Problem of internet and not being able to see tone.
I have seen people say that kind of things seriously before.
Seeing Red [PMMM x LoR]
Problem of internet and not being able to see tone.
I have seen people say that kind of things seriously before.
Shcalda
Employee of F.Corp
- Location
- Disctrict 6
Wait... Madoka will have to talk with her mom alone, which could be bad, but I don't think that's it.
Yuma? maybe, We might come across her or Kyoko, but I can't be sure. Hopefully, it doesn't go bad if so.
Maybe Mami? It feels a bit early in the timeline if what I'm thinking is the problem, so I doubt it, but it's still a possible danger.
aagh, I have no clue, Hopefully the problem won't be too severe.
Yuma? maybe, We might come across her or Kyoko, but I can't be sure. Hopefully, it doesn't go bad if so.
Maybe Mami? It feels a bit early in the timeline if what I'm thinking is the problem, so I doubt it, but it's still a possible danger.
aagh, I have no clue, Hopefully the problem won't be too severe.
8. One Person's Trash
- Location
- Earth
Look for the girl in red. Ask Oriko where to find her.
Yuki slowly nods to herself and stands, smoothing out some wrinkles in her pencil skirt. She prefers to start working again, rather than idle around preparing. And if nothing else, prodding at Oriko again will give her some further measure of her intentions along the way.
Viridian light begins to glow around Yuki as the magic gathers. Without so much as a word, she vanishes from the empty living room.
Unfortunately, her sudden arrival in Oriko's backyard yields no surprise from the seer. She simply glances up from her laptop to be polite.
"Please have a seat. Tea? To what do I owe the pleasure?"
She motions toward a second chair, already prepared. Yuki plops down on it and accepts another cup, oddly comfortable with the burgeoning routine.
"The magical girl that attacked me in Kazamino," she starts without preamble, "she primarily wears red. Do you know where I can find her?"
"Oh? Do you mean to press the issue?"
Whether Oriko actually tries to hide that little grin or not, Yuki sees it anyway. She rolls her eyes and takes a sip of tea in response. "I want to know what it is you made me do. And since you will not tell me, I have to go there and see for myself. So answer me: do you know, and will you tell me where to find her?"
"I know, and I will."
That is a bit of a surprise. Neither of them openly acknowledges it as such, but Oriko also keeps quiet for a time. She continues typing away at her laptop, offering only half her attention to the conversation.
Yuki's head tilts faintly. "And why will you tell me this, but nothing else?"
"Because this has nothing to do with my foresight," Oriko answers easily. She takes a dainty sip, clacks a final key, and closes the laptop. "I won't tell you of what is yet to come because I need to maneuver the many threads carefully, lest I lose the outcome I want."
"Now," she continues after another sip, "I recommend that you wait an hour or two. Kyoko Sakura, that is her name, is not actually awake yet. She hunts from evening into the night, then sleeps in. Surprising her when she is still sleeping or just woke up will provoke her into attacking."
Which, apparently, Oriko wants to avoid. Yuki considers to go right now anyway, but decides to reserve her judgement. The seer is helpful for once, after all.
"And where do I find her?"
"Sakura Church. Yes, she shares the place's name," she adds before Yuki can even open her mouth. "You should not ask her about that for the time being, it is a sore subject."
"Then you tell me."
"I think not," Oriko denies gently. "Knowing the secrets of others does not mean I am at liberty to share them."
That is a fair point to make, even Yuki has to admit. She nods her understanding.
"Any other advice you wish to impart?"
"Hm. No, I believe you will do fine with what you have. And if I may say so, the change of clothing suits you quite well. You make for a well-dressed office lady."
Oriko's smile is undeterred by Yuki's lack of response. Yuki looks down at herself, tugs a little at her tights, and then shrugs.
"I appreciate it. My own feelings are still in flux, though; I do not mind it much, but I do not like it overly, either."
"Well, I can understand that. You have grown comfortable in your usual clothes, no? Such a sudden change would leave anyone a little alienated. Truth be told, I think your usual suits you even better, too. But an occasional change of pace can do wonders for one's mood."
Yuki nods slowly. Her gaze runs down Oriko in turn, taking note of her button-down shirt and ankle-length skirt. She looks prim and proper like this, even the generous smile on her face has a refined air.
"A change of pace, like you actually answering a question for once?"
"Just like that," she agrees, as if the sarcasm went right over her head. Yuki knows better, though.
Shaking her head, she empties her cup and accepts a refill. Then she heaves a sigh and motions toward the seer.
"I like your clothes, too. They give you a ladylike air, a little formal but not too much so."
Returning the compliment comes surprisingly easy. Yuki thought it would annoy her more to play nice.
For her part, Oriko brightens. "Why, thank you. I do try to be presentable at all times."
Yuki accepts that without comment, trying to think of a way to change the subject. Small talk like this is tiresome. Then her gaze falls onto the closed laptop still sitting nearby; bereft of anything else and admittedly a little curious, Yuki points to it.
"What were you doing earlier? Homework?"
Oriko gently places a hand on the dark plastic. "Oh, no such thing. Even if the world would not end so soon, I have no future left to prepare for. You already know my family situation; being the daughter of a man who fell into disgrace like that, I will never hold any work of value. So I need not bother attending school anymore. Why would I waste half of every day when there is so little precious time left, anyway?"
She says it nonchalantly, to the point Yuki has to wonder; is this a mere act, or is she truly not bothered?
"This is not right," she says instead. "The sins of the father are not the sins of the child. His actions should not speak for you."
Her words have the other woman perk up faintly, only to deflate at the end.
"Unfortunately, you are in the wrong country to preach such a thing," Oriko answers. Her smile turns softer now as she stirs some sugar into her tea. "The clan's actions cast their shadow upon its descendants. Bad blood births bad blood, or so the thought goes. Why would the tree that grows of a rotten apple not also be rotten?"
"Do you want me to actually answer that?"
"There is no need," she assures with twitching lips. How Oriko can take humour out of something saddening like this is beyond Yuki.
"Assume the world did not end. How would you live then?"
