "Don't worry. There's no way they can track it down to you. In the unlikely event that they do find out -and they'd have to have magical girls of their own for that- they'd be coming after me."

You pause, scowling thoughtfully. "Though if you see someone wielding a mop instead of a katana, uh... probably just steer clear. And probably let me know. Yeah."

... well, you've successfully gotten them to trade awed disbelief for complete perplexity.

It's an improvement.

You finally arrive at the apartment, and wave Noriko forward.

"Tadaima," she murmurs hesitantly, glancing uncertainly back at you as she unlocks it and steps in. I'm home.

Mami nudges you, smiling.

"Okaeri," you respond, grinning as you follow her and Akemi in. Welcome home.

Akemi drops the bag on the floor, spinning around and staring with disbelieving eyes. It's a nice apartment, the furnishing a bit sparse, but perfectly serviceable. A floor-to-ceiling window illuminates the entire living room, with comfortable-looking sofas sitting around a coffee table. You can see the bedrooms through open doors, and the kitchen.

It's not better than Mami's apartment, of course, but you might be just a little bit biased there.

"Nice place," Nadia observes, looking around.

"I... all this is for us?" one Noriko whispers.

"If you have extra rooms, I might direct other magical girls here if they need a place to stay," you say with a shrug. "But yeah."

"Oh," Akemi says, still staring.

You shake your head. "Do you have money for groceries and such?"

"Um... yes, we still have some provisions," Noriko says.

"Alright. Don't be afraid to let me know if there's any problems at all. Witches, Familiars, Grief Seeds, magical girls, money, whatever," you say. "We'll leave you to it? I'm sure you're tired."

Akemi manages a jerky nod, and you all take it as your cue to exchange farewells and head out. Mami squeezes your hand.

"You did a good thing," she murmurs to you, giving you an adoring smile.

"They needed it," you say simply, and turn your attention to Nadia. "Thank you for your part in this, Nadia."

"It is not a problem," she says. There's a very amused smile on her face as she brushes curly hair out of her eyes.

"And Homura," you say, beaming at your friend. "Thank you for putting up with all this. I know it can't be easy."

Homura just nods, quiet and thoughtful.

"Anyway," you say, interlacing your fingers over your head and stretching. "Homura, could I, ah, have a moment of your time?"

Amethyst eyes flick up to meet yours, and she nods. "Of course."

"Cool," you say, motioning around the corner. "Mami, Nadia? Do you mind?"

"Of course, Sabrina," Mami says, smiling softly at you.

"No, no, please," Nadia says, flapping her hand at you.

Homura's already striding down the corridor, so you hurry to catch up. She transforms the moment she's out of sight with barely a flicker of light, reaching out to grab her shie-

-ld. You suck in a breath of still air, the dead silence of the timestop pressing in all around you, and you grin at Homura.

"I assume this is what you wanted," she says. She's got her hand around your wrist, binding you to her timestop.

"Yeah," you say, smiling back. "First of all, thank you so much for putting up with me and my... everything. Second of all, may I give you a hug?"

Homura shrugs, looking away. You take that as permission and pull her into a proper hug, wrapping your arms around her too-thin shoulders and pulling her into a warm embrace.

"Thank you," you murmur into her ear. "For putting up with me."

"It's no problem," Homura mumbles into your shoulder. She is far too bony, and you definitely need to get her eating at your place more often. If possible, anyway.

You release her a few moments later, beaming.

"Do you think they'll stay to fight Walpurgisnacht?" she asks.

"I don't know for sure," you say, shaking your head. "And I'm not gonna compel them to. But I am going to tell them as much as I can, and ask them. And well... this is their home now, too. Hopefully they'll want to defend it. In the end, though, I wouldn't want someone who didn't want to fight there on the battlefield."

Homura nods, head dipping fractionally. "And if people hear about this, they'll come to Mitakihara."

"That's the idea," you say, grinning easily. "Lots of magical girls means lots of problems, but... I want to help. And at least some of them will stay for Walpurgisnacht."

"I see," Homura says, nodding once more. She seems thoughtful, at least. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Is Nadia Witchbombed, do you know? You must've met her before, right?" you ask.

"She is," Homura confirms.

"Ah, good," you say, relaxing and smiling. "Excellent."

Amethyst eyes flicker to you again, brow creasing faintly, but she doesn't say anything.

"What is it, Homura?" you prompt gently.

"... why do you have Mami's beret?" Homura asks.

"Er," you say, cheeks tinging red. "I thought it would be cute to steal it?"

"... I see," Homura says.

You cough awkwardly, looking away. "Anyway. Do you think you'll have the time to discuss things this afternoon after school? After everything settles down?"

"Yes," Homura says. "Can you cleanse my Soul Gem?"

"Alright, good," you say, beaming. "And I was going to ask if you didn't. I've got my powers for a reason, eh?"

Homura nods, silently lifting her hand to present her Soul Gem. You flick your fingers, beckoning the Grief towards you. There's more of it than you'd expected, but you wipe her Gem clean nonetheless.

"There you go," you say.

