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# 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?

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Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 6
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 17, 2014

- #12,515

Homura finishes her slice, and gives the remaining lasagne in the pan a casual look. You catch Mami's eye and grin at her.
"Would you like some more, Homura?" the blonde asks, already reaching for the serving knife.
"No, I've had enough," Homura says politely. You quietly grab her plate, and hand it to Mami. Amethyst eyes frown at you.
"There's plenty to go around," Mami reassures her, hands moving deftly to slice out another generous helping and transferring it over to her plate, before passing it to you. You ceremoniously return the plate to Homura.
The golden brown pasta sits invitingly in front of the time traveller, still gooey cheese dripping to mix with the savoury beef still wafting in the air.
"... thank you," she allows, picking up her fork again.
"You're welcome!" Mami smiles.
"Hmm," you mutter as you chew through another mouthful of lasagne, the cheese and beef contrasting perfectly with the tartness of the tomatoes. "Hey Mami," you say. "What kind of music do you like, anyway?"
"Hmm..." Mami says. "Well, I love that tune you played for me..." she says with a smile. "Pop music too, and, ah, some opera."
"Heh, I could see you as an idol," you say with a smile. "What do you think, Homura?"
The black haired girl's nose wrinkles minutely. "I don't like idols," she mutters, still hungrily shovelling down the lasagne.
Mami looks crestfallen.
"Homura!" you snap at her telepathically.
"... but I'm sure you'll be a good one if you wanted to," Homura adds.
Mami smiles weakly. "Thank you, Sabrina, Homura."
"You'll definitely do well if you want to," you say firmly. "Anyway, speaking of music..."
A few of your Grief marbles drift into the kitchen, melding into the musical instruments.
"How about some dinner music?" you ask, simultaneously slipping your phone out of your pocket. "I'm taking requests after the first song, which is, of course..."
Familiar music fills the apartment, and you hold a finger to your lips, smiling at Mami, while your other hand holds your phone up in the air to get a clearer recording.
Homura raises an eyebrow a fraction of a centimeter at you as you play, and then at Mami, who's swaying her head contentedly along to the tune. Eventually, Homura shrugs, and returns to her dinner.
Finally, the music ends, Mami gracing you with a brilliant smile. "I will never get tired of that song, Sabrina."
You shrug, not really sure how to respond.
Mami brightens. "Ah! Sabrina, how about Homura?"
"Uh?" you ask, looking down at your phone, fingers clicking across the buttons to set the tune as the ringtone for Mami.
"Do you have any music ideas for Homura?" she asks.
"Hmm," you say, thinking about it. "Well, Homura... what do you think of this?" You take a deep breath, thinking of the tune, and then start playing it, again holding up your phone to record it.
Homura straightens in her seat as the music plays. When it finishes, Mami claps her hands, beaming at you. "It's lovely, Sabrina! Did you come up with it yourself?"
You shrug again. "Homura, what do you think of it?"
"... I like it," the time traveller allows.
"Excellent," you say cheerfully. "I'll make this your ringtone, then."
"Oh, custom ringtones?" Mami leans across the table, trying to see your phone as you click through its menus.
"Yep," you confirm. "Yours is... your tune, of course! I call it Credens Justitiam, by the way. 'Believe in justice'. And yours-" you look at Homura, "-is Luminous."
"Credens justitiam..." Mami rolls the syllables around. "Thank you, Sabrina."
Homura just nods.
You soon finish dinner, taking a second helping, as does Mami, while Homura goes for a third. You also take the time to record the ringtones for everyone, though you don't have Hitomi's or Oriko's phone number - seems Homura doesn't have them.
"I will do the dishes," Homura announces, pushing back her plate, virtually polished clean.
You blink at her. "Uh?"
Mami shakes her head. "There's no need, Homura."
"It's the least I can do," Homura insists.
"... OK," Mami agrees. "Just call if you need help, OK?"
Homura nods, silently stacking up the dishes to move to the sink.
"Hmm, I should put away my new things," you muse out loud.
"I'll help," Mami offers immediately.
"Sure, thanks!" you say, walking over to grab the bags containing your purchases.
The next fifteen or so minutes are spent in a frenzy of shredding packaging and hanging up the clothes, and transferring your Grief marbles to the new, more spacious, bag. You return to the living room, finding Homura sitting on the corner of the sofa, looking contemplative.
You settle on the couch, and Mami immediately sits beside you, pressing up against you.
Homura gives the two of you a sidelong glance, but doesn't otherwise comment.
You click on the news, and listen with a fraction of your attention, simultaneously reaching out for Oriko. "Oriko?"
The seer replies immediately. "When I said 'it would be preferable for you to meet them', I meant that it would be preferable for you to meet them."
"Excuse me?"
"... minor tremors struck Ishinomaki earlier today. Experts say that a true earthquake is unlikely..."
"You only needed to meet them," Oriko says. "As I was expecting you to."
You snort. "And you expected me to not try and help?"
Oriko... doesn't groan, precisely. She's too refined for that. But you get the distinct impression of discontent. "I have a migraine right now and no interest in talking to you. What do you want."
"... rose by 0.21% today. Growth is expected to continue..."
"Anything important right now? Do you need cleansing?" you ask.
"No," the seer replies. "To both. Today or tomorrow doesn't matter much. Good bye."
... rude.
"... scandal, as famed pop star..."
Nothing much of note seems to have occurred, or at least nothing that made it to either form of news you're listening to, anyway.
Homura stretches languidly on the sofa. "Are we going Witch hunting tonight?"
Mami stiffens a little. "We should," she says, voice somewhat reluctant.
Homura nods.
"Ah, are you sure you want to go out so soon after we ate?" Mami asks. You glance over at the time traveller, and note that her belly's actually a little rounded from the dinner.
"I'll be fine," Homura demurs.
[] Head out
- [] By flight?
[] Stay in
[] Talk to them about Oriko
[] Write-in
=====​
You know, for Homura, Mami's cooking is probably tied to some of the best memories she has. Idyllic days long lost.
Last edited: Oct 17, 2014
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 7
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 18, 2014

