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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 "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 11
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Nov 28, 2014

- #16,676

You frown. Two more puella magi, not exactly sneaking along the edges of your perception... But yes, definitely heading in towards you. Independents, maybe, or another two of the Ishinomaki group? You decide to ask; better not to assume.
"Not to change the topic, but there's two more magical girls approaching us," you note, eyeing Yuuki warily. "Anyone you know?"
Surprise flickers across the girl's face, chased by minor shame. "Um... yes."
"Yours?" you ask.
"Yes," she says.
You raise an eyebrow at that. Probably setting up a contingency, just in case? Not... unreasonable, you guess. You wave your hands airily. "Eh... ask them to join us, then? I'm here for a discussion, not a fight."
Yuuki nods relucantly. "Very well."
The two presences jerk, and then begin moving more normally - well, normally for a puella magi, anyway.
As you wait, you note Kimiko nudging Hoshiko, murmuring quietly to her. Hoshiko nods jerkily, and gropes around in her armour before locating a Grief Seed and pressing it to her Soul Gem, siphoning off the accumulated patina of Grief.
The last two members soon arrive, bounding over the rooftops to join the group already here - one in a dress absolutely festooned with ribbons, with a long, orange braid of hair flapping after her.
The other's in a far more sedate costume of blacks and greys, one vaguely similar to Kyouko's - predominantly white, trimmed out with in black, and open in the front to reveal a white shirt and skirt combination, and a grey scarf wound around her neck. A large round hat, with a small ribbon sticking out of it, sits atop a neat bob of black hair.
You let the cloud of Grief drift free of their path of approach, and they do so, eyeing it warily. The one in black seems to recognize Mami, eyes widening in surprise. Mami's gaze similarly shifts over, and surprise mirrors itself on her face, too, before it shifts through regret to settle on a harder, wary look.
... with ten people, seven of whom are more than a little uneasy, on this rooftop, it's beginning to feel a little crowded.
Yuuki glances at you. "This is Ueda Miyako, and Kagome Ayaka," she says. "Miyako, Ayaka, this is Miss Sabrina, Tomoe Mami, and Kure Kirika. They're, ah, here from Mitakihara."
"Hello," you nod at the newcomers. Mami edges closer to you, chin tilting up as she focuses on Miss Ribbons, Miyako. Her hand touches lightly against your elbow. You can feel Ayaka's eyes lingering on that.
"So," you say. "What exactly has Hamasaki done?"
"You don't know?" Yuuki asks in faint disbelief.
"I'm just trying to get a fuller story," you say. You cup both hands and hold them up, weighing one against the other, before spreading your hands demonstratively. "I've got one side of the story. I'd like to know the others."
"That's... fair," Yuuki allows, brow still knotted.
"So..." you say leadingly.
"Let me think," she says, scowling. After a moment's thought, she starts, "OK, look, this goes back... two years ago?" she glances questioningly at the cloner, Aki, who shrugs back at her. "Or... Aki. Why don't you or Kimiko tell the story? Or Ayaka? You were there."
Aki grimaces, but nods, and steps forward. "Somewhere around there, I guess. So there's this big fight or something, I don't know, in the Sendai girls. Whatever. Result is, one of them dies or something, and another one, Kato, I think her name was, leaves them." Her voice is a little raspy.
"Ah!" Mami says. "Kato Setsuko?"
Aki shrugs indifferently. "Sounds about correct. And yeah, she probably passed through Mitakihara?" At Mami's nod, she continues. "She passes through Ishinomaki, too," she says, waving to emcompass the city. "We... well, I think we were nice to her. There were four of us, back then."
"Five," Ayaka corrects the cloner.
"Whatever. Point is, we asked if she wanted to stay. She didn't, we let her hunt a Witch, and pass through," Aki says.
"Right..." you nod.
"Thing is, a month later, Hamasaki and her cronies come screaming at us about her," Aki says. "Said we killed her, and they tried to kill us." Her face flattens into blankness. Similar expressions, blank looks and grimaces, echo across Kimiko and Ayaka's faces. "We win."
"I see," you say.
"We... were willing to let... bygones be bygones," Aki says. "But... eh." She shrugs again, and makes a 'what can you do' gesture.
"And so an 'of course' for starting a turf war?" you ask.
"It's not a turf war," Yuuki corrects. "Or... I guess it is for the University group. Like, the Sendai girls? They're don't exactly go easy on them," Yuuki says. "They're... 'allowed' to exist in Sendai, right?" The girl's tone makes it very clear precisely what she means. "For a 'rental fee', the way I hear it. So the University Group have been trying to get out from under them for a while." Lightly armoured shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. "So they look for help, and got it."
"I see," you repeat.
[] Write-in
=====​
Bleh, infodump. And exams.
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 12
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 1, 2014

