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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 Entanglement pt. 3
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 26, 2014

- #819

You sit up and stretch, before bouncing to your feet. You'd had a dreamless sleep, and feel refreshed and ready to go for today. Maybe you'll talk to Homura again today, and try to persuade her to be a little less Murderface?
Your mouth twists a little as you walk over to the bathroom to clean up, though. You're currently decieving everyone around you, and a little unhappy with that. All of them are good people, and it doesn't sit very well with you. Still, you don't really see a better way for now.
And speaking of better ways... you frown at the Grief cloud that's still trailing you around. There has to be a better way to deal with it. You consider stuffing it into your Soul Gem for now, and while your instincts tell you that it's possible they also tell you a better way is possible. You frown at the cloud, forcing your will upon it, and it compresses down, coalescing down into the now-familiar deep purple solid, before crunching down even further into a tiny, solid marble.
You tentatively poke at the marble with your finger, but it seems inert, and doesn't make your finger glow purple or anything. Shrugging, you pocket the marble.
Morning ablutions done, you wander over to the kitchen. "Good morning, Mami!" you greet cheerfully.
This early in the morning, Mami's hair lies limp and slightly bedraggled instead of her usual drill style. "Hm? Good morning, Sabrina," she replies, somewhat blearily, eyes staring dully at the mixing bowl in front of her. Her hands move with practiced motions, and yet... you watch as she misses the edge of the bowl with an egg twice in a row.
Not a morning person?
"Here, let me help with that," you say, gently grabbing the egg and bumping Mami out of the way. "Pancakes?"
You take the muffled grumble Mami makes as a yes, supressing a grin at the distinctly un-Mami noise. Not a morning person, then. She wanders off into the living room and collapses on the couch.
Two minutes later, she apparently startles awake, and bustles back into the kitchen, this time looking considerably more alert. "Ah, Sabrina? You shouldn't..."
"No, it's alright," you say, busily mixing the batter. From the flour and butter and various other ingredients strewn around, it seems that Mami had been making pancakes. There's also a ricecooker, already out and running, presumably to prepare lunch.
"I'm the host here," the blonde counters, moving around you to grab the frying pan in preparation.
"It's the least I can do, after all, you're providing me lodging," you return, conceding the pancake batter to Mami, since she's already holding the pan and brandishing the spatula. Instead, you move over to check the rice.
"But you're helping me with the Witch hunting, and Soul Gem cleansing, too," Mami says, now expertly flipping the pancakes.
You decide not to answer that, and instead divert it with, "Hey, where do you keep the sesame seeds?"
Mami shakes her head lightly, but answers you anyway. "Uh, on your left... no, up one drawe- That one, yes."
With two people working together, breakfast, and lunch, doesn't take long to prepare. You both sit down in front of a gently steaming stack of pancakes, and you slide a lunchbox over to Mami.
After some contented chewing on the delightful, fluffy pancakes, she looks up at you. "So you'll be going to Shirome today, correct?"
"Yes, I suppose so," you confirm.
"Ok, you'll need a bit of money, and, ah, I forgot to pass you the spare house key yesterday..." Mami muses.
You nod. "Thank you again, Mami, and sorry for all the trouble."
"It really isn't any trouble at all," Mami reassures you.
After finishing breakfast, Mami prepares to leave for school. You're amused to note that she uses her magic to style her hair into the drill shapes, but you're soon leaving the house along side her.
"Ah... You'll want to take a right here, and catch a bus towards Shirome," Mami says as the two of you pass a junction. "You can check the bus routes on the back of the bus stop."
"Ok," you acknowledge. "I'll see you after school today, if something doesn't come up?"
"Yes, see you, Sabrina," Mami replies, before remembering something. "Oh! As a magical girl, you can communicate with other magical girls and potentials by telepathy. Call me if there's anything, OK?" she adds telepathically.
"Like this? Ah, I see," you return in the same manner. "See you later, Mami."
"See you!" she calls cheerfully, waving at you.
It doesn't take very long for the bus to arrive, and when it does, it's nearly empty. You lean back in the seat and close your eyes, enjoying the smooth ride, until someone sits down next to you.
You crack open your eyes and look at the intruder.
It's a girl, dressed in a chestnut red sailor uniform. Vaguely, you recognize it as the school uniform for Shirome.
Rather more attention grabbing, however, is her light grey hair and sea-green eyes. One aristocratic eyebrow is arched at you, and an amused smirk tugs at her lips.
Oriko.
"Hello, Sabrina."
[] AAAAAAAAAAAAH
[] AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
[] NOPE
[] Dive out of the bus.
[] Write-in
=====​
I'll be honest. I'm surprised no one brought up the fact that Shirome is Oriko's school...
And I'm not sure why Sabrina is one of those rare few bastards people who can be bright and peppy in the morning, but, well, apparently she is. And morning Mami is... well.
Last edited: May 26, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 4
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 27, 2014

