AnonymousRabbit
Rabbit Faced
I got this.. Scar. Well it's better than nothing.
Renascence: A Homura Quest
- Thread starter Higure
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy Mystery
Higure
Witch of Faith
- Location
- The Golden Land
10 minute warning.
Vote tally:
##### 3.18
[x] Try more money. Your father might be upset, but you can actually call the old man if you have to.
No. of votes: 2
EtchedSteel
TheBleachDoctor
[x] Tell him who you are and why you want this clock.
[x] Try more money. Your father might be upset, but you can actually call the old man if you have to.
No. of votes: 1
Wzd_JA
[x] Try to arrange a meeting with the owner.
No. of votes: 3
Hyp3rB14d3
Milurk
Crow
[X] I know that it is an Akemi piece. My family made it. This...This is one of my dearly departed grandfather's works.
No. of votes: 1
Mecrazyfang
As of now, you will be telling him who you are and attempting to arrange a meeting with the owner in order to discuss other options. You're better off arguing price in person, so I'd be putting that on hold, seeing as you're voting to meet him as it is.
I will, however, give a time extension to break the tie if it's requested.
Vote tally:
##### 3.18
[x] Try more money. Your father might be upset, but you can actually call the old man if you have to.
No. of votes: 2
EtchedSteel
TheBleachDoctor
[x] Tell him who you are and why you want this clock.
[x] Try more money. Your father might be upset, but you can actually call the old man if you have to.
No. of votes: 1
Wzd_JA
[x] Try to arrange a meeting with the owner.
No. of votes: 3
Hyp3rB14d3
Milurk
Crow
[X] I know that it is an Akemi piece. My family made it. This...This is one of my dearly departed grandfather's works.
No. of votes: 1
Mecrazyfang
As of now, you will be telling him who you are and attempting to arrange a meeting with the owner in order to discuss other options. You're better off arguing price in person, so I'd be putting that on hold, seeing as you're voting to meet him as it is.
I will, however, give a time extension to break the tie if it's requested.
Last edited:
[x] Try to arrange a meeting with the owner.
Aiming for trying to negotiate an alternative trade, given your connections. More money is also an option.
Aiming for trying to negotiate an alternative trade, given your connections. More money is also an option.
Shopping 7 | Boiling Blood of the Akemi
Higure
Witch of Faith
- Location
- The Golden Land
You give him your most intimidating glare, whipping your glasses from your face, and he steps backwards in primal fear. There is a deadly predator in the room, and some part of him knows that as you open your mouth, "In that case, you will arrange a meeting between myself and your owner. Within the week. Do you understand?"
"U-uh-um...yes, yes ma'am. I certainly will. Umm..." He gulps audibly, "...who should I tell him who he will be meeting with."
You smile coldly, using a drop of magic to release your braids as you flip your hair majestically, "Akemi Homura, the next great clockmaker of the Akemi line."
You regret the absence of a business card, but make the best of it as you stride to the front desk, scrawling your email address on the back of one of their own business cards, before handing it to the man, "You may contact me here. I will arrive precisely on time."
You turn on your heel, striding towards the door before pausing and glancing back at him, "I also trust that my purchases will be delivered in a timely fashion."
He nods frantically as you depart. As soon as you are out the door, you immediately collapse against the wall of the building, slipping your glasses back on, 'Curse my ancestors' collective flare for drama. That's exhausting, but they wouldn't believe anything less...'
Thirty seven seconds later, Sayaka and her mother emerge, Sayaka carrying your ribbons, "Uh...Homura-chan? Are you...um...you? You aren't possessed or anything...right?"
You chuckle, smiling at her as you turn the scary off and the moe back on, "U-um, yes. I-I'm still, um, myself. I just...my family has a certain reputation, you see?"
Mrs. Miki nods knowingly, "Indeed. The Akemi family is famous for its temper and dramatic flare. I never even considered that you might be one of the Akemis, but after seeing that...where do you keep it all?"
Sayaka just looks back and forth between the two of you in confusion as you respond, "Behind the glasses. Inside the braids. I'm not exactly unlike that, but...I don't like being scary. I like making friends, and going shopping, and having ice cream...but that kind of personality is something all Akemi's possess, it seems, if you dig deep enough. I just have to dig deeper than most."