- #16,936

You purse your lips and cup your chin, turning over the revelations. There's some uneasy shifting amongst the Ishinomaki girls as you do so, and you try to observe their reactions without being too obvious about it. There's more than a few wary glances towards the free floating Grief you still having drifting about, and the wings still billowing over your shoulders.
Mami stands placidly at your side, hands folded firmly across her chest and half lidded gaze sweeping across the Ishinomaki girls.
Kirika's bouncing happily on the balls of her feet, tapping her claws together with little ting noises. One-two-three, one-two-three...
"Hmm..." you shake errant thoughts of flocks of invading Incubators from your mind, and glance around at the Ishinomaki girls. "OK, look. I know that you won't have all the answers to my questions, but frankly, every bit helps. What can you tell me about Miss Kato? Why did she leave Sendai, what happened to her and so on?"
A sudden plague of shrugs strikes the trio you tentatively identify as the veterans of the Ishinomaki group - Aki, Kimiko, and Ayaka. they look around at each other, and Aki speaks up. "Dunno. You realize this was a long time ago, yeah? And we really only talked to her a little bit."
"Actually..." Kimiko says slowly. "You remember when we were asking if she wanted to join us?"
Aki shrugs again. "Nope. You just remember 'cuz she was pretty, don't you?"
"You know it," Kimiko agrees.
You cough lightly, drawing attention back to you.
"Aaaaaaaaaanyway," the lavender-haired girl says. "She said something about running from memories and stuff. Dunno what those memories were, but yeah. Something big happened back in Sendai."
You nod. "Thanks for that," you say. "Do you know why Miss Hamasaki would lash out like she did? Was she just an excuse or something?"
"Doubt Hamasaki thought she was pretty enough to start a war over," Kimiko shrugs.
That'd be a no, then. You'd expected as much. Next question, then... "What did she do, anyway? Come to that, what was she here for, today? If she wasn't here for negotiations...?"
Yuuki's lip curls. "I dunno. She called for a meeting, right, so I figured we should be the bigger person and agree. But then when we find her here early, skulking about and her two friends also skulking about... Like, wouldn't be the first time she's set up an ambush," she says, frowning.
"Sooooooo it sounds like you guys attacked first?" Kirika pipes up, grin exposing her fang.
Yuuki's face hardens. "We did," she says. "If you were where we are, you would too."
Kirika merely grins and shrugs, still bouncing on her feet.
Mami tugs lightly at your elbow, and you turn to look at her. A small, troubled frown mars her face. "Sabrina, didn't Miss Mori say that she was here to heal a Kato Setsuko, too? I thought maybe it was just a coincidence, but..."
You frown equally. Now that she mentions it... "You met... a Kato Setsuko before, right?"
"I did, yes, she passed through Mitakihara about two years ago," Mami says. "She didn't want to stay..." she trails off, looking crestfallen.
You lightly touch your hand to Mami's arm, and smile reassuringly at her. "Do I need to tell you how wonderful you are again, Mami? Because I will."
She gives you a quick, grateful smile. "No... I was just thinking... she was troubled, I think, is the best word to describe her."
"Hmm..." you say, glancing sidelong at the Ishinomaki girls, who are, by the looks of things, conducting their own telepathic conversations. Ayaka happens to be looking, too, her eyes rising from your hand on Mami's elbow to meet your gaze. "Do you think it's just a coincidence, or are Sendai or Ishinomaki lying?"
"I think it's Sendai," Mami says. "I don't... think much of Miss Hamasaki's conduct."
"Hm," you repeat, and look back up at the Ishinomaki girls. "Are you aware of any independents living in Ishinomaki?"
"Yes?" Yuuki says. "Why?"
"Rin... uh, that's Mori Rin, one of the Sendai group, said she was here to heal one of the independents."
Yuuki cocks her head to the side. "That so? Hold up a minute..."
"Hey, Nakano," Yuuki's voice sounds in your head. "Did you need healing?"
"No, why?" an unfamiliar voice replies.
"Just checking," Yuuki replies, breaking off the call. She shrugs at you. "There you go, then."
"And she's the only independent in the city?" you ask.
"Yep," she says. "Unless someone popped up in the last day or so."
"Alright, then," you nod, exchanging a look with Mami. Sendai's lying. Rin was lying... Or herself misled. "Well. We don't particularly condone what the Sendai group is up to... But I want this entire thing over. It's not going to turn out well if it keeps escalating like it is. I... look. You guys have your issues with the Sendai group, I understand that. But if we can guarantee that they won't come after you, would you agree to help end this?"
"You... you've dealt with Hamasaki before, haven't you?" Yuuki asks, rolling her eyes. "You can't guarantee that. But yeah, I get what you're saying." She flaps a hand at you. "If you can actu-"
"No," Aki grinds out. "I want to see her dea- No, actually, you know what. Fuck her shit. If she stops coming after us, I'm happy."
"Right," you nod. "So we're agreed, then?"
"If." Yuuki raises a finger. "It's a fairly big if. We've beaten the tar out of them before, and she still came back for another go. At this point, I really don't know why or what she expects, but she did. So..."
You nod again, conceding that. Silence falls for a moment.
"Y'know, I don't get you girls," Yuuki observes conversationally. "You in particular, Miss Sabrina. You come here, we, ah, attack you, you beat the hell out of us-" she gestures around at her group, prompting little cringes, "-and then you talk to us and then... you're done. Like, what the hell, girl?"
Mami answers for you. "That's because Sabrina wants to," she says, iron conviction in her tone and a warm, proud smile blossoming on her face as she glances at you. "She wants to help. And she can."
You redden in embarassment, but forge onwards. "And, uh. Not to... deliberately try and prove the point, but I've got one more thing to say... I can cleanse Soul Gems and Grief Seeds alike, and I'm willing to offer my services. Free of charge. After all this is over."
Looks of surprise, followed by darting glances at each other spread amongst the Ishinomaki girls. "Uh," Yuuki says, finally. "OK."
More awkward silence.
"Hey," an unfamiliar voice sounds in your head, and you see Ayaka looking directly at you. The black haired girl gives you a serious look. "You're staying with Mami, right?" At your nod, she continues, "Treat Mami properly, got that? I mean, I've... got my differences with her, but... I can see what you mean to her."
"Yeah, I know," you reply. "I know damned well."
"Good," she says, seemingly satisfied.
Yuuki shakes her head. "So. Is there anything else, or may we leave?" she asks.
[] Something else
- [] Content, tone?
[] Nothing else
- [] What now?
[] Write-in
=====​
I was wondering whether anyone would pick up on the Setsuko thing before Mami.
Also, whooo! Exams are done!
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 13
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 3, 2014

