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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 Undue Alarm pt. 8
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 19, 2014

- #9,169

"Good bye," you say, remaining at the table.
You rock your cup in a circle, watching the last quarter or so of your tea swirl. What on earth happened there? Rin sent Sakura back to Sendai, where she presumably found and talked to Akiko, who came back here and looked at you a bit, or something.
Huh.
You shrug, putting the thought out of your mind, and drain the rest of the tea. Black Ceylon, the really cheap kind, but at least it's not teabags, you think. Eh. You get to your feet, and regretfully leave the relative sheltered warmth of the store, wandering out into the rain with just your collapsible umbrella to protect you.
The wind's picked up, now, and the puddles forming on the street are growing deeper.
Still, you find yourself in an inexplicably good mood. "Hm-hm-hmm-hm-hm-hm-hmmm~" You skip a few steps through the rain, uncaring of the splashes of water soaking into your shoes, and the odd looks from the few people still on the streets in this weather. "And you can act real rude and totally removed and I can act like an imbecile~"
... yeah, you don't have the voice to pull this one off.
"Hey, Oriko?" you say telepathically.
"Yes?" Oriko replies.
"Do you dance?" you ask, enormous grin splitting your face.
A very long pause.
"... yes?" the seer says. "I took ballroom dancing lessons."
...
Huh.
"... Well, OK, then!" you say, good cheer mostly undiminished, if a bit flummoxed. "D'you need a cleanse? I suppose I've got some time to stop by."
"That would be appreciated," Oriko says. "Directed visions are... expensive."
"Right," you say. "On my way, then."
You stroll down another side alley, folding your umbrella and putting it away, replacing it with a disc of Grief you angle to let the rain cascade off behind you. You transform in a blaze of light, the comforting weight of your coat settling on your shoulders. Your wings billow out behind you as marbles flood out of your bag and dissolve them into the rippling mass of corruption.
You grin, and leap, dragging yourself upwards by your Grief manipulation on the wings - you don't really dare to flap them, not here in the close confines of the alley. Doing mostly superficial damage to rooftops is one thing, carving holes right through walls is another.
The moment you clear the buildings, you flap powerfully. You don't really need to - but they're wings, so you flap them. You gain height rapidly, cutting through the falling rain with the Grief disc angled ahead of you - you imagine that you'd probably be blinded by the rain, if you didn't have it.
Your flight across the city is accompanied by the rattling of the rain, every thundering wingbeat shedding sheets of rainwater. Still, good humour undampened, you hum to yourself, juking in the air in imitation of a dance. Sort of dance, anyway. Well. If you're going to be honest, you're just kinda wiggling in the air.
...
Now that you think about it, it's a good thing you're doubly out of sight, what with flying and the heavy rain to obscure you.
You swoop down on Oriko's house, riding the gusting wind and relying on its relative seclusion to hide you. Coming in for a landing amongst the windswept rosebushes, you see that Oriko's already pulling open the glass doors leading into her backyard, eyes squinted against the wind. Kirika's hobbling up on her crutches to stand beside the precog.
You walk over, collapsing your wings without any theatricality. Oriko shuts the door behind you. "Welcome."
"Hi, Sabrina," Kirika says, waving awkwardly. Her expression is stuck somewhere between a smile and a frown.
You detransform, returning to a pleasantly dry state. "Hello, Oriko, Kirika," you say.
"Take a seat," Oriko says, waving her single hand at the living room.
You shrug, and meander over to the living room as indicated, Kirika's crutches clacking behind you. Oriko flits off into the kitchen, presumably to prepare tea for you.
"So I hear you're getting on well with Oriko" you say, looking at Kirika as she settles on the larger sofa. You've seated yourself on the single sofa.
Kirika reddens. "Eh he he..." she chuckles, unable to meet your eyes.
You smirk.
She reddens some more.
You lean back. "So, did you call your parents?" you ask, deliberately shifting the topic to keep her off balance.
"Eh?" Kirika asks. "Oh, yeah, I did. They're uh... Oriko talked to them. I... um." She looks downcast.
"Right," you sigh. To be expected, honestly.
When Kirika next speaks, it's her turn to throw you off. "Thanks, I guess."
"Huh?" You sit up, and cock an eyebrow at the berserker.
"For, you know, not killing us," Kirika says.
You shrug. "I want everyone to live. I really do."
"Laudable," Oriko says, entering the room, and the conversation, with a steaming teapot. "But you realize-" What she's about to say is cut off as she returns to the kitchen, presumably to bring out the cups.
"You realize that it may not be possible," Oriko says as she walks back in, with a stack of cups held in her hand.
"Perhaps," you allow. "But I refuse to believe it's impossible." You'd imagine that there's metaphorical fire burning in your eyes with that statement as you meet and hold Oriko's gaze defiantly, brows knitting heavily and head tilting back just so.
... Maybe you should try to learn some illusion magic so you can make that literal.
Oriko blinks first. "A fine dream," she says, and busies herself pouring out the tea. The fragrance hits you first - gyokuro again, it seems.
"More than a dream," you say.
Oriko pushes a teacup to you, and you lift the cup to your face, breathing in the fragrance. The seer passes Kirika a cup, and settles next to the black haired girl with a cup of her own. Kirika immediately puts a hand around her waist, and leans against her shoulder.
You sip at your tea, as does Oriko. Neither of you make any move to break the silence.
[] "I should go."
- [] To do...
[] Talk to them
- [] About...
[] Write-in
=====​
So I'm already writing the next update. Let's see how little I have to change...
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 9
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 20, 2014

