Time Flow (Puella Magi Madoka Magica/Worm)
- Thread starter tygerbright
- Start date
- Crossover
- Location
- Laniakea
[X] Take her back to your home.
At least Madoka didn't actually do any of the killing herself.
She might have seen Marcshroom get blown up in front of her, but then she also saw her family choked to death by the guy - this was probably a lot faster comparatively speaking and probably cleaner, if there wasn't any corpse left (probably because his spore-body got completely ignited and went up like a dust explosion).
Madoka's direct target of revenge is now gone and she can even say she had a personal hand in helping to do it. She's got her closure, now all that's left is for her to deal with the hollowness of loss and slowly heal up.
....She probably won't get that time before Walpurgisnacht hits, but at least we can convince her to try by pointing out her revenge is done and the only thing left is to move on with life.
Unless she wants to go after the rest of Rose Garden too.
In which case, we may need to have a good long talk about Homura protecting Madoka's smile and how revenge-killing doesn't seem very conducive to making her smile more.
At least Madoka didn't actually do any of the killing herself.
She might have seen Marcshroom get blown up in front of her, but then she also saw her family choked to death by the guy - this was probably a lot faster comparatively speaking and probably cleaner, if there wasn't any corpse left (probably because his spore-body got completely ignited and went up like a dust explosion).
Madoka's direct target of revenge is now gone and she can even say she had a personal hand in helping to do it. She's got her closure, now all that's left is for her to deal with the hollowness of loss and slowly heal up.
....She probably won't get that time before Walpurgisnacht hits, but at least we can convince her to try by pointing out her revenge is done and the only thing left is to move on with life.
Unless she wants to go after the rest of Rose Garden too.
In which case, we may need to have a good long talk about Homura protecting Madoka's smile and how revenge-killing doesn't seem very conducive to making her smile more.
- Location
- The Frozen North
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Take her back to your home
Nah, Madoka already lost her smile when most of her family died, and trying to coddle her can very easily backfire, especially with Homura's social graces (well, I'll kill them myself!). Even moreso since her mom could also be coddling her here, and may see it as talking down to her. To be honest, I think it'd actually be much better for both Homura AND Madoka to work together on this, Bonnie and Clyde-style. Not only does it mean she won't be liable to be a loose cannon, but she'll have someone to always support her emotionally, and give her somewhere she can reside when she wants to get away from home. Train her, just like she and Mami trained us, and help her get even.
Also, she's still the daughter of a wealthy CEO in the equivalent of Gotham, I expect more attempts to kidnap or kill her, and every bit of training we can offer her will give her a higher chance to survive.
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- Location
- Laniakea
The whole point of Homura's wish was so she could protect Madoka, she's not likely to accept Madoka throwing herself into fights again and risking getting hurt.
....In fact, Homura might even be wondering whether she's already failed before she had a chance, if she's wound up in a timeline where Madoka's father and brother are already dead and girl already has powers. She made a promise to not allow Madoka to contract and a Trigger Event is more or less the equivalent in Worm.
The fact that Madoka tried to charge off at Marcshroom solo also means she probably is, actually, somewhat suicidal at the moment, driven off the edge by the loss of her loved one. Not caring if she gets killed is not the sort of mentality you want to be bringing someone into fights with - especally not Madoka as it's just going to make Homura have to work overtime and probably end up taking hits for her to keep her alive.
Madoka is likely going to need of severe attitude adjustment before it is anywhere near safe to take her into fights and if it turns out Madoka is completely broken to the point where she'll never be more than raging, suicidal and revenge-obssessed and can never get better..... that's basically a witched-out Madoka, and the kind of point I feel like Homura would considered it a failed timeline and just start making her plans for the next one.
Ehh, depends how you think of it. Homura liked that strong-natured Madoka, it's who met and befriended her after all. The thing is, she wanted to help her like she helped herself, so naturally Madoka found herself in an inverted situation during the loops. Homura would have mixed feelings here, she wants to keep her safe yes, but at the same time she likes the strongwilled Madoka, and more importantly will always act to what she sees as her benefit.
More importantly, coddling Madoka is an easy way to push her away, I'm sure she's sick of it herself. Suicidal? More vengeful. Madoka wants revenge, and it is revenge she will get, whether she wants to bloody her hands is her choice, and Homura is fully aware that telling Madoka to stay away will always push her further into other people's hands.
