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# Puella Magi Adfligo Systema

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

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Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 16
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 27, 2014

- #13,346

Mami reaches out for her cup and sips at it to clam her nerves, before making a little face at the cold tea.
You sigh, glancing aside at Oriko, who's luxuriating in Kirika's embrace.
You push yourself off the sofa, Mami making a disappointed little noise, and her hand lingering a little on yours as you pull away. You give her a quick smile, though, as you reach for the teapot. "Oriko, do you have a microwave?"
"In the kitchen," Oriko mutters, waving in the general direction of said kitchen. You head in that direction, bearing the teapot in one hand.
Mami pads into the kitchen, close on your heels, just in time to see you pull open the microwave door to put the teapot in. You freeze guiltily, one hand on the teapot and the other on the microwave door as half lidded golden eyes land on you. "Sabrina, what are yo-"
There's a muted thud from the direction of the living room, and Oriko scrambles in to the kitchen a moment later, one hand leaning on the doorjamb. "No. You do not ruin gyokuro by microwaving it."
Mami sighs wearily, her brows still furrowed in a worried frown. "There's a war going on," she says. "It... hardly..." Nevertheless, she gently nudges your hands away from the microwave, and guides you over to the sink.
Kirika hobbles into the kitchen on her crutches at this point, looking around wide eyed at the hubbub.
You sigh, and obligingly pour the tea down the sink, watching the light green brew swirl down the drain. The leaves you dump into the rubbish. Behind you you can hear Oriko awkwardly pulling open a drawer and withdrawing what turns out to be a wooden box, from which she in turn withdraws a cannister of tea. When you turn, she's very pointedly still hanging on to the tea and giving you a little glare.
"Fine, fine," you mutter. You'll probably brew the tea wrongly, anyway. "Mami, shall we go back?"
"I suppose so," the blonde agrees.
You and Mami meander back into the living room, Kirika stumping past you to join Oriko in the kitchen.
"Mami," you ask, as she seats herself beside you. "Do you know anything else about all these groups, and the girls?"
"Sabrina..." her hand gropes for yours, still icy cold in your grasp. You bring both hands up to cup her hand, warming it a little. "You- we should stay out of this. We can't get mixed up in a war."
You grimaces unhappily, mind churning with possibilities and plans and questions. "That might not be possible, Mami," you tell her. "But... the important thing is that we need to know more about it, first. Whatever happens, we can't go forward blind. We need a plan, even if it's just staying here."
She shivers. "I... I suppose," she admits.
The thump-thud of crutches heralds the return of Kirika and Oriko, bearing the freshly refilled teapot. Kirika's eyes track to you, and then down to Mami's hand, held between two of yours. A grin blossoms on her face, and she gives you a discreet thumbs up.
"You have questions," Oriko says, as she pours out fresh tea for everyone.
You nod, claiming a cup of tea with one hand, Mami still clutching your other hand tightly. You hesitate, and then pass it to Mami, who recieves it with a grateful smile, while you grab the other cup.
"So," you start. "What could be worth all this fighting, this trouble?"
Oriko sighs. "I see the future, not the past," she says wearily. "If I can predict motivations, it's because someone says something, and I infer from that. Nevertheless... Kirika, my Soul Gem?"
The black haired girl fumbles in her pocket, and then replaces Kirika's Soul Gem on the table. She took it back when she headed into the kitchen, in all likelihood?
The seer closes her eyes. "Territory is the ostensible reason. The two... The University Group..." Her lips move silently for a moment. "A trap. They allied themselves with the Ishinomaki girls... they attacked when the Sendai group was split up on a healing circuit. The Tome group... a grudge? One of them used to be from Sendai... No, the University group."
Her Soul Gem begins to seethe Grief in a slow, churning effusion.
"You understand that I cannot look into the past to see exactly why," Oriko notes, voice strained. Kirika worms an arm around her back, anxiously cuddling up to the seer. "I can look forward and make... guesses."
"Right," you say, "But it's important to know. Next question - what's the casualties like?"
"In the immediate aftermath... four... dead," Oriko answers, this one coming quick, as if she'd expected it, though she hesitates a little over the word 'dead'. You can guess why. A sidelong glance at Mami - she swallows, face growing pale again. "In the longer term... another nine, by month's end."
"And the collateral?" you ask grimly.
"A dozen city blocks levelled, across Sendai, and Ishinomaki," Oriko answers.
You can't help but think that that's... not terrible, for what amounts to a war. "What's the chances of them triggering off something bigger? If they have someone who can make earthquakes..."
That startles Oriko. "What? Low-" she twitches, back arching slightly. "High. It's not during the fight. It comes after."
"Crap," you mutter. "This gets worse and worse." Mami's grip on your hand, at this point, is a desperate deathgrip crushing your hand.
"Damn you, Oriko," Mami whispers. "Damn you. Y-you're-"
"I'm not lying, Tomoe," Oriko says sharply.
"Y-you couldn't k-kill Sabrina yourself," Mami counters, gaze hardening and steadying on Oriko's. "So you get her out of the city so that you can."
Kirika bristles, directing an angry gaze at Mami.
[] Intercede
- [] How?
[] Continue asking
[] Write-in
=====​
I'm holding the rest of the questions in abeyance, by the way, if you choose, now or at any point forward, to continue asking.
-[x]What happens after the Sendai group consolidates?
-[x]Can you give a complete listing of what groups are involved at this time?
-[x]How much does the fighting expand as time goes on?
-[x]How is the combat moving? Where are magical girls moving and at what speed?
-[x]Can you see any specific power sets?
-[x]Do you see Kyouko or Yuma or both?
-[x]Anything else that seems useful?
-[x]You mentioned earthquakes. How are the nearby nuclear reactors holding up?
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 17
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 28, 2014