- #9,306

"So," you say, swirling your cup of tea idly. "In furtherance of my 'dream', then. What can you tell me about Masami? What game are Rin and her friends playing here?"
"Masami is volatile, and desperate," Oriko says. "The Sendai girls are very mercenary. They demand... a down payment of Grief Seeds to even begin talks. Masami pays that tribute, but doesn't have the Seeds to spare." A grimace. "She begins lashing out, violently, if they turn her down, and... things don't end well."
"I see," you say, sipping your tea and internally wincing over the tenses. "And the Sendai girls?"
Oriko similarly takes a sip of her tea. "They're telling the truth about going to Ishinomaki," she says. "They'll be there in a day or two. More than that... again, I am not omniscient. I understand that they have some degree of fame; Akemi Homura or Tomoe Mami should know more."
"Right," you say. "Thanks for the tip, in any case."
The conversation goes quiet, except for the continued downpour of rain from outside and the occasional slurp as Kirika drinks her tea.
"What can you tell me about your visions?" you ask as a thought strikes you.
The seer shrugs. "They're... visions," she says.
"No, I mean... how finely can you predict things?" you ask. "Could you try to see girls Witching out before it happens?"
"No," Oriko shakes her head, before stopping. "Yes. Maybe." She frowns, eyes unfocusing. When you open your mouth to comment again, she holds up her hand to quiet you. "I follow... threads, of visions. The starting points of those threads are... somewhat random, but it's... easier to follow some than others."
You grimace. "Unhelpful," you say.
The seer shakes her head. "Can you describe how your Grief manipulation works?"
"Sure I can, I reach out with- Hm." You frown, trying to find the words for it. Your powers are... instinctive, like another set of limbs and senses. "OK, point taken. So can you, or can you not?"
"Maybe," she repeats. "Some people are more... visible than others." She gives you a very pointed look.
You sigh. "Fine. I want to know, if you see anything."
Oriko nods.
"So in the future you averted-" The seer shushes you urgently, shaking her head vigorously, before grimacing and gingerly putting a hand to her neck.
"Not here," Oriko says. "Not... here."
You tilt your head. "Hmm."
You reach for the teapot and pour yourself more tea, getting an annoyed look from Oriko. There's probably some tea etiquette you're violating by not letting the host pour for you, but you can't bring yourself to particularly care.
"Anyway," you broach the silence again. "How are you two? Healing alright?"
"... yes, thank you," Oriko says. "A little sore."
Kirika rubs at her kneecap gingerly. "Yeah, I guess."
"Alright," you nod. "Anything else you need, for the next time I come over?"
"Maybe more fresh food from the fridge?" Oriko shrugs.
"Noted," you say.
"Right. Cleansing, then?" you say.
Oriko nods, and nudges Kirika, who roots around her pockets and comes out with two Soul Gems. You cleanse those, collapsing the Grief down into marbles which you tuck away in your bag, left beside your sofa.
"Right. I should go," you say, rising to your feet and picking up the sling bag. "Hmm... no. I should go. I should go? Um."
Oriko and Kirika exchange looks, Kirika looking utterly befuddled, and Oriko resigned.
"Eh, whatever," you mutter, slinging the bag over your shoulder. "I should go. Hm, no, that's not it."
"... I'll see you out," Oriko says, pushing herself to her feet. Kirika looks disappointed, but reluctantly lets go of the seer's waist.
"Right. Bye, Kirika," you say, walking towards the door.
"... bye, Sabrina," the girl replies.
Oriko lets you out by the back door into the rosegarden, and you casually spin a disc out of Grief to serve as an umbrella, stepping out into the wind and rain. "See you, Oriko," you say, wings of corruption already rippling into existence behind you.
"Good bye," Oriko says, shutting the glass door and locking it.
You launch yourself into the sky, winging out over the city to gain height. "I should go," you mutter to yourself. "Eh, never mind. I should just let it go~"
You hum, wings thundering to lift you up above the rain shrouded Mitakihara. "... spiralling in frozen fractals all around~" Maybe a nice dress?
It's about lunchtime, now. You have a packed lunch, and you've a little time before meeting Masami. What now?
[] Write-in
=====​
You have one thousand and forty eight Grief marbles, and two Grief Seeds in your pockets.
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 10
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 21, 2014

