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[ To some people, it may seem like Mami was not affected by the Tower's latest shenanigans, but she certainly was. She believes that ten years have passed for her, even if she doesn't look it. She chalks it up to being dead and therefor, being unable to age. Since, you know, the dead can only rot.

Sadly, that's not the case. ]

Good evening. My name is Mami Tomoe for those who don't know. [ She's mostly referring to the new comers because she has made a few network posts in the last ten years, right? ] If you need my assistance, I'll be glad to help you out. I can't say you'll enjoy your stay here sadly.

... I would like to speak to those who come from Mitakihara, or anyone who knows of our situation. [ Situation? If you're thinking Puella Magi stuff then ding! You're right! ]

I believe that's it, other than the usual "how's everyone been holding up in the Tower" question I usually ask. Stay safe everyone.

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What about it?

[Kyoko's lost a little of her tough-girl, kick ass charm, but other than that there doesn't seem to be much difference.]

I've noticed you and the others... Haven't aged at all in the last ten years.

Why would we?

[There's an audible cracking of her knuckles as she reaches for a piece of candy from her pocket. Her expression deadpans a little.]

Just a little more fine print that stupid little hairball neglected to mention.

[ She pauses, probably longer than she should had that it makes it seem like she hung up on Kyoko. But no, she's still on the other line. ]

That can't be. I'm sure Kyuubey told me everything I needed to know about our work. [ Her voice is shaky. For the first time, in such a long time, Mami is nervous. ]

Oh yeah? Did you get a different warmup speech than I did?

[She scoffs bitterly.]

I'm not here to play any games, Kyoko.

[ frowns. ]

No really. Tell me. Because what I remember left a lot of important stuff out.

[She grins. Its horribly sardonic.]

I know we do stuff differently and all, but if there's one thing I ain't, its a liar.

So what did he tell you?

[ She started to rethink about what Kyuubey told her. That using a Grief Seed can restore her magical energy to her Soul Gem. ]

He told me he could grant any wish I wanted, if I was willing to risk my life for it.

[She pauses for a few seconds, as if considering the question before shrugging and looking agitated.]

That was all. Nothing about what he would take for it, 'cause I never thought to ask. Guess that makes me the idiot. But whatever. Its too late for us now.

Edited 2013-01-17 05:21 (UTC)

[ A pause. ]

... Thank you, Kyoko. That's all I needed.

[ And the feed ends. ]

[Welp. She waits a few seconds, but after all this time, she's figured out that they're all a bit flighty, so she's not gonna hold her breath.

Still.]

You better not be doing something completely idiotic over there. I've done enough face-breaking this month.

Situation? Has something changed?

[While Mami hasn't changed at all over the years, it's obvious the same can't be said for Lancer. His hair is now white, a shocking contrast to the black clothing he's wearing. But perhaps the greatest changes aren't those to his appearance, but the blank, bored look in his eyes. He may sound concerned, but he really is only vaguely curious--vaguely hopeful--that he might find something to amuse him in her situation whatever it might be.]

Ah.

[ It takes her a quick minute to recognize him, but then she remembers he's not the same person personality wise. The gentleness that was once there was gone and replaced with something more sinister. ]

It's nothing entirely. Just something world-related that I need to speak to the others about.

The tower is our world now, you realize that right? That's never going to change. You aren't going home. Your friends aren't going home. Besides, people like us have no home to go back to even if our worlds hadn't been destroyed.

[He's actually being kind, not saying what he means directly. It doesn't last long.]

Unless, after so many years you have finally decided you prefer death to...this.

[ Mami frowns at him, her body tensing slightly. ]

I still have the right to talk to them about what goes on in our world. They're not destroyed, Lancer. And while I may die when I go back, I also have the right to protect the girls I care about.

Then be a teacher and teach them how to live here! If you want to protect them so much, teach them this place's tricks! Whether or not your world is still there is irrelevant! No one is going back!

[Right, this is why they had pretty much stopped talking. Their conversations had started devolving into the same argument that went nowhere.]

Be quiet.

[ It wasn't because she didn't want to hear the "truth", but he talked way too much. She glared at him and was silent for a few minutes. ]

They're not stupid. They've been here for ten years. And I'm not going to force them to accept the idea that they will stay here forever. I don't want them to suffer just because I can't go back with them.

What happened to you? This isn't the man I met in the past. The gentle man that stood in the forest, listening to my tale.

You've lost yourself, Lancer-san.

And you are only realizing that now? I lost myself a long time ago, foolish girl!

[He's tempted to get up and walk away from the computer terminal in anger, but he doesn't. Instead, he takes a deep breath and calms his voice.]

The failed knight has been dead a long time. So long I don't even remember where he's buried. I'm sure there's probably a stone for him somewhere in the graveyard if you just look hard enough, though.

And this is any better? Being cruel? That's not how a knight should act!

[ He really was a lost cause. But he was also her friend a long time ago. She looks away for a moment before looking back it him. ]

What happened to you? I thought you were stronger than this... You gave in, didn't you?

I didn't give in. A thousand years of failure will break anyone, though honestly, it didn't take nearly that long for one such as he who cannot accept failure as an option.

[His voice is frighteningly calm as he talks.]

The tower cut out our soul bit by bloody bit until now, this is all that remains.

[Lancer shrugs dismissively.]

