- New posts
- New threadmarks

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.

# Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

- Thread starter Firnagzen
- Start date May 19, 2014
- Tags
    bad decisions dating mami tomoe diabolical laughter friendship is the best ship handholding identity crises microwaving tea gets you put in the bad place names are important puella magi adfligo systema puella magi madoka magica the body is the fursona of the soul this is not the baked goods thread we don't talk about rionna what could possibly go wrong? who in the world is azure sanfrancisco?

Threadmarks
Apocrypha
Informational
Staff Post
View content
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 36
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Jul 28, 2016

- #93,594

"Yeah," you agree. Not much of a decision to make, really. She did promise you an explanation, and she's your friend. Of course you have time for her.
First things first, though.
"I... one thing, before we go?" you ask, meeting Kyouko's eyes.
She shrugs, waving her hand at you to go on.
You take a deep breath. "I'm sorry." You try to breathe as much sincerity as you can into the words. "I'm sorry for poking my nose where it doesn't belong; I knew that it wasn't going to be pretty. I didn't think things through. And I'm sorry for that."
Kyouko doesn't say anything, kicking the chair back and rising. "Y' coming?" she repeats, still holding Yuma's hand. The younger girl follows her, giving the older puella magi a worried look.
"Yeah," you sigh, rising. You'd already paid up front, so you follow Kyouko and Yuma out of the restaurant, and down a side alley. Without a word, Kyouko transforms, Yuma and yourself following suit moments later.
"We're going to the Grand Copthorne Hotel," she informs you, glancing back for a moment before bounding upwards for the rooftops. You sigh, staring up at her disappearing form and crouching to follow.
You're interrupted by a small hand tugging at your sleeve.
"Sabrina?" Yuma whispers.
"Yeah, Yuma?" you ask.
"I-" she looks down, wrapping her arms around yourself.
You recognise that pose. Oh, you know it.
"Big sis hides things from Yuma," she whispers. "That's alright. Big sis can't talk about everything, and Yuma understands. Yuma... doesn't want to talk about everything, either."
You nod, swallowing.
"Make it right," she whispers, quiet and urgent. "Make it right. Yuma isn't- big sis hides it. But she was hurt, too. H-her family, and t-the. Ma-"
"Oi!" Kyouko calls. "You coming?"
You crane your head back, spotting Kyouko's voluminous mane silhouetted against the sky. "Yeah, coming! Just complimenting Yuma on her performance in the fight, since I didn't really get the chance to do it properly."
You nod at Yuma. "Yeah," you say. "I plan to." Giving her a quick, reassuring smile, you leap after Kyouko.
By the time Yuma joins you on the roof, Kyouko's produced a small plastic bag from somewhere on her costume. Despite yourself, you're amused to note that it's full of food purloined from the buffet line, Kyouko grabbing morsels to stuff into her mouth. She pockets the bag, grumbling. "Finally. C'mon."
She takes off over the rooftops, forcing you to follow. Yuma keeps up easily, bounding ahead of you with easy movements despite her shorter legs. The benefits of a dedicated education, you suppose.
The duo lead you to one of the fancier buildings along the skyline, the white and cream building rising out of a riverfront promenade to overlook the shimmering expanse.
"Yuma, call it," Kyouko grunts as you approach the neighbouring building - one that's a fair bit shorter than the hotel building.
"Um..." Yuma says. "Twenty second floor, left side?"
"Good," Kyouko responds. She vaults with her spear, arcing high and slinging it out ahead of her to hook against the side of a balcony. Yuma launches herself with a burst of shimmering green, latching onto the balcony beside Kyouko.
... Nineteen, twenty, twenty one... twenty two.
... The benefits of a focused education.
By the time you boost yourself up to join the duo with a powerful leap and an abbreviated pair of wings that swirl into and out of existence just long enough for one flap, Kyouko's already broken into the hotel room, tossing herself onto the plush sofa. Yuma curls up beside her, burrowing her head against Kyouko's side.
"I'll be out here," you call, leaning against the balcony railing and looking away. You start musing about science, the designs joined by Mami in a lab coat. Hm. If you turned your coat white, that'd be close enough to a lab coat, really. Though... you rather suspect that Mami would do better leading up a hypothetical meguca company rather than Science, even if she is rather good at it...
Kyouko joins you at the railing a few minutes later. Without looking, you can feel Yuma behind you, curling up on the sofa like a cat.
"Roof," Kyouko grunts, vaulting the railing with one hand, spear forming with a crimson burst of light in the other. She hops upwards, boots and spear finding purchase on the outer wall.
With a sigh, you form wings and follow her up to the roof to find her lounging on the top of the antenna mast, one leg dangling. You find a seat next to her, perching on one arm of the humming mast.
Kyouko sighs, leaning back against the mast. She's looking away from you, over the river. "So," she drawls. "What happened."
"Mmm," you say.
She glances sidelong at you. "Y' got any family?" she asks.
You waggle your hands. "Not... that I know of," you say. "Amnesia and all, yeah?"
"Mmmrghl." Kyouko makes an inarticulate noise. "Right. I don't either."
"... Ah. I'm sorry?" you say.
She scowls. "What's Miss Better-Than-Thou told you about me?"
[] Write-in
=====​
You know, returning from my vacation in Japan, I've concluded that the most unrealistic thing in PMAS is Sabrina getting into a restaurant without having to queue for it.
Last edited: Jul 30, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 37
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 5, 2016

- #93,841

Anger surges across your mind for a moment, and you debate throwing something sharp and vicious in Kyouko's face.
"She doesn't say much," you bite out, twisting around to face her fully. "She doesn't even like to talk about it. I mean, I told you. She's in a bad place - she can barely manage two sentences about you before stopping."
You don't miss the pain that flashes across Kyouko's face before her expression twists, bitter and unpleasant. "Yeah, and? I'm waiting."
Your jaw tightens. Oh, you can see the regret and the deeply buried resentment and the pain hidden behind the lashing out. Here and now, though...
"That you were friends," you snap. "That you were her student. That you parted on very bad terms. That she regrets how things went."
Kyouko's head rocks back with a sharp inhale, as if slapped.
Here and now, the truth cuts deep.
"Yeah?" Kyouko manages, voice rougher than usual. "She tell you she drove me out?"
"No. No, she didn't," you say.
Because that's not what happened.
You could call her out on it.
"Yeah, well," Kyouko snaps, looking back over the river. "Hope that doesn't tarnish your relationship."
You pull your legs up with a sigh, shifting to sit cross-legged on the antenna spar, coat dangling over the back. "What does this have to do with anything?" you ask, rather than touch that particular problem.
"Got any family?" Kyouko asks, not looking at you.
"Search me," you respond, sighing again. "Amnesia, you know?"
Kyouko grunts, falling silent for a long moment. "Good f' you," she mutters. "More fucking trouble than it's worth."
"... what happened?" you ask, frowning.
She sighs. "My family is dead," she spits out. "And it's my fucking fault because I used my fucking magic to help-" Her mouth clicks shut, eyes widening in shock. Her throat works, as if she's trying to swallow something.
Jamming her hand roughly into her pocket, Kyouko produces that plastic bag and starts shoving food into her mouth, barely pausing to chew before swallowing in convulsive gulps.
Well, there it is.
You give her a minute, during which she empties out the bag. She tosses it aside to land somewhere with a wet splat, replacing it with a packet of what looks like taffy.
You sigh, thumping your head back against the metal framework of the antenna with a soft clang. "Frankly, I doubt that," you say.
"And what do you know?" Kyouko spits. "You've got all the fucking power in the world, don'tcha? Y' can do whatever you want."
"More power, more things to do with it," you counter, looking up at the sky. It's easier to evade the question when you're not looking directly at her. "More things that can go wrong. But I really, really doubt it," you say. "What happened?"
Kyouko makes an inarticulate, bitter noise, slamming a fist into the metal of the antenna mast with enough force to set the entire thing ringing. She's probably ruining reception for everyone in the hotel right now, to be honest. She collapses bonelessly a moment later, slumping against the steel.
"Y' ever wonder what people'd think 'bout you?" Kyouko mutters, sounding tired and defeated. "If they see how you've changed?"
You can't say you do. You... don't remember far back enough for that to be a concern, and you're striving to be the best person you can be, in the eyes of your friends. You're not perfect. Introspection is one thing, and you do always take care to try and consider how your actions affect the people you know, but...
Well, you can't honestly say yes to Kyouko's question.
Kyouko seems to take your silence as some sort of answer. Or maybe it doesn't really matter.
"'s fucking stupid," she mutters, fumbling in her pocket. Silently, she extracts a flimsy piece of paper from her pocket, practically throwing it at you - to no real avail. Paper is paper, after all.
You grab the fluttering paper, peeling it open carefully. It's a newspaper cutout, a tiny square clumsily torn from a larger sheet.