- #9,369

Mami and the others probably won't be taking a rooftop lunch today, you figure. Not with the rain pouring the way it is. You swoop and circle, and ultimately decide against going back to that DBJ building Mami brought you to yesterday - while there doesn't seem to be any lightning, you'd rather not chance it.
"Sabrina?" Mami's telepathic voice sounds, almost as if she's summoned by your thoughts.
"Hey, Mami!" you say. "Lunchtime for you? I suppose the rooftop's out, huh."
"Yes, to both. I'm eating in class right now," she replies. "How are you?"
"Ehhh. Looking around for somewhere dry to eat," you say, banking over and swooping. "How about you? How's school?"
Mami chuckles in return. "Ah, nothing much happened. We have a test coming up, though!"
"Oh?" you ask, finally settling on top of another building near Mitakihara Middle School, one with a good view over most of the city bar the central business district, with its dense forest of skyscrapers. Instead of sitting on the rain-slick air conditioning vents, you form a little seat out of Grief and perch on that instead.
"A geography test next Tuesday," Mami adds.
"Oh? Better study, then," you say, opening your lunchbox.
"Oh, I will, unless I get distracted~" Mami chuckles.
"Hey, no," you snort as you begin eating. "You don't get to pin shopping on me. Or Witch hunts."
"Aw, fine," Mami says. "By the way, the vegetables are perfect."
"Hmm?" You try the vegetables. "Mmm. Agreed. Hey, wait a minute, you cooked this."
"No, I didn't," Mami says.
"Yes you did."
"No I didn't." You can hear the smile in her voice.
"Yes you- No. I'm not doing this," you say, savouring another mouthful of food. "See you after school, Mami."
"See you, Sabrina," Mami says. "And no, I didn't."
You roll your eyes, and look over the city, letting your feet dangle. It's quickly becoming a familiar sight to you, now, the densely packed skycrapers of the business district over there, scattered patches of rolling greenery hued a deeper shade than normal thanks to the rain... The curtains of rain block out your line of sight, though - you can't even see as far as the river, from here, nor all the way to West Mitakihara.
Hmm...
Honestly, it feels like you should be standing on the tallest building around, one leg propped up and lightning striking somewhere in the background while you monologue internally. Instead, you're sitting on top of a... moderately tall building, with no lightning to be found, and eating lunch from a cheerfully bright blue lunchbox.
Oh well.
You finish up your lunch, pack up, and wing over to west Mitakihara, lighting on a building opposite Masami's apartment. You can sense two presences in the apartment, one seated and the other pacing agitatedly about.
You wait. It shouldn't be too long until the Sendai girls show up, you think.
In the meantime, you take flight again, and look around this part of the city, on the far side of town from you and Mami, as it were. It's a product of Mitakihara's post-industrial growth, you think - built after, or perhaps alongside, the industry's fade and the city's transition to business.
... hmm, a Witch Barrier over there. A distance away from Masami's place, but distinctly within her hunting territory, you think.
The apartments are laid out neatly, and there's fewer strips of greenery than the part you're familiar with. A few parks here and there, to be sure, but nothing as dramatic as central-east Mitakihara.
Two... three magical presences appear at the very edge of your senses, making their way in at an unhurried pace. Rin, Sakura, and Akiko, then. You hop lightly down into the alley between buildings and detransform, replacing your Grief canopy with the umbrella before walking out to the street proper, positioning yourself by the streetlight.
"You again!" is the first response as the trio from Sendai catch sight of you. Sakura, of course, looking more than a bit put out and rather desultorily holding an umbrella, as is Akiko. Rin is still shrouded in her raincoat.
"Me again," you nod, twirling your umbrella idly. "I thought I might as well sit in as a... neutral arbitrator."
"Very well," Akiko says, exchanging a look with Rin. The blonde shrugs back at her. Sakura, standing beside them, scowls heavily at you. "If you would lead the way, then?"
"Of course," you say, turning in the direction of Masami's apartment.
The walk over to the apartment is spent in silence - though you suspect the three of them are conversing by telepathy behind your back. When you reach Masami's door, you step aside, gesturing at them. Akiko nods, straightening and brushing back her blue hair before reaching out to press the doorbell. Rin similarly pats down her hair, slightly mussed by her raincoat, while Sakura reluctantly straightens.
You can feel both of the girls in the apartment startle. They step closer together, then apart, both of them walking to the door the door. Masami is the one to open the door this time, the door opening a crack with the security chain holding it to a thin slot. Her eyes widen. "Ah, Miss Mori!" she says. "I wasn't expecting you so early."
The door shuts again, and you hear the rattle of the chain before the redhead pulls it open fully to reveal Masami and Hiroko standing side by side. Masami begins to bow, but stops, puzzled frown crossing her face that shifts to a burgeoning anger when she spies you, standing behind Akiko.
"I'm here as a neutral arbitrator," you say.
Akiko nods, stepping forward. "I am Hamasaki Akiko, and these are Mori Rin, and Tachibana Sakura, from Sendai City." The other two nod.
"Ah," Masami says. "I am Gaikotsu Masami, and this is Wakahisa Hiroko. Please, come in." Her gaze lingers on you, but passes without comment as she steps aside to allow you in. You remove your shoes, and step up over the little step leading to the rest of her apartment.
Masami's apartment, it turns out, is fairly average, with a single three person sofa, a kitchen just out of sight, and a short corridor leading to what you presume are the bedrooms and toilet. Two extra, foldable chairs sit beside the sofa - for and Hiroko? "Please, take a seat," Masami says, gesturing at the sofa, before walking into a side room and returning with another foldable chair that she pushes at you.
You unfold the chair and position it opposite perpendicular to the sofa that the Sendai girls sit on - Rin's on the left, Akiko in the center, and Sakura on the right. Hiroko sits on one of the foldable chairs, folding her hands on her skirt.
"May I offer you some tea?" Masami asks.
"Yes, please," Akiko nods.
The redhead retreats into the kitchen, and you hear some clinking before she returns with a tray bearing a glazed teapot and cups. The tea is doled out in silence, Masami occasionally glancing at the Sendai trio, who seem happy to let the redhead carry through with the hospitality ritual. Hiroko's gaze similarly shifts quickly, darting from you, to Masami, to the Sendai girls.
Finally, Masami seats herself on the last chair. "I am Gaikotsu Masami," she begins. "I would like to request healing, in return for lending my, and Hiroko's, powers to the Sendai group." Hiroko nods.
Akiko is the one reply. "Many people require healing," she says. "And, as such, we request that you pay... a tribute simply to divert our path."
"Yes. Of course," Masami says, reaching for her pocket and pulling out a small bag held shut by a drawstring. She hesitates, hefting the bag in her hand for a long moment, before reluctantly handing it over to Akiko. You can count the number of Grief Seeds in there - five of them, which Akiko checks, before nodding, satisfied.
Exorbitant, you can't help but think. Extortionate, even. You swirl your green tea a bit before sipping it. Hm... sweet, but a bit bitter at the same time, you think, watching what looks like bits of twig drift at the bottom of your cup.
"What do you need healed?" Rin asks. "You seem perfectly healthy."
Masami swallows. "I- It's an illusion." Her hand gropes for Hiroko's, and the black haired girl squeezes her hand firmly.
"I can't give you an estimate if I don't know what to heal," Rin says.
"Y-yes, of course," Masami says.
"Wait," Akiko snaps, suddenly intent on the redhead. Beside her, Sakura's uncrossed her arms, and is leaning forward and staring at Masami as if trying to bore a hole through the illusion with her eyes. "You have borne your injuries for... how long, again?" The bluenette emphasises the word 'injuries'.
Masami frowns, exchanging a confused look with Hiroko. "Four months?" Hiroko nods in confirmation. "Four months, I guess."
"I see," Akiko says.
"Miss Mori can heal me, right?" Masami asks. "I... I heard she's regrown entire arms before. Chronic illnesses too, right?"
"Please, one moment," Akiko says, holding up an arm. Rin looks increasingly confused, while Akiko and Sakura seem to be embroiled in a telepathic conversation.
You're beginning to get a bad feeling about this.
[] Intervene
[] Don't
[] Write-in
=====​
Fun fact! Oversteeped green tea tends to be bitter even if it's not supposed to be.
Last edited: Sep 21, 2014
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 11
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 22, 2014

