View source for 284/NODE: City of Cycles - Creation

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/07/25
|Location=The Homeworld
|Synopsis=Homura's node is created, under the safe eye of many friends.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=2, 219, 231, 253, 331, 347, 380, 383
|Tinyplot=When They Return
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The White Wing is as ever white, and not a very stand-out-ish area of the Homeworld. There's Burden's broken capsule, and the display case with Abby, the First Gauntlet, still inside it. There's Mr. Welcomes' boot! And odds are he is anticipating another show for his entertainment. What a jerk.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura is here, with her right arm in a sling, and quite a bit of bandages, if that were visible under her white dress shirt and black pants anyway. She's got her glasses on, and her hair's in a sidetail. Fighting Satsuki was pretty brutal but she's pretty lucky one of her two commentators is a priest, and the tournament's medics know their jobs.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A few people have been invited here outright; Madeline, specifically, isn't invited (Homura wouldn't really have thought to) but could have been messing around the Homeworld when she saw people heading into the White Wing, and is completely free to intrude.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of note is that Homura does not have her ribbon in her hair right now, probably a first since her world's reboot. It is, instead, in her left hand.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of COURSE Himei would be here. Homura is one of her best friends... possibly THE best. Top five for sure. She's also picked up on the fact that Nodes /usually/ aren't a threat at first, so she's lightly armed. Still armed, just in case this one is different, but mostly dressed in casuals: shorts and a t-shirt, in fact. Hey, it's warm out right now!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura's choice of 'object' is no surprise to Himei. She glances at it, nods to herself, and just crosses her arms to wait. She /is/ a bit curious how Homura will handle the 'show' wanted.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber is here. He has Adjudicator across his back in the sword's holster, hanging there. Beyond that, the half-angel is fairly quiet. Instead of paying full attention to the White Wing, he is hanging around with a big binder and writing in it rapidly. Occasionally he takes a moment to underline something or to scratch out a note. Whatever he's working on, it's pretty mysterious. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Abstractum aside, Psyber is unarmed and doesn't seem too concerned about anything. Knowing him, though, he could probably just kill someone with the pen in his hand if he really needed to.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's right! Madeline just saw people wandering in, so she's going to be here too! She was going to get her Abstractum scanned, but this is more interesting. If nobody is telling her to scram, she's going to watch, dressed in her... flight suit? Well, pilot suit. She's worked with most of the people here before, so doesn't see a reason for them to tell her to get out. In fact, she outright asks, "Need any help?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:383|Laine (383)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Laine is in wolf form, having followed Psyber in. There is not much to say here, as she's currently just curled up by Himei, watching how everyone is getting ready. Also she may have patched up Homura a bit, if needed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:219|Ariel (219)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>ARIEL is performing an important duty for the whole thing... and she is THRILLED to see Madeline! The little unicorn carried in a bag, but has started pulling a LOT of things out of the bad... metal rods, to start with. These are going on top of the STAGE that Vruasa left, and she claps her hands as Madeline joins them.<br /><br />"Hey! Hey! Your Empress Vance! You know how to play instruments, right? Because we need a show for this!"<br /><br />Ariel reaches into her bag again, and out comes the rest of the FULL DRUM SET she has crammed into the bag of holding she was given for her birthday.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow, kid! You look beat up." Mr. Welcomes says the obvious. "I caught the fight on the streams, that woman's a real terror. You did pretty well, getting her to back down." A few firm, friendly nods from the middle-aged man, before he casually goes back to standing by and waiting for input. But he's eyeing the stage with a palpable anticipation.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellestaria is here, dressed in her fancy silks and stuff. All she says to Homura is, "I take no responsibility for this." She avoids looking at what Ariel is up to.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I do not mind help," Homura tells Madeline-- well, that was unplanned, but not necessarily unwelcome. There aren't a lot of Confeds she would trust and Maddie's on the short list. Obviously the Puella Magi would have had no objections to pre-show care, whether from Laine, Ariel, Ellestaria or Psyber-- one could argue she can now help Himei with her studies too.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well at least if something goes wrong she's got support.