- #12,595

You drape one arm around Mami and give her a quick squeeze. "We'll be fine, right Homura?"
Faded lilac eyes regard you for a moment, and Homura nods slowly.
"Yeah," Mami takes a deep breath. "We will."
"That's the spirit," you smile. "Anyway, I was thinking, I could try flying all of us around?"
"Flying?" Mami gives you a curious look.
"Well, yeah," you say. "I was thinking I could just fly, and then use Mami's ribbons to make, um, platforms or something? Like a big hang-glider?"
"Umm..." Mami blinks. "That sounds a bit uncomfortable?"
"Uh," you say. "But... flying."
"I'm sure it's fun, though!" Mami exclaims, immediately looking contrite. "We can try it, if you like?"
"Hmm, new idea. I make a big platform out of Grief, and then we can stand, or sit on it?" you suggest.
"That sounds good," Mami agrees.
"Homura?" you ask.
"I'm fine with the idea," she says.
"Alright, let's go, then?" you offer, pushing youself off the sofa.
"Let's," Mami agrees.
You grab your new bag, and the three of you head out to the rooftop of the apartment block. You gesture with your hands, and let a torrent of marbles flood into the air, spiralling around you in a vortex before coalescing into a solid disc wide enough for all three of you to on, hovering a few centimeters off the roof. A twist of will forms little hooks along the sides for Mami to bind ribbons to.
"Mami, could you make ribbons for us to hold on to?" you suggest.
"Of course, Sabrina," she says, manifesting golden ribbons as indicated.
Homura gives the contraption, and then you, a dubious look.
You shrug at her. "It's probably faster?"
"Not if we fall off," she says.
"That's what the ribbons are for," you answer, boldly stepping up onto the platform, one hand grabbing on to the ribbons like the reins of a horse. Mami steps up beside you with a smile, holding onto her own set of safety ribbons. The platform doesn't budge, remaining obdurately stable.
Homura sighs, and mounts the platform, standing just behind you.
"Alright, then!" you say cheerfully. "Inaugural flight of, um, Magical Girl Airlines! Here we go!"
You move the platform off, smoothly accelerating off into the rapidly darkening sky, city lights glimmering below you. "So, where to? Mami, Homura?"
"Left!" Mami calls over the rushing wind that sets her golden ringlets fluttering staight out. "Towards the city center!"
"Got it!" You smoothly curve the disc in the indicated direction so that no one slips off, and zoom off towards the central business district. Under Mami's direction, the three of you zip across the area, senses hunting for a Witch.
"Found one!" you call, already moving over.
The glowing tear in reality, it turns out, is on the roof of a skyscraper... and as you approach it, you see a few people, dressed in suits, shamble out of the stairway and onto the rooftop, one of them already headed for the edge of the building.
"Witch Kisses!" Mami shouts in alarm.
[] Write-in
=====​
Include your actions over the next few minutes, and going into the Barrier.
Last edited: Oct 18, 2014
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 8
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 19, 2014