- #9,606

You sip idly at your tea, and then reach out to Masami and Hiroko by telepathy.
"Judging from their reactions, whatever discussion Akiko and Sakura are having right now, Rin isn't in on it," you say, holding your teacup in one hand and inspecting it minutely, as if you're completely indifferent to what's happening.
"Fuck off," Masami replies. Short, concise, and almost radiating anxiety.
"Masami!" Hiroko exclaims.
"Hmm... So, running hypothesis," you say, as if you're talking to yourself and putting the cup down on the table. "I could be wrong, but judging from the way Akiko reacted immediately after you revealed that your injuries are extensive enough to warrant illusions... Miss Mori doesn't know the truth about Soul Gems. I'm guessing they're trying to protect her."
"F-fuck." It takes you a moment that that was spoken out loud, not telepathic. Masami's eyes have gone wide, and her hand, previously gripping Hiroko's tightly, has gone slack, her entire body trembling.
"Yes, Miss Gaikotsu?" Akiko asks, turning to glance at the redhead.
"Hey. Hey!" you call urgently.
Somehow, you don't think she's listening, though.
Masami slides out of the chair and drops to her knees. The table slams itself aside, rattling the teapot and cups, and the redhead scrabbles over to kneel before Rin, clutching both her hands in front of her. "P-please. Say you'll h-heal me. I don't k-kno-"
Hiroko drops out of her chair to kneel beside Masami, one arm around the redhead. Addressing Akiko and Rin alike, she says, "Please, we beg of you. We- I'll do anything."
"Hey!" you yell telepathically, and you see Hiroko flinch, while Masami doesn't seem to care. "You still have options! If nothing else, I'm not going to abandon you, and I know another magical girl with healing magic."
"W-wha-" Hiroko turns a teary face to you. "Masa-"
At the same time, Rin leans forward, putting both her hands on top of Masami's. The healer turns to look at Akiko. "I... Akiko, can we-"
"Give us a moment," Akiko murmurs, rising to her feet, one hand insistently tugging on Rin's elbow and forcing her up. The blonde, looking bewildered, stands, gently pushing Masami aside with a muttered, "Sorry."
Masami lets her go, hands dropping loosely to her side.
Sakura uncoils off the sofa like a spring coming undone, and follows Akiko as the bluenette leads a bewildered looking Rin off in the direction of the door.
Masami's Soul Gem is an abscess of Grief - she's not quite Grief spiralling yet, you think, but she's certain edging towards the danger zone, at a guess. Hiroko seems to be doing better, but not by much.
[] Tell Hiroko to drop the illusion
[] Insist that Sakura stay
[] Cleanse Masami
[] Write-in
=====​
Hmhmm. Things proceed as they will.
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 12
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 23, 2014

- #9,771

You don't want to leave Masami with that Grief clouding her Soul Gem or her judgement. You glance at the Sendai girls, still leaving - but you decide Masami's more important. You stand, one hand already outstretched and pulling.
Thick, viscous ropes of Grief stream into the air from her Soul Gem ring to form a billowing cloud you leave to hang in the air.
The oppressive sensation of the large cloud of free floating Grief washes over the whole room.
Sakura snaps her head around to stare at you fast enough that a normal person would have whiplash, while Rin stumbles a step. Akiko freezes midstep, and turns to stare. Masami wobbles in place, tension in her shoulders loosening for a second before she tenses again and stares at the location of the Grief cloud. Beside the redhead, Hiroko squeaks, and stares first at the Grief, then at you.
Silence, ringing and absolute, falls.
"So." You fold your arms. "First thing. Masami, because I'm fairly certain you didn't hear me earlier? You have options. I know of at least one more healer. This is merely the least... awkward route." Masami sways in place, expression halfway between shock and desperation. Hiroko hugs the redhead, one arm around her shoulder, but still keeping a short separation between their bodies.
You turn to Rin. "Miss Mori. Is there any... particular reason you would deny a request for healing without even inspecting Masami's injuries?"
"N-no," the blonde stutters. "Sakura, Akiko, wha-"
A blaze of light from Sakura as she transforms, emerging in her brown jacket and skirt costume. "Rin, we're getti-"
"Sakura!" Akiko says, clamping a hand down on the brown haired girl's shoulder.
"Miss Hamasaki," you say, focusing directly on the bluenette, but addressing the room at large. "Let me point out something. I am literally capable of writing a blank check when it comes to cleansing of Soul Gems, and Grief Seeds. So why are you eager to run away?"
"I am not," she denies. "We just need to dicuss something."
"Pardon me if your actions don't exactly inspire confidence." You eye Akiko's hand, still on Rin's elbow to guide the healer, and then deliberately slide your gaze to Sakura, and then the door.
"What's going on?" Rin asks, bewildered. "Sakura, Akiko, tell me! What's happening?"
Akiko swallows hard, and forces herself to let go of Sakura's shoulder. "I wish to have a private discussion. Perhaps... going outside was... ill-advised. Miss Gaikotsu, may we use the kitchen, or perhaps a bedroom?"
Hiroko answers for the redhead, who's still swaying in place, staring alternately at you and the Sendai girls. "S-sure."
"My thanks," Akiko says. "Rin, come on." The bluenette leads Rin to the kitchen.
Sakura pauses for a moment, and turns to glare at you. "Fuck you."
You shrug, arms still folded.
The brown and white clad girl glares at you for a moment longer before turning to move to the kitchen with the other girls from Sendai.
"T-thanks," Hiroko whispers, still hugging the redhead around her shoulders. "I- I think."
[] Follow the Sendai girls into the kitchen
[] Wait for a while, then go into the kitchen
[] Cleanse Hiroko too
[] Stay
[] Write-in
=====​
Bleh. I got nothin'.
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 13
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 23, 2014

