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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 Anomalous Materials pt. 6
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Jan 31, 2016

- #79,962

"It's Darija," you say, looking around again. You'll go and check out warehouse-kun, you think, and see if Mami's idea had any merit. "Otherwise known as Maghrebi Arabic. It's... among the many, many languages I apparently speak."
"Oh?" Mami asks, a trace of worry edging her voice.
"Yeah," you say, striding over to the edge of the roof. Grief spheres dissolve, your wings cutting swathes through the sky behind you. "I... I can speak a lot of languages. Posso parlare italiano!"
"Oh," Mami says, now sounding more confused than anything. "I... is this part of your memories?"
"Yeah," you say as you launch yourself you skywards. "Um... It just sort of comes naturally to me."
"Oh," Mami says. "I... do you remember anything else, Sabrina?"
"No, not at all," you admit. You have ideas of where you might have come from, but... You don't remember. You don't know for sure. "Just things that I know how to do."
"Ah..." Mami says. "I'm sorry."
"No, don't be," you say. Wingbeats thunder through the skies behind you as you soar towards the sun - eastwards, to the warehouse. "Mami... honestly, I'm not that worried. I have a life here, wherever I may have come from. And it's with you, and everyone else."
"Alright," Mami whispers. "I just... I'm worried."
"I know," you say. "I'm here with you, right?"
"You are," she agrees. "I... yes. You are."
"Good," you say emphatically. "Now, how are you feeling?"
Mami seems to take a breath, rallying. "I... not too bad. What are you doing right now? Um. If I may ask?"
"Of course," you say firmly. "And well, I'm going to go out and check on warehouse-kun." Your eyes widen. "Uh-"
"Warehouse-kun?" Mami asks.
"Yeah, um, I've been using this abandoned warehouse for experiments," you say, rushing through the words. "So, well, I nicknamed it warehouse-kun."
"And it's just a warehouse?" Mami asks.
"Yeah," you say. "Just a warehouse."
"... oh, Sabrina," Mami says fondly. You get the impression she'd be shaking her head at you, were you actually face to face. "You never change."
"Hey, I wouldn't be me if I weren't a bit silly," you protest. Privately, you're just glad you seem to have distracted Mami from the thoughts about your facility with language.
"That's true," Mami says.
"Hmhmmm..." you muse as you soar eastwards, banking in a lazy curve towards the old industrial district. This early, there aren't any good thermals yet, and you're having to rely a little more on direct Grief impulse rather than actual aerodynamics to gain altitude.
"Mmm, Sabrina?" Mami asks.
"I was just thinking out loud," you say. "Oh! I had a thought - do you think we could make patatas bravas for the picnic tomorrow, maybe?"
"Ah... patatas... bravas?" Mami asks, stumbling over the unfamiliar words.
"It's Spanish, I think," you explain. "Lightly fried potato, with a savoury and slightly spicy tomato sauce? It's quite simple to make, and talking to Miss Bennouna made me think of it."
"That sounds good," Mami says. "We could try that! Um... Isn't Miss Bennouna Moroccan, though?"
"She is," you agree as you wing past that one flue stack. It's practically a landmark by now. "Still!"
"... alright, then," Mami says. She... sounds better. A touch more cheerful.
"Mmmm," you say, banking a little to the left.
"Ah, Sabrina?" Mami asks. "What are you checking warehouse-kun for, anyway?"
"Well," you say, grinning. "Remember when you suggested that maybe Witches would be drawn to my experiments? Like calls to like, and all that? I've been mostly doing those at the warehouse, so I thought I should double-check the area."
"I see!" Mami says. "Um... be careful if you do find any Witches, alright?"
"I will," you promise. "I'll be careful."
"Alright," Mami says. "I... should pay attention to class. Be safe, alright?"
"I will, Mami," you say. "I'll see you at lunch, OK? Promise. And you can always talk to me."
"See you soon, Sabrina," Mami says.
"See you!" you respond, closing the call. Reaching the warehouse, you start flying a large, looping spiral over the largely abandoned warehouses and metalyards below. Even up here, you can smell the tang of rusting metal in the air, wisping curls of dust trickling over the ground far beneath as a faint breeze stirs.
Is there any truth to Mami's idea that the experiments might be drawing in Witches? That would certainly be... unfortunate, especially considering that you've been using the same Witch-stuff at Oriko's house. Hm. Something to consider, maybe. And it'd be a rather worrying trend, if your powers attract Witches, an-
Speak of the devil.
You suck in a breath, wings backing air as you draw to a hover. You can feel a Witch... not even three minutes into your search. The abyssal, swirling morass that is a Barrier entrance lurks in what looks like, from where you are, an old metalworks factory.
Hm. It's a Witch... but there's few enough people around here that you could probably afford to leave it alone for now. Or you could just handle it quickly.
[] Write-in
[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika
=====​
Man, it's been a while, hasn't it?
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 7
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Feb 5, 2016

