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Puella Magi - Memento Mori (PMMM quest)

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Well, come to think of it, we have been generally going through the pacifist route, befriending those we come across...
 
Naron said:
I made it! And in good time!
First of all:

[X] Follow Mariko to her room?
-[X] Offer to help find or carry stuff.
-[X] Otherwise make yourself at home, behave like you do back home.


I would rather not see another trainwreck because of joke-votes; there were quite a lot of those over the last hundred pages or so.
Additionally, I doubt I have read another Quest where the first serious debate about conflicting views happened after more than five hundred pages. That is impressive.

It has been a pleasure reading through this thread, both because of the high quality of the updates as well as the pleasant atmosphere the players generate. To elaborate on the former, @DrZiztah, I believe your character-design is gorgeous. Both in terms of Witches and Magical Girls, I doubt I have ever seen any better portrayal of the setting before; keep up the good work, this is amazing. I also adore how you manage to explore Tamiko's character in such depth as the story progresses without pushing too much emphasis on it; aside from the appropriate situations (i.e. people talking explicitly how Tamiko feels), of course.

With that said, hello everyone!
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Heh, welcome aboard the pain train. May you have a pleasant stay! Snacks are at the end.

Flattery will not net you cookies, though :p. B-baka!
Naron said:
Now then... I was thinking that I should write an Omake.
But instead of making it a half-baked short-story like I do most of the time... why not do things a little differently?

Therefore, and in spoilers for those who did not play the game, here is my analysis on why this Quest is one big Undertale reference:

To start off, the QM already mentioned knowing the game due to previous comments given in the thread. I will get back to that later, but this at least means she is aware of it.

First of all, let us look at the mechanics:

In the beginning, we are given one choice for a wish; no limits, just say whatever we want.
This is obviously the same as waking up in the Ruins and being taught the basics by Toriel; this is where it was decided which route to follow.

Upon death, we can return to a previous point in time and try again from there; Determination at its best, even though the QM masks it behind other reasons.

Each arc stars a particular character, all of them antagonistic in the beginning for one reason or another; as per Word of God, all of them can be befriended and I can name you exactly one game that has the very same promise to it.

Of course some parts do not correlate, but this is due to transitioning errors; fighting Witches is mandatory to a PMMM-setting, so nothing can be done about it (even though I suspect from previous comments on the matter that hugging them might lead to unexpected positive results, but that has yet to happen to base my suspicions). However, it works well in disguising what this is actually about, the social aspect.


Anyway, I can gauge three routes here:
First of all would be the normal route, given by most of the wishes chosen. Specifics would change based on what was taken, but going this way would basically always result in the same experience with slight changes. With Tamiko being ignored by most of the world, this is to be expected.

Someone theorised how she might have become bitter and furious with Kimiko upon wishing to find out about who did this to her or why this happened; wishes of that kind could have led to something like the Genocide route, if less extreme.

And then, of course, the path we are on.


By luck/intuition/fate/whatever, a wish was chosen that counteracts Tamiko's main problem and made her... well, run around and basically, in Undyne's words, "hug random strangers"; they are semi-random, but it does still count (especially for prude Japan). That she makes them all her friends does not retroactively disprove the previous statement, either. She hugged Kishi almost right off the bat, after they knew each other for maybe fifteen minutes.
The first actual encounter with Ariane's ghost saw Tamiko hurt, yet she did not let this dissuade her from helping and making friends. The same counts even more with Mariko, considering the pain-reflection.

No matter how often Tamiko is hurt, she refuses to give up on others and holds her hand out to them. This is, without doubt, equivalent to the True Pacifist route.



Now for the characters. It was very helpful for my analysis that our QM already compared aunt Hicchan to Sans; she is goofy and aloof, happy to help out and has a great many tricks up her sleave. On top of that, I can feel that any Magical Girl who ever tries to hurt Tamiko on purpose... will have a bad time.
So we have Sans already referenced.

Looking at it, Ariane's boundless cheer and enthusiasm does remind me of the Monster Kid, both of them very hard to bring down. Tamiko herself makes for a very believable Frisk (... now we have to see whether Kimiko might fit Chara) and Mariko appears somewhat like Napstablook in her behaviour, if a little less obvious.
Kishi gives off some vibes of Alphys, especially with how she tries to carry her burdens by herself; the sciency shtick only underlines the similarities there.

I am not yet sure whether I should file Cathy as Undyne or Papyrus... but it is most definitely one of those two. We have seen too little about her to determine it yet. This goes doubly for Matsuko and Yuujin, considering those two had exactly one appearance so far. Ami, I am afraid to say, is too normal to fit any Undertale-character properly. However, this might only be a feint to dismiss the comparison as a whole with.