- #17,088

You contemplate the bewildering array of information that's been presented to you - by Akiko, by Yuuki, by Aki... And really, the only conclusion you can draw is that something stinks. Someone, maybe more than someone, is lying, lying hard, and you're not sure who. Little contradictions everywhere.
"Yeah, actually. A few more things," you say slowly. "First... really two years of skirmishing over one girl? I mean, Mitakihara is closer to them than Ishinomaki, until recently, was... less well defended," you ask, barely-faked bewilderment in your voice. You are rather baffled, after all.
"Not hardly, with Tomoe Mami there," Aki says, jerking her chin at Mami. Ayaka looks chagrined at that, glancing away.
"More to the point," Yuuki says. "We don't really know."
"Yeah," Aki agrees, sobering. "Like, that's what she was screaming the first time, right? But why she keeps coming back?" She shrugs.
"You said that Sendai arrived early? When, exactly, were the negotiations supposed to take place?"
"Today," Yuuki replies. "Why?"
"No... Just thinking," You shake your head. "Nothing else... I guess we're pretty much done here. Oh, wait-" you glance at Mami and Kirika. "Anything you want to know?"
Mami shakes her head, honey blonde coils bouncing. "Nothing I can think of," she says.
"Nope," Kirika says.
"Oh, sorry," you say, a thought striking you. "One more thing. We're... probably going to go try talk to the University Group right now. Is there any chance you can contact them and ask them to pull out to meet us?"
Yuuki raises an eyebrow at you. "Ask them to meet you? Sure, I can do that," she says. "Ask them to pull out? Would you pull out of your home city?"
"Uh, not what I meant," you amend hastily. "I mean, retreat from Sendai, to talk to us?"
She frowns. "Still no. Like, you're fighting for your life, and someone asks you to stop, to talk? Just... go interrupt them or whatever. Like, you've got experience doing that." She waves at herself and her group.
"... Yeah, that's fair enough, I guess," you say. "Thanks for the information." You stress the last word slightly, in the vain hope that you might see someone react to that. No such luck; Yuuki and Aki simply nod in agreement.
You half turn away from them. A twist of will and a wave of your hands, and the pall of loose Grief hanging over the scene drains away to form a loose carpet, your wings streaming away to add to it. That little act gets you some uncomfortable looks from the Ishinomaki girls, too.
"Goodbye for now," you call to them as you walk over to the carpet, Mami and Kirika following behind you in flanking positions. "Hopefully, with a little luck, we can get things settled in a day or two."
"'d be better luck than we've had," Yuuki snorts. "Eh, who knows. Good luck, and good hunting." She pivots on her heel and walks to the edge of the roof before throwing herself off, the rest of her group following her quietly. Ayaka throws you one last glance as she goes, eyebrow arched.
You roll your eyes at her.
You drop heavily onto the carpet, pressing a hand to your side. It comes away sticky with blood - not that you'd bothered to feel it, but still, nasty. Mami, instantly concerned, hisses sympathetically, and sits beside you to press the glowing radiance of her magic to your wound.
You chuckle sheepishly as Kirika bounces onto the carpet behind you. "I feel silly," you say. "I'm the only one who even got tagged in that fight." Absently, you lift the carpet into the air and begin heading towards Sendai instead.
"Don't be silly," Mami scolds.
"Ahhh, but you were absolutely amazing in that fight, Mami!" You turn a bright grin on her. You've been keeping this in for a while. "They didn't even come close to touching you. And that first hit, where you didn't even see what's-her-name, Yuuki? That was brilliant! And you looked damned cool doing it, too."
Mami blushes. "N-no, that was nothing special," she demurs.
"No, Mami." You reach outand grab her free hand tightly in yours, the roughness of her fingerless gloves contrasting with her soft skin. "That was phenomenal, Mami. You are phenomenal."
"T-thank you," Mami smiles, her blush intensifying. "You did well too, Sabrina."
"Heh," you say, and turn back to look at Kirika, who's smirking a shit-eating grin at you. You roll your eyes -you know what she's thinking- and inform her, "You too, Kirika."
Her grin widens, fang poking out. "I know!" she smirks, and buffs her fingernails against her shirt. "Would've gotten them if they didn't both have their stupid armours."
You laugh. "Yeah, but seriously, one against two, both of them experienced? That's good no matter how you slice it."
"Yeah, yesh," Kirika says, flapping her hand at you. "Go squeal over your ojou some more."
"Not my ojou," you reply, but grin at Mami nevertheless. "And really, Mami, that was really, truly remarkable." Her fingers shift under yours. "You're amazing, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself."
"Thank you," Mami says. Her face remains tinged with pink, and her hand still steady on your side, cooling warmth of the healing magic sinking into your gash - thankfully, it's not too deep a cut.
"I mean really," you say. "I could track them all and I don't think I could have pulled that shot off."
Mami shakes her head. "It's just... experience," she says. "You know... you're amazing too."
"Nah," you disagree. "I just have huge advantages. And look at me, I still got hit!"
"You were fighting three people at once, defending me, and helping Miss Kure, and still coordinating perfectly with me," Mami says, beaming at you. "That's amazing, too!"
"Heh," you say. "I just have advantages."
"Sabrina, experience is also an advantage," Mami says, moving her hand to tap you lightly on the nose.
"Hey!" you pout. "And fine. We all did great there. But you especially."
Mami giggles, returning to healing your wound.
"Anyway," you switch to telepathy as you reach cruising altitude and begin to accelerate. "I think we should tell Homura what happened back there?"
Mami nods. "That would be a good idea."
"Eeeeeh," Kirika drawls. "Hey, where're we goin', anyway?"
"Sendai," you say.
"Gotcha."
You reach out for the time traveller. "Hey, Homura?"
"Yes?" the time traveller replies immediately. You have the impression of her full attention on you, her violet eyes intent on nothing in particular.
"Just a little update, we went to Ishinomaki, and intercepted the Sendai group, who are now probably back in Sendai proper. We, ah, talked to the Ishinomaki girls, too," you tell her.
"... they attacked you first, didn't they?" Homura asks shrewdly.
"Well, yeah," you admit. "We took them down, and, then we talked to them."
"Ah," Homura says. "What now?"
"We're going to Sendai, to see what's happening there," you reply. "Is there anything happening back home?"
"No," Homura replies. "Madoka and Sayaka are shopping."
"Right," you say. "Are you shopping with them?"
"Yes," she says, a trace of... embarassment? leaking into her mental voice. You grin at Mami - her eyes are crinkled in amusement, too.
"Good," you say. "How's Oriko?"
"Sleeping," Homura says.
You snort lightly. Whoops. "OK," you say. "Anything else?"
"Nothing," Homura confirms.
"Alright, then. See you," you say.
"See you," she replies, closing the connection.
You close your eyes, sighing. "Well. One last thing, Mami - can you try reaching Miss Kato? I mean, she's ostensibly the lynchpin of that this entire thing turns around, so..."
"Of course," Mami agrees, smiling. "Hold on... Miss Kato?"
Silence.
"Miss Kato?" Mami tries again. "This is Tomoe Mami, from Mitakihara."
The response isn't any better, and eventually, Mami shrugs helplessly at you.
[]Turn back to Ishinomaki
[] Stop by Mitakihara
- [] For?
[] Press on to Sendai
[] Write-in
=====​
We now return to your (not that) regularly scheduled updates.
Oh, and if you're wondering that Yuuki didn't relay you through the the University Group - she's going with the idea of, 'I'll talk to them, and then get back to that weird chick.' Which'll be the next update.
Last edited: Dec 3, 2014
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 14
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 4, 2014