> Article:
> Sakura church to be demolished
> Visitors to South Eastern Kasamino will soon be surprised by large changes to a local landmark.
> Sakura Church has been purchased by Nakano Corporation for redevelopment.
> The church, was once the site of the meteoric rise of Pastor Sakura's teachings, which lasted until an unknown schism dispelled his flock. A subsequent fire rendered the building unfit for human use, and the picturesque building has stood for over a year before its purchase.
> The demolition is scheduled for July 2011, later this year, and...

[] Write-in
=====​
Sorry for the short and late update. Been utterly exhausted this week.
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 38
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 8, 2016

- #94,022

Damn. Damn damn damn damn damn.
Madokami damn it all.
Yeah, that makes an unfortunate amount of sense. Explains her Soul Gem earlier, too.
Speaking of which... you can sense her Soul Gem filling, slowly and steadily. Nowhere near anything dangerous yet, but it's something you'll have to remember to take care of before you leave.
"It's not stupid, Kyouko," you say, shaking your head and earning a glare from her. "It isn't stupid at all. I... look. I don't remember anything about my life before... a few days ago."
Kyouko seems to deflate, the anger draining out of her body. "Yeah. Good f' you," she mutters, glaring out over the river.
"No no no, you look at me and let me finish," you snap, drawing Kyouko's attention back to you. "I don't remember anything about my life, but if I found out that anything this big, this important, of my past was gonna be wiped away, I'd have Soul Gem issues too."
"'Soul Gem issues'," Kyouko echoes, lips twisting bitterly. "Yeah. One way t' put it."
You sigh. "Look, it's a building... and what matters is what it matters for you. What do you want to do?"
She shrugs.
"Kyouko... I'm not going to presume to know if you want to try and save it, but if you do, I'll help," you say. "And there's plenty that can be done."
Kyouko sighs, stuffing more taffy into her mouth and slumping bonelessly against the antenna spar. "Ugh."
"Why ugh?" you press. "I'm sure we can work something out. And look, Kyouko, you know what you asked me? About what people would think of you if they see how you'd changed?"
Her posture stiffens, and she gives you a dangerous, edged look. "Don't," she growls, crimson eyes hard. "Don't you dare."
"Fine," you say. You backpedal, mentally and verbally. "I'll tell you what I see. It's what anyone can see. I see someone who, even after losing everything and living on the street, fighting just to survive, still found it in her to take in Yuma and care for her. You lost everything, you're livi-"
Kyouko holds up her hand, rolling her eyes. "Enough," she snaps. "Enough. I get it. Just... shut up."
You fall silent, mouth shutting with a click. She doesn't... actually seem angry, though? Just pensive.
Your gaze drifts over to Mitakihara, over the river. From here, you can spot some familiar landmarks - for one, you can see the DBJ building, where you'd spent time with Mami. And there's that big park on the hill over there, where you're going to have the picnic tomorrow... you try and spot the apartment you share with Mami, but it's out of sight from here.
You briefly contemplate taking over the yakuza. They'd probably have the power to stop Nakano Corporation, right? Though you're pretty sure Nakano Corporation's one of Japan's largest urban development companies, and international to boot. Hm. Taking over the yakuza wouldn't be a problem, and since they're international, they'd have the clout to fight them, you think.
... then again, you did kind of burn the yakuza's money. Shot yourself in the foot in more than one way, there, though you'd never really thought about taking over the yakuza at the point. And on the other hand, it's not like the money you'd burned would be a major part of the yakuza's operations, not when they're global.
Hm. You do have to wonder if there are magical girls in the yakuza. Hell, maybe a magical girl took them over already, and has been orchestrating events via proxies and such. It's... not impossible, given the world you live in. Though it does mean magical girls might be coming after you for stealing and burning their cash.
Ah, well. That's something to deal with when the time comes, you guess.
"'s about a month until they start the demolition, anyway," Kyouko mumbles with a sigh. "I'll... go through the grounds or something. Next week."
"Kyouko..." you say. "I- look, don't give up on it. We can still save the church, if you want."
"The place is dead," she says, closing her eyes. "God, I don't- I have-" she sighs, shoulders slumping. "More good memories than bad. But they're gone. All gone."
Kyouko blows out a sharp, harsh breath and straightens. She tilts her head back and slants you a lazy smirk, fang poking out from her mouth. "So. You said something 'bout beating the sense into some girl, yeah?"
You blink at the sudden subject change. "Yeah, I did, but-"
"No." Kyouko cuts you off again, drawl deliberately thick. "'brina, thanks, but no thanks. Or what th' hell, thanks for listening to me vent. Not so much the speech. I-" She makes a face. "I'll bring Yuma wit' me for the trip, how's that."
"She asked me to make things right, you know," you say, frowning.
"Yeah, and?" Kyouko asks. "Some things can't be made right wit' just a speech. But y' got a point, I guess. I am taking care of Yuma." She shrugs, reaching for the Soul Gem at her throat. "Something for me t' keep in mind." She extends the Soul Gem to you, raising a challenging eyebrow.
You huff, and cleanse her Soul Gem with a casual wave. Grief billows into the air, and you let it circle your hand once before coalescing it into a bare handful of marbles.
Kyouko rolls her neck and shoulders. "Thanks. Now, 'bout that training, yeah? I got a question - how're y' gonna deal with Mami?"
[] Write-in
=====​
And here we go. I'm trying to ramp my update speed back up.
Last edited: Aug 8, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 39
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 10, 2016

- #94,157

It takes you a moment to cotton onto what she's asking for. It's a valid concern, you guess, but it's one you know how to handle.
You grin, and raise an eyebrow. "Well," you say. "Unlike some people, Mami appreciates my speeches."
You pause.
"... sometimes, anyway," you amend, briefly debating adding Grief sunglasses for emphasis. Hm. Maybe not this time.
Kyouko makes an annoyed sound. "Do I really need to fucking spell it out for you, or are you just acting dumb?"
"Maybe?" you say, with an easy shrug. "I've already talked to her about this. Well, not this this, but I mean, I've talked to her and Homura about Sayaka needing extra training."
"Homura?" Kyouko asks, frowning at you.
"The time stopper," you say. "I told you about her before, right?"
Kyouko frowns. "Ah, right. You did," she says, before her expression hardens again. "But you're still missing my point."
"Hm?" you ask, frowning right back. "What do you mean?"
She sighs, head lolling forward on her neck. "God," she mutters. "Look, you said she breaks down if she so much 's talks about me. The hell do you plan on doing about that? And tellin' her I'm comin' back t' her stomping grounds?"
You exhale. She has a point about Mami, you suppose. You take a moment to muse about the etymology of her muskets - strictly speaking, the term mostly refers to smoothbore long arms, even if rifled muskets existed. But rifled muskets were known as such because they were direct replacements for existing muskets, and thus were effectively the same weapon bar the rifling.
The term musket feels right, though.
"God," she mutters, rubbing at her forehead again. "Are your plans usually this bad?"
"No!" you say, defending yourself reflexively. "I- look, fine, that's not the first thing that sprang to mind for me."
"Do better," Kyouko spits, her drawl thickening. "Look, I ain't gonna pass up a chance t' rub this in her face, even by proxy or whatever. But I'm not gonna waltz into a firefight with her."
"It's not going to come to that," you say, chewing the inside of your cheek for a moment. "Look, I really have talked to her. We all agree Sayaka needs weapons training, once she's got the basics down, and, well. You're the most skilled melee specialist in the region."
Kyouko stares at you. "If y' think logic has anything t' do with this, you're an idiot."
You groan, rubbing your face and straightening to meet her eyes. "What do you care? It's my problem to handle," you say. "I'll figure it out and then let you know how it's gonna work. You're in, right?"
The antenna mast creaks as Kyouko leans forward, a strangely intent, a strangely intense, look on her face. "What you're planning on doing?" she snaps.
[] Write-in
=====​
As part of my attempt to update faster, I think I'm going to stop forcing updates to go too long. With that said, unless you say something drastically wrong, you'll probably be headed off in the next update. Vote accordingly.
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 40
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 13, 2016