- #80,957

You hum, considering the Barrier as you hover midair. This might be a conglomerate Witch, if Mami's supposition is correct - if Witches are drawn to your powers, then this might be several Witches having a grand old ball in a Barrier.
To be honest... you do remember that Mami's hypothesis was in response to you not offering an explanation. You do remember that you'd thought perhaps it was because you'd... tranced out making a Barrier of your own. Which might chain into what Oriko said; that Feathers didn't act when you were around.
Ah, well.
You'll play it safe - you did promise Mami, and capable of hideously overpowering Witches or not, you're not invincible.
You chew your lip for a moment. Armour, then, just to be absolutely sure. Grief, solid Grief under your control, is very nearly inviolate, and makes for excellent armour. You briefly considered drawing Grief form Elsa Maria for this, but you do have well and away sufficient for just a set of armour. It takes far more than that to build your Mobile Oppression Fortress, after all.
Grief spheres dissolve, eddying wisps flowing around you in billowing tendrils. It slides under your coat, solid, dense plates forming around you in a layered, segmented carapace of the same material. No Witch-material, just plain old Grief in its mottled deep purple.
You rap your fingers aganst the Grief, eliciting the dull thud of something vaguely plasticky, before balling your fist and slamming it into your gut. It barely yields, and you hiss in pain, waving your hand in the air. "Ow!"
That probably wasn't your brightest idea. Still, it rather proves the point. Might have been an awkward angle, but you weren't exactly holding back, either, and you know you can put holes in solid concrete.
This'll do.
Slowing wingbeats let you drift downwards to the Barrier entrance until you drop lightly to your feet right in front of the gently glowing entrance, with all its endless, painful fractal depth.
You dissolve your wings and let it flow away into Grief spheres. Reaching behind your back, you draw forth a silvery warhammer, gleaming in the morning light. A deep breath, and you take a step forward, plunging through the entrance. A moment of jolting distortion, and-
Witch.
A shuddering breath, as you steel yourself against that powerfully wrong sensation that runs icy fingers down the back of your neck and skirls down your spine.
The heavy tang of salt and rusting iron hits you first, a wet slap to the face only aided by the liquid humidity in the air. The crash of surf fills your ears as you take in the corroding hulk of steel superstructure yawning into the sky. Black, tarry fluid pours and writhes about the towering derrick tower, twisting and churing in living ropes around the metal. Flickering light glares down from above.
Beneath your feet stretches metal plating held in place by rivets, just as rusty as everything else. A rickety, failing railing surrounds the edges of the massive platform, looking very nearly paper-thin from wear. A massive pillar nearly the width of the entire rig, barely visible over the rim of the platform, supports the entire structure.
An oil rig, or a simulcra of one.
You scan about warily, looking for anything that might be out of place, be it Familiars or strange Witch abilities or people or fellow puella magi.
Nothing you can see nor sense in the immediate vicinity.
You venture forward, your senses pricked for the slightest disturbance and hammer held ready at your side. Hm. Speaking of fellow puella magi, you need to go and check on Oriko. And maybe make sure that Ono's still alive under the, ah, gentle ministrations of Masami and Hiroko.
... Hiroko probably wouldn't let Masami do anything too drastic.
Right?
Right.
You hope.
Speaking of Oriko, you vaguely wonder if you could make something of Grief to give predictions. Or maybe a magic 8-ball. You can call it the, uh, Original Raving Informant Killing Opinions device. Though it's really only the original if you're being ironic about it. Omniscient Receiver of Information that Kills Options, maybe?
And maybe you should just make a plushy or five. An Oriko one for Kirika, a Kirika one for Oriko, one of yourself for Mami... One of Kyouko for Sayaka? Not that they've even met yet.
The metal plating clanks underfoot, shifting on loosened rivets as you prowl into the spidery shadows of the derrick.
Familiar.
You freeze in place, breath stilling in your chest. Behind that wall there, inside what looks like a cabin. You strain your senses, but... It's just the one.
With the head of your hammer, you nudge the door of the cabin open. You freeze again as the squeal of rusted hinges fills the air.
Nothing.
You prowl through the open door, and there's a jolting sense of distortion-
You're elsewhere, overlooking a huge expanse of grass. You immediately spot a single desk and chair in the middle of the grassy meadows, and the Familiar - a spindly, headless humanoid thing wrought of iron girders and wire, brightly coloured fruit packing its starkly metallic ribs in a ghastly imitation of organs, oranges and dragonfruit and lemon and apple and a banana for the liver. The Familiar dozes on the chair.
You take a spinning step forward, the silvery arc of your hammer swooping around you to take the Familiar in its shoulder. It cleaves right through with the shriek of tearing metal, fruit juice splattering across the floor as the thing crumples to the floor in a crash of metal.
You freeze again, straining your senses for the slightest sounds of disturbance.
Nothing.
You eye the Familiar, very nearly bisected by your hammer - apparently iron, but with a consistency more befitting plywood than anything. It's splayed the grassy soil in what would be a morbid display if it had actual blood and viscera instead of juice and fruit.
You snort softly under your breath. Funny, when you were contemplating the morality of killing... executing Kagari.
You shake your head and turn, confonted with the freestanding metal door, hanging ajar. You stalk back through it, and with that same sense of distortion, you're-
-elsewhere. You scan warily for any disturbances, looking around - a different part of the same oil rig, it loosk like.
It's quiet. You'd say it's too quiet. And really... it is. The only sounds are the churning crash of the sea and the creaking of the superstructure overhead and -
Oh.
There's the Witch.
It's the entire derrick. Twin flares of light blaze in the writhing oil far above you, massive, flaming eyes staring out over the sea. From this angle, you can barely make out the form of the towering superstucture; a enormous, squatting gargoyle.
Hmm.
It's just a Witch. It won't be hard to kill, though... you haven't exterminated, or even found all the Familiars yet.
[] Write-in
=====​
Sorry about the long delay between updates.
Last edited: Feb 5, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 8
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Feb 10, 2016

- #81,554

You sigh. Not enough time to go around - you're burning daylight as it is. And you've been meaning to get to Oriko for a while, just to check in on her.
This particular Witch is big. Huge. You have to crane your neck back to look at it, two car size globs of flaming oil serving for eyes in a face easily the size of the apartment that Mami shares with you.
The bigger they are, the harder they... well, no. This one'll fall like the rest, neither harder nor softer. No time to handle the Familiars - if they come after you, then so be it, you'll deal with them.
You stare up at the Witch, picking out its form. The massive, misshapen head with two flaming eyes, staring out over the distant sea. A nightmarish jigaw of girders worn by the sea and corroded by the passage of faux time outline a bestial pair of shoulders, gnarled and hunched against the elements.
Hm.
You raise one hand, fingers splayed towards the Witch.
You can feel the Witch. Oh, yes. Visual metaphor is imperfect, but synesthesia... Grief, active Grief under another's control, glows like a black hole undergoing final evaporation. And you can taste the Witch's control, heavy and cloying and metallic and somehow tangy in a way that has nothing to do with your tongue.
Instinctual, normal, and easy. A moment, a breath to center yourself...
You smile.
Your hand closes into a fist, curled back towards you.
And you tear the Witch apart with a flex of your mind.
You start with the face, snuffing out the flames of its eyes and tearing out entire swathes, rippling across the sky in thick, vicious streamers.
Grief explodes into the air. Yours to control and mould. Steel softens and melts like butter under a torch, rusted brown and glints of silver running into the bilious, speckled purple of raw Grief. The massive superstructure of the derricks groans as it buckles and twists.
The waves rise, churned to a froth by the whipping wind. The water crashes impossibly into the sky, a tidal wave about to smash you down.
You turn your attention to it as the water falls and the ice-rimed water vanishes into eddying mists of Grief before it even begins to descend. Billowing clouds wash past you to join the rippling fabric of your rapidly forming wings.
The Witch dies. It doesn't even have time to react, its entire form crumpling like tissue paper in the rain.
You feel it give, something almost audibly snapping in your Grief sense. The Barrier ripples, cohesion lost. You sidestep as metal decking crumbles under your feet. You release your wings, the Grief roaring into a whirlpool coalesced around a kernel that is the Grief Seed, precipitated into the world.
Your boots thump on concrete again as the crash of surf fades from around you, once more back in the mouldering old industrial district. And... you frown.
You can feel smaller blobs of Grief skittering away. Familiars - Familiars you didn't catch.
Your wings reform out of your own Grief, the stuff you've been towing around, and you throw yourself skyward. You're already dissolving as many Familiars as you can reach -through the walls, some in the sewer pipes below, in the buildings- but they're scattered wide. There are more, frustratingly outside the range of your power.
"Damn it," you hiss under your breath. Your wings pump, and you throw yourself forward, dipping low for a moment to snag the Grief Seed.
You zip along, barely skimming above the rooftops of the dilapidated factories and warehouses as you hunt the Familiars darting away, exterminating them as soon as you can. The Grief under your control balloons as sandy yards and mouldering rooftops whip by beneath you.
Finally, you come to a halt, pulling into a lazy hover nearly a kilometer away from where you'd started. You've gotten all you can, you think - if any escaped, they're well away by now. Tsk.
You sigh, slow wingbeats thundering over the industrial district. You've covered a good bit of ground chasing Familiars, and... you hadn't seen any Witches.
Fine then.
Strengthening wingbeats lift you higher, and you climb in a wide spiral over the sky. You've spent enough time here - you'll go and see Oriko and Kirika.
Mitakihara rolls by beneath you, intermingled dense greenery and apartment blocks of the suburbs giving way to the towering monoliths of the skyscrapers. You skim past downtown Mitakihara, closing your eyes and rolling over to let the sun warm your face for a moment.
It feels like it's been a long day already, and it's barely started. Still, you killed a Witch, so there's that. Speaking of which, you should probably check in with Mami.
"Mami?" you reach out across the distance.
"Sabrina! How are you? Are you alright?" Mami asks, rapidfire and anxious.
"Yeah, I'm just fine," you answer as you flip back over. You muse briefly on the fact that you shouldn't be able to actually fly upside down like that, aerodynamically speaking, but then again. Magic is such bullshit. "Killed the Witch cleanly. How are you?"
"I'm good. I'm moving to my next class right now," Mami says, voice brightening. "And... I'm glad you're alright, Sabrina."
"It's test time, right?" you ask, smiling despite yourself.
"It is," Mami confirms.
"Well, hang in there," you say. "You can do it!"
"Ah... well, I have your help," Mami says. "Of course I can."
"Mmm," you say, not really willing to disagree. "Feeling confident?"
"I suppose so," Mami says, sounding, if not the exact opposite of confident, then at least somewhat dubious.
"OK," you say. "And you know I'm here, right?"
"I do," Mami says. "Thank you, Sabrina."
"Mmm," you agree. "Anyway... no real point saying bye, when really, we're both right here, yeah?"
Mami's voice brightens a little. "Alright."
You lapse into a comfortable silence after that as you approach Oriko's house. You spend a moment to muse briefly -hah, briefly- on the fact that despite Kirika's kriticism, well, the girls from Asunaro do have pants. Two of them do, anyway, albeit more of hotpants than actual, proper pants.
Hm.
Does Kirika really have any place to criticize when her puella magi costume has, essentially, biker shorts?
You shake your head, pulling up out of a shallow dive before hitting the ground in Oriko's backyard. You back air a little and drop the last few meters to land in a low crouch, looking around the roses. They're starting to grow unkempt.
You click your tongue, looking around. No one's come out to greet you, but you can feel Oriko and Kirika upstairs. They're asleep, at a guess. You squint at your phone. It's only nine thirty.
... Well, you could let yourself in. It's not like a glass door is hard to unlatch from the outside, not with Grief to help you. Certainly you've got a laundry list of questions to ask Oriko. Could let them be, too, and do something else.
[] Write-in
[x] If there's nothing of note, go talk to Oriko face to face. Employ the privacy bracelets. Greet Kirika.
-[x] How are you?
-[x] Is it okay to ask some questions?
-[x] Euroguca
--[x] What would happen if we pinged her early to get her to arrive sooner? Are there scenarios where we actively make things worse or drive her off by taking action? Can she (euroguca) and will she help? Any ideas on convincing her to help?
-[x] Potentials
-[x] Other visions
-[x] Sasa Yuuki
-[x] Asunaro
-[x] Feathers
-[x] Telling Sayaka about Oriko
[x] Small talk with Kirika
=====​
Whoops. Looks like this vote gets put on pause again.
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 9
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Feb 17, 2016

