384/Powerless is not Defenseless

Powerless is not Defenseless
Date of Scene:	16 September 2015
Location:	Plot Room #1
Synopsis:	Kyouko, shook up after what happened to Homura, meets with Sayaka for reassurance.
Cast of Characters:	Sayaka Miki, Kyouko Sakura

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Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    It's nighttime, but not too late- maybe 9pm. Late enough that people are home and shops are closed, but not late enough for most people to be in bed yet.

    A text comes through on Sayaka's phone without warning- it's from Kyouko. It just reads "cn i tlk to u?" (she's only had a cell phone for like two weeks, she's not a very good typist).

Sayaka Miki has posed:
    Sayaka's at home, watching tv. Her parents went out to a late night business function, leaving her alone to her peace and quiet. When she sees the text message, she smirks a bit at the typos, casually responding..

    'Hey Kyouchan, wassup?'

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko's response comes within just a few seconds.

    "i just need to see a frindly face. can u meet me at the park?"

    She names a public park just a block or two from your house- not very far at all.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
    Sayaka frowns a bit at the message. She does have quite a bit of homework left to do...But something about the message has her a little concerned. Is Kyouko in some sort of trouble? Now that she's powerless, surely she has lots of enemies, like this Miss White person..

    '..Alright, I'll be right there. Gimme 10 min.' with a sigh, she quickly sends the text before grabbing her shoes and jacket. It's a little cool outside and getting pretty dark. Let's hope there are no witches out there tonight!

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    There doesn't appear to be anything supernatural the matter- at least not at the moment. The park is quiet and empty, as you'd expect this time of night, just a few overhead streetlamps illuminating the small playground area.

    Kyouko is already there when you arrive, in her usual casual clothes, her work apron and such abandoned when her shift ended a little while ago.

    She looks.. upset. Not like, angry, or crying or anything. Just, you can tell something has shaken her. She's pacing around, and staring at the ground, and she looks a little pale and just.. not really herself.

    When she sees Sayaka coming, a small smile touches her face, but its a wan, half-hearted expression. "Hey, Saya-chan." She says. "Thanks for coming out."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
    Sayaka arrives a bit breathless. Seems she's been running all the way here. She's pretty fit mind, but all the same, looks like she came here in a hurry - just incase something was up.

    Spying Kyouko, she smiles and waves at her. "Hey, Kyou-chan! What's up?" a small smile creases her lips at the sight of the familiar red head, although Sayaka's smile slowly fades as she sees the expression on the other girl's face.

    "Are you alright? You seem...Upset about something. What happened?"

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko sighs as she walks over to stand next to Sayaka.. definitely not her usual arrogant, chipper self. "I just.." She starts, and then falls silent, looking down and kicking at the ground with one of her sneakers, apparently trying to think of what she should say.

    "I just came from Mamoru's apartment." She says, deciding to start from the beginning. "I sometimes go hang out with him after work. Anyway.. Homura was there. And.. Miss White. Homura had gotten hurt.. pretty bad. I'm not sure exactly the story, but.. well, she was in real rough shape. That's why Miss White was there, Homura works for her."

    "Anyway.." Kyouko takes a breath, "There was no trouble with Miss White, not really. We have a truce, and she kept her word. But.. she said some things. Some things that kinda shook me up."

    "Somebody went after Homura, and almost killed her. And I don't really know why, but.. it could be that somebody is targetting Puella. I don't know if that's true, it might not be but.."

    She sighs, wringing her hands a little bit, and turning away. "I know I sound dumb, I hate whiners, but.. I'm so used to being able to take care of myself. Y'know, for so long I was so confident in my own power, I knew I was the biggest fish in the pond and so nobody scared me. But now.."

    She looks back to Sayaka again, chewing her lip. "I just realized how helpless I am. If somebody did come after me I.. I don't think I could really defend myself." She sighs. "And that shook me up.. pretty bad. I mean, I've known that for a while but it never really hit home until I saw Homura barely alive, and Miss White said I might be next.."

    "She tries to give another little smile. "Sorry, I'm not making a lot of sense. I know there's not really anything you can do, I just.. I wanted to see you. You always make me feel a little better."

    She actually blushes just a little and looks away again, finally falling silent.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
    Sayaka bites her lip thoughtfully as she listens to the story unfold. It's a little scary, being a Puella Magi she decides. Even moreso if you suddenly have no powers, but your enemies remain.