"Thank you," Homura murmurs, lowering her hand. "Is there anything else?"

"Nah, that's it," you say. "Shall we?"

"Yes," Homura says, reaching for her shield.

With a shuddering rush, time surges back on, colour and life and noise flooding the world. You grin at Homura one more time as she detransforms, and you trot around the corner to rejoin Mami and Nadia, sliding an arm around Mami's waist.

"So, what's the plan for you?" you ask, addressing the question to Nadia and Homura. "I know Mami's going to rejoin school after lunch. Homura, Nadia?"

The traveller frowns thoughtfully. "I think I will be leaving," she decides. "The world calls, fimti?"

"Spent too long here?" you ask, laughing and motioning towards the elevator. "Well, I'd appreciate a quick word before you left, if you have the time?"

"Of course," Nadia says as the lift arrives and you head up.

You smile softly at Mami and give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Sorry, Mami, I'll have to pop off again for a little bit more."

"No, I understand," Mami says, blushing. "I understand, Sabrina."

"Alright, if you're sure," you say. "I hate to make you wait so much, though."

"I do understand, Sabrina," Mami says softly. She leans against your side, snuggling close.

You make your way to the rooftop by the stairs, and take a few minutes to create a privacy sphere before gesturing Nadia in while Homura and Mami withdraw to a side. She follows obligingly, peering curiously at the hazy world through the sphere.

"This is just to be sure there's no one eavesdropping on us," you explain.

"Ah," Nadia says, eyes narrowing. "I see. What did you want to ask?"

Moment of truth, as it were.

"Well. I'm going to be interacting with magical girls from all around the world soon," you say slowly. You'd thought long and hard about how best to phrase your query. "So I just want to know if there might be any... facts of magical girl life that girls from different places might respond poorly to, so that I can be careful with those subjects."

"There are, mm, facts about Witches that magical girls from all over the world respond poorly to," Nadia says, equally careful.

"Like the origin of Witches?" you ask.

"Ah. Good." Nadia folds her arms. "You know."

"I know," you agree, shoulders sagging. "Good."

Nadia smirks, lopsided and bitter. "It is hard to travel so much and not know."

"Yeah, well," you say, exhaling slowly. "So, in light of that, the Fukushima girls are still valid guards for Anri?"

"Yes," Nadia says, nodding.

"Anything you can tell me about them?" you ask.

"You have met them in Sendai," Nadia says. "I have heard, mm, what happened there. They will do the job, as long as you pay them, fimti? Are you asking they come here, or sending your Clear Seed thief there?"

"I was thinking of sending Anri there," you say. "But really it depends on how negotiations work out."

Nadia shrugs. "As long as you pay."

"No problem there," you say cheerfully. "Anyway, do you know who else in the immediate area knows about the whole Witch thing?"

"I am not very sure," Nadia says, shrugging. "It is a topic I am careful about. You understand. Your Tomoe Mami does not know, correct?"

"Correct," you say. "Homura knows. Mami doesn't, Sayaka doesn't, and I'd like to keep it that way until much later. They don't... they don't need to know."

"Then you know why I am careful," Nadia says, nodding firmly. "Some of Tokyo knows. Not all."

"Oh!" you say, snapping your fingers. "Speaking of Tokyo, I know there's a Taniguchi Emi there. Do you know if there's another Taniguchi? Are they related?"

"Yes," Nadia says, frowning. "Taniguchi Aimi. Not related. It is a common surname?"

"OK, good, I just wanted to confirm," you say. "Anyway... OK, so. Since you know, between you and me, one of the reasons I'm very interested is that I want to work on turning Witches back. One of the reasons I'm hoping to meet up with Riona Mag Aoidh."

Nadia nods, tanned skin a touch pale. "I see," she says. "We know each other knows. Do you have different messages for me to carry?"

[] Nadia
- [] Any specific message?
- [] Any questions?
[] Lunch
- [] Head back home to cook lunch
- [] Get takeout
- [] Invite Homura along
- [] Something else?
[] Shiogama girls
- [] Anything to note?
[] Homura
- [] Anything to tell her?
[] Mami
- [X] Hugs
- [] Any particular conversation?
[] Lunchtime
- [] Conversation topics?
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

Spoiler: Vote in abeyance

[X] Offer Nadia introductions with other Mitakihara groups.

=====​

Next vote should bring you over to lunch with the rest of the gang at Mitakihara Middle School!

 

[Firnagzen]

"Yeah," you say. "I do, actually. Quite a few thoughts."

Nadia watches you carefully, tucking her left hand into her pocket and raising her eyebrows at you.

"Right... right," you say, more to buy time to order your thoughts than anything. "First of all, I... look, I know de-Witching is probably a tricky subject, and I'd appreciate any advice or cautionary tales. But I'm going to say, upfront, that I know it's probably going to be slow going, and I know I'm going to have to be careful with it."

"There have been incidents," Nadia says with a slow, wary nod. "Never... anything so big, so... ambitious? They want to bring back their friend, fimti? They stretch themselves thin. Or..."