- #82,347

Well... they're asleep. Which means it's the perfect time to pull a prank on them.
You chew on your lip, looking up at the house - the mansion.
And doesn't that give you an idea?
You look back down at yourself contemplatively. If you were to get rid of the longcoat, which is easy enough... that leaves you in pants, is the problem.
Hmmm. An apron, you definitely need an apron, preferably a frilly one, and honestly, you need a skirt. You chew on the inside of your cheek. Hm. You could try and raid Oriko's house and see if there's an apron and skirt that'll fit you. You could probably fit into something of Oriko's. It'd be a little loose, but that should work.
Or... You smack your head. You should be able to change your costume, right? You think? And besides, raiding a friend's closet isn't very nice.
You let your eyes fall closed, attention turning inwards. Your costume is a part of your magic. It's something that comes with the territory, and why the hell shouldn't you have control over it?
Slow breaths, as you reach through the recesses of your mind, hunting and searching. What else is in here? What abilities have you missed, what revelations lie hidden? What thoughts unthought?
The cloth crawls over your shoulders. With an effort of your mind, you shift the fabric, feeling it re-weave itself into lacy frills. A huge white bow ties itself just below the small of your back, long tails trailing behind you to brush against your legs. A slight breeze winding its way between your calves as your pants give way to a skirt - not too short. You have your dignity, after all.
What dignity is left after this prank, anyway.
Eh, who needs dignity, anyway.
... the skirt's still not going too much past your knees.
And the finishing touches - a white, ruffled apron, and an equally ruffled headress thing to top off the whole ensemble.
You open your eyes to look down at yourself - a pristine white half-apron, cinched tight around your waist with a flowing white ribbon. A dress of your usual blue, trimmed out with little bits of dark grey here and there, gives way to ruffled, white sleeves covering your upper arms. Your hair isn't quite long enough to tie off a pair of braids, but really, close enough.
You take a brief moment to contemplate Mami's reaction to this, before shaking your head with a giggle.
Maybe someday.
You crack your knuckles. Right then.
Breakfast. You know for a fact that their kitchen's fairly well stocked, so you make a beeline straight for that. You're midway through preparing a more traditional Japanese breakfast -Oriko would probably appreciate that- when Mami's voice sounds inside your head.
"Ah, Sabrina?" she asks, voice soft and anxious.
"Yup, Mami?" you ask, turning away from the steaming pot of miso soup to check on the rice.
"Um... how would pollution interact with fluvial transport?" Mami asks.
"Oh. Uh..." you say, scratching at the headdress as you try to recall the information. It itches. "Uh. I'd say... it'd be present as all three parts of sediment transport - dissolved load for the soluble chemicals, especially things like fertilizer that cause algal blooms, or lead ions and stuff."
"Ah, yes," Mami agrees. "And, um, suspended and bed load for bigger particulates?"
"Yeah," you say, starting to load up a tray with an array of cutlery and breakfast foods. "That's what they do, mmm?"
"Right," Mami agrees. "Thank you, Sabrina."
"Anytime, Mami," you say warmly.
"Alright," she says. "I'll... focus a bit here?"
"You don't need to ask me," you say. You squint at the tray, running a finger along your collar. For all that the costume should be perfectly tailored to you, it just sits oddly on you. "I'll be here, yeah?"
"Alright," she says again, falling silent.
Gathering up the tray, you start upstairs. Oriko and Kirika's door is closed, and the both of them are still asleep by the feel of it in your Grief sense. And by the sound of it, too - you can hear the snoring from behind the solid oak door. How Oriko sleeps through it, you have no idea.
The closed door's easily handled with a bit of Grief, moulding around the handle to nudge it open. You follow the door into the spacious bedroom, carefully manuvering the tray ahead of you.
You take a moment to grin at the sleeping couple on the bed, Kirika curled around Oriko. The black haired girl seems to be mumbling to herself in her sleep, lips curled into a faint smile and limbs coiled around her girlfriend like a particularly affectionate octopus. On the bedside table sit their Soul Gems, side by side with the clear Seed balanced next to them. Kirika's stuffed toy sits behind the Gems, a looming, protective presence.
Pursing your lips, you eye the slumbering pair before backing up a few steps. Grief flows into the doorway to form a rough facsimile of the ajar door - a second door, fitted into the space of the existing one. You back up another step.
You take a deep breath.
And then - you charge.
Grief and careful balance keeps the tray steady.
You slam through the door, letting it bounce off the wall with a resounding crash.
"GOOD MORNING, SLEEPYHEADS," you bellow, loud enough to bounce off the walls and rattle the windows.
Eyes flare wide, one pair bright orange and the other sea green.
Kirika jackknives off the bed, her entire body uncoiling like a lithe, twisting spring. Light glints off her claws, her face distorting into a snarl as she soars clear across the room in an inhumanly powerful leap.
"Kirik-"
There's just enough time for her eyes to widen before she crashes into you.
The next few seconds are a confused mess of tumbling and yelling and a knee in your face and soup splashing and an elbow in your gut.
You groan, staring up at the ceiling. There's a glob of rice up there. "OK, I could have thought that out better," you observe, wincing at the dull ache in your stomach. And it's a good thing puella magi don't really bruise, or you'd have a beautiful shiner.
"Owwwww," Kirika agrees, sprawled across you in a loose heap that painful, recent experience tells you contains about three elbows and five knees too many. Good thing she actually managed to pull her claws aside.
"So," you say, staring in fascination at the lump of rice. "I was gonna offer you both breakfast in bed, but that plan's kind of shot. I prepared extra, at least."
"Good morning, Sabrina," Oriko says. You can hear the rustle of cloth as the seer gets off her bed. Footsteps pad over to you, and Kirika's tugged off you. Oriko hugs Kirika with her one arm - the other's a little better than a stump now, but still nowhere near fully healed.
You remain on the floor, watching as the rice slooooowly detaches from the ceiling and plops square onto Oriko's head.
The seer flinches, her eyes going wide. Kirika giggles, sweeping the rice clear with a few brisk pats.
You sit up, running your finger along your collar and tugging to loosen it. Ugh. It itches, and the warm soup steadily soaking through the cloth to form a damp, sticky patch against your skin doesn't help.
"Ugh," you say.
Kirika unwinds herself from Oriko and glances over, finally looking at you properly before returning to flicking bits of rice off herself. It takes her a moment for what she just saw to sink in, and her head snaps back to you. "Is that a maid outfit?" she asks.
"Nooooooyeeeessssssss?" you say.
Kirika gives your costume a long, thoughtful look before turning back to the girl at your side. "Orikoooooo- Oriko?" the playful tone abruptly vanishes from her voice.
You glance up.
"My visions didn't warn me," the seer whispers, swaying as she raises one hand to her temple. Her eyes are huge and shocked.
Kirika pulls her into a wordless hug. "Y-your power?" she whispers.
"Going," she whispers. "They're weakening."
In your Grief senses, the glowing, otherworldly fire of Oriko's Soul Gem is as bright as ever, but the tense knot tied of her magic is an ever tightening loop, clenching tight into a point.
[] Write-in
=====​
Oh. Well then.
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 10
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Feb 24, 2016