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Erm... right, so... Welcomes, what do you... expect me to do? Put the ribbon in and then get on stage for you? What am I even supposed to say?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cue social awkwardness. That's one aspect she's still not very good in. She can fake a cool face and appear emotionless but when she's got expectations of social performance stuck on her...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh! You'd like to make a Node then? Ahhhh... To speak honestly, that's mostly a construct of the others. Specifically Fiora and Vruasa. That whole... Performance thing is actually a passive-aggressive gesture." Mr. Welcomes grins widely and good-naturedly. "I like it though! It's one way of doing this."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He spreads his hands out in a wide, plaintive gesture. "Honestly? All I want is for you to ask me with a little... Drama! A little feeling! This is the start of a new adventure, a new world with new mysteries! Don't you think it deserves a little drama? You don't even have to, if it's too much of a problem. But it'd make an old man happy." A few chuckles.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madeline looks at Homura.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madeline looks at Ariel.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madeline looks at Homura again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I guess that I can help. I do know my way around a drum set," the Solar admits, climbing up onto stage and tucking the set into place properly. "Here, Ariel, watch and you may learn something." Zeniths ARE good at performance, after all.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And hey, there's a glowing, bright circle on her forehead! This isn't ominous at /all/!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Erm, well... I suppose I would not want to vex an old man, no... and since we apparently have a Solar here to give show..." Homura admits, scratching the back of her head. "So, I will--"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Out of the blue, a purple, gemstone-like laughing falcon lands atop the microphone on the stage. It sits there for a moment before Homura notices.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then she just looks kind of terrified.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh no."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hisa chirps, which sounds more like a human laughing than a bird.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'll give the speech~! For magical girl Homura-chan[[User:Moemura|Moemura]] ([[User talk:Moemura|talk]])!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That is, technically, her soul.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It counts as her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Don't pay much mind to Psyber. He went through the rigmarole of creating a Node a while back, so he's hardly going to make fun of someone over theatrics and presentation. Plus he's busy and writing. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He does give Madeline a nod of his head and a faint tip of the pen as a greeting when she enters. But really, he is kind of just hanging back for the moment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Welcomes, wordlessly, seems fine with this, propping up his head on two elbows and giving an eager look to Homura's soul, who appears to be ready to give him the drama he's wanting here.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DAEMON SPOTTED! And Himei knows exactly what that means. "Oh... I'm so sorry, Homura." At least Himei's isn't out right now. "At least you'll have a decent backup in this case?" She might be talking about Madeline, rather than the rest of the crew. Maybe.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:219|Ariel (219)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ariel immediately brightens when Madeline takes up the challenge! "Thanks! I haven't really learned much yet. I wouldn't mind seeing a few tricks!" She steps back and makes some room for the bird and Solar pair, waving to Mr Welcomes, "Hiii Mister Welcomes!" It would seem her earlier grumpiness about the Homeworld is gone... or, at least, she's not blaming Welcomes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I... guess so," Homura tells Himei.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Once! There was a young girl! She wore glasses, and her hair was in big braids! And she spent a few years in the hospital because of her heart, and that was after her parents gave her up to a catholic school! She came to Mitakihara Town for treatment, and then we was almost cured!" Hisa starts, chirping happily. "But when she went to her new school, the pressure was too much! She wasn't good in sports! She was years behind on actual education! Oh no, she even had social anxiety and she was shy! Oooh, poor Homura-chan~! But see, that's when she met Madoka!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A change in tone here, to a more praising song. "Madoka was nice! And strong, and reliable! She didn't care if poor Homura-chan wasn't good at anything! She thought her name was cool, too! And then when Homura went home, she was attacked by a scary monster born from dark emotions! The Witch tried to claim her, but Madoka and Mami-sempai saved her! Things were so happy and good~!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura just kind of frowns a bit.