- #13,467

Oriko places a quelling hand on Kirika's. The berserker subsides, still glaring at Mami.
"Mami, I don't think she is," you say slowly. "She was... misguided, and sure that she was in the right before-" you can see Mami's face growing thunderous at the reminder "-but she never meant to hurt anyone for its own sake."
"She burned down Sayaka's house!" Mami snaps, her fingers tightening on yours. "She blew your leg off! And you think she was misguided? You trust her?"
"Hey!" Kirika snarls, leaning forward.
"Kirika, enough," Oriko says, and the black haired girl sinks back into the sofa again, glaring daggers at Mami. Oriko stands, and turns to help Kirika onto her crutches. "Excuse us," she murmurs.
"No." Mami explodes to her feet, rounding on the seer. "I think you remember the last time you tried to run and hide, Mikuni." She almost spits the name.
You bounce to your feet behind Mami. The sudden burning rage radiating from the blonde catches you by surprise, and so you simply hover, unsure of what to do.
Oriko slants a sidelong look at Mami, carefully interposing herself between Kirika and the blonde.
"Do you deny it?" Mami demands, facing Oriko with steely eyes.
"I did those things," Oriko admits quietly. "But Sabrina is correct. I... leave it to her."
"No," Mami snaps, looking at the seer, and then back at you. "I mean-"
"Mami..." you say gently, touching a hand to her shoulder. You flap your other hand at the pair. Oriko frowns at you, but silently leaves the room, while Mami glares after her. When they step out of the living room -you can sense them moving to another room in the house- you gently pull Mami back to the sofa.
She refuses to sit. Instead, she tugs lightly on your elbow. "Sabrina, let's go. Let's just... go home."
"Mami... you saw what state they're in. They can't hunt Witches... they need me to cleanse their Soul Gems," you say.
"I-I'm- she tried to k-kill you!" Mami exclaims. "I-I'm sure she could find some easy Witches, or a healer or something."
"We can't stay out of this, Mami," you say, trying a different tack. "We can't, or I would. They... the Sendai girls know me. Know what I can do. They... they're not bad people, Mami, but if they come to me for help... the war will follow."
She collapses to the sofa, burying her head in her hands, and you sit beside her, taking both her hands between yours.
"Whatever we decide, we need information first," you tell Mami. "Even if Oriko is lying, we can't make any judgments based on an incomplete picture, but whatever Oriko has to say, we should let her finish before we make any judgments."
"She already finished!" Mami replies. "We could just go home! Don't let her feed you any more lies." You can tell she doesn't really believe that, either.
"Mami, I won't go rushing off before I have enough information, and a plan," you try to reassure her.
Mami's expression crumples, and she slumps. "You've already made up your mind."
You sigh, heartfelt, still holding her hands in your own. Icy cold fingers clutching yours, shaking in fear. "Please, Mami. If there's a war happening... I-I can't just sit here and let it happen," you whisper, feeling utterly wretched. "Thirteen dead magical girls, and who knows how many in the crossfire. I met some of them, Mami. They're not all bad people. A dozen city blocks. I... can't. I just..."
Mami stares at you, expression hollow and defeated. "I know. I k-know." She laughs bitterly. "You w-wouldn't be you if you could." She gives you a smile, and it's a ghastly rictus of an expression, nothing at all like the warm, cheerful smiles you know she can give. "I'm going w-with you," she declares.
[] Continue reassuring Mami
- [] With?
[] Call Oriko back
- [] Proceed with questioning
[] Write-in
=====​
If Mumi had her way, PMAS would be a happy slice of life interspersed with a few light Witch hunts.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 18
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 29, 2014

- #13,679

You give her a smile, slightly relieved, mind working on deciding the best course ahead; to use timestop to extend the time you have available to you? "Of course," you tell her. "I would have asked if you hadn't volunteered... You're a powerful and experienced magical girl, Mami. I'd be stupid not to ask you come with me."
Mami's expression crumples even further, and her fingers slacken on yours. "Powerful... and experienced. Yes. Yes, I suppose I am..." Her Soul Gem, already slowly bubbling with Grief, suddenly spikes again.
A chill runs down your spine. "Mami, what's wrong?"
"N-no," Mami shakes her head. "It's n-nothing."
You frown. "Mami, I'm going to ask Homura to come over, OK? We- I- The clock's ticking, and time stop will give us more... time."
Mami nods jerkily. "Y-yes. If you think it's for the best..."
You look at Mami, worried frown etching itself on your face. But... you're racing the clock here. "Homura?" you call telepathically.
"Yes, Sabrina?" the time traveller replies almost instantly.
"Could we get your help for timestop for a bit? We're over at Oriko's house," you say.
"On my way," she replies.
"She's on her way," you tell Mami. She's looking down at her hands, still held between yours. You squeeze them lightly, trying to reas-
-sure her.
You blink. Homura's standing in front of you in her puella magi costume, regarding the two of you with faded lilac eyes. Her hand on your shoulder links you to her, the world greyed out in timestop, oppressive silence pressing in again.
"Thanks for coming, Homura," you say. "Gem cleanse?"
Homura bobs her head in a little nod of acknowledgement, and presents to you her Soul Gem. Mami's hand is already held in yours, and so you easily siphon off the corruption from her ring and Homura's amethyst Soul Gem.
"Alright," you say, absently compressing the Grief down into marbles. "Homura, I'm sorry for calling you here and then chasing you off again, but could you give Mami and I a moment? It's important."
Homura nods again. "What is this about?"
"A war in Ishinomaki," you say. "But... later. Please?"
A faint crease appears on Homura's head, but she nods, withdrawing her hand from your shoul-
-der. A rope has joined Mami's hand on your lap, and Homura's already walking away, carefully doling out the rope from the main reel.
"Thanks," you call after the time traveller, before turning to face Mami properly. You pull her into a tight hug, and she hangs limply in your grasp. "Mami, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry... this must be miserable for you. And... it doesn't look like it's going to be getting better any time soon."
Mami doesn't respond.
She's shaking.
[] Proceed
[] Talk to Mami
- [] About?
[] Write-in
=====​
The one time you don't nitpick the vote.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 19
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 29, 2014