- #874

You jerk upright in your seat, banging your shin against the seat in front of you, and scream a little -OK, maybe a lot-, inside your head. Your heart thunders in your chest, and you think your eyes are probably the size of dinner plates right about now.
There's a little high pitched 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' noise escaping your mouth.
Deep breaths.
Deep breaths, Sabrina.
Calm down. You are calm. You are stillness. You are the placid mountain lake in the dead of winter.
Deep breaths.
Through it all, Oriko watches with that damnable not-quite-smirk on her face. Because smirking would be too unrefined.
"Hello," you manage, finally. Your voice isn't quavering at all, honest. Not a bit. You brush your hair back with your left hand, the one bearing your Soul Gem ring. "Oriko, I believe?"
The grey haired girl inclines her head a centimeter. "Indeed."
"... have we met before?" you ask, carefully. Well, maybe she'll believe you don't know anything?
"We have not, Sabrina," the precog replies, placidly folding her hands in her lap.
You sit in silence for a few long minutes, unwilling to broach further conversation, and Oriko seems perfectly happy to sit there, staring at nothing in particular. Carefully, you crane your neck, looking around for a certain black haired girl.
Kirika is nowhere to be seen.
Somehow, this reassures you not one bit.
"Uh... don't you have a girlfriend? Is she around?" you probe.
"Kirika? Oh, she's in school, I'm sure," Oriko replies, vaguely.
You glance outside, and see that the bus is coming up on the Shirome Academy stop, and then look at Oriko again. She's still staring at nothing in particular, and humming tonelessly.
... she's making no move to get off.
"Hey, uh..." you try tentatively.
"Yes?" she replies.
"Isn't this your stop?" you ask. Maybe... maybe she'll get off?
Oriko peers out of the window, clearly taking in the sign that says 'Shirome Academy'. "Yes, I do believe it is."
She remains firmly in her seat, blocking you from the aisle.
"Uh... I think I'll be getting off here," you try.
She places one hand, her left hand, with her puella magi ring gleaming on her finger, against the seat in front of her. "No. You will not. I know what you intend. Better, I think, than you yourself know."
You grimace. She just might, you have to admit. It's not like you've made any plans at all.
Perhaps that should change.
... nevertheless, you're afraid to try anything against Oriko, here and now, where she'd obviously prepared for you. You subside in your seat, even as the bus doors shut and it continues past Shriome Academy.
"You are not, by the by, a student at Shirome," Oriko observes, a while later.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" you challenge, slightly sullenly. It's clear you're playing her game right now.
"Well, you don't. But it would be a waste of time for you to check, and I'm sure you have better things to do with your time," the precog replies. "You're due at the hospital this afternoon, don't forget."
The two of you lapse into silence again, and a long, nerve racking period of time passes. People come and go on the bus, giving curious looks to the pair of girls sitting together - one calm and placid, the other, seemingly calm and placid. Nobody comments, though, and eventually, over an hour later, the bus reaches its terminal.
"Well, this is where I get off," Oriko breaks the silence again. She rises gracefully to her feet, and turns her back on you, completely unafraid, which only lends weight to your earlier reluctance to attack.
You think you could beat her in a fair fight, but you're extraordinarily reluctant to see what contingencies she has.
You don't exactly have anywhere to go, and so, you get off the bus behind her, frowning at her back as she slowly walks away from the bus terminal. You look around, thoroughly unfamiliar with your current location. You're in one of the older districts of Mitakihara, you think, without the ludicrous skyscrapers. You know roughly which direction Mami's house is in, but the maze of buildings currently surrounding you makes seeing any landmarks difficult.
"Oh, by the way. It's a nice apartment you and Mami have, don't you think?" Oriko calls over her shoulder.
... did she just threaten Mami's apartment?
Was this just a diversion?
[] Head back to Mami's apartment
-[] Top speed roof hopping
-[] Bus
[] Nah, it's probably nothing
[] Write-in
=====​
It is now 9AM, in Quest.
Last edited: May 27, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 5
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 27, 2014

- #970

You suck in a breath, mind spinning as you run through the possibilities. Oriko, you're pretty sure, just leveled a threat at you and Mami.
Kirika's nowhere to be seen.
She couldn't have, could she?
You take a moment to run through her possible motivations- that bus ride was almost certainly just to get you out of the way, for... whatever she has planned. But you can't just let a threat to your home pass like that.
And what was with that reminder about the hospital?
You begin walking at a rather fast clip toward a nearby alley, the better to take to the rooftops if need be. "Mami?" you try, telepathically.
"Ah, Sabrina?" Mami replies nearly instantly. "Good timing! It's break period right now."
You puff out a relieved breath. "Mami, I just met an unknown magical girl," you say carefully. "She... I'm not sure how to put this, but she threatened our home."
A long silence, as you squint thoughtfully at the buildings enclosing the alleyway. You glance back at the entrance to the alley, making sure no one's passing by, before acting on instincts that your contract brought. You crouch lightly, and spring directly at the wall nearer to you.
Your feet leave divots in the ground as you go airborne, flying straight at a point on the wall ten meters up. A full body twist as you hurtle through the air, and you hit the wall feet first, legs coiling against the masonry. Then you push off again, sending small cracks crazing through the wall and you arcing lazily towards the far wall.
A few more bounces, and you reach the top of the building, landing softly. You remain in your landing crouch, savouring the feeling of exhilaration as you listen to bits of masonry patter gently to the ground in the alley below.
Finally, Mami replies. "I see." Her voice is taut with quiet fury that sends a shiver down your spine even if it's not directed at you. "Unfortunately, this isn't uncommon in the magical girl world. Many of them aren't very nice people, and Mitakihara is an... inviting target."
A heartbeat later, she adds, a little more gently, "I'm sorry you got mixed up in this, Sabrina. If you weren't living with me, you wouldn't have this problem."
"You're my friend, Mami," you reply, nearly instantly even as you walk over to the edge of the roof. "I wouldn't let this slide, either way. Do you want me to check on our apartment?"
"Yes, that would be a good idea," Mami says. "I... ah, I give you permission to check my room too. Uh, class is starting again soon. I'll talk to you later, OK?"
"OK, see you, Mami," you respond. You back up a few steps, and then sprint forward and launch yourself effortlessly into the air, crashing down on the rooftop of the next building over. And you repeat the process, bounding over rooftops towards your home.
As you go, you try to contact the time traveller. "Homura?"
A curt response. "Yes?"
"May I talk to you later?"
Homura takes a moment to think this over. Or maybe she just got called up to answer a question in class? "Yes. I will be at the hospital this afternoon, after school, to hunt a Witch that will be appearing there, as well as... That's not important. I will be hunting a Witch. You may join me."
A heartbeat later, she adds, grudgingly, "You may invite Tomoe Mami, if you wish."
"I see," you reply. You don't see. "Thank you for the offer, I'll let you know later."
A Witch at the hospital?
Charlotte?
You soon find yourself back in more familiar grounds, and hop down from a roof near Mami's apartment. You observe, amusedly, that the pavement here is cracked and divoted as well, as if you're not the first puella magi to use this particular landing spot. Apart from the ones you just left, however, the damage is old enough to be weathered- clearly Mami's gotten better at it.
From the outside, nothing's visibly wrong with Mami's apartment. You spread your senses, and find that there's nothing magically wrong, either; apart from the lingering traces of you and Mami, no puella magi have been here recently.
And minutes later, you find that there's nothing wrong with the inside of Mami's apartment either. You carefully looked through everything, blushing when you had to go through Mami's clothes, but you can find nothing at all wrong inside.
[] Tell Mami about Homura's offer
[] Don't tell Mami about Homura's offer
[] MAXIMUM PARANOIA
[] Lunch?
[] Write-in
=====​
For the record, it was about a one and a half hour ride out to the suburbs that Oriko took you on, in addition to a fifteen minute walk from Mami's apartment. You took about twenty five minutes to make the trip back, roof hopping. Roof-hopping is fast, and you get to go in a (mostly) straight line.
It is now 11AM-ish, in Quest. School finishes at 3PM.
Last edited: May 28, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 6
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 28, 2014