- #12,674

It's not even a choice.
"Homura, timestop!" you bark.
Homura's shield arm is already snapping up, opposite hand reaching across to crank it. And time-
-stops. Profound silence, opressive and absolute, falls like a guillotine. Shades of grey shroud the city, muting out the endless rivers of headlights and the glowing neon of advertising signs. The yellow of Mami's ribbons in your hands, and your own costumes, are the only bright colours remaining in the world.
Ahead of you, one of the Witched Kissed office workers have almost reached the edge of the roof, knees bent slightly to spring.
Mami, beside you, sways a little, one hand groping for yours while the other maintains a grip on the ribbons. You let her grasp your hand, and you squeeze it reassuringly, feeling her half glove and warm fingers against yours.
"Mami, maybe you could ribbon all of them together?" you say, as you guide the platform closer.
"Oh, um, of course," Mami says, her expression firming. She raises the hand not holding onto you, and forms a golden banded ball, in her hand. She flicks her wrist and tosses it at the rooftop, making the throw easily, a single ribbon trailing back to her hand. The ball lands in the midst of the people, and explodes in a lashing forest of golden ribbons, writhing like striking serpents to wind around the frozen workers on the roof.
The blonde frowns slightly, and the ribbons contract, pulling the office workers into a pile. They don't protest, lying motionlessly in the pile with their limbs flopping limply about. "That should hold them," Mami says.
You chuckle, and Mami gives you a questioning look, while Homura hops nimbly off the platform to land on the rooftop.
"I was going to make a wall around the roof, just in case," you answer her unspoken question. "Turns out we don't need it."
Mami gives you a warm smile. "It's a good idea, Sabrina," she says.
Homura, down on the roof, straightens from inspecting the pile of Kissed office workers, hand going to her shield again. With the clatter of gears, she ends the timestop. You can feel Mami relaxing as colour and noise floods back into the world again.
"Good work, everyone!" you say cheerfully, dissolving the platform back into marbles and dropping to the rooftop, Mami still holding your hand. "Well, I say everyone. I didn't do anything."
Homura shakes her head fractionally, disagreeing.
"You got us here in time," Mami says. "If you weren't here..." she waves at the edge of the roof.
"Fine, fine," you say. "Anyway, cleanses, everyone?"
"Sure," Mami agrees with a warm smile. Homura nods in agreement, lifting her arm to present her Soul Gem to you.
You crook your fingers, and siphon off the corruption clouding their gems, as well as your own. Homura's Gem contains a surprising amount, but then again, it's been a while since you'd cleansed her Soul Gem. The day before, you think?
"... thank you," Homura says, hand dropping back to her side.
"Nah, no need to thank me," you tell her. You squeeze Mami's hand again. "You too, Mami, no need to thank me."
Mami chuckles weakly. "Y-you're keeping us a-alive," she says. "And you don't think you should be thanked?"
"You didn't think twice about taking in a random stranger from the street, feeding her, and clothing her," you tell her. "Why would I do anything less for my friends?"
"... thanks, Sabrina," Mami says.
Homura's footsteps ring a little louder on the rooftop as she walks towards the glowing entrance to the Barrier, skirting carefully around the pile of weakly struggling Witch Kissed office workers. You glance at Mami, and she smiles back at you, before following Homura, lightly tugging you by the hand.
"Oh, um, give me a moment?" you say, heading instead to look at the office workers, Mami following you. Homura pauses at the Barrier, turning to observe you. You stretch out your senses, taking a look at the Witch Kisses.
What look like simple markings to your eyes are... almost like Familiars, to your Grief sense. Tendrils of Grief intertwine with their bearers - presumably how they can control people. You could probably disrupt these things, you suspect, in much the same way you can dissolve Familiars.
"I just wanted to take a look at the Witch Kisses," you explain. "Anyway, let's go?"
You follow Homura and Mami into the Barrier, biting back your instincts screaming at you, revulsion rising at the greasy, nauseating feel of the Barrier around you. You vaguely wonder why; it's not like the Grief cloud you're holding under your control feels like that... Then again, maybe that's precisely it - the Barrier around you isn't under your control.
You look around. This Barrier is... is...
"Stairs," you say out loud. Endless staircases stretch ever upwards, disappearing into the poorly lit depths of the Barrier. Wooden ones of fine mahogany, others of unvarnished plywood, cold, impersonal concrete, rickety metal fire escapes... stairs of all varieties suspended in midnight blackness, descending from the dizzying heights above and dip into the abyss below. The staircase you're standing on is carpeted in a rich red, fine marble bannisters on either side.
Sheets of paper, dense with inky scribblings, drift downwards from above.
Homura shrugs. "Witches," she says mildly.
Mami nods in agreement. "Witches."
You shake your head. "So, uh, up or down?" You focus on your Soul Gem, trying to divine a direction.
Mami frowns, similarly focusing.
"Up," Homura says.
"Ah!" Mami smiles. "Excellent work, Homura!"
"Mami is... still a little..." Homura observes telepathically to you as she looks around, a pair of pistols sliding into her hand from her shield as she starts up the stairs, one at a time.
You reply with a telepathic sigh. "She is terrified of being alone, Homura. Be her friend. It's all she needs."
The pistol in Homura's hand booms, thundering out a shot that punches through one of the drifting pieces of paper. The papers rustle, the whisper of paper sliding over paper magnified a thousand times over throughout the Barrier.
And the papers flood toward you, folding themselves into paper aeroplanes zooming down at you.
Homura's guns sound out a steady cadence of shots, slow and measured. Mami lets go of your hand and sweeps into a curtesy, muskets falling from her chest. The curtesy turns into a spin, one of her feet flicking out to kick a musket into the air. She catches it, and fires, the single shots lancing through one... two... three of the swooping aeroplanes at once. She casts you a wink over her shoulder, before twirling elegantly to grab another two rifles.
You smile, the cloud of Grief billowing forward, blades of Grief twisting out of them to join the dance of death, tearing through the paper Familiars with impunity.
The staircase groans under your feet, fine marble bannisters cracking and splintering.
Homura throws herself upwards, a burst of purple igniting beneath her feet and bouncing her upwards to land on a rickety fire escape.
Mami jumps onto the bannister, clearly aiming for the next staircase over.
The bannister shatters under her feet.
And Mami falls.
"MAMI!" the scream rips out of you, and you throw yourself after her, wings of corruption exploding into existence as you tear into the Barrier.
"SABR-"
The world is suddenly cast in lifeless greys, and Mami freezes midfall, hands reaching out.
A weight around your foot.
Timestop.
You dive, reaching out to grab Mami, her weight slamming into your arms. Golden ribbons explode from her hands, lashing around the staircases - her own method to arrest her fall.
"-INA!" You get a glimpse of wide-eyed fear crossing into confusion before her ribbons tauten, pulling her out of your grasp and into the frozen greys of timestop again, just out of your arms.
You pull out of the dive, and hover.
Tied to your foot is a long rope, dangling slack beneath you before looping upwards in a 'J' shape to its anchor point on a bannister above. Hanging from the rope with one arm is Homura, violet eyes wide as she looks down at you. Before you is Mami, frozen in timestop with ribbons tethering her to the various staircases forming the Barrier.
Your heart thunders in your chest. Even if Mami would have probably made it with her ribbons...
Your wings lift you a little higher, and you grab Mami firmly around the wiast, not letting the ribbons pull her out of your grasp this time. Colour blooms on her body, and she blinks in confusion, adrenaline slowly bleeding off as she clings to you.
"Sabrina?"
"Are you OK?" you ask anxiously, heavy wingbeats carrying the two of you up to Homura, who's begun climbing back up the rope to the staircase.
"I... yes," Mami says, swallowing.
You let Mami down on the staircase, just as Homura reaches the bannister and flips over it.
The three of you look at each other in silence.
[] Say something?
[] Just continue
[] Anything special to do to the Witch?
[] Write-in
=====​
In the end, nothing actually life threatening. But still a scare.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 9
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 20, 2014

