View source for 1799/The Persistence of Fate

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/03/13
|Location=Old Mitakihara
|Synopsis=The group encounters a witch on the newly-unified Madoka's world and makes first contact with the puella magi of Higurekawa.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=2, 40, 231, 253, 255, 331, 570, 720
|Tinyplot=
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|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's deep into the evening, and the sun loiters just above the horizon line.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As is traditional for this particular location, everything is glazed over by a golden hue that is so enrapturing it almost glosses over the profound feeling of wrongness lingering in the air, and the miserable feeling of familiarity this all holds.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It would be very easy for the group to find Madoka once they've emerged through the warpgate. She's on a city street adjacent a railway line, worriedly clamoring over a certain portion of the wall of a seemingly random building. Only, any of those arriving would know immediately that this meeting place has not been chosen arbitrarily at all. A small, almost invisible black 'crack' through which massive quantities of dark energy creep would stand out to any who look with enough care and time. Kimiko, Homura, and Madoka would know exactly what this is intuitively. The others likely would too, but more from memory than from any other special inclination.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's the entry point for a witch's barrier.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyubey would arrive on cue, alighting on a window sill after a brief sojourn across the nearby rooftops. It would stare at Madoka wordlessly a moment before turning to the group and allowing those red beads upon his face to bear into Homura for a far, far longer and more uncomfortable period of time. Without taking any time to explain, it would look back to the pink-haired girl and inquire, "How is she here?" He could say that it shouldn't be possible, but he doesn't need to -- he wants to nip this thing in the bud immediately. Rightfully, he gets the distinct impression straight off that she and these other new faces may end up complicating things.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madoka, naturally, wouldn't have an answer prepared for him. She would just begin nervously glancing back and forth between the Incubator and the group of her new friends -- one a phantom of the past uncomfortably invading her present, and the other... hopefully ready to extricate her from the awkwardness of it all. Ultimately, though, she and Kyubey both have the same thing in mind: let's get this conversation over with quickly so we can get in there and help the magical girls trapped inside.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Only, the definition of 'help' likely takes very different forms for each of them.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It does not take long for Homura to appear besides Madoka, without sound or visual effect. It's probably creepy, in retrospect, especially now that she realizes that this Madoka would not be used to it yet. Urgh, well. Too convenient to stop, too bad.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She is dressed in her Puella Magi outfit, obviously; this didn't sound like a vacation trip and even if it had she would've still been careful. Her hair's loose, with that red ribbon in it, and her glasses are on, displaying occasional lines of text on the lenses.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It should come to no surprise that with another blur of motion, Homura has Kyubey by the throat. Well, what passes for the damn thing's throat. It's more like a thinner section of playdoh than a throat, really. Either way it seems she did not take his question too well.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Do not ask that question. If you do I will make sure you are too busy trying to find your bodies to have any more questions for a while." She would squeeze to emphasize but it's really pointless. Incubators can't know fear, they can only know when something is less efficient or too bothersome to pursuit. Maybe she can enforce that early on.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Just tell us when you're ready, Madoka."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:570|Kimiko Shinobu (570)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kimiko is here, arriving at some point shortly following Homura, similarly transformed. After noticing Madoka, she focuses on Kyubey--who is already being held by Homura. Well, that's fine. She nods slightly in that direction, and then shifts the direction of her sigh to the Barrier's entrance.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber is here. It's pretty obvious he came from something related to his job at the University, because instead of his normal outfit he's wearing a charcoal gray suit with a blue shirt and darker blue tie. Over that, he has a grey longcoat to complete the entire ensemble. The only part of his outfit that sticks out are that both of his hands are currently wrapped in bandages. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyubey would probably get out 'How is she here?' and then his brief conversation with Homura before a combat knife caught it square in the forehead. Psyber is totally the one who threw it, his bandaged hand quickly withdrawing back into his coat as Psyber says, "We have a very small window of free dialogue before he returns, so I will be brief. Opinions on Kyubey and his function are somewhat divided at times," He knows, for instance, other Puella are fond of him,"Despite this, I am here to help you, not Kyubey. These two separate lines may intersect at times, but do not mistake my ultimate objective." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He'll let Homura have the knife, he has like a half-dozen of them anyway. He turns to Madoka and says pretty blandly, "Do you understand?" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a gesture to keep his hands busy, he crosses them in front of himself and starts tightening the bandages he is wearing before they go back to his pockets a moment later, "If so, we should proceed with haste."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A demigod has arrived. Perhaps the magical girls of the city might be able to sense her; perhaps they can't. Most of them seem only to have a sense for Witches and things like them, but it's entirely possible there is a Puella or two in the city with more general supernatural sense. If that is the case, they probably have a lot to wonder about right now.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As is typical of Setsuko Kaminagi, she solves this problem by simply not thinking about it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Having no transformation to undergo, she simply follows beside Kimiko, one hand resting loosely on the sheath of her sword. When Homura takes up Kyubey, the swordswoman meets its beady red eyes and adds, "If it needs to be said, we do not like you. We know what you are, and we know how you operate. If you don't want us to cause you trouble, don't give us a reason."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The knife between the fluffball's eyes should serve as adequate punctuation, she thinks. Psyber gets a nod of approval. "Nice throw."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She is defnately older than a Magi. She is also older than most Magical Girls in General. But Eleanor Lamb is here, for multiple reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that the Sister will always have a deep understanding of the pains placed on the Magi by outside forces. And more so now that a new 'flock' of them is springing up again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Sister is here in her Mock SCIENCE!! Magicial Girl outfit. The dress with the fabric armor lining and places to store her EVE needles and such. She's also looking a little rushed. "Bother bother sorry I'm here. I see we've already off the Q B. I approve."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellestaria has shown up thinking ahead. Remembering what happened last time, she's not showing up in her silken look, or her uniform, or anything of the sort. The dark-skinned Atlantean is, instead, wearing a school uniform. Not even a Mitakihara one, but one that matches the local school. Properly dressed and with her hair in pigtails, the eighty year old sorceress looks around 14-15 if she says as much, though she could be 18 or 19 too. Either way, she's short enough that she can pass for a teen.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hello," she states as she walks on site. "Oh... er... hi! You can call me Lessa, or Lessa-chan." She nods firmly, still getting back into her old character. "Now, wh-" Oh, there goes Kyubey already. "... well, I can see this is going to be... lively."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Whelp. Another world of Puella Magi, another time for Himei to feel tired and grumpy. She's here, though... as much to keep an eye on Homura as anything else. Not that she thinks Homura will do anything inappropriate, or anything. In fact, her treatment of Kyubey goes /entirely/ without comment. No, she just wants to make sure everything works out.