Point being - train her. We were a rookie once, and she trained us, it's our turn.
Homura barely knows what the fuck is going on, and I doubt she'd mind if she found a safer form of power. She might suspect there is a cost, but she knows nothing about triggers thus far, and it also shares nothing with the Incubator's system, so she wouldn't see it as a failure persay. Aside from her family being dead, but there's absolutely nothing she can do about that. There's also the whole conflict drive aspect that will push Madoka even moreso. Furthermore, insofar as she knows, she can't time-travel, this is the last go-around. So no, not really.
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- Location
- Laniakea
Personally, I'm inclined to take the opportunity to lug her to Moschettiera's apartment and use this chance to try and get in with Mami by introducing Madoka as a kouhai who is in dire need of training. Where Homura's diplomacy stats might fail her, Madoka can pick up the slack.
Mami was the one who initially trained Madoka to begin with in the very first loop in canon, and also the one who trained Homura.
Can't get a better teacher than Homura's own sensei and given the new timeline, it would also be an opportunity for Homura to pick up a few more tidbits about Parahuman powers from someone who actually has an idea of how they work.
Given the obvious large-scale changes, she wouldn't want to take that risk for nothing. No way, especially given how this world semi-mirrors her old one, it'd likely mean that Mami is in bed with a Teacher-esque QB, or something like that. Bringing Madoka to her therefore seems incredibly stupid given she's seemingly off the radar right now.
And you know, I can't see Homura ever delivering Madoka to Mami now, when during the loops 90% of the time, she's the one that drags Madoka deeper and deeper into things while romanticizing the whole magic girl life. No way, no how. Even moreso for selfish reasons, better to train her ourselves.
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- Location
- Laniakea
Either Madoka is not already knee-deep in it, in which case Homura would be inclined to keep her out of it as much as possible which means not dragging her along to fights and no reason to seriously train her.
Or else Madoka is knee-deep in it, in which case there's nothing further for Mami to drag her into and she is a veteran who is actually good at training people, something Homura herself can attest to.
It's going to be one or the other.
And this speculation about some connection to Kyubey or other power granters isn't going to matter when Madoka already has powers. As far as Homura knows, you can't get given powers twice, so.....
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- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Vote is much more lop sided than usual so closing on the early side. Also love the discussion.
Unknown Time 1.9
- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Take her back to your home.
Also folded in the planned action of
[X] Spend time with Madoka
Also folded in the planned action of
[X] Spend time with Madoka
The two of you are exposed, Madoka is inconsolable. The fire and explosions are sure to catch the attention of everyone in the area and two people in costumes lingering are going to be noticed. Options are limited, and you have to move her before anything else happens. As much as it pains you to admit it, the most practical option is your house.
"We need to get away from here." You say. Madoka mutely nods and you pull her up to her feet. She clings to you every step of the way. The two of you make it away before any authority or gang can investigate the events of the night.
Back at your house the question of what to do next looms large. Comforting someone, you are the last person who should ever do that. What would Madoka do? She would find the perfect thing to say to build your spirits, you can't do that. What would Mami do? A distraction from the horrors they faced in the form of cake and tea. What do you have? As if answering your thoughts, a meow comes from behind you. You help Madoka onto one of the sofas and place Amy into her arms. The two of you sit in silence as she almost automatically strokes the cat.
Minutes pass.
Madoka speaks up, her voice hesitant. "I thought I'd feel something… some kind of relief with him dead. How… how do you do it?"
The words pour from your mouth faster than you can bite them back. "There once was a girl who was the first person to reach out to me, who saved me from the grasp of death. She was the first friend I ever had. And then came a day where she was on the cusp of losing control, becoming something she hated with all her heart. She begged me to save her, to kill her before she could hurt anyone. I ended her suffering. That is why I fight, that is why the lives of people mean nothing to me. Never become what I have become." You turn away, your eyes are losing focus,
Morning comes all too soon.
Madoka is still laying on your couch asleep. She never left. The despairing haze of emotions that was written upon her last night is nowhere to be seen. But the peaceful moment is fleeting as your presence is enough to wake her up.