- #13,829

It takes you a moment to realize what's wrong, as Mami shakes in your arms. But when you do...
Oh, no.
You tighten your embrace around Mami.
"No. Nonono-" you begin, words almost tripping over themselves. "Mami, I- Mami. You know that before all your history as a magical girl, I care about you, right? I'll be with you no matter what, for you."
"... d-don't," Mami whispers, shaking her head. "D-d-don't-"
You cringe. "Mami, no." Stark desperation leaks into your tone. "I'm so, so sorry - Mami, I didn't mean it that way."
Mami shakes her head against your shoulder. "I-I- whatever y-you need, S-Sabrina. J-just d-don't- l-leav-" Mami shudders in your grasp, and brings her arms up to wrap around you with desperate fervour.
She's still shaking.
"I won't, Mami," you say, holding her equally tightly. "You mean the world to me. You're a good person, and you're someone I care about. That matters far more to me than anything else. You don't need to do anything to earn it, because I care about you, Mami. Not the magical girl, not what you can do. You."
A fraction of your mind is focused on keeping her Soul Gem clean, draining away the trickle of corruption suffusing her Gem.
Mami sniffles quietly.
"I..." you can feel her swallowing. "J-just-"
"I won't," you repeat. "I mean what I said, Mami. You mean the world to me, and I care about you."
"OK." She swallows again. "OK," she repeats, voice shaky. You can tell she's trying to force herself to a semblance of calmness. She tries to pull out of the hug. "L-let's call H-Homura back."
[] Continue talking
- [] About?
[] Call Homura back
- [] Proceed
[] Write-in
=====​
Oh hey, Mami's all better again!
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 20
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Oct 31, 2014