- #94,268

"Well, honestly?" you say, leaning back. Kyouko is uncomfortably close to you, that intense glare not leaving yours. "I might just end up flying Sayaka over here instead."
Kyouko snorts, rolling her eyes derisively. "And that will make things sooooo much better?"
"It makes things different," you counter. You fold your hands in your lap, placid and calm. This is familiar territory of sorts. "It's not the first time I've had to have difficult conversations with Mami, and it won't be the last. So I'll talk to Mami when I find the right time for it. Communicate."
You flash a confident grin. "It's what I do."
And honestly, it is. You communicate. You facilitate communication.
And hugs, but you'll admit those are mostly for Mami.
"Yeah, right," Kyouko sneers. She swings her legs on the spar, flicking them straight out, and uses the momentum to flip herself into a somersault to the roof below. "Because you can talk away every problem."
You shrug. "She might be upset," you agree, hopping off the spar to join Kyouko on the roof. "But as I said. I'll talk to her. Mami and I are friends, and she knows what's at stake."
"Yeah, good for you," Kyouko says, pacing to the edge of the roof and still staring over the rooftops. She crams more taffy into her mouth, chewing.
"There isn't going to be a fight," you say, folding your arms. "Not unless you start one." You rush on, bulldozing over Kyouko before she has a chance to snap back at you. "And let me be clear - I'm not accusing you. I'm just saying that I'll work my end out."
Kyouko glares out over the river, staring at Mitakihara.
"Fine," she grunts at last, jaw set hard. "I'm in. Tell me if you work something out."
"Kyouko..." you say, walking behind her. "Look, I get why you're so skeptical. But a lot's changed." You exhale, and decide to take a risk. "Mami's changed. And things have changed even more since I got here."
Kyouko snorts, and turns back to face you. "Right. Good f' her. Good f' you. That all?"
"I was going to ask you that, so... I guess so," you say, before a thought strikes you. You snap your finger. "Or, wait, yes, I never cleaned out that other Grief Seed, right?"
Chagrin melts away Kyouko's grimace for a moment, and she fumbles in her cassock dress to pull the Grief Seed out. "Right," she grumbles, looking away. "Thanks."
"Your Soul Gem, too?" you ask, already reaching out with your power. You can sense Bianca's Grief Seed somewhere on her person, and Jane's Seed - all but throbbing in your senses. You exhale.
Easy enough to fix.
With a flex of your will, you pull the Grief free - from Kyouko's Soul Gem, too, since she's reaching for it. Deep, bilious purple Grief swirls through the air, curling and eddying for a moment before you banish it to join the rest of your Grief cloud.
Hm. That's getting somewhat substantial again, but it's also an issue for another time.
Kyouko sighs, eyeing the now clean Soul Gem and the refreshed Grief Seed. "Thanks," she mutters again.
"Anytime," you say. A quick check of the time on your cellphone - you've got enough time to head back home and do a quick check with Mami's computer, you think. "See you later, Kyouko."
She sighs, and turns to head to the other side of the roof. "Later." With a smooth hop, she vaults over.
You look up at the sky, wings already blooming from your shoulders.
Back to Mitakihara. Back home.
You leap for the skies, wings pumping.
Heh. It's funny, how quickly Mami's apartment has become home for you. Admittedly, you don't know anything else, true. You can't help but wonder how things would have turned out if you'd gone with Homura, that first day. Probably a lot colder, a lot more focused. Perhaps you'd have made more progress with making Homura human again. But...
Home, now, is with Mami.
You coast to a landing on the roof, letting the wings fade. You hop down the stairs, a sliver of your attention all that's necessary to reform the Grief into your usual spheres for storage. Really, it's all but instinctual, like moving your limbs. You don't need to think about it.
Unlocking the door, you step inside and take your shoes off. You can't help but smile, footsteps slowing as the familiar, cosy surroundings envelop you, the same flowery, buttery yellow wallpaper and knickknacks arrayed along the shelves.
You walk over to the computer, tucked away in a corner, and boot it up. You'll look up that girl Homura mentioned - Kuroki Matsuko. You have a name, and presumably she's living around Mitakihara. That's enough of a starting point for you to try searching her up.
And so you do, keeping a sharp eye on the clock. Phone directory... Facebook that hasn't seen much use. Hm. Catholic school, it seems like. Seisen International. No listed address, though, but that's somewhere to start searching. She doesn't seem to have done anything particularly noteworthy, in terms of her academics or school competitions.
Well. Your eyes flick over to the clock again. Time to go.
You shut the computer down, putting your shoes back on and locking the door behind you. It only takes you minutes to climb the stairs to the roof, two at a time, and you take to the skies, headed for Mitakihara Middle School.
You know this route, now, and you know the school even from the air. You've only gone there for lunch every weekday, after all. With barely a rustle, you drop through the trees and land in the park outside the school, detransforming and strolling out to the school gates.
A few minutes to go until the bell rings, so you entertain yourself engaging in a staring contest with the truancy officer standing by the door. He frowns at you, but doesn't make any move to approach you.
[] Write-in
=====​
Yes, you Facebook stalked someone.
Last edited: Aug 13, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 41
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 16, 2016