Oriko tilts her head at that. A soft hum leaves her lips. "Assuming I live long enough to become a legal adult, you mean?" she queries with a tap to her Soul Gem. Which is another good point. "Well, I possess the gift of foresight and the internet. Knowing the future will open a number of possibilities to earn money for me. And then I can spend all my life finding and pursuing the things I love."
"I could introduce you to someone," she offers, thinking of Junko. These two might make for a dangerous combination in regard to the economy.
Oriko dismisses the thought with a soft motion, though. "While I would love to meet her sometime, do remember that our time is limited. I have since realised that I may have simply not seen the one timeline where the end of the world is averted, this I grant you; but after sighting hundreds and thousands of failures, I will not hold out hope."
She offers a little smile then. "And if we do see May after all, then that will be a pleasant surprise."
Yuki has no answer to that. It is an acceptable compromise in her opinion. Oriko seems to read as much from her silence, too. She contendedly taps the case of her laptop.
"But to answer your original question," she gracefully leads, "I was taking notes. My memory is good, but not good enough to maintain everything I learn from all those possible futures I study. People and their motivations, pivotal events, and chains of causality to create certain outcomes, I have taken to write them all down. As I was busy last night, I had to do it this morning instead."
"Busy doing what?"
"Kirika."
"Ah."
Yuki leaves it at that. She ran into that one. Although she is also curious about Oriko's notes; if what the young woman just said is true, then everything she knows about Yuki will be in there.
But she is not here for that. And even if she were, she doubts Oriko is so careless to leave the notes unprotected.
"Where do I find this church?" she asks instead, returning to the actual original subject.
Thankfully, Oriko gives her a description without hesitation. She even includes street names, cardinal directions, and the district to go. Once she has all that, Yuki finishes the rest of her tea and stands.
"Then I will get going now," she announces, but pauses. "And... thank you for your support."
It is only good manners, after all. Oriko waves her off.
"It was nothing. Be safe, Yuki."
"I will be."
Once again, Yuki hesitates before teleporting away. She turns halfway to the once again defaced front wall and casts a burst of viridian light from her palm; it scrubs away the graffiti within moments. Oriko bears a grateful smile, which makes Yuki's lips quirk up the faintest bit in response.
Then, with a soft "Until next time", she teleports to the outskirts of Kazamino, leaving a content young woman behind.
Just as Oriko makes to refill her own teacup however, her hands suddenly still. Her brow furrows, then she looks back to where Yuki just vanished. A soft blink, then another, and then her eyes widen fractionally as realisation dawns.
A soft "Damn it" escapes Oriko's mouth while she buries her head in her arms. A defeated sigh follows, the seer remaining like this for a minute. Her fingers twitch toward her Soul Gem, but then she thinks better of it. Oriko already knows it to be true.
She does not need to see the future to know it to be true. Nor the gossamer strand of green curling through her gem's greying ivory, devouring the taint within.
Yuki is unaware of the other magical girl's reaction. But she feels an uncharacteristically warm glow in her chest as she starts her journey through Kazamino. Oriko is fairly good company when she does not try to be all mysterious, or so Yuki thinks. She stands to her ideals or lack of them, even in the face of disagreement and scorn. That integrity is admirable, especially because it never gets in the way of politeness toward her guests.
"Heya, Yuki!" a familiar voice greets as she passes a side street. "You look pretty happy. Did something good happen?"
Turning to look, she finds Ai. The pinkette hops down from the wall she lounged on and strolls over to meet her, a cheerful grin in place. And indeed, Yuki wears an expression that almost matches hers.
Frowning, she rubs her cheeks and mouth until everything is back to normal. Ai giggles about it, but does not comment.
"I had a pleasant conversation, is all," Yuki offers in response. "How have you been?"
"Oh, pretty good. The last few days were fun, well, for the most part, I guess. My moms aren't talking again."
She makes a face at that and shakes her head as if to disperse the thought. Yuki recalls a previous mention of the girl's mother, but no specifics. She slowly starts to walk and motions Ai to follow.
"You have two mothers?"
"Sure do," Ai says with a little grin. It grows further when Yuki does not respond, as if she expected a negative response. "I call them Mom and Mother to keep them apart."
"I see. And which one was the overthinker?"
"Oh, you remember that? That's Mom. Mother is more of a no-thinker. Just jumps into the thick of it once her mind's made up, you know?"
Yuki snorts. "I know the type," she says, feeling herself reminded of Love and Happiness. Both of them are much the same. "But you said they are not talking? Did something happen?"
"Eh, the usual." Ai waves it off with a little frown. "It boggles the mind how those two can miscommunicate like they do when they're so in love. Mom basically worships the ground Mother walks on. It's like anyone but them can see that."
"Maybe you should say something about it?"
Yuki's suggestion coaxes a chuckle out of Ai. "Honestly? I'm more likely to get results by beating both of them over the head," she says while waggling her hockey stick. "But that's how it is. They will go back to talking sooner or later, and then all is well. And if not, I can still brain them."
"As long as nobody gets hurt," Yuki answers diplomatically. She hopes by herself that Ai will not actually hit either of her mothers; they are unlikely to survive a solid thwack unscathed.
"They'll be fine. With how stubborn those two are, they can probably bash their heads through walls."
Ai laughs, but soon quiets down with a sigh. "Anyway, I'm out and about until they get along again. Kind of hard to be around for those times. What about you, why're you in Kazamino this early?"
She pauses, then looks Yuki up and down. "Did you get hired somewhere around here?"
"No. I am visiting someone I met the week before last. An acquaintance suggested I should change to less conspicuous clothes, is all."
Even while she says it, Yuki considers the girl before her. Ai seems healthy, but she clearly hides some upset over her familial situation. She can not really do anything to arbitrate that, but Yuki does still recall Oriko's advice to wait some time. She might as well engage with Ai.
"Do you want to do something for a little while? I have an hour or so before that meeting."
It was evidently the right thing to say. Ai brightens notably and grabs Yuki's hand. "Absolutely!" she cheers, then starts tugging. "C'mon, I know just the thing! Let's go treasure hunting!"