- #992

Ultimately, you decide to take up Homura's offer. You can't afford to turn her down, when she's actually trying to mend her bridges. And similarly, you really can't not take the offer to invite Mami along. Well, what counts as an offer from Homura, anyway.
"Mami?" you call, telepathically.
"Yes, Sabrina?" Mami responds, nearly immediately.
"Ah... our home is fine. Nothing out of place that I can tell at all," you say.
"Great!" You get the impression that Mami just sighed in relief. "Still, I don't like this girl. When we have the time later, you need to tell me what you know of her, OK? I'll meet you at the hospital after school."
"Wait, what? Why the hospital?" you ask, startled. Why's everyone headed to the hospital today?
"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know. Madoka and Sayaka's friend, Shizuki Hitomi, fell down the stairs earlier. She had to be sent to the hospital," Mami responds. "It's a little odd, but accidents do happen."
"I... see," you say, slowly, while you walk out of the apartment, locking the door behind you. You decide not to kick up any more fuss for now, but if you had to guess... Kirika goes to Mitakihara Middle School as well.
But for now, you'll head to the hospital, you think, and see if you can find Nagisa Momoe, the girl who will be Charlotte. And since it seems everybody will be there anyway...
"Um. One more thing, Mami," you add before she can say anything.
"Yes, Sabrina?"
"Homura invited me to hunt a Witch at the hospital after school today. She, ah, suggested that I could bring you along," you say carefully.
"Really?" Mami asks skeptically.
"Well, she said 'You may invite Tomoe Mami, if you wish', which, coming from her, counts as an invitation, I think?" you amend.
Telepathic laughter. How does that even work? "It would be rude to turn down such a gracious invitation, wouldn't it? Yes, I'll see you and Homura at the hospital later, then," Mami responds.
"OK, see you then," you say, pleased.
"See you," Mami replies.
You're just about to take to the rooftops again when you realize that you don't actually know where the hospital is, and you're forced to head back to Mami's apartment to check. Finally, having found out where it is, you roof hop there, descending to the ground level and walking in.
Your grumbling stomach prompts you to stop by at a small restaurant, where you order a bowl of donburi for lunch, and make quick work of it. You're getting a few odd looks for being a school aged girl wandering around by herself, but no one comments. Perhaps you should have prepared lunch for yourself as well, earlier?
Lunch done, you walk towards the hospital on foot, senses cast wide. If there's any Witches to be in this area, you'll know.
The hospital isn't the monolithic building you were expecting. Instead, it's an entire series of smaller buildings wrought of glass and steel, separated by wide open grassy expenses. You can't help but admire the construction as you approach it, while at the same time shake your head over how much it must have cost. Your path takes you past an array of bicycle racks, mostly empty at this time of the day, before you enter the lobby.
You march up boldly up to the receptionist, who greets you with a smile. "Hello, welcome to Mitakihara General Hospital! Are you looking for someone?"
You're momentarily unsure, but since you're here to burn some time and see if you can find Nagisa... "Ah... I'm looking for a Mrs. Momoe? She's my friend's mother."
"Hm, Momoe..." the receptionist types at her computer for a moment. "Looks like you're in luck, we only have one-" The smile drops off her face. "Oh, no."
A sinking feeling hits you. Oh, no indeed. "Is she- did she... pass on?"
The receptionist nods, slowly.
"Please," you say urgently. "Where?"
"Long term wards... 17-C. It's that way-" the receptionist points "-first building on the left, seventeenth floor."
You thank the receptionist, and take off in the indicated direction at a fast walk that's nearly a run. Hopefully you can get there before Nagisa Witches.
As you approach the lift lobby in the indicated building, you begin to hear someone crying; quiet, ugly sobs. Even in the midst of your not-quite-run, you look around for the source of the crying.
You spy a virtual mane of white hair hiding behind some large potted plants, and promptly skid to a halt. There are people walking by, but apart from sidelong glances at the source of the crying, they don't do anything.
This, then, would be Momoe Nagisa.
Apart from the ephemeral shade of Grief you associate with normal people, you don't sense anything from her. She's not a puella magi.
[] Write-in
=====​
Assumptions are terribly dangerous things, especially with as many butterflies you guys have released.
It is now 1-ish PM. School ends at 3PM.
Oh, and just to clarify, Nagisa's mum is dead. Passed on. Pushing up dai- yeah no, let's not do that.
Last edited: May 28, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 7
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 28, 2014

