Puella Magi - Memento Mori (PMMM quest)
Chapter 2 - Travelling the Silk Road 10
DrZiztah
Mumu
- Location
- Europa
[x] Heed Kishi and stay here.
-[x] Maintain hugs.
-[x] Talk with your friends.
--[x] I don't know. I can kinda understand it... I know magical girls can be dangerous. But at the same time, some of the best friends I ever had were magical girls. I never would have met Kishi or Ariane if I didn't take that chance. And they are such wonderful friends. I could never regret that. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. So maybe... just maybe that girl is another Kishi or another Ariane or maybe she's a girl that wants friends just as much as I do. Maybe she isn't. But maybe she is. But nothing is going to happen if I don't take that chance.
You keep staring at the departing girl for a few seconds, conflicted whether to follow after her or just stay here. You have seen a similar tired look before. It has welcomed you in your apartment, cast upon the mirror on the wall, where you would seek a reassurance that you can still smile after everything.
But at the same time, this sort of thing is what causes Kishi to hurt. She has shared her worries with you, how she is afraid of something happening to you when you're being reckless. You don't know the girl, you don't know how she would react to you. You've been repeatedly told many Magical Girls aren't as nice as those you live with.
And the way your first friend keeps clinging to you serves only to remind you of that. So you force yourself to avert your gaze and hug Kishi even tighter. Your friends are hurting right next to you, can you really leave them like that?
You sigh and press your chin against the top of Kishi's head. "I don't know. I can kind of understand it… I know Magical Girls can be dangerous, and-" you begin, only to get interrupted by your friends before you can continue.
"Huh? I don't think she looked very dangerous at all!" Ariane exclaims in confusion, throwing the girl a look as she closes the door to the tea shop behind her. Just as soon does her gaze return to focus on the girl in your arms. "Also, um… Kishi? Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah, I-I'll be fine…" she whispers out from under you, heaving out a relieved sigh as the strange Magical Girl's back disappears from view. "I-it's just that… M-Magical Girls are often very dangerous and hostile to others. T-they won't hesitate to h-hurt girls they find where they hunt witches. O-or even worse... W-what I'm saying is that we're trespassers here, w-we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves."
You notice that Evelyn seems like she might have something to say that she chooses to let it be. Ariane on her part keeps staring, with Mariko throwing in a curious gaze as well. "That's just... terrible," Ariane mutters, noticeably struggling to find anything else to say. "I just can't believe something like that of the girl there."
She probably realizes Kishi must be speaking from experience and doesn't want to push it.
"Yeah, as I said, even I know that other Girls can be dangerous," you manage to push in to continue. "But at the same time, some of the best friends I ever have had are Magical Girls. I… I never would have met you, Kishi, Ariane, had I not taken the chance! And you are such wonderful friends."
Kishi starts wiggling uncomfortably under your grasp, and you relent slightly to let her adjust. Her eyes seem to be drawn to you, fearfully curious as to what you have to say. "I could never regret taking the chance. I wouldn't trade it anything in the world. So maybe… just maybe that girl is another Kishi, or another Ariane… Or maybe she's a girl that wants friends just as much as I do."
You shrug and smile at your friends. "Maybe she isn't. But maybe she is? Nothing is going to happen if I don't take that chance, though."
You give another look at Kishi. Her face is cast down, and you can't see her eyes from behind her falling red bangs. She's still, and biting down on her lips hard. But she stays quiet.
"...From what I gather, the girl not being like that comes with the added risk of getting maimed if you're wrong," Mariko says it first, frowning at the thought. "Then again, she's gone now. So uh... What now?"
She's trying to pivot...
What do you do?
[] Keep talking with your friends and pivot the conversation elsewhere.
[] It's probably time for you to leave home too. Ask Ariane to call her aide.
[] Write-in.
===
Guilt-tripping is a... thing, I suppose?
-[x] Maintain hugs.
-[x] Talk with your friends.
--[x] I don't know. I can kinda understand it... I know magical girls can be dangerous. But at the same time, some of the best friends I ever had were magical girls. I never would have met Kishi or Ariane if I didn't take that chance. And they are such wonderful friends. I could never regret that. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. So maybe... just maybe that girl is another Kishi or another Ariane or maybe she's a girl that wants friends just as much as I do. Maybe she isn't. But maybe she is. But nothing is going to happen if I don't take that chance.