- #9,884

"Hey, Hiroko?" you ask gently. "May I cleanse your Soul Gem too?"
The girl looks up at you from trying to get Masami's attention. "Y-yeah."
You proceed to cleanse her Soul Gem, adding to the already substantial cloud hovering in the middle of the room.
"Miss Gaikotsu... Masami, Hiroko." The redhead finally looks up at you, eyes hollow and desperate. "Look, we might need you two to just show them, for this to work. And Miss Mori will need to see it, anyway. So... how bad is it?"
Masami shudders, and Hiroko looks at you, distressed.
You sigh. "Look, I understand that it's not something you like to show. But... OK, look. Your power's telekinesis, right? How much... of that magic all over you is, um, holding you together?"
"Masami," Hiroko whispers, biting her lip.
The redhead looks at you, face stricken. "I- look, you don't need to know the specifics, right? It's just- I-"
"That's fine," you say.
"I- I got... a Witch cut me in half," Masami whispers, left hand slowly tracing a path from just below her right shoulder to her left hip. "M-most of my torso i-is-"
"Enough," you cut her off, not wanting to upset her further - you can feel her Soul Gem slowly spiking upwards. "That's... enough." Still - she's been surviving for months, cut in half?
Hiroko gives you a grateful look, hugging Masami closer.
"Alright," you say. "I'm going to go see what's going on over there, OK?" You indicate the kitchen. Without much ado, you sidle over to the kitchen, lurking just out of sight, but you don't hear anything. They're still there, though, you can sense that much. Communicating by telepathy, then?
"So, Miss Hamasaki," you drawl telepathically, trying to reach for the apparent leader of their little group.
"Yes?" is the distracted sounding reply.
You stride into the kitchen. Sakura is leaning on the countertop, still transformed and accusing finger pointing at Akiko, while Akiko is staring her down, and Rin hovering anxiously between the two of them. You stride in, a slight swagger in your step, I have every right to be here written in your motion and plant yourself beside the refrigerator, crossing your arms.
Sakura glares at you, while Akiko ignores your presence. Rin darts an anxious glance at you, but seems to be more concerned with her friends.
"Give me one good reason not to tell your friend what I'm pretty sure you've been keeping from her," you say to Akiko. Simultaneously, you raise an eyebrow, doing your best to channel Oriko's arrogant cast and drawl out loud, "Hi." Behind you drifts the cloud of Grief to hover menacingly at the ceiling.
"Fuck off," Sakura snaps.
"Can't do that, I'm afraid," you say cheerfully. "I'd rather like to know if you've worked things out with your friend here?" Telepathically, you add, "No response, Miss Hamasaki? Her Soul's a gem, but are you willing to let someone die just to save your friend from an uncomfortable revelation?"
"Just so you all know," you continue, "Masami's magic is pretty much all that's keeping her alive now. Miss Mori," you address the girl directly, her fluttering anxiety stilling to stare at you, "the important thing, I think, is that she needs your help. I'm sure you can do it, and quite frankly, I'm willing to pay for it."
"Miss Sabrina," Akiko cuts across your little tirade. "We would be interested in acquiring your services on a long term bas-"
"Fuck you, no we're not," Sakura snaps.
"Sakura, Akiko, please tell me what's happening!" Rin exclaims. "You're keeping something from me."
"Fuck this," Sakura snaps, and grabs Rin by the wrist, the healer 'eep'ing and struggling a little, but the brown-haired girl's grip is iron. She begins to glow, and you can feel the both of them beginning to distort elsewhere.
They're teleporting.
[] Grab on
[] Attack
[] See if Akiko does anything
[] Write-in
=====​
I should point out that Frozen, Pacific Rim, the MCU in general haven't actually been made yet.
Last edited: Sep 23, 2014
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 14
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 25, 2014

- #10,136

"Sakura, stop!" Akiko yells. The teleporter doesn't seem to care, though, seemingly concentrating on her magic instead while Rin struggles fruitlessly against the teleporters grip on her arm.
Her Soul Gem. It's mounted on a hairclip, much like Mami's is.
Reaching out with your powers, you yank at the Grief in the Soul Gem. It comes free easily, like every other cleansing you've done - no! You bear down on it, even as Sakura and Rin begin to shift, and the Grief flashes into a solid mass, a band snug around the Soul Gem, and you pull-
A short scream, cut off-
A Soul Gem, along with a few strands of brown hair, smacks into your outstretched hand-
Rin and Sakura disappear, their bodies shifting in a eye-bending manner with a 'vwwp'-
A spike of Grief appearing in Sakura's Soul Gem-
-and one magical presence blinks into existence on the edge of your Grief senses, about two hundred meters away. The presence -Rin, you think?- falls and tumbles across the ground-
Sakura's Soul Gem is still in your hand-
"No!" Akiko yells, staring at the place where the pair used to be, one hand outstretched in a fruitless grab. "No, damn it!" She whirls on you. "Miss Sabrina, do yo-"
She catches sight of the brown Soul Gem in your hand, and the words die half spoken. "Oh, no."
[] Write-in
=====​
There was at least one way you could have stopped the teleport. This, uh, wasn't it. On the bright side, you did disrupt it.
Last edited: Sep 25, 2014
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 15
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 25, 2014