The Mikis share a grin before each grabbing an arm and pulling you up, "In that case, hold still!" With those words, they set about rebraiding your hair.
Sayaka looks you up and down, "Yep, that's the Homura-chan I know. Not a scary bone in her body...not sure about the braids, though. You have amazing hair...maybe twintails? Hmm..."
Mrs. Miki nods in agreement, "Yeah, that would work. She could also go shorter, but then she'd lose that stunning hairflip she just showed off."
The two go quiet in mutual contemplation as you watch in exasperation.
In the meantime, you try to figure out what you want to do. You still need to hit the electronics store and the arcade, according to your original plan, but a lot's happened.
You could really go for some ice cream right now, and maybe you could see if there's anything interesting happening that you don't know about. If nothing else, you could push the arcade up on your priorities list. That should help you relax.
Grief: 145/1000
Sanity: 430/1000
Stability Multiplier: 0.90
Calendar
Active Effects:
[Enchantment: Increase Heart Performance. Cost: 5 Grief/Hour]
Choices:
[]Stick to the plan. Electronics, and then the arcade.
[]Take a break. Ice cream time!
-[]Find a newspaper. If you're going to have fun today, you might as well look for something to top the night off with.
[]Rearrange things. Arcade first, then electronics.
[]Write-In
"U-uh-um...yes, yes ma'am. I certainly will. Umm..." He gulps audibly, "...who should I tell him who he will be meeting with."
You smile coldly, using a drop of magic to release your braids as you flip your hair majestically, "Akemi Homura, the next great clockmaker of the Akemi line."
You regret the absence of a business card, but make the best of it as you stride to the front desk, scrawling your email address on the back of one of their own business cards, before handing it to the man, "You may contact me here. I will arrive precisely on time."
You turn on your heel, striding towards the door before pausing and glancing back at him, "I also trust that my purchases will be delivered in a timely fashion."
He nods frantically as you depart. As soon as you are out the door, you immediately collapse against the wall of the building, slipping your glasses back on, 'Curse my ancestors' collective flare for drama. That's exhausting, but they wouldn't believe anything less...'
Thirty seven seconds later, Sayaka and her mother emerge, Sayaka carrying your ribbons, "Uh...Homura-chan? Are you...um...you? You aren't possessed or anything...right?"
You chuckle, smiling at her as you turn the scary off and the moe back on, "U-um, yes. I-I'm still, um, myself. I just...my family has a certain reputation, you see?"
Mrs. Miki nods knowingly, "Indeed. The Akemi family is famous for its temper and dramatic flare. I never even considered that you might be one of the Akemis, but after seeing that...where do you keep it all?"
Sayaka just looks back and forth between the two of you in confusion as you respond, "Behind the glasses. Inside the braids. I'm not exactly unlike that, but...I don't like being scary. I like making friends, and going shopping, and having ice cream...but that kind of personality is something all Akemi's possess, it seems, if you dig deep enough. I just have to dig deeper than most."
The Mikis share a grin before each grabbing an arm and pulling you up, "In that case, hold still!" With those words, they set about rebraiding your hair.
Sayaka looks you up and down, "Yep, that's the Homura-chan I know. Not a scary bone in her body...not sure about the braids, though. You have amazing hair...maybe twintails? Hmm..."
Mrs. Miki nods in agreement, "Yeah, that would work. She could also go shorter, but then she'd lose that stunning hairflip she just showed off."
The two go quiet in mutual contemplation as you watch in exasperation.
In the meantime, you try to figure out what you want to do. You still need to hit the electronics store and the arcade, according to your original plan, but a lot's happened.
You could really go for some ice cream right now, and maybe you could see if there's anything interesting happening that you don't know about. If nothing else, you could push the arcade up on your priorities list. That should help you relax.
[THE CENTER OF THE MIND]
Time: 6:30:31 PMGrief: 145/1000
Sanity: 430/1000
Stability Multiplier: 0.90
Calendar
Active Effects:
[Enchantment: Increase Heart Performance. Cost: 5 Grief/Hour]
Choices:
[]Stick to the plan. Electronics, and then the arcade.
[]Take a break. Ice cream time!
-[]Find a newspaper. If you're going to have fun today, you might as well look for something to top the night off with.
[]Rearrange things. Arcade first, then electronics.
