190/The Emerald Seed

The Emerald Seed
Date of Scene:	17 July 2015
Location:	Mitakihara/Uminari City - Infinity Drive
Synopsis:	Hannah Sharpe makes a breakthrough in her research. Takashi and Hannah discuss plans and recent events!
Cast of Characters:	Hannah Sharpe, Takashi Agera

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Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Miss White, after all that's happened recently, has secluded herself to the lab. It's been gruelling...and given the nature of what she's doing...painful work. But oddly, the data from her own draining has proven the utter lynchpin in completing the first steps in research towards the Puella Magi, Witches, and Grief Seeds.

A dozen spent syringes lay in a biological waste bin, several more on the table. A fresh grief seed, no where near close to Witching, is sat in front of Miss White. Over the past weeks, she'd mixed a dozen different compounds with the tiny fractions of her linker core that she'd remove, let heal, then cut again. Who knows what long term effects such constant abuse could cause.

But there's been progress. It's impossible to just draw out the magic of Grief Seed, at least in her tests, without the proper alignment. With few Soul Gems to study, it's a problem. Instead, she approaches it from a different angle.

Stain the Grief Seed's magic with her own.

The last syringe she has for today. She can't make more, the process would seriously start to damage her permanently if she didn't wait a few days.

"Alright...Recording. Last one for today. Linker Core-Compound XJ392 prepared. Let us see how this goes."

The diamond-tipped syringe glows even more emerald as she uses wind magic to enhance its piercing capabilities. She shoves it into the little Seed, and pushes the plunger.

Unlike all the other times, the liquid doesn't dissipate, isn't devoured or absorbed. Slowly, the Seed glows, taking on a brilliant emerald color tinged at the edges with blackness. Hannah can feel it on her skin. It radiates magic she can feel in her soul.

She puts it down, with a yelp of triumph, and she's stumbling over to a phone after nearly tripping over herself.

She dials a number, her voice ecstatic.

"Takashi Agera, get over here now! I DID IT! I really did it! Those things do not just belong to Puella anymore! COME ON, COME ON! HURRY!" Comes her words, all in one big jumble.

Takashi Agera has posed:
Takashi doesn't even respond beyond a quick 'on my way' as he hangs up and shoves the phone in his pocket. Navigating the jumble of 'between-space' that makes up the Eclipse network of labs and offices in Mitakihara is almost second nature, and he makes good time, arriving rather rapidly at the door, throwing it open, walking inside, and leaning against it with a smile on his face, like at any moment someone else might burst in to try to take away the moment. "I got here as fast as I could. What's all this about, Hannah? You look better than you were the last time I saw you at least." he says, alluding to her little hospital visit.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
When Takashi steps through, Hannah's there in a flash! She'll reach for his hands, and try to pull him into a spinning, swinging little dance through the lab and over to the nearby marble table. She laughs the entire time, joyous and triumphant!

Then, she lets go, and swipes up the now glowing grief seed. She waves it at him.

"Now tell me something, Takashi-kun, just /whose/ magic does this smell like?" Comes the girl with a devious grin.

"It has taken me far too long, but I have just trod upon the first step of weaponization and...oh god the possibilities are endless! We can tap into Grief Seeds ourselves! Manipulate them! Probably even use their magic to..." A deep breath. She tries to calm herself down. She's over to a computer, and pulls up a pile of data.

"And I have a ton of samples of Labyrinth data and from that Witch being born! I..I think I can replicate them. Their powers, I mean. The spells are pretty simple, actually, you just need an obscene amount of magic! Why, if we found another power source or increased efficiency..."

With a deep sigh, she's then slumping against a wall.

"It might just be a stopgap measure, but it is a start! Artificial grief seeds, replicating familiars and Witches, maybe even reverse engineering how a Puella Magi is created.../that/ is a road now open to us!"

