801/The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music
Date of Scene:	05 January 2016
Location:	Mitakihara - Downtown Neon District
Synopsis:	After defeating a Witch, Anshi shows off her Grief Seed to Mami.
Cast of Characters:	Sachiko Hayakawa, Mami Tomoe

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Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Anshi Hayakawa never really had time to be a magical girl. She barely had the time to be a normal girl, what with having to take care of her little sister and her drunken mom. Christmas this year involved her mother getting drunk well before noon. Her little sister's only present was a gift from Anshi herself, that she had to scrape the money together from their meager budget for. This left Anshi without enough money to pay for rolls for dinner, which their mother promptly yelled at her for.

New Years was worse.
    he poor girl finally had enough, at that point. It really wasn't much of a surprise to her when Kyubey showed up at her window, his head tilted as he reminded her, "If you're willing to make a contract to become a magical girl with me, I can grant your wish."

And so she did the unthinkable, against Homura's advice, and without even fully thinking through her decision all the way. It was so easy to simply speak the words of a wish.

Which is why when a musical witch showed up in Mitakihara's Neon District, Anshi was ready for it. As a Puella Magi, Anshi is elegant in her black, lace-lined bodice with apricot-hued lacing. Her apricot skirt is similarly lace-lined, but only knee-length, and has a cut-out in the front to reveal her bike shorts. A massive pink bow is tied to her back. The outfit is completed with black theater-length gloves, a black ribbon tied 'round her neck, and black thigh-high stockings beneath apricot-coloured boots.

Elegance. The very definition of a magical girl, by Mami's example!

Anshi swings a massive ball and chain over her head, destroying a treble and bass cleff with a single swipe of the massive weapon. "Barred Passage!" she declares, casting out her hand. A massive prison door drops down from on high, blocking the retreat of the witch itself: an escher-esque violin bearing a strange smiling face.

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami is out and hunting for Witches - this is what Mami does whenever she has nothing better to do. Wether it's out of a sense of duty, or habit, or out of the fact that when she's busy she's not thinking on her lonliness or those who she used to consider allies but now are not.

And there's a pulsating glow coming from the Soul Gem in her hand as she walks the streets of Mitakihara, playing a game of hot and cold with the telltale signs.

When Mami hits the barrier and opens it, she's surprised to see someone else in there.

She's far more surprised to see a Puella Magi she doesn't recognize here. It takes her a while of peering and looking to try to put the face to the name - and she's already fighting the Witch!

Well, Mami decides to sit and watch - ready to interfere if need be, but largely curious. Who is this new Puella Magi!

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Trapped, the witch turns, and twists on itself. The bow draws across the strings, and a string of musical notes fly out to try and crush the new-made Puella. Anshi dodges left, dodges right, ducks under another, and then leaps high into the air.

"I think that's enough out of you," the Puella Magi declares as she whirls the massive ball over her head. "Sentence Ender!" she calls. The chain gains length as the massive ball grows and flies towards the witch. It tries to put up a defense in the form of another musical note, but Anshi's massive burden slams straight through the ntoe and into the witch. The violin shatters to pieces, and the labyrinth goes with it. Anshi alights back on the street, and her ball-and-chain rapidly shrinks back to the size of a keychain hanging from the ribbon around her throat. Wait, was it always attached to that?

"Guess you won't be troubling anyone else," Anshi says to the Witch's grief seed as she collects it from the ground. The gem is topped with a little treble cleff, but Anshi doesn't seem to notice. She pulls out her soul gem and inspects the colour. "Huh, guess it really does get cloudy fast," she murmurs, then taps it against the grief seed. Instantly, her soul gem's apricot hue returns, gleaming strong in the evening light.

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami can't help but be amused. And maybe a little proud, wether that pride is deserved or not. The way the girl calls her attacks, Mami can't help but feel as though she was a little bit of an influence on her. And rather happy. And unlike Homura, the fact that she might have caused someone to become a Puella Magi has actually made her happy. Because it might be a friend, an ally.

By the time Anshi has finished purifying her soul gem, Mami has walked up to her. She's clapping a little bit. "You did really well." she says, walking. "Hayakawa-san... I didn't know you'd made your wish." she says, a bit softly. "But you seem to be handling yourself pretty well!"

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Anshi starts in surprise at the sound of the clapping, and whirls around, gripping the keychain ball dangling from her neck-ribbon. But her eyes light up ecstatically when she realises who's come to see her. "Tomoe-senpai!" she says, then leaps towards Mami and wraps her in a very sudden tight hug. "I did it!" she expresses happily. "I really did it!