- #13,908

You keep your arms around Mami, not letting her go. She's not OK yet.
"No. Don't do this to yourself," you tell her. "We can go when you're ready, Mami."
She struggles weakly, half-heartedly. "N-no, we- I s-shouldn't-"
"No," you repeat. "Take as long as you need, Mami. It's OK."
She goes limp in your arms, and hesitantly returns her arms to around your waist. When you don't protest, she buries her head against your neck. You can feel her breath coming in short, shuddering gasps, warm against your skin as you let her recover. In what has become an unfortunately familiar motion, you rub her back gently.
Eventually, she pulls back again. You tighten your arms around her, giving her ine last squeeze, before releasing her. She reaches up to touch her hands lightly to yours, holding them between the two of you. Her gaze meets your, teary golden eyes searching blue ones. "S-Sabrina," she says. "Y-you'll-"
"No, Mami," you say, wrapping your fingers around hers and squeezing. "I'm staying with you because you're a wonderful person, and my friend. I'm not leaving you."
"O-OK." Mami says. "O-OK. I-I'll t-try to r-r-remb-" she gulps. "S-sorry f-fo-"
"No," you say again, raising one hand to press a finger against her lips. "No, Mami. Don't apologize. I'm sorry, Mami, for giving you the impression I only cared about you for what you could do."
The flow of corruption from her Soul Gem has slowed to the barest of trickles, and you leave it at that - safe enough for now, you think.
Mami sniffles. "O-OK," she says, a wobbly smile showing through the sheen of tears. "C-could I-I have a moment?"
"Of course," you say. "Take all the time you need."
Mami wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to compose herself.
"OK," Mami says, voice slightly stronger. "H-Homura?" Her voice cracks a little, but in the silence of the timestop, it's loud enough.
The sound of Homura's heels ringing on the floor precedes her as she walks down the corridor back towards the living room, reentering the room a moment later. Amethyst eyes give you a questioning look, dipping for a moment to you and Mami's joined hands before returning to your face.
"Anyway, Homura, I'm sorry for having to pull you over," you sigh. "But... there's a war in Ishinomaki, Homura."
Her jaw tightens. "I see. The Sendai group? Tachibana, Mori, Minami, Hamasaki, and... Tanaka?"
You recognize a few of those names. "That's them, yeah."
"That will be a large fight," she observes with a heavy frown. She claims a single person sofa, sitting primly on it. "It's not worth getting mixed up in." You can feel Mami twitch slightly, the movement transmitted through your linked hands.
"That... might not be an option," you say unhappily. "I met the Sendai girls when they came by to heal Masami." You see the time traveller's head move slightly at the mention of the name, a tiny flash of recognition, before the rest of the statement fully sinks in for her.
"I see," she says. "You think they'll come to find you?"
"Maybe. I don't know," you admit. "I... asked you here so that I could extend the time for talking to Oriko."
The frown on Homura's face deepens yet again, beginning to resemble a series of World War I trenchworks. "Don't trust her."
Mami's hand tightens on yours.
"I know," you say heavily. "I know. But if there's a war..." You trail off.
"Then we defend our borders," she says, nodding.
"Maybe," you say noncommittally. "I still want to ask Oriko more questions."
Homura nods, and you stand. Mami rises alongside you, still holding your hand tightly. The time traveller reaches into her shield, and pulls out a reel of thread, which she tosses lightly to you. You catch it with a quick, "Thanks."
Following your magical senses, you find Oriko and Kirika sitting before the glass doors, cast open to let the smell of the roses outside permeate the room. You loop the thread around Oriko's wrist, bringing her into the time stop with a gasp and a confused blink before her usual demeanour reasserts itself.
"Ah," she says. "You asked Akemi Homura to come over."
You can feel Mami tense, and you squeeze her hand lightly.
"Yep," you confirm. "I've still got questions, so... grab Kirika?"
The seer nods, and reaches her only hand out, grabbing the berserker's hand. Colour blooms across the black haired girl, and she bolts upright when her surroundings register, staggering slightly when he broken leg hits the floor, but still pulling Oriko protectively behind her as her other fingers hook into claws and snarling animalistically at you.
"Kirika, no," Oriko says gently, sliding her single arm around Kirika's waist. "We're just talking."
"Oh. If you say so, Oriko." The berserker instantly deflates, chuckling sheepishly. "Sorry," she offers, glancing at you.
"Right, then..." you say, turning to go. Oriko helps Kirika onto her crutches, and the four of you return to the living room, Oriko sitting on one end of the large sofa with Kirika cuddled into her side, Mami cuddled anxiously into yours, and Homura surveying all of you with tired eyes.
Oriko takes her Soul Gem from Kirika, and cups it in her hand, exposed to you for cleansing.
You nod. "OK. Next question. Who's currently involved, and who's working with whom?"
The seer nods, and answers quickly, having expected that question. "There are currently four distinct groups in the fight. Sendai, and Fukushima. The University group, and Ishinomaki. Groups from... Onagawa, and Tokyo, will be joining the main Sendai group, in that order, and Osaki and Tome to the Ishinomaki side."
"Hmm, OK," you nod. "How about powers? What can you see?"
Oriko closes her eyes and frowns, concentrating. Her Soul Gem seethes with a film of corruption that you begin wiping away. "Earthmover, you know about. Telekinetic... two of them... no, gravity," she mutters. "A water controller, healer, a technology controller, a teleporter. Lightning... a force fielder..." she winces, and shakes her head.
"OK. How's the combat moving? Where are the combatants going, and at what speed?" you ask.
"Once more, I am not omniscient," Oriko says tartly. "I am unable to pinpoint a location just from seeing parts of the fight. That said, the Ishononaki fight is currently in a lull, the Sendai group are trying to link up with their allies." The seer frowns. "Sendai... the University group has the remaining two of the Sendai group pinned down... near a museum? The Fukushima group will arrive there in time to save them."
"How about Kyouko, and Yuma?" you ask. Mami twitches again at the question - probably uncomfortable territory for her.
"Sakura Kyouko..." Oriko concentrates for a moment, and then shakes her head. "She's staying out of it."
"Good, I think," you say. Mami relaxes fractionally, nodding in agreement with you, seeming unconsciously. "Last question, unless I think of more - what about the nearby nuclear reactors? Will they be affected?" You can feel the weight of Homura's, Oriko's, and Mami's puzzled looks at you. Kirika seems completely unconcerned, humming to herself and twining her fingers through Oriko's hair.
"The... nuclear reactors?" Oriko asks. "Do you mean the Fukushima nuclear plant?"
"Those, yes," you nod.
"I don't... see... the relevance?" the seer asked. "The fighting won't go anywhere near that region?"
"No, I mean, with the earthquakes and all..." you explain.
Oriko's head tilts slightly. "With their recent upgrades? No."
"Oh. Well, that's a relief, at least," you mutter. "Anything you'd like to volunteer?"
Oriko grimaces, and shakes her head.
[] Write-in
=====​
Sorry this is late. Busy day. And I know I've said this before - but again, I might have to cut back on my updating rates for the next few days or so.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 21
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Nov 1, 2014

