[x] Answer her. That's a good part of it. Yes. [x] Why? The short answer is Homura cares for Madoka very much and is doing the best she can to keep her safe. [x] The long answer is complicated and involves things I can't tell you and aren't mine to tell. I was hoping one day she'd tell you herself. [x] Homura has her reasons. They are good ones and they'll make complete sense to you once you have the context but only then. [x] Sayaka? Be patient with her okay? Things are hard for her.
[X] Pause flight, turn windows opaque. It's not a privacy field, but it's the next best thing.
[X] Intent: Establish that this topic is kept secret to protect Homura from emotional damage, and involves other secrets too.
[X] Tone: Frustrated with your inability to act and fix things, sympathetic to Sayaka's right to ask (it's her best friend who is the target of this, after all), and sombre empathy for Homura's reasons for keeping quiet.
[X] "Goddess, I would love to be able to talk about it, but it would be a breach of Homura's trust, and it's hard enough for her to be able to trust me -- trust anyone -- as it is. She's been burned by opening up to people before, and been called a liar and a traitor because of it. Even more, talking about this would get into some really painful, traumatic stuff for Homura, so I don't feel right trying to pressure her into talking about it. I've been talking to her about all of it, trying to help, but there's only so much that talking can do when dealing with years of trauma."
-[X] "It would also mean getting into that other secret, the one that's bad enough that if Chiyoda is using memory magic toward it... I don't approve, but I can understand someone using it on enemies, allies, and friends."
[X] Basically everything of Homura's past is a no-go, although you wish it wasn't.
-[X] You've seen the same things she has. They make sense, given context... You can't tell her what to think, but this isn't something you'd worry about.
[X] On a separate note... You can understand Chiyoda's actions, given certain assumptions. Enough that you're not massively upset with her.
[X] It's one of those things that's not mine to tell.
[X] I'd tell you to ask Homura about it, but she's probably not ready. It's difficult for her to talk about it even with me, but I am watching out for Homura, and Madoka too.
[X] Do let me know if you think Homura's behavior is troubling Madoka, you know her better than I do.
[X] Sayaka did notice
-[X] How does she think Madoka feels about that?
-[X] Is she aware what sort of answer she is asking for?
-[X] Would she leave it to us to schedule a time for her to ask Homura?
-[X] We want to help them during a complicated conversation that might result.
-[X] We can't speak for Homura, but we can vouch for her.
--[X] By the Goddess.
[X] Consider Chinese IRC contact with Sayaka
[X] Enchant some Grief
[X] Your mostly right?
-[X] Homura would fret terribly and be unhappy yes, and that's not far from my mind...
-[X] But it also IS really dangerous. You said so yourself "casually superhuman".
-[X] So what exactly have you noticed?
-[X] Because there is honestly too much it could be.
[x] Homura would murder you if she ever heard you telling anyone about her past, so you're afraid you can't tell Sayaka anything other than that the situation is as close to being under control as it's possible for anything related to this colossal clusterfuck to be. Her reasons are as good as anyone's, though, you suppose, so Sayaka should just keep in mind that everyone you're willing to put up with is a Good Person and that everything should make sense eventually.
[X] Answer - [X] Goddess, I wish I could talk about it. But it isn't my story to tell. Homura, well, you know how private she is about herself. Talking to you about any of that, revealing anything, no matter how little... It would be a breach of her trust. I'm sorry. All I can say is she has her reasons for the things she does, how she acts, everything. Looking out for Madoka, well, she has reasons for that too. I hope she'll be able to tell you them herself, eventually. {Vaguely This, I'll Let The Thread Threadpilot. Or Sabrina. Or Firn.} [X] If there's time left before school ends, go to a library and contact the Japanese meguca IRC. Standard greeting protocols. -[X] Sayaka's clone can join the important outreach/shitposting if she wants.