Treasure hunting, apparently, is a euphemism for dumpster diving in the back alleys. Ai takes a disproportionate amount of joy from sticking her head in trashcans to look for goodies. She checks small cracks in the pavement and the like with meticulous attention.
And somehow, Yuki gets it by the time she spots her first coin in a little nook. A brass coin, just five yen in total, but somehow picking it out of there makes it feel like more. Yuki found it there, where someone else lost it. Even Ai failed to spot that one.
Treasure, indeed.
She follows in Ai's wake with renewed enthusiasm, crouching low to peer under signs and climbing on walls to search for glints of metal. Ai herself seems more interested in things that people threw away, though she nimbly follows Yuki onto some of the walls. A bright grin graces her features, which even pulls up Yuki's lips after a time.
By the end of that hour she allotted, the two of them sit on the pavement with their loot spread out between them. A handful of small coins, some fairly intact dolls and plush animals, the occasional mechanical appliance, and even a swiss army knife sit there innocently.
"What a haul!" Ai cheers as she touches the plush animals with fondness. "You have an eye for this, weird girl!"
Yuki takes the compliment without a word, still examining this odd feeling in her chest. Reading aside, she never had a time for hobbies before. But this was unexpectedly fun; she never knew what she would find next, or where. The uncertainty of it made it thrilling.
Oriko would be amazing at this. But she would also be cheating by already knowing where things can be found.
Before she can stop to examine that odd thought, a shadow falls over the two girls.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Two homeless girls making a nuisance of themselves?"
Looking up, Yuki finds herself confronted by a particularly tall man. Or a boy rather, if the high school uniform is any indication; a black jacket and pants that are otherwise unremarkable.
"Piss off," Ai drawls before she can say much of anything. "Shouldn't you be in school, buddy?"
The young man growls at that, his firm hands closing around Yuki's arm and pulling her up. "It's my job to keep trash like you off the streets. So get up, or your friend here gets it."
To an ordinary person, his grip strength would hurt. Yuki just feels the pressure. At first she is befuddled by the assumption she would be homeless, even if it is technically true. Then she realises that the few times Ai convinced her to dig through a particularly full garbage bin made her clothes dirty with oil and dust. It also added some tears, making her look disheveled.
Ai rolls her eyes and bounds to her feet. "So what now, asshole?" she shoots back with crossed arms. "Do you want your ass beat now, or later when daddy comes home drunk again?"
"Shut up!" the boy snarls back, pulling Yuki up further. But then he calms himself and grins. "I was willing to let you two leave, being girls and all, but I guess I'll give you a proper beating while I'm at it."
He then very deliberately steps on one of the plush toys on his way to Ai. The little pink elephant lets out an almost despondent squeak. Ai bristles in response, seemingly having liked this one.
Then the boy lets out a very similar squeak and stops dead in his tracks. He looks down in sudden horror, only to come face to blindfold with Yuki, whose hand just closed around his crotch. She squeezes, just enough to send the message home.
"Rethink your actions and return to school," she orders, squeezing harder. "Or I will make sure to remove you from the gene pool."
A pitiful whine escapes the young man, who quickly lets go of her arm.
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
Yuki's eyes narrow. She gives one final, warning squeeze, then lets go. Her near-victim quickly takes some distance, reevaluating the situation. Ai kicks up her hockey stick and holds it up threateningly.
Rather than spew some nonsense about them regretting it, or trying to attack them anyway, the boy quickly flees the scene. Meaning he was not completely braindead.
Yuki shakes her head and plops back down to sort the items he disorganised with his feet. The elephant is mostly intact, if a little misshapen now.
"Gotta say, you were really cool there," Ai praises, then plops down as well. "Come on!"
She holds out her hand for a high five. Yuki stares for a moment, but eventually taps her palm against it.
"It was an utterly meaningless interaction," she muses. "This boy is unlikely to heed my words. He will just look for easier marks. And even if I am wrong, whatever root cause creates people like him is still there."
Ai shrugs in turn. "Some people are just assholes. Not saying there isn't a reason they turn out like this, but sometimes the reason is that they're assholes."
"I guess that is a fair point."
"Yup! Anyway, you seriously didn't hesitate before grabbing him by the balls!"
"Why would I not make use of an obvious weakspot?"
Ai laughs at that. Then she gingerly picks up the pink elephant and hugs it to her chest. "Do you mind if I take this little fella?"
"Take him," Yuki says. "I have no space for any of these, anyway."
Or at least Kazuko will not be happy about a bunch of old dolls showing up in her room, she reasons.
Ai nods her understanding and frowns at the haul, then pushes the coins over. "Then you take those and I take the rest, how's that sound? The coins are small."
"That works. Unless you wish to tell me that you are indeed homeless or need to do these things to survive, in which case I have to insist that you take them."
"Hm?"
Ai stares back owlishly, then huffs and shakes her head. "Nope, I really just do this for fun. I feel kind of bad for all these poor toys, y'know? Someone must've loved them, but they've still been thrown away."
So saying, she gathers the half dozen plush dolls in her arms and stands. "Anyway, I gotta bring these guys back to my place. Thanks for hanging out, and thanks for the save earlier. See ya!"
Yuki waves and watches Ai dart away. Then she snaps her fingers, casting a cleaning spell to clear her skin and hair. Her suit expells all the dirt on its own as it mends. The stench of garbage and various old waste is gone a moment later.
Her coins are likewise cleaned before wandering into Yuki's pockets, then she gets going as well.
The remaining walk to the Sakura Church is uneventful. An half hour of crisp morning air and the occasional passersby is all she gets.
Unfortunately, the church itself is not so much tranquil as desolate. The lawn and trees grow wild, pavement is cracked or broken, and the building itself shows clear signs of decay. Ruins of a singular wall stand in the back yard, charred black and half covered in vines.
Yuki turns this way and that, taking in the sight. This is not a place people live. This is not a church, either. It is an altar of a forgotten god, if anything.
She unconciously rubs a thumb over the pendants on her necklace as she approaches. If this is where Kyoko dwells, then she might have extenuating circumstances as well.