You keep staring at the departing girl for a few seconds, conflicted whether to follow after her or just stay here. You have seen a similar tired look before. It has welcomed you in your apartment, cast upon the mirror on the wall, where you would seek a reassurance that you can still smile after everything.
But at the same time, this sort of thing is what causes Kishi to hurt. She has shared her worries with you, how she is afraid of something happening to you when you're being reckless. You don't know the girl, you don't know how she would react to you. You've been repeatedly told many Magical Girls aren't as nice as those you live with.
And the way your first friend keeps clinging to you serves only to remind you of that. So you force yourself to avert your gaze and hug Kishi even tighter. Your friends are hurting right next to you, can you really leave them like that?
You sigh and press your chin against the top of Kishi's head. "I don't know. I can kind of understand it… I know Magical Girls can be dangerous, and-" you begin, only to get interrupted by your friends before you can continue.
"Huh? I don't think she looked very dangerous at all!" Ariane exclaims in confusion, throwing the girl a look as she closes the door to the tea shop behind her. Just as soon does her gaze return to focus on the girl in your arms. "Also, um… Kishi? Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah, I-I'll be fine…" she whispers out from under you, heaving out a relieved sigh as the strange Magical Girl's back disappears from view. "I-it's just that… M-Magical Girls are often very dangerous and hostile to others. T-they won't hesitate to h-hurt girls they find where they hunt witches. O-or even worse... W-what I'm saying is that we're trespassers here, w-we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves."
You notice that Evelyn seems like she might have something to say that she chooses to let it be. Ariane on her part keeps staring, with Mariko throwing in a curious gaze as well. "That's just... terrible," Ariane mutters, noticeably struggling to find anything else to say. "I just can't believe something like that of the girl there."
She probably realizes Kishi must be speaking from experience and doesn't want to push it.
"Yeah, as I said, even I know that other Girls can be dangerous," you manage to push in to continue. "But at the same time, some of the best friends I ever have had are Magical Girls. I… I never would have met you, Kishi, Ariane, had I not taken the chance! And you are such wonderful friends."
Kishi starts wiggling uncomfortably under your grasp, and you relent slightly to let her adjust. Her eyes seem to be drawn to you, fearfully curious as to what you have to say. "I could never regret taking the chance. I wouldn't trade it anything in the world. So maybe… just maybe that girl is another Kishi, or another Ariane… Or maybe she's a girl that wants friends just as much as I do."
You shrug and smile at your friends. "Maybe she isn't. But maybe she is? Nothing is going to happen if I don't take that chance, though."
You give another look at Kishi. Her face is cast down, and you can't see her eyes from behind her falling red bangs. She's still, and biting down on her lips hard. But she stays quiet.
"...From what I gather, the girl not being like that comes with the added risk of getting maimed if you're wrong," Mariko says it first, frowning at the thought. "Then again, she's gone now. So uh... What now?"
She's trying to pivot...
What do you do?
[] Keep talking with your friends and pivot the conversation elsewhere.
[] It's probably time for you to leave home too. Ask Ariane to call her aide.
[] Write-in.
===
Guilt-tripping is a... thing, I suppose?
[X] Keep talking with your friends and pivot the conversation elsewhere.
-[X] Sorry I have to do this, I see that face every time on the mirror back then....
--[X] Its best I talk to her myself since having others around would alarm her, so please keep talking together and I doubt she would attack in daylight.
[X] Run after her
--[X] Hey! do you want to be friend (Tamiko spaghetti) I'm a magical girl! Sorry!
Would this do? It opens up a second chance.
-[X] Sorry I have to do this, I see that face every time on the mirror back then....
--[X] Its best I talk to her myself since having others around would alarm her, so please keep talking together and I doubt she would attack in daylight.
[X] Run after her
--[X] Hey! do you want to be friend (Tamiko spaghetti) I'm a magical girl! Sorry!
Would this do? It opens up a second chance.
Muramasa
Best Girl
[x] It's probably time for you to leave home too. Ask Ariane to call her aide.