- #83,031

Your jaw tightens for a moment. Damn it.
You dismiss the frustration with a breath, blowing it out hard and fast as you force a smile to your face. A little strained, perhaps, but a smile nonetheless.
"OK, OK," you say, holding your hands up. "Girls, stop. Don't panic."
Oriko shivers, arms hanging limp and eyes closed as Kirika hugs her closer. Stark, unthinking terror's written on the seer's face. Kirika's gaze cuts to you, worry and dismay etched into the lines of her expression. "Sabrina?"
"I know what's going on," you say, keeping your voice steady as you meet Kirika's eyes. "OK? And we can fix this. We will fix this."
Oriko shakes her head, eyes closed. "I- without my powers, I'm nothi-" she whispers. Her head tosses blindly, frantically rejecting the idea. "I'll be lost."
"No, no no," Kirika whispers frantically, hugging Oriko closer. "No, you won't be. I'll be here, I will."
"It's not going to happen," you say, stepping forward to touch Oriko's shoulder. "OK? Oriko, I know what's happening." You're not lying. You hope you're not lying.
The seer's shoulder shakes under your hand, nearly flinching away from you. "I-" she swallows hard, obviously choking back panic. "Make the, the bracelets, the ones that stop it from hearing."
You nod slowly. You'd been meaning to do that, anyway, and... you suspect they could do with a moment alone. "OK. OK, I'll do that," you say, thinking furiously. "Kirika, help Oriko clean up, and I'll clean up and serve breakfast downstairs, OK? I'll get the bracelets ready."
Kirika nods rapidly, arms tightening around Oriko.
You sigh, squeezing Oriko's shoulder again in silent reassurance before turning to gather up the spilled breakfast. You give the couple as much room as you can as Kirika croons wordless encouragement into Oriko's ear, calming her down. Padding silently out of the room, you scratch at the collar of your maid outfit. A quick transform back to your normal clothes and back again restores it to pristine condition.
It still itches, though.
By the time the couple descend the stairs, you've set up breakfast on the table and fielded another quick question from Mami. A bracelet sits beside each bowl of rice, and there's one more, by itself. Privacy bracelets made with Grief - one for each of you. Glancing up at them, you smile. Oriko looks, if not calm, then calmer. Kirika gives you a worried smile as she ushers Oriko towards the chair.
"Breakfast is served, Lady Mikuni, Lady Kure," you say, stepping to one side and bowing properly, with your hands flat against your thighs.
Hey, what's dignity in the face of keeping spirits up?
You manage to elicit a weak, grateful smile from Kirika, and a look from Oriko.
You sigh, waving at the table. "Anyway. We can talk over breakfast?" you suggest, snagging one of the bracelets and sliding it on.
Oriko grabs another bracelet and slips it onto her wrist immediately, the endless fractal patterned Grief contrasting with the gleaming gold ring on her hand.
You pull a chair out and sit down. You've already eaten, and while puella magi... probably can't get fat, Kyouko being all the proof you'll ever need, you've already eaten breakfast. You smile at Kirika as she drops into the last chair, before scooting it over to sit beside Oriko. Reverently, Kirika places two gleaming Soul Gems on the table, adding Aurora's clear Seed to form the last point of a triangle.
The seer doesn't eat, keeping her eyes closed.
You exhale. "Alright, s-"
"Shh!" Kirika cuts you off, waving her hands at you.
You blink at Kirika, before turning to Oriko, who still has her eyes closed, brow furrowed in concentration.
Idly, you take a look at Aurora's Seed, observing it. As before, it broods, a quiet, living speck of abyssal darkness hanging within the crystal structure of the Grief Seed. It doesn't seem to do anything more than push, weakly, against your mind as you observe it.
Finally, Oriko's nostrils flare minutely, and she begins speaking, low and rapid.
"Shizuki Hitomi will not become a magical girl." She exhales sharply. "There is a travelling magical girl, her name is... Bennouna Nadia." Oriko stumbles over the unfamiliar name, but presses on gamely. "If you talk to her and demonstrate your powers she will carry the news to other countries."
"Oriko," you say, gently interrupting the tumbling flow of words. "I appreciate it, I do. But-"
"Let me finish, I might not have a chance to later," Oriko hisses between gritted teeth. "The... magical girl specialising in soul magic will be here in a week. It doesn't matter what you tell Miss Bennouna." Her lips compress together for a moment. "Do not... do not ask her about her sister."
She pauses, frown deepening over her closed eyes. "They... the other magical girls, a fair number of them, start trickling in unless you ask Miss Bennouna not to spread the word," she says, mouth twisting into a grimace as she waves a hand. "Things get messy. More magical girls means... more friction. I- there are so many, I can't see a clear way through."
Oriko exhales slowly. "Those are the, the big things," she says. "That I can see."
"OK," you say, filing the thoughts away for later contemplation. "OK. I... maybe we'll come back to those later, but... Oriko, how do you feel, first of all? No pain? Anything odd? Also, uh, breakfast is getting cold."
"Other than the waning of my powers?" Oriko smiles bitterly, prompting a sidelong hug from Kirika. "No. The enchanted ring works perfectly. Pass my compliments to Miss Tomoe, if you think it appropriate. And thank you."
"Right," you agree, filing that away for later, too. "OK. So..." You wave your hand in the air. "Oriko, you remember about your Soul... twisting into a loop, right? It's still doing that, tightening even further."
Kirika pokes tentatively at her breakfast, grabbing a bit of rice with her chopsticks and offering it to Oriko, who obediently eats it without taking her eyes off you.
Oriko nods. "I remember. Is there anything in particular there?"
You sigh, though your lips can't help but quirk up a little as an emboldened Kirika starts feeding Oriko, stealing bites for herself. "Oriko... look, Kyuubey came by again, and I let it talk at me," you say. "I'm pretty sure it's trying to provoke some kind of reaction from me, but it confirmed that it's happening because you're rejecting your Wish."
"Rejecting my Wish?" Oriko blinks, taken aback.
"Yeah," you say. "There's far more to your life tha-"
Oriko cuts you off, surprised expression turned to displeasure. "I'm doing what I can," she snaps. Kirika flinches, pulling back the chopsticks. "Unless you propose to let me free, which I don't believe Akemi Homura will be very happy with."
"No, not that," you say. "It... look, Oriko, when I said Kyuubey confirmed it for me, I meant exactly that - confirmed, not told me. I... I believe, and I've believed for a while, that you're not interpreting what your Wish is trying to tell you correctly."
"How else am I supposed to interpret my visions?" Oriko hisses. "Endless ways for things to go wrong, endless ways for me, for us to die and to fail?"
[] Write-in
-[X] There's far more to her life than trying to save the World and dying. Far, far more.
-[X] Ask: What's most important for you, Oriko?
-[X] Try to get Kirika's opinion on what she thinks should be the most important thing in Oriko's life. Prod her, if she tries to dodge the question or tries to go along with whatever Oriko says without making an effort.
[X] If at any point disscussions tank, apologize and leave, but tell Oriko one more thing before you do so.
-[X] We believe it might be possible to save Oriko's life, even if it costs her her power. We'd consider this a success. We'd much rather keep our friend alive than worry about whether she can tell the future or not.
=====​
If you ever wondered about how I thought I could do PMAS: Run Away to the US Edition...
Also, this is a pause in the post if you want to refine your approach/ask any questions.
Last edited: Mar 2, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 11
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Mar 1, 2016