- #12,730

You take a shuddering breath. "Witches," you mutter. "Just... Witches."
Homura shakes her head. "It happens. We're... all safe."
Mami gives you two a wan smile. "Thank you... thank you for caring."
"You would have been fine," Homura says drily, regarding the blonde with faded lilac eyes.
"Still... Thank you, Homura. Thank you, Sabrina," Mami says, squeezing your hand lightly.
You smile encouragingly at her. "Well, we've come this far. We'll finish this together, right?"
Homura snorts softly. "Not even a question."
You glance at her in surprise, and give her a little nod.
"Yes," Mami agrees, also looking at Homura with faint surprise. "Yes, we will."
You twist your leg up, and undo the rope around your ankle with one hand, passing it back to Homura. A hand on her shoulder keeps you and Mami from being frozen out of the timestop.
Homura nods sharply, turns her shield, and ends the timestop, immediately sidestepping away, pistols dropping into her hands. Mami squeezes your hand one more time, before stepping aside, hand waving through a half circle in front of her. Muskets materialize in the wake of her motion, and boom as she snatches them out of the air, firing sequentially.
You smile, and your wings of Grief beat once, pulling you upward. Razor shards of Grief hunt through the storm of projectiles rippling outward from Mami and Homura, shredding the few Familiars that survive.
You'd try to take control of a Familiar, but that presupposes that one survives for longer than a second or two, with both Mami and Homura on the hunt.
The three of you ascend, the thunder of Homura and Mami's guns heralding your arrival as they bound ever upwards, you winging vigilantly beside them. The staircases creak and fall underfoot, but with you in flight, and Mami far more cautious now, it's not so much a concern... not that it ever really was.
"Almost there!" Mami calls from just ahead.
And you're-
-there.
With a blast of chilly wind, you find yourself on the top of a massive wooden platform, the edges falling off into the abyss. On the wooden platform is a titanic pile of papers, inert ones, thankfully.
A heavy scritching noise echoes, and you look up to see an enormous, monolithic cylindrical shape tapered towards either end bearing down on the three of you, skating atop a gleaming brassy metal point that leaves behind a trail of blackness - a fountain pen worthy of a giant.
The Witch.
You immediately launch into the air, Mami and Homura darting to the sides in a dodge. The Witch halts in its tracks, and spins to point its nib at you. Ink launches at you lightning fast, a pressurized jet like an industrial steel cutter.
Too fast to dodge properly.
You spin, presenting the flat of a wing to it, and the ink splashes, the Grief of your wing shudderingly slightly as they absorb the blow, pushing you back slightly.
The world judders with concussive blasts, and the punishing stream cuts off. Homura, from the way the Witch is skating away from a smouldering crater in the wooden table beneath. Deep cracking noises from far to your right - you look over, and see Mami slamming shot after shot into the looming bulk of the Witch.
She gestures, and ribbons lash out, winding around the Witch and holding it still for a moment. Homura takes advantage, as do you, a hail of bullets and cutting Grief blades slamming into it, cleaving with impunity into plastic-like flesh and sending the Witch reeling in place.
"Tiro-" A familiar clarion call rings out. "-Finale~!"
The oversized cannon booms, the titanic projectile punching the Witch backwards, almost snapped in two. Ink splatters like blood, a fine spray suffusing the air.
The Witch dies, the ruined cylinder collapsing on itself.
As Mami lands with an elegant flip, you can feel the Barrier begin to waver and dissolve.
You release the Grief making up the wings back into the Barrier with a small sigh, settling to the ground as the Barrier collapses. A ping nearby as the three of you are dumped unceremoniously back into reality - the Grief Seed, settling onto a protrusion on the rooftop you find yourself on.
Not the same rooftop you were on, earlier - you find yourself on the next one over. Squinting, you can make out the pile of office workers, still tied down by Mami's golden ribbons, which dissolve into motes of golden light even as you look.
You turn to smile at Mami, to congratulate her on a good hunt, only to find her frowning unhappily. "Normally, Kyuubey would help with the Witch Kissed people, but..."
[] Write-in
=====​
Guess the little rat's good for something?
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 10
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 21, 2014

- #12,801

You shake your head. "You don't need him, Mami. We don't need him." Peripherally, you note Homura walking quickly away, headed to pick up the fallen Grief Seed.
"But they-" Mami waves helplessly at the dazed looking people over on the far roof.
You stretch out your senses, looking for those parasitic Familiars on the people, and find nothing. "The Witch Kisses are gone," you say. "I can't sense them anymore. Let's go, Mami. If Kyuubey wants to keep magic a secret, then he'll show up soon. I'd rather not see his ugly face tonight."
Mami looks stricken. "I- yes, but..."
You walk over to her, putting your hand on her shoulder. "Mami, we did good here, today. No one died, and the Witch's influence is gone."
Mami swallows, her eyes sliding aside. "Y-yes," she says. "You're right."
"Homura?" you call, looking around for her while a portion of your attention is directed towards reforming your collection of Grief marbles into a flat, rectangular platform. You find her where the Grief Seed had fallen, just stooping to pick it up. She looks up at your call, and jogs back over.
"Time to go," you say, sitting yourself cross legged on the platform - you're going to call it a carpet. You could make it ripple like a piece of cloth, but that would probably make it uncomfortable. Mami sits down beside you, immediately leaning anxiously against you. Homura seats herself just behind the two of you.
"Off we go," you mutter, and lift your carpet into the air.
You glance back as the three of you zoom away from the rooftops.
Perhaps it's a trick of your imagination, and then again, perhaps not. But you'd swear that two crimson eyes glowing amidst a familiar form silhouetted against the skyline watch you leave.
"May I take this Grief Seed?" Homura asks, as you direct the carpet back home.
You shrug. "Mami?"
"I don't mind," she says.
"There we go, then," you say.
Homura nods, and puts the Grief Seed away. "Thank you."
You shrug again "Eh, it was a group hunt."
When you reach home, Mami silently unlocks the door and steps in, shucking her shoes. You're just a step behind her, while Homura lingers at the doorway, seemingly undecided.
[] Invite Homura to sleepover
[] Talk to Homura
- [] About?
[] Talk to Mami
- [] About?
[] Write-in
=====​
Unless you strike up a long conversation, the next vote will probably carry you to sleep.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 11
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 22, 2014