Nadia shakes her, grimacing. "There was an incident, two years ago in Estonia. I never saw it, but stories, fimti? I have to protect myself, stay away from unstable areas. A girl captured others for experiments. Others hunted her down for it."

"Yeech," you say, swallowing. "I have no intention of doing anything like that. C'mon, Nadia, I want to help. It's what I'm for."

"That is not what I mean," Nadia says. Her accent thickens when she gets emotional, you notice. "It is a dangerous road."

"Yeah, I know," you say. "I'm not afraid of danger, and... I want to help. I don't want people to fall to despair any more, and I want to save those who have."

Nadia nods slowly.

"Oh, and..." you say. "Do you know if Kyuubey interferes with such attempts? It's... really my biggest worry."

"I do not know. I stay away from girls like that, as I said. It is always the desperate, the crazy," Nadia says, making a searching gesture with her free hand. "It is possible that nothing has to be done to... destabilize the situation, fimti?"

"Well. I'm not desperate," you say, grinning and pointing a finger at her. "Or crazy. Maybe a little brain-damaged."

Nadia laughs, full-throated and loud. "You must be, or why would you be considering this?"

"Well..." You comb your fingers through your hair, tucking that flyaway lock behind your ear again. "Because I want to help. That's all there is to it."

"What makes you think you can?" Nadia asks, dark eyebrows arching once more.

"You mean, beyond having a literal one-of-a-kind power backing me up?" you ask, grinning. "So... the thing about Clear Seeds is that... Hm. Let me start at the top."

"Yes?" Nadia says, intent.

"So. My powers let me control Grief. This lets me do things like the privacy field," you say, gesturing at the sphere surrounding you. Outside of the hazy boundaries, you can see Mami's eyes widen, eyes darting to the Grief sphere before turning amused. Homura looks faintly exasperated.

Huh.

"It's also what lets me empty out Grief from Grief Seeds," you say. "And that's literally all I do - I just suck all the Grief out. A Barrier is made entirely of Grief, and it all collapses down when the Witch dies."

"That makes sense," Nadia agrees, eyes intent on you as she makes a 'go on' little motion with her hand.

"Thing is, I can also sense Grief. It wouldn't make much sense to be able to control it otherwise," you say. "It means I can also sense Witches, even in Grief Seed form. And a full Grief Seed is... they're active, somehow. Despairing, even as Seeds."

Nadia's expressive eyebrows meet in the middle.

"But if I empty a Grief Seed out, they go quiet," you say. "Peaceful, even. I don't understand fully what's happening, but something is. And I'm intending to explore it."

"I... see," Nadia says, nodding slowly. "I agree, you probably have a chance. Should I tell people this?"

"If they're aware of the entire thing with Witches, and if you think it'd help," you say. "I'd trust your judgement there, since you're the one who knows everyone... speaking of." You hold your arms out wide, as if to encompass the world. "Do you think there's anyone I should meet, who might be interested or who can contribute to this?"

"Who are aware of the origins of Witches, not insane, nor desperate, and able to help?" Nadia blinks slowly. "No. I do not know right now. Perhaps Rionna. Perhaps not. Such a combination... It comes rarely. Kyuubey, he manipulates events, fimti? But I will ask around quietly."

"... Yeah," you say. "Yeah, I do get that."

"I will let you know," she says, nodding.

"Right. Thanks," you say, scowling at the floor. "Right... any word on Sendai and Ishinomaki, by the by?"

Nadia shrugs carelessly, spreading her hands. "The conflict has quieted. What do you want to know?"

"No, I mean... do you know how the conflict started up?" you ask.

"Ah," Nadia says, tapping her lower lip with a finger. "I see. There was a girl, in Sendai. Named Kato Setsuko. She was the founder of the current group, with Minami Yumi, Hisakawa Izumi and Tachibana Sakura. Hamasaki Akiko was their friend, but not yet a magical girl... you understand, this is hearsay. I was not there, fimti?"

"Yeah, of course," you say, nodding.

"Yes, good. They are holding the city," Nadia says, gesturing with her hand as if to encircle said city. "Kato Setsuko, she was... generous. She liked to meet other magical girls. An... astral projector, is that the right word? She could cast a spirit form out, but her body was vulnerable, fimti?"

"Yeah, that's correct," you say.

"Mm," Nadia says. "Hisakwa Izumi wanted to farm Familiars. It is letting Familiars go, so they become Witches, fimti? They fight over it, and Hisakawa Izumi is killed in the fighting. Kato Setsuko is... shaken. Hamasaki Akiko becomes a magical girl, but Kato Setsuko leaves the city."

"I know she passes through Mitakihara, to Ishinomaki," you say.

"And there her story ends," Nadia says with a grimace. "I do not know what happened to her. I think she turned into a Witch there, but I do not know for sure. Nobody does."

"Right," you say, swallowing. That... well, you always kind of suspected that. Topic change. "Also... uh, while we're on the topic of Sendai, Mori Rin offered to help mediate between Fukushima and me, if I wanted," you say. "What do you think?"