- #1,013

"Hey," you say gently, squatting down next to the crying girl. "Nagisa," you gently put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you-"
You're caught off guard when she suddenly tosses her arms around you, now crying in earnest. She buries her face in your shoulder, weeping in ugly, heaving sobs, tears and mucus soaking into your shirt. For some reason, though, you can't bring yourself to care, and you hug her close.
"There, there," you say soothingly, stroking her back. Some passersby actually glare at you, presumably for generating so much of a public fuss. You glare back.
"I- I-," Nagisa hiccoughs into your shoulder. "M-my mother-"
"It's-" you can't bring yourself to say it. You can't say that it'll be OK, because she just lost her mother, and you find yourself falling back to simply stroking her back gently. You stay like that for a few minutes.
"Excuse me, Miss," a passing nurse says, looking down at you, still hugging the sobbing girl close. "Would you mind bringing your... cousin elsewhere? Your are being disruptive."
"Excuse me?" you snap. "This girl just lost her mother. And I find her crying behind some potted plants? And you tell me to bring her somewhere else because we are being fucking disruptive? I think, ma'am, you might wish to reconsider your fucking priorities." Your voice drops to an icy hiss at the end of it. Nagisa's crying has trailed off at this point, and she's staring at you with her enormous chestnut eyes, currently rimmed red from her crying.
The entire corridor is watching silently.
You gently slide your arms around Nagisa, and pick her up, letting her ride against your hip. You probably look a bit odd, a teenaged girl effortlessly hefting a girl who probably weighs half as much you do, if not more. But you don't find it in yourself to care in the slightest.
"C'mon," you say gently to the girl. "Let's go somewhere else."
Ignoring the quiet murmuring, you stalk past the crowd, looking around as you go, trying to see past the shock of white hair to find a certain white furred creature. Kyuubey's nowhere in sight, though.
You soon find yourself outside, sitting on a bench in one of the small gardens separating buildings. The sun is pleasantly warm, with the cool air temperature. Nagisa's fully stopped crying now, and is simply huddled against your side, clinging tightly to you.
You sigh, looking up at the sky. Your senses are spread out, and though they don't fully cover the sprawling expense of the hospital, you're sure that there's no Witches, or potential Witches, near you at all. Which, then, implies that Homura was expecting to hunt Charlotte, maybe?
"Big sis," Nagisa tugs at your shirt. "I'm hungry."
She probably hasn't eaten since breakfast, if that.
"Sure, let's get you something to eat," you say, rising from the bench. Nagisa holds out a hand as she stands, and you take it obligingly, leading her to a nearby cafeteria. "What would you like?"
"I dunno, mum-" her face crumples again. You kneel, and sweep her into a hug again, but she doesn't cry again, just sniffling a bit.
"How does taiyaki sound? Nothing too heavy?" you murmur, after a moment. You feel her nod against your shoulder. You stand, and bring her over to the stall to purchase a few of the fish shaped pastries, as well as a drink for her. You then bring her over to one of the tables, and watch her munch her way through the pastries.
"Hey," you say carefully. "I don't suppose you've seen a white cat around? One with funny things-" you flap your hands at your own ears to demonstrate "-coming out of its ears?"
Nagisa shakes her head, before swallowing. "Don't think so, big sis."
Hm. Kyuubey really hasn't been around, then? You think carefully about how to phrase a warning; somehow, you don't think 'Even if someone shows up promising you miracles in exchange for helping him, you must not do what he says' will work. It's empirically demonstrated that it doesn't work, even.
"Nagisa!" a male voice calls. A middle-aged man dressed in a business suit puffs up to the table. His hair's just as white as Nagisa's is, and his eyes are similarly reddened by crying. "I just got here. Who is this?"
"Uncle Shin!" Nagisa responds, a half-hearted smile coming to her face. "Mum-"
You move at the same time the man does, but you stand back, and let him drag Nagisa into a hug, with him in an awkward half kneel. He notices your motion, though, and nods at you in recognition. His eyes linger for a moment on your hair, the same pure white shade as theirs.
You shake your head with a half smile. "No relationship, as far as I know," you answer, before he can ask anything. "I just happened to be passing by."
"Then you have my thanks, Miss...?" Nagisa's clinging tightly to her uncle, but she isn't crying any more.
"Sabrina. I just happened to be here," you supply.
"I'm Momoe Shin," the man says. "And you have my gratitude, Sabrina, for helping to look after Nagisa here. I just managed to get here from work."
"It wasn't a problem," you say. "They just left her there crying, you know? I couldn't let that stand."
The man looks saddened, even as he rubs soothing circles on Nagisa's back. "That is not uncommon, here in Japan," he observes. "Nevertheless, unacceptable. I will see what I can do about it."
You chuff out a sigh, closing your eyes.
"Sabrina? We're at the hospital, are you around?" Mami's telepathic voice interrupts you.
[] Write-in
=====​
I'd love feedback on this particular scene. Emotional scenes are, to my annoyance, not a particularly stellar part of my repertoire.
I dislike random Japanese, but I'm not sure. I feel that 'big sis' seems to have somewhat different connotations from 'nee-san', no?
Last edited: May 28, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 8
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 28, 2014