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But then cruel life! So cruel to poor Homura-chan~! A most terrifying Witch appears, Walpurgisnacht! In one fell swoop it claims Mami-sempai, and then Madoka. It's on that day that magical girl Homura-chan is born! Wishing for true love over the corpse of her best friend--" Hisa is interrupted by Homura, who grumbles something like: "T-That's not what I wished for."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hisa restarts: "WISHING FOR TRUE LOVE AND JUSTICE over her best friend's body, MAGICAL GIRL HOMURA-CHAN~ rewinds time, and goes to try her hardest to save Madoka and Mami-sempai! But the world doesn't want that! Even with their training, even by meeting other fellow magical girls, rewind after rewind, their fates only get worse! But a magical girl never gives up! She never gives in to despair!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hisa does not seem done, but takes a quick pause.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura burries her face in her hands.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, things have started! Madeline doesn't know the tale, so she's keeping half an ear open to listen while the bird speaks and chirps. Even so she starts twirling drumsticks and giving a light percussive background to the bird's story, building up as the story grows in emotion. It's a pretty good performance for a human, even if it's kind of lazy compared to what she could do.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Welcomes, for his part in this, seems caught up in the story. Less the "this is gonna be good" popcorn-chomping kind of caught up, more the sort of caught up that storytellers get from an audience, a clear and obvious attention to the details and eagerness to see how the story will be told alongside eagerness to see what's next. He also likes the nice touch of the background performace. Great for atmosphere-setting.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And so!" Hisa eventually restarts. "Time went by! And the weeks became months, and the months years! After ten years, magical girl Homura-chan~ was joined by the Union! The heroes were many! An angel, another mysterious and super cool magical girl, an Atlantean, a werewolfowl, a ninja doctor, some Exalted, and so many other people I can't even remember them all! There was even a big burly dude in black armor being all Sir McClanks Heavyweight!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura idly says, "-I- remember them all."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chirping along, Hisa resumes. "It took them all a few tries! Walpurgisnacht was powerful, but that wasn't their true enemy! For ~CAT SATAN~ informed Homura-chan that it was fate herself she had to change, because her messing with time wrapped the threads of destiny around Madoka so hard that escape wasn't possible! All the failed timelines hung over her like an axe, and no matter how many times she restarted it wouldn't help! It would only wrap more strings around her! Never giving up, she still organized the final battle! But a powerful blow from the Witch disabled Homura-chan, and on the verge of giving up, Madoka appeared, and she said it was alright! She wished for all all bad things to end! And most of the bad things ended!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's... close enough.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ish.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Now Homura-chan~ has to pay her debts to the Union and fight for true love and justice! She's gone through so much, and she always endures! THAT'S WHY!!!" She chirps directly at Welcomes now. "That's why you should give magical girl Homura-chan~ a chance to prove herself to your Homeworld by creating a Node! WHEN THEY RETURN, TOGETHER WE'LL END THEM[[User:Moemura|Moemura]] ([[User talk:Moemura|talk]])!" Chirp chirp.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She seems done.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Someone should check Homura's pulse to see if she died of shame yet.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is all one hundred percent historically accurate. I can confirm, I was there," Psyber says absentmindedly over the yelling soul of Homura while he writes in his binder.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Himei has her face in her hands, blushing as well. This is embarrassing for her, too! Just not nearly as much, she wagers. "Hisa..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tsk. Ellestaria rubs at her temples and murmurs, "Well, as dramatizations go, that is... not too bad. Really, I guess all the important details are right."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even though it's DRUMS, Madeline has been relatively quiet, keeping the loud strikes to points where Hisa was pausing or between sentences. Now, as Hisa starts to talk about the debts and ties up the speech, Madeline's drumming grows into a swift, stacatto rattling and more dramatic buildup! It's no guitar, but she'll make do.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And there's the CRASH of the cymbal and then a light thrumming fade while she holds the stick atop the vibrating disc. "Together, we'll end them~" She adds.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:383|Laine (383)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The drum beat dies down... and it is suddenly joined by the whining yet shrill "WUFF!" of a wolf doing a musical bark into the air, punctuating the story! Laine isn't a galliard, but screw it. She can have fun.