"I beat a witch all by myself, and look!" Anshi shows off the little black grief seed. "If you want, I think it's got a lot of use left. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
The hug catches Mami off guard, and she has to take a backstep to keep her balance before she laughs a little bit and squeezes Anshi back. "It didn't even look like your first time. You must've paid very good attention when I was showing you around." she says with a smile. Nevermind that Anshi might be lucky or have natural talent - it's obviously because Mami is a great sempai, in her books.

She shakes her head. "No, no. I'm doing good right now. And just because there's been a lot of witches lately doesn't mean there will always be." she says with a nod. "You should hang onto it."

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
"Well, I did manage to get a scholarship to Infinity," Anshi says with a grin as she steps back from Mami. "I didn't get there by slacking off and failing at attentiveness. I actually went home after each witch I saw you kill and wrote notes about it so that I'd remember what happened. I would record, but I don't really have a good camera," Anshi explains.

The newest Puella eyes her grief seed thoughtfully, then tucks it into a pocket. "Okay," she says, then smiles at Mami. "Is this what it's always like? Go out, hunt witches, kill them, go home for the night? I mean I get that it's dangerous and I could die, doing it, but ... it doesn't really seem nearly as bad as Akemi-san makes it out to be."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami sighs. "In my experience, Akemi-san seems to take a lot of things in the worst possible light. It's not always this easy - not even for me - but it's not always as bad as she makes it out to be."

Mami looks at Anshi. "I mean. Don't misunderstand me. Every night you fight a witch, it could be your last, if you haven't practiced enough, if you make a mistake. If you get distracted." she says after a long pause. "But don't let fear rule your life, either."

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Anshi considers Mami's words very carefully, then smiles at the more experienced Puella. "Don't worryk, Tomoe-senpai. I won't," she promises. "I don't let anything get me down. And if I give my life helping a lot of people, then that's okay. At least I did something before I died."

Anshi gives a little shrug of her shoulders, then chippers right up and says, "So ... now that I've killed one, what should I do next?"

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami looks into Anshi's eyes when she starts talking about doing something. "But even if I agreed with that, Hayakawa-san, the longer you can keep fighting the more people you can save, so it's still important to take care of yourself. And, I also don't agree with that. You must've had something you found important enough to wish for, Hayakawa-san, and you're also fighting for that wish."

Mami claps a hand on Anshi's back. "For now? You should consider resting. You had a good hunt tonight, and just because you're a magical girl now doesn't mean you don't need sleep."

"...but if you want to talk about some things first, that would be okay too... if you have any questions to ask."

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
"I ..." Anshi starts to say, then frowns and stops to really think about it for a moment. "Actually I really have a lot of questions, but I don't want to just stand around. Is there somewhere safe we can go that I can sit down and rest a bit while we talk? Maybe a teahouse or ... no I guess I don't really have money for tea. Um, just somewhere?"

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami smiles. "Well, if you'd like some tea you could come back home with me for a bit. Now that you're a Puella Magi, like me, you can cross the city pretty quickly, so nipping over for a cup of tea... and maybe a slice of cake... should be much easier for you, shouldn't it?" she asks with a grin. "I always think better with warm team and sweet cake."

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
"Oh that sounds amazing," Anshi says, eyes wide with surprise. "You'd really let me come to your home and share your tea with me?!" She smiles broadly and pounces Mami with yet another hug. "You are the best, Tomoe-senpai," she says excitedly, then leans back from the hug again. "I mean um. Sorry," she says with a little embarassed grin. "I just get excited, and you're so amazing. Being your friend--or at least your kohai--is like amazing. I feel like my whole life has changed, since you came around, and for the better. Thank you."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami grins. "I like having company." she admits as much as states. "And I want to help you become the best Puella Magi you can become... and maybe, if you'd like..." Mami says, suddenly shy "... be partners with me. It's safer to work in teams, but a lot of Puella Magi don't." she admits, as she turns. "Here, follow me, we're actually pretty close."

A few moments later, they're at the door to Mami's apartment, which she opens slowly. "Sit down at the table if you would, I think I've still got some cakes around." Mami knows she has cakes around. Mami always has cakes around.

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Anshi actually has trouble breathing for a moment at Mami's suggestion. "P-p-partners!" she breathes the word out with a whisper, then seems to just vibrate for several moments, before she gets control again. When she does, it's a smile as she follows Mami through the streets to her apartment.

"I don't ... I don't think I could possibly be your partner, Tomoe-senpai," Anshi says faintly. "I could never be as graceful and elegant and beautiful as you." Nevertheless, she does take a seat at the table, just on the edge of her seat. "B-b-but if you want an apprentice, I could do that. I would love to be your apprentice. I just ... wow. That's such an amazing suggestion."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
The words Anshi speaks cause Mami to stop. She's, naturally, stopped with a teacup in each hand. One almost tips over in shock, expelling its contents onto the floor. Mami manages to notice and re-angle it before her tea ends up there.