- #10,223

"Rin needs you right now - we can talk about this later," you snap at Akiko. "I can sense where she is."
"You can sens-" The bluenette blinks rapidly. "Right. Later," she agrees. "Where?"
"Miss Mori- Rin? Hello?" you reach out telepathically.
"Miss Sabrina?" comes the panicked reply from the healer. "S-s-sakura's-"
"Uh... two hundred meters that way-" you point "-but wait for me."
There's a scrambling noise behind you, and Masami and Hiroko appear in the doorway. "What's going on?"
"Sakura tried to teleport Rin out of here," you reply, striding over to the kitchen window. "Unfortunately..." You hold up the Soul Gem in your hand for them to see. To Rin, you say, "Rin, your friend's OK. I know it looks bad, but she's alive, and we can help her. Just hang in there."
"If you're talking to Rin," Akiko says, hurrying behind you, "Let me do it."
"I- what did you do?" Masami breathes, glaring at you.
"Nothing!" you deny, pulling the window open and leaning out to take a look, the torrential rain instantly lashing out and plastering your hair to your head. "Um, I think you should take this, Miss Hamasaki." Without looking at her, you hold the Soul Gem out to the bluenette, who takes the Soul Gem reverently, cupping it in both her hands.
A hand grabs you by the shoulder, spinning you fully around and bringing you face to face with Masami. "What did you do?" Masami roars at you.
"Miss Gaikotsu," Akiko snaps, whirling on the redhead. "This was not Miss Sabrina's fault! Not entirely. Sakura made an... ill-advised move, and Miss Sabrina reacted naturally to it. Now if you will excuse me, I have friends who need me. Miss Sabrina?"
Masami's grip slackens, and you pull out of her grasp.
You shake your head, and turn to face Masami and Hiroko fully. "Masami, Hiroko, we'll be right back as soon as we can, OK? I promise you'll get healed, one way or another."
"O-OK," Hiroko says. Masami just snorts and shakes her head, looking away with her teeth clenched.
"Right," you say, looking back at the window again, and then back to face Masami and Hiroko. "Um, yes. Cleansing."
Without waiting for permission, you cleanse the Grief from their Soul Gems, the Grief slipping free with ease. "Miss Hamasaki, can you fly?"
"Hey!" Masami protests, probably at the rather rude cleansing.
The bluenette shakes her head. "No? Why are you messing around with the windo- oh."
"Yes," you say, transforming in a blaze of white light. You back up a step before launching yourself forward, one foot bouncing up to catch the window ledge while you duck your head down to clear the top of the window-
-and you're free falling down the side of the building amidst the pouring rain, wings billowing out behind you in a rippling wave, forming first from the cloud of Grief puddled near the ceiling -Masami and Hiroko's- and joined by a torrent of marbles pouring out of your sling bag, dissolving into the fabric of your wings.
Your wings spread wide, and you swoop back upwards to the still open window where Akiko, Masami, and Hiroko are watching, the black-haired girl outright gaping at you. You hover in front of the window, heavy wingbeats combined with careful Grief manipulation holding you steady. Rain streaks down your face - you take a moment to fix that, a disc of Grief spinning itself into existence to shield you from the rain.
"Miss Hamasaki! Can I offer you a lift, or would you rather travel conventionally?" you shout over the rain.
"Uh..." Akiko stutters. "Uh, OK."
"Right," you say, holding your arms out. "C'mon. How's Rin doing?"
The bluenette clambers out of the window and into your arms so that you're carrying her bridal style, her head on your left. "What do you think! She's panicking!" she shouts back.
"Ugh," you say, and then look back at the window and the pair still standing there, transfixed. "Masami, Hiroko, again, I promise we'll be back."
With a powerful slam of your wings, you send yourself, still carrying Akiko, launching upwards and away from the window, and you spiral so that Akiko is hanging beneath you, still held securely in your grip. Curiously, she doesn't seem to react to the sudden, dizzying change other than to clutch a little more tightly at you.
Heavy, thundering wingbeats carry the both of you through the rain as you home unerringly in on where you can feel Rin.
"There!" Akiko shouts, pointing.
You squint, and spy two figures in the rain - damn, they're down on the street. Thankfully, the street seems quiet, thanks to the rain.
An extra burst of speed, and you let the wings fold and you let yourself crash to a halt on a nearby rooftop, knees bending to absorb the impact. "Wait here!" you bark, spilling the bluenette out of your arms, and throw yourself off the roof.
Pavement shatters underfoot under the force of your landing, a sharp cracking noise like thunder. "Rin!" you shout.
The healer looks up at you, eyes wild. She's transformed - heavy, frilly robes in the same dark green of her eyes, with what looks like a cream coloured undershirt and bands of yellow to offset the green. Sakura's body hangs utterly limp in the healer's desperate, shaking embrace, and both of Rin's hands are glowing bright with magic.
"S-s-she won't wake up!" the healer wails.
Her Soul Gem is a abscess of Grief on the back of her right hand, a poisonous well of corruption bleeding into the world. You yank at that Grief, and it floods into the air, amorphous and malevolent, but leashed to your will.
Rin sags slightly.
"Your frie- Sakura's OK," you shout, running over to the pair. "She's OK, I promise! I'll explain everything, but first..."
You gather the both of them up in a rough bear hug, the healer's breath whooshing out of her as you grab the both of them and launch yourself skyward. You spiral backwards, and let yourself slam down on the roof, releasing Rin and Sakura on to the roof.
Akiko's already moving, Sakura's Soul Gem in her outstretched hand.
"Akiko!" Rin wails. "S-sakur-"
"Hush, Rin," the bluenette soothes, pressing the Soul Gem into Sakura's hand. "It'll be OK."
"Her soul is in that Gem," you say. "It's why sh-"
"Miss Sabrina," Akiko says. "Please shut up." She waves her hand, and the rain puddling on the rooftop washes upwards to form a shimmering wall of water between you and the Sendai trio. Through it, you can see Sakura suddenly gasp, and bolt upright. Rin lunges at the teleporter, and grabs her in a desperate hug.
The wall's not terribly thick, and you could probably push through it if you wanted to.
"That was poorly thought out," a sweet, telepathic voice observes from behind you. You swing about to see a white, cat-like form, bushy tail lashing behind it as it perches on the edge of the roof.
Kyuubey.
Of course.
[] Write-in
=====​
What lich-bombing would be complete without a coobie?
Last edited: Sep 26, 2014
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 16
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 26, 2014