[]Write-In
Even if this version of Homura is far more sentimental than OTL Homura, she has jobs to do far more important than a mere clock. I'd say leave this matter for later. Once the Time Loops are over, we'll have plenty of time to deal with something like this. Otherwise we spend more and more time in our loops on it.
EDIT: Damn. Too late...
EDIT: Damn. Too late...
Crow
Falling is a Pleasure. Regardless of its Fate
Sanity stability is a thing bub, just unlocking the memories drains us of much needed SAN points, if getting the clock helps us on that front then i dont think its a waste, besides we can just stuff it in our shield after this loop.
Hyp3rB14d3
Gotta catch 'em all!
[x]Take a break. Ice cream time!
Higure
Witch of Faith
- Location
- The Golden Land
It's less that she's more sentimental, and more that she's substantially more broken. Note that she started this Loop 60% insane.
She's been keeping everything under wraps for [redacted] a LONG time. Her emotional control has been slowly crumbling for quite some time now, and she's finally starting to show and act on her feelings again, despite her best efforts to feed everyone around her a steady stream of masks and illusory calm.
To make it clear how bad this is, let me say that she hasn't given any significant thought to something "after" the Time Loops in at least the last hundred Loops. Her entire worldview stretches from March 16th to the day of Walpurgisnacht. Even her childhood memories have only started slipping out of their cages as of this loop.
Also, as the Detective points out, there are mechanical benefits to personally significant objects (not that I'm going to reveal them all right now).
She's been keeping everything under wraps for [redacted] a LONG time. Her emotional control has been slowly crumbling for quite some time now, and she's finally starting to show and act on her feelings again, despite her best efforts to feed everyone around her a steady stream of masks and illusory calm.
To make it clear how bad this is, let me say that she hasn't given any significant thought to something "after" the Time Loops in at least the last hundred Loops. Her entire worldview stretches from March 16th to the day of Walpurgisnacht. Even her childhood memories have only started slipping out of their cages as of this loop.
Also, as the Detective points out, there are mechanical benefits to personally significant objects (not that I'm going to reveal them all right now).
Noted. I'll try and keep that in mind when writing my Omake.
Just checking, but what do people think about taking Sayaka Miki aside and telling her a bit more of what we know now? She's probably quite curious, after all.
[x] Black bird of spooky
Ardion Prosili
An (im)Perfect Cell
Planning a bit ahead here, but I'm thinking after we deal with good relations with Sayaka the next step should be to see Mami. Mitigating her loneliness problem will cut the chances of her contracting, and start building an anti-Walpurgisnacht Coalition. Mami+Homura at least stands a chance- if we want to be ambitious we can try to get Kyoko or a contracted Sayaka, if we want to be cautious we can go with just those two.
Making a hypothetical plan for Homura to have had for Omake purposes. Want it scrutinised before I proceed. Crow, is it alright if I PM you on that one?
Making a hypothetical plan for Homura to have had for Omake purposes. Want it scrutinised before I proceed. Crow, is it alright if I PM you on that one?
Figure that's something we can do tonight after we get home, more towards bedtime. That feels like a more comfortable period to discuss world-skewing knowledge (and we're building up plenty of incidents during the shopping trip).
Also:
[x]Take a break. Ice cream time!
Not voting for a movie afterwards; figure after shopping is going to be back home, dinner, long talks getting to know each other better (main interaction time with Mikimom), then long talk with Sayaka about magic before we go to bed (probably share a futon in her room, since furniture won't have been delivered yet).
Crow
Falling is a Pleasure. Regardless of its Fate
Mykenae
The Meliorist
[x]Stick to the plan. Electronics, and then the arcade.
Also, invisitext alert for the update before last, in case anyone missed it:
Also, invisitext alert for the update before last, in case anyone missed it:
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
Prepare yourself, Homura. You're on their target list.
[x]Take a break. Ice cream time!
Omake: Clockwork
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
OOC: Actually had this idea when I first posted Jii-Chan. Got a more humorous clock-related Omake planned for later when I have more time.
Clockwork
The Tokugawa Shogunate's decision to isolate Japan, or Sakoku as it was called, had interesting effects on its development. While the country was not completely isolated, indeed, in some cases trade actually increased under the isolation, the Japanese people did develop largely without inputs and cultural and technological mixing from the rest of the world.