- #17,171

You push the carpet onwards, heading towards Sendai. The wind whips through your hair, sending it streaming out backwards. Idly, you wonder what Homura's hair would look like, ruffled by the wind, and giggle under your breath.
"Sabrina?" Mami looks curiously at you. Her hand is still glowing with magic, healing your side.
"No... I was just thinking, imagine if we'd brought Homura of this trip?" you say.
"Well, that fight would have been over much sooner," Mami agrees.
"No, I mean, her hair," you say, waving at your own, wracked by the onrushing wind.
Mami's head tilts, and she seems to consider the image, and giggles softly. "Ooh," she grins. "Though... she probably has some magic to fix that," she adds.
"Yeah, probably," you concede. "Heck, she probably carries a mirror and hairbrush in her shield."
"... probably," Mami agrees.
"Hey, hey, what's the joke?" Kirika pipes up.
You grin back at her. "You know Homura?"
"Don't like her," Kirika responds, making a face.
"Well, imagine if we'd brought her along," you say. "Wind, and hair."
"Uh? Oh. Ohhh. Oooooh," a smirk spreads across her face, and she starts making wavy gestures at her head, patting out what you imagine would be a huge, poofy cloud of hair. She promptly begins laughing, heartfelt cackles you can hear even over the wind.
You snicker, and grin at Mami, who gives you a fond smile.
"Miss Sabrina?" Yuuki's voice.
"Yep?" you ask. Idly, you pull a few marbles out from the fabric of the Grief carpet, and begin rolling them in your hand, letting them clack together.
"The University Group says they'll see you," Yuuki says. "You're going over, right?"
"Yeah, we're going," you agree. You close your fist over the marbles, and let it fall open to reveal a sandy pile of little grains. "An hour or two? Maybe a little more?"
"Hnn, you can haul ass, can't you?" Yuuki sounds faintly surprised. "]Yeah, I told 'em you're on your way. You can go kick up a ruckus or something."
"Or you could patch me through later?" you ask. The pile of grains streams out to drift in the air, shimmering in the deep, unsettling purple hues of Grief as the afternoon sunlight catches it. You drag your finger through the air, building a trail of grains that stays with you in defiance of the wind.
"Sure," she replies, an audible shrug in her voice.
"Alright, thanks. Hey, one mor-" Mami prods a finger into your side, and you jerk upright, straightening in reflex. She gives you an innocent look, laughter dancing in her eyes. "Good as new, Sabrina," she smiles.
"Thanks, Mami," you say.
"No problem!" she beams at you. She shifts, shuffling across the carpet so that she can sit directly beside you and leans her head against your shoulder. You smile down at her, and she returns it, nuzzling against you.
"Miss Sabrina?" Yuuki asks.
"Sorry, got distracted for a moment. Anyway, if you don't mind, another question - where and how did you find Miss Hamasaki, anyway?" you ask.
"Oh. Sheer luck, actually," Yuuki tells you. "Yuuna and Kimiko were headed home from their club, and saw Hamasaki walking down the street. So they called it in, and we went searching around and found her... minions two streets away."
"Ah, got it," you say, humming thoughtfully. "And you attacked immediately?"
"No, of course not," Yuuki replies. "We watched them for a while. Both Hamasaki and her... friends-" distaste drips off the word, "-went on walkabouts for a while. She was definitely scouting around, so... Yeah."
"I see," you say. You roll the Grief sand over the back of your knuckles, rippling and shimmering oddly in the light.
"Yep," Yuuki says.
"Alright. Thanks, then," you say.
"Mm," she says, and closes the connection.
Hmm. That's something, then. You contemplate the Grief sand, and focus a fraction of your attention on it while you make your next call. "Hey, Homura?" you call for the second time in... maybe half an hour?
"Yes?" she replies. Her mental voice sounds slightly strained.
You frown, hand stilling. "Hold up, is something wrong?" Mami looks up at your frown, and one hand comes up to gently smooth it away. You smile at her, and mouth 'Homura'. Mami nods in understanding.
"No..." she says.
"You're sure?" you press.
"Trying not to... talk... to Miki Sayaka," Homura admits. "She's saying that magical girls are... cool."
"Oh," you say, relaxing slightly. "Well. Hang in there."
"Yes," Homura says, tone drier than a desert. "What did you need?"
"Yeah. Do you know about one Kato Setsuko?" you ask. Hmm... back to your experimentations... Is changing the colour of Grief something you can do? Make it transparent?
"... something to do with the Sendai girls?" Homura hazards after a moment's thought.
"Yep," you confirm. You bear down on the small bit of Grief now cupped in your hand, and push. Suddenly, it turns a brilliant, shining gold, a handful of shimmering motes sifting gently about. It also lights up in your senses the same way the stuff of a Witch Barrier does. Mami jerks a little, and glances over, seeing what you're doing and frowning slightly. 'One moment,' you mouth at her.
"Dead," Homura says simply. "A while ago."
"You're sure?" you ask. Another presence makes itself felt beside you - Kirika poking her head over to see what you're doing. You mouth 'later' to her, too, and she rocks backwards on her heels, flopping over on the carpet instead with her arms splayed wide.
"No, I'm not," Homura replies. "I only know about her in passing?"
"Hm... good enough," you say. "Thanks!"
"Anything else?" Homura asks.
"Nope, that's it," you say. "See you soon."
"See you," Homura replies.
You purse your lips, considering that. Homura, at least, thinks that the mysterious Setsuko is dead. And while she could still be wrong, her knowledge is considerably more definitive than, well, anything you've heard so far about the girl.
Anyway. You look at Mami, and show her the handful of faux-gold you'd made out of Grief. "Experimenting a bit," you tell her and Kirika.
"Oh," Mami says. "It, uh, feels kinda like the stuff of a Witch Barrier."
"Is that gold?" Kirika asks, poking her head over again.
"I know," you sigh. "And yeah. Fake gold, made out of Grief. On the other hand, I guess that means I can do this."
You wave your hand in a grand sweeping gesture, and pull a wall of Grief up in front of you, which abruptly shimmers into perfect, crystal clarity, forming a windscreen. The rushing wind abruptly dies out, shielded from you, and you grin an exhilarated little grin. It pings loudly in your puella magi senses, admittedly.
Mami clears her throat. "That's amazing, Sabrina!" she says.
Kirika reaches out, and raps her finger on the windscreen. "Cool," she says simply. "Really feels like a Witch Barrier, though."
"Yeah, that's a bit of a problem," you admit. "Good for now, though."
"Hey, Miss Sabrina," Yuuki again, this time sounding faintly perturbed.
"Yep?" you respond, frowning at the tone of her voice.
"The University Group's kinda under attack right now," Yuuki says. "Like, now now. Uh. Maybe go pull their asses out of the fire?"
"Got it," you say.
[] Write-in plan
=====​
Whee! And honestly, I do wonder that no one tried for this before. Remember how you could change the acoustic properties of Grief?
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 15
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 5, 2014

