So, considering Maiko is likely to agree even if she isn't emotionally able to work with Konno, I had an idea. (It kinda depends on how Konno's magic works, i. e. can she find out information when she doesn't have very many details?)
If Maiko gives us the okay for bringing Konno into the infogroup, our first and immediate question for Konno should be if Kisaragi's friends that are part of our group are actually able to work with Konno and be emotionally okay.
Then make it clear that this is just the audition for getting into the infogroup itself, and if Konno reveals that they can't, she'll simply be supported but left on the outskirts of the organization as a whole, possibly with some longterm but useful task so she can be useful.
(This is what Maiko's veto would probably end up looking like in my books)
(Until the others have time to work through the emotions and accept her presence) (hey, we could have her investigate Kisaragi's murder as a bonus objective/path back into the organization, (although, most of the bracketed stuff, we would tell her at a later date/when it happens).
(We would also want to say this in a way that isn't malicious against Maiko/as if we don't trust her, but more that we've noticed she's willing to give so much to help us, but even sometimes when we don't need it, and that we care about her a lot and that her wellbeing (and that of all of our subordinates) matters to us quite a lot.)
(This lets us prove very visibly to Maiko that we don't just value her for the choice she would make, but for her. Her spoken answer doesn't really matter except as it pertains to the true answer, and we won't accept anything but what is actually healthy for her).
(We should also watch for her to realize what's up/get some quick help monitoring her train of thought/reactions, because:
Once Konno gives us the answer, we check with Maiko if it's correct. Because we also need to know if Konno is willing to be loyal to us, even to her own short term detriment. And Maiko would not allow someone into the group who lied to us for their own gain just so she could cover her own willingness to hurt herself for our gain.
So now, if she isn't able to work with Konno, and Konno says she is able to, Maiko really wants to say so, and we know we can't trust Konno. Truthful twofer, answer bargain, get one and get a second one free.
Conversely, if Konno says they aren't able to, we know Konno is willing to put herself aside and at least aim for long term gains, and maybe even for the good of the group. (and we know that once they are okay with it, we can trust Konno)
Then it becomes a question of if it's Maiko or Koharu's big sister who aren't able to work with her (or both) (we could maybe just ask about Maiko, but we really need both to okay it, and just her would possibly feel meaner and more targeted, so idk).
Or both insist they can live with it, and Konno is just lying for . . . Some reason? Both of them are really unaware of their feelings? Idk.
Maiko now has no incentive to bury her own emotions to get us a powerful info-meguca, and can be clear about her feelings. If she's still okay with it, we have verification, and we just have to talk to the big sister and/or be confused.
Of course, all that's just layer one.
If Konno thinks about this for half a second and realises how much Maiko is willing to sacrifice for us, she would also realise that any lying would immediately be revealed by Maiko.
(If we can obfuscate how close we are to Kisaragi's friends, that might make it a bit more solid, assuming she doesn't know why her contact with the killers is such a problem in detail.)
Meaning, this is a test of loyalty if she doesn't think it through, but if she does, it's a message, a challenge, and a question. Something like "yes, I can be tricky when I need to, and I care about my friends a lot, so don't mess with me, but are you willing, and do you think you're good enough, to work with me honestly and well and reap the enormous benefits of my genuine friendship."
Then we watch how she reacts. If she goes straight through and answers, either she's good enough to hide her reaction from us, or she didn't notice. This gives us the most black and white answer.
If she reacts, and is worried or put off by the test/message/challenge, we know to maybe not trust her completely yet, and work on giving her incentives to care and stay with us, but at least she is analytical enough to figure that out.
If she reacts, positively to the challenge, confidently or thoughtfully to the test, or happily to the message, we know we can trust her at least a good amount.
And following that last reaction, if her answer is they're okay working with her, and Maiko and the big sis agree, then she's good and in.
So I'm not sure how well this idea would actually work, if it's a bit too insensitive, and if Konno would react to it right, or if some unknown factor might mess up the test, or even if Konno's magic doesn't work well enough for it, or if it gives her too much info somehow or what?
Basically, anyone see any glaring flaws? Ways to improve this? Thoughts? Do I have the social grace and intelligence of a lemming?
I'll put a write in vote for this if anyone wants to add it:
[X] Be gentle, but press Maiko for a yes or no. You trust her and refuse to drive a wedge between the two of you by ignoring her feelings, but don't want to leave things unresolved with the Adachi group.
- [X] Make it clear that you'd rather continue with the agreement, but are offering Maiko a
standing veto if she feels it's necessary
- - [X] Test Konno by testing Maiko's answer. Nicely, and with full confidence Konno will pass and Maiko will, at worst, be accused of caring about you too much, the monster. Make it clear that no matter what, you'll still help Konno and keep her safe in your new magical girl utopia.
- - - [X] Mention to Maiko and Konno your idea for her to help find out more about who killed Kisaragi. As both a lead, and an investigator.
[] Maiko needs some down time. Make her slack off and do something fun and uplifting. Don't take no for an answer.
[X] Swing by Rio, Fuuka, and Kiyomi's house to hand off the Grief Seeds you owe them.
- [X] Let them know you're on your way.
[X] You still have new magical girls to track down, get back to that.
- [X] Track down the calligraphy girl from last night
After we finish this meeting, we don't really need Maiko's help, and it would be good to have her find something healthy we can push her into doing. We should see if we can get her to come up with stuff she enjoys. Or maybe, if she and the big sister are good friends, I don't remember, we could get her to hang out with her by asking her to talk to the big sister about Konno working with the team. If that wouldn't just remind them of bad stuff? Idk, someone else probably has a better idea.
Then, we really gotta drop off the seeds. Those are the basis for our whole system, we can't have a history of being slow with those. Plus it should hopefully just be a quick run in, drop off, and run off. We can even keep half an eye out for things to investigate later for the next part if we're passing through the right area.
We do need to find the other magical girls because time is indeed dead kids. However, paint girl was going silly with her magic from what I remember, and we are already aware of her presence, giving us a starting point and a connection to care about. We need to find her first. We can also see about grabbing a quick witch or two, assuming it isn't too powerful(/doesn't turn into a vote) and is convenient.
We should also make some plans to make some standard jobs/services for people. We don't really have enough time to search for new girls, or hand out grief seeds, or hunt enough for everyone, or any of the 100 other things that need doing, and we'll have even less as time goes on. We need to come up with some quick structures that each MG in our territory can rely on and use without our constant input.
Mostly, I'm thinking have girls know who to call to be directed towards witches, and have a person or two whose job it is to run around and hand out grief seeds/gossip. Gotta get a sense of community going, and girls relying on each other is the fastest way to build those bonds. (Second fastest is have group events, fun meetings, and stuff like that. Make this into an institution).
I don't know about everyone else, but parts like this are some of my favorite in the quest.
Tbh same. I'm all here for cute and silly protag being competent in political situations and surprising everyone who doesn't know her well enough, and some that do, all while being really funny and a pure-hearted breath of fresh air against the bleakness and cruelty.