- #94,414

... Ah, what are you doing. Why antagonise the truancy officer? It's not like he's hurting you - and he's just doing his job. Making sure your peers go to school and all.
It's not his fault you're weird.
You break off your staring contest, and dip your head in a half nod, half bow.
Reluctantly, he nods back.
Just as you're about to offer him a sheepish grin and a shrug, the bell rings. Your attention snaps to the school building, and you push your senses out, hunting for your friends.
You find Mami's unmistakeable presence instantly. She speeds down the corridors, breaking into a sprint moments later and then taking the stairs down three at a time.
Your arms are already rising by the time she bursts out through the front door, and you grab Mami in a tight hug that lifts her off her feet. Laughing exuberantly, you spin her in a circle before setting her down. "Hi, Mami," you say, pulling back just far enough to beam at her.
Her face is a little flushed as she beams back at you. "Hi, Sabrina," she says. "I- I t-tried not to call you so much." She worries at her lip a little. "Is that OK?"
... huh. So she did, didn't she?
You shake your head, giving her a warm smile. "Mami, you didn't have to do that," you say softly. "I don't mind at all, you know?"
"I- I know," she says, looking down. "I know."
"Hey, Sabrina! Hey, Mami!" You look up to see Sayaka waving enthusiastically, and Madoka frozen halfway to reaching out to stop her. Hitomi's also reaching for Sayaka, working hand frozen midair and eyes wide. Homura trails a step behind Madoka, expression unamused.
You step back a little from Mami to face your friends. Just a little, so that you're side by side, but still close enough to keep one arm around Mami. "Hey, everyone," you call back, waving. You're tempted to give them hugs, and... maybe you should, but you hold off on it for now. Hm. You haven't hugged Hitomi nor Madoka at all yet.
Maybe later.
For now, hugs from and for Mami take priority.
"Hi, Sabrina," Madoka says, smiling. You exchange greetings with everyone and start to head down the street, waving the truancy officer goodbye with a cheeky grin.
"What was that?" Sayaka asks, giving you a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, I think I've come to an understanding with Mr. Truancy Officer back there," you say with an easy smirk. "I mean, not that he was really giving me any trouble, but..."
Sayaka snorts. "You do kinda stick out," she agrees.
You shrug. "It's not like it's my fault," you say. "Anyway. What's everyone doing this afternoon?"
"Training!" Sayaka shoots back, bouncing on her toes. "Hope you haven't forgotten that, Sabrina-sempai, Mami-sempai!"
You snort. "'course not," you say, bumping Mami with your hip. She gives you a bright smile. "Hitomi, Madoka? Homura?"
"I'm expected home," Hitomi says. "But I finally managed to convince my parents that I don't need to be ferried from school, so I can take my time. I was... wondering if I could watch?"
"Good to hear," you say. "And I don't mind. Mami? Sayaka? Madoka?"
Sayaka shrugs. "Sure, why not?"
"I have no objections," Mami agrees. "The more, the merrier."
"I have errands to run," Homura says. You catch her eye, and she nods infinitesimally. "They can't wait."
"Aw, shame," Sayaka says. "Madoka?"
"Ah... I could watch? If that's alright?" Madoka asks.
"Sounds good to me," you say with a smile. Mami nods in agreement.
Sayaka flashes a grin. "Sure. You'll get to see me be awesome!"
You can't help but notice the frown on Homura's face. Taking a quick step forward, you cut in with, "Don't count on it, Sayaka~"
Simultaneously, you reach out to Homura. "I'll keep an eye on her."
She snorts, spring in her step undiminished by either your admonition or the two schoolbags she's carrying. "We'll see!"
Homura's head turns slightly, and her eyes catch yours for a long moment before she nods.
You flash a quick smile back.
"Soooo, the same junkyard?" Sayaka asks, bouncing ahead of your little group.
You shrug. "Mami?"
"Yes, I think so," she responds, golden curls bobbing with her nod of approval. "It's a good training area."
"Onwards, then!" You jab a finger at the air, beaming.
And onwards you go. Homura splits off as you approach the junkyard, waving a stiffly polite goodbye to everyone and giving you one last meaningful look.
You wave her off. You know.
"So!" you say as you help Hitomi over a fallen metal pipe. "What's on the schedule today, Mami?"
She smiles, warm and pleased. In her element. "I thought that maybe I'd spar with Sayaka first, today," she says. "Nothing too strenuous. Then I think we'll have time to explore her copying powers a little, but we're going to hunt a Witch after this, right?"
"Yup!" you confirm. "So... Maybe an hour, or two here, then the hunt?"
"Oh, oh!" Sayaka waves her hand in the air, as if in class instead of standing in a loose circle with everyone. "How long will the hunt be?"
"The search for a Witch is usually the longest part of the hunt," Mami says. "It might be anywhere from ten minutes to an hour. Though of course, with Sabrina to help us, it won't take nearly as long. Defeating the Witch and its Familiars will be perhaps half an hour, depending on the size of the Barrier."
Sayaka wilts a little, before perking up. She raises a clenched fist. "'course! We'll just finish it quickly, then!" she declares.
Mami chuckles. "Don't get overconfident, Sayaka," she admonished. She takes a step back and transforms.
You grin, tugging Madoka and Hitomi backwards and out of harm's way. "C'mon," you say. "This is gonna be good."
A cerulean blaze of light follows, leaving Sayaka in her outfit, too. She grins confidently, brandishing a sword in each hand.
"Hey, wait, wait!" you call. A flicker of will brings Grief sweeping in, streaming away from the spheres to form three chairs. You take a moment to add arm and backrests, contoured for proper lumbar support and everything. Each one floats half a meter above the ground - one each for Madoka, Hitomi, and yourself.
Madoka eyes the chair with an eager look, hopping onto it and reclining against the back with a happy sigh. "This is a nice chair," she says.
Hitomi gives Madoka's blissful expression a dubious look before seating herself.
"Alright," you say, flopping onto your own and flashing Mami and Sayaka a thumbs up. "We're good."
"... Really?" Sayaka asks.
You shrug. "What, do you see anywhere better to sit?" You gesture around at the junkyard, full of rusting hulks of cars and sand crusty with oil.
Mami shakes her head, giving you a fond smile. "Oh, Sabrina."
[] Write-in
-[X] Time for Seyiku training! Again, let Mami take the lead. If and only if they bring up having Sayaka copy your powers, agree to do so after a warning to be careful - otherwise don't bring it up.
-[X] Once Mami feels satisfied with the progress for today, go hunt a witch with Sayaka.
=====​
Really, the important thing to vote for here is to decide who you cheer for.
Last edited: Aug 17, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 42
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 19, 2016