When she is halfway between the entrance and the main building, the large gate slowly opens. Yuki stops once she spots a familiar pink and red robe, followed by that crimson mane; Kyoko is transformed, a spear in hand. But when she sees Yuki, her steps falter for just a moment.
"Oh. You."
She growls and crouches lower. At this distance, Yuki knows it is merely a threat display.
"Didn't think you'd show your face again."
This is already off to a good start. The positive feelings from earlier are already gone, replaced with that bubbling annoyance. Yuki crosses her arms and turns, displaying her side instead of her front for a smaller profile.
"I want to know why you attacked me that night."
The redhead, Kyoko, snorts. "Pretty obvious, ain't it?" she shoots back with a dismissive motion. "You're a Witch, I'm a Magical Girl. That's how it works."
"I am not a Witch," Yuki repeats. She has a feeling this will not be the last time. "It does not matter, either. I came here to talk."
"Well, I'm not talking to you. Get lost before I make you!"
She is acting oddly. The aggression from two weeks ago is gone. Almost... protective of the place behind her, with how big she tries to make herself look.
Yuki takes a single step forward, which immediately causes Kyoko to brandish her spear.
"I said get lost!" she shouts.
And here she is, stonewalled again. Yuki almost spits a glob of acid. The anger begins to bubble in her gut. It comes quicker, more readily. And with it comes an idea; Love would endorse it, and it even kills two birds with one stone.
"No," Yuki says. Her mallet forms in her hand, held at rest even while Kyoko tenses for battle.
"A proposal," she adds while her suit unconciously reverts to its original form. "We fight, here and now. And should I win, you will speak with me properly."
That gives the redhead pause. She sizes Yuki up again, then plasters a fanged grin onto her face. "Fine. And if I win, I'll help myself to your Grief Seed."
Yuki almost says there will be no such thing, but refrains; there is no use to repeating herself at this point. At least she can be pleased about her improvised plan's success. She gets to work out some of her anger and make Kyoko open up.
Now she just needs to beat her into the ground without killing her.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb5njE5QD3E[/URL]
[] Cast her in chains and disarm her
weight: x1
[] Yield your flesh to claim her bones!
weight: x1
[] Rip and Tear! Let's see her fight without limbs!
weight: x0.75
[] write-in a battle plan
We have a six-hour Moratorium. Please do not vote for six hours!
Kyoko Sakura
-Threat Rating: WAW
-Threat Assessment: Supremely skilled and out for blood. Her spear is malleable, Kyoko can make it change length and split apart into segmented chains with heavy morning stars. Her other powers are unknown.
This Quest has been lacking in violence so far. So here we are
And to comment on something Ai said about her mothers: she actually calls them 'Kaa-san' (Mom) and 'Okaa-sama' (Mother) in her native Japanese, to distinguish between them. There is just no way to convey that while translation magic is in the mix. I figured I should point that out here.
Yuki slowly nods to herself and stands, smoothing out some wrinkles in her pencil skirt. She prefers to start working again, rather than idle around preparing. And if nothing else, prodding at Oriko again will give her some further measure of her intentions along the way.
Viridian light begins to glow around Yuki as the magic gathers. Without so much as a word, she vanishes from the empty living room.
Unfortunately, her sudden arrival in Oriko's backyard yields no surprise from the seer. She simply glances up from her laptop to be polite.
"Please have a seat. Tea? To what do I owe the pleasure?"
She motions toward a second chair, already prepared. Yuki plops down on it and accepts another cup, oddly comfortable with the burgeoning routine.
"The magical girl that attacked me in Kazamino," she starts without preamble, "she primarily wears red. Do you know where I can find her?"
"Oh? Do you mean to press the issue?"
Whether Oriko actually tries to hide that little grin or not, Yuki sees it anyway. She rolls her eyes and takes a sip of tea in response. "I want to know what it is you made me do. And since you will not tell me, I have to go there and see for myself. So answer me: do you know, and will you tell me where to find her?"
"I know, and I will."
That is a bit of a surprise. Neither of them openly acknowledges it as such, but Oriko also keeps quiet for a time. She continues typing away at her laptop, offering only half her attention to the conversation.
Yuki's head tilts faintly. "And why will you tell me this, but nothing else?"
"Because this has nothing to do with my foresight," Oriko answers easily. She takes a dainty sip, clacks a final key, and closes the laptop. "I won't tell you of what is yet to come because I need to maneuver the many threads carefully, lest I lose the outcome I want."
"Now," she continues after another sip, "I recommend that you wait an hour or two. Kyoko Sakura, that is her name, is not actually awake yet. She hunts from evening into the night, then sleeps in. Surprising her when she is still sleeping or just woke up will provoke her into attacking."
Which, apparently, Oriko wants to avoid. Yuki considers to go right now anyway, but decides to reserve her judgement. The seer is helpful for once, after all.
"And where do I find her?"
"Sakura Church. Yes, she shares the place's name," she adds before Yuki can even open her mouth. "You should not ask her about that for the time being, it is a sore subject."
"Then you tell me."
"I think not," Oriko denies gently. "Knowing the secrets of others does not mean I am at liberty to share them."
That is a fair point to make, even Yuki has to admit. She nods her understanding.
"Any other advice you wish to impart?"
"Hm. No, I believe you will do fine with what you have. And if I may say so, the change of clothing suits you quite well. You make for a well-dressed office lady."
Oriko's smile is undeterred by Yuki's lack of response. Yuki looks down at herself, tugs a little at her tights, and then shrugs.
"I appreciate it. My own feelings are still in flux, though; I do not mind it much, but I do not like it overly, either."
"Well, I can understand that. You have grown comfortable in your usual clothes, no? Such a sudden change would leave anyone a little alienated. Truth be told, I think your usual suits you even better, too. But an occasional change of pace can do wonders for one's mood."
Yuki nods slowly. Her gaze runs down Oriko in turn, taking note of her button-down shirt and ankle-length skirt. She looks prim and proper like this, even the generous smile on her face has a refined air.
"A change of pace, like you actually answering a question for once?"
"Just like that," she agrees, as if the sarcasm went right over her head. Yuki knows better, though.