- #83,533

"Oriko," you say, voice clear and sharp as you lean back in your chair. "Your visions are a tool granted by your Wish, not the Wish itself. You know what your Wish was, Oriko, and you should know what you intended when you made it."
You know what her Wish was, too. 'I want to learn the meaning of my life! This is my wish. This is my prayer. Fulfill it, Kyuubey!'
Just the same as the rest of your esoteric collection of knowledge. You know. But you don't know how you know. It simply is, knowledge bubbling up within your mind.
Oriko gapes at you, perfect, stately poise cracked by outrage. "I know what I've seen," she hisses. "I've seen it all fall apart. I've seen open conflict in Mitakihara. I've seen everyone die. Everyone but you."
You sigh. "Oriko, you are more than your visions," you say, folding your arms. Beside Oriko, Kirika's eyes dart between the two of you as she shifts to cuddle into Oriko's side, slipping one arm around the seer's waist. "I stand by what I said. Your visions are a tool, a means to an end. What is that end?"
"Saving the world," Oriko snaps.
... yeah, you walked right into that one.
You exhale, blowing out a sharp breath. "Oriko, look," you say, rubbing at your forehead. "OK, fine. I'm not exactly going about this the best way, but my point is, the point I've been trying to make is, your visions are a tool. They're useful, yes. But you are more important than just your powers."
"I will give my life to save the world," Oriko hisses, eyes narrowing at you. Kirika makes a distressed little noise, tightening her hug around the seer.
"That's beside the point," you counter, eyes narrowing. "Oriko, you matter. I know you would. Just as much as I know you don't want to die. Nor do you want to lose your powers."
"I don't," Oriko agrees, eyes narrowing. "Do you have a point to make?"
"Oriko, you matter more than as a crystal ball," you snap. There's really two issues here, you muse to yourself. Oriko's fatalism, and her fear of losing her powers, all tangled up in one twisty ball of yarn probably informed by her father's ignomnous fall from grace. "You matter as a person, as someone to be loved, to Kirika."
"Leave her out of this." Oriko bristles, closing her working arm protectively around the other girl.
"Oriko, it's relevant," you say, folding your arms. "She loves you. Am I wrong? Either of you?"
Silence.
You let it stretch for a heartbeat. "You matter to me as a friend," you murmur. "I might be a meddling do-gooder who can't stop herself from interfering, but I do think I've got good intentions and enough knowledge to do good."
Kirika tucks herself a little more soundly into Oriko's arms, nestling closer with an unhappy little noise.
"Oriko," you say gently, leaning forward on the table and meeting Oriko's eyes. "The point I want to make, the point I've always been trying to make, is that you are more than your visions, and your Wish is more than your visions."
Oriko closes her eyes, expression tired. "Then what? My powers are going, and I'm going to die. Not now, but... soon."
"As we've established, Oriko," you say, a crooked smile tugging at your mouth. "I do not accept that. Between keeping you alive and healthy, or keeping your powers... what do you think I would choose? I mean-" you shrug. "-I'll be honest. I have no idea if it's an either or, or maybe a logical or, but given the choice..."
"I know," she mutters, exhaling with her eyes still closed. "You've made your position abundantly clear."
"You don't want to lose your powers, do you?" you ask. "You don't want to die."
Oriko doesn't respond immediately. Then finally, in a whisper - "I don't. You know I don't."
"Good," you say. "That's a start."
"Blind optimism only goes so far," Oriko counters. "Sabrina, I gave up hoping because it's easier. It's just... easier for everyone to just... accept it."
You lean back in your chair again, propping it up on the two rear legs as you stare up at the ceiling. Fatalism. That's certainly one way of dealing with things - denial, bargaining, anger, depression, acceptance, and all that lovely stuff. This would be acceptance, if you're rolling with that. And you're solidly in the denial phase, of course.
If there is any to deny, of course. You're not convinced fate is so set in stone.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light and all.
You contemplate the idea of more puella magi coming to Mitakihara - if anything, they're going to descend in a swarm. Maybe you could ask Nadia to not tell as many people, and maybe it would work... but word spreads.
"You know, Oriko," you murmur contemplatively at the somewhat dusty ceiling. If you were actually a maid, you would do something about that. And the cobwebs in the corner. "I might not be a seer, but... I might be a bit of a clairvoyant." You shrug. "Certainly I know things I shouldn't. I dunno for sure. But well... I've told you about another Oriko, one who found her own answer."
You pop upright on the chair, riding it as it slams back down on four legs, the loud crash startling Kirika. "Just an idea, to start with. I could tell you about her."
Oriko opens her eyes to stare at you, sea green eyes meeting yours. "And hope that I can learn from another me and that everything changes for the better with just a story?" She shakes her head. "Sabrina, you're not that naive."
[] Write-in
=====​
Ouch.
Last edited: Mar 2, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 12
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Mar 6, 2016