Takashi Agera has posed:
Takashi doesn't hesitate in celebrating along with Hannah, though perhaps somewhat more subdued than she is. "That's excellent news! This opens up a lot of doors and some very long, interesting roads..." he begins, as celebration rapidly gives way to more thoughts, more planning. "You can repeat this experiment, then?" he asks, looking down at the little thing. Such power contained within them.

"I'll have to bring over some of my own data for you to have more points to work with. Maybe a couple seeds, as well." he begins, honestly wanting to assist Hannah now that he's somehow tied herself to him in his mind. "You'll want to keep this under wraps or the Witches 5 are going to be banging down your door - over name control if nothing else." He laughs.

"But yes, this is all very good news, especially since I think I'm about to shrink your Puella Magi payroll numbers by one, the way things are going." he adds, deciding to drop that bomb now, while Hannah's so excited. "I hope the grey one isn't integral to any of your plans." he says, and the look on his face indicates not only is he completly serious, but he's legitimately angry at Homura as well. Even as he talks, he's looking over some of Hannah's data. It matches a lot of his, but more confirmation is always good. After all, a single test... could just be a fluke.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Indeed, in an odd way, Takashi has managed to become important. As has Homura. It's an odd duality. And it puts Miss White in one heck of a situation. But she concentrates on victory for now.

"I think so, yes! I need a day or two to recover, but I can definitely make more! I will send you the compound list!" She's clearly not thinking this through, too caught up in excitement and thinking ahead. There's /work/ to be done!

And then he drops the bomb. She sighs. It's one of the long suffering.

"Bluntly put? She is important, yes. She is an excellent source of knowledge, and my best field agent. But I know you, and I know her." A shake of the head.

"Well. Just try not to kill her while she is getting things done for me, alright? What happens outside of that is entirely not my business. Though, I /am/ very interested in the pink haired girl. So keep in that in mind, hmm?"

Then her arms go behind her head.

"Speaking of pink hair, something to watch out for: have you met the 'Princess'? She was the one who drained my magic and put me in the hospital. Not sure what she is after, but be careful." Scowl.

"That wench is using Ao. I want to see her strapped down to this table so she can pay!" Growls out the girl.

Takashi Agera has posed:
"Fair enough." Takashi responds, smiling. "I won't kill her as long as she stays out of my way - which she should be doing if she's on business for you, as far as I know." he winks. "And yes, the little girl with pink hair was the source of all the commotion."

Ah, that's what put her in the hospital. another question answered. Sort of. "I... maybe? I fought a sniveling, terrified little girl in an alley once, someone who was of no ability and had to rely on her allies to save her. She was a princess. But I can't see her defeating you. As I said, were it not for her calling up her allies - knights, I believe they were - I'd have taken her interesting wand and we'd have been studying it together. Must have been a different girl. But I will keep my eyes open for whoever hurt my ally and make them pay." he says. "But I'll leave the final resolution of that to you. If she's truly using your friend, as well - then I have a feeling nothing I do will compare to your actions."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Somehow, Hannah feels a headache coming on. There's this ominous feeling in her stomach, like one or both of them will throw enough wrenches into her plans to make them all go awry.

Well, nothing ever goes without risk or problems.

"It seems like that particular little girl causes a lot of problems."

Then, there's Rune.

"Sometimes sniveling cowards have tricks. Keep your eyes open, Takashi." Comes Hannah seriously, before she calms down.

And then he leaves it to her. She smiles, slowly, cruelly. Miss White is no where near Takashi's depravity, but if there's one thing that can truly bring out the worst in her, it's harming or using Ao.

"I am glad you understand the situation."

Then she switches focus!

"How are those new toys of yours coming along? The...Reclaimers? Been so busy with...well, competition in Puella, lab, Witches...a bit out of touch with that."

Takashi Agera has posed:
"Well..." Takashi begins. "Sometimes tricks, plans, deception can be part of a person's strength. It's unwise to consider only physical, magical strength, lest you get out-thought." he says. Nope, no personal commentary on his own style there.