- #1,048

"Yeah, I'm here. Where are you?" you respond to Mami.
"We're at block 23," Mami replies.
"Ok, I'll meet you there," you say. Out loud to Shin, you say, "Ah... I have to go now. Meeting some friends."
Nagisa hears this, though, and releases her uncle to charge over to you, grabbing you tightly. "No, don't go!"
"Nagisa, it's OK, she'll come and visit again, won't she?" Shin says, looking at you. He's barely taller than you are, you note.
"Of course I will," you respond, crouching to hug the girl. Addressing the man, you say, a little uncertainly, "Uh... I don't have any way of contacting you."
"Hm. Easily remedied," the business man notes, rooting around in his pocket and pulling out a pen. "Do you have any pap- no, never mind, I have some." He pulls what looks like a receipt out of his pocket and scribbles on the back, before passing it to you. "This is my personal handphone number, as well as my home number; Nagisa will be staying with me for now."
"Alright," you say, taking the receipt and slipping it into your own pocket with one hand. The other remains around Nagisa. Idly, you note that the receipt's from a restaurant, a very upscale one, if the prices are any kind of indication. "Hear that, Nagisa? I'll come and visit sometime."
"Hey... if the cat I mentioned earlier comes around, let me know first, OK?" you try, telepathically.
No visible response to that, but the white haired girl sniffles, hugging you a little tighter. "P-promise?"
"I'll do my best," you say, with a smile. "Now, be brave. I'll see you sometime, alright?"
"A-alright," Nagisa says, trying to smile back.
"Bye, then," you say, releasing her from the hug. Reluctantly, she lets go, too. You nod at Shin, and to your surprise, he bows to you. Not deeply, but enough for you to recognize it as a gesture of respect.
"Farewell, Sabrina," the man says.
You turn and leave the cafeteria, following the signs to the block Mami had mentioned. Along the way, you stop at a washroom to clean up a little; thankfully, the tear and mucus stains are easily washable away, though you look a little damp afterwards.
"Ah, there you are, Sabrina!" you hear Mami call as you round a corner. She's sitting on one of the hospital benches, alongside Homura. Mami looks deeply relieved to see you, and you can see Homura relax very slightly when she spies you.
"Mami, Homura, hello," you say as you walk over to them and sit down. "Sorry, I was at another block. Ah... where's Madoka and Sayaka?"
"Visiting their friend," Mami replies, and then giggles. "And Sayaka's friend, too. He's a boy, as expected."
"Oh?" you grin. "Iiiiiiiinteresting."
Homura sighs almost imperceptibly, and you take that as a cue to change the subject.
"Anyway, Madoka and Sayaka's friend fell down the stairs?" you ask.
"She did, and broke her wrist," Mami says, a small frown appearing on her face. "Quite badly, apparently, she's probably going to be going for surgery, if she's not under already."
"Hm," you grunt, suspicions rising again. It sounds like something Oriko might have Kirika do, but maybe you're just being paranoid? Perhaps you should visit Hitomi later and ask if she remembers something?
"We should go and hunt the Witch now," Homura injects, glancing at the clock. "It won't wait for us forever."
You purse your lips, before replying. "I... Hm. Homura, are you sure the Witch is here? I have a fairly large range in which I can sense Witches, and I can't sense anything like that around here. Admittedly my range doesn't cover the entire hospital, though."
A faint crease appears on Homura's forehead. "I'm sure I sensed it when I was passing by. But it might have moved."
"Maybe we could check the areas Sabrina's range doesn't cover?" Mami suggests tentatively, looking at Homura.
"Agreed," Homura says. The three of you set out, wandering across the hospital grounds to the far end. Little conversation occurs, though you'd say that the tension between Mami and Homura has eased a little. Just a little.
"There," Homura snaps, suddenly, pointing at a derelict building a block away from the hospital proper. It's on the barest edges of your sensing range.
You shrug, and obligingly change directions to head towards the building. It's rundown, and looks completely abandoned. Some of the windows are smashed in, and the paint, such as remains, is peeling off. As you approach it, you do in fact sense the Witch lairing within, the stygian pit of Grief that you've learned to expect.
As you approach the building, you can't help but compare it to the sprawling, opulent expanse of the hospital you'd just left, and wonder vaguely about it. Nevertheless, you soon find yourself in front of the Barrier entrance, with Homura and Mami standing beside you.
[] Cleanse?
[] Deep breath?
[] Go in?
[] Run away!
[] Write-in
=====​
Little sister figure get!
Good thing Homura eventually found a Witch. Egg on her face, eh?
Last edited: May 28, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 9
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 29, 2014