Nadia cocks her head, giving you an odd look. "That is between you and her," she says. "Miss Mori is a pleasant girl. But I think it would be a slight to not take her offer, fimti? I understand you fought the Fukushima group. It would be good to have a, mm, buffer."

"Yeah, that makes sense," you say, frowning. "Right, thanks."

"Is there anything else?" Nadia asks.

"Nah," you say, and grin with her. "We're gonna make lunch now, though. You're invited, if you want?"

Nadia purses her lips, considering. "Thank you, but no," she says, smiling faintly. "It is tempting, but my feet are itchy."

"Ah," you say, offering your hand to her. "Well, I won't keep you, then. Thank you so, so much for all your help. You've been absolutely invaluable, and I really appreciate it."

"You are welcome," she says, grinning back at you and clasping your hand. "It is, as you say, what I'm for."

"Alright, then," you say, and wave grandly at the sides of your privacy field. The hazy outline dissolves, fresh air from outside sweet and cool.

Mami notices all but immediately, attention snapping to you. She walks over, arms slightly raised in unspoken invitation, one you answer by sweeping her up in your arms.

"Ah... Sabrina?" she mumbles, cuddling into the hug. "You... gave Miss Watanabe and Miss Saito a bit of a scare."

"A scare...?" you say. "A scare- oh." You glance back at where the privacy sphere was. The very Witchy privacy sphere. Formed right on the roof of the Shiogama girls' apartment. That would explain Homura's disapproving stare.

"We reassured them, and told them it was under control," Mami says, burying her face against your shoulder. "No harm done."

"No harm done?" you ask, directing the question to both Mami and Homura.

"No harm done," Homura murmurs. "We explained briefly. They understood."

"Yeaaaah, thanks for that. All of you," you say, wincing. "Would've been a disaster if it weren't for you."

"You have good friends," Nadia observes quietly.

"I really do," you say, shifting into a sidelong hug with Mami. "You're sure you don't want to stay for lunch?"

Nadia shakes her head. "It has been a good experience," she says. "But I hunger to travel, fimti?"

"Ah, you're leaving?" Mami asks, offering her hand. "It's been good to see you."

"Agreed," Nadia says, trading handshakes with Mami. "It has been good to meet all of you. Tell your friend Sayaka, fimti? I am sorry I could not say goodbye." She bows to Homura. "I will carry word of you. All of you. I will be back - and I expect to hear word of what you do!"

"Before you go, Nadia-" you say, raising a finger. "Cleansing?"

"Yes, that would be appreciated," Nadia says, nodding and holding out her Soul Gem.

You grin, and wipe the Grief from her Soul Gem. You take a moment to delve just a little deeper for her Witch name-

Nellie.

You take a breath, and smile at Nadia. "Farewell, Nadia," you say. Unless something goes horribly wrong, this may be the last time you see her for a while. "Take care of yourself, yeah? Safe travels."

"I always do," Nadia says with a smirk. She accepts Homura's murmured goodbye, and turns, waving one last time before sprinting straight up into the air. Headed for the train station, it seems.

You grin, and exhale before turning to your friends. "Alright. Next, lunch, cooking or buying thereof. Do we have time? Also, you're invited, Homura."

"We should have time to cook if we hurry," Mami says.

You speak somewhat fluent Homura-ese, by this point, and you can read the want in the little twitch towards Mami.

"Alright, that's three in favour," you say, grinning and taking Mami's hand. "Let's go home. Also, I need to get out of my pyjamas... hm."

"What is it, Sabrina?" Mami asks as you walk towards the edge of the roof.

"... Homura, I don't quite remember - did you let Sayaka change into a school uniform before bringing her over this morning?" you ask, propping one foot up on the ledge and glancing back at Homura.

"... no," Homura says.

"Oh dear," Mami says, stifling a giggle.

"I'm surprised she hasn't complained at us yet," you say, tensing and leaping for the next roof over.

"Must've figured something out!" Mami calls as she bounds after you.

"Guess so!" you call back, snatching for Mami's beret to ensure it doesn't fly off. And from there it's banter and chatting as you leap over the rooftops of Mitakihara, sailing through the air. It might be more efficient to stick with your Mobile Oppression Fortress, but it's nice to stretch your legs once in a while.

Speaking of the Mobile Oppression Fortress, maybe you should think of a new name for it. The current one is rather... oppressive. It hardly carries the right connotation of your intentions, after all.

You make good time, crossing the city and getting back home. As Mami unlocks the door, you regretfully take Mami's beret off and place it back on her head.

"It looks better on you, anyway," you say with a warm smile, taking your shoes off and following Mami into the apartment. Homura trails behind, a quiet shadow.

"I think you looked quite dashing with the beret!" Mami says, blushing a little.

"Maybe I should get my own," you muse.

"You'd look good with one," Mami says with a firm nod.

"Or maybe a fedora, a big, floppy one," you continue, giving Homura a smile and motioning towards the sofa. "In blue! They could call me Azure Sanfrancisco!"

"... um?" Mami asks, blinking at you as she heads for the bedroom.