Now for Evelyn, who might turn out a reference to some major character in case she contracts; right now however... I have nothing for her. She might turn out to be the actual Undyne, though. It was already stated that MG!Eve uses a polearm, so that theory might have some merit.


Anyway; to conclude, even if there are some things not fitting the overall assumption, those are trivial in comparison to all the similarities there. Puella Magi Memento Mori is, by and large, an Undertale reference.


Q.E.D.

You can admit to it now, @DrZiztah.


So... uh... I am going to stow away my tinfoil hat now.
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I will neither confirm nor deny any of this :V

However, I will say that Evelyn has from the start had a very specific leitmotif, should she contract:
 
DrZiztah said:
Heh, welcome aboard the pain train. May you have a pleasant stay! Snacks are at the end.

Flattery will not net you cookies, though :p. B-baka!
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I think the term is "Hora!". It is my pleasure to join the ride.


DrZiztah said:
However, I will say that Evelyn has from the start had a very specific leitmotif, should she contract:
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Guys and gals... do you think what I think?





Aside from that, I just remembered something I was thinking about earlier and ought to write it down before I forget it.
Tamiko can create additional sabres and draw them separately. Next time we train, we should try remote-controlling them like Kishi does with her rifles; if it works, we would have several weapons to use at the same time. Considering that our aunt is adept at levitating, we have all the advice we will need to make it work.

Now that I think about it... Tamiko's shield is strapped to her arm, so she could theoretically already hold a second blade in that hand; either to switch it into the main hand upon being disarmed or to get an additional strike in.
 
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Could she draw a saber, throw it, then summon it (or a copy of it) to hand?
 
[X] Follow Mariko to her room?
-[X] Offer to help find or carry stuff.
-[X] Otherwise make yourself at home, behave like you do back home.
 
[X] Follow Mariko to her room?
-[X] Offer to help find or carry stuff.
-[X] Otherwise make yourself at home, behave like you do back home.
 
[X] Follow Mariko to her room?
-[X] Offer to help find or carry stuff.
-[X] Otherwise make yourself at home, behave like you do back home.
 
[X] Follow Mariko to her room?
-[X] Offer to help find or carry stuff.
-[X] Otherwise make yourself at home, behave like you do back home.
 
Naron said:
Aside from that, I just remembered something I was thinking about earlier and ought to write it down before I forget it.
Tamiko can create additional sabres and draw them separately. Next time we train, we should try remote-controlling them like Kishi does with her rifles; if it works, we would have several weapons to use at the same time. Considering that our aunt is adept at levitating, we have all the advice we will need to make it work.

Now that I think about it... Tamiko's shield is strapped to her arm, so she could theoretically already hold a second blade in that hand; either to switch it into the main hand upon being disarmed or to get an additional strike in.
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UbeOne said:
Could she draw a saber, throw it, then summon it (or a copy of it) to hand?
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Yes, yes, we all want Tamiko to cast Unlimited Blade Works.:V
 
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Chapter 2 - Intervention 2
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Follow Mariko to her room?
    -[X] Offer to help find or carry stuff.
    -[X] Otherwise make yourself at home, behave like you do back home.

    "Oh, hey, wait for me!" you call out to Mariko once the wonder of seeing your friend's house for the first time evaporates. You hastily throw your shoes to the corner of the entrance, and move after your friend. Gawking can come a bit later; you came here to help, not to lounge around.

    Granted, you'll probably end up doing the latter. But it's the thought that counts!

    Mariko's room interior is in similar shape as the rest of the apartment. The walls and the floor are obviously old and worn, despite the recent clean-up. The small window at the end of the room is dim, having gathered stains of passing times between the glasses that no simple rag can scrub away.

    A dull-colored and small bed takes up a significant chunk of the right side of the room, while a work wooden working table rests under the window. Both seem like they were initially purchased for someone smaller. A few closets and shelves line the left side, with the open shelves mostly empty, aside from some dusty old books and papers. Contrasted are the pristine supplies provided by your school.

    Mariko seems to have focused on the drawers of the table first, and you notice her take out some old papers from there, as well as some make-up. She carefully inspects everything she lays her hands on, and the few things she decides to be worthwhile are carefully set into a large, dark sports sack that she has dragged from under her bed. It seems to be filled with other items, but Mariko makes no effort to remove those.

    The dusty, old bag is tagged for "Masato Fuyousawa".