- #12,826

You glance at Homura, still dithering at the door - or at least, she's standing there, looking impassive, which would probably count as nervous fidgeting from anyone else. "Hey, Mami, can we get Homura to stay for the night?" you ask telepathically.
"Oh, um... That would be fine," Mami says.
You glance at Homura. "Hey, would you like to come in?"
Homura nods, taking her shoes off and stepping in after you.
You wave her at the sofa. "Make yourself at home, OK?" Mami's not in the living room, but you can sense her in her bedroom.
Amethyst eyes flicker from you to the bedroom door, hanging slightly ajar, and Homura just nods.
Just as you're about to head over to see what Mami's doing, though, she pushes the door open, smiling at the two of you. Her smile is a little brittle, though.
"Ah, welcome again, Homura!" Mami says cheerfully.
"So anyway, Homura," you say, plonking yourself down on the sofa, and patting the space beside you while giving Mami a smile. The blonde shuffles over and cuddles up against you, leaning her head on your shoulder. You smile down at her, and she returns it, faintly.
"Ahem," you say, glancing past the blonde head in your way. "Would you like to stay the night again, Homura?"
Homura hesitates. "I..."
"C'mon, Homura," you say. "It's better than going home alone, surely? And I'm not slee-" You break off, cough, and continue, "and tomorrow's a Sunday, and everything."
The time traveller nods, slowly, her lips quirked minutely. "I will be headed out one more time tonight."
You shrug. "Hm? What for? But in any case... not really a problem," you say. "Right, Mami?"
"Yes, it's fine," she agrees.
The time traveller dips her head in a motion that's half a nod, half an abbreviated bow. "Thank you, then. I just need to go acquire more... materiel."
"Ah, that makes sense. And no need to thank me, Homura," you say. "No need at all."
The three of you sit in silence for a few minutes, before you decide to try striking up conversation again. "Hey Mami?"
"Mmm?" Golden eyes blink lazily up at you.
"Do you want to play something, maybe?" you suggest.
Mami looks pensieve. "N-no, if it's alright with you? I... I don't really feel like it. M-maybe we could take an early night?"
You shrug. "I don't mind."
"I won't get in the way," Homura murmurs, rising smoothly to her feet. "Good night, Sabrina, Mami. I... will be back later."
"G'night, Homura," you call. "Do you need a key?"
"That won't be necessary," she says, as she heads for the door.
You and Mami prepare for bed, taking showers, and Mami brushing out her hair as she usually does, before turning in. As you settle down on the mattress for the night, you can hear the door unlock, and Homura returning. She hesitates at the bedroom door, before proceeding past to head to the bathroom.
=====​
You blink awake.
A body, warm and soft, clinging on to you. Shuddering, silent sobs wracking her body, your shoulder, soaked, testament enough.
You silently pull Mami into a hug.
"I-I keep telling myself h-he was n-never- m-my-" Mami's whispered admission is choked. "I-it d-doesn't h-help..."
[] Write-in
=====​
Your next vote will probably carry you through to the next morning, so include that, too.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 12
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 23, 2014