"Like Carmen Sandiego!" you say. "Except I steal people's Grief. Muahaha!"

"Oh, Sabrina," Mami says, giving you a fond smile and half shutting the door so she can peek out. "I'll be just a moment. In the meantime, we need to decide what to cook!"

"Cream stew!" you volunteer with a sidelong glance at Homura.

"That's a good idea!" Mami calls, voice muffled by the bedroom door. "Since we can bring it to school fresh and hot! But it can't be the only thing we cook!"

"Yep!" you say. You swap suggestions back and forth as Mami changes, followed by you, before finally deciding on some simple bentos with cream stew as a side dish. Homura seems pleased by this decision, and you insist on making her a lunchbox too.

You join Mami in the kitchen, already starting to heat butter for the roux, and to brown the meat. It'll take the longest of all the things to cook, but...

You glance at Mami. Seeming to read your thoughts, she nods, tipping her head slightly towards the living room. The cream stew might take more effort, but it's worth putting effort into making your friend happy.

Mami swings effortlessly around you to collect mince from the freezer as you start dicing onions, exchanging smiles with her. Cooking's an almost automatic action, and with that in mind, you turn your attention to other matters.

It would be awfully nice to get the Fukushima girls on a permanent retainer. If they accept your Clear Seed, that's their fee paid a million times over, if not a billion times. And that'd keep them out of harms' way for a good long while, too, but the question is if that's even a reasonable thing to ask of them.

Still. No time like the present.

"Hello, Rin?" you ask. "Do you have a moment?"

"Ah, Sabrina?" the healer replies. "What can I do for you?"

"Um... a couple of days ago, you offered to help mediate if I wanted to contact the Fukushima girls," you say, absently adding flour to the roux and stirring. "Does that offer still stand?"

"Of course!" Rin says. "When were you thinking?"

"Well, lemme back up - I'm hoping to acquire their services to help guard a prisoner," you say. "And sooner would be better than later, if possible? I was thinking we could contact them now, and meet face to face after lunch, if it's at all possible? I can provide transport."

"Oh, that's awfully short notice..." Rin says. You can hear the frowning. "It should be doable. And I should be offering you transport!"

"Well, I'm not sure Sakura likes me very much," you say, and start in on the carrots. They won't get properly soft, but you can't do without for the stew. "Does she still call me Witch girl?"

"... I shouldn't say," Rin demurs quickly. "Nevertheless. Shall I put us through?"

"Go for it!" you say, accepting defrosted meat from Mami with a quick smile. You feel the connection snap up moments later.

"Hello, Miss Tsuruya? This is Mori Rin, from Sendai, and Sabrina from Mitakihara. May we have a moment of your time?" Rin asks.

"Miss Mori!" a new voice says, surprisingly chipper and light. "It's good to hear from you. Miss Sabrina... you would be the one who defeated my friends in Sendai, correct?"

"Er, yes," you say. "That would be me."

"Ah, Sabrina, this is Tsuruya Yuki," Rin says. "She's the leader of the Fukushima group."

"I see, I see," Yuki says, tone giving nothing of her thoughts away. "That is, indeed, me. What might you be contacting us for today, then?"

"I'd like to acquire your services," you say. "I need a small group confined humanely, for up to a few months. Currently just one, but possibly more to come."

"Ah!" Yuki says, sounding delighted, if anything. "The old problem of only being able to be in one place at a time, correct? Not all of us can be teleporters or cloners... We can certainly negotiate this. I presume you already have this prisoner and need arrangements made quickly?"

"Yes and yes," you agree, carefully browning the meat while keeping the roux stirred with Grief around the handle of a spoon. "Would sometime after lunch today be possible?"

"Two o'clock?" Yuki counters.

"That's fine by me, if I can impose on Rin for transportation?" you say. A bit tight, by timing. "Rin?"

"Ah... yes, I'll let Sakura know," Rin says.

"Oh, you're in on this too, Miss Mori?" Yuki says, sounding interested. "Fascinating."

"Only as an intermediary," Rin says.

"Oho," Yuki says. "Then yes, two it shall be?"

[] Yuki and Rin
- [] Confirm meeting
- [] Bring up Clear Seeds
[X] Finish cooking lunch
[] Conversation
- [] Mami
-- [] Hats
-- [] Naming the Mobile Oppression Fortress
-- [] Something else?
- [] Homura
-- [] Eating properly
-- [] Something else?
[] Lunch
- [] Write-in conversation topics
[] Head off to meet the Fukushima girls
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

Lunch should finish up in just the one update!

 

[Firnagzen]

"Alrighty," you say, giving Mami a quick smile as she hands you chopped onions, almost before you need them. "Two o'clock for the meeting sounds good to me."

"I'll arrange the meeting place in Mitakihara later," Rin says.

"Alright, thanks, Rin," you say.

"One item of business," Yuki says, cutting in smoothly. "Since you were referred to us by Miss Mori, I assume you know our pricing?"