- #10,291

"Hello, Kyuubey," you say neutrally, masking your annoyance.
"Hello, Sabrina," Kyuubey replies, rearing up on its hind legs. It's completely dry, you notice, its fur seeming to shed water with impunity. Probably engineered for it.
"How long have you been watching?" you ask, crossing your arms and watching the Sendai trio through the shimmering wall of water. Rin's still hugging Sakura tightly, and Akiko's crouched beside the two, a gentle hand on the healer's shoulder.
"I was observing the meeting," Kyuubey says, dropping back onto four legs and winding between your legs. "It's always enlightening to watch interactions between magical girls."
"Is that so," you say with a sour quirk of your lips. Rin's finally released Sakura, and is sitting in a huddled little ball, hugging her legs. Akiko's crouched in front of her, talking steadily, while Sakura's sitting on her haunches a little further away, nodding along with Akiko.
"I just don't understand you humans," Kyuubey says.
"Eh," you shrug. "It's not like people always understand other people either."
Rin seems to deflate on herself, and Sakura drags her into a hug while Akiko pats her awkwardly on the shoulder.
"And is that not baffling?" it asks.
"It is what it is," you say. The Sendai trio's heads snap up, and look over at you... no. They're looking at your feet... Kyuubey, who's stalking forward.
"Hey! No!" you bark, reaching down and snatching the Incubator up by the scruff of its neck. "Stop that!"
It flails its paws wildly. "I am merely helping to explain."
"You're not helping!" you snap. Sakura's bounced to her feet, Soul Gem reaffixed to her hair, and a freshly summoned katana in her hand, expression flickering to murderous rage and gaze dancing from you to the Incubator in your hands. Rin's face shifts between shock, dismay, and anger. Akiko's expression is... deliberately neutral.
The rippling wall of water cutting you off from the Sendai girls drops, and Sakura immediately starts forward, katana coming up.
Akiko throws her arm out, barring the brown haired girl from advancing. "Sakura!" she snaps. "I think you've done enough for today."
"The hell? You're taking her side?" Sakura asks. "You still-"
"Attacking Miss Sabrina will do you no good," Akiko says, implacable glare staring the teleporter down. "We will talk later."
"Yeah, and where did our previous talk get us?" Sakura snarls.
Akiko's response is brutally simple. "Here." One hand makes a sweeping gesture, emcompassing Rin, Sakura, and Kyuubey.
Sakura opens her mouth to protest, and then deflates, grinding her teeth. "That's her fault." The protest is rather weak, though.
"No, it's not," Akiko says. The bluenette's expression softens. "Sakura, we'll talk this over later, OK? I... I jumped the gun, too."
Sakura shakes her head. "Yeah. Later."
"Now," Akiko nods, turning to look at you. "Miss Sabrina, if you would pass us Kyuubey?"
"Uh?" you glance down at the Incubator, hanging from your grasp. "Sure." You toss the little alien at Akiko, who snatches it none too gently out of the air.
The bluenette looks at Rin and holds Kyuubey out to her. "Rin?"
"Y-yes?" the healer asks, eyes focusing on the Incubator being presented to her.
"This," Akiko says simply. "Is the cause of everything."
Rin stares at Kyuubey for a moment. You rather suspect that the Incubator's talking telepathically to her.
A long moment, filled with the patter of the endlessly pouring rain.
The healer screams, a single, rage filled yell, and snatches the alien from Akiko's hands, before running to the edge of the roof. Raising Kyuubey high above her head, she hurls it with all her might towards the ground below.
You can hear the impact against the pavement even over the drumming of the rain on the rooftop; the crack of shattering concrete and the snapping of little bones.
Rin hunches over, planting her hands against the parapet of the roof, breath coming in harsh gasps. Akiko and Sakura both seem a little stunned at the sheer violence of the outburst, but Sakura quickly shakes it off, and walks over to put an arm around the blonde's shoulders. Rin turns in the half embrace, throwing her arms around Sakura and sobbing into her chest. The teleporter closes her arms around the healer.
Akiko gives you a pointed look as she walks over to join them, putting her arms around the both of them.
You take a hint, and look away.
A familiar white form scampers up the side of the roof and hops up onto a vent near you, staring at the Sendai trio. "So illogical."
[] Attempt to construct...
- [] Coobie voltron (It looks like a lion. Sort of. If you squint.)
- [] Coobie centipede (ala Human Centipede)
[] Drop kick the Incubator
- [] Into the street
- [] Over a building
- [] Over a skyscraper
- [] Over the river
[] Eat the Marshmallow
- [] Boiled
- [] Mashed
- [] Stewed
- [] Braised
- [] Raw
- [] Fried
- [] Toasted over a fire
- [] S'mores!
- [] With red wine
- [] With white wine, you barbarian
- [] With a soft drink, you doubleplusungood barbarian
[] FLESH OF FALLEN ANGELS
[] Invent Incubator glovery (glove making)
[] Invent Incubator millinery (hat making)
- [] Coobieskin fedora
- [] Coobieskin cap
- [] Coobieskin fedora
- [] Coobieskin tophat
- [] Coobieskin trilby
[] Long throw the Incubator
- [] Against the wall
- [] See how many richochets you can get
- [] Skipping stone across the river
[] Light the Incubator on fire
- [] Tail first
- [] Ear first
- [] Head first
- [] Feet first
- [] "Hey Oriko, what accelerant did you use?"
[] Pet the Incubator
- [] Make it do tricks
- [] Feed it treats
[] Punt the Incubator
- [] Into a garbage truck
- [] Off a building
- [] Off a skycraper
- [] Into the river
[] Shred the Incubator
- [] Tail first
- [] Ear first
- [] Head first
- [] Feet first
[] Sit on the Incubator
[] Talk to the Incubator
- [] Write-in topic
[] Feed marbles to Kyuubey
- [] How many?
[] Wait for the Sendai girls
[] Go back to Masami
[] Write-in
=====​
Yes. Yes, she did.
Last edited: Sep 26, 2014
Threadmarks Undue Alarm pt. 17
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#### Firnagzen