- #17,350

"Well," you say, glancing around at Mami and Kirika. "Apparently the Uni group is currently being attacked." You pull a face. "Time to go pull someone else's asses out of the fire - you remember what Oriko said, right?"
Mami nods. "Seven hours before they were chased out of the city."
Kirika bounces on the carpet and pouts at you. "Aw, you were talking to Oriko and didn't invite me?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to ask her something," you tell her.
"Eh. It's OK. I was talking to her earlier, too!" Kirika says brightly. "She's sleeping now, though." She runs her fingers through her hair, combing it back into order.
Self consciously, you start patting your own hair back into order.
"Anyway," you mutter. "Let me try something else. Uh, excuse me, Mami?" You stand, and twist your will. The carpet ripples, shreds of Grief dancing through the air as your reshape it midflight. The whipping storm of Grief disguises the torrent pouring out from Hildegarde's Grief Seed, lofted amidst the storm.
Seats sprout out of the carpet like mushrooms, extruding backrests and armrests and pushing Mami and Kirika into seated positions - a double seat for you and Mami, a single for Kirika. You grin at their surprised eeps as you continue, building a fuselage extending backwards from the windscreen to enclose you fully.
Finally, Hildegarde's Seed, now clear and emptied of Grief, returns to your pocket, and you sweep into a low bow, facing Kirika and Mami. "Welcome, ladies, and thank you for flying Sabrina Airlines Flight SA-002. This is your captain speaking. We have reached our crusing altitude of, uh..." you peer out of the window, "I don't know how high. We will be reaching Sendai in... you know what, I don't know either. I'm not good at this."
Kirika laughs, clapping her hands happily.
Mami smiles fondly at you as you plop down in the double seat. "This is amazing, Sabrina," she compliments you. "Uh... Maybe give us some warning next time?" she adds.
"Oh, sorry," you say. "Should have thought of that. I'll do that next time," you say, leaning back in the seat, and frown at the consistency of the Grief. "Mami, maybe you could make cushions or something?"
"Ooh, that's a good idea," Mami says, smiling. She shifts a little, holding up a hand, and it's your turn to jump when the seat below you suddenly squirms, and a cushion weaves itself into existence from ribbons. Padding wraps around the back of the seat, too.
"Brilliant!" you grin. "Now, hold on..." A twist of your attention has the acceleration noticeably pressing you back into your seats. Mami shifts, shuffling across the seat to lean up against you as you pour on the speed, bearing down on the entire construct surrounding you with your will.
"What are you doing, Sabrina?" Mami asks curiously.
"Uh. Getting us to Sendai faster," you say. "And, uh. Trying to break the sound barrier."
"Oh, Sabrina," Mami says, a familiar, fondly exasperated tone in her voice.
The ground speeds past below you, largely unoccupied expanses of vegetation skimming by in blurs of green as you swing south, past Mitakihara, visible as a shining silver smudge to your right. You're not sure whether you're actually breaking the sound barrier - it's not like you'd be able to tell from inside the shockwave if there were one, anyway.
... You feel vaguely annoyed about that.
On the other hand, you definitely are going fast. At ludicrous speeds, you might say. Or indeed, sufficient velocity.
Sendai appears, a massive grey smudge that rapidly turns into a dense, sprawling expanse of buildings. Rather like Ishinomaki, the city looks, and feels, old. Older, grungier buildings standing beside newer, shining silver constructions.
And...
You can see the conflict, in the distance.
Flickering, shining motes of lights glowing and hunting through the air, striking and spinning and slashing across the canyons yawning between buildings. A standing wave of water that ebbs and crashes and smashes between buildings - Akiko's work, you imagine. A veritable forest, sprouted incongrously on the rooftop.
Your eyes narrow, as Mami sits bolt upright, eyes also on the conflict.
"Miss Inoue?" you reach out for Yuuki, including Mami in the call.
"Yeah?"
"Hook me up to the University Girls?" you ask.
"OK," the girl replies. "Miss Chouko?" You can feel the new connection click into place.
"Now is not a good time!" an unfamiliar voice barks.
"Miss Chouko, I am Sabrina from Mitakihara-" you begin.
"Fighting for my life here!" she snaps at you, biting off the words.
"Incoming on you to end the fighting," you reply, tone equally clipped.
"Wha-" she breaks off. "Whatever!"
You frown. An understandable, if annoying reaction. Oh well.
"Right, thank you, Miss Inoue," you tell the girl, and close the connection, reaching instead for another one. "Akiko."
"Miss Sabrina?" the bluenette's voice sounds just as harried as Chouko's, if for a different but related reason.
"Incoming on you to end the fighting," you say tersely, tone brooking no argument.
"I don't think this is a good time!" she snaps back, confusion leaking into her tone.
"No time like the present," you rebutt, and close the connection.
You meet Mami's eyes. Worry swims in her eyes, but determination firms the lines around her mouth. You pat her on the arm, smiling reassuringly at her, and she impulsively catches your hand and pulls you into a tight hug. You return it, squeezing her as tightly as she does you. She pulls back after a moment. "S-sorry," she says, looking down.
You tap her lightly on the forehead. "You have nothing to apologize for," you tell her, smiling, and Mami blushes, looking away.
You glance back at Kirika, and she grins sunnily at you, giving you another of those damnable thumbs ups. You roll your eyes at her.
"We're going in," you tell her tartly. "Same as before - nonlethal, save the antimagic."
"Aw, fine," Kirika pouts.
"Right. We're going loud," you declare, rising lightly to your feet, glancing ahead at the roiling puella magi conflict. Mami rises with you, her expression smoothed out into a confident mask. Kirika, too, leaps to her feet, balancing catlike on the toes of her feet, suddenly-reclawed hands hanging loosely at her sides.
The chairs bubble back down to join the floor beneath you.
You have a lot of Grief available to you right now, what with emptying out Hildegarde's Seed.
And you let it all erupt out into a titanic, slowly turning hurricane, with the three of you in the center. Twisting eddies whorl and surge through the maelstrom, casting endlessly shifting purple light down on the three of you as you stand - Mami on your left, Kirika on your right.
"Fuck." Sakura's voice.
"Yep. Incoming," you say.
"Jesus fuck," Sakura swears.
You can see the fight judder to a halt as the oppressive, overwhelming sensation of raw, active Grief washes out over the evening light. Akiko's standing wave of water halts its onslaught, and evaporates, the forest of vines stilling its deadly motion. The fighters break off, stopping in confusion, and presumably, fear.
You bleed off a little speed as the three of you arrive over the battlefield.
You can see four forms taking off in the distance.
Four girls, ones you don't recognize, are crouched within the dense forest of vines in a tight huddle, watching you cruise in with wary tension in their body language and weapons ready. Heavy roots groan and creak in slow growth across the rooftop, quiescent but all to ready to spring to life again.
You stare down at them, as the three of you drift closer.
"Sabrina?" Mami says to you. "That's... Tsubaki Chouko, and Umeko Yuko."
... There are five Soul Gems between four girls, in your Grief senses.
[] Let Mami talk to the University girls
[] Talk to the University girls yourself
[] Go after the Sendai girls
[] Write-in
=====​
Fleeing must be a sign of a guilty conscience, right?
Last edited: Dec 7, 2014
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 15.1
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#### Cannongerbil

##### I came here to nep at you

Location
  Soviet Lunar Base

- Dec 5, 2014

- #17,358

> Firn's hidden text said:
> /Tsubaki Chouko is the leader of her little group of friends, even if she doesn't much feel like it, most days. Not since Chika died. Not since Fukui left.
> \\Hard won experience and instinct screams at her to dodge. Her wings, delicate and shimmering like those of the butterfly she's named after, hurl her backwards, just in time for that damnable Tachibana to smash a kick into the rooftop, shattering and kicking up shards of concrete. Chouko spins to present the edge of one wing, and flickering shards of crystal lash out in a wave that chews through more concrete in the wake of a teleporter no longer there.
> \\She throws herself backwards off the roof, buying time with a few meter's of height.
> \\On the next rooftop over, a shrieking torrent of paper rips forward, winding and weaving around grasping tendrils studded with rosethorns. They'd made so many jokes about the tentacles, and yet, here she was. Here they were; Suzuki Rei, plant maestro, fighting back to back with her sister, Haru, in the middle of a raging forest of dense, knotted plants and living paper swarms hunting through the air.
> \\They're holding their own against Hamasaki and Tamiko, anyway. In the face of it, water and Tamiko's absurd forcefields might seem to overmatch plants and water... but teamwork answered for a lot, dense oak weathering the pounding of gravity fueled strikes and slicing paper weaving around the iridescent octagons of Tamiko.
> \\A figure blurs into existence as Tachibana tries for a hit on the Suzuki sisters, only to be rebuffed with vinyl tendrils whipping around her katana and forcing her back. The teleporter blurs away again.
> \\Chouko calls one of her scepters to her hand. It snaps up as she rotates through the air, letting her magic blaze forth in prismatic flickers of light that slash towards Tamiko. The girl answers with another iridescent barrier that effortlessly absorbs the deadly bursts.
> \\"Got her," a quiet voice in her mind. A familiar one - Yuko, unlike that odd one relayed to her by Inoue. What did that girl even mean?
> \\"Great," Chouko replies, absorbing a landing on the next roof over with bent knees. Minami, just over there, messy, slate grey hair over her equally drab, grey outfit. A vicious, swiping blow with her scepter is met by a mace. Sparks fly as it becomes a contest of strength, until Minami's eyes flash and Chouko dances aside to avoid the blast of gravity.
> \\A heavy crack, and Minami's head snaps forward sharply. Her neck bends with a horrid, cracking noise, and Chouko's eyes go wide in horror.\\A girl shimmers into view - Yuko, looking equally horrified.
> \\And Minami staggers to the side, legs wobbly, but still working. Head still hanging limply at an unnatural angle.
> \\Chouko bullrushes the girl, bodychecking her. Yuko, sensing her intention, helps, grabbing the disoriented gravity controller.
> \\And they throw her off the roof.
> \\Equal parts horror and triumph surges through Chouko as Minami's body tumbles limply off the edge. She'll be fine, she tells herself.
> \\And then-'
> Click to expand...
> Click to shrink...