- #94,623

You reach a hand out, gathering Grief for a moment... and you let it die out, tapping your chin. You're tempted to form a microphone and start yelling out commentary, but that might be a bit too silly.
The Grief disperses.
You'll cheer normally.
"Can we staaaaaart yet?" Sayaka asks, bouncing on her toes.
"Madoka? Hitomi?" you ask. Rubbing your chin as you ruminate a little, you reach out telepathically. "Hey, Mami?"
"Yes, Sabrina?" she asks as your friends indicate their assent.
"Alright, then!" you call, beaming at Mami and Sayaka. "On go." To Mami, you add, "I'll cheer mostly for Sayaka, if that's OK? I know you'll win, and she's inexperienced and could use the extra confidence..."
Mami flashes you a smile. "I understand, Sabrina," she responds. "Thank you for telling me."
"Thank you." You smile back, and raise your hand high above your head with three fingers extended. "Three!" you bark, lowering a finger with the count. "Two! One! Go!"
Sayaka explodes into motion with a yell. She darts straight at Mami, both swords swinging overhead.
Mami sidesteps.
Her movement is so smooth you barely even register it. She twirls and kicks. One foot lashes out to smash aside Sayaka's sword as the bluenette squawks in outrage.
Hitomi claps, as if she's watching some sport. Which, in a way, she is. Madoka just watches looking torn between excitement and worry.
"Don't just rush in, Sayaka," Mami admonishes, smiling gently and pressing her palms together. She separates them to reveal a gleaming musket.
"Right," Sayaka says, setting her jaw raising her swords again.
"Come on, Sayaka!" you cheer.
Sayaka nods, and darts forward again. Booted feet pelt across the sand, feinting left-
-and darting right. Mami's musket is already swinging across. Sayaka slams one sword into the musket, knocking the muzzle upwards.
You barely notice her depress the trigger.
The sword bucks, and the blade rockets off. Mami's musket goes flying, torn out of her hands.
Sayaka drops the hilt, and her hand snakes out.
It just brushes against the bare skin above Mami's elbow. You can feel the spark of magic when Sayaka snatches for the power.
Mami leaps back, laughing. "Well done, Sayaka! That was an excellent feint."
You whoop joins Madoka's and Hitomi's cheers. "Whoo! Go Sayaka!"
Sayaka grins, flexing her fingers. Ribbons slash at Mami, evaded in a graceful pirouette.
Mami finishes the spin with a musket levelled. Just in time - Sayaka charges hard on the heels of the string ribbons.
The musket booms. Sayaka's forced to skitter aside, the missed shot kicking up dust behind her.
"Come on, Sayaka!" you call. "You mustn't run away!"
She throws you a dirty look before bounding straight up into the air. Her cape swirls and snaps behind her as she soars. She yells, drawing back her remaining sword in a two handed swing.
Mami already has a new musket into her shoulder. One eye squeezes shut as she aims at Sayaka's descending form. The shot cracks out.
At the mercy of gravity, Sayaka doesn't -can't- evade.
The musket ball explodes into ribbons. Shining gold lashes out at Sayaka, seeking to twist and entangle.
With a desperate cry, Sayaka throws her hand out. White ribbons explode forth to clash against Mami's ribbons. Sayaka kicks off the air and backflips away.
It's Mami's turn to bolt for Sayaka, all grace and pure, clean élan. She tosses her musket aside, producing two new ones with an elegant flourish. One to each hand. She fires without breaking steps, twin cracks ringing out.
Sayaka yelps, stumbling. She slashes desperately, sparks flying from the single hit. The other ball bursts into golden ribbons.
You lean forward in your chair, anticipatory despite yourself, and-
Swords.
Shining steel slashes out, a thicket of gold-hilted weaponry stabbing out of the ground. Sayaka yells wordlessly, hand thrust towards the sky as the ribbons break on her defense.
Mami's not even in front of the blades any more. In a mirror of Sayaka, she's descending from above, muskets in either hand.
She doesn't fire. You're not sure they're new muskets - you didn't see her make them. You catch the smile and the wink she throws your way just before impact.
Sword raised in desperate block collides with descending musket, the chime of steel on steel ringing out. Sayaka barely manages to block the twin strikes, with both hands on the hilt of her sword. Mami swings one musket away, remaining musket locked at full extension, holding effortlessly against Sayaka's sword.
Sayaka makes a frantic noise, trying to disengage, but it's too late - Mami hooks her leg out from under her, and then the musket explodes into ribbon that hoist Sayaka into the air, upside down.
"Whoo!" Your cheer joins Madoka's and Hitomi's as you leap to your feet. You bounce over and sweep Mami into a hug, laughing. "That was amazing, Mami, Sayaka!"
"Thank you, Sabrina," Mami says, beaming at you.
Sayaka, trussed and slowly twisting back and forth, makes a face. "Thanks, I think?"
"No, really," you say, beaming at her. "I mean hell, you held out longer than you did against me."
"That was an impressive show, Sayaka," Hitomi offers, walking closer. She gives Sayaka's dangling cape a thoughtful look, pinching the fabric between her fingers and rubbing them lightly.
"It was amazing!" Madoka squeals, clutching both her hands together. "Both of you were moving so fast!"
Mami shifts in your arms. You ease back a little so that she can face Sayaka properly, your hand sliding naturally to her waist. She smiles at Sayaka. "Considering that that was only your second fight, Sayaka, that was excellent," she says. "The wall of blades-" she waves at the swords still protruding from the ground, "-surprised me."
"Thanks!" Sayaka says. "I didn't really think about it, though, I just- I just did it."
"Oh, and speaking of!" you say, beaming at Mami. "That trick with the muskets! How did you just-" you mime holding it out, like Mami did. "And then-"
Mami giggles. "It's a little trick, really," she says. "There's a way of... infusing magic into whatever you're holding to make it stop. I must remember to teach you both. And Sayaka, you'll find that we magical girls tend to have a..." her face scrunches a little as she hunts for the correct word.
"Set of instincts?" you supply.
"Right!" Mami says, tilting her head towards you. "You have good instincts, Sayaka. Of course, they'll only take you so far until you have to start experimenting."
Sayaka nods eagerly, absorbing the instruction. "Of course," she says.
"Alright," Mami says. "You copied my powers, was it any different from last time?"
You smile. And now Mami hits her stride. In the meantime, though, you have something you need to do now that you're not on the literal edge of your seat. "Hey, Oriko? Kirika?"
"Heya~" Kirika responds. "Keep it down, Oriko's napping."
Sayaka shakes her head, finally. "It felt the same, honestly."
Mami nods. "Alright," she says, frowning thoughtfully. "Keep a note of it." She pauses. "Since we were on the subject of instincts, Sayaka, you don't know how to make muskets like mine, right?"
"Ah, right," you say to Kirika alone, shifting mental gears. "You doing OK?"
Sayaka shakes her head in response. "Nope. Should I?"
"Eh," Kirika says. You can hear the grimace in her voice. "Worried. Whatcha need?"
You hide the grimace, a tiny pang of guilt spiking at you. "Well. Just a little thing - if you have the time, try and find a Kuroki Matsuko on the Internet? I tried, but I didn't have the time to finish it."
Mami chuckles. "No, but it would be awfully convenient," she says.
Sayaka shakes her head with a snicker. "I suppose it would!"
Madoka nudges your side, pointing back at the chairs. You nod, smiling at her, and both of them meander back to sit down.
"Yeah, I can do that," Kirika responds, mental voice brightening a little. "That's easy."
"Cool," you say. "Let me know?"
Mami tilts her head up to smile at you. "Anyway, Sabrina, I think it's time for the next step, and have Sayaka try to copy your powers? If that's alright?"
"Yeah," Kirika agrees. "When'll you be coming by next?"
[] Write-in
=====​
Wheeee!
Last edited: Aug 21, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous materials pt. 43
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 23, 2016