She looks at you, blinking away the last vestiges of sleep before speaking. "It wasn't a dream… Everything that happened last night really happened." Pushing herself up into a sitting position she continues. "I-I don't think I would have made it without you. So thank you, with all my heart. But there's one more thing I have to ask you! I have this power. People are dying out there every day, people that just wanted to live their lives like-like Dad and Tatsuya. I want to make the world a better place for their sake!" It is the type of argument that would work on Mami. "But, I think the person that needs my help the most right now is you, Homura."
Oh.
Kind and brave in equal measure. Just like how you knew her in that life so long ago. The girl who would embrace a worthless thing like you. After all you have done she still chooses you. She isn't going to take a no for an answer and you're too weak to deny her. At least you can protect her.
"Next time, use one of the spare rooms."
"Next time? Oh! So…"
"Never go alone and unprepared like you almost did last night. Every threat must be treated with the utmost seriousness, letting your guard down will get you killed." Your voice catches for the briefest of moments. Hesitation will do you no good here, it is a chance to keep her safe "A disaster that pretends to be a person will strike this city at the end of the month. If I think you won't survive her, then you must not join the fight. No matter what you think, no matter what happens. Those are my conditions."
She had been nodding along as you spoke but the last gave her pause. She mutters something under her breath before giving a more solemn nod. "It's settled then. Please take good care of me!" The smile she gives you is just a bit forced, hints of pain are still there in her eyes but she has turned her attention on to you.
Can you do for her what she and Mami Tomoe once did for you?
Madoka is going to need training. She is going to look to you for direction.
Choose one as a focus, Madoka may choose to do others on her own discretion
[] Fundamentals
You don't know anything about how Madoka's powers work and anything you try would be founded in speculation. What you do know for certain is more than enough to build her a foundation upon which she can survive a fight with. However this leaves her to explore her powers totally on her own.
[] Active
There are two aspects to Madoka's power, the shield and the beam it can produce. She might think that they are weak but you know she has the potential to bring out more from her power. But to start with she should learn how to make use of her tools.
[] Supportive
A shield is a potent symbol, a declaration to protect. The drive to protect other people is something that already comes naturally to Madoka. What she needs to be actually taught is knowing which threats can actually be counteracted and how to stay safe while doing so.
[] Breadth
So far Madoka has only manifested her shield from her hand and then grow it into a larger size that was large enough to act as cover. Can she do more, shifting size, changing shape, speeding up deployment, moving the point of manifestation? Developing her versatility in how she uses her powers could serve her well.
[] Depth
There is more than what is apparent at first glance to Madoka's powers, you are certain of that. You don't have much direction, but the brief interactions and reactions it had when she was attacked showed a glimpse. Perhaps it grows in power when used against other people who have powers?
Why are you doing this? You could be spending this time hunting down one of the threats in the city. Or stealing the supplies that you need. Or training. Or or or…
Madoka had previously invited you to spend time with her and her friends after school, and reaffirmed that this morning before she ran back to her home. Ignoring her for no reason would jeopardize the tenuous connection you have with her. That is all the justification you need.
So now you are sitting at a cafe in the mall, boxed into a booth by Madoka, and across from her friends Sayaka Miki and Hitomi Shizuki. The blue and green haired girls,
"So!" Madoka opens, " Homura I'd like you to meet my friends, Sayaka Miki and Hitomi Shizuki. We've known each other since elementary school. They're two of the best friends you could ask for. Sayaka, Hitomi, this is Homura Akemi, she's new to town and helped me out and doesn't know anybody in town yet so I'd thought to return the favor."
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Akemi." Hitomi politely says
"The cool and mysterious transfer student who hides a heart of gold. That's what Madoka said." Sayaka says with an easy grin.
"It is nice to meet you two, but I wouldn't call myself that."
For a time the talk is meaningless,
"Hey, don't you got your piano class today, right?" Sayaka asks, after another topic comes to a close.
"It would have been my flower arrangement lesson today. But no, another one of my tutors left the area." Hitomi answers.
"God, too many people just run away. It just isn't right, don't do anything to make things better and then just leave."
"With even the Sentai Elite withdrawing, it is starting to look like a waste to try and stay."Hitomi says with an air of detached despondence.
"But! There are still other heroes around like Moschettiera, Taka, or uh… Ashura." From the look on Madoka's face, she wanted to say someone else.