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:219|Ariel (219)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ariel just starts clapping as the story comes to a close and the support that she forcefully recruit gives a nice little background beat to it. "See? That wasn't so bad! Oh... Homura!" She hops off the stage and starts fanning the magical girl. "Oops."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Welcomes claps his hands together one. "Ahhh! A debt to be repayed! A perfect bit of dramatic tension, rooted in a long, arduous past struggle!" Mr. Welcomes rubs his hands together and pulls them back. "Perfe<span class="underline fg_c bg_n ++ t."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"cu">Let's see what happens this time!</span>"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Mr. Welcomes brings both palms forward to slam against the glass, a familiar process occurs. What the others see is a massive gush of bright white light that rushes out of, and surrounds, Homura. What Homura sees is reality itself crack and crumble, shattering away like mirror shards, the fragments falling and fading away.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura's perception is suspended in a deep, black void. That seems to go on for a short while, until, suddenly, things seem to reverse. Shards reassemble, fading in from existence in reverse, coming back together into one cohesive whole slowly. These are shards of another reality, though, something different. Homura's perception hangs over something styled off of a japanese city, just next to a radio broadcast tower, with all the rigidly defined areas that compress as much as possible into as little space as possible. And, somewhere, there is a ticking noise... The echoing nature of it allows Homura to realize the sound is heard backwards.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There are familiars, all through the city. Moving in reverse, these familiars seem to be based heavily on abstract sculptures, sculpted obsidian moving around four-legged animal form, looking like early stop-motion films because of the strange movement mechanisms. They're also all moving in reverse. They slowly, surely "unslaughter" the city, reverse-devouring assorted inhabitants, slowly condensing to an origin point some distance away, on the far outskirts of the city.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sun goes up and down repeatedly, the city moving in inverse, until the ticking stops and everything freezes. The moment that it freezes up has Homura's perception joined by three girls on top of the radio tower. A blue-haired girl with a more elegant, princessy outfit, a red-haired girl with what looks like some kind of 20's-era-inspired magical girl costume, and a blonde girl with a somewhat mage-inspired outfit. The trio sit together, laughing and socializing, frozen in time. An Incubator can be seen, nestled on top of the head of the blue-haired girl.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura will be familiar with the freeze-frame effect that dulls the colors of reality due to the many and assorted issues that come up when you freeze light in place magically. Which will make it all the more strange when the Incubator looks up, stares straight on at Homura, and whispers, telepathically, "Help."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The vision collapses.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The light fades and Homura is right back where she started. Mr. Welcomes is looking a little frazzled, but bright and cheery, mostly. "Aaaaand there we are! That was weird, it felt like I made that node a few dozen times, not just once. Well, only one gate showed up, so that's fine! You have created your Node, Homura! The City of Cycles stands ready to seek conclusion!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura is of course fine; mostly flustered and unabled to speak for a moment. Hisa withdraws-- disappearing from wherever it is she came from. Most likely back into Homura's Soul Gem, when no one is looking.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The effect of creating a Node takes Homura by surprise; she spends a while watching, and quickly starts hoping it's not quite what it looks like. She wonders if falsifying the speech and removing the timeloop elements would have prevented this sort of thing, or if that wasn't what it looked like and simply a product of whatever system Vruasa put in place for Node previews.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She hopes it's the latter.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Three magical girls and an Incubator; and of course it's asking for help. It wouldn't be tortuous if it wasn't. It's going to be hard to get past her bias there.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's snapped out of it by Welcomes' voice, shaking her head to look at him, and then everyone else. "A-Ah. I see. Thank you, Welcomes. And... you all as well," she finally says, before glancing out of the wing. "We should go take a look. But not for too long. I'm still feeling fairly beaten, and I'm an arm short of being able to defend myself. Of course, with all of you with me, that would not really matter at all."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:219|Ariel (219)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>All at once, the cape swirls around Ariel and she's ready for action! In humanoid form, obviously. "I really need to learn an illusion spell or something. I guess it doesn't matter in the Nodes, since by all accounts they know they're in a Node. At least, the important ones seem to. Maybe we should figure out if ALL of them know...?"