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You know," she mutters, "I was dreading the day this would happen."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Before he can do or say anything else, Kyubey is grabbed by the throat and held aloft. His eyes would squint shut in some fairly convincing mimic of a creature experiencing pain, and its paws would fumble around her hands for a few moments. Its words, every bit the grating rhythm of the past one would expect, would struggle to rasp a 'Help me' in Madoka's direction. The girl would curl her fists in and squirm nervously in response, obviously unsure of how to respond. She hates seeing him struggling like this. She hates to see -anyone- struggling like that regardless of who or what they are, and regardless of whether or not they can feel pain. Ultimately, though, she would just nod to Homura. "I-In... a few minutes, yeah."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She would glance back over to the critter just in time to see a knife fly into his forehead. She -freezes-, her eyes fogging over for a second. D-Did he really just...? What...? She would instinctively spin in the direction it came from which would lead her gaze to Psyber. She would bat her lashes a number of times, but in that time he's already begun saying something to her. Her perception of it is a bit hazy at first in the wake of her apparent shock, but it wears off in time for her to get the gist. Basically, they... definitely don't want what Kyubey wants. She would nod to that -- she's pretty sure she doesn't either, so that's okay. She would bob her head again when he asks if she understands. "Y-Yeah, I... I get it."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All she can really think is how happy she is these people are on her side. Homura in particular might get a brief look of surprise; the Homura she knew was never quite so violent. Granted, she never really had a -chance- to be, but that translates to the same thing for her perception. Setsuko would get a quick, nervous look as well as another iteration of Kyubey would appear on that same window sill. True to his tradition, he would begin to consume the duplicate body before looking to Psyber briefly. In his same, even, almost cheerful tone he would add, "Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's likely very little else he could have said that would have sounded quite so insulting.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madoka would swallow with some degree of trepidation at Eleanor's commentary. She's lived around Kyubey for four years and she -still- can't bring herself to hate him quite as much as this group seems to. She has no idea how to take this, and decides that he must have done something even worse where they had come from. Of course, she doesn't -like- him, and all the times she had helped him had been out of a sheer, desperate need for purpose. Still, even after all he did she could never blame him. Looking at him fills her with a raw feeling -- a terrifying feeling. But even in the presence of that, and even though she would never say it out loud, everyone else's reactions scare her almost as much.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Especially with Homura and Psyber whom she had so recently seen at a party, seeing this new, darker context makes her want to cry. She wouldn't, but she would want to. Maybe she will later when they're not around, but for now... right. They have something to do. After slightly concerned but wordless glances to Himei and Ellestaria, she would take a deep breath. To the whole group, she would softly intone, "Ready."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She would be the first to go. If no one else prevents him from doing so, Kyubey would leap from the window sill to her shoulder as she disappears, entering the barrier.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:570|Kimiko Shinobu (570)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kimiko takes Kyubey's demise with a shrug, turning to glance at Psyber. "It's a stop-gap, but you know that." If someone had killed the creature for no rational cause she'd be upset, but here they do have a job to do, and any time bought could be valuable. "We would need a way to convince the Incubators of greater value in... honest elaboration, to deal with them in the long-term." And if they had a carrot like that, they'd have had fewer problems on her Earth.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then Kyubey arrives. Well, that was even shorter than expected. At least the message should be delivered.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellestaria gets a blink. It surprises her a little how someone she knows to be a mother can still pass for a girl younger than /her/ so easily. She's hesitant to actually comment on that. Unsure of polite reactions. Moving on.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ready."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The interior of the barrier looks exactly as they must've years ago. Reality warbles and shifts in the same fashion, and the aesthetic looks far too much like a ghoulish paper mache. Unlike some they might be used to, though, this one does not sport any thin, dark corridors -- rather, the whole thing seems to be a wide open field. A bright yellow sun etched on to the sky in crayon shakes in place in a scene that must have been wrought by a very young child, as do the white picket fencings at the edges of what's visible to those entering. Every now and then the entire environment jumps -- intuitively, the others might be able to tell that this is in response to the witch taking some form of damage. Pretty much proof positive that there's at least one other magical girl in here.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;They wouldn't see where they are yet, though. Out from a pair of bushes dotted at intervals with shimmering lavender squiggles meant to serve as 'berries' would emerge a pair of headless, twirling dolls that look tobe made of clay. Their movements seem someone delayed; they lack human dexterity and move instead with the fluidity of some body that can't possibly possess bones or normal physics of any kind. This would make it all the more jarring as the right arm of one of them expands to far larger proportions and attempts to whip the first two people it sees: Setsuko and Kimiko. This maneuever is painfully slow, so all it really has going for it is the shock value of getting its strike in so soon after their entry.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The pair of them might hope, if they possessed the cognitive complexity to do so, that the rest of the group has yet to notice a third one of them behind those gathered. This one -does- have a head which, much like the arm of its compatriot, quickly stretches to a much larger length. It then proceeds to arc around to Ellestaria's front, attempting to grab her outright and send her hurtling through the air. Even more of them would flood in after these have gotten their words in edgewise -- droves of them. Four more appear near Homura and Psyber. Apparently having identified them as those of the group possessing the most raw power, they would rush the pair in unison, some of them trying to land on top of them whilst others twirl, as if in dance, with their arms held out to lash at them with each revolution.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the confusion, Madoka would likely dart over to Himei. Just in time, she would turn around to see yet another one of the familiars aiming its arm, which seems to have been fashioned into a spear, aiming to impale her. Madoka would hurriedly, awkwardly call for her to look out, summoning her bow into her hands. Once she's drawn an arrow, though, she would be forced to aim instead at another familiar that comes charging at her, leaving Himei to fend for herself for the time being.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eleanor alone would be ignored, leaving her to help whomever else she pleases. Before she does, though, she might glimpse something out of the corner of her eye -- there's a mirror in the distance hanging suspended in the air. It lacks the bizarre aesthetic endemic to a witch's barrier, so it might be the product of a puella magi's power. She can't say for sure, though, as it disappears seconds after it's noticed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Thank you," Psyber replies to Setsuko in a bland, almost monotone. He takes his satchel off his shoulder and sets it down with a thump. From inside, he retrieves two pistols which vanish into his coat a moment later along with their spare magazines of ammunition. He looks to Kimiko and says, "A stop-gap, yes. As for the Incubators, I am working on devising a proper means of edifying them on the consequences of their actions, but it is pending proper formation and deployment. I assure you it will be nothing particularly horrific in a physical or metaphysical sense." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He then slides the bag somewhere out of sight and looks to Madoka as she seems shocked at his change in demeanor. Red eyes look to hers and sees how distressed she is, "Please do not be distressed by my current demeanor, it is not my permanent or preferred method of projecting myself. If you are wondering which iteration of my personality and matter of conduct is the true me, please be assured it is the one you saw two days hence." He narrows his eyes, "I am simply under stress and attempting to conduct myself as best I can. Thank you for that party, by the way. It helped." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He looks to the others, "The proposed plan is this. We enter the Barrier and mitigate the Witch. If we can bring her back, we do so. If we can bring her back, kill Kyubey before we do so." Shit, he's back. Psyber will have to change his entire method of phrasing now, "After the Grief Seed has been properly handled, we need to locate the new Mages, if any, and appraise them of the situation in the least traumatizing way possible." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He steps up to the barrier, "I am ready to go," He notes as he draws his gun and clicks off the safety. A moment later he steps through and to the other side. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He grips the pistol a bit more tightly as he steps into the portal and his bandaged hand aches for it. Familiars, already. Better to handle it now than to wait until they could be ambushed. Disregardign that an attack right in the door is still an ambush. But he hops back and away as they come in towards him, lifting his handgun. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A shallow cut appears on his arm, going through the arm of his coat, suit, and the sleeve of his shirt to draw a line of blood. As his feet touch the ground and he skids, he opens fire with practiced shots, aiming for their 'heads' or 'chests' as best he can while he tries to gauge his surroundings.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eleanor's head swims as it always does, and she finds herself in A Candy Land Diorama or at least some horrible abuse of the concept of Candy Land. And much like she's used to in the past, the Familiars leave her alone until shedoes something about them. She's okay with that, as ever, an the others are more than capable of handling... ah, Goo Men. However you wise to describe these things. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Sister catches the glimpse of that mirroed reflection by way of the glint of sunlight it casts across thefield before it too warbled out of existance as the Barrier shakes. Hmmm. She swishes her hand across one of the hidden pockets on her dress, and calls out her Magical Wand... which is also a heavy ass monkey wrench. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Time to hunt.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's not that Homura wants to appear cold, it's that she knows that THING can't feel a damn single emotion. If it can feel pain, that would be a small comfort, but she knows it probably can't. She would follow along with Madoka, after retrieving the knife and stuffing it who knows where.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I wouldn't worry, Kyubey can't feel pain. At best, he can feel frustrated that he's being made to waste time. That's as close to human as he comes." Strictly speaking she has no proof Incubators can't feel pain, only Kyubey's word. And Kyubey's word was 'not in the way you humans do'. Hella useful.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madoka and Kyubey go in-- Homura turns to everyone else, before they follow, now that Kyubey's out of earshot.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Please remember that we don't KNOW that we can fix these Witches. Old rules. She'd probably already dead. But if you want to try, three of you might stand a chance." Either way, time to find out if it works. Worst case, no big deal. Just another dead Witch.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura steps in, finally-- glancing around and frowning. "I know this one. It's not very powerful, but it's a dog. It'll have smelled us from a mile away and it's very agile." That's about all she DOES know. Sayaka was the one who always killed this Witch, typically on her own, and Homura only ran into it once or twice-- and her fighting style does not lend itself to learning what Witches can do, when she frontloads.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking of frontloading, the Puella Magi does not actually do anything, as is typical. She stays by Madoka's side, in the event cover were needed, but doesn't actually arm herself. Nonetheless, beams of purple light-- more like arrows, really-- form in the air out of nowhere to intercept the Familiars trying to attack her, with just enough force to blow them away completely if they don't try to dodge.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That it stayed alive this long is surprising, or one of its Familiars managed to come all the way here and grow up. Still odd."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Setsuko Kaminagi's reflexes are far beyond human, and her practice has long since become to treat a Barrier as hostile territory from the moment she sets foot in it. Even so, the surprise of a familiar beginning its attack immediately is enough that she actually takes a fraction of a second to respond. Even that, however, is enough to let her counter effectively.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the past, the demigod swordswoman has gotten by on a blend of agility and power, skill and aggression. A balanced style that excels in no particular suit save perhaps just a hair on the power side. Those who have watched her fight time and again, who know her style and inclinations well, would probably expect a sidestep and downwards cut here, or perhaps a dive to the side and forward followed by a charge for the source.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What she does instead defies all expectation, and the past experience of most of those present. A scant few here saw it happen once already, during Ariel's rainbow run, but even that falls short of the sudden and blinding speed with which Setsuko strikes.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is a gleam of light off steel, a sudden and fast movement, and the tendril whipping towards her and Kimiko simply falls apart. With her arm to one side, she holds the stance for just a moment, and then launches into a full-speed charge straight towards the familiar, taking her sword in both hands for a simple and much more 'normal' counterattack. "HAA!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh. I'd forgotten what it was like," Ellestaria sighs, seeing the thing coming toward her and... not really fighting it at all when it grabs her and flings her upward. She knows she's not really a fighter, at least not in the manner of most here. Lest isn't in her Spark form, doesn't have her Battlesuit... she's kinda stuck here, relatively helpless.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Relatively.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As she's flung upward, crackling electricity jolts from her fingers into the Familiar that grabbed her, a powerful blast of mystically-fueled power that crackles downward.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, she can't fly in this condition, so this leaves her tumbling in midair and sighing as she braces for impact.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Seems simple enough. Himei lets Psyber take the lead on this one, as Himei has her own priorities right now. She's less tense than she was at first... especially when Homura mentions she knows this one. "Great," she mutters, cracking her knuckles.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There was a time when Madoka's warning wouldn't have been enough, and Himei would have been impaled regardless. As things are, she's still hit, but is already diving to the side. The impalement instead gouges a small furrow along her arm, and strikes her middle along the side... scraping off the armor she wears there. Blood is spreading over her sleeve, but she's not impaled.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A moment later and her clothing flickers silver, shimmering into her Magical Girl outfit. "No," she says, vaguely directed at Kyubey for some obscure reason. Most of her attention is on forming a shining blade of mystical power, slicing at the Familiar that attacked her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:570|Kimiko Shinobu (570)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kimiko is ready for an ambush. This is her default state when Witch-hunting and not based on anything like a particular source, hint, reason, or sign. Nevertheless, when they get through, she takes only the scant moment required to determine the nature of the attack, and then diverts her attention toward everything else, tracking targets, attacks, and motion, while apparently ignoring the one guardian going for her.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She already knows that Setsuko is the more aggressive fighter, and faster, and that no signal need be given on her part. That was so even before Ariel's test. She knows several other things toward the same conclusion, but a Witch hunt is not the correct time for considering them in depth.