    "So, uh, can I help you with anything?" you offer weakly, already knowing how she's probaly going to answer you. "I mean, I could help you find things, or at least carry stuff?"

    Mariko, quite predictably, shakes her head in response. "I don't think you'd know where everything is in this house, sorry. And there won't be much to carry here," she explains. Though the rejection stings a little, you're somewhat pleased to note that she seems to be regaining her previous composure and usual demeanor.

    "Well, if you say so… Don't hesitate to say so if you need help with anything here, though," you give the final offer to your friend, and start looking around the room again. You're in no hurry here.

    "I'll keep that in mind," Mariko promises you absent-mindedly, clearly more focused on the more immediate task at hand. She gently opens one of the closets, as if trying to be as careful and stealthy as possible. You don't think she even realizes she's doing it, however.

    A small creak echoes in the room, and you get to see Mariko inspects the coathangers and small mounds of clothing there-in. You notice the small attire she wore when you rescued her among them. Her school uniform is by far the one that most jumps into your vision as being new and a good fit.

    She doesn't seem to have taken out anything yet, and her hands seem to have found their way to the lowest shelf inside the cabinet, and something buried underneath the articles of clothing. For a moment, she's paralyzed and buried deep in uncertainty and her thoughts.
    A book?​
    "Hmm, actually? Could you go to the kitchen and get me… the grey sport drinking bottle?" she asks airily, her face carefully hidden and pointed away from you. "It should be in one of the cabinets."

    What do you do?

    [] Talk with Mariko.
    -[] Ask what's wrong?

    [] Agree and move away from the room.
    -[] Watch her from behind the doorframe to see what she's up to.

    [] Go to the kitchen and find that bottle.

    [] Just let Mariko have the time, and go see the living room first. It won't take long to find a distraction bottle anyways.

    [] Write-in.

    ===

    Choices, choices...
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Go to the kitchen and find that bottle.

    The girl wants some space, I don't see why we shouldn't give it to her. Tamiko can't always be hugging everyone after all.
     
    [X] Talk with Mariko.
    -[X] Ask what's wrong?
    Let a very upset friend suffer alone when we've pledged to help? Hahahaha, Nope!
    Seriously though. I can understand that some of you all might be sick of talking with Mariko by now, but this is not the time to get cold feet or second thoughts. We made a commitment, and we need to live up to it. Mariko's come to realize that Tamiko is not back down on helping her, and so however much her shattered pride, shame, and Shinji-instincts tell her otherwise, she'll work with us. If we continue the trend we showed back at Tamiko's apartment, we show how committed we are to helping, that we're not going to back on our work.
    Additionally, whatever problem Mariko has, we're going to have to deal with it sooner or later, and letting it fester will only make things harder.

    I've said on a semi-regular basis here that I respect personal opinions and backgrounds. But this time, I'm going to have to ask folks who feel that heeding Mariko's request give something a bit more than opinion and guesswork as justification on this one.
     
    Always Late said:
    [X] Talk with Mariko.
    -[X] Ask what's wrong?
    Let a very upset friend suffer alone when we've pledged to help? Hahahaha, Nope!
    Seriously though. I can understand that some of you all might be sick of talking with Mariko by now, but this is not the time to get cold feet or second thoughts. We made a commitment, and we need to live up to it. Mariko's come to realize that Tamiko is not back down on helping her, and so however much her shattered pride, shame, and Shinji-instincts tell her otherwise, she'll work with us. If we continue the trend we showed back at Tamiko's apartment, we show how committed we are to helping, that we're not going to back on our work.
    Additionally, whatever problem Mariko has, we're going to have to deal with it sooner or later, and letting it fester will only make things harder.

    I've said on a semi-regular basis here that I respect personal opinions and backgrounds. But this time, I'm going to have to ask folks who feel that heeding Mariko's request give something a bit more than opinion and guesswork as justification on this one.
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    It's about being able to set boundaries and having some power over what she shares and when she shares it. Mariko is emotionally exhausted at this point, and has just barely regained a small smidgen of her composure. Mariko is trying to set a boundary, that she want to gather some of her things privately, but she chose a way where she asks for Tamiko's help. Refusing to render the aid she asked for, and violating the boundary she has set is saying both "we will dictate when and how we will help you" as well as demonstrate what she will expect if she goes through with moving in with Tamiko, that we will not respect her privacy.