- #94,814

"Tomorrow, probably," you respond to Kirika. "Maybe in the morning, but I don't know yet."
Simultaneously, you beam at Mami. "Of course. Hm..."
"OK," Kirika agrees. "Tomorrow. You in a rush about that Kuroki girl, by the way?"
Mami raises her eyebrows at you, smiling. "Hm?"
"Sooner is better than later, but..." you consider for a moment. "In your time."
You give Mami a smile. "Nah, just thinking a bit - my powers are a bit... weird," you say. "They might be dangerous?"
"Gotcha," Kirika responds. "Later, Sabrina."
"Later, Kirika," you say, closing the connection.
You turn your attention back to Sayaka, who quirks an upside down eyebrow at you. "Well, you use them, dontcha?"
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" you ask, faking offense.
"Nothing, nothing~" Sayaka says, grinning at you.
You poke her in the shoulder with your free hand, setting her spinning on the ribbon.
"Hey!" she complains.
Mami giggles, nestling into your side. She peeks up at you for a moment, golden eyes bright with mischief, and winks, gaze flickering to the side for a second before raising her eyebrows in silent question. You nod fractionally, a tiny smirk lifting the corner of your mouth - the game is on.
A look of consternation flashes across Sayaka's face, melting into realisation and then resignation.
"Your power is quite unusual, Sabrina," Mami agrees. "Do you have any recommendations?"
"Yeah," you say. You're tempted to move all the Grief away - if nothing else, there are items inside that you absolute do not want seeing the light of day. You have an entire laundry list of things you want to caution Sayaka about, like about Soul Gems and how you shouldn't move Grief too fast and not to try and fight your control...
You exhale. "Let me know if you feel overwhelmed by anything, and don't hesitate to ask questions."
Sayaka's currently facing away from you. She wriggles a bit, managing to twirl around to nail you with a disbelieving look.
"What?" you ask her.
"I figured you'd have this long list of dos and don'ts," she says.
You shrug. "Sorry to disappoint," you say. "But, like... I have no idea how our powers will interact. None at all. Sooooo. One thing, though."
A mental tug brings your Grief sailing in to the junkyard, hundreds of mottled, deep purple spheres. Some are larger than the others, some smaller. Several stop right in front of you, joined by a particularly lumpy one that drifts from your ever present sling bag.
"These... Try not to touch these bits of Grief?" you ask, making sure Sayaka's facing you. "I've got things in here I'd rather not show off or drop."
Heh. That's an understatement, when yakuza gold and weapons are the least of your concerns. Homura's notebook of Witches is, needless to say something that has seen daylight exactly once, and you mean to keep it that way.
"Right," Sayaka says, vigorous nods sending her drifting to face away.
"Alright, then," you say. "I don't think I've got anything else, so..." You move your Grief out of the way and extend a hand towards Sayaka, smiling. "Ready to give it a shot?"
"Excuse me." You turn to see Hitomi sitting primly in her chair, one hand raised as if she's waiting for a teacher to call on her in class.
"Yes, Hitomi?" Mami asks, tilting her head quizzically to the side. Knowing her as well as you do, you can see the tiny, mischievous smirk curling her lips.
"Um..." Hitomi falters, daunted for a second by Mami's impeccable calm. "Is no one going to mention the fact that Sayaka's still hanging upside down?"
You tilt your head in mirror of Mami's, turning back to inspect Sayaka, and the way she's still hoisted in the air by golden ribbons around one ankle. Her skirt drapes oddly, and both her arms and cape dangle loosely over-under her head.
"Why, so she is," you say, as if only just realising this.
Sayaka sighs, palming her face. "Dammit, Hitomi," she says. "Don't encourage them."
Hitomi wrinkles her brow as Madoka giggles, covering her mouth. "But..."
"I said don't encourage them," Sayaka grumbles. "Besides, this isn't actually too bad."
Mami's giggles join yours, leaning against you for support. She waves a hand, shimmering gold infusing the ribbons. They writhe to life, and set Sayaka down.
Sayaka pats herself down, dusting away the sand with more grumbling. "We gonna do this?"
"Yeah," you say, extending your hand to her. You brace yourself. "Let's try it."
Mami nods, giving Sayaka an encouraging smile.
The bluenette grabs your hand in hers. "Jeeze, what's with all the ceremony, anyway? I-" She frowns, and releases your hand before stripping her glove off and trying again. "... eh?"
"Sayaka?" you ask, stiffening. Alarm kindles within your mind - but she doesn't sound like she's in pain or unable to control it or anything. She just sounds confused.
"No, wait," she says, frowning.
Observing her in your Grief senses, you can see the coiled fire of her magic curling down her arm. Leashed cerulean power pours down her fingers to wind around yours.
Yep, seems normal to you.
"... uh," Sayaka says. "I don't... you don't seem to have powers?"
You blink. "Eh?"
"No, wait- no that's not it," Sayaka mutters distractedly, frowning. "What the hell, Sabrina?"
"Um... Have you released my powers yet, Sayaka?" Mami asks, taking a step forward.
"Ah, yeah, good idea," Sayaka mutters. Paying attention, you can see the way her power unfurls, smoothing out as she makes an effort. She bites her lip. "... No, still nothing."
"... Maybe there's a refractory period of some kind?" you suggest, pursing your lips.
"No," Sayaka says, shaking her head. Her eyes widen. "I- um, I don't know how I know that."
"Hmm," Mami says. A baffled frown furrows her brow. "Madoka, could you come over here a moment?"
"Ah, yes!" Madoka hops to her feet and hurries over. Hitomi stands, too, smoothing her skirts down and proceeding over to observe the hubbub.
"Sayaka, try copying from Madoka?" Mami suggests. "Since she isn't a magical girl at all."
"Right," Sayaka says, releasing your hand to grab Madoka's. Her frown deepens. "It's... not the same."
"Really now?" you ask. "How come?"
"It's, uh," Sayaka frowns. "It's like..." She gestures at Madoka. "I get nothing from Madoka, and it's a, a, known nothing. Like a zero. From you I get... like... 'none applicable'. An imaginary number, like, right angles to everything else."
"That's strange," Mami says, frowning.
[] Write-in
=====​
Well that's odd, isn't it?
Last edited: Aug 23, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 44
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 26, 2016

- #95,037

Your frown can only deepen. You give some consideration to giving Madoka a hug, but really, you don't need to hammer on that now. Madoka doesn't even seem to take it as anything more than a joke, anyway.
"That's..." you shake your head. "That's really weird."
"You don't say," Sayaka grumbles. "I was looking forward to trying out your powers, too."
You worry at your lower lip for a bit, your mind churning with hypotheses and explanations. You...
For once, you're actually pretty sure what the problem is. You've only really got two plausible candidates, and they aren't even mutually exclusive explanations. Fixing the problem, insofar as there's anything to fix, is another matter, but you're reasonably sure you know what went wrong.
Refreshing, if anticlimactic.