- #1,064

"Hey, Mami?" you say telepathically.
"Yes, Sabrina?" the blonde responds as she transforms in the familiar burst of golden light.
"Have you seen Kyuubey, today?" you ask.
Mami looks thoughtful. "You know, I haven't." Out loud, to Homura, she says, "How about you, Akemi Homura? Have you seen Kyuubey today?"
You wince, a little. They're still on that full name basis with each other. Not unexpected, but still annoying.
Homura frowns. "No, I have not. I haven't seen him since yesterday." She then transforms with little fanfare, just a glowing burst of purple light.
You follow suit on the transformation, considering the apparent lack of Kyuubey. Where has the little white devil gone? If Homura says that she hasn't seen it, then it apparently hasn't even been sniffing after Madoka, and that is... more than somewhat concerning. Similarly, Nagisa, apparently a prime target for contracting, hasn't even been contacted by Kyuubey.
You take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "Shall we- no, wait. Cleansing? Better safe than sorry, right?"
Mami smiles, and obligingly tilts her head so that you can see her Soul Gem. You pull on the Grief, and it comes free as a filmy cloud. There's not terribly much right now, since Mami hasn't been exerting her powers since yesterday. Apart from doing up her hair in the morning, of course. Homura observes the process silently.
You turn to her. "Homura? Would you like me to cleanse your Soul Gem?"
She stares inscrutably at you for a moment, before finally acquiescing and holding out her hand, in a motion you can't help but compare to her offering her hand for you to kiss. The mental image has you smothering a smirk. Nevertheless, the Grief comes free just as easily, a somewhat larger amount than Mami's.
You add your own Grief to the small cloud hovering in front of you, absently ensuring that the marble of Grief you have compressed under your pocket is still tightly under control.
Homura nods, and without looking back at you, steps straight into the Barrier. You shrug and smile at Mami, before walking up to the Barrier entrance yourself.
You touch down in the Barrier, suppressing your instinctive revulsion at being surrounded by the enormous quantities of Grief. Your skin crawls at the feeling of being so overwhelming surrounded by Grief, but you force yourself to relax, as far as you can under the circumstances. This Barrier is noisy with the echoing squawks of what you think are Familiars.
Mami lands behind you, while Homura looks around at the landscape of the Barrier with a faintly puzzled air. You take a look around, too, curious.
The barrier is a landscape of grand marble pillars and enormous terraced steps, arranged in concentric steps that descend down into the depths. At least, you think it's marble; it's hard to tell when the everything is in shades of dark blue and black. Experimentally, you kick the one foot across the floor, scraping a small cloud of dust into the air.
The familiars seem to be raggedy, light grey coloured dolls with brightly coloured heads, huddled in groups scattered across the terrace steps, and the screeching noises are coming from them as they slap furiously at each other. Occasionally, one will storm away from its group, and then crash into another.
Mami draws a musket from thin air, and spins it expertly in her hands. "Shall we begin?"
Homura nods, and her shield makes a clacking noise on her arm. A pair of sleek grey pistols, ones you recognize as Berettas, appear in the time traveller's hands.
You reach back over your shoulder with your right hand, and then 'draw' your warhammer from your back. Even if you're just summoning it using your magic, there is a certain appeal to the theatricality, and you can see why Mami does it. Above your left hand, the small cloud of Grief hovers, still tightly under control, as is the marble of Grief in your pocket.
Homura flips her hair.
It's the first time you've seen her do it. Her hand, still holding the Beretta, smoothly slides back, just under her long hair, before flicking outwards in a single, flowing motion that sends the curtain of raven black hair rippling hypnotically outwards. Impossibly, not a single strand of hair catches on the pistol.
You're staring, slack jawed.
The gun in Homura's outstretched hand thunders out a shot, bringing you out of your stunned awe. One of the Familiars dies, falling apart in a spray of yellowed fibers. Straw?
The dolls rear back in an eerily synchronized motion, and release an echoing howl that resounds throughout the chamber, before flooding towards you, small groups merging into a rumbling mass bearing down on the three of you.
A tight grin forms on Mami's face, and you find an answering grin forming on your own.
[] Maxim 37: There is no overkill. There is only 'open fire' and 'I need to reload!' (Full offense)
[] Maxim 4: Close air support covereth a multitude of sins. (Defensive support)
[] Write-in
=====​
Bleh. Typing on phone is suffering.
Last edited: Jun 18, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 10
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 29, 2014

- #1,089

Mami's advance is pure grace, and a thing of beauty to behold. She spins, darts and flourishes her muskets with a pure elan that is almost a dance, if it weren't punctuated by the earsplitting cracks of gunfire. The sheer artistry of her dance is almost enough to make you stop and stare, and it's easy to see why everybody would look up to her as a mentor and inspiration. And by no means does she sacrifice effectiveness for the aesthetic: every elegant shot punches clean holes through a Familiar, at times skewering two at once.
On your left, Homura has none of Mami's grace, moving instead with a brisk, impatient cadence. She wields her dual Berettas with unerring accuracy that rivals Mami's. Every motion is mechanically precise, the precision of long practice. Then the pistols lock open, her shield clicks, and she's suddenly holding a Minimi machine gun, which chatters out one and two shot bursts. For all that the gun weighs several kilograms, she hip fires it with ease that rips through the oncoming wave of Familiars.
You, by contrast, have neither Mami's elegance, nor Homura's mechanical precision. But even having decided to try not turning the Witch's own Grief against it in hopes of not being the target of its ire, you have raw power to spare. At your command, the small cloud of Grief becomes a razor sharp spray of shards that swoops and strikes like a particularly enraged cloud of wasps, shredding any Familiars that survive the river of firepower rippling forward from the two gunners at your sides.
The few Familiars actually slip through the sandstorm of bullets and your defensive, buzzing swarm are met by you, warhammer flashing in silvery arcs that launch the Familiars on long, soaring flights. Those that you don't pound into the ground, at any rate.
The three of you descend down the colossal terraces, tearing apart the mobs of Familiars that descend suicidally upon you as you go. And then, all of a sudden, the three of you stagger as the terraced steps flash white for an instant. There's a brief, flickering line of text that you don't catch, before the steps revert back to their original black and blue colouration.
Nearly eight per cent of the mob of Familiars have vanished, in the interim.
"Huh," you comment. "That was odd."
Homura's frowning, and looking around thoughtfully, as is Mami.
The screeching of an attacking Familiar, however, is enough to snap you out of your reverie, and the Familiar is shredded into straw by two simultaneous shots, and then that straw is belatedly reduced to drifting flakes by your Grief cloud.
Familiars begin to pop into existence again, one at a time, and then a continuous stream that the three of you ford through effortlessly. The three of you resume your inexorable march downwards, descending into the misted areas below, the intermittent whiteout pulses coming more often as you descend.
"This seems to be a time slowing field," Homura volunteers while locking in a new belt of bullets in the short lull after one of the pulses. She sounds slightly surprised, or at least as surprised as she ever gets.
"I agree," Mami nods. "I've only heard of such things; they seem to be rare."
The final level is almost a surprise, when you arrive at it. The monolithic bulk of the Witch suddenly looms out of the mist, and you squint at it, trying to discern its form.
Homura grumbles, and raises her left hand, the one bearing her shield. You can feel her building up a pulse of magic, which she releases all at once. The burst of magic blows away the mist entirely.
You stare at the Witch. It's a giant, misshapen bird, one with an titanic, curved beak that looks like it could snap up any one of you in one shot. A metallic groaning noise draws your attention to the bird's feet, and you see that it's perching on a considerably smaller metal box that looks like it can barely take the weight. One enormous clawed foot comes down particularly hard on the box, and the Barrier whites out again.
When the pulse has passed, the Witch is no longer in the same position you'd last seen it, and is instead staring intently at the trio of puella magi before it with both eyes.
[] Solo it
[] Try to drain it
[] JOLLY COOPERATION
[] Write-in
=====​
The mist removal thing is apparently a thing Homura can do. It shows up, much like her purple laser blasts, once in Episode One and is promptly never mentioned again. But hey, it was in the show.
Hm. Something to chew on: How often do you think powers reoccur?
Last edited: May 29, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 11
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 29, 2014