"Oh, they've been doing well, all things considered. Still slightly below target levels, but they're improving. They can't quite handle witches on their own like I'd hoped, but they lead me to them very well, and assist in the fight. I think they're performing relatively competitvely with say, trying to have a bunch of allies." He grins. "Maybe I can use your research to give them more strength, or find some way for them to weaken the Witches enough to take them on alone. That would vastly improve my efficency, for sure."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"Then I will leave the overaching plans of doom for you, Takashi-kun! I much prefer a good punching, or just plain old spitting in the eyeballs of the divine." She waves to that glowing Grief Seed.

Hannah considers. "Definitely more easily controlled than my compatriots. But, well, there is something to be said for human ingenuity and unpredictability. Sure, yours can be efficient, but I like a bit of chaos in my work. Keeps it from getting boring." Comes Miss White with her usual confident smile.

"Go for it! Just show them off when you are done! I want to see what we can do. Together." She looks at him meaningfully. Yup, he's definitely earned some points with her as of late.

Then she turns away, a little bashful.

"Oh, uh. Thanks for the card by the way." It's still in her office, one that she kept.

Takashi Agera has posed:
"I've heard how not-boring your days have been." he says, with a smirk. It's the closest thing to the usual snark so far. "I think I'll keep my control, thanks."

"I think we can accomplish a lot, together. Your strength and mine, your mind and mine. There's so much there, I don't think the rest of the world is exactly prepared for it." He adds, that smirk not leaving yet. "I want to keep this interaction up. So that we can both grow stronger, in our own ways." There's a pause.

When she turns away to thank him, it makes responding easier for him, as well. "Look, when someone attacks you, they might as well have attacked me directly. Seeing you there in the hospital like that wasn't right. It wasn't the Ms. White I know. And I'm glad you're back up to your strength. It's rare to find a valuable partner and I intend to keep this one."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"And this is exactly why we are good for each other, Takashi. You like things nice and orderly, I like them fluid, fun, and a little unpredictable. We cover each other's weaknesses." There's a smirk here, a small jab at her partner who's always so arrogant. But it's a well meaning one.

"Brains, brawn, and beauty, that is us! Look out world, Black-san and White-san are going to paint the town..uhh...monochrome?" Brow twitch. Hands go into the air.

"You get the point!" She grows a bit more introspective.

"It gave me a lot of time to think about who I can trust, who I should fight alongside, and what I should be doing. My ambition is everything. I cannot be held back by being soft on people who threaten the things I care for. I am not going to do that any more. Just thinking that people are willing to hurt her, to get her involved when she just wants a normal life..." Her head shakes, and she scowls.

Then she turns back around.

"So, what is your next move? I have a red haired Puella to chase off, a pink haired jerk to gather intel on, and I need to get these things..." She waves at the seed.

"Categorized and get the branch projects going. You?"

Takashi Agera has posed:
While Takashi may not understand her motivations, he can understand the core of it, and her spirit. "It's most important to find what's valuable to you and protect it."

He debates on wether to tell Hannah about his familiar, and elects not to. He doesn't want her pulling any punches if they should end up in a fight. "I'm not sure. I think I'm going to see what leads I can turn up with a new plan." he says, winking. "A red haired Puella? I can't say I've met her. Do you want some assistance with that one, or would you rather handle it yourself?" he asks.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah leans back against the table, thinking on those words.

Ao. Takashi. Suzuki. Her parents. Boris. Homura. Haruna. So many people she cares for. For all that she hates, so too does she love the people in the world. So many to fight for. And nothing will happen as long as the world remains. She needs strength to change that.

"Agreed." She says simply, sighing.

"Kyouko Sakura. Not too smart, but cunning. Uses a spear, so, try to not let her get too close. But if you avoid Witch business, she will not care. She claims all of Mitakihara as hers." She laughs at that.

Then she smiles.

"I look forward to seeing what plans you come up with, Takashi. You always come up with something /unique/!" She giggles here.

Then she's over to the computer.

"Anyway, I need to start taking some readings! Stick around if you want! Just get some coffee on!" She winks, and she's typing away, that glowing grief seed in her machinery.