Last edited: Dec 7, 2014
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 16
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 7, 2014

- #17,471

"Right," you murmur back to Mami. "The ones who went to meet you, right?"
"Yes," Mami answers, still standing placidly at your side as you bring your carpet to the edge of the roof. The three of you remain standing on the carpet, a line of three facing down a loose group of four.
You compress the slowly turning hurricane down into the basketball sized spheres, which set themselves in orbit around you, a lazily spinning series of planets orbiting around the three of you on your carpet. The presence in your puella magi senses dims noticeably, diminishing to barely-there levels, and the dappled purple sunlight shifts to a more normal shade of evening orange.
The girls down on the roof relax fractionally, weapons and wary stances lowering a bare centimeter.
"Kirika, Mami," you say telepathically. "If Sendai teleports in, and I think they might, antimagic and ribbons immediately, OK?"
"OK," Mami agrees easily.
"Gotcha," Kirika's voice sounds cheerily in your head.
"Hello," you call out loud, pitching your voice to carry.
One girl takes a single step forward. She has enormous, butterfly-like wings sprouting from her back, cheerful, pastel colours splashed across black ribbing. "Hello," she calls back cautiously. "Are you the Mitakihara girls?"
"Yes," you say. "I'm Sabrina, just Sabrina, this is Tomoe Mami, and Kure Kirika."
Mami dips her head in a regal little nod, gaze steady on the speaker. You notice that another girl - one with a long, flowing mane of deep purple hair, is also looking at Mami with a surprised look. Umeko Yuko, you'll assume.
The speaking girl nods, swallowing. "I am Tsubaki Chouko, and these are my friends, Suzuki Rei-" The girl with pale green hair lifts her hand in a cautious little wave, her other hand still around her sword. A few scraps of white paper drifting around her and the oddly angular cut of her cream coloured dress attest to her power.
"-Suzuki Haru-" Bone white hair, a shade and cut not unlike your own shoulder length hair, shifts in a nod. The plant controller, if the way her hand is sunk into a nearby vine is any indication.
"-and Umeko Yuko," Chouko finishes, pointing at the last girl of their party, the one who'd recognized Mami. She also nods cautiously at you.
"I-" Yuko licks her lips, looking at Mami. "It's... a surprise to see you here, Miss Tomoe."
A smile flickers across Mami's face, and she glances aside at you. "I have reason to be here," she says.
Yuko nods slowly, fiddling with her mane of deep purple hair. "Can I- can we ask why?" Her eyes flick to Chouko.
Mami smiles again, and gestures at you. "I think that's Sabrina's job."
You nod. "Uh, first things first... there are five Soul Gems, but four of you."
Chouko's expression closes off, her lips thinning into a line. "Yes."
"Do one of them belong to the Sendai group?" you query.
"Yes," Chouko admits, a flicker of worry crossing her face as she wraps her arms around herself.
"I'm trying to broker peace, and put an end to this war, if you've heard from Miss Inoue, out of Ishinomaki," you say, folding your arms. "Where's the body?"
"I heard, yes," she admits. "Um. Yuko?"
"Somewhere over there?" the purple haired girl says, waving off to her left.
"Right," you nod, and reach out with your telepathy - Rin and Akiko. You note idly that they've retreated out of your range, by now. "Akiko, Rin. We might need you for a patch job on someone here."
"What?" Akiko bites off the word. "We don't hav- they have Rin!"
Wait, what?
[] Write-in
=====​
Sliiiightly incorrect interpretation, there.
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 17
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 8, 2014

- #17,640

You cast your mental grasp out, snagging Sakura, too. "Whatever you're thinking of doing right now, stop. Calm down. I'll get Rin back, but if you just drop right in here, things will get messy. And nobody wants that - least of all you."
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuc-" Sakura's coarse voice spits in your head, and then abruptly chokes off.
Silence from that end, then Sakura again, voice ragged. "Fine. Fine. So fucking help me you will save Rin or I will rip you a new asshole."
"Yep," you agree, and close that connection. Mami touches you lightly on the elbow, and points off in the distance. "There," she murmurs. Following her direction, you can see four figures standing on a distant building beyond your sensing range, silhouetted by the setting sun. One sitting, one kneeling beside the sitting figure, one standing, and one pacing angrily. You'll guess that last one's Sakura.
The University Girls look over, too, and their faces shift. Some trepidation, a generous helping of worry, and a dash of horror, on Chouko and Yuko's face.
You step forward onto the roof, picking your way carefully around the thick carpet of roots digging into the concrete. Mami and Kirika follow, too, Mami fastidiously avoiding the roots while Kirika blithely clomps over them. The white haired girl -Rei?- jolts, and looks back at the three of you.
The carpet you dissolve behind you, coalescing its material to join the spheres drifting idly about, and you cough lightly, drawing the attention of the rest of the girls back to you. You straighten, tilting your chin up a hair. "So, as I'm sure you know from Miss Inoue, we're here to... settle this mess without further bloodshed."
Chouko nods slowly. "She told us, yes," she says.
"OK," you say. "I understand why you wanted to take Rin out of the fight... I don't think you guys actually want to kill her. Or anyone. Am I wrong?"
The winged girl shakes her head. "No," she says, swallowing. "I mean no, you're right."
"Then would you be alright if we put her back in her body while we discuss things?" you ask. "This... is probably going to take a while, and I don't want her or her body harmed."
You hold up a placating hand, as they alarmed looks dart between them. "Look," you say. "The rest of the Sendai girls will be staying away for now, and if they pop in, we-" you gesture at yourself, Mami, and Kirika, "-will subdue them. Rin can stay as... your prisoner, and their spokesperson for this discussion. But please, can I ask that you do this as... a gesture of good faith?"
Chouko cracks. "I... we need out, Miss Sabrina. We can't go on like this." She gestures helplessly. "We... we can't."
"I understand," you say. "I... OK, look. I manipulate Grief." You wave at the spheres of Grief drifting about you. "That's my power, and thanks to that, I pretty much eliminate Grief Seeds resource issues."
Chouko freezes. All the University group girls do.
"Could you... demonstrate?" she asks carefully.
"Sure," you agree, reaching for your own Soul Gem, and pulling it off. You hold it out to them, clearly showing the traces of corruption swirling within its depths, and siphon off the filmy darkness with a careless gesture of your other hand.
"I- we," Chouko looks at her friends. "Could we do... could you help us?"
You check their levels of corruption again - none of them are anywhere near critical, but neither are they running clean, either. More pertinently, perhaps, is that they have three Grief Seeds between four of them. Rin's Soul Gem is quiescent, sitting quietly in Yuko's pocket, it seems.
[] Agree
[] Disagree
[] Write-in
=====​
Corrected a mistake, incidentally - Suzuki Rei Haru is plant girl, Haru Rei is paper girl.
Holding in abeyance these bits, as needed:
-[X] We don't want to give Sendai reason to believe that our negotiations here are doomed to fail, causing them to act... impulsively.
-[X] We intend to deal with the extortionate behavior that Sendai has been engaging in, that has been making life difficult for others.
-[X] With our grief manipulation ability, we can largely eliminate grief seed resource issues, rendering the extortion pointless.
-[X] If you have a specific need for Rin and her abilities, we can see about addressing that right now, before we move to the broader discussions.
-[X] Travel as a group to Rin's body and revive her. Preferred method is Sabrina kneeling over her, getting handed the soul gem, and placing the soul gem against Rin where she can see it when she revives.
[X] Move to an acceptable location for discussions, explain our position, and start getting their story.
Last edited: Jan 4, 2015
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 18
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 9, 2014