"Kyuubey did say that there was something strange about my potential when I contracted," you say slowly, sliding your arm around Mami's waist to pull her into a hug. "Right? Sayaka, Madoka?"
Sayaka blinks and snaps her fingers. "Yeah! I remember that," she says. "He actually sounded confused."
Madoka nods emphatically. "Do you think that could be it, Sabrina?"
"Yeah, it makes sense," Sayaka nods, looking thoughtful. "Like, magic comes from our potentials, right?"
"It does," Mami agrees.
"There are magical girls from outside Japan, right?" Hitomi asks. "That... might be a silly question, but I would like to be clear?"
"Of course there are," Mami answers, nodding. "I know a few."
Sayaka claps. "Oh! Maybe we'll get to meet them sometime!"
"In point of fact," Mami says. "One will be travelling to Mitakihara... was it the day after, Sabrina?"
"Sunday," you confirm. "Nadia Bennouna -her surname's Bennouna, by the way- is travelling here, but Mami knows more than I do."
"Ah, not that much," Mami demurs with a little smile. "She's a travelling magical girl, she travels to cities around the world to carry news."
Hitomi tilts her head. "Don't you have..." she taps the side of her head.
"Yes, but you can't communicate with people you haven't met in person before," Mami explains. "Think of her more as a travelling newspaper salesman than a mail service, though I do believe she does that too."
"Mmm," Hitomi says, nodding thoughtfully. "That makes sense."
"Yeah!" Sayaka agrees. "We're all going to meet her, right?"
Mami shrugs. "I don't see why not. Why did you ask about foreign magical girls, Hitomi?"
"Just... making sure," the greenette says, seeming a bit embarrassed. "Sabrina isn't from Japan, so I wanted to check whether that could be it."
You chuckle. "No, that's not it. At least I hope not," you say. "Also, um, on the subject - the other hypothesis I have is that I specifically Wished for this power, and that changes things? Though I feel like we need a bigger sample size to work with to confirm this, either way."
Mami nods thoughtfully. "Do you think Homura would volunteer?"
"Maybe," you say. "Though I suspect she might also be a... special case? What I'd like to do is contacting some of the magical girls I've met and seeing if she can try on them. Like maybe going with us to Sendai this Sunday?"
"That's a good idea," Mami agrees with a nod.
You sigh, rolling your shoulders. "Anyway. Since that's out for now... what's next, Mami?"
Mami tugs thoughtfully on one of her hair-drills. "I was going to guide Sayaka through exploring her power for about half an hour before we went to try hunting a Witch," she says. "As it is... Sayaka, I feel that you're ready to go on a Witch hunt with us - Sabrina and I can catch any mistakes you might make, and I'd like to see how you fare against a real Witch. Sabrina, what do you think?"
"I'm up for that," you say with a nod. "I don't think Madoka and Hitomi should come with us for that, though." You give them an apologetic look. "We'll need to watch Sayaka's performance, and it'd be dangerous."
"Hey, Madoka and I got to go with Mami!" Sayaka protests.
"No, Sabrina's right," Mami says. "It's easier to protect people who are trying to stay back than to watch for someone who's in the middle of things. And... this is your first hunt, Sayaka. Maybe next time?"
Sayaka deflates.
Madoka, on the other hand, smiles, wide and guileless. "I understand," she says.
"As do I," Hitomi says, nodding. "I shall head to the hospital, then, to visit Kyousuke."
"Ah!" Sayaka says. "I'll be headed there after the hunt, too! Uh-" Her eyes dart over to you and Mami. "If there's nothing after the hunt?"
You shrug, deferring to Mami, who shakes her head. "No," she says. "There shouldn't be anything else."
"Ah... then I'll go to the hospital too," Madoka offers. "We can all meet up afterwards? And, um, Sayaka, we have that assignment from Miss Saotome to do..."
"Sounds good to me," Sayaka says. "And that assignment isn't due for a week!"
Mami rubs her gloved hands together. "Why don't we walk you to the hospital, and then start our hunt from there?" she suggests.
Madoka brightens. "That sounds great!"
"Yeah," Sayaka agrees. "C'mon, let's go!" She drops her arms around Madoka and Hitomi's shoulders and starts towing them out of the junkyard.
"Don't forget to detransform!" you call, shaking your head as you do just that. You slant a lazy grin towards Mami as she, too, detransforms. "That girl."
Mami giggles. "She's eager."
"Mmmhm," you agree, sparing an effort of will to dissolve the Grief chairs and sort away all the Grief into your usual drifting planetarium of spheres.
Bumping your shoulder against Mami's, you meander after the trio. It's... comfortable. You've really lucked out with your friendships, in many ways. You put in a good deal of effort, but there was a decent helping of good luck, too. Some part of you is paranoid, but hey, it's not like you're going to betray yourself or something, right?
Then again, what if you pranked yourself. That's... something that might happen. Like putting rocks in your shoes before you go to sleep, to give yourself a 'damn you past me' moment in the morning if you forget. You could say you're training yourself to have a better memory.
Eh, that's kind of silly.
Eventually, you all reach the hospital and bid farewell to Madoka and Hitomi for now. Sayaka turns to you, beaming. "What now?"
"Rooftops?" you ask Mami.
"Mmmhm!" she agrees, leading the way down an alley. "Sayaka, follow our lead, OK? You should be able to do this." You transform, and follow Mami in wall-hopping up to the roof of the apartment block.
Mami peeks her head over the side. "Come on up, Sayaka! You can do this!"
Sayaka follows with only a moment of hesitation. Cracks of shattering concrete drift up to you, followed by a muffled yelp of surprise.
Mami grins at you, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, I don't do that anymore," you say as Sayaka crests the roof. She stumbles and slumps into a seated position, cape draping over her shoulders. "Thanks to the tip you gave me!"
"What tip," Sayaka grumbles. "You just left me behind!"
"It's not something we can really teach," you offer. "You have to learn by doing. Or more like find the instincts within yourself."
"I suppose we could have carried you up," Mami offers with an amused smile. "Ribbons, or Sabrina's powers."
"No thanks," Sayaka complains. She pushes herself to her feet, energy returning. "Anyway, where to now?"
"Hmm..." Mami says, considering the skyline. "We should do the hospital route, since we're here."
"Works for me," you agree. "Take the lead, Mami!"
She beams at you, brilliant and warm, and does just that.
Sayaka proves a quick study in roofhopping, bounding lightly from building to building. She soars, cape fluttering lightly -heroically- after her as she leaps, dashing and bold in contrast to Mami's elegance and your own pragmatic and vaguely parkour-like style.
Crack.
... not so much the not-breaking-rooftops part, though.
It doesn't take you long to find a Witch, your Grief senses letting you home in on it. You find yourself crouching atop what seems to be a theater, modern but as yet unopened. The Barrier hangs in the air, drifting slowly away.
[] Write-in
=====​
You know the drill!
Last edited: Aug 27, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 45
- View content