[x] Telepathy Kishi. Apologize. You know you're being reckless again. What if I'm wrong? I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It is a big deal. It's not something I can just ignore. I think... no I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there. There have to be. It's not in me to just leave them be. But I should be better prepared to deal with it, if things go wrong. Ugh. This is hard. Why is the magical world like this? Shouldn't we be banding together? The witches are dangerous enough as is.
[x] Telepathy Kishi. Apologize. You know you're being reckless again. What if I'm wrong? I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It is a big deal. It's not something I can just ignore. I think... no I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there. There have to be. It's not in me to just leave them be. But I should be better prepared to deal with it, if things go wrong. Ugh. This is hard. Why is the magical world like this? Shouldn't we be banding together? The witches are dangerous enough as is.
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
[x] It's probably time for you to leave home too. Ask Ariane to call her aide.
[x] Telepathy Kishi. Apologize. You know you're being reckless again. What if I'm wrong? I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It is a big deal. It's not something I can just ignore. I think... no I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there. There have to be. It's not in me to just leave them be. But I should be better prepared to deal with it, if things go wrong. Ugh. This is hard. Why is the magical world like this? Shouldn't we be banding together? The witches are dangerous enough as is.
[x] Telepathy Kishi. Apologize. You know you're being reckless again. What if I'm wrong? I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It is a big deal. It's not something I can just ignore. I think... no I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there. There have to be. It's not in me to just leave them be. But I should be better prepared to deal with it, if things go wrong. Ugh. This is hard. Why is the magical world like this? Shouldn't we be banding together? The witches are dangerous enough as is.
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
Pretty sure Kishi will be too busy being happy that there's someone else who looks just like Tamiko. (I don't actually remember if they're identical twins, but the laws of comedy suggest so)
LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
Nah. Moebot's gonna short-circuit because of '2 Tamiko! Yay!
' and 'New Guca Bad! '.Then, we're going to have to find a mechanic to fix the moebot.
Nervos Belli
Don't think this means you've won!
- Location
- Murica
Nah. Moebot's gonna short-circuit because of '2 Tamiko! Yay!
Then, we're going to have to find a mechanic to fix the moebot.
There's a percussive maintenance joke to be made somewhere.
- Location
- Ural, Russia, Earth
It's a middle of January right now. We have about 2.5 months before canon begins.
I want to spend at least 1.5 months on:
1) training
2) lich- and witch-bombing
3) dealing with Kimiko
Then we will be ready to befriend Mami and destroy canon.
[X] Muramasa
Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
That sounds fair enough, I suppose.
DrZiztah
Mumu
- Location
- Europa
They're identical twins.
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
I recommend that for any moebot troubleshooting suggestions, we need to Keep It Simple StupidNah. Moebot's gonna short-circuit because of '2 Tamiko! Yay!
Then, we're going to have to find a mechanic to fix the moebot.
Chapter 2 - Travelling the Silk Road 11
DrZiztah
Mumu
- Location
- Europa
[x] It's probably time for you to leave home too. Ask Ariane to call her aide.
[x] Telepathy Kishi. Apologize. You know you're being reckless again. What if I'm wrong? I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It is a big deal. It's not something I can just ignore. I think... no I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there. There have to be. It's not in me to just leave them be. But I should be better prepared to deal with it, if things go wrong. Ugh. This is hard. Why is the magical world like this? Shouldn't we be banding together? The witches are dangerous enough as is.
Given the situation and the mood at the table, perhaps a pivot of the topic might actually be well-warranted. The unknown girl is gone and digging deeper into the nature of other Magical Girls is not a topic for a tour that's supposed to be joyful for everyone. You sigh.
"Well, we honestly are more or less done here, now that I think about it..." you say and pick up your empty teacup. You frown a little as you slowly shake it around in the air, the few scattered droplets of the drink's remains dancing along the porcelain walls.
"...It's probably time for us to leave for home too." You turn to look at Ariane and smile tiredly. "Can you call your aide and tell her were ready here? We've been keeping her here quite long."
"Alright, will do!" Ariane chirps back and draws out her phone. While she's probably somewhat disappointed that the tour is at its end, she refuses to show any of it. Even the ever-sunny girl need her rest.