It's funny. So many of you who claim to have once been my friends say you will do anything to get me back to who I used to be and yet it's you guys who let me become like this in the first place.

Perhaps, I'm not the only failure around here.

A... Thousand? Lancer-san, it's only been ten years since we met.

[ She wanted to say more on the matter, but be continued to talk. She slammed her fist down on the terminal (trying not to break it) and raised her voice. ]

Because you kept pushing us away! I tried to help you! It hurts seeing you like this!

I-I'm tired of losing the people I care about...

You as well?

[He brings his fist down on the terminal, but unlike Mami, he doesn't care about not breaking it and a crack is very clearly heard over the audio feed as the casing gives.]

Do you think I don't know a thousand years of pain when I feel it? You may only remember 10 because of all the resetting they have to do to keep you short-lived people alive, but I assure you it has been much, much longer than that!

Short-lived? I'm suppose to be dead! We can't die in the Tower permanently anyway, so they don't have to reset the time!

[ She was pretty much in tears. Losing a friend was something she didn't want to do and she wanted to hold on to him, but he didn't want to be her friend anymore. ]

I would have known if it was a thousand years... It's only been ten...

[Lancer is on his feet now, bent over and shouting at the screen.]

Do you really think you could handle knowing you were stuck in this place for a thousand years? Do you? Would you still be able to smile and tell your little students that everything is going to be okay and they will go home someday?

Face it, you couldn't. That's why they won't let you remember more. You're of no use to them rocking and crying in your room all day!

...

[ All he gets is silence from the girl. There was no way they could understand each other now, like they did in the past. The man she once admired for his strength was nothing but a memory and now all that was left of him was this. He was corrupt because of the tower. Because she was too busy with her own problems to really notice.

No, that wasn't right. Certainly she tried to help him over the years. He was wrong, her mind screamed at her, he was nothing but a liar that she should forget about. Everything was hurting now. Losing another friend. She couldn't handle this torture anymore. ]

So, it seems I'm alone again. It's the same fate for me.

[ She's not sure why she said that, but there was no use arguing with him. ] I'm sorry for troubling you, Lancer-san. I'm sorry for not doing my best to help you. I guess... [ She still could feel regret. She hated this feeling, so she had to stay away from him. So she could forget the feeling once again.

With that, the feed clicks off. ]

[Lancer scoffs as the screen fades to black.]

See...this is exactly what I mean. You just can't handle it.

[For all his disdain, though, as Lancer turns from the terminal and walks away, something deep inside of him shrieks in agony.]

What's up this time?

[Must be something important, if Mami's calling them out like this.]

[ A bit after her conversation with the other Kyoko, Mami answers. ]

By any chance, what did Kyuubey tell you about the system?

Where's this coming from? That's a pretty weird question to ask out of no where, y'know.

[Then again, she's never really thought to talk to Mami about the Puella Magi system.]

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that thing just feeds the same line of garbage to everyone he manages to reel in.

former Mitakihara resident, present as usual.

_{[her habits of network binging are in themselves well known enough for her to able to go without answering a call out, so..]}

sup?

What do you know about the Magical Girl system? Did Kyuubey tell you anything different from what he told me?

not much that you didn't tell me. witches spread curses. girls spread hope. etc. everything else was trial and error.

actually. he told me one thing on his own.

_{[It was years ago, but it's still a clear memory: Kyuubey, standing atop her desk, one paw firmly pressed down on her soul gem and suddenly she didn't have the strength to stand or really do anything but clutch at her middle as it twisted.]}

we have soul gems because it makes fighting hurt less.

Hmm? Is something wrong, Mami?

[Kazumi was just on to announce today's menu, but she's worried about her senpai's concern]

When you made a contract, what information did they give you?

When I made it? Back then... I was only told that if in exchange for fighting witches as a magical girl, I would be granted one wish. That was all Jyuubey said at the time...

Did you find anything else out? Anything.... Jyuubey failed to tell you?

[After so long, that Mami didn't know... perhaps because they'd avoided telling her. It was... almost heartbreaking to let her know the truth. But she couldn't lie now.] Yes. The truth about Puella Magi. About Soul Gems.

That we grow up to be witches.

... We... Grow up to be witches?

[ She could have guessed they would never have normal lives - it was obvious, but this was too much for her. She couldn't bear it. Mami was silent, looking at the ring on her finger. ]

So, when Soul Gems... Darken... We... [ transform into witches. It wasn't hard to put two and two together. ]

Yes... our Soul Gems turn into Grief Seeds if they become too tainted... because our Soul Gems are our actual souls.

[ A deathly silence seemed to follow the other girl's words. Mami's eyes widened, looking down at... Well, pretty much nothing in a sense. It's like she was trying to look pass the floorboards. She had no idea. All along, Kyuubey lied to her - maybe even used her to get the recruitment of Madoka and Sayaka.

The colour from her face seemed to be gone and she looked back up. She looked sick. ]

.... Anything else?

[Kazumi lets her take her time to take that in. It's... pretty shocking. Especially considering besides herself - or Michiru, anyway - Mami had helped other girls become Puella Magi. To find out what that'd actually meant... she knew that was what had broken Michiru.]

...yeah, just. Those two things, for most girls. Ever from the start, our fate was to be... to despair as witches as much as we hoped as magical girls.

What is 'Mitakihara?'

My hometown.

I see. And you are fond of it?

Certainly.

Do you regret being here?

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