It's been a really long time since someone used that word with her. Since someone wanted to be taught by her. Those wounds might be less fresh, if she didn't see Kyouko Sakura on a daily basis. And yet... "Even as my kohai, my apprentice, you'd still be my partner, Hayakawa-san. Because I'd still rely on you to watch my back, and I'd keep you safe, too." She sets a teacup down for each of them and leaves to get plates of cake. "Honestly, the chances two given Puella Magi end up coming to blows is much higher than the chances of them having tea. It's nice."

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Anshi's eyes widen, and she picks at the frills on her apricot-coloured dress. "That's so sad," she says, though her face seems anything but. "Why would you fight? I mean I guess ... if there aren't enough witches, it's harder to get the grief seeds you need, and that might cause fights." She frowns a little, at the thought, then says, "But it seems like ... one grief seed can take care of a Puella Magi for several fights, so you could just ... figure out the right number and work together, and then only use your powers to fight witches." She frowns at the thought, then sighs. "I don't know. But Tomoe-senpai, if you want me to be your kohai, I will. And if that means you want me as your partner, I will! I don't think I will be very good. But I don't want to do this alone. So will you teach me?"

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami sits a slice of (frighteningly delicious) cake in front of both of them. Tonight, it's cheesecake with a strawberry topping and chocolate drizzle! "They're not always as common as they are right now. In my experience, the number of witches tend to follow a wave pattern..." Mami draws a hills-and-valleys sine wave patern in the air with a yellow ribbon "... and sometimes there's a whole lot and other times they can get pretty scarce. And since fighting other Puella Magi for their grief seeds also requires you to use magic, once the fighting starts it just tends to get worse and worse." Mami says this with a far off look in her eyes - the look of someone for whom this isn't a theoretical concern.

"Ideally everyone would team up and work together, but there's always a few who just refuse. That's something about Puella Magi, too... I've seen some really selifsh and devious ones as much as I've seen dedicated and hopeful."

"Well of course I would teach you, Hayakawa-san." This line of discussion has her mood instantly and boldly brighten, and she's smiling wide again. "And help you train. And show you what to be on the lookout for. I've actually been collecting a lot of material about witches, and magic, and what we do. And I'd be happy to share it with you."

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Now the look really is sad, except ... Anshi has cake, and who can possibly be sad with delicious strawberry cheesecake?! She digs in eagerly, but daintily, doing her best not to make a mess in the presence of the more elegant Puella. This results in only a little getting on her chin.

Anshi looks up at Mami, then considers her for several moments. "That sounds amazing. But ... how do we train safely? Without, you know, putting too much cloudy in my soul gem? Oh, man, I guess I should figure out some kind of phone or something. But I can't afford a cell phone. Um. But if I do figure something out I will give it to you so you can call me whenever you want and I'll try to be there for you. I'll always do my best to be there for you, Tomoe-senpai."

Mami Tomoe has posed:
Mami smiles. "The next time I see you, you'll have a cellphone." She says this as easily as if she said 'next time I will bring you a candy bar' - there are a few benefits that come from being an orphan to a well-to-do family, as Mamoru Chiba can also attest. A look around the apartment reminds loudly that Mami is not poor off.

"It's too important that you can call me, if you get in trouble. I'm not going to be the kind of Sempai that you can't get ahold of, so don't worry about that."

"Training is one of the few legitimately good reasons to horde Grief Seeds." she admits. She has a fair stack herself to share between the two of them. "If you get strong during the feast, you're better posied to spend less energy fighting witches during the famine." she adds.

Then, there's a pause. "It's late... and I need my beauty sleep." she adds, with a wink. And then she gets up, goes into another room, and returns with a small 3-ring binder. This binder is /chock full/ of information about witches. "Consider this a little crash course in being a Puella Magi, if you like. You can take it with you, I've got copies. The more you know, the stronger you are." she adds with a smile.

"Would you like some cake to take home?"

Sachiko Hayakawa has posed:
Anshi finishes her slice of cake, then wipes her face on the napkin provided and sets it aside. "Oh, yes, that would be wonderful," she says, taking the binder and waiting for the cake. "My little sister would love your cake. It's delicious! And I will tell her it's from my best friend and senpai in the whole world," she promises with a grin.

"Seriously, Tomoe-senpai," Anshi says, a little more seriously now, "Thank you so much. I'll call you from home night after tomorrow to work out a schedule. I think it will take me at least that long to get through your binder, and I want to read it completely before I see you again."