Shaking her head, she empties her cup and accepts a refill. Then she heaves a sigh and motions toward the seer.
"I like your clothes, too. They give you a ladylike air, a little formal but not too much so."
Returning the compliment comes surprisingly easy. Yuki thought it would annoy her more to play nice.
For her part, Oriko brightens. "Why, thank you. I do try to be presentable at all times."
Yuki accepts that without comment, trying to think of a way to change the subject. Small talk like this is tiresome. Then her gaze falls onto the closed laptop still sitting nearby; bereft of anything else and admittedly a little curious, Yuki points to it.
"What were you doing earlier? Homework?"
Oriko gently places a hand on the dark plastic. "Oh, no such thing. Even if the world would not end so soon, I have no future left to prepare for. You already know my family situation; being the daughter of a man who fell into disgrace like that, I will never hold any work of value. So I need not bother attending school anymore. Why would I waste half of every day when there is so little precious time left, anyway?"
She says it nonchalantly, to the point Yuki has to wonder; is this a mere act, or is she truly not bothered?
"This is not right," she says instead. "The sins of the father are not the sins of the child. His actions should not speak for you."
Her words have the other woman perk up faintly, only to deflate at the end.
"Unfortunately, you are in the wrong country to preach such a thing," Oriko answers. Her smile turns softer now as she stirs some sugar into her tea. "The clan's actions cast their shadow upon its descendants. Bad blood births bad blood, or so the thought goes. Why would the tree that grows of a rotten apple not also be rotten?"
"Do you want me to actually answer that?"
"There is no need," she assures with twitching lips. How Oriko can take humour out of something saddening like this is beyond Yuki.
"Assume the world did not end. How would you live then?"
Oriko tilts her head at that. A soft hum leaves her lips. "Assuming I live long enough to become a legal adult, you mean?" she queries with a tap to her Soul Gem. Which is another good point. "Well, I possess the gift of foresight and the internet. Knowing the future will open a number of possibilities to earn money for me. And then I can spend all my life finding and pursuing the things I love."
"I could introduce you to someone," she offers, thinking of Junko. These two might make for a dangerous combination in regard to the economy.
Oriko dismisses the thought with a soft motion, though. "While I would love to meet her sometime, do remember that our time is limited. I have since realised that I may have simply not seen the one timeline where the end of the world is averted, this I grant you; but after sighting hundreds and thousands of failures, I will not hold out hope."
She offers a little smile then. "And if we do see May after all, then that will be a pleasant surprise."
Yuki has no answer to that. It is an acceptable compromise in her opinion. Oriko seems to read as much from her silence, too. She contendedly taps the case of her laptop.
"But to answer your original question," she gracefully leads, "I was taking notes. My memory is good, but not good enough to maintain everything I learn from all those possible futures I study. People and their motivations, pivotal events, and chains of causality to create certain outcomes, I have taken to write them all down. As I was busy last night, I had to do it this morning instead."
"Busy doing what?"
"Kirika."
"Ah."
Yuki leaves it at that. She ran into that one. Although she is also curious about Oriko's notes; if what the young woman just said is true, then everything she knows about Yuki will be in there.
But she is not here for that. And even if she were, she doubts Oriko is so careless to leave the notes unprotected.
"Where do I find this church?" she asks instead, returning to the actual original subject.
Thankfully, Oriko gives her a description without hesitation. She even includes street names, cardinal directions, and the district to go. Once she has all that, Yuki finishes the rest of her tea and stands.
"Then I will get going now," she announces, but pauses. "And... thank you for your support."
It is only good manners, after all. Oriko waves her off.
"It was nothing. Be safe, Yuki."
"I will be."
Once again, Yuki hesitates before teleporting away. She turns halfway to the once again defaced front wall and casts a burst of viridian light from her palm; it scrubs away the graffiti within moments. Oriko bears a grateful smile, which makes Yuki's lips quirk up the faintest bit in response.
Then, with a soft "Until next time", she teleports to the outskirts of Kazamino, leaving a content young woman behind.
Just as Oriko makes to refill her own teacup however, her hands suddenly still. Her brow furrows, then she looks back to where Yuki just vanished. A soft blink, then another, and then her eyes widen fractionally as realisation dawns.
A soft "Damn it" escapes Oriko's mouth while she buries her head in her arms. A defeated sigh follows, the seer remaining like this for a minute. Her fingers twitch toward her Soul Gem, but then she thinks better of it. Oriko already knows it to be true.
She does not need to see the future to know it to be true. Nor the gossamer strand of green curling through her gem's greying ivory, devouring the taint within.
Yuki is unaware of the other magical girl's reaction. But she feels an uncharacteristically warm glow in her chest as she starts her journey through Kazamino. Oriko is fairly good company when she does not try to be all mysterious, or so Yuki thinks. She stands to her ideals or lack of them, even in the face of disagreement and scorn. That integrity is admirable, especially because it never gets in the way of politeness toward her guests.
"Heya, Yuki!" a familiar voice greets as she passes a side street. "You look pretty happy. Did something good happen?"
Turning to look, she finds Ai. The pinkette hops down from the wall she lounged on and strolls over to meet her, a cheerful grin in place. And indeed, Yuki wears an expression that almost matches hers.
Frowning, she rubs her cheeks and mouth until everything is back to normal. Ai giggles about it, but does not comment.
"I had a pleasant conversation, is all," Yuki offers in response. "How have you been?"
"Oh, pretty good. The last few days were fun, well, for the most part, I guess. My moms aren't talking again."
She makes a face at that and shakes her head as if to disperse the thought. Yuki recalls a previous mention of the girl's mother, but no specifics. She slowly starts to walk and motions Ai to follow.
"You have two mothers?"
"Sure do," Ai says with a little grin. It grows further when Yuki does not respond, as if she expected a negative response. "I call them Mom and Mother to keep them apart."
"I see. And which one was the overthinker?"
"Oh, you remember that? That's Mom. Mother is more of a no-thinker. Just jumps into the thick of it once her mind's made up, you know?"