- #83,964

"Probably not," you agree. "Though some days I wonder. In any case... Even if I might be naive... are you really one to talk, Miss Save-the-world?"
She rocks back a little, outrage flickering across her face even as you press the attack.
"We're all naive in some ways. We're all hopeful about some things. I just happen to be more hopeful in general," you say, leaning forward on the table to give your words emphasis, pulling your chair up a little. "Easier, though?" you ask, voice dropping to something between a growl and a snarl.
"Easier? That, Oriko-" your eyes narrow to slits, annoyance bubbling. To be honest, love Kirika she might - but here and now, she's insulting their relationship and Kirika herself. "Is you dying easier for Kirika? Or any of the people who owe you their lives?"
Oriko falls silent, her eyes dipping to the table.
"I-it's not," Kirika whispers, voice shaking as she wraps herself around the seer a little tighter. "It's not it's not it's not. I don't want you to die, Oriko, I don't want you to."
"I-" Oriko's voice catches in her throat, her hand closing over Kirika's. "I know."
You exhale, annoyance dying, drained away. You can't exactly sustain it, in the face of that. "You don't want to. Kirika doesn't want you to. I don't want you to," you say, voice steely. You keep your gaze on Oriko, icy blue eyes unyielding even if she doesn't meet them. "You don't have to. It's never hopeless, and I am never going to give up on you." You flick your eyes over to Kirika. "Neither is Kirika."
Kirika nods. "I won't," she agrees, voice steady and clear for a moment before it cracks. "O-Oriko, please."
"You are worth fighting for," you say.
It's that simple.
Perhaps, once, you thought her your enemy.
That was then, this is now.
"And it hurts to see you give up on yourself," you tell Oriko. "Because you don't have to die. Giving up means it's over. Giving up means losing. I can't and I won't give up."
"I know you won't give up," Oriko says, looking tired.
"Mmmmm," you agree. "I know I'm hammering the point hard, Oriko. But I want you to understand where I'm coming from. And Kirika, you won't give up either, will you?"
The black haired girl shakes her head.
"There you have it. And, well, to be honest, Oriko... I reckon that people like you and me..." you smirk a little, a wry little quirk of your lips. "I reckon that we're here because we're meant to beat the odds. This isn't an anime, no. But cliché or not, there is hope - for everyone. That includes you, Oriko."
"We've... We've already beaten the odds," Kirika whispers. "O-Oriko. We have."
"Yeah," you agree, jumping on the point. "I mean, you're still here, right?"
Oriko sighs. "It's not the same."
"Why not?" you say. "You were so convinced you'd die. And you didn't." Your smirk strengthens a little. "Again -and I'll say it as many times as I need to- you are worth fighting for. What you're going through, what we're facing... none of it's insurmountable."
She sighs again, but doesn't contradict you.
You nod slowly. "I'm going to tell you about that other Oriko," you say. "And maybe it won't let you come to an epiphany, just like that - but maybe it will."
Oriko shrugs with one shoulder. Nevertheless, she straightens a little and meets your eyes. Kirika looks up at you too, faint curiosity peeking through her worry.
Absently, you check your privacy rings - all three of them are still glowing in your senses, perfectly functional. "About a week from now, or perhaps a little more," you murmur. "One night, you'll be out wandering a public park, because you didn't want to be home alone."
"Alone?" Oriko asks, voice toneless.
Your turn to shrug. "That you hadn't gotten Kirika to live with you."
"Ah," Oriko says. "That's... disappointing." There's something in her eyes that tells you that she knows exactly why that other her wouldn't have wanted to be at home without Kirika in it.
She'd found her father's body after he'd hung himself.
"Perhaps," you say, shaking those thoughts free. "But then... you meet a little green haired girl in the park - perhaps you know her."
"Chitose Yuma," Oriko murmurs. "Miss Sakura's current protégé."
"That's her," you agree. "You talk it out a bit. The next day, you have a vision of her dying. Her heart simply giving out from the chronic abuse her shitstain of a mother heaped upon her." And if your voice is a bit more biting than it usually is, who could blame you?
Not Kirika, listening with hopeful, worried eyes
Not Oriko, barely breathing as she watches you.
"So you saved her," you say. "And there was a magical girl, Sasa Yuuki, from Kasamino. She comes after the territory here, and... you and Kirika fight her off. And in doing so, in protecting each other..." You smile at Oriko. "You unlock your powers fully. Fighting wholeheartedly. You go on to fight Walpurgisnacht."
"And, I presume, we die," Oriko says. She shakes her head. "I don't see how that was supposed to help."
You purse your lips, considering the matter. The fact is, you could tell her, in as many words, what that other Oriko's realisation was. You just don't know whether it'd do any good.
[] Write-in
=====​
Mmmm. Uncertainty all around.
Last edited: Mar 7, 2016
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 13
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Mar 13, 2016