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even before Setsuko charges, Kimiko is moving in another direction. She still hasn't summoned either armor or weapons, leaving her hands free and arms somewhat more comfortable for when she leaps into the air, a magic circle quickly disappearing from her launching point, and she tries to catch Ellestaria nearest the apex of her flight as she can. Landing is, for a Puella Magi, generally a simple affair. She can't fly, either, but high acrobatics? Yes, they'll have a soft landing.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber would nail at least three or four of the familiars with several well-placed shots. Those that possess heads would have them explode, and those that don't would accrue gaping holes in their chests. Their recoil from the fire would be somewhat delayed, though -- they would bend backwards and flail their arms, bit it looks like they're moving in slow motion. No -- they *are* moving in slow motion. Also, while one or two of them do fall over, incapacitated, the other two stay standing. It seems like these things are much more hardy than they appear. In proving of this, one of them would stretch out its torso and use what remains of its arms after the barrage to attempt to grab hold of Psyber. If it's successful, it would try to headbutt him.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For Homura, purple arcs of light move to impale at least five of them. In one case, an arrow actually sticks to of them together, holding them for a moment before each of them collapse. As it was with Psyber, though, at last one of them stays standing. One of them would attempt to take advantage of any splits in Homura's attention to grab her right arm and, after doing so, attempting to swivel around her to punch her with its other hand. Its movements are still more than slow enough that she could likely sever its arm at the shoulder before it could join her time jumps, and it of course has no idea that it's done anything so tactical, but it still might pose a threat this way.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for Setsuko, she would easily cleave her quarry in two. The legs of the clay doll that she slices would fall to the ground, inert, but unfortunately one of its arms seems to have survived the strike. As quickly as it is able it would send this appendage flying -- stretching out as far as it can and, once it's far enough to build significant momentum on a return trip, it would blast back to her like a rubber band. On its way the arm would reform into a pointed edge -- a needle -- that could still do some damage if she doesn't react quickly enough. She might also consider giving the body another whack for good measure.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellestaria's magic leaves no such opening for the familiar, though; though one might expect clay to resist electrical discharge rather than serve as a catalyst for it, it seems whatever material these things are made of allows for lightning -- or at least, magically derived lightning -- to spread through them very quickly. It would quiver in place, convulse, and twist until its arms and legs have inflated to give it a shape reminiscent of the Homunculus and then... well, explode. Bits and pieces of it would fly everywhere, but at that point their color has faded. They've become gray, and in that discoloration, ostensibly harmless.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It seems that the familiars haven't been ignoring Eleanor after all -- rather, they've been planning. At least three of them soar overheard, sending their arms flying to the ground as the same sorts of spears that had been sent to Himei and Setsuko before. Essentially, this would create a notably deadly rain; if she can't move out of the way before they come down, they might get in a few nasty scrapes at her sides. Regardless of their impact, the familiars would gingerly fall to the ground with the aid of their bending arms, tearing them back out of the ground and turning to face Eleanor again. They don't throw any more strikes just yet, though.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mercifully, Himei's strikes would manage to cut off both arms at once. This would prevent the familiars she strikes from doing anything beyond flailing helplessly on the ground for a bit before their bodies, too, lose their color and become still. No more come to strike at her for the moment, meaning that she's the one able to choose her actions this time around. Also, she might notice what Eleanor mentioned before -- there is a pair of mirrors far in the distance. Between them seems to be a girl with long, flowing blue hair, and near her is... is...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... a bumbling girl who is quite obviously not a puella magi. The fact that she can tell even from this distance may be a bit distressing, but she practically exudes an aura of haplessness. There would be a moment of tension when the witch - a dog, like Homura had said - would rush her with its fangs barred, but another mirror would appear in front of it and transport it somewhere else where the 'blue' girl smashes its form in-between two mirrors. After that, the barrier shudders again.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Setsuko makes the mistake of pausing after her strike to consider her next move; careless, really. She should know better after facing so many Witches. And she does indeed pay for it; her instincts warn her at the last second, and she jerks to one side - but the needle gouges out a long, thin, but deep cut right along her right bicep, drawing a hiss of pain from the warrior.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She acts in response immediately, however, launching a quartet of fast, precise cuts. The first goes through the attacking arm itself, while all three followups go through the familiar's main body, cutting it into ever smaller and smaller pieces. This time, she will be /thorough/.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eleanor, for her part, was not unaware of the familiars sneaking up on her. Though the method of attack is... novel. The Sister takes one spear along her arm, and then looks up to start dodging more of the bloody things. The gash through her sleeve is already sealing itself up though, blood dripping to pool on the ground... though the 'scab' is awfully waxy looking. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wait no, that's not a scab, that's a beehive. Eleanor's arm crusts over with wasps nests and hives and she starts to throw horrible awful bees up at the Familiars. Please deal with something else, thank you.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Familiar grabs Homura by the arm.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She clicks her tongue in annoyance. That really is inconvenient, and last time it happened, she got the beating of her life. On live television too, although she's not especially worried about that part. It was enough to take precautionary measures though-- ones other than the fact she can just summon a weapon to deal with it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a metallic click in her sleeve, where the Familiar has grabbed her. She twists her wrist, and a blade pops out. A normal Hidden Blade lives up to its name-- a small, concealable knife, essentially, the sort that doesn't have much more reach than throwing a punch does. This one is anything but.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Murder of King Charles extends out, a wicked black blade with a silver trim, reaching the full size of a standard Regisword. Given the positioning, it'll be difficult for the Familiar not to get its arm cut off by it.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sadly that does mean she can't avoid the punch, but with her arm hypothetically freed she'll just bounce a few feet back, complain about the hit, and then use the extended black blade to finish the job. If her arm isn't freed, a normal Regisword will appear in her empty hand, and she'll use that instead.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's a bit too distracted with the overtouchy Familiar to notice either the Witch or its two targets at the moment, though.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"They were less annoying than this before. Slower, less sturdy. The Witch must have used the time to feed."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Familiar that tries to come at him does so while he's reloading. An empty magazine falls out of the gun and clatters to the floor and Psyber is grabbed as he's trying to put the new one in. His counter is to punch it square in the head with one of his hands. Of course, as his fist makes connection, he winces and lets out a sharp hiss as whatever he had it bandaged for is clearly exacerbated. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Slapping the new magazine into his gun and hopping away while he shakes his off-hand, Psyber grumbles a bit and tries to focus in on the task at hand. As a combat specialist, he's arguably where he wants to be for the moment. He watches Kimiko move to catch Ellestaria and then sighs a bit. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His free hand reaches into his coat and pulls out the second gun he took out of his satchel earlier. Dropping into a crouching position, he braces his hands on eachother and unleashes a flurry of shots at any remaining familiars, trying to cut them down with his marksmanship.