    "Oh, Kyouko..." with a slight hesitation, she takes a step towards the red head, placing her hands on Kyouko's shoulders.

    "I suppose I couldn't understand what that's like. Afterall, I've always tried my best to be strong, even without powers. I never dreamed such a world full of witches and magical girls even existed. Even so..Perhaps all is not lost. Afterall, you do have powerful allies like Tuxedo Kamen, and Miss White too now, right?"

    Sayaka offers an encouraging smile, although she truly wishes she had the strength to watch Kyouko's back herself. But then, she's just an ordinary girl. And while she may have the potential to one day be a Puella Magi, she's still quite hesitant about the whole thing.

    "But what about your soul gem? Is it any different? I saw it heal you, so it cant be completely out of power. It cracked but it didn't break. I'm not entirely sure how these gems work, but if its connected to your soul, then maybe all it needs to heal itself is a will to fight and protect those you care about. Even without your powers, you're a strong person, and you're strong in spirit. But as soon as you doubt yourself, then I'll bet your power wanes too."

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko glances at Sayaka's hands as they land on her shoulders.. but she doesn't pull away. After a moment she raises one of her hands and puts it on top of Sayaka's, on her own shoulder. She seems to draw a little bit of strength from the reassuring contact.

    "Tuxedo Kamen, maybe." She says, with a small laugh. "Miss White? Never. We agreed not to try and kill each other anymore. But she wouldn't shed any tears if I ended up gone.. and vice versa." There's a lot of anger there, still, even if she's decided not to try and get revenge anymore.

    As for her Soul Gem.. she holds up her hand, so Sayaka can see the ring. The crack through the gem is still there, still visible. "It's not any different. I don't think.. well, I know I still have magic in me." She says, quirking her lips thoughtfully. "I can still see Kyubey and other magical stuff. And I can sense.. magic stuff, when it's happening nearby. I know it's not gone. I just can't bring it out."

    She shakes her head a little bit at Sayaka's next words. "This ain't a movie or an anime, Sayaka-chan, no matter how much I sometimes wish it was. I'm not sure.. the will to fight is enough. I mean, I haven't given up, I still want to survive, to live, but.. I still can't henshin."

    "Maybe.. it would be different, if I really had something to believe in." She sighs softly. "But all I've ever believed in since.. since my family died, is myself. That was always enough. I don't have anybody left to care about, except Mamoru, and.. well, and you." She glances up at Sayaka again.

    "And so far I haven't had to protect you.. well, after that first time." She actually laughs a little. "Which is a trend I'd like to continue. Please don't go getting into danger, especially now. I'd.." She pauses, looking to the side again. "Well, I'd be really upset. I guess that's what caring for somebody means, but I'd sooner stay without power and not have you get in trouble, than have you get in trouble and get my powers back."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
    Sayaka never really asked about Kyouko's family, or what happened to them and so she's rather surprised to learn that they are dead. But hey, it'd explain why she lives alone and why she has a job at such a young age..She must not have any other choice. How very sad.

    "I dunno. I'm not exactly sure how these things work. I still think Kyubey would be the best person to talk to about all of this. But yeah, maybe you're right, maybe you need to really have something to believe in, and if your belief in yourself is not enough, then maybe you just need to find that inner strength again."

    She smiles, blushes even, a little, when Kyouko mentions caring about her. "Well...I'm glad that you care about me. It always surprised me that first time in the hospital, when you chose to pull me out instead of going after the witch instead..."

    Although Kyouko's next words cause her to sigh a little, shaking her head. "And yet, without your powers, you're right. You're a sitting duck. I dont want to see you get hurt because you cant protect yourself. Right now, I think you're in more danger without your powers than I am. Afterall, I'm not so deeply involved in powerful enemies that might take advantage of my current state. And I wish I had the strength to help you, but..."

    "But, I'm just an ordinary girl, who promised you that she wouldn't go and make a foolish wish to become a magical girl...At least not until I learn more about what it means to be a Puella Magi." Well, it doesn't really seem like there's any way out of this really, except to hope and wait. At least for now. "And what about the other Puella Magi? Kyubey mentionned a girl named Mami..Wouldn't she be able to help you?"

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    Kyouko shakes her head slightly, her long ponytail swaying behind her, as she listens sto Sayaka's words. "You do help me, Sayaka. Just by bein' somebody I can come and talk to.. and always being willing to do it, even late at night, or whatever."