Sayaka snorts in incredulity, "Calling Miss Arm Crusher a hero is a bit of a stretch. I wouldn't want to be saved by her in a dark alley, even hoping the rumors are true and the White and Black Cadets stuck around would be better.
From what research you have done you could not get the measure of the two Sentai Cadets but if you had to gamble you would say they are Oriko Mikuni and Kirika Kure. An oracle and a mad dog of a killer, two magical girls who tried to kill Madoka in multiple timelines. What made them be heroes in this world? Are they even heroes? On the other hand Ashura, a vigilante cape with a multitude of arms, is far too similar to the Class Representative Witch to be anyone else. Is she now sliding too far into violence in the same spiral that condemned Sayaka time and again? Are all who were once witches fated to become villains here? Will the same happen with Sayaka? You can't let it happen to Madoka. Too many questions, not enough that you can do about it.
"Have you ever met one of the notable heroes of Tokyo such as one of Team Gatcha or the Kabuto Forces, Homura?" Hitomi asks, trying to redirect the conversation.
"If they ever visited the hospital I was in, I did not see them."
"Ah, my apologies."
An awkward beat halts the conversation before Madoka speaks up again. "Well, if we are going to have some more time with all of us together today, we should do something nice. Maybe we could get our hair done?"
Silence falls over the conversation. They are looking at you and each other with concern and confusion like you just said something incredibly stupid.
Sayaka breaks the silence. "Oh god you're serious. Listen, you're like objectively gorgeous. You even do that supermodel thing with your hair. And worst of all you stole Madoka's heart right after meeting her!"
"Sayaka!" Madoka shouts, a blush is blooming on her face and you can't meet her eyes.
They aren't joking. How does she do it? Letting someone into her heart so easily like that. As if it was something simple. Like it didn't invite the worst pain you have ever known. It's just a crush, it shouldn't be more, it can't be more, what if it is…
Distantly you are aware of the conversation going on around you. Madoka grabbed your hand at some point and is staring down a shamefaced Hitomi for some reason.
"But for real though. Whatever you two did, it really helped out Madoka. She's been in a bad place lately since… well you know. And we couldn't… So, thanks for being there for her." Sayaka says.
You almost don't hear the words over the beating of your own heart, as Madoka's hand tightens around yours and you wrap your hand around hers. If she believes in you like this perhaps you have been too hard on yourself…
Madoka will now be coordinating with you what actions she is going to take each week. Progress has been made in breaking down the walls Homura has built up.
[X] Fundamentals
It's probably what would be best to start her on. Fundamentally, it's the only option Madoka can't experiment with on her own, since it's reliant on our own combat experience.
It's probably what would be best to start her on. Fundamentally, it's the only option Madoka can't experiment with on her own, since it's reliant on our own combat experience.
PlaguePaladin
The Bird Lady
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Fundamentals
[X] Fundamentals
- Location
- Laniakea
....Huh, wonder who Taka is. If the name is supposed to mean "hawk", it might be the Birdcage Witch.
Also wonder who the other name Madoka stopped herself from saying was. Could be Homura, but my second guess would be it was the now-deceased Red Phoenix. That news report Akemi found might've mentioned that he killed Tomohisa and Tatsuya, but we know from Madoka herself that it was really Marcshroom who did it, that they got suffocated to death by him. Assuming Red Phoenix was actually there, it means the guy arrived too late to save them but in time to save Madoka.... only for him to get called away to Canberra for the Simurgh fight and never come back.
....Unless Sayaka has also had a trigger event and Madoka was about to name her, but I doubt it since if she had powers Sayaka would've probably shown up at that lair with Madoka too.
- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Worm is technically a setting where brightly colored hair popping up everywhere would need some level of explanation, and just changing everyone's hair color to black was something I didn't want to do. So combination of cape culture and the assorted Japanese semicountercultural fashion trends blending together to make things more mainstream I feel makes sense.
It was people who were still alive and active, and there are a grand total of three people that actually know the name Witching Hour at the moment. And as far as Homura can tell Sayaka is acting her usual self.
- Location
- Around here
[X] Fundamentals
Yeah, there really isn't enough good content featuring the pair in a major role. Frankly I'd love to meet this timeline's version of them. Can't do anything about meeting Kyouko first, but maybe maybe we can sneak in some way of eventually meeting them somehow.