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellestaria is HEROICALLY RESCUED by Kimiko, and she gives the appropriate thanks. "Thank you." What, what else? As the two land, Lest settles on her feet and flicks her hair back, quickly taking stock of the area. This way, she can actually see the mirrors, and get an idea of what's going on.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That can't take a small amount of magic," she notes quietly. "We should hurry." That's her idea, anyway.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But first... a burst of energy erupts around Lest, the 'schoolgirl' suddenly crackling with power and lightning crawling all over her body. She's in her battle mode, now, and can thus more easily toss a few bolts of lightning at incoming Familiars as she moves toward the Puella Magi. "And we need to get that girl out of here!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:570|Kimiko Shinobu (570)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kimiko is already letting Ellestaria down as they land, wanting to waste no time. "Whenever I can help," she'll be there, if in sight or on call.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Being able to quickly take stock of a battlefield is a skill Kimiko did not gain through her magic, but has honed through long practice. She can't be certain with a single glance, but given who's here, what they're fighting, and wounds suffered up to this point, she has minimal concern for those behind her. She prioritizes, as she normally does, the weakest--and the weakest person here is obvious. It's the unknown, non-magical girl up ahead.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With that in mind, she reaches her decision at around the same time as Ellestaria calls for action. "Forward." There are likely to be familiars in the way, but she focuses on her goal--rushing ahead in bounding steps to reach the Witch and the two girls as quickly as possible. What she'll do when she gets there is a little up in the air, and depends on how the Witch reacts.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Himei is a little busy, so is unable to do any tactical planning for now. Fortunately, some others that she trusts are here to do just that. With Psyber taking down the Familiars, she has less to worry about, though she does 'help' with that.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As in, a shimmering silver-white beam lances out, shooting /through/ Psyber's chest, and striking toward a Familiar.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Afterward, wings sprout from Himei's back. They're shimmering silver laced with black streaks, but she doesn't immediately launch toward the Witch. She instead makes a floating leap toward Homura, drawing a /real/ sword for defense if she's attacked, and says something very important to the other girl. "Homura. Looks like we have a candidate to rescue."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Setsuko is indeed thorough, and the pieces that are left over all lose their color as those before them did. It's almost certainly not coming back after that, and it seems like there aren't any other familiars coming her way for the moment, so she may be in the clear. Eleanor, meanwhile, sends swarms of bees at the familiars -- they keep them preoccupied, but in the end the effect they have is much more consequential. While the stings do absolutely nothing - they're magical constructs, after all - each one of the familiars becomes preoccupied in watching the bees circle around their heads. Unwittingly, they end up twisting their necks around one another and... their heads fall clean off. They would bumble into eachother and collide until, in the end, all three of them cease to move.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In Homura's case, her familiar would essentially massacre itself. The arm that swerves around to punch her would be impaled on the sword whilst the hand that had grabbed her would be lopped off by the emerging knife. This would leave her all the space in the world to leap back, though as it was with the others, no more seem to appear for the time being. Psyber would have to unload almost all of his bullets into his group -- it seems like this is one of those rare instances in which swords are objectively superior to guns -- but they do fall down in the end. They're all riddled with so many holes that they quite literally lack the mass to hoist themselves back up off of the ground, so they don't; their bodies become gray, and they cease to move.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ellestaria, for her part, would see a bit more of the fight between the other puella magi and the witch. After recovering from being slammed in-between those mirrors, the 'dog' witch would become almost two-dimensional, floating down to the ground like a feather. Both girls would continue to look on as though it had been defeated, but suddenly, the head of the thing grows and expands in much the same way that the appendages of its familiars had. Its every tooth would grow. Its head would grow to twice the size of its entire bodily mass. Its jaw would open around the non-magical girl.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On the bright side, its movements are as gradual as those of its spawn, but it's clear there isn't much time. If they don't act quickly, she'll probably be killed.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The blue magical girl would summon a mirror in-between its jaws -- another measure to buy time, but nothing more. The rest is up to them.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eleanor is quick to curbstomp the fallen heads as she scrambles away from the Familiars, one with her wrench and the other two simply by Thinking Hard at them. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But we are now in a full 'mami no' situation, and the Big Sister is clutching up her wrench and the hem of her dress and takign long, loping strides in the direction of the Witch. Right ,well, first things first, Kimiko's already done one of these. And now Eleanor takes a stab at it. Or rather... <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A modified rugby tackle! Which is less of a tackle and more of a 'motivated hug', as she leaps for the girl about to get bitten, and attempts to push/shove/drag her out of position.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Only once Setsuko is sure the familiar is dead does she turn from it this time. With a quick flourish, she returns Zanjintou to its sheath and turns, checking on the others; things seem to be well enough in hand that the group is turning its attention to the other girls present. Lest's voice brings them to Setsuko's notice as well, just in time to see the Witch prepare a surprise attack. Her eyes widen, and in the blink of an eye she's running full tilt. Faster than the fastest human, fast enough to keep up with highway traffic, the silver-haired demigod charges, already drawing Zanjintou again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But they need something to hit the Witch /now/. And Setsuko has only one technique that can cross the distance that quickly, one that will have to go out well ahead of her. She skids to a stop and blue divinity floods her blade, flowing through and around it in a bright corona. She holds it horizontally, cutting edge turned upward, point forward, and runs a pair of fingers on it, guard to tip to guard. This quick movement sets all that divine power spinning, compresses it down, turns it into a compact and pointed bolt just waiting to be unleashed.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she does so in the blink of an eye, pushing the blade forward with a powerful thrust that LAUNCHES the bright divine attack, a projectile with both piercing and impact qualities that flies with incredible speed. In the moment of thrust she names the technique, voice raising up in a loud yell.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"DENKOUSEKKA!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Homura casually flips her hair as she puts the blade(s) away, before giving Himei a deadpan glare and sigh. "You would be unhappy if I said she would be better off dead than sucked into this, wouldn't you?" It is admittedly partly true, but there's only so much they'll be able to do to stop Kyubey from making a new magical girl. They might as well focus on making the best of it when it inevitably happens.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Since others are already aiming to kill the Witch dead and save the girl, Homura will simply stride along with Himei towards it at whatever pace the other girl chooses. A duo of rockets add to the incoming attacks headed for the poodle of a Witch, in a vain hope they can murder it dead before it makes too much of a mess.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What a pain this all is, though.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I wonder if you'll even be able to cleanse one like this."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber takes a few breaths as he drops the two magazines out of his gun and puts two more in. The blast from Himei zips through his chest and hits the last Familiar he had to immediately worry about. Psyber turns to give Himei a 'This again' type of look. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber then falls back next to Homura and Himei's position, "I'm unsure. I've been experimenting with new uses for the Hand, but cracking Exalt-level functionality is weird, and it was designed by someone who is way superior to me in that field. I'm literally trying to root-hack a conceptual manifestation, it's been slow going." He frowns a bit and then holsters his gun. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a flare of lightning, he draws out Einherjar. Arguably his favored weapon (he uses Jude more these days), if nothing else it is: Holy, Lightning, and very old. He twirls the sword in his hand and then says to Homura. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I want to try to save who we can, though." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And with that he darts off again, sword switching to his off-hand. As he leaps in towards the Witch, his right hand lights up with white energy and Psyber tries to cold-cock the witch right in the face with it, trying to BREAK her yaw with a massive strike. This action causes the bandage on his hand to become stained red from blood. He tries to release a pulse of evaluating energy into the Witch, weighing and judging it. Trying to see if the Witch can be 'redeemed' and feed that information back into Psyber.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well... crap. Ellestaria can see the attack coming, but she isn't fast enough to get there before it ruins the girl's day, and she isn't accurate enough with her attack spells to think she can bring down the Witch before that mirror gives way.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So instead...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"<span class=" bold_fg_w bg_n ++ hw">Prometheus. Binding.</span>"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chains of mystical light erupt from the 'ground' of the Barrier, wrapping around the lunging head to try to hold it back, to buy a little time.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"MOVE!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Himei shouts to the girls, and glances at Homura, "You might be right, but that isn't really a call I want to make right now. There's always a chance, right?" She grimaces, though... unlike the last time, there won't BE any second chances with this girl.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That makes it all the more important to save her, though! Himei already has her wings out, so trailing behind the rockets is the flying Magical Girl. She doesn't try to get /close/ though. Years of use have made her a pretty good shot with her major weapon, the sort of attack that she hasn't actually been using that often re<span class=" bold_fg_w bg_n ++ ently.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;chw">'STARLIT STREAM!'</span> She yells that out loudly, sending a burst of silver-white energy toward the Witch, trying to slice open its mouth to keep it from biting. It's a lot like her normal attack, but it's a fair bit more focused, like a dagger rather than a broadsword. Only with beam attacks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following moments are something of a blur, but some things are clear.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Firstly, Eleanor succeeds in rescuing the girl thanks to Ellestaria's binding chains. Though, this is a only a victory insofar as she's able to grab her; the moment she does, the jaws of the witch would close on them. The biggest sister would quickly lose herself in an environment that rapidly alternates between a lattice of neon fuschia diamonds and white tiles and pure darkness. The girl in her arms would cling to her and bury her eyes into her arm to obscure her view. She's right to be frightened, too; inside the witch's 'stomach', physics seem to invert, sending each of them falling into a seemingly infinite abyss of darkness. Eventually they would begin to pass through rings in the shape of spiked dogs' collars until, finally, they can see a pair of teeth that continually crunch together. Imminent doom seems moments off, and yet...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... outside. Outside, a pair of rockets comes flying. One would collide with the dog, causing its body to contort in even more phenomenal ways. Its previously flat form inflates to the size of a zeppelin, and the blue girl 'catches' the other rocket with her mirror. This reflects it back at the witch, causing another hit that makes the thing inflate even more. Its body is swollen and its legs are clearly too proportionally small to serve any practical purpose any longer, so it's fairly helpless as it floats there in the air.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the position it's fairly simple for Psyber and Himei to break open its jaw, but by then Eleanor and the other girl have fallen pretty far. The guardian angel can see them, though -- they're right before the cycle of spikes and colors that must function as this being's impromptu stomach. Mercifully, though, the fact that the witch's jaw is open and allowing light to shine in seems to slow the process of 'digestion', as it were, holding things up several moments longer for what happens next.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madoka, finished with her familiars now as well, would pull her bow taught. Several arcane circles matching the color of her hair would appear around her as the bolt held in the strings of her signature weapon grows in size and, to those who can feel it, magical intensity. It would pulse with raw energy and burst at intervals to allow it to grow, and grow, and -grow-, until she finally releases her shot. It would arc through the air on the providence of shockwaves that would likely stir the air around those it passes by. Setsuko leaps into action at roughly the same time, and all at once it happens -- both bolts collide. There's an explosion of swirling pink and blue.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This followed by a brief silence. The aftermath of these two strikes seems to yield nothing but a gentle indent in the inflated witch's flesh, but this is temporary. It would convulse shortly after words, 'exploding' (for lack of a better word) into... bit of candy. This would occur over and over and over again, making the witch shrink each time. Once it's no larger than one of the familiars, its form would shatter into shards of confetti itself, the shreds of its head gingerly floating on to the ground. It lands at Homura's foot, and a caramel swirl at its 'peak' would lose its luster. Some might understand this to be a symbolic closing of its eye.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More importantly, Eleanor and the other girl would both find themselves safely placed upon the ground in front of the group. It's some time before she final opens her eyes, and when she does they're... red. She's obviously been crying, and once she realizes she's safe she loses the energy and-or willpower to keep herself held upright. She would slump to the ground and hug herself. After taking a deep breath of recovery, Madoka would rush over to her and attempt to wrap her arms around her. The still nameless green girl would have none of this, though; she would swipe her arms away with her hand as soon as she gets close enough.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"D-Don't touch me! Don't!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quite a way to thank someone who just saved your life.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her 'blue' friend would float down beside her, though, and when -she- attempts to caress her the girl is much more receptive. She would stroke her head soothingly a moment before acknowledging the others in any capacity more substantial than a nod while Madoka bows her head in shame. She probably feels bad for overstepping her bounds with the new girl.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After she's had her own, good time, though, blue would finally speak up. She would bow her head briefly in thanks before looking back with an almost impossibly serene smile. "Thank you," She would say, her voice as perfect and smooth as any singer's somehow, "for saving Eri. I don't know how things would have ended if you hadn't come along. I don't know where you all came from, or why, but we're both extremely grateful." She would gingerly shake her friend and then coo, "Aren't we, Eri?" At first, she wouldn't respond. She would simply look away and bite her lip. This would elicit a chuckle from blue, who would look back to the others shortly.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By the time that she has, the witch's barrier has begun to dissipate. It's night time now, and they're out on the same street that they had initially found the entrance on. Completely unphased by this, blue would continue, "I suppose I at least owe you a few introductions. I," She would touch her five finger to her chest while leaving her palm neatly elevated, "am Mayumi Ume. This is my friend Eri Makoto. It's a pleasure."