"Well, it certainly was fun while it lasted," Evelyn muses quietly.
"Yeah…" you tell her back, and turn to look at the still down Kishi. You tune out the rest of the table's chatter and actions to focus exclusively on her.
'Kishi?' you carefully ask her through telepathy. 'A-are you-?'
'I-I'll be fine…' she answers back weakly. You bite your lips at that. She's still displeased with you.
It's pretty clear what you need to.
'Kishi, I… I'm sorry,' you tell her. There is a small flash of reaction on her face to that, but it's gone as soon as it appeared. 'I know that I'm being reckless again, and I upset you with it. What if I'm wrong? I-I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It's not something I can just ignore.'
You close your eyes for a moment. 'But at the same time I think… No, I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there! There have to be. And I can't just leave them be,' you explain with a conviction. 'But I should be better prepared to deal with it, should things go wrong.'
'...T-that's the problem here,' Kishi answers you all of sudden, sounding a bit sullen and worn. 'I-I know that... I-I can on some level understand what you're thinking.' Kishi sharply turns her head to look up at you. 'But you're forgetting that it's not just you dealing with it, i-if something goes wrong.'
Your eyes widen at the almost accusing look the girl is giving you. 'Wh-what do you think I would do if... i-if… i-if something were to happen to you!?' Just as sharply as she first turned to you, she averts her gaze, drawing a bit concerned looks from your friends, who seem to have realized there is something going on between you.
'Kishi…'
'A-and it's not just you. If you had talked to that girl and she had turned out to be a bad person… I-it wouldn't be just you.' Kishi shakes her head. 'N-no… I-I would fight. B-but could Evelyn? C-could Ariane overcome her unwillingness to actually fight others? Wh-what about Mariko then?'
There is a sinking feeling in your stomach as the realization of what Kishi's saying dawns on you.
It was also your friends' safety you were risking, not just your own...
Vote in abeyance:
What do you do?
[] Talk with Kishi.
[] Talk with your friends on the way home.
[] Write-in.
===
Well, uh?
[x] Telepathy Kishi. Apologize. You know you're being reckless again. What if I'm wrong? I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It is a big deal. It's not something I can just ignore. I think... no I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there. There have to be. It's not in me to just leave them be. But I should be better prepared to deal with it, if things go wrong. Ugh. This is hard. Why is the magical world like this? Shouldn't we be banding together? The witches are dangerous enough as is.
Given the situation and the mood at the table, perhaps a pivot of the topic might actually be well-warranted. The unknown girl is gone and digging deeper into the nature of other Magical Girls is not a topic for a tour that's supposed to be joyful for everyone. You sigh.
"Well, we honestly are more or less done here, now that I think about it..." you say and pick up your empty teacup. You frown a little as you slowly shake it around in the air, the few scattered droplets of the drink's remains dancing along the porcelain walls.
"...It's probably time for us to leave for home too." You turn to look at Ariane and smile tiredly. "Can you call your aide and tell her were ready here? We've been keeping her here quite long."
"Alright, will do!" Ariane chirps back and draws out her phone. While she's probably somewhat disappointed that the tour is at its end, she refuses to show any of it. Even the ever-sunny girl need her rest.
"Well, it certainly was fun while it lasted," Evelyn muses quietly.
"Yeah…" you tell her back, and turn to look at the still down Kishi. You tune out the rest of the table's chatter and actions to focus exclusively on her.
'Kishi?' you carefully ask her through telepathy. 'A-are you-?'
'I-I'll be fine…' she answers back weakly. You bite your lips at that. She's still displeased with you.
It's pretty clear what you need to.
'Kishi, I… I'm sorry,' you tell her. There is a small flash of reaction on her face to that, but it's gone as soon as it appeared. 'I know that I'm being reckless again, and I upset you with it. What if I'm wrong? I-I have a lot more to lose now, if I'm wrong. It's not something I can just ignore.'
You close your eyes for a moment. 'But at the same time I think… No, I need to get stronger. There are good girls out there! There have to be. And I can't just leave them be,' you explain with a conviction. 'But I should be better prepared to deal with it, should things go wrong.'