- #1,139

"Uh... Mami, Homura, mind if I try something first?" you ask, shifting slightly uneasily under the Witch's gaze. Shouldn't birds mostly have side facing eyes? You seem to remember something about forward facing eyes being the mark of a predator.
Even as you think that, though, the Witch seems to lose interest and turns away, shuffling idly on the metal box. Mami, beside you, relaxes infinitesimally, and replies, "Go ahead, Sabrina."
You whip your warhammer in a circle and plant it head down in the marble in front of you, and raise both hands in front of you, leading with your left hand half curled into a fist. You decide to try removing a wing first; cripple the Witch's mobility, hopefully.
To your senses, the Witch is a malevolent, amorphous mass of Grief. But you instinctively know that this is the right wing, and you grab and tear. You clench your left hand fully into a fist, and twist viciously, as if hauling back on a rope. Your right hand pushes forward, shoving violently against the main mass of Grief.
Feathers slough off the Witch's wing, collapsing in sprays of ash, and the underlying layers of ash wither away to dust, leaving behind a brachiate webwork of shrivelled veins as you tear away the Grief that gives it animation and form. You instinctively coalesce the Grief into the roiling, curling wings hovering behind you.
The Witch screams, a reverberating and utterly alien ululating noise that slams against the three of you in a hurricane of sound. The shriek warbles louder and louder, conveying despite its alien nature pain beyond comprehension.
You... might have hurt it, you think.
The Witch slams one great clawed foot down on the metal box, and the Barrier pulses white, sending you staggering. By the time the Barrier returns to its natural form, the Witch is much closer and rapidly thundering toward you, one wing flapping furiously while the traceries that are all that remain of the other wing twitch spasmodically. Mami and Homura are already leaping clear.
"Sabrina!" Mami shouts in alarm when she sees that you're not moving. You shake your head, though, and shout back, "I got this!"
You spread your legs and cross your wings in front of you, bracing yourself against the Barrier itself.
The Witch bears down on you, still screaming and crescent beak opening wide to swallow you up.
The beak slams down on you.
And bounces off your shield.
You take the opportunity to rip the Grief out of its beak, and are showered by fine ash as the beak collapses.
The Witch pinwheels comically, thrown off balance by its sudden lack of a beak. The sharp cracks of gunfire sound, barely audible above the unceasing scream of the Witch, making the Witch jerk as it's riddled by gunfire from both sides.
You hop backwards, wings of corruption flaring wide to boost you further than you'd normally be able to jump.
Ribons emerge in a flare of golden light, and bind the Witch's feet in place. Homura flickers out of view for a moment, and a rain of metallic objects appears around the Witch's wounded head for an instant before detonating with dull whumps the decapitate the Witch.
The screaming halts abruptly, and the decapitated corpse topples to the side in the agonizing slow motion of a collapsing building.
It vanishes before it hits the floor. A metallic clinking makes you turn around, and you note that the metallic box the Witch had been perching on has turned into a Grief Seed.
The Barrier ripples, beginning to break up, and you release the wings of Grief into the swirling vortex with a relieved sigh. You retain a hold of the Grief marble still sitting in your pocket, however, as well as the small amount of Grief you'd drained from Mami and Homura earlier.
Mami whirls on you, the moment the Barrier dissolves and you find yourself standing in front of the derelict building. "Sabrina! That was reckless! You almost had your head bitten off there!"
You tilt your head, slightly bemused at that, and out of the corner of your eye, you can see Homura turning away slightly. Huh?
"I... was reasonably confident that I could block the Witch?" you offer, lamely.
"Confident or not, don't do that again unless you have to!" Mami says. Her usually half lidded eyes are slightly wild, and you feel somewhat sorry that you'd apparently worried her so much.
[] Write-in
- [] Conversation, cleanse, what next?
=====​
Aurora, the Witch of self destruction. Her nature is apathy. She damages the keystone of her own Barrier, making it inhospitable even to her own Familiars.
Please specify what you guys want to do next. If it helps, it's about 4:30-ish PM right now.
Last edited: May 29, 2014
Threadmarks Entanglement pt. 12
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- May 30, 2014