- #14,057

Your mind whirls as you absorb the information, hiding your dismay that everyone seems to be advocating staying and holding ground in Mitakihara. A measured nod at Oriko. "Thank you for the information. Two more questions; first, when can we expect the first... casualties?"
"... three days hence," Oriko says.
You close your eyes, and bow your head. "Alright. The fighting's over territory and resources, right? And if I make those redundant..." you say. Mami makes a worried little noise, and clutches at you a little tighter. You lay your hand over hers, shooting her a quick smile.
Oriko shrugs. "Are you asking for a prediction, or a guess? The latter would be that they'll fight over you. They're not just fighting for territory or resources."
"The Sendai Group aren't free of wrongdoing," Homura observes, eyes hooded.
You groan, putting your head in your hands, trying to think it through. You want to stop the war, but at the same time, you can't, and you don't really have anyone to help you do it, not even Mami, really - she's only going along because you are.
"Alright," you sigh. "Alright. First things first; we should get every Mitakihara magical girl on the same page... Kasamino too." You squeeze Mami's hand, sorry. "We can contact them by telepathy?"
Homura nods, reaching for her shield. Kirika spares a glare for her as the time traveller cranks the shield, ending the timestop with the clatter of gears. Colour and sound leach back into the world, the subtle, distant sounds of the city, colours vivid under the bright sunlight shining in through the windows.
Mami takes a deep breath, relaxing fractionally.
You reach out telepathically for the telekinetic and illusionist you'd met recently. "Masami? Hiroko?" Out of the corner of your eye, you see Oriko glance sidelong at Homura.
"Sabrina?" Hiroko replies first.
"Good morning," you say. "Is Masami there?"
"Would you... like some tea?" Oriko offers hesitantly, looking at the time traveller. Homura twitches, and shakes her head.
"Yeah, I'm here," the redheaded telekinetic replies, voice tetchy. "Good morning. Do you need something?"
"No, not really," you say. "But... listen. You've heard about the earthquakes in Ishinomaki?"
"Yeah," Masami says. "What about them?"
"It's a... territory dispute, between several groups of magical girls," you tell her, struggling a little with the words. "The fighting's... going to get worse, and may spill over to Mitakihara. Just... keep an eye out, and stay alert, OK?"
Silence for a moment. "Damn," Masami grunts. "Thanks for the heads up."
"Thank you, Sabrina," Hiroko echoes. Another moment of silence.
"You stay safe too, OK?" Masami sighs, finally.
"Yeah, thanks," you say, and close the connection, looking around. Kirika has moved on from fussing with Oriko's hair to fussing with her dress, while she sips unperturbably at her cup of tea. Mami has similarly claimed a cup, sipping slowly from it to calm her nerves.
Alright. Now for the tricky one. You take a deep breath, and reach out once more. "Kyouko?"
It takes a moment before she responds. "Yeah, what?"
"Something urgent's come up; do you know about the earthquakes in Ishinomaki?" you ask.
"D'you think I get the news? No, I don't" she snaps back at you. "But consider me informed. What about 'em?"
"It's not an earthquake - it's a big magical girl brawl over territory," you say. "There's apparently twenty odd magical girls mixed up in there."
A long moment of silence. "Lemme guess. You're going off t' fight a war."
Well. You can't say you weren't considering it... "What? Look, I'm just giving you a friendly warning, to look out for them, because it's not a fight that's going to stay in Ishinomaki."
"... fine," Kyouko grumbles, before reluctantly adding, "Thanks, I guess."
"You're welcome," you say.
"Bye," she grunts, and closes the connection.
Alright, that's everyone done, then. One last call to make... "Miss Mori?"
"Miss Sabrina?" the healer's telepathic voice is strained. "Now isn't a good time."
Oriko jerks upright on the sofa and looks around wildly, before glaring at you.
"Yeah, I know about the fight," you reply. "Are you alright?"
"No!" she snaps back. "I'm currently hiding in some tiny alley with Sakura and trying to link up with Akiko, so that we can get out of this damned city!"
"Right," you reply.
"Miss Sabrina," another telepathic voice joins to conversation. Akiko. "I hate to be so crass, but is that offer of cleansing still open?"
[] Write-in
=====​
If you're wondering why they don't just teleport, by the way, it's because they're not sure where they are relative to each other.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 22
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Nov 2, 2014

- #14,170

You debate internally for what feels like forever, going back and forth on demanding more information or not or whether to intervene... but ultimately, you come to a decision. "It is," you reply to Akiko, despite your misgivings.
"Thank you," Akiko says, after a long pause.
"When you have a moment, I'd quite like to know what happened over there," you say.
"That's fair," the bluenette replies.
"Hold on a moment, by the way," you say, and glance at Oriko, meeting her glare. "Oriko, has anything changed about the Sendai group's escape?"
Both Homura and Mami look questioningly at you.
"They're coming here," she snaps back at you.
"What did you do?" Homura asks sharply.
"I... just talked to the Sendai girls, asked if they needed help?" you admit.
"They'll be here tomorrow," Oriko grumbles. "Assuming you don't do anything else."
"Alright," you say to Akiko. "See you whenever, then."
To Rin, you add, "Hang in there. Your friends will be there soon."
"Thanks?" she huffs back, voice still strained.
Homura's lips compress into a ruler-straight line, accompanied by a heavy frown. "We need to be ready to defend Mitakihara, then," she grunts. She reaches behind her shield, plucking out a matte Desert Eagle, which she holds in one hand. "Oriko. When are they arriving?"
"Tomorrow, early morning," Oriko says, glancing cooly at the time traveller despite the implicit threat and quelling Krika's immediate, defensive bristling with a hand looped around a slim waist.
"Where?" Homura asks.
"By teleportation, to a park near Miss Gaikotsu's apartment. Sabrina knows where it is," Oriko says after concentrating for a moment.
Homura nods.
Mami gives the time traveller a look. "We meet them there?"
"Yes," Homura says simply, a very final tone in her voice.
[] Write-in
=====​
Cold tea? And yet the tea is still warm in your cup.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 23
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Nov 3, 2014

- #14,376

"We're not killing anyone if we can help it," you declare, frowning at Homura.
Homura frowns right back.
"Of course not," Mami agrees, smiling at you. "We... you want to help them, right, Sabrina?"
"Yeah," you admit. "I kinda do."
Homura regards you with a heavy frown, lips twisted to the side. "We can't... afford to be involved in a war."
You sigh. "Homura, even if I hadn't... ah... meddled, they would have come here, anyway. Right, Oriko?"
The seer nods silently.
Homura glowers at the seer.
"So either we do something now, or we wait until a twenty-something magical girl war rolls on to our doorstep," you say. "But... in any case, I don't want them to come here, either. That will drag this city-" and Madoka "-into the war."
A reluctant nod from Homura. "The best would be to intercept them and-" her gaze flicks, lightning quick, to Mami, and then back to you "-drive them away." You don't think Mami noticed the look.
You huff out a sigh. "But I would like to help them... No. I want the fighting to stop," you mutter, fisting one hand in your lap. Mami squeezes your other hand, looking... awed. Admiringly? Sadly? "And... if we intervene early, maybe we can stop the fighting from escalating too much?" you finish.
Mami speaks up again, still leaning against you. "Maybe... The University Group has been planning this for a while, though. They approached me... last year? So they've been planning on this for a while..."
Homura nods in agreement.
"Hmm..." you say. "We can extract the Sendai group from Ishinomaki, and ask them what's really going on?"
"They don't need to be rescued," Homura points out, tilting her head to indicate Oriko. "Do they." Despite the phrasing, directed at Oriko, it's really not a question.
"They will link up with their allies from Fukushima and teleport here," Oriko says with a shrug. "I can see further than that, but I suspect it would be pointless," she adds, glancing sidelong at you.
[] Write-in
=====​
All together, now: Her brain damage is acting up again.
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 24
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Nov 5, 2014