Yuki snorts. "I know the type," she says, feeling herself reminded of Love and Happiness. Both of them are much the same. "But you said they are not talking? Did something happen?"
"Eh, the usual." Ai waves it off with a little frown. "It boggles the mind how those two can miscommunicate like they do when they're so in love. Mom basically worships the ground Mother walks on. It's like anyone but them can see that."
"Maybe you should say something about it?"
Yuki's suggestion coaxes a chuckle out of Ai. "Honestly? I'm more likely to get results by beating both of them over the head," she says while waggling her hockey stick. "But that's how it is. They will go back to talking sooner or later, and then all is well. And if not, I can still brain them."
"As long as nobody gets hurt," Yuki answers diplomatically. She hopes by herself that Ai will not actually hit either of her mothers; they are unlikely to survive a solid thwack unscathed.
"They'll be fine. With how stubborn those two are, they can probably bash their heads through walls."
Ai laughs, but soon quiets down with a sigh. "Anyway, I'm out and about until they get along again. Kind of hard to be around for those times. What about you, why're you in Kazamino this early?"
She pauses, then looks Yuki up and down. "Did you get hired somewhere around here?"
"No. I am visiting someone I met the week before last. An acquaintance suggested I should change to less conspicuous clothes, is all."
Even while she says it, Yuki considers the girl before her. Ai seems healthy, but she clearly hides some upset over her familial situation. She can not really do anything to arbitrate that, but Yuki does still recall Oriko's advice to wait some time. She might as well engage with Ai.
"Do you want to do something for a little while? I have an hour or so before that meeting."
It was evidently the right thing to say. Ai brightens notably and grabs Yuki's hand. "Absolutely!" she cheers, then starts tugging. "C'mon, I know just the thing! Let's go treasure hunting!"
Treasure hunting, apparently, is a euphemism for dumpster diving in the back alleys. Ai takes a disproportionate amount of joy from sticking her head in trashcans to look for goodies. She checks small cracks in the pavement and the like with meticulous attention.
And somehow, Yuki gets it by the time she spots her first coin in a little nook. A brass coin, just five yen in total, but somehow picking it out of there makes it feel like more. Yuki found it there, where someone else lost it. Even Ai failed to spot that one.
Treasure, indeed.
She follows in Ai's wake with renewed enthusiasm, crouching low to peer under signs and climbing on walls to search for glints of metal. Ai herself seems more interested in things that people threw away, though she nimbly follows Yuki onto some of the walls. A bright grin graces her features, which even pulls up Yuki's lips after a time.
By the end of that hour she allotted, the two of them sit on the pavement with their loot spread out between them. A handful of small coins, some fairly intact dolls and plush animals, the occasional mechanical appliance, and even a swiss army knife sit there innocently.
"What a haul!" Ai cheers as she touches the plush animals with fondness. "You have an eye for this, weird girl!"
Yuki takes the compliment without a word, still examining this odd feeling in her chest. Reading aside, she never had a time for hobbies before. But this was unexpectedly fun; she never knew what she would find next, or where. The uncertainty of it made it thrilling.
Oriko would be amazing at this. But she would also be cheating by already knowing where things can be found.
Before she can stop to examine that odd thought, a shadow falls over the two girls.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Two homeless girls making a nuisance of themselves?"
Looking up, Yuki finds herself confronted by a particularly tall man. Or a boy rather, if the high school uniform is any indication; a black jacket and pants that are otherwise unremarkable.
"Piss off," Ai drawls before she can say much of anything. "Shouldn't you be in school, buddy?"
The young man growls at that, his firm hands closing around Yuki's arm and pulling her up. "It's my job to keep trash like you off the streets. So get up, or your friend here gets it."
To an ordinary person, his grip strength would hurt. Yuki just feels the pressure. At first she is befuddled by the assumption she would be homeless, even if it is technically true. Then she realises that the few times Ai convinced her to dig through a particularly full garbage bin made her clothes dirty with oil and dust. It also added some tears, making her look disheveled.
Ai rolls her eyes and bounds to her feet. "So what now, asshole?" she shoots back with crossed arms. "Do you want your ass beat now, or later when daddy comes home drunk again?"
"Shut up!" the boy snarls back, pulling Yuki up further. But then he calms himself and grins. "I was willing to let you two leave, being girls and all, but I guess I'll give you a proper beating while I'm at it."
He then very deliberately steps on one of the plush toys on his way to Ai. The little pink elephant lets out an almost despondent squeak. Ai bristles in response, seemingly having liked this one.
Then the boy lets out a very similar squeak and stops dead in his tracks. He looks down in sudden horror, only to come face to blindfold with Yuki, whose hand just closed around his crotch. She squeezes, just enough to send the message home.
"Rethink your actions and return to school," she orders, squeezing harder. "Or I will make sure to remove you from the gene pool."
A pitiful whine escapes the young man, who quickly lets go of her arm.
"Y-Yes, ma'am."
Yuki's eyes narrow. She gives one final, warning squeeze, then lets go. Her near-victim quickly takes some distance, reevaluating the situation. Ai kicks up her hockey stick and holds it up threateningly.
Rather than spew some nonsense about them regretting it, or trying to attack them anyway, the boy quickly flees the scene. Meaning he was not completely braindead.
Yuki shakes her head and plops back down to sort the items he disorganised with his feet. The elephant is mostly intact, if a little misshapen now.
"Gotta say, you were really cool there," Ai praises, then plops down as well. "Come on!"
She holds out her hand for a high five. Yuki stares for a moment, but eventually taps her palm against it.
"It was an utterly meaningless interaction," she muses. "This boy is unlikely to heed my words. He will just look for easier marks. And even if I am wrong, whatever root cause creates people like him is still there."
Ai shrugs in turn. "Some people are just assholes. Not saying there isn't a reason they turn out like this, but sometimes the reason is that they're assholes."
"I guess that is a fair point."
"Yup! Anyway, you seriously didn't hesitate before grabbing him by the balls!"
"Why would I not make use of an obvious weakspot?"
Ai laughs at that. Then she gingerly picks up the pink elephant and hugs it to her chest. "Do you mind if I take this little fella?"