"I... don't, actually. Well, I remember you being paid twenty Grief Seeds for your... escapades in Sendai," you say, trying to keep your voice even despite the memory of the complete and utter mess that was. "But I don't know your price for keeping prisoners. Do you have a standardized one?"

"... we don't," Yuki admits after a pause. "Acting as wardens is atypical as far as our jobs go. The specifics we can negotiate, but I consider it a point to warn any potential employers that we don't sell our services cheap."

"Right," you say, beaming appreciatively at Mami as she joins you at the stove, frying some beef to perfect, savoury fragrance. You don't even bump into her elbow even though you're working side-by-side. "Well, have you heard about me yet?"

"Some very interesting things," Yuki admits.

"Among other things, I want to negotiate payment with a Clear Seed, if you've heard of that," you say. "It's... well, it's a regular Grief Seed with the Grief emptied out, and so lasts much, much longer. I'd be happy to go over the details in person later?"

"Interesting," Yuki says. "Yes, an in-person demonstration and discussion would be great."

"Alright. See you soon, then," you say. "Rin, just one thing before we're done here - I'm currently carrying a lot of Grief. Do you think Sakura will have problems with that?"

"Problems yes, problems... probably not," Rin says, voice dry. "I'll let her know."

"Alright. Thank you for all your help, and see you soon," you say, nodding faintly to yourself as you finally start simmering the stew. It'll be cutting it close, but it'll be done just in time, you think. "And thank you for hearing me out, Miss Tsuruya!"

"Hardly a bother," Yuki says.

"I will be there," Rin says, and disconnects.

"Went well?" Mami murmurs from beside you.

"Yeah," you say. You're not even going to bother asking how she knows you were on telepathy. "Gonna meet with the Fukushima girls to arrange something for Anri at about two, and be back in time to meet you after school."

Mami's silent for a moment before nodding and smiling softly at you. "OK," she whispers. "I'll be waiting for you."

"And I have your ribbon," you say, lifting your wrist so that your ribbon-turned-bracelet glints at her. "Anywhere, anytime."

Mami nods. Her blush is adorable, and you bump your shoulder against hers gently. Mami can keep an eye on the stew without you, so that means you go to the fridge to retrieve ingredients for a salad, and take a moment to update Oriko.

"Oriko, Kirika?" you say.

"Hello, Sabrina." Oriko responds nearly instantly.

"Heya," you say. "Just updating you - gonna be talking to the Fukushima girls at two. I'll come grab Anri as soon as possible. And I'll be talking to Homura and Sayaka after school today, alright?"

"Yay!" Kirika cheers.

"Very well. The update is appreciated. And..." Oriko hesitates. "Thank you, Sabrina."

"Nah. Thank you for all the work you've put in," you say. "And thank you for listening back then."

"You are welcome," Oriko says.

You start shredding lettuce, contemplative for a moment. "Well. Talk to you soon, hopefully with good news!"

"Later!" Kirika chirps.

"Goodbye," Oriko says, and ends the connection.

You hum quietly as you start to assemble the lunchboxes, rice fresh out of the cooker, beef from Mami's stir fry, the stew in its own box... Olive oil vinaigrette with the salad, you decide. Quick and simple, and you have good balsamic vinegar to go with it. You grab a few tomatoes and slice them up.

You sense Homura approaching the kitchen, apparently drawn by the smell of your cooking. "Hey, Homura!"

"... hello," she murmurs, trying and failing to lurk inconspicuously at the threshold to the kitchen. The inconspicuous part, that is. She's lurking successfully, insofar as standing awkwardly counts as lurking.

"You can come in if you'd like," Mami says, looking up from the stove with a smile. "We'll be done soon!"

"All thanks to Mami, of course," you say with a fond smile for her. "But yeah, you don't have to just haunt the door, Homura."

The time traveller takes a tentative step, approaching the counter so that she can lean against it. You grin approvingly, flicking a slice of tomato at her. She snatches it out of the air, inspecting it before popping it into her mouth.

"Mami figured out a really cool new technique today," you note. "Well, kind of a combo technique?"

Mami tilts her head inquisitively at you, still watching the stove carefully to ensure nothing burns.

"The ribbon grid," you tell her, and smile at Homura. As much as anything else, this'll help set her mind at ease, you hope. "One of my limitations is my short range, right? But Mami doesn't have any such problems, because she's awesome."

Homura gives you a look, indicating that you should continue.

"So Mami spreads her ribbons, invisibly, across a good quarter of the city," you continue, tossing the salad. Just to show off, you flip it extra hard, catching the flying vegetables out of the air with Grief. "And she lets me channel my magic through the ribbons to extend my range, tracking the city down."

"I see," Homura says, glancing at the display for a second before returning her attention to the stove.

"Mami's awesome," you say, grinning at Homura as you start to fill the lunchboxes. "And now we have a reliable way of tracking people halfway across the city rather than combing it street by street. And honestly, other magical effects! I think."

"You make a good team," Homura says, voice quiet.

"We do," you say, catching Mami's eye and beaming at her.

"We're nearly done," Mami says, blushing and ducking her head. "The stew will go in its own container, right?"