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Hand of the Redeemer, incidentally, would give Psyber a mixed reading. The deduction would come with unusual slowness, and when he finally receives a verdict he's likely looking at the grief seed on the pavement. Essentially, he's told that 'some parts are salvageable and others aren't'. Consequently, they might not be able to fashion a full person out of a recovery, but it might still be worth a try. Or the result might be a completely immoral contortion -- none could really say at the moment.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The final moments of the Witch are a confusing, desperate struggle to rescue the two girls from the monster; and, after the first few moments, Eleanor as well. Briefly, Setsuko is worried her own attack came far too late, but combined with Madoka's it's enough to finish the fight and free all three girls from the Witch's belly. The swordswoman holds her stance for a moment, arm extended, blade held out in followthrough from the thrust, before she withdraws it again and, with a flourish, returns her sword to its scabbard.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Who we are is a long story, but there will be time enough for others to tell it, I suppose. Suffice it to say, you can consider us allies. We're aware of Witches, and both willing and able to fight them." Silver hair flutters a little as the demigod bends at the waist. "My name is Setsuko. Kaminagi Setsuko."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miss Lamb... truth be told is about the strongest hugger here, when it comes to holding on to Young Ladies In Need. That said she's just stumbled and tubmled and fumbled her way through a deep abyss of maw and gnashing colors and also other various bullshit so you'll have to excuse her for looking slightly green at the gills.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Though as the actually green girl shuffles away, she bluhs and stands up a bit, head btween her legs. Bluh. Not going to vomit in front of everyone.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber would normally go introduct himself to the two girls, but right now he needs to handle business. He also doesn't really want to form attachments to people who will almost inevitably be dying within six months. So he gives him a long look and then turns back down towards the Grief Seed at his feet. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The blazing white on his hand fades out and Psyber turns away from the group. A moment later, a bloody bandage drops to the ground and he turns with a newly bandaged hand so that he can reach down and pick up the Grief Seed. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Tch. The suit is stained. We could try to dry clean it, but I'm not sure we could ever get the smell out completely. I dunno if we can save my outfit," He notes, red eyes narrowing. He might be deferring to Himei or Lest for their opinions as fellow 'Cleaners'. He is talking in code in case Kyubey is around.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mayumi would bow her head again, this time in greeting. To the 'willing and able' remark, though, she would actually giggle softly. "I can see that~. But - it's good to meet you, Setsuko. I won't make you explain yourselves this instant. I should think you've earned our trust by saving our lives. All the rest can come later." Looking to Eri, she would briefly add, "And don't worry about her. I imagine she's very shaken after all that happened, but we've been through no small number of these experiences together already. She may seem reticent now, but she'll tough it out." Contrary to what she says, though, Eri would still refuse to respond, instead keeping her head folded into her legs and obscured. She does seem to lean into Mayumi a bit, though.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kyubey would suddenly reappear beside -- who else? -- Eri after the conversation has had its time to get underway. He would sit on his haunches and his tail would undulate in its characteristic fashion, but contrary to what some would expect he doesn't jump straight into baiting Eri. Rather, he would turn to Mayumi and regard her with a quizzical tilt of his head. "I've never seen you before." A very simple thing in concept, but in practice it raises a plethora of new questions. Assuming the Incubators likewise share a hive mind here, how could a magical girl be drafted without him knowing them? Unless, of course...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... well.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Normally Homura might pick the Grief Seed up to hand it to the girl in blue-- if anyone here is going to need it, it's her. And, well, neither her nor Kimiko really use them anymore. She doesn't know if it'd work. It probably would, really, there's no reason it wouldn't, but there's also no reason to tax this world into feeding another world's magical girls. Food is hard enough to keep a steady supply of (though the Union helps a LOT in that regard).<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead she'll stay back for now, to watch Psyber (and likely, Himei and Ellestaria) work their magic on the the Grief Seed, if they feel it's worth a shot. She suspects, personally, that if it works, it wouldn't have pleasant results. A Soul Gem without a body would require significant amounts of magic to reform its body-- it would likely turn pitch black immediatly again. If the body reformed... these Witches aren't really full people. Maybe you'd end up with nothing but the negative side of the girl. That wouldn't have a very long lifespan.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But nothing ventured nothing gained, right?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:331|Himei (331)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Himei introduces herself without any trouble. "Shoutan Himei." No real need to hide it. "I'm not a Puella Magi, but I'm close enough to get the job done. Now excuse me a moment. There are a lot of things that need covered, but I have to help Psyber to keep him from whining too much about his... suit."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's going to take a look at the grief seed, then frown a little. "... Actually, Les- Lessa-chan, what's your opinion? You're the expert on these." She glances at the girls. "You may see something a little disturbing. Don't worry, we're professionals. Hopefully, it'll go smoothly."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She'll wait for Lest to decide before she tries to channel any negative energy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"There is one piece of advice that I can give. Kyu-"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Whatever Setsuko was going to say is cut off by, of all things, Kyubey's words.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks between the rat and the girls, giving Mayumi a far more appraising, scrutinizing look than she's done thus far. She's suddenly turning all her attention to the Puella, and her scrutany can be surprisingly intense. "...I was under the impression that you and your kind were the creators of magical girls in this world, Kyubey."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:231|Ellestaria (231)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"HI!" Ellestaria chirps as she stops crackling, landing in front of the girls with a bound. "You can call me Lessa-chan! I'm sure we'll be good friends! If you ever need help with a Witch, just call on me! I'm not that great in a fight, but I can heal you so you don't have to worry about your Soul Gems. Oh! I should take a look at your friend there!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes, that's right, she's cheery and upbeat... but she's not exactly a master of deception, so it's a fair bit forced. Maybe the girls won't notice, since they're kinda preoccupied.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lest will quickly turn away and take a look at the Grief Seed, trying to analyze how much is left in there. She's worked with them before, but... not since the Union discovered the cleansing technique. She doesn't have high hopes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh we're doing a thing. Time for some grand distraction... And resisting the urge to think REALLY HARD at Kyubey and splatter him across the pavement. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eleanor stands and sighs, smiling over at the girls and Himei and everyone and smiles and yes let's be- nope no, can't manage all of the happy for now. Neither Elle is up for that today, it would seem. The young lady sighs, and bows to the girls at least. "Eleanor Lamb. Also not a Magi, but close enough. We're from... other places, actually. But we're here to help, mostly. Miss Mayumi. Miss Eri." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Kyubey. How... nice... to see you here. In this world."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shoots a glance at Setsuko.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mayumi would make a small wave-of-her-hand gesture to Himei and Ellestaria. The smile she responds to each of them with seems genuine, too, but if it is it seems... extremely situationaly dissonant. It's probably a safer bet that she's just trying to put on a brave face for her friend, but once they all realize just -how calm- she is and has remained in light of all of this, they might reciprocate a bit of Setsuko's suspicion. Still, she certainly doesn't seem malicious. "Thank you, Lessa-chan! You've done so much for us already, but it would be a big help if you would heal us when we need it too." Still smiling, she would add, "If all of you are always this nice, then I think that we'll be very good friends!