- #12,884

You hug her tightly, letting her cling and shiver and sob under the silvery moonlight shining in through the window.
"It's going to be OK, Mami," you whisper, one hand brushing aside her golden hair, released from its curls for the night, to rub her back in slow, rhythmic circles.
"I-I-" Mami hiccups. "H-he-"
"Shh," you soothe. "I know, Mami. But... you have people who really care about you, people who want to be your friends. Me. Homura, even if she doesn't show it much. Madoka and Sayaka look up to you, and they're your friends too." You pause, letting it sink in. "None of that's a trick, or a lie, Mami. We care about you. I care about you."
You fall silent, letting Mami clutch at you with strength born of desperate fear never truly conquered. Your presence attests to itself; your willingness to stay with Mami and support her, to be her friend. Or so you hope.
"D-di-" Mami mumbles. "M-my- last b-birthday. H-he was t-there. T-the only o-one-"
Renewed tears soak your shoulder.
"Mami, I'm here," you say. Your hand is still rubbing her back gently, soothingly. "And I'll be here for you."
Or so you hope, anyway. You desperately hope you can make good on that promise...
Mami nods weakly, the motion smearing her tears over the rest of your arm.
You suppress a sigh, for fear that she'd take it the wrong way. Had Kyuubey done this deliberately? You can believe it. How hard would it have been to drive the more ruthless girls to Mami, ensuring that they'd contract, and eventually, leave her, chipping her away bit by bit and leaving her psyche a fragile, brittle thing?
Mami's sobs slowly peter out, and her breathing evens into the slow, steady rhythm of sleep. Her left hand, with her Soul Gem ring, is splayed across you, so you take the opportunity to wipe free the corruption clouding her Gem. Her sleeping face relaxes slightly, and you direct the stream of Grief out the door, coalescing into marbles to join the rest in your bag.
=====​
The rest of your night is uninterrupted, and you wake up later than usual, with your right arm completely numb from the weight of a head of blonde haired using it as a pillow.
You cautiously try to ease your arm out from underneath her without waking her, but her eyes fly open as you shift about. "Sabrina!"
You snake that arm around her shoulders, preventing her from pulling away as she did yesterday morning. "Good morning, Mami," you greet her.
Wide open golden eyes meet yours, and you give her a quick smile. Point made, that you don't mind, you squeeze her gently, before letting your right arm drop.
She stays. "... good morning, Sabrina."
You smile warmly at her. "Shall we get up, then?"
"Ah, yes," she says, looking flustered, and pushes herself upright. Pins and needles flood you arm, and you discretely shake it out as you lever yourself to your feet, too. The shirt's crusty against your arm, but you don't comment.
"I'll go and wash up, OK, Mami?" you ask her.
She smiles wanly. "OK."
After your morning ablutions, the two of you wander into the kitchen to begin preparing breakfast, gentle music filling the apartment from your Grief instruments, played with a bare fraction of your attention.
You have fresh blueberries and other fruits from yesterday's shopping, so... why not? Pancakes, a little cereal, some toast for variety... cream and butter and syrup... Mami turned her nose up at the notion of bacon, yesterday. Not quite a fan of savoury breakfasts.
Homura wanders into the kitchen, while the two of you are bustling about, sleepily rubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand, before realizing where she was and snapping back to her usual rigid mask, which she ruins with a wide, jaw-cracking yawn that makes your own ache in sympathy.
"Good morning, Homura!" you say cheerfully, heading past her with handfuls of cutlery to set the table. Mami echoes the greeting, leaning back from the frying pan she's tending to give the time traveller a quick smile.
"Good morning," Homura replies.
"Sleep well?" you ask, returning for the bowls of cut fruit.
"Yes," she replies.
"Excellent," you say. "Breakfast'll be done soon."
And indeed it is, the three of you sitting down in front of an extravagant breakfast spread. Homura immediately goes for the pancakes, as does Mami, if more sedately, while let your music die away and turn on the television for the news, before acquiring some toast for yourself.
You wink at Mami, and reach out telepathically, linking up everyone - Mami, Homura, yourself, Madoka, Sayaka.
"Good morning, everyone!" you call cheerfully.
"Good morning, Sabrina!" Madoka replies.
"Good morning," Homura says quietly.
"Good morning, Madoka," Mami says.
"Mnnaaaa," Sayaka complains a moment later, sounding half asleep. "It's Sunday! Who gets up at eight on a Sunday?"
You laugh, sending amused chortles back to her. "Everyone apart from you, apparently! Good morning."
"No it's not," Sayaka fires back.
"Good morning, Sayaka!" Madoka says cheerfully.
"Agh, fine. Good morning," Sayaka gives in. "I suppose everyone's in here?"
"Good morning, Sayaka," Mami adds.
"... good morning, Miki," Homura allows, busily engulfing another pancake.
"Figures," Sayaka grumbles. "So, what's up this morning?"
"Nothing, really," you say. "Just... morning, you know? Time to check in with all my friends and stuff."
"... ugh, why do I even bother," Sayaka grumbles.
Mami chuckles.
"Anyway, yeah, I guess that's it?" you say. "Unless anyone has anything?"
After a chorus of negatives and goodbyes, you end the call with a smile. Mami's smiling, too, which you'll take as a good sign.
You decide against more toast, and instead reach for the cereal.
"... further tremors. Experts urge calm, noting that the aftershocks..."
"Hmm," you mutter, glancing at the television. "Earthquake."
Mami follows your glance, twisting in her seat to look at the television. "In Ishinomaki?"
"Yeah," you say, mixing some fruit in with the cereal, still eyeing the television, which has switched over to talking about the finanical news.
Mami sighs. "After the big earthquake... last month... we're lucky, Mitakihara wasn't affected much."
"Mmm," you agree.
The three of you have a heavy breakfast, and lounge around in sated contentment.
"So..." you begin. "Mami, two things."
"Yes, Sabrina?" Mami asks, looking inquisitively at you.
"Could I invite Nagisa over today?" you ask. "Some time in the afternoon, maybe?"
"Of course!" Mami smiles.
You nod, returning the smile. "Alright, then. Um, well, the other thing. Oriko and Kirika are still under house arrest... I should bring them the rest of their stuff today, I think, and they'll probably be wanting cleanses, too."
Mami's face darkens, and out of the corner of your eye, you can see Homura frown minutely. Eventually, though, Mami nods. "I-" she pauses, and then starts again. "I would feel better if I could come with you."
"Of course," you echo Mami's earlier statement.
"Alright, then," Mami nods slowly. "I don- it's necessary."
"I should be going," Homura interjects suddenly, rising gracefully to her feet. She pauses, and adds, "Thank you for letting me stay over, and the breakfast."
"You're welcome!" Mami says, smiling at her, though the expression is slightly edged, presumably at the thought of Oriko. You echo Mami.
"... before I go, may I have a cleanse?" Homura asks, raising her hand.
"Sure," you agree, and proceed to do just that.
Homura nods at you in silent thanks, before leaving quietly.
You chuff out a sigh, and push yourself to your feet. "I suppose we should start cleaning up, too."
After the cleanup, you grab your new phone, and seat yourself on the sofa, Mami sitting close beside you again, and dial Momoe Shin's number. The phone rings for a minute, before, to your surprise, he cancels it. A message comes in a moment later, from a mobile number: Who is this?
Your fingers click across the keys. Sabrina.
My apologies, we will be busy today. My sister's funeral. Apologies for not inviting you, family affair.
... oh.
This would be about the right time, wouldn't it.
You sigh gustily, blowing a stray strand of white hair out of your face. Well, that's your afternoon plans sunk, but it's still early. What to do, what to do...
[] Write-in
=====​
Sorry for the late update. Had a very busy day.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 13
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 24, 2014