<br /><br />She /may/ have forgotten to share that with everyone. Oops.<br /><br />"It won't hurt to just look, yeah!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'll come along," Psyber notes, shutting his binder and standing up. He carries the binder under one arm and looks around a bit, rubbing at one of his eyes, "I'd be a really shitty 'whatever role I fill for Homura' if I didn't accompany her on this," he proclaims, mentally noting to ask Hisa precisely what that role even is, anyway. Seems like Hisa would be more willing to divulge than Homura.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's right," Ellestaria confirms. "You're in no condition to be running about shooting things. If we run into trouble, let it beat up Psyber while the rest of us get out of there." That's probably a tease. Probably. Here in public she's back to her cool, humorless demeanor.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madeline sets aside the drumsticks and hops down lightly. "I'd like to see a newly-created Node, myself. I'm not the most proficient with pocket-realities and that sort of thing, but it's fascinating." She rubs at her forehead, which is still shining. Maybe she should have held off on that Essence use.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:383|Laine (383)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no more wolf howling. Instead, a white owl flutters up from the ground and perches on Homura's good shoulder, shuffling a little to get comfortable and make sure her claws don't dig in too tightly. Seems like Laine has an answer there.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hoot!" No need to actually SAY anything, she figures.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Out in the semi-crowded Lobby, a few of Homura's Legacy - odd witchy Familiars - can be seen curiously looking at the new gate, but most of them are moving on.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Gate itself is easy to see. A shimmering threshold set partway into the wall, visually resembling the distortion surrounding a Witch Barrier. The threshold itself is marked with the red thick-lined oval you see on the backs of Incubators.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It figures your Node would be like this," Himei mutters. Not that this is going to stop her from going in, but the moment she sees that distortion she's sighing. "Not one of my favorite segments of Union membership to relive, but..." She doesn't finish it, because everyone knows it. Homura's even more burned out on it, no doubt.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's alright. I think each of these is incredibly different, so there is not much experience that will carry from one to the other. From what I saw... be ready to deal with a version of Mitakihara. If it is more familiar to you, imagine Tokyo with more landmarks and diversity," Homura tells Madeline, before stopping in front of the gate. She once again turns to thank everyone-- pausing a bit to glare at the Incubator logos. Or what she assumes passes for their logo.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I... yeah. I'd rather not. But, at least, if we are to relive it, it will be for a good cause. And... if we are lucky, we can use everything we have learned to bring this to a proper conclusion efficiently." Come on, don't kill her hopes dead already. She's trying very hard to be positive!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well... we know there's an Incubator in there. It's probably safe to assume there will be Puella Magi, and Witches. Beyond that... your guesses are as good as mine."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Time to open that door and go through.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Entering the Witch Barrier Gate is simple and easy. One needs to be connected to Homura, of course, that's the means by which she can limit intrusion into her Node. A held hand or a hand on the shoulder works perfectly for the group to pass through with ease.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Within, things are a bit of a different matter. The space is a strange one; it's Mitakihara, upside down. The stalagtite-like building structures above tick ominously, like giant clocks, while below, a sky full of stars shines. The Node Path, the structure which traditionally goes between a Node Gate and the Node itself, is a unique one this time. It's a massive arrow, held up by a titanic drawn-back bow. The huge wooden shaft of the arrow is ornate, with different designed viewed from each angle. It's thankfully wide enough that walking alongside it is easy, though. And it's high up enough that it runs close to some train tracks on the inverted Mitakihara above.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's where Mr. Speaks is. The well-muscled younger Operator is walking a short distance from the group, upside down, far above, in the middle of the tracks. It looks like he'll exposit something, as is tradition, as the group walks along this massive arrow for a while.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:219|Ariel (219)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ariel only says one thing. "Wow, yours is a lot more surreal than mine. The path I mean." At least in her mind. Then again, her standards might be different.