As a result, Japan would find that when it returned out of isolation, its people had created some works of art that fascinated many in the world. Its clocks were one way. A couple families claimed blessings from higher powers allowed their creation. Very few believed that truth.
----
As long as anyone could remember, the Akemi family had made clocks. Centuries ago they had made some of the first water clocks in Japan, and had continued to do so for generations afterwards, becoming legendary in that skill. When the foreigners had first introduced mechanical clocks to Japan, the Akemis had been the first to investigate, intrigued at the work of the Gaijin, and after picking apart several purchases, promptly began making their own versions that were quickly bought by anyone who could afford them. While their bodies were often afflicted with problems that led to countless early deaths, they still held their pride in the skills of clockmaking and their knowledge of its arts (some claimed to the point of unhealthy obsession, but what did they know anyway!?!?). It's not like there's anything wrong with training until you can tell the time of a clock to the exact millisecond and examine it down to the last screw! Mad, they say. Hah!
Which was why Kiyoko Akemi currently had her head bowed in shame as she faced one painful truth. The Akemi family's history and skills were very likely to die out in her generation. Father was close to death, mother was already gone, and she and her brother were, to put it mildly, bad at the craft. Certainly, repeated work had allowed them to build the shell of a clock and make it work... decently... but that wasn't enough! They didn't get the specifics, the form, the soul, the thousand little nuances and bits and tiny budges that make an Akemi clock an Akemi Clock. No matter how many times they tried to ram it into their own minds, they just didn't understand, and the family had never been numerous, and recent deaths and crisises had threatened to destroy it entirely, nevermind this disaster that would spell an end to the craft that they had held since creation!
But there was nothing she could do with mortal skills. So she just prayed.
"Please..." She whispered. "If there is some higher power out there, don't let my family's art die with my father. Don't let my family lose this. Let every member of my family who wishes or needs it so shall learn, retain, and improve this art. Let the Akemi family remain the greatest clockmakers there are. Don't let centuries of my ancestor's teachings die. I'll gladly pay any price."
"Any price?" Kiyoko yelped and turned around. Then she blinked at the strange white creature in front of her, its tail flicking back and forth.
"Tell me Kiyoko Akemi... Will you make a contract with me?"
----
It was over.
Homura Akemi stared at the broken shield beside her. It was truly over. Madoka had died, sacrificing herself to destroy Walpurgisnight again. But this time the Witch's last attack had sent Homura flying and caused her shield to break, and its sand to spill out of the scarred form.
She couldn't rewind time again. Madoka was still dead, all her friends were dead, the city was destroyed... she'd failed. She'd failed Madoka. She'd-
She paused. A close look at the inner workings of the shield. The seemed... familiar.
"Remember Homura, there's a few little, insignificant things in a clock that let you know how it ticks."
So... that part must have been...
"Plenty of others say our family talks to our work more than people. They're right, but look at what we can make because of that!
So if that went there... then...
"Now, watch closely, and let your Jii-chan show you what the Akemi family knows.
"I can fix this."
----
The next half hour was the most intense of her entire life, more than fighting Witches, more than tense stand-offs with fellow Magical Girls, more than those times so long ago when her heart acted up and her life teetered on the edge of a cliff. Everything depended on her ability to fix this clockwork shield that gave her the power to try everything again.
And she could do it. Each bolt, each gear, each tiny bit of metal with an infinitesimal importance in meaning flew into place. Sand went in there, which connected to there, which could be linked up here, and... then...
She held up the repaired shield, strapped it to her arm, and inhaled. "Here goes everything."
----
She was in the hospital again. It was the right date, the right year, a quick check showed she was in the right place with the right family.
A transformation later, and her shield was working perfectly. She'd done it. Just like Jii-chan had, she'd fixed something broken.
"You see Homura? You've got a future in this business. I'm the proudest grandfather in the world."
Homura Akemi smiled. "You're still with me Jii-chan. Thank you."
Clockwork
The Tokugawa Shogunate's decision to isolate Japan, or Sakoku as it was called, had interesting effects on its development. While the country was not completely isolated, indeed, in some cases trade actually increased under the isolation, the Japanese people did develop largely without inputs and cultural and technological mixing from the rest of the world.
As a result, Japan would find that when it returned out of isolation, its people had created some works of art that fascinated many in the world. Its clocks were one way. A couple families claimed blessings from higher powers allowed their creation. Very few believed that truth.