- #17,787

"Yes, I'll clean your Soul Gems for you," you nod, smiling a little. "It's... literally why I'm here, in some ways." And some days you wonder if that's even more literal than you think.
"I-" Chouko says. "What do we have to do? We... can't afford much."
"Free," you say gently.
It's the work of a moment to pull the Grief from their Soul Gems, thick, ropy streams billowing into the air to join the planetoids already drifting idly around. Nothing at dangerous levels, but given that they only had three Grief Seeds to share among four people... Chouko's the only one without a Grief Seed, you notice. Yuko and the two sisters all have one apiece.
Joy wars with disbelief on their faces, as they bring their hands to touch their Soul Gems - head, bracer, another bracer, and chest. Yuko fumbles in her pocket, bringing out a Grief Seed which she touches to the Soul Gem mounted on her hairband, and she sags in relief when she sees that nothing happens. The purple haired girl, feeling your gaze on her, offers you a weak smile, one filled with relief and a silent apology.
Mami touches you on the elbow, and you turn to see the warm, proud smile directed at you. You smile back, and her hands move a little, both rising in an aborted gesture that she seems to think the better of. "You're doing something amazing here, Sabrina." Her eyes flick over to the University girls, and back to yours. "I-I... didn't want to interfere in the war, but... this..."
"I know, Mami," you say, shifting hold her hand between both of yours. "It's all right. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry, too."
"Don't," Mami says. "Don't apologize for me being selfish, Sabrina."
"You're not selfish," you tell her with some heat. "You're not."
Mami smiles. "OK."
A careful clearing of a throat, from the University girls.
When you release Mami's hand and look back at the University girls, they're giving the two of you an odd look, Chouko and Yuko in particular. You give them a none-of-your-bloody-business look, while Mami just smiles, eyes half lidded as they usually are. Kirika looks indignant, frowning crossly at them.
"Um," Chouko says. "Thank you. Thank you so very much."
"It's what I'm here for," you repeat. "So, about Rin?"
"Well, um," Chouko says, glancing around at her friends. "Um... it's still kind of true that our situation is... untenable, even if... you took the edge off."
"Yes, and I'm going to change that." You mentally append a 'hopefully' to that statement. "But... well. Would you make a gesture of good faith? To me, if not to the Sendai girls?"
"Y-yes," the butterfly-winged girl says. "Yes."
"Alright," you say. "Lead on, then."
Hesitantly, Yuko walks to the edge of the roof, and leaps off, bounding towards the next roof. You follow her, Mami and Kirika right behind you. Chouko follows after a heartbeat's pause, while the Suzuki sisters stay back. You can feel the plant controller's -Haru's- magic fade slowly from the forest, and she and her sister follow. When you glance back, the forest is already starting to wither with unnatural speed, vines fading to a sickly brown and crumbling away.
Huh.
You see Rin's body, a crumpled heap swathed in her dark green robes, and you angle over to that roof, landing in a smooth shoulder roll.
You move over to the body, kneeling beside it. "OK, Soul Gem?"
Yuko silently places it in your hand, and you glance at it - a dark, emerald green. Some amount of corruption swirling in its depths, which you carefully tug free.
You glance around at the girls. "OK, give me some space here," you say. "She'll probably be a bit disoriented when she wakes up and all." Quiet affirmations from the University girls, and they back off a little. You reach out a hand and snag Mami as she moves away. "Stay?" you smile up at her.
A smile breaks through the troubled expression on her face, as she darts uncomfortable glances at Rin's body. "Of course, Sabrina," she says.
Taking a deep breath, you press it into Rin's hand, and wait for a moment, watching the conflagration of magic catch and spread like a wildfire across dry brush, arcing through Rin's body in pulses. It reaches her brain last, and bottle green eyes blink open.
Rin jolts upright, looking around wildly, a jagged dagger forming in a blaze of green light. You catch her, restraining her lightly. "Rin! Rin, it's Sabrina," you say gently.
"S-Sabrina?" she stutters, looking at you. "W-what- behind you!"
"Shh, no," you say. Without looking, you know that it's Mami, hovering anxiously just behind you. "That's Mami, she's with me."
Rin relaxes slightly, then jerks, head twitching and eyes gaining that distant look you've learned to associate with telepathy. You glance over at where the Sendai girls are - two seated forms, one standing, one leaning forward with her leg propped on the edge of the roof, all still silhouetted by the sun.
You decide to follow that up, too, reaching out to Akiko and Sakura. "See, she's up," you say.
"Yeah, great," Sakura says. "Now, get her free."
"Discussions first," you reply.
"Fuckin' what?" the teleporter snaps back.
"I imagine you want us to negotiate," Akiko says.
"Just so," you reply.
"Miss Sabrina?" Chouko asks tentatively. "Fucking negotiate for Rin?" Sakura roars in your metaphorical ear.
"Right," you say, looking at them. "Is there anywhere neutral we can meet up?" Telepathically, you say. "No, she's negotiating for you."
Rin shakily pats herself down for something, and finds it in her voluminous sleeves. She withdraws her glasses, and frowns when she sees they're broken. "Miss Sabrina, am I to negotiate on behalf of Akiko?"
"Yes," you affirm. Akiko's voice sounds inside your head a second later. "I would prefer it if I could be the one negotiating."
Chouko frowns. "There's a cafe nearby, the owner's... not very observant."
[] How do you respond to Akiko?
- [] Tone and content
[] What do you tell Chouko?
- [] Tone and content
[] How do you open the negotiations?
- [] Tone and content
[] Write-in
=====​
Witchbomb discussions again, I see.
Threadmarks "We've Got Hostiles" pt. 19
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Dec 10, 2014