"Take him," Yuki says. "I have no space for any of these, anyway."
Or at least Kazuko will not be happy about a bunch of old dolls showing up in her room, she reasons.
Ai nods her understanding and frowns at the haul, then pushes the coins over. "Then you take those and I take the rest, how's that sound? The coins are small."
"That works. Unless you wish to tell me that you are indeed homeless or need to do these things to survive, in which case I have to insist that you take them."
"Hm?"
Ai stares back owlishly, then huffs and shakes her head. "Nope, I really just do this for fun. I feel kind of bad for all these poor toys, y'know? Someone must've loved them, but they've still been thrown away."
So saying, she gathers the half dozen plush dolls in her arms and stands. "Anyway, I gotta bring these guys back to my place. Thanks for hanging out, and thanks for the save earlier. See ya!"
Yuki waves and watches Ai dart away. Then she snaps her fingers, casting a cleaning spell to clear her skin and hair. Her suit expells all the dirt on its own as it mends. The stench of garbage and various old waste is gone a moment later.
Her coins are likewise cleaned before wandering into Yuki's pockets, then she gets going as well.
The remaining walk to the Sakura Church is uneventful. An half hour of crisp morning air and the occasional passersby is all she gets.
Unfortunately, the church itself is not so much tranquil as desolate. The lawn and trees grow wild, pavement is cracked or broken, and the building itself shows clear signs of decay. Ruins of a singular wall stand in the back yard, charred black and half covered in vines.
Yuki turns this way and that, taking in the sight. This is not a place people live. This is not a church, either. It is an altar of a forgotten god, if anything.
She unconciously rubs a thumb over the pendants on her necklace as she approaches. If this is where Kyoko dwells, then she might have extenuating circumstances as well.
When she is halfway between the entrance and the main building, the large gate slowly opens. Yuki stops once she spots a familiar pink and red robe, followed by that crimson mane; Kyoko is transformed, a spear in hand. But when she sees Yuki, her steps falter for just a moment.
"Oh. You."
She growls and crouches lower. At this distance, Yuki knows it is merely a threat display.
"Didn't think you'd show your face again."
This is already off to a good start. The positive feelings from earlier are already gone, replaced with that bubbling annoyance. Yuki crosses her arms and turns, displaying her side instead of her front for a smaller profile.
"I want to know why you attacked me that night."
The redhead, Kyoko, snorts. "Pretty obvious, ain't it?" she shoots back with a dismissive motion. "You're a Witch, I'm a Magical Girl. That's how it works."
"I am not a Witch," Yuki repeats. She has a feeling this will not be the last time. "It does not matter, either. I came here to talk."
"Well, I'm not talking to you. Get lost before I make you!"
She is acting oddly. The aggression from two weeks ago is gone. Almost... protective of the place behind her, with how big she tries to make herself look.
Yuki takes a single step forward, which immediately causes Kyoko to brandish her spear.
"I said get lost!" she shouts.
And here she is, stonewalled again. Yuki almost spits a glob of acid. The anger begins to bubble in her gut. It comes quicker, more readily. And with it comes an idea; Love would endorse it, and it even kills two birds with one stone.
"No," Yuki says. Her mallet forms in her hand, held at rest even while Kyoko tenses for battle.
"A proposal," she adds while her suit unconciously reverts to its original form. "We fight, here and now. And should I win, you will speak with me properly."
That gives the redhead pause. She sizes Yuki up again, then plasters a fanged grin onto her face. "Fine. And if I win, I'll help myself to your Grief Seed."
Yuki almost says there will be no such thing, but refrains; there is no use to repeating herself at this point. At least she can be pleased about her improvised plan's success. She gets to work out some of her anger and make Kyoko open up.
Now she just needs to beat her into the ground without killing her.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb5njE5QD3E[/URL]
[] Cast her in chains and disarm her
weight: x1
[] Yield your flesh to claim her bones!
weight: x1
[] Rip and Tear! Let's see her fight without limbs!
weight: x0.75
[] write-in a battle plan
We have a six-hour Moratorium. Please do not vote for six hours!
Kyoko Sakura
-Threat Rating: WAW
-Threat Assessment: Supremely skilled and out for blood. Her spear is malleable, Kyoko can make it change length and split apart into segmented chains with heavy morning stars. Her other powers are unknown.
This Quest has been lacking in violence so far. So here we are
And to comment on something Ai said about her mothers: she actually calls them 'Kaa-san' (Mom) and 'Okaa-sama' (Mother) in her native Japanese, to distinguish between them. There is just no way to convey that while translation magic is in the mix. I figured I should point that out here.
[] Cast her in chains and disarm her
Assuming Kyoko has not remembered her original power, her special magic is limited to making barriers to block or immobilize things. Using chains to immobilize sounds like a similar tactic to Mami's ribbons, which I would put down as a coin toss for success. Yielding flesh sounds like a higher risk of revealing Wrath in exchange for a chance at scoring a decisive blow.
Poke, poke, poke.
Sore subject indeed.
We should invite Judgment bird to the place, he can redecorate in a way that will make Kyoko remember her family.
: "I agree."That is a good reminder to all that thinks that Japan is perfect: yeah, it isn't.
It has big, big problems even.
Oriko will have a new accessory to wear in no time at this rate.
See?
What a coincidence... is what I would say if I thought it was a coincidence.
As is, my actual reaction is *looks suspiciously at the timing*.
Would they happen to be named Madoka and Homura, by the way?
Just asking.
Mom would be Homura and Mother Madoka in that case.
*Insert picture of one of Madokami's altars during Rebellion*
(Couldn't find one)
Yuki is happy -> instantly thinks of what it would be like to do it with her friend.
Hey boy, wanna see a dead body?
Seriously, if we don't have the option to kill him I will be surprised.
Can you act more like a moron, moron?
*Looks suspciously*
Pink elephant, you say?
I know most of Walalala's elephants are green, but....
New hypothesis: Ai is Walpurgisnacht made into a real girl by the power of Madokami and Homucifer, here to help her mothers from the future.