- #12,922

"Looks like I won't be inviting Nagisa over today," you frown unhappily.
"Huh?" Mami asks.
You tilt your phone to let her see the message exchange.
"Oh..." Mami says, looking down. "Tomorrow, then."
"If possible," you agree. You exhale slowly. "Well. Shall we head out, then?" you ask Mami, putting your phone away.
"To see to... Mikuni?" Mami asks.
You nod. "If that's OK, Mami?"
Mami sighs. "I guess we have to."
The two of you head up to the rooftop, and you transform in the usual blaze of light, the comforting weight of your mantled coat settling over your shoulders.
You build a simple platform out of Grief, a deep, nearly black, purple of unsettling patterns to contrast with the cheerfully blue sky today. Clear skies for the rest of the day, if you recall the news correctly. You sit on it, dangling your legs over the side, and glance over at Mami, now resplendent in her own puella magi costume.
She hurries over, and sits beside you.
"OK, so," you tell her as you lift the platform, accelerating smoothly into the sky. "We're going to this warehouse Oriko had set up as, well, a bolthole, so that I can bring the rest of her stuff to her."
"OK," Mami agrees easily.
The flight is actually quite pleasant, you muse as you cut across the city well above skyscraper height. Just cool wind rushing past your face, the warm presence of Mami at your side. The Grief platform is a little uncomfortable to sit on, since it's wholy rigid, but... your instruments. You could change their properties, so it stands to reason that a little mental focus... the platform softens, feeling more like sitting on a well supported mattress than anything.
Mami gives a soft, "Oh!" at the curious sensation, and you grin at her. She smiles back.
You soon find yourself cruising in over the industrial area, skirting carefully around the plumes of flue gas.
"Well, this is it," you say, landing carefully in the little open space of the courtyard, inside the surrounding fence. A quick push opens the door of the warehouse, revealing it to Mami in all its carpeted, well furnished glory.
Mami stares.
"Yeah," you agree.
The blonde shakes herself. "She intended to hide here?"
"Yep," you agree, pushing Mami lightly. She obligingly steps into the warehouse, still looking around in mixed wonderment tinged with unhappy annoyance, presumably directed at a certain seer of your mutual acquaintance. You pad about, locating another duffel bag that you begin loading up with the spare clothes and dry, tinned foods. When that's full, you take a step back, and look at the refrigerator thoughtfully.
"Hey, Mami?"
"Hmm?"
...
Of course she would notice the single mattress.
She's giving the mattress a considering look, and when she turns to glance at you, there's the slightest blush on her face.
"Do you think I should just bring the whole refrigerator?" you ask, pretending you didn't notice.
"Uh," Mami blinks at you. "... if you want?"
"Right, then," you say. A disc of Grief slides under the refrigerator, and you carefully raise it into the air, disconnecting the plug. Golden ribbons suddenly burst into existence, lashing themselves around the refrigerator and binding it to the disc. You give Mami a smile of thanks.
"I think that's everything I'm willing to bring, then," you call to Mami, giving the carpets and plush chairs and computer a long look. You hold the duffel bag out into the air, and a band of Grief winds around the handle of the bag to form a carrier. When you withdraw your hand, the band easily supports the weight of the bag, hanging in mid air.
Mami nods, casting another look around the warehouse, before joining you over at the door. You push and latch it shut, before resuming your seat on your carpet and heading off to Oriko's mansion, refrigerator and densely packed duffel bag bobbing after you like demented balloons.
You land in the rose garden behind her house, and dismount to see Oriko already at the glass door, sliding it open to let you in.
"Mikuni." Mami's eyes narrow.
"Sabrina. Tomoe."
You sigh. "Hello." You can faintly hear the distant thumping of crutches on the wooden floor as you move into the house, the bag and refrigerator drifting after you as if carried by unseen porters.
Oriko gives the floating refrigerator a look, which she then transfers to you. You give her a blank, indifferent look in response.
You float both the bag and the refrigerator in the kitchen, and follow the seer to her living room, Mami's eyes warily watching her back.
"Please, take a seat," Oriko says with a regal wave at the sofas. "I will return momentarily with refreshment."
You settle on the extraordinarily comfortable sofa, Mami sitting a little more uneasily at your side, muscles tense.
Kirika stumps into the room a moment later. "Hi Sabrina!" she says cheerfully. "And... Mami? I think?"
"Hi, Kirika," you greet her awkwardly.
"Tomoe Mami," Mami says, voice chilly, and with a slight emphasis on her surname.
Kirika's smile dims, as she carefully lowers herself into the far end of the sofa. Oriko returns a moment later with a carefully balanced tray bearing a teapot and cups, which she distributes silently.
Oriko sits beside Kirika, and the black haired girl's hand snakes behind the seer's back. Her fingers twine through Oriko's hair, teasing and playing with the wavy grey strands. Oriko, by contrast, sits rigidly upright, posture prim and perfect, both hands folded demurely on her lap.
Mami straightens imperceptibly, posture equally proper, smoothing her already immaculate skirt.
Half lidded golden eyes unblinkingly stare down sea green ones.
...
You bite back an aggrieved sigh. You really should have expected this.
Mami brings her cup up to her face, enjoying the aroma, before taking a gentle sip.
Oriko mirrors the action, equally slowly, every motion graceful and measured.
They resume their staring match.
Your gaze meets Kirika's, and for a moment, the two of you understand each other perfectly.
In eerie synchronization, you and Kirika lean forward, reach for your teacups and slurp a loud mouthful.
"Sabrina!" "Kirika!"
You chuckle, setting the teacup down.
Oriko sighs. "Your actions two days ago caused... a significant degree of flux in the future," she says slowly. She holds up her hand, glancing at Mami. "Peace, Tomoe. I... did not... forsee that Sabrina would interfere to such a degree."
Mami blinks, and seems to swallow an angry outburst, choosing instead to frown at the seer. "But you told her about the Sendai group," she states.
"I did," Oriko agrees. "It was... necessary." Her lips tighten. "You are aware of the state Miss Gaikotsu was in?"
You can see where the conversation is going - skirting rather close to the nature of Witches, and decide to interrupt. "Mami, I saw how bad it was. Oriko said she wouldn't have made it had she not gotten healing... And I think she's right," you say, touching a hand to Mami's, and nodding at Oriko. The seer returns the nod, eyes glinting slightly.
Mami hides a grimace, not entirely successfully. Not from you, anyway, you're not sure if Oriko can tell.
[] Write-in conversation
[] Write-in next move (if applicable)
[] Write-in
=====​
You have one thousand, seven hundred and thirty seven Grief marbles, and three Grief Seeds in your pockets.
Last edited: Oct 24, 2014
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 14
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 25, 2014