- #14,809

You lean back on the sofa, staring blankly up at the ceiling as your brain fills up with thoughts and plans and guesses, debating furiously with yourself on the merits of interfering or not... but really, at this point, you're committed to it. Your mind wanders off to committing horrific acts of science before you hastily quash that line of thought as unproductive for now, and return to the topic at hand.
"OK," you say, after what feels like an eternity of mental debate and back and forth arguments. You sit up again, and Mami shifts so that she can still lean up against your side. "OK, so, here's the plan."
"Mami, I... we're heading over to Ishinomaki," you tell her, and then glancing around at everyone. "Things haven't truly escalated yet, so we can still nip this in the bud - but only if we act now." Mami nods against your shoulder - not really agreement, you don't think, but willing to go along.
Your gaze settles on the seer and her girlfriend, and you brace yourself - this next sentence isn't going to go down well. "Kirika, I'd like you along on this trip."
Mami jerks, looking up at you. "Sabrina, you can't be seri-"
Oriko frowns heavily. "With her leg as it is-"
Kirika, by contrast, looks first interested, and then glances at Oriko and shrinks a little.
Homura... looks at you, that silent stare conveying better than words could her doubts.
You wave your hands frantically, and Mami and Oriko stop talking, looking first at each other, then you.
"Kirika, your antimagic is too useful to ignore in a meguca on meguca fight," you tell her. "And... if you come along, we can heal your leg, just in case." Simultaneously, you telepath a message to Homura and Mami, "She's insurance, too, a hostage. Kind of. Oriko hopefully won't walk us into a trap if we have Kirika with us, right?"
Kirika looks at Oriko, obviously engaged in their own telepathic conversation.
Homura's lips press together. "We're keeping them under house arrest because they can't hunt for themselves."
Mami chimes in, with, "She... are you sure that's wise, Sabrina?"
"We took them down once," you say resolutely. "We can do it again. And besides - Oriko is afraid of my... threats," you finish with a grimace at the unhappy memory. "And... Homura, I doubt you want to go, and I really want a trump card if we're going to wade into a war."
The time traveller grimaces.
"We'll go," Kirika says brightly, giving you a happy grin. "Oriko thinks we'll help."
Oriko looks... somewhat unhappy, a faint crease on her brow, but smiles at Kirika. "I won't be going, dear," she says gently.
Kirika instantly deflates, directing an utterly woebegone look at the seer. "But-"
Oriko puts her hand to Kirika's lips, and then slides it across, stroking the girl's cheek. "I'll be fine for a while, Kirika," she says with a smile. "Go," she instructs simply.
Kirika blinks rapidly, eyes tearing up. "A-are you sure, Oriko?"
"Yes," the seer smiles.
"OK, then," Kirika agrees finally. She looks up at you and takes a deep breath, eyes now determined. "Yeah, I'm going. Uhh... question."
"Hmm?" you raise your eyebrows at her.
"'Meguca'?" she asks.
You flush slightly. "Uh... just a word for magical girls. 'Magical girls', 'meguca'?" you finish in English. Homura very slowly brings her hand to her face, hiding her expression.
Kirika flashes you a grin. "I like it!" Oriko mirrors Homura's pained look.
...
"Right," you say, and turn to Homura. "Homura... We'll be gone for a while, so... keep an eye on Madoka and Sayaka, OK? I don't trust Kyuubey not to make a move while we're gone." Telepathically, you add. "And they don't know about the lich thing."
Homura blinks slowly. "Of course," she says. You get the distinct impression that a lesser person would be rolling her eyes right about now. "Rlich thing?" she asks telepathically, slurring the 'l-' phenome a little.
"We'll keep in touch by telepathy, yeah?" you nod. Internally frowning at yourself at the rather silly mistake, you continue. "Oh, uh. English word, but what I mean is the Soul Gem thing, you know?"
Homura nods silently.
"Alright, then," you say, standing. "Kirika, we'll heal you on the way over, or maybe if it takes longer, when we find Rin?"
"OK," Kirika shrugs indifferently as Oriko helps her to her feet. "Who's Rin?"
"Oh. The healer with the Sendai group," you tell her.
"OK," she shrugs again.
"Sabrina, may I request a cleansing of my Soul Gem, and that you leave me a Grief Seed?" Oriko asks, looking at you.
"Ah, yes," you agree. "Yeah, you'll need that... Homura, your Soul Gem, too?" You reach into your pocket, pulling out Gwen's Grief Seed and leaving it on the table, simultaneously cleansing their Soul Gems. You carefully check Hildegarde's seed, still in your opposite pocket.
The seer inspects her Soul Gem, and nods, satisfied. "Please give us a moment," Oriko says, rising alongside Kirika. You stand, turning to hold a hand out to Mami. She accepts it with a little smile, and doesn't let go even after you pull her to her feet. The three of you walk outside the room, heading over to the backyard, Homura giving you an inscrutable gaze as you do so.
You can sense Oriko and Kirika moving closer to each other, before you deliberately stop looking with your Grief senses.
The three of you look at each other in silence, tired amethyst eyes in particular boring into you. "Come back safe," she says, eventually.
"I damned well intend to," you say seriously. "I'm not done here. You stay safe too, OK?"
Mami smiles, a little. "Yes, stay safe, Homura."
Homura nods sharply.
You turn away slightly, and build a large... well, carpet, out of Grief as Oriko and Kirika exit the house. Oriko's long silvery hair is slightly mussed, and Kirika's step is light, even on her crutches. You raise an eyebrow at the black haired girl, and citrine eyes crinkle into an embarassed grin and a small blush.
"Take care of her," Oriko says, studying you carefully.
You snort. "Yeah," you say. "As I said - I damned well intend to get back safe and intact."
"See you, Oriko," Kirika says, her hand lingering on Oriko's as they step apart.
"See you, Homura," you say, looking at the time traveller.
She nods sharply again, amethyst eyes not leaving yours. "By- No. See you soon, Sabrina, Mami."
"See you, Homura," Mami echoes.