    She laughs a little bit. "You and Mamoru, you're really my only friends.. and he might pull my ass out of the fire, literally, but he doesn't cheer me up the way that you do so.. don't think that you don't help me. Cause you do."

    And now she offers a real smile, a little bit of her old spirit in it. "Just knowing you want to help, and that you worry about me.. makes me feel a little better. Bein' alone in the world is hard.. I know, cause I was alone for a long time. I don't want to feel that way again.. powers or not."

    As for Mami, Kyouko twists her lips again, this time in a sour expression. "Mami.. bah, it's complicated. We used to be partners, a long time ago in a different city, but we had a falling out. She would help me, I'm sure but.. I don't wanna go crawling to her, unless I really have to." She sighs. "Maybe it's dumb to be that prideful when I'm in this situation, but I just can't bring myself to do it.. not unless it's an emergency."

Sayaka Miki has posed:
    "Hmm, just once, I'd like to meet this Mamoru-san..And Tuxedo Kamen.." she still doesn't know they are one and the same, but the way Kyouko speaks of them, kinda has Sayaka wondering about that.

    "Well, at least he's got your back. And I'm sure if Mami is a good person, and once a friend of yours, she'd pull through again some day if you really needed it. Sometimes too much pride is not such a good thing. Don't be afraid to ask her for help either!"

    But maybe Sayaka can understand pride herself. Afterall, she's always been reluctant to let others come to her rescue.."But I think I understand you, a little. I suppose, given the power you once had, sometimes it's hard to go begging for help from others."

    She smiles, squeezing Kyouko's shoulders gently, "You're never alone, even if I cant protect you like Mamoru-san can, I'll still do my best to be there for you. I know it's kinda scary right now, but whatever comes next, I'll always be there to help you out, even if I don't have powers. Somehow, we'll find a way out of this.."

    And then a bright idea hits her. "Hey, I've been training in Kendo for nearly a year now. It's not much, but maybe I could teach you a few tricks. I mean, it's better than nothing, right? With the right weapon, anyone can defend themselves, even against powerful magical forces."

Kyouko Sakura has posed:
    "You did meet him, at least once, remember?" Kyouko says, smirking just a little.. "He dropped me off, unconscious, in your room. I guess that doesn't really count as meeting though.. he didn't stick around to chat."

    She nods her head again.. and smiles slightly. "I was thinkin' about that. Y'know.. there's lotsa people in this world who don't have magic powers, and plenty of them can take care of themselves. I was thinking of trying to find a dojo or somewhere to practice martial arts. I think.. well, I may not have superpowers anymore, but I still think I have a lot of my fighting skills. That stuff is more just muscle memory and practice than magic. But I don't want to get rusty.. so I was thinking it would be good to keep it up."

    She smiles. "So maybe I'll take you up on that. Maybe we can practice together. I think I'd like that."

    She definitely seems more upbeat now.. and she gives Sayaka's hand a small squeeze, before pulling away from her. "Anyway.. it's late, I should let you get home. Thanks for coming to talk to me.. a lot. It really made me feel better."

    She gives Sayaka a last smile. "I'll text you soon.. we can work out together, or somethin'. And I'm still goin' to that concert you invited me to, don't think you're getting out of having me tag along for that." She laughs.. shoves her hands in her pockets, and turns and walks off onto the dark street with a final wave.

Sayaka Miki has posed:
    "Heh, that didnt really count!" Sayaka smirks at the brief memory of Tuxedo Kamen dropping off Kyouko then vanishing into the night, all mysterious like.

    "Hmm, but you're right. There are people out there who dont have powers, who can protect themselves. They might not be able to defeat witches, but maybe they're still strong enough to keep evil at bay, at least enough to flee somewhere safe.."

    She ponders for a moment, "Well hey, why dont you join my Kendo class? They have a club at Infinity University. The teachers are really good, you should check it out!" Sayaka grins, "We need more girls in the class..And it's fun too! I'm sure it'll boost your confidence.."

    Sayaka does find herself yawning too, however. And it's really getting late. "Yeah, I guess I should get going too. It was good to talk to you again, Kyou-chan. Anytime, even in the middle of the night, if you're ever worried or need to talk, I dont mind talking And you're always free to come to my place too!"

    Ahh yes, the concert. should be fun! "We'll need to go on a shopping trip first, but it'll be fun, I promise! Good night, Kyouchan!"