animus_network | 1st ♥ [ video / action ]

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1st ♥ [ video / action ]

[ Action ♥ Residents of Room 02-05 ]
[ Homura woke with a start. Last she remembers, she was going to sleep and expecting to attend her new school tomorrow. Fresh from one timeline to the next. Her determination is worn plainly on her face, overtaking the confusion that comes with waking in a new environment. Adjusting all too quickly, she slips out of the bed and snatches up the letters. Reading the first one, rereading those simple words over and over, before finally lowering the paper. ]
This can't be.... [ Her heart drops like a rock. That can't be. It makes no sense!

... But it does, actually, doesn't it? After seeing Madoka's soul gem taint again, it makes sense. Homura covers her face, sobbing into her hands for only a few seconds before drawing in a deep breath. ] Madoka... Everyone... [ She has yet to notice her roommates as she tries to wipe her eyes and get a grip. ]

[ Video ♥ ]
[ A calm facial expression betrays Homura's feelings. True, she's gathered some courage to keep herself relatively calm, but her heart has been ripped to shreds by this possibility. Even so, there's still hope. She reminds herself, over and over, that it's not over yet. ]
I am Homura Akemi. I am a new arrival. I have read both of my letters and have an understanding of the situation.

[ A pause. Debating. She never properly "started" her last timeline beyond being released from the hospital, so if the other girls are here then they might not recognize her. Calling out their names would be strange. ] I am from Mitaikihara in Japan. I'd like to know if anyone from home has also been 'saved'.

[ She brushes her hair behind her shoulder, a seemingly confident gesture that is actually just a nervous tick. ] How long have you all been here? And how many of you believe that letter?

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[ Of course. From what she's heard, this is a horrible place. A person like Sayaka can't be expected to thrive here.

And if she's a magical girl, that makes it worse. Homura has three grief seeds with her, ones she collected before she'd have to potentially compete with Mami. She figures Sayaka might need them, even if she probably won't accept. ]

Where are you? I am coming.

_{[Where are you, huh? Sayaka briefly considers not answering, because - well, it's about fifty times easier typing at a screen than talking in person, and its hard for her to not be wary of Homura.

Besides, what if she does something spooky, like pop up next to her as soon as she gives away where she is?]}

i'll meet you somewhere. you seen the 38th floor, first place you can climb the stairs down to from the dorms? it's all open n stuff, so we won't have a chance of missing each other. i'll be there.

_{[And, true to her word, Sayaka hits send, then turns from the computer to start on her way there.]}

Very well.

[ Homura stands up as well and immediately heads off, following Sayaka's directions to the T. It's strange, having no choice but to put faith in that girl. But she cannot navigate this place on her own just yet; Sayaka is all she has to go off of.

True to her word, Homura arrives there and quietly looks around for Sayaka. Her first priority is to check Sayaka's finger for the mark of a magical girl. Then determine what point in which timeline she is from.]

_{[Sayaka's rapping her fingers impatiently on one of the huge windows trademark to the floor she'd directed Homura to when the other girl arrives. Staring out at the fog got old back in March, but tapping on glass is never gets boring, okay.

It's clear from a glance that there's a ring on her finger and a little crescent on her nail. Sayaka folds her arms behind her back when she actually looks Homura over, though whether it's intentional to hide her hand or just a regular bit of body language is unsure.]}

So! Here we are.

[ She immediately notices the ring. And it's effect on her is quite plain.

So much for Sayaka. She's probably a lost cause.

Homura grips the grief seed tightly, keeping it behind her back for the time being. ]

Mm. Here we are. [ She doesn't know what to say. It's strange. She rarely gets chances to talk to Sayaka without Madoka there. ] You look healthy enough.

_{[Sayaka smiles a little patronizingly - it's clear she's gratified to be the one who actually knows more in the situation, a feeling just reinforced by Homura's statement.]}

Oh, I'm in tip-top shape. _{[Which is somewhat of a lie - her soul gem was reset when they came back from the pods, sure, but its default has a clear cloudiness - she'd decided better to wait on cleaning it with the one Grief Seed she does have. It would feel dishonest, having it all bright and shiny when everyone else is still in recovery.]}

I doubt you're here to pretend to be my doctor, though. Maybe we should get to the point.