- #84,201

You shrug, searching your memories. You... remember them ready to face Walpurgisnacht, but... You don't remember the outcome of that fight. "Maybe they did, maybe they didn't," you say. "I honestly don't know. My.. clairvoyance, weird alternate timeline knowledge, whatever, doesn't tell me what happened after that."
Oriko nods, expression tired, shoulders set. Not all that different from before. Simple, fatalistic acceptance that you're... unfortunately familiar with, from her.
"That's not the point, though," you say. "Really, it isn't."
"I know the point you're trying to make," Oriko says, meeting your eyes. "That if I can simply try to, to think like that other me, I'd be fine. That's... that's not how people work."
You sigh. "Not quite," you say. "The point is that that version of Oriko had better odds against Walpurgisnacht than you do. She could shoot frigging lasers, and she wasn't crippled by her own magic. She used her visions - they didn't use her. And whatever happened, if you died, you died together, with no regrets."
"Sabrina..." Kirika sits up a little, frowning at you.
Oriko's jaw sets. "I'm sorry I'm not as 'awesome' as my other self," she growls.
You frown. "Oriko," you say. "You know me. You know me. That's not what I'm trying to say at all."
"It sounds like you are," Oriko snaps.
You press your lips together. "Oriko," you say. "I wouldn't do that. My point is-"
Oriko interrupts you, slapping her hand to the table and half rising. Kirika starts to stand by her side. "That I'm not good enough, I'm not determined enough-"
You remain seating - but you interrupt her. "No," you say, cutting across her speech. "You are. You are, Oriko. That is the point I want to make. You were happy then - you can be happy now."
Oriko opens her mouth to say something, but you cut her off with a sharp, slicing motion of your hand. "Listen to me, Oriko," you snap, voice rising just a hair. Kirika bristles, her mouth pulling into an unhappy jag - but you have a point to make.
You power into the silence, staring them down. "Fate isn't written in stone", you snarl. "We're magical girls, for goodness' sake - we make the impossible possible. You know that!"
When the seer glances up at you, something dark and sullen blazes in her eyes and the twist of her lips. "Are you going to let me talk?"
You sigh. "Go ahead, Oriko," you say. "Look, I'm not trying to demoralise you. Quite the opposite. So... Go on."
"I am not her. I am not my other self," Oriko says, her voice a low, bitter thing. "Perhaps you are right; the potential exists. I will grant that." She meets your gaze steadily. "But it is hard to be optimistic when I can see the future and all I see is death. Maybe you're correct. This... isn't the meaning of my life."
She takes a breath, jaw tightening. "Perhaps. But it's hard to see what it is when all I see is death and failure. And soon I won't even see that."
"That's not true in the slightest," you counter. "Oriko, what were the odds? After you burned down Sayaka's house, that we'd just... drop out of thin air and stop you, right there? Just because you don't see a way to survive doesn't mean that we can't make one."
Oriko's nostrils flare. "There isn't one," she hisses. "For all your pretty speeches, you don't have a solution."
"I have one," you counter. "But the solution needs to come from you, as trite as it sounds. You need to realise-"
"-the meaning of my life, yes, I've heard it already," Oriko cuts you off, glaring at you.
"I've proven your visions wrong," you say, folding your arms. The fabric of your sleeves pull uncomfortably at your elbows. "I've proven your visions wrong, and you've proven your visions wrong. You see possible outcomes. You of all people should know how many people 'should' have died by now. You've fought fate-"
"I fight it where it isn't inevitable," Oriko hisses. "When every path I might tread doesn't lead to an end."
"And they don't," you insist, frustration bleeding into your tone. "I've proven your visions wrong, and you've countered your own visions. They're not infallible, and they're leading you down a dead end. We've already stacked the deck against Walpurgisnacht -and whatever more is to come- to a degree greater than it already has."
You jab your finger at Oriko. "Do you want to talk about visions, Oriko?" you demand. "I've seen it destroyed. I've seen Walpurgisnacht destroyed, and no one had to die for it."
Oriko's expression sets hard. "Then so be it," she says. "I think I've heard everything you have to say. And I think you can leave."
Kirika's orange eyes go wide, shocked, as her head snaps around to stare at her girlfriend. "Oriko..." she says.
"Kirika, we're just going in circles," the seer says, raising her hand to cover Kirika's.
"No," Kirika says, shaking her head. "No. No, Oriko, I t-think... this is a mistake."
Oriko groans, her head lolling back with eyes closed. "Sabrina. Please," she whispers. "Just... leave me alone for a while. We can talk more later. If that's alright, Kirika?"
"I-" Kirika shakes her head. "I don't... I... it feels like that's a mistake, Oriko."
[] Write-in
=====​
Oh dear.
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 14
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Mar 20, 2016

- #84,527

Inhale...
And exhale, slow and measured, as your eyes slide closed.
You hold it like that for a moment, choking back your worry and your frustration.
When you open your eyes again, you feel... calmer, if not quite settled. You glance at their Soul Gems - both are fine, the clear Seed doing its job of keeping them both perfectly clean. Nothing to worry about there.
Your own Soul Gem, then. You detach it from the lapel of your coat, staring at the patina of Grief swirling under the surface. With a curl of your lips, you wipe it away, mottled purple mist swirling away to collapse into marbles.
You look up to find Oriko still glowering sullenly at you.
That's fair.
You've been pushing, and you've been pushing hard.
"I'm sorry," you say. You keep your words slow and even, carefully enunciated. "I'm sorry, Oriko. I've been pretty unfair to you, here."
Oriko stills, and her eyes narrow a hair. She doesn't say anything, unreadable gaze shadowed by her fringe. Her one arm remains wrapped around Kirika in, and the black haired girl, for her part, is practically sitting on her lap. Bright, citrine eyes fix on you in an intense stare.
There's so very much riding on you, isn't there?
"I'm sorry," you sigh. "I just thought that... as painful as it might be, hoping and trying is better than the alternative. And hey. You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take and all that, right?" You smile weakly at them.
Kirika nods slightly, swallowing as she glances at Oriko, whose lips tighten a little.
"Except..." You sigh again. "Ugh, I'm doing it again. I just want you and Kirika to be alive and happy. Except I went about it entirely the wrong way, and I've been pretty inconsiderate."
"N-no," Kirika says, seeming to find the strength from somewhere to straighten a little. "No. You were trying to help, Sabrina." She licks her lips, eyes darting from Oriko to you and back again. "I... I just think..." She breaks off, shaking her head.
You wait for a moment, but she doesn't seem inclined to continue. So you start speaking again, slow and careful, almost meditative as you reflect. "So I'm sorry," you say. Kirika opens her mouth again, but you forestall her with a raised hand. Her mouth clicks shut. "I'm sorry for being inconsiderate and pushy, Oriko, Kirika. I just-"
You choke yourself off. You're pushing. You're always pushing. It's a habit of yours, and to be honest, you sometimes refer to it internally as Gilgameshing. Like the character. And that's not inaccurate. Not just against Oriko, and in this case... Maybe you shouldn't push her, but... you're honestly not sure how to get her out of these straits apart from maybe letting her go free.
Which, if you're honest to yourself, has an excellent chance of resulting in a pair mysterious "death by fatal lead poisoning" cases within the week. Homura's not in the slightest rational about Oriko.
"I'm sorry that I can't seem to do anything more to help you or make things easier," you say, grimacing unhappily. "As much as I want to. All I can say is... I'll try." You meet Oriko's eyes. "I'll try the best I can, even if... even if it doesn't mean anything to you. You deserve it."
Oriko sighs. "I believe you," she says, voice bitter and tired. "And I appreciate it. I just... It's just..." She sighs, glancing away.
Kirika glances up at you. "Sabrina?" she whispers. "C-could I talk to you outside? I-if that's OK, Oriko?"
Oriko nods.
"G-give us a minute, Sabrina?" Kirika asks, looking back at you with a weak smile on her face.
You smile. "Of course," you say, standing and pushing the chair back with a scrape.
The maid outfit dissolves in a flash of light, the cloth reweaving itself around you as you stump out of the room. You pause just out of sight, leaning against the wall for a moment, before pressing on and walking over to the great glass door. Silently, you slide it open and step outside before flopping onto a chair at the outdoor table.
You slump, pillowing your head on your arms, breathing deep of the heavy scent of roses. You're not sure you even want to talk to Mami right now.
Eh, that's ridiculous.
"Hey, Mami," you reach out.
"Sabrina!" Mami's voice rings bring and cheerful. "I think I did well for the test, thank you for your help!"
Despite yourself, you can't help but smile, mood bouyed a little. "Good to hear!" you respond, sitting up.
"How are you, Sabrina?" Mami asks.
"I'm OK," you respond. "Checking in on Oriko and Kirika right now, they're... not doing great."
"Ah," Mami says.
"Yeah. Doing what I can," you say. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot Kirika, and you wave at her. She waves back as she joins you at the table, smiling weakly.
"Hey, Sabrina," she murmurs.
"Ah," Mami says. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Hey, Kirika," you respond, smiling as best as you can at Kirika. "Holding up OK?" To Mami, you respond. "I... don't know. I'm honestly not entirely certain what to do in the first place, so..."
"Well, if there is anything, tell me, alright?" Mami responds. You can practically see the warm smile on her face, if a bit strained - it's funny, how emotions kind of sort of transmit along telepathy. Not that you're complaining.
"Y-yeah," Kirika says. She licks her lips, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "S-so you were getting at something earlier, right? With the whole... meaning of Oriko's life thing?"
"Of course, Mami," you respond telepathically. Out loud, you nod. "Yeah, I was."
"Is there... what was it?" Kirika asks. "Is it anything I can do?"
[] Write-in
=====​
Apologies - I meant to get this up earlier, but well. Been a shitty week, plus thesis submission coming up soon and tests. Whoo.
Took the liberty of combining the previous bandwagon with the previous one, since it slotted in nicely.
Threadmarks Anomalous Materials pt. 15
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Mar 27, 2016