- #12,996

"Ah!" you say loudly. "I'm sorry, I haven't cleaned your Soul Gems yet." You can already sense their Soul Gems on Kirika's person, both pulsing with an unhealthy amount of Grief, Oriko's more so than Kirika's. Nothing dangerous, but a surprising amount nevertheless.
Both Oriko gives you a look that says as well as any words could that she can see the transparent change of topic for what it is. Nevertheless, she glances at Kirika. "Kirika?"
The black haired girl nods, and reaches into her pocket to pull out their two Soul Gems, setting them on the table. Mami gasps softly as they come into view - both are visibly pulsing with darkness.
You frown at Oriko. How did she accumul-
Oriko preempts your question, probably expecting it. It doesn't take a seer to figure out the obvious question to ask, after all. "Your actions caused a significant degree of flux in the future," she says tonelessly, looking at the darkness dancing within her Soul Gem, expression disturbed at the sight. That sea green gaze turns to glance at you, one aristocratic eyebrow raised.
You snort. "Well, without specific direction," you say, "I did what I could." You reach out one hand, pulling at the Grief clouding their Gems.
Mami puts her hand on your shoulder, directing a worried frown on you. "Sabrina..."
"I know," you say, giving her a quick, rueful smile.
"She wasn't in any danger," Oriko states.
You give her a sharp look - didn't she say that she couldn't predict you? She returns to you an imperturbable, unruffled look, and a telepathic message. "I'm lying."
Mami shakes her head, frowning. "That's not enough."
You huff out a sigh as the last of the Grief drifts free, and you look at Mami. "Misunderstandings all around. Oriko... was trying her best, I think, and using less... extreme ways to save people." You turn slightly to glance at the seer, giving her a nod. You... won't thank her, but you'll acknowledge that she seems to be trying.
She gives you a slow nod.
Mami sighs. One of her hand creeps into your lap and grabs your hand. You let her, squeezing back lightly.
"So, Oriko," you say, catching the seer's attention. "What do you know about the earthquakes in Ishinomaki? Could be a coincidence, but the Sendai group was headed there next..."
Oriko closes her eyes, wincing and bringing her hand up to place her thumb and fingers to her temples. "That is... part of the results of what you did." Kirika makes a little squeaking noise, and tugs lightly on Oriko's shoulders, trying to pull her around. "Not now, Kirika," she sighs.
"What do you mean?" you ask carefully.
"What... seems to have happened... is that the Sendai group, in part because of the... interactions with you... have accidentally ignited a... conflict in Ishinomaki," the seer says haltingly, eyes still closed. On the table, her Gem slowly tarnishes, and you spare a bit of attention to cleanse that, a slow trickle of Grief wisping into the air. "The situation is rapidly spiralling into a larger conflict."
"You can't possibly say that that's Sabrina's fault!" Mami defends you.
Oriko shakes her head. "It would have happened eventually," she says with an air of finality. "Sabrina's actions... brought it forward."
Mami doesn't seem quite appeased, frowning at the seer.
[] Write-in
=====​
Heh.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 15
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 26, 2014

- #13,044

"Who else is involved, besides th-" Oriko holds up a hand, forestalling your question.
The seer takes a deep breath, eyes remaining shut. You can see her eyes twitching under her eyelids, shuttling back and forth as she watches something that isn't there. "Nineteen... twenty... twenty-two magical girls currently involved, as of five minutes in the future," she mutters, voice strained. On the table, her Soul Gem continues to seethe with Grief, though you easily keep up with it.
"Ishinomaki, Sendai... Fukushima? A group from... Tome City," Oriko frowns, head tilting back. "...Fighting in Sendai. A group flying in. Tokyo. Osaki. Two groups from Sendai?"
As Oriko's litany goes on, the blood slowly drains out of Mami's face. "The University group?" Mami asks, her hand clutching yours with icy cold fingers.
Oriko's frown deepens. "Possib- yes. Internecine fighting-" Oriko finally submits to Kirika's insistent tugging on her shoulders, twisting to allow the black haired girl access to her back. Kirika begins kneading the seer's shoulders, her tongue sticking out as she adopts an expression of comically intense concentration.
Mami licks her lips, a flash of pink on her chalk-white face. "It's a territory grab."
"Hmmm, Mami?" you ask.
"I always stayed out of this kind of thing... except when they tried to come here. But..." She shakes her head, golden drills bouncing. "The Tohoku University Group tried to recruit me, a while ago."
"You turned them down," you say.
She nods slowly. "They... got their support from others..."
"And so did the main Sendai group," you finish. "And now everyone's calling in their favours. Oriko?"
Oriko shakes her head. "I see the future, not the past," she frowns, eyes still closed. "Long held tensions..."
"We're staying out of this," Mami declares. "We're not getting involved."
"The Sendai group is fighting on two fronts," she mutters. "They cann- they're going to retreat and consolidate. Onaga- Tome... It may not be an option, Tomoe."
Mami's lips press together, flattening out into a ruler straight line.
"The tremors are coming from the fighting?" you ask, to confirm.
"Earthquakes..." Oriko grimaces. "One of the Ishinomaki group."
Kirika looks up from massaging Oriko's shoulders. "I could take her," she offers, orange eyes bright. "Even... you know." She waves at her broken leg.
Oriko chuckles. "Yes, you could, dear," the seer leans back against the black haired girl, eliciting a squeak and a vivid red blush from her.
"Ugh," you grunt.
[] The tea's gone cold. Reheat it.
[] Ask about...
[] Reassure Mami
- [] How?
[] Write-in
=====​
You have one thousand, eight hundred and thirty two Grief marbles, and three Grief Seeds in your pockets.
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