'...T-that's the problem here,' Kishi answers you all of sudden, sounding a bit sullen and worn. 'I-I know that... I-I can on some level understand what you're thinking.' Kishi sharply turns her head to look up at you. 'But you're forgetting that it's not just you dealing with it, i-if something goes wrong.'
Your eyes widen at the almost accusing look the girl is giving you. 'Wh-what do you think I would do if... i-if… i-if something were to happen to you!?' Just as sharply as she first turned to you, she averts her gaze, drawing a bit concerned looks from your friends, who seem to have realized there is something going on between you.
'Kishi…'
'A-and it's not just you. If you had talked to that girl and she had turned out to be a bad person… I-it wouldn't be just you.' Kishi shakes her head. 'N-no… I-I would fight. B-but could Evelyn? C-could Ariane overcome her unwillingness to actually fight others? Wh-what about Mariko then?'
There is a sinking feeling in your stomach as the realization of what Kishi's saying dawns on you.
It was also your friends' safety you were risking, not just your own...
Vote in abeyance:
[X] ...Ugh. This is hard. Why is the magical world like this? Shouldn't we be banding together? The witches are dangerous enough as is.
What do you do?
[] Talk with Kishi.
[] Talk with your friends on the way home.
[] Write-in.
===
Well, uh?
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Yeah, and we can't just say that we wouldn't ask for them to do the same as us if we went charging in, since that would be just hurting them in a different way by guilt tripping them hard.
Theres really no easy answer to this.
Which also means that Kishi's answer isn't completely right either. Just that she has a really good point. Tamiko had good reason to be suspicious or avoid all her magical girl friends when she had first met them.
Kishi could be right. This magical girl could have been a terrible person who would have immediately attacked in a public place while seemingly outnumbered against several unknowns. But that's probably the worst case scenario and how likely would that be the case?
I guess the real answer would the access the various elements in the situation and pick and choose our battles. Which is what happened here. It would be dumb to needlessly risk people's safety and lives, but otherwise...
Yeah, no easy answer.
Last edited:
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Exactly.
The thing is, in this kind of situation, Tamiko and Kishis actions are both 'right': Tamiko is indeed right to try and seek out new allies, but Kishi is also right in wanting to try and keep her friends and herself safe.
And lets face it, as Ziz said, against someone with Mumi teir skills, we're BONED right now.
I guess our only immediate long term option is to get stronger, and thus allow any failed befriending attempts to be salvaged. Which is exactly what we've been doing.
LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
Christ, that was supposed to end that conversation so the trip doesn't end that sourly.
[J] Drop it.
-[K] Make dubstep noises.
[ ] Talk with your friends on the way home.
-[ ] Ask the others what they would have done if the Magical Girl turned out to be a bad person.
Since the point was brought up, we might as well finish it. Terrible idea, I know.
[X] Talk with your friends on the way home.
-[X] Ask the others for their opinion.
The trip's sour already anyway. Might as well get the others involved in it since they are our equals and deserve a say instead of keeping it between Tamiko and Kishi.
[J] Drop it.
-[K] Make dubstep noises.
[ ] Talk with your friends on the way home.
-[ ] Ask the others what they would have done if the Magical Girl turned out to be a bad person.
Since the point was brought up, we might as well finish it. Terrible idea, I know.
[X] Talk with your friends on the way home.
-[X] Ask the others for their opinion.
The trip's sour already anyway. Might as well get the others involved in it since they are our equals and deserve a say instead of keeping it between Tamiko and Kishi.
I think I'd rather just sort of concede to Kishi's point about putting the others at risk and then just drop it. Because other then that, Kishi and Tamiko seem to have a fundamental disagreement at the heart of the matter. Or maybe also admit to that as well. It's not like we're going to go out of our way to hunt down other magical girls to befriend them at this point, anyway.
Balduran
Smuggest Plague-Bearer
- Location
- a quiet, rainy place
I'm of the mind that if they wanted to say something, they'd have done it. Going out of our way to get their opinions is kind of forcing them to take sides, and that could (worst case) cause fractures in our little group. I'd say it's better to let it rest, give people time to think, and maybe bring it up another time.