- #84,988

You give Kirika a thoughtful look, absently checking your bracelets - this isn't for Kyuubey's weird ear-manipulator appendage things. You can still sense Oriko's perfectly well, back in the kitchen, and your own and Kirika's are just fine.
"I..." you sigh, turning your attention fully to Kirika. "I just want Oriko to believe that there's another... another, better way for things to go. She seems to feel that there's only one way for this to end, and that it would be... better that way."
Kirika nods, eyes downcast.
"That isn't true," you say. "It just isn't. I was trying to get her to just... think about it."
You exhale, flattening your palms on the smooth, lacquered wood of the table. "That's not really what you're asking," you say. "I know. That other Oriko, much like your Oriko, had trouble controlling her magic. Her powers were always activated, always giving her visions."
Kirika nods. "Yeah," she says, chewing on her lip. "Yeah, that's about right. I... Oriko... we were running for a Barrier, when you caught us, that time. Two birds with one stone, Oriko said."
"Huh," you say. That's something, you guess. Not really relevant to the now, much like your thoughts about how you'd handle word of your exploits spreading, and meguca trickling into Mitakihara. "More than that... Oriko blamed herself for her father's actions. She... carried the blame for what he did."
"I know," Kirika says, shaking her head. The sun to her back shadows her eyes beneath her hair, her lips twisted and unhappy. "She doesn't deserve it. I've told her she doesn't."
"And, I suspect, she thanks you for it," you murmur. There's very little suspicion about it, truth be told. You know. "She tells you it means a lot, and it makes her happy. But deep down inside, she has trouble convincing herself. Yeah?"
"Y-yeah," Kirika agrees. "Yeah. That's exactly it."
"She's wrong," you say. Kirika rocks back on the bench at the simple declaration. "You know she is. I know she is. That Oriko fought for you, and to help Yuma."
Kirika blinks. Consternation gives way to thought, and then... she laughs, weak but real and joyful. "Thanks," she says.
You blink in surprise. "For what?"
"Sometimes I forget," she says, wondering and somehow surprised. "That Oriko can be wrong."
"Heh," you chuckle. "Guess so."
"She's wrong..." Kirika echoes. "Wrong to think she's going to die." Citrine eyes, kindled with eager hope, flick back up to you. "What else?"
"Her visions," you say. "Well, not the visions themselves, just that she relies on them way too much. Both Orikos. The other Oriko, though... as I said, she faced Sasa Yuuki. She fought for you, and she realised something."
Kirika leans forward on the table, sharp and alert.
You quote from memory, the words rolling off your tongue in a cadence you assume from Oriko. "'You don't have to be a good girl for anyone. You are who you are. So become someone you, yourself, want to be.'"
You leave off that last line of hers - 'don't become like me'.
Hah.
Who says you can't do tact?
"Who did she say that to?" Kirika murmurs, eyes lost as she slowly absorbs that. You can tell she hasn't missed the implications - ditzy Kirika might be, but she isn't stupid, and when it comes to Oriko, you'd imagine she's well and away glad to put in additional effort.
"Yuma," you answer. "And later... she concludes that it was for the best that she could fight wholeheartedly." You grin at Kirika, lopsided and rueful. "You're what matters to Oriko. That's what I've been trying and failing to get through to her - but it might not be something I can. I don't think she would hear it from me."
"Love is an infinity of limitations," Kirika mutters, distant and distracted. "Is it that easy?" She shakes her head, denying her own thoughts. "Simple isn't the same as easy."
"No," you agree. "It isn't." You grin at her as a sudden thought flashes through your mind. "Ironic and probably redundant that I'm telling you, but - love her. Maybe I could be wrong, but I do think that that's at least part of what Oriko needs here. Why her magic's the way it is."
"You're not wrong," Kirika says, something flashing in her eyes. Conviction, raw and intense, written in the set of her eyes and jaw. "You're not wrong."
You let out a slow breath. You weren't... you're not sure yourself. But you seem to have inspired Kirika, at any rate. "You're probably the only person who can get through to her, here and now," you say. "Just... try and talk her through it. Talk about what matters to her, try and get her to-"
"-to see our point of view," Kirika says, continuing past you. "To see that there's a way for her to live, and that it's alright for her to be happy, to live and to love." A warm smile spreads across her face as she looks past you, to the mansion beyond. "'bout right?"
"Yeah," you agree. "'bout right. Get her to see that she has value for being herself. Get her to live for herself, don't let her give up."
Kirika's little fang protrudes from her grin. "I think I can do that," she says. "Thanks, Sabrina."
You shake your head. "Don't thank me. What did I do, other than mess up with Oriko? This is all you. Just needed to give you a little push, right?"
"Meeeeeeeh," Kirika complains, supporting herself with her palms flat on the bench as she lets her head flop back and stare up at the sky. "Thank you anyway!"
"So... what now?" you ask. You find yourself smiling - her good mood's infectious.
Kirika tips her head back forward to grin at you. "Love her," she says. "'s that simple."
"Well, I meant me," you say. "I'm... not sure I'm doing this the right way. What do you think?"
"Yeah, I get to love her, not you," Kirika says, sticking her tongue out at you. "You have your own oujo."
You shrug. "So... nothing more for me to do?"
Kirika shrugs too. "D'you think you could let us go out sometime?" she asks. "I... I think Oriko would like to do something sometime."
=====​
Thesis crunchtime, whoooo.
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