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber is mostly trailing along with the group, hanging at the back and not doin much, as he has been most of the scene.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Surreal and abstract have always been overlying themes in my world. Well... in Witches, mostly, but as that essentially became the center of the world for any magical girl, the difference is moot," Homura offers Ariel, before adding: "On the other hand, your actual Node looks a lot more fantastic." She glances down, at the arrow and bow. Well, the symbolism is certainly not missed there.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hisa suddenly perches on one of Psyber's shoulders.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Father and mentor! Magical girl Homura-chan~ needs one of those since she never had one! And you're an angel! She grew up in a Catholic school, even if she won't admit it you're still appealing to that side of her!" Chirp. Laugh.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura grumbles silently and turns red.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madeline says quietly, "That bird is quite the tattletale, isn't he?" Whether or not she realizes the nature of Hisa is left ambiguous, but it's probably safe, for now. Madeline is pretty plainly taking the truce very seriously. "From what I understand, each of these has some sort of goal to pursue, or enemy to fight. I suppose I should see if my own talents can be of any help."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Another few steps, and she admits, "It would be nice if we ran into one where I could bring my Warstrider, though. Without the Radiant Empress I feel so... useless."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Awww," Psyber actually says to Hisa and reaches up to pet the top of the bird's head, seeming quite pleased with the information, "Thank you, Soul of Homura," He comments to the bird. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He does give Madeline a slightly more serious and pointed look a moment later, "I think you're selling yourself short. I've only met you a couple times and heard you on radio, but you're clearly pretty sharp." He playfully (unless she stops him) punches her lightly in the back of a shoulder. Barely even a tap, "So don't call yourself useless. You're only as useless as you let yourself be."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This session is meant to provide an understanding. Not just of what it truly meant to work for another's salvation, but what it meant to try again and again for it. This session is also about the true cost of a happy ending, and what a happy ending really is."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This isolated space has been subject to 34 temporal cycles, initated by unknown force. The isolation of this space is more easily traced: It is the influence of one puella magi. She has isolated it against Incubator influence, and is hard at work on a strange project indeed. She asks for your help. But the last Incubator of the City of Cycles has its own request for you. Unfortunately, I rather expect you're going to give it to them."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The City of Cycles welcomes you, Homura Akemi. It begs for conclusion."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Speaks then seems to progress past the end of the pathway, along the tracks, elsewhere. Wherever that is, it's obfuscated by what looks like another Barrier Gate, this one an exit.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I vote we call whatever's doing it Akuma-i Homura." Psyber suggests, the joke having sounded better in his head. It might be time for Chrysanthemum to steal his bad jokes again.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:347|Abstractum.Net (347)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exiting from the "barrier" that makes up the Node Path leads out to... A very normal-looking city. It's wide, expanding out great distances and expanding to the horizon, but it's still a rather normal-looking city. In fact, it looks a fair bit Mitakihara-ish. And not even in the horrible secretly-a-witch-barrier way, it seems pretty genuine.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;However, Homura and others who are capable of directly detecting the sort of things so associated with this sort of environment will know that there's a lot going on under the surface. The magical atmosphere is polluted in precisely the same ways that a town beset by combinations of witches and demons. However, it seems... Stale, as if isolated for a very long time, and condensed, as if built up in that same space for a similarly long time.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The exit is in the center of town, high up on skyscraper where a radio broadcast tower rests. It gives a good view, and for those like magical girls, it makes for a good starting place to get moving in the city.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That is, if you're not horribly injured.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Isolated...?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If she knew how to do that...<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No, probably a bad idea. The Union's got manpower but her world still NEEDS Incubators, whether or not she'd admit it to them. Union can't be everywhere; can't fight every last Demon, every last Witch. At least, not without mobilizing its manpower there for a while. That's why having Puella Magi around works out, and she guesses whatever Kyubey is doing is still for the sake of the universe, so...