- #1,155

You shrink, feeling guilty over making Mami worry. "I... sorry, Mami. I didn't mean to make you worry like that."
Mami blows out a breath. "Just... don't be so reckless next time, OK?"
"I won't," you agree. To get over the awkwardness, you propose, "Cleansing?"
Mami sighs again, before untransforming and holding out her Soul Gem. You draw off the Grief, noting as you do that there's perhaps a mite more than you'd expect with how quickly the three of you had butchered your ways through the Familiars and Witch, earlier.
Homura similarly untransforms, this time offering her Soul Gem without prompting. You draw off the Grief, and finally cleanse your own Soul Gem, adding the corruption to the cloud that hangs before you. A contemplative look later, you leave the cloud trailing behind you for now.
Mami shakes her head. "I still can't believe that you can do that, Sabrina," she observes, while walking over to where the Grief Seed fell, and picking it up. "Magic can do amazing things, yes, but that, I've never even heard of. Akemi?"
Homura shakes her head minutely. "I have never encountered anyone with powers like Sabrina's, either."
"So, uh, anyway, maybe should head back to the hospital proper? Madoka and Sayaka will be waiting for us, I'm sure?" you say quickly, trying to cover up your mild embarassment.
"Yes, let's," Mami agrees with a smile, and begins to head back to the hospital. Homura trails along, behind the two of you.
A moment later, as you pass onto the hospital ground proper, Mami holds up the Grief Seed. "Ah, right. I think this should go to Sabrina, since she did most of the work this time, wouldn't you agree?" she says to Homura.
Homura glances at Mami, and then at you. "I have no objections."
"So, here you go, Sabrina!" Mami says, holding the Grief Seed out to you. "Your first Grief Seed!"
"I... uh. Sort of don't need it?" you protest. "Maybe Homura should have it, instead?"
"It's always good to have one or two, just in case," Mami says, reprovingly. "Even if you don't need it."
"Thanks, Mami," you reply, reluctantly pocketing the seed. Your right side pocket, away from the Grief marble on your left, just in case. "So... we made a good team, back there, didn't we? The three of us?"
Mami nods happily. "I agree. Akemi, I must admit I am very impressed with your marksmanship. How did you learn to shoot?"
"Practice," Homura replies drily. And that seems to kill the conversation for a while, though the silence isn't as uncomfortable as it had been previously. You get the impression that Mami has some measure of respect for Homura now, and at least somewhat trusts that she isn't as murderous as she seems.
The three of you continue in silence, winding along the paths connecting the hospital buildings, and enjoying the late afternoon sun. It is long, though, before a thought seems to strike Mami, and she frowns for a moment before asking, "Ah... Sabrina? Earlier you mentioned a magical girl threatening our home?"
"Uh... yes," you mention, suddenly very aware of Homura walking behind you. "I was on the bus, headed towards Shirome, when this girl sat down next to me, and started talking very strangely at me. She... refused to let me out of the seat, and we wound up travelling all the way to the bus interchange."
You can feel Homura's eyes attempting to bore a hole in the back of your head. "Describe her," the time traveller snaps, voice suddenly as cold as glacial ice in the depths of an arctic winder.
"Uh. She was wearing the Shirome school uniform. About Mami's height, I think? Long grey hair, green eyes." You take a deep breath. No way around this. "Oriko, she said her name was."
Homura goes completely silent at that, even her footsteps from behind you stopping.
You and Mami turn to look. Homura's standing there, hands clenched tightly enough that her fingernails are biting into the flesh of her palm, and her hands are shaking. With rage, you realize.
"Akemi?" Mami says. "Have you heard of this girl before?"
"You could say that," the time traveller grates out from between clenched teeth. "She is very, very dangerous. I would advise you be on guard. My apologies, I have things to attend to elsewhere." She picks up her pace, walking quickly past the two of you.
"Homura!" you call telepathically. "I still need to talk to you privately?"
"Inform me when you wish to talk. If possible, I will meet you," is your reply as the time traveller disappears around the corner.
Mami shakes her head. "If she's that worried about this Oriko..." she huffs out a sigh. "I guess we do need to be careful. You especially, Sabrina."
"Yeah, I know..." you grimace. For more reasons than you can guess, Mami, you think ruefully to yourself. "She somehow knew my name, and who I was, on the bus, you know?"
"Is that so?" Mami says sharply, frown stealing across her forehead. "That's even more worrying."
"Still, can't see anything that can be done about it, for now," you say unhappily. "So... ah! In happier news, today, I may have accidentally gained a little sister!"
"Oh?" The look Mami gives you tells you she can see your painfully transparent attempt to change the subject, but she lets it slide.
"Yeah... I was wandering around the hospital, and there was a little girl crying behind one of those big potted plants," you say, pointing at one you happen to be walking by. "So... I kinda comforted her a bit, and she... sort of latched on."
Mami laughs at this, patting you on the shoulder. "Taking in strays already, Sabrina?"
"I- no, her uncle came along and found her, eventually. Uh... I would like to invite her over one day, maybe? If that's OK with you?" you say, flushing a little.
"You don't have to ask, Sabrina," Mami replies. "I've only known you for a day, but you're a good person."
"Ah... thanks, Mami," you say. "You're a good person, too, and I'm proud to be at your side."
Silence, as Mami stops walking.
And then, a quiet, "Thank you, Sabrina."
"Mm. You have nothing to thank me for," you say gently. "You've shown me nothing but kindness."
"Yes, but..."
"You're not alone any more, Mami," you say, taking a small risk.
A quiet sniffle. "Thank you, Sabrina."
You put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and let her compose herself.
She wipes her eyes a few times, and then looks back up at you. "Shall we continue, then?"
[] Conversation, what's next?
=====​
Mami, in the series, went from 'rescuing pink and blue' to tearful 'I'm not alone anymore' in about two days. Speaks volumes, really.
Next update brings you to Madoka and Sayaka. Choose what you want to do next; visiting Kyousuke, Hitomi maybe? Dinner? Choose conversational directions with pink and blue, possibly green or grey, too, depending.
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