Your goodbyes said, the three of you load onto the carpet, Kirika carefully putting the crutches and a plastic bag you didn't notice earlier down beside her on the carpet, stretching her splinted leg straight out on the carpet.
"Some food and drink," Oriko notes, when she sees you looking at the bag. "Enough for lunch."
"Right, thanks," you nod at her, as you raise the carpet slightly. "Wish us luck!"
The five of you look at each other in silence. Trepidation and tension fills the air, Homura giving you a sharp nod, Mami sitting close to you with one hand around your waist, all your goodbyes said... You nod, and raise the carpet into the air, beginning to head east.
The first part of the flight is spent in silence, the three of you lost in your own thoughts as the wind rushes part you, cutting across Mitakihara City. "So..." you send a message to Mami, using telepathy rather than shout over the rushing wind - you're not sure exactly how fast you're going, but it's fast. "I just realized something."
"What is it, Sabrina?" she asks, turning to give your a little smile, squinting against the wind.
"...I just realized I don't know where Ishinomaki is," you admit.
"Oh, Sabrina," she closes her eyes, but the smile becomes more genuine, if amused, as her hand around your waist squeezes you lightly. "North east, Sabrina. A little more north than east."
"Right," you adjust your course slightly, banking lightly. You scoot around to face Kirika, who's looking inquisitively at you, both legs poking straight out on the carpet.
"We should start on your leg," you send to her, letting Mami in, too.
"Yeah!" Kirika agrees enthusiastically. "Not being able to move properly sucks."
"Alright, then," you say, summoning the glow of healing magic to your hands. Mami reluctantly releases you, the golden radiance of her magic rising to her hands, too. You bring your hand to Kirika's knee, letting the healing magic sink in.
"I'm still not sure... I-I- of course, your-" Mami begins, before cutting herself off. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize for that," you say gently. "But... we kind of need her for the fights." You'd really messed up her knee, you note.
Mami just sighs. "Y-you're right... It's just..."
"I know, and I understand," you say gently.
Mami falls silent, and the two of you continue to heal Kirika's knee.
"Hey, Homura?" you reach out again.
"Sabrina?" Homura sounds surprised to hear from you so soon.
"What did you mean, when you said that the Sendai girls aren't totally blameless?" you ask.
Homura doesn't respond immediately. "You should have asked before you left," she says tonelessly. "They were... not gentle about their... operations."
"Right. Anything more you can say?" you ask.
"You've met their healer and teleporter, and Hamasaki?" she asks.
"Yeah," you confirm. Rin, Sakura, and Akiko.
"Their last two members are Tanaka Tamiko and Minami Yumi," Homura says. "Force fields, and gravity respectively."
"Hmm, thanks," you say. You switch over to talking to Mami. "Mami?"
"Yes, Sabrina?" the blonde looks inquisitively at you.
"What do you know about the University Group?" you ask. "What are they like, their powers, reputation and so on?"
"Oh," Mami says. "Well, from what I heard, there's six of them, but I've only met two, Ayano Chika and Umeko Yuko, when they came to recruit me. They seemed... nice enough. Nervous, though, maybe they were afraid of being found out?"
"Or maybe of being in the presence of the illustrious Tomoe Mami?" you smile at her and bump her shoulder lightly with yours, still keeping your hands steady on Kirika's knee.
"Ahhh... I don't think so," Mami responds. Nevertheless, she smiles a little in response. "Their powers... I've heard one of them can turn invisible. Uhh... one of them can fly, another has plant powers?" She shrugs lightly.
"Hmm..." you say. "Last thing... do you think any of them would listen to you?"
Mami sighs, the sound lost over the rushing wind. "I don't know... That was... late last year? December... And they wanted to recruit me because I was a powerful magical girl..." Her eyes hold distant, remembered pain.
"Oh, Mami..." you stop healing, instead drawing Mami into a hug. She accepts it, hugging you back tightly. Kirika looks at the two of you curiously, but doesn't comment, instead scratching at her side.
Mami pulls away after a while. "That's... really all I know. Sorry I couldn't help more."
"No, don't apologize," you admonish her, patting her lightly on the shoulder. "That's plenty."
The healing doesn't take too long, to your surprise - all the tissue and bone is still present, albeit... mangled. A few cleanses later, Kirika's knee is fully healed, and at her request, you widened the platform a little so that she could stand and walk around, working the kinks out of her knee seemingly without any fear of the precipitous drop towards the suburbs below.
"Hey, Sabrina?" Kirika says tentatively, on a private connection to you.
"Yes?" you raise an eyebrow at the berserker.
"My ojou's better than yours," she says seriously.
"No she's not," you say absently. "And Mami's not my ojou."
"... haaaaah, I don't believe you," she says firmly. "If you love her, you should be honest about it! But confessions are scaaaaaary! Do you need help?"
"No, I'm good," you say, and deflect the topic. "How's that single bed working out for you?"
No response. You glance back to see Kirika doing an excellent impression of a tomato, and probably releasing that high pitched kettle-like noise to boot, even if you can't hear it over the rushing wind. You grin to yourself, and face forward again, letting Mami tuck herself against you a little tighter.
A while later, the sun racing towards its zenith above you, Kirika's voice sounds in your head again, bright and cheerful. "Are we there yet?"
Dammit.
[] Write-in
=====​
The next update will bring you to Ishinomaki unless, iunmo, you go 'let's not go to Ishinomaki. 'Tis a silly place' or something. What do you want to do there? Something to discuss during the flight?
You have two thousand and forty eight Grief marbles, and two Grief Seeds in your pockets.
Last edited: Nov 5, 2014
Threadmarks Apprehension pt. 25
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Nov 6, 2014