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, at least we already know who we'll want to meet. So there's someone like me in here, and an Incubator. That's two visits at least. I don't like the idea of working with an Incubator, though--" she glances up, whether Speaks is still there or not. "Regardless of what you think, Speaks."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, let's take a quick look inside, and then... mull over this a bit. It'll be easier to come in with a plan next time if we have a visual reference." She walks forward, fully intent to at least get out of the entry hallway and get a good picture.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for being touched, Hisa does not seem to mind, but it's probably because it's Psyber. He's had Homura's Soul Gem in his hands before, and it doesn't bother her-- so Hisa, being Homura, wouldn't mind. Also he's an angel. Hisa probably looks up to him just the same.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then, there it is. A city. Feels like home.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nice view, too... but there's no way she's jumping off a radio tower in her state. It's as good a place to rest for now. She sighs. "Here we go again."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:219|Ariel (219)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ariel's Sorcery can pick up a faint pattern already, and with her Spirit Hood she can get more... but she's still an amateur. So when she walks out to peer over the city, all she can tell is... "Huuuh... there's a lot of magic here." That's it. Calling it 'stale' isn't something she thinks of, though with a little mental probing she can tell /something/ is off about it. "Kinda weird though. I guess we have a good vantage... and do you know if the Incubators are the SAME here? Maybe they aren't jerks here!"<br /><br />Ever the optimist.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:383|Laine (383)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;&lt;Smelling bad. Something wrong,&gt;&gt; Laine agrees as she flutters a bit on Homura's shoulder. She can't 'sense magic' in the same way as others - though she can sense it in her own manner - but she CAN sense the unnatural stasis that this place has been subject to. She comes up with one answer.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;&lt;Not like.&gt;&gt; Well, there's Weaver and Wyrm-equivalents all over, of course she wouldn't.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Himei doesn't really have a magic sense, just a vague evil sense. So she's out of the loop here! "Well of course there's magic. And witches and demons and whatever. You guys let me know if we have to smack one down." She's underrating how useful she'll be here, but at the moment she is just admiring the view.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellestaria is still here! She too is just looking out over everything... though she is also murmuring lightly, "Well, Mnemosyne, if there's magic here let's see what we can glean, but I'd bet the real action hasn't happened yet. I'm going to commit this street map to memory, that will be more immediately useful I think."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Since everyone ELSE is talking about magic, Madeline shrugs and concentrates. Sorcerer's Sight is a fairly large investment for her limited pool of Essence outside the Empress, but she activates it now to get a decent reading on what's going on. Seeing Essence flows might come in handy.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You know more about this situation than I, it seems," she finally says. Looking at those who have worked with her in the past, she shrugs at all of them. "I want to see what it is like in a Node. Is there something here that a Zenith-caste Solar can help with, or should I seek out a different one? I have no problem working with the Union in this case."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:380|Madeline Vance (380)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In reply to Psyber, Madeline adds, "Thank you, but that doesn't mean my talents couldn't be used more appropriately elsewhere. I have limited time to work with... running Skullstone takes a lot of my time. I want to make it an effective effort."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am sure whatever your skillset is, you will find something to do here. I will not turn away those wishing to help, within reasonable limits of a crowd. If this is anything like what I am used to, you can expect to have to help fight a few reality horrors, defuse fights between magical girls who would kill each other over a limited supply of regenerative items dropped by the horrors, and attempt to nurture them until a cataclysmic event strikes. And then... if we fail, we start over, with the constraint the next iteration will be harder, but that we have more information to act on."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura pauses, and then adds: "But... that was me. That was my life. This Node may not be the same at all. The conditions here may be different; the rules may have changed due to the isolation. And the Incubator recruiting magical girls... well, we'll have to talk to them to find out how he works."<br> <br>


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