My eyes are hurting after all that squinting in suspicion, you know?
Almost as if there was a Yuma hidden behind.
Wow Yuki, angry much?
Calm down a little, girl.
Don't worry Oriko, all you have to do is not act as if you could betray Yuki at any point and everything will be fine.
Now, put that cup of tea down and talk without acting like you know everything, please. You're making me nervous.
Casting in chain can work, Kyoko shouldn't have her magic so should be vulnerable to it.
Though, the actual perfect opponent for this tactic is Homura, just pointing out.
I am not sure I want to risk Yield our flesh.
If we knew about Soul gems, I would say we could do things with that, but we don't.
We shouldn't hurt Kyoko too much or we will risk having a pouting Yuma appear, or a crying one... or a wishing one.
Last scenario is a big nono.
Shcalda
Employee of F.Corp
- Location
- Disctrict 6
Did you forget about the moratorium? I would like to remind to please not vote until after 6 hours since the chapter was released (suleverf I think you are fine).
Nonetheless this chapter was very fun. also "CURSE YOU NARON! I HEREBY VOW!" you were right, we hadn't thought of the consequences. there's danger in sticking to any one person. they might become our "friend". Currently I'd say it could be Ai or Oriko for sure who are most likely, as you joked. Although, if Oriko becomes The Hermit, then what of Kirika? Does she become a different arcana? The Chariot?
As for a plan, subduing and chaining seems like the path to take, but it might help to try to analyse her fighting style so we may make possible counters. Try go for non-lethal but don't be afraid to threaten where needed. keep a nice clean fight but insure she can't fight back or get the upper hand when you win.
Nonetheless this chapter was very fun. also "CURSE YOU NARON! I HEREBY VOW!" you were right, we hadn't thought of the consequences. there's danger in sticking to any one person. they might become our "friend". Currently I'd say it could be Ai or Oriko for sure who are most likely, as you joked. Although, if Oriko becomes The Hermit, then what of Kirika? Does she become a different arcana? The Chariot?
As for a plan, subduing and chaining seems like the path to take, but it might help to try to analyse her fighting style so we may make possible counters. Try go for non-lethal but don't be afraid to threaten where needed. keep a nice clean fight but insure she can't fight back or get the upper hand when you win.
- Location
- Earth
If Oriko becomes The Hermit, then Kirika becomes Death, destroyer of Yukis
If Oriko becomes The Hermit, then Kirika becomes Death, destroyer of Yukis
Oh, if she becomes Death we are fine then.
After all, the actual tarot card for bad events is the Tower. Death is just change.
- Location
- Earth
So I hear that Death fits Kirika and her everchanging nature perfectlyAfter all, the actual tarot card for bad events is the Tower. Death is just change.
sicilian
culling witches
Wow. I really like how this turned out! The interaction was adorable.
Our goal with fighting Sakura: Reach friendship through violence? The only choice I am resistant to are the chains ~ it's not respectful and may be too reminiscent of Mami Tomoe.
Also... Yuki can eat taint? That's very useful.
Oh wow. Kirika is kind of Slay the Princess-ish isn't she? She's kind of like a living representation of what Orika needs most at any given moment.
Our goal with fighting Sakura: Reach friendship through violence? The only choice I am resistant to are the chains ~ it's not respectful and may be too reminiscent of Mami Tomoe.
Also... Yuki can eat taint? That's very useful.
Oh wow. Kirika is kind of Slay the Princess-ish isn't she? She's kind of like a living representation of what Orika needs most at any given moment.
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- Location
- Earth
It has been six hours, so that is it for the moratorium. Vote away, folks!
So I am not the only seeing this, good. Mind, I only recognised the similarities with the tarot jokes earlier, but still.
[x] Cast her in chains and disarm her
-[x] Be ready in case she has some means of getting out of your chains, she seems like a veteran and they always have tricks up their sleeves.
After the Yuma flashbacks when she saw us first, let's give her Mami flashbacks.
On it not being respectful: It's a fight, not an honorable duel, your opponent is not supposed to be happy with you by the end.
It's also the best way to make sure that Kyoko stays alive and uninjured enough to not risk Yuma wishing when her big sis begins losing.
-[x] Be ready in case she has some means of getting out of your chains, she seems like a veteran and they always have tricks up their sleeves.
After the Yuma flashbacks when she saw us first, let's give her Mami flashbacks.
On it not being respectful: It's a fight, not an honorable duel, your opponent is not supposed to be happy with you by the end.
It's also the best way to make sure that Kyoko stays alive and uninjured enough to not risk Yuma wishing when her big sis begins losing.
[x] Cast her in chains and disarm her
-[x] Be ready in case she has some means of getting out of your chains, she seems like a veteran and they always have tricks up their sleeves.
-[x] Be ready in case she has some means of getting out of your chains, she seems like a veteran and they always have tricks up their sleeves.
-[x] Be ready in case she has some means of getting out of your chains, she seems like a veteran and they always have tricks up their sleeves.
Friendship through violence, though this is likely going to be harder then expected since I just assume on general principal that anyone who magics weapon out of thin air can just resummon it.
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[x] Yield your flesh to claim her bones!
Obligatory Bamboo Hatted Kim vote. Blessed be his name.
Obligatory Bamboo Hatted Kim vote. Blessed be his name.
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- Location
- Earth
This post is sponsored by Poise Gang. My favourite team composition
Sylent-M
Be Trans, Take to Heresy
- Pronouns
- Was/Were
Truly Yuki is a questor's nightmare. The desire to befriend & protect everyone clashing with a character fundamentally predisposed to killing her friends.
Iris-Iven-Ibis
Interested-Idiot-Immortal
- Location
- You know
To be Fair she doesn't want to but you know if you don't betray her you'll be fine so keep those friendship bracelets on
[x] Cast her in chains and disarm her
-[x] Be ready in case she has some means of getting out of your chains, she seems like a veteran and they always have tricks up their sleeves.
Aren't we all-knowing voices in the light?
Probably, but I also don't want to risk Yuki misunderstanding an advice right before a fight.
I wanted to put a *Yuki* instead of the first *we*.