----
As long as anyone could remember, the Akemi family had made clocks. Centuries ago they had made some of the first water clocks in Japan, and had continued to do so for generations afterwards, becoming legendary in that skill. When the foreigners had first introduced mechanical clocks to Japan, the Akemis had been the first to investigate, intrigued at the work of the Gaijin, and after picking apart several purchases, promptly began making their own versions that were quickly bought by anyone who could afford them. While their bodies were often afflicted with problems that led to countless early deaths, they still held their pride in the skills of clockmaking and their knowledge of its arts (some claimed to the point of unhealthy obsession, but what did they know anyway!?!?). It's not like there's anything wrong with training until you can tell the time of a clock to the exact millisecond and examine it down to the last screw! Mad, they say. Hah!
Which was why Kiyoko Akemi currently had her head bowed in shame as she faced one painful truth. The Akemi family's history and skills were very likely to die out in her generation. Father was close to death, mother was already gone, and she and her brother were, to put it mildly, bad at the craft. Certainly, repeated work had allowed them to build the shell of a clock and make it work... decently... but that wasn't enough! They didn't get the specifics, the form, the soul, the thousand little nuances and bits and tiny budges that make an Akemi clock an Akemi Clock. No matter how many times they tried to ram it into their own minds, they just didn't understand, and the family had never been numerous, and recent deaths and crisises had threatened to destroy it entirely, nevermind this disaster that would spell an end to the craft that they had held since creation!
But there was nothing she could do with mortal skills. So she just prayed.
"Please..." She whispered. "If there is some higher power out there, don't let my family's art die with my father. Don't let my family lose this. Let every member of my family who wishes or needs it so shall learn, retain, and improve this art. Let the Akemi family remain the greatest clockmakers there are. Don't let centuries of my ancestor's teachings die. I'll gladly pay any price."
"Any price?" Kiyoko yelped and turned around. Then she blinked at the strange white creature in front of her, its tail flicking back and forth.
"Tell me Kiyoko Akemi... Will you make a contract with me?"
----
It was over.
Homura Akemi stared at the broken shield beside her. It was truly over. Madoka had died, sacrificing herself to destroy Walpurgisnight again. But this time the Witch's last attack had sent Homura flying and caused her shield to break, and its sand to spill out of the scarred form.
She couldn't rewind time again. Madoka was still dead, all her friends were dead, the city was destroyed... she'd failed. She'd failed Madoka. She'd-
She paused. A close look at the inner workings of the shield. The seemed... familiar.
"Remember Homura, there's a few little, insignificant things in a clock that let you know how it ticks."
So... that part must have been...
"Plenty of others say our family talks to our work more than people. They're right, but look at what we can make because of that!
So if that went there... then...
"Now, watch closely, and let your Jii-chan show you what the Akemi family knows.
"I can fix this."
----
The next half hour was the most intense of her entire life, more than fighting Witches, more than tense stand-offs with fellow Magical Girls, more than those times so long ago when her heart acted up and her life teetered on the edge of a cliff. Everything depended on her ability to fix this clockwork shield that gave her the power to try everything again.
And she could do it. Each bolt, each gear, each tiny bit of metal with an infinitesimal importance in meaning flew into place. Sand went in there, which connected to there, which could be linked up here, and... then...
She held up the repaired shield, strapped it to her arm, and inhaled. "Here goes everything."
----
She was in the hospital again. It was the right date, the right year, a quick check showed she was in the right place with the right family.
A transformation later, and her shield was working perfectly. She'd done it. Just like Jii-chan had, she'd fixed something broken.
"You see Homura? You've got a future in this business. I'm the proudest grandfather in the world."
Homura Akemi smiled. "You're still with me Jii-chan. Thank you."
Crow
Falling is a Pleasure. Regardless of its Fate
Sniff, beautiful as always Queenie.
Higure
Witch of Faith
- Location
- The Golden Land
Another beautiful piece.
I'd love to make it Canon, but Homura's shield is unbreakable here, and her Mechanics Expertise would be too low too pull it off, sadly.
Everything up to and including Kiyoko Wishing, however, is hereby Canon.
Rewards incoming.
On that note, I have also chosen to Canonize Dreams, although Homura is, indeed, not dreaming of herself.
Damn that's a high standard to compete against! I suppose I'll have to go for Quantity over Quality...