"Lunchboxes are done, and yeah - I'll carry it to school," you say. "I can make sure it doesn't spill!"

Mami smiles at you, and then Homura, pursing her lips thoughtfully. She ladles some of the cream stew into a saucer and handing it to Homura.

"Just a taster," she says, smiling.

You stifle your giggle as Homura guzzles the stew up in an instant. You hand Mami a plastic container, and put the finishing touches on the lunchboxes. "All done!"

"I'm done too," Mami says, glancing at the dishes, and then the time. "Ah..."

"We can come back for the dishes later," you say, smiling softly. "Leave them in the sink to soak?"

"Alright," Mami says, with a relieved smile.

Before long, you're headed out by the rooftops, the lunchboxes and container full of stew packed in a careful, tightly wrapped Grief box that sails through the air beside you like a tiny Mobile Oppression Fortress, dead level and steady.

Speaking of which...

"Hey Mami," you call over the wind. "Homura! Do you have any suggestions for a name for my, ah-" land, tuck, and sprint "-flight disc? I've been mentally calling it the Mobile Oppression Fortress-" coil and jump "-but that's not really a good name. I don't oppress people on a regular basis. Or even very often. It's false advertising!"

Mami laughs, the sound carrying across the rooftop.

"I'll think about it!" she calls cheerfully, hefting her schoolbag on her shoulder.

"Maybe the Arthra?" you ask, grinning back at her as you pop up from a landing.

"But Prima Luce is a perfectly good name!" Mami says.

"I'm sure I could come up with something else for the Arc-en-Ciel," you counter, laughing.

"It's an option!" Mami calls back. "But copying someone else's name isn't as good, you know?"

"True, true," you agree. "So... I was also thinking about-" pivot on a foot to swing around a vent "-trying to make a pocket chibi of myself. Non-Witchy!"

"Um?" Mami says.

"Well, I could give one to you!" you say, grinning and pushing off the roof for the next one, pitching your arms out for balance as you sail through the air. "And go to school with you! Maybe keep one with my Soul Gem just in case, that kind of thing."

"I'd like that," Mami says, beaming. "Maybe I could try making a smaller chibi for you?"

"Nah, if anything, I should be trying to-" shoulder roll to bleed momentum and take off into a sprint "-help you make a full sized clone! And Homura!"

The time traveller glances at you, midnight-black hair streaming in the wind.

"You should trying making clones, too!" you say.

"My magic is not well suited for it," she mutters, almost inaudible over the speed of your roofhop.

"Doesn't mean you can't try!" you say, grinning cheerfully.

You banter back and forth, trying to convince Homura to make a chibi-her. Mami's more than amused with the notion, offering to pitch in too, and you make it to the school in record time, landing on the roof. You make a beeline for the bench, carefully setting out the cooked lunch - and sure enough, the schoolbell rings moments later.

The chatter of happy teenagers fills the building, bubbling up from below. You can sense a virtually dizzying array of movement in the building beneath you, Grief fog giving you a perfect, three dimensional map. And there's Sayaka, so the two moving with her would be Madoka and Hitomi.

"Heya!" Sayaka says, bounding up the staircase, Hitomi and Madoka a step behind.

"Aw, you're in your school uniform," you say, grinning. Not even a magically conjured school uniform such as might have been taken from a clone, either. "Hey Madoka, hey Hitomi."

"Mm?" Sayaka asks, blinking. "Oh, no- well, my clone had to get dressed too, so I just took the uniform off her. Why do yo- wait." Her eyes narrow at you, and then Mami.

"No comment," you say. "Also, we cooked to share~!"

"Oh!" Madoka says, brightening as she approaches. "Thank you, Mami, Sabrina! Your cooking is amazing."

"Ah, it's nothing," Mami says. "And Sabrina di-"

"Nope!" you say, cheerfully and wrapping an arm around Mami. "I helped. But it's Mami's cooking."

Madoka giggles, and you all settle on the benches, enjoying the warm sunshine. You pop open the tub of cream stew, floating it in the middle of your little group.

"Ohhh," Madoka says, leaning forward eagerly. "Cream stew!"

"I remember you enjoyed this," Mami says with a warm smile. "Homura, too. Enjoy, everyone!"

You all dig in with gusto, Mami leaning against your side and happily scarfing up her lunch.

"By the way, Hitomi," you say, smiling at your friend. "Thank you so much for coming through on the apartment, on such short notice. The Shiogama girls loved it."

"It wasn't a problem," Hitomi says, returning your smile. "Shiogama..."

"Ah, yes, they were formerly from Shiogama," you explain, and grin sheepishly. "Also, thanks for letting the manager know that, y'know, I'd probably be paying by cash."

"Not a problem," Hitomi says, nodding. "I thought it might ease issues a bit."

"Ugh, I can only imagine," you say with a wince. "I mean, it is stolen yakuza money."

Hitomi shakes her head slowly. "Only you."

"Only Sabrina," Sayaka agrees, waving her chopsticks at you.

"Hey, I resent that," you say, mock-glaring at everyone. "Mami, I'm not that bad, am I?"