    Basically, she doesn't want to deal with this today, she just wants to get all her stuff into her bag, follow us back home, and go to sleep. We've already made a ton of progress, and by any measure had a huge victory with her moving in letting us make sure she has what she needs vis a vis food and shelter. Now, the subtext does say she is distressed about something, but that doesn't excuse us from ignoring what she has said. If you want to address the subtext as well, and say something like "if you ever have anything else you need to talk about, I'm here." In fact, that might be even better, because it means that we're letting her know she's trying to get us out of the room, and are letting her get away with it. It implies we still respect her.
     
    DrZiztah said:
    She doesn't seem to have taken out anything yet, and her hands seem to have found their way to the lowest shelf inside the cabinet, and something buried underneath the articles of clothing. For a moment, she's paralyzed and buried deep in uncertainty and her thoughts.
    A book?​
    "Hmm, actually? Could you go to the kitchen and get me… the grey sport drinking bottle?" she asks airily, her face carefully hidden and pointed away from you. "It should be in one of the cabinets."
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    Hora Hora!
     
    Taking a cue from Diomedon...

    [x] Talk to Mariko.
    -[x] Sure, but if you ever have anything else you need to talk about, I'm here.
    [X] Go to the kitchen and find that bottle.

    Let's not smother her, Weiss.
     
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    Diomedon said:
    It's about being able to set boundaries and having some power over what she shares and when she shares it. Mariko is emotionally exhausted at this point, and has just barely regained a small smidgen of her composure. Mariko is trying to set a boundary, that she want to gather some of her things privately, but she chose a way where she asks for Tamiko's help. Refusing to render the aid she asked for, and violating the boundary she has set is saying both "we will dictate when and how we will help you" as well as demonstrate what she will expect if she goes through with moving in with Tamiko, that we will not respect her privacy.

    Basically, she doesn't want to deal with this today, she just wants to get all her stuff into her bag, follow us back home, and go to sleep. We've already made a ton of progress, and by any measure had a huge victory with her moving in letting us make sure she has what she needs vis a vis food and shelter. Now, the subtext does say she is distressed about something, but that doesn't excuse us from ignoring what she has said. If you want to address the subtext as well, and say something like "if you ever have anything else you need to talk about, I'm here." In fact, that might be even better, because it means that we're letting her know she's trying to get us out of the room, and are letting her get away with it. It implies we still respect her.
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    We all know the result of Mariko's choices: Leaving school, divulging nothing until it got worked out of her over, and generally not accepting help from the girl who from the first day they really met has done nothing but devote valuable time and energy to better her life. She suffers from learned helplessness, that Tamiko is incapable of helping.
    You call it giving her a boundary, I call it letting an addict relapse. This whole thing is but the latest step in The Intervention that is Tamiko and Mariko's relationship dynamic.

    And the note of 'if you ever have anything else you need to talk about' is something we've already told Mariko multiple times. Actions, not platitudes, are what got us this far.
     
    [x] Go to the kitchen and find that bottle.

    I imagine Mariko's feeling pretty exposed and vulnerable right now. Least we can do is give her her space when she needs it.
     
    Always Late said:
    We all know the result of Mariko's choices: Leaving school, divulging nothing until it got worked out of her over, and generally not accepting help from the girl who from the first day they really met has done nothing but devote valuable time and energy to better her life. She suffers from learned helplessness, that Tamiko is incapable of helping.
    You call it giving her a boundary, I call it letting an addict relapse. This whole thing is but the latest step in The Intervention that is Tamiko and Mariko's relationship dynamic.
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    Look, we just spent the past dozen or so updates pushing and pushing our way through the walls she's put up between herself and others. I'm willing to give her the space she needs to collect herself, even if for a moment.

    [x] Talk to Mariko.
    -[x] Sure, but if you ever have anything else you need to talk about, I'm here.
    [X] Go to the kitchen and find that bottle.

    Edit: And I replied to the wrong post, that's been fixed.
     
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    Hm... both sides make compelling arguments here, but I rather agree to give Mariko some space now. It is as @Thebigpieman said, we pushed into the girl quite enough for now.
    However, I do not like how bare-bones this vote looks... and on top of that, there is something weird hidden in plain sight in this chapter.

    DrZiztah said:
    The dusty, old bag is tagged for "Masato Higekino".
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    Edit: False alarm, the QM made a mistake there

    [X] Go to the kitchen and find that bottle.
    -[X] Take your time, there is no need to hurry; Mariko probably needs a moment
    --[X] When returning, knock on the door first

    [X] Once you are back in the room
    -[X] Talk to Mariko
    --[X] Find out what your surname is doing on that bag of hers
    --[X] Is there anything else you can do for her?


    I would have liked to find some more to do, but there is just not much we can do right now. Thoughts on this?
     
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