[ The air between them felt hostile. This wasn't a timeline where she befriended Sayaka. She didn't seem surprised by this hair style either, so she wasn't from those days. ]

Mm. You're right, I'm not. [ She holds out the grief seed she brought down with her and tosses it at Sayaka. ] Here. You must need one by now.

_{[Sayaka catches it easily, hand flashing through the air to snatch it. Then, predictably, she tosses it right back.

What isn't predictable is what she says next.]}

Keep what you got. I already have one. Let's see..

_{[Just because she wasn't planning on using it doesn't mean Sayaka doesn't carry it, creepy as the thing is - she goes for her pocket, and withdraws a Grief Seed that Homura might find familiar.

Her bravado's failing, though. Sayaka's voice flutters uncomfortably into something sad when she speaks next -]}

I-it's pretty spooky, though, using your own Grief Seed and all.

[ Homura catches it. Typical Sayaka. It's disappointing, but not surprising. ]

..!!!

[ But her calm expression quickly switches to one of horror. ]

Where did you get that...!?

Woah, so your face isn't stuck like that. Color me surprised.

_{[She can't keep up the snark forever, though. Sayaka drops the Grief Seed back into her pocket and out of sight, unable to really stand looking at for long, let alone holding it.]}

..Where do you think I got it? I didn't.. _{[Her shoulders want to shake. She doesn't let them.]} I didn't get it from the source. But it got back to me.

Sayaka... [ Homura's stomach is twisting into knots. She may not be particularly fond of Sayaka, but that doesn't make this easier.

As much as she wants to offer comfort, Homura has long since come to terms with the fact that, by this point, Sayaka can't be comforted.

So she shakes away the feelings. ] Miki Sayaka. How much do you know about that grief seed?

..really, I gotta spell it out?

_{[She crosses her arms and bites the inside of her cheek a little, to achieve an annoyed look.]}

Okay, here we go: once upon a time Miki Sayaka woke up in a doom tower without any Grief Seeds. She did pretty okay, I guess, like I can remember all the months it's been anymore - but then she turned into a witch and died. But this is an inescapable doom tower, so she came back, and then her friends made her use the Grief Seed they'd gotten, then explained what it really was--

_{[Why did she let herself be coaxed into talking about this? Sayaka's rant immediately loses steam here.]}

The end.

[ It's hard to keep a straight face when listening. Girls who become witches shouldn't have to deal with that reality. It's horrible and sickening to think about what Sayaka must feel right now, though Homura is doing her best not to be too empathetic.

But she came back.

Sayaka became a witch and apparently was turned back. Maybe there is still room to hope for this Sayaka. ]

It won't happen again. [ Homura clenches the grief seed, then tosses it to Sayaka again. ]

_{[This time, Sayaka's nearly too slow on the uptake to catch the Grief Seed - she looks unabashedly surprised, and halfway fumbles it when she actually does go to get it.]}

...

_{[This time, she keeps it. Where she'd ranted before, Sayaka's now too dumbfounded -_{is it at herself or Homura, though?}- to speak much of anything.]}

You do not need to use the grief seed you acquired. Use this one instead.

[ Her tone is neutral again, making it hard to distinguish whether Homura is giving an order or making a suggestion. She is glad, at least, to see that Sayaka has accepted the second grief seed. It's another encouraging difference. ]

Put the other one away for now and do not burden yourself with it. I will not allow a time to come when you need to use it. [ She turns now, intending to exit. ] Thank you for your time.

Edited 2012-07-04 06:25 (UTC)

_{[Sayaka stares at this new Grief Seed, as Homura takes her leave. Finally, maybe even too late for Homura to even hear her..]}

..Thanks.

_{[It sounds a little bit strangled, whether by her pride or something else. But she said it.]}

[ Homura may not have heard it, but she doesn't need to. Sayaka accepted her help and that's all that matters.

She won't make any detours on her way back to her room, and will collapse on her bed to brain through this new information. ]

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1st ♥ [ video / action ]

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sayaka, you're being bratty

oh sayaka

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