- #15,056

"No, we're not, Kirika," you tell her, while Mami nestles against you. She slides her arm around your waist, holding on to you, and you reciprocate with your arm around hers. She gives you a wan little smile, and then leans her head against you and closes her eyes.
"Can we... just stay like this for a while?" she asks.
"Of course, Mami," you reply.
She nuzzles her head against you for a bit, and then seems to go to sleep, her breathing evening out.
The suburbs, short apartment blocks by the dozen interspersed with rolling stretched of greenery, roll by beneath you.
"So Kirika," you reach out by telepathy to the berserker, now returned to bouncing on the edge of the carpet, still completely indifferent to the precipitous drop below.
"Yeah?" she turns to grin at you.
"So how do your powers work?" you ask her, turning as far as you can without disturbing Mami - just far enough to see Kirika on the edge of your vision. A thought strikes you, and you add, hastily, "Don't demonstrate now!"
"I know that!" Kirika replies, bouncing indignantly. "I'm not stupid!"
"Right, sorry," you apologize. "Just... y'know, it'd be really dangerous if you did that, yeah?"
"OK!" she says brightly. "Anyway, I can choose who my magic affects. You, uh, might have noticed."
"Mmm, good to know," you say. "How about shaping the blast? Like, projecting a cone or something?"
Kirika shrugs. "Yeah, I can! Can completely melt a Witch like that, too. Kinda funny. I hit the Witch, and then it goes 'oh nooooo I'm meeeeelllltiiiing' and then splat." She waves her hands above her head and then flops bonelessly to the carpet to demonstrate, before rolling over and grinning at you. "Well, after I hit it a few times, anyway.*
"Excellent," you say.
"Anything else?" Kirika asks.
"Not that I can think of," you say.
Kirika nods, lying flat on the carpet with her arms splayed as she stares up at the clear blue sky, the midday sun beating down on you. "Oh hey, food!"
"Hmmm? Ah, good point," you agree. With your free hand, you rummage around in the plastic bag, and find some bread, some wrapped up stuff that's cold to the touch, a few bottles of juice, some lettuce, and assorted other foodstuffs. "Sandwiches."
"Yay!" Kirika cheers. "Is there ham?"
"Probably?" you nudge the wrapped package with your free hand, awkwardly teasing the paper open. "Yeah, it's ham."
Kirika bounces over, eagerly starting a sandwich for herself, while you carefully ease your arm out from around Mami. She makes a little mewling complaint, but is apparently thoroughly asleep, so you begin assembling two simple sandwiches, layering ham and vegetable between slices of bread.
When you're done, you nudge Mami gently. You can see her lips moving as she mumbles something, but it's too soft to hear over the wind. "Mami, lunch," you nudge her again.
She opens her eyes, looking around muzzily and smiling warmly at you, before seeming to remember where she is, and where you're going. The smile fades a little, but you smile at her and present her with the sandwich. She accepts it, warm fingers brushing deliberately across yours as she takes it.
"Thank you, Sabrina," she says warmly, before starting on the sandwich, tucking it away in neat bites.
"No problem," you reply, equally warmly, while you begin eating your own sandwich. Some rustles, barely heard over the rushing wind, signify Kirika constructing her second sandwich, having scarfed down the first.
The suburbs, by now, have given way to countryside, which then shifted back to suburbs again - you're definitely on the outskirts of Ishinomaki, now, you think as you pass a bottle of juice to Mami. So this'd be a reasonable time...
"Rin, Akiko," you call out telepathically.
"What is it?" Rin responds first, mental voice still strained and upset. "Yes, Miss Sabrina?" Akiko replies next, a trace of worry now present in her voice that wasn't there before.
"I, and my friends are headed in to Ishinomaki right now."
Dead silence.
"For the purpose of?" Akiko manages.
"To end the war," you reply. "Would it be... terribly inconvenient if we made a... scene?"
"... no?" Akiko says faintly.
"Right. See you- actually, hold that thought," you say, and end the call. "Hey Mami, Kirika?" you glance around the carpet, at Mami, still leaning against you, and Kirika still burning off her energy pacing around.
"Mmm?" Mami peers up at you, while Kirika snaps to comically series attention.
"Can you sense the Grief I'm manipulating?" you ask, pointing at the carpet beneath you.
"A little," Mami says, at the same time as Kirika's cheerful "Nope!"
"It's faint," Mami continues, shooting a look at Kirika, who pulls her lower eyelid down and sticks her tongue out at the blonde.
"Hmm... do you think that it can be sensed from the ground?" you ask.
Mami thinks about it. "I think so?" she says. "But I think my... experience... lets me sense it better?"
"Hey!" Kirika complains.
"Do you think the Ishinomaki group might sense me, then?" you ask.
Mami frowns. "I think so? They've been established for a while..."
[] Go loud
[] Go home
[] Go stealth
[] Look for Akiko
[] Look for Rin and Sakura
[] Look for the Ishinomaki Girls
[] Write-in
=====​
This update just kept on going and going, 'til I decided enough is enough.
Last edited: Nov 6, 2014
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