#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Aug 29, 2016

- #95,200

You take half a step back and sweep into a grand bow. "Dame Miki, Lady Tomoe," you say in English before switching back to Japanese. "By your leave."
"Dame?" Sayaka asks, raising her eyebrows at you.
"The female equivalent of 'Sir'," you explain. "It's how you address a female knight."
Mami giggles. "Lady Tomoe?"
"Hey, if the shoe fits, it fits," you offer, grinning at her. "Though... Hm. I think proper heraldic order would have been Lady then Dame."
Mami shakes her head, smiling fondly. "Sayaka, you can you take the lead," she says. "I'll keep an eye on you. Sabrina-"
"I'll follow behind," you say with a smile. "Today, I'll be your bodyguard. You concentrate on Sayaka, and I'll back you up, yeah?"
Mami beams. "Just what I was thinking," she agrees. "Sayaka? Are you ready?"
The bluenette reaches under her Cape to withdraw a pair of swords, evening light gleaming off the faint curve of the blades. She grins confidently. "Yeah, I'm good," she declares.
You draw your own hammer from beneath your coat, pulling it out as if you had been wearing it on your waist. Grief folds around you, dozens, hundreds of spheres drifting in lazy orbits. You smile at Mami, waiting for her to give the go ahead.
"Then..." Mami indicates the entrance to the Barrier.
Sayaka nods, hands tightening on the grips of her swords. She springs for the glowing rip in reality, and vanishes through.
Mami throws you a warm smile before following.
You leap after them, bracing for that familiar moment of disorientation-
-and the revulsion. You blow out a sharp, hard breath, steadying yourself. A gloved hand touches your shoulder, Mami giving you a warm smile.
"You OK, Sabrina?" Sayaka asks, swords out and staring around.
"Yeah," you say, eyes following hers. "Witch barriers... Well, my powers let me see Grief, and all this is Grief."
Motes of dust dance in the gloomy twilight of the Barrier. Polished wood forms the floor, scuffed as if by the passage of hundreds of feet. Heavy, musty curtains of what would have once been rich crimson hang from far above. Thick ropes of what looks like hemp dangle alongside the curtains, tangling and snarling together into a thick web as they disappear into the darkness.
There's a faint starkness to the hanging fixtures, as if there's something wrong with the way light falls on them. Their outlines are a little too sharp, too well defined.
"Looks... spooky," Sayaka opines, her voice still bright and undeterred.
Mami looks around warily. "Witch Barriers usually do," she notes. "So, Sayaka, where do you think we should go? It's OK to be wrong about this - the sense of direction in Barriers takes time to develop."
"Uhhhhh," Sayaka says, furrowing her brow in thought. "When you ask it like that, I, uh, I guess it's not like straight ahead or something. Down, maybe? Through the floor?"
That's not right, you feel, but you hold your tongue. A shake of Mami's head vindicates your gut feeling, though. "Up," Mami says, pointing.
"Figures," Sayaka says, rolling her eyes.
"Good guess, though," Mami says with a smile. "I've encountered Barriers where I did have to go down."
Sayaka grumbles inaudible, craning her head back to look up. "So we climb the ropes? Suppose it's a good thing Madoka and Hitomi didn't come..."
"Not necessarily," Mami says. "Do you have a way to travel upwards? If not, I'll let you copy my ribbon powers again - we should have done that first."
"No, I-" Sayaka frowns. "I- do?" Azure light blazes beneath her feet, lifting her into the air as if on an invisible platform. Cerulean lines streak into stylized images that trail away behind her: an armoured knight, crossed swords, a winged angel, a windmill, a mermaid... The images reel away as Sayaka rockets upwards.
Mami flashes you a smile. "Wait, Sayaka!" she calls after the bluenette. Hm. Azuretop? "Don't get too far ahead!" She leaps after Sayaka, a golden ribbon lashing from her hand to hoist her upwards and onwards.
You huff an amused laugh, craning your head back to watch their progress, wings blooming from your back. You leap to join them, spiralling upwards amongst the tangled ropes on wings of corruption. Mami swings arm over arm, ribbons snapping outwards to hoist her up.
"There!" Sayaka yells, pointing out. You follow her pointing sword, and spot a rabbit.
It's just a rabbit, with the fluffiest white fur, clinging incongruously to a rope. Huge, obsidian black eyes blink at you, before the rabbit darts away, seeming to flow from rope to rope in stuttering motions, like frames skipping in an animation.
The distinctive boom of Mami's musket rings out, a streak of fire blasting the Familiar apart in a puff of fur. "It's a Familiar, Sayaka," Mami chides. "Don't hesitate!"
"Right," Sayaka says, grimacing to herself. "Sorry. It was just... all fuzzy and cute, you know?"
Mami shakes her head, managing to give Sayaka a chiding look despite hanging from a ribbon. "False exteriors," she says. "Make no mistakes, even something like that can prey on people."
You drift beside them silently on slow, lazy wingbeats, the muffling curtains swallowing up most of the sound.
A gust of chill wind sets the motes of dust twirling in the air. The ropes flutter, rippling in the twilight darkness of the Barrier.
"Uh-" Sayaka says. "That way?" She points along the direction where the wind had come from.
Mami nods, smiling. "Lead the way, Sayaka."
Sayaka nods. "Right!" she says, skating forward on her drifting banner of light, afterimages fading in her wake. Mami follows, readied muskets hanging about her with muskets out like a deadly ballerina's skirt. You trail in their wake, Grief coiling around you at the ready.
You notice the moving speck... specks before Sayaka does, though probably not before Mami does. Like Mami, though, you don't say anything. Instead, you keep an eye on the oncoming horde, distant, and only really visible as tiny white motes causing the ropes and curtains ahead of you to sway.
To Sayaka's credit, it only takes her a moment longer to notice it, but by this time the Familiars have multiplied into an oncoming blizzard of white, leaping from rope to rope. "Ah! There!" Sayaka gestures with her sword, pointing out the things - and this time she doesn't hesitate.
With a sharp bang, the blade of her sword launches outwards, severing a rope and sending a group of Familiars plunging to the distant floor below. The expended hilt joins it moments later, and Sayaka leaps forward with a yell, both hands on the hilt of her sword.
Her first swing bisects two rabbits, the Familiars exploding into puffs of fur.
The ring of muskets around Mami's waist thunder, spinning like a buzzsaw. Rippling shots slash through the crowd of Familiars, spent rifles dissolving and reforming as they pass the firing arc.
You hold back, and you hold station. It's Sayaka's show, and Mami's. But that doesn't mean you aren't going to be prepared. Blades formed out of midnight dark purple Grief slide through the air, ready to swoop in on moment's notice.
Admittedly, you're not really sure it would be useful, given that, well, Mami's Mami. With her head in the game, she's... Well, Mami is kind of a Big Deal.
Ah well. Better prepared than not.
Sayaka butchers her way through the oncoming flood of rabbits, the trailing banner of light skimming through the air effortlessly. Mami's only a step behind, muskets cracking to clean up the Familiars out of her immediate range-
One darts past the pair, and a Grief blade immediately hammers it into halves. But it's only the first, the little fluffy things spilling past Sayaka and Mami and they're not attacking, they're just in the way and you make the connection in your head-
"They're fleeing," you say, half to yourself, and then you reach out mentally to Mami. "They're running away from something."
"They are," she murmurs back, swinging like a trapeze artist on her ribbons. Musket fire rakes the crowds of Familiars, every shot unerring. You can't help but notice the way her shots flicker past Sayaka, catching Familiars that the azuretop doesn't even seem to notice. "I don't think Sayaka has realised. Be ready?"
"I will," you agree, eyeing Sayaka who's still slashing away at the horde of Familiars with more enthusiasm than finesse. Some things don't change, you suppose.
You extend your awareness, every shard of your Grief a glowing beacon in your mind against the scurrying, cloying mental stench of Grief that is not yours. A bare sliver of attention directs each blade, slicing through the churning froth of Familiars spilling over the tangling cerulean and gold.
Abruptly, bright light glares down upon you.
When the Witch arrives, it rips through the crowding Familiars. A huge, nightmare rendition of a spider, jagged black chitin drawn in sharp, vicious angles. Huge mandibles the size of your you gnash on an eyeless face, and limbs serrated in ways no real spider's legs are carve right into the rabbit-like Familiars.
This time, blood flies.
Mami's already swinging clear, yelling a warning to Sayaka, but Sayaka-
-Sayaka charges with sword raised high.
A limb flicks out and smashes into Sayaka.
She goes tumbling out of the air. Her glowing banner of light vanishes.
"Sayaka!" You fold your wings and you dive, Grief reaching out ahead of you but golden ribbons are already on the way and-
Vibrant blue flares bright. Sayaka's tumble rights itself, and she throws herself back up.
"Wait," Mami's voice murmurs in your mind. And you do.
The Witch rears up, its legs reversing with sickening crunches of breaking chitin. It twists, back rotating into view to display a massive white mask drawn into a perpetual scream. And it lunges, moving faster than anything its size has any right to, silver-tipped legs slicing at Sayaka.
Vibrant blue light leaves afterimages as she soars for the Witch with a wordless cry. Her sword lengthens, doubling- tripling- quadrupling as she swings, howling. Musket fire hammers aside limbs, opening a path for Sayaka to dart in.
She swings with reckless abandon, throwing her entire body into it. Her sword cleaves right through the Witch, sending limbs tumbling to the distant ground.
Not all of them. Just three.
Hooked legs claw at Sayaka, and she can't get away-
You're there to meet it.
Your wings and arms are thrown wide, a wall of Grief slamming into existence in front of you. The Witch bounces off with a horrid crunching noise, hooked limbs hooking onto the ropes as it hauls itself up the curtains. Musket fire rains upon it. Ichor splatters over the shield-
-and Sayaka isn't behind you any more, glowing banner marking her streaking path. She dives at the Witch again, sword swinging overhead.
She smashes the sword right through the mask. Bright steel plunges into bone white chitin, sending cracks spiralling through the mask. She springs away, leaving the sword there.
Another sword flashes into Sayaka's hands, and she sweeps forward in another burst of light.
You dart after her, sharp strokes of your wings lending you speed. Grief rakes the back of the Witch, carving gashes and trenches. You could kill it -Mami could kill it- but this is Sayaka's moment. The Witch shivers, utterly silent but for the shifting of broken chitin as it ascends limb over limb on the ropes.
"No you don't!" Sayaka yells, sword swinging wildly. She hammers off another limb with a stroke.
The Witch teeters-
-and it falls.
It flails wildly, tearing gashes from the curtains as it tumbles.
And it impacts the ground with a massive crack, mask shattered.
Sayaka follows it, cape billowing after her. She hits sword first and drives it home, slamming right to the hilt with a massive crack. Her cloak settles slowly around her.
You can feel the Witch give, something breaking. The Barrier's already starting to dissolve, the too-sharp edges of the curtains starting to waver as you and Mami move to join Sayaka.
[] Write-in
=====​
This Witch I dedicate to @NormalSightMan's nightmare.
Last edited: Aug 30, 2016
Threadmarks
Apocrypha
Informational
Staff Post
View content
You must log in or register to reply here.

### Similar threads

Lost In Time - A PMMM Quest

- Box10001
- Dec 2, 2023
- Words: 1.6k

1 2
pmmm puella magi madoka magica

Replies
  49

Views
  905

Dec 31, 2023
Box10001
「 」 in Wonderland (PMMM)

- DeclanDSI
- Dec 26, 2023
- Words: 380

1 2
pmmm magical girls open voting

Replies
  28

Views
  395

Jan 2, 2024
SoulDiver
Incubator Quest [PMMM Quest]

- Azur Reality
- Oct 4, 2023
- Words: 6.9k

1 2 3 4
pmmm puella magi madoka magica kyubey

Replies
  98

Views
  2K

Dec 18, 2023
Solarstream
You decide your Destiny [A PMMM Quest]

- Azur Reality
- Dec 13, 2023
- Words: 1.7k

pmmm female protagonist kyubey

Replies
  9

Views
  159

Dec 14, 2023
Eternal_0bserver
Shadows of the mind [PMMM Quest]

- Azur Reality
- Sep 18, 2023
- Words: 11k

1 ... 4 5 6
pmmm puella magi madoka magica magical girls female protagonist another pmmm quest

Replies
  127

Views
  3K

Dec 26, 2023
DeclanDSI
Back
Top