Operator

- Sep 27, 2014

- #10,390

"Masami, Hiroko," you reach out telepathically. "Things are looking... not terrible. Stay strong, I think we can get you your healing."
"Oh, good!" Hiroko says. Masami doesn't deign to answer.
"So, Kyuubey," you speak out loud, one hand reaching out to snatch up the Incubator and holding it in front of you.
"Yes, Sabrina?" it asks.
"I think," you say as you walk over to the edge of the roof, away from the Sendai trio, "that you should go away."
Without further ado, you take two fast steps forward at a half sprint, and drop the Incubator. Your right leg swings like so and slams into the Incubator's descending body with a satisfying crunch, the impact reverberating up your leg.
Kyuubey's body sails off into the distance, and you squint at it, trying to see where this particular ballistic path will end. Unfortunately, the curtains of rain sleeting across the city obscure it from sight.
"I just don't understand," Kyuubey's disembodied voice complains.
You look around sharply, hunting for the flash of white that is the Incubator, however, you don't see anything. Seems like it's just complaining at you?
A glance over at the Sendai girls again, and away. They're still holding the group hug, Rin's sobs slowly petering out.
You sigh, frowning out at the rain shrouded city. Damn it all.
Buildings by the dozen, light streaming merrily from their windows in defiance of the weather. Cars by the hundred, ceaselessly shuttling streams down on the roads. People by the thousands, still braving the streets on their own business despite the rain.
The world spins on, and life goes on.
You hear the low murmur of voice behind you, and pivot to see the hug's broken up, Rin holding both Sakura's and Akiko's hands tightly. Rin and Sakura both look rather shaken, but a wobbly smile is on Rin's face, while Sakura looks... less scowly. Akiko is similarly smiling.
"Hey," you say, catching their attention. "I hate to do this, but we still have a magical girl in need of healing. Rin, are you up to it?"
Sakura immediately bristles, stepping forward. "She can go an-"
"Sakura," Rin cuts across the teleporter. "I... I want to... I have to do this." The healer's voice cracks. "Please?"
"You don't owe them anything!" Sakura snaps.
"I don't, but..." Rin shakes her head. "Miss Gaikotsu had to live with this for... how long, Sakura?"
"Yeah? And we have to live wit-" the teleporter's mouth clacks shut.
Rin sighs, squeezing the teleporter's hand before letting go. "I know, Sakura. We all do. But..."
Akiko tips her head up, eyes closed, letting the rain fall on her face before she looks at Rin. "It's your choice, Rin."
"You- ugh, fine," Sakura snaps.
Rin squeezes both their hands again, and lets go, stepping forward to the edge of the roof and bounding for the next roof over. She doesn't crack the roof as she jumps, you note sourly.
"You stay the hell away from me," Sakura snaps at you, before turning to follow the healer.
You're tempted to snap back. So tempted.
A sigh interrupts you, Akiko standing beside you and gazing after the retreating back of the teleporter. "Sakura has her reasons for disliking you," she says. "I would put to you a recruitment pitch, but I doubt it'd work out." With that, she similarly leaps for the next roof over.
Your quirk an eyebrow, before launching yourself upwards, wings flaring wide. You shadow the bounding figures of the Sendai trio from above, three girls bouncing over the roofs back to Masami's apartment. You arrive first, landing on the roof, and wings dissolving into a spiral of marbles packing themselves away into your bag, and you let yourself in via the roof-access staircase, thankfully unlocked.
You untransform as you walk down, the blaze of light leaving you dry but shoeless, since you left those back at the Masami's. and you comb your hair with your fingers, smoothing it out.
You arrive at Masami's door just as Hiroko's about to pull it shut - the Sendai girls arrive before you, it looks like? Speeding up a few steps, you manage to wedge a foot in the door before she closes it. "Oh," she says on catching sight of you, and opens the door fully to let you in. "Thank you, I think."
"Hmm?" you ask, eyeing your shoes with some annoyance as you step past her.
"They came back. They say... they'll do it," the illusionist tells you.
"Good," you say.
As you enter the room, Rin's speaking. "-sume you'll want some privacy, so do you have a room which you can lie down in?"
Masami nods, her face a conflicted mess of hope and worry. "Y-yeah, the bedroom?"
"That'll do," Rin nods. "And I assume that Miss... um, sorry, I've forgotten your name?"
"Wakahisa," Hiroko supplies.
"OK. Miss Wakahisa will be going with you?" Rin says.
Masami nods shakily.
"OK. OK..." Rin says. "Let's g-go." Her voice cracks slightly on the last syllable.
"Wait," Akiko says. "I would like Miss Sabrina to go with you, if that's acceptable for everyone involved?"
"Are you fucking serious-" Sakura, of course.
Masami blinks, face shuttering to shock. "Why?"
"Miss Sabrina can control Grief," Akiko says implacably. "I think it'll be helpful."
Sakura reaches for her pocket, and pulls out a Grief Seed, holding it out to Rin. "There. Done," she snaps.
Akiko sighs. "Sakura, give me this, will you? We can talk when we're back home, OK?"
"Fuck. Later, later, later," the teleporter spits.
"Please," Akiko says.
"Fuck! Fine, whatever!" Sakura says, throwing her hands up.
[] Agree
[] Disagree
[] Write-in
=====​
You have one thousand, one hundred and ninety seven Grief marbles, and two Grief Seeds in your pockets.
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