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her response to Setsuko a bit later. "Oh, yes, I'm aware he can be a bit conniving. Nevertheless, Eri wanted to see what magical girls could do in action, so I wanted to oblige her." Looking to her again, she would gently chide, "See, I told you it was dangerous." Eri would mumble a 'Shut up,' but it comes off as sounding more pouty than genuinely annoyed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We are!" Kyubey would chime in response to Setsuko, his usual tone intact. "Which is why it's so strange that I don't recognize her! A lot of strange things that I'm having trouble accounting for are happening tonight. Madoka's friend came back even though she shouldn't be able to, and two," Probably referring to Mayumi and Kimiko, "magical girls that I've never seen before showed up! I would really like to understand the situation better so that I could know if something is happening that could interfere with my mission or contribute to entropy, but I understand that you're not likely to tell me anything right now. So I'll wait." Eri raises her head to look at the devilcat like he's crazy. 'Entropy'? 'Mission'? She... totally doesn't follow.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Eleanor, he would say, "Hello! Have I met you before? I don't recognize you either!" It seems like he might actually be at a disadvantage where information is concerned for a change, or at least until he adds, "Are you from the Multiverse?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No, he really doesn't care if you told him not to ask stuff earlier. He doesn't stand to lose much by asking again!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Setsuko's suspicious gaze breaks away from Mayumi, and her expression softens as she turns her eyes on Eri. "...I'm not sure what you may have already learned from Mayumi, but in case it needs to be said, the life of a magical girl from your world is suffering. You live in constant danger of death, or succumbing to your own darker emotions in a very real way. It's a life that will do its very best to torment you and grind you down. And I say this as someone who's suffered much in her life."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns sideways a little, as if preparing to leave. Which, to an extent, she is; but any sort of conversation could easily keep her there. However, she isn't quite done yet. "Kyubey will most likely do everything it can to conceal this fact from you. It will leave details out as it wants. It will distort the truth and choose its words carefully to present a different image while never actually contradicting the real nature of things."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks as if she'd say more, but Kyubey actually saying the word 'entropy' or even referencing its mission in front of a potential recruit is... surprising. So she stares at it. Just... stares.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:570|Kimiko Shinobu (570)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kimiko freezes in place when she processes what Kyubey what said. She begins moving again, to turn toward the Incubator and ask, "Have you never seen me before?" Just to be sure.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, it wouldn't matter. Not really. Probably.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eleanor likewise is at a loss for words momentarily, before she puts that cheerful smile back on her face, and edges over towards the crestfallen green haired girl. The one she hugged to safety before. "Are you alright Eri? I know your friend may have brought you here out of... ah... Less than safe methods."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eri would glance to Setsuko after a final rub at her eye -- to get rid of any errant moisture still hanging around. She would look away at some point during her explanation once she's heard enough for her liking, re-entering the conversation at the end to add her own two cents. "Some things are worth that, though. There are some things you can't have in any other way. I could wish the world to be different. I could wish to give Kyubey's kind emotions so that they won't be okay with hurting us anymore. I could wish to go to a world where I couldn't become a witch as part of something else, and then the wish might never affect me. I don't care how dangerous it is to play with the rules like that -- I know the risks. And I'm okay if I end up becoming soul dead by trying. But I'm still deciding if the thing I really want is worth it."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Is she offended? It's kinda hard to tell with her. This might just be the way she communicates in general.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madoka would reappear for another moment to address something that Psyber had brought up /way/ earlier -- before they had even gone into the witch's barrier. She would step up to the man in question and comment, "Um. I'm..." She would take a breath and exhale. "I'm not scared of you, don't worry. I know that being here is really hard on you, too, even though I don't really know all of the things that happened to you and Homura... so..." She would squeeze her wrist with the opposite hand. "Yeah. It just upsets me when anyone gets hurt, even if..." She would glance to Kyubey. "Even if they can't feel it. I just wish that no one had to be hurt and that there was a better way for Kyubey to do what he's trying to do. So..." She would cast her gaze to the ground and mumble, 'So I can't really hate him either.'<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is dead silence from Setsuko, during which faint surprise flits across her face... followed by a steady calm.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I see."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns back to face the two again, regarding Eri curiously before speaking. "Then, Makoto Eri, whatever choice you make, I will support. But don't be afraid to call on me, on any of us, if you need our help. We offer it freely, because most of us have been down similar paths ourselves."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:40|Eleanor Lamb (40)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Also both girls will, before the Unionites are gone, find themselves with Eleanor's contact info. Union Counselor, speciailty magical girls.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Psyber clutches the Grief Seed and then says, "Hey." He tosses it to the magical girl in blue, "Use this and then get rid of it." No sense letting it go to waste, for the moment. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Madoka, Psyber looks at her. He starts as if he's going to quote a verse and then cuts off. He takes a breath and says, "A great number of things are hard on me." He flexes his bandaged hands and then places them in his coat pockets, "You should not concern yourself with my own pressures and stresses. Please focus on your own well-being, Kaname Madoka. I have grown accustomed to the pressures of my life." He gives her a slight smile. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Would you like a ride back to the tower? I was on my way back from the University anyway."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No, I haven't!" Kyubey's reply is fairly swift. Maybe she wasn't a part of the events that occurred in this world? Other things have been different, so maybe that is too.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:720|Kaname Madoka (720)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mayumi would catch the grief seed. She accepted it, so maybe she really is well-intentioned after all? One would certainly hope so. "Thanks!" After a momentary pause, she would add, "Oh! Are you all going now? Well, thank you again for all the help! I hope that we can see you again sometime. It can get a bit lonely around here sometimes. This is a very quiet city, even with all the witches." She would let things rest there for now unless anyone else sees fit to bother her.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Madoka would, in the meanwhile, nod along with Psyber. She accepts what he's saying, but that doesn't mean she's really content to leave his issues alone. She... she can tell when people are hurt. He, Kimiko, and Homura all feel that way to her more than any of the other people that she's met since coming to the Multiverse. They've helped her so much, so there's no way she won't try to help them too, but she wants to do that by respecting their wishes. She can't really make them happier by going against what they want, after all.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For now, though, she would attempt a smile. "Yeah!" As in, 'Yeah, she could use a ride!'. She can't help feeling warm and fuzzy at the prospect of being taken home by a friend like this. That's something she never could have fathomed a month ago. Not even that, really -- weeks ago, at the most. It feels like a lot longer now, though.<br> <br>


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