- #18,030

"Hm," you say to Akiko. "We're not starting to negotiate quite so soon. Give us a few minutes." You pause. "And really. You've been... shall we say, harsh on these girls. Frankly, your presence might very well... impede any possibility of a reasonable discussion, so I'm going to ask them if they're comfortable with talking to you, or someone else from your group. It's their call."
A moment of silence from Akiko, which you take to nod at Chouko. "Does that cafe have outside tables? I don't think Hamasaki's group wants to let Rin out of their sight."
"Umm..." Chouko thinks about it, before Rei pipes up, her voice voice clear and ringing like the bell she's named after. "Yeah, it does."
"That sounds perfect, then," you say, smiling lightly. Continued sullen silence, telepathically - is Akiko still there? You glance over at the rooftop where the Sendai girls are. Were, as it turns out. They're no longer there.
"Akiko?" you ask telepathically, looking around cautiously. They're not in your senses, but with Sakura's teleport...
"Very well," the water controller finally says. A light touch on your elbow - Mami, pointing at a different roof, a different vantage point, and this time, only two of them. Without the sun at their backs, you recognize one with Akiko's distinct figure, and the other one in a tightly wound, wire-taut posture that is Sakura.
"Thanks," you murmur back to her, frowning at the two Sendai girls. Well, they're still... yes, they're still out of your sensing range.
Well.
"Shall we go, then?" you gesture.
"Yes," Chouko says, walking in the opposite direction of your gesture. "Um... it's this way."
"Hey, Mami," you link up Rin, Mami and yourself as you follow Chouko off the edge of the roof. Yuko sticks close to Rin, keeping an eye on the healer.
"Yes?" Mami replies, looking inquisitively at you.
"Can you repair Rin's glasses?" you ask.
"Oh, um," the healer interrupts. "I... don't actually need the glasses. They're for show; Akiko said they'd help me project a more... professional image. And Saku- Um. Yes."
"Oh," Mami says. "I could, though...?"
"No, that's alright, thank you," Rin says uncomfortably as you follow Chouko down into an alleyway. "They're really just for show."
Light blazes as Chouko untransforms, leaving her in a demure, dark grey hoodie and skirt combination. You follow suit, several novas of light glowing and dying in a few seconds, wondering for a moment whether anyone might see you from outside the alley. Then again, no one has, so far.
Briefly, your mind flicks to Kyuubey. Probably busy covering up that big fight in Ishinomaki. And the fight here.
You frown, looking at the drifting planetoids of Grief around you, and send the majority up to the roof, where they'll be safely out of sight from non-puella magi. You keep some with you, though, one sphere collapsing into marbles which you slip into your bag and getting a few uncomfortable looks from the University girls.
The group of you -eight teenaged girls, yourself almost half a head taller than everyone else- walking out of the alley probably look quite the sight as you merge into the evening crowds. You get more than a few odd looks, but no one comments as Chouko leads you to the cafe, her long, pale blue braid bobbing behind her as she threads the crowd against the flow.
The owner, an elderly lady, looks up from her newspaper when you arrive, and smiles vaguely before waving forward a cheerful looking man who looks like he might be her son. You're forced to drag three tables together to accomodate eight people, and finally, you drop into one of the chairs, Mami and Kirika sitting on your left and right, Rin one seat further along. The rest of the University girls array themselves in the seats, uncomfortable looks passing between them.
"What would you like?" the waiter asks, looking around at the ecletic assortment of girls.
"Just tea, for me," you say, raising a finger. You're not terribly hungry yet, anyway. Orders go around the table, some ordering cakes as well as drinks. Mami follows your example, simply ordering tea, while Kirika asks for a small dessert cake.
"Alright, so," you say, drawing everyone's attention. "We're not starting any negotiations or anything yet. We'll take a few minutes to unwind, OK? Just... I think we all need to relax."
Slow nods answer you.
The Suzuki sisters, sitting next to each other, both slump tiredly in their chairs. Their eyes flutter closed. Yuko sighs and rubs at her eye wearily, the other still staying on you and Rin, while Chouko looks at you. "So, um," she asks. "You're from Mitakihara?" She immediately cringes, looking like she wishes she could take those words back.
"Yep," you confirm. "Mami, Kirika, and I."
"Oh," Chouko says. "That's... good," she finishes, and winces again.
You roll your eyes. "We don't bite, you know."
"We don't?" Kirika asks, pouting exaggeratedly in disappointment.
Chouko barks out a startled laugh, and then immediately claps her hand over her mouth. "Um, sorry." Mami giggles demurely, similarly bringing her hand to her mouth, while the girl with white hair -Haru, Rei's sister- cracks one eye open to look at the commotion.
"No, Kirika, we really don't," you say. To Chouko, you say, "Actually, may I ask a question?"
"Um," Chouko says. "OK?"
"Right, so," you glance over at the Suzuki sisters, indicating Haru, with her pure white hair. "Plants, and-" you indicate Rei, with her pale green hair, "paper?"
Haru rolls her visible eye, and then closes it.
"... yes," Chouko sighs. "Yes, that's right. Everybody asks that the first time, too."
"... huh," you say.
"Mmmhm," Chouko agrees.
"But-"
"We know," Rei and Haru chorus in unison, without even opening their eyes.
Chouko shrugs at you. "Magic."
"Magic," you grunt in agreement. "Ah, thank you." The waiter sets out your orders, before retreating inside the shop, leaving you to your food and discussions. The University girls perk up, digging into their cakes, as does Kirika.
"So..." you start, stirring your tea. "More seriously... what's your story?" You sip at the tea, and grimace - tea bags, it tastes like.
"Ah, well..." Chouko looks down at her plate, turning her fork over and over. "There's not much to tell. We made our contracts. We... we met Hamasaki, and she... imposed her tax."
The blue haired girl sighs, and seems to realize that she's been playing with the fork. She puts it down firmly, and presses her hands flat against the table. "After a while, Fukui... couldn't take it any more. She left." Chouko looks up, and smiles weakly. "We still keep in touch... she's with the Tome group. I was thinking of... asking her for help, actually."
Yuko harrumphs quietly, just enough to draw a look from Chouko.
"So... that's our story," Chouko finishes quietly.
[] Press about Chika (the girl who died)
[] Proceed with asking about Akiko
[] Negotiations
- [] Points, tone
[] Write-in
=====​
Holding this in abeyance, as needed.
-[x] Once that's done, ask if they would be able to talk their minds with Akiko at the table, and whether they rather she be there or not. Mind that any agreements will hold more weight if it's done in person and not through an intermediate.
-[x] If Sakura is allowed to join the discussion, keep her at least one seat away from Rin, with Kirika in between them. We'd rather not have to interrupt her teleport.
Last edited: Dec 11, 2014
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