Mami shakes her head, looking mournful. "You are that bad, Sabrina," she says sadly, and tucks her head against your shoulder. "But I like you just the way you are."

You beam at her. "Well. I can live with that."

"Oh my god," Sayaka says, and covers Hitomi's eyes. "Madoka! Cover Homura's eyes lest she be scarred for life!"

"Too late for me," Homura mutters.

"Right, you heard her, save yourself, Madoka!" Sayaka declares.

Mami laughs, smiling at your friends.

"What happened today, Mami, Sabrina?" Madoka asks, looking between the two of you. "And Sayaka? You weren't properly in school, right?"

"Ahh..." you glance at Mami. "So you know Mami's old student came over, right? You met her, Kazumi."

Madoka nods happily.

"In the middle of the night, their friends back home were robbed," you explain.

"That's horrible!" Madoka says, eyes going wide.

"So naturally, we had to go hunt down the perpetrators!" Sayaka says, grinning and clenching her fist.

"Especially since they stole a Clear Seed that Sabrina had gifted to the Pleiades Saints," Mami says gravely.

"We'd have gone anyway," you say. "Because what else am I here for, if not to help?"

Madoka nods vigorously, twintails bouncing.

"So we packed up and went, Mami, Sayaka, Kazumi and her friends, and me," you say. "We flew to Asunaro as fast as we could..."

You regale them with the story, with helpful additions from Mami and Sayaka. And you take care to praise them as much as you can, too, because let's face it - both of them more than pulled their own weight there in Asunaro. And you're proud of them.

"... oh, and I almost forgot the most important part of the story! I stole Mami's beret," you say with a firm nod.

Madoka fakes a look of utter shock. "No!"

"She really did," Sayaka says.

"That's horrible!" Madoka says. "You don't just steal someone's hat!"

"I know," you say, hanging your head. "Mami just looks so good, I tried to capture some of that radiance for myself."

"Get your own hat!" Madoka scolds.

"If you wanted one, I would fully support your endeavours to get one, Sabrina," Mami says keeping a lofty tone despite the rosy blush on her cheeks. "But you look fantastic with or without a hat."

You beam at her. "Well, as I was saying earlier, I was thinking about a fedora. Big enough to have a floppy brim, like way out to here-" you gesture a wide circle around your head for emphasis "-and blue, of course. People could call me Azure Sanfrancisco!"

Silence.

Very slowly, Sayaka puts her hand to her face and groans.

"... I don't get it," Hitomi admits.

"Yes, you do," Sayaka says. "Carmen Sandiego? I know we made you watch it with us."

"Carmen..." Hitomi's eyes light up in understanding. "Oooh."

You laugh, and let the conversation lapse into silliness as lunch winds to a close. Eventually, though, it's time to go. You bid your friends goodbye, Madoka and Sayaka and Hitomi heading off back to classes - but not Mami and Homura. Not yet.

"We need to go in through the front door," Homura notes.

"Otherwise they'll wonder how we got in," Mami agrees.

"... you know," you muse. "You know how Mami and I and Sayaka rolled right out of bed and haven't had the opportunity to change out of our pajamas..."

Mami blinks at you, and then stares at Homura.

"My powers," Homura says, bland and unruffled.

"Oh. Dangit," you say. "That's cheating."

Mami giggles, patting your arm fondly. "Shall we?"

And so you do, hopping off to the next building over and emerging from the alley. You loop your arm with Mami's as you walk up to the school gates.

"I'll see you later, Mami," you say, giving her a soft smile, and raise your left hand where the ribbon band glints. "Don't forget!"

"Alright," Mami says, burrowing into your arms and hugging you tight before releasing you.

You watch as Mami and Homura head in, trading a nod with the truancy officer before heading off. Doesn't he ever take breaks? It seems like he's always there when you show up.

But for now...

You glance up at the sun. It's a little earlier than your designated pickup time from Rin and Sakura, so you decide to head home and do the dishes - you've got the lunchboxes with you, anyway.

And so you head home. It's a little emptier, a little less warm without Mami there, but still, it's home. You hum as you do the dishes, swaying to the tune and setting everything neatly on the drying rack.

"Hello, Sabrina?" Rin's voice asks.

"Hey, Rin!" you say. "Good timing!"

"Where shall we meet you?" she asks.

"Where should I meet you?" you counter. "At your convenience."

"At the really tall DBJ building?" Rin suggests. "I know that Sakura's used it as a teleport point before."

"Works for me. I'll see you there!" you say, smiling to yourself. You check the apartment again before heading out. Off to meet some new magical girls!

[] Rin and Sakura
- [] Ask about events in Sendai
- [] Ask about the University Group
- [] Ask about Akiko
- [] Something else?
[] Fukushima girls
- [] How do you present yourself?
- [] What points do you want to hit for initial negotiations?
-- [] Clear Seed payment
-- [] Conditions
-- [] Antimagic provided
[] Write-in (word count limit: 150 words)

=====​

You'll be meeting